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on Business, Economic and Financial History |
| By: | Skopek, Jan (Trinity College Dublin); Leopold, Thomas; Posegga, Oliver |
| Abstract: | Knowledge of the demography of multigenerational family ties is limited to the 20th and 21st centuries. Exploiting crowdsourced genealogies (the FamiLinx data), our research note empirically reconstructs the changing multigenerational family from pre-industrial colonial America (1700) up to the end of the gilded age (1910) in today’s United States in comparison with contemporaneous data from selected European regions. We estimate supply of and exposure to multigenerational kin measured by the number of, and years of life shared with, parents and grandparents. Multigenerational supply and exposure increased in the US and all European regions, but changes were modest compared to the surge that followed in the 20th century. Historically, the multigenerational family was consistently stronger in the US than in all European regions yet from 1850 onwards differences diminished. Our study documents, for the first time, the substantial cross-continental differences in the demographic-historical pathways leading up to the modern multigenerational family. |
| Date: | 2024–08–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:sxpaq |
| By: | Ivan Prates Sternick (Cedeplar/UFMG e PHARE/Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne) |
| Abstract: | This article reconsiders the status of the so-called four stages theory in Smith’s work, and its relationship with the historical accounts of the Lectures on Jurisprudence and Book III of the Wealth of Nations (WN). The article discusses some recent contributions to the literature, which claim that the stadial theory is either a kind of fictitious economic model or a counterfactual thought experiment completely divorced from historical experience. These interpretations usually conflate the stadial theory and what Smith presents as the “natural progress of opulence†in book III of WN, and accordingly imply there is a separation between a priori theory (economic model) and empirical history in Smith’s work. We will argue that, though the FST is indeed presented as a thought experiment, the progression depicted in it from shepperding to agrarian and then to commercial societies, in Smith’s vision, was actually followed by Antient Greece and Modern Europe. And that, therefore, it should not be conflated with the model of the “natural progress of opulence†, but rather that they fulfill different analytical roles in Smith’s work. |
| Keywords: | Adam Smith; Four Stages Theory; Philosophical History; Conjectural History |
| JEL: | B10 B11 B12 |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdp:texdis:td675 |
| By: | Hatton, Timothy J. (University of Essex) |
| Abstract: | Sailing ships persisted on emigrant voyages to Australia until the late nineteenth century and passage durations decreased by three weeks from the late 1840s to the mid-1880s. The shortening of voyages by sail has been linked to improvements in navigation and in sailing ship technology but without quantitative estimates. Analysis of 311 voyages of emigrant ships that sailed directly from a UK port to Adelaide from 1848 to 1885 shows that the decline in voyage duration was associated with increases in tonnage, iron construction and, above all, clipper-style ship design. Advances in ship technology also enabled captains to take fuller advantage of sailing the so-called great circle route to Australia. Examining a unique dataset of the tracks of 290 voyages from Europe to Melbourne in 1854-62, I find that larger and clipper-style ships reduced voyage durations, both directly, because they were faster on a given track, and indirectly, because they could better exploit the great circle route. |
| Keywords: | colonial Australia, sailing ships, voyage durations |
| JEL: | F22 N77 O33 |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17218 |
| By: | Daniel Kaufmann; Rebecca Stuart |
| Keywords: | Switzerland, discount rates, money market, financial integration, monetary union, 19th century |
| JEL: | E43 E44 F33 F45 N13 N23 |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irn:wpaper:24-05 |
| By: | Mink, Reimund |
| Abstract: | Am 4. September 2024 vollendet Professor Dr. Helmut Schlesinger sein 100. Lebensjahr. Von 1991 bis 1993 bekleidete er das Amt des Präsidenten der Deutschen Bundesbank. Zuvor war er in verschiedenen Positionen für die Bank tätig, unter anderem als langjähriger Vizepräsident (von 1980 bis 1991) sowie als Leiter der Hauptabteilung Volkswirtschaft und Statistik. Das bevorstehende Jubiläum bietet Anlass, das Lebenswerk des Jubilars zu beschreiben und zu würdigen. Für uns ehemalige Mitarbeiter war Helmut Schlesinger ein großes Vorbild und eine Quelle des Ansporns in vielerlei Hinsicht. Insbesondere vier Bereiche seiner Tätigkeiten haben unsere eigene Arbeit maßgeblich geprägt: Erstens seine Fähigkeit, ökonomisches Denken als eine Synthese aus Analyse und Statistik zu begreifen, zu vermitteln und zu organisieren, zweitens sein Verdienst, eine Stabilitätskultur in leitenden Positionen mitgeschaffen und bewahrt zu haben, drittens sein ordnungspolitisches Credo zur Preisstabilität und zur Unabhängigkeit der Zentralbank sowie viertens seine klaren Vorstellungen zu den Bedingungen einer erfolgreichen Europäischen Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion. Im Folgenden soll ein Überblick über die vier Schwerpunkte seiner Schaffensbilanz gegeben werden. In diesem Kontext ist insbesondere Schlesingers entscheidende Rolle bei der Schaffung der deutsch-deutschen Währungsunion 1990 sowie beim langjährigen Entstehungsprozess des Eurosystems und der Europäischen Zentralbank hervorzuheben. In der deutschen Bevölkerung, aber auch international hoch geachtet, wurde Helmut Schlesinger oft als die "Seele der Bundesbank" bezeichnet. Die Anforderungen, die er an jeden Einzelnen stellte, waren hoch. Er wurde von den Mitarbeitern sehr geschätzt, nicht zuletzt aufgrund seines großen Arbeitsethos und seiner unermüdlichen Schaffenskraft, die von Beständigkeit, Gradlinigkeit und Prinzipientreue geprägt waren. |
| Abstract: | Professor Dr. Helmut Schlesinger will be 100 years old on 4 September 2024. He was President of the Deutsche Bundesbank from 1991 to 1993 and held various positions at the bank before that, including long-serving Vice President (from 1980 to 1991) and Head of the Economics and Statistics Department. The forthcoming anniversary is an occasion to describe and pay tribute to his life's work. For us former employees, Helmut Schlesinger was a great role model and source of motivation in many respects. We were particularly impressed by four areas of his work: his ability to understand, communicate and organize economic thinking as a synthesis of analysis and statistics, his contribution to creating and maintaining a culture of stability in central positions, his regulatory credo on price stability and central bank independence, and his clear ideas on the conditions for a successful European Economic and Monetary Union. This article will address these four main areas of his work. Schlesinger played a pivotal role in the creation of the German-German monetary union in 1990 and in the long process of establishing the Eurosystem and the European Central Bank. Helmut Schlesinger was highly respected by the German population and internationally. He was often referred to as the "soul of the Bundesbank." He demanded a lot from everyone. He was held in high esteem by us employees because of his great work ethic and his tireless creativity, which was characterized by consistency, straightforwardness, and adherence to principles. |
| Keywords: | Zentralbanken, Bundesbank, Notenbankpolitik, Preisstabilität, Finanzmärkte und Finanzinstitute |
| JEL: | E58 N2 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:imfswp:302548 |
| By: | Tranvik, Andreas |
| Abstract: | Review of “Theater of Capital: Modern Drama and Economic Life” by Alisa Zhulina. |
| Date: | 2024–08–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:65mdh |
| By: | Gibbons, Stephen; Heblich, Stephan; Pinchbeck, Edward W. |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the reversibility of the effects of transport infrastructure investments, based on a programme that removed much of the rail network in Britain during the mid-20ℎ century. We find that a 10% loss in rail access between 1950 and 1980 caused a persistent 3% decline in local population relative to unaffected areas, implying that the 1 in 5 places most exposed to the cuts saw 24 percentage points less population growth than the 1 in 5 places that were least exposed. The cuts reduced local jobs and shares of skilled workers and young people. |
| Keywords: | rail; infrastructure; beeching cuts |
| JEL: | H54 R10 R40 N74 |
| Date: | 2024–09–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:124531 |
| By: | Keita, Moussa |
| Abstract: | Since the 17th century, the question of the economic valuation of time (in particular the working time) has been at the center of debates among economists, from classicists to neoclassicists, Marxists to contemporary schools of thought. Today, with the advent of the digital age, characterized by the pronounced robotization and digitalization of common uses in society, the question of the economic value of time remains more relevant than ever. By supporting it with the new consumer theory, this article attempts to contribute to economic theory by providing new insights of the foundations of the economic value of time. To this end, we propose a mathematical formalization in which economic time results from the combination of physical time and the mobilization of a set of physico-cognitive resources that can be assimilated to effort. |
| Keywords: | Allocation du temps, effort, pénibilité |
| JEL: | D01 D11 D13 |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:121886 |
| By: | Diyun Zhang (University of Oxford, United Kingdom) |
| Abstract: | Post-World War II saw a bipolar global structure emerge, altering warfare dynamics to include not only traditional wars but also civil conflicts, skirmishes, guerrilla tactics, and terrorism. Superpowers like the USA and USSR, often involved in regional disputes in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, have been criticized for escalating tensions. However, their absence sometimes led to greater instability and uncertainty, potentially sparking new conflicts. Aiming to investigate how and why hegemony absence has shaped the evolution of warfare in the region, this article examines the three significant conventional wars between India and Pakistan that transpired in South Asia —a region deeply entrenched in distinct historical and political significance. It reveals that the 1947 Kashmir War, occurring during a period of superpower preoccupation, failed to resolve tensions and laid the groundwork for future conflicts. The increased superpower involvement in the 1965 war significantly altered the conflict's scale and outcomes. In contrast, the 1971 war, with focused attention and support from the USA and the USSR, led to East Pakistan's independence, reshaping South Asia's geopolitical structure. Using process tracing and comparative analysis, this study highlights the critical impact of hegemonic absence on regional conflicts, marked by increased decision-making autonomy, diminished resource aid, and limited mediation efforts. This South Asian case study enriches our understanding of hegemony's role in international relations theory. |
| Keywords: | warfare, hegemony absence, geopolitics, South Asia |
| Date: | 2024–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0366 |
| By: | Bezencry, Gabriel F.; Jensen, Nicholas; Smith, Daniel J. |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the writings of socialist scholars who played a pivotal role in shaping Hayek’s perspective in TRTS, including William Beveridge, Stuart Chase, Henry Dickinson, Hugh Dalton, Evan Durbin, Oskar Lange, Harold Laski, Abba Lerner, Barbara Wootton, and the contributing authors in Findlay Mackenzie’s Planned Society (1937). Many of these socialist thinkers held two main hypotheses. First, industrial concentration was inevitable under capitalism. Second, they argued that government ownership or control of key economic sectors was necessary to protect democracy from industrial consolidation in the capitalist system and to reduce political opposition to complete state ownership or control over the means of production. Despite sharing Hayek’s concern for socialism’s potential erosion of democratic freedoms, these socialist hypotheses have received much less scholarly attention than Hayek’s TRTS. We conclude that Hayek formalized socialist scholars’ fears and developed a well-defined hypothesis that central planning could threaten democratic freedoms. |
| Date: | 2024–08–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:vad37 |
| By: | Paul H\"unermund; Ann Hipp |
| Abstract: | This study examines the inter-organizational and spatial mobility patterns of East German inventors following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Existing research often overlooks the role of informal institutions in the mobility decisions of inventors, particularly regarding access to and transfer of knowledge. To address this gap, we investigate the unique circumstances surrounding the dissolution of the German Democratic Republic, which caused a significant shock to establishment closures and prompted many inventors to change their jobs and locations. Our sample comprises over 25, 000 East German inventors, whose patenting careers in reunified Germany post-1990 are traced using a novel disambiguation and matching procedure. Our findings reveal that East German inventors in technological fields where access to Western knowledge was facilitated by industrial espionage were more likely to pursue inter-organizational mobility and continue their inventive activities in reunified Germany. Additionally, inventors from communities with strong political support for the ruling socialist party encountered difficulties in sourcing knowledge through weak ties, resulting in a lower likelihood of continuing to patent. However, those who overcame these obstacles and continued to produce inventions were more likely to relocate to West Germany, leaving their original social contexts behind. |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2409.01861 |
| By: | Przemysław Kot (Ignatianum University in Cracow, Poland) |
| Abstract: | This article will address the issue of communist propaganda in the Poznań Voivodeship from 1945 to 1956. This voivodeship was one of the 14 administrative regions into which Poland was divided at that time. The chronological scope covers the period from 1945, marking the occupation of the region by the Red Army and the subsequent takeover by the communists, to 1956, which marks the end of the Stalinist era in Poland. Due to space constraints, this article will address only the issue of propaganda methods, specifically individual agitation and mass propaganda. Before delving into the main part of the article, the current state of research on propaganda in Poland during the analyzed period will be presented, along with definitions of the term "propaganda." The primary sources for this work are archival materials stored in the State Archive in Poznań, produced by the Polish Workers' Party (Polska Partia Robotnicza), which, from 1948, was known as the Polish United Workers' Party (Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza), the organization responsible for conducting propaganda activities. |
| Keywords: | communism propaganda, Stalinist period |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0392 |
| By: | Poitras, Geoffrey |
| Abstract: | The origin of modern financial economics can be traced to early discounted expected value solutions for the price of life annuities. In contrast to the single life annuity valuations attributed to de Witt and Halley, the computational complexity of joint life annuity valuation posed difficulties. Following a brief review of various joint life annuity specifications, a history of joint life annuity issuance and valuation in northern Europe from the 13th to the mid-18th century is provided. With this background, the 1671 correspondence from de Witt to Hudde on possible methods for valuing joint life annuities is detailed. These methods are contrasted with the geometric method described in Halley (1693); providing impetus for examination of the analytical approximations developed by de Moivre and Simpson. |
| Date: | 2024–08–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:ak6gu |
| By: | Ignacio Andrés Rossi (UNGS/CIC-PBA) |
| Abstract: | El trabajo sistematiza y analiza el pensamiento económico de Jorge Schvarzer (1938-2008) en torno al proceso económico argentino entre 1975-1983, particularmente poniendo el foco en la disrupción del Plan económico de Alfredo Martínez de Hoz (1976-1981). El colapso político y económico del tercer peronismo a partir de 1975 y las transformaciones operadas por la dictadura de 1976 se diferenciaron de otros procesos críticos de la historia argentina por factores como el peso de la violencia política, la violación sistemática a los derechos humanos y los cambios estructurales en la economía. Actualmente, existen vigentes debates en torno a la interpretación de ese pasado, puntualmente en torno al peso que tuvieron las reformas emprendidas en la economía para explicar dificultades que, incluso, llegan hasta la actualidad. Según sostenemos, Schvarzer fue uno de los primeros en dilucidar que, motorizada por una relegitimación de las ideas neoliberales vinculadas a procesos coyunturales de crisis capitalistamundial y nacional, la política económica de Martínez de Hoz avanzó en reformas con el fin alterar las relaciones de fuerza en vísperas de una transformación integral del Estado y la economía. En este marco y con un perfil exploratorio, analizamos la producción de Schvarzer en medios de diferente naturaleza entre los años setenta y ochenta atendiendo a sus interpretaciones sobre la evolución de la política económica en el periodo. |
| Keywords: | dictadura, reforma financiera, deuda externa, inflación, Argentina. |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aoz:wpaper:335 |
| By: | Julia M. Puaschunder (Columbia University, USA) |
| Abstract: | Space travel has a long history throughout the 20th century. Outer space exploration started with governmental endeavors in the 1950s and 1960s. During the cold war era, the so-called ‘space-race’ between the United States and the former Soviet Union led to major direct discoveries and accomplishments in outer space but also entailed indirect positive effects on the economy and society. Through the turn of the millennium, a new phenomenon started with a shift of former governmental space travel to offering private space experiences. In the most recent years, there has been a rapid advent of commercialized space travel options, which are expected to rise in scale and scope in the future. Privatized space travel has many short-term, medium-term and long-term advantages ranging from innovation sparking economic growth, first-mover advantages as well as leadership establishment. Conquering outer space on private sector tickets, however, may also entail various costs, risks and disadvantages that may or may not be obviously noticeable. For instance, in the short-term horizon, space travel is still a highly risky activity that can lead to fatal accidents and serious long-term health impairments. In the medium-term, space contamination and pollution have been reported as worrisome developments, which will exacerbate if space travel becomes commercialized and affordable to the global masses. The commercialization of space travel is also a legal and regulatory lacuna that bears risks of unforeseen political tensions, environmental degradation and human-ecosystem unbalancing. This article strives to inform a broad range of space travel stakeholders – like politicians, regulators, global governance executives but also non-governmental, private sector actors – about potential opportunities as well as risks of commercialized space travel. The article is organized as follows: An introduction will briefly touch on the historical advent and preliminary attempts to regulate and control space travel as well as economic problems arising to classify space as a common good. The theoretical part will give a snapshot of the history of space law from an international law perspective with reference to similar cases, such as the law of the sea. The empirical analysis will offer a first attempt to conduct a law & economics cost-benefit analysis with discounting different time perspectives for space travel benefits and costs. The discussion closes with a prospect of future research opportunities on the law and economics of commercialized space travel. |
| Keywords: | behavioral economics, commercialization, commercialized space travel, common goods, cost-benefit analysis, discounting, law & economics, Liability Convention, Moon treaty, outer space, Outer Space Treaty, private sector, public sector, Registration Convention, space, space travel |
| Date: | 2024–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0364 |
| By: | Grace Yoon (Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, USA) |
| Abstract: | With the advent of social media and the digital landscape, mainstream activism is a distinguishing feature of young Americans today, referred to as millennials and Generation Z, i.e., those born between 1980 and 2012. However, this perspective overlooks the depth and authenticity of social involvement among these younger individuals, particularly through their embrace of literature and art—particularly spoken word poetry. Spoken word, rooted in oral tradition and championed by previous generations for its social impact, is finding renewed vigor among youth as a genuine means of articulating their societal concerns. This paper will examine the usage of spoken word poetry by contemporary Americans as a means of civic and political engagement. This exploration is contextualized through a modern lens, where digital platforms are amplifying voices traditionally marginalized in mainstream narratives, allowing spoken word poetry to evolve beyond its historical confines into a dynamic form of expression. This study extends the discussion to contemporary poets such as Amanda Gorman, Danez Smith, and Donald Glover who have harnessed the art form to address society’s most pressing issues. This analysis underscores the genre's burgeoning role within popular culture, evidenced by its integration into the music and public personas of artists who have traditionally not been associated with spoken word, thereby marking its reentry into the popular consciousness. At its core, the revival of spoken word among the youth, fueled by social media and digital platforms, represents a recent renovation to an old art form at different levels of pop culture. It is a testament to the enduring power of the spoken word to inspire, challenge, and mobilize. By embracing this tradition, today's generation is not merely participating in an act of revival but is actively redefining civic engagement and artistic expression. |
| Keywords: | spoken word, poetry, activism, social justice, Amanda Gorman, Danez Smith, Donald Glover |
| Date: | 2024–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0371 |
| By: | Mariam Bregvadze (Sokhumi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia) |
| Abstract: | For centuries, the politics and history of the world were connected with armed conflicts, wars, and the solution of one or another territorial or other political and economic issues by force. Constant conflicts and challenges forced the world community to think of creating some kind of peaceful mechanism that would lead to more peaceful aspects of human development. Armed military confrontations have always been and remain the most important challenge of the international community. As a result of the conflicts, the progress of human development has slowed down, causing enormous damage and destruction, especially in the twentieth century. As the world faced this reality, it became clear that a series of operations were needed to prevent armed conflicts and establish peaceful relations between states. Although many types of agreements and alliances have existed throughout history, significant changes have occurred over the past century and a half with the creation of international peacekeeping organizations tasked with promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes and preventing catastrophic conflicts. Despite tremendous progress, peaceful resolution of the conflict remains a major challenge, underscoring the continued need for coordinated action to achieve universal peace and security. This article discusses many strategies and ways to resolve military conflicts. Using dogmatic research methodology and comparative legal analysis based on practitioner experience, it evaluates the effectiveness of existing conflict resolution systems. The article makes recommendations, assesses current approaches to improving conflict resolution, and offers advice for promoting a more stable global order. |
| Keywords: | global politics, international organizations, armed confrontations, international community, peaceful dispute resolution, legal framework |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0399 |
| By: | Vincent Geloso; Alexis Akira Toda |
| Abstract: | American income inequality, generally estimated with tax data, in the 20th century is widely recognized to have followed a U-curve, though debates persist over the extent of this curve, specifically regarding how high the peaks are and how deep the trough is. These debates focus on assumptions about defining income and handling deductions. However, the choice of interpolation methods for using tax authorities' tabular data to estimate the income of the richest centiles -- especially when no micro-files are available -- has not been discussed. This is crucial because tabular data were consistently used from 1917 to 1965. In this paper, we show that there is an alternative to the standard method of Pareto Interpolation (PI). We demonstrate that this alternative -- Maximum Entropy (ME) -- provides more accurate results and leads to significant revisions in the shape of the U-curve of income inequality. |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2408.16861 |
| By: | 井上, ちひろ; INOUE, Chihiro; 奥山, 陽子; OKUYAMA, Yoko; 村上, 愛; MURAKAMI, Megumi; 森口, 千晶; MORIGUCHI, Chiaki |
| Abstract: | 本論文では、戦前日本の医師名簿を活用した実証研究を進めるための予備的分析として、明治42 年（1909年）刊行の『日本杏林要覧』、および昭和17年（1942年）刊行の『日 本医籍録』について、収録されている医師の網羅性と代表性を検証する。そして、これら の名簿の履歴情報を用いて戦前の医師の地理的移動を可視化する。 |
| Keywords: | 西洋医学, 医師資格, 医学教育, 医療アクセス, 地域間格差 |
| JEL: | I15 |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hit:hitcei:2024-02 |
| By: | Beyer, Jürgen |
| Abstract: | Ten years after the collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers and the onset of a global financial, economic, and debt crisis, this article reflects on the extent to which the economic crisis has brought about a turning point in societal terms. In light of the state of research on the relationship between financialization, democracy, and social conditions, it appears plausible that the processes of financialization, which contributed to the emergence of a crisis, were influenced by the financial crisis but not completely reversed. The changes in financial market regulation, which were implemented in response to the crisis, did not create pressure for a redesign of the financial system. Therefore, one cannot deduce a significant turning point in financial market regulation from the reform measures taken. However, there are clear indications that the financial crisis has had a lasting impact on the European integration process, trust in democracy, and the political culture. Accordingly, the financial crisis can be seen as a turning point in history, primarily due to its effects on social areas beyond the financial system. |
| Date: | 2024–08–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:jks8v |
| By: | Aurelia Sabiescu (School 117, Bucharest, Romania) |
| Abstract: | In the description of the days dedicated to the field research, De Martino studies ad locum tarantism and the aspects that this ancient custom encompasses, guaranteeing solutions to the “crisis of presence†. From this point of view, the magic of traditional societies can be perceived as a compass in understanding the primordial representations of the world, through which De Martino distances himself from Benedetto Croce's optics and seeks to understand the world of magic using Heidegger’s existentialist instruments, that provides answers to the problem of the “crisis of presence†and the “anxiety of history†, through the solution provided by the magic ritual, of the “rescue from the crisis†. In fact, this Heideggerian concept is treated separately in the chapter, trying to follow a series of aspects that can explain the many facets of this existential concept: from individual psychological aspects, such as suffering or fear of death, to the cultural frames of communities, that are contextualized historically. Last but not least, the intention to provide a clear and multi-angular image of tarantism made me investigate in detail De Martino’s itinerary in Lucania, following the way in which the scholar doubled the observation, which followed in detail the specific ritual steps, with the analysis of a theoretical nature, in order to verify to what extent there is a high degree of validity between the intuitions of his thinking and the specific-therapeutic function of the ritual dance. It is known about the relationship of the Italian scholar with Romanian folklore, treated and viewed in comparison with the forms of manifestation of the Italian popular culture. In this context, fascinating aspects and similarities of tarantism and the ritual elements of the Romanian Căluș were noted. By examining the convergence of these cultural practices, we gain a deeper understanding of the universal characteristics present in different folk traditions. |
| Keywords: | therapeutic function, magic ritual, traditional societies, tarantism, solution, ritual steps |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0414 |
| By: | Alin Boloca (University of Aurel Vlaicu Arad, Romania) |
| Abstract: | The issue of wars and military conflicts is one of the most significant social challenges confronting humanity today. The establishment of the United Nations aimed to protect future generations from the consequences of warfare by maintaining international peace and security. Regrettably, whether we realize it or not, we are part of a violent world where war and armed conflict still permeate our world today, and the number of armed conflicts and wars is alarmingly high. War is a problem that has both old and new connotations. The studies conducted so far to establish the number of armed conflicts and wars differ from one researcher to another, but their numbers are very high. These conflicts are characterized by brief interludes of peace, significant direct and collateral casualties, substantial economic losses, and far-reaching consequences, leaving deep scars on those directly affected and their descendants. This study endeavors to analyze the Christian perspective on war, addressing questions related to the attitude of Christian and Pentecostal believers toward contemporary and topical issues concerning war and armed conflicts. |
| Keywords: | War and armed conflicts, compassion, preservation of human life, Christian viewpoints, pacifism, activism, selectivism, self-reflection |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:smo:raiswp:0410 |
| By: | Kimolo, D.W; Odhiambo, N.M; Nyasha, S |
| Abstract: | This study examines the inflation dynamics in Rwanda from the 1970s to 2021, focusing on policies, trends, challenges, and opportunities in managing inflation. Secondary data sources were used for analysis. The findings show that Rwanda has adopted a multi-faceted approach to inflation control, including macroeconomic policies, economic diversification, and infrastructure investment. The study identifies three distinct episodes of high inflation in the 1970s, early 1990s, and 1994. Since the early 2000s, inflation trends have been erratic, with notable episodes in 2004, 2008-2009, 2012, and 2020. Challenges in managing inflation include import reliance, weak monetary policy transmission, and vulnerability of the agriculture sector. Opportunities for Rwanda lie in economic diversification, improved coordination between fiscal and monetary policy, and sound macroeconomic policies. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to inflation management, considering Rwanda's unique circumstances, to achieve stability and inclusive growth through sound policies, diversification, and infrastructure investment. |
| Keywords: | Price Level; Inflation; Deflation; Rwanda |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uza:wpaper:31542 |
| By: | Luhur Bima; Daniel Suryadarma; Menno Pradhan; Amanda Beatty; Emilie Berkhout |
| Keywords: | learning, learning crisis, numeracy, literacy, learning outcomes |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:agg:wpaper:3337 |
| By: | Chavis, Larry (Institute for American Indian Arts); Wheeler, Laurel (University of Alberta, Department of Economics) |
| Abstract: | We contribute to the effort to build a more inclusive discipline by offering lessons and teaching strategies derived from the Indigenous peoples of North America. Our proposed relational approach to teaching provides a framework that accommodates many practices already gaining traction in economics. Drawing on the literature on inclusive teaching practices as well as personal narratives from the classroom, we propose a set of principles of Indigenous-influenced economics courses, and we talk about how to translate those principles into applied teaching strategies. We believe borrowing from Indigenous pedagogies can build belonging and community in our classrooms, thereby contributing to a discipline that is more welcoming of a broader range of students. |
| Keywords: | teaching economics; Indigenous; Native American; First Nations; diversity; inclusion |
| JEL: | A20 |
| Date: | 2024–09–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:albaec:2024_005 |
| By: | Yadavindu Ajit (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research); Taniya Ghosh (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates historical inflation persistence in India under three distinct regimes: monetary targeting, multiple indicator, and inflation targeting (IT). Previous stud- ies for India relied heavily on mean-based estimation techniques, which are biased when inflation has a skewed distribution and do not account for the tail behavior of inflation. As a result, we use a quantile-based estimation approach to test for persistence in in- flation, gaining insights into the stationary properties of various parts of the distribution rather than just the mean. Our regime-specific results point to asymmetric inflation behavior with varying persistence depending on the inflation-affecting shock. We observe high inflation persistence during the multiple indicator regime, which declines with the implementation of IT, particularly in the Pre-COVID sample. Our findings show that imple- menting IT has been beneficial in reducing inflation persistence in developing countries such as India. However, the IT regime was not very effective during COVID-19 in reducing inflation persistence. Therefore, given the intransient nature of inflation in emerging economies, central banks should exercise more caution and patience. |
| Keywords: | Inflation persistence, Monetary regime, Quantile regression |
| JEL: | C21 E31 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ind:igiwpp:2024-015 |
| By: | Marc Fleurbaey; Domenico Moramarco; Vito Peragine |
| Abstract: | This paper proposes a unified framework to measure inequality and social welfare in the case in which both inequalities between groups and inequalities within groups matter, but priority is recognized to the former. This novel approach can be applied to a variety of contexts, including the analysis of inequalities of opportunity, ethnic discrimination and gender disparities. The empirical part of the paper analyzes two relevant cases: (i) the evolution of income inequality and ethnic discrimination in the United States during the period 1970-2014; (ii) the comparison of four European countries - Italy, Spain, France and Germany - in terms of inequality of opportunity. |
| Keywords: | Inequality; social welfare; horizontal inequalities; inequality of opportunity; ethnic discrimination |
| Date: | 2024–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eca:wpaper:2013/377703 |
| By: | Muñoz, Ercio |
| Abstract: | This paper estimates intergenerational mobility in education using data from 91 censuses in 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean spanning over half a century. It measures upward mobility as the likelihood that individuals will complete one educational stage more than their parents (primary education for those whose parents did not finish primary school, or secondary education for those whose parents did not complete secondary school). It measures downward mobility as the likelihood that an individual will fail to complete a level of education (primary or secondary) that their parents did attain. In addition, the paper explores the geography of educational intergenerational mobility using nearly 400 “provinces” and more than 6, 000 “districts, ” finding substantial cross-country and within-country heterogeneity. It documents a decline in the mobility gap between urban and rural populations and small differences by gender. It also finds that upward mobility is increasing and downward mobility is decreasing over time. Within countries, the level of mobility correlates closely to the share of the preceding generation that completed primary school. In addition, upward mobility is negatively correlated with distance to the capital and the share of the workforce employed in agriculture, but is positively correlated with the share of the workforce employed in industry. The opposite is true of downward mobility. |
| Keywords: | Socioeconomic mobility;Education;Latin America and the Caribbean |
| JEL: | D63 I24 J62 |
| Date: | 2024–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:13623 |
| By: | Han, Wontae (KOREA INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY (KIEP)); Kim, Hyo Sang (KOREA INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY (KIEP)); Song, Saerang (KOREA INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY (KIEP)); Kim, Junhyong (Korea Development Institute(KDI)) |
| Abstract: | 자본유출입은 국경 간 리스크 전이의 주요 경로로 작용하는데, 급격한 자본이동하에 대외충격은 대내 시스템적 리스크를 촉발시켜 금융위기의 가능성을 높인다. 오늘날과 같이 미·중 전략 경쟁, 러시아-우크라이나 사태, 이스라엘-하마스 전쟁, 보호주의 및 자국우선주의 강화 등의 영향으로 무역 규범 및 금융 인프라의 국제레짐 (international regime)이 제재도구화되는 탈세계화 추세는 국가 간 자본이동의 파급효과에 더 큰 불확실성을 더하고 있다. 이에 따라 본 보고서에서는 팬데믹 위기 이후 주요 대외충격과 정책대응 및 국경 간 자본유출입 현황을 파악하고, 불확실성이 자본유출입에 미치는 효과를 재점검한다. This report examines the impact of external shocks on cross-border capital flows and major macroeconomic variables, and analyzed the effects of economic stabilization policies on economic conditions. An open economy with free cross-border capital flows has achieved faster economic growth than a closed economy with similar resource endowments, thanks to a more sophisticated financial system and robust macroeconomic institutions and policies. However, it is well known that building a sophisticated financial system by opening capital markets has the advantage of promoting economic growth, but it also increases the risk of economic crises. Kaminsky and Reinhart(1999) confirmed that in 18 out of 26 banking crisis episodes that occurred from 1970 to 2000, the financial markets of the respective countries had been opened within five years prior to the onset of the crisis. As the freedom of cross-border capital movement increases, large-scale capital flows into fast -growing countries in pursuit of higher investment returns, leading to an increase in asset prices and triggering credit expansion. Ultimately, large capital inflows can lead to the overvaluation of a country's currency, increase the current account deficit, and increase the likelihood of a "sudden stop" economic crisis. Reinhart (2012) reports that the precursors of financial crises are large capital inflows accompanied by rapid increases in stock prices, surges in real estate prices, -shaped economic growth rates, and a sharp increases in debt levels. In other words, excessive capital inflows stimulate lending, boost asset prices, and increase debt in both the private and public sectors. Therefore, cross-border capital flows play a positive role in activating investment for economic growth but, at the same time, can transmit shocks in the external economy, causing spillovers and increasing macroeconomic volatility. (the rest omitted) |
| Keywords: | External Shocks; Capital Flows; macroeconomic variables; economic stabilization policies |
| Date: | 2023–12–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:kieppa:2023_023 |
| By: | Mateo Hoyos (Division of Economics, CIDE) |
| Abstract: | This paper documents that the relationship between tariffs and growth varies significantly with economic structure. Using a panel of 161 countries from 1960 to 2019 and employing a local projections difference-in-differences strategy, I show that tariff reductions are associated with higher GDP per capita in manufacturer countries but lower GDP per capita in nonmanufacturer ones. I then reveal that these results are consistent with, and possibly explained by, heterogeneous changes in productivity, capital accumulation, and the manufacturing share of GDP. The heterogeneity is further confirmed by a comprehensive set of robustness checks. The findings suggest that the recent rise in protectionism in manufacturer countries might end up being harmful, and that existing calls for further liberalization in nonmanufacturers could have unintended consequences. |
| Keywords: | tariffs, trade liberalization, trade policy, growth, economic structure |
| JEL: | F14 F63 O24 O47 |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:emc:wpaper:dte638 |