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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Ans Kolk (Amsterdam Business School - University of Amsterdam); Jonatan Pinkse (MTS - Management Technologique et Strategique - Grenoble École de Management (GEM)) |
| Abstract: | Climate change is often perceived as the most pressing environmental problem of our time, as reflected in the large public, policy, and corporate attention it has received, and the concerns expressed about the (potential) consequences. Particularly due to temperature increases, climate change affects physical and biological systems by changing ecosystems and causing extinction of species, and is expected to have a negative social impact and adversely affect human health (IPCC, 2007). Moreover, as a result of the economic costs and risks of extreme weather, climate change could have a severe impact on economic growth and development as well, if no action is taken to reduce emissions (Stern, 2006). This means that it can affect multinational enterprises (MNEs) active in a wide variety of sectors and countries. Climate change is not a 'purely' environmental issue because it is closely linked to concerns about energy security due to dependence on fossil fuels and oil in particular, and to energy efficiency and management more generally. Controversy about the climate change issue has led to a broadening of the agenda in some cases, with policy-makers targeting energy to avoid commotion about the science and politics of climate change, and firms likewise, also because addressing climate change in practice usually boils down to an adjustment in the energy base of business models. |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:gemptp:hal-00835257&r=cwa |
| By: | John Jerrim (University of London); Álvaro Choi (Universitat de Barcelona & IEB) |
| Abstract: | English policymakers have been disappointed with children’s performance on TIMSS and PISA, particularly in comparison to the results of young people from East Asia. In this paper we provide new insight into the England – East Asia gap by considering how cross-national differences in math test scores change between ages 10 and 16. Our results suggest that, although average math test scores are higher in East Asian countries, this gap does not increase between ages 10 and 16. Thus, reforming the secondary school system may not be the most effective way for England to ‘catch up’. Rather earlier intervention, during pre-school and primary school, may be needed instead. |
| Keywords: | PISA, TIMSS, educational policy, primary education, secondary education |
| JEL: | I20 I21 I28 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ieb:wpaper:2013/6/doc2013-12&r=cwa |
| By: | Uschi Backes-Gellner (Department of Business Administration, University of Zurich); Shiho Futagami (Yokohama National University); Silvia Teuber (Department of Business Administration, University of Zurich); Andrea Willi (Department of Business Administration, University of Zurich) |
| Abstract: | The optimal human resource and skill development strategy is one important factor of economic success. This paper, therefore, analyzes industry-specific differences in the training provision between engineering and retailing companies in Japan and focuses in particular on the initial training provision for intermediate skills at the firm level. Based on 11 in-depth interviews in the retailing and the engineering sector in Japan, we find that gross training costs per basic trainee are significantly higher in engineering than in retailing. However, not only the engineering companies, but also their employees bear higher costs than their counterparts in retailing. The absolute and relative entrance wages for production employees are significantly lower than the entrance wages of employees in sale. Even though wages in engineering increase significantly stronger within the first five years, the absolute and relative wages in engineering remain still significantly lower. The results relate to the qualification levels of new trainees and the career paths. |
| Keywords: | Training in Japan, Intermediate skills, Engineering and Retailing, Wages |
| JEL: | M53 J24 L64 L81 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iso:educat:0090&r=cwa |
| By: | Ewa Lechman (Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland) |
| Abstract: | Poverty – differently defined and measured – still remains one the crucial parts of the world development debate. It`s broadly perceived as multidimensional phenomenon which deprives people from basic capabilities and freedoms, limits their opportunity to educate and fully participate in the labor market contributing to overall country`s socio-economic performance. Referring to seminal works of Sen and many others(see e.g. Morris 1979; Sen 1985, 1992; Desai 1991; Ravallion 1993), we present an specific approach to poverty issues, treating low incomes as consequence – not a cause – of poverty. The main target of the work is twofold. Firstly we aim to develop a new complex measure of relative poverty to set the most recent worldwide poverty estimates. For this purpose we deploy methods based on fuzzy sets (e.g. see works of Zadeh 1965; Dubois&Prade 1980; Bérenger&Verdier-Chouchane 2006), and we apply a wide array of non-income indicators (proxies) explaining level of socio-economic development. Following the logic of fuzzy sets theory, we explain poverty as deprivation from – for example – access to education or improved drinking water. Secondly, we run an analysis on disaggregated data, tracking for factors which contribute mostly to the level of poverty in different countries. Such approach let us to detect most backward areas of human development which shall be in the centre of interest of policy makers. All data applied in the estimates are derived from World Development Indicators Database 2012. The sample covers 144 world economies, and the set time framework is 1990-2010. |
| Keywords: | poverty, fuzzy sets, deprivation, comparative economics |
| JEL: | I32 O15 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gdk:wpaper:11&r=cwa |
| By: | Mori, Romio; Nabeshima, Kaoru; Yamada, Nanae |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes factors associated with the rejection of products at ports of importer countries and remedial actions taken by producers in China. As an example, it uses one of the most competitive agro-food products of China: live and processed eels. This paper provides an overview of eel production and trade trends in China. In addition, it identifies the causes of port rejection of Chinese eel products as veterinary drug residues by examining the detailed case studies of export firms and the countermeasures taken by the government and firms. |
| Keywords: | China, Aquaculture, International trade, Exports, Quality control, Eels, Agro-food trade, Food safety, Port rejection |
| JEL: | F23 L66 Q13 Q17 Q18 |
| Date: | 2013–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper418&r=cwa |
| By: | Simone Gobien; Björn Vollan |
| Abstract: | Mutual aid among villagers in developing countries is often the only means of insuring against economic shocks. We use “lab-in-the-field experiments” in Cambodian villages to study social cohesion in established and newly resettled communities. Both communities are part of a land distribution project. The project participants all signed up voluntarily, and their socio-demographic attributes and pre-existing network ties are similar. We use a version of the “solidarity game” to identify the effect of voluntary resettlement on willingness to help fellow villagers after an income shock. We find a sizeable reduction in willingness to help others. Resettled players transfer on average between 47% and 74% less money than non-resettled players. The effect remains large and significant after controlling for personal network and when controlling for differences in transfer expectations. The costs of voluntary resettlement, not only monetary but also social, seem significantly higher than is commonly assumed by development planners. |
| Keywords: | Voluntary resettlement, Social cohesion, Risk-sharing networks, Monetary transfers, “Lab-in-the-field” experiment, Cambodia |
| JEL: | C93 O15 O22 R23 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inn:wpaper:2013-16&r=cwa |
| By: | Abdul Aziz, Ahmad Faizal |
| Abstract: | Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) had previously issued a number of statutory requirements in making the establishment of Shariah Committee (SC) of a bank mandatory via Islamic Banking Act 1983, Banking & Financial Institution Act 1989, Takaful Act 1984 and Central bank of Malaysia (Amendment) Act 2003. The establishment of SC is important as part of the governance of an Islamic Bank in order to assure the stakeholders that the Bank is doing its business in permissible manner as outlined by the Shariah. Despite the structure, there is still skepticism about the system mainly on the capacity and the capability of the SC as reported in previous publications. This paper shall identify challenges faced by the SC that had impaired their capacity and capability in achieving their objectives. Subsequently, this paper shall recommend alternative measures on issues highlighted in assisting the SC and Shariah Auditors in bridging the public expectations. This study confines to issues pertaining to Islamic Banks operating in Malaysia as published in relevant articles and the author’s personal encounter. |
| Keywords: | Islamic Finance, Shariah Governance, Shariah Committee, Shariah Audit |
| JEL: | G28 |
| Date: | 2012–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47772&r=cwa |
| By: | Dhillon, Amrita (Department of Economics, University of Warwik); Iversen, Vegard (Department of Economics, University of Manchester); Torsvik, Gaute (Department of Economics, University of Bergen) |
| Abstract: | We study an important mechanism underlying employee referrals into informal low skilled jobs in developing countries. Employers can exploit social preferences between employee referees and potential workers to improve discipline. The profitability of using referrals increases with referee stakes in the firm, and, in most cases, with the strength of the social tie between the referee and the new recruit. We provide an empirical counterpart to these results using primary data covering low- and unskilled migrants in India. Consistent with the theoretical predictions, we find a high prevalence of workplace referral and strong kinship ties between referees and new recruits. Finally, workplace intermediaries are different from and typically in more ‘prestigious’ jobs than those recruited. |
| Keywords: | networks; low- and unskilled jobs; India; moral hazard; employee referrals; efficiency wages; referee incentives; strength of ties |
| JEL: | D82 D86 J31 J41 O12 O17 |
| Date: | 2013–06–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:bergec:2013_004&r=cwa |
| By: | Vincent Bodart (University of Maastricht); Bertrand Candelon (IRES, Université catholique de Louvain); Jean-François Carpantier (CREA, University of Luxembourg) |
| Abstract: | This paper provides new empirical evidence about the relationship that may exist between real exchange rates and commodity prices in developing countries that are specialized in the export of a main primary commodity. It investigates how structural factors like the exchange rate regime, the degree of financial and trade openness, the degree of export concentration and the type of the commodity exports affect the strength of the commod- ity price-real exchange rate dependence. |
| Keywords: | Real exchange rates; commodity prices; exchange rate regime; financial openness; dynamic panel analysis; |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:luc:wpaper:13-09&r=cwa |
| By: | Bagger, Jesper (Royal Holloway, University of London); Birchenall, Javier A. (University of California, Santa Barbara); Mansour, Hani (University of Colorado Denver); Urzua, Sergio (University of Maryland) |
| Abstract: | We introduce a general framework to analyze the trade-off between education and family size. Our framework incorporates parental preferences for birth order and delivers theoretically consistent birth order and family size effects on children's educational attainment. We develop an empirical strategy to identify these effects. We show that the coefficient on family size in a regression of educational attainment on birth order and family size does not identify the family size effect as defined within our framework, even when the endogeneity of both birth order and family size are properly accounted for. Using Danish administrative data we test the theoretical implications of the model. The data does not reject our theory. We find significant birth order and family size effects in individuals' years of education thereby confirming the presence of a quantity-quality trade off. |
| Keywords: | quantity-quality trade off, fertility models, fixed-effects, instrumental variables |
| JEL: | E20 E24 D52 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7454&r=cwa |
| By: | Sonia Bhalotra (University of Bristol); Guilhem Cassan (Center for Research in the Economics of Development, University of Namur); Irma Clots-Figueras (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid); Lakshmi Iyer (Harvard Business School) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates whether the religious identity of state legislators in India influences development outcomes, both for citizens of their religious group and for the population as a whole. To control for politician identity to be correlated with constituency level voter preferences or characteristics that make religion salient, we use quasi-random variation in legislator identity generated by close elections between Muslim and non-Muslim candidates. We find that increasing the political representation of Muslims improves health and education outcomes in the district from which the legislator is elected. We find no evidence of religious favoritism: Muslim children do not benefit more from Muslim political representation than children from other religious groups. |
| Keywords: | religion, politician identity, infant mortality, primary education, India, Muslim |
| JEL: | I15 J13 H41 P16 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nam:wpaper:1306&r=cwa |
| By: | Stephanie Jones (Dr Stephanie Jones, Associate Professor, Organizational Behavior, Maastricht School of Management) |
| Abstract: | Purpose: The cost of global piracy has been estimated at $15-25 billion. During 2011, piracy reached an all-time high, but decreased in 2012. Although piracy remains an ongoing threat to world trade and raises commodity costs, piracy activity is being reduced; but the complete resolution of the issue is still challenging. Methodology: Based on a literature review of formal and informal published sources, this exploratory article attempts a diagnostic evaluation of the challenges facing shippers, shipowners, ships, crews – and governments, industry associations, and insurers – and their attempts at combating this worldwide scourge. Findings: Most attempted solutions currently in force are preventative measures on a ship-by-ship basis, and piecemeal efforts by specific shipping companies and insurers. There is widespread recognition that the piracy problem needs to be tackled at source through „following the money‟ – outlawing pirate warlords – and through united international initiatives, but in reality neither of these developments are taking place.Practical implications: The huge cost to the consumer continues, with an overall lack of appreciation of the need to make a cost-benefit analysis of the value of concerted international efforts to stem piracy. Originality: most articles in this field consider specific anti-piracy efforts in particular locations by certain organizations, without an overall analysis of how the piracy issue could be fundamentally tackled. There is a gap in the literature for an up-to-date, analytical study of maritime piracy worldwide, especially given the dramatic nature of the changes over the last 12-18 months. |
| Keywords: | maritime piracy, shipping, world trade, commodities |
| JEL: | A1 F1 F4 R4 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:msm:wpaper:2013/15&r=cwa |
| By: | Reuven Glick; Michael Hutchison |
| Abstract: | This paper presents empirical evidence on asset market linkages between China and Asia and how these linkages have shifted during and after the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. We find only weak cross-country linkages in longer-term interest rates, but much stronger linkages in equity markets. This finding is consistent with the greater development and liberalization of equity markets relative to bond markets in China, as well as increasing business and trade linkages in the region. We also find that the strength of the correlation of equity prices changes between China and other Asia countries increased markedly during the crisis and has remained high in recent years. We attribute this development to greater “attentiveness” of international investors to China’s role as a source and destination of equity finance during the crisis rather than to any greater financial deepening and liberalization, as China did not implement any major policy measures during this period. By contrast, the transmission of U.S. equity returns to Asian countries decreased after the crisis. |
| Keywords: | Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009 ; China |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fip:fedfwp:2013-12&r=cwa |
| By: | Emerson Fernandes Marçal |
| Abstract: | Este trabalho visa avaliar os determinantes de longo prazo da taxa de câmbio chinesa, que apresentou nas últimas décadas uma forte depreciação frente a uma cesta de moedas e, em paralelo, a acumulação, pelo governo chinês, de crescentes reservas em moeda estrangeira, seja em termos absolutos ou em termos relativos. O modelo aqui estimado sugere que a inclusão do nível de reservas em um modelo econométrico tradicionalmente utilizado para construir medidas de taxa de câmbio de equilíbrio melhora substancialmente os resultados e que as reservas parecem ter tido importante influência no nível atual da taxa de câmbio real chinesa. O resultado do estudo coloca desafios sobre metodologias existentes para cálculo da taxa de câmbio real de equilíbrio (TCRE), pois exige que cenários para a trajetória de equilíbrio do nível de reservas, uma variável sujeita à intervenção governamental, sejam traçados para avaliar se e em que medida há desequilíbrio. O estudo também sugere que, além da posição internacional de investimento, a composição deste pode influenciar na trajetória de equilíbrio. Palavras-chave: desalinhamento cambial; taxa de câmbio real efetiva; cointegração. This paper aims to evaluate what are the main long run determinants of Chinese real exchange rate that have depreciated substantially compared to a basket of currencies. The Chinese government started a process of accumulating foreign reserve in growing speed measured in absolute or relative terms particularly after 2000. The results of this paper suggests that the econometric model traditionally used to estimate the equilibrium real exchange rate is substantially improved by the inclusion of the level of reserve in the model in the Chinese case. This variable seems to help explaining the dynamics of Chinese real exchange rate. The result of the paper creates additional challenges to estimate equilibrium real exchange rate and misalignments due to the fact that not just net foreign asset position is important to the long run exchange rate but also its composition might matter. Keywords: exchange rate misalignment; effective exchange rate; cointegration. |
| Date: | 2012–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipe:ipetds:1769&r=cwa |
| By: | Fujita, Mai |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the consequences of the emerging rivalry between Japanese and Chinese manufacturers. It focuses specifically on industrial organisation, one of the key factors that underlie the competitiveness of manufacturing industries. The question to be asked is what happens when distinctive models of industrial organisation, coming from Japan and China, clash in a developing country. An in-depth longitudinal analysis of the Vietnamese motorcycle industry adopting a modified version of the global value chain governance theory shows that a decade-long industrial transformation resulted in organisational diversity. The implications of the analysis for the literature on industrial organisation are discussed. |
| Keywords: | Vietnam, China, Japan, Motorcycles, Industrial policy, International competition, Industrial organisation, Motorcycle industry |
| JEL: | L10 L22 L62 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper420&r=cwa |
| By: | Roy, John (Victoria University of Wellington); Schurer, Stefanie (RMIT University) |
| Abstract: | Do episodes of mental health problems cause future mental health problems, and if yes, how strong are these dynamics? We quantify the degree of persistence in mental health problems using nationally-representative, longitudinal data from Australia and system GMM-IV and correlated random effects approaches are applied to separate true from spurious state dependence. Our results suggest only a moderate degree of persistence in mental health problems when assuming that persistence is constant across the mental health distribution once individual-specific heterogeneity is accounted for. However, individuals who fell once below a threshold that indicates an episode of depression are up to five times more likely to experience such a low score again a year later, indicating a strong element of state dependence in depression. Low income is a strong risk factor in state dependence for both men and women, which has important policy implications. |
| Keywords: | dynamic panel data models, depression and anxiety, mental health, GMM-IV, HILDA |
| JEL: | I14 C23 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7451&r=cwa |
| By: | Mototsugu Fukushige (Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University); Hiroshige Yamawaki (Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University) |
| Abstract: | Using a disequilibrium model, we investigate the relationship between the supply constraint of electricity generation capacity and electricity demand in Taiwan. We find that electricity consumption faced supply constraints in Taiwan between 1959 and 1972, but that after 1973 generation capacity grew rapidly, such that economic growth came to be the major determinant of electricity consumption. Our experience in fitting this disequilibrium model suggests that simple causality tests are not a proper means to understand the relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth. Our results also suggest, at least for developing countries, that an electricity supply constraint sometimes plays an important role when investigating the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. |
| Keywords: | Electricity Supply; Economic Growth; Disequilibrium Model; Taiwan |
| JEL: | Q43 C34 O11 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osk:wpaper:1311&r=cwa |
| By: | Mavromaras, Kostas G. (NILS, Flinders University); Sloane, Peter J. (Swansea University); Wei, Zhang (NILS, Flinders University) |
| Abstract: | There is a substantial literature on the scarring effects of unemployment on future employment prospects and a smaller one on the scarring effects of low pay, but the possibility that skills mismatch in the form of skills under-utilisation, may also have similar detrimental effects, has not previously been considered. This paper uses the first ten waves of the HILDA survey data to investigate the inter-related dynamics of unemployment, low pay and skills under-utilisation in Australia, focussing on differences by gender and educational pathways. It shows that skills under-utilisation also exhibits scarring effects, in addition to earlier evidence on wage penalties and reduced job satisfaction. |
| Keywords: | education pathways, state dependence, dynamic estimation, job quality |
| JEL: | J24 J31 I21 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7440&r=cwa |
| By: | Meena, M.S.; Singh, K.M. |
| Abstract: | Inclusion of women in scientific and technological endeavors and realizing women’s intellectual potential is a big challenge as they play a decisive role in many facets of agricultural sector in India. Self-help groups (SHGs) have emerged as an effective mechanism for empowerment through group action. Capacity building through training programmes has a positive impact for motivating the rural women to adopt the food preservation technologies which improved the knowledge level significantly. In pluralistic extension system in India public extension plays an important role. Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology (CIPHET-a unit of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi), made efforts to support the public extension system through commercialization of processing technologies through social capital, capacity building and transfer of processing technologies among peer members and other rural women. The present case study documents the methods adopted by the Women Advisory Services Providers in providing advisory services to Women Self Help Groups in Punjab state of India in food processing sector and thereby making them socially and economically empowered. |
| Keywords: | Self Help Groups, Market Oriented Advisory Service, Gender empowerment |
| JEL: | O14 O15 O17 Q12 Q13 Q16 |
| Date: | 2013–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47829&r=cwa |
| By: | Ma, Chao; Gu, Hai; Li, Jiajia |
| Abstract: | Based on the definition of health care disparities in international health economic academia, the paper adopts the method of counterfactual analysis, using cross-section data of CHNS2009, to make a precise calculation of the inequity section of the urban-rural differences in health care, which refers to urban-rural disparities. According to research, 88.1%of urban-rural differences are inequity, mere 11.9% are supposed to legitimatable. In addition, the larger amounts of expenditures on healthcare, the more conspicuous urban-rural disparities become. |
| Keywords: | health care； inequity；urban-rural disparities；counterfactual |
| JEL: | I14 I18 I38 |
| Date: | 2012–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47655&r=cwa |
| By: | ITO Tadashi; IWAHASHI Roki |
| Abstract: | Departing from the conventional theoretical approach, which explains tourism demand by various kinds of determinants, this paper proposes a model in which the dynamics of the number of tourists is explained by probabilistic behaviors. More specifically, the model assumes two different probabilities—one for first-time travelers and the other for frequent travelers. Based on this theoretical framework, the paper empirically examines the dynamics of the number of tourists to Okinawa, Japan. We find that income and transport costs explain the probability of first-time visitors, but that they do not explain for that of repeat visitors. Instead, the congestion index, which reflects the busy lifestyle in large cities, does so. This suggests that tourism policy should differ depending on how well-established the location is as a tourist destination. Given that Okinawa is acknowledged as the foremost resort destination among the Japanese, the priority for the resources allocation of tourism promotion should be on the preservation of the natural environment and the original culture, thereby offering unusual experiences to the visitors. |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:13058&r=cwa |
| By: | Hiroshi Fujiki (Director and Senior Economist, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies (currently, Financial System and Bank Examination Department), Bank of Japan (E-mail: naohisa.hirakata@boj.or.jp)) |
| Abstract: | We cross-sectionally estimate the income elasticity of money demand using Japanese prefectural deposit statistics and Japanese prefectural accounts statistics from fiscal 1955 to 2009 based on the structural model of Fujiki and Mulligan (1996a). In doing so, we update the results of Fujiki and Mulligan (1996a) using a similar data set from fiscal 1955 to 1990. Our analyses using the sample period of the 1980s confirm the finding of Fujiki and Mulligan (1996b) that the cross- sectional income elasticities of the sum of demand deposits and interest- bearing deposits, similar to the M2 statistics, range from 1.2 to 1.4. Our analysis using the sample period after 1990 shows that the cross- sectional income elasticities decrease gradually over time, and reach the value of 0.93 in 2003. Our analysis using data from 2004 to 2009 shows that the cross-sectional income elasticities take a value from 0.6 to 0.7. These results, taken at face value, suggest that households and firms save the monetary inputs for their production activities over time: the additional demand for money for an additional unit of production activity increased by more than one unit by the 1990s, while it increased by less than one unit after 2000. |
| Keywords: | Demand for money, Income elasticity of money demand |
| JEL: | F12 F23 F32 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ime:imedps:13-e-04&r=cwa |
| By: | Tessier, Lou; Schwarzer, Helmut |
| Abstract: | This exploratory study presents the main results of research on: This exploratory study presents: (a) the possible contributions of corporate social responsibility to the extension of social security from a conceptual point of view; (b) the state of research on the topic and an analysis of the activity of more than 100 MNEs in terms of social protection, through the analysis of their commitments and public reporting; and (c) the experience of 15 MNEs in the implementation of social protection coverage for all of their employees. |
| Keywords: | corporate responsibility, social responsibility, social protection, multinational enterprise, survey, methodology, France, responsabilité de l'entreprise, responsabilité sociale, protection sociale, entreprise multinationale, enquête, méthodologie, France, responsabilidad de la empresa, responsabilidad social, protección social, empresa multinacional, encuesta, metodología, Francia |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ilo:ilowps:480969&r=cwa |
| By: | Abarcar, Paolo |
| Abstract: | Why do legal permanent migrants return to their home countries? How do home country conditions influence this decision? This paper uses exogenous home country exchange rate shocks arising from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis to distinguish return motivations of a national sample of Australian immigrants. On average, a 10% favorable exchange rate shock (a depreciation in the home country currency) leads to a reduced likelihood of return of 0.37 percentage points for migrants. The effect is found to be stronger for those who had pre-existing intentions to return, weaker for those undecided, and zero for those who initially stated their desire to stay. These results favor a life-cycle explanation for migrant behavior and reject the theory that migrants are target earners who seek to invest upon return home. |
| Keywords: | return migration, exchange rates, Asian Financial Crisis, migrants, immigrants |
| JEL: | F22 J15 J6 J61 O15 |
| Date: | 2013–06–25 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47832&r=cwa |
| By: | Daniel Ricardo Castelan |
| Abstract: | Este artigo analisa o padrão de aplicação de medidas antidumping (AD) por Brasil,Índia e China entre 1995 e 2010 e examina a participação desses países nas negociações em defesa comercial da Rodada Doha da Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC).Analisa, ainda, de que maneira a hipótese do processo decisório em defesa comerciale diferentes formas de relacionamento entre governo e setor privado contribuem para explicar os diferentes resultados de investigações AD entre Brasil, Índia e China nesse período. This paper analysis the application of AD measures by Brazil, India and China between 1995 and 2010 and exams the participation of these countries in the trade defense negotiations at the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO). The paper proposes the hypothesis that different decision making procedures and different patterns of relationship between the government and private sector in these countries partially explain the results of the AD investigations initiated by Brazil, India and China. |
| Date: | 2012–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipe:ipetds:1756&r=cwa |
| By: | Indon, Reginald M; Yu, Sandra O |
| Keywords: | local economic development, informal economy, Philippines, développement économique local, économie informelle, Philippines, desarrollo económico local, economía informal, Filipinas |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ilo:ilowps:478727&r=cwa |
| By: | Jha, A.K.; Singh, K.M.; Singh, R.K.P. |
| Abstract: | Market integration is an important determinant of responsiveness and behavior of the markets needed to formulate price policies. Indian wholesale milk markets are correlated with varying degrees of integration. Paper uses monthly wholesale prices of milk for the period from April 1997 to December 2009 for 5 major market centres viz. Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Kanpur. Prices were converted into real prices by deflating with wholesale price index of all commodities. Extent of integration among different markets is tested using method and procedure for testing co-integration suggested by Johansen (1991, 1995), and Johansen and Juselius (1990) and Engle and Granger (1987). Results reveal that milk markets of Kolkata and Mumbai are critical to sustaining long-run equilibrium which had strong bearings on the prices of other three markets viz, Delhi, Kanpur and Chennai. The speed of error correction for Kolkata and Mumbai markets are relatively faster than that of others and Kolkata and Mumbai markets can reinstate the long-run equilibrium quickly if appropriate error correction measures are taken. |
| Keywords: | Market Integration, Milk Markets, Wholesale market, India |
| JEL: | O11 O13 Q10 Q11 Q13 Q18 |
| Date: | 2013–05–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47721&r=cwa |
| By: | Mazumdar, Surajit |
| Abstract: | India’s story of the last two decades since the country made a transition to a liberal economic policy regime has many sides to it that may be considered somewhat remarkable in the light of her historical legacy. India has in this period certainly been an important part of the story of the ‘rise of the rest’ and appears to be one of the most successful cases of increased integration into the global economy despite her less remarkable history of industrialization. Instead of losing ground in global competition, Indian big business which till then had grown in the sheltered environment provided by protectionism has experienced a growth more rapid than in the past and stepped on to the global stage. Two decades of development under liberalization, however, has also had a very exclusive character, its narrow social base precluding the possibility of any broad social consensus on liberalization. The durability of such a process in the background of India’s long and stable history of having a formal political structure of representative democracy based on universal adult suffrage is then another of its remarkable features. This paper tries to explain how these phenomena that may appear surprising at first sight, are mutually interrelated and linked up with the process of liberalization itself. |
| Keywords: | 'Emerging' India, State and Capital, Liberalization and Development |
| JEL: | O1 O11 O14 O2 O53 P16 |
| Date: | 2012–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:36413&r=cwa |
| By: | Yingxin Shi (Department of Economics & Management, Dalian Nationalities University); Mototsugu Fukushige (Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University) |
| Abstract: | We overcome the problems of data availability and investigate the fiscal multipliers in autonomous prefectures in China. We first estimate the long-run elasticity of gross regional production with respect to fiscal expenditure in autonomous prefectures, using autoregressive distributed lag models. The estimated long-run elasticity is much less than unity, however, and the estimated fiscal multipliers for prefectures are between 0.61 and 4.93, with an average of 1.93. These results indicate that additional fiscal expenditure is still effective in increasing local income and promoting economic growth for most of the autonomous prefectures. |
| Keywords: | Fiscal Multiplier; Autonomous Prefecture; China; autoregressive distributed lag model |
| JEL: | O11 E62 H72 |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osk:wpaper:1310&r=cwa |
| By: | MIYAGAWA Tsutomu; TAKIZAWA Miho; EDAMURA Kazuma |
| Abstract: | Following Corrado et al. (2009), we measure intangible assets at the listed firm level in Japan. Compared to the conventional Tobin's Q, the revised Q including intangibles is almost 1 on average, as suggested by Hall (2000 and 2001). The standard deviation of the revised Q is smaller than that of the conventional Q. Estimation results based on Bond and Cummins (2000) show that greater intangible assets increase firm value. In particular, in the IT industries, on average, Tobin's Q is higher than that in the non-IT industries, and the stock market reflects the value of intangibles in the IT industries. These results suggest that the government should adopt policies that promote investment, including intangibles in the IT industries, and change in the industry structure in Japan. |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:13052&r=cwa |
| By: | MORIKAWA Masayuki |
| Abstract: | Human capital is a fundamental determinant of long-run economic growth. This paper, using micro data from the Employment Status Survey in 2007, analyzes the effects of postgraduate education on labor participation and wages. According to the analysis, 1) the employment-population rates of females and elderly people with a postgraduate education is higher than those with an undergraduate education. The negative effect of marriage and spouse's income on labor participation is small for postgraduate females. 2) The relative poverty rate is lower for people with a postgraduate education. 3) The wage premium for postgraduates relative to undergraduates is about 30%, but is small for public sector workers and large for the self-employed. 4) The postgraduate wage premium is similar in magnitude for male and female workers. 5) The wage reduction after age 60 is smaller for workers with a postgraduate education. 6) The private rate of return to postgraduate education exceeds 10%. Under the trend toward advanced technology and the growing demand for human capital, postgraduate education is becoming important to vitalize the Japanese economy. At the same time, expansion of postgraduate education may contribute to increasing the labor participation of females and elderly people. |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:rdpsjp:13046&r=cwa |
| By: | TANAKA Ayumu |
| Abstract: | The Great Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) Earthquake in 1995 affected numerous plants in Kobe. In this study, I focus on this earthquake and use plant-level data to re-examine the creative disaster hypothesis which states that natural disasters enhance the growth of firms or plants in the affected areas. I employ the matching method and the difference-in-difference (DID) approach to reveal the effects of the quake. The results show that the plants that survived in the most devastated districts of Kobe faced severe negative effects in terms of employment growth and value added in the subsequent three years. This result is not consistent with previous empirical studies that support the creative disaster hypothesis. |
| Date: | 2013–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:dpaper:13051&r=cwa |
| By: | Ma, Chao |
| Abstract: | Researchers are accustomed to choose the beginning of the year as the starting point to filter the recent literatures when they retrieve. This paper considers that the custom described above will lead to the Influential Trap which says that papers published at the year-end are less influential than that published at the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, papers from Economic Research Journal Issue 1 in 2000 to the Issue 12 in 2010 are using for an empirical study. It shows that papers published at the beginning of the year get more download and citations than which published at year-end significantly, even if the chief editor did not arrange to publish the core authors’ papers at the beginning of the year. |
| Keywords: | scientific literature; citations; retrieval; Economic Research Journal; influential |
| JEL: | C1 Z0 |
| Date: | 2013–05–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47657&r=cwa |
| By: | El Achkar Hilal, Souleima; Sparreboom, Theo; Meade, Douglas |
| Keywords: | employment, employment policy, projection, model, data collecting, role of ILO, Philippines, emploi, politique de l'emploi, projection, modèle, collecte des données, rôle de l'OIT, Philippines, empleo, política de empleo, proyección, modelo, recopilación de datos, papel de la OIT, Filipinas |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ilo:ilowps:480601&r=cwa |
| By: | Lu, L. (Tilburg University) |
| Abstract: | Abstract: The Chinese economy has grown at a spectacular speed during the past three decades while the financial system is not well developed in China. On the one hand, the informal financing channels, i.e. borrowing from family members, friends, moneylenders, trade credit, etc., may provide proper financing for the firms in China. On the other hand, the increasing intensity of banking competition may also enhance the access to finance in China. Chapter 1 introduces the Chinese economy; Chapter 2 shows the effect of trade credit on the export in China; Chapter 3 shows the effect of informal finance on the microenterprises in rural China; Chapter 4 shows the effect of co-funding on the growth of private firms in China; Chapter 5 shows the effect of the banking competition on alleviating the credit constraints of Chinese SMEs. The thesis basically supports the enhancing role of informal finance and the necessity of increasing the banking competition in China. |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ner:tilbur:urn:nbn:nl:ui:12-5906730&r=cwa |
| By: | Wesselbaum, Dennis |
| Abstract: | This paper estimates a stylized search and matching model on data for Australia covering the period 1978-2008. Using Bayesian methods we find that the model does a fairly good job in replicating the data. Surprisingly, we find a large value for the worker’s bargaining power and low vacancy posting costs. The model generates a strong Beveridge curve and matches the standard deviations of all variables but vacancies. We identify technology and separation shocks to be the main driver of fluctuations. |
| Keywords: | Bayesian Methods, Business Cycle Fluctuations, Search and Matching, Unemployment. |
| JEL: | C11 E24 E32 J6 J60 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47771&r=cwa |
| By: | Nunes, Sérgio; Lopes, Raul |
| Abstract: | The economic and financial crisis has brought firms, territories and countries before a set of restrictions to a greater or lesser extent, function as the conditioners of economic activity for several agents, also affecting their activities associated with the development of its innovation process. Innovation is a highly complex process, very contingent and onerously demanding. With innovation as a key source of high economic performance, it is important to understand to what extent the current economic crisis is to constrain the innovation of firms and thus, the process of wealth creation. The main objective of this paper is to show that the economic crisis has a different effect on firms, depending on the type of innovation strategies adopted. For this, we identify some relevant relations between the economic crisis and the critical factors of the innovation process, namely knowledge networks and context costs, special dimensions that we associate with the efficiency of institutional and relational capital. These objectives will be achieved using several statistical and econometric techniques, with information found in a database obtained through a business survey. Our main results show some interesting findings: first we find evidence that the most dynamic firms recognize less impact of the economic crisis. Second, we find empirical evidence that the knowledge networks can be taken as a resilient mechanism of firms to manage the negative impacts of the crisis. Finally, firms that recognize more importance to the reduction of context cost seems more resilient to economic crisis. We finish with some recommendations for regional policy. |
| Keywords: | knowledge networks, innovation process, economic crisis, context costs, territorial resilience, regional policy |
| JEL: | L25 O31 O33 O43 O52 R58 |
| Date: | 2013–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:47715&r=cwa |