|
on Transition Economics |
| By: | Pawel Bukowski; Pawel Chrostek; Filip Novokmet; Marek Skawinski |
| Date: | 2024–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cxu:wpaper:58 |
| By: | Piotr Denderski |
| Keywords: | heterogeneous returns; financial assets; income tax; financial literacy |
| JEL: | H24 D31 E21 G11 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cxu:wpaper:60 |
| By: | Miguel Niño-Zarazúa (SOAS - School of Oriental and African Studies - University of London [London]); Anda David (AFD - Agence française de développement); Rawane Yasser (AFD - Agence française de développement); Christian Morabito |
| Abstract: | Persistent economic and social inequalities constrain the inclusive development of nations. The internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG10) and its targets, aim to address these constraints through the promotion of equalising policies. This paper tests the validity of the Inequality Marker and Distributional Impact Assessment (DIA) tools that have been developed to assess the contribution of development projects to inequality reduction using as case studies four AFD and European Commission funded projects in Benin, Djibouti-Ethiopia, Uganda, and Vietnam. The DIA analyses have been carried out in two cases: in Benin (ex-post) and Uganda (ex-ante). Overall, the study shows how the Inequality Marker and DIA methodology can provide relevant information on the potential contribution of development projects to inequality reduction. The study identifies critical issues for the implementation of the DIA analysis that reflect both organisational constraints in donor agencies internal procedures, and external contextual factors. The study also provides a set of policy recommendations to mitigate these threats. |
| Keywords: | inequality, Official Development Assistance, development cooperation, development finance institutions, bottom 40%, SDGs |
| Date: | 2025–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05489071 |
| By: | Ibadoghlu, Gubad |
| Abstract: | This article examines the implications of the European Union's recent energy policy developments, with a particular focus on the strategy to phase out Russian gas imports and diversify supply sources. It analyzes the vulnerabilities inherent in the EU's diversification approach, highlighting the introduction of new regulatory measures-most notably Regulation (EU) 2026/261-which establish strict controls to prevent the re-entry of Russian gas through third countries. These measures, including enhanced origin verification requirements, carry significant implications for external suppliers such as Azerbaijan and transit countries like Türkiye. The analysis identifies a structural dilemma facing the EU: despite diversification efforts, approximately 90% of its gas supply remains externally sourced, exposing the bloc to geopolitical risks, global price volatility, and long-term infrastructure lock-in. While dependence on Russian pipeline gas has declined sharply, the EU has increasingly shifted toward alternative suppliers, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, which accounted for an estimated 57% of EU LNG imports by 2025. This shift raises critical questions about whether diversification efforts are effectively reducing dependency or merely replacing one dominant supplier with another. The article argues that the EU's external energy policy must balance short-term energy security with long-term sustainability objectives. It concludes that the success of the EU's energy transition will depend not only on eliminating reliance on Russian gas but also on avoiding the creation of new structural dependencies. |
| JEL: | P16 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:339652 |
| By: | Sardo, Alessio; Grillo, Allegra; Kaczmarek, Angelika; Mateos Durán, Arnulfo Daniel |
| Abstract: | This article investigates how legal systems and legal experts across Europe respond to short-term rental accommodation (STRA), focusing on enforcement and authority allocation. It combines a comparative legal analysis of Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain with an experimental expert survey of approximately 180 legal scholars, embedding a strategic–interaction game that varies regulatory and market conditions. Findings reveal institutional lock-in: both legal systems as a whole and legal experts as individuals rely on traditional property/tenancy and competition frames, reinforcing path dependence. Experts also tend to overestimate compliance, even when fines are low and easily absorbed, underestimating the likelihood of strategic non-compliance. |
| Keywords: | short-term rental accommodation; Airbnb; overtourism; European Union competition law; affordable housing; tenancy models |
| JEL: | R21 R50 |
| Date: | 2026–03–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:137828 |
| By: | Cylus, Jonathan; Thomson, Sarah; Habicht, Triin; Evetovits, Tamás |
| Abstract: | Global and regional commitments to universal health coverage emphasize reducing financial hardship due to out-ofpocket payments for health care. Despite this, many countries continue to rely on user charges—either to raise revenue or reduce demand—especially under fiscal pressure. We conducted a narrative review of academic literature on the theoretical basis for and empirical effects of user charges in health systems. This was complemented by recent case studies from Slovenia, Estonia, and Cyprus, selected to illustrate diverse approaches to user charge policy under fiscal constraints. Common arguments in favour of user charges are that they can mitigate excess health care consumption and generate revenues. However, evidence suggests they often deter necessary care and lead to financial hardship, especially for low-income groups. Country case studies reveal varied approaches towards user charges in the context of fiscal pressure: Estonia increased co-payments despite prior efforts to improve financial protection; Slovenia eliminated user charges by introducing a flat levy to generate additional revenue; and Cyprus dramatically reduced its reliance on out-of-pocket payments by increasing public spending on health. Growing fiscal pressure may tempt countries to implement or increase user charges. However, doing so without adequate protective mechanisms can increase financial hardship, poverty and unmet health needs. Policymakers should prioritize pre-payment mechanisms and equity-oriented safeguards to ensure sustainable, fair and affordable access to health care. Continuous monitoring of financial hardship remains essential to inform policy decisions. |
| JEL: | J1 |
| Date: | 2026–03–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:137838 |
| By: | Zongwu Cai (Department of Economics, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA); Weitong Wang (School of Economics, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, Dalian, Liaoning 116025, China); Jing Yuan (School of Statistics, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, Shandong 264005, China) |
| Abstract: | Scientifically measuring intergenerational mobility (IGM) and comprehensively analyzing the effects of factors influencing IGM provide a theoretical basis to improve public policies. This paper measures the elasticity of IGM in China and investigates the interaction effects of macro and micro influencing factors using a nonparametric gradient boosting tree quantile regression model. The empirical results show that, first, the gradient boosting tree quantile regression model fits better than the linear quantile regression model, with particularly significant nonlinear characteristics among those with annual incomes between ¥30, 000 and ¥150, 000. The intergenerational income elasticity in China ranges from 0.1861 to 0.7026, indicating a clear ``strong at both ends and weak in the middle'' effect of parental income on offspring income. Second, intergenerational income mobility exhibits heterogeneity in both income and region, with significant differences in the income transmission process and degree of nonlinearity across different regions. Third, this paper specifically explores the IGM characteristics of the two income groups, revealing that the most significant influencing factors for achieving income stratification are economic growth, industrial optimization, intergenerational educational mobility, and wealth capital investment. Finally, this paper explores the poverty trap from the perspective of IGM, showing that in eastern regions, children from wealthy families may experience higher immobility or a wealth trap, while in other regions, children from impoverished families experience higher immobility or a poverty trap. |
| Keywords: | Gradient boosting tree quantile regression; Heterogeneity analysis; Intergenerational income mobility; Partial dependence; Random forest. |
| JEL: | J62 D63 C43 I31 |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kan:wpaper:202602 |
| By: | Gaskin, Thomas; Demirel, Guven; Wolfram, Marie-Therese; Duncan, Andrew |
| Abstract: | Global trade is shaped by a complex mix of factors beyond supply and demand, including tangible variables like transport costs and tariffs, as well as less quantifiable influences such as political and economic relations. Traditionally, economists model trade using gravity models, which rely on explicit covariates that might struggle to capture these subtler drivers of trade. In this work, we employ optimal transport and a deep neural network to learn a time-dependent cost function from data, without imposing a specific functional form. This approach consistently outperforms traditional gravity models in accuracy and has similar performance to three-way gravity models, while providing natural uncertainty quantification. Applying our framework to global food and agricultural trade, we show that low income countries experienced disproportionately higher increases in trade costs due to the war in Ukraine’s impact on wheat markets. We also analyse the effects of free-trade agreements and trade disputes with China, as well as Brexit’s impact on British trade with Europe, uncovering hidden patterns that trade volumes alone cannot reveal. |
| Keywords: | REF fund 2025/2026 |
| JEL: | L81 |
| Date: | 2026–02–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:137330 |