|
on Transition Economics |
| By: | Hartmut Lehmann; Alexander Muravyev; Norberto Pignatti; Anzelika Zaiceva |
| Abstract: | Using unique data from a supplement to the RLMS on displaced workers in Russia and from the Ukrainian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (ULMS) we analyze and provide the first solid evidence on displacement in Russia and Ukraine in a period of growth. Our estimates establish that quits dominate separations but that displacement rates are clearly not negligible amounting to between 2.5 and 3 percent of employment in Russia and between 2 and 5 percent in Ukraine. We also show that displacements are not random. Results that are valid across both countries demonstrate that unskilled and less educated workers are more affected as are workers in the agricultural sector. In countries like Russia and Ukraine where unemployment benefits are not generous or non-existent for the average worker long spells of non-employment can impose large monetary costs on workers. Presenting cumulative return rates for job movers we point to these costs by highlighting the fact that there is a very sizable privileged group of displaced workers who finds a new job within a very short time while the majority has difficulty in finding new employment. It is this group (larger in Ukraine than in Russia), which is not so rapidly absorbed by the labor market, that should be the target of social policy intervention by the Russian and Ukrainian governments. |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwesc:diwesc24&r=tra |
| By: | J. David Brown; John S. Earle; Hanna Vakhitova; Vitaliy Zheka |
| Abstract: | How do new and foreign firms achieve superior productivity? Do they conduct more and better R&D? Or do they distinguish themselves through computerization and organizational capital? We investigate the determinants of and returns to several types of investment, using a panel of over 40,000 Ukrainian industrial firms in 2000-2007. Foreign firms engage in more non-technological investment and IT and less in R&D than domestic private firms. Similarly, new firms invest more in non-technological capital and IT and less in R&D than initially state-owned firms. Productivity gains from R&D and non-technology investment are insignificantly different across ownership types, whereas foreign firms achieve much higher returns to IT investment than other firms. These results suggest that foreign firms outperform others via organizational capital that is better able to exploit IT investment. New firm productivity growth is a result of higher investment volume rather than investment efficiency. |
| Keywords: | R&D, information technology, foreign ownership, transition, Eastern Europe,<br /> Ukraine |
| JEL: | D21 D24 F23 G34 L33 O32 P31 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwesc:diwesc18&r=tra |
| By: | Yevgeniya Shevtsova |
| Abstract: | In the last quarter-century there has been a considerable increase in the openness of the Ukrainian economy. The percentage of Ukrainian exporting firms has risen sharply after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and has been exhibiting strong positive dynamics since then. At the same time the structure of Ukrainian export has undergone through some significant changes. Row materials and semi-processed products that constituted the largest part of the Ukrainian export during 1990s have been partially replaced by the manufactured products of higher levels of processing. In the current paper the research focus is made on exploring export-productivity linkages at the level of individual firms on the basis of the database covering main output sectors of the Ukrainian economy for the period 2000-2005. During the past decade increasing number of studies has emerged on the link between exporting activity and productivity at the micro-level. The literature suggested a number of ways by which engaging into international trade could be beneficial to the firm's as well as aggregate productivity growth. |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwesc:diwesc20&r=tra |
| By: | Thomas Dohmen; Melanie Khamis; Hartmut Lehmann |
| Abstract: | In our research we relate demographic characteristics to risk attitudes that in turn are linked to the incidence of informal or formal employment. Using the 2007 wave of the Ukrainian longitudinal monitoring survey (ULMS) to study the Ukrainian labor market, we first show that the determination of our measures of risk attitudes by carefully chosen predetermined demographic variables in Germany in 2004 can be replicated with the ULMS data. The measures employed thus seem to catch persistent patterns of risk attitudes across time and space. The ULMS allows the distinction between voluntary and involuntary informal employment. Our preliminary findings show that those workers who are willing to take more risks engage in voluntary informal employment relationships or are in formal or informal self-employment, both of which states we consider voluntary. These results provide additional evidence to support the hypothesis that the labor market in Ukraine is segmented in three ways: a formal sector co-exists with an informal sector which in turn has a voluntary "upper tier", where a minority of informally employed workers is located, and an involuntary "lower tier", where the majority of informally employed workers finds itself. |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwesc:diwesc22&r=tra |
| By: | Yevgeniya Shevtsova |
| Abstract: | In the following chapter the focus will remain on exploring the linkages between plants' exporting activity and productivity performance. However, now I will try to widen the scope of the study to explore export dynamics at the intensive and extensive margin. Indeed the existence of plant-level productivity gains from international market exposure is the corner-stone of the trade policy. Productivity gains from engagement in international trade usually serve as a main justification of the trade liberalization policies. Pre-entry productivity gains are mainly associated with a higher level of competition in international markets, which requires potential entrants to improve their efficiency before the entry. Post-entry gains usually come in the form of increased returns to innovation, economies of scale, better managerial practices, reduced X-inefficiency, etc. |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwesc:diwesc21&r=tra |
| By: | Saul Estrin; Martha Prevezer |
| Abstract: | This paper argues that the role of informal institutions is central to understanding the functioning of corporate governance. We focus on the four largest emerging markets; Brazil, Russia India and China – commonly referred to as the BRIC countries. Our analysis is based on the Helmke and Levitsky framework of informal institutions and focuses on two related aspects of corporate governance: firm ownership structures and property rights; and the relationship between firms and external investors. We argue that for China and some states of India, ‘substitutive’ informal institutions, whereby informal institutions substitute for and replace ineffective formal institutions, are critical in creating corporate governance leading to positive domestic and foreign investment. In contrast, Russia is characterized by ‘competing’ informal institutions whereby various informal mechanisms of corporate governance associated with corruption and clientelism undermine the functioning of reasonably well set-out formal institutions relating to shareholder rights and relations with investors. Finally Brazil is characterized by ‘accommodating’ informal institutions which get round the effectively enforced but restrictive formal institutions and reconcile varying objectives that are held between actors in formal and informal institutions. |
| Keywords: | institutions (informal and formal), corporate governance, shareholder rights, suppliers of finance, emerging markets |
| Date: | 2010–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cgs:wpaper:31&r=tra |
| By: | Alexander M. Danzer |
| Abstract: | The retirement decision is under researched in developing and emerging countries, despite the topic's close relation to many development issues such as poverty reduction and social security, and despite the fact that population ageing will increasingly challenge the developing world. This paper uses a natural experiment from Ukraine to estimate the causal effect of a threefold increase in the legal minimum pension on labor supply and retirement behaviour at older ages. Applying difference-in-difference and regression discontinuity methods on two independent nationally representative data sets, the paper estimates a pure income effect that caused additional retirement of 30 to 47 percent. Additional evidence suggests that retirement incentives are stronger at the lower tail of the educational distribution and that the strict Labor Code curbed responses at the intensive labor supply margin. Although the substantial pension increase provided strong disincentives to work and put a heavy fiscal burden on Ukraine, it significantly reduced the propensity of falling into poverty for those in retirement. |
| Keywords: | Labor supply, retirement, minimum pension, pure income effect, poverty,<br /> difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity |
| JEL: | J26 I38 O15 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwesc:diwesc23&r=tra |
| By: | Marco G. Ercolani; Zheng Wei |
| Abstract: | We employ the Lewis-Ranis-Fei theory of dualistic economic development as a framework to investigate China's rapid growth over 1965-2002. We find that China's economic growth is mainly attributable to the development of the non-agricultural (industrial and service) sector, driven by rapid labour migration and capital accumulation. Our estimates of the sectoral marginal productivity of labour indicate that China's 1978 Economic Reform coincided with moving from phase one to phase tow growth, as defined in the Lewis-Ranis-Fei model. This implies that phase three growth could be achieved by commercialisation of the Chinese agricultural labour market. |
| Keywords: | agricultural, development, dualistic growth, labour migration, subsistence |
| JEL: | O14 O15 O18 O41 O47 O53 |
| Date: | 2010–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bir:birmec:10-06&r=tra |
| By: | Ljubenovic Ralevic, Ivana; Djuric, Dejan; Djuric, Dragana |
| Abstract: | The last decade of the twentieth century was very successful for a number of ex socialist countries of Central Europe. That was the decade of prosperity, progress, and getting closer to the modern and developed European countries. This region (Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia) comprises group of countries in transition, which are in the front line in the process oh transformation of their economic systems, implementation of economic reforms and attracting private foreign investments, first of all, foreign direct investment. In contrast to these countries, in the area of former Yugoslavia, the early 1990s were the years of complete disintegration, marked by economic sanctions, huge human causalities, and vast destructions. The dramatic political situation Serbia was in, caused heavy consequences on its social-economic development. The result is that Serbia today is one of the least developed countries in Europe. Position of Serbian economy drastically aggravated in the area of international capital flow. In this paper we analyze one form of international capital flow that can start up the Serbian economy â foreign direct investment. In the period to come, the development of our country will mostly depend on the value of foreign investments. Without direct foreign investments and conditions of low domestic savings, limited opportunities for crediting, lack of management knowledge, modern technology and export routes, there is not going to be any economic development in Serbia. In that sense, the most prominent is the need to affirm our competitory advantages and to remove the existing limitations for foreign investments so that conditions for foreign investors to realize in the fastest way their ideas for investments are created. |
| Keywords: | Capital flow, Foreign direct investment, Serbian economy, Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, Public Economics, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57489&r=tra |
| By: | Jiandong Chen; Dai Dai; Ming Pu; Wenxuan Hou; Qiaobin Feng |
| Abstract: | A literature review indicates that the main problem in calculating the Gini coefficient of Chinese residents’ income is the shortcomings of the data sources. Though many studies have tried to overcome these limitations through decomposing the nationwide Gini ratio by urban and rural areas, the final results have been underestimated, due to the overlap term or residual in the decomposition. This paper analyses the effects of the overlap term on calculating the overall Gini coefficient through a statistical approach, and estimates Chinese Gini ratios since economic reform and open door policies were adopted. Based on decomposing the Chinese Gini coefficient from 1978 to 2006, the authors find that the key factor of income inequality comes from income disparity between rural and urban inhabitants. The authors investigate the features of this income inequality between rural and urban areas. Furthermore, statistical approaches are employed to evaluate the effects of the development of urbanisation and rural-to-urban average income on the income inequality of the whole nation. The results show that accelerating the pace of urbanisation is the key issue to improving Chinese income disparity. On the basis of the above analysis, the paper proposes related policies for policy-makers. |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bwp:bwppap:10909&r=tra |
| By: | Kowalski, Andrzej; Wigier, Marek; Chmielinski, Pawel |
| Abstract: | Paper is aimed in assessment of first period of Polandâs membership in EU and covering agriculture and rural areas with the support under the Common Agricultural Policy in the context of future challenges faced by the agricultural policy. Analysis shows that accession to EU became a strong impulse for growth of the Polish food economy, however the main challenge for the Common Agricultural Policy in future, from Polandâs perspective, will be strengthening the multifunctional agriculture, i.e. territorial cohesion and positive effects of agricultural activity on natural environment. |
| Keywords: | multifunctional agriculture, common agricultural policy, rural development, Poland, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57352&r=tra |
| By: | Jan van der Borg (Department of Economics, University Of Venice Cà Foscari); Erwin van Tuijl (Erasmus University Rotterdam); Alessandro Costa (Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection) |
| Abstract: | After reading Richard Florida’s work (e.g. Florida, 2003) on the creative industry and on the importance of the creative class for urban development in post-industrial economies, many cities in Europe and the USA have started to invest in creativity in general and in design in particular. Much less is known about the role of creativity in industrial economies. This paper analyses the role of design in the economic and social development of China’s political and cultural capital Beijing. We will try to identify the main success factors and barriers for the design business and show how design can be further used for social and economic development of the city. Backed up by conspicuous state investments and by fast decision making, industrial areas have been transformed and neighbourhoods have been revitalised, infrastructure has been upgraded, and some modern iconic landmarks are added to the collection of old monuments. Moreover, priority has changed from “Made in China” to “Create in China”, allowing economic activities to move upwards in the value chain. Nevertheless, and despite the presence of key research and art institutes, further developments of the design sector and the use of design in other (manufacturing) sectors will still be a huge challenge. |
| Keywords: | Creative Industry, Design, Urban Development, Industrial Economy, Beijing, China |
| JEL: | P21 R11 R30 R38 R53 Z11 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ven:wpaper:2010_03&r=tra |
| By: | Zekic, Stanislav; Gajic, Milivoj; Lovre, Koviljko |
| Abstract: | The process of transition and, within it, the agricultural transformation in the Western Balkan countries resulted, in the first phase, in the weakening of the developmental performances in agriculture. Such tendencies widened the gap between the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU countries, which continued their steady increase in agricultural productivity. Unfavorable tendencies in agricultural productivity adversely affected its competitiveness, and, consequently, the competitiveness of the rural economy as a whole. The effect of the low agricultural competitiveness on the competitiveness of the rural economy is determined by the importance of agriculture in the rural economy, which is substantial in the West Balkan countries. |
| Keywords: | Productivity, Agriculture, Competitiveness, Rural Development, the West Balkans, Transition, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, International Development, Productivity Analysis, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57398&r=tra |
| By: | Dmitriev, Mikhail |
| Abstract: | This is one of the first effort to make structural estimation of fertility in Russia.Normal distribution of random individual effect and extreme value distribution of the error are assumed. |
| Keywords: | Dynamic Discrete Choice Estimation;Fertility; Demography; Russia |
| JEL: | J13 |
| Date: | 2009–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:21150&r=tra |
| By: | Gerasimchuk, Ivetta; Ilyumzhinova, Kamila; Schorn, Alistair; Kraft, Georg; Smith, Kevin; Lottmann, Juergen; Eckstein, Mark; Khmeleva, Ekaterina; Perelet, Renat; Shvarts, Evgeny |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this report is to serve as a post financial crisis handbook that will help both financiers and environmentalists in Russia to cooperate in establishing a ‘greener’ and less risky financial system in a similar manner to which this process is underway in other emerging markets such as China, Brazil and South Africa. The report provides an overview of the evolution of international mechanisms of environmental and social responsibility in the global financial sector, quantifies the scope of exposure of foreign and Russian financial institutions to environment-intensive sectors of the Russian economy, and concludes with recommendations regarding actions that might be implemented by both the Russian government and domestic financial institutions. The report has been prepared within the framework of the project ‘Integration of Environmental and Social Safeguards, Standards and Processes and the Climate Change Agenda in the Russian Finance Sector’ implemented by WWF-Russia and WWF-Germany with the financial assistance of the Federal Agency for the Environment (Umweltbundesamt/UBA) under the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), and with the support of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in collaboration with the Equator Principles Outreach Group for Russia. |
| Keywords: | responsible investment; sustainable finance; emerging markets; ESG; SRI; CSR |
| JEL: | G11 Q56 P28 |
| Date: | 2009–12–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:21098&r=tra |
| By: | David Kocourek; Filip Pertold |
| Abstract: | We investigate the impact of a change in the Czech early retirement scheme on the labor force participation of older male workers. Using the difference-in-differences method we find that a reduction in early retirement benefits by 2–3% leads to approximately the same decrease in the probability of being inactive. Our finding implies high elasticity of older male workers’ participation rate. The public policy implication is that a reduction in early retirement benefits can serve as a very effective tool to increase the participation of older men in the Czech labor market. |
| Keywords: | Czech Republic, early retirement, labor market participation. |
| JEL: | J21 J26 |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cnb:wpaper:2009/7&r=tra |
| By: | Ceranic, Slobodan; Maletic, Radojka; Jankovic Soja, Svjetlana |
| Abstract: | Development of strong and competitive sector of small and medium enterprises has very important role in process of total transition in Republic of Serbia. This sector should be one of the guidelines of economical development in the future, like in developed countries. Within the ²Strategy of development of SME and entrepreneurship in Republic of Serbia from 2003 to 2008² government of the Republic of Serbia, not accidentally, placed, among many other sectors (which are expected to contribute and boost economical development, increase the employment rate, and realize increased foreign export earnings), the sector of agricultural products processing. It can be concluded that significant contribution from agriculture to improvement of overall economic status is expected. Accession to EU should be considered not only as the opportunity, but also as a serious task in agriculture restructuring. However, aggravating circumstance, in regard to export of agricultural and food products, first of all to EU countries, is the fact that this market is under strict protective measures within the policy of agriculture and measures of agrarian protectionism. In such conditions, it is very difficult for producers and food processors to enter such closed markets. Considering the flexibility of small and medium enterprises with regard to production programs, as well as their capability to adjust to economical trends, it can be expected that they become one of the most important subjects of support of agribusiness development in Republic of Serbia. |
| Keywords: | SME, agribusiness development, transition, market, Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, Community/Rural/Urban Development, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57345&r=tra |
| By: | Simonovic, Zoran; Simonovic, Dragoljub; Gligic, Perica |
| Abstract: | Process of transition movements in Republic of Sebia is in progress. Transition movements have not bypassed agrarian sector. Market agriculture should gain significance along this process. On this occasion we would like to emphasis two elements which affect development of Market Agriculture. Those are regionalization and specialization of agriculture. In study about agrarian regions in conditions of transition two charts are given, that pinpoint the essence of natural foundation and market opportunities in transition circumstances. Study of agro-identities starts with introspection of each reagion in respect of its natural values: plain (Vojvodina), hilly ( Sumadija), mountain-hilly (Pester). Therefore, plain region is specialized for production of stable livestocking (cattle and hogs), mountain-hilly is based on pasture (sheep and cattle) etc. Regional disposition of some types of livestocking is limited by natural conditions and structure of agricultural area. Essentially, the level of livestock farming has been determined by economic progress of the region and Market development. The certain other regions are specialized in viticulture, fruit-growing or vegetable growing (vicinity of big cities). In time of transition, i.e. transferring to Market Agriculture, issue of regional identity has become more actual than ever. This could be best illustrated on the example of forming specialized cooperatives, agricultural markets and companies (plum and apple production and other agricultural cropping) spread throughout particular areas of Serbia. |
| Keywords: | Agrarian regions, Regionalization, Specialization, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, International Development, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57417&r=tra |
| By: | Istudor, Nicolae; Petrescu, Irina Elena |
| Abstract: | In the context of the present world economical crisis, the pre-accession and structural funds assigned by the European Union (which have been and still are high for Romania) can represent an important financial support for ensuring the sources of sustaining the investments meant to contribute to increase the living standard in rural areas, in the case of acceding countries and for member states that joined in 2004 and 2007. Still, for countries it is important to have a high level of acceding these funds, because history proved that few countries absorbed the whole amount of money from the pre-accession funds (Czech Republic is a positive example in this context) and the structural funds (Spain and Portugal are positive examples in this context). An important factor in accessing European funds is represented by the structures of consultancy (public and private) that may advise the potential beneficiaries of these funds, for both elaborating the projects of investments and their implementation. |
| Keywords: | accessing, beneficiaries, consultancy, economical crisis, rural development, European funds, projects of investments, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Labor and Human Capital, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57348&r=tra |
| By: | Barbara Despiney (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - CNRS : UMR8174 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - Paris I); Waldemar Karpa (ENSTA - Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées ParisTech) |
| Abstract: | In 2007 Poland and Ukraine were awarded by UEFA to co-host the 2012 European Football Championships. This first "mega-event" to take place in the transition countries is commonly intended to yield large and lasting economic bebefits to the host cities. This point of view is rarely shared by economists, who are aware of misuse of economic impact estimates. In this paper, we modify the Keynesian-style multiplier model to investigate the effects of Euro 2012-related spending on local economies. Our goal is two-fold : on the one hand, we can easily investigate the impact on each demand component, on the other hand, we wish to calculate the magnitudes of these multipliers in order to judge the credibility of potential regional welfare benefits. This analysis is strenghtened by taking into account the regional supply constraints. Our study also reviews the existent body of work on mega-sporting events and our results are in line with those researches who argue that the true economic impact of these competitions is overestimated by a large margin. Finally, we stress the organizational and institutional dimension of hosting a "mega-event" by the transition and developing countries that are constantly struggled to tackle the colossal tasks of upgrading stadiums and modernizing airports, rail and road networks and hotels. |
| Keywords: | Transition, sport economics, Economic impact, mega-events. |
| Date: | 2010–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:cesptp:halshs-00461458_v1&r=tra |
| By: | Martha Prevezer; Pietro Panzarasa; Tore Opsahl |
| Abstract: | This study examines the spatial distribution and social structure of processes of learning and knowledge creation within the context of the inventor network connecting Chinese patent teams. Results uncover mixed tendencies toward both geographic co-location and dispersion arising from combined processes of intra-cluster learning and extra-cluster networking. These processes unfold within a social network that becomes less fragmented over time: as a giant component emerges and increases in size, social distances among inventors become longer. The interplay between geographic and network proximity is assessed against China’s institutional environment. Implications of the findings are discussed for regional development and policy-making. |
| Keywords: | clusters; knowledge transfer; social networks; patenting |
| JEL: | L11 M13 O53 R12 |
| Date: | 2010–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cgs:wpaper:32&r=tra |
| By: | Karpati, Laszlo; Csapo, Zsolt; Vanyi Arvane, Georgina |
| Abstract: | Rural development has become more and more important issue in Hungary since rural areas also contribute to the efficiency of the national economy. Development of rural areas also very important issue in the European Union, which could contribute to the improvement of profitability of small family businesses, higher employment rate in rural areas as well as slow down the migration of people from rural into urban areas. Nowadays the bee-keeping - as one of the activities can provide alternative income for small businesses in rural areas â has become more and more important topic in Hungary. Bee-keeping sector provides income roughly 15 thousands families in Hungary. At the same time it takes important role in the preservation of rural landscape, traditions and their regional values. However, the sector has serious problems, as well (for instance quality issues, competitors on the market, etc.). It can be stated that the market position of Hungarian honey can be preserved through the improvement of quality assurance and product development. These developments can be carried out by the utilization of national and European Union funds. |
| Keywords: | Honey production, EU funds, Product innovation, Rural development, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Livestock Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57486&r=tra |
| By: | Heshmati, Almas (Seoul National University); Kumbhakar, Subal C. (Binghamton University, New York) |
| Abstract: | In the literature technical change is mostly assumed to be exogenous and specified as a function of time. However, some exogenous external factors other than time can also affect technical change. In this paper we model technical change via time trend (purely external non-economic) as well as other exogenous (external economic) factors (technology shifters). We define technology index based on the external economic factors which are indicators of ‘technology’. Thus our definition of production function is amended to accommodate several technology shifters which are not separable from the traditional inputs. That is, these technology shifters allow for non-neutral shift in the production function. In doing so we are able to decompose technical change (a component of TFP change) into two parts. One part is driven by time (manna from heaven) and the other part is related to producer specific external economic factors. These exogenous technology shifters are aggregated (via hedonic aggregator functions) into several groups (technology indices) for parsimonious parametric specification. The empirical model uses panel data on Chinese provinces. We identify a number of key technology shifters and their effect on technical change and TFP growth of provinces. |
| Keywords: | technical change, total factor productivity growth, technology indicator, technology shifter, Chinese provinces |
| JEL: | C33 C43 D24 O18 O47 |
| Date: | 2010–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4784&r=tra |
| By: | Bronisz, Urszula; Heijman, Wim |
| Abstract: | This article aims at presenting different approaches to the phenomenon of social capital. The concept of social capital is ambiguous and that is why we will highlight a number of definitions of this notion. The central attention of the paper focuses on the relationship between social capital and regional development and competitiveness. The fundamental question concerns the impact of social capital on the regional economic performance. Hence, we will survey the empirical examination of 16 Polish regions in terms of social capital. We will also study whether the regional level of social capital depends on the level of competitiveness. The purpose of this article is also to make a contribution to the discussion concerning the relationship between economic development and social capital. |
| Keywords: | Social capital, Regional growth, Polish regions, Community/Rural/Urban Development, International Development, Labor and Human Capital, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57395&r=tra |
| By: | Popovic, Rade; Knezevic, Marija; Tosin, Milos |
| Abstract: | In the paper is analyzed competitiveness of Serbian family dairy farms in lowland region in 2007, with some aspects of possible perspectives. Globalization process, expected EU integrations and set of free trade agreements will expose Serbian farms in close future to higher level of competition. Identified structural changes, refers on dairy farms concentration and specialization in lowland region in recent years. Estimated model of cost function revealed that family farms with bigger herd size have lower average costs of milk production. Economic efficiency, measured in terms of cost efficiency, shows that larger dairy farms are more efficient. But, not all smaller farms are inefficient. Due to good management some smaller farms are competitive on national market. Milk price volatility in period 2007 to 2009 hurts all farms, but the most farms with higher average costs, which are usually inefficient dairy farms. |
| Keywords: | Competitiveness, Dairy enterprise, Dairy farm, Milk production, Serbia, Agribusiness, Livestock Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57416&r=tra |
| By: | Bozic, Dragica; Muncan, Petar; Bogdanov, Natalija |
| Abstract: | The possibility for self-financing in agriculture is very small, primarily due to lower labour productivity leading to lower rate of surplus value. Therefore, in the development of Serbian agriculture, special importance is attached to other sources of financing such as: the Agrarian budget, i.e. credits of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management; credits of business banks; development funds; leasing companies. With the reconstruction of the Serbian banking system in 1994, the primary issue, as an important source for financing agriculture used primarily for current reproduction, was abandoned. Due to transition to a market economy system and cancellation of financing from the primary issue, economic entities in agriculture have found themselves in a very unfavourable position. Therefore, in 2004, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management started, for the first time, with lending credits to agricultural entities. The source of money is the Agrarian budget of Serbia. Besides this important source for financing agriculture, the paper also analyses other mentioned sources for lending credits to Serbian agricultural entities in the transition period, i.e. from 2004 to 2008. |
| Keywords: | credit lending, agriculture, agricultural budget, transition, Agribusiness, Agricultural Finance, Community/Rural/Urban Development, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57339&r=tra |
| By: | Dmitriev, Mikhail |
| Abstract: | In this paper author reveals some evidence on pattern of contraception and fertility in Russia. Contrary to common sense it turns out that women that follow very cautios contraceptive strategy make abortion very rarely. Author offers analytical devices to deal with thats issues. |
| Keywords: | Fertility; Abortion; Contraception; Russia |
| JEL: | J13 |
| Date: | 2010–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:21151&r=tra |
| By: | d'Artis Kancs; Julda Kielyte |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the potential impacts of East-West migration of talents on the innovative capital and hence the long-run growth prospects in Eastern sending countries. Complementing previous studies, we examine the impact of high skill migration not only on the formation of human capital, but also consider migration's impact on knowledge capital in the sending countries. In line with previous studies we find that in the short- to medium-term high skill migration strictly reduces national innovative capital and hence increases the gap between East and West. However, these effects might be mitigated by factors such as reinforced education of workers, productive investment of remittances, return migration and increased knowledge transfer. Given that the emigration of highly skilled affects human capital differently than knowledge capital, addressing the adverse impacts of the most talented and highly skilled worker emigration efficiently, differentiated policies are required for human capital and knowledge capital. |
| Keywords: | International labour migration, skilled workers, growth, human capital. |
| JEL: | D50 D80 F22 F24 H52 I21 J24 J61 O15 |
| Date: | 2010–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eei:rpaper:eeri_rp_2010_01&r=tra |
| By: | Balamou, Eudokia; Saktina, Daina; Meyers H., William |
| Keywords: | lagging rural areas, bi-regional CGE model, rural development policy, CAP, Agribusiness, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57338&r=tra |
| By: | Manole, Victor; Popescu George, Cristian; Davitoiu, Sorin |
| Abstract: | On agro-food productsâ market of the European Market a saturation of products has been reached, attaining the stage of limitation, by means of certain policies and specific levers, of the expansion of this market. Romania faced the situation of member state of EU, when, after year 2006, it entered a harsh competition, in which the predominant word is saturation. This is the reason for which the post-accession studies in agriculture must aim both at valorizing the natural potential of not-exploited or less exploited resources of Romania, and at finding out solutions to increase competitiveness of the field, in which Romania feels threatened, aiming first of all at the markets of traditional products. Competitiveness is based on criteria of economic efficiency, according to which an important place takes the rational and efficient exploitation of the natural resources, especially in agriculture. In order to point out the significance of MAP cultures, we will make a comparison of some indicators of efficience of the wheat, corn, colza cultures and several medicinal plants which were cultivated and studied. The comparison will be made taking into consideration both the data of average efficiency in case of MAP (using classical technologies, without applying the knowledge discovered by the researches of the field), and the maximal ones on the crops and MAP cultures (by application of knowledge resulted from agronomic research specific for the improvement of the technology of each species of MAP). This field MAP is so much the more important for Romania as this country owns elements of environment favourable for a potential exploitation of the medical aromatic plants, without affecting the traditional cultures in the agricultural areas. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Crop Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57341&r=tra |
| By: | Kabranova, Romina; Arsov, Zlatko |
| Abstract: | Territory and natural conditions in Macedonia are well known in the World market of high quality production of oriental type of tobacco. Production of oriental tobacco at such a small territory is insignificant towards other producers (Bulgaria, Turkey), buy it is very important for Macedonian economy. The high value of exported tobacco and other tobacco products is regularly above 100 million USD (113 million USD for 2006 and 106 million USD for 2007). As a family production with low grade of mechanized labor processes, it provides survival of more than 100 000 residents of Macedonia. These reasons are enough to evaluate the importance of tobacco for a country with a gross national income per capita of around $4,120 in 2008, (GNI, Atlas method) and high unemployment rate (over 35%). Natural resources for oriental tobacco production are relatively adequate for the most of the countries from Mediterranean region as well as Balkan Peninsula. However, the specific climate and soil conditions in Macedonia have a high comparative value for oriental tobacco. They enabled the tobacco to have definite value above all other crops from Macedonia, especially in areas limited with water resources and soil with low percentage of humus. High level of tobacco production in the previous period has resulted with building of many huge industrial capacities, warehouses for final processing as well as three factories for cigarette production. They have been all build for the great domestic market (for over twenty million people of Former Yugoslav Republic) and partly for export. Nowadays, these capacities insufficiently are used with annual production of over 5,500 t of cigarettes. Because of inadequate agrarian policy, tobacco production stagnates in the period of long transition and shows a high instability through the years. Therefore, the advantages of Macedonian region remain inadequately used. Macedonian region is characterized with arid climate, because the annual rainfalls are 742 mm/m² (average of 25 years), and the average of the last 10 years is only 582 mm/m² (schedule of the rainfalls is quite unfavorable). The biggest part of the oriental tobacco production is designed for export to the most famous markets (EU, USA, Japan, etc.), because the unprocessed tobacco has a high quality. Specific physical-chemical characteristics make Macedonian tobacco a component of the blend used for large number of the Worldâs famous tobacco brands of cigarettes. Considering as competitive product in the World market, many countries are interested in buying Macedonian tobacco (EU, SAD, Japan etc.). |
| Keywords: | oriental tobacco, production, natural conditions, quality, export, competitive product, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57349&r=tra |
| By: | Zubovic, Jovan; Domazet, Ivana; Stosic, Ivan |
| Abstract: | New trends in global economy require greater capacity of the agricultural workforce. In order improve agricultural productivity it is needed to increase the level of human capital of the agrarian population. Human capital is accumulated knowledge, created in the long term process of human resources development, which begins in early stages and last all through the life, which is especially true for agricultural business. During transition Serbian economy went through major changes, with agriculture trailing to other sectors of the economy. Each farmer is producing only around 3,000 ⬠gross added value per year, which is substantially lower than in other sectors. This paper will analyze what innovative activities are used worldwide in agriculture and give some possible solutions for investments in human capital and development of human resources in order to increase the level of competitiveness. Finally we analyze Serbian agricultural education system and give some instructions for improvements. |
| Keywords: | agricultural sector, productivity, human capital, education, reform, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Labor and Human Capital, Productivity Analysis, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57491&r=tra |
| By: | Ferto, Imre; Forgacs, Csaba |
| Abstract: | The organic agriculture represents a promising alternative for the future of European agriculture. It is consistent with the notion of sustainable development set forth already in the 1992 CAP Reform. Despite of increasing importance of organic farming, the research on organic farming is still limited. This scarcity of the research is especially true for New Member States of the enlarged EU. This paper investigates the choice between conventional and organic production technologies for individual farmers in Hungarian agriculture. We apply a model that explicitly accounts for the effects of farm-specific variables like age and education on the expectations farmers have on the utility of both production technologies. In addition we take into account the perceptions of farmers about the organic farming. The model was estimated on a cross-section data set of Hungarian farmers for the period 2007 using a logit specification. It appears that education has a positive impact on the choice between conventional and organic farming, and, the size of the farm in hectares has a negative effect on this choice. Age and some general considerations on environmental friendly technologies do not have a significant effect on choice between conventional and organic farming. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, Attitudes, Organic production, Diffusion, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57488&r=tra |
| By: | Popovic, Blazenka S.; Paunovic, Tamara Z.; Maletic, Zoran M. |
| Abstract: | Agriculture as the economic sector is an important factor of economic development of Serbia and an important part of economic structure. Serbia has agrarian resources (land, climate and water) that are not used enough, and therefore, represent a significant economic potential for further development. Vojvodina is the best-developed economic region of the Republic of Serbia, with dominant role of agricultural production. The main economic potential of Vojvodina development is, among other things, the strengthening and improvement of agriculture in the private sector. Economic potential of agriculture impose the need to analyze this situation in the field of small and medium sized entrepreneurship as the bearer of the future development of agriculture in Vojvodina. Cluster analysis is a method that will determine how to group communes in Vojvodina according to the level of development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of agriculture, and thus get an insight into the current state of development of this sector of agriculture, as well as point out the possibilities for the future development of SMEs in agribusiness of Vojvodina. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural production, Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), Clusters analysis, Clustering of communes in Vojvodina, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Public Economics, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57643&r=tra |
| By: | Meyers, William H.; Kairyte, Emilija; Ribasauskiene, Erika |
| Abstract: | During the period 2006-2007 diagnostics were conducted on territorial aspects of rural Lithuania with a special focus on the rural areas lagging behind. The study includes analysis of economic, demographic and social indicators of rural areas at a disaggregated level and a methodology enabling the assessment of opportunities and constraints and the comparisons of rural areas in various territories. The study objective is an improved set of diagnostics that captures territorial differences, improves the targeting of RDP measures and strengthens the framework for allocation and access to structural and rural development funds. The paper discusses diagnostic methods by reviewing concepts of rurality and presenting methods used for identifying and ranking leading and lagging territories. We use selected socio-economic indicators to describe differences among municipalities in Lithuania and identify the key factors that indicate more and less successful areas. These are then used to identify and rank leading and lagging municipalities with a development index. |
| Keywords: | investment, rural development, lagging rural areas, economic structure, competitiveness, social well-being, development indices, funding envelopes, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, International Development, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57346&r=tra |
| By: | Ivanovic, Lana; Jelocnik, Marko; Bekic, Bojana |
| Abstract: | Belgrade, as administrative, economic and cultural centre of Republic of Serbia, covers total area of 3.224 km2. From this area, 69,1% is agricultural land, which represents fundamental base for establishment of agricultural production. Live stock breeding, on the territory of Belgrade city, as well as in entire Republic of Serbia, is the most important branch of agriculture. On observed territory animal productsâ processing industry (dairies and slaughter houses) especially is developed. Because of that, increment of total live stock breeding production is of great importance for this territory. For growth of live stock breeding competitiveness, in this paper work concrete activities are suggested, such as specialization and increment of production intensity, accomplishment of better financial conditions, selection, accomplishment of better primary agricultural products purchase, etc. In this paper work also are considered and described necessary measures which have to be done by governmental institution, local communities, agro complex companies and family husbandries, with main goal to increase livestock breeding production competitiveness. |
| Keywords: | competitiveness, live stock breeding, Belgrade city, agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Livestock Production/Industries, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57351&r=tra |
| By: | Cejvanovic, Ferhat; Duric, Aleksandar; Vujic, Tatjana |
| Abstract: | This paper considers the essence, significance and necessity of application of the marketing approach, i.e. planning, organizing and control of marketing activities in tourist and rural tourist policy, intending to add to competitiveness of the tourism offer in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The paper elaborates theoretic and substantial aspects of marketing element in tourism and rural tourism, with a special view on importance and contribution of marketing approach in competitiveness of tourism and rural tourism offer in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The marketing approach in tourism and rural tourism, presented in this work, may serve as a basis for creating policy and developing marketing approach in B&H tourism and rural tourism. |
| Keywords: | marketing, tourism, rural tourism, conceptual model of tourism development, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57505&r=tra |
| By: | Petrovic, Zivojin; Jankovic, Dejan; Cikic, Jovana |
| Abstract: | In the paper, the authors analyse problems in the extension work and farmersâ needs on the basis of the empirical sociological survey that comprised attitudes of all the agricultural extension workers in Serbia. The survey has been conducted by the authors during 2008 in all of the extension offices in Serbia using the semi-structured questionnaire. The analysis reveals the regional specifics of the farmersâ needs and the problems that the advisors face in daily work, as well. According to the survey results there are three types of problems that are mutually connected: 1. general crisis of the agricultural sector, 2. problems regarding characteristics of farm holdings and farmers population in Serbia and 3. problems that are related to extension organization. Farmersâ needs analysis points to four dominant needs of farmers in Serbia: 1. farm management, 2. help in establishment of farmersâ cooperatives, 3. plant protection and 4. information and advice regarding the agricultural policy. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural extension, Problems in extension work, Farmersâ needs, Agribusiness, Farm Management, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57511&r=tra |
| By: | Zaric, Vlade; Petkovic, Danijela; Radosevic, Milorad |
| Abstract: | Market success depends in large part on how well consumer behaviour and perception supplies understand. They need to understand how consumers evaluate products characteristics, gather information regarding various alternatives and use this information to select specific product. The object of this research was to determine consumer perception of Serbian agricultural and food products and especially perception of home made products. In October 2008, a research was conducted in the Belgrade market on a sample of 338 persons. The results were analyzed using univariant statistical analyses. The results of this research can be used by producers for defining marketing activities and by researchers to conduct further research in this field. |
| Keywords: | Traditional agricultural and food products, Territorial competitiveness, Consumers, Republic of Serbia, Agribusiness, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57418&r=tra |
| By: | Vlahovic, Branislav; Puskaric, Anton; Maksimovic, Branka |
| Abstract: | The authors of this paper analyze export and competitiveness of wine export from the Republic of Serbia. Main goal of the research reflects in perceiving basic features of export and competitiveness of wine export from the Republic of Serbia on international market. The analysis encloses time period 2004-2007. The amount of wine export is very modest and, in observed period, was realized average export of 8,6 million litres, which value amounts 9,6 million USD. Only 5% of total domestic production is exported. In export structure dominate CEFTA agreement signatory countries. Export price of wine from Serbia is doubly less in regard to average world price, and thrice in regard to the biggest world exporter â Italy. Average export price of wine produced in Serbia is on the level of 1,11 USD per litre. The export structure is very unfavourable, i.e. dominates wine in bulk (90%), while only 10% of total export makes wine in bottles, which, for sure, reflects to attained export price. The authors quote that main limitation factors of Serbian wine export are small surfaces under grapevine, inappropriate structure of production, i.e. lack of qualitative and top-class (famous) wines. The wines which produce in Serbia, on international market, are competitive by price. However, low quality represents limitation factor of competitiveness increase. Unfavourable production structure and wine export represents one more limitation factor of competitiveness increase. In total wine production in Serbia, top-class wines participate with less than 15%, participation of qualitative wines is 20%, while the higher participation, more than 65%, have table wines, and more produces white (64%) than rose wines (36%). Previously mentioned is in opposition with demand trends on international market. Along with quality increase and change of production and export structure, there can be expected also increase of Serbian wine prices on international market. Analyzing the world turnover of wine, the authors resolve that leading exporters of wine have developed production and long tradition in wine export. Besides, there are series of governmental stimulations, aiming at export increase, which is significant from aspect of competitiveness increase. The European Union has increased wine export quota from 55 to 63 thousand hectolitres to the Republic of Serbia for duty free export, and mentioned decision on export quotas increase represents an incentive for faster development of viticulture and wine production in Serbia. As an imperative, the authors quote increase of high-quality wines participation in export, which have higher price in regard to table wines. They find that own chance for export must not be looked-for in quantity, because Serbia is relatively small wine producer, concerning high quality according to selected market segments, but also that Serbia must leave the path of industrial wines and produces only high-quality wines. In this paper has been pointed out to necessary measures, aiming at more dynamic export and competitiveness increase of wine export from Serbia. The Authors find that main focus should be on intellectual capital, which means permanent education of producers, in order to get wines of the highest quality which will find their consumers in a competitive world market. |
| Keywords: | wine, export, competitveness, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, International Relations/Trade, |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:ea113a:57495&r=tra |