#BEGIN 1 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Author-Name: Askerov, Ali Title: The Political Economy of Azerbaijan-Russia Relations: Intersecting and Overlapping Interests Abstract: This article analyzes the political economy of Azerbaijan-Russia relations during the deterioration of bilateral political relations in 2024-2025. It argues that the 2024-2025 conflict exposed the fragility of bilateral political relations and demonstrated how political tensions increasingly spill over into economic, societal, and cultural domains. Despite growing political tensions, Russia has continued, until recently, to serve as the principal anchor of integration for Azerbaijan's non-oil economy. An examination of macroeconomic indicators for 2017-2024 shows that the Russian Federation remains the largest destination for Azerbaijan's non-oil exports, its leading import partner, the primary source of formal remittance inflows from Azerbaijani labor migrants, and the largest source of inbound tourism. In this context, the article assesses the extent to which escalating political frictions since late 2024 have begun to affect economic relations, focusing on foreign trade, remittances, foreign direct investment (FDI), and tourism. It further evaluates the potential implications of these developments for Azerbaijan's economic stability, diversification strategy, and evolving geopolitical orientation. Beyond economic ties, the study also considers the consequences of the post-December 2024 escalation for security cooperation and humanitarian, scientific-technical, and cultural exchanges. The findings suggest that sustained political deterioration may gradually constrain bilateral economic interdependence, while simultaneously pushing Azerbaijan toward a cautious recalibration of its strategic alignments within an increasingly fragmented regional order. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/337505/1/Political-Economy-of-Azerbaijan%e2%80%93Russia-Relations.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, Russia, Political Economy, Tourism, Remittances, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Non-Oil Exports, Finance, Logistic, Regional Integration, Political Relations, Security Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:337505 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5973655 #END 1 #BEGIN 2 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Lasagni, Andrea Author-Name: Tredicine, Luigi Title: The Extensive and Intensive Margins of Migrant Remittances Abstract: Remittance behaviour reflects complex economic and social relationships linking migrants and their origin households, yet most empirical studies treat remittances as a unitary outcome without distinguishing between the decision to remit and the intensity of remitting. This paper develops and empirically tests a margin-specific framework that integrates the New Economics of Labor Migration (NELM) and Transnationalism theory to explain distinct dimensions of remittance behaviour. Using original survey data on migrants residing in Italy, the analysis distinguishes between the extensive margin - the activation of remittance behaviour - and the intensive margin - the degree of remittance commitment among remitters. Remittance intensity is operationalized as a multidimensional latent construct derived through Principal Component Analysis, capturing transfer magnitude, frequency and relative economic effort. To address potential selection bias, the intensive margin is estimated within a Heckman selection framework. The results show that the extensive margin is primarily driven by origin-household vulnerability and economic feasibility constraints, consistent with NELM. By contrast, remittance intensity is more strongly associated with transnational embeddedness, return orientation and competing commitments in the destination context. These findings demonstrate that remittance behaviour reflects a sequential and multidimensional process shaped by both contractual obligations and evolving transnational ties. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/337409/1/Extensive-and-Intensive-Margins-of-Remittances.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Remittances, Extensive Margin, Intensive Margin, New Economics of Labour Migration, Migration, Transnationalism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:337409 #END 2 #BEGIN 3 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Author-Name: Semenischev, Corinna Title: Resilienz als Schlüsselkompetenz für zukunftsfähige Unternehmen im digitalen Zeitalter - Teil 4: Merkmale und Kernfaktoren resilienter Organisationen Abstract: Organisationen sind heute mehr denn je in einem Umfeld hoher Dynamik, Unsicherheit und Komplexität tätig und wandeln sich zunehmend in digitale Organisationen. Globale Krisen, technologische Disruptionen, Lieferkettenstörungen oder regulatorische Veränderungen erfordern von Organisationen nicht nur Robustheit, sondern adaptive Anpassungsfähigkeit. Aufgrund dieser Entwicklungen hat Resilienz, im Sinne einer erhöhten Widerstandsfähigkeit, als organisatorisches Konzept nochmals erheblich an Bedeutung gewonnen. Vor dem Hintergrund des sog. 'Digitalen Wandels' und insgesamt wachsender globaler Unsicherheiten wird in dem vorliegenden Artikel der Serie zunächst untersucht, was 'Organisationale Resilienz' genau bedeutet und welche typischen Merkmale und Kernfaktoren resiliente Organisationen auszeichnen. Darauf aufbauend wird zum einen der Frage nachgegangen, welche Spannungsfelder bei der Umsetzung klassischer Strategien Organisationaler Resilienz im digitalen Zeitalter in der Praxis bestehen. Zum anderen wird untersucht, inwieweit resiliente Organisationen auf Basis klassischer Resilienzstrategien die konkurrierenden Ziele 'Konsistenz' und 'Flexibilität' in einem dynamischen Umfeld noch auszubalancieren vermögen und welche Rolle die 'Digitale Resilienz' für ein integriert-systemisches Resilienzmodell, das klassische und digitale Strategien vereint, spielen kann. Abstract: Organizations today operate more than ever in environments characterized by high levels of dynamism, uncertainty, and complexity, and are increasingly transforming into digital organizations. Global crises, technological disruptions, supply chain interruptions, and regulatory changes require organizations not only to be robust, but also to possess adaptive capabilities. In light of these developments, resilience - understood as enhanced resistance and adaptability - has gained renewed and significant importance as an organizational concept. Against the backdrop of the so-called 'digital transformation' and the overall increase in global uncertainties, this article within the series examines at first what is meant by 'organizational resilience' and identifies the typical characteristics and core factors that distinguish resilient organizations. Based on this, it subsequently addresses, on the one hand, the tensions that arise in practice when implementing classical organizational resilience strategies in in times of digital transformation. On the other hand, it investigates the extent to which resilient organizations, based on traditional resilience strategies, are still able to balance the competing objectives of 'consistency' and 'flexibility' in a dynamic environment, and what role 'digital resilience' may play in the development of an integrated systemic resilience model that combines classical and digital strategies. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/337303/1/Resilienz-als-Schluesselkompetenz-T-4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L20, M10, L26, M15, O33, D81, M12, K24 Keywords: Unternehmensresilienz, Digitale Transformation, Organisationale Anpassung, Geschäftsmodellgestaltung, Organisationale Resilienz, Kybernetik, Risikomanagement, Kulturelle Resilienz Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:337303 #END 3 #BEGIN 4 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sena Kimm Title: Effect of Agricultural Transformation on the Working Poverty in Developing Countries Abstract: The present analysis has investigated empirically the effect of agricultural transformation on the working poverty rate in developing countries. It argues that agricultural transformation affects the working poverty rate by inducing employment shifts (within the agricultural sector) from the primary agriculture to the agrifood system, and from the agricultural sector to other sectors in the economy. The empirical analysis utilizes a panel dataset of 100 developing countries of which 35 poorest countries, i.e., Least developed countries (LDCs), over the annual period from 2000 to 2021. It uses the error component two-stage least squares to address endogeneity concerns, and accounts for the larger between-country variation of variables than their within-country variations. The findings lend support for the hypothesis that agricultural transformation induces the employment shifts highlighted above, but to a lower extent in LDCs than in NonLDCs among developing countries. However, while agricultural transformation has resulted in a lower working poverty rate in NonLDCs, it has raised the working poverty rate in LDCs. This can suggest that for LDCs, the agricultural sector has not been sufficiently transformed to trigger the requisite employment shifts that would effectively reduce the working poverty rate. Similar findings are obtained for Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries (41 SSA countries) - the bulk of which being LDCs - versus NonSSA countries in the full sample. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/336730/1/Paper-Agri-Transf-WPOV.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, Q18 Keywords: Agricultural transformation, Working poverty, Developing countries, Least developed countries, Sub-Saharan African countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:336730 #END 4 #BEGIN 5 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Author-Name: Semenischev, Corrina Title: Resilienz als Schlüsselkompetenz für zukunftsfähige Unternehmen im digitalen Zeitalter - Teil 3: Resilienz in Unternehmensmodellen Abstract: Organisatorische Resilienz ist ein integratives Konzept aus strukturellen, kulturellen und führungsbezogenen Faktoren, das in Familienunternehmen aufgrund ihrer werteorientierten Ausrichtung besondere Stärken aufweist. Sowohl resilienzfördernde Unternehmenskulturen als auch wertebasierte Führung erhöhen die Anpassungsfähigkeit von Organisationen und wirken positiv auf die externe Wahrnehmung, messbar etwa über den QScore. Das PwC-Resilienzmodell bietet hierfür einen praxisorientierten Rahmen, der normative Standards mit reifegradbasierten Entwicklungsprozessen verbindet und Resilienz als strategische Kernkompetenz verankert. Abstract: Organizational resilience is an integrative concept comprising structural, cultural, and leadership-related factors that is particularly strong in family businesses due to their value-oriented approach. Both resilience-promoting corporate cultures and value-based leadership increase the adaptability of organizations and have a positive effect on external perception, which can be measured using the QScore, for example. The PwC resilience model offers a practical framework for this, combining normative standards with maturity-based development processes and anchoring resilience as a core strategic competence. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/336644/1/Resilienz-als-Fundament-unternehmerischer-Zukunftsf%c3%a4higkeit-T-3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G32, G33 Keywords: Unternehmensresilienz, Geschäftsmodellgestaltung, Risikomanagement, finanzielle Stabilität, Unternehmenskultur, Nachhaltigkeit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:336644 #END 5 #BEGIN 6 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dezhbakhsh, Hashem Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Title: Interpolation and Prewar-Postwar Output Volatility and Shock-Persistence Debate: A Closer Look and New Results Abstract: It is well established that the U.S. prewar output was more volatile and less shock persistent than the postwar output. This is often attributed to the data interpolation employed to construct the prewar series. Our analytical results, however, indicate that commonly used linear interpolation has the opposite effect on shock persistence and volatility of a series-it increases shock persistence and reduces volatility. The surprising implication of this finding is that the actual differences between the volatility and shock persistence of the prewar and postwar output series are likely greater than the existing literature recognizes, and interpolation has dampened rather than magnified this difference. Consequently, the view that postwar output was more stable than prewar output because of the effectiveness of the postwar stabilization policies and institutional changes has considerable merit. Our results hold for parsimonious stationary and nonstationary time series commonly used to model macroeconomic time series. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/336550/1/Interpolation-Manuscript-with-Appendix.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E01, N10, C02, C18, C22, C82 Keywords: Business Cycles, Output Volatility, Shock Persistence, Prewar US Output, Postwar US Output, Prewar vs Poswar US Output Series, Linear Interpolation, Variance Ratio, Stationary Time Series, Nonstationary Time Series, Periodicity, Periodic Nonstationarity, Missing Observations, Macroeconomic Stabilization, Economic Policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:336550 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.11054.16963 #END 6 #BEGIN 7 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bhagat, Lakshita Author-Name: Kriti, Shubhra Author-Name: Goli, Srinivas Title: Gender Ideology and Work–Family Conflict: A Global Comparative Analysis Abstract: Reconciliation of work and family roles has become a central issue for advancing women’s empowerment, gender equality, and sustainable family systems worldwide. While the previous research has examined the ‘work–family interface’, multi-country evidence on the link between gender ideology (GI) and work–family conflict (WFC), remains inconclusive. As GI influences occupational choice and household division of labour, this study investigates a critical question: whether individuals with traditional gender beliefs experience higher WFC than those with egalitarian views. Using data from the ISSP 2012 module ‘Family and Changing Gender Roles’, we find a positive association between GI scores and WFC, indicating that respondents with traditional beliefs are more likely to report WFC than those with egalitarian ideology. While the findings remain robust across multiple robustness checks, yet the magnitude of the association is far from uniform, showing clear heterogeneity across individual factors such as sex and education, as well as community contexts, including place and region of residence. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/336248/1/Gender-Ideology-and-Work%e2%80%93Family-Conflict.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J16, J22, J12, Z13, D13 Keywords: Gender, Gender Ideology, Work-Family-Conflict, Household division of Labour, Family Economics, Household Economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:336248 #END 7 #BEGIN 8 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Author-Name: Semenischev, Corinna Title: Resilienz als Schlüsselkompetenz für zukunftsfähige Unternehmen im digitalen Zeitalter - Teil 2: Digitale Resilienz als Metakompetenz Abstract: In diesem Working Paper wird digitale Resilienz als strategische Metakompetenz für Organisationen im Kontext disruptiver Transformation untersucht. Dazu werden sechs zentrale Problemfelder - von technologischer Komplexität über Cyber-Bedrohungen bis hin zu kultureller Trägheit - analysiert und ihre Wechselwirkungen dargestellt. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass digitale Resilienz die Integration technologischer, organisatorischer und menschenzentrierter Dimensionen erfordert. Regulatorische Anforderungen (NIS-2, DORA, ISO-Standards) bilden den verbindlichen Rahmen, während Zukunftskompetenzen auf individueller, sozialer und organisationaler Ebene das Fundament bilden. Die Arbeit identifiziert charakteristische Erkennungsmerkmale digital resilienter Unternehmen und entwickelt ein integratives Framework für die praktische Umsetzung. Abstract: This paper examines digital resilience as a strategic meta-competency for organizations undergoing disruptive transformation. Six central problem areas are analyzed, ranging from technological com-plexity and cyber threats to cultural inertia, and their interdependencies are illustrated. The study shows that digital resilience requires integrating technological, organizational, and human-centered dimensions. While regulatory requirements (NIS-2, DORA, and ISO standards) provide the binding framework, future competencies at the individual, social, and organizational levels form the foundation. The paper identifies the defining characteristics of digitally resilient enterprises and proposes an integrative framework for practical implementation. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/336212/1/Resilienz-als-Fundament-unternehmerischer-Zukunftsf%c3%a4higkeit-T-2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M15, O33, D81, M12, K24 Keywords: Unternehmensresilienz, Organisationale Anpassung, Digitale Transformation, Cybersecurity, Digitale Resilienz, Risikomanagement Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:336212 #END 8 #BEGIN 9 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Leibing, Andreas Title: Skill Substitution, Expectations, and the Business Cycle Abstract: This paper studies how labor market conditions around high school graduation affect postsecondary skill investments. Using administrative data on more than six million German graduates from 1995-2018, and exploiting deviations from secular state-specific trends, I document procyclical college enrollment. Cyclical increases in unemployment reduce enrollment at traditional universities and shift graduates toward vocational colleges and apprenticeships. These effects translate into educational attainment. Using large-scale survey data, I identify changes in expected returns to different degrees as the main mechanism. During recessions, graduates expect lower returns to an academic degree, while expected returns to a vocational degree are stable. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335943/1/2602.02483v1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D84, E24, E32, I23, I24, I26 Keywords: college enrollment, expectations, business cycles, apprenticeships Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335943 DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2602.02483 #END 9 #BEGIN 10 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Author-Name: Semenischev, Corinna Title: Resilienz als Schlüsselkompetenz für zukunftsfähige Unternehmen im digitalen Zeitalter - Teil 1: Resilienz als Fundament unternehmerischer Zukunftsfähigkeit Abstract: Der erste Beitrag der Artikelreihe legt das konzeptionelle Fundament zur Analyse unternehmerischer Resilienz, indem der Begriff auf individueller, organisationaler und strategischer Ebene systematisch eingeordnet und die Relevanz internationaler Normen und Standards als integratives Managementinstrument untersucht wird. Darauf aufbauend wird das unternehmerische Geschäftsmodell als Zusammenspiel von Strategie, Organisation, Markt und Technologie analysiert und anschließend um eine resilienzorientierte Perspektive erweitert. Aus dieser Betrachtung lassen sich zentrale strukturelle und funktionale Dimensionen zukunftsfähiger Unternehmensgestaltung ableiten. Es zeigt sich, dass nachhaltige Geschäftsmodellresilienz nur durch eine ganzheitliche Verankerung von Resilienz über verschiedene Ebenen und Unternehmensbereiche hinweg erreicht werden kann. Abstract: The first article in this series establishes a foundation for analysing corporate resilience, considering its individual, organisational, and strategic dimensions, and examining the role of international norms and standards as integrative management instruments. Building on this foundation, the business model is analysed as the interplay of strategy, organisation, market, and technology and subsequently extended through a resilience-oriented perspective. This approach allows key structural and functional dimensions of future-oriented corporate design to be derived. The analysis demonstrates that sustainable business model resilience can only be achieved through the holistic integration of resilience across multiple organisational levels and functional areas. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335699/1/Resilienz-als-Fundament-unternehmerischer-Zukunftsf%c3%a4higkeit-T-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L20, M10, L26 Keywords: Unternehmensresilienz, Geschäftsmodellgestaltung, Organisationale Anpassung, Digitale Transformation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335699 #END 10 #BEGIN 11 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barja, Gover Author-Name: Urquiola, Miguel Title: Capitalization, Regulation and the Poor: Access to basic services in Bolivia Abstract: This paper analyses the privatization of utilities in Bolivia, detailing the particularities of the capitalization mechanism that was used for this purpose. The analysis suggests that capitalization and regulation, and the liberalization of the utilities sector more generally, succeeded in attracting foreign investment, thus fulfilling one of the central goals of the reforms of this sector. Foreign investment made possible the increase in access to basic services in urban areas, although access in rural areas remains very low. In terms of connection, service expansion in the urban areas did not bypass the poor. On the contrary, in some cases, access improvements appear to have been particularly beneficial to low-income households. Some reform-related price increases did have adverse welfare effects. Nevertheless, the findings in this area are affected by data limitations, and in any case, do not seem to outweigh the benefits brought about by greater access. Creation-Date: 2001 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335579/1/Capitalization-Regulation-and-the-Poor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Privatization, Regulation, Utilities, Poverty, Bolivia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335579 Note: This study has been prepared within the UNU/WIDER project on “The Social Impact of Privatization and Regulation of Utilities in Latin America”, co-directed by Cecilia Ugaz, UNU/WIDER (Helsinki), and Professor Catherine Waddams, University of East Anglia (Norwich). UNU/WIDER gratefully acknowledges the financial contribution to the project by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. #END 11 #BEGIN 12 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Faillio, Marco Author-Name: Rizzolli, Matteo Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Thou shalt not steal: Taking aversion with legal property claims Abstract: Some recent experimental literature on the taking game (a variation of the dictator game) suggests that human subjects may generally be taking averse, implying that the moral cost of taking exceeds the moral cost of not giving. In our experiment, our subjects could decide to take tangible objects (lottery scratchcards) brought from outside the lab and thus legally owned by other subjects. This legal treatment was compared with a more standard one where subjects earned their scratchcards inside the lab. Evidence is provided of a (weak) taking aversion that is greater when property is established inside the lab via an effort task than when it is pre-existing and legally enforceable outside the lab. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335578/1/Thou-shall-not-steal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, D23, K11, P14, P26 Keywords: property rights, taking game, taking aversion, methodology, strict anonymity, earned property rights, real property, free form dictator game Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335578 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3500945 #END 12 #BEGIN 13 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Author-Name: Morton, Rebecca Title: The Value of the Right to Vote Abstract: We conducted a mixed lab and field experiment during a naturally occurring election. We offered subjects the opportunity to relinquish their voting rights for money. Significantly more participants refused to sell their rights than later participated in the election. Subjects were more willing to accept money for abstention from voting than for giving up the right to vote itself. In a second experiment we gave subjects an incentive to vote. Before and after the election we measured participants' knowledge about the parties' positions. Even though they would not have voted without the incentive, they improved their knowledge, suggesting that they value the vote. Our findings show that people derive strong utility from their democratic rights and status as a voter independently of participation. Based on the results we develop a new concept of rights utility and conclude that low turnout does not translate into democratic apathy and should not be used to justify quorum rules and restrict direct participatory rights. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335577/1/value-of-the-Rights-to-Vote-SSRN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Rights Utility, Valueing Voting Rights beyond their Participation Value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335577 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2740502 #END 13 #BEGIN 14 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kornhauser, Lewis Author-Name: Lu, Yijia Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Testing a Fine is a Price in the Lab Abstract: Recent research in experimental law and economics shows that the imposition of a fine, intended to deter some harmful behavior, may crowd out moral motivation: the behavior occurs more frequently even though a payment is charged to discourage it. In A Fine is a Price, Gneezy and Rustichini (2000) suggest that the payment may induce subjects to frame the intended prohibition as a permission in exchange for a price. Obviously, the effect if confirmed may impact almost any form of public regulation or contract drafting. May fines charged for plastic bags in fact increase usage? May penalty clauses in contracts increase the likelihood of breach? Our study tests this theory, distinguishing it from six alternative crowding-out mechanisms and from confounds in Gneezy and Rustichini's original day-care study. In our experiment, subjects are offered a contract to perform a real effort task. Subjects are paid upon the acceptance of the contract. If they breach the contract, they keep their payment, but burden their partner with an additional workload. We vary our treatments by specifying different amounts that subject need to pay if they do not perform: T1 specifies no payment, T2 stipulates a low fine disproportional to the extra workload imposed, and T3 stipulates a proportional fine; the payments go to the contractual partner. We find the same mean performance level across all three treatments. However, splitting the sample according to the subjects' social value orientation reveals a strong crowding-out effect in the pro-social group and an offsetting price effect for the pro-self players. Our last treatment, T4, aims to identify the mechanism behind this crowding out effect. In this treatment, the payment is made to the experimenter, instead of the contractual partner as under T2 and T3. In the absence of a transfer between the parties, T4 forces subjects to view the fine as a penalty, instead of an exchange. Results show that T4 crowds in the pro-social subjects' compliance, providing causal evidence for the Fine-is-a-Price hypothesis. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335576/1/fine-is-a-price-SSRN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, D03, K12, D81 Keywords: Crowding Out Effects, fines, framing, norms Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335576 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3477534 #END 14 #BEGIN 15 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brooks, Richard W. Author-Name: Stremitzer, Alexander Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Stretch It but Don't Break It: The Hidden Cost of Contract Framing Abstract: Recent research suggests that loss-framed contracts are an effective instrument for principals to maximize the effort of their agents. Framing effects arise from defining quantity and quality thresholds that vary the salience of losses and gains even while preserving the payoff equivalence of the underlying contract. While plausible interpre- tations of Prospect theory's loss-aversion insight suggest that a loss frame would lead to more effort, we show that contract thresholds also exert a norm-framing effect on performance that can trump the impact of loss aversion. Loss framing therefore carries a risk: poorly selected thresholds may reduce effort. Principals may prefer to avoid this risk by offering contracts that impose no threshold at all. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335575/1/SSRN-Stretch-it.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, D02, J33, K12 Keywords: Loss-Framing, Contract design, Signal of Performance Expectations, Reduction of Performance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335575 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2353733 #END 15 #BEGIN 16 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arlen, Jennifer H. Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Strategic Bias Shifting: Herding as a Behaviorally Rational Response to Regret Aversion Abstract: In this article, we show experimentally that individuals can adapt their decision-making to social environments, like markets, and respond strategically to biases, such as regret aversion. We find they can employ herding as a behaviorally rational strategy to improve their expected outcomes and shift anticipated regret when regret would otherwise bias them towards a suboptimal status quo. Herding can improve decision-making when people observe the choices of professionals and businesses, who are less likely to be biased by regret. Focusing on others’ choices can allow decision makers to shift their reference point, and their bias, to favor their optimal choice. We find that decision makers exploit this process to shift their bias strategically. They seek information when their reference point is not optimal, but block it otherwise. They also strategically select among different types of decision makers and focus on those that made the better decision. Our research suggests that decision makers employ strategies to reduce the welfare effects of biases in certain domains. Policy responses may support private ordering by seeking to complement, rather than substitute for, these strategies. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335573/1/Bias-Shifting%20SSRN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, D03, D81, D83 Keywords: Herding, Debiasing, Strategic Use of Information, Behavioral Self-management, Regret Aversion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335573 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2701415 #END 16 #BEGIN 17 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Janda, Karel Author-Name: Rozsahegyi, Marketa Author-Name: Quang Van Tran Author-Name: Zhang, Binyi Title: Using Natural Language Processing to Identify Sentiment of Green Investors Abstract: This paper investigates the role of investor sentiment in the pricing and volatility dynamics of green bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The paper combines verbal description with a literature review, and it does not engage in actual data-based research analysis. While the literature on sentiment finance and ESG investing has expanded rapidly, empirical evidence focusing on fixed-income ESG instruments remains limited. We address this gap by employing modern natural language processing (NLP) techniques to construct sentiment indicators derived from news coverage and sustainability-related textual information. These indicators may be used to examine their impact on returns and volatility of selected green bond ETFs. By combining behavioural finance insights with state-of-the-art NLP methods, the paper contributes to sustainable finance research and highlights the informational role of textual data in green financial markets. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335572/1/Des01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C45, C55, G11, G17 Keywords: NLP model, ESG, Exchange Traded Funds Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335572 #END 17 #BEGIN 18 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ficura, Milan Author-Name: Ibragimov, Rustam Author-Name: Janda, Karel Title: Artificial Intelligence–Based Forecasting of Oil Prices: Evidence from Neural Network Models Abstract: This working paper investigates the application of modern artificial intelligence techniques to financial time-series forecasting, with a specific focus on crude oil futures markets. Building on advances in deep learning and natural language processing, the study evaluates the predictive performance and economic relevance of several neural network architectures, including univariate and multivariate LSTM, CNN, and N-HiTS models. In addition to statistical accuracy, the models are assessed through trading-based performance metrics and factor regressions to examine the presence of economically and statistically significant returns. The paper contributes to the growing literature on AI-driven asset price forecasting by demonstrating that multivariate deep learning models incorporating additional market information and sentiment measures can improve both forecast precision and trading performance in commodity markets. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335571/1/OilWP02.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C45, Q47, G13, G17 Keywords: Artificial intelligence, Deep learning, Oil futures, Time-series forecasting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335571 #END 18 #BEGIN 19 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arlen, Jennifer H. Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Does the Endowment Effect Justify Legal Intervention? The Debiasing Effect of Institutions Abstract: We claim that the endowment effect rarely justifies legal intervention in private ordering. We present the first theory, to our knowledge, to explain how institutions inhibit the endowment effect without altering people’s rights to their entitlements. The endowment effect is substantially caused by anticipated regret. We show that people experience regret only when they feel responsible for the decision and can mute regret by trading through institutions that let them share responsibility with others. As entitlement holders typically transact through institutions, we expect most people to make unbiased trading decisions in real markets. We test two common institutions—agency relationships and voting—that divide responsibility between multiple actors. Each caused most subjects to debias and trade in our study. We also show that people intentionally debias by employing institutions in order to share responsibility. Thus, when people can freely transact, private ordering generally overcomes the endowment effect. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335569/1/Agent-Debiasing.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D23, D81, D03, C91, K12 Keywords: Endowment Effect, Agents, Regret Aversion, Sharing Responsibility, Behavioral Managenment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335569 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2473758 #END 19 #BEGIN 20 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brooks, Richard R. W. Author-Name: Stremitzer, Alexander Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Framing Contracts: Why Loss Framing Increases Effort Abstract: Recent evidence from the field (Hossain and List, 2009) suggests that contracts framed in terms of a loss (a deduction is taken for failing to meet a threshold) lead to greater effort than contracts framed in terms of a gain (a bonus is given for meeting a threshold). We investigate two explanations for this framing effect in a laboratory setting. First, we find that the loss frame communicates the expectation that achieving the bonus is the default and that our subjects comply with this expectation. Second, we find evidence for an endowment effect, even though the bonus is just a monetary payment that subjects do not even have in their possession. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335553/1/Loss-Framed-Contracts.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K12, C91, L14, J41 Keywords: Contract design Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335553 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.1990226 #END 20 #BEGIN 21 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Author-Name: Arlen, Jennifer Author-Name: Sprigman, Christopher Jon Title: Behavioral Self-Management and the Strategic Shifting of Fairness Norms Abstract: People often act prosocially and voluntarily conform to social and legal norms. This has fueled the idea that law can guide behavior through its expressive power. By contrast, we offer a theoretical and experimental framework suggesting that people strategically alter their decision-making environment to shift the norm applicable to their actions to one that is in their self-interest and to the detriment of others. Norm-shifting is one strategy within a broader concept we refer to as Behavioral Self-Management (BSM). To test norm-shifting, we implement a dictator game in which Allocators are offered an effort task before allocating a sum between themselves and a Recipient. Allocators receive the same endowment whether or not they work. We hypothesize that many will undertake the task to shift the applicable fairness norm from equal division to an effort-based norm that justifies their retaining a larger share. Prior evidence shows that costly effort is widely perceived as legitimizing unequal outcomes. We find that many Allocators decide to work, thereby reducing average transfers. Their work choices are strategic: their odds of working are higher the more they expect work to shift the fairness norm in their favor and the more prosocial they are-that is, the higher the moral costs they face for violating the fairness norm. Finally, Allocators who work make transfers that they expect to conform to an effort-based norm in the view of others, to maintain their self- and social-image. Our findings have implications for compliance with the law and with social norms. BSM can enable selfish non-compliance by undermining the social norms that underpin the law or by establishing social norms that provide justification for violation, while avoiding the social disapproval that would otherwise result. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335552/1/Tontrup-Behavioral-Self-Management.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Behavioral Self-management, Norm-shifting, Work, Self-and Social Image Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335552 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5933934 #END 21 #BEGIN 22 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Author-Name: Gaissmaier, Wolfgang Title: Democracy Premium – A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Effects of Democratic Choice in China and Germany Abstract: Recent experiments in the lab and the field have shown evidence for a democracy premium: cooperation in social dilemmas is stronger when policies are chosen by vote instead of being imposed. What is driving this democratic effect? Some studies suggest that selecting cooperation friendly institutions sends a positive signal, others suggest the premium might be limited to those, who won the vote. Our study contributes to the evidence in two important ways: first we show that the democracy premium can be driven by participation alone. Even more so, we show already the mere entitlement with voting rights fosters cooperation. Second, we demonstrate the cultural dependence of the democracy effect. Running our study at different locations in China, does not suggest any cooperative advantage of democratically chosen rules over imposed ones. We conclude that while our evidence ties the premium to participation and the mere entitlement with voting rights, the effect is not universal. Our results open the debate of what the (cultural) preconditions may be that can bring up a democracy premium. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335551/1/Democracy-Premium-JLS.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, D74, D03, C91, P16 Keywords: Democracy Premium, Voting Behavior, Cross-Cultural Comparison & China, Public Good Provision, Cooperation and Norm Compliance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335551 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4547585 #END 22 #BEGIN 23 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Janda, Karel Author-Name: Rozsahegyi, Marketa Author-Name: Quang Van Tran Author-Name: Zhang, Binyi Title: The Impact of Machine Learning Derived Green Bonds Sentiment on Performance of Green Bond Portfolio Abstract: This paper investigates the role of investor sentiment in the pricing and volatility dynamics of green bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs). For a construction of green sentiment one original and two already existing natural language processing models are used and evaluated. The VAR model found no significant impact of green sentiment on ETF returns. The GARCH (1,1) estimation strongly supported the presence of volatility clustering and time-varying volatility in green bond ETF returns, validating the use of conditional heteroskedasticity models. Regressing the conditional volatility on sentiment scores revealed a significant negative relationship – higher sentiment is associated with lower volatility. This finding implies that positive green sentiment contributes to market stability and may reduce perceived risk, reinforcing the importance of investor psychology in green financial markets. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335550/1/ETFNPL01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C45, C55, G11, G17 Keywords: Machine learning, NLP model, ESG, Exchange Traded Funds Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335550 #END 23 #BEGIN 24 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Trading and Attentional Focus – Why we may overestimate the Impact of the Endowment Effect Abstract: Most Endowment Effect studies incentivize individuals to reveal their true valuation when sell ing their entitlement. This experimental design can mislead the legal debate because it focuses sellers' attention on their endowment and thereby elevates the size of their bias. In our study, we place subjects in a market with incentives for strategic trading behavior. As in real markets, participants can increase their profits by demanding sales prices beyond their true valuations. We assume that the strategic market incentives shift the sellers' attention from their entitlements to the gains from trade and to estimating the WTP of potential buyers. Trading in the strategic market environment reduced the Endowment Effect drastically, to a highly insignificant one fifth of its original size (cohen's d -0.14). We support the debiasing effect with direct evidence, showing that both the impact of loss aversion and regret on the trade vanish under these conditions. Finally, we show that employing more than one market institution reinforces the debi asing effect. To test this assumption, we provide the subjects with agents who carry out the trades following each subject's instructions. With the two institutions, strategic markets and agency, debiasing the sellers, the gap between WTA and WTP prices disappeared completely. Our findings should apply to the large majority of market transactions. Most businesses and private sales trade for profit. We conclude that the Endowment Effect may have far less impact on private ordering than typically suggested in the legal literature. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335549/1/Endowment-Tontrup.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Endowment, Trading (strategic price setting), Attentional Focus, Markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335549 #END 24 #BEGIN 25 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sprigman, Christopher Jon Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Privacy Decision-making and the Effects of Privacy Choice Architecture - Experiments Toward the Design of Behaviorally-Aware Privacy Regulation Abstract: The current notice and choice privacy framework fails to empower individuals in effectively making their own privacy choices. In this Article we offer evidence from three novel experiments showing that at the core of this failure is a cognitive error. Notice and choice caters to a heuristic that people employ to make privacy decisions. This heuristic is meant to distinguish between a party's good or bad intent in face-to-face-situations. In the online context, it distorts privacy decision- making and leaves potential disclosers vulnerable to exploitation. From our experimental evidence exploring the heuristic's effect, we conclude that privacy law must become more behaviorally aware. Specifically, privacy law must be redesigned to intervene in the cognitive mechanisms that keep individuals from making better privacy decisions. A behaviorally-aware privacy regime must centralize, standardize and simplify the framework for making privacy choices. To achieve these goals, we propose a master privacy template which requires consumers to define their privacy preferences in advance-doing so avoids presenting the consumer with a concrete counterparty, and this, in turn, prevents them from applying the intent heuristic and reduces many other biases 2 that affect privacy decision-making. Our data show that blocking the heuristic enables consumers to consider relevant privacy cues and be considerate of externalities their privacy decisions cause. The master privacy template provides a much more effective platform for regulation. Through the master template the regulator can set the standard for automated communication between user clients and website interfaces, a facility which we expect to enhance enforcement and competition about privacy terms.. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335548/1/Privacy-March-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Privacy, Heuristic to disclose personal data, Public Goods Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335548 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4359681 #END 25 #BEGIN 26 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Foresti, Giovanni Author-Name: Fumagalli, Serena Author-Name: Giusti, Sara Author-Name: Lasagni, Andrea Title: Migrant Entrepreneurship and Firm Performance: The liability of Foreignness, Smallness and Newness Abstract: This paper challenges the widespread assumption that migrant-owned firms inevitably suffer from persistent performance disadvantages due to structural liabilities. Using a matched-sample design based on firm-level administrative data for the period 2019–2023, we compare migrant- and native-owned enterprises across multiple performance dimensions, including value added, sales, total assets, and employment growth. While descriptive statistics confirm migrant-owned firms’ lower capital intensity and value added levels, our regression estimates reveal no evidence of a systematic performance disadvantage associated with the Liability of Foreignness (LoF). Moreover, when LoF and other liabilities (Liability of Newness, LoN, and Liability of Smallness, LoS) are jointly considered, interaction effects are either neutral or positive. In particular, young migrant firms (LoF × LoN) and micro-sized migrant firms (LoF × LoS) often outperform native-owned enterprises’ in growth indicators. These results seem to suggest that eventual disadvantages caused by the Liability of Foreignness can be offset by some strategic assets, such as transnational networks, flexibility, and adaptive capabilities, that usually characterized migrant-owned firms. The findings contribute to a more context-sensitive understanding of migrant entrepreneurship, with implications for both theory and policy. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335547/1/Migrant-Entrepreneurship-and-Firm-Performance.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Migrant entrepreneurship, Native firms, Liability of Foreignness, Liability of Newness, Liability of Smallness, Growth, Performance, Matched-pair Analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335547 #END 26 #BEGIN 27 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kornhauser, Lewis Author-Name: Lu, Yijia Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Title: Why Incentives Don't Crowd Out Prosocial Motivation When Behavior is Driven by Mixed Motives Abstract: In this study, we suggest that crowding-out effects are unlikely when incentivizing behaviors that we refer to as mixed-motive-that is, behaviors motivated by both self-interest and prosociality. Vaccination is the prominent example we analyze: people vaccinate both to protect their own health and to contribute to herd immunity by protecting others. Building on signaling theory, we assume that people derive utility from signaling their prosociality. Incentives can crowd out prosocial motivation when they block the opportunity to send a clear prosocial signal, as in purely prosocial behaviors like charitable giving. Mixed-motive behaviors differ: they never allow for a clean prosocial signal in the first place, because self-interest is always a plausible motive. As such, providing financial incentives does not further constrain signaling opportunities, and we therefore predicted no crowding-out effects to emerge when incentivizing mixed-motive behaviors. Experimental evidence supports this prediction, and the pattern aligns with field studies suggesting that incentives may not crowd out vaccination uptake. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335207/1/Crowding-Out-SSRN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Crowding-Out, Incentives, Mixed Motives Behavior Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335207 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5599510 #END 27 #BEGIN 28 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tontrup, Stephan Author-Name: Sprigman, Christopher Jon Title: Strategic Delegation of Moral Decisions to AI Abstract: Our study examines how individuals perceive the moral agency of artificial intelligence (AI), and, specifically, whether individuals believe that by involving AI as their agent, they can offload to the AI some of their responsibility for a morally sensitive decision. Existing literature shows that people often delegate self-interested decisions to human agents to mitigate their moral responsibility for unethical outcomes. This research explores whether individuals will similarly delegate such decisions to AI to reduce moral costs. Our study shows that many individuals perceive the AI as capable of assuming moral responsibility. These individuals delegate to the AI and delegating leads them to act more assertively in their self-interest while experiencing lower moral costs. Participants (hereinafter, "Allocators") took part in a dictator game, allocating a $10 endowment between themselves and a Recipient. In the experimental treatment, Allocators could involve ChatGPT in their allocation decision, at the cost of incurring added time to complete the experiment. When engaged, the AI executed the transfer by informing the Recipient of a necessary payment code. Around 35% of Allocators chose to involve the AI, despite the opportunity costs of a much-prolonged process. To isolate the effect of the AI's perceived responsibility, a control condition replaced the AI with a non-agentive computer program, while maintaining identical decision protocols. This design controlled for factors such as social distance and substantive influence by the AI. Allocators who involved the AI transferred significantly less money to the Recipient, suggesting that delegating the transfer to AI reduced the moral costs associated with self-interested decisions. This is supported by the fact that prosocial individuals, who face higher moral costs from violating a norm and thus would without delegation transfer more than proself individuals, were significantly more likely to involve the AI. A responsibility measure indicates that Allocators who attributed more responsibility for the transfer to the AI were also more likely to involve the AI. The study suggests that AI systems provide human actors with an easily accessible, low-cost, and hard-to-monitor means of offloading personal moral responsibility, highlighting the need to consider in AI regulation not only the inherent risks of AI output, but also how AI's perceived moral agency can influence human behavior and ethical accountability in human-AI interaction. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335206/1/AI-study.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, D91, O33, D63 Keywords: AI, Delegation, Moral Outsourcing, Prosociality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335206 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5696827 #END 28 #BEGIN 29 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bijnens, Gert Author-Name: Konings, Jozef Author-Name: Putseys, Aaron Title: Unveiling the J-curve: How Intangibles Drive Productivity Mismeasurement Abstract: This paper identifies a firm-level Productivity J-curve induced by intangible investments. Using novel microdata on business-to-business transactions for Belgian firms, we construct a comprehensive measure of intangible investment covering software, R&D, design, training, and organizational capital. Our analysis shows that returns on intangibles substantially exceed those of traditional production factors, highlighting their central role in value creation. However, because intangible expenditures are rarely capitalized and are often recorded as intermediate inputs, they are not properly accounted for in conventional measures of total factor productivity (TFP). This misclassification creates systematic mismeasurement, whereby inputs are overstated relative to output in the short run, leading to an underestimation of TFP. Exploiting the lumpy nature of intangible expenditures within a difference-in-differences event-study framework, we document that such mismeasurement results in a persistent underestimation of TFP, by about 3% over a seven-year horizon. Given average measured TFP growth of 1% annually, this represents a substantial distortion. The bias is strongest among small, young, and low- capital intensive firms, reflecting slower absorption of intangible assets. By clarifying how intangible capital and emerging technologies such as AI systematically distort measured productivity, our findings provide new empirical insights into the productivity slowdown and the role of mismeasurement in modern economies. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335205/1/DP20825.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E01, E22, E23, O32 Keywords: Productivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335205 #END 29 #BEGIN 30 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schewe, Marc Author-Name: Bahník, Štěpán Title: The Effects of Privacy Policy Presentation and Length on Trust in Recommender Systems: An Online Experiment Abstract: Recommender systems play a crucial role in e-commerce by simplifying consumer searches, improving decision making, and increasing user satisfaction, ultimately boosting e-vendors’ revenues. Their effectiveness depends on the trust of the users and the availability of data to generate accurate recommendations. Using an online experiment, we examined the effect of privacy policies and the amount of requested information on trust in recommender systems and willingness to share data. The results showed that a long privacy policy reduced trust compared to a short or absent policy. The presentation of a privacy policy and the request for more data decreased participants’ willingness to share data with the system, but a long policy did not further decrease the sharing beyond the effect of a short policy. To maintain trust and encourage data sharing, e-vendors may benefit from offering privacy policies upon request, keeping them concise, and minimizing data requests. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335109/1/Privacy-Policy-Presentation-in-Recommender-Systems.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M31, L81 Keywords: recommender systems, privacy policies, trust, data sharing, e-commerce Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335109 #END 30 #BEGIN 31 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: FinTechs and digital financial services landscape of Malawi: A supply-side analysis Abstract: Financial Technology (FinTech) organisations are perceived to be enablers of digital financial services in Malawi. They support efficient business transactions, secure payments instead of cash, lower transactions costs and support financial inclusion. While the phenomenon of FinTech has received attention among scholars, FinTech landscape of Malawi (e.g. supply-side) is not well documented. This paper analysed the FinTech landscape of Malawi focusing on profiling organisations, digital financial services and regulations. Using secondary data, the findings showed diversity of FinTech services e.g. mobile money, digital wallets, card-based payments, cloud banking services, microfinance and international remittance services. FinTechs operating in formal sector were regulated, while other FinTechs offering services for cryptocurrencies and crowdfunding platforms were not covered in the financial sector regulations. The study contributes towards literature on FinTechs in Malawi and highlights areas of further research. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335108/1/FinTechs-Malawi.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Financial Technology, FinTechs, Supply-side, Digital financial services, Malawi Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335108 #END 31 #BEGIN 32 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Veling, Louise Author-Name: Cullen, John Title: Frontier Technology Adoption and Inclusive Green Growth in the EU: A Double-edged Sword? Abstract: As the EU Commission strategises towards a more technologically advanced region, a critical question arises: Does frontier technology adoption (FTR) truly foster inclusive green growth (IGG)? This study answers this question by empirically examining the impact of FTR on IGG, while accounting for the contingency role of electricity access. Applying pooled least squares, Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, and the dynamic generalised method of moments techniques, we uncover a paradox: while FTR accelerates economic growth and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, it exacerbates income inequality. The second lesson from this study is that although electricity access enhances the growth and environmental sustainability benefits of FTR, it only mitigates (but does not nullify) the downside of income inequality. These findings underscore the crucial need for the EU Commission to establish complementary and compensatory mechanisms to ensure that the EU’s technological leap delivers greener and more inclusive growth. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335106/1/Ofori_Veling_Cullen_IGG_EU_2026.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O33, O52, Q01, Q43 Keywords: AI, EU, Electricity access, Frontier technologies, Inclusive green growth, Technological transition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335106 #END 32 #BEGIN 33 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: הדרך לעזה: מבוא Title: The Road to Gaza: A Preface Abstract: הסיבה הישירה למלחמה בעזה ידועה לכול אדם נאור והיא מסתכמת במילים פשוטות: הכיבוש הישראלי המתמשך שגורם להתפרצויות מרי מחזוריות [...] אם מחפשים סיבות ארוכות טווח יותר, אף הן מסתכמות במילים פשוטות: הקולוניזציה הציונית האגרסיבית בחסות המעצמות הגדולות מאז ראשית המאה ה-20, שגוררת את כלל מדינות המזרח התיכון לתוך מעגל הקונפליקט בין ישראל לבין סביבתה [...] אבל הספר הזה -- הדרך לעזה: על משטרי הכוח וכנסיות האל העליון היחיד (2024) -- אינו עוסק רק בסיבות הישירות למלחמות ולקונפליקטים הצבאיים בין ישראל לבין הפלסטינים ומדינות ערב. הספר מעוניין לספר על הדרך הארוכה שהובילה באופן בלתי נמנע (לכאורה) אל המלחמה בעזה. מדובר במסע בן ששת אלפי שנים שמקפל בתוכו הרבה יותר מאשר עטיפה חיצונית רעשנית המציגה מלחמת קודש בין מיליציות רבניות לבין מליציות איסלמיות. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334847/1/20260100_nb_the_road_to_gaza_preface_hebrew.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, P5, P18, N, N4, N5 Keywords: antiquity, armament, capitalism, Christian Church, Israel, Middle East, militias, mode of power, Muslim church, oil, Palestine, Rabbinical church, religion, state, supreme god, war Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334847 #END 33 #BEGIN 34 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Primov, Abdulla Title: Assessing the current state of food security in Uzbekistan: trends, challenges, and policy implications Abstract: This paper assesses food security in Uzbekistan, focusing on agricultural diversification, policy reforms, and sustainability challenges. Since gaining independence, Uzbekistan has reduced its reliance on cotton and wheat, expanding production of fruits, vegetables, and livestock to enhance self-sufficiency and improve rural livelihoods. Using secondary data, international reports, and policy analyses, the study identifies progress in reducing hunger and increasing the output of high-value crops. However, constraints such as limited processing infrastructure, water scarcity, dependence on imports, and rural micronutrient deficiencies persist. Recommendations emphasize diversification, technological innovation, and aligning strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure resilient and sustainable food systems and improved national food security outcomes. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334548/1/Primov_Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q1, Q10, Q18, Q58 Keywords: Food security, Crop diversification, Agricultural policy, Sustainable development, Uzbekistan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334548 #END 34 #BEGIN 35 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Akeliwira, Ayuune George Author-Name: Owusu-Mensah, Isaac Title: Resource Dependence and Social Stratification in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: This study examines the relationship between natural resource rents and income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The empirical analysis covers 24 countries over the period 1998-2020. Econometric estimations are conducted using both fixed and random effects models to account for country-specific and time-invariant factors. Using the Gini coefficient as a proxy for inequality, the results suggest that total natural resource rents do not have a statistically significant effect on income inequality in the region. In contrast, access to financial services and digital technologies appear to be more influential in reducing inequality. The findings highlight the potential importance of inclusive development policies, such as allocating resource wealth to social programs in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Additionally, promoting economic diversification and strengthening governance institutions may support more effective management of natural resources. The observed negative and statistically significant associations between information and communication technology (ICT) and financial development with inequality indicate that investments in ICT infrastructure and measures to enhance financial inclusion could contribute to addressing income disparities in the region. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334397/1/Resource-Dependence-and-Social-Stratification.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Inequality, Sub-Saharan Africa, Natural Resource Rents, Gini Coefficient, Economic Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334397 #END 35 #BEGIN 36 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Akeliwira, Ayuune George Title: Natural resource wealth and poverty outcomes: A panel data approach for Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between natural resource rents and poverty in 45 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2011 to 2020. The measure of poverty used is the percentage of the population living below income thresholds of $3.65 and $2.15 per day, which are commonly used by the World Bank to measure poverty in low-income countries. Data for the analysis are drawn from international sources, including the World Bank’s Poverty and Inequality Platform, World Bank Development Indicators, Global Financial Development Indicators, IMF Direction of Trade Statistics, and the Political Regimes of the World dataset (Herre & Roser, 2023). The econometric results, derived from fixed-effects regression models, account for unobserved heterogeneity across countries. The findings indicate that, in aggregate, natural resource rents (from oil, minerals, natural gas, coal, and forests) do not have impact on poverty at any threshold. However, when disaggregating by resource type, the results show that natural gas rents and mineral rents are positively and significantly associated with poverty at all poverty thresholds. These findings strongly support the resource-curse hypothesis, which posits that resource wealth, if not effectively managed, can increase poverty and hinder long-term economic growth. Policymakers in SSA should focus on improving governance and directing resource rents into productive sectors to ensure that resource wealth contributes positively to broader economic development. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334396/1/Poverty-and-natural-resources.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Poverty, natural resource rents, resource-curse, Sub-Saharan Africa, economic growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334396 #END 36 #BEGIN 37 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Roger Pielke Jr.’s Appallingly Bad Analysis of Billion Dollar Disasters Abstract: In the world of scientific disinformation, Roger Pielke Jr. is a well known player. A political scientist by training, Pielke has a long history of being a thorn in the side of climatologists who study natural disasters. [***] Pielke’s latest entry in this genre is a 2024 paper called ‘Scientific integrity and U.S. “Billion Dollar Disasters”’. The paper takes aim at the ‘billion-dollar disasters’ dataset run by climatologists at the NOAA. As the name suggests, the database tracks the cost of US weather and climate-related disasters which have inflation-adjusted losses that exceed $1 billion. (Or rather, the database tracked these costs. The billion-dollar-disasters database was recently cancelled by the Trump regime. Afterwards, Pielke took to his blog to celebrate.) [***] Now, my goal here is not to defend the billion-dollar-disasters dataset from Pielke’s criticism. Instead, my aim is to show that Pielke’s analysis is so flawed that it undermines his own appeal ‘scientific integrity’. For his part, Pielke claims that putting climatologists in charge of disaster loss estimation is ‘problematic’, and that the job would be better left to ‘proper economists’. Furthermore, Pielke argues that the billion-dollar-disasters dataset is so faulty that it violates the NOAA’s own standards on ‘scientific integrity’. Yet while Pielke sits on this high horse, he manages to so horribly botch his own analysis that one wonders if he is unintentionally writing satire. [***] In what follows, I’ll spend a whole essay unpacking and debunking a single chart. Figure 1 shows Pielke’s published analysis of the billion-dollar-disasters dataset. The graph seems to show a steady decline in average disaster costs as a share of US GDP. The implicit message is that when climatologists warn about worsening natural disasters, they’re overreacting. If anything, economic growth seems to be making disaster costs more trivial. Or so Pielke claims. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334359/1/20251026_fix_roger_pielke_jr.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q5, P1 Keywords: accounting, disaster, ecology, measurement, price, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334359 #END 37 #BEGIN 38 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Insights from the Lotka-Volterra Model Abstract: In science, there’s an inherent trade off between comprehensibility and realism. Realistic models tend to be intricate … even convoluted. But to be comprehensible, a model must be simple. [***] For a good example of this trade off, look to high-school physics. In the real world, we know that projectiles are affected by aerodynamics. (That’s why frisbees fly differently than baseballs.) But since aerodynamics are complicated, high school teachers ignore them. Instead, they teach students that earthbound projectiles behave as they would on the moon — blissfully unaffected by air drag. This simplification is a lie, of course. But it’s useful for teaching students about the essence of Newton’s equations. [***] Science is filled with this sort of simplification. We learn about the world by developing toy models — models which simplify reality, yet retain (we hope) an element of truth. [***] In economics, there’s no shortage of toy models. But most of these playthings belong in the landfill; they’re models that assume away the most pertinent features of the real world. (For example, neoclassical economic models capitalism by assuming ‘perfect competition’, whereas the real world is marked by pernicious oligarchy.) [***] In short, if we want simple models that capture key elements of human behavior, it’s best to leave mainstream economics behind. Instead, a good place to start is with population biology — specifically the Lotka-Volterra model of predator-prey dynamics. Like projectile motion that neglects aerodynamics, the Lotka-Volterra equations are a toy model of how predator and prey populations respond to each other. In a sense, it’s the simplest ‘systems model’ that still provides useful insights about the real world. [***] In what follows, we’ll take a tour of the Lotka-Volterra model, and see how it gives insights into human behavior. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334357/1/Fix_insights_from_the_lotka_volterra_model.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, P18, Q4, Q47 Keywords: Alberta, energy, Japan, predator-prey models, resources, sabotage, system dynamics, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334357 #END 38 #BEGIN 39 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Goli, Srinivas Author-Name: Singh, Shreya Author-Name: Balla, Shalem Title: Glorifying Virchow: Current Debate on Neoliberal Policies and Health Inequalities in India Abstract: This paper explores the theoretical basis and empirical evidence for understanding the links between neoliberal policies and health inequalities in the Indian context. The pathways in which inequality generates population health outcomes remain a major source of dispute within social epidemiology and health economics. Virchow’s philosophy, which undoubtedly galvanised thinking across the disciplines, emphasises how political–economic ideologies and income inequality shape the distribution of health and social problems. In this paper, we argue that the focus on health inequality, while important, understates the role of neoliberal discourses and practices in making sense of contemporary debates on health inequality. Many quantitative studies have demonstrated that more neoliberal countries have poorer health than do fewer neoliberal countries, but we rarely find comprehensive documentation of evidence in the Indian context. In light of the fast-changing political and social environment and policy priorities post-1990s in general and post-2014, this paper examines the impact of a rising share of private healthcare delivery on health inequalities. Using inequality in the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) as a health outcome and per capita NSDP, per capita public health expenditure, the share of private health care spending and the poverty ratio as indicators of neoliberal policies, through robust econometric assessment, we find that economic growth without poverty reduction and public health care spending increase health inequalities. The fixed effects model plots depicting the interaction effects of PCPHE and time on health inequality suggest that public health spending consistently has a negative association with health inequality. However, the period impact of PCPHE on reducing health inequality is declined over time. Random effects model plots that show the interaction effects of the share of private health care utilisation and time consistently show a positive association with health inequality. Our findings also suggest that a positive association exists between the poverty ratio and health inequality. We conclude that integrating understandings of neoliberalism into theorising about health inequality enriches the political economic and political demographic perspective of health. India must implement “post neoliberal” social and political economic policies to counter neoliberal models that emerged in the 1990s and rising social and health inequalities. Ending poverty and austerity towards public health spending are two key steps for reducing health inequalities. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334356/1/Glorifying-Virchow-2025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Health inequalities, Neoliberalism, Political determinants of health Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334356 #END 39 #BEGIN 40 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kim, Yong Jin Title: Religions and Ideologies as Strategic Assets: A Supply-Demand Model of Belief Systems Across National Rise and Decline Abstract: This paper develops a macro-historical framework for the emergence, institutionalization, proliferation, fragmentation, and decline of religions and secular ideologies. It treats belief systems as equilibrium governance technologies that enable large-scale cooperation, legitimacy formation, and moral constraint when kin-based networks and informal reciprocity become insufficient. The framework models belief formation as a triadic supply-demand equilibrium among (i) the public, which demands justice (especially distributive justice), meaning, security, identity, and explanations of suffering; (ii) ruling authorities, which demand order, hierarchy, legitimacy, and mobilization capacity; and (iii) intellectual elites, which supply doctrines, rituals, interpretive schemas, and institutional designs. The supply-demand model yields testable hypotheses: belief systems tend to arise under crisis and coordination problems; codification and canon formation stabilize authority when actor incentives align; prosperity and intellectual specialization foster pluralization; fragmentation lowers institutional trust and state capacity; and crises of meaning resolve through reform, revival, replacement, or stagnation. The paper evaluates these claims through both supply-demand theoretical framework and comparative qualitative evidence across multiple civilizational trajectories and applies this framework to contemporary geopolitical competition, emphasizing ideological divergence within and between the United States and China. The analysis suggests that ideological capital, representing the level of belief system, is a strategic asset that conditions long-run state capacity, technological trajectories, and economic growth. Creation-Date: 2026 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334355/1/YongKim-Religion%2820260105%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H56, N10, O43, D91 Keywords: religion, ideology, supply and demand, state capacity, civilizational cycles, decadence Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334355 #END 40 #BEGIN 41 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: The Economics of an Import Tariff in the Keynesian Model: An Intermediate-Macroeconomics Treatment Abstract: The standard textbook treatment of expansionary fiscal policy at intermediate macroeconomics level, e.g., Blanchard (2024), Burda and Wyplosz (2023), only considers taxes affecting the economy through the consumption function, by increasing the level of disposable income. Motivated by recent events - the import tariffs introduced in the US by Trump administration - in this paper we introduce such tariffs to explore how they work in the Keynesian cross framework. As expected, an increase in import tariffs stimulates aggregate demand, which is the ”import substitution effect” from the trade literature. There is also a multiplier effect, which we refer to the ”import tariff multiplier effect.” This possible stimulus effect on the domestic (US) economy from an increase in the import tariff rate is of interest to policy-makers, and in developing countries with a public finance model organized around trade taxation, or countries that follow an export-led growth model by discouraging imports. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/334354/1/Vasilev_import_tariff_2025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A2, E62 Keywords: expansionary fiscal policy, import tariff Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:334354 #END 41 #BEGIN 42 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chiaf, Elisa Author-Name: Corsini, Alberto Author-Name: Miniaci, Raffaele Author-Name: Urgilés Salinas, María Paz Title: Work Integration Social Cooperatives in Italy: Public finance sustainability of active labour policies for disadvantaged individuals Abstract: Unemployment and limited access to decent job opportunities disproportionately affect individuals facing various forms of vulnerability. In Italy, policies designed to promote the participation of this disadvantaged labour force grant Work Integration Social Cooperatives (WISC) tax benefits and contribution revenues. In return, WISCs employing disadvantaged individuals generate public finance savings by lowering publicly funded health care and social assistance expenditures, while also creating value added through increased VAT revenues. This paper investigates whether the net balance for public finances of such labour policies is negative or positive. We employ a monetary cost-benefit analysis of 6,892 job placements facilitated by social cooperatives in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto between 2014 and 2023. Specifically, we use VALORIS, an evaluation approach that assesses the financial sustainability of every single job placement of disadvantaged workers, and apply it to 92 WISCs followed between 2014 and 2023. Our results indicate that the Italian active labour policy of work integration of disadvantaged workers in social cooperatives is self-financing. Moreover, we find heterogeneity in the costs and benefits associated with different types of disadvantages. Finally, we highlight the relevance of the job placement of workers who are signalled as vulnerable by social services, but who do not receive incentives for their hiring, in producing positive effects on the public budget. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333976/1/Work-Integration-Social-Cooperatives-Italy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J68, P13, H43, J14 Keywords: Work Integration Social Enterprises, Active labour market policy, Disadvantaged workers, Policy evaluation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333976 #END 42 #BEGIN 43 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Butt, Asad Ejaz Title: Supply-Driven Inflation: Anchored Expectations and Optimal Macroeconomic Policy Response Abstract: This paper investigates why U.S. inflation during 2021–2022 subsided without the expected rise in unemployment implied by the Phillips curve, advancing the question of whether supply-side factors and anchored expectations reshaped the inflation–employment relationship. Drawing on macroeconomic data from FRED, the study integrates empirical analysis of inflation, wage growth, energy prices, and unemployment to test the sensitivity of inflation to labor market conditions. The theoretical framework re-evaluates the Phillips curve in the context of supply-driven inflation and credible inflation-targeting regimes. Results indicate that supply shocks—mainly energy price and supply-chain disruptions—proved transitory, while the Federal Reserve’s communication effectively anchored expectations near its 2% target. Consequently, inflation declined without the employment sacrifices predicted by traditional models, implying a flatter Phillips curve and stronger role for expectations anchoring. The study concludes that macroeconomic policy must better distinguish supply- from demand-induced inflation, integrating expectations management and policy credibility into models of disinflation dynamics. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333975/1/Butt-Supply-Driven-Inflation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Supply-driven inflation, Phillips curve, Anchored expectations, Disinflation, Monetary policy credibility, Supply-side shocks, Inflation targeting, Energy prices, Labour market dynamics, Macroeconomic stabilization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333975 #END 43 #BEGIN 44 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Amoa-Gyarteng, Karikari Title: Strategic Market Entry Evaluation: Highland Spring's Expansion into the Chinese Bottled Water Market Abstract: This case study examines Highland Spring’s potential entry into the Chinese bottled water market. As the United Kingdom’s leading domestic bottled water brand, Highland Spring has built a solid position at home but has little activity abroad. With the UK market already well developed, the company now faces limited room to grow locally, which makes international expansion an important consideration. The case requires students to evaluate whether Highland Spring should expand into China, determine the appropriate entry mode, identify target customer segments, and design a marketing strategy that balances standardization with local adaptation. Students analyze Highland Spring's internal capabilities using SWOT and product life cycle frameworks, assess the UK market environment to understand the push factors for internationalization, evaluate China's attractiveness using PESTEL and Porter's Five Forces, and develop recommendations for segmentation, targeting, and positioning. The case is designed for global strategic management and international marketing courses, where students need to bring together several frameworks to develop practical and well-reasoned market entry recommendations for a premium consumer brand. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333698/1/Strategic-Market-Entry-Evaluation-Highland-Spring.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M16, F23, M31, M21 Keywords: global strategic management, international marketing, market entry strategy, standardization versus adaptation, segmentation and targeting, China Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333698 #END 44 #BEGIN 45 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Amoa-Gyarteng, Karikari Title: Evaluating the benefits, costs, and risks of international market entry: A case study of Lyft Abstract: This case study examines whether Lyft should enter the South Korean ride-hailing market and, if so, on what strategic terms. The analysis combines a PESTEL assessment of South Korea’s macro environment with a comparison of three entry modes (licensing, joint venture, and wholly owned subsidiary), an evaluation of cultural distance using Hofstede’s framework, and a review of exchange rate risk under Korea’s managed-float regime. The case highlights the opportunities created by South Korea’s advanced digital infrastructure, dense urban markets, and strong consumer adoption of smartphones, alongside risks related to political contestation, regulatory uncertainty, demographic change, and currency volatility. It is designed for courses in international business, strategic management, and international finance, where students can apply multiple analytical lenses to a single decision context and debate alternative strategic paths for a global platform firm. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333585/1/Lyft%20South%20Korea%20Case%20Study.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F23, M16, M10, F21, F38 Keywords: Strategic management, Ride-hailing, Market entry, South Korea, Exchange-rate risk, Cross-cultural management Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333585 #END 45 #BEGIN 46 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barja Daza, Gover Author-Name: Villarroel Böhrt, Sergio Author-Name: Zavaleta Castellón, David Title: Institutional design and implicit incentives in Bolivia's decentralization model Abstract: The second-generation fiscal federalism (SGFF) approach is used as a reference to analyze the political and fiscal institutional design of Bolivia’s decentralization model and its evolution. Subnational public finance data up to 2008 is used to verify that decentralization of expenditure was higher than that of revenue, establishing a context of vertical fiscal imbalance that increased due to growing fiscal transfers during the positive external shock (boom) period. Consequently, the subnational fiscal surplus was not a result of internal efficiency but of excess revenues from such transfers. Panel models were estimated to identify and assess the implicit incentives embedded in fiscal institutions of the decentralization model. Findings at the municipal level are: i) misalignment of local spending with local interests due to dominance of transfers over own revenue (dominance of central government development policies); ii) incentive to spend transfers faster than own revenue (flypaper effect); iii) greater marginal contribution of own revenue to positive fiscal balances compared to transfers, thus introducing the seed for a soft budget constraint but hidden by the fiscal surplus; iv) disincentive to generate own revenue (tax and non-tax) due to the size and growth of transfers (disincentive to the culture of contributing to own revenue). Findings at the prefectural level are: i) misalignment with regional interests given the dominance of transfers over own revenue due to absolute lack of tax powers (until 2009); ii) high tendency to a soft budget constraint and, eventually, also fiscal bail-out, hidden by the fiscal surplus; iii) in only two departments collection of national-level taxes were higher, compared to transfers received in the same departments; iv) disincentive to pay the VAT (national-level tax) due to higher royalty transfers received, an effect not extended to other national-level taxes; v) high dependence from hydrocarbon-based transfers, and fiscal risk when this natural resource declines (both in volume and prices) due to volatility of international oil prices. Also, as a result of the decentralization model a positive and significant impact was found on education-coverage indicators, an important development objective of the national government. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333584/1/DT_Decentralization.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Second generation fiscal federalism, Panel models, Bolivia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333584 #END 46 #BEGIN 47 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barja, Gover Title: Graphing and measuring Covid's first wave impact on the Bolivian economy Abstract: The Bolivian monthly index of economic activity along with ARMA models are used in an attempt to graph and measure the impact of Covid’s pandemic on the Bolivian economy. The accumulated difference between the observed and counterfactual values show an overall 12.6% loss of economic activity in the 10 months from February to November 2020 of the first Covid wave, with a tilted W-shape short-run recovery just before the beginning of the second wave in December 2020. Breakdown into the twelve Bolivian economic sectors show wide heterogeneity in depth of impact and speeds of recovery during the same period. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333583/1/DT_Covid_1st_Wave.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Covid-19, Interrupted time series analysis, ARMA-GARCH models, Bolivia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333583 #END 47 #BEGIN 48 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Digitalization without Diversification: Constraints and Potentials of Azerbaijan's ICT Sector in the Post-Oil Economy Abstract: The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector holds strategic importance for Azerbaijan's ambitions to diversify beyond hydrocarbons and modernize its national economy. Yet, despite extensive public investment and infrastructure development, the sector's contribution to GDP, employment, and exports remains limited. Drawing on official statistics and policy documents for 2020-2025, this study examines the performance, structure, and constraints of Azerbaijan's ICT and digital economy. In 2024, ICT accounted for only 1.8 percent of GDP, 0.036 percent of total exports, and 1.4 percent of national employment. Research and development (R&D) expenditure remained below 0.3 percent of GDP, while Azerbaijan ranked 94th in the 2025 Global Innovation Index-well behind regional peers. The paper attributes the sector's underperformance to low innovation intensity, weak private-sector participation, and overreliance on state-led infrastructure projects such as Azercosmos, which, while symbolically important, have not produced broad technological spillovers. At the same time, Azerbaijan has made measurable progress in digital finance, with non-cash payments rising from 30 percent in 2021 to 64.2 percent in 2024. These advances, however, have not translated into a robust, innovation-driven ICT ecosystem. The findings suggest that Azerbaijan's digital transformation remains infrastructure-heavy but innovation-light, requiring a shift toward policies that promote R&D investment, entrepreneurial capacity, and integration into global digital value chains. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333330/1/ICT-and-digital-economy-Azerbaijan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, Digital Economy, ICT Sector, Innovation, R&D, Diversification, Azercosmos, E-Governance, Non-Cash Payments, Digital Transformation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333330 #END 48 #BEGIN 49 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Strategic Planning and Structural Inertia in Azerbaijan's Post-Oil Economy: An Evaluation of the 2016-2025 National Roadmap Abstract: This paper provides an empirical assessment of Azerbaijan's Strategic Roadmap for the National Economy, adopted in 2016 with targets set through 2025. Drawing on official statistics and the author's own calculations, the study evaluates performance against four core objectives: (i) raising average annual real GDP growth above 3 percent; (ii) increasing the share of foreign direct investment (FDI) in non-oil GDP to 4 percent; (iii) boosting non-oil exports per capita from USD 170 to USD 450; and (iv) reducing the state budget's dependence on transfers from the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) to 15 percent. The analysis shows that none of these targets have been met. Average annual GDP growth over 2016-2025 is estimated at 1.46 percent, well below the planned threshold. The share of FDI in non-oil GDP declined from 6.9 percent in 2016 to 0.7 percent in 2024, while per capita non-oil exports reached only about USD 330-more than 20 percent short of the 2025 target. At the same time, SOFAZ transfers still account for more than one-third of state budget revenues and are projected to remain structurally high. Labour-market indicators reveal additional fragility, with inflated job-creation figures, substantial job closures, and persistent reliance on public sector employment. The findings point to a systematic implementation gap between strategic planning and actual outcomes, rooted in structural and institutional constraints rather than exogenous shocks alone. The paper concludes that without significant reforms in governance, investment climate, and statistical transparency, Azerbaijan's strategic planning exercises will continue to underperform as instruments of genuine diversification and structural transformation. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333328/1/Strategic-Planning-and-Structural-Inertia-in-Azerbaijan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O21 Keywords: Azerbaijan, Strategic Roadmap, Economic Diversification, Foreign Direct Investment, Non-Oil Exports, SOFAZ, Fiscal Dependence, Labour Market, Implementation Gap, Policy Evaluation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333328 #END 49 #BEGIN 50 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Spatial Disparities and Policy Effectiveness in Azerbaijan's Regional Development Abstract: This study assesses the design, implementation, and outcomes of the State Program for the Socio-Economic Development of the Regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the country's most comprehensive long-term development initiative spanning 2004-2023. Drawing on official statistical data and fiscal records, the paper evaluates four consecutive program cycles and complementary urban development schemes to determine their effectiveness in promoting balanced regional growth, reducing spatial disparities, and fostering economic diversification. Findings reveal that despite cumulative investments of approximately 92.2 billion Azerbaijani manats, regional inequality has not diminished. Economic activity remains overwhelmingly concentrated in the Baku-Absheron area, which generates over 80 percent of GDP while covering just 2.5 percent of the country's territory. The analysis demonstrates that regional policy outcomes have closely followed the cyclical pattern of hydrocarbon revenues, with the bulk of financing disbursed during oil-boom periods. The study also identifies the persistent procyclical character of public expenditure, weak institutional decentralization, and limited private sector engagement as key constraints undermining the program's developmental impact. The paper concludes that Azerbaijan's regional development strategy has achieved partial infrastructural improvements but failed to alter the highly centralized spatial structure of its economy. Future policies should prioritize institutional reforms, fiscal diversification, and enhanced regional autonomy to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and post-oil development Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333327/1/Azerbaijans-Regional-Development.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R58 Keywords: Azerbaijan, Regional Development, Spatial Inequality, Resource Dependence, Oil Revenues, Fiscal Decentralization, Economic Diversification, Development Policy, Development Policy, State Programs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333327 #END 50 #BEGIN 51 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: The Future of Growth in a Resource-Rich State: Azerbaijan's Post-Oil Dilemma Abstract: This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of Azerbaijan's economic trajectory over three decades of post-Soviet transformation, emphasizing the interplay between hydrocarbon dependence, fiscal fragility, and institutional weakness. Drawing upon national statistics, official budget data, and projections by international financial institutions-including the World Bank, IMF, EBRD, and ADB-the study traces macroeconomic dynamics from 1996 to 2025 and examines long-term sustainability prospects through 2050. The findings reveal that while hydrocarbon revenues have enabled rapid early growth and large-scale public investments, they have simultaneously entrenched structural vulnerabilities. Declining oil production, exchange-rate rigidity, weak diversification, and opaque fiscal governance have left the economy increasingly exposed to external shocks and domestic inefficiencies. Institutionally, Azerbaijan's governance environment has deteriorated, characterized by shrinking civic space, weakened judicial independence, and rising authoritarian control over economic and financial institutions. These systemic deficiencies have undermined investor confidence, constrained innovation, and reinforced monopolistic market structures. The study integrates macroeconomic, institutional, and geopolitical dimensions into a unified analytical framework, demonstrating that Azerbaijan's short-term fiscal surpluses mask deeper mid-term vulnerabilities and long-term structural risks. World Bank long-term growth simulations project average annual GDP growth of only 0.5 percent between 2024 and 2050-insufficient to achieve high-income status within the century under current policy conditions. The paper concludes by identifying key reform priorities, including institutional modernization, fiscal transparency, exchange rate flexibility, and the promotion of innovation-driven non-oil growth, as essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic transformation in a post-oil future. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333326/1/Future-of-Growth-in-a-Resource-Rich-State-Azerbaijan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O11 Keywords: Azerbaijan, Resource Dependence, Diversification, Institutional Reform, Hydrocarbon Revenues, Economic Governance, Macroeconomic Sustainability, Post-soviet Transition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333326 #END 51 #BEGIN 52 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Agricultural Policy, Program Underperformance, and Food Security in Azerbaijan: Structural Constraints in a Post-Oil Economy Abstract: This article examines the structural challenges facing Azerbaijan’s agrarian sector and their implications for food security in the context of a hydrocarbon-dependent, post-oil economy. Drawing on official statistics from the State Statistical Committee and program documents from the Ministry of Agriculture, the study evaluates the outcomes of major state programs in cotton, tobacco, rice, tea, sericulture, viticulture, and sugar beet production over the period 2012–2024. The analysis reveals substantial underperformance relative to planned targets, with implementation rates for key programs ranging from only 3.9 percent in sericulture to 61.4 percent in cotton. These shortfalls reflect persistent weaknesses in planning, inter-agency coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and private-sector participation. Complementing the program assessment, the article analyzes food self-sufficiency ratios for 2020–2024 across livestock, crop, and processed food categories. The findings demonstrate a dual structure: while Azerbaijan achieves high and often surplus production in horticultural and export-oriented commodities (e.g., vegetables, fruits, nuts, and pomegranates), self-sufficiency in strategic staples such as wheat, grains, rice, and vegetable oils remains low and volatile. Livestock and processed food segments exhibit moderate but stagnant self-sufficiency, constrained by technological gaps, import-dependent inputs, and limited value-chain integration. Overall, the evidence indicates that state-led expansion strategies have not translated into broad based productivity gains, robust food security, or resilient rural development. The article concludes that a shift from politically driven, target-based interventions toward a coherent, market-oriented, and evidence-based policy framework is essential if agriculture is to become a dynamic driver of non-oil diversification and long-term food security in Azerbaijan. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333325/1/Agriculture-policy-and-food-security-in-Azerbaijan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q13 Keywords: Azerbaijan, Agriculture, State Programs, Food Self-Sufficiency, Structural Reform, Import Dependence, Non-Oil Diversification, Rural Development, Agro-Food Value Chains Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333325 #END 52 #BEGIN 53 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao Ling Author-Name: Sourav Ray Author-Name: Daniel Levy Title: Retail Price Ripples Abstract: Much like small ripples in a stream, which get lost in the larger waves, small changes in retail prices often fly under the radar of public perceptions, while large price changes appear as marketing moves associated with demand and competition. Unnoticed, these could increase consumers’ out-of-pocket expenses. Indeed, retailers could boost their profits by making numerous small price increases or by obfuscating large price increases with numerous small price decreases, thereby bypassing the consumer’s full attention and consideration, and triggering consumer fairness concerns. Yet only a handful of papers study small price changes. Extant results are often based on a single retailer, limited products, short time span, and legacy datasets dating back to the 1980s and 1990s – leaving their current practical relevance questionable. Researchers have also questioned whether the reported observations of small price changes are artifacts of measurement errors driven by data aggregation. In a series of analyses of a large dataset (almost 79 billion weekly price observations from 2006 to 2015, covering 527 products, and about 35,000 stores across 161 retailers), we find robust evidence of asymmetric pricing in the small (APIS), where small price increases outnumber small price decreases, but no such asymmetry is present in the large. We also document the reverse phenomenon (APIS-R), where small price decreases outnumber small price increases. Our results are robust to several possible measurement issues. Importantly, our findings indicate a greater current relevance and generalizability of such asymmetric pricing practices than the existing literature recognizes. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333236/1/Ling-Ray-Levy-Retail-Price-Ripples-2025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, L16, L11, D91, M31, M21 Keywords: Asymmetric pricing, Asymmetric Price Adjustment, Dynamic pricing, Rational inattention, Consumer inattention, Price rigidity, Price flexibility, Rigid prices, Sticky prices, Small price changes, Small price increases, Small price decreases, Inflation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333236 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24328.07686 #END 53 #BEGIN 54 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: 가자에 이르는 길, 2편 : 모든 것의 자본화 Title: The Road to Gaza, Part II: The Capitalization of Everything Abstract: 우리는 최근 발표한 글 「가자에 이르는 길(The Road to Gaza) 1편」에서 세 최고-신 교회(supreme-God churches)의 역사와, 전 세계 곳곳의 무력 분쟁과 전쟁에서 민병대가 맡는 역할이 어떻게 커져 왔는지를 검토했다. 본 논문은 이러한 민병대 전쟁들을 자본주의 권력 양식(capitalist mode of power)이라는 보다 넓은 조망 속에 위치시킨다. 특히 중동에 초점을 맞추어, 우리는 민병대 전쟁이 상대적 석유 가격과 차등적 석유 이윤(differential oil profits)에 미치는 영향을 보여주고, 전쟁 그 자체와 전쟁을 부추기는 자들, 그리고 그 전쟁에서 싸우는 주체들이 어떻게 모두 자본화된 권력(capitalized power)의 계산 속으로 할인(discounted)*되는지를 설명한다. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333211/1/20251121_bn_the_road_to_gaza_part_II_korean.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P00, P1, P12, P18, H56, N4 Keywords: capitalization, church, corporation, differential accumulation, dominant capital, energy conflicts, Gaza, Middle East, militias, oil, OPEC, religion, war, Weapondollar-Petrodollar Coalition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333211 #END 54 #BEGIN 55 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: 가자에 이르는 길 Title: The Road to Gaza Abstract: 2023년에 시작된 하마스와 이스라엘 간의 전쟁은 여러 장기 과정들에 의해 추동되지만, 여태껏 주변적이라고 여겨졌던 새로운 원인, 즉 랍비나트(Rabbinate)*와 이슬람 교회(Islamic churches)의 무장 민병대를 전면에 부각시켰다. 유대인 정착민 조직들로 구현된 랍비나트 민병대는 팔레스타인 영토뿐만 아니라 점차 이스라엘 사회까지 장악했다. 팔레스타인의 전통적인 저항 단체들 - 주로 PLO(팔레스타인 해방기구, Palestine Liberation Organization)와 PFLP(팔레스타인 해방인민전건Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine), 나아가 팔레스타인 자치 정부(Palestinian Authority) - 이 약화되어 이스라엘의 점령을 되돌리기는커녕 막을 수도 없게 되자, 하마스와 이슬람 지하드(Islamic Jihad)로 대표되는 이슬람 민병대가 두드러지게 부상했다. [***] 그러나 이러한 민병대의 부상은 이스라엘/팔레스타인이나 더 나아가 중동에만 국한된 현상이 아니다. 이는 국가, 교회 관련 NGO 및/또는 조직 범죄에 의해 자금을 지원받는 ‘사적’ 군사 조직들이 그 국가들과 서로를 위해, 국가들을 상대로 그리고 서로 간에 싸우는 광범위한 전 지구적 과정의 일부다. 이러한 단체들의 부상은 국민-국가와 그 대중 군대들(popular armies)의 쇠퇴와 밀접하게 연관되어 있다. 국민-국가와 대중 군대 모델은 프랑스 혁명 이후 발전했지만, 점점 더 세계화되는 자본 축적의 본성과는 더 이상 공명하지 않는다. 우리가 이전에 수행한 중동 전쟁에 관한 연구들은 ‘자본의 국가(state of capital)’를 강조했다. 우리가 제시한 이 개념은 자본주의 권력 양식(capitalist mode of power)이 단 하나의 논리로, 즉 독점 자본 집단들이 차등적 축적(differential accumulation)을 위한 권력 추구에 의해 추동된다는 논리에 따라 국가와 자본을 융합하는 걸 가리킨다. 우리는 중동에서 이러한 논리가 거대 석유 기업과 군수 기업, OPEC, 금융 기관, 그리고 건설 회사들로 이루어진 ‘무기달러-석유달러 연합(Weapondollar-Petrodollar Coalition)’에 의해 관철되었음을 입증했었다. 이들의 차등 소득과 이윤은 주기적으로 발발하는 ‘에너지 분쟁’과 밀접한 상관관계가 있었고, 이를 예측하는 데 도움이 되었다. [***] 그러나 이 권력 양식은 두 가지가 아니라 세 가지 요소로 구성된다. 국가와 자본 외에 최고-신 교회들(the supreme-God churches)도 포함되며, 본 논문에서 우리는 일반적으로는 자본주의에서, 그리고 특수하게는 중동 전쟁에서 이러한 교회와 그들의 민병대가 수행하는 역할을 개괄한다. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333210/1/20251121_bn_the_road_to_gaza_korean.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P00, P18, P5, E31, H56, N4 Keywords: capitalism, capitalist mode of power, Christianity, church, dominant capital, energy conflicts, Gaza, Islam, Israel, Jehovah, Jesus, Judaism, Middle East, militias, modes of power, Occupied Territories, oligarchy, oil, Palestine, Rabbinate, religion, state of capital, war, Weapondollar-Petrodollar Coalition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333210 #END 55 #BEGIN 56 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Landini, Fabio Author-Name: Lasagni, Andrea Author-Name: Lomuscio, Marco Title: Worker Buyouts and Conventional Enterprises: Patterns of Strategic Convergence and Organizational Divergence Abstract: This paper examines the strategic and organizational trajectories of worker buyouts (WBOs) during their consolidation phase, comparing them with structurally similar investor-owned firms (IOFs). While the early stages of WBO development have been widely studied, little is known about their medium-term evolution. Using a matched comparison design and survey data from firms established between 2010 and 2019, the study explores strategic orientation, investment and innovation behavior, organizational practices, human resource management, sources of competitive advantage and operational constraints of WBOs and IOFs. The findings reveal a dual dynamic of convergence and differentiation. WBOs adopt strategic and operational practices akin to those of IOFs, yet they also preserve distinctive participatory and employment-preserving features embedded in their cooperative governance model. While facing structural financial constraints, they exhibit stronger internal cohesion and greater involvement of workers in decision-making. Overall, the study reveals how WBOs balance convergence with conventional firm practices and the preservation of cooperative distinctiveness, shedding light on their capacity to remain both competitive and socially embedded. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/333204/1/Worker-Buyouts-and-Conventional-Enterprises.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Worker buyouts (WBOs), investor-owned firms (IOFs), matched comparison design strategy, capabilities, performance, organizational capability, personnel capability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:333204 #END 56 #BEGIN 57 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: 'ויקיפדיה אקספרס, שרותי סבוטז Title: Wikipedia Express, Sabotage Services Abstract: לואי-פרדינן סלין, בספרו 'מסע אל קצה הלילה', סיכם במשפט מחץ את מדינת הרווחה-מלחמה שהתפתחה מאז המהפכה הצרפתית כדי לייצר "חיילים בחינם" ואזרחים מאולפים: "אני מזהיר אתכם, כאשר שליטי העולם מתחילים לאהוב אתכם, סימן שהם מתכוונים להפוך אתכם לנקניקיות קרב..." וכך, כאשר מיליונר משועמם, ממעריצי איין ראנד ופרידריך האייק, מוקף להקת חנפים שוחרי טוב והמוני קבוצות מתנדבים (עם גב פילנטרופי של גוגל, אפל, מיקרוסופט, אמזון ודומיהם), דואגים יומם ולילה להפיץ בחינם השכלה ויקיפידית לילידים, סביר להניח שהם מתכוונים לדרוס את מעט המחשבה האוטונומית שנותרה בכם ולדחסה לתוך הקונצנזוס התאגידי-מדיני Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/331919/1/20251100_bn_wikipidia_express_sabotage_services.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, P16, D8 Keywords: capital as power, conditioning, culture, differential accumulation, Israel, knowledge, sabotage, Wikipedia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:331919 #END 57 #BEGIN 58 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Romashchenko, Taras Title: Bringing Ukrainian Refugees Home: Scrutinising Economic Incentives and Challenges to Return Abstract: In this working paper I focus on the critical demographic situation in Ukraine caused by the 2022 Russian invasion, which threatens the prospects of post-war recovery and socio- economic revival. By and large, I argue for the need to develop and implement nationwide repatriation programmes targeting Ukrainian refugees based on economic (investment) incentives that may be effective in the context of the country of origin. Drawing on desk research of previous return scenarios in some post-conflict countries and a series of in- depth interviews with Ukrainian refugees in Austria and Germany, I launch into this discussion by outlining a conceptual framework for the voluntary return of forced migrants to Ukraine. These include: financing the restoration of destroyed housing for refugees and providing them with land plots for independent reconstruction, payment of significant financial assistance upon return, targeted grants to forced migrants for business development in Ukraine, financial incentives enhancing social welfare particularly for families with children and launching powerful investment projects with the participation of foreign capital. Then I deal with potential challenges that could significantly complicate the process of mass re-emigration. These include: the ongoing active hostilities, the conflict of economic interests between Ukraine and host countries (the case of Germany is considered), the socio-economic collapse of the homeland implying the lack of decently paid jobs in the country of origin, as well as inconsistent and often contradictory policy of the Ukrainian authorities towards returnees. I end with a number of policy suggestions which, if taken into account by the Ukrainian government, could increase the likelihood of voluntary return of forced migrants to Ukraine. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/331557/1/Romashchenko-Bringing-Ukrainian-Refugees-Home.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: forced migrants, refugees, economic incentives, investments, repatriation, return, challenges, Ukraine Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:331557 #END 58 #BEGIN 59 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barrales-Ruiz, Jose Author-Name: Mendieta-Munoz, Ivan Title: Are macro-financial linkages stable or time-varying? Evidence from Bayesian vector autoregressions Abstract: This paper investigates the importance of time-varying parameters in US macro-financial linkages. To do so, we adopt a flexible hybrid time-varying parameter Bayesian vector autoregression with stochastic volatility empirical framework. We find that, first, macro-financial linkages are mainly characterized as hybrid time-varying interactions, adequately captured by a combination of stochastic volatility, constant parameters on most lagged effects, and time-varying parameters that mainly capture the contemporaneous effects of macroeconomic variables on financial variables. Second, the relative change in the size of financial shocks, captured by their respective stochastic volatility components, is the main driver of the observed time-varying effects of financial variables on macroeconomic outcomes during periods of financial stress. Third, the combined contribution of credit spread, house and stock prices shocks to unemployment (GDP growth and inflation) fluctuates from approximately 20% (5%) in normal times to 60% (30%) during the Global Financial Crisis, thus indicating that financial shocks affect more importantly labor market outcomes. Fourth, macroeconomic variables respond more significantly to credit spread and house price shocks. Fifth, GDP growth and inflation react differently to financial shocks: while house price shocks and stock price shocks act as demand-type shocks by moving both variables in the same direction; credit spread shocks act as supply-type shocks by moving both variables in opposite directions. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330707/1/Are-macro-financial-linkages-stable-or-time-varying.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C11, C32, C52, E30, E44 Keywords: financial shocks, macro-financial linkages, model selection, time-varying parameter vector autoregressions, stochastic volatility Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330707 #END 59 #BEGIN 60 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Janda, Karel Author-Name: Turkova, Anezka Title: Crop Insurance, Climate Change, and Public Policies in the Czech Republic Abstract: This paper deals with the impact of climate change on crop insurance in the Czech Republic in the context of government support policies. It combines a comparative analysis of selected EU countries’ insurance systems with an empirical investigation of factors influencing Czech farmers’ decisions to purchase crop insurance. Using farm-level data, the analysis explores the roles of weather variability, government disaster aid, and participation in agri-environmental schemes. We show that past experience with extreme weather and dependence on state aid have a significant impact on insurance uptake, while recent weather anomalies and participation in environmental schemes have a limited influence. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330706/1/Crop-insurance-climate-change-Czech-Republic.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D81, G22, Q12, Q18, Q54 Keywords: government policy, crop insurance, climate, weather Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330706 #END 60 #BEGIN 61 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barra Novoa, Rodrigo Title: Evolutionary Dynamics of Industrial Policy in Chile (1990–2022): State Capacity and Innovation for Endogenous Development Abstract: The study examines the evolution of Chile’s industrial policy between 1990 and 2022 through the lens of state capacity, innovation, and endogenous development. In a global context where governments are reclaiming a proactive role in fostering innovation, Chile presents a paradox. It is a stable and open economy that has expanded investment in science, technology, and innovation but still faces structural barriers to turning that investment into sustainable capabilities. Drawing on the works of Mazzucato, Aghion, Howitt, Mokyr, Samuelson, and Sampedro, the research integrates evolutionary economics, public policy, and humanist ethics to assess Chile’s capacity for innovation-driven transformation. Using a longitudinal case study approach and official data, the study finds institutional progress but persistent coordination gaps, regional disparities, and a fragile culture of knowledge. It concludes that inclusive and sustainable innovation will require adaptive governance, long-term vision, and an ethical understanding of innovation as a public good. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330597/1/State-Capacity-Innovation-Endogenous-Development-Chile.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O25, O1, O38, E02, L52, P42 Keywords: State capacity, Innovation, endogenous development, industrial policy, Chile, entrepreneurial state Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330597 DOI: 10.14293/PR2199.002225.v1 #END 61 #BEGIN 62 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Amoa-Gyarteng, Karikari Title: Globalization’s Startup Paradox: When Do Global Markets Really Create Jobs? Abstract: Why does globalization reduce unemployment in some countries but not others? This policy synthesis addresses a puzzle: global market integration helps the UK maintain 4.5% unemployment while South Africa faces 33% joblessness despite similar openness to trade. Drawing on recent comparative research, this paper argues that the key difference lies not in the degree of openness, but in whether entrepreneurial ecosystems enable early-stage ventures to scale into stable, job-creating firms. In the United Kingdom, accessible finance, efficient regulation, and reliable infrastructure allow startups to expand and hire. In South Africa, funding shortages, regulatory hurdles, and infrastructure breakdowns trap most startups in early stages, limiting employment gains from globalization to large incumbents. Based on this analysis, the paper proposes a simple but practical, sequenced policy framework organized around four pillars: finance (co-investment funds, credit guarantees), regulation (digital one-stop shops, startup legal designation), infrastructure (reliable power, broadband), and skills/ networks (targeted training, accelerator support). Reforms in Rwanda, Morocco, Tunisia, and India demonstrate that rapid progress is feasible when policymakers focus on removing binding constraints. The core message for emerging economy policymakers: globalization creates opportunities, but jobs grow only when ecosystem conditions enable local startups to capture them. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330596/1/Globalizations-Startup-Paradox.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L26, F62, O57, J21, O43 Keywords: Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Job Creation, Globalization, Entrepreneurship Policy, Policy Recommendations Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330596 #END 62 #BEGIN 63 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bruers, Stijn Title: Determining an optimal animal welfare levy Abstract: A literature review is conducted of five recently developed methodologies to determine an optimal non-anthropocentric animal welfare levy that internalizes the social costs of animal suffering into the price of animal products, whereby animal and human welfare are counted equally. Chicken meat may get a levy of €30 to €8000 per kilogram, where the best estimates are closer to this upper value. Products from animals larger than chickens usually have a more than ten times lower levy than chicken meat and eggs. The non-anthropocentric animal welfare levy is several orders of magnitude higher than an anthropocentric animal welfare levy that is purely based on human’s altruistic preferences for animal welfare. At such high levels, farmed animal suffering could easily be the largest market failure in our global economy. A politically feasible implementation of a fee-and-dividend animal welfare levy is discussed. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330515/1/Determining-optimal-animal-welfare-levy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q18, Q50, H21, H23, I31 Keywords: animal welfare, meat, externalities, market failure, welfare economics, optimal tax Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330515 #END 63 #BEGIN 64 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Tourism and the Border-Closure Effect in Azerbaijan: Post-Pandemic Recovery, Structural Constraints, and Regional Competitiveness Abstract: This study examines the evolution of Azerbaijan’s tourism sector in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the economic and policy consequences of prolonged land-border closures. Drawing on official statistics, international datasets, and comparative analysis with Georgia and Armenia, the paper investigates trends in inbound tourism, revenue generation, employment, and investment across 2016–2024. The findings reveal that while the sector has demonstrated signs of recovery—particularly through growth in higher-value and diversified visitor segments—Azerbaijan’s performance remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels and lags behind regional peers. The analysis identifies structural inefficiencies, methodological weaknesses in statistical reporting, and policy misalignments that constrain sectoral growth. It concludes that restrictive border and mobility policies are incompatible with Azerbaijan’s stated objectives of tourism-led diversification and sustainable development. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330399/1/Ibadoghlu_Azerbaijan_Tourism_2025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, tourism policy, COVID-19 recovery, border closure, non-oil economy, South Caucasus, UNWTO standards, economic diversification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330399 #END 64 #BEGIN 65 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jenkins, Kush K. Author-Name: Whitfield, Carlos J. Author-Name: Johnson, Anthony Title: The Economic Effects of the Montgomery Bus Boycott Abstract: This paper reexamines the economic effects of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, an event often celebrated for its moral and social significance, yet underexplored in terms of its fiscal implications. We assess the hypothesis that the Boycott had no measurable impact on the City of Montgomery’s public finances and find compelling evidence to the contrary. Our analysis demonstrates that the Boycott significantly contracted municipal revenue and simultaneously escalated public expenditures, particularly in policing and fire services, driven by the city's "get tough" policy response. Using historical financial records and time-series forecasting (ARIMA), we quantify the growing fiscal strain experienced by the city. Although Montgomery maintained budget surpluses during the Boycott period, projections indicate a rising probability of deficits had the protest continued beyond its resolution. These findings highlight the economic leverage wielded by organized civil resistance and underscore the material costs incurred by municipal governments when confronting movements for racial justice. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330397/1/Economic-Effects-of-the-Montgomery-Bus-Boycott.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: N42, H72, D74, B52, I38, H75, Z18, R51 Keywords: Economic History, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Civil Rights Movement, Fiscal Impact, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Protest Economics, Time-Series Forecasting, African American History, Local Government Budgets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330397 DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/yguf9_v1 #END 65 #BEGIN 66 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kodama, Wataru Author-Name: Friederichs, Petra Author-Name: Nematbakhsh, Amin Author-Name: Odening, Martin Author-Name: Szemkus,Svenja Author-Name: Seifert, Stefan Author-Name: Hüttel, Silke Title: Adaptation Decisions under Climate Change Uncertainty and Weather Extremes Abstract: Farms and landowners seem reluctant to invest in climate change adaptation despite socio-economic benefits. However, a dynamic economic model suggests that under uncertain future climate change, observed adaptation “reluctance” may be in fact optimal from the decision-makers’ perspective. This is because decision-makers consider the value of waiting to gather information about future climate and weather before committing to investment. To investi-gate how future climate change shapes adaptation behavior, this study presents an analytical framework that integrate scenario-based climate model projections into a dynamic economic model of the adaptation decision. Using adaptation decision of the Austrian farms as a case example, we use projections of temperature and precipitation under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) scenarios from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) simulations. The future projections are used to calibrate the climate change parameters within the economic model to analyze adaptation responses. We find that adaptation reluctance in-tensifies particularly in response to revenue downside shocks induced by weather extremes, and due to increased uncertainty in future climate change the likelihood of adaptation under severe climate change scenarios is not necessarily higher than under mild scenarios. We also find that adaptation subsidies can enhance the likelihood. These results suggest that with in-creasing frequency and intensity of extreme events in future, the expected loss without adap-tation will increase while the reluctance will also increase, and the adaptation investment tim-ing will appear even more delayed. Such delays may incentivize policymakers to provide public interventions such as subsidies to induce adaptation investment. However, they should carefully compare the value of adaptation reluctance and the social costs of the reluctance (e.g., negative externalities) to justify the interventions. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330341/1/Adaptation_decisions_2025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D25, D81, Q54 Keywords: climate change adaptation, real options approach, climate change projection, weather extremes, Shared Socioeconomic Pathways Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330341 Note: Kodama, Friederichs, Szemkus, Seifert and Hüttel gratefully acknowledge funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – through CRC (SFB) 1502/1–2022 – project id: 450058266 #END 66 #BEGIN 67 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Artikova, Aziza Author-Name: Egamberdiev, Bekhzod Author-Name: Khamidov, Imomjon Author-Name: Primov, Abdulla Title: How Real Is Climate Change? Public Perception in Central Asia, Caucasus Region and Eastern Europe Abstract: The development of appropriate climate change makes people perceive it in a certain way, and is critical to formulating appropriate environmental policies and environmental education campaigns. In this article, the authors discuss the perception of climate change in four Central Asian countries — namely, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan —as well as the Caucasus region and Eastern Europe. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330338/1/How-Real-Is-Climate-Change.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q54, Q56, P48 Keywords: Climate change, Perception, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Caucasus Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330338 #END 67 #BEGIN 68 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kronenberg, Philipp Title: A High-Frequency GDP Indicator for Switzerland Abstract: This paper presents a weekly GDP indicator for Switzerland, which addresses the limitations of existing economic activity indicators by using alternative highfrequency data created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The indicator is derived from a Bayesian mixed-frequency dynamic factor model, which integrates both conventional macroeconomic and alternative high-frequency data at weekly, monthly, and quarterly frequencies. The model extracts business cycle information from a wide range of data frequencies and captures the large and sudden fluctuations during the pandemic by estimating missing observations as latent states through data augmentation, incorporating stochastic volatility in the state equation, and accounting for serial correlation in the measurement errors. An empirical application shows that the indicator accurately approximates weekly GDP growth for Switzerland and provides valuable information on the trajectory of GDP at high frequency, particularly during crisis periods. A pseudo real-time analysis demonstrates high forecast accuracy at short leads and improvements over other GDP indicators for Switzerland. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330303/1/ssrn-4875922.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C11, C32, C38, C53, E32, E37 Keywords: Dynamic Factor Model, High-Frequency Data, Business Cycle Index, Economic Activity Indicator, Covid-19 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330303 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4875922 #END 68 #BEGIN 69 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barrales-Ruiz, Jose Author-Name: Kim, Gyeongho Author-Name: Mendieta-Munoz, Ivan Title: Time-varying endogenous productivity growth dynamics Abstract: This paper provides an empirical analysis of the dynamic determinants of US labor productivity growth by considering that the latter is an endogenous outcome, mainly influenced by changes in the size of the economy and relative labor costs. Specifically, we consider that changes in GDP, real wages, wages relative to the price of capital, and investment effect simultaneously the evolution of labor productivity growth. We focus on studying whether the response of the latter to these effects has been stable or time-varying by adopting a flexible hybrid time-varying parameter Bayesian vector autoregression with stochastic volatility empirical framework. This allows us identify whether none, some, or all lagged and contemporaneous coefficients in the equations in the model are constant or time-varying via model selection. We find: (i) evidence supporting the view of time-varying endogenous labor productivity growth dynamics; (ii) that the response of labor productivity growth to GDP growth has tended to increase over time; and (iii) that the response of labor productivity growth to real wage growth has tended to decrease over time. Our findings have important policy recommendations that can help to improve the future performance of labor productivity growth in the USA. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330302/1/Barrales-RuizKimMendieta-Munoz-2025-TVEPGD.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B50, C11, C32, C52, E12 Keywords: labor productivity growth, induced technical change effect, Kaldor-Verdoorn effect, model selection, time-varying parameter vector autoregressions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330302 #END 69 #BEGIN 70 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Byra, Lukasz Title: Immigration, search, and redistribution: A conjecture Abstract: In “Immigration, search and redistribution: A quantitative assessment of native welfare,” a paper by Battisti et al. published in the August 2018 issue of the Journal of the European Economic Association, the authors inquire about how migration to 20 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries affects the welfare of the countries’ native workers. In this paper, we raise several concerns regarding the analytical and the empirical parts of the Battisti et al.’s inquiry that bear on this effect. In particular, when Battisti et al. formulate a rule for the division between a worker and a firm of the surplus that arises from a firm-worker match, Battisti et al. neglect to take into account the fact that wages are taxed. When Battisti et al. formulate the GDP identity, the incorporation of capital is done incorrectly. Calibration of a corrected model undertaken in this paper reveals that these issues affect measurably the empirical results regarding the impacts on the welfare of native workers of skill-neutral migration and of migration by low-skill workers. An additional concern is that our calibration of a corrected model yields estimates of the tax rate on workers’ wages that are far too high to be considered feasible. This suggests to us that even when the model of Battisti et al. is corrected, a structural revision is deemed necessary in order to deliver a useful tool for measuring the effect of migration on the welfare of native workers in the 20 OECD countries. As a step in this direction, we calibrate a version of the corrected model, which involves “reasonable” tax rates on wages and a budget deficit. The results yielded by this counterfactual version lend support to the results of the corrected model regarding the negative impact of skill-neutral migration and of migration by low-skill workers on the welfare of native workers. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330239/1/Immigration-search-and-redistribution.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, I31, J64 Keywords: Migration to OECD countries, Welfare of native workers, Unemployment in a migration-destination country, Sharing rule of firm-worker match surplus when wages are taxed, GDP identity, Recalibration of labor market model, Skill-neutral migration, Migration by low-skill workers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:330239 #END 70 #BEGIN 71 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hiziroglu Aygun, Aysun Author-Name: Karaca-Mandic, Pinar Title: The Impact of Minimum Wage Increases on Infant Health: Evidence from Türkiye's 2016 Wage Hike Abstract: This paper examines the impact of a significant minimum wage increase in Türkiye on infant birth weight and neonatal health. We utilize data from the Türkiye Demographic and Health Survey to investigate the birth outcomes of babies exposed to a 30% minimum wage hike during pregnancy. Leveraging variation in the predicted probability that a household includes a minimum-wage earner, we estimate a difference-in-differences model to identify the causal effect of prenatal exposure to the minimum wage increase. Our analysis reveals that exposure to a higher minimum wage during pregnancy significantly increases birth weight and reduces the likelihood of low birth weight (< 2500 grams). We find no difference in the gestational length or the possibility of receiving prenatal health care, employment status, or smoking behavior for mothers who face an increase in the minimum wage while pregnant. However, mothers exposed to the reform were more likely to receive key prenatal health assessments - such as blood-sample tests and abdominal examination - which may have contributed to the observed improvements in neonatal health. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/329823/1/HizirogluAygun_KaracaMandic_Min_Wage_in_Turkey_2025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I12, J13, I38 Keywords: minimum wage, birth weight, prenatal health care, universal health coverage, Türkiye Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:329823 #END 71 #BEGIN 72 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Diakité, Nanamoudou Author-Name: Diallo, Ibrahima Author-Name: Sene, Babacar Author-Name: Sene, Omar Title: Digital Divide and Access to Basic Services in West Africa: Empirical Evidence on Socioeconomic Determinants Abstract: The rapid digitalization of sub-Saharan Africa has generated considerable hope for territorial development. Yet behind the dominant discourse of technological leapfrogging lies a troubling reality: the digital divide may amplify existing inequalities rather than reduce them. This study examines this crucial question through analysis of six West African countries using Afrobarometer Round 9 data. We construct a multidimensional digital divide index integrating equipment access, internet usage, and information isolation, then quantify its association with three essential services: drinking water, health, and education. Our results reveal three major findings that challenge current policies. First, formal education constitutes the most powerful determinant of digital inclusion, well ahead of wealth or geographic location. Second, digital divide is strongly associated with deficits in access to essential services, and this association persists even after rigorous control for territorial heterogeneity via district fixed effects models. Third, contrary to expectations, the impact of digital exclusion does not vary significantly between rural and urban areas, suggesting that marginalization transcends simple geographic dichotomy. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/329654/1/Digital_Divide_and_Access_to_Basic_Services_in_West_Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O33, O55, H41, I38 Keywords: digital divide, basic services, social capital, West Africa, territorial development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:329654 #END 72 #BEGIN 73 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gondauri, Davit Title: Gondauri Index (GI): Methodology for a Clay Millennium-Problems-Driven Macro-Financial Index Abstract: The Gondauri Index (GI) is introduced as a novel macro-financial composite index, grounded in the Millennium Development Goals and applied to economic modeling. It integrates three sub-indices: the Inequality-Ricci Subindex (IRS), measuring income distribution stability through Ricci flow dynamics; the Liquidity-Navier-Stokes Resilience (LNSR), capturing systemic robustness via fluid dynamics analogies; and the Inflation FPAS+ζ Credibility (IFC), enhancing inflation forecasting through hybrid FPAS-Riemann zeta methods. Each subindex is normalized on a 0-100 scale, with the final GI computed as a weighted geometric mean (35% IRS, 35% LNSR, 30% IFC). The methodology combines statistical calibration, normalization, and error-reduction benchmarks to ensure reliability and policy applicability. The GI provides a consolidated, forward-looking metric for evaluating inequality, financial stability, and inflation expectations, offering policymakers and researchers a robust tool for decision-making in complex socioeconomic environments. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/328080/1/Gondauri%20Index.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Gondauri Index, Ricci Flow, Navier-Stokes, Riemann Zeta, Inequality, Liquidity, Inflation Forecasting, Macro-Financial Index Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:328080 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5533978 #END 73 #BEGIN 74 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bonhold, Dominik Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Title: Strategieimplementierung bei Familienunternehmen in der Praxis – Potenziale und Grenzen moderner Methoden (Teil 2) Abstract: Sowohl für die Bewältigung künftiger Umbrüche und Krisen wie auch die Nutzung künftiger Chancen bedarf es neben anderen Faktoren vor allem sachgerechter, unternehmensbezogener Strategien. In Familienunternehmen ist dieses langfristige, generationenübergreifende strategische Denken besonders stark ausgeprägt. Es kommt in praxi aber nicht nur auf die sorgfältige Planung und Konzeption der Strategie an - die perfekte Strategie gibt es dabei nicht. Von zentraler Bedeutung ist vor allem die Strategieimplementierung im Unternehmen, die verschiedener Gründe wegen oftmals nicht vollständig oder gar nur teilweise gelingt. Oftmals spielt dabei insb. die Vernachlässigung der sog. weichen Faktoren eine Rolle. Insofern sind planmäßig implementierte Strategien, so gut sie auch geplant sein mögen, eher die Ausnahme in der betrieblichen Praxis – da stellen Familienbetriebe keine Ausnahme dar. Daher besteht die große Herausforderung darin, die auf Basis von Vision und Mission entwickelten Strategien tatsächlich planmäßig und vollständig in operative Maßnahmen umzusetzen, dabei alle Stakeholder mitzunehmen und das Unternehmen zukunftsfest zu machen. Dieser aus zwei Teilen bestehende Beitrag widmet sich eben diesen Fragestellungen. Im ersten Teil des Fachartikels stand zunächst die theoretische Auseinandersetzung mit den Kennzeichen von Familienunternehmen, insb. KMU, sowie ausgewählten modernen Methoden der Strategiebewertung- und -umsetzung im Vordergrund. Der vorliegende zweite Teil widmet sich, beginnend mit einer grundlegenden Bewertung und Einordnung im Teil 1 dargestellter moderner Methoden zur Strategieumsetzung, gezielt Fragen der praktischen Implementierung zuvor definierter Strategien im Unternehmen. Dabei stehen Potenziale und mögliche Hindernisse bei der Implementierung der analysierten Methoden, also positive wie negative Implikationen für Unternehmen, im Fokus - im Allgemeinen und insb. bei Familienunternehmen. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/327003/1/Strategieimplementierung-bei-Familienunternehmen-Bonhold-Peskes-2025-vfinal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L1, L2, M1, M2, M4, M00 Keywords: Familienunternehmen, Kommunikation, Strategieumsetzung, Mittelstand, Controlling, Kennzahlen, KMU, Strategieimplementierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:327003 #END 74 #BEGIN 75 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kuikeu, Oscar Title: Long Term Relationship in Export Equation Abstract: To assess on Exports dynamics the recent trend into the literature advocates the use in panel data modeling of dynamic panel data with an error correction mechanism. The main characteristic to this specification is to take into account at the same time the short and the long run dynamics. The short run dynamics have give inside into the literature on the examination of the substitution effect between exports and domestic sales. While the long run dynamics have give inside to the unitary elasticity assumption between exports and income. Nevertheless the long run dynamics is not rich even the adances in statistical techniques. In fact, due to data limitations this is some times restricted to an anlyze in time series modeling or in panel data this lack of consistence for an cointegration approach. Then the aim of this study to reassess this long run dynamics in a panel data framework using a cointegration approach. We lies ou assessment on the model of capacity constraints for the exports dynamics. We use data between 1974-2021 for CEMAC area. Following the obtained results the size of the coefficients is overall plausibe in the long term dynamics. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/327002/1/Long%20Term%20Relationship%20in%20Export%20Equation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: exports dynamics, short run term, long run term, dynamic panel, error correction term, capacity constraints Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:327002 #END 75 #BEGIN 76 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eskandar, Glnar Title: Weighted Composite Diversification Index: A New Measure of Economic Diversification in Resource-Dependent Economies Abstract: This note introduces a Weighted Composite Diversification Index (WCDI) for resource-dependent economies that integrates fiscal, trade, and output diversification into a single measure, weighted by their relative economic size. Unlike existing indices, the WCDI endogenizes weights according to the macroeconomic structure: fiscal diversification is weighted by government size, trade diversification by export dependence, and output diversification by domestic demand as a share of GDP. To reflect the vulnerabilities of resource-dependent economies, the WCDI incorporates a penalty term that penalizes resource shares within each subindex, providing a context-sensitive gauge of diversification. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/325853/1/Weighted%20Composite%20Diversification%20Index.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C43, Q32, O57 Keywords: economic diversification, composite index, endogenous weights, entropy, penalty term, resource dependence Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:325853 #END 76 #BEGIN 77 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Economics of an export tax in the standard Keynesian framework: the case of Nigeria Abstract: The standard textbook treatment of expansionary fiscal policy at intermediate macroeconomics level (and specifically implemented via a tax rate reduction), e.g., Blanchard (2021), Burda and Wyplosz (2023), or even at an advanced level, e.g., Romer (2018) - only considers tax cuts affecting the economy through the consumption function, by increasing the level of disposable income. Motivated by the public finance model in Nigeria, in this paper we introduce taxes on oil exports in the Keynesian cross framework and study the effects of a cut in those taxes. As expected, a cut in the export tax rate stimulates aggregate demand. There is also a multiplier effect, which we refer to the ”export tax multiplier effect.” Our findings are novel in the literature and could be of interest both to policy makers, as well as economists interested in economic education and teaching. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/325820/1/export-tax-Nigeria-Oct2024-v3-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A2, C65 Keywords: export taxes, Keynesian framework Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:325820 #END 77 #BEGIN 78 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Petrevski, Goran Title: Economic sanctions and output growth: Empirical evidence Abstract: This paper provides evidence on the effects of sanctions on economic growth for a sample of 107 countries during 1960-2020. The main findings from our empirical investigation are as follows: sanctions have neither contemporaneous nor delayed effects on output growth; in contrast, we find that military conflicts have strong negative impact on growth; differentiating by the senders, we find that both unilateral and multilateral sanctions are non-effective, whereas US sanctions have strong negative effects on growth; as for the effects of various types of sanctions, we provide evidence on the negative impact of trade and financial sanctions, whereas travel and other sanctions do not affect output growth. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/325283/1/Economic-effects-of-sanctions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F43, F51, F53 Keywords: economic sanctions, output growth, international policy, international conflicts Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:325283 #END 78 #BEGIN 79 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Aguilar, Jose Author-Name: Quineche, Ricardo Title: Regional Inflation Spillovers and Monetary Policy Design: Evidence from Peru's Successful Inflation-Targeting Framework Abstract: Despite being an emerging economy, Peru has achieved superior post-pandemic disinflation compared to major developed economies, making its regional inflation dynamics globally instructive for monetary policy design. This study investigates Lima's suitability as Peru's inflation-targeting anchor by analyzing regional spillovers across nine economic regions using monthly CPI data (2002-2024). Employing both Diebold-Yilmaz time-domain and Baruník-Křehlík frequency-domain frameworks, we quantify the direction, magnitude, and persistence of inflation transmission. Results reveal strong regional interdependence (73.60% total spillover index) with Lima as the dominant net transmitter (23.94 percentage points). However, frequency decomposition uncovers striking cyclical heterogeneity: Lima receives short-run shocks from food-producing regions but dominates long-run transmission (44.70% vs. 28.99% frequency spillover index). Rolling-window analysis during COVID-19 shows temporary spillover disruption (connectivity declining from 75% to 68%) followed by recovery during 2022's inflationary surge. Robustness checks across specifications, granular city-level data, and three-band frequency segmentation confirm Lima's structural centrality at lower frequencies. These findings validate the Central Reserve Bank's Lima-centered approach for long-run targeting while revealing asymmetric frequency-dependent spillovers. The presence of short-run regional shocks suggests integrating upstream agricultural signals could enhance near-term forecasting and policy responsiveness. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/325125/1/Aguilar_and_Quineche__2025_%20%2819%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E52, E58 Keywords: Inflation spillovers, Regional inflation dynamics, Frequency-domain analysis, Diebold-Yilmaz methodology, Baruník-Křehlík framework Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:322270 #END 79 #BEGIN 80 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Quineche, Ricardo Author-Name: Zapata, Juan Title: Inflationary and Deflationary Pressures: A Directional Decomposition of U.S. Inflation Dynamics Abstract: This paper develops a pressure decomposition of inflation as the net outcome of two competing forces: inflationary pressure, defined by the frequency and magnitude of price increases, and deflationary pressure, determined by corresponding price decreases. Using 245 PCE sub-indices spanning 1959-2024, we construct an exact bottom-up inflation measure that transparently maps sectoral pricing decisions into macroeconomic aggregates. Our decomposition reveals fundamental asymmetries in inflation formation: inflationary pressure exhibits dramatic variation (2.35%-12.68%) while deflationary pressure remains remarkably stable (0.72%-5.18%), indicating inflation episodes are primarily driven by surges in upward pricing momentum rather than retreats of downward movements. Historical analysis shows distinct pressure regimes across major macroeconomic episodes: the Great Inflation featured extreme inflationary pressure volatility, the Great Moderation achieved balanced dynamics, the 2008-2009 crisis uniquely witnessed deflationary pressure dominance creating deflation risk, while COVID-19 saw dramatic inflationary pressure resurgence. We reassess the price puzzle using Bayesian local projections with alternative monetary policy shock identifications. Conventional narrative shocks generate sustained inflationary pressure increases with minimal deflationary response, while informationally robust shocks resolve the puzzle completely through both increased deflationary pressure and reduced inflationary pressure, with the deflationary channel providing the dominant contribution consistent with demand-channel transmission. Extensive robustness checks across specifications and estimation methods confirm these findings while revealing the diagnostic value of pressure decomposition for evaluating shock quality. Results demonstrate that the price puzzle reflects informational frictions rather than genuine economic phenomena, and suggest successful monetary policy operates through managing pressure balance with important implications for real-time policy diagnosis and central bank communication. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/325124/1/Quineche_Zapata__2025_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E52, E58, C43 Keywords: Inflation decomposition, price puzzle, monetary policy transmission, pressure dynamics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:322269 #END 80 #BEGIN 81 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Loewen, Howard Title: Paradoxe Werbung - Eine Analyse zum bewussten Einsatz von Widersprüchen in der Werbung - Teil 1 Abstract: In diesem Working Paper wird paradoxe Werbung als bewusst widersprüchliche Kommunikationsstrategie untersucht. Das Hauptargument lautet: Paradoxe Werbung differenziert Marken in gesättigten Märkten, kann Authentizität und Vertrauen fördern und komplexe, ambivalente Konsumentenbedürfnisse adressieren, birgt jedoch Risiken von Missverständnissen und Markenverwässerung. Zudem wird untersucht, welche weiteren Auswirkung diese Art der Werbung auf ein Unternehmen haben kann. Abstract: This working paper examines paradoxical advertising as a deliberately contradictory communication strategy. The main argument is that paradoxical advertising differentiates brands in saturated markets, can promote authenticity and trust, and address complex, ambivalent consumer needs, but carries risks of misunderstanding and brand dilution. It also examines what other effects this type of advertising can have on a company. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324771/1/Daube_Loewen_Paradoxe_Werbung_1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M3 Keywords: Marketing, Werbung, paradoxe Werbung, Unternehmenskommunikation, Markenaufbau, Absatzförderung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:324771 #END 81 #BEGIN 82 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Henning, Sven Title: Künstliche Intelligenz als Strategisches Instrument: PROGREDI-KI-Vorgehensmodell zur erfolgreichen Umsetzung in Unternehmen Abstract: Ein hoher strategischer Nutzen durch künstliche Intelligenz ist nur erreichbar, wenn der Einsatz transformative Auswirkungen beinhaltet und die Strategie und das Geschäftsmodell des Unternehmens unterstützt. Die Umsetzung sollte dabei geplant mit Hilfe einen Stufenmodells erfolgen. Das Arbeitspapier stellt ein (neues) Vorgehensmodell vor, das zehn Erfolgsfaktoren (sowie die Aspekte Nutzen und Kosten) thematisiert und sechs Reifegradstufen unterscheidet. Dabei entwickelt sich der KI-Einsatzbereich von einer Aufgabenunterstützung über eine (isolierte) Prozesssteuerung hin zu einem Transformationsansatz, der ein datengesteuertes agiles Unternehmen unterstützt, sich an veränderte Rahmenbedingungen anzupasst und permanent Optimierungen anstrebt. Die Darstellung der Anforderungen, die dabei (zunehmend) an die Erfolgsfaktoren gestellt werden, stellen den Fokus der Veröffentlichung dar. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324666/1/Henning-PROGREDI-KI-Vorgehensmodell.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Künstliche Intelligenz, Strategie, Vorgehensmodell, Reifegradmodell Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:324666 #END 82 #BEGIN 83 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hellenkamp, Detlef Title: Regulatorische Agenda 2025+ und deren Ausblick: Zwischen Komplexität und Notwendigkeit – Eine kritische Analyse des europäischen Bankensektors Title: Regulatory Agenda 2025 and Its Outlook: Between Complexity and Necessity - A Critical Analysis of the European Banking Sector Abstract: Die regulatorische Agenda 2025+ stellt den europäischen Bankensektor vor eine signifikante Konvergenz komplexer Anforderungen, darunter die Finalisierung von Basel III (CRR III/CRD VI), der Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), die Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), das neue Paket zur Bekämpfung von Geldwäsche und Terrorismusfinanzierung (AML/CFT) mit der Einrichtung der AMLA sowie die fortschreitende Implementierung von ESG-Regulierungen (CSRD/ESRS, Taxonomie). Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen, dass trotz der unbestreitbaren Notwendigkeit zur Stärkung der Resilienz und Integrität des Sektors die aggregierte regulatorische Komplexität, die erheblichen Implementierungskosten sowie potenzielle normative Inkonsistenzen, substanzielle Herausforderungen für die Wettbewerbs- und Innovationsfähigkeit der Institute konstituieren. Insbesondere Interaktionen im Kontext der digitalen Transformation, die Gewährleistung regulatorischer Proportionalität sowie eine datenschutzkonforme Handhabung umfangreicher Datenmengen erfordern eine präzise austarierte Kalibrierung im Sinne einer differenziert und kohärent ausgestalteten („smarteren“) Regulierung. Die aufsichtlichen Prioritäten der Europäischen Zentralbank (EZB) und der Europäischen Bankenaufsichtsbehörde (EBA) reflektieren diese Herausforderungen und erfordern tiefgreifende strategische Reorientierungen innerhalb der Geschäftsmodelle und Risikomanagement-Frameworks der Institute. Der Ausblick deutet auf eine anhaltend hohe Regulierungsdynamik hin, die zunehmend von der Notwendigkeit geprägt sein wird, die komplexen Wechselwirkungen zwischen finanzstabilitätsbezogenen Zielsetzungen, technologischer Innovationsfähigkeit und nachhaltigkeitsorientierten Anforderungen systematisch zu steuern. Abstract: The 2025+ regulatory agenda presents the European banking sector with a significant convergence of complex requirements, including the finalisation of Basel III (CRR III/CRD VI), the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), the new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) package with the establishment of the AMLA, and the ongoing implementation of ESG regulations (CSRD/ESRS, EU Taxonomy). The results of this work show that, despite the undeniable need to strengthen the resilience and integrity of the sector, the aggregated regulatory complexity, the considerable implementation costs and potential normative inconsistencies constitute substantial challenges for the competitiveness and innovative capacity of institutions. In particular, interactions in the context of digital transformation, ensuring regulatory proportionality and handling large volumes of data in compliance with data protection regulations require precise calibration in the sense of differentiated and coherent (‘smarter’) regulation. The supervisory priorities of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) reflect these challenges and require far-reaching. The outlook points to a persistently high regulatory dynamic that will be increasingly characterised by the need to systematically manage the complex interactions between financial stability-related objectives, technological innovation capability and sustainability-oriented requirements. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324490/1/Regulatorische-Agenda-2025Plus-und-deren-Ausblick.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G28, G21, K23 Keywords: AI Act, AML/CFT package (AMLA), Supervisory Priorities, Basel III (CRR III/CRD VI), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Digitalisation, Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), Digital Transformation, ESG Regulation, European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), Proportionality in banking regulation, RegTech & SupTech, Smart Regulation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:324490 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5232151 #END 83 #BEGIN 84 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hellenkamp, Detlef Title: Institutionelle Transformation im Bankensektor: Multidimensionale Analyse der Auswirkungen von Digitalisierung, ESG, Demografie und Regulierung auf deutsche und europäische Kreditinstitute Title: Institutional Transformation in the Banking Sector: Multidimensional Analysis of the Impact of Digitalization, ESG, Demographics and Banking Regulation on German and European Credit Institutions Abstract: Der europäische, insbesondere der deutsche Bankensektor befindet sich in einer Phase tiefgreifender struktureller Transformation, die durch die gleichzeitige Wirkung und Wechselwirkung mehrerer makrostruktureller Treiber geprägt ist. Die fortschreitende Digitalisierung – insbesondere durch Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) und Distributed-Ledger-Technologie (DLT) – eine ESG-Integration als strategischer und regulatorischer Imperativ, ein sich verschärfender regulatorischer Rahmen (u. a. Basel IV, DORA, EU AI Act, MiCA), demografische Veränderungen sowie eine intensivierte Wettbewerbssituation durch digitale Akteure und verändertes Kundenverhalten, stellen Kreditinstitute vor tiefgreifende Herausforderungen. Dieses Diskussionspapier diskutiert die Auswirkungen dieser Treiber auf Geschäftsmodelle, Risikomanagement, operationelle Resilienz, regulatorische Anpassungsbedarfe und strategische Positionierung von Banken im deutschen und europäischen Kontext. Es zeigt auf, dass die simultane Bewältigung dieser Transfor- mationen – unter Bedingungen erhöhter Komplexität, steigender Anforderungen an Kapital, Technologie und Personal – integrierte Steuerungsansätze und tiefgreifende organisatorische Anpassungen erfordert. Im Fokus stehen dabei insbesondere: die strategische Nutzung von KI unter Berücksichtigung ethischer und regulatorischer Grenzen, die Verankerung von ESG in Risikosteuerung und Produktstrategie, die Auswirkungen der Basel-IV-Regelungen auf die Kapitalstruktur, sowie die Relevanz demografischer Verschiebungen für Kundenschnittstellen, Personalstrategien und Vertriebsmodelle. Die Arbeit schließt mit der Formulierung strategischer Imperative für Banken als Ansatz einer zukunftsorientierten, resilienten und wettbewerbsfähigen Neuausrichtung. Abstract: The European, and in particular the German, banking sector is in a phase of profound structural transformation that is characterised by the simultaneous impact and interaction of several macro-structural drivers. Advancing digitalisation - particularly through artificial intelligence (AI) and distributed ledger technology (DLT) - ESG integration as a strategic and regulatory imperative, a tightening regulatory framework (including Basel IV, DORA, EU AI Act, MiCA), demographic changes and intensified competition from digital players and changing customer behaviour are presenting banks with profound challenges. This discussion paper explains the impact of these drivers on business models, risk management, operational resilience, regulatory adjustment requirements and the strategic positioning of banks in the German and European context. It shows that the simultaneous management of these transformations - under conditions of increased complexity and rising demands on capital, technology and personnel - requires integrated management approaches and far-reaching organisational adjustments.In particular, the focus is on: the strategic use of AI, taking into account ethical and regulatory limits, the anchoring of ESG in risk management and product strategy, the impact of Basel IV regulations on the capital structure, and the relevance of demographic shifts for customer interfaces, HR strategies and sales models. The work concludes with the formulation of strategic imperatives for banks as an approach to a future-oriented, resilient and competitive realignment. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324489/1/Institutionelle-Transformation-im-Bankensektor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G28, Q33 Keywords: AI in banking, Banking regulation and supervision, Bank Risk Management, Cybersecurity, Digitalization in banking, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act), ESG, Structural changes in banking, Tokenization and the financial sector Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:324489 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5247332 #END 84 #BEGIN 85 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruedin, Didier Title: Ukrainian Refugees in Switzerland: A research synthesis of what we know Abstract: The objective of this research synthesis is to collect and summarize the research literature on Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland. This is done through a systematic review, mostly in the form of a narrative review and with statistical indicators that are synthesized. A graphical summary (evidence gap map) is provided to better identify the nature of evidence available. There is a wide range of evidence on Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland and their integration, although substantive and systematic gaps remain. The review provides a brief historical background, looks at the demographic composition of Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland, discusses economic integration, housing, education, social integration, crime and safety, health and well-being, and attitudes to Ukrainian refugees. The demographic profile of Ukrainian refugees (many women, many children and elderly people, highly educated) is well documents, as are challenges to economic integration. Much less is known about cultural integration and political participation, for example. Given the size of the population and the ongoing war in Ukraine, more research on Ukrainian refugees is warranted, particularly in the direction of successful integration in a context where return in the near future seems increasingly unlikely — although so-called dual-intent remains the official focus —, and in areas beyond economic integration that affect well-being and intentions to return. Creation-Date: 2025 Revision-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324465/1/Ukrainian-Refugees-in-Switzerland.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, O15, J15, J61, K37 Keywords: Ukraine, Switzerland, attitudes, demographics, economics, education, health, housing, integration, media, participation, literature review, refugees Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:308844 DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/tcnhx Note: Updates will be available at https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/tcnhx #END 85 #BEGIN 86 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kim, Yong Jin Title: Decadence and Military Overstretch: Modeling the Dynamics of National Decline Abstract: The paper presents a theoretical model and its simulation to explore the process of the fall of nations by focusing on moral and cultural decline, as well as military overstretch. In the model, a representative agent divides his time among military spending, material production, the consumption of scientific ideas and that of religious ideas. Both religious and scientific capital accumulate through learning-by-doing mechanism of the consumption of religious ideas and that of scientific ideas, respectively, at the national level. ‘Religious’ means ‘decadent’ or ‘nonproductive emotional’. Scientific capital boosts income, while religious capital does not. And wealthier nations experience increased decadence and military overstretch, which in turn accelerates moral and cultural decline, increasing the growth rate of religious capital and reducing that of scientific capital and income. The pseudo saddle path with a higher substitutability between religious and scientific idea consumption leads to a steady state like equilibrium. But it endogenously forks into one of two extreme potential outcomes, a religion (decadence) dominated path with slow income growth or a science dominated path with rapid growth, based on the initial conditions and policies. Affluent nations with a high level of decadence or of military overstretch are more prone to rapid decline after peaking, forking into a religion dominated path with slow income growth. The paper suggests that effective policy interventions, such as reducing decadence and military overstretch, increasing the consumption of scientific ideas, and maintaining balanced military spending, could help guide nations toward a science dominated path with sustained growth. These policies could prevent nations from veering into a religion dominated path with slow income growth. Creation-Date: 2025 Revision-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324337/1/YongKim_20250825.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: the rise and fall of nations, decadence, overstretch, saddle path equilibrium, learning by doing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:307914 #END 86 #BEGIN 87 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sandra Walzenbach Author-Name: Thomas Hinz Title: When Confirmation Bias Outweighs Expertise: A Factorial Survey On Credibility Judgments Of Polarizing Covid-19 News Abstract: In today’s digital media landscape, individuals must judge the credibility of competing information from an unprecedented range of sources, including established news organizations, political actors, unverified online voices and self-declared experts. Building on a theoretical discussion of how the internet and social media – with its algorithmic curation, its omnipresent misinformation and strategic disinformation – have altered media consumption, this study examines the challenges individuals face in evaluating the credibility of media content. Informed by dual-process theory and the concept of motivated reasoning, we explore the roles of both belief-consistency and established quality cues (namely source expertise and data references) in shaping credibility judgments. We use the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany as a case study of polarization, contrasting an inconspicuous majority with a vocal minority represented by the “Querdenker” protest movement. Heavily relying on social media, this movement mobilized a heterogeneous base of supporters united by deep-rooted mistrust of politics, science, and mainstream media. To investigate these dynamics, we conducted a factorial survey experiment in which a general population sample evaluated the credibility of Covid-19–related media content. The results provide strong evidence of confirmation bias, no detectable effect of quality cues, and remarkably similar evaluation strategies across both groups. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324165/1/Walzenbach-Hinz-2025-When-Confirmation-Bias-Outweighs-Expertise.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: public opinion, media perception, polarization, Covid-19, confirmation bias, factorial survey experiment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:324165 #END 87 #BEGIN 88 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hiziroglu Aygun, Aysun Title: How Does Public Assistance Affect Children in Disadvantaged Families? Evidence from Türkiye’s Family Support Program Abstract: We examine the short-term effects of Türkiye’s Family Support Program (FSP), a large-scale unconditional cash transfer (UCT) introduced in 2022 amid 85.5% annual inflation. The program complements food and shelter support and offers approximately one-third of the monthly minimum wage to low-income families. Using a regression discontinuity design based on the program's per capita income eligibility threshold, we analyze the program's short-term effects on child labor, time use, health, and emotional well-being within six months of implementation. We find significant reductions in children's participation in family businesses and agricultural work. Investigating the heterogeneous effects, we find that the program reduces non-market outside work for boys and time spent on domestic work for girls. Emotional well-being improved, especially among boys. These findings suggest that UCTs can improve child welfare during macroeconomic crises when combined with in-kind transfers. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324156/1/T%c3%bcrkiyes-Family-Support-Program.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I21, I28, I38, J21 Keywords: cash transfers, in-kind support, child labor, regression discontinuity design, program evaluation, Türkiye Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:324156 #END 88 #BEGIN 89 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: Exploring the maturity of inclusive digital transformation: Case of Malawi Abstract: Digital transformation has attracted attention of Government of Malawi and development partners in supporting the development of inclusive digital economy and society. However, studies on the landscape of digital transformation to establish the level of maturity of Malawi are still lacking. This paper explored the current state of inclusive digital transformation using the UNDP Digital Transformation Framework. The study analysed secondary data from gov-ernment departments and international development online databases using content analysis. The findings showed that the country was improving in pillars for digital public infrastructure, regulation of technologies and government role in leading technology developments despite not having a coordinated strategy. There were challenges in dealing with the pillars for econo-my (e.g. financial services and innovation ecosystem), connectivity (e.g. physical infrastructure) and people (e.g. low usage and adoption due to high cost of devices and low digital skills). The study offer useful insights into areas where implementation agencies, policymakers and development partners may concentrate on to achieve high maturity of digital transformation. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324136/1/DigitalTransformationStatus-Malawi.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Digital transformation, Inclusion, Digitalization, Digital technology, Malawi Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:324136 #END 89 #BEGIN 90 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Momanyi, Kevin Title: An Econometric Analysis of the Impact of Telecare on the Length of Stay in Hospital Abstract: In this paper, we develop a theoretical model that links the demand for telecare to the length of stay in hospital and formulate three models that can be used to derive the treatment effect by making various assumptions about the probability distribution of the outcome measure. We then fit the models to data and estimate them using a strategy that controls for the effects of confounding variables and unobservable factors, and compare the treatment effects with that of the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique which adopts a quasi-experimental study design. To ensure comparability, the covariates are kept identical in all cases. An important finding that emerges from our analysis is that the treatment effects derived from our econometric models of interest are better than that obtained from an experimental study design as the latter does not account for all the relevant unobservable factors. In particular, the results show that estimating the treatment effect of telecare in the way that an experimental study design entails fails to account for the systematic variations in individuals' health production functions within each experimental arm. Creation-Date: 2025 Revision-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324002/1/Impact-Telecare-on-length-of-stay-in-hospital.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C31, C36, C55, D11, D13, I12 Keywords: Demand for telecare, econometric models, health production Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168559 #END 90 #BEGIN 91 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pinjaman, Saizal Title: Macroeconomic Determinants of Malaysian House Prices: An Article Review Abstract: This paper synthesizes a review of the Malaysian housing market to identify its primary drivers, evaluate the effectiveness of its policy toolkit, and propose avenues for future research. Analysis of demand-side factors shows that real activity, income growth, and monetary conditions are key short-run drivers, while the exchange rate emerges as a particularly strong long-run influence due to imported input costs and its signaling of global financial conditions. The effectiveness of borrower-based macroprudential tools in mitigating credit-driven risks is also highlighted. On the supply side, localized overhang and limited developable land in urban nodes are identified as key challenges. The paper argues that effective policy requires strong coordination between demand-side management and structural supply reforms, with an emphasis on a risk-based approach to financial surveillance. It concludes by proposing high-value research, including state-level panel analysis, the use of satellite imagery to measure supply elasticity, microdata analysis of borrower behavior, and the development of a "house prices at risk" model to enhance policy calibration and communication. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/324001/1/Macroeconomic-determinants-of-Malaysian-house-prices.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R31, E44, G21 Keywords: Macroeconomic Determinants, House Prices, Article Review Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:324001 DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.29941232.v1 #END 91 #BEGIN 92 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gagnon, Nickolas Author-Name: Nosenzo, Daniele Title: Discrimination Preferences Abstract: We reconsider discrimination preferences through moral lenses and conduct experiments to systematically investigate these preferences using representative UK samples. Specifically, we evaluate the distribution of individual preferences for and against taste-and statistical-based discrimination across three domains—ethnicity, gender, and LGBTQ+ status. Using over 60,000 anonymous decisions affecting how workers are paid from more than 3,500 individuals, we document that most individuals prefer to engage in at least one type of discrimination, that there is substantial heterogeneity in preferences, and that the existence of multiple preferences changes our understanding of why individuals engage or not in discrimination. Among others, we examine how preferences relate across domains, map them onto socio-demographic characteristics, politics, support for policies, and gender wage gaps, and study underlying redistributive principles and effects of wage transparency. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323979/1/DiscPref_GagnonNosenzo.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, D90, J23, J31, J71, J78, K31, M52 Keywords: Ethnicity, Gender, LGBTQ+, Moral principles, Experiment, Discrimination Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323979 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5345787 #END 92 #BEGIN 93 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tauheed, Tahira Author-Name: Tauseef, Tahira Title: A Univariate based NAIRU Estimation in the Context of Data Constrained Developing Countries Abstract: This study addresses the challenge of estimating the NAIRU in developing countries, focusing on Pakistan from 1972 to 2022. Due to data constraints in such contexts, it introduces robust methodologies, including Hodrick-Prescott and Kalman filters within a univariate framework, to derive NAIRU estimates and their precision. The NAIRU estimates average around five percent, fluctuating over time, indicating a time-varying NAIRU in Pakistan. An analysis of unemployment decomposition reveals that cyclical and non-structural factors are more influential than structural ones in the labor market, emphasizing the need for counter-cyclical policies alongside necessary structural reforms. The unemployment gap and inflation analysis provide mixed evidence on NAIRU's theoretical foundation, recommending simultaneous supply shocks' control and demand management in inflation-targeting. The study indicates Kalman filter estimates the NAIRU more effectively than the HP filter, though both lack precision. Therefore, future research in developing countries with limited data should focus on developing structural approaches suitable for lower degrees of freedom alongside univariate methods. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323970/1/NAIRU-Estimation-in-Context-of-Data-Constrained-Developing-Countries.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C13, C14, E24, E27 Keywords: NAIRU, NAIRU’s Precision, Univariate Approach, Kalman Filter, State Space Model, HP Filter Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323970 #END 93 #BEGIN 94 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Montano Pierina Author-Name: Quineche, Ricardo Author-Name: Tipo, Royer Title: Distributional Patterns in US Monetary Transmission: Quantile Cointegration Evidence Abstract: This study challenges the conventional assumption of uniform monetary policy transmission by examining interest rate pass-through across the conditional distribution using quantile cointegration. Using U.S. data from 1994–2024, we estimate long-run relationships between the federal funds rate and both lending rates and Treasury yields at quantiles 0.1–0.9, employing the Phillips–Hansen fully modified quantile estimator with quantile CUSUM stability tests. We find that transmission is fundamentally asymmetric and varies systematically with economic conditions. Under conventional policy measures, pass-through mechanisms display marked instability, with cointegration frequently breaking down in crisis periods when policy effectiveness is most crucial. The prime rate remains stably linked to the policy rate only at select quantiles, while Treasury yields show clear maturity-dependent patterns-medium-term maturities are generally more resilient than short- or long-term yields. Temporal robustness checks reveal that transmission was more unstable during the pre-Global Financial Crisis era than often assumed, but markedly more stable in the pre-COVID period, consistent with institutional learning and enhanced policy frameworks. Using the Wu-Xia shadow rate in place of the federal funds rate delivers complete stability for the prime rate and substantial stability gains for most Treasury maturities. This indicates that many breakdowns observed under conventional measures reflect policy-measurement limitations at the zero lower bound rather than genuine transmission failures. The results suggest central banks should adopt state-contingent frameworks that recognize transmission asymmetries and deploy unconventional tools proactively in stressed conditions. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323969/1/Distributional-patterns-in-US-Monetary-Transmission.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E43, C32, C21 Keywords: Quantile cointegration, Monetary policy transmission, Interest rate pass-through, Asymmetric interest rate effects Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323756 #END 94 #BEGIN 95 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe Author-Name: Engel, Stefanie Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Title: Participatory vision-building for collective action and sustainable resource management Assessing its potential through an economic experiment Abstract: Sustainable resource management often requires collective action to overcome social dilemmas, which participatory approaches can foster. Participatory vision building (PVB) helps the relevant stakeholders envision, experience and build a shared vision of their desired future. We evaluate its potential through a framed lab-in-the-field experiment. In the experiment, 728 farmers from Lake Tota, Colombia, were asked to choose between two farming practices over several rounds, which impacted their earnings and the shared lake’s water levels. In a PVB treatment condition, participants imagined and discussed their desired future. To assess PVB’s distinctive effect, the control conditions capture the elements that PVB shares with other participatory approaches. In these, participants only discussed their desired outcomes and/or practices, with or without an external vision. We find that individual and group cooperation were relatively higher in PVB but statistically indistinguishable across conditions. On average, cooperation decayed similarly across all conditions. Exploratory analyses suggest significant differences in discussion themes, feelings (of inspiration, frustration, and sadness), and participants’ unilateral prosocial actions, but not in beliefs about others' (expected) cooperation. Although PVB might motivate initial cooperation and even foster unilateral prosocial behaviour, it may fail to prevent frustration and nurture the trust necessary to sustain cooperation. Creation-Date: 2025 Revision-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323849/1/OREK_2024_EPVB%20for%20CA_May%202025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C93, D70, D91, Q25, Q50 Keywords: social dilemmas, collective action, natural resource management, participatory processes, participatory governance, visioning, vision-building, participatory vision-building Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300582 Note: Previous version: 30 July 2024 under the title Envisioning collective action for sustainable resource management: An economic experiment.(https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/300582) #END 95 #BEGIN 96 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kodirkhonov, Bekhzod Title: Certificates or Safety? Unpacking the effectiveness of Food Safety Management Systems Abstract: Purpose: This review aims to evaluate recent evidence on the real-world effectiveness of food safety management systems (FSMS), including third-party certification, HACCP programs, and training initiatives, particularly in developing countries, with a specific focus on the case study of Uzbekistan. Methodology: A structured strategy was used to examine 16 academic papers and five additional reports published between 2018 and 2025. The findings were divided into three categories: certification outcomes, HACCP efficacy, and training impacts, and then applied particularly to Uzbekistan. Findings: • Certifications like ISO 22000 and BRC notably improved compliance and correlated with fewer food safety incidents. • HACCP implementation reduced hazards significantly, but these improvements were sustainable only with regular audits. • Targeted, hands-on training sessions substantially improved employee knowledge and safe handling practices, particularly when led by qualified managers. • Organizational culture, managerial commitment, and effective regulatory oversight were critical for achieving meaningful results. Focus region: Uzbekistan's recent legislative initiatives, in conjunction with foreign support, present a considerable opportunity to adopt rigorous, risk-based safety monitoring and strengthen its safety culture, despite obstacles including periodic foodborne outbreaks and insufficient inspection resources. Practical implications: Policymakers should prioritize genuine safety outcomes over mere certification, engage in practical training and technology solutions for small businesses, leverage safety data to target inspection efforts, and incorporate food safety culture explicitly into national regulations. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323484/1/Kodirkhonov-Certificates-or-Safety.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q18, I18, L15 Keywords: FSMS, effectiveness, HACCP, certification, Uzbekistan, policy, implication Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323484 #END 96 #BEGIN 97 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Silva Lopes, Artur Title: Introduction to the Univariate Analysis of Trends in Economic Time Series Abstract: This book provides a comprehensive and systematic review of most of the literature on the univariate analysis of trends in economic time series. It also provides original insights and criticisms on some of the topics that are addressed. Its chapter structure is as follows. 1 Introduction (preliminary issues). 2 Historical perspective. 3 Modeling the trend. 4 Decomposition methods. 5 Testing for the presence of a trend. Annex: A brief introduction to filters. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323383/1/Univariate-Analysis-of-Trends-in-Economic-Time-Series.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B23, C22, C51, C52, E32, O47 Keywords: trend, long-run, low-frequency, linear trend, nonlinear trend, decomposition of time series, filtering, detrending, business cycles Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323383 #END 97 #BEGIN 98 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: The Soviet Experiment with Empire Abstract: In my last post, ‘The Half Life of Empire’, I charted the rise and fall of the British and US empires, as measured by their share of world energy use. Afterwards, several readers requested that I apply the same methods to the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. Here’s my attempt to do so. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323310/1/Fix_the_soviet_experiment_with_empire.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, P5 Keywords: Britain, empire, energy, imperialism, Russia, Soviet Union, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323310 #END 98 #BEGIN 99 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: The Half Life of Empire Abstract: A good way to think about human history is that it has two distinct scales. On the small scale we have the churn of daily events — the stuff of endless individual exploits. And on the large scale, we have the long-term evolution of human societies — a scale so sweeping that the actions of individuals are as insignificant as the shifting grains of desert sand. The task of social science is to somehow connect these two scales — to show how the characters of history act on a stage that they do not fully control. *** Looking at the present political spectacle, it’s clear that the world order is changing. In a matter of months, Donald Trump has taken a wrecking ball to the US-led regime that reigned since the end World War II. But here is an interesting question: if Trump had not been re-elected, to what extent would things be different? *** The answer depends on our choice of scale. In a world without Trump, the eddies of small-scale history would surely be altered. There would be no ‘department of government efficiency’, for example. Nor would their likely be an unfolding US-led trade war. But on the scale of long-term history, many tides would remain the same. Chief among them would be the inexorable decline of US empire. To put things bluntly, the ‘American century’ is over and will never return. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323309/1/Fix_the_half_life_of_empire.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, P5 Keywords: Britain, empire, energy, imperialism, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323309 #END 99 #BEGIN 100 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: The Deep Roots of Fascist Thought Abstract: For decades, the word ‘fascist’ existed solely as a hyperbole — a term meant to insult rather than describe. But lately, politics have grown so hyperbolic that the label looks increasingly sincere. For example, when a powerful man advocates far-right politics and brazenly performs Nazi salutes in front of a cheering crowd, it seems like we have a word for that. *** What was it again? Ah yes … fascist. *** Of course, fascism is easy to see when it happens elsewhere. But when it grows under your nose within your own culture, even the most blatant signs can seem obscure. So what we need, then, is a hard-nosed way to measure the spread of fascist ideology — a method that is calmly quantitative, immune to both apologetics and hyperbole. In my mind, the best option is to study patterns in written language. *** Backing up a bit, all ideologies have words that they emphasize, corresponding to concepts that they deem important. Now, we can get a qualitative sense for these words by reading a corpus of ideological text. But if we want to quantify an ideology, a better approach is to count words. When we do so, we can objectively identify the ‘jargon’ of an ideology — the words that it uses frequently and (crucially) overuses relative to mainstream writing. And once we’ve got this jargon, we can return to written language at large and track the changing frequency of our ideological jargon. The goal is to use word frequency to measure the spread (or collapse) of the ideology in question. *** In this essay, I’ll use word frequency to track the spread of fascist ideology. The journey starts with a trip to 1930s Europe, where we’ll encounter the works of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler (translated into English). The rantings of these two villains will serve as our corpus of fascist text. From this text, we’ll extract the ‘jargon’ of fascism — the words that Mussolini and Hitler use frequently and overuse relative to mainstream English. With this jargon, we’ll then track the popularity of fascist thinking in written language. *** Because I’m an anglophone, I’ll start with English writing. Running the numbers, I find that in English books, fascist jargon has been on the rise since the 1980s. Now this trend is admittedly alarming. But I’m going to resist the urge to focus myopically on the present. And that’s because the best way to understand today’s neo-fascism is by studying the deep past. *** Here, then, is my key finding. Although ‘fascism’ was ostensibly born in the early 20th century, the linguistic data tells a different story about fascism’s origin. Looking at five European languages (English, German, Italian, Spanish, and French), I find that the high point of fascist jargon came several centuries before Hitler and Mussolini were born. In short, what we call ‘fascism’ may be best treated as a repackaging and rebranding of a set of dark ideas that have longed plagued humanity. So when fascists look into the future, they’re really peering into the long-dead past. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323308/1/Fix_the_deep_roots_of_fascist_thought.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, P5 Keywords: England, fascism, France, Germany, ideology, Spain, textual analysis, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323308 #END 100 #BEGIN 101 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: De Beer, Pieter Title: Capital as Coordination: A Synthesis Encompassing Marx and CasP Abstract: The global system we inhabit is often described in terms of markets, capital, and labor, but beneath these abstractions lies the deeper question of how coordination produces power and how power organizes coordination. Among the most influential traditions attempting to answer this question are Marxism and Capital as Power (CasP), two frameworks that, while sharing certain roots, diverge sharply in their interpretation of what capital is and how it operates. This divergence has led to ongoing tension. Marxists often argue that CasP misrepresents or abandons the core of Marx’s critique, while CasP theorists argue that Marxism remains tethered to outdated economic metaphysics. Both claim to reveal capitalism’s inner workings. But must we choose between them? *** This essay argues that we do not. Through the lens of Coordination: the Fabric of Power (CfP), a broader theoretical framework that views coordination itself as the primary material of power, we can move beyond this impasse. Rather than asking whether capital is labor-time or capitalization, CfP reframes the question: How is coordination patterned, withheld, or manipulated in ways that produce asymmetries of power? In doing so, it offers a synthesis that integrates the structural insights of Marxism with the empirical clarity of CasP, not by erasing their differences, but by metabolizing their strongest claims. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323254/1/De_Beer_Capital_as_coordination.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16 Keywords: coordination, capital as power, capitalization, differential accumulation, domination, fabric of power, labour, Marxism, mode of power, production, sabotage, surplus value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323254 #END 101 #BEGIN 102 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Al Mamoon, Abdullah Title: A review of centralised finance (CeFi) and decentralised finance (DeFi) and its challenges to the lending market. Abstract: In this work, we systematically analyse the differences and similarities between CeFi (Centralised Finance) and DeFi (Decentralised Finance). Financial technology is rapidly expanding, and large technology firms are making advances in credit markets. The Internet of Value (IOV), with its distributed ledger technology (DLT) as a basis, has developed new types of loan marketplaces. In this paper, we enumerate the prospects & challenges of Centralised Finance (CeFi) lending markets driven by banks and other lending institutes, as well as the benefits of DeFi lending protocols that may support resolving long-standing concerns in the conventional lending landscape. Overall, fintech and big tech credit appear to complement rather than substitute conventional forms of lending. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the distinctions between CeFi (Centralised Finance) and DeFi (Decentralised Finance) lending. It analyses several aspects including legal considerations, economic factors, security measures, privacy concerns, and market structure. We conclude our study that convergence between centralised finance (CeFi) and decentralised finance (DeFi) can facilitate synergies in the lending market. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323253/1/CeFi-DeFi.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E5, E51, F30, G23, G32, O33 Keywords: Blockchain, Decentralized finance, Centralised Finance, Smart contract Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323253 #END 102 #BEGIN 103 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Al Mamoon, Abdullah Title: A review of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralised finance (DeFi), and its challenges to the lending market. Abstract: In this work, we systematically analyse the differences and similarities between TradFi (Traditional Finance) and DeFi (Decentralised Finance). Financial technology is rapidly expanding, and large technology firms are making advances in credit markets. The Internet of Value (IOV), with its distributed ledger technology (DLT) as a basis, has developed new types of loan marketplaces. In this paper, we enumerate the prospects & challenges of Traditional Finance (TradFi) lending markets driven by banks and other lending institutes, as well as the opportunities of DeFi lending protocols that may support the resolution of long-standing concerns in the conventional lending landscape. Overall, fintech and big tech credit appear to complement rather than substitute the traditional forms of lending. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323252/1/TradFi-DeFi.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E5, E51, F30, G23, G32, O33 Keywords: DeFi, Decentralized Finance, Financial Institution, Banking, Credit, Financing, Investment, TradFi, Traditional finance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323252 #END 103 #BEGIN 104 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Kosiorowski, Grzegorz Title: A demarcation of the Gini coefficient Abstract: We specify the domain in the income distribution that includes the people to whom income transfers will not increase inequality in that income distribution. Inspired by Sen’s (1973, 1997) characterization of the Gini coefficient as a ratio between a measure of aggregate income-based “depression” (stress) and aggregate income, we inquire as to whether in the wake of an increase of an income or of incomes in a given income distribution, the Gini coefficient does not increase. To this end, we identify the corresponding “safe” domain and show that the pivotal value that demarcates this domain can be elicited from a simple linear function of the Gini coefficient itself. Our rule of demarcation provides for policy interventions that seek to increase a particular income or particular incomes while not exacerbating inequality in the income distribution as measured by the Gini coefficient. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/323054/1/Demarcation-of-the-Gini-coefficient.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C43, D31, D63, H11, H53, I31, I38, P46 Keywords: Aggregate income, Aggregate income-based stress, Gini coefficient, Rank-preserving increase of an income or incomes, Sufficient condition for the Gini coefficient not to increase, Pivotal value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:323054 #END 104 #BEGIN 105 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fraske, Tim Title: Experimenting with Meaning: Reallabor as a Travelling Concept in Germany’s Innovation Landscape Abstract: The concept of Reallabore (real-world laboratories) has undergone remarkable semantic evolution in Germany - rooted in the experimental turn in social sciences, shaped in sustainability research, and culminating in national innovation policy. This paper frames Reallabore as a travelling concept: a term that shifts in meaning as it moves across institutional, disciplinary, and political contexts. Drawing on perspectives from economic geography, it traces four distinct phases in the evolution of the term, highlighting the tensions and strategic translations that have shaped its development. Understanding such conceptual trajectories is key to interpreting the performative power of innovation discourse in regional policymaking. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/322478/1/Experimenting-with-meaning-Fraske-working-paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O31, O38, R11, R58 Keywords: Economic geography, travelling concept, real-world laboratory, innovation policy, experimental governance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:322478 #END 105 #BEGIN 106 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: The Socioeconomic Curriculum – A Contribution to Transforming Economics High School Education Abstract: This article outlines the principal characteristics of the Socioeconomic Curriculum (Das Sozioökonomische Curriculum), which was developed by Reinhold Hedtke (2018) and forms part of the transformative movement of socio-economic education in the field of economic education. The concept offers a concrete illustration of how economic education can be innovatively rethought and practically implemented in schools. Because the SEC designs economic education in a problem-oriented and integrative way, and because it conceptually links society, economy and politics, the SEC is well suited for approaches to education in a transformative context. This is also supported by its transformative notion of education. The curriculum is presented in three sections. Firstly, the core principles of the SEC are elucidated, with particular emphasis on its conceptual framework and the multifaceted dimensions of the subject area ‘economy’ (2). Subsequently, select key elements are presented as illustrative examples, including its curricular core elements, content areas, and competences (3). Finally, the text utilises problem-oriented lesson planning and a planning grid to demonstrate the practical application of the SEC. This is followed by some concluding considerations (5). Abstract: Dieser Artikel skizziert die Hauptmerkmale des Sozioökonomischen Curriculums (Das Sozioökonomische Curriculum), das von Reinhold Hedtke (2018) entwickelt wurde und Teil der transformativen Bewegung der sozio-konomischen Bildung im Bereich der wirtschaftlichen Bildung ist. Das Konzept bietet eine konkrete Veranschaulichung, wie wirtschaftliche Bildung innovativ neu gedacht und in der Schule praktisch umgesetzt werden kann. Da das SÖC die Wirtschaftsbildung problemorientiert und integrativ gestaltet und Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft und Politik konzeptionell miteinander verknüpft, eignet es sich gut für Bildungsansätze in einem transformativen Kontext. Dies wird auch durch seinen transformativen Bildungsbegriff unterstützt. Das Curriculum wird in drei Abschnitten vorgestellt. Zunächst werden die Grundprinzipien des SÖC erläutert, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf dem konzeptionellen Rahmen und den vielfältigen Dimensionen des Gegenstandes „Wirtschaft” liegt (2). Anschließend werden ausgewählte Schlüsselelemente als anschauliche Beispiele vorgestellt, darunter die Kernelemente des Curriculums, die Inhaltsbereiche und die Kompetenzen (3). Abschließend wird anhand einer problemorientierten Unterrichtsplanung und eines Planungsrasters die praktische Anwendung des SÖC demonstriert. Es folgen einige abschließende Überlegungen (5). Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/322259/1/Hedtke_2025_preprint_the_socioeconomic-curriculum.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20 Keywords: Socioeconomics, economic education, socio-economic education, subject matter didactics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:322259 Note: This text is a preprint of a chapter in: Hantke, von Lingen, Weber (eds.), Nachhaltige Transformation der Wirtschaft (working title). Wiesbaden 2025: Springer VS (forthcoming) #END 106 #BEGIN 107 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Vom Change-Management zum Transformationsmanagement - Teil 3 - Überblick über die strukturell-prozessorientierten Modelle zum Transformationsmanagement Abstract: Im dritten Teil dieser Reihe befassen sich die Autoren mit den strukturell-prozessorientierten Transformationsmodellen. Ihr Fokus liegt auf der Optimierung organisatorischer Prozesse, Strukturen und Frameworks, um Unternehmen bei tiefgreifenden Veränderungen systematisch und methodisch zu begleiten. Im Folgenden werden die folgenden drei wesentlichen Modelle vorgestellt und bewertet: 1. Techno-Organisatorisches Transformationsmodell 2. Shape Your Future Model 3. Agile Transformation Framework Im Rahmen der Bewertung wird jedes Model einer sorgfältigen Bewertung unterzogen, um seine Eignung für die erfolgreiche Umsetzung nachhaltiger Transformationen in Unternehmen zu ermitteln. Insgesamt bieten diese strukturell-prozessorientierten Modelle praktische und systemische Ansätze, um Organisationen umfassend, nachhaltig und strategisch durch tiefgreifende Veränderungen zu begleiten. Abstract: In the third part of this series, the authors deal with structural-process-oriented transformation models. Their focus is on optimizing organizational processes, structures and frameworks in order to systematically and methodically support companies during far-reaching changes. The following three key models are presented and evaluated below: 1. techno-organizational transformation model 2. shape your future model 3. agile transformation framework As part of the assessment, each model is carefully evaluated to determine its suitability for the successful implementation of sustainable transformations in companies. Overall, these structural-process-oriented models offer practical and systemic approaches to guide organizations comprehensively, sustainably and strategically through far-reaching changes. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/321821/1/Becker-Daube-2025-Vom-Chance-Management-zum-Tansformationsmanagement-Teil-3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O Keywords: Transformation, Transformationsmanagement, Change, Change Managment, Techno-Organisatorisches Transformationsmodell, Shape Your Future Model, Agile Transformation Framework Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:321821 #END 107 #BEGIN 108 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kwasniok, Sascha Title: Planned behavior, insurance knowledge and the demand for private disability insurance – Evidence from Germany Abstract: Loss of the ability to work is a risk that threatens financial existence, which is often not adequately covered by state benefits. Although in many countries exists a market for occupational disability insurance, private provision is moderate. This study uses Germany as an example to examine the factors that influence consumer demand for private disability insurance from a behavioral perspective. A qualitative-quantitative approach is employed. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, semi-structured interviews among insurance sales people are conducted to identify additional factors that are relevant to insurance demand in practice. These factors include perceived usefulness and perceived risk of purchasing private disability insurance, as well as knowledge of disability insurance. The developed research model is then tested quantitatively using a structural equation model. Therefore, data from 323 consumer were collected through an online questionnaire. The results confirm the suitability of the Theory of Planned Behavior for explaining demand for private disability insurance. Of the extended factors derived from the qualitative part, disability insurance knowledge is highly relevant to the consumer purchase decision. These findings can be used to further theorizing in the field of insurance demand behavior. Furthermore, they also provide practical recommendations for increasing demand for disability insurance and thus improving coverage of existential risks. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/321819/1/2025_TPB-and-Demand-for-DI_preprint.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G22, G52, G53, G41 Keywords: Theory of planned behavior, insurance literacy, SmartPLS, Importance-performance map analysis (IPMA), expert interview, mixed method Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:321819 #END 108 #BEGIN 109 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ghosh, Samarpita Author-Name: Sarkhel, Prasenjit Title: Clean fuel use, Political representation and Forest cover: Evidence from Rural India Abstract: This paper examines how political representation for marginalized groups affects development outcomes and environmental choices by studying the adoption of clean cooking fuels under India's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). Focusing on political reservations for Scheduled Tribes (STs), we assess how these institutional arrangements influence household fuel use across ecologically diverse regions. Using village-level data from the 2020 Mission Antyodaya Survey and high-resolution forest cover data, we employ a spatial regression discontinuity design (SRD) to compare LPG adoption between Scheduled Areas (administratively designated tribal-majority regions) and non-Scheduled Areas. We find that ST political reservations at the assembly constituency level are associated with a significant reduction in PMUY uptake in Scheduled Areas. To explore variation within SAs, we employ Propensity Score Matching to assess the impact of the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA), which mandates ST representation in local governance. We find that PESA increases LPG adoption in villages located in open forest and scrubland, while it reduces uptake in regions with moderately dense forests. Additionally, our analysis reveals that higher forest cover displaces clean fuel use, and quantile regressions confirm that PESA implementation is linked to forest gains-suggesting that politically empowered ST leaders may promote conservation, inadvertently reinforcing biomass dependence. Our findings highlight a policy trade-off between environmental stewardship and the clean energy transition in ecologically sensitive tribal areas. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/320716/1/LSE_PS_SG.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O13, Q42, Q48 Keywords: Clean Fuel, Forest Cover, PESA, Propensity Score Matching, Scheduled Area, Spatial Regression Discontinuity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:320716 #END 109 #BEGIN 110 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Welde, Andualem Assefa Title: Corruption, Tax Burden, and Demand for Redistribution in African Countries Abstract: What triggered the widespread public backlash against tax reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa, echoing the scale and intensity of the Arab Spring? Economic factors, such as income and inequality, appear to be weak predictors of public attitudes toward redistribution. This study empirically examines corruption as a key factor shaping perceptions of tax burden and redistributive preferences. The analysis draws on newly available data from the 8th round of the Afrobarometer survey (2019–2021), which includes relevant questions for the first time. This period coincided with a wave of anti-tax protests across several African countries. The findings suggest that corruption is strongly associated with higher perceived tax burdens. The results also indicate that corruption diminishes the demand for and willingness to support redistributive taxation. The policy implications include tax compliance, inequality and governance issues on the continent. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/320555/1/Welde_coorruption_and_taxation_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D73, H26, O12 Keywords: Corruption, Preference for Redistribution, Tax Burden, Sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:320555 #END 110 #BEGIN 111 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Li, Mengheng Author-Name: Mendieta-Munoz, Ivan Title: Unpacking trend inflation: Evidence from a factor correlated unobserved components model of sticky and flexible prices Abstract: We propose a factor correlated unobserved components (FCUC) model to analyze the sticky and flexible components of U.S. inflation. The proposed FCUC framework estimates trend inflation and component cycles in a flexible stochastic environment with time-varying volatility, factor loadings, and cross-frequency (trend-cycle) correlations, thus capturing how structural heterogeneity in price adjustment shapes the evolution of aggregate trend inflation over time. Using Bayesian estimation methods, we show that the FCUC model substantially reduces the uncertainty surrounding estimates of trend inflation and improves both point and density forecast accuracy. Our findings reveal that, particularly following the Global Financial Crisis and more markedly since the COVID-19 recession, transitory price shocks originating from flexible inflation have become a major driver of trend inflation, whereas sticky inflation explains only part of the variation. These results indicate that temporary price movements can have persistent effects, highlighting important policy implications regarding the cyclical dynamics of disaggregated inflation components amid evolving macroeconomic conditions. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/320299/1/Li-Mendieta-Munoz-2025-UnpackingTrendInflation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C32, C53, E37 Keywords: trend inflation, sticky inflation, flexible inflation, stochastic volatility, dynamic factor model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:320299 #END 111 #BEGIN 112 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Vom Change Management zum Transformationsmanagement - Teil 2 - Überblick über kulturell-mindset-orientierte Modelle zum Transformationsmanagement Abstract: Im zweiten Teil dieser Reihe befassen sich die Autoren mit den kulturell-mindset-orientierten Modellen des Transformationsmanagements. Die klassischen Methoden des Change-Managements erweisen sich häufig als unzureichend, um tiefgreifende strategische Transformationen erfolgreich zu bewältigen. Unternehmen stehen derzeit vor der Herausforderung, spezifische Methoden und Modelle zu entwickeln, um den aktuellen Entwicklungen, wie etwa der Digitalisierung, der Globalisierung und den gestiegenen Anforderungen an Nachhaltigkeit, zu begegnen. Im Folgenden werden vier zielführende Modelle vorgestellt und bewertet: 1. Transformation Mindset Modell 2. Modell Integrales Unternehmen 3. Wheel of Transformation Modell 4. 360° Transformationsmodell Im Rahmen der Bewertung wird jedes Model einer sorgfältigen Bewertung unterzogen, um seine Eignung für die erfolgreiche Umsetzung nachhaltiger Transformationen in Unternehmen zu ermitteln. Für eine erfolgreiche Transformation ist die Integration kultureller, strategischer und prozessorientierter Ansätze von entscheidender Bedeutung. Abstract: In the second part of this series, the authors look at the cultural-mindset-oriented models of transformation management. The classic methods of change management often prove to be inadequate for successfully mastering far-reaching strategic transformations. Companies are currently facing the challenge of developing specific methods and models in order to meet current developments such as digitalization, globalization and the increased demands for sustainability. The following four key models are presented and evaluated below: 5. transformation mindset model 6. integral enterprise model 7. wheel of transformation model 8. 360° transformation model As part of the assessment, each model is carefully evaluated to determine its suitability for the successful implementation of sustainable transformations in companies. The integration of cultural, strategic and process-oriented approaches is crucial for a successful transformation. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/320203/1/Becker-Daube-2025-Vom-Change-Management-zum-Transformationsmanagement-Teil-2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O Keywords: Transformation, Transformantionsmanagement, Change, Change Management, Transformation Mindset Modell, Modell Integrales Unternehmen, Wheel of Transformation Modell, 360° Transformationsmodell Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:320203 #END 112 #BEGIN 113 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: Wirtschaft und Politik. Über die fragwürdige Trennung von ökonomischer und politischer Bildung Abstract: My argument is that social science subject didactics cannot succeed in constructing a singular, sufficiently distinct identity solely through its identification with a single scientific discipline as its reference discipline. Rather, economic and political education can only be meaningfully designed if it is conceived jointly and separately within the overall framework of the social sciences as a field of study and learning and in relation to a model of a social science educated personality. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/319932/1/Hedtke-WP-R-13-2025-Wirtschaft-und-Politik-fragw%c3%bcrdige-Trennung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20 Keywords: Wirtschaftsdidaktik, Politikdidaktik, Didaktik der Sozialwissenschaften, Ökonomische Bildung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:319932 #END 113 #BEGIN 114 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: The role of renewable sources in energy efficiency among agro-industrial complexes: An integrative literature review Abstract: Rapidly changing global economic conditions and geopolitical tensions are prompting countries to rethink their energy and food security strategies more rigorously than ever before. This urgency is particularly evident in many developing countries, especially those of the former Soviet Union (FSU), which have intensified their efforts to reconceptualize agro-industrial complexes (AICs) concerning energy efficiency and renewable energy. The aim of this study is to conduct an integrative literature review to provide a systematic and comprehensive perspective on this subject. An analysis based on the Scopus and Google Scholar databases shows that AICs have attracted considerable interest in recent years due to their potential to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the agricultural sectors. The main issue with AICs is the urgent need to scale up their application in conjunction with sustainable development practices such as green growth, circular economy and energy transition. The integration of renewable energy sources into AICs can improve agricultural development by promoting the production and integration of sustainable energy into the agricultural sector. The literature review concludes with theoretical and conceptual implications on the studied topic that will be of interest to scholars, policy makers and businesses. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/319683/1/Working-paper-9.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q42, Q16, O13 Keywords: energy efficiency, integrative literature review, renewable energy integration, sustainable agriculture, synthesis, agro-industrial complexes, circular economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:319683 #END 114 #BEGIN 115 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Basak, Debasmita Title: Does Common Ownership Distort Entry Incentives In Successive Oligopolies? Abstract: It is commonly believed that common ownership deters entry by internalizing market competition which warrants pro-competitive entry regulations. Using a successive oligopoly model with common ownership, we challenge this conventional wisdom. We show that if the downstream sector alone operates under common ownership, entry is always socially excessive, i.e., more firms enter the market than is socially optimal. In contrast, when the upstream sector alone operates under common ownership, entry is socially excessive (insufficient) if the degree of common ownership in the upstream market is reasonably low (high). Finally, when both sectors are characterized by common ownership, entry is socially excessive if the degree of ownership in the downstream market is stronger than that in the upstream market. Therefore, our findings provide a rationale for anti-competitive, rather than pro-competitive entry regulations. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/319538/1/Common_Ownership_Successive_Oligopolies.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D43, L11, L13, L22 Keywords: Common Ownership, Excessive Entry, Insufficient Entry, Successive Oligopoly Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:319538 #END 115 #BEGIN 116 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Intraligi, Valerio Author-Name: Biagetti, Marco Author-Name: Principi, Andrea Title: Are older workers more likely to exit employment following unexpected heat waves? Abstract: An expanding body of research documents the adverse impact of heat stress on aggregate employment outcomes, particularly in climate-exposed sectors and occupations. Yet, the role of individual-level heterogeneity-especially for what concerns ageing-remains relatively underexplored. By using Italian individual-level labor market survey data over 2004-2017, this study employs a pseudo panel research design to assess the impact of heath waves on the probability of transitioning in and out of employment for different cohort groups. While preliminary individual-level evidence indicates that heat waves significantly increase the probability of employment exit and decrease the probability of employment entry; controlling for unobservable cohort-province characteristics yields that only older cohorts show a higher probability of employment exit-while only younger ones show a lower probability of entry. These findings provide robust evidence of the vulnerability of older workers to climate-related labor market disruptions, and underscore the importance of integrating age-sensitive dimensions into labor and climate policy frameworks. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/318649/1/ssrn-5280324-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C51, C55, J00, Q51, Q54 Keywords: heat waves, Workforce ageing, Probit model, Pseudo panel, Employment transitions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:318649 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5280324 #END 116 #BEGIN 117 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: Delays of digital nomads strategy and immigration law amendment: Case of Cape Town, South Africa Abstract: Digital nomads strategies and remote working visa regimes have attracted attention of governments in economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in some countries, the execution of the remote working and digital nomads strategies; and amendment of immigration laws been problematic. This paper analysed causes of delays for digital nomads strategy and immigration law amendment in an African country. Using the case for the city of Cape Town in South Africa, the study draws on concepts from public policies and laws model. Secondary data e.g. government strategies, legal documents and media report were analysed using content analysis. The findings showed the complexity of public strategy and law amendments. Lack of capacity in government departments and consultation processes challenges resulted in the delays of the implementation of remote working and digital nomads strategy. Further, attempt to align the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 with other legislations and regulations (e.g. pay as you earn, unemployment insurance fund and skills development levies) contributed to the delays of implementing the remote working visa and digital nomads strategy. The study offers useful insights that can help policymakers to overcome delays in public technology strategies and amendment of legislations. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/318387/1/DigitalNomadsStrategyDelaysCapeTown.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Digital nomads, public policy, Strategy, Laws, Remote working visa, South Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:318387 #END 117 #BEGIN 118 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Serebriakova, Alexandra (Sasha) Author-Name: Polzin, Friedemann Author-Name: Sanders, Mark Title: Effects of Monetary Policy Rates on Energy Technologies: Implications for the European Green Transition Abstract: A swift transition to renewable energy sources in the European Union is necessary for mitigating climate change. However, in a period of higher ECB policy rates meant to combat inflation, it is unclear how monetary policy impacts renewable energy installation. Prior research shows heterogeneous effects of policy rates on sectors with varying industrial characteristics, meaning that renewable technologies may be hit disproportionately by monetary contractions due to their investment requirements, life-cycle stage, and/or dependence on external finance. This paper uses fixed effects panel analysis of 27 European countries to look at the interactions between installed capacity of 10 utility-scale energy technologies, their characteristics, and monetary policy. Over the period of 2001-2021, fossil fuel, hydropower and nuclear technologies were positively affected by monetary contractions, while a 25 basis point rise in policy rates was associated with an 8% decrease in the new installed capacity of wind offshore plants, and a 26.5% decrease for solar PV. Significant interaction effects using measures of investment intensity and external finance dependence for energy technologies, yield evidence in favour of the interest rate and balance sheet channels of monetary policy transmission. To address endogeneity concerns, we use a two-stage least squares (2SLS) approach in an LCOE specification for the interest rate channel in the energy sector which confirms these findings. Our results suggest the existence of an unintended bias in contractionary monetary operations and central banks should consider flanking policies (such as preferred interest rates) to offset the disadvantage for renewables. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/316394/1/MP%20and%20Energy%20Technology%20Econstor%20working%20paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E43, Q42, O16 Keywords: Monetary policy, renewable energy, interest rates, transmission channels, energy transition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:316394 #END 118 #BEGIN 119 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chea, Vybol Author-Name: Chautagnat, Jean Luc Author-Name: Sophat, Phon Title: Embedding Innovation and Entrepreneurial Culture in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Cambodia Abstract: Higher education plays an important role in training human resources with real competencies, knowledge, and skills. In this context, it’s improving the quality of higher education is a necessary and urgent thing to do, as Cambodia has a vision of becoming a high-middle-income country by 2030. Innovation and Entrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to turn ideas into action. It includes creativity, innovation, and risk-taking, as well as the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives. Innovation and Entrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to turn ideas into action. It includes creativity, innovation, and risk-taking, as well as the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives. This helps everyone in daily life at home and in society, increases employee awareness of the context of their work and their ability to take advantage of opportunities, and forms the basis for entrepreneurs starting a business or social enterprise. An international phenomenon, entrepreneurship has a favorable impact on economic growth worldwide through the birth of fresh and creative business start-ups. Because of their beneficial effects on the economy, these new small firms help create jobs and persuade lawmakers to acknowledge and encourage entrepreneurial start-ups. Cambodia is concerned with promoting entrepreneurship to all people in order to develop successful entrepreneurs. Several entrepreneurship programs have been developed by the government and higher education institutions (HEIs) to support these entrepreneurship movements, but very little is known about the effectiveness of these entrepreneurship programs’ implementation. Therefore, this study has been evaluated to what extent the effectiveness of entrepreneurship subjects in Cambodia which has been selected as the target for higher education levels in the Siem Reap, Kampong Cham and Battambang province. This study uses case study methods and was carried out in two stages. The first stage is a descriptive and evaluative phase. Here, the study focused on the mapping of existing learning and institutional support within HEIs. To gain a better understanding of learning experiences that prepare students to become successful entrepreneurs, data exploration on the learning process within HEIs is assessed from internal viewpoints. The explanation phase is stage two. During this phase, the concepts, categories, and propositions derived from the phenomena are discovered and developed in order to provide a theory and platform for entrepreneurial learning. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/316321/1/Embedding-innovation-HEIs-Cambodia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Innovation, Education Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:316321 #END 119 #BEGIN 120 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dror, David Mark Title: Beyond Financial Protection: A Comprehensive Framework for Value for Money in Health Insurance for Informal Sector Populations Abstract: Background: Traditional conceptions of "value for money" in health insurance are narrowly framed around financial metrics, inadequately capturing the multidimensional nature of value for informal sector populations. Objectives: This paper develops a theoretical framework conceptualizing value for money beyond financial protection to include preference alignment and social capital formation. Methods: We examine trust as a core mathematical variable rather than an environmental factor by analyzing generalizations from community-based health insurance schemes in India, the Philippines, Uganda, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Rwanda, and South Africa. Results: Our framework reveals trust exhibits specific properties including asymmetric response and critical thresholds, and that the Collaborative and Contributive (C&C) model generates distinctive value propositions yielding superior sustainability and willingness-to-pay metrics compared to conventional approaches. Conclusions: This framework reconceptualizes value for vulnerable populations and provides actionable design principles for optimizing insurance value across three dimensions: financial protection, preference alignment, and social capital formation. Abstract: Hintergrund: Traditionelle Auffassungen von „value for money“ in der Krankenversicherung sind eng auf finanzielle Kennzahlen fokussiert und erfassen den multidimensionalen Wert für Bevölkerungsgruppen im informellen Sektor nur unzureichend. Zielsetzung: Dieses Papier entwickelt ein theoretisches Rahmenkonzept, das den Begriff „value for money“ über den finanziellen Schutz hinaus erweitert – um Präferenzübereinstimmung und die Bildung von Sozialkapital. Methoden: Durch analytische Verallgemeinerung von Erfahrungen mit gemeinschaftsbasierten Krankenversicherungssystemen in Indien, den Philippinen, Uganda, Kambodscha, Bangladesch, Ruanda und Südafrika wird Vertrauen nicht als Umweltfaktor, sondern als zentrale mathematische Variable untersucht. Ergebnisse: Unser Rahmenmodell zeigt, dass Vertrauen spezifische Eigenschaften aufweist – darunter asymmetrische Reaktionen und kritische Schwellenwerte. Das Collaborative and Contributive (C&C)-Modell schafft dabei einzigartige Wertangebote mit überlegenen Nachhaltigkeits- und Zahlungsbereitschaftskennzahlen im Vergleich zu konventionellen Ansätzen. Schlussfolgerungen: Dieses Rahmenkonzept definiert den Wert für verletzliche Bevölkerungsgruppen neu und liefert praxisrelevante Gestaltungsprinzipien zur Optimierung des Versicherungswerts in drei Dimensionen: finanzieller Schutz, Präferenzübereinstimmung und Bildung von Sozialkapital. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/316219/8/Dror-Beyond-Financial-Protection.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I13, O17, D91, Z13, G22, H51 Keywords: Health insurance, informal sector, Trust, social capital, financial protection, community participation, health financing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:316219 #END 120 #BEGIN 121 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Artikova, Aziza Author-Name: Egamberdiev, Bekhzod Author-Name: Khamidov, Imomjon Author-Name: Primov, Abdulla Title: Industrial Pollution and PM2.5 analyses in Oskemen Abstract: Kazakhstan represents one of the largest economies in the Central Asian region. Over recent years, Kazakhstan has experienced a rise in temperature and pollution levels due to its overreliance on fossil fuels in energy industries. The rise in temperature and pollution levels has contributed to the rise of extreme weather conditions, including floods, and the increase in health issues and mortality rates. This working paper analyses the current condition in the Oskemen region of Kazakhstan in terms of air pollution indicators. The manuscript also provides related consequences and solutions to the current environmental problems in the region. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/316141/1/Industrial-Pollution-and-PM2.5-analyses-in-Oskemen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F64, N5, O1 Keywords: Environment, Economic analysis, Central Asia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:316141 #END 121 #BEGIN 122 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dror, David Mark Title: A Mathematical Framework for Trust Dynamics in Small-Scale Risk-Sharing Communities Abstract: This paper develops a rigorous mathematical framework for analyzing trust dynamics and statistical properties in small-scale risk-sharing communities. We establish that small pools with interdependent risks exhibit fundamentally different mathematical properties than large insurance systems, with volatility exceeding stability thresholds by a factor of √(N/Nc) and correlation structures reducing effective pool size by up to 89%. We formalize trust as a mathematically tractable variable with threshold stability properties, proving the existence of critical values TRcritical ∈ [0.65, 0.75] that create bifurcation points in system behavior. Our mathematical analysis demonstrates that network density directly determines trust propagation speed according to precise mathematical relationships. We prove that trust response exhibits asymmetric properties, with negative experiences having 1.5-2.5 times stronger impact than positive experiences of equal magnitude, creating hysteresis effects in system stability. By developing differential equations governing trust evolution and applying network diffusion models, we establish exact conditions for system stability and characterize phase transitions under parameter variation. The mathematical framework enables precise quantification of correlation penalties, network effects, and trust thresholds with applications to community-based risk-sharing systems where conventional statistical approaches fail. Our results transform qualitative concepts of trust and social capital into quantifiable mathematical variables with specific dynamics and stability properties. Abstract: Diese Arbeit entwickelt ein rigoroses mathematisches Rahmenwerk zur Analyse von Vertrauensdynamiken und statistischen Eigenschaften in kleinskaligen Risikoausgleichsgemeinschaften. Wir zeigen, dass kleine Risikopools mit interdependenten Risiken grundlegend andere mathematische Eigenschaften aufweisen als groß angelegte Versicherungssysteme: Die Volatilität überschreitet die Stabilitätsschwellen um den Faktor √(N/Nc), und Korrelationsstrukturen reduzieren die effektive Poolgröße um bis zu 89%.Wir formalisieren Vertrauen als mathematisch behandelbare Variable mit stabilitätstheoretischen Schwellenwerten und weisen die Existenz kritischer Werte TR_critical ∈ [0,65; 0,75] nach, die als Bifurkationspunkte im Systemverhalten fungieren. Unsere mathematische Analyse zeigt, dass die Netzwerkkonnektivität die Geschwindigkeit der Vertrauensausbreitung direkt bestimmt, gemäß exakt ableitbaren mathematischen Beziehungen. Es wird nachgewiesen, dass die Vertrauensreaktion asymmetrisch verläuft: Negative Erfahrungen wirken sich 1,5- bis 2,5-mal stärker aus als gleichwertige positive Erlebnisse, was Hystereseeffekte in der Systemstabilität verursacht.Durch die Entwicklung von Differentialgleichungen zur Beschreibung der Vertrauensentwicklung sowie die Anwendung von Netzwerkdiffusionsmodellen definieren wir exakte Stabilitätsbedingungen und charakterisieren Phasenübergänge bei Parameterveränderungen. Das mathematische Rahmenwerk ermöglicht eine präzise Quantifizierung von Korrelationsverlusten, Netzwerkeffekten und Vertrauensschwellen – insbesondere in gemeinschaftsbasierten Risikoausgleichssystemen, in denen konventionelle statistische Verfahren versagen. Unsere Ergebnisse überführen qualitative Konzepte wie Vertrauen und Sozialkapital in quantifizierbare mathematische Variablen mit spezifischen Dynamiken und Stabilitätseigenschaften. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/316140/1/V.3-Mathematical-Framework-for-Trust-Dynamics.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Z13, G22, D85, C46, C58, C22 Keywords: trust dynamics, small risk pools, network diffusion, copula theory, correlation structures, threshold stability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:316140 #END 122 #BEGIN 123 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dror, David Mark Title: Mathematical Taxonomy of Health Insurance Models: Conventional Approaches and the Emergent C&C Paradigm Abstract: This paper introduces a formal mathematical taxonomy of four principal health insurance models: Bismarckian, Beveridgean, Commercial, and Collaborative & Contributive (C&C). Each model is analyzed for its structural characteristics, sustainability conditions, and demographic resilience under stress. Unique to the C&C model is the incorporation of trust as a variable affecting sustainability and participation. By comparing the equilibrium and value functions across models, the paper reveals fundamental differences in their capacity to withstand demographic and financial pressures. The proposed taxonomy enhances both theoretical understanding and practical evaluation of global health insurance systems. Abstract: Gesundheitssysteme weltweit stehen vor wachsenden Herausforderungen in Bezug auf ihre Nachhaltigkeit. Dieser Beitrag bietet eine mathematisch fundierte Analyse von vier zentralen Modellen: Bismarck-Modell, Beveridge-Modell, kommerzielle Versicherung und das kollaborative & beitragsbasierte (C&C) Modell. Es werden formale Strukturen, Gleichgewichtsbedingungen und Resilienzmetriken dargestellt, wobei das C&C-Modell durch die explizite Einbindung von Vertrauen als besonders widerstandsfähig identifiziert wird. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/315551/1/Dror-Taxonomy-Health-Insurance-Models.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I13 Keywords: Mathematical taxonomy, Healthcare financing, Health insurance models, Mathematical modeling, Demographic resilience, System equilibrium, Risk pooling, Sustainability thresholds, Bismarckian system, Beveridgean system, Commercial insurance, Collaborative and Contributive (C&C) model, Trust dynamics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:315551 #END 123 #BEGIN 124 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Banao, Fawzi Title: Illicit Natural Resource Trade and Security: Does Gold customs fraud Expand or Undermine Military Spending in Africa? Abstract: In resource-rich African countries, the illicit trafficking of mineral resources poses a growing threat to state stability and governance. Therefore the paper investigates the effect of gold customs fraud on military spending, using a panel dataset of 50 African countries from 2000 to 2019. Employing an instrumental variable strategy, we find that higher levels of gold customs fraud are significantly associated with lower military expenditures. These findings suggest that illicit resource flows erode governments' tax mobilization and undermine their ability to respond to defense needs. The results are robust across multiple econometric specifications, including system GMM, and Jackknife estimation. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/315363/1/MILITARIZATION-AND-BORDER-SECURITY.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Military spending, Gold customs fraud, Illicit natural resource trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:315363 #END 124 #BEGIN 125 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Making America Great Again, 2024 Abstract: In 2019, we published a RWER paper assessing Trump’s promise to ‘Make America Great Again’. Here are updates of two key charts from this paper. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/314941/1/bn_making_america_great_again_2024_rwer.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, F1 Keywords: capitalist mode of power, America's decline, economic policy, Donald Trump Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:314941 #END 125 #BEGIN 126 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Khamidov, Imomjon Author-Name: Egamberdiev, Bekhzod Title: Public perception of environmental problems in Central Asia: results from the Life in Transition survey Abstract: Environmental issues adversely impact air quality, biodiversity, and socio-economic conditions in Central Asia. This paper utilizes the Life in Transition dataset to analyse climate change awareness and willingness to mitigate among populations from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Our findings reveal that public perceptions of environmental problems vary, with the highest concerns about air pollution, waste, species loss, temperature fluctuations, natural disasters, and disease spread noted in Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Conversely, awareness and concern for environmental issues in Tajikistan are relatively low. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/314939/1/Khamidov-Egamberdiev-Public-perception.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q54, Q56, P48 Keywords: environmental problems, climate change, public perception, willingness to contribute, Central Asia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:314939 #END 126 #BEGIN 127 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of Special and Differential Treatment Flexibilities in WTO Rules on Trade Reforms, Manufactured Exports and Export Upgrading in the Least Developed Countries Abstract: This article examines the effect of special and differential treatment (S&D) flexibilities embedded in the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules on trade reforms, manufactured exports and export upgrading in least developed countries (LDCs). The empirical analysis uses the entropy balancing approach over different samples with data spanning the annual period from 1996 to 2018. The treatment group includes LDCs that acceded to the WTO under the WTO Article XII, (LDC Article XII Members). Control groups include carefully selected countries among non-LDC developing countries that did not join the WTO under Article XII (referred to as LDC founding Members). The findings show that the utilization of S&D flexibilities is associated with a greater trade policy liberalization in LDC Article XII Members, but with a greater trade protectionism in LDC founding Members. The utilization of S&D flexibilities is also associated with higher trade costs for manufactured goods, but to a lesser extent for LDC Article XII Members than for LDC founding Members. In connection with these findings, the utilization of S&D flexibilities leads to an improvement in manufactured exports across different types of manufactures, and export upgrading in LDC Article XII Members, but to the reverse outcomes in LDC founding Members. Finally, the utilization of S&D flexibilities enhances the integration of LDC Article XII Members into the world market of manufactured exports, while it does not for LDC founding Members. The implications of the analysis are discussed. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/314937/1/Paper-on-S%26D.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14, O2 Keywords: Special and Differential Treatment, WTO rules, Least developed countries, Trade reforms, Manufactured exports, Export Upgrading Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313359 #END 127 #BEGIN 128 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Honig-Parnass, Tikva Title: ריאיון עם שמשון ביכלר (Interview with Shimshon Bichler) Abstract: מהריאיון: "בתוכנית אוסלו היו הרבה פנטזיות מגלומניות, מהסוג ששמעון פרס אוהב להפיץ. מאחר שאי אפשר היה סתם ככה, פשוט ולעניין, לסגת מכל השטחים, ובעיקר לפנות בבת-אחת את כל ההתנחלויות והתשתית הענקית שבוזבזה שם במשך עשרות שנים – היו מוכרחים להפוך את הדבר הפשוט הזה, כמו למשל (רעיון מטורף לחלוטין) לאפשר מעט עצמאות לפלסטינים במעט שטח שנותר להם, לעניין שולי. לא. הרי לא יתכן שעסקי 'הביטחון הלאומי' שכה שקדו לטפח, יתגלו כסתם בועה: היה צריך שמאחורי העניין הפשוט הזה תהיה תוכנית גדולה, 'חזון', שמאחוריו מסתתרת תוכנית עיקרית, מהממת ומתוחכמת, גלובלית ומה לא. מעט מאד בני-אדם טרחו לקרוא את מסמכי אוסלו ופאריס, והאמת היא שההסכמים הללו, אם אפשר לכנות בשם כזה תכתיבים בין כובש לנכבש, הוכנו באופן גרוע, בחשאי, על ידי בני אדם שכל חייהם הסתכמו באינטריגות עלובות. אבל אין לכך שום קשר לעניין העיקרי: הסכם בין ישראל והפלסטינים אינו זקוק ליותר מעמוד אחד מודפס, שבו הישראלים מכירים במדינה עצמאית פלסטינית לפחות בגבולות 4 ביוני 1967, ומתחייבים להסתלק מכל השטחים תוך 24 שעות. השאר, כמו כדאיות של שני צדדים ריבוניים ועצמאיים, להגיע לשיתוף פעולה מסחרי, או הסדרי סחר ותנועה, זה כבר עניין למשא-ומתן מאוחר, ובתנאי ששני הצדדים מעוניינים בכך." Creation-Date: 2003 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/314855/1/20030000_bichler_honig_parnas_interview_btl.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1 Keywords: capital, conglomeration, crisis, globalization, imperialism, inequality, Israel, Middle East, military spending, Oslo Accord, ownership, Palestine, ruling class, Washington Concesus Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:314855 #END 128 #BEGIN 129 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Banao, Fawzi Title: Internal Security, Cross-Border Crime, and Defense Policy in Africa: How Do Military Expenditures and Armed Forces Personnel Affect Gold-Related Customs Fraud? Creation-Date: 2025 Classification-JEL: H56, O17, F52 Keywords: Gold customs fraud, Military expenditures, National armed forces personnel Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:314453 #END 129 #BEGIN 130 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Military Spending and Economic Growth: A 2025 Update Abstract: The start of the second millennium brought a growing sense that capitalism was becoming more ‘authoritarian’ and ‘illiberal’, with various indicators suggesting that ‘democracy’ is waning around the globe, that the protection of human and civil rights is in retreat and that the number and intensity of military conflicts is on the rise. *** This angst is now greatly amplified by the domestic and foreign policies of the new Trump administration. Having returned to office in early 2025, Trump promptly launched a highly publicized crusade against his country’s ‘deep state’, with blasé disregard for its laws and con-stitution; announced his intentions to retreat from his country’s traditional postwar role as leader and protector of the Western world; and embarked on seemingly unhinged acts against friends (Canada, Mexico, Denmark, Panama and, primarily, Ukraine) while cozying up to long-term foes (Russia). *** One possible consequence of this growing angst is a global ‘arms race’. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313786/1/bn_military-spending-and-growth-2005-update.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O4, P1, L64 Keywords: arms race, Donald Trump, growth, militarization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313786 #END 130 #BEGIN 131 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Adams, Samuel Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Gbolonyo, Emmanuel Y. Title: Energy Consumption, Democracy, and Income Inequality in Africa Abstract: This study employs macro-level data from 33 African countries to examine the impact of energy consumption (disaggregated into renewable and non-renewable sources) on income inequality. It further investigates the moderating role of five distinct democracy typologies – liberal, electoral, deliberative, participatory, and egalitarian – within the energy-inequality nexus. Employing the dynamic GMM estimator, the analysis accounts for the persistence of income inequality and mitigates endogeneity concerns. The findings reveal that energy consumption plays a significant role in reducing income inequality across Africa. The interactive analysis also demonstrates that the income-equalising effect of non-renewable energy is particularly pronounced. Moreover, while all democracy typologies amplify the inequality-reducing effect of non-renewable energy, only participatory and egalitarian democracies enhance the impact of renewable energy. These results underscore the nuanced and asymmetric influence of energy types on income distribution in Africa, with non-renewable energy exhibiting more substantial direct and conditional effects. The study concludes by outlining key policy implications to foster equitable growth. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313785/1/Adams_Ofori_Gbolonyo_Energy-consumption.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, H11, O43, O55, Q01, Q43 Keywords: Africa, Democracy, Energy consumption, Renewable energy consumption, Non-renewable energy consumption, Income inequality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313785 #END 131 #BEGIN 132 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Primov, Abdulla Title: Crop Diversification Analysis at the Farm Level: Empirical Evidence from Different Regions of Uzbekistan Abstract: In Uzbekistan, land is more appropriate for cultivating fruits and vegetables. Since independence, the government of Uzbekistan has implemented a number of agricultural policies such as making some crucial structural reforms at the farms, comprising different institutions and enhancing diversification of agricultural production in order to stabilize on agricultural sector of the country. Therefore, crop diversity has an important role in sustainable agriculture. The main objective of the study is to analyze the degree and extent of crop diversification among farmers. We calculated the diversification index based on the Simpson Diversity Index method. The study revealed the mean computed Simpson Index values indicate that diversity index was found 0.59, 0.45, 0.56 and 0.62 for Andijan, Karakalpakstan, Kashkadarya and Tashkent regions, respectively. This implies that Tashkent region farmers shifted towards more diversification cropping patterns than other counterparts of the country. The overall result in the four states combined in this study reveals a mean Simpson Index within the sample of farmers was 0.56. This suggests that the farmers in the study areas were not too diversified in their cropping pattern. While cultivating several crop species also helps the farmers to manage both price and production risks which attains more food options for the household and income through marketing the produce from the surpluses. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313532/1/Manuscript_Abdulla%20Primov.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q1, D13, D31, O18 Keywords: Crop diversification, Simpson Diversification Index, Cropping patterns, Uzbekistan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313532 #END 132 #BEGIN 133 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Primov, Abdulla Author-Name: Rustamova, Iroda Title: Status and Extent of Crop Diversification Index in Uzbekistan and its Empirical Analysis Abstract: The main objective of this study is to examine the status and level of crop diversification among farms in the country through an empirical analysis using panel data collected in 2009-2017. In doing so, we performed the Stata-16 software utilizing the Simpson Diversification Index model in determining the diversification index. According to the results, the highest diversification indicators were found for Samarkand, Fergana and Tashkent regions, respectively, and accounted for 0.74, 0.74 and 0.76, respectively. It can be seen that the existing farms in Tashkent region used more diversified crops than other regions of the country. The average diversification rate of these regions was 0.66. This means that farms in the study areas are not highly diversified. Increasing crop diversification will allow farms to manage different price and production risks, as well as to ensure food security for farmers and further increase their overall incomes. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313531/1/Manuscript_Abdulla%20Primov%202.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q1, D31, O18 Keywords: Crop diversification, Simpson index, Cropping patterns, Empirical analysis, Panel data Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313531 #END 133 #BEGIN 134 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Egamberdiev, Bekhzod Author-Name: Qodirov, Sukhrob Title: Remittance and household resilience capacity in Georgia Abstract: Climate resilience, which confirms a household’s ability to withstand shocks, is an intrinsic element of adapting despite socioeconomic and environmental disturbances or shocks. Climate change and other socio-economic disturbances have given unprecedented “vertigo” to the food sector. In this context, households, as a decision-making unit, are expected to increase their resilience capacity to withstand shocks. Using the “COVID-19 High Frequency Survey 2020-2022” dataset for Georgia by the World Bank, the manuscript aims to measure household resilience capacity to climate change and analyse the effect of remittance on household resilience capacity. The measurement of resilience capacity or Resilience Capacity Index (RCI) is based on the Resilience Index Measurement Analysis (RIMA II) methodology proposed by FAO. Accordingly, RCI is constructed through RIMA proposed pillars: Access to Basic Services (ABS), Assets (AST), Social Safety Nets (SSN), Adaptive Capacity (AC), and Sensitivity (S). Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is applied to associate pillars with resilience. Using the SEM approach, the findings confirm that ABS, AST and AC pillars have a significant and positive association with RCI. The estimations confirm that remittance-receiving households are likely to experience higher levels of ABS, AC, and RCI. The findings are particularly important for enhancing the resilience thinking approach to formulating policy objectives and interventions that should inevitably improve or strengthen household resilience capacity. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313418/1/Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D13, R20, Q54 Keywords: Resilience capacity, climate change, remittance, propensity score matching Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313418 #END 134 #BEGIN 135 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Egamberdiev, Bekhzod Author-Name: Primov, Abdulla Author-Name: Babakholov, Sherzod Title: The Resilience Paradox: A Climate Change Coping Mechanism in the Farm Households from Samarkand Region of Uzbekistan Abstract: The climate change literature broadly characterizes resilience as the capacity of the household to withstand the negative consequences of climate change. However, most studies on climate change resilience use a general or inconclusive relationship between resilience and the coping strategy of the household. To extend the existing literature, we applied FAO’s Resilience Index Measurement Analysis (RIMA) approach to construct the Resilience Capacity Index (RCI). Using Latent Class Analysis (LCA), we cluster homogenous classes describing household coping strategy behavior. With an Instrumental Approach (IA), we explore how climate change resilience changes the perception of coping strategies. Our findings generally conclude that there is a negative relationship between long-term RCI and short-term household coping strategies. This relationship is particularly significant for changing planting dates, planting short-cycle crop varieties, crop diversification, and tree planting. We can conclude that climate change resilience may diminish the motivation to activate short-term coping strategies for policy interventions. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313179/1/Egamberdiev-Resilience-Paradox.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O13, O20, Q12 Keywords: Climate change, Resilience, Household Capacity, Agriculture, Latent Class Analysis (LCA) Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313179 #END 135 #BEGIN 136 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Partisan Politics and the Road to Plutocracy Abstract: As billionaires dance in the halls of the second Trump administration, it’s haunting how well Plutarch’s two-thousand-year-old words describe the state of American politics. It’s a barren landscape of plutocratic insatiability. *** How did it get this way? *** One way to tell the story is to look at the battle between the ruling class and everyone else — a battle which elites are obviously winning. But another way to understand the struggle is to look at the war between factions of the ruling class — a battle that plays out largely within partisan politics. *** On this partisan front, the historical backdrop is that for forty years, Republicans have been playing a political shell game. As Jay Michaelson puts it, Republicans “appear populist … but act plutocrat”. What’s disorienting is that this shell game has worked. Although Republicans have historically governed for the benefit of the rich, they have recently rebranded themselves (successfully, it seems) as the party of the working class. *** Is this new Republican messaging sincere? Or is it gaslighting? Well, Trump’s billionaire-stacked administration is quickly answering the question for us. However, this essay is not primarily about Trump, nor is it focused on the future. Instead, it’s a journey into how the partisan politics of the past have shaped the American plutocracy of today. *** The essay consists of a deep dive into the realm of US state politics. The story will be simple and repetitive. Across states, I will measure the degree to which Republicans control each state’s legislature. Then I will observe, in a statistical sense, the policies and social outcomes that follow. That’s it. Of course, I’ll add commentary along the way. But the goal is to let the evidence speak for itself. And what leaps from the data is this: Republican control of state legislatures is systematically associated with the rich being (and becoming) richer. In short, American plutocracy seems to be a quintessentially Republican affair. *** And that’s not all. *** As we journey into the depths of US state politics, the plot will thicken. We’ll find striking partisan differences in the language used in state bills. We’ll see the many ways that Republicans help the rich and hurt workers. We’ll see the impact partisan politics have on the population as they work longer hours with less security. We’ll see the toll that Republican control takes on human welfare. And we’ll study the ways that Republicans gain power, despite enacting policies that are self-evidently bad for the majority. And we’ll reflect on the reasons that plutocracy can become self-reinforcing. *** Think of the evidence that follows as a case study in how the machinery of democracy can be used to benefit the few and harm the many. It’s a warning from the past about tactics that will no doubt be intensified by Trump and his posse of plutocrats. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313121/1/20250131_fix_partisan_politics_and_the_road_to_plutocracy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, P12, P14, D72, D6, D3, I1, H2, J5 Keywords: capital as power, bankruptcy, crime, Democratic Party, differential accumulation, distribution, dominant capital, health, inequality, mortality, political parties, Republican Party, sabotage, states, tax, Trump, unions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313121 #END 136 #BEGIN 137 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the Multilateral Surveillance of Trade Policies on Economic Institutions, Participation in Global Value Chains and Export Upgrading in Developing Countries Abstract: The present analysis investigates the effect of the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s surveillance of trade policies (MSTP) on its member states’ economic institutions (regulatory quality and government effectiveness), participation in global value chains (GVCs) and export upgrading. The analysis shows that the MSTP helps improve economic institutions in NonAfrican countries than on African countries, although to a greater extent in the former than in the latter. However, there is no significant effect of the MSTP on backward GVC participation and export upgrading in African countries, reflecting the fact that the review of trade policies has not led to a diversification of manufactured exports across different types of manufactures. On the other hand, the MSTP promotes backward GVC participation and export upgrading in NonAfrican countries. The analysis has also shown that member states that are subject to a higher frequency of trade policy reviews enjoy a greater participation in GVCs, and a higher export upgrading. However, there is no systematic evidence that the MSTP enhances economic institutions, fosters GVC participation and export upgrading, as countries undertake greater liberalization commitments. Overall, the analysis shows that by enhancing multilateral trade cooperation and helping member states (e.g., NonAfrican countries) improve domestic policy and institutional reforms, the MSTP can be instrumental in enhancing GVC participation and export upgrading in reviewed member states. These findings are particularly relevant in the present context of intensification of geopolitical tensions. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313119/1/Effect-of-MSTP-on-Economic-Institutions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14, H11, O1 Keywords: Multilateral Surveillance of Trade Policies, Economic institutions, Participation in GVCs, Export upgrading Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:313119 #END 137 #BEGIN 138 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Djuraeva, Mukhayo Author-Name: Babadjanova, Mashkhura Author-Name: Primov, Abdulla Author-Name: Egamberdiev, Bekhzod Title: The Impact of Agricultural Extension Services on Female Farmers` Technical Efficiency: Evidence from Crop Producer Women in Uzbekistan Abstract: Extension services start to emerge in recent years but their impact on the production efficiency of women farmers is not empirically assessed in Central Asia. This paper investigates the role of extension services in improving female farmers’ technical efficiency scores while analyzing the impact of farm characteristics explaining the efficiency differentials across female farmers in rural areas of Samarkand and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. Unique and primary cross-sectional data were collected during July and August 2022 for female crop-producing farmers. A sample of 145 female-headed farming entities was selected for the survey by using a multistage, random sampling technique. To analyze the data in the scope of our research objective, we used an endogenous stochastic frontier production function and calculated the technical efficiency score of the sampled female farmers. Our findings reveal that extension participation was found to be endogenously determined and was addressed through the best possible valid instruments – individual consulting, distance from the household to the main road, and distance to the main market. The analysis demonstrates that access to extension services and the number of visits of extension agents have a positive impact on technical efficiency levels among women crop producers. Moreover, analysis shows the positive impact of private extension services whereas state-managed extension agencies do not have a significant impact on production efficiency. Recognition of the determinants of women farmers’ technical efficiency scores and the impact of extension services adoption ensures that targeted extension approaches should be encouraged and developed during the state policy reforms to address the existing gaps in resource-use management. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/312435/1/Female-farmers-technical-efficiency-Uzbekistan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: N50, O13, D13, D24 Keywords: Agricultural extension services, female farmers, gender inclusivity, endogenous stochastic frontier model, crop productivity, Uzbekistan, Central Asia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:312435 #END 138 #BEGIN 139 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mansoori, Issa Title: A Primer on the Epistemology of New Commons Abstract: By framing development as an emergent property of collective consciousness, this paper provides a fresh epistemological lens to address local and global common challenges, such as inequality, social, cultural, and ecological degradation, and resource management through commoning. The paper argues for the ‘new commons’, reimagining the concept of development by integrating insights from the philosophy and neuroscience of consciousness. Moving beyond economic conventional and institutionalist paradigms, it explores how development, like consciousness, functions as an interconnected and emergent system that transcends the sum of its parts. Countering neoliberal ideologies and prioritizing collective intention instead of pluralistic action, ‘new commons’ can be defined from a different perspective. Also, distinct from Ostrom’s common resource management model, the new commons framework emphasizes the societal construction of shared spaces and values through collective consciousness. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/312282/1/Primer-on-the-Epistemology-of-New-Commons.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: New commons, Development, Epistemology, Economic goods Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:312282 #END 139 #BEGIN 140 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Egamberdiev, Bekhzod Author-Name: Bobojonov, Ihtiyor Author-Name: Ren, Yanjun Title: Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture for Nutritional and Food Security Benefits in Tajikistan: Latent Analysis Approach Abstract: Although women play an important role in developing countries, they face persistent social and economic constraints limiting their inclusivity in household decision-makings. The Asian enigma, the case in which economic growth is not followed by expected improvements in nutritional outcomes, states that women’s low social status is to blame. This paper sheds some light on the issue by studying the linkages between the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) and food security indicators in Tajikistan by using population-based survey in Tajikistan with 2000 households. We apply a latent class approach to represent the relationship between the most disempowering domains and nutritional or food security outcomes. Accordingly, women’s empowerment in the purchase, sale, or transfer of assets has a positive association with improved diet diversity of children. As for food security outcomes, higher women’s empowerment in autonomy in production has a relationship with improved household hunger. Findings clearly indicate that group membership is one of the most promising areas for policy intervention. Precisely, group membership-based women’s empowerment is associated with better diet diversity, decreased number of stunted children and improved household hunger. Considering findings for nutritional outcomes, women’s empowerment and different anthropometric measures have messages for further policy formulations to enhance nutrition-sensitive approaches. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/312281/3/Womens-Empowerment-and-Food-Security.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q18, O13, P36, E21 Keywords: Women’s empowerment, food security, latent analysis, hunger Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:312281 #END 140 #BEGIN 141 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hager, Sandy Brian Title: Tracking the Fortunes of Corporate Psychedelia Abstract: In recent years, new biotech companies have emerged hoping to cash in on a medical psychedelics market expected to be worth billions. This article examines the business models of two of the largest such companies. According to conventional wisdom, for-profit players are best positioned to deliver new cures for mental illness at scale because of their ability to tap capital markets. The analysis presented here challenges this story on two counts. First, it argues that profitability in the pharmaceutical business depends not on rapid scaling per se, but on controlling and restricting access to maintain pricing power. Second, it claims that the unruliness of sychedelics – manifested in the presence of cheap generics, murky intellectual property claims, and high costs of administration – raises serious questions about their commercial viability. The article then assesses the sector’s embrace of Johnson and Johnson’s patented form of esketamine, Spravato, as its prototype for commercialization. Spravato may provide a pathway for profitability, but patients must contend with high prices and a drug that provides only short-term relief and requires indefinite dosing. Rather than disrupt Big Pharma, corporate psychedelia replicates its main features, raising questions about its claims to tackle the mental health crisis. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/312263/1/20240900_hager_tracking_the_fortunes_of_corporate_psychedelia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, I1, I11 Keywords: psychedelics, pharmaceutical, medicalization, mental health crisis, business models Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:312263 #END 141 #BEGIN 142 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hudson, Michael Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Di Muzio, Tim Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: El capital como poder en el siglo XXI: Una conversación Abstract: El 3 de diciembre de 2024, Michael Hudson se reunió con los investigadores del capital como poder Jonathan Nitzan, Tim Di Muzio y Blair Fix para discutir las intersecciones entre sus dos líneas de investigación. Lo que sigue es una transcripción de la conversación. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/312262/1/El-capital-como-poder-en-el-siglo-XXI.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, P12, G Keywords: capital accumulation, capital as power, capitalism, finance, political economy, philosophy of science, production, rent Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:312262 #END 142 #BEGIN 143 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mansoori, Issa Title: Development as Consciousness: An Introduction to a New Epistemology. Toward a Logic for Economic Practices Abstract: The main focus of this paper is to propose a new epistemological framework that addresses challenges in the concept of development. Based on the philosophy of mind and consciousness, this framework suggests a practical approach supported by recent scientific findings in different disciplines, including neuroscience. The article explores a new transformation in the development field, departing from dualistic philosophy and the philosophy of language and embracing a new framework of "development as consciousness" with clear and practical implications. Eventually, based on the introduced epistemology, a logic for economic practices is examined based on the new evidence in the real world. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/312155/1/Development-as-consciousness.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Development, Epistemology, Collective consciousness, Intentionality, Economic logic Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:312155 #END 143 #BEGIN 144 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: The American Housing Crisis: A Theft, Not a Shortage Abstract: If mainstream economics teaches us one lesson, it’s that when something becomes unaffordable, it’s because of a shortage. And that brings me to the US housing crisis. In America, housing is getting less affordable. So there must be a short supply, right? Not necessarily. You see, shortage is not the only route to unaffordability. There’s also … theft. Here’s how it works. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/312033/1/Fix-American-housing-crisis.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, R, D3, O15 Keywords: crisis, distribution, housing, affordability, price, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:312033 #END 144 #BEGIN 145 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kubitza, Dennis Oliver Author-Name: Weßling, Katarina Title: Whole Lotta Training - Studying School-to-Training Transitions by Training Artificial Neural Networks Abstract: Transitions from school to further education, training, or work are among the most extensively researched topics in the social sciences. Success in such transitions is influenced by predictors operating at multiple levels, such as the individual, the institutional, or the regional level. These levels are intertwined, creating complex inter-dependencies in their influence on transitions. To unravel them, researchers typically apply (multilevel) regression techniques and focus on mediating and moderating relations between distinct predictors. Recent research demonstrates that machine learning techniques can uncover previously overlooked patterns among variables. To detect new patterns in transitions from school to vocational training, we apply artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained on survey data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) linked with regional data. For an accessible interpretation of complex patterns, we use explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods. We establish multiple non-linear interactions within and across levels, concluding that they have the potential to inspire new substantive research questions. We argue that adopting ANNs in the social sciences yields new insights into established relationships and makes complex patterns more accessible Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/310974/1/Whole-Lotta-Training.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: school-to-work transitions, VET, machine learning, explainable artificial neuronal networks, SHAP values, rule extraction Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:310974 #END 145 #BEGIN 146 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: A Financial Review of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan under Shifting Global Dynamics Abstract: The financial sustainability of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) is entering a critical phase, shaped by both domestic and international economic shifts. With Donald Trump’s return to power in the United States, significant changes in domestic and foreign policy are reshaping global markets, particularly in the energy and securities sectors. These transformations have direct implications for SOFAZ’s revenue streams, expenditure framework, and long-term financial stability. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of SOFAZ’s fiscal landscape, evaluating key revenue sources, spending patterns, and sustainability risks. It examines the impact of declining oil production, shifting commodity prices, and geopolitical uncertainties on SOFAZ’s financial trajectory. Additionally, the study assesses how increasing budgetary transfers, market volatility, and investment strategies influence the Fund’s ability to navigate economic uncertainties. By integrating these factors, this research offers a forward-looking perspective on SOFAZ’s future financial management and strategic adjustments, contributing to broader discussions on oil wealth governance and economic stability in Azerbaijan. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/310919/1/Ibadoghlu-SOFAZ-in-transition.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, SOFAZ, oil price, revenue, expenditure, financial management, geopolitical uncertainties, budgetary transfers, market volatility, investment strategies, wealth governance, economic stability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:310919 #END 146 #BEGIN 147 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Duran-Fernandez, Roberto Title: Reimagining Risk Beyond Normality: Managing Catastrophic Events and Higher-Order Moments Abstract: This paper proposes a new framework that enhances traditional risk assessment by incorporating higher-order statistical moments—specifically skewness and kurtosis—through the Cornish-Fisher expansion. Standard risk models, which rely primarily on mean and variance, often underestimate the financial buffers required to hedge against extreme, low-probability shocks. To address this limitation, this study applies the Cornish-Fisher expansion to develop a more comprehensive framework that quantifies the economic impact of extreme events, with direct implications for financial institutions and policymakers. Utilizing a two-period intertemporal consumption model, this study employs Monte Carlo simulations to assess how catastrophic shocks—such as the COVID-19 pandemic—affect key economic indicators. The results demonstrate that negative skewness amplifies downside risk, necessitating stronger precautionary savings and financial reserves. Furthermore, the persistent underinvestment in global preparedness—particularly in pandemic risk management—can be attributed to conventional risk models that fail to capture the full severity of extreme events. The perspective presented in this paper not only enhances theoretical models but also has critical implications for practical applications, particularly in risk management and policy design, where extreme outcomes must be carefully accounted for. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/310336/1/Reimagining%20Risk%20Beyond%20Normality.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G32, C15, D81 Keywords: Catastrophic Risk, Extreme Event Modeling, Financial Buffers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:310336 #END 147 #BEGIN 148 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mayaki, Alfred Anate Bodurin Title: Pareto-Nash Reversion Strategies: Three Period Dynamic Co-operative Signalling with Sticky Efficiency Wages Abstract: This paper uses Nash equilibrium reversion as an optimal tool for clearing dynamic prices and wages. Various exogenous competitive rigidities determine the balanced growth path of the efficiency wage and the outcome of repeated household/firm wage bargaining decisions. A location model is used to explore the extent to which a downstream spatial cooperation agreement might affect the price equilibrium. There is also an endogenous hiring function and a knowledge base that is increasing in output as is the real wage. As the article demonstrates after accounting for real rigidities in the baseline model the effect of wage growth on household utility through staggered bargaining can be best captured by adopting a policy of point scoring on the mobility of skilled labor against the model's key rigidities. Mobility point scores which serve to encourage mobility from skilled labor within the model not only increase the knowledge base but also place upward pressure on nominal wage growth. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/310335/3/rs-5994569_edited%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L16, D21, D31, D61, D19 Keywords: labor, wages, mobility, signalling, game theory, competition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298827 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27847.27045 #END 148 #BEGIN 149 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Trump's Energy Strategy: A Game-Changer for Global Oil Prices and Azerbaijan's Economy? Abstract: Azerbaijan, heavily dependent on oil and gas exports, faces significant economic challenges due to fluctuations in global energy markets, declining oil revenues, rising imports, and increasing fiscal instability. This paper examines the potential impact of the Trump administration’s energy policies on global oil prices and their broader implications for Azerbaijan’s economy. While deregulation and expanded fossil fuel production in the U.S. could drive oil prices down, geopolitical uncertainties surrounding Russia, Iran, and Venezuela may offset these effects. Additionally, U.S. alignment with Saudi Arabia and OPEC+ members, combined with capital discipline in the energy sector, may constrain the anticipated increase in production. Given these dynamics, Azerbaijan must urgently implement policy reforms and economic diversification strategies to mitigate potential risks and ensure long-term financial stability. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309950/1/Ibadoghlu-Trumps-Energy-Strategy-2025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Trump Energy Policy, Oil Prices, Azerbaijan Economy, National Energy Emergency Act, U.S. Oil Production, Global Energy Market, Fossil Fuels, Geopolitical Risks, Oil and Gas Revenues, Economic Diversification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309950 #END 149 #BEGIN 150 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Country concepts and the rational actor trap: Limitations to strategic management of international NGOs Abstract: Growing criticism of inefficient development aid demanded new planning instruments of donors, including international NGOs (INGOs). A reorientation from isolated project-planning towards holistic country concepts and the increasing rationality of a result-orientated planning process were seen as answer. However, whether these country concepts – newly introduced by major INGOs too - have increased the efficiency of development cooperation is open to question. Firstly, there have been counteracting external factors, like the globalization of the aid business, that demanded structural changes in the composition of INGO portfolios towards growing short-term humanitarian aid; this was hardly compatible with the requirements of medium-term country planning. Secondly, the underlying vision of rationality as a remedy for the major ills of development aid was in itself a fallacy. A major change in the methodology of planning, closely connected with a shift of emphasis in the approach to development cooperation, away from project planning and service delivery, towards supporting the socio-cultural and political environment of the recipient communities, demands a reorientation of aid management: The most urgent change needed is by donors, away from the blinkers of result-orientated planning towards participative organizational cultures of learning. Abstract: Les "concepts de pays" et le piège de l'acteur rationnel - limites de la gestion stratégique des ONG internationales] - Des critiques croissantes de l'aide au développement inefficace exigent de nouveaux instruments de planification des bailleurs de fonds, y compris les ONG internationales (ONGI). Une réorientation de la planification des projets isolés vers des concepts holistiques de la planification de l’aide par pays ainsi que la rationalité croissante d'un processus de planification orientée vers les résultats ont été considérés comme réponse. Toutefois, si ces concepts de pays - nouvellement introduites par les grandes OING eux aussi - ont augmenté l'efficacité de la coopération au développement est ouvert à la question. Tout d'abord, il y a eu l’impact des facteurs externes, comme la mondialisation de l'entreprise de l'aide, qui a exigé des changements structurels dans la composition des portefeuilles des OING vers la croissance de l'aide humanitaire à court terme. Cela était difficilement compatible avec les exigences de l'aménagement du territoire à moyen terme. Deuxièmement, la vision sous-jacente de la rationalité accrue de la planification, concentrée sur les resultats, comme un remède pour les grands maux de l'aide au développement était en soi une erreur. Un changement majeur dans la méthodologie de la planification, étroitement liée à un changement d'orientation dans l'approche de la coopération au développement, qui n’est pas concentrer sur la planification du projet et la prestation de services, mais qui soutienne l'environnement socio-culturel et politique des communautés bénéficiaires, exige une réorientation de la gestion de l’aide : le changement le plus urgent est un changement par les donateurs eux-mêmes, qui devrait implanter des cultures de collaboration étroite avec les partenaires et la population locale. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309447/1/Country-concepts-2005.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, L31, L33, O2 Keywords: development planning, Sub-Saharan Africa, aid effectiveness, foreign aid Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309447 #END 150 #BEGIN 151 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Carbonell-Nicolau, Oriol Title: Measuring Hierarchy Abstract: This paper presents a novel axiomatic approach to measuring and comparing hierarchical structures. Hierarchies are fundamental across a range of disciplines – from ecology to organizational science – yet existing measures of hierarchical degree often lack systematic criteria for comparison. We introduce a mathematically rigorous framework based on a simple partial pre-order over hierarchies, denoted as ≽H, and demonstrate its equivalence to intuitively appealing axioms for hierarchy comparisons. Our analysis yields three key results. First, we establish that for fixed-size hierarchies, one hierarchy is strictly more hierarchical than another according to ≽H if the latter can be derived from the former through a series of subordination removals. Second, we fully characterize the hierarchical pre-orders that align with ≽H using two fundamental axioms: Anonymity and Subordination Removal. Finally, we extend our framework to varying-size hierarchies through the introduction of a Replication Principle, which enables consistent comparisons across different scales. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309442/1/Carbonell-Nicolau-Measuring-hierarchy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, C02, C6 Keywords: hierarchical index, hierarchy, measurement, hierarchical pre-order, power Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309442 #END 151 #BEGIN 152 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Orthodox View on the 30th Anniversary of the Azerbaijan's "Contract of the Century" Abstract: A 30-year period is sufficient to evaluate the place of the “Contract of the Century” in modern Azerbaijani history and its role in shaping the national economy. Although such evaluations are conducted periodically, we will attempt to conclude the assessment on the occasion of COP29, which Azerbaijan is hosting. This marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the first contract, and provides a unique opportunity for both retrospective reflection and a forward-looking perspective, filled with hope and optimism for the future. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309257/1/Orthodox-View-on-30th-Anniversary-oil-contract.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, oil & gas sector, COP29, “Contract of the Century”, PSA, ACG, GDP, investment, exports, BP, SOCAR Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309257 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4962993 #END 152 #BEGIN 153 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the African Growth and Opportunity Act on the Structure of Public Revenue in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: The present analysis investigates the effect of the eligibility to the African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA) programme, and of the suspension of the benefits associated with this programme on the total public revenue and its structure in beneficiary (or suspended) Sub-Saharan African countries. The analysis has shown that the eligibility to the AGOA programme has yet contributed to the increase in total public revenue, but this reflects essentially an increase in resource-based revenue. The analysis has also revealed that export product diversification and an increase in the share of manufactured exports in total merchandise exports mediate the effect of the AGOA programme on public revenue indicators in beneficiary countries. In particular, countries that diversify their export product baskets, and those that improve their manufactured export performance tend to enjoy a higher non-resource based public revenues. Finally, the suspension of the benefits from the AGOA programme leads to a decrease in total public revenue, including resource revenue and, both tax revenue (notably resource tax revenue) and nontax revenue (both the resource and non-resource components of the latter). The analysis, therefore, shows that non-reciprocal trade preferences (here, the AGOA programme) can enhance non-resource-based public revenue in beneficiary countries that endeavour to foster their manufactured exports and diversify their export products. In the meantime, the suspension of the AGOA programme leads to a significant fall in public revenue in the suspended countries, especially for resource-rich countries. The implications of these findings are discussed. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309256/1/Gnangnon-AGOA-on-Public-Revenue.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, O11, H20 Keywords: African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Public revenue structure, Export product diversification, Manufactured export performance, Sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309256 #END 153 #BEGIN 154 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the Suspension from the African Growth and Opportunity Act Programme on Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a non-reciprocal trade preference offered by the United States to Sub-Saharan African countries, is set to expire on 30 September 2025. The present article examines the effect of the AGOA suspension on poverty in suspended countries. The analysis covers an unbalanced sample of 43 SSA countries, of which 15 SSA countries at least once from the benefits of the AGOA (the treatment group), and 28 SSA countries eligible to the benefits of the programme, but that never suspended from those benefits (control group). The empirical findings indicate that the AGOA suspension has raised poverty in suspended countries, with countries that export non-resource products being the most adversely affected. In addition, the AGOA suspension results in a higher poverty rate in the long-term than in the short-term. Finally, the analysis has revealed that the poverty situation of suspended countries has worsened relatively to countries that never benefited from the programme. This shows that the poverty situation of the suspended countries has deteriorated after the AGOA suspension compared to what their situation would have been if they did not benefit from the programme. The analysis sheds light on the poverty increases consequences of the AGOA suspension, and also points to the adverse consequences of the uncertainty surrounding non-reciprocal trade preferences for beneficiary countries. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309194/1/Gnangnon-AGOA-Suspension-Poverty.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, I30, O11 Keywords: AGOA Suspension, Poverty, Sub-Saharan African countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309194 #END 154 #BEGIN 155 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Systemic Corruption and Mismanagement in Azerbaijan's Water Sector: The Human and Economic Toll Abstract: The pervasive reach of corruption extends far beyond individuals, impacting entire populations and critical infrastructure. This paper examines a tragic event that occurred on October 22, 2024 in Baku's Sabunchu district, where two drivers lost their lives, not to floodwaters, but to the consequences of systemic corruption embedded in the city’s sewer infrastructure. Their deaths illustrate the tangible and fatal outcomes of financial mismanagement and the inefficiency in the allocation of public funds. This study delves into the corruption surrounding the allocation of resources to “Azersu” (Azerwater) OJSC, prior to the establishment of the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency. Furthermore, it analyzes the role of international financial aid, particularly from the World Bank, alongside revenue from water consumers, to expose the extent of mismanagement within Baku's water resources. The findings highlight the broader societal impact of these governance failures, emphasizing the urgent need for reform. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309066/1/Ibadoghlu-Azerbaijans-Water-Sector.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, Corruption, Mismanagement, Water Sector, Water Supply, Sanitation Services Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309066 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4998485 #END 155 #BEGIN 156 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: The Socioeconomic Consequences of Prolonged Closure of Azerbaijan's Land and Sea Borders Abstract: Since March 2020, Azerbaijan has maintained the closure of its land borders with Russia, Iran, and Georgia. While initially framed as a response to the global pandemic, this decision carries profound and lasting implications. Although the government may perceive political benefits, the broader public continues to bear the economic costs. The direct and indirect consequences of these closures are substantial and warrant thorough examination. This article aims to explore the complex social and economic repercussions—both immediate and long-term—resulting from the prolonged closure of Azerbaijan’s land and sea borders. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309065/1/Ibadoghlu-Prolonged-Closure-of-Azerbaijans-Borders.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan-Georgia border, Azerbaijan-Russia border, Azerbaijan-Iran border, regional economy, cross-border trade, cross-border regional economy, transportation, tourism, unemployment, immigration, inflation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309065 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4994333 #END 156 #BEGIN 157 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Azerbaijan Foreign Trade 2024: Statistical Analysis and Devaluation Expectations Abstract: In 2024, one of the most notable developments in the Azerbaijani economy that demands detailed analysis is the transformation of foreign trade statistics. This article provides an in-depth examination of Azerbaijan's foreign trade landscape in 2024, focusing on its dynamics, structure, and geographic composition. It evaluates emerging trends, highlights current and future challenges, and considers devaluation expectations alongside their short- and medium-term implications. For a comprehensive perspective, the analysis also includes a retrospective review of the past three years, emphasizing the post-COVID recovery period. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309064/1/Ibadoghlu-Azerbaijan-Foreign-Trade-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, customs statistics, foreign trade turnover, export, import, trade balance, trade partner, goods, crude oil, natural gas, food products, currency, manat, devaluation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309064 #END 157 #BEGIN 158 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Economic Overview of 2024: Trends and Challenges Abstract: In this paper, an analysis of Azerbaijan's economic and social performance in 2024 is presented, highlighting key trends and challenges. The discussion covers macroeconomic indicators, sectoral contributions, investment dynamics, regional disparities, and issues related to transparency and data credibility. By examining these aspects, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of the country's economic landscape, identifying emerging opportunities and persistent obstacles to sustainable development. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309063/1/Ibadoghlu-Economic-Overview-of-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, macroeconomic indicators, 2024, GDP growth, sectoral contributions, investments, employment, regional economic disparities, Inflation, unemployment, poverty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309063 #END 158 #BEGIN 159 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Analysis of Azerbaijan's 2024 Economy and Projections for 2025 Abstract: This article examines Azerbaijan's economic performance in 2024 and provides projections for 2025, highlighting key challenges and potential opportunities. Despite expectations for reform, 2024 was marked by persistent inflation, currency pressures, and declining investments, underscoring the enduring dominance of monopolistic practices and governance inefficiencies. Notable developments included rising prices for essential goods and services, a decrease in fixed capital investments, and heightened demand for foreign currency, leading to reduced reserves and capital outflows. Looking ahead to 2025, the economy is expected to face significant headwinds, including declining oil prices, inflationary pressures, and devaluation risks. These factors are projected to slow GDP growth, strain public finances, and exacerbate social inequality. Key initiatives, such as the "Azerbaijan 2030" strategic framework and the "Great Return" program, face implementation challenges, particularly amidst fiscal inefficiencies and limited transparency. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309062/1/Ibadoghlu-Azerbaijans-economy-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, economy, GDP, oil and gas prices, inflation, devaluation, investments, monopolization, corruption, unfair competition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309062 #END 159 #BEGIN 160 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: What Does the 2025 Budget Promise? Abstract: This article provides a comparative analysis of the main parameters of the 2025 state budget with those of neighboring countries. It examines the structural and trend analysis of budget revenue sources and expenditures while also evaluating the expectations of consumers, businesses, and state organizations for the 2025 budget. Additionally, the article identifies weaknesses in the upcoming state budget, assessing budget oversight regarding transparency and public participation. The relationship between the parliament and the executive branch during the allocation of budget expenditures and its impact on budget management is also discussed. Specific and institutional risks that may affect budget implementation and the corruption potential of the 2025 state budget are evaluated. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309061/1/Ibadoghlu-What-Does-the-2025-Budget-Promise.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, budget, revenue, expenditures, transparency, accountability, public participation, corruption Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309061 #END 160 #BEGIN 161 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Russia’s Economic Landscape: Navigating Recession, Inflation, and Sanctions Abstract: This article analyzes the current state of the Russian economy, which is characterized by a complex interplay of overheating, inflationary pressures, and the impact of international sanctions. Despite moderate GDP growth and low unemployment, the economy faces significant vulnerabilities, including rising inflation, declining investment activity, and a depreciating ruble. The Central Bank of Russia’s policy of maintaining high interest rates, intended to stabilize the currency and control inflation, has inadvertently constrained economic growth and heightened uncertainty for businesses. These challenges are further exacerbated by shifts in foreign trade dynamics, with declining exports and imports reducing the balance of payments surplus. Western-imposed sanctions continue to target Russia’s energy sector, implementing measures such as oil price caps and restrictions on Gazprombank. While these sanctions aim to undermine the Russian economy, previous efforts at localization have partially mitigated their impact, allowing the country to sustain energy revenue streams. Nevertheless, the prioritization of military expenditures, surpassing budgetary allocations for social policies, healthcare, and education, risks destabilizing public finances and undermining social commitments. The interaction of geopolitical tensions, energy revenues, and evolving sanctions will play a decisive role in shaping Russia’s economic future. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and fiscal imbalances, providing valuable insights into the uncertainties facing the Russian economy. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309044/1/Ibadoghlu-Russias-Economic-Landscape.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Russian economy, Russian ruble, inflationary pressures, sanctions, Central Bank of Russia, energy sector, fiscal policy, trade dynamics, macroeconomic indicators, geopolitical tensions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309044 #END 161 #BEGIN 162 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: Leveraging Distributed ledger technology in Unified beneficiary registry system of Malawi: A Task-technology fit Theory perspective Abstract: Social cash transfer plays a critical role is supporting vulnerable communities to overcome poverty and shocks in Malawi. Digital technologies are integrated in social cash transfer to improve operations and deliver value to citizens. This paper analysed the potential use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) in unified beneficiary registry (UBR) system for social cash transfer in Malawi. The study used concepts from Technology-Task fit theory to understand social cash transfer tasks and characteristics of UBR system using secondary data. The findings showed that DLT may enhance the functions of UBR in supporting data sharing in a decentralised manner, maintaining transparency and accountability in transactions, supporting electronic payments, improving security, and addressing issues of infrastructure. The study highlights the significance of training and compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks. The study contributes towards understanding of the use of DLT in social protection programs in the context of developing countries. The paper suggest recommendations for practitioners and areas of further research. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/309043/1/Distributed-Ledger-Technology-Malawi.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Distributed Ledger Technology, Blockchain, Unified Beneficiary Registry, Task-Technology fit Theory, Social Cash Transfer, Malawi Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:309043 #END 162 #BEGIN 163 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Vom Change Management zum Transformationsmanagement - Teil 1 - Überblick über die wichtigsten Methoden zum Change Management Abstract: Globalisierung, Digitalisierung, künstliche Intelligenz sowie Verschiebungen der geopolitischen Machtverhältnisse machen einen ständigen Veränderungsprozess der Unternehmen erforderlich. Gleichwohl scheinen viele solcher Prozesse nicht von Erfolg gekrönt zu sein. In diesem Working Paper werden daher im ersten Teil die gängigen Modelle zum Change Management vorgestellt und auf ihre Tauglichkeit hin bewertet. Hierbei fokussieren die Autoren auf das 3-Phasen-Modell von Lewin, das 8-Stufen-Modell nach Kotter, das ADKAR-Modell, das 7-S-Modell von McKinsey und das Bridges' Transition Model. Abstract: Globalisation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and shifts in the geopolitical balance of power require companies to undergo a constant process of change. Nevertheless, many such processes do not appear to be crowned with success. The first part of this working paper therefore presents the current models for change management and assesses their suitability. The authors focus on Lewin's 3-phase model, Kotter's 8-stage model, the ADKAR model, McKinsey's 7-S model and Bridges' Transition model. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/308954/1/Becker-Daube-Change-Management-T1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O Keywords: Transformation, Transformationsmanagement, Change, Change Management, 3-Phasen Modell nach Lewin, 8-Stufen Modell nach Kotter, ADKAR-Modell, 7-S-Modell, Transition Model, McKinsey Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:308954 #END 163 #BEGIN 164 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fu, Bowen Author-Name: Mendieta-Munoz, Ivan Title: Trend inflation and structural shocks Abstract: This paper studies the effects of key underlying macroeconomic variables on the trend inflation rate in the USA. To do so, we consider eight structural shocks that incorporate a broad set of information for the US economy and that can be regarded as the main structural determinants of the latter. Using a Bayesian estimation procedure, we estimate the effects of these structural shocks on the trend inflation rate via an unobserved components model with stochastic volatility and structural shocks. We document the following results. First, four structural shocks have significant and quantitatively important effects on the trend inflation rate. Price mark-up and government policy shocks increase trend inflation, which suggests that these shocks tend to have long-run inflationary effects. Finance and productivity shocks decrease trend inflation, thus suggesting that these shocks tend to have long-run deflationary effects. Second, during the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-9, the trend in inflation became more volatile because of the combined effects derived from these four structural shocks. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/308793/1/Trend-inflation-and-structural-shocks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C11, C32, E30, E31 Keywords: trend inflation, structural shocks, state space models, unobserved components Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:308793 #END 164 #BEGIN 165 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chen, Zhengyang Title: From Money Growth to Consumer Spending: Forecasting with Divisia Monetary Aggregates Abstract: This paper examines how money growth affects personal consumption using Divisia monetary aggregates. Using monthly U.S. data from 2000 to 2023, we find that changes in Divisia M4 significantly predict personal consumption expenditure, with a lag of three months. A 1% increase in Divisia M4 is associated with a 0.3% increase in consumption, controlling for macroeconomic factors. Through five-fold cross-validation, we demonstrate that Divisia-based forecasting models reduce prediction errors by 20% compared to models using the federal funds rate. Our findings suggest that broader monetary aggregates contain important predictive information for consumption dynamics, particularly when interest rates are low. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/308692/1/Money-growth-to-consumer-spending.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E3, E Keywords: Divisia money, Consumption, Forecasting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:308692 #END 165 #BEGIN 166 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Bartsch, Andreas Author-Name: Bendix, Antonia Author-Name: Dulachyk, Alex Author-Name: Matthies, Vincent Johnas Author-Name: Podinovic, Leon Author-Name: Ruschmeyer, Hendrik Author-Name: Spiegeler, Melissa Title: Reifegradmodelle im Prozessmanagement - Objektive Bewertung von Prozessreifegraden als Instrument zur kontinuierlichen Verbesserung von Prozessen - Ausgewählte Modelle im Überblick Abstract: RReifegradmodelle wie CMMI, SPICE und das Office Excellence Modell bieten eine strukturierte, stufenweise Entwicklung von Basisprozessen mit optimierten und standardisierten Abläufen. Sie fördern Transparenz und Vergleichbarkeit, indem jede Stufe des Modells klar definierte Kriterien zur Bewertung und Verbesserung der Prozesse bereitstellt. Sie ermöglichen eine objektive Bewertung und kontinuierliche Optimierung von Prozessen, was die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit stärkt und Best Practices im Branchenvergleich fördert. Durch ihre klare Struktur bieten die Modelle Orientierung und können eine Kultur der kontinuierlichen Verbesserung fördern. Trotz des hohen Ressourcenaufwands und des Risikos subjektiver Verzerrungen sind sie wertvolle Werkzeuge für nachhaltige Unternehmensentwicklung und strategische Entscheidungen. Externe Audits können dabei helfen, objektive Ergebnisse zu gewährleisten. Trotz ihrer langjährigen Etablierung am Markt sind diese Modelle nach wie vor hochrelevant und werden weiterhin intensiv von Unternehmen genutzt. Sie bilden einen zentralen Baustein im modernen Prozessmanagement. Abstract: Maturity models like CMMI, SPICE, and the Office Excellence Model provide a structured, step-by-step development of basic processes with optimized and standardized workflows. They promote transparency and comparability by offering clearly defined criteria at each stage for assessing and improving processes. These models enable objective evaluation and continuous process optimization, enhancing competitiveness and fostering best practices across industries. Their clear structure provides orientation and can support a culture of continuous improvement. Despite requiring significant resources and facing potential subjective biases, they are valuable tools for sustainable business development and strategic decision-making. External audits can help to ensure objective outcomes. Even after many years on the market, these models remain highly relevant and continue to be intensively used by companies, forming a central component of modern process management. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/308468/1/Becker%20et%20al%202025%20Reifegradmodelle%20im%20Prozessmanagement.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O3, L00 Keywords: Reifegrad, Prozess, Prozesslandschaft, CMMI, SPICE Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:308468 #END 166 #BEGIN 167 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Haag, Lucy Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Brahm, Taiga Author-Name: Biewen, Martin Title: Understanding the Gender Gap in Economic Literacy – Evidence from Germany Abstract: Economic literacy has far-reaching consequences on savings and investments and ultimately affects individual financial well-being. Several studies report a gender difference in economic literacy in favor of males, disadvantaging women and posing a threat to gender equality. However, there is limited evidence addressing the factors underlying the gender gap. Using a representative sample of German high school students (N=1,958), we investigate gender differences in students’ economic literacy. Additionally, we examine potential explanatory factors for the gap that have been reported in previous studies focusing more narrowly on financial literacy and personal finance. Results confirm a substantial gender gap in economic literacy favoring boys (0.25 SD). Regression models and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition analyses reveal math ability and interest in economics as important drivers for the gender gap. Self-efficacy and risk aversion are further factors accounting for the gap while most socialization variables appear to have little relevance. Including effort as a control variable increases the gap, suggesting that the gap may have been underestimated in previous studies that did not consider this factor. Our study provides important implications for policy interventions to mitigate the gender gap in economic literacy. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/308430/1/Understanding-Gender-Gap-in-Economic-Literacy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21 Keywords: Economic Literacy, Gender Gap Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:308430 #END 167 #BEGIN 168 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sayag, Doron Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Title: Sticky Information and Price Controls: Evidence from a Natural Experiment Abstract: We test the predictions of the sticky information model using a survey dataset by comparing the shoppers’ accuracy in recalling the prices of regulated and comparable unregulated products. Regulated product prices change less frequently, vary less across stores and between brands, and are sold more than comparable but unregulated product prices. Therefore, shoppers would be expected to recall the regulated product prices more accurately. However, we find that shoppers are better at recalling the prices of unregulated products, in line with the sticky information model which predicts that shoppers will be more attentive to prices that change more frequently. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/308108/1/Sticky-Info-Price-Controls-with-Appendix.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D12, D83, D91, E31, K20, L11, L16, L50 Keywords: Sticky Information, Cost and Benefit of Information, Information Gathering, Information Processing, Price Cap, Price Regulation, Price Controls, Price Adjustment, Sticky Prices, Rigid Prices, Price Stickiness, Price Rigidity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:308108 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5082444 #END 168 #BEGIN 169 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Title: EU Artificial Intelligence Act - Ein systematisches Verfahren zur Einstufung in die Risiko-Klassen Abstract: Der EU-AI-Act markiert einen wichtigen ersten Schritt in der Regulierung von Künstlicher Intelligenz. Erstmals wird darin ein risikobasiertes Klassifikationssystem für KI-Anwendungen eingeführt, wobei unterschiedliche Folgewirkungen je nach Risikoklasse definiert werden. Die Einstufung von KI-Systemen in die entsprechende Risikoklasse ist somit von entscheidender Bedeutung. Im Folgenden wird ein neuartiges Schema zur systematischen Einstufung von Risikoklassen im Rahmen des EU-AI-Acts vorgestellt. Dieses strukturierte Vorgehensmodell zielt darauf ab, die Transparenz und Konsistenz bei der Risikobewertung von KI-Systemen zu verbessern. Es kann da-bei als praktische Grundlage für die Einhaltung des EU-AI-Acts dienen und fördert somit einen ver-antwortungsbewussten Umgang mit Künstlicher Intelligenz. Abstract: The EU AI Act is an important first step in the regulation of artificial intelligence. For the first time, it introduces a risk-based classification system for AI applications, with different consequences de-pending on the risk class. The classification of AI systems into the appropriate risk class is therefore of crucial importance. In the following, a novel scheme for the systematic classification of risk classes within the frame-work of the EU AI Act is presented. This structured procedural model aims to improve transparency and consistency in the risk assessment of AI systems. It can serve as a practical basis for compliance with the EU AI Act and thus promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Creation-Date: 2025 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/308107/1/Becker-Reinking-EU-AI-Act.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: KI, Künstliche Intelligenz, AI, AI Act, EU AI Act, EU-AI-Act Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:308107 #END 169 #BEGIN 170 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Adiv, Udi Title: נסיכי הנפט מול קואליציית ההיי-טק (The Oil Princes versus the High-Tech Coalition) Abstract: ספרם של שמשון ביכלר ויונתן ניצן "הדרך לעזה" נראה כמקרה בוחן פרטי וכהרחבה של טענתם הכללית בדבר מהות ההון "כמוסד השליטה במשטר הקפיטליסטי", מעבר לכאן ועכשיו. ניתן לומר שהשאלה הנידונה היא כיצד הגענו מהקהילה הקמאית השוויונית דרך "משטרי כוח" בהשראתו של אל עליון כל-יכול, עד שלטון ההון במשטר הקפיטליסטי של ימינו. הטענה (הפסימית) היא, שמבחינתם של "אנשי התחתית", אין חדש תחת השמש ושלטון ההון הקפיטליסטי כישות זרה וכל-יכולה, איננו אלא המשך שלטון האוליגרכיות של העת העתיקה. אף על פי כן, למרות הטקסט הביקורתי, קשה שלא לראות את הסב-טקסט הניאו-מרקסיסטי של הספר. כלומר, כדיאלוג ביקורתי עם המרקסיזם. [. . .] קשה לקבל את הטענה "הגלובלית" כהסבר לכאן ועכשיו. אך "הדרך לעזה" הוא ללא ספק ספר מאתגר ומעורר מחשבה הראוי לקריאה Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/307975/1/20241218_adiv_the_oil_princes_and_the_high_tech_coalition.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, P16, P18 Keywords: antiquity, capitalism, church, feudalism, Middle East, modes of power, religion, supreme god Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:307975 #END 170 #BEGIN 171 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Holden, Tom D. Title: Robust Real Rate Rules Abstract: Central banks wish to avoid self-fulfilling fluctuations. Interest rate rules with a unit response to real rates achieve this under the weakest possible assumptions about the behaviour of households and firms. They are robust to household heterogeneity, hand-to-mouth consumers, non-rational household or firm expectations, active fiscal policy and to any form of intertemporal or nominal-real links. They are easy to employ in practice, using inflation-protected bonds to infer real rates. With a time-varying short-term inflation target, they can implement an arbitrary inflation path, including optimal policy. This provides a way to translate policy makers’ desired path for inflation into one for nominal rates. US Federal Reserve behaviour is remarkably close to that predicted by a real rate rule, given the desired inflation path of US monetary policy makers. Real rate rules work thanks to the key role played by the Fisher equation in monetary transmission. Creation-Date: 2024 Revision-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/307384/1/RobustRealRateRulesBody.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, E43, E31 Keywords: robust monetary rules, determinacy, Taylor principle, inflation dynamics, transmission mechanism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279481 #END 171 #BEGIN 172 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chatterjee, Swarn Title: Health Insurance Coverage and Income Uncertainty Abstract: This paper uses the National Longitudinal Survey data set to examine the role of income uncertainty in explaining the likelihood of health insurance coverage among individuals. After controlling for a number of socioeconomic, demographic, and behavioral factors, the results suggest that individuals who face greater income uncertainty are less likely to have health insurance coverage. Additionally, the likelihood of health insurance coverage increases with income and educational attainment. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/307059/1/Chatterjee-Health-insurance-coverage.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D10, D14, I13, I18 Keywords: Health Insurance, Pre-Obamacare, Income Uncertainty, Health Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:307059 #END 172 #BEGIN 173 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Current State of Azerbaijan's Gas & Oil Cooperation with Europe: Opportunities and Challenges Abstract: The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of Azerbaijan's energy cooperation with Europe. It covers the supply of fossil fuels (oil and gas) and green energy, examining both retrospective and prospective dimensions. The analysis includes production levels, transport infrastructure, potential opportunities in this sector, and challenges, calling for further investigation. The article also assesses possible development scenarios and prospects for gas, oil, and renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan's energy sector. The first part covers the current status and prospects of Azerbaijan's gas production, consumption, transportation, and export. The second and third parts analyze and evaluate the status of the oil and renewable energy sectors, respectively. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306913/1/Ibadoghlu-Azerbaijans-Gas-Cooperation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306913 #END 173 #BEGIN 174 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Breitling, Dustin Title: Ontology of Finance Redux Abstract: “Ontology of Finance Redux” is an abridged version of Suhail Malik’s long essay “The Ontology of Finance: Price, Power, and the Arkhéderivative” published in Collapse Volume VIII Edited by Robin Mackay. *** Interweaving the works of Jonathan Nitzan and Shimshon Bichler, Elena Esposito and Elie Ayache, Malik provides a tour de force critique of the critique of political economy to demand an engagement with the byzantine operation of finance. The essay is an examination of the array of derivative tools and their constitutive role in hedging and speculating futures. It explains how the organizing element of ‘Capitalization’ via price renders all conceptions of temporality as a revisable, adaptable, and ultimately contingent operation. Malik’s philosophical assertion is that the traditional notions of social order and norms have always been subject to perpetual restructuring. ‘Risk-Order’as the primary ingredient of ‘capital-power’ poses a tremendous challenge not only for Marxist and neoclassic political economy but also for Left-Accelerationaism and its underlying neorational philosophies. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306865/1/Breitling-Ontology-of-finance-redux.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, G12 Keywords: capital as power, differential accumulation, derivatives, finance, instability, power, price, risk, sabotage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306865 #END 174 #BEGIN 175 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cohen, Lior Title: Globalization and Monetary Policy Abstract: I examine how globalization affects monetary policy, focusing on the labor market, imported inflation, and international spillovers by exploring the flattening of the Phillips Curve, where the traditional link between inflation and unemployment has weakened, potentially allowing central banks to pursue more accommodative policies. I also analyze how global integration complicates taming inflation and investigate how central banks’ policies impact other economies. By integrating empirical evidence and theoretical perspectives, this study provides insights into central banks’ evolving challenges in a globalized economy, offering implications for policy adjustments in response to global economic dynamics. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306556/1/Globalization-and-Monetary-Policy%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, E42 Keywords: Globalization, unconventional monetary policy,, Philips curve flattening, inflation dynamics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306556 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35201.67688 #END 175 #BEGIN 176 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Darudi, Ali Author-Name: Savelsberg, Jonas Author-Name: Schlecht, Ingmar Title: Thrive in sunshine, brace for thunder: Least-cost robust power system investments under political shocks Abstract: Energy system planning literature often focuses on either normal operating conditions or on shock/restriction scenarios. Systems designed only for normal years struggle during crises like fuel shortages or trade restrictions, leading to lost load or high prices, while systems optimized entirely for shocks can result in overinvestment in generation technologies with high capital costs. In this paper we address this limitation by incorporating both normal years and shocks in one single optimization model, using a partial equilibrium electricity market. Using Switzerland as the case study, we demonstrate how varying the severity and frequency of shocks affects the optimal technology mix. In the case of Switzerland, robust planning of the generation mix becomes crucial only at trade capacity reduction of more than 70%. When gas import is unavailable during the shock period, liquid fuel becomes optimal in severe trade capacity reduction by 90% or full autarky happening from once in 100 years to once in 10 years. As the frequency of these shocks increase, higher CAPEX technologies, such as renewables, become more favourable, with nuclear emerging as a viable option only if these severe shocks happen every other year. Our findings underscore the importance of balancing cost-efficiency with system resilience to ensure robust energy planning, capable of thriving in normal conditions whilst bracing for stressed conditions. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306555/1/Darudi-Thrive-in-sunshine.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q40, Q41, C61 Keywords: System Adequacy, Robust Planning, Energy system resilience, Numerical modelling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306555 #END 176 #BEGIN 177 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Li, Xinyu Author-Name: Schnedler, Wendelin Title: Sharing the Fame but Taking the Blame: When Declaring a Single Person Responsible Sovles a Free Rider Problem Abstract: Teams are formed because input from different people is needed. Providing incentives to team members, however, can be difficult. According to received wisdom, declaring all members responsible fails because real responsibility for team output "diffuses." But why? And why and when does formally declaring one member "responsible" mean that this member can be attributed "real" responsibility? We offer a model that answers these questions. We identify when jointly declaring a team responsible results in reputation free-riding. We show that declaring one person responsible can overcome this problem but only if all other team members are protected from being sanctioned. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306485/1/Li-Schnedler-Sharing-the-fame.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M54, D23, D86, L23, K12, K13 Keywords: reputation free riding, collective punishment, formal and real responsibility Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306485 #END 177 #BEGIN 178 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sayag, Doron Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Title: Price Setting Rules, Rounding Tax, and Inattention Penalty Abstract: We study Israel’s “price rounding regulation” of January 1, 2014, which outlawed non-0-ending prices, forcing retailers to round 9-ending prices, which in many stores comprised 60%+ of all prices. The regulation’s goals were to eliminate (1) the rounding tax—the extra amount consumers paid because of price rounding (which was necessitated by the abolition of low denomination coins), and (2) the inattention tax—the extra amount consumers paid the retailers because of their inattention to the prices’ rightmost digits. Using 4 different datasets, we assess the government’s success in achieving these goals, focusing on fast-moving consumer goods, a category of products strongly affected by the price rounding regulation. We focus on the response of the retailers to the price rounding regulation and find that although the government succeeded in eliminating the rounding tax, the bottom line is that shoppers end up paying more, not less, because of the regulation, underscoring, once again, Friedman’s (1975) warning that policies should be judged by their results, not by their intentions. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306479/1/Price-setting-rules-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, K00, K20, L11, L40, L51, M30 Keywords: Price Rounding, Price Rounding Regulation, Regulation, Rounding Tax, Inattention, Inattention Penalty, Round Prices, 9-Ending Prices, Psychological Prices, Just Below Prices, Price Setting, Price Adjustment, Pricing, Inflation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306479 #END 178 #BEGIN 179 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Darudi, Ali Title: The Future Electricity Market Model - FEM: Model Description Abstract: The Future Electricity Market Model (FEM) is a comprehensive technoeconomic model designed to simulate the investment, dispatch, and trade dynamics within the power systems of Switzerland and Europe. FEM operates as a partial equilibrium model of the wholesale electricity market, minimizing total system costs while adhering to a wide range of technical constraints. It provides projections of capacity mix, hourly prices, generation profiles, storage dispatch, flexible consumption, and cross-border electricity trading across different market areas. The model is formulated as a quadratic programming problem, implemented in Python, and solved using the Gurobi optimizer. With an hourly resolution over a year and a specific focus on the Swiss power system, FEM allows investment decisions solely within Switzerland, while the rest of Europe follows predefined development scenarios. Key features include the modeling of various renewable and conventional energy technologies, integration of storage systems, and incorporation of detailed electricity demand and trade constraints. In order to model the hydro power system more realistically, the model follows a hydro calendar year, i.e., the model starts at the beginning of October. Despite its deterministic approach, assuming perfect foresight, which may introduce an optimism bias, FEM serves as a powerful tool for analyzing the future dynamics of electricity markets under various scenarios. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306396/1/FEM_model_description_Nov.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Electricity market, Numerical modelling, Energy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306396 #END 179 #BEGIN 180 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shariatmadari, Atefeh Title: Selbstbevorzugung verboten! - Das Urteil des EuGH in der Sache Google Search (Shopping) Abstract: Die Verfasserin hat bereits in ihrer Dissertation mit dem Titel „Geschäfte mit Nahestehenden: Eine grundsätzliche Lösung für das Außensteuer-, Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht - Unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von BEPS Bericht 8 und des Wettbewerbsrechts“ historisch untersucht, auf welcher Grundlage auf den international agierenden Konzern geblickt wird. Hierbei hat sie zwei maßgeblich unterschiedliche Sichtweisen herausgearbeitet, die sich insbesondere im Wettbewerbsrecht auswirken. Die Heimatstaaten international agierender Konzerne vertreten den funktionalen Unternehmensbegriff, der das Konzernprivileg zur Folge hat. Die Expertensicht lehnt diesen funktionalen Unternehmensbegriff und das Konzernprivileg hingegen ab. In Anbetracht des Urteils des EuGH in der Sache Google Search (Shopping) stellt sich nunmehr die Frage, inwiefern die Expertensicht im Vordringen begriffen ist. Denn auch wenn dies nicht augenfällig ist, hat der EuGH möglicherweise erstmals in einem Fall, in dem nicht ein ehemaliges Staatsunternehmen eine marktbeherrschende Stellung innehat, die Tür ein Spalt weit für die Sichtweise geöffnet, die den funktionalen Unternehmensbegriff und das Konzernprivileg ablehnt. Abstract: In her dissertation the author has already historically examined the basis on which multinational corporations are looked at. In doing so, she has identified two significantly different perspectives that have a particular impact on competition law. The homecountries of multinational corporations represent the functional corporate concept, which results in corporate privilege. The expert view, however, rejects this functional corporate concept and the group privilege. In view of the ECJ ruling in the Google Search (Shopping) case, the question now arises to what extent the expert view is gaining ground. Even if this is not obvious, the ECJ may have opened the door a crack for the view that rejects functional corporate concept and group privilege for the first time in a case in which not a former state-owned company hold a dominant position. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306247/1/Shariatmadari-Selbstbevorzugung-verboten.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Google Search (Shopping), Funktionaler Unternehmensbegriff, Kartellrecht, Konzern, Multinationales Unternehmen, Multinationaler Konzern, Selbstbevorzugung, Artikel 102 AEUV Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306247 #END 180 #BEGIN 181 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barak, Ronen E. Author-Name: Aharon, Itzhak Author-Name: Hatzor, Limor Title: A Cross-Modality Anchoring Bias as a Possible Cognitive Explanation for the Discretionary Accruals Anomaly Creation-Date: 2023 Classification-JEL: G41, G12, M41 Keywords: accruals anomaly, anchoring bias, cross-modality anchor, valuation, accounting conventions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306142 #END 181 #BEGIN 182 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hatsor, Limor Author-Name: Shurtz, Ity Title: Breastfeeding and the return to work after childbirth of new mothers: evidence from a baby formula scare Abstract: We use a baby formula “food scare” in Israel in 2003 as a plausible natural experiment to study the causal relationship between breastfeeding and mothers’ return to work after childbirth. Analysis of administrative data covering the universe of births in the country shows that first-time mothers who gave birth shortly after the scare delayed their return to work. Their average months worked in the first six months after childbirth fell by about 11 percent relative to their counterparts in the previous year. Data from a major medical equipment lender in Israel indicates an increased likelihood of borrowing milk pumps, suggesting that the delay in returning to work was driven by an increase in breastfeeding. The results indicate that despite developments in technology and policy changes in recent decades, mothers still trade off work for the breastfeeding of their children. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/306141/1/Breastfeeding-and-return-to-work.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I18, J13, J22, D1 Keywords: motherhood, labor supply, breastfeeding, food scare, maternity leave, return to work Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:306141 #END 182 #BEGIN 183 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: The possible takeover of Commerzbank by UniCredit Abstract: This article analyses the potential impact of a takeover of Commerzbank by the Italian bank UniCredit on the European banking landscape and the development of the Capital Markets Union. It discusses the potential for increased profitability, structural efficiency and stability of the European banking sector as well as the challenges associated with the consolidation of banks. Finally, it examines how this takeover could contribute to achieving the objectives of the Capital Markets Union by improving the framework conditions for financing, particularly for SMEs. Abstract: Dieser Artikel analysiert die möglichen Auswirkungen einer Übernahme der Commerzbank durch die italienische Bank UniCredit auf die europäische Bankenlandschaft und die Entwicklung der Kapitalmarktunion. Er erörtert das Potenzial für eine höhere Rentabilität, strukturelle Effizienz und Stabilität des europäischen Bankensektors sowie die mit der Konsolidierung von Banken verbundenen Herausforderungen. Schließlich wird untersucht, wie diese Übernahme zur Erreichung der Ziele der Kapitalmarktunion beitragen könnte, indem sie die Rahmenbedingungen für die Finanzierung, insbesondere von KMU, verbessert. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/305808/1/Takeover-Commerzbank-by-UniCredit.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01 Keywords: UniCredit, Commerzbank, EU Capital Market Union, Next CMU Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:305808 #END 183 #BEGIN 184 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hatsor, Limor Author-Name: Bar-El, Ronen Title: Higher education funding: The value of choice Abstract: An alternative to the dependence on traditional student loans may offer a viable relief from the tremendous burden that those loans usually incur. This article establishes that it is desirable for governmental intervention to grant students 'more choice' in their funding decisions by allowing them to have portfolios, mixtures of different types of loans. To emphasize this point, a model is presented of a situation where students invest in higher education while facing uncertainty about their individual earning potential. The model reveals that when students are allowed to have portfolios of loans, some of them indeed take the opportunity and diversify their loans, benefiting themselves, but also improving the loan terms of other students. Therefore, when governments organize student loans, they should consider providing students with more choice in their funding decisions. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/305378/1/Hatsor-Higher-education-funding.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I22, I23 Keywords: Education policy, Education finance, Student loans, Human capital, Higher education Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:305378 #END 184 #BEGIN 185 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Egamberdiev, Bekhzod Title: Resilience Capacity and Food Security: Is There a Relationship Between Household Resilience Profiles and Food Security Outcomes? Abstract: Resilience thinking has gained prominence in research and policy debates in food security analysis. This article aims to estimate the effect of household resilience capacity on food security outcomes. The manuscript uses the Cambodia Living Standard Measurement – Plus Survey 2019-2020. The measurement of resilience capacity is done through Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis – II by FAO. In the RIMA approach, the manuscript also applies Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to cluster households, categorizing homogenous resilience levels through “Low Resilient,” “Medium Resilient,” and “High Resilient” profiles. In the estimation strategy, the current study proposes a step-by-step analytical approach for using the propensity score matching (PSM) techniques with LPA to draw causal effects of resilience profiles on dietary diversity and food expenditure per capita. The findings generally confirm that “Medium Resilient” and “High Resilient” households have positive effects on food security outcomes compared to those labelled as “Low Resilient” households. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/305322/1/Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q18, Q13, O20, C01 Keywords: Resilience capacity, food security, latent profile analysis, average treatment effect, propensity score matching Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:305322 #END 185 #BEGIN 186 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hashimzade, Nigar Author-Name: Hatsor, Limor Author-Name: Jelnov, Artyom Title: Green antitrust conundrum: Collusion with social goals Abstract: Recent antitrust regulations in several countries have granted exemptions for col- lusion aimed at achieving environmental goals. Firms can apply for exemptions if collusion helps to develop or to implement costly clean technology, particularly in sec- tors like renewable energy, where capital costs are high and economies of scale are significant. However, if the cost of the green transition is unknown to the competition regulator, firms might exploit the exemption by fixing prices higher than necessary. The regulator faces the decision of whether to permit collusion and whether to commission an investigation of potential price fixing, which incurs costs. We fully characterise the equilibria in this scenario that depend on the regulator’s belief about the high cost of green transition. If the belief is high enough, collusion will be allowed. We also identify conditions under which a regulator’s commitment to always investigate price fixing is preferable to making discretionary decisions. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/305321/1/green_antitrust_conondrum.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: policy, antitrust, collusion, environment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:305321 #END 186 #BEGIN 187 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: Public opinions on the implementation of free public Wi-Fi in Malawi Abstract: Free public Wi-Fi is perceived to be one of the solutions of addressing barriers of Internet adoption in Malawi. The Government of Malawi received funding from the World Bank to implement 32 hotspots of free public Wi-Fi across the country. This paper analysed the stakeholder’s opinions regarding the implementation of free public Wi-Fi program. The study used a qualitative research approach. Data was collected from government department websites, social media platforms and online news websites. The data was analysed using content analysis. The findings showed positive and negative views from stakeholders on the free public Wi-Fi program. The positive opinions were related to promoting digital inclusion, safety health practices, supporting collaboration and improving education activities. The negative opinions were related to politics, biases in selection of locations, poor quality of services, priority of the program and sustainability of the program. The study offers useful insights on investment, appropriation and operations as factors that can affect free public Wi-Fi implementation in the context of developing countries. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/305246/1/Makoza2024f.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Free public Wi-Fi, Online media, Public opinions, Internet, Digital inclusion, Malawi Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:305246 #END 187 #BEGIN 188 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mondal, Bandana Author-Name: Sarkhel, Prasenjit Title: Empowerment or Endangerment? The Nutritional Consequences of Female Employment in Rural India Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between female employment and nutritional status in rural India, using data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5). Constructing a nutrition index that captures the extent of food intake, we find that employed women are nutritionally worse off than their unemployed counterparts. This negative effect persists even after correcting for the potential endogeneity of female employment and nutrition, with robustness checks across different food items, alternative measures such as Body Mass Index (BMI), and district-level economic conditions, proxied by nightlights data. We also find suggestive evidence of greater intra-household food disparity between employed women and their male counterparts. Further analysis reveals that spousal violence—exacerbated by female employment—plays a significant role in undermining women's nutritional outcomes, while the positive effect of increased decision-making power is comparatively weaker. This dynamic is evident across all wealth quintiles, suggesting that higher economic status does not mitigate these adverse effects. The findings highlight the need for employment policies that incorporate nutritional support for working women, as well as interventions to reduce intra-household conflict, ensuring that employment translates into both economic and health gains for women in rural India. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/305191/3/BM_PS.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D13, I14 Keywords: Nutritional status, Female Employment, NFHS-5, Instrumental Variable Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:305191 #END 188 #BEGIN 189 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Neuer Wein in alten Schläuchen: Der sozio-kulturelle Ansatz in der Entwicklungstheorie Abstract: Der Mißerfolg der einseitig auf Produktionswachstum und Industrialisierung gemäß dem westlichen Entwicklungsmodell ausgerichteten Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (EZ) der 1950er und 1960er Jahre führte zu einer scharfen Kritik der sog. "Modernisierungstheorien". Der sozio-kulturelle Ansatz in der EZ sollte diese Fehlentwicklung korrigieren. Eine vorrangige Berücksichtigung des sozio-kulturellen Ansatzes in der Entwicklungsplanung würde jedoch eher dazu tendieren, Armut und Ausbeutung in den Ländern der Dritten Welt zu verstärken als zu lindern. Armut beruht hauptsächlich auf dem {schichtspezifischen) Mangel an Ressourcen, bzw. auf ungleichen Machtverhältnissen und weniger auf aufgezwungenen westlichen Konsummustern. Wertesysteme sind nur im Rückgriff auf ihren geschichtlichen Entstehungsprozess zu verstehen, d.h. sie sind in Reaktion auf und im Zusammenspiel mit materiellen Zivilisationsprozessen sowie sozialer Differenzierung erwachsen. Erst die Analyse dieses sozio-strukturellen Differenzierungsprozesses ermöglicht die Aufdeckung, und damit Berücksichtigung, der wirklichen Bedürfnisse der Armen in der Dritten Welt. Abstract: The failure of development cooperation in the 1950s and 1960s, with its one-sided focus on production growth and industrialisation according to the Western model of development, led to sharp criticism of so-called "modernisation theories". The socio-cultural approach in development cooperation was intended to correct this misguided development. However, giving priority to the socio-cultural approach in development planning would increase rather than alleviate poverty and exploitation in Third World countries. Poverty is mainly based on a (class-specific) lack of resources or on unequal power relations, rather than on imposed Western consumption patterns. Value systems can only be understood in terms of their historical development, i.e. they have grown in response to and in interaction with material processes of civilisation and social differentiation. Only by analysing this process of socio-structural differentiation can the real needs of the poor in the Third World be uncovered and taken into account. Creation-Date: 1983 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/303531/1/Kohnert-Neuer-Wein-in-alten-Schlaeuchen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, F54, N47, Z13 Keywords: Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, sozio-kultureller Ansatz, Modernisierungstheorie, Klassenbildung, Dritte Welt, Armutslinderung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:303531 #END 189 #BEGIN 190 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pazhanisamy, R. Author-Name: Muruganandam, Bharathi Title: Challenges of OPEC and its Implications to Qatar Economic Policies Abstract: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has been one of the most influential organizations in the global energy sector which controls a significant portion of the world’s oil reserves and has often influenced global oil prices through international trade policies such as quotas and strategic decision-making. The rapid global shift towards renewable energy, increased awareness of climate change, and technological advancements in energy production pose various challenges to OPEC's relevance and future. As a member of OPEC, Qatar's economic strategies and policies are intricately linked to the future of OPEC’s economy. In this context this paper attempted to explore the future of the OPEC economy with the perspective of energy transitions and how this could shape Qatar's economic policies so that its economy can mov forward. The central premise of this paper is that while OPEC's influence on global oil markets may diminish due to energy transitions and global environmental initiatives, member countries such as Qatar will need to adopt innovative economic policies that ensure sustained prosperity even in a low-oil-demand scenario. With energy diversification gaining momentum globally, this paper outline what kind of policy decisions today will significantly impact the economic and political stability of OPEC for sustainability. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/303529/1/Challanges-of-OPEC-implication-to-Qatar.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E6, F4, H3, L51, M1 Keywords: Zero carbon solution to Qatar, Challenges of OPEC, Economic Policy for Qatar, Sustainable oil trade, Global Energy transitions, OPEC alternative Economic Policies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:303529 #END 190 #BEGIN 191 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barra Novoa, Rodrigo Title: Evolution of Industrial Policy in Chile: Analysis of the Period 1990-2022 Abstract: This study provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the trajectory of industrial policy and technological absorption in Chile over the last three decades. The article examines the paradigm and institutional shift in the promotion of innovation, highlighting significant advances in key sectors of the Chilean economy, such as mining, salmon farming, fruit farming and the emerging green hydrogen sector. The research underlines the key role of the state in Chile's industrial and technological development, supported by institutions such as CORFO and ANID. Key factors driving this incremental progress include macroeconomic stability, investment in infrastructure, increased R&D funding and policies aimed at fostering innovation. However, to improve the effectiveness of the industrial strategy and address challenges related to regional inequality, a more adaptive and sustained approach is required to fully capitalise on the opportunities offered by the country's resources and capabilities. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/303491/1/Evolution%20of%20Industrial%20Policy%20in%20Chile-%20Analysis%20of%20the%20Period%201990-2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E02, O31, O32, P42 Keywords: Industrial Policy, Technology Absorption,, Innovation, Economic Development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:303491 DOI: 10.1590/SciELOPreprints.10054 #END 191 #BEGIN 192 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: The Political and Economic Impact of Formula 1 Races in Azerbaijan: Myths and Realities Abstract: Since 2016, Azerbaijan has been hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Due to COVID-19, the race was not held in 2020 and was conducted without spectators in 2021. The initial contract for the event was supposed to end in 2020, but it was extended for another three years. In 2023, Azerbaijan secured the continuation of its hosting rights until at least 20261. Apart from Formula 1, the country has hosted several other prestigious international events, including the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the first European Olympic Games in 2015, the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017, and the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2019. In 2024, Azerbaijan will host COP29, the most significant event in its history since independence, further adding to its diverse event portfolio. Despite some questions surrounding Baku's role as a host for Formula 1 compared to other international sports events, the Azerbaijani government has regularly organized the race for the past seven years and has yet to address these questions. The 2024 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled to take place again in Baku from September 13 to 15. In this paper, we examine the myths and realities regarding the economic impact of Formula 1 races. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/303482/1/Ibadoghlu-Formula-1-Races-in-Azerbaijan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:303482 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4955311 #END 192 #BEGIN 193 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: The Current State of the Azerbaijani Economy and Future Prospects Abstract: Azerbaijan's economy is at a critical juncture, with the decreasing reliance on resource-based income signaling an imminent transition. The nation's strategic focus on economic diversification offers substantial prospects for growth in non-oil sectors. However, the pressing question remains: Is Azerbaijan sufficiently prepared for the post-oil era? This paper aims to rigorously assess the key performance indicators outlined in the nation's state programs and strategic roadmaps, particularly in the context of diversifying the economy. By providing an in-depth analysis of both retrospective and prospective GDP growth, this study highlights the challenges and opportunities Azerbaijan faces in cultivating a more diverse and resilient economic landscape. The findings suggest that while there are significant hurdles to overcome, there is considerable potential for the country to transition towards a more sustainable, diversified economy that is less dependent on oil revenues. This evaluation not only underscores the necessity for continued reforms but also identifies key areas where strategic investments and policy shifts could yield long-term benefits for Azerbaijan's economic future. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/303481/1/Ibadoghlu-Current-State-of-Azerbaijani-Economy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan, national economy, GDP growth, COP29, fossil fuel, post-oil era, diversification, non-oil and gas exports, Strategic Roadmaps, State Programs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:303481 #END 193 #BEGIN 194 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lane, Nathan Title: Manufacturing Revolutions: Industrial Policy and Industrialization in South Korea Abstract: I study the impact of industrial policy on industrial development by considering an important episode during the East Asian miracle: South Korea's heavy and chemical industry (HCI) drive, 1973--1979. Based on newly assembled data, I use the introduction and termination of industrial policies to study their impacts during and after the intervention period. (1) I reveal that the heavy-chemical industrial policies promoted the expansion and dynamic comparative advantage of directly targeted industries. (2) Using variation in exposure to policies through the input-output network, I demonstrate that policy indirectly benefited downstream users of targeted intermediates. (3) The benefits of HCI persisted even after it ended, some of which took time to manifest. These findings suggest that the temporary drive shifted Korean manufacturing into more advanced markets and supported durable change. This study helps clarify the lessons drawn from the East Asian growth miracle. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/303480/1/Lane-Manufacturing-revolutions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:303480 DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/6tqax #END 194 #BEGIN 195 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niedermeier, Sandra Author-Name: König, Svenja Author-Name: Müller-Kreiner, Claudia Title: Wertschätzende Kommunikation in einer digitalen Welt Abstract: In einer zunehmend digitalisierten Welt scheint die menschliche Komponente der Kommunikation oft verloren zu gehen. Dies kann erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die Zusammenarbeit und Teamdynamik in Unternehmen haben. Eine transparente und wertschätzende Kommunikation sowie ein offener und respektvoller Umgang sind jedoch entscheidend für eine gesunde Zusammenarbeit und positive Teamentwicklung, welche die Basis für die langfristige Wettbewerbsfähigkeit eines Unternehmens durch eine nachhaltige Leistungsfähigkeit des Teams darstellen. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/302771/1/Wertscha%cc%88tzende-Kommunikation-digitale-Welt.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M50 Keywords: Wertschätzende Kommunikation, Gewaltfreie Kommunikation, Digitalisierung, Unternehmenskommunikation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:302771 #END 195 #BEGIN 196 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: The effect of mobile network quality on use of mobile application in Affordable Inputs Program of Malawi Abstract: Agriculture subsidy programs increase participation of rural households in food security and nutrition improvement in Malawi. Digital technologies e.g. mobile application (App) and biometrical identification, electronic database have been integrated in implementation of Affordable inputs program (AIP) to support effectiveness and efficient delivery of the program. This paper analysed the effect of mobile network quality on the use of e-AIP redemption benefits app in AIP. The study analysed secondary data using content analysis. The findings showed that network availability was the main cause of network glitches that affected the use of mobile application for redeeming agricultural inputs. The network glitches created further challenges to the agricultural inputs subsidy beneficiaries and stakeholders. The include loss to time, promotion of corruption and late processing of transactions affecting overall goal of supporting food security. The study suggest areas of further research and recommendations for the telecommunications regulator to improve on measuring mobile network performance to include quality of user experience. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/302572/1/Makoza-Afordable-Inputs-Program-Malawi.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Affordable inputs subsidy, Mobile application, mobile network quality, Food security, Malawi Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:302572 #END 196 #BEGIN 197 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Elwert, Georg Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Hypothesen über sozio-strukturelle Auswirkungen der Entwicklungshilfe im ländlichen Raum Westafrikas Abstract: Die Gesamtfolgen erfolgreicher wie erfolgloser ländlicher Entwicklungsprojekte in Afrika seit Beginn der Kolonialherrschaft haben sich in bestimmten westafrikanischen Entwicklungsländern in einem solchen Ausmaß bemerkbar gemacht, dass sie die Wirtschaft und das Sozialsystem dieser Länder strukturierten. Die Erfahrungen dieser Projekte hatten auch eine Auswirkung auf die Denkweise der betroffenen Bauern. Heutzutage kann Entwicklungshilfe (zumindest für viele LLDCs) als eine Art getarnter „Schattenhaushalt“ betrachtet werden, der nicht nur dazu führt, Ressourcen von der produktiven Nutzung abzulenken und die Kluft zwischen den Starken und den Schwachen im Allgemeinen zu vergrößern. Kommerzialisierung und Bürokratisierung – beschleunigt durch Entwicklungshilfe – haben auch zu sozioökonomischen Differenzierungen innerhalb der afrikanischen Bauernschaft und sogar innerhalb der einzelnen Bauernhaushalte (entlang von Geschlecht und Alter) geführt. Im Endeffekt haben die angehäuften Erfahrungen mit Entwicklungshilfe von zwei oder mehr Generationen die Bauern negativ geprägt: Der scheinbar veränderungsresistente, traditionsbewusste, risikoscheue „afrikanische Bauer“ ist eher das Ergebnis dieser Erfahrung und entspringt weniger – wie vielfach behauptet – einer natürlichen Neigung des afrikanischen Landwirtes. Abstract: The cumulative impact of successful and unsuccessful rural development projects in Africa since the beginning of colonial rule has been felt in some West African developing countries to such an extent that it has structured the economies and social systems of these countries. The experience of these projects has also had an impact on the mindset of the farmers concerned. Today, development aid (at least for many LLDCs) can be seen as a kind of hidden "shadow budget", which not only serves to divert resources from productive use, but also to widen the gap between the strong and the weak in general. Commercialisation and bureaucratisation - accelerated by development aid - have also led to socio-economic differentiation within the African peasantry and even within individual farming households (along gender and age lines). Finally, the accumulated experience of development aid over two or more generations has had a negative impact on farmers: the apparently change-resistant, tradition-conscious, risk-averse "African farmer" is more the result of this experience than - as is often claimed - a natural inclination of the African farmer. Creation-Date: 1983 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/302326/1/Elwert-Kohnert-Sozio-strukturelle-Auswirkingen-Entwicklungshilfe-Westafrika.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, F54, N47, Z13 Keywords: Entwicklungshilfe, Staatshaushalt, Schattenhaushalt, Westafrika, ländliche Entwicklung, Bauernschaft, sozio-ökonomische Differenzierung, Subsahara Afrika Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:302326 #END 197 #BEGIN 198 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Best, Frank Author-Name: Tang, Anita Title: Assessing the Effectiveness of EU Countries in Implementing the Paris Agreement Abstract: Climate change, a transnational issue, necessitates international collaboration for effective mitigation. Despite the progress achieved by the Paris Agreement of 2015, a significant milestone in global cooperation, its implementation remains a challenge for both the international community and individual countries. Because of the agreement's optional nature, there are significant differences in terms of the ambition and achievement levels among signatories. The European Union (EU) stands out because of its unique structure and common policies, yet there is a lack of empirical research into their impact on climate policy effectiveness. This paper aims to fill this gap by comparing the effectiveness of the implementation between EU and non-EU countries in terms of policy output, achieving climate targets and an economically sustainable transition. Quantitative regression models show no significant differences concerning policy output and the achievement of climate targets, while they demonstrate greater ambition and success in economically sustainable transition. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of effective climate policies, highlight the positive impact of EU leadership in this regard, and stress the importance of international cooperation. Abstract: Der Klimawandel, ein transnationales Thema, erfordert internationale Zusammenarbeit für eine effektive Minderung. Trotz des Fortschritts, der durch das Pariser Abkommen von 2015 erreicht wurde, ein bedeutender Meilenstein in der globalen Zusammenarbeit, bleibt dessen Umsetzung sowohl für die internationale Gemeinschaft als auch für die einzelnen Länder eine Herausforderung. Aufgrund der freiwilligen Natur des Abkommens gibt es erhebliche Unterschiede hinsichtlich des Ambitionsniveaus und der Zielerreichung unter den Unterzeichnerstaaten. Die Europäische Union (EU) sticht aufgrund ihrer einzigartigen Struktur und gemeinsamen Politiken hervor, doch es mangelt an empirischer Forschung zu deren Auswirkungen auf die Wirksamkeit der Klimapolitik. Diese Arbeit zielt darauf ab, diese Lücke zu schließen, indem die Wirksamkeit der Umsetzung zwischen EU- und Nicht-EU-Ländern im Hinblick auf politische Ergebnisse, das Erreichen von Klimazielen und einen wirtschaftlich nachhaltigen Übergang verglichen wird. Quantitative Regressionsmodelle zeigen keine signifikanten Unterschiede in Bezug auf politische Ergebnisse und das Erreichen von Klimazielen, weisen jedoch auf eine größere Ambition und einen größeren Erfolg beim wirtschaftlich nachhaltigen Übergang hin. Unsere Ergebnisse tragen zu einem besseren Verständnis effektiver Klimapolitiken bei, unterstreichen die positive Rolle der EU-Führung in diesem Bereich und betonen die Bedeutung internationaler Zusammenarbeit. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/302321/1/Best-EU-Countries-in-Implementing-Paris-Agreement.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C12, E65, F53, H11, Q58, Q54 Keywords: climate change, climate policy, Ambition, Climate Policy Effectiveness, climate targets, sustainable transition, Effectiveness, EU Climate Policy, EU Policy, Paris Agreement, Paris Agreement, Paris Agreement Implementation, policy output Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300280 #END 198 #BEGIN 199 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Russia's Energy Interests in Azerbaijan: A Retrospective Analysis and Prospective View Abstract: This paper is a deep dive into the reasons behind Russian President Putin's state visit to Azerbaijan, with a specific focus on Russia's energy interests in the region. The research includes an analysis of key players such as Gazprom and Lukoil in Azerbaijan, and their future plans for energy cooperation with Russia. The article also evaluates the potential impact of Russia's energy interests in Azerbaijan on Europe's energy security, and the feasibility of Azerbaijan meeting its gas supply commitments to Europe. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/302055/1/Gubad-Ibadoghlu-Russias-Energy-Interests-in-Azerbaijan-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Russia, Azerbaijan, energy, oil, gaz, Gasprom, Lukoil, SOCAR, ACG, Shahdeniz, SGC, BTC Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:302055 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4943332 #END 199 #BEGIN 200 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Naviguer dans les rivalités: perspectives de coexistence entre la CEDEAO et l'AES en Afrique de l'Ouest Abstract: The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), created in September 2023 by the three military governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso as a counterweight to ECOWAS and the postcolonial influence of France and other Western countries, announced the creation of a confederation of its three countries in July 2024. The AES have more in common than the other countries of the Sahel. First, they are the centre of the Sahel and most vulnerable to jihadism. They figure among the least developed countries, with 40% to 50% of the population living in poverty. They are also landlocked countries with vast desert areas, making them more vulnerable to climate change. Finally, they are the countries with the highest population growth in the Sahel, with an average of six children per woman. The creation of the AES came amid a decade of escalating unrest in the Sahel, fuelled by the aftermath of the NATO-led intervention in Libya in 2011. The resulting instability caused rampant arms trafficking and the rise of armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The Sahel region accounts for a staggering 43% of global terrorist deaths, more than South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa combined. AES counterinsurgency operations will focus on the Liptako-Gourma region, the vast and porous border area where the three states meet, a borderland notorious for its instability. Previous leaders have often put French interests ahead of those of their own people, allowing the continued exploitation of the region's natural resources, including uranium, gold and manganese, without much benefit to the local population. In the face of critical comments from the AU about the AES countries' exit from ECOWAS, the former rejected any interference in their internal affairs. The AES confederation will expand the operational space of the junta alliance and consolidate its military and economic partnership with Russia and China, as well as Turkey and Iran. However, the AES secession undermines the legitimacy of ECOWAS by hindering regional economic and security integration and further complicating the return to democratization. The confederation will seek to absorb new members such as Chad, Guinea and Sudan to further strengthen its power and legitimacy as an alternative regional bloc. However, a divided Sahel will make tackling regional challenges even more difficult. If the AES were to replace the CFA franc with its own currency, as announced, and other Francophone countries in the UEMOA were to follow suit, this would require a fundamental restructuring of both the UEMOA and ECOWAS and finally also call into question the introduction of the ECO, the common West African currency, envisaged for 2027. Abstract: Die Allianz der Sahelstaaten (AES), die im September 2023 von den drei Militärregierungen Malis, Nigers und Burkina Fasos als Gegengewicht zur ECOWAS und dem postkolonialen Einfluss Frankreichs und anderer westlicher Länder gegründet wurde, kündigte im Juli 2024 die Gründung einer Konföderation ihrer drei Länder an. Die AES haben mehr gemeinsam als die anderen Länder der Sahelzone. Erstens sind sie das Zentrum des Sahel und am anfälligsten für Dschihadismus. Sie gehören zu den am wenigsten entwickelten Ländern, wobei 40% bis 50 % der Bevölkerung in Armut leben. Außerdem sind sie Binnenländer mit riesigen Wüstengebieten, was sie anfälliger für den Klimawandel macht. Schließlich sind sie die Länder mit dem höchsten Bevölkerungswachstum in der Sahelzone, mit durchschnittlich sechs Kindern pro Frau. Die Gründung der AES erfolgte inmitten eines Jahrzehnts eskalierender Unruhen im Sahel, die durch die Nachwirkungen der NATO-geführten Intervention in Libyen im Jahr 2011 angeheizt wurden. Die daraus resultierende Instabilität hat zu einem grassierenden Waffenhandel und dem Aufstieg bewaffneter Gruppen geführt, die mit al-Qaida und dem Islamischen Staat in Verbindung stehen. Die Sahelzone ist für erschreckende 43 % der weltweiten Todesfälle durch Terroristen verantwortlich, mehr als in Südasien, der Nahe Osten und Nordafrika zusammen. Die Aufstandsbekämpfungsoperationen der AES werden sich auf die Liptako-Gourma Region konzentrieren, das riesige und durchlässige Grenzgebiet, in dem die drei Staaten aufeinandertreffen, ein Grenzland, das für seine Instabilität berüchtigt ist. Frühere Staatschefs haben die französischen Interessen oft denen ihres eigenen Volkes vorgezogen und die fortgesetzte Ausbeutung der natürlichen Ressourcen der Region, darunter Uran, Gold und Mangan, ermöglicht, ohne dass die lokale Bevölkerung davon viel profitiert hätte. Angesichts kritischer Äußerungen der AU über den Austritt der AES-Länder aus der ECOWAS verbaten sich erstere jede Einmischung in ihre inneren Angelegenheiten. Die Konföderation der AES wird den operativen Spielraum des Bündnisses der Juntas erweitern und ihre militärische und wirtschaftliche Partnerschaft mit Russland und China sowie der Türkei und dem Iran festigen. Die Abspaltung der AES untergräbt allerdings die Legitimität der ECOWAS, indem sie die regionale Wirtschafts- und Sicherheitsintegration behindert und die Rückkehr zur Demokratisierung weiter erschwert. Die AES wird versuchen, neue Mitglieder wie den Tschad, Guinea und den Sudan aufzunehmen, um ihre Macht und Legitimität als alternativer regionaler Block weiter zu stärken. Eine geteilte Sahelzone wird die Bewältigung regionaler Herausforderungen jedoch noch schwieriger machen. Wenn die AES wie angekündigt, den Franc CFA durch eine eigene Währung ersetzt, und dem andere frankophone Länder der UEMOA folgen würden, würde das eine grundlegende Umstrukturierung sowohl der UEMOA als auch der ECOWAS erfordern und schließlich auch die für 2027 geplante Einführung des ECO, der neuen gemeinsamen westafrikanischen Währung, wieder in Frage stellen. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/302047/1/Kohnert-2024.ECOWAS%2bAES.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F35, F54, N47, O17, Z13 Keywords: Alliance des États du Sahel, CEDEAO, UEMOA, Afrique de l'Oues Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:302047 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12818658 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Navigating Rivalries: Prospects for Coexistence between ECOWAS and AES in West Africa #END 200 #BEGIN 201 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eichenberg, Jannis Author-Name: Hobbie, Hannes Author-Name: Schug, Tizian Title: Designing Incentive Mechanisms for Grid-Serving Demand-Side Behavior in Transmission Grids: Exploring Market Equilibria through Bi-Level Programming Abstract: Increasing renewable electricity generation and the electrification of industry, mobility, and heating through sector coupling pose significant challenges to grid operators in maintaining secure and reliable system operations. Demand-side sector coupling applications increase electricity demands and stress electricity grids, but they also offer transmission system operators increased flexibility for congestion management. Due to the complexity of directly controlling decentralized demand-side technologies, incentive mechanisms present a promising solution for harnessing demand-side flexibility. This study investigates various incentive schemes to promote grid-supportive demand-side behavior by developing a bi-level programming framework. The framework models the decision-making processes of key stakeholders, including a TSO, an aggregator, and a market clearing agent, considering model-endogenous wholesale market equilibrium formation and congestion management optimization. The economic efficiency of different design options for grid congestion management is evaluated using an extended IEEE test system applied to a case study of the German electricity transmission system. The findings highlight the critical importance of time-dynamic premium design concepts due to the variability of renewable generation. While incentive-based market interventions increase electricity market costs and thereby shifting consumer rents to producers, the reduced transmission system operation cost leads to overall gains in total system welfare. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/302046/1/flexibility-premiums-as-incentive-systems-for-grid-serving-dispatch-of-flexible-technologies-working-paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41, C61 Keywords: OR in energy, Flexibility premium, Bi-level optimisation, Congestion management, Transmission grid Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:302046 #END 201 #BEGIN 202 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Energy, Ecology, and Climate Finance Issues on Eve of COP29 Abstract: This article examines the challenges Azerbaijan faced on the Eve of COP29. Assessing the situation in Azerbaijan regarding energy, ecology, and climate finance issues, the author systematizes the critical problems to be solved in this field and draws attention to Azerbaijan's policy on the Eve of COP29. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301995/1/Gubad-Ibadoghlu-COP29-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: COP29, Azerbaijan, oil, gas, energy, ecology, climate change, climate finance, green growth, environmental security Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301995 #END 202 #BEGIN 203 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bergien, Jan Philipp Title: Kausalität im Alltag – Wie und warum wir systematisch Fehler machen: Eine Verknüpfung von Beobachtungen und verhaltensökonomischer Erkenntnisse Abstract: In unserem Alltag, der beruflichen Praxis wie auch dem Privatleben, werden wir ständig mit Ursachen-Wirkungszusammenhängen konfrontiert. Die eigentliche Frage ist zumeist, was der Grund dafür ist, dass etwas bestimmtes passiert ist? In dieser Publikation werden sechs Beobachtungen systematisch anhand von Beispielen ausgewertet und diskutiert. Bei allen Beobachtungen geht es darum, dass kausale Zusammenhänge systematisch falsch interpretiert werden. Mit Erkenntnissen aus der Verhaltensökonomie werden mögliche Ursachen erörtert. Abstract: In our everyday lives, both at work and in our private lives, we are constantly confronted with cause-and-effect relationships. The real question is usually, what is the reason that something specific has happened? In this publication, six observations are systematically analysed and discussed on the basis of examples. All of the observations centre on the fact that causal relationships are systematically misinterpreted. Possible causes are discussed using findings from behavioural economics. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301991/1/Bergien-2024-Kausalitaet-im-Alltag File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301991 #END 203 #BEGIN 204 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Duran-Fernandez, Roberto Title: Nearshoring in Mexico: Navigating Expectations and Realities of the Reconfiguration of Global Value Chains Abstract: This paper critically examines the phenomenon of nearshoring in Mexico within the broader context of global value chain (GVC) reconfiguration. As geopolitical tensions, rising labor costs in Asia, and the push for supply chain resilience have intensified, nearshoring has emerged as a prominent strategy, particularly in Mexico. However, despite the optimistic narratives surrounding nearshoring, this paper argues that its impact on Mexico is more complex and nuanced than often portrayed. By analyzing economic, geopolitical, and environmental factors, the paper evaluates Mexico's positioning to benefit from nearshoring trends. It highlights the opportunities, such as increased foreign direct investment (FDI) and potential GDP growth, while also addressing the significant challenges, including infrastructure deficits and the need for strategic industrial policies. The analysis reveals that the benefits of nearshoring are likely to be concentrated in specific sectors and regions, necessitating a balanced perspective that recognizes both the potential and limitations of this trend. Ultimately, the paper provides a grounded assessment of nearshoring's implications for Mexico, offering insights into the broader narrative of GVC reconfiguration and its localized effects Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301885/1/240828-Reconfiguration-GVC-vf.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F63, O14, O25, R58, Q56 Keywords: Nearshoring, Global Value Chains, Economic Development, Industrial Policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301885 #END 204 #BEGIN 205 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ibadoghlu, Gubad Title: Devaluation of manat: expectations and realities Abstract: This article will examine eight factors and evaluate the probability of Azerbaijan's manat devaluation in the post-oil period. However, there is no proportionality between the degree of influence of the listed factors and their ranking. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301884/1/Gubad-Ibadoghlu-Devaluation-of-manat-expectations-and-realities-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: devaluation, inflation, PPP, manat, foreign trade, current account balance, REEM, bank, HHI Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301884 #END 205 #BEGIN 206 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: From Commodity to Asset: The Truth Behind Rising House Prices Abstract: When it comes to rising house prices, nearly everyone has a theory about the cause. There’s ‘too much foreign money’. There are ‘too many immigrants’. There’s ‘too little construction’. And so on. What unites these explanations is that they appeal, in some way, to the idea that rising prices are caused by a mismatch between supply and demand. And surely that’s true, right? Yes, it is true … in the same way that death is caused by dying. But of course, that’s circular logic. And so it goes with ‘supply and demand’. Since prices are always caused by the interplay between what we want and what we can get, evoking ‘supply and demand’ leads us pretty much nowhere. Worse, it often puts the focus on short-term patterns, when the real scientific payoff lies in studying price trends over the long term. Speaking of the long term, many people assume that rising house prices are a recent problem. But in the United States, the pattern dates to the early 1970s. For almost a century before that, US house prices had been dropping against income. And so Americans treated their house like a ‘commodity’ — a thing they bought to live in. But from 1972 onward, house prices began to slowly appreciate against income. And so Americans started to treat their house like an ‘asset’. It’s this transformation — from commodity-like depreciation to asset-like appreciation — that is the real story of house prices. And the truth is that this story can’t be understood using popular scapegoats. To see why US house prices headed south and then north, we need to forget about supply and demand and instead, peer into the belly of industrialism. We need to ground house prices in the use of energy. Now, if going from prices to energy sounds like a non sequitur, I’ll show you why it makes sense. And I’ll show you how, when we bring debt into the energy fold, we can explain almost all of the historical variation in US house prices. The lesson here is simple yet disturbing. When it comes to rising house prices, the trend has less to do with a ‘supply crisis’, and more to do with basic physical limits to industrial supply chains. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301792/1/20240822_fix_from_commodities_to_assets.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, O18, R3, E3, E31 Keywords: assets, commodities, debt, distribution, housing, energy, price, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301792 #END 206 #BEGIN 207 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kitano, Shinichi Title: Examining social capital in rural collective action: its measurement, heterogeneity, and policy impact Abstract: In rural development research, social capital (SC) complements the causal gap between the endowment of resources and other capital in a community and the performance of collective actions, such as common-pool resource management. However, the concept of SC is ambiguous and its measurement is controversial. This study focuses on rural SC and attempts to measure it inductively using data (994 communities) related to various collective actions (22 types), rather than deductively piling up the detailed components of SC, as several studies have done. Hierarchical latent variable models are used to understand the hierarchical structure of SC. We used spatial regression models to examine the policy’s causal impacts on SC accumulation while considering spatial heterogeneity. The results show that SC has spatial heterogeneity and a hierarchical structure, depending on the internal (bonding-type) and external (bridging-type) components, as well as on the difference between general activities and collective agricultural actions. The SC accumulation is strongly correlated with traditional and agriculture-related activities. Furthermore, policies increase comprehensive SC by approximately 20% but are more effective for internal SC than for external SC. These results suggest the need for policy options such as agglomeration bonuses when expanding the range of collective actions. Other findings indicate that the reinforcement of agricultural corporations and educational facilities are also effective in accumulating SC. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301789/1/Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: social capital, inductive measurement, heterogeneity, policy impact, hierarchical structure, spatial regression Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301789 #END 207 #BEGIN 208 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Carl Heinz Daube Author-Name: Alex Dulachyk Author-Name: Leon Podinovic Author-Name: Hendrik Ruschmeyer Author-Name: Melissa Spiegeler Title: Aviation Industry – Opportunities and Challenges for a Green Future Abstract: The aim of this working paper is to examine the current state of Circular Economy (CE) implantation in the aviation industry, with a particular focus on Lufthansa. The aviation industry must integrate Circular Economy principles to address environmental concerns and achieve sustainable growth. CE practices, such as reducing, reusing and recycling, can significantly reduce waste, optimize resource use and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Lufthansa initiatives in sustainable fuels and innovative technologies highlight the practical application of CE concepts, enhancing both sustainability and operational efficiency. However, challenges include high costs, stringent safety standards and regulatory changes. Despite these hurdles, coordinated efforts among stakeholders and advancements in technology and policy are essential for successful CE implementation in Aviation Industry. Abstract: Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, den aktuellen Stand der Implementierung der Kreislaufwirtschaft (CE) in der Luftfahrtbranche, mit besonderem Fokus auf Lufthansa, zu untersuchen. Die Luftfahrtindustrie muss Prinzipien der Kreislaufwirtschaft integrieren, um Umweltprobleme anzugehen und nachhaltiges Wachstum zu erzielen. Praktiken der Kreislaufwirtschaft, wie “Reduzieren”, “Wiederverwenden” und “Recyceln” können Abfall erheblich reduzieren, zu einer effizienteren Ressourcennutzung führen und Treibhausgasemission senken. Lufthansa Initiativen in nachhaltigen Kraftstoffen und innovativen Technologien zeigen die praktische Anwendung von Konzepten der Kreislaufwirtschaft und verbessern sowohl die Nachhaltigkeit als auch die Betriebseffizienz. Allerdings gibt es Herausforderungen wie hohe Kosten, strenge Sicherheitsstandards und regulatorische Aspekte. Trotz dieser Hürden sind koordinierte Anstrengungen aller Beteiligten und Fortschritte in Technologie und Politik entscheidend für die erfolgreiche Umsetzung der Kreislaufwirtschaft in der Luftfahrt. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301357/1/Aviation-Industry-Opportunities-and-Challenges-for-a-Green-Future.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01 Keywords: aviation industry, circular economy, ce practices, green aviation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301357 #END 208 #BEGIN 209 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Chinese and African migrant entrepreneur's articulation shaped by African agency Abstract: Much has been written on the relationship of China and Africa in the past decade. However, the subject of Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Africa and their articulation with African counterparts was little explored up to the early 2010s. Apparently, this research gap has been closed, as shown by four publications in recent years: three edited volumes and one monography, focusing on this subject. In view of early prejudices on the passive or even disapproving reception of Chinese migrants by Africans, the state of the art underlines the importance and scope of African agency vis à vis Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Africa. This has been underlined unison in the four books under review. Abstract: In den letzten zehn Jahren wurde viel über die Beziehungen zwischen China und Afrika geschrieben. Das Thema chinesischer Migrantenunternehmer in Afrika und ihre Artikulation mit afrikanischen Kollegen wurde jedoch bis Anfang der 2010er Jahre wenig erforscht. Diese Forschungslücke ist offenbar geschlossen, wie vier Veröffentlichungen in den letzten Jahren zeigen: drei Sammelbände und eine Monographie, die sich auf dieses Thema konzentrieren. Angesichts früherer Vorurteile hinsichtlich der passiven oder sogar missbilligenden Aufnahme chinesischer Migranten durch Afrikaner unterstreicht der aktuelle Stand der Forschung die Bedeutung und den Umfang afrikanischer Handlungsmacht gegenüber chinesischen Migrantenunternehmern in Afrika. Dies wird in den vier besprochenen Büchern unisono unterstrichen. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301070/3/Kohnert-2016.Rev.article.migrant%20entrepreneurs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D62, E26, F22, H56, N47 Keywords: migrant entrepreneur, Chinese in Africa, African migrants, Sub-Saharan Africa, African agency, petty trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301070 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1310065 #END 209 #BEGIN 210 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Missbach, Leonard Author-Name: Steckel, Jan Christoph Title: Distributional impacts of climate policy and effective compensation: Evidence from 88 countries Abstract: We analyze the distributional impacts of climate policy by examining heterogeneity in households' carbon intensity of consumption. We construct a novel dataset that includes information on the carbon intensity of 1.5 million individual households from 88 countries. We first show that horizontal differences are generally larger than vertical differences. We then use supervised machine learning to analyze the non-linear contribution of household characteristics to the prediction of carbon intensity of consumption. Including household-level information beyond total household expenditures, such as information on vehicle ownership, location, and energy use, increases the accuracy of predicting households' carbon intensity. The importance of such features is country-specific and model accuracy varies across the sample. We identify six clusters of countries that differ in the distribution of climate policy costs and their determinants. Our results highlight that, depending on the context, some compensation policies may be more effective in reducing horizontal heterogeneity than others. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301069/1/Manuscript_20240815.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C38, C55, D30, H23, Q56 Keywords: Climate policy, Distributional impacts, Inequality, Transfers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:296491 #END 210 #BEGIN 211 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Azad, P. Author-Name: Salim, A. P. Muhammed Author-Name: Das, K. S. Anoop Title: Wayanad Landslide Disaster: Impact, Response, and Implications for Future Resilience Abstract: This study evaluates the Wayanad landslides of 2024, examining their socio-economic and ecological impacts, the effectiveness of response and rehabilitation efforts, and implications for future resilience in Kerala. The landslides have caused substantial damage, disrupting the lives of plantation workers and their communities, resulting in material loss, economic decline, and long-term environmental degradation. While Kerala's immediate rescue and relief efforts, supported by NGOs and volunteers, have been commendable, the state faces challenges in implementing permanent rehabilitation and mitigation measures, making it crucial to provide access to suitable livelihoods and diversify local economies as part of an effective post-event response for the permanent rehabilitation of hundreds of survivors of Kerala’s deadliest disaster. To enhance disaster preparedness, Kerala needs to adopt robust institutional mechanisms, update hazard maps, and improve early warning systems, all integrated into a comprehensive pre-event strategy. By learning from successful international frameworks and integrating advanced technologies, Kerala can strengthen its resilience against climate change-induced disasters. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301067/1/Landslide%20disaster_final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q54, H84, D74, R58, I31 Keywords: Wayand landslide disaster, impacts, state response, Preparedness, mitigation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301067 Note: This work has just been completed and submitted for publication to the journal Economic & Political Weekly. #END 211 #BEGIN 212 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: La guerre de Poutine en Ukraine provoquera-t-elle famine et révoltes en Afrique ? Abstract: Famines are almost always man-made often used as a deterrent. Since ancient times, food and hunger have been a weapon of war. Among the most notorious examples in Africa are the Herero and Namaqua genocide in German South-West Africa (now Namibia) from 1904 to 1908. It was the first genocide of the 20th century. Also, the subsequent famines in Biafra (South-East Nigeria, 1967-1969), when an estimated 1.5 million people starved to death, the 1980 famine in Uganda, one of the worst in African history, when 21% of the population died, and the recurring famines in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan since the 1990s have been burned into human memory. The use of food as a weapon was condemned as a war crime by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 1998. Since most African countries are Least Developed Countries (LLCs), they will suffer the hardest in the aftermath of Putin's war in Ukraine, especially Africa's poor. They have already suffered the consequences of drought, the corona pandemic and Islamist terrorism. Their already weakened position will be exacerbated by the spill-over effects of Russian aggression in Ukraine, which will further exacerbate hunger and poverty in Africa. All the more so as international development aid to Africa is likely to suffer from a massive redirection of aid to rearmament. Last but not least, Putin's war in Ukraine will have a major impact on EU-Africa relations. In view of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for Africa, it will further damage the mutual trust between both partners. About 86% of Africans have yet to receive two doses of vaccine. A growing number of African heads of state and government no longer see Western countries as reliable partners. Abstract: Les famines sont presque toujours causées par l'homme, souvent utilisées comme moyen de dissuasion. Depuis l'Antiquité, la nourriture et la faim sont une arme de guerre. Parmi les exemples les plus notoires en Afrique, citons le génocide Herero et Namaqua dans l’Afrique allemande du Sud-Ouest (aujourd'hui la Namibie) de 1904 à 1908. Ce fut le premier génocide du XXe siècle. En outre, les famines qui ont suivi au Biafra (Sud-Est du Nigeria, 1967-1969), où environ 1,5 million de personnes sont mortes de faim, la famine de 1980 en Ouganda, l'une des pires de l'histoire de l'Afrique, où 21 % de la population est morte, et là les famines récurrentes en Éthiopie, en Somalie et au Soudan du Sud depuis les années 1990 sont gravées dans la mémoire humaine. L'utilisation de nourriture comme arme a été condamnée comme crime de guerre par le Statut de Rome de la Cour pénale internationale en 1998. Étant donné que la plupart des pays africains sont des pays les moins avancés (PMA), ce sont eux qui souffriront le plus des conséquences de la guerre de Poutine en Ukraine, en particulier les pauvres d'Afrique. Ils ont déjà subi les conséquences de la sécheresse, de la pandémie de COVID-19 et du terrorisme islamiste. Leur position déjà affaiblie sera exacerbée par les retombées de l'agression russe en Ukraine, qui ne fera qu'exacerber la faim et la pauvreté en Afrique. D'autant plus que l'aide internationale au développement risque de souffrir d'une réorientation massive de l'aide vers le réarmement. Enfin et surtout, la guerre de Poutine en Ukraine aura un impact majeur sur les relations UE-Afrique. Compte tenu des conséquences de la pandémie de Covid-19 pour l'Afrique, cela mettra encore plus à mal la confiance mutuelle entre les deux partenaires. Environ 86 % des Africains n'ont pas encore reçu deux doses de vaccin. Un nombre croissant de chefs d'État et de gouvernement africains ne voient plus les pays occidentaux comme des partenaires fiables. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301066/1/Kohnert-2022.Predicting-famine-in-Africa.FRRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, E31, F02, F54, H56, N47, P26, Q17 Keywords: Russie, invasion, Ukraine, Afrique subsaharienne, famine, État fragile Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301066 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6471007 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): Will Putin's Ukraine war provoke famine and upheaval in Africa? #END 212 #BEGIN 213 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Will Putin's Ukraine war provoke famine and upheaval in Africa Abstract: Famines are almost always man-made often used as a deterrent. Since ancient times, food and hunger have been a weapon of war. Among the most notorious examples in Africa are the Herero and Namaqua genocide in German South-West Africa (now Namibia) from 1904 to 1908. It was the first genocide of the 20th century. Also, the subsequent famines in Biafra (South-East Nigeria, 1967-1969), when an estimated 1.5 million people starved to death, the 1980 famine in Uganda, one of the worst in African history, when 21% of the population died, and the recurring famines in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan since the 1990s have been burned into human memory. The use of food as a weapon was condemned as a war crime by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 1998. Since most African countries are Least Developed Countries (LLCs), they will suffer the hardest in the aftermath of Putin's war in Ukraine, especially Africa's poor. They have already suffered the consequences of drought, the corona pandemic and Islamist terrorism. Their already weakened position will be exacerbated by the spill-over effects of Russian aggression in Ukraine, which will further exacerbate hunger and poverty in Africa. All the more so as international development aid to Africa is likely to suffer from a massive redirection of aid to rearmament. Last but not least, Putin's war in Ukraine will have a major impact on EU-Africa relations. In view of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for Africa, it will further damage the mutual trust between both partners. About 86% of Africans have yet to receive two doses of vaccine. A growing number of African heads of state and government no longer see Western countries as reliable partners. Abstract: Hungersnöte sind fast immer menschengemacht, oft werden sie zur Abschreckung eingesetzt. Seit der Antike sind Nahrung und Hunger eine Waffe des Krieges. Zu den berüchtigtsten Beispielen in Afrika gehört der Völkermord an den Herero und Namaqua in Deutsch-Südwestafrika (heute Namibia) von 1904 bis 1908. Es war der erste Völkermord des 20. Jahrhunderts. Auch die nachfolgenden Hungersnöte in Biafra (Südostnigeria, 1967 bis 1969), als schätzungsweise 1,5 Millionen Menschen verhungerten, die Hungersnot von 1980 in Uganda, eine der schlimmsten in der afrikanischen Geschichte, als 21 % der Bevölkerung starben, und die wiederkehrenden Hungersnöte in Äthiopien, Somalia und im Südsudan seit den 1990er Jahren haben sich in das Gedächtnis der Menschheit eingebrannt. Der Einsatz von Lebensmitteln als Waffe wurde 1998 durch das Römische Statut des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs als Kriegsverbrechen verurteilt. Da die meisten afrikanischen Länder zu den am wenigsten entwickelten Ländern (LLCs) zählen, werden sie unter den Nachwirkungen von Putins Krieg in der Ukraine am härtesten leiden, insbesondere der Armen Afrikas. Sie hatten bereits die Folgen von Dürre, Corona-Pandemie und islamistischem Terrorismus zu tragen. Ihre bereits geschwächte Position wird durch die Spillover-Effekte der russischen Aggression in der Ukraine noch verschärft, die Hunger und Armut in Afrika noch weiter verschärfen werden. Dies umso mehr, als die internationale Entwicklungshilfe für Afrika wahrscheinlich unter einer massiven Umleitung der Hilfe in die Aufrüstung leiden wird. Nicht zuletzt wird Putins Ukraine-Krieg erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die Beziehungen zwischen der EU und Afrika haben. Er wird, angesichts der Folgen der Covid-19-Pandemie für Afrika, das gegenseitige Vertrauen zwischen beiden Partnern weiter beeinträchtigen. Etwa 86 % der Afrikaner müssen noch zwei Impfdosen erhalten. Eine wachsende Zahl afrikanischer Staats- und Regierungschefs sieht westliche Länder nicht mehr als verlässliche Partner. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301065/1/Kohnert-2022.Predicting-famine-in-Africa.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, E31, F02, F54, H56, N57, P26, Q17 Keywords: Russia, Ukraine, famine, international trade, food power, fragile state Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301065 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6463926 #END 213 #BEGIN 214 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Les Africains, sont-ils heureux ? « Retour au rire » en temps de guerre, de famine et de misère Abstract: Happiness is a universal state of mind. However, its meaning takes on culture-specific forms, ranging from emotional states of mind to life satisfaction. The definition of 'happiness' is strongly influenced by the respective philosophical background and material living conditions and is shaped by linguistic differences. Even within countries, location and social structure are important in the conceptualization and measurement of wellbeing. Exceptions prove the rule. In Laura Bohannan’s classic anthropological study of the Tiv in the Nigerian Middle Belt in the 1950s, the ‘return to laughter’ signified the laughter of despair, e.g. when people laughed at human misery given omnipresent witchcraft. Another exemption of the rule is related to COVID-19 lockdowns that were associated with a drop in satisfaction, regardless of country-specific characteristics or the type and duration of the lockdown. In Sub-Saharan Africa both the level of happiness and the level of income have shown increasing tendencies in recent decades. However, trends in inequality between indicators of income and happiness can diverge significantly. In general, happiness does not automatically increase with increasing income but lags behind. As shown by the economy of happiness, this paradox does not appear to occur in countries like South Africa, the most unequal country in the world. The country registered growing equality of happiness despite rising income inequality. Obviously, the absolute impact of income and happiness inequality at the country level is more important than the relative impact. Hence, happiness inequality, in general, can be a useful supplementary measure of inequality, particularly in Africa, which is considered a 'black spot' when it comes to happiness research. Abstract: Le bonheur est un état d'esprit universel. Cependant, sa signification prend des formes spécifiques à la culture, allant des états d'esprit émotionnels à la satisfaction générale de la vie. La définition du « bonheur » est fortement influencée par le contexte philosophique et les conditions de vie matérielles respectives et est façonnée par les différences linguistiques. Même au sein des pays, la localisation et la structure sociale sont importantes dans la conceptualisation et la mesure du bien-être. Les exceptions confirment la règle. Dans l’étude anthropologique classique de Laura Bohannan sur les Tiv du Middle Belt nigériane dans les années 1950, le « retour au rire » signifiait le rire du désespoir, p. ex. quand les gens se moquaient de la misère humaine face à la sorcellerie omniprésente. Une autre exemption de la règle est liée aux confinements liés au COVID-19 qui ont été associés à une baisse de la satisfaction, indépendamment des caractéristiques spécifiques au pays ou du type et de la durée du confinement. En Afrique subsaharienne, tant le niveau de bonheur que le niveau de revenu ont montré des tendances à la hausse au cours des dernières décennies. Cependant, les tendances de l'évolution de l'inégalité entre les indicateurs de revenu et de bonheur peuvent diverger considérablement. En général, le bonheur n'augmente pas automatiquement avec l'augmentation des revenus, mais reste à la traîne. Ce paradoxe, comme le montre l'économie du bonheur, ne semble pas se produire dans des pays comme l'Afrique du Sud, l'un des pays les plus inégalitaires au monde. Le pays a enregistré une égalité croissante de bonheur malgré la hausse des inégalités de revenus. De toute évidence, l'impact absolu des inégalités de revenu et de bonheur au niveau national est plus important que l'impact relatif. Par conséquent, l'inégalité du bonheur en général peut être une mesure supplémentaire utile de l'inégalité, en particulier en Afrique, qui est considérée comme une « tache noir » en matière de recherche sur le bonheur. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301064/1/Kohnert-2022.Happiness%20of%20Africans.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D11, D64, D87, E26, F54, I14, N17, O55 Keywords: Afrique subsaharienne, bonheur, économie du bonheur, Rapport mondial sur le bonheur, paradoxe d'Easterlin, religion en Afrique Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301064 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6513637 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): Are Africans happy? 'Return to laughter' in times of war, famine and misery #END 214 #BEGIN 215 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Are Africans happy? 'Return to laughter' in times of war, famine and misery Abstract: Happiness is a universal state of mind. However, its meaning takes on culture-specific forms, ranging from emotional states of mind to life satisfaction. The definition of 'happiness' is strongly influenced by the respective philosophical background and material living conditions and is shaped by linguistic differences. Even within countries, location and social structure are important in the conceptualization and measurement of wellbeing. Exceptions prove the rule. In Laura Bohannan’s classic anthropological study of the Tiv in the Nigerian Middle Belt in the 1950s, the ‘return to laughter’ signified the laughter of despair, e.g. when people laughed at human misery given omnipresent witchcraft. Another exemption of the rule is related to COVID-19 lockdowns that were associated with a drop in satisfaction, regardless of country-specific characteristics or the type and duration of the lockdown. In Sub-Saharan Africa both the level of happiness and the level of income have shown increasing tendencies in recent decades. However, trends in inequality between indicators of income and happiness can diverge significantly. In general, happiness does not automatically increase with increasing income but lags behind. As shown by the economy of happiness, this paradox does not appear to occur in countries like South Africa, the most unequal country in the world. The country registered growing equality of happiness despite rising income inequality. Obviously, the absolute impact of income and happiness inequality at the country level is more important than the relative impact. Hence, happiness inequality, in general, can be a useful supplementary measure of inequality, particularly in Africa, which is considered a 'black spot' when it comes to happiness research. Abstract: Glück ist eine universelle Geistesverfassung. Ihre Bedeutung nimmt jedoch kulturspezifische Formen an und reicht von emotionalen Gemütszuständen bis hin zur allgemeinen Lebenszufriedenheit. Die Definition von ‚Glück‘ ist stark von jeweiligen philosophischen Hintergründen sowie materiellen Lebensumständen beeinflusst und von sprachlichen Unterschieden geprägt. Selbst innerhalb von Ländern sind der Standort und die soziale Struktur wichtig für die Konzeptualisierung und Messung des Wohlbefindens. Ausnahmen bestätigen die Regel. In Laura Bohannans klassischer anthropologischer Studie über die Tiv im nigerianischen Mittelgürtel in den 1950er Jahren bedeutete die „Rückkehr zum Lachen“ das Lachen der Verzweiflung, z.B. wenn Menschen angesichts der allgegenwärtigen Hexerei über menschliches Elend lachten. Eine weitere Ausnahme von der Regel betrifft COVID-19-Lockdowns, die mit einem Rückgang der Zufriedenheit verbunden waren, unabhängig von länderspezifischen Besonderheiten oder der Art und Dauer des Lockdowns. In Subsahara-Afrika zeigten sowohl das Glücks- als auch das Einkommensniveau in den letzten Jahrzehnten steigende Tendenzen. Allerdings können die Entwicklungstrends der Ungleichheit zwischen Einkommens- und Glücksindikatoren erheblich auseinanderklaffen. Generell wächst das Glück nicht automatisch mit steigendem Einkommen, sondern hinkt hinterher. Dieses Paradoxon, tritt so, wie es die Glücksökonomie aufzeigt, jedoch in Ländern wie Südafrika, einem der ungleichsten Länder der Welt, offenbar nicht ein. Das Land registrierte eine wachsende Glücksgleichheit trotz zunehmender Einkommensungleichheit. Offensichtlich ist die absolute Auswirkung von Einkommens- und Glücksungleichheit auf Länderebene wichtiger als die relative Auswirkung. Daher kann die Glücksungleichheit im Allgemeinen ein nützliches ergänzendes Maß für Ungleichheit sein, insbesondere in Afrika, das in Bezug auf die Glücksforschung als „schwarzer Fleck“ gilt. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301063/1/Kohnert-2022.Happiness%20of%20Africans.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D01, D11, D64, E26, F54, I14, N17, O55 Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, happiness, philosophy of happiness, happiness economics, World Happiness Report, Easterlin paradox Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301063 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6513010 #END 215 #BEGIN 216 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Sans billet retour pour le Rwanda ? Boris Johnson et Paul Kagame forgent des politiques migratoires inhumaines pour leur bénéfice mutuel Abstract: Boris Johnson’s populist policy against immigrants and asylum seekers, dumped in detention camps in Rwanda, may not succeed because of legal constraints. Yet, his political agenda will probably work nevertheless, given the growing xenophobia among his electorate. Against expert advice, Home Secretary Priti Patel promised the autocratic ruler in Kigali, Paul Kagame, responsible among others for retribution killings of his army (RPF), to transfer an initial £120m to deter the migrants and to make them 'settle and thrive' in Rwanda. However, London would have to pay much more in the proposed 'economic transformation and integration fund' for the current cost. It is highly unlikely that Rwanda will be able to cope with additional immigrants as it is already struggling to accommodate its own more than 130,000 refugees. Moreover, in the past, also Denmark and Israel had tried in vain to execute similar policies to get rid of undesirable migrants and settle them in Rwanda and Uganda. Johnson's scheme reminded Britain's foremost historian of Nazi Germany, Sir Richard Evans, of Hitler's ploy to deport Jews to Madagascar. Thus, policies purported to aim at 'migration control' may not control migration, but reconfigure potential host societies along ethnic, racial, linguistic, and xenophobe lines. The burden of colonial heritage persists in attempts to reject 'strangers' through populist politics, culture and public discourse. This policy was revived and adjusted in the post-Brexit era, as exemplified by the preferential treatment given to Ukrainian migrants. Racism works best when it's overtly selective. Treating some migrants as “worthy” and others as “undeserving” avoids accusations of racism. It allows racist voters to be fooled into believing that they are personally virtuous while secretly or unconsciously indulging their basest instincts. Abstract: La politique populiste de Boris Johnson contre les immigrés et les demandeurs d'asile, jetés dans des camps de détention au Rwanda, risque d'échouer en raison de contraintes légales. Pourtant, son programme politique fonctionnera probablement néanmoins, étant donné la xénophobie croissante parmi son électorat. Contre l'avis des experts, le ministre de l'Intérieur Priti Patel a promis au dirigeant autocratique à Kigali, Paul Kagame, responsable entre autres des meurtres en représailles de son armée (FPR), de transférer un montant initial de £120m pour dissuader les migrants et les faire « s'installer et prospérer » au Rwanda. Cependant, Londres devrait payer beaucoup plus dans le « fonds de transformation et d'intégration économiques » proposé pour le coût actuel. Il est très peu probable que le Rwanda soit en mesure de faire face à des immigrants supplémentaires car il a déjà du mal à accueillir ses propres 130 000 réfugiés. De plus, dans le passé, le Danemark et Israël avaient également tenté en vain d'exécuter des politiques similaires pour se débarrasser des migrants indésirables et les installer au Rwanda et en Ouganda. Le plan de Johnson a rappelé au plus grand historien britannique de l'Allemagne nazie, Sir Richard Evans, du plan d'Hitler de déporter les Juifs à Madagascar. Ainsi, les politiques censées viser le « contrôle de la migration » peuvent ne pas contrôler la migration, mais reconfigurer les sociétés d'accueil potentielles selon des critères ethniques, raciaux, linguistiques et xénophobes. Le fardeau de l'héritage colonial persiste alors que la politique populiste, la culture et le discours public cherchent à repousser les « étrangers ». Cette politique a été relancée et ajustée dans l'ère post-Brexit, comme en témoigne le traitement préférentiel accordé aux migrants ukrainiens. Parce que le racisme fonctionne mieux quand il est ouvertement sélectif. Traiter certains migrants comme « méritants » et d'autres comme « indignes » évite les accusations de racisme. Cela permet aux électeurs racistes d'être trompés en leur faisant croire qu'ils sont personnellement vertueux tout en se livrant secrètement ou inconsciemment à leurs instincts les plus bas. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301062/1/Kohnert-2022.London.deportation%2cmigrants.to.Rwanda.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, E61, F35, F66, J46, J71, K37, P16 Keywords: Grande-Bretagne, Rwanda, immigration, réfugiés, migration africaine vers la Grande-Bretagne, politiques identitaires, Boris Johnson, Paul Kagam Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301062 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6553151 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): One-way ticket to Rwanda ? : Boris Johnson's cruel refugee tactic meets Kagame's shady immigration handling #END 216 #BEGIN 217 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: One-way ticket to Rwanda? Boris Johnson's cruel refugee tactic meets Kagame's shady immigration handling Abstract: Boris Johnson’s populist policy against immigrants and asylum seekers, dumped in detention camps in Rwanda, may not succeed because of legal constraints. Yet, his political agenda will probably work nevertheless, given the growing xenophobia among his electorate. Against expert advice, Home Secretary Priti Patel promised the autocratic ruler in Kigali, Paul Kagame, responsible among others for retribution killings of his army (RPF), to transfer an initial £120m to deter the migrants and to make them 'settle and thrive' in Rwanda. However, London would have to pay much more in the proposed 'economic transformation and integration fund' for the current cost. It is highly unlikely that Rwanda will be able to cope with additional immigrants as it is already struggling to accommodate its own more than 130,000 refugees. Moreover, in the past, also Denmark and Israel had tried in vain to execute similar policies to get rid of undesirable migrants and settle them in Rwanda and Uganda. Johnson's scheme reminded Britain's foremost historian of Nazi Germany, Sir Richard Evans, of Hitler's ploy to deport Jews to Madagascar. Thus, policies purported to aim at 'migration control' may not control migration, but reconfigure potential host societies along ethnic, racial, linguistic, and xenophobe lines. The burden of colonial heritage persists in attempts to reject 'strangers' through populist politics, culture and public discourse. This policy was revived and adjusted in the post-Brexit era, as exemplified by the preferential treatment given to Ukrainian migrants. Racism works best when it's overtly selective. Treating some migrants as “worthy” and others as “undeserving” avoids accusations of racism. It allows racist voters to be fooled into believing that they are personally virtuous while secretly or unconsciously indulging their basest instincts. Abstract: Boris Johnsons populistische Politik gegen Einwanderer und Asylsuchende, die in Ruanda in Internierungslagern inhaftiert werden sollen, droht an rechtlichen Zwängen zu scheitern. Dennoch wird seine politische Agenda angesichts der wachsenden Fremdenfeindlichkeit unter seiner Wählerschaft wahrscheinlich trotzdem funktionieren. Gegen den Rat von Experten versprach Innenminister Priti Patel dem autokratischen Führer in Kigali, Paul Kagame, der unter anderem für die Vergeltungsmorde seiner Armee (RPF) verantwortlich ist, eine Anfangsfinanzierung von £120m, um Migranten abzuschrecken und sie dazu zu bringen, sich in Ruanda ‚niederzulassen und zu gedeihen‘. Allerdings müsste London für die laufenden Kosten deutlich mehr in den vorgeschlagenen „Fonds für wirtschaftliche Transformation und Integration“ einzahlen. Es ist höchst unwahrscheinlich, dass Ruanda mit zusätzlichen Einwanderern fertig wird, da es bereits Schwierigkeiten hat, seine eigenen 130.000 Flüchtlinge unterzubringen. Darüber hinaus hatten Dänemark und Israel in der Vergangenheit ebenfalls erfolglos versucht, eine ähnliche Politik durchzuführen, um unerwünschte Migranten loszuwerden und sie in Ruanda und Uganda anzusiedeln. Johnsons Plan erinnerte den führenden britischen Historiker von Nazi-Deutschland, Sir Richard Evans, an Hitlers Plan, Juden nach Madagaskar zu deportieren. Daher kann eine Politik, die angeblich auf „Migrationskontrolle“ abzielt, die Migration möglicherweise nicht kontrollieren, sondern potenzielle Aufnahmegesellschaften entlang ethnischer, rassischer, sprachlicher und fremdenfeindlicher Linien neu konfigurieren. Die Last des kolonialen Erbes besteht fort im Bestreben, „Außenseiter“ durch populistische Politik, Kultur und öffentlichen Diskurs abzuweisen. Diese Politik wurde in der Post-Brexit-Ära wiederbelebt und angepasst, wie das Beispiel der bevorzugten Behandlung ukrainischer Migranten zeigt. Denn Rassismus funktioniert am besten, wenn er offen selektiv ist. Einige Migranten als „würdig“ und andere als „unwürdig“ zu behandeln, vermeidet den Vorwurf des Rassismus. Es ermöglicht rassistischen Wählern glauben zu machen, dass sie persönlich tugendhaft sind, während sie heimlich oder unbewusst ihren niedrigsten Instinkte frönen. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301061/1/Kohnert-2022.African%20immigrants%20in%20Rwanda.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, E61, F22, F54, J46, K37, N47, P16 Keywords: United Kingdom, Rwanda, immigration, refugees, Arican migration to UK, xenophobia, Boris Johnson, Paul Kagame Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301061 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6553161 #END 217 #BEGIN 218 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: La Russie et la montée du terrorisme islamique en Afrique sub-saharienne Abstract: Russia and China challenge the liberal order and rule of law on a global and regional level. The Trump administration has facilitated the support of the move away from the liberal international order and the "Westphalian" system of states that America had defended for centuries. Extremism is thriving around the world, including in sub-Saharan Africa, fuelled by the aftermath of colonialism, poverty and Islamist ideologies. Regions with limited statehood became failed states where violent conflicts threatened regional security and stability. Russia benefited from the resulting power vacuum. Moscow focused on countries that were formerly French and Portuguese colonies, which Moscow believed are easier to infiltrate. Under these conditions, Putin is free to exploit the political and social contradictions in Africa and destabilize the Western order, even at the risk of the rise of Islamic terrorism. Terrorist criminal pipelines and corrupt states have been exploited by Russian arms dealers across Africa for decades. These included notorious support for the Taylor regime in Liberia in the early 2000s, including the infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the ‘merchant of death’. The cooperation was based on state control of ports of entry and exit for criminal organizations to safeguard profit-sharing, diplomatic passports, including associated immunity, and the rule of law, which ensured the smooth marketing of these companies. Today, Russia benefits primarily from providing “security” to autocratic leaders, including arms sales, advice and training in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations against Islamic terrorism in exchange for access to African resources and markets. Aside from Al-Quida, the Islamic State (ISIS), Boko Haram other local Islamic organizations are fuelling terrorism in SSA. Moscow is particularly interested in the Horn of Africa to control important trade routes of global importance. Abstract: La Russie et la Chine défient l'ordre libéral et l'État de droit au niveau mondial et régional. L'administration Trump a facilité le soutien à l'abandon de l'ordre international libéral et du système d'États "westphalien" que l'Amérique avait défendu pendant des siècles. L'extrémisme prospère dans le monde entier, y compris en Afrique subsaharienne, alimenté par les séquelles du colonialisme, de la pauvreté et des idéologies islamistes. Les régions à statut d'État limité sont devenues des États défaillants où des conflits violents ont menacé la sécurité et la stabilité régionales. La Russie a profité du vide de pouvoir qui en a résulté. Moscou s'est concentré sur les pays qui étaient autrefois des colonies françaises et portugaises, que Moscou croyait plus faciles à infiltrer. Dans ces conditions, Poutine est libre d'exploiter les contradictions politiques et sociales en Afrique et de déstabiliser l'ordre occidental, même au risque de la montée du terrorisme islamique. Les pipelines criminels terroristes et les États corrompus sont exploités par les marchands d'armes russes à travers l'Afrique depuis des décennies. Ceux-ci comprenaient un soutien notoire au régime de Taylor au Liberia au début des années 2000, y compris le tristement célèbre marchand d'armes russe Viktor Bout, surnommé le « marchand de la mort ». La coopération reposait sur le contrôle par l'État des ports d'entrée et de sortie des organisations criminelles afin de préserver la participation aux bénéfices, les passeports diplomatiques, y compris l'immunité associée, et l'état de droit, qui garantissait la bonne commercialisation de ces entreprises. Aujourd'hui, la Russie bénéficie principalement de la « sécurité » offerte aux dirigeants autocratiques, notamment par la vente d'armes, des conseils et une formation aux opérations de contre-insurrection et de contre-terrorisme contre le terrorisme islamique en échange de l'accès aux ressources et aux marchés africains. Outre Al-Quida, l'État islamique (ISIS), Boko Haram, d'autres organisations islamiques locales alimentent le terrorisme en ASS. Moscou s'intéresse particulièrement à la Corne de l'Afrique pour contrôler d'importantes routes commerciales d'importance mondiale. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301060/1/Kohnert-2022.Russia%2bTerrorism.SSA.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F13, F55, H56, N17, O17, P16, P26 Keywords: Russie, terrorisme islamist, Afrique subsaharienne, État fragile, industrie de l'armemen, EI Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301060 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6598157 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): Russia and the rise of Islamic terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa #END 218 #BEGIN 219 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Russia and the rise of Islamic terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: Russia and China challenge the liberal order and rule of law on a global and regional level. The Trump administration has facilitated the support of the move away from the liberal international order and the "Westphalian" system of states that America had defended for centuries. Extremism is thriving around the world, including in sub-Saharan Africa, fuelled by the aftermath of colonialism, poverty and Islamist ideologies. Regions with limited statehood became failed states where violent conflicts threatened regional security and stability. Russia benefited from the resulting power vacuum. Moscow focused on countries that were formerly French and Portuguese colonies, which Moscow believed are easier to infiltrate. Under these conditions, Putin is free to exploit the political and social contradictions in Africa and destabilize the Western order, even at the risk of the rise of Islamic terrorism. Terrorist criminal pipelines and corrupt states have been exploited by Russian arms dealers across Africa for decades. These included notorious support for the Taylor regime in Liberia in the early 2000s, including the infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the ‘merchant of death’. The cooperation was based on state control of ports of entry and exit for criminal organizations to safeguard profit-sharing, diplomatic passports, including associated immunity, and the rule of law, which ensured the smooth marketing of these companies. Today, Russia benefits primarily from providing “security” to autocratic leaders, including arms sales, advice and training in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations against Islamic terrorism in exchange for access to African resources and markets. Aside from Al-Quida, the Islamic State (ISIS), Boko Haram other local Islamic organizations are fuelling terrorism in SSA. Moscow is particularly interested in the Horn of Africa to control important trade routes of global importance. Abstract: Russland und China fordern die freiheitliche Ordnung und Rechtsstaatlichkeit auf globaler und regionaler Ebene heraus. Die US-Regierung unter Trump hat die Abwendung von der liberalen internationalen Ordnung und dem „westfälischen“ Staatensystem, das Amerika jahrhundertelang verteidigt hatte, noch unterstützt. Der Extremismus blüht weltweit auf, einschließlich Subsahara-Afrika, genährt von den Nachwirkungen des Kolonialismus, der Armut und islamistischen Ideologien. Regionen mit begrenzter Staatlichkeit wurden zu gescheiterten Staaten in denen gewalttätige Konflikte, die die regionale Sicherheit und Stabilität gefährdeten. Russland profitierte von dem daraus resultierenden Machtvakuum. Moskau konzentrierte sich dabei auf Länder, die früher französische und portugiesische Kolonien waren, die aus Sicht Moskaus leichter zu unterwandern seien. Unter diesen Bedingungen hat Putin freie Hand, um die politischen und sozialen Widersprüche auszunutzen und die westliche Ordnung zu destabilisieren, selbst wenn er den Aufstieg des islamischen Terrorismus dabei in Kauf nimmt. Terroristische kriminelle Pipelines und korrupte Staaten wurden bereits seit Jahrzehnten von russischen Waffenhändlern in ganz Afrika genutzt. Dazu gehörte die berüchtigte Unterstützung des Taylor-Regimes in Liberia in den frühen 2000er Jahren, einschließlich des verrufenen russischen Waffenhändlers Viktor Bout, der als „Kaufmann des Todes“ bezeichnet wurde. Die Zusammenarbeit basierte auf der staatlichen Kontrolle von Ein- und Ausreisehäfen für kriminelle Organisationen um die Gewinnbeteiligung, Diplomatenpässen, einschließlich der damit verbundenen Immunität, sowie Rechtsstaatlichkeit, zu gewährleisten, welche die reibungslose Absatzpolitik dieser Unternehmen gewährleistete. Heute profitiert Russland hauptsächlich von der Bereitstellung von „Sicherheit“ für autokratische Führer, einschließlich Waffenverkäufen, Beratung und Schulung in Anti-Aufstands- und Anti-Terror-Operationen gegen den islamischen Terrorismus im Austausch für den Zugang zu afrikanischen Ressourcen und Märkten. Abgesehen von Al-Quida, schüren der Islamische Staat (ISIS), Boko Haram und andere lokale islamische Organisationen den Terrorismus in SSA. Moskaus besonderes Interesse gilt dem Horn von Afrika, um wichtige Handelsrouten von globaler Bedeutung zu kontrollieren. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301059/1/Kohnert-2022.Russia%2bTerrorism.SSA.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F13, F55, H56, N17, O17, P16, P26 Keywords: Russia, Islamist terrorism, Sub-Sahara Africa, ISIS, arms deals, fake news, Post-colonialism, Westphalian sovereignty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301059 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6598148 #END 219 #BEGIN 220 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'impact du terrorisme islamiste sur l'économie informelle africaine: le Kenya, comparé au Ghana et au Sénégal Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa emerged in the past years as global epicentre of Islamist terrorism. The impact of terrorism on the economy has a negative bearing on the formal and a positive effect on the informal sector. Among other things, this is due to the poorly diversified development economies of African countries and the class-specific impact of terrorism on welfare. This concerns not only a drop in sales, income and employment and rising transaction costs in the affected sectors, but also increasing poverty, hunger and hardship for the poor and needy. Transnational terrorism amplifies both the negative and the positive effects. African countries that have suffered severely from these attacks include Somalia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Libya and Egypt. But even West African countries such as Ghana and Senegal which have been spared so far from terrorist attacks, the menace is growing, and economic effects are already tangible. Since the informal sector, i.e. the shadow economy with all its ambivalent facets, including cross-border crime, is still dominant in many African countries, especially in West Africa, this sector is of particular importance. It is still one of the largest in the world. The fight against Islamist terrorism is not just a military issue. In the economic sphere too it should be fought at its roots. Since most of the African poor live in and from the informal sector, which is also a breeding ground for criminal activities such as human trafficking of all kinds, money laundering and terrorists, they suffer the most from the negative consequences. Terrorists' sources of funding often derive from the proceeds of illegal trade. The close ties between criminal and terrorist groups can undermine the very foundations of the republican state and weaken democratic institutions Abstract: L'Afrique subsaharienne est devenue ces dernières années l'épicentre mondial du terrorisme islamiste. L'impact du terrorisme sur l'économie a une incidence négative sur le secteur formel et un effet positif sur le secteur informel. Cela est dû, entre autres, aux économies de développement peu diversifiées des pays africains et à l'impact spécifique de classe du terrorisme sur le bien-être. Cela concerne non seulement une baisse des ventes, des revenus et de l'emploi et une augmentation des coûts de transaction dans les secteurs touchés, mais aussi une augmentation de la pauvreté, de la faim et des misères pour les pauvres et les nécessiteux. Le terrorisme transnational amplifie à la fois les effets négatifs et positifs. Les pays africains qui ont gravement souffert de ces attaques sont la Somalie, le Kenya, le Nigeria, le Mali, le Burkina Faso, le Soudan du Sud, la Libye et l'Égypte. Mais même les pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest, comme le Ghana et le Sénégal, qui ont jusqu'ici été épargnés par les attentats terroristes, la menace grandit et les effets économiques sont déjà tangibles. Étant donné que le secteur informel, c'est-à-dire l'économie souterraine avec toutes ses facettes ambivalentes, y compris la criminalité transfrontalière, est encore dominant dans de nombreux pays africains, en particulier en Afrique de l'Ouest, ce secteur revêt une importance particulière. C'est encore l'un des plus grands au monde. La lutte contre le terrorisme n'est pas seulement une question militaire. Dans le domaine économique, aussi, il faut le combattre à la racine. Étant donné que la plupart des pauvres africains vivent dans et à partir du secteur informel, qui est également un terreau fertile pour les activités criminelles telles que la traite des êtres humains de toute sortes, le blanchiment d'argent et les terroristes, ils souffrent le plus des conséquences négatives. Les sources de financement des terroristes proviennent souvent du produit du commerce illégal. Les liens étroits entre groupes criminels et terroristes peuvent saper les fondements mêmes de l'État républicain et affaiblir les institutions démocratiques. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301058/1/Kohnert-2022.Limpact_du_terrorisme_islamiste_sur_SSA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F13, F54, H56, N17, O17, P16, P26 Keywords: terrorisme islamist, crime organisé, État fragil, État islamique, trafic, pauvreté Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301058 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6757446 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): The impact of Islamist terrorism on Africa's informal economy: Kenya, compared with Ghana and Senegal #END 220 #BEGIN 221 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: The impact of Islamist terrorism on Africa's informal economy: Kenya, compared with Ghana and Senegal Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa emerged in the past years as global epicentre of Islamist terrorism. The impact of terrorism on the economy has a negative bearing on the formal and a positive effect on the informal sector. Among other things, this is due to the poorly diversified development economies of African countries and the class-specific impact of terrorism on welfare. This concerns not only a drop in sales, income and employment and rising transaction costs in the affected sectors, but also increasing poverty, hunger and hardship for the poor and needy. Transnational terrorism amplifies both the negative and the positive effects. African countries that have suffered severely from these attacks include Somalia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Libya and Egypt. But even West African countries such as Ghana and Senegal which have been spared so far from terrorist attacks, the menace is growing, and economic effects are already tangible. Since the informal sector, i.e. the shadow economy with all its ambivalent facets, including cross-border crime, is still dominant in many African countries, especially in West Africa, this sector is of particular importance. It is still one of the largest in the world. The fight against Islamist terrorism is not just a military issue. In the economic sphere too it should be fought at its roots. Since most of the African poor live in and from the informal sector, which is also a breeding ground for criminal activities such as human trafficking of all kinds, money laundering and terrorists, they suffer the most from the negative consequences. Terrorists' sources of funding often derive from the proceeds of illegal trade. The close ties between criminal and terrorist groups can undermine the very foundations of the republican state and weaken democratic institutions. Abstract: Afrika südlich der Sahara hat sich in den vergangenen Jahren zum globalen Epizentrum des islamistischen Terrorismus entwickelt. In den Volkswirtschaften Afrikas wirkt sich Terrorismus in der Regel negativ auf den formellen und positiv auf den informellen Sektor aus. Dies ist unter anderem auf die wenig diversifizierte Entwicklungsökonomien afrikanischer Länder und die klassenspezifischen Auswirkungen des Terrorismus auf die Wohlfahrt zurückzuführen. Dieses betrifft nicht nur Umsatz-, Einkommens- und Beschäftigungsrückgang, steigende Transaktionskosten in den betroffenen Sektoren sondern auch zunehmende Armut, Hunger und Not für die Armen und Bedürftigen. Der transnationale Terrorismus verstärke sowohl die negativen als auch die positiven Effekte. Zu den Ländern, die schwer unter diesen Angriffen litten, gehören Somalia, Kenia, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Südsudan, Libyen und Ägypten. Aber auch in bisher von Terroranschlägen verschonten westafrikanischen Staaten, wie Ghana und Senegal, wächst die Bedrohung und die wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen sind bereits spürbar. Da der informelle Sektor, d.h. die Schattenwirtschaft mit all ihren ambivalenten Facetten, einschließlich grenzüberschreitender Kriminalität, in vielen afrikanischen Ländern, insbesondere in Westafrika, immer noch dominant ist, ist dieser Sektor von besonderer Bedeutung. Er zählt nach wie vor zu den größten der Welt. Der Kampf gegen den Terrorismus ist nicht nur eine militärische Frage. Auch im wirtschaftlichen Bereich muss er an seinen Wurzeln bekämpft werden. Da die meisten afrikanischen Armen in und vom informellen Sektor leben, der auch ein Nährboden für kriminelle Aktivitäten wie Menschenhandel aller Art, für Geldwäsche und für Terroristen ist, leiden sie am meisten unter den negativen Folgen. Die Finanzierungsquellen der Terroristen leiten sich oft aus den Erträgen des illegalen Handels ab. Die engen Verbindungen zwischen kriminellen und terroristischen Gruppen können die Grundlagen des republikanischen Staates angreifen und demokratische Institutionen schwächen. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301057/1/Kohnert-2022.Impact_of_Islamist_terrorism_on_Afri.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F13, F35, F54, N47, O17, P16, P26 Keywords: Islamist terrorism, organized crime, shadow economy, ragile state, ISIS, trafficking, Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301057 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6757444 #END 221 #BEGIN 222 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Éthique des machines et identités africaines: Perspectives de l'intelligence artificielle en Afrique Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been embraced enthusiastically by Africans as a new resource for African development. AI could improve well-being by enabling innovation in business, education, health, ecology, urban planning, industry, etc. However, the high expectations could be little more than pious wishes. There are still too many open questions regarding the transfer required, and the selection of appropriate technology and its mastery. Given that the 'technology transfer' concept of modernization theories of the 1960s utterly failed because it had not been adapted to local needs, some scholars have called for an endogenous concept of African AI. However, this caused a lot of controversies. Africa became a battlefield of 'digital empires' of global powers due to its virtually non-existent digital infrastructure. Still, African solutions to African problems would be needed. Additionally, the dominant narratives and default settings of AI-related technologies have been denounced as male, gendered, white, heteronormative, powerful, and western. The previous focus on the formal sector is also questionable. Innovators from the informal sector and civil society, embedded in the local sociocultural environment but closely linked to transnational social spaces, often outperform government development efforts. UNESCO also warned that the effective use of AI in Africa requires the appropriate skills, legal framework and infrastructure. As in the past, calls by African politicians for a pooling of resources, a pan-African strategy, were probably in vain. AI may develop fastest in the already established African technology hubs of South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. But promising AI-focused activities have also been identified in Ethiopia and Uganda. Gender equality, cultural and linguistic diversity, and changes in labour markets would also be required for AI to enhance rather than undermine socioeconomic inclusion. In addition, ethical questions related to a specific African identity have been raised. The extent to which African ideas of humanity and humanitarianism should be taken into account when developing an African AI remains an open question. In short, calling for the rapid deployment of AI in Africa could be a double-edged sword. Abstract: L'intelligence artificielle (IA) a été accueillie avec enthousiasme par les Africains comme une nouvelle ressource pour le développement de l'Afrique. L'IA pourrait améliorer le bien-être en permettant l'innovation dans les affaires, l'éducation, la santé, l'écologie, l'urbanisme, l'industrie, etc. Cependant, les attentes élevées pourraient n'être rien de plus que des vœux pieux. Il y a encore trop de questions ouvertes sur le transfert nécessaire, le choix de la technologie appropriée et sa maîtrise. Étant donné que le concept de « transfert de technologie » des théories de la modernisation des années 1960 a complètement échoué parce qu'il n'avait pas été adapté aux besoins locaux, certains chercheurs ont appelé à un concept endogène de l'IA africaine. Cependant, cela a provoqué de nombreuses controverses. L'Afrique est devenue un champ de bataille des empires numériques des puissances mondiales en raison de son infrastructure numérique pratiquement inexistant. Pourtant, des solutions africaines aux problèmes africains seraient nécessaires. De plus, les récits dominants et les paramètres par défaut des technologies liées à l'IA ont été dénoncés comme masculins, sexués, blancs, hétéro-normatifs, puissants et occidentaux. L'accent mis précédemment sur le secteur formel est également discutable. Les innovateurs du secteur informel et de la société civile, ancrés dans l'environnement socioculturel local, mais étroitement liés aux espaces sociaux transnationaux, surpassent souvent les efforts de développement du gouvernement. L'UNESCO a également averti que l'utilisation efficace de l'IA en Afrique nécessite des compétences, un cadre juridique et une infrastructure appropriés. Comme par le passé, les appels des politiques africains à une mutualisation des ressources, une stratégie panafricaine, ont probablement été vains. L'IA pourrait se développer plus rapidement dans les pôles technologiques africains déjà établis que sont l'Afrique du Sud, le Nigeria et le Kenya. Mais des activités prometteuses axées sur l'IA ont également été identifiées en Éthiopie et en Ouganda. L'égalité des sexes, la diversité culturelle et linguistique et les changements sur les marchés du travail seraient également nécessaires pour que l'IA améliore plutôt que sape l'inclusion socio-économique. En outre, des questions éthiques liées à une identité africaine spécifique ont été soulevées. La mesure dans laquelle les idées africaines d'humanité et d'humanitarisme devraient être prises en compte lors du développement d'une IA africaine reste une question ouverte. Bref, appeler au déploiement rapide de l'IA en Afrique pourrait être une arme à double tranchant. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301056/1/Kohnert-2022.African-AI.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, E26, F22, F63, I31, J43, M13, N17, O17, P46 Keywords: Intelligence artificiell, Innovation, Apprentissage automatique, Big Data, Philosophie africaine, Afrique subsaharienne Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301056 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6849146 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): Machine ethics and African identities: Perspectives of artificial intelligence in Africa #END 222 #BEGIN 223 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Machine ethics and African identities: Perspectives of artificial intelligence in Africa Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been embraced enthusiastically by Africans as a new resource for African development. AI could improve well-being by enabling innovation in business, education, health, ecology, urban planning, industry, etc. However, the high expectations could be little more than pious wishes. There are still too many open questions regarding the transfer required, and the selection of appropriate technology and its mastery. Given that the 'technology transfer' concept of modernization theories of the 1960s utterly failed because it had not been adapted to local needs, some scholars have called for an endogenous concept of African AI. However, this caused a lot of controversies. Africa became a battlefield of 'digital empires' of global powers due to its virtually non-existent digital infrastructure. Still, African solutions to African problems would be needed. Additionally, the dominant narratives and default settings of AI-related technologies have been denounced as male, gendered, white, heteronormative, powerful, and western. The previous focus on the formal sector is also questionable. Innovators from the informal sector and civil society, embedded in the local sociocultural environment but closely linked to transnational social spaces, often outperform government development efforts. UNESCO also warned that the effective use of AI in Africa requires the appropriate skills, legal framework and infrastructure. As in the past, calls by African politicians for a pooling of resources, a pan-African strategy, were probably in vain. AI may develop fastest in the already established African technology hubs of South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. But promising AI-focused activities have also been identified in Ethiopia and Uganda. Gender equality, cultural and linguistic diversity, and changes in labour markets would also be required for AI to enhance rather than undermine socioeconomic inclusion. In addition, ethical questions related to a specific African identity have been raised. The extent to which African ideas of humanity and humanitarianism should be taken into account when developing an African AI remains an open question. In short, calling for the rapid deployment of AI in Africa could be a double-edged sword. Abstract: Künstliche Intelligenz (KI) wird von Afrikanern begeistert als neue Ressource für die afrikanische Entwicklung begrüßt. KI könnte ein verbessertes Wohlbefinden ermöglichen, indem sie Innovationen in den Bereichen Wirtschaft, Bildung, Gesundheit, Ökologie, Stadtplanung, Industrie usw. ermöglicht. Die hohen Erwartungen könnten jedoch kaum mehr als fromme Wünsche sein. Es gibt noch zu viele offene Fragen bezüglich des erforderlichen Transfers und der Auswahl geeigneter Technologie und ihrer Beherrschung. Angesichts dessen, dass das Konzept des „Technologietransfers“ der Modernisierungstheorien der 1960er-Jahre völlig gescheitert ist, weil es nicht an die lokalen Bedürfnisse angepasst war, forderten einige Wissenschaftler ein endogenes Konzept der afrikanischen KI. Dies löste jedoch heftige Kontroversen aus. Afrika wurde aufgrund seiner praktisch nicht vorhandenen digitalen Infrastruktur zu einem Schlachtfeld „digitaler Imperien“ globaler Mächte. Dennoch wären afrikanische Lösungen für afrikanische Probleme erforderlich. Darüber hinaus wurden die vorherrschenden Narrative und Standardeinstellungen von KI-bezogenen Technologien als männlich, geschlechtsspezifisch, weiß, heteronormativ, leistungsfähig und westlich angeprangert. Auch die bisherige Fokussierung auf den formellen Sektor ist fragwürdig. Innovatoren des informellen Sektors und der Zivilgesellschaft, eingebettet in das lokale soziokulturelle Umfeld, aber eng verbunden mit transnationalen sozialen Räumen, übertreffen oft die staatlichen Entwicklungsanstrengungen. Die UNESCO warnte ebenfalls davor, dass der effektive Einsatz von KI in Afrika entsprechende Fähigkeiten, den rechtlichen Rahmen und die Infrastruktur erfordert. Wie in der Vergangenheit war die Forderung afrikanischer Politiker nach einer Bündelung der Ressourcen, einer panafrikanischen Strategie, wohl vergebens. Möglicherweise wird sich KI in den bereits etablierten afrikanischen Technologiezentren Südafrika, Nigeria und Kenia am schnellsten entwickeln. Aber auch in Äthiopien und Uganda wurden vielversprechende KI-fokussierte Aktivitäten erkannt. Damit KI die sozioökonomische Inklusion verbessert, anstatt sie zu untergraben, wären auch Geschlechtergleichstellung, kulturelle und sprachliche Vielfalt und Veränderungen auf den Arbeitsmärkten erforderlich. Darüber hinaus werden ethische Fragen im Zusammenhang mit einer spezifischen afrikanischen Identität aufgeworfen. Inwieweit afrikanische Vorstellungen von Menschlichkeit und Humanität bei der Entwicklung einer afrikanischen KI berücksichtigt werden müssten, bleibt eine offene Frage. Kurz gesagt, die Forderung nach dem zügigen Einsatz von KI in Afrika könnte ein zweischneidiges Schwert sein. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301055/1/Kohnert-2022.African%20artificial%20intelligence.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, E26, F54, I24, M13, N17 Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Innovation, Machine learning, Big Data Analytics, African ethics, African philosoph, Sub-Saharan Africa, human development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301055 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6849180 #END 223 #BEGIN 224 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'articulation entre entrepreneurs chinois et africains migrants, façonnée par l'agence africaine - Exposé sommaire Abstract: Much has been written on the relationship of China and Africa in the past decade. However, the subject of Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Africa and their articulation with African counterparts was little explored up to the early 2010s. Apparently, this research gap has been closed, as shown by four publications in recent years: three edited volumes and one monography, focusing on this subject. In view of early prejudices on the passive or even disapproving reception of Chinese migrants by Africans, the state of the art underlines the importance and scope of African agency vis à vis Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in Africa. This has been underlined unison in the four books under review. Abstract: On a beaucoup écrit sur la relation entre la Chine et l'Afrique dans la dernière décennie. Cependant, le sujet des entrepreneurs migrants chinois en Afrique et leur articulation avec leurs homologues africains a été peu exploré jusqu'au début des années 2010. Apparemment, cet écart de recherche a été fermé, comme indiqué par quatre publications au cours des dernières années: trois volumes édités et une monographie, en se concentrant sur ce sujet. Compte tenu des premiers préjugés sur la réception passive ou même désapprobateur des migrants chinois par les Africains, l'état de l'art souligne l'importance et la portée de l'agence africaine vis-à-vis des entrepreneurs migrants chinois en Afrique. Article de critique de livre. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301054/1/Kohnert-2022.Chinese%2bAfrican-migrant%20entrepreneurs-agency.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D62, E26, F22, F54, H12, N47, Z13 Keywords: entrepreneurs chinois, entrepreneurs africaines, agence africaine, Afrique de l'Ouest Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301054 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13318782 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): Chinese and African migrant entrepreneur's articulation shaped by African agency #END 224 #BEGIN 225 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'impact d'une récession européenne déclenchée par la crise énergétique sur l'Afrique subsaharienne Abstract: The EU is one of the three largest economies in the world. But its economy, which is still suffering from the cCOVID-19 pandemic and the negative effects of the Russian war in Ukraine, faces a bleak outlook. Inflation, or even stagflation, is a major concern as it reflects cost pressures from disrupted supply chains and tight labor markets. The war in Ukraine could also lead to a sustained stop in European gas supplies from Russia. Fitch Ratings therefore forecast the likelihood of a technical recession in the euro zone due to ongoing gas rationing. Apparently the EU is at the mercy of two unpredictable powers, Putin and the weather. China is also affected by global imbalances, and when China coughs, Europe catches the flu. However, the risks are greatest in sub-Saharan Africa. Its global growth spillovers come mainly from the EU and the BRICS countries. In addition to its strong demographic growth, the continent is already suffering from climate change, including prolonged droughts, and political destabilization, particularly in the Sahel, Horn of Africa and East Africa. The two major African powers, Nigeria and South Africa, are currently going through major socioeconomic crises. Many sub-Saharan African countries are heavily dependent on energy and food imports, particularly wheat from Russia and Ukraine. For the approximately 30 million African poor, this means an increase in inequality. A recession in Europe would amplify external pressures and growth challenges. In addition, the emerging sub-Saharan markets bear the greatest export risk to the EU. The debt problem is also looming again, because lower global commodity prices slowed down economic growth. Abstract: L'UE est l'une des trois plus grandes économies du monde. Mais leur économie, qui souffre toujours de la pandémie de COVID-19 et des effets négatifs de la guerre russe en Ukraine, fait face à de sombres perspectives. L'inflation, voire la stagflation, est une préoccupation majeure, car elle reflète les pressions sur les coûts des chaînes d'approvisionnement perturbées et des marchés du travail tendus. La guerre en Ukraine pourrait également entraîner un arrêt durable des approvisionnements européens en gaz depuis la Russie. Fitch Ratings prévoit donc une récession technique dans la zone euro en raison de la poursuite du rationnement du gaz. Apparemment, l'UE est à la merci de deux puissances imprévisibles, Poutine et de la météo. La Chine est également touchée par les déséquilibres mondiaux, et quand la Chine tousse, l'Europe attrape la grippe. Cependant, les risques sont les plus grands en Afrique subsaharienne. Ses retombées sur la croissance mondiale proviennent principalement de l'UE et des pays BRICS. Outre sa forte croissance démographique, le continent souffre déjà du changement climatique, notamment de sécheresses prolongées, et de déstabilisation politique, notamment au Sahel, dans la Corne de l'Afrique et en Afrique de l'Est. Les deux grandes puissances africaines, le Nigeria et l'Afrique du Sud, traversent actuellement des crises socio-économiques majeures. De nombreux pays d'Afrique subsaharienne sont fortement dépendants des importations d'énergie et de denrées alimentaires, en particulier du blé en provenance de Russie et d'Ukraine. Pour les quelque 30 millions d'Africains pauvres, cela signifie une augmentation des inégalités. Une récession en Europe amplifierait les pressions externes et les défis de la croissance. En outre, les marchés subsahariens émergents supportent le plus grand risque d'exportation vers l'UE. Le problème de la dette se profile également à nouveau, car la baisse des prix mondiaux des matières premières a ralenti la croissance économique. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301053/3/Kohnert-2022.EU-recession-SSA.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D62, E24, F13, F54, I31, N17, O17 Keywords: UE, récession, guerre russo-ukrainienne, pandémie de COVID-19 en Afrique, Afrique subsaharienne, développement économique, crise énergétique, crises alimentaires Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301053 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6973467 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): The impact of the energy-induced EU recession on Sub-Saharan Africa #END 225 #BEGIN 226 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: The impact of an energy-induced EU recession on Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: The EU is one of the three largest economies in the world. But its economy, which is still suffering from the cCOVID-19 pandemic and the negative effects of the Russian war in Ukraine, faces a bleak outlook. Inflation, or even stagflation, is a major concern as it reflects cost pressures from disrupted supply chains and tight labor markets. The war in Ukraine could also lead to a sustained stop in European gas supplies from Russia. Fitch Ratings therefore forecast the likelihood of a technical recession in the euro zone due to ongoing gas rationing. Apparently the EU is at the mercy of two unpredictable powers, Putin and the weather. China is also affected by global imbalances, and when China coughs, Europe catches the flu. However, the risks are greatest in sub-Saharan Africa. Its global growth spillovers come mainly from the EU and the BRICS countries. In addition to its strong demographic growth, the continent is already suffering from climate change, including prolonged droughts, and political destabilization, particularly in the Sahel, Horn of Africa and East Africa. The two major African powers, Nigeria and South Africa, are currently going through major socioeconomic crises. Many sub-Saharan African countries are heavily dependent on energy and food imports, particularly wheat from Russia and Ukraine. For the approximately 30 million African poor, this means an increase in inequality. A recession in Europe would amplify external pressures and growth challenges. In addition, the emerging sub-Saharan markets bear the greatest export risk to the EU. The debt problem is also looming again, because lower global commodity prices slowed down economic growth Abstract: Die EU gehört zu den drei größten Volkswirtschaften der Welt. Doch ihre Wirtschaft, die immer noch unter der Corona-Pandemie und den negativen Auswirkungen des russischen Krieges in der Ukraine leidet, sieht sich düsteren Aussichten gegenüber. Inflation oder sogar Stagflation geben Anlass zu großer Sorge, da sie den Kostendruck durch unterbrochene Lieferketten und angespannte Arbeitsmärkte widerspiegeln. Der Krieg in der Ukraine könnte zudem zu einem anhaltenden Stopp der europäischen Gaslieferungen aus Russland führen. Fitch Ratings prognostizierte daher eine technischen Rezession in der Eurozone aufgrund der anhaltenden Gasrationierung. Offenbar ist die EU der Gnade zweier schwer einzuschätzender Mächte ausgesetzt, Putin und dem Wetter. Auch China ist von globalen Ungleichgewichten betroffen, und wenn China hustet, bekommt Europa die Grippe. In Subsahara-Afrika sind die Risiken jedoch am größten. Seine globalen Wachstums-Spillover-Effekte kommen hauptsächlich aus der EU und den BRICS-Staaten. Neben seinem starken demografischen Wachstum leidet der Kontinent bereits unter dem Klimawandel, einschließlich anhaltender Dürren, sowie politischer Destabilisierung, insbesondere in der Sahelzone, am Horn von Afrika und in Ostafrika. Die beiden afrikanischen Großmächte, Nigeria und Südafrika, durchleben derzeit große sozioökonomische Krisen. Viele afrikanische Länder südlich der Sahara sind stark abhängig von Energie- und Lebensmittelimporten, insbesondere von Weizen aus Russland und der Ukraine. Für die rund 30 Millionen afrikanischen Armen bedeutet dies eine Verschärfung der Ungleichheit. Eine Rezession in Europa würde externe Belastungen und Wachstumsherausforderungen verstärken. Darüber hinaus tragen die aufstrebenden Subsahara-Märkte das größte Exportrisiko in die EU. Auch die Schuldenproblematik droht erneut, denn niedrigere globale Rohstoffpreise bremsten das Wirtschaftswachstum. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301052/3/Kohnert-2022.Impact-of-energy-induced-EU-recession-on-SSA.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D62, E24, F13, I31, N17, O15, P26 Keywords: EU, recession, Russo-Ukrainian War, COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, economic development, poverty, famine Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301052 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6972400 #END 226 #BEGIN 227 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Perspectives des relations africaines de la Croatie en tant que membre imminent de la zone euro Abstract: In July 2020, the EU Parliament voted in favour of Croatia’s application to become the newest member of the eurozone from January 1, 2023. Despite the setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it met all the criteria for adopting the euro, high inflation, and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Croatia’s accession to the euro will be the first significant positive step in the European integration process since Brexit. It may depict perspectives for a further enlargement of the eurozone in the Balkans. The admission will also impact the EU Africa relations. In addition to the close foreign ties with South Africa, Zagreb established diplomatic relations with South Sudan, Somalia, the Central African Republic in 2020. Yet, regarding Croatia’s long-established relations with Africa it is decisive to take account of the lessons learned from its multifaceted African relations history. Croatian explorers like Dragutin Lerman, mostly unknown outside their home-country, had been active in exploring Sub-Saharan African countries in the early 20th century. During the Cold War political and economic relations between Yugoslavia (including Croatia) and the African nonaligned countries improved significantly between 1973 and 1981. Mutual economic cooperation between nonaligned countries had been encouraged to fight ‘underdevelopment’ in Africa. Thus, in 1971, within the framework of industrial cooperation, Yugoslav-Ghanaian joint ventures were established, for example, for forest exploitation and wood processing and for a joint factory for motorcycles and pumps in Ghana. In addition, Yugoslavia was the only non-African country to help fund the Organization of African Unity's (OAU) Liberation Committee, although Zagreb favored bilateral relations with individual liberation movements. However, both Croatia and South Africa faced difficulties during the transition process with the illegal arms trade due to high levels of corruption within the judicial system and police. Also the citizens of both countries lack of trust in the states capacity to impose social control opened the way for organized crime to work with impunity. Criminal groups used patron-client relationships with the citizens of South Africa and Croatia to establish and maintain a level of popular legitimacy that the state lacked. Abstract: En juillet 2020, le Parlement européen a voté en faveur de la candidature de la Croatie pour devenir le plus récent membre de la zone euro à partir du 1er janvier 2023. Malgré le revers de la pandémie de COVID-19, il a rempli tous les critères d'adoption de l'euro, compte tenu de la forte inflation et de l'impact de l'invasion russe de l'Ukraine. L'entrée de la Croatie dans la zone euro sera la première étape significative positive dans le processus d'intégration européenne depuis le Brexit. Il peut montrer des perspectives pour un nouvel élargissement de la zone euro dans les Balkans. L'adhésion affectera également les relations de l'UE avec l'Afrique. En plus de liens étrangers étroits avec l'Afrique du Sud, Zagreb a établi des relations diplomatiques avec le Soudan du Sud, la Somalie et la République Centrafricaine en 2020. Cependant, étant donné la relation de longue date entre la Croatie et l'Afrique, il est crucial de tenir compte des leçons tirées de ses relations africaines à multiples facettes. Pour la plupart inconnus en dehors de leur pays d'origine, les explorateurs croates comme Dragutin Lerman ont activement exploré l'Afrique subsaharienne au début du XXe siècle. Pendant la guerre froide, les relations politiques et économiques entre la Yougoslavie (y compris la Croatie) et les pays africains non-alignés se sont considérablement améliorées entre 1973 et 1981. La coopération économique mutuelle entre les pays non-alignés a été encouragée pour lutter contre le « sous-développement » en Afrique. En 1971, par exemple, des joint-ventures yougoslaves-ghanéennes ont été créées dans le cadre de la coopération industrielle, par exemple pour l'exploitation forestière et la transformation du bois ainsi que pour une usine commune de motos et de pompes au Ghana. En outre, la Yougoslavie était le seul pays non-africain à aider à financer le Comité de libération de l'Organisation de l'unité africaine (OUA), bien que Zagreb ait favorisé les liens bilatéraux avec les mouvements de libération individuels. Cependant, la Croatie et l'Afrique du Sud ont rencontré des difficultés avec le commerce illicite des armes pendant le processus de transition en raison des niveaux élevés de corruption dans le système judiciaire et la police. Le manque de confiance des citoyens des deux pays dans la capacité de l'État à imposer un contrôle social a également ouvert la voie à l'impunité du crime organisé. Les groupes criminels ont utilisé des relations patron-client avec les citoyens d'Afrique du Sud et de Croatie pour établir et maintenir un niveau de légitimité populaire qui manquait à l'État. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301051/1/Kohnert-2022.Croatia%2bAfrica.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D62, E26, F13, N47, O52 Keywords: Croatie, Yougoslavie, Balkans, Mouvement des non-alignés, Afrique subsaharienne, UE Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301051 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7009194 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): Perspectives of Croatia's Africa relations as impending member of the Eurozone #END 227 #BEGIN 228 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Perspectives of Croatia's Africa relations as impending member of the Eurozone Abstract: In July 2020, the EU Parliament voted in favour of Croatia’s application to become the newest member of the eurozone from January 1, 2023. Despite the setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it met all the criteria for adopting the euro, high inflation, and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Croatia’s accession to the euro will be the first significant positive step in the European integration process since Brexit. It may depict perspectives for a further enlargement of the eurozone in the Balkans. The admission will also impact the EU Africa relations. In addition to the close foreign ties with South Africa, Zagreb established diplomatic relations with South Sudan, Somalia, the Central African Republic in 2020. Yet, regarding Croatia’s long-established relations with Africa it is decisive to take account of the lessons learned from its multifaceted African relations history. Croatian explorers like Dragutin Lerman, mostly unknown outside their home-country, had been active in exploring Sub-Saharan African countries in the early 20th century. During the Cold War political and economic relations between Yugoslavia (including Croatia) and the African nonaligned countries improved significantly between 1973 and 1981. Mutual economic cooperation between nonaligned countries had been encouraged to fight ‘underdevelopment’ in Africa. Thus, in 1971, within the framework of industrial cooperation, Yugoslav-Ghanaian joint ventures were established, for example, for forest exploitation and wood processing and for a joint factory for motorcycles and pumps in Ghana. In addition, Yugoslavia was the only non-African country to help fund the Organization of African Unity's (OAU) Liberation Committee, although Zagreb favored bilateral relations with individual liberation movements. However, both Croatia and South Africa faced difficulties during the transition process with the illegal arms trade due to high levels of corruption within the judicial system and police. Also the citizens of both countries lack of trust in the states capacity to impose social control opened the way for organized crime to work with impunity. Criminal groups used patron-client relationships with the citizens of South Africa and Croatia to establish and maintain a level of popular legitimacy that the state lacked. Abstract: Im Juli 2020 stimmte das EU-Parlament für den Antrag Kroatiens, ab dem 1. Januar 2023 das neueste Mitglied der Eurozone zu werden. Trotz des Rückschlags durch die COVID-19-Pandemie erfüllte es alle Kriterien für die Einführung des Euro, unter Berücksichtigung der hohen Inflation und der Auswirkungen der russischen Invasion in der Ukraine. Der Beitritt Kroatiens zum Euro wird der erste bedeutende positive Schritt im europäischen Integrationsprozess seit dem Brexit sein. Er kann Perspektiven für eine weitere Erweiterung der Eurozone auf dem Balkan aufzeigen. Der Beitritt wird sich auch auf die Beziehungen der EU zu Afrika auswirken. Neben den engen Auslandsbeziehungen zu Südafrika hat Zagreb im Jahr 2020 diplomatische Beziehungen zum Südsudan, Somalia und der Zentralafrikanischen Republik aufgenommen. Im Hinblick auf die langjährigen Beziehungen Kroatiens zu Afrika ist es jedoch entscheidend, die daraus gezogenen Lehren der facettenreichen afrikanischen Beziehungen zu berücksichtigen. Kroatische Entdecker wie Dragutin Lerman, die außerhalb ihres Heimatlandes größtenteils unbekannt sind, waren im frühen 20. Jahrhundert aktiv bei der Erforschung der afrikanischen Länder südlich der Sahara. Während des Kalten Krieges verbesserten sich die politischen und wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen zwischen Jugoslawien (einschließlich Kroatien) und den afrikanischen blockfreien Ländern zwischen 1973 und 1981 erheblich. Gegenseitige wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit zwischen blockfreien Ländern wurde gefördert, um die „Unterentwicklung“ in Afrika zu bekämpfen. So wurden 1971 im Rahmen der Industriekooperation jugoslawisch-ghanaische Joint Ventures gegründet, beispielsweise zur Waldnutzung und Holzverarbeitung sowie für eine gemeinsame Fabrik für Motorräder und Pumpen in Ghana. Darüber hinaus war Jugoslawien das einzige nichtafrikanische Land, das zur Finanzierung des Befreiungskomitees der Organisation für Afrikanische Einheit (OAU) beitrug, obwohl Zagreb bilaterale Beziehungen zu einzelnen Befreiungsbewegungen bevorzugte. Allerdings hatten sowohl Kroatien als auch Südafrika während des Übergangsprozesses Schwierigkeiten mit dem illegalen Waffenhandel aufgrund der hohen Korruption im Justizsystem und bei der Polizei. Auch das mangelnde Vertrauen der Bürger beider Länder in die Fähigkeit des Staates, soziale Kontrolle durchzusetzen, öffnete der organisierten Kriminalität den Weg, ungestraft zu arbeiten. Kriminelle Gruppen nutzten Patron-Client-Beziehungen mit den Bürgern Südafrikas und Kroatiens, um ein Maß an Legitimität in der Bevölkerung aufzubauen und aufrechtzuerhalten, das dem Staat fehlte. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301050/1/Kohnert-2022.Croatia%2bAfrica.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D62, E26, F13, N47, O17, P27, Z13 Keywords: Croatia, Yugoslavia, Western Balkans, Non-aligned movement, Sub-Saharan Africa, EU Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301050 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7009226 #END 228 #BEGIN 229 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Des dictatures ouest-africaines « éclairées » contestées par la capture de l'État ? Perspectives du Bénin, du Togo et du Sénégal Abstract: Populist nationalism is on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa. Depending on the political orientation, it is both reinforced and confronted by social media and social movements. Nationalism also cements the longstanding rule of autocratic regimes in West Africa, particularly in Togo, Benin and Senegal. Supported by the commodification of the party system, autocrats set up a shadow state. They use populism to prop up their illegitimate rule and to destabilize the opposition. The internet and social media play a crucial role in the spread of fake news through the mostly state-controlled media. The Catholic Church also tried, with little success, to counteract the wave of nationalism. In Benin, for example, in 2019 the bishops of Cotonou called for a ‘fast on the lies that inundate and poison interpersonal and social relationships’. In Lomé, the bishops' conference condemned the systematic persecution of the opposition and the arrest of its leader, presidential candidate and former prime minister Agbeyome Kodjo. Senegal, like Benin, has long been marketed as a 'showcase of democracy' in Africa, including peaceful political transition. But things changed radically with the 2019 Senegalese presidential election, which brought new configurations. One of the main problems was political transhumance, which was elevated to the rank of religion with disregard for political morality. It threatened political stability and peace. In response, social networks of mostly young activists established in 2011 after the Arab Spring focused on campaigning for grassroots voters for good governance and democracy. They proposed a break with a political system they saw as neo-colonialist. Activists such as 'Y'en a marre' (literally 'I'm fed up') and other dissident social movements benefited from the country's particular social conditions, which favoured collective action. Should President Macky Sall opt for a third term in 2024, it would again pose a serious challenge to Senegalese democracy. Abstract: Le nationalisme populiste est en hausse en Afrique subsaharienne. Selon l'orientation politique, elle est à la fois renforcée et confrontée par les réseaux sociaux et les mouvements sociaux. Le nationalisme cimente également la domination de longue date des régimes autocratiques en Afrique de l'Ouest, en particulier au Togo, au Bénin et au Sénégal. Soutenus par la marchandisation du système des partis, les autocrates ont mis en place un État fantôme. Ils utilisent le populisme pour étayer leur pouvoir illégitime et déstabiliser l'opposition. Internet et les médias sociaux jouent un rôle crucial dans la diffusion de fausses nouvelles par le biais de médias principalement contrôlés par l'État. L'Église catholique tenta aussi, sans grand succès, de contrer la vague de nationalisme. Au Bénin, par exemple, en 2019, les évêques de Cotonou ont appelé à "un jeûne sur les mensonges qui inondent et empoisonnent les relations interpersonnelles et sociales". À Lomé, la conférence des évêques a condamné la persécution systématique de l'opposition et l'arrestation de son leader, candidat à la présidence et ancien Premier ministre Agbeyome Kodjo. Le Sénégal, comme le Bénin, a longtemps été présenté comme une « vitrine de la démocratie » en Afrique, y compris la transition politique pacifique. Mais les choses ont radicalement changé avec l'élection présidentielle sénégalaise de 2019, qui a apporté de nouvelles configurations. L'un des principaux problèmes était la transhumance politique, élevée au rang de religion au mépris de la morale politique. Il menaçait la stabilité politique et la paix. En réponse, les réseaux sociaux de jeunes militants pour la plupart créés en 2011 après le printemps arabe se sont concentrés sur la campagne des électeurs de base pour la bonne gouvernance et la démocratie. Ils ont proposé de rompre avec un système politique qu'ils considéraient comme néo-colonialiste. Des militants comme « Y'en a marre » (littéralement « j'en ai marre ») et d'autres mouvements sociaux dissidents profitent des conditions sociales particulières du pays, qui favorisent l'action collective. Si le président Macky Sall optait pour un troisième mandat en 2024, cela poserait à nouveau un sérieux défi à la démocratie sénégalaise. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301049/1/Kohnert-2022.Benin%2bTogo%2bSenegal.enlightened%20dictatorships.FRENCH..pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F54, H11, K16, N17, O17, O57 Keywords: Dictature, gouvernance, autocratie, captation de l'État, dévolution du pouvoir, Afrique de l'Ouest Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301049 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7186582 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): 'Enlightened' West African dictatorship challenged by state capture ? Insights from Benin, Togo and Senegal #END 229 #BEGIN 230 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: 'Enlightened' West African dictatorship challenged by state capture ? Insights from Benin, Togo and Senegal Abstract: Populist nationalism is on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa. Depending on the political orientation, it is both reinforced and confronted by social media and social movements. Nationalism also cements the longstanding rule of autocratic regimes in West Africa, particularly in Togo, Benin and Senegal. Supported by the commodification of the party system, autocrats set up a shadow state. They use populism to prop up their illegitimate rule and to destabilize the opposition. The internet and social media play a crucial role in the spread of fake news through the mostly state-controlled media. The Catholic Church also tried, with little success, to counteract the wave of nationalism. In Benin, for example, in 2019 the bishops of Cotonou called for a ‘fast on the lies that inundate and poison interpersonal and social relationships’. In Lomé, the bishops' conference condemned the systematic persecution of the opposition and the arrest of its leader, presidential candidate and former prime minister Agbeyome Kodjo. Senegal, like Benin, has long been marketed as a 'showcase of democracy' in Africa, including peaceful political transition. But things changed radically with the 2019 Senegalese presidential election, which brought new configurations. One of the main problems was political transhumance, which was elevated to the rank of religion with disregard for political morality. It threatened political stability and peace. In response, social networks of mostly young activists established in 2011 after the Arab Spring focused on campaigning for grassroots voters for good governance and democracy. They proposed a break with a political system they saw as neo-colonialist. Activists such as 'Y'en a marre' (literally 'I'm fed up') and other dissident social movements benefited from the country's particular social conditions, which favoured collective action. Should President Macky Sall opt for a third term in 2024, it would again pose a serious challenge to Senegalese democracy. Abstract: Populistischer Nationalismus ist in Subsahara-Afrika auf dem Vormarsch. Er wird je nach politischer Ausrichtung durch soziale Medien und soziale Bewegungen sowohl verstärkt als auch konfrontiert. Der Nationalismus zementiert auch die langjährige Herrschaft autokratischer Regime in Westafrika, insbesondere in Togo, Benin und Senegal. Unterstützt durch die Kommodifizierung des Parteiensystems errichten Autokraten einen Schattenstaat. Sie nutzen den Populismus, um ihre illegitime Herrschaft zu stützen und die Opposition zu destabilisieren. Das Internet und soziale Medien spielen eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Verbreitung von Fake News durch die meist staatlich kontrollierten Medien. Auch die katholische Kirche versuchte mit wenig Erfolg, der Welle des Nationalismus entgegenzuwirken. In Benin beispielsweise riefen die Bischöfe von Cotonou 2019 zu einem „Fasten der Lügen auf, die zwischenmenschliche und soziale Beziehungen überschwemmen und vergiften“. In Lomé verurteilte die Bischofskonferenz die systematische Verfolgung der Opposition und die Verhaftung ihres Anführers, Präsidentschaftskandidaten und ehemaligen Ministerpräsidenten Agbeyome Kodjo. Senegal wurde, ebenso wie Benin, lange Zeit als 'Schaufenster der Demokratie' in Afrika verkauft , einschließlich eines friedlichen politischen Wandels. Doch die Dinge änderten sich radikal mit der senegalesischen Präsidentschaftswahl von 2019, die neue Konfigurationen mit sich brachte. Eines der Hauptprobleme war die politische Transhumanz, die unter Missachtung der politischen Moral in den Rang einer Religion erhoben wurde. Sie bedrohte die politische Stabilität und den Frieden. Als Reaktion darauf konzentrierten sich soziale Netzwerke von meist jungen Aktivisten, die 2011 nach dem Arabischen Frühling gegründet wurden, darauf, Wähler an der Basis für gute Regierungsführung und Demokratie zu werben. Sie schlugen einen Bruch mit einem politischen System vor, das sie als neokolonialistisch ansahen. Aktivisten wie 'Y'en a marre' (wörtlich „Ich habe es satt“) und andere soziale Dissidentenbewegungen profitierten von den besonderen sozialen Bedingungen im Land, die kollektives Handeln begünstigten. Sollte sich Präsident Macky Sall für eine dritte Amtszeit im Jahr 2024 entscheiden, würde dies die senegalesische Demokratie erneut vor eine ernsthafte Herausforderung stellen. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301048/1/Kohnert-2022.Benin%2bTogo%2bSenegal.enlightened%20dictatorships.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, F54, H11, K16, K38, N47, O17, Z13 Keywords: Dictatorship, governance, autocracy, state capture, devolution of power, multy party system, West Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301048 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7185295 #END 230 #BEGIN 231 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Sources extérieures des menaces terroristes en Afrique de l'Ouest Abstract: Fighting terrorism is a complex task, not limited to military options. It also concerns State-building, nationalism and inclusive sustainable development. The roots of underlying conflicts were already laid during colonialism, the slave trade, plundering of resources and arbitrary border establishment. The battle cannot be won by occupation nor by internal efforts of the countries affected alone, particularly not when terrorist enjoy secret support from parts of the army and the country's political elite. There are outside sources fomenting violent conflict by close cooperation between transnational crime and terrorist networks. Money laundering and financing of terrorism in global financial systems are part and parcel of the problem. Also many activists and combatants are not just driven by religious fanaticism and ideological zeal. Revenge, mere survival and local strives between conflicting groups often play a decisive role too. Ill- and ungoverned spaces favour warlordism, both of radical jihadist and non-religious terrorist movements, driven by localism and informal networks. The military response of some governments and security services degenerated into inadequate state counterterrorism with no regard for local populations. It resulted in challenges for the rule of law and human rights in these countries. Although trans-national military counterinsurgency among ECOWAS governments improved, it remained hampered by the divide between Anglophone and Francophone countries and the vested interest of former colonial rulers France and Great Britain. By now, terrorists also effectively use cyberspace and social media to create fear and spread their violent ideologies. The interactions between crime and terror in West Africa will continue in the foreseeable future. It may even increase, considering the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and famines caused by failing cereal imports as result of the Russian war in Ukraine. The effects on the social structure are considerable, including the population's dwindling trust in the state administration and the villagers' willingness to side with the terrorists. The fight of terrorism demands viable long-term solutions that take into account the linkages between counterterrorism, the rule of law and human rights and socio-economic development. Abstract: La lutte contre le terrorisme est une tâche complexe, qui ne se limite pas aux options militaires. Il concerne également l'édification de l'État, le nationalisme et le développement durable inclusif. Les racines des conflits sous-jacents étaient déjà posées pendant le colonialisme, la traite des esclaves, le pillage des ressources et l'établissement arbitraire des frontières. La bataille ne peut être gagnée par l'occupation ni par les seuls efforts internes des pays touchés, en particulier lorsque les terroristes bénéficient du soutien secret de certaines parties de l'armée et de l'élite politique du pays. Il existe des sources extérieures fomentant des conflits violents par une coopération étroite entre la criminalité transnationale et les réseaux terroristes. Le blanchiment d'argent et le financement du terrorisme dans les systèmes financiers mondiaux font partie intégrante du problème. De plus, de nombreux militants et combattants ne sont pas seulement motivés par le fanatisme religieux et le zèle idéologique. La vengeance, la simple survie et les luttes locales entre des groupes en conflit jouent souvent aussi un rôle décisif. Les espaces mal gouvernés et non gouvernés favorisent le seigneur de la guerre, à la fois des mouvements terroristes djihadistes radicaux et non-religieux, animés par le localisme et les réseaux informels. La réponse militaire de certains gouvernements et services de sécurité a dégénéré en un contre-terrorisme étatique inadéquat sans égard pour les populations locales. La réponse militaire de certains gouvernements et services de sécurité a dégénéré en contre-terrorisme de l'État au détriment de la population locale. Cela a entraîné des défis pour l'état de droit et les droits de l'homme dans ces pays. Bien que la contre-insurrection militaire transnationale parmi les gouvernements de la CEDEAO se soit améliorée, elle est restée entravée par le fossé entre les pays anglophones et francophones et l'intérêt égoïste des anciens dirigeants coloniaux, la France et la Grande-Bretagne. Pendant ce temps, les terroristes utilisent également efficacement le cyberespace et les médias sociaux pour créer la peur et répandre leurs idéologies violentes. Les interactions entre le crime et le terrorisme en Afrique de l'Ouest se poursuivront dans un avenir prévisible. Il pourrait même augmenter, compte tenu des effets dévastateurs de la pandémie de COVID-19 et des famines causées par l'échec des importations de céréales à la suite de la guerre russe en Ukraine. Les effets sur la structure sociale sont considérables, notamment la perte de confiance de la population dans l'administration de l'État et la volonté des villageois de se ranger du côté des terroristes. La lutte contre le terrorisme exige des solutions viables à long terme qui tiennent compte des liens entre la lutte contre le terrorisme, l'état de droit et les droits de l'homme et le développement socioéconomique. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301047/1/Kohnert-2022.Outside-sources-Terrorist%20threat.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D74, E26, F35, H26, K14, N47, O17, Z13 Keywords: Terrorisme, contre-insurrection, criminalité transnationale, État en déliquescene, Afrique de l'Ouest, gouvernance, Islamisme radical, seigneurs de guerre, mouvements sociaux, cyberterrorisme Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301047 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7314102 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): Outside sources of terrorist threats in West Africa #END 231 #BEGIN 232 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Outside sources of terrorist threats in West Africa Abstract: Fighting terrorism is a complex task, not limited to military options. It also concerns State-building, nationalism and inclusive sustainable development. The roots of underlying conflicts were already laid during colonialism, the slave trade, plundering of resources and arbitrary border establishment. The battle cannot be won by occupation nor by internal efforts of the countries affected alone, particularly not when terrorist enjoy secret support from parts of the army and the country's political elite. There are outside sources fomenting violent conflict by close cooperation between transnational crime and terrorist networks. Money laundering and financing of terrorism in global financial systems are part and parcel of the problem. Also many activists and combatants are not just driven by religious fanaticism and ideological zeal. Revenge, mere survival and local strives between conflicting groups often play a decisive role too. Ill- and ungoverned spaces favour warlordism, both of radical jihadist and non-religious terrorist movements, driven by localism and informal networks. The military response of some governments and security services degenerated into inadequate state counterterrorism with no regard for local populations. It resulted in challenges for the rule of law and human rights in these countries. Although trans-national military counterinsurgency among ECOWAS governments improved, it remained hampered by the divide between Anglophone and Francophone countries and the vested interest of former colonial rulers France and Great Britain. By now, terrorists also effectively use cyberspace and social media to create fear and spread their violent ideologies. The interactions between crime and terror in West Africa will continue in the foreseeable future. It may even increase, considering the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and famines caused by failing cereal imports as result of the Russian war in Ukraine. The effects on the social structure are considerable, including the population's dwindling trust in the state administration and the villagers' willingness to side with the terrorists. The fight of terrorism demands viable long-term solutions that take into account the linkages between counterterrorism, the rule of law and human rights and socio-economic development. Abstract: Der Kampf gegen den Terrorismus ist eine komplexe Aufgabe, die nicht auf militärische Optionen beschränkt ist. Er betrifft auch den Staatsaufbau, Nationalismus und inklusive nachhaltige Entwicklung. Die Wurzeln der zugrunde liegenden Konflikte wurden bereits während des Kolonialismus, des Sklavenhandels, der Plünderung von Ressourcen und der willkürlichen Grenzziehung in Afrika gelegt. Der Kampf kann weder durch Besatzung noch durch interne Bemühungen der betroffenen Länder allein gewonnen werden, insbesondere dann nicht, wenn Terroristen heimliche Unterstützung von Teilen der Armee und der politischen Elite des Landes genießen. Es gibt externe Quellen, die durch eine enge Zusammenarbeit zwischen transnationaler Kriminalität und terroristischen Netzwerken gewalttätige Konflikte schüren. Geldwäsche und Terrorismusfinanzierung in globalen Finanzsystemen sind Teil des Problems. Auch viele Aktivisten und Kämpfer werden nicht nur von religiösem Fanatismus und ideologischem Eifer getrieben. Auch Rache, bloßes Überleben und lokale Kämpfe zwischen verfeindeten Gruppen spielen oft eine entscheidende Rolle. Schlecht verwaltete und unregierbare Räume begünstigen Warlords, sowohl in radikalen dschihadistischen als auch in nicht-religiösen terroristischen Bewegungen, die von lokalen Konflikten und informellen Netzwerken angetrieben werden. Die militärische Reaktion einiger Regierungen und Sicherheitsdienste degenerierte zu unangemessener staatlicher Terrorismusbekämpfung ohne Rücksicht auf die lokale Bevölkerung. Dies führte zu Herausforderungen für die Rechtsstaatlichkeit und die Menschenrechte in diesen Ländern. Obwohl sich die transnationale militärische Aufstandsbekämpfung unter den ECOWAS-Regierungen verbesserte, wurde sie immer noch durch die Kluft zwischen anglophonen und frankophonen Ländern und eigennützigen Interessen der ehemaligen Kolonialherren Frankreich und Großbritannien behindert. Inzwischen nutzen Terroristen auch effektiv den Cyberspace und soziale Medien, um Angst zu erzeugen und ihre gewalttätigen Ideologien zu verbreiten. Die Wechselwirkungen zwischen Kriminalität und Terror in Westafrika werden in absehbarer Zeit fortbestehen. Angesichts der verheerenden Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie und der Hungersnöte, die durch fehlende Getreideimporte infolge des russischen Krieges in der Ukraine verursacht wurden, könnten sie sogar noch zunehmen. Die Auswirkungen auf die Sozialstruktur sind erheblich, darunter das schwindende Vertrauen der Bevölkerung in die staatliche Verwaltung und die Bereitschaft der Dorfbewohner, sich auf die Seite der Terroristen zu stellen. Der Kampf gegen den Terrorismus erfordert tragfähige langfristige Lösungen, die die Verbindungen zwischen Terrorismusbekämpfung, Rechtsstaatlichkeit und Menschenrechten sowie sozioökonomischer Entwicklung berücksichtigen. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301046/1/Kohnert-2022.Outside-sources-Terrorist%20threat.WA.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, E26, F52, H26, K14, N47, O17, Z13 Keywords: Terrorism, counterinsurgency, transnational crime, failed or failing state, dictatorship, governance, West Africa, Africa South of the Sahara Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301046 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7314096 #END 232 #BEGIN 233 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Francophonie en Afrique subsaharienne: dépendance postcoloniale ou autodétermination ? Abstract: Africa is today the most important part of the Francophonie. French is an official or co-official language along with other languages in 21 African countries, all in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Since the end of colonialism and Cold War politics, changes in the Francophonie have been driven largely by external factors, such as a drive to combat Anglo-American cultural hegemony. Continuities, on the other hand, are mainly due to France's historical affinity with Africa, its view of its place in the world and its understanding of the role of the state. The International Organization of Francophonie (OIF) defends the common interests of the Francophone area and imposes a common vision for reform, particularly in the area of terms of trade. However, the demographic future of Francophonie will play out more and more in southern countries, especially in Africa. In 2010, half of all Francophones worldwide lived in Africa. It is expected that by 2060 almost 84 % of the French-speaking population will live in Africa. Francophonie is mainly driven by the Francophone power elite in, both France and Africa, and the infamous Françafrique patronage network. Both propagate the universality of French as a language, including Pidgin French (often biasedly referred to as ‘petit-nègre’), culture and way of life. Although the fate of African Francophonie is still determined by the North, the high mobility of the African population, driven by increasing urbanization, means that multilingualism, e.g. the simultaneous use of French and African languages, is 'deterritorialized'. Therefore, it would be crucial to solve the problem of the interface between French and African languages and to identify which other languages could replace French and in which areas this would be most desirable. Apart from that, there are promising perspectives for a self-determined development in the area of the francophone culture of the SSA. The African film industry, literature and religion could make it possible to find a new African rationality, a new way of defining oneself and hoping for a better future, free from the socio-economic inequalities that characterize the francophone post-colony despite globalization. Thus, a viable, dynamic and truly African culture in Francophone SSA could equal and even surpass the rival ‘Commonwealth culture’. Although both European colonial powers, Great Britain and France, conquered substantial geographic spaces in SSA, using language as a means of control, the resulting networks, the Commonwealth and Francophonie are quite different. Abstract: L'Afrique est aujourd'hui la partie la plus importante de la Francophonie. Le français est une langue officielle ou co-officielle avec d'autres langues dans 21 pays africains, tous en Afrique subsaharienne (ASS). Depuis la fin du colonialisme et de la politique de la guerre froide, les changements dans la francophonie ont été largement motivés par des facteurs externes, tels que la volonté de combattre l'hégémonie culturelle anglo-américaine. Les continuités, en revanche, tiennent principalement à l'affinité historique de la France avec l'Afrique, à sa vision de sa place dans le monde et à sa compréhension du rôle de l'État. L'Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF) défend les intérêts communs de l'espace francophone et impose une vision commune des réformes, notamment dans le domaine des conditions commerciales. Or, l'avenir démographique de la Francophonie se jouera de plus en plus dans les pays du Sud, notamment en Afrique. En 2010, la moitié des francophones du monde vivaient en Afrique. Il est prévu que d'ici 2060 près de 84% de la population francophone vivra en Afrique. La francophonie est principalement dirigée par l'élite francophone au pouvoir en France et en Afrique et par le tristement célèbre réseau Françafrique. Tous deux propagent l'universalité du français en tant que langue, y compris le pidgin français (appelé souvent de manière biaisée « petit-nègre »), la culture et le mode de vie. Bien que le sort de la francophonie africaine soit toujours déterminé par le nord, la forte mobilité de la population africaine, entraînée par une urbanisation croissante, signifie que le multilinguisme, par ex. l'usage simultané du français et des langues africaines, est « déterritorialisé ». Il serait donc crucial de résoudre le problème de l'interface entre le français et les langues africaines et d'identifier quelles autres langues pourraient remplacer le français et dans quels domaines cela serait le plus souhaitable. En dehors de cela, il existe des perspectives prometteuses pour un développement autodéterminé dans le domaine de la culture francophone de l'ASS. Le cinéma, la littérature et la religion africaine pourraient permettre de trouver une nouvelle rationalité africaine, une nouvelle façon de se définir et d'espérer un avenir meilleur, libéré des inégalités socio-économiques qui caractérisent la post-colonie francophone malgré la mondialisation. Ainsi, une culture viable, dynamique et véritablement africaine en ASS francophone pourrait égaler et même surpasser la culture rivale du Commonwealth. Bien que les deux puissances coloniales européennes, la Grande-Bretagne et la France, aient conquis de grands empires coloniaux en ASS en utilisant la langue comme moyen de contrôle, les réseaux résultants, le Commonwealth et la Francophonie, sont assez différents. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301020/1/Kohnert-2022.Francophonie%20in%20SSA.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, E26, F35, I25, J11, N47, O17, P47 Keywords: Afrique francophone, Francophonie, Françafrique, franc CFA, union douanière, gouvernance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301020 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7424681 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): Francophonie in sub-Saharan Africa: Post-colonial dependence or self-determination ? #END 233 #BEGIN 234 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Francophonie in sub-Saharan Africa : Post-colonial dependence or self-determination ? Abstract: Africa is today the most important part of the Francophonie. French is an official or co-official language along with other languages in 21 African countries, all in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Since the end of colonialism and Cold War politics, changes in the Francophonie have been driven largely by external factors, such as a drive to combat Anglo-American cultural hegemony. Continuities, on the other hand, are mainly due to France's historical affinity with Africa, its view of its place in the world and its understanding of the role of the state. The International Organization of Francophonie (OIF) defends the common interests of the Francophone area and imposes a common vision for reform, particularly in the area of terms of trade. However, the demographic future of Francophonie will play out more and more in southern countries, especially in Africa. In 2010, half of all Francophones worldwide lived in Africa. It is expected that by 2060 almost 84 % of the French-speaking population will live in Africa. Francophonie is mainly driven by the Francophone power elite in, both France and Africa, and the infamous Françafrique patronage network. Both propagate the universality of French as a language, including Pidgin French (often biasedly referred to as ‘petit-nègre’), culture and way of life. Although the fate of African Francophonie is still determined by the North, the high mobility of the African population, driven by increasing urbanization, means that multilingualism, e.g. the simultaneous use of French and African languages, is 'deterritorialized'. Therefore, it would be crucial to solve the problem of the interface between French and African languages and to identify which other languages could replace French and in which areas this would be most desirable. Apart from that, there are promising perspectives for a self-determined development in the area of the francophone culture of the SSA. The African film industry, literature and religion could make it possible to find a new African rationality, a new way of defining oneself and hoping for a better future, free from the socio-economic inequalities that characterize the francophone post-colony despite globalization. Thus, a viable, dynamic and truly African culture in Francophone SSA could equal and even surpass the rival ‘Commonwealth culture’. Although both European colonial powers, Great Britain and France, conquered substantial geographic spaces in SSA, using language as a means of control, the resulting networks, the Commonwealth and Francophonie are quite different. Abstract: Afrika ist heute der wichtigste Teil der Frankophonie. Französisch ist in 21 afrikanischen Ländern, alle im sub-saharaischen-Afrika (SSA), Amts- oder Ko-Amtssprache zusammen mit anderen Sprachen. Seit dem Ende des Kolonialismus und der Politik des Kalten Krieges wurden die Veränderungen der Frankophonie weitgehend von externen Faktoren vorangetrieben, wie beispielsweise dem Bestreben, die angloamerikanische kulturelle Hegemonie zu bekämpfen. Kontinuitäten hingegen sind vor allem auf die historische Affinität Frankreichs zu Afrika, seine Auffassung von seinem Platz in der Welt und sein Verständnis von der Rolle des Staates zurückzuführen. Die Internationale Organisation der Frankophonie (OIF) verteidigt die gemeinsamen Interessen des frankophonen Raums und setzt eine gemeinsame Reformvision durch, insbesondere im Bereich der Handelsbedingungen. Die demografische Zukunft der Frankophonie wird sich jedoch immer mehr in südlichen Ländern, insbesondere in Afrika, abspielen. 2010 lebte in Afrika die Hälfte aller Frankophonen weltweit. Es wird erwartet, dass im Jahr 2060 fast 84 % der französischsprachigen Bevölkerung in Afrika leben werden. Die Frankophonie wird hauptsächlich von der frankophonen Machtelite sowohl in Frankreich als auch in Afrika und dem berüchtigten Netzwerk der Françafrique vorangetrieben. Beide propagieren die Universalität des Französischen als Sprache, einschließlich Pidgin-Französisch (voreingenommen oft als ‚petit-nègre‘ bezeichnet), Kultur und Lebensweise. Obwohl das Schicksal der afrikanischen Frankophonie bis heute vom Norden bestimmt wird, führt die hohe Mobilität der afrikanischen Bevölkerung, angetrieben durch die zunehmende Urbanisierung, dazu, dass die Mehrsprachigkeit, z. B. dem gleichzeitige Gebrauch von Französisch und afrikanischen Sprachen, ‚entterritorialisiert‘ wird. Daher wäre es von entscheidender Bedeutung, das Problem der Schnittstelle zwischen französischen und afrikanischen Sprachen zu lösen und festzustellen, welche anderen Sprachen das Französisch ersetzten könnten und in welchen Bereichen dies am wünschenswertesten wäre. Abgesehen davon gibt es vielversprechende Perspektiven für eine selbstbestimmte Entwicklung im Bereich der frankophonen Kultur des SSA. Die afrikanische Filmindustrie, Literatur und Religion könnten es ermöglichen, eine neue afrikanische Rationalität zu finden, eine neue Art, sich selbst zu definieren und auf eine bessere Zukunft zu hoffen, frei von sozioökonomischen Ungleichheiten, die die frankophone Postkolonie trotz Globalisierung charakterisieren. Somit könnte eine lebensfähige, dynamische und wahrhaft afrikanische Kultur im frankophonen SSA der rivalisierenden Commonwealth-Kultur gleichkommen oder sie sogar übertreffen. Obwohl beide europäischen Kolonialmächte, Großbritannien und Frankreich, große Kolonialreiche in SSA eroberten, indem sie Sprache als Mittel der Kontrolle nutzten, sind die daraus resultierenden Netzwerke, das Commonwealth und die Frankophonie, ziemlich unterschiedlich. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301019/1/Kohnert-2022.Francophonie%20in%20SSA.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, E26, F54, I31, J11, N47, O17, P47 Keywords: Francophone Africa, Françafrique, Francophonie, CFA franc, international trade, customs union, governance, social media Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301019 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7408969 #END 234 #BEGIN 235 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'impact de QAnon et d'autres idéologies du complot sur l'Afrique subsaharienne à l'ère du capitalisme mondial Abstract: With the attack on the Capitol by the 'Proud Boys', Donald Trump's 'deep state' allegations reached the peak of US conspiracy ideologies. Conspiracy was at the core of Trump's policies, including his repeated claims that President Barack Obama was born in Africa. It reflects Trump's deep dislike of African states. After all, a third of the Republican electorate agreed with the far-right QAnon paranoia and other bizarre conspiracy theories. From the outside, the United States was taking on the shape of a banana republic. When US media identified a South African journalist as the mastermind behind QAnon's global rollout in 2019, many Republicans equated Africa with Pandora's box. However, it is no coincidence that the black continent is associated with occult powers. In the social sciences, the modernity of witchcraft beliefs in Africa has been debated hotly for decades. Modern techniques and utensils have become central to the occult's continued importance to Africans. The crisis of the modern nation-state is closely intertwined with the global spread of neoliberal capitalism and the 'invisible hand' that shapes its political and material conditions and forms of society. Beliefs in witchcraft and zombies reflect the alienation of labour, capitalist exploitation, and class formation in African societies. The poor of Africa and the people of the Global South in general, do not lack modernity but have been denied the promise of modernization. Today, even cybercriminals working in the Ivory Coast, impersonating Europeans on social media profiles and seducing partners into falling in love with them, feel compelled to seek the advice of witch doctors to outwit their prey. Given the worldwide importance of social media, this suggests that the virtual space of the global economy as a hotbed of magic and witchcraft is under researched. As in the US election campaign and its entanglement with fake news, examination of the cosmology of the occult in Africa and elsewhere reveals the threat of destructive forces inherent in social relations. African religions could provide a framework for valuable self-determined solutions to current problems in contemporary life, including the issue of witchcraft violence. In addition, this could open up an inspiring new dimension of philosophical thinking and emancipative action to the outside world, for example, regarding conflict resolution and reconciliation. Abstract: Avec l'attaque du Capitole par les « Proud Boys », les allégations « d'État profond » de Donald Trump ont atteint le parangon des idéologies comploteuses américaines. Le complot était au cœur de la politique de Trump, y compris ses affirmations répétées selon lesquelles le président Barack Obama est né en Afrique. Cela reflète la profonde aversion de Trump pour les États africains. Après tout, un tiers de l'électorat républicain était d'accord avec la paranoïa d'extrême droite QAnon et d'autres théories du complot bizarres. De l'extérieur, les États-Unis prenaient la forme d'une république bananière. Lorsque les médias américains ont identifié un journaliste sud-africain comme le cerveau derrière le déploiement mondial de QAnon en 2019, de nombreux républicains ont assimilé l'Afrique à la boîte de Pandore. Cependant, ce n'est pas un hasard si le continent noir est associé à des puissances occultes. Dans les sciences sociales, la modernité des croyances sur la sorcellerie en Afrique fait l'objet de vifs débats depuis des décennies. Les techniques et ustensiles modernes sont devenus essentiels à l'importance continue de l'occultisme pour les Africains. La crise de l'État-nation moderne est étroitement liée à la propagation mondiale du capitalisme néolibéral et à la « invisible hand » qui façonne ses conditions politiques et matérielles et ses formes de société. Les croyances en la sorcellerie et les zombies reflètent l'aliénation du travail, l'exploitation capitaliste et la formation de classe dans les sociétés africaines. Les pauvres d'Afrique et les peuples du Sud en général ne manquent pas de modernité, mais ils se sont vu refuser la promesse de la modernisation. Aujourd'hui, même les cybercriminels travaillants en Côte d'Ivoire, se faisant passer pour des Européens sur les réseaux sociaux et incitant leurs partenaires à tomber amoureux d'eux, se sentent obligés de demander conseil à des sorciers pour déjouer leur proie. Compte tenu de l'importance mondiale des médias sociaux, cela suggère que l'espace virtuel de l'économie mondiale en tant que foyer de magie et de sorcellerie est sous-exploré. Comme dans la campagne électorale américaine et son enchevêtrement de fausses nouvelles, l'examen de la cosmologie de l'occulte en Afrique et ailleurs révèle la menace des forces destructrices inhérentes aux relations sociales. Les religions africaines pourraient fournir un cadre pour de précieuses solutions autodéterminées aux problèmes actuels de la vie contemporaine, y compris la question de la violence de la sorcellerie. En outre, cela pourrait ouvrir une nouvelle dimension inspirante de la pensée philosophique et de l'action émancipatrice au monde extérieur, par exemple en ce qui concerne la résolution des conflits et la réconciliation. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301014/1/Kohnert-2022.QAnon-in-Africa.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F54, I31, J15, N37, O17, P17, Z13 Keywords: économie mondial, théorie du complot, État profond, gouvernance, Présidence de Donald Trump, occultisme, Afrique subsaharienne, marchandisation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301014 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7521515 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): QAnon and other conspiracy ideologies' impact on Sub-Saharan Africa in the age of Global Capitalism #END 235 #BEGIN 236 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: QAnon and other conspiracy ideologies' impact on Sub-Saharan Africa in the age of Global capitalism Abstract: With the attack on the Capitol by the 'Proud Boys', Donald Trump's 'deep state' allegations reached the peak of US conspiracy ideologies. Conspiracy was at the core of Trump's policies, including his repeated claims that President Barack Obama was born in Africa. It reflects Trump's deep dislike of African states. After all, a third of the Republican electorate agreed with the far-right QAnon paranoia and other bizarre conspiracy theories. From the outside, the United States was taking on the shape of a banana republic. When US media identified a South African journalist as the mastermind behind QAnon's global rollout in 2019, many Republicans equated Africa with Pandora's box. However, it is no coincidence that the black continent is associated with occult powers. In the social sciences, the modernity of witchcraft beliefs in Africa has been debated hotly for decades. Modern techniques and utensils have become central to the occult's continued importance to Africans. The crisis of the modern nation-state is closely intertwined with the global spread of neoliberal capitalism and the 'invisible hand' that shapes its political and material conditions and forms of society. Beliefs in witchcraft and zombies reflect the alienation of labour, capitalist exploitation, and class formation in African societies. The poor of Africa and the people of the Global South in general, do not lack modernity but have been denied the promise of modernization. Today, even cybercriminals working in the Ivory Coast, impersonating Europeans on social media profiles and seducing partners into falling in love with them, feel compelled to seek the advice of witch doctors to outwit their prey. Given the worldwide importance of social media, this suggests that the virtual space of the global economy as a hotbed of magic and witchcraft is under researched. As in the US election campaign and its entanglement with fake news, examination of the cosmology of the occult in Africa and elsewhere reveals the threat of destructive forces inherent in social relations. African religions could provide a framework for valuable self-determined solutions to current problems in contemporary life, including the issue of witchcraft violence. In addition, this could open up an inspiring new dimension of philosophical thinking and emancipative action to the outside world, for example, regarding conflict resolution and reconciliation. Abstract: Mit dem Angriff der ‚Proud Boys‘ auf das Kapitol erreichten die ‚Deep State‘-Anschuldigungen von Donald Trump den Höhepunkt der US-Verschwörungsideologien. Verschwörung war der Kern von Trumps Politik, einschließlich seiner wiederholten Behauptung, Präsident Barack Obama sei in Afrika geboren. Sie spiegelt Trumps tiefe Abneigung gegenüber afrikanischen Staaten wider. Immerhin ein Drittel der Wählerschaft der Republikaner stimmte der rechtsextremen QAnon-Paranoia und anderen bizarren Verschwörungstheorien zu. Von außen betrachtet nahmen die Vereinigten Staaten immer mehr die Form einer Bananenrepublik an. Als US-Medien 2019 einen südafrikanischen Journalisten als Vordenker hinter der weltweiten Verbreitung von QAnon identifizierten, wurde Afrika von vielen Republikanern mit der Büchse der Pandora gleichgesetzt. Es ist jedoch kein Zufall, dass der schwarze Kontinent mit okkulten Kräften in Verbindung gebracht wird. In der Sozialwissenschaft wird die Modernität des Hexenglaubens in Afrika seit Jahrzehnten heiß diskutiert. Moderne Techniken und Gebrauchsgegenstände, gewöhnlich westlichen Ursprungs, sind zentral für die anhaltende Bedeutung des Okkulten für Afrikaner geworden. Die Krise des modernen Nationalstaates ist eng verwoben mit der weltweiten Verbreitung des neoliberalen Kapitalismus und der ‚invisible hand‘, die seine politischen und materiellen Voraussetzungen sowie seine Gesellschaftsformen prägt. Der Glaube an Hexerei und Zombies spiegelte die Entfremdung von Arbeit, kapitalistische Ausbeutung und Klassenbildung in afrikanischen Gesellschaften wider. So mangelt es den Armen Afrikas und den Menschen im globalen Süden im Allgemeinen nicht an Modernität, sondern ihnen wurde das Modernisierungsversprechen vorenthalten. Heute fühlen sich selbst in der Elfenbeinküste arbeitende Internetbetrüger, die sich in Social-Media-Profilen als Europäer ausgeben und Partner dazu verführen, sich in sie zu verlieben, genötigt, nach dem Rat von Hexendoktoren zu suchen, um ihre Beute zu überlisten. Angesichts der weltweiten Bedeutung sozialer Medien legt dies nahe, auch den virtuellen Raum der globalen Wirtschaft als Hort der Magie und Hexerei in den Blick zu nehmen. Wie in den US-Wahlkämpfen und ihrer Verstrickung mit Fake News enthüllt die Untersuchung der Kosmologie des Okkulten in Afrika und anderswo die Bedrohung durch destruktive Kräfte, die den sozialen Beziehungen innewohnen. Afrikanische Religionen könnten einen Rahmen für wertvolle selbstbestimmte Lösungen für aktuelle Probleme des zeitgenössischen Lebens bieten, einschließlich der Frage der Gewalt durch Hexerei. Außerdem könnte dies unter Umständen der Außenwelt eine inspirierende neue Dimension des philosophischen Denkens und emanzipativen Handelns eröffnen, beispielsweise im Bereich der Konfliktlösung und Versöhnung. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301012/1/Kohnert-2022.QAnon-in-Africa.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F54, I31, J15, N37, O17, P17, Z13 Keywords: Global economy, conspiracy theory, deep state, Trump government, occult belief systems, Sub-Saharan Africa, international trade, commodification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301012 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7521509 #END 236 #BEGIN 237 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Domination française des marchés en Afrique francophone: Le post-colonialisme à son meilleur ? Abstract: Francophone Africa has been dominated to date by the political, economic and cultural repercussions of France’s colonial rule. A major instrument to assert France's interests was the upkeep of a common monetary policy and currency, the CFA Franc. Although this has been increasingly resented by African politicians and economists, who wanted to replace it by a West African currency (the ‘Eco’) the CFA still prevails, due to the social network of French and African political leaders, the ‘messieurs Afrique’ who benefit from the system. Controversial international discussion concentrates on questions of sovereignty and formal political and economic questions. However, the rules of the informal sector proved to be at least as crucial in structuring the CFA-zone as the institutions and policies of the formal economic sector, including its monetary institutions. For decades, for example, prices of French imports were overpriced, due to protection by tied aid and other political and cultural non-tariff barriers to trade. The cost of this rent-seeking was carried not only by the French Treasury, who guarantees the peg, but by the French and EU taxpayers, who financed budgetary bail-outs and development aid, and last, but not least, by the poorer African member countries and social strata. Although this applies strictly speaking only to the CFA zone, there are strong indicators that things haven't changed much since then for Francophone Africa in general. The repercussions of rent-seeking in Francophone Africat impact up to date negatively on economic performance. For example, growth levels have been significantly lower since two decades compared with Anglophone competitors. Abstract: L'Afrique francophone a été dominée jusqu'à présent par les répercussions politiques, économiques et culturelles de la domination coloniale française. Contrairement à la domination coloniale « indirecte » de la Grande-Bretagne, Paris gouvernait ses (anciennes) colonies de manière plutôt autocratique, classiquement qualifiée de « pouvoir directe ». Un instrument majeur pour affirmer les intérêts de la France était le maintien d'une monnaie commune, le franc CFA. Bien que cela ait été de plus en plus ressenti par les politiciens et les économistes africains, qui voulaient le remplacer par une monnaie commune ouest-africaine (l' « Eco »), le CFA prévaut toujours. La discussion internationale controversée s'est concentrée sur les questions de souveraineté et les questions politiques et économiques formelles. Cependant, les règles du secteur informel ont été au moins aussi cruciales dans la structuration de la zone CFA que les institutions et les politiques du secteur économique formel, y compris ses institutions monétaires. Pendant des décennies, par exemple, les prix des importations françaises ont été surévalués, en raison de la protection par l'aide liée et d'autres obstacles politiques et culturels non-tarifaires au commerce. Le coût de cette recherche de rente a été supporté non seulement par le Trésor français, qui garantit le rattachement, mais aussi par les contribuables français et européens, qui ont financé les renflouements budgétaires et l'aide au développement, et enfin, mais non des moindres, par le membre le plus pauvre pays et couches sociales africaines. Bien que cela ne s'applique à proprement parler qu'à la zone CFA, il existe de forts indicateurs que les choses n'ont pas beaucoup changé depuis cette époque pour l'Afrique francophone en général. Les répercussions de la recherche de rente en Afrique francophone ont à ce jour un impact négatif sur les performances économiques. Par exemple, les niveaux de croissance sont nettement inférieurs depuis deux décennies par rapport aux concurrents anglophones. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/301011/1/Kohnert-2022.French-Africa-markets.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F13, F54, L13, N17, O17, R11, R58 Keywords: France, Afrique francophone, post-colonialisme, marché régulé, capture réglementaire, politique monétaire, franc CFA, zone de libre-échange Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:301011 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6167992 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2022): French domination of markets in Francophone Africa: Post-colonialism at its finest? #END 237 #BEGIN 238 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: French domination of markets in Francophone Africa: Post-colonialism at its finest ? Abstract: Francophone Africa has been dominated to date by the political, economic and cultural repercussions of France’s colonial rule. A major instrument to assert France's interests was the upkeep of a common monetary policy and currency, the CFA Franc. Although this has been increasingly resented by African politicians and economists, who wanted to replace it by a West African currency (the ‘Eco’) the CFA still prevails, due to the social network of French and African political leaders, the ‘messieurs Afrique’ who benefit from the system. Controversial international discussion concentrates on questions of sovereignty and formal political and economic questions. However, the rules of the informal sector proved to be at least as crucial in structuring the CFA-zone as the institutions and policies of the formal economic sector, including its monetary institutions. For decades, for example, prices of French imports were overpriced, due to protection by tied aid and other political and cultural non-tariff barriers to trade. The cost of this rent-seeking was carried not only by the French Treasury, who guarantees the peg, but by the French and EU taxpayers, who financed budgetary bail-outs and development aid, and last, but not least, by the poorer African member countries and social strata. Although this applies strictly speaking only to the CFA zone, there are strong indicators that things haven't changed much since then for Francophone Africa in general. The repercussions of rent-seeking in Francophone Africat impact up to date negatively on economic performance. For example, growth levels have been significantly lower since two decades compared with Anglophone competitors. Abstract: Das frankophone Afrika war bisher von den politischen, wirtschaftlichen und kulturellen Auswirkungen der französischen Kolonialherrschaft geprägt. Im Gegensatz zur „indirekten“ Kolonialherrschaft Großbritanniens regierte Paris seine (ehemaligen) Kolonien eher autokratisch, was klassischerweise als „direkte Herrschaft“ bezeichnet wird. Ein wichtiges Instrument zur Durchsetzung der Interessen Frankreichs war die Beibehaltung einer gemeinsamen Währung, des CFA-Franc. Obwohl diese zunehmend von afrikanischen Politikern und Ökonomen abgelehnt wurde, die sie durch eine gemeinsame westafrikanische Währung (das „Eco“) ersetzen wollten, dominiert der CFA immer noch. Die kontroverse internationale Diskussion zum Thema konzentrierte sich bisher auf Fragen der Souveränität und formale politische und wirtschaftliche Fragen. Allerdings erwiesen sich die Regeln des informellen Sektors bei der Strukturierung der CFA-Zone als mindestens genauso entscheidend wie die Institutionen und Richtlinien des formellen Wirtschaftssektors, einschließlich seiner Währungsinstitutionen. Beispielsweise waren die französischen Importpreise über Jahrzehnte aufgrund von Preisbindungen und anderer politischer und kultureller nicht-tarifärer Handelshemmnisse überbewertet. Die Kosten dieses ‚Rentier-Kapitalismus‘ wurden nicht nur vom französischen Finanzministerium getragen, das die Bindung garantierte, sondern auch von französischen und europäischen Steuerzahlern, die Haushaltssanierung und Entwicklungshilfe finanzierten, und nicht zuletzt von den Ärmsten afrikanischen Mitgliedsländern und Gesellschaftsschichten. Obwohl dies streng genommen nur für die CFA-Zone gilt, gibt es starke Indikatoren dafür, dass sich seit dieser Zeit für das frankophone Afrika im Allgemeinen nicht viel geändert hat. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300936/1/Kohnert-2022.French-Africa-markets.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F13, F54, L13, N17, O17, R11, R58 Keywords: France, Francophone Africa, regulatory capture, post-colonialism, monetary policy, Franc CFA, international trade, customs union Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300936 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6167884 #END 238 #BEGIN 239 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Les conséquences des élections présidentielles de 2023 au Nigéria et son impact sur la sous-région Abstract: Presidential elections were held in Nigeria on 25 February 2023. The candidate of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the election. He was known as a political 'godfather' in the South West. His major contender, Atiku Abubakar, 76, running on behalf of the major oppositional People's Democratic Party (PDP) lost, as well as the third, Peter Obi, 61, a candidate for the little-known Labor Party. He had hoped to break the two-party system that ruled the country since the end of military rule. But he failed despite enjoying passionate support on social media, especially among the Nigerian youth. Acting President Buhari, whose term has ended, had renewed his call for foreign powers not to interfere in Nigeria's internal affairs. Given the recent history of military coups in West Africa, including Russia's involvement, the military command again dismissed coup rumours. However, the latter were largely ignored by the general public anyway. Most people focused on more pressing concerns such as insecurity, fuel shortages and a shortage of new banknotes. Although Nigeria is a resource-rich country and oil and gas revenues have funded national budgets for decades, around 40% of Nigerians (83 million people) live below the poverty line while another 25% (53 million) are at risk. So far, Nigeria has not been able to benefit from rising global oil prices. Oil production has fallen to historic lows since 2021. Gasoline subsidies continue to consume too much of oil revenue. Nigeria's growth prospects are bleak due to further declines in oil production and heightened uncertainty. The new president has to cooperate closely with ECOWAS to tackle gang violence and insecurity in the West African region. The cooperation documents Nigeria's role as a political, economic and security policy hegemon in West Africa, often said ‘too big to fail’, as it is by far the largest and most powerful nation in sub-Saharan Africa alongside South Africa. Abstract: Des élections présidentielles ont eu lieu au Nigeria le 25 février 2023. Le candidat du parti au pouvoir, le All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a remporté l'élection. Il était connu comme un « parrain » politique dans le Sud-ouest. Son principal concurrent, Atiku Abubakar, 76 ans, candidat du principal parti d'opposition, le Parti démocratique populaire (PDP), a perdu, ainsi que le troisième, Peter Obi, 61 ans, candidat du parti travailliste peu connu. Il avait espéré briser le système bipartite qui dirigeait le pays depuis la fin du régime militaire. Mais il a échoué malgré un soutien passionné sur les réseaux sociaux, en particulier parmi la jeunesse nigériane. Le président par intérim Buhari, dont le mandat est terminé, avait renouvelé son appel aux puissances étrangères pour qu'elles ne s'immiscent pas dans les affaires intérieures du Nigeria. Compte tenu de l'histoire récente des coups d'État militaires en Afrique de l'Ouest, y compris l'implication de la Russie, le commandement militaire a de nouveau rejeté les rumeurs de coup d'État. Cependant, ces derniers étaient de toute façon largement ignorés du grand public. La plupart des gens se sont concentrés sur des préoccupations plus urgentes telles que l'insécurité, les pénuries de carburant et la pénurie de nouveaux billets. Bien que le Nigeria soit un pays riche en ressources et que les revenus du pétrole et du gaz aient financé les budgets nationaux pendant des décennies, environ 40 % des Nigérians (83 millions de personnes) vivent en dessous du seuil de pauvreté tandis que 25 % (53 millions) sont à risque. Jusqu'à présent, le Nigeria n'a pas pu profiter de la hausse des prix mondiaux du pétrole. La production de pétrole est tombée à des niveaux historiquement bas depuis 2021. Les subventions à l'essence continuent de consommer trop de revenus pétroliers. Les perspectives de croissance du Nigeria sont sombres en raison de nouvelles baisses de la production pétrolière et d'une incertitude accrue. Le nouveau président doit coopérer étroitement avec la CEDEAO pour lutter contre la violence des gangs et l'insécurité dans la région de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. La coopération documente le rôle du Nigeria en tant qu'hégémon politique, économique et de sécurité en Afrique de l'Ouest, souvent qualifié de "trop grand pour échouer", car il s'agit de loin de la nation la plus grande et la plus puissante d'Afrique subsaharienne aux côtés de l'Afrique du Sud. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300935/1/Kohnert-2023.Nigerian-upcoming-elections.FRENCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, E26, F15, I31, N17, O17 Keywords: Nigeria, élection présidentielle nigériane de 2023, gouvernance, coups d'État militaires au Nigéria, théorie du complot, État profond, pauvreté, Boko Haram Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300935 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7696949 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): The aftermath of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections and its impact on the sub-region #END 239 #BEGIN 240 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: The aftermath of Nigeria's 2023 presidential elections and its impact on the sub-region Abstract: Presidential elections were held in Nigeria on 25 February 2023. The candidate of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the election. He was known as a political 'godfather' in the South West. His major contender, Atiku Abubakar, 76, running on behalf of the major oppositional People's Democratic Party (PDP) lost, as well as the third, Peter Obi, 61, a candidate for the little-known Labor Party. He had hoped to break the two-party system that ruled the country since the end of military rule. But he failed despite enjoying passionate support on social media, especially among the Nigerian youth. Acting President Buhari, whose term has ended, had renewed his call for foreign powers not to interfere in Nigeria's internal affairs. Given the recent history of military coups in West Africa, including Russia's involvement, the military command again dismissed coup rumours. However, the latter were largely ignored by the general public anyway. Most people focused on more pressing concerns such as insecurity, fuel shortages and a shortage of new banknotes. Although Nigeria is a resource-rich country and oil and gas revenues have funded national budgets for decades, around 40% of Nigerians (83 million people) live below the poverty line while another 25% (53 million) are at risk. So far, Nigeria has not been able to benefit from rising global oil prices. Oil production has fallen to historic lows since 2021. Gasoline subsidies continue to consume too much of oil revenue. Nigeria's growth prospects are bleak due to further declines in oil production and heightened uncertainty. The new president has to cooperate closely with ECOWAS to tackle gang violence and insecurity in the West African region. The cooperation documents Nigeria's role as a political, economic and security policy hegemon in West Africa, often said ‘too big to fail’, as it is by far the largest and most powerful nation in sub-Saharan Africa alongside South Africa. Abstract: Am 25. Februar 2023 fanden in Nigeria Präsidentschaftswahlen statt. Der Kandidat der nigerianischen Regierungspartei All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, gewann die Wahl. Er war im Südwesten als politischer „Pate“ bekannt. Sein größter Konkurrent, Atiku Abubakar, 76, der im Namen der größten oppositionellen People's Democratic Party (PDP) kandidiert, verlor ebenso wie der dritte, Peter Obi, 61, ein Kandidat der wenig bekannten Labour Party. Er hatte gehofft, das Zweiparteiensystem zu durchbrechen, das das Land seit dem Ende der Militärherrschaft regierte. Aber er scheiterte, obwohl er in den sozialen Medien leidenschaftliche Unterstützung genoss, insbesondere unter der nigerianischen Jugend. Der amtierende Präsident Buhari, dessen Amtszeit abgelaufen ist, hatte seinen Aufruf an ausländische Mächte erneuert, sich nicht in die inneren Angelegenheiten Nigerias einzumischen. Angesichts der jüngsten Geschichte von Militärputschen in Westafrika, einschließlich der Beteiligung Russlands, wies das Militärkommando Putschgerüchte erneut zurück. Letztere wurden jedoch von der breiten Öffentlichkeit ohnehin weitgehend ignoriert. Die meisten Menschen konzentrierten sich auf dringendere Probleme wie Unsicherheit, Kraftstoffknappheit und einen Mangel an neuen Banknoten. Obwohl Nigeria ein rohstoffreiches Land ist und Öl- und Gaseinnahmen seit Jahrzehnten die Staatshaushalte finanzieren, leben rund 40 % der Nigerianer (83 Millionen Menschen) unterhalb der Armutsgrenze, während weitere 25 % (53 Millionen) gefährdet sind. Bisher konnte Nigeria nicht von steigenden globalen Ölpreisen profitieren. Die Ölförderung ist seit 2021 auf historische Tiefststände gefallen. Benzinsubventionen verschlingen weiterhin zu viele Öleinnahmen. Nigerias Wachstumsaussichten sind aufgrund weiterer Rückgänge der Ölförderung und erhöhter Unsicherheit düster. Der neue Präsident muss eng mit der ECOWAS zusammenarbeiten, um Bandengewalt und Unsicherheit in der westafrikanischen Region zu bekämpfen. Diese Kooperation dokumentiert Nigerias Rolle als politischer, wirtschaftlicher und sicherheitspolitischer Hegemon in Westafrika, der oft als „too big to fail“ bezeichnet wird, da Nigeria neben Südafrika die mit Abstand größte und mächtigste Nation in Subsahara-Afrika ist. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300934/1/Kohnert-2023.Nigerian-upcoming-elections.DRAFT.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, E26, F52, I31, N17, O17 Keywords: Nigeria, 2023 Nigerian presidential election, governance, Military coups in Nigeria, conspiracy theory, deep state, Poverty in Nigera, sustainable development, Boko Haram, migration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300934 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7696943 #END 240 #BEGIN 241 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: La Turquie soutient-elle le développement en Afrique de l'Ouest ? L'exemple du Nigeria, du Ghana et de la Côte d'Ivoire Abstract: Aux XIXe et XXe siècles, la Turquie ne considérait que l'Afrique du Nord comme une partie substantielle de l'Empire ottoman et négligeait l'Afrique subsaharienne à moins que des intérêts vitaux ne soient en jeu. Cependant, l'apathie des gouvernements turcs successifs a changé avec le « Plan d'action pour l'Afrique » de 1998. Depuis lors, l'État turc a intensifié ses interactions diplomatiques, politiques, économiques et culturelles avec l'Afrique subsaharienne. Les relations turco-africaines ont reçu un nouvel élan lorsqu'Ankara a déclaré 2005 « l'Année de l'Afrique ». Bien que la région à prédominance musulmane de l'Afrique du Nord soit au centre de la politique étrangère turque en raison de leur histoire commune, l'importance de la région subsaharienne a également augmenté en raison de la demande croissante de fournitures militaires et médicales. Depuis 2005, Ankara promeut la construction de l'État en Afrique subsaharienne, bien qu'elle ne suive pas les politiques de démocratisation occidentales. L'implication économique, politique et sécuritaire croissante de la Turquie en Afrique vise à ouvrir de nouveaux marchés pour ses produits manufacturés, en particulier ses industries de sécurité et de défense. En se présentant comme une puissance régionale pertinente sans lest colonial, la Turquie se démarque des acteurs occidentaux traditionnels sur le continent. L'engagement de la Turquie en Afrique subsaharienne différait nettement de celui d'autres puissances émergentes telles que le Brésil, la Russie, l'Inde, la Chine et l'Afrique du Sud. Alors qu'Ankara partageait le mépris des sanctions occidentales en raison des déficits démocratiques des membres du BRICS, elle est allée au-delà des relations traditionnelles d'État à État et s'est de plus en plus appuyée sur la coopération avec des acteurs non-étatiques. Les partenaires africains apprécient les produits et l'expertise turcs. En outre, Ankara a adopté une approche coordonnée pour travailler avec les États et les dirigeants africains, évitant les enchevêtrements avec des organisations internationales ou d'autres alliances, comme en Somalie et au Kenya, mais plus récemment dans une grande partie de l'Afrique de l'Est, du Sud et de l'Ouest. Ceci est illustré à l'aide de l'exemple des trois pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest, le Nigeria, le Ghana et la Côte d'Ivoire. Abstract: In the 19th and 20th centuries, Turkey considered only North Africa a substantial part of the Ottoman Empire and neglected sub-Saharan Africa unless vital interests were at stake. However, the apathy of successive Turkish governments changed with the 1998 "Africa Action Plan". Since then, the Turkish state has intensified its diplomatic, political, economic and cultural interactions with sub-Saharan Africa. Turkish-African relations received a further boost when Ankara declared 2005 the "Year of Africa". Although the predominantly Muslim region of North Africa is the focus of Turkish foreign policy due to their shared history, the importance of Sub-Saharan Africa has also increased due to the growing demand for military and medical supplies. Since 2005, Ankara promoted state-building in sub-Saharan Africa, although it does not follow Western democratization policies. Turkey's growing economic, political and security involvement in Africa aims to open new markets for its manufactured goods, particularly its defence and security industries. Presenting itself as a relevant regional power without colonial ballast, Turkey sets itself apart from traditional Western players on the continent. Turkey's engagement in sub-Saharan Africa differed markedly from that of other emerging powers such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. While Ankara shared the disregard for Western sanctions due to BRICS members' democratic deficits, it went beyond traditional state-to-state relations and increasingly relied on cooperation with non-state actors. African partners value Turkish products and expertise. In addition, Ankara has taken a coordinated approach to working with African states and leaders, avoiding entanglements with international organizations or other alliances, as in Somalia and Kenya, but more recently in much of East, South and West Africa. This has been demonstrated using the example of the three West African countries Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast. Abstract: Im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert betrachtete die Türkei nur Nordafrika als einen wesentlichen Teil des Osmanischen Reiches und vernachlässigte Afrika südlich der Sahara, es sei denn, es standen lebenswichtige Interessen auf dem Spiel. Die Apathie aufeinanderfolgender türkischer Regierungen änderte sich jedoch mit dem „Afrika-Aktionsplan“ von 1998. Seitdem hat der türkische Staat seine diplomatischen, politischen, wirtschaftlichen und kulturellen Interaktionen mit Subsahara-Afrika intensiviert. Einen weiteren Schub erhielten die türkisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen, als Ankara 2005 zum „Jahr Afrikas“ erklärte. Obwohl die überwiegend muslimische Region Nordafrikas aufgrund der gemeinsamen Geschichte im Fokus der türkischen Außenpolitik steht, hat die Bedeutung der Subsahara-Region auch aufgrund der wachsenden Nachfrage nach militärischen und medizinischen Gütern zugenommen. Seit 2005 betreibt Ankara Förderung in Form von Staatsaufbau in Subsahara-Afrika, obwohl es nicht der westlichen Demokratisierungspolitik folgt. Das wachsende wirtschaftliche, politische und sicherheitspolitische Engagement der Türkei in Afrika zielt darauf ab, neue Märkte für seine Industriegüter zu erschließen, insbesondere für seine Verteidigungs- und Rüstungsindustrie. Indem es sich als relevante Regionalmacht ohne kolonialen Ballast präsentiert, grenzt sich die Türkei von traditionellen westlichen Akteuren auf dem Kontinent ab. Das Engagement der Türkei in Subsahara-Afrika unterschied sich deutlich von dem anderer aufstrebender Mächte wie Brasilien, Russland, Indien, China und Südafrika. Während Ankara die Missachtung westlicher Sanktionen aufgrund demokratischer Defizite der BRICS-Mitglieder teilte, ging es über herkömmliche Staat-zu-Staat-Beziehungen hinaus und setzte zunehmend auf die Zusammenarbeit mit nichtstaatlichen Akteuren. Afrikanische Partner schätzen türkische Produkte und Expertise. Darüber hinaus hat Ankara einen koordinierten Ansatz zur Zusammenarbeit mit afrikanischen Staaten und Führern gewählt und Verstrickungen mit internationalen Organisationen oder anderen Allianzen vermieden, wie in Somalia und Kenia, aber in jüngerer Zeit auch in weiten Teilen Ost-, Süd- und Westafrikas. Dies wird am Beispiel der drei westafrikanischen Staaten Nigeria, Ghana und Elfenbeinküste gezeigt. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300933/1/Kohnert-Turquie-developpement-en-Afrique-Ouest.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F22, I31, J46, L31, N17, O55, Z13 Keywords: Turquie, Afrique subsaharienne, Afrique de l'Ouest, commerce international, migration, Développment durable, aide au développment, démocratisation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300933 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7893134 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): Does Turkey support development in West Africa? The example of Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast #END 241 #BEGIN 242 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Does Turkey support development in West Africa? The example of Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast Abstract: In the 19th and 20th centuries, Turkey considered only North Africa a substantial part of the Ottoman Empire and neglected sub-Saharan Africa unless vital interests were at stake. However, the apathy of successive Turkish governments changed with the 1998 "Africa Action Plan". Since then, the Turkish state has intensified its diplomatic, political, economic and cultural interactions with sub-Saharan Africa. Turkish-African relations received a further boost when Ankara declared 2005 the "Year of Africa". Although the predominantly Muslim region of North Africa is the focus of Turkish foreign policy due to their shared history, the importance of Sub-Saharan Africa has also increased due to the growing demand for military and medical supplies. Since 2005, Ankara promoted state-building in sub-Saharan Africa, although it does not follow Western democratization policies. Turkey's growing economic, political and security involvement in Africa aims to open new markets for its manufactured goods, particularly its defence and security industries. Presenting itself as a relevant regional power without colonial ballast, Turkey sets itself apart from traditional Western players on the continent. Turkey's engagement in sub-Saharan Africa differed markedly from that of other emerging powers such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. While Ankara shared the disregard for Western sanctions due to BRICS members' democratic deficits, it went beyond traditional state-to-state relations and increasingly relied on cooperation with non-state actors. African partners value Turkish products and expertise. In addition, Ankara has taken a coordinated approach to working with African states and leaders, avoiding entanglements with international organizations or other alliances, as in Somalia and Kenya, but more recently in much of East, South and West Africa. This has been demonstrated using the example of the three West African countries Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast. Abstract: Im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert betrachtete die Türkei nur Nordafrika als einen wesentlichen Teil des Osmanischen Reiches und vernachlässigte Afrika südlich der Sahara, es sei denn, es standen lebenswichtige Interessen auf dem Spiel. Die Apathie aufeinanderfolgender türkischer Regierungen änderte sich jedoch mit dem „Afrika-Aktionsplan“ von 1998. Seitdem hat der türkische Staat seine diplomatischen, politischen, wirtschaftlichen und kulturellen Interaktionen mit Subsahara-Afrika intensiviert. Einen weiteren Schub erhielten die türkisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen, als Ankara 2005 zum „Jahr Afrikas“ erklärte. Obwohl die überwiegend muslimische Region Nordafrikas aufgrund der gemeinsamen Geschichte im Fokus der türkischen Außenpolitik steht, hat die Bedeutung der Subsahara-Region auch aufgrund der wachsenden Nachfrage nach militärischen und medizinischen Gütern zugenommen. Seit 2005 betreibt Ankara Förderung in Form von Staatsaufbau in Subsahara-Afrika, obwohl es nicht der westlichen Demokratisierungspolitik folgt. Das wachsende wirtschaftliche, politische und sicherheitspolitische Engagement der Türkei in Afrika zielt darauf ab, neue Märkte für seine Industriegüter zu erschließen, insbesondere für seine Verteidigungs- und Rüstungsindustrie. Indem es sich als relevante Regionalmacht ohne kolonialen Ballast präsentiert, grenzt sich die Türkei von traditionellen westlichen Akteuren auf dem Kontinent ab. Das Engagement der Türkei in Subsahara-Afrika unterschied sich deutlich von dem anderer aufstrebender Mächte wie Brasilien, Russland, Indien, China und Südafrika. Während Ankara die Missachtung westlicher Sanktionen aufgrund demokratischer Defizite der BRICS-Mitglieder teilte, ging es über herkömmliche Staat-zu-Staat-Beziehungen hinaus und setzte zunehmend auf die Zusammenarbeit mit nichtstaatlichen Akteuren. Afrikanische Partner schätzen türkische Produkte und Expertise. Darüber hinaus hat Ankara einen koordinierten Ansatz zur Zusammenarbeit mit afrikanischen Staaten und Führern gewählt und Verstrickungen mit internationalen Organisationen oder anderen Allianzen vermieden, wie in Somalia und Kenia, aber in jüngerer Zeit auch in weiten Teilen Ost-, Süd- und Westafrikas. Dies wird am Beispiel der drei westafrikanischen Staaten Nigeria, Ghana und Elfenbeinküste gezeigt. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300932/1/Kohnert-Turkey-development-West-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F22, F54, I31, J46, L31, N17, O55 Keywords: Turkey, Sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa, international trade, migration, sustainable development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300932 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7893132 #END 242 #BEGIN 243 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Le Brésil, soutient-il le développement en Afrique de l'Ouest ? L'exemple du Nigeria, du Ghana et du Sénégal Abstract: Les relations étrangères et commerciales du Brésil avec l'Afrique subsaharienne (ASS) remontent à la traite négrière portugaise. Sur les 9,5 millions de personnes capturées en Afrique entre le XVIe et le XIXe siècle et amenées dans le Nouveau Monde, près de 4 millions se sont retrouvées à Rio de Janeiro, soit dix fois plus que tout les esclaves envoyés aux États-Unis. Aujourd'hui encore, environ 51 % de la population brésilienne se considère comme noire ou métisse. L'inégalité raciale reste ancrée à bien des égards, en particulier en ce qui concerne l'inégalité persistante. Néanmoins, l'oppression et la marginalisation des Brésiliens noirs ont été largement ignorées dans les relations modernes entre le Brésil et l'Afrique. Au lieu de cela, un nationalisme fort a imprégné la vie politique brésilienne. Il a également déterminé ses relations extérieures et commerciales et défini comment les Brésiliens ont saisi les opportunités présentées par les mouvements d'indépendance africains. Seul le président brésilien Lula da Silva, au cours de son premier mandat présidentiel de 2003 à 2011, a reconnu leurs racines historiques communes. En fait, il doit son élection au soutien écrasant des Afro-Brésiliens. Les relations commerciales de la première moitié du XXe siècle se limitaient en grande partie à l'Afrique du Sud, qui représentait 90 % du commerce africain du Brésil. La politique étrangère et commerciale de Brasilia dans les années 1960 et 1970 s'est concentrée sur le Nigeria, un important fournisseur de pétrole, ainsi que sur les cinq anciennes colonies africaines portugaises (PALOP) et la Communauté lusophone (CPLP), créée en 1996. Le commerce avec l'Afrique de l'Ouest est resté assez modeste, à l'exception du Nigeria (34 % du commerce africain du Brésil). Néanmoins, le Ghana et le Sénégal ont joué un rôle crucial dans l'élaboration des relations entre le Brésil et l'Afrique dans les premiers stades de l'indépendance africaine. Étant donné que le Brésil dispose désormais de ressources considérables en énergie et en matières premières, son approche du commerce africain est moins axée sur les matières premières que celle des investisseurs chinois ou européens, mais orientée vers la diversification des ressources, le développement durable et la coopération pour développer ces ressources, par ex. usines de bioéthanol au Ghana. Par conséquent, les gouvernements africains considèrent leurs relations avec le Brésil comme davantage basées sur un partenariat mutuel. Cependant, les élites politiques africaines corrompues elles-mêmes ont souvent fait pression sur le gouvernement brésilien et les entreprises d’appliquer des pratiques politiques et commerciales informelles, avec des investissements controversés et corrompus, p.ex. concernant l'extraction des ressources, les infrastructures et l'accaparement des terres. En dehors de cela, le Brésil s'efforçait de se tailler un créneau pour les services de gestion brésiliens, le transfert de connaissances et de technologie qui était, disait-on, spécialement adapté aux marchés tropicaux. Abstract: Brazil’s foreign and trade relations with Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) date back to the Portuguese slave trade. Of the 9.5 million people captured in Africa and brought to the New World between the 16th and 19th centuries, nearly 4 million landed in Rio de Janeiro, i.e. ten times more than all those sent to the United States. Still today, about 51 % of the population see themselves as black or mixed. Racial inequality remains deeply engrained in many respects, notably concerning persistent inequality. Nonetheless, oppression and marginalization of black Brazilians have been largely ignored in modern Brazilian-African relations. Instead, a pronounced nationalism suffused Brazil’s political life. It guided Brazil’s foreign and trade relations and defined how Brazilians interpreted the opportunities of African independence movements. Only Brazil’s President Lula da Silva acknowledged the common historical roots during his first time as president from 2003 to 2011. In fact, his election was driven by the overwhelming support of Afro-Brazilians. Trade relations in the first half of the 20th century were largely limited to South Africa, which accounted for 90 % of Brazil’s African trade. Brasilia’s foreign and trade policy since the 1960s focussed on Nigeria, an important oil supplier, and the five Portuguese-speaking former Portuguese African colonies (PALOP) and the Lusophone Commonwealth (CPLP), founded in 1996. Up to date, Brazilian’s trade relations in West Africa, apart from Nigeria (34 % of Brazil’s African trade) remained fairly modest. Nevertheless, Ghana and Senegal played a decisive role in shaping Brazil-African relations in the early stages of African independence since the 1960s. Because Brazil has meanwhile considerable energy and commodity resources of its own, its approach concerning African trade is less commodity driven than the Chinese or European, but orientated at resource diversification, sustainable development and cooperation to develop these resources, e.g. bioethanol plants in Ghana and other African countries. Therefore, African governments see a greater sense of mutual partnership and reciprocity in their relationship with Brazil. However, corrupt political African elites themselves urged the Brazilian government and companies often into informal political and business norms, with controversial and corrupt investment in commodity extraction, infrastructure and land-grabbing. Apart from that, Brazil tried to create a niche for Brazilian management services, knowledge and technology transfer, suited supposedly exceptionally well for tropical markets. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300931/1/Kohnert-Bresil-developpement-en-Afrique-Ouest.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F24, F52, I31, L31, N17, O17, O55 Keywords: Brésil, Atlantique Sud, Afrique subsaharienne, Afrique de l'Ouest, commerce international, esclavage, migraton, développement durable Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300931 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7957851 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): Does Brazil support development in West Africa? The example of Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal #END 243 #BEGIN 244 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Does Brazil support development in West Africa? The example of Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal Abstract: Brazil’s foreign and trade relations with Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) date back to the Portuguese slave trade. Of the 9.5 million people captured in Africa and brought to the New World between the 16th and 19th centuries, nearly 4 million landed in Rio de Janeiro, i.e. ten times more than all those sent to the United States. Still today, about 51 % of the population see themselves as black or mixed. Racial inequality remains deeply engrained in many respects, notably concerning persistent inequality. Nonetheless, oppression and marginalization of black Brazilians have been largely ignored in modern Brazilian-African relations. Instead, a pronounced nationalism suffused Brazil’s political life. It guided Brazil’s foreign and trade relations and defined how Brazilians interpreted the opportunities of African independence movements. Only Brazil’s President Lula da Silva acknowledged the common historical roots during his first time as president from 2003 to 2011. In fact, his election was driven by the overwhelming support of Afro-Brazilians. Trade relations in the first half of the 20th century were largely limited to South Africa, which accounted for 90 % of Brazil’s African trade. Brasilia’s foreign and trade policy since the 1960s focussed on Nigeria, an important oil supplier, and the five Portuguese-speaking former Portuguese African colonies (PALOP) and the Lusophone Commonwealth (CPLP), founded in 1996. Up to date, Brazilian’s trade relations in West Africa, apart from Nigeria (34 % of Brazil’s African trade) remained fairly modest. Nevertheless, Ghana and Senegal played a decisive role in shaping Brazil-African relations in the early stages of African independence since the 1960s. Because Brazil has meanwhile considerable energy and commodity resources of its own, its approach concerning African trade is less commodity driven than the Chinese or European, but orientated at resource diversification, sustainable development and cooperation to develop these resources, e.g. bioethanol plants in Ghana and other African countries. Therefore, African governments see a greater sense of mutual partnership and reciprocity in their relationship with Brazil. However, corrupt political African elites themselves urged the Brazilian government and companies often into informal political and business norms, with controversial and corrupt investment in commodity extraction, infrastructure and land-grabbing. Apart from that, Brazil tried to create a niche for Brazilian management services, knowledge and technology transfer, suited supposedly exceptionally well for tropical markets. Abstract: Die Außen- und Handelsbeziehungen Brasiliens zu Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) gehen bis auf den portugiesischen Sklavenhandel zurück. Von den 9,5 Millionen Menschen, die zwischen dem 16. und 19. Jahrhundert in Afrika gefangen genommen und in die Neue Welt gebracht wurden, landeten fast 4 Millionen in Rio de Janeiro, d.h. zehnmal mehr als alle Sklaven, die in die Vereinigten Staaten geschickt wurden. Noch heute sehen sich etwa 51 % der Bevölkerung Brasiliens als schwarz oder gemischt. Rassenungleichheit ist in vielerlei Hinsicht nach wie vor tief verwurzelt, insbesondere in Bezug auf die anhaltende Ungleichheit. Dennoch wurden Unterdrückung und Marginalisierung schwarzer Brasilianer in den modernen brasilianisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen weitgehend ausgeblendet. Stattdessen durchdrang ein ausgeprägter Nationalismus das politische Leben Brasiliens. Es bestimmte auch seine Außen- und Handelsbeziehungen und definierte, wie die Brasilianer die Chancen afrikanischer Unabhängigkeitsbewegungen nutzten. Erst Brasiliens Präsident Lula da Silva bekannte sich während seiner ersten Amtszeit als Präsident von 2003 bis 2011 zu den gemeinsamen historischen Wurzeln. Tatsächlich verdankte er seine Wahl der überwältigenden Unterstützung der Afrobrasilianer. Die Handelsbeziehungen in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts beschränkten sich weitgehend auf Südafrika, auf das 90 % des afrikanischen Handels Brasiliens entfielen. Brasilias Außen- und Handelspolitik konzentrierte sich in den 1960er und 1970er Jahren auf Nigeria, einen wichtigen Öllieferanten, sowie die fünf ehemaligen portugiesischen afrikanischen Kolonien (PALOP) und das 1996 gegründete Lusophone Commonwealth (CPLP). Der Handel mit Westafrika blieb, mit Ausnahme von Nigeria (34 % des afrikanischen Handels Brasiliens), recht bescheiden. Dennoch spielten Ghana und Senegal in den frühen Stadien der afrikanischen Unabhängigkeit eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Gestaltung der brasilianisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen. Da Brasilien mittlerweile über beträchtliche eigene Energie- und Rohstoffressourcen verfügt, ist sein Ansatz im afrikanischen Handel weniger rohstoffgetrieben als der chinesischer oder europäischer Investoren, sondern orientiert sich an Ressourcendiversifizierung, nachhaltiger Entwicklung und Kooperation zur Erschließung dieser Ressourcen, z.B. Bioethanolanlagen in Ghana. Daher sehen afrikanische Regierungen ihre Beziehungen zu Brasilien eher auf gegenseitiger Partnerschaft gegründet. Korrupte politische afrikanische Eliten selbst drängten jedoch die brasilianische Regierung und Unternehmen oft zu informellen politischen und geschäftlichen Praktiken, mit umstrittenen und korrupten Investitionen in Rohstoffgewinnung, Infrastruktur und Landraub. Abgesehen davon versuchte Brasilien, eine Nische für brasilianische Managementdienstleistungen, Wissens- und Technologietransfer zu schaffen, der angeblich hervorragend für tropische Märkte geeignet war. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300930/1/Kohnert-Brazil-development-in-West-Africa.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F22, F54, I31, J46, L31, N17, O17 Keywords: Brazil, South Atlantic, Sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa, international trade, migration, slavery, post-colonialism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300930 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7957846 #END 244 #BEGIN 245 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'impact de la guerre du Soudan de 2023 sur l'Afrique et au-delà Abstract: Depuis des décennies, l'histoire du Soudan, troisième plus grand pays d'Afrique avec environ 46 millions d'habitants, est marquée par de violents affrontements entre les élites militaires du Nord, musulmanes et arabes de la capitale Khartoum aux dépens de la population civile. Depuis que le Soudan a obtenu son indépendance en 1956, il y a eu 16 tentatives de coup d'État, dont six ont réussi. C'était plus que dans tout autre pays sur un continent qui a lui-même connu plus de coups d'État que toute autre région du monde. Deux guerres civiles entre le gouvernement de Khartoum et les régions du sud ont fait environ 1,5 million de victimes. En outre, le conflit en cours dans la région occidentale du Darfour a tué plus de 200 000 personnes et déplacé deux millions de personnes. Dans ces conflits, les frontières ont peu d'importance. Le contrôle des ressources et des sujets est l'objectif principal, et les forces qui surgissent dans les régions frontalières cherchent à se venger des élites métropolitaines méprisées. L'importance géopolitique du Soudan dans une région instable, bordant la mer Rouge, le Sahel et la Corne de l'Afrique, ainsi que sa prospérité agricole, ont attiré des acteurs régionaux et mondiaux et ont entravé la réussite de la transition vers un gouvernement dirigé par des civils et le développement durable. Outre la Grande-Bretagne, l'ancienne puissance coloniale, la Russie, les États-Unis, l'Arabie Saoudite, les Émirats arabes unis et d'autres pays voisins se battaient pour l'influence au Soudan, notamment l'Éthiopie, le Tchad et le Soudan du Sud. Eux aussi ont été touchés par les troubles politiques et les conflits et ont souffert sous le fardeau des réfugiés soudanais fuyant les combats vers les pays voisins. Les dirigeants coloniaux britanniques avaient déjà utilisé les différences existantes pour diviser la population en fonction des affiliations ethniques et régionales, une pratique qui survit à ce jour. L'activisme des milices a approfondi les divisions entre les partisans des rebelles. Cette politique, de diviser pour régner correspondait à une tactique bien établie, utilisée par les gouvernements africains dans les guerres civiles ethniques, exploitant souvent les milices pour encourager et faciliter la migration ethnique en intégrant les milices dans l'armée nationale. Des réseaux criminels transnationaux bien établissent impliqués dans le trafic de drogue, d'armes et d'êtres humains étaient également prêts à profiter du chaos. Cela a fait du Soudan l'un des pays les plus fragiles au monde. L'effondrement du Soudan ébranlerait non seulement ses voisins, mais pourrait également bouleverser plusieurs autres pays africains, y compris des États fragiles du Sahel et d'Afrique de l'Est et du Nord. Les effets secondaires d'une zone de conflit aussi incalculable et le chaos qui en résulte affecteraient également l'Europe occidentale, qui souffre déjà de l'afflux de réfugiés de Syrie et d'autres zones de guerre au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique. Abstract: For decades, the history of Sudan, Africa's third largest country with around 46 million inhabitants, has been marked by violent clashes between the northern, Muslim and Arab military elites of the capital Khartoum at the expense of the civilian population. Since Sudan gained independence in 1956, there have been 16 attempted coups, six of which were successful. That was more than in any other country on a continent that has itself seen more coups than any other region in the world. Two civil wars between the government in Khartoum and the southern regions claimed around 1.5 million victims. In addition, the ongoing conflict in the western Darfur region has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced two million people. In these conflicts, borders mean little. Control of resources and subjects is the primary objective, and forces arising in the borderlands seek revenge on the despised metropolitan elites. Sudan's geopolitical importance in a volatile region bordering the Red Sea, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, as well as its agricultural prosperity, attracted regional and global actors and hampered the successful transition to civilian-led government and sustainable development. In addition to Great Britain, the former colonial power, Russia, the USA, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other neighbouring countries were fighting for influence in Sudan, including Ethiopia, Chad and South Sudan. They, too, were affected by political unrest and conflict and suffered under the burden of Sudanese refugees fleeing the fighting to neighbouring countries. The British colonial rulers had already used existing differences to divide the population according to ethnic and regional affiliations, a practice that survives to this day. Militia activism deepened divisions among rebel supporters. This divide-and-conquer policy corresponded to a well-established tactic used by African governments in ethnic civil wars, often exploiting the militias to encourage and facilitate ethnic migration by integrating the militias into the national army. Transnational, well-entrenched criminal networks involved in drug-, arms- and human trafficking also stood ready to take advantage of the chaos. This made Sudan one of the most fragile countries in the world. Sudan's collapse would not only shake its neighbours, but could also upset several other African countries, including fragile states in the Sahel, and East and North Africa. The side effects of such an incalculable conflict zone and the resulting chaos would also affect Western Europe, which is already suffering from the influx of refugees from Syria and other war zones in the Middle East and Africa. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300929/1/Kohnert-2023-Guerre-de-Soudan-sur-lAfrique.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F54, H12, H56, I31, J46, N17, O55 Keywords: Soudan, Soudan du Sud, conflit soudanais de 2023, trafic, réfugiés, famine, Afrique subsaharienne, nationalisme, post-colonialisme, Russie Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300929 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8021445 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): On the impact of the 2023 Sudanese war on Africa and beyond #END 245 #BEGIN 246 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: On the impact of the 2023 Sudanese war on Africa and beyond Abstract: For decades, the history of Sudan, Africa's third largest country with around 46 million inhabitants, has been marked by violent clashes between the northern, Muslim and Arab military elites of the capital Khartoum at the expense of the civilian population. Since Sudan gained independence in 1956, there have been 16 attempted coups, six of which were successful. That was more than in any other country on a continent that has itself seen more coups than any other region in the world. Two civil wars between the government in Khartoum and the southern regions claimed around 1.5 million victims. In addition, the ongoing conflict in the western Darfur region has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced two million people. In these conflicts, borders mean little. Control of resources and subjects is the primary objective, and forces arising in the borderlands seek revenge on the despised metropolitan elites. Sudan's geopolitical importance in a volatile region bordering the Red Sea, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, as well as its agricultural prosperity, attracted regional and global actors and hampered the successful transition to civilian-led government and sustainable development. In addition to Great Britain, the former colonial power, Russia, the USA, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other neighbouring countries were fighting for influence in Sudan, including Ethiopia, Chad and South Sudan. They, too, were affected by political unrest and conflict and suffered under the burden of Sudanese refugees fleeing the fighting to neighbouring countries. The British colonial rulers had already used existing differences to divide the population according to ethnic and regional affiliations, a practice that survives to this day. Militia activism deepened divisions among rebel supporters. This divide-and-conquer policy corresponded to a well-established tactic used by African governments in ethnic civil wars, often exploiting the militias to encourage and facilitate ethnic migration by integrating the militias into the national army. Transnational, well-entrenched criminal networks involved in drug-, arms- and human trafficking also stood ready to take advantage of the chaos. This made Sudan one of the most fragile countries in the world. Sudan's collapse would not only shake its neighbours, but could also upset several other African countries, including fragile states in the Sahel, and East and North Africa. The side effects of such an incalculable conflict zone and the resulting chaos would also affect Western Europe, which is already suffering from the influx of refugees from Syria and other war zones in the Middle East and Africa. Abstract: Seit Jahrzehnten ist die Geschichte des Sudan, dem drittgrößten Land Afrikas mit rund 46 Millionen Einwohnern, von gewaltsamen Auseinandersetzungen zwischen den nördlichen, muslimischen und arabischen Militäreliten der Hauptstadt Khartum auf Kosten der Zivilbevölkerung geprägt. Seit der Unabhängigkeit Sudans im Jahr 1956 kam es zu 16 Putschversuchen, von denen sechs erfolgreich waren. Das war mehr als in jedem anderen Land auf einem Kontinent, der selbst mehr Staatsstreiche erlebt hat als jede andere Region der Welt. Zwei Bürgerkriege zwischen der Regierung in Khartum und den südlichen Regionen forderten rund 1,5 Millionen Opfer. Darüber hinaus hat der anhaltende Konflikt in der westlichen Darfur-Region mehr als 200.000 Menschen getötet und zwei Millionen Menschen vertrieben. In diesen Konflikten bedeuten Grenzen wenig. Die Kontrolle über Ressourcen und Untertanen ist das Hauptziel, und in den Grenzgebieten entstehende Kräfte streben nach Rache an den verachteten Eliten der Metropolen. Die geopolitische Bedeutung des Sudan in einer instabilen Region an der Grenze zum Roten Meer, der Sahelzone und dem Horn von Afrika sowie sein landwirtschaftlicher Wohlstand zogen regionale und globale Akteure an und behinderten den erfolgreichen Übergang zu einer zivil geführten Regierung und einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung. Neben Großbritannien, der ehemaligen Kolonialmacht, kämpften Russland, die USA, Saudi-Arabien, die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate und weitere Nachbarländer um Einfluss im Sudan, darunter Äthiopien, Tschad und Süd-Sudan. Auch sie waren von politischen Unruhen und Konflikten betroffen und litten unter der Last der sudanesischen Flüchtlinge, die vor den Kämpfen in die Nachbarländer flohen. Bereits die britischen Kolonialherren nutzten bestehende Unterschiede, um die Bevölkerung nach ethnischen und regionalen Zugehörigkeiten aufzuteilen, eine Praxis, die bis heute Bestand hat. Der Aktivismus der Milizen vertiefte die Spaltungen unter den Rebellenanhängern. Diese „Teile-und-herrsche“-Politik entsprach einer bewährten Taktik afrikanischer Regierungen in ethnischen Bürgerkriegen, bei der die Milizen häufig ausgenutzt wurden, um ethnische Migration zu fördern und zu erleichtern, indem sie in die nationale Armee integriert wurden. Auch transnationale, fest verwurzelte kriminelle Netzwerke im Drogen-, Waffen- und Menschenhandel standen bereit, das Chaos auszunutzen. Dies machte den Sudan zu einem der fragilsten Länder der Welt. Der Zusammenbruch des Sudan würde nicht nur seine Nachbarn erschüttern, sondern könnte auch zahlreiche andere afrikanische Länder in Mitleidenschaft ziehen, darunter fragile Staaten in der Sahelzone sowie in Ost- und Nordafrika. Die Nebenwirkungen einer solch unkalkulierbaren Konfliktzone und das daraus resultierende Chaos würden auch Westeuropa treffen, das bereits unter dem Zustrom von Flüchtlingen aus Syrien und anderen Kriegsgebieten im Nahen Osten und in Afrika leidet. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300928/1/Kohnert-2023-Sudanese-war-on-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F22, F35, F54, H12, H56, I31, J46, L31, N17, O17, O55 Keywords: Sudan conflict 2023, Sudan, South Sudan, Sub-Saharan Africa, trafficking, famine, refugees, post-colonialism, nationalizm, Russia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300928 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8021443 #END 246 #BEGIN 247 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: La monnaie morale en Afrique subsaharienne ? Garantir l'éthique pour favoriser l'investissement durable Abstract: L'argent dirige le monde. L'importance de l'argent est toutefois bien plus grande que ne le laissent entendre la théorie économique conventionnelle et ses équations héroïques. Les gens ont inventé leurs propres formes de monnaie, ils ont utilisé l'argent d'une manière qui laisse les théoriciens du marché perplexes, ils ont intégré l'argent dans les relations amicales et familiales et ont modifié le processus de dépense et d'épargne. Les individus, les familles, les gouvernements et les entreprises ont donné à l'argent une signification sociale dont les économistes ne pouvaient même pas rêver auparavant. Il y a un siècle déjà, Georg Simmel faisait référence dans sa Philosophie de l'argent à différents systèmes d'échange de biens et de services qui permettaient l'existence de systèmes de valeurs incomparables (terre, nourriture, honneur, amour, etc.), censés permettre la liberté personnelle. Plus récemment, Ariel Wilkis a fait dialoguer la sociologie du pouvoir de Pierre Bourdieu avec la sociologie de l'argent de Viviana Zelizer. Il a montré que l'argent est un symbole décisif par lequel se négocient non seulement les possessions matérielles, mais aussi les liens politiques, économiques, de classe, de genre et de génération entre les individus. La menace croissante du terrorisme international a fait prendre conscience que son existence est en soi un fait économique, puisqu'il est financé de différentes manières. Le Sommet africain sur l'argent moral, qui doit se tenir à Johannesburg, en Afrique du Sud, en novembre 2023, vise à libérer des capitaux afin de promouvoir une croissance durable en Afrique subsaharienne (ASS). Cela n'a que trop tardé si l'on considère que les multinationales en ASS polluent l'environnement depuis des décennies et que la corruption, le blanchiment d'argent, les investissements dans les diamants de la guerre, le trafic d'armes et de drogues sont très répandus. L'objectif du sommet est de répondre à des questions telles que : Quel rôle l'Afrique peut-elle jouer dans le dilemme mondial de la décarbonisation ? Comment garantir l'éthique dans les chaînes d'approvisionnement en matières premières ? Comment les investisseurs éthiques peuvent-ils éviter d'investir dans des placements dans des sociétés aux activités amorales, telles que les "diamants du sang", le trafic d'armes et de drogues ? Compte tenu du pouvoir intact des multinationales et des gestionnaires d'investissement, le résultat de tels sommets est toutefois discutable. Des analyses comparatives de la prise de conscience et des cadres ESG dans les pays africains anglophones, francophones et lusophones révèlent des différences significatives. Les trois gestionnaires d'actifs mondiaux les plus puissants, BlackRock, Vanguard et State Street, font encore preuve de "retenue rationnelle", en particulier en ce qui concerne l'activisme en matière de rendement soutenu propre à l'entreprise. Ils peuvent également utiliser leur pouvoir pour s'engager dans une "hypocrisie rationnelle", similaire à l'écoblanchiment. Abstract: Money rules the world. But the importance of money is far greater than conventional economic theory and its heroic equations suggest. People have invented their own forms of currency, they have used money in ways that baffle market theorists, they have incorporated money into friendship and family relationships, and they have changed the process of spending and saving. Individuals, families, governments and businesses have given money a social meaning in ways that economists could not even dream of before. A century ago, Georg Simmel, in his Philosophy of Money, pointed to various systems of exchange for goods and services that made possible the existence of incomparable value systems (land, food, honour, love, etc.) that supposedly made personal freedom possible. More recently, Ariel Wilkis brought Pierre Bourdieu's sociology of power into dialogue with Viviana Zelizer's sociology of money. He showed that money is a crucial symbol used to negotiate not only material possessions but also the political, economic, class, gender and generational ties between people. The growing threat of international terrorism has raised awareness that its existence is in itself an economic fact, as it is financed in various ways. The Moral Money Summit Africa, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in November 2023, aims to unlock capital to promote sustainable growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is overdue, considering that multinational companies in SSA have been polluting the environment for decades and that corruption, money laundering, investments in conflict diamonds, arms and drug trafficking are widespread. The summit aims to answer questions such as: What role can Africa play in the global decarbonisation dilemma? How can ethics be ensured in commodity supply chains? How can ethical investors avoid investing in "sin stocks" such as "blood diamonds", arms and drug trafficking? However, given the unbroken power of multinational corporations and investment managers, the outcome of such summits is questionable. Comparative analyses of ESG awareness and frameworks in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone African countries reveal significant differences. The most powerful three global asset managers, BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street, still show "rational restraint", especially with regard to firm-specific sustainability activism. Also they can use their power to engage in "rational hypocrisy", similar to corporate. Abstract: Über Ethik als Antrieb für nachhaltige Investitionen] – Geld regiert die Welt. Die Bedeutung des Geldes ist jedoch weitaus größer, als die konventionelle Wirtschaftstheorie und ihre heroischen Gleichungen vermuten lassen. Die Menschen haben ihre eigenen Währungsformen erfunden, sie haben Geld auf eine Art und Weise verwendet, die Markttheoretiker vor ein Rätsel stellt, sie haben Geld in Freundschafts- und Familienbeziehungen eingebunden und den Prozess des Ausgebens und Sparens verändert. Einzelpersonen, Familien, Regierungen und Unternehmen haben dem Geld in einer Weise eine soziale Bedeutung verliehen, von der Wirtschaftswissenschaftler bisher nicht einmal träumen konnten. Bereits vor einem Jahrhundert wies Georg Simmel in seiner Philosophie des Geldes auf verschiedene Tauschsysteme für Waren und Dienstleistungen hin, die die Existenz unvergleichlicher Wertesysteme (Land, Nahrung, Ehre, Liebe usw.) ermöglichten, die angeblich die persönliche Freiheit ermöglichten. In jüngerer Zeit brachte Ariel Wilkis die Soziologie der Macht von Pierre Bourdieu mit der Soziologie des Geldes von Viviana Zelizer in einen Dialog. Er zeigte, dass Geld ein entscheidendes Symbol ist, mit dem nicht nur materieller Besitz, sondern auch die politischen, wirtschaftlichen, klassen-, geschlechts- und generationsbedingten Bindungen zwischen Menschen verhandelt werden. Die wachsende Bedrohung durch den internationalen Terrorismus hat das Bewusstsein dafür geschärft, dass dessen Existenz an sich eine wirtschaftliche Tatsache ist, da er auf verschiedene Weise finanziert wird. Der Moral Money Summit Africa, der im November 2023 in Johannesburg, Südafrika, stattfinden soll, zielt darauf ab, Kapital freizusetzen, um nachhaltiges Wachstum in Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) zu fördern. Dies wäre überfällig, wenn man bedenkt, dass multinationale Unternehmen in SSA seit Jahrzehnten die Umwelt verschmutzen und Korruption, Geldwäsche, Investitionen in Konfliktdiamanten, Waffen- und Drogenhandel weit verbreitet sind. Ziel des Gipfels ist es, Fragen zu beantworten wie: Welche Rolle kann Afrika in dem globalen Dekarbonisierungsdilemma spielen? Wie kann die Ethik in den Rohstofflieferketten sichergestellt werden? Wie können ethische Investoren Investitionen in "Sündenaktien" wie "Blutdiamanten", Waffen- und Drogenhandel vermeiden? Angesichts der ungebrochenen Macht der multinationalen Konzerne und Investmentmanager ist das Ergebnis solcher Gipfeltreffen jedoch fraglich. Vergleichende Analysen des ESG-Bewusstseins und der ESG-Rahmenbedingungen in anglophonen, frankophonen und lusophonen afrikanischen Ländern zeigen erhebliche Unterschiede auf. Die drei mächtigsten globalen Vermögensverwalter, BlackRock, Vanguard und State Street, zeigen nach wie vor "rationale Zurückhaltung", insbesondere in Bezug auf firmenspezifischen Nachhaltigkeitsaktivismus. Auch sie können ihre Macht nutzen, um "rationale Heuchelei" zu betreiben, ähnlich wie beim Greenwashing von Unternehmen. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300927/1/Kohnert-Monnaie-morale-en-Afrique.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B55, D25, D64, E26, E52, F54, L26, N27, O55, P16 Keywords: Banque éthique, ESG, Institutions financières internationales, entrepreneur de moral, banques commerciales, Afrique subsaharienne, post-colonialisme, secteur informel Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300927 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8089282 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Moral Money in Sub-Saharan Africa? On ensuring ethics to drive sustainable investment #END 247 #BEGIN 248 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Moral Money in Sub-Saharan Africa ? Ensuring ethics to drive sustainable investment Abstract: Money rules the world. But the importance of money is far greater than conventional economic theory and its heroic equations suggest. People have invented their own forms of currency, they have used money in ways that baffle market theorists, they have incorporated money into friendship and family relationships, and they have changed the process of spending and saving. Individuals, families, governments and businesses have given money a social meaning in ways that economists could not even dream of before. A century ago, Georg Simmel, in his Philosophy of Money, pointed to various systems of exchange for goods and services that made possible the existence of incomparable value systems (land, food, honour, love, etc.) that supposedly made personal freedom possible. More recently, Ariel Wilkis brought Pierre Bourdieu's sociology of power into dialogue with Viviana Zelizer's sociology of money. He showed that money is a crucial symbol used to negotiate not only material possessions but also the political, economic, class, gender and generational ties between people. The growing threat of international terrorism has raised awareness that its existence is in itself an economic fact, as it is financed in various ways. The Moral Money Summit Africa, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in November 2023, aims to unlock capital to promote sustainable growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is overdue, considering that multinational companies in SSA have been polluting the environment for decades and that corruption, money laundering, investments in conflict diamonds, arms and drug trafficking are widespread. The summit aims to answer questions such as: What role can Africa play in the global decarbonisation dilemma? How can ethics be ensured in commodity supply chains? How can ethical investors avoid investing in "sin stocks" such as "blood diamonds", arms and drug trafficking? However, given the unbroken power of multinational corporations and investment managers, the outcome of such summits is questionable. Comparative analyses of ESG awareness and frameworks in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone African countries reveal significant differences. The most powerful three global asset managers, BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street, still show "rational restraint", especially with regard to firm-specific sustainability activism. Also they can use their power to engage in "rational hypocrisy", similar to corporate Abstract: Geld regiert die Welt. Die Bedeutung des Geldes ist jedoch weitaus größer, als die konventionelle Wirtschaftstheorie und ihre heroischen Gleichungen vermuten lassen. Die Menschen haben ihre eigenen Währungsformen erfunden, sie haben Geld auf eine Art und Weise verwendet, die Markttheoretiker vor ein Rätsel stellt, sie haben Geld in Freundschafts- und Familienbeziehungen eingebunden und den Prozess des Ausgebens und Sparens verändert. Einzelpersonen, Familien, Regierungen und Unternehmen haben dem Geld in einer Weise eine soziale Bedeutung verliehen, von der Wirtschaftswissenschaftler bisher nicht einmal träumen konnten. Bereits vor einem Jahrhundert wies Georg Simmel in seiner Philosophie des Geldes auf verschiedene Tauschsysteme für Waren und Dienstleistungen hin, die die Existenz unvergleichlicher Wertesysteme (Land, Nahrung, Ehre, Liebe usw.) ermöglichten, die angeblich die persönliche Freiheit ermöglichten. In jüngerer Zeit brachte Ariel Wilkis die Soziologie der Macht von Pierre Bourdieu mit der Soziologie des Geldes von Viviana Zelizer in einen Dialog. Er zeigte, dass Geld ein entscheidendes Symbol ist, mit dem nicht nur materieller Besitz, sondern auch die politischen, wirtschaftlichen, klassen-, geschlechts- und generationsbedingten Bindungen zwischen Menschen verhandelt werden. Die wachsende Bedrohung durch den internationalen Terrorismus hat das Bewusstsein dafür geschärft, dass dessen Existenz an sich eine wirtschaftliche Tatsache ist, da er auf verschiedene Weise finanziert wird. Der Moral Money Summit Africa, der im November 2023 in Johannesburg, Südafrika, stattfinden soll, zielt darauf ab, Kapital freizusetzen, um nachhaltiges Wachstum in Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) zu fördern. Dies wäre überfällig, wenn man bedenkt, dass multinationale Unternehmen in SSA seit Jahrzehnten die Umwelt verschmutzen und Korruption, Geldwäsche, Investitionen in Konfliktdiamanten, Waffen- und Drogenhandel weit verbreitet sind. Ziel des Gipfels ist es, Fragen zu beantworten wie: Welche Rolle kann Afrika in dem globalen Dekarbonisierungsdilemma spielen? Wie kann die Ethik in den Rohstofflieferketten sichergestellt werden? Wie können ethische Investoren Investitionen in "Sündenaktien" wie "Blutdiamanten", Waffen- und Drogenhandel vermeiden? Angesichts der ungebrochenen Macht der multinationalen Konzerne und Investmentmanager ist das Ergebnis solcher Gipfeltreffen jedoch fraglich. Vergleichende Analysen des ESG-Bewusstseins und der ESG-Rahmenbedingungen in anglophonen, frankophonen und lusophonen afrikanischen Ländern zeigen erhebliche Unterschiede auf. Die drei mächtigsten globalen Vermögensverwalter, BlackRock, Vanguard und State Street, zeigen nach wie vor "rationale Zurückhaltung", insbesondere in Bezug auf firmenspezifischen Nachhaltigkeitsaktivismus. Auch sie können ihre Macht nutzen, um "rationale Heuchelei" zu betreiben, ähnlich wie beim Greenwashing von Unternehmen.. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300926/1/Kohnert-Moral-money-in-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B55, D25, D64, E52, F22, F54, I31, L26, N17, O55, P16, Z13 Keywords: Ethical banking, ESG, International financial institutions, norm entrepreneur, commercial banks, Sub-Saharan Africa, post-colonialism, informal sector Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300926 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8089276 #END 248 #BEGIN 249 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'eau, une bénédiction et une malédiction: comment résoudre les conflits liés à l'eau en Afrique de l'Ouest? Abstract: Pour de nombreux Africains, l'eau n'est pas seulement la source de la vie, mais aussi un moyen de purification et un centre de régénération. Les rituels et les cultes de l'eau, tels que «Mami Wata», conduisent leurs adeptes à la libération du corps et de l'esprit. Mais les rites coutumiers peuvent aussi causer des dommages. Par exemple, l'utilisation ancestrale de l'irrigation réduit la participation contemporaine des femmes au travail et les droits de propriété des femmes. Il est crucial de prendre en compte le genre dans la gestion des ressources dans le contexte du changement climatique, de la dégradation de l'environnement et de la croissance démographique, ce qui exacerbera les conflits sur les ressources rares telles que les terres arables, l'eau, la pêche et la chasse. Une mauvaise gouvernance conduit à l'aliénation et à l'exploitation de la majorité et à une inégalité croissante, en particulier lorsque l'eau est rare et que les moyens de subsistance des populations sont menacés. L'Afrique subsaharienne est le continent le plus touché par le changement climatique, la croissance démographique et l'insécurité alimentaire. Pourtant, les États africains, où les écosystèmes aquatiques sont des ressources stratégiques, sont plus enclins aux conflits régionaux qu'à la coopération. Dans le passé, les chocs liés au climat ont alimenté des conflits violents en Afrique de l'Ouest. La pression foncière et la rareté de l'eau provoquent des crises de plus en plus aiguës. Les institutions traditionnelles de gestion de l'eau et des terres sont souvent déstabilisées par les techniques modernes d'irrigation et les entrées massives de capitaux étrangers. La modernisation est portée par un utilitarisme centré sur l'Occident qui ne peut être universalisé. L'intensification des conflits autour de l'eau a révélé une crise générale qui risque de s'aggraver compte tenu des dynamiques à l'œuvre. La dégradation de l'environnement est l'un des sous-produits indésirables de la croissance de la productivité agricole, mais les institutions coutumières ne peuvent fournir une réglementation adéquate pour atténuer ses effets. Mais même dans les régions d'Afrique de l'Ouest où l'eau est abondante, la malédiction des ressources lie l'abondance des ressources naturelles à des niveaux de conflit plus élevés. La commercialisation de l'eau, y compris l'accaparement des terres et de l'eau, peut même conduire à des conflits interétatiques par les effets de la cupidité ou des griefs. En fin de compte, cependant, les conflits ne portent souvent pas tant sur l'accès à des ressources rares telles que l'eau, la nourriture ou la terre, mais plutôt sur la modification des institutions politiques par lesquelles les ressources sont distribuées. La pénurie d'eau exerce une pression sur les populations, entraînant des migrations, des déplacements, l'insécurité alimentaire et l'appauvrissement, ce qui peut conduire à de nouveaux conflits. Abstract: For many Africans, water is not only the source of life, but also a means of purification and a centre of regeneration. Water rituals and cults, such as 'Mami Wata', lead their followers to liberation of body and spirit. But customary rites can also cause harm. For example, the ancestral use of irrigation reduces contemporary female labour participation and female property rights. It is crucial to consider gender in resource management in the context of climate change, environmental degradation and population growth, which will exacerbate conflicts over scarce resources such as arable land, water, fishing and hunting. Poor governance leads to the alienation and exploitation of the majority and growing inequality, especially when water is scarce and people's livelihoods are threatened. Sub-Saharan Africa is the continent most affected by climate change, population growth and food insecurity. Yet African states, where water ecosystems are strategic resources, are more inclined to regional conflict than cooperation. In the past, climaterelated shocks have fuelled violent conflict in West Africa. Land pressure and water scarcity are causing increasingly acute crises. Traditional institutions of water and land management are often destabilised by modern irrigation techniques and massive inflows of foreign capital. Modernisation is driven by a Western-centred utilitarianism that cannot be universalised. The intensification of conflicts over water has revealed a general crisis that is likely to worsen, given the dynamics at work. Environmental degradation is one of the undesirable by-products of agricultural productivity growth, but customary institutions cannot provide adequate regulation to mitigate its effects. But even in West African regions where water is plentiful, the resource curse links the abundance of natural resources to higher levels of conflict. The commercialisation of water, including land and water grabbing, can even lead to interstate conflict through the effects of greed or grievances. Ultimately, however, conflicts are often not so much about access to scarce resources such as water, food or land, but rather about changing the political institutions through which resources are distributed. Water scarcity puts pressure on people, resulting in migration, displacement, food insecurity and impoverishment, which can lead to further conflict. Abstract: Für viele Afrikaner ist Wasser nicht nur die Quelle des Lebens, sondern auch ein Mittel zur Reinigung und ein Zentrum der Regeneration. Wasserrituale und -kulte wie „Mami Wata“ führen ihre Anhänger zur Befreiung von Körper und Geist. Aber auch gewohnheitsmäßige Rituale können Schaden anrichten. Beispielsweise verringert die uralte Nutzung der Bewässerung die Erwerbsbeteiligung und Eigentumsrechte von Frauen heute. Es ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, das Geschlecht im Ressourcenmanagement im Kontext von Klimawandel, Umweltzerstörung und Bevölkerungswachstum zu berücksichtigen, was Konflikte um knappe Ressourcen wie Ackerland, Wasser, Fischerei und Jagd verschärfen wird. Schlechte Regierungsführung führt zur Entfremdung und Ausbeutung der Mehrheit und zu wachsender Ungleichheit, insbesondere wenn Wasser knapp ist und die Lebensgrundlage der Menschen gefährdet ist. Afrika südlich der Sahara ist der Kontinent, der am stärksten von Klimawandel, Bevölkerungswachstum und Ernährungsunsicherheit betroffen ist. Doch afrikanische Staaten, in denen Wasserökosysteme strategische Ressourcen darstellen, neigen eher zu regionalen Konflikten als zur Zusammenarbeit. In der Vergangenheit haben klimabedingte Schocks gewalttätige Konflikte in Westafrika angeheizt. Landdruck und Wasserknappheit führen zu immer akuteren Krisen. Traditionelle Institutionen der Wasser- und Landbewirtschaftung werden oft durch moderne Bewässerungstechniken und massive Zuflüsse ausländischen Kapitals destabilisiert. Die Modernisierung wird von einem westlich zentrierten Utilitarismus vorangetrieben, der nicht universalisiert werden kann. Die Verschärfung der Konflikte um Wasser hat eine allgemeine Krise offenbart, die sich angesichts der Dynamik, die hier herrscht, wahrscheinlich noch verschärfen wird. Umweltzerstörung ist eines der unerwünschten Nebenprodukte des landwirtschaftlichen Produktivitätswachstums, aber die herkömmlichen Institutionen können keine angemessene Regulierung bieten, um ihre Auswirkungen abzumildern. Aber selbst in westafrikanischen Regionen, in denen es reichlich Wasser gibt, bringt der Ressourcenfluch den Reichtum an natürlichen Ressourcen mit einem höheren Konfliktniveau in Verbindung. Die Kommerzialisierung von Wasser, einschließlich Land- und Wasserraub, kann aufgrund von Gier oder Missständen sogar zu zwischenstaatlichen Konflikten führen. Letztlich geht es bei Konflikten jedoch oft nicht so sehr um den Zugang zu knappen Ressourcen wie Wasser, Nahrung oder Land, sondern vielmehr um die Veränderung der politischen Institutionen, über die Ressourcen verteilt werden. Wasserknappheit setzt die Menschen unter Druck, was zu Migration, Vertreibung, Ernährungsunsicherheit und Verarmung führt, was zu weiteren Konflikten führen kann. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300925/1/Kohnert-Eau-conflits.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D02, D18, D46, E26, F13, F54, I31, N47, Q56, Z13 Keywords: pénurie de l'eau, changement climatique, rites de l'eau, institutions coutumières, accaparement de l'eau, Afrique de l'Ouest, I31 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300925 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8197101 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Water as a blessing and a curse: How to address water conflicts in West Africa? #END 249 #BEGIN 250 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Is water a blessing or a curse? How to address water conflicts in West Africa Abstract: For many Africans, water is not only the source of life, but also a means of purification and a centre of regeneration. Water rituals and cults, such as 'Mami Wata', lead their followers to liberation of body and spirit. But customary rites can also cause harm. For example, the ancestral use of irrigation reduces contemporary female labour participation and female property rights. It is crucial to consider gender in resource management in the context of climate change, environmental degradation and population growth, which will exacerbate conflicts over scarce resources such as arable land, water, fishing and hunting. Poor governance leads to the alienation and exploitation of the majority and growing inequality, especially when water is scarce and people's livelihoods are threatened. Sub-Saharan Africa is the continent most affected by climate change, population growth and food insecurity. Yet African states, where water ecosystems are strategic resources, are more inclined to regional conflict than cooperation. In the past, climaterelated shocks have fuelled violent conflict in West Africa. Land pressure and water scarcity are causing increasingly acute crises. Traditional institutions of water and land management are often destabilised by modern irrigation techniques and massive inflows of foreign capital. Modernisation is driven by a Western-centred utilitarianism that cannot be universalised. The intensification of conflicts over water has revealed a general crisis that is likely to worsen, given the dynamics at work. Environmental degradation is one of the undesirable by-products of agricultural productivity growth, but customary institutions cannot provide adequate regulation to mitigate its effects. But even in West African regions where water is plentiful, the resource curse links the abundance of natural resources to higher levels of conflict. The commercialisation of water, including land and water grabbing, can even lead to interstate conflict through the effects of greed or grievances. Ultimately, however, conflicts are often not so much about access to scarce resources such as water, food or land, but rather about changing the political institutions through which resources are distributed. Water scarcity puts pressure on people, resulting in migration, displacement, food insecurity and impoverishment, which can lead to further conflict. Abstract: Für viele Afrikaner ist Wasser nicht nur die Quelle des Lebens, sondern auch ein Mittel zur Reinigung und ein Zentrum der Regeneration. Wasserrituale und -kulte wie „Mami Wata“ führen ihre Anhänger zur Befreiung von Körper und Geist. Aber auch tradierte Rituale können Schaden anrichten. Beispielsweise verringert die herkömmliche Nutzung der Bewässerung die Erwerbsbeteiligung und Eigentumsrechte von Frauen. Es ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, das Geschlecht im Ressourcenmanagement im Kontext von Klimawandel, Umweltzerstörung und Bevölkerungswachstum zu berücksichtigen, was Konflikte um knappe Ressourcen wie Ackerland, Wasser, Fischerei und Jagd verschärfen wird. Schlechte Regierungsführung führt zur Entfremdung und Ausbeutung der Mehrheit und zu wachsender Ungleichheit, insbesondere wenn Wasser knapp ist und die Lebensgrundlage der Menschen gefährdet ist. Afrika südlich der Sahara ist der Kontinent, der am stärksten von Klimawandel, Bevölkerungswachstum und Ernährungsunsicherheit betroffen ist. Doch afrikanische Staaten, in denen Wasserökosysteme strategische Ressourcen darstellen, neigen eher zu regionalen Konflikten als zur Zusammenarbeit. In der Vergangenheit haben klimabedingte Schocks gewalttätige Konflikte in Westafrika angeheizt. Land- und Wasserknappheit führen zu immer akuteren Krisen. Traditionelle Institutionen der Wasser- und Landbewirtschaftung werden oft durch moderne Bewässerungstechniken und massive Zuflüsse ausländischen Kapitals destabilisiert. Die Modernisierung wird von einem westlich zentrierten Utilitarismus vorangetrieben, der nicht universalisiert werden kann. Die Verschärfung der Konflikte um Wasser hat eine allgemeine Krise offenbart, die sich angesichts der Dynamik, die hier herrscht, wahrscheinlich noch verschärfen wird. Umweltzerstörung ist eines der unerwünschten Nebenprodukte des landwirtschaftlichen Produktivitätswachstums, aber die herkömmlichen Institutionen können keine angemessene Regulierung bieten, um ihre Auswirkungen abzumildern. Aber selbst in westafrikanischen Regionen, in denen es reichlich Wasser gibt, bringt der Ressourcenfluch den Reichtum an natürlichen Ressourcen mit einem höheren Konfliktniveau in Verbindung. Die Kommerzialisierung von Wasser, einschließlich Land- und Wasserraub, kann aufgrund von Gier oder Missständen sogar zu zwischenstaatlichen Konflikten führen. Letztlich geht es bei Konflikten jedoch oft nicht so sehr um den Zugang zu knappen Ressourcen wie Wasser, Nahrung oder Land, sondern vielmehr um die Veränderung der politischen Institutionen, über die Ressourcen verteilt werden. Wasserknappheit setzt die Menschen unter Druck, was Migration, Vertreibung, Ernährungsunsicherheit und Verarmung verursacht, was zu weiteren Konflikten führen kann. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300924/1/Kohnert-Water-conflicts.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D18, D23, D43, D47, E26, F13, F54, N47, Q55, Z13 Keywords: water scarcity, climate change, water rites, customary institutions, water grabbing, gender inequality, informal sector, West Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300924 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8197085 #END 250 #BEGIN 251 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: La CEDEAO, autrefois puissance affirmée en Afrique de l'Ouest réduite à un tigre de papier ? Abstract: L'intégration économique entre les États membres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest était le mandat initial de la CEDEAO. Les menaces au développement, à la paix et à la sécurité ont conduit la communauté à élargir son mandat pour inclure la gestion des conflits. La CEDEAO a établi un bilan louable en matière de maintien de la paix. Son intervention au Liberia a mis fin au conflit. En Sierra Leone, il a fourni le soutien nécessaire au gouvernement légitime, seul en Guinée Bissau, il n'a pas réussi à arrêter la violence. En 2004, l'ECOMOG a été remplacé par la Force en attente de la CEDEAO (ESF), composée de militaires, de policiers et de civils. Dans le cadre de ses missions, la CEDEAO a mis en place des mécanismes de prévention et de résolution des conflits décrits dans son Cadre de Prévention des Conflits (ECPF). Cependant, l'organisation compte sur ses États membres pour atteindre ses objectifs. Malheureusement, ce dernier se caractérise surtout par un manque d'engagement politique et financier. Ces dernières années, la CEDEAO s'est concentrée sur les stratégies de lutte contre le terrorisme. Cependant, ceux-ci ont également été entravés par des contraintes de capacité, la persistance d'un environnement socio-économique de plus en plus propice au fondamentalisme et à l'extrémisme religieux, et des niveaux variables de volonté et d'engagement politique. Les outils de prévention des conflits de l'institution de la CEDEAO sont actuellement plus solides que ses outils de gestion des conflits. À l'heure actuelle, les ESF n'ont pas la capacité logistique et financière pour un déploiement militaire. Le Nigeria, principal contributeur de troupes et financier, était censé fournir plus de la moitié des troupes promises par le FSE. Mais il a ses propres problèmes de sécurité intérieure. Il est donc douteux qu'il puisse épargner ses troupes promises pour une mission ESF. Tout cela suggère que la CEDEAO, autrefois une force avec laquelle il faut compter en Afrique de l'Ouest, a été réduite à un tigre de papier. C'est un avertissement d'intervenir, par la force militaire si nécessaire, dans le conflit actuel au Niger, où un coup d'État a renversé le gouvernement légitime, a été considéré comme une menace vide. D'autant plus que les putschistes au Mali, au Niger et en Guinée ont été soutenus par la Russie. Abstract: Economic integration among West African member states was the original mandate of ECOWAS. Threats to development, peace and security led the community to expand its mandate to include conflict management. ECOWAS has established a commendable record in peacekeeping. Its intervention in Liberia ended the conflict. In Sierra Leone, it provided the necessary support to the legitimate government, but in Guinea Bissau, it failed to stop the violence. In 2004, ECOMOG was replaced by the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), made up of military, police and civilian personnel. As part of its missions, ECOWAS has implemented conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms outlined in its Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF). However, the organisation relies on its member states to achieve its objectives. Unfortunately, the latter is mostly characterised by a lack of political and financial commitment. In recent years, ECOWAS has focused on counter-terrorism strategies. However, these too have been hampered by capacity constraints, the persistence of a socioeconomic environment increasingly conducive to religious fundamentalism and extremism, and varying levels of political will and commitment. The ECOWAS institution's conflict prevention tools are currently stronger than its conflict management tools. At present, the ESF lacks the logistical and financial capacity for military deployment. Nigeria, the main troop and financial contributor, was supposed to provide more than half of the pledged ESF troops. But it has internal security challenges of its own. It is therefore doubtful that it could spare its pledged troops for an ESF mission. All this suggests that ECOWAS, once a force to be reckoned with in West Africa, has been reduced to a paper tiger. It's warning to intervene, by military force if necessary, in the current conflict in Niger, where a coup has overthrown the legitimate government, was reckoned as an empty threat. Especially since the coup leaders in Mali, Niger and Guinea have been backed by Russia. Abstract: Die wirtschaftliche Integration der westafrikanischen Mitgliedsstaaten war das ursprüngliche Mandat der ECOWAS. Bedrohungen für Entwicklung, Frieden und Sicherheit führten dazu, dass die Gemeinschaft ihr Mandat auf die Konfliktbewältigung ausweitete. ECOWAS hat eine lobenswerte Bilanz bei der Friedenssicherung vorzuweisen. Sein Eingreifen in Liberia beendete den Konflikt. In Sierra Leone leistete sie der legitimen Regierung die nötige Unterstützung, nur in Guinea-Bissau gelang es ihr nicht, die Gewalt zu stoppen. Im Jahr 2004 wurde ECOMOG durch die ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) ersetzt, die aus Militär, Polizei und Zivilpersonal besteht. Im Rahmen ihrer Missionen hat die ECOWAS Mechanismen zur Konfliktverhütung und -lösung implementiert, die in ihrem Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) festgelegt sind. Um ihre Ziele zu erreichen, ist die Organisation jedoch auf ihre Mitgliedsstaaten angewiesen. Letztere sind leider meist durch mangelndes politisches und finanzielles Engagement gekennzeichnet. In den letzten Jahren hat sich die ECOWAS auf Strategien zur Terrorismusbekämpfung konzentriert. Allerdings wurden auch diese durch Kapazitätsengpässe, das Fortbestehen eines sozioökonomischen Umfelds, das zunehmend religiösen Fundamentalismus und Extremismus begünstigt, und ein unterschiedliches Maß an politischem Willen und Engagement behindert. Die Konfliktpräventionsinstrumente der ECOWAS-Institution sind derzeit stärker als ihre Konfliktmanagementinstrumente. Dem ESF fehlen derzeit die logistischen und finanziellen Kapazitäten für einen Militäreinsatz. Nigeria, der Haupttruppensteller und Finanzgeber, sollte mehr als die Hälfte der zugesagten ESF-Truppen stellen. Aber das Land hat erst einmal seine eigenen internen Sicherheitsherausforderungen zu bewältigen. Es ist daher fraglich, ob es seine zugesagten Truppen für einen ESF-Einsatz entbehren könnte. All dies deutet darauf hin, dass die ECOWAS, einst eine ernst zu nehmende Kraft in Westafrika, auf einen Papiertiger reduziert wurde. Die Warnung, notfalls mit militärischer Gewalt in den aktuellen Konflikt in Niger einzugreifen, wo ein Putsch die rechtmäßige Regierung gestürzt hat, gilt als leere Drohung. Zumal die Putschisten in Mali, Niger und Guinea von Russland unterstützt werden. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300923/1/Kohnert-CEDEAO.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F54, H12, H56, K42, N47 Keywords: CEDEAO, Force en attente de la CEDEAO, coup d'État, imposition de la paix, gouvernance, Afrique de l'Ouest, post-colonialisme, secteur informel Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300923 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8238503 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): ECOWAS, once an assertive power in West Africa, reduced to a paper tiger? #END 251 #BEGIN 252 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: ECOWAS, once an assertive power in West Africa, reduced to a paper tiger? Abstract: Economic integration among West African member states was the original mandate of ECOWAS. Threats to development, peace and security led the community to expand its mandate to include conflict management. ECOWAS has established a commendable record in peacekeeping. Its intervention in Liberia ended the conflict. In Sierra Leone, it provided the necessary support to the legitimate government, but in Guinea Bissau, it failed to stop the violence. In 2004, ECOMOG was replaced by the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), made up of military, police and civilian personnel. As part of its missions, ECOWAS has implemented conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms outlined in its Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF). However, the organisation relies on its member states to achieve its objectives. Unfortunately, the latter is mostly characterised by a lack of political and financial commitment. In recent years, ECOWAS has focused on counter-terrorism strategies. However, these too have been hampered by capacity constraints, the persistence of a socioeconomic environment increasingly conducive to religious fundamentalism and extremism, and varying levels of political will and commitment. The ECOWAS institution's conflict prevention tools are currently stronger than its conflict management tools. At present, the ESF lacks the logistical and financial capacity for military deployment. Nigeria, the main troop and financial contributor, was supposed to provide more than half of the pledged ESF troops. But it has internal security challenges of its own. It is therefore doubtful that it could spare its pledged troops for an ESF mission. All this suggests that ECOWAS, once a force to be reckoned with in West Africa, has been reduced to a paper tiger. It's warning to intervene, by military force if necessary, in the current conflict in Niger, where a coup has overthrown the legitimate government, was reckoned as an empty threat. Especially since the coup leaders in Mali, Niger and Guinea have been backed by Russia. Abstract: Die wirtschaftliche Integration der westafrikanischen Mitgliedsstaaten war das ursprüngliche Mandat der ECOWAS. Bedrohungen für Entwicklung, Frieden und Sicherheit führten dazu, dass die Gemeinschaft ihr Mandat auf die Konfliktbewältigung ausweitete. ECOWAS hat eine lobenswerte Bilanz bei der Friedenssicherung vorzuweisen. Sein Eingreifen in Liberia beendete den Konflikt. In Sierra Leone leistete sie der legitimen Regierung die nötige Unterstützung, nur in Guinea-Bissau gelang es ihr nicht, die Gewalt zu stoppen. Im Jahr 2004 wurde ECOMOG durch die ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) ersetzt, die aus Militär, Polizei und Zivilpersonal besteht. Im Rahmen ihrer Missionen hat die ECOWAS Mechanismen zur Konfliktverhütung und -lösung implementiert, die in ihrem Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) festgelegt sind. Um ihre Ziele zu erreichen, ist die Organisation jedoch auf ihre Mitgliedsstaaten angewiesen. Letztere sind leider meist durch mangelndes politisches und finanzielles Engagement gekennzeichnet. In den letzten Jahren hat sich die ECOWAS auf Strategien zur Terrorismusbekämpfung konzentriert. Allerdings wurden auch diese durch Kapazitätsengpässe, das Fortbestehen eines sozioökonomischen Umfelds, das zunehmend religiösen Fundamentalismus und Extremismus begünstigt, und ein unterschiedliches Maß an politischem Willen und Engagement behindert. Die Konfliktpräventionsinstrumente der ECOWAS-Institution sind derzeit stärker als ihre Konfliktmanagementinstrumente. Dem ESF fehlen derzeit die logistischen und finanziellen Kapazitäten für einen Militäreinsatz. Nigeria, der Haupttruppensteller und Finanzgeber, sollte mehr als die Hälfte der zugesagten ESF-Truppen stellen. Aber das Land hat erst einmal seine eigenen internen Sicherheitsherausforderungen zu bewältigen. Es ist daher fraglich, ob es seine zugesagten Truppen für einen ESF-Einsatz entbehren könnte. All dies deutet darauf hin, dass die ECOWAS, einst eine ernst zu nehmende Kraft in Westafrika, auf einen Papiertiger reduziert wurde. Die Warnung, notfalls mit militärischer Gewalt in den aktuellen Konflikt in Niger einzugreifen, wo ein Putsch die rechtmäßige Regierung gestürzt hat, gilt als leere Drohung. Zumal die Putschisten in Mali, Niger und Guinea von Russland unterstützt werden. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300922/1/Kohnert-ECOWAS.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F35, F54, H12, H56, K42, N47, Z13 Keywords: ECOWAS, ECOWAS Standby Force, coup d'état, peace enforcement, governance, sustainable development, post-colonialism, West Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300922 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8238502 #END 252 #BEGIN 253 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'UEMOA, survivra-t-elle à la montée du sentiment anti-français en Afrique de l'Ouest ? Abstract: L'Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine (UEMOA) a été créée par la France pour contrer la domination des pays anglophones d'Afrique de l'Ouest, en particulier le Nigeria et le Ghana, sur l'Afrique de l'Ouest francophone. La francophonie en Afrique occidentale française est principalement dirigée par une élite au pouvoir, le « Pré Quarré » en France et en Afrique. Le tristement célèbre réseau Françafrique a déterminé le destin de la région pendant des décennies. Cela a provoqué un sentiment anti-français croissant, qui s'est concentré sur trois points. Premièrement, la politique de développement ; deuxièmement, la monnaie ; et troisièmement, l'armée. La France était le seul pays occidental à maintenir une présence militaire significative au Sahel. Alors que le nombre de soldats français a chuté drastiquement de 30 000 au début des années 1960 à environ 6 100 aujourd'hui, l'interventionnisme politique et militaire n'a pas faibli. Mais, après tant d'années d'efforts militaires infructueux contre le terrorisme dans la région, les citoyens sont devenus de plus en plus méfiants à l'égard des motifs de la présence française. Cependant, une distinction claire doit être faite entre le sentiment anti-français et la présence militaire anti-française. Beaucoup pensent que toute présence de troupes étrangères au Sahel aggrave la situation en attirant plutôt qu'en repoussant les extrémistes. Pourtant, ce point de vue occulte deux réalités importantes. Premièrement, le développement d'un mouvement autoritaire plus large, mené en partie par la Russie, qui défie la démocratie et ses partisans. La population locale fait de la France le bouc émissaire de l'aggravation de leur situation sur le terrain. Ses dirigeants politiques capitalisent sur l'hostilité à l'héritage colonial, notamment le franc CFA et la coopération militaire. C'est un terreau fertile pour les responsables militaires insurgés, qui n'ont aucune légitimité légale, mais une soif d'authenticité. Le slogan « France, dégage » est devenu un nouveau moyen de légitimation du pouvoir politique et militaire en Afrique francophone. Cependant, pour certains autocrates, il est également utilisé comme une distraction bienvenue pour ne pas reconnaître leur propre responsabilité dans la situation difficile. Les Africains prennent de plus en plus conscience que la France reste en Afrique pour ses propres intérêts. Cependant, anti-français n'est pas forcément putschiste. L'axe des jeunes chefs militaires fougueux, cherchant la légitimité de leurs compatriotes terrorisés, a exploité toutes sortes de sentiments populistes, de l'africanisme à la quête d'indépendance économique. Ils ont accusé Paris de soutenir les terroristes qui ciblent la population locale afin que la France puisse continuer à siphonner leurs ressources et ainsi à plonger le pays dans une pauvreté croissante. Ce serait une erreur de penser que faire comprendre aux Africains qu'ils sont manipulés par les Russes mettrait fin à tout cela. Néanmoins, les poids lourds africains de l'UEMOA, la Côte d'Ivoire et le Sénégal, ainsi que les autres États membres, maintiendront l'Union unie par intérêt personnel, quoique dans des conditions plus équitables. L'opinion publique africaine est - et c'est compréhensible - extrêmement sensible à être traitée sur un pied d'égalité. Ils ne veulent pas être sermonnés ou moqués. Abstract: The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) was established by France to counteract the dominance of Anglophone countries in West Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ghana, over Francophone West Africa. Francophonie in French West Africa is mainly driven by a power elite, the 'Pré Quarré' in both France and Africa. The notorious Françafrique network determined the fate of the region for decades. This provoked a growing anti-French sentiment, which focused on three points. First, development policy; second, the currency; and third, the military. France was the only western country to maintain a significant military presence in the Sahel. While the number of French troops has fallen drastically from 30,000 in the early 1960s to around 6,100 today, political and military interventionism has not abated. But, after so many years of failed military efforts against terrorism in the region, citizens became increasingly suspicious of France's motives for being there. However, a clear distinction must be made between anti-French sentiment and anti-French military presence. Many believe that any presence of foreign troops in the Sahel makes the situation worse by attracting rather than repelling extremists. Yet, this view obscures two important realities. First, the development of a broader authoritarian movement, driven in part by Russia, that challenges democracy and its proponents. The local population makes France the scapegoat for the worsening of their situation on the ground. Its political leaders are capitalizing on hostility to the colonial legacy, including the CFA franc and military cooperation. This is fertile ground for insurgent military officials, who have no legal legitimacy but a thirst for authenticity. The slogan 'France, get out' has become a new means of legitimizing political and military power in French-speaking Africa. However, for some autocrats it is also used as a welcome distraction from acknowledging their own responsibility for the predicament. Africans are becoming increasingly aware that France is staying in Africa for its own interests. But anti-French is not necessarily pro-coup. The axis of young, fiery military leaders, seeking legitimacy from their terrorized compatriots, exploited all sorts of populist sentiments, from Africanism to the quest for economic independence. They accused Paris of supporting the terrorists who are targeting the local population so that France can continue siphoning off their resources and thereby sinking the country into increasing poverty. It would be a mistake to think that making it clear to Africans that they are being manipulated by the Russians would end the whole thing. Nevertheless, the African heavyweights of UEMOA, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, as well as the other member states, will keep the Union together out of self-interest, albeit on fairer terms. African public opinion is-understandably extremely sensitive to being treated as an equal. They don't want to be lectured to or made fun of. Abstract: Die Westafrikanische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion (UEMOA) wurde von Frankreich gegründet, um der Dominanz anglophoner Länder in Westafrika, insbesondere Nigeria und Ghana, über das französischsprachige Westafrika entgegenzuwirken. Die Frankophonie in Französisch-Westafrika wird hauptsächlich von einer Machtelite vorangetrieben, dem ‚Pré Quarré‘ in Frankreich und Afrika. Das berüchtigte Françafrique-Netzwerk bestimmte jahrzehntelang die Geschicke der Region. Dies löste eine wachsende antifranzösische Stimmung aus, die sich auf drei Punkte konzentrierte. Erstens, die Entwicklungspolitik; zweitens, die Währung; und drittens, das Militär. Frankreich war das einzige westliche Land, das eine bedeutende militärische Präsenz in der Sahelzone aufrecht erhielt. Während die Zahl der französischen Truppen von 30.000 in den frühen 1960er Jahren drastisch auf heute etwa 6.100 gesunken ist, hat der politische und militärische Interventionismus nicht nachgelassen. Doch nach so vielen Jahren gescheiterter militärischer Bemühungen gegen den Terrorismus in der Region wurden die Bürger zunehmend misstrauisch gegenüber den Motiven Frankreichs für seinen Aufenthalt dort. Es muss jedoch klar zwischen antifranzösischer Stimmung und antifranzösischer Militärpräsenz unterschieden werden. Viele glauben, dass jede Präsenz ausländischer Truppen in der Sahelzone die Situation verschlimmert, indem sie Extremisten anzieht und nicht abwehrt. Diese Sichtweise verdeckt jedoch zwei wichtige Realitäten. Erstens die Entwicklung einer breiteren autoritären Bewegung, die teilweise von Russland vorangetrieben wird und die Demokratie und ihre Befürworter herausfordert. Die lokale Bevölkerung macht Frankreich zum Sündenbock für die Verschlechterung ihrer Lage vor Ort. Seine politischen Führer nutzen die Feindseligkeit gegenüber dem kolonialen Erbe, einschließlich des CFA-Franc, und der militärischen Zusammenarbeit. Dies ist ein fruchtbarer Boden für rebellierende Militärs, die keine rechtliche Legitimität, dafür aber nach Authentizität dürsten. Der Slogan „Frankreich, raus“ ist zu einem neuen Mittel der Legitimierung politischer und militärischer Macht im frankophonen Afrika geworden. Für einige Autokraten dient es jedoch auch als willkommene Ablenkung von der Anerkennung ihrer eigenen Verantwortung für die missliche Lage. Den Afrikanern wird zunehmend bewusst, dass Frankreich aus eigenen Interessen in Afrika bleibt. Aber Anti-Französisch ist nicht unbedingt Pro-Putsch. Die Achse der jungen, heißspornigen Militärführer, die von ihren terrorisierten Landsleuten Legitimität suchen, nutzte alle möglichen populistischen Gefühle aus, vom Afrikanismus bis zum Streben nach wirtschaftlicher Unabhängigkeit. Sie warfen Paris vor, die Terroristen zu unterstützen, die es auf die lokale Bevölkerung abgesehen haben, damit Frankreich weiterhin ihre Ressourcen abschöpfen und das Land dadurch in zunehmende Armut stürzen kann. Es wäre ein Fehler zu glauben, dass die ganze Sache zu Ende wäre, wenn den Afrikanern klar gemacht würde, dass sie von den Russen manipuliert werden. Dennoch werden die afrikanischen Schwergewichte UEMOA, Côte d'Ivoire und Senegal sowie die anderen Mitgliedstaaten die Union aus Eigeninteresse zusammenhalten, wenn auch zu faireren Bedingungen. Die afrikanische öffentliche Meinung reagiert verständlicherweise äußerst empfindlich darauf, gleichberechtigt behandelt zu werden. Sie wollen nicht belehrt oder ausgelacht werden. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300918/1/Kohnert-UEMOA-sentiment-anti-francais-en-Afrique.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F54, H12, H56, K42, L13, L72, N17 Keywords: Françafrique, UEMOA, CEDEAO, Sentiment anti-français, gouvernance, post-colonialisme, secteur informel, Afrique de l'Ouest Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300918 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8273936 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): Will the UEMOA survive the rise of anti-French sentiment in West Africa? #END 253 #BEGIN 254 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Will UEAMO survive the rise of anti-French sentiment in West Africa? Abstract: The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) was established by France to counteract the dominance of Anglophone countries in West Africa, particularly Nigeria and Ghana, over Francophone West Africa. Francophonie in French West Africa is mainly driven by a power elite, the 'Pré Quarré' in both France and Africa. The notorious Françafrique network determined the fate of the region for decades. This provoked a growing anti-French sentiment, which focused on three points. First, development policy; second, the currency; and third, the military. France was the only western country to maintain a significant military presence in the Sahel. While the number of French troops has fallen drastically from 30,000 in the early 1960s to around 6,100 today, political and military interventionism has not abated. But, after so many years of failed military efforts against terrorism in the region, citizens became increasingly suspicious of France's motives for being there. However, a clear distinction must be made between anti-French sentiment and anti-French military presence. Many believe that any presence of foreign troops in the Sahel makes the situation worse by attracting rather than repelling extremists. Yet, this view obscures two important realities. First, the development of a broader authoritarian movement, driven in part by Russia, that challenges democracy and its proponents. The local population makes France the scapegoat for the worsening of their situation on the ground. Its political leaders are capitalizing on hostility to the colonial legacy, including the CFA franc and military cooperation. This is fertile ground for insurgent military officials, who have no legal legitimacy but a thirst for authenticity. The slogan 'France, get out' has become a new means of legitimizing political and military power in French-speaking Africa. However, for some autocrats it is also used as a welcome distraction from acknowledging their own responsibility for the predicament. Africans are becoming increasingly aware that France is staying in Africa for its own interests. But anti-French is not necessarily pro-coup. The axis of young, fiery military leaders, seeking legitimacy from their terrorized compatriots, exploited all sorts of populist sentiments, from Africanism to the quest for economic independence. They accused Paris of supporting the terrorists who are targeting the local population so that France can continue siphoning off their resources and thereby sinking the country into increasing poverty. It would be a mistake to think that making it clear to Africans that they are being manipulated by the Russians would end the whole thing. Nevertheless, the African heavyweights of UEMOA, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, as well as the other member states, will keep the Union together out of self-interest, albeit on fairer terms. African public opinion is-understandably extremely sensitive to being treated as an equal. They don't want to be lectured to or made fun of. Abstract: Die Westafrikanische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion (UEMOA) wurde von Frankreich gegründet, um der Dominanz anglophoner Länder in Westafrika, insbesondere Nigeria und Ghana, über das französischsprachige Westafrika entgegenzuwirken. Die Frankophonie in Französisch-Westafrika wird hauptsächlich von einer Machtelite vorangetrieben, dem ‚Pré Quarré‘ in Frankreich und Afrika. Das berüchtigte Françafrique-Netzwerk bestimmte jahrzehntelang die Geschicke der Region. Dies löste eine wachsende antifranzösische Stimmung aus, die sich auf drei Punkte konzentrierte. Erstens, die Entwicklungspolitik; zweitens, die Währung; und drittens, das Militär. Frankreich war das einzige westliche Land, das eine bedeutende militärische Präsenz in der Sahelzone aufrecht erhielt. Während die Zahl der französischen Truppen von 30.000 in den frühen 1960er Jahren drastisch auf heute etwa 6.100 gesunken ist, hat der politische und militärische Interventionismus nicht nachgelassen. Doch nach so vielen Jahren gescheiterter militärischer Bemühungen gegen den Terrorismus in der Region wurden die Bürger zunehmend misstrauisch gegenüber den Motiven Frankreichs für seinen Aufenthalt dort. Es muss jedoch klar zwischen antifranzösischer Stimmung und antifranzösischer Militärpräsenz unterschieden werden. Viele glauben, dass jede Präsenz ausländischer Truppen in der Sahelzone die Situation verschlimmert, indem sie Extremisten anzieht und nicht abwehrt. Diese Sichtweise verdeckt jedoch zwei wichtige Realitäten. Erstens die Entwicklung einer breiteren autoritären Bewegung, die teilweise von Russland vorangetrieben wird und die Demokratie und ihre Befürworter herausfordert. Die lokale Bevölkerung macht Frankreich zum Sündenbock für die Verschlechterung ihrer Lage vor Ort. Seine politischen Führer nutzen die Feindseligkeit gegenüber dem kolonialen Erbe, einschließlich des CFA-Franc, und der militärischen Zusammenarbeit. Dies ist ein fruchtbarer Boden für rebellierende Militärs, die keine rechtliche Legitimität, dafür aber nach Authentizität dürsten. Der Slogan „Frankreich, raus“ ist zu einem neuen Mittel der Legitimierung politischer und militärischer Macht im frankophonen Afrika geworden. Für einige Autokraten dient es jedoch auch als willkommene Ablenkung von der Anerkennung ihrer eigenen Verantwortung für die missliche Lage. Den Afrikanern wird zunehmend bewusst, dass Frankreich aus eigenen Interessen in Afrika bleibt. Aber Anti-Französisch ist nicht unbedingt Pro-Putsch. Die Achse der jungen, heißspornigen Militärführer, die von ihren terrorisierten Landsleuten Legitimität suchen, nutzte alle möglichen populistischen Gefühle aus, vom Afrikanismus bis zum Streben nach wirtschaftlicher Unabhängigkeit. Sie warfen Paris vor, die Terroristen zu unterstützen, die es auf die lokale Bevölkerung abgesehen haben, damit Frankreich weiterhin ihre Ressourcen abschöpfen und das Land dadurch in zunehmende Armut stürzen kann. Es wäre ein Fehler zu glauben, dass die ganze Sache zu Ende wäre, wenn den Afrikanern klar gemacht würde, dass sie von den Russen manipuliert werden. Dennoch werden die afrikanischen Schwergewichte UEMOA, Côte d'Ivoire und Senegal sowie die anderen Mitgliedstaaten die Union aus Eigeninteresse zusammenhalten, wenn auch zu faireren Bedingungen. Die afrikanische öffentliche Meinung reagiert verständlicherweise äußerst empfindlich darauf, gleichberechtigt behandelt zu werden. Sie wollen nicht belehrt oder ausgelacht werden. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300917/1/Kohnert-UEAMO-anti-French-sentiment-in-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F54, H12, H56, K42, L13, L72, N17 Keywords: Françafrique, UEMOA, ECOWAS, coup d'état, governance, post-colonialism, West Africa, Franc CFA Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300917 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8273884 #END 254 #BEGIN 255 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Analyse comparative de la performance des missions de maintien de la paix de l'UE et de l'UA en Afrique subsaharienne Abstract: L'Afrique est confrontée à certains des conflits les plus violents et brutaux du monde. Les missions de maintien de la paix jouent un rôle crucial dans la préservation de la stabilité et de la sécurité dans les régions en proie à des conflits, en particulier en Afrique subsaharienne. L'Union européenne (UE) et l'Union africaine (UA) contribuent toutes deux aux efforts de maintien de la paix dans cette région. L'UA dirige des missions de maintien de la paix grâce à son Conseil de paix et de sécurité (CPS) et conformément à l'Architecture africaine de paix et de sécurité (APSA). L'APSA repose sur de nombreux partenariats internationaux, mais l'UA n'a pas encore atteint l'autonomie totale. Cependant, elle bénéficie d'un avantage par rapport à l'UE et à l'OTAN, car elle peut prendre des décisions à la majorité, ce qui rend le processus décisionnel plus flexible. Les raisons de l'intervention sont souvent ambiguës, impliquant souvent à la fois des intérêts nationaux étroits et une dimension humanitaire. Les organisations de sécurité régionales et sous-régionales africaines ont souvent privilégié le « renforcement de la souveraineté » des États-nations plutôt que leur responsabilité de protection. De plus, les capacités opérationnelles de l'UA sont limitées, elle est insuffisamment intégrée aux efforts civils de gestion des conflits, et elle n'a pas réussi à intervenir de manière décisive dans les conflits armés les plus graves actuellement en cours sur le continent. En fin de compte, la capacité de l'UA à mettre fin aux conflits en Afrique a produit des résultats mitigés. À ce jour, l'APSA ne constitue pas une solution africaine aux problèmes du continent, mais plutôt une série de réponses internationales hybrides aux défis de sécurité transnationaux auxquels il est confronté. En outre, l'UA a eu du mal à établir une mémoire institutionnelle de base sur ses opérations de maintien de la paix, sans parler de systématiser l'apprentissage qui en découle. En plus de l'UA, l'UE est également engagée dans la coopération interrégionale en matière de paix et de sécurité en Afrique. Il existe un lien direct entre l'UE et l'UA à travers la Stratégie commune Afrique-UE. L'UE a mené des missions de maintien de la paix dans le cadre de sa Politique de sécurité et de défense commune (PSDC), en coopération fréquente avec d'autres organisations internationales telles que les Nations Unies. Parmi les exemples de missions de maintien de la paix de l'UE en Afrique figurent le Mali, la République centrafricaine et la Somalie. Alors que l'UE dispose de ressources plus importantes et de partenariats internationaux, l'UA jouit d'une légitimité et d'une appropriation régionale. Cependant, il est essentiel que l'UE et l'ONU continuent de promouvoir des « solutions africaines aux problèmes africains ». Malheureusement, la Facilité européenne pour la paix (FPE), créée en mars 2021, semble être un instrument potentiellement instable entre les mains de l'UE. Elle est en passe de devenir l'instrument de financement le plus important de l'UE pour les activités militaires en dehors de l'UE. Initialement déployée pour soutenir l'Union africaine et le Mozambique, de nombreuses décisions hâtives aux conséquences potentiellement graves sont prises. Au lieu de stabiliser les situations, l'EPF pourrait renforcer les régimes autoritaires et alimenter les conflits, en particulier s'il est utilisé en Afrique. Abstract: Africa is plagued by some of the most brutal and violent conflicts in the world. Peacekeeping missions play a crucial role in maintaining stability and security in conflict-prone regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Both the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) are involved in peacekeeping operations in the region. The AU conducts peacekeeping missions through its Peace and Security Council (PSC) and in line with the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). Numerous international partnerships are at the heart of the APSA, but the AU cannot yet stand alone. However, the AU has the advantage over the EU and NATO in that it allows majority voting, making the decision-making process more flexible. The reasons for intervention are often unclear, although they often include both narrow national self-interest and humanitarian intervention. Africa's regional and sub-regional security organisations have often been more concerned with 'enhancing the sovereignty' of nation states than with the responsibility to protect. The AU's operational capacity is limited, it is poorly integrated into civilian-led conflict management efforts, and it has failed to intervene decisively in the continent's current major armed conflicts. The AU's ability to stop conflicts in Africa has produced mixed results at best. So far, the APSA is not an African solution to African problems, but rather a messy series of hybrid, international responses to some of the continent's transnational security challenges. Moreover, the AU has struggled to create a basic institutional memory of its peace operations, let alone systematically distil lessons learned. In addition to the AU, the EU is also involved in interregional cooperation for peace and security in Africa. There is a direct relationship between the EU and the AU in the form of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. The EU has conducted peacekeeping missions under its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), often in cooperation with other international organisations such as the United Nations. Examples of EU peacekeeping missions in Africa include Mali, the Central African Republic and Somalia. While the EU benefits from greater resources and international partnerships, the AU enjoys regional legitimacy and ownership. However, it is important that the EU and the UN continue to promote 'African solutions to African problems'. However, the European Peace Facility (EPF), established in March 2021, is more likely to be an unsecured weapon on the EU table. It is becoming the EU's main funding instrument for military activities outside the EU. It was first used to support the African Union and Mozambique. But many decisions with potentially serious consequences are being taken hastily. Instead of stabilising situations, the EPF could entrench dictatorships and fuel conflicts, especially when used in Africa. Abstract: Afrika wird von einigen der brutalsten und gewalttätigsten Konflikte der Welt heimgesucht. Friedensmissionen spielen eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Aufrechterhaltung von Stabilität und Sicherheit in konfliktgefährdeten Regionen, insbesondere in Afrika südlich der Sahara. Sowohl die Europäische Union (EU) als auch die Afrikanische Union (AU) engagieren sich in friedenserhaltenden Bemühungen in der Region. Die AU führt Friedensmissionen im Rahmen ihres Friedens- und Sicherheitsrats (PSC) und im Einklang mit der Afrikanischen Friedens- und Sicherheitsarchitektur (APSA) durch. Zahlreiche internationale Partnerschaften sind das Herzstück der APSA, die AU kann jedoch noch nicht allein bestehen. Allerdings hat die AU im Vergleich zu EU und NATO den Vorteil, dass sie Mehrheitsentscheidungen ermöglicht und damit den Entscheidungsprozess flexibler macht. Die Gründe für ein Eingreifen sind oft unklar, obwohl es sich dabei oft sowohl um engstirnige nationale Eigeninteressen als auch um humanitäre Interventionen handelt. Den regionalen und subregionalen Sicherheitsorganisationen Afrikas ging es oft mehr um die ‚Stärkung der Souveränität‘ von Nationalstaaten als um die Schutzverantwortung. Die operativen Fähigkeiten der AU sind begrenzt, sie sind schlecht in zivil geführte Konfliktbewältigungsbemühungen integriert und es ist der AU nicht gelungen, entschieden in die derzeit bedeutendsten bewaffneten Konflikte des Kontinents einzugreifen. Die Fähigkeit der AU, Konflikte in Afrika zu stoppen, hat bestenfalls zu gemischten Ergebnissen geführt. Bislang ist die APSA keine afrikanische Lösung für afrikanische Probleme, sondern eher eine chaotische Reihe hybrider, internationaler Antworten auf einige transnationale Sicherheitsherausforderungen, mit denen der Kontinent konfrontiert ist. Darüber hinaus hatte die AU Mühe, ein grundlegendes institutionelles Gedächtnis über ihre Friedenseinsätze zu schaffen, geschweige denn, die daraus gewonnenen Erkenntnisse systematisch zu destillieren. Neben der AU ist auch die EU in der interregionalen Zusammenarbeit für Frieden und Sicherheit in Afrika engagiert. Zwischen der EU und der AU besteht eine direkte Beziehung in Form der Gemeinsamen Afrika-EU-Strategie. Die EU führte im Rahmen ihrer Gemeinsamen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik (GSVP) Friedensmissionen durch und arbeitete dabei häufig mit anderen internationalen Organisationen wie den Vereinten Nationen zusammen. Beispiele für EU-Friedensmissionen in Afrika sind Mali, die Zentralafrikanische Republik und Somalia. Während die EU von größeren Ressourcen und internationalen Partnerschaften profitiert, verfügt die AU über regionale Legitimität und Eigenverantwortung. Dennoch ist es wichtig, dass die EU und die Vereinten Nationen weiterhin ‚afrikanische Lösungen für afrikanische Probleme‘ fördern. Die im März 2021 eingerichtete Europäische Friedensfazilität (EPF) dürfte jedoch eher eine ungesicherte Waffe auf dem Tisch der EU sein. Sie entwickelt sich zum wichtigsten Finanzierungsinstrument der EU für militärische Aktivitäten außerhalb der EU. Sie wurde als erstes zur Unterstützung der Afrikanischen Union und Mosambiks eingesetzt. Doch viele Entscheidungen mit möglicherweise schwerwiegenden Folgen werden dort überstürzt getroffen. Anstatt Situationen zu stabilisieren, könnte EPF Diktaturen verfestigen und Konflikte schüren, insbesondere wenn sie in Afrika eingesetzt wird. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300916/1/Kohnert-UE-UA-missions-de-la-paix-en-Afrique.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D62, E26, F22, F54, H12, H56, N47 Keywords: UA, APSA, UE, maintien de la paix, FEP, CEDEAO, coup d'État, gouvernance, Conseil de paix et de sécurité, Arique subsaharienne Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300916 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8424763 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): Comparative Analysis of the Performance of EU and AU Peacekeeping Missions in Sub-Saharan Africa #END 255 #BEGIN 256 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Comparative Analysis of the Performance of EU and AU Peacekeeping Missions in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: Africa is plagued by some of the most brutal and violent conflicts in the world. Peacekeeping missions play a crucial role in maintaining stability and security in conflict-prone regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Both the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) are involved in peacekeeping operations in the region. The AU conducts peacekeeping missions through its Peace and Security Council (PSC) and in line with the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). Numerous international partnerships are at the heart of the APSA, but the AU cannot yet stand alone. However, the AU has the advantage over the EU and NATO in that it allows majority voting, making the decision-making process more flexible. The reasons for intervention are often unclear, although they often include both narrow national self-interest and humanitarian intervention. Africa's regional and sub-regional security organisations have often been more concerned with 'enhancing the sovereignty' of nation states than with the responsibility to protect. The AU's operational capacity is limited, it is poorly integrated into civilian-led conflict management efforts, and it has failed to intervene decisively in the continent's current major armed conflicts. The AU's ability to stop conflicts in Africa has produced mixed results at best. So far, the APSA is not an African solution to African problems, but rather a messy series of hybrid, international responses to some of the continent's transnational security challenges. Moreover, the AU has struggled to create a basic institutional memory of its peace operations, let alone systematically distil lessons learned. In addition to the AU, the EU is also involved in interregional cooperation for peace and security in Africa. There is a direct relationship between the EU and the AU in the form of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. The EU has conducted peacekeeping missions under its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), often in cooperation with other international organisations such as the United Nations. Examples of EU peacekeeping missions in Africa include Mali, the Central African Republic and Somalia. While the EU benefits from greater resources and international partnerships, the AU enjoys regional legitimacy and ownership. However, it is important that the EU and the UN continue to promote 'African solutions to African problems'. However, the European Peace Facility (EPF), established in March 2021, is more likely to be an unsecured weapon on the EU table. It is becoming the EU's main funding instrument for military activities outside the EU. It was first used to support the African Union and Mozambique. But many decisions with potentially serious consequences are being taken hastily. Instead of stabilising situations, the EPF could entrench dictatorships and fuel conflicts, especially when used in Africa. Abstract: Afrika wird von einigen der brutalsten und gewalttätigsten Konflikte der Welt heimgesucht. Friedensmissionen spielen eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Aufrechterhaltung von Stabilität und Sicherheit in konfliktgefährdeten Regionen, insbesondere in Afrika südlich der Sahara. Sowohl die Europäische Union (EU) als auch die Afrikanische Union (AU) engagieren sich in friedenserhaltenden Bemühungen in der Region. Die AU führt Friedensmissionen im Rahmen ihres Friedens- und Sicherheitsrats (PSC) und im Einklang mit der Afrikanischen Friedens- und Sicherheitsarchitektur (APSA) durch. Zahlreiche internationale Partnerschaften sind das Herzstück der APSA, die AU kann jedoch noch nicht allein bestehen. Allerdings hat die AU im Vergleich zu EU und NATO den Vorteil, dass sie Mehrheitsentscheidungen ermöglicht und damit den Entscheidungsprozess flexibler macht. Die Gründe für ein Eingreifen sind oft unklar, obwohl es sich dabei oft sowohl um engstirnige nationale Eigeninteressen als auch um humanitäre Interventionen handelt. Den regionalen und subregionalen Sicherheitsorganisationen Afrikas ging es oft mehr um die ‚Stärkung der Souveränität‘ von Nationalstaaten als um die Schutzverantwortung. Die operativen Fähigkeiten der AU sind begrenzt, sie sind schlecht in zivil geführte Konfliktbewältigungsbemühungen integriert und es ist der AU nicht gelungen, entschieden in die derzeit bedeutendsten bewaffneten Konflikte des Kontinents einzugreifen. Die Fähigkeit der AU, Konflikte in Afrika zu stoppen, hat bestenfalls zu gemischten Ergebnissen geführt. Bislang ist die APSA keine afrikanische Lösung für afrikanische Probleme, sondern eher eine chaotische Reihe hybrider, internationaler Antworten auf einige transnationale Sicherheitsherausforderungen, mit denen der Kontinent konfrontiert ist. Darüber hinaus hatte die AU Mühe, ein grundlegendes institutionelles Gedächtnis über ihre Friedenseinsätze zu schaffen, geschweige denn, die daraus gewonnenen Erkenntnisse systematisch zu destillieren. Neben der AU ist auch die EU in der interregionalen Zusammenarbeit für Frieden und Sicherheit in Afrika engagiert. Zwischen der EU und der AU besteht eine direkte Beziehung in Form der Gemeinsamen Afrika-EU-Strategie. Die EU führte im Rahmen ihrer Gemeinsamen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik (GSVP) Friedensmissionen durch und arbeitete dabei häufig mit anderen internationalen Organisationen wie den Vereinten Nationen zusammen. Beispiele für EU-Friedensmissionen in Afrika sind Mali, die Zentralafrikanische Republik und Somalia. Während die EU von größeren Ressourcen und internationalen Partnerschaften profitiert, verfügt die AU über regionale Legitimität und Eigenverantwortung. Dennoch ist es wichtig, dass die EU und die Vereinten Nationen weiterhin ‚afrikanische Lösungen für afrikanische Probleme‘ fördern. Die im März 2021 eingerichtete Europäische Friedensfazilität (EPF) dürfte jedoch eher eine ungesicherte Waffe auf dem Tisch der EU sein. Sie entwickelt sich zum wichtigsten Finanzierungsinstrument der EU für militärische Aktivitäten außerhalb der EU. Sie wurde als erstes zur Unterstützung der Afrikanischen Union und Mosambiks eingesetzt. Doch viele Entscheidungen mit möglicherweise schwerwiegenden Folgen werden dort überstürzt getroffen. Anstatt Situationen zu stabilisieren, könnte EPF Diktaturen verfestigen und Konflikte schüren, insbesondere wenn sie in Afrika eingesetzt wird. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300915/1/Kohnert-EU-AU-peace-keeping-missions-in-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D74, E26, F53, H12, H56, N47, Z13 Keywords: AU, APSA, peacekeeping, European Peace Facility, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Françafrique, ODA, Peace and Security Council Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300915 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8423274 #END 256 #BEGIN 257 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'impact des relations subsahariennes d'Israël sur les migrants africains en Israël Abstract: Dans les années 1960, l'Afrique subsaharienne a connu une offensive diplomatique à grande échelle de la part d'Israël. Le Ghana de Kwame Nkrumah a été le premier pays à établir des relations diplomatiques et économiques. D'autres pays suivirent bientôt, si bien qu'au milieu des années 1960, une quarantaine de pays africains recevaient une aide agricole et militaire d'Israël et bénéficiaient de bourses pour leurs étudiants. L'implication d'Israël a été renforcée par les activités de la CIA en Afrique à l'époque, qui étaient conçues et financées par les États-Unis et d'autres puissances occidentales comme leur « troisième force » en Afrique. Depuis, la situation a évolué en raison de la solidarité croissante des Africains avec les Palestiniens et de leur rejet du système israélien de « l'apartheid », c'est-à-dire de la discrimination systématique à l'encontre des populations non-israéliennes. Israël a perdu le soutien de la plupart des pays d'ASS au début des années 1970 en raison de sa collaboration avec l'Afrique du Sud de l'apartheid. Comme l'a dit Nelson Mandela : « L'Afrique du Sud ne sera jamais libre tant que la Palestine ne sera pas libre ». Lors de sa 12e session ordinaire à Kampala en 1975, l'OUA a pour la première fois identifié l'idéologie fondatrice d'Israël, le sionisme, comme une forme de racisme. Néanmoins, plusieurs pays africains ont continué à entretenir des contacts de faible niveau par l'intermédiaire de treize ambassades étrangères, par exemple en Éthiopie, en Tanzanie, en Ouganda et au Zaïre, tandis que les échanges éducatifs et commerciaux se sont poursuivis, bien qu'à des niveaux considérablement réduits et à l'abri des regards du public. Mais le fléau du terrorisme islamiste a nécessité une relance des relations. La coopération militaire et sécuritaire, y compris la cybersécurité, est particulièrement intense avec par exemple l'Éthiopie, le Zaïre, l'Ouganda, le Ghana, le Togo et l'Afrique du Sud. Elle a aussi souvent servi à soutenir des régimes africains despotiques. Aujourd'hui, l'Afrique subsaharienne constitue un marché lucratif pour l'industrie de défense israélienne. Le Cameroun, le Tchad, la Guinée-Équatoriale, le Lesotho, le Nigeria, le Rwanda, les Seychelles, l'Afrique du Sud et l'Ouganda ont reçu des armes d'Israël entre 2006 et 2010. En 2014, 40 % des exportations d'armes d'Israël étaient destinées aux pays africains. Après la fin de la guerre froide et le début du processus de paix israélo-arabe, la plupart des États africains ont repris leurs relations avec Israël après que Netanyahu soit devenu Premier ministre en 2009 sous le slogan : « Israël revient à l'Afrique, l'Afrique revient à Israël ». Israël entretient désormais des relations avec 40 États subsahariens, dont certains adoptent une position plus pro-israélienne qu'auparavant. La stabilisation de la Corne de l'Afrique était considérée comme cruciale car elle était directement liée aux pressions migratoires auxquelles Israël était confronté depuis le milieu de la dernière décennie. On estime que 40 000 réfugiés africains vivent sur le sol israélien, la plupart venant du Soudan et de l'Erythrée. La réputation internationale d'Israël a été affectée par sa politique décisive visant à limiter le nombre de migrants en construisant un mur à la frontière avec l'Egypte. Depuis 2013, le gouvernement a tenté d'expulser environ 4 000 migrants vers le Rwanda et l'Ouganda dans le cadre d'un programme de « départ volontaire » entre 2014 et 2017. Presque tout le monde a de nouveau fui le Rwanda et a entrepris le dangereux voyage vers l'Europe. Abstract: In the 1960s, sub-Saharan Africa experienced a major diplomatic offensive by Israel. Kwame Nkrumah's Ghana was the first country to establish diplomatic and economic relations. Others soon followed, so that by the mid-1960s some forty African countries were receiving agricultural and military aid from Israel and benefiting from scholarships for their students. Israel's involvement was facilitated by the CIA's activities in Africa at the time, which were conceived and funded by the United States and other Western powers as their "third force" in Africa. Since then, the situation has evolved due to Africans' growing solidarity with the Palestinians and their rejection of Israel's "apartheid" system of systematic discrimination against non-Israeli populations. Israel lost the support of most SSA countries in the early 1970s because of its collaboration with apartheid South Africa. As Nelson Mandela said, "South Africa will never be free until Palestine is free". At its 12th Ordinary Session in Kampala in 1975, the OAU for the first time identified Israel's founding ideology, Zionism, as a form of racism. Nevertheless, several African countries continued to maintain low-level contacts through thirteen foreign embassies, for example in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zaire, while educational and commercial exchanges continued, albeit on a much reduced scale and away from the public eye. But the scourge of Islamist terrorism necessitated a revival of relations. Military and security cooperation, including cyber security, is particularly intensive with Ethiopia, Zaire, Uganda, Ghana, Togo and South Africa, for example. It has also often served to prop up despotic African regimes. Today, sub-Saharan Africa is a lucrative market for the Israeli defence industry. Abstract: In den 1960er Jahren erlebte Afrika südlich der Sahara eine umfassende diplomatische Offensive Israels. Das Ghana Kwame Nkrumahs war das erste Land, das diplomatische und wirtschaftliche Beziehungen aufbaute. Andere Länder folgten bald, so dass Mitte der 1960er Jahre etwa vierzig afrikanische Länder Agrar- und Militärhilfe von Israel erhielten und von Stipendien für ihre Studenten profitierten. Das Engagement Israels wurde durch die damaligen Aktivitäten der CIA in Afrika gefördert, die von den Vereinigten Staaten und anderen westlichen Mächten als ihrer „dritten Kraft“ in Afrika gestaltet und finanziert wurden. Seitdem hat sich die Situation aufgrund der wachsenden Solidarität der Afrikaner mit den Palästinensern und ihrer Ablehnung des israelischen „Apartheid“-Systems, d.h. der systematischen Diskriminierung nicht-israelischer Bevölkerungsgruppen, weiterentwickelt. Israel verlor Anfang der 1970er Jahre aufgrund seiner Zusammenarbeit mit dem Apartheid-Südafrika die Unterstützung der meisten SSA-Länder. Wie Nelson Mandela sagte: „Südafrika wird niemals frei sein, bis Palästina frei ist.“ Auf ihrer 12. ordentlichen Tagung in Kampala im Jahr 1975 bezeichnete die OAU erstmals Israels Gründungsideologie, den Zionismus, als eine Form des Rassismus. Dennoch unterhielten mehrere afrikanische Länder weiterhin Kontakte auf niedriger Ebene über dreizehn ausländische Botschaften, beispielsweise in Äthiopien, Tansania, Uganda und Zaire, während der Bildungs- und Handelsaustausch fortgesetzt wurde, wenn auch auf deutlich reduziertem Niveau und abseits der Öffentlichkeit. Doch die Geißel des islamistischen Terrorismus machte eine Wiederbelebung der Beziehungen erforderlich. Die militärische und sicherheitspolitische Zusammenarbeit, einschließlich der Cybersicherheit, ist beispielsweise mit Äthiopien, Zaire, Uganda, Ghana, Togo und Südafrika besonders intensiv. Sie diente häufig auch der Unterstützung despotischer afrikanischer Regime. Heute ist Afrika südlich der Sahara ein lukrativer Markt für die israelische Rüstungsindustrie. Kamerun, Tschad, Äquatorialguinea, Lesotho, Nigeria, Ruanda, die Seychellen, Südafrika und Uganda erhielten zwischen 2006 und 2010 Waffen aus Israel. Im Jahr 2014 gingen 40 % der israelischen Waffenexporte in afrikanische Länder. Nach dem Ende des Kalten Krieges und dem Beginn des israelisch-arabischen Friedensprozesses nahmen die meisten afrikanischen Staaten die Beziehungen zu Israel wieder auf, nachdem Netanyahu 2009 Premierminister wurde unter dem Motto: „Israel kommt nach Afrika zurück, Afrika kommt nach Israel zurück“. Israel unterhält mittlerweile Beziehungen zu 40 Staaten südlich der Sahara, von denen einige eine pro-israelischere Haltung einnehmen als zuvor. Die Stabilisierung des Horns von Afrika wurde als entscheidend angesehen, da sie in direktem Zusammenhang mit dem Einwanderungsdruck stand, dem Israel seit Mitte des letzten Jahrzehnts ausgesetzt war. Auf israelischem Boden leben schätzungsweise 40.000 afrikanische Flüchtlinge, die meisten aus dem Sudan und Eritrea. Israels internationales Ansehen wurde durch seine entschlossene Politik beeinträchtigt, die Zahl der Migranten durch den Bau einer Mauer an der Grenze zu Ägypten zu begrenzen. Seit 2013 hat die Regierung im Rahmen eines Programms der „freiwilligen Ausreise“ zwischen 2014 und 2017 versucht, rund 4.000 Migranten nach Ruanda und Uganda abzuschieben. Fast alle flohen wieder aus Rwanda und machten sich auf die gefährliche Reise nach Europa. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300914/1/Kohnert-Relations-sur-migrants-africains-en-Israel.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D74, E26, F22, F55, H56, N47, Z13 Keywords: Israël, UA, Palestiniens, immigration africaine en Israël, traite d'êtres humaines, contrebande, Afrique subsaharienne, secteur informel Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300914 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10056146 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): The impact of Israel's Sub-Saharan relations on African migrants in Israel #END 257 #BEGIN 258 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: The impact of Israel's Sub-Saharan relations on African migrants in Israel Abstract: In the 1960s, sub-Saharan Africa experienced a major diplomatic offensive by Israel. Kwame Nkrumah's Ghana was the first country to establish diplomatic and economic relations. Others soon followed, so that by the mid-1960s some forty African countries were receiving agricultural and military aid from Israel and benefiting from scholarships for their students. Israel's involvement was facilitated by the CIA's activities in Africa at the time, which were conceived and funded by the United States and other Western powers as their "third force" in Africa. Since then, the situation has evolved due to Africans' growing solidarity with the Palestinians and their rejection of Israel's "apartheid" system of systematic discrimination against non-Israeli populations. Israel lost the support of most SSA countries in the early 1970s because of its collaboration with apartheid South Africa. As Nelson Mandela said, "South Africa will never be free until Palestine is free". At its 12th Ordinary Session in Kampala in 1975, the OAU for the first time identified Israel's founding ideology, Zionism, as a form of racism. Nevertheless, several African countries continued to maintain low-level contacts through thirteen foreign embassies, for example in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zaire, while educational and commercial exchanges continued, albeit on a much reduced scale and away from the public eye. But the scourge of Islamist terrorism necessitated a revival of relations. Military and security cooperation, including cyber security, is particularly intensive with Ethiopia, Zaire, Uganda, Ghana, Togo and South Africa, for example. It has also often served to prop up despotic African regimes. Today, sub-Saharan Africa is a lucrative market for the Israeli defence industry. Abstract: In den 1960er Jahren erlebte Afrika südlich der Sahara eine umfassende diplomatische Offensive Israels. Das Ghana Kwame Nkrumahs war das erste Land, das diplomatische und wirtschaftliche Beziehungen aufbaute. Andere Länder folgten bald, so dass Mitte der 1960er Jahre etwa vierzig afrikanische Länder Agrar- und Militärhilfe von Israel erhielten und von Stipendien für ihre Studenten profitierten. Das Engagement Israels wurde durch die damaligen Aktivitäten der CIA in Afrika gefördert, die von den Vereinigten Staaten und anderen westlichen Mächten als ihrer "dritten Kraft" in Afrika gestaltet und finanziert wurden. Seitdem hat sich die Situation aufgrund der wachsenden Solidarität der Afrikaner mit den Palästinensern und ihrer Ablehnung des israelischen "Apartheid"-Systems, d.h. der systematischen Diskriminierung nicht-israelischer Bevölkerungsgruppen, weiterentwickelt. Israel verlor Anfang der 1970er Jahre aufgrund seiner Zusammenarbeit mit dem Apartheid-Südafrika die Unterstützung der meisten SSA-Länder. Wie Nelson Mandela sagte: "Südafrika wird niemals frei sein, bis Palästina frei ist." Auf ihrer 12. ordentlichen Tagung in Kampala im Jahr 1975 bezeichnete die OAU erstmals Israels Gründungsideologie, den Zionismus, als eine Form des Rassismus. Dennoch unterhielten mehrere afrikanische Länder weiterhin Kontakte auf niedriger Ebene über dreizehn ausländische Botschaften, beispielsweise in Äthiopien, Tansania, Uganda und Zaire, während der Bildungs- und Handelsaustausch fortgesetzt wurde, wenn auch auf deutlich reduziertem Niveau und abseits der Öffentlichkeit. Doch die Geißel des islamistischen Terrorismus machte eine Wiederbelebung der Beziehungen erforderlich. Die militärische und sicherheitspolitische Zusammenarbeit, einschließlich der Cybersicherheit, ist beispielsweise mit Äthiopien, Zaire, Uganda, Ghana, Togo und Südafrika besonders intensiv. Sie diente häufig auch der Unterstützung despotischer afrikanischer Regime. Heute ist Afrika südlich der Sahara ein lukrativer Markt für die israelische Rüstungsindustrie. Kamerun, Tschad, Äquatorialguinea, Lesotho, Nigeria, Ruanda, die Seychellen, Südafrika und Uganda erhielten zwischen 2006 und 2010 Waffen aus Israel. Im Jahr 2014 gingen 40 % der israelischen Waffenexporte in afrikanische Länder. Nach dem Ende des Kalten Krieges und dem Beginn des israelisch-arabischen Friedensprozesses nahmen die meisten afrikanischen Staaten die Beziehungen zu Israel wieder auf, nachdem Netanyahu 2009 Premierminister wurde unter dem Motto: "Israel kommt nach Afrika zurück, Afrika kommt nach Israel zurück". Israel unterhält mittlerweile Beziehungen zu 40 Staaten südlich der Sahara, von denen einige eine pro-israelischere Haltung einnehmen als zuvor. Die Stabilisierung des Horns von Afrika wurde als entscheidend angesehen, da sie in direktem Zusammenhang mit dem Einwanderungsdruck stand, dem Israel seit Mitte des letzten Jahrzehnts ausgesetzt war. Auf israelischem Boden leben schätzungsweise 40.000 afrikanische Flüchtlinge, die meisten aus dem Sudan und Eritrea. Israels internationales Ansehen wurde durch seine entschlossene Politik beeinträchtigt, die Zahl der Migranten durch den Bau einer Mauer an der Grenze zu Ägypten zu begrenzen. Seit 2013 hat die Regierung im Rahmen eines Programms der "freiwilligen Ausreise" zwischen 2014 und 2017 versucht, rund 4.000 Migranten nach Ruanda und Uganda abzuschieben. Fast alle flohen wieder aus Rwanda und machten sich auf die gefährliche Reise nach Europa. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300913/1/Kohnert-Relations-on-African-migrants-in-Israel.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D62, D74, E26, F22, F55, H56, N47 Keywords: Israel, AU, Palestinians, African immigration to Israel, trafficking, racism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300913 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10056142 #END 258 #BEGIN 259 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'impact des relations extérieures entre l'Afrique subsaharienne et les États arabes du Golfe sur les migrants africains dans la région Abstract: Dès 1991, Ali Mazrui affirmait que la mer Rouge n'était pas adaptée pour séparer l'Afrique de l'Arabie. Car les deux étaient inextricablement liés à travers les langues, les religions (en particulier l'Islam) et les identités du Sahara et de la mer Rouge dans une fusion historique de l'arabisme et de l'identité africaine. Leur séparation est étroitement liée à une tendance plus large dans laquelle le monde blanc a resserré ses rangs et créé un système d'apartheid mondial. Les origines historiques de la fracture Afrique-Moyen-Orient, à savoir H. Les visions de la mer Rouge et du Sahara comme frontières raciales et civilisationnelles créées par l'idéologie européenne des Lumières et les premiers expansionnismes coloniaux ont été renforcées par les régimes autoritaires postcoloniaux et les rivalités de la guerre froide, ainsi que par les courants nationalistes en Afrique, au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique du Nord. L'Arabie saoudite et les Émirats arabes unis considèrent de plus en plus la Corne de l'Afrique comme leur « flanc de sécurité occidental ». Ils étaient unis dans leur désir d'empêcher l'influence croissante de la Turquie, de l'Iran et du Qatar dans cette partie du monde. Ces rivalités du Golfe ont constitué la base d'une coopération économique croissante avec l'ASS ainsi que d'alliances de soutien militaire et de sécurité, en particulier dans la Corne de l'Afrique. L'Arabie saoudite et les Émirats arabes unis, qui sont devenus ensemble les plus grands investisseurs du Golfe en Afrique, se font concurrence, notamment avec le Qatar, qui a établi des ambassades dans la plupart des pays d'ASS. En outre, des acteurs étatiques et non étatiques du Moyen-Orient et d'Afrique du Nord ont été étroitement impliqués dans la déstabilisation du Sahel dans les années 2010, notamment en fournissant un soutien militaire, de renseignement et idéologique aux États d'ASS et aux groupes terroristes. D'un autre côté, les États du Golfe sont devenus de plus en plus dépendants de la main-d'œuvre migrante et de l'augmentation constante de la migration de l'ASS vers ces pays, renforcée par l'afflux massif de pays africains d'origine des migrants compte tenu des restrictions imposées à la migration africaine vers l'Europe. Dès le VIIe siècle après J.-C., l'Arabie s'appuyait fortement sur la traite des esclaves et sur l'offre de main-d'œuvre en provenance d'ASS, fondée sur la philosophie selon laquelle il était légitime d'asservir les Noirs parce qu'ils ne valaient pas mieux que des animaux. Durant cette période, l'Afrique noire est devenue le plus grand dépôt d'esclaves du monde islamique. À ce jour, il existe d'importantes communautés de migrants et de diasporas africaines au Moyen-Orient. Leur présence a parfois contribué à perpétuer des opinions et des attitudes désobligeantes de longue date à l'égard de l'Afrique et de ses peuples. Ces attitudes, fondées sur une hiérarchie sociale arabo-centrée et exprimant le mépris des cultures africaines, restent répandues aujourd'hui et façonnent les relations sociales entre employeurs et migrants africains dans les émirats de la péninsule arabique. Abstract: As early as 1991, Ali Mazrui argued that the Red Sea was not suitable for separating Africa from Arabia. For the two were inextricably intertwined through languages, religions (particularly Islam) and identities in both the Sahara and the Red Sea in a historical fusion of Arabism and African identity. Their separation was closely linked to a broader trend in which the white world closed ranks and created a system of global apartheid. The historical origins of the Africa-Middle East divide, i.e. the views of the Red Sea and the Sahara as racial and civilizational boundaries created by European Enlightenment ideology and early colonial expansionism were reinforced by postcolonial authoritarian regimes and Cold War rivalries, as well as by nationalist currents in Africa, the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates increasingly viewed the Horn of Africa as their 'Western security flank'. They were united in their desire to prevent the growing influence of Turkey, Iran and Qatar in this part of the world. These Gulf rivalries formed the basis for growing economic cooperation with SSA as well as military support and security alliances, particularly in the Horn of Africa. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which together have become the largest Gulf investors in Africa, compete with each other, particularly with Qatar, which has established embassies in most SSA countries. In addition, state and non-state actors from the Middle East and North Africa were closely involved in the destabilization of the Sahel in the 2010s by providing military, intelligence and ideological support to SSA states and terrorist groups. On the other hand, the Gulf States became increasingly dependent on migrant labour and the steady increase in migration from SSA to these countries, reinforced by the massive influx from African migrant-sending countries given the restrictions on African migration to Europe. As early as the seventh century AD, Arabia had relied heavily on the slave trade and the supply of labour from SSA, founded on the philosophy that it was legitimate to enslave black people because they were no better than animals. During this time, Black Africa became the largest slave depot in the Islamic world. To this day, there are significant African migrant and diaspora communities in the Middle East. Their presence has at times helped to perpetuate long-standing derogatory views and attitudes towards Africa and its peoples. These attitudes, based on an Arab-centric social hierarchy and expressing contempt for African cultures, remain prevalent today and shape social relationships between employers and African migrants in the emirates of the Arabian Peninsula. Abstract: Bereits 1991 vertrat Ali Mazrui die These, dass das Rote Meer nicht dazu geeignet sei, Afrika von Arabien zu trennen. Denn beide waren durch Sprachen, Religionen (insbesondere den Islam) und Identitäten sowohl in der Sahara als auch im Roten Meer in einer historischen Verschmelzung von Arabismus und afrikanischer Identität untrennbar miteinander verwoben. Deren Trennung sei eng verbunden mit einem allgemeineren Trend, gemäß dem die weiße Welt ihre Reihen schloss und ein System der globalen Apartheid schuf. Die historischen Ursprünge der Kluft zwischen Afrika und dem Nahen Osten, d. h. die durch die Ideologie der europäischen Aufklärung und den frühen kolonialen Expansionismus geschaffene Sicht auf das Rote Meer und die Sahara als Rassen- und Zivilisationsgrenzen, wurden durch postkoloniale autoritäre Regime und Rivalitäten im Kalten Krieg sowie durch nationalistische Strömungen in Afrika, dem Nahen Osten und Nordafrika verstärkt. Saudi-Arabien und die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate betrachteten das Horn von Afrika zunehmend als ihre „westliche Sicherheitsflanke“. Sie waren sich einig in dem Wunsch, den wachsenden Einfluss der Türkei, Irans und Katars in diesem Teil der Welt zu verhindern. Diese Rivalitäten am Golf bildeten die Grundlage für die wachsende wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit mit SSA sowie für militärische Unterstützungs- und Sicherheitsallianzen, insbesondere am Horn von Afrika. Saudi-Arabien und die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate, die zusammen zu den größten Golfinvestoren in Afrika geworden sind, konkurrieren miteinander, insbesondere mit Katar, das in den meisten SSA-Ländern Botschaften eingerichtet hat. Zudem waren staatliche und nichtstaatliche Akteure aus dem Nahen Osten und Nordafrika in den 2010er Jahren eng an der Destabilisierung der Sahelzone beteiligt, unter anderem durch die Bereitstellung militärischer, geheimdienstlicher und ideologischer Unterstützung für SSA-Staaten und Terrorgruppen. Andererseits wurden die Golfstaaten zunehmend abhängig von Wanderarbeitskräften und der stetigen Zunahme der Migration aus SSA in diese Länder, verstärkt durch den massiven Zustrom aus afrikanischen Migranten-Entsendeländern angesichts der Einschränkungen afrikanischer Migration nach Europa. Bereits ab dem siebten Jahrhundert n. Chr. stützte sich Arabien stark auf den Sklavenhandel und die Bereitstellung von Arbeitskräften aus SSA, begründet mit der Philosophie, dass es legitim sei, schwarze Menschen zu versklaven, weil sie nicht besser als Tiere seien. In dieser Zeit wurde Schwarzafrika zum größten Sklavendepot der islamischen Welt. Bis heute gibt es im Nahen Osten bedeutende afrikanische Migranten- und Diasporagemeinschaften. Ihre Anwesenheit hat zeitweise dazu beigetragen, seit langem bestehende abwertende Ansichten und Einstellungen gegenüber Afrika und seinen Völkern aufrechtzuerhalten. Diese Einstellungen, die auf einer arabisch-zentrierten sozialen Hierarchie basieren und eine Verachtung gegenüber afrikanischen Kulturen zum Ausdruck bringen, sind bis heute vorherrschend und prägen die sozialen Beziehungen zwischen Arbeitgebern und afrikanischen Migranten in den Emiraten der Arabischen Halbinsel. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300912/1/Kohnert-Relations-Afrique-Etats-arabes-Golfe%20sur%20migrants.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D74, E26, F54, N47 Keywords: CCG, Moyen-Orient, Arabie, États arabes du Golf, Afrique subsaharienne, Mer rouge, Corne de l'Afriqe, terrorisme islamist, H56 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300912 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10206793 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): The impact of foreign relations between Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab Golf states on African migrants in the region #END 259 #BEGIN 260 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: The impact of foreign relations between Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab Golf states on African migrants in the region Abstract: As early as 1991, Ali Mazrui argued that the Red Sea was not suitable for separating Africa from Arabia. For the two were inextricably intertwined through languages, religions (particularly Islam) and identities in both the Sahara and the Red Sea in a historical fusion of Arabism and African identity. Their separation was closely linked to a broader trend in which the white world closed ranks and created a system of global apartheid. The historical origins of the Africa-Middle East divide, i.e. the views of the Red Sea and the Sahara as racial and civilizational boundaries created by European Enlightenment ideology and early colonial expansionism were reinforced by postcolonial authoritarian regimes and Cold War rivalries, as well as by nationalist currents in Africa, the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates increasingly viewed the Horn of Africa as their 'Western security flank'. They were united in their desire to prevent the growing influence of Turkey, Iran and Qatar in this part of the world. These Gulf rivalries formed the basis for growing economic cooperation with SSA as well as military support and security alliances, particularly in the Horn of Africa. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which together have become the largest Gulf investors in Africa, compete with each other, particularly with Qatar, which has established embassies in most SSA countries. In addition, state and non-state actors from the Middle East and North Africa were closely involved in the destabilization of the Sahel in the 2010s by providing military, intelligence and ideological support to SSA states and terrorist groups. On the other hand, the Gulf States became increasingly dependent on migrant labour and the steady increase in migration from SSA to these countries, reinforced by the massive influx from African migrant-sending countries given the restrictions on African migration to Europe. As early as the seventh century AD, Arabia had relied heavily on the slave trade and the supply of labour from SSA, founded on the philosophy that it was legitimate to enslave black people because they were no better than animals. During this time, Black Africa became the largest slave depot in the Islamic world. To this day, there are significant African migrant and diaspora communities in the Middle East. Their presence has at times helped to perpetuate long-standing derogatory views and attitudes towards Africa and its peoples. These attitudes, based on an Arab-centric social hierarchy and expressing contempt for African cultures, remain prevalent today and shape social relationships between employers and African migrants in the emirates of the Arabian Peninsula. Abstract: Bereits 1991 vertrat Ali Mazrui die These, dass das Rote Meer nicht dazu geeignet sei, Afrika von Arabien zu trennen. Denn beide waren durch Sprachen, Religionen (insbesondere den Islam) und Identitäten sowohl in der Sahara als auch im Roten Meer in einer historischen Verschmelzung von Arabismus und afrikanischer Identität untrennbar miteinander verwoben. Deren Trennung sei eng verbunden mit einem allgemeineren Trend, gemäß dem die weiße Welt ihre Reihen schloss und ein System der globalen Apartheid schuf. Die historischen Ursprünge der Kluft zwischen Afrika und dem Nahen Osten, d. h. die durch die Ideologie der europäischen Aufklärung und den frühen kolonialen Expansionismus geschaffene Sicht auf das Rote Meer und die Sahara als Rassen- und Zivilisationsgrenzen, wurden durch postkoloniale autoritäre Regime und Rivalitäten im Kalten Krieg sowie durch nationalistische Strömungen in Afrika, dem Nahen Osten und Nordafrika verstärkt. Saudi-Arabien und die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate betrachteten das Horn von Afrika zunehmend als ihre "westliche Sicherheitsflanke". Sie waren sich einig in dem Wunsch, den wachsenden Einfluss der Türkei, Irans und Katars in diesem Teil der Welt zu verhindern. Diese Rivalitäten am Golf bildeten die Grundlage für die wachsende wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit mit SSA sowie für militärische Unterstützungs- und Sicherheitsallianzen, insbesondere am Horn von Afrika. Saudi-Arabien und die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate, die zusammen zu den größten Golfinvestoren in Afrika geworden sind, konkurrieren miteinander, insbesondere mit Katar, das in den meisten SSA-Ländern Botschaften eingerichtet hat. Zudem waren staatliche und nichtstaatliche Akteure aus dem Nahen Osten und Nordafrika in den 2010er Jahren eng an der Destabilisierung der Sahelzone beteiligt, unter anderem durch die Bereitstellung militärischer, geheimdienstlicher und ideologischer Unterstützung für SSA-Staaten und Terrorgruppen. Andererseits wurden die Golfstaaten zunehmend abhängig von Wanderarbeitskräften und der stetigen Zunahme der Migration aus SSA in diese Länder, verstärkt durch den massiven Zustrom aus afrikanischen Migranten-Entsendeländern angesichts der Einschränkungen afrikanischer Migration nach Europa. Bereits ab dem siebten Jahrhundert n. Chr. stützte sich Arabien stark auf den Sklavenhandel und die Bereitstellung von Arbeitskräften aus SSA, begründet mit der Philosophie, dass es legitim sei, schwarze Menschen zu versklaven, weil sie nicht besser als Tiere seien. In dieser Zeit wurde Schwarzafrika zum größten Sklavendepot der islamischen Welt. Bis heute gibt es im Nahen Osten bedeutende afrikanische Migranten- und Diasporagemeinschaften. Ihre Anwesenheit hat zeitweise dazu beigetragen, seit langem bestehende abwertende Ansichten und Einstellungen gegenüber Afrika und seinen Völkern aufrechtzuerhalten. Diese Einstellungen, die auf einer arabisch-zentrierten sozialen Hierarchie basieren und eine Verachtung gegenüber afrikanischen Kulturen zum Ausdruck bringen, sind bis heute vorherrschend und prägen die sozialen Beziehungen zwischen Arbeitgebern und afrikanischen Migranten in den Emiraten der Arabischen Halbinsel. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300911/1/Kohnert-Relations-Africa-Arab-Golf-on-migrants.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D3, D74, E26, F55, H56, N47 Keywords: GCC, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Arab states of the Persian Gulf, Sub-Saharan Africa, Red Sea, Horn of Africa, Islamic terrorism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300911 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10206791 #END 260 #BEGIN 261 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Perspectives d'exportation de GNL et d'hydrogène de l'Afrique subsaharienne vers l'UE Abstract: Depuis la guerre russe en Ukraine, de nombreux pays européens se sont efforcés de trouver des sources d'énergie alternatives. L'une des réponses consistait à augmenter les importations de gaz naturel liquéfié (GNL). En contournant l'utilisation de gazoducs venant de l'Est en construisant des terminaux GNL, l'UE a ouvert la porte à une plus grande variété de fournisseurs potentiels. Le Partenariat Europe-Afrique pour l'énergie et le climat fournit un cadre pour une alliance gagnant-gagnant. Les pays africains seront des acteurs clé à l'avenir, notamment les pays subsahariens comme le Nigeria, le Sénégal, le Mozambique et l'Angola. Selon le plan REPowerEU, les partenariats hydrogène en Afrique permettront d'importer 10 millions de tonnes d'hydrogène d'ici 2030, remplaçant environ 18 milliards de mètres cube de gaz russe importé. L'Algérie, le Niger et le Nigeria ont récemment convenu de construire un gazoduc transsaharien de 4 128 kilomètres qui traverserait les trois pays jusqu'à l'Europe. Une fois achevé, le gazoduc transportera 30 milliards de mètres cube de gaz par an. La Coalition africaine pour le commerce et l'investissement (ACTING) estime la capacité potentielle d'exportation de GNL subsaharienne à 134 millions de tonnes de GNL (environ 175 milliards de m3) d'ici 2030. L'Afrique subsaharienne devrait également devenir le principal producteur d'hydrogène vert d'ici 2050. Cependant, ce marché reste à développer et nécessite une expansion significative de la production renouvelable et de la disponibilité de l'eau. Cependant, les pays de l'UE et les entreprises concernées seraient bien avisés de prendre note de l'adoption d'objectifs européens beaucoup plus stricts de réduction des gaz à effet de serre pour 2030 et de la publication de la stratégie méthane de la Commission européenne. Cela étant dit, l'UE pourrait risquer de voir plus de la moitié des infrastructures GNL européennes inutilisées d'ici 2030, dans la mesure où la capacité européenne de GNL en 2030 dépasse la demande totale prévue de gaz, y compris le GNL et le gazoduc. Quoi qu'il en soit, il ne faut pas oublier que les pays africains souhaitent et doivent développer en priorité leurs marchés gaziers nationaux et que le potentiel d'exportation dépend de ce développement national. À long terme, un mix énergétique mondial serait nécessaire pour accélérer les changements induits par les nouvelles ressources, les nouvelles technologies et les engagements climatiques. Ces changements dans l'utilisation et la disponibilité des ressources énergétiques affecteraient également l'utilisation des combustibles fossiles. Quoi qu'il en soit, outre l'approvisionnement en GNL, l'UE doit également veiller à augmenter ses propres capacités de stockage afin de pouvoir garantir une réponse rentable à un goulot d'étranglement dans l'approvisionnement en gaz naturel. Cependant, le GNL seul ne suffit pas à assurer la résilience du système en cas de rupture d'approvisionnement. Les ressources énergétiques alternatives et les économies d'énergie restent essentielles. Abstract: Since Russia's war in Ukraine, many European countries have been scrambling to find alternative energy sources. One of the answers was to increase imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). By bypassing the use of pipelines from the East by building LNG terminals, the EU opened up a wider variety of potential suppliers. The Europe-Africa Energy and Climate Partnership provides a framework for a win-win alliance. African countries will be key players in the future, including sub-Saharan countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, Mozambique and Angola. According to the REPowerEU plan, hydrogen partnerships in Africa will enable the import of 10 million tons of hydrogen by 2030, replacing about 18 billion cubic meters of imported Russian gas. Algeria, Niger and Nigeria recently agreed to build a 4,128-kilometer trans-Saharan gas pipeline that would run through the three countries to Europe. Once completed, the pipeline will transport 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The African Coalition for Trade and Investment (ACTING) estimates potential sub-Saharan LNG export capacity at 134 million tonnes of LNG (approximately 175 billion m3) by 2030. Sub-Saharan Africa is also expected to become the main producer of green hydrogen by 2050. However, this market remains to be developed and requires significant expansion of renewable production and water availability. However, the EU countries and companies involved would be well advised to take note of the adoption of much stricter EU greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030 and the publication of the European Commission's methane strategy. That being said, the EU could risk having more than half of Europe's LNG infrastructure idle by 2030, as European LNG capacity in 2030 exceeds total forecast gas demand, including LNG and pipeline gas. Regardless, it should not be forgotten that African countries want and need to develop their domestic gas markets as a priority, and that export potential depends on this domestic development. In the long term, a global energy mix would be needed to accelerate change driven by new resources, new technologies and climate commitments. These changes in the use and availability of energy resources would also affect the use of fossil fuels. Regardless of this, in addition to the LNG supply, the EU must also take care of increasing its own storage capacities to be able to guarantee a cost-efficient response to a natural gas supply bottleneck. However, LNG alone is not enough to ensure the resilience of the system in the event of a supply failure. Alternative energy resources and energy saving remain essential. Abstract: Seit Russlands Krieg in der Ukraine bemühen sich viele europäische Länder darum, alternative Energiequellen zu finden. Eine der Antworten bestand darin, den Import von Flüssigerdgas (LNG) zu steigern. Durch die Umgehung der Nutzung von Pipelines aus dem Osten mittels des Baus von LNG-Terminals erschloss sich die EU eine größere Vielfalt potenzieller Lieferanten. Die Europa-Afrika-Energie- und Klimapartnerschaft bietet einen Rahmen für eine Win-Win-Allianz. Afrikanische Länder werden in Zukunft zentrale Akteure sein, darunter auch Länder südlich der Sahara wie Nigeria, Senegal, Mosambik und Angola. Dem REPowerEU-Plan zufolge sollen Wasserstoffpartnerschaften in Afrika bis 2030 den Import von 10 Millionen Tonnen Wasserstoff ermöglichen und damit etwa 18 Milliarden Kubikmeter importiertes russisches Gas ersetzen. Algerien, Niger und Nigeria haben sich kürzlich auf den Bau einer 4.128 Kilometer langen Transsahara-Gaspipeline geeinigt, die durch die drei Länder nach Europa führen soll. Nach ihrer Fertigstellung wird die Pipeline 30 Milliarden Kubikmeter Gas pro Jahr transportieren. Die African Coalition for Trade and Investment (ACTING) schätzt die potenzielle LNG-Exportkapazität südlich der Sahara bis 2030 auf 134 Millionen Tonnen LNG (ca. 175 Milliarden m3). Es wird erwartet, dass Afrika südlich der Sahara bis 2050 auch zum Hauptproduzenten von grünem Wasserstoff wird Dieser Markt muss jedoch noch erschlossen werden und erfordert einen erheblichen Ausbau der erneuerbaren Produktion und der Wasserverfügbarkeit. Allerdings wären die beteiligten EU-Länder und Unternehmen gut beraten, die Verabschiedung deutlich strengerer EU-Treibhausgas-Reduktionsziele für 2030 und die Veröffentlichung der Methanstrategie der Europäischen Kommission zur Kenntnis zu nehmen. Außerdem könnte die EU riskieren, dass bis 2030 mehr als die Hälfte der europäischen LNG-Infrastruktur stillgelegt wird, da die europäische LNG-Kapazität im Jahr 2030 den gesamten prognostizierten Gasbedarf, einschließlich LNG und Pipelinegas, übersteigt. Ungeachtet dessen darf nicht vergessen werden, dass die afrikanischen Länder ihre inländischen Gasmärkte vorrangig weiterentwickeln wollen und müssen und dass das Exportpotenzial von dieser inländischen Entwicklung abhängt. Langfristig wäre ein globaler Energiemix erforderlich, um den durch neue Ressourcen, neue Technologien und Klimaverpflichtungen vorangetriebenen Wandel zu beschleunigen. Diese Veränderungen in der Nutzung und Verfügbarkeit von Energieressourcen würden sich auch auf die Nutzung fossiler Brennstoffe auswirken. Unabhängig davon muss sich die EU neben der LNG-Versorgung auch um den Ausbau ihrer eigenen Speicherkapazitäten kümmern, um eine kosteneffiziente Reaktion auf einen Erdgasversorgungsengpass gewährleisten zu können. Allerdings reicht LNG allein nicht aus, um die Widerstandsfähigkeit des Systems im Falle eines Versorgungsausfalls zu gewährleisten. Alternative Energiequellen und Energieeinsparungen bleiben von entscheidender Bedeutung. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300910/1/Kohnert-Exportation-de-GNL-et-dHydrogene.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E22, E23, F13, F54, L71, L95, N57, Q35 Keywords: GNL, économie hydrogène, e-carburant, gaz naturel, Afrique subsaharienne, UE Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300910 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10343335 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2023): Prospects for LNG and Hydrogen Export from Sub-Saharan Africa to the EU #END 261 #BEGIN 262 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Prospects for LNG and Hydrogen Export from Sub-Saharan Africa to the EU Abstract: Since Russia's war in Ukraine, many European countries have been scrambling to find alternative energy sources. One of the answers was to increase imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). By bypassing the use of pipelines from the East by building LNG terminals, the EU opened up a wider variety of potential suppliers. The Europe-Africa Energy and Climate Partnership provides a framework for a win-win alliance. African countries will be key players in the future, including sub-Saharan countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, Mozambique and Angola. According to the REPowerEU plan, hydrogen partnerships in Africa will enable the import of 10 million tons of hydrogen by 2030, replacing about 18 billion cubic meters of imported Russian gas. Algeria, Niger and Nigeria recently agreed to build a 4,128-kilometer trans-Saharan gas pipeline that would run through the three countries to Europe. Once completed, the pipeline will transport 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The African Coalition for Trade and Investment (ACTING) estimates potential sub-Saharan LNG export capacity at 134 million tonnes of LNG (approximately 175 billion m3) by 2030. Sub-Saharan Africa is also expected to become the main producer of green hydrogen by 2050. However, this market remains to be developed and requires significant expansion of renewable production and water availability. However, the EU countries and companies involved would be well advised to take note of the adoption of much stricter EU greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030 and the publication of the European Commission's methane strategy. That being said, the EU could risk having more than half of Europe's LNG infrastructure idle by 2030, as European LNG capacity in 2030 exceeds total forecast gas demand, including LNG and pipeline gas. Regardless, it should not be forgotten that African countries want and need to develop their domestic gas markets as a priority, and that export potential depends on this domestic development. In the long term, a global energy mix would be needed to accelerate change driven by new resources, new technologies and climate commitments. These changes in the use and availability of energy resources would also affect the use of fossil fuels. Regardless of this, in addition to the LNG supply, the EU must also take care of increasing its own storage capacities to be able to guarantee a cost-efficient response to a natural gas supply bottleneck. However, LNG alone is not enough. Abstract: Seit Russlands Krieg in der Ukraine bemühen sich viele europäische Länder darum, alternative Energiequellen zu finden. Eine der Antworten bestand darin, den Import von Flüssigerdgas (LNG) zu steigern. Durch die Umgehung der Nutzung von Pipelines aus dem Osten mittels des Baus von LNG-Terminals erschloss sich die EU eine größere Vielfalt potenzieller Lieferanten. Die Europa-Afrika-Energie- und Klimapartnerschaft bietet einen Rahmen für eine Win-Win-Allianz. Afrikanische Länder werden in Zukunft zentrale Akteure sein, darunter auch Länder südlich der Sahara wie Nigeria, Senegal, Mosambik und Angola. Dem REPowerEU-Plan zufolge sollen Wasserstoffpartnerschaften in Afrika bis 2030 den Import von 10 Millionen Tonnen Wasserstoff ermöglichen und damit etwa 18 Milliarden Kubikmeter importiertes russisches Gas ersetzen. Algerien, Niger und Nigeria haben sich kürzlich auf den Bau einer 4.128 Kilometer langen Transsahara-Gaspipeline geeinigt, die durch die drei Länder nach Europa führen soll. Nach ihrer Fertigstellung wird die Pipeline 30 Milliarden Kubikmeter Gas pro Jahr transportieren. Die African Coalition for Trade and Investment (ACTING) schätzt die potenzielle LNG-Exportkapazität südlich der Sahara bis 2030 auf 134 Millionen Tonnen LNG (ca. 175 Milliarden m3). Es wird erwartet, dass Afrika südlich der Sahara bis 2050 auch zum Hauptproduzenten von grünem Wasserstoff wird Dieser Markt muss jedoch noch erschlossen werden und erfordert einen erheblichen Ausbau der erneuerbaren Produktion und der Wasserverfügbarkeit. Allerdings wären die beteiligten EU-Länder und Unternehmen gut beraten, die Verabschiedung deutlich strengerer EU-Treibhausgas-Reduktionsziele für 2030 und die Veröffentlichung der Methanstrategie der Europäischen Kommission zur Kenntnis zu nehmen. Außerdem könnte die EU riskieren, dass bis 2030 mehr als die Hälfte der europäischen LNG-Infrastruktur stillgelegt wird, da die europäische LNG-Kapazität im Jahr 2030 den gesamten prognostizierten Gasbedarf, einschließlich LNG und Pipelinegas, übersteigt. Ungeachtet dessen darf nicht vergessen werden, dass die afrikanischen Länder ihre inländischen Gasmärkte vorrangig weiterentwickeln wollen und müssen und dass das Exportpotenzial von dieser inländischen Entwicklung abhängt. Langfristig wäre ein globaler Energiemix erforderlich, um den durch neue Ressourcen, neue Technologien und Klimaverpflichtungen vorangetriebenen Wandel zu beschleunigen. Diese Veränderungen in der Nutzung und Verfügbarkeit von Energieressourcen würden sich auch auf die Nutzung fossiler Brennstoffe auswirken. Unabhängig davon muss sich die EU neben der LNG-Versorgung auch um den Ausbau ihrer eigenen Speicherkapazitäten kümmern, um eine kosteneffiziente Reaktion auf einen Erdgasversorgungsengpass gewährleisten zu können. Allerdings reicht LNG allein nicht aus, um die Widerstandsfähigkeit des Systems im Falle eines Versorgungsausfalls zu gewährleisten. Alternative Energiequellen und Energieeinsparungen bleiben von entscheidender Bedeutung. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300909/1/Kohnert-LNG-and-Hydrogen-Export.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E22, E23, F13, F35, F54, L71, L95, N57, Q13, Q35 Keywords: LNG, Hydrogen economy, e-fuels, natural gas, energy security, Sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300909 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10343309 #END 262 #BEGIN 263 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Perspektiven und Herausforderungen für den Export seltener Erden aus Afrika in die EU Abstract: Der afrikanische Kontinent wird immer mehr zum Schlachtfeld im Wettlauf zwischen Supermächten um den Zugang zu kritischen Mineralien, die für die ‚Grüne Revolution‘ benötigt werden, wie zum Beispiel seltene Erden (REE). Eine große Rolle spielen Unternehmen aus China, den USA und Russland. In den meisten Fällen werden kritische Mineralien von internationalen Bergbauunternehmen abgebaut, die von ihren Regierungen unterstützt werden und komplexe globale Wertschöpfungsketten organisieren. Bisher dominiert China die Lieferketten und hat sich Bergbauverträge in ganz Afrika südlich der Sahara (SSA) gesichert. Derzeit produziert China 58 % aller REEs weltweit. Es ist der Hauptimporteur von Mineralien aus Afrika, wobei sich die Mineralienexporte aus Afrika südlich der Sahara nach China im Jahr 2019 auf insgesamt $USD 10 Mrd. beliefen. Seine Dominanz auf dem globalen Markt für seltene Erden hat seine Wurzeln in der Politik, nicht in der Geographie. Seltene Erden sind weder so selten noch so stark in China konzentriert. Peking hat eine Strategie der Einfuhr, Dumpings und Kontrolle seltener Erden eingeführt, die kaum mit den Regeln der WTO übereinstimmt. Daher lud im Juni 2022 eine neu gegründete ‚Minerals Security Partnership‘, bestehend aus den USA, der EU, Großbritannien und anderen westlichen Industrieländern, mineralreiche Länder Afrikas ein, der chinesischen Dominanz entgegenzuwirken. Dazu gehörten rohstoffreiche Länder wie Südafrika, Botswana, Angola, Mosambik, Namibia, Tansania, Sambia, Uganda und die Demokratische Republik Kongo. Der Vorstoß des Westens wurde noch dringlicher, nachdem Peking im Juli 2023 Exportkontrollen für die strategischen Metalle Gallium und Germanium eingeführt hatte, was weltweit Befürchtungen weckte, dass China als nächstes den Export von Seltenen Erden oder Verarbeitungstechnologie blockieren könnte. Da die afrikanischen Märkte klein sind, sind sie gezwungen, auf ausländische Finanzmittel zurückzugreifen. Bisher haben die ausländischen Direktinvestitionen in die Produktion von Seltenen Erden jedoch die ‚Pollution haven‘ Hypothese über die umweltschädlichen Auswirkungen der in die betroffenen Länder fließenden FDI bestätigt. Obwohl das volle Potenzial der seltenen Erden in SSA aufgrund der geringen Exploration bisher weitgehend ungenutzt blieb, werden die Schattenseiten der Energiewende zunehmend sichtbar. Darunter fallen die Verschmutzung von Boden, Luft und Wasser sowie die unzureichende Entsorgung giftiger Rückstände und die intensive Wasser- und Energienutzung, Arbeits- und Umweltrisiken, Kinderarbeit und sexueller Missbrauch sowie Korruption und bewaffnete Konflikte. Im August 2023 stellte Nigeria, Afrikas größte Volkswirtschaft, bestimmte illegale chinesische Bergbauaktivitäten innerhalb seiner Grenzen ein, einschließlich der Aktivitäten der Ruitai Mining Company wegen ihrer Beteiligung am illegalen Titanerzabbau. Namibia und die DR Kongo folgten diesem Beispiel. Abstract: The African continent is increasingly becoming a battleground in the race between superpowers for access to critical minerals needed for the 'Green Revolution', such as rare earth minerals (REE). Companies from China, the USA and Russia play a major role. In most cases, critical minerals are mined by international mining companies supported by their governments and organizing complex global value chains. So far, China has dominated supply chains and has secured mining contracts across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Currently, China produces 58% of all REEs worldwide. It is the main importer of minerals from Africa, with mineral exports from sub-Saharan Africa to China totalling USD 10 bn in 2019. Its dominance of the global rare earths market is rooted in politics, not geography. Rare earths are neither that rare nor that concentrated in China. Beijing has adopted a strategy of imports, dumping and control of rare earths that is hardly consistent with WTO rules. Therefore, in June 2022, a newly founded 'Minerals Security Partnership', consisting of the USA, the EU, Great Britain and other Western industrialized countries, invited mineral-rich African countries to counter Chinese dominance. These included resource-rich countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The West's push became even more urgent after Beijing imposed export controls on the strategic metals gallium and germanium in July 2023, sparking global fears that China could be next to block exports of rare earth or processing technology. Because African markets are small, they are forced to rely on foreign financing. However, so far, foreign direct investment in rare earth production has confirmed the 'pollution haven' hypothesis about the environmentally harmful effects of FDI flowing into the affected countries. Although the full potential of rare earths in SSA has remained largely untapped due to low exploration, the dark side of the energy transition is becoming increasingly visible. These include pollution of soil, air and water as well as inadequate disposal of toxic residues and intensive water and energy use, occupational and environmental risks, child labour and sexual abuse as well as corruption and armed conflicts. In August 2023, Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, suspended certain illegal Chinese mining activities within its borders, including the activities of Ruitai Mining Company due to its involvement in illegal titanium ore mining. Namibia and the DR Congo followed suit. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300908/1/Kohnert-Export-seltener-Erden-aus-Afrika.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D43, E23, F51, F64, L63, N17, Q53 Keywords: Seltene Erden, Energiewende, Klimawandel, Umweltverschmutzung, Subsahara Afrika, EU Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300908 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10519289 Note: Deutsche Version von: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Prospects and challenges for the export of rare earths from Sub-Saharan Africa to the EU #END 263 #BEGIN 264 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Perspectives et défis pour l'exportation de terres rares d'Afrique subsaharienne vers l'UE Abstract: Le continent africain devient de plus en plus un champ de bataille dans la course entre les superpuissances pour l'accès aux minéraux essentiels à la « révolution verte », tels que les minéraux des terres rares (REE). Les entreprises chinoises, américaines et russes jouent un rôle majeur. Dans la plupart des cas, les minéraux critiques sont extraits par des sociétés minières internationales soutenues par leurs gouvernements et organisant des chaînes de valeur mondiales complexes. Jusqu’à présent, la Chine a dominé les chaînes d’approvisionnement et a obtenu des contrats miniers dans toute l’Afrique subsaharienne (ASS). Actuellement, la Chine produit 58 % de tous les REE dans le monde. C'est le principal importateur de minéraux d'Afrique, les exportations de minéraux de l'Afrique subsaharienne vers la Chine totalisant 10 milliards de dollars en 2019. Sa domination sur le marché mondial des terres rares est ancrée dans la politique et non dans la géographie. Les terres rares ne sont ni si rares ni si concentrées en Chine. Pékin a adopté une stratégie d'importation, de dumping et de contrôle des terres rares peu conforme aux règles de l'OMC. C’est pourquoi, en juin 2022, un nouveau « Partenariat pour la sécurité minière », composé des États-Unis, de l’UE, de la Grande-Bretagne et d’autres pays industrialisés occidentaux, a invité les pays africains riches en minéraux à contrer la domination chinoise. Il s'agissait notamment de pays riches en ressources telles que l'Afrique du Sud, le Botswana, l'Angola, le Mozambique, la Namibie, la Tanzanie, la Zambie, l'Ouganda et la République démocratique du Congo. L’action de l’Occident est devenue encore plus urgente après que Pékin a imposé des contrôles à l’exportation sur les métaux stratégiques, le gallium et le germanium, en juillet 2023, suscitant des craintes mondiales selon lesquelles la Chine pourrait être la prochaine à bloquer les exportations de terres rares ou de technologies de transformation. Les marchés africains étant petits, ils sont contraints de recourir au financement étranger. Cependant, jusqu'à présent, les investissements directs étrangers dans la production de terres rares ont confirmé l'hypothèse d'un « refuge pour pollueurs » concernant les effets néfastes sur l'environnement des IDE affluant vers les pays touchés. Bien que le plein potentiel des terres rares en ASS soit resté largement inexploité en raison du faible niveau d’exploration, le côté obscur de la transition énergétique devient de plus en plus visible. Ceux-ci incluent la pollution du sol, de l’air et de l’eau ainsi qu’une élimination inadéquate des résidus toxiques et une consommation intensive d’eau et d’énergie, les risques professionnels et environnementaux, le travail des enfants et les abus sexuels ainsi que la corruption et les conflits armés. En août 2023, le Nigeria, la plus grande économie d'Afrique, a suspendu certaines activités minières chinoises illégales à l'intérieur de ses frontières, notamment celles de la Ruitai Mining Company en raison de son implication dans l'extraction illégale de minerai de titane. La Namibie et la RD Congo ont emboîté le pas. Abstract: The African continent is increasingly becoming a battleground in the race between superpowers for access to critical minerals needed for the 'Green Revolution', such as rare earth minerals (REE). Companies from China, the USA and Russia play a major role. In most cases, critical minerals are mined by international mining companies supported by their governments and organizing complex global value chains. So far, China has dominated supply chains and has secured mining contracts across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Currently, China produces 58% of all REEs worldwide. It is the main importer of minerals from Africa, with mineral exports from sub-Saharan Africa to China totalling USD 10 bn in 2019. Its dominance of the global rare earths market is rooted in politics, not geography. Rare earths are neither that rare nor that concentrated in China. Beijing has adopted a strategy of imports, dumping and control of rare earths that is hardly consistent with WTO rules. Therefore, in June 2022, a newly founded 'Minerals Security Partnership', consisting of the USA, the EU, Great Britain and other Western industrialized countries, invited mineral-rich African countries to counter Chinese dominance. These included resource-rich countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The West's push became even more urgent after Beijing imposed export controls on the strategic metals gallium and germanium in July 2023, sparking global fears that China could be next to block exports of rare earth or processing technology. Because African markets are small, they are forced to rely on foreign financing. However, so far, foreign direct investment in rare earth production has confirmed the 'pollution haven' hypothesis about the environmentally harmful effects of FDI flowing into the affected countries. Although the full potential of rare earths in SSA has remained largely untapped due to low exploration, the dark side of the energy transition is becoming increasingly visible. These include pollution of soil, air and water as well as inadequate disposal of toxic residues and intensive water and energy use, occupational and environmental risks, child labour and sexual abuse as well as corruption and armed conflicts. In August 2023, Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, suspended certain illegal Chinese mining activities within its borders, including the activities of Ruitai Mining Company due to its involvement in illegal titanium ore mining. Namibia and the DR Congo followed suit. Abstract: Der afrikanische Kontinent wird immer mehr zum Schlachtfeld im Wettlauf zwischen Supermächten um den Zugang zu kritischen Mineralien, die für die ‚Grüne Revolution‘ benötigt werden, wie zum Beispiel seltene Erden (REE). Eine große Rolle spielen Unternehmen aus China, den USA und Russland. In den meisten Fällen werden kritische Mineralien von internationalen Bergbauunternehmen abgebaut, die von ihren Regierungen unterstützt werden und komplexe globale Wertschöpfungsketten organisieren. Bisher dominiert China die Lieferketten und hat sich Bergbauverträge in ganz Afrika südlich der Sahara (SSA) gesichert. Derzeit produziert China 58 % aller REEs weltweit. Es ist der Hauptimporteur von Mineralien aus Afrika, wobei sich die Mineralienexporte aus Afrika südlich der Sahara nach China im Jahr 2019 auf insgesamt $USD 10 Mrd. beliefen. Seine Dominanz auf dem globalen Markt für seltene Erden hat seine Wurzeln in der Politik, nicht in der Geographie. Seltene Erden sind weder so selten noch so stark in China konzentriert. Peking hat eine Strategie der Einfuhr, Dumpings und Kontrolle seltener Erden eingeführt, die kaum mit den Regeln der WTO übereinstimmt. Daher lud im Juni 2022 eine neu gegründete ‚Minerals Security Partnership‘, bestehend aus den USA, der EU, Großbritannien und anderen westlichen Industrieländern, mineralreiche Länder Afrikas ein, der chinesischen Dominanz entgegenzuwirken. Dazu gehörten rohstoffreiche Länder wie Südafrika, Botswana, Angola, Mosambik, Namibia, Tansania, Sambia, Uganda und die Demokratische Republik Kongo. Der Vorstoß des Westens wurde noch dringlicher, nachdem Peking im Juli 2023 Exportkontrollen für die strategischen Metalle Gallium und Germanium eingeführt hatte, was weltweit Befürchtungen weckte, dass China als nächstes den Export von Seltenen Erden oder Verarbeitungstechnologie blockieren könnte. Da die afrikanischen Märkte klein sind, sind sie gezwungen, auf ausländische Finanzmittel zurückzugreifen. Bisher haben die ausländischen Direktinvestitionen in die Produktion von Seltenen Erden jedoch die ‚Pollution haven‘ Hypothese über die umweltschädlichen Auswirkungen der in die betroffenen Länder fließenden FDI bestätigt. Obwohl das volle Potenzial der seltenen Erden in SSA aufgrund der geringen Exploration bisher weitgehend ungenutzt blieb, werden die Schattenseiten der Energiewende zunehmend sichtbar. Darunter fallen die Verschmutzung von Boden, Luft und Wasser sowie die unzureichende Entsorgung giftiger Rückstände und die intensive Wasser- und Energienutzung, Arbeits- und Umweltrisiken, Kinderarbeit und sexueller Missbrauch sowie Korruption und bewaffnete Konflikte. Im August 2023 stellte Nigeria, Afrikas größte Volkswirtschaft, bestimmte illegale chinesische Bergbauaktivitäten innerhalb seiner Grenzen ein, einschließlich der Aktivitäten der Ruitai Mining Company wegen ihrer Beteiligung am illegalen Titanerzabbau. Namibia und die DR Kongo folgten diesem Beispiel. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300907/1/Kohnert-Exportation-de-terres-rares-dAfrique.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D43, D52, E23, F13, F63, L63, Q53 Keywords: terres rares, transition énergétique, réchauffement climatique, pollution, Afrique subsaharienne, UE Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300907 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10493012 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Prospects and challenges for the export of rare earths from Sub-Saharan Africa to the EU #END 264 #BEGIN 265 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Prospects and challenges for the export of rare earths from Sub-Saharan Africa to the EU Abstract: The African continent is increasingly becoming a battleground in the race between superpowers for access to critical minerals needed for the 'Green Revolution', such as rare earth minerals (REE). Companies from China, the USA and Russia play a major role. In most cases, critical minerals are mined by international mining companies supported by their governments and organizing complex global value chains. So far, China has dominated supply chains and has secured mining contracts across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Currently, China produces 58% of all REEs worldwide. It is the main importer of minerals from Africa, with mineral exports from sub-Saharan Africa to China totalling USD 10 bn in 2019. Its dominance of the global rare earths market is rooted in politics, not geography. Rare earths are neither that rare nor that concentrated in China. Beijing has adopted a strategy of imports, dumping and control of rare earths that is hardly consistent with WTO rules. Therefore, in June 2022, a newly founded 'Minerals Security Partnership', consisting of the USA, the EU, Great Britain and other Western industrialized countries, invited mineral-rich African countries to counter Chinese dominance. These included resource-rich countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The West's push became even more urgent after Beijing imposed export controls on the strategic metals gallium and germanium in July 2023, sparking global fears that China could be next to block exports of rare earth or processing technology. Because African markets are small, they are forced to rely on foreign financing. However, so far, foreign direct investment in rare earth production has confirmed the 'pollution haven' hypothesis about the environmentally harmful effects of FDI flowing into the affected countries. Although the full potential of rare earths in SSA has remained largely untapped due to low exploration, the dark side of the energy transition is becoming increasingly visible. These include pollution of soil, air and water as well as inadequate disposal of toxic residues and intensive water and energy use, occupational and environmental risks, child labour and sexual abuse as well as corruption and armed conflicts. In August 2023, Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, suspended certain illegal Chinese mining activities within its borders, including the activities of Ruitai Mining Company due to its involvement in illegal titanium ore mining. Namibia and the DR Congo followed suit. Abstract: Der afrikanische Kontinent wird immer mehr zum Schlachtfeld im Wettlauf zwischen Supermächten um den Zugang zu kritischen Mineralien, die für die ‚Grüne Revolution‘ benötigt werden, wie zum Beispiel seltene Erden (REE). Eine große Rolle spielen Unternehmen aus China, den USA und Russland. In den meisten Fällen werden kritische Mineralien von internationalen Bergbauunternehmen abgebaut, die von ihren Regierungen unterstützt werden und komplexe globale Wertschöpfungsketten organisieren. Bisher dominiert China die Lieferketten und hat sich Bergbauverträge in ganz Afrika südlich der Sahara (SSA) gesichert. Derzeit produziert China 58 % aller REEs weltweit. Es ist der Hauptimporteur von Mineralien aus Afrika, wobei sich die Mineralienexporte aus Afrika südlich der Sahara nach China im Jahr 2019 auf insgesamt $USD 10 Mrd. beliefen. Seine Dominanz auf dem globalen Markt für seltene Erden hat seine Wurzeln in der Politik, nicht in der Geographie. Seltene Erden sind weder so selten noch so stark in China konzentriert. Peking hat eine Strategie der Einfuhr, Dumpings und Kontrolle seltener Erden eingeführt, die kaum mit den Regeln der WTO übereinstimmt. Daher lud im Juni 2022 eine neu gegründete ‚Minerals Security Partnership‘, bestehend aus den USA, der EU, Großbritannien und anderen westlichen Industrieländern, mineralreiche Länder Afrikas ein, der chinesischen Dominanz entgegenzuwirken. Dazu gehörten rohstoffreiche Länder wie Südafrika, Botswana, Angola, Mosambik, Namibia, Tansania, Sambia, Uganda und die Demokratische Republik Kongo. Der Vorstoß des Westens wurde noch dringlicher, nachdem Peking im Juli 2023 Exportkontrollen für die strategischen Metalle Gallium und Germanium eingeführt hatte, was weltweit Befürchtungen weckte, dass China als nächstes den Export von Seltenen Erden oder Verarbeitungstechnologie blockieren könnte. Da die afrikanischen Märkte klein sind, sind sie gezwungen, auf ausländische Finanzmittel zurückzugreifen. Bisher haben die ausländischen Direktinvestitionen in die Produktion von Seltenen Erden jedoch die ‚Pollution haven‘ Hypothese über die umweltschädlichen Auswirkungen der in die betroffenen Länder fließenden FDI bestätigt. Obwohl das volle Potenzial der seltenen Erden in SSA aufgrund der geringen Exploration bisher weitgehend ungenutzt blieb, werden die Schattenseiten der Energiewende zunehmend sichtbar. Darunter fallen die Verschmutzung von Boden, Luft und Wasser sowie die unzureichende Entsorgung giftiger Rückstände und die intensive Wasser- und Energienutzung, Arbeits- und Umweltrisiken, Kinderarbeit und sexueller Missbrauch sowie Korruption und bewaffnete Konflikte. Im August 2023 stellte Nigeria, Afrikas größte Volkswirtschaft, bestimmte illegale chinesische Bergbauaktivitäten innerhalb seiner Grenzen ein, einschließlich der Aktivitäten der Ruitai Mining Company wegen ihrer Beteiligung am illegalen Titanerzabbau. Namibia und die DR Kongo folgten diesem Beispiel. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300906/1/Kohnert-Exort-of-rare-earths-from-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D43, D52, E23, F13, F18, F63, L61, N54, Q53 Keywords: rare earths, energy transition, climate change, pollution, emerging markets, Sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300906 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10576393 #END 265 #BEGIN 266 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Perspektiven und Herausforderungen für EU-Importe seltener Erden aus Russland: Fallstudien aus Deutschland, Frankreich und Italien Abstract: Die Europäische Union (EU) hat einen dringenden Bedarf an Seltenen Erden, insbesondere an raffinierten Produkten, die für die Produktion von Elektroautos, Turbinen und anderen technischen Anwendungen unerlässlich sind. Allerdings ist der Raffinierungsprozess nicht nur energieintensiv, sondern birgt auch erhebliche Umweltrisiken. Folglich lehnen lokale Gemeinschaften, wie Beispiele in Spanien und Portugal zeigen, solche Operationen in ihrer Nähe vehement ab und befürworten eine „Beggar-thy-Neighbour“-Politik. Die EU ist derzeit stark von China abhängig, das den Großteil der weltweiten Verarbeitung kontrolliert und über 90 % aller Seltenen Erden und 60 % des Lithiums verfügt. Als Reaktion auf diese Herausforderungen hat die EU im November 2023 einen entscheidenden Schritt unternommen, indem sie eine vorläufige Einigung über den European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) erzielte. Diese Gesetzesinitiative zielt darauf ab, die Versorgung der EU mit kritischen Rohstoffen (CRM) zu verbessern und zu diversifizieren, die Kreislaufwirtschaft zu fördern, die strategische Autonomie Europas zu stärken und Alternativen zur Verringerung der Abhängigkeit zu erkunden. Die jüngsten transnationalen Krisen, darunter Unterbrechungen der Lieferketten während der COVID-19-Pandemie und der russischen Invasion in der Ukraine, unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit sicherer Lieferketten in allen Wirtschaftssektoren. Diese Krisen unterstreichen auch den erheblichen Einfluss großer Schwellenländer, insbesondere der BRICS-Staaten (Brasilien, Russland, Indien, China und Südafrika), die wichtige globale Lieferketten, einschließlich derjenigen für kritische Rohstoffe (CRMs), dominieren. Russland spielt eine zentrale Rolle als einer der weltweit größten Lieferanten von Palladium (40 % des weltweiten Angebots), als zweitgrößter Lieferant von Platin (13 %) und Nickel (12 %) und als wesentlicher Lieferant von Aluminium und Kupfer. Darüber hinaus verfügt Russland aufgrund seiner umfangreichen Reserven über das Potenzial, sich zu einem wichtigen Akteur auf dem Markt für Seltene Erden zu entwickeln. Auf das Land entfällt auch ein beträchtlicher Anteil der EU-Akquisitionen, darunter Palladium (41 %), Platin (16 %), Kobalt (5 %) und Lithium (4 %). Insbesondere dient Russland als wichtigste EU-Quelle für die Verarbeitung von Metallen der Platingruppe (Iridium, Platin, Rhodium, Ruthenium; 40 %), die Gewinnung von Phosphatgestein (20 %), die Verarbeitung von Lithium (4 %) und die Verarbeitung von Scandium (1 %). Um eine größere Unabhängigkeit bei der externen CRM-Bereitstellung zu erreichen, muss die EU erhebliche Investitionen in ihre Bergbau- und Verarbeitungsanlagen tätigen. Allerdings stellt der Bergbau lediglich die Anfangsphase dar; Nachfolgende Schritte umfassen die Trennung seltener Erdelemente (REE) von Oxiden, die Raffinierung und das Schmieden von Legierungen, ein komplexer, hochspezialisierter, mehrstufiger Prozess. In dieser Hinsicht hinken relative Newcomer wie Europa hinterher, da China seine dominierende Stellung in jeder Phase durch eine konzertierte, langfristige Industriestrategie, die durch staatliche Subventionen unterstützt wird, gefestigt hat. Abstract: The European Union (EU) finds itself in a critical need for rare earths, particularly the refined products essential for the production of electric cars, turbines, and other technological applications. However, the refining process is not only energy-intensive but also poses significant environmental risks. Consequently, local communities, as evidenced by instances in Spain and Portugal, vehemently oppose having such operations in their vicinity, advocating a "beggar thy neighbour" policy. The EU currently relies heavily on China, which controls the majority of global processing, commanding 90% of all rare earths and 60% of lithium. In response to these challenges, the EU took a crucial step in November 2023 by reaching a preliminary agreement on the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This legislative initiative aims to enhance and diversify the EU's supply of critical raw materials (CRM), foster the circular economy, fortify Europe's strategic autonomy, and explore alternatives to mitigate dependence. Recent transnational crises, including disruptions to supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, underscore the imperative of secure supply chains across all economic sectors. These crises also underscore the significant influence wielded by major emerging economies, notably the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which dominate key global supply chains, including those for critical raw materials (CRMs). Russia plays a pivotal role as one of the world's largest suppliers of palladium (40% of global supply), the second-largest supplier of platinum (13%) and nickel (12%), and a substantial contributor of aluminium and copper. Furthermore, Russia possesses the potential to emerge as a major player in the rare earths market due to its extensive reserves. The country also accounts for a considerable share of the EU's acquisitions, including palladium (41%), platinum (16%), cobalt (5%), and lithium (4%). Notably, Russia serves as the primary EU source for platinum group metals processing (iridium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium; 40%), phosphate rock extraction (20%), lithium processing (4%), and scandium processing (1%). To attain greater independence in external CRM provision, the EU must make significant investments in its mining and processing facilities. However, mining represents merely the initial phase; subsequent steps involve the separation of rare earth elements (REE) from oxides, refining, and alloy forging a complex, highly specialized, multi-stage process. In this regard, relative newcomers like Europe lag behind, as China has solidified its dominant position in each phase through a concerted, long-term industrial strategy supported by state subsidies Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300884/1/Kohnert-EU-Importe-seltener-Erden-aus-Russland.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D43, F13, F18, F64, N17 Keywords: Seltene Erden, Klimawandel, Energiewende, Umweltverschmutzung, Russland, Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300884 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10609149 Note: Deutsche Version von: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Prospects and challenges for EU rare earth imports from Russia: The case of Germany, France and Italy #END 266 #BEGIN 267 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Perspectives et défis pour les importations européennes de terres rares en provenance de Russie : études de cas d'Allemagne, de France et d'Italie Abstract: L'Union européenne (UE) se trouve confrontée à un besoin critique de terres rares, en particulier de produits raffinés essentiels à la production de voitures électriques, de turbines et d'autres applications technologiques. Cependant, le processus de raffinage est non seulement énergivore, mais pose également des risques environnementaux importants. Par conséquent, les communautés locales, comme en témoignent les exemples en Espagne et au Portugal, s'opposent avec véhémence à de telles opérations dans leur voisinage, préconisant une politique du « chacun pour soi ». L’UE dépend actuellement fortement de la Chine, qui contrôle la majorité de la transformation mondiale, avec 90 % de toutes les terres rares et 60 % du lithium. En réponse à ces défis, l’UE a franchi une étape cruciale en novembre 2023 en concluant un accord préliminaire sur la loi européenne sur les matières premières critiques (CRMA). Cette initiative législative vise à améliorer et à diversifier l'approvisionnement de l'UE en matières premières critiques (CRM), à favoriser l'économie circulaire, à renforcer l'autonomie stratégique de l'Europe et à explorer des alternatives pour atténuer la dépendance. Les récentes crises transnationales, notamment les perturbations des chaînes d'approvisionnement lors de la pandémie de COVID-19 et l'invasion de l'Ukraine par la Russie, soulignent l'impératif de garantir des chaînes d'approvisionnement sécurisées dans tous les secteurs économiques. Ces crises soulignent également l’influence considérable exercée par les principales économies émergentes, notamment les pays BRICS (Brésil, Russie, Inde, Chine et Afrique du Sud), qui dominent les principales chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales, notamment celles des matières premières critiques (CRM). La Russie joue un rôle central en tant que l'un des plus grands fournisseurs mondiaux de palladium (40 % de l'offre mondiale), le deuxième fournisseur de platine (13 %) et de nickel (12 %) et un contributeur substantiel d'aluminium et de cuivre. En outre, la Russie possède le potentiel de devenir un acteur majeur sur le marché des terres rares grâce à ses vastes réserves. Le pays représente également une part considérable des acquisitions de l'UE, notamment le palladium (41 %), le platine (16 %), le cobalt (5 %) et le lithium (4 %). La Russie est notamment la principale source de l'UE pour la transformation des métaux du groupe du platine (iridium, platine, rhodium, ruthénium ; 40 %), l'extraction de la roche phosphatée (20 %), la transformation du lithium (4 %) et la transformation du scandium (1 %). Pour parvenir à une plus grande indépendance en matière de fourniture externe de CRM, l’UE doit réaliser des investissements importants dans ses installations d’extraction et de transformation. Cependant, l’exploitation minière ne représente que la phase initiale ; les étapes suivantes impliquent la séparation des éléments de terres rares (REE) des oxydes, le raffinage et le forgeage d'alliages, un processus complexe, hautement spécialisé et en plusieurs étapes. À cet égard, les nouveaux arrivants comme l’Europe sont à la traîne, la Chine ayant consolidé sa position dominante à chaque étape grâce à une stratégie industrielle concertée à long terme soutenue par des subventions publiques. Abstract: The European Union (EU) finds itself in a critical need for rare earths, particularly the refined products essential for the production of electric cars, turbines, and other technological applications. However, the refining process is not only energy-intensive but also poses significant environmental risks. Consequently, local communities, as evidenced by instances in Spain and Portugal, vehemently oppose having such operations in their vicinity, advocating a "beggar thy neighbour" policy. The EU currently relies heavily on China, which controls the majority of global processing, commanding 90% of all rare earths and 60% of lithium. In response to these challenges, the EU took a crucial step in November 2023 by reaching a preliminary agreement on the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This legislative initiative aims to enhance and diversify the EU's supply of critical raw materials (CRM), foster the circular economy, fortify Europe's strategic autonomy, and explore alternatives to mitigate dependence. Recent transnational crises, including disruptions to supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, underscore the imperative of secure supply chains across all economic sectors. These crises also underscore the significant influence wielded by major emerging economies, notably the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which dominate key global supply chains, including those for critical raw materials (CRMs). Russia plays a pivotal role as one of the world's largest suppliers of palladium (40% of global supply), the second-largest supplier of platinum (13%) and nickel (12%), and a substantial contributor of aluminium and copper. Furthermore, Russia possesses the potential to emerge as a major player in the rare earths market due to its extensive reserves. The country also accounts for a considerable share of the EU's acquisitions, including palladium (41%), platinum (16%), cobalt (5%), and lithium (4%). Notably, Russia serves as the primary EU source for platinum group metals processing (iridium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium; 40%), phosphate rock extraction (20%), lithium processing (4%), and scandium processing (1%). To attain greater independence in external CRM provision, the EU must make significant investments in its mining and processing facilities. However, mining represents merely the initial phase; subsequent steps involve the separation of rare earth elements (REE) from oxides, refining, and alloy forging a complex, highly specialized, multi-stage process. In this regard, relative newcomers like Europe lag behind, as China has solidified its dominant position in each phase through a concerted, long-term industrial strategy supported by state subsidies Abstract: Die Europäische Union (EU) hat einen dringenden Bedarf an Seltenen Erden, insbesondere an raffinierten Produkten, die für die Produktion von Elektroautos, Turbinen und anderen technischen Anwendungen unerlässlich sind. Allerdings ist der Raffinierungsprozess nicht nur energieintensiv, sondern birgt auch erhebliche Umweltrisiken. Folglich lehnen lokale Gemeinschaften, wie Beispiele in Spanien und Portugal zeigen, solche Operationen in ihrer Nähe vehement ab und befürworten eine „Beggar-thy-Neighbour“-Politik. Die EU ist derzeit stark von China abhängig, das den Großteil der weltweiten Verarbeitung kontrolliert und über 90 % aller Seltenen Erden und 60 % des Lithiums verfügt. Als Reaktion auf diese Herausforderungen hat die EU im November 2023 einen entscheidenden Schritt unternommen, indem sie eine vorläufige Einigung über den European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) erzielte. Diese Gesetzesinitiative zielt darauf ab, die Versorgung der EU mit kritischen Rohstoffen (CRM) zu verbessern und zu diversifizieren, die Kreislaufwirtschaft zu fördern, die strategische Autonomie Europas zu stärken und Alternativen zur Verringerung der Abhängigkeit zu erkunden. Die jüngsten transnationalen Krisen, darunter Unterbrechungen der Lieferketten während der COVID-19-Pandemie und der russischen Invasion in der Ukraine, unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit sicherer Lieferketten in allen Wirtschaftssektoren. Diese Krisen unterstreichen auch den erheblichen Einfluss großer Schwellenländer, insbesondere der BRICS-Staaten (Brasilien, Russland, Indien, China und Südafrika), die wichtige globale Lieferketten, einschließlich derjenigen für kritische Rohstoffe (CRMs), dominieren. Russland spielt eine zentrale Rolle als einer der weltweit größten Lieferanten von Palladium (40 % des weltweiten Angebots), als zweitgrößter Lieferant von Platin (13 %) und Nickel (12 %) und als wesentlicher Lieferant von Aluminium und Kupfer. Darüber hinaus verfügt Russland aufgrund seiner umfangreichen Reserven über das Potenzial, sich zu einem wichtigen Akteur auf dem Markt für Seltene Erden zu entwickeln. Auf das Land entfällt auch ein beträchtlicher Anteil der EU-Akquisitionen, darunter Palladium (41 %), Platin (16 %), Kobalt (5 %) und Lithium (4 %). Insbesondere dient Russland als wichtigste EU-Quelle für die Verarbeitung von Metallen der Platingruppe (Iridium, Platin, Rhodium, Ruthenium; 40 %), die Gewinnung von Phosphatgestein (20 %), die Verarbeitung von Lithium (4 %) und die Verarbeitung von Scandium (1 %). Um eine größere Unabhängigkeit bei der externen CRM-Bereitstellung zu erreichen, muss die EU erhebliche Investitionen in ihre Bergbau- und Verarbeitungsanlagen tätigen. Allerdings stellt der Bergbau lediglich die Anfangsphase dar; Nachfolgende Schritte umfassen die Trennung seltener Erdelemente (REE) von Oxiden, die Raffinierung und das Schmieden von Legierungen, ein komplexer, hochspezialisierter, mehrstufiger Prozess. In dieser Hinsicht hinken relative Newcomer wie Europa hinterher, da China seine dominierende Stellung in jeder Phase durch eine konzertierte, langfristige Industriestrategie, die durch staatliche Subventionen unterstützt wird, gefestigt hat. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300883/1/Kohnert-Importations-terres-rares-de-Russie.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D43, D52, E23, F18, Q53 Keywords: terres rares, transition énergétique, changement climatique, pollution Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300883 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10576397 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Prospects and challenges for EU rare earth imports from Russia: The case of Germany, France and Italy #END 267 #BEGIN 268 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Prospects and challenges for EU rare earth imports from Russia: The case of Germany, France and Italy Abstract: The European Union (EU) finds itself in a critical need for rare earths, particularly the refined products essential for the production of electric cars, turbines, and other technological applications. However, the refining process is not only energy-intensive but also poses significant environmental risks. Consequently, local communities, as evidenced by instances in Spain and Portugal, vehemently oppose having such operations in their vicinity, advocating a "beggar thy neighbour" policy. The EU currently relies heavily on China, which controls the majority of global processing, commanding 90% of all rare earths and 60% of lithium. In response to these challenges, the EU took a crucial step in November 2023 by reaching a preliminary agreement on the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This legislative initiative aims to enhance and diversify the EU's supply of critical raw materials (CRM), foster the circular economy, fortify Europe's strategic autonomy, and explore alternatives to mitigate dependence. Recent transnational crises, including disruptions to supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, underscore the imperative of secure supply chains across all economic sectors. These crises also underscore the significant influence wielded by major emerging economies, notably the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which dominate key global supply chains, including those for critical raw materials (CRMs). Russia plays a pivotal role as one of the world's largest suppliers of palladium (40% of global supply), the second-largest supplier of platinum (13%) and nickel (12%), and a substantial contributor of aluminium and copper. Furthermore, Russia possesses the potential to emerge as a major player in the rare earths market due to its extensive reserves. The country also accounts for a considerable share of the EU's acquisitions, including palladium (41%), platinum (16%), cobalt (5%), and lithium (4%). Notably, Russia serves as the primary EU source for platinum group metals processing (iridium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium; 40%), phosphate rock extraction (20%), lithium processing (4%), and scandium processing (1%). To attain greater independence in external CRM provision, the EU must make significant investments in its mining and processing facilities. However, mining represents merely the initial phase; subsequent steps involve the separation of rare earth elements (REE) from oxides, refining, and alloy forging a complex, highly specialized, multi-stage process. In this regard, relative newcomers like Europe lag behind, as China has solidified its dominant position in each phase through a concerted, long-term industrial strategy supported by state subsidies. Abstract: Die Europäische Union (EU) hat einen dringenden Bedarf an Seltenen Erden, insbesondere an raffinierten Produkten, die für die Produktion von Elektroautos, Turbinen und anderen technischen Anwendungen unerlässlich sind. Allerdings ist der Raffinierungsprozess nicht nur energieintensiv, sondern birgt auch erhebliche Umweltrisiken. Folglich lehnen lokale Gemeinschaften, wie Beispiele in Spanien und Portugal zeigen, solche Operationen in ihrer Nähe vehement ab und befürworten eine „Beggar-thy-Neighbour“-Politik. Die EU ist derzeit stark von China abhängig, das den Großteil der weltweiten Verarbeitung kontrolliert und über 90 % aller Seltenen Erden und 60 % des Lithiums verfügt. Als Reaktion auf diese Herausforderungen hat die EU im November 2023 einen entscheidenden Schritt unternommen, indem sie eine vorläufige Einigung über den European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) erzielte. Diese Gesetzesinitiative zielt darauf ab, die Versorgung der EU mit kritischen Rohstoffen (CRM) zu verbessern und zu diversifizieren, die Kreislaufwirtschaft zu fördern, die strategische Autonomie Europas zu stärken und Alternativen zur Verringerung der Abhängigkeit zu erkunden. Die jüngsten transnationalen Krisen, darunter Unterbrechungen der Lieferketten während der COVID-19-Pandemie und der russischen Invasion in der Ukraine, unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit sicherer Lieferketten in allen Wirtschaftssektoren. Diese Krisen unterstreichen auch den erheblichen Einfluss großer Schwellenländer, insbesondere der BRICS-Staaten (Brasilien, Russland, Indien, China und Südafrika), die wichtige globale Lieferketten, einschließlich derjenigen für kritische Rohstoffe (CRMs), dominieren. Russland spielt eine zentrale Rolle als einer der weltweit größten Lieferanten von Palladium (40 % des weltweiten Angebots), als zweitgrößter Lieferant von Platin (13 %) und Nickel (12 %) und als wesentlicher Lieferant von Aluminium und Kupfer. Darüber hinaus verfügt Russland aufgrund seiner umfangreichen Reserven über das Potenzial, sich zu einem wichtigen Akteur auf dem Markt für Seltene Erden zu entwickeln. Auf das Land entfällt auch ein beträchtlicher Anteil der EU-Akquisitionen, darunter Palladium (41 %), Platin (16 %), Kobalt (5 %) und Lithium (4 %). Insbesondere dient Russland als wichtigste EU-Quelle für die Verarbeitung von Metallen der Platingruppe (Iridium, Platin, Rhodium, Ruthenium; 40 %), die Gewinnung von Phosphatgestein (20 %), die Verarbeitung von Lithium (4 %) und die Verarbeitung von Scandium (1 %). Um eine größere Unabhängigkeit bei der externen CRM-Bereitstellung zu erreichen, muss die EU erhebliche Investitionen in ihre Bergbau- und Verarbeitungsanlagen tätigen. Allerdings stellt der Bergbau lediglich die Anfangsphase dar; Nachfolgende Schritte umfassen die Trennung seltener Erdelemente (REE) von Oxiden, die Raffinierung und das Schmieden von Legierungen, ein komplexer, hochspezialisierter, mehrstufiger Prozess. In dieser Hinsicht hinken relative Newcomer wie Europa hinterher, da China seine dominierende Stellung in jeder Phase durch eine konzertierte, langfristige Industriestrategie, die durch staatliche Subventionen unterstützt wird, gefestigt hat. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300882/1/Kohnert-EU-rare-earth-imports-from-Russia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D43, D52, E23, F64, Q53 Keywords: rare earths, climate change, energy transition, pollution, Russia, Germany, France, Italy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300882 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10569971 #END 268 #BEGIN 269 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Auswirkungen der CO₂-Emissionen der Industrienationen auf den Klimawandel in Subsahara-Afrika: Fallstudien aus Südafrika, Nigeria und der DR Kongo Abstract: Menschliche Aktivitäten haben den Planeten in einem in der Geschichte beispiellosen Tempo und Ausmaß verändert und irreversible Schäden an Gemeinschaften und Ökosystemen verursacht. Die Länder haben ihre Kapazitäten auf das Wirtschaftswachstum konzentriert und dabei den damit verbundenen externen Effekten im Hinblick auf die Umweltqualität wenig Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt. Die Welt wird eine katastrophale Erwärmung nicht vermeiden können, wenn wohlhabende Nationen ihre eigenen Emissionsreduzierungen nicht beschleunigen und ärmeren Ländern dabei helfen, dasselbe zu tun. Nordamerika und Europa haben seit der industriellen Revolution 62 % der Kohlendioxidemissionen verursacht, während Afrika nur 3 % beitrug. Allerdings sind die Auswirkungen in Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) am schwerwiegendsten und die Menschen am stärksten gefährdet. Industrieländer sollten sich in ihrem eigenen Interesse darauf konzentrieren, Entwicklungsländern beim Ausstieg aus fossilen Brennstoffen und beim Übergang zu erneuerbaren Energien zu helfen. Es gibt jedoch Spannungen zwischen reicheren und ärmeren Ländern darüber, wer die Kosten der globalen Erwärmung tragen soll. Reiche Länder haben die Verantwortung, schneller zu handeln als ihre einkommensschwachen Länder. Dennoch subventionieren Regierungen weiterhin die Nutzung fossiler Brennstoffe, und Banken und Unternehmen investieren immer noch weitaus mehr in umweltverschmutzende Industrien als in Klimalösungen. Die Konsumgewohnheiten der reichsten 10 % der Menschen verursachen dreimal mehr Umweltverschmutzung als die der ärmsten 50 %. Schwellenländer wie China und Indien, die bis 2060 bzw. 2070 Netto-Null-Emissionen erreichen wollen, sollten sich den Industrieländern anschließen und die Emissionsreduzierung beschleunigen. Nicht nur die Art und Weise, wie wir Energie produzieren und nutzen, muss sich schnell ändern. Es ist die Art und Weise, wie wir Lebensmittel konsumieren, die Art und Weise, wie wir die Natur schützen. Es gilt alles, überall, und alles auf einmal zu ändern. Der Agrarsektor ist besonders gefährdet, insbesondere in SSA-Ländern, in denen die Landwirtschaft für Wirtschaft und Produktivität von zentraler Bedeutung ist. Zu den acht Ländern mit den höchsten kumulierten Nettoemissionen aus Land- und Forstwirtschaft sowie anderer Landnutzung gehören zwei SSA-Länder, Nigeria und die DR Kongo. Die meisten dieser Emissionen sind durch internationalen Handel induziert und werden durch den Konsum in industrialisierten Regionen wie Europa, den Vereinigten Staaten und China verursacht. Allerdings wird die Einrichtung des auf der COP27 vereinbarten Verlust- und Schadensfonds nicht ausreichen, um das Blatt zu wenden. Er wird sich auch nicht zwangsläufig in Verpflichtungen zur Klimafinanzierung niederschlagen, da bei der Bereitstellung der versprochenen jährlichen Klimafinanzierung in Höhe von 100 Milliarden US-Dollar durch die Reichen bisher keine Fortschritte erzielt wurden. Die afrikanischen Länder selbst müssen sich auf ihre eigenen Stärken besinnen und ihre Anstrengungen rechtzeitig und substanziell verstärken. Abstract: Human activity has transformed the planet at a pace and scale unprecedented in recorded history, causing irreversible damage to communities and ecosystems. Countries have focused their capacities on economic growth, with too little attention to externalities in terms of environmental quality. The world will not avoid catastrophic warming unless wealthy nations accelerate their reduction of own emissions and help poorer countries to do the same. North America and Europe have contributed 62 % of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution, while Africa has contributed only 3%. However, it is in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that the impacts are most severe and the people most vulnerable. Developed countries, in their own interests, should focus on ways to help developing countries phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. However, there are tensions between richer and poorer nations over who should pay the costs of global warming. Rich countries have a responsibility to act more quickly than their low-income counterparts. Yet governments continue to subsidise the use of fossil fuels, and banks and companies still invest more in polluting industries than in climate solutions. The consumption habits of the richest 10 % of people generate three times more pollution than those of the poorest 50 %. Emerging economies such as China and India, which plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 and 2070 respectively, should join the developed world in accelerating emissions reductions. It is not just the way we produce and use energy that needs to change quickly. It's the way we consume food, the way we protect nature. It's everything, everywhere, all at once. The agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable, especially in SSA countries where agriculture is central to the economy. Among the top eight countries with the highest cumulative net emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use are two SSA countries, Nigeria and DR Congo. Most of these emissions are embodied in trade and are caused by consumption in regions such as Europe, the United States and China. The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund agreed at COP27 will not be enough to turn the tide, nor will it necessarily translate into climate finance commitments, given the lack of progress in delivering the promised US$100 billion in annual climate finance from rich countries. African countries themselves need to reflect on their own strengths and step up their efforts in a timely and substantial way. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300881/1/Kohnert-CO2-und-Klimawandel-in-Afrika.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F18, F54, F64, H23, N17, O55, Z13 Keywords: Klimawandel, ökologische Nachhaltigkeit, CO2 Neutralität, Umweltverschmutzung, Subsahara Afrika, Südafrika Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300881 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10696943 Note: Deutsche Version von: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): The impact of the industrialized nation's CO2 emissions on climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case studies from South Africa, Nigeria and the DR Congo #END 269 #BEGIN 270 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: The impact of the industrialized nation's CO₂ emissions on climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case studies from South Africa, Nigeria and the DR Congo Abstract: Human activity has transformed the planet at a pace and scale unprecedented in recorded history, causing irreversible damage to communities and ecosystems. Countries have focused their capacities on economic growth, with too little attention to externalities in terms of environmental quality. The world will not avoid catastrophic warming unless wealthy nations accelerate their reduction of own emissions and help poorer countries to do the same. North America and Europe have contributed 62 % of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution, while Africa has contributed only 3%. However, it is in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that the impacts are most severe and the people most vulnerable. Developed countries, in their own interests, should focus on ways to help developing countries phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. However, there are tensions between richer and poorer nations over who should pay the costs of global warming. Rich countries have a responsibility to act more quickly than their low-income counterparts. Yet governments continue to subsidise the use of fossil fuels, and banks and companies still invest more in polluting industries than in climate solutions. The consumption habits of the richest 10 % of people generate three times more pollution than those of the poorest 50 %. Emerging economies such as China and India, which plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 and 2070 respectively, should join the developed world in accelerating emissions reductions. It is not just the way we produce and use energy that needs to change quickly. It's the way we consume food, the way we protect nature. It's everything, everywhere, all at once. The agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable, especially in SSA countries where agriculture is central to the economy. Among the top eight countries with the highest cumulative net emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use are two SSA countries, Nigeria and DR Congo. Most of these emissions are embodied in trade and are caused by consumption in regions such as Europe, the United States and China. The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund agreed at COP27 will not be enough to turn the tide, nor will it necessarily translate into climate finance commitments, given the lack of progress in delivering the promised US$100 billion in annual climate finance from rich countries. African countries themselves need to reflect on their own strengths and step up their efforts in a timely and substantial way. Abstract: Menschliche Aktivitäten haben den Planeten in einem in der Geschichte beispiellosen Tempo und Ausmaß verändert und irreversible Schäden an Gemeinschaften und Ökosystemen verursacht. Die Länder haben ihre Kapazitäten auf das Wirtschaftswachstum konzentriert und dabei den damit verbundenen externen Effekten im Hinblick auf die Umweltqualität wenig Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt. Die Welt wird eine katastrophale Erwärmung nicht vermeiden können, wenn wohlhabende Nationen ihre eigenen Emissionsreduzierungen nicht beschleunigen und ärmeren Ländern dabei helfen, dasselbe zu tun. Nordamerika und Europa haben seit der industriellen Revolution 62 % der Kohlendioxidemissionen verursacht, während Afrika nur 3 % beitrug. Allerdings sind die Auswirkungen in Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) am schwerwiegendsten und die Menschen am stärksten gefährdet. Industrieländer sollten sich in ihrem eigenen Interesse darauf konzentrieren, Entwicklungsländern beim Ausstieg aus fossilen Brennstoffen und beim Übergang zu erneuerbaren Energien zu helfen. Es gibt jedoch Spannungen zwischen reicheren und ärmeren Ländern darüber, wer die Kosten der globalen Erwärmung tragen soll. Reiche Länder haben die Verantwortung, schneller zu handeln als ihre einkommensschwachen Länder. Dennoch subventionieren Regierungen weiterhin die Nutzung fossiler Brennstoffe, und Banken und Unternehmen investieren immer noch weitaus mehr in umweltverschmutzende Industrien als in Klimalösungen. Die Konsumgewohnheiten der reichsten 10 % der Menschen verursachen dreimal mehr Umweltverschmutzung als die der ärmsten 50 %. Schwellenländer wie China und Indien, die bis 2060 bzw. 2070 Netto-Null-Emissionen erreichen wollen, sollten sich den Industrieländern anschließen und die Emissionsreduzierung beschleunigen. Nicht nur die Art und Weise, wie wir Energie produzieren und nutzen, muss sich schnell ändern. Es ist die Art und Weise, wie wir Lebensmittel konsumieren, die Art und Weise, wie wir die Natur schützen. Es gilt alles, überall, und alles auf einmal zu ändern. Der Agrarsektor ist besonders gefährdet, insbesondere in SSA-Ländern, in denen die Landwirtschaft für Wirtschaft und Produktivität von zentraler Bedeutung ist. Zu den acht Ländern mit den höchsten kumulierten Nettoemissionen aus Land- und Forstwirtschaft sowie anderer Landnutzung gehören zwei SSA-Länder, Nigeria und die DR Kongo. Die meisten dieser Emissionen sind durch internationalen Handel induziert und werden durch den Konsum in industrialisierten Regionen wie Europa, den Vereinigten Staaten und China verursacht. Allerdings wird die Einrichtung des auf der COP27 vereinbarten Verlust- und Schadensfonds nicht ausreichen, um das Blatt zu wenden. Er wird sich auch nicht zwangsläufig in Verpflichtungen zur Klimafinanzierung niederschlagen, da bei der Bereitstellung der versprochenen jährlichen Klimafinanzierung in Höhe von 100 Milliarden US-Dollar durch die Reichen bisher keine Fortschritte erzielt wurden. Die afrikanischen Länder selbst müssen sich auf ihre eigenen Stärken besinnen und ihre Anstrengungen rechtzeitig und substanziell verstärken. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300880/1/Kohnert-CO2-and-climate-change-in-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F18, F54, H23, N17, O55 Keywords: Environmental sustainabily, Carbon neutrality, climate change, Carbon dioxide, Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300880 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10674973 #END 270 #BEGIN 271 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L'impact des émissions de CO₂ des pays industrialisés sur le changement climatique en Afrique subsaharienne: Études de cas d'Afrique du Sud, du Nigeria et de la RD Congo Abstract: L’activité humaine a transformé la planète à un rythme et à une échelle sans précédent dans l’histoire, causant des dommages irréversibles aux communautés et aux écosystèmes. Les pays ont concentré leurs capacités sur la croissance économique, avec peu d’attention aux externalités associées en termes de qualité environnementale. Le monde n’évitera pas un réchauffement catastrophique à moins que les pays riches n’accélèrent leurs propres réductions d’émissions et n’aident les pays les plus pauvres à faire de même. L'Amérique du Nord et l'Europe ont contribué à 62 % des émissions de dioxyde de carbone depuis la révolution industrielle, tandis que l'Afrique n'en a contribué qu'à 3 %. Cependant, c’est en Afrique subsaharienne (ASS) que les impacts sont les plus graves et que les populations sont les plus vulnérables. Les pays développés devraient, dans leur propre intérêt, se concentrer sur les moyens d’aider les pays en développement à éliminer progressivement les combustibles fossiles et à passer aux énergies renouvelables. Cependant, des tensions existent entre les pays les plus riches et les pays les plus pauvres quant à savoir qui doit payer les coûts du réchauffement climatique. Les pays riches ont la responsabilité d’agir plus rapidement que leurs homologues à faible revenu. Pourtant, les gouvernements continuent de subventionner l’utilisation des combustibles fossiles, et les banques et les entreprises investissent encore bien plus dans les industries polluantes que dans les solutions climatiques. Les habitudes de consommation des 10 % les plus riches génèrent trois fois plus de pollution que celles des 50 % les plus pauvres. Les économies émergentes telles que la Chine et l’Inde, qui prévoient d’atteindre zéro émission nette d’ici 2060 et 2070, respectivement, devraient rejoindre le monde développé pour accélérer la réduction de leurs émissions. Ce n’est pas seulement la façon dont nous produisons et utilisons l’énergie qui doit changer rapidement. C'est la façon dont nous consommons la nourriture, la façon dont nous protégeons la nature. C'est tout, partout, à la fois. Le secteur agricole est particulièrement vulnérable, en particulier dans les pays d’ASS où l’agriculture joue un rôle central dans l’économie et la productivité. Parmi les huit pays ayant les émissions nettes cumulées les plus élevées provenant de l’agriculture, de la foresterie et d’autres utilisations des terres figurent deux pays d’ASS, le Nigeria et la République démocratique du Congo. La plupart de ces émissions sont incorporées dans le commerce et sont causées par la consommation dans les régions industrialisées comme l'Europe, les États-Unis et la Chine. Cependant, la création du Fonds pour les pertes et dommages convenu lors de la COP27 ne suffira pas à inverser la tendance, et ne se traduira pas nécessairement par des engagements en matière de financement climatique, compte tenu de l'absence de progrès dans la fourniture des 100 milliards de dollars de financement climatique annuel promis par les pays riches. Les pays africains eux-mêmes doivent réfléchir à leurs propres atouts et intensifier leurs efforts de manière opportune et substantielle. Abstract: Human activity has transformed the planet at a pace and scale unprecedented in recorded history, causing irreversible damage to communities and ecosystems. Countries have focused their capacities on economic growth, with too little attention to externalities in terms of environmental quality. The world will not avoid catastrophic warming unless wealthy nations accelerate their reduction of own emissions and help poorer countries to do the same. North America and Europe have contributed 62 % of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution, while Africa has contributed only 3%. However, it is in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that the impacts are most severe and the people most vulnerable. Developed countries, in their own interests, should focus on ways to help developing countries phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. However, there are tensions between richer and poorer nations over who should pay the costs of global warming. Rich countries have a responsibility to act more quickly than their low-income counterparts. Yet governments continue to subsidise the use of fossil fuels, and banks and companies still invest more in polluting industries than in climate solutions. The consumption habits of the richest 10 % of people generate three times more pollution than those of the poorest 50 %. Emerging economies such as China and India, which plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 and 2070 respectively, should join the developed world in accelerating emissions reductions. It is not just the way we produce and use energy that needs to change quickly. It's the way we consume food, the way we protect nature. It's everything, everywhere, all at once. The agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable, especially in SSA countries where agriculture is central to the economy. Among the top eight countries with the highest cumulative net emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use are two SSA countries, Nigeria and DR Congo. Most of these emissions are embodied in trade and are caused by consumption in regions such as Europe, the United States and China. The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund agreed at COP27 will not be enough to turn the tide, nor will it necessarily translate into climate finance commitments, given the lack of progress in delivering the promised US$100 billion in annual climate finance from rich countries. African countries themselves need to reflect on their own strengths and step up their efforts in a timely and substantial way. Abstract: Menschliche Aktivitäten haben den Planeten in einem in der Geschichte beispiellosen Tempo und Ausmaß verändert und irreversible Schäden an Gemeinschaften und Ökosystemen verursacht. Die Länder haben ihre Kapazitäten auf das Wirtschaftswachstum konzentriert und dabei den damit verbundenen externen Effekten im Hinblick auf die Umweltqualität wenig Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt. Die Welt wird eine katastrophale Erwärmung nicht vermeiden können, wenn wohlhabende Nationen ihre eigenen Emissionsreduzierungen nicht beschleunigen und ärmeren Ländern dabei helfen, dasselbe zu tun. Nordamerika und Europa haben seit der industriellen Revolution 62 % der Kohlendioxidemissionen verursacht, während Afrika nur 3 % beitrug. Allerdings sind die Auswirkungen in Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) am schwerwiegendsten und die Menschen am stärksten gefährdet. Industrieländer sollten sich in ihrem eigenen Interesse darauf konzentrieren, Entwicklungsländern beim Ausstieg aus fossilen Brennstoffen und beim Übergang zu erneuerbaren Energien zu helfen. Es gibt jedoch Spannungen zwischen reicheren und ärmeren Ländern darüber, wer die Kosten der globalen Erwärmung tragen soll. Reiche Länder haben die Verantwortung, schneller zu handeln als ihre einkommensschwachen Länder. Dennoch subventionieren Regierungen weiterhin die Nutzung fossiler Brennstoffe, und Banken und Unternehmen investieren immer noch weitaus mehr in umweltverschmutzende Industrien als in Klimalösungen. Die Konsumgewohnheiten der reichsten 10 % der Menschen verursachen dreimal mehr Umweltverschmutzung als die der ärmsten 50 %. Schwellenländer wie China und Indien, die bis 2060 bzw. 2070 Netto-Null-Emissionen erreichen wollen, sollten sich den Industrieländern anschließen und die Emissionsreduzierung beschleunigen. Nicht nur die Art und Weise, wie wir Energie produzieren und nutzen, muss sich schnell ändern. Es ist die Art und Weise, wie wir Lebensmittel konsumieren, die Art und Weise, wie wir die Natur schützen. Es gilt alles, überall, und alles auf einmal zu ändern. Der Agrarsektor ist besonders gefährdet, insbesondere in SSA-Ländern, in denen die Landwirtschaft für Wirtschaft und Produktivität von zentraler Bedeutung ist. Zu den acht Ländern mit den höchsten kumulierten Nettoemissionen aus Land- und Forstwirtschaft sowie anderer Landnutzung gehören zwei SSA-Länder, Nigeria und die DR Kongo. Die meisten dieser Emissionen sind durch internationalen Handel induziert und werden durch den Konsum in industrialisierten Regionen wie Europa, den Vereinigten Staaten und China verursacht. Allerdings wird die Einrichtung des auf der COP27 vereinbarten Verlust- und Schadensfonds nicht ausreichen, um das Blatt zu wenden. Er wird sich auch nicht zwangsläufig in Verpflichtungen zur Klimafinanzierung niederschlagen, da bei der Bereitstellung der versprochenen jährlichen Klimafinanzierung in Höhe von 100 Milliarden US-Dollar durch die Reichen bisher keine Fortschritte erzielt wurden. Die afrikanischen Länder selbst müssen sich auf ihre eigenen Stärken besinnen und ihre Anstrengungen rechtzeitig und substanziell verstärken. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300879/1/Kohnert-CO2-et-changement-climatique-en-Afrique.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, F18, F54, F64, G38, H23 Keywords: changement climatique, neutralité carbon, dioxyde de carbon, pollution, Afrique subsaharienne, Afrique du Sud Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300879 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10684317 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): The impact of the industrialized nation's CO2 emissions on climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case studies from South Africa, Nigeria and the DR Congo #END 271 #BEGIN 272 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Juden in Subsahara-Afrika: Fallstudien aus Südafrika, Nigeria, DR Kongo und Äthiopien Abstract: Juden in Afrika haben eine lange Geschichte. Afrikaner sind jüdischen Mythen und Traditionen in unterschiedlichen Formen und Situationen begegnet, was zur Entwicklung einer neuen jüdischen Identität geführt hat, die mit der der Diaspora verknüpft ist. Verschiedene Gruppen schwarzer Juden aus West-, Zentral-, Ost- und Südafrika nutzten und imaginierten ihre mündlichen Überlieferungen und traditionellen Praktiken, um eine eindeutige jüdische Identität aufzubauen. Ab dem frühen 20. Jahrhundert verschmolzen zwei getrennte Diasporas in einer völlig neuen Arena. Afrikaner und Afroamerikaner übernahmen das Judentum als eine Form der persönlichen Emanzipation von der kolonialen Unterdrückung und den Auswirkungen des Neokolonialismus. Die Übernahme des Judentums durch Schwarzafrikaner war eine Form der Befreiung von der anglo-christlichen Autorität. Schwarze und Juden sind in der westlichen Kultur die beiden marginalisierten und stigmatisierten Minderheiten. Seit der Antike pflegen sie ein komplexes Verhältnis zwischen Identifikation, Kooperation und Rivalität. Die Igbo von Nigeria beispielsweise standen an der Spitze einer normativen jüdischen Bewegung, die auch mehrere andere ethnische Gruppen umfasste. Die Holocaust-Rhetorik, Zionismus und die äußeren Merkmale des Judentums wurden von biafranischen Neo-Sezessionisten instrumentalisiert. Außerdem gab es, von der ersten Erwähnung von Afrikanern in der hebräischen Bibel bis zu den zeitgenössischen Forderungen der Black Lives Matter-Bewegung, Unterstützung für den „palästinensischen Widerstand“, aber fast nichts, was eine Konfrontation zwischen Schwarzen und Juden hätte provozieren können. Die meisten afrikanischen Juden leben in Südafrika. Allerdings sind die meisten von ihnen weiß. Die jüdische Gemeinde Südafrikas zählte Mitte der 1970er Jahre mehr als 120.000 Mitglieder. Nach mehreren großen Auswanderungswellen am Ende des Apartheidregimes sank sie auf knapp über 50.000. Der Anspruch jüdischer Personen auf südafrikanische Zugehörigkeit ist jedoch umstritten. Die südafrikanischen Aufnahmegesellschaft unterscheidet zwischen der jüdischen Diaspora und südafrikanische Zugehörigkeit. In Nigeria hat sich seit Anfang der 1990er Jahre die zweitgrößte jüdische Gemeinde in Subsahara Afrika entwickelt, die zuvor auf keiner Landkarte der jüdischen Welt auftauchte. Neun von zehn nigerianischen Juden sind Igbo. Schätzungen zählen 3.000 bis 30.000 Juden. Israel weigert sich allerdings, sie als jüdische Bevölkerung anzuerkennen. In der DR Kongo nimmt eine kleine jüdische Gemeinde seit der Kolonialzeit eine besondere Stellung ein. Viele Juden gehörten zu den engen Beratern Leopolds II. und den Agenten seines Freistaats Kongo (1885–1908). Juden spielten im 20. Jahrhundert auch eine wichtige Rolle in der Katanga-Provinz, seitdem dort die ersten Minen eröffnet und eine Eisenbahnlinie nach Südafrika gebaut wurde. Allerdings zwangen Mobutus Zairisierung (1973) und die Plünderungen im Jahr 1991 die meisten jüdischen Unternehmer, das Land zu verlassen. Äthiopien könnte als Wiege des Judentums betrachtet werden, einschließlich des alten Königreichs Saba, das in der hebräischen Bibel und im Koran erwähnt wird, ebenso wie Beta Israel. Heute jedoch offenbart die harte Realität, mit der äthiopisch-jüdische Einwanderer in Israel konfrontiert sind, den Rassismus, der tief in der israelischen Gesellschaft verwurzelt ist. Abstract: Jews in Africa have a long history. Africans have encountered Jewish myths and traditions in different forms and situations, leading to the development of a new Jewish identity linked to that of the Diaspora. Different groups of black Jews from western, central, eastern and southern Africa used and imagined their oral traditions and traditional practices to construct a distinct Jewish identity. In the early 20th century, two separate diasporas merged into an entirely new arena. Africans and African Americans adopted Judaism as a form of personal emancipation from colonial oppression and the effects of neo-colonialism. The adoption of Judaism by black Africans was a form of liberation from Anglo-Christian authority. Blacks and Jews are the two marginalised and stigmatised minorities in Western culture. Since ancient times they have maintained a complex relationship of identification, cooperation and rivalry. The Igbo of Nigeria, for example, were at the forefront of a normative Jewish movement that included several other ethnic groups. The rhetoric of the Holocaust, Zionism and the external features of Judaism were exploited by the Biafran neo-secessionists for their own ends. Furthermore, from the first mention of Africans in the Hebrew Bible to the contemporary demands of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been support for the 'Palestinian resistance' but almost nothing that could have provoked a confrontation between blacks and Jews. The majority of African Jews live in South Africa. However, most of them are white. The South African Jewish community numbered more than 120,000 in the mid-1970s. After several large waves of emigration at the end of the apartheid regime, the number fell to just over 50,000. However, the Jewish claim to South African citizenship is controversial. The South African host society distinguishes between the Jewish diaspora and South African citizenship. Since the early 1990s, the second-largest Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa has developed in Nigeria, which previously did not appear on any map of the Jewish world. Nine out of ten Nigerian Jews are Igbo. Estimates range from 3,000 to 30,000 Jews. Israel, however, refuses to recognise them as a Jewish population. In the DR Congo, a small Jewish community has held a special position since colonial times. Many Jews were among Leopold II's close advisers and agents in his Congo Free State (1885-1908). Jews also played an important role in Katanga Province in the 20th century, when the first mines were opened there and a railway line to South Africa was built. However, Mobutu's Zairisation (1973) and the looting of 1991 forced most Jewish entrepreneurs to leave the country. Ethiopia could be considered the cradle of Judaism, including the ancient kingdom of Sheba, mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the Koran, and Beta Israel. Today, however, the harsh reality faced by Ethiopian Jewish immigrants in Israel reveals the racism that is deeply rooted in Israeli society. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300877/1/Kohnert-Juden-in-Subsahara-Afrika.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, F52, F54, K37, N17, O55 Keywords: Judentum, jüdische Mythologie, Schwarze Hebräer, Judentum in Schwarzafrika, äthiopische Juden, Lemba Volk, Igbo Juden, Südafrika Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300877 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10903684 Note: Deutsche Version von: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): On the history of Jews in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of South Africa, Nigeria, DR Congo and Ethiopia #END 272 #BEGIN 273 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Sur l'histoire des Juifs en Afrique subsaharienne: Le cas de l'Afrique du Sud, du Nigeria, de la RD Congo et de l'Éthiopie Abstract: Les Juifs d’Afrique ont une longue histoire. Les Africains ont rencontré les mythes et traditions juives sous différentes formes et situations, conduisant au développement d’une nouvelle identité juive liée à celle de la diaspora. Divers groupes de Juifs noirs d’Afrique occidentale, centrale, orientale et australe ont utilisé et imaginé leurs traditions orales et leurs pratiques traditionnelles pour construire une identité juive distincte. À partir du début du XXe siècle, deux diasporas distinctes ont fusionné dans un espace entièrement nouveau. Les Africains et les Afro-Américains ont adopté le judaïsme comme une forme d’émancipation personnelle face à l’oppression coloniale et aux effets du néocolonialisme. L’adoption du judaïsme par les Africains noirs était une forme de libération de l’autorité anglo-chrétienne. Les Noirs et les Juifs sont les deux minorités marginalisées et stigmatisées de la culture occidentale. Depuis l’Antiquité, ils entretiennent une relation complexe entre identification, coopération et rivalité. Les Igbo du Nigeria, par exemple, étaient à l’avant-garde d’un mouvement juif normatif qui comprenait également plusieurs autres groupes ethniques. La rhétorique de l’Holocauste, le sionisme et les caractéristiques externes du judaïsme ont été exploités par les néo-sécessionnistes du Biafra. De plus, depuis la première mention des Africains dans la Bible hébraïque jusqu’aux revendications contemporaines du mouvement Black Lives Matter, il y a eu un soutien à la « résistance palestinienne », mais presque rien qui aurait pu provoquer une confrontation entre noirs et juifs. La plupart des Juifs africains vivent en Afrique du Sud. Cependant, la plupart d’entre eux sont blancs. La communauté juive sud-africaine comptait plus de 120 000 membres au milieu des années 1970. Après plusieurs grandes vagues d’émigration à la fin du régime de l’apartheid, ce nombre est tombé à un peu plus de 50 000 personnes. Cependant, l’affirmation du peuple juif comme étant sud-africain est controversée. La société d’accueil sud-africaine fait une distinction entre la diaspora juive et l’appartenance sud-africaine. Depuis le début des années 1990, la deuxième plus grande communauté juive d’Afrique subsaharienne s’est développée au Nigeria, qui n’apparaissait auparavant sur aucune carte du monde juif. Neuf Juifs nigérians sur dix sont des Igbo. On estime qu'il y aurait entre 3 000 et 30 000 Juifs. Cependant, Israël refuse de les reconnaître comme population juive. En République démocratique du Congo, une petite communauté juive occupe une position particulière depuis l’époque coloniale. De nombreux Juifs figuraient parmi les proches conseillers et agents de Léopold II de son État indépendant du Congo (1885-1908). Les Juifs ont également joué un rôle important dans la province du Katanga au XXe siècle, puisque les premières mines y ont été ouvertes et qu'une ligne de chemin de fer vers l'Afrique du Sud a été construite. Cependant, la Zaïrisation de Mobutu (1973) et les pillages de 1991 ont contraint la plupart des entrepreneurs juifs à quitter le pays. L'Éthiopie pourrait être considérée comme le berceau du judaïsme, avec notamment l'ancien royaume de Saba, mentionné dans la Bible hébraïque et le Coran, ainsi que Beta Israel. Aujourd’hui, cependant, la dure réalité à laquelle sont confrontés les immigrants juifs éthiopiens en Israël révèle le racisme profondément enraciné dans la société israélienne. Abstract: Jews in Africa have a long history. Africans have encountered Jewish myths and traditions in different forms and situations, leading to the development of a new Jewish identity linked to that of the Diaspora. Different groups of black Jews from western, central, eastern and southern Africa used and imagined their oral traditions and traditional practices to construct a distinct Jewish identity. In the early 20th century, two separate diasporas merged into an entirely new arena. Africans and African Americans adopted Judaism as a form of personal emancipation from colonial oppression and the effects of neo-colonialism. The adoption of Judaism by black Africans was a form of liberation from Anglo-Christian authority. Blacks and Jews are the two marginalised and stigmatised minorities in Western culture. Since ancient times they have maintained a complex relationship of identification, cooperation and rivalry. The Igbo of Nigeria, for example, were at the forefront of a normative Jewish movement that included several other ethnic groups. The rhetoric of the Holocaust, Zionism and the external features of Judaism were exploited by the Biafran neo-secessionists for their own ends. Furthermore, from the first mention of Africans in the Hebrew Bible to the contemporary demands of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been support for the 'Palestinian resistance' but almost nothing that could have provoked a confrontation between blacks and Jews. The majority of African Jews live in South Africa. However, most of them are white. The South African Jewish community numbered more than 120,000 in the mid-1970s. After several large waves of emigration at the end of the apartheid regime, the number fell to just over 50,000. However, the Jewish claim to South African citizenship is controversial. The South African host society distinguishes between the Jewish diaspora and South African citizenship. Since the early 1990s, the second-largest Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa has developed in Nigeria, which previously did not appear on any map of the Jewish world. Nine out of ten Nigerian Jews are Igbo. Estimates range from 3,000 to 30,000 Jews. Israel, however, refuses to recognise them as a Jewish population. In the DR Congo, a small Jewish community has held a special position since colonial times. Many Jews were among Leopold II's close advisers and agents in his Congo Free State (1885-1908). Jews also played an important role in Katanga Province in the 20th century, when the first mines were opened there and a railway line to South Africa was built. However, Mobutu's Zairisation (1973) and the looting of 1991 forced most Jewish entrepreneurs to leave the country. Ethiopia could be considered the cradle of Judaism, including the ancient kingdom of Sheba, mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the Koran, and Beta Israel. Today, however, the harsh reality faced by Ethiopian Jewish immigrants in Israel reveals the racism that is deeply rooted in Israeli society. Abstract: Juden in Afrika haben eine lange Geschichte. Afrikaner sind jüdischen Mythen und Traditionen in unterschiedlichen Formen und Situationen begegnet, was zur Entwicklung einer neuen jüdischen Identität geführt hat, die mit der der Diaspora verknüpft ist. Verschiedene Gruppen schwarzer Juden aus West-, Zentral-, Ost- und Südafrika nutzten und imaginierten ihre mündlichen Überlieferungen und traditionellen Praktiken, um eine eindeutige jüdische Identität aufzubauen. Ab dem frühen 20. Jahrhundert verschmolzen zwei getrennte Diasporas in einer völlig neuen Arena. Afrikaner und Afroamerikaner übernahmen das Judentum als eine Form der persönlichen Emanzipation von der kolonialen Unterdrückung und den Auswirkungen des Neokolonialismus. Die Übernahme des Judentums durch Schwarzafrikaner war eine Form der Befreiung von der anglo-christlichen Autorität. Schwarze und Juden sind in der westlichen Kultur die beiden marginalisierten und stigmatisierten Minderheiten. Seit der Antike pflegen sie ein komplexes Verhältnis zwischen Identifikation, Kooperation und Rivalität. Die Igbo von Nigeria beispielsweise standen an der Spitze einer normativen jüdischen Bewegung, die auch mehrere andere ethnische Gruppen umfasste. Die Holocaust-Rhetorik, Zionismus und die äußeren Merkmale des Judentums wurden von biafranischen Neo-Sezessionisten instrumentalisiert. Außerdem gab es, von der ersten Erwähnung von Afrikanern in der hebräischen Bibel bis zu den zeitgenössischen Forderungen der Black Lives Matter-Bewegung, Unterstützung für den „palästinensischen Widerstand“, aber fast nichts, was eine Konfrontation zwischen Schwarzen und Juden hätte provozieren können. Die meisten afrikanischen Juden leben in Südafrika. Allerdings sind die meisten von ihnen weiß. Die jüdische Gemeinde Südafrikas zählte Mitte der 1970er Jahre mehr als 120.000 Mitglieder. Nach mehreren großen Auswanderungswellen am Ende des Apartheidregimes sank sie auf knapp über 50.000. Der Anspruch jüdischer Personen auf südafrikanische Zugehörigkeit ist jedoch umstritten. Die südafrikanischen Aufnahmegesellschaft unterscheidet zwischen der jüdischen Diaspora und südafrikanische Zugehörigkeit. In Nigeria hat sich seit Anfang der 1990er Jahre die zweitgrößte jüdische Gemeinde in Subsahara Afrika entwickelt, die zuvor auf keiner Landkarte der jüdischen Welt auftauchte. Neun von zehn nigerianischen Juden sind Igbo. Schätzungen zählen 3.000 bis 30.000 Juden. Israel weigert sich allerdings, sie als jüdische Bevölkerung anzuerkennen. In der DR Kongo nimmt eine kleine jüdische Gemeinde seit der Kolonialzeit eine besondere Stellung ein. Viele Juden gehörten zu den engen Beratern Leopolds II. und den Agenten seines Freistaats Kongo (1885–1908). Juden spielten im 20. Jahrhundert auch eine wichtige Rolle in der Katanga-Provinz, seitdem dort die ersten Minen eröffnet und eine Eisenbahnlinie nach Südafrika gebaut wurde. Allerdings zwangen Mobutus Zairisierung (1973) und die Plünderungen im Jahr 1991 die meisten jüdischen Unternehmer, das Land zu verlassen. Äthiopien könnte als Wiege des Judentums betrachtet werden, einschließlich des alten Königreichs Saba, das in der hebräischen Bibel und im Koran erwähnt wird, ebenso wie Beta Israel. Heute jedoch offenbart die harte Realität, mit der äthiopisch-jüdische Einwanderer in Israel konfrontiert sind, den Rassismus, der tief in der israelischen Gesellschaft verwurzelt ist. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300876/1/Kohnert-Histoire-des-Juifs-en-Afrique.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, F52, F54, K37, N17, O15, O55, Z12 Keywords: identité juive, juifs noirs, diaspora juive, juifs éthopiennes, peuples Lemba, juifs Igbo Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300876 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10870553 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): On the history of Jews in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of South Africa, Nigeria, DR Congo and Ethiopia #END 273 #BEGIN 274 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Transition du pouvoir au Sénégal : les perspectives des nouveaux espoirs sont-elles réalistes Abstract: L'élection de Bassirou Diomaye Faye à la présidence du Sénégal le 24 mars 2024, après un processus électoral mouvementé, reflète la résilience des institutions démocratiques du Sénégal. C’est l’occasion de renforcer la gouvernance transparente et de lutter contre les inégalités. C'était la première fois depuis l'indépendance du Sénégal de la France en 1960 qu'un candidat de l'opposition gagnait déjà au premier tour des élections présidentielles. Les médias occidentaux ont tenté de montrer que Faye, présenté comme un « panafricaniste de gauche », souhaitait promouvoir une culture africaine authentique pour rompre avec l'influence occidentale postcoloniale. Cependant, l'orientation politique du duo Faye-Sonko correspond à celle des « Patriotes du Sénégal pour le travail, l'éthique et la fraternité » (Pastef), une organisation fondée par Sonko en 2014. Bien que leurs formulations paraissent radicales, leur principal objectif est de renforcer l'indépendance nationale du pays. Faye, diplômé de la célèbre école d'élite ENA, aime se considérer comme l'héritier de deux penseurs sénégalais a priori diamétralement opposés : Léopold Sédar Senghor et Cheikh Anta Diop. Ils avaient un objectif commun : rendre le Sénégal et les autres pays africains indépendants et autonomes. Cette orientation nationaliste rapprochera également le nouveau gouvernement de Dakar des juntes militaires voisines qui gouvernent la Guinée, le Mali, le Burkina Faso et le Niger. Paris, qui a toujours eu à cœur de préserver sa présence postcoloniale, notamment ses bases militaires, le franc CFA et la langue française, est désormais contraint de suivre les événements. Faye et Songo ont promis de renégocier les termes de la monnaie CFA, soutenue par la France, ainsi que les contrats pétroliers et gaziers avec des sociétés étrangères. Cependant, le gouvernement de Dakar devra bientôt s'adapter à la dure réalité des inégalités économiques. Il doit tenir ses promesses électorales de lutter contre la corruption, donner la priorité aux intérêts économiques nationaux et créer des emplois pour la population du pays, notamment pour les jeunes chômeurs. Environ 60 % des chômeurs ont moins de 25 ans. L’écart entre le potentiel économique et les niveaux de pauvreté alimente la frustration. Il existe un sentiment d’exclusion parmi les jeunes, ce qui les rend vulnérables au recrutement par des groupes extrémistes. Le nouveau président entend également renégocier les accords de pêche et développer la production locale tant alimentaire qu'industrielle afin d'assurer la sécurité alimentaire tout en réduisant les importations coûteuses. Cependant, les subventions probables aux biens essentiels pourraient conduire à des conflits avec le FMI sur la mise en œuvre du programme. En ce qui concerne la création d'une monnaie souveraine, il est logique de mettre en œuvre les plans existants visant à remplacer le franc CFA au sein de la CEDEAO au profit de la monnaie indépendante, « l' éco ». Abstract: The election of Bassirou Diomaye Faye as President of Senegal on March 24, 2024, after a turbulent electoral process, reflects the resilience of Senegal's democratic institutions. It provides an opportunity to strengthen transparent governance and combat inequality. It was the first time since Senegal's independence from France in 1960 that an opposition candidate won already in the first round of presidential elections. Western media tried to show that Faye, who was portrayed as a "left-wing pan-Africanist," wanted to promote authentic African culture to break with post-colonial Western influence. However, the political orientation of the Faye-Sonko duo corresponds to that of the "Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity" (Pastef), an organization founded by Sonko in 2014. Although their formulations sound radical, their main goal is to strengthen the country's national independence. Faye, a graduate of the renowned elite school ENA, likes to see himself as the heir to two Senegalese thinkers who are, a priori, diametrically opposed: Léopold Sédar Senghor and Cheikh Anta Diop. They had a common goal: to make Senegal and the other African countries independent and self-reliant. This nationalist orientation will also bring the new government in Dakar closer to the neighbouring military juntas that rule Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Paris, which has always been keen to preserve its post-colonial presence, including military bases, the CFA franc and the French language, is now forced to follow events. Faye and Songo have promised to renegotiate the terms of the French-backed CFA currency as well as oil and gas contracts with foreign companies. However, the government in Dakar will soon have to adapt to the harsh reality of economic inequality. It must live up to its election promises to fight corruption, put national economic interests first and create jobs for the country's population, notably for the young unemployed. Around 60% of unemployed are under 25 years old. The gap between economic potential and poverty levels is fuelling frustration. There is a sense of exclusion among youth, making them vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups. The new president also intends to renegotiate fisheries agreements and develop local production for both food and industry to ensure food security while reducing costly imports. However, likely subsidies for essential goods could lead to conflicts with the IMF over program implementation. As far as the creation of a sovereign currency is concerned, it makes sense to implement existing plans to replace the CFA franc within ECOWAS in favour of the independent currency, the 'eco'. Abstract: Die Wahl von Bassirou Diomaye Faye zum Präsidenten Senegals am 24. März 2024 nach einem turbulenten Wahlprozess spiegelt die Widerstandsfähigkeit der demokratischen Institutionen Senegals wider. Es bietet die Möglichkeit, eine transparente Regierungsführung zu stärken und Ungleichheit zu bekämpfen. Es war das erste Mal seit der Unabhängigkeit Senegals von Frankreich im Jahr 1960, dass ein Oppositionskandidat gleich in der ersten Runde der Präsidentschaftswahlen gewann. Westliche Medien stellten Faye, als „linken Panafrikanisten“ dar, der eine authentische afrikanische Kultur fördern wolle, um mit dem postkolonialen westlichen Einfluss zu brechen. Die politische Ausrichtung des Faye-Sonko-Duos entspricht jedoch der 2014 von Sonko gegründeten Organisation „Patrioten Senegals für Arbeit, Ethik und Brüderlichkeit“ (Pastef). Auch wenn deren Formulierungen radikal klingen, ist ihr Hauptziel dies Stärkung der nationalen Unabhängigkeit des Landes. Faye, Absolvent der renommierten Eliteschule ENA, sieht sich gern als Erbe zweier a priori diametral entgegengesetzter senegalesischer Denker: Léopold Sédar Senghor und Cheikh Anta Diop. Beide hatten ein gemeinsames Ziel: Senegal und die anderen afrikanischen Länder unabhängig und eigenständig zu machen. Diese nationalistische Ausrichtung wird die neue Regierung in Dakar auch näher an die benachbarten Militärjuntas heranführen, die Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso und Niger regieren. Paris, das stets darauf bedacht war, seine postkoloniale Präsenz zu bewahren, einschließlich Militärstützpunkten, des CFA-Franc und der französischen Sprache, ist nun gezwungen, den Ereignissen zu folgen. Faye und Songo haben versprochen, die Bedingungen der von Frankreich unterstützten CFA-Währung sowie Öl- und Gasverträge mit ausländischen Unternehmen neu zu verhandeln. Allerdings muss sich die Regierung in Dakar bald auf die harte Realität der wirtschaftlichen Ungleichheit einstellen. Sie muss ihre Wahlversprechen einhalten, die Korruption zu bekämpfen, nationale Wirtschaftsinteressen in den Vordergrund zu stellen und Arbeitsplätze für die Bevölkerung des Landes, insbesondere für junge Arbeitslose, zu schaffen. Rund 60 % der Arbeitslosen sind unter 25 Jahre alt. Die Kluft zwischen wirtschaftlichem Potenzial und Armutsniveau schürt Frustration. Unter Jugendlichen herrscht ein Gefühl der Ausgrenzung, was sie anfällig für die Rekrutierung durch extremistische Gruppierungen macht. Der neue Präsident beabsichtigt außerdem, Fischereiabkommen neu zu verhandeln und die lokale Produktion sowohl für Lebensmittel als auch für die Industrie zu entwickeln, um die Ernährungssicherheit zu gewährleisten und gleichzeitig kostspielige Importe zu reduzieren. Wahrscheinliche Subventionen für lebenswichtige Güter könnten jedoch zu Konflikten mit dem IWF über die Programmumsetzung führen. Was die Schaffung einer souveränen Währung betrifft, ist es sinnvoll, bestehende Pläne zur Ablösung des CFA-Franc innerhalb der ECOWAS zugunsten der unabhängigen Währung „eco“ umzusetzen. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300875/1/Kohnert-Transition-du-pouvoir-au-Senegal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, E42, E64, F15, F52, F54 Keywords: Sénégal, électionnes présidentielles, mouvement social, décolonisation, autosufficience, migration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300875 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11176072 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Transition of power in Senegal: How realistic are the new hopefuls' prospects? #END 274 #BEGIN 275 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Les mesures internationales contre le blanchiment d'argent et l'évasion fiscale, ont-elles un impact significatif en Afrique subsaharienne? Abstract: L’Afrique subsaharienne (ASS) représente un tiers des pays figurant sur la liste grise du Groupe d’action financière (GAFI). Dans l’outil de classement et d’évaluation des risques du blanchiment d’argent et du financement du terrorisme (BC/FT), la région a obtenu de mauvais résultats en termes de résilience au BC/FT, avec plus de 60 % des pays entrant dans la catégorie à haut risque. Bien que les pays figurant sur la liste grise ne soient pas soumis à des sanctions, leur inscription sur la liste a un impact substantiel sur leur économie. Cela comprend une réduction significative des entrées de capitaux et des investissements directs étrangers. Les quatre principales sources de flux financiers illicites en provenance d’Afrique subsaharienne, d’Afrique du Sud, de République démocratique du Congo, d’Éthiopie et du Nigeria, représentaient plus de 50 % du total des flux financiers illicites. Alors que l’ASS a reçu près de 2 000 milliards de dollars d’investissements directs étrangers (IDE) et d’aide publique au développement (APD) entre 1980 et 2018, elle a émis plus de 1 000 milliards de dollars de flux financiers illicites. Ces fonds acquis illégalement et détournés de la région continuent de poser un défi au développement. Les flux financiers illicites ont globalement augmenté, mais pas en ce qui concerne le pourcentage de commerce. Au cours des 38 années allant de 1980 à 2018, ils ont considérablement augmenté dans les années 2000, parallèlement à la croissance du commerce africain. Les pays émergents et en développement d’Asie et du Moyen-Orient sont devenus des cibles privilégiées. Les initiatives précédentes visant à lutter contre le blanchiment d'argent et à améliorer l'échange d'informations fiscales entre les pays ont largement échoué, y compris les trois plus importantes : le Groupe d'action financière (fondé en 1998), le Forum mondial sur la transparence et l'échange d'informations à des fins fiscales (fondé en 2009) et le Cadre inclusif sur l'érosion de la base d'imposition et le transfert de bénéfices (fondé en 2016). Premièrement, les pays africains manquent de ressources et de capacités pour lutter contre les flux financiers illicites. Deuxièmement, de nombreuses économies avancées ne sont pas suffisamment engagées dans ces initiatives. Cependant, le rapatriement des fonds illégaux constitue un outil important pour renforcer la base de ressources des pays africains. En 2020, par exemple, les États-Unis et la dépendance autonome de la Couronne britannique de Jersey, l'un des paradis fiscaux et de blanchiment d'argent les plus notoires au monde, ont conclu un accord avec le Nigeria pour rapatrier plus de 300 millions de dollars volés par l'ancien dictateur militaire du Nigeria, Sani Abacha. Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounts for a third of the countries on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. In the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) Ranking and Risk Assessment Tool, the region performed poorly in terms of resilience to ML/TF, with more than 60% of countries falling into the high-risk category. Although countries on the grey list are not subject to sanctions, inclusion on the list has a significant impact on their economies. This includes a significant reduction in capital inflows and foreign direct investment. The four main sources of illicit financial flows from SSA, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Nigeria, accounted for more than 50% of total illicit financial flows. While SSA received nearly $2 trillion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA) between 1980 and 2018, it issued over $1 trillion in illicit financial flows. These illicitly acquired funds and diverted from the region continue to pose a development challenge. Illicit financial flows increased overall, but not concerning trade. In the 38 years from 1980 to 2018, they increased significantly in the 2000s, in parallel with the growth of African trade. Emerging and developing countries in Asia and the Middle East have become key targets. Previous initiatives to curb money laundering and improve the exchange of tax information between countries have largely failed, including the three most important: the Financial Action Task Force (founded in 1998), the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (founded in 2009) and the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (founded in 2016). First, African countries lack the resources and capacity to address illicit financial flows. Second, many advanced economies are not sufficiently engaged in these initiatives. However, the repatriation of illegal funds is an important tool for strengthening the resource base of African countries. In 2020, for example, the United States and the self-governing British Crown Dependency of Jersey, one of the world's most notorious tax and money laundering havens, reached an agreement with Nigeria to repatriate more than $300 million stolen by Nigeria's former military dictator General Sani Abacha. Abstract: Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) macht ein Drittel der Länder auf der grauen Liste der Financial Action Task Force (FATF) aus. Im Ranking und Risikobewertungstool für Geldwäsche und Terrorismusfinanzierung (ML/TF) schnitt die Region in Bezug auf die Widerstandsfähigkeit gegenüber ML/TF schlecht ab, wobei mehr als 60 % der Länder in die Hochrisikokategorie fielen. Obwohl Länder auf der grauen Liste keinen Sanktionen unterliegen, hat die Aufnahme in die Liste erhebliche Auswirkungen auf ihre Wirtschaft. Dazu gehört eine deutliche Reduzierung der Kapitalzuflüsse und ausländischen Direktinvestitionen. Auf die vier Hauptquellen illegaler Finanzströme aus SSA, Südafrika, die Demokratische Republik Kongo, Äthiopien und Nigeria, entfielen mehr als 50 % der gesamten illegalen Finanzströme. Während SSA zwischen 1980 und 2018 fast 2 Billionen US-Dollar an ausländischen Direktinvestitionen (FDI) und offizieller Entwicklungshilfe (ODA) erhielt, emittierte es über 1 Billion US-Dollar an illegalen Finanzströmen. Diese unrechtmäßig erworbenen und aus der Region abgeleiteten Gelder stellen weiterhin eine Entwicklungsherausforderung dar. Die illegalen Finanzströme nahmen insgesamt zwar zu, nicht jedoch im Verhältnis zum Handel. In den 38 Jahren von 1980 bis 2018 stiegen sie in den 2000er Jahren deutlich an, parallel zum Wachstum des afrikanischen Handels. Schwellen- und Entwicklungsländer in Asien und im Nahen Osten sind zu Hauptzielen geworden. Die bisherigen Initiativen zur Eindämmung der Geldwäsche und zur Verbesserung des Austauschs von Steuerinformationen zwischen Ländern sind weitgehend gescheitert, darunter die drei wichtigsten: die Financial Action Task Force (gegründet 1998), das Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (gegründet 2009) und das Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (gegründet 2016). Erstens mangelt es den afrikanischen Ländern an Ressourcen und Kapazitäten, um gegen illegale Finanzströme vorzugehen. Zweitens engagieren sich viele fortgeschrittene Volkswirtschaften nicht ausreichend in diesen Initiativen. Allerdings ist die Rückführung illegaler Gelder ein wichtiges Instrument zur Stärkung der Ressourcenbasis afrikanischer Länder. Im Jahr 2020 einigten sich beispielsweise die Vereinigten Staaten und das selbstverwaltete britische Krongebiet Jersey, eines der berüchtigtsten Steuer- und Geldwäscheparadiese der Welt, mit Nigeria auf die Rückführung von mehr als 300 Millionen US-Dollar, die vom ehemaligen nigerianischen Militärdiktator General Sani Abacha gestohlen worden waren. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300874/1/Kohnert-Mesures-internationales.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D23, D25, D53, D63, D74, E21, O17, Z13 Keywords: Blanc himent d'argent, détournement de fond, corruption, évasion fiscale Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300874 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12600511 Note: French version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Money laundering and tax evasion : Do international measures have a significant impact in sub-Saharan Africa? #END 275 #BEGIN 276 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Élargir les horizons: les engagements stratégiques de l'Iran en Afrique subsaharienne - Études de cas d'Afrique du Sud, du Nigeria et de Tanzanie Abstract: Depuis les années 1960, le régime de Reza Pahlavi (1941-1979) et, à partir de 1979, la République islamique d’Iran, sont intervenus en Afrique subsaharienne. Alors que la politique du Chah était motivée par une position anticommuniste virulente, la République islamique d’Iran (RII) a poursuivi une politique « radicale » de changement du statut politique du monde occidental, y compris des alliés arabes occidentaux, hostiles à la survie du régime des mollahs. Alors que le Chah se concentrait sur des intérêts géopolitiques, en particulier dans la Corne de l’Afrique, la voie maritime vitale vers la mer Rouge, et en Afrique du Sud, et ignorait les intérêts des musulmans africains, la RII a exploité des islamistes de plus en plus radicalisés pour étendre l’influence iranienne sur le continent. Par exemple, la RII a dépensé des milliards de dollars dans la région pour fournir des écoles musulmanes et des services sociaux gratuits par le biais d’hôpitaux et d’orphelinats soutenus par le Croissant-Rouge iranien. La stratégie de l’IRI visait à renforcer le soutien populaire au sein des communautés musulmanes plutôt qu’à se concentrer exclusivement sur les gouvernements africains. Les politiques expansionnistes de Téhéran comprenaient la vente d’armes à des acteurs étatiques et non-étatiques et la déstabilisation de régimes. L’objectif était de nouer des partenariats qui permettraient d’échapper aux sanctions internationales tout en ouvrant un nouveau terrain à son ‘axe de résistance’ contre ses adversaires mondiaux et régionaux, en particulier son ennemi juré Israël. La version La version de Téhéran de l’islam politique impliquait la constitution de mandataires, notamment le Hezbollah au Liban et les rebelles Houthis, plus récemment au Yémen, qui a semé le chaos sur les voies maritimes internationales en solidarité avec la cause palestinienne. Téhéran a étendu son influence dans la région du Sahel, profitant de la politique africaine égoïste de la France et des politiques d’autres puissances occidentales en Afrique de l’Ouest pour établir des contacts avec les juntes militaires anti-occidentales de l’ASE au Burkina Faso, au Mali et au Niger. La Russie, la Chine et la Turquie ont ouvert la voie à ce nouvel alignement. La rivalité entre l’Iran et Israël s’est intensifiée au cours des dernières décennies, avec plusieurs confrontations entre les deux pays dans la mer Rouge et en Afrique de l’Est depuis les années 2010. L’Iran n’a cessé d’étendre son engagement dans toute la région, conduisant à un « équilibre de dissuasion » entre les deux pays. Abstract: Since the 1960s, both the regime of Reza Pahlavi (1941-1979) and, subsequently starting from 1979 the Islamic Republic of Iran, have intervened in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). While the Chah's policies were motivated by a virulent anti-communist stance, the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) pursued a 'radical' policy of changing the political status of the Western world, including the Western Arab allies, who were hostile to the survival of the mullah regime. While the Chah focused on geopolitical interests, particularly in the Horn of Africa, the vital sea route to the Red Sea, and in South Africa, and ignored the interests of African Muslims, the IRI exploited increasingly radicalized Islamists to expand Iranian influence on the continent. For example, the IRI has spent billions of dollars in the region to provide Muslim schools and free social services through hospitals and orphanages supported by the Iranian Red Crescent. The IRI's strategy aimed to build grassroots support among Muslim communities rather than focusing exclusively on African governments. Tehran's expansionist policies included arms sales to state and non-state actors and the destabilization of regimes. The goal was to build partnerships that would help evade international sanctions while opening new terrain for its axis of resistance against its global and regional adversaries, particularly its arch-enemy Israël. Tehran's version of political Islam involved building up proxies, most notably Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels, most recently in Yemen, who have wreaked havoc on international shipping lanes in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Tehran expanded its influence in the Sahel region, taking advantage of self-serving French Africa policy and the policies of other Western powers in West Africa to establish contacts with the anti-Western ASE military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Russia, China and Turkey paved the way for this new alignment. The rivalry between Iran and Israël has intensified in recent decades, with several confrontations between the two countries in the Red Sea and East Africa since the 2010s. Iran has continuously expanded its engagement throughout the region, leading to a ‘balance of deterrence’ between the two countries. Abstract: Seit den 1960er Jahren intervenieren sowohl das Regime von Reza Pahlavi (1941-1979) als auch seit 1979 die Islamische Republik Iran in Subsahara-Afrika (SSA). Während die Politik des Schahs von einer virulenten antikommunistischen Haltung motiviert war, verfolgte die Islamische Republik Iran (IRI) eine ‚radikale‘ Politik der Veränderung des politischen Status der westlichen Welt, einschließlich der westlichen arabischen Verbündeten, die dem Überleben des Mullah-Regimes feindlich gegenüberstanden. Während sich der Schah auf geopolitische Interessen konzentrierte, insbesondere am Horn von Afrika, dem lebenswichtigen Seeweg zum Roten Meer, sowie in Südafrika, und die Interessen afrikanischer Muslime ignorierte, nutzte die IRI zunehmend radikalisierte Islamisten, um den iranischen Einfluss auf dem Kontinent auszuweiten. So hat die IRI beispielsweise Milliarden von Dollar in der Region ausgegeben, um muslimische Schulen und kostenlose soziale Dienste durch Krankenhäuser und Waisenhäuser bereitzustellen, die vom iranischen Roten Halbmond unterstützt wurden. Die Strategie des IRI zielte darauf ab, Unterstützung an der Basis unter muslimischen Gemeinschaften aufzubauen, anstatt sich ausschließlich auf afrikanische Regierungen zu konzentrieren. Teherans Expansionspolitik umfasste Waffenverkäufe an staatliche und nichtstaatliche Akteure sowie die Destabilisierung von Regimen. Ziel war es, Partnerschaften aufzubauen, die helfen würden, internationale Sanktionen zu umgehen und gleichzeitig neues Terrain für seine Widerstandsachse gegen seine globalen und regionalen Gegner, insbesondere seinen Erzfeind Israël, zu eröffnen. Teherans Version des politischen Islam beinhaltete den Aufbau von Stellvertretern, vor allem der Hisbollah im Libanon und den Houthi-Rebellen, zuletzt im Jemen, die aus Solidarität mit der palästinensischen Sache verheerende Schäden der internationalen Schifffahrtswege anrichteten. Teheran erweiterte seinen Einfluss in der Sahelzone und nutzte die eigennützige französische Afrikapolitik und die Politik anderer westlicher Mächte in Westafrika aus, um Kontakte zu den antiwestlichen Militärjuntas der ASE in Burkina Faso, Mali und Niger aufzubauen. Russland, China und die Türkei ebneten den Weg für diese neue Ausrichtung. Die Rivalität zwischen dem Iran und Israël hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten verschärft. Seit den 2010er Jahren kam es zwischen den beiden Ländern im Roten Meer und in Ostafrika zu mehreren Konfrontationen. Der Iran hat sein Engagement in der gesamten Region kontinuierlich ausgeweitet, was zu einem ‚Gleichgewicht der Abschreckung‘ zwischen den beiden Ländern führte. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300873/1/Kohnert-Elargir-les-horizons.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F35, F52, F53, F54, H77, N17, O17 Keywords: Alliance des États du Sahel, Afrique de l'Ouest, EDEAO, UEMOA Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300873 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13283953 Note: French Version of: Kohnert, Dirk (2024): Expanding Horizons: Iran's Strategic Engagements in Sub-Saharan Africa - Insights from South Africa, Nigeria, and Tanzania #END 276 #BEGIN 277 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Jews in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of South Africa, Nigeria, DR Congo and Ethiopia Abstract: Jews in Africa have a long history. Africans have encountered Jewish myths and traditions in different forms and situations, leading to the development of a new Jewish identity linked to that of the Diaspora. Different groups of black Jews from western, central, eastern and southern Africa used and imagined their oral traditions and traditional practices to construct a distinct Jewish identity. In the early 20th century, two separate diasporas merged into an entirely new arena. Africans and African Americans adopted Judaism as a form of personal emancipation from colonial oppression and the effects of neo-colonialism. The adoption of Judaism by black Africans was a form of liberation from Anglo-Christian authority. Blacks and Jews are the two marginalised and stigmatised minorities in Western culture. Since ancient times they have maintained a complex relationship of identification, cooperation and rivalry. The Igbo of Nigeria, for example, were at the forefront of a normative Jewish movement that included several other ethnic groups. The rhetoric of the Holocaust, Zionism and the external features of Judaism were exploited by the Biafran neo-secessionists for their own ends. Furthermore, from the first mention of Africans in the Hebrew Bible to the contemporary demands of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been support for the 'Palestinian resistance' but almost nothing that could have provoked a confrontation between blacks and Jews. The majority of African Jews live in South Africa. However, most of them are white. The South African Jewish community numbered more than 120,000 in the mid-1970s. After several large waves of emigration at the end of the apartheid regime, the number fell to just over 50,000. However, the Jewish claim to South African citizenship is controversial. The South African host society distinguishes between the Jewish diaspora and South African citizenship. Since the early 1990s, the second-largest Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa has developed in Nigeria, which previously did not appear on any map of the Jewish world. Nine out of ten Nigerian Jews are Igbo. Estimates range from 3,000 to 30,000 Jews. Israel, however, refuses to recognise them as a Jewish population. In the DR Congo, a small Jewish community has held a special position since colonial times. Many Jews were among Leopold II's close advisers and agents in his Congo Free State (1885-1908). Jews also played an important role in Katanga Province in the 20th century, when the first mines were opened there and a railway line to South Africa was built. However, Mobutu's Zairisation (1973) and the looting of 1991 forced most Jewish entrepreneurs to leave the country. Ethiopia could be considered the cradle of Judaism, including the ancient kingdom of Sheba, mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the Koran, and Beta Israel. Today, however, the harsh reality faced by Ethiopian Jewish immigrants in Israel reveals the racism that is deeply rooted in Israeli society. Abstract: Juden in Afrika haben eine lange Geschichte. Afrikaner sind jüdischen Mythen und Traditionen in unterschiedlichen Formen und Situationen begegnet, was zur Entwicklung einer neuen jüdischen Identität geführt hat, die mit der der Diaspora verknüpft ist. Verschiedene Gruppen schwarzer Juden aus West-, Zentral-, Ost- und Südafrika nutzten und imaginierten ihre mündlichen Überlieferungen und traditionellen Praktiken, um eine eindeutige jüdische Identität aufzubauen. Ab dem frühen 20. Jahrhundert verschmolzen zwei getrennte Diasporas in einer völlig neuen Arena. Afrikaner und Afroamerikaner übernahmen das Judentum als eine Form der persönlichen Emanzipation von der kolonialen Unterdrückung und den Auswirkungen des Neokolonialismus. Die Übernahme des Judentums durch Schwarzafrikaner war eine Form der Befreiung von der anglo-christlichen Autorität. Schwarze und Juden sind in der westlichen Kultur die beiden marginalisierten und stigmatisierten Minderheiten. Seit der Antike pflegen sie ein komplexes Verhältnis zwischen Identifikation, Kooperation und Rivalität. Die Igbo von Nigeria beispielsweise standen an der Spitze einer normativen jüdischen Bewegung, die auch mehrere andere ethnische Gruppen umfasste. Die Holocaust-Rhetorik, Zionismus und die äußeren Merkmale des Judentums wurden von biafranischen Neo-Sezessionisten instrumentalisiert. Außerdem gab es, von der ersten Erwähnung von Afrikanern in der hebräischen Bibel bis zu den zeitgenössischen Forderungen der Black Lives Matter-Bewegung, Unterstützung für den „palästinensischen Widerstand“, aber fast nichts, was eine Konfrontation zwischen Schwarzen und Juden hätte provozieren können. Die meisten afrikanischen Juden leben in Südafrika. Allerdings sind die meisten von ihnen weiß. Die jüdische Gemeinde Südafrikas zählte Mitte der 1970er Jahre mehr als 120.000 Mitglieder. Nach mehreren großen Auswanderungswellen am Ende des Apartheidregimes sank sie auf knapp über 50.000. Der Anspruch jüdischer Personen auf südafrikanische Zugehörigkeit ist jedoch umstritten. Die südafrikanischen Aufnahmegesellschaft unterscheidet zwischen der jüdischen Diaspora und südafrikanische Zugehörigkeit. In Nigeria hat sich seit Anfang der 1990er Jahre die zweitgrößte jüdische Gemeinde in Subsahara Afrika entwickelt, die zuvor auf keiner Landkarte der jüdischen Welt auftauchte. Neun von zehn nigerianischen Juden sind Igbo. Schätzungen zählen 3.000 bis 30.000 Juden. Israel weigert sich allerdings, sie als jüdische Bevölkerung anzuerkennen. In der DR Kongo nimmt eine kleine jüdische Gemeinde seit der Kolonialzeit eine besondere Stellung ein. Viele Juden gehörten zu den engen Beratern Leopolds II. und den Agenten seines Freistaats Kongo (1885–1908). Juden spielten im 20. Jahrhundert auch eine wichtige Rolle in der Katanga-Provinz, seitdem dort die ersten Minen eröffnet und eine Eisenbahnlinie nach Südafrika gebaut wurde. Allerdings zwangen Mobutus Zairisierung (1973) und die Plünderungen im Jahr 1991 die meisten jüdischen Unternehmer, das Land zu verlassen. Äthiopien könnte als Wiege des Judentums betrachtet werden, einschließlich des alten Königreichs Saba, das in der hebräischen Bibel und im Koran erwähnt wird, ebenso wie Beta Israel. Heute jedoch offenbart die harte Realität, mit der äthiopisch-jüdische Einwanderer in Israel konfrontiert sind, den Rassismus, der tief in der israelischen Gesellschaft verwurzelt ist. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300872/1/Kohnert-Jews-in-sub-Saharan-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, F52, F54, K37, N17, O15, O55, Z12 Keywords: Jewish identity, Jewish mythologie, Black Jews, Jewish diaspora, Beta Israel, Lemba people Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300872 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10903675 #END 277 #BEGIN 278 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Peaceful transition of power in Senegal: How realistic are the new hopefuls' prospects? Abstract: The election of Bassirou Diomaye Faye as President of Senegal on March 24, 2024, after a turbulent electoral process, reflects the resilience of Senegal's democratic institutions. It provides an opportunity to strengthen transparent governance and combat inequality. It was the first time since Senegal's independence from France in 1960 that an opposition candidate won already in the first round of presidential elections. Western media tried to show that Faye, who was portrayed as a "left-wing pan-Africanist," wanted to promote authentic African culture to break with post-colonial Western influence. However, the political orientation of the Faye-Sonko duo corresponds to that of the "Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity" (Pastef), an organization founded by Sonko in 2014. Although their formulations sound radical, their main goal is to strengthen the country's national independence. Faye, a graduate of the renowned elite school ENA, likes to see himself as the heir to two Senegalese thinkers who are, a priori, diametrically opposed: Léopold Sédar Senghor and Cheikh Anta Diop. They had a common goal: to make Senegal and the other African countries independent and self-reliant. This nationalist orientation will also bring the new government in Dakar closer to the neighbouring military juntas that rule Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Paris, which has always been keen to preserve its post-colonial presence, including military bases, the CFA franc and the French language, is now forced to follow events. Faye and Songo have promised to renegotiate the terms of the French-backed CFA currency as well as oil and gas contracts with foreign companies. However, the government in Dakar will soon have to adapt to the harsh reality of economic inequality. It must live up to its election promises to fight corruption, put national economic interests first and create jobs for the country's population, notably for the young unemployed. Around 60% of unemployed are under 25 years old. The gap between economic potential and poverty levels is fuelling frustration. There is a sense of exclusion among youth, making them vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups. The new president also intends to renegotiate fisheries agreements and develop local production for both food and industry to ensure food security while reducing costly imports. However, likely subsidies for essential goods could lead to conflicts with the IMF over program implementation. As far as the creation of a sovereign currency is concerned, it makes sense to implement existing plans to replace the CFA franc within ECOWAS in favour of the independent currency, the 'eco'. Abstract: Die Wahl von Bassirou Diomaye Faye zum Präsidenten Senegals am 24. März 2024 nach einem turbulenten Wahlprozess spiegelt die Widerstandsfähigkeit der demokratischen Institutionen Senegals wider. Es bietet die Möglichkeit, eine transparente Regierungsführung zu stärken und Ungleichheit zu bekämpfen. Es war das erste Mal seit der Unabhängigkeit Senegals von Frankreich im Jahr 1960, dass ein Oppositionskandidat gleich in der ersten Runde der Präsidentschaftswahlen gewann. Westliche Medien stellten Faye, als „linken Panafrikanisten“ dar, der eine authentische afrikanische Kultur fördern wolle, um mit dem postkolonialen westlichen Einfluss zu brechen. Die politische Ausrichtung des Faye-Sonko-Duos entspricht jedoch der 2014 von Sonko gegründeten Organisation „Patrioten Senegals für Arbeit, Ethik und Brüderlichkeit“ (Pastef). Auch wenn deren Formulierungen radikal klingen, ist ihr Hauptziel dies Stärkung der nationalen Unabhängigkeit des Landes. Faye, Absolvent der renommierten Eliteschule ENA, sieht sich gern als Erbe zweier a priori diametral entgegengesetzter senegalesischer Denker: Léopold Sédar Senghor und Cheikh Anta Diop. Beide hatten ein gemeinsames Ziel: Senegal und die anderen afrikanischen Länder unabhängig und eigenständig zu machen. Diese nationalistische Ausrichtung wird die neue Regierung in Dakar auch näher an die benachbarten Militärjuntas heranführen, die Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso und Niger regieren. Paris, das stets darauf bedacht war, seine postkoloniale Präsenz zu bewahren, einschließlich Militärstützpunkten, des CFA-Franc und der französischen Sprache, ist nun gezwungen, den Ereignissen zu folgen. Faye und Songo haben versprochen, die Bedingungen der von Frankreich unterstützten CFA-Währung sowie Öl- und Gasverträge mit ausländischen Unternehmen neu zu verhandeln. Allerdings muss sich die Regierung in Dakar bald auf die harte Realität der wirtschaftlichen Ungleichheit einstellen. Sie muss ihre Wahlversprechen einhalten, die Korruption zu bekämpfen, nationale Wirtschaftsinteressen in den Vordergrund zu stellen und Arbeitsplätze für die Bevölkerung des Landes, insbesondere für junge Arbeitslose, zu schaffen. Rund 60 % der Arbeitslosen sind unter 25 Jahre alt. Die Kluft zwischen wirtschaftlichem Potenzial und Armutsniveau schürt Frustration. Unter Jugendlichen herrscht ein Gefühl der Ausgrenzung, was sie anfällig für die Rekrutierung durch extremistische Gruppierungen macht. Der neue Präsident beabsichtigt außerdem, Fischereiabkommen neu zu verhandeln und die lokale Produktion sowohl für Lebensmittel als auch für die Industrie zu entwickeln, um die Ernährungssicherheit zu gewährleisten und gleichzeitig kostspielige Importe zu reduzieren. Wahrscheinliche Subventionen für lebenswichtige Güter könnten jedoch zu Konflikten mit dem IWF über die Programmumsetzung führen. Was die Schaffung einer souveränen Währung betrifft, ist es sinnvoll, bestehende Pläne zur Ablösung des CFA-Franc innerhalb der ECOWAS zugunsten der unabhängigen Währung „eco“ umzusetzen. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300871/1/Kohnert-Peaceful-transition-of-power-in-Senegal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E26, E42, E64, F15, F35, F54, O55, Z13 Keywords: presidential election, social movement, peaceful transition of power, nationalism, Pan-Africanism, decolonization, West Africa, Senegal Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300871 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11176066 #END 278 #BEGIN 279 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Expanding Horizons: Iran's Strategic Engagements in Sub-Saharan Africa - Insights from South Africa, Nigeria, and Tanzania Abstract: Since the 1960s, both the regime of Reza Pahlavi (1941-1979) and, subsequently starting from 1979 the Islamic Republic of Iran, have intervened in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). While the Shah's policies were motivated by a virulent anti-communist stance, the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) pursued a 'radical' policy of changing the political status of the Western world, including the Western Arab allies, who were hostile to the survival of the mullah regime. While the Shah focused on geopolitical interests, particularly in the Horn of Africa, the vital sea route to the Red Sea, and in South Africa, and ignored the interests of African Muslims, the IRI exploited increasingly radicalized Islamists to expand Iranian influence on the continent. For example, the IRI has spent billions of dollars in the region to provide Muslim schools and free social services through hospitals and orphanages supported by the Iranian Red Crescent. The IRI's strategy aimed to build grassroots support among Muslim communities rather than focusing exclusively on African governments. Tehran's expansionist policies included arms sales to state and non-state actors and the destabilization of regimes. The goal was to build partnerships that would help evade international sanctions while opening new terrain for its axis of resistance against its global and regional adversaries, particularly its arch-enemy Israel. Tehran's version of political Islam involved building up proxies, most notably Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels, most recently in Yemen, who have wreaked havoc on international shipping lanes in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Tehran expanded its influence in the Sahel region, taking advantage of self-serving French Africa policy and the policies of other Western powers in West Africa to establish contacts with the anti-Western ASE military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Russia, China and Turkey paved the way for this new alignment. The rivalry between Iran and Israel has intensified in recent decades, with several confrontations between the two countries in the Red Sea and East Africa since the 2010s. Iran has continuously expanded its engagement throughout the region, leading to a ‘balance of deterrence’ between the two countries. Abstract: Seit den 1960er Jahren intervenieren sowohl das Regime von Reza Pahlavi (1941-1979) als auch seit 1979 die Islamische Republik Iran in Subsahara-Afrika (SSA). Während die Politik des Schahs von einer virulenten antikommunistischen Haltung motiviert war, verfolgte die Islamische Republik Iran (IRI) eine ‚radikale‘ Politik der Veränderung des politischen Status der westlichen Welt, einschließlich der westlichen arabischen Verbündeten, die dem Überleben des Mullah-Regimes feindlich gegenüberstanden. Während sich der Schah auf geopolitische Interessen konzentrierte, insbesondere am Horn von Afrika, dem lebenswichtigen Seeweg zum Roten Meer, sowie in Südafrika, und die Interessen afrikanischer Muslime ignorierte, nutzte die IRI zunehmend radikalisierte Islamisten, um den iranischen Einfluss auf dem Kontinent auszuweiten. So hat die IRI beispielsweise Milliarden von Dollar in der Region ausgegeben, um muslimische Schulen und kostenlose soziale Dienste durch Krankenhäuser und Waisenhäuser bereitzustellen, die vom iranischen Roten Halbmond unterstützt wurden. Die Strategie des IRI zielte darauf ab, Unterstützung an der Basis unter muslimischen Gemeinschaften aufzubauen, anstatt sich ausschließlich auf afrikanische Regierungen zu konzentrieren. Teherans Expansionspolitik umfasste Waffenverkäufe an staatliche und nichtstaatliche Akteure sowie die Destabilisierung von Regimen. Ziel war es, Partnerschaften aufzubauen, die helfen würden, internationale Sanktionen zu umgehen und gleichzeitig neues Terrain für seine Widerstandsachse gegen seine globalen und regionalen Gegner, insbesondere seinen Erzfeind Israel, zu eröffnen. Teherans Version des politischen Islam beinhaltete den Aufbau von Stellvertretern, vor allem der Hisbollah im Libanon und den Houthi-Rebellen, zuletzt im Jemen, die aus Solidarität mit der palästinensischen Sache verheerende Schäden der internationalen Schifffahrtswege anrichteten. Teheran erweiterte seinen Einfluss in der Sahelzone und nutzte die eigennützige französische Afrikapolitik und die Politik anderer westlicher Mächte in Westafrika aus, um Kontakte zu den antiwestlichen Militärjuntas der ASE in Burkina Faso, Mali und Niger aufzubauen. Russland, China und die Türkei ebneten den Weg für diese neue Ausrichtung. Die Rivalität zwischen dem Iran und Israel hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten verschärft. Seit den 2010er Jahren kam es zwischen den beiden Ländern im Roten Meer und in Ostafrika zu mehreren Konfrontationen. Der Iran hat sein Engagement in der gesamten Region kontinuierlich ausgeweitet, was zu einem ‚Gleichgewicht der Abschreckung‘ zwischen den beiden Ländern führte. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300870/1/Kohnert-Expanding-horizons.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F35, F52, F53, F54, H77, N17, O17, O55, Z13 Keywords: Alliance of Sahel States, West Africa, ECOWAS, UEMOA, Sahel, Nationalism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300870 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13283947 #END 279 #BEGIN 280 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Navigating Rivalries: Prospects for Coexistence between ECOWAS and AES in West Africa Abstract: The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), created in September 2023 by the three military governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso as a counterweight to ECOWAS and the postcolonial influence of France and other Western countries, announced the creation of a confederation of its three countries in July 2024. The AES have more in common than the other countries of the Sahel. First, they are the centre of the Sahel and most vulnerable to jihadism. They figure among the least developed countries, with 40% to 50% of the population living in poverty. They are also landlocked countries with vast desert areas, making them more vulnerable to climate change. Finally, they are the countries with the highest population growth in the Sahel, with an average of six children per woman. The creation of the AES came amid a decade of escalating unrest in the Sahel, fuelled by the aftermath of the NATO-led intervention in Libya in 2011. The resulting instability caused rampant arms trafficking and the rise of armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The Sahel region accounts for a staggering 43% of global terrorist deaths, more than South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa combined. AES counterinsurgency operations will focus on the Liptako-Gourma region, the vast and porous border area where the three states meet, a borderland notorious for its instability. Previous leaders have often put French interests ahead of those of their own people, allowing the continued exploitation of the region's natural resources, including uranium, gold and manganese, without much benefit to the local population. In the face of critical comments from the AU about the AES countries' exit from ECOWAS, the former rejected any interference in their internal affairs. The AES confederation will expand the operational space of the junta alliance and consolidate its military and economic partnership with Russia and China, as well as Turkey and Iran. However, the AES secession undermines the legitimacy of ECOWAS by hindering regional economic and security integration and further complicating the return to democratization. The confederation will seek to absorb new members such as Chad, Guinea and Sudan to further strengthen its power and legitimacy as an alternative regional bloc. However, a divided Sahel will make tackling regional challenges even more difficult. If the AES were to replace the CFA franc with its own currency, as announced, and other Francophone countries in the UEMOA were to follow suit, this would require a fundamental restructuring of both the UEMOA and ECOWAS and finally also call into question the introduction of the ECO, the common West African currency, envisaged for 2027. Abstract: Die Allianz der Sahelstaaten (AES), die im September 2023 von den drei Militärregierungen Malis, Nigers und Burkina Fasos als Gegengewicht zur ECOWAS und dem postkolonialen Einfluss Frankreichs und anderer westlicher Länder gegründet wurde, kündigte im Juli 2024 die Gründung einer Konföderation ihrer drei Länder an. Die AES haben mehr gemeinsam als die anderen Länder der Sahelzone. Erstens sind sie das Zentrum des Sahel und am anfälligsten für Dschihadismus. Sie gehören zu den am wenigsten entwickelten Ländern, wobei 40% bis 50 % der Bevölkerung in Armut leben. Außerdem sind sie Binnenländer mit riesigen Wüstengebieten, was sie anfälliger für den Klimawandel macht. Schließlich sind sie die Länder mit dem höchsten Bevölkerungswachstum in der Sahelzone, mit durchschnittlich sechs Kindern pro Frau. Die Gründung der AES erfolgte inmitten eines Jahrzehnts eskalierender Unruhen im Sahel, die durch die Nachwirkungen der NATO-geführten Intervention in Libyen im Jahr 2011 angeheizt wurden. Die daraus resultierende Instabilität hat zu einem grassierenden Waffenhandel und dem Aufstieg bewaffneter Gruppen geführt, die mit al-Qaida und dem Islamischen Staat in Verbindung stehen. Die Sahelzone ist für erschreckende 43 % der weltweiten Todesfälle durch Terroristen verantwortlich, mehr als in Südasien, der Nahe Osten und Nordafrika zusammen. Die Aufstandsbekämpfungsoperationen der AES werden sich auf die Liptako-Gourma Region konzentrieren, das riesige und durchlässige Grenzgebiet, in dem die drei Staaten aufeinandertreffen, ein Grenzland, das für seine Instabilität berüchtigt ist. Frühere Staatschefs haben die französischen Interessen oft denen ihres eigenen Volkes vorgezogen und die fortgesetzte Ausbeutung der natürlichen Ressourcen der Region, darunter Uran, Gold und Mangan, ermöglicht, ohne dass die lokale Bevölkerung davon viel profitiert hätte. Angesichts kritischer Äußerungen der AU über den Austritt der AES-Länder aus der ECOWAS verbaten sich erstere jede Einmischung in ihre inneren Angelegenheiten. Die Konföderation der AES wird den operativen Spielraum des Bündnisses der Juntas erweitern und ihre militärische und wirtschaftliche Partnerschaft mit Russland und China sowie der Türkei und dem Iran festigen. Die Abspaltung der AES untergräbt allerdings die Legitimität der ECOWAS, indem sie die regionale Wirtschafts- und Sicherheitsintegration behindert und die Rückkehr zur Demokratisierung weiter erschwert. Die AES wird versuchen, neue Mitglieder wie den Tschad, Guinea und den Sudan aufzunehmen, um ihre Macht und Legitimität als alternativer regionaler Block weiter zu stärken. Eine geteilte Sahelzone wird die Bewältigung regionaler Herausforderungen jedoch noch schwieriger machen. Wenn die AES wie angekündigt, den Franc CFA durch eine eigene Währung ersetzt, und dem andere frankophone Länder der UEMOA folgen würden, würde das eine grundlegende Umstrukturierung sowohl der UEMOA als auch der ECOWAS erfordern und schließlich auch die für 2027 geplante Einführung des ECO, der neuen gemeinsamen westafrikanischen Währung, wieder in Frage stellen. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300869/1/Kohnert-Navigating-rivalries.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F35, F52, F53, F54, H77, N17, O17, O55, Z13 Keywords: Alliance of Sahel States, Sahel, ECOWAS, UEMOA Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300869 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12809184 #END 280 #BEGIN 281 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Money laundering and tax evasion : Do international measures have a significant impact in sub-Saharan Africa? Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounts for a third of the countries on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. In the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) Ranking and Risk Assessment Tool, the region performed poorly in terms of resilience to ML/TF, with more than 60% of countries falling into the high-risk category. Although countries on the grey list are not subject to sanctions, inclusion on the list has a significant impact on their economies. This includes a significant reduction in capital inflows and foreign direct investment. The four main sources of illicit financial flows from SSA, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Nigeria, accounted for more than 50% of total illicit financial flows. While SSA received nearly $2 trillion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA) between 1980 and 2018, it issued over $1 trillion in illicit financial flows. These illicitly acquired funds and diverted from the region continue to pose a development challenge. Illicit financial flows increased overall, but not concerning trade. In the 38 years from 1980 to 2018, they increased significantly in the 2000s, in parallel with the growth of African trade. Emerging and developing countries in Asia and the Middle East have become key targets. Previous initiatives to curb money laundering and improve the exchange of tax information between countries have largely failed, including the three most important: the Financial Action Task Force (founded in 1998), the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (founded in 2009) and the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (founded in 2016). First, African countries lack the resources and capacity to address illicit financial flows. Second, many advanced economies are not sufficiently engaged in these initiatives. However, the repatriation of illegal funds is an important tool for strengthening the resource base of African countries. In 2020, for example, the United States and the self-governing British Crown Dependency of Jersey, one of the world's most notorious tax and money laundering havens, reached an agreement with Nigeria to repatriate more than $300 million stolen by Nigeria's former military dictator General Sani Abacha. Abstract: Subsahara-Afrika (SSA) macht ein Drittel der Länder auf der grauen Liste der Financial Action Task Force (FATF) aus. Im Ranking und Risikobewertungstool für Geldwäsche und Terrorismusfinanzierung (ML/TF) schnitt die Region in Bezug auf die Widerstandsfähigkeit gegenüber ML/TF schlecht ab, wobei mehr als 60 % der Länder in die Hochrisikokategorie fielen. Obwohl Länder auf der grauen Liste keinen Sanktionen unterliegen, hat die Aufnahme in die Liste erhebliche Auswirkungen auf ihre Wirtschaft. Dazu gehört eine deutliche Reduzierung der Kapitalzuflüsse und ausländischen Direktinvestitionen. Auf die vier Hauptquellen illegaler Finanzströme aus SSA, Südafrika, die Demokratische Republik Kongo, Äthiopien und Nigeria, entfielen mehr als 50 % der gesamten illegalen Finanzströme. Während SSA zwischen 1980 und 2018 fast 2 Billionen US-Dollar an ausländischen Direktinvestitionen (FDI) und offizieller Entwicklungshilfe (ODA) erhielt, emittierte es über 1 Billion US-Dollar an illegalen Finanzströmen. Diese unrechtmäßig erworbenen und aus der Region abgeleiteten Gelder stellen weiterhin eine Entwicklungsherausforderung dar. Die illegalen Finanzströme nahmen insgesamt zwar zu, nicht jedoch im Verhältnis zum Handel. In den 38 Jahren von 1980 bis 2018 stiegen sie in den 2000er Jahren deutlich an, parallel zum Wachstum des afrikanischen Handels. Schwellen- und Entwicklungsländer in Asien und im Nahen Osten sind zu Hauptzielen geworden. Die bisherigen Initiativen zur Eindämmung der Geldwäsche und zur Verbesserung des Austauschs von Steuerinformationen zwischen Ländern sind weitgehend gescheitert, darunter die drei wichtigsten: die Financial Action Task Force (gegründet 1998), das Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (gegründet 2009) und das Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (gegründet 2016). Erstens mangelt es den afrikanischen Ländern an Ressourcen und Kapazitäten, um gegen illegale Finanzströme vorzugehen. Zweitens engagieren sich viele fortgeschrittene Volkswirtschaften nicht ausreichend in diesen Initiativen. Allerdings ist die Rückführung illegaler Gelder ein wichtiges Instrument zur Stärkung der Ressourcenbasis afrikanischer Länder. Im Jahr 2020 einigten sich beispielsweise die Vereinigten Staaten und das selbstverwaltete britische Krongebiet Jersey, eines der berüchtigtsten Steuer- und Geldwäscheparadiese der Welt, mit Nigeria auf die Rückführung von mehr als 300 Millionen US-Dollar, die vom ehemaligen nigerianischen Militärdiktator General Sani Abacha gestohlen worden waren. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300868/1/Kohnert-Money-laundering-and-tax-evasion.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D23, D25, D53, D63, D74, E21, F35, G28, O17, Z13 Keywords: Money laundering, Embezzlement, Corruption, tax evasion, Terrorism financing, Informal economy, Sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300868 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12570406 #END 281 #BEGIN 282 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ring, Malte Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Title: Measuring Economic Graph Competence Abstract: The ability to work with graphs is at the core of the economic domain and is also one of the central challenges for novices in the field. To accurately assess the graph competence of higher education students, we developed and tested an 18-item graph competence instrument with different economics graphs. The sample consisted of 579 students from multiple higher education institutions in southwestern Germany. Item analysis based on item response theory revealed that the instrument addresses a wide range of ability levels and discriminates sufficiently between low- and high-ability learners. Concerning content validity, we find meaningful correlations between test scores and domain-specific knowledge and generic understanding of numerical quantities. Item difficulties indicate that questions that go beyond simple graph operations are challenging for learners. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300727/1/Measuring-Economic-Graph-Competence.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A22 Keywords: graph competence, graph comprehension, economic competence, item response theory, measurement instrument Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300727 #END 282 #BEGIN 283 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Paudel, Nawaraj S. Author-Name: Lahiri, Sajal Title: Heterogeneity in the Effect of Size on Internal Migration in the United States: A Gravity Model and PPML Estimator Approach Abstract: This paper explores the influence of economic size on inter-state migration within the USA, addressing whether people relocate from larger to smaller states and whether regional differences affect this trend. This study utilizes the structural gravity model and panel data spanning 2000 — 2017. The metrics used to gauge state size include GDP, Population, and land area. We find fairly strong support for our hypothesis that individuals are relocating from larger states to smaller ones. The impact of size on internal migration within the USA shows no distinction between the Mid-West and South regions. However, the influence of size on migration varies for the West and North-East compared to interstate migration. We carry out a series of robustness checks, and the qualitative results remain the same. Internal migration between states and regions in the USA can have significant policy implications for state and federal resource allocation, labor markets, tax revenues, economic resilience, and regional disparities. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300726/1/Heterogeneity-in-the-effect-of-size.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R23, R12, O15 Keywords: Inter-State Migration, Regional Migration, U.S.A., Size, Gravity Model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300726 #END 283 #BEGIN 284 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Afzal, Muhammad Hassan Bin Title: Pocketbook and Sociotropic Economic Voting: How Does Inflation Affect Voting Decisions? Abstract: Economic hardships significantly affect public perception and voting intentions in general elections. The primary focus of my study is to capture the degree of influence that individual economic hardships have on their voting. I utilize the ANES 2024 Pilot Study Survey dataset and introduce a novel composite Inflation Behavior Index (IBR) that captures individuals' cumulative economic and cost of living experience. To that effect, the primary objectives of the current study are threefold: first, to develop a composite economic behavior index from available data and variables to capture the overall economic experience of U.S. individuals due to ongoing inflation; second, to examine how this economic behavior impacts political engagement and voting behavior utilizing appropriate and fitting mathematical models; and finally which specific personal experiences and perceptions about economy and cost of living likely to revoke party loyalty in upcoming U.S. presidential election. My study finds that increased personal economic struggles (pocketbook voting) due to inflation make it more likely for individuals to express an intention to vote against the Incumbent even if the Incumbent is from their self-identified political party. On the contrary, having a negative perception of the national economy (sociotropic voting) is less likely to revoke party loyalty in the upcoming General election. In simpler terms, voters are more likely to vote along party lines even if they perceive their party (the Incumbent) is not handling the economy and cost of living well. Having a higher level of Education, they are more likely to vote for the incumbents in both pocketbook and sociotropic scenarios. Therefore, the current research shows that party loyalty during general elections often persists but is expected to be undermined if the voter experiences adverse economic conditions due to inflation in the past. The findings of the current study provide tools and resources to craft agendas, policies, and strategies not only for policymakers and campaign strategists but also for the political parties to take focused and evidence-based actions to protect and ensure the economic well-being of the general population as well as increase the likelihood to perform better in elections and public opinion measures in a highly polarized political environment. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300581/1/Full-Paper-MHB%20Afzal%20%287-30-2024%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, D72 Keywords: Economic Voting, Inflation Behavior Index (IBR), Voting Behavior, Pocketbook Voting, Elections, Sociotropic Voting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300581 #END 284 #BEGIN 285 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Talke, Katrin Author-Name: Müller, Sebastian Author-Name: Wieringa, Jaap E. Title: Technical newness: Putting a spotlight on its dynamic nature and effects Abstract: Differentiating products by means of novel technical features is an accepted approach to achieving and retaining long-term success. So far, innovation research has treated technical newness as a static concept. In this paper, we introduce a dynamic perspective and enhance the technical newness concept in three ways. First, we acknowledge that customers become accustomed to a product and perceive it as less new as time goes by. Second, we consider product updates that introduce new features and functionalities across a product’s life cycle. Third, we uncover how technical newness affects the sales performance of new products over time. We track 175 cars over their life cycle, and find that the effect of technical newness takes an inverted-U shape. Our results imply that a dynamic perspective is crucial both when assessing a product’s technical newness and when analyzing its performance impact. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300544/1/Talke-Technical-newness.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Technology life cycle, Technological Change, Management of Technological Innovation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300544 #END 285 #BEGIN 286 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Review of Strategies and Policies for Enhanced Participation in Global Value Chains Abstract: This article underscores the immense potential for substantial economic growth and development that can be harnessed through effective participation in global value chains (GVCs). It emphasises the role of policymakers in adeptly navigating GVCs, prioritising tasks, exploring different forms of GVC governance, and fostering a conducive environment for foreign investments. By effectively managing power dynamics and supply chain risks, countries can attract valuable foreign investors, enhance market connectivity, and improve infrastructure and services, leading to significant economic growth. The potential benefits of GVC participation are vast, and policymakers can shape the situation by understanding and addressing strategic inquiries, laying the foundation for a prosperous future. Furthermore, the article explores the potential for a country to enhance its involvement in GVCs and progress to more lucrative activities by strengthening existing connections between GVCs and the local economy. By enhancing the capacity of local stakeholders to acquire knowledge, policymakers can play a crucial role in maximising the benefits from GVC spillovers, positively impacting a country's economic development. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300530/1/Dutta-Enhanced-Participation-China.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, L52, O24, O25 Keywords: Global Value Chains, Trade Policy, Industrial Policy, International Political Economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300530 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4867272 #END 286 #BEGIN 287 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jackson, Emerson Abraham Title: The Role of Women in Economic Governance for Sustained and Equitable Growth in the African Continent Abstract: This paper delves into the vital role of women in economic governance for achieving sustained and equitable growth in Africa. Historically, African women have played significant roles in economic activities and governance structures, particularly in pre-colonial societies, where they were integral to agricultural production, trade, and local governance. However, colonial and post-colonial periods saw a decline in their influence due to imported patriarchal norms. The chapter examines how modern initiatives, such as the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area, have aimed to promote economic integration and resilience but still face challenges like corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and socio-political instability. It highlights the importance of gender-inclusive governance, supported by research indicating that including women in leadership leads to better financial performance and more sustainable policy outcomes. Case studies from Rwanda, where women hold 61% of parliamentary seats, and Nigeria, where women like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have made significant economic reforms, illustrate the positive impact of female leadership. The chapter also addresses barriers to women's participation, including cultural norms, patriarchal systems, and legal constraints, and suggests policy reforms to enhance gender equality in governance. Philosophical perspectives on equity and justice, particularly those of John Rawls and Martha Nussbaum, are used to argue for the inclusion of women in governance structures. Strategies for enhancing women's roles through education and capacity-building initiatives are discussed, emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches to gender equality. The chapter concludes by asserting that empowering women in economic governance is not only a matter of fairness but is essential for achieving long-term economic stability and reducing disparities across Africa. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300524/1/Women-Economic-Governance.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J16, O15, P16, D63 Keywords: Women and Economic Governance, Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, African Continent Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300524 #END 287 #BEGIN 288 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Missbach, Leonard Author-Name: Steckel, Jan Christoph Author-Name: Renner, Sebastian Author-Name: Kraus, Sebastian Title: Coal-fired power plants and industrial development Abstract: Past periods of industrial development have gone hand in hand with the burning of coal, but there is little evidence on the effects of coal infrastructure on manufacturing growth in today's industrializing economies. We quantify the direct and indirect effects of coal-fired power plant commissioning on local incumbent manufacturing firms in Indonesia during a coal phase-in period between 1984 and 2015. We analyze spatially and temporally explicit manufacturing and power plant data in a stacked difference-in-difference framework. Leveraging quasi-random variation in treatment timing, we show that coal-fired power plants have led incumbent larger firms to increase employment, inputs, and outputs. In contrast, smaller firms remained unaffected. We identify mediating channels including improved electricity supply and transportation infrastructure, and increased competition for labor. Ongoing efforts to reduce global coal capacity need to take such effects into account. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/300209/1/Missbach-Coal-fired-power-plants.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C55, L60, O12, O14, O53, Q40, R11 Keywords: Coal, Manufacturing, Industrialization, Indonesia, Difference-in-difference Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:300209 #END 288 #BEGIN 289 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schnedler, Wendelin Author-Name: Vigano, Antonia Title: Biased Voluntary Nutri-Score Labeling Abstract: Food labels are supposed to quickly inform consumers about the nutritional values of products. We provide evidence that in a system where labels are voluntary, they are systematically distorted. The probability of finding a label on a product of the category with the highest nutritional value is 51 percentage points larger than in the lowest category. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/299877/1/Biased-voluntary-nutri-score-labeling.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M38, D18, I18 Keywords: food labels, marketing, consumer protection Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:299877 #END 289 #BEGIN 290 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shariatmadari, Atefeh Title: §§ 1, 1a AStG neue Fassung - Änderungen im Vergleich zu § 1 AStG i. d. F. des G. v. 22.12.2014 (BGBl. I 2014, S. 2417) Abstract: Kürzlich hat die Verfasserin ihre Dissertation mit dem Titel „Geschäfte mit Nahestehenden: Eine grundsätzliche Lösung für das Außensteuer-, Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht - Unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von BEPS Bericht 8 und des Wettbewerbsrechts“ veröffentlicht. Aufgrund der dynamischen und umfassenden Entwicklungen seit der Einreichung ihrer Dissertation enthält diese einen Gliederungspunkt, der sich ausdrücklich §§ 1, 1a AStG i. d. F. des G. v. 27.03.2024 (BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 108) widmet. Hieran soll diese Publikation anknüpfen. Abstract: The author recently published her dissertation entitled "Related parties transactions: A basic solution for foreign tax, commercial and corporate law - with particular consideration of BEPS Action 8 and antitrust law". Due to the dynamic and comprehensive developments since the submission of her dissertation, it contains a bullet point that is expressly dedicated to Sections 1, 1a AStG in the version of the law of March 27, 2024 (BGBl. 2024 I No. 108). This publication is intended to build on this. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/299520/1/Paragr-1-1a-AStG-neue-Fassung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: § 1 AStG, § 1a AStG, Außensteuerrecht, Verrechnungspreis, Internationales Steuerrecht, International Tax, Transfer Pricing, Related parties transaction Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:299520 #END 290 #BEGIN 291 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Pamela E. Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Title: The Impact of Frontier Technology Adoption on Gender Inequality: Evidence from Africa Abstract: The surge in frontier technology adoption (FTR) in education, health, and labour markets cannot be overemphasised. Notwithstanding, rigorous empirical findings concerning their socioeconomic impacts in the Global South are hard to find. Accordingly, this study explores the impact of FTR on gender inequality in low-income, and middle- and high-income African countries. Second, this study investigates the moderating role of electricity access in the FTR-gender inequality nexus. Third, the study examines the threshold effect of electricity access in the FTR-gender inequality relationship. Compelling evidence, based on country-level data for 29 African countries from 2010-2020, reveals that FTR promotes gender equality in both low-income, and middle- and high-income African countries. However, this impact is striking in the middle- and high-income African countries. Further, the contingency analysis establishes that electricity access amplifies the effect of FTR on gender equality but only in middle- and high-income African countries. Additionally, the threshold analysis demonstrates that broadening electricity access coverage conditions FTR to further enhance gender equality. However, this positive impact eludes low-income African countries. We conclude that investments in broadening electricity access and the capacity of African countries in adopting, mastering, and adapting frontier technologies are critical for inclusive human development. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298789/1/Ofori-Frontier-Technology-Adoption-Gender.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J16, O3, O55, Q01, Q43 Keywords: Africa, Agenda 2063, Frontier technology adoption, Gender Inequality, Inclusive human development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298789 #END 291 #BEGIN 292 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Title: Frontier Technology Readiness, Democracy, and Income Inequality in Africa Abstract: The proliferation of frontier technologies in the Global South has increased over the past decade. Despite this development, rigorous empirical findings regarding their socioeconomic impacts within the context of Africa are hard to find. This study addresses this gap by employing macro data from 39 African countries to investigate the impact of frontier technology adoption (FTR) on income inequality. Additionally, the study explores whether democracy serves as a moderator of FTR, influencing a more equitable income distribution. Furthermore, this study assesses the inequality impacts of FTR across various policy thresholds of democracy. Results from the dynamic system GMM estimator reveal that: (i) FTR increases income inequality, (ii) democracy, particularly electoral and participatory democracy, mitigates income inequality, and (iii) FTR reduces income inequality only at a higher threshold of democracy (0.5 or better). This leads to the conclusion that, without inclusive democracy, FTR may impede Africa's social progress agenda by widening the income disparity gap. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298788/1/Ofori-Frontier-Technology-Readiness-Democracy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I3, O31, O33, Q55, Q01 Keywords: Africa, Frontier Technology Readiness, Democracy, Income Inequality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298788 #END 292 #BEGIN 293 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Gbolonyo, Emmanuel Y. Author-Name: Vezzulli, Andrea Title: Heterogeneous Effects of Frontier Technology Readiness on Economic Growth in Africa Abstract: Despite the remarkable growth in frontier technology adoption (FTR) in the Global South, empirical evidence concerning their socioeconomic impacts in the context of Africa is hard to find. This study, therefore, employs macro data for a sample of 39 African countries to bridge three pressing gaps in the growth literature. First, we examine the impact of FTR on economic growth. Second, the study assesses whether FTR and egalitarian democracy synergistically enhance economic growth. Third, this study examines the heterogeneous effects of FTR across growth quantiles. Robust evidence, based on the dynamic system-GMM and the method of moments quantile regression, reveals the following: first, FTR promotes economic growth, but the effect is modest; second, egalitarian democracy amplifies the growth-enhancing impact of FTR, but only at higher thresholds of egalitarianism. Third, although FTR is growth-enhancing across all growth quantiles, the effect diminishes from the 1st to the 9th quantile. However, in the presence of egalitarian democracy, FTR significantly enhances growth across all growth quantiles from the 1st to the 9th. We conclude that progress in egalitarian democracy and investments for enhancing FTR are crucial for economic growth in Africa. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298787/1/Ofori-Frontier-Technology-Readiness.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O31, O38, O55, Q01 Keywords: Africa, Economic growth, Democracy, Egalitarian democracy, Frontier technology readiness Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298787 #END 293 #BEGIN 294 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Pamela E. Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Castelnovo, Paolo Title: Effects of Innovation and Economic Freedom on Female Economic Inclusion Abstract: The Sustainable Development Goal 5 emphasises the need to achieve gender parity in economic participation. Perusing the extant scholarship on female economic inclusion in Africa, we identify two pressing gaps. First, we find that previous studies have not explored how innovation affects female economic inclusion (FEI). Second, we note that prior studies have not examined the interactive effect of innovation and economic freedom on FEI. This study addresses these gaps by using macro data from 1995-2022 for a sample of 51 African countries. Findings from the two-step system GMM estimator reveal the following: (1) innovation reduces FEI, whereas economic freedom increases it, and (2) economic freedom moderates innovation to promote FEI. Further, we find that this positive total effect of innovation on FEI is remarkable at higher thresholds of economic freedom. We conclude that for innovation to promote FEI in Africa, investments in promoting economic freedom are critical. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298786/1/Ofori-Female-Economic-Inclusion.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O31, O55, E24, J16, J21 Keywords: Africa, Innnovation, Economic freedom, Female economic inclusion, GMM Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298786 #END 294 #BEGIN 295 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gbolonyo, Emmanuel Y. Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Ojong, Nathanael Title: Does Economic Complexity Promote Inclusive Green Growth Abstract: Despite the growing scholarly attention concerning the effect of economic complexity (ECI) on inclusive growth and the environment, there remain some pertinent gaps in the literature. First, previous studies have not explored the effect of ECI on inclusive green growth (IGG). Second, prior contributions have not assessed the role of energy consumption (disaggregated into renewable and non-renewable) in the relationship between ECI and IGG. This study addresses these gaps by using macro data for 22 selected African countries. Robust evidence based on the dynamic system GMM and the Driscoll-Kraay standard errors estimators reveal that economic complexity promotes IGG. Additionally, the contingency analysis reveals that non-renewable energy diminishes the IGG-enhancing effect of ECI, whereas renewable energy amplifies it. Finally, when we decompose IGG into environmental and socioeconomic sustainability, we find that the ECI-energy consumption interaction has a greater effect on the latter rather than the former. We conclude that investments for boosting Africa's productive knowledge and renewable energy capacities are crucial for IGG. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298785/1/Gbolonyo-Economic-complexity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O44, O55, Q01, Q43, Q56 Keywords: Africa, Economic Complexity, Renewable Energy Consumption, Inclusive Green Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298785 #END 295 #BEGIN 296 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: Conceptualizing Public Finance Research in the Context of the Azerbaijani Economy Via Expert Interviews Abstract: Public finance is a vital area of study that helps governments make informed decisions about how to raise and allocate funds to finance their activities, ultimately contributing to the well-being of society. Oil-rich developing and emerging economies present a distinct set of public finance realities. While they may enjoy substantial revenue streams from oil exports, this dependence creates unique challenges. This fact should have stimulated academic research to thoroughly analyze public finance, but it seems that there is not enough work in Azerbaijan that accurately captures the current challenges and proposes sound policy solutions in public finance sphere. Most of the studies are practice-oriented and written by international organizations (i.e., policy briefs, expert opinions) rather than local experts who could communicate them to a wider societal audience. This discussion paper draws some conclusions from the expert interviews on the problems and challenges in the field of public finance, the quality of research conducted in this field and future directions in the field of public finance in the case study of Azerbaijan. Briefly, the experts pointed out that the current state of research in the field of public finance is inadequate and highlighted some key problems such as inefficiency, transparency and dependence on the extractive industry in public finance. This discussion paper also provides some possible future research directions in the field of public finance in relation to Azerbaijan. This paper is not a conclusive study, but a conceptualization of the mentioned direction in the literature. The findings should be in the interest of policy makers and researchers working intensively on public finance issues in Azerbaijan. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298402/1/Niftiyev-Conceptualizing-public-finance-research.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H11, O10, P10 Keywords: Azerbaijani economy, expert consultation, fiscal policy, macroeconomic stability, public finance, public policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298402 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4835821 #END 296 #BEGIN 297 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: COP29 in Azerbaijan: Some Considerations Based on Direct Observations of the Climate Events and Media Contents Abstract: This discussion paper examines the key themes and findings from four major events and three pieces of media content on sustainable development, climate finance and environmental policy. Direct observation and structured notes were used as the main methods. The analysis begins with the webinar “Bridge Building in Baku,” which highlighted the need for improved quality and quantity of climate finance to support developing countries in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions. It then discusses the comparative perspectives on environmental issues between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, highlighting the need for renewable energy generation to offset environmental deficits. The paper also examines the event “COP29: Opportunities and Challenges for Climate Action,” which focused on international cooperation and learning from global best practices to address environmental challenges. Finally, the discussion at the event “Green and Circular Economy in the Turkic World” emphasizes the importance of reducing resource dependency and improving energy efficiency in Turkish states. Policy suggestions include creating financial incentives for green technologies, improving public education on sustainability and promoting international cooperation to effectively address environmental challenges. This paper aims to map the intellectual landscape of climate finance and sustainable development and provides insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in global climate action based primarily on COP29. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298401/1/Niftiyev-COP29-in-Azerbaijan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q20, Q28, Q54, Q57, Q58 Keywords: Azerbaijani economy, climate events, climate change, COP29, renewable energy, sustainable development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298401 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4843871 #END 297 #BEGIN 298 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Review of Strategies and Policies for Participation in Global Value Chains Abstract: This article reiterates the importance of understanding and addressing the strategic inquiries and potential responses in the context of global value chain (GVC) participation. Policymakers must address these crucial matters to engage in GVCs effectively. Governments aspiring to participate in GVCs must focus on determining which tasks to prioritise and exploring various forms of GVC governance. The challenges and opportunities of establishing top-notch GVC connections and fostering a favourable environment for foreign assets are significant for countries looking to integrate into GVCs. While navigating power dynamics and supply chain risks, these efforts can attract suitable foreign investors, enhance market connectivity, and develop high-quality infrastructure and services, all of which can lead to significant economic growth and development. The potential benefits of GVC participation are vast, and by understanding and addressing the strategic inquiries and possible responses, policymakers can take control of the situation and pave the way for a prosperous future. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298399/1/Dutta-Participation-in-global-value-chains.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, L52, O24, O25 Keywords: Global Value Chains, Trade Policy, Industrial Policy, International Political Economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298399 DOI: 10.33774/coe-2024-sftkv #END 298 #BEGIN 299 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dantas, Carina Author-Name: Ferenczi, Andrea Author-Name: Klimczuk, Andrzej Author-Name: Freitas, Angela Author-Name: Abreu Cordeiro, Barbara Author-Name: Guley Goren Soares, Berfu Author-Name: Pineda Revilla, Beatriz Author-Name: Hilario, Carmen Author-Name: Vassiliou, Charis Author-Name: Dervishi, Eglantina Author-Name: Machado, Flavia Author-Name: Coldebella, Giorgia Author-Name: op den Akker, Harm Author-Name: Elnimr, Heidi Author-Name: Pedrosa, Ignacio Author-Name: Saavedra, Ines Author-Name: Eckert, Jana Author-Name: Ganzarain, Javier Author-Name: Nijkamp, Jeannette Author-Name: Portugal, Joana Author-Name: Teixeira Pinho, Joana Author-Name: Bernitt, Jonas Author-Name: Louceiro, Juliana Author-Name: Muezzinoglu, Kubra Author-Name: Shore, Linda Author-Name: Thielman, Lucia Author-Name: Perillo, Mariangela Author-Name: Rimmele, Martina Author-Name: Cabrita, Miriam Author-Name: Patrascu, Monica Author-Name: Sousa, Monica Author-Name: Edwards, Nancy V. Author-Name: Ovayolu, Nimet Author-Name: Zanutto, Oscar Author-Name: Lucha Farina, Patricia Author-Name: Castano De la Rosa, Raul Author-Name: Wajchman-Świtalska, Sandra Author-Name: Teixeira, Sara Author-Name: Tomsone, Signe Author-Name: Danschutter, Stefan Title: White Paper: Designing the perfect New European Bauhaus neighbourhood Abstract: The concept of Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE) emphasises the comprehensive person-centred experience as essential to promoting living environments. SHAFE takes an interdisciplinary approach, conceptualising complete and multidisciplinary solutions for an inclusive society. From this approach, we promote participation, health, and well-being experiences by finding the best possible combinations of social, physical, and digital solutions in the community. This initiative emerged bottom-up in Europe from the dream and conviction that innovation can improve health equity, foster caring communities, and sustainable development. Smart, adaptable, and inclusive solutions can promote and support independence and autonomy throughout the lifespan, regardless of age, gender, disabilities, cultural differences, and personal choices, as well as promote happier and fairer living places. The New European Bauhaus initiative gathers “beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive projects and ideas” to inspire a positive transformation around us. The New European Bauhaus 2024 Festival took place between 9-13 April. “Designing the perfect New European Bauhaus neighbourhood: New European Bauhaus meets SHAFE” was a Satellite Event of the Festival, held as an online workshop, organised by the SHAFE Foundation on April 9th, 2024. At the event, a group of 50 participants with a multidisciplinary background discussed how to meet the challenges of the European Garcia family to enable them to live in a perfect neighbourhood. The White Paper presents the findings of the participants with the New European Bauhaus inspiring projects and ideas to house the European Garcia family in their neighbourhood. The White Paper recommends developers, designers, planners, and policymakers to include person-centred design of social and physical environments and technologies. Although awareness of person-centred design is growing, many initiatives still hamper the inclusion of citizens or end-users throughout the development of products and services. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298119/1/New-European-Bauhaus-neighbourhood.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J14, O18 Keywords: social inclusion, building, built environment, person-centred design, technology, SHAFE, New European Bauhaus Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298119 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28724.05765 #END 299 #BEGIN 300 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fandel, Günter Title: Application of Input Output Analysis to the Production of Services - An Overview Abstract: Input Output Analysis is a powerful tool to formally analyze the economics of service production in business terms. Through its methodology, it is able to integrate different approaches from other disciplines and address their shortcomings in terms of production theory. This review paper provides at first an overview of which key areas of service production the Input Output Analysis has been successfully applied to. The digital transformation is a new challenge for the application of this analysis tool. So, secondly an overview of areas of service production follows in which the digital transformation places new demands on the application of Input Output Analysis. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/298116/1/Fandel-Application-of-input-output-analysis.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, M11, L23 Keywords: Input Output Analysis, Activity Analysis, Service Production Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:298116 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4401548 #END 300 #BEGIN 301 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rudel, Steffi Author-Name: Steinle, Nora Author-Name: Kolb, Lisa Title: IT-Sicherheit im Human Resource Management: Kenntnisstand und Kompetenzaufbau Abstract: Aufgrund der exponierten Stellung im Unternehmen sowie der Verarbeitung von personenbezogenen und vertraulichen Daten sind Personalabteilungen (Human Resource Management, HRM) einem erhöhten Risiko für Cyberangriffe ausgesetzt. Das Ziel der vorgestellten Forschung ist es, die IT-Sicherheit im HRM zu untersuchen und zu erhöhen, wobei der Fokus dieses Beitrags auf dem Faktor Mensch liegt. Es wird eine Umfrage zum Kenntnisstand der IT-Sicherheit im HRM sowie ein Training zur Verbesserung der IT-Sicherheitskompetenz von HRM-Mitarbeitenden vorgestellt. Abstract: Due to their exposed position in the company and the processing of personal and confidential data, human resource management (HRM) departments are exposed to an increased risk of cyberattacks. The aim of the research presented here is to investigate and increase IT security in HRM, with the focus of this article being on the human factor. A survey on the level of knowledge of IT security in HRM and a training programme to improve the IT security skills of HRM employees are presented. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/296466/1/VHB_1.1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: IT-Sicherheit, Human Resource Management (HRM), Serious Game, Personalabteilung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:296466 #END 301 #BEGIN 302 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fraske, Tim Author-Name: Weiser, Annika Author-Name: Schrapel, Maximilian Author-Name: Schippl, Jens Author-Name: Lang, Daniel J. Author-Name: Vinel, Alexey Title: Driving Change? Exploring the Role of Socio-Technical Experiments in Shaping Autonomous Mobility Transitions Abstract: This systematic literature review inquires into the role of socio-technical experiments for autonomous driving and their potential to shape mobility transitions towards sustainability. As an emerging technology in an early stage of transition, AVs are increasingly being tested in different spatial contexts with diverse actor constellations in order to enhance the technology further. This article critically examines the added value of these experiments, how they affect the scaling-up of autonomous driving, and highlights key themes that researchers and practitioners should consider when designing experiments. The most striking aspect of our sample is the lack of continuous participatory methods, as well as weak linkages to the transition literature. We conclude with central findings that emerged as future research avenues for the topic, such as the need to overcome projectification in the design process of the experiments, a more nuanced perspective on sustainability issues and place-related factors, and implications for local governance. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/295246/1/WorkingPaper_Fraske24.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C93, O33, Q56, R00 Keywords: sustainability transitions, mobility, autonomous vehicles, socio-technical system Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:295246 #END 302 #BEGIN 303 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Szepanski, Achim Title: Key points on Bichler/Nitzan’s text “Capital as Power” Abstract: FROM THE ARTICLE: At first glance, it would appear that Deleuze’s concept of structure involves a complex form of so-called creorder, a term that appears at the forefront of the methodological findings of the economists Bichler/Nitzan. If the structure is actualized in each of its moments in processes, then Bichler/Nitzan describe this process with the term “creorder”. They consider this to be a highly artificial term, which is intended to indicate that a structure/order must constantly construct and reconstruct itself in (historical) time, just as a form must constantly transform itself. According to Bichler/Nitzan, in the context of creorder, the meaning of the relationship between Heraclitean becoming and Parmenidean being lies precisely in the fact that the fusion of verb and noun results in the term “creorder”: “To have a history is to create order – a verb and a noun whose fusion yields the verb-noun creorder.” On the one hand, the so-called creorder may be completely vertically or hierarchically ordered, as is the case in ultra-bureaucratic systems, for example; on the other hand, it may also be horizontal, as could be the case in radical democracies, or it may be in between order and disorder. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/295212/2/20240514_szepanski_key_points_on_bn_capital_as_power.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P00, P1 Keywords: capital accumulation, capital as power, creorder, capitalization, differential accumulation, dominant capital, finance, Marxism, neoclassical economics, quantification, value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:295212 #END 303 #BEGIN 304 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: A Tour of the Jevons Paradox: How Energy Efficiency Backfires Abstract: When it comes to our sustainability problems, striving for greater resource efficiency seems like an obvious solution. For example, if you buy a new car that’s twice as efficient as your old one, it should cut your gasoline use in half. And if your new computer is four times more efficient than your last one, it should cut your computer’s electric bill fourfold. In short, boosting efficiency seems like a straightforward way to reduce your use of natural resources. And for you personally, efficiency gains may do exactly that. But collectively, efficiency seems to have the opposite effect As technology gets more efficient, we tend to consume more resources. This backfire effect is known as the ‘Jevons paradox’, and it occurs for a simple reason. At a social level, efficiency is not a tool for conservation; it’s a catalyst for technological sprawl. Here’s how it works. As technology gets more efficient, it cheapens the service that it provides. And when services get cheaper, we tend to use more of them. Hence, efficiency ends up catalyzing greater consumption. Take the evolution of computers as an example. The first computers were room-sized machines that gulped power while doing snail-paced calculations. In contrast, modern computers deliver about a trillion times more computation for the same energy input. Now, in principle, we could have taken this trillion-fold efficiency improvement and reduced our computational energy budget by the same amount. But we didn’t. Instead, we took these efficiency gains and invested them in technological sprawl. We took more efficient computer chips and put them in everything — phones, TVs, cars, fridges, light bulbs, toasters … not to mention data centers. So rather than spur conservation, more efficient computers catalyzed the consumption of more energy. In this regard, computers are not alone. As you’ll see, efficiency backfire seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Far from delivering a cure for our sustainability woes, efficiency gains appear to be a root driver of the over-consumption disease. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/295211/2/20240518_fix_a_tour_of_the_jevons_paradox.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P00, Q4, B1 Keywords: efficiency, energy, Jevons Paradox Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:295211 #END 304 #BEGIN 305 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Author-Name: Tang Zheng, Fabian Title: Significance of Private Equity Investments, Especially for SMEs - Blessing or Curse? Abstract: Although fallen into disrepute Corporate financing in the form of private equity has developed into a billion-dollar industry. Private equity arose from the need for alternative financing options and has had a long lasting impact on the economy and society. Companies of this sector, which is often described as non-transparent, regularly make headlines because of leveraged buy-outs (LBOs). This multifaceted industry provides various forms of equity capital outside regulated capital markets and should be viewed in a more differentiated manner, especially considering its growing significance for SMEs. The peculiarities of private equity extend beyond just conceptual delineation and its structures, reaching into the methods aimed at achieving excess returns over the public market. This excess return is offset by a range of value enhancement methods and private equity undoubtedly can exert significant influence on companies. Therefore, a holistic view of this industry seems warranted. Accordingly, this research paper examines private equity investments focusing on the mid-market in terms of their sustainable value contributions for investors and companies. It explores whether private equity is more of a blessing or a curse especially for SMEs. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/295101/1/Significance%20of%20private%20equity%20investments_Peskes%2c%20Tang%20Zheng_2024_vfinal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G2, G23, G24 Keywords: SME, LBO, Finance, Private Equity, Leveraged Buy Out, Controlling, M&A Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:295101 #END 305 #BEGIN 306 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pazhanisamy, R. Author-Name: Mathew, Thomas Title: Investigating the Market Failure Evidence The Case of Fuel Additive Next Generation Petrol and Diesel in India Abstract: With the evolving landscape of automotive technologies and increased environmental regulations, there is a pressing need for advanced fuel additives that can enhance the performance, efficiency, and environmental footprint of next-generation combustion engines. The developed additive comprises a unique blend of detergents, cetane and octane boosters, antioxidants, and corrosion inhibitors, tailored to improve fuel efficiency, engine life, and emissions quality. The formulation also includes novel bio-based components that enhance the biodegradability and reduce the carbon footprint of the fuel, aligning with global sustainability goals. The introduction of this fuel additive not only promises to extend the operational life of next-generation engines but also supports the automotive industry's move towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. Future research will focus on optimizing the additive formulation for use with alternative fuels and exploring the potential impacts on emerging propulsion technologies. In this context a new generation fuel has introduced in India named super petrol which can add the values to the petrol by increasing vehicles performance and reducing the carbon emission with some minimal additional cost. But the market for such inevitable eco friendly product becomes disappeared in both the auto mobile industry and from the literature which demand and attempt to make an investigation into the market failure. This paper is attempted to fill this gap in the research. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/295100/1/Investigating%20the%20Market%20Failure%20Evidence.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q51, Q58, L71, O32, Q42 Keywords: Environmental effects of fuel, Environmental economics & government policy, Refining Hydrocarbon fuels, Management of Technological Innovation and R&, Alternative Energy Sources, Government policy and externalities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:295100 #END 306 #BEGIN 307 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Accelerating green finance for a sustainable future Abstract: India's goal of net-zero emissions by 2070 is a significant step towards addressing climate change. Green financing, a practice directing financial resources from sectors like banking, micro-credit, insurance, and investment towards projects with positive environmental and social impacts, is crucial for achieving this goal. It aligns financial flows with environmental protection, social well-being, and long-term sustainability. SEBI's efforts on green bond principles support environmentally friendly projects, mitigating climate change, and promoting social well-being. Collaboration between governments, financial institutions, investors, businesses, and civil society is essential for driving positive change. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/294878/1/GREEN%20PAPER%20FIN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q56, Q58, G23, G28 Keywords: Green Finance, Environmental Economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:294878 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32497.70248 #END 307 #BEGIN 308 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Author-Name: Levy, Dudi Author-Name: Wang, Dian Author-Name: Chen, Haipeng (Allan) Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Title: Large Effects of Small Cues: Priming Selfish Economic Decisions Abstract: Many experimental studies report that economics students tend to act more selfishly than students of other disciplines, a finding that received widespread public and professional attention. Two main explanations that the existing literature offers for the differences found in the behavior between economists and non-economists are: (i) the selection effect, and (ii) the indoctrination effect. We offer an alternative, novel explanation: we argue that these differences can be explained by differences in the interpretation of the context. We test this hypothesis by conducting two social dilemma experiments in the US and Israel with participants from both economics and non-economics majors. In the experiments, participants face a tradeoff between profit maximization (market norm) and workers’ welfare (social norm). We use priming to manipulate the cues that the participants receive before they make their decision. We find that when participants receive cues signaling that the decision has an economic context, both economics and non-economics students tend to maximize profits. When the participants receive cues emphasizing social norms, on the other hand, both economics and non-economics students are less likely to maximize profits. We conclude that some of the differences found between the decisions of economics and non-economics students can be explained by contextual cues. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/294172/1/Snir-Large-Effects-of-Small-Cues.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A11, A12, A13, A20, B40, C90, C91, D01, D63, D91, P10 Keywords: Self-Selection, Indoctrination, Self-Interest, Market Norms, Social Norms, Economic Man, Rational Choice, Fairness, Experimental Economics, Laboratory Experiments, Priming, Economists vs Non-Economists, Behavioral Economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:294172 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32166.74566 #END 308 #BEGIN 309 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Foltyn, Richard Author-Name: Olsson, Jonna Title: Subjective Life Expectancies, Time Preference Heterogeneity, and Wealth Inequality Abstract: This paper examines how objective and subjective heterogeneity in life expectancy affects savings behavior of healthy and unhealthy people. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we first document systematic biases in survival beliefs across self-reported health: those in poor health not only have a shorter actual lifespan but also underestimate their remaining life time. To gauge the effect on savings behavior and wealth accumulation, we use an overlapping-generations model where survival probabilities and beliefs evolve according to a health and survival process estimated from data. We conclude that differences in life expectancy are important to understand savings behavior, and that the belief biases, especially among the unhealthy, can explain up to a fifth of the observed health-wealth gap. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/294009/3/Foltyn-Subjective-life-expectancies.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D15, E21, G41, I14 Keywords: life expectancy, preference heterogeneity, subjective beliefs, life cycle Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:294009 #END 309 #BEGIN 310 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Krivenkov, Vladislav Title: Generative AI Tools zur Prognose von Leitzins-Entscheidungen: eine Fallstudie am Beispiel der Leitzinsentscheidungen der Federal Reserve Abstract: Dieses Working Paper untersucht den Einsatz von Generative AI Anwendungen zur Prognose von Leitzinsentscheidungen der Federal Reserve. Es bewertet, ob diese Anwendungen eingesetzt werden können, um Leitzinsänderungen vorherzusagen, und vergleicht ihre Vorhersagegenauigkeit mit den Markterwartungen über einen Zeitraum von sechs Monaten. Abstract: This working paper investigates the use of generative AI applications for predicting interest rate decisions by the Federal Reserve. It assesses whether these applications can be utilized to forecast changes in interest rates and compares their predictive accuracy with market expectations over a period of six months. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/293992/1/Generative-AI-Tools-zur-Prognose-von-Leitzins-Entscheidungen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G0 Keywords: Künstliche Intelligenz, FED Leitzinsentscheidungen, large language model (LLM), natural language processing (NLP), Generative AI Anwendung ChatGPT, Generative AI AnwendungW Google Gemini Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:293992 #END 310 #BEGIN 311 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Astorga-Rojas, Diego Title: Access to Markets and Technology Adoption in the Agricultural Sector: Evidence from Brazil Abstract: This paper studies how better market access through infrastructure improvements leads to the adoption of new agricultural technologies. In particular, I study the case of Brazil, and how the construction of the federal highway network from 1950 to 2000 affected the modernization of the agricultural sector. To address endogeneity concerns, I use the creation of Brasilia, and the project to connect it to the state capitals, as a natural experiment. I build a predicted network of highways by computing the cheapest way to connect the state capitals with Brasilia and use it to instrument market access. I find that municipalities where market access increased adopted new agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, improving agricultural productivity as a result. Market access also increased the machinery and equipment used for production, but only when Brazil deregulated its agricultural markets and opened to international trade, after 1990. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289868/1/Brasil_highways.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O13, O18, F14 Keywords: agricultural productivity, infrastructure, market access, mechanization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289868 #END 311 #BEGIN 312 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pazhanisamy, R. Title: Financial Inclusion Challenges Faced by Rural Micro Businesses in Cuddalore District of India Abstract: Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) in India are facing many problems such as unable to access to low cost credit from the formal financial institutions, specifically banking and extend their product to the remote markets. Some factors restrict the access to the finance on the input side while others restrict the products and its market outreach on the others side blocks the micro enterprises growth and lead to the rural population to be interlocked in chronic underemployment underdevelopment. With regard to this there are a very few research attempts are only available to test and verify the implication and operations of the Economic theories that highlights these two side issues rationalize how they contribute for the long run credit gap in the rural economy. Particularly the literature on the credit rationing theory on the input side of the financial inclusion policies and the pecking order theory on the demand side of the finance and their inter relationship with other theories like theory of moral hazard, agency theory, and the theory of adverse selection etc. are not documented and tested at the gross root level for which this paper attempted fill this gap. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289783/1/Challenges-faced-by-rural-Micro-enterprises.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D21, E32, G53, L22, L98, M30 Keywords: Challenges of Micro Businesses, Issues of Rural Micro Enterprises, Test of theoretical impact on micro businesses, challenges of rural business Management, Financial inclusion challenges in rural areas Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289783 #END 312 #BEGIN 313 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Costa, Stefano Author-Name: De Santis, Stefano Author-Name: Landini, Fabio Title: Strategic Dynamism, Internal Capabilities and Firm Performance Abstract: The drivers of firm success in hyper-competitive markets have received growing attention by economic and management scholars. While earlier works paid particular attention to the analysis of firm strategic positioning in markets, most recent approaches emphasized the importance of internal capabilities. This paper combines these two views in a unified approach through a new conceptual construct, strategic dynamism, that we consider as “antecedent” of performance and “descendant” of capabilities. By using a large and unique survey carried out by the Italian Institute of Statistics we document that a) strategic dynamism explains performance differentials among firms, as captured by labor productivity growth and b) internal capabilities, measured as organizational and personnel capabilities, are important drivers of strategic dynamism. Managerial and policy implications are discussed. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289628/3/Arrighetti-Strategic-Dynamism-and-Firm-Performance.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D21, D22, J24 Keywords: strategy, capabilities, performance,, organizational capability, personnel capability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289628 #END 313 #BEGIN 314 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Salzmann, Leonard Title: Do Survey Data Help Identify Supply and Demand Shocks in Sign-restricted SVARs? Abstract: Sign-restricted SVARs are typically characterized by high identification uncertainty. However, using external proxies can be helpful in this context. In this paper, I use business survey data to inform an SVAR of aggregate supply, demand and monetary policy shocks for the euro area. In the surveys, companies report input factors that limit their business activities. I show that sign-identified model sets are very heterogenous and produce shocks that are only weakly related to survey-based input shortage indicators. In contrast, combining sign restrictions with information from these shortage indicators narrows the set of admissible impulse response functions and affects policy-related conclusions drawn from the model. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289576/1/Surveydata_SVAR_Salzmann_2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Proxy VARs, SVAR, sign restrictions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289576 #END 314 #BEGIN 315 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Is Bitcoin More Energy Intensive Than Mainstream Finance? Abstract: When it comes to Bitcoin, there’s one thing that almost everyone agrees on: the network sucks up a tremendous amount of energy. But from there, disagreement is the rule. For critics, Bitcoin’s thirst for energy is self-evidently bad — the equivalent of pouring gasoline in a hole and setting it on fire. But for Bitcoin advocates, the network’s energy gluttony is the necessary price of having a secure digital currency. When judging Bitcoin’s energy demands, the advocates continue, keep in mind that mainstream finance is itself no model of efficiency. Here, I think the advocates have a point. If you want to argue that Bitcoin is an energy hog, you’ve got to do more than just point at its energy budget and say ‘bad’. You’ve got to show that this budget is worse than mainstream finance. On this comparison front, there seems to be a vacuum of good information. For their part, crypto promoters are happy to show that Bitcoin uses less energy than the global banking system. But this result is as unsurprising as it is meaningless. Compared to Bitcoin, global finance operates on a vastly larger scale. So of course it uses more energy. To be meaningful, any comparison between Bitcoin and mainstream finance must account for the different scales of the two systems. So instead of looking at energy alone, we need to look at energy intensity — the energy per unit of circulating currency. That’s what I’ll do here. In this post, I compare the energy intensity of Bitcoin to the energy intensity of mainstream US finance. Which system comes out on top? The results may surprise you. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289512/1/Fix_Is_bitcoin_more_energy_intensive.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, Q4, E4 Keywords: bitcoin, energy, finance, money Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289512 #END 315 #BEGIN 316 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Yang, Fan Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Novak, Jiri Title: Where Have All the Alphas Gone? A Meta-Analysis of Hedge Fund Performance Abstract: We examine the factors influencing published estimates of hedge fund performance. Using a sample of 1,019 intercept terms from regressions of hedge fund returns on risk factors (the alphas) collected from 74 studies, we document a strong downward trend in the reported alphas. The trend persists even after controlling for heterogeneity in hedge fund characteristics and research design choices in the underlying studies. Estimates of current performance implied by best practice methodology are close to zero across all common hedge fund strategies. Additionally, our data allow us to estimate the mean management and performance fees charged by hedge funds. We also document how reported performance estimates vary with hedge fund and study characteristics. Overall, our findings indicate that, while hedge funds historically generated positive value for investors, their ability to do so has diminished substantially. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289497/1/Yang-Where-have-alphas-gone.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J23, J24, J31 Keywords: Hedge funds, alpha, performance, fees, meta-analysis, model uncertainty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289497 #END 316 #BEGIN 317 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bortnikova, Kseniya Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Title: Beauty and Professional Success: A Meta-Analysis Abstract: Common wisdom suggests that beauty helps in the labor market. We show that two factors combine to explain away the mean beauty premium reported in the literature. First, correcting for publication bias reduces the premium by at least a third. Second, controlling for cognitive ability negates the premium for all occupations except sex workers, a point further underscored by the similarity of the beauty effect on earnings and productivity. The second factor implies a positive link, perhaps genetic, between beauty and intelligence. We find little evidence of substantial attenuation bias that could offset publication and omitted-variable biases. The empirical literature is inconsistent with discrimination based solely on tastes for beauty. To obtain these results we collect 1,159 estimates of the effect of beauty on earnings or productivity reported in 67 studies and codify 33 aspects that reflect estimation context, including the potential intensity of attenuation bias. We employ recently developed techniques to account for publication bias and model uncertainty. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289435/1/Bortnikova-Beauty-and-professional-success.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83, J24, J31 Keywords: Beauty premium, productivity, meta-analysis, model uncertainty, publication bias, p-hacking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289435 #END 317 #BEGIN 318 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hertrich, Tobias Johannes Author-Name: Brenner, Thomas Title: The impact of skills shortage on economic development in Germany – A mixed method approach Abstract: In Europe, there is an increasing shortage of skilled workers and jobs remain vacant for long periods of time. The shortage of skilled workers has become a key issue for various stakeholders, as it not only makes it difficult to recruit and retain employees, but it is also seen as a significant barrier to innovation for companies. So far, most analyses of skills shortage take place at company level. We supplement this with a regional perspective, because many measures, especially those of policy makers, are conducted on the regional level. We examine the impact of skills shortage on various aspects of regional economic development. Using the spatial vector autoregressive panel model, significant effects on gross domestic product (GDP), employment are found, but not on research and development (R&D) activities. Expert interviews are used to dig deeper into the reasons for these findings, showing that the disadvantages of skills shortages on innovativeness are perceived, but relate to the future or to the more general economic situation. Abstract: In Europa herrscht ein zunehmender Mangel an qualifizierten Arbeitskräften, und Stellen bleiben über lange Zeiträume unbesetzt. Der Fachkräftemangel ist für verschiedene Interessengruppen zu einem zentralen Thema geworden, da er nicht nur die Einstellung und Bindung von Mitarbeitern erschwert, sondern auch als erhebliches Innovationshemmnis für Unternehmen angesehen wird. Bislang wurden die meisten Analysen des Fachkräftemangels auf Unternehmensebene durchgeführt. Wir ergänzen dies um eine regionale Perspektive, da viele Maßnahmen, insbesondere die der politischen Entscheidungsträger, auf regionaler Ebene durchgeführt werden. Wir untersuchen die Auswirkungen des Fachkräftemangels auf verschiedene Aspekte der regionalen Wirtschaftsentwicklung. Unter Verwendung des räumlichen vektorautoregressiven Panelmodells werden signifikante Auswirkungen auf das Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP) und die Beschäftigung festgestellt, nicht jedoch auf die Forschungs- und Entwicklungsaktivitäten (FuE). Experteninterviews werden genutzt, um die Gründe für diese Ergebnisse zu ergründen, und zeigen, dass die Nachteile des Fachkräftemangels für die Innovationsfähigkeit zwar wahrgenommen werden, sich aber auf die Zukunft oder die allgemeine Wirtschaftslage beziehen. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289434/1/Skill-shortage_WP03_24.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O10, O30, J23, J21, J11 Keywords: skills shortage, regional development, regional innovativeness, mixed methods Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289434 #END 318 #BEGIN 319 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sarami Foroushani, Taraneh Author-Name: Balali, Hamid Author-Name: Movahedi, Reza Author-Name: Partelow, Stefan Title: Using local knowledge to assess the sustainability of groundwater resources: applying the social-ecological systems framework to the Hamedan-Bahar Plain, Iran Abstract: Sustainable access to groundwater remains a key challenge for local users, managers and policy makers, particularly in arid agricultural regions such as Iran. Identifying and assessing the status of diverse sustainability indicators using local knowledge can act as a step in the right direction for often invisible and hard to measure resources, especially when developed through inclusive approaches that include expert stakeholder inputs. In this article, we apply Ostrom's social-ecological systems framework (SESF) to assess how the local knowledge of key informant stakeholders can be used to assess the sustainability of groundwater resources on the Hamadan-Bahar plain in Iran. We evaluate the importance of each of the SESF’s first-tier variables based on 52 indicators attained from literature review and expert insights. Local knowledge is used to assess the sustainability status of each indicator through a survey of 22 key informants. For data analysis, we use the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and the Shannon Entropy methodologies to weight and rank indicators based on the data provided on their influence on sustainability. Findings suggest that the Resource System (RS) and Resource Unit (RU) indicators have the most positive influence on sustainability. In contrast, the Governance System (GS), Actor (A) and Interaction (I) first-tier variables were evaluated as less stable, along with Outcomes (O). This suggests that social factors and diverse outcomes may need further attention in the region to ensure management and policy development that can better enable sustainable outcomes. This analysis also demonstrates the usefulness of a comprehensive science-based framework for organizing, analyzing and presenting a wide range of complex information to inform policymakers and planners. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289209/1/Sarami-Using-local-knowledge.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Groundwater management, local knowledge, knowledge co-production, sustainability indicators, socio-ecological systems (SES), stakeholder inclusion, water governance, commons Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289209 #END 319 #BEGIN 320 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Milling, Marc Title: HRM als strategischer Datenanalyst: Durch Micro-Futuring zur vorausschauenden Unternehmensentwicklung Abstract: Der vorliegende Aufsatz betrachtet die vertiefende Integration des Human Resource Managements (HRM) in die strategische Ausrichtung von Unternehmen. Hierbei wird ein Modell vorgestellt, das HRM als wichtigen Datenanalysten zwischen der externen Unternehmensumwelt und den internen Strukturen positioniert. Durch den Einsatz von fortlaufendem Data-Mining und Data-Analytics soll HRM in der Lage sein, Veränderungen und Schwerpunktverschiebungen in den Stellenprofilen des Wettbewerbsumfelds frühzeitig zu erkennen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Analyse können dann mit den internen Bedarfen abgeglichen werden, um Szenarien zu entwickeln, die es dem Management ermöglichen, strategische Anpassungsentscheidungen vorausschauend zu treffen. Dieser Ansatz basiert auf dem Konzept des Micro-Futuring, das Unternehmen dazu befähigt, sich präadaptiv zu entwickeln und zu positionieren. Durch eine frühzeitige Identifizierung und proaktive Reaktion auf Markttrends und Veränderungen können Unternehmen ihre Wettbewerbsfähigkeit stärken und langfristigen Erfolg sicherstellen. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/289206/1/HR_Datenanalyst_Milling.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M Keywords: Micro-Futuring, HRM Data-Mining, Präadaptive Unternehmensentwicklung, Funkitonale HRM Erweiterung, Daten-Ökosystem, Strategischer Anbindung HRM - C-Level Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:289206 #END 320 #BEGIN 321 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barrie, Mohamed Samba Author-Name: Jackson, Emerson Abraham Author-Name: Pessima, Joseph Title: Estimating the Impact of Official and Parallel Exchange Rates on Inflation in Sierra Leone. Abstract: This study examines the duality of the exchange rate market in Sierra Leone, delving into the distinct impacts of the official and parallel exchange rates (between the Leone and the United States Dollar) on inflation. Employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach and utilizing annual time series data from 1980 to 2020, the research reveals that the depreciation of the Leone significantly influences inflation. This effect is more pronounced in the case of the parallel exchange rate, where a 1% depreciation results in a 1.26 percentage point increase in inflation, gradually decreasing to 0.92 percentage point over two years. Conversely, the depreciation of the official rate leads to a 0.43 percentage point increase inflation and subsequently to 0.52 percentage point increase in inflation for every 1% depreciation of the official exchange rate in the second year. The findings confirm the significance of both official and parallel exchange rates in influencing inflation, highlighting a substantial difference in their effects on the economy. Nevertheless, the results indicate no statistically significant long-term relationship between inflation and both the official and parallel exchange rates in Sierra Leone. Exchange rate depreciation, particularly in the parallel market, is shown to have a pronounced impact on inflation, necessitating careful oversight and regulation of the parallel market to ensure price stability. The study also uncovers the presence of foreign exchange market fragmentation, posing challenges to effective monetary policy and exchange rate management. Policy implications drawn from the research underscore the importance of regulating the parallel market to enhance transparency and stability. Integrating fragmented foreign exchange markets is deemed crucial for minimizing exchange rate pass through to inflation. Acknowledging the data limitations, the research suggests enriching future investigations by incorporating recent data, global economic factors, and investor sentiments, all of which have the tendency to affect exchange rate movements. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/287775/1/Barrie-Estimating-the-impact.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Official Exchange Rate, Parallel Exchange Rate, Inflation, exchange-rate-market-duality, Sierra Leone Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:287775 #END 321 #BEGIN 322 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Title: Zukunft der Unternehmensdaten: Chancen und Herausforderungen von KI-Anwendungen im Spannungsfeld der Corporate Governance Abstract: Während strukturierte Daten, beispielsweise aus ERP-Systemen, für Entscheidungen genutzt werden, bleiben große Mengen unstrukturierter Daten wie E-Mails oder Dokumente oft unberücksichtigt. KI-Technologien bieten Möglichkeiten, aus diesen Daten relevante Informationen zu extrahieren und Entscheidungsprozesse zu verbessern. Den großen Vorteilen wie Effizienzsteigerung und verbesserte Dateninterpretation stehen Herausforderungen im Umgang mit Datenmengen, Qualitätssicherung, Datenschutzaspekten und Know-how-Schutz gegenüber. So muss das Governance-Modell von Unternehmen angepasst werden, um die Chancen der gezielten Nutzung von unstrukturierten Daten und KI voll auszuschöpfen. Abstract: While structured data, such as from ERP systems, is used to make decisions, large amounts of unstructured data, such as emails or documents, are often ignored. AI technologies offer the opportunity to extract relevant information from this data and improve decision making. However, the benefits of AI, such as increased efficiency and improved data interpretation, are offset by challenges related to data volume, quality assurance, privacy, and intellectual property protection. Organizations' governance models need to be adapted to take full advantage of unstructured data and AI. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/287730/1/Zukunft%20der%20Unternehmensdaten_5_2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G3 Keywords: ERP System, Daten, strukturiert und unstrukturiert, Governance, KI, Datenschutz, Qualitätssicherung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:287730 #END 322 #BEGIN 323 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kpukumu, Kabineh Author-Name: Barrie, Mohamed Samba Title: The Proposed Tollgate Price Hike's Potential Impact on Inflation in Sierra Leone: A Counterfactual Estimation Abstract: This research investigates the potential impact of proposed tollgate price adjustments on inflation dynamics in Sierra Leone using a suite of Bayesian Vector Autoregressive (VAR) models with data from 2007M1 to 2024M1. Around 2015-2016, the government of Sierra Leone initiated a crucial road expansion project in partnership with China Railway Seventh Group Co., Ltd. (CRSG), aiming to improve transportation networks by extending the road from Wellington in Freetown to Masiaka in Port Loko District. As per the agreement, three tollgates were to be erected at strategic points along this expanded route: Hastings, Songo, and Masiaka. Despite maintaining stable tollgate prices since their inception in 2017, CSRG has indicated recently that they want to revise the tollgate prices to reflect exchange rate depreciation, thus prompting an examination of this proposed move on inflation. Projections from the model simulations indicate that if the proposed toll gate price revisions are enacted in April 2024, transport inflation would surge by 1.55% month-on-month and by 5.3% year-on-year from April to July 2024 cumulatively. In dissecting the transport sector, our analysis revealed a clear pattern: without the tollgate effect, transport inflation showed a gradual upward trajectory. However, upon modeling the potential effects of the proposed tollgate price revisions, a sharp increase in transport inflation is observed. Moreover, food inflation is projected to experience a significant year on-year rise of 7.15% cumulatively, while headline inflation is expected to increase by 4.62% over the period from April to June 2024. Furthermore, an examination of food inflation patterns revealed an interesting trend: before accounting for the toll gate effect, food inflation showed a declining trend over the observation period. However, upon factoring in the tollgate effect, while food inflation continued to decline, it did so at levels higher than would have been the case without the toll gate effect. These insights hold key policy implications, such as closely monitoring, communicating transparently, and coordinating responses to mitigate inflationary impacts and foster economic stability. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/286597/1/Research%20Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Tollgate prices, Inflation dynamics, Bayesian VAR framework, Policy implications, Sierra Leone Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:286597 #END 323 #BEGIN 324 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: Unpacking assumptions on social democratic developmental state in the Malawi Vision 2063: A critical approach Abstract: Malawi has faced slow progress in social and economic development for the past five decades. In 2021, the country developed a national development vision to promote wealth creation and self-reliance. This study attempts to unpack the assumptions about the social democratic developmental state as a philosophical underpinning of the Malawi Vision 2063. The study analysed the Malawi Vision 2063 document using concepts from Critical Social Theory. The findings showed that the assumptions on developmental state concentrated on the role of the state, leadership, public sector involvement, and partnership discourses. The assumptions about social democratic developmental state emerged from the strategic level of government and the elite. The espoused views on the developmental state were linked with the promotion of capital and the market. Some of the statements in the thematic areas of Malawi Vision 2063 had no robust local philosophy that was well known to guide the thinking and actions of policy actors and beneficiaries (e.g. politicians, individuals, government officials and communities) in development processes and programmes. The study highlights some of the areas that require attention for the Malawi Vision 2063 to achieve successful outcomes. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/285317/1/Makoza-Unpacking-assumptions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Malawi Vision 2063, Development philosophy, Democratic developmental state, National development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:285317 #END 324 #BEGIN 325 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Author-Name: Becker, Marco Title: Large language models and proprietary data - More accurate query results thanks to efficient data management and improved technical processes Abstract: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) synergistically combines the intrinsic knowledge of LLMs with the huge, dynamic databases of companies. Referencing the basic concept of a RAG ("Naive RAG"), this working paper identifies the critical factors of this cutting-edge architecture and gives hints for improvement. Finally, future paths for research and development are outlined. Abstract: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) verbindet auf synergetische Weise das intrinsische Wissen von LLMs mit den riesigen, dynamischen Datenbeständen von Unternehmen. Aufbauend auf dem Grundkonzept einer RAG („Naive RAG“) identifiziert dieses Working Paper kritische Faktoren dieser hochaktuellen Architektur und gibt Hinweise zur Verbesserung. Abschließend werden zukünftige Wege für Forschung und Entwicklung aufgezeigt. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/285307/1/Reinking-Becker-Large-language-models-EN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M15 Keywords: AI, RAG, artificial intelligence, Retrieval-Augmented Generation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:285307 #END 325 #BEGIN 326 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Snir. Avichai Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Levy, Dudi Author-Name: Chen, Haipeng Allan Title: Price Gouging or Market Forces? Fairness Perceptions of Price Hikes in the Pandemic Abstract: We report the results of surveys we conducted in the US and Israel in 2020, a time when many prices increased following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. To assess respondents’ perceptions of price increases, we focus on goods whose prices have increased during the pandemic, including some essential goods. Consistent with the principle of dual entitlement, we find that respondents perceive price increases as more acceptable if they are due to cost shocks than if they are due to demand shocks. However, we also find large differences across the two populations, as well as across goods. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/285120/1/Price-Gouging-or-Market-Forces.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E70, D90, M31 Keywords: Fairness Perceptions, Price Increases, The Pandemic, Dual Entitlement, Consumer Antagonism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:285120 #END 326 #BEGIN 327 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen Thanh Luan Title: Do Consumers Shop in Tiktok? The TAM Perspective Abstract: Today's society is increasingly developing, leading to the improvement and advancement of technology, which has made the shopping needs of consumers more enhanced. The fact that consumers choose to shop online on e-commerce platforms is gradually becoming more popular and diverse. Especially not Shoppe, Lazada or Tiki but recently Tiktok is also gradually becoming a place for people to entertain, shop and it is quite popular. This creates a lot of opportunities and challenges as well as promotes the creativity and potential of businesses. Therefore, this study was created with the aim to find out and explore the factors affecting the intention to shop online on Tiktok of consumers in Ho Chi Minh City through the Public Acceptance Model Theory. Turmeric (TAM). The research method used is conditional sampling. A questionnaire will be used to collect data from consumers who often shop online to clarify the factors affecting their decision on Tiktok, namely Perceived usefulness (PUF), Perceived ease of use (PEU), Acceptance attitude (ACA), Consumer confidence (CCF), Subjective standards (SJS), Intention to use (ITU). The experts checked through the questions established through the face value and the content value to ensure the validity and reliability of the survey tool. The findings show the difference in the positive impact of surrounding factors on consumers' shopping intention on Tiktok social network in Ho Chi Minh City. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/285117/1/Nguyen-Do-consumers-shop-in-Tiktok.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Online shopping, Tiktok social network, consumer trust, TAM Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:285117 #END 327 #BEGIN 328 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sayag, Doron Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Title: Small Price Changes, Sales Volume, and Menu Cost Abstract: The finding of small price changes in many retail price datasets is often viewed as a puzzle. We show that a possible explanation for the presence of small price changes is related to sales volume, an observation that has been overlooked in the existing literature. Analyzing a large retail scanner price dataset that contains information on both prices and sales volume, we find that small price changes are more frequent when products’ sales volume is high. This finding holds across product categories, within product categories, and for individual products. It is also robust to various sensitivity analyses such as measurement errors, the definition of “small” price changes, the inclusion of measures of price synchronization, the size of producers, the time horizon used to compute the average sales volume, the revenues, the competition, shoppers’ characteristics, etc. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/285116/1/Sayag-Snir-Levy-Small-price-changes.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E32, L16, L81, M31, M1 Keywords: Menu Cost, (S, s) Band, Price Rigidity, Sticky Prices, Small Price Changes, Small Price Adjustments, Sales Volume Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:285116 #END 328 #BEGIN 329 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Author-Name: Becker, Marco Title: Large Language Modelle und unternehmenseigene Daten - Genauere Abfrageergebnisse dank effizientem Datenmanagement und verbesserten technischen Verfahren Creation-Date: 2024 Classification-JEL: M15 Keywords: KI, RAG, Künstliche Intelligenz, AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:285115 #END 329 #BEGIN 330 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Diakoulakis, Giorgos N. Title: Monopolistic pricing with goal-driven consumers Abstract: In this article, we theoretically explore monopolistic pricing when a (representative) consumer exhibits multiple goals. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/284924/1/Diakoulakis-Monopolistic-pricing.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D42, D90, D21 Keywords: monopolistic firm, personalized pricing, goal-driven consumers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:284924 #END 330 #BEGIN 331 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Emergence of India as a Key Player in Global Economic Affairs Abstract: India is indeed the world's largest democracy with a population exceeding 1.4 billion people. The country has experienced significant economic growth over the past few decades, and its integration into the global economy has played a crucial role in this transformation. On February 7, 2015 PM Narendra Modi given an approach aligns with India’s vision of a self-reliant and influential India that actively participates in international forums, addresses global challenges, and contributes to the shaping of global narratives (Brueau, 2015). Realizing these advantages requires efforts such as, sustainable transition, policy support, and adaptability to changing global dynamics. Additionally, addressing challenges such as infrastructure gaps, regulatory complexities, and socio-economic disparities will be crucial for sustaining and maximizing the potential benefits of these advantages. The paper identifies key areas that will accelerate India’s growth over the next decade and vision for India's sustainable economic growth and ways to increase its role in the global economy due to its political and strategic importance in the evolving post-COVID-19 pandemic new economic order. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/284923/1/Mishra-Emergence-of-India.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Global Economy, Sustainable Economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:284923 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31037.06880 #END 331 #BEGIN 332 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Правда об инфляции Title: The Truth About Inflation Abstract: От редакции: среди всего набора макроэкономических тем, текущие показатели инфляции — одна из самых популярных и часто обсуждаемых. Аргументы сторонников режима жёсткого инфляционного таргетирования хорошо известны, равно как и возражения противников подобного подхода. Не касаясь их содержания, этой статьёй мы хотим привлечь внимание российской аудитории к самому подходу измерения инфляции. Как следует из представленного текста, определение уровня инфляции на практике сталкивается с теми же проблемами, что несут и прочие “средние”, “общие”, “агрегированные” показатели. Это делает актуальным вопрос о внедрении секторального, адресного подхода в управлении ценовой динамикой — что касается как фискальных мер, так и ДКП. *** Милтона Фридмана нет в живых уже более десяти лет, но его призрак всё ещё преследует нас. В 1960-х годах Фридман заявил, что инфляция "всегда и везде является денежным явлением" — проблемой печатания слишком большого количества денег. С тех пор всякий раз, когда инфляция дает о себе знать, вы можете рассчитывать на то, что кто-нибудь оживит призрак Фридмана и обвинит правительство в том, что оно слишком много тратит. *** Если бы только инфляция была такой простой. *** Как и многое в экономической теории, мысли Фридмана на первый взгляд кажутся правдоподобными. Инфляция — это общий рост цен. А поскольку цены — это ничто иное, как результат обмена (благ) на деньги, то больше денег в обращении означает, что цены должны расти. Следовательно, инфляция "всегда и везде является денежным явлением". *** К сожалению, при дальнейшем рассмотрении эта мысль рассыпается. Проблема в том, что она рассматривает инфляцию как равномерный рост цен. Теоретически это удобно, но эмпирически неверно. В реальном мире темпы инфляции сильно разнятся. В то время, когда цена на яблоки повышается на 5%, цены на автомобили могут вырасти на 50%, а цены на одежду — упасть на 20%. *** Чтобы понять реально существующую инфляцию, нужно обратиться не к учебникам по экономике, а к реальным данным. Именно этим занимался политэкономист Джонатан Ницан во время своего докторского исследования в начале 1990-х годов. Его работа вылилась в диссертацию под названием "Инфляция как реструктуризация". В реальном мире, заметил Ницан, изменение цен всегда "дифференцированно", что означает наличие победителей и проигравших. Как следствие, инфляция не является чисто "денежным явлением", вопреки заявлениям Фридмана. Инфляция перестраивает социальный порядок. *** Именно эта особенность инфляции в реальном мире является наиболее важной, поскольку она означает, что инфляция сигнализирует об изменении структуры власти в обществе. Предсказуемо, что именно эту особенность реального мира игнорируют мейнстримные экономисты — в основном потому, что она противоречит их стройной теории инфляции как "денежного явления". К счастью, доказательства очевидны. Инфляция является (и всегда была) в подавляющем большинстве случаев дифференциальной. Инфляция — это перестройка [экономики]. *** Сегодня, когда инфляционные страхи возвращаются и призрак Фридмана воскресает, стоит напомнить себе о реальных фактах. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/284325/1/Fix-The-truth-about-inflation-russ.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, E31, E4, E5 Keywords: inflation, disaggregation, distribution, monetarism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:284325 #END 332 #BEGIN 333 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kueffmann, Karin Title: Use of XR to revitalize and activate shop windows Abstract: Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) that can be applied in many ways. A number of innovative immersive applications have already been created online commerce and in real retail. More VR/AR applications can be found in the fields of arts, fashion, real estate, architecture, city planning and guided tours. In this paper a concept for the use of AR or VR for vacant spaces in a formerly attractive shopping street is presented. In addition to common technologies and interoperability, the focus lies on revitalisation, interaction and networking of existing actors in a district. The vacancies should be brought to life with XR in a technologically and thematically diverse way, if possible as a participatory concept for many stakeholders, and thus contribute to the revitalisation of the district. Abstract: VR / AR wird heute in vielfältiger Weise im Online-Handel, in der Architektur, Immobilienwirtschaft, im Maschinenbau und in der Stadtplanung verwendet. Im folgenden wird untersucht, ob Mixed Reality eine Chance ist, Schaufenster wieder lebendiger werden zu lassen und so Leerstände zu beleben. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/284102/1/Use-of-XR-to-revitalise-and-activate-shop-windows.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, empty shop windows, inner city, retail, activation in showrooms, co content creation, mixed reality, living neighbourhood, urban development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:284102 Note: Shortened translation into English of Küffmann, Karin: Einsatz von XR zur Belebung von Leerständen. HMD Praxis der Wirtschaftsinformatik (2023). https://doi.org/10.1365/s40702-023-01020-9 #END 333 #BEGIN 334 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mitra, Alessio Author-Name: Di Girolamo, Valentina Author-Name: Canton, Erik Title: Financing instruments and challenges for innovation in the EU: Panel evidence from the SAFE survey Abstract: This paper studies the firm-level drivers of product, process, organisation and marketing innovation in the EU with panel data from 2009 to 2021. Employing conditional logit and linear probability models we investigate how firms’ characteristics, firms’ sources of financing, and firm perception of different challenges influence their likelihood to innovate. In line with the academic literature, we find that firms’ size and profit level improve firms’ innovation performance, while firms’ age decreases it. We also observe that the effectiveness of different financing instruments varies considerably depending on whether the company is pursuing product, process, organisation or marketing innovation. Finally, innovative firms more frequently report access to finance and regulations as important challenges for their future, while the relevance of other challenges (e.g. the availability of skilled staff or finding customers) varies depending on what type of innovation activities companies are engaged in. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283909/1/Financing-instruments-and-challenges-for-innovation-EC.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G20, G23, O30 Keywords: Access to finance, Financing instruments, Innovation challenges, Firm innovation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283909 DOI: 10.2777/019319 #END 334 #BEGIN 335 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peiffer-Smadja, Océane Author-Name: Mitra, Alessio Author-Name: Ravet, Julien Author-Name: Di Girolamo, Valentina Title: The road to success: how regional innovation ecosystems can improve participation in the European Framework Programme for R&I Abstract: This paper uses multiple linear and fractional probit regressions to assess the importance of regional research capacities and assets, as well as intrinsic characteristics of the regions in defining success in the European R&I Framework Programme. We find that quality of research outputs matters more than quantity, particularly in projects targeting societal challenges, while quality of patenting activity matters more than quantity, particularly in projects targeting industrial objectives. Less-developed regions benefit from improved institutions, while advanced regions gain from increased R&D and human resources investments. We provide recommendations on how regions can improve their capacity to participate in the EU FP for R&I. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283908/1/The-road-to-success-EC.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O38, R58 Keywords: European R&I Framework Programme, Regional innovation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283908 DOI: 10.2777/710365 #END 335 #BEGIN 336 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Di Girolamo, Valentina Author-Name: Mitra, Alessio Author-Name: Ravet, Julien Author-Name: Peiffer-Smadja, Océane Author-Name: Balland, Pierre-Alexandre Title: The global position of the EU in complex technologies Abstract: This paper studies the relationship between knowledge complexity and countries' technological dependency, with a focus on the EU's position vis-à-vis other major economies. Using patent data, we calculate the knowledge complexity index at technological level for a set of countries over the period 1990-2020 to assess the EU's technological capabilities. Our findings show that the EU's overall position has progressively worsened vis-à-vis the US, China, Japan, and South Korea over the last three decades, that the EU's technological base is more diversified than that of other major economies, but is disproportionally more specialised in less complex technologies than its counterparts. Finally, the EU is particularly dependent on just a few countries in most complex technologies. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283907/1/The-global-position-of-the-EU-in-complex-technologies-EC.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O11, O33 Keywords: Complex technologies, Technological dependencies, Strategic autonomy, Relatedness Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283907 DOI: 10.2777/454786 #END 336 #BEGIN 337 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mitra, Alessio Author-Name: Niakaros, Konstantinos Title: The Horizon effect: A counterfactual analysis of EU research & innovation grants Abstract: This paper evaluates the causal impact of the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation on financial firm-level outcomes using a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) approach. We use administrative data from CORDA and financial data from ORBIS spanning from 2010 to 2022, for a sample of approximately 40 thousand unique private companies that applied for Horizon 2020 funding. The findings suggest that firms receiving Horizon 2020 grants exhibit an average increase of 20% in employment and about 30% in total assets and revenues, compared to comparable companies in the control group, in the years after receiving their first grant. Positive effects persist even after 2.5 years, which is the average duration of a project in our sample. Companies in the “Information and communication” and “Professional, scientific and technical activities” NACE sectors are driving the results, while other sectors show insignificant effects. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283906/1/The-horizon-effect-EC.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G38, L52, O38, D22 Keywords: Horizon 2020, Difference-in-Differences, European Union, Innovation policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283906 DOI: 10.2777/584781 #END 337 #BEGIN 338 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen Thi Hai Binh Title: Impulse Buying Behavior of Consumers Through Social Commerce Abstract: The constant advancement of technology and the rise of social commerce have led to an increase in the inclination among consumers to make impulsive purchases while using social networking sites. It is crucial that researchers and social commerce merchants fully comprehend how the present social commerce environment might be used to manipulate consumers' impulsive buying behavior. So, utilizing the theory of planned behavior and the technology acceptance model, this study intends to analyze the impulsive purchasing behavior of Consumers using social commerce platforms in Vietnam. In response to this, convenience sampling combined with non-probability sampling has been adopted. In order to investigate and clarify the factors influencing user intention, data from 250 consumers were gathered via a questionnaire. These factors included perceptions of ease of use (EU), benefits of social commerce (BE), attitude toward purchasing behavior (AB), subjective norms (SB), control of purchasing behavior (BC), and behavioral intention (IB). The established questionnaire underwent formal validity and content validity checks by the expert panel to assure the validity and dependability of the survey tool. The results point to a variety of favorable influences on parameters that influence impulsive purchasing. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283905/1/Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: social commerce, impulse behavior, consumers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283905 #END 338 #BEGIN 339 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Katz, Eliakim Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: The Proposed Immigration Reform in the United States: Its Impact on the Employment of Illegal Aliens by the Firm Abstract: In view of proposed immigration reform pertaining to the employment of illegal aliens we model a competitive, risk-averse firm employing legal as well as illegal workers whose wage is effectively a random variable. Inter alia we find that this wage does not affect the scale of the firm's operations; that parametric changes in the wage function of illegal workers have the expected effect on their employment yet do not affect the firm's output level; that a higher output price will result in proportionately more illegal hiring than legal hiring; and that a higher wage for legal workers may result in more of them being employed. Creation-Date: 1985 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283630/1/Katz-Stark-Proposed-Immigration-Reform.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283630 #END 339 #BEGIN 340 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hertrich, Tobias Johannes Author-Name: Brenner, Thomas Title: When the past becomes the future: The problem of policies in 'left behind' places Abstract: The concept of “left behind” places encompasses economic, demographic, infrastructural, social and political aspects. Different studies of the left behind place concept focus on different aspects or combinations of these. Hertrich and Brenner (2024) assume an interplay of many aspects that lead to the left behind feeling but emphasize the emerging dynamics of opinion. The purpose of this paper is to analyze this interaction of individual factors in detail in a case study and thus gain a deeper understanding of the processes that presumably play a role in many other regions. Contrary to perception, the labor market region (LMR) Gera is developing dynamically in many parameters. We find that although the reasons for the left behind feeling can be assigned to the pillars of the model, in most cases they relate to the past. We conclude that the political measures and developments in the LMR to date have not had an effect due to the strong formation of opinion based on historical events. In addition, the dynamics of opinion formation play a major role in left behind places, which has so far been neglected in politics. Abstract: Das Konzept der zurückgelassenen" Orte umfasst wirtschaftliche, demografische, infrastrukturelle, soziale und politische Aspekte. Verschiedene Studien zum Konzept der zurückgelassenen Orte konzentrieren sich auf unterschiedliche Aspekte oder Kombinationen dieser Aspekte. Hertrich und Brenner (2024) gehen von einem Zusammenspiel vieler Aspekte aus, die zum "Left behind"-Gefühl führen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, dieses Zusammenspiel einzelner Faktoren in einer Fallstudie detailliert zu analysieren und so ein tieferes Verständnis für die Prozesse zu gewinnen, die vermutlich in vielen anderen Regionen eine Rolle spielen. Entgegen der Wahrnehmung entwickelt sich die Arbeitsmarktregion (AMR) Gera in vielen Parametern dynamisch. Wir stellen fest, dass zwar die Gründe den Säulen des Modells zugeordnet werden können, sich aber in den meisten Fällen auf die Vergangenheit beziehen. Wir schließen daraus, dass die politischen Maßnahmen und Entwicklungen in der AMR aufgrund der starken Meinungsbildung aufgrund historischer Ereignisse kaum Wirkung entfalten. Die Dynamik der Meinungsbildung spielt eine große Rolle, die in der Politik bisher vernachlässigt wurde. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283319/1/wp02_24.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, O20, R11, R12 Keywords: left behind place, feeling left behind, case study, lagging region, policy measures, regional development, territorial inequality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283319 #END 340 #BEGIN 341 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barrie, Mohamed Samba Title: Decoding Bank of Sierra Leone's Monetary Policy Communications: A Text Mining Analysis. Abstract: This research paper presents the results of a text mining analysis conducted on the quarterly monetary policy statements published by the Bank of Sierra Leone. This study examines the effectiveness and readability of monetary policy communication by the Bank of Sierra Leone. The research focuses on evaluating the clarity and simplicity of the Bank's communication efforts from 2019Q1 to 2023Q1. Utilizing techniques such as word cloud extraction, keyword density analysis, and text readability metrics assessment, we analyzed 17 quarterly monetary policy statements, our corpus consist of 43 pages of text data. The findings reveal insights into the prominent themes, and linguistic characteristics embedded within the Bank's monetary policy statements. Through an examination of keyword frequency and thematic trends, the research shows that the Bank of Sierra Leone's monetary policy statements place emphasis on inflation management, economic growth, and consideration of exogenous factors affecting monetary policy implementation, with language and structure varying across quarters. Moreover, the analysis suggests that understanding these statements typically requires a college-level education, posing accessibility challenges for a significant portion of Sierra Leone’s population. The policy implications drawn from this analysis accentuate the importance of stakeholder engagement, transparency, adoption of digital outreach tools, local language communication, continuous monitoring and evaluation of the Bank’s communication strategy. This research contributes empirical evidence on monetary policy communication in Sierra Leone, offering insights for policymakers on how best to improve its communication strategies to financial market participants and the general public. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283289/1/Sierra-Leones-Monetary-Policy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, E58, G14, G28, C88 Keywords: Text mining, monetary policy, communication, Bank of Sierra Leone, Effectiveness, Readability, Clarity, Comprehensibility Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283289 #END 341 #BEGIN 342 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Addie, Ron Author-Name: Taranto, Aldo Title: Economic Similarities and their Application to Inflation Abstract: An economic similarity between two economies is defined, which is a correspondence between the futures of two economies in which all, or a certain subset of all acts of production and consumption, are the same. Prices and inflation can be different in similar economies so an economic similarity is the ideal tool for studying inflation and for expressing monetary neutrality, as one aspect of money. A formula for an economic similarity from an arbitrary economy to an economy with a different rate of inflation is stated and proved. An economic similarity is used to formulate and prove a rigorous expression of the quantity theory of money and a different economic similarity is used to elucidate how raising interest rates reduces inflation. The distortion of economic activity caused by raising interest rates to control inflation is identified and quantified. A strategy for managing inflation that avoids distortion of economic activity by focusing on loan repayments rather than on interest rates is identified. The existence of a “painless” inflation management strategy, which adjusts repayment rates as well as interest rates, is deduced by means of the more precise understanding of the neutrality aspect of money that is obtained through economic similarity. Although it is unexpected to discover a purely “technical” mechanism for managing inflation, the theoretical justification, provided through economic similarity, is strong. The practical implications of such a mechanism are considerable. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/283286/1/Economic-similarities-2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: economic, similarity, inflation, interest, stochastic, neutral Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:283286 #END 342 #BEGIN 343 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: van Baal, Sebastian Title: Behavioral Economics und Change Management: Beiträge der deskriptiven Entscheidungstheorie zur Erklärung des organisatorischen Konservatismus Abstract: Instrumente des Change Managements dienen in erster Linie dazu, Veränderungshemmnisse in Organisationen zu überwinden. Eine Voraussetzung für einen adäquaten Einsatz der Instrumente besteht darin, die Gründe für solche Hemmnisse zu identifizieren – eine Diagnose stellt eine wesentliche Grundlage für eine Therapie dar. In diesem Beitrag werden in diesem Sinne empirisch belegte Urteilsverzerrungen, die im Rahmen von Behavioral Economics bzw. der deskriptiven Entscheidungstheorie identifiziert wurden, auf ihre Bedeutung für den Veränderungsunwillen von Organisationsmitgliedern hin überprüft. Es zeigt sich, dass Entscheidungsanomalien wie beispielsweise die Verlustaversion oder der Sunk-Cost-Effekt als Ursachen des organisatorischen Konservatismus in Frage kommen und dass deren Kenntnis zu einem besseren Verständnis von Veränderungshemmnissen beitragen kann. Creation-Date: 2007 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/282314/1/vanBaal-Behavioral-Economics-und-Change-Management.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D20, D91, M10 Keywords: Behavioral Economics, Verhaltensökonomik, Change Management, Organisationsträgheit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:282314 #END 343 #BEGIN 344 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hertrich, Tobias Johannes Author-Name: Brenner, Thomas Title: Looking behind the curtain: a model of left behind places and feelings Abstract: The concept of “left behind” places is complex and multidimensional. It encompasses economic factors, demographic aspects, infrastructure and connectivity criteria, social factors, political and cultural aspects. Previous studies on the concept have only described the feeling of left behind very superficially. We therefore focus on the feeling of left behind. We show how individual feelings can become a regional phenomenon of left behind. The feeling of left behind is primarily fed by two components that are felt by many people in left behind places: autonomy deficit and low appreciation. Causes and suitable political measures for left behind places are derived from our conception. Abstract: Das Konzept der left behind places ist komplex und multidimensional. Es umfasst wirtschaftliche Faktoren, demografische Aspekte, Infrastruktur- und Konnektivitätskriterien, soziale Faktoren, politische und kulturelle Aspekte. Frühere Studien zu diesem Konzept haben das Gefühl des Zurückgelassenwerdens nur sehr oberflächlich beschrieben. Wir konzentrieren uns daher auf das Gefühl des Zurückgelassenwerdens. Wir zeigen, wie individuelle Gefühle zu einem regionalen Phänomen des Zurückgelassenwerdens werden. Das Gefühl des Zurückgelassenwerdens speist sich vor allem aus zwei Komponenten gespeist, die von vielen Menschen an zurückgelassenen Orten empfunden werden: Autonomiedefizit und geringe Wertschätzung. Ursachen und geeignete politische Maßnahmen für zurückgebliebene Orte werden aus unserer Konzeption abgeleitet. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/282312/1/wp01_24-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, O20, R11, R12 Keywords: case study, feeling left behind, left behind place, lagging region, regional development, policy measures Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:282312 #END 344 #BEGIN 345 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen Thi Hai Binh Title: Impulse Buying Behavior of Consumers Through Social Commerce in Ho Chi Minh City Abstract: Purchasing through social commerce has become increasingly popular in recent years. Multiple papers have been conducted to examine customer purchasing behavior on social commerce platforms. Nevertheless, this study has restrictions in its applicability to poor nations and exclusively focuses on those who are employed. Currently, there is a lack of research papers specifically addressing the topic of consumers as possible viewers who are exposed to social commerce. This study aims to examine the variables that contribute to consumers' impulsive purchase behavior. Specifically, it focuses on identifying the factors that impact impulsive buying behavior among consumers. The development of my conceptual framework was based on the integration of two theories: The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Hence, non-probability sampling was selected for this investigation. Data was obtained from consumers who had made purchases on social commerce platforms using a questionnaire. The purpose was to investigate the components that influence consumers' behavioral intentions, including social influence (SI), behavior (AB), subjective norms (SNB), and behavioral control (BC). The findings indicate that several factors have a favorable impact on behavioral intention subsequently affect impulse buying behavior. The findings obtained from employing the PLS-SEM approach unambiguously demonstrated the impact of the components under investigation and conclusively indicated that SNB was not substantiated in this study. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/281802/1/Impulse-Buying-Behavior-of-Consumers.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Social commerce, Impulse buying, Consumers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:281802 #END 345 #BEGIN 346 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Aydin, Deniz Author-Name: Kim, Olivia S. Title: Precautionary Debt Capacity Abstract: Firms with ample financial slack are unconstrained... or are they? In a field experiment that randomly expands debt capacity on business credit lines, treated small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) draw down 35 cents on the dollar of expanded debt capacity in the short-run and 55 cents in the long-run despite having debt levels far below their borrowing limit before the intervention. SMEs direct new borrowing to financing investment gradually over time and do not exhibit a measurable impact on delinquencies. Heterogeneity analysis by the risk of being at the credit line limit supports the SME motive to preserve financial flexibility. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/281672/1/Aydin-Kim-Precautionary-debt-capacity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: field experiment, RCT, finance, investment, debt structure Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:281672 #END 346 #BEGIN 347 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Duran-Fernandez, Roberto Author-Name: de Carvalho Coutinho, Taciana Title: The Amazon: A Puzzle Between Development and Sustainability? Abstract: This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Amazon, a vital ecological treasure in Latin America. It covers the region's environmental significance as the planet's largest rainforest and a major carbon sink, housing immense biodiversity. The study also traces the Amazon's geological history and its crucial role in the global water cycle. It explores the rich cultural heritage of the Amazon, debunking the myth of an untouched wilderness by revealing evidence of significant ancient civilizations and agricultural origins. The economic analysis highlights the contrast between the region's natural richness and the poverty of its inhabitants, focusing on the challenges posed by extractive industries, geographical isolation, and environmental threats like deforestation. The paper proposes a sustainable bioeconomy model, emphasizing indigenous knowledge and the need for strategic investments and institutional strengthening. It concludes by stressing the importance of a balanced approach to conserving the Amazon while ensuring economic viability for its inhabitants, underlining the region's global significance for environmental health and climate change mitigation. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/281668/3/240126%20Amazon%20Review.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q01, Q56, Q57, R11, N56 Keywords: Amazon Rainforest, Environmental, Conservation, Sustainable Development, Bioeconomy, Amazonia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:281668 #END 347 #BEGIN 348 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jackson, Emerson Abraham Title: Economics of Fiscal Dominance and Ramifications for the Discharge of Effective Monetary Policy Transmission Abstract: This paper explores the intricate dynamics of fiscal dominance and its profound implications for monetary policy efficacy, contributing to the discourse on the interplay between fiscal and monetary policies. The theoretical foundation critically examines existing literature, integrating empirical evidence to construct a comprehensive understanding. Model blocks strategically elucidate the significance of fiscal variables in shaping monetary transmission mechanisms. The ensuing analysis scrutinises the disruptive potential of fiscal dominance on conventional monetary policy tools. The conclusion navigates policy recommendations, emphasising the necessity of coordinated fiscal-monetary strategies to effectively mitigate inflationary pressures. This research provides a nuanced perspective for policymakers, offering theoretical depth and empirical insights to guide decisions in addressing the complex challenges posed by fiscal dominance in economic governance. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/281440/1/Economics%20of%20Fiscal%20Dominance.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, H62 Keywords: Fiscal Dominance, Monetary policy, Inflationary Pressures, Economic Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:281440 #END 348 #BEGIN 349 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Haarburger, Richard Author-Name: Stemmler, Henry Title: Taking over the World? Automation and Market Power Abstract: This paper studies how automation technology affects market power in the global economy. We develop a theoretical model in which firms' markups are endogenous to factor input choices based on technology levels, but are also affected by technology adoption of other domestic and foreign firms. In an empirical analysis, we find that market power, measured as the markup of price over marginal cost, declines on average with higher levels of automation. However, there is substantial heterogeneity, with firms in the highest revenue and markup quintile gaining market power. Moreover, we find that exposure to foreign automation increases competition in the local market. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/281378/1/Taking-over-the-World.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O33, F41, F12, D43 Keywords: Automation, Markups, Robots, Market Concentration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:281378 #END 349 #BEGIN 350 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Maamoun, Nada Author-Name: Grünhagen, Caroline Author-Name: Ward, Hauke Author-Name: Kornek, Ulrike Title: A Seat at the Table: Distributional impacts of food-price increases due to climate change Abstract: Although climate change is expected to have a significant impact on the global population, little is known about how it will affect individual households in their daily lives. Based on food price increases caused by climate change, we analyse how climate-change-related damages distribute across households in over 75 developing countries. In a microsimulation model, climate damages are quantified as losses in consumer surplus, on average roughly 3 percent of total expenditure. We find evidence that climate damages are regressive, i.e. they disproportionately affect households with lower consumption. Damages display regressivity when we compare (a) national averages across countries, (b) all households in our sample, and (c) households within countries. However, there are some - often more developed - countries, where damages are progressive, i.e. damages disproportionately affect more affluent households in those countries. At a sectoral level, damages tend to be more regressive in countries where in relative terms rice consumption contributes more to the welfare of households. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/281165/1/MaamounETAL-Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q54, D63, D31 Keywords: Climate damages, Distributional impacts, Food prices, Regressivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:281165 #END 350 #BEGIN 351 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jackson, Emerson Abraham Title: Economic Theory of Inflation Abstract: This paper explores the Economic Theory of Inflation, meticulously progressing from fundamental concepts to intricate mathematical models. Investigating causes and consequences, the study draws on pertinent economic theories and empirical evidence. Key findings elucidate the multifaceted nature of inflation, considering Demand-Pull, Cost-Push, and Phillips Curve theories. Mathematical models, including the Fisher Equation and Adaptive Expectations Model, offer quantitative insights into inflation dynamics and expectations. The paper culminates by addressing the imperative of effective economic management, advocating a judicious mix of monetary and fiscal strategies for achieving price stability and sustainable economic growth. The synthesis of economic theory, empirical analysis, and policy considerations contributes to an informed and nuanced understanding of the Economic Theory of Inflation, crucial for policymakers navigating the complexities of contemporary economies. Abstract: Cet article explore la Théorie économique de l'inflation, progressant méticuleusement des concepts fondamentaux aux modèles mathématiques complexes. En enquêtant sur les causes et conséquences, l'étude s'appuie sur des théories économiques pertinentes et des preuves empiriques. Les principales conclusions éclairent la nature multifacette de l'inflation, en considérant les théories de la demande, des coûts et de la courbe de Phillips. Les modèles mathématiques, y compris l'Équation de Fisher et le Modèle des attentes adaptatives, offrent des aperçus quantitatifs sur la dynamique et les attentes de l'inflation. L'article se termine en abordant l'impératif d'une gestion économique efficace, préconisant un mélange judicieux de stratégies monétaires et fiscales pour atteindre la stabilité des prix et une croissance économique durable. La synthèse de la théorie économique, de l'analyse empirique et des considérations politiques contribue à une compréhension éclairée et nuancée de la Théorie économique de l'inflation, cruciale pour les décideurs naviguant dans les complexités des économies contemporaines. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280999/1/Economic-Theory-of-Inflation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E52 Keywords: Inflation, Economic Theory, Inflation Control Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280999 #END 351 #BEGIN 352 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Aygun, Aysun Hiziroglu Author-Name: Tirgil, Abdullah Title: The Causal Impact of Education on Mental Health and Explanatory Mechanisms Abstract: This paper investigates the causal relationship between education and mental health in Turkey. We rely on the quasi-experimental setting created by the 1997 compulsory education reform that raised the compulsory years of schooling from five to eight years. Using regression discontinuity design, we use the birth year to indicate reform exposure and identify the causal effects of longer years of schooling on mental health. Our results demonstrate a sizable negative impact of education on the mental health scale. We present evidence that the reform had a more adverse effect on men's mental health. There is also heterogeneity by the place of residence, as the longer school years led people who live in urban areas to experience worse mental health outcomes. By investigating possible mechanisms, we show that those with at least a middle school education did not invest more in their health than those without a middle school diploma. We explain the evidence for the adverse effects of education on mental health, especially experienced by those who face higher competition in the labor market, by the lack of an increase in household income despite the longer years in school. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280901/1/text_8Jan2024.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I12, I26, I28 Keywords: mental health, MHI-5, regression discontinuity design, compulsory schooling law, education policy, Turkey Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280901 #END 352 #BEGIN 353 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hinterlang, Natascha Author-Name: Martin, Anika Author-Name: Röhe, Oke Author-Name: Stähler, Nikolai Author-Name: Strobel, Johannes Title: The Environmental Multi-Sector DSGE model EMuSe: A technical documentation Abstract: Climate change and climate policy will have far-reaching economic implications, thereby also posing new challenges for macroeconomic analysis. This is partly because climate risks have an important global dimension. Moreover, climate change and climate polices are likely to affect different economic sectors to varying degrees. Hence, in order to adequately gauge the macroeconomic implications of climate risks, models with sufficient regional and sectoral differentiation are needed. Against this background, we developed the environmental multi-sector dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model EMuSe. This paper presents the main features of the benchmark closed-economy flexible-price model, an open-economy extension of the model, a variant of the model with price-setting frictions and selected applications to illustrate key transmission channels. In order to give those who are interested the opportunity to gain more experience with EMuSe, the model codes are published together with this documentation. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280900/1/Technical_documentation_EMuSe_Main.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E3, E6, F4, H3, Q5 Keywords: climate risks, DSGE, production linkages, sectoral heterogeneity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280900 #END 353 #BEGIN 354 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Artificial intelligence in financial and investment decision-making Abstract: The aim of this working paper is to provide a brief introduction to artificial intelligence and highlight specific potential applications in financial and investment decision-making. On the one hand, it is about where AI is already being used today in many areas of the financial industry. On the other hand, the aim is to show examples of what will be possible in the near future and where AI might lead to better, more sound decisions Abstract: Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, eine kurze Einführung in die Künstliche Intelligenz zu geben und konkrete Einsatzmöglichkeiten in der Finanz- und Investitionsentscheidung aufzuzeigen. Dabei geht es zum einen darum, wo KI heute schon in vielen Bereichen der Finanzindustrie zum Einsatz kommt. Zum anderen geht es darum exemplarisch aufzuzeigen, was in naher Zukunft möglich sein wird und wo es auf der Basis von KI zu besseren, fundierteren Entscheidungen kommen könnte. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280899/1/Financial%20and%20Investment%20Decisions%20supported%20by%20AI.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G00 Keywords: AI, Artificial Intelligence, investment decision, finance decision Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280899 #END 354 #BEGIN 355 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jackson, Emerson Abraham Title: The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence: A Theoretical Review of its Impact on Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age Abstract: This theoretical review explores the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on teaching and learning in the digital age. Investigating AI's integration into educational settings, the paper synthesises theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, and emerging trends. Drawing on constructivist, socio-cultural, and cognitive learning theories, the review analyses AI's implications for educational practices. It traces the historical development of AI in education, highlighting key milestones and the evolution of AI technologies. The paper adopts a theoretical framework to comprehensively analyse AI's impact, focusing on intelligent tutoring systems, adaptive learning platforms, virtual reality, natural language processing, and gamification. Theoretical foundations underscore AI's role in active learning, personalised environments, social interaction, and cognitive load management. The review addresses challenges, including equity, ethical considerations, and the evolving role of educators. It emphasises the need for clear ethical guidelines, professional development for educators, and ongoing research to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in education. Theoretical implications suggest a nuanced synthesis of technology and pedagogy, acknowledging the dynamic interplay between the two, and call for continued research to address technical challenges, ethical considerations, and effective strategies for professional development in this dynamic intersection of technology and education. Abstract: Cette revue théorique explore l'évolution de l'intelligence artificielle (IA) et son impact sur l'enseignement et l'apprentissage à l'ère numérique. En examinant l'intégration de l'IA dans les environnements éducatifs, l'article synthétise des cadres théoriques, des études empiriques et des tendances émergentes. S'appuyant sur les théories constructivistes, socio-culturelles et d'apprentissage cognitif, la revue analyse les implications de l'IA pour les pratiques éducatives. Elle retrace le développement historique de l'IA dans l'éducation, mettant en évidence des jalons clés et l'évolution des technologies d'IA. L'article adopte un cadre théorique pour analyser de manière exhaustive l'impact de l'IA, en se concentrant sur les systèmes de tutorat intelligents, les plateformes d'apprentissage adaptatif, la réalité virtuelle, le traitement du langage naturel et la ludification. Les fondements théoriques soulignent le rôle de l'IA dans l'apprentissage actif, les environnements personnalisés, l'interaction sociale et la gestion de la charge cognitive. La revue aborde des défis tels que l'équité, les considérations éthiques et le rôle en évolution des éducateurs. Elle souligne la nécessité de lignes directrices éthiques claires, de développement professionnel pour les éducateurs et de recherches continues pour naviguer dans le paysage en évolution de l'IA dans l'éducation. Les implications théoriques suggèrent une synthèse nuancée de la technologie et de la pédagogie, reconnaissant l'interaction dynamique entre les deux, et appellent à des recherches continues pour relever les défis techniques, les considérations éthiques et les stratégies efficaces de développement professionnel dans cette intersection dynamique de la technologie et de l'éducation. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280893/1/Evolution%20of%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A22, I21, O33 Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Theoretical Review, Teaching and Learning, Digital Age Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280893 #END 355 #BEGIN 356 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Künstliche Intelligenz in der Finanz- und Investitionsentscheidung Abstract: The aim of this working paper is to provide a brief introduction to artificial intelligence and highlight specific potential applications in financial and investment decision-making. On the one hand, it is about where AI is already being used today in many areas of the financial industry. On the other hand, the aim is to show examples of what will be possible in the near future and where AI might lead to better, more sound decisions. Abstract: Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, eine kurze Einführung in die Künstliche Intelligenz zu geben und konkrete Einsatzmöglichkeiten in der Finanz- und Investitionsentscheidung aufzuzeigen. Dabei geht es zum einen darum, wo KI heute schon in vielen Bereichen der Finanzindustrie zum Einsatz kommt. Zum anderen geht es darum exemplarisch aufzuzeigen, was in naher Zukunft möglich sein wird und wo es auf der Basis von KI zu besseren, fundierteren Entscheidungen kommen könnte. Creation-Date: 2024 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280891/1/KI%20in%20der%20Investitions-%20und%20Finanzentscheidung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G00 Keywords: Künstliche Intelligenz, Anwendung KI, Finanzentscheidung, Investitionsentscheidung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280891 #END 356 #BEGIN 357 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mouré, Christopher Author-Name: Gorsky, Shai Title: Unhealthy Profits Abstract: FROM THE ARTICLE: At the end of November 2023, the New York Times published an editorial: Why Are Nonprofit Hospitals Focused More on Dollars Than Patients? It is certainly a valid question. Most people might assume that not-for-profit (NFP) organisations focus on providing a public benefit rather than profit. At most, common wisdom suggests that any income derived from providing a service should be reinvested into expanding or improving the service. There is no obvious reason why a NFP should accumulate large profits over years. Yet in the NFP world of large US hospitals, profit, rather than public purpose, seems to have become the guiding light. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280860/1/20231223_moure_gorsky_unhealthy_profits.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, L3, L33, I1, I11 Keywords: differential accumulation, hospitals, not-for-profit, profit, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280860 #END 357 #BEGIN 358 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Massaging the Message: How Oilpatch Newspapers Censor the News Abstract: FROM THE ARTICLE. *** In their book Manufacturing Consent, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky argue that the mainstream media functions largely as a propaganda arm for the state. When the war drum beats, the corporate media tows the government’s line, censoring facts that don’t fit the official narrative. *** Outside of war, media bias is typically less overt. But to the careful observer, it can still be discerned. In this case, our careful observer is Canadian oil critic Regan Boychuk. *** Boychuk lives in Calgary — a prairie city that is famous for two things. Calgary hosts the world’s largest rodeo. And it is the corporate heart of the Canadian oil business. Calgary … home to cowboys and crude-oil CEOs. *** As you might guess, our story of media censorship is not about cowboys. Calgary’s main newspaper, the Herald, is staunchly pro-oil. And that means its editorial pages are filled with oilpatch jingoism. However, the rest of the paper is an archetype of neutral reporting. Just kidding. *** Unsurprisingly, the Herald’s pro-oil stance shapes the content that appears in the paper. This post takes a quantitative look at the editorial ‘curation’. *** Most of the heavy lifting has been done by Boychuk, who had the brilliant idea to track the reporting of environmental journalist Mike De Souza. Between November 2010 and July 2013, De Souza wrote a series of articles documenting scandals related to the Canadian oilpatch, and its staunch defender, the Harper government. *** At the time, De Souza was working for Postmedia, a news conglomerate that operated a wire service for its many subsidiaries. So when De Souza’s pieces were published, they were delivered to local papers like the Ottawa Citizen, the Edmonton Journal, and the Calgary Herald. *** Here’s the catch. Although owned by the same conglomerate, these local papers had leeway to edit (or shelve) their wire-service articles. The result, Boychuk realized, was a controlled setting to analyze media censorship. Earlier this year, Boychuk published his findings in a piece called ‘Proximity to Power: The oilpatch & Alberta’s major dailies’. *** My contribution here is mostly visual. I’ve taken Boychuk’s investigation and translated it into charts. The results largely speak for themselves. As De Souza’s articles approached the center of Canadian oil-and-gas power in Calgary, they were increasingly gutted, and their message changed. It’s a fascinating case study of how business interests shape the news. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280858/1/20231222_fix_massaging_the_message.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, P14, P18, L82 Keywords: Alberta, Canada, censorship, energy, environment, journalism, newspapers, oil Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280858 #END 358 #BEGIN 359 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hager, Sandy Brian Author-Name: Baines, Joseph Title: Does the US Tax Code Encourage Market Concentration? An Empirical Analysis of the Effect of the Corporate Tax Structure on Profit Shares and Shareholder Payouts Abstract: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY *** Concerns about the market power of large corporations are growing. There are good reasons why monopoly now features so prominently on the political and economic agenda. Mounting evidence shows that corporate concentration stifles innovation and investment, resulting in lower-quality goods and services and less economic dynamism. Concentration is also a catalyst for rising wealth and income inequality, as monopolistic firms are able to suppress workers’ wages and charge consumers higher prices. *** Most of the public policy debate has been focused on the role of antitrust law in combating the monopolistic practices of large corporations. But recently, the focus has shifted somewhat, as more and more people come to recognize the role of federal and state-level taxation in understanding corporate concentration in the US. Yet, there are still many questions about the effect of taxation on market structure: Is there a tax advantage associated with bigness, as measured by revenues? If so, is this advantage confined to a few “bad apples” or is it widespread among large corporations? What role do the domestic and foreign tax systems play in encouraging monopoly power? What does an analysis of the relationship between tax and monopoly tell us about wider macroeconomic shifts in the US economy over the past few decades? *** The purpose of this brief is to address these questions by analyzing and comparing the overall effects of the US tax code on the profit share of large and smaller corporations. *** Our analysis reveals a striking tax advantage for big business in the US. Specifically, we find that the total post-tax profit share of the top 10 percent of listed corporations since the mid-1980s is consistently and significantly higher than their total pre-tax profit share, indicating that the overall tax structure (domestic and foreign) fuels profit concentration at the top of the corporate hierarchy. For example, in the most recent period covered in our analysis, 2019–2022, the overall tax structure has boosted the post-tax profit share of large corporations by 2.32 percentage points relative to their pre-tax share. We then assess the contribution of different tax jurisdictions to concentration by estimating the pre-tax and post-tax profit shares of large corporations, domestically and internationally. Here, our analysis reveals that the domestic tax structure is especially influential in driving concentration. Over the past four decades, the domestic post-tax profits of large corporations have been much larger than their pre-tax share, with the domestic tax structure augmenting the profit share of large corporations by 3.79 percentage points in 2019–2022. The effect of the foreign tax structure on profit concentration is more ambiguous. In most periods it is either slightly positive or slightly negative. For 2019–2022, the foreign post-tax profit share of large corporations was 0.87 percentage points higher than their pre-tax share. Based on these findings, we argue that the tax structure, especially the domestic tax structure, plays a crucial but still underappreciated role in exacerbating the monopoly problem. *** We go on to consider the wider consequences for the US economy of big business’s tax advantage. The political justification for corporate tax cuts—including those that were part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017—is that they would free up money for companies to invest in productive capacity, in turn generating higher employment and wages. But as our analysis shows, the capital expenditures of large corporations tend to decrease, not increase, when their tax advantage grows. Instead of fueling productive investment, the tax savings of large corporations are principally used to pay out dividends and buy back their own stock. This means that large corporations are less disposed to investments that may indirectly benefit ordinary workers and more disposed to shareholder value enhancement that directly benefits the asset-rich. Overall, we find that the tax system contributes in crucial ways to rising corporate concentration and to widening inequality among households. *** With the objective of leveling the playing field, our findings offer powerful justification for the restoration of graduated statutory corporate income tax rates in the US alongside a global minimum effective tax rate of 25 percent and a graduated excise tax on share buybacks. The monopoly problem has become endemic to US capitalism, and corporate tax reform on its own will not solve it. Yet one clear advantage of taxation is that it has a direct, and therefore much more easily discernible, effect on distributive outcomes compared to other policy measures. A more holistic approach, combining corporate tax reform with more robust antitrust regulation, the strengthening of workers’ rights, and increased public ownership in key sectors, is needed to build an economy based on equity, fairness, and prosperity for all. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280835/1/20231200_hager_baines_does_the_us_tax_code_encourage_market_concentration.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, P12, H2, H23, D4, D43, L, L11, M Keywords: big business, centralization, concentration, corporation, distribution, dominant capital, production, inequality, power, profit, shareholders, tax, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280835 #END 359 #BEGIN 360 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: The role of big data in changing the scope of the modern Indian banking sector Abstract: Big data has become a crucial asset for the modern Indian banking sector, driving innovation, improving decision-making, and ultimately enhancing the overall banking experience for customers. As technology continues to advance, the role of big data in banking is likely to evolve, bringing about further improvements in efficiency, security, and customer-centric services. The integration of big data analytics in banking operations has brought about several changes, enhancing efficiency, customer experience, risk management, and decision-making processes. This paper explores the transformative role of big data as a service (BDaaS) and its applications in the Indian banking sector. The study highlights how BDaaS serves as a robust and innovative instrument, contributing significantly to the identification and prevention of security issues and fraudulent behavior within the industry. The experimental results suggest that deploying big data technology is crucial for various aspects, particularly in handling financial risks and managing operational workflows within the banking sector. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280834/1/BIG%20DATA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G1, G21, O33, G28 Keywords: Big Data, Banking System Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280834 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.25074.07362 #END 360 #BEGIN 361 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: The emerging role of corporate governance on environmental sustainability Abstract: Sustainability is indeed one of the most significant challenges facing the world today, driven by a multitude of interconnected issues, including climate change, social inequality, and environmental degradation. In response to these challenges, various stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, and intergovernmental organizations, are taking substantial actions to address and mitigate these concerns. This highlights the need for more comprehensive and immediate action at various levels, including the private sector. Changing attitudes and expectations about the role of business in society are driving a shift towards a more responsible and sustainable approach to corporate conduct. Companies can respond to social issues in ways that are good for both business and society. Companies will need reliable data as well as sustainability expertise for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Process. This paper contribute the embracing a holistic approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and integrating ESG principles into their core strategies, companies can not only contribute to addressing pressing global challenges but also enhance their reputation, attract socially conscious consumers and investors, and ultimately secure long-term success in an evolving business landscape where sustainability and social responsibility are paramount. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280833/1/IIM%20B%20PAPER%20MKM.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q50, Q51, G30, Q01 Keywords: Environment, Corporate Governance, Sustainability, Public Policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280833 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4656662 #END 361 #BEGIN 362 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Duran-Fernandez, Roberto Title: Unlocking the Potential of MBOs Abstract: This paper analyzes Management Buyouts (MBOs), where management teams acquire their companies. It explores various MBO types, such as Traditional, Employee, Management Employee, Divisional, and Buy-in Management Buyouts, each with distinct characteristics. The rationale for MBOs includes investor exit strategies and the alignment of management incentives for better company performance. Key triggers for MBO development include financial sector liberalization and a specialized financial ecosystem. Success factors for MBOs are identified as cash generation capacity and effective management. The paper also discusses the life cycle of MBOs, their impact on productivity and human capital, and the complexities involved, such as information asymmetry and agency problems. This paper contributes to the understanding of MBOs, providing insights that can inform both academic research and practical applications in the dynamic world of corporate finance. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280774/1/Management-Buy-Outs-RDF.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G34, M12 Keywords: Management Buyout (MBO), Employee Buyouts (EBO), Management Employee Buyouts (MEBO); Divisional Buyout (DBO), Buy-in Management Buyout (BIMBO) Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280774 #END 362 #BEGIN 363 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: The Onion Sector in Azerbaijan: A Descriptive Analysis and Links to the Policy Decisions in 2023 Abstract: Understanding the key trends and dynamics in the agricultural commodities market, especially for onions in developing countries, is critical for informed decision making and strategic planning. Onions are an important crop both domestically and in the global market, with factors such as timing of harvest, distance to market and sales volume influencing pricing. Any government policy decisions regarding onions should take into account not only domestic factors, but also external factors such as trade policy, the market power of middlemen and the global economic situation. Nonetheless, a descriptive but systematic understanding of domestic trends provides a solid understanding of recent developments and future expectations in specific agricultural sectors, particularly from a food security perspective. This working paper provides a descriptive overview of the spatial distribution of Azerbaijan's onion production and productivity between 2000 and 2021 to highlight trends and discuss recent policy decisions. The Azerbaijani case underscores pronounced regional disparities and divergent trends in onion cultivation and productivity. Trade relations have become heavily regulated by the state, accompanied by pertinent policy decisions initiated as of 2023. These developments have occurred concomitantly with the international and geopolitical tensions prevalent in the country. Subsequent investigations should adopt a modeling approach, transcending mere descriptive analyses. This study holds significance for economists and policymakers engaged in the examination of sectoral economics within the realm of agriculture. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280746/1/SSRN-id4670402.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, O13, O52, Q18 Keywords: Agricultural economics, Azerbaijani economy, descriptive analysis, economic trends, onion production, onion productivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280746 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4670402 #END 363 #BEGIN 364 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gechert, Sebastian Author-Name: Mey, Bianka Author-Name: Opatrny, Matej Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Stanley, T. D. Author-Name: Bom, Pedro R. D. Author-Name: Doucouliagos, Hristos Author-Name: Heimberger, Philipp Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Rachinger, Heiko J. Title: Conventional Wisdom, Meta-Analysis, and Research Revision in Economics Abstract: Over the past several decades, meta-analysis has emerged as a widely accepted tool to understand economics research. Meta-analyses often challenge the established conventional wisdom of their respective fields. We systematically review a wide range of influential meta-analyses in economics and compare them to ‘conventional wisdom.’ After correcting for observable biases, the empirical economic effects are typically much closer to zero and sometimes switch signs. Typically, the relative reduction in effect sizes is 45-60%. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280745/1/Meta-analysis-review.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A14, B40, C10 Keywords: meta-analysis, systematic review, conventional wisdom Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280745 #END 364 #BEGIN 365 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Author-Name: Alali, Haider Title: The Russia Economic Sanctions Impact World Economy Abstract: This paper examines the effects of the economic Russian Republic's sanctions on global trade, macroeconomic dynamics, and welfare losses by using a calibrated novel model of three groups sets of the global economy. These groups are Russia, the second imposing the sanctions (EU, UK and the United States) and the third group (Turkey, India and China Republic). We assume that each nation of the group has two spheres subject sanctioned, these are the gas and final necessary commodity product of consumer. We consider three different sanctions types: Financial, trade on Gas and trade sanctions on finished products or goods. We demonstrate that currency rate changes reflect the type of sanction and the direction of the consequent sectoral reallocation's within countries, rather than indicating the effectiveness of sanctions. Our welfare study shows that if the third nation group does not ratify the sanctions, the sanctioned country's welfare losses are greatly reduced, and the sanctioning country's welfare losses are increased, but the third country gains from not being associated with the sanctioning group nations. These results demonstrate the need for international sanction coordination but also its difficulties. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280740/1/Alali-Russia-Econ-Sanctions-Impact-World-Econ.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: International coordination, Currency volatility, Economic growth, Reallocation, Welfare, Sanctions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280740 #END 365 #BEGIN 366 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sitarz, Joanna Author-Name: Pahle, Michael Author-Name: Osorio, Sebastian Author-Name: Luderer, Gunnar Author-Name: Pietzcker, Robert Title: EU carbon prices signal high policy credibility and farsighted actors Abstract: Carbon prices in the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) are a key instrument driving Europe’s decarbonization. Between 2017 and 2021, they surged tenfold, exceeding 80 €/tCO2 and reshaping investment decisions across the electricity and industry sectors. What has driven this increase is an open question. While it coincided with two significant reforms tightening the cap (“MSR reform” and “Fit for 55”), we argue that a reduced supply of allowances alone cannot fully explain the price rise. A further crucial aspect is that actors must have become more farsighted as the reform signaled policymakers’ credible long-term commitment to climate targets. This is consistent with model results that show historic prices can be better explained with myopic actors, while explaining prices after the reforms requires actors to be farsighted. To underline the role of credibility, we test what would happen if a crisis undermines policy credibility such that actors become myopic again, demonstrating that carbon prices could plummet and endanger the energy transition. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280455/1/Sitarz2023_EU-ETS-prices-signal-high-policy-credibility.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q48, Q58, D84, H23, E37, D78 Keywords: Carbon prices, EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), Myopia, Foresight, Market Stability Reserve (MSR), Policy Credibility, European Green Deal, Electricity Decarbonization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280455 #END 366 #BEGIN 367 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stanley, T. D. Author-Name: Doucouliagos, Hristos Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Title: Reducing the biases of the conventional meta-analysis of correlations Abstract: Conventional meta-analyses of correlations are biased due to the correlation between the estimated correlation and its standard error. Simulations that are closely calibrated to match actual research conditions widely seen across correlational studies in psychology corroborate these biases and suggest a solution. UWLS+3 is a simple inverse-variance weighted average (the unrestricted weighted least squares) that adjusts the degrees of freedom and thereby reduces small-sample bias to scientific negligibility. UWLS+3 is also less biased than conventional random-effects estimates of correlations and Fisher’s z, whether or not there is publication selection bias. However, publication selection bias remains a ubiquitous source of bias and false positive findings. Despite the correlation between the estimated correlation and its standard error even in the absence of any selective reporting, the precision-effect test/precision-effect estimate with standard error (PET-PEESE) nearly eradicates publication selection bias. PET-PEESE keeps the rate of false positives (i.e., type I errors) within their nominal levels under the typical conditions widely seen across psychological research and with or without publication selection bias. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280227/1/correlations.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83 Keywords: correlations, meta-analysis, publication selection bias, small-sample bias Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280227 #END 367 #BEGIN 368 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: הקפיטליזציה של סרטי הקולנוע (The Capitalization of Movies) Abstract: תוך פחות מארבעים שנה הצליחו בעלי הסרטים לא רק להכפיל את הריכוזיות לנקודה שבה כ-90% מהכנסות הסרטים מתקבלות מ-10% בלבד מכלל הסרטים, אלא גם לצמצם פי ארבעה את הסיכון הדיפרנציאלי של רווחיהם • מתוך ספרם של יהונתן ניצן ושמשון ביכלר, ההון ושברו Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/280112/1/20231127_nb_the_capitalization_of_movies.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, G32, L82 Keywords: capital as power, capitalization, cinema, creativity, Hollywood, risk, sabotage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:280112 #END 368 #BEGIN 369 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Suaste Cherizola, Jesús Title: 상품에서 자산으로: 권력으로서의 자본과 금융의 존재론 Title: From Commodities to Assets: Capital as Power and the Ontology of Finance Abstract: 자산은 자본가 계급의 실천 및 사고방식을 형성하는 데 결정적인 개념이다. 하지만 자본 주의에 관한 비판적 분석은 상품교환을 자본주의 분석의 초석이라 승인하는 경향이 있다. 이 논문은 다른 접근법을 취한다. 나는 자산이 자본주의에 대한 과학적 연구를 위한 견고한 출발점을 제공한다고 주장한다. 자산에 대한 분석은 경제적 거래에 대한 일반적 서술을 정 교화할 수 있도록 해주고, 그런 한에서, 자산 분석은 금융 분야를 재개념화하기 위한 기틀 을 마련해줄 수 있다. 이 두 가지 쟁점은 밀접히 연관된다. ‘자산이란 무엇인가’라는 질 문에 대한 답은 ‘금융이란 무엇인가’라는 질문을 해결할 수 있는 좌표를 제공해줄 것이 다. 저자 제수스 수아스테 체리졸라(JesÚs Suaste Cherizola)는 멕시코 푸에블라 오토노마 대학교(Universidad Autónoma de Puebla)에서 박사학위를 받았고, 권력자본 이론을 전공하는 사회학자이다. 저자는 이 논문을 통해 경제학과 사회과학에 새로운 아이디어를 제공한 기여로 2021 CASP Essay Prize를 수상했다. 따라서 제도주의 경제학 현장에서 이 논문이 지니는 학술적 가치가 높은 평가를 받았다고 볼 수 있다. Abstract: Translated by Yong-taek Jung (Korean): In this paper, the author analyzes the concept of 'assets', a crucial concept in the practice and mindset of today's capitalist class. In particular, it emphasizes the emerging importance of assets in financialized capitalism by contrasting them with the concept of commodities, which have enjoyed an important place in the analysis of conventional capitalism. Recently, in the critical academia of finance and money in the West, especially in the sociology of finance, the concepts of capitalization and assetization are emerging as a powerful analytical framework that reveals the characteristics of modern capitalism by replacing the existing commercialization and financialization. The paper provides a clear explanation of the concept of asset, capitalization, and capitalization from the perspective of power capital theory. In addition, by emphasizing the difference between commodity exchange and asset trading, which has been presented centering on the existing Marxism, it explains well why the asset type and the process of assetization can be an important analytical framework for studying today's financial capitalism. Therefore, this paper in domestic academia, it can provide impetus to advance the discussion of financialization in terms of capitalization and assetization, and it can also serve as a useful reference point for understanding recent academic discussions on the changes and core of modern capitalism. Author Jesús Suaste Cherizola is a sociologist who received her Ph.D. from Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico, and specializes in power capital theory. The author won the 2021 CASP Essay Prize for his contributions to new ideas in economics and social sciences with this paper. Therefore, it can be said that the academic value of this thesis has been highly evaluated in the field of institutional economics. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279956/1/Suaste-Cherizola-From-commodities-to-assets-korean.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, P14, P46, G12, G3 Keywords: assets, commodities, finance, financialization, ownership, power, property, value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279956 #END 369 #BEGIN 370 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mouré, Chris Title: Teknojätit ja pääoman vallankäyttö Title: Techno giants and the use of power by capital Abstract: Translation of 'Soft-wars' by Teppo Saari (Finnish): Pääoma valtana -viitekehys, jonka on kehittänyt Jonathan Nitzan ja Shimshon Bichler, esittää että liiketoiminnan tavoite ei ole ‘liikevoiton maksimointi’ vaan differentiaalinen yhteiskunnallisen vallan akkumulointi. Tätä viitekehystä teoreettisena lähtökohtana käyttäen analysoin Googlen ja Microsoftin vallan akkumulointistrategioita. Esitän kvalitatiivista ja kvantitatiivista näyttöä, josta käy ilmi, että huolimatta siitä että Google ja Microsoft tällä hetkellä saavat suurimman osan liikevoitostaan erillisestä liiketoiminnasta (ja näin perinteisen logiikan mukaan ne eivät ole toistensa suoranaisia kilpailijoita), nämä kaksi yritystä ovat kuitenkin kilpasilla keskenään tietojenkäsittelyteollisuuden kontrollista. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279955/1/Moure-Techno-giants-finnish.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, P12, P16, L12, L2, L5, L6, L63 Keywords: capitalization, corporation, differential accumulation, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, profit, technology Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279955 #END 370 #BEGIN 371 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Stocking Up on Wealth … Concentration Abstract: There’s an old joke that economics is too important to be left to economists. In the same vein, I think rich people are too important to be left to the self-help industry. Yes, the popular appeal of you-can-get-rich-too books is obvious. But what’s not obvious is why so few social scientists study wealth.1 Clearly, the public thirsts for serious inquiries about the rich. (Thomas Piketty’s opus on inequality was a bestseller.) But for the most part, social scientists are content to focus on ‘poverty’ and let the self-help gurus wax about ‘wealth’. The irony, in my view, is that poverty and wealth are two sides of the same coin. Concentrated wealth begets concentrated poverty. Still, there is an asymmetry between the two extremes. As a rule, poor people have little power, which means they cannot be blamed for their own poverty. But almost by definition, the rich wield power to their own benefit, which means they create the conditions of their own opulence … and everyone else’s misery. Given their power over society, I find myself on a research kick studying rich people. This post concludes the binge with a look at what drives wealth concentration among the richest Americans. I find that there’s a straight line between wealth concentration, corporate consolidation, and the strategy of ‘buying, not building’. In short, Peter Thiel is correct when he says that ‘competition is for losers’. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279885/1/Fix-Stocking-up-on-wealth-concentration.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, D3, G3 Keywords: corporation, distribution, mergers & acquisitions, stock market, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279885 #END 371 #BEGIN 372 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: When Stocks Go Up, Who Benefits? Abstract: Think of this question as a sword — a sharp piece of steel that cuts through bullshit. In this post, we’ll use it to slice through business-press bullshit about the stock market. You know the stuff — the ubiquitous puff pieces that gush about rising stock prices, as though they benefit everyone. When we ask cui bono, we carve through this BS. We discover that for most people, rising stocks are a tool not for gain, but for administering pain. Looking at the United States, I find that when stocks go up, the vast majority of people see their share of income (and wealth) decline. So here’s the truth about the stock market: it’s a socially sanctioned way to take from the poor and give to the rich. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279884/1/Fix-When-stocks-go-up-who-benefits.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, D3, G3 Keywords: billionaires, corporation, distribution, ownership, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279884 #END 372 #BEGIN 373 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: The Great Gatsby Curve Among America’s Über Rich Abstract: Economists are not known for their literary imaginations. Flip through any economics textbook and you’ll find a barrage of terms like the ‘Philips curve’ and the ‘Fisher effect’. The jargon is simple enough — empirical relations are usually named after the person who discovered them. But this convention is neither descriptive nor fun. The exception to this vanilla naming practice is a pattern called the ‘Great Gatsby curve’. It’s named after F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous book The Great Gatsby, which explores the roiling inequality and tumultuous class dynamics of the 1920s. The Great Gatsby curve is an empirical relation between social inequality and social mobility. As inequality rises, social mobility tends to decline. In this post, we’ll look at the The Great Gatsby curve among America’s über rich. As it turns out, these folks are not immune from inequality. Nor are they immune from an ossifying social ladder. In other words, among America’s richest people, the Great Gatsby curve is alive and well. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279883/1/Fix-The-great-gatsby-curve.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, D3, G3 Keywords: billionaires, corporation, distribution, ownership, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279883 #END 373 #BEGIN 374 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Billionaires are so Predictable Abstract: Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a billionaire? Do you need rare genius? Exceptional acumen? Miraculous foresight? An uncompromising work ethic? On all four counts, the answer is no. It turns out that to become a billionaire, what you really need is the right social setting. You need to live in a society that is suitably rich and appropriately unequal. Without those things, your chances of wearing the billionaire badge are low. In this post, I’ll do the math. Using data from Forbes, I’ll show you how the billionaire headcount varies across countries. Then I’ll show you how to predict this variation. Forget about character traits and personal histories. We don’t need them. To predict how many billionaires a country has, we can get surprisingly far just by knowing the distribution of income. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279882/1/Fix-Billionaires-are-so-predictable.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, D3, G3, G32 Keywords: billionaires, corporation, distribution, ownership Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279882 #END 374 #BEGIN 375 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: How the Rich Get Richer Abstract: The rich get richer. It’s a phrase that packs a lot of punch. It’s potent rhetoric, yet surprisingly accurate at describing how rising inequality plays out. Of course, there’s nothing inevitable about the rich getting richer. We just happen to live in an age of growing corporate despotism. And our friends at Forbes have been there to document the disease. Forbes. Forbes who loves the free market. Forbes who loves obscene wealth. Forbes … the unwitting social scientist? When Malcolm Forbes started publishing his rich list — the Forbes 400 — back in 1982, he surely wasn’t intending to do social science. By all accounts, Forbes simply loved opulence, and wanted to celebrate those who had the most of it. It was part of a 1980s trend that fetishized obscene fortunes. For the middle class, there was the saccharine show ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous’, which exalted the excesses of elite living. But for the upper class there was something less crass — a list that ignored the material trappings of wealth. It was called the Forbes 400, and it did nothing but report the raw numbers of capitalism — the capitalized wealth of the richest Americans. In hindsight, Malcolm Forbes’ obsession with wealth seems ominous — kind of like the Sackler’s claim that OxyContin wasn’t addictive. But while Malcolm Forbes certainly cheerled the excesses of modern capitalism, he (and his magazine successors) also left an exquisite record of how US elites enriched themselves. Sure, the enrichment left a big mess. But for the moment, let’s forget about cleaning it up and instead, investigate how it happened. Come, let’s look at how the American rich got richer. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279881/1/Fix-How-the-rich-get-richer.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, D3, G3 Keywords: billionaires, corporation, distribution, ownership Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279881 #END 375 #BEGIN 376 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: דם ונפט במזרח התיכון. סיבוב רווחים נוסף Title: Blood and Oil in the Orient. Another Round of Profit Abstract: שורשי המלחמה בין חמאס לישראל הם רבים ומסועפים. ביניהם, הקונפליקט הארוך בין התנועה הלאומית הפלסטינית לבין התנועה הציונית, האיבה בין הכנסיות הרבניות לאיסלמיות על נספחיהן, הסכסוך הממושך בין מדינות המזרח התיכון למדינת ישראל, בין התרבות המערבית למזרחית, בין המעצמות השונות הבוחשות באזור – חלקן מעצמות שוקעות כמו ארה"ב ורוסיה, ואחרות קוראות התיגר החדשות כמו סין ואיראן. אבל במלחמה הנוכחית עצמה מדובר בקונפליקט בין שתי קבוצות מיליציות עיקריות: מצד אחד מיליציות הכנסייה הרבנית. אלה הן ארגוני המתנחלים, שהשתלטו על שטחים פלסטיניים בחסות ובמימון מסיבי של כל ממשלות ישראל. הן השליטו בהדרגה את סדר היום התקשורתי שלהן, השתלטו על המפלגות המרכזיות, על תודעת רוב המצביעים בישראל, על החינוך שהפך בשיטתיות לגזעני-לאומני, על תקציבים ציבוריים מרכזיים. הן שיתפו פעולה עם קבוצות ההון הגדולות והעמיקו את אחיזתן בחברה בחסות הניאו-ליברליזם, ובעיקר הן החדירו את אנשיהן לעמדות פיקוד בצבא הישראלי. הן גם מתכננות, אם לא יהיה מוצא אחר, להשתלט סופית על ישראל באמצעות הפיכה מעין צבאית ולהשליט את משטרן, משטר הכנסייה הרבנית. וכך, החברה הישראלית לפותה בגרונה במלכוד הכיבוש ללא מוצא בידי תשלובת מיליציות רבניות של מתנחלים שגרעינן בשטחים הכבושים הפלסטיניים בחסות הממשלים הישראליים ואוליגרכים מקורבים. מצד שני, בהעדר מוצא מן המלכוד הישראלי, שקעו ארגוני ההתנגדות הפלסטיניים הישנים, בעיקר הפת"ח והחזית העממית, ועמם "הרשות" הפלסטינית. כישלונה המוחלט של התנועה הלאומית לבלום את הכיבוש המתפשט העלה למרכז הבמה את המיליציות המזוינות של הכנסיות האיסלמיות, הסונית והשיעית. אלה הן החמאס והג'יהאד האיסלמי. הראשונה מומנה על ידי המשפחה המלכותית של ערב הסעודית ומדינות נפט אחרות (ולאחרונה על ידי קטאר). השנייה פועלת בחסות ובמימון אייתולות איראן ושלוחותיהן במזרח התיכון. המיליציות הללו הן חלק ממגמה עולמית שבה פורחים מיליציות וארגונים צבאיים "פרטיים" הנלחמים ברחבי העולם, לרוב בחסות ובמימון מדינות אבל לעתים גם נגד צבאות מדיניים. פריחתם של הצבאות הפרטיים והמיליציות בעולם באה עם שקיעתה של המדינה הלאומית, דגם שהחל במהפכה הצרפתית ובצבאות העממיים שהתפתחו ממנה. מסגרת מדינית-לאומית זאת כבר אינה מתאימה לתהליך הצבר ההון הגלובלי הנוכחי. וכאן נכנס התהליך העיקרי של הקפיטליזם העולמי כיום, שהוא המניע העיקרי של המלחמות המחזוריות במזרח התיכון: רווחי קבוצות ההון הדומיננטיות. מאמר זה מנסה להציג את המלחמה הנוכחית בפרספקטיבה אחרת, פרספקטיבה אותה התחלנו לתאר במאמרים ובספרים מאז סוף שנות השמונים של המאה העשרים Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279835/1/Blood-and-oil-in-the-orient-hebrew.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P, P1, P12, P18, Q4, H56, N54, E31 Keywords: capital as power, corporation, differential accumulation, dominant capital, energy conflicts, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Middle East, oil, Palestine, prices, Technodollar-Pharmadollar Coalition, profit, war, Weapondollar-Petrodollar Coalition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279835 #END 376 #BEGIN 377 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: 제국주의와 금융주의 : 어느 결합체에 관한 이야기 Title: Imperialism and Financialism: A Story of a Nexus Abstract: 지난 세기 동안 제국주의와 금융주의의 결합은 마르크스주의 이론과 실천에서 중심축이었다. 수많은 마르크스주의자가 이 결합이 전 세계를 병폐에 빠뜨린 원인이라 생각했다. 하지만 시간이 지남에 따라 그들이 이 결합에 부과한 역사적 역할은 극적으로 변했다. 핵심적으로 변화한 것은 잉여와 유동성 흐름의 성격과 방향이었다. 20세기로 접어들면서 제국주의와 금융주의의 결합체가 명확해졌다. 그 결합체의 첫 번째 구현 형태는 금융 자본이 ‘초과’ 잉여를 수출할 수 있는 식민지를 얻기 위해 제국주의자들이 벌인 쟁탈전을 설명했다. 다음 두 번째 버전에선 중심부의 잉여가 국내로 흡수되고 군사 지출과 금융 중개라는 ‘블랙홀’로 빨려 들어가는 독점 자본주의의 신제국주의적 세계를 상정했다. 세 번째 스크립트는 종속적인 주변부에서 금융 중심부로 잉여가 유입되는 세계체계를 가정했다. 그리고 가장 최근 판본은 미국이라는 중심부의 공동화를 설명한다. 즉, 중심부인 미국은 이미 자체 생산 연료의 상당 부분을 태워버렸고 이제는 세계체계의 외부 유동성을 사용하고자 나머지 세계를 ‘금융화’하는 ‘적색 거성’이다. 본 논문은 마치 카멜레온과 같은 이러한 변형의 윤곽을 보여준다. 그리고 그 결합체에서 놓친 게 무엇인지 따져본 뒤, 이를 유지할 가치가 있는지 묻는다. Abstract: Over the past century, the nexus of imperialism and financialism has become a major axis of Marxist theory and praxis. Many Marxists consider this nexus to be a prime cause of our worldly ills, but the historical role they ascribe to it has changed dramatically over time. The key change concerns the nature and direction of surplus and liquidity flows. The first incarnation of the nexus, articulated at the turn of the twentieth century, explained the imperialist scramble for colonies to which finance capital could export its excessive surplus. The next version posited a neo-imperial world of monopoly capitalism where the core's surplus is absorbed domestically, sucked into a black hole of military spending and financial intermediation. The third script postulated a World System where surplus is imported from the dependent periphery into the financial core. And the most recent edition explains the hollowing out of the U.S. core, a red giant that has already burned much of its own productive fuel and is now trying to financialize the rest of the world in order to use the system's external liquidity. The paper outlines this chameleon-like transformation, assesses what is left of the nexus and asks whether it is worth keeping. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279834/1/Imperialism-and-financialism-korean-part-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, F02, F23, F3, F5, F54, F6, F42, L12 Keywords: capital, dependency, finance, hegemony, imperialism, Marxism, monopoly, world systems Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279834 #END 377 #BEGIN 378 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: המהפכה המשטרית" וקבוצות ההון הדומיננטיות" Title: Regime Change and Dominant Capital Abstract: המשברים האחרונים בישראל, המכונים בשם אורווליאני טיפוסי "המהפכה המשפטית", הובילו לשתי תגובות סותרות לכאורה: האחת הייתה של פירמות ההשקעה ומיני כלכלנים ואנליסטים והתגובה השנייה הייתה של נתניהו ומרעיו למה שהם מכנים "רפורמה". מי צודק? האם צודקים ראשי קבוצות הון דומיננטיות המתריעים מפני "הפגיעה בדמוקרטיה", "הפרת שיווי המשקל שבין הרשויות", "הברחת הון סיכון", "שיבוש היציבות" ושאר מיני אזהרות? או שמא צודקים נתניהו וכנופייתו, המבטיחים שהליברליזציה בישראל משגשגת, שכלכלת ישראל מבוססת על יסודות איתנים ותמשיך לצמוח ובעיקר, כי היא נמצאת בידיים אחראיות ומנוסות. לנו נראה כי שני הצדדים צודקים. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279828/1/Regime_change_and_dk_hebrew.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, D3, G11, D53, G Keywords: Benjamin Netanyahu, crisis, differential accumulation, dominant capital, Israel, fascism, globalization, leaders, neoliberalism, redistribution, religion, ruling class Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279828 #END 378 #BEGIN 379 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: "על חמישים שנות בדידות: ספרו של אודי אדיב "המהפכה שלא הייתה Title: Fifty Years of Solitude: Udi Adiv's Book "The Revolution that Never Was" Abstract: בליל חורף קר של שנת 1972 פרצו כעשרים אנשי שב"כ ומשטרה לדירה בהדר הכרמל בחיפה ועצרו את אודי. אדיב וחברתו, לאה לשם. כך נפתח ספר הזיכרונות של אודי אדיב, המהפכה שלא הייתה. זאת הייתה תחילתה של פרשה מתוקשרת אשר הגיעה לשיאה במשפטים שנערכו לחברי "הרשת היהודית-ערבית", שבסופם אודי אדיב נמצא אשם בין השאר בבגידה ובריגול ונשלח למאסר ממושך של 17 שנה (שהוקלו מאוחר יותר ל-12 שנים). שרשרת המעצרים ומשפטי הראווה של אודי וחבריו זכו לסיקור יומיומי מנופח מצד כלל אגפי התקשורת הישראלית של אותה תקופה. יש לזכור כי נפלאות התבונה האינטרנטית טרם התגלו, ורשתות המחשבה הלא מגויסת עדיין לא הומצאו. עיקרי התקשורת היו אז עיתונות כתובה, מפלגתית ו"לא מפלגתית", שלוש תחנות רדיו בבעלות ממשלתית ישירה וערוץ טלוויזיה ממלכתי אחד פטריוטי גאה, שנאשם תדיר על ידי מפלגות הליכוד, המתנחלים והחרדים ב"שמאלנות". אבל במקרה זה נוצר לראשונה בישראל קונצנזוס חמים מימין וממה שכינו אז שמאל: אדיב וחבריו הינם סמל ומשל לאויבי העם, אוהבי ערבים, קומוניסטים שונאי ישראל. הם תוצאת החינוך המתקדם כביכול של הקיבוצים השמאלנים. הם "תלושים מערכי היהדות" וסובלים מ"שנאה עצמית". התברר גם שמקור הרעה הוא תנועת "מצפן" הבוגדנית. ממנה צמחו העשבים השוטים. עד מהרה הפך המשפט למסע הסתה נגד כל דעה המעזה לבקר את עצם מדיניות החוץ והביטחון הישראלית, התוהה אחר מדיניות הכיבוש וההתנחלויות שניהלה אז ממשלת מפלגת העבודה, המטילה ספק בהיסטוריה הציונית הרשמית, או המזכירה חלילה את קיומה של האומה הפלסטינית, שלא לדבר על רמז לניסיון הידברות מדינית עם נציגי התנועות הפוליטיות הפלסטיניות…. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279827/1/Fifty-years-of-solitude.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, F54 Keywords: Israel, imperialism, Middle East, Marxism, Palestine, revolution, Zionism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279827 #END 379 #BEGIN 380 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the Utilization of Non-Reciprocal Trade Preferences on Trade Policy in Beneficiary Countries Abstract: The present article aims to complement the nascent literature on the effect of non-reciprocal trade preferences (NRTPs) on beneficiary countries' trade policies. It has investigated, at the aggregate level, the effect of GSP programs and other trade preference programs provided by the QUAD countries on beneficiaries' trade policies. The analysis has revealed that the utilization of NRTPs is associated with greater trade policy liberalization. As the utilization rate of other trade preferences increases in countries that make simultaneous use of the two NRTPs, the utilization of GSP programs leads to greater reduction of tariffs and regulatory trade barriers, but at a diminishing rate for the latter. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279825/3/NRTPs%20and%20Trade%20Policy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14, O11 Keywords: Utilization of unilateral trade preferences, Developing countries, QUAD countries, Trade Policies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279825 #END 380 #BEGIN 381 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rashad, Ahmed Title: Breaking Barriers: Investigating the Effects of 100% Foreign Ownership on Business Entry in Dubai Abstract: The regulatory and institutional environment of a nation plays a critical role in shaping the level of entrepreneurship. By creating a conducive regulatory and institutional environment, governments can encourage entrepreneurial activity, leading to job creation, innovation, and economic growth. The United Arab Emirates has recently deregulated the ownership rules for more than 1,000 commercial and industrial activities, allowing full ownership of commercial companies in the UAE without requiring a partnership with a national sponsor. Before the introduction of these amendments, foreign ownership was not permitted to exceed 49% of the total assets of a company outside the free zones, with the majority stake being held by an Emirati partner. This study represents the first attempt to assess the short-term impact of the liberalization of business ownership rules on the number of newly registered firms in the UAE. The study collects unique data that covers all types of business activity in Dubai, using monthly data on the number of newly issued business licenses. We developed a difference-in-difference model with a treatment and a control group using panel data regression models. Our findings suggest that the liberalization of the ownership rules has led to a significant surge in the number of new business licenses in the sectors impacted by the liberalization policy. This early evidence suggests that relaxing the restrictions on business ownership may stimulate entrepreneurial activity and business creation in the Gulf region. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279749/1/WP%20draft%20-100.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G18, G38, L51, M13 Keywords: New Firms, Gulf region, regulatory reform, entrepreneurship Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279749 #END 381 #BEGIN 382 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Savvateev, Alexei Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: An evolutionary explanation for the propensity to migrate Abstract: We explore the evolutionary dynamics of a population that consists of cooperators and defectors, wherein each member of the many pairs of players of a one-shot prisoner's dilemma game is drawn at random, and the number of descendents positively depends on the payoffs in the game. We demonstrate how an inclination to migrate may be mapped onto the overall evolutionary fitness of the cooperators. The threshold value of the inclination to migrate parameter is obtained. Intensities of migration higher than that value guarantee that in the long run, the population will consist entirely of cooperators. The threshold value is characterized by the payoff parameters lying at the base of the evolutionary dynamics. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279746/1/Evolutionary_explanation_for_the_propensity_to_migrate.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A12, A13, D64, R23 Keywords: Haystacks-type model, Prisoner's dilemma game, Inclination to migrate, Evolution of cooperation, Taste for migration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279746 #END 382 #BEGIN 383 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of Aid for Trade on Recipient-Countries' Participation in Global Value Chains Abstract: The present analysis has investigated, at the country-level, the effect of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows on recipient countries' participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs), measured through countries' participation in forward and backward GVCs as well as their position in GVCs. The analysis has covered 80 countries over the period from 2002 to 2018, and used the within fixed effects, the random effect Mundlak approach and the "Quantile via Moments" approach. It has established several findings. On average, AfT interventions promote backward GVC participation, but do not affect forward GVC participation. Total AfT flows (including AfT flows for economic infrastructure, AfT for productive capacities and AfT for trade policy and regulation) enhance backward GVC participation across all quantiles, and the magnitude of this positive is larger for countries in lower quantiles (including the lowest one) than for those in upper quantiles. These resource inflows do not affect forward GVC participation by countries situated in upper quantiles, but do increase forward GVC participation by countries located in lower quantiles. They do not affect the GVC position of countries in lower quantiles, but encourage more engagement in downstream activities than in upstream activities for countries located in the 75th and 90th quantiles. The effects of the three components of AfT flows on countries' forward GVC participation and GVC position are mixed, and vary across quantiles. Finally, the analysis has shown that the effect of AfT interventions on countries' participation in GVCs does depend on the overall trade costs faced by countries, including their tariff and nontariff costs. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279713/1/Effect_of_AfT_on_GVCs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F35 Keywords: Aid for Trade flows, Participation in Global Value Chains Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279713 #END 383 #BEGIN 384 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Dulachyk, Alex Author-Name: Podinovic, Leon Author-Name: Ruschmeyer, Hendrik Author-Name: Spiegeler, Melissa Title: Validierung eines Modells zur Prognose der Insolvenzgefährdung - Eine empirische Analyse am Beispiel der Unternehmen Air Berlin Plc., Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Ludwig Görtz GmbH Hamburg und Tupperware Deutschland GmbH Abstract: Gerade in wirtschaftlich schwierigen Zeiten ist Zeit ein entscheidender Faktor für Unternehmen. Eine frühzeitige Erkennung möglicher Insolvenzrisiken verschafft den betroffenen Unternehmen wertvolle Zeit, um den Turn-Around einzuleiten. Das hier präsentierte Modell zur Prognose von Insolvenzrisiken basiert auf wenigen öffentlich verfügbaren Daten und konzentriert sich auf die Beurteilung von drei Schlüsselkennzahlen. Das Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, das Modell zu validieren und seine Wirksamkeit empirisch zu überprüfen. Hierfür werden Daten von ausgewählten Unternehmen verwendet, um den Grad der Insolvenzgefährdung zu bestimmen und mit den tatsächlichen Ereignissen abzugleichen. Abstract: Especially in economically difficult times, time is a decisive factor for companies. Early identification of possible insolvency risks gives the affected companies valuable time to initiate the turnaround. The insolvency risk forecasting model presented here is based on limited publicly available data and focuses on the assessment of three key metrics. The aim of this working paper is to validate the model and empirically test its effectiveness. For this purpose, data from selected companies are used to determine the degree of insolvency risk and to compare it with actual events. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279673/1/Insolvenzgefaehrdung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M4 Keywords: Insolvenz, Modell, Rechnungswesen Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279673 #END 384 #BEGIN 385 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ceesay, Muhammed Title: Secret vs Public Rings in Common Value Auctions Abstract: For a single-object second-price common value auction with colluding bidders, and assuming an ``almost all-inclusive ring", we analyze whether an auctioneer who knows that a bidding ring is present at the auction should reveal their presence, and if so, whether to make the revelation publicly, or secretly to the non-ring bidder. We show that for a family of value functions, and assuming (where possible) that bidders use symmetric strategies, publicly revealing that a ring is present induces the non-ring bidder to submit a bid higher than the amount he bids when he (the non-ring bidder) is convinced that the auction is purely noncooperative. On one hand, this means that conditional on a ring operating at the auction, the auctioneer may improve his position by publicly announcing the ring presence, rather than keeping the ring concealed. On the other hand, this presents a new way that an auctioneer can cheat at the auction without having to employ shills, as even in the absence of colluding bidders, simply inducing bidders to believe that they are facing a ring causes them to bid higher than they would have. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279484/1/Secret_Public_Rings_Common_Value_Auctions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D44 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279484 #END 385 #BEGIN 386 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of Economic Uncertainty on Remittances Flows from Developed Countries Abstract: This article has investigated the effect of economic uncertainty on the remittances sent by migrants residing in developed countries to their home countries. The analysis builds on the economic uncertainty index developed by Ahir et al. (2018, 2019, 2022) that reflects the uncertainty related to economic and political events, regarding both near-term and long term concerns. It has revealed that economic uncertainty has deleterious effects on remittances outflows from developed countries, especially when it reaches high levels. This finding indicates that developing countries will suffer from reduced remittances inflows if the current fragmentation of the world were to become protracted, and result in higher barriers to the movement of capital and people. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/279480/1/Economic-Uncertainty-Remittances.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E30, F24 Keywords: Economic Uncertainty, Remittances Outflows, Developed Countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:279480 #END 386 #BEGIN 387 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Assessing the Macroeconomic Implications of Climate Change On Indian Economy Abstract: This paper aims to assess the macroeconomic implications of climate change on the overall Indian economy, considering various sectors and key macroeconomic indicators. It examines the impact of climate change on GDP growth, employment, inflation, fiscal policy, trade, and other relevant factors. The study utilizes empirical data, economic models, and policy analysis to provide insights into the potential risks and opportunities arising from climate change in India. Furthermore, it explores policy interventions and adaptation strategies that can mitigate the adverse effects and enhance the resilience of the Indian economy in the face of climate change. To address this challenge, the policy maker must take urgent action by increasing funding commitments for sustainable Economic Growth, improving effectiveness, encouraging private sector involvement, strengthening capacity building, promoting innovation and technology transfer, Inflations and prices, Green Investment and capital flows, enhancing domestic resource mobilisation, and fostering international trade and distribution effects. Understanding the macroeconomics of climate change is crucial for policymakers, businesses, and societies to develop effective strategies for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to the changing climate, and promoting sustainable economic development. It involves assessing the costs and benefits of different policy measures and considering the long-term implications for Indian economic stability and welfare. Overall, addressing these new and multiple shocks requires a comprehensive and holistic approach that takes into account the interconnections between different sectors, regions, and global challenges. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/278762/1/Macroeconomic-implications.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E5, E6, Q5, F1 Keywords: Macroeconomics, Climate Change, Green Growth, International Trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:278762 #END 387 #BEGIN 388 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bergien, Jan Philipp Title: Ist der Erfolg deutscher Automobilhersteller durch die chinesische E-Auto Konkurrenz gefährdet? Erkenntnisse von Preisbewegungen am Aktienmarkt Abstract: Die chinesischen Hersteller von E-Autos und Plug-in Hybriden haben einen massiven Vorsprung vor deutschen Automobilunternehmen. Der betriebliche Erfolg von Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz / Daimler Truck und BMW scheint gefährdet und zukünftige Umsätze und Gewinne könnten stagnieren oder gar zurückgehen, was sich dann auch in niedrigeren Aktienkursen niederschlagen sollte. Mit einem Event Studiendesign kann gezeigt werden, dass es nur wenige Indizien für Bewertungsverluste der drei bedeutenden deutschen Automobilhersteller gibt. Abstract: The Chinese manufacturers of electric cars and plug-in hybrids have a massive competitive lead over German automotive companies. The operational success of Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz / Daimler Truck and BMW appears to be at risk and future sales and profits could stagnate or even decline, which should then also be reflected in lower share prices. With the usage of an event study design it can be shown that there are only few indications for valuation losses of the three important German car manufacturers. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/277719/1/Bergien_Aufsatz.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Event Studie, Finanzmarkt, Aktien, Deutsche Automobilunternehmen, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler, BMW, E-Auto, BEV, NEV, Chinesische Automobilunternehmen Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:277719 #END 388 #BEGIN 389 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Seeliger, Andreas Title: Modelling Natural Gas Markets: Could We Learn from our Mistakes in the Past? - A Reality Check for MAGELAN Abstract: MAGALAN is a global gas market model developed in 2005 that provided forecasts until 2030 for gas production, international trade and other relevant parameters. As investors, policy makers and also researchers have a need of reliable model results, models should be faced with reality from time to time. This paper presents a reality check for some results from MAGELAN for the year 2020. Some forecasts show a very high accordance with actual figures (such as aggregated global gas production or total LNG trades), some other are far from recent developments in the real world (e.g. gas production of individual countries or realised capacities of specific pipeline projects). The paper finish with a brief discussion about reasons for the divergence between model and reality. Beside some improvements are likely with some updates to the model, major exogenous shocks will always be crucial for gas market modelling (respectively modelling in general). In that specific case, the “shale gas revolution” in the USA was such a major shock, that disturbed a wide range of gas market parameters. Creation-Date: 2023 Classification-JEL: Q31, Q41, Q47 Keywords: Long term gas market modelling, Linear optimisation, Gas demand and supply, LNG Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:276957 #END 389 #BEGIN 390 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Author-Name: Becker, Marco Title: Opportunities for business use of today's AI models - Rapidly achievable personalization of Large Language Models (like ChatGPT) in times of Industry 5.0 Abstract: The introduction of ChatGPT as one of the best-known Large Language Models not only opened a new chapter in artificial intelligence in the general perception – some authors even speak of an era of (business) informatics. It also heralds the fifth industrial revolution (Industry 5.0). The aim of this working paper is not only to objectify the contradiction between hype and reality in the context of artificial intelligence, but also to show the opportunities and perspectives for the analysis of unstructured, internal company data. To this end, the authors have developed several prototypes based on their own research work, which form the basis of this working paper. Abstract: Mit der Einführung von ChatGPT als eines der bekanntesten Large Language Models wurde in der allgemeinen Wahrnehmung nicht nur ein neues Kapitel der Künstlichen Intelligenz aufgeschlagen - manche Autoren sprechen sogar von einer Ära der (Wirtschafts-)Informatik. Sie läutet auch die fünfte industrielle Revolution (Industrie 5.0) ein. Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, nicht nur den Widerspruch zwischen Hype und Realität im Kontext der Künstlichen Intelligenz zu versachlichen, sondern auch die Chancen und Perspektiven für die Analyse unstrukturierter, unternehmensinterner Daten aufzuzeigen. Dazu haben die Autoren auf Basis eigener Forschungsarbeiten mehrere Prototypen entwickelt, auf denen die Grundaussagen dieses Working Papers basieren. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/275738/1/Reinking-Becker-2023-EN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M15 Keywords: Ai, Industry 5.0, Language Model, LLM, ChatGPT, I5.0 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:275738 #END 390 #BEGIN 391 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Author-Name: Becker, Marco Title: Einsatzmöglichkeiten von KI in Unternehmen - Zeitnah erreichbare Personalisierung von Large Language Models (wie ChatGPT) in Zeiten der Industrie 5.0 Abstract: Mit der Einführung von ChatGPT als eines der bekanntesten Large Language Models wurde in der allgemeinen Wahrnehmung nicht nur ein neues Kapitel der Künstlichen Intelligenz aufgeschlagen - manche Autoren sprechen sogar von einer Ära der (Wirtschafts-)Informatik. Sie läutet auch die fünfte industrielle Revolution (Industrie 5.0) ein. Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, nicht nur den Widerspruch zwischen Hype und Realität im Kontext der Künstlichen Intelligenz zu versachlichen, sondern auch die Chancen und Perspektiven für die Analyse unstrukturierter, unternehmensinterner Daten aufzuzeigen. Dazu haben die Autoren auf Basis eigener Forschungsarbeiten mehrere Prototypen entwickelt, auf denen die Grundaussagen dieses Working Papers basieren. Abstract: The introduction of ChatGPT as one of the best-known Large Language Models not only opened a new chapter in artificial intelligence in the general perception – some authors even speak of an era of (business) informatics. It also heralds the fifth industrial revolution (Industry 5.0). The aim of this working paper is not only to objectify the contradiction between hype and reality in the context of artificial intelligence, but also to show the opportunities and perspectives for the analysis of unstructured, internal company data. To this end, the authors have developed several prototypes based on their own research work, on which the basic statements of this working paper are based. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/275737/1/Reinking-Becker-2023-DE.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M15 Keywords: Künstliche Intelligenz, KI, Sprachmodell, ChatGPT, Industrie 5.0, I5.0 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:275737 #END 391 #BEGIN 392 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Finocchiaro Castro ,Massimo Author-Name: Guccio, Calogero Title: New wine in old bottle: Exploring the Corruption-inefficiency nexus using endogenous stochastic frontier approach Abstract: A large body of literature has analyzed the relationship between factors affecting institutional quality at local level and the efficiency of firms with a particular focus on the role of corruption. However, due to reverse causality, the endogeneity problem makes it difficult to identify the real effect of institutional factors at local level on firms’ efficiency. This paper adopts a novel stochastic frontier methodology to examine the relationship between the quality of local institutions and production efficiency, under the arrangement that endogeneity is well addressed. Specifically, we use a panel stochastic frontier analysis that endogenizes production efficiency and allows us to robustly assess the effect of corruption at local level on firms’ technical efficiency. For this purpose, the paper employs a large panel of Italian firms operating in the building sector from 2013 to 2019. The empirical findings reported in the paper indicate that the factor affecting the quality of local institutions affect firms’ performance, with a preeminent role played by the rule of law and the control of corruption. Moreover, when controlling for endogeneity, the magnitude of the effects of institutional quality factors at local level increase significantly. Our findings are robust to alternative IV strategies, alternative specifications of the production function, and inclusion of other factors that may affect firms’ efficiency. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/275730/1/Finocchiaro-Castro-Guccio-New-wine.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D73, L25, C23, C26 Keywords: Corruption, Firms, Production efficiency, Stochastic frontier analysis, Endogeneity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:275730 #END 392 #BEGIN 393 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Horizontal and Vertical Differentiation: Approaching Endogenous Measurement in Intra-industry Trade Abstract: Studying intra-industry trade involves theoretical explanations and empirical methods to measure the phenomenon. Indicators have been developed to measure the intensity of intra-industry trade, leading to theoretical models explaining its determinants. It is essential to distinguish between horizontal and vertical differentiation in empirical analyses. The determinants and consequences of intra-industry trade depend on whether the traded products differ in quality. A method for distinguishing between vertical and horizontal differentiation involves comparing exports' unit value to imports for each industry's intra-industry trade. This approach has limitations, leading to the need for an alternative method. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/275680/1/Horizontal-and-Vertical-Differentiation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F10, F11, F12, F14 Keywords: Intra-industry trade, Vertical intra-industry trade, Horizontal intra-industry trade, Value Added Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:275680 DOI: 10.33774/coe-2023-mmlq4 #END 393 #BEGIN 394 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zhang, Yuhan Author-Name: Mekonnen, Shimelse Title: Decode China's Economic Engagement in Africa: Evolving Policies, Investment and Trade Trends, and Implications Abstract: This working paper systematically analyzes the dynamic commercial relationship between China and Africa. Utilizing Natural Language Processing and content analysis of meticulously collected policy documents, this study finds that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other proposals by President Xi have shaped the policy direction of China-Africa collaborations, highlighting areas like industrial evolution, infrastructure synergies, agricultural modernization, and sustainable development. By exploring historical economic data, this study also finds that the BRI has significantly influenced Chinese financial commitments to Africa, with investment benefiting 30 distinct African countries, spanning sectors beyond natural resources, and involving both state-owned and private entities. Trade data suggests emerging signs of diversification and reveals China's consistent trade surpluses with Africa, influenced by significant Chinese capital outflows. While Africa's emerging signs of diversification are encouraging, it needs to further diversify into manufacturing and services to avoid mirroring past trade patterns with the West. Our machine learning analysis anticipates China-Africa trade to surpass $300 billion by 2025-6. In light of evolving policies and economic trajectories, this study identifies burgeoning opportunities in sectors like e-commerce, fintech, and agritech, underlying the immense potential of China-Africa commercial ties. However, it is important to acknowledge that China-Africa commercial cooperation is not without challenges. Disparities in trade balances, concerns about debt sustainability, and local economic impacts have sometimes strained relations, which require continuing attention and further research. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/275677/1/Zhang-Mekonnen-China-Africa-082023.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A1, A12 Keywords: Machine Learning, Economic Policy, China, Africa, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Investment, Trade, Commercial Opportunities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:275677 #END 394 #BEGIN 395 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Has the Least developed countries' TRIPS Waiver Delivered on its Promise of Creating a Viable Technological Base? Abstract: The Trade-Related Intellectual Property (TRIPS) Agreement of the World Trade Organization has granted major flexibilities to least developed countries (LDCs). One of these flexibilities is the exemption from the implementation of the majority of the provisions of this Agreement over a certain period (referred to as "TRIPS Waiver"), so as to help LDCs create a viable technological base. The present article has investigated whether the TRIPS Waiver was instrumental in expanding LDCs' technological base measured by their total factor productivity level. The analysis has used 14 LDCs (based on available data) and two different control groups, over the period from 1981 to 2020. It has revealed that the TRIPS Waiver helped LDCs expand their technological base, in particular for LDCs that had very weak technological bases. In addition, this positive technological base effect of the TRIPS Waiver was larger in LDCs that implemented weaker intellectual property laws, as well as those that endeavour to relatively diversify their export products, and improve the quality of export products in a context of a greater export product diversification. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/275666/1/TRIPS-Waiver-Productivity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, O34 Keywords: Least developed countries, TRIPS Waiver, World Trade Organization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:275666 #END 395 #BEGIN 396 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ellalee, Haider Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Social welfare Promotion, Carbon Emission and Tax Abstract: The objective of this research is to find the preferable carbon taxation regime to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and enhance social welfare levels. Two regimes were discussed in this paper, including a carbon tax at the aggregate level of social welfare (CTTW) and a carbon tax at the level of single social welfare (CTSW). The results present a preferable regime depending on the substitution of the product and product price flexibility of demand. Not only does industrial transformation bring about changes in the substitution of the product and demand flexibility in product prices, but as well both regimes also have a serious effect on achieving net zero carbon emissions and enhancing the level of social welfare. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274657/1/Ellalee-Social-welfare-Carbon-Emission-Tax.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B22, C33, E65, D12, I13, Q48 Keywords: Social welfare, Carbon Tax, Carbon Emission, Environment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274657 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4483010 #END 396 #BEGIN 397 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Author-Name: Ellalee, Haider Title: FDI, Industrial Policy and Employment Impacts on Brexit Abstract: The UK Inward investment is likely to be negatively affected in several ways in the event of a "Brexit" via customs barriers, but even "softer" forms of Brexit such as the current potential agreement are likely to cause customs delays, Limits companies' ability to transfer employees and coordinate "service" activities. In addition, are the negative effects of currency depreciation. In the context of already existing labour market polarization, inward investment flows into advanced manufacturing, food technology and financial services, which can provide “good quality” jobs, are particularly vulnerable under Brexit to frictions in global value chains. After highlighting the case of the auto industry, the paper moves on to emphasize the links between inward investment, employment restructuring, and the quality of jobs that have been created by foreign firms. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274656/1/Walid-FDI-industrial-policy-and-employment.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E65, F13, F14, F16 Keywords: Brexit, foreign direct investment, global value chains, employment, job quality, regions, industrial policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274656 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4482587 #END 397 #BEGIN 398 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Author-Name: Ellalee, Haider Title: The Brexit Impact on Inward FDI in the UK Abstract: This paper examines the potential Brexit impact on inward FDI (foreign direct investment) through its potential impact on the variables of the benchmark characterising the macroeconomy. Therefore, we propose to use automatic structural vector regression of Markov system change to distinguish between fluctuating and steady-state states of economics and compute, among others, the contemporary effects that FDI frequency innately generates. Our findings propose that Brexit leads to a depreciation of the pound sterling in the present economic ambience, which will lead to a long-term negative impact on foreign direct investment. The FDI inflows might be affected positively (at most) by the post-Brexit depreciation of the pound sterling only if this circumstance drove the UK economy into a period of inflation, highly volatile growth, interest rates and exchange rates: a rather unlikely scenario. Until then, the benefits of a lower pound sterling will only last for a short time. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274655/1/Alali-Brexit-impact-inward-FDI-in-UK.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C32, E65, F21, O52 Keywords: Brexit, Currency volatility, Economic growth, Inward investment, Markov switching, Structural vector auto-regression Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274655 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4482585 #END 398 #BEGIN 399 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Author-Name: Ellalee, Haider Title: Brexit Impact on the UK Trade Agreements Abstract: The people of Great Britain said their word to leave the European Union. The Brexit consequences impact on international trade is negative and large. In the meantime, the ambition Great Britain post Brexit aims for new trade agreements while not explicit (clear) about the type and with whom these agreements. Meanwhile, we examine the UK options in this study, emphasising the substance of the Brexit negative trade impact on the UK and other major economic countries, including the EU. After reviewing all the alternative and potential options for UK trade agreements post-Brexit, we find no better substitutions to the EU agreement before Brexit. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274654/1/Alali-Brexit-Impact-on-the-UK-Trade.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, F13, F14, F14 Keywords: Brexit, Gravity model, Trade predictions, Trade agreement, Economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274654 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4482576 #END 399 #BEGIN 400 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Author-Name: Ellalee, Haider Title: Production and Foreign Investment Affected by Brexit Abstract: We resolve several scenarios of post-Brexit using a multi-country simulations model of neoclassical growth. We started by assuming the UK unilaterally imposed much tighter restrictions on foreign direct investment and trade with other EU countries. Then we assume the European Union imposes and retaliates against the United Kingdom's same restrictions. In the final scenario, the UK has reduced restrictions on other countries through the post-Brexit transition period. The model predictions depend mainly on the policy response to MNCs' investments in technology capital, knowledge accumulated from investments in brands, R&D and organisations used concurrently in their foreign and domestic operations. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274652/1/Alali-Production-and-Foreign-Investment-Brexit.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Brexit, Economic growth, Investment, FDI, Trade Policy, International Trade, Economic Integration, Multinational Firms, Management of Technological Innovation and R&D Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274652 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4482591 #END 400 #BEGIN 401 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Export Product Quality and Inclusivity in Developing Countries Abstract: The present study has examined the effect of export product quality improvement on inclusivity in developing countries. Inclusivity is measured by three factors considered simultaneously, namely an increase in the real per capita income, a reduction in within-country income inequality, and poverty reduction. The analysis covers 101 developing countries over the period from 1980 to 2014, and uses primarily the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments estimator. It shows that export product quality improvement results in greater inclusivity, especially in countries that face high levels of economic growth volatility, including large magnitudes of external shocks. Likewise, export product quality improvement leads to a greater inclusivity in countries that experience high levels of export product concentration. The analysis sheds light on the positive contribution of export product quality improvement to inclusivity in developing countries. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274651/1/Export-Quality-and-Inclusivity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, F14, O11 Keywords: Export product quality, Inclusivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274651 #END 401 #BEGIN 402 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Aid for Trade flows, Patent Rights Protection and Total Factor Productivity Abstract: This study has examined both the effect of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows on the total factor productivity (TFP) level, and the extent to which this effect depends on countries' strength of protection of patent rights. The analysis has used the fixed effects estimator the Method of Moments Quantile Regression approach over a panel dataset of 59 countries and the period from 2002 to 2019. It has established several findings. AfT flows are instrumental in improving productivity in recipient countries, with the largest effect arising from AfT flows for productive capacities. The positive productivity effect of total AfT flows is larger in countries with higher productivity levels. On average over the full sample, total AfT flows exert a larger positive effect on the TFP level in countries that have face higher trade costs, lower innovative output and weaker patent rights protection. Interestingly, increasing the real per capita research and development (R&D) expenditure and concurrently strengthening patent rights laws (to protect the returns on R&D expenditure) result in a larger positive effect of total AfT flows on productivity. In addition, countries with low productivity levels (i.e., those located in lower quantiles) and that increase R&D expenditure in the context of stronger patent rights laws, experience a positive and significant effect of total AfT flows (in particular AfT for productive capacities) on productivity. The magnitude of this positive effect is larger, the lower the quantile of the TFP distribution in which a country is located. These findings have important policy implications. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274650/1/AfT-IPR-and-Productivity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, O34, O47 Keywords: Aid for Trade flows, Intellectual Property Rights, R&D Expenditure, Total Factor Productivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274650 #END 402 #BEGIN 403 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Amoa-Gyarteng, Karikari Title: Entrepreneurial Resilience: Gleaning Valuable Insights from Start-up Failures for a Path to Success Abstract: This essay highlights key lessons for start-up success gleaned from the failures of other start-ups. It emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough market research, building a strong team and leadership, embracing adaptability, listening to customer feedback, and learning from failure. Through a commitment to excellence and a willingness to learn and adapt, entrepreneurs can navigate the road to start-up success and create a strong foundation for growth and sustainability. Ultimately, it is entrepreneurial resilience that sets successful start-ups apart from those that fall by the wayside. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274527/1/From-Failure-to-Success.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Resilience, Start-Up Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274527 #END 403 #BEGIN 404 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jurkat, Anne Author-Name: Klump, Rainer Author-Name: Schneider, Florian Title: Robots and Wages: A Meta-Analysis Abstract: The empirical evidence on how industrial robots affect employment and wages is very mixed. Our meta-study helps to uncover the potentially true effect of industrial robots on labor market outcomes and to identify drivers of the heterogeneous empirical results. By means of a systematic literature research, we collected 53 papers containing 2143 estimations for the impact of robot adoption on wages. We observe only limited evidence for a publication bias in favor of negative results. The genuine overall effect of industrial robots on wages is close to zero and both statistically and economically insignificant. With regard to the drivers of heterogeneity, we find that more positive results are obtained if primary estimations a) include more countries in their sample, b) control for ICT capital, demographic developments, or tenure, c) focus on employees that remain employed in the same sector, d) consider only non-manufacturing industries, e) are specified in long differences, and f) come from a peer-reviewed journal article. More negative effects, in turn, are reported for primary estimations that are i) weighted, ii) aggregated at country level, iii) control for trade exposure, iv) and consider only manufacturing industries. We also find some evidence for skill-biased technological change. The magnitude of that effect is albeit small and less robust than one might expect in view of skill-biased technological change. We find little evidence for data dependence. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274156/1/Robots_and_Wages__A_Meta_Analysis.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, J23, J31, J24, O33 Keywords: robots, meta study, labor markets, wages, IFR, publication bias, job polarization, gender wage gap, skill bias Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274156 #END 404 #BEGIN 405 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ganslmeier, Michael Title: Are Campaign Promises Effective? Abstract: In democracies, political parties promise to expand social benefits to attract voters in the lead-up to elections. However, we know relatively little whether such campaign promises effectively sway benefiting voters. Using a regression-discontinuity design, we estimate the causal effects of an electoral pledge made by the German conservative party to expand pension benefits ahead of the parliamentary election in 2013. The results show that the promise increased alignment with the pledge-making party by 12.2% among eligible beneficiaries. These gains originate from the re- alignment of individuals who traditionally support left-wing platforms, while it had no mobilizing effect on inactive voters. In addition, we find that the pledge effect is larger among individuals with lower economic and social security. Finally, the policy-induced alignment gain is transitory as it disappears once the pledge is fulfilled. Overall, our paper shows that electoral pledges related to social benefits are rather temporarily persuasive than permanently mobilizing. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/274069/1/Are-Campaign-Promises-Effective_Ganslmeier_2023.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, D91, H55, I38 Keywords: campaign promises, electoral pledges, social benefits, policy feedbacks, prospective voting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:274069 #END 405 #BEGIN 406 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Doucouliagos, Hristos Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Stanley, T. D. Title: Meta-Analysis of Social Science Research: A Practitioner’s Guide Abstract: This paper provides concise, nontechnical, step-by-step guidelines on how to conduct a modern meta-analysis, especially in social sciences. We treat publication bias, p-hacking, and heterogeneity as phenomena meta-analysts must always confront. To this end, we provide concrete methodological recommendations. Meta-analysis methods have advanced notably over the last few years. Yet many meta-analyses still rely on outdated approaches, some ignoring publication bias and systematic heterogeneity. While limitations persist, recently developed techniques allow robust inference even in the face of formidable problems in the underlying empirical literature. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the state of the art in a way accessible to aspiring meta-analysts in any field. We also discuss how meta-analysts can use advances in artificial intelligence to work more efficiently. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273719/1/guidelines.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A14, B49, C83 Keywords: meta-analysis, publication bias, p-hacking, artificial intelligence, model uncertainty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273719 #END 406 #BEGIN 407 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Postigo, Antonio Title: Governing the Digital Economy in Thailand: Domestic Regulations and International Agreements Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273657/1/ISEAS_Perspective_2023_58.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273657 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.11844.19846 #END 407 #BEGIN 408 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Postigo, Antonio Title: The Vaccine R&D System and Production Network in Thailand: Possibilities for Strengthening Domestic and International Partnerships Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273656/1/ISEAS_Perspective_2023_12.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273656 #END 408 #BEGIN 409 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Agrrawal, Pankaj Author-Name: Agarwal, Rajat Title: A Longer-Term evaluation of Information releases by Influential market Agents and the Semi-strong market Efficiency Abstract: This paper is an evaluation of long-term cumulative returns (CAR's) based on Twitter broadcasts by highly influential market agents. We look at the information content of Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla and Twitter Inc. and the former US President Donald Trump. The principal objectives of this research are twofold: 1.) To assess whether markets are semi-strong form efficient and consequentially whether or not returns can be derived from strategies based on such sporadic tweet releases (abstracting from ‘news’). For this purpose, event studies are conducted on multiple companies which were targeted by Musk and Trump tweets. A control group of all Dow Jones companies with earnings releases on Twitter is utilized. We find there appears to be a "pre-post-Twitter-drift" when the release is by exceedingly influential market personalities. The cumulative abnormal returns remain significant over long durations. This indicates that markets are not entirely semi-strong form efficient regarding social media releases and that trading on such tweets may be profitable (even after factoring in varying market phases). 2.) The paper introduces a new theme: long term CAR's of market information events. The paper also notes whether the tweet was during regular market hours or after-market hours. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273555/3/JBF%20pre-print%20DRAFT%20Working%20EconStor%20RePEC%20May26th2023.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G41, G17, C10 Keywords: market efficiency, investor sentiment, event study, Musk, Trump, Twitter, social media, extended trading hours, after-hours Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273555 #END 409 #BEGIN 410 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: Sozioökonomische Bildung – ein Exempel für das Verhältnis von Disziplinarität und Transdisziplinarität Title: Socioeconomic education – an example of the relationship between disciplinarity and transdisciplinarity Abstract: Die Beiträge diskutieren die Belastbarkeit der Prinzipien Disziplinarität und Transdisziplinarität am Exempel der sozio|ökonomischen Bildung als Teil der sozialwissenschaftlichen Domäne der Schule. Vier Fragestellungen stehen im Zentrum: Was spricht für das Disziplinaritätsprinzip in der sozialwissenschaftlichen Domäne und der sozio| ökonomischen Bildung? Hilft das Kriterium Disziplinarität dabei, Bildungen und Schulfächer sinnvoll zu ordnen? Was leistet es für die curricular- inhaltliche Konstruktion von Schulfächern und für ihre Kooperation? Eignet sich wissenschaftliche Multiperspektivität als Leitprinzip für Schulfächer und Curricula allgemeinbildender Schulen? Abstract: The contributions discuss the validity of the principles of disciplinarity and transdisciplinarity using the example of socio|economic education as part of the social science domain of schools. Four questions are at the centre: What arguments are there in favour of the principle of disciplinarity in the social science domain and in socio|economic education? Does the criterion of disciplinarity help to organise education and school subjects in a meaningful way? What can it contribute to the construction of school subjects in terms of curricula and content and to their cooperation? Is scholarly multiperspectivity suitable as a guiding principle for school subjects and curricula of general education schools? Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273529/1/Hedtke_WP_2023_socio-economic-education_disciplinarity_transdisciplinarity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A12, A20 Keywords: ökonomische Bildung, economic education, Schulfach, school subject, Disziplinarität, disciplinarity, Transdisziplinarität, transdisciplinarity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273529 DOI: 10.4119/unibi/2981272 #END 410 #BEGIN 411 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Leogrande, Angelo Author-Name: Leogrande, Domenico Author-Name: Costantiello, Alberto Title: The Impact of Patent Applications in the Context of the ESG Model at World Level Abstract: In the following article, we estimate the value of Patent Applications-PA in the context of the Environmental, Social and Governance-ESG model at world level. We use data from World Bank for 193 countries in the period 2011-2021. We found that PA is positively associated, among others, to “ CO 2 Emissions ” and “ Mammal Species Threated ”, and negatively associated among others to “ Hospital Beds ” and “ Research and Development Expenditures ”. Furthermore, we found that at aggregate level PA is negatively associated to each macro component of the ESG model i.e.: Environment, Social and Governance. Furthermore, we have applied eight different machine-learning algorithms for the prediction of the future value of PA. We found that the best predictive algorithm is the Simple Regression Tree in terms of minimization of MAE, RMSE and MSE and maximization of R-squared. The value of PA is predicted to growth by an average of 9.82% for the analysed countries. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273495/1/2023-PA-and-ESG.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D7, D70, D72, D73, D78 Keywords: Political Processes, Legislatures, Corruption Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273495 #END 411 #BEGIN 412 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Measuring Value Added in Gross Trade: Endogenous Approach of Vertical Differentiation Abstract: From the beginning of the 1980s, the first theoretical analysis of intra-industry trade showed that the determinants and consequences of this type of trade are different, depending on whether the traded products differ in quality. When the products are subject to intra-industry trade between two countries with distinct qualities, this trade is vertically differentiated. Otherwise, it is called horizontal differentiation. There is a method for distinguishing intra-industry trade between two countries in vertical differentiation from those in horizontal differentiation. This method compares exports' unit value to imports for each industry's intra-industry trade. It considers the intra-industry trading carried out in this industry as vertical differentiation when the unit value of exports differs significantly from that of imports. This approach has limitations. The discussion below will lead us to think about an alternative method for separating and measuring intra-industry trade into horizontal and vertical differentiation. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273453/1/Measuring%20Value%20Added%20in%20Gross%20Trade.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F0, F1 Keywords: Intra-industry Trade, Vertical Intra-industry Trade, Horizontal Intra-industry Trade, Value Added Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273453 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14380.44165 #END 412 #BEGIN 413 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Canello, Jacopo Title: Explaining the Multifaceted Patterns of Migrant Entrepreneurship in the Global Economy: A Resource-Based Approach Abstract: This article aims to propose a novel theoretical framework to interpret the recent patterns of migrant entrepreneurship in the global economy. Our theoretical framework builds on the resource-based view and highlights the role of the migrant enterprise as a collective entity endowed with peculiar tangible and intangible resources. The specific endowment of each migrant firm determines its competitive advantages and disadvantages, as well as its ability to acquire and process knowledge over time and internationalize. Such an approach allows to categorize the migrant enterprise as an autonomous entity, providing a reliable explanation of the heterogeneous features and performances displayed by these firms in the global economy. Indeed, even when migrant firms operate in the same host environment and are managed by entrepreneurs of the same ethnic background, their performances tend to be significantly different. Using a resource-based approach, the peculiar features of the migrant enterprise can be disentangled and explained more effectively. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273451/1/Arrighetti%20Canello%202023%2019072023.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Migrant entrepreneurship, Resorce-based View, Heterogeneity, Host Environment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273451 #END 413 #BEGIN 414 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reddy, A Amarender Author-Name: Bhattacharya, Anindita Author-Name: Reddy, Venku Title: Significance of Farmers’ Distress Index in Reducing Agrarian Crisis: An Approach to Study Vulnerability in the Context of Dryland Farmers in India Abstract: Vulnerability assessments by developing Farmers’ Distress Index (FDI) can play a vital role in the design of appropriate adaptation and mitigation policies directed towards the various structural changes in the recent era — for those who depend on agriculture for their livelihood and well-being. This paper attempts to build a picture of the vulnerability of distressed agricultural households by identifying the distress indicators — based on seven major dimensions, namely exposure, mitigating and adaptation strategies, adaptive capacity, triggers, sensitivity, psychological factors and impact. The aim of developing the Farmers’ Distress Index (FDI), considering 50 indicators in the context of 640 dryland farmers of 4 districts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, was to identify sources and forms of vulnerability that are specific to the context of designing resilience measures. The study we undertook reports the top 10 major indicators that drive the overall vulnerability of the districts. It also recommends a particular ‘distress management package’ by involving the local administration, research institutions and NGOs to build a specific action plan for intervention against each indicator. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273421/1/DVARA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q12, Q18, Q14, Q15 Keywords: Farmers Distress Index, indebtedness, Agriculture, India Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273421 #END 414 #BEGIN 415 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Do Aid for Trade flows affect Technology Licensing in Recipient Countries? Abstract: There is an abundant literature on the economic (including trade) effects of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows. However, little attention has been devoted to the effect of AfT flows on demand for technology. The present article aims to fill this void in the literature by investigating the effect of AfT flows on technology licensing in developing countries. The analysis has used an unbalanced panel dataset of 77 countries over the period from 2002 to 2019, and mainly the two-step system generalized method of moments estimator. It has established that AfT flows foster technology licensing in countries that experience lower trade costs. In addition, the analysis has revealed that adverse environmental and external (economic and financial) shocks significantly hamper innovation, including the demand for technology licensing, and that AfT flows promote technology licensing in countries that experience lower magnitudes of such shocks. Finally, AfT flows foster technology licensing in countries that diversify their export products. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273419/1/Paper%20AfT%20and%20Technology%20Licensing.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F10, F35, L24 Keywords: Aid for Trade, Technology licensing, Trade costs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273419 #END 415 #BEGIN 416 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lee, Zeewan Author-Name: Fong, Joelle H. Title: Labor Market Competition and Attitudes toward Immigrants: New Evidence from Asia Abstract: Immigrants in a destination country both alter the prospects of economic development and influence the livelihood of natives. Using data from 10 Asian countries in the 2018-2020 World Value Survey (WVS), we provide new evidence regarding the impact of skill-driven labor market competition on natives’ attitudes toward immigrants. Linking information on occupation-specific human capital accumulation from O*NET to WVS, we explore granular dimensions of natives’ skills and their implications for labor market competition and vulnerability. To account for the possibility of reverse causality (selection in natives’ occupational choices resulting from natives’ inherent preferences toward immigrants), we run the two-stage instrumental variable estimator adopting the control function approach. Holding educational levels constant, we find that natives with greater manual skills and fewer communication skills are more likely to be pro-immigration. We also find that the links between manual skills and attitudes are driven primarily by the level of flexibility in natives’ skills, while the negative impacts of communication skills are driven by natives’ writing abilities. Our results offer important insights for policymakers in Asia to establish nuanced immigration policies and skill-development programs that account for their impacts on intergroup labor market competition and social cohesion. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273317/3/immigrant_manuscript_20230317.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F66, F68, J61, J68 Keywords: attitudes, immigration, labor market competition, skills, human capital accumulation, control function approach Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273317 #END 416 #BEGIN 417 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: Analyzing policy change of Malawi ICT and Digitalization policy: Policy Assemblage Perspective Abstract: The Government of Malawi set out to implement national ICT policy from 2013 to 2016. The policy activities were partially executed, and recently reviewed the ICT policy to incorporate digitization. This paper reviewed policy change that led to the development of Malawi ICT and digitalization. Using Deleuze and Guattari’s Assemblage Theory, the study analysed policy documents and media reports. Content analysis was used to analyse the secondary data. The findings showed that the policy development activities departed from the conventional process of policy cycle championed in the line ministry of the ICT sector. Instead, the Presidential Delivery Unit coordinated the policy change. The process destabilized policy activities to address service delivery, transformation of economic sectors and created opportunities for policy actors to exercise their distributed agency. The study contributes to the literature on policy change of national digital policies in the context of developing countries. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/273309/1/Makoza2023j.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Policy change, Policy Assemblage, National Digital policy, Digitalization policy, Malawi Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:273309 #END 417 #BEGIN 418 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Koloma, Yaya Author-Name: Some, Juste Title: The effects of public funding on agricultural performance and environmental degradation in Ghana: Case studies of three arboriculture value chains (Cocoa, Cashew and Mango) Abstract: This paper examines the effects of public financing devoted to agriculture on the performance of the agriculture sector and on the environmental degradation in Ghana over the period 1996-2019. The paper particularly focuses on three tree crops value chains, namely cashew, cocoa and mango sub-sectors. The agriculture performance is measured by the value added. The environmental degradation is measured by the greenhouse emissions from agriculture. The empirical methodology is based on a multivariate econometric approach, in particular a VAR model in a form of error correction that considers the long-term relationships (cointegration) between variables. The results from the impulse-response functions indicate that public financing significantly improves agricultural performance but with mixed impacts on environmental quality. It helps improve agricultural performance by increasing agricultural value added and agricultural productivity. However, this support tends to have a negative impact in terms of CO2 emissions in Ghana. The policy implications suggest that the increase in support to the agricultural sector is highly commendable and should be strengthened for the three trees crops, but policymakers should consider the potential negative impact of the financing on carbon dioxide emissions. To this end, while for mango a few non-financial measures seem necessary, for cocoa and cashew, substantial non-financial resources are required to make these crops more climate or environmentally sensitive, through incentives and awareness. This means encouraging use of innovative tools on farms, including climate smart agriculture methods to make these crops less degrading for the quality of the environment in Ghana. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/272934/1/Effects%20of%20Public%20Funding%20on%20Agricultural%20Performance%20and%20Environmental%20degradation%20in%20Ghana.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q14, Q56, Q18 Keywords: Public Financing, tree crops value chains, Environmental degradation, Ghana, VAR models Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:272934 #END 418 #BEGIN 419 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: International Relations: India, Russia, and the US Swing forward the Future of Geopolitics “Modi's US Visit: What New Delhi Wants from Washington”. Abstract: India's engagement with the United States is driven by a combination of strategic, economic, and shared values considerations. New Delhi would seek to leverage and balance its relationship with Washington also to advance its national interests, enhance its security, and promote its economic growth and development. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/272933/1/IR%20PAPER.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F52, F53, F55 Keywords: Geopolitics, International Relations Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:272933 #END 419 #BEGIN 420 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sanyal, Anirban Title: Caught in the Crossfire: How Trade Policy Uncertainty Impacts Global Trade Abstract: Trade policy uncertainty impacts firm's decisions to enter export markets and make new investments. I extend the trade policy uncertainty literature in a multi-country trade model to evaluate the uncertainty effect on global trade flows. The model introduces two sources of uncertainty; namely a policy change probability and tariff size uncertainty. Using these two sources of uncertainty, I argue that the trade policy uncertainty moderates global trade flows and increases domestic price level due to lack of certainty in price distributions. The framework can be generalized to other uncertainties in trade partners. Finally, the model calibration demonstrates that a moderation of trade flows during the recent trade war period, can be explained by trade policy uncertainty. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/272825/1/SSRN-id4471238.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: trade policy uncertainty, trade flows, sectoral heterogeneity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:272825 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4471238 #END 420 #BEGIN 421 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bijnens, Gert Author-Name: Duprez, Cédric Author-Name: Jonckheere, Jana Title: Have greed and rapidly rising wages triggered a profit-wage-price spiral? Firm-level evidence for Belgium Abstract: Our study of Belgian firms found that 2022 price increases were largely attributable to rising intermediate input costs. Wage increases also contributed to prices hikes. Interestingly, markups appeared to play no role in driving up prices and in fact decreased or even offset the contribution of wages. In a country with automatic wage indexation, this is an important point for discussion in the debate on the profit-price or wage-price spiral. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/272784/1/BijnensDuprezJonckheere_230626.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D22, D4, E3, J3, L11 Keywords: markups, greedflation, wages, profits, wage-price spiral, profit-wage-price spiral, profit-price spiral Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:272784 #END 421 #BEGIN 422 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Author-Name: Cochrane, David Troy Title: Mapping the Ownership Network of Canada’s Billionaire Families Abstract: The planet has a billionaire problem. According to Oxfam, the world’s billionaires have more combined wealth than the bottom 60% of humanity — some 4.6 billion people. Given this obscene situation, calls are growing to rid the world of the billionaire class. But how do we make that happen? We think that part of the answer is to understand billionaire’s network of control. Many billionaires are happy to have their net worth tracked by Forbes — they treat it as an accumulation horse race.1 But what billionaires don’t like is for people to understand how they wield power. On that front, behind ever billionaire is a complicated network of corporate control — a network that is seldom made public. We’d like to change that. In this post, we’ll map the ownership network of ten billionaire families in Canada. Why Canada? Well, because we’re Canadian researchers. But more importantly, because the statistics arm of the Canadian government has done the heavy lifting for us. For the last decade, Statistics Canada has maintained a database on the inter-corporate ownership of Canadian corporations — a database that it bills as a “unique directory of ‘who owns what’ in Canada”. This corporate-ownership database contains a trove of information about how the rich wield power. In this post, we’ll begin to explore the data by mapping the ownership network of the following billionaire families: The McCain Family, The Katz Family, The Fidani Family, The Richardson Family, The Saputo Family, The Rogers Family, The Pattison Family, The Irving Family, The Weston Family, The Thomson Family Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/272782/1/20230623_fix_cochrane_mapping_ownership.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, L1 Keywords: billionaires, Canada, corporation, ownership and control, power Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:272782 #END 422 #BEGIN 423 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bajzik, Josef Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Novak, Jiri Title: Does Shareholder Activism Create Value? A Meta-Analysis Abstract: We conduct a meta-analysis of 1,973 estimates of stock price responses to shareholder activism reported in 67 primary studies. We document publication bias in the literature. Corrected activism effects range from 0% to 1.5%. Effects are stronger when shareholder rights are better protected and when stock markets are smaller. Markets respond more positively to activism by individual investors, confrontational activism, and activism aimed at company sale. Estimates based on longer periods, simpler risk-adjustment approaches, more recent and longer datasets, as well as those published in more reputable journals tend to be larger. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/272232/1/activism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G14, G30, G34, L20 Keywords: shareholder activism, price response, value created, meta-analysis, publication bias, model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:272232 #END 423 #BEGIN 424 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Author-Name: Khanna, Tarun Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Title: How aggregate electricity demand responds to hourly wholesale price fluctuations Abstract: Electricity needs to be consumed at the very moment of production, leading wholesale prices to fluctuate widely at (sub-)hourly time scales. This article investigates the response of aggregate electricity demand to such price variations. Using wind energy as an instrument, we estimate a significant and robust short-term price elasticity of about -0.05 in Germany and attribute this to industrial consumers. While seemingly modest, our results imply that even with limited exposure to real time prices, short-term demand response facilitates decarbonization of the electricity grid by reducing the need for battery storage or backup fossil power by approximately 8%. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/272048/1/Hirth-2023-How-aggregate-electricity-demand.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41, Q42 Keywords: Short-term price elasticity, Electricity markets, Demand response, Instrumental variables, Wind energy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:272048 #END 424 #BEGIN 425 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: The Quality of Aid for Trade Flows and Economic Complexity Abstract: The few existing studies on the effect of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows on economic complexity have reached inconclusive outcomes. The present analysis re-examines this issue through the lens of the concept of 'quality of AfT flows' that takes into account not only the amount of AfT flows, but also the predictability and volatility of these capital inflows. A country enjoys a better quality of AfT flows if it receives higher AfT flows in a predictable and less volatiles fashions. We investigate the effect of the quality of AfT flows on economic complexity, over a set of 86 countries and the period from 2004 to 2019, and using the within fixed effects estimator and the Method of Moments Quantile Regression with fixed effects approach. The findings suggest that not only does a better quality of AfT flows fosters economic complexity in recipient countries, but its positive effect is larger in less complex economies (including poorest countries) than in relatively more complex economies among recipient countries. These findings reveal that what really matters for the enhancement of economic complexity in developing countries may not be only the amounts of the total AfT flows, but more importantly the predictability and the stability of these resource inflows. Improving the quality of AfT flows by increasing AfT amounts in a predictable and stable fashions would be beneficial to developing countries, and particularly to a greater extent to poorest countries among them. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/271538/1/AfT-Quality-Economic-Complexity-Gnangnon.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O11, O14, F14, F35 Keywords: Aid for Trade, Predictability of Aid for Trade, Volatility of Aid for Trade, Economic complexity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:271538 #END 425 #BEGIN 426 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: The Least developed countries' TRIPS Waiver and the Strength of Intellectual Property Protection Abstract: Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have accorded many flexibilities to the least developed countries (LDCs) in the WTO's Trade-Related Intellectual Property (TRIPS) Agreement. A major LDC-specific flexibility in this Agreement that other developing country Members of the WTO do not enjoy has been the general transition period for the implementation of the Agreement, in view, inter alia, of their need for flexibility to create a viable technological base. The present article investigated whether this LDC-specific Waiver in the TRIPS Agreement genuinely helped LDCs reduce the strength of their Intellectual Property Protection (IPR), as expected. The analysis was carried out using the Difference-in-Difference framework, along with the within fixed effects and the 'Quantile via Moments' estimators. The panel dataset contains 24 LDCs (treatment group) and two control groups, over the period from 1970 to 2015. The first control group (the main one in the analysis) included 15 countries that had not been in the LDC category, but would not have met the criteria for graduating from the category of LDCs if they were included in the category. The second control group, used for robustness check, included 9 low-income countries that yet, were not LDCs, but were eligible to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility of the International Monetary Fund. The empirical analysis has established that the TRIPS Waiver was instrumental in reducing the IPR levels in LDCs, and LDCs that had lower IPR levels (i.e., those located in the lower quantiles) enjoy larger reductions in IPR levels, thanks to this Waiver. Moreover, the effect of the TRIPS Waiver on LDCs' IPR levels depended on LDCs' duration of the membership in the WTO, as well as on their level of innovation-driven export variety, measured by their level of export product concentration or alternatively their degree of economic complexity. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/271537/1/Paper-TRIPS-and-IPR-for-LDCs-Gnangnon.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, O34 Keywords: Least developed countries, TRIPS Waiver, World Trade Organization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:271537 #END 426 #BEGIN 427 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Marshall, Adam Title: Environmental Conflict, Capital as Power . . . and a Nice Trip to London Abstract: In my PhD thesis, which I am currently in the process of writing up, I explore the UK fracking conflict as a means of elucidating its political economic drivers and dynamics. In the process, I hope to also shed light on the political economic drivers of socio-ecological conflict and crises more broadly. To achieve these aims, my research combines a novel theory of capitalism – the capital as power (CasP) approach to political economy – with a unique mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. While my thesis contributes primarily to debates at the intersection of ecological economics and political ecology, it also aims to extend the frontiers of research on CasP. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/271203/1/marshall_environmental_conflict.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P00, P18, Q5 Keywords: capital as power, fracking, energy, sustainability, United Kingdom Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:271203 #END 427 #BEGIN 428 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Petrevski, Goran Title: Macroeconomic Effects of Inflation Targeting: A Survey of the Empirical Literature Abstract: This paper surveys the voluminous empirical literature of inflation targeting (IT). Specifically, the paper focuses on three main issues: the main institutional, macroeconomic, and technical determinants that affect the adoption of IT; the effects of IT on macroeconomic performance (inflation expectations, inflation persistence, average inflation rate, inflation variability, output growth, output volatility, interest rates, exchange rates, and fiscal outcomes); and disinflation costs of IT (the so-called sacrifice ratios). The main findings from our review are the following: concerning the determinants behind the adoption of IT, there is robust empirical evidence that larger and more developed countries are more likely to adopt the IT regime; similarly, the introduction of this regime is conditional on previous disinflation, greater exchange rate flexibility, central bank independence, and higher level of financial development; however, the literature suggests that the link between various macroeconomic and institutional determinants and the likelihood of adopting IT may be rather weak, i.e., they are not to be viewed either as strict necessary or sufficient conditions; the empirical evidence has failed to provide convincing evidence that IT itself may serve as an effective tool for stabilizing inflation expectations and for reducing inflation persistence; the empirical research focused on advanced economies has failed to provide convincing evidence on the beneficial effects of IT on inflation performance, concluding that inflation targeters only converged towards the monetary policy of non-targeters, while there is some evidence that the gains from the IT regime may have been more prevalent in the emerging market economies (EMEs); there is not convincing evidence that IT is associated with either higher output growth or lower output variability; the empirical research suggests that IT may have differential effects on exchange-rate volatility in advanced economies versus EMEs; although the empirical evidence on the impact of IT on fiscal policy is quite limited, it supports the idea that IT indeed improves fiscal discipline; the empirical support to the proposition that IT is associated with lower disinflation costs seems to be rather weak. Therefore, the accumulated empirical literature implies that IT does not produce superior macroeconomic benefits in comparison with the alternative monetary strategies or, at most, they are quite modest. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/271122/1/Macroeconomic-effects-of-inflation-targeting-A-survey.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, E58 Keywords: monetary policy, inflation targeting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:271122 #END 428 #BEGIN 429 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Petrevski, Goran Title: Determinants of Inflation Targeting: A Survey of Empirical Literature Abstract: This paper surveys the empirical literature of dealing with the choice of inflation targeting (IT). Specifically, the paper focuses on the main institutional, macroeconomic, and technical determinants affecting the adoption of IT. The main findings from our review are the following: there is strong empirical evidence that larger and more developed countries are more likely to adopt the IT regime; similarly, the introduction of IT regime is conditional on previous disinflation, greater exchange rate flexibility, central bank independence, and higher level of financial development; however, the literature suggests that the link between various macroeconomic and institutional determinants and the likelihood of adopting IT may be rather weak, i.e., they are not to be viewed either as strict necessary or sufficient conditions. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/271121/1/Determinants-of-inflation-targeting-A-survey-of-the-empirical-literature.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, E58 Keywords: inflation targeting, monetary policy, emerging markets economies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:271121 #END 429 #BEGIN 430 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Di Liberto, Yuri Title: All You Need to Know About Climate Change Abstract: What if I told you that they knew everything? And that they have known it for a very long time? On January 13 of this year, 2023, in the journal Science, perhaps the most important article to date on climate change was published. In political, social, and ethical terms, this article represents the equivalent of a nuclear bomb, despite the fact that (as is sadly obvious to expect) no one in mainstream news channels (and very few in academia) has mentioned it. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270982/1/20230519_di_liberto_all_you_need_to_know_about_climate_change.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, P18, Q4, Q5, Q54 Keywords: capital as power, climate, ExxonMobil, differential accumulation, sabotage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270982 #END 430 #BEGIN 431 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baines, Joseph Author-Name: Hager, Sandy Brian Title: Rentiership and Intellectual Monopoly in Contemporary Capitalism: Conceptual Challenges and Empirical Possibilities Abstract: The concepts of rentiership and intellectual monopoly have gained increased prominence in discussions about the transformation of global capitalism in recent years. However, there have been few if any attempts to construct measures for rentiership and intellectual monopoly using firm-level financial data. The absence of such work, we argue, is symptomatic of conceptual challenges in delineating what precisely qualifies as rent, intellectual or otherwise. In place of static conceptions of rent and intellectual monopoly, we develop a dynamic framework for analyzing the processes of rentierization and intellectual monopolization and apply this framework to the analysis of the transformation of non-financial firms in the United States since the 1950s. We find that the timing and intensity of rentierization and intellectual monopolization differs significantly across sector and firm size and is heavily mediated by the uneven ramifications of government policy across companies and industries. Overall, our framework illuminates the variegated landscape of corporate power in the US, and offers a useful guide for critically interrogating rentierization and intellectual monopolization in other contexts. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270981/1/20230500_baines_hager_rentiership_and_intellectual_monopoly.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, D72, L12, D42, D4, O34 Keywords: capital accumulation, competition, degree of monopoly, financialization, intangibles, intellectual property, productivity, profit, United States, rent, scarcity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270981 #END 431 #BEGIN 432 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: The role of digital nomadism in COVID-19 recovery strategy of the tourism sector: Case of Cape Town, South Africa Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions affected the tourism sector in South Africa. Digital nomadism is an example of a new strategy that can help the tourism sector recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper explores government strategies for promoting digital nomadism in the tourism sector. The study used the case of the city of Cape Town to analyse secondary data, e.g., government strategies and media reports using thematic analysis. The findings showed that digital nomadism has the potential to promote innovation, new ways of working, and job creation. However, there are also challenges that recovery strategies must address for digital nomadism to be successful, e.g., delays in the introduction of remote work visas and the lack of clarity about digital taxation. The study contributes to the understanding of the benefits and challenges of digital nomadism in the context of developing countries. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270980/1/Makoza2023f.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Digital nomadism, COVID-19 pandemic, Tourism sector, Economic recovery, Cape Town, South Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270980 #END 432 #BEGIN 433 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Opatrny, Matej Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Scasny, Milan Title: Publication Bias and Model Uncertainty in Measuring the Effect of Class Size on Achievement Abstract: Class size reduction mandates are frequent and invariably justified by studies reporting positive effects on student achievement. Yet other studies report no effects, and the literature as a whole awaits correction for potential publication bias. Moreover, if identification drives results systematically, the relevance of individual studies will vary. We build a sample of 1,767 estimates collected from 62 studies and for each estimate codify 42 factors reflecting estimation context. We employ recently developed nonlinear techniques for publication bias correction and Bayesian model averaging techniques that address model uncertainty. The results suggest publication bias among studies featured in top five economics journals, but not elsewhere. The implied class size effect is zero for all identification approaches except Tennessee's Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio project. The effect remains zero for disadvantaged students and across subjects, school types, and countries. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270952/1/class.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83, H52, I21 Keywords: Class size, student learning, meta-analysis, publication bias, Bayesian model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270952 #END 433 #BEGIN 434 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Masochistic Fun with Plutocratic Murder Abstract: There’s nothing like waking up to a boatload of Twitter scorn. It’s refreshing, in a masochistic sort of way. Some backstory. After most of my blog posts, I put the charts on Twitter, usually with a provocative caption. (It’s more fun that way.) So after last week’s review of Cory Doctorow’s book Red Team Blues, I tweeted the relation between income inequality and the rate of murder. The next morning my Twitter feed was … interesting. The tweet apparently went viral, helped along by a nice little insult from Nassim Nicholas Taleb: 'No. The statement by that fettuccinibrain is contradicted by his own graph. #fooledbyrandomness'. Apart from him calling me a fettuccini brain, I have a lot of respect for Taleb, who’s famous for (among other things) his excellent book Fooled By Randomness. It’s an engaging romp through the many ways that human’s get duped by random patterns. Back to the tweet. Taleb is implying that the relation between inequality and murder is essentially a random blob of data, and that I’m a fool to plot a trend line through it. I disagree. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270945/1/20230520_fix_masochistic_fun_with_plutocratic_murder.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, C1, D3, K Keywords: crime, income distribution, inequality, methodology, murder Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270945 #END 434 #BEGIN 435 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mouré, Christopher Author-Name: Gorsky, Shai Title: Why Are Not-For-Profit Hospitals in the US So Much More Profitable Than For-Profit Hospitals? Abstract: When it comes to social institutions, not-for-profit organizations (NFPs) allegedly strike a balance between the private and public realm. While privately owned and operated, not-for-profits are distinguished by their ostensibly public purpose – in eschewing private profits, they claim to make the pursuit of some social benefit their primary objective. However, not all not-for-profits are equal. While most make little or no revenue, let alone net income, some NFPs collect billions in revenue and hundreds of millions in net income. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270944/1/20230519_moure_gorsky_why_are_not_for_profit_hospitals_in_the_us_so_much_more_profitable.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, I1 Keywords: differential accumulation, hospitals, profits, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270944 #END 435 #BEGIN 436 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Firming Up Hierarchy Abstract: If an unmarked package arrived at your door, how would you figure out what was inside? The catch is that you cannot open it. As a social scientist, I deal with this ‘black-box’ problem all the time. I (metaphorically) watch people go to work at firms. And I see them come home with income. Then I try to picture the ‘machine’ that gave people money. In my mind’s eye, I see a machine called hierarchy. Inside each firm, I imagine a corporate hierarchy that sorts workers into a chain of command and assigns them income based on their rank. Or in more personal terms, when people go to work they have a boss. And their boss makes more money than them. In a colloquial sense, we all know that this is how firms work, because we’ve experienced it as workers. In other words, as individuals, we get an ants-eye view of the corporate hierarchy. But what we can’t do is play god and study corporate hierarchy by cutting the ant’s nest in half. Corporations tend to dislike that. And so as scientists, we’re left with a black-box problem. If we want to study how hierarchy affects income, we have to do it without opening the corporate box. Our only option is to ‘stand’ outside firms and watch what goes in and out. Then we see if these observations are consistent with what we think goes on inside. Speaking of observations from firms, in this post, I unpack data from a landmark 2019 paper called ‘Firming up inequality’. In that article, economists Jae Song and colleagues use data from the Social Security Administration to reconstruct the income distribution within US firms from 1981 to 2013. Their results are a goldmine for studying the hierarchical pay structure within firms. Using Song’s data, here’s the idea that I’m going to test. I think that the recent rise in US income inequality is being driven by a redistribution of income within firms. In short, I believe that corporate hierarchies have become more despotic. Corporate elites have taken income that once went to the bottom of the hierarchy and redirected it to the top. To test this idea, we’ll take a meandering route. First, I’ll tell you about my model of corporate hierarchy and how it explains income as a function of ‘hierarchical power’. Then I’ll give you a tour of US income inequality, and show you why it’s plausible that the recent rise in top incomes is being driven by growing ‘hierarchical despotism’. Next, I’ll break out the math and build a model of the US corporate landscape. I’ll use this model to predict the redistribution of income within US firms. Finally, I’ll compare the model’s predictions to the real-world trends reported by Song and colleagues. If all goes well, we’ll get some insight into the machinations of US corporate hierarchy. My results? I find that to a surprising extent, the redistribution of income within US firms can be explained by a single parameter — a change in the rate that income scales with hierarchical power. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270943/1/20221119_fix_firming_up_hierarchy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, D3 Keywords: hierarchy, income distribution Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270943 #END 436 #BEGIN 437 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Inflation: Everywhere and Always Differential Abstract: In November 2021, I wrote a post called ‘The Truth About Inflation’. At the time, inflation fears were heating up. And as usual, mainstream economists were missing the bus. Sure, economists pointed to the consumer price index and said, “Look, it’s going up!” But they didn’t look under the hood of this index to see the big picture. Despite what economists proclaim, inflation is not a uniform increase in prices. It is an instability in the whole price system. It’s now been a year since that post was published, so I thought I’d update the analysis. While much has changed in the global political landscape, the underlying picture of inflation remains the same: it is everywhere and always differential. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270942/1/20221215_fix_inflation_everywhere_and_always_differential.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P1, D3, E31 Keywords: capital as power, income distribution, inflation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270942 #END 437 #BEGIN 438 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lee, Zeewan Author-Name: Tan, Poh Lin Author-Name: Tan-Soo, Jie-Sheng Title: Unequal Gains from Remote Work during COVID-19 between Spouses: Evidence from Longitudinal Data in Singapore Abstract: The rise of remote work arrangements under the COVID-19 pandemic has generated important benefits, enhancing worker productivity by providing flexibility and reducing commuting costs. Would such positive labor market outcomes enjoyed equally between spouses? Using a longitudinal dataset of married women and their spouses before, during and after the lockdown in Singapore, we examine the effect of the pandemic and the availability of remote work on the respondents’ salary income, while accounting for the moderating roles of gendered differences in time use (e.g., in childcare) and presence of helpers. We find a significant salary income growth among male remote workers, but not among females. While both male and female remote workers experienced an increase in income if they spent less time on household work, women were less likely to face such smaller household responsibilities than men. This study provides empirical evidence that unequal division of household labor leads to unequal gains from remote work. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270941/1/0_UPDATEDManuscript_20230508.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J16, J24 Keywords: gender, income, COVID-19, remote work, flexible work, time use Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270941 Note: Unequal gains from teleworking during COVID-19 - this project was supported by funding from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore [R-603-000-347-115; A-0003976-00-00; R-603-000-237-133] #END 438 #BEGIN 439 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stanley, T. D. Author-Name: Doucouliagos, Hristos Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Title: Meta-analyses of partial correlations are biased: Detection and solutions Abstract: We demonstrate that all meta-analyses of partial correlations are biased, and yet hundreds of meta-analyses of partial correlation coefficients (PCC) are conducted each year widely across economics, business, education, psychology, and medical research. To address these biases, we offer a new weighted average, UWLS+3. UWLS+3 is the unrestricted weighted least squares weighted average that makes an adjustment to the degrees of freedom that are used to calculate partial correlations and, by doing so, renders trivial any remaining meta-analysis bias. Our simulations also reveal that these meta-analysis biases are small-sample biases (n < 200), and a simple correction factor of (n-2)/(n-1) greatly reduces these small-sample biases. In many applications where primary studies typically have hundreds or more observations, partial correlations can be meta-analyzed in standard ways with only negligible bias. However, in other fields in the social and the medical sciences that are dominated by small samples, these meta-analysis biases are easily avoidable by our proposed methods. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270940/1/pcc.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83 Keywords: partial correlation coefficients, meta-analysis, bias, small sample Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270940 #END 439 #BEGIN 440 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Katz, Eliakim Author-Name: Galor, Oded Title: Three Notes on the Economic Performance of Migrants Abstract: D.P. 37. Migrants and Markets: In recent research, the question "Why do migrants fare as they do?" has largely been answered through an inspection of the vector of migrants' characteristics. The main theme of the current paper is that special features characterize the interaction (the nature of trades) between migrants and the markets they join and that market characteristics largely account for the labour market performance of individual migrants. D.P. 38. Why Do Migrants Fare as They Do?: This paper offers a new explanation for the often observed higher mean income - higher income variance of migrants vis-à-vis the native-born, The explanation is based on the relative lack of information about migrants in the receiving country rather than on the attributes of migrants, It accounts for several important stylized facts and generates predictions different from those of the attributes explanation. D.P. 39. Migrants' Savings, the Probability if Return Migration and Migrants' Performance: This paper highlights a difference between migrants and the native-born viz., a positive probability of return migration. An overlapping-generations model is used to show that this probability results in migrants' saving more than comparable native-born. This differential helps explain why migrants often outperform the native-born in the receiving economy. Creation-Date: 1988 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270914/1/Three-Notes-on-the-Economic-Performance.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270914 #END 440 #BEGIN 441 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shukla, Vibhooti Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: Why are Urban Formal Sector Wages in LDCs above the Market-Clearing Level? Abstract: In this paper we link urban labor market dualism and the fixity of formal sector wages in expected income migration models with urban agglomeration economies. A possible productivity- efficiency rationale for the "institutional" wage is identified and explored. In addition, a rationalization for the informal sector is suggested in this context. We propose a motivation for determinating high urban wages as part of a choice-theoretic behavioral framework, perform illustrative simulations of factors influencing an equilibrium urban wage premium, and point out directions for further research delineated by our analytical propositions. Creation-Date: 1989 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270913/1/urban-formal-sector-wages-in-LDCs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270913 #END 441 #BEGIN 442 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Khanna, Tarun M. Author-Name: Bruns, Stephan Author-Name: Miersch, Klaas Author-Name: Minx, Jan C. Title: Effects of electricity pricing schemes on household energy consumption. A meta-analysis of academic and non-academic literature Abstract: Time-varying prices are thought to be critical for increasing economic efficiency of the power system. However, a rigorous assessment of the evidence from field trials that use time-of-use pricing, critical peak pricing, etc. in households is missing. This machine learning-assisted systematic review compiles the largest dataset till date of results from pricing pilots reported in both academic publications and electricity utility reports. This unique dataset enables us to deduce the presence of publication bias in peer-reviewed publications. Employing a multilevel meta-analysis, we estimate an average reduction of 8.7%-10.6% in peak consumption, 1.2%-1.5% in total consumption and no change in off-peak consumption across trials. Our heterogeneity analysis, using Bayesian Model Averaging, finds that a 10% increase in the peak-to-baseline price ratio is associated with a 0.47% reduction in peak consumption with marginal reduction in effects suggesting “scope effect” in household behavior. Overall consumption is not responsive to price ratio. Dynamic pricing thus seems to be effective in managing electricity demand but with limits. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270889/1/Dynamic_Pricing_Meta_Analysis_v6.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41 Keywords: Dynamic pricing, Energy demand, Households, Buildings emissions, Monetary incentives, Rebates, Time-of-use pricing, Demand response Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270889 #END 442 #BEGIN 443 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mughal, Mazhar Author-Name: Javed, Rashid Author-Name: Lorey, Thierry Title: Female Early Marriage and Son Preference in Pakistan Abstract: In this study, we employ pooled data from four rounds of Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) to examine whether, and to what extent, does the incidence of early marriage shape the married women's perspectives on gender preference associated with reproduction. We employ a number of econometric techniques (Probit, OLS, Cox Hazard Model, IV Probit and treatment effects) and a large set of model specifications, and find significant evidence supporting the role of early marriage in perpetuating disproportionate preference for boys. Women who married before turning 18 not only state a greater desire for boys but are also less likely to stop reproduction as long as they do not have a boy. Early-age marriage is associated with 7.7 - 12.5% higher incidence of fertility discontinuation among women without a son. This son-preferring behaviour is stronger at higher birth order and also reflects in differential spacing patterns. Women's education appears to be the strongest channel through which these effects are mediated. The divergence between early- and late-marrying women appears to have sharpened over time. The findings of this study underscore the role played by early marriage in altering the gender-specific attitudes prevalent in the society, and highlight existing gender inequality traps. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270888/1/0-WP-%20Female%20Early%20Marriage%20and%20Son%20Preference%20in%20Pakistan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D13, J13, O15, C13, Z13 Keywords: Child marriage, Age at marriage, gender bias, son preference, Pakistan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270888 #END 443 #BEGIN 444 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bernheim, B. Douglas Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: The Strategic Demand for Children: Theory and Implications for Fertility and Migration Abstract: Intra-familial conflict which arises from individual consumption choices in an environment characterized by mutual altruism and direct consumption externalities results in parents receiving from their children less than the desired level of attention. Parents adopt a joint bequest-fertility strategy in order to extract from their children the desired level of attention, producing that number of children which, in conjunction with such a manipulative behavior, results in optimal extraction. Fertility implications are drawn, especially under alternative assumptions about the mortality regime. Predictions of the theory for investment in children's human capital and migration are delineated. Creation-Date: 1986 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270881/1/The%20strategic%20demand%20for%20%20children%20-%20Harvard%20University%20Migration%20and%20Development%20Program%20%20Discussion%20Paper%20Number%2025.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270881 #END 444 #BEGIN 445 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Katz, Eliakim Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: On Fertility, Migration, and Remittances in LDCs Abstract: In this paper we examine the effect of migratory opportunities for children on fertility when the decision by the child whether and how much to remit is endogenous to the analysis. We differentiate between two classes of motivations to remit and four changes that are likely to increase the return to migration. We demonstrate that the effect of each of these changes on remittances depends on the motive for remittances. Given that the demand for children as assets depends on the returns to them of which remittances constitute a part we identify links between motivations to remit and the demand for children. Creation-Date: 1985 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270880/1/On%20fertility%2c%20migration%2c%20and%20%20remittances%20in%20LDCs%20-%20Harvard%20University%20Migration%20and%20Development%20%20Program%20Discussion%20Paper%20Number%2019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270880 #END 445 #BEGIN 446 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Katz, Eliakim Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: Desired fertility and migration in LDCs: Signing the Connection Abstract: In this paper we attempt to ascertain the impact on parents' desired fertility of a number of changes likely to increase the returns to the rural-to-urban migration of children. We assume that the demand for children as assets depends upon the extent to which they raise the mean per capita family income, and reduce the uncertainty of per capita family income, and we argue that the effect of rural-to-urban migration possibilities on the optimal number of children depends crucially on the role played by children in their capacity as assets. On the basis of purely theoretical considerations we succeed in determining the likely effect of four out of eight changes in asset attributes. It is hoped that our results also define a fruitful domain for empirical inquiry. Creation-Date: 1985 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270879/1/Desired%20fertility%20and%20%20migration%20in%20LDCs%20-%20Harvard%20University%20Migration%20and%20Development%20%20Program%20Discussion%20Paper%20Number%2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270879 #END 446 #BEGIN 447 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bucksteeg, Michael Author-Name: Voswinkel, Simon Author-Name: Blumberg, Gerald Title: Improving flow-based market coupling by integrating redispatch potential - Evidence from a large-scale model Abstract: Power markets have been gradually integrated to achieve the target of a single European market. A major step was the introduction of the flow-based market coupling (FBMC) in Central Western and Eastern Europe (Core region). FBMC reflects the physical constraints of the underlying transmission grid in detail. However, the European Commission and regulators imposed minimum margins to increase cross-border trade and to foster price convergence between the different bidding zones, neglecting physical constraints and increasing redispatch volumes. Integrating redispatch poten-tials into FBMC allows for moving closer to physical reality while maintaining a high level of cross-border trade. In this study, we develop a multi-stage model covering capacity calculation, market coupling, and redispatch stages. This study is the first to evaluate different options for integrating FBMC and redispatch potentials based on a large-scale numerical analysis of Central Europe. The results reveal that minimum margins effectively increase cross-border trade. However, this comes at a high cost due to additional redispatch needs, which reduce overall welfare. Integrating redis-patch potentials in the market-clearing stage leads to a more efficient increase in cross-border ca-pacities and elevates welfare. In the case of combining both approaches, the analysis indicates improved welfare of roughly 80 M€ per year. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270878/1/20230511_WP_Integrated%20RD_clean.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4 Keywords: Flow-based market coupling, European electricity market, cross-border trade, congestion management, redispatch, market modeling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270878 #END 447 #BEGIN 448 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ceesay, Muhammed Title: Suspecting Collusion Abstract: When collusion is analyzed for Independent private value auctions, it is implicitly assumed that ring presence is commonly known to colluding and non-colluding bidders. We drop this assumption and analyze a simple model of a first price Independent Private Value auction with uniformly distributed values where a single bidder knows privately of the existence of collusion by others. We show that this knowledge leads him to bid shading (weakly) in the first price auction compared to what he would have bid otherwise. This in turn yields the result that the second price auction dominates the first price auction in terms of seller revenue. This contrasts results from the literature showing that under our framework, when bidding is done while the presence of colluding bidders is common knowledge, the first price auction dominates the second price auction. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270874/1/Suspecting_Collusion_Revised.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D44 Keywords: Almost-All-Inclusive-Ring, Informational Structures Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268306 #END 448 #BEGIN 449 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rinaldi, Riccardo Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Lasagni, Andrea Author-Name: Canello, Jacopo Title: Immigrant entrepreneurship in Europe: a comparative empirical approach Abstract: The aim of this paper is to use a multi-country approach to assess the role played by individual characteristics and local labor market conditions in influencing migrants’ self-employment decisions. The empirical investigation exploits data from the EU Labor Force Survey for the 2005-2016 period and focuses on two countries (Italy and the UK) characterized by significantly different labor market dynamics. Our findings suggest that the impact of individual characteristics is similar across countries, whereas the role of the local economic environment changes significantly, resulting in different migrant entrepreneurship patterns. These findings appear to be consistent with the most recent strand of literature, suggesting that while individual characteristics of self-employed migrants are similar across countries, national and regional differences play a key role in determining migrants’ entrepreneurial propensity. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270873/1/immigrantentrepreneurship_econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: migrant, entrepreneurship, regional economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270873 #END 449 #BEGIN 450 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Cost of Capital - challenges for companies in current economic environment Abstract: In July 2022, the ECB started to gradually increase the key interest rate in order to bring the increased inflation back into the target corridor. An increase in the cost of capital for countries and companies could be observed much earlier. This increase of cost was more significantly caused by the fact that the social and economic conditions in Germany and Europe have changed considerably in recent years. This working paper examines selected conditions regarding their impact on the cost of capital for companies. Abstract: Im Juli 2022 hat die EZB angefangen, den Leitzins schrittweise zu erhöhen, um so die gestiegene Inflation wieder in den Zielkorridor zuführen. Ein Anstieg der Kapitalkosten für Staaten und Unternehmen war schon deutlich früher zu beobachten. Maßgeblich verursacht wurde dieser Anstieg dadurch, dass sich die gesellschaftlichen und wirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen in Deutschland und Europa in den letzten Jahren stark verändert haben. In diesem Working Paper werden ausgewählte Rahmenbedingungen hinsichtlich ihrer Wirkung auf die Kapitalkosten von Unternehmen untersucht. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270872/1/Cost%20of%20Capital%2020230511.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G10 Keywords: cost of capital, weighted average cost of capital, inflation, interest rates Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270872 #END 450 #BEGIN 451 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Unemployment and the Maturity of Capitalism Abstract: In my last post, I discussed the underwhelming relation between interest rates and unemployment. In this post, I’ll look at a better way to connect unemployment to interest income. It turns out that if you take US net interest and divide it by corporate profit, you get a ratio that closely tracks unemployment. It’s a measure that Jonathan Nitzan and Shimshon Bichler call the ‘maturity of capitalism’. If this language sounds odd, that’s because Nitzan and Bichler see capitalism differently than your average economists. So before we get to the data, let’s review some of their thinking. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270869/1/20230506_fix_unemployment_and_the_maturity_of_capitalism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P00, P1, E24, J6, D3, E4 Keywords: income distribution, interest rate, maturity of capitalism, profit, sabotage, unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270869 #END 451 #BEGIN 452 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Interest Rates and Unemployment: An Underwhelming Relation Abstract: For the last few months, I’ve been studying the distributional effects of interest-rate hikes. There’s been no shortage of surprising results. In this post, I’ll discuss an effect that is surprising because it’s underwhelming. Many economist claim that when interest rates rise, unemployment will increase. The idea is that higher rates make businesses tighten their belts, leading to less hiring and greater unemployment. Looking at the evidence, I find that this claim is not particularly compelling. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270868/1/20230430_fix_interest_rates_and_unemployment.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E4, J6, E24 Keywords: interest rate, unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270868 #END 452 #BEGIN 453 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: How Interest Rates Redistribute Income Abstract: When I read about monetary policy, I have a rule of thumb. Every time I see the phrase interest rate, I replace it with the term wage rate. Then I ask myself whether the discussion still makes sense. Often, it does not. The reason I make this substitution is that in conceptual terms, the interest rate and the wage rate are similar: they are both rates of return. Wages are the return on employment. Interest rates are the return on credit. Now, the important thing about rates of return is that when we change them, we are toying with the distribution of income. Hike wages and we send more income to workers. Hike the rate of interest and we send more income to creditors. Sure, the specifics of this redistribution are open for inquiry. But by definition, rates of return are ‘distributional variables’ — they determine how the income pie gets divvied up. Back to my word substitution. When it comes to wages, the issue of distribution is typically front and center. That’s why talk of a minimum-wage hike prompts businesses (and many economists) to complain about reduced profits. But when creditors hike the rate of interest, talk of income distribution is curiously absent. Instead, we get a barrage of macroeconomic jargon — terms like the ‘natural rate of interest’ and the ‘non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment’. Why the discrepancy? One possibility is that economists know something that we don’t. Perhaps they’ve looked at the evidence and concluded that interest rates have a ‘neutral’ effect on the distribution of income. Another possibility is that the macroeconomic jargon is mostly a distraction. In other words, like wages, the rate of interest is a ‘distributional variable’. But it’s one that mainstream economists prefer to ignore. So which option is true? In this post, I let the evidence speak for itself. Looking at cross-country evidence, I find that interest rates are decidedly non-neutral. As interest rates rise, three things happen: (1) the interest share of income increases; (2) the labor share of income decreases; (3) income inequality increases. In short, the evidence suggests that interest rates play a key role in the game of class warfare. And that makes sense. Interest, after all, is a rate of return. And when it comes to divvying up the income pie, rates of return are always zero sum. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270866/1/20230416_fix_how_interest_rates_redistribute_income.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E5, J3, E4 Keywords: credistors, distribution, interest rates, labour, wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270866 #END 453 #BEGIN 454 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baryon, Daniel Title: A Modern Anarchism (Part 1): Anarchist Analysis Abstract: We stand now at a turning point, wherein many roads sprawl out in front of us. With unprecedented access to information, the atlas seems to lie within our hands. But, at this crossroads, the popularizers of these many paths shout over one another to persuade new travelers, only to find that most travelers now choose tourism rather than migration; exploration rather than arrival. It is hard to blame them. Having seen many return from a path leading to a dead-end, or worse, having lost those they know to a terrible bramble from which they will never escape, these weary travelers are paralyzed by choice. Confused and discouraged, many simply return home where a tormentor awaits, but wherein there is no longer the stress of uncertainty. I would like to tell you of a new path: its extent not yet fully explored, but peering through the forestation beyond, a great light emanates forth. Before we proceed, I would like to pose a question: why has this society accumulated so much power, yet somehow fails to meet the most basic needs of humanity? Why has this hierarchical structure changed hands between so many rulers, yet the peace they have promised never lasts? Their hands bloody, their adherents marching behind, a new society of domination always follows in time. Why? Those intent on creating their own societies of domination will offer all manner of empty excuses. But the true answers lie within an ideology which has been suppressed by the power hoarders: anarchism. This work is not meant to be a brief introduction to the topic. There are plenty of those already in existence. Instead, I want to offer a modern synthesis of anarchist ideas. So, whereas many other books and essays endeavor to give a broad, non-committal overview, here I want to ground you in a particular location within the body of anarchist thought. In doing this, we will not wander down every trail, but we will stop to look at the scenery from time to time. And, for this reason, one might see this work as motivated by the impulse described by Voline in his work On Synthesis: "The anarchist conception must be synthetic: it must seek to become the great living syn-thesis of the different elements of life, established by scientific analysis and rendered fruitful by the synthesis of our ideas, our aspirations and the bits of truth that we have succeeded in discovering; it must do it if it wishes to be that precursor of truth, that true and undistorted factor, not bankrupting of human liberation and progress, which the dozens of sullen, narrow and fossilized 'isms' obviously cannot become." Such a process is, of course, a lofty goal for any one person to carry out. To do this, I will go beyond the standard list of European thinkers that one is typically introduced to when they begin an inspection of this subject. These names will certainly feature in our narrative, as they were very important figures in the development of anarchism as a revolutionary movement. But the ideas of the anarchists are not only important to some specific geographic region. Now, more than ever before, anarchism has achieved a state of critical insight, especially as it has been informed by the work of Black, queer, indigenous, feminist, decolonial, and other anarchist thinkers. All those people who strive to be free of oppression will find their common struggle within its basis. After all, many of these realizations root to the earliest stages of humanity and will likely be at play in any possible human society. Many other anarchist works have failed to take into account these new developments of anarchist theory, to understand where the original struggles have fallen short, and then cooperate alongside this new coalition of thinkers in bringing anarchist principles to their highest culmination. So let us begin... Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270854/1/20230316_baryon_modern_anarchism_part_1_anarchist_analysis.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P00, K00 Keywords: anarchism, capital as power, capitalism, cooperation, creorder, hierarchy, mega machine, power, state Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270854 #END 454 #BEGIN 455 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Inflation! The Battle Between Creditors and Workers Abstract: I’ve been writing about inflation for the better part of three months. It’s been exhausting. Most of my time has been spent debunking misconceptions promoted by mainstream economists. Fortunately, I’m ready to move on. What’s interesting about inflation is not the fact that prices rise. What matters is that prices rise at different rates. In other words, inflation creates winners and losers — it redistributes income. In this post, I’ll dive into the redistribution dynamics between wage workers and creditors. When inflation rears its head, both groups try to bolster their income. But they rarely have equal success. Looking at over two centuries of US price history, I find (perhaps surprisingly) that inflation tended to benefit workers at the expense of creditors. Since the 1970s, however, the reverse has been true; inflation has systematically benefited creditors at the expense of workers. So what changed? Two things. First, the US labor movement was crushed. Second (and far less discussed), US policy makers adopted a new way to ‘fight’ rising prices. When inflation reared its head, central banks attempted to quell it by aggressively hiking interest rates. Today, it’s received wisdom that this policy ‘works’. Of course, the policy does work — but not for its stated goal. Never mind ‘fighting inflation’. When you raise interest rates, you give creditors a raise. Framed in this light, it’s unsurprising that inflation has recently become a boon for US creditors. Backed by monetarist ideology, the government is now dedicated to preserving the return on credit. When it comes to class struggle, there’s nothing like having the sledgehammer of the state to back you up. With credit returns in mind, here’s the road ahead. Before diving into the dynamics of class struggle, I’ll take a quick look at the language used to describe rising prices. Next, I’ll quantify the price struggle between creditors and workers. Finally, I’ll measure how this struggle has changed over time, and how it relates to the ideological currents of the period. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270852/1/20230323_fix_inflation_the_battle_between_creditors_and_workers.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P00, P1, E3, E31, D3, J3, D74, E5 Keywords: creditors, inflation, interest rates, inflation, wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270852 #END 455 #BEGIN 456 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Polo, Andrea Author-Name: Sette, Enrico Author-Name: Vanasco, Victoria Title: Risk mitigating versus risk shifting: Evidence from banks security trading in crises Abstract: We show that risk-mitigating incentives dominate risk-shifting incentives in fragile banks. We study security trading by banks, as banks can easily and quickly change their risk exposure within their security portfolio. For identification, we exploit different crisis shocks and supervisory ISIN-bank-month-level data. Less capitalized banks take relatively less risk after financial stress shocks. Results hold within identical regulatory capital risk weights categories. Moreover, additional tests suggest that banks’ own incentives, rather than supervision, are the main drivers. Results hold for the different crisis shocks since 2007/08, including the COVID-19 one. A model of bank behavior rationalizes our findings. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270732/1/SSRN-id3732831.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G00, G01, G21, G28, G30 Keywords: risk shifting, financial crises, securities, bank capital, reach for yield, uncertainty, risk weights, supervision, franchise value, COVID-19 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226219 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3732831 #END 456 #BEGIN 457 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bedayo, Mikel Author-Name: Jiménez, Gabriel Author-Name: Peydró, José Luis Author-Name: Vegas, Raquel Title: Screening and loan origination time: Lending standards, loan defaults and bank failures Abstract: We show that loan origination time is crucial for bank lending standards over the credit cycle, as well as for ex-post loan-level defaults and bank-level failures. We use the credit register in Spain for the business loans over the 2002-15 period focusing on the time of a loan application and its granting. First, when VIX is low (proxying for good times) banks shorten the time to originate a loan, particularly to less-capitalized (riskier) firms. Results suggest that bank moral hazard incentives are a key mechanism. Shorter loan origination time to ex-ante riskier firms in good times is especially stronger for: (i) banks with less capital (proxying for moral hazard problems between bank owners and taxpayers/debtholders); (ii) non-listed banks (proxying for moral hazard problems between bank management and shareholders); (iii) loans to firms in geographical areas which do not form the bank's main market and experience a real estate bubble (proxying for moral hazard problems between local loan officers and the bank headquarter), mainly if those areas have more bank competition; or, relatedly, stronger effects on loans granted to firms operating in industries which the bank is not most specialized at (proxying for moral hazard problems between different parts within the bank). Second, shorter loan origination time is associated with higher ex-post defaults at the loan-level, and aggregated at the bank-level, with higher likelihood of bank failure or other strong bank distress events, overall consistent with lower screening (time). Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270731/1/Loan%20Origination_Time_August_2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G21, G28, E44, E51 Keywords: loan origination time, credit standards, credit cycle, defaults, banks, screening, moral hazard Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:225986 #END 457 #BEGIN 458 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Finocchiaro Castro, Massimo Author-Name: Guccio, Calogero Author-Name: Rizzo, Ilde Title: How "one-size-fits-all" public works contract does it better? An assessment of infrastructure provision in Italy Abstract: Public infrastructure procurement is crucial as a prerequisite for public and private investments and for economic and social capital growth. However, low performance in execution severely hinders infrastructure provision and benefits delivery. One of the most sensitive phases in public infrastructure procurement is the design because of the strategic relationship that it potentially creates between procurers and contractors in the execution stage, affecting the costs and the duration of the contract. In this paper, using recent developments in non-parametric frontiers and propensity score matching, we evaluate the performance in the execution of public works in Italy. The analysis provides robust evidence of significant improvement of performance where procurers opt for design and build contracts, which lead to lower transaction costs, allowing contractors to better accommodate the project in the execution. Our findings bear considerable policy implications. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270729/1/Manuscript%20guccio%20et%20al%20WPversion.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H57, D73, O18, C14 Keywords: Infrastructure provision, Transaction costs economics, propensity score matching, non-parametric frontiers, public works procurement, performance, design and build contracts Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270729 #END 458 #BEGIN 459 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Die Auswirkungen des aktuellen wirtschaftlichen und geopolitischen Umfelds auf die Kapitalkosten von Unternehmen Abstract: Im Juli 2022 hat die EZB angefangen, den Leitzins schrittweise zu erhöhen, um so die gestiegene Inflation wieder in den Zielkorridor zu führen. Ein Anstieg der Kapitalkosten für Staaten und Unternehmen war schon deutlich früher zu beobachten. Maßgeblich verursacht wurde dieser Anstieg dadurch, dass sich die gesellschaftlichen und wirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen in Deutschland und Europa in den letzten Jahren stark verändert haben. In diesem Working Paper werden ausgewählte Rahmenbedingungen hinsichtlich ihrer Wirkung auf die Kapitalkosten von Unternehmen untersucht. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270727/1/Kapitalkosten%20von%20Unternehmen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G10 Keywords: Kapitalkosten, Weighted Average Cost of Capital, Inflation, Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270727 #END 459 #BEGIN 460 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sharaf, Mesbah Fathy Author-Name: Shahen, Abdelhalem Mahmoud Title: Does External Debt Drive Inflation in Sudan? Evidence from Symmetric and Asymmetric ARDL approaches Abstract: Purpose: This study aims to examine the symmetric and asymmetric impact of external debt on inflation in Sudan from 1970 to 2020 within a multivariate framework by including money supply and the nominal effective exchange rate as additional inflation determinants. Design/methodology/approach: We utilize an Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine the symmetric impact of external debt on inflation, while the asymmetric impact is examined using a nonlinear Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model. The existence of a long-run relationship between inflation and external debt is tested using the bounds-testing approach to cointegration, and a vector error-correction model is estimated to determine the short parameters of equilibrium dynamics. Findings: The linear ARDL model results show that external debt has no statistically significant impact on inflation in the long run. On the contrary, the results of the NARDL model show that positive and negative external debt shocks statistically impact inflation in the long run. The estimated long-run elasticity coefficients of both the linear and nonlinear ARDL models reveal that the domestic money supply has a statistically significant positive impact on inflation. In contrast, the nominal effective exchange rate has a statistically significant negative impact on inflation. Practical implications: The reliance on symmetric analysis may not be sufficient to uncover the existence of a linkage between external debt and inflation. Proper external debt management is crucial to control inflation rates in Sudan. Originality/Value: To date, no empirical study has assessed the external debt-inflation nexus and its potential asymmetry in Sudan, and the current study aims to fill this gap in the literature. Creation-Date: 2023 Classification-JEL: E31, E52, F34, O24 Keywords: External Debt, Exchange rate, Inflation, Money supply, NARDL, Sudan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270641 #END 460 #BEGIN 461 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Amoa-Gyarteng, Karikari Title: Overcoming Financial Challenges for Small and Medium Enterprises: Strategies for Entrepreneurial Success Abstract: The article discusses the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in obtaining finance, which is a critical issue for their growth and profitability. It highlights that SMEs often lack collateral and financial history, which makes it difficult for them to obtain loans from traditional financial institutions. The article then explores two approaches to entrepreneurship, Effectuation and Bricolage, which focus on internal resourcefulness and making the most of what is available, regardless of long-term returns. The paper lists ten strategies that entrepreneurs can adopt including embracing affordability logic, engaging in networking and collaboration among others. By implementing these strategies, SMEs can overcome funding challenges and achieve sustainable growth. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270609/1/Overcoming%20Financial%20Challenges%20for%20SMEs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Effectuation, Bricolage, SMEs, Financial Challenges, Strategies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270609 #END 461 #BEGIN 462 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: The effects of media narratives on national identity cards system strategies of Malawi Abstract: This paper presents an analysis of how online media narratives shaped national identity cards system strategies. The case of Malawi was analysed as an example of an African country that recently implemented a national identity cards system. The study used Narratives Theory to analyse how narratives presented in government policies, legal documents, and online media reports influenced the implementation of the national identity cards system. The results showed that the events involving illegal immigrants, child trafficking, access to public health services, and challenges with voter registration influenced the implementation of the national identity cards system. Contextual conditions, including lack of financial resources, porous borders, culture, no-fee services in public health facilities, and the absence of a computerised identification system gave rise to the events. Lack of financial resources and focus on other government priorities delayed the implementation of national identity cards systems. The study contributed towards literature on national identity cards systems in the context of Africa. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270314/1/MediaNarratives-National-ID-CardsMalawi.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: National identity cards systems, Narratives Theory, Online media, Malawi Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270314 #END 462 #BEGIN 463 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Rowley, Robin Title: Fascism in Israel. The Funding of Fascist and Neo-Nazi Movements: 1970-1990 Abstract: In 1989, we applied for a Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation grant to investigate the funding of fascist and Neo-Nazi movements in Israel. The Foundation did not find the topic important enough, and the application was ceremonially rejected. Here is what we wanted to do. RESEARCH PLAN. The emergence of ultra right-wing elements in Israeli society has drawn considerable attention from the popular media both in Israel and elsewhere. Academic studies on the subject have often considered this rise of fascist and neo-Nazi organizations as a marginal development rather than as part of a broader political transformation. We argue, to the contrary, that the rise of ultra- right movements reflects important changes in Israel and was both stimulated by actions of the Israeli government and supported by business organizations and affluent individuals (both in Israel and abroad). Our study focuses on the potential link between the fascist and neo-Nazi organizations and the mainstream of Israel's political and economic spheres. In particular, we seek to map the flow of funding to such organizations from government, business and foreign sources. Three avenues of research will be followed. (i) Analysis of government budgets, records of business transactions and registration of donations. (ii) Interviews with key individuals in the political, military and business elites, others who were instrumental to financial support for extreme right-wing movements and central figures in these movements themselves, (iii) Close examination of existing publications, particularly newspapers and magazines, that reported on Israeli fascism since 1970. Results will be organized in an input -output format between source and destination for funds. A dynamic temporal comparison between alternative periods could provide important insight into the evolution of extreme right-wing movements and their relations with the central establishment of Israeli society. RELEVANCE TO HUMAN DOMINANCE, AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE. Fascists and neo-Nazi movements have been involved in numerous violent and illegal activities against Arabs in the Occupied Territories as well as against political opponents in Israel. Their ideologies advocate the creation of a totalitarian society, an authoritarian economy run by a military bureaucracy and an official apartheid against the Palestinian population. In matters of foreign policy they call for a permanent state of war against the Arab neighbours and an aggressive expansionary drive to create a "big Israel". This vision of dominance may have grave consequences for aggression and violence in Israel and the Middle East. Such sombre prospects are enhanced by the extent to which ultra right-wing movements are supported by Israel's mainstream establishment. Creation-Date: 1989 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270297/1/19890700_bnr_fascism_in_israel.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, G Keywords: fascism, finance, Israel, Neo-Nazism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270297 #END 463 #BEGIN 464 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Title: Industrie 5.0 Abstract: Spätestens seit der Etablierung von ChatGPT als eine für die breite Masse sowohl der Unternehmen als auch der Bevölkerung gleichermaßen interessante Anwendung der Künstlichen Intelligenz im November 2022 neigt sich die Epoche der Industrie 4.0 dem Ende entgegen. In diesem Working Paper werden die Grenzen der Industrie 4.0 aufgezeigt und die Potenziale der Industrie 5.0 analysiert. Abstract: At the latest since the establishment of ChatGPT as an application of artificial intelligence of interest to the broad masses of both companies and the general public in November 2022, the era of Industry 4.0 is drawing to a close. In this working paper, the limits of Industry 4.0 are highlighted and the potentials of Industry 5.0 are analysed. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/270296/1/Industrie%205-0.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O30 Keywords: Industrie 5.0, industrielle Revolution, Künstliche Intelligenz, KI, I5.0 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:270296 #END 464 #BEGIN 465 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Influence The Education Levels on Income Worldwide: Empirical Evidence Abstract: In this paper, I constructed a worldwide novel panel model to investigate the estimation returns of the education levels using the function of the aggregate production approach of education human capital growth using the Mincerian method to acquire an equation of a log-liner, considering the possibility of heterogeneity of the countries. We split the data samples based on the levels of schooling quality and develop the economy of the countries. Our estimation shows the effect of the differences or heterogeneity on the schooling levels among the countries which appear especially post-secondary or tertiary schooling level specified has more impact in developed countries with high quality of schooling learning than effect secondary and primary school levels, while vice versa is true in developing countries. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269924/1/Walid%20Alali_Influence%20The%20Education%20Levels%20on%20Income-03__MPRA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economic Development, Growth, Human Capital, Labour Productivity, Poverty, Health, Human Development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269924 DOI: 10.5287/bodleian:AeVmKQ98A #END 465 #BEGIN 466 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Cross Countries Economic Performances - SPF Approach Abstract: The differences in technical inefficiency (inefficient allocation of production inputs) explain the diverse cross-country economic performances, using estimating a “global” stochastic production frontier (SPF) model, and (Rodrik (2000)’s taxonomy of institutions), to compare the mean level of technical inefficiency for each country per period. Our model considers three variable dimensions – human capital, openness, and institutions. Institutions are more fundamental to the sources of technical inefficiency. Specifically, the rule of law has a direct impact on improving technical efficiency. Democracy and sound money, do not have a direct impact on technical efficiency. However, their interactions with human capital are statistically significant. It points out the possibility that a minimum level of human capital matters for these two aspects of institutions to have any impact on technical efficiency. Regulation, on the other hand, shows a threshold effect. That said, after reaching a threshold level of regulation, excessive regulation leads to technical inefficiency. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269923/1/Walid_Alali_5_Cross%20Countries%20Economic%20Performances_04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economic Development, Institutions, Policy, Growth, Institutions Performance, Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269923 DOI: 10.5287/bodleian:gpDQGexw0 #END 466 #BEGIN 467 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Impact of Natural Environment, Regional Integration, and Policies on FDI Abstract: FDI is an important source of capital, technology, and skills transfer for both developing and developed economies, this paper explores the effects of three determinants of bilateral FDI, including natural barriers, the “at-the-border” barrier (regional trade agreement), and the “behind-the-border” barrier (domestic regulatory environment). An augmented gravity model is deployed to carry out the test for the inter-OECD and intra-OECD regions in 60 economies for the period 1985 – 2006. The main aim is to study the roles of external institutions vis-à-vis domestic institutions on FDI. We perform several estimation strategies for our panel data analysis, finding geographical, historical, and cultural proximities all explain bilateral FDI significantly, even after controlling for unobserved country-pair heterogeneity and time effect. Using a “catch-all” regulatory environment index and a dummy variable for country-pair membership of RTA, our analysis shows that lax regulatory environment and RTA are seemingly associated with FDI positively in both regions. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269885/1/Walid_Alali_4_Impact%20of%20Natural%20Environment%2c%20Region_04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economic Development, Institutions, Policy, Economic Growth, FDI Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269885 DOI: 10.5287/bodleian:8RDk8j2p9 #END 467 #BEGIN 468 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Simple Rules of the Monetary Policy and Incomplete Exchange Rate Pass-Through Abstract: The performance of various monetary rules is investigated in an open economy with incomplete exchange rate pass-through. Implementing monetary policy through an exchange-rate augmented policy rule does not improve social welfare compared to using an optimized Taylor rule, irrespective of the degree of pass-through. However, an indirect exchange rate response, through a policy reaction to Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rather than to domestic inflation, welfare-enhancing in all pass-through cases. This result is moreover independent of whether society values domestic or CPI inflation stabilization. The only case where a direct real exchange rate response is slightly welfare improving occurs when the other reaction coefficients, on inflation and output, are sub-optimal. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269882/1/Walid_Alali_Incomplete%20Exchange%20Rate%20Pass-Through__SSRN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Exchange rate pass-through, monetary policy, simple policy rules, small open economy, Taylor rule Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269882 #END 468 #BEGIN 469 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Elallee, Haider Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: The US GDP Growth and Sustainability Debt Abstract: After the US dollar replaced gold, the US debt became attention worldwide, thus the demand for the US dollar continued, and furthermore the extremely low interest of the dollar. This helped the US government to borrow great amounts of debt as well as kept the creditors pleased. Due to the pandemic, the US economy retrograded because of the tax cut and unproductive rescue spending plan plus surpassing spending of the government. The acceleration of inflation looms, whereas the recession is begging to appear; certainly, the government must cut back on spending or its patterns, while this will lead to uncertain consequences for the long future. Whereas increasing the interest rate will be not the right solution for the long term, on the contrary, will lead to dire economic consequences. This paper discusses several different perspectives on the US government's sustainability as its ability to settle the debt in future, the fate of growth burdened with that debt through the neoclassical mode of growth, and also the effect of anxiety of defaults and unfunded obligations. Inversely, it explores the strength of the dollar with a low-interest rate and its sustainability worldwide. We also propose ways helping of strengthening the fiscal government position and solutions to help the economy recover in long term and to easiest the situation. In the synopsis, we propose something that could affect and shake the global market. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269881/1/Walid%20Y%20Alali_The%20US%20GDP%20Growth%20%26%20Debt%20Sustainability-05.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Neoclassical Growth Model, Default, Debt-To-GDP, Inflation, Real Interest- Rates, Consumer Credit, Productivity, Economic Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269881 #END 469 #BEGIN 470 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Inequality in Education and Income Across Countries Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between educational inequalities to income inequality cross-countries, using Gini Coefficient and Cobb-Douglas (CD) production function. It reinforces the future vision of the literature on this subject by utilising the most recent cross-section data. We create a new combination of controls for both the labour market and socio-political. There are country-specific variables that can have an effect on each of them, and thus make it difficult to assess income inequality across countries. Considering these difficulties, the structural components of each country were controlled. Separate regressions are performed that takes into account the level of country development. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269880/1/Walid%20Alali_Inequality%20in%20Education%20and%20Income_07__MPRA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economic Development, Labour, Human Capital & Development, Inequality, Poverty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269880 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4296111 #END 470 #BEGIN 471 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Role of Political Institutions on Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence Abstract: This paper explores the effect of political institutions on economic development via its causation of economic reforms. Focusing on the causality between political institutions – democracy, specifically – and economic reforms. After all, one way of improving society's well-being is through promoting economic growth, thereby narrowing the cross-country income differences. We investigate whether economic reforms are more likely to take place in democracies since greater accountability may lead the government to adopt measures that gain majority support. Economic reforms are referred to as comprehensive measures that broaden the market's scope including the international. Using the same methodology as in the previous paper1, the dynamic panel GMM estimator, we study whether democracy causes economic reforms in different sectors, namely fiscal measures, trade liberalisation, credit market liberalisation, capital account openness and labour market deregulation. Reciprocally, test if economic reforms cause the democratisation process, and how political institutions and economic reforms interact. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269879/1/Walid_Alali_3_Role%20of%20Political%20Institutions%20on%20Economic%20Growth-Empirical_04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economic Development, Institutions, Institutions Performance, Policy, Economic Growth, Political Institution Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269879 #END 471 #BEGIN 472 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Impact of Institutions and Policy on Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence Abstract: We reviewed the empirical evidence for the effect of institutions on per capita GDP growth. Although several of the literature suggested institutions are the primary cause of growth; empirical evidence is somewhat inconclusive. On one hand, it partly reflects that technical limitations - especially heterogeneity - have not been adequately addressed in these studies. On the other hand, there seems to be no consensus on which institutions specifically cause growth. We test the effect of four clusters of institutions (Using Rodrik-2005 Taxonomy) on growth using dynamic GMM panel estimation. The taxonomy provides a functional definition of institutions, allowing us to identify exactly the type of institutions that affect growth. Meantime, our methodology has been technically improved without the need to look for “external” tools to address the problem of homogeneity. More importantly, we can estimate the effects of institutional change (short-term effects of institutions) on growth, without assuming institutional stability. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269878/1/Walid_Alali_2_The%20Impact%20of%20Institutions%20and%20Policy-04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economic Development, Institutions, Institutions Performance, GMM, Panel Data, Economic Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269878 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4296135 #END 472 #BEGIN 473 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Institutions, Policies, and Economic Growth Overview Abstract: Economic growth is perhaps one of the most important subjects in the field of economic development. This paper overview the links between institutions, economic growth, and policy settings in developing countries based on cross-country (Asia, Latin America, and Africa), for the last two decades. It has also been shown that many policy effects act not only 'directly' on growth but also indirectly through the mobilization of resources for fixed investment. Sustained high growth rates are usually regarded as the main driver of improving a country's general welfare and income. Neoclassical growth models, like Solow (1956), have put great emphasis on the role of physical capital accumulation. Modern economic growth theories have been extended to consider innovations, technology, human capital, and institutions as the fundamental causes of growth. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269877/1/Walid_Alali_1_Institutions%2c_Politics%20and%20Economic%20Growth_04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economic Development, Institutions, Institutions Performance, Policy, Economic Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269877 #END 473 #BEGIN 474 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Solution Strategies of Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models Abstract: DSGE models are the main tool for analysing various questions in problems of monetary, business cycle theory and fiscal policy problems, growth and other fields in international macroeconomics and macroeconomics. Many macroeconomic publications use the DSGE framework. A consensus has been reached on the methodology for using such kind of model. The resolution of DSGE models remains an area of ongoing interest. This paper provides an overview of the available solution techniques. Linear approximation methods and perturbation methods have been explored in detail. Solving strategies such as the eigenvalue auto-decomposition of Blanchard and Kahn (1980) or the method of indefinite coefficients are explained. A Bayesian estimate is drawn shortly. The evaluation methods are briefly described. Finally, the paper provides some useful resources for practical implementation. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269876/1/Walid_Alali_DSGE%20Model_SSRN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: DSGE models, solution strategies, Blanchard-Kahn conditions, perturbation methods, practical implementation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269876 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4368569 #END 474 #BEGIN 475 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y. Title: Economic Performance and Institutions: Measuring Technical Efficiency Using SPF Approach Abstract: This paper propose to employ the SPF approach (stochastic production frontier) to measure the technical efficiency of the country level for best economic performance, as the measure of growth is the essential practice to comprehend the roots of economic growth. It is evident from the results, that there is an essential difference in the perception of the technical efficiency cross-country and the total factor productivity traditional growth measurement. The SPF Model as well allows us to search for technical efficiency sources. The sources of Technical inefficiency cross-country are demonstrated by institutional arrangements. We find amongst all the different measures of institutions the role of openness to international trade, the State and political institutions are important factors of the global economic performance divergence. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269875/1/Walid%20Alali_Measuring%20Technical%20Efficiency%20Using%20SPF%20Approach.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Productivity, Technical Efficiency, Institutions, Stochastic Production Frontier, Economic Performance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269875 DOI: 10.5287/bodleian:2amvaaEaz #END 475 #BEGIN 476 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: The Key to Managing Inflation: Higher Wages Abstract: For the last few months, I’ve been diving into the economics of inflation. In this post, I’m excited to review some forgotten history. Our journey starts with a basic question: what is the key policy tool for managing the rate of inflation? According to mainstream economics, the key tool is the rate of interest. Hike this rate, economists argue, and you will cool an overheated economy, solving the problem of inflation. As you probably know, I don’t think much of this idea. (Criticism here and here.) And so I’ve been looking for alternative theories of inflation management. After months spent in the library stacks, I’m happy to report that I’ve discovered some lost theory. During the mid-20th century, it seems that while most economists were jumping on the interest-rate bandwagon, a few researchers went in the opposite direction. They proposed that inflation could be treated with a dose of wage hikes. Needless to say, this alternative theory remains virtually unknown. And on its face, it seems absurd. But as I’ll show, the wage-hike approach is strongly supported by evidence. Using standard economic tools, I find that rapid wage growth tends to be followed by a drop in inflation. The message? Policy makers should reverse course. Instead of greeting inflation with a dose of interest-rate hikes, governments should reach for the wage-rate lever. Hike wages as fast as possible, and you will surely reduce inflation. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269258/4/20230302_fix_the_key_to_managing_inflation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, J3 Keywords: inflation, wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269258 #END 476 #BEGIN 477 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Interest Rates and Inflation: Knives Out Abstract: If you’re just tuning in, I’ve spent the last few months debunking some common misconceptions about inflation: Is inflation a uniform increase in prices? No. Inflation is wildly differential. Is inflation driven by an ‘over-heated’ economy? No. Inflation tends to come with economic stagnation. Do higher interest rates reduce inflation? No. Higher interest rates are associated with higher inflation. As expected, the last claim put mainstream economists into war mode. You see, the belief that interest rates down-regulate inflation has come to be sacred. So by scrutinizing this idea with evidence, I was effectively torching an effigy of the pope. (Novelist Cory Doctorow helped fan the flames by writing an incendiary essay about my research.) And so I spent a ‘fun’ week on Twitter being bombarded by econo-scorn. Now back to science. When I published ‘A Test of Monetary Faith’, I had more evidence in the pipelines — evidence that debunks the idea that interest rates down-regulate inflation. In this post, I’ll wade through the data. The take-home message is clear: when we look at the World Bank database, there is no evidence that higher interest rates down-regulate inflation. If anything, the evidence suggests that rate hikes make inflation worse. But before we get to the data, I’ll respond to some of the more cogent criticisms that economist hurled my way. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269249/1/20230219_fix_interest_rates_and_inflation_knives_out.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E43, F4, E52 Keywords: interest rates, inflation, monetarism, monetary policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269249 #END 477 #BEGIN 478 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pan, Jingjing Author-Name: Li, Jianbiao Author-Name: Zhu, Chengkang Title: The Role of Reward in Cooperation-Enhancing and Welfare-Improving Under Imperfect information: Theory and Evidence Abstract: Although previous literature demonstrates that punishment is more efficient and stable than reward, in our daily life, numerous kinds of rewards permeate. One possible explanation for widely use of reward institution in practice is that it’s an efficient and satisfactory way to enhance cooperation and welfare in a social dilemma situation even the contribution is hardly evaluated accurately. Nevertheless, this explanation lacks support from empirical evidence. Our study aims to examine whether the institution with reward option is an efficient and satisfactory way to solve social dilemma problems under imperfect information conditions. We show that reward institutions sustain higher cooperation levels and let participants get more welfare under imperfect information conditions. Furthermore, we find most participants to have a tendency to favor reward institutions, even when the information is highly noisy. Our study sheds light on the superiority of reward institutions over punishment institutions in a realistic world. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/269216/1/The%20Role%20of%20Reward%20in%20Cooperation-Enhancing%20and%20Welfare-Improving%20Under%20Imperfect%20Information_Theory%20and%20Evidence.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, C92 Keywords: Public goods games, Reward, Imperfect information, Cooperation, Welfare Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:269216 #END 478 #BEGIN 479 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bijnens, Gert Author-Name: Duprez, Cédric Title: Bedrijven, prijzen en marges Abstract: Tijdens de eerste drie kwartalen van 2022 is de marge van de typische onderneming gedaald. In verreweg de meeste bedrijfstakken lag de marge van het mediaanbedrijf in 2021 nog boven het gemiddelde van 2015-2019. Dit is niet langer het geval. In het algemeen was de daling meer uitgesproken in de verwerkende nijverheid dan in de dienstensector. Er is echter een groot verschil tussen individuele ondernemingen, aangezien de omvang van de kostenstijging en het vermogen om deze door te berekenen in de verkoopprijzen, van bedrijf tot bedrijf verschillen. In tegenstelling tot de marge van de typische onderneming bleef de macro-economische margevoet in 2022 op een hoog niveau. Zoals elke macro-economische indicator wordt die maatstaf immers beïnvloed door een klein aantal zeer grote bedrijven en is deze hierdoor niet noodzakelijk representatief voor alle ondernemingen. Ook hiervoor wordt tegen eind 2022 echter een trendbreuk verwacht. Abstract: Over the first three quarters of 2022, the typical firm's margin rate declined. In the vast majority of industries, the median firm in 2021 could boast margins above the 2015-2019 average. This is not the case now. In general, the decline is more pronounced in manufacturing than in services. However, individual situations can differ greatly, as the extent of cost increases and the ability to pass them on in sales prices varies from firm to firm. In contrast to the typical firm's margin, the macroeconomic mark-up has thus remained at a high level in 2022. Like any macroeconomic indicator, this measure is influenced by a small number of very large firms that are not necessarily representative of all firms. Here too, however, a reversal of the trend is expected by the end of 2022. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268971/1/230123_marges_nl.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268971 #END 479 #BEGIN 480 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bijnens, Gert Author-Name: Duprez, Cédric Title: Firmes, prix et marges Abstract: Sur les trois premiers trimestres de 2022, le taux de marge de la firme type a diminué. Dans la grande majorité des secteurs d’activité, l’entreprise médiane en 2021 pouvait se prévaloir de marges supérieures à la moyenne de 2015-2019. Il en va autrement à présent. De manière générale, la baisse est plus prononcée dans l’industrie manufacturière que dans les services. Les situations individuelles peuvent cependant être très différentes, car l’ampleur de la hausse des coûts et la capacité de les répercuter sur les prix de vente varie d’une firme à l’autre. Contrairement à la marge de l’entreprise type, le taux de marge macroéconomique est ainsi demeuré à un niveau élevé en 2022. Comme tout indicateur macroéconomique, cette mesure est influencée par un petit nombre de très grandes entreprises qui ne sont pas nécessairement représentatives de l’ensemble des firmes. Là aussi toutefois, une inversion de la tendance est attendue pour la fin de 2022. Abstract: Over the first three quarters of 2022, the typical firm's margin rate declined. In the vast majority of industries, the median firm in 2021 could boast margins above the 2015-2019 average. This is not the case now. In general, the decline is more pronounced in manufacturing than in services. However, individual situations can differ greatly, as the extent of cost increases and the ability to pass them on in sales prices varies from firm to firm. In contrast to the typical firm's margin, the macroeconomic mark-up has thus remained at a high level in 2022. Like any macroeconomic indicator, this measure is influenced by a small number of very large firms that are not necessarily representative of all firms. Here too, however, a reversal of the trend is expected by the end of 2022. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268970/1/230123_marges_fr.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268970 #END 480 #BEGIN 481 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barbone Gonzalez, Rodrigo Author-Name: Khametshin, Dmitry Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Polo, Andrea Title: Hedger of Last Resort: Evidence from Brazil on FX Interventions, Local Credit and Global Financial Cycles Abstract: We show that FX interventions attenuate global financial cycle (GFC)’s spillovers. We exploit GFC shocks and Brazilian central bank interventions in FX derivatives using three matched administrative registers: credit, foreign credit to banks, and employer-employee. After U.S. Taper Tantrum (followed by Emerging Markets FX turbulence), Brazilian banks with more foreign debt cut credit supply, thereby reducing firm-level employment. A subsequent large policy intervention supplying derivatives against FX risks—hedger of last resort—halves the negative effects. A 2008-2015 panel exploiting GFC shocks and FX interventions confirms these results and the hedging channel. However, the policy entails fiscal and moral hazard costs. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268908/1/hedger_of_last_resort.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E5, F3, G01, G2 Keywords: foreign exchange, monetary policy, central bank, bank credit, hedging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216798 #END 481 #BEGIN 482 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zarifhonarvar, Ali Title: Economics of ChatGPT: A Labor Market View on the Occupational Impact of Artificial Intelligence Abstract: This study examines how ChatGPT affects the labor market. I first thoroughly analyzed the prior research that has been done on the subject in order to start understanding how ChatGPT and other AI-related services are influencing the labor market. Using the supply and demand model, I then assess ChatGPT's impact. This paper examines this innovation's short- and long-term effects on the labor market, concentrating on its challenges and opportunities. Furthermore, I employ a text-mining approach to extract various tasks from the International Standard Occupation Classification to present a comprehensive list of occupations most sensitive to ChatGPT. Creation-Date: 2023 Classification-JEL: O33, E24, J21, J24 Keywords: Large Language Models, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Labor Saving Technology, ChatGPT, Labor Market, Generative AI, Occupational Classification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268826 #END 482 #BEGIN 483 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alali, Walid Y Author-Name: Ellalee, Haider Title: A Welfare and Pass-Through Effects of Regulations within Imperfect Competition Abstract: Abstract: This paper furnishes an inclusive framework to examine the welfare effects of the interventions of multiple policies, and other exterior alterations under imperfect competition and an assertion on particular and .the leading case of the ad valorem taxes. In particular, for the tax pass-through, we furnish ‘‘sufficient statistics” equations for measures of the two welfare under the demand of the impartially general class, market competition and production cost. The measures are i) Public fund of the marginal value, ii) Incidence. We start with the status of symmetric firms' face up with both ad valorem taxes and unit tax to derive an empirically pertinent set of formulas and simple. Next, we make a substantial generalization of these results to include firm heterogeneity using the idea of tax revenue defined as a public function defined by a vector of policy instruments including governmental and non-governmental interventions and other non-tax costs. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268756/1/Walid_Alali_Welfare_and_Pass_Through_06_Elvise.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Imperfect Competition, Pass-through, Marginal Value of Public, Funds, Incidence, Sufficient Statistics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268756 #END 483 #BEGIN 484 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Water Governance: effective needs for Sustainable Development Abstract: Over the past decades, there has been increasing competition for the available water resources and increasing water pollution. Consequently, water shortages, water quality degradation, and destruction of the aquatic ecosystem are seriously affecting prospects for economic and social development, political stability, as well as ecosystem integrity. In developing countries, scarcity and degradation of water resources may have a severely limiting impact on development options, especially for poor people. In order to meet basic human and ecological needs and services, societies need to address and solve several serious water challenges and must come to terms with dwindling water resources, their uneven geographic and seasonal distribution, and an inadequate and inequitable allocation of water services. Poor resource management, corruption, inappropriate institutional arrangements, bureaucratic inertia, insufficient human capacity, and shortages of finances for investments also undermine the effective governance of water in many places. These are also the challenges to be addressed by governance reforms. There is general agreement that improvements to water governance are a necessary part of the solution to the specific challenges that fall within this nexus of water ecosystem management and poverty reduction within the context of climate change. The objective of this paper is to contribute to integrated, participatory governance processes and a sense of urgency around the need to reclaim and rejuvenate water bodies in more effective ways to ensure the sustainable and equitable use of water resources and to expand the delivery of clean water supply and sanitation services to all, which will help the effort of the impact under "Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Abhiyan." Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268739/1/Water%20Governence%20MKM.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q25, Q2 Keywords: Water Governance, Integrated water management Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268739 #END 484 #BEGIN 485 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Bom, Pedro R. D. Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Rachinger, Heiko Title: Spurious Precision in Meta-Analysis Abstract: Meta-analysis upweights studies reporting lower standard errors and hence more precision. But in empirical practice, notably in observational research, precision is not given to the researcher. Precision must be estimated, and thus can be p-hacked to achieve statistical significance. Simulations show that a modest dose of spurious precision creates a formidable problem for inverse-variance weighting and bias-correction methods based on the funnel plot. Selection models fail to solve the problem, and the simple mean can beat sophisticated estimators. Cures to publication bias may become worse than the disease. We introduce an approach that surmounts spuriousness: the Meta-Analysis Instrumental Variable Estimator (MAIVE), which employs inverse sample size as an instrument for reported variance. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268683/1/maive.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C15, C26, C83 Keywords: Publication bias, p-hacking, selection models, meta-regression, funnel plot, inverse-variance weighting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268683 #END 485 #BEGIN 486 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pietryka, Mateusz Title: Kapitał, by rządzić, musi sabotować postęp Abstract: Od głodu i biedy po zwykłe marnotrawstwo i nawracające fale przeróżnych kryzysów – to nie niepożądane skutki uboczne kapitalizmu, ale przejawy sabotażu. Bo nic nie utrwala władzy kapitału skuteczniej niż istnienie szerokiej rzeszy ludzi, którzy ani na chwilę nie mogą przestać pracować, by przeżyć. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268681/1/20230210_petryka_kapital_by_rzadzic_musi_sabotowac_postep.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P1 Keywords: accumulation, capital as power, sabotage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268681 #END 486 #BEGIN 487 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Do High Interest Rates Reduce Inflation? A Test of Monetary Faith Abstract: Whenever inflation rears its head, the call soon comes to raise interest rates. The rationale is simple. Higher interest rates put a damper on the supply of money. And this monetary clamp slows inflation. It’s so intuitive that it must be true. Or is it? As the Reverend Brooke observes, it takes a person of true conviction to ignore apparent contradictions. As such, this post is designed to test your monetary faith. According to monetary orthodoxy, higher interest rates reduce inflation. Yet the evidence demonstrates that the opposite is true: higher interest rates are associated with higher inflation. With this evidence in mind, I invite you to read on. Put your monetary faith to the fire and see if it can survive. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268655/1/20230204_fix_do_high_interest_rates_reduce_inflation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E43, E52, E31, E4 Keywords: interest rate, inflation, Milton Friedman, monetarism, monetary policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268655 #END 487 #BEGIN 488 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: E-commerce and entrepreneurship for African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): A readiness conceptual framework Abstract: African governments have ratified the African continental free trade area (AfCFTA) to support elimination of tariffs and taxes on intra-African trade on goods, services and investment; and promote integration that can lead to socio-economic growth. This paper proposes a readiness conceptual framework of electronic commerce and entrepreneurship. The study highlighted factors that African countries may consider to fully reap the benefits of the African continental free trade area. The factors include technology, legal frameworks, infrastructure, social norms, culture, economy, politics and entrepreneurship. The proposed readiness conceptual framework can be validated in further studies. The study contributes towards literature on e-commerce and entrepreneurship in the context of AfCFTA. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268464/1/Makoza2023.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: African continental free trade area, e-commerce, e-readiness, entrepreneurship Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268464 #END 488 #BEGIN 489 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Krings, Ulrich Title: Ansätze zur Bewertung von Ausschuss Abstract: Die kaufmännische Bewertung von Ausschuss stellt von je her in vielen Unternehmen ein Streitthema zwischen der Produktionsleitung, dem Qualitätsmanagement und der kaufmännischen Leitung dar. In der betrieblichen Praxis haben sich im Laufe der Jahre verschiedene Mechanismen zur kaufmännischen Bewertung von Ausschuss etabliert. In diesem Artikel sollen exemplarisch vier unterschiedliche Ansätze zur kaufmännischen Bewertung von Ausschuss systematisiert und hinsichtlich ihrer Vor- und Nachteile untersucht werden. Abstract: The commercial evaluation of rejects has always been a subject of dispute between production management, quality management and commercial management in many companies. Over the years, various mechanisms for the commercial evaluation of scrap have become established in company practice. In this article, four different approaches to the commercial evaluation of scrap will be systematized and examined with regard to their advantages and disadvantages.The commercial evaluation of rejects has always been a subject of dispute between production management, quality management and commercial management in many companies. Over the years, various mechanisms for the commercial evaluation of scrap have become established in company practice. In this article, four different approaches to the commercial evaluation of scrap will be systematized and examined with regard to their advantages and disadvantages. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268462/1/Ansaetze%20zur%20Bewertung%20von%20Ausschuss.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L Keywords: Qualität, Kosten, Ausschuss, Nacharbeit, Qualitätskosten, Total Costs of Quality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268462 #END 489 #BEGIN 490 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hever, Shir Title: The Church of Economics: 'Capital and its Crisis', a Book by Shimshon Bichler and Jonathan Nitzan Abstract: שמשון ביכלר ויהונתן ניצן פרסמו באחרונה את ספרם "ההון ושברו" (פרדס, 2022, 602 עמ'), בו הם דנים במשותף בתהפוכות כלכליות ותיאורטיות עדכניות. הספר ראה אור כעשרים שנה לאחר שספרם "מרווחי מלחמה לדיווידנדים של שלום" הכה גלים בחוגים הביקורתיים בישראל. בעשרים השנים האחרונות פרסמו ביכלר וניצן כמה ספרים ועשרות מאמרים באנגלית. בין השאר, ייסדו באוניברסיטת יורק בטורונטו אסכולה כלכלית חדשה, אשר עוררה דיונים סוערים בקרב כלכלנים ברחבי העולם. למרות ששורשי המחקר האמפירי של ביכלר וניצן נטועים בכלכלה הישראלית , בישראל דווקא לא שמעו על מחקרם. הספר החדש בעברית הוא אפוא קריאת חובה עבור כלכלנים ביקורתיים. מדובר בספר מאתגר לקריאה. סגנון הכתיבה הציני ואף הלעגני של ביכלר וניצן לא מתחנף לקוראים. כדי להבין את הספר נדרשת מידה ניכרת של צניעות וסבלנות, וגם גישה נכונה – יש לקרוא אותו כרומן בלשי .הספר אינו מספק תשובה לתעלומה, אלא מלמד את מלאכת הבילוש. באמצעות 82 תרשימים המבטאים מחקר אמפירי בן עשורים, מזמין הספר את הקורא לפענח את נתוני הכלכלה ולהסיק מסקנות בעצמו. מחציתו הראשונה של הספר היא ביקורת נוקבת על תיאוריות כלכליות קיימות. קריאת 300 העמודים הראשונים תבטיח לכל סטודנט לכלכלה בישראל ציון 100 בכל קורס מבוא (את המתמטיקה והסטטיסטיקה עליו ללמוד בכל זאת). זאת בתנאי שיצליח להתגבר על תחושת הקבס העולה כאשר מורדת המסיכה מפניה של הכלכלה הניאו-קלסית השמרנית. קוראים שמאליים ייהנו מאוד מהביקורת על הכלכלה השמרנית, אך גם להם צפויה הפתעה לא נעימה: הספר מפנה ביקורת גם כלפי הכלכלה המרקסיסטית, ומנסה להפריך ביסודיות את עיקריה. גם כאן משתמש הספר באותה דקדקנות מדעית, אך גם צינית ולעגנית, שבעזרתה הוא מבקר את הכלכלה הניאו-קלאסית. חלקו השני של הספר מציג תיאוריה כלכלית מורכבת, הבנויה על כלכלה פוליטית מוסדית מבית מדרשו של תורסטין ובלן. נוסף לכך, שזורים בו ניתוחים מרקסיסטים של סוויזי, קלצקי, ברן ועוד רבים. התיאוריה נבנית בהדרגה בעזרת ניתוח כלכלי-פוליטי של נתונים אמפיריים. בדרך מוצעים כלים לניתוח ואף חיזוי מגמות כלכליות. ביכלר וניצן חוקרים את ההון ככוח. הם מנתחים את המבנה והתפקוד של תאגידי הענק, הממשלות וציבור המשקיעים העשירים. הספר חושף את האסטרטגיות של השחקנים הגדולים והחזקים ביותר בכלכלה העולמית – הם מתחרים זה בזה, אך גם משתפים פעולה; הם מייצרים ציות וכניעות בקרב הציבור הרחב, אך מוכנים להסתכן בהתרת הרסן כדי להתמודד עם משברים. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268415/1/20230129_hever_the_church_of_economics.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, E13, B14, P Keywords: accumulation, capital as power, crisis, ideology, Marxism, neoclassical economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268415 #END 490 #BEGIN 491 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: The Cause of Stagflation Abstract: In my last post, I looked at the relation between economic growth and inflation. As per usual, the evidence didn’t sit well with mainstream economics. According to standard theory, there is a trade off between low inflation and high economic growth. The idea is that you can have one or the other, but not both. So if you want to keep inflation low, you have to ‘cool off’ the economy by slowing economic growth. (Like many things in economics, this idea comes from the totem of supply and demand.) The trouble is, the empirical evidence shows that the opposite is true. Rather than being driven by ‘excessive’ economic growth, inflation tends to come during periods of stagnation. So despite what mainstream economists proclaim, there is little evidence for a ‘growth-inflation trade off’. Instead, ‘stagflation’ seems to be the norm. Now, the question is why? Soon after I published ‘Is Stagflation the Norm?’ several readers pointed out that I should take a look at causation. The idea is that we want to know what drives what. Does (low) inflation drive (high) economic growth? Or does (low) economic growth drive (high) inflation? Well, I’ve done the math, and the results may surprise you. But before we get there, let’s take a look at what the theory of capital as power has to say about the causes of inflation. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268412/1/20230126_fix_the_cause_of_stagflation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P18, E31, O11 Keywords: causality, energy growth, inflation, stagflation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268412 #END 491 #BEGIN 492 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nenci, Silvia Author-Name: Pietrobelli, Carlo Author-Name: De Angelis, Marina Author-Name: Manson, Hernan Title: Coconut productivity in the Caribbean: Relational value chains in traditional farming Abstract: In this paper, we exploit the new evidence derived from two original farm-level surveys in Jamaica and Guyana, to deepen our understanding of coconut production in the Caribbean region. We innovate on more traditional studies as we include into the analysis not only farm-level variables, but also some characteristics of the communities where farmers operate, the support they obtain from local and foreign organizations, and the organization of the value chain, in particular the relationships they develop with agents and buyers. Our analysis shows that the type of workforce, whether occasional or permanent, and the existence of an irrigation scheme influence coconut productivity in Guyana and Jamaica. Primary education contributes to productivity to a larger extent than higher education. Support from organizations, both international and the Coconut Industry Board is also positively associated to productivity. In addition, selling to agents offers a positive productivity premium, probably due to the opportunity agents offer to get relevant information and technology. Thus, traces of a simple "relational" value chain, with a positive and useful role for interactions and exchange of tacit knowledge from buyers and agents, emerge from our study. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268398/1/Nenci%20Pietrobelli%20De%20Angelis%20Manson_Coconut%20GVC%2028.1.2023.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, O13, Q12, O54 Keywords: Coconut, productivity, Relational value chains, Caribbean countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268398 #END 492 #BEGIN 493 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reiss, Michael Title: On the marginal utility of fiat money: insurmountable circularity or not? Abstract: The question of how a pure fiat currency is enforced and comes to have a non-zero value has been much debated (Selgin, 1994). What is less often addressed is, in the case where the enforcement is taken for granted and we ask what value (in terms of goods and services) the currency will end up taking. Establishing a decentralised mechanism for price formation has proven a challenge for economists: "Since no decentralized out-of-equilibrium adjustment mechanism has been discovered, we currently have no acceptable dynamical model of the Walrasian system." (Gintis, 2006) In his paper, Gintis put forward a model for price discovery based on the evolution of the model's agents, i.e. \poorly performing agents dying and being replaced by copies of the well performing agents." It seems improbable that this mechanism is the driving force behind price discovery in the real world. This paper proposes a more realistic mechanism and presents results from a corresponding agent based model. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268397/1/fiatmoneyvalue.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E370, E470 Keywords: Price discovery, Walrasian system, Agent based model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268397 #END 493 #BEGIN 494 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zarifhonarvar, Ali Title: The Capital Asset Pricing Model: A New Empirical Investigation Abstract: In financial economics, numerous theoretical models explain the relationship between investment risk and return in the capital market, one of the most common being the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). After reviewing the literature in this area, this study discusses the theoretical background of the CAPM model. After explaining the relationship between systematic corporate risk in different industries, the hypotheses for a positive linear correlation between stock returns and systematic risk and the relation of these coefficients to the CAPM model predictions are tested. Thus, after data sampling to obtain the monthly rate of return of stocks in the Tehran Stock Exchange, the monthly rate of return of the market portfolio and the return on risk-free investment are obtained from April 2008 to March 2013. Finally, it will be shown that the systematic risk variable and its square are also crucial to explaining stock return fluctuations. A nonlinear quadratic correlation is confirmed between the rate of return and systematic risk in the stock data of companies sampled from the obtained sample of the Tehran Stock Exchange. Creation-Date: 2023 Classification-JEL: G10, G11, G12 Keywords: CAPM, Beta, Stock Market, Premium, Risk Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268396 #END 494 #BEGIN 495 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Darudi, Ali Author-Name: Weigt, Hannes Title: Electricity adequacy in Switzerland and Europe for the winter 2022-2023 Abstract: The European electricity system enters the winter of 2022-2023 facing challenges such as reduced availability of French nuclear power, lower than average stored hydro energy and possible gas shortages in the power industry. These challenges limit the amount of energy available to the system during the winter and reduce the system's ability to meet peak demand and. This study quantitatively analyses the security of electricity supply in Europe (with a focus on Switzerland) between November 2022 and April 2023 by simulating electricity generation and trading under various supply and climate scenarios. To provide a conservative analysis, we exclude certain measures such as demand reduction targets and fuel switching efforts. The results show that Europe, and France in particular, can avoid transmission congestion and power shortages in the event of reduced French nuclear availability. However, in a cold winter, supply shortages may occur in gas-dependent countries if reduced French nuclear availability is combined with gas generation being limited to historical levels. Furthermore, if a 20% gas saving is enforced, Europe could face supply shortages in various weather realisations. On the other hand, Switzerland faces few challenges even in cold winters with the reduced availability of French nuclear and the implementation of 10% gas savings in the electricity system. This is due to the flexibility of the Swiss hydro system and trading opportunities with neighbouring countries. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268379/1/Euroep_SA_6_AD.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: System adequacy, electricity markets, energy crisis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268379 #END 495 #BEGIN 496 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Is Stagflation the Norm? Abstract: As much of the world grapples with post-Covid price gouging, it seems like a good time to revisit our understanding of inflation. In this post, I’m going to test Jonathan Nitzan and Shimshon Bichler’s ‘stagflation thesis’. The idea is that ‘stagflation’ — economic stagnation combined with high inflation — is not some exogenous ‘market shock’. According to Nitzan and Bichler, stagflation is a business strategy — one of two main routes to profit. The first route to profit is for businesses to hold prices steady while they try to sell more stuff. The second route is to jack up prices. Since this latter option requires restricting the flow of resources (stuff that flows freely cannot be dear), Nitzan and Bichler reason that when inflation rears its head, it ought to come with economic stagnation. In other words, stagflation is the norm. If this stagflation thesis is correct, then inflation ought to correlate negatively with economic growth. Looking at the United States, Nitzan and Bichler find evidence that it does. Here, I broaden their stagflation research by looking at all countries in the World Bank’s global development database. I find that both within and across countries, economic growth (measured in terms of energy use) tends to decline as inflation increases. So Nitzan and Bichler appear to be onto something. Over the last half century, stagflation is the general rule. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268373/1/20230117_fix_is_stagflation_the_norm.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, Q4, N1 Keywords: breadth, depth, energy, inflation, stagflation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268373 #END 496 #BEGIN 497 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schlecht, Ingmar Author-Name: Maurer, Christoph Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Financial Contracts for Differences Abstract: Contracts for differences are widely discussed as a cornerstone of Europe’s future electricity market design. This is a paper on CfD contract design. We summarize the dispatch and investment distortions that conventional CfDs cause, the patches that are used to overcome these shortcomings, and the problems these fixes introduce. We then propose an alternative contract that we dub “financial” CfD. It is a hybrid between conventional CfDs and forward contracts that mitigates revenue risk to a very large degree while providing undistorted incentives and avoiding margin calls. Like traditional CfDs, these contracts are long-term and tailored to technology-specific (wind, solar, nuclear) generation patterns but, like forwards, decouple payments from actual generation. We also propose to mitigate volume risk and to accept physical assets as collateral to avoid margin calls. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268370/1/Financial_CfD.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4 Keywords: renewable energy, contracts for differences, CfDs, electricity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268370 Note: *** Final Published Version Available *** : Ingmar Schlecht, Christoph Maurer and Lion Hirth (2024): "Financial contracts for differences: The problems with conventional CfDs in electricity markets and how forward contracts can help solve them", Energy Policy, Volume 186 (March 2024), Article No. 113981, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2024.113981 #END 497 #BEGIN 498 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lehwess-Litzmann, René Title: Frontline workers in education, health and welfare: how much do they earn in European countries? A comparative income analysis based on the EU-LFS Abstract: The present paper analyses frontline workers’ incomes in the fields of education, health, and welfare (“EHW”). In the face of an upsurge in demand for such services, the question is how EHW occupations can attract enough qualified workers, now and in the future. In public perception, EHW work is poorly paid, while empirically, wage heterogeneity between occupations is quite large. A comprehensive comparison of EHW occupations’ wages across Europe is still lacking. The present contribution seeks to fill this gap by comparing incomes for 24 European countries, based on data from the European Union’s labour force survey (EU-LFS) between 2016 and 2020. Our descriptive analysis yields that EHW workers earn slightly above-average incomes in the majority of countries. This result can be explained by the high share of EHW workers with a tertiary education level. By contrast, for EHW workers with only secondary education, we find that they earn less in EHW than in other labour-market segments. Both outside and inside the EHW, we observe higher incomes for men than for women. Between EHW occupations, there is an income hierarchy led by medical doctors and tertiary education teachers. At the lower end, there are personal care workers with lower formal education who earn below-average incomes in all observed countries. Yet the degree to which they are penalised differs widely. From a dynamic perspective, our findings hint at a slightly deteriorating relative income position of EHW workers in the 2010s, apparently caused less by declining wages than by structural change in the wider labour market. Abstract: In diesem Working Paper werden Einkommen von Beschäftigten in den Bereichen Bildung, Gesundheit und Soziales („EHW“) analysiert. Angesichts der steigenden Nachfrage nach solchen Dienstleistungen stellt sich die Frage, wie EHW-Berufe jetzt und in Zukunft genügend qualifizierte Arbeitskräfte anziehen können. In der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung ist Arbeit in diesen Bereichen schlecht bezahlt, während empirisch eher Lohnheterogenität beobachtbar ist. Ein umfassender Vergleich der Löhne von EHW-Berufen in ganz Europa steht noch aus. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht auf Basis der Arbeitskräfteerhebung der Europäischen Union (EU-AKE) Einkommen in 24 europäischen Ländern in den Jahren 2016 bis 2020. Es zeigt sich, dass EHW-Beschäftigte in der Mehrzahl dieser Länder leicht überdurchschnittliche Einkommen erzielen. Dies lässt sich durch den hohen Anteil von EHW-Beschäftigten mit einem tertiären Bildungsniveau erklären. Im Gegensatz dazu stellen wir fest, dass EHW-Beschäftigte, die nur über einen Sekundarschulabschluss verfügen, in den Bereichen Bildung, Gesundheit und Soziales weniger verdienen als anderswo. Sowohl außerhalb als auch innerhalb dieser Bereiche beobachten wir höhere Einkommen für Männer als für Frauen. Zwischen EHW-Berufen gibt es eine Einkommenshierarchie, die von Ärzten und Hochschullehrern angeführt wird. Am unteren Ende befinden sich Pflegekräfte mit wenig formaler Qualifikation, die in allen beobachteten Ländern unterdurchschnittliche Einkommen erzielen. Das Ausmaß der Benachteiligung ist jedoch sehr unterschiedlich. Unsere Ergebnisse deuten ferner darauf hin, dass sich die relative Einkommensposition von EHW-Beschäftigten in den 2010er Jahren leicht verschlechtert hat, was offenbar weniger auf sinkende Löhne als auf strukturelle Veränderungen im Arbeitsmarkt insgesamt zurückzuführen ist. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268365/1/WorkingPaper_Lehwess-Litzmann_2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: income, care work, inequality, Europe Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268365 #END 498 #BEGIN 499 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ayaita, Adam Title: Ethnic Minority Background and Personality Characteristics: Evidence from a Representative Sample of the Adult Population Abstract: I measure statistical differences in personality characteristics (personality traits, attitudes, and values) between individuals with an ethnic minority vs. ethnic majority background. This analysis might inform research on explanations of discrimination, as some researchers have proposed that discrimination might be based on statistical group differences in unobserved characteristics, such as personality characteristics (statistical discrimination). I use data of N = 6,330 individuals from a representative sample of the adult population in Germany. Analogously to field experiments showing ethnic discrimination, only individuals who have completed secondary schooling in Germany are considered in the analyses. The results suggest that, on average, ethnic minority individuals score slightly higher in openness and slightly lower in conscientiousness than ethnic majority individuals. These statistical differences are more robust—but still small—when demographic factors and measures of the qualification level are held constant. I find no significant ethnic differences in the other Big Five personality traits, feeling of connectedness to the majority population, or gender equality values. Overall, the results provide only weak support for the theory of statistical discrimination as a potential explanation of ethnic discrimination. Creation-Date: 2023 Revision-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268364/1/Ayaita%202023%20Ethnic%20minority%20background%20and%20personality.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J15, J71, M51 Keywords: attitudes, discrimination, ethnicity, personality, values Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251745 #END 499 #BEGIN 500 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ifrim, Adrian Title: Sentimental Discount Rate Shocks Abstract: This paper argues that the price-dividend ratio variability is explained in a large proportion by shocks affecting the subjective distribution of capital gain expectations: sentimental discount rate shocks affecting average beliefs explain at least 30% and disagreement shocks up to 20% of the variability of stock prices. The results from an estimated FAVAR model including the distribution of survey expectations show that in contrast to discount rate shocks, sentiment shocks produce a hump-shape response in the P/D ratio and introduce additional persistence into the impulse-response functions. These shocks played an essential role during the 2002 dot-com bubble by driving the boom and subsequent bust in asset prices. These results bring additional empirical evidence in favor of asset pricing models with subjective beliefs that match the survey evidence on the dynamics of expectations. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268363/1/Sentimental_Discount_Rate_Shocks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G40, G12, G14, C22 Keywords: sentiment shocks, stock prices, survey data, P/D ratio decomposition, SVAR Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268363 #END 500 #BEGIN 501 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ifrim, Adrian Title: Stock Price Wealth Effects and Monetary Policy under Imperfect Knowledge Abstract: Departures from full-information rational expectation models give rise to stock price wealth effects which introduce inefficient cyclical fluctuations in the economy. Waves of optimism/pessimism affect beliefs and asset prices which influence aggregate demand through expectation-driven wealth effects. Monetary policy can play an important role in eliminating the non-fundamental effects of belief-driven asset price cycle: reacting symmetrically and transparently to stock prices increases welfare significantly compared to flexible inflation targeting strategies. A quantitative model estimated on US data shows that increasing interest rates by 12 basis points for every 100% rise in stock prices accomplish this goal. Moreover, a nonlinear reaction to stock prices only when capital gains exceed 7% delivers similar efficiency gains. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268307/1/Revisit_Stock_Price_Wealth_Effects_and_Monetary_Policy_2022__jme_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D84, E32, E44, E52 Keywords: monetary policy, wealth effects, learning, survey expectations, stock prices, animal spirits Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268307 #END 501 #BEGIN 502 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christiansen, Arndt Title: Aktuelle Entwicklungen in der europäischen Fusionskontrolle - Beitrag zum Doktoranden-Seminar am 10./11.4.2003, Marburg - Abstract: In der europäischen Fusionskontrolle sind in den letzten Jahren bedeutende Entwicklungen zu verzeichnen gewesen. Wegen der Rekordzahl von fünf Verbotsentscheidungen wurde 2001 als das "year of the controversal decisions by the European Commission" bezeichnet (Weitbrecht 2002a, S. 412). In diesem Sinne wäre 2002 mit drei Aufhebungsurteilen dann als das "Jahr des Europäischen Gerichts Erster Instanz" zu bezeichnen. Hinzu kommt die von der EU-Kommission mit ihrem Grünbuch vom Dezember 2001 (EK 2001b) angestossene Debatte über eine Revision der Fusionskontrollverordnung (FKVO), die Ende 2002 ihren vorläufigen Abschluss mit der gleichzeitigen Veröffentlichung der Entwürfe für eine novellierte FKVO und für eine Mitteilung über die Kontrolle horizontaler Zusammenschlüsse gefunden hat (EK 2002d,e). Diese Entwicklungen und ihre Beziehungen untereinander werden im folgenden betrachtet. Im 2. Kapitel werden zunächst die drei Gerichtsurteile des Jahres 2002 ausführlich dargestellt. In 3. Kapitel werden dann deren Auswirkungen auf die laufende Revision der Fusionskontrolle und die Entscheidungspraxis der Kommission analysiert. Dabei sollen insbesondere einige grundsätzliche Fragen im Zusammenhang mit der europäischen Fusionskontrolle aufgeworfen werden, die sich aus den aktuellen Entwicklungen ergeben. Creation-Date: 2003 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268301/1/Aktuelle%20Entwicklungen%20in%20der%20europ%c3%a4ischen%20Fusionskontrolle.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K21, L41 Keywords: Fusionskontrolle Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268301 #END 502 #BEGIN 503 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christiansen, Arndt Title: Wettbewerbspolitik und Innovation Abstract: Vorbemerkung: Die folgenden Ausführungen sind eine Zusammenstellung von Ideenskizzen und selektivem Material aus den Verlautbarungen bzw. der Entscheidungspraxis der Wettbewerbsbehörden. Sie können daher keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit erheben! Behandelt werden folgende Themen: I. Zur Motivation: Warum überhaupt Wettbewerbspolitik und Innovation?, II. Innovationen in den neuen Merger Guidelines der Europäischen Kommission, III. Aus der Entscheidungspraxis der Fusionskontrolle in der EU (und den USA), IV. Weitere Bereiche der EU-Wettbewerbspolitik mit Bezug zu Innovationen, V. Zwei Positionen zur Frage der theoretischen Basis. Creation-Date: 2004 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268212/1/Christiansen_Wettbewerbspolitik_und_Innovation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Innovation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268212 #END 503 #BEGIN 504 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christiansen, Arndt Title: Anmerkungen zum Wissensproblem in der Wettbewerbspolitik - Beitrag für das 19. Hohenheimer Oberseminar am 15./16.11.2002 Abstract: Aus der Marktprozesstheorie der Österreichischen Schule 1 werden in dieser Arbeit bestimmte Beschränkungen des für die Wettbewerbspolitik verfügbaren Wissens abgeleitet und die damit verbundenen Probleme aufgezeigt. Zugleich findet eine Auseinandersetzung mit der Marktprozesstheorie und den daraus zu ziehenden wettbewerbspolitischen Konsequenzen statt. Dies soll sich nicht auf die theoretische Ebene beschränken, sondern es soll davon ausgehend ein Bezug zur wettbewerbspolitischen Praxis mittels aktueller Beispiele hergestellt werden. Damit verbindet sich das Anliegen, die aus der theoretischen Analyse gewonnenen Erkenntnisse zumindest ansatzweise zur Ableitung und Beurteilung konkreter Handlungsempfehlungen anzuwenden. 2 Im ersten Teil der Arbeit werden zunächst die theoretischen Grundlagen der spezifisch österreichischen Sicht auf Markt und Wettbewerb dargelegt (Abschnitt 2.1). Anschließend werden die entsprechende normative Position und insbesondere die wettbewerbspolitische Anwendung erörtert (Abschnitt 2.2). Daraus ergibt sich das Wissensproblem als zentraler Bezugspunkt der weiteren Ausführungen. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit werden daher zum einen dessen empirische Evidenz und zum anderen Möglichkeiten des konstruktiven Umgangs damit aufgezeigt (Abschnitte 3.1 und 3.2), bevor ein Fazit gezogen wird (Abschnitt 4). Creation-Date: 2002 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268211/1/Christiansen_Anmerkungen_zum_Wissensproblem.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Wettbewerbspolitik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268211 #END 504 #BEGIN 505 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christiansen, Arndt Title: Markt oder Politik – wer schützt den Verbraucher? Essay-Wettbewerb der Hayek-Gesellschaft 2004 Abstract: Der Schutz des Verbrauchers ist für die Funktionsweise der Marktwirtschaft von eminenter Bedeutung, da es die Wünsche der Verbraucher sind, die letztlich über die volkswirtschaftliche Produktion bestimmen sollen. Zu klären ist daher zunächst, wie eine Wirtschaftsordnung aussehen muss, um der Erreichung dieses Zieles möglichst nahe kommt. Damit ist die Frage nach der Aufgabe der Politik bzw. des Staates aufgeworfen. Was kann die Politik zum Schutz des Verbrauchers beitragen und wo liegt die Grenze politischer Eingriffe? Mit diesen Fragen hat sich F. A. von Hayek zeitlebens beschäftigt. Deshalb sollen in diesem Essay seine wegweisenden Erkenntnisse zur Funktionsweise der Marktwirtschaft sowie zur Frage behandelt werden, welche Aufgabe der Politik allgemein in der Marktwirtschaft und speziell für den Schutz des Verbrauchers zukommt. Beides wird in enger Anlehnung an seine Originalwerke geschehen, angesichts der gebotenen Kürze allerdings nur anhand ausgewählter Aufsätze und der fundamentalen „Verfassung der Freiheit“. Auf Sekundärliteratur wird dagegen verzichtet. Creation-Date: 2004 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268210/1/Hayek_Essay_Arndt_Christiansen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Verbraucherschutz Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:268210 #END 505 #BEGIN 506 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ayaita, Adam Title: Is There an Ethnic Pay Gap in Germany? Evidence from a Representative Sample of the Adult Population Abstract: This study investigates a disparity in hourly wages (i.e., a pay gap) between employees with an ethnic minority vs. ethnic majority background in Germany. To this aim, a Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition based on a representative survey of the adult population in Germany is used. The analysis is restricted to employees who completed secondary schooling in Germany (N = 9,304). The results show that, overall, ethnic minority employees receive significantly lower gross hourly wages than ethnic majority employees, and this difference amounts to 13.8%. The larger part of this gap is explained by group differences in demographic, human capital, and occupational characteristics—in particular, education level, work experience, job tenure, the precise employment status, and occupational status. However, there is also a significant unexplained pay gap that amounts to 2.7% lower wages for ethnic minority (vs. ethnic majority) employees, indicating potential wage discrimination against ethnic minority employees. The total, explained, and unexplained ethnic pay gaps appear to be somewhat larger among men than among women. Finally, an exploratory analysis suggests that the part of the ethnic pay gap that has remained unexplained might be largely explained by whether employees hold the German citizenship and whether they were born in Germany. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/267865/1/Ayaita%202023%20Ethnic%20pay%20gap.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J24, J31, J38, J71 Keywords: discrimination, ethnic background, ethnicity, Germany, pay gap, wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:267865 #END 506 #BEGIN 507 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Krivenkov, Vladislav Title: Aktuelle Bewertung von Bonitätsrisiken bei deutschen Immobilien-Unternehmen Abstract: This working paper studies the developments in the creditworthiness of German public real estate companies during the first quarter of 2018 and the third quarter of 2021. Besides an analysis of balance sheet data, this working paper evaluates credit risks resulting from a deteriorating environment in German real estate market. Abstract: Dieses Working Paper erhebt die Bonitätsentwicklung von deutschen börsennotierten Immobilienkonzernen über den Zeitraum vom ersten Quartal 2018 bis zum dritten Quartal 2021. Neben der strukturellen Auswertung ihrer Bilanzkennzahlen liegt der Untersuchungsschwerpunkt in der Beurteilung der Bonitätsrisiken, die durch einen Abschwung am gewerblichen Wohnimmobilienmarkt einhergehen könnten. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/267845/1/Aktuelle%20Bewertung%20von%20Bonit%c3%a4tsrisiken%20bei%20deutschen%20Immobilien-Unternehmen_2022_12_19.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G3 Keywords: Unternehmensbewertung, Bonitätsrisiken, Immobilienunternehmen, gewerbliche Wohnimmobilien Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:267845 #END 507 #BEGIN 508 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Author-Name: Reinking, Ernst Title: Automatisierungsmöglichkeiten und -grenzen der Kreditorenbuchhaltung in Zeiten digitaler Transformation Abstract: Die digitale Transformation betrifft alle Bereiche eines Unternehmens, auch die Verwaltung. Im Bereich der Buchhaltung erschließen sich durch den Einsatz innovativer Technologien viele Perspektiven zur Neugestaltung der etablierten Prozesse. In diesem Beitrag sollen die Potenziale der Digitalisierung auf die Kreditorenbuchhaltung untersucht werden, denn alle relevanten Tätigkeitsfelder des Berufsbilds Kreditorenbuchhalter lassen sich mit dem aktuellen Stand der Technik automatisieren. Abstract: Digital transformation affects all areas of a company, including administration. In the area of accounting, the use of innovative technologies opens up many perspectives for redesigning established processes. This article will examine the potential of digitization on accounts payable, because all relevant fields of activity of the job description accounts payable clerk can be automated with the current state of the art. Creation-Date: 2023 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/267786/1/IUCF%20Working%20Paper%201-2023.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M41 Keywords: Digitalisierung, Buchhaltung, Automatisierung, Kreditore, digitale Transformation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:267786 #END 508 #BEGIN 509 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zarifhonarvar, Ali Title: Determinants of Work from Home Productivity during Covid-19 Outbreak Creation-Date: 2022 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:267776 #END 509 #BEGIN 510 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schlecht, Ingmar Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Author-Name: Maurer, Christoph Title: Financial Wind CfDs Abstract: Contracts for differences are widely discussed as a cornerstone of Europe’s future electricity market design. In this paper, we make three contributions to the debate. First, we summarize the dispatch and investment distortions that traditional CfDs cause. Second, we propose an alternative CfD specification that we dub "financial wind CfDs". It is a hybrid between CfDs and forward contracts that aims at being superior to conventional CfDs both in terms of risk mitigation and incentives. Third, we point out that "the other side of the contract", the government’s financial position resulting from any long-term contract with generators, must be carefully handled to avoid muting consumers' flexibility incentives or depleting forward markets. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/267597/1/Financial_wind_CfDs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4, Q42 Keywords: electricity market, market design, contracts for differences, energy economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:267597 Note: *** Final Published Version Available *** : Ingmar Schlecht, Christoph Maurer and Lion Hirth (2024): "Financial contracts for differences: The problems with conventional CfDs in electricity markets and how forward contracts can help solve them", Energy Policy, Volume 186 (March 2024), Article No. 113981, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2024.113981 #END 510 #BEGIN 511 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bah, Ibrahim Abubakarr Title: A Simple Macroeconometric Model of the Sierra Leone Economy Abstract: Given the need to analyze how economies respond to economic shocks, it has become prudent for economic policymakers to design increasingly sophisticated and dynamic tools to predict economic performance in the presence of shocks. This study designs a simple macro-econometric model of the Sierra Leone economy based on the Keynesian national income identity. The econometric model contains five single equations, 6 endogenous variables, and 3 exogenous variables estimated using two-stage least squares (2SLS). The results of mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean percentage error (MPE) largely validate the performance of our model. To test the performance of our model, the baseline simulations are tested against 3 policy shocks; a 15% increase in government spending, a 15% increase in money supply, and a 15% increase in both government spending and money supply. Unlike the fiscal policy shock, the monetary policy shock only affects the interest rate. The results from the exercise largely follow the actual performance of the Sierra Leone economy over the period of study. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/267151/1/Macroeconometric%20Model.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Simultaneous-equations, two-stage least squares, national income identity, Sierra Leone Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:267151 #END 511 #BEGIN 512 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bah, Ibrahim Abubakarr Title: Assessing Sierra Leone’s Consumption Function: A Cointegration and an Error Correction Model Approach Abstract: This study uses Cointegration and an Error Correction Model to investigate the responsiveness of household consumption to changes in income in Sierra Leone covering the periods 1980 to 2020. The study relies on annual time series data on consumption and gross domestic product from the World Bank's World Development Indicators database. In the empirical model, consumption depends entirely on income. The results show that in the short-run, 85 percent of additional income goes toward consumption and that income is greater than consumption in the short-run with an adjustment value of 75 percent annually. In the long-run, the results show a significant marginal propensity to consume of 1.02 meaning that an additional 1 Leone is fully put into consumption. The long-run marginal propensity to consume does confirm results from previous studies that show relatively higher marginal propensities to consume in the long-run for low-income countries compared to middle- and high-income countries. An important policy implication of this study is that any increase in spending by the government to boost aggregate demand can also significantly increase consumption. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266912/1/Consumption%20Function.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Marginal Propensity to Consume, Consumption, Income, Cointegration, Error Correction Model, Sierra Leone Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266912 #END 512 #BEGIN 513 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Stiewe, Clemens Author-Name: Muessel, Jarusch Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Gas demand in times of crisis: energy savings by consumer group in Germany Abstract: Russia curbed its natural gas supply to Europe in 2021 and 2022, creating a grave energy crisis. This paper empirically estimates the crisis response of natural gas consumers in Germany—for decades the largest export market for Russian gas. Using a multiple regression model, we estimate the response of small consumers, industry, and power stations separately, controlling for the non-linear temperature-heating relationship, seasonality, and trends. For industrial consumers, we find a strong and sustained response, with reductions steadily increasing from 4% in September 2021 to 29% in October 2022. For small consumers, including households and small enterprises, we find reductions between 10% and 42% from March to October 2022. Gas savings in the power sector are more volatile and not only driven by reduced Russian gas supply. We discuss the drivers behind these consumption reductions and draw conclusions on their role in coping with the crisis. Creation-Date: 2022 Revision-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266725/1/Ruhnau%20et%20al.%202022.%20Gas%20demand%20in%20times%20of%20crisis.%20Working%20Paper%20Dec%202022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41 Keywords: Energy demand, Energy crisis, Natural gas, Demand response Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261082 #END 513 #BEGIN 514 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lee, Hanol Author-Name: Wie, Dainn Title: Gone with the fire: Market reaction to cryptocurrency exchange shutdown Abstract: Disruption of exchanges frequently happens in the cryptocurrency market, though their potential impacts are relatively under-investigated. This study employs a 20-hour service interruption on October 15th, 2022, at Upbit, the dominant cryptocurrency exchange in Korea, as an exogenous shock of service interruption on the cryptocurrency market. Event study estimation shows that the change in abnormal returns depends on how important the specific exchange is to those cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies predominantly traded on Upbit showed sharp reactions to both service disruption and recovery, while major currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum presented limited reactions to service interruption only. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266545/1/Lee%26Wie2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G12, G14, G15, G23 Keywords: Cryptocurrency, abnormal return, Event study, Network service disruption Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266545 #END 514 #BEGIN 515 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Garcia-Brazales, Javier Title: Unlearning Traditionalism: The Long-Run Effects of Schools on Gender Attitudes Abstract: Can sustained exposure to females persistently modernize gender attitudes? I study the impact of female peers and teachers on gender roles, perceived relative gender ability, and gender-related behaviors up to nine years later. For this, I exploit two-decade longitudinal information on cognition, attitudes, aspirations, and expectations of a close-to-nationally-representative cohort of Vietnamese primary schoolers exogenously allocated to peers and teachers. I find evidence that being exposed to a higher proportion of female peers weakens traditional gender views both for males and females, and that this translates into actual behavior. Females increase their probability of enrolling at university and in male-dominated majors. A decomposition exercise shows that this is mainly mediated by increased academic aspirations, higher expected returns to education, and less traditional views on the acceptable life goals for females. Males increase both the intensive and extensive margins of home production. These results suggest that early exposure to females can shift slow-moving attitudes even in contexts of high overall cross-gender interactions. Creation-Date: 2022 Revision-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266544/1/UnlearningTraditionalism_GBrazales.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I24, I25, J16 Keywords: Gender Norms, Attitude Formation, Contact Theory, Long-term Peer Effects, Returns to Education Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232502 #END 515 #BEGIN 516 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kox, Henk L.M. Title: Two short essays on services markets and services regulation Abstract: The first of both short essays deals with two structural constraints that distinguish services markets from e.g. markets for manufacturing products. The 'nearness restriction' requires that producer and consumer of the service product are present on the same location. The 'non-storability restriction' is even more binding and requires that producer and consumer are present at the same time (synchronicity); the implication is that the consumer is a co-producer. Services branches differ with respect to the binding intensity of both restrictions. The nearness and non-storability limitations define a services market in space and time, with impacts for market functioning, productivity (capacity use) and product tradability. Technological trends, especially digitalisation are oriented at relieving the bindingness of both restrictions, and indirect also of the co- producer role for the service consumer. The second essay links the services market characteristics to the role of the a priori product quality uncertainty, which always drove product market regulation by local and national authorities. Regulatory differences between countries nowadays are an important obstacle to international services trade. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266496/1/KVL_Discussion%20paper_2021-05_Two_essays-on_services_FINAL.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L8, D4, L1, L5 Keywords: services, market forms, nearness restriction, non-storability restriction, productivity and capacity use, services regulation, international trade in services Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266496 #END 516 #BEGIN 517 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kox, Henk L.M. Title: Linking the knowledge-capital model of foreign direct investment with national knowledge systems Abstract: The paper models the links between public and firm-level knowledge processes. The knowledge-capital (KC) theory assumes that firms use their private knowledge assets to set up foreign subsidiaries. Countries with large outward FDI stocks should have a relative abundance of proprietary knowledge assets. This has not yet been adequately tested. Our model allows to test it by concentrating on national public knowledge inputs that are encapsulated in proprietary knowledge assets of firms. Using a rich international dataset we confirm the basic tenet of the KC theory and show the important role of public knowledge production for outward FDI. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266495/1/Kox_Linking%20the%20knowledge-capital%20model_paper_ECONSTOR_DP05-2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O34, O31, D22, D83, F23 Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, Knowledge Transfer and Innovation, Knowledge Assets, Public Knowledge Creation, Multinational Companies, Empirical test, world coverage 2000-2020), Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266495 #END 517 #BEGIN 518 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kox, Henk L.M. Title: A micro-macro model of foreign direct investment: Knowledge-based gravity forces, self-selection and third-country effects Abstract: The paper develops a stand-alone and testable gravity model to explain international patterns of foreign direct investment (FDI). The core model is based on knowledge-based gravitational forces that are directly or indirectly linked to a country's economic mass (GDP). The micro-economic part of the model explains the bilateral extensive FDI margin. Firms self-select into FDI if their productivity is high enough to overcome the fixed costs of setting up costs a foreign subsidiary, using its proprietary knowledge assets as crystallization kernel. Aggregated at country level, the model explains the occurrence of zero FDI flows between countries. The bilateral part of the model accounts for direct FDI friction costs. The model is generalized to a n-country world by also accounting for the relative FDI friction costs of all countries, quantified via FDI-based multilateral resistance terms. The paper derives testable predictions from the model. The model implications have high potential policy relevance. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266494/1/Kox_Micro-macro_model_FDI_DP-07_DEC2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D23, F23, G32, L1 Keywords: foreign direct investment, firm behaviour, decision model, structural gravity, zero FDI flows, policy implications Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266494 #END 518 #BEGIN 519 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Buschong, René Title: Financial Literacy is associated with Stock Market Expectations but not with Forecast Accuracy: Evidence from Germany Abstract: Using a representative panel dataset, this study focuses on stock market expectations as well as the accuracy of forecasts made by private households in Germany. First, I find evidence that higher financial literacy is associated with lower stock market expectations. However, there is no evidence that financial literacy is associated with the accuracy of forecasts. Second, the findings suggest that individuals form their expectations based on past performance: The three-month stock market return prior to being surveyed is associated with stated expectations and this association is heterogenous by financial literacy levels. Abstract: Unter Verwendung eines repräsentativen Paneldatensatzes beschäftigt sich diese Studie mit den Aktienmarkterwartungen und der Prognosegenauigkeit privater Haushalte in Deutschland. Zunächst finde ich Evidenz dafür, dass eine höhere finanzielle Bildung mit niedrigeren Aktienmarkterwartungen einhergeht. Es gibt jedoch keine Evidenz dafür, dass die finanzielle Bildung mit der Prognosegenauigkeit zusammenhängt. Zweitens deuten die Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass Individuen ihre Erwartungen auf Grundlage der vergangenen Wertentwicklung bilden: Die dreimonatige Aktienmarktrendite vor der Befragung korreliert mit den geäußerten Erwartungen und diese Korrelation ist je nach Grad der finanziellen Bildung unterschiedlich ausgeprägt. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266404/1/Buschong%20-%20DAX%20Forecast%20Accuracy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G53, G41, G51 Keywords: financial literacy, stock market expectations, forecast error, stock market participation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266404 #END 519 #BEGIN 520 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caserta, Maurizio Author-Name: Distefano, Rosaria Author-Name: Ferrante, Livio Title: The Good of Rules: An experimental study on prosocial behavior Abstract: In everyday life, individuals interact with relatives, friends and colleagues, share ideas and passions and cooperate with others to pursue common goals. Within each social domain, individuals recognize themselves as a group member with rights and duties to observe. Understanding the importance of social norms and encouraging mutually beneficial cooperation is crucial for societal and economic development. This paper presents an experimental study of an educational program for early adolescents of 11 years old from South Italy. The program introduces participants to institutions, civic engagement, sense of duty, and decision-making. Among other didactic activities, it includes guided tours and a role-taking game. Our results suggest that the program attendance positively affects cooperation in a one-shot Prisoner’s Dilemma and altruistic behavior in a Dictator Game. Our findings contribute to the nature-nurture debate, showing that promoting prosocial behavior can be effective in pursing the common good. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266393/1/Good%20of%20Rules%20-%20MANUSCRIPT.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C72, C93, I20 Keywords: Experimental game theory, Group Decision Making, Cooperation, Prisoner’s Dilemma, Dictator Game Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266393 #END 520 #BEGIN 521 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zarifhonarvar, Ali Title: The Effect of Covid Pandemic on Cryptocurrency Markets; A Literature Review Creation-Date: 2022 Classification-JEL: G10, G12, G15 Keywords: Covid-19, Cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Herding Behavior Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266369 #END 521 #BEGIN 522 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brunhart, Andreas Author-Name: Geiger, Martin Title: Sectoral effects of exchange rate shocks: Goods exports and the appreciation of the Swiss Franc in 2015 Abstract: Using granular customs data, we construct a counterfactual of the evolution of Swiss goods exports under the premise that the minimum exchange rate policy would have been continued. We study the dynamic adjustment of aggregate and sectoral goods exports due to the exchange rate shock in January 2015. In absence of a comprehensive J-curve type adjustment we find that Swiss nominal export values increase in Euro, while they drop in Swiss Franc. In real quantities, exports remain largely unaffected indicating a high degree of resilience of the Swiss export industry. On the sectoral level, we observe heterogenous adjustment of exports consistent with varying degrees of flexibility for supply side adjustment and market power. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266362/1/LIAP_76_Brunhart_Geiger_2022_exchange_rate_shocks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, F31, F41 Keywords: exchange rate shock, goods exports, export sectors, synthetic control method Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266362 DOI: 10.13091/li-ap-76 #END 522 #BEGIN 523 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ake-Kob, Alin Author-Name: Aleksic, Slavisa Author-Name: Alexin, Zoltán Author-Name: Blaževičienė, Aurelija Author-Name: Čartolovni, Anto Author-Name: Colonna, Liane Author-Name: Dantas, Carina Author-Name: Fedosov, Anton Author-Name: Fosch-Villaronga, Eduard Author-Name: Florez-Revuelta, Francisco Author-Name: He, Zhicheng Author-Name: Jevremović, Aleksandar Author-Name: Klimczuk, Andrzej Author-Name: Kuźmicz, Maksymilian Author-Name: Lambrinos, Lambros Author-Name: Lutz, Christoph Author-Name: Malešević, Anamaria Author-Name: Mekovec, Renata Author-Name: Miguel, Cristina Author-Name: Mujirishvili, Tamar Author-Name: Pajalic, Zada Author-Name: Perez Vega, Rodrigo Author-Name: Pierscionek, Barbara Author-Name: Ravi, Siddharth Author-Name: Sarf, Pika Author-Name: Solanas, Agusti Author-Name: Tamò-Larrieux, Aurelia Title: Position paper on ethical, legal and social challenges linked to audio- and video-based AAL solutions Abstract: In this position paper, we have used Alan Cooper's persona technique to illustrate the utility of audio- and video-based AAL technologies. Therefore, two primary examples of potential audio- and video-based AAL users, Anna and Irakli, serve as reference points for describing salient ethical, legal and social challenges related to use of AAL. These challenges are presented on three levels: individual, societal, and regulatory. For each challenge, a set of policy recommendations is suggested. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266350/1/GoodBrother%20-%20Position%20paper%20on%20ethical%2c%20legal%20and%20social%20issues%20linked%20to%20audio-%20and%20video-based%20AAL%20solutions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J14, L86, M14, O18, O33 Keywords: ethics, privacy, computer vision, audio processing, active assisted living, active ageing, silver economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266350 #END 523 #BEGIN 524 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruggeri, Giuseppe Title: Work in America: 1950 to 2019 Abstract: This paper uses a consistent methodology to estimate average weekly hours of work in the United States in 1950 and 2019. It also reviews a number of studies that cover parts of the same period. Making adjustments where possible to reduce methodological differences, this review identifies three sub-periods: 1950 to 1980, when working hours declined; 1980 to 1990, when working hours rose; and 1990 to 2019, when working hours remained constant. It also briefly discusses the importance of a variety of factors affecting the different response by working hours to the growth of real GDP and labor productivity during the first and last sub-periods. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266339/1/WorkAmerica1950to2019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J01 Keywords: work in america Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266339 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7331283 #END 524 #BEGIN 525 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruggeri, Giuseppe Title: Household energy consumption in the United States Abstract: This paper provides estimates of household energy consumption in the United States in 2019 by adding passenger transportation to residential consumption. It also separates household energy consumption into two components: standard and optional and shows that the latter accounts for 29 percent of the total. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266338/1/HouseholdEnergyPDF.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J10, J20 Keywords: energy consumption, household energy, United States energy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266338 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7317216 #END 525 #BEGIN 526 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Borin, Alessandro Author-Name: Conteduca, Francesco Paolo Author-Name: Mancini, Michele Title: The real-time impact of the war on Russian imports: a synthetic control method approach Abstract: In response to the invasion of Ukraine, the EU and most other advanced economies imposed extensive sanctions on Russia, intending to harm its production capabilities and hinder its economic activities by restricting its access to international trade and financial markets. This paper develops an empirical framework based on the synthetic control method to assess the impact of the war and the following sanctions on bilateral and sectoral exports to Russia almost in real time. The war and the following sanctions reduced aggregate exports to Russia by almost half between March-August, with the effects being stronger for sanctioning countries than for non-sanctioning ones, albeit with substantial country-level heterogeneity within each group. Exports to Russia in high-tech sectors-relatively more targeted by trade sanctions-have been disproportionately more affected. Creation-Date: 2022 Revision-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266330/1/synth_Russia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F51, C54, F13 Keywords: Synthetic Control, Russia, Sanctions, International trade, War Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:265325 #END 526 #BEGIN 527 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Finocchiaro Castro, Massimo Author-Name: Guccio, Calogero Author-Name: Romeo, Domenica Title: A systematic literature review of 10 years of behavioral research on health services Abstract: Behavioral economics is, nowadays, a well-established approach to investigate agents’ actions under economic incentives. In the last decade, a fast-growing number of studies have focused on the application of behavioral to health policy issues. The results of that stream of literature have been intriguing and strongly policy-oriented. However, those findings are scattered between different health-related topics, making difficult to grasp the overall state-of-the-art. Hence, to make the main contributions understandable at a glance, we conduct a systematic literature review of laboratory experiments on the supply of health services. Of the 1,084 articles retrieved from 2011, 36 articles published in peer review journals have met our inclusion criteria. For them, we describe the different experimental settings, and we classify them according to the main area of interest. Finally, we provide some insights for future research in the field. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266248/1/WV%20version%20SLR%20on%20lab%20experiment.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, C92, I11 Keywords: laboratory experiments, health services, supply, systematic literature review, physicians’ behavior, payment systems, health policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266248 #END 527 #BEGIN 528 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bijnens, Gert Author-Name: Duprez, Cédric Title: Bedrijven en de stijging van de energieprijzen Abstract: De sterke stijging van de energieprijzen zal alle ondernemingen in alle sectoren van de economie treffen. Niet alle ondernemingen bevinden zich echter in een vergelijkbare situatie. Het aandeel van energie in de totale bedrijfsaankopen verschilt immers sterk tussen de verschillende bedrijfstakken en varieert van minder dan 1% tot meer dan 50%. De meest energie-intensieve sectoren zijn uiteraard het meest blootgesteld. Het gaat hierbij niet enkel over de industrie (basischemie, verdelgingsmiddelen, bakstenen, ...), maar ook over de visserij, de bosbouw, het vervoer of de datacentra. De uiteindelijke impact van deze schok op de ondernemingen hangt af van de mate waarin zij de kostenstijging kunnen doorrekenen in hun verkoopsprijzen. Indien ze daarin slagen, wordt de stijging van de productiekosten doorgerekend aan de eindklant. Het zijn dan de gezinnen maar ook de buitenlandse afnemers die de prijsstijgingen uiteindelijk moeten dragen. Op basis van bedrijfsgegevens uit het verleden zien we dat ondernemingen er in zekere mate in slagen kostenstijgingen door te rekenen. Wij stellen vast dat de bedrijven gemiddeld 60% van kostenstijgingen konden doorschuiven naar hun klanten. Deze ‘passthrough’ verschilt per bedrijfstak en is hoger voor grote dan voor kleine ondernemingen. Voor de energieintensieve industrie is de pass-through in het algemeen hoger dan gemiddeld, waardoor het effect van de energiecrisis op de bedrijven enigszins wordt afgezwakt. Vermits de kosten echter niet volledig kunnen worden doorgerekend, verwachten we wel dat de bedrijfsmarges zullen krimpen en een deel van de schok zullen opvangen. Via de automatische indexering heeft deze prijsstijging ook een effect op de lonen. Arbeidsintensieve bedrijfstakken, grotendeels in de dienstensector, worden nu getroffen. In het algemeen hebben arbeidsintensieve bedrijfstakken een lage energie-intensiteit en vice versa. Dit betekent dat slechts weinig sectoren zowel een sterke energieschok als een aanzienlijke loonschok ondervinden. De omvang van de gecombineerde schok is voor sommige bedrijfstakken in historisch opzicht wel substantieel. Over het algemeen zijn de marges van de ondernemingen in de loop van 2021 echter gestegen, waardoor ze sterker staan om de directe en indirecte gevolgen van de energieprijsstijging te kunnen opvangen. Ook hier blijven er sectorale verschillen en komen sommige bedrijfstakken die in 2021 al kwetsbaar waren, verder onder druk te staan (lucht- en scheepsvaart, groenten en fruit, diensten in verband met gebouwen). Abstract: The sharp rise in energy prices affects all firms, in all branches of the economy. However, not all companies are in a comparable situation, because the share of energy in input purchases can vary from less than 1% to more than 50% from one branch to another. Most energy consumers are naturally more exposed. Among these, we find not only industry (chemical basic materials, pesticides, bricks, etc.), but also fishing, forestry, transport or even the centers of data. To measure the repercussions of this shock on firms, the question is to know in what proportions these can pass on the increase in their production costs to their selling prices. If they there arrive, the shock is then transmitted to end consumers, households or foreign customers, who have to bear price increases. Historical data and the first current data available indicate a certain transmission capacity. We estimate that, on average, companies are able to pass on 60% of cost increases to their customers. This transmission capacity differs according to the branches of activity and it is more important for large firms than for small ones. For energy-intensive industry, the transmission is generally above average, which should mitigate somewhat the effect of the energy shock on firms. The transmission capacity not being complete, corporate margins will nevertheless fall and absorb part of the shock. Under the effect of indexation mechanisms, the rise in prices also has an impact in Belgium on wages. Labour-intensive branches of activity, largely in services, are in turn affected. Generally, labor-intensive sectors have low energy intensity, and vice versa. This implies that few sectors experience both a marked energy shock coupled with a significant wage shock. However, the magnitude of the combined shock is historic for certain branches of activity. Generally speaking, corporate margins have increased in 2021. A year likely difficult would therefore follow a good year. Here again, sectoral disparities exist, and some branches of activity whose situation was already fragile in 2021 are even more under pressure (transport air and river, fruit and vegetables, building support). Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266117/1/220513_bedrijven_stijging_energieprijzen%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Firms, Energy prices, Energy shock, Firm profitability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266117 #END 528 #BEGIN 529 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaiser, Tim Author-Name: Menkhoff, Lukas Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Title: Is patience malleable via educational intervention? Evidence from field experiments Abstract: We study the malleability of patience via educational interventions by aggregating evidence from earlier experiments in a meta-analysis and by conducting a field experiment. We find that the average effect of interventions on patience is positive but uncertain. The age of students explains a large share of between-study heterogeneity in treatment effects. Thus, we conduct a field experiment covering both youths and adults in Uganda. We find heterogenous effects by age: adults’ patience measured in incentivized tasks is unaffected by the intervention after 15 months follow-up, but we observe large effects on patience and estimated discount factors for youth. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266080/1/KMO-021122.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C93, I21, D15 Keywords: Patience, time-preferences, malleability, field experiment, educational intervention Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266080 #END 529 #BEGIN 530 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bijnens, Gert Author-Name: Duprez, Cédric Title: Les firmes et la hausse des prix énergétiques Abstract: The sharp rise in energy prices affects all companies in all sectors of the economy. However, not all companies are in a comparable situation, as the share of energy in input purchases can vary from less than 1% to more than 50% from one industry to another. Most energy consumers are naturally more exposed. These include not only industry (basic chemical materials, pesticides, bricks, etc.), but also fishing, forestry, transport and data centres. To measure the impact of this shock on companies, the question is to know to what extent they can pass on the increase in their production costs to their selling prices. If they can do so, the shock is then passed on to the end consumers, whether households or foreign customers, who have to bear price increases. The historical and early current data available indicate some transmission capacity. We estimate that, on average, companies are able to pass on 60% of cost increases to their customers. This pass-through differs between industries and is more important for large companies than for small ones. For energy-intensive industries, the pass-through is generally higher than average, which should somewhat mitigate the effect of the energy shock on companies. However, since the transmission capacity is not complete, the margins of companies will decrease and absorb part of the shock. Under the effect of the indexation mechanisms, the rise in prices also has an impact on wages in Belgium. The labour-intensive branches of activity, mainly in services, are in turn affected. In general, labour-intensive sectors have a low energy intensity, and vice versa. This implies that few sectors experience both a large energy shock and a large wage shock. However, the magnitude of the combined shock is historical for some industries. In general, corporate margins have increased in 2021. A likely difficult year would therefore follow a good year. Here again, there are sectoral disparities, and some industries whose situation was already fragile in 2021 are under even greater pressure (air and inland waterway transport, fruit and vegetables, construction support). Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266078/1/220513_firmes_hausse_prix_energetiques%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266078 #END 530 #BEGIN 531 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Yang, Zheyu Title: Risk-taking and monetary policy Abstract: “Low for long” interest rate and other accommodative monetary policies increase risk-taking and medium- and long term macro-financial vulnerabilities. This paper aims to contribute to understanding how accommodative monetary policy have reshaped the risk perspective among the fixed-income market investors. I study the effects of People’s Bank of China’s monetary announcements on domestic corporate bond prices. Exploiting information embedded in high-frequency co-movement of financial assets prices and using a Bayesian structural vector autoregression, I deconstructed market surprises around the central bank’s announcements on Reserve Requirement Ratios into shocks to investors' beliefs about monetary policy and shocks to the beliefs about non-monetary fundamentals. Using a sample of 16,738 corporate bonds issued by 2,711 non-financial firms between 2010 and 2020, I find the monetary shocks have strong effects on bond pricing and can explain about one-fourth of the price movement around the releases. I further test the hypothesis of risk-taking, i.e., whether the effects differentiate across various credit risk groups. The result shows risky bonds outperform safer bonds following a monetary easing shock, i.e., a significant increase in appetite for risk after monetary policy becomes accommodative. More importantly, the asymmetry between the effects of monetary easing and tightening further confirms the role of accommodative monetary policy as a key driver in risk-taking. The findings raise implications for financial stability and macroprudential policy. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266038/1/Risk_taking_monetary_policy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C11, E43, E52, G12 Keywords: risk-taking, monetary policy, asset prices, China economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:263253 #END 531 #BEGIN 532 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: Exclusive Linear Modeling Approach to the Natural Resource Curse in the Azerbaijani Economy: Examples of Stepwise Regression Abstract: There is a growing body of literature on the possible presence of the Natural Resources Curse (NRC) and Dutch Disease Syndrome (DD) in the Azerbaijani economy. Because of its abundant hydrocarbon resources, Azerbaijan has pursued an oil-oriented strategy for economic growth and development. Certainly, this path has helped overcome serious economic problems such as extreme poverty, lack of capital accumulation, and technology adoption, but it is also believed that a lopsided economic structure hinders overall sustainable growth. Indeed, it has been noted that the high-value-added manufacturing sector is an engine for stable economic growth and that specialization in the primary sector (including oil and related commodities) can pose many challenges to developing countries. Over time, non-oil production has been neglected and volatile commodity prices have been allowed to determine macroeconomic stability in Azerbaijan. This has been a risky path and now requires a comprehensive investigation using widely accepted theories such as NRC and DD. This working paper presents the first results of an econometric and empirical linear analysis of the main NRC- and DD-related variables to shed light on the above phenomena. The main regression approach was a stepwise algorithm to find variable-specific functional relationships. The results are far from perfect and are experimental in nature. Although all conclusions should be drawn with caution, interested parties such as academics, professional economists, decision makers, or policy makers could benefit from the proposed conceptualization of NRC and DD in the Azerbaijani economy for their future studies. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266036/1/SSRN-id4267143.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D04, E32, L6, O14, O52, O53 Keywords: Azerbaijan economy, de-industrialization, Dutch disease, natural resource curse theory, non-oil industry, oil-rich nation, regression analysis, Stepwise regression Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:266036 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4267143 #END 532 #BEGIN 533 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zarifhonarvar, Ali Title: A Survey on the Impact of Covid-19 on the Labor Market Abstract: The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic had numerous social, political, and economic consequences. However, many studies suggest the labor market is the most affected area compared to the others. This is because some of the workers were forced to quit due to the presence of the pandemic at their places of employment. This particular paper focuses on performing a comprehensive survey on the effects of Covid-19 on labor markets. It is well-known that the Covid pandemic has led to widespread job losses and a decrease in labor force participation. The unemployment rate had risen significantly, and the number of people out of work increased by millions. The labor market was also been affected by decreased working hours and increased temporary layoffs. The literature on labor economics is divided into two distinct areas of the effect of the pandemic. On one side, there are papers conducted on the general impact of the pandemic on the labor market, including demand and supply of labor, unemployment, and the heterogeneous effect of Covid on different groups and ages. On the other side, some studies are related to the Covid specific topics which are new to the literature of labor economics, such as work-from-home, remote working, lockdowns, and social distancing. One other evolving part is the Post Covid era and the recovery phase. Creation-Date: 2022 Classification-JEL: J01, E24, I14 Keywords: Covid-19, Unemployment, Social Distancing, Work From Home, Inequality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:265549 #END 533 #BEGIN 534 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cala, Petr Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Matousek, Jindrich Author-Name: Novak, Jiri Title: Financial Incentives and Performance: A Meta-Analysis of Economics Evidence Abstract: Standard economics models require that financial incentives improve performance, while leading theories in psychology allow for the opposite. Experimental results are mixed, and so far have not been corrected for publication bias and model uncertainty. We collect 1,568 economics estimates together with 46 factors capturing the context in which the estimates were obtained. We use novel nonlinear techniques to correct for publication bias and employ Bayesian model averaging to account for model uncertainty. The corrected estimates are zero or tiny across contexts of field experiments, including differences in performance measurement, task definition, reward size and framing, motivation beyond money, subject pool, and estimation technique. Laboratory experiments produce statistically significant estimates on average after correction for publication bias, but even there the effect is weak. Experimental economics evidence is inconsistent with standard economics models. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/265535/1/incentives.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C90, D91, M52 Keywords: Incentives, experiments, meta-analysis, model uncertainty, publication bias Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:265535 #END 534 #BEGIN 535 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bauer, Matthias Johannes Author-Name: Kayser, Ina Title: Trajektorie von KI und ihre verzerrte Darstellung zwischen Retrotopie und Akzelerationismus Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/265257/1/Bauer%20Kayser%20-%20Trajektorie%20von%20KI%20und%20ihre%20verzerrte%20Darstellung%20zwischen%20Retrotopie%20und%20Akzelerationismus.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Künstliche Intelleligenz, Retrotopie, Akzelerationismus, Tribalismus Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:265257 #END 535 #BEGIN 536 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mouré, Christopher Title: No Shortage of Profit: Semiconductor firms and the differential effects of chip shortages Abstract: Few will argue with the claim that shortages are socially harmful. Shortages, by definition, imply a lack of something – not enough stuff to go around. A shortage of food implies hunger; a shortage of electricity implies darkness. But are shortages harmful to everyone equally? And if they are not, does this mean that shortages can also be good for some As the US government prepares – via the CHIPS Act—to hand semiconductor firms around 50 billion USD to help solve the ongoing shortage of semiconductors, it seems worth asking how we arrived at this particular shortage, and whether the answers to the above questions can help us avoid such shortages in the future. Over the past year, I looked into the business of semiconductors. Particularly, I examined the historical relationships between chip production, chip prices, shortages, and profits. I made some surprising findings. First, there is a close negative correlation between the expansion of chip production and changes in prices in the US. This means that when production growth slows down, so does the rate at which chip prices fall. Second, among the dominant semiconductor firms, there is a close negative correlation between the rate of new investment and differential profitability. By differential profitability, I mean profitability relative to a benchmark average – in this case, relative to the average profitability of the 500 largest US-listed firms (measured by market value). Third, there is a close relationship between the appearance of a semiconductor shortage and the differential profitability of these large firms. This relationship has two salient characteristics: shortages tend to appear immediately following a period in which dominant firms trail, rather than beat, average profitability; and dominant firms tend to beat average profitability during years in which a shortage appears. In short, not only do dominant semiconductor firms tend to have significantly higher profits during shortages, but the shortages themselves do not appear to occur by accident. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/265203/1/20220927_moure_no_shortage_of_profit_long_version.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, O3, E31 Keywords: capital as power, computers, differential accumulation, inflation, power, profit, semiconductors, technology, sabotage, scarcity, stagflation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:265203 #END 536 #BEGIN 537 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cole, Ismail M. Author-Name: Agiobenebo, Tamunopriye J. Title: Special interest groups, labor market regulations, and labor market performance in the U.S. states Abstract: This paper uses data from the fifty US states from 2006-2015 to explore how labor market regulations and the strength of special interest groups’ (SIGs) influence in the political process might affect labor market performance. A dynamic panel data model is specified and estimated using a sequential two-stage (two-step GMM) method (Kripfganz and Schwarz (2019)), which addresses endogeneity and other estimation issues, and allows direct parameter estimates for the time-constant dummies measuring SIGs influence. We find that the performance impact of alternative measures of regulation depends on the strength of SIGs' influence and that neglecting to account for such influence, as in the sizeable empirical literature, may lead to misspecification problems serious enough to undermine the validity of conclusions drawn about the nature of the relationships between the regulations and labor market performance. We also find strong support for various hypotheses relating to the independent and combined effects of labor market regulations and SIGs' influence on labor market performance. Also, in most cases, these effects are significantly stronger in the states where the SIGs' influence is dominant, such as Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, and Nevada. An apparent implication of this study is that an analysis of labor market performance that ignores the role of SIGs is, at best incomplete. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/265087/1/ColeAgiobeneboWorkingPaper2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: regulation, special interest groups, rent-seeking, labor market performance, multiplicative interaction models Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:265087 #END 537 #BEGIN 538 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the Duration of Membership in the GATT/WTO on Human Development in Developed and Developing Countries Abstract: The present article has examined the effect of the duration of the membership in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and/or the World Trade Organization (WTO) (and not the mere membership in the GATT/WTO) on human development, considered as a measure of citizens' welfare. The theoretical hypothesis underpinning the analysis is that by fostering export product upgrading, the duration of the membership in the GATT/WTO would reduce economic growth volatility, and consequently promotes human development. The analysis has relied on a panel dataset of 148 developed and developing countries, over the period from 1990 to 2019. It has provided support for the theoretical hypothesis by showing that the membership duration fosters human development in countries that enjoy a high level of export product upgrading, measured through export product diversification, the quality of export products, and the level of economic complexity. Countries with low levels of export product upgrading experience no significant effect of the membership duration on the growth of human development. Interestingly, the membership duration is associated with a higher growth of human development regardless of countries' degree of economic growth volatility. However, the lower the level of economic growth volatility, the larger is the magnitude of the positive effect of the membership duration on the growth of human development. Finally, there exists an heterogenous effect of the membership duration on the growth rate of human development across countries in the full sample, reflecting the degree of stringency of countries' accession procedures to the GATT/WTO. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/265061/1/Paper%20on%20GATT-HDI_Gnangnon%20Kimm.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14, O15 Keywords: Duration of the membership in the GATT/WTO, Human development, Export product upgrading, Economic growth volatility Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:265061 #END 538 #BEGIN 539 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pérez, María Author-Name: Libra, Jesse Author-Name: Machado, Kleber Author-Name: Serebrisky, Tomás Author-Name: Solís, Ben Title: Water Bill Perception in Brazil: Do Households Get It Right? Abstract: An issue that affects the effectiveness of water pricing policies is consumers misperception, which implies that households decide their water consumption based on poor/inaccurate information about the marginal price. We use household survey data on bill and quality perception in Brazil to analyze this problem and its drivers. Once we control for the selection bias caused by survey respondents voluntarily providing their bill, we find evidence of bill misperception. Apart from the informational and socioeconomic drivers usually considered in the literature, perceived water quality seems to be a relevant factor of the degree of misperception. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/264986/1/Water_Bill_Perception_in_Brazil_do_households_get_it_right.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q21, Q25, Q54 Keywords: water pricing, water quality, price perceptions, economics of information Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:264986 DOI: 10.18235/0004238 #END 539 #BEGIN 540 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: De Vera, Micole Author-Name: Garcia-Brazales, Javier Author-Name: Lin, Jiayi Title: Early Labor Market Origins of Long-Term Mental Health and its Intergenerational Correlation Abstract: What drives long-term mental health and its intergenerational correlation? Exploiting variation in unemployment rates upon labor market entry across Australian states and cohorts, we provide novel evidence of persistent effects on mental health two decades after labor market entry. We find that individuals exposed to a one percentage point higher unemployment rate at labor market entry relative to trend have 14% of a standard deviation worse mental health at ages 36–40. We further document an intergenerational impact of labor market entry conditions. Along the extensive margin, females more impacted by labor market entry conditions in terms of mental health increase completed fertility. Along the intensive margin, daughters whose parents experienced a one percentage point higher unemployment rate at entry have 18% of a standard deviation worse mental health during adolescence. Sons’ mental health is not impacted. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/264274/1/DeVera_GBrazales_Lin-Manuscript-MentalHealth.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, I14, J13 Keywords: Recession, Mental health, Well-being, Intergenerational correlation, Australia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:264274 #END 540 #BEGIN 541 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Makoza, Frank Title: Analysing Digital economy Strategy of Malawi against the Digital Economy Ecosystem Framework Abstract: African countries are considering digital economy strategies to enhance their competitiveness, create economic value and improve the well-being of their citizens. This paper analysed the Malawi digital economy strategy (2021-2026) against the Digital Economy Ecosystem Framework. The findings showed consistency in elements for macro policy, digital foundations and digital adoption/Transformation; and core, services and solutions respectively. Nonetheless, some of the elements in the Malawi digital economy strategy were missing details and required attention. These include digital taxation, data sector, digital services laws and regulations and cyber security. Lack of details in these elements in the Malawi digital economy strategy can affect the planned activities and outcomes of the strategy. The study contributes towards an understanding of digital economy strategies in the context of developing countries. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/264273/1/Makoza2022z.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Digital economy, Digital economy strategy, Digital Economy Kit, Digital technologies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:264273 #END 541 #BEGIN 542 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pal, Sumantra Title: Mobile health interventions: A policymakers’ note on the World’s largest Nutrition Surveillance in India Abstract: India’s first-generation and short-lived nutrition surveillance pilot (called ICDS-CAS) launched in 2018 was dismantled and replaced by a second-generation program (called POSHAN 2.0) in 2021. To estimate the relative effectiveness of 18 services provided by the frontline workers using ICDA-CAS, I approach its geographically phased-out pilot as a natural experiment, exploiting the quasi-random district-level assignment of ICDS-CAS and interventions. I access the publicly unavailable telephonic survey data collected during spring 2021 from the World Bank. It covers 1100 pregnant women and 3300 lactating mothers in 124 randomly sampled districts from 11 populous Indian states. I find that the adherence to recommended iron supplementation is 33 percentage points higher for pregnant women, who received information, messages, and counselling from the frontline health workers in districts which implemented ICDS-CAS. For lactating mothers, who attended a village health and nutrition day event, the impact on iron supplementation is 9 percentage points greater if they were residing in ICDS-CAS districts. The data suggests that the remaining interventions are not effective. Feature comparison of both the programs suggests that India’s second-generation nutrition surveillance is more diligently designed than its predecessor, hence more promising. Abstract: El piloto de vigilancia nutricional de primera generación y corta duración de la India (llamado ICDS-CAS) lanzado en 2018 fue desmantelado y reemplazado por un programa de segunda generación (llamado POSHAN 2.0) en 2021. Para estimar la efectividad relativa de 18 servicios proporcionados por la primera línea trabajadores que usan ICDA-CAS, abordo su piloto geográficamente eliminado como un experimento natural, explotando la asignación casi aleatoria a nivel de distrito de ICDS-CAS e intervenciones. Accedo a los datos de la encuesta telefónica no disponibles públicamente recopilados durante la primavera de 2021 del Banco Mundial. Cubre 1100 mujeres embarazadas y 3300 madres lactantes en 124 distritos seleccionados al azar de 11 estados indios populosos. Encuentro que la adherencia a la suplementación de hierro recomendada es 33 puntos porcentuales más alta para las mujeres embarazadas, quienes recibieron información, mensajes y asesoramiento de los trabajadores de salud de primera línea en los distritos que implementaron ICDS-CAS. Para las madres lactantes que asistieron a un evento del día de salud y nutrición de la aldea, el impacto en la suplementación con hierro es 9 puntos porcentuales mayor si residían en los distritos ICDS-CAS. Los datos sugieren que las intervenciones restantes no son efectivas. La comparación de características de ambos programas sugiere que la vigilancia nutricional de segunda generación de la India está diseñada con más diligencia que su predecesora, por lo tanto, es más prometedora. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/264272/1/conf-draft-Sumantra-Pal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I120, I150 Keywords: maternal health, service delivery, mobile phones, India Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:264272 #END 542 #BEGIN 543 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sproule, Robert Title: On The History and The Mathematics of The Wold-Juréen (1953) Utility Function, And Its Basis For The Modeling of Giffen Behavior Abstract: Twenty years ago, Peter Moffatt (2002) posed this general question: “Is Giffen behavior compatible with the axioms of consumer theory?” The present paper addresses this very same question, but only as it applies to the Wold-Juréen (1953) utility function. In this paper, we demonstrate that the Wold-Juréen (1953) utility function exhibits both Giffenity and compatibility with the axioms of consumer theory. Our singular interest in the Wold-Juréen (1953) utility function stems from the fact that this utility function continues to be the preeminent theoretical benchmark in the study of Giffenity. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/263912/1/RAS-2022-09-02-Moffatt-2002.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A22, A23, D11 Keywords: Wold-Juréen (1953) utility function, Slutsky decomposition, Giffen Behavior, Axioms of Consumer Theory Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:263912 #END 543 #BEGIN 544 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brunhart, Andreas Title: Country Size and Exposure to International Economic Shocks: New Evidence from the Financial Crisis Abstract: The international Financial Crisis shock of 2008/09 is used as case study with a worldwide data set of 210 states to examine potential resilience factors with special focus on country size, along with other pre-crisis determinants. The cross-country analysis suggests an increasing partial effect of smaller country size on vulnerability with a larger impact magnitude of the Financial Crisis shock. States below a population of around 10 million featured a higher exposure compared to larger states and very small states suffered the most from being more vulnerable. With respect to impact persistence, significant evidence can be found that the shock persistence was prolonged by smaller state size. Also, small states were impacted earlier on average, but the faster shock transmission was mainly linked to their higher GDP per capita and lower pre-crisis GDP growth. Abstract: Anhand eines weltweiten Datensets mit 210 Ländern wird der internationale Finanzkrisenschock 2008/09 als Fallstudie angewendet, um potenzielle Resilienzfaktoren zu untersuchen, mit einem speziellen Fokus auf Ländergrösse. Die Länderquerschnittsanalyse legt einen verstärkenden partiellen Einfluss von kleinerer Bevölkerungsgrösse auf die Vulnerabilität mit einer grösseren Schockwirkung der Finanzkrise nahe. Länder mit einer Bevölkerung von unter 10 Millionen wiesen eine höhere Exposition auf und sehr kleine Länder litten am meisten unter der höheren Verwundbarkeit. Bezüglich der Persistenz der Schockwirkung kann signifikante Evidenz gefunden werden, dass die Dauer von Länder-Kleinheit verlängert wurde. Zudem waren kleine Länder im Durchschnitt früher betroffen, die schnellere Schockübertrag war jedoch hauptsächlich mit ihrem höheren BIP pro Kopf und dem tieferen Vorkrisenwachstum verknüpft. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/263310/1/LIAP_74_Brunhart_State_Size_and_Exposure_to_Economic_Shocks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C21, E02, E32, G01 Keywords: Resilience, Small states, Financial crisis, Cross-country regression, Resilienz, Kleinstaaten, Finanzkrise, Länder-Querschnittsregression Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:263310 DOI: 10.13091/li-ap-74 #END 544 #BEGIN 545 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lane, Nathan Title: Manufacturing Revolutions: Industrial Policy and Industrialization in South Korea Abstract: I study the impact of industrial policy on industrial development by considering a canonical intervention. Following a political crisis, South Korea dramatically altered its development strategy with a sector-specific industrial policy: the Heavy and Chemical Industry (HCI) drive, 1973-1979. With newly assembled data, I use the sharp introduction and withdrawal of industrial policies to study the impacts of industrial policy---during and after the intervention period. I show (1) HCI promoted the expansion and dynamic comparative advantage of directly targeted industries. (2) Using variation in exposure to policies through the input-output network, I show HCI indirectly benefited downstream users of targeted intermediates. (3) I find direct and indirect benefits of HCI persisted even after the end of HCI, following the 1979 assassination of the president. These effects include the eventual development of directly targeted exporters and their downstream counterparts. Together, my findings suggest that the temporary drive shifted Korean manufacturing into more advanced markets and created durable industrial change. These findings clarify lessons drawn from South Korea and the East Asian growth miracle. Creation-Date: 2022 Revision-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/263135/1/paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L5, O14, O25, N6, O25, O14 Keywords: industrial policy, industrial development, East Asian miracle, HCI, Heavy-Chemical Industry, South Korea, spillovers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235845 #END 545 #BEGIN 546 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao, Tim Title: Generic Cancellable Note Analytics Abstract: Many financial derivative products have cancellation provision. They usually have a regular leg and a cancellation leg. The cancellation leg can cancel the regular leg when a cancellation event occurs. This paper presents a generic model for pricing cancellable derivatives. It computes the cancellation probability, fair value, and risk of a cancellable note. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/262367/1/cancellationDerivatives.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: cancellable note, derivative valuation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:262367 #END 546 #BEGIN 547 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the Duration of the Membership in GATT/WTO on Commercial Services Exports in Developing Countries Abstract: The present article has investigated the effect of developing countries' duration of membership in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) on their commercial services exports. It has relied on a set of 128 countries over the period from 2008 to 2019, and utilized the two-step system generalized method of moments estimator. It has revealed that the duration of membership in the GATT/WTO was associated with higher commercial services exports, including both modern and traditional services exports. However, Article XII Members (states that were not Members of GATT, but joined the WTO after its inception) have experienced higher commercial services exports (including traditional services exports) than Non-Article XII Members (i.e., states that were GATT Members before the creation of the WTO). For low-income member states, the membership duration has resulted in an increase in traditional services exports at the expense of modern services exports. Conversely, relatively wealthier member states have increased modern services exports at the expense of traditional services exports, as their membership duration rose. The analysis has also established that member states that have improved their capacities to use, adopt and adapt frontier technologies have enjoyed higher commercial services exports, including modern services exports, but have not experienced an increase in traditional services exports. Finally, the duration of membership in the GATT/WTO has led to higher commercial services exports, including both modern and traditional services exports for member states that have improved their penetration in the international markets for goods. The policy implications of the analysis are discussed. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/262167/1/GATT-WTO%20Membership%20Duration-Services%20Exports.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, O14, F53 Keywords: Duration of membership in the GATT/WTO, Commercial services exports, Frontier technology readiness, Penetration in goods markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:262167 #END 547 #BEGIN 548 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hobbie, Hannes Author-Name: Lieberwirth, Martin Title: Impact of hydrogen deployment scenarios on the economic effciency of electricity transmission system operation: A model-based case study for the German market area Creation-Date: 2022 Keywords: ELMOD, Green hydrogen, Electricity grid operation, Congestion management Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:262112 #END 548 #BEGIN 549 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Carrying the Elephants Abstract: The big picture is unambiguous: humanity is undermining the planetary ecosystem, and the deterioration continues unhindered. According to the 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, since 1970, the capacity of nature to sustain contributions to good quality of life trends downward in 14 out of 18 different categories being analysed, with many species dwindling or becoming extinct. And if this isn’t enough, the burning of fossil fuels is believed to alter the climate, most likely for the worse. At stake, then, is the survival of planetary life as we know it, humanity included. And in this dire context, it is worthwhile reading Roman Gary’s great 1956 novel, The Roots of Heaven (translated into English in 1958). This Goncourt Prize book is one of the first ‘ecological novels’. It tells the story of a Frenchmen, Morel, a former concentration-camp prisoner and decorated war hero on a mission to save the hunted elephants of Africa. It is a complex, intellectually gripping story, weaving key issues of the time – from postwar global politics and the nuclear arms race to the clash of colonialism and liberation movements to culture, religion and philosophy – and its broad sweep is narrated with the sensitivity, irony and occasional wishful thinking of a great humanitarian. And it is the book’s emphasis on humanity that makes it so important. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/262111/1/20220800_bn_carrying_the_elephants_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, Q57 Keywords: ecology, humanity, literature Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:262111 #END 549 #BEGIN 550 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of structural economic vulnerability on the participation in international trade Abstract: This paper has investigated the effect of countries' structural economic vulnerability (EVI) on their participation in international trade, using an unbalanced panel dataset of 118 countries over the period from 1996 to 2018, and the two-step system generalized method of moments estimator. It has revealed several findings. Higher EVI leads to a lower participation in international trade, and this negative effect is more pronounced in countries that face higher trade costs. This is, in particular, the case for landlocked developing countries and least developed countries. Development aid contributes to dampening the negative effect of EVI on countries' participation in international trade. Moreover, this negative impact may turn out to be positive for high amounts of development aid. The policy implications of this analysis have been discussed. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/262004/1/Paper%20on%20EVI%20and%20Openness.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F15 Keywords: Structural economic vulnerability, Participation in international trade, Development aid, Trade costs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:262004 #END 550 #BEGIN 551 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lieberwirth, Martin Author-Name: Hobbie, Hannes Title: Decarbonizing the Industry Sector and its Effect on Electricity Transmission Grid Operation - Implications from a Model Based Analysis for Germany Abstract: Integrating large amounts of electrolyzer capacities poses particular challenges for grid operators along the entire hydrogen value chain. This research examines how hydrogen production capacities that support the decarbonization of German industrial sectors impact the electricity transmission grid. The operation of electrolyzer capacities and the production of green hydrogen result in increased electricity demand that stresses the power grids beyond conventional electricity load levels. The question arises to what extent electrolyzer capacities cause additional grid congestion and how flexible operation of electrolyzers can contribute to efficient management of future power grids. A scenario framework is created, differing in the decarbonizing strategy of industry sectors, operation mode of electrolyzers, and penetration levels of electrolyzer installations for a market projection of the future European electricity system. Model-based research is performed by applying a fundamental electricity market and congestion management optimization model of the European electricity systems for the set of scenarios. Results of the model-based investigation highlight the importance of integrating electrolyzer capacities into congestion management practices, primarily if corresponding decarbonized industries feature a more distributed allocation throughout Germany, such as the chemical, paper and printing industries. The findings of this work provide policymakers, system operators, and regulators with meaningful insights for designing future congestion management frameworks. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261839/1/WorkingPaper_%28Lieberwirth%26Hobbie%29_CongestionManagement.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, Q41, Q48 Keywords: Electricity, Green hydrogen, Congestion management, Grid modelling, Germany Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261839 #END 551 #BEGIN 552 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ehrhart, Karl-Martin Author-Name: Schlecht, Ingmar Author-Name: Wang, Runxi Title: Price cap versus tariffs: The case of the EU-Russia gas market Abstract: To counter rising gas prices and corresponding Russian profits, many scholars point to import tariffs on Russian gas as a preferred policy instrument. While this makes sense in the case of oil, for the case of gas we observe the opposite. This is due to the structure of the EU-Russia gas market, where Russia holds a monopoly over the EU’s residual gas demand and the EU, if it would engage in joint procurement, has market power itself potentially acting as monopsony. However, it has not yet chosen to exercise its market power. Under these conditions, an external price cap for Russian gas can be considered to be the more appropriate policy instrument, because a price cap tends to take away economic incentives for Russia to use its market power, increasing gas prices through decreasing supply. Under such circumstances, we show that an external price cap is superior to a tariff in the sense that for any tariff there exists a price cap that makes both the EU and Russia better off. Consequently, the EU can always design a price cap that gives Russia the same welfare (so it is equally likely to accept), but makes the EU better off compared to imposing a tariff. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261834/1/Ehrhart%20et%20al.%20%282022%29.%20Price%20Cap%20vs.%20Tariff.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: price cap, Russia, gas market, tariff, sanctions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261834 Note: The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Jan Schmitz, his formal authorship still having to undergo the necessary clearance processes. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this text are those of the authors and cannot be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission. #END 552 #BEGIN 553 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heikkilä, Jussi T. S. Title: Journal of Economic Literature codes classification system (JEL) Abstract: The Journal of Economic Literature codes classification system (JEL) published by the American Economic Association (AEA) is the de facto standard classification system for research literature in economics. The JEL classification system is used to classify articles, dissertations, books, book reviews, and working papers in EconLit, a database maintained by the AEA. Over time, it has evolved and extended to a system with over 850 subclasses. This paper reviews the history and development of the JEL classification system, describes the current version, and provides a selective overview of its uses and applications in research. The JEL codes classification system has been adopted by several publishers, and their instructions are reviewed. There are interesting avenues for future research as the JEL classification system has been surprisingly little used in existing bibliometric and scientometric research as well as in library classification systems. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261388/1/JEL%20codes_JH_Econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A10, A14 Keywords: economics, JEL codes, classification systems, classifications, bibliometrics, scientometrics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261388 #END 553 #BEGIN 554 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eicke, Anselm Title: Where should generators be built in a zonal electricity market? A numerical analysis of administratively determined investment signals Abstract: The location of electricity generation assets within a power system involves a fundamental trade-off: is it better to place generators at sites where generation costs are low, or should generators be situated close to consumers? This question is particularly relevant for wind turbines and solar photovoltaics, whose availability strongly varies between regions. If market prices reflect network constraints, the prices provide a locational signal. This is not the case in zonal markets with uniform prices. There, regulators can intervene by other means, such as administratively determined network tariffs that vary by location and are paid by generators. In this work, I examine such regulatory locational instruments using a novel bi-level electricity market model. In the first stage, the regulator determines a locational signal. In the second stage, generators decide on investment and dispatch while accounting for the regulatory signal and the zonal electricity price. For an exemplary network, I find that the introduction of regulatory locational instruments significantly lowers the cost of electricity supply. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261346/1/Where%20should%20new%20generators%20be%20built.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Locational signals, Investment incentives, OR in energy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261346 #END 554 #BEGIN 555 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ehrhart, Karl-Martin Author-Name: Schlecht, Ingmar Title: Introducing a price cap on Russian gas: A game theoretic analysis Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261345/1/Ehrhart%20et%20al.%20%282022%29%2c%20Introducing%20a%20price%20cap%20on%20Russian%20gas.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, Q40 Keywords: gas market, Russia, European Union, game theory, external price cap Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261345 Note: The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Jan Schmitz, his formal authorship still having to undergo the necessary clearance processes. #END 555 #BEGIN 556 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of Aid for Trade flows on the Accession to the World Trade Organization Abstract: Existing studies on the determinants of countries' accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) have neglected the role that Aid for Trade (AfT) flows might have played in states' accession process to the WTO. The present study aims to fill this void in the literature by investigating the effect of AfT flows on the probability of acceding to the WTO. The analysis has used 29 countries (the so-called Article XII Members), with data spanning the period 2002-2019. We postulate that by promoting countries' participation in international trade and hence increasing the contribution of international trade to economic growth and development prospects, AfT flows would increase applicants' probability of joining the WTO. The empirical analysis has provided supported for this hypothesis and shown a positive effect of AfT flows on applicants' probability of joining the WTO. This finding applies to total AfT flows as well as to the three components of the latter, namely AfT interventions for economic infrastructure, AfT interventions for productive capacities, and AfT interventions related to trade policy and regulation. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261331/1/Paper%20on%20Aid%20for%20Trade%20and%20Accession%20to%20WTO.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14 Keywords: Aid for Trade, Article XII Members, Accession to the WTO Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261331 #END 556 #BEGIN 557 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Title: Have We Passed Peak Capitalism? Abstract: Among leftists, predicting the end of capitalism is a favorite parlor game. For example, as a graduate student in the 2010s, I remember discovering the 1976 edition of Marx’s Capital and being struck by the introduction. Written by the Belgian Marxist Ernest Mandel, the foreword concluded that it was ‘most unlikely’ that capitalism would survive another half-century. This prediction (and many like it) did not age well. What capitalism’s critics often misunderstand is that social orders rarely ‘die’. More often, they fade into irrelevance. Just as no one can point to the end-date of feudalism, it seems unlikely that capitalism will have a decisive ‘finish’. But what it may have is a peak. The goal of this post is to chart the rise (and potential peak) of ‘capitalism’ … as I understand it. This caveat is key. To study a social system, we must first define it. To many people, capitalism is a ‘mode of production’ (a definition inherited from Marx). The view that I take here, however, is that capitalism is primarily an ideology — or what Jonathan Nitzan and Shimshon Bichler call a ‘mode of power’. Capitalism is a set of ideas that justify the modern social order. Although there are many ways to chart the rise of capitalism, what interests me here is that it was the first major ideology to have spread during the era of mass publication. That means capitalism’s rise (and potential peak) should be visible in the word frequency of written language. For example, as capitalism spread, we’d expect that capitalist jargon — words like ‘market’ and ‘price’ — should become more common. And feudal jargon — words like ‘fief’ and ‘vassal’ — should become less common. Now, I’ve chosen these specific words as an illustration. But for my actual analysis, I do not ‘choose’ the jargon words. Instead, I choose a corpus of text that I believe encapsulates the ideology in question (capitalism or feudalism). And from there, I let the jargon of the text speak for itself. The basic idea is that jargon words are those that are both frequently used in a text corpus and overused relative to mainstream English. The first step of the analysis, then, is to select a corpus of ideological texts. To capture feudal ideology, I use a sample of 22 modern English bibles. I use modern translations because I don’t want text that contains archaic words (like ‘thou’). And I use the Bible because christian theology formed the backbone of European feudalism.1 To capture capitalist ideology, I use a sample of 43 introductory economics textbooks. My claim is that these textbooks deal mostly in capitalist metaphysics; they describe a fantasy world of self-equilibrating markets in which each person earns what they produce.2 With my sample of biblical and economics text, I first isolate the jargon words of each corpus. Then I use the Google English corpus to measure how the frequency of this jargon has changed over time. (As a consistency check, I also analyze the text in paper titles on the Sci-Hub database and book titles in Library Genesis.) I find that over the last several centuries, biblical jargon became less popular and was slowly replaced by economics jargon. I also find evidence that the popularity of economics language peaked during the 1980s, and has since declined. Ominously, this peak coincides with an uptick in the popularity of biblical language. In simple terms, it seems that we (anglophones) are in the midst of an ideological transition. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261301/1/20220712_fix_have_we_passed_peak_capitalism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Z12, P16, Z13, Z1, A Keywords: capitalism, economics, idelology, language, religion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261301 #END 557 #BEGIN 558 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sanyal, Anirban Title: Capital Control and Heterogeneous Impact on Capital Flows Abstract: Capital control is used as policy toolkit for safeguarding domestic economy from the volatility of capital flows. However, the effect of capital control is rather far fetched as the signaling effect of capital control can moderate investor's outlook about domestic economy and thereby outweighs the intended effect. The spillover effect, on the other hand, modulates the capital flows to other countries when one country increases capital account restrictions. Further, the effect of capital control can have varying impact on capital inflows to different sectors as recent studies indicate heterogeneity in the drivers and nature of capital inflows to different institutional sectors. With the background, the paper analyzes the heterogeneous direct and spillover effect of capital control on gross capital flows across three major institutional sectors namely public, banks and corporate. The paper validates the possible heterogeneity in the effect of capital control on the capital inflows to these institutional sectors using spatial econometric models. The paper observes that the direct effect of capital control moderates portfolio inflows to public sector whereas the effect is insignificant on portfolio inflows to banks and corporate sector. Further, the paper observes that the spillover effect of capital control is broad-based i.e. equally prevalent on all sectors. The paper explains the heterogeneity in the capital control effects by introducing signaling effect in a portfolio choice model. The paper argues that the heterogeneous direct effect is driven by private signals of capital control received by the investors about the state of economy whereas the spillover effect of capital control is mainly driven by the hedging and search for better returns. The paper extends the existing literature of capital controls by reviewing the sectoral heterogeneity in the capital flows. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261300/1/Spillover_of_Capital_Control%20%2833%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Capital control, Spillover effect, Portfolio Choice, Signaling effect, Spatial Durbin Model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261300 #END 558 #BEGIN 559 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Harutyunyan, Artur Author-Name: Janda, Karel Title: Empirical Investigation of the Relationship between Fast Food and Obesity in the Context of Sustainable Development Abstract: This paper is dealing with the presence of overweight and obesity in different countries and their relation to the number of McDonalds outlets in the selected countries. We are dealing with the following two research questions. What are the effects of large food manufacturers’ activities on the economy of the country, in terms of it's health factors (BMI index)? Is the emergence of a large international food manufacturer beneficial for the physical condition of the inhabitants of a country? Based on our regression results, we can say that fast-food producers in our sample do not have a significant statistical effect on the increase in the BMI index of the inhabitants of the countries. Since a significant statistical relationship between the number of outlets in the fast-food industry and the BMI index was not found, it is impossible to say unequivocally what effect the first factor has on the second. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261283/1/obe01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261283 #END 559 #BEGIN 560 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Harutyunyan, Artur Author-Name: Janda, Karel Title: Multinationals and Sustainable Attitude to Nutrition and Eating Habits Abstract: In this paper we deal with an issue of healthy environmentally responsible attitude to nutrition. We focus on the question how large multinational companies influence this aspects of sustainable development. We provide literature overview and we outline the main assumptions to be used in the empirical research on this issue. We first describe the role of multinational companies on the food market and the current global trends on this market. Then we focus on the fast food subset of the food market and on the issues of overweight and obesity. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261282/1/Multi01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261282 #END 560 #BEGIN 561 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lascarro, Lorena Eloisa Author-Name: León Tamayo, Dorian Fernando Title: A conceptual and theoretical framework for progressive political candidates in Colombia Abstract: Undoubtedly, the electoral triumph of June 19 represents the change that the majority of the Colombian people longed for. However, this brings with it some duties that must be assumed by any person who today has the progressive initiative to opt for a popularly elected executive position. Specifically, helping to build the political project of Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez implies having conceptual and theoretical clarity around the following question: What is that perspective or approach to social and economic policy that is in tune with the postulates of a Colombia World Power of Life? In order to contribute to this purpose, this document aims to demonstrate that the capabilities approach elaborated by Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen contributes conceptually to the elaboration of projects, programs and development plans with a progressive approach. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261281/1/A%20conceptual%20and%20theoretical%20framework%20for%20progressive%20political%20candidates%20in%20Colombia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I31, I32, D63 Keywords: Colombia, capabilities approach, progressivism, Historical Pact, Amartya Sen Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261281 #END 561 #BEGIN 562 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Janda, Karel Author-Name: Sajdikova, Lucia Title: Institutional Description of the European Green Deal Investment Plan Framework Abstract: This paper provides a descriptive analysis of financing the European Green Deal. It is focused on the institutional framework of the European Green Deal, such as the European Investment Plan, which identifies allocations of funds in the EU Member States. The paper covers individual parts of European Just Transition Mechanism and briefly introduces an EU Taxonomy designed to help determine whether an economic activity can be classified as environmentally sustainable and contributing to the environmental objectives. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261280/1/GDFrame01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261280 #END 562 #BEGIN 563 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Janda, Karel Author-Name: Sajdikova, Lucia Title: Financial Sources for European Green Deal Abstract: This paper provides a descriptive analysis of financing the European Green Deal. It is focused on the description of financial resources used for financing the Green Deal. The first part identifies public financing supporting the green economy, including incentive schemes, subsidies and taxes related supports. The second part identifies commercial funding available for climate transition, including green bonds and other climate and sustainability bonds and related loan schemes. While the first two chapters are covered on the level of the whole European Union, the last chapter is focused on the Czech Republic. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261279/1/GDMoney01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261279 #END 563 #BEGIN 564 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dahlhoff, Jürgen Author-Name: Do, Tony Title: Die im Dunkeln sieht man nicht - Empirische Erkenntnisse zu IAS 24 „Angaben über Beziehungen zu nahestehenden Unternehmen und Personen“ für die Geschäftsjahre 2013 bis 2020 Abstract: IAS 24 ist ein Rechnungslegungsstandard, der von kapitalmarktorientierten Unternehmen Angaben über Beziehungen zu nahestehenden Unternehmen und Personen verlangt. Die Offenlegung von Geschäften im Sinne des IAS 24 ist eine komplexe Angelegenheit, die hohe Anforderungen an die berichtenden Unternehmen stellt. Die veröffentlichten Fehlermeldungen im Bundesanzeiger zum IAS 24 bis ins Jahr 2020 zeigen die große Bandbreite an fehlerhaften Angaben durch berichtende Unternehmen. 70% der Verstöße beziehen sich auf nicht offengelegte Beziehungen zu nahestehenden Per-sonen und Unternehmen, auf unzureichende Befolgung von Angabepflichten und auf nicht vorgenommene Kategorisierungen. Eine Untersuchung der Berichtspraxis der DAX 30-Population für die Jahre 2013 bis 2019 zeigt einen heterogenen Umgang mit IAS 24 auf. Es wurden 46 verschiedene Angaben, die nach IAS 24 im Standard aufgeführt sind und über die berichtet werden kann, erfasst und analysiert. Die Bandbreite zu einzelnen Angaben variiert im Vergleich der Unternehmen sehr stark, während die Berichtspraxis bei den einzelnen Unternehmen relativ konstant ist. Zudem zeigt die Untersuchung, dass die Anzahl der Geschäfte mit nahestehenden Personen weitaus geringer als die mit nahestehenden Unternehmen ist. Das deckt sich mit den Ergebnissen anderer Studien. Vermutlich besteht die Befürchtung, dass Geschäfte mit nahestehenden Personen im Sinne einer unangemessenen Vorteilsnahme oder -gewährung kritisiert werden könnten, so dass die DAX 30-Unternehmen deshalb diese Form der Beziehungen so weit wie möglich reduzieren. 70% der Unternehmen weisen explizit auf die Marktüblichkeit ihrer Geschäfte mit nahestehenden Unternehmen und Personen hin, eine Angabe, die nicht erforderlich ist, aber offensichtlich von den berichtenden Unternehmen für notwendig erachtet wird. Abstract: IAS 24 is an accounting standard that requires publicly traded companies to disclose information about related party transactions. The disclosure of transactions within the meaning of IAS 24 is a complex matter that places high demands on reporting companies. The error reports on IAS 24 published in the German Federal Gazette up to the year 2020 show the wide range of incorrect disclosures by reporting companies. 70% of the violations relate to undisclosed relationships with related parties, insufficient compliance with disclosure requirements and failure to categorize. An investigation of the reporting practices of the DAX 30 population for the years 2013 to 2019 reveals a heterogeneous approach to IAS 24. 46 different disclosures that are listed in IAS 24 and can be reported on were recorded and analyzed. The range on individual disclosures varies greatly when comparing the companies, while the reporting practice is relatively constant among the individual companies. In addition, the analysis shows that the number of transactions with related persons is much lower than the number of transactions with related companies. This is consistent with the findings of other studies. There is presumably a concern that transactions with related persons could be criticized in the sense of inappropriate benefits being taken or granted, so the DAX 30 companies therefore reduce this form of relationship as far as possible. 70% of the companies explicitly indicate that their transactions with related parties are customary in the market, a disclosure that is not required but is apparently considered necessary by the reporting companies. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261198/1/Dahlhoff_Do%20IAS%2024%20Beziehungen%20verb%20Unternehmen%20Empirische%20Untersuchung_Schriften%20zur%20empirischen%20RL_Forschung%20Juli%202022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M4, M40 Keywords: IAS 24, Beziehungen zu nahestehenden Unternehmen, Beziehungen zu nahestehenden Personen, Fehlermeldungen IAS 24 im Bundesanzeiger, IAS 24 und DAX 30, Related party disclosures Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261198 #END 564 #BEGIN 565 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Olbrisch-Ziegler, Annette Title: COVID-19 – Countermeasures and the Consequences for German State Finances Abstract: In addition to medical, the corona pandemic has recently left its mark on German society, socially, and above all, economically. The attempts to revive the economy and to minimize the upheavals by a large wreath of various state measures in society as well as the economy can be assessed as successful in large parts. The consequences for German public finances are considerable and increase the debt ratio. An analysis of European countries debt situation after COVID-19 will be topic of a consecutive paper. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/261081/1/Covid-19%20-Paper%2002_2022_English%20Version.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H20, H11 Keywords: Corona-Pandemic, State Finances Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:261081 #END 565 #BEGIN 566 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Olbrisch-Ziegler, Annette Title: COVID-19 – Staatliche Gegenmaßnamen und die Folgen für die deutschen Staatsfinanzen Abstract: Die Corona-Pandemie hat neben medizinischen auch gesellschaftliche, soziale und vor allem ökonomische Spuren in der jüngsten Zeit in der deutschen Gesellschaft hinterlassen. Durch ein Potpourri verschiedenster staatlicher Maßnahmen wurde die Konjunktur belebt und der Versuch unternommen, die Verwerfungen in der Gesellschaft wie auch der Wirtschaft kleinzuhalten. Die Folgen für die deutschen Staatsfinanzen durch die erforderliche Kreditaufnahme sind erheblich und erhöhen die Verschuldungsquote. Abstract: In addition to medical, the corona pandemic has recently left its mark on German society, socially, and above all, economically. The attempts to revive the economy and to minimize the upheavals by a large wreath of various state measures in society as well as the economy can be assessed as successful in large parts. The consequences for German public finances are considerable and increase the debt ratio. An analysis of European countries debt situation after COVID-19 will be topic of a consecutive paper. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260618/1/Covid-19%20-Paper%2001_2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H50, H60, G01 Keywords: Epidemie, Corona-Maßnahmen, Rezession, Staatsverschuldung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260618 #END 566 #BEGIN 567 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Yang, Fan Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Novak, Jiri Title: Hedge Fund Performance: A Quantitative Survey Abstract: We provide the first quantitative survey of the empirical literature on hedge fund performance. We examine the impact of potential biases on the reported results. Empirical analysis in prior studies has been plagued by fragmentation of underlying data and by limited consensus on how hedge fund performance should be measured. Using a sample of 1,019 intercept terms from regressions of hedge fund returns on risk factors (the “alphas”) collected from 74 studies published between 2001 and 2021 we show that inferences about hedge fund returns are not significantly contaminated by publication selection bias. Most of our monthly alpha estimates adjusted for the (small) bias fall within a relatively narrow range of 30 to 40 basis points. Considering several partitions of our sample, we document a modest publication bias only for estimates based on instrumental variables (IV), for which relatively large standard errors are common and that tend to be less precise. In contrast, studies that explicitly control for the potential biases in the underlying data (e.g. the backfilling bias and the survivorship bias) report lower alphas. Our results demonstrate that despite the prevalence of the publication selection bias in numerous other research settings, publication may not be selective when there is no strong a priori theoretical prediction about the sign of estimated coefficients, which may induce greater readiness to publish statistically insignificant results. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260612/1/hedge.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J23, J24, J31 Keywords: Hedge funds, meta-analysis, publication bias Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260612 #END 567 #BEGIN 568 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: The Least Developed Countries' Services Waiver and the Stability of Least Developed Countries' Services Exports Abstract: The least developed countries (LDCs) are weakly integrated into the global trading system. To foster their participation in international trade in services, the Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) adopted in 2011 a Decision ("LDC Services Waiver") that allows any WTO Member to offer preferential treatment to LDC services and service suppliers. This Decision became operational only from 2014, and is valid until 2030, or before 2030 for beneficiaries that lose the LDC status. The present analysis investigates whether the LDC Services Waiver Decision has been instrumental in dampening the volatility of LDCs' commercial services exports. We submit the theoretical hypothesis that by providing certainty to the access of trading partners' markets, and hence improving the predictability of such market access for LDCs' trading firms, the LDC Services Waiver could contribute to dampening the volatility of LDCs' commercial services exports. The analysis uses the difference-in-difference approach where the treatment group contains 38 LDCs and the control group contains 22 Low-income countries that are not eligible for the benefits of this Waiver. It covers the period from 2004 to 2019, with the treatment period (i.e., the period of operationalization of the LDC Services Waiver) running from 2014 to 2019. Based on within fixed effects and random-effects Mundlak estimators, the empirical exercise has provided support to the hypothesis that the LDC Services Waiver has been instrumental in dampening the volatility of total commercial services exports, and in particular the volatility of modern commercial services. Thus, meaningful preferences to LDCs, under the Services Waiver, would provide significant benefits to LDCs, including in terms of stability of services exports. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260587/1/Paper%20LDC%20Services%20Waiver-Export%20Volatility.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14 Keywords: Least developed countries' Services Waiver, Volatility of commercial services exports, World Trade Organization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260587 #END 568 #BEGIN 569 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Elminejad, Ali Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Title: Relative Risk Aversion: A Meta-Analysis Abstract: We collect 1,021 estimates from 92 studies that use the consumption Euler equation to measure relative risk aversion and that disentangle it from intertemporal substitution. We show that calibrations of risk aversion are typically larger than estimates thereof. Moreover, reported estimates are typically larger than the underlying risk aversion because of publication bias. After correction for the bias, the literature suggests a mean risk aversion of 1 in economics and 2--7 in finance contexts. The reported estimates are systematically driven by the characteristics of data (frequency, dimension, country, stockholding) and utility (functional form, treatment of durables). To obtain these results we use nonlinear techniques to correct for publication bias and Bayesian model averaging techniques to account for model uncertainty. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260586/1/RRA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83, D81, D90 Keywords: Euler equation, risk aversion, Epstein-Zin preferences, meta-analysis, publication bias, Bayesian model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260586 #END 569 #BEGIN 570 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the Duty-Free Quota-Free Market access Schemes in favour of Least developed countries' Products on the Volatility of the Utilization Rate of these Schemes Abstract: Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) accord a special attention to the integration of the least developed countries (LDCs) into the global trading system. A major Decision in favour of LDCs adopted by WTO Trade Ministers was the one concerning the Duty-Free-Quota-Free (DFQF) market access for products originating in LDCs. The Decision requests that developed-country Members, and developing-country Members in a position to do so, to provide DFQF market access for at least 97% of products originating from LDCs. The present paper investigates whether the DFQF market access schemes offered by the Quadrilateral (i.e., Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United States) to LDCs have helped reduce the volatility of the utilization rates of these generous preferences. The theoretical hypothesis tested is that the minimum target of '97%' and the unlimited duration of the schemes (as long as beneficiaries do not lose the LDC status) have increased the market access predictability as well as the potential benefits of the schemes for LDCs' trading firms, and could hence result in a lower volatility of LDCs' utilization of these schemes. To perform the analysis, we compare LDCs' performance in terms of the volatility of the utilization rate of the DFQF market access schemes with the performance of other designated LICs by the International Monetary Fund, that did not the benefits of the DFQF schemes, and whose products enjoyed less generous preferential treatment. The comparison of the performance of these two groups was made over the period from 2014 to 2019 versus the period from 2004 to 2013. Results have lent credence to the theoretical hypothesis by revealing that the DFQF market access initiative has genuinely been instrumental in reducing the volatility of the utilization rate of these generous preferences schemes in LDCs. The policy implications of the analysis are discussed. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260567/1/Paper%20DFQF%20Market%20Access%20and%20UR%20Volatility.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14 Keywords: DFQF market access, Volatility of the utilization of DFQF market access schemes, Least developed countries, Difference-in-Difference approach Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260567 #END 570 #BEGIN 571 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Duration of the Membership in the World Trade Organization and Aid for Trade Flows Abstract: Recently, Lee et al. (2015 (The World Economy, 38, 2015 and 1462) have found that developing countries members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) received higher Aid for Trade (AfT) flows than non-WTO developing members. The present paper extends this analysis by investigating the effect of the duration of WTO membership (and not the mere membership in the WTO) on the amounts of AfT flows that accrue to recipient countries. The main argument in the analysis is that the duration of WTO membership matters more than the mere WTO membership for AfT recipient countries' degree of liberalization of trade regime and participation in international trade, the latter being a critical determinant of the AfT flows supplied by donors. The analysis has used a panel dataset of 136 countries over the period from 2002 to 2019, and the two-step generalized methods of moments estimator. It has established that countries receive higher AfT flows as their membership duration increases, and the amounts of these resource inflows increase as recipient countries further liberalize their trade regime and further participate in international trade. Additionally, the effect of the duration of WTO membership on total AfT flows depends on donor-countries' commercial self-interest in recipient countries, including the latter's economic growth performance and endowment in natural resources. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260562/1/Paper%20on%20WTO%20and%20Aid%20for%20Trade.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F1, O19 Keywords: Duration of WTO membership, Aid for Trade, Developing Countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260562 #END 571 #BEGIN 572 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lorey, Thierry Author-Name: Mughal, Mazhar Author-Name: Javed, Rashid Title: Pandemic buying: Covid-19 and purchasing behaviour of French households Abstract: In this study, we use comprehensive French consumer data from the Nielsen ScanTrack retailer panel to analyse the progression of purchasing trends of French households during the coronavirus outbreak. Our results are threefold: First, we observe three temporal phases, namely the normal (pre-Covid-19) period, the anticipation period, and the lockdown period. During the three weeks of anticipation (24 February – 15 March), sales of basic and cleaning products increased by 17%. The first week of the preventive lockdown saw panic buying with sales jumping by 30%, followed by a more subdued growth during the subsequent weeks of the lockdown. We found these time trends to be similar to those observed in Italy and Spain. Second, sales of the hypermarkets fell by 6% during the lockdown, while those of supermarkets and convenience stores rose by 13% and 28% respectively. Online sales through drive stores (80%) and home delivery (93%) showed the highest growth. Covid-19 appears to have accentuated the joint evolution of two major phenomena: strong development of E-commerce, and the desire of the households to visit small shops close to their homes. Third, in terms of product categories, we observe an increase in basic, easy-to-store food products, an increasing consumption of fresh, local & organic products, a significant increase in the purchase of basic hygiene products, and a decline in the purchase of cosmetics. In the latter case, Covid-19 seems to have accentuated a fundamental trend in household purchases in France: "eat local". Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260541/1/Pandemic%20buying%20Covid-19%20and%20purchasing%20behaviour%20of%20French%20households-%2017%20June%202022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D14, E00, G51, I10 Keywords: Covid-19, lockdown, purchasing behaviour, France, Italy, Spain Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260541 #END 572 #BEGIN 573 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Liu, Yinan Author-Name: Zai, Xianhua Title: Does Aging at Home Make Older Adults Healthy: Evidence from Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Abstract: The Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) subsidizes long-term care to satisfy the increasing desire to age at home among older adults. The HCBS program may improve health outcomes of this population by allowing them to age-in-place, but less quality and quantity of home-based care comparing to nursing home care could offset some of the potential benefits. We use plausibly exogenous policy expenditure across states over time linked with detailed health information from the restricted Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to identify the causal effects of HCBS on general health, physical health, and mental health of older adults. Overall, our findings suggest that HCBS is beneficial to health: a $1,000 increase in HCBS per older person improves health status by 6 percent, mitigates functional mobility limitations by 5 percent, and reduces negative psychological feelings by 10 percent. The positive effect on physical health is concentrated among people with limited financial resources, while the reducing impact on mental health is significant among the richer group. The HCBS program improves health outcomes mainly through three mechanisms: decreasing risk behavior on drinking, increasing healthcare use, and spending more time accompanying with family. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260523/1/chapter3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I12, I18, I30 Keywords: Medicaid HCBS, Long-Term Care, Health, Aging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249565 #END 573 #BEGIN 574 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Misconel, Steffi Author-Name: Prina, Matteo Giacomo Author-Name: Hobbie, Hannes Author-Name: Möst, Dominik Author-Name: Sparber, Wolfram Title: How to determine bottom-up model-derived marginal CO₂ abatement cost curves with high temporal, sectoral, and techno-economic resolution? Abstract: Marginal CO2 abatement cost curves derived from bottom-up or top-down models are widely used by policymakers to determine the least-cost sequential order of decarbonization measures and the most effective decarbonization strategies. However, most model-based methods lack high temporal, sectoral, and techno-economic resolution. To address these limitations, this paper presents a linear optimization method with an hourly resolution for a sector-coupled power system to derive step-wise CO2 abatement cost curves. A step-wise marginal CO2 abatement cost curve is calculated based on hundreds of hourly dispatch model runs, giving a high level of detail on techno-economic, inter-temporal, and inter-sectoral interactions. Results demonstrate a dynamic relationship between technology-specific CO2 abatement costs, CO2 emission reductions, and total system cost development per installed decarbonization measure. Moreover, the results indicate how competing flexibility and decarbonization options interact and how least-cost decarbonization pathways can be reached. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260472/1/Working_paper_Misconel_et_al.%20%282022%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: decarbonization measure, flexibility option, linear optimization, marginal abatement cost curve, sector-coupling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260472 #END 574 #BEGIN 575 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nübler, Laura Author-Name: Busse, Reinhard Author-Name: Siegel, Martin Title: The role of consumer choice in out-of-pocket spending on health: A mixed-methods approach Abstract: Analyses of out-of-pocket healthcare spending often suffer from an inability to distinguish necessary from optional spending in the data without making further assumptions. We propose a two-dimensional rating of the spending categories often available in household budget survey data where we consider the requirement to pay for necessary healthcare as one dimension and the incentive to pay extra for additional services, higher quality options or more convenience as a second dimension to assess the distortionary potential of higher spending for additional healthcare or higher quality options. We use three waves of a large German Household Budget Survey and decompose the Kakwani-index of total out-of-pocket healthcare spending into contributions of the eleven spending categories available in our data, across which user charge regulations vary considerably. We compute and decompose Kakwani-indexes for the different spending categories to compare the degrees of regressiveness across them. The results suggest that categories with higher incentives for additional spending exhibit smaller contributions to the overall regressive effect of total out-of-pocket spending than categories where spending is presumably mostly on necessary and effective care. Assessing the consumer choice potential of different spending categories is important because extra spending among the better-off may outweigh necessary spending in aggregate expenditure data, and may also hint at potential inequalities in the quality of provided healthcare. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/260395/1/Nuebler_Busse_Siegel.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, H23, I13, I18 Keywords: out-of-pocket spending on health, Kakwani index, consumer choice, mixed-methods, decomposition analysis, health insurance; Germany Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:260395 #END 575 #BEGIN 576 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rösch, Fabian Author-Name: Conrad, Alexander Title: Crowdlogistik im ländlichen Raum - Ergebnisse einer Innovationsbarrieren-Ausprägungs- und -Bewältigungsanalyse Abstract: Crowdlogistik bezeichnet die Organisation von Transporttätigkeiten durch heterogene Akteure, die von einem technischen System koordiniert werden. Bislang findet Crowdlogistik vor allem in Städten statt. Hier scheint ein hinreichend großes Potenzial für wirtschaftlich tragfähige Ansätze zu bestehen. Mit dem Ziel der Ertüchtigung der Versorgungsstrukturen im ländlichen Raum werden derzeit in Deutschland verschiedene Mikro- oder auch Smart-Logistikansätze gefördert und erprobt. Teils setzen diese auf Crowdlogistik. Vor diesem Hintergrund steht im Mittelpunkt des Papiers, welches Potenzial Crowdlogistik im ländlichen Raum besitzt. Auf der Basis einer Innovationsbarrieren-Ausprägungs- und -Bewältigungsanalyse (IABA) werden die Potenziale der Crowdlogistik in ländlichen Räumen betrachtet. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass Crowdlogistik aus einer rein ökonomischen Perspektive in ländlichen Räumen eher schwer zu realisieren ist. Ergänzend wird deshalb auf ökologische und soziale Aspekte abgestellt, die die Betrachtung erweitern und relevante Ansatzpunkte für eine Anwendung von Crowdlogistik auch in der Fläche liefern. Abstract: Crowdlogistics refers to the organization of transport activities by heterogeneous actors coordinated by a technical system. So far, crowd logistics has mainly taken place in cities. Here, there appears to be sufficient potential for economically viable approaches. With the aim of improving supply structures in rural areas, a large number of micro or smart logistics approaches are currently being promoted and tested in Germany. Some of these also rely on crowd logistics. Against this background, the paper focuses on the potential of crowd logistics in rural areas. On the basis of an innovation barrier analysis (IABA), the potential of crowd logistics in rural areas is examined. The results indicate that crowdlogistics is rather difficult to realize in rural areas from a purely economic perspective. Therefore, the analysis is supplemented by ecological and social aspects, which broaden the analysis and provide relevant starting points for the application of crowd logistics in rural areas. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/259789/1/2022-06-07%20Crowd%20Logistik%20im%20la%cc%88ndlichen%20Raum.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I30, L84, R11, R12, R20 Keywords: Versorgungssysteme, Regionalökonomie, Nachhaltigkeit, Crowd Logistics, Smart Logistics, ländlicher Raum Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:259789 #END 576 #BEGIN 577 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Janda, Karel Author-Name: Kravec, Peter Title: VECM Modelling of the Price Dynamics for Fuels, Agricultural Commodities and Biofuels Abstract: This paper investigates the dynamics of price transmission among ethanol a biodiesel related prices on the Brazilian, US and EU markets. The prices of commodities related to the biofuels are examined under the Johansen co-integration test followed by the Vector Error Correction Model over the period 2003-2020. The period was further divided into 4 periods, defined on the base of the dynamics of world food prices. Together we had 858 weekly observations mostly captured on Friday. In most cases, our result indicates a co-movement, the strength of which changes over periods. The price transmission revealed by our estimations was stronger for Brazilian sugarcane-based ethanol and European biodiesel than for US corn-based ethanol and related commodities. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/259404/1/WPKrav1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q42, Q54 Keywords: biodiesel, ethanol, price transmission, fuel, food Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:259404 #END 577 #BEGIN 578 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Benes, Ondrej Author-Name: Janda, Karel Title: Environmental Dimensions of Biofuels Abstract: This paper deals with non-economic problems of biofuel development. Firstly we look at a complex of issues surrounding the food-fuel debate, which is concerned mainly with the efficiency of use of land resources for the production of biofuel feedstock rather than for production of food for human consumption. Secondly we look at other environment and health related problems of extensive biofuels production. Lastly we briefly acknowledge the existence of a large block of socio-economic impacts of biofuels. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/259403/1/WP2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q42, Q55, Q58 Keywords: Biofuels, land, food, environment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:259403 #END 578 #BEGIN 579 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Sartzetakis, Eftichios S. Author-Name: Xepapadeas, Anastasios Title: Firm Competition and Cooperation with Norm-Based Preferences for Sustainability Abstract: We analyze firms incentives to coordinate on the introduction of a more sustainable product variant when consumers preferences for greater sustainability depend on the perceived social norm, which in turn is shaped by average consumption behavior. Such preferences lead to multiple equilibria. If the more sustainable variant allows firms to sufficiently expand their aggregate market share, when a lenient legal regime makes this feasible they will coordinate on the more sustainable outcome. If their aggregate market share however does not expand sufficiently under the more sustainable variant, coordination can forestall a more sustainable outcome. Our analysis thus both confirms and qualifies the notion of a sustainability first-mover disadvantage as a justification for an agreement between competitors, which has gained traction in antitrust. We also provide empirical evidence for norm-based sustainability preferences. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/259402/1/Inderst_Sartzetakis_Xepapadeas_Fim%20Competition%20and%20Cooperation_202205.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Sustainability, Antitrust, Firm Cooperation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:259402 #END 579 #BEGIN 580 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Honda, Jun Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Ottaviani, Marco Title: When Liability is Not Enough: Regulating Bonus Payments in Markets With Advice Abstract: We introduce a model of advice in which firms steer advisors through nonlinear incentive schemes. In addition to developing an isomorphism to pricing with mixed bundling, we obtain three main insights. First, firms optimally use nonlinear bonuses to economize on the rent paid to advisors. Second, equilibrium bonus payments induce advisors to make biased recommendations that are artificially contingent on each other, resulting in an inefficient allocation. Third, if advisor liability is stepped up, firms respond by increasing the size of the bonus, leaving advisor bias unchanged. These results support direct regulatory interference on the way advisors are compensated. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/259401/1/Honda_Inderst_Ottaviani_When%20Liability%20is%20not%20enough_202205.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: bonus payments, nonlinear incentive schemes, advisor incentivization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:259401 #END 580 #BEGIN 581 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Two Approaches of Measuring Intra-industry Trade Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of measuring intra-industry trade. In section 2, it presents two existing approaches (Balboni, 2007) to measuring intra-industry trade: the so called “recovery of trade”, developed by Balassa (1966); Grubel and Lloyd (1975) & the “type of trade” one initiated by Abd-el Rahman (1986b); Vona (1991). Then this paper presents indicators and empirical methods inspired by these two approaches. Notions of trade recovery & trade type come from two different definitions of the empirical phenomena they aim to measure. This paper also discusses these definitions and the theoretical foundations in the section 3. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/259000/1/Problem.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:259000 DOI: 10.33774/coe-2022-ttphh #END 581 #BEGIN 582 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Schiele, Johanna Title: Flexible green hydrogen: Economic benefits without increasing power sector emissions Abstract: Electrolytic hydrogen complements renewable energy in many net-zero energy scenarios. In these long-term scenarios with full decarbonization, the “greenness” of hydrogen is without question. In current energy systems, however, the ramp-up of hydrogen production may cause additional emissions. To avoid this potential adverse effect, recently proposed EU regulation defines strict requirements for electrolytic hydrogen to qualify as green: electrolyzers must run on additional renewable generation, which is produced in a temporally and geographically congruent manner. Focusing on the temporal dimension, this paper argues in favor of a more flexible definition of green hydrogen, which keeps the additionality criterion on a yearly basis but allows for dispatch optimization on a market basis within that period. We develop a model that optimizes dispatch and investment of a wind-hydrogen system—including wind turbines, hydrogen electrolysis, and hydrogen storage—and apply the model to a German case study based on data from 2017-2021. Contrasting different regulatory conditions, we show that a flexible definition of green hydrogen can reduce costs without additional power sector emissions. By contrast, requiring simultaneity implies that a rational investor would build a much larger wind turbine, hydrogen electrolyzer, and hydrogen storage than needed. This leads to additional costs, underutilized resources, and a potential slow-down of green hydrogen deployment. We discuss that current trends in the energy transition are likely to amplify the economic and environmental benefits of a flexible definition of green hydrogen and recommend this as the way forward for a sustainable hydrogen policy. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/258999/1/Ruhnau%20and%20Schiele%202022.%20Flexible%20green%20hydrogen.%20Working%20Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:258999 Note: Please cite as: Ruhnau, O., Schiele, J. (2023): "Flexible green hydrogen: The effect of relaxing simultaneity requirements on project design, economics, and power sector emissions", Energy Policy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113763 #END 582 #BEGIN 583 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Momanyi, Kevin Title: Telecare and Unplanned Hospitalization in Scotland: Evidence From Linked Survey and Administrative Data Abstract: In the face of increasing health care costs, policy makers in Scotland are interested in coming up with innovative ways of reducing unplanned hospital admissions. This paper investigates whether the use of telecare devices could be one such way. Unlike the previous studies looking into the same issue, we link the Scottish Homecare Census data to three other information sources-including the Scottish Morbidity Records-and estimate the treatment effect using time series analysis. We also employ an estimation strategy that controls for various methodological challenges associated with the analysis of observational data. A key highlight of our investigation is that the type of telecare device matters in as far as reducing unplanned hospitalization is concerned. For instance, when we conduct an analysis of the effect of using a community alarm, we find community alarm users to have a lower likelihood of being hospitalized as emergency cases than non-users, holding other factors constant. When we, however, consider the other telecare devices, the results show the opposite effect. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/256933/1/Telecare%20and%20unplanned%20hospitalisation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Unplanned hospital admissions, Telecare, Time series analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:256933 #END 583 #BEGIN 584 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ayaita, Adam Title: Does Money Change Who You Are? Quasi-Experimental Evidence on the Effects of Wage Increases on Personality Creation-Date: 2022 Classification-JEL: A12, D31, D63, J31, J38 Keywords: income, minimum wage, money, personality, quasi-experiment, wage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:256931 #END 584 #BEGIN 585 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Griem, Fabian Author-Name: Schaffer, Greg Title: Tying under Double-Marginalization Abstract: In a model of contractual inefficiencies due to double-marginalization, we analyze the practice of tied rebates that incentivizes retailers to purchase multiple products from the same manufacturer. We isolate two opposing effects: a surplus-sharing effect that enhances efficiency and a rent-extraction effect that reduces efficiency. The overall effect is more likely to be negative when the manufacturer has a particularly strong brand for which the retailers alternatives are much inferior. Foreclosure of a more efficient provider of the manufacturers weaker product is not a sufficient condition for a welfare loss. Our key positive implication relates to the seemingly inefficient introduction of weaker products by the owners of particularly strong brands. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/254324/1/Tying-Double-Marginalization.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L14, D43 Keywords: contractual inefficiencies, double-marginalization, competition, surplus-sharing effect, rent-extraction effect, efficiency, brand strength Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:254324 #END 585 #BEGIN 586 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Sartzetakis, Eftichios S. Author-Name: Xepapadeas, Anastasios Title: Firm Competition and Cooperation with Norm-Based Preferences for Sustainability Abstract: We analyze firms incentives to coordinate on the introduction of a more sustainable product variant when consumers preferences for greater sustainability depend on the perceived social norm, which in turn is shaped by average consumption behavior. Such preferences lead to multiple equilibria. If the more sustainable variant allows firms to sufficiently expand their aggregate market share, when a lenient legal regime makes this feasible they will coordinate on the more sustainable outcome. If their aggregate market share however does not expand sufficiently under the more sustainable variant, coordination can forestall a more sustainable outcome. Our analysis thus both confrms and qualifies the notion of a sustainability first-mover disadvantage as a justification for an agreement between competitors, which has gained traction in antitrust. We also provide empirical evidence for norm-based sustainability preferences. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/254323/1/Sustainability-Revision-File-Mai-2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A13, D11, D22, K21, L11 Keywords: Sustainability, Antitrust, Firm Cooperation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:254323 #END 586 #BEGIN 587 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daske, Thomas Author-Name: March, Christoph Title: Efficient Incentives with Social Preferences Abstract: This study explores mechanism design with allocation-based social preferences. Agents' social preferences and private payoffs are all subject to asymmetric information. We assume quasi-linear utility and independent types. We show that the asymmetry of information about agents' social preferences can be operationalized to satisfy agents' participation constraints. Our main result is a possibility result for groups of at least three agents: If endowments are sufficiently large, any such group can resolve any given allocation problem with an ex-post budget-balanced mechanism that is Bayesian incentive-compatible, interim individually rational, and ex-post Pareto-efficient. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/254263/1/Efficient%20Incentives%20with%20Social%20Preferences.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C72, C78, D62, D82 Keywords: mechanism design, social preferences, Bayesian implementation, participation constraints Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:254263 #END 587 #BEGIN 588 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Thomas, Stefan Title: Legal Design in Sustainable Antitrust Abstract: We lay out a roadmap for how the legislator could create a framework of "sustainability corridors" that would allow to rely on the ancillary restraints doctrine to make antitrust law more accommodating of sustainability considerations. We show how this avoids the pitfalls of a multi-goals approach, under which it would be left to antitrust authorities and courts to reconcile sustainability and competition objectives, while out-of-market benefits (externalities), that would escape even a broad consumer welfare approach, can still be accounted for. Our proposal sets out specific requirements for such sustainability corridors that ensure that the ensuing antitrust assessment is governed by a strict and quantifiable indispensability test. Specifically, we discuss three such instances: specific sustainability obligations placed on individual firms, which may however require collective actions; specific mandates that are targeted at the respective industry rather than individual firms; and policy objectives that are not targeted at individual firms or industries but provide a metric for the measurement of sustainability benefits (e.g., by way of conducting an abatement cost analysis). Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253671/1/Inderst_Thomas_Legal_Design_in_Sustainable_Antitrust__15_03_22__1_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D4 Keywords: sustainability, ancillary restraints doctrine Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253671 #END 588 #BEGIN 589 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Opp, Markus Title: Socially Optimal Sustainability Standards with Non-Consequentialist ("Warm Glow") Investors Abstract: Agencies around the world are in the process of developing taxonomies and standards for sustainable (or ESG) investment products. A key assumption in our model is that of non-consequentialist private investors (households) who derive a "warm glow" decisional utility when purchasing an investment product that is labelled as sustainable. We ask when such labelling is socially beneficial even when the socialplanner can impose a minimum standard on investment and production. In a model of financial constraints (Holmström and Tirole 1997), which we close to include consumer surplus, we also determine the optimal labelling threshold and show how its stringency is affected by determinants such as the prevalence of warm-glow investor preferences, the presence of social network effects, or the relevance of financial constraints at the industry level. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253670/1/20220215_Sustainable_Investment%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: sustainability, ESG, green financing, labelling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253670 #END 589 #BEGIN 590 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heider, Florian Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Title: A Corporate Finance Perspective on Environmental Policy Abstract: This paper examines optimal enviromental policy when external financing is costly for firms. We introduce emission externalities and industry equilibrium in the Holmström and Tirole (1997) model of corporate finance. While a cap-and-trading system optimally governs both firms` abatement activities (internal emission margin) and industry size (external emission margin) when firms have sufficient internal funds, external financing constraints introduce a wedge between these two objectives. When a sector is financially constrained in the aggregate, the optimal cap is strictly above the Pigouvian benchmark and emission allowances should be allocated below market prices. When a sector is not financially constrained in the aggregate, a cap that is below the Pigiouvian benchmark optimally shifts market share to less polluting firms and, moreover, there should be no "grandfathering" of emission allowances. With financial constraints and heterogeneity across firms or sectors, a uniform policy, such as a single cap-and-trade system, is typically not optimal. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253669/1/Heider_Inderst_Corporate_Finance_and_Environment_1222.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O16, L16, H23 Keywords: pigou tax, financing, climate change Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253669 #END 590 #BEGIN 591 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Thomas, Stefan Title: The Scope and Limitations of Incorporating Externalities in Competition Analysis within a Consumer Welfare Approach Abstract: The failure to fully internalize externalities from production and consumption, including on future generations, is supposed to be at the core of the perceived failure to ensure (ecological) sustainability within the realm of antitrust enforcement. As policymakers put increasing pressure on competition agencies to account for sustainability in their enforcement practice, it becomes pivotal to define whether and, if so, how such externalities can be incorporated into competition analysis. Rather than positing that sustainability should constitute a goal in itself, we explore how sustainability can be incorporated within a consumer welfare analysis. Our paper makes a key distinction between what we term an individualistic and a collective consumer welfare analysis. Within an individualistic consumer welfare analysis, consumers' willingness-to-pay is measured ceteris paribus, holding other consumers' choices fixed. We explore how, e.g., through contingent valuation and conjoint analysis, consumers' appreciation of sustainability benefits and with it the reduction of externalities on others can be elicited. Specifically, we discuss how the context-sensitivity of extracted willingness-to-pay provides both challenges and opportunities for antitrust enforcement in the context of sustainability measures. In a collective consumer welfare analysis, consumers may express their willingness-to-pay also for the choices of others and, thereby, also for the reduction of externalities on themselves. Borrowing from environmental and resource economics, we also discuss more indirect ways of incorporating such externalities. And we critically assess the possibility of "laundering" consumers' sustainability preferences in the light of supposed biases and cognitive limitations. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253668/1/Inderst_Thomas_Externalities_23.12%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A13, K21, K32 Keywords: sustainability, externalities, willingness-to-pay Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253668 #END 591 #BEGIN 592 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Obradovits, Martin Title: Loss Leading as a Threat to Brands Abstract: Manufacturers frequently resist heavy discounting of their products by retailers, especially when they are used as so-called loss leaders. Since low prices should increase demand and manufacturers could simply refuse to fund deep price promotions, such resistance is puzzling at first sight. We explain this phenomenon in a model in which price promotions cause shoppers to potentially reassess the relative importance of quality and price, as they evaluate these attributes relative to a market-wide reference point. With deep discounting, quality can become relatively less important, eroding brand value and the bargaining position of brand manufacturers. This reduces their profits and potentially even leads to a delisting of their products. Linking price promotions to increased one-stop shopping and more intense retail competition, our theory also contributes to the explanation of the rise of store brands. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253667/1/Discounting_14.9.21%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D11, D22, D43, L11, L15 Keywords: loss leading, relative thinking, reference-depending preferences, product positioning, vertical differentiation, price competition, price promotion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253667 #END 592 #BEGIN 593 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Obradovits, Martin Title: Excessive Competition on Headline Prices Abstract: In a variety of purchasing situations, consumers may focus primarily on headline prices, ignoring the full costs associated with acquiring and maintaining a product or service contract. Even when this is the case, it is widely believed that intense competition would adequately protect consumers (the so-called "waterbed effect"). However, in a tractable model of imperfect competition and vertical differentiation, we show that when consumers exhibit context-dependent preferences, competition may rather exacerbate their and society's harm. Then, consumer protection policy must sufficiently constrain hidden costs and fees so that competition, along with high-quality firms' incentives to educate consumers, can restore efficiency. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253666/1/Shrouding_Submission_Combined_File_Sept_2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D11, D18, D21, D43, D60, L11, L13, L15 Keywords: shrouded charges, hidden fees, price competition, shopping, salience, unshrouding Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253666 #END 593 #BEGIN 594 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brancatelli, Calogero Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Title: Income and Consumption over the Business Cycle: Evidence from Matched Administrative Data Abstract: This paper revisits the effects of income changes on consumption of private households by focusing on a commonly disregarded and yet sizeable component of household expenditures: consumption of food and non-food consumer packaged goods. We exploit a new data source from the Netherlands that combines on the level of individual households administrative data from tax records with household scanner data, thus minimizing measurement error for both expenditures and the key explanatory variable, household disposable income. Even after controlling for differences in needs and for consumption volume, we document significant variation in expenditures and thereby reveal substantial scope for potential savings. Still, even though the Netherlands experienced a recession and a subsequent recovery in the analysed period from 2011 to 2018, we find only an economically small relationship with income, which is also not higher for households with low income or low liquidity. Despite remaining small in magnitude, we document inter alia a much higher coefficient for single households. We can exclude various potentially confounding effects as we show that retailers practice national pricing and as we control for sample composition and potential substitution between in-house and out-of-house consumption. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253665/1/20210912_consumption_paper%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D12, E21, E32, M30 Keywords: income effects, consumer-packaged goods, administrative data Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253665 #END 594 #BEGIN 595 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Kotschedoff, Marco Author-Name: Kuhlmann, Raphael Title: Cartel Damage Mitigation from Retailers’ Store Brands Abstract: As store brands (or private labels) are not only common in many product categories but are often procured competitively from different sources or even through vertical integration, they may be not or much less directly affected by a cartel induced overcharge. The first part of this article provides the economic foundations for how we should expect retailers to optimally adjust their store brand prices when facing higher wholesale prices on national brands. While retailers should pass on at least some of the overcharge for national brands, resulting in a price increase for national brands, theoretically their optimal response with respect to store brands is ambiguous, as there are two potentially opposing effect, a "demand diversion effect" and a "margin effect". Consumers could thus face either lower or higher store brand prices when there is a cartel of brand manufacturers. In any case, however, the optimal reaction of retailers allows them to mitigate the immediate damage inflicted by the overcharge on national brands, which raises the question to what extent such mitigation should be accounted for in follow-on cases. In the second part of the paper we illustrate our arguments with an empirical analysis of the German coffee cartel. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253664/1/Cartel_Damage_Mitigation_from_Retailers_Store_Brands.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Cartel damages, umbrella claims, store brands, damage mitigation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253664 #END 595 #BEGIN 596 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Obradovits, Martin Title: Why Brand Manufacturers Should Take Loss Leading Seriously Abstract: Manufacturers frequently resist heavy discounting of their products by retailers, especially when they are used as so-called loss leaders. Since low prices should increase demand and manufacturers could simply refuse to fund deep price promotions, such resistance is puzzling at first sight. We explain this phenomenon in a model in which price promotions cause shoppers to potentially reassess the relative importance of quality and price, as they evaluate these attributes relative to a market-wide reference point. With deep discounting, quality can become relatively less important, eroding brand value and the bargaining position of brand manufacturers, hurting their profits and potentially even leading to a delisting of their products. Linking price promotions to increased one-stop shopping and more intense retail competition, our theory also contributes to the explanation of the rise of store brands. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253663/1/Discounts_Submission_Nov_2020%20%282%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D11, D22, D43, L11, L15 Keywords: loss-leading, product positioning, price competition, price promotion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253663 #END 596 #BEGIN 597 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bönisch, Peter Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Title: Ein Vorschlag zur Würdigung vermeintlich widersprüchlicher empirischer Evidenz im kartellrechtlichen Kontext Abstract: Die Vorlage von in der Regel unterschiedlicher ökonometrischer Evidenz durch die verschiedenen Parteien birgt die Gefahr, dass diese vor Gericht ohne weitere Analyse als widersprüchlich erachtet und damit ggf. sogar gänzlich ignoriert werden. Mittels des Konzepts der "severity" oder "Schwere" einer vorgelegten Evidenz entwickeln wir ein einfaches Vorgehen, durch das zwischen Fällen einer tatsächlichen oder nur vermeintlichen Widersprüchlichkeit unterschieden werden kann. Wir schlagen ebenfalls eine Verfahren vor, wie im Falle einer lediglich vermeintlichen Widersprüchlichkeit eine Gesamtwürdigung erfolgen kann. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253662/1/Boenisch_Inderst_Evidenz_Severity_SSRN_June_2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253662 #END 597 #BEGIN 598 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Griem, Fabian Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Title: Bargaining over Royalties in the Shadow of Litigation Abstract: We model negotiations over patent royalties in the shadow of litigation through a Nash-in-Nash approach, where outside options, triggered in case of disagreement, are derived from a subsequent game of litigation. The outcome of litigation depends both on "hard determinants", such as relative patent strength, and on "soft determinants", such as parties' efficacy in litigation or their (known) preparedness to disrupt negotiations in favor of litigation. Amongst other things, this has implications for the interpretation of observed royalties in empirical analysis. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253661/1/Bargaining_over_Royalties_in_the_Shadow_of_Litigation_03.20%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C71, D45, O34 Keywords: Royalties, Litigation, Nash-in-Nash Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253661 #END 598 #BEGIN 599 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Milde, Christopher Title: A Practical Review of Methods to Estimate Overcharges using Linear Regression Abstract: Arguably the most widely used techniques for estimating price overcharges from competition law infringements are the dummy variable and the forecasting approaches using linear regression analysis. While rarely used in practice, in this note we make use of the fully interacted dummy variable approach to review some basic properties of all three approaches. We show under which conditions and for which estimands of interest these approaches are equivalent and when they differ. We also note some interesting additional choices an interaction approach allows. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253660/1/inderst_milde_2018%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253660 #END 599 #BEGIN 600 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hoffmann, Florian Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Turlo, Sergey Title: Regulating Cancellation Rights with Consumer Experimentation Abstract: Embedding consumer experimentation with a product or service into a market environment, we find that unregulated contracts induce too few returns or cancella tions, as they do not internalize a pecuniary externality on other firms in the market. Forcing firms to let consumers learn longer by imposing a commonly observed statutory minimum cancellation or refund period is socially efficient only when firms appropriate much of the market surplus, while it backfires otherwise. Interestingly, cancellation rights are a poor predictor of competition, as in the unregulated out come firms grant particularly generous rights when competition is neither too low nor too high. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253659/1/Regulating_Cancellation_Rights_with_Consumer_Experimentation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253659 #END 600 #BEGIN 601 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Obradovits, Martin Title: Competitive Strategies when Consumers are Relative Thinkers: Implications for Pricing, Promotions, and Product Choice Abstract: How should firms optimally choose prices and promotional strategies and how should they position their products when consumers are "relative thinkers"? We provide answers in a model that extends the seminal contributions of Varian (1980) and Narasimhan (1988) and derive both managerial implications and implications for empirical researchers with regards to promotional frequency and depth as well as observed product heterogeneity in the market. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253658/1/Competitive_Strategies.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253658 #END 601 #BEGIN 602 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Honda, Jun Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Title: Nonlinear Incentives and Advisor Bias Abstract: We analyze firms' competition to steer an advisor's recommendations through potentially non-linear incentives. Even when firms are symmetric, so that the overall size of compensation would not distort advice when incentives were linear, advice is biased when firms are allowed to make compensation nonlinear, which they optimally do. Policies that target an advisor's liability are largely ineffective, as firms react to such increased liability by making incentives even steeper, increasing bonus payments while reducing the linear (commission) part at the same time. This observation may justify policymakers' direct interference with firms' compensation practice, as frequently observed notably in consumer finance. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253657/1/SSRN-id3088484.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L51, M52 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253657 #END 602 #BEGIN 603 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Roman Author-Name: Pfeil, Sebastian Title: An "Image Theory" of RPM Abstract: We show how a brand manufacturer's control over retail prices can lead to efficiencies when consumers rely on prices as a signal of quality. For this we first show how higher prices can be associated with both higher quality perception as well as higher actual quality. We next identify a conflict of interest between retailers and manufactures. Retailers do not internalize the ensuing reputation spill-over that higher prices have on demand at all outlets. And they have less incentives to support brand image through higher prices as this erodes their own position in negotiations while increasing that of the manufacturer. Our efficiency defence for RPM thus applies even when retailers need not be incentivized to undertake non-contractible activities, as in our model the key opportunism problem, with respect to quality provision, lies between the manufacturer and consumers. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253656/1/Image_Theory.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253656 #END 603 #BEGIN 604 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Gbolonyo, Emmanuel Author-Name: Dossou, Marcel A. Author-Name: Nkrumah, Richard K. Title: Remittances and Income Inequality in Africa: Financial Development Thresholds for Economic Policy Abstract: The study employs macrodata on 42 African countries to examine whether remittances and financial development (including the sub-components of access, depth and efficiency) contribute to the equalisation of incomes across the continent. Robust evidence from the dynamic GMM estimator shows that: (i) remittances heighten income inequality in Africa, (ii) Africa's financial system is not potent enough for repacking remittances towards the equalisation of incomes, and (iii) vis-à-vis financial access and depth, inefficiencies characterising Africa's financial institution is the main reason remittances contribute to the widening of the income disparity gap. Nonetheless, the optimism which we provide by way of threshold analysis shows that channelling efforts into the development of Africa's financial sector could yield shared income distribution dividends. In particular, efforts should be made to achieve a minimum of 23.05 per cent of financial access, and 3.02 per cent for that of efficiency of financial institutions if Africa's financial sector is to repackage external finance towards the equalisation of incomes. A few policy recommendations are provided in the end. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253654/1/Ofori-et-al-2022-Remittances-FD-Inequality.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, F24, G21, I3, N37, O11, O55 Keywords: Africa, Financial Development, Financial Sector Efficiency, Income Inequality, Remittances Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253654 #END 604 #BEGIN 605 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Conrad, Alexander Title: Nutzung und Nutzen wohnortnaher Paketdepots im ländlichen Raum als Teil einer smarten Logistik - Modellierung und erste Empirie Abstract: Im Mittelpunkt des Papiers steht die Untersuchung der Nutzung und des Nutzens wohnortnaher Paketdepots im ländlichen Raum. Neben ökonomischen werden auch soziale und ökologische Aspekte der Nutzung einbezogen. Hierzu wird ein mathematisches Modell entwickelt und präsentiert. Ziel ist, die (theoretischen) Bedingungen herausfinden, die für die Nutzung von Depots vor allem in ländlichen Gebieten entscheidend sind. Die Ergebnisse der Modellierung zeigen, dass der Einsatz (Nutzen) von wohnortnahen Paketdepots von (mindestens) vier Faktoren abhängt: Erstens von der durchschnittlichen Entfernung in der Region, die ein Verbraucher bzw. eine Verbraucherin zurücklegen muss, um ein Produkt zu kaufen. Zweitens von der Anzahl der Paketshops in der Region. Drittens von der durchschnittlichen Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass der Paketdienst einen Verbraucher bzw. eine Verbraucherin zu Hause antrifft, um ein Produkt auszuliefern und viertens von den Mobilitätskosten, die mit der Überwindung von Entfernungen in der Region in Verbindung stehen. Da bis heute keine ländlichen Regionen bekannt sind, in denen wohnortnahe Paketdepots vorkommen, ist die Möglichkeit zur Überprüfung der Modellvorhersagen begrenzt. Um aber dennoch eine Verbindung zur Lebensrealität in ländlichen Regionen herzustellen, wurde die Modellierung exemplarisch an einer Region (Landkreis Uckermark / Land Brandenburg) getestet. In der Summe zeigt sich, dass sich der Nutzen und hiernach die Nutzung wohnortnaher Depots allein mit Blick auf ökonomische Aspekte (z.B. Einsparung von Mobilitätskosten) nur in bestimmten Regionen als attraktiv bzw. vorteilhaft erweist. Da die Ergebnisse von der Art der Modellierung und der geringen Datenlage abhängen, werden schließlich Ansätze für eine weitere Beforschung unterbreitet. Abstract: The paper focuses on the use and benefits of residence-based parcel depots. In addition to economic aspects, social and ecological aspects of using this kind of depots are included. For this purpose, a mathematical model is developed and presented. The aim is to find out the (theoretical) conditions that are crucial for the use of residence-based parcel depots especially in rural areas. The results show that the use (utility) of the depots depends on (at least) four factors: First, on the average distance in the region that a consumer has to travel to buy a product. Second, the number of parcel stores in the region. Third, the average probability that the parcel service will find a consumer at home to deliver a product, and fourth, from the mobility costs associated with traveling distances in the region. The ability to test the model predictions is limited. The reason is, that until to date there are no known rural regions with residence-based parcel depots. However, in order to establish a connection to the reality of life in rural regions, the modeling was tested using one region as an example (the district of Uckermark in the state of Brandenburg in Germany). All in all, the results show that the use of residence-based parcel depots is only attractive or advantageous in certain regions with regard to economic aspects (e.g. saving of mobility costs). Because this result depend on the type of modeling and the limitation of available data, approaches for further research are proposed. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253367/1/2022-04-29%20WP%20Paketdepotnutzung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I30, L84, R11, R12, R20 Keywords: Versorgungssystem, Smart Logistics, Nachhaltigkeit, ländlicher Raum, Regionalökonomie, Paketdepots Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253367 #END 605 #BEGIN 606 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Schiele, Johanna Title: Flexible green hydrogen: Economic benefits without increasing emissions Abstract: Electrolytic hydrogen complements renewable energy in many net-zero energy scenarios. In these long-term scenarios with full decarbonization, the "greenness" of hydrogen is without question. In current energy systems, however, the ramp-up of hydrogen production may cause additional emissions. To avoid this potential adverse effect, recently proposed EU regulation defines strict requirements for electrolytic hydrogen to qualify as green: electrolyzers must run on additional renewable generation, which is produced in a temporally and geographically congruent manner. Focusing on the temporal dimension, this paper argues in favor of a more flexible definition of green hydrogen, which keeps the additionality criterion on a yearly basis but allows for dispatch optimization on a market basis within that period. We develop a model that optimizes dispatch and investment of a wind-hydrogen system—including wind turbines, hydrogen electrolysis, and hydrogen storage—and apply the model to a German case study based on data from 2017-2021. Contrasting different regulatory conditions, we show that a flexible definition of green hydrogen can reduce costs without additional power sector emissions. By contrast, requiring simultaneity implies that a rational investor would build a much larger wind turbine, hydrogen electrolyzer, and hydrogen storage than needed. This leads to additional costs, underutilized resources, and a potential slow-down of green hydrogen deployment. We discuss that current trends in the energy transition are likely to amplify the economic and environmental benefits of a flexible definition of green hydrogen and recommend this as the way forward for a sustainable hydrogen policy. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253267/1/Ruhnau%20and%20Schiele%202022.%20Flexible%20green%20hydrogen.%20Econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253267 #END 606 #BEGIN 607 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the duration of membership in the World Trade Organization on Trademark Applications Abstract: This article has examined the effect of the duration of the membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the submission of trademarks by countries' residents. The analysis has used an unbalanced sample of 124 countries (including developed and developing countries), and primarily the binominal regression approach, supplemented by the generalized method of moments estimator, utilized for robustness check. Results have shown that the effect of the duration of WTO membership on trademarks works through the channel of trade costs. This effect is positive for less developed economies and negative for relatively advanced economies. These findings reflect the fact that as countries spend more time as WTO members, they experience a higher submission of patents relatively to trademarks, notably if they enjoy an improvement in their real per capita income (and export complex products). Furthermore, countries that receive higher Aid for Trade flows (which help to reduce trade costs) experience yet a higher number of trademarks applications, but to a lesser extent than patents filings. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253266/1/Paper_WTO%20and%20Trademarks_Gnangnon%20Kimm.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O34, F14, F35 Keywords: Duration of WTO membership, Residents' trademark applications, Trade costs, Aid for Trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253266 #END 607 #BEGIN 608 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Engel, Stefanie Title: Fostering co-operation through participation in natural resource management. An integrative review Abstract: Solving humanity's social-environmental challenges calls for co-operation by the relevant actors. Hence, involving them in the policy process has been deemed both necessary and promising. But how and to what extent can participatory policy interventions effectively foster co-operation for sustainable natural resource management? Research on collective action and research on participatory governance offer insights on this question but have hitherto remained largely unconnected. In particular, results of field and lab experiments on collective action can complement those of case studies on participatory governance to shed further light on the potential (institutional and behavioural) impacts and mechanisms of participatory interventions. This article reviews and integrates key insights of these strands of research using the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework. Our review shows that participatory interventions can foster co-operation (a) by helping the relevant actors craft adequate institutional arrangements, and (b) by addressing and/or influencing relevant actors' attributes (i.e. their individual and shared understandings, beliefs, trust and preferences). However, to fulfil their potential, organisers of participatory interventions need to soundly design and implement them, adequately embedding them in the broader context. They must be complemented with proper follow-up, enforcement and conflict-resolution mechanisms to nurture, reassure and sustain trust and co-operation. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253261/1/ORKE_Fostering%20cooperation%20through%20participation_Apr2022_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, D79, P32, P48 Keywords: cooperation, collective action, social dilemmas, participatory governance, natural resource management, environmental policy, natural resource policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253261 #END 608 #BEGIN 609 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stiewe, Clemens Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: European industry responds to high energy prices: The case of German ammonia production Abstract: Since September 2021, European natural gas prices are at record-high levels. On average, they have been six to seven times higher than pre-pandemic price levels. While the post-pandemic recovery of global natural gas demand has driven up prices around the world, the most important drivers for European gas prices were Russia's less-than-usual supply since mid-2021 and its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Western efforts to abandon Russian gas imports altogether mean that high natural gas prices are likely to stay for longer. While high gas prices may be the new normal, there is uncertainty about the economic reaction to this shock. How do energy-intensive industries react? Do global value chains collapse if intermediate goods produced in Europe become uneconomic because of high energy prices? Our preliminary analysis shows that industry response to has in fact been visible from the very onset of the energy crisis. A closer look at German fertilizer production, which heavily relies on natural gas as fuel and feedstock to produce ammonia as an intermediate product, reveals that increased ammonia imports have allowed domestic fertilizer production to remain remarkably stable. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/253251/1/Stiewe%20et%20al.%202022.%20European%20industry%20responds%20to%20high%20energy%20prices.%20Econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41 Keywords: Energy demand, Demand response, European energy crisis, Natural gas Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:253251 #END 609 #BEGIN 610 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zocher, Katrin Title: Exiting primary care providers Abstract: This article studies the impact of primary care providers (PCPs) exit from the local health care system on patients' health care utilization. I compare patients with each other whose physicians have left the local health care system at different points in time due to retirement, relocation, or other reasons. Estimation results indicate that the imminent exit leads soon-leaving physicians to changing their treatment behavior, which has a significant impact on patients' health care spending. In addition, successors and new PCPs provide significantly more preventive services in the post-exit-period and refer patients more often to specialists for further examinations than the physicians who exit later. The increased inpatient expenditures in the post-exit period are caused by patients themselves (through outpatient department visits), by the new PCPs (through referrals), and presumably by specialists. Self-initiated substitution behavior of patients (e.g., less PCP care, more specialist care) after the exit is observed but is low in magnitude. Although an overall increase in health service utilization is observed, mortality in the post-exit periods is significantly increased among affected patients. A possible explanation is the low frequency follow-up care of patients who were referred to hospitals by their former PCP in the notification-period. Creation-Date: 2022 Revision-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251920/1/zocher_exitingpcps.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I11, I12, I18 Keywords: physicians exit, retirement, disruption, discontinuity, successor Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249041 #END 610 #BEGIN 611 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Wiesholzer, Andrea Author-Name: Eichenauer, Eva Author-Name: Irmisch, Janne Title: Einstellungen zur Energiewende und Handlungsmöglichkeiten Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251842/1/2022-03-31_esra_p1.3_einstellungen_und_handlungsoptionen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251842 #END 611 #BEGIN 612 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Novikova, Aleksandra Author-Name: Langenhorst, Tim Author-Name: Karras, Jana Author-Name: Ulrich, Peter Author-Name: Damerau, Ulrike Title: Synopsis der Handlungsoptionen: Energiewende im sozialen Raum in Berlin und im Landkreis Spree-Neiße Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251841/1/esra_produkt_4.1_statusquo_allianzen_und_finanzierung_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251841 #END 612 #BEGIN 613 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eichenauer, Eva Author-Name: Irmisch, Janne Author-Name: Ulrich, Peter Author-Name: Damerau, Ulrike Author-Name: Karras, Jana Author-Name: Langenhorst, Tim Author-Name: Novikova, Aleksandra Title: Regionale Energiewendeszenarien und Verflechtungsbeziehungen in Berlin und dem Landkreis Spree-Neiße Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251840/1/ESRa%20Produkt%204.2_Regionale%20Szenarien.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251840 #END 613 #BEGIN 614 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Wiesholzer, Andrea Author-Name: Koller, Jasmin Author-Name: Ulrich, Peter Author-Name: Irmisch, Janne Author-Name: Eichenauer, Eva Title: Regionale Disparitäten und Einstellungen zur Energiewende. Berlin und Spree-Neiße im Vergleich Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251839/1/esra_produkt_1.2_regionale_disparitaeten_und_einstellungen_zur_energiewende.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251839 #END 614 #BEGIN 615 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eichenauer, Eva Author-Name: Wiesholzer, Andrea Author-Name: Damerau, Ulrike Title: Einstellungen zur Energiewende: Akzeptanz und räumliche Disparitäten Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251838/1/esra_produkt_1.1_final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251838 #END 615 #BEGIN 616 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Yildirim, Yusuf Author-Name: Sanyal, Anirban Title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Early Warning Indicators: An Application of Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve Approach to Panel Data Abstract: Early warning indicators (EWIs) of banking crises should ideally be judged on how well they function in relation to the choice issue faced by macroprudential policymakers. Several practical features of this challenge are translated into statistical evaluation criteria, including difficulties measuring the costs and advantages of various policy interventions, as well as requirements for the timeliness and stability of EWIs. We analyze the balance panel of possible EWIs for six countries that have experienced currency crisis and banking crisis in recent times. Using possible early warning indicators, we evaluate the suitability of these EWIs in view of their predictive power and stability of signals. The paper observes that credit disbursements to non-financial sectors and central government provides stable signal about systemic risks. Further debt service ratio, inter bank rates and total reserves are also found to be useful in predicting these crisis. Lastly, the paper observes that linear combination of these indicators improves the predictive power of EWIs further. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251726/1/roccurve8.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, C40, G21 Keywords: EWIs, ROC, area under the curve, shrinkage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251726 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4041666 #END 616 #BEGIN 617 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hauber, Philipp Title: Real-time nowcasting with sparse factor models Abstract: Factor models feature prominently in the macroeconomic nowcasting literature, yet no clear consensus has emerged regarding the question of how many and which variables to select in such applications. Examples of both large-scale models, estimated with data sets consisting of over 100 time series as well as small-scale models based on only a few, pre-selected variables can be found in the literature. To adress the issue of variable selection in factor models, in this paper we employ sparse priors on the loadings matrix. These priors concentrate more mass at zero than those conventionally used in the literature while retaining fat tails to capture signals. As a result, variable selection and estimation can be performed simultaneously in a Bayesian framework. Using large data sets consisting of over 100 variables, we evaluate the performance of sparse factor models in real-time for US and German GDP point and density nowcasts. We find that sparse priors lead to relatively small gains in nowcast accuracy compared to a benchmark Normal prior. Moreover, different types of sparse priors discussed in the literature yield very similar results. Our findings are compatible with the hypothesis that large macroeconomic data sets typically used in now- or forecasting applications are not sparse but dense. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251551/1/Philipp-Hauber-2021-Realtime-nowcasting-with-sparse-factor-models.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C11, C53, C55, E37 Keywords: factor models, sparsity, nowcasting, variable selection Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251551 #END 617 #BEGIN 618 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hauber, Philipp Title: How useful is external information from professional forecasters? Conditional forecasts in large factor models Abstract: This paper evaluates forecasts from a factor model estimated with a large real-time dataset of the German economy. The evaluation focuses on a broad cross-section of variables such as activity series including components of the gross domestic product and gross value added, deflators and other price measures as well as several labor market indicators. In addition to unconditional forecasts for these variables, we also investigate to what extent the forecast accuracy improves when we condition on professional forecasters' view on GDP growth and CPI inflation. We find that over the period from 2006 to 2017 the model's unconditional forecasts are broadly in line with autoregressive benchmarks for the majority of the 37 series that we focus on in the evaluation, in some cases performing somewhat better and in others somewhat worse. For a few variables capturing real activity and some price indicators, however, we find large gains in predictive accuracy that persist for forecast horizons of up to two quarters ahead. Conditioning on external information tends to improve the forecast accuracy in some instances but typically only for those series where the unconditional forecasts are already quite accurate. For around a third of the variables under consideration, the differences in forecast accuracy between conditional and unconditional forecasts are statistically significant for density forecasts; for point forecasts on the other hand we find no significant differences. From a methodological point of view, this paper proposes precision-based sampling algorithms to draw from the predictive density - unconditional or conditional on a subset of the system variables - in factor models and other models with unobserved components. Simulations show that these algorithms perform favorably compared to Kalman filter-based alternatives typically used in the literature. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251469/1/Philipp-Hauber-2020-How-useful-is-external-information-from-professional-forecasters.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C11, C53, C55, E37 Keywords: factor models, conditional forecasting, precision-based sampling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251469 #END 618 #BEGIN 619 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Supply-Use and Input-Output Tables Abstract: The Supply-Use Tables (SUTs) form a central part of the national accounts, providing a framework to bring together a range of data and, through balancing, to ensure the coherency and consistency of various parts of the national accounts. The SUTs thus serve many purposes, in particular, statistical and analytical, not just for producers but also for a range of different users, and their analytical dimension is especially enhanced when the SUTs are transformed into Input-Output Tables (IOTs). For analytical purposes, the assumptions about the relationships between inputs and outputs are required irrespective of whether the products have been produced by the primary industry or by other industries as their secondary output. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251468/1/SUTs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Supply-Use Tables, Input-output Tables Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251468 DOI: 10.33774/coe-2022-d5qzv #END 619 #BEGIN 620 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bannor, Frank Author-Name: Magambo, Isaiah Hubert Author-Name: Mahabir, Jugal Author-Name: Tshitaka, Jean-Luc Mubenga Title: Interdependence between climate change and migration: Does Agriculture, geography and development level matter in sub-Saharan Africa? Abstract: Concerns about the human effects of climate change have contributed to forecasts of how populations in drought-prone, and flood-prone areas would respond to these events. Empirical studies have predicted that human migration has been among the critical resilient strategy in responding to the impact of climate change. To obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the climate–migration relationship, the impacts of climate change on international migration flows from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) nations to South Africa are investigated empirically in this paper. The study employed a fixed effects model and panel data from 35 countries in SSA, spanning 1990 to 2017. The findings are as follows: (1) the analysis show that temperature has a positive and statistically significant effect on outmigration in agriculture-dependent nations. (2) the analysis shows that agricultural-value-added as a share in GDP has a negative and statistically significant effect on outmigration in agriculture-dependent nations. (3) the results also show that geographic location, and development level of a country, in addition to dependency on agriculture are key factors in the climate change–international migration nexus. Policy implications are discussed. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251386/1/Interdependence%20between%20climate%20change%20and%20migration_Does%20Agriculture%2c%20geography%20and%20development%20level%20matter%20in%20sub-Saharan%20Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, J61, Q50, Q54 Keywords: International migration, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Climate change, Agriculture Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251386 #END 620 #BEGIN 621 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Duration of WTO Membership and Investment-Oriented Remittances Flows Abstract: This article examines the effect of the duration of the membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) on investment-oriented remittances inflows (i.e., the portion of total remittances invested by remittance-receiving households in business activities). The analysis covers 120 countries over the period 1996-2019, and employs the two-step system generalized methods of moments estimator. It provides support for the hypothesis that by improving the stability and predictability of the business environment (i.e., by reducing tariffs volatility, trade uncertainty and economic uncertainty) would provide strong incentives to remittance-receiving households to invest a fraction of their total remittances in business activities. This positive effect of the membership duration on investment-oriented remittances inflows appears to strong for less developed countries. Additionally, longstanding WTO Members enjoy higher investment-oriented remittances inflows when they have large populations (a proxy for larger amounts of total remittances inflows), and experience high trade volumes, and a higher economic growth performance. These findings complement previous works that highlighted the relevance of the WTO in promoting the development of the private sector in its member states (including developing members and the poorest among them). Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251274/1/Paper-WTO-and-Remittances-Gnangnon-Kimm.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, E22, O11, O16 Keywords: Duration of WTO membership, Investment-oriented remittances inflows, Tariffs volatility, Trade uncertainty, Economic uncertainty, Developing countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251274 #END 621 #BEGIN 622 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jurić, Tado Title: Predicting refugee flows from Ukraine with an approach to Big (Crisis) Data: a new opportunity for refugee and humanitarian studies Abstract: Background: This paper shows that Big Data and the so-called tools of digital demography, such as Google Trends (GT) and insights from social networks such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, can be useful for determining, estimating, and predicting the forced migration flows to the EU caused by the war in Ukraine. Objective: The objective of this study was to test the usefulness of Google Trends indexes to predict further forced migration from Ukraine to the EU (mainly to Germany) and gain demographic insights from social networks into the age and gender structure of refugees. Methods: The primary methodological concept of our approach is to monitor the digital trace of Internet searches in Ukrainian, Russian and English with the Google Trends analytical tool (trends.google.com). Initially, keywords were chosen that are most predictive, specific, and common enough to predict the forced migration from Ukraine. We requested the data before and during the war outbreak and divided the keyword frequency for each migration-related query to standardise the data. We compared this search frequency index with official statistics from UNHCR to prove the significations of results and correlations and test the models predictive potential. Since UNHCR does not yet have complete data on the demographic structure of refugees, to fill this gap, we used three other alternative Big Data sources: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Results: All tested migration-related search queries about emigration planning from Ukraine show the positive linear association between Google index and data from official UNHCR statistics; R2 = 0.1211 for searches in Russian and R2 = 0.1831 for searches in Ukrainian. It is noticed that Ukrainians use the Russian language more often to search for terms than Ukrainian. Increase in migration-related search activities in Ukraine such as граница (Rus. border), кордону (Ukr. border); Польща (Poland); Германия (Rus. Germany), Німеччина (Ukr. Germany) and Угорщина and Венгрия (Hungary) correlate strongly with officially UNHCR data for externally displaced persons from Ukraine. All three languages show that the interest in Poland is the highest. When refugees arrive in nearby countries, the search for terms related to Germany, such as crossing the border + Germany, etc., is proliferating. This result confirms our hypothesis that one-third of all refugees will cross into Germany. According to Big Data insights, the estimate of the total number of expected refugees is to expect 5,4 Million refugees. The age group most represented is between 24 and 45 years (data for children are unavailable), and over 65% are women. Conclusion: The increase in migration-related search queries is correlated with the rise in the number of refugees from Ukraine in the EU. Thus this method allows reliable forecasts. Understanding the consequences of forced migration from Ukraine is crucial to enabling UNHCR and governments to develop optimal humanitarian strategies and prepare for refugee reception and possible integration. The benefit of this method is reliable estimates and forecasting that can allow governments and UNHCR to prepare and better respond to the recent humanitarian crisis. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251215/1/Medrxiv-Predicting-refugee-flows-from-Ukraine-with-an-approach-to-Big-Crisis-Data-JURIC-22.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: refugee, Ukraine, Big Data, forced migration, Google Trends, UNHCR Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251215 DOI: 10.1101/2022.03.15.22272428 #END 622 #BEGIN 623 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Kaiser, Tim Author-Name: Seeber, Günther Title: Measuring Economic Competence of Youth with a Short Scale Abstract: We present a 12-item scale measuring the cognitive component of economic competence and document the psychometric properties of the scale. Using a data set with more than 12,000 secondary school students in Germany, the scale shows high discriminatory power and covers a wide range of ability levels. Analyses of `Differential Item Functioning´ show no item bias across key demographic characteristics, and scores show meaningful associations with scores obtained from adjacent test instruments. Student-level correlates mirror estimates documented in earlier literature on economic and financial literacy as well as results relying on a more extensive scale with over 30 items. The presented short scale enables researchers and practitioners to efficiently measure economic competence of youth. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/251057/1/OKS_2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21, I21, G53 Keywords: economic competence, economic literacy, IRT, measurement Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251057 #END 623 #BEGIN 624 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kurt, Ozan Ekin Title: Effects of interest rates on functional income distribution, capacity utilization, capital accumulation and profit rates in France: A post-Kaleckian econometric analysis Creation-Date: 2022 Classification-JEL: E12, E21, E22, E25, E43 Keywords: interest rates, monetary policy, functional income distribution, capacity utilization, capital accumulation, profit rates, post-Keynesian economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:251003 #END 624 #BEGIN 625 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eberle, Mira Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Title: What a difference three years of economics education make: Evidence from lower-track schools in Germany Abstract: A large body of literature documents that school-based financial education generally improves financial knowledge, yet little is known about the effect of instruction in the broader economic domain. This paper evaluates the effect of a curriculum reform introducing mandatory economic education on economic competence and knowledge in German lower-track schools, in which students have lower socio-economic status and end up having lower incomes when entering the workforce. While we find small but positive effects on basic economic knowledge and interest in economic matters, we observe no effects on competences, i.e., factual and procedural knowledge in the economic domain. Quantile regressions reveal that the effect on students' knowledge is widely consistent across the entire distribution. With regard to socio-demographic characteristics, we observe strong gender differences already before adulthood. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/250909/1/20220218What-a-differnece-three-years-make.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21, I21 Keywords: Economic education, economic knowledge, gender gap Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:250909 #END 625 #BEGIN 626 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Brahm, Taiga Title: Ökonomische Kompetenz und Geschlecht: Ausmaß und Ursachen des Gender Gaps Abstract: Viele Studien dokumentieren markante Geschlechterunterschiede in der ökonomischen Kompetenz von Jugendlichen. Die Ursachen für diesen "Gender Gap" zugunsten männlicher Probanden sind bisher unzureichend erforscht. Dieser Beitrag untersucht anhand einer repräsentativen Stichprobe mit mehr als 1.000 Lernenden der 10. Klassenstufe in Baden-Württemberg geschlechtsspezifische Kompetenzunterschiede in der ökonomischen Domäne sowie mögliche Faktoren, die zur Erklärung dieser Unterschiede beitragen. Die Analyse zeigt einen deutlichen Geschlechtsunterschied zuguns-ten männlicher Teilnehmer in Höhe von 0,28 Standardabweichungseinheiten, der sich unabhängig vom Fähigkeitsniveau der Lernenden zeigt. Als erklärende Faktoren konnten das Interesse für Wirtschaftsthemen und mathematische Fertigkeiten identifiziert werden, die zusammen nahezu 35 Prozent des Unterschieds erklären. Demgegenüber haben sozio-kognitive Fähigkeiten (z.B. finanzi-elles Selbstvertrauen und Einstellungen zu Geldthemen) in Bezug auf finanzielle Entscheidungen keinen Einfluss auf den Geschlechterunterschied. Darüber hinaus deuten die Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass der Leistungsunterschied sogar größer sein könnte als bisher in der Literatur angenommen, wenn die unterschiedliche Testmotivation zwischen den Geschlechtern mitberücksichtigt wird. Der Beitrag schließt mit didaktischen Implikationen für den Wirtschaftsunterricht in Deutschland. Abstract: A large body of literature documents substantial gender differences in adolescents’ economic capa-bilities, yet causes for these differences are poorly understood. This paper explores gender differ-ences in economic competences and its roots using a representative sample of 10th graders with more than 1,000 respondents from Southwest Germany. Our data reveal a significant gender gap in favor of male students by a magnitude of 0.28 standard deviation units. Quantile regressions show that the gender gap occurs independently from various distribution moments. Multivariate analyses reveal that the difference in competence is partly driven by variation in economic interest and math-ematical abilities, which explains almost 35 percent of the total difference. In contrast, socio-cognitive skills (e.g., financial confidence and attitudes towards money) appear to have no explana-tory power. In addition, our results suggest that the gender gap is even larger when we control for differences in test-taking effort. The article concludes with implications for economic education mandates in Germany. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/250908/1/Oberrauch_Brahm_gender_gap_working_paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Gender Gap, Ökonomische Kompetenz, Ökonomisches Interesse, Finanzielles Verhalten Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:250908 #END 626 #BEGIN 627 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: Textile and Chemical Subsectors in the Azerbaijani Economy: A Descriptive Glance at Possible De-Industrialization Abstract: Azerbaijan's economy has been investigated within Dutch disease (DD) and Natural Resource Curse Theory (NRCT) several times during the last 20-22 years, but the studies relied on heavily aggregated data and speculative theoretical models. Opinions differ in academia as to how and to what extent these phenomena happened. However, we are still of the assertion that non-oil manufacturing, in general, has experienced adverse effects since the huge oil revenue found its way into the Azerbaijani economy because the cost of non-oil production rose and competitiveness declined due to the domestic inflationary pressures. Meanwhile, subsectoral and specific parts of non-oil economy have not been studied in more detail. This working paper invites to consider textile and chemical subsectors as de-industrialized economic subsectors due to the oil boom's take over since 2005 and 2006 in Azerbaijan. The descriptive analysis shows that the textile subsector is less likely to be relevant from a de-industrialization standpoint after the collapse of the Soviet Union; however, certain chemical subsectors seem to strongly react to the oil boom. Still, this does not mean that we have nothing to worry about the output of the textile industry. These results can be supported by quantitative and empirical works, but not limited to. Qualitative methods can generate new insights on microeconomic levels (i.e., factory or industrial park) about non-oil manufacturing in the Azerbaijani economy to reveal potential adverse/positive effects of oil-led economic growth and development. This working paper and upcoming works can be a useful framework for the government officials and decisionmakers to follow more thorough industrial policies to recover non-oil industrial potential of the Azerbaijani economy in a short period. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/250900/1/Textile-and-Chemical-Subsectors-in-the-Azerbaijani-Economy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D04, E32, L6, O14, O52, O53 Keywords: Azerbaijan economy, chemical subsectors, de-industrialization, Dutch disease, economic subsectors, industrial output, natural resource curse theory, non-oil industry, textile subsectors Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:250900 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4035938 #END 627 #BEGIN 628 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Berbée, Paul Author-Name: Braun, Sebastian Till Author-Name: Franke, Richard Title: Reversing Fortunes of German Regions, 1926-2019: Boon and Bane of Early Industrialization? Abstract: This paper shows that 19th-century industrialization is an important determinant of the significant changes in Germany's economic geography observed in recent decades. Using novel data on regional economic activity, we establish that almost half of West Germany's 163 labor markets experienced a reversal of fortune between 1926 and 2019, i.e., they moved from the lower to the upper median of the income distribution or vice versa. Economic decline is concentrated in northern Germany, economic ascent in the south. Exploiting plausibly exogenous variation in access to coal, we show that early industrialization turned from an advantage for economic development to a burden after World War II. The (time-varying) effect of industrialization explains most of the decline in regional inequality observed in the 1960s and 1970s and about half of the current North-South gap in economic development. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/250876/1/Reversing-Fortunes_WPFeb2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: N91, N92, O14, R12 Keywords: Industrialization, Economic development, Regional Inequality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:250876 #END 628 #BEGIN 629 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Muduli, Silu Title: Impact of COVID-19 Packages on MSME Financing in India Abstract: The small, micro, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector in India was severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India brought numerous policy measures to revive and provide external liquidity support to borrowers in the MSMEs sector. Credit growth picked up in the MSME sector following the introduction of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) scheme in May 2020, particularly of a loan of size less than 10 lakh. Initially, it benefited borrowers already having a relationship with the bank, later the benefit passed to new borrowers. On the usage of funds, nearly 45 per cent of these loans were used for clearing dues of vendors and 29 per cent to restart the business. On the performance of ECLGS loans, 88 per cent of loans are standard assets and 1.96 per cent are non-performing assets as of March 31, 2021. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/250164/1/Impact-of-COVID-19-Packages-on-MSME-Financing.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G28, G32, H12 Keywords: COVID-19, MSMEs Relief packages, MSME financing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:250164 #END 629 #BEGIN 630 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hotes, Andreas G. Author-Name: Mohrmann, Johannes Author-Name: Gottschalk, Ezra Leander Title: Evaluierung des Potenzials von Virtual Intermodality an Flughäfen am Beispiel des Flughafen BER – eine Entwicklung konkreter Handlungsansätze Abstract: Dieser wissenschaftliche Beitrag untersucht das Potenzial von Virtual Intermodality an Flughäfen im Kontext aktueller luftfahrtbezogener Herausforderungen. Auf Grundlage einer multiplen Fallstudienanalyse sowie Untersuchungen zur Catchment-Area werden im Ergebnis konkrete Handlungsansätze zur Nutzung des Potenzials von Virtual Intermodality am Beispiel des Flughafen BER dargestellt. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/250062/1/20220223_WissVero%cc%88ffentlichung_AHoMoGo_6.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Virtual Intermodality, Intermodalität, Flughafen BER, Catchment-Area Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:250062 #END 630 #BEGIN 631 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Muessel, Jarusch Title: Update and extension of the When2Heat dataset Abstract: The "When2Heat" dataset comprises synthetic national time series for heat demand and heat pumps' coefficient of performance (COP) in hourly resolution. Heat demands for space and water heating are computed by combining gas standard load profiles with spatial temperature reanalysis data and population geodata. With this update, we extend the dataset to 28 European countries and the period from 2008 to 2019, including new, state-of-the-art data sources. For the geographical extension, we propose a novel approach, shifting established German heat demand curves based on country-specific heating thresholds to account for regional differences in thermal insulation and user behavior. Using the example of Italy, we illustrate the effect of shifting heat demand curves. The dataset, scripts, and input parameters are publicly available under an open-source license on the Open Power System Data platform. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249997/1/Ruhnau%20and%20Muessel%202022.%20Update%20and%20extension%20of%20the%20When2Heat%20dataset.%20Working%20Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Heat demand, Heat pumps, Coefficient of performance, Europe Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249997 Note: This is an update and extension of the original When2Heat dataset described in: Ruhnau, O., Hirth, L., Praktiknjo, A., 2019. Time series of heat demand and heat pump efficiency for energy system modeling. Sci Data 6, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0199-y #END 631 #BEGIN 632 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chapkovski, Philipp Title: Interactive Experiments in Toloka Abstract: The popularity of online behavioral experiments grew steadily even before the COVID-19 pandemic. With the start of lockdowns, online studies were often the only available option for the behavioral economists, sociologists and political scientists. The usage of most well-known platforms such as mTurk was so intensive that it harmed the quality of data. But even before the pandemics-induced quality crisis, online studies were limited in scope, since real-time interactions between participants were hard to achieve due to the large proportion of drop-outs and issues with creating stable groups. Using the crowdsourcing platform Toloka, we successfully ran several multi-round interactive experiments. Toloka’s large online audience, relatively low exposure of participants to sociological surveys and behavioral studies, and a convenient application programming interface makes it a perfect tool to run behavioral studies that require real-time interactions of participants. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249771/1/SSRN-id3727227.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C90, C92, C81, C88, B41 Keywords: Crowdsourcing, survey research, MTurk, online research Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249771 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3727227 #END 632 #BEGIN 633 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Janda, Karel Author-Name: Benes, Ondrej Title: Biofuel Technologies and Policies Abstract: This paper deals with technological and legislation features of biofuels development. We look at all 2nd generation (2G) end products, the three major conversion pathways and especially the feedstock, with differentiates 2G biofuels from the conventional, 1G fuels. In the legislation and policies review we provide a timeline pointing out the major changes and policies, as well as brief comments on their applications. We look at biofuels policies for the three top player in biofuels production, the U.S., Brazil and the European Union. Because the 1st generation is strongly associated with the food-fuel debate we then focus on its link to the 2G as well, showing how these links are weaker and manageable, although with some challenges still present. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249711/1/WP1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q42, Q55, Q58 Keywords: Ethanol, Biodiesel, policies, technologies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249711 #END 633 #BEGIN 634 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Janda, Karel Author-Name: Marek, Petr Title: Financial Sustainability - Game Theory Analysis of Options Approach for a Czech Bank Abstract: This paper applies a model of bank run based on game theory analysis of options to the real world case of the Czech retail bank Air Bank a. s. We discuss the main factors affecting the susceptibility of Czech banks to bank run. We estimate the equity value which triggers bank run for Air Bank´s a. s. clients. We also simulate a possible bank run, using a liquidity stress test, which is similar to stress tests used by some European supervisory authorities. We provide alternative estimates of critical value of bank's equity after the attainment of which depositors withdraw their deposits and by doing so trigger a bank run. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249677/1/Run04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C72, G01, G21 Keywords: Bank run, liquidity, game theory, option pricing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249677 #END 634 #BEGIN 635 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baines, Joseph Author-Name: Hager, Sandy Brian Title: From Passive Owners to Planet Savers? Asset Managers, Carbon Majors and the Limits of Sustainable Finance Abstract: This article examines the role of the Big Three asset management firms – BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street – in corporate environmental governance. Specifically, it charts the Big Three's relationships with the publicly-owned Carbon Majors: a small group of fossil fuels, cement and mining companies responsible for the bulk of industrial greenhouse gas emissions. It finds that the Big Three much more often than not oppose rather than support shareholder resolutions aimed at improving environmental governance. Notably, this is even the case with the Big Three's environmental, social and governance funds. A more fine-gained analysis shows that the combined voting decisions of the Big Three are more likely to lead to the failure than to the success of environmental resolutions and that, whether they succeed or fail, these resolutions tend to be narrow in scope and piecemeal in nature. Based on these findings, the article raises serious doubts about the Big Three's credentials as environmental stewards. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249674/1/20220200-baines-hager-from-passive-owners-to-planet-savers.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P26, P48, P28, G2, G3 Keywords: climate, finance, oil, ownership and control Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249674 #END 635 #BEGIN 636 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Calì, Massimiliano Author-Name: Presidente, Giorgio Title: Robots For Economic Development Abstract: Recent evidence suggests that automation technologies entail a trade-off between produc- tivity gains and employment losses for the economies that adopt them. This paper casts doubts on such trade-off in the context of a developing country. It shows significant productivity and employment gains from automation in Indonesian manufacturing during the years 2008-2015, a period of rapid increase in robot imports. Analysis based on manufacturing plant data provides evidence that the absence of this trade-off is due to diminishing productivity returns to robot adoption. As a result, the benefits from automation could be particularly large for countries at early stages of industrialisation, such as Indonesia. Suggestive evidence indicates these results could apply to developing countries more generally. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249581/1/RFED_feb2022.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Robots, Automation, Development, Productivity, Employment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242497 #END 636 #BEGIN 637 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Author-Name: Khanna, Tarun Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Title: The (very) short-term price elasticity of German electricity demand Abstract: Electricity is a peculiar economic good, the most important reason being that it needs to be supplied at the very moment of consumption. As a result, wholesale electricity prices fluctuate widely at hourly or sub-hourly time scales, regularly reaching multiples of their average, and even turn negative. This paper examines whether the demand for electricity responds to such price variations in the very short term. To solve the classical identification problem when estimating a demand curve, we use weather-driven wind energy generation as an instrument. Our robustness checks confirm that wind energy is indeed a strong and valid instrument. Using data from Germany, we estimate that a 1 €/MWh increase in the wholesale electricity price causes the aggregate electricity demand to decline by 67–80 MW or 0.12–0.14%, contradicting the conventional wisdom that electricity demand is highly price-inelastic. These estimates are statistically significant and robust across model specifications, estimators, and sensitivity analyses. At average price and demand, our estimates correspond to a price elasticity of demand of about –0.05. Comparing situations with high and low wind energy (5–95th percentile), we estimate that prices vary by 26 €/MWh, and the corresponding demand response to wholesale electricity prices is about 2 GW, or 2.6% of peak load. Our analysis suggests that the demand response in Germany can be attributed primarily to industrial consumers. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249570/1/Hirth%2c%20Khanna%2c%20Ruhnau%202021.%20The%20%28very%29%20short-term%20price%20elasticity%20of%20German%20electricity%20demand_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41, D47 Keywords: Electricity markets, price elasticity, demand response, instrumental variables Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249570 #END 637 #BEGIN 638 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Liu, Yinan Author-Name: Zai, Xianhua Title: The Unintended Effect of Medicaid Aging Waivers on Informal Caregiving Creation-Date: 2022 Classification-JEL: I18, J14, J18 Keywords: Medicaid Aging Waiver, Long-Term Care, HRS, Informal Care Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249566 #END 638 #BEGIN 639 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schippers, Anouk L. Author-Name: Soetevent, Adriaan R. Title: Sharing with Minimal Regulation? Free Riding and Neighborhood Book Exchange Creation-Date: 2022 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249448 #END 639 #BEGIN 640 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Walzenbach, Sandra Author-Name: Hinz, Thomas Title: Puzzling Answers to Crosswise Questions - Examining Overall Prevalence Rates, Primacy Effects and Learning Effects Abstract: This validation study on the crosswise model (CM) examines five survey experiments that were implemented in a general population survey. Our first crucial result is that in none of these experiments was the crosswise model able to verifiably reduce social desirability bias. In contrast to most previous CM applications, we use an experimental design that allows us to distinguish a reduction in social desirability bias from heuristic response behaviour, such as random ticking, leading to false positive or false negative answers. In addition, we provide insights on two potential explanatory mechanisms that have not yet received attention in empirical studies: primacy effects and panel conditioning. We do not find consistent primacy effects, nor does response quality improve due to learning when respondents have had experiences with crosswise models in past survey waves. We interpret our results as evidence that the crosswise model does not work in general population surveys and speculate that the question format causes mistrust in participants. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249353/1/walzenbach-hinz-puzzling-answers-to-crosswise-questions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C830 Keywords: crosswise model, randomized response, social desirability bias, primacy effects, learning effects, panel conditioning, privacy concerns Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249353 #END 640 #BEGIN 641 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Covid-19 – Impacts on Society and Economy Abstract: Since the turn of the year 2019/2020, Covid-19 has determined large parts of public and private life worldwide. The restrictions are causing social and economic issues in all areas of life. This working paper attempts to quantify and qualify some impacts on our society and our economy and to analyse in more detail some of the effects. Abstract: Covid-19 bestimmt seit dem Jahreswechsel 2019/2020 weltweit weite Teile des öffentlichen und privaten Lebens. Die Einschränkungen in vielen Lebensbereichen können nicht ohne gesellschaftliche und ökonomische Folgen bleiben. In diesem Working-Paper wird versucht, einige Auswirkungen auf unsere Gesellschaft und unsere Wirtschaft qualitativ und quantitativ zu erfassen und näher zu analysieren. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249296/1/Covid-19-impacts-on-society-and-economy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G10 Keywords: Covid-19, impacts on economy, impacts on society, impacts on financial markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249296 #END 641 #BEGIN 642 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rau-Bredow, Hans Title: Contango and Backwardation in Arbitrage-Free Futures-Markets Abstract: This paper gives a short recapitulation of the constraints for forward and futures prices under the condition that no risk-free profits can be achieved through arbitrage activities. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249292/1/Rau-Bredow-Contango-finalfinal-10jan22.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G13 Keywords: Contango, No-Arbitrage, Backwardation, Forwards and Futures Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249292 #END 642 #BEGIN 643 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Covid-19 – Auswirkungen auf Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft Abstract: Covid-19 bestimmt seit dem Jahreswechsel 2019/20 weltweit weite Teile des öffentlichen und privaten Lebens. Die Einschränkungen in vielen Lebensbereichen können nicht ohne gesellschaftliche und ökonomische Folgen bleiben. In diesem Working-Paper wird versucht, einige Auswirkungen auf unsere Gesellschaft und unsere Wirtschaft qualitativ und quantitativ zu erfassen und näher zu analysieren. Abstract: Since the turn of the year 2019/20, Covid-19 has determined large parts of public and private life worldwide. The restrictions in many areas of life cannot remain without social and economic consequences. This working paper attempts to quantify and qualify some impacts on our society and our economy and to analyze in more detail some of the effects. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249209/1/Covid-19-Auswirkungen-auf-Gesellschaft-und-Wirtschaft.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G10 Keywords: Covid-19, Gesellschaftliche Auswirkungen, Ökonomische Auswirkungen Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249209 #END 643 #BEGIN 644 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Title: Wertorientierte Steuerung – Teil 1 – Eine schematische Analyse der Kennzahl Return on Capitel Employed (ROCE) Abstract: Auch wenn die Orientierung am Shareholder-Value-Ansatz in den letzten Jahren immer weiter aus der Mode gekommen ist, erfreut sich die wertorientierte Steuerung von Unternehmen – insbesondere in ihrer nachhaltigen Variante mit dem Fokus auf alle Stakeholder – einer zunehmenden Beliebtheit. Mit diesem Artikel wird der Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) als eine zentrale Kennzahl der nachhaltig wertorientierten Steuerung einer schematischen Untersuchung unterzogen. Abstract: Even though the orientation towards the shareholder value approach has increasingly gone out of fashion in recent years, value-based management of companies - especially in its sustainable variant with a focus on all stakeholders - is enjoying increasing popularity. This article provides a schematic analysis of return on capital employed (ROCE) as a key indicator of sustainable value-based management. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/249172/1/Becker-2022-Wertorientierte-Steuerung-Teil-1-ROCE.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G30 Keywords: BWL, Controlling, Kennzahl, ROCE Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249172 #END 644 #BEGIN 645 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Del Campo, Stellio Author-Name: Anthoff, David Author-Name: Kornek, Ulrike Title: Inequality aversion for climate policy Creation-Date: 2021 Classification-JEL: D63, I31, Q54 Keywords: inequality aversion, marginal valuation of income, Atkinson index, climate change Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:249036 #END 645 #BEGIN 646 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of Intellectual Property Rights Protection on Services Export Diversification Abstract: The effect of the betterment of enforced intellectual property rights (IPRs) provisions on services export concentration has been investigated. The analysis has used a panel dataset of 103 countries (both developed and developing countries) over the period of 1985-2014. It has revealed that countries with low levels of enforced IPRs tend to concentrate their services exports on few items, while countries with a high degree of enforced IPRs experience a greater level of services export diversification. Furthermore, the betterment of IPRs protection influences positively services export diversification, and the magnitude of this positive effect is higher for advanced countries compared to relatively less advanced economies. These results are particularly relevant for developing countries, including the least-developed countries that have both weakly enforced IPRs and high levels of services export concentration. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/248717/1/Paper-on-IPRs-and-Services-Export-Diversif.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, F13, O34 Keywords: Intellectual property rights, Services export concentration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248717 #END 646 #BEGIN 647 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javed, Rashid Author-Name: Mughal, Mazhar Title: Changing Patterns of Son Preference and Fertility in Pakistan Abstract: Using data from two representative Demographic and Health Surveys, we examine the change in son preference over the past three decades and its effects on Pakistani women's fertility. We analyse a number of indicators and employ different empirical methods to come up with strong and persistent evidence for both the revealed and stated preference for sons. This disproportionate preference for boys is visible in increasing desired sex ratio and worsening sex ratio at last birth. Reliance over differential birth-stopping has significantly increased over time as couples are more likely to stop childbearing once the desired number of boys is achieved. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/248643/1/Changing-Patterns-of-Son-Preference-and-Fertility-in-Pakistan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D13, J13, O15, C13, Z13 Keywords: Son preference, Fertility, parity progression, Pakistan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248643 #END 647 #BEGIN 648 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lynch, Owen Title: Book Review: Capital as Power Abstract: FROM THE REVIEW: You see, I'm trying to give you a picture of what it is like to read this book, and the experience of having a tantalizing insight dangled in front of you but then being forced to read far more history and statistics than you would really like to understand it is essentially all of Capital as Power. Capital as Power is long, but extremely full of content [...] Bichler and Nitzan write in a very engaging way; not necessarily easy to read but certainly action-packed. And there are many, many interesting historical nuggets in the book, like the history of GM's EV1 car. [U]nlike the laws of economics which mostly claim to be universal across time, the strength of Capital as Power is that they can identify what things are true about some periods, and not of others, and integrate these assumptions into their models. In other words, rather than being a general theory of economics, Capital as Power is a general theory of the space of possible capitalist politics, or as Bichler and Nitzan seem to be so happy to coin, a general theory of possible capitalist creorders. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/248557/1/20210913_lynch_book_review_casp.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P1 Keywords: capital as power Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248557 #END 648 #BEGIN 649 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Asongu, Simplice A. Title: Repackaging FDI for Inclusive Growth: Nullifying Effects and Policy Relevant Thresholds of Governance Abstract: This study examines whether the remarkable inflow of resources in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI) to SSA contributes to inclusive growth in the region. The study further investigates whether SSA's institutional fabric modulates the effect of FDI on inclusive growth in SSA. To this end, we draw data on 42 SSA countries for the period 1990 – 2020 for the analysis. The evidence, which are based on the GMM estimator shows that: (1) though FDI fosters inclusive growth in SSA, the effect is weak, and (2) the weak inclusive growth inducing-effects of FDI are weakened or nullified completely by SSA' fragile governance quality. Nonetheless, the optimism, which we provide by way of threshold analysis shows that channelling resources into the development of these governance dynamics yield positive net effects from the short-term through to the long-term. Notably, the results show that the short-term to long-term FDI-induced inclusive growth gains of developing frameworks and structures for fighting corruption while addressing fragilities in regulatory quality and government effectiveness are outstanding. A few policy recommendations are discussed in the end. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/248546/1/Ofori-Asongu-2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F6, F15, O43, O55, R58 Keywords: Africa, Economic Integration, FDI, Governance, Inclusive Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248546 #END 649 #BEGIN 650 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Gnarini, Daniela Author-Name: Lasagni, Andrea Author-Name: Semenza, Renata Title: From Immigrant Entrepreneurship to Plurinational Firms: Evidence from Italy Abstract: The article contributes to the current debate on the relationship between migration and entrepreneurship, highlighting the evolution of processes and practices, from the traditional monoethnic firm towards new models, we defined as "plurinational". It refers precisely to the cases, widespread in the evolving cosmopolitan society, where both entrepreneurs and workers belong to different nationalities. The article outlines the findings of a qualitative research study, based on interviews with a series of entrepreneurs of plurinational firms in Italy. Firstly, we found that plurinational firms originate from "weak ties" (through acquaintances and previous work experiences) rather than "strong ties" (through family and co-ethnic community networks). Secondly, far for being univocal models, we found a variety of plurinational entrepreneurships which derives from different scales of priority assigned by ownership or management to plurinationalism as "opportunity" or plurinationalism as "value". Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/248545/3/Art-Migr-28122021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: immigrant entrepreneurship, plurinationalism, migration, break-out strategies, organizational diversity, Italy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248545 #END 650 #BEGIN 651 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Garzarelli, Giampaolo Author-Name: Keeton, Lyndal Author-Name: Sitoe, Aldo A. Title: Rights Redistribution and COVID-19 Lockdown Policy Abstract: What is the tenet upon which the public policy of lockdown by fiat experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic is based on? The work approaches this question about the rationale of the mandatory shelter-in-place policy as an interpersonal exchange of rights, but where the exchange occurs coercively instead of voluntarily. It compares, in positive political economy terms, the normative principles of utilitarianism and Rawlsianism, and shows that lockdown by fiat is a policy that is closer to a maximin equity criterion rather than to a utilitarian one. The work moreover shows, also with the aid of a thought experiment in the spirit of Rawls and with factual applications, that the fiat redistribution of rights to liberty in favor of rights to health – from those least affected to those most affected by COVID-19 – is, in the main, a policy choice that is to be expected under certain constraints. Creation-Date: 2022 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/248469/1/COVID-FINAL-27-12-2021-V5.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D04, D78, H11, H12, I18 Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic, Health rights, Liberty, Public policy, Lockdown, Rawls Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248469 #END 651 #BEGIN 652 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Dossou, Toyo A. M. Author-Name: Asongu, Simplice A. Author-Name: Armah, Mark. K. Title: Bridging Africa’s Income Inequality Gap: How Relevant Is China’s Outward FDI to Africa? Abstract: In line with the SDG 10 and Aspiration 1 of Africa's Agenda 2063, this study examines whether: (i) the remarkable inflow of Chinese FDI to Africa matters for bridging the continent's marked income inequality gap, (ii) Africa's institutional fabric is effective in propelling Chinese FDI towards the equalisation of incomes in Africa, and (iii) there exist relevant threshold levels required for the various governance dynamics to cause Chinese FDI to equalise incomes in Africa. Our results, which are based on the dynamic GMM estimator for the period 1996 – 2020, reveal that though: (1) Chinese FDI contributes to equitable income distribution in Africa, the effect is weak, and (2) Africa's institutional fabric matters for propelling Chinese FDI towards the equalisation of incomes across the continent, governance mechanisms for ensuring political stability, low corruption, and voice and accountability are keys. Finally, critical masses required for these three key governance dynamics to propel Chinese FDI to reduce income inequality are 0.8, 0.5 and 0.1, respectively. Policy recommendations are provided in the end. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/248468/1/Ofori-Dossou-Asongu-Armah2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F6, F15, O43, O55, R58 Keywords: Africa, Agenda 2063, China, Corruption, China, FDI, Income Inequality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248468 #END 652 #BEGIN 653 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Aydin, Deniz Title: Forbearance, Interest Rates, and Present-Value Effects in a Randomized Debt Relief Experiment Creation-Date: 2021 Keywords: forbearance, interest rates, debt relief, present value, randomized field experiment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248467 #END 653 #BEGIN 654 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Henselmann, Klaus Title: The Fourth Accounting Directive and Member State Options for Single Accounts Creation-Date: 2021 Classification-JEL: M41, N44 Keywords: Rechnungslegung, Europa, Richtlinie, Wahlrechte, Mitgliedsstaaten, konservativ, progressiv, informativ, restriktiv, Geschichte Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248387 Note: Forthcoming as a book chapter. #END 654 #BEGIN 655 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Henselmann, Klaus Author-Name: Meier, Elena Title: The History of Accounting in Germany - Transposition of Accounting Directives Creation-Date: 2021 Classification-JEL: M41, N44 Keywords: Geschichte, Rechnungslegung, Deutschland, DDR, Deutsche Demokratische Republik, Europa, Richtlinie, Gesellschaftsrecht, Harmonisierung, Bilanzrecht Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248386 Note: Forthcoming as a book chapter. #END 655 #BEGIN 656 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Extended Supply-Use Tables Abstract: The statistical challenges of globalization are profound. We cannot rely solely on national statistics to understand how economies work and how to create industrial policies focusing on competitiveness. It is necessary to see the whole. National statistics build pictures based on relationships between producers and consumers and the rest of the world. But these relationships, especially those with the rest of the world, have become increasingly more complex. There is an increasing need to consider global production within a global accounting framework. This implies a departure from the traditional role of international organizations as compilers of internationally comparable national statistics to bring together the national tables to create a global table (UN, 2019). Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/248278/1/Emergence.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F00, F01, F02 Keywords: Global Value Chains, Global Production Network, International Trade, Supply-Use Tables Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:248278 #END 656 #BEGIN 657 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Finocchiaro Castro, Massimo Author-Name: Guccio, Calogero Title: Does greater discretion improve the performance in the execution of public works? Evidence from the reform of discretionary thresholds in Italy Abstract: In this work, adopting a semi-parametric approach and a quasi-experiment setting, we empirically assess the effects of a reform of public procurement regulation in Italy, approved in 2011, that increased the discretion of bureaucrats in selecting the procurer. To this end, employing a large dataset of public works managed by Italian municipalities in the period 2009-2013, we first estimate contract execution performance; then, we test the impact of the reform on the efficiency of public works execution in an institutional context characterized by large differences in social capital and trust in institutions. The results provide evidence that the reform exerted a positive, albeit small, effect on public works execution performance. However, the beneficial role exerted by increased discretion is positive and significant only in those areas where social capital and trust in institutions have reached higher levels. These results seem to suggest that more discretion leads to greater efficiency but also to greater corruption risks suggesting that increased discretion must be balanced by strengthened ex-post controls, particularly in high-risk areas. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/247648/1/Finocchiaro-Castro-Guccio-Procurement-WP-version.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D73, H57, P16 Keywords: Bureaucratic discretion, Social capital, Corruption, Public works contracts, Efficiency, Non-parametric frontier, Semi-parametric methods Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:247648 #END 657 #BEGIN 658 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: The Capitalist Degree of Immortality Abstract: This note offers some speculative ideas worth considering. One of the key features of all hierarchical civilizations is their rulers’ fear of death. This fear was famously narrated in the ancient myth of Gilgamesh – the Sumerian king who realized that, like all other humans, he too was destined to die and embarked on a desperate quest to annul his mortality. According to Lewis Mumford, this quest for immortality is the main reason why society’s rulers are forever obsessed with building and fortifying power hierarchies – or ‘megamachines’, as he called them. Controlling these megamachines, Mumford argued, is the rulers’ way of playing God, a futile yet all-possessive effort to conquer the future and live forever. In capitalism, the rulers finally figured out how to do it – sort of. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/247643/1/20211200_the_capitalist_degree_of_immortality_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, G Keywords: capital, capitalization, future, immortality, power Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:247643 #END 658 #BEGIN 659 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kulke, Elmar Author-Name: Suwala, Lech Title: Internationalization of grocery retailers in emerging markets – general considerations and economic impacts Abstract: General retailing was, and is still often considered to be a prevailing domestic economic activity. Trends, however, are changing. In the meantime, an internationalization of retailing, which took off at least 40 years ago allowed for the development of a coexistence of both domestic and international structures. Despite the unimpeded success of globalization’s benefits in many industries, the ‘big picture’ in grocery retailing is – with a few exceptions – somehow different. On the contrary to other industries or general retailing, grocery retailing is still dominated by local companies in most countries. Even in the wake of general trends like a worldwide liberalization of retail trade, a growing middle class or a higher penetration with personal vehicles or refrigerators in many developing countries, international players often could not get a hold on or are actually absent from the key retail markets. Every grocery retailer that had tried to expand to overseas markets failed as often as it has succeeded. This paper analyses global business opportunities derived from the process of internationalization of grocery retailing with special regard to developing economies and emerging markets in South America, Africa/ Middle East and Asia. Whilst the first part explores (1a) general trends of internationalization, (1b) conditions for market penetration and (1c) spatial patterns of expansion, the second part highlights (2a) economic impacts by means of a stylized model on the (2b) structure and (2c) dynamics of the market system. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/247642/1/Kulke-Suwala%20%282015%29%20-%20Internationalization%20of%20grocery%20retailers%20in%20emerging%20markets-%20econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L81, F23, O19, R30, F61 Keywords: Internationalisation of Grocery Retailers, Retail Industry, Emerging Markets, Global South, Spatial Patterns of Corporate Expansion, Economic impacts of grocery internationalization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:247642 #END 659 #BEGIN 660 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Do Unilateral Trade Preferences Help Reduce Poverty in Beneficiary Countries? Abstract: This paper has investigated the utilization of non-reciprocal (or unilateral) trade preferences (NRTPs) provided by QUAD countries on poverty in recipient-countries. It uses a panel dataset of 77 beneficiaries of NRTPs over the period of 2002-2019, and considers two main blocks of NRTPs, namely 'Generalized System of Preferences' (GSP) programs and 'other trade preferences programs'. The analysis relies on two main indicators of poverty, i.e., the poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 and the poverty gap at $1.90, but also provides a robustness check using indicators of poverty at $3.20 and $5.50. Empirical findings obtained from the use of the two-step generalized methods of moments indicate that over the full sample, an increase in the utilization rates of both GSP programs and other trade preferences programs is associated with poverty reduction in beneficiary countries, with the magnitude of this effect being higher for least developed countries (LDCs) than for other countries in the full sample. Additionally, GSP programs and other trade preferences programs are strongly complementary in helping reduce poverty in beneficiary countries. Finally, the effect of the utilization of each type of NRTPs on poverty works through the economic complexity channel, as the greater the level of economic complexity, the higher is the negative effect of the utilization of these NRTPs on poverty. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/247346/1/Paper-Utilization-of-NRTPs-and-Poverty-Gnangnon-Kimm.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14, O14 Keywords: Utilization of non-reciprocal trade preferences, Poverty, QUAD countries, Beneficiary countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:247346 #END 660 #BEGIN 661 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: WTO membership, the membership duration and the utilization of non-reciprocal trade preferences offered by the QUAD Countries Abstract: This article explores the effect of WTO membership and the duration of this membership on the utilization of non-reciprocal trade preferences (NRTPs) offered by the QUAD countries (Canada, European Union, Japan and the United States). It uses an unbalanced dataset of 136 beneficiaries of NRTPs over the period of 2002-2019. Results based on the two-step system generalized method of moments approach have revealed that over the full sample, both the WTO membership and its duration exerts a strong positive effect on the utilization rate of GSP programs and other trade preferences. WTO members have made a better utilization of GSP programs than of other trade preferences. Meanwhile, as the duration of their WTO membership increases, beneficiaries make more use of other trade preferences than of GSP programs. Additionally, WTO membership and its duration exert different effects on the usage of NRTPs across sub-samples, including in least developed countries versus non-least developed countries on the one hand, and in WTO Article XII members versus non-Article XII members, on the other hand. Finally, there exists a non-linear positive effect of the duration of WTO membership on the utilization of both GSP programs and other trade preferences, whereby the positive effect takes place immediately after entry of a country into the WTO, and its magnitude amplifies for every additional year of WTO membership. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/247265/1/Paper%20on%20WTO%20and%20the%20Utilization%20of%20NRTPs_Gnangnon%20Kimm.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F1, O19 Keywords: WTO membership, Duration of WTO membership, Utilization of unilateral trade preferences utilization, QUAD countries, Developing Countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:247265 #END 661 #BEGIN 662 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pazhanisamy, R. Author-Name: Selvarajan, E. Title: Economics of Block Chain and the Money Market Equilibrium Abstract: The overwhelming public response towards the crypto currencies like Bitcoin, Ethorium has gained serious attention among the researchers and policy makers around the various countries. The rationale behind the claim of dis-intermediary of financial system and the low transaction cost effective nature coupled with the absence of the agency problems in the financial market creates an illusion among public to take part and attempt to speculate in it. The reviews of literature on the themes of the economics of the block chain technology used in the cryptos shows that there are high degree of uncertainties of the nature and the impact it create due to the absence regulations both partial and absolute terms on the one hand, the absence of theoretical, empirical, conceptual an methodological clarity from the economic theories on the other hand calls for an enquiry into the crypto's usefulness at the gross root levels for which this present attempt is made. Using a set of realistic assumptions a conceptual framework is prepared and the future of the money market equilibrium is predicted. In the lights of the changes in the money market equilibrium with response to the changes in the crypto currencies it is found that in the long run there will be negative impact on the economy certainly which leads to the collapse the global economics if it is unnoticed to implement necessary policy adjustments at the national and global levels collectively. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/247260/1/Economics-of-Block-Chain-and-the-Money-Market-Equilibrium.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G15, G32, E42, E51, E58, F30, L51 Keywords: Block Chain Economics, Crypto Currency, Money Market Equilibrium, Economics of blockchain Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:247260 #END 662 #BEGIN 663 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lartigue-Mendoza, Jacques Author-Name: Domínguez, Salomón Title: The Effect of Wages on Human Capital Investment Creation-Date: 2021 Classification-JEL: I24, I26, J24, J31, C61 Keywords: Human capital, Education, Wages, Dynamic structural model, Virtuous dynamic cycle Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246818 #END 663 #BEGIN 664 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ray, Sourav Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Title: Retail Pricing Format and Rigidity of Regular Prices Abstract: We study different notions of sale and regular prices, and their variability with store pricing-formats. We use data from three large stores with different pricing-formats (EDLP/Hi-Lo/Hybrid) that are located within 1-km radius. Importantly, the data contain both the actual transaction prices and the actual regular prices as displayed on the store shelves. We combine these data with two “generated” regular price series and study their rigidity. Regular-price rigidity varies with store-formats because different format stores define regular-prices differently. Correspondingly, the meaning of price-cuts varies across store-formats. To interpret the findings, we consider the store pricing format distribution across the US. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/246817/1/Ray-Snir-Levy-Nov-2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31 Keywords: Price Rigidity, Sticky Prices, Regular Prices, Sale Prices, Filtered Prices, Reference Prices, Transaction Prices, Price Cuts, Pricing Format, Every Day Low Price, EDLP, Hi-Lo, Hybrid Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246817 #END 664 #BEGIN 665 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Subedi, Mukti Nath Author-Name: Bharadwaj, Bishal Author-Name: Rafiq, Shuddhasattwa Title: Who benefits from the decentralized energy system (DES)? Evidence from Nepal’s micro-hydropower (MHP) Abstract: In low-income countries, uneven access to clean energy has posed a challenge to reduce socioeconomic inequalities across gender and disadvantaged groups. To address this issue, development planners see potentials from the decentralized energy system (DES) that provides electricity access in those areas where the national electricity grid is not available. To assess whether the DES helps reduce inequality and improve gender empowerment, this study focuses on the micro-hydropower (MHP) scheme, a widely adopted DES in Nepal, to study its impact on educational attainment and employment outcomes by caste and gender. The results show MHP improves the educational outcomes and facilitates a labour shift from traditional agriculture to waged and salaried jobs. However, a disaggregated analysis shows the educational outcome of access to MHP electricity is higher for women and lower caste individuals; however, the positive employment related effects are inclined toward socially dominant groups like males and upper caste individuals. These results reveal that while in general the DES improves educational and labour market outcomes, it may need complementary conditions to signify its labour effects on women and lower caste individuals. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/246816/1/Nepal-Micro-Hydro-Nov-2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I25, J15, Q42 Keywords: Decentralized energy system, education, labour market, caste, gender Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246816 #END 665 #BEGIN 666 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heinz, Nicolai Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Engel, Stefanie Title: Distance to climate change consequences reduces willingness to engage in low-cost mitigation actions – Results from an experimental online study from Germany Abstract: Adverse consequences of climate change often affect people and places far away from those that have the greatest capacity for mitigation. Several correlational and some experimental studies suggest that the willingness to take mitigation actions may diminish with increasing distance. However, the empirical findings are ambiguous. In order to investigate if and how socio-spatial distance to climate change effects plays a role for the willingness to engage in mitigation actions, we conducted an online experiment with a German population sample (n=383). We find that the willingness to sign a petition for climate protection was significantly reduced when a person in India with a name of Indian origin was affected by flooding as compared to a person in Germany with a name of German origin. Distance did not affect donating money to climate protection or approving of mitigation policies. Our results provide evidence for the existence of a negative effect of distance to climate change consequences on the willingness to engage in low-cost mitigation actions. Investigating explanations for such an effect, we find that it can be attributed to the spatial distance dimension, which reduced participants’ perception of being personally affected by climate change. Moreover, we found some cautious evidence that people with strong racist attitudes react differently to the distance manipulations, suggesting a form of environmental racism that could also reduce mitigation action in the case of climate change. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/246815/1/WP-Heinz-et-al-2021-Distance-to-climate-change-consequences.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D91, C93, Q54 Keywords: psychological distance, social distance, climate change, spatial distance, mitigation, economic experiment, environmental racism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246815 #END 666 #BEGIN 667 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Romensen, Gert-Jan Author-Name: Soetevent, Adriaan R. Title: Improving Worker Productivity Through Tailored Performance Feedback: Field Experimental Evidence from Bus Drivers Creation-Date: 2021 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246811 #END 667 #BEGIN 668 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: Technological Change and Rural-to-Urban Migration of Labour: A Micro-Economic Causal Relationship in the Context of Less Developed Economies Creation-Date: 1978 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/246786/1/Stark-Oded-IUSSP-Paper-No-11.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246786 #END 668 #BEGIN 669 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Garcia-Brazales, Javier Title: Couples are Made of Four: Intergenerational Transmission of Within-household Allocations Abstract: There is increasing evidence in favor of non-unitary models of the household. Moreover, gender norms and values have been shown to be transmitted across generations and to affect intra-household allocations. I lever a unique opportunity to observe each spouse’s contributions to income, market, and home hours of parents and children (after forming their own household) in China and Australia to uncover a strong positive correlation between the female spouse’s relative contributions across two generations in the absence of reverse causality. This is robust to the inclusion of a rich vector of controls and provincial fixed effects. Exploiting large exogenous changes in education brought along by the Chinese 1986 Compulsory Education Law, I find that the degree of intergenerational transmission was disrupted by the reform, and that this happened heterogeneously across groups with different parental relative contributions. I further show that this was driven by a change in the attitudes towards gender norms, which suggests that transmission occurs at least partly through socialization and that policies can have a multiplier effect both within and across generations. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/246592/1/CM4_GBrazales_Dropbox.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D10, I24, J16 Keywords: Intrahousehold Inequalities, Relative Spousal Contributions, Intergenerational Transmission, China, Australia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246592 #END 669 #BEGIN 670 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: De Vera, Micole Author-Name: Garcia-Brazales, Javier Title: Firm Size and the Task Content of Jobs: Evidence from 47 Countries Abstract: Using a mix of household- and employer-based survey data from 47 countries, we provide novel evidence that workers in larger firms perform more non-routine analytical and interpersonal tasks, even within narrowly defined occupations. Moreover, workers in larger firms rely more on the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to perform these tasks. We also document a 17% wage premium that workers in larger firms enjoy relative to their counterparts in smaller firms. We find evidence that the firm size gradient in the task content of jobs accounts for around 10% of the large firm wage premium. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/246591/1/LFWP_DeVera_GBrazales.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J24, J31, L25 Keywords: Tasks, Occupations, Firm size, Cross-country evidence, Wage differential Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246591 #END 670 #BEGIN 671 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bačo, Tomáš Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Title: Socioeconomic factors and shifts in ideological orientation among political parties: Parliamentary elections in Slovakia from 1998 to 2020 Abstract: We analyze the election results of political parties and ideological blocs in parliamentary elections held in the Slovak Republic from 1998 to 2020 across 79 districts (LAU 1 level). Interestingly, correlations among parties’ election results between consecutive elections are very high across all elections from 1998 until 2016, meaning that any increase or decrease in electoral support was almost uniform across all districts from one election to another. The last elections disrupted this trend, and in line with the significantly lower degree of correlation with prior elections for all ideological groups, we observe territorially heterogeneous voting behavior. Especially in districts with left-wing support, the electorate shifted toward what we refer to as ideologically vague parties. Within a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) framework, we show that systematic influence of economic variables on the election results is present only for right-wing parties. For other ideological blocs, age and population density appear to be more influential factors. The “economically rational” right-wing election camp, however, has exhibited a decline in electoral support. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/246584/1/Parliamentary%20elections%20in%20Slovakia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, E24, E61, P20 Keywords: Economic voting, Elections, Popularity, Government support, Populism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:246584 #END 671 #BEGIN 672 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Kaiser, Tim Title: Cognitive ability, financial literacy, and narrow bracketing in time-preference elicitation Abstract: We study the role of cognitive ability and financial literacy for inter-temporal decision-making using an adapted version of the Convex Time Budget Protocol. We document substantial heterogeneity in choice-patterns and estimated parameters at the individual-level: We find that subjects with higher cognitive ability and domain specific-knowledge are more likely to make patient inter-temporal choices, to allocate the entire budget to a single payment-date, and to allocate the entire budget to corner choices as interest rates increase. At the same time, domain specific knowledge is uncorrelated with choice consistency and estimated individual error parameters, suggesting these results are not driven by a reduction in random noise among high ability respondents. These results serve as suggestive evidence for inter-temporal arbitrage among high ability respondents, thereby revealing a potential confound in time-preference elicitation tasks relying on time-dated monetary rewards. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/245802/1/OK_092021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G53, D15, D91 Keywords: Intertemporal choice, cognitive ability, financial literacy, narrow bracketing, arbitrage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:245802 #END 672 #BEGIN 673 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaiser, Tim Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Title: Economic education at the expense of indoctrination? Evidence from Germany Abstract: We study the impact of a recent curriculum reform introducing mandatory economic education in higher-track secondary schools in Southwest Germany. The curriculum reform provides the opportunity to leverage the exogenous variation in exposure to economic education relative to the previous cohort not affected by the reform. One year after exposure to the mandate, we observe positive treatment effects on test scores measuring cognitive elements of economic competence only for students with high test scores at baseline. Two years after exposure to the mandate, we find positive treatment effects on test scores across the entire distribution, as well as socio-emotional skills relevant to financial decision making while we do not observe effects on self-reported financial behaviors. At the same time, we find no changes in social preferences and normative attitudes that could give rise to concerns of indoctrination effects regarding students’ views on profit maximization and the market mechanism. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/245801/1/KO_11_2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21, G53, I21 Keywords: Economic education, financial literacy, impact evaluation, social preferences, indoctrination, financial behaviors Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:245801 #END 673 #BEGIN 674 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mourelatos, Evangelos Title: Personality and Ethics on Online Labor Markets: How mood influences ethical perceptions Abstract: This research explores whether there is a link between mood and ethical perceptions in online labor markets. The experimental design allows to track the determinants of the underlying mechanism of individuals’ behavior within and without the treatment context. By using OLS estimation methods the paper also provides empirical evidence for several statistically significant effects of personality traits on ethical perceptions, value co-creation and relationship quality. In general, the positive mood manipulation lead to an increase of individuals’ ethical perceptions, value co-creation and relationship quality. These findings suggest that mainly the effect of positive mood on the outcomes operates through the trait of agreeableness. Contributions to the ethical perception, mood research and online-economy literature are discussed Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/244735/3/Manuscript%20_Author.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D91, D87, D53, D23, D01 Keywords: ethical perception, value co-creation, mood, personality, online labor markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:244735 #END 674 #BEGIN 675 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Sgarlato, Raffaele Title: The European Electricity Market Model EMMA - Model Description Abstract: The Electricity Market Model EMMA is a techno-economic model of the integrated European power system. It simulates investment, dispatch, and trade, minimizing total costs subject to a large set of technical constraints. In economics terms, it is a partial equilibrium model of the wholesale electricity market. It calculates scenario-based or green-field optima (equilibria) and estimates the corresponding capacity mix as well as hourly prices, generation, storage dispatch, flexible consumption, and cross-border trade for each market area. Technically, EMMA is a linear program, written in GAMS and solved by CPLEX on a desktop computer in about two hours. EMMA has been used for a number of peer-reviewed publications as well as in consulting projects. EMMA is open-source: the model code and input data are freely available under the MIT Software License and the Create Commons BY-SA 4.0 License, respectively, and can be downloaded from https://github.com/emma-model Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/244592/1/EMMA%20Model%20Description.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:244592 Note: Latest version: https://emma-model.com/documentation #END 675 #BEGIN 676 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shifa, Muna Author-Name: Leibbrandt, Murray Title: Spatial Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: This paper provides within-country spatial and national inequality estimates in SSA using comparable data from the DHS. Two indicators are used to measure household welfare. First, detailed information on living standards indicators is used to calculate asset indices using data from 24 SSA countries with comparable data in recent years. The inequality estimates based on the asset indices are used to provide contemporary asset inequality estimates in SSA. Results reveal high levels of within-country spatial and national asset inequalities in SSA, with large variations across countries. The second indicator of household welfare is based on data on access to basic services. Access to basic services is measured by deriving an index calculated using indicators such as access to water, sanitation, electricity, a telephone, and education. We compare changes in inequalities in access to basic services using data from 27 SSA countries that have comparable data for at least two periods between 1995 and 2018. The findings suggest that, apart from a few countries, within-country spatial and national inequalities in access to basic services have declined over time. Nevertheless, the level of inequality and the magnitude of the changes in inequality over time varies greatly across countries, and disparities in access to basic services remain quite large in some SSA countries. Our findings, using both indices, show that within-country regional inequality is a significant component of national inequality in the majority of SSA nations, with significant policy implications. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/244591/1/WP9_Spatial-inequality-in-sub-Saharan-Africa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D10, D4 Keywords: Spatial inequality, asset inequality, basic services, Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:244591 #END 676 #BEGIN 677 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: A Real-Business-Cycle model with robots: Lessons for Bulgaria Abstract: Robots are introduced into a real-business-cycle setup augmented with a detailed government sector. Robots are modeled as an imperfect substitute for labor services. The model is calibrated to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2020). The quantitative importance of the presence of robots in the economy is investigated for business cycle fluctuations in Bulgaria. In the presence of robots, wages increase, but employment falls after a technology shock. However, for plausible parameter values, the effect is predicted to be quite small. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243348/1/RBC_robots_2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E24 Keywords: business cycles, robots Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243348 #END 677 #BEGIN 678 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dahlhoff, Jürgen Author-Name: Sander, Thomas Title: Keine Nachhaltigkeit bei der Working Capital-Performance? Empirische Einsichten am Beispiel von DAX 30-Unternehmen für die Jahre 2013 bis 2017 Abstract: Das Working Capital einer Unternehmung wird immer wieder neu als Quelle der Innenfinanzierung entdeckt. Erfolgreiche Working Capital-Projekte können zu signifikanten Liquiditäts- und Rentabilitätsverbesserungen führen. Auf Basis dieser Untersuchung wird argumentiert, dass diese Erfolge nicht nachhaltig, also langfristig anhaltend, sondern temporär sind. Am Beispiel der DAX 30-Population wird für die Jahre 2013 bis 2017 ein heterogener Umgang der Unternehmen mit Working Capital belegt. Das Verständnis von Working Capital ist sehr unterschiedlich, wie anhand der externen Finanzberichterstattung dargestellt wird. Die Working Capital Performance variiert stark zwischen den DAX30-Unternehmen. Beispielsweise reicht der Cash Conversion Cycle einzelner Unternehmen von -7 bis +106 Tagen mit schwankenden positiven und negativen Entwicklungen. Korrelationen zwischen dem Working Capital und an-deren Indikatoren, wie z.B. der Unternehmensgröße, zeitigen teilweise überraschende Ergebnisse, abweichend von der Literatur. Weiterhin wird aufgezeigt, dass Abschlusspolitik und rechnungslegungstechnische Besonderheiten einen Einfluss auf das Working Capital-Niveau haben können, ohne dass eine reale Verbesserung eingetreten ist. Ferner wird argumentiert, dass diverse exogene und endogene Gründe zu einem sich ständig verändernden Working Capital führen. Unternehmen können daher kaum nachhaltige Erfolge erzielen, sondern müssen ihr Working Capital immer wieder neu adjustieren. Abstract: A company's working capital is constantly being rediscovered as a source of internal financing. Successful working capital projects can lead to significant improvements in liquidity and profitability. Based on this research, it is argued that these successes are not sustainable, i.e. long-lasting, but temporary. Using the example of the DAX 30 population, a heterogeneous handling of working capital by companies is evidenced for the years 2013 to 2017. The understanding of working capital varies widely, as shown by external financial reporting. Working capital performance varies greatly between the DAX30 companies. For example, the cash conversion cycle of individual companies ranges from -7 to +106 days with fluctuating positive and negative developments. Correlations between working capital and other indicators, such as company size, sometimes show surprising results, deviating from the literature. Furthermore, it is shown that financial statement policies and accounting peculiarities can have an impact on the working capital level without a real improvement having occurred. Furthermore, it is argued that various exogenous and endogenous reasons lead to a constantly changing working capital. Companies are therefore hardly able to achieve sustainable success, but have to readjust their working capital repeatedly. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243347/1/Finale%20Version%20Dahlhoff_Sander%20Working%20Capital%20Empirische%20Untersuchung%202013%20bis%202017%20DAX%2030_Schriften%20zur%20empirischen%20RL_Forschung%20Oktober%202021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M41 Keywords: Working Capital, Working Capital Analyse, Working Capital Management Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243347 #END 678 #BEGIN 679 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: How quantitatively important are shocks to consumption and income tax rates for business cycle fluctuations? Lessons from Bulgaria (1999-2020) Abstract: This paper analyzes the macroeconomic effects of fluctuations in the marginal tax rates of consumption and income. To this end, stochastic tax rates are introduced as in Braun (1992), into a real-business-cycle setup augmented with a detailed government sector. The model is calibrated to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2020). The quantitative importance of the presence of stochastic taxation is investigated for the stabilization of cyclical fluctuations in Bulgaria. The quantitative effect of such shocks to the marginal tax rates is found to be very small, and thus not important for either business cycle stabilization, or public finance issues. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243316/1/tax_shocks_Bulgaria_2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32 Keywords: business cycles, stochastic consumption and income taxes Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243316 #END 679 #BEGIN 680 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Novels Abstract: The study of society today is divided into different disciplines – the so-called social sciences – a division that fractures our consciousness into disconnected bits and pieces. Literature does the very opposite: it brings things together, offering glimpses into the enfolded, hologramic nature of society. Here are some of the novels that helped us understand this hologramic enfoldment from different angles. They are all worth reading. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243303/1/20211000_bn_novels.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16 Keywords: literature, political economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243303 #END 680 #BEGIN 681 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fox, Marc Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: Remittances, exchange rates and the labor supply of Mexican Migrants in the U.S. Abstract: This paper assumes that migrants derive utility from their own consumption, their own leisure, and remittances to their family. It hypothesizes that the labor supply and remittances of Mexican migrants in the U.S. are jointly determined. Shits in real exchange rates affect the cost of sending a given real volume of remittances back to the family in the sending country. This in turn induces income and substitution effects on both remittances and labor supply. It is argued that the substitution effect would dominate. Therefore, under reasonable conditions, a real depreciation of the peso should lead to an increase in both remittances and labor supply. Empirical work using U.S. Census data and a data set containing information on Mexican migrants in the U.S. lends support to the theoretical predictions. Creation-Date: 1987 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243208/1/Remittances-exchange-rates-and-the-labor-supply-of-Mexican-migrants-in-the-US.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D01, D11, D12, F22, F24, F31, F33, J22, J61, O15 Keywords: Mexican migrants in the U.S., Labor supply, Remittances, Exchange rate Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243208 #END 681 #BEGIN 682 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ferrara, Paolo Lorenzo Author-Name: Guccio, Calogero Author-Name: Scaglioni, Carla Title: Is Transparency a Free Lunch? Evidence from the Italian Local Health Authorities Abstract: The healthcare sector is often considered one of the most prone to corruption and transparency policies have been proposed in several countries to fight bribery and corruption. Indeed, the transparency of public bodies potentially play a relevant role in preventing misbehaviours and favouring accountability. The paper contributes to the broader understanding of the transparency role in the healthcare sector using Italy as a case study. For this purpose we first build a composite indicator of transparency, already proposed in the literature in the field, to assess the differences in transparency and integrity between Italian Local Health Authorities (LHAs). Then we use multivariate regression to explore the relationship between the performance for different expenditure functions at LHAs level and transparency index. Our results show a wide difference in transparency and integrity among LHAs that does not always follow the classic north-south divide in the country. In addition, we find results consistent with the idea that transparency is generally associated with better performance of the LHAs in containment total health expenditure while imposing larger administrative burdens. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243164/1/Paper-transparency-Ferrara-et-al.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C92, H30, H41 Keywords: Transparency, Administrative burdens, Accountability, Local Health Authorities, Italian NHS Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243164 #END 682 #BEGIN 683 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mubenga-Tshitaka, Jean-Luc Author-Name: Muteba Mwamba, John W. Author-Name: Dikgang, Johane Author-Name: Gelo, Dambala Title: Risk spillover between climate variables and the agricultural commodity market in East Africa Abstract: This paper assesses the effect of extreme weather variability in predicting the impact on two agricultural crop-related variables: yield and production. We use a Markov-Switching time-varying copula to describe the joint dependence structure between extreme weather variability and crops in East Africa during the period 1961-2018. Understanding the risk associated with weather variability on agricultural production is crucial, as mitigation, and even adaptation, can then be made more effective. Climate data are divided into regimes: higher and lower regimes. The abnormal or higher regime is the period during which the temperature exceeds a certain threshold, while the lower regime is the period during which the rainfall is below a certain threshold. The findings show that there is strong dependence between weather variability and crops, meaning an increase in temperature or a decrease in rainfall is associated with a decrease in crop yield or production. The dependence is more significant when weather variability moves into either regime compared to the normal condition. The dependency in the higher regime tends to be more significant. This highlights the need to formulate policies that consider crop improvement strategies such as genetic crops, irrigation, and adaption under carbon dioxide (CO2) fertiliser to mitigate the impact on food supply in the region. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243160/3/Risk-spill-over-between-climate-variables-and-the-agricultural-commodity-market-in-East-Africa_P211102021-clean.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q1, Q2, Q10, Q54 Keywords: Dependence structure, weather variability, markov-switching, constant and time-varying copulas Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243160 #END 683 #BEGIN 684 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Finocchiaro Castro, Massimo Author-Name: Guccio, Calogero Author-Name: Romeo, Domenica Title: An Eco-efficiency Analysis of Space Agencies Launching Activities Abstract: In the last few years, countries and commercial firms are increasingly interested in space activities for civil, military, and commercial purposes (Undseth et al., 2020). As it has been shown in NASA report (2019), investment in space program drives to significant economic benefits to the whole society. We propose the first methodological paper to empirically study the efficiency of satellite launches employing the Data Envelopment Analysis input-oriented technique. We show that overall average efficiency is quite low and that it can significantly be improved by studying subsamples of DMUs according to user, purpose, and class of orbit. The most relevant results can be achieved in the communications purpose cluster where the bias corrected efficiency scores tripled with respect to average efficiency level reached by overall estimates. Hence, the scope of satellites seems to affect the mission efficiency and, even more relevant, the future creation of debris. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243123/1/An-Eco-efficiency-Analysis-of-Space-Agencies-Launching-Activities-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, Q53, R41 Keywords: efficiency, space programs, debris, space agencies, satellites Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243123 #END 684 #BEGIN 685 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Red Giant Abstract: In 2012, we published a paper in the Journal of Critical Globalization Studies titled 'Imperialism and Financialism: The Story of a Nexus'. Our topic was the chameleon-like Marxist notion of imperialism and how its different theories related to finance. Here is the article's summary: Over the past century, the nexus of imperialism and financialism has become a major axis of Marxist theory and praxis. Many Marxists consider this nexus to be a prime cause of our worldly ills, but the historical role they ascribe to it has changed dramatically over time. The key change concerns the nature and direction of surplus and liquidity flows. The first incarnation of the nexus, articulated at the turn of the twentieth century, explained the imperialist scramble for colonies to which finance capital could export its excessive surplus. The next version posited a neo-imperial world of monopoly capitalism where the core's surplus is absorbed domestically, sucked into a black hole of military spending and financial intermediation. The third script postulated a World System where surplus is imported from the dependent periphery into the financial core. And the most recent edition explains the hollowing out of the U.S. core, a red giant that has already burned much of its own productive fuel and is now trying to financialize the rest of the world in order to use the system's external liquidity. The paper outlines this chameleon-like transformation, assesses what is left of the nexus and asks whether it is worth keeping. (p. 42) In the second part of the paper, we looked a little closer at the red-giant argument. Specifically, we wanted to gauge the degree to which U.S. capital had declined and examine whether this decline indeed forced the rest of the world to financialize. And what we found surprised us: the 'financial sector' did seem to become more important everywhere, but its rise was led not by the United States, but by the rest of the world! Our article was published almost a decade ago, so we though it would be interesting to update our figures and see what has changed, if anything. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243122/1/20211000_bn_red_giant_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P26, P48, G3, F5, G1 Keywords: globalization, imperialism, financialization, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243122 #END 685 #BEGIN 686 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bratsiotis, George J. Author-Name: Theodoridis, Konstantinos Title: Precautionary Liquidity Shocks, Excess Reserves and Business Cycles Abstract: This paper identifies a precautionary banking liquidity shock via a set of sign, zero and forecast variance restrictions imposed. The shock proxies the banking sector's reluctance to lend to the real economy induced by an exogenous preference change for liquid assets. Through the lens of a DSGE model, the precautionary liquidity shock is shown to work through two channels: reserves (balance sheet) and the deposit rate (intertemporal effect). The overall effect is a downward co-movement in output, consumption, investment, and prices, which is amplified the higher are the long-run risks in the economy and banks' responsiveness to potential risk. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/243121/1/GBKT2020_PrecLiquidityShocks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C10, C32, E30, E43, E51, G21 Keywords: SVAR, Sign and Zero Restrictions, DSGE, Precautionary Liquidity Shock, Excess Reserves, Deposit Rate, Risk, Financial Intermediation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:243121 #END 686 #BEGIN 687 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bucksteeg, Michael Author-Name: Mikurda, Jennifer Author-Name: Weber, Christoph Title: Market integration of power-to-gas during the energy transition—Assessing the role of carbon pricing Abstract: The expansion of wind and solar energy has primarily led to the decarbonisation of the electricity sector. Against this background, power-to-gas (PtG) is seen as a solution supporting the decarbonisation of other sectors, such as heating or transport. As the generation mix will transitionally be based on conventional generation technologies, the upcoming integration of PtG into electricity markets comes with several challenges. Notably, the design of environmental levies and carbon pricing should create efficient incentives for the utilisation of PtG, reflecting the value of the CO2 emissions avoided by hydrogen or methane. This contribution studies the role of the regulatory framework in the integration of PtG, with special attention to carbon pricing. We extend an optimisation model by the PtG technology and competing flexibilities, such as storage or demand-side management. We develop several scenarios with regard to levies, levels of CO2 price, techno-economic parameters of flexibilities and shares of variable renewable energy sources for the year 2025. We find that carbon pricing that considers the value of the CO2 emissions avoided by hydrogen or methane supports the market integration of PtG, whereas too low CO2 prices might lead to adverse effects. Subsequently, implications for energy policy are discussed. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/242982/1/20211005_Manusscript_Bucksteeg_etal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4, Q5 Keywords: electricity market model, carbon pricing, power-to-gas, energy policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242982 #END 687 #BEGIN 688 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bucksteeg, Michael Author-Name: Wiedmann, Michael Author-Name: Pöstges, Arne Author-Name: Haller, Markus Author-Name: Böttger, Diana Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Schmitz, Richard Title: The transformation of integrated electricity and heat systems—Assessing mid-term policies using a model comparison approach Abstract: The development of European power markets is highly influenced by integrated electricity and heat systems. Therefore, decarbonization policies for the electricity and heat sectors, as well as numerical models that are used to guide such policies, should consider cross-sectoral interdependencies. However, although many model-based policy assessments for the highly interconnected European electricity system exist, international studies that consider interactions with the heat sector are rare. In this contribution, we systematically study the potential benefits of integrated heat and power systems by conducting a model comparison experiment. Five large-scale market models covering electricity and heat supply were utilized to study the interactions between a rather simple coal replacement scenario and a more ambitious policy that supports decarbonization through power-to-heat. With a focus on flexibility provision, emissions reduction, and economic efficiency, although the models agree on the qualitative effects, there are considerable quantitative differences. For example, the estimated reductions in overall CO2 emissions range between 0.2 and 9.0 MtCO2/a for a coal replacement scenario and between 0.2 and 25.0 MtCO2/a for a power-to-heat scenario. Model differences can be attributed mainly to the level of detail of CHP modeling and the endogeneity of generation investments. Based on a detailed comparison of the modeling results, implications for modeling choices and political decisions are discussed. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/242981/1/Bucksteeg_etal_Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4, Q5 Keywords: Combined heat and power, power-to-heat, coal phase-out, renewable energy, energy system transformation, electricity market modeling, model comparison Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242981 #END 688 #BEGIN 689 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Dominant Capital and the Government Abstract: This note contextualizes the ongoing U.S. policy shift toward greater ‘regulation’ of large corporations. Cory Doctorow and Blair Fix are optimistic about this shift. We doubt it. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/242968/1/20210930-bn-dominant-capital-and-the-government-rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P26, P48, I18, K2, L Keywords: capital as power, dominant capital, government, mode of power, policy, regulation, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242968 #END 689 #BEGIN 690 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nesje, Frikk Title: Cross-Dynastic Intergenerational Altruism Abstract: This paper studies whether saving behavior reveals socially relevant intertemporal preferences. I decompose the present generation's preference for the next into its dynastic and cross-dynastic components. If people are concerned about sustainability or if their descendants move or marry, then they might assign welfare weights on other dynasties. With such cross-dynastic intergenerational altruism, saving for one's descendants benefits present members of other dynasties. These preference externalities imply that socially relevant intertemporal preferences cannot be inferred from saving behavior. The external effect of present saving decreases over time. This means that intertemporal preferences inferred from saving behavior are time-inconsistent. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/242961/1/cda.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D64, D71, H43, Q01, Q54 Keywords: Intergenerational altruism, Social discounting, Time-inconsistency, Declining discount rates, Generalized consumption Euler equations, Interdependent utility, Isolation paradox, Climate change Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242961 #END 690 #BEGIN 691 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of the Utilization of Non-Reciprocal Trade Preferences offered by the QUAD on Economic Growth in Beneficiary Countries Abstract: At the second conference of the UNCTAD in 1968, member states adopted a Resolution (Resolution 21(ii)) which stated, inter alia, that the offer of the non-reciprocal trade preferences (NRTPs) by wealthier countries to developing countries should aim to increase the export earnings of developing countries, promote their industrialization, and accelerate their rates of economic growth. The extant empirical literature has assessed whether the objectives of increasing export earnings, and promoting industrialization have been achieved, and reached mixed evidence. The present article is the first to investigate empirically whether the third goal, that is, whether NRTPs have been instrumental in promoting economic growth in beneficiary countries, has been achieved. Especially, it has examined the effect of the utilization of NRTPs (and not merely the eligibility to NRTPs) offered by the QUAD countries on the economic growth performance of beneficiary countries. It has, additionally, considered how development aid (which is another major policy tool available to wealthier countries to assist developing countries) interact with NRTPs in influencing beneficiary countries' economic growth performance. Two main blocks of NRTPs have been considered here, namely, Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programs, and other trade preferences programs. The analysis has used a set of 90 beneficiary countries of NRTPs that are concurrently recipients of development aid, over the period 2002-2018. The two-step system generalized methods of moments is the primary estimator used to conduct the empirical analysis. Results have shown that while a higher degree of utilization of each of these two blocks of NRTPs has been associated with high economic growth rate, development aid enhances this positive effect. This highlights the need for donors to support a development strategy based on the provision of both development aid and NRTPs, if they were to help beneficiary countries to promote economic growth. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/242848/1/Paper-Trade-Preferences-and-Econ-Growth.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F43, F35, O10 Keywords: Utilization of non-reciprocal trade preferences, Economic Growth, QUAD countries, Developing Countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242848 #END 691 #BEGIN 692 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Presidente, Giorgio Title: Institutions, Holdup and Automation Abstract: What drives investment in automation technologies? This paper documents a positive relationship between labor-friendly institutions and investment in industrial robots in a sample of developing and advanced economies. Institutions explain a substantial share of cross-country variation in automation. The relationship between institutions and robots is stronger in sunk cost-intensive industries, where producers are vulnerable to holdup. The result suggests that one reason for producers to invest in automation is to thwart rent appropriation by labor. As a consequence, policies aimed at supporting workers’ welfare by increasing their bargaining power might actually reduce their employment opportunities. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/242475/1/IHA_nov2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O32, O33, L16, J50, O57 Keywords: Robots, Institutions, automation, holdup, unions, sunk costs, appropriability, bargaining, frictions, rents, technology adoption Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242475 #END 692 #BEGIN 693 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sanyal, Anirban Title: Impact of US-China Trade War on Indian External Trade Abstract: The recent US-China trade war refreshed the memory of trade protectionism in the era of global integration. In this context, this paper analyzes the impact of higher trade tariffs imposed by the US and China on each other, on India, a large country having significant trade ties with both the US and China, yet not directly involved in the tariff war. Using product level data on exports and imports, the paper analyzes the implication of the tariff war on India in short run through the lens of trade diversion and identifies the differential effect of trade diversion across different product types. The analysis reveals a significant trade diversion to India from China at an aggregate level with trade elasticity of 0.5-0.7 due to US tariffs on China which points towards a substitution effect in products targeted by the US-China tariffs. Further, the paper observes a heterogeneous impact of the trade diversion across different product classifications. Particularly, India's export of easily substituted products like final goods, homogeneous goods and high elastic goods, intensified plausibly driven by higher tariffs imposed by the US on China. However the effect on these tariffs on India's import intensity remains mixed. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/242250/1/USChinaTradeWar_EffectonIndia-8.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F1, F12, F13, F14 Keywords: US-China Trade War, Trade Cost, Product Heterogeneity, Comparative Advantages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242250 #END 693 #BEGIN 694 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michelangeli, Valentina Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Sette, Enrico Title: Credit demand versus supply channels: Experimental- and administrative-based evidence Abstract: We identify the relative importance for lending of borrower (demand) versus bank (supply) factors. We submit thousands of fictitious mortgage applications, changing one borrower-level factor at time, to the major Italian online mortgage platform. Each application goes to all banks. We find that borrower and bank factors are equally strong in causing and explaining loan acceptance. For pricing, borrower factors are instead stronger. Moreover, banks supplying less credit accept riskier borrowers. Exploiting the administrative credit register, we show borrower-lender assortative matching, and that the bank-level strength measure, estimated on the experimental data, determines credit supply and risk-taking to real firms. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/242124/1/Credit-demand-Michelangeli-Peydro-Sette-July-2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G51, E51 Keywords: credit, banks, mortgages, SMEs, risk-taking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:242124 #END 694 #BEGIN 695 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rahman, Mohammad Chhiddikur Author-Name: Rahaman, Md. Shajedur Author-Name: Islam, Mohammad Ariful Author-Name: Omar, Md. Imran Author-Name: Siddique, Md. Abu Bakr Title: Deployment Strategies for Golden Rice in Bangladesh: A Study on Affordability and Varietal Choice with the Target Beneficiaries Abstract: The sustainable development goals emphasized achieving food security and improved nutrition for all. As nothing is more important than health, all should have adequate basic nutrients to lead a healthy life. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major problem in large parts of the developing world. Apart from acute symptoms of eye problems, VAD also weakens the immune system, thus increasing the incidence and severity of infectious diseases. For adults, the implications can be serious too, especially for pregnant and lactating women. The most affected are the poor, whose diets are predominated by less nutritious staple foods on account of lacking purchasing power and limited awareness. ‘Golden Rice’ has been developed through genetic engineering at Swiss and German universities. It is a new type of rice that contains ‘beta-carotene’, which is converted into vitamin A inside the body as needed and gives the grain its golden color. It’s grown just like ordinary rice and aims to provide 30-50% of the estimated average requirement for vitamin A. It could improve the vitamin A status of deficient food consumers, especially women and children in developing countries. Some optimists praise it as the solution to overcome malnutrition and VAD. It already has received biosafety approval and released in the Philippines and hopes to release in Bangladesh soon. Prior to the release, the healthier rice team aimed to draw a deployment strategy of golden rice in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study has been conducted to assess the affordability and varietal choice of the targeted beneficiaries in the specific regions of Bangladesh. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/241994/1/WP_GR_BRRI.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Golden rice, Deployment policy, Ex-ante, vitamin A deficiency, Bangladesh Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:241994 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14318.33607 #END 695 #BEGIN 696 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Landini, Fabio Title: Are “Happy” Firms All Alike? A Comparative Analysis of Italian and German Manufacturing Systems Abstract: Recent works in the socio-economic and comparative political economy literature suggest the emergence of a predominant neoliberal model of capitalism, which is gradually being adopted by most advanced countries. A similar trend is present in the management literature where competitive advantages are increasingly being associated with a predominant strategic paradigm (integrated global engagement) leaning on the complementarities among R&D, human capital and entry into foreign markets, regardless of the country and industry a firm belongs to. While both views imply a growing tendency towards institutional and strategic homologation, other studies show only a partial convergence in institutional settings and highlight the presence of considerable heterogeneity in managerial conducts. In this paper we explore these contrasting interpretations by comparing the characteristics of manufacturing firms in Italy and Germany. The analysis suggests that (a) independently of the country of origin, globally engaged firms are relatively similar in characteristics that are usually positively correlated with economic performance such as size, age and innovation, but remain highly differentiated in terms of institutions-related variables; b) firms that have not adopted a strategy of global engagement are markedly heterogeneous in terms of both structural characteristics and institutions-related variables. In other words, global engagement is associated with a lower degree of the differentiation between Italian and German firms, but the variety of institutional settings continues to affect the evolution of businesses. Policy implications are discussed. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/241844/1/Arrighetti-Landini-2018.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: varieties of capitalism, business strategy, global engagement, firm heterogeneity, Italy, Germany Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:241844 #END 696 #BEGIN 697 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Ofori, Pamela E. Author-Name: Asongu, Simlice A. Title: Towards Efforts to Enhance Tax Revenue Mobilisation in Africa: Exploring Synergies between Industrialisation and ICTs Abstract: Motivated by the momentous rise in ICT diffusion, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, and the expected rebound of foreign direct investment inflow to Africa from 2022, this study examines the joint effects of industrialisation and ICT diffusion on resource mobilisation in Africa. To this end, we use data on 42 African countries for the period 1996 – 2020 for the analysis. First, we provide evidence robust to several specifications from the dynamic system GMM to show that although unconditionally both industrialisation and ICT diffusion enhance (i) goods and services tax (GST), and (ii) profits, corporate and income tax (PCIT) mobilisation efforts in Africa, the effects of the former are rather remarkable in the presence of the latter. Particularly, the results show that, while ICTs amplify the effect of industrialisation on GST, only ICT usage and ICT skills matter for PCIT. Second, the study unveils ICT thresholds for complementary policies. Accordingly, industrialisation and ICTs are necessary and sufficient conditions for tax revenue mobilisation only below some ICT thresholds. Above these ICT thresholds, complementary policies are needed to maintain the overall positive incidence on tax revenue mobilisation. Policy recommendations are provided in the end. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/241291/1/Ofori-Ofori-and-Asongu-2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C33, F6 Keywords: AfCFTA, Africa, ICT access, ICT diffusion, Industrialisation, Tax, Revenue Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:241291 #END 697 #BEGIN 698 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: On Literature and Research: An Arabesque (על ספרות ומחקר: ערבסקה) Abstract: הדברים הבאים נכתבו ב-2007 כטיוטה שטרם נסתיימה. במקורם, הם היו אמורים להיות ראשיתו של מאמר שיתאר את סופרי "המלחמה הגדולה", מלחמת-העולם הראשונה, אלה שכתבו עליה כחיילים, כנפגעים, כפליטים או כמשקיפים. אלא שהמאמר הלך והסתלסל ויצא לדרכים חדשות עד שקיבל חיים משלו. מכל מקום, הוא לא נכתב כסקירה אקדמית בעלת יומרות תיאורטיות, אלא כמעגלי זרימה מתחברים, ערבסקות של מחשבות וצלליות חומקות המשתלבות למבנה רופף שמתגלה ונעלם. העבודה על המאמר, שהיה אמור להיות רחב בהיקפו, לא הסתיימה, וכנראה לא נשוב אליו עוד. ואף על פי כן מצאנו עניין בפרסומו כפי שהוא בתוספת כמה הבהרות והערות Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/241290/1/20180700-bn-arabesque-on-literature-and-research.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: academia, literature, research, science, war Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:180226 #END 698 #BEGIN 699 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hobbie, Hannes Author-Name: Mehlem, Jonas Author-Name: Wolff, Christina Author-Name: Weber, Lukas Author-Name: Flachsbarth, Franziska Author-Name: Möst, Dominik Author-Name: Moser, Albert Title: Impact of model parametrization and formulation on the explorative power of electricity network congestion management models Abstract: Integrating increasing shares of weather-dependent renewable energies into energy systems while maintaining high levels of security of supply constitutes a challenge for network utilities. Obtaining the goal of large shares of renewable-based generation sources on electricity supply requires an effective operation of electricity grids and efficient coordination among grid operators. Therefore, detailed modelling of grid operation has increasingly become important in recent years. Methods for modelling the operation of (extra) high-voltage grids are undergoing persistent enhancements in academia and energy industries. Existing approaches vary in data granularity and computational methods. Moreover, assumptions on technical details in grid models vary. Differences in input data and modelling methods likely have an impact on simulation results. This paper aims to identify the most relevant differences present in grid simulation models and methods for studying congestion management in a European context. Differences are studied based on a comparison of grid simulation models from eight German energy modelling institutions. The effects of model parameterization and formulation on congestion management results are further investigated with three different case studies focusing on outage simulation, line-constraint relaxation and the modelling of cross-border measures applying selected grid simulation models. Results indicate that data parametrization can have large impacts on model results about congestion management volumes and geographic distribution of necessary measures. Model key parameters must be calibrated thoroughly. The findings of this research will assist future grid modelers and power system planners in efficiently simulating congestion management and increases the validity and explorative power of grid simulation models. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/240928/1/Grid_Modelling_Modex-Net.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q40 Keywords: Transmission grid, Sustainable development, Renewable energies, Model comparison, Congestion management, Optimal power flow Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:240928 #END 699 #BEGIN 700 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kroupova, Katerina Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Title: Student Employment and Education: A Meta-Analysis Abstract: Educational outcomes have many determinants, but one that most young people can readily control is choosing whether to work while in school. Sixty-nine studies have estimated the effect, but results vary from large negative to positive estimates. We show that the results are systematically driven by context, publication bias, and treatment of endogeneity. Studies ignoring endogeneity suffer from an upward bias, which is almost fully compensated by publication selection in favor of negative estimates. Net of the biases, the literature suggests a negative but economically inconsequential mean effect. The effect is more negative for high-intensity employment and educational outcomes measured as decisions to dropout, but it is positive in Germany. To derive these results we collect 861 previously reported estimates together with 32 variables reflecting estimation context, use recently developed nonlinear techniques to correct for publication bias, and employ Bayesian and frequentist model averaging to assign a pattern to the heterogeneity in the literature. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/240905/1/students.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83, I21, J22 Keywords: Student employment, educational outcomes, meta-analysis, publication bias, Bayesian model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:240905 #END 700 #BEGIN 701 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Lasagni, Andrea Author-Name: Gnarini, Daniela Author-Name: Semenza, Renata Title: Merging Competencies, Valuing Diversity: The Multicultural Enterprise as an Emerging Model Abstract: Multicultural enterprises can be considered as a subset of the complex phenomenon of migrant entrepreneurship Starting from a theoretical overview of the phenomenon, the study analyzes multicultural enterprise experiences. Various topics, ranging from perceived advantages to obstacles encountered in everyday business, are discussed. In its conclusion, the study presents recommendations on how to adjust support actions to the specific needs of multicultural enterprises. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/240904/1/Arrighetti%20Lasagni%20Multicultural%20Enterprise.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L20 Keywords: Multicultural Firm, Migrant Firm Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:240904 #END 701 #BEGIN 702 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Author-Name: Steinmetz, Marc Title: Strategische Instrumente wertorientierter Unternehmenssteuerung für KMU in der Zukunft – Implikationen der Covid-19-Pandemie Abstract: Die weltweite Corona-Pandemie hat die globale Wirtschaft stark beeinflusst und weiterhin fest im Griff; nahezu alle Branchen sind betroffen. Von den Konsequenzen sind auch die kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen (KMU), die mit einem Anteil von über 99% aller Unternehmen das Herzstück der deutschen Wirtschaft bilden, betroffen. Sie kämpfen mit sinkenden Nachfragen und Versorgungsengpässen, teilweise sind zwischenzeitlich sogar ganze Lieferketten zusammengebrochen. Der Mittelstand hat mit solchen Folgen der Pandemie vor allem deshalb besonders zu kämpfen, da KMU im Gegensatz zu großen Konzernen, wie bspw. Lufthansa AG, nicht mit vielen Milliarden vom Staat unterstützt bzw. gerettet wurden. Auch kamen und kommen die Hilfen des Staates in den KMU oftmals mit deutlicher Verzögerung an. Die Finanzkraft der KMU speist sich überwiegend aus dem Eigenkapital der Eigentümer. Für sie spielt die langfristige und nachhaltige Unternehmenswertsteigerung als wichtiges strategisches Ziel daher eine besonders große Rolle. Doch wie verbreitet ist die wertorientierte Unternehmenssteuerung als strategisches Instrument in deutschen KMU überhaupt, und wie wird sie ihr Einsatz zukünftig, auch vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Pandemie, entwickeln? Diese Fragestellungen werden im vorliegenden Working Paper genauso analysiert wie mögliche Konzepte wertorientierter Steuerungskennzahlen bis hin zu Kalkulationsmethoden zur sachgerechten Ermittlung des Unternehmenswertes. Dabei spielen neben der Discounted Cashflow-Methode auch bekannte Vertreter der wertorientierten Kennzahlen, wie bspw. der Economic Value Added (EVA) und der Cash Value Added (CVA), eine Rolle. Auch sollen angewandte Managementinstrumente sowie in praxi auftretende Implementierungsbarrieren aufgezeigt sowie Lösungsvorschläge skizziert werden. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/238746/1/Wertorientierte-Unternehmenssteuerung_Peskes-Steinmetz_vfinal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M21, M1 Keywords: Controlling, KMU, Kennzahlen, Wertorientierte Unternehmenssteuerung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:238746 #END 702 #BEGIN 703 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Arrighetti, Alessandro Author-Name: Landini, Fabio Title: Sluggish Investment, Crisis and Firm Heterogeneity Abstract: The stagnation of investments and its causes have attracted great attention in the recent economic debate. In this paper we show that the flattening of the capital formation rate at the firm level is not due to lower average propensity to invest. Rather, it is the result of growing heterogeneity of choices among firms. While a subset of firms is oriented towards increasing investments, another group substantially divest. The result is a polarization of conducts that tend to cancel each other out, resulting in a flattening of aggregate investment. We argue that this asymmetry in firm's decisions depends on two main factors. The first one is the diversity of corporate strategies, which firms have developed in the past. The second driver is managerial discretion, that play an important role in the adoption of specific investment / divestment trajectories when faced with a recession. The results of our empirical analysis provide strong supports for our hypotheses: after controlling for contextual and firm-specific structural, financial and demographic variables, corporate strategies and managerial discretion in the allocation of liquid assets explain large part of the heterogeneity in investment decisions during the recession. Policy implications are discussed. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/238739/1/Arrighetti-Landini-2021-WP-Sluggish-Investments.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D22, D25, L22 Keywords: Fixed investments, Capital formation, Corporate strategies, Resorce based view, Firms heterogeneity, Managerial discretion, Great Recession, Manufacturing, Italy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:238739 #END 703 #BEGIN 704 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Author-Name: Iyer, Harish Title: Effect of Aid for Trade and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows on the Utilization of Unilateral Trade Preferences offered by the QUAD countries Abstract: Development aid and non-reciprocal trade preferences (NRTPs) are two major tools available to wealthier nations to assist developing countries in their development efforts. The present paper investigates the effect of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows (that are key for the integration of developing countries into the global trading system) and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, as well as their interplay on the utilization of NRTPs offered by the Quadrilaterals (i.e., QUAD countries). Two major blocks of NRTPs provided by the QUAD countries have been considered, namely the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programs and other NRTPs. The analysis has covered 114 beneficiary countries of these NRTPs (of which 38 Least developed countries - LDCs) and the period 2002-2018. Several findings have emerged from the analysis. Over the full sample, total AfT flows contribute to enhancing the utilization rate of both GSP programs and other NRTPs. FDI inflows influence positively the utilization rate of both GSP programs and other NRTPs, with the effect on the former being higher than the effect on the latter. For LDCs, total AfT flows are associated with a better utilization of GSP programs at the expense of other NRTPs, while for NonLDCs, total AfT flows generate a better utilization of GSP programs compared to other NRTPs. In the meantime, higher FDI inflows improve the utilization of the two types of NRTPs, although they exert a higher positive effect on the utilization of GSP programs than on that of other NRTPs. In NonLDCs, higher FDI inflows contribute to improving the utilization of GSP programs, but lead to a lower degree of usage of other NRTPs. Total AfT flows and FDI inflows are strongly complementary in affecting positively the utilization of both types of NRTPs, and the degree of this complementarity is higher on the utilization of other NRTPs than on the utilization of GSP programs. Finally, beneficiary countries' level of export product diversification matters for the effect of both AfT flows and FDI inflows on the utilization of NRTPs. The conclusion section discusses the implications of these findings. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/238211/1/Paper-AfT-FDI-and-Trade-Preferences.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14, F13 Keywords: Aid for Trade, Foreign Direct Investment Inflows, Non-reciprocal trade preferences utilization, QUAD countries, Developing Countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:238211 #END 704 #BEGIN 705 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Braesemann, Fabian Author-Name: Stephany, Fabian Author-Name: Teutloff, Ole Author-Name: Kässi, Otto Author-Name: Graham, Mark Author-Name: Lehdonvirta, Vili Title: The polarisation of remote work Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic has led to the rise of remote work with consequences for the global division of work. Remote work could connect labour markets, but it could also increase spatial polarisation. However, our understanding of the geographies of remote work is limited. Specifically, does remote work bring jobs to rural areas or is it concentrating in large cities, and how do skill requirements affect competition for jobs and wages? We use data from a fully remote labour market - an online labour platform - to show that remote work is polarised along three dimensions. First, countries are globally divided: North American, European, and South Asian remote workers attract most jobs, while many Global South countries participate only marginally. Secondly, remote jobs are pulled to urban regions; rural areas fall behind. Thirdly, remote work is polarised along the skill axis: workers with in-demand skills attract profitable jobs, while others face intense competition and obtain low wages. The findings suggest that remote work is shaped by agglomerative forces, which are deepening the gap between urban and rural areas. To make remote work an effective tool for rural development, it needs to be embedded in local skill-building and labour market programmes. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/238189/1/Braesemann-et-al-2021-The-polarisation-of-remote-work.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F6, F16, J24, J31, L14, O15 Keywords: Remote work, Online labour, Platform economy, Geography, Polarisation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:238189 DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/q8a96 #END 705 #BEGIN 706 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Espoir, Delphin Kamanda Author-Name: Sunge, Regret Author-Name: Bannor, Frank Title: Economic growth, renewable and nonrenewable electricity consumption: A fresh evidence from a panel sample of African countries Abstract: Energy transition has imposed a policy priority dilemma between economic growth and global warming mitigation. Existing studies in Africa have examined the impact of energy sources on growth but overlooked the differences across countries and regions. This study seeks to achieve two research objectives. First, it examines and compares the impact of renewable electricity consumption (REC) and nonrenewable electricity consumption (NREC) on growth in 48 African countries between 1980 and 2018. The study uses the recent panel estimators of cross-sectional dependence, slope heterogeneity, and cointegration. For the short and long-run marginal effects, the Pooled Mean Group estimator is used. Second, the analysis is extended to account for the heterogeneous effects of energy among African countries in four regional economic communities (EAC, COMESA, SADC, and ECOWAS). Here, we use the random-coefficients linear regression and kernel-based regularized least squares machine learning algorithm. The findings are as follows: (1) there is cointegration amongst the variables, (2) for the entire sample, both REC and NREC have positive and significant effects on growth, but NREC has an enormous impact, (3) the marginal effects of REC and NREC differ across African regions. Given the energy transition dilemma, there is a need for public-private partnership investments to bring a balanced mix between NREC and REC. Also, the heterogeneity suggests that a one-size-fit-all policy designed to increase growth through REC may not yield the same outcome in Africa. Therefore, while policies should speak to the common global agenda, there is a need to internalise and localise the strategies in each country and/or region. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/238063/1/Nexus-between-economic-growth-and-renewable-energy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O47, O55, Q42, Q54 Keywords: Renewable energy consumption, Economic growth, Climate change, Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:238063 #END 706 #BEGIN 707 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Framework of Learning and Upgrading in Global Value Chains Abstract: Echoing Antràs & Rossi-Hansberg (2009), there is a much scope to study the dynamic impact of the international organisation of production on the evolution of knowledge, the distribution of skills, and other country-specific characteristics. This research scope indeed brings my attention to the synergies between different areas of GVCs. Now it would be logical to examine India’s efforts to identify trade competitiveness (mainly measured in value added), performance in GVC integration (economic & social upgrading), and the role of country characteristics, including the business climate, investment climate, and drivers of competitiveness across economic, regulatory, operational, and infrastructural dimensions. This study is all about the global value chains of India’s manufacturing industries. Of course, these do not only contain activities in the manufacturing sector, but also in other sectors, i.e., agriculture, utilities, and business services that provide inputs at any stage of the production process of manufactures. These indirect sectoral contributions are sizeable and will be explicitly computed through the modelling of input-output linkages across industries. This study could be developed through a most extensive range of available and applicable methodologies followed by an in-depth assessment and discussion of the identified challenges and opportunities. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/237381/1/Framework%20of%20Learning%20and%20Upgrading%20in%20Global%20Value%20Chains.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F0, F1, F2 Keywords: Global Value Chains, Global Production Network, International Trade, Firm-level Trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:237381 #END 707 #BEGIN 708 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nkosi, Mfundo Author-Name: Dikgang, Johane Author-Name: Kutela Gelo, Dambala Author-Name: Pholo, Alain Title: Greening the vehicle fleet, how does South Africa’s tax reforms affect new car sales Abstract: An increasing number of countries around the world have linked taxes with passenger vehicle carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates. Policymakers use vehicle and fuel taxes to target and reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions. In 2010, the South African government joined this group, linking taxes to passenger-vehicle CO2-emission rates by introducing the vehicle CO2 tax, to reduce the carbon output of the new vehicle fleet by incentivising the purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles. However, there is little evidence of the relative efficacy of this measure in South Africa. Based on new-vehicle sales data from 2010 to 2012, single-group interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA) reveals that CO2 taxes reduced average carbon emissions only marginally. This prompted the vehicle-CO2 tax reforms of 2013. Based on subsequent new-vehicle sales data, from 2013 to 2018, we find that the reforms have led to significant CO2 reductions. Overall, CO2 taxes moved consumer preference to low-emission vehicles (i.e., vehicles in the band producing less than 120g/km), and discouraged the purchase of bigger, heavier and more powerful vehicles. They also had a great effect on average emissions; by 2018, average carbon emissions had declined by 21% compared to 2010, to 151g/km. Moreover, there is some evidence that the tax has affected the mix of new vehicles that vehicle manufacturers sell in the South African market, as the volume of low carbon intensity new vehicles increased significantly, to 31% of total sales in 2018 compared to 13% in 2010. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/236726/1/South-Africas-vehicle-tax-system-reforms-latest-11082021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H31, L62, Q41, Q54, R48 Keywords: CO2, emissions, taxes, vehicles Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:236726 #END 708 #BEGIN 709 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Qvist, Staffan Title: Storage requirements in a 100% renewable electricity system: Extreme events and inter-annual variability Abstract: In the context of 100% renewable electricity systems, prolonged periods with persistently scarce supply from wind and solar resources have received increasing academic and political attention. This article explores how such scarcity periods relate to energy storage requirements. To this end, we contrast results from a time series analysis with those from a system cost optimization model, based on a German 100% renewable case study using 35 years of hourly time series data. While our time series analysis supports previous findings that periods with persistently scarce supply last no longer than two weeks, we find that the maximum energy deficit occurs over a much longer period of nine weeks. This is because multiple scarce periods can closely follow each other. When considering storage losses and charging limitations, the period defining storage requirements extends over as much as 12 weeks. For this longer period, the cost-optimal storage capacity is about three times larger compared to the energy deficit of the scarcest two weeks. Adding other sources of flexibility for the example of bioenergy, the duration of period that defines storage requirements lengthens to more than one year. When optimizing system costs based on single years rather than a multi-year time series, we find substantial inter-annual variation in storage requirements with the most extreme year needing more than twice as much storage as the average year. We conclude that focusing on short-duration extreme events or single years can lead to an underestimation of storage requirements and costs of a 100 % renewable system. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/236723/1/Ruhnau-and-Qvist-2021-Storage-requirements-in-a-100-renewable-electricity-system-EconStor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4, Q40, Q41, Q42 Keywords: Renewable energy, Wind and solar power, Inter-annual variability, Low-wind events, Dunkelflaute, Electricity system, Energy storage, Hydrogen, Batteries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:236723 Note: Please cite as: Ruhnau, O., Qvist, S. (2022): “Storage requirements in a 100% renewable electricity system: Extreme events and inter-annual variability”, Environmental Research Letters, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac4dc8 #END 709 #BEGIN 710 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ayaita, Adam Title: Labor Market Discrimination and Statistical Differences in Unobserved Characteristics of Applicants Creation-Date: 2021 Classification-JEL: D83, D91, J15, J71, M51 Keywords: beliefs, bias, discrimination, ethnic background, labor market, statistical discrimination Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:236615 #END 710 #BEGIN 711 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaiser, Tim Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Pang, Ming Fai Author-Name: Seeber, Günther Title: Using the ‘Test of Economic Competence’ with secondary school students in Hong Kong: Results and psychometric properties Abstract: We administer an adapted version of the Test of Economic Competence (TEC) to a sample of secondary school students in Hong Kong and study the psychometric properties of the adapted scale relative to test statistics based on a sample of German secondary school students. The results indicate adequate psychometric properties of the adapted measurement scale. Reassuringly, we find no evidence of differential item functioning in the adapted test and student-level correlates of economic competence mirror the results from a large-scale assessment in Germany relying on the original scale. Collectively, these results underscore the construct validity of the adapted test and suggest that the adapted TEC may be well suited to study the economic competence of secondary school students in a variety of educational contexts. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/236205/1/03082021TECHongKong.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21, G53 Keywords: Pre-college economic education, economic competence, IRT, economic literacy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:236205 #END 711 #BEGIN 712 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Magambo, Isaiah Hubert Author-Name: Dikgang, Johane Author-Name: Gelo, Dambala Author-Name: Tregenna, Fiona Title: Dynamic Technical and Environmental Efficiency Performance of Large Gold Mines in Developing Countries Abstract: This study used the by-production model specification to separate emission-generating technologies from ‘desirable outputs’ technology. It then employed the dynamic efficiency model, following the Dynamic Directional Input Distance Function specifications to compute the deterministic, dynamic environmental and technical efficiencies of large gold mines in developing countries. Using firm-level data from 2009 to 2018, the study found that on average, dynamic technical efficiency in these mines was 73%; the average dynamic technical efficiency was observed to have a decreasing trend, of 0.3% annually. The study also found that on average, dynamic environmental efficiency was 56%. However, the average dynamic environmental efficiency trend had a decrease of 0.6% annually. The poor performance and downward trends could be attributed partly to downward investment trends over time, and the increasing complexity of extracting gold deposits from low-grade ore, as well as to prices. They could also be the result either of poor institutional capacity, as far as environmental policies, regulations, and enforcement are concerned; or of supply-side structural rigidity – in particular, low-capacity, and unreliable energy supply, mostly from bad inputs such as coal and heavy fuels or both, which calls for the use of alternative energy sources. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235859/3/Dynamic%20Technical%20and%20Environmental%20Efficiency%20Performance%20of%20Large%20Gold%20Mines%20in%20Developing%20Countries%20WPv.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, D25, Q55, Q58 Keywords: environmental efficiency, gold mines, technical efficiency, undesirable output Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235859 #END 712 #BEGIN 713 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Khanna, Tarun M. Title: Using agricultural demand for reducing costs of renewable energy integration Abstract: While demand response is recognized as a useful tool for integrating renewable electricity, the related literature in developing countries has been limited due to lack of data on end-use load profiles. Meanwhile, even though the water-energy-nexus in developing countries is well researched, the value of agricultural pumping load as a demand-side resource to the power system has been ignored. This article fills the gap by collecting agricultural load data from two distribution utilities in the Indian state of Gujarat and using it in a mixed-integer linear programming model to estimate the flexibility provided by agricultural load control to the power system. Using a flexible load representation, the model chooses the optimal periods for agricultural supply subject to the constraints of meeting the irrigation needs of farmers, given the marginal cost of electricity. The model estimates that agricultural load control already reduces total system costs by 5% or USD 6.26 per MWh of agricultural consumption in the current power system. Going forward, with high shares of solar generation, shifting agricultural demand to daytime hours aids system flexibility. It reduces renewables curtailment by 4–7%; limits cycling costs of coal power plants; and reduces marginal integration costs by 21%. Deploying decentralized solar irrigation pumps instead of large-scale solar power plants enables higher absorption of peak solar generation and reduces costs further. Since these costs are disproportionately borne by end consumers, improving system flexibility also improves consumer welfare. Creation-Date: 2021 Revision-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235858/1/Khanna_2021_Agricultural_Demand_Response.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Demand side management, Power system modelling, Renewable energy integration, Load control Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228611 #END 713 #BEGIN 714 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Benefo, Quincy Author-Name: Gropp, Madeline Author-Name: Ruhland, Jannis Author-Name: Springhorn, Celina Marie Author-Name: Weselmann, Niels Author-Name: Winter, Juliane Title: Start-up-Controlling - Ein pragmatisches und praxisorientiertes Controlling-System für Start-up-Unternehmen Abstract: Das Thema Controlling wird in vielen Start-up-Unternehmen vernachlässigt, obwohl eine konsequente Ausrichtung des Unternehmens an einem Controlling-System ein entscheidender Wettbewerbsvorteil sein kann. Aufgrund der Besonderheiten von Start-up-Unternehmen (im Vergleich zu etablierten Unternehmen) lassen sich klassische Controlling-Instrumente und Controlling-Strategien nicht 1:1 anwenden. Es wird vielmehr ein spezifisches Controlling-System benötigt, welches sich an den Besonderheiten und individuellen Bedürfnissen von Start-up-Unternehmen orientiert. Mit diesem Artikel soll ein pragmatisches und praxisorientiertes Controlling-System für Start-up-Unternehmen skizziert werden. Abstract: The topic of controlling is neglected in many start-up companies, although consistent alignment of the company with a controlling system can be a decisive competitive advantage. Due to the special characteristics of start-up companies (compared to established companies), classic controlling instruments and controlling strategies cannot be applied 1:1. Instead, a specific controlling system is needed that is oriented to the special features and individual needs of start-up companies. The purpose of this article is to outline a pragmatic and practice-oriented controlling system for start-up companies. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235710/1/Start-up-Controlling.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M13 Keywords: Start-up, Controlling-System Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235710 #END 714 #BEGIN 715 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Karbowski, Adam Title: Forms of forfaiting Abstract: In the following note, the concept of forfaiting as well as various forms of forfaiting are discussed. The following criteria are used to distinguish different forms of forfaiting - type of financial instrument that secures a receivable, placing of risk, additional services, number of parties to a transaction, territorial range. Based on those criteria, specific forms of forfaiting are briefly characterised. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235618/1/forfaiting.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F3, G2 Keywords: forfaiting, international trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235618 #END 715 #BEGIN 716 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Espoir, Delphin Kamanda Author-Name: Bannor, Frank Author-Name: Sunge, Regret Title: Intra-Africa agricultural trade, governance quality and agricultural total factor productivity: Evidence from a panel vector autoregressive model Abstract: The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement was signed by at least 54 African countries and has the potential of lifting up to 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, according to the World Bank (2020). The agricultural sector is regarded as a fertile ground for achieving the AfCFTA ambitions. However, agricultural productivity in Africa is low and falling. It is argued that intra-Africa trade and good governance can help increase agricultural productivity. Nonetheless, both are low, casting doubt on their ability to enhance agricultural productivity. This study attempts for the first time to examine the causal relationship between the intra-Africa agricultural trade, governance quality, and the agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP) for 47 countries over the period 1995–2018. We extend the analysis to regional economic communities (RECs) to understand the diversity in this relationship within the continent. Using the panel VAR model in the generalized method of moment (GMM) estimation approach, our results suggest a long-run equilibrium relationship between the three variables. Specifically, the results indicate that at the African level, intra-Africa agricultural trade has a statistically positive effect on governance quality and ATFP. In contrast, good governance has positive and negative impacts on ATFP and trade, respectively. We also find that ATFP positively influences intra-Africa agricultural trade and governance. At the RECs level, our estimations show significant heterogeneity in the three variables’ impacts. Based on our findings, we recommend a rapid implementation of the AfCFTA agreement. However, we suggest that the implementation should be idiosyncratic to each region’s structural economies. Furthermore, we encourage the promotion of good governance, particularly in agriculture policy implementation. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235617/1/Intra-Africa-Trade-Agricultural-Growth.Pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C23, G38, O47, Q17 Keywords: Agricultural trade, agricultural total factor productivity, governance, PVAR Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235617 #END 716 #BEGIN 717 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Khalfaoui, Rabeh Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Author-Name: Sarwar, Suleman Author-Name: Výrost, Tomáš Title: Connectedness between energy and nonenergy commodity markets: Evidence from quantile coherency networks Abstract: The worldwide economy has experienced several changes in energy and nonenergy prices. This has motivated academics, investors, and policymakers to analyze the relationships between energy and nonenergy commodity markets. In this study, a novel approach of quantile coherency is used to examine the dependence structure between energy and nonenergy commodity pairs at different frequencies and quantiles in their joint return distribution over the period 1960:M1–2019:M10. Overall, the empirical findings illustrate evidence of low significant dependency between energy and nonenergy commodity markets across different frequencies and quantiles. In addition, our findings show that some nonenergy commodity markets have a neutral relationship with global energy commodity markets. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235529/1/Connectedness-between-energy-and-nonenergy-commodity-markets.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q1, Q4, Q02, P28 Keywords: Energy, Nonenergy, Quantile coherency, Network analysis, Dependence, Commodity markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235529 #END 717 #BEGIN 718 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schroeter, Felix Title: Zwischen Wissenschaftskritik und rechtshegelianischer Geschichtsphilosophie. Gerechtigkeit als subjektives Werturteil und Fundament von Gustav Schmollers evolutionär-dynamischen Institutionalismus Abstract: Ausgehend von seiner Kritik eines naturrechtlichen Apriorismus in der klassischen und neo-klassischen Ökonomik entwirft Gustav Schmoller (1838-1917) ein evolutionär-dynamisches Modell wirtschaftlicher Institutionen. Hier sind es keine natürlich und überzeitlich gegebenen Funktionen, welche die Handlungen wirtschaftender Akteure sinnvoll und zielgerichtet strukturieren, sondern subjektive Werturteile. Ein arbeitsteiliges Wirtschaften setzt allerdings voraus, dass diese aufeinander abgestimmt sind. Im Zuge ihrer gesellschaftlichen Sozialisation internalisieren die einzelnen Akteure ihre wirtschaftlichen Rollen, Aufgaben und Ansprüche und verabsolutieren diese als Gerechtigkeitsideale. Um trotz des sich ständig vollziehenden gesellschaftlichen Wandels eine Kongruenz dieser individuellen Gerechtigkeitsvorstellungen und damit den Fortbestand wirtschaftlicher Institutionen zu garantieren, müssen sie fortlaufend miteinander versöhnt werden. Nur eine historisch informierte Sozialpolitik, welche den Verweis der verschiedenen Gerechtigkeitsideale auf die jeweiligen Institutionen der Vergangenheit berücksichtigt, kann diese Aufgabe erfüllen. Der vorliegende Beitrag unternimmt eine rationale Rekonstruktion von Schmollers Theorieentwurf, um nicht nur ihren evolutionär-dynamischen Institutionalismus und die Legitimität ihrer forschungstheoretischen Kritik herauszuarbeiten, sondern auch die ihr wesentliche Komponente einer rechtshegelianischen Fortschrittsidee. Letztere setzt der gesellschaftswissenschaftlichen Verwertbarkeit von Schmollers Entwurf enge Grenzen. Abstract: Designed as an alternative draft to classical political economy and neoclassical economics, Gustav Schmoller (1838-1917) constructs a methodological notion of justice. To evade the presocial assumptions of natural justice, he lifts the focus of economic analysis onto the institutional level. His evolutionary-dynamic approach presumes society to change persistently due to the requirements of economic diversification. Subjective ideas of justice lead the single economic agent through social interactions. Thus, on the institutional level it becomes essential for the concerned agents to harmonize their respective ideas of justice, so that a shared idea of justice can emerge and persist. Economists, and social policy by the State in particular, have to recur to the Historical Approach to reconstruct agents’ ideas of justice and, thus, to reconcile their diverging ideas thereof. Nevertheless, this evolutionary approach essentially hinges in the historicist presumptions of German idealism. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235528/1/Schroeter_Zwischen-Wissenschaftskritik-und-rechtshegelianischer-Geschichtsphilosophie.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B15 Keywords: Schmoller, Gustav, Gerechtigkeit, Idealismus, Evolutionsökonomik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235528 Note: Aufsatz einer kumulativen Doktorarbeit, Erstgutachterin: Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Allgoewer, Verteidigung am 12.06.2020 #END 718 #BEGIN 719 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac Kwesi Title: Towards Building Shared Prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Does the Effect of Economic Integration Compare to Social Equity Policies? Abstract: The debate on the need for Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries to foster inclusive growth has intensified following the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. A conspicuous lacuna in the literature is a lack of rigorous empirical work(s) exploring: (1) the joint effect of economic integration and resource allocation, and (2) social equity policies on inclusive growth in SSA. Using data from the World Bank's World Development Indicators and the Global Consumption and Income Project (1980-2019) for 43 SSA countries, I provide evidence robust to several econometric techniques the fixed-effect, random-effect, and the system generalized method of moments estimators to show that: (1) though economic integration induces inclusive growth, the effect is higher in the presence of greater financial deepening and productive government expenditure; (2) relative to economic integration, social equity policies are rather remarkable in enhancing inclusive growth. Policy recommendations are provided in line with the AfCFTA and the reversals of welfare gains due to the coronavirus pandemic. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235483/1/Ofori2021-Social-Equity-Globalisation-Inclusive-Growth-SSA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E6, F14, F15, F6, H5, O55 Keywords: AfCFTA, Economic Integration, Financial Deepening, Globalisation, Inclusive Growth, Sub-Saharan Africa, Social Protection, Social Inclusion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235483 #END 719 #BEGIN 720 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac Kwesi Title: Catching The Drivers of Inclusive Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Application of Machine Learning Abstract: A conspicuous lacuna in the literature on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the lack of clarity on variables key for driving and predicting inclusive growth. To address this, I train the machine learning algorithms for the Standard lasso, the Minimum Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion (Minimum BIC) lasso, and the Adaptive lasso to study patterns in a dataset comprising 97 covariates of inclusive growth for 43 SSA countries. First, the regularization results show that only 13 variables are key for driving inclusive growth in SSA. Further, the results show that out of the 13, the poverty headcount (US$1.90) matters most. Second, the findings reveal that ‘Minimum BIC lasso’ is best for predicting inclusive growth in SSA. Policy recommendations are provided in line with the region’s green agenda and the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235482/1/Ofori-2021-Drivers-of-Inclusive-Growth-Using-Machine-Learning.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C01, C14, C51, C52, C55, F43, O4, O55 Keywords: Clean Fuel, Economic Growth, Machine Learning, Lasso, Sub-Saharan Africa, Regularization, Poverty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235482 #END 720 #BEGIN 721 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac Kwesi Author-Name: Armah, Mark Kojo Author-Name: Asmah, Emmanuel E. Title: Towards the Reversal of Poverty and Income Inequality Setbacks Due to COVID-19: The Role of Globalisation and Resource Allocation Abstract: Policy recommendations for building resilient and all-inclusive societies post COVID-19 pandemic continue to dominate the media and research landscapes. However, rigorous empirical content backing such claims, particularly, on both poverty and income inequality, is hard to find. Motivated by the bleak outlook of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as driven primarily by the floundering hydrocarbon sector, vulnerable employment, and low foreign direct investment, we analyse the poverty and income inequality effects of globalisation and resource allocation in the region. Using data from the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Database for the period 1990–2019, we provide estimates robust to several econometric techniques- the pooled least square, fixed effect, random effect, and the system generalized method of moments estimators to show that: (1) while economic globalisation reduces both poverty and income inequality, social globalisation matters only for income inequality in MENA; (2) economic globalisation is remarkable in reducing income inequality through resource allocation. Policy recommendations are provided in the light of the geopolitical fragility and rise in social globalisation of the region. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235481/1/Ofori-Armah-Asmah-2021-Globalisation-Resource-Allocation-Poverty-Inequality-MENA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, F15, F6, I3, O53, O55 Keywords: Economic Integration, Financial Deepening, GMM, MENA, Globalisation, Inequality, Poverty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235481 #END 721 #BEGIN 722 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Espoir, Delphin Kamanda Author-Name: Mudiangombe, Benjamin Author-Name: Bannor, Frank Author-Name: Sunge, Regret Author-Name: Mubenga Tshitaka, Jean-Luc Title: CO₂ emissions and economic growth: Assessing the heterogeneous effects across climate regimes in Africa Abstract: Climate change has occasioned several Earth long-term events, including extreme temperatures. In recent years, Africa was reported as part of the world's regions that experienced extreme temperatures above pre-industrial levels. Despite lower contribution to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and global warming, Africa remains among the world regions that suffer the most from climate change. However, the impact of climatic factors of temperature and emissions on economic production in Africa has not been broadly investigated, specifically among climate regimes. In this study, we attempt for the first time to understand the heterogeneous impacts of emissions and temperature on income in Africa using panel and time-series techniques on datasets spanning the years 1995-2016. At the global level in Africa, our empirical results reveal that a 1% increase in average temperature reduces income by 1.08%, whereas a 1% rise in Co2 emissions spurs income by 0.23%. The emissions effect result implies that environmental policies specifically designed to reduce Co2 emissions in Africa as a whole may significantly impact production in the long run. Also, the result suggests that a shift from optimal temperature levels to extreme patterns deter economic growth. Despite these revelations, our extended analysis based on climate regimes indicates heterogeneous effects across countries. Considering the Paris agreement on climate, this study suggests that policymakers should emphasise country-specific policies than global climatic policies for sustained Co2 emissions reduction in Africa. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235479/1/Manuscript_Co2_growth_Climate_regime.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C32, C33, Q54 Keywords: Heterogeneous effects, Temperature, Climate change, Environmental sustainability, Panel data, time-series data Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235479 #END 722 #BEGIN 723 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Maier, Tobias Author-Name: Steeg, Stefanie Author-Name: Zika, Gerd Title: Die Modellierung adjustierter Suchdauern als Indikator für die Fachkräftesituation im Beruf Abstract: Zur Identifikation beruflicher Passungsprobleme auf dem Arbeitsmarkt bedarf es eines Indikators, welcher unter Berücksichtigung möglicher Anpassungsprozesse beider Marktseiten einfach zu interpretieren ist. Mit dieser Studie wird die Eignung von betrieblichen Suchdauern bei Stellenbesetzungsprozessen für einen solchen Indikator in den Blick genommen. Es zeigt sich, dass mit der Länge der Suchdauer die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines erfolglosen Abbruchs der Personalsuche zunimmt. Außerdem ergeben sich längere Suchdauern, wenn die Personalsuche mit Schwierigkeiten und einem größeren Aufwand einhergeht. Zudem variiert die Länge der Suchdauer mit Merkmalen des Betriebs und der ausgeschriebenen Stelle. Eine Schätzung der Suchdauer in Abhängigkeit dieser Merkmale ermöglicht es, auch für Berufe mit geringen Fallzahlen, adjustierte Suchdauern auszuweisen. Diese geben für Fachkraft-, Spezialisten- oder Expertentätigkeiten die mittlere Anzahl an Tagen an, die es benötigt, um für eine ausgeschriebene Stelle eine passende Bewerberin oder einen Bewerber zu finden. Es zeigt sich, dass die adjustierten Suchdauern mit der berufsspezifischen Arbeitsmarktsituation sowie den Zugangschancen von fachlich fremd Qualifizierten sowohl im Querschnitt als auch im Längsschnitt korrelieren. Sie lassen sich entsprechend über die berufsspezifische Entwicklung des Arbeitsmarktes fortschreiben und können nach Berufen, Anforderungsniveaus und Regionen Auskunft über die jetzige und künftig mögliche Fachkräftesituation geben. Abstract: To identify occupational matching problems on the labor market, an indicator is needed that is easy to interpret, taking into account possible matching processes on both sides of the market. This study examines the suitability of company search durations in job filling processes for such an indicator. It is shown that the length of the search period increases the probability of an unsuccessful discontinuation of the search. Longer search durations also occur when the search for personnel is accompanied by difficulties and greater effort. In addition, the length of the search varies with characteristics of the company and the advertised position. An estimate of the search duration as a function of these characteristics makes it possible to report adjusted search durations even for occupations with small case numbers. These indicate the average number of days required to find a suitable applicant for an advertised vacancy for skilled, specialist or expert occupations. It can be seen that the adjusted search durations correlate with the occupation-specific labor market situation as well as the access chances of unskilled workers and workers with other vocational certificates as the one demanded, both in the cross-section and in the longitudinal section. They can be extrapolated over the occupation-specific development of the labor market and can provide information on the current and possible future skilled labor situation by occupation, requirement level and region. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235247/1/Preprint-ModellierungadjustierterSuchdauern.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J63, J20, J21, J23, J24 Keywords: Vacancy, Suchdauer, Matching, Fachkräfteengpässe, labor market, IAB-Stellenerhebung, Rekrutierung,, Job vacancy survey, Besetzungsprobleme, hiring Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235247 #END 723 #BEGIN 724 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Amelung, Torsten Title: Conserving the Tropical Rain Forest: A Critical Analysis of the Alternative Economic Policies Abstract: The tropical rainforests create positive external effects for the countries that go beyond the countries that host these rainforest. As a result, international trasfersshould be considered as adequate policy measures to compensate the tropical countries at least for the foregone benefits of the economic exploitation of the rainforests. Continuous periodical payments seem to be much more effective compared to once-for-all measures such as debt-for-nature swaps of or transitory development. Creation-Date: 1990 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235206/1/1990-Amelung-Conserving-the-Tropical-Rainforest-Alternative-Policies.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Deforestation, Climate Policies, International Co-operation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235206 #END 724 #BEGIN 725 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Mechanics of Global Value chains: India’s Perspective Abstract: The global production as a system of creating values is eventually forming a vast web of value chains. It explains the transitional structures of world trade and development of the world economy. It is truly a new wave of globalisation, and we term it as the global value chains (GVCs), creating the nexus among firms, workers and consumers around the globe. The emergence of this new scenario raises some crucial questions. It asks how an economy's businesses, producers and employees are connecting to the global economy. How are they capturing the gains out of it regarding different dimensions of economic development? Indeed, this GVC approach is very crucial for understanding the organisation of the global industries and firms. It requires analysing the statics and dynamics of different economic players involved in this complex global production network. Its widespread notion deals with diverse global, regional, and local issues from the top-down to bottom-up, building scope for policy analysis. In this context, this study will attempt to quantify the extent and impacts of India's engagement in GVCs, based on available data. It will also strive to propose a comprehensive strategic framework to identify the objectives of India's GVC participation and development with some suitable economic strategies to achieve them. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235156/1/CDS_JNU_PhD_Proposal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F0, F1, F2 Keywords: Global Value Chains, Global Production Network, International Trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235156 #END 725 #BEGIN 726 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Background and Literature Review of Global Value Chains Abstract: The phenomenon of global value chains (GVCs) indicates a division of labour type production structure in which tasks and business functions are distributed among several companies, globally, or regionally (Grossman and Rossi-Hansberg 2008). The critical features of GVCs are therefore the international dimension of the production process and the "contractualisation" of buyer and seller relationships, often across international borders (Antras 2016). As a result, these international production networks are highly complex regarding geography, technology, and the different types of firms involved (from large retailers and highly large-scale mechanised manufacturers to small home-based production). Sometimes it may be impossible even to identify all the countries that are involved or the extent of their involvement (Gereffi and Fernandez-Stark 2016). However, the recent development of OECD-WTO's Trade-in Value Added (TiVA) data represents a fundamental step forward in understanding GVC trade. Grossman & Rossi-Hansberg (2008, 2012) rightly point out that the different tasks, rather than sectors, define the specialisation of countries in the value chains. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235142/1/Background_and_Literature.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F0, F1, F2 Keywords: Global Value Chains, International Trade, Global Production Network Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235142 #END 726 #BEGIN 727 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Espoir, Delphin Kamanda Author-Name: Sunge, Regret Author-Name: Bannor, Frank Title: Economic growth and CO₂ emissions: Evidence from heterogeneous panel of African countries using bootstrap Granger causality Abstract: The relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution continues to attract undying research interest. While existing studies focused on examining the relationship from growth to pollution or pollution to growth, research on the causal relationship between the two variables is still lacking. This study examined the causal relationship between growth and Co2 emissions across 47 African countries using annual panel data from 1995-2016. Unlike other studies in Africa, the uniqueness of this paper is that we employed the methodology developed by Emirmahmutoğlu and Kose (2011), which considers cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity. The empirical results of the study are as follows: (1) the analysis underpinned a bidirectional causal relationship between growth and Co2 emissions in three countries (Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and the Congo Republic), (2) a unidirectional relationship running from growth to Co2 emissions in seven countries (Niger, Sierra Leone, Angola, Mauritius, Mozambique, Uganda, and Kenya), and (3) a unidirectional relationship running from Co2 emissions to growth in nine countries (Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania, Egypt, Libya, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon, and Central African Republic (CAR). The results also suggested the neutrality hypothesis for the rest of the countries that were not part of these three groups. Henceforth, we provided policy implications based on the four groups’ results. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/235141/1/Economic_growth_and_Co2_Final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q53, Q54, Q56 Keywords: Economic development, Environmental pollution, Cross sectional dependence, Heterogeneity, Granger Causality, Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:235141 #END 727 #BEGIN 728 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cardoso, Miguel Author-Name: Malloy, Brandon Title: The Impact of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trade between Canada and the United States Abstract: We examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted trade between Canada and the U.S., using a novel dataset on monthly bilateral trade flows between Canadian provinces and U.S. states, merged with COVID-19 health data. We find a statistically significant and robust negative relationship between the severity of COVID-19 and changes in Canadian exports and imports. Our results show that a one-standard deviation rise in COVID-19 severity in a Canadian province leads to a fall of 3.1-4.9\% in exports and a 6.7-9.1\% fall in imports. This result is robust to the measure of COVID-19 severity used: case levels, hospitalizations or deaths. We also investigate the role of COVID-19 policy responses and find that lockdown stringency measures did not significantly affect Canadian export or import flows. Decomposing our analysis by industry, we determine that trade in the relatively more labour-intensive manufacturing industry was most negatively affected by the pandemic, while the agriculture industry suffered the least disruption to trade flows. Collectively our results suggest that while trade was most adversely affected in industries and regions hardest hit by the pandemic, government-imposed lockdown restrictions do not appear to have caused significant additional decreases in Canadian exports or imports. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234989/1/Cardoso-Malloy-The-Impact-of-the-First-Wave-of-the-COVID-19-Pandemic.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F53 Keywords: COVID-19, international trade, lockdown restrictions, manufacturing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234989 #END 728 #BEGIN 729 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Bröcker, Jan-Oliver Title: Business Model Canvas - Overview of the main advantages and disadvantages Abstract: Over the last 10 years, the Business Model Canvas has not only established itself as a method for the iterative development and documentation of business models, it has also become a standard methodology in some areas. In this article, the main advantages and disadvantages associated with the practical application of the Business Model Canvas will be compiled and evaluated in terms of their current validity. It has been shown that some of the advantages and disadvantages documented in the relevant literature were justified at the time of their respective publication but can now no longer be considered valid. Abstract: Das Business Model Canvas hat sich in den letzten rund 10 Jahren nicht nur einen festen Platz als Methode zur iterativen Entwicklung und Dokumentation von Geschäftsmodellen erarbeitet, sondern es hat sich auch in einigen Bereichen als Standardmethodik etabliert. In diesem Artikel sollen die wesentlichen Vor- und Nachteile, die mit der praktischen Anwendung des Business Model Canvas verbunden sind, zusammengetragen und hinsichtlich ihrer aktuellen Gültigkeit bewertet werden. Dabei hat sich gezeigt, dass sich einige der in der einschlägigen Literatur dokumentierten Vor- und Nachteile zwar zum Zeitpunkt der jeweiligen Veröffentlichung ihre Berechtigung hatten, inzwischen aber als nicht mehr stichhaltig angesehen werden können. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234963/1/Business-Model-Canvas-Overview-of-main-advantages-and-disavantages.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M130 Keywords: Business Model Canvas, Advantages and Disadvantages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234963 #END 729 #BEGIN 730 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Bröcker, Jan-Oliver Title: Business Model Canvas - Wesentliche Vor- und Nachteile im Überblick Abstract: Das Business Model Canvas hat sich in den letzten rund 10 Jahren nicht nur einen festen Platz als Methode zur iterativen Entwicklung und Dokumentation von Geschäftsmodellen erarbeitet, sondern es hat sich auch in einigen Bereichen als Standardmethodik etabliert. In diesem Artikel sollen die wesentlichen Vor- und Nachteile, die mit der praktischen Anwendung des Business Model Canvas verbunden sind, zusammengetragen und hinsichtlich ihrer aktuellen Gültigkeit bewertet werden. Dabei hat sich gezeigt, dass sich einige der in der einschlägigen Literatur dokumentierten Vor- und Nachteile zwar zum Zeitpunkt der jeweiligen Veröffentlichung ihre Berechtigung hatten, inzwischen aber als nicht mehr stichhaltig angesehen werden können. Abstract: Over the last 10 years or so, the Business Model Canvas has not only established itself as a method for the iterative development and documentation of business models, it has also become a standard methodology in some areas. In this article, the main advantages and disadvantages associated with the practical application of the Business Model Canvas will be compiled and evaluated in terms of their current validity. It has been shown that some of the advantages and disadvantages documented in the relevant literature were justified at the time of their respective publication, but can now no longer be considered valid. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234962/1/Business-Model-Canvas-Wesentliche-Vor-und-Nachteile-im-%c3%9cberblick.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M130 Keywords: Business Model Canvas, Vor- und Nachteile Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234962 #END 730 #BEGIN 731 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: How to Conceptualize the Resource Curse and Dutch Disease Theories in the Case of Azerbaijan? Initial and Negative Findings Abstract: Azerbaijan's economy is extractive industry-led and not well-diversified. A comprehensive understanding of the role of the oil industry in the Azerbaijani economy is still a desideratum. Azerbaijan's national economy was a popular case study for the theories such as the natural resource curse (NRS) and Dutch disease (DD); however, a conclusive statement is yet to be found. Many new questions arise as the impact of the crisis periods, institutions, and monetary indicators are being explored. This working paper is nothing more than experimentation results for the Azerbaijan economy within the NRS and DD theories. Surely, not everything can be achieved from the first trial and sound accomplishments need to be built on the shoulders of the negative results and failed hypotheses tests following the already existing analytical frameworks. Despite data issues and lack of proper theoretical conceptualizations of the Azerbaijan economy, this working paper reports the results of the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Robust Least Squares (RLS) to orient the follow-up studies in the near future. Despite academia argues that nowadays linear relationships are hard to obtain, this working paper's main assumption is still a linear association among the variables of interest. Despite the results from this working paper are mixed, particular negative associations between the institutional quality measured via the several political, institutional, and governance indicators, and oil-related variables are present in the case of Azerbaijan between 1996–2019. To explain, although the negative impacts of the real effective exchange rate (REER), REER growth rates, the nominal effective exchange rate (NEER), and NEER growth rates were less than expected, oil prices and changes in oil prices played a great role (negative) in the output, employment, and returns on capital in the Azerbaijani economy. Moreover, particular negative associations between the oil-related variables, and institutional, political, and governance indicators are present, whereas the quantity and quality of the education in the Azerbaijan economy do not fully reflect any serious negative impacts. These experimental models possess a high amount of stability; however, they should be treated as initial starting points. The mentioned facts must be considered by the policymakers when the non-oil development of the Azerbaijani economy is being discussed. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234576/1/SSRN-id3857936.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan economy, mineral sectors, oil industry, natural resource curse theory, Dutch disease hypothesis, institutions, economic sectors, OLS regression, Stepwise regression Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234576 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3857936 #END 731 #BEGIN 732 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Pharmaceuticals: Beating the Hell Out of the Average Abstract: A lot has been written on the imminent decline of pharmaceuticals: their falling production, reduced R&D, declining innovation, the opioid crisis, patent cliffs, biting competition from generic drugs, growing opposition to IPR. The list goes on. Judging by the yardsticks that matter the most, though – namely, the companies’ relative profit and relative capitalization – pharmaceuticals are doing just fine. In fact, based on these yardsticks, they remain the most powerful corporate sector of all. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234557/1/20210600_bn_pharmaceuticals_beating_the_hell_out_of_the_average_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P26 Keywords: capitalization, finance, pharmaceutical, power, profit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234557 #END 732 #BEGIN 733 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Asongu, Simplice A. Title: Foreign Direct Investment, Governance and Inclusive Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: Motivated by the projected rebound of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow to sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) following the implementation of the AfCFTA and the finalization of the Africa Investment Protocol, we examine how FDI modulates the effects of various governance dynamics on inclusive growth in SSA. We do this by testing two hypotheses– first, whether unconditionally FDI and various governance indicators (rule of law, control of corruption, regulatory quality, governance effectiveness, political stability, and voice and accountability) foster inclusive growth in SSA; and second, whether these governance dynamics engender positive synergy with FDI on inclusive growth in SSA. Using data from the World Bank’s World Governance Indicators and the World Development Indicators for the period 1990–2020, we employ several fixed effects, random effects, and the system GMM estimators for the analysis. First, we find that FDI and all our governance dynamics are significant inclusive growth enhancers in SSA. Second, though FDI amplifies the effects of all our governance dynamics on inclusive growth in SSA, governance effectiveness, voice and accountability, and political stability are keys. Policy recommendations are provided. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234518/1/Ofori_and_Asongu_2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F6, F15, O43, O55, R58 Keywords: AfCFTA, Economic Integration, FDI, Governance, Inclusive Growth, Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234518 #END 733 #BEGIN 734 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shuchi, Musharrat Shabnam Author-Name: Tabassum, Sayeda Chandra Author-Name: Toufique, M. M. K. Title: A Year of Online Classes Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Advantages, Problems, and Suggestions of Economics Students at a Bangladeshi Public University Abstract: Though there have been works highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of online learning, no study focused on university-level economics students. None of the studies explored students' opinions about improving the quality and effectiveness of online classes. Many used questionable samples, closed-ended questions, and all those researches were carried out at the beginning of online classes. In this paper, we overcome these limitations of earlier studies. Using a convenience sampling technique and open-ended questions, we collect data from 154 university-level economics students after being exposed to the online class for a year. Some advantages of online classes are: students can do classes from home without being exposed to health risks, easily accessible, flexible class schedule, students remained connected with the study, it saves costs, reduce the likelihood of semester loss, easy to understand, less stressful, and learning new technologies. Major problems from students' perspectives include network problems, difficulties in understanding the topic, unsuitable for mathematical courses, concentration problem, class not interactive, financial constraint, adverse health impacts, device issues, power outages, unfamiliarity with digital technology, internet problem, and unfixed class-schedule. Disadvantages outnumbered advantages. Students made several suggestions to improve the quality and effectiveness of online classes. Some of the vital suggestions are: using state-of-the-art digital tools, recording and uploading lectures, resolving internet issues, holding classes regularly, higher efforts to make the topics easier, resolving network issues, lowering class duration, institutional support, implementing a fixed class schedule, and introducing online evaluation system. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234513/1/A-Year-of-Online-Classes-Amid-COVID-19-Pandemic-Advantages.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I18, I21, I23, I28 Keywords: COVID-19, online learning, pandemic, online education, Bangladesh, students' perceptions, higher education, distance learning, online classes Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234513 #END 734 #BEGIN 735 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cloete, Schalk Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Cloete, Jan Hendrik Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Blue hydrogen and industrial base products: The future of fossil fuel exporters in a net-zero world Abstract: Is there a place for today’s fossil fuel exporters in a low-carbon future? This study explores trade channels between energy exporters and importers using a novel electricity-hydrogen-steel energy systems model calibrated to Norway, a major natural gas producer, and Germany, a major energy consumer. Under tight emission constraints, Norway can supply Germany with electricity, (blue) hydrogen, or natural gas with re-import of captured CO2. Alternatively, it can use hydrogen to produce steel through direct reduction and supply it to the world market, an export route not available to other energy carriers due to high transport costs. Although results show that natural gas imports with CO2 capture in Germany is the least-cost solution, avoiding local CO2 handling via imports of blue hydrogen (direct or embodied in steel) involves only moderately higher costs. A robust hydrogen demand would allow Norway to profitably export all its natural gas production as blue hydrogen. However, diversification into local steel production, as one example of easy-to-export industrial base products, offers an effective hedge against the possibility of lower European blue hydrogen demand. Thus, it is recommended that hydrocarbon exporters like Norway consider a strategic energy export transition to a diversified mix of blue hydrogen and climate-neutral industrial base products. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234469/1/Cloete-et-al-2021-Blue-hydrogen-Econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4 Keywords: Hydrogen economy, Energy-intensive industry, Decarbonization, CO2 capture and storage, Variable renewable energy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234469 #END 735 #BEGIN 736 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Bucksteeg, Michael Author-Name: Ritter, David Author-Name: Schmitz, Richard Author-Name: Böttger, Diana Author-Name: Koch, Matthias Author-Name: Pöstges, Arne Author-Name: Wiedmann, Michael Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Why electricity market models yield different results: Carbon pricing in a model-comparison experiment Abstract: The European electricity industry, the dominant sector of the world’s largest cap-and-trade scheme, is one of the most-studied examples of carbon pricing. In particular, numerical models are often used to study the uncertain future development of carbon prices and emissions. While parameter uncertainty is often addressed through sensitivity analyses, the potential uncertainty of the models themselves remains unclear from existing single-model studies. Here, we investigate such model-related uncertainty by running a structured model comparison experiment, in which we exposed five numerical power sector models to aligned input parameters—finding stark model differences. At a carbon price of 27 EUR/t in 2030, the models estimate that European power sector emissions will decrease by 36–57% when compared to 2016. Most of this variation can be explained by the extent to which models consider the market-driven decommissioning of coal- and lignite-fired power plants. Higher carbon prices of 57 and 87 EUR/t yield a stronger decrease in carbon emissions, by 45–75% and 52–80%, respectively. The lower end of these ranges can be attributed to the short-term fuel switch captured by dispatch-only models. The higher reductions correspond to models that additionally consider market-based investment in renewables. By further studying cross-model variation in the remaining emissions at high carbon prices, we identify the representation of combined heat and power as another crucial driver of differences across model results. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234468/1/Ruhnau-et-al-2021-Why-electricity-market-models-EconStor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4, Q5 Keywords: Carbon pricing, EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS), Electricity decarbonization, Power sector, Renewable energy, Fuel switch, Combined heat and power, Electricity market modeling, Model comparison, Model-related uncertainty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234468 Note: Please cite as: Ruhnau, Oliver, Michael Bucksteeg, David Ritter, Richard Schmitz, Diana Böttger, Matthias Koch, Arne Pöstges, Michael Wiedmann & Lion Hirth (2022): “Why electricity market models yield different results: Carbon pricing in a model-comparison experiment”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111701 #END 736 #BEGIN 737 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vu, Trung V. Title: Are genetic traits associated with riots? The political legacy of prehistorically determined genetic diversity Abstract: This paper establishes that the worldwide distribution of political instability has its deep historical roots in genetic diversity, predetermined over the prehistoric course of the exodus of Homo sapiens from East Africa tens of thousands of years ago. It proposes that the relationship between prehistorically determined genetic diversity and contemporary political instability follows a U-shaped pattern. More specifically, genetic diversity at first reduces the persistence of political instability by increasing the opportunity cost of engaging in riots and revolts. However, genetically fragmented societies tend to suffer from interpersonal mistrust and the under-provision of public goods, which plausibly undermine the establishment of politically stable regimes. Using an ancestry-adjusted index of predicted genetic diversity, this paper consistently finds precise estimates that genetic diversity imparts a U-shaped influence on different measures of political instability and the probability of observing the occurrence of riots and revolts across 141 countries. Furthermore, the contribution of genetic diversity to political instability is at least partially mediated through income/productivity levels, the provision of public goods, income inequality and social trust. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234467/1/manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E02, F50, N30, O11, Z13 Keywords: genetic diversity, fractionalization, political instability, riots, conflict Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234467 #END 737 #BEGIN 738 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Koloma, Yaya Title: Impact of Mutual Health Insurance on Urban Households Health Expenses and Vulnerability in Burkina Faso Abstract: The objective of this paper is to assess the effects of long-term participation in a mutual health insurance programme on urban households health expenses and vulnerability in Burkina Faso. With data collected in 2013 from a series of interviews with beneficiaries of two mutual health insurance, the study performs a descriptive approach and an econometric technique (propensity score matching). The mutual health insurance program is highly valued, with 90.7% of short term (STB) and 98.3% long-term (LTB) beneficiaries willing to renew their policy insurance. They considered mutual health insurance schemes to be a good mechanism for covering disease risks, as 63.5% of STB and 79.3% of LTB were ready to take out insurance with another company if their mutual insurance no longer offered it. With a higher vulnerability incidence among STB (48.2%) compared to LTB (41.4%), access to mutual health insurance services seems to have a different impact on the well-being of beneficiary households. Indeed, long-term participation in a mutual health insurance has a positive impact on reducing household health expenses (ATT=0.185; t = 2.152**) and no statistically significant effect on their vulnerability (ATT=0.002; t=0.022). More efforts should be made to improve its effect on vulnerability, especially for the poorest. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234465/1/Impact-of-Mutual-Health-Insurance-on-Urban-Households-Vulnerability-in-Burkina-Faso.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Mutual Health Insurance, Vulnerability, Households, Impact, Burkina Faso Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234465 #END 738 #BEGIN 739 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Espoir, Delphin Kamanda Author-Name: Sunge, Regret Title: CO₂ Emissions and Economic Development in Africa: Evidence from A Dynamic Spatial Panel Model Abstract: We examine the impact of economic development on Co2 emissions using a sample of 48 African countries for the period 1996-2012. This study is born out of the realisation that despite lower contribution to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and global warming, Africa suffers the most from climate change. We make two contributions. First, we re-examine the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis using pooled OLS, Fixed and Random effects, and GMM. Unlike existing studies that impose country homogeneity on the relationship, we perform a linear quadratic regression to account for factors heterogeneity. Second, we provide evidence-based spatial econometric considerations, something that existing studies have overlooked. We employ a Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE) within the Fixed and Random effects framework on the dynamic Spatial Durbin Model (SDM). The results are as follow: (1) we find evidence for the EKC hypothesis for the entire sample of 48 countries, even though the relationship is weak, (2) when we control for factor heterogeneity, we find that the impact of economic development on Co2 emissions is heterogeneous across countries. In some countries, the EKC hypothesis holds while it breaks in others. (3) there exist significant direct and spillover effects in the Co2-growth nexus across countries. Considering the heterogeneity of the EKC, we recommend that African countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) should be harmonised in the interest of the Paris Agreement on climate. Also, multilateral organisations and private investors should increase their investments in renewable energy development projects to ensure compatibility between growth and environmental sustainability. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234131/1/DK-ESPOIR_R-SUNGE_Reviewd_21_5.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q53, Q54, Q56 Keywords: Economic development, Environmental pollution, EKC hypothesis, Spatial Durbin model, Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234131 #END 739 #BEGIN 740 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ehrenbergerova, Dominika Author-Name: Bajzik, Josef Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Title: When Does Monetary Policy Sway House Prices? A Meta-Analysis Abstract: Several central banks have leaned against the wind in the housing market by increasing the policy rate preemptively to prevent a bubble. Yet the empirical literature provides mixed results on the impact of short-term interest rates on house prices: the estimated semi-elasticities range from -12 to positive values. To assign a pattern to these differences, we collect 1,447 estimates from 31 individual studies that cover 45 countries and 69 years. We then relate the estimates to 39 characteristics of the financial system, business cycle, and estimation approach. Our main results are threefold. First, the mean reported estimate is exaggerated by publication bias, because insignificant results are underreported. Second, omission of important variables (liquidity and long-term rates) likewise exaggerates the effects of short-term rates on house prices. Third, the effects are stronger in countries with more developed mortgage markets and generally later in the cycle when the yield curve is flat and house prices enter an upward spiral. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234126/1/house.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83, E52, R21 Keywords: interest rates, house prices, monetary policy transmission, meta-analysis, publication bias, Bayesian model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234126 #END 740 #BEGIN 741 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vu, Trung V. Title: Climate, diseases, and the origins of corruption Abstract: It has been commonly observed that tropical countries tend to suffer from intense corruption and underdevelopment. This study provides an explanation for this long-standing disparity across the world based on variation in the intensity of ultraviolet radiation (UV-R). The central hypothesis is that UV-R is positively associated with the (historical) prevalence of eye diseases, which significantly shortens work-life expectancy as a skilled worker. This helps shape the worldwide distribution of corruption by affecting the incumbents’ window of opportunity. Using data for up to 139 countries, I consistently find empirical support for the positive relationship between UV-R and corruption. The main findings withstand accounting for numerous alternative explanations for international differences in corruption levels. Employing individual-level data from the World Values Survey, I document suggestive evidence that exposure to UV-R is linked to surveyed respondents’ tolerance towards corrupt activities. Furthermore, a subnational analysis for China lends credence to the cross-country evidence. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234125/1/manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O11, O43, O57, Q54 Keywords: corruption, climate, diseases, ultraviolet radiation, comparative prosperity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234125 #END 741 #BEGIN 742 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ritter, David Author-Name: Heinemann, Christoph Author-Name: Bauknecht, Dierk Author-Name: Winger, Christian Author-Name: Flachsbarth, Franziska Title: Model-based evaluation of decentralised electricity markets at different phases of the German energy transition Abstract: This paper investigates decentralised markets in the German electricity system, defined as markets in specific regions in which regional electricity demand is met primarily by regional generation and the remaining demand is met on a system-wide level in a second step. The research question is: What impact do the size of decentralised markets and the type of authorised participants have in different levels of the energy transition? The results show that the greatest effects from decentralised markets are caused by an increased usage of gas-fired power plants, as they are the major dispatchable generators in the future electricity system, resulting in significantly higher CO2 emissions and electricity generation costs, but also higher local self-supply rates. With very high RES-E shares the results hardly differ between the reference case and decentralised market models. The size of decentralised markets has a lower impact than limited access for certain fuel types or generation capacity size. Although decentralised markets can reduce the load on the grid, the need for grid expansion does not decrease. Overall, we conclude that from a system perspective decentralised markets can lead to negative effects if they are not regulated appropriately, especially during the transformation phase of the electricity system. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234104/1/WP_Ritter_et_al_Decentralised_Markets.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, D47, O21 Keywords: decentralised markets, local energy markets, electricity market modelling, renewable integration, energy transition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234104 #END 742 #BEGIN 743 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vu, Trung V. Title: Does institutional quality foster economic complexity? The fundamental drivers of productive capabilities Abstract: It is well established in the long-term development literature that deeply rooted institutions are the fundamental drivers of comparative prosperity across the world. This study contributes to this line of inquiry by investigating the extent to which the quality of institutions helps shape international differences in economic complexity – a novel measure of productive capabilities. More specifically, economic complexity corresponds to an enhanced capacity to produce and export a diverse range of sophisticated (high-productivity) products, which is highly predictive of future patterns of growth and development. The central hypothesis is that institutions are linked to higher degrees of economic complexity via strengthening incentives for innovative entrepreneurship, fostering human capital accumulation, and directing human resources towards productive activities. Employing data for up to 115 countries, I consistently obtain precise estimates of the positive effects of institutional quality, measured by the Economic Freedom of the World Index, on economic complexity. The findings highlight the important role of establishing well-functioning institutions in driving structural transformation towards productive activities, which contributes to alleviating the persistence of underdevelopment. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234103/1/manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O43, O11, H11 Keywords: Institutions, Economic freedom, Economic complexity, Productive capabilities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234103 #END 743 #BEGIN 744 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pöstges, Arne Author-Name: Bucksteeg, Michael Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Böttger, Diana Author-Name: Haller, Markus Author-Name: Künle, Eglantine Author-Name: Ritter, David Author-Name: Schmitz, Richard Author-Name: Wiedmann, Michael Title: Phasing out coal - An impact analysis comparing five large-scale electricity market models Abstract: Climate target achievement has a crucial influence on the modelling and the decision processes in the energy sector. It induced the development of several policy instruments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, including administrative and market-based mechanisms for phasing out coal-fired generation technologies. In order to analyse such instruments, electricity market and energy system models are widely used. However, results and corresponding recommendations largely depend on the formulation of the respective model. This motivates a systematic comparison of five large-scale electricity market models which are applied to European scenarios considering the period until 2030. An evolved diff-in-diff approach is proposed to analyse the effects of two coal phase-out strategies. This contribution expands on that of earlier studies and provides some more general takeaways for both modellers and decision-makers. For instance, the evolved diff-in-diff analysis shows the influence of the reference scenario when evaluating a policy instrument. Furthermore, the importance of technical aspects such as constraints for combined heat and power plants are discussed and implications regarding three dimensions (economic, environmental, and security of supply) are presented. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234102/1/WP_Phasing_out_coal_Poestges_et_al.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P11, P28, Q4, Q48, Q51 Keywords: model comparison, coal phase-out, electricity market model, energy policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234102 #END 744 #BEGIN 745 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Román-Aso, Juan A. Author-Name: Coca Villalba, Fernando Author-Name: Mastral Franks, Vanessa Author-Name: Bosch Frigola, Irene Title: Using Principal Component Analysis to create an index of financial conditions in Spain. Differences by firm size and industry Abstract: In the last decades, a large number of academic contributions have investigated the access to credit from a great variety of perspectives. The aim of this paper is to develop an index of financial conditions to contrast subsequently, the impact of firm size and industry on it according to the information asymmetric theory. To that end, we implement a Principal Component Analysis with a database made up of 233 Spanish freelancers and MSMEs in 2018. This technique permits us to gather the objective facts and subjective perceptions of the surveyed by detecting common elements in their responses. Once components are identified, we run statistical tests to find out if firm size and industry explain the differences amongst companies. Our outcome only proves the theory for firm size, meanwhile the hypothesis remains unclear for industry Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234038/1/Manuscript-copia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G20, G30, M21, M41 Keywords: Index of financial conditions, Principal Components Analysis, Asymmetric information Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:234038 #END 745 #BEGIN 746 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac Kwesi Author-Name: Obeng, Camara Kwasi Author-Name: Mwinlaaru, Peter Yeltulme Title: Effect of Exchange Rate Volatility on Tax Revenue Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: Efforts to spur growth in sub-Sahara Africa have been intensified amid structural and institutional constraints. Tax revenue, the chief source of funding for developmental purposes in SSA remains low and unstable. In fact, the SSA sub-region finds it difficult generating tax revenue up to 20 per cent of GDP. One factor that has not caught the attention of policymakers in terms of its impact on tax revenue performance is exchange rate volatility. Using macrodata spanning 1984 to 2017 for 21 countries, we provide empirical evidence from a panel autoregressive distributed lag technique to show that exchange rate volatility is directly harmful to tax revenue performance, and indirectly through trade openness. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233984/1/Ofori-Obeng-and-Mwinlaaru-2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E6, F14, F31, F4, F6, H2, O55 Keywords: Cointegration, Exchange Rate Volatility, GARCH, Sub-Sahara Africa, Tax Revenue Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233984 #END 746 #BEGIN 747 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Obeng, Camara Kwasi Author-Name: Mwinlaaru, Peter Yeltulme Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac Kwesi Title: Global Value Chain Participation and Inclusive Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: Global value chain (GVC) participation has been identified as one of the means by which developing countries can attain inclusive growth yet little attention has been paid to it in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Motivated by the dearth of studies on SSA, we investigate the effect of GVC participation on inclusive growth for 19 SSA countries for the period 1991 to 2017, using the system GMM estimator. The results show that GVC participation drives inclusive growth through employment creation. We find that though SSA’s foreign value addition is less than its domestic value addition, the former’s impact on inclusive growth is higher than that of the latter. We recommend that policymakers support downstream industries to acquire technologies while incentivizing and attracting upstream industries into their countries. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233983/1/Obeng-Mwinlaaru-and-Ofori-2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F19, F62, O00, O14, Q01 Keywords: Global Value Chain, Inclusive Growth, Domestic Value Added, Foreign Value Added, Sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233983 #END 747 #BEGIN 748 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac K. Author-Name: Asongu, Simplice A. Title: ICT Diffusion, Foreign Direct Investment and Inclusive Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: This study examines the joint effects of ICT diffusion (composed of access, usage and skills), and foreign direct investment (FDI) on inclusive growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study draws on data from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators, and the Global Consumption and Income Project for the period 1980–2019 for the analysis. The study provides evidence robust to several specifications from ordinary least squares and dynamic system GMM estimation techniques to show that: (1) FDI and ICT diffusion and corresponding components (ICT access, usage, skills) induce inclusive growth in SSA; (2) compared to its direct effect, FDI is remarkable in fostering shared growth in SSA in the presence of greater ICT diffusion, and (3) compared to ICT access and usage, ICT skills are more effective in driving inclusive growth in SSA. Overall FDI modulates ICT dynamics to engender positive synergy effects on inclusive growth. Policy recommendations are provided in line with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and the projected rise in FDI in SSA from 2022. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233982/1/Ofori_and_Asongu%282021%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E23, F21, F30, L96, O55 Keywords: FDI, ICT Access, ICT Diffusion, ICT Skills, ICT Usage, Inclusive Growth, sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233982 #END 748 #BEGIN 749 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Title: How flexible electricity demand stabilizes wind and solar market values: the case of hydrogen electrolyzers Abstract: Wind and solar energy are often expected to fall victim to their own success: the higher their share in electricity production, the more their revenue on electricity markets (their “market value”) declines. While in conventional power systems, the market value may converge to zero, this study demonstrates that “green” hydrogen production, through adding electricity demand in low-price hours, can effectively and permanently halt the decline. With an analytical derivation, a Monte Carlo simulation, and a numerical electricity market model, I find that – due to flexible hydrogen production alone – market values across Europe likely converge above €19 ± 9 per MWh for solar energy and above €27 ± 8 per MWh for wind energy in 2050 (annual mean estimate ± standard deviation). This lower boundary is in the range of the projected levelized costs of renewables and has profound implications. Market-based renewables may hence be within reach. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233976/1/Ruhnau-2021-How-flexible-electricity-demand-stabilizes-wind-and-solar-market-values-the-case-of-hydrogen-electrolyzers-EconStor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4, Q40, Q41, Q42 Keywords: Renewable energy, Hydrogen electrolysis, Electricity market, Electricity economics, Integrated energy systems, Flexible electricity demand Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233976 Note: Please cite as: Ruhnau, Oliver (2021): “How flexible electricity demand stabilizes wind and solar market values: The case of hydrogen electrolyzers”, Applied Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.118194 #END 749 #BEGIN 750 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of Development Aid on Productive Capacities Abstract: The international policy discourse, for example by the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, has emphasized the critical role of productive capacities in promoting sustainable development and building economic resilience in developing countries. This paper has examined whether development aid contributes to enhancing productive capacities in recipient countries. To that effect, it considers two main components of the total official development assistance (ODA), including Aid for Trade (AfT) and NonAfT, the latter being the part of total ODA allocated to other sectors than the trade-related sectors. The analysis relies on the index of the overall productive capacities developed recently by the UNCTAD, and covers 111 countries over the period 2002-2018. The findings indicate that development aid, including its two main components contribute to fostering productive capacities in recipient countries, with AfT flows exerting a higher positive effect on productive capacities than NonAfT flows. Moreover, in Least developed countries (LDCs), the positive effect of ODA on productive capacities reflects the key role of both AfT flows and NonAfT flows in contributing to the development of productive capacities. In contrast, in NonLDCs (other countries in the full sample than LDCs), only AfT flows matter positively for the strengthening of productive capacities, as NonAfT flows do not appear to exert a significant effect on productive capacities. These outcomes highlight the criticality of development aid for enhancing productive capacities in developing countries, in particular in LDCs. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233973/1/Paper-on-Aid-and-Productive-Capacities.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, O1, F35 Keywords: Development aid, Productive Capacities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233973 #END 750 #BEGIN 751 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac Kwesi Author-Name: Obeng, Camara Kwasi Author-Name: Mwinlaaru, Yeltulme Pter Title: Effect of Exchange Rate Volatility on Tax Revenue Performance In Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: Efforts to spur growth in sub-Sahara Africa have been intensified amid structural and institutional constraints. Tax revenue, the chief source of funding for developmental purposes in SSA remains low and unstable. In fact, the SSA sub-region finds it difficult generating tax revenue up to 20 per cent of GDP. One factor that has not caught the attention of policymakers in terms of its impact on tax revenue performance is exchange rate volatility. Using macrodata spanning 1984 to 2017 for 21 countries, we provide empirical evidence from a panel autoregressive distributed lag technique to show that exchange rate volatility is directly harmful to tax revenue performance, and indirectly through trade openness. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233955/1/Ofori-Tax-Revenue-Volatility.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A1, E5, E6, F1, F3, F4 Keywords: Cointegration, Exchange Rate Volatility, GARCH, Sub-Sahara Africa, Tax Revenue Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233955 #END 751 #BEGIN 752 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ofori, Isaac Kwesi Author-Name: Armah, Mark Kojo Title: A re-examination of the exchange rate – interest rate differential relationship in Ghana Abstract: This paper revisits the exchange rate and interest rate differential relationship since Ghana adopted the inflation targeting regime. Using macro-data spanning 2002 to 2019 for Ghana and the United States, we show the nonexistence of the relationship in both the short-run and long-run. Further, we show a positive but slow responsiveness of exchange rate to interest rate differential shocks from the short-run to medium term. The long-run result however shows a case of a strong and significant response of exchange rate to interest rate differential shocks. We recommend that the Bank of Ghana address perennial macroeconomic instability, especially on inflation which we conjecture to fuel investment uncertainty and investment insensitivity to the interest rate. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233954/1/Ofori-and-Armah-2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A1, E4, E43, E3, F5 Keywords: Inflation Targeting, Exchange Rate, Impulse Response Function, Interest Rate Differential, VAR, Ghana Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233954 #END 752 #BEGIN 753 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eicke, Anselm Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Electricity balancing as a market equilibrium Abstract: Frequency stability requires equalizing supply and demand for electricity at short time scales. Such electricity balancing is often understood as a sequential process in which random shocks, such as weather events, cause imbalances that system operators close by activating balancing reserves. By contrast, we study electricity balancing as a market where the equilibrium price (imbalance price) and quantity (system imbalance) are determined by supply and demand. System operators supply imbalance energy by activating reserves; market parties that, deliberately or not, deviate from schedules create a demand for imbalance energy. The incentives for deliberate strategic deviations emerge from wholesale market prices and the imbalance price. We empirically estimate the demand curve of imbalance energy, which describes how sensitive market parties are to imbalance prices. To overcome the classical endogeneity problem of price and quantity, we deploy instruments derived from a novel theoretical framework. Using data from Germany, we find a decline in the system imbalance by 2.2 MW for each increase in the imbalance price by EUR 1 per MWh. This significant price response is remarkable because the German regulator prohibits strategic deviations. We also estimate cross-market equilibriums between intraday and imbalance markets, finding that a shock to the imbalance price triggers a subsequent adjustment of the intraday price. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233852/1/Electricity-balancing-as-a-market-equilibrium.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41, L51 Keywords: Electricity Balancing, Intraday electricity market, Imbalance energy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233852 Note: Please cite as: Eicke, Anselm, Oliver Ruhnau & Lion Hirth (2021): “Electricity balancing as a market equilibrium: An instrument-based estimation of supply and demand for imbalance energy”, Energy Economics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105455 #END 753 #BEGIN 754 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Giambona, Erasmo Author-Name: Matta, Rafael Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Wang, Ye Title: Quantitative Easing, Investment, and Safe Assets: The Corporate-Bond Lending Channel Abstract: We show that Quantitative Easing (QE) stimulates investment via a corporate-bond lending channel. Fed's large-scale purchases of MBS and treasuries creates a vacuum of safe assets, prompting safer firms to invest by issuing relatively "safe" bonds. Using micro-data around QE, we find that QE increases firm-level investment by 7.4 percentage points for firms with bond market access. Results hold excluding the financial crisis period. This growth is financed with senior bonds. We find no evidence of higher shareholders' payouts. The robust findings support a stylized model in which reducing the supply of treasuries lowers "safe" corporate bond yields, stimulating investment. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233588/1/Giambona-et-al-QE.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E5, G01, G31, G32, G38 Keywords: Quantitative Easing, Corporate-Bond Lending Channel, Investment, Safe Assets, Financing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:217049 #END 754 #BEGIN 755 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schönheit, David Author-Name: Bruninx, Kenneth Author-Name: Kenis, Michiel Author-Name: Möst, Dominik Title: Improved selection of critical network elements for flow-based market coupling based on congestion patterns Abstract: Flow-based market coupling provides zonal day-ahead markets with appropriate signals of possible real-time congestions by incorporating information on local load and generation patterns. It relies on predictive parameters, notably the base case and generation shift keys. Also it only monitors part of the grid, through selecting critical network elements. In consequence, it naturally falls short of a nodal pricing-based cost-optimal solution. Based on a test network with three flow-based market coupling zones, we show that the results of flow-based market coupling converge to nodal pricing solutions with an increasing amount of re-configured market zones. We identify if re-configured market zones can help to improve the selection of critical network elements and lead to cost reductions even in the original market zone setting. We find that around 90% of the cost reductions from a market zone re-configuration can be maintained when the critical network elements, obtained from the re-configured market zones, are used for the original market zones. This is a strong indication that, both in reality as well as model-based research of flow-based market coupling, the selection of critical network elements should be based on expected congestion patterns. To find these congestions, we conduct a nodal price-based market zone re-configuration that helps to identify lines with different congestion signals. This approach can constitute a helpful addition to static and assumption-based selection criteria for critical network elements, such as the often-used zone-to-zone power transfer distribution factors that strongly rely on assumptions like generation shift keys. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233467/1/PREPRINT_2021-04-23.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, D47, L94, Q41, Q43, Q47 Keywords: critical network elements, flow-based market coupling, market zones, nodal and zonal markets, zone re-configuration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233467 #END 755 #BEGIN 756 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Title: Zombie Companies in the Corona Pandemic or the phenomenon of covertly over-indebted companies in Germany Abstract: The phenomenon of covertly over-indebted companies – also known colloquially as zombie companies – is not new. They occur more frequently in times of crisis, including during the current Corona pandemic. In addition to covertly over-indebtedness, there is now the added factor of latent insolvency. This article will take a closer look at the emergence of zombie companies in Germany during the Corona pandemic. Abstract: Das Phänomen verdeckt überschuldeter Unternehmen – umgangssprachlich auch als »Zombie-Unternehmen« bekannt – ist nicht neu. Sie treten vermehrt in Krisenzeiten auf, so auch während der aktuellen Corona-Pandemie. Neben der verdeckten Überschuldung kommt jetzt noch der Faktor der latenten Zahlungsunfähigkeit hinzu. In diesem Artikel soll die Entstehung der »Zombie-Unternehmen« in Deutschland während der Corona-Pandemie näher untersucht werden. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233101/1/Becker_2021_Zombie-Companies.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: zombie companies, covertly over-indebted companies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233101 #END 756 #BEGIN 757 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Title: Zombie-Unternehmen in der Corona-Pandemie oder Phänomen der verdeckt überschuldeten Unternehmen in Deutschland Abstract: Das Phänomen verdeckt überschuldeter Unternehmen – umgangssprachlich auch als »Zombie-Unternehmen« bekannt – ist nicht neu. Sie treten vermehrt in Krisenzeiten auf, so auch während der aktuellen Corona-Pandemie. Neben der verdeckten Überschuldung kommt jetzt noch der Faktor der latenten Zahlungsunfähigkeit hinzu. In diesem Artikel soll die Entstehung der »Zombie-Unternehmen« in Deutschland während der Corona-Pandemie näher untersucht werden. Abstract: The phenomenon of covertly over-indebted companies - also known colloquially as "zombie companies" - is not new. They occur more frequently in times of crisis, including during the current Corona pandemic. In addition to covert over-indebtedness, there is now the added factor of latent insolvency. This article will take a closer look at the emergence of "zombie companies" in Germany during the Corona pandemic. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233100/1/Becker_2021_Zombie-Unternehmen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Zombie Unternehmen, verdeckte Überschuldung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233100 #END 757 #BEGIN 758 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mughal, Mazhar Author-Name: Javed, Rashid Title: Perturbed Nuptiality, Delayed Fertility: Childbirth Effects of Covid19 Abstract: An aspect of the Covid-19 pandemic that merits attention is its effects on marriage and childbirth. Although the direct fertility effects of people getting the virus may be minor, the impact of delayed marriages due to the first preventive lockdown, such as that imposed in Pakistan from March 14 to May 8 2020, and the closure of marriage halls that lasted till September 14 may be non-negligible. These demographic consequences are of particular import to developing countries such as Pakistan where birth rates remain high, marriage is nearly universal, and almost all child-bearing takes place within marriage. Based on historic marriage patterns, we estimate that the delay in nuptiality during the first wave of coronavirus outbreak may affect about half of the marriages that were to take place during the year. In Pakistan, childbearing begins soon after marriage, and about 37% of Pakistani married women give birth to their first child within twelve months of marriage. A sizeable number out of these around 400,000 annual births that occur within twelve months of the marriage may consequently be delayed. Postponement of marriages due to the accompanying difficult economic situation and employment precariousness should accentuate this fertility effect. The net fertility impact of the Covid-19 outbreak would ultimately depend not only on the delay in marriages but also on the reproductive behavior of existing couples. Abstract: Un aspect de la pandémie de Covid-19 qui mérite une attention particulière concerne ses effets sur le mariage et la naissance des enfants. Les conséquences démographiques sont particulièrement importantes pour les pays en développement tels que le Pakistan. Dans ce pays, le taux de natalité est élevé, le mariage est presque universel et la procréation se fait exclusivement dans le cadre du mariage. Bien que les effets directs du virus sur la fertilité des personnes infectées puissent être moins importants, l'impact des mariages retardés en raison des mesures de confinement tecomme celles qui avaient cours au Pakistan du 14 mars au 8 mai 2020, et de la fermeture des salles de mariage qui a duré jusqu'au 14 septembre peut être sérieux. Sur la base des modèles de mariage historiques, nous estimons que le retard de la nuptialité pendant la première vague de la pandémie de coronavirus pourrait affecter environ la moitié des mariages qui devaient avoir lieu pendant l'année. Au Pakistan, la réproduction commence peu après le mariage et environ 37 % des femmes mariées pakistanaises donnent naissance à leur premier enfant dans les douze mois suivant leur mariage. Un nombre non négligeable des 400 000 naissances annuelles qui surviennent dans les douze mois suivant le mariage pourrait donc être retardé. Le report des mariages en raison d'une situation économique difficile et de la précarité de l'emploi devrait accentuer cet effet sur la fécondité. En fin, l'impact net de l'épidémie de Covid-19 sur la fécondité dépendrait en fin de compte non seulement du report des mariages, mais aussi du comportement des couples existants en matière de reproduction. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233036/1/Covid19-and-Marriage-Market.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I10, I18, J10, J12, J13 Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus, lockdown, marriage, childbirth, fertility, Pakistan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:233036 #END 758 #BEGIN 759 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Seeber, Günther Title: The impact of mandatory economic education on adolescents' attitudes Abstract: Various studies have examined how the study of economics affects students’ views on economic phenomena, yet there is little evidence regarding its impact on teenagers. We study the effect of a recent curriculum reform introducing mandatory economic education on teenagers’ attitudes towards economics in Southwest Germany. Our findings reveal that students affected by the reform show, on average, more interest in economics, see money as more important and expect more social responsibility from companies. Conversely, we don't observe differences in attitudes towards competition. Regarding socio-economic characteristics, our data reveal strong gender differences already before adulthood. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233013/1/2021_Oberrauch_Seeber_The_impact_of_mandatory_economic_education_on_adolescents_attitudes.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21, D14, I20 Keywords: Pre-college economic education, economic attitudes, economic competence, gender gap Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232586 #END 759 #BEGIN 760 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Covid-19 third Wave - Impact on Financial Markets and Economy Abstract: The pandemic, caused by Covid-19, has hit the whole world since the beginning of 2020. The current extent of the resulting economic and social upheaval cannot be estimated yet. In this working paper, an attempt to compare Covid-19 figures with the development on the financial markets and the real economy is made. We try to analyse whether significant effects have already occurred and where these could still come with a time lags. Abstract: Die Pandemie, hervorgerufen durch Covid-19, hat seit Anfang 2020 die ganze Welt erfasst. Das tatsächliche Ausmaß der dadurch verursachten wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Verwerfungen sind noch nicht abschätzbar. In diesem Working-Paper wird ein Versuch unternommen, Covid-19 Zahlen der Entwicklung an den Finanzmärkten und der Realwirtschaft gegenüber zu stellen und zu analysieren, wo es bereits zu massiven Auswirkungen gekommen ist und wo diese mit zeitlicher Verzögerung noch kommen könnten. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/232980/1/Covid-19-third-wave-impacts-on-financial-markets-and-economy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G1 Keywords: Covid-19, third wave, stock market, economic impact Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232980 #END 760 #BEGIN 761 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Dritte Welle Covid-19 - Auswirkungen der Pandemie auf Finanzmärkte und ausgewählte Bereiche der Wirtschaft Abstract: Die Pandemie, hervorgerufen durch Covid-19, hat seit Anfang 2020 die ganze Welt erfasst. Das tatsächliche Ausmaß der dadurch verursachten wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Verwerfungen sind noch nicht abschätzbar. In diesem Working-Paper wird ein Versuch unternommen, Covid-19 Zahlen der Entwicklung an den Finanzmärkten und der Realwirtschaft gegenüber zu stellen und zu analysieren, wo es bereits zu massiven Auswirkungen gekommen ist und wo diese mit zeitlicher Verzögerung noch kommen könnten. Abstract: The pandemic, caused by Covid-19, has hit the whole world since the beginning of 2020. The current extent of the resulting economic and social upheaval cannot yet be estimated. In this working paper, an attempt to compare Covid-19 figures with the development on the financial markets and the real economy is made. We try to analyse whether significant 2effects have already occurred and where these could still come with a time lags. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/232979/1/Dritte-Welle-Covid-19-Auswirkung-auf-Finanzm%c3%a4rkte-und-Wirtschaft.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G1 Keywords: Covid-19, Aktienkursentwicklung, wirtschaftliche Auswirkungen, Arbeitsmarkt, Auftragseingang, Insolvenzen Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232979 #END 761 #BEGIN 762 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Toptancı, Ali İskan Title: RETRACTED PAPER: "Macroeconomic effects of the trade wars: Smoot-Hawley Protectionism Tariff" Abstract: *** RETRACTION NOTICE *** Title: "Macroeconomic effects of the trade wars: Smoot-Hawley Protectionism Tariff" – Submitted by Ali İskan Toptancı on April 09, 2021 – Published in EconStor on April 12, 2021 – Withdrawn on April 21, 2021 – The EconStor team has decided to retract the paper referenced above submitted by Ali İskan Toptancı, because the paper contains substantial duplication of text from Kris James Mitchener, Kevin Hjortshøj O'Rourke, Kirsten Wandschneider (2021): "The Smoot-Hawley Trade War", CEPR Discussion Paper No. 15952, London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=15952 Creation-Date: 2021 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232553 #END 762 #BEGIN 763 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Elminejad, Ali Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Horvath, Roman Title: Publication and Identification Biases in Measuring the Intertemporal Substitution of Labor Supply Abstract: The intertemporal substitution (Frisch) elasticity of labor supply governs the predictions of real business cycle models and models of taxation. We show that, for the extensive margin elasticity, two biases conspire to systematically produce large positive estimates when the elasticity is in fact zero. Among 723 estimates in 36 studies, the mean reported elasticity is 0.5. One half of that number is due to publication bias: larger estimates are reported preferentially. The other half is due to identification bias: studies with less exogenous time variation in wages report larger elasticities. Net of the biases, the literature implies a zero mean elasticity and, with 95% confidence, is inconsistent with calibrations above 0.25. To derive these results we collect 23 variables that reflect the context in which the elasticity was obtained, use nonlinear techniques to correct for publication bias, and employ Bayesian and frequentist model averaging to address model uncertainty. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/232534/1/Frisch.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, J21 Keywords: Frisch elasticity, labor supply, extensive margin, meta-analysis, publication bias, Bayesian model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232534 #END 763 #BEGIN 764 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pietzcker, Robert Author-Name: Osorio, Sebastian Author-Name: Rodrigues, Renato Title: Tightening EU ETS targets in line with the European Green Deal: Impacts on the decarbonization of the EU power sector Abstract: The EU Green Deal calls for climate neutrality by 2050 and emission reductions of 50-55% in 2030 in comparison to 1990. Achieving these reductions requires a substantial tightening of the regulations of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). This paper explores how the power sector would have to change in reaction to a tighter EU ETS target, and analyses the technological and economic implications. To cover the major ETS sectors, we combine a detailed power sector model with a marginal-abatement cost curve representation of industry emission abatement. We find that tightening the target would speed up the transformation by 3-17 years for different parts of the electricity system, with renewables contributing 74% of the electricity in 2030, EU-wide coal use almost completely phased-out by 2030 instead of 2045, and zero electricity generation emissions reached by 2040. Carbon prices within the EU ETS would more than triple to 129€/tCO2 in 2030, reducing cumulated power sector emissions from 2017-2057 by 54% compared to a scenario with the current target. This transformation would come at limited costs: total discounted power system costs would only increase by 5%. We test our findings against a number of sensitivities: an increased electricity demand, which might arise from sector coupling, increases deployment of wind and solar and prolongs gas usage. Not allowing transmission expansion beyond 2020 levels shifts investments from wind to PV, hydrogen and batteries, and increases total system costs by 3%. Finally, the unavailability of fossil carbon capture and storage (CCS) or further nuclear investments does not impact results. Unavailability of bioenergy-based CCS (BECCS) has a visible impact (18% increase) on cumulated power sector emissions, thus shifting more of the mitigation burden to the industry sector, but does not increase electricity prices or total system costs (<1% increase). Creation-Date: 2021 Revision-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/232295/1/2021Pietzcker_EUETStargets_EconstorWP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q40, L52, Q48, Q41, Q54, Q58 Keywords: European Green Deal, EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS), Electricity Decarbonization, power sector, Renewable Energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS), Carbon price, Storage, Transmission grid expansion, solar, Wind, hydrogen turbine, Climate Change Mitigation, Nuclear, Electricity Price Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222579 #END 764 #BEGIN 765 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Ignorance is Strength Abstract: Colin Harrison's novel The Finder (2008) uncovers the hidden hierarchy of differential information. We live in a knowledge economy, or so they say. And in the world of finance, knowledge is power: the power to buy assets before their price appreciates. This knowledge-as-power, though, is profitable only when exclusive. Common knowledge – no matter how sophisticated and complex – is never profitable. Only differential knowledge – i.e., knowledge that is unavailable to others or superior to what they have – can yield a ‘return’. This differential prerequisite explains why every entity in the pyramid of financial information – whether a person or an organization – has no more than a partial vista, with the remaining view blurred by enforced opaqueness and power-backed misinformation. The different vistas are also deeply formative. Individual ‘actors’ may feel empowered by what they know, but in practice, what they know serves to frame their thoughts and direct their actions – usually without them ever knowing it. Even those at the very top – indeed, especially those at the very top – are slaves to their knowledge, however superior. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/232294/1/20210300_bn_ignorance_is_strength_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, D8 Keywords: finance, differential information, literature, power Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232294 #END 765 #BEGIN 766 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Georg Title: Financing Development: Private Capital Mobilization and Institutional Investors Abstract: This report discusses key issues around the mobilization of private capital for development. Investment requirements are huge, especially for infrastructure, climate and other SDG-related investments. External finance for developing countries stagnated in the years before the pandemic, followed by a major setback in 2020/2021. The focus is in particular on institutional investors, whose exposure to less-developed countries is still very low, even more so in unlisted assets and projects. There is a potential for progress as asset owners seek new diversification opportunities in growth markets. The main burden is on governments to create favourable business conditions for investable long-term assets. Policy makers, development finance institutions and investors should utilize the full spectrum of investment vehicles - commercial, impact and blended finance. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/232266/1/Inderst-Financing-Development-March2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F21, F3, G15, G18, G2, H54, H57, J32, L9, M14, O16, O18, O19, Q01, Q5 Keywords: development finance, private capital, institutional investors, SDG investing, emerging markets, multilateral development banks, blended finance, infrastructure investment, development finance institutions, asset owners, impact investment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232266 #END 766 #BEGIN 767 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Altavilla, Carlo Author-Name: Laeven, Luc Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Monetary and Macroprudential Policy Complementarities: Evidence from European Credit Registers Abstract: We show strong complementarities between monetary and macroprudential policies in influencing credit. We exploit credit register data - crucially from multiple (European) countries and for both corporate and household credit - in conjunction with monetary policy surprises and indicators of macroprudential policy actions. Expansive monetary policy boosts lending more in accommodative macroprudential environments. This complementary effect of monetary and macroprudential policy is stronger for: (i) expansionary (as opposed to contractionary) monetary policy; (ii) riskier borrowers; (iii) less capitalized banks (especially when lending to riskier borrowers); (iv) consumer and corporate loans (rather than mortgages); and (v) more (ex-ante) productive firms (especially for less capitalized banks). Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/232034/1/MP-and-MAP-interaction-25March2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G28, G32, G51, E58 Keywords: credit registers, household loans, corporate loans, monetary policy, macroprudential policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:232034 #END 767 #BEGIN 768 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andersen, Asger Lau Author-Name: Johannesen, Niels Author-Name: Jørgensen, Mia Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Monetary Policy and Inequality Abstract: We analyze the distributional effects of monetary policy on income, wealth and consumption. We use administrative household-level data covering the entire population in Denmark over the period 1987-2014 and exploit a long-standing currency peg as a source of exogenous variation in monetary policy. We consistently find that the gains from softer monetary policy in terms of income, wealth and consumption are monotonically increasing in the ex ante income level. The distributional effects reflect systematic differences in exposure to the various channels of monetary policy, especially non-labor channels (e.g. leverage and assets). Our estimates imply that softer monetary policy increases income inequality by raising income shares at the top of the income distribution and reducing them at the bottom. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/232002/1/AJJP2020_MPandInequality-22march2021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E2, E4, G1, G2, G5 Keywords: Monetary policy, Inequality, Household heterogeneity, Assets, Leverage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:227763 #END 768 #BEGIN 769 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mgwele, Akhona Author-Name: Girma, Hiywot Menker Author-Name: Dikgang, Johane Title: Measuring residential water affordability and basic water needs in South Africa Abstract: Designing a desirable block tariff structure for residential water use has been a challenging task for regulated utilities. In this study, we investigated whether the existing increasing block tariff design addresses the issue of affordability, especially for lower-income groups. Using the South African NIDS household-level panel data and municipal tariff data, we estimated household demand for water using a Stone-Geary specification. The Stone-Geary functional form allows price elasticity of demand to vary with quantity consumed and allows for the estimation of a basic threshold level of consumption below which demand is price inelastic. Truncated and quantile regressions were run to observe the impact of the different socio-economic variables on different categories of water-consumption and income levels. The results show that in general, the first block (i.e., 6 000 litres) of consumption set by water utilities does not represent a basic water need. The `lifeline’ or subsistence portion of water is found to be 11.51 kl of water per household per month. Moreover, when considering the poorest or low-income households, water charges raise affordability concerns in a number of important water-utility areas. Basic water is not affordable as the proportion of household income that must be spent to acquire it is high. Any household with an income of $398 or less must spend a significant proportion of its income (above 5.88%) to receive the subsistence amount of water. Furthermore, a number of socio economic and environmental factors are found to affect the demand for water, and these will help in employing tailored economic and technological interventions for efficient utilization of water. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231772/3/Measuring-residential-water-affordability-12032021.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H41, I30, L32, Q25 Keywords: demand, equity, lifeline, increasing block tariff, water affordability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231772 #END 769 #BEGIN 770 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ajayi, Ayodeji Olusola Author-Name: Amole, Oludolapo Olutosin Title: Accessibility and patronage of urban open spaces in a south-western Nigeria city Abstract: This paper examines the patronage and utilization of urban open spaces in Osogbo, Nigeria. Data were obtained through a multi-stage sampling technique. The study area was divided into high, medium and low density areas and 553 (5%) of buildings were systematic selected from 11,022 buildings identified through preliminary survey and satellite images. One teenager and two adults (a male and female) were selected in each building resulting in the total sample size of 1,659. Information on respondent's socio-economic characteristics, frequency of utilization open spaces, travel time, means of transportation and time spent in open spaces were obtained from the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The results show that most of the respondents (60.8%) were occasional users of open spaces, 2.2% of respondents never used the open spaces while 37% were frequent users. In addition, the most frequently used open space was the neighborhood park (42.1%), followed by school playgrounds (39.2%) and pocket parks (32.7%). Incidental open spaces had the lowest proportion of patronage(20.9%). The longest duration of use occurred in school playgrounds while the neighbourhood park was the most accessible to the respondents. The frequency of use varies across typologies and residential densities. The mean travel time of respondents across all open spaces was 13.62 seconds, the variations in travel time across typologies were not statically significant (F=3.802, p =.010). Recommendations to make open spaces more accessible were suggested. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231722/1/patronage-and-accessibility--urban-open-spaces-in-osogbo-ECONSTOR.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Open space typologies, Accessibility, Urban neighbourhoods, Open space utilization, Proximity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231722 #END 770 #BEGIN 771 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Armelius, Hanna Author-Name: Claussen, Carl Andreas Author-Name: Hull, Isaiah Title: On the possibility of a cash-like CBDC Abstract: We explain why all CBDCs will need a ledger that keeps track of CBDC ownership regardless of whether they are “token-based”, “DLT-based” or “on a blockchain”; and regardless of how we define these terms. Consequently, token-based CBDCs appear not to have a greater capacity for providing payments that are peer-to-peer, offline or anonymous like cash than “account-based” CBDCs. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231485/1/on-the-possibility-of-a-cash-like-cbdc.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E42, E51 Keywords: CBDC, Tokens, Offline Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231485 #END 771 #BEGIN 772 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bulutay, Muhammed Author-Name: Hales, David Author-Name: Julius, Patrick Author-Name: Tasch, Weiwei Title: Imperfect Tacit Collusion and Asymmetric Price Transmission Abstract: We investigate the role tacit collusion plays in Asymmetric Price Transmission (APT), the tendency of prices to respond more rapidly to positive than to negative cost shocks. Using a laboratory experiment that isolates the effects of tacit collusion, we observe APT pricing behavior in markets with 3, 4, 6, and 10 sellers, but not in duopolies. Furthermore, we find that sellers accurately forecast others’ prices, but nevertheless consistently set their own prices above the profit-maximizing response, particularly in the periods immediately following negative shocks. Overall, our findings support theories in which tacit collusion plays a central role in APT. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231385/1/APT_2_March.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D43, L13, C92, C72, C73 Keywords: Asymmetric Price Transmission, Tacit Collusion, Oligopolistic Competition, Market Power, Rockets and Feathers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231385 #END 772 #BEGIN 773 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Byahut, Rajkumar Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Author-Name: Iyer, Chidambaran G. Author-Name: Nataraj, Manikantha Title: Commentary on World Development Report 2020: Trading for Development in the Age of Global Value Chains Abstract: The importance of trade to an economy needs no emphasis. You sell products or services that you are competitive at and buy those where you are not. Experience of countries such as South Korea and China demonstrate that resources required for development can be garnered through trade; thus, motivating many countries to embrace trade as a means for development. Simultaneously, emergence of 'Global Value Chain' or 'GVC' as they are popularly known has changed the way we trade. Though the concept of GVC was introduced in the early 2000s, there are examples of global value chains before the 1980s. However, the scale of the phenomenon and the way in which technological change, by lowering trade costs, has allowed fragmentation of production was not possible before (Hernandez et al., 2014). In this context, the World Bank has recently published its 'World Development Report 2020: Trading for Development in the Age of Global Value Chains' (WDR). The report prescribes that GVCs still offer developing countries a clear path to progress and that developing countries can achieve better outcomes by pursuing market-oriented reforms specific to their stage of development. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231380/1/11CommentarySeirs-min.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F0, F1, F2 Keywords: Global Value Chains, International Trade, Global Production Network, Firm-level Trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231380 Note: This commentary is the outcome of a panel discussion held at CDS on January 17, 2020. We are grateful to Prof. Sunil Mani, Prof. Sudip Chaudhuri and other participants at the panel discussion for their comments which has benefited this commentary. We are solely responsible for any errors that remain. #END 773 #BEGIN 774 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Guccio, Calogero Title: Measuring resilience and fatality rate during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Italy: a note Abstract: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, much emphasis was placed on mortality indicators such as case-fatality rate and crude mortality rates to offer a preliminary assessment of the resilience between healthcare systems. The paper aims to contribute to the debate on the resilience of the healthcare systems during the pandemic by discussing whether the case-fatality rate and crude mortality indicators are appropriate for assessing resilience or whether other indicators should be employed. Comparing data obtained with different approaches based on statistical inference and large-scale serological survey, the article highlight, that great care must be taken when using case-fatality and crude mortality data, which in the absence of careful analysis, can lead to erroneous conclusions on the assessment of the resilience between healthcare systems. Furthermore, it shows that even in the absence of detailed epidemiological data new advancement in statistical methods can be useful to provide a more sounding evaluation of resilience. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231374/1/Guccio-WP-resilience.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I10, I18 Keywords: Resilience, Missing data, Epidemiology, Novel coronavirus, Italy, Healthcare governance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231374 #END 774 #BEGIN 775 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abou Hamia, Mohamad A. Title: In the New Economy Era, are the World Economies Adequately Using Knowledge to Compete Externally? Abstract: The article shows that the world economies are relying less on knowledge to compete in external markets in the last decade compared to the 1990s. The article shows that only four countries contribute a staggering 65% to the world growth and more than 180 countries contribute 36%, which is roughly equal to the Chinese contribution. The article attributes this unbalanced contribution to world growth to the fact that the world economy is not sufficiently and effectively spending on R&D, which is key to sustainable economic growth and creating decent jobs. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231362/3/Knowledge-and-External-competitiveness.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O11, O24, O32 Keywords: R&D, Knowledge, World Growth, China Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231362 #END 775 #BEGIN 776 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Franke, Peter D. Title: Lieferkettengesetz – eine Herausforderung für die Wirtschaft Abstract: Ein Lieferkettengesetz soll die Pflichten von Unternehmen bei der Überwachung der sozialen und ökologischen Nachhaltigkeit in ihrer Lieferkette regeln. Der vorliegende Entwurf ist aber problematisch: Es fehlt den Unternehmen die erforderliche Transparenz ihrer Lieferketten und der Durchgriff auf die Lieferanten. Der sich daraus ergebende erhebliche Aufwand, mit fraglichem Nutzen, wird unterschätzt, während der Nutzen relativ zu möglichen Alternativen fraglich ist. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231357/1/Franke_Lieferkettengesetz.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q01, J81, Q56, K38, J8 Keywords: Lieferkettengesetz, Sorgfaltspflichtengesetz, Supply Chain Management, Nachhaltigkeit, Menschenrechte, Beschaffung, Einkauf, Lieferanten, Lieferkette Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231357 #END 776 #BEGIN 777 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dutta, Sourish Title: Financing Innovation: A Complex Nexus of Risk & Reward Abstract: The crucial and growing role performed by different financial intermediaries such as venture capitalists and angel investors as well as more traditional intermediaries such as commercial banks in developing entrepreneurial or innovative firms and boosting product market innovations has led to great research interest in the economics of innovation and entrepreneurial finance. Besides this, there are some important factors or developments which have affected the entrepreneurial finance in general as well as its influence upon different entrepreneurial or innovative firms. Indeed, it is also true that the financial and ownership structures of the different entrepreneurial firms and the legal as well as institutional environment, in which they operate, itself affects the product market innovations (Chemmanur and Fulghieri, 2014). Therefore, in this paper I want to target a broad theme i.e. analysis of the mechanisms behind this scenario, especially, in the context of Indian market system. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231356/1/Financing_Innovation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G11, G24, O31, O32 Keywords: Innovation, Financing Frictions, Entrepreneurial Finance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231356 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3496392 #END 777 #BEGIN 778 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Wrzesinski, Marcel Author-Name: Riechert, Patrick Urs Author-Name: Dubois, Frédéric Author-Name: Katzenbach, Christian Title: Working with publication technology to make open access journals sustainable Abstract: Over the last 25 years, scholars around the world have used electronic publishing to open up their work, share it with interested publics instantly or even become publishers themselves. This white paper explores in what ways advances in publication technology in the journal sector (e.g. the widespread use of content management and editorial systems) contributes to a more inclusive and sustainable open access ecosystem. Drawing on a study we did in Germany in 2019-2021, and for which we tested technical solutions together with the international, peer-reviewed diamond open access journal Internet Policy Review, we present and discuss publishing solutions based on software, workflows, and collaborations with regard to their practicability and scalability. The paper finds that scholar-led publishing is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to technical solutions tending towards increased bibliodiversity (i.e., variety of content, publication formats and publishing institutions). Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231355/1/WP_Sustainable_Technology_4558781.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Open access, Scholar-led, Publication technology, Sustainability, Small sciences Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231355 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4558781 #END 778 #BEGIN 779 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Waidlein, Nicole Author-Name: Wrzesinski, Marcel Author-Name: Dubois, Frédéric Author-Name: Katzenbach, Christian Title: Working with budget and funding options to make open access journals sustainable Abstract: Within the realm of electronic publishing, journals are plenty and their publishing models vary greatly. A segment most in line with fair and transparent open access principles are journals that were born open access, are scholar-led, and do not levy any fees on authors or readers. But while promising for increasing access to quality research and furthering bibliodiversity (i.e., variety of content, publication formats and publishing institutions), a survey we did in Germany in 2020 suggests that many of the journals in that segment face the threat of extinction. This white paper provides preliminary answers to the monetary challenge by evaluating possible financing models, discussing their applicability, and facilitating the transferability of these findings by including a short case study of Internet Policy Review-an international, peer-reviewed diamond open access journal. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231354/1/WP_Sustainable_Financing_4558790.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Open access, Scholar-led, Business models, Sustainability, Funding, Small sciences Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231354 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4558790 #END 779 #BEGIN 780 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bannor, Frank Author-Name: Dikgang, Johane Author-Name: Gelo, Dambala Title: Agricultural total factor productivity growth, technical efficiency, and climate variability in sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: Despite continuous reforms and increased spending in the agricultural sector, Africa remains a net food importer. Previous research has argued that agricultural productivity is lower in Africa than in all other parts of the world due to challenging ecological conditions – soil fertility challenges and extreme climate. Increasing the region’s food supply requires significant increases in agricultural productivity, which in turn depends on investment in research and development (R&D). This study examines how climate variability (proxied by rainfall variability) affects agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) of maize in 14 sub-Saharan African countries (SSA). Maize farming in Africa – due to its significance in regional food production, evident climate variability, and the need to significantly increase efficiency – is an ideal region of investigation for climate impacts on maize production. We apply a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) on the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) to decompose productivity growth into technical efficiency and technological progress. In addition, a single-stage maximum-likelihood estimation of a true fixed effect was used to investigate how climate variability affects maize productivity through technical efficiency. The results show that climate variability has a negative effect on technical efficiency in the agricultural production of maize. Furthermore, increased spending on R&D is required to enhance technical efficiency and productivity. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231310/1/Manuscript_2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q1, Q5 Keywords: climate change, data envelopment analysis, maize, total factor productivity, research and development, technical efficiency Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:231310 #END 780 #BEGIN 781 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Aydın, Deniz Title: Consumption Response to Credit Expansions: Evidence from Experimental Assignment of 45,307 Credit Lines Abstract: I design a large-scale field experiment that constructs a randomized credit limit extension isolating selection, anticipation, wealth, and interest rate effects and study the impulse responses on spending, contract choice, and balance sheets. Participants borrow to spend 11 cents on the dollar in the quarter of the limit increase, with a cumulative difference of 28 cents by the third year. The effects extend to those far from the limit, those who had the new limits as available credit, and those with a meaningful buffer of liquid assets. Participants near their limits borrow and spend when limits are relaxed but put off spending and save out of constraints under the counterfactual when limits are tight. The findings provide strong support for a buffer-stock interpretation that emphasizes the importance of precautionary saving. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/231308/1/Aydin_MPC.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D15, E21, E51, H31 Keywords: consumption, credit, MPC, randomized field experiment, precautionary saving Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222359 #END 781 #BEGIN 782 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lyócsa, Štefan Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Author-Name: Vŷrost, Tomáš Title: YOLO trading: Riding with the herd during the GameStop episode Abstract: We explore the 2020 and early 2021 price variation of four stocks: GameStop, AMC Entertainment Holdings, Blackberry and Nokia. The four stocks were subject to a decentralized short squeeze that exploited the short positions of institutional investors. This investor movement was likely initiated by retail investors concentrated mostly around the subreddit r/WallStreetBets (WSB). We demonstrate that part of the next day's price variation can be explained by an increase in activity on the WSB subreddit relative to Google searches (terms related to the event). We discuss implications for future research. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/230679/1/YOLO-Trading-Riding-with-the-herd-during-the-Gamestop-episode.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G10, G17, C53, G24 Keywords: GameStop, WallStreetBets, Reddit, short squeeze, volatility Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:230679 #END 782 #BEGIN 783 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Klimczuk, Andrzej Title: Book review: R. Sackmann, W. Bartl, B. Jonda, K. Kopycka, C. Rademacher, Coping with Demographic Change: A Comparative View on Education and Local Government in Germany and Poland Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/230520/1/Book-review-R-Sackmann-W-Bartl-B-Jonda-K-Kopycka-C-Rademacher--Coping-with-Demographic-Change.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J18 Keywords: Demographic Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:230520 #END 783 #BEGIN 784 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Klimczuk, Andrzej Title: Collective book review: Making Of Ageing Policy and International Handbook on Ageing and Public Policy Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/230519/1/Book-review-Collective-review-Making-Of-Ageing-Policy-and-International-Handbook-on-Ageing-and-Public-Policy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J14 Keywords: Ageing, ageing policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:230519 #END 784 #BEGIN 785 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Klimczuk, Andrzej Title: European Map of Intergenerational Learning. National Profile: Poland Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/230510/1/European-Map-of-Intergenerational-Learning-National-Profile-Poland.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J14 Keywords: Intergenerational Learning Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:230510 #END 785 #BEGIN 786 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daske, Thomas Title: The Incentive Costs of Welfare Judgments Abstract: This paper draws an incentive-theoretical perspective on the concept of social welfare. In a simple mechanism-design framework, agents' interpersonal preferences and private payoffs are all subject to asymmetric information. Under reasonable normative assumptions, the following result is established: A policy can be implemented with a budget-balanced mechanism if and only if it is consistent with materialistic utilitarianism, which seeks to maximize aggregate material wealth, not utility. Any other policy, to be implementable, must violate budget balance and therefore comes at incentive costs. The corresponding mechanism is virtually unique, which allows for conclusions upon distributive and procedural justice. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/230318/1/The-Incentive-Costs-of-Welfare-Judgments.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C78, D60, D82 Keywords: mechanism design, social welfare, distributive justice, procedural justice, utilitarianism, dictatorship Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:230318 #END 786 #BEGIN 787 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Deterling, Sarah Author-Name: Keil, Bettina Title: Analyse von Logistikketten zur Versorgung von Bioenergieanlagen unter Berücksichtigung von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten Abstract: Der Beitrag untersucht anhand eines ausgewählten Beispiels, welche Auswirkungen mit der Bereitstellung des Energieträgers "feste Biomasse" einhergehen. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf den logistischen Vorketten von der Ernte des Energieholzes bis hin zum finalen Transport zur Bioenergieanlage. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/230317/1/Analyse-von-Logistikketten-zur-Versorgung-von-Bioenergieanlagen-unter-Ber%c3%bccksichtigung-von-Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Nachhaltigkeit, Erneuerbare Energie, Bioenergie Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:230317 #END 787 #BEGIN 788 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: Understanding Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in the Azerbaijan Economy: Case Studies of Vegetable and Fruit Sectors Abstract: Is it possible to apply Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in the Azerbaijan economy? Before blindly answering the question, careful examination of the collected data and the relevance of the data set to the mentioned analysis should be checked. PCA is a widely used multivariate dimension reduction tool that statistical analysis employs. Nevertheless, its application area is limited. Also, PCA analysis in macroeconomic studies is not much preferred and in Azerbaijan's case, there is not one. To understand this methods' relevance two case studies, namely vegetable and fruit sectors have been chosen. The aim was to quantify the sub-sectoral performance via vegetable and fruit sectors. The collected data set and PCA analysis on it were evaluated from multiple angles to outline the roadmap for future investigations. The author argues that in line with the method's theoretical expectations, Azerbaijan's vegetable and fruit sectors partially fulfill the planned goals of the analysis. This means PCA is a highly useful analytical tool and might produce valuable sub-sectoral performance evaluations in the case of Azerbaijan. According to the produced indices, the vegetable sector performed better than the fruit sector from 1999 until 2015. However, between 2015-2020 fruit sector outperformed the vegetable sector. A similar analysis can be organized among the other sub-sectors or between sectors in the case of the Azerbaijan economy. Furthermore, this working paper embodies experimentation results, not conclusions about the methods' validity and justification. Hence, this work compares three rotations of PCA analysis (Varimax, Quartimax, and Equamax) and constructed indices separately for vegetable and fruit sectors. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/230316/1/SSRN-id3782426.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E01, C38, O13, Q11, Q18 Keywords: Azerbaijan economy, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), agriculture, agrarian sectors, vegetable sector, fruit sector, economic diversifcation, sub-sectoral performance, ecoomic performance evaluation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:230316 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3782426 #END 788 #BEGIN 789 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Di Muzio, Tim Title: GameStop Capitalism. Wall Street vs. The Reddit Rally (Part I) Abstract: Reflections on leveraging finance against finance. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/229951/1/20210200_di_muzio_gamestop_capitalism_part_1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G, P16 Keywords: capital as power, finance, hype, stock market Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:229951 #END 789 #BEGIN 790 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of Multilateral Trade Liberalization on Services Export Diversification Abstract: The present study is an extension of the work on the effect of multilateral trade liberalization (MTL) on export product diversification undertaken by Gnangnon (2019b). The analysis focuses on the effect of MTL on services export diversification. The analysis has revealed that MTL is associated with greater services export diversification in both developed and developing countries alike. This is particularly the case in countries with a high reliance on manufactured goods exports or those that enjoy greater export product diversification. Interestingly, MTL enhances services export diversification in countries that experience higher foreign direct investment inflows. Overall, through its positive effect on both export product diversification and services export diversification, greater cooperation among World Trade Organization (WTO) Members on trade matters could help revive economic growth, particularly in the current COVID-19 pandemic that has significantly plummeted it. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/229152/1/Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O14, F13, F14 Keywords: Multilateral trade liberalization, Services export diversification, Export product diversification, Foreign direct investment inflows Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:229152 #END 790 #BEGIN 791 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Dominant Capital is Much More Powerful Than You Think Abstract: How should we measure the power of dominant capital? Economists, although seldom if ever referring to ‘dominant capital’, quantify the relative size of large firms by measuring their so-called aggregate concentration. But for all their insight, measures of aggregate concentration have one serious shortcoming: they tend to underestimate the power of dominant capital and its temporal growth – by a lot. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/229151/1/20210131_bn_dominant_capital_is_much_more_powerful_than_you_think_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, G3 Keywords: capital as power, corporate concentration, differential accumulation, dominant capital Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:229151 #END 791 #BEGIN 792 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cavalieri, Marina Author-Name: Finocchiaro Castro, Massimo Author-Name: Guccio, Calogero Title: Does the Fish Rot from the Head? Organised Crime and Educational Outcomes in Southern Italy Abstract: This paper explores the relationship between the presence of organised crime in local institutions and the educational outcomes in Southern Italy. To this purpose, we have built a contemporary index of Mafia institutional infiltration that proxies the (scale of) values that parents transmit to their children and that are likely to impact on their educational achievements. Furthermore, combining contemporary individual-level educational outcomes with historical data on mafia infiltration, we control for endogeneity concerns through an IV strategy. We find that a standard deviation increase in our indicator of Mafia institutional infiltration leads to a decrease of about 2 percentage points in the outcomes achieved by primary school students undertaking the INVALSI test for literacy in Southern Italy. Our results are robust to the use of different measures of organised crime, to the inclusion of different sets of controls, different subsamples and to relaxing the exclusion restriction in the IV strategy. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/228976/3/Manuscript_Guccio.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Organised crime, Mafia-type organisations, Education outcomes, INVALSI, Investments in education, Italy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228976 #END 792 #BEGIN 793 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Engel, Stefanie Title: Inducing perspective-taking for prosocial behaviour in natural resource management Abstract: Natural resource management often involves social dilemmas. Institutional and behavioural economics have shown that other-regarding preferences and pro-social behaviour can help overcome such dilemmas. Interventions that induce resource users to consider a perspective broader than their own may then be useful to promote and strengthen pro-social behaviour. Such interventions are often applied in participatory resource management approaches. To the best of our knowledge, nonetheless, no previous study has systematically assessed the effect of induced perspective-taking on resource users’ prosocial behaviour in a controlled manner. In this study, we do so in the context of watershed management. We conducted a lab-in-the-field experiment with downstream farmers in a Peruvian watershed. In the experiment, farmers were induced to imagine the perspective of upstream farmers before deciding on a donation that can help these upstream farmers improve their wellbeing without compromising the water supply downstream. We find that induced perspective-taking increases prosocial behaviour. This effect cannot be explained by the additional information on the social and ecological characteristics of the watershed received during the perspective-taking experience, nor by an ‘experimenter demand effect’. Rather the effect of the perspective-taking intervention is likely to work via an activation or strengthening of other-regarding preferences. Our results contribute to the study of pro-social behaviour and the ways it could be induced by interventions targeting other-regarding preferences. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/228966/1/ORKE-2020-PT-for-prosocial-behaviour-in-WaMa-August2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D01, D64, D91, C93, Q25, Q57 Keywords: perspective-taking, prosocial behaviour, other-regarding preferences, social dilemmas, natural resource management, environmental policy, framed field experiment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228966 #END 793 #BEGIN 794 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Unbridgeable: Why Political Economists Cannot Accept Capital as Power Abstract: The theory of capital as power (CasP) is radically different from conventional political economy. In the conventional view, mainstream as well as heterodox, capital is seen a 'real' economic entity engaged in the production of goods and services, and capitalism is thought of as a mode of production and consumption. Finance in this approach is either a mere reflection/lubricant of the real economy (the mainstream view), or a parasitic fiction (the heterodox perspective). CasP rejects this framework. Capital, it argues, is not a productive economic entity, but a symbolic representation of organized societal power writ large, and capitalism should be analysed not as a mode of production and consumption, but as a mode of power. In this approach, finance is neither a reflection nor a fiction, but the symbolic language that organizes and creorders - or creates the order of - capitalized power. These are foundational claims. They go to the very heart of political economy, and they have far-reaching implications. So far-reaching, in fact, that if we accept them, we must rewrite, often from scratch, much of the theory, history and possible futures of the capitalist order. Many have complained about CasP being aloof. Our approach, they have argued, insists on being 'right' - to the exclusion of all others. It shows no interest in 'building bridges'. It dismisses neoclassical liberalism altogether, and although sometimes sympathetic to Marx, it aims not to revise Marxism, but to discard it altogether. In this research note - excerpted and revised from our 2020 invited-then-rejected interview with Revue de la regulation - we explain the basis for these complaints and why CasP and conventional political economy cannot be easily bridged. Stated briefly, the problem is not unwillingness but built-in barriers. As it stands, political economy cannot accept capital as power. Its very foundations prevent it from doing so. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/228594/1/20210100_bn_unbridgeable_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, D46, C18 Keywords: capital as power, Marxism, neoclassical economics, political economy, power, value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228594 #END 794 #BEGIN 795 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jakhanwal, Meeta Sinha Title: Professional and Communication Skills for Teachers Abstract: Basically the current study sought to assess the perception of students regarding the role of teacher communication skills in their academics success. Comprehensive questionnaire carrying information including communication skills aspects of the study were designed to achieve the set objectives. Communication skill is the ability to convey and share information with others in an efficacious way. It is a very vital skill and used widely in all work sectors. Communication is an important skill for every modern student to master. Advances in digital media, changing career landscapes, and greater competition in colleges and workplaces makes improving student communication skills a must. In any education system, teacher’s quality is the most important factor influencing student’s scholastic achievement. Teacher’s quality plays a pivotal and decisive role in students’ academic progress. These qualities are quantified by their skills, knowledge, and qualifications. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/228530/1/MEETA-JAKHANWAL-PAPER.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Professional Development, Teacher Education, Communication Skills Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228530 #END 795 #BEGIN 796 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Soetevent, Adriaan R. Title: I’d Like to Move It! Consumption Rivalry in the EV Public Charging Market: Demand Estimation with Deterministic Choice Set Variation Creation-Date: 2021 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228520 #END 796 #BEGIN 797 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ayenew, Ashenafi Belayneh Title: Welfare Impact of Hosting Refugees in Ethiopia Abstract: This paper examines the welfare impact of hosting refugees in Ethiopia, one of the largest refugee-hosting countries worldwide. The findings reveal different implications depending on the type of household welfare metric. While reducing consumption expenditure per capita and increasing the probability of falling into consumption poverty, it has no effect on wealth and the status of wealth poverty. Decomposing consumption expenditure per capita into food, education, and other non-food components, the results further reveal that it alters the composition of consumption, as it solely affects food consumption expenditure. The consumption effects prevail in rural areas with no effects in urban centers while no heterogeneity is found concerning wealth and wealth poverty results. Key mechanisms explaining the adverse consumption effects include displacement of hosts from salaried employment and a spike in prices of agricultural inputs but not changes in the extent of societal cooperation. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/228519/1/Final_WP_ABAyenew.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O12, O15, E24, Z13 Keywords: Refugees, Consumption, Wealth, Poverty, Employment, Price, Cooperation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228519 #END 797 #BEGIN 798 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Corporate Power and the Future of U.S. Capitalism Abstract: Corporate power in the United States has risen to unprecedented levels, but the rate at which this power has grown is decelerating. Both facts have important implications for the future of U.S. capitalism. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/228515/1/20201200_bn_corporate_power_and_the_future_of_us_capitalism_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P26, G3 Keywords: capital as power, corporate power, differential accumulation, income distribution, sabotage, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228515 #END 798 #BEGIN 799 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heinz, Nicolai Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Title: Other-regarding preferences and pro-environmental behaviour: An interdisciplinary review of experimental studies Abstract: Pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) is often promoted by reinforcing or highlighting own benefits. However, considering that actors also care about the outcomes for others (i.e. they hold other-regarding preferences), PEB may also be encouraged by addressing these other-regarding preferences. In this paper, we review the results from social science experiments where interventions addressing other-regarding preferences were used to promote PEB. Based on our synthesis, we conclude that addressing other-regarding preferences can be effective in promoting (various types of) PEB in some, but not in all instances. Whether an intervention was effective depended inter alia on the pre-established preferences, cost structures and the perceived cooperation of others. Effective interventions included the provision of information on behavioural consequences, perspective-taking, direct appeals, framing and re-categorization. The interventions worked by activating other-regarding preferences, raising awareness about adverse consequences, evoking empathic concern and expanding the moral circle. We propose to take these findings as an impulse to examine policy instruments and institutions in terms of whether they activate and strengthen other-regarding preferences, thereby enabling collective engagement in PEB. Creation-Date: 2021 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/228467/1/WPHeinz-Koessler-Other-regarding-preferences-and-pro-environmental-behaviour.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q56, Y80, D90 Keywords: pro-environmental behaviour, experiments, other-regarding preferences, empathic concern, preference activation, review Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:228467 #END 799 #BEGIN 800 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Altavilla, Carlo Author-Name: Boucinha, Miguel Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Smets, Frank Title: Banking Supervision, Monetary Policy and Risk-Taking: Big Data Evidence from 15 Credit Registers Abstract: We analyse the effects of national versus supranational banking supervision on bank risk-taking, and its interactions with monetary policy. For identification, we exploit: (i) a new, proprietary dataset based on 15 European credit registers; (ii) the institutional change in European banking supervision; (iii) high-frequency monetary policy surprises; (iv) cross-country difference within and outside the euro area. First, supranational supervision reduces credit supply to firms with high credit risk, but strengthens credit supply to firms without loan delinquencies, especially for banks operating in stressed countries. Results are driven by two mechanisms: the country’s institutional quality where banks operate, and bank-level systemic importance. Second, there are important complementarities between monetary policy and supervision: centralised supervision offsets high credit risk-taking induced by accommodative monetary policy, but not credit supply to more productive firms. Overall, we show that using multiple credit registers – first time in the literature – is crucial for external validity. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/228461/1/Paper-Altavila-Bouchinha-Peydro-Smets-Dec-2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E02, E52, E58, G01, G21, G28 Keywords: banking, supervision, monetary policy, AnaCredit, euro area crisis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216793 #END 800 #BEGIN 801 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pazhanisamy, R. Title: Pandemic Impact on Migrants, Immigrants and Reverse Migrants in India. Implications for Immediate Policy Interventions Abstract: The present Covid -19 pandemic has taken away many millions of lives across the countries and negatively affect the lifestyles of crores of households and the migrant populations are the immediate victims of such disaster. This policy brief trace and reveals the extent of migrants population in India and discover the lock down caused socio economic impact of covid-19 and highlight the gap where the state intervention is immediately warranted. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/227762/1/Jain-HSS%20Policy%20Brief%201-converted.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J21, J46, J58, J68, J61, J82, O15 Keywords: Migration, Immigration, Impact of Pandemic, Covid-19 and Migration, Reverse Migration, labor issues Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:227762 Note: Disclaimer: The views appeared in the papers are of the author/s only. In no way it reflect the views of the institutions for the which the author/s belongs to. #END 801 #BEGIN 802 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: De-Industrialization Patterns of Azerbaijan: Potential Outcomes of Dutch Disease Syndrome Abstract: This paper focuses on the particular channels of de-industrialization processes of Azerbaijan considering the Dutch disease syndrome as the theoretical framework. After the emergence of the Dutch disease hypotheses, many resource-rich countries have been the main research object of it. One consequence of the Dutch disease syndrome is a shrinking manufacturing sector compared to the booming sector and the services sector. In order to shed light on this aspect of the Azerbaijan economy, important literature examples were examined and mainly descriptive statistics applied to visualize the economy’s most recent timeline. This research mainly brings back the actuality of the Dutch disease phenomena to Azerbaijan’s economy, depicting and comparing policy responses of the national government. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/227733/1/Niftiyev_de-indust_working_paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P28, Q33, L60 Keywords: Azerbaijan economy, Dutch disease, de-industrialization, real effective exchange rate, sectoral output Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:227733 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3748107 #END 802 #BEGIN 803 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jakhanwal, Meeta Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: The Economics of Environment and Ecology for Sustainable Development Abstract: Economic growth and development are intricately linked to the sound management of environmental resources. Reducing inequalities in society and maintaining healthy ecosystems are fundamental to achieving sustainable development, yet the interactions between these goals have been largely underexplored. Ecology and economy are derived from the same root words and concerns. Economics provides important tools for understanding and managing resources. Ecological economics focuses on the value of natural services and tries to include those services into price calculations. This Paper brief focuses on how societies can create opportunities for a green and inclusive economic recovery and, aims to achieve this goal by a structured approach to valuation that helps decision-makers recognize the wide range of benefits provided by ecology and ecosystems, their values in economic terms and in decision-making. A green recovery will significantly enhance the resilience of economies and societies in the face of both the severe recession and accelerating environmental challenges. Through education, research, policy and social action, needs to transform towards an equitable and ecologically sustainable society with respect for the rights of people and nature, biological cultural diversity and to respect its ecological limits. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/227598/1/Ecology-Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q56, Q57, Q58 Keywords: Ecological Economics, Environmental Economics, Sustainable Development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:227598 #END 803 #BEGIN 804 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mateane, Lebogang Title: Risk preferences, global market conditions and foreign debt: Is there any role for the currency composition of FX reserves? Abstract: I use a transition probability matrix associated with different global market conditions and I assume that it captures switches in central bank preferences between approximated constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) expected utility and approximated increasing relative risk aversion (IRRA) expected utility. I approximate CRRA and IRRA expected utility, to construct and propose constrained portfolio selection frameworks with skewness, for the currency composition of FX reserves over different global market conditions that influence central bank preferences. These portfolio selection frameworks account for portfolio rebalancing, they satisfy Pratt-Arrow measures of risk aversion and are constrained by the country's currency composition of foreign debt. Thus, for these portfolios, the currency composition of FX reserves is motivated by its country's currency composition of foreign debt. I propose these frameworks for 6 emerging market economies (EMEs) and this is only for a small portion of the total portfolio of FX reserves. These EMEs are Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey and five of these EMEs have been denoted as the "Fragile Five". Using different methods of computing expected FX reserves returns and different maturity structures on FX reserves, I validate my proposal using data over the 2010-2018 period on these EMEs by simulating optimal FX reserve weights for each EME; where each country's actual currency composition of foreign debt is a constraint. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/227484/1/WP_L_MATEANE_11_DEC_2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E58, F31, G11, G15 Keywords: IRRA and CRRA Expected Utility, Global Market Conditions, Currency Composition of FX Reserves, Foreign Debt, Portfolio Selection, Skewness, Emerging Market Economies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:227484 #END 804 #BEGIN 805 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Title: Market-based renewables: How flexible hydrogen electrolyzers stabilize wind and solar market values Abstract: Wind and solar energy are often expected to fall victim to their own success: the higher their share in electricity production, the more their revenue on electricity markets (their “market value”) declines. While in conventional power systems, the market value may converge to zero, this study demonstrates that “green” hydrogen production, through adding electricity demand in low-price hours, can effectively and permanently halt the decline. With an analytical derivation, a Monte Carlo simulation, and a numerical electricity market model, I find that – due to flexible hydrogen production – market values in 2050 likely converge above €19 ± 9 per MWh for solar energy and above €27 ± 8 per MWh for wind energy. This is in the range of the projected levelized costs of renewables and has profound implications. Market-based renewables may hence be within reach. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/227075/1/Market-based-renewables-how-flexible-hydrogen-electrolyzers-stabilize-wind-and-solar-market-values.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q4, Q40, Q41, Q42 Keywords: Renewable energy, Hydrogen electrolysis, Electricity market, Electricity economics, Integrated energy system, Flexible electricity demand Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:227075 Note: Please cite as: Ruhnau, Oliver (2021): “How flexible electricity demand stabilizes wind and solar market values: The case of hydrogen electrolyzers”, Applied Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.118194 #END 805 #BEGIN 806 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bhaghoe, Sailesh Title: A Monthly Economic Activity Index System for Suriname Abstract: Advancements in data collection and data processing techniques revolutionized access and availability of high frequency data in macroeconomics. A large body of literature focusses on these high frequency data advancements in advanced economies. However, small less-developed economies often lack adequate and reliable databases of economic indicators on economic performance on a high frequency basis. Therefore, adequate information with regard to the business cycles and other economic phenomena are often not available for decision-making. This study elaborates on the construction of a Monthly Economic Activity Index System (henceforth MEAI) with survey data for Suriname. Using the System of National Accounts and the International Recommendations for the Index of Industrial Production as references to construct the high frequency indicators (henceforth HFIs), a non-model based approach is applied. This paper contributes to the scanty literature and use of HFIs in a less-developed open economy. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226693/1/CBvS-WP-18-03.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C51, E32, E30 Keywords: Monthly Economic Activity Index, Real GDP, Gross value added Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226693 #END 806 #BEGIN 807 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martínez-Miera, David Author-Name: Jiménez, Gabriel Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Who truly bears (bank) taxes? Evidence from only shifting statutory incidence Abstract: We show strong overall and heterogeneous economic incidence effects, as well as distortionary effects, of only shifting statutory incidence (i.e., the agent on which taxes are levied), without any tax rate change. For identification, we exploit a tax change and administrative data from the credit market: (i) a policy change in 2018 in Spain shifting an existing mortgage tax from being levied on borrowers to being levied on banks; (ii) some areas, for historical reasons, were exempt from paying this tax (or have different tax rates); and (iii) an exhaustive matched credit register. We find the following robust results: First, after the policy change, the average mortgage rate increases consistently with a strong – but not complete – tax pass-through. Second, there is a large heterogeneity in such pass-through: larger for borrowers with lower income, a smaller number of lending relationships, not working for the lender, or facing less banks in their zip-code, thereby suggesting a bargaining power mechanism at work. Third, despite no variation in the tax rate, and consistent with the non-full tax pass-through, the tax shift increases banks’ risk-taking. More affected banks reduce costly mortgage insurance in case of loan default (especially so if banks have weaker ex-ante balance sheets) and expand into non-affected but (much) ex-ante riskier consumer lending, experiencing even higher ex-post defaults within consumer loans. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226689/1/AJD%20WP_02_12_2020_FINAL.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E51, G21, G28, G51, H22 Keywords: taxes, incidence, banks, inequality, risk-taking, mortgages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226689 #END 807 #BEGIN 808 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Can Capitalists Continue to Squeeze the Income Share of Employees? Abstract: There is much debate over the distributive share of employees in national income – how to measure it, whether it goes up or down and, of course, why it matters. But something in this debate often seems amiss. Like many aggregates, the national income share of employees is a synthetic measure. It’s made up of two largely unrelated entities – the relative number of employees in society and their relative individual income – and these two entities don’t have to move in the same direction. Indeed, in the United States they have trended in opposite directions for almost a century. In this short research note, which focuses on the United States, we examine these opposite movements, explain why they are important and suggest that, if they continue, the United States will be much more conflictual and crisis prone in the future than it is today. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226523/1/20201100_bn_can_capitalists_continue_to_squeeze_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, J3 Keywords: income distribution, national accounts, power Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226523 #END 808 #BEGIN 809 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: The Role of Agriculture and Agrarian Sectors in the Azerbaijan Economy: Main Trends and Dynamics since 1991 Abstract: Agriculture and agrarian sectors have been gone through the serious transformation process since the collapse of the Soviet Union in Azerbaijan. An ever-growing body of academic literature body investigated the resource curse and Dutch disease theories to conceptualize non-oil sectors in Azerbaijan starting from the late 1990s; however, the unanimous conclusion about the status of agriculture, agrarian sectors or manufacturing is still highly anticipated. Modern statistical techniques and accumulated data on the crucial economic indicators allow us to conceptualize the main trends and dynamics of agriculture and agrarian sectors in the context of resource-richness in Azerbaijan. This paper aims to descriptively investigate the collected data related to agriculture and agrarian sectors. Special emphasis has been put on the theoretical relevance of Dutch disease and resource curse to operationalize the research interest and research question. The findings of the correlation analysis show that there is a positive, significant, and strong association between the real effective exchange rate of Azerbaijan and international oil prices. The other findings demonstrate that mainly agriculture-related variables decreased their role in the Azerbaijan economy since 1991 but only value-added per worker gradually rose, also correlating negatively with value-added in agriculture and investments in agriculture. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226348/1/Working-paper-Agriculture-and-Agrarian-Sectors.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan economy, agriculture, agrarian sectors, polynomial regression trendline, correlation analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226348 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3681896 #END 809 #BEGIN 810 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: Determinants of the Agricultural Exports in Azerbaijan Abstract: Oil booming and accumulated mineral revenue contributed to the economic growth in Azerbaijan since independence but also pressurized the national currency leading to the appreciation of the nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) and real effective exchange rate (REER). An increase in export prices makes them expensive, decreasing the competitiveness of the country. Azerbaijan’s recent decreased economic performance during 2014–2015 reflected a common reality among the resource exporting countries: relying on the primary sectors might jeopardize the national economy due to the extreme price volatility. The paper investigates the extension of the relationship between NEER, REER, and other export-related macroeconomic variables and agricultural exports to identify Azerbaijan’s non-oil sub-sectoral dynamics between 2001–2018 via the OLS estimations. The main findings indicate that NEER negatively impacted potato, fresh fruit, and fresh vegetable exports. Moreover, potato and fresh fruit exports demonstrated more stable export dynamics during the economic crisis periods. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226347/1/Working-paper-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Azerbaijan economy, nominal effective exchange rate, real effective exchange rate, agriculture, crop exports Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226347 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3686701 #END 810 #BEGIN 811 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Doerr, Sebastian Author-Name: Gissler, Stefan Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Voth, Hans-Joachim Title: From Finance to Fascism Abstract: Do financial crises radicalize voters? We study Germany's banking crisis of 1931, when two major banks collapsed and voting for radical parties soared. We collect new data on bank branches and rm-bank connections of over 5,500 firms and show that incomes plummeted in cities affected by the bank failures; connected firms curtailed their payrolls. We further establish that Nazi votes surged in locations exposed to failing Danatbank, led by a prominent Jewish manager and targeted by anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda. Our results suggest a synergy between cultural and economic factors: Danatbank's collapse boosted Nazi support especially in cities with deep-seated anti-Semitism; and the Nazis gained few additional votes in cities exposed to collapsing Dresdner Bank, which was not the target of Nazi hate speech. Danat-exposed and non-exposed cities were similar in their pre-crisis characteristics and exhibited no differential pre-trends; firms borrowing from Danat had lower leverage before the crisis than other rms. Unobservables are unlikely to account for the results. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226220/1/Finance_to_Fascism_nov2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, G01, G21, N20, P16 Keywords: financial crises, political extremism, anti-Semitism, Great Depression, populism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226220 #END 811 #BEGIN 812 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaiser, Caspar Title: Using memories to assess the intrapersonal comparability of wellbeing reports Abstract: Research on subjective wellbeing typically assumes that responses to survey questions are comparable across respondents and across time. However, if this assumption is violated, standard methods in empirical research may mislead. I address this concern with three contributions. First, I give a theoretical analysis of the extent and direction of bias that may result from violations of this assumption. Second, I propose to use respondents’ stated memories of their past wellbeing to estimate and thereby to correct for differentials in scale use. Third, using the proposed approach, I test whether wellbeing reports are intrapersonally comparable across time. Using BHPS data, I find that the direction in which explanatory variables affect latent satisfaction is typically the same as the direction in which scale use is affected. Unemployment and bereavement appear to have particularly strong effects on scale use. Although discussed in the context of life satisfaction scales, the proposed approach for anchoring response scales is applicable to a wide range of other subjectively reported constructs. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226218/1/using_memories_econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C25, I31 Keywords: subjective wellbeing, BHPS, life satisfaction, vignettes, memories, differential item functioning Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226218 #END 812 #BEGIN 813 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niftiyev, Ibrahim Title: Analysis of Inflation Trends in Urban and Rural Parts of Azerbaijan: Main Drivers and Links to Oil Revenue Abstract: Inflation is one of the most important economic indicators for a country. Understanding inflation based on the consumer spending patterns allows for better conceptualization of the phenomenon and improved policy responses for the unwanted developments, more precisely, increased price levels in consumer markets. The current working paper develops Consumer Price Index-based inflation indicator via the help of the Laspeyres price index in the case of Azerbaijan to evaluate the post-booming period (which is since 2011). Moreover, the significant results of correlation analysis between the Paasche Price Index and oil prices, oil revenue, and real effective exchange rate (REER) demonstrate initial signals about the urban and rural inflation dynamics and trends in the case of oil-rich Azerbaijan. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226217/1/Analysis-of-Inflation-Trends-in-Urban-and-Rural-Parts-of-Azerbaijan-Main-Drivers-and-Links-to-Oil-Revenue.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E01, E31, F41, O50 Keywords: Inflation, Macroeconomic Data, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Oil revenue, Laspeyres Index, Paasche Index, Azerbaijan Economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226217 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3727013 #END 813 #BEGIN 814 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bediova, Monika Author-Name: Krejcova, Aneta Author-Name: Cerny, Jiri Author-Name: Klimczuk, Andrzej Author-Name: Mikus, Juraj Title: Policy Brief on Age Management: Ergonomic aspects and health interventions for older workers Abstract: Globally, the population is ageing, which has serious consequences for businesses. The prosperity of companies is crucially dependent on the ability to effectively manage their employees, including older workers. Best practice in age management is defined as those measures that combat age barriers and/or promote age diversity. These measures may entail specific initiatives aimed at particular dimensions of age management; they may also include more general employment or human resources policies that help to create an environment in which individual employees can achieve their potential without being disadvantaged by their age (Walker, 1999). Promoting early retirement is generally not encouraged. Companies now have to encourage longer working lives. Much needs to be done to ensure that work remains a positive experience for workers throughout their career trajectories, and it does not damage their health. It has been found by studies that health is significantly related to retirement timing (both planned and unplanned) (Goyer, 2013, Adams et al., 2014), influences work performance (Merrill et al., 2012; Ilmarinen, 2009), and health-related organisational policies can positively influence employee retention (Towers, 2005). The major contemporary challenges to health at work are those associated with the way work, and work organisations are designed and managed. This is especially true for older workers. A comprehensive and effective approach towards age management can be very beneficial for them. How should companies implement age management? Some possible ways are set out in this policy brief below, which focuses on best practices in age management regarding ergonomic aspects and health interventions for older workers at an organisational level. The intention is to discuss the current situation and to illustrate some organisational techniques in selected countries. This policy brief can serve as an inspiration for, among others, companies and policymakers. Recommendations for successful practice are included. In total, this policy brief covers 8 COST member countries (the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) to give a glimpse of the current situation of best practice in age management and show how companies in various states deal with ergonomic aspects, health interventions and the ageing of their labour force. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/226195/1/Policy%20Brief%20on%20Age%20Management%20Ergonomic%20aspects%20and%20health%20interventions%20for%20older%20workers.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J14, O15 Keywords: Age Management, Ergonomy, health interventions, older workers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:226195 #END 814 #BEGIN 815 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Kaiser, Tim Title: Financial Literacy and Intertemporal Arbitrage Abstract: We study the role of financial literacy for inter-temporal decision-making using an adapted version of the Convex Time Budget Protocol (Andreoni and Sprenger 2012). While we find no evidence of dynamically inconsistent preferences in the aggregate, we document substantial heterogeneity in choice-patterns and estimated parameters at the individual-level: We find that subjects with higher levels of financial literacy are more likely to make patient inter-temporal choices, to allocate the entire budget to a single payment-date, allocate the entire budget to corner choices as interest rates increase, and to show individual discount factors which are in line with extra-experimental market rates. At the same time, financial literacy is uncorrelated with choice consistency and estimated individual error parameters. These results serve as suggestive evidence for inter-temporal arbitrage among financially literate respondents, thereby revealing a potential confound in time-preference elicitation tasks relying on time-dated monetary rewards. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/225642/1/Oberrauch_Kaiser2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G53, D15, D91 Keywords: Intertemporal choice, financial literacy, narrow bracketing, arbitrage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:225642 #END 815 #BEGIN 816 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Anand, Sanjeev Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Influence of Karl Marx’s Political Thought in 20th Century Abstract: The task of this paper discusses the role of Marx in 20th Century and culture today. An analysis of contemporary political economy Studies works that with the new global crisis of capitalism, a new interest in Karl Marx’s works has emerged. Karl Marx—German philosopher, economist, and revolutionary—believed a just world could be achieved only through the evolution of humanity from a capitalist to a socialist economy and society. The new world economic crisis that started is the most obvious reason for the return of the interest in Marx. The paper argues that Marx’s Both a scholar and a political activist, Marx addressed a wide range of political as well as social issues, and is known for, among other things, his analysis of history. The interpretations of his theories, particularly those on political economy, have in the course of history generated decades of debate, inspired revolutions and cast him as both devil and deity in political and academic circles. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/225510/1/Karl-Marx-Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Karl Marx, Marxist theory, Global Economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:225510 #END 816 #BEGIN 817 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brunhart, Andreas Title: Der neue Konjunkturindex "KonSens": Ein gleichlaufender, vierteljährlicher Sammelindikator für Liechtenstein Abstract: Die Basis konjunkturell relevanter Daten ist für Liechtenstein spärlich, zudem ist die Publikationsverzögerung teilweise hoch und die Frequenz oft tief. Das BIP liegt nur auf Jahresbasis vor und weist eine Publikationsverzögerung von 15 Monaten auf. Im vorliegenden Papier wird durch die Erarbeitung eines vierteljährlichen Konjunkturindexes „KonSens“ („Konjunktursensor“) ein gemeinsames konjunkturelles Signal („Business Cycle as a Consensus“) generiert. Dies geschieht per Hauptkomponentenanalysen-Aggregation von 16 liechtensteinischen, konjunkturellen Einzelindikatoren, die zeitnah und auf Quartalsbasis zur Verfügung stehen. Dadurch wird eine wertvolle Ergänzung zum üblichen Konjunkturbegriff bereitgestellt, der sich meistens nur auf die zyklische Trendabweichung einer einzelnen Wirtschaftsreihe stützt (üblicherweise der BIP-Produktionslücke). Der KonSens schafft ein gesamtwirtschaftliches Konjunktursignal mit schnellerer Verfügbarkeit, höherer Frequenz, guter Verlässlichkeit und einfacher Interpretation sowie eine breiter abgestützte konzeptionelle analytische Grundlage als bis anhin verfügbar. Er verbessert darauf aufbauend die liechtensteinische Konjunkturanalyse und damit auch die Prognosebasis, sowohl für Liechtenstein wie möglicherweise auch für die Schweiz (gegenüber der die liechtensteinische Volkswirtschaft einen signifikanten Konjunkturvorlauf aufweist). Der KonSens könnte auch für andere Klein(st)staaten, welche ähnliche Datenrestriktionen kennen, oder für autonome Gebiete, subnationale Regionen und gar Städte als Vorbild dienen. Abstract: Liechtenstein’s business cycle data base is scarce, the frequency mostly low and the publication lag sometimes large: The GDP is only available on annual basis and with a lag of 15 months. The composite (coincident) business cycle index presented in this paper, the “KonSens” (short for “Konjunktur-Sensor”, which is German for “business cycle sensor”), provides a quarterly common business cycle signal for Liechtenstein ("business cycle as a consensus") by applying a principal components aggregation of 16 individual business cycle indicators. This provides a valuable complement to the ordinary business cycle definition, which solely concentrates on the cyclical trend deviation of a single economic aggregate (typically GDP output gap). Additionally, the KonSens represents an aggregate economic business cycle signal with faster access, higher frequency, good reliability and easy interpretation. Besides extending Liechtenstein's business cycle analysis, it also improves the forecasting base – not only for Liechtenstein, but perhaps also for Switzerland (as Liechtenstein features a statistically significant business cycle lead to Switzerland). The KonSens could also serve as model for other (very) small countries that experience similar data restrictions or for autonomous territories, sub-national regions or even cities. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/225261/1/LIAP_62_Brunhart_Methodenpapier_Konsens.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C01, C32, E32 Keywords: Liechtenstein, Konjunkturanalyse, Konjunkturindex, Hauptkomponentenanalyse, Sammelindikator, Saisonbereinigung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:225261 DOI: 10.13091/li-ap-62 #END 817 #BEGIN 818 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pandey, Aviral Title: Inequality in Bihar: A District-Level Analysis Abstract: Bihar was one of the moderate developing states in India before 2005. However, after 2005 Bihar emerged as one of the fastest growing states, but it has emerged as a tertiary sector income based economy, saddled with negative growth in the agriculture sector and high out-migration. The state is also devoid of the industry. It is broadly acknowledged that after 2005, construction became a top priority of the government instead of addressing the agricultural crisis and think about developing appropriate health infrastructure facilities. Centralised growth of few districts is another lopsided aspect of the present government in the state. Given this background, it is important to see emerging district-level disparities and hardships in Bihar. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/225251/1/Inequality-in-Bihar-Aviral-Pandey.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, R11, R58 Keywords: Agriculture, Bihar, District, Government, Inequality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:225251 #END 818 #BEGIN 819 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fridhi, Bechir Title: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis: What's the Economic Alternative in Tunisia? Abstract: Our article introduces a coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impact on the economy from a variety of dimensions such as economic outlook, growth shock, the role of regulators and proposed long term strategies. This paper also analyzes the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the growth of the economy and the Imperative to Establishing a New Global Economic Order. Also, this study used the secondary published data from International financial institutions such as World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) as to describe the current growth and also predict the post-COVID economic growth of Tunisia. How did a health crisis translate to an economic crisis? Why did the spread of the coronavirus bring the global economy to its knees? The answer lies in two methods by which coronavirus stifled economic activities. First, the spread of the virus encouraged social distancing which led to the shutdown of financial markets, corporate offices, businesses and events. Second, the exponential rate at which the virus was spreading, and the heightened uncertainty about how bad the situation could get, led to flight to safety in consumption and investment among consumers, investors and international trade partners. We focus on the period from the start of 2020 through June, when the coronavirus began spreading into other countries and markets. We draw on real-world observations in assessing the restrictive measures, monetary policy measures, fiscal policy measures and the public health measures that were adopted during the period. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/225249/3/Coronavirus-Economic-Alternative-Tunisia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G28, I11, I18 Keywords: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Economic Shock, Financial crisis, Governance, Global Recession Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:225249 #END 819 #BEGIN 820 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Muduli, Silu Author-Name: Behera, Harendra Title: Bank Capital and Monetary Policy Transmission in India Abstract: This paper examines the role of bank capital in monetary policy transmission in India during the post-global financial crisis period. Empirical results show that banks with higher capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) raise funds at a lower cost. Additionally, banks with higher CRAR transmit monetary policy impulses smoothly, while stressed assets in the banking sector hinder transmission. Bank recapitalization to raise CRAR can improve the transmission; however, CRAR above a certain threshold level may not help as the sensitivity of loan growth to monetary policy rate reduces for banks with CRAR above the threshold. Therefore, it can be concluded that monetary policy can influence credit supply of banks depending on their capital position. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/225238/1/Bank-Capital-WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, E51, E52 Keywords: Monetary policy, Bank capital, Bank lending Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:225238 #END 820 #BEGIN 821 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Friedrich, Marina Author-Name: Mauer, Eva-Maria Author-Name: Pahle, Michael Author-Name: Tietjen, Oliver Title: From fundamentals to financial assets: the evolution of understanding price formation in the EU ETS Abstract: Price formation in the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) has persistently puzzled economists and policy makers. In recent years, the empirical literature investigating this topic has expanded considerably, but a synthesis of what could be learned about price formation as a whole including the last wave of research is still missing. To fill this gap, we review the empirical literature structured along three categories of price drivers and related econometric methods. For better guidance of the reader, we draw on a simple theoretical model of price formation that we subsequently extend to connect the three different strands of literature: demand-side fundamentals, regulatory intervention and finance. In particular the insights from the second and third strand challenge the widespread view that allowance markets primarily reflect marginal abatement costs. Accordingly, the next wave of research should focus on shedding light on the complex interplay of compliance, regulatory uncertainty and financial trading motives. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/225210/1/Revision1EJ-.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q48, Q50, Q56, Q58 Keywords: emission trading, EU ETS, price formation, literature review Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:225210 #END 821 #BEGIN 822 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ahrend, Klaus-Michael Title: Zwischen Big Data und Design Thinking: Entwicklung von Ideen für neue Geschäftsmodelle Abstract: Jede Führungskraft setzt sich immer wieder mit Fragen der Unternehmensstrategie auseinander. Was sind die angestrebten Ziele, was sind die "richtigen" Dinge, die es zu tun gilt? Während strategische Überlegungen eine hohe Bedeutung haben, stehen sie doch meist im Schatten des dominanten Tagesgeschäfts, bei dem es darum geht, die Dinge "richtig" zu tun - und möglichst viel davon. Dem Grunde nach stellen viele Führungskräfte immer wieder fest, dass sie mehr Zeit für strategische Überlegungen investieren sollten. Während sich vermehrt Mitglieder des Top-Managements mit Coaching-Angeboten Abhilfe suchen, finden die Mitglieder des mittleren Managements meist nicht den richtigen Zugang, weil das Tagesgeschäft zu viel Raum einnimmt. Dieses White Paper präsentiert ein Konzept für die Entwicklung von Ideen für neue Geschäftsmodelle. Neben den Voraussetzungen (Wollen), werden Methoden für die Ideenentwicklung (Können) und schließlich Hinweise für die Umsetzung vorgestellt (Handeln). In dieser Weise sollen die Leser motiviert und unterstützt werden, sich mehr Zeit für strategische Überlegungen, besonders für die Suche nach neuen unternehmerischen Ideen zu nehmen. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/224995/1/Ahrend%20White%20Paper%20Zwischen%20Big%20Data%20und%20Design%20Thinking%202018.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Geschäftsmodelle, Innovationsmanagement, Big Data, Public Value, Strategisches Management, Unternehmensführung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:224995 #END 822 #BEGIN 823 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Amelung, Torsten Title: Competition in the German Electricity Retail Business: Innovation and Growth Strategies Abstract: This paper describes the development of the competition of electricity retail in Europe in general and the situation in Germany in particular. The competition in the retail business has been forcing electricity retailers to spend increasing resources on marketing, sales and customer service. This has led to a fierce competition both especially in Germany as price transparency is quite high. Short-term price adjustments by retail companies are led by behavioral patterns that follow the logic of the prisoner’s dilemma. Suppliers view marketing and sales expenditures as a short-term investment, thus weighing costs of winning new customers against the risk that customers might switch again in the medium-run. In order to escape this short-term competitive pressure, an increasing number of retail companies in the German electricity retail market focus on the diversification of their activities by offering new product lines such as distributed energy solutions, services for e-mobility and facility management. Moreover, there is a trend towards investing in the development of a brand to increase customer loyalty. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/224983/1/TAmelung-CompetitionGermanElectricityRetail.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: short term competition, second-mover-advantage, product versioning, diversification, distributed energy solutions, brand strategy, digitalization, affiliate marketing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215622 #END 823 #BEGIN 824 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niu, Xiaofei Author-Name: Li, Jianbiao Title: Incentivizing organ donation by swearing an oath: The role of signature and ritual Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 Classification-JEL: C91, I10, I18 Keywords: organ donation, oath, ritual, opt-in vs. opt-out Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:203243 #END 824 #BEGIN 825 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Inderst, Georg Title: Social Infrastructure Finance and Institutional Investors. A Global Perspective Abstract: Social infrastructure has endured a long period of neglect in most developed and emerging countries, with chronic underinvestment exposed by the coronavirus crisis 2020. The financial crisis 2007/08 led to a slow revival of economic infrastructure policies, and a growing involvement of institutional investors. In contrast, private sector investment in social infrastructure has widely fallen back over the last decade. Will the next decade see a renaissance of - public and private - social infrastructure investment? This is the first systematic account of social infrastructure investment from an international perspective, leading to several key conclusions for policy makers and investors. The public sector will remain the dominant source for funding and financing. Nonetheless, much more private capital could flow with greater clarity on social assets, given their very diverse characteristics across sectors and projects. Several investment strategies can realistically be improved and expanded. Sustainability, impact and SDG investing open a new door for asset owners. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/224273/1/Inderst-Social-Infrastructure-Finance-and-Institutional-Investors-18-Sep-2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E22, F21, G15, G18, G2, H54, H57, H75, O16, O18, R31, R51 Keywords: social infrastructure, infrastructure investment, infrastructure finance, infrastructure policy, public-private partnerships, institutional investors, health infrastructure, infrastructure funds, sustainability investing, impact investments Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215529 #END 825 #BEGIN 826 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bottero, Margherita Author-Name: Minoiu, Camelia Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Polo, Andrea Author-Name: Presbitero, Andrea Author-Name: Sette, Enrico Title: Expansionary Yet Different: Credit Supply and Real Effects of Negative Interest Rate Policy Abstract: We show that negative interest rate policy (NIRP) has expansionary effects on bank credit supply and firm outcomes through a portfolio rebalancing channel. For identification, we exploit ECB's NIRP and credit register, firm- and bank-level datasets. NIRP affects relatively more banks with higher ex-ante net interbank positions or more liquid balance sheets. More exposed banks reduce liquid assets, expand credit supply to ex-ante riskier firms, and cut rates, inducing sizable firm-level real effects. By shifting down and flattening the yield curve, NIRP differs from rate cuts just above the zero-lower-bound. We find no evidence of a contractionary retail deposit channel. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/224260/1/NIR_v40.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G21, G28, E52, E58 Keywords: negative nominal interest rates, firm-level real effects, Eurozone crisis, portfolio rebalancing, liquidity management Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216807 #END 826 #BEGIN 827 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Rodriguez-Tous, Francesc Author-Name: Tripathy, Jagdish Author-Name: Uluc, Arzu Title: Macroprudential Policy, Mortgage Cycles and Distributional Effects: Evidence from the UK Abstract: Macroprudential regulators worldwide have introduced regulations to limit household leverage in light of existing evidence which suggests that high leverage is associated with household distress during crisis. We analyse the distributional effects of such a macroprudential policy on mortgage and house price cycles. For identification, we exploit the universe of UK mortgages and a 15%-limit imposed in 2014 on lenders — not households — for high loan-to-income ratio (LTI) mortgages. Despite some regulatory arbitrage (eg increases in LTV and average loan size), more-constrained lenders issue fewer high-LTI mortgages. Partial substitution by less-constrained lenders leads to overall credit contraction to low-income borrowers in local-areas more exposed to constrained-lenders, lowering house price growth. Following the Brexit referendum (which led to house-price correction), the 2014-policy strongly implies — via lower pre-correction debt — better house prices and mortgage defaults during an episode of house price correction. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/223303/1/housing_tools_SWP_May20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E5, G01, G21, G28, G51 Keywords: macrorpudential policy, mortgages, credit cycles, inequality, house prices Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:223303 #END 827 #BEGIN 828 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Tariff Volatility and Tariff Policy in Developed and Developing Countries Abstract: In this paper, we investigate 'at the aggregate level', the effect of tariff volatility on tariff rates, using three groups of products, including 'all products', 'manufactured products' and 'primary products', and a large panel dataset covering 163 countries over the period 1995-2017. Results, based on the feasible generalized least squares estimator, have shown for the full sample that tariff volatility leads to a greater extent of tariff liberalization. This finding holds for each of the three groups of products highlighted above, as well as for three sub-samples, including lower-middle income countries, upper-middle income countries and high-income countries. However, for Low-income countries, tariff volatility influences significantly (although negatively) tariff rates only for primary products. Additionally, for recipient-countries of Aid for Trade related to trade policy and regulation (AfTPOL), the effect of tariff volatility on tariff rates is conditional upon the amounts of AfTPOL flows only for primary products. Specially, there exists a substitutability between tariff volatility and AfTPOL flows in influencing tariffs applied on primary products. For lower amounts of AfTPOL flows, tariff volatility induces a greater extent of tariff liberalization, while for higher amounts of these aid flows, tariff volatility results in higher tariff rates. Alternatively, the higher the amounts of AfTPOL flows, the greater is the positive effect of tariff volatility on the extent of liberalization of tariff on primary products. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/223302/1/Paper-on-Tariff-volatility-and-Tariffs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, F35 Keywords: Tariffs, Tariff volatility, Primary products, Manufactured products Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:223302 #END 828 #BEGIN 829 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Morais, Bernardo Author-Name: Ormazabal, Gaizka Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Roa, Monica Author-Name: Sarmiento, Miguel Title: Forward looking loan provisions: Credit supply and risk-taking Abstract: We show corporate-level real, financial, and (bank) risk-taking effects associated with calculating loan provisions based on expected—rather than incurred—credit losses. For identification, we exploit unique features of a Colombian reform and supervisory, matched loan-level data. The regulatory change induces a dramatic increase in provisions. Banks tighten all new lending conditions, adversely affecting borrowing-firms, with stronger effects for risky-firms. Moreover, to minimize provisioning, more affected (less-capitalized) banks cut credit supply to risky-firms— SMEs with shorter credit history, less tangible assets or more defaulted loans—but engage in “search-for-yield” within regulatory constraints and increase portfolio concentration, thereby decreasing risk diversification. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/223234/1/Draft_Final_August2020%20Forward%20Looking%20Loan%20Provisions-%20Credit%20Supply%20and%20Risk-Taking%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, G18, G21, G28 Keywords: loan provisions, IFRS9, corporate real and credit supply effects of accounting, bank risk-taking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:223234 #END 829 #BEGIN 830 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Effect of Poverty on Services Export Concentration in Developing Countries Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of poverty on services export concentration in developing countries. The analysis has used an unbalanced panel dataset of 98 developing countries over the period 1995-2014. Findings suggest that a higher poverty rate is positively associated services export concentration, and this effect translates through three channels, namely the education level (a proxy for human capital), the degree of trade policy liberalization (and trade openness), and the level of export product concentration. Thus, if they were to diversify services export items, policymakers should implement policies that directly promote services export diversification (such as liberalizing trade, including reducing services trade barriers, and improving the business environment), but also measures and policies that directly target poor segments of the population. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/223178/1/Paper%20on%20Poverty-Services%20Export%20Concentration.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, O11, I32 Keywords: Poverty, Services export concentration, Education, Trade policy liberalization, Trade Openness, Export product concentration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:223178 #END 830 #BEGIN 831 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eicke, Anselm Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Electricity balancing as a market equilibrium: Estimating supply and demand of imbalance energy Abstract: Stable power systems require equalizing demand and supply of electricity at short time scales. Such electricity balancing is often understood as a sequential process: exogenous shocks, such as weather events or technical outages, cause system imbalances that system operators close by activating balancing reserves. By contrast, we study electricity balancing as a market where the equilibrium price (imbalance charge) and quantity (system imbalance) are determined endogenously by supply and demand. System operators supply imbalance energy by activating reserves. Market parties that, deliberately or not, deviate from schedules create demand for imbalance energy. When deliberately taking open positions, firms respond to price signals from electricity markets and imbalance charges. Based on this market framework, we estimate the demand curve of imbalance energy, and hence the price responsiveness of market parties to deviate from schedules. To overcome the classical endogeneity problem of price and quantity in the market equilibrium, we deploy instruments that we derive from a novel theoretical framework. Using data from Germany, we find that firms reduce the physical system imbalance by about 2.8 MW for each increase in the imbalance charge by EUR 1 per MWh. This price response is remarkable because such behavior is prohibited. It is, however, beneficial: on average, such strategic deviations reduced the German system imbalance by 20%. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/223062/1/Electricity%20balancing%20as%20a%20market%20equilibrium_Working%20paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41, L51 Keywords: Electricity balancing, Intraday electricity market, Imbalance energy, Arbitrage trading Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:223062 Note: Please cite as: Eicke, Anselm, Oliver Ruhnau & Lion Hirth (2021): “Electricity balancing as a market equilibrium: An instrument-based estimation of supply and demand for imbalance energy”, Energy Economics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105455 #END 831 #BEGIN 832 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Laslopova, Lubica Author-Name: Zeynalova, Olesia Title: Skilled and Unskilled Labor Are Less Substitutable than Commonly Thought Abstract: A key parameter in the analysis of wage inequality is the elasticity of substitution between skilled and unskilled labor. We question the common view that the elasticity exceeds 1. Two biases, publication and attenuation, conspire to pull the mean elasticity reported in the literature to 1.9. After correcting for the biases, the literature is consistent with the elasticity in the US of 0.6--0.9. Our analysis relies on 729 estimates of the elasticity collected from 76 studies as well as 37 controls that reflect the context in which the estimates were obtained. We use recently developed nonlinear techniques to correct for publication bias and employ Bayesian and frequentist model averaging to address model uncertainty. Our results suggest that, first, insignificant estimates of the elasticity are underreported. Second, because researchers typically estimate the elasticity's inverse, measurement error exaggerates the elasticity, and we show the exaggeration is substantial. Third, elasticities are systematically larger for developed countries, translog estimation, and methods that ignore endogeneity. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/223060/1/skill.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J23, J24 Keywords: Elasticity of substitution, skill premium, meta-analysis, model uncertainty, publication bias Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:223060 #END 832 #BEGIN 833 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Aid for Trade, Export Product Diversification and Import Product Diversification Abstract: The literature on the effect of Aid for Trade (AfT) has shown that AfT flows can be associated with greater export product diversification in recipient-countries. However, the import product diversification effect of AfT interventions has received scant attention in this literature. The present article aims to fill this gap in the literature by investigating the effect of AfT flows on import product diversification, including when countries diversify their export product baskets. The empirical analysis has shown that AfT flows are associated with greater import product diversification in countries that diversify their export product baskets. This finding applies both to total AfT flows and to its three major components, namely AfT flows for economic infrastructure, AfT flows for productive capacity, and AfT flows for trade policy and regulation. Additionally, the magnitude of the positive effect of total AfT flows on import product diversification increases as recipient-countries enjoy a convergence of their export product structure towards the world's export product structure. On another note, the empirical analysis has revealed that AfT flows induce greater import product diversification in countries that further liberalize their trade policies. These results have important policy implications for both donors and recipient-countries. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/223021/1/Paper%20on%20AfT%20and%20ImpDiv%20Submitted.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, F14 Keywords: Aid for Trade, Export Product Diversification, Import Product Diversification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:223021 #END 833 #BEGIN 834 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Binke, Fabian Author-Name: Dahlhoff, Jürgen Title: Empirische Ergebnisse zur IFRS 8-Segmentberichterstattung der DAX 30-Unternehmen für die Jahre 2009 bis 2019 Abstract: Kapitalmarktorientierte Unternehmen haben nach dem Rechnungslegungsstandard IFRS 8 finanzielle und sonstige Angaben zu ihren Segmenten zu machen. Damit ermöglichen sie externen Abschlussadressaten Einblicke in die Aktivitäten eines Unternehmens. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden empirischen Analyse wird untersucht, wie die Berichtspraxis der DAX 30-Unternehmen für die Jahre 2009 bis 2019 nach diesem Standard erfolgt ist. Es kann festgehalten werden, dass es relativ große Unterschiede im Umfang der veröffentlichten Angaben in der Segmentberichterstattung zwischen den Unternehmen gibt, was sicher der Bandbreite an unterschiedlichen Geschäftsmodellen und Branchen geschuldet ist. Dies weist auf die Flexibilität dieses Standards hin, der Unternehmen genügend Spielraum bei der Wahl, was sie für notwendig zu berichten erachten, lässt. Besonders gehäuft erfolgt eine Berichterstattung nach Produkten und Dienstleistungen (46% im Elfjahreszeitraum), sowie mit 4 oder 5 Segmenten (55% im Elfjahreszeitraum). Die relativ stabilen Mittelwerte bei verschiedenen Sachverhalten über den Zeitablauf von elf Jahren deuten auf eine große Konstanz in der Berichterstattung hin. Weitere Ausführungen in diesem Paper zeigen, dass der Standardsetter International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in London keine Notwendigkeit sieht, diesen Standard zu verändern. Das zeigt die große Akzeptanz dieses Standards in Praxis und Wissenschaft. Weiterhin belegt ein Exkurs zu den Fehlerveröffentlichungen der Deutschen Prüfstellung für Rechnungslegung (DPR), dass noch nie ein DAX 30-Unternehmen einen Fehler zu IFRS 8 veröffentlichen musste. Das impliziert, dass die DAX-Unternehmen den Standard ausreichend gut beherrschen. Generell kann festgehalten werden, dass der IFRS 8 ein relativ ausgereifter Bilanzstandard ist, der externen Adressaten einen Einblick in die Teil-bereiche eines Unternehmens gewährt und einen Beitrag zum Abbau von Informationsasymmetrien zwischen Unternehmensführung und Stakeholdern leistet. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/223019/1/Segmentberichterstattung%20nach%20IFRS%208_Schriftenreihe%20zur%20empirischen%20RL-Forschung%20finale%20Version%20Stand%2027%207%202020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M41 Keywords: IFRS 8, Segmentberichterstattung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:223019 #END 834 #BEGIN 835 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hu, Yuanhong Title: The Competitiveness and Complementarity of Arms Trade of Countries along the "Belt and Road" and its Dynamic Evolution: Based on Complex Network Analysis Method Abstract: This paper uses network analysis to study the competitiveness and complementarity and its dynamic change of arms trade among countries along the "Belt and Road" during 2004-2016. The research shows that: (1) The arms trade relations of the countries along the "belt and road" are increasingly strengthened, the trade network density is increased, and the trade centralization trend is obvious. Trade competition intensifies and is greater than trade complementarity. (2) In terms of the complementary relationship of arms trade, there are two important national blocks. One is an export-oriented block composed of Russia and some central-eastern European countries. The other is a compatible type block composed of China, India and other countries. (3) In terms of arms trade competitiveness, the countries along "Belt and Road" are divided into three competing groups: the first group is composed of Russia, Israel and some central-eastern European countries; The second group is composed of China, India and other emerging arms producing and selling countries. The third is a wide range of other countries along the "Belt and Road". Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222984/1/arms_trade.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F19, F50 Keywords: Belt and Road, Arms Trade, Complex Network, Trade Competitiveness, Trade Complementarity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222984 #END 835 #BEGIN 836 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hu, Yuanhong Title: Heterogeneous Environmental Regulations, R&D Innovation and Manufacturing Enterprises' Export Technological Sophistication Abstract: Based on the combined data of China Patent Database, China Industrial Firm Database and China Customs Trade Database from 2004-2010, this paper investigates the impact of heterogeneous environment regulation on the export technological sophistication of manufacturing enterprises. The results show that: the impact of control-type environmental regulation on enterprises' export technological sophistication is U-shaped, and has negative effect on mixed trade enterprises, eastern enterprises and foreign-funded enterprises. The impact of incentive-type environmental regulation on the enterprises' export technological sophistication is inverted Ushaped, and has positive effect on processing trade enterprises, mixed trade enterprises, domestic and foreign-funded enterprises. The impact of participative-type environmental regulation on the enterprises' export technological sophistication has an inverted U-shaped characteristic and has a positive effect on all kinds of trade pattern and ownership of enterprises. The result of mechanism analysis shows that control and participative environmental regulation affect enterprises' export technological sophistication through fundamental innovation and practical innovation, while incentive environmental regulation also affects enterprises' export technological sophistication through design innovation. Considering environmental governance issues has clear policy implications for enhancing the R&D innovation of the whole industrial chain and improving the export competitiveness of China's manufacturing enterprises. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222983/1/environgmental.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, O44, F18 Keywords: Environmental Regulation, R&D Innovation, Export Technological Sophistication, DVA, Manufacturing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222983 #END 836 #BEGIN 837 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Todorova, Tamara Title: Diminishing marginal utility and the teaching of economics: A note Abstract: This paper discusses how utility can be taught in undergraduate courses in microeconomics so that to illustrate total and marginal utility, the law of diminishing marginal utility, and consumer rationality. Diminishing marginal utility is essential in describing rational consumer behavior, overconsumption, and oversaturation to students of economics. We demonstrate a quadratic and a logarithmic total utility with the subsequent forms and shapes of marginal utility. From what it seems there is no contradiction between diminishing marginal utility in the univariate context of consuming one good and the indifference curve as the multivariate case of two goods consumed. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222942/1/Marginal%20utility.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B13, B41, D01, D11 Keywords: total utility, marginal utility, indifference curve Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222942 #END 837 #BEGIN 838 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hu, Yuanhong Title: Does Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect the Export Technological Sophistication of Manufacturing Industries? Abstract: Based on data from 19 major countries from 2000-2017, this paper examines the impact of economic policy uncertainty on the export technological sophistication of manufacturing industries. The research shows that in the sample period, the export technological sophistication of manufacturing industries varies among countries, with China and India slowly increasing, Germany and Japan still at a high level, and Canada and Greece in a downward trend. From the empirical results, the expected mechanism of economic policy uncertainty forces the domestic manufacturing industries industry to accelerate R&D innovation by restraining the "technological spillover" effect of imported intermediate goods and the "financing dependence" effect of domestic credit investment, thus promoting the increase of the export technological sophistication in various countries. For countries with high economic growth rate, high degree of development and high degree of economic freedom, the positive impact of economic policy uncertainty on the export technological sophistication of manufacturing industries is more significant. From the perspective of economic policy uncertainty, the paper examines its impact on the export technological sophistication of manufacturing industries with important policy implications. Strengthening bilateral and multilateral consultations among governments and accelerating R&D innovation of domestic enterprises are effective measures to enhance export competitiveness at present. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222931/1/Does%20Economic%20Policy%20Uncertainty%20Affect%20the%20Export%20Technological%20Sophistication%20of%20Manufacturing%20Industries.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, F41, F43 Keywords: Economic Policy Uncertainty, Export Technological Sophistication, R&D Innovation, Manufacturing Industry, Reflection Method Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222931 #END 838 #BEGIN 839 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hu, Yuanhong Title: Trade Facilitation, R&D Innovation, and Export Sophistication of Manufacturing Industries: Evidence from Russia and Central-Eastern European Countries Abstract: This paper calculates the trade facilitation index and manufacturing export sophistication of Russia and Central and Eastern European countries from 2003 to 2017, and examines the impact of trade facilitation and R&D innovation on manufacturing export sophistication. The study found that the export sophistication of labor-intensive industries continues to decrease, the export sophistication of capital and technology-intensive industries continues to increase, while the export sophistication of traditional resource-based heavy industries is stable. In addition, trade facilitation and R&D innovation have significantly contributed to the export sophistication of Russia, Central and Eastern European countries, especially the manufacturing industry after the 2009 financial crisis. For Central European and European Union member states, the impact of trade facilitation and R&D innovation on export sophistication is significantly greater than that of Eastern European and non-EU member states. The promotion of heavy, heterogeneous, medium and high-tech industries is obviously stronger than that of light, homogeneous and low-tech industries. In addition, the moderating role of trade dependence cannot be ignored. Trade facilitation and R&D innovation have a significant non-linear impact on export sophistication. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222927/1/Trade%20Facilitation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, F41, F43 Keywords: Trade Facilitation, Export Sophistication, R&D Innovation, Manufacturing, Russia, Central and Eastern Europe Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222927 #END 839 #BEGIN 840 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Author-Name: Schlecht, Ingmar Title: Market-Based Redispatch in Zonal Electricity Markets: The Preconditions for and Consequence of Inc-Dec Gaming Abstract: In zonal electricity markets such as Europe’s, system operators rely on out-of-the-market measures to relieve network congestion within bidding zones. One such measure is “redispatching” power plants, i.e. increasing the output of a station downstream of the congestion while lowering production of an upstream plant. Traditionally, generators have often been legally obliged to participate in redispatch and were subsequently compensated for costs incurred. In recent years numerous proposals have been made to organize redispatch through voluntary markets, including one by the European Commission. In this paper, we introduce a simple graphical game-theoretical model of a locational redispatch market within a one-zone electricity market. We solve the model explicitly by determining optimal bidding strategies and the Nash equilibrium. We show that market parties anticipate the redispatch market and bid strategically in the zonal market – this is the so-called increase-decrease game. As a result, grid congestion is aggravated, producers extract windfall profits, financial markets are distorted, and perverse investment incentives emerge. Despite claims to the contrary, we show that such gaming is possible absent any market power, i.e. under perfect competition. At the root of the problem is an inconsistent setup of power markets: combining a zonal with a locational market yields undue arbitrage oppor-tunities that rational firms exploit. We conclude that such inconsistent market design should be avoided. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222925/1/Market-Based%20Redispatch%20in%20Zonal%20Electricity%20Markets.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194292 #END 840 #BEGIN 841 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Author-Name: Bouri, Elie Author-Name: Hoang, Thi-Hong-Van Author-Name: Shahzad, Syed Jawad Hussain Author-Name: Výrost, Tomáš Title: Increasing systemic risk during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-quantilogram analysis of the banking sector Abstract: Over the last few decades, large banks worldwide have become more interconnected. As a result, the failure of one can trigger the failure of many. In finance, this phenomenon is often known as financial contagion, which can act like a domino effect. In this paper, we show an unprecedented increase in bank interconnectedness during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. We measure how extreme negative stock market returns from one bank can spill over to the other banks within the network. Our contribution relies on the establishment of a new systemic risk index based on the cross-quantilogram approach of Han et al. (2016). The results indicate that the systemic risk and the density of the spillover network among 83 banks in 24 countries have never been as high as during the Covid-19 pandemic – much higher than during the 2008 global financial crisis. Furthermore, we find that US banks are the most important risk transmitters, and Asian banks are the most important risk receivers. In contrast, European banks were strong risk transmitters during the European sovereign debt crisis. These findings may help investors, portfolio managers and policymakers adapt their investment strategies and macroprudential policies in this context of uncertainty. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222580/1/Systemic%20risk%20Covid-19.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G15, G21, G28, C21 Keywords: Systemic risk, Banks, Covid-19 pandemic, Cross-quantilogram, Financial networks Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222580 #END 841 #BEGIN 842 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Todorova, Tamara Title: Market Power and the Incentive to Innovate: A Return to Schumpeter and Arrow Creation-Date: 2020 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222573 #END 842 #BEGIN 843 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schlangenotto, Darius Author-Name: Schnedler, Wendelin Author-Name: Vadovic, Radovan Title: Against All Odds: Tentative Steps Toward Efficient Information Sharing in Groups Abstract: When groups face difficult problems, the voice of experts may be lost in the noise of others' contributions. We present results from a "naturally noisy" setting, a large first-year undergraduate class, in which the expert's voice is "lost" to such a degree that it is in fact optimal for all non-experts to contribute their bits of information. A single individual has little chance to improve the outcome and coordinating with the whole group is impossible. In this setting, we examine the change in behavior before and after people can talk to their neighbors. We find that the number of people who reduce noise by holding back their information strongly and significantly increases. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222533/1/sue31.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D71, D72, D81, D82, C99 Keywords: information aggregation, coordination, communication, swing voter's curse Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222533 #END 843 #BEGIN 844 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daske, Thomas Title: Efficient Incentives in Social Networks: Gamification and the Coase Theorem Abstract: This study explores mechanism design for networks of interpersonal relationships. Agents' social (more or less altruistic or spiteful) preferences and private payoffs are all subject to asymmetric information. Remarkably, the asymmetry of information about agents' social preferences can be operationalized to satisfy agents' participation constraints. The main result is a constructive proof of the Coase theorem, in its typical mechanism-design interpretation, for networks of at least three agents: If endowments are sufficiently large, any such network can resolve any given allocation problem with an ex-post budget-balanced mechanism that is Bayesian incentive-compatible, interim individually rational, and ex-post Pareto-efficient. The endogenously derived solution concept is interpreted as gamification: Resolve the agents' allocation problem with an efficient social-preference robust mechanism; attract agents' participation by complementing this mechanism with a budget-balanced game that operates on their social preferences and provides them with a platform to live out their propensities to cooperate or compete. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222527/1/Efficient%20Incentives%20in%20Social%20Networks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C72, C78, D62, D82 Keywords: mechanism design, social preferences, gamification, joyful games, Coase theorem Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222527 #END 844 #BEGIN 845 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Digital Transformation of Public Service and Administration Abstract: This paper presents the results of a process tracing study of digital transformation in India. As the world embraces the revolution 4.0, emerging technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence, among others, will transform governance efficiency and effectiveness. As the current revolution sweeps, the world and the IoT ride the wave, the reality here is that, governments of the future are destined to be digital by default. We need to prepare for this transformation for the future administration which will be digital. Government have to set for themselves Political Objectives to achieve greater trust in system, including through responsiveness and transparency, and by providing opportunities for greater engagement by service users and citizens in general. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222522/1/Digital%20Transformation%20of%20Public%20Service%20and%20Administration.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Digital Transformation, Smart Administration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222522 #END 845 #BEGIN 846 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cloete, Schalk Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: On capital utilization in the hydrogen economy: The quest to minimize idle capacity in renewables-rich energy systems Abstract: The hydrogen economy is currently experiencing a surge in attention, partly due to the possibility of absorbing wind and solar energy production peaks through electrolysis. A fundamental challenge with this approach is low utilization rates of various parts of the integrated electricity-hydrogen system. To assess the importance of capacity utilization, this paper introduces a novel stylized numerical energy system model incorporating the major elements of electricity and hydrogen generation, transmission and storage, including both "green" hydrogen from electrolysis and "blue" hydrogen from natural gas reforming with CO2 capture and storage (CCS). Balancing renewables with electrolysis results in low utilization of electrolyzers, hydrogen pipelines and storage infrastructure, or electricity transmission networks, depending on whether electrolyzers are co-located with wind farms or demand centers. Blue hydrogen scenarios face similar constraints. High renewable shares impose low utilization rates of CO2 capture, transport and storage infrastructure for conventional CCS, and of hydrogen transmission and storage infrastructure for a novel process (gas switching reforming) that enables flexible power and hydrogen production. In conclusion, both green and blue hydrogen can facilitate the integration of wind and solar energy, but the cost related to low capacity utilization erodes much of the expected economic benefit. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222474/1/Cloete%20et%20al.%202020.%20On%20capital%20utilization%20in%20the%20hydrogen%20economy.%20EconStor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Hydrogen economy, Energy system model, Decarbonization, CO2 capture and storage, Variable renewable energy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222474 Note: Please cite as: Cloete, Schalk, Oliver Ruhnau & Lion Hirth (2020): “On capital utilization in the hydrogen economy: The quest to minimize idle capacity in renewables-rich energy systems”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.09.197 #END 846 #BEGIN 847 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Toufique, M. M. K. Title: Why do some countries have more COVID-19 cases than others? Evidence from 70 most affected countries sans China Abstract: Using data from 70 of the most COVID-19 affected countries, this paper attempts to explain the cross-country variations in the number of officially confirmed COVID-19 positive cases. The findings indicate that regional characteristics play an essential role. Percent of people living in the urban area, number of tests, air passenger transport also come out as determinants with substantial influence. Besides, the impacts of trade relationships with China and per capita health expenditure appear to be noteworthy. The study does not find evidence in favor of the endogeneity of the total number of tests done. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222456/1/Why%20do%20some%20countries%20have%20more%20COVID-19%20cases%20than%20others%20Evidence%20from%2070%20most%20affected%20countries%20sans%20China.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H12, H51, O57 Keywords: COVID-19, Economics, Variation in Coronavirus cases, Air Passenger Transport, Trade with China Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222456 #END 847 #BEGIN 848 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michelangeli, Valentina Author-Name: Sette, Enrico Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Credit demand vs. supply channels: Experimental- and administrative-based evidence Abstract: This paper identifies and quantifies –for the first time– the relative importance of borrower (credit demand) versus bank (supply) balance-sheet channels. We submit fictitious applications (varying households’ characteristics) to the major Italian online-mortgage platform. In this way we ensure that all banks receive exactly the same mortgage applications, and that –for each application– there are other identical ones except for one borrower-level characteristic. We find that: (i) Borrower and bank channels are equally strong in causing (and explaining) loan acceptance (each channel changes acceptance by 50 p.p. for the interquartile range and explains 29% of R-square). (ii) Differently, for pricing, borrower factors are much stronger. (iii) Banks supplying less credit accept riskier borrowers. Finally –exploiting administrative credit register data– we document borrower-lender assortative matching: safer banks have more credit relations with safer firms. Moreover, the measure of credit supply estimated in the experiment (differently from a very similar measure estimated from the observational mortgage data) determines bank credit supply to firms and risk-taking in administrative data. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222282/1/Credit%20Demand%20vs.%20Supply%20Channels%20Experimental_all.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G51, E51, C93 Keywords: credit demand, credit supply, bank lending channel, household balance sheet channel, mortgages, SMEs, risk-taking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222282 #END 848 #BEGIN 849 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Huremovic, Kenan Author-Name: Jiménez, Gabriel Author-Name: Moral-Benito, Enrique Author-Name: Vega-Redondo, Fernando Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Production and financial networks in interplay: Crisis evidence from supplier-customer and credit registers Abstract: We show that bank shocks originating in the fi nancial sector propagate upstream and downstream along the production network and triple the impact of direct bank shocks. Our identi fication relies on the universe of both supplier-customer transactions and bank loans in Spain, a standard operationalization of credit-supply shocks during the 2008-09 global crisis, and the proposed theoretical framework. The impact on real effects is strong, and similarly so, when considering: (i) direct bank shocks to firms versus fi rst-order inter firm contagion; (ii) first-order versus higher-order network effects; (iii) downstream versus upstream propagation; (iv) firm-speci fic versus economy-wide shocks. Market concentration ampli fies these effects. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222281/1/FinShocksPN_Final_July9.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D85, E44, E51, G01, G21 Keywords: networks, supply chains, shock propagation, credit supply, real effects of finance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222281 #END 849 #BEGIN 850 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammed, Mikidadu Author-Name: Barrales-Ruiz, Jose A. Title: Pandemics and Oil Shocks Creation-Date: 2020 Classification-JEL: I150, Q41, Q43, Q47 Keywords: pandemic, oil price shocks, structural VAR, novel coronavirus, COVID-19 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222268 #END 850 #BEGIN 851 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ojo, Idowu Oladeji Title: COVID-19 and Idiosyncratic Food Dearth Risk Resilience in Nigeria. Abstract: This study examined the interplay of COVID-19 and Idiosyncratic Food Dearth Risk Resilience in Nigeria; focusing on Oyo State as case study. A multistage sampling technique was used to elicit primary data from 210 rural crop farmers in the study area using a semi-structured questionnaire. CARE and WFP Household Coping Strategy Index (CSI) and Factor analysis were used to determine level of household resilience for food security in the study area. Likert scale was used to examine the idiosyncratic coping strategies adopted by the respondents against food dearth related risks during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. Findings showed that 8 out of every 10 respondents do not have access to palliative stimulus packages from the Federal or Oyo state Government to impair the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Out of the sampled households, only 35.71%, 32.38% and 31.90% had mild, moderate and severe resilience for food security respectively during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the study area. Results revealed that the households differ in socio-economic characteristics by their resilience level to food insecurity and that the idiosyncratic coping strategies of households against food dearth related shocks include relying on less preferred food, borrowing food, buying food on credit, allowing household members to eat elsewhere, begging for food, limiting portion of food, and restricting adult at meal. The study concluded that policies that underpin expansion of near-real time food security monitoring systems to provide timely, improved and geospatially indicative data to measure the pandemic’s unfolding effects and understand better farmers that are suffering from hunger and malnutrition and where they are. It suggested that food and nutrition assistance needs to be at the heart of Government social protection programs and laying the foundation for a more inclusive, green, and resilient recovery by ensuring COVID-19 dedicated resources are used in a “build to transform” approach and are evidence-based with emphasis on women and children. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/222240/1/OJO-COVID19PAPER.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q12, Q18 Keywords: Food Security, Idiosyncratic, COVID-19, Resilience, Nigeria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:222240 #END 851 #BEGIN 852 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cookson, J. Anthony Author-Name: Engelberg, Joseph Author-Name: Mullins, William Title: Does Partisanship Shape Investor Beliefs? Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic Abstract: We use party-identifying language – like “Liberal Media” and “MAGA”– to identify Republican users on the investor social platform StockTwits. Using a difference-in-difference design, we find that the beliefs of partisan Republicans about equities remain relatively unfazed during the COVID-19 pandemic, while other users become considerably more pessimistic. In cross-sectional tests, we find Republicans become relatively more optimistic about stocks that suffered the most from COVID-19, but more pessimistic about Chinese stocks. Finally, stocks with the greatest partisan disagreement on StockTwits have significantly more trading in the broader market, which explains 20% of the increase in stock turnover during the pandemic. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/219453/1/Political_covid_v3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G12, D91, P16 Keywords: COVID-19, Partisan, Stock market Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:219453 #END 852 #BEGIN 853 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lyócsa, Štefan Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Author-Name: Výrost, Tomáš Author-Name: Molnár, Peter Title: Fear of the coronavirus and the stock markets Abstract: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, stock markets around the world have experienced unprecedented declines, which have resulted in extremely high stock market uncertainty, measured as price variation. In this paper, we show that during such periods, Google Trends data represent a timely and valuable data source for forecasting price variation. Fear of the coronavirus, as measured by Google searches is predictive of future stock market uncertainty for stock markets around the world. Google searches were also strongly correlated with the evolution of physical contagion (the number of new cases), and with implemented nonpharmaceutical interventions. The effect of pandemic-related policies on investors' attention and fear is thus very well captured by Google Trends data. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/219336/1/Fear%20of%20the%20coronavirus%20and%20the%20stock%20markets.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G15 Keywords: Coronavirus, Stock market, Uncertainty, Panic, Google Trends Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:219336 #END 853 #BEGIN 854 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: The impact of Brexit on Africa in times of the Corona Crisis Abstract: ABSTRACT & RÉSUMÉ: Despite the Corona crisis, London is pushing ahead with the implementation of Brexit. This will have a profound impact not only on the EU but also on Africa. The British government's vision of a reinvigorated 'Global Britain' relies heavily on a reinforced cooperation with Commonwealth Sub-Saharan Africa. Already the temporary closure of manufacturing supply chains between China and the rest of the world because of the pandemic seriously affected economic activity in GB and the EU. However, African commodity exporters such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya will likely bear the brunt of both the direct and indirect effects of this weaker demand. This will add up to the economic effects of Brexit and the spread of Corona in Africa. Most likely the vulnerable and the poor in Africa's informal sector will have to suffer the most by both health hazards and the economic decline. Abstract: ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Trotz der Corona-Krise treibt London die Umsetzung des Brexit voran. Dies wird tiefgreifende Auswirkungen nicht nur auf die EU, sondern auch auf Afrika haben. Die Vision der britischen Regierung von einem wiederbelebten "globalen Großbritannien" beruht in hohem Maße auf einer verstärkten Zusammenarbeit mit dem Commonwealth südlich der Sahara in Afrika. Bereits die vorübergehende Schließung der Lieferketten für das verarbeitende Gewerbe zwischen China und dem Rest der Welt aufgrund der Pandemie hat die Wirtschaftstätigkeit in Großbritannien und der EU ernsthaft beeinträchtigt. Afrikanische Rohstoffexporteure wie Nigeria, Südafrika und Kenia werden jedoch wahrscheinlich die Hauptlast der direkten und indirekten Auswirkungen dieser schwächeren Nachfrage tragen. Dies wird sich zu den wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Brexit und der Ausbreitung von Corona in Afrika summieren. Höchstwahrscheinlich müssen die schutzbedürftigen und armen Menschen im informellen Sektor Afrikas sowohl unter den Gesundheitsgefahren als auch unter dem wirtschaftlichen Niedergang am meisten leiden. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/219335/1/0-Kohnert-2020.Brexit%2cCorona%26Africa.edited.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F35, F54, F63, G15, I1, N17, N47, N67, O17, P16, Z13 Keywords: Brexit, Corona, Africa, UK, EU, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Poverty, African Studies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:219335 #END 854 #BEGIN 855 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ruhnau, Oliver Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Author-Name: Praktiknjo, Aaron Title: Heating with wind: Economics of heat pumps and variable renewables Abstract: With the growth of wind and solar energy in electricity supply, the electrification of space heating is becoming a promising decarbonization option. In turn, such electrification may help the power system integration of variable renewables, for two reasons: thermal storage could provide low-cost flexibility and heat demand is seasonally correlated with wind power. However, temporal fluctuations in heat demand may also imply new challenges for the power system. This study assesses the economic characteristics of electric heat pumps and wind energy and studies their interaction on wholesale electricity markets. Using a numerical electricity market model, we estimate the economic value of wind energy and the economic cost of powering heat pumps. We find that, just as expanding wind energy depresses its €/MWhel value, adopting heat pumps increases their €/MWhel cost. This rise can be mitigated by synergistic effects with wind power, “system-friendly” heat pump technology, and thermal storage. Furthermore, heat pumps raise the wind market value, but this effect vanishes if accounting for the additional wind energy needed to serve the heat pump load. Thermal storage facilitates the system integration of wind power but competes with other flexibility options. For an efficient adoption of heat pumps and thermal storage, we argued that retail tariffs for heat pump customers should reflect their underlying economic cost. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/219314/2/Ruhnau%20et%20al.%202019.%20Heating%20with%20wind.%20EconStor.%20Revised%202020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q41, Q42 Keywords: Heat electrification, Renewable integration, Decarbonization, Flexible electricity demand, Electric heat pumps, Thermal storage, Wind energy, Power system modeling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:206688 Note: Please cite as: Ruhnau, O., Hirth, L., & Praktiknjo, A. (2020). Heating with wind: Economics of heat pumps and variable renewables. Energy Economics, 104967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2020.104967. #END 855 #BEGIN 856 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heinrich, Markus Title: Does the Current State of the Business Cycle matter for Real-Time Forecasting? A Mixed-Frequency Threshold VAR approach. Abstract: Macroeconomic forecasting in recessions is not easy due to the inherent asymmetry of business cycle phases and the increased uncertainty about the future path of the teetering economy. I propose a mixed-frequency threshold vector autoregressive model with common stochastic volatility in mean (MF-T-CSVM-VAR) that enables to condition on the current state of the business cycle and to account for time-varying macroeconomic uncertainty in form of common stochastic volatility in a mixed-frequency setting. A real-time forecasting experiment highlights the advantage of including the threshold feature for the asymmetry as well as the common stochastic volatility in mean in MF-VARs of different size for US GDP, inflation and unemployment. The novel mixed-frequency threshold model delivers better forecasts for short-term point and density forecasts with respect to GDP and unemployment--particularly evident for nowcasts during recessions. In fact, it delivers a better nowcast than the US Survey of Professional Forecasters for the sharp drop in GDP during the Great Recession in 2008Q4. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/219312/1/Markus%20Heinrich_2020%20Does%20the%20Current%20State%20of%20the%20Business%20Cycle%20matter%20for%20Real-Time%20Forecasting-MF%20T%20VAR.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C11, C32, C34, C53, E32 Keywords: Threshold VAR, Stochastic Volatility, Forecasting, Mixed-frequency Models, Business Cycle, Bayesian Methods Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:219312 #END 856 #BEGIN 857 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Moatsos, Michail Title: Why PPP exchange rates should be avoided in global poverty estimates Abstract: Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) exchange rates work appreciatively for comparing economies across the globe, instead of the standard market exchange rates. PPPs come closer to represent the relative size of the economies because they correct for non-tradeables that are relatively cheaper in less developed countries. However, those rates are constructed for comparing countries, or their households, in sum. Thereby when they are used to compare sub-groups, e.g. the poor in each country, their methodological foundations are stretched beyond their specifications. This paper highlights the often neglected issues that are raised from this standard practice in global poverty measurement. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/218972/1/StopPPPUse.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I3 Keywords: Global Poverty, Absolute Poverty, PPP, Purchasing Power Parity, Poverty Measurement, Global Poverty Measurement Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:218972 #END 857 #BEGIN 858 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Moatsos, Michail Title: The devil in the details: The core disadvantage of the International Poverty Line Abstract: Our appreciation of global poverty almost exclusively relies on the official statistics published by the World Bank. Yet, these official global poverty estimates, based on the standard dollar-a-day approach, fall short in their prime objective of observing a constant standard of living across countries and over time. This paper discusses in brief the core methodological problem of the method, that is the idea that a single poverty line can be used for all country and all years consistently. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/218971/1/DevilInTheDetails.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I3 Keywords: Global Poverty, Absolute Poverty, Poverty Measurement, Dollar-A-Day, International Poverty Line, WBPL Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:218971 #END 858 #BEGIN 859 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dachraoui, Hajer Author-Name: Sebri, Maamar Title: Tunisia, natural resources, and capital flight Creation-Date: 2020 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:218970 #END 859 #BEGIN 860 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kovacs, Roxanne Author-Name: Dunaiski, Maurice Author-Name: Tukiainen, Janne Title: Compulsory face mask policies do not affect community mobility in Germany Abstract: There is currently a heated debate about whether to introduce policies requiring the general public to wear protective face masks to contain COVID-19. A key concern is that compulsory face mask policies will make the public feel safer (due to risk compensation), and may consequently undermine the most important public-health advice to contain COVID-19 – which is to reduce mobility and maintain social distancing. This study provides first evidence on the impact of compulsory face mask policies on community mobility. We use a difference-in-differences design, which exploits the staggered implementation of compulsory face mask policies by German states. We use anonymised GPS data from Google's Location History feature to measure daily mobility in public spaces (groceries and pharmacies, transport hubs and workplaces). We find no evidence that compulsory face mask policies affect community mobility in public spaces in Germany. The evidence provided in this paper makes a crucial contribution to ongoing debates about how to best manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/218945/1/Compulsory_face_masks_Germany_5june2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D9, H12, I12, I18 Keywords: COVID-19, face masks, social distancing, community mobility Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:218945 #END 860 #BEGIN 861 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Author-Name: Bouri, Elie Author-Name: Hoang, Thi-Hong-Van Author-Name: Shahzad, Syed Jawad Hussain Author-Name: Výrost,Tomáš Title: From physical to financial contagion: the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing systemic risk among banks Abstract: Over the last few decades, large banks worldwide have become more interconnected, and as a result, the failure of one can trigger the failure of many. In finance, this phenomenon is often known as financial contagion, which can occur as a domino effect. In this paper, we show an unprecedented increase in bank interconnectedness during the outburst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We measure how extreme negative stock market returns for one bank spill over to all other banks within the network, and on this basis, we propose a new measure of systemic risk among banks. Our results indicate that the systemic risk and the density of the spillover network have never been as high as they have been during the pandemic, not even during the 2008 global financial crisis. Policy makers and regulatory authorities should be particularly cautious regarding this interconnected financial environment, as second waves of the pandemic could pose a significant danger to the worldwide economy, and the “it’s-just-a-flu” narrative will no longer be an option. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/218944/1/The%20COVID-19%20pandemic%20and%20increasing%20systemic%20risk%20among%20banks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G15, G21, G28, C21 Keywords: systemic risk, banks, COVID-19, pandemic, cross-quantilogram, financial networks, interconnectedness Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:218944 #END 861 #BEGIN 862 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rhoden, Imke Title: Innovating in Krugman’s Footsteps – Where and How Innovation Differs in Europe: Static Innovation Indicators for Identifying Regional Policy Leverages Abstract: This paper introduces two indicators for innovation, showing the allocation of innovation and its inherent diversity. Both indicators can give insights for regional innovation policy conception. The first indicator measures the share of patents in research and development expenditure, proposing a locational innovation output indicator. It can show that innovation in Europe differs strongly among NUTS2-level regions, which points to regionally specific, place-based policies as a result of a strong dispersion in European innovation activity. The second measure, the innovation diversity indicator, shows the diversification of innovation in a region and is built upon Krugman’s locational Gini coefficients. Here, the share of patents belonging to a particular IPC class is related to the dispersion of all patents in a region. Possible implications for policy are the construction of place-based, technology-specific programs, on either national or subnational (NUTS2-) level, where each country or region has to be considered carefully. Analyses underline that innovation in Europe is a highly regionally and technically diversified concept. Abstract: Dieses Papier stellt zwei Indikatoren für Innovation vor, die die Allokation von Innovation und ihre Vielfalt aufzeigen. Beide Indikatoren können Erkenntnisse für die Konzeption regionaler Innovationspolitik liefern. Der erste Indikator misst den Anteil von Patenten an den Forschungs- und Entwicklungsausgaben und schlägt einen Indikator für standortbezogenen Innovationsoutput vor. Er kann zeigen, dass sich die Innovation in Europa zwischen den Regionen der NUTS2-Ebene stark unterscheidet, was auf eine regionalspezifische, standortbezogene Politik infolge einer starken Streuung der europäischen Innovationsaktivitäten hinweist. Das zweite Maß, ein Indikator für Innovationsvielfalt, zeigt die Diversifizierung von Innovation in einer Region und baut auf Krugmans standortbezogenen Gini-Koeffizienten auf. Hier wird der Anteil der Patente, die zu einer bestimmten IPC-Klasse gehören, mit der Streuung aller Patente in einer Region in Beziehung gesetzt. Mögliche Implikationen für die Politik sind die Konstruktion ortsbezogener, technologiespezifischer Programme entweder auf nationaler oder subnationaler (NUTS2-) Ebene, wobei jedes Land oder jede Region individuell betrachtet werden sollte. Die Analysen unterstreichen, dass Innovation in Europa ein stark regional und technisch diversifiziertes Konzept ist. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/218875/1/Pap4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R12, O33, O38 Keywords: Innovation Indicator, Innovation Gini, Regional Dispersion, Research and Development Allocation, Patent Data Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:218875 #END 862 #BEGIN 863 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bade, Franz-Josef Author-Name: Alm, Bastian Author-Name: Weins, Sebastian Title: Employment effects of investment subsidies by German Regional Policy Abstract: This study investigates the employment impact of investment subsidies in Germany. With 45 billion Euro for about 100,000 firms since the German reunification, these capital grants are the central element of regional policy for strengthening employment in economically weaker regions. The effects of investment grants are analysed by comparing the employment growth of assisted firms with their counterfactual outcome. The hypothetical growth without grant is estimated with panel data from 1999 to 2009 for each German firm in the social security records which are linked with the official records of investment grants. The control group are selected out of total non-assisted firms by combining covariate and propensity score matching methods. The employment effect is determined by cross-section estimators. The assisted firms show a significantly stronger employment growth than their control group. This result is quite robust. Even if the control group is restricted to those non-assisted firms which have had a similar employment growth before the year of allowance, the differences in the growth after the allowance persist. Further heterogeneity tests do not reveal significant hidden influences. All subgroups analysed show nearly the same growth difference between assisted and non-assisted firms. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/218843/1/Employment%20effects%20of%20investment%20subsidies%20by%20German%20Regional%20Policy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B41, C14, C21, C81, H71, R00, R11, R28, R58 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:218843 #END 863 #BEGIN 864 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schlimbach, Ricarda Title: Geschäftsmodellinnovation im Kontext des Digitalen Darwinismus - ein evolutorischer Erklärungsansatz Abstract: Die zunehmende Komplexität des Wirtschaftsumfelds, der sich rasant entwickelnde Megatrend der Digitalisierung, aber auch überraschende exogene Schocks wie die derzeitige Corona-Pandemie lösen dynamische Evolutionsprozesse am Markt aus und zwingen Unternehmen jeder Größe zur Geschäftsmodellinnovation. Die Anpassungsfähigkeit an die sich wandelnden Anforderungen dieses hochkomplexen Umfelds gewinnt an Relevanz und resultiert in disruptiver Zerstörung. Infolgedessen bedarf es einer neuen evolutionären Perspektive. Dieser Forschungsbeitrag bietet daher einen unkonventionellen Blickwinkel auf die Geschäftsmodellinnovation dank Analogiebildung zur Evolutionsbiologie. Die theoretischen Überlegungen werden auf das konkrete Anwendungsbeispiel der digitalen Geschäftsmodellinnovation aufgrund der Corona-Pandemie angewendet. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/218746/1/GMI-im-Digitalen-Darwinismus-RSchlimbach-Mai2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O31 Keywords: Business Model Innovation, Digitale Transformation, Geschäftsmodellinnovation, Digitaler Darwinismus, Evolutionäre Perspektive, Corona Krise Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:218746 #END 864 #BEGIN 865 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schönheit, David Author-Name: Hladik, Dirk Author-Name: Hobbie, Hannes Author-Name: Möst, Dominik Title: ELMOD documentation: Modeling of flow-based market coupling and congestion management Abstract: This paper documents ELMOD, a linear optimization model with a nodal pricing approach, covering the energy market and electricity grid of Europe. In the presented formulation, ELMOD is used for the computation of market coupling results without grid constraints and subsequent computation of congestion management, i.e. redispatch and curtailment. Furthermore, flow-based market coupling is implemented, as the EU-stipulated calculation method for cross-border trading capacities. A short case study presents exemplary results for market outcomes based on flow-based market coupling, i.e. n-1 secure trading domains, import-export balances, and zonal prices, as well as necessary congestion management measures. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/217278/1/FINAL_VERSION_ELMOD_Model_Doc_FBMC%26CM.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: energy system modeling, electricity grid models, linear optimization, congestion management, flow-based market coupling, n-1 security criterion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:217278 #END 865 #BEGIN 866 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Osorio, Sebastian Author-Name: Tietjen, Oliver Author-Name: Pahle, Michael Author-Name: Pietzcker, Robert Author-Name: Edenhofer, Ottmar Title: Reviewing the Market Stability Reserve in light of more ambitious EU ETS emission targets Abstract: The stringency of the EU’s Emission Trading System (ETS) is bound to be ratcheted-up to deliver on more ambitious goals as put forth in the EU’s Green Deal. Tightening the cap needs to consider the interactions with the Market Stability Reserve (MSR), which will be reviewed in 2021. Against that background, we employ the detailed model LIMES-EU to analyse options for the upcoming reforms. First, we examine how revising MSR parameters impacts allowance cancellations through the MSR. We find that under current regulation, the MSR cancels 5.1 Gt of allowances. Varying MSR parameters leads to cancellations in the range of 2.6 and 7.9 Gt, with the intake/outtake thresholds having the highest impact. Intake rates above 12% only have a limited effect but cause oscillatory intake behaviour. Second, we analyse how the 2030 targets can be achieved by adjusting the linear reduction factor (LRF). We find that the LRF increases MSR cancellations substantially (up to 10.0 Gt). This implies that increasing the LRF from currently 2.2% to 2.6% could already be consistent with the 55% EU-wide emission reduction target in 2030. However, we highlight that the number of MSR cancellations is subject to large uncertainty. Overall, the MSR increases the complexity of the market. In face of that, we suggest to develop the MSR into a Price Stability Reserve. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/217240/1/Paper_MSR_Osorio_etal_vf.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L94, Q58 Keywords: EU climate policy, EU ETS reform, linear reduction factor (LRF), Market Stability Reserve (MSR), EU ETS Phase IV Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:217240 #END 866 #BEGIN 867 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mause, Karsten Title: Digitale Transformation und das deutsche Sozialversicherungssystem: Polit-ökonomische Anmerkungen Abstract: Die sog. digitale Revolution hat inzwischen verschiedene Wirtschafts- und Gesellschaftsbereiche erfasst. In diesem Zusammenhang wird im Bereich der Sozialpolitik seit längerem untersucht, wie sich die Digitalisierung auf die sozialen Sicherungssysteme in Deutschland (d. h. Kranken-, Unfall-, Arbeitslosen-, Renten- und Pflegeversicherung) bereits ausgewirkt hat bzw. künftig auswirken könnte. Vor diesem Hintergrund setzt sich der vorliegende Beitrag mit zwei spezifischen Fragestellungen innerhalb des Sozialstaatsdiskurses auseinander. Zum einen wird erörtert, ob die Versichertendaten beim Staat bzw. bei den Sozialversicherungsträgern sicher sind. Zum anderen wird auf die bereits im vordigitalen Zeitalter häufig gestellte Frage eingegangen, ob es gerecht ist, dass Beamte nicht Teil des Solidarsystems sind. Diese Fragestellungen werden aus einer polit-ökonomischen Perspektive betrachtet, also aus Sicht der Politischen Ökonomie als multidisziplinärem Fachgebiet an der Schnittstelle von Politik- und Wirtschaftswissenschaft. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/217239/1/Mause_Digital_2020_new.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, D73, H51, H53, H55, P16, Z18 Keywords: Digitalisierung, Datenschutz, Sozialpolitik, Solidarität, Politische Ökonomie Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:217239 #END 867 #BEGIN 868 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abbassi, Puriya Author-Name: Iyer, Rajkamal Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Soto, Paul Title: Stressed Banks? Evidence from the Largest-Ever Supervisory Review Creation-Date: 2020 Classification-JEL: E58, G21, G28, H63, L51 Keywords: asset quality review, stress tests, supervision, risk-masking, costs of safe assets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:217048 #END 868 #BEGIN 869 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vogt-Schilb, Adrien Author-Name: Feng, Kuishuang Title: The Labor Impact of Coal Phase Down Scenarios in Chile Abstract: This study explores the labour impact of four scenarios of electricity generation in Chile, including three coal power phase-down scenarios. These scenarios would result in the creation of between 32 and 40 thousand direct and indirect jobs and between US$1.7 and US$1.8 billion in value added in 2030, compared to present-day situation. Net numbers mask winners and losers. The most significative negative impact we find would be the progressive disappearance of 4 thousand jobs in coal power plants by 2030 or 2050 depending on the scenario. These impacts are not significant when compared to Chile’s labor markets and GDP. Chile’s economy routinely creates more than 40 thousand jobs per trimester, and US$1.7 billion is just 0.8% of GDP, while GDP is expected to grow at least 2.5% per year between today and 2030. At the national level, our results suggest that a careful planning and implementation of coal phase out could be able to mitigate its negative impacts, given that they will be small relative to the size of Chile’s economy. In practice, whether the jobs created nationally match the skills available in the geographical location of current coal power plants is likely to play a key role. This study does not investigate this issue, but a separate technical note studies affected communities with more details and provides lessons learned from historic management of the labor impacts of policy reforms. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216904/1/The_labor_impact_of_coal_phase_down_scenarios_in_Chile_en.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Labor impacts, Coal phase out, Climate change, Chile, Input-output analysis, Scenario analysis, Just Transition Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216904 DOI: 10.18235/0001961 #END 869 #BEGIN 870 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mause, Karsten Title: Fußballspiele, Polizeieinsätze und Steuerzahler: Ökonomische Anmerkungen zur Polizeikosten-Debatte Abstract: Dieser Beitrag geht der Frage nach, ob es aus ökonomischer Sicht zu rechtfertigen ist, dass in Deutschland der allgemeine Steuerzahler die Kosten für die an Spieltagen im Profifußball anfallenden Polizeieinsätze finanziert. Diese Frage wird zwar in Politik und Öffentlichkeit sowie im juristischen Schrifttum seit langem und anhaltend diskutiert, aber im Vergleich dazu in der wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Literatur relativ selten behandelt. Die angestellte ökonomische Analyse, in der die Hauptargumente der Verteidiger einer Sozialisierung der Polizeikosten hinterfragt werden, kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass die Veranstalter unter bestimmten Bedingungen an den Polizeikosten zu beteiligen sind; was in Deutschland bislang lediglich bei sog. „Hochrisikospielen“ im Bundesland Bremen der Fall ist. Ein Ergebnis, das bei ‚Fans‘ der Polizeikosten-Sozialisierung (insb. Fußballvereine/-verbände) sicher ‚Buhrufe‘ und ‚Pfiffe‘ ernten wird. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216886/1/Mause_Fussball_ListForum_2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D61, D62, H1, H23, Z2 Keywords: Fußball, Externalitäten, Polizeikosten, Steuern, Polizeigebühren Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216886 #END 870 #BEGIN 871 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Smart Cities in the Era of Globalisation Abstract: The world is in the midst of a massive wave of urban growth. World is urbanizing rapidly, and this can bring negative consequences to the environment. Against this backdrop, governments are looking for ways to ensure cities’ environmental sustainability. An urbanizing world means cities are gaining greater control over their development, economically and politically. Cities are also being empowered technologically, as the core systems on which they are based become instrumented and interconnected, enabling new levels of intelligence. In parallel, cities face a range of challenges and threats to their sustainability – across their business and people systems and core infrastructures such as transport, water, energy and communication – that they need to address holistically. To seize opportunities and build sustainable prosperity, cities need to become “smarter.” At the same time, it has been noted that residents of cities and their surrounding environments are increasingly connected through intelligent or smart technologies. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216813/1/Digital%20Governance%20Smart%20Governance%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, O19 Keywords: Smart Cities, Smart Economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216813 #END 871 #BEGIN 872 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Polo, Andrea Author-Name: Sette, Enrico Title: Monetary Policy at Work: Security and Credit Application Registers Evidence Abstract: Monetary policy transmission may be impaired if banks rebalance their portfolios towards securities to e.g. risk-shift or hoard liquidity. We identify the bank lending and risk-taking channels by exploiting – Italian’s unique – credit and security registers. In crisis times, with higher ECB liquidity, less capitalized banks react by increasing securities over credit supply, inducing worse firm-level real effects. However, they buy securities with lower yields and haircuts, thus reaching-for-safety and liquidity. Differently, in pre-crisis time, securities do not crowd-out credit supply. The substitution from lending to securities in crisis times helps less capitalized banks to repair their balance-sheets and then restart credit supply with a one year-lag. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216808/1/JFE-Ms_-2018-1204-Paper-MonetaryPolicyAtWork-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G21, G28, E52, E58 Keywords: securities, credit supply, bank capital, monetary policy, reach-for-yield, haircuts, held to maturity, available for sale, trading book, Euro Area Sovereign Debt Crisis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216808 #END 872 #BEGIN 873 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bubeck, Johannes Author-Name: Maddaloni, Angela Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Negative Monetary Policy Rates and Systemic Banks’ Risk-Taking: Evidence from the Euro Area Securities Register Creation-Date: 2020 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216806 #END 873 #BEGIN 874 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Akin, Ozlem Author-Name: Marín, J.M. Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Anticipating the Financial Crisis: Evidence from Insider Trading in Banks Abstract: Banking crises are recurrent phenomena, often induced by excessive bank risk-taking, which may be due to behavioural reasons (over-optimistic banks neglecting risks) and to conflicts of interest between bank shareholders/managers and debtholders/taxpayers (banks exploiting moral hazard). We test whether US banks' stock returns in the 2007-08 financial crisis are associated with bank insiders' sales of their own bank’s shares in the period prior to 2006Q2 (the peak and reversal in real estate prices). We find that top-five executives' sales of shares predict bank performance during the crisis. Interestingly, effects are insignificant for the sales of independent directors and other officers. Moreover, the top-five executives' impact is stronger for banks with higher exposure to the real estate bubble, where a one standard deviation increase of insider sales is associated with a 13.33 percentage point drop in stock returns during the crisis period. Finally, even though bankers in riskier banks sold more shares (furthering their own interests), they did not change their bank’s policies, e.g. by reducing bank-level exposure to real estate. The informational content of bank insider trading before the crisis suggests that insiders knew that their banks were taking excessive risks, which has important implications for theory, public policy, and the understanding of crises, as well as a supervisory tool for early warning signals. Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: G01, G02, G21, G28 Keywords: financial crises, insider trading, banking, risk-taking, principal-agent problems Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216803 #END 874 #BEGIN 875 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jiménez, Gabriel Author-Name: Ongena, Steven Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Saurina, Jesús Title: Do Demand or Supply Factors Drive Bank Credit, in Good and Crisis Times? Abstract: We analyze the impact of balance-sheet strength on credit availability. Bank balance sheets are weak in crisis times, but so are those of firms, and credit demand is then also weak. For identification, we exploit an administrative dataset of loan applications matched with bank and firm variables covering Spain from 2002 to 2010. Bank balance-sheet strength determines the granting of loan applications only in crisis times, while firm balance-sheet strength – notably leverage – determines strongly this granting in both good and crisis times. Our findings underscore the importance of the strength of corporate balance sheets over credit supply for credit availability. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216802/1/1567.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, G01, G28, G32 Keywords: firm balance-sheet channel, credit demand, bank lending channel, credit supply, business cycle, credit crunch, leverage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216802 #END 875 #BEGIN 876 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jiménez, Gabriel Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Repullo, Rafael Author-Name: Saurina, Jesús Title: Burning Money? Government Lending in a Credit Crunch Abstract: We analyze a small, new credit facility of a Spanish state-owned bank during the crisis, using its continuous credit scoring system, its firm-level scores, and the credit register. Compared to privately-owned banks, the state-owned bank faces worse applicants, (softens) tightens its credit supply to (un)observed riskier firms, and has much higher defaults, especially driven by unobserved ex-ante borrower risk. In a regression discontinuity design, the supply of public credit causes: large positive real effects to financially-constrained firms (whose relationship banks reduced substantially credit supply); crowding-in of new private-bank credit; and positive spillovers to other firms. Private returns of the credit facility are negative, while social returns are positive. Overall, our results provide evidence on the existence of significant adverse selection problems in credit markets. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216801/1/1577.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, G01, G21, G28 Keywords: adverse selection, state-owned banks, credit crunch, real effects of public credit, crowding-in Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216801 #END 876 #BEGIN 877 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Epure, Mircea Author-Name: Mihai, Irina Author-Name: Minoiu, Camelia Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Household Credit, Global Financial Cycle, and Macroprudential Policies: Credit Register Evidence from an Emerging Country Abstract: We analyze the effects of macroprudential policies on local bank credit cycles and their interactions with international financial conditions. To this end, we exploit the comprehensive credit register containing all bank loans to individuals in Romania, a small open economy subject to external shocks. Our sample period from 2004 until 2012 covers a full boom-bust credit cycle during which a wide range of macroprudential measures were deployed. Our results show that tighter macroprudential conditions are associated with a significant decline in household credit, with substantially stronger effects for FX loans than for local currency loans. The effects on FX loans are higher for: (i) ex-ante riskier borrowers proxied by higher debt-service-to-income ratios and (ii) banks with greater reliance on foreign funding. Furthermore, tighter macroprudential policy has stronger dampening effects on FX lending when global risk appetite is high and foreign monetary policy is expansionary. Quantitative effects are in general larger for borrower rather than lender macroprudential policies. Overall, the results suggest that macroprudential policies are effective in mitigating bank risk-taking in household lending over the local bank credit and global financial cycles and have important implications for theory and policy. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216800/1/1590.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G21, G28 Keywords: macroprudential policies, global financial cycle, boom-bust credit cycle, household credit, bank loans Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216800 #END 877 #BEGIN 878 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Irani, Rustom Author-Name: Iyer, Rajkamal Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Meisenzahl, Ralf Title: The Rise of Shadow Banking: Evidence from Capital Regulation Creation-Date: 2020 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216799 #END 878 #BEGIN 879 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Van Bekkum, Sjoerd Author-Name: Gabarró, Marc Author-Name: Irani, Rustom Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Take It to the Limit? The Effects of Household Leverage Caps Abstract: We analyze the effects of borrower-based macroprudential policy at the household-level. For identification, we exploit administrative Dutch tax-return and property ownership data linked to the universe of housing transactions, and the introduction of a mortgage loan-to-value limit. The regulation reduces mortgage leverage, with bunching in its limit. Ex-ante more-affected households substantially reduce overall leverage and debt servicing costs but consume greater liquidity to satisfy the regulation. Improvements in household solvency result in less financial distress and, given negative idiosyncratic shocks, better liquidity management. However, fewer households transition from renting into ownership. All of these effects are stronger for liquidity-constrained households. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216797/1/1682.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E21, E58, G21, G28, G51 Keywords: macroprudential policy, residential mortgages, solvency vs. liquidity tradeoff, household leverage, loan-to-valud ratio Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216797 #END 879 #BEGIN 880 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Elliott, David Author-Name: Meisenzahl, Ralf Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Turner, Bryce C. Title: Nonbanks, Banks, and Monetary Policy: U.S. Loan-Level Evidence since the 1990s Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: E51, E52, G21, G23, G28 Keywords: nonbank lending, shadow banks, monetary policy, syndicated loans, consumer loans, mortgages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216796 #END 880 #BEGIN 881 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dassatti Camors, Cecilia Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: R.-Tous, Francesc Author-Name: Vicente, Sergio Title: Macroprudential and Monetary Policy: Loan-Level Evidence from Reserve Requirements Abstract: We analyze the impact of reserve requirements on the supply of credit to the real sector. For identification, we exploit a tightening of reserve requirements in Uruguay during a global capital inflows boom, where the change affected more foreign liabilities, in conjunction with its credit register that follows all bank loans granted to non-financial firms. Following a difference-in-differences approach, we compare lending to the same firm before and after the policy change among banks differently affected by the policy. The results show that the tightening of the reserve requirements for banks lead to a reduction of the supply of credit to firms. Importantly, the stronger quantitative results are for the tightening of reserve requirements to bank liabilities stemming from non-residents. Moreover, more affected banks increase their exposure into riskier firms, and larger banks mitigate the tightening effects. Finally, the firm-level analysis reveals that the cut in credit supply in the loan-level analysis is binding for firms. The results have implications for global monetary and financial stability policies Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216795/1/1650.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E51, E52, F38, G21, G28 Keywords: macroprudential policy, reserve requirements Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216795 #END 881 #BEGIN 882 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fendoglu, Salih Author-Name: Gulsen, Eda Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: Global Liquidity and Impairment of Local Monetary Policy Abstract: We show that global liquidity limits the effectiveness of local monetary policy on credit markets. The mechanism is via a bank carry trade in international markets when local monetary policy tightens. For identification, we exploit global (VIX, U.S. monetary policy) shocks and loan-level data —the credit and international interbank registers— from a large emerging market, Turkey. Softer global liquidity conditions attenuate the pass-through of local monetary policy tightening on loan rates, especially for banks with more access to international wholesale markets. Effects are also important for other credit margins and for risk-taking, e.g. riskier borrowers in FX loans or defaults. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216794/1/1680.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G15, G21, G28, F30 Keywords: global financial cycle, monetary policy, emerging markets, banks, carry trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216794 #END 882 #BEGIN 883 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Blanco Barroso, Joao Author-Name: Barbone Gonzalez, Rodrigo Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Nazar van Doornik, Bernardus Title: Countercyclical Liquidity Policy and Credit Cycles: Evidence from Macroprudential and Monetary Policy in Brazil Abstract: We show that countercyclical liquidity policy smooths credit supply cycles, with stronger crisis effects. For identification, we exploit the Brazilian supervisory credit register and liquidity policy changes on reserve requirements, that affected banks differentially and have a monetary and prudential purpose. Liquidity policy strongly attenuates both the credit crunch in bad times and high credit supply in booms. Strong economic effects are twice as large during the crisis easing than during the boom tightening. Finally, in crises, liquidity easing: increase less credit supply by more financially constrained banks; and collateral requirements increase substantially, especially by banks providing higher credit supply. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216792/1/1698.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E51, E52, E58, G01, G21, G28 Keywords: liquidity, reserve requirements, credit cycles, macroprudential and monetary policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216792 #END 883 #BEGIN 884 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abbassi, Puriya Author-Name: Iyer, Rajkamal Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: R.-Tous, Francesc Title: Securities trading by banks and credit supply: Micro-evidence from the crisis Abstract: We analyze securities trading by banks during the crisis and the associated spillovers to the supply of credit. We use a proprietary data set that has the investments of banks at the security level for 2005–2012 in conjunction with the credit register from Germany. We find that—during the crisis—banks with higher trading expertise (trading banks) increase their investments in securities, especially in those that had a larger price drop, with the strongest impact in low-rated and long-term securities. Moreover, trading banks reduce their credit supply, and the credit crunch is binding at the firm level. All of the effects are more pronounced for trading banks with higher capital levels. Finally, banks use central bank liquidity and government subsidies like public recapitalization and implicit guarantees mainly to support trading of securities. Overall, our results suggest an externality arising from fire sales in securities markets on credit supply via the trading behavior of banks. Creation-Date: 2016 Classification-JEL: G01, G21, G28 Keywords: banking, investments, bank capital, credit supply, public subsidies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216791 #END 884 #BEGIN 885 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abbassi, Puriya Author-Name: Bräuning, Falk Author-Name: Fecht, Falko Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Title: International financial integration, crises and monetary policy: evidence from the Euro area interbank crises Abstract: We analyze how the Lehman and sovereign crises affect international financial integration, exploiting euro-area proprietary interbank data, crisis and monetary shocks, and loan terms to the same borrower during the same day by domestic versus foreign lenders. Crisis shocks reduce the supply of cross-border liquidity, with stronger volume than pricing effects, thereby impairing international financial integration. On the extensive margin, the cross-border credit crunch is independent of quality, while—on the intensive margin—riskier borrower banks suffer more. Moreover, the cross-border liquidity crunch is substantially stronger for term loans, and weaker for foreign lender banks that have a subsidiary in the same country than the borrower. Nonstandard monetary policy improves interbank liquidity, but without fostering strong crossborder financial re-integration. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216786/1/1566.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E58, F30, G01, G21, G28 Keywords: financial integration, financial crises, cross-border lending, monetary policy, international liquidity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216786 #END 885 #BEGIN 886 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Morais, Bernardo Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Roldán-Peña, Jessica Author-Name: Ruiz-Ortega, Claudia Title: The international bank lending channel of monetary policy rates and QE: Credit supply, reach-for-yield, and real effects Creation-Date: 2019 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216785 #END 886 #BEGIN 887 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Doerr, Sebastian Author-Name: Gissler, Stefan Author-Name: Peydró, José-Luis Author-Name: Voth, Hans-Joachim Title: From Finance to Fascism Creation-Date: 2020 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216784 #END 887 #BEGIN 888 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Doberanzke, Volker Title: Der Einsatz qualitativer Methoden der Nachfrageprognose bei mittelständischen Unternehmen Abstract: The well-known qualitative methods for carrying out demand forecasts can also be applied well to medium-sized companies. In particular, it is shown that the expert survey and the sales estimate are very easy to use methods to generate demand forecasts or to ensure quality. Customer surveys also deliver good results, but are somewhat more complex to carry out. The implementation of the Delphi-method proves to be quite complex and will therefore not be considered as a preferred meth-od for the medium-sized company. In contrast, scenario analysis is of paramount importance. This method should also be used by medium-sized companies as a standard method, which is fairly easy to use and can be used in a variety of ways. Abstract: Grundsätzlich sind die bekannten qualitativen Methoden zur Durchführung von Nachfrageprognosen auch bei mittelständischen Unternehmen gut anwendbar. Dabei wird insbesondere gezeigt, dass die Expertenbefragung sowie die Vertriebsschätzung sehr einfach anzuwendende Methoden sind, um Nachfrageprognosen zu generieren bzw. qualitativ abzusichern. Kundenbefragungen liefern ebenfalls gute Ergebnisse, sind allerdings in Ihrer Durchführbarkeit etwas aufwendiger. Die Delphi-Methode erweist sich in der Durchführung als recht komplex und wird des-halb als Methode für das mittelständische Unternehmen eher nicht in Betracht kommen. Im Gegensatz dazu kommt der Szenario-Analyse eine überragende Bedeutung zu. Recht einfach anzuwenden und in ihrer Aussagedimension vielfältig einzusetzen, sollte diese Methode als Standard-Methode auch von mittelständischen Unternehmen angewendet werden. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216746/1/Nachfrageprognosen%20Mittelstand.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M16, M20 Keywords: Nachfrageprognosen, Expertenbefragung, Vertriebsschätzung, Delphi-Methode, Szenario-Methode Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216746 #END 888 #BEGIN 889 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: The Kuznets Curve for the Sustainable Environment and Economic Growth Abstract: This paper examines different strategies for the protection of the global climate, the environment and Green Growth mechanism for natural resources and scrutinizes the extent to which they meet the transformative requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda. It analyses the interactions between relevant institutions of global and multi-level environmental governance. It focuses on the legitimacy of respective green mechanisms and their effects on ecosystems and human welfare. It requires that keeping in mind The Kuznets Curves Model Mechanism and reform further to develop the global economic governance system and restructure incentive systems at national level. Crises like COVID-19 show the urgency to promote necessary transformations for our society to survive in the 21st century. It can be a good reminder that in any breakdown, there is always a chance for breakthrough. Pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have fallen across continents as countries try to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. The green economy aims to achieve economic growth and development without an adverse effect on the environment. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis explains the relationship between economic activity and environmental degradation. Therefore, environmental conservation policies, technological advancement and modern industrial policies are required to make the economic growth of the countries effective in reducing CO2 emissions. There is need for international collaboration among developing and developed countries for fostering green economy and sustainability. We need green growth because risks to development are rising as growth continues to erode natural capital, through the tools of Sustainable Development. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216734/1/Green%20Economics%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q56, Q57 Keywords: Sustainable Development, Green Economy, Green Growth, The Environmental Kuznets Curve Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216734 #END 889 #BEGIN 890 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Friedrich, Marina Author-Name: Mauer, Eva-Maria Author-Name: Pahle, Michael Author-Name: Tietjen, Oliver Title: From fundamentals to financial assets: the evolution of understanding price formation in the EU ETS Abstract: Price formation in the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) has persistently puzzled economists and policy makers. In recent years, the empirical literature investigating this topic has expanded considerably, but a synthesis of what could be learned about price formation as a whole including the last wave of research is still missing. To fill this gap, we review the empirical literature structured along three categories of price drivers and related econometric methods. For better guidance of the reader, we draw on a simple theoretical model of price formation that we subsequently extend to connect the three different strands of literature: demand-side fundamentals, regulatory intervention, and finance. In particular the insights from the second and third strand challenge the widespread view that allowance markets primarily reflect marginal abatement costs. Accordingly, the next wave of research should focus on shedding light on the complex interplay of compliance, regulatory uncertainty and financial trading motives. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216726/1/FriedrichMauerPahleTietjen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q48, Q50, Q56, Q58 Keywords: emission trading, literature review, EU ETS, price formation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:196150 #END 890 #BEGIN 891 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Moatsos, Michail Title: Global Absolute Poverty: The Evolution of its Measurement Abstract: In estimating the incident of global poverty, both contemporarily and historically, one needs to reach far into the domain of assumptions and second best approaches. This paper navigates through this methodological jungle. This discussion of the literature, although extensive is not exhaustive, as several of the problems discussed below can fill lengthy chapters on their own. The focus is solely on the absolute poverty concept from the perspective of the dollar-a-day approach, which is the dominant in the global poverty literature. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216642/1/GPEvolOfMeasurement.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I32 Keywords: Global Poverty, Dollar-a-day, Poverty Lines, Absolute Poverty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216642 #END 891 #BEGIN 892 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: The Silk Road Growing Role of India Abstract: The growing positive tendencies and various efforts towards revival of the Silk Route have been strongly supported by India. After initiating various efforts to revive ancient trade route. India is trying to follow the Silk Route as a metaphor of its economic and trade interests in Eurasia. South Asia can again be a hub of economic activities through improved connectivity, India must focus on improving connectivity along the ancient Silk Route in order to establish itself as a hub for Asia-Europe trade, "Reviving the Asian trade route would put South Asia at the centre of Europe and East Asia," India have to explore the full potential of the region. Now India's development experience and technologies can be valuable for other developing countries. These offices are striving to facilitate the sharing of experiences and knowledge between India and other developing countries in South Asia and beyond, which assists the group's member states in capacity building for transfer and development of technology. In the past two years, a new wind of regionalism has swept across Central Asia. This encouraging development follows years in which Central Asia, in part due to the paucity of regionalism among the region’s states, was viewed mainly as an arena of competition among great powers. Too often, outsiders, including Westerners, have had a tendency to talk about Central Asia with others rather than to promote the agency of the region itself. That, however, is about to change. Central Asian leaders are coordinating policies more frequently with India, in more areas than ever, and are currently seeking ways to structure more developed forms of regional cooperation under the Indian actions and the nature and character of India's policy initiatives. The paper is organized as follows, briefly explores the Silk Roads and Indian bilateral relations with the Silk Route Countries since independence and discusses why India should consider actively participating in this zone as well as India’s position on the matters. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216099/1/THE%20SILK%20ROUTE.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F Keywords: The Silk Road, International Relations, International Economics, International Trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:216099 #END 892 #BEGIN 893 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: The World after COVID-19 and its impact on Global Economy Abstract: Urgent and bold policy measures are needed, not only to contain the pandemic and save lives, but also to protect the most vulnerable in our societies from economic ruin and to sustain economic growth and financial stability. We are facing a global health crisis unlike any in the 100-year history, one that is killing people, spreading human suffering, and upending people’s lives. But this is much more than a health crisis. It is a human, economic and social crisis. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has been characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), is attacking societies at their core. The global economy could shrink by up to 1 per cent in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, a reversal from the previous forecast of 2.5 per cent growth, the UN has said, warning that it may contract even further if restrictions on the economic activities are extended without adequate fiscal responses. The COVOD-19 pandemic will cause a dramatic drop in FDI flows. MNEs, local business and investment have been severely affected with far reaching social and economic repercussions. The coronavirus crisis is first and foremost a public health threat, but it is also, and increasingly, an economic threat. The so-called “Covid-19” shock will trigger a recession in some countries and a deceleration of global annual growth to below 2.5 per cent -- often taken as the recessionary threshold for the world economy . The world is being flooded with perhaps unfamiliar words and phrases in coverage of COVID-19, the newly discovered coronavirus — starting with the very word "coronavirus." The new coronavirus, which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December, has infected more than 210,000 people in at least 171 countries and territories globally, according to the World Health Organization. The on-going spread of the new coronavirus has become one of the biggest threats to the global economy and financial markets. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215931/1/MKM%20PAPER%20FOR%20COVID.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F62, F69 Keywords: Global Economy, International Organization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215931 #END 893 #BEGIN 894 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Doberanzke, Volker Title: Kaizen: Strategischer Ansatz zur Etablierung eines kontinuierlichen Innovationsprozesses bei mittelständischen Unternehmen Abstract: Kaizen is the Japanese concept of management based on a philosophy of eternal change, which is to keep a continuous improvement process going. This article shows, that the Kaizen philosophy provides an appropriate strategic basis for establishing a continuous innovation process in medium-sized companies. The first chapter explains the basic characteristics of the concept of innovation and the importance of small and medium-sized companies and their ability to innovate. The second chapter outlines the Kaizen approach and its various paradigms and systems. The third chapter describes how a Kaizen-based, continuous innovation process can be implemented in medium-sized companies. Abstract: Kaizen ist das aus Japan stammende, auf einer Philosophie der ewigen Veränderung beruhende Konzept der Unternehmensführung, das darin besteht, einen kontinuierlichen Verbesserungsprozess in Gang zu halten. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird aufgezeigt, dass die Kaizen-Philosophie eine gute strategische Basis zur Etablierung eines kontinuierlichen Innovationsprozesses bei mittelständischen Unternehmen darstellt. Im ersten Kapitel werden die grundlegenden Merkmale des Innovationsbegriffes erläutert und die Bedeutung des Mittelstands sowie seiner Innovationsfähigkeit dargelegt. Im zweiten Kapitel werden der Kaizen-Ansatz und seine verschiedenen Paradigmen und Systeme erläutert. Das dritte Kapitel beschreibt, wie ein Kaizen-basierter, kontinuierlicher Innovationsprozess im mittelständischen Unternehmen umgesetzt werden kann. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215912/1/Kaizen%20_%20Final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M16, M20 Keywords: Kaizen, Innovation, Kontinuierliche Verbesserung, Mittelstand, Medium-sized Companies, Continuous Improvement Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215912 #END 894 #BEGIN 895 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Sustainable Development: Linking economy and environment In the Era of Globalization Abstract: Our current economic models needs to allow us to achieve the multiple goals the international community has set, Nearly twenty seven years after Rio, we have come to realize that a more sophisticated development model who linking economy and environment and a more evolved economic model are needed if we are collectively to enjoy the fruits of globalization effects. Environment and development, global trends in relation to environment and socio-economic development, the challenges society faces today and provides signposts towards sustainable development... Major causes of environmental problems are population growth, wasteful and unsustainable resource use, poverty, exclusion of environmental costs of resource use from the market prices of goods and services, and attempts to manage nature with insufficient knowledge. The beginning, the phenomenon of globalization has captured world attention in various ways in development. The tremendous change in the countries caused erosion of environmental quality to a large extent. Hence the concept of sustainable development has gained importance since Rio Declaration. The ultimate goal is an environmentally sustainable society—one that meets the current and future basic resource needs of its people in a just and equitable manner without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their basic needs. This paper focuses on how Sustainable Development linking economy and environment in the era of Globalization, and the need for sustainable environment with the economic growth. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215793/1/Sustainable%20Development%20Linking%20economy%20and%20environment.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O11, O44 Keywords: Sustainable Development, Economic Development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215793 #END 895 #BEGIN 896 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alipio, Mark Title: Determinants of tuberculosis incidence in East Asia and Pacific: A panel regression analysis Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest communicable disease. To circumvent surges of TB cases, several studies have been carried out analyzing the determinants of TB incidence and recommended policy measures based on the significant indicators. Although the determinants were suggested for strategic planning of TB, the implementation of new measures was either unsuccessful or difficult to realize because of logistical, administrative, and financial constraints. This study aims to unravel potential determinants of TB incidence across 23 countries in East Asia and Pacific. The disentangling of possible association between variables was carried out using panel regression analysis. This is an ecological multinational-based study utilizing readily accessible public data in the analysis. Carbon dioxide emission, PM2.5 air pollution exposure, unemployment (percent of total labor force), percent of people using at least basic sanitation services, percent of people practicing open defecation, health expenditure (percent of GDP), and out-of-pocket health expenditure are included as the determinants of TB incidence. The single outcome variable of this study was TB incidence which is the estimated number of new and relapse tuberculosis cases arising in a given year, expressed as the rate per 100,000 population. A total of 23 countries in the East and Pacific region were included as sampling unit with a time-series length of five years (2010 – 2014), producing 115 samples. Given the nature of data, a panel regression was used to estimate the relationship between the potential determinants and TB incidence. A significant regression coefficient was found (F(7,107) = 37.9, p < 0.05) with R2 = 0.7126. The R2 value suggested that 71.26% of the variance in TB incidence was accounted for by the variables in this study. For every one unit increase in microgram per cubic meter of PM2.5 pollution, in the unemployment percentage of total labor force, and in the percentage of out-of-pocket health expenditure, the rate of TB cases per 100,000 population was predicted to be 4.617, 13.504, and 3.467 higher, respectively, holding other variables constant. On the other hand, for every one unit increase in the kiloton of CO2 emission and in the percent of people using at least basic sanitation services, the rate of TB cases per 100,000 population was predicted to be 0.00003828 and 4.457 lower, respectively. Percent of people practicing open defecation and health expenditure (percent of GDP) did not significantly influence TB incidence. The countries in the East Asia and Pacific with low PM2.5 air pollution exposure, low unemployment, low out-of-pocket health expenditure, high carbon dioxide emission and high percent of people using at least basic sanitation service, had low incidence of TB for the five-year period. The study suggests how an increase in unemployment consequently increases TB incidence across the countries. Proper implementation of programs that could promote proper hygiene is essential to increase adherence of people to basic sanitation practices. Based on the study, this is an important factor in mitigating higher incidence of TB. Therefore, strategies may be formulated to either maintain or improve this determinant in order to significantly reduce TB cases. Finally, concerted efforts may be developed to decrease emission of hazardous finer particles from residential, industrial, and agricultural burning, in order to control tuberculosis. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215784/1/Determinants%20of%20tuberculosis%20incidence%20in%20East%20Asia%20and%20Pacific.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A12, C4, C6, H51, I14, I15, I18, I38 Keywords: Carbon dioxide emission, air pollution, unemployment, sanitation, open defecation, health expenditure, out-of-pocket health expenditure, tuberculosis incidence, East Asia and Pacific, public health, economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215784 #END 896 #BEGIN 897 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bauer, Carsten Author-Name: Möbs, Nele Author-Name: Unger, Oliver Author-Name: Szczesny, Andrea Author-Name: Ernst, Christian Title: Spillover Effects of Specialization Strategies in Hospitals: An Analysis of the Effects in the Short, Medium, and Long Term Abstract: In most developed countries, the economic pressure on hospitals to improve their efficiency has increased considerably over the past 30 years. Simple cost reimbursement for hospital care has almost universally been superseded by much more high-powered economic incentive-based systems. These systems offer powerful incentives to reduce expenses, particularly in high-cost areas such as the operating room (OR). Specialization is one prominent response strategy to such pressures. Whether these cost-saving strategies affect later events in the patient’s case or the overall costs of a case has not been investigated yet. This study tries to answer the question of whether cost-reduction efforts by specialization in the OR deploy spillover effects on non-specialized cases. If they do so, the study tries to evaluate these spillover effects on a larger scale that considers the entire patient’s case, since the cost-reduction efforts may actually be counterproductive because of adverse effects in the medium to long term. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215783/2/Spillover%20Effects%20of%20Specialization%20Strategies%20in%20Hospitals.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I11, M41 Keywords: cost pressure, specialization, learning effects, spillover effects, follow-up costs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215783 #END 897 #BEGIN 898 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mishra, Mukesh Kumar Title: Application of Operational Research in Sustainable Environmental Management and Climate Change Abstract: Today, the impact of OR can be felt in many areas. A large number of management firms are currently engaged in OR activities. The principles of operational research (OR) and related mathematical methods have been applied to environmental issues for the long times. However, the increasing pressures experienced by industry over the last decade, pertaining to sustainable development performances, have renewed interests and intensified the potential application of OR techniques in environmental management. Capacity decisions establish a set of conditions within which operations will be required to function. Hence, it is extremely important to include input from operations management people in making capacity decisions. There is need to develop a balance between modernization and sustainability. Sustainability refers to service and production processes that use resources in ways that do not harm ecological systems that support both current and future human existence. Sustainability measures often go beyond traditional environmental and economic measures to include measures that incorporate social criteria in decision making. Because they all fall within the realm of operations, operations management is central to dealing with these issues. The need for effective optimisation methods that incorporate concepts of efficient resource use and environmental concern is becoming more and more urgent as the environmental situation deteriorates. This paper focus on the possibilities of incorporating Operational Researchers with environmental issues and the importance of OR models and techniques in environmental management. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215782/1/Application%20of%20Operational%20Research%20in%20Sustainable%20Environmental%20Management%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Operation Research, Sustainable Development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215782 #END 898 #BEGIN 899 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schnedler, Wendelin Author-Name: Stephan, Nina Title: Revisiting a Remedy Against Chains of Unkindness Abstract: Previous experiments observe a chain of unkindness: unkindly treated people treat an innocent third party unkindly. As a remedy, it has been proposed that the unkindly treated person engages in emotional regulation by writing a letter to the unkind person. Indeed, subjects who received little money were willing to leave more to a third person when they were writing a letter rather than waiting. Here, we examine whether emotional regulation is indeed behind this observation. In line with emotional regulation, we find that letter writing also leads to more giving if the person is treated unkindly by being assigned to a frustrating rather than a pleasant job. Being able to write, however, does not affect self-reported happiness differently from having to wait. Even more strikingly, subjects assigned to pleasant jobs also give more when writing rather than waiting. This is not consistent with emotional regulation. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215708/1/dgr05.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D91, C91, D03 Keywords: experimental economics, chain of unkindness, emotional closure, cooling down Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215708 #END 899 #BEGIN 900 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Salzmann, Leonard Title: China's Economic Slowdown and International Inflation Dynamics Abstract: I examine the impact of the Chinese economic slowdown that started after the Great Recession on global inflation dynamics. To this end, I fit a high-dimensional data set comprising macroeconomic indicators of 41 countries to a structural factor-augmented vector autoregressive model. My main findings are: (i) Business cycle shocks and especially demand shocks in China significantly spill over to inflation rates in the US, Europe, Asia, and Oceania and are transmitted by global oil, commodity, and steel prices. (ii) The decline in Chinese growth rates can be attributed to a combination of negative aggregate demand and supply shocks. (iii) Historical decompositions indicate that after 2014, these shocks lowered PPI inflation rates outside of China by up to 0.3 percentage points per quarter, resulting in a cumulative effect on the PPI of six percent. Hence, they markedly contributed to the decline in global inflation rates and hampered the recent upward trend. (iv) The Chinese influence is also reflected in interest rates outside of China by a reduction of yields at the current edge. Creation-Date: 2020 Revision-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215660/1/Chinaslowdown_IntInflation_Salzmann_2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E32, E43 Keywords: China’s Economic Slowdown, Global inflation, Spillovers, FAVAR Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:176757 #END 900 #BEGIN 901 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fraser, Nancy Author-Name: MacDonald, Cherique Author-Name: Ooft, Gavin Title: Towards Financial Inclusion: An Assessment for Suriname Abstract: This paper presents an assessment of financial inclusion in Suriname, mainly from the Central Bank’s perspective. It examines existing data on financial inclusion and policy initiatives and measures the Central Bank of Suriname has taken to stimulate financial inclusion. This research is mainly conducted through desk studies and is supported by interviews with various stakeholders involved with financial inclusion and education as well as with the relevant Central Bank departments in charge of national financial inclusion initiatives. Consequently, the study presents policy recommendations aimed at improving financial inclusion in Suriname, since it is an important contributor to monetary policy and a prerequisite for financial stability. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215535/1/CBvS-WP-19-01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G29, G53, O16, E44 Keywords: Financial Inclusion, Financial Services, Financial Literacy, Monetary Policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215535 Note: The authors are staff members of the Central Bank of Suriname. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Bank. Research papers are work in progress and are published to elicit comments for further debate. #END 901 #BEGIN 902 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ooft, Gavin Title: Modelling and Forecasting Inflation for the Economy of Suriname Abstract: An accurate forecast for inflation is mandatory in the conduct of monetary policy in every monetary framework. This research puts a first effort to accurately model and consequently forecast monthly inflation for the economy of Suriname. This paper employs various econometric techniques such as Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models, Vector Autoregressive models, Factor Augmented Vector Autoregressive models, Bayesian Vector Autoregressive models and Vector Error Correction models to model monthly inflation for Suriname over the period 2004 to 2018. Consequently, the in-sample forecast performance of the models is evaluated by comparison of the Root Mean Square Error and the Mean Average Errors. Since Suriname encountered a high-inflation period, we split up the sample in two periods, i.e. including and excluding this high-inflation episode. In this evaluation, not surprisingly, the Root Mean Square Errors of the models was considerably lower in the sample excluding the high inflation episode. Consequently, we also conducted an out-of-sample forecasting exercise. The VECM yields the best results forecasting up to three months ahead, while thereafter, the FAVAR, which includes more economic information, outperforms the VECM, based on the assessment of the out-of-sample forecast performance of the models. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215534/1/CBvS-WP-18-04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E37, C32, C52 Keywords: Inflation, Forecasting, Vector Autoregressive Models Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215534 Note: The authors are staff members of the Research Department of the Central Bank of Suriname. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Bank. Research papers constitute work in progress and are published to elicit comments and to further debate #END 902 #BEGIN 903 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ooft, Gavin Title: Inflation and Economic Activity in Suriname Abstract: Maintaining a low rate of inflation and sustainable economic growth are at the core of monetary policymaking. Price stability is considered a condition for a healthy macroeconomic environment which promotes sustainable growth and a low rate of inflation is necessary to maintain stability in the financial sector as well as to boost investment activities. Motivated by the largely-discussed relationship between inflation and output, this paper examines this relationship for the economy of Suriname over the period 1975 to 2015, utilizing a vector autoregressive model and impulse response functions. The findings of the study reveal how the various sources of inflation impact on the economy of Suriname. Domestic price shocks and money-supply shocks, in particular, seem to substantially impact on economic activity. Exchange-rate shocks are detrimental to domestic prices. Based on the findings of this study, it is highly recommended for the Central Bank of Suriname to continue its prudent monetary policies in order to maintain a stable exchange rate and price stability. The study advocates for maintaining a healthy macroeconomic climate with price stability, which is a crucial condition for Suriname to follow a sustained path for economic growth and development. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215533/1/CBvS-WP-16-03.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, O42, C21 Keywords: Inflation, Economic Growth, Vector Autoregression, Impulse Response Functions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215533 Note: The author is a staff member of the Research Department of the Central Bank of Suriname. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Bank. Research papers constitute work in progress and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. #END 903 #BEGIN 904 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tjon Kie Sim-Balker, Peggy Author-Name: Mungroo, Albert Author-Name: Piqué-Lont, Natalie Author-Name: Ooft, Gavin Title: Twin Deficits in Suriname: An Empirical Analysis Abstract: This study investigates the relationship and directionality between the overall fiscal balance and the external current account balance of Suriname during 1970 - 2011. Both balances predominantly show deficits, however since 2006 the external current account balance shows surpluses due to the diversification of the mining sector as a result of booming international commodity prices. A vector error correction framework indicated the existence of a long-run relationship between these two variables. In the long run a bidirectional relation was found between the two balances, while in the short run no significant effect was encountered. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215532/1/CBvS-WP-14-02.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E62, F32, F41 Keywords: Twin Deficits, Budget Balance, Current Account Balance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215532 Note: The views expressed in this research paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Centrale Bank van Suriname. Research papers describe research in progress by the authors and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. #END 904 #BEGIN 905 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mungroo, Albert Author-Name: Ooft, Gavin Author-Name: Tjon Kie Sim-Balker, Peggy Title: Government Expenditure in Suriname: A Stimulus or Impediment to Growth Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between government expenditures and economic growth in Suriname from 1971 to 2011. According to the Keynesian theory it is the government's responsibility to stimulate or dampen economic growth within the country by using fiscal policy. For the last decade Suriname has experienced sustained economic growth. Some schools of economic thought argue that government expenditure has a positive effect in prolonging and sustaining growth while others disagree. A Dynamic Ordinary Least Square method is used to examine the effects of the different components of government expenditure on economic growth. Capital expenditure and subsidies & transfer are found to stimulate growth, while wages & salaries and goods & services impede growth in the long run. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215531/1/CBvS-WP-13-04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E62, O4, C22 Keywords: Fiscal Policy, Economic Growth, Linear Regression Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215531 Note: The views expressed in this research paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Centrale Bank van Suriname. Research papers describe research in progress by the authors and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. #END 905 #BEGIN 906 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ooft, Gavin Author-Name: Eckhorst, Karel Title: Human Capital Development and Economic Growth in Suriname Abstract: This paper investigates the effects of human capital on economic growth in Suriname for the period 1971 to 2011. Many empirical studies indicate that the accumulation of this form of capital has a significant impact on macroeconomic growth. At the same time some studies show an overestimation of the role of human capital in growth. In this research, we measure human capital through education indicators. We argue that the development of human capital stimulates countries to be innovative and develop modern production technology to catch up with more developed countries. The findings of this investigation indicate that human capital also affects long-run macroeconomic growth in Suriname through primary and secondary education. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215530/1/CBvS-WP-13-03.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O11, O15, C22 Keywords: Human Capital, Economic Growth, Regression Analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215530 #END 906 #BEGIN 907 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Author-Name: Vyrost, Tomas Title: Stablecoins as a crypto safe haven? Not all of them! Abstract: We test the safe haven properties of the largest stablecoins (USDT, USDC, TUSD, PAX, DAI, GUSD) against the standard “nonstable” coins (BTC, ETH, XRP, BCH, LTC). Our dataset comprises high-frequency 1-minute data calculated as volume-weighted averages across 18 exchanges where these cryptocurrencies are traded, thus capturing the entire price movement around the world. Using a quantile coherency cross-spectral measure, we find that only TUSD, PAX, and GUSD can serve as safe havens. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/215484/1/Stablecoins%20as%20a%20crypto%20safe%20haven.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G11, G15, F31 Keywords: cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, quantile dependence, cross-spectral analysis, diversification, safe haven Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:215484 #END 907 #BEGIN 908 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Title: Staatliche Förderung in Zeiten des Corona-Virus Abstract: Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, eine erste kritische Betrachtung der staatlichen Förderinstrumente zur Abmilderung der Folgewirkung der Corona-Pandemie für Solo-Selbstständige, Einzelunternehmer, Kleinst- und Kleinunternehmen sowie mittelständische Unternehmen vorzunehmen. Hierzu wird das Instrument der Szenario-Analyse eingesetzt und vier fiktive Unternehmensszenarien untersucht. Aufgrund der Dynamik der Ereignisse im Zuge der globalen Corona-Pandemie sind in diesem Working Paper vorrangig die von den jeweiligen Bundesministerien neu kommunizierten Maßnahmen zur staatlichen Förderung mit dem Stichtag Montag 16. März 2020 berücksichtigt. Insoweit kann dieses Working Paper lediglich den aktuellen Stand widerspiegeln und bedarf ggf. im Laufe der Zeit einer periodischen Ergänzung. Abstract: The aim of this working paper is, to take a first critical look at government funding instruments to mitigate the effects of the corona pandemic for the self-employed, sole proprietorships, small and medium-sized businesses and medium-sized companies. The scenario analysis tool is used, and four fictitious company scenarios are considered. Due to the dynamics of events in the wake of the global corona pandemic, this working paper primarily takes into account the measures for state funding, communicated by the respective federal ministries with the deadline of Monday, March 16, 2020. In this respect this working paper can only reflect the current status and may require periodic additions over time. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/214899/1/Becker%20-%20Staatliche%20Fo%cc%88rderung%20in%20Zeiten%20des%20Corona-Virus.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H32, G30 Keywords: staatliche Förderung, Corona-Pandemie, SARS-Cov-2, COVID-19 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:214899 #END 908 #BEGIN 909 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: The Corona Virus Stock Exchange Crash Abstract: The aim of this working paper is to provide a first analysis of the massive price decrease in the international financial markets since early March 2020. This is done on the basis of an economic view, but sociological and psychological approaches are also used. The initial thesis is that the economic parameters were already "toxic" at the beginning of 2020. Abstract: Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, eine erste Analyse für die massiven Kurseinbrüche an den Internationalen Finanzmärkten seit Anfang März 2020 zu liefern. Das geschieht auf Basis einer ökonomischen Betrachtung, aber auch soziologische und psychologische Ansätze werden herangezogen. Ausgangsthese ist, dass die wirtschaftlichen Rahmenparameter bereits zu Beginn des Jahres 2020 „toxisch“ waren. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/214881/1/The%20Corona%20Virus%20Stock%20Exchange%20Crash.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G15, G41 Keywords: Corona Virus, Stock Exchange Crash Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:214881 #END 909 #BEGIN 910 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Ein weiterer schwarzer Montag - eine erste Analyse zu möglichen Ursachen des signifikanten ursrückgangs an den internationalen Börsen durch den Coronavirus Abstract: Ziel dieses Working Papers ist es, eine erste Analyse für die massiven Kurseinbrüche an den Internationalen Finanzmärkten seit Anfang März 2020 zu liefern. Das geschieht auf Basis einer ökonomischen Betrachtung, aber auch soziologische und psychologische Ansätze werden herangezogen. Ausgangsthese ist, dass die wirtschaftlichen Rahmenparameter bereits zu Beginn des Jahres 2020 „toxisch“ waren. Abstract: The aim of this working paper is to provide a first analysis of the massive price decrease in the international financial markets since early March 2020. This is done on the basis of an economic view, but sociological and psychological approaches are also used. The initial thesis is that the economic parameters were already "toxic" at the beginning of 2020. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/214880/1/Ein%20weiterer%20Schwarzer%20Montag.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G15, G41 Keywords: Coronavirus, Börsencrash Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:214880 #END 910 #BEGIN 911 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nimoh, Nana C. Author-Name: Ali, Abdilahi Author-Name: Syme, Tony Title: Earnings gaps, Segmentation and Competitiveness in the Ghanaian Labour Market Abstract: This paper examines the labour market dynamics of Ghana by specifically assessing: (1) the informal-formal earnings gaps in the country, and (2) whether informal sector employment is due to labour market segmentation (i.e. last resort) or comparative advantage (voluntary). Our findings indicate that there are significant formal/informal earnings gaps in the Ghanaian labour market which is robust to industry and regional differences. Interestingly, we find that, even though males suffer earnings penalties within the informal sector, the penalty is much higher for females. Additionally, the study identifies the existence of two distinct segments within the informal labour market, each characterised by a different earnings profile. Thus, there is both segmentation and competitiveness within the informal labour market. Our results highlight the importance of designing appropriate policies that can tackle both voluntary and involuntary informal sector employment. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/214817/1/Nimoh-Ali-Syme-Earnings-gaps-Ghana.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J46, O17, C14, N17 Keywords: Informal labour market, finite mixture model, segmentation, comparative advantage, Ghana Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:214817 #END 911 #BEGIN 912 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schaubert, Marianna Author-Name: Hänisch, Carsten Title: Do Non-Resident Parents with Lower Labor Market Attachment React to Institutional Changes in Child Support Obligations? Evidence from IAB-PASS Abstract: This paper investigates how parents who live apart from their children have responded to changes in the amount of the self-support reserves. Being financially able to pay maintenance is a precondition for the obligation to maintain children in Germany. Parents with incomes below the self-support reserve do not pay child support. In addition, the self-support reserve di ers for employed and unemployed parents. The difference between the two is considered to be a bonus for employment by competent courts, which they adjust over time. We exploited PASS panel data and individual fixed-effects models to observe parents' responses to these changes. We did not confirm the Higher Regional Courts' assertion that the increasing difference between the self-support reserves of employed and non-working parents is an incentive to work. Further, we found no evidence of any influence on attitudes towards the labor market or debt behavior. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/214624/1/WPCSObl_Jan2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J08, J16, J18, K36 Keywords: Child support, low-income nonresidential fathers, child support guidelines, child support enforcement, labor supply, child support debt Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:214624 #END 912 #BEGIN 913 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Mayer, Tamir Author-Name: Raviv, Alon Title: Academic Scholarship in Light of the 2008 Financial Crisis: Textual Analysis of NBER Working Papers Abstract: Textual analysis of 14,270 NBER Working Papers published during 1999–2016 is done to assess the effects of the 2008 crisis on the economics literature. The volume of crisis-related WPs is counter-cyclical, lagging the financial-instability-index. WPs by the Monetary-Economics, Asset-Pricing, and Corporate-Finance program members, hardly refer to “crisis/crises” in the pre-crisis period. As the crisis develops, however, their study-efforts of crisis-related issues increase rapidly. In contrast, WPs in macroeconomics-related programs refer quite extensively in the pre-crisis period to “crisis/crises” and to crises-related topics. Overall, our findings are consistent with the claim that economists were not engaged sufficiently in crises studies before the 2008 crisis. However, counter to the popular image, as soon as the crisis began to unravel, the NBER affiliated economists responded dramatically by switching their focus and efforts to studying and understanding the crisis, its causes and its consequences. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/214194/1/NBER-and-the-2008-Financial-Crisis_Feb-26-2020.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A11, C38, C55, E32, E44, E58, F30, G01, G20, G21, G28 Keywords: 2008 Financial Crisis, Textual Analysis, Financial Crises, LDA, Topic Modelling, Securitization, Repo, Sudden Stop Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:214194 #END 913 #BEGIN 914 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Aid for Trade flows and Wage Inequality in the manufacturing sector of recipient-countries Abstract: The present article aims to contribute to the literature on the effectiveness of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows in recipient-countries by investigating the effect of these resource flows on wage inequality in the manufacturing sector of recipient-countries. The analysis has shown that AfT interventions help reduce wage inequality in the manufacturing sector of countries that liberalize their trade policies, enjoy greater trade openness, experience higher exports of labour-intensive, low-skill and high skill manufacturing products. Additionally, AfT interventions contribute to dampening the negative effect of export product concentration (for example on primary products) on wage inequality in the manufacturing sector. Finally, AfT flows reduce wage inequality in the manufacturing sector of countries that import manufacturing products (including machinery and transport equipment goods) or enjoy a greater extent of multilateral trade liberalization. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/213936/1/Paper%20on%20AfT%20and%20Wage%20Inequality.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, F13, F14, J3 Keywords: Aid for Trade, Wage inequality in the manufacturing sector Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:213936 #END 914 #BEGIN 915 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen, Ha Trong Author-Name: Connelly, Luke B. Author-Name: Le, Huong Thu Author-Name: Mitrou, Francis Author-Name: Taylor, Catherine L. Author-Name: Zubrick, Stephen R. Title: Ethnicity differentials in academic achievements: The role of time investments Abstract: Children of Asian immigrants in most English-speaking destinations have better academic outcomes, yet the underlying causes of their advantages are under-studied. We employ panel time-use diaries by two cohorts of children observed over a decade to present new evidence that children of Asian immigrants begin spending more time than their peers on educational activities from school entry; and, that the ethnicity gap in the time allocated to educational activities increases over time. By specifying an augmented value-added model and invoking a quantile decomposition method, we find that the academic advantage of children of Asian immigrants is attributable mainly to their allocating more time to educational activities or their favorable initial cognitive abilities and not to socio-demographics or parenting styles. Furthermore, our results show substantial heterogeneity in the contributions of initial cognitive abilities and time allocations by test subjects, test ages and points of the test score distribution. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/213871/1/Nativity%20test%20score%20gap_JPE_revision2_clean.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C21, I20, J13, J15, J22 Keywords: Migration, Education, Test Score Gap, Time Use Diary, Quantile Regression, Second-generation Immigrants, Australia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:213871 #END 915 #BEGIN 916 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Aid for Trade flows and Poverty Reduction in Recipient-Countries Abstract: The effectiveness of Aid for Trade (AfT) interventions, including with respect to recipient-countries' trade performance has now been well explored in the literature. However, in spite of the voluminous literature on the poverty effect of the total official development aid, the effect of AfT flows on poverty has received little attention on the empirical front. The current article aims to contribute to the policy debate on this matter by investigating the effect of AfT flows on poverty in recipient-countries. In particular, the analysis explores whether this effect translates through countries' level of export product concentration, as the latter can influence income inequality, and hence the transformation of economic growth into poverty reduction in recipient-countries. The empirical analysis, based on 100 AfT recipient-countries has shown that AfT interventions are associated with poverty reduction in countries that diversify their export products, including towards manufacturing products. Additionally, AfT flows dampen the positive poverty effect of income inequality, and lead to greater poverty reduction in countries with a great extent of fiscal redistribution. Finally, the analysis has shown that AfT interventions mitigate the positive poverty effect of import product concentration, and are associated with poverty reduction in countries that either diversify their import products or export products. These results have important policy implications. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/213807/1/Paper%20on%20Aid%20for%20Trade%20and%20Poverty.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Aid for Trade, Poverty, Export product diversification, Manufacturing exports Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:213807 #END 916 #BEGIN 917 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daske, Thomas Title: Efficient Incentives in Social Networks: Gamification and the Coase Theorem Creation-Date: 2020 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:213805 #END 917 #BEGIN 918 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe Author-Name: Janke, Mathias Author-Name: Engel, Stefanie Title: Structuring communication effectively for environmental cooperation Abstract: Many environmental problems represent social dilemma situations where individually rational behaviour leads to collectively suboptimal outcomes. Communication has been found to alleviate the dilemma and stimulate cooperation in these situations. Yet, the knowledge of what type of information needs to be shared to ensure the beneficial effect is still incomplete. Previous research relies on ex post methods, i.e. after conducting an experiment researchers analyse what information was shared during the communication phase. By nature, this ex post categorization is endogenous. In this study, we aim to identify the elements of effective communication ex ante and evaluate their impact in a more controlled way. Based on the findings of previous studies, we identify four cooperation-enhancing elements of communication: (i) problem awareness, (ii) identification of strategies, (iii) agreement, and (iv) ratification. In a laboratory experiment with 560 participants, we implement interventions representing these components and contrast the resulting levels of cooperation with the outcomes under free (unstructured) or no communication. We find that the intervention facilitating agreement on a common strategy (combination of (ii) and (iii)) is particularly powerful in boosting cooperation. And if this is combined with interventions promoting problem awareness and ratification, similar cooperation levels as in settings with free-form communication can be reached. Our results are relevant not only from an analytical perspective, but also provide insights for effectively structuring communication in participatory processes aimed at improving environmental outcomes. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/213607/1/WP-Koessler-et-al-2020-02-Elements-of-effective-communication.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C71, C92, H41, Q48, Q59 Keywords: social dilemma, communication, public good, cooperation, participatory processes, resource management, deliberation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:213607 #END 918 #BEGIN 919 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zigraiova, Diana Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Novak, Jiri Title: How Puzzling Is the Forward Premium Puzzle? A Meta-Analysis Abstract: A key theoretical prediction in financial economics is that under risk neutrality and rational expectations a currency's forward rates should form unbiased predictors of future spot rates. Yet scores of empirical studies report negative slope coefficients from regressions of spot rates on forward rates, which is inconsistent with the forward rate unbiasedness hypothesis. We collect 3,643 estimates from 91 research articles and using recently developed techniques investigate the effect of publication and misspecification biases on the reported results. Correcting for these biases we estimate the slope coefficients of 0.31 and 0.98 for developed and emerging currencies respectively, which implies that empirical evidence is in line with the theoretical prediction for emerging economies and less puzzling than commonly thought for developed economies. Our results also suggest that the coefficients are systematically influenced by the choice of data, numeraire currencies, and estimation methods. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/213578/1/fruh_paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83, F31 Keywords: Forward rate bias, uncovered interest parity, meta-analysis, publication bias Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:213578 #END 919 #BEGIN 920 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Development Aid, Remittances Inflows and Wages in the Manufacturing Sector of Recipient-Countries Abstract: This article has considered the effect of development aid and remittances inflows on wages in the manufacturing sector of the recipient-economies. The empirical analysis has used a sample of 95 countries over the period 1963-2016, and on the two-step system Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM). Results show for the full sample that while remittances influence positively wages, development aid exerts a negative effect on wages, although LDCs enjoy a positive effect of development aid on wages. Additionally, the effects of development aid and remittances on wages depend on the prevailing real exchange rate as well as the values of manufacturing exports. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/213439/1/Paper%20on%20Remittances%20and%20Aid%20on%20Wages_Manuf%20Sector.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, J30, O14 Keywords: Development aid, Remittances inflows, Wages in the manufacturing sector, Real Exchange Rate, Manufactured exports Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:213439 #END 920 #BEGIN 921 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schmidt, Annett Title: Warum sind Veränderungsprozesse schwierig? Das Phänomen der Resonanz – eine interdisziplinäre Annäherung und begriffliche Grundlagen Abstract: In verschiedenen Studien (Moldaschl et al 2011, Kühl 2011, Pescher 2010, Orellana 2009) zu Veränderungsprozessen in Unternehmen wird deutlich, dass ca. 30 – 50 % und teilweise auch mehr der geplanten und gewünschten Ergebnisse oft aus unterschiedlichsten Gründen nicht bzw. nicht nachhaltig erreicht werden. Im Ergebnis dieser interdisziplinären Literaturanalyse zur Frage - warum sind Veränderungsprozesse schwierig?-, fällt etwas entscheidendes auf. In allen Forschungsbeiträgen aus den Bereichen der Sozialphilosophie, Psychologie, Linguistik und Soziologie (vgl. u.a. Breyer/Pfänder 2017, Herfeld-Schild 2017, Rosa 2016, Miller 2015) wird Resonanz zwar als Phänomen in Interaktionsprozessen gesehen, blieb jedoch bisher in der Analyse von Veränderungsprozessen weitgehend außen. Das Phänomen der Resonanz, verstanden als ein Mitschwingen im Sinne einer Reaktion und Widerhall, der hervorgerufen wurde, beschreibt einerseits Widerspruch und Widerstand sowie andererseits zwischen den Beteiligten übereinstimmende Sicht- und Handlungsweisen. Resonanz bildet damit einen integrativen Ansatz, der m.E. neue Aspekte zu Hindernissen in Veränderungsprozessen zu erhellen vermag. Abstract: In various studies on change processes in companies (Moldaschl et al 2011, Kühl 2011, Pescher 2010, Orellana 2009), it becomes clear that approx. 30 - 50 % and sometimes even more of the planned and desired results are often not achieved or not achieved sustainable for various reasons. As a result of this interdisciplinary literature analysis on the question - why are change processes difficult?-, something decisive stands out. In all research contributions from the fields of social philosophy, psychology, linguistics and sociology (see, among others, Breyer/Pfänder 2017, Herfeld-Schild 2017, Rosa 2016, Miller 2015), resonance is seen as a phenomenon in interaction processes, but has so far been largely excluded from the analysis of change processes. The phenomenon of resonance, understood as a resonance in the sense of a reaction and echo that has been caused, describes on the one hand contradiction and resistance and on the other hand, ways of seeing and acting that are in agreement between the participants. Resonance thus forms an integrative approach, which in my opinion is able to shed light on new aspects of obstacles in processes of change. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/210653/1/WorkingPaper%2001_2016%20interdiszipl.%20Ann..pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Resonanz, Veränderung, interdisziplinär Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:210653 #END 921 #BEGIN 922 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Still in the Danger Zone Abstract: In December 2017, we posted a RWERB entry, titled ‘Profit warning: there will be blood’. We warned that, although the Weapondollar-Petrodollar Coalition might no longer be in the Middle East driver’s seat, the oil and armament companies, the region’s oil-exporting autocracies and various non-state groups were all keen on seeing their oil incomes rise from record lows. And we ob-served that, in this context, ‘the prospects of a new energy conflict, whether premeditated or co-incidental, seem extremely high’. [. . .] We can only hope that the current round of Middle East hostilities won’t be proportional to the size of its current danger zone. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/210481/1/20200108_bn_still_in_the_danger_zone_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, D74, Q4 Keywords: differential accumulation, Middle East Energy Conflicts Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:210481 #END 922 #BEGIN 923 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Aid for Trade and Services Export Diversification in Recipient-Countries Abstract: This article examines the effect of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows on services export diversification in recipient-countries. The empirical analysis has relied on a sample of 100 recipient-countries (of which 31 Least developed countries – LDCs) over the period 2002-2014 and used the two-step system Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) approach. It shows that total AfT flows always exert a positive effect on services export diversification over the full sample, with the magnitude of this positive effect being higher for less advanced countries such as LDCs than for relatively advanced economies. This finding also applies to the effect of the cumulated AfT flows on services export diversification. However, we find that the components of total AfT flows - namely AfT for services sectors and AfT for non-services sectors - exert a higher positive effect on services diversification in less advanced countries, notably LDCs than in relatively advanced countries. Specifically, for countries whose real per capita income exceed a certain level, these two types of capital inflows are associated with greater services export concentration. These findings have important policy implications for developing countries and notably the poorest countries among them. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/210467/1/Paper%20AfT%20and%20Services%20Export%20Diversification.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F1, F14, F35 Keywords: Aid for Trade, Services Export Diversification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:210467 #END 923 #BEGIN 924 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ossendorf, Andreas Title: Krankheitskostenanalyse bei Patienten mit chronischen Rückenschmerzen Abstract: Hintergrund: In Deutschland gehören Rückenschmerzen zu den häufigsten Erkrankungen quer durch alle Bevölkerungsschichten. Rund 80 bis 85% der Bevölkerung berichten von Rückenschmerzen im Verlauf ihres Lebens und bei 10–15% der Patienten ist ein chronischer Verlauf festzustellen. Chronische Erkrankungen gehen einher mit Multimorbidität und verursachen hohe Krankheitskosten für das Gesundheitswesen. Hieraus ergibt sich die Notwendigkeit, die verfügbaren Ressourcen zweckmäßig einzusetzen. Methodik: Im Rahmen einer prospektiven Beobachtungsstudie wurden u.a. 99 Patienten mit chronischen Rückenschmerzen in sechs Berliner Schmerzambulanzen konsekutiv rekrutiert und mit Hilfe eines standardisierten Fragebogens interviewt. Zielsetzung: Das primäre Ziel der Studie war, die Inanspruchnahme von Gesundheitsdienstleistungen durch Patienten mit chronischen Rückenschmerzen im Gesundheitswesen abzubilden und die hieraus resultierenden Krankheitskosten zu berechnen. Ergebnisse: Patienten mit chronischen Rückenschmerzen verursachten jährliche durchschnittliche Gesamtkosten in Höhe von 31.148, - Euro, wobei die direkten Krankheitskosten 8.862, - Euro sowie die indirekten Kosten 22.287, - Euro betrugen. Schlussfolgerung: Im Hinblick auf die Allokation knapper Ressourcen im Gesundheitswesen erscheint es geboten, dass die Behandlungswege von Patienten mit Rückenschmerzen evaluiert werden. Creation-Date: 2020 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/209723/1/Fachartikel%20R%c3%bcckenschmerzen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Direkte Krankheitskosten, Indirekte Krankheitskosten, Prävalenz, chronische Rückenschmerzen, Krankheitskostenanalyse Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:209723 #END 924 #BEGIN 925 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Acocella, Nicola Author-Name: Beqiraj, Elton Author-Name: Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni Author-Name: Di Pietro, Marco Author-Name: Felici, Francesco Title: An evaluation of alternative fiscal adjustment plans Abstract: What advice can be given to the policymaker to reduce the burden of public debt after a crisis? In this situation, the debt consolidation calls for fiscal surplus based on increases in taxes and/or reductions in public spending. This paper aims at answering to the above question. Specifically, it evaluates different policy options on the table using the estimated model of the Italian dynamic General Equilibrium Model (IGEM). Our main message is that plans aimed at reducing the public debt based on tax increases rather than expenditure reductions are more effective. Therefore, consolidation should be designed on the former. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/209707/1/paper_clean.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E60, E62 Keywords: Austerity, Public debt, Output, Fiscal adjustment plans Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:209707 #END 925 #BEGIN 926 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bendelová, Marta Paula Title: Credit access and credit constraints of small farms in Slovakia Abstract: The small farmers are increasingly an irreplaceable part of Slovak agriculture. Therefore, it is important to identify their main credit constraints and to analyse their access to credit as this input belongs to one of the main factors of farther development of small, young and family farmers. In other words, their access to credit is crucial for the improvement of the Slovak agricultural sector as a whole. In this paper we specify the main sources of credit for small farmers in Slovakia, why there are some difficulties in credit acquisition and what are the main challenges of Slovak small, young and family farmers. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/209635/1/Credit%20access%20and%20credit%20constraits%20of%20small%20farms%20in%20Slovakia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q10, Q14, E51 Keywords: access to credit, credit constraints, sources of credit, small farmers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:209635 #END 926 #BEGIN 927 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen, Ha Trong Author-Name: Connelly, B. Luke Author-Name: Le, Huong Thu Author-Name: Mitrou, Francis Author-Name: Taylor, L. Catherine Author-Name: Zubrick, R. Stephen Title: Explaining the evolution of ethnicity differentials in academic achievements: The role of time investments Abstract: Children of Asian immigrants in most English-speaking destinations have better academic outcomes, yet the underlying causes of their advantages are under-studied. We employ panel time-use diaries by two cohorts of children observed over a decade to present new evidence that children of Asian immigrants begin spending more time than their peers on educational activities from school entry; and, that the ethnicity gap in the time allocated to educational activities increases over time. By specifying an augmented value-added model and invoking a quantile decomposition method, we find that the academic advantage of children of Asian immigrants is attributable mainly to their allocating more time to educational activities or their favorable initial cognitive abilities and not to socio-demographics or parenting styles. Furthermore, our results show substantial heterogeneity in the contributions of initial cognitive abilities and time allocations by test subjects, test ages and points of the test score distribution. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/209628/1/Nativity%20test%20score%20gap_ecostor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C21, I20, J13, J15, J22 Keywords: Migration, Test Score Gap, Time Use Diary, Quantile Regression, Second-generation Immigrants, Australia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:209628 #END 927 #BEGIN 928 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mause, Karsten Title: Governing Public-Private Partnerships: The Problem of Low-Cost Decisions Abstract: In many cases, the expected efficiency advantages of public-private partnership (PPP) projects as a specific form of infrastructure provision did not materialize ex post. From a Public Choice perspective, one simple explanation for many of the problems surrounding the governance of PPPs is that the public decision-makers being involved in the process of initiating and implementing PPP projects (namely, politicians and public bureaucrats) in many situations make low-cost decisions in the sense of Kirchgässner. That is, their decisions may have a high impact on the wealth of the jurisdiction in which the PPP is located (most notably, on the welfare of citizen-taxpayers in this jurisdiction) but, at the same time, these decisions often only have a low impact on the private welfare of the individual decision-makers in politics and bureaucracies. The latter, for example, in many settings often have a low economic incentive to monitor/control what the private sector partners are doing (or not doing) within a PPP arrangement. The purpose of this paper is to draw greater attention to the problems created by low-cost decisions for the governance of PPPs. Moreover, the paper discusses potential remedies arising from the viewpoint of Public Choice and constitutional political economy. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/209582/1/Mause_LowCost_2019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, D73, H10, H54, H57, H82, K00, L32, L33, L33 Keywords: Public-Private Partnerships, PPPs, Efficiency, Public Choice, Government Failure, Governance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:209582 #END 928 #BEGIN 929 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heinrich, Florian Author-Name: Appel, Franziska Author-Name: Balmann, Alfons Title: Can land market regulations fulfill their promises? Abstract: After land prices in Germany increased continuously since 2006, policy makers, representatives of farmers' unions, NGOs, and farmers started and continued to discuss or propose new land market regulations to stop price increases and to protect particularly smaller farmers. In this paper we analyze different types of regulations for the land rental market with the agent-based model AgriPoliS. Our simulation results show that price and farm size limitations may inhibit rental price increases and reduce structural change. The regulations do however not lead to a conservation in the number of small farms; neither do they have a substantial positive impact on their profitability and competitiveness. Many small farms still exit agricultural production and only few are able to grow into a larger size class. Beyond redistributional costs, e.g. beared by landowners, economic and social costs result from reduced average economic land rents, less regional value-added and less employment caused by a reduced functionality of the land market and biased incentives. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/208388/1/Heinrich_2019_Land_market_regulations.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q15, Q18, C63 Keywords: structural change, land market, land market regulation, agent-based modeling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:208388 DOI: 10.18452/20890 #END 929 #BEGIN 930 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lübbecke, Silvia Author-Name: Schnedler, Wendelin Title: Don't patronize me! An Experiment on Preferences for Authorship Abstract: Do people only reject interference and keep control in order to affect the outcome? We find that 20% of subjects reject unrequired help and insist on their solution to a problem-although doing so is costly and does not change the result. We tease out the motives by varying the information available to the interfering party (paternalist). Subjects do not resist to show to the paternalist that they were able to find the correct solution. Instead, two motives seem to play a role. First, subjects prefer to have produced or `authored' the solution themselves. Second, subjects desire to signal their authorship and hence their independence to the paternalist. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/208385/1/luebbecke-schnedler2019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, D82, D91 Keywords: self-esteem, image concerns, autonomy, competence, paternalism, self-determination, preference for authorship Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:208385 #END 930 #BEGIN 931 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen, Ha Trong Author-Name: Le, Huong Thu Author-Name: Connelly, Luke B. Title: Who’s declining the “free lunch”? New evidence from the uptake of public child dental benefits Abstract: Recent economic literature has advanced the notion that cognitive biases and behavioural barriers may be important influencers of uptake decisions in respect of public programs that are designed to help disadvantaged people. This paper provides the first evidence on the determinants of uptake of two recent public dental benefit programs for Australian children and adolescents from disadvantaged families. Using longitudinal data from a nationally representative survey linked to administrative data with accurate information on eligibility and uptake, we find that only a third of all eligible families actually claim their benefits. These actual uptake rates are about half of the targeted access rates that were announced for them. We provide new and robust evidence consistent with the idea that cognitive biases and behavioural factors are barriers to uptake. For instance, mothers with worse mental health or riskier lifestyles are much less likely to claim the available benefits for their children. These barriers to uptake are particularly large in magnitude: together they reduce the uptake rate by up to 10 percentage points (or 36%). We also find some indicative evidence that a lack of information is a barrier to uptake. The results are robust to a wide range of sensitivity checks, including controlling for possible endogenous sample selection. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/208378/1/access_child_dental_benefits_v8.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D91, H51, I12, I18, I38 Keywords: Government Programs, Impact Evaluation, Dental Health, Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs, Australia, Uptake, Take-up Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:208378 #END 931 #BEGIN 932 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kurmanov, Bakhytzhan Author-Name: Pena-Boquete, Yolanda Author-Name: Samambayeva, Aizhan Author-Name: Makhmejanov, Galym Title: Healthy Childhood in Kazakhstan: underweight and overweight Abstract: During the last 10 years, the prevalence of underweight has decreased considerably in Kazakhstan and, nowadays, it is set under 3% of the childs under 5 years old. However, the prevalence of overweight which was not important at all in the 90s, is reaching the 10% of children under 5, nowadays. This means that there is a co-existence between underweight and overweight in the same country and in the same regions. In order to design policies addressing both problems and avoiding policies which may solve underweight but worsting overweight, and vice versa, the aim of this paper is to analyze the socioeconomic determinants of the two problems. In order to estimate the determinants of underweight and overweight we run a logit model based on Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) database provided by UNICEF for Kazakhstan in 2006, 2010-2011, 2015. The probability of being underweight is quite low in the recent years so the fact that the family does not have the resources is not causing this problem. We should pay more attention to this variable, because the mother’s higher education is also associated with overweight. In the literature usually mother’s education tends to reduce the probability of being overweight, but this is not occurring in Kazakhstan. The probability of being overweight also increases for the wealth quintile 5th. It seems that richer families give bigger quantities or the food with more sugar and fat to the children. Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: I1, I15 Keywords: healthy childhood, inequality, socio-economic status, child overweight, child underweight Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:207954 #END 932 #BEGIN 933 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Salzmann, Leonard Title: The Impact of Uncertainty and Financial Shocks in Recessions and Booms Abstract: The literature has widely discussed the role of financial and economic uncertainty shocks for the macroeconomy. However, empirically isolating them is difficult and uncertainty is increasingly considered as endogenous with respect to financial and other shocks. To obtain a more complete picture I model financial and uncertainty shocks jointly in a state-dependent FAVAR setup and provide agnostic identification bounds on their effects. Results for the U.S. document that (i) uncertainty shocks are of limited relevance for real activity and asset prices in boom periods but have significantly contractionary effects in recessions. (ii) By comparison, financial shocks have higher explanatory power for asset prices and are contractionary both in recessions and boom periods. (iii) Financial conditions are key for understanding uncertainty shocks. (iv) Uncertainty transmits financial shocks to a notable degree in recessions. Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: E32, E44 Keywords: Macroeconomic tail events, nonlinear FAVARs, financial shocks Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:206691 #END 933 #BEGIN 934 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Şen, Hüseyin Author-Name: Kaya, Ayşe Title: Output-volatility reducing effect of automatic stabilizers: Evidence from nine EMU member states Abstract: In this paper, we explore the output-volatility reducing role of automatic stabilizers in the nine EMU member states comprising Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Spain for the period 1995-2017. Overall, the empirical results obtained by using the Pooled Mean Group estimator proposed by Pesaran et al. (1999) suggest that automatic stabilizers deliver a significant counter-effect on output volatility measured by the real GDP per capita volatility in the short run. More specifically, output-volatility responses to automatic stabilizers by a reduction between -1.2 and -9.7 percentage points depending on the proxy measure used for automatic stabilizers. However, the output-volatility reducing effect of automatic stabilizers is statistically insignificant in the long run. The results support the view that automatic stabilizers are an important fiscal mechanism for the short-run output stabilization, but their output-volatility offsetting role is largely subject to what the proxy measures are used for automatic stabilizers. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/206687/3/Automatic%20Stabilizers%20in%20EMU%20Member%20States--20Nov2019A.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E32, E62 Keywords: Automatic stabilizers, Fiscal policy, PMG estimator, EMU member states Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:206687 #END 934 #BEGIN 935 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shaar, Karam Title: Reconciling International Trade Data Abstract: International trade data are filled with discrepancies–where two countries report different values of trade with each other. I develop a novel trade data quality index for reconciling the discrepancies in bilateral trade data. I calculate the quality for each country’s imports and exports separately for every year from 1962 to 2016 and reconcile international trade data by picking the value reported by the country with higher data quality in every bilateral flow. The reconciled data reshape our views on international trade: (a) countries with low data quality under-report their imports and exports: low-quality reporters are 14% more open to trade using reconciled data; (b) corruption, the level of development, and erroneous reporting can explain data quality; (c) importers’ data are more accurate; (d) China tends to under-report its exports and over-report its imports, while there is only a small difference between US self-reported and reconciled data. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/206629/3/edited%20version%20Nov%202019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F01, C20, C18 Keywords: Trade data quality, Data discrepancy, Trade data reconciliation, International trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:206629 #END 935 #BEGIN 936 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Financial Development and Tax Revenue in Developing Countries: Investigating the International Trade and Economic Growth Channels Abstract: This study examines the effect of financial development on non-resource tax revenue performance in developing countries, including through the international trade and economic growth channels. Using a sample of 104 developing countries over the period 1980-2014, the empirical analysis shows that financial development exerts a positive effect on non-resource tax revenue performance. Interestingly, this positive effect takes place through higher trade openness, greater export product diversification, higher share of manufactured exports in total export products, and higher economic growth rate. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/206628/1/Financial%20Development%20and%20Tax%20Revenue.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, G20, H20 Keywords: Non-resource tax revenue, financial development, trade openness, export product diversification, manufacturing exports, economic growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:206628 #END 936 #BEGIN 937 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Würtenberger, Daniel Title: Index Based Insurance in Developing Countries: Rational Neglect? Abstract: Microinsurance adoption in developing countries is low, despite its potential to foster economic growth. Recent research is not able to explain the low demand within the neoclassical framework. I contribute to this stream of research by proposing rational as well as boundedly rational explanations for the low attractiveness of microinsurance within a stochastic framework. More precisely, I analyze weather index insurance. My model makes separate predictions for close farmers, whose location is near a weather station, and distant farmers. Results show that the latter ask for less than 50% insurance coverage even under perfect rationality. I extend the model by integrating incorrect beliefs. I can show that a lack of trust reduces insurance demand most for close farmers, while a lack of knowledge about the insurance negatively affects the demand of distant farmers. Moreover, subsidies are more effective for close than for distant farmers. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/206408/1/Index%20Based%20Insurance%20in%20Developing%20Countries%20Rational%20Neglect%20%28main%20document%20RDE%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G22, D91, Q12, O13, O16 Keywords: index insurance, basis risk, microinsurance, developing countries, understanding of insurance products, trust in insurer Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:206408 #END 937 #BEGIN 938 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cazachevici, Alina Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Horvath, Roman Title: Remittances and Economic Growth: A Quantitative Survey Abstract: Expatriate workers’ remittances represent an important source of financing for low- and middle-income countries. No consensus, however, has yet emerged regarding the effect of remittances on economic growth. In a quantitative survey of 538 estimates reported in 95 studies, we find that approximately 40% of the studies report a positive effect, 40% report no effect, and 20% report a negative effect. Our results indicate publication bias in favor of positive effects. Correcting for the bias using recently developed techniques, we find that the mean effect of remittances on growth is still positive but economically small. Nevertheless, our results uncover noticeable regional differences: remittances are growth-enhancing in Asia but not in Africa. Studies that do not control for alternative sources of external finance, such as foreign aid and foreign direct investment, mismeasure the effect of remittances. Finally, time-series studies and studies ignoring endogeneity issues report systematically larger effects of remittances on growth. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/205812/1/remittances_meta_final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D22, E58, G21, F63 Keywords: remittances, economic growth, meta-analysis, publication bias, Bayesian model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:205812 #END 938 #BEGIN 939 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nguyen, Ha Trong Author-Name: Connelly, Luke Author-Name: Le, Huong Thu Author-Name: Mitrou, Francis Author-Name: Taylor, Catherine L. Author-Name: Zubrick, Stephen R. Title: Sources of ethnicity differences in non-cognitive development in children and adolescents Abstract: In most multi-cultural Anglo-Saxon countries, children of Asian immigrants have higher academic achievement than children of native-born parents. Yet, little is known about their relative non-cognitive performance. This study is the first to compare the non-cognitive skills of children of Asian immigrants and children of native-born Australian parents and seek to understand the evolution of non-cognitive skills. We find large differences in non-cognitive skill development between children of Asian immigrants and children of parents from other ethnicity groups. Furthermore, the nativity gaps in non-cognitive skills vary significantly by informants of non-cognitive skills, types of non-cognitive skills and children’s ages. According to teacher ratings, children of Asian immigrants are found to excel in almost all non-cognitive attributes, particularly after school entry ages. By contrast, Asian immigrant parents rated their children lower in some selected non-cognitive attributes and at early ages. Adopting a cumulative value-added regression model and an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method, this paper shows differences in initial child non-cognitive abilities, parenting styles and children’s time allocations are the most important factors explaining the ethnic non-cognitive skill gap. Moreover, ethnic differences in parenting styles and children’s time allocations both contribute to reducing the ethnic gap in non-cognitive skills. By contrast, differences in other child or household characteristics explain very little of the ethnic non-cognitive skill gap. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/205801/1/Nativity%20non_cognitive%20skill%20gap.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J13, J15, J22, J24 Keywords: Migration, Non-cognitive skills, Time Use Diary, Second-generation Immigrants, Australia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:205801 #END 939 #BEGIN 940 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Author-Name: Preuss, Hans-Joachim Title: Benin's stealthy democracide: How Africa's model democracy kills itself bit by bit Abstract: A 'democratic recession' is to be observed, which is not restricted to Sub-Sahara Africa but spreads worldwide since the beginning of the 21st century. Instead of concentrating on the outward appearance of a democratic form of government, greater attention should be paid to good governance and the stealthy erosion of democratic institutions, even in formerly shining examples and African 'model democracies' like Benin and Senegal. It went along with the rise of populist new nationalism and lack of regard of the concerned for the need to defend democracy actively. The lingering process of the decline of democratic institutions is driven by increasingly poor governance and disregard for the rule of law and transparency, which has been especially pronounced in African countries since the early 2000s. On the other hand, recent examples of African social movements that successfully campaigned for a democratic renaissance in Africa and elsewhere are promising indicators of progressive social forces that counteract global trends of the resurgence of right-wing nationalism and autocratic rule. Abstract: RÉSUMÉ : On observe une «récession démocratique» qui ne se limite pas à l’Afrique subsaharienne mais s’étend à l’échelle mondiale depuis le début du XXIe siècle. Au lieu de se concentrer sur l’apparence extérieure d’une forme de gouvernement démocratique, il faudrait accorder une plus grande attention à la bonne gouvernance et à l’érosion furtive des institutions démocratiques, même dans les exemples jadis brillants et les «démocraties modèles» africaines comme le Bénin et le Sénégal. Cela a coïncidé avec la montée d'un nouveau nationalisme populiste et le manque de vigilance des personnes concernées quant à la nécessité de défendre activement la démocratie. Le processus persistant du déclin des insti-tutions démocratiques s’explique par une gouvernance de plus en plus médiocre et le mépris de l’état de droit et de la transparence, qui se fait particulièrement sentir dans les pays africains depuis le début des années 2000. D'autre part, des exemples récents de mouve-ments sociaux africains qui ont mené avec succès une renaissance démocratique en Afrique et ailleurs sont des indicateurs prometteurs de forces sociales progressistes qui vont à l’encontre des tendances mondiales à la résurgence d’un nationalisme de droite et des ré-gimes autocratiques. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZUSAMMENFASSUNG : Es ist eine "demokratische Rezession" zu beobachten, die sich nicht nur auf Afrika südlich der Sahara beschränkt, sondern sich seit Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts weltweit ausbreitet. Anstatt sich auf das äußere Erscheinungsbild einer demokratischen Regierungsform zu konzentrieren, sollte der verantwortungsvollen Regierungsführung und der heimlichen Erosion demokratischer Institutionen größere Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt werden, selbst in früheren Vorbildern und afrikanischen „Modelldemokratien“ wie Benin und Senegal. Dies geht einher mit dem Aufkommen eines populistischen neuen Nationalismus und dem mangelnden Augenmerk auf die Notwendigkeit, die Demokratie aktiv zu verteidigen. Der anhaltende Niedergang der demokratischen Institutionen ist auf eine zunehmend mangelhafte Regierungsführung und die Missachtung von Rechtsstaatlichkeit und Transparenz zurückzuführen, die in den afrikanischen Ländern seit Anfang der 2000er Jahre besonders ausgeprägt ist. Andererseits sind afrikanischer soziale Bewegungen, die sich erfolgreich für eine demokratische Renaissance in Afrika und anderswo einsetzen, vielversprechende Indikatoren für fortschrittliche soziale Kräfte, die globalen Trends des Wiederauflebens eines rechten Nationalismus und autokratischer Herrschaft entgegenwirken. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/205259/1/KOHNERT%26PREUSS2019.Benin%27s%20stealthy%20democracide.WP.10.10.19.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, K15, K16, N47, N97, Z13 Keywords: Benin, Democratization, Senegal, Togo, democratic recession, social movements, governance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:205259 #END 940 #BEGIN 941 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: The ethics of African regional and continental integration Abstract: The decision of African leaders on the creation of an African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018 was not merely a political decision with economic implications. It has significant and complex ethical dimensions too. This, not only concerning a possible trade-off between economic growth and well-being, employment, the depletion of natural resources and related ecological and gender problems. AfCFTA will also impact on growing xenophobia, nationalism and populism, the likely outcome of growing capital and labour mobility Abstract: RÉSUMÉ : La décision des dirigeants africains de créer une zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECA) en 2018 n'était pas une simple décision politique ayant des implications économiques. Il comporte également des dimensions éthiques importantes et complexes. Cela ne concerne pas seulement un éventuel compromis entre croissance économique et bien-être, emploi, épuisement des ressources naturelles et problèmes écologiques et de genre connexes. Le ZLECA aura également un impact sur la xénophobie, le nationalisme et le populisme, conséquence probable de la croissance des capitaux et de la mobilité de la main-d'œuvre. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZUSAMMENFASSUNG : Die Entscheidung der afrikanischen Staats- und Regierungschefs zur Schaffung einer Pan-Afrikanischen Freihandelszone (AfCFTA) im Jahr 2018 war nicht nur eine politische Entscheidung mit wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen. Sie hat auch bedeutende ethische Dimensionen. Dies betrifft nicht nur einen möglichen Kompromiß zwischen Wirtschaftswachstum und Wohlergehen, Beschäftigung, Erschöpfung der natürlichen Ressourcen und damit verbundenen ökologischen und geschlechtsspezifischen Problemen. Die AfCFTA wird sich auch auf die Ausbreitung von Fremdenfeindlichkeit, Nationalismus und Populismus auswirken, die sich wahrscheinlich aus der Zunahme der Kapital- und Arbeitskräftemobilität ergibt. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/205257/1/Kohnert-2019.Ethics%20of%20African%20regional%20integration.DRAFT.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F15, F22, F35, F52, F54, N17, N37, N97, O2, O55, Z13 Keywords: AfCFTA, Regional integration, ethics, international trade, protectionism, nationalism, xenphobia, African Studies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:205257 #END 941 #BEGIN 942 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Groß, Jonas Author-Name: Herz, Bernhard Author-Name: Schiller, Jonathan Title: Libra - Concept and Policy Implications Abstract: The announcement of the Libra Association to issue a private global currency has triggered a heated debate about the concomitantadvantages and risks. Proponents expectLibra to unfetter money from its "governmental chains" and liberalize and cheapen monetary transactions around the globe. Opponents argue that a private currency imposes unforeseeable risks forboth individualsand the whole financial system. Furthermore, Libra could hamper monetary policies of national central banks. This paper contributes to the debate in two ways. First, we offer a comprehensive overview of the concept of Libra and its possible benefits and downsides to analyze its market potential. Second, we discuss potential implications that a private currency as Libra poses for monetary policy and financial regulation. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/205241/1/WP_02-19.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E42, E52, G28 Keywords: Libra, Cryptocurrency, Monetary Policy, Currency Regime Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:205241 #END 942 #BEGIN 943 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eicke, Anselm Author-Name: Khanna, Tarun Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Locational investment signals in electricity markets - How to steer the siting of new generation capacity? Abstract: The location of new power generation capacity has a significant effect on the need for transmission infrastructure. Newly constructed power plants that are located far from consumption centers increase network losses, investment, and potentially congestion. In addition, lack of public acceptance for transmission extension may increase the relevance of geographical steering of generation investments. The primary objective of this paper is to compare the regulatory instruments that provide locational investment signals. We cluster these instruments into the five groups locational electricity markets, deep grid connection charges, grid usage charges, capacity mechanisms, and renewable energy support schemes. We discuss properties of these instruments and then review their use in twelve major power systems, including a quantitative estimate of their strength. We find that most power systems use multiple instruments in parallel and that there is a lack of consensus regarding how to steer generation capacity. The results also indicate that the efficacy of many instruments is reduced due to a lack of credibility, low levels of transparency, and insufficient spatial and temporal granularity. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/205237/1/Locational%20Investment%20Signals%20for%20Power%20Generation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q48, Q41 Keywords: Investment signal, Generators, Network infrastracture, Locational steering, Regulation, Locational electricity market, Grid usage charge, Grid connection charge, Capacity mechanism, Renewable energy support scheme Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:205237 Note: Please cite as: Eicke, Anselm, Tarun Khanna & Lion Hirth (2020): “Locational investment signals in electricity markets: How to steer the location of new power generation capacity”, The Energy Journal 41(6), 281-304, https://doi.org/10.5547/01956574.41.6.aeic – The accepted manuscript (postprint version) is avaiable here: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/219543 #END 943 #BEGIN 944 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chen, Zhengyang Title: The Long-term Rate and Interest Rate Volatility in Monetary Policy Transmission Abstract: The federal funds rate became uninformative about the stance of monetary policy from December 2008 to November 2015. During the same period, unconventional monetary policy actions, like large-scale asset purchases, show the Federal Reserve’s intention to depress longer-term interest rates. This paper considers a long-term real interest rate as an alternative monetary policy indicator in a structural VAR framework. Based on an event study of FOMC announcements, I advance a novel measure of long-term interest rate volatility with important implication for monetary policy identification. I find that monetary policy shocks identified with this volatility measure drive significant swings in credit market sentiments and real output. In contrast, monetary policy shocks identified by otherwise standard unexpected policy rate changes lead to muted responses of financial frictions and production. Our results support the validity of the risk-taking channel and suggest an indispensable role of financial markets in monetary policy transmission. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/204579/1/chap1_publish_V7.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E3, E4, E5 Keywords: Monetary policy transmission, Structural VAR, Risk-taking channel, High-frequency identification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:204579 #END 944 #BEGIN 945 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Radecke, Julia Author-Name: Hefele, Joseph Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Markets for Local Flexibility in Distribution Networks Abstract: The three D’s of the energy transformation – decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization – provide both chal-lenges and opportunities for distribution grids. Small-scale generation, batteries, electric heating, and e-mobility may put grids under considerable strain. However, if operated smartly, they also represent a deep pool of flexibility that can help grid operators relieve congestion and defer investment. One way of incentivizing such resources is to implement local markets for flexibility. In Europe, at least two dozen research pilots, stakeholder initiatives, and business cases have proposed specific designs for such markets. This paper provides an overview and analysis of these proposals. With many proposals being poorly documented, we largely rely on interviews for details on market design. We find that only one third of proposals allow free price formation, hence, despite their names, most are not what we consider a market. None of the proposals aims to replace existing congestion management mechanisms; rather they are meant as complementary tools. Usually markets employ dispatch payments; only few remunerate the reservation of flexibility availability. Though most proposals acknowledge market power and strategic interaction with other electricity markets (“inc-dec gaming”), few have developed concrete measures to address these problems. As they are in an early stage of development, market designs may still evolve. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/204559/1/Radecke%2c%20Hefele%20%26%20Hirth%202019%20-%20Markets%20for%20Local%20Flexibility%20in%20Distribution%20Networks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:204559 #END 945 #BEGIN 946 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kurt, Ozan Ekin Title: Functional income distribution, capacity utilization, capital accumulation and productivity growth in Turkey: A post-Kaleckian analysis Abstract: The aim of this article is to examine the relation between functional income distribution, capacity utilization, capital accumulation and productivity in Turkey by identifying demand and overall regimes prevalent in the economy. For that purpose, we conduct an empirical analysis using different specifications of the post-Kaleckian model of Hein and Tarassow (2010). Depending on the specification employed, empirical findings point at two types of demand and overall regimes that might be prevailing in Turkey. In case of an intermediate demand regime along with a type of intermediate overall regime, pro-labor policies lead to an increase in the rates of capacity utilization and productivity growth, but a decline in the rate of accumulation. However, if a profit-led demand regime accompanied with an expansive overall regime rules, these policies are expected to lead to a fall in all these three variables. The findings show that, independent of specification, a higher profit share has a positive impact on the rate of accumulation; however, the effects on the rates of capacity utilization and productivity growth vary in sign and magnitude, though the latter are less than unity in absolute value. The article contributes to the literature by being the first study that simultaneously identifies demand and overall regimes of an economy. Creation-Date: 2019 Keywords: Functional income distribution, growth, post-Keynesian economics, Turkey Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:204532 #END 946 #BEGIN 947 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mause, Karsten Title: Governance im Politikfeld Wirtschaftspolitik Abstract: Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über den Themenkomplex "wirtschaftspolitische Governance". Dieser Begriff dient in Volkswirtschaftslehre und benachbarten Sozialwissenschaften als Ober-/Sammelbegriff unter dem üblicherweise alle Aktivitäten subsumiert werden, die wirtschaftspolitische Akteure entfalten, um das Wirtschaftssystem, einzelne Märkte darin oder bestimmte Wirtschaftsakteure (z.B. Unternehmen, Konsumenten) zu steuern. Neben einer genaueren Klärung des Governance-Begriffs und der Vorstellung von wirtschaftspolitischen Governance-Instrumenten und -Akteuren wird diskutiert, warum bzw. in welchen Situationen wirtschaftspolitische Governance notwendig ist. Diese Fragestellung ist Gegenstand einer anhaltenden, in Politik, Öffentlichkeit und den Sozialwissenschaften geführten Debatte. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/204517/1/Mause_Governance_2019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, D78, E6, H1, L51, P16 Keywords: Governance, Wirtschaftspolitik, Politische Ökonomie, Policy-Forschung, Politikfeldanalyse, Marktversagen, Staatstätigkeit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:204517 #END 947 #BEGIN 948 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Holden, Tom D. Title: Existence and uniqueness of solutions to dynamic models with occasionally binding constraints Abstract: Policy makers would like to prevent self-fulfilling fluctuations. Given the prevalence of occasionally binding constraints (OBCs) such as the zero lower bound (ZLB), this requires understanding the determinacy of models with OBCs. To this end, we derive existence and uniqueness conditions for otherwise linear models with OBCs. Our main result gives necessary and sufficient conditions for such a model to have a unique perfect foresight solution returning to a given steady state, for any initial condition. We show that while standard New Keynesian models with a ZLB possess multiple perfect-foresight paths eventually escaping the ZLB, price level targeting restores determinacy. Creation-Date: 2019 Revision-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/204472/1/TheoryPaperBody.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C62, E3, E4, E5 Keywords: occasionally binding constraints, zero lower bound, existence, uniqueness, price targeting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144570 #END 948 #BEGIN 949 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mause, Karsten Title: Homo Oeconomicus im Treibhaus Erde: Umweltpolitische Herausforderungen aus polit-ökonomischer Perspektive Abstract: Dieser Beitrag macht auf drei umweltpolitische Herausforderungen aufmerksam, die im gegenwärtigen Diskurs zum Themenkomplex Klima- und Umweltschutz zumeist nur am Rande und lediglich ansatzweise behandelt werden. Abschnitt 2 erörtert, inwiefern "Fake News" ein Problem für Umweltpolitik darstellen. Abschnitt 3 befasst sich mit der Frage, wie mit den in einigen umweltpolitischen Kontexten weiterhin bestehenden "Knowing-Doing Gaps" umgegangen werden kann. Abschnitt 4 weist schließlich auf die Schwierigkeiten einer globalen und gerechten Umweltpolitik hin. Diese Herausforderungen werden aus einer polit-ökonomischen Perspektive, genauer gesagt aus Sicht der Neuen Politischen Ökonomie betrachtet. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/204471/1/Mause_HOEC_2019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, F64, H23, P16, P18, Q5, Q54 Keywords: Klima- und Umweltschutz, Umweltpolitik, Umweltökonomik, Neue Politische Ökonomie Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:204471 #END 949 #BEGIN 950 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Making America Great Again Abstract: Trump has promised to ‘make America great again’. As a self-proclaimed expert on everything of import, he knows exactly how to increase domestic investment and consumption, boost exports, reduce the country’s trade deficit, expand employment and bolster wages. And as America’s leader-and-policymaker-in-chief, he has taken the necessary steps to achieve every one of these goals, or so he says. Capitalists and pundits follow him like imprinted ducks. His tweets rattle markets, his announcements are dissected by academics and his utterances are analysed to exhaustion by various media. A visiting alien might infer that he actually runs the world. And the alien wouldn’t be alone. The earthly population too, conditioned by ivory-tower academics and popular opinion makers, tends to think of political figureheads as ‘leaders’ and ‘policymakers’. Situated at the ‘commanding heights’ of their respective nation states and international organizations, these ‘leaders’ supposedly set the rules, make policies, steer their societies and determine the course of history. Or at least that’s the belief. The reality, though, is quite different. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/204466/1/20190924_bn_making_america_great_again_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E61, F13, F1, P16, F23, F51, D3, O24 Keywords: America's decline, capitalist mode of power, economic policy, Trump Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:204466 #END 950 #BEGIN 951 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gächter, Martin Author-Name: Geiger, Martin Author-Name: Stöckl, Sebastian Title: Credit intermediation and the transmission of macro-financial uncertainty: International evidence Abstract: We examine the transmission of global macro-financial uncertainty to economic activity depending on the current state of the banking sector. Previous literature suggests that credit supply and uncertainty shocks are important drivers of economic activity, but the distinction between the two is empirically challenging. In this paper, we introduce a new, but surprisingly simple measure of macro-financial uncertainty at the global level while the state of credit intermediation is being captured on the country level. Macro-financial uncertainty generally exerts adverse effects on economic growth in a sample of advanced economies. We find, however, that a shock to uncertainty is strongly reinforced when credit intermediation is distressed. In addition, we show that both macroeconomic and financial market uncertainty are associated with lower economic activity, although the latter exerts stronger effects. State-dependency of the effects is prevalent in both cases. Our findings have important policy implications, highlighting both the state of the banking sector as well as the origin of uncertainty as crucial factors in the transmission of uncertainty. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/204444/1/LIAP_63_Geiger_Uncertainty.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D80, E32, E44, G21 Keywords: uncertainty, credit intermediation, local projection method, state-dependency Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:204444 DOI: 10.13091/li-ap-63 #END 951 #BEGIN 952 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao, Tim Title: The Valuation of Financial Derivatives Subject to Counterparty Risk and Credit Value Adjustment Abstract: This article presents a generic model for pricing financial derivatives subject to counterparty credit risk. Both unilateral and bilateral types of credit risks are considered. Our study shows that credit risk should be modeled as American style options in most cases, which require a backward induction valuation. To correct a common mistake in the literature, we emphasize that the market value of a defaultable derivative is actually a risky value rather than a risk-free value. Credit value adjustment (CVA) is also elaborated. A practical framework is developed for pricing defaultable derivatives and calculating their CVAs at a portfolio level. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/204279/1/derivativeCVA%20-13.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, G21, G12, G24, G32, G33, G18, G28 Keywords: credit value adjustment (CVA), credit risk modeling, financial derivative valuation, collateralization, margin and netting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:204279 #END 952 #BEGIN 953 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schaubert, Marianna Title: Behavioral Response of Non-Resident Parents to Child Support Obligations: Evidence From SOEP Abstract: The present paper investigates how parents responsible for child maintenance payments have responded to changes in the amount of obligations. The potential endogeneity of child support obligations is addressed by using SOEP panel data from 1985-2013 and applying individual FE-IV models. Results for parents younger than 50 years old show that a euro 10 increase in monthly child support obligations decreases the likelihood of having an additional child by about 0.39 percentage points (about 3% at the sample mean). Furthermore, an increase in financial obligations does not have an impact on the likelihood of cohabiting with a new partner or on hours spent with children entitled to child support. There is only weak evidence of a positive (re)marriage incentive. There seems to be no adjustment in the parent's labor supply. To my knowledge, the present investigation is the first causal analysis of the behavioral response of non-resident parents to child support obligations in Germany. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/203675/1/Schaubert_2018WorkingPaper_CSObligations.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J12, J13, J16, K36 Keywords: Child support, Child support policy, Non-resident parents, Labor Supply, Childcare Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:203675 #END 953 #BEGIN 954 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cao, Qian Author-Name: Li, Jianbiao Author-Name: Niu, Xiaofei Title: The role of overconfidence in overweighting private information: Does gender matter? Abstract: This paper analyzes gender differences of overweighting private information in a social learning game. The results show that male participants’ fraction of choosing in line with private signal is significantly higher than female, i.e. men are more likely to follow their own private information than women. This gender effect is primarily salient in the incongruent rounds where a participant receives a private signal that is against with majority of the public information. However, no significant gender differences of overweighting private information are found in the congruent rounds where a participant receives a private signal that matches with majority of public information. In addition, we find that overweighting private information is positively correlated with overconfidence; men are more overconfident than women; a mediation analysis reveals that overconfidence explains the gender differences of overweighting private information. Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: C91, D81 Keywords: overweighting private information, gender, overconfidence Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:203448 #END 954 #BEGIN 955 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao, Tim Title: The Valuation of Credit Default Swap with Counterparty Risk and Collateralization Abstract: This article presents a new model for valuing a credit default swap (CDS) contract that is affected by multiple credit risks of the buyer, seller and reference entity. We show that default dependency has a significant impact on asset pricing. In fact, correlated default risk is one of the most pervasive threats in financial markets. We also show that a fully collateralized CDS is not equivalent to a risk-free one. In other words, full collateralization cannot eliminate counterparty risk completely in the CDS market. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/203447/1/pricing%20defaultable%20cds-12.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: valuation model, credit risk modeling, collateralization, correlation, CDS Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:203447 #END 955 #BEGIN 956 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gechert, Sebastian Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Kolcunova, Dominika Title: Death to the Cobb-Douglas Production Function? A Quantitative Survey of the Capital-Labor Substitution Elasticity Abstract: We show that the large elasticity of substitution between capital and labor estimated in the literature on average, 0.9, can be explained by three factors: publication bias, use of aggregated data, and omission of the first-order condition for capital. The mean elasticity conditional on the absence of publication bias, disaggregated data, and inclusion of information from the first-order condition for capital is 0.3. To obtain this result, we collect 3,186 estimates of the elasticity reported in 121 studies, codify 71 variables that reflect the context in which researchers produce their estimates, and address model uncertainty by Bayesian and frequentist model averaging. We employ nonlinear techniques to correct for publication bias, which is responsible for at least half of the overall reduction in the mean elasticity from 0.9 to 0.3. Our findings also suggest that a failure to normalize the production function leads to a substantial upward bias in the estimated elasticity. The weight of evidence accumulated in the empirical literature emphatically rejects the Cobb-Douglas specification. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/203136/1/main_SG.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, E23, O14 Keywords: Elasticity of substitution, capital, labor, publication bias, model uncertainty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:203136 #END 956 #BEGIN 957 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao, Tim Title: The Valuation of Interest Rate Swap with Bilateral Counterparty Risk Abstract: This paper presents an analytical model for valuing interest rate swaps, subject to bilateral counterparty credit risk. The counterparty defaults are modeled by the reduced-form model as the first jump of a time-inhomogeneous Poisson process. All quantities modeled are market-observable. The closed-form solution gives us a better understanding of the impact of the credit asymmetry on swap value, credit value adjustment, swap rate and swap spread. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/203135/1/defaultable-swap-valuation-11.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, G21, G12, G24, G32, G33, G18, G28 Keywords: defaultable interest rate swap, bilateral defaultable claim, credit asymmetry, market models, Black model, LIBOR market model, reduced-form model, credit value adjustment, swap spread Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:203135 #END 957 #BEGIN 958 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaiser, Tim Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Seeber, Günther Title: Measuring Economic Competence of Secondary School Students in Germany Abstract: We introduce a test of economic competence for German-speaking secondary school students and provide evidence from a large-scale assessment with 6,230 students from grades seven to ten. The article presents the development and psychometric properties of the scale, as well as an investigation of predictors of economic competence. We find evidence of a gender gap favoring male students, lower scores for students with a migration background, and parents’ socioeconomic background being a predictor of test performance. Additionally, we document sizeable differences between tracks, as well as gains in economic competence across grades in the order of magnitude of 0.06 to 0.2 standard deviations per year. The article concludes with perspectives on an impact evaluation of a curriculum reform introducing mandatory economic education in secondary school. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202639/1/TEC_190731.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21 Keywords: economic competence, economic literacy, item response theory, school economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202639 #END 958 #BEGIN 959 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao, Tim Title: Bilateral Defaultable Financial Derivatives Pricing and Credit Valuation Adjustment Abstract: The one-side defaultable financial derivatives valuation problems have been studied extensively, but the valuation of bilateral derivatives with asymmetric credit qualities is still lacking convincing mechanism. This paper presents an analytical model for valuing derivatives subject to default by both counterparties. The default-free interest rates are modeled by the Market Models, while the default time is modeled by the reduced-form model as the first jump of a time-inhomogeneous Poisson process. All quantities modeled are market-observable. The closed-form solution gives us a better understanding of the impact of the credit asymmetry on swap value, credit value adjustment, swap rate and swap spread. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202549/1/valuing-defaultable-derivatives-10.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C52, C63, D46, G12, G13 Keywords: bilateral defaultable derivatives, credit asymmetry, market models, Black model, LIBOR market model, reduced-form model, credit valuation adjustment, swap spread Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202549 #END 959 #BEGIN 960 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jackson, Emerson Abraham Author-Name: Tamuke, Edmund Title: Predicting disaggregated tourist arrivals in Sierra Leone using ARIMA model Abstract: This study have uniquely mad use of Box-Jenkins ARIMA models to address the core of the threes objectives set out in view of the focus to add meaningful value to knowledge exploration. The outcome of the research have testify the achievements of this through successful nine months out-of-sample forecasts produced from the program codes, with indicating best model choices from the empirical estimation. In addition, the results also provide description of risks produced from the uncertainty Fan Chart, which clearly outlined possible downside and upside risks to tourist visitations in the country. In the conclusion, it was suggested that downside risks to the low level tourist arrival can be managed through collaboration between authorities concerned with the management of tourist arrivals in the country. Abstract: Cette étude utilise de manière particulièrement insensée les modèles ARIMA de Box-Jenkins pour répondre au cœur des trois objectifs définis en vue d’ajouter une valeur significative à l’exploration du savoir. Les résultats de la recherche témoignent des résultats obtenus grâce aux prévisions hors échantillons de neuf mois obtenues avec succès par les codes de programme, en indiquant les meilleurs choix de modèle à partir de l'estimation empirique. En outre, les résultats fournissent également une description des risques issus du graphique d'incertitude relatif à l'incertitude, qui décrit clairement les risques potentiels de baisse et de hausse pour les touristes en visite dans le pays. En conclusion, il a été suggéré que les autorités concernées par la gestion des arrivées de touristes dans le pays puissent gérer les risques liés aux arrivées de touristes de faible niveau. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202547/1/Tourist_Hol_Update.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C32, C52, C53, L83 Keywords: ARIMA Methodology, Out-of-Sample Forecast, Tourist Arrivals, Sierra Leone Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202547 #END 960 #BEGIN 961 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Milling, Marc Title: Contribution Accounting – a planning and controlling tool to observe costs and profit achievements within management decisions Abstract: Management decisions must be based on financial data, drawn up by controlling. Especially when it comes to strategic decisions the target is to achieve a comprehensive overview of financial issues like costs and related profits on which to base management decision. In summarisation accountants have not only to collect financial data, they have to contrast costs and benefits as far as risks and opportunities. A clear and transparent contribution accounting should be the central cost controlling instrument, according to business fields and cost centres. So, it is getting possible to ensure that the resources are efficiently allocated as a result of a proper management decision. The following article introduces contribution accounting as an important tool to support management decisions regarding cost planning and cost cutting in educational institutions. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202322/3/Contribution%20Accounting%20%e2%80%93%20a%20planning%20and%20controlling%20tool%20to%20observe%20costs%20and%20profit%20achievements%20within%20management%20decisions%20%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M21 Keywords: Contribution Accounting, Management Decisions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202322 #END 961 #BEGIN 962 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Milling, Marc Title: Performance Management in educational institutions – the Balanced Scorecard as a holistic management approach for steering and managing educational institutions Abstract: Effectiveness and efficiency oriented thinking supplements more and more management decisions in the educational context. This development is not only based on socio-economic changes like the decreasement of public funds. The market of educational services grows also constantly and privat companies are heating the competition.The crucial challenge lies within the architecture of the performance management. What kind of figure systems fits best? How to execute a set strategy and of course how to control the achievement? Hence, to draw a comprehensive picture of the situation of an educational institution, the controlling must also deal with soft-facts like teaching or process quality, even motivation and capability of the staff are playing a vital role. The Balanced Scorecard in its adaption to the specific needs of an educational institution seems to be a fruitful approach to tackle these multidimensional steering requirements. The following article is going to discuss the benefits and the success factors of the Balanced Scorecard as a systemic management approach to be understood as a center of management navigation for educational institutions. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202321/3/Performance%20Management%20in%20educational%20institutions%20%20%e2%80%93%20the%20Balanced%20Scorecard%20as%20a%20holistic%20management%20approach%20for%20steering%20and%20managing%20educational%20institutions%20%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M10 Keywords: Performance Controlling, Management of Educational Institutions, Balanced Scorecard Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202321 #END 962 #BEGIN 963 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baiardi, Donatella Title: Do sustainable energy policies matter for reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Creation-Date: 2019 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202077 #END 963 #BEGIN 964 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cloete, Schalk Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Flexible power and hydrogen production: Finding synergy between CCS and variable renewables Abstract: Capital-intensive CO2 capture plants become uneconomical at the low running hours implied by a renewables-based power system. To address this challenge, the novel gas switching reforming (GSR) power and hydrogen plant was recently proposed. When electricity is scarce, GSR generates power. When electricity is abundant, rather than shutting down, GSR keeps operating and produces hydrogen instead, maintaining a high capacity factor for all CO2 capture, transport, and storage infrastructure. This study assesses the interplay between this flexible GSR technology and variable renewables using a power system model. The model optimizes investment and hourly dispatch of 13 different technologies to minimize total system costs. Results show that the inclusion of GSR brings substantial benefits relative to conventional CO2 capture. When a CO2 price of €100/ton is implemented, inclusion of GSR increases the optimal wind and solar share from 32% to 47%, lowers total system costs by 8%, and reduces total system emissions from 45 to 4 kgCO2/MWh. In addition, GSR produces clean hydrogen equivalent to about 90% of total electricity demand, which can be used to decarbonize transport and industry. GSR could therefore become a key enabling technology for a decarbonization effort led by wind and solar power. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202076/1/GSR%20system-scale%20v15.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202076 Note: Please cite as: Cloete, Schalk & Lion Hirth (2020): “Flexible power and hydrogen production: Finding synergy between CCS and variable renewables”, Energy 192, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116671. #END 964 #BEGIN 965 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao,Tim Title: Pricing Financial Derivatives Subject to Multilateral Credit Risk and Collateralization Abstract: This article presents a new model for valuing financial contracts subject to credit risk and collateralization. Examples include the valuation of a credit default swap (CDS) contract that is affected by the trilateral credit risk of the buyer, seller and reference entity. We show that default dependency has a significant impact on asset pricing. In fact, correlated default risk is one of the most pervasive threats in financial markets. We also show that a fully collateralized CDS is not equivalent to a risk-free one. In other words, full collateralization cannot eliminate counterparty risk completely in the CDS market. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202075/1/pricing%20credit%20risk-9.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, G21, G12, G24, G32, G33, G18, G28 Keywords: asset pricing, credit risk modeling, collateralization, comvariance, comrelation, correlation, CDS Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202075 #END 965 #BEGIN 966 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stephany, Fabian Author-Name: Lorenz, Hanno Title: Back to the Future - Changing Job Profiles in the Digital Age Abstract: The uniqueness of human labour is at question in times of smart technologies. The 250 years-old discussion on technological unemployment reawakens. Frey and Osborne (2013) estimate that half of US employment will be automated by algorithms within the next 20 years. Other follow-up studies conclude that only a small fraction of workers will be replaced by digital technologies. The main contribution of our work is to show that the diversity of previous findings regarding the degree of job automation is, to a large extent, driven by model selection and not by controlling for personal characteristics or tasks. For our case study, we consult Austrian experts in machine learning and industry professionals on the susceptibility to digital technologies in the Austrian labour market. Our results indicate that, while clerical computer-based routine jobs are likely to change in the next decade, professional activities, such as the processing of complex information, are less prone to digital change. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/202035/1/Back_to_the_Future___Changing_Job_Profiles_in_the_Digital_Age%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, J24, J31, J62, O33 Keywords: Classification, Employment, GLM, Technological Change Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:202035 #END 966 #BEGIN 967 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ray, Sourav Author-Name: Wang, Li Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Bergen, Mark Title: Pricing Better Abstract: Electronic shelf label (ESL) is an emerging price display technology around the world. While these new technologies require non-trivial investments by the retailer, they also promise significant operational efficiencies in the form of savings in material, labor and managerial costs. The presumed benefits of ESL, for example, tend to be focused around lower price adjustment costs (PAC), also known as menu costs. However, ESL not only can save PAC but may also enable the retailer to price “better,” generating greater value for the transacting parties. Thus, ESL’s strategic impact for retailers occurs between claiming these presumed efficiencies and realizing the value generating potential. Using transactions data from a longitudinal field experiment, we assess such impact of ESL by studying how it shapes retail pricing practices and outcomes. Our general finding is that ESL plays an enabling role to the retailer’s strategy – thereby enhancing the retailer’s sales and revenues. The price adjustment efficiencies of ESL allows retailers to do better waste management, price discovery, as well as leveraging value in information for consumers. However, ESL’s impact on prices is nuanced, based on the retail strategy (EDLP, HI-LO) being used. Papers quantifying emerging technologies’ impact on retail outcomes are sparse, even fewer investigating their role in pricing. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first study to explore and quantify how ESL interacts with retail strategy to affect retail pricing practices and retail outcomes. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/201843/1/Pricing%20Better%20August%2016%202019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M31, E31, D22, D40, C93, L10, O33, L81 Keywords: Retailing, Pricing, EDLP, HI-LO, Dynamic Capability, Menu Costs, Price Adjustment, Price Elasticity, Price Discovery Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:201843 #END 967 #BEGIN 968 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dertinger, Andrea Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Title: Reforming the Electric Power Industry in Developing Economies Abstract: Since the 1990s, many developing countries have restructured their electric power industry. Policies such as break-ing up, commercializing and privatizing utilities, allowing for independent power producers, installing independent regulators, and introducing competitive wholesale markets were meant to improve the industry’s efficiency and service quality. We exploit more than 30 years of data from over 100 countries to investigate the impact of power sector reforms on efficiency (represented by network losses) and access to electricity (represented by connection rates and residential power consumption). Crucially, reforms are likely to be endogenous with respect to sector performance: a crisis in electricity supply might well trigger reform efforts. We deal with endogeneity using reform activity in neighboring countries as an instrument. Our results suggest that reforms strongly and positively impact electricity access. According to our preferred specification, a full reform program would increase connection rates by 20 percentage points and per capita consumption by 62 percent: these are large effects that are stable across a range of robustness checks. Moreover, the effect of improving access is largest in South Asian countries. In con-trast to previous studies, we do not find robust evidence to support the theory that reforms reduce network losses. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/201842/1/Power%20sector%20reforms_v10%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:201842 Note: Please cite as: Dertinger, Andrea & Lion Hirth (2020): “Reforming the electric power industry in developing economies: Evidence on efficiency and electricity access outcomes”, Energy Policy 139, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111348. #END 968 #BEGIN 969 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao,Tim Title: Incremental Risk Charge Methodology Abstract: The incremental risk charge (IRC) is a new regulatory requirement from the Basel Committee in response to the recent financial crisis. Notably few models for IRC have been developed in the literature. This paper proposes a methodology consisting of two Monte Carlo simulations. The first Monte Carlo simulation simulates default, migration, and concentration in an integrated way. Combining with full re-valuation, the loss distribution at the first liquidity horizon for a subportfolio can be generated. The second Monte Carlo simulation is the random draws based on the constant level of risk assumption. It convolutes the copies of the single loss distribution to produce one year loss distribution. The aggregation of different subportfolios with different liquidity horizons is addressed. Moreover, the methodology for equity is also included, even though it is optional in IRC. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/201810/1/IRC-Modeling-8.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, G21, G24, G32, G33, G18, G28 Keywords: Incremental risk charge (IRC), constant level of risk,, liquidity horizon, constant loss distribution, Merton-type model, concentration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:201810 #END 969 #BEGIN 970 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Karbowski, Adam Title: Knowledge subsystem Abstract: The aim of this chapter is to conduct the empirical study of the institutional setup of the knowledge subsystem in Central Eastern and Western Europe. Based on the data provided by OECD, Eurostat, ECB and World Bank, the list of innovation, R&D and education indicators has been prepared and used for the purpose of empirical analysis. Based on the subspace clustering method (the ORCLUS algorithm) and the selected set of institutional indicators, the following clusters have been identified. Cluster 1 or “stuck in the middle” comprises two countries, i.e. Slovenia and Italy. Cluster 2, dubbed “aspiring”, encompasses thirteen EU economies including all but one CEE countries as well as Greece, Portugal and Spain. Cluster 3 is made up of ‘developed patent oriented’ economies (Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland). Cluster 4 – ‘developed innovation oriented’ economies – was found to include four countries, i.e. United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Belgium. We identified two basic types of knowledge subsystems. The first is a developed knowledge subsystem with two variants (oriented at patenting and traineeships, represented e.g. in Germany, or oriented at industry and services’ innovation and tertiary education, to be found e.g. in the UK). The second type is a developing knowledge subsystem with two variants (average in terms of patenting with a relatively strong traineeship program, such as e.g. in Slovenia, or relatively weak in all measures, seen e.g. in Bulgaria). Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: O3, P1 Keywords: Knowledge, Central and Eastern Europe Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:201653 #END 970 #BEGIN 971 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pal, Sumantra Title: Culture counters Male-Backlash: Causal evidence from India's Northeast Abstract: The reverse causality between female employment and domestic violence is debatable. Due to the adverse health consequences of domestic violence women shy away from employment. For fears about backlash from their husbands, wives may abstain from working. Battered women may also take up employment to liberate themselves from the grip of domestic violence. Using a new dataset that combines ethnographic data with the third wave of the National Family and Health Survey, I identify three instruments. Those are traditional tribal norms that are more conducive to the participation of women in activities outside of their homes, namely, female political engagement, female hunting, and female gathering of food, fodder and fuel. The instrument variable procedure generates significant protective effects for working wives with a 38 percent reduction in the probability of physical violence, while controlling for observable social norms surrounding tribal marriage, separation, descent, inheritance, subsistence, and settlement patterns. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/201543/1/main_article_econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B54, J12, Z13 Keywords: Female employment, Domestic Violence, Male-backlash, India Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:201543 #END 971 #BEGIN 972 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao,Tim Title: The Impact of Default Dependency and Collateralization on Asset Pricing and Credit Risk Modeling Abstract: This article presents a comprehensive framework for valuing financial instruments subject to credit risk. In particular, we focus on the impact of default dependence on asset pricing, as correlated default risk is one of the most pervasive threats in financial markets. We analyze how swap rates are affected by bilateral counterparty credit risk, and how CDS spreads depend on the trilateral credit risk of the buyer, seller, and reference entity in a contract. Moreover, we study the effect of collateralization on valuation, since the majority of OTC derivatives are collateralized. The model shows that a fully collateralized swap is risk-free, whereas a fully collateralized CDS is not equivalent to a risk-free one. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/201542/1/default-dependency-collateralization-7.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: asset pricing, credit risk modeling, unilateral, bilateral, multilateral credit risk, collateralization, comvariance, comrelation, correlation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:201542 #END 972 #BEGIN 973 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammed, Mikidadu Title: Do Import Tariffs Generate Stagflationary Tendencies? Creation-Date: 2018 Keywords: import tariff shocks, steel, stagflation, structural VAR Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:201013 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3223663 #END 973 #BEGIN 974 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xiao,Tim Title: An Economic Examination of Collateralization in Different Financial Markets Abstract: This paper attempts to assess the economic significance and implications of collateralization in different financial markets, which is essentially a matter of theoretical justification and empirical verification. We present a comprehensive theoretical framework that allows for collateralization adhering to bankruptcy laws. As such, the model can back out differences in asset prices due to collateralized counterparty risk. This framework is very useful for pricing outstanding defaultable financial contracts. By using a unique data set, we are able to achieve a clean decomposition of prices into their credit risk factors. We find empirical evidence that counterparty risk is not overly important in credit-related spreads. Only the joint effects of collateralization and credit risk can sufficiently explain unsecured credit costs. This finding suggests that failure to properly account for collateralization may result in significant mispricing of financial contracts. We also analyze the difference between cleared and OTC markets. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/200503/1/examining-collateralization-6.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, G21, G12, G24, G32, G33, G18, G28 Keywords: unilateral/bilateral collateralization, asset pricing, plumbing of the financial system, swap premium spread, OTC/cleared/listed financial markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:200503 #END 974 #BEGIN 975 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammed, Mikidadu Title: Growth Fatigue Creation-Date: 2019 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:200401 #END 975 #BEGIN 976 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alfano, Maria Rosaria Author-Name: Cantabene, Claudia Author-Name: Silipo, Damiano Bruno Title: Mafia Firms and Aftermaths Abstract: We use a unique and unexplored dataset to investigate the determinants and effects of mafia firms in Italy. Mafia may use several tools to expand its firms. However, in this paper, we show that they prefer political corruption to violence to expand mafia firms. In particular, they use the latter more to build up their reputation in new established regions. Mafia firms hamper entrepreneurial activity but they can have beneficial effects on unemployment if mafia firms add to not substitute current economic activities. Policy makers should take account of this twofold effects of mafia firms. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/200255/1/ACS-Working%20paper%202019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D02, K14, L11 Keywords: Organized crime, Mafia firm, Mafia and development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:200255 #END 976 #BEGIN 977 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bajzik, Jozef Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Author-Name: Schwarz, Jiri Title: The Elasticity of Substitution between Domestic and Foreign Goods: A Quantitative Survey Abstract: A key parameter in international economics is the elasticity of substitution between domestic and foreign goods, also called the Armington elasticity. Yet estimates vary widely. We collect 3,524 reported estimates of the elasticity, construct 34 variables that reflect the context in which researchers obtain their estimates, and examine what drives the heterogeneity in the results. To account for inherent model uncertainty, we employ Bayesian and frequentist model averaging. We present the first application of newly developed non-linear techniques to correct for publication bias. Our main results are threefold. First, there is publication bias against small and statistically insignificant elasticities. Second, differences in results are best explained by differences in data: aggregation, frequency, size, and dimension. Third, the mean elasticity implied by the literature after correcting for both publication bias and potential misspecifications is 3. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/200207/1/armington2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C83, D12, F14 Keywords: Armington, trade elasticity, meta-analysis, publication bias, Bayesian model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:200207 #END 977 #BEGIN 978 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Acocella, Nicola Author-Name: Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni Title: Natural resources and environment preservation: Strategic substitutability vs. complementarity in global and local public good provision Abstract: Environment is a public good whose preservation requires some type of intervention. Use of natural resources for economic activities should be regulated by the local communities; however, this can have in turn external effects on other communities. Environment then takes the double nature of local and global public good, requiring intervention of different levels of governments, whose interplay may raise further conflicts. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, we survey the literature on conflicts arising from the alternative uses of land and natural resources and discuss the effects and policy implications of the interplay between different governments. Second, we focus on the role of strategic interactions in the environmental governance and the implied policy trade-offs and present a formal policy game with potential conflicts between central and local authorities. The model aims to describe the circumstances according to which the lack of coordination between local and central authorities leads to under- or over- provision of natural resources and environment preservation. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/200144/1/secoa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Environment, Development, Public goods, Conflict Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:200144 #END 978 #BEGIN 979 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni Author-Name: Saltari, Enrico Author-Name: Semmler, Willi Title: The effects of political short-termism on transitions induced by pollution regulations Abstract: We study the dynamic problem of pollution control enacted by some policy of regulation and mitigation. The dynamics of the transition from one level of regulation and mitigation to another usually in-volves inter-temporal trade-offs. We focus on how different policymaker’s time horizons affect these trade-offs. We refer to shorter lengths in policymaker’s time horizons as political short-termism or inat-tention, which is associated with political economy or information constraints. Formally, inattention is modeled by using Nonlinear Model Predictive Control. Therefore, it is a dynamic concept: our policy-makers solve an inter-temporal decision problem with finite horizon that involves the repetitive solu-tion of an optimal control problem at each sampling instant in a receding horizon fashion. We find that political short-termism substantially affects the transition dynamics. It leads to quicker, but costlier, transitions. It also leads to an under-evaluation of the environmental costs that may accelerate climate change. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/200143/1/pollution_revised_wp.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:200143 #END 979 #BEGIN 980 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Title: If You Think 9-Ending Prices Are Low, Think Again Abstract: 9-ending prices are a dominant feature of many retail settings, which according to the existing literature, is because consumers perceive them as being relatively low. Are 9-ending prices really lower than comparable non 9-ending prices? Surprisingly, the empirical evidence on this question is scarce. We use 8 years of weekly scanner price data with over 98 million price observations to document four findings. First, at the category level, 9-ending prices are usually higher, on average, than non 9-ending prices. Second, at the product level, in most cases, 9-ending prices are, on average, higher than prices with other endings. Third, sale prices are more likely to be non-9 ending than the corresponding regular prices. Fourth, among sale prices, 9-ending prices are often lower, on average, than comparable non 9-ending prices. The first three findings imply that although consumers may associate 9-ending prices with low prices, the data indicates otherwise. The fourth finding offers a possible explanation for this misperception. Retailers may be using 9-ending prices to draw consumers’ attention to particularly large price cuts during sales, which perhaps conditions the shoppers to associate 9-ending prices with low prices. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/198044/1/Think%20Again%20-%20June%208%202019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M30, M31, L11, L16, L81, D12, D22, D40, D90, D91, E31 Keywords: Behavioral Pricing, Psychological Prices, Price Perception, Image Effect, 9-Ending Prices, Price Points, Regular Prices, Sale Prices Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:198044 #END 980 #BEGIN 981 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zhang, Chris H. Author-Name: Frijns, Bart Title: Noise trading and informational efficiency Abstract: We investigate how noise trading affects informational efficiency of financial markets. Using full order book data from the Australian Securities Exchange, we find that noise trading harms informational efficiency. However, this is driven mainly by higher levels of noise trading, indicating that not all noise trading has the same effects. Further, behind the aggregate effects lies rich heterogeneity in how noise trading affects informational efficiency cross-sectionally. Noise trading harms informational efficiency of large liquid stocks but can be beneficial in small illiquid stocks, indicating that markets interpret noise trading differently. Finally, our results suggest that current regulation such as European-wide financial transaction tax (FTT) could have unintended effects on market quality. Instead, carefully designing a tax policy considering both firm-level characteristics and different levels of noise trading is more likely to be an optimal regulatory response. Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: G14, G18 Keywords: Market Microstructure, Noise trading, Informational efficiency, Regulation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:198037 #END 981 #BEGIN 982 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pazhanisamy, R. Author-Name: Selvarajan, E. Title: Micro Enterprises Performances Potential Index (MEPPI): A Study with the Reference to Rural Areas of the Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu Abstract: Micro enterprises are recognized as the prime source of livelihood for the poor population in the rural areas around the globe. The impact of micro enterprises on the rural economy is determined by the performance of these micro enterprises, their success rate and the potential for the sustainability in the market which depends upon the various factors like financial capability, profitability, resource availability, demand in the market, skill up gradation of the micro entrepreneurs and the competitiveness. In addition to this the factors such as labour, the performance potential of the micro enterprises, capital availability with low cost technology, raw materials availability, better infrastructure, political stability and the supportive economics policies like subsidies and export import guidance and many others join together to determine the performance and sustainability of the micro enterprises. A successful entrepreneur needs to be known and ready to adopt the necessary changes and differentiations in the product suitable to the market change which warrants the entrepreneurs knowledge about the dynamics of the market conditions regarding the trend in the demand, demand forecasting, performance evaluation of the enterprises at the particular period and its production and market potential for the future. The available literature about the performance of micro enterprises reveals that lake of timely assessment about the concurrent performance of the micro enterprise and their performance potential for the future leads to the failure of the products and the microenterprises (Olawale (2014), Wan Nurulasiah binti Wan Mustapa, Abdullah Al Mamun , Mohamed Dahlan Ibrahim, Mbugua Stephen Kamunge , Agnes Njeru , Ondabu Ibrahim Tirimba, (2018) and Bushu 2019) which calls for an in-depth attempt to discover the resource and market potential for the best performance of the micro enterprises at the gross root level. This paper is attempted to fill this gap in research. Creation-Date: 2019 Revision-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/197968/1/Micro-enterprise-performance-potential-index.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D21, D47, G24, H43, L22, L26 Keywords: Micro Enterprises Performance Index, Potential Performance Index, Rural Micro Enterprises, Sustainability of Micro Enterprises, Challenges of Micro Enterprises Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:197209 Note: Revised Version #END 982 #BEGIN 983 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ritter, Hendrik Author-Name: Zimmermann, Karl Title: Cap-and-Trade Policy vs. Carbon Taxation: Of Leakage and Linkage Abstract: We assess a 2-period, non-cooperative equilibrium of an n country policy game where countries chose either (i) carbon taxes, (ii) cap-and-trade policy with local permit markets or (iii) cap-and-trade policy with internationally linked permit markets and potential central redistribution of permit revenues. Policy makers maximizes welfare, which depends on household consumption over time and environmental damage from period-1 resource use. We assume costless and complete extraction of this non-renewable resource, so damage only depends on speed of extraction. Tax policy is the least efficient option due to carbon leakage, which introduces a second externality adding to the environmental externality. Cap-and-trade policy does not show any leakage since all symmetric countries will employ caps. Its equilibrium thus only suffers from the environmental externality and welfare is higher than under carbon taxation. The policy scenario with linked permit markets and central redistribution yields an efficient outcome. The redistribution of revenues creates a negative externality which offsets the positive environmental externality. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/197796/1/Taxes_vs_Caps_2019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H23, Q38, Q54, Q58 Keywords: Climate Policy, Carbon Tax, Cap-and-Trade Policy, Linked Permit Markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:197796 #END 983 #BEGIN 984 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brettschneider, Jörg Title: Online Platform Operators as Sovereigns over the Ecommerce Sellers Selected by the German Legislator Abstract: The German law to combat VAT fraud and other tax regulations went into force recently. The German legislator aims to enforce German VAT law via a liability of platform operators (like Amazon and eBay). The consequences of this regulatory approach are a) that platform operators enforce the law more strictly in relation to the ecommerce sellers than required by the law, b) that legal uncertainty occurs and c) that the legal protection of ecommerce sellers is not clear. Background of the more strict enforcement is that platform operators want to avoid liability risks. The situation from the ecommerce sellers’ perspective is described and discussed. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/197795/1/Online%20Platform%20Operators%20as%20Sovereigns%20over%20the%20Ecommerce%20Sellers%20Selected%20by%20the%20German%20Legislator.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K34, F60, H25, H26 Keywords: VAT, VAT fraud, Umsatzsteuer, ecommerce, online-Handel, Amazon, ebay, Steuerbetrug, Mehrwertsteuer, Gesetz zur Vermeidung von Umsatzsteuerausfällen beim Handel mit Waren im Internet, China, Germany, Haftung, Liability, UStG, Umsatzsteuergesetz, Finanzamt Neukölln, legal enforcement, electronic marketplace, Fulfillment by Amazon, Value Added Tax, Fulfillment, e-commerce, Marktplatzhaftung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:197795 Note: A previous German version was published on March 23rd 2019 on the German ecommerce blog wortfilter.de: “Amazon als vom Gesetzgeber auserwählter Souverän über die China-Händler”, https://www.wortfilter.de/wp/amazon-als-vom-gesetzgeber-auserwaehlter-souveraen-ueber-die-china-haendler/. #END 984 #BEGIN 985 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ferlito, Carmelo Title: The Property Market, Affordability and the Malaysian National Housing Policy Abstract: Key Messages * The industry is suffering a downturn that might lead to a wider economic crisis. The negative stage experienced by the housing sector is recognizable in the increasing number of unsold units, in the declining number of transactions and in the progressive cooling down of prices. Failing to recognize this fact would lead to the risk of being unprepared for an economic downturn. * The debate on affordable housing is incomplete if it is not contextualized in the realm of the general evolution of the property market. The current discussion is strongly unbalanced toward the issue of affordability, while the property market's cyclical dynamic is disregarded; such a tendency could lead to a situation in which the country will not be equipped to face the consequences of the downturn that has already started. * With regard to the affordability issue, the present study argues that home ownership is less of a problem than what the political debate would tend to suggest: with 76.3 per cent of home ownership, Malaysia is performing better than neighbouring countries. * The affordability issue is a complex one, and looking at it simply by looking at the ratio between median house price and median income is simplistic and misleading; in order to decide what is affordable is a choice involving a trade-off between three elements: price, floor area and location. * The low-end market segment is not disregarded by the private developers because it is naturally unprofitable, but because it is artificially made unprofitable by a series of regulatory obstacles that become supply-side bottlenecks. Recommendations * In order to face a downturn in the property market, this paper suggests primarily acting to address home-owners' negative equities. In the case of the emergence of a severe mortgage crisis, loan condition modifications should be helpful in seeking to reboot homeowners' damaged balance sheets in an effort to arrest a prolonged deleveraging process and more quickly restore household demand to levels no longer dominated by negative home equity. Keep in mind that this should be an emergency measure to be implemented only in dramatic circumstances. * Fiscal discipline and strict down-payment rules are recommended. In particular, it would be important for the government to monitor quantity and quality of the expenses, being clear on how eventual deficits are financed. With reference to down-payment rules, mortgage, property insurance, and property taxes should not exceed 30 percent of income. * Redesign of the fiscal system in favour of consumption taxes rather than income taxes. A mix of GST and reduced income taxes can be studied in order to ensure a source of income for the government from one side and to orient consumer attitudes toward saving, and so support re-building the monetary funds available for investment projects. * The better way to generate affordable projects would be to remove regulatory obstacles, starting with reducing the direct involvement of government agencies in building low-cost homes. * In contrast with what is suggested by the National Housing Policy, too-strict requirements for low-cost developments (i.e. minimum size) should be avoided in order to facilitate the interaction between supply and demand, taking into account the location and size factors, and therefore allowing lower income people to move toward the economic heart of the country, supporting thus not only their housing issues but also promoting their possibilities for a higher degree of social mobility. * Disruptive entrepreneurship will play a key role in developing new technologies for making housing developments cheaper from the cost side. However, in order to emerge such kind of entrepreneurship requires freedom to react to market signals and cannot be centrally designed, because of the specific nature of entrepreneurial discovery processes. * A higher role for the rental market is expected to emerge in the future. Under this perspective, the government might consider Jacob's proposal of guaranteed-rent homes, where the central authority guarantees the loan for those developers investing in affordable projects, and partially covers the rent disbursement, in order to make the projects both affordable and economically viable. This method would have the advantage of avoiding capital expenditure from the government side, and moreover of decreasing current expenditures whenever the subsidised tenants improve their economic conditions. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/197287/1/20190507-Housing-Paper-CF.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B30, B32 Keywords: National Housing Policy, Malaysia, Affordable Housing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:197287 #END 985 #BEGIN 986 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Young, Andrew T. Title: Promise, Trust and Betrayal: Costs of Breaching an Implicit Contract Abstract: We study the cost of breaching an implicit contract in a goods market, building on a recent study that documented the presence of such a contract in the Coca-Cola market, in the US, during 1886‒1959. The implicit contract promised a serving of Coca-Cola of a constant quality (the “real thing”), and of a constant quantity (6.5oz in a bottle or from the fountain), at a constant nominal price of 5¢. We offer two types of evidence. First, we document a case that occurred in 1930, where the Coca-Cola Company chose to incur a permanently higher marginal cost of production, instead of a one-time increase in the fixed cost, to prevent a quality adjustment of Coca-Cola, which would be considered a breach of the implicit contract. Second, we explore the consequences of the Company’s 1985 decision to replace the original Coke with the “New Coke.” Using the model of Exit, Voice, and Loyalty (Hirschman 1970), we argue that the unprecedented public outcry that followed the New Coke’s introduction, was a response to the Company’s breaching of the implicit contract. We document the direct and quantifiable costs of this implicit contract breach, and demonstrate that the indirect, although unquantifiable, costs in terms of lost customer goodwill were substantial. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/197001/1/Promise%20Trust%20and%20Betrayal%20May%2026%202019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A14, E12, E31, K10, L14, L16, L66, M30, N80 Keywords: Implicit Contract, Cost of Breaching a Contract, Cost of Breaking a Contract, Invisible Handshake, Customer Market, Sticky Prices, Long-Term Relationship, Coca-Cola, Nickel Coke, Price Rigidity, Secret Formula Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:197001 #END 986 #BEGIN 987 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hauser, Philipp Title: A modelling approach for the German gas grid using highly resolved spatial, temporal and sectoral data (GAMAMOD-DE) Abstract: Natural gas is the fossil fuel with lowest CO2-emissions, compared to coal, lignite or oil. Regarding the ongoing energy transition in Germany, the extend usage of natural gas provide advantages that might be built a bridge to a low carbon energy system until 2050. Against this backdrop, this paper introduces a model for the German natural gas market (GAMAMOD-DE) with focus on infrastructure utilisation. Following a linear optimization approach, the model considers a highly resolved grid structure of pipelines, storages and cross-border connections to neighbouring countries. The spatial and temporal resolved gas demand is divided into three different sectors: industry, heating and electricity. An application for the year 2012 shows the performance and validation of the proposed model. Results show the utilisation of infrastructure and enable an assessment of the level of security of supply during the considered time frame. In addition, the findings suggest that although European customers suffered on cold winter days in 2012, from a system part of view, the security of supply (SoS) was always ensured. Further research should focus on analysing SoS and resilience of gas networks in the mid- and long-term, especially when sector coupling between electricity and gas is far advanced. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/197000/1/Hauser%2c%202019_GAMAMOD-DE.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D61, L95, Q32, Q41, Q54 Keywords: Linear problem optimization, gas grid Germany, sectoral, temporal, and spatial resolved demand, energy security Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:197000 #END 987 #BEGIN 988 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kautz, Wolf-Eckhard Title: Bildungsdienstleistung Fernstudium. Leistung – Prozess – Erstellung Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/196548/1/190403_2194-9891_Diskussionsbeitrag_web_Endfassung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Bildungsmanagement, Bildungsdienstleistung, Dienstleistung, Dienstleistungsprozess, Dienstleistungserstellung, Studium, Fernstudium, Eductional Services, Services, Study, Distance learning Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:196548 #END 988 #BEGIN 989 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm Title: Trade Policy Space and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows Abstract: This article introduces a quantitative measure of trade policy space at the national level, and investigates empirically whether it influences foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to countries. The empirical analysis covers an unbalanced panel dataset of 158 countries (both developed and developing countries), over the period 1995-2015, and uses the two-step system Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) approach. Results suggest that the impact of trade policy space on FDI inflows is positive and increases as countries enjoy greater trade policy space. Furthermore, advanced economies tend to experience a higher positive impact of trade policy space on FDI inflows than less advanced economies. Overall, trade policy space matters significantly for countries' FDI inflows. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/196149/1/Trade%20Policy%20Space%20and%20FDI.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Trade policy space, FDI inflows Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:196149 #END 989 #BEGIN 990 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pazhanisamy, R. Title: Limit Pricing Oligopoly Market: Evidence from Tamilnadu Politics Abstract: Limit pricing oligopoly market is a hypothetical market explained with various hypotheses in the literature which has limited scope for the real world economic evidence and its application which leads the impact of the operation of such market is mostly unknown among the policymakers and academics. The available literature evidences are mostly neglected to explore the scope of such markets conditions and failed to direct appropriate policies. In India among most of the national level parties and in the states levels there are two only have been surviving over the long periods. This trigger the intuition to inquire into answer the questions a) why the political market is appears to be an oligopolistic market? b) How it maintain the limit pricing policy to deter the entry of new ? c) How the share the market? d) Are they collusive oligopolistic or non collusive? e) Are they price leadership oligopolist or not? f) How could they operate in the long run while some of them closed it even within the short run? Since there are very limited attempts only are available to answers this question. This calls for an enquiry by incorporating the micro economics theory with the political system. This paper is attempted to fill this gap in research. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195952/1/Dr.Ps.%20Limit%20pricing%20oligopolitics.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D01, D03, D43, D72, G18, H30, Q12, P48 Keywords: Limit Pricing Oligopoly, Oligopolitics, Breaking the Oligopoly Politics, Collusive and Non Collusive Politics, Entry Prevention in Politics, Political Micro Economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195952 #END 990 #BEGIN 991 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Real GDP: The Flawed Metric at the Heart of Macroeconomics Abstract: The study of economic growth is central to macroeconomics. More than anything else, macroecon-omists are concerned with finding policies that encourage growth. And by ‘growth’, they mean the growth of real GDP. This measure has become so central to macroeconomics that few economists question its validity. Our intention here is to do just that. We argue that real GDP is a deeply flawed metric. It is presented as an objective measure of economic scale. But when we look under the surface, we find crippling subjectivity. Moreover, few economists seem to realize that real GDP is based on a non-existent quantum – utility. In light of these problems, it seems to us that much of macroeconomics needs to be rethought. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195950/1/20190423_fnb_real_gdp_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C18, M4 Keywords: aggregation, national accounting, economic growth, neoclassical economics, quality change, utility Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195950 #END 991 #BEGIN 992 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baldi, Guido Author-Name: Forster, Stephan Title: Political Budget Cycles: Evidence from Swiss Cantons Abstract: Models of political budget cycles assume that politicians use fiscal policy to increase their chances of re-election. However, empirical results for advanced economies provide ambiguous support for the existence of such electoral cycles. Also, studies focusing on the regional or local level of advanced economies have found a variety of different results. In this paper, we use data at the sub-federal level of Switzerland from 1978 through 2015 to test for the presence of political budget cycles. Swiss regions called cantons are highly autonomous with regard to budgetary policy and have established direct democratic systems with frequent referendums that often affect budgetary issues. In most cantons, there are fiscal policy rules that restrict the budgetary leeway of governments. Overall, the system of government is designed to foster consensus seeking and gradual adjustment. These features should make the short-run opportunistic or partisan use of fiscal policy less likely in Swiss cantons. Rather surprisingly, however, we find at least some evidence for an electoral cycle in government spending. For government revenue or the overall budget, our empirical results do not point to an electoral cycle. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195930/1/budcycles.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, E62, H62 Keywords: Political budget cycle, fiscal policy, direct democracy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195930 #END 992 #BEGIN 993 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pradeep, Siddhartha Title: Game theory, Strategies and the convoluted triangle - India, Pakistan, Kashmir Abstract: Using the lens of game theory, the paper attempts to describe the ways in which it can enhance our understanding of international relations and real-world events. The author argues that the inherent instability in the game of Kashmir is due to contrasting approaches towards the game by India and Pakistan, that is, infinite versus finite respectively. To exhibit the games being played and their nature, the incidents and statements by the Prime Ministers of both the nation's post-Pulwama incident were scrutinized and decrypted using game theory. The analysis revealed that Pakistan plays the game of Mutual distrust, Chicken and Bullying while India plays the timing games. Further, both the nations play deterrence games, however, their approaches differ – classical versus perfect. Also, the frequent defection of Pakistan from mutual cooperation point in iterated prisoners dilemma inflicts dynamics between the games – shifting it to mutual distrust and to chicken resulting in tensions. Therefore, the author asserts that from a game theoretic perspective, the stability can be achieved in the long run only by complementing table talks with strict policies against Pakistan sponsored cross border terrorism. These games have been found to fit the observed story of relations between India and Pakistan, with the recent involvement of China. It also briefly discusses the role of clandestine services in strategy determination in modern information warfare. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195929/1/main%20article.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Game theory, International relations, Counter-terrorism policy, India, Pakistan, Kashmir Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195929 #END 993 #BEGIN 994 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Engel, Stefanie Title: Policies as information carriers: How environmental policies may change beliefs and consequent behavior Abstract: This paper discusses how policy interventions not only alter the legal and financial framework in which an individual is operating, but can also lead to changes in relevant beliefs. We argue that such belief changes in how an individual perceives herself, relevant others, the regulator and/or the activity in question can lead to behavioral changes that were neither intended nor expected when the policy was designed. In the environmental economics literature, these secondary impacts of conventional policy interventions have not been systematically reviewed. Hence, we intend to raise awareness of these effects. In this paper, we review relevant research from behavioral economics and psychology, and identify and discuss the domains for which beliefs can change. Lastly, we discuss design options with which an undesired change in beliefs can be avoided when a new policy is put into practice. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195522/1/WP_KoesslerEngel_Belief-changes-due-to-environmental-policies_201904.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D01, D80, D90, H23, Q58 Keywords: environmental policies, behavioral economics, beliefs, policy intervention Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195522 #END 994 #BEGIN 995 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lungu, Ioana Title: A Fresh Chance for Africa's Youth: Labour Market Effects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Abstract: The African Continental Free Trade Area marks a historic decision on the road to regional economic integration on the continent. If implemented, the agreement has the potential to make a significant impact on improving the livelihoods of the African people, by increasing intra-African trade and generating new employment opportunities on an integrated African labour market. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195255/1/A%20Fresh%20Chance%20for%20Africa%27s%20Youth%20-%20Labour%20Market%20Effects%20of%20the%20AfCFTA.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J21, J24, O10, O40, F15, F16 Keywords: international trade, regional economic integration, Africa, development, labor market Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195255 #END 995 #BEGIN 996 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ritter, Hendrik Author-Name: Runkel, Marco Author-Name: Zimmermann, Karl Title: Environmental Effects of Capital Income Taxation - A New Double Dividend? Abstract: We analyze a n-country, two-period Nash tax competition game to evaluate Sinn's proposal to use capital income taxation as a means to decelerate fossil fuel ex- traction (Sinn, 2008). The interest and discount rate is determined on a perfectly competitive consumer loan market on which the resource extractor acts as the loan supplier. Our first result is that, with perfectly identical countries, tax rates are inefficiently low in the Nash equilibrium of the tax competition game since the tax distortion and the environmental externality are not taken into account. The sec- ond result is that, in an asymmetric setting with resource-exporting and -importing countries, the tax can turn into a subsidy in the exporting country. Moreover, we show that partial cooperation of the importers is always beneficial to them, but can be harmful to the exporter. Finally, we identify cases where full cooperation is self-enforcing. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195172/1/Capital_Tax_for_Climate_Mitigation%20April%202019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H21, H23, Q38, Q54 Keywords: Capital taxation, Green paradox, Non-renewable resources Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195172 #END 996 #BEGIN 997 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Title: Setting new behavioural standards: Sustainabilty pledges and how conformity impacts their outreach Abstract: Sustainability pledges are en vogue. In the business sector, but also in climate negotiations, pledges are used to signal actors' intention to act pro-environmentally. Laboratory experiments testify to the potential effectiveness of these public declarations. Previous work has examined under which conditions subsequent trust and cooperation can flourish. In this study, I postulate that also conformity is an important determinant for the effectiveness of pledges. In specific, I examine what role social influence plays in the decision to pledge. In a public good game, subjects can make prior play a pledge to contribute to the public good in the socially optimal way. Across treatment conditions, I vary the way in which the pledges are elicited. Hence, the degree of social influence on pledge making is manipulated and its impact can be examined. I find that when individuals are aware that the majority of other subjects decided to pledge, they are likely to conform and also make the pledge. The emergence of such a critical mass can be stimulated when the elicitation of pledges is based on previous contribution behavior. Overall, this commitment nudge is effective. Both socially-oriented and previously not socially-oriented subjects modify their behavior after the pledge. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195048/1/Koessler2019_Pledges%20and%20conformity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A13, C72, C91, H41 Keywords: voluntary approaches, environmental policy, pledge, social dilemma, public good, commitment, conformism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195048 #END 997 #BEGIN 998 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fix, Blair Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Ecological Limits and Hierarchical Power Abstract: Nowadays, it is commonplace to claim that the economy overuses our limited material and energy resources and that this overuse threatens both human society and the biosphere. Other than anti-science cranks, the only ones who seem to deny this claim are mainstream economists. In our view, though, this conventional condemnation of the economy is somewhat misleading. As we see it, the root of our ecological problems lies not in the ‘economy’, but in the hierarchical power structure of capitalism. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195043/1/20190405_fbn_ecological_limits_and_hierarchical_power_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P18, P48, P16, Q01 Keywords: energy, hierarchy, power, sustainability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:195043 #END 998 #BEGIN 999 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Volkmann, Linda Author-Name: Kayser, Ina Author-Name: Nowak, Gerhard Title: Potenzialanalyse der digitalen Transformation für den Breitensport Abstract: Im Zuge der fortschreitenden Digitalisierung in allen Lebensbereichen einer modernen Dienstleistungsgesellschaft müssen sich auch Breitensportvereine den Herausforderungen von digitaler Transformation stellen (vgl. Wadsack und Wach, S. 3). Bei diesem Prozess hin zu einem "Sportverein 4.0" könnten sich ein neues Selbstverständnis der Vereinsarbeit und neue Potenziale der Positionierung und Kommunikation ergeben. Notwendige Ressourcen für einen Change-Prozess in Breitensportvereinen können insbesondere Großvereine eher zur Verfügung stellen als kleine Vereine. Die Studie fokussiert daher Mitgliedsvereine des "Freiburger Kreises" und zeigt anhand von zwölf Experteninterviews Chancen und Risiken der digitalen Transformation. Insgesamt werden mehr Potenziale (z.B. Vereinfachung und Automatisierung der Verwaltungsarbeit, Ergänzung und qualitative Erhöhung des bisherigen Vereinssportangebotes, neue, digitale Kommunikationswege) als Gefahren (z.B. Entwicklungsgeschwindigkeit der Digitalisierung, drohende Überforderungsgefahr) im Digitalisierungsprozess gesehen. Die Befürchtung, dass informelle, digitale Sportangebote eine Konkurrenz für die Sportvereine darstellen und zu einem Mitgliederverlust führen könnten, wurde von der Mehrheit der Experten nicht als reales Risiko eingestuft. Die Experten betonten einstimmig, dass die Konstitution als Solidargemeinschaft im Kern der Vereine weiterhin erhalten bleibe. Sie setzen auf die Symbiose beider Philosophien, die es ermöglicht, die traditionellen und idealtypischen Werte des Vereins mit den Ansprüchen der modernen Gesellschaft zu verbinden. Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: O30 Keywords: Digitalisierung, Digitale Transformation, Change-Prozess, Vereine Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194813 #END 999 #BEGIN 1000 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Furukawa, Chishio Title: Publication Bias under Aggregation Frictions: Theory, Evidence, and a New Correction Method Abstract: This paper questions the conventional wisdom that publication bias must result from the biased preferences of researchers. When readers only compare the number of positive and negative results of papers to make their decisions, even unbiased researchers will omit noisy null results and inflate some marginally insignificant estimates. Nonetheless, the equilibrium with such publication bias is socially optimal. The model predicts that published non-positive results are either precise null results or noisy but extreme negative results. This paper shows this prediction holds with some data, and proposes a new stem-based bias correction method that is robust to this and other publication selection processes. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/194798/1/draft%20March%202019%20v2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C13, C18, D71, D82, D83 Keywords: publication bias, information aggregation, meta-analysis, bias correction method Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194798 #END 1000 #BEGIN 1001 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Niu, Xiaofei Author-Name: Li, Jianbiao Title: How Time Constraint Affects the Disposition Effect? Abstract: Time constraint is a central aspect of financial decision making. This paper experimentally examines the effect of time constraint on the disposition effect, which refers to the empirical fact that investors have a higher propensity to sell stocks with capital gains compared to stocks with capital losses. We distinguish time pressure from time constraint by implementing three treatments: no time constraint (NTC), 20 seconds time constraint (20TC), and 10 seconds time constraint (10TC). The experimental results show that time constraint affects the disposition effect at some conditions, i.e. the 10TC treatment, in which subjects perceive more time pressure, significantly reduces the disposition effect; this treatment effect, however, vanishes in 20TC treatment, where feelings of stress do not differ from the NTC treatment. Self-control is one of the psychological mechanisms that explains why time pressure reduces the disposition effect. Creation-Date: 2019 Keywords: time pressure, disposition effect Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194618 #END 1001 #BEGIN 1002 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Matousek, Jindrich Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Irsova, Zuzana Title: Individual Discount Rates: A Meta-Analysis of Experimental Evidence Abstract: A key parameter estimated by lab and field experiments in economics is the individual discount rate---and the results vary widely. We examine the extent to which this variance can be attributed to observable differences in methods, subject pools, and potential publication bias. To address the model uncertainty inherent to such an exercise, we employ Bayesian model averaging. We find occasional but widespread publication bias against unintuitive results: in consequence, the mean reported discount rate is inflated twofold. Our results suggest that estimates decrease with the time horizon, a finding consistent with hyperbolic discounting. Discount rates are similar for money and health questions, but people tend to be less patient in exotic contexts (e.g., when offered a kiss from a movie star). Africans are less patient than people from other continents. Finally, the results of lab and field experiments differ systematically, and it also matters whether the experiment relies on students or uses broader samples of the population. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/194617/1/discrate.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D01, C83, C90 Keywords: Discount rate, experiment, publication bias, meta-analysis, Bayesian model averaging Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194617 #END 1002 #BEGIN 1003 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Literature and Political Economy: An Invitation Abstract: Most people think of science and literature as distinct human endeavours. According to received convention, science is mostly about 'mind', whereas literature is largely about 'heart'. Science, goes the argument, is by and large rational, literature primarily emotional. Science is about thinking, literature about feeling. The practical implication of this duality is that many who consider themselves scientists - particularly in the so-called 'social sciences' and especially in 'economics' - pay little or no attention to belles-lettres. As far as they are concerned, fiction, poetry and drama are diversions from serious academic work. Occasionally, when going on vacation or to an academic conference, they'll throw a few cheap thrills into their handbag for 'relaxation'. They'll use them instead of sleeping pills after they are done surfing their phones and zapping their telescreen's channels. Now, it is true the that line between creative belles-lettres and capitalized cheap thrills has blurred in recent decades - so much so that it's sometimes difficult to tell them apart. And it is also true that as the number of new novels exploded, their average quality plummeted. But these shifting patterns are secondary. There is no need to read Leon Trotsky's path-breaking book on Literature and Revolution (1925) or C.P. Snow's warning on The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution (1959) to realize that literature in general and novels in particular remain crucial for understanding - and occasionally affecting - the socio-scientific history of humanity. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/194597/1/20190325_bn_literature_and_pe_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, Z1 Keywords: bisociation, literature, political economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194597 #END 1003 #BEGIN 1004 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Author-Name: Shahzad, Syed Jawad Hussain Title: Quantile coherency networks of international stock markets Abstract: This paper uses the novel quantile coherency approach to examine the tail dependence network of 49 international stock markets in the frequency domain. We find that geographical proximity and state of market development are important factors in stock markets networks. Both the short- and long-run connectedness significantly increased after the global financial crisis and spillover is higher during bearish market states, highlighting the possibility of contagion effect mainly among developed markets. Frontier and emerging markets are relatively less connected. These findings have implications for international equity market diversification and risk management. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/194568/1/Baumohl%20-%20Shahzad%20%282019%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C32, C40, G01, G15 Keywords: quantile coherency, networks, stock markets, extreme negative returns, financial crisis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194568 #END 1004 #BEGIN 1005 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: The "Armey Curve" in Bulgaria (2000-18): Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Results Abstract: In this paper we provide a theoretical basis for the so-called "Armey curve," the inverted U-shape relationship between the level of government purchases and GDP growth, named after Armey (1995). We use an otherwise standard Keynesian model, augmented with a quadratic relationship between investment and lagged government expenditure, which was documented empirically. This modelling approach is a useful shortcut that aims to capture the common link shared by both variables, namely their dependence on the real interest rate, as suggested also by the extended static IS-LM model. This resulting dynamic relationship is a newly-documented stylized fact, at least in Bulgarian data for the period 2000-2018, and the source in the extended Keynesian model that generates an Armey curve for Bulgaria. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/194183/1/Armey-curve.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E12, E22 Keywords: Armey curve, GDP growth, government purchases, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194183 #END 1005 #BEGIN 1006 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andreoni, James Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Serra-Garcia, Marta Title: Who Gives? On Empathy and Impulsiveness Abstract: We investigate the impact of empathy and impulsiveness on charitable giving using a real donation experiment. We confirm that greater empathy predicts greater charitable giving. Contrary to recent literature, however, we find a significant negative relationship between impulsiveness and donation behavior. Specifically, when financial resources are scarce, donations are more often made by decision-makers who are able to suppress an intuitively egoistic response. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/194100/1/WP-PR_AndreoniKoesslerSerraGarcia_Charitable-giving-Empathy-and-Impulsiveness.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Empathy, Impulsiveness, Charitable Giving, Donation, Pro-Social Behavior Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194100 Note: Copyright statement: Please note this is a pre-review version of the article Who Gives? - The Roles of Empathy and Impulsiveness published in Scharf, Kimberley, and Mirco Tonin (eds.), The Economics of Philanthropy: Donations and Fundraising, pp. 49-62. © 2018 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, courtesy of the MIT Press. http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/economics-philanthropy #END 1006 #BEGIN 1007 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vincent, Michael Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Title: Moral Pluralism in Behavioural Spillovers: A cross-disciplinary account of the multiple ways in which we engage in moral valuing Abstract: In this article, we reflect critically on how moral actions are categorised in some recent studies on moral spillovers. Based on classic concepts from moral philosophy, we present a framework to categorise moral actions. We argue that with a finer classification of the moral values, associated behaviour is better understood, and this understanding helps to identify the conditions under which moral licensing takes place. We illustrate our argument with examples from the literature on pro-environmental behaviours. Moral spillovers are frequently studied in this behavioural domain and to understand what causes their occurrence is highly (policy) relevant if we wish to promote sustainable behaviour. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/194099/1/Vincent-Koessler_Mapping-Moral-Pluralism-in-Behavioural-Spillovers.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: moral values, moral licensing, pro-environmental behavior, behavioral spillover, value pluralism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:194099 #END 1007 #BEGIN 1008 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Demir, Ishak Title: International Spillovers of U.S. Monetary Policy Abstract: We estimate a structural dynamic factor model on large panel quarterly data to analyse the spillovers of U.S. monetary policy to the advanced economies and emerging and frontier market economies. The estimated model suggests that monetary contraction in U.S. leads to a significant decrease in real GDP with typical inverted hump-shape almost for all countries. It reduces permanently aggregate price level, increases interest rate and leads appreciation of U.S. dollar. However, contagion of U.S. monetary policy to the individual countries shows heterogeneity. For instance, its impact is larger in developing countries. We also find that global financial crisis has amplified the impact of U.S monetary policy on the rest of world in particular on developing countries. Lastly, the empirical results suggest that the cross-country heterogeneity in responses may be consequence of difference in country-specific characteristics such as exchange rate regimes, currency of price settings of firms, central bank independence and geographical distance from Unites States. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193968/1/InterMonSpillovers_2019_LEAFWP_1902.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C38, E43, E52, E58, F42, G12 Keywords: cross-country heterogeneity, country-specific characteristic, international monetary spillovers, structural factor model, monetary policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193968 #END 1008 #BEGIN 1009 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pazhanisamy, R. Title: Corruption in Tax and Taxing the Corruption Abstract: Most of the countries in the world face corruption and struggling against to it in many aspects. Due to various loopholes and institutional inefficiencies it continues to be pressing issues which affects public in various dimensions. The long existence of corruption around the world made an illusion to the policy makers and public as it is unavoidable and adjustable. This creates an intuition to esquire into what makes the corruption market successful all over the world for many centuries and what Economic theory is operate behind it. In this paper an inquiry is made into how the corruption market works effectively without any intervention. It also explore the possibility of the Ronald Coase theory’s to control the corruption and justifies what intervention is needed to achieve optimal amount of corruption. It concludes that to achieve the optimal amount of corruption in the society all farms of corruptions has to be internalized by introducing a permit and tax for corruption. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193967/3/Corruption-in-Tax-and-Taxing-the-Corruption.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B21, B41, D03, D47, G02, G18, G28, H26, I38 Keywords: Corruption in Tax, taxing the Corruption, Coase theorem and tax, tax evasion, breaking the tax evasion using Coase theorem, internalizing the externalize of corruption Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193967 #END 1009 #BEGIN 1010 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Wars Have Become Too Cheap to Boost Growth Abstract: FROM THE NOTE: This week, with the Federal Reserve Banks of New York and Atlanta anticipating sharply lower GDP growth for 2019:Q1, President Trump presented a ‘Budget for A Better America’, calling for a smaller government and a bigger military. Forty years ago, the very same call was hailed as the best recipe for renewed growth. The U.S. ruling class was getting ready to install Ronald Reagan as President, abandon the Cold War and embark on neoliberalism, and it argued that, for that shift to succeed, the country needed a leaner government in order to unleash its entrepreneurial spirit and crowd-in private investment, and that it required a strong military in order to boost its global muscle and open world markets for its products and capital. Ideology aside, one key reason for the growth optimism of the time was rising military spending… Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193695/1/20190300_bn_wars_have_become_too_cheap_to_boost_growth_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L64, E62, P16, D74 Keywords: economic growth, military spending Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193695 #END 1010 #BEGIN 1011 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Demir, Ishak Title: Monetary Policy Autonomy and International Monetary Spillovers Abstract: While Federal Reserve continues to normalize its monetary policy on the back of a strengthening U.S. economy, the possibility of mimicking U.S. policy actions and so the debate of monetary autonomy has been particularly heated in the most of developing countries, even in advanced economies. We analyse the role played by country-specific characteristics in domestic monetary policy autonomy to set short-term interest rates in the face of spillovers from of U.S. monetary policy as global external shocks. First, we extricate the non-systematic (non-autonomous) component of domestic interest rates which is related to business cycle synchronisation across countries. Then we employ an interacted panel VAR model, which allows impulse response functions to vary by country characteristics for a broad sample of countries. We find strong empirical evidence for the role of exchange rate flexibility, capital account openness in line with trilemma, but also a significant role for other country characteristics, such as dollarisation in the financial system, the presence of a global bank, use of macroprudential policies, and the credibility of fiscal and monetary policy. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193694/1/MonPolAutonomy_LEAFWP_1901.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C38, E43, E52, E58, F42, G12 Keywords: monetary policy autonomy, global financial cycle, international spillovers, trilemma, country-specific characteristics, cross-country difference, dilemma Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193694 #END 1011 #BEGIN 1012 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baldi, Guido Author-Name: Kluser, Frédéric Title: Firmenersparnisse und der Arbeitsanteil am Einkommen Abstract: In den vergangenen Jahrzehnten ist in vielen entwickelten Volkswirtschaften der Anteil des nationalen Einkommens, der auf den Faktor Arbeit entfällt, zurückgegangen. Gleichzeitig wird heutzutage ein grösserer Anteil der Kapitaleinkommen von den Unternehmen als einbehaltene Gewinne in den Unternehmen belassen. Stehen diese höheren Firmenersparnisse im Zusammenhang mit dem Rückgang des Arbeitsanteils am Einkommen oder sind sie auf andere Faktoren zurückzuführen? Dieses Papier untersucht empirisch mittels Panelregressionen mögliche Bestimmungsfaktoren für den Anstieg der Firmenersparnisse. Der analysierte Datensatz umfasst 46 Länder zwischen 1980 und 2016. Die Resultate unserer Analysen deuten darauf hin, dass der Anstieg der Firmenersparnisse in einem Zusammenhang steht mit einen niedrigeren Arbeitsanteil. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193691/1/corp_savings.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E22, E25, F21, F41 Keywords: Arbeitsanteil, Firmenersparnisse Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193691 #END 1012 #BEGIN 1013 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abou Hamia, Mohamad A. Title: Central Bank Independence and its Effect on Inflation in the ESCWA Countries Abstract: In this study, we measure the central bank independence for all fourteen ESCWA countries using two indicators: the legal independence and accountability measure (the de jure measure) and the turnover rates of central bank governors (the de facto measure). The entire sample of countries is split into two subsamples: oil exporting and oil importing countries. The legal index shows that the central banks of Iraq and Palestine are the most independent central banks, while the central banks of Sudan and Syria are the least independent among both the oil exporting and oil importing countries respectively. The de facto measure shows that the central banks of Kuwait and Jordan are the most independent central banks, while the central banks of Sudan and Egypt are the least independent among the oil exporting and the oil importing countries respectively. Our study reveals that the central bank independence has improved remarkably in the region since the 1980s and has closely followed the worldwide trend of granting central banks more independence from the executive branch. Our regression analysis proves that a higher degree of central bank independence would statistically improve the inflation performance in the entire region and in the two subsamples, basically by lowering the inflation rates level and decreasing volatility. Finally, our study pinpoints the legally weak provisions that contribute to low degrees of central bank independence; the study also recommends specific amendments that would significantly improve said independence in individual countries, the two subsamples, and the entire region. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193661/3/CBI-Econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E42, E50, E52, E58 Keywords: Central Bank Independence, MENA Region, Inflation, Monetary Policy, Central Bank Charter, Panel Data Regression, Granger Causality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193661 #END 1013 #BEGIN 1014 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Dobernig, Harald Title: Digitale Währungssysteme: Kryptowährungen in der Unternehmensfinanzierung Abstract: In this working paper we basically try to answer two questions. First, we ask whether a crypto-currency is money or a currency at all in the traditional economic sense? Second, we ask whether a financial manager of a company may generate cost advantages by issuing debt in a crypto-currency? We analyse typical criteria in this respect for deciding about pros and cons of issuing debt in a crypt-currency and we take a closer look at empirical data. Abstract: In diesem Working Paper wird zwei Fragestellungen nachgegangen. Zum einen, ob eine Kryptowährung überhaupt Geld oder Währung im ökonomischen Sinne ist. Und zum anderen, ob ein Finanzmanager eines Unternehmens möglichweise Kostenvorteile bei der Finanzierung generieren kann, wenn er oder sie eine Finanzierung in einer Kryptowährung vornimmt. Dazu werden typische Entscheidungskriterien für eine Finanzierung herangezogen und empirische Daten analysiert. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193652/1/20190307-Kryptowaehrungen-in-der-Unternehmensfinanzierung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G31 Keywords: Kryptowähung, Bitcoin, Unternehmensfinanzierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193652 #END 1014 #BEGIN 1015 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dumitru, Ana-Maria Author-Name: Holden, Thomas Title: Quantifying the transmission of European sovereign default risk Abstract: We build a non-stationary Hawkes model of sovereign credit risk for seven European countries, and estimate it on CDS data from the run-up to the Greek default. We model a country's credit risk as partly driven by a weighted combination of risks across countries. We find Spain and Portugal are the chief drivers of this component, with Greece's contribution also significant. Greece and Portugal are found to be particularly sensitive to external risk, with a Greek default 35% less likely in our period without shocks elsewhere. Our novel maximum-likelihood procedure permits tractable estimation of high-dimensional Hawkes models with unobserved events. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193632/1/CDSEurozonePaper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G01, G12, G15, C32, C58 Keywords: sovereign CDS spreads, credit risk, multivariate self-exciting point process, systemic risk Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193632 #END 1015 #BEGIN 1016 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dumitru, Ana-Maria Author-Name: Hizmeri, Rodrigo Author-Name: Izzeldin, Marwan Title: Forecasting the Realized Variance in the Presence of Intraday Periodicity Abstract: This paper examines the impact of intraday periodicity on forecasting realized volatility using a heterogeneous autoregressive model (HAR) framework. We show that periodicity inflates the variance of the realized volatility and biases jump estimators. This combined effect adversely affects forecasting. To account for this, we propose a periodicity-adjusted model, HARP, where predictors are built from the periodicity-filtered data. We demonstrate empirically (using 30 stocks from various business sectors and the SPY for the period 2000--2016) and via Monte Carlo simulations that the HARP models produce significantly better forecasts, especially at the 1-day and 5-days ahead horizons. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193631/1/Periodicity-Draft.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C14, C22, C58, G17 Keywords: realized volatility, forecast, intraday periodicity, heterogeneous autoregressive models Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193631 #END 1016 #BEGIN 1017 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Origa Otieno, James Title: Practice insights – Experimentation and design thinking in Public policy-making processes Abstract: Policy-making is a complex iterative process that requires engagement with a multiplicity of actors facing different incentives and constraints underpinned by differing structural and institutional variables. Design-thinking as a human-centered approach to problem solutioning offers valuable lessons that policy makers would find useful. This article, presented as a policy practice insight note, posits that the focus of policy design shouldn’t be so much on what makes a technically superior alternative, but what makes an institutionally sound approach and crowds in policy implementers and recipients from the design stage. It presents an understanding that policy design is more about creating processes that elicit information and feedback on government interventions than about getting the objectives right at the beginning thus allowing for an experimentation approach to policy design. The paper concludes that for policy design to be effective, finding a contextual best fit is more desirable than blanket adoption of “global best practices” Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193463/1/Experimentation-and-design-thinking-in-Public-policy-formulation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Z18 Keywords: Design thinking, Experimentation, Public Policy design Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193463 #END 1017 #BEGIN 1018 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pattanaik, Sitikantha Author-Name: Muduli, Silu Author-Name: Ray, Soumyajit Title: Inflation Expectations of Households: Do They Influence Wage-Price Dynamics in India? Abstract: This paper examines the usefulness of survey-based information on inflation expectations of households in the analysis of inflation dynamics in India. As household inflation expectations do not satisfy the statistical properties of rationality and unbiasedness, hybrid versions of New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) are used to study whether survey-based measures of inflation expectations can be used as proxy for forward looking expectations to predict inflation in India. While both 3-months ahead and 1-year ahead household inflation expectations emerge statistically significant in explaining and predicting inflation, effectively they work as substitutes of backward looking expectations given that household expectations are found to be adaptive. When transmission of inflation expectations to inflation is assessed through wage dynamics, no robust evidence is found for expectations induced wage pressures influencing CPI inflation. Shortterm food and fuel shocks explain significant part of variations in inflation expectations of households. Notwithstanding limited evidence on spillover of inflation expectations of households to wages and prices, the high degree of observed inflation persistence and significant sensitivity of inflation expectations to food and fuel shocks warrant sustained emphasis of monetary policy on wellanchored inflation expectations. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193462/1/WPS01-2019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, E70 Keywords: Inflation Expectations, NKPC, Wage-Price Dynamics, Rationality, Unbiasedness Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193462 #END 1018 #BEGIN 1019 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Historical records of wine: Highlighting the old wine world Abstract: The wine sector involves several stakeholders in its several dimensions and attract numerous consumers and curious from the more diverse segments. In these frameworks the historical records of wine play a relevant role, namely, to promote the wine as something more than a good and to create identity. In this perspective, the research here present makes a literature survey, considering 39 documents obtained from the Web of Science (all databases) related with the following topic: old wine world history. These documents were first analysed through the Atlas.ti software. This literature review shows the richness of the history related with the wine that for some studies started on the Neolithic and stresses the role of the Romans to spread the vineyards across the Europe. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193461/1/Paper-Wine-History.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Civilizations, Literature review, Atlas.ti, Qualitative analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193461 #END 1019 #BEGIN 1020 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: The place of wine in societies: the cultural perspective Abstract: The wine has its own place in the societies, involving several dimensions, since the socioeconomic until the cultural level. In fact, in various countries and regions, the wine has a marked cultural presence, or because it is usual to consume wine at meals, or because it is an important ingredient in any meeting of friends. However, the cultural perspective of wine changes across regions and countries. In this framework the main objective of this study is to explore the cultural dimension of wine around the world. For that, it was considered 57 articles obtained from the Web of Science (all databases) for the topic “wine culture”. These documents were explored first with the bibliometric software VOSviewer and analysed after through literature review. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193460/1/Paper-Wine-Culture.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Bibliometric analysis, Literature review, Web of Science, VOSviewer Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193460 #END 1020 #BEGIN 1021 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dobernig, Harald Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Digitale Währungssysteme - Funktionsweise und Einsatzmöglichkeiten Abstract: Digitale Währungssysteme wie Bitcoin wollen Schwächen klassischer Währungssysteme überwinden. Ziel ist die Etablierung eines globalen Bezahlsystems, das unabhängig von zentralen Instanzen durch die Nutzer allein organisiert wird. Bei der Durchführung der Transaktionen werden vor allem Anonymität und geringe Transaktionskosten erwartet. Das Bitcoin-Konzept sieht einen komplexen Algorithmus vor, der die Geldmenge begrenzt und damit vor allem inflationäre Entwicklungen verhindern soll. Die Bewertung dieses Konzepts ist unterschiedlich. Einige Autoren sehen darin die Chance, das Geldsystem technologisch zu revolutionieren, andere das gewagteste Open-Source-Softwareprojekt der Gegenwart. Es wird gezeigt, dass das Bitcoin-Konzept nur teilweise die wichtigsten Anforderungen die an ein Geldsystem gestellt werden, wie Akzeptanz, Inflationsschutz, Sicherheit und Stabilität erfüllt. Digitale Währungssysteme sind daher nur bedingt in der Lage, die vermeintlichen Schwächen klassischer Währungssysteme zu beheben. Ursächlich sind vor allem die mangelnde Wertsicherungsfunktion und die Volatilität der Währung. Auch eine vollkommene Anonymität ist selbst in einem dezentralen IT-System nicht zur Gänze herstellbar. Dennoch haben digitale Währungssysteme das Potential zur Weiterentwicklung. Abstract: Digital currency systems like Bitcoin want to overcome weaknesses of classical currency systems. The goal is to establish a global payment system, which is organized by the users alone independently of central instances. By executing transactions with a digital currency, anonymity and low transaction costs are expected. The Bitcoin concept provides a complex algorithm that limits the amount of money and to prevent inflationary developments, but the assessment of this concept varies. Some authors see it as a chance to revolutionize the money system technologically, others see it as the most exciting open source software project of the present. It is shown that the Bitcoin concept only partially meets the important requirements of a monetary system, such as acceptance, protection against inflation, security and stability. Therefore, digital currency systems are only partially able to remedy the weaknesses of classical currency systems. The main causes are the lack of value preservation and the volatility of the currency. Even a complete anonymity cannot be achieved even in a decentralized IT system. Nevertheless, digital currency systems have the potential for further development. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193459/1/Digitale-Waehrungssysteme_250219_V1.0.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Währungssysteme, Funktionsweise, Bitcoin Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193459 #END 1021 #BEGIN 1022 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Karl Zimmermann Title: Public Infrastructure Provision in the Presence of Terms-of-Trade Effects and Tax Competition Abstract: This paper analyses and compares the performance of carbon taxes and capital taxes in financing public goods with positive effects on private firm productivity. It is motivated by Franks et al. (2017), who ask whether using carbon taxes could be motivated on fiscal grounds rather than by environmental ones, arguing that the advantage of the carbon tax consists in its potential to reap foreign resource rents. I employ an analytical general equilibrium framework of n identical countries, where local firms use internationally mobile capital and imported fossil fuel and in production as well as local public infrastructure. The latter is financed solely by either taxing the input of fossil fuels (carbon tax) or capital. The choice of the policy instrument is exogenous to policy makers and symmetric across countries. I find that the effect of policy on the fossil fuel price (terms-of-trade effect) leads to higher public good provision under carbon taxation. However, tax-competition could cause either policy instrument to yield higher provision depending on how strongly either tax base reacts to changes in the tax rate. And finally, I conclude that the ranking of the two policy scenarios is ambiguous when considering tax competition and the terms-of-trade effect simultaneously. A numerical exercise shows cases for higher provision of either policy. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193458/1/Zimmermann-2019-Public-Infrastructure-Provision.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H21, H54, Q38 Keywords: Tax Competition, Public Infrastructure, Carbon Tax Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193458 #END 1022 #BEGIN 1023 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daske, Thomas Title: Efficient Incentives in Social Networks: "Gamification" and the Coase Theorem Abstract: This study explores mechanism design for networks of interpersonal relationships. Agents' social (i.e., altruistic or spiteful) preferences and private payoffs are all subject to asymmetric information; utility is (quasi-)linear, types are independent. I show that any network of at least three agents can resolve any allocation problem with a mechanism that is Bayesian incentive-compatible, ex-interim individually rational, and ex-post Pareto-efficient (also ex-post budget-balanced). By contrast, a generalized Myerson-Satterthwaite theorem is established for two agents. The central tool to exploit the asymmetry of information about agents' social preferences is "gamification": Resolve the agents' allocation problem with an efficient social-preference robust mechanism; ensure agents' participation with the help of a mediator, some network member, who complements that mechanism with an unrelated hawk-dove like game between the others, a game that effectively rewards (sanctions) strong (poor) cooperation at the expense (to the benefit) of the mediator. Ex interim, agents (and the mediator) desire this game to be played, for it provides them with a platform to live out their propensities to cooperate or compete. - A figurative example is a fund-raiser, hosted by the "mediator", complemented with awarding the best-dressed guest. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/193148/1/Daske_Thomas-2019-Efficient-Incentives-in-Social-Networks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C70, D62, D64, D82, D85 Keywords: networks, social preferences, mechanisms, gamification, Coase theorem Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:193148 #END 1023 #BEGIN 1024 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Adeabah, David Author-Name: Andoh, Charles Title: Market power, efficiency and welfare performance of banks: evidence from the Ghanaian banking industry Abstract: The study analyses the welfare performance of banks’ lending services in the Ghanaian banking industry with emphasis on the role of market power and efficiency. We made use of pooled OLS regression with fixed effect model. For robustness, we adopted Prais–Winsten (1954) regression and two-stage least squares (2SLS) instrumental variables procedures on an unbalanced panel data of 24 banks for years 2009 through 2017. The results reveal that during our study period, there was a welfare loss of about 0.433 percent of observed total loans. Encouragingly, cost efficiency in the banking system fits well within the world’s mean efficiency but has been decreasing over time. Further, there is evidence that prices have not moved toward a competitive level. Cost efficiency estimates are found to be negatively associated with loss of consumer surplus estimates. Market power is found to be positively related to a loss in consumer surplus. Additional analysis shows that the market power effect is dominant in both domestic and large banks. Overall, the results indicate that market power and bank efficiency are competing interests for policymakers in their consideration of policy reforms geared toward an efficient and well-functioning banking system. An additional implication of these results suggests that antitrust enforcement may be socially beneficial to provide an incentive for competitive pricing in the lending business segment of banking. Other implications are also discussed. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/192967/1/Revised_manuscript_Final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D12, D18, D60, G21 Keywords: Welfare Performance, Bank Efficiency, Market Power, Data Envelopment Analysis, Ghana Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:192967 #END 1024 #BEGIN 1025 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vassalli, Matilde Author-Name: Trecroci, Carmine Title: Funding Conditions, Asset Prices and Macroeconomic Dynamics: Some U.S. Evidence Abstract: Funding liquidity, i.e., the ease with which firms, investors and consumers can obtain funding, is a key property of today's monetary transmission mechanism. We investigate empirically the role played by various measures of credit availability in shaping the dynamics of asset prices and the fluctuations of real activity in the US.We find that changes in funding conditions are more tightly associated with future asset valuations than with developments in key macroeconomic aggregates. Results also point to the presence of a positive feedback loop between asset valuations and credit availability. Finally, the response of equity and house prices to the easing of funding conditions is stronger following shocks to liquidity than after conventional interest-rate shocks. These novel results highlight potentially destabilizing properties of recent liquidity cycles and unconventional monetary policies. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191941/1/TreVassRev.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, E51, G1 Keywords: Business cycle, Asset prices, Funding liquidity, Monetary policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191941 #END 1025 #BEGIN 1026 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Krivenkov, Vladislav Title: Neu-Emissions-Prämien: Handlungsalternativen für CFOs bei der Emission von Corporate Bonds Abstract: Underpricing of corporate bond offerings result in excess returns for investors (new issue premia) but lead to higher costs for the issuer. This paper analyses the new issue premia of 1.556 Euro denominated fixed coupon corporate bonds and finds a systematic underpricing of new issued bonds. The results are evaluated from a perspective of CFOs whether opportunities for saving funding costs exist. Abstract: Underpricing bei Neuemissionen von Unternehmensanleihen führt zu Überrenditen für Investoren und höheren Finanzierungskosten für Emittenten. Im vorliegenden Aufsatz werden Neu-Emissions-Prämien von 1.556 Euro-Festzinsanleihen von Unternehmen untersucht; dabei wurde ein systematisches Underpricing festgestellt. Die Ergebnisse wurden dahingehend analysiert, ob sich daraus für CFOs die Möglichkeit zur Kostenersparnis bei der Refinanzierung ergeben. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191940/1/20190212_Neu%20Emissions%20Pr%c3%a4mien_CFO_Handlungsoptionen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G31 Keywords: Neu-Emissionprämien, CFO, Handlungsoptionen für CFO, Unternehmensfinanzierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191940 #END 1026 #BEGIN 1027 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: L’Angleterre, le Brexit et l’Afrique Abstract: High-flying illusions on the part of the proponents and grim predictions on the part of the sceptics have characterised the controversy around Brexit. The article assesses five key issues at stake for post-Brexit relationships between Britain, the EU, and Africa: market access, foreign direct investment (FDI), aid, security, and the nature of the partnership. The analysis focuses on those sub-Saharan African countries that belong to the Commonwealth, as the British government’s vision of a “Global Britain” relies heavily on its reinforced cooperation with Commonwealth nations. The review of potential developments in these different policy fields shows that the expectations of Brexiteers and African politicians alike concerning an enhanced, partnership-like post-Brexit Commonwealth relationship are largely unfounded. Although the post-Brexit United Kingdom will increase African countries’ choices regarding preferred trading partners, it remains questionable whether London could offer something new that other global players with increasing interest in Africa, such as China, do not already have on their agenda. Abstract: RÉSUMÉ: Des illusions vu trop grand de la part des partisans et des sombres prévisions des sceptiques ont caractérisé la controverse autour du Brexit. L'article évalue cinq enjeux clés pour les relations post-Brexit entre la Grande-Bretagne, l'UE et l'Afrique: accès aux marchés, investissements directs étrangers (IDE), aide, sécurité et nature du partenariat. L’analyse se concentre sur les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne appartenant au Commonwealth. La vision du gouvernement britannique d’une «Grande-Bretagne mondiale» repose largement sur sa coopération renforcée avec les pays du Commonwealth et des marchés libéralisés. L'examen des développements potentiels dans ces différents domaines politiques montre que les attentes des Brexiteers et des politiciens africains en ce qui concerne une relation post-Brexit améliorée, fondée sur un partenariat, sont largement infondées. Bien que le Royaume-Uni post-Brexit accroisse les choix des pays africains en matière de partenaires commerciaux privilégiés, on peut se demander si Londres pourrait offrir quelque chose de nouveau que d’autres acteurs mondiaux d’intérêt croissant en Afrique, comme la Chine, n’ont pas encore à leur agenda. Abstract: Hochfliegende Illusionen der Befürworter und grimmige Vorhersagen der Skeptiker haben die Kontroverse um den Brexit geprägt. Der Artikel untersucht fünf Schlüsselfragen, die für Beziehungen nach dem Brexit zwischen Großbritannien, der EU und Afrika auf dem Spiel stehen: Marktzugang, ausländische Direktinvestitionen (FDI), Hilfe, Sicherheit und die Art der Partnerschaft. Die Analyse konzentriert sich auf Länder südlich der Sahara, die zum Commonwealth gehören, da die Vision der britischen Regierung von einem "Global Britain" stark von ihrer verstärkten Kooperation mit den Commonwealth-Staaten abhängt. Die Überprüfung möglicher Entwicklungen in diesen verschiedenen Politikbereichen zeigt, dass die Erwartungen von Brexiteers und afrikanischen Politikern hinsichtlich einer verstärkten partnerschaftlichen Beziehung nach dem Brexit Commonwealth weitgehend unbegründet sind. Obwohl Großbritannien nach dem Brexit die Auswahl der bevorzugten Handelspartner in Afrika erhöhen wird, bleibt fraglich, ob London etwas Neues bieten könnte, das andere Global Player mit wachsendem Interesse an Afrika, wie China, nicht bereits auf ihrer Agenda haben. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191933/1/Kohnert-2018-LAngleterre-le-Brexit-et-lAfrique.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F2, F35, F54, F63, G15, G2, H26, N17, N47, N77, O17, P16, Z13 Keywords: United Kingdom, Brexit, EU, Africa, international trade, tariffs, ODA, security Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191933 Note: La version originale de ce bref article en anglais est disponible sur le blog de la Revue 'Review of African Political Economy' (ROAPE-blog) sous le titre : 'Britain, Brexit and Africa'. #END 1027 #BEGIN 1028 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Seeliger, Andreas Title: Umsetzung der europäischen Binnenmarktrichtlinie für Elektrizität (96/92/EG) und deren wettbewerbliche Folgen Abstract: Gegenstand dieser Arbeit sind die Auswirkungen der Liberalisierung der europäischen Strommärkte. Einen Schwerpunkt bildet dabei die Beschreibung des deutschen Marktes, wobei den Schwierigkeiten der Stadtwerke ein eigener Abschnitt gewidmet ist. Diese Unternehmen stehen seit der völligen Marktöffnung aus verschiedenen Gründen besonders unter Druck, allerdings existieren auch mehrere Gründe, die das in den Medien häufig zitierte und befürchtete "Stadtwerkesterben" als übertrieben erscheinen lassen. Abschließend wird gezeigt, wie andere EU-Länder ihre Märkte öffneten. Während Großbritannien und die skandinavischen Staaten sich als sehr vorbildlich erwiesen haben, stellt Frankreich das unrühmliche Negativbeispiel dar. Dieses Land hat erst nach über einem Jahr Verzögerung langsam angefangen, seinen zentralistisch-monopolistisch strukturierten Markt anderen Anbietern zugänglich zu machen. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191751/1/WBFolgen%20Richtlinie%202019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q40, Q48 Keywords: Energiepolitik, Elektrizitätswirtschaft, Stadtwerke, Liberalisierung, Strombörse, Kraft-Wärme-Kopplung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191751 Note: Bisher unveröffentlichtes Manuskript von 2001 (Erläuterungen siehe Vorwort) #END 1028 #BEGIN 1029 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Adeabah, David Title: CEO power and board structure of banks: a developing country’s perspective Abstract: This study examines the implications of CEO power on the board structure of banks in the Ghanaian banking industry. Using a unique hand-collected dataset in respect of 21 commercial banks in Ghana for the 2009 – 2017 periods, the results show that CEO power underscores the absence or lack of gender composition of bank boards and constrains independent directors, while incentivizing larger board size in banks. Meanwhile, ownership structure and listing status critically underpin the CEO power effect on bank board structure, such that the actual sign of the marginal effect of CEO power on bank board structure varies with ownership structure and listing status. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of the global antecedent of bank corporate governance (i.e. board structure) by providing an understanding of the implications of social connection hypothesis on bank board structure in a developing country's context. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191529/1/CEO_Power_Bank_Board_Structure.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G30, G32 Keywords: CEO Power, Board Structure, Gender Diversity, Board Size, Board Independence, Social Connection Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191529 #END 1029 #BEGIN 1030 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Otieno, James Origa Title: The Public Policy process: A conceptual framework for understanding policy processes and opportunities for influencing policy outcomes Abstract: The ideal policy model is often presented as a neat linear process starting from problem identification, setting policy objectives, creative alternative options, gathering information on options, applying analysis and implementing policy choices. In real life, it isn’t always this neat and linear. Real world policy making happens in a world of constraints. Many of these “constraints” eventually are the objectives of policy making. This article presents the murky waters of governance and policy formulation processes in real life. It briefly highlights four analytical lenses for looking at the policy process and offers critical insights into influencing policy outcomes having an understanding of the complex constraints and non-linear dynamics that goes into the process. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191527/1/Understanding%20and%20Influencing%20the%20public%20policy%20process.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A31 Keywords: Policy Process, Political value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191527 #END 1030 #BEGIN 1031 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bournakis, Ioannis Author-Name: Christopoulos, Dimitris Author-Name: Rizov, Marian Title: Revisiting the efficiency and institutions debate: The interaction of legal origins and ethnic heterogeneity Abstract: We analyse the interaction between legal origins and ethnic heterogeneity and their combined impact on national efficiency. We hypothesise that in the presence of high ethnic heterogeneity common-law system performs worse than civil-law one in terms of economic efficiency. Our empirical tests on the sample of African countries support our hypothesis. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191313/1/Legal%20origin%20and%20ethnicity%20WP12.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K15, K40, O10, O43, O47 Keywords: national efficiency, institutions, legal origins, ethnic heterogeneity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191313 #END 1031 #BEGIN 1032 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: The Harder They Fall Abstract: Until a few months ago, the stock market narrative in the United States could have been summarized by the popular acronym BTFD – or ‘buy the fucking dip’. Analysts and strategists, emboldened by the world’s synchronized recovery, Trump’s pro-business policies and ample liquidity, predicted that equities would continue rising and recommended that investors take advantage of any temporary weakness to augment their stock holdings in anticipation of further upside. But the atmosphere of boom has since given way to doom and gloom. With equity markets having entered ‘correction’ territory, many observers, including some of the world’s richest investors, now warn of a coming crash and a protracted ‘bear market’. On the face of it, this shifting sentiment has much to do with investors anticipating an earnings reversal. Corporate earnings growth has reached extreme levels from which a downturntrend in profits – and therefore in equity prices – seems imminent. But then, why should forward-looking stock prices be dependent on current earnings in the first place? Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191311/1/20190100_bn_the_harder_they_fall_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P1, G01, G Keywords: capital as power, capitalized power, stock market, systemic crisis, systemic fear Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191311 #END 1032 #BEGIN 1033 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Are labor unions important for business cycle fluctuations: lessons from Bulgaria (1999-2016) Abstract: In this paper we investigate the quantitative importance of collective agreements in explaining uctuations in Bulgarian labor markets. Following Maffezzoli (2001), we introduce a monopoly union in a real-business-cycle model with government sector. We calibrate the model to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016), and compare and contrast it to a model with indivisible labor and no unions as in Rogerson and Wright (1988). We find that the sequential bargaining between unions and firms produces an important internal propagation mechanism, which fits data much better that the alternative framework with indivisible labor. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191066/1/RBC_union_CD_2019_BEP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E24, J23, J51 Keywords: business cycles, general equilibrium, labor unions, indivisible labor, involuntary unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191066 #END 1033 #BEGIN 1034 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Otieno, James Origa Title: Valuing water services: A review of what water pricing and demand management would mean for Nairobi city Abstract: This article provides an overview of key economic concepts in water services with a focus on price-based strategies for demand management in the face of resource scarcity using the case of Nairobi city water services. The paper starts by first presenting key issues and concepts in water economics then looks into detail issues of water pricing and concludes by providing recommendations to the city utility on a novel approach for price-based demand management of scarce water resources. Three key messages emerge from this brief review. First is that water pricing has been used more as an instrument for achieving financial sustainability of the supplier rather than an economic allocation instrument. The message is that if the service provider is not able to maintain the system adequately because of charging the wrong price, the quality of services will deteriorate. Eventually the system collapses leaving people more vulnerable to water-related diseases. Second is that the quality of water governance depends on two factors-the public value that citizens place on water and what they are willing to pay for it and the quality of the relationship between citizens, the state and the managing entity of the service. The Third message is that contrary to conventional economic theory, an increase in price of water doesn't always signal the consumer to reduce consumption and demand. Research shows that most urban households don't know the price they pay for water since it makes a very small portion of their budget, so prices don't affect them much especially when the billing structure is complicated and information not available to users. This calls for urban utilities to increase awareness on the value and cost of water through proper structuring and presentation of water bills to consumers. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191052/3/Valuing%20water%20and%20demand%20management%20in%20Nairobi.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A13 Keywords: Valuing water, Economics of Water, Demand Management Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191052 #END 1034 #BEGIN 1035 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Haeri, Ali Author-Name: Arabmazar, Abbas Title: Designing an Industrial Policy for Developing Countries: A New Approach Abstract: In this study, the prevalent methodology for design of the industrial policy in developing countries was critically assessed, and it was shown that the mechanism and content of classical method is fundamentally contradictory to the goals and components of the endogenous growth theories. This study, by proposing a new approach, along settling Schumpeter's economic growth theory as a policy framework, designed the process of entering, analyzing and processing data as the mechanism of the industrial policy in order to provide "theoretical consistency" and "technical and Statistical requirements" for targeting the growth stimulant factor effectively. Abstract: در این مقاله با استدلال منطقی و علمی ضرورت دو رویکرد "تعمیق آماری و فنی" و "تعمیق تئوریک" برای تدوین و اجرای یک خط مشی صنعتی مورد تاکید قرار گرفت.در این راستا، به سبب بیشترین تطابق تئوری رشد اقتصادی شومپیتر با آنچه که اساسا هدف یک خط مشی صنعتی برای یافتن عامل محرک درونزای سیستم اقتصادی و تقویت و کانالیزه کردن آن در مسیر رشد اقتصادی است، و همچنین با چرخش از متد کلاسیک به سوی متد جدیدی که داده های ورودی به مکانیزم تدوین و اجرای خط مشی صنعتی «طرح تولید محصول» باشد، بستر لازم برای اجرایی شدن این دو رویکرد فراهم شد. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191051/1/manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O00, O20, O25, O38, E61, L52 Keywords: industrial policy, Schumpeter, endogenous economic growth, new combinations, technology, stimulant factor Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191051 #END 1035 #BEGIN 1036 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Döttling, Robin Title: Bank Capital Regulation in a Zero Interest Environment Abstract: How do near-zero deposit rates affect (optimal) bank capital regulation and risk taking? I study these questions in a tractable, dynamic equilibrium model, in which forward-looking banks compete imperfectly for deposit funding, subject to a (zero) lower bound constraint on deposit rates (ZLB). At the ZLB, capital requirements become less effective in curbing excessive risk-taking incentives, as they disproportionately hurt franchise values. As a consequence, optimal dynamic capital requirements vary with the level of interest rates if the ZLB binds occasionally. Subsidizing bank funding costs at the ZLB dampens risk-taking, but may reduce overall welfare. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191028/1/BankCapital_ZLB_2019_JF.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G28, E43 Keywords: Zero lower bound, Search for yield, Capital regulation, Bank competition, Franchise value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191028 #END 1036 #BEGIN 1037 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rathke, Alex A.T. Title: Fuzzy Profit Shifting: A Model for Optimal Tax-induced Transfer Pricing with Fuzzy Arm's Length Parameter Abstract: This paper proposes a model of optimal tax-induced transfer pricing with a fuzzy arm's length parameter. Fuzzy numbers provide a suitable structure for modelling the ambiguity that is intrinsic to the arm's length parameter. For the usual conditions regarding the anti-shifting mechanisms, the optimal transfer price becomes a maximising a-cut of the fuzzy arm's length parameter. Nonetheless, we show that it is profitable for firms to choose any maximising transfer price if the probability of tax audit is sufficiently low, even if the chosen price is considered a completely non-arm's length price by tax authorities. In this case, we derive the necessary and sufficient conditions to prevent this extreme shifting strategy. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191027/1/rathke_fuzzy%20profit%20shifting.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F23, H26, K34 Keywords: fuzzy profit shifting, transfer pricing, tax evasion, tax enforcement, tax penalty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:191027 Note: Ongoing unpublished resarch. The usual disclaimer applies. #END 1037 #BEGIN 1038 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Capitalism's Deniers Abstract: A new, capitalism-denying book is on the shelves, and it makes a stunning discovery: ‘Capitalism without competition is not capitalism’! Capitalist crisis, like climate change, tends to breed ‘capitalism deniers’. The problem, argue the deniers, lies not in capitalism but in its ‘distortions’. In its pure form, they maintain, capitalism is the best of all possible worlds. But to the deniers’ chagrin, contemporary capitalism is no longer pristine. Unlike its original, once-upon-a-time version, its current one is subject to distorting ‘imperfections’, ‘shocks’ and ‘exogenous’ events. And it is these aberrations – rather than capitalism itself – that should be blamed for the system’s misfortunes. Creation-Date: 2019 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/190952/1/20190100_bn_capitalism_deniers_rn.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L, L1, P Keywords: capitalism, competition, fundamentalism, ideology, neoclassical economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:190952 #END 1038 #BEGIN 1039 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Muduli, Silu Author-Name: Dash, Shridhar Kumar Title: Financial Trust in Social Economic Network and Credit Risk Creation-Date: 2019 Classification-JEL: D85, G21, L14 Keywords: Social Economic Network, Trust, Credit Risk Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:190918 #END 1039 #BEGIN 1040 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ferlito, Carmelo Title: Policy Reforms on Poultry Industry in Indonesia Abstract: The Indonesian poultry industry is a key sector for the national economy, supplying 65% of all animal protein and employing 10% of the national labour force. All over the country, though local production successfully copes with domestic demand, the potential for growth is high, consistent with expectations of rising GDP per capita. The market looks healthy and attractive, which has resulted in this gradual entry of new foreign groups. In past decades, the production process has evolved and modernized. The market is dominated by five main players-three foreign companies operating in feed production and two in day-old chick production. Even though expectations for the industry are strongly positive, prices for both broiler chicken and eggs are consistently higher in Indonesia than in Europe and America. From March- October 2018, Indonesian broiler chicken meat cost an average of about IDR 40,500/kg, while in the EU the price was around IDR 32,600 /kg (+24%). Over the same period, the average egg price in Indonesia was around IDR 28,000/kg, compared to just above IDR 21,000/kg (+33%) in the EU. The differences in price are partially due to differences in demand and supply- Indonesia is a Muslim country, so the demand for chicken meat may be stronger than in countries with higher pork consumption. However, Indonesia's higher prices are surprising given lower production costs. In Indonesia, farm salaries are lower than in Europe. In addition, the EU banned egg layer battery cages in 2012, forcing layer farmers to decrease bird density and therefore to implement more expensive methods of production, pushing up egg production costs. So production costs are higher in the EU, but consumer prices are lower. Price differences can also be explained in part by general market conditions in the EU and Indonesia. While the European market is a mature one, the constant growth in Indonesia, supported by growing demand, is an important element keeping prices high. While many economic factors are out of Indonesia's control, prices are also affected by Indonesian public policy. Therefore, we propose policy modifications that aim to support sound growth of the industry, which might be accompanied by lower prices. The first important act would be to resolve conflicts between existing regulations, in particular between Regulation of the Minister of Trade (MOT) 21/2018 and Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture (MOA) 57/2015 on the ministerial recommendation letter for maize import and maize import rights. Our second suggestion, related to MOA 26/2016, is to liberalize parent stock1 imports, enabling poultry producers to more freely implement sound entrepreneurial strategies rather than relying on incorrect government estimations. At the same time, we believe that it is necessary to open Indonesia to the international market for maize, rather than using trade protections to force local production. Current regulations have driven domestic maize prices incredibly high compared to the international price. Since maize is the main component of poultry feed, and feed is in turn the major cost in Indonesian poultry production, free access to international markets would heavily and positively affect production costs in the poultry industry, helping prices to cool down. Finally, the government could play an important role in improving infrastructure, which, at the moment, burdens the industry-particularly in the case of transporting raw materials for feed from the ports to the mills. An improvement in road infrastructure would also allow the transport of heavy machinery, further boosting modernization of the poultry industry. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/190822/1/20181210-Poultry-Indonesia-CF-bis.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O13, P16 Keywords: Poultry market, Indonesia, Political Economy, Free Trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:190822 #END 1040 #BEGIN 1041 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ferlito, Carmelo Title: Economics: A Science of Meaning Abstract: In this paper I will define economics following a different general approach to economic problems, an approach that, because of its emphasis on meaning, has been called ‘radical subjectivism’ (Storr, 2017). In the light of this approach, it is possible to develop a general theory for the economic system, with the possibility of globally responding to economic questions within a broad paradigm. Moreover, such a paradigm has to incorporate two fundamental elements disregarded by mainstream economics: real people and real time. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/190821/1/Economics-A-Science-of-Meaning.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A11 Keywords: Economics, Meaning, Real Time Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:190821 #END 1041 #BEGIN 1042 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ayumu Ken Kikkawa Author-Name: Akira Sasahara Title: Gains from Trade and the Sovereign Bond Market Abstract: Increasing international flows of goods, services, and financial assets have been shown to increase a country's welfare through various channels. This paper studies the interaction between a country's welfare gains from international trade and its sovereign’s access to bond markets. We do so by incorporating a sovereign bond market into a simple Armington (1969) trade model. While standard trade models suggest surprisingly small gains from trade, our model implies that introducing channels through a sovereign bond market greatly magnifies the gains from trade. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/190820/1/Kikkawa_Sasahara.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, F60 Keywords: Gains from trade, Sovereign debt, Sovereign default, Trade openness Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:190820 #END 1042 #BEGIN 1043 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Osorio, Sebastian Author-Name: Pietzcker, Robert Carl Author-Name: Pahle, Michael Author-Name: Edenhofer, Ottmar Title: How to deal with the risks of phasing out coal in Germany through national carbon pricing Abstract: Germany has an ambitious climate target for 2030 that cannot be achieved without reducing the high share of coal in power generation. In the face of this, the country has set up a commission to phase out coal. A UK-style carbon price floor is one of the options being considered. Yet implementing such a policy comes with important risks related to the following two aspects: (1) the price level necessary to reduce emissions to reach the 2030 climate target; and (2) the waterbed effect that arises from such a policy under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) cap. In this paper, we quantify these risks using the numerical electricity market model LIMES-EU, and consider their implications as well as different options for dealing with them. Our results show that under baseline assumptions a carbon price floor of around 33 €/tCO2 would be sufficient to reach the 2030 target. Under unfavourable conditions, an appropriate price floor may be nearly twice as high (57 €/tCO2). The waterbed effect and related risks for the EU ETS could be reduced substantially in the mid-term (2030) through the recently introduced cancellation of allowances through the Market Stability Reserve (MSR), or through a larger coalition of countries. Germany could even fully alleviate the waterbed effect by cancelling 1.1 GtCO2 of certificates. In the long-term (until 2050), emission reductions leading up to 2030 would be almost completely (91%) offset at the EU level. Accordingly, it is essential that the national price initiates a policy sequence that leads to the EU level. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/190771/1/German%20coal%20phase-out%20final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L94, Q58 Keywords: EU ETS, carbon price floor, carbon price, coal phase-out, interaction, waterbed effect Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:190771 #END 1043 #BEGIN 1044 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Oberrauch, Luis Author-Name: Kaiser, Tim Title: Economic competence in early secondary school: Evidence from a large-scale assessment in Germany Abstract: We employ a psychometrically validated performance test to study economic competence among a large and representative sample of early secondary school students in Southwest Germany. The rich dataset allows us to study variation in economic competence across school types and observable student characteristics. Our results show that economic competence is significantly lower among female students, migrants, students with parents of low socioeconomic status and those who do not attend the highest track school type. Additionally, quantile regression analyses suggest that the gender gap increases along the distribution of economic competence and that effects of parents with high socio-economic status are more pronounced above the median of the competence distribution. Our analysis sets the stage for a long-term study of economic competence among secondary school students and the impact of a recent curriculum reform introducing mandatory economic education. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/190763/1/OK_181218.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21, I21 Keywords: Economic competence, economic literacy, item response theory, pre-college economic education, gender gap Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:190763 #END 1044 #BEGIN 1045 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Müller, Hans-Erich Title: Agil, Plattform, Startup – jenseits des Hypes Abstract: Die Diskussion „Arbeit der Zukunft“ dreht sich oft um die unmittelbaren Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung. Ergänzend dazu geht es im vorliegenden Beitrag um einen betriebswirtschaftlichen Zugang. Es zeigt sich, dass ein moderner, inte- grierter Ansatz besonders fruchtbar ist. Gewinn und Verantwortung, Planung und Agilität, Märkte und Ressourcen, global und lokal: auf „Beidhändigkeit“ (engl. ambidexterity) kommt es an in Managementlehre und Unternehmenspraxis. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/190746/1/hem_WP_109_2018%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M10 Keywords: Digitale Transformation, Agile Managementmethoden, Plattformstrategie, Startup, Internet of Things, Industrie 4.0, Zukunft der Arbeit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:190746 #END 1045 #BEGIN 1046 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Muduli, Silu Author-Name: Ramana, D.V. Title: Measuring Financial Capability of the Street Vendors Abstract: Financial capability of an individual is the ability to use and manage financial products for current and future financial needs with adequate financial knowledge. This paper examines financial capability on four dimensionsfinancial management to meet current needs, future financial planning, financial products management, and financial knowledge using a sample of street vendors in Bhubaneswar, India. A financial capability index for each individual in the sample has been calculated in a manner that satisfies monotonicity, anonymity, normalisation, uniformity, shortfall sensitivity and hiatus sensitivity to level axioms. We find that education, age, business experience, and daily turnover significantly affect the financial capability of an individual. Moreover, street vendors in regions with higher number of bank branches are found to have significantly higher financial capability. Creation-Date: 2018 Revision-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/189967/1/FCI%20RBI%20Working%20Paper.PDF File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, R58, O20 Keywords: Financial capability, financial literacy, financial inclusion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:187423 #END 1046 #BEGIN 1047 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Iandolo, Stefano Author-Name: Ferragina, Anna Maria Title: Does persistence in internationalization and innovation influence firms’ performance? Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the joint effect of persistency in innovation and export on firms' total factor productivity (measured in accordance with Levinsohn and Petrin, 2003). For this purpose, we use data on Italian manufacturing firms covering an eight-year time span (1998-2006) which allow us to measure the effect of different time activities, both in innovation and in export and the existence of different pathways linking them. We distinguish between persistent and temporary exporting firms as well as frequent and temporary innovators, to test (through OLS and a two-step system GMM) the existence of any combined learning-by-exporting and learning-by-doing effects. We find that persistent innovation efforts seem to be associated with a permanent presence in foreign markets since persistently innovative and exporting firms have better productivity results than persistently exporting (innovating) firms with no persistent innovation (export). Combining both strategies can be an opportunity to internalize knowledge flows coming from long-lasting exposure to foreign markets. Creation-Date: 2018 Classification-JEL: F14, F10, F23, O30, D24 Keywords: Export, Innovation, Firms, Productivity, GMM Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:189680 #END 1047 #BEGIN 1048 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hirth, Lion Author-Name: Glismann, Samuel Title: Congestion Management: From Physics to Regulatory Instruments Abstract: In recent years, power flows in many European transmission and distribution networks have increased, making the management of network congestion a much-debated – and increasing politicized – topic. This paper is an introduction to and a review of congestion management in European electricity grids. We review the physical measures available to avoid congestion, using a newly introduced analytical framework. Also, we provide a com-prehensive review of regulatory instruments used and proposed to incentivize those measures. Finally, we provide a description of the implementation of three prominent instruments, including so-called redispatch. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/189641/1/Hirth%20%26%20Glismann%202018%20-%20Introduction%20to%20congestion%20management.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Redispatch, Congestion Management Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:189641 #END 1048 #BEGIN 1049 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mays, Anja Title: How do working life and its interplay with family structures affect men’s and women’s gender role attitudes? Abstract: Using fixed effects models and longitudinal data from the British Household Panels Surveys (BHPS) and the follow-up study “Understanding Society” (UKHLS), the current study examines the impact of change in employment status and working conditions on gender role attitudes by simultaneously considering the family structure. A second research question investigates whether employment status and family life interact with one another regarding their influence on gender role attitudes. This study shows that men are more traditional before marriage as well as after separation or divorce, while the same correlation does not seem to exist for women. Moreover, having children affects men’s but not women’s tendencies towards more traditional attitudes. A further important conclusion drawn in this study is that employment status moderates the relationship between children and gender role attitudes: women working full-time develop more egalitarian gender role attitudes if they have additional children while their counterparts who are only working part-time or not working at all become more traditional in the same situation. Regarding occupational circumstances, it turns out that, for men, egalitarianism decreases as income increases; for women, on the other hand, the opposite is the case. Further, job satisfaction affects only the gender role attitudes of women: the higher the job satisfaction is the more egalitarian are their attitudes. In sum, our findings demonstrate that it is essential to consider both family structures and employment circumstances — not to mention their interdependency — to gain a deeper understanding of changes in gender role attitudes of adults. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/188988/1/Gender%20Roles_Working%20Paper_Mays.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: gender roles, attitude change, women, employment, work Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:188988 #END 1049 #BEGIN 1050 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: A progressive consumption tax: an important instrument for stabilizing business cycles, or just an exotic idea? Abstract: We introduce progressive consumption taxation into a real-business-cycle setup augmented with a detailed government sector. We calibrate the model to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016). We investigate the quantitative importance of the presence of of progressive taxation of consumption expenditures for the stabilization of cyclical fluctuations in Bulgaria. We find the quantitative effect of such a tax to be very small, and thus not important for either business cycle stabilization, or public finance issues. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/187772/1/progr_sales_tax2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, E32 Keywords: business cycles, progressive consumption taxation, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:187772 #END 1050 #BEGIN 1051 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Narciso, Gaia Author-Name: Severgnini, Battista Author-Name: Vardanyan, Gayane Title: The long-run impact of historical shocks on the decision to migrate: Evidence from the Irish Migration. Abstract: This study investigates how negative historical shocks can explain migration in the long-run. We construct a unique dataset based on the early 20th century Irish Census data and a selection of the Ellis Island Administrative Records which allow us to test whether the Great Irish Famine (1845-1850), one of the most lethal starvation in history, has shaped the decision of migrating to the USA in the following 70 years. We control for several set of individual and geographical characteristics and we find that the Irish Famine was an important significant driver of individuals’ migration choices. Instrumental variable analysis based on the exogenous spread of the potato blight provides consistent results. Creation-Date: 2018 Classification-JEL: F22, N33, N93 Keywords: Mass migration, negative shock, long-run impact, Great Famine Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:187690 #END 1051 #BEGIN 1052 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Zeynalov, Ayaz Title: Forecasting Tourist Arrivals with Google Trends and Mixed Frequency Data Abstract: In this paper, we examine the usefulness of Google Trends data in predicting monthly tourist arrivals and overnight stays in Prague during the period between January 2010 and December 2016. We offer two contributions. First, we analyze whether Google Trends provides significant forecasting improvements over models without search data. Second, we assess whether a high-frequency variable (weekly Google Trends) is more useful for accurate forecasting than a low-frequency variable (monthly tourist arrivals) using Mixed-data sampling (MIDAS). Our results stress the potential of Google Trends to offer more accurate prediction in the context of tourism: we find that Google Trends information, both two months and one week ahead of arrivals, is useful for predicting the actual number of tourist arrivals. The MIDAS forecasting model that employs weekly Google Trends data outperforms models using monthly Google Trends data and models without Google Trends data. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/187420/1/paper4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C53, L83, Z32 Keywords: Google trends, mixed-frequency data, forecasting, tourism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:187420 #END 1052 #BEGIN 1053 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: The Nordhaus Racket: How to Use Capitalization to Minimize the Cost of Climate Change and Win a Nobel for ‘Sustainable Growth’ Abstract: The LA Times called the bluff: William D. Nordhaus won the Nobel prize in economics for a climate model that minimized the cost of rising global temperatures and undermined the need for urgent action. Unfortunately, though, the article missed the nugget in the racket. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/184690/1/20181103_bn_the_nordhaus_racket.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q54, P48, F64, Q56 Keywords: capitalization, climate change, discounting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:184690 #END 1053 #BEGIN 1054 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Can Capitalists Afford Recovery? A 2018 Update and a Closer Look Abstract: This research note starts by showing that, for much of the postwar period, U.S. unemployment to has been a highly reliable leading indicator for the capitalist share of domestic income three years later, and then assesses whether this relationship still holds. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/184689/1/20181100_bn_can_capitalists_afford_recovery_a_2018_update_and_a_closer_look.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, E24, D3 Keywords: crisis, income distribution, power, sabotage, unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:184689 #END 1054 #BEGIN 1055 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Insurance-markets Equilibrium with a Non-convex Labor Supply decision, Unobservable Effort, and Efficiency Wages of the "No-shirking" Type Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe the lottery- and insurance-market equilibrium in an economy with non-convex labor supply decision, unobservable effort, and efficiency wages of the no-shirking type a la Shapiro and Stiglitz (1984). The presence of indivisible labor creates a market incompleteness, which requires that an insurance market for (un)employment be put in operation to "complete" the market. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/184667/1/ins_mkt_noshirking_wages.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E1, J22, J41 Keywords: indivisible labor, lotteries, unobservable effort, insurance, no-shirking efficiency wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:184667 #END 1055 #BEGIN 1056 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Indeterminacy and multiplicity of equilibria in a two-sector economy with a public-sector production Abstract: We introduce government production of both output-augmenting and utility-enhancing public services into an exogenous growth model with a detailed government sector, and calibrate the model to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016). We show that in contrast to the case without government output, e.g., Vasilev (2009), when the economy features saddle-path stability, the presence of a second sector leads to equilibrium indeterminacy in the model. When public sector production adds to private sector output, the setup exhibits "sink" dynamics, and equilibrium paths are determined by "animal spirits." These results are in line with the findings in the literature, e.g., Benhabib and Farmer (1994, 1996) and Farmer (1999), and have major implications for policy-making and welfare. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/184666/1/indeterminacy_government_output.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E37 Keywords: Equilibrium indeterminacy, animal spirits, two-sector model, government production Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:184666 #END 1056 #BEGIN 1057 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Are "fair" wages quantitatively important for business cycle fluctuations in Bulgaria? Abstract: We introduce "fair" wages in a general-equilibrium model where worker's effort is unobservable and investigate whether such a mechanism can quantitatively account for the degree of real wage rigidity in the Bulgarian labor markets, as documented in Lozev, Vladova, and Paskaleva (2011) and Paskaleva (2016). In contrast to Danthine and Kurmann (2004), here we internalize the effect that past wages have on current effort level. We calibrate the model to Bulgarian data (1999-2016), and quantify the effect of technological shocks on hours and wages in the theoretical setup. Overall, the calibrated model with "fair" wages performs poorly when it comes to the relative volatilities of labor market variables. This is because aggregate labor market conditions, as proxied by the employment rate and past aggregate wages, turn out not to be quantitatively important for business cycles in Bulgaria. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/184665/1/RBC_fair_wages.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, E32, J41 Keywords: Business cycles, unobservable effort, fair wages, unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:184665 #END 1057 #BEGIN 1058 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Insurance-markets Equilibrium with a Non-convex Labor Supply decision, Unobservable Effort, and Incentive ("Fair") Wages Abstract: The purpose of this note is to describe the lottery- and insurance-market equilibrium in an economy with non-convex labor supply decision, unobservable effort, and incentive ("fair") wages. The presence of indivisible labor creates a market incompleteness, which requires that an insurance market for employment be put in operation to "complete" the market. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183615/1/ins_mkt_fair_wages.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E1, J22 Keywords: Indivisible labor, Lotteries, Insurance, Unobservable effort, fair wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183615 #END 1058 #BEGIN 1059 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Santos, Eleonora Author-Name: Khan, Shahed Title: The Impact of Foreign Participation in Outdoor Tourism Activities on Job Creation Abstract: We test whether foreign tourists in outdoor activities have contributed to job creation in Northern Portugal in 2006-2014. This is the very first study in Portugal that focus on the impact of foreign participation in outdoor activities on job creation, being innovative in this regard. Based on data from 4 sources, we employ OLS to regress the employment changes on the number of new firms, turnover, the share of foreigners in outdoor tourism activities, and on labour productivity. Results indicate a negative but not statistically significant impact. This result may imply that the higher foreign participation in outdoor tourism activities the lesser the number of employees in those firms. However, since results are non-significant they suggest the need of further empirical investigation. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183581/1/TOURISM.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L83, Z32 Keywords: Outdoor Activities, Tourism, Portugal, Job Creation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183581 #END 1059 #BEGIN 1060 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Aggregation with a non-convex labor supply decision, unobservable effort, and incentive ("fair") wages Abstract: The purpose of this note is to explore the problem of a non-convex labor supply decision in an economy with unobservable e ort and incentive ("fair") wages a la Danthine and Kurmann (2004), and explicitly perform the aggregation presented there without a formal proof, and thus provide - starting from micro-foundations - the derivation of the expected utility functions used for the aggregate household. We show how lotteries as in Rogerson (1988) can be used to convexify consumption sets, and aggregate over individual preferences. With a discrete labor supply decisions, the elasticity of aggregate labor supply becomes a function of effort. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183580/1/aggregation_fair_wages.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E1, J22 Keywords: Aggregation, Indivisible labor, Unobservable effort, Fair wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183580 #END 1060 #BEGIN 1061 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Santos, Eleonora Author-Name: Khan, Shahed Title: Public Policies, Innovation and Convergence Abstract: Since the mid-twentieth century, the Portuguese economy converged vis-à-vis with the EU average, due to backwardness advantages. At the same time, the dynamic effects of Foreign Direct Investment allowed for a structural shift in exports towards technology-intensive activities. However, in the new millennium, several factors, largely triggered by the global financial crisis, led to a drop in industrial output along with a reduction in FDI attraction. This paper assesses the efficacy of the Investment Promoting policies to stimulate innovation and promote the absorptive capacity at national level, by analysing the relationship between FDI inward flows and a set of innovation and absorptive capacity indicators. Results show that the gap between Portugal and the EU-28 average is far from being closed. Rather than being an automatic process triggered by foreign presence, we suggest that the convergence based on the productivity, can be assisted by a reinforcement of supply-side measures, and the coordination between the industrial policy and the instruments of the Investment Promotion Policy, in strategic industries. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183508/1/PUBLIC-POLICIES.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F15, F23, O11, O33, O40 Keywords: Industrial Policy, Productivity, Investment Promotion Policies, Innovation, Convergence, Technological Gap Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183508 #END 1061 #BEGIN 1062 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Santos, Eleonora Author-Name: Khan, Shahed Title: Technological Trajectories and FDI: Top Bananas and Underdogs Abstract: Previous empirical evidence searching for externalities from Foreign Direct investment in Portugal showed mixed results. Using a new database containing 5,045 Portuguese manufacturing firms grouped by technological trajectories, we investigate the occurrence and magnitude of externalities from FDI in 1995-2007. We find both positive and negative externalities in scale-intensive and supplier-dominated industries. The magnitude of externalities is higher in the current period than in lagged periods. Because positive externalities outweigh the negative externalities, on the whole a 1% increase in foreign presence (measured by turnover) increases the Total Factor Productivity of domestic firms by 0.42 percentage points. Thus, the Investment Promoting Agency should attract foreign projects in those technological groups. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183472/1/Technological-Trajectories-and-FDI.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F23, L60, O3 Keywords: Technological Trajectories, Multinational Corporations, Productivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183472 #END 1062 #BEGIN 1063 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Singh, Ritvik Author-Name: Gangwar, Rachna Title: A Temporal Analysis of Intraday Volatility of Nifty Futures on the National Stock Exchange Abstract: This paper aims to establish trends in intraday volatility in context of the Indian stock market and analyze the impact of development in the Indian economy on its stock market volatility. One minute tick data of Nifty 50 futures from Jan 1, 2011 to Aug 31, 2018 was used for the purpose of this research. Volatility was computed for each day of week and various time intervals. Our analysis shows evidence of the expected U-shaped pattern of intraday volatility (higher at the beginning and end of the day). We also observed a decline in the hourly volatility over the time period studied. However, sufficient evidence to determine the impact of development in the Indian economy on volatility in the stock market was not found. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183471/1/Nifty-Intraday-Volatility.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G10, G13, G15 Keywords: Risk Analysis, Intraday Volatility, National Stock Exchange of India, Nifty Futures, Temporal Analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183471 #END 1063 #BEGIN 1064 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Santos, Eleonora Author-Name: Khan, Shahed Title: Is There an Economic Bias in Academic Success? A Regional Perspective Abstract: This paper aims to evaluate whether schools with better National Exams scores are located in regions NUTs III with greater purchasing power. Accordingly, we analyze the evolution of the ranking of schools in light of the purchasing power of the regions where they are located. Using data collected in the media, related to school rankings by region for 2008 and 2014; and in Pordata database for regional purchasing power in 2007 and 2011; we calculate location and specialization measures and perform a shift-share analysis of the regions. The results indicate that schools located in regions with very high and high purchasing power rank first; and both structural and regional changes were positive. A notable exception is the region of Alto Alentejo with a medium purchasing power. In contrast, regions with low purchasing power showed negative structural and regional changes. These results indicate that, although there may have been an improvement in a region of medium purchasing power, the gap between regions of low and high purchasing power has been perpetuated. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183220/1/PAPER%20EDUCATION.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I21, I24, I25 Keywords: Regional Inequalities, Education Performance, Knowledge-Based Economy, Shift-Share Analysis, Human Capital Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183220 #END 1064 #BEGIN 1065 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: A Real-Business-Cycle model with endogenous discounting and a government sector Abstract: We introduce an endogenous discount factor as in Uzawa (1968) and Schmitt-Grohe and Uribe (2003) into a real-business-cycle setup with Greenwood et al. (1988) preferences and augment the model with a detailed government sector. We calibrate the arti ficial economy to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016). We investigate the quantitative importance of endogenous discounting for the propagation cyclical fluctuations in Bulgaria. The presence of an endogenous discount factor improves the model performance against data, and in addition this extended setup dominates the standard RBC model framework with a constant discount factor, e.g., Vasilev (2009). Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183219/1/RBC_Uzawa_endogenous_discounting_v2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Business cycles, Uzawa preferences, endogenous discounting, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183219 #END 1065 #BEGIN 1066 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vincent, Michael Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Title: Mapping Moral Pluralism in Behavioural Spillovers: A cross-disciplinary account of the multiple ways in which we engage in moral valuing Abstract: In this article, we reflect critically on how moral actions are categorised in some recent studies on moral spillovers. Based on classic concepts from moral philosophy, we present a framework to categorise moral actions. We argue that with such finer gradation of the moral values, associated behaviour is better understood, and this understanding helps to identify the conditions under which moral licensing takes place. We illustrate our argument with examples from the literature on pro-environmental behaviours. Moral spillovers are frequently observed in this behavioural domain and to understand what causes their occurrence is highly (policy) relevant if we wish to promote sustainable behaviour. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183195/1/WPVincentKoessler_Mapping%20Moral%20Pluralism%20in%20Behavioural%20Spillovers.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: moral licensing, spillover effects, moral values, moral cleansing, pro-environmental behavior, behavioral change Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183195 #END 1066 #BEGIN 1067 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Asseburg, Julia Title: Work-family conflict in the public sector: The impact of public service motivation and job crafting Abstract: Public service motivation (PSM) research has recently begun to investigate the “dark sides” of PSM. However, this stream of research is still in its infancy. This study investigates the work-family conflict (WFC) as a potential dark side of PSM and how job crafting, a type of proactive behaviour, mediates this relationship. Using two-wave survey data of 306 civil servants and public employees in Germany, SEM path analyses are conducted. Results suggest that PSM is a strong predictor of WFC and that this relationship is partially mediated by job crafting. In addition, the results suggest that only the demand-based dimensions of job crafting mediate the relationship, whereas the resource-based dimensions do not. Implications for PSM research as well as practical implications are discussed. The study concludes with actionable recommendations for HR managers in the public sector who wish to retain PSM-driven employees. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183185/1/Asseburg_2018.docx.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Work-Family Conflict, Public Service Motivation, Job Crafting, Dark sides Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183185 #END 1067 #BEGIN 1068 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gangwar, Rachna Author-Name: Singh, Ritvik Title: Analyzing Factors Affecting Financial Literacy and its Impact on Investment Behavior among Adults in India Abstract: Financial literacy is essential for making key financial decisions related to saving, borrowing and investment. Although numerable studies have been conducted to find elements of financial literacy, most of them focus on developed countries. This study aims to determine characteristics that affect levels of financial literacy in India and the impact of financial literacy on investment behavior. Primary data from 309 respondents across India was collected for the purpose of the study and was analyzed using empirical methods such as ordinary least square (OLS) regression and t-test. It was found that financial literacy among respondents was low and significant differences existed based on sociodemographic and economic factors. Unexpectedly, financial literacy was found to have no effect on investment behavior. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first, if not the first, of its kind to be conducted in India. The findings have significant implications for financial education and public policy programs. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183168/1/Financial%20Literacy%20in%20India.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D14, D19, G11 Keywords: Financial Literacy, Investment Behavior, Household Finance, Socioeconomic Characteristics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183168 #END 1068 #BEGIN 1069 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Can Capitalists Afford Recovery? A 2018 Update Abstract: ...Looking forward, the prognosis for capitalists seems negative. Over the last few years, unemployment has fallen sharply, and if the predictive power of our chart remains intact, the capitalist income-share-read-power is bound to contract further, raising the ante for a prolonged accumulation crisis. Eventually, though, capitalists are likely the resolve their CasP crisis, as they have done repeatedly for nearly a century, by offloading it onto the underlying population in the form of rising unemployment. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183148/1/20181000_bn_can_capitalist_afford_recovery_a_2018_update.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, D3, E24 Keywords: income distribution, power, sabotage, unemployment, crisis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183148 #END 1069 #BEGIN 1070 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andreoni, James Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Serra-Garcia, Marta Title: Who gives? - The Roles of Empathy and Impulsiveness Abstract: We investigate the impact of empathy and impulsiveness on charitable giving using a real donation experiment. We confirm that greater empathy predicts greater charitable giving. Contrary to recent literature, however, we find a significant negative relationship between impulsiveness and donation behavior. Specifically, when financial resources are scarce, donations are more often made by decisionmakers who are able to suppress an intuitively egoistic response. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183140/3/WP-AndreoniKoesserSerraGarcia.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, D64, H40 Keywords: Charitable Giving, Donation, Empathy, Impulsiveness Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183140 Note: Copyright statement: Please note this is a pre-review version of the article published in Scharf, Kimberley, and Mirco Tonin (eds.), The Economics of Philanthropy: Donations and Fundraising, pp. 49-62. © 2018 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, courtesy of the MIT Press. http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/economics-philanthropy #END 1070 #BEGIN 1071 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Optimal fiscal policy with Epstein-Zin preferences and utility-enhancing government services: lessons from Bulgaria (1999-2016) Abstract: This paper explores the effects of fiscal policy in an economy with Epstein-Zin (1989, 1991) preferences, with indirect (consumption) taxes, and all (labor and capital) in- come being taxed at the same rate. To this end, a dynamic general-equilibrium model, calibrated to Bulgarian data (1999-2016), is augmented with a government sector. Two regimes are compared and contrasted - the exogenous (observed) vs. optimal policy (Ramsey) case. The focus of the paper is on the relative importance of consumption vs. income taxation, as well as on the provision of utility-enhancing public services. The main findings from the computational experiments performed in the paper are: (i) The optimal steady-state income tax rate is zero; (ii) The benevolent Ramsey planner provides the optimal amount of the utility-enhancing public services, which are now 25% higher; (iii) The optimal steady-state consumption tax needed to finance the optimal level of government spending is more than fifty percent higher, as compared to the exogenous policy case. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/183134/1/optimal_fiscal_policy_EZ_v6.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D58 Keywords: Epstein-Zin preferences, consumption tax, income tax, general equilibrium, optimal (Ramsey) fiscal policy, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:183134 #END 1071 #BEGIN 1072 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Progressive taxation and (in)stability in an exogenous growth model with Epstein-Zin recursive preferences Abstract: We show that in a exogenous growth model with Epstein-Zin (1989, 1991) recursive preferences calibrated to Bulgarian data under the progressive taxation regime (1993- 2007), the economy exhibits equilibrium indeterminacy. These results are in line with the fi ndings in Benhabib and Farmer (1994, 1996) and Farmer (1999). Also, the findings in this paper are in contrast to Guo and Lansing (1988) who argue that progressive taxation works as an automatic stabilizer. In contrast, under the flat tax regime (2008-16), the same economy calibrated to Bulgarian data now displays saddle-path stability. The decrease in the average effective tax rate addresses the indeterminacy issue and eliminates the "sink" dynamics. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182578/1/indeterminacy_progressive_taxation_EZ.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D51, D91 Keywords: Progressive taxation, Epstein-Zin preferences, Equilibrium (In)determinacy, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182578 #END 1072 #BEGIN 1073 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: An RBC model with Epstein-Zin (non-expected-utility) recursive preferences: lessons from Bulgaria (1999-2016) Abstract: We introduce Epstein-Zin (1989, 1991) preferences into a real-business-cycle setup augmented with a detailed government sector. We calibrate the model to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016). We investigate the quantitative importance of the presence of "early resolution of uncertainty" motive for the propagation of cyclical fluctuations in Bulgaria. Allowing for Epstein-Zin preferences improves the model performance against data, and in addition this extended setup dominates the standard RBC model framework, e.g., Vasilev (2009). Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182577/1/epstein_zin_preferences_3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E22, E37 Keywords: business cycle fluctuations, Epstein-Zin preferences, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182577 #END 1073 #BEGIN 1074 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rizov, Marian Title: A vision about the farming sector’s future: What is in there for farmers in the time of the second machine age? Abstract: Recent technological advances both on the farm and in the lab have made farming more independent form nature than ever before. Arguably, the new and accessible technologies are helping us to better understand and 'manage' nature and thus for first time in history farming is becoming as any other industry, susceptible to specialisation and economies of scale. This in turn, besides increased productivity, leads to fundamental organisational change away from family control towards corporate forms with associated implications for employment and rural livelihoods - new technology in farming replaces both 'muscles and brains'. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182573/1/Future-of-farming-agecon.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D10, D13, D21, J43, L23, Q16 Keywords: Agriculture, technology, employment, industrial organisation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182573 #END 1074 #BEGIN 1075 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammed, Mikidadu Title: Do import tariffs generate stagflationary tendencies? Creation-Date: 2018 Revision-Date: 2018 Classification-JEL: F1, F14, C3 Keywords: import tariff shocks, steel, stagflation, structural VAR Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:181674 #END 1075 #BEGIN 1076 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Osmani, Ahmad Reshad Author-Name: Saeed, Khawja Mir Ahad Author-Name: Alawi, Sayed Karim Author-Name: Zawoli, Younus Author-Name: Joyenda, Faridoon Title: How Much Does It Cost to Complete Medical School? Evidence from Cost Analysis of Kabul Medical School Creation-Date: 2018 Classification-JEL: I20, I21, H40, D00 Keywords: Cost Analysis, Resource Allocation, Step-down Method, Higher Education Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182522 #END 1076 #BEGIN 1077 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kick, Markus Title: Post ≠ Post: An Experimental Study on Corporate Brand Posts on Facebook Abstract: Brand presences on social network sites (SNSs) like Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ form important communication tools for marketers in the social media environment. Engaging the consumer in an ongoing dialogue via brand fan pages, especially on Facebook, becomes more and more important. However, evidence about what drives a successful Facebook brand post is scarce. By means of a field experimental study over a two week treatment period, I study the effect of corporate brand posts on brand fans’ post recall capability, attitude toward the brand, and purchase intention. I manipulate the degree of brand post interactivity and vividness and the underlying degree of product involvement by posting on two different brand fan pages. Results indicate that Facebook brand posts are able to positively influence fans’ attitude toward the brand. The degree of interactivity and vividness positively moderates the main effect as posts with a high degree of interactivity and vividness cause a higher change in attitudinal measures than low interactive and vivid posts. Further, Facebook brand fans are able to better recall posts from high involvement brands due to selective perception effects in the distractive Facebook environment. On the contrary, posts are more effective on fans’ attitude toward the brand when posted from a fan page with a comparably lower involvement level. Facebook brand posts activate peripheral routes of information processing which are in favor for communication needs of low involvement products. In addition, a significant interaction effect between the level of involvement and the degree of interactivity and vividness is found. Highly interactive and vivid brand posts are more successful when posted by a low involvement product or brand. Implications for marketing research and practitioners are discussed. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182507/1/4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Social Media, Interactivity, Brand Posts, Vividness, Facebook Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182507 Note: Reworking Story for a practitioners target group. Cf. Kick M. (2015): Selected Essays on Corporate Reputation and Social Media. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-08837-8 #END 1077 #BEGIN 1078 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kick, Markus Title: Social Media Research: A Narrative Review Abstract: Even though the technological developments of web 2.0 and social media opened up a multitude of possibilities for companies to communicate with their customers, marketers, to a certain extent, lost direct control of their brands. Users are able to exchange opinions about companies, products, services, or brands independent of corporate influences at high speed and almost no cost. Marketing research has quickly picked up the new technological developments, generating enormous numbers of studies. However, the findings are highly diverse and confusing at the same time. This paper provides a systematic overview of top-tier social media research. A main emphasis is put on empirical studies that investigate the effects of user-generated content on measurable corporate performance indicators. A total of 102 articles are used as input for the conducted qualitative meta-analysis. Findings are sorted along the proposed framework of the “social media value chain”. The analysis encompasses effects of electronic word-of-mouth on corporate consumer mindset metrics, product and market performance indicators, and financial performance measures. The analysis extracts the inherent moderators of electronic word-of-mouth-effects and provides a suitable framework for discussion. In addition, the dual role of companies as moderators of ongoing social media communication and content creators within viral marketing campaigns is also dissected. Social media conversations are a powerful force that shows effect along the whole value chain. Pure volume measures show the strongest effect. Even though valence measures contain a high degree of information, inconsistent results can be observed depending on valence operationalization and empirical methods used. Research needs to develop a better and deeper understanding of valence measures. Further, experimental field studies provide a good starting point for future empirical work. The multitude of moderator effects reveals that the impact of electronic word-of-mouth is not generalizable across industries, product categories, and social media platforms. However, social media conversations contain rich information that has to be utilized by the marketing profession. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182506/1/3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182506 Note: Reworking paper for a practitioners target audience. Cf. Kick M. (2015): Selected Essays on Corporate Reputation and Social Media. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-08837-8 #END 1078 #BEGIN 1079 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kick, Markus Title: The Price Premium Induced by Branding: A Health Care Case Study Abstract: Germany’s statutory health insurance (SHI) system has been radically changed in the year 2009 by the introduction of premium equality across all SHI funds. As of today, all funds charge the same price, which is 15.5% of each insurant’s gross income. The option to charge additional contributions as a flat, monthly per head amount in case funds cannot cover their costs has only scarcely been used so far. However, research predicts that this current state of premium equality is soon to be changed (PFISTER, 2009, EIBICH et al., 2011). Based on KICK and LITTICH (2011), I conduct a choice-based conjoint experiment and include the new pricing signal of additional contributions. I find that price is not the dominating criterion on the current market, but equally important to voluntary coverage options. Corporate reputation and a provider’s brand name lose importance, but are still a major quality signal within consumers’ choice decisions. The brand name TK (Technical Health Insurance Fund), as reputational leader, provides additional value for insurants. TK is able to charge up to €1.46 additional contributions from each insurant per month without falling behind their competitors. Compared to the general contribution rate of 15.5% of each insurant’s gross income, of course, €1.46 seems rather low. However, the statutory health insurance funds that already charged additional contributions from their members collected between €5 and €16 per month and head. Using this rational reveals that TK is able to charge close to 10% of the additional contribution range simply due to their reputational advantage. Thus, corporate reputation proves to enhance a fund’s bargaining position towards its potential insurants, as it allows charging and justifying price premiums. A second empirical study reveals that people lack knowledge about funds’ benefit and coverage portfolios and the SHI system in general. Insurants consistently overestimate funds with comparably higher corporate reputation regarding their benefit and coverage details of selected performance categories. Implications for practitioners and policy makers are discussed. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182504/1/2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Healthcare, Branding, Corporate Reputation, Signalling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182504 Note: Reworking the story for a broad target audience focussed on practitioners. Cf. Kick M. (2015): Selected Essays on Corporate Reputation and Social Media. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-08837-8 #END 1079 #BEGIN 1080 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kick, Markus Author-Name: Littich, Martina Title: Brand and Reputation as Quality Signals on Regulated Markets Abstract: Legislation put into effect in 2009 has dramatically altered the health insurance system in Germany by introducing premium equality in order to foster new competition between the German statutory health insurance funds based on quality rather than price. The statutory health insurance (SHI) funds have reacted quickly by offering new benefits and services. However, we assume that consumers are influenced not only by product attributes but also by signals of quality, such as those delivered by corporate reputation, which can act as an information surrogate. The results of our choice-based conjoint experiment show that benefits such as elective tariffs, bonus programs, complementary insurance offers, voluntary coverage, and extended services significantly influence consumer choice of statutory health insurance. These findings argue for the success of the public policy strategy of the German government. Our findings indicate that reputation is fairly important in product choice when compared with product-based attributes. As a consequence of these findings, funds should not only adapt their offerings with regard to the benefits that insurants value the most but also place emphasis on corporate reputation management. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182503/1/1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Regulation, Statutory Health Insurance, Corporate Reputation, Branding Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182503 Note: Reworking the story to a bigger and more pragmatic target audience. Cf. Kick M. (2015): Selected Essays on Corporate Reputation and Social Media. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-08837-8 #END 1080 #BEGIN 1081 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Are habits important for the propagation of business cycle fluctuations in Bulgaria? Abstract: We introduce internal consumption habits into a real-business-cycle setup augmented with a detailed government sector. We calibrate the model to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016). We investigate the quantitative importance of the presence of internal consumption habits motive for the propagation cyclical fluctuations in Bulgaria. Allowing for habits in consumption improves the model performance against data, and in addition this extended setup dominates the standard RBC model framework without habits, e.g., Vasilev (2009). Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182501/1/habits_Bulgaria_4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E37 Keywords: Business cycles, consumption habits, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182501 #END 1081 #BEGIN 1082 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Indeterminacy with preferences featuring multiplicative habits in consumption: lessons from Bulgaria (1999-2016) Abstract: We introduce consumption habits into an exogenous growth model augmented with a detailed government sector, and calibrate the model to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016). We show that in contrast to the case without habits, e.g., Vasilev (2009), when the economy features saddle-path stability, the habit motive alone leads to equilibrium indeterminacy in the model. When habits enter multiplicatively in the representative agent's utility function, the setup exhibits "sink" dynamics, and equilibrium paths are determined by "animal spirits." These results are in line with the findings in the literature, e.g., Benhabib and Farmer (1994, 1996) and Farmer (1999), and have major implications for policy-making and welfare. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182499/1/indeterminacy_multiplicative_habits_alone2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E37 Keywords: Equilibrium indeterminacy, animal spirits, multiplicative consumption habits, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182499 #END 1082 #BEGIN 1083 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: León Tamayo, Dorian Fernando Title: Enfoque de las capacidades Abstract: El enfoque de las capacidades es un marco conceptual apropiado para identificar no la felicidad o satisfacción de las personas, sino más bien, lo que estas pueden o no ser o hacer. En consecuencia, el enfoque de las capacidades se centra en la libertad real de las personas y se aleja (sin excluir) de los medios que permiten la libertad (ingresos y recursos). Sobre la base de lo anterior, el presente documento se fija como objetivo proporcionar una aproximación al enfoque de las capacidades. Abstract: The capabilities approach is an appropriate conceptual framework to identify not the happiness or satisfaction of the people, but rather, what they may or may not be or do. Consequently, the capabilities approach focuses on the real freedom of people and moves away (without excluding) the means that allow freedom (income and resources). Based on the foregoing, this document sets as an objective to provide an approximation to the capabilities approach. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182466/1/Capability%20Approach.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I31, I32, D63 Keywords: Capabilities approach, Amartya Sen, functionings Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182466 #END 1083 #BEGIN 1084 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Firanchuk, Alexander Title: Imported Intermediate Goods and Incomplete Exchange Rate Pass-Through into Export Prices Abstract: This paper analyses the effect of imported inputs and the exporting country share on the degree of exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) into export prices. I present a model where firms set variable markups under oligopoly competition and imported inputs affect marginal cost. It makes two predictions: (i) the imported input share reduces ERPT (ii) the exporting country share in a destination market increases ERPT. Using industry-level data, I test the hypotheses for 57 countries over the period 2000-2015. For trade between advanced economies, imported inputs reduce ERPT, but only in the case of producer currency movements. Controlling for exporting country share, the pass-through elasticity is 39% when imported inputs are not used, but 11% when the share of imported inputs in gross exports rises to one half. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182400/7/ERPT_Firanchuk.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F12, F14, F31, F41 Keywords: exchange rate pass-through, export prices, global value chains Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182400 #END 1084 #BEGIN 1085 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pavlos Balamatsias Title: Inequality, imperfect competition and fiscal policy Abstract: We build a New Keynesian model with imperfectly competitive goods markets and heterogeneous people and examine their impact on fiscal multipliers and on the net increase in output and expenditure caused by fiscal policies, using the balanced budget multiplier. Results show that in highly unequal economies the maximum net increase in output and expenditure comes when governments increase expenditure and tax high-income workers because the adverse effects on the economy are smaller. However, when inequality decreases and enough people belong to the high-income group governments should fund expenditure by taxing low-income people. Finally, inequality also affects the welfare effects of fiscal policies. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182243/1/Inequality%2c%20imperfect%20competition%20and%20fiscal%20policy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, E12, E62 Keywords: Income inequality, Fiscal multiplier, Public Expenditure, Taxation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182243 #END 1085 #BEGIN 1086 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Orkoh, Emmanuel Author-Name: Claassen, Carike Author-Name: Blaauw, Derick Title: Corruption, political stability and illicit financial outflows in Sub-Saharan Africa Abstract: This paper examines the effect of corruption control and political stability on illicit financial outflows in Sub-Saharan Africa. We use a balanced panel data from the World Bank, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Global Financial Integrity on Sub-Saharan African countries covering the period 2005-2014. Our regression estimates reveal that a unit increase in political stability and corruption control reduce illicit financial outflow due to misinvoicing in merchandise trade by an average of US$ 20.5 million and US$ 44.3 million respectively. The results also show that high trade rating, financial sector rating and exchange rates reduce illicit financial outflows while an increase in foreign direct investment and inflation increase illicit financial outflow. We recommend that governments in Sub-Saharan Africa countries must ensure that institutions responsible for fighting corruption and enhancing stable governance are well empowered and given the needed resources to work effectively to reduce corruption to the barest minimum. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182082/1/ILICITFFPAPER_IntroductionLitReviewCC%20-%2014%20August%202017.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Corruption, political stability, illicit financial outflow, Sub-Saharan Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:182082 #END 1086 #BEGIN 1087 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bratsiotis, George Title: Credit Risk, Excess Reserves and Monetary Policy: The Deposits Channel Abstract: This paper examines the role of precautionary liquidity (reserves) and the interest on reserves as two potential determinants of the deposits channel that can help explain the role of monetary policy, particularly at the near zero-bound. Through the deposits channel either of these two determinants can explain a number of effects including, (i) zero-bound optimal policy rates, (ii) a negative deposit rate spread, but also (iii) determinacy at the lower-zero bound. Similarly, through its effects on the deposits channel the interest on reserves can act as the main tool of monetary policy, that is shown to provide higher welfare gains than a simple Taylor rule. This result is shown to hold at the zero-bound and it is independent of precautionary liquidity, or the fiscal theory of the price level. Creation-Date: 2018 Revision-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/182075/1/GB2018DepositsChannel_14092018.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Deposits channel, zero-bound monetary policy, excess reserves, credit risk, balance sheet channel, interest on reserves, required reserve ratio, welfare, DSGE models Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:172770 #END 1087 #BEGIN 1088 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brettschneider, Jörg Title: Draft Legislation of the German Government to Combat VAT Evasion in Ecommerce Abstract: The German federal government presented a legislative proposal on tax- and especially VAT law with the focus to combat VAT fraud in (international) ecommerce on July 31st 2018. This draft legislation is explained and discussed. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/181934/5/KaDraft%20Legislation%20of%20the%20German%20Government%20to%20Combat%20VAT%20Evasion%20in%20Ecommerce.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K1, F10 Keywords: VAT, Umsatzsteuer, Mehrwertsteuer, Value Added Tax, China, Germany, Deutschland, ecommerce, e-commerce, Steuerhinterziehung, tax evasion, tax, Amazon, FBA, Fulfillment, liability rule, UK, Asia, Chinese sellers, chinesische Händler, Alibaba, online platform, electronic marketplace, Onlinehandel, UStG, Umsatzsteuergesetz, legislation, Finanzamt Neukölln, Fulfillment by Amazon, Umsatzsteuerbetrug, Steueroase, Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Vermeidung von Umsatzsteuerausfällen beim Handel mit Waren im Internet und zur Änderung weiterer steuerlicher Vorschriften, Finanzministerkonferenz, Thomas Schäfer, Jörg Brettschneider, Brettschneider, Shenzhen, Marktplatzhaftung, HMRC, Steuernummer Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:181934 #END 1088 #BEGIN 1089 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pal, Sumantra Title: How to intervene in foreign exchange market without buying/selling dollars? Abstract: The Emerging Market Economies are vulnerable to adverse external shocks. Such shocks cause excessive volatility in foreign exchange markets. Faced with high volatility, the central banks in EMEs often end up, in futility, depleting their foreign exchange reserves by selling dollars to restore stability. Few central banks use currency-options based intervention to contain volatility and anchor market expectations. In the Indian context, this paper demonstrates that such options-based intervention policies can be considered to contain excessive volatility and anchoring market expectations. Using the risk-neutral densities extracted from currency options data, it is demonstrated that certain options-trading strategy can be effective in stabilizing markets. Therefore, options-based intervention may be a viable policy alternative, which is more cost-effective than the conventional spot-market intervention. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/181880/1/How-to-intervene-in-foreign-exchange-market-without-buying-selling-dollars_Sumantra-Pal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O24, G13, G17 Keywords: Fx interventions, risk-neutral density, currency options Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:181880 #END 1089 #BEGIN 1090 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Britain & Africa: heading for the Brexit rocks Abstract: High-flying illusions on the part of the proponents and grim predictions of the sceptics characterize the controversy about Brexit. The article analyses five issues at stake for the Post-Brexit relationships between Britain, the EU and Africa with a focus on the Commonwealth Sub-Saharan Africa: market access, FDI, aid, security and partnership . The British government’s vision of a ‘Global Britain’ relies heavily on a reinforced co-operation with Commonwealth nations. However, most likely this would be possible only at the expense of the poor in Africa and elsewhere. Concerning security cooperation with Africa, London apparently exaggerated its defence input in order to enhance its bargaining position with the EU. It will be crucial for both the EU and the UK to find post-Brexit agreements to stem irregular migration and the growth of jihadist groups and terrorism. In a nutshell, the analysis of these different policy fields shows that expectations of Brexiteers and African politicians alike concerning an enhanced, partner-like Post-Brexit Commonwealth relationship are largely unfounded. Abstract: RÉSUMÉ: "Grande-Bretagne et Afrique: en route pour les rochers du Brexit: Des illusions vu trop grand de la part des partisans et des prédictions sinistres des sceptiques marquent la controverse sur le Brexit. L'article analyse cinq des principaux enjeux des relations post-Brexit entre la Grande-Bretagne, l'UE et l'Afrique, en mettant l’accent sur l'Afrique du Commonwealth: à savoir, l'accès aux marchés, IDE, aide, sécurité et partenariat. La vision du gouvernement britannique d'une «Grande-Bretagne mondiale» repose largement sur une coopération renforcée avec les pays du Commonwealth et les marchés libéralisés. On peut se demander si cela impliquerait également un meilleur accès aux marchés pour l'Afrique et la protection de ses industries naissantes. Compte tenu de la forte position de Londres sur les marchés financiers mondiaux, la politique d’après-Brexit pourrait entraîner d'additionnelles investissements nets substantiels en Afrique. Cependant, il est fort probable que cela ne soit possible qu'au détriment des pauvres en Afrique et ailleurs. Les perspectives de la future relation d'aide entre le Royaume-Uni et l'Afrique après le Brexit sont étroitement liées à la politique commerciale et financière de la Grande-Bretagne. L'analyse révèle que le Brexit devrait entraîner une diminution de l'aide. En ce qui concerne le renforcement de la sécurité en Afrique, Londres aurait apparemment exagéré son apport en matière de défense afin de renforcer sa position de négociation avec l'UE. Enfin, l’analyse de ces différents domaines politiques montre que les attentes des Brexiteers et des politiciens africains en ce qui concerne une relation post-Brexit améliorée avec les partenaires sur un pied d'égalité sont largement infondées. Abstract: ZUSAMMENFASSUNG "Großbritannien und Afrika: im Aufbruch zu den Brexit-Felsen": Hochfliegende Illusionen der Befürworter und grimmige Vorhersagen der Skeptiker kennzeichnen die Kontroverse um den Brexit. Der Artikel analysiert fünf der wichtigsten Fragen, die für die Beziehungen zwischen Großbritannien, der EU und Afrika nach dem Brexit anstehen, mit einem Schwerpunkt auf dem Commonwealth Afrika: und zwar Marktzugang, FDI, Entwicklungshilfe, Sicherheit und Partnerschaft. Die Vision der britischen Regierung von einem "Global Britain" hängt stark von einer verstärkten Zusammenarbeit mit den Commonwealth-Staaten und liberalisierten Märkten ab. Ob dies einen besseren Zugang zu Märkten auch für Afrika und den Schutz seiner jungen Industrien bedeuten würde, ist fraglich. Angesichts der starken Position der City of London auf den globalen Finanzmärkten könnte die Post-Brexit-Politik zu erheblichen Nettoinvestitionen in Afrika führen. Dies wäre jedoch höchstwahrscheinlich nur auf Kosten der Armen in Afrika und anderswo möglich. Die Perspektiven zukünftiger Hilfsbeziehungen des Vereinigten Königreichs mit Afrika nach dem Brexit sind eng mit der britischen Handels- und Finanzpolitik verknüpft. Analysen zeigen, dass der Brexit wahrscheinlich zu einem Rückgang der Entwicklungshilfe führen wird. Was verstärkte Sicherheit für Afrika anbelangt, so hat London offenbar seinen Verteidigungsbeitrag übertrieben, um seine Verhandlungsposition gegenüber der EU zu verbessern. Nicht zuletzt zeigt die Analyse der o.g. unterschiedlichen Politikbereiche, dass die Erwartungen von Brexiteers und afrikanischen Politikern hinsichtlich einer verstärkten partnerschaftlichen Beziehung auf Augenhöhe weitgehend unbegründet sind. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/181879/1/0-Kohnert-2018.Brexit%20%20Africa.draft.updated.30.08.18.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F2, F35, F54, F36, G15, G2, H26, N17, N47, N77, O17, P16, Z13 Keywords: Brexit, UK, Africa, EU, tariff policy, international trade, security, partnership Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:181879 Note: Author's comprehensive version of an article forthcoming in Africa Spectrum, Vol. 53, No. 2 (2018), GIGA Journal Family, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, Germany. #END 1090 #BEGIN 1091 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Saha, Kunal Title: An investigation into the dependence structure of major cryptocurrencies Abstract: This paper attempts to examine the dependence structure of four major cryptocurrencies chosen by current market capitalisation. It is a well known fact that there is huge volatility in the prices of these cryptocurrencies. The Vine Copula model is used to get some insights about the dependence structure in these asset prices. This is done using daily closing price from August 2015 to May 2018. This information can be used to calculate risk based metrics such as expected shortfall of a portfolio of these currencies. This analysis becomes more important as complex financial instruments (e.g. indices) based on these currencies are being introduced. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/181878/1/IFMR_Kunal_Saha.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C51, C52, C58, G11 Keywords: Vine Copula, Cryptocurrencies, Expected shortfall Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:181878 #END 1091 #BEGIN 1092 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hindermann, Christoph Michael Title: Price Discrimination in Online Retail Abstract: Although newspapers and online blogs provide a variety of anecdotal evidence for price discrimination, they are mostly not based on a scientific and systematic approach. This survey gives a short overview of scientific price discrimination studies in online retail. At first, it contains a short methodological part which shows how price discrimination can be detected. Thereafter, the results of different price discrimination studies are presented, showing that the prevalence of price discrimination varies across studies. Studies who analyze only ‘popular’ websites find a higher rate of prevalence than studies focusing also on ‘unpopular’ websites. As far as scientific evidence is available, online prices hinge on user-based, technical, and location-based features. The dispersion of the price seems to be largest when firms discriminate between users from different countries. Finally, potential reasons why price discrimination is not applied by all retailers are given. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/181294/1/__Persoanlized%20Prices%20in%20Online%20Retail_A%20Review_06_08_2018.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D40, M20 Keywords: Price Discrimination, Online Retail, Price Differentiation, Pricing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:181294 #END 1092 #BEGIN 1093 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Barathova, Katarina Title: EU labour in agricultural sector of the United Kingdom Abstract: Today, many EU states face labour shortages in different sectors of economy, including agricultural sectors. Labour migration represents the solution which enables countries to cope with this problem. This is also the case of agricultural sector of the United Kingdom. After the EU enlargement, out of all old Member States only the United Kingdom alongside with Ireland and Sweden granted people from the Central and Eastern Europe countries free access to their labour markets. In case of the UK this was seen as strategic step, since the government recognized the important role of migrant workers in the growth of the UK’s economy. Soon after enlargement, the UK became favourite destination of migrant workers from A-8 countries. In 2007, when another two countries – Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU, the economic situation was different and the UK decided to apply transitional arrangements. Despite this, there were a lot of migrants coming to the UK and most of them were working in agriculture, since for seasonal agricultural workers there was an exception. After the restrictions were removed in January, 2014, migration inflows from Bulgaria and Romania almost doubled. Before referendum in 2016, migration was an important issue and one of the main arguments of Leave campaign. Using available statistical data, the paper examines migration flows to the UK and describes key features of migration from EU with special focus on A-10 countries. The main objective is to evaluate the importance of migrant workers from these new Member States in the agriculture and food manufacturing industry of the UK and reveal possible implications associated with Brexit. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/181025/1/EU%20labour%20in%20agricultural%20sector%20of%20the%20United%20Kingdom.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J61, F22, Q10 Keywords: agriculture, migration, labour, horticulture, EU workers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:181025 #END 1093 #BEGIN 1094 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mehta, Nirav Title: The Potential Output Gains from Using Optimal Teacher Incentives: An Illustrative Calibration of a Hidden Action Model Abstract: This paper examines the potential output gains from the implementation of optimal teacher incentive pay schemes, by calibrating the H¨olmstrom and Milgrom (1987) hidden action model using data from Muralidharan and Sundararaman (2011), a teacher incentive pay experiment implemented in Andhra Pradesh, India. Findings suggest that the introduction of optimal individual incentive-pay schemes could result in very large increases in output, about six times the size of the (significant) results obtained in the experiment. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/180848/1/mehta_potential_gains_optimal_piece_rate_2018_04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I2, J3, J4 Keywords: empirical contracts, teacher incentive schemes Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:180848 #END 1094 #BEGIN 1095 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mehta, Nirav Title: Competition in Public School Districts: Charter School Entry, Student Sorting, and School Input Determination Abstract: This paper develops and estimates an equilibrium model of charter school entry, school input choices, and student school choices. The structural model renders a comprehensive and internally consistent picture of treatment effects when there may be general equilibrium effects of school competition. Simulations indicate that the mean effect of charter schools on attendant students is positive and varies widely across locations. The mean spillover effect on public school students is small but positive. Lifting caps on charter schools would more than double entry but reduce gains for attendant students. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/180847/1/charter_schools_Mehta_2016_07_06.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:180847 #END 1095 #BEGIN 1096 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mehta, Nirav Title: Measuring Quality for Use in Incentive Schemes: The Case of “Shrinkage” Estimators Abstract: Researchers commonly “shrink” raw quality measures based on statistical criteria. This paper studies when and how this transformation’s statistical properties would confer economic benefits to a utility-maximizing decisionmaker across common asymmetric information environments. I develop the results for an application measuring teacher quality. The presence of a systematic relationship between teacher quality and class size could cause the data transformation to do either worse or better than the untransformed data. I use data from Los Angeles to confirm the presence of such a relationship and show that the simpler raw measure would outperform the one most commonly used in teacher incentive schemes. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/180846/1/mehta_measuring_quality_for_incentive_schemes_2018_07_13.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J01, I21, I28, D81 Keywords: empirical contracts, teacher incentive schemes, teacher quality, economics of education Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:180846 #END 1096 #BEGIN 1097 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Page, Lionel Author-Name: Dulleck, Uwe Title: Public Statements of Good Conduct Promote Pro-Social Behavior Abstract: Voluntary and compulsory public statements of good conduct are frequently observed in the real world, such as the codes of good conduct for professionals or the requirements of academic journals to affirm that research was carried out ethically. In this study, we investigate what effect public statements of good conduct have on contribution behavior in a public goods experiment. Using a 'between-within subjects design' we identify three channels by which non-enforceable statements of intent are associated with higher levels of contributions to the public good. First, in a selection effect, socially-oriented participants are more likely in the experiment to make a public statement. Second, in a commitment effect, participants who make a public statement are contributing more to the public good. Third, in a coordination effect, aggregate contributions are higher when 'Statement-Makers' observe that also other group members make the statement. The latter explains why compulsory statements of good conduct are in our experiment more effective over time. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/180669/1/KoesslerPageDulleck_Public%20Statements%20of%20good%20conduct%20promote%20pro-social%20behavior.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A13, C72, C91, H41 Keywords: social dilemma, public good, pro-social behavior, commitment, compliance, pledges, policy making Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:180669 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3184836 #END 1097 #BEGIN 1098 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Iritié, B. G. Jean Jacques Title: Innovation clusters effects on adoption of a general purpose technology under uncertainty Abstract: This paper analyzes the effect of innovation clusters on the adoption of a gen- eral purpose technology (GPT) and on firms R&D investment levels in im- perfect information situation. To do this, we developed a theoretical model of vertical relation, described as a four-step game between an upstream firm providing innovative GPT and an innovative downstream associated sector, integrator of this technology. The downstream sector ignores the quality of the GPT and we model the innovation cluster as a coordination mode of firms, improving the probability of the downstream firm to receive information about the quality of the GPT technology. Then, we determine firms equilibria (prices and technological qualities) and we showed that the effect of innovation clus- ters on the choice of qualities, the adoption behavior, levels of investment in R&D as well as that social welfare depends on the quality of R&D activities carried out before the establishment of the cluster and a threshold effect or cluster critical mass; if the critical mass in terms of information sharing and interaction is not reached, the cluster may have negative effects. In other words, the consensual idea of expected positive effects of innovation clusters must be put into perspective. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/180668/1/PUB_LADEGWP11.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C02, D82, D83, L15, O3 Keywords: innovation clusters, general purpose technology, technology adoption, technology complementarity, uncertainty, critical mass Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:180668 #END 1098 #BEGIN 1099 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dulleck, Uwe Author-Name: Howell, Nicola J. Author-Name: Koessler, Ann-Kathrin Author-Name: Mason, Rosalind F. Title: Insights into the Impact of Bankruptcy's Public Record on Entrepreneurial Activity: Evidence from Economic Experiments Abstract: Many Anglo-American jurisdictions aim to provide debtors with a 'fresh start' after a personal bankruptcy. However, we query the extent to which debtors can achieve a fresh start if records of individual bankruptcies are publicly available, with no restrictions on their use. To inform the legal policy question of whether bankruptcy records should be publicly available, we study the effect of the availability of bankruptcy records, compared to their non-existence, in an economic experiment. The experiment allows us to identify empirically the effect that the exposure of bankruptcy history has on the behaviour of investors and debtors. Our exploratory research shows that the availability of bankruptcy records increases investment. Availability also increases repayment behaviour by debtors, but only if the debtor has no history of bankruptcy (non-return of payments). If, however, a debtor failed to return payments in the past, and this information is available, debtors show lower instances of return behaviour. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/180667/1/Dulleck_Howell_Koessler_Mason_Bankruptcy%20Public%20Records.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K35, C90, D47, K20 Keywords: bankruptcy, investments, National Personal Insolvency Index, uncertainty, economic experiment, insolvency, public records Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:180667 #END 1099 #BEGIN 1100 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Výrost, Tomas Author-Name: Lyócsa, Štefan Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Title: Network-based asset allocation strategies Abstract: In this study, we construct financial networks in which nodes are represented by assets and where edges are based on long-run correlations. We construct four networks (complete graph, a minimum spanning tree, a planar maximally filtered graph, and a threshold significance graph) and use three centrality measures (betweenness, eigenvalue centrality, and the expected force). To improve risk-return characteristics of well-known return maximization and risk minimization benchmark portfolios, we propose simple adjustments to portfolio selection strategies that utilize centralization measures from financial networks. From a sample of 45 assets (stock market indices, bond and money market instruments, commodities, and foreign exchange rates) and from data for 1999 to 2015, we show that irrespective of the network and centrality employed, the proposed network-based asset allocation strategies improve key portfolio return characteristics in an out-of-sample framework, most notably, risk and left-tail risk-adjusted returns. Resolving portfolio model selection uncertainties further improves risk-return characteristics. Improvements made to portfolio strategies based on risk minimization are also robust to transaction costs. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/180063/1/Vyrost%20et%20al.%20%282018%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G10, G11, G15, C61 Keywords: networks, portfolio, centrality, risk-return profile Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:180063 #END 1100 #BEGIN 1101 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gupta, Avinash Title: 'Economics' of prosperity: Why the dominant perspectives may be unhelpful to make sense of underdevelopment Abstract: The article is essentially a book-review of Professor Vijay Joshi's recent work, '"India's Long Road: The Search for Prosperity". In this critical essay, I take a slightly revisionist approach when it comes to a 'typical'book review. For example, the length of this article goes well-beyond the standard convention. The ‘deviation’ from rules, however, has specific objectives. I have critically analyzed Dr. Joshi’s work and in so doing include relevant evidences, debates and questions not just from economics but also from other disciplines such as history and political science. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/179976/1/MPRA%20paper%2087534.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A Keywords: Critical book-review, dominant perspective in economics, underdevelopment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:179976 #END 1101 #BEGIN 1102 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Li, Jianbiao Author-Name: Niu, Xiaofei Author-Name: Zhu, Chengkang Author-Name: Wang, Guangrong Author-Name: Cao, Qian Author-Name: Li, Shuaiqi Author-Name: Liu, Xiaoli Author-Name: Wang, Pengcheng Title: Electrophysiological Precursor of Information Cascade: Evidence from N200 Abstract: When a sequence of decision makers with private information announce public predictions, initial conformity can create an information cascade in which all future decision makers will rationally match the early announcements and disregard private information. This study uses event-related potentials (ERPs) to compare the time course of neural activities associated with information cascade during sequential decision-making. In our experiment, a participant receives a private signal matched with public information in the congruent condition, while in the incongruent condition he or she receives a private signal against the public information. The results show that the conflict between private and public information triggers a more negative deflection peaking around 300 ms, with a right frontal scalp distribution similar to N200. Importantly, the N200 effect is negatively correlated with information cascade. These results add to the growing literature on neuronal mechanisms of information cascades by disentangling cognitive control related processes in inhibiting overweighting private information and the neural signal of a cascade in sequential decision-making. Creation-Date: 2018 Keywords: information cascade, N200, cognitive control, ERPs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:179426 #END 1102 #BEGIN 1103 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reckmann, Tobias Title: Intellectual Structure and Emancipation of Word of Mouth Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of a Multidisciplinary Research Field Abstract: Word of mouth (WOM) information have become an integral part of consumer decision-making and have revitalized investigations of a social phenomenon to serve marketing objectives. This study addresses the fast-growing yet diverse WOM literature with its heterogeneous background. An objectified and methodologically enriched analysis is carried out to synthesize the literature and realign the richness of online WOM publications with their intellectual foundations. Drawing on meaningful publications, the present analysis systematically processes relevant knowledge to address statistically distinguishable research streams in the field of WOM, their coherence, as well as temporal developments. Results provide evidence of a shared core of WOM research as well as six (sub)streams of varying importance over time that describe two higher research orien-tations. Practical implications can be derived concerning most influential journals dedicated to specific research on WOM. By discussing the various findings, avenues for future research are revealed. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/179913/1/Reckmann_2017_Intellectual-structure-and-emancipation-of-word-of-mouth-research.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M30, M31, M10 Keywords: Word of mouth, Consumer behavior, Bibliometrics, Co-citation analysis, Text mining Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:179913 #END 1103 #BEGIN 1104 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Title: Agiles Business Model Management mit dem Canvas Business Model Abstract: Es wird in diesem Working Paper untersucht, in wie weit sich das Canvas Business Model zum agilen Business Model Management für Unternehmen in der Vorgründungs- und Gründungsphase eignet. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/179897/1/Working-Paper_2018-06-15_final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M13, L16 Keywords: Business Model, agil, Business Model Management, Canvas Business Model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:179897 #END 1104 #BEGIN 1105 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sta. Romana, Leonardo L. Title: Measuring the impact of business: Sustainability Reporting by Corporations in Emerging Asia Abstract: This study addresses the issue of sustainability reporting by corporations, and the framework(s) and guidelines used in the preparation of those annual reports. It takes as its starting point the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns", with its Target 12.6: "Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle". And it is the Indicator 12.6.1: "Number of companies publishing sustainability reports" that provides the inspiration for the idea for doing this study. The study provides, firstly, a brief background on the group responsible for the sustainability reporting framework widely used by companies, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). This is followed with another short background on a second, though newer, group with another framework, the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). The study presents - to the best of the author's knowledge - the first comparative study of corporate sustainability reports (and the frameworks used) across ten Emerging Asian economies. It proceeds to this core empirical contribution of the paper by explaining the process how the corporations in Emerging Asia were selected for inclusion in the study. It notes that the companies and the economies of origin were not picked directly for inclusion. The first step was to find reputable corporate sustainability rankings and ratings. Seven information sources yielded a list of 150 companies from ten Emerging Asian economies. These economies are: China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. It then presents the findings from a survey of the sustainability reports of the 150 corporations. Across the entire sample, almost 90 percent cite the use of the GRI guidelines. In three economies with more than just a handful of companies in the sample -- South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand -- all of their companies cite the GRI framework. However, the picture is not as one-sided in India, where less than half cite the GRI. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/179675/1/LLSta.Romana_Sustain-Reports-Emg-Asia_Web.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D62, M2, O44, Q5, Q56 Keywords: Environmental sustainability, Corporate social responsibility (CSR), Environmental economics, Sustainable development, Sustainable development goals (SDGs), Sustainable reporting, Environment and development, Emerging Asia, Environmental, social and governance (ESG), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), International Reporting Council (IIRC), Integrated Reporting, China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:179675 Note: This paper was written in response to a call for papers on “Measuring the Impact of Business on Well-being and Sustainability” by the OECD Better Life Initiative and HEC Paris Business School/SnO (Society and Organizations) Center. An abstract, on which this paper is based, went through the evaluation process of an OECD and HEC Paris/SnO Center selection committee. #END 1105 #BEGIN 1106 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javed, Rashid Author-Name: Mughal, Mazhar Title: Have a son, gain a voice: Son preference and female participation in household decision making Abstract: Son preference is common in many Asian countries. Though a growing body of literature examines the drivers and socioeconomic impacts of phenomenon in case of China and India, work on other Asian countries is scarce. This study uses nationally representative survey of over 13 thousand households from Pakistan (PDHS 2012-13) to analyze the effects of observed preference for sons on women's participation in intra-household decision-making. Four key intra-household decisions are considered: decisions regarding healthcare, family visits, large household purchases and spending husband's income. These correspond to four categories of household decisions, namely healthcare, social, consumption and financial. Probit and Ordered Probit are employed as the main estimation techniques and other determinants of household decision-making are controlled for. Besides, a number of matching routines are employed to account for the possibility of potential selection bias. We find that women with at least one son have more say in household decisions. Bearing at least one son is associated with 5%, 7% and 5% higher say in decisions involving healthcare, social and consumption matters respectively. Women's role in financial affairs, however, does not differ significantly from women with no sons. Female participation in decision-making grows significantly with the number of sons but only up to the third parity. These results are particularly visible among younger, wealthier and educated women, and those who got married earlier. The findings suggest a limited improvement in women's bargaining power at home resulting from the birth of one or more sons. This in part explains higher desire for sons expressed by women compared to men in household surveys. Abstract: La préférence pour les garçons est courante en asie. Alors que beaucoup d'études s'intéressent aux facteurs et aux impacts socioéconomiques de ce phénomène en Chine et en Inde, les travaux sur les autres pays asiatiques sont plus rares. A partir d'une enquête nationale réalisée sur plus de 13 000 ménages pakistanais (PDHS 2012-13), cette étude analyse les effets de la préférence pour les garçons sur la participation des femmes aux décisions prises dans le ménage. Quatre décisions importantes du ménage seront prises en compte : celles relatives aux soins de santé, aux visites de famille, sur les achats du ménage et sur l'affectation des dépenses des revenus du mari. Celles-ci représentent quatre catégories des décisions au sain du ménage : les décisions lié à la santé, aux liens sociaux, à la consommation et aux affaires financières. Les méthodes Probit et Probit Ordinal sont utilisées pour les estimations de base et d'autres déterminants liés aux décisions prises dans le ménage seront pris en compte. De plus, méthodes d'appariment sont utilisées pour tenir compte d'éventuels biais de sélection. Les résultats indiquent que le fait d'avoir au moins un fils a une influence sur les décisions du ménage. Le fait d'avoir au moins un fils est associé à une hausse de 5%, 7% et 5% sur les décisions impliquant respectivement les soins de santé, les relations sociales et la consommation. L'implication des femmes dans les finances du ménage ne varie pourtant pas significativement avec celle des femmes sans fils. La participation des femmes dans les prises de décision augmente avec le nombre de fils mais seulement jusqu'à 3 garçons. Ce résultat entraine une amélioration relative sur le pouvoir de négociation des femmes au sein du ménage suite à la naissance d'un ou plusieurs garçons. Cela explique en partie le désir plus fort des femmes d'avoir des fils par rapport aux hommes, selon les enquêtes ménages. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/179520/1/Have%20a%20son%2c%20gain%20a%20voice%20son%20preference%20and%20female%20participation%20in%20household%20decision%20making.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D13, J13, C13, C70 Keywords: Son preference, Gender bias, Sex selection, Female decision-making, intrahousehold bargaining, Pakistan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:179520 #END 1106 #BEGIN 1107 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pal, Sumantra Title: Spousal Violence and Social Norms in India's North East Abstract: A body of extant literature suggests that improvements in wellbeing and empowerment of women in the process of development are hindered by traditional social norms, which are often patriarchic. This paper investigates the link between traditional social norms and women’s status, in particular, the women's attitude towards violence and incidence of spousal violence. The study context is the tribes of Meghalaya and neighboring areas, where there is great variation regarding patriarchic versus matriarchic lineage, residence and inheritance customs. For the statistical analysis, we combine information on social norms prevailing among the different tribes from the comprehensive ethnographic atlas People of India with household-level data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). In addition to individual characteristics, we find the extent to which social norms determine violence against women and under what prevailing norms working women are better-off. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/179422/1/Social_norms%2bSpousal_Violence.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Z13, B54, J12 Keywords: Social Norms, Spousal Violence Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:179422 #END 1107 #BEGIN 1108 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jackson, Emerson Abraham Title: Theoretical and Methodological Context of (Post)-Modern Econometrics and Competing Philosophical Discourses for Policy Prescription Abstract: This research article was championed as a way of providing discourses pertaining to the concept of "Critical Realism (CR)" approach, which is amongst many othe forms of competing postmodern philosophical concepts for the engagement of dialogical discourses in the area of established econometric methodologies for effective policy prescription in the economic science discipline. On the the whole, there is no doubt surrounding the value of empirical endeavours in econometrics to address real world economic problems, but equally so, the heavy weighted use and reliance on mathematical contents as a way of justifying its scientific base seemed to be loosing traction of the intended focus of economics when it comes to confronting real world problems in the domain of social interaction. In this vein, the construction of mixed methods discourse(s), which favour that of CR philosophy is hereby suggested in this article as a way forward in confronting with issues raised by critics of mainstream economics and other professionals in the postmodern era. Abstract: Cet article de recherche a été présenté comme un moyen de fournir des discours sur le concept de «Réalisme critique (CR)», parmi de nombreuses autres formes de concepts philosophiques postmodernes concurrents pour l'engagement de discours dialogiques dans le domaine des méthodologies économétriques établies. prescription politique efficace dans la discipline des sciences économiques. Dans l'ensemble, il n'y a aucun doute sur la valeur des efforts empiriques en économétrie pour résoudre les problèmes économiques du monde réel, mais de même, l'utilisation pondérée et le recours aux contenus mathématiques comme moyen de justifier sa base scientifique semblent perdre de l'intention de l'économie quand il s'agit de faire face aux problèmes du monde réel dans le domaine de l'interaction sociale. Dans cet esprit, la construction de discours sur les méthodes mixtes, qui favorisent celle de la philosophie CR, est suggérée dans cet article comme une voie à suivre face aux problèmes soulevés par les critiques de l'économie dominante et d'autres professionnels de l'ère postmoderne. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/178632/1/MPRA_paper_86796.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A12, B50, C18 Keywords: Theoretical, Methodological Intervention, Critical Realism, Postmodern, Econometrics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:178632 Note: This is a forthcoming article which will be published by the Postmodern Openings Journal in Vol. 9, Issue 3 (September, 2018). #END 1108 #BEGIN 1109 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Priestaff, Sabine Title: Instrumente der erfolgreichen Unternehmensgründung - Wie »Business Model Canvas« & Co den altbewährten »Businessplan« ins Wanken bringen Abstract: Der Businessplan hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten zu einem zentralen Instrument der Unternehmensgründung entwickelt. Es geht der Mythos einher, dass es schier unmöglich ist, ohne Businessplan ein erfolgreicher Gründer zu werden. Sein Ansehen hat er der heutigen Businessplanindustrie zu verdanken. Gerade bei der Beantragung dieser öffentlichen Programme ist das Vorhandensein eines Businessplans Voraussetzung. Sodass seit Jahren ein wahrer Hype um ihn entstanden ist. In den letzten Jahren bzw. Jahrzehnten haben sich neue Perspektiven für die erfolgreiche Unternehmensgründung entwickelt. Der Schwerpunkt liegt dabei in erster Linie auf der Entwicklung tragfähiger Geschäftsmodelle. Dies hat sich auch in den Methoden zur Dokumentation von Geschäftsideen niedergeschlagen. Mit diesem Beitrag sollen das Canvas Business Model, das Konzept-kreative Gründung und die Methodik Effectuation zur Dokumentation von Geschäftsideen vorgestellt und ein Vergleich zur altbewährten Kausallogik des Businessplan gezogen werden. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/178611/1/Becker-Priestaff_Existenzgr%c3%bcndung_2018-05-11_MB.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M1, M10, M19 Keywords: Businessplan, Canvas Business Model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:178611 #END 1109 #BEGIN 1110 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kalkuhl, Matthias Author-Name: Wenz, Leonie Title: The Impact of Climate Conditions on Economic Production. Evidence from a Global Panel of Regions Abstract: We estimate the impacts of climate on economic growth using Gross Regional Product (GRP) for more than 1,500 regions in 77 countries. In temperate and tropical climates, annual temperature shocks reduce GRP whereas they increase GRP in cold climates. With respect to long-term climate conditions, one degree of temperature increase reduces output by 2-3%. The effect of annual or long-term precipitation is found to be less important and less robust among specifications. For projected global warming of 4°C until 2100, we find that regions lose 9\% of economic output on average and more than 20% of output in tropical regions. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/178288/1/Kalkuhl_Wenz_2018_Climate_Regional_Economic_Impacts.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E23, O11, Q54, Q56 Keywords: climate change, climate damages, climate impacts, growth regression Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:178288 #END 1110 #BEGIN 1111 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lungu, Ioana Title: Neocolonialism or Balanced Partnership? Reframing Agricultural Relations Between the EU and Africa Abstract: The media narratives with respect to EU external policies and their effects on developing countries generally paint a picture of unequal power dynamics and negative externalities, particularly with respect to international trade and land grabbing. In this paper, I use trade data to argue that reality is more nuanced and aim to provide a preliminary sketch of the institutional dynamics between the EU and Africa. I focus on agricultural relationships to highlight the interplay between historical path dependencies, colonialism, trade policy and domestic institutions on the EU and African side. While trade is often portrayed in an overly simplified manner as the main factor hindering agricultural development, African countries are often plagued by a long history of extractive institutions, both politically and economically, which lead to a vicious cycle of unequally distributed resources, exploitation, insecure human rights and a lack of incentives for innovation. This becomes apparent when examining phenomena such as land-grabbing, which often involve African elites partnering with foreign investors to conclude controversial deals. Overall, this paper aims to highlight the necessity of building institutional capacity particularly in countries with a long history of extractive institutional continuity, and to underline the importance of state centralisation for agricultural development, so that African partners can fully take advantage of the preferential trade regime with the EU and improve their position with respect to power dynamics. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/178219/1/Flash-Paper_Ioana-Lungu_NEOCOLONIALISM-OR-BALANCED-PARTNERSHIP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O19, O13, O17, O24, Q15, O20 Keywords: Agricultural Economics, Development, International Trade, Agricultural Policy, Governance, Foreign Assistance, Institution Building, Institutions, Least Developed Countries, Trade Liberalization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:178219 #END 1111 #BEGIN 1112 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Just peanuts? Trump's protective tariffs and their impact on Africa Abstract: The international discussion of Trump's dispute over import tariffs for steel, aluminum and even cars is so far focused on the big global players. However, African countries in particular could suffer too from the planned punitive tariffs, analogous to the famous African proverb, "When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers". Egypt and South Africa for example, the potentially most affected countries in Africa, face massive job losses and earning opportunities, with all the consequences that this entails for their already fragile economy and their population in dire poverty. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/177922/1/Kohnert-2018.SSRN-paper.UPDATE.28.04.18.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F6, F51, F52, H21, P16, P52 Keywords: Trade policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:177922 #END 1112 #BEGIN 1113 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Li, Jianbiao Author-Name: Niu, Xiaofei Author-Name: Li, Dahui Author-Name: Cao, Qian Title: Using Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Test the Role of Self-Control in Investor Behavior Abstract: We test whether self-control causally affects investor behavior with the non-invasive brain stimulation. Subjects trade stocks in an experimental asset market while their levels of self-control are exogenously varied by applying weak currents stimulation to a control-related brain area. We document that modulation of regional cortical excitability related to self-control significantly influences the propensity of realizing capital gains as well as capital losses. Our finding provides support for the role of self-control in the disposition effect and highlights the utility of using non-invasive brain stimulation to causally test the underlying mechanism of investor behavior. Creation-Date: 2018 Classification-JEL: G02, G11 Keywords: self-control, investor behavior, disposition effect, non-invasive brain stimulation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:177890 #END 1113 #BEGIN 1114 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jackson, Emerson Abraham Title: On the question of the relevance of Economics as a science: Postmodern filosofia critique Abstract: This article has adopted an open discourse in addressing pertinent concerns about the scientific existence of economics as a discipline. In doing so, some (critical) Filosofia arguments have been provided in ensuring that a well balanced approach is taken on the subject. Obviously, the approach of Popperian falsification used by economic science to address scientific justification through its varied scientific platform of technology applications like EVIEWS, STATA, MatLab and many more, have been applauded. Albeit such advances, the views of modern and postmodern critics have also come out saliently in a bid to ensuring open discourses are brought to the fore as a way of adding scientific value to the subject matter. In concluding, it was acknowledged that more is needed in ensuring that economic science as practiced by economists takes an open approach to critical discourse(s), reflecting reality about its pursed scientific ventures, given the persistence of economic volatility manifested across the global community. Abstract: Cet article a adopté un discours ouvert sur les préoccupations pertinentes concernant les existence de l'économie en tant que discipline. Ce faisant, certains arguments (critiques) de Filosofia ont été fourni pour assurer qu'une approche bien équilibrée est prise sur le sujet. De toute évidence, le approche de la falsification popperienne utilisée par la science économique pour répondre à la justification scientifique à travers sa plate-forme scientifique variée d'applications technologiques comme EVIEWS, STATA, MatLab et beaucoup d'autres ont été applaudis. Bien que de telles avancées, les points de vue des les critiques postmodernes sont également sortis nettement dans le but de s'assurer que les discours ouverts sont portés à l'avant comme un moyen d'ajouter une valeur scientifique à la matière. En conclusion, il était reconnu que plus il est nécessaire de faire en sorte que la science économique telle que pratiquée par les économistes adopte une approche ouverte au (x) discours critique (s), reflétant la réalité au sujet de ses entreprises, compte tenu de la persistance de la volatilité économique manifestée à travers la communauté mondiale. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/177393/1/MPRA_paper_86185.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B5, B41 Keywords: Economic Science, Scientific Methodology, Filosofia, Postmodern Critique Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:177393 Note: Working Paper document on Critical Economics #END 1114 #BEGIN 1115 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shachmurove, Yochanan Author-Name: Vulanovic, Milos Title: SPAC IPOs Abstract: Specified Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) are a special type of public companies currently available to investors in financial markets. As an investment vehicle, modern SPACs are traced back to 18-th century England where blank checks were first mentioned as blind pools during the infamous South Sea Bubble. In the United States, the Security and Exchange Commission classifies SPAC as a blank check company. This chapter reviews the academic and financial literatures about SPACs, describes their institutional characteristics and analyses their market performance since Initial Public Offering (IPO). The sole purpose of SPACs is to use the proceeds to finance future acquisition. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/177392/1/2017-02-12%20SPAC%20IPOs%20Chapter%20SSRN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G12, G32, G14, G24 Keywords: Blank checks,, Initial public offering (IPO),, IPO survival, Mergers and Acquisition (M&A), Specified Purpose Acquisition Companies, SPACs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:177392 #END 1115 #BEGIN 1116 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Steinkraus, Arne Title: Rethinking Policy Evaluation – Do Simple Neural Nets Bear Comparison with Synthetic Control Method? Abstract: With the advent of big data in economics machine learning algorithms become more and more appealing to economists. Despite some attempts of establishing artificial neural networks in in the early 1990s, only little is known about their ability of estimating causal effects in policy evaluation. We employ a simple forecasting neural network to analyze the effect of the construction of the Oresund bridge on the local economy. The outcome is compared to the causal effect estimated by the proven Synthetic Control Method. Our results suggest that – especially in so-called prediction policy problems – neural nets may outperform traditional approaches. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/177390/1/Rethinking%20Policy%20Evaluation2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C45, O18 Keywords: Artificial Neural Nets, Machine Learning, Synthetic Control Method, Policy Evaluation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:177390 #END 1116 #BEGIN 1117 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Candelon, Bertrand Title: Financial Centres’ Polyarchy and Competitiveness Does Political Participation Change a Financial Centre’s Competitiveness? Abstract: What role does polyarchy (and thus increased democracy) play in aiding the development of an international financial centre? We find support for decades of theorising that some jurisdictions use autocracy (less polyarchy) to help grow out their financial centres. We look at the growth of these financial centres as the extent to which they attract more funds from abroad (cross-border bank liabilities). Polyarchy decreases as other international financial centres’ centrality in the global financial centre network expands. Polyarchy increases in most jurisdictions over time because some financial centres rely on increasingly polyartic governance as a way to foster financial innovation through increased participation by non-previously powerful sectors. Namely, the growth of an international financial centre’s centrality in global financial networks relies on tapping down on polyarchy. Yet, such polyarchy – when used by some very central jurisdictions to remain central – “spreads.” We model such a relationship between polyarchy and centrality in the global financial network, describing even the most complex quantitative analysis in a way a non-specialist can understand. These results could impact decisions ranging from Brexit to Hong Kong’s autonomy in its post-2047 period. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/177221/1/Do%20Devolutionary%20Political%20Institutions%20Enhance%20a%20Financial%20Centre%20ID.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, F55, F33, P48 Keywords: international financial centres, endogenous global city network centrality, dynamic polyarchy, Bayesian network analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:177221 #END 1117 #BEGIN 1118 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abatemarco, Antonio Author-Name: Stroffolini, Francesca Title: The Economics of Justice as Fairness Abstract: In this paper we challenge the common interpretation of Rawls' Theory of Justice as Fairness by showing that this Theory, as outlined in the Restatement (Rawls 2001), goes well beyond the definition of a distributive value judgment, in such a way as to embrace efficiency issues as well. A simple model is discussed to support our interpretation of the Difference Principle, by which inequalities are shown to be permitted as far as they stimulate a greater effort in education in the population, and so economic growth. To our knowledge, this is the only possibility for the inequality to be `bought' by both the most-, and above all, the least-advantaged individual as suggested by the Difference Principle. Finally, by recalling the old tradition of universal ex-post efficiency (Hammond 1981), we show that a unique optimal social contract does not exist behind the veil of ignorance; more precisely, the sole set of potentially optimal social contracts can be identified a priori, and partial justice orderings derived accordingly. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/176843/1/The%20Economics%20of%20Justice%20as%20Fairness%203Apr.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, D31, J31 Keywords: justice, Rawls, inequality, social contract Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:176843 #END 1118 #BEGIN 1119 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heczko, Alexander Author-Name: Kittsteiner, Thomas Author-Name: Ott, Marion Title: The Performance of Core-Selecting Auctions: An Experiment Abstract: Combinatorial auctions, in particular core-selecting auctions, have increasingly attracted the attention of academics and practitioners. We experimentally analyze core-selecting auctions under incomplete information and find that they perform better than the Vickrey auction. The proportions of efficient allocations are similar in both types of auctions, but the proportions of stable (core) allocations and the revenue are higher in the core-selecting auctions. This is in particular true for an independent private values setting in which theory does not predict this better performance of the core-selecting auction. We trace the causes of the performance differences back to patterns in bids. The core-selecting auctions provide incentives for overbidding the own valuation and - under certain conditions - also for bid-shading, which can hamper performance. In the experiment, bidders react in the predicted direction to these incentives, though less pronouncedly than predicted. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/176842/1/HeczkoKittsteinerOtt_PerformanceOfCSAuctions_April2018.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D44, C72, D82, C92 Keywords: Combinatorial auction, VCG mechanism, core-selecting auction, experiment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:176842 #END 1119 #BEGIN 1120 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hampl, Mojmir Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Title: Central Bank Capital as an Instrument of Monetary Policy Abstract: We examine the use of central bank capital as an unconventional monetary policy tool. In this setting, a central bank employs digital currency to transfer digital cash to each household, thus supporting consumption directly when needed. The asset side of the central bank’s balance sheet remains unchanged, and the creation of new digital cash is offset by a decrease in central bank capital. The central bank thus incurs an immediate loss but does not take on any additional risks for its future income statements. We address several objections to this policy, paying particular attention to the claim that weakening the financial strength of the central bank endangers long-term price stability. Through a meta-analysis of 176 estimates reported previously in the literature, we find that central bank financial strength has not historically correlated with inflation performance. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/176828/1/Capital_MP_instrument.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E42, E52, E58 Keywords: Central bank capital, inflation, seigniorage, monetary policy, helicopter money, central bank digital currency Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:176828 #END 1120 #BEGIN 1121 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Title: Here Lives a Wealthy Man: Price Rigidity and Predictability in Luxury Housing Markets Abstract: We use novel and unique data to study the effect of price changes in the market for luxury and middle class homes. We find that luxury home sales respond less to price changes than the middle-class home sales; in the market for luxury homes, past prices affect current prices; luxury home prices persist; and prices of luxury homes are stickier than prices of middle-class homes. Recent macroeconomic models predict that housing markets can have counter-cyclical effect, if home prices are flexible. Our findings imply that home prices, especially luxury home prices, may not be flexible enough to generate such effect. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175843/1/Levy%20and%20Snir%20-%20Here%20Lives%20a%20Wealthy%20Man.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E32, R21, G14, D12 Keywords: Housing market, Luxury housing, Housing demand, Price rigidity, Sticky prices, Predictability, Veblen Effect Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175843 #END 1121 #BEGIN 1122 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Author-Name: Hampl, Mojmir Title: Foreign Investment and Domestic Productivity in the Czech Republic: A Quantitative Survey Abstract: In this paper we take stock of the evidence concerning the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the productivity of locally owned firms in the Czech Republic. To this end, we collect 332 estimates previously reported in journal articles, working papers, and PhD theses. We find that the mean reported externality arising for domestic firms due to the presence of foreign firms (the “FDI spillover”) is zero. There is no evidence of publication bias, i.e., no sign of selective reporting of results that are statistically significant and show an intuitive sign. Nevertheless, we find that the overall spillover effect is positive and large when more weight is placed on estimates that conform to best-practice methodology. Our results suggest that, as of 2018, a 10-percentage-point increase in foreign presence is likely to lift the productivity of domestic firms by 11%. The effect is even larger for joint ventures, reaching 19%. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175754/1/spillovers.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F23, O12 Keywords: Foreign direct investment, productivity, spillovers, meta-analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175754 #END 1122 #BEGIN 1123 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kolcunova, Dominika Author-Name: Havranek, Tomas Title: Estimating the Effective Lower Bound for the Czech National Bank's Policy Rate Abstract: The paper focuses on the estimation of the effective lower bound for the Czech National Bank's policy rate. The effective lower bound is determined by the value below which holding and using cash would be more convenient than deposits with negative yields. This bound is approximated based on storage, the insurance and transportation costs of cash and the costs associated with the loss of the convenience of cashless payments and complemented with the estimate based on interest charges, which present direct costs to the profitability of the bank. Overall, the estimated value is below -1% and is approximately in the interval -1.6%, -1.1%. In addition, by means of a vector autoregression, we show that the potential of negative rates would not be sufficient to deliver monetary policy easing with effects similar to those of the exchange rate commitment. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175753/1/estimating-effective-lower.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, E58 Keywords: effective lower bound, negative interest rates, costs of holding cash, transmission of monetary policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175753 #END 1123 #BEGIN 1124 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Optimal fiscal policy with environmental tax and abatement spending in a model with pollution and utility-enhancing environmental quality: the case of Bulgaria Abstract: This paper characterized optimal fiscal policy - with environmental taxes, and public spending on abatement - in the presence of pollution, and evaluated it relative to the exogenous (observed) one in Bulgaria, an economy with a largely unreformed and polluting industry. The results are evaluated in light of the optimal environmental taxation of dirty production and the optimal spending on abatement, and the effect of those fiscal measures on the utility-enhancing environmental quality. To this end, a dynamic general-equilibrium model is calibrated to Bulgarian data (1999-2016). The main findings from the computational experiments performed are: (i) The optimal steady-state income tax rate is zero; (ii) The benevolent Ramsey planner provides twenty percent higher utility-enhancing environmental quality; (iii) The optimal level of carbon taxes is almost three times higher, and the optimal level of abatement spending is six times higher; (iv) The optimal steady-state consumption tax is twice lower. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175661/1/env_RBC_Ramsey.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C68, Q58 Keywords: Ramsey policy, pollution, environmental tax, environmental quality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175661 #END 1124 #BEGIN 1125 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abuselidze, George Title: Georgia at the crossroads of economic development Abstract: In the last decade of XX century, has expanded the area of capital movements, which included the former socialist countries. Thus, the countries that are attracting some of the centers of the capital and at the same time, participate in the export of capital, it is impossible not to have engaged in a global economy. Our country has been greatly involved in the processes of globalization. At the same time, Georgia's future development will depend on how the country is adapting to globalization with the need for policy implementation, the political, economic and organizational actuating levers. In this regard, the need for more emphasis on the intellectual forces of international finance - financial institutions with their own interests, the use of integrated approaches to economic development, high rates of achievement, social and economic policy harmonization, social inequality mitigation. Finally, the orientation of foreign economic priorities have to be organic in conjunction with the ongoing processes, it must define the strategic objectives of the national economy. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175659/1/Georgia%20at%20the%20crossroads%20of%20economic%20development.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F36, H30, E60 Keywords: Public Finance, Financial Aspects, Economic Integration, Macroeconomic Policy, Fiscal Policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175659 #END 1125 #BEGIN 1126 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: A Real-Business-Cycle model with pollution and environmental taxation: the case of Bulgaria Abstract: We introduce an environmental dimension into a real-business-cycle model augmented with a detailed government sector. We calibrate the model to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016). We investigate the quantitative importance of utility-enhancing environmental quality, and the mechanics of environmental ("carbon") tax on polluting production, as well as the effect of government spending on pollution abatement over the cycle. In particular, a positive shock to pollution emission in the model works like a positive technological shock, but its effect is quantitatively very small. Allowing for pollution as a by-product of production improves the model performance against data, and in addition this extended setup dominates the standard RBC model framework, e.g., Vasilev (2009). Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175648/1/env_RBC_v4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, C68, Q58 Keywords: Business cycles, pollution, environmental quality, environmental tax, abatement spending Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175648 #END 1126 #BEGIN 1127 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Capuano, Carlo Author-Name: Grassi, Iacopo Title: Patent Protection and Threat of Litigation in Oligopoly Abstract: In recent years, the increasing awarding of patents has captured the attention of scholars operating in different fields. The economic literature has studied the causes of this proliferation; we propose an entry game focusing on one of the consequences, showing how an incumbent may create a patent portfolio in order to control market entry and to collude. The incumbent fixes the level of patent protection and the threat of denunciation reduces the entrant's expected profits; moreover, if the entrant deviates from collusion, the incumbent can strengthen punishment suing the competitor for patent infringement, reducing her incentive to deviate. Our analysis suggests that antitrust authorities should pay attention to the level of patent protection implemented by the incumbent and note whether the holder of a patent reacts to entry by either suing or not suing the competitor. In the model, we use completely general functional forms in analyzing the issues, and this allows us to obtain general results not depending on the assumptions about the kind of oligopolistic competition. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175243/6/Patents%202018.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D43, K21, L13 Keywords: patents, litigation, collusion, entry game Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175243 #END 1127 #BEGIN 1128 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Beqiraj, Elton Author-Name: Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni Author-Name: Di Pietro, Marco Author-Name: Serpieri, Carolina Title: Comparing Central Europe and the Baltic macro-economies: A Bayesian approach Abstract: Applying the Bayesian approach, a small open economy DSGE model was estimated using a sample of quarterly data for a macro-region formed by six Central Europe and Baltic economies: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia. Estimates have been employed to investigate the effects of a financial crisis, exploring the role played by country differences in the relative performances. We also use our Bayesian estimations to compute two measures of resilience in the considered region. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175242/1/bayes11_withapp.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E02, E32, E58 Keywords: resilience, Bayesian estimations, financial crisis, macroeconomic performance, emerging markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175242 #END 1128 #BEGIN 1129 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni Author-Name: Beqiraj, Elton Author-Name: Di Pietro, Marco Title: Beliefs formation and the puzzle of forward guidance power Abstract: We study the extent to which the belief-formation process affects the dynamics of macroeconomic variables when the central bank uses forward guidance. Standard sticky-price models imply that far future forward guidance has huge and implausible effects on current outcomes, these effects grow in its horizon (forward guidance power puzzle). By a parsimonious macro-model that allows for the role of bounded rationality and heterogeneous agents, we obtain tempered responses for real and nominal variables. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175198/1/FG_paper_06.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E40, E50, E21 Keywords: forward guidance power, heterogeneous agents, bounded rationality, monetary policy, announcements Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175198 #END 1129 #BEGIN 1130 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Progressive taxation and (in)stability in an exogenous growth model with non-market ("home") production Abstract: We show that in a exogenous growth model with non-market ("home") sector calibrated to Bulgarian data under the progressive taxation regime (1993-2007), the economy exhibits equilibrium indeterminacy due to the presence of non-market production. These results are in line with the findings in Benhabib and Farmer (1994, 1996) and Farmer (1999). Also, the findings in this paper are in contrast to Guo and Lansing (1988) who argue that progressive taxation works as an automatic stabilizer. Under the flat tax regime (2008-16), the economy calibrated to Bulgarian data displays saddle-path stability. The decrease in the average effective tax rate addresses the indeterminacy issue and eliminates the "stable focus" dynamics. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175194/1/indeterminacy_home_production_v2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O41, J46 Keywords: Progressive taxation, Non-market sector, Home production, Equilibrium (In)determinacy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175194 #END 1130 #BEGIN 1131 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: A business-cycle-model with monopolistically-competitive intermediary firms and sticky nominal wages: the case of Bulgaria after the introduction of the currency board (1999-2016) Abstract: We augment an otherwise standard business cycle model with a richer government sector, and add monopolistic competition in the product market, and rigid prices, as well as rigid wages a la Calvo (1983) in the labor market. This specification with the nominal wage rigidity, when calibrated to Bulgarian data after the introduction of the currency board (1999-2016), allows the framework to reproduce better observed variability and correlations among model variables, and those characterizing the labor market in particular. As nominal wage frictions are incorporated, the variables become more persistent, especially output, capital stock, investment and consumption, which helps the model match data better. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/175183/1/calvo_wages_v4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D43, E32 Keywords: business cycles, monopolistic competition, rigid (Calvo) prices, rigid (Calvo) wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:175183 #END 1131 #BEGIN 1132 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Title: Are cryptocurrencies connected to forex? A quantile cross-spectral approach Abstract: This paper aims to elucidate the connectedness between major forex currencies and cryptocurrencies using the quantile cross-spectral approach recently proposed by Baruník and Kley (2015). The sample covers six forex currencies and six cryptocurrencies over the period of 1 September 2015 to 29 December 2017. Compared with the results obtained from standard correlations and detrended moving-average cross-correlation analysis (DMCA), the quantile cross-spectral approach provides richer information on the dependence structure across different quantiles and frequencies. The most interesting result is that the intra-group dependencies are positive in the lower extreme quantiles, while inter-group dependencies are negative. This result holds in both the short- and long-term perspectives. Thus, it is worth diversifying between these two currency groups. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/174884/1/Baumohl%20%282018%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G11, G15, F31 Keywords: cryptocurrencies, fiat currencies, quantile dependence, cross-spectral analysis, diversification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:174884 #END 1132 #BEGIN 1133 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: A business-cycle model with a modified cash-in-advance feature, government sector and one-period nominal wage contracts: the case of Bulgaria Creation-Date: 2018 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:174488 #END 1133 #BEGIN 1134 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: The role of energy in a real-business-cycle model with an endogenous capital utilization rate and a government sector: the case of Bulgaria (1999-2016) Abstract: We introduce a pro-cyclical endogenous utilization rate of physical capital stock into a real-business-cycle model augmented with a detailed government sector. We calibrate the model to Bulgarian data for the period following the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2016). We investigate the quantitative importance of the endogenous depreciation rate, and the capital utilitization mechanism working through the use of energy for cyclical fluctuations in Bulgaria. In particular, a positive shock to energy prices in the model works like a negative technological shock. Allowing for variations in factor utilization and the presence of energy as a factor of production improves the model performance against data, and in addition this extended setup dominates the standard RBC model framework with constant depreciation and a fixed utilization rate of physical capital, e.g., Vasilev (2009). Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173966/1/RBC_energy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E22, E37 Keywords: Business fluctuations, capital utilization rate, endogenous depreciation rate, energy prices, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173966 #END 1134 #BEGIN 1135 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Goo, Say-Hak Title: What Do the Panama Papers Teach Us About the Administrative Law of Corporate Governance Reform in Hong Kong? Abstract: A complex business environment calls for a flexible administrative law for the agencies that oversee corporations. No where illustrates this maxim better than Hong Kong, and its need to reform corporate regulations after the Panama Papers revelations. We describe how only a ‘non-administrative’ administrative law can best cope with the challenges facing the regulation of corporate governance. Such a flexible, results-oriented approach to administrative law develops new principles and tests, rather than gives civil servants instructions. Such an approach to corporate governance can facilitate the assessment of company governance, corporate disclosure, the self-regulation of professional groups like lawyers and accountants, as well as ensure corporations engage in ‘legitimate economic purposes.’ We engage with the literature, showing why such a flexible approach to administrative rulemaking would more likely reduce some of the government regulation and oversight problems exposed by the Panama Papers than previous approaches toward drafting and implementing administrative law (at least in this area). Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173679/1/HK-Admin-Law-CG.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Hong Kong corporate governance, non-administrative administrative law, presumption of disclosure, legitimate economic purposes Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173679 #END 1135 #BEGIN 1136 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Goo, Say-Hak Title: The Case for the Extra-Territorial Application of Corporate Governance Standards in China Abstract: What rule might an international financial centre like Hong Kong play in incentivizing corporate governance reform in China? Or any foreign jurisdiction? In this article, we describe theoretical application of extra-territoriality to corporate governance related law in Hong Kong. We describe why and how such extra-territoriality (following the US’s lead) could encourage Mainland firms to adopt better corporate governance practices (and even implement them). Changes to the Companies Ordinance and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s Listing Rules can, in theory, provide for such extra-territorial reach. The results of such an experiment would help us understand the role an international financial centre can play in creating value across borders, as well as make Hong Kong’s rules and markets more relevant in/to the Mainland. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173678/1/Extra-territoriality2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: extra-territoriality, Hong Kong Listing Rules, Chinese corporate governance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173678 #END 1136 #BEGIN 1137 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Goo, Say-Hak Title: Hard Corporate Governance Law in a Soft Law Jurisdiction Creation-Date: 2016 Classification-JEL: N25, M14 Keywords: Chinese corporate governance, Code of Corporate Governance, coordinatability, soft law Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173677 #END 1137 #BEGIN 1138 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Goo, Say-Hak Title: Do Corporate Governance Practices In One Jurisdiction Affect Another One? Lessons from the Panama Papers Abstract: To what extent do corporate governance practices in one jurisdiction affect another? In this paper, we look at the way that Hong Kong’s and the Mainland’s corporate governance practices have co-evolved, along with offshore incorporations from both places. Drawing on empirical illustrations of the data using analytical techniques like differential equations and Fourier Spectral Analysis, we find a strong relationship across time between changes in corporate governance practices in both jurisdictions as well as offshore incorporations. Our data also support the idea of a theory-free equilibrium level of corporate governance (determined by market participants’ own behaviour rather than by a theory-laden econometric model). We show that lethargy likely explains the persistence of corporate governance practices in both places, with innovations in one place correlating with innovations in the other. Such work clearly implies that corporate governance improvements in one place can help encourage such improvements in other markets which have not adopted laws aimed at improving corporate governance. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173676/1/Link-Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G34, N25, M14 Keywords: Chinese corporate governance, Panama Papers, corporate governance spill-overs, Fourier spectral analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173676 #END 1138 #BEGIN 1139 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Goo, Say-Hak Title: The Value of the Corporate Governance Canon on Chinese Companies Abstract: China has yet to import the corporate governance “canon” (generally accepted rules as promoting share holder value as well as minority shareholder and other stakeholders’ rights) into its Code of Corporate Governance. What effect would Chinese companies’ simply adopting such a canon – as defined by Hong Kong or other foreign corporate governance practices -- have on their share prices? We look at Mainland Chinese companies listed in Hong Kong, looking at the way their share prices react to economic fluctuations when they have better or worse corporate governance practices. Using a differences-of-differences methodology, that such share prices could/would increase by around 7% -- increasing profits by about $330 billion. Yet, a significant part of the distribution of these companies loose money in the short-run. These results provide yet another confirmation that adopting the corporate governance canon can profit companies’ investors, but not all of them. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173675/1/Economic-Effects.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G34, N25, M14 Keywords: Chinese corporate governance, post-crisis economics, differences-in-differences, Hong Kong Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173675 #END 1139 #BEGIN 1140 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alm, Bastian Author-Name: Weins, Sebastian Title: Current account imbalances: Possibilities for Trade Policy Action under the Auspices of the WTO – a German Perspective Abstract: Since 2011, Germany has consistently been the country posting the largest current account surpluses in the world. In recent years, this has led to a number of calls from economists and policy-makers in and outside Germany, and from international institutions and organisations, asking the Federal Government to take action to reduce the surplus. These calls have tended to focus on recommendations for action to strengthen private and public-sector investment and real wage growth in Germany. As current account imbalances have long become a global phenomenon, we would like to open a discussion on how this issue could be dealt with under multilateral trade policy. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173387/1/180129-German-CAS_Multilateral-Approach.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F32, F40 Keywords: Current account balance, German current account surplus, Trade policy, WTO Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173387 #END 1140 #BEGIN 1141 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Ranking the socioeconomic and environmental framework of European Union farms: A network analysis Abstract: The context of European Union farms is markedly diverse. This is verified when, for example, several dimensions of the agricultural sector are analyzed, considering variables related with economic, social, or environmental dynamics. Indeed, frequently the farms in EU countries present relevant differences inside economic, social, or environmental dimensions. To better understand the interrelationships inside the economic, social, and environmental framework of European Union farms, this work analyzes the networks among these fields by considering rankings in decreasing order (with the statistical information of the representative farms of each European country) for variables like farming output, current subsidies, total inputs, gross investments, subsidies on investments, fertilizer and crop protection consumption, farming labor, and wages paid. Data was gathered from the Farm Accountancy Data Network, across the European Union member-states and over the period 2012-2014. This statistical information was analyzed through network analysis, exploring edgelists among the several variables considered and the network bridges between European countries. The results show that, in fact, there are significant differences in the scores found for European countries inside economic, social, and environmental dimensions, which was highlighted by the network analysis. However, the European Union farms are, in general, networked in the rankings for the variables considered. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173285/1/NWPaper-last-version.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C45, D01 Keywords: European farm context, Edgelists and network bridges, Farm Accountancy Data Network, Benchmarking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173285 #END 1141 #BEGIN 1142 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Financial realities for farms in the European Union: Relationships between farming and governmental interactions within the Triple Helix concept Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyse the financial realities for the farming sector in European Union countries and their relationships with agricultural investment and public structural subsidies, from a perspective of farming- and governmental relationships as part of the Triple Helix approach. Firstly, the statistical information available within the Farm Accountancy Data Network for the former twenty seven European Union countries, related with the main items of the accounting balance sheet was investigated. Secondly, various financial indicators were calculated to analyse the principal financial constraints in these farms and finally, these findings with the levels of investment and structural support were reported. As a main conclusion, more adjusted structural policies in the European Union will be needed, taking these microeconomic contexts into account. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173284/1/agricultural-management-final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E22, M41, O52, Q12 Keywords: Farming sector, Structural subsidies, Accountancy information, European Union, Triple Helix Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173284 #END 1142 #BEGIN 1143 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Abuselidze, George Title: Monetary System of Georgia in XI-XII centuries and its Effect on Economic Activity Abstract: This works covers peculiarities of formation of Georgian monetary system in XI-XII centuries and their effect on the international financial and economic relations. In this works we have researched the matters of formation of monetary policy of feudal age and their effect on development of foreign trade, methods of money formation important for the present world, which correct choice may provide increase of production volume and economic activity. Currency policy, geopolitical and geostrategic localization proved the country to turn into one of the economically strong economic states with high standard of life, developed system of socioeconomic relations approached to the international standards and democratic institutions. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173283/1/Main-Article.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E42, E52, N13, N15, O1 Keywords: History of Economy, Economic Development, Monetary Policy, Monetary System, Monetary History, Economic Activity, Europe: Pre-1913, Asia including Middle East Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173283 #END 1143 #BEGIN 1144 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schaubert, Marianna Title: Do Alimony Regulations Matter inside Marriage? Evidence from the 2008 Reform of the German Maintenance Law Abstract: This study investigates how West German spouses have responded by adjusting their time allocation to the alimony reform introduced in 2008. This reform imposed financial self-responsibility after a finalized divorce. It weakened the relative bargaining position of the spouse with a claim for maintenance in the case of a potential divorce prior to the law change. Therefore, the present study helps to verify bargaining models by considering the 2008 policy change as a shift of spousal bargaining power. Estimating difference-in-differences models I find that, indeed, wives who face a potential low alimony loss might have increased their working hours as a result of the 2008 reform. To my knowledge, the present investigation is the first analysis of the behavioral response of individuals in longer marriages to the 2008 reform. Its approach to identifying those who have been (dis)advantaged by this reform is a new one, proposing a method that reflects the realities of alimony arrangements in Germany. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173193/1/SchaubertWorkingPaperOct2017.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D13, J12, J13, J22, K36 Keywords: Alimony, Family, Bargaining, Institutional change, Labor supply, Time allocation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173193 #END 1144 #BEGIN 1145 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shirinzade, Natig Title: Migration and social mobility within and between countries and its economic consequences in the period of globalization Abstract: Ethnic and international conflicts have turned into a real headache for the modern world. The confrontations that have begun between the nations have escalated into serious conflicts that take the lives of thousands of innocent children, women and old people every year. Such conflicts create significant problems not only at the social level, but also at the political and economic level. If a decisive measure to resolve such conflicts has not been taken in a timely manner, the damage may prove irreparable. Our Institute of Global Economic Problems, represented by Natig Shirinzade, Ph.D. and Masters in Economics, Founder and Head of the Institute of Global Economic Problems decided to address this issue in greater detail and highlight the problem of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Being citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, we are well acquainted with all the problems caused by interethnic conflicts and the subsequent flow of refugees and temporarily resettled. And therefore, we consider it our duty to cover such topics and bring them to the public court. This is one of the reasons for creating this organization - to provide people with reliable and verified information in order to help them overcome the difficulties of the Epoch of Globalization. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/173173/1/Migration-social-mobility-globalization.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F50, H56, J15, J17, J61, J62, J64 Keywords: Refugees, Ethnic conflicts, Labour market, Economic impact Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:173173 #END 1145 #BEGIN 1146 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Majune, Socrates Kraido Title: Theory and Practice of Testing for a Single Structural Break in Stata Abstract: The major objective of this paper is to demonstrate, theoretically and empirically, the test of a single structural break/change. Failure to address a structural break can lead to forecasting errors and the general unreliability of a model. Three approaches of testing for structural change are discussed using data from Johnston et al. (1997, p.130) on Stata 14 software. The first approach assesses whether there is a structural break in parameters (slope and intercept) while the second and third assess whether there is a break in slope and intercept respectively. The Residual Sum of Squares (RSS) for the restricted and unrestricted models are established to necessitate the use of an F-test in making inferences. According to the first approach, a structural break exists at 5% level of significance. This result is confirmed by the Chow test. The second and third approaches establish that the structural break is from the intercept and not the slope. These results are also affirmed by the Chow test. Furthermore, all these results, from the first to the third approach, are confirmed by an alternative approach which relies on the knowledge that . Therefore, the dependent variable is not affected by the policy change on the explanatory variable but it is mainly affected by the basic unobserved qualitative characteristics of the two sub-periods. For further analysis, it is recommended that a unit root test be conducted using the Zivot-Andrews test. This test has been established as the panacea for the interplay between unit root and structural changes. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/172517/3/Single%20Structural%20Break.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C01, C52, C80, C87 Keywords: Structural Break, chow test, Zivot-Andrews Test, Unit Root Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:172517 #END 1146 #BEGIN 1147 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lyócsa, Štefan Author-Name: Výrost, Tomáš Author-Name: Baumöhl, Eduard Title: Social aspirations in European banks: peer-influenced risk behavior Abstract: We test a sample of 3,586 banks from 33 European countries to determine whether performances above or below a social aspiration level (median performance of peer banks) influence banks’ aggregate risk levels. Our results are consistent with the behavioral theory of the firm and prospect theory in that we find that bank performance below a bank’s social aspiration level is followed by increased aggregate risk, i.e., risk-taking behavior in the subsequent year. Although under-performing banks tend to be risk-takers, large banks and banks with high aggregate risk levels tend to limit the increase in their aggregate risk levels. Creation-Date: 2018 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/172510/1/Social%20aspirations%20in%20European%20banks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D22, G2, G41, L22, L25 Keywords: social aspiration, European banks, performance, risk behavior, prospect theory Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:172510 #END 1147 #BEGIN 1148 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daske, Thomas Title: Externality Assessments, Welfare Judgments, and Mechanism Design Abstract: How agents assess the (in-)tangible externalities that others might impose on them can strongly influence strategic interaction. This study explores mechanism design for agents whose externality assessments and private payoffs, exclusive of externalities, are all subject to asymmetric information; utility is quasi-linear and transferable. An allocation rule will be called strongly Bayesian implementable if it is Bayesian implementable for arbitrary type distributions. Under reasonable assumptions, the following result is established: A Paretian allocation rule is strongly Bayesian implementable through budget-balanced transfers if and only if it maximizes the sum of private payoffs exclusive of externalities. The corresponding mechanism is necessarily externality-robust in that it leaves agents' externality assessments strategically inoperative. The result emphasizes the critical incentive-theoretical role of the welfare judgment inherent to social choice. Strong Bayesian implementation of a welfare judgment inconsistent with externality-ignoring utilitarianism violates budget balance and thus entails incentive costs. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/172494/1/Externality%20Assessments%20Welfare%20Judgments%20and%20Mechanism%20Design.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C70, C72, D62, D63, D82 Keywords: (behavioral) mechanism design, externalities, robust implementation, social welfare, bargaining Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:172494 Note: This working paper/preprint is based on chapter I of my Dissertation entitled "The Impact of Other-Regarding Preferences on Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection", which has been published by the Library of the Technical University of Munich under https://mediatum.ub.tum.de/?id=1356815 . #END 1148 #BEGIN 1149 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daske, Thomas Title: Friends and Foes at Work: Assigning Teams in a Social Network Abstract: In many firms, production requires the division of staff into teams. If only team performance is observable, moral hazard in teams is inevitable. This variant of moral hazard can be overcome or exacerbated by the interpersonal relationships among team members. I investigate how the division of staff into teams should account for the agents' social network of interpersonal relationships. Considering piece rate compensation for teams, I identify rules for efficient team assignment. Depending on the shape of individual effort costs, team assignment follows either a maximin or maximax rule with regard to team members' willingness to cooperate. Generally, the preferences of staff for team composition can collide with efficient production. A universal mechanism guaranteeing efficiency while delegating responsibility for team assignment to the agents does not exist. Successful staffing thus requires knowledge of the interpersonal relationships at work and, at times, control instead of delegation. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/172493/1/Friends%20and%20Foes%20at%20Work.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D74, D82, D85, M54 Keywords: staffing, social preferences, social network, delegation, control Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:172493 Note: This working paper/preprint is based on chapter II of my dissertation entitled "The Impact of Other-Regarding Preferences on Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection", which has been published under https://mediatum.ub.tum.de/?id=1356815 . #END 1149 #BEGIN 1150 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kirui, Benard Kipyegon Title: Tax Practitioners: Advocates of Compliance or Avoidance? Abstract: Tax practitioners alongside taxpayers and tax authorities are the major actors in a tax compliance system. They assist the government to enforce tax law when it is unambiguous but exploit tax law to the detriment of compliance when the tax rules are ambiguous. Using a sample of 13 listed manufacturing firms over the period 2000 to 2013, we exploit the introduction of transfer pricing rule to investigate how tax laws and tax practitioners have influenced corporate tax compliance in Kenya. The introduction of transfer pricing rule reduced corporate tax avoidance; however, the reduction in tax avoidance was partly offset by the action of the tax practitioners. Audit firms capacity, as measured by size, seems to matter in helping clients in tax planning. To tame tax practitioners, tax advisory services should be licensed and regulated. Furthermore, mechanism to identify and seal any possible loopholes should be instituted in the legislation process. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/172487/1/04%2520BERNARD%2520KIRUI%2520-%2520Tax%2520Practitioners%2520Advocates%2520of%2520Compliance%2520or%2520Avoidance%5b1%5d.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H2, H26 Keywords: tax compliance, tax avoidance, transfer pricing, practitioners, Kenya Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:172487 #END 1150 #BEGIN 1151 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hartung, Tim Title: Schulbuchauswahl und Lernmittelfreiheit in den deutschen Bundesländern im Kontext von Schülerpartizipation Abstract: Die Sicht von Schülerinnen und Schülern auf ein Schulbuch kann einen Einfluss auf dessen Nutzen und Wirken und damit für den Lernprozess haben. Auf Basis dieser These spürt der Artikel der Auswahlpraxis in den deutschen Bundesländern nach. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf Beteiligung von Schülerinnen und Schülern an den Entscheidungen, die zur Einführung eines Schulbuches führen. Dabei werden zum einen gesetzliche Bestimmungen der Landesschulgesetze betrachtet, bevor in einem zweiten Schritt einige Beispiele aus der Praxis an einzelnen Schulen vorgestellt werden. Aus diesen Erkenntnissen werden die Anbieter-Kundenbeziehungen mit Berücksichtigung dreier Kundengruppen (LehrerInnen, Eltern, SchülerInnen) modelliert. Anhand dieses Modells diskutiert der Artikel Probleme, die aus der Vernachlässigung der Bedürfnisse der Kundengruppe Lernende entstehen können. So kann es durch von wenigen Lehrern getroffene Kollektiventscheidungen zu sub-optimalen Ergebnissen kommen, die letztlich eine Entfremdung der Schülerinnen und Schüler vom Schulbuch zur Folge haben können. Der Artikel schlägt eine stärkere Einbindung der Schülerinnen und Schüler in den Auswahlprozess vor. So könnte eine „Schulbuchalphabetisierung“ und eine positivere Einstellung zum Medium und letztlich auch zum Lernen erreicht werden. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/172462/1/832194190_2016_A.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I28 Keywords: Schulbuchzulassung, Lernmittelfreiheit, Bildungsföderalismus, Schüler als Kunden, Schulbuchwirtschaft, Bildungsmarkt Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:172462 #END 1151 #BEGIN 1152 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Oil and Blood in the Orient, Redux Abstract: This research note updates selected charts from three previous papers. The new data present a rather startling picture, suggesting that the Middle East – and the global political economy more generally – might face an important crossroads. Our assessment here rests on the analysis of capital as power, or CasP. Beginning in the late 1980s, we suggested that, since the late 1960s, the Middle East was greatly influenced by the capitalized power of a Weapondollar-Petrodollar Coalition – a loose coalition comprising the leading oil companies, the OPEC cartel, armament contractors, engineering firms and large financial institutions – whose differential accumulation benefitted from and in turn helped fuel and sustain Middle East ‘energy conflicts’. These conflicts, we argued, reverberated far beyond the region: they affected the ups and downs of global growth, the gyrations of inflation and, in some important respects, the very evolution of the capitalist mode of power. And this impact, it seems to us, is now being called into question. Creation-Date: 2017 Revision-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/172198/1/20171200_bn_blood_and_oil_in_the_orient_redux.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: conflict, differential accumulation, energy, Middle East Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:172198 #END 1152 #BEGIN 1153 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kittsteiner, Thomas Author-Name: Ott, Marion Author-Name: Steinberg, Richard Title: Competing Combinatorial Auctions Creation-Date: 2017 Classification-JEL: D44, C72, D82 Keywords: Auctioneer competition, Combinatorial auctions, VCG mechanism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:171995 #END 1153 #BEGIN 1154 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kareem, Fatima Olanike Title: European Union’s SPS and TBT Measures, Gender Specific Obstacles and Agricultural Employment Abstract: We investigate the implications of EU non-tariff barriers in the form sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT) on gender relations in the agricultural labour market between 1995 and 2012. Our results indicate that women are disproportionately disadvantaged in the agricultural sector not only because of the inimical effect of the non-tariff measure, but more so because of their unequal access to opportunities such as gender inequality in secondary schooling the heavy burden of reproduction actives which makes them less available for gainful employment. However, gender parity achieved in primary education and increased access to time saving infrastructure increases their share of employment in the agricultural sector. Thus, proactive measures aimed at infrastructure investment that reduces women care burdens and building the educational capacity of women to effectively deal with such non-tariff barriers, could work to remove these gender specific obstacles, enable women respond to employment opportunities and minimise any gender disparity caused by trade. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/171726/1/Fatima_Olanike_Kareem.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F14, F16, J16, J43 Keywords: Non-tariff measures, Sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, Technical barriers to trade, Employment, Gender, European Union Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:171726 #END 1154 #BEGIN 1155 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Augustyński, Iwo Author-Name: Laskoś-Grabowski, Paweł Title: Clustering Macroeconomic Time Series Abstract: There is growing literature in macroeconomics, especially on business cycle synchronization, employing different methods of time series clustering. However, even as an unsupervised learning method, this technique requires making choices that are nontrivially influenced by the nature of the data involved. By extensively testing various possibilities, we arrive at a choice of a dissimilarity measure (compression-based dissimilarity measure, or CDM) which is particularly suitable for clustering macroeconomic variables. We check that the results are stable in time and consistent with the literature on core-periphery pattern of European business cycles. We also successfully apply our findings to the analysis of national economies, specifically to identifying their structural relations. To our knowledge, it is the first comprehensive analysis of the usefulness of the different dissimilarity measures for the macroeconomic research. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/171380/1/art.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E00, C18, C63 Keywords: time series clustering, similarity, cluster analysis, GDP Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:171380 Note: A slightly updated version of this paper has been published in ECONOMETRICS. EKONOMETRIA. Advances in Applied Data Analysis, ISSN 1507-3866, e-ISSN 2449-9994, Vol. 22 (2018), No. 2, p. 74-88, DOI: https://doi.org/10.15611/eada.2018.2.06. A more recent version is available at the link below. #END 1155 #BEGIN 1156 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alonso-Rodriguez, Agustin Title: The CO₂ emissions in Finland, Norway and Sweden: a dynamic relationship Abstract: In this paper a dynamic relationship between the CO2 emissions in Finland, Norway and Sweden is presented. With the help of a VAR(2) model, and using the Granger terminology, it is shown that the emissions in Finland are affecting those in Norway and Sweden. Other aspects of this dynamic relationship are presented as well. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/171259/3/finalpaper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Paris 2015 Agreement, CO2 emissions, VAR models, Granger causality, impulse response functions, forecast error variance decomposition, software R MTS, RATS Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:171259 #END 1156 #BEGIN 1157 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cerqueti, Roy Author-Name: Sabatini, Fabio Author-Name: Ventura, Marco Title: Civic capital and support for the welfare state Abstract: We model how the interplay between tax surveillance institutions and civic capital shapes taxpayers' support for welfare state. We show that, when tax surveillance is tight, rational civic-minded individuals express greater support for welfare spending than uncivic ones. We provide empirical evidence of these preferences using data from Italy, a country that has long posed a puzzle for public economists for its limited civic capital and large welfare state. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/171243/1/SC_WS_draft_2017_10_12.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: welfare state, redistribution, tax surveillance, trust, civic capital, social capital Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:171243 #END 1157 #BEGIN 1158 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hendrickson, Mary K. Author-Name: Howard, Philip H. Author-Name: Constance, Douglas H. Title: Power, Food and Agriculture: Implications for Farmers, Consumers and Communities Abstract: One of the most pressing concerns about the industrialization of agriculture and food is the consolidation and concentration of markets for agricultural inputs, agricultural commodities food processing and groceries. In essence a small minority of actors globally exercise great control over food system decisions. This means that because of increased consolidation of these markets globally – from the United States to China to Brazil, from South Africa to the United Kingdom – the vast majority of farmers, consumers and communities are left out of key decisions about how we farm and what we eat. Transnational agrifood firms are motivated by profits and power in the marketplace, leaving other social, economic and ecological goals behind. This creates an agroecological crisis in the face of climate uncertainty but one that is rooted in social and economic organization. In this chapter we detail the current economic organization of agriculture, and briefly describe its negative impacts on farmers, communities and ecology. We conclude by articulating stories of farmer-led resistance that imagine a new food system. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/171171/1/20171101_hendrickson_howard_constance_power_food_and_agriculture.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: agriculture, capital as power, farmers, food, power Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:171171 #END 1158 #BEGIN 1159 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Morone, Andrea Author-Name: Nuzzo, Simone Author-Name: Caferra, Rocco Title: The Dollar Auction Game: A laboratory comparison between Individuals and Groups Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyze bidders’ behavior, comparing individuals and groups’ decisions within the dollar auction framework. This game induces subjects to fall prey into the paradigm of escalation, which is driven by agents’ commitment to higher and higher bids. Whenever each participant commits himself to a bid, the lower bidder, motivated by the wish to win as well as to defend his prior investment, finds it in his best interest to place a higher bid to overcome his opponent. The latter mechanism may lead subjects to overbid. We find that the Nash equilibrium of the game is only rarely attained. Second, we detect clean evidence that groups’ decisions are, on average, superior to individuals’ decisions. Learning over time is clearly evident, leading individuals to perform nearly as good as groups in the final rounds of the game. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/170728/3/MNC.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91 Keywords: escalation, winner’s curse Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:170728 #END 1159 #BEGIN 1160 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Häußermann, Johann Jakob Title: Fairness in International Trade Policy: Equality and Differential Treatment in Theory and Practice Abstract: In 'Fairness in Practice – A Social Contract for a Global Economy' (2012) Aaron James proposes a substantial normative framework for a theory of fairness in the global economy. Based on a distinctive methodology of interpretive constructivism, James argues for an internal justification of fairness requirements in the field of international trade, and consequently defends three basic egalitarian principles of fairness. However, Mathias Risse and Gabriel Wollner, among others, have criticized James’s view for multiple reasons. In the following article, I will first engage with their critique, contending that their arguments do not prove that James’s view should be dismissed. Instead, I will introduce a new proposal, arguing that it is rather by a notion of differential treatment of countries that James’s account should be complemented. Taking into account all the relevant differences between countries, the concept of differential treatment allows for the provision and establishment of equal participation as a basis for considerations of fairness. To this end, I shall therefore propose an additional fourth principle of fairness called Equal Participation. I argue that it is necessary to significantly expand James’s contractualist and practice-dependent foundations, in order to reconcile crucial methodological concerns and to render James’s formulations applicable to current debates on free trade agreements. The article will conclude with an exploration of the applicability of this new approach to current trade policy issues, illustrating not only its practicability but also the urgent need for normative considerations in the context of international trade agreements. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/170695/1/WORKING%20PAPER_Fairness%20in%20International%20Trade%20Policy.%20Equality%20and%20Differential%20Treatment%20in%20Theory%20and%20Practice.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, F13 Keywords: International Trade, Free Trade Agreements, Fairness, Special and Differential Treatment, Constructivism, Aaron James Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:170695 #END 1160 #BEGIN 1161 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Elenchev, Ivelin Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Forecasting the Success Rate of Reward Based Crowdfunding Projects Abstract: The present paper develops three models that help predict the success rate and attainable investment levels of online crowdfunding ventures. This is done by applying standard economic theory and machine learning techniques from computer science to the novel sector of on-line crowd-based micro- financing. In contrast with previous research in the area, this paper analyzes transaction-level data in addition to information about completed crowdfunding projects. This provides an unique perspective in the ways crowd finance ventures develop. The models reach an average of 83% accuracy in predicting the outcome of a crowdfunding campaign at any point throughout its duration. These ndings prove that a number of product and project specifi c parameters are indicative of the success of the venture. Subsequently, the paper provides guidance to capital seekers and investors on the basis of these criteria, and allows participants in the crowdfunding marketplace to make more rational decisions. Creation-Date: 2017 Classification-JEL: C0 Keywords: microfinance, entrepreneurial finance, crowdfunding Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:170681 #END 1161 #BEGIN 1162 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zukowska-Gagelmann, Katarzyna Title: Do EU regional funds hamper or foster interregional migration? A panel data analysis for Poland Abstract: This paper studies the effects of the European Union (EU) regional policy transfers on internal migration across regions in Poland for the period 2004-2014. Based on a gravity model of migration, it tests empirically using the Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimator whether EU transfers affect the level and the pattern of bilateral migration flows. For the first eleven years of the EU membership, the study finds no evidence of EU funding discouraging residents’ mobility. On the contrary, residents of regions with higher EU transfers attracted are relatively more likely to leave. This effect is especially significant in poorer regions. In addition, EU transfers help regions attract more migrants. Both the “push” and the “pull” effect of the EU transfers on migration intensified over time. Hence, EU regional funding did not hamper, but rather fostered internal migration in Poland leading to a higher regional concentration of population and prosperity. This, however, works against the objective of the EU regional policy, which is to promote economic and social convergence across regions. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/170576/1/WorkingDiscussionpaper_Zukowska-Gagelmann_HW_CI-3_SUrev_v1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: EU regional policy, EU structural funds, internal migration, migration determinants, Poland, panel data, gravity model, PPML Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:170576 #END 1162 #BEGIN 1163 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Aggregation with non-convex labor supply, unobservable effort, and efficiency wages of the no-shirking type Abstract: The purpose of this note is to explore the problem of non-convex labor supply decision in an economy with imperfect observability of work e ffort, and the need to use e fficiency wages to prevent shirking as in Shapiro and Stiglitz (1984). In addition, the paper and explicitly performs the aggregation presented in Vasilev (2017) without a formal proof, and thus provide - starting from micro-foundations - the derivation of the expected utility functions used for the aggregate household. We show how lotteries as in Rogerson (1988) can be used to convexify consumption sets, and aggregate over individual preferences. With a discrete labor supply decisions, the elasticity of aggregate labor supply increases from unity to infinity. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/170567/1/aggregation_efficiency_wages.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E1, J22, J41 Keywords: Aggregation, Indivisible Labor, non-convexities, shirking, efficiency wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:170567 #END 1163 #BEGIN 1164 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brettschneider, Jörg Title: Steuerbetrug im Rahmen von Overseas E-Commerce als gesetzgeberische Aufgabe - Verbesserung der Kontrolle und Vereinfachung der Compliance - Abstract: Eine Vielzahl von Händlern aus Drittländern (insbesondere aus der V. R. China) bieten Waren auf E-Commerce-Plattformen wie Amazon und eBay zum Verkauf an. Es kommt in diesem Zusammenhang zu Abgabenhinterziehungen großen Ausmaßes mit der Nebenfolge von Wettbewerbsverzerrungen. Es wird die Frage behandelt, welche Schritte die Bundesrepublik Deutschland unter Beachtung des EU-Rahmens dagegen unternehmen kann. Es sind einerseits rechtliche Voraussetzungen zur Verbesserung der Kontrolle zu schaffen und andererseits ist die Compliance zu erleichtern. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/170491/3/K%20STEUERBETRUG%2018h.10.17%20%282%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Amazon, eBay, China, Abgabenhinterziehungen, Mehrwertsteuerhinterziehungen, E-Commerce, Internetplattformen, Steuerbetrug, Steuerhinterziehung, Compliance, VAT-fraud, VAT, Umsatzsteuer, Mehrwertsteuer, Overseas E-Commerce, Overseas Warehouse, FBA, Fulfillment, Zoll, B2C Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:170491 #END 1164 #BEGIN 1165 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: León, Dorian Fernando Title: Differential Approach and Capabilities: An Analysis for the Colombia's Population Displaced Abstract: The conceptual framework of the capability approach proposed by Amartya Sen has never been used specifically in the dynamics of forced displacement or in the analysis of the quality of life of the population victims of the Colombian armed conflict. Reason why, this article affirms that the approach of capabilities agrees with the differential approach proposed by the Colombian Constitutional Court. Consequently, the objective is to provide a conceptual aproximation to the Amartya Sen’s capability approach and differential approach proposed by the from Colombia Constitutional Court and to point out that the capability approach is relevant in the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies directed at the victim population. Similarly, recent data on the dynamics of forced displacement in the city of Bucaramanga (Colombia) are provided. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/170474/1/Differential%20Approach%20and%20Capabilities.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I31, I32, D63 Keywords: capability approach, forced displacement, colombian armed conflict Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:170474 #END 1165 #BEGIN 1166 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gatzer, Sebastian Author-Name: Hoang, Daniel Author-Name: Ruckes, Martin Title: Internal Capital Markets and Diversified Firms: Theory and Practice Abstract: We analyze a unique dataset from a survey of CFOs of diversified firms to examine four areas of diversification and internal capital markets: causes and financing effects of corporate diversification, capital budgeting processes, capital investment methods, and reallocation policies in internal capital markets. CFOs see the main financial benefits of being diversified in lower costs of capital and higher debt capacities. Challenging the usual bottom-up view on capital allocation, firms’ capital budgeting processes have typically also a top-down component: while top management relies on financial projections provided by divisions it also uses its own qualitative information. Top management is aware of agency and information problems at the divisional level and organizes the budgeting process to counteract managerial opportunism. Firms acknowledge that capital allocation decisions can frequently lead to a more evenly distributed allocation than pure financial criteria suggest. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/169432/1/20150615_Internal_Capital_Markets_and_Diversified_Firms_vF.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G31, G32 Keywords: Corporate Investment, Capital Budgeting, Internal Capital Markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:169432 #END 1166 #BEGIN 1167 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Aggregation with a non-convex labor supply decision, unobservable effort, and reciprocity ("gift exchange") in labor relations Abstract: The purpose of this note is to explore the problem of a non-convex labor supply decision in an economy with reciprocity in labor relations ("gift exchange") a la Danthine and Kurmann (2010), and explicitly perform the aggregation presented in Vasilev (2017) without a formal proof, and thus provide - starting from micro-foundations - the deriva- tion of the expected utility functions used for the aggregate household. We show how lotteries as in Rogerson (1988) can be used to convexify consumption sets, and aggre- gate over individual preferences. With a discrete labor supply decisions, the elasticity of aggregate labor supply increases from unity to infinity. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/169418/1/aggregation_reciprocity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E1, J22, J41 Keywords: Aggregation, Indivisible Labor, Reciprocity, Non-convexities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:169418 #END 1167 #BEGIN 1168 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Petach, Luke Author-Name: Tavani, Daniele Title: Keeping up with the Joneses: Other-regarding Preferences and Endogenous Growth Abstract: We study a series of sustained growth models in which households' preferences are affected by the consumption of other households as summarized by average consumption. In endogenous growth models, the equilibrium paths involve lower savings and lower growth than the corresponding efficient paths. Both savings and growth are inversely related to the extent of social preferences. In semi-endogenous models, other-regarding preferences have no growth effects, but have positive level effects on the long-run research intensity, because they increase the market size for potential monopolists in the intermediate goods sector. To test the extent to which consumption is other-regarding, we use Consumer Expenditure Survey data: our identification strategy relies on a two-stage estimator that uses the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 as a positive and a negative consumption shocks to top incomes respectively. In the first stage, we use a difference-in-difference approach to exploit the exogenous variation in consumption caused by federal tax reform. We then use the predicted values for average within-cohort consumption by income deciles as an instrument to estimate the extent of social preferences. Our results point toward highly significant long-run `keeping up' effects on the order of 30%. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/169416/1/Keeping-Up-Petach-Tavani-2017.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D12, E21, O41, O51 Keywords: Keeping up with the Joneses, Endogenous Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:169416 #END 1168 #BEGIN 1169 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gomez-Martinez, Francisco Title: Partial Cartels and Mergers with Heterogenous Firms: Experimental Evidence Abstract: A usual assumption in the theory of collusion is that cartels are all-inclusive. In contrast, most real-world collusive agreements do not include all firms that are active in the relevant industry. This paper studies both theoretically and experimentally the formation and behavior of partial cartels. The theoretical model is a variation of Bos and Harrington’s (2010) model where firms are heterogeneous in terms of production capacities and individual cartel decisions are endogenized. The experimental study has two main objectives. The first goal is examine whether partial cartels emerge in the lab at all, and if so, which firms are part of it. The second aim of the experiment is to study the coordinated effects of a merger when partial cartels are likely to operate. The experimental results can be summarized as follows. We find that cartels are typically not all-inclusive and that various types of partial cartels emerge. We observe that market prices decrease by 20% on average after a merger. Our findings suggest that merger analysis that is based on the assumption that only full cartels forms produces misleading results. Our analysis also illustrates how merger simulations in the lab can be seen as a useful tool for competition authorities to back up merger decisions. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/169380/1/we1710.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Experiments, Bertrand oligopoly, Cartels, Mergers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:169380 #END 1169 #BEGIN 1170 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: León Tamayo, Dorian Fernando Author-Name: Moreno, Jose Luis Title: A Very Brief Approximation to What Is the Capability Approach of Amartya Sen? Abstract: The capability approach developed by Sen represents a proposal for the evaluation of individual well-being and social development centered on people and away - but not exclusive- of materiality. In the present article describes the capability approach developed by Sen and examines the importance for the evaluation of human development. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/169373/1/capability%20approach.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I31, I32, D63 Keywords: capability approach, Sen's capability approach, functioning, Amartya Sen Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:169373 #END 1170 #BEGIN 1171 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Title: The Effect of Competition Law on Brunei’s Small and Medium Enterprises Abstract: Brunei must enact an effective competition policy in order to participate as a member in regional trading blocs like the APEC, ASEAN and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. What effect would Brunei’s Competition Order have on Brunei – and specifically its small and medium enterprises or SMEs (the motor of non-petrol led growth)? We develop an indication of the scope of competition policy – and use that indicator in cross-country analysis to figure out competition’s effect on Brunei’s SMEs. Using back-of-the-envelope calculation methods, increasing competition under the status quo would likely cost Brunei US$100 million. Yet, if serious innovation policy tags along with Brunei’s expanding competition policy, Brunei’s SMEs could experience a $10 billion jump in GDP. Without policies to boost the effectiveness of the US$1.5 billion in Wawasan innovation spending, increased competition could harm Brunei’s SMEs. We identify the lack of Competition Commission independence and information dissemination. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/169114/1/Brunei%20SME%20paper2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D47, K21, L44 Keywords: antitrust, Brunei, competition policy, Competition Order Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:169114 #END 1171 #BEGIN 1172 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Dalko, Viktoria Title: Funders-of-Last-Resort: Legal Issues Involved in Using Central Bank Balance Sheets to Bolster Economic Growth Abstract: What role does unconventional monetary policy - and particularly unconventional policies like private asset purchases under a quantitative easing or lender of last resort scheme - play in influencing economic growth directly? Emerging and developing countries' central banks could contribute to GDP growth by following the example of jurisdiction like the US, UK and EU, by buying private sector and specific obligation public sector assets. Such a scheme would like most benefit jurisdictions like Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine and others. Unsurprisingly, we find a weak relationship between these purchases and investment world-wide for the last 10 years. We also find the existence of a "sloth effect" - a pattern in the data whereby more central bank asset purchases actually coincides with lower investment. We estimate the gains to increasing central bank balance sheet sizes with these assets. We also show how statutory mandate for nominal GDP targeting set the best legal foundations for such asset purchases. We finally describe an internal audit engagement which would collect the specific data needed to verify the results in this study. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/169113/1/Central%20Bank%20Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E58, E42, K23, O23 Keywords: unconventional monetary policy, funder of last resort, nominal GDP targeting, central bank balance sheet, sloth effect, internal audit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:169113 #END 1172 #BEGIN 1173 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schäpke, Niko Author-Name: Stelzer, Franziska Author-Name: Bergmann, Matthias Author-Name: Singer-Brodowski, Mandy Author-Name: Wanner, Matthias Author-Name: Caniglia, Guido Author-Name: Lang, Daniel J. Title: Reallabore im Kontext transformativer Forschung: Ansatzpunkte zur Konzeption und Einbettung in den internationalen Forschungsstand Abstract: Reallabore sind derzeit ein populärer Forschungsansatz an der Schnittstelle zwischen Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Neben vermuteten Potentialen, wie der Erzeugung von Transformationswissen und einem Beitrag zu gesellschaftlichem Wandel, gibt es auch vielfältige offene Fragen, u.a. im Hinblick auf das Verhältnis zu transdisziplinärer Forschung, der Übertragbarkeit des erzeugten Wissens oder der Gestaltung von Experimenten in der "realen Welt". Auch eine breit getragene Definition von Reallaboren existiert derzeit nicht. Dieses Diskussionspapier möchte daher dreierlei leisten: Es beginnt mit dem Herausarbeiten von Reallabor-Merkmalen als a) Beitrag zu Transformationsprozessen, b) Experimenten als zentraler Forschungsmethode, c) Transdisziplinarität als Forschungsmodus, d) dem Ziel der Ausweitung und Übertragung der Ergebnisse und e) Reallaboren als Orten wissenschaftlichen und gesellschaftlichen Lernens. Im Nachgang werden diese Merkmale durch Rückbezug auf die einschlägige Literatur vertieft diskutiert. Abschließend werden mit Reallaboren vergleichbare Forschungsansätze (Sustainable Living Labs, Urban Transition Labs und Niche Experiments) im Hinblick auf ihre Ausgestaltung der fünf herausgearbeiteten Merkmale vorgestellt und Reallabore damit in den internationalen Forschungskontext eingebettet. Das Diskussionspapier will damit Forschenden und Praktiker_innen in Reallaboren eine Orientierung ermöglichen. Die vorgestellten konzeptionellen Überlegungen basieren auf einem thematischen Literatur-Review, ebenso wie Diskussionen mit Reallabor- und Transformationsforschenden in nationalen und internationalen Kontexten. Sie sind im Rahmen der Begleitforschung des Forschungsprojektes 'ForReal' zu den Baden-Württembergischen Reallaboren entstanden. Dem Charakter eines Diskussionspapieres entsprechend sind die hier vorstellten Rahmungen zum Reallaboransatz als Angebot zur Diskussion, Erweiterung und Verbesserung zu verstehen. Abstract: Real-world laboratories (German 'Reallabore') are an increasingly popular research approach at the science-society interface. They have a number of potentials, such as creating transformation knowledge and contributing to societal change. Besides these potentials several open questions remain, z.B. regarding the relation of real-world labs and transdisciplinary research, the creation of transferable knowledge as well as the concrete design of experiments in the real world. A shared definition of real-world labs is as well lacking. Thus, this discussion paper aims for three contributions: first, five characteristics of real-world labs are derived, namely a) the contribution to transformation, b) experiments as central research method, 3) transdisciplinarity as core mode of research, d) the aim for scale-ability and transferability of results and finally e) labs as places and space of scientific and societal learning. Second, these characteristics are discussed and deepened referring to the relevant literature. Third, research approaches related to real-world labs (sustainable living labs, urban transitions labs and niche experiments) are presented focusing on their design regarding the five derived characteristics of real-world labs. Thereby real-world labs are embedded into an international research context. In sum, this discussion paper aims to provide orientation for real-world lab researchers and practitioners. Presented conceptual work is based on a topic-led literature review, as well as discussions with real-world lab and transformation researchers in national and international contexts. Work was done as part of accompanying research project 'ForReal', supporting the real-world laboratories in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Following the basic idea of a discussion paper, the presented conceptualizations invite to discussion, extension and amendment. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168596/1/Diskussionspapier%20Reallabore%20im%20Kontext%20transformativer%20Forschung_Sch%c3%a4pke%20et%20al_final_v02.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O10 Keywords: Reallabore, Transdisziplinarität, Real World Laboratories, Transformative Forschung, Nachhaltigkeitsforschung, Sustainability Transitions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168596 #END 1173 #BEGIN 1174 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Guo, Zi-Yi Title: Information heterogeneity, housing dynamics and the business cycle Abstract: Empirical evidence shows that house prices are highly volatile and closely correlated with the business cycle, and the fact is at odds with the evidence that rental prices are relatively stable and almost uncorrelated with the business cycle. To explain the fact, we introduce information heterogeneity into a standard dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model with financial frictions. Agents are endowed with heterogeneous shocks, and rationally extract information from market activities. Since agents are confused by changes in average private signals about future fundamentals, the model generates an amplified effect of technology shocks on house prices, which accounts for the disconnect between house prices and the discounted sum of future rents. In addition, the model provides insights for the lead-lag relationship between residential and nonresidential investment over the business cycle. The solution method developed in this paper can be applied in other DSGE models with heterogeneous information. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168561/1/Guo_house.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168561 #END 1174 #BEGIN 1175 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Basile, Roberto Author-Name: Girardi, Alessandro Author-Name: Mantuano, Marianna Author-Name: Russo, Giuseppe Title: Interregional Migration, Human Capital Externalities and Unemployment Dynamics: Evidence from Italian Provinces Abstract: We analyze the effect of interregional migration on regional unemployment in Italy. With the help of a simple two-region model adapted to the main features of the Italian NorthSouth dualism, we illustrate the effects of labor mobility with and without human capital externalities. Using longitudinal data over the years 2002-2011 for 103 NUTS-3 Italian regions, we document that net outflows of human capital from the South to the North have increased the unemployment rate in the South, while it did not affect the unemployment rate in the North. Our analysis contributes to the literature on interregional human capital mobility suggesting that reducing human capital flight from Southern regions should be a priority. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168560/1/Econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C23, R23, J61 Keywords: Unemployment, Migration, Human Capital, Exernalities, Italian Regions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168560 #END 1175 #BEGIN 1176 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chatelain, Jean-Bernard Author-Name: Ralf, Kirsten Title: Can we Identify the Fed's Preferences? Abstract: Durbin (1970) pre-tests of Ramsey optimal policy versus time-consistent policy rejects time-consistent policy and optimal simple rule for the U.S. Fed during 1960 to 2006, assuming the reference new-Keynesian Phillips curve transmission mechanism with auto-correlated cost-push shock, including or not working capital. Estimates of a structural VAR shows that Ramsey optimal policy models the persistence of inflation, output gap and federal funds rate without requiring two additional parameters for inflation indexation and habit persistence. The number of reduced form parameters is larger with Ramsey optimal policy than with time-consistent policy although the number of structural parameters, including central bank preferences, is the same. The new-Keynesian Phillips curve model is under-identified with Ramsey optimal policy (one identifying equation missing) and hence under-identified for time-consistent policy (three identifying equations missing). Creation-Date: 2017 Revision-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168462/1/2017-Chatelain-Ralf-WP-NKPC-Ramsey-vs-TC-with-figures-26-august.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, C62, E31, E52, E58 Keywords: Ramsey optimal policy, Time consistent policy, Identification, Central bank preferences, New-Keynesian Phillips curve Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:149993 Note: Updated version: August 26, 2017 #END 1176 #BEGIN 1177 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Holden, Tom D. Author-Name: Levine, Paul Author-Name: Swarbrick, Jonathan M. Title: Credit crunches from occasionally binding bank borrowing constraints Abstract: We present a model in which banks and other financial intermediaries face both occasionally binding borrowing constraints, and costs of equity issuance. Near the steady state, these intermediaries can raise equity finance at no cost through retained earnings. However, even moderately large shocks cause their borrowing constraints to bind, leading to contractions in credit offered to firms, and requiring the intermediaries to raise further funds by paying the cost to issue equity. This leads to the occasional sharp increases in interest spreads and the counter-cyclical, positively skewed equity issuance that are characteristic of the credit crunches observed in the data. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168441/1/paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E22, E32, E51, G2 Keywords: Occasionally binding constraints, Credit crunches, Financial crises, Spreads, Dividends, Equity, Banking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168441 #END 1177 #BEGIN 1178 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Guo, Zi-Yi Title: International Real Business Cycle Models with Incomplete Information Abstract: Standard international real business cycle (IRBC) models formulated by Backus, Kehoe, and Kydland (BKK, 1992) have been considered a natural starting point to assess the quantitative implications of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models in an open economy environment. Since the standard IRBC model under assumptions of flexible prices and perfect competition cannot replicate all the observed characteristics of international business cycles, a number of extended models with more realistic features have been developed in the past two decades. We introduce a noisy information structure into an otherwise standard international real business cycle model with two countries. When domestic firms observe current foreign technology with some noise, predictions of the model on international correlation can be very different from those of a standard perfect information model. We show that the model can explain: (i) positive output correlation both in complete and incomplete market models; (ii) consumption correlation smaller than output correlation with an introduction of information constrained consumers; and (iii) observation of both positive and negative productivity-hours correlation in two countries. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168432/1/IRBC.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168432 #END 1178 #BEGIN 1179 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Insurance-markets Equilibrium with Sequential Non-convex Market-Sector and Divisible Informal-Sector Labor Supply Abstract: This paper describes the lottery- and insurance-market equilibrium in an economy with non-convex market-sector employment and informal sector work. In contrast to Vasilev (2016a), the discrete-continuous labor supply decision in this paper is a sequential one, and instead of home production, we focus on informal activity. This still requires a single insurance market to operate - in particular, one for market-sector employment. In addition, given that the labor choice for market- and informal-sector hours is made in succession, the insurance market for market employment needs to close before the- labor supply choice in the grey economy is made. This segmentation is reminiscent of the results obtained in Vasilev (2015) and also a direct consequence of the sequential nature of the discrete-continuous sectoral labor supply decision. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168354/1/insurance_mkts_grey_sector.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J22, J46 Keywords: indivisible labor, lotteries, discrete-continuous mix, insurance, informal economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168354 #END 1179 #BEGIN 1180 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Aggregation with sequential indivisible and continuous labor supply decisions and an informal sector Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the problem of non-convex labor supply decision in an economy with both discrete and continuous labor decisions. In contrast to the setup in Vasilev (2016a), here each household faces a sequential labor market choice - an indivisible labor supply choice in the market sector, and conditional on non-working in the o fficial sector, a divisible hours choice in the informal sector. We show how lotteries as in Rogerson (1988) can again be used to convexify consumption sets, and aggregate over individual preferences. With a mix of sequential discrete and continuous labor supply decisions, aggregate disutility of non-market work becomes separable from market work, and the elasticity of the latter increases from unity to in finity. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168335/1/aggregation_grey_sector.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J22, J46 Keywords: Aggregation, Indivisible Labor, Discrete-continuous mix, Informal economy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168335 #END 1180 #BEGIN 1181 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Manolova, Hristina Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Wage Dynamics in Bulgaria: Co-movement and Causality Abstract: Motivated by recent debates on the possible role of wages as an income policy tool, in this study we examine the dynamic inter-relationship between wages in Bulgaria, mainly in the context of its EU accession. Relative to the WDN studies on the other EU member states, the novelty in this paper is the inclusion of the minimum wage as a possible conditional determinant of the other two wages. We demonstrate that minimum wage increases do not cause changes in average wages in either the government or the private sector. Using variety of econometric tests, we also demonstrate the leadership of private sector wage over public compensation and recommend the implementation of policy measures aimed at labor productivity growth. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168049/1/wage_dynamics_Bulgaria.PDF File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J3, J4 Keywords: private sector wages, public sector wages, minimum wages, causality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168049 #END 1181 #BEGIN 1182 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chatelain, Jean-Bernard Author-Name: Ralf, Kirsten Title: A Simple Algorithm for Solving Ramsey Optimal Policy with Exogenous Forcing Variables Abstract: This algorithm extends Ljungqvist and Sargent (2012) algorithm of Stackelberg dynamic game to the case of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models including exogenous forcing variables. It is based Anderson, Hansen, McGrattan, Sargent (1996) discounted augmented linear quadratic regulator. It adds an intermediate step in solving a Sylvester equation. Forward-looking variables are also optimally anchored on forcing variables. This simple algorithm calls for already programmed routines for Ricatti, Sylvester and Inverse matrix in Matlab and Scilab. A final step using a change of basis vector computes a vector auto regressive representation including Ramsey optimal policy rule function of lagged observable variables, when the exogenous forcing variables are not observable. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/168031/1/2017%20Chatelain%20Ralf%20WP%20Ramsey%20Algorithm%20v1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, C62, E47, E52, E58 Keywords: Stackelberg dynamic game, Ramsey optimal policy, Augmented linear quadratic regulator, Algorithm Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:168031 #END 1182 #BEGIN 1183 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Imanzade, Afgan Author-Name: Zeynalov, Anar Author-Name: Hasanov, Seymur Title: FINANCIAL INCLUSION: WHAT AND HOW? EVIDENCE FROM AZERBAIJANI ECONOMY Abstract: The main goal of the research is to study what financial inclusion is and analyse its current status in the Azerbaijani economy. To that end, the monography analyses infrastructural elements to be shaped to make financial resources and services available, and the potential to deepen financial inclusion, researches international practice with respect to elements of financial infrastructure affecting stronger financial inclusion and includes case studies. The study also analyses the status of financial inclusion in the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of measuring financial inclusion and issues proposals on the actions to be taken. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/167666/1/Financial_inclusion_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K20, G21, G30 Keywords: access to finance, financial inclusion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:167666 Note: The paper is being planned to be published in September, 2017. #END 1183 #BEGIN 1184 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shintani, Mototsugu Author-Name: Guo, Zi-Yi Title: Finite Sample Performance of Principal Components Estimators for Dynamic Factor Models: Asymptotic vs. Bootstrap Approximations Abstract: This paper investigates the finite sample properties of the two-step estimators of dynamic factor models when unobservable common factors are estimated by the principal components methods in the first step. Effects of the number of individual series on the estimation of an auto-regressive model of a common factor are investigated both by theoretical analysis and by a Monte Carlo simulation. When the number of the series is not sufficiently large relative to the number of time series observations, the auto-regressive coefficient estimator of positively auto-correlated factor is biased downward and the bias is larger for a more persistent factor. In such a case, bootstrap procedures are effective in reducing the bias and bootstrap confidence intervals outperform naive asymptotic confidence intervals in terms of controlling the coverage probability. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/167627/1/PCsim4_0123all.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C15, C53 Keywords: Bias Correction, Bootstrap, Dynamic Factor Model, Principal Components Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:167627 #END 1184 #BEGIN 1185 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Guo, Zi-Yi Title: Empirical Performance of GARCH Models with Heavy-tailed Innovations Abstract: We introduce a new type of heavy-tailed distribution, the normal reciprocal inverse Gaussian distribution (NRIG), to the GARCH and Glosten-Jagannathan-Runkle (1993) GARCH models, and compare its empirical performance with two other popular types of heavy-tailed distribution, the Student’s t distribution and the normal inverse Gaussian distribution (NIG), using a variety of asset return series. Our results illustrate that there is no overwhelmingly dominant distribution in fitting the data under the GARCH framework, although the NRIG distribution performs slightly better than the other two types of distribution. For market indexes series, it is important to introduce both GJR-terms and the NRIG distribution to improve the models’ performance, but it is ambiguous for individual stock prices series. Our results also show the GJR-GARCH NRIG model has practical advantages in quantitative risk management. Finally, the convergence of numerical solutions in maximum-likelihood estimation of GARCH and GJR-GARCH models with the three types of heavy-tailed distribution is investigated. Creation-Date: 2017 Keywords: Heavy-tailed distribution, GARCH model, Model comparison, Numerical solution Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:167626 #END 1185 #BEGIN 1186 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Holtemöller, Oliver Author-Name: Pies, Ingo Title: Mit administrierten Löhnen Armut bekämpfen? – Warum die Debatte um den Mindestlohn in Deutschland verfehlt ist Abstract: Die öffentliche Auseinandersetzung um den Mindestlohn in Deutschland ist von einem Diskursversagen geprägt. Gestritten wird um faire Löhne und gute Arbeit. Dass dabei die Möglichkeit der Teilhabe an einem attraktiven Arbeitsleben für alle eine zentrale Rolle spielt, wird hingegen vernachlässigt. Dieses Diskursversagen hat zur Konsequenz, dass die Einführung eines flächendeckenden Mindestlohns ohne Ausnahmen in einigen Branchen und Regionen zu einem deutlichen Kostenschub führen wird. Insbesondere Ostdeutschland dürfte dies vor neue Probleme stellen. Aufgrund der politischen Festlegung auf den Mindestlohn sollte es jetzt vor allem darum gehen, seine praktische Implementierung so gut wie möglich zu gestalten. Dazu gehört auch die systematische und unabhängige wissenschaftliche Evaluierung der Effekte des Mindestlohns auf Einkommen und Beschäftigung. Zudem kommt es darauf an, dass sich das Diskursversagen in der schon jetzt absehbaren Folgedebatte über Lohnsubventionen nicht wiederholt. Abstract: The public debate about introducing a minimum wage in Germany can be characterized as a discourse failure. Attention concentrated on fair wages and good work. In contrast, it was neglected that the feasibility of access to an attractive working life plays a central role. A direct consequence of this discourse failure is that the introduction of a mini-mum wage in Germany, across the board and without exemptions, will lead to a considerable cost push for several branches and regions. Especially East Germany will face serious problems. However, since politics has come to a definite decision, the major challenge is to carefully arrange the practical implementation of the minimum wage. This requires systematic and independent research into its effects on incomes and employment. Furthermore, it is of utmost importance that the foreseeable debate on introducing wage subsidies in Germany does not replicate the discourse failure of the past. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/167622/1/WP_Holtemoeller_Pies.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Mindestlohn, Quantität und Qualität von Arbeitsplätzen, Inklusion, minimum wage, quantity and quality of jobs, inclusion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:167622 #END 1186 #BEGIN 1187 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Guo, Zi-Yi Title: Models with Short-Term Variations and Long-Term Dynamics in Risk Management of Commodity Derivatives Abstract: We adopt Schwartz and Smith’s model (2000) to calculate risk measures of Brent oil futures contracts and light sweet crude oil (WTI) futures contracts and Mirantes, Poblacion and Serna’s model (2012) to calculate risk measures of natural gas futures contracts, gasoil futures contracts, heating oil futures contracts, RBOB gasoline futures contracts, PJM western hub peak and off-peak electricity futures contracts. We show that the models present well goodness of fit and explain two stylized facts of the data: the Samuelson effect and the seasonality effect. Our backtesting results demonstrate that the models provide satisfactory risk measures for listed energy commodity futures contracts. A simple estimation method possessing quick convergence is developed. Creation-Date: 2017 Keywords: Samuelson effect, seasonal effect, value-at-risk, least-square-estimation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:167619 #END 1187 #BEGIN 1188 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Blattner, Tobias Author-Name: Swarbrick, Jonathan Title: Monetary policy and cross-border interbank market fragmentation: lessons from the crisis Abstract: We present a two-country model with an enhanced banking sector featuring risky lending and cross-border interbank market frictions. We find that (i) the strength of the financial accelerator, when applied to banks operating under uncertainty in an interbank market, will critically depend on the economic and financial structure of the economy; (ii) adverse shocks to the real economy can be the source of banking crisis, causing an increase in interbank funding costs, aggravating the initial shock; and (iii) asset purchases and central bank long-term refinancing operations can be effective substitutes for, or supplements to, conventional monetary policy. Creation-Date: 2017 Revision-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/165991/1/paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E44, E52, F32, F36 Keywords: Interbank market, monetary union, financial frictions, cross-border capital flows, unconventional monetary policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157881 #END 1188 #BEGIN 1189 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Şen, Hüseyin Author-Name: Kaya, Ayşe Title: How large are fiscal multipliers in Turkey? Abstract: Using the augmented version of the Blanchard - Perotti’s SVAR technique, this paper seeks to empirically estimate the size of fiscal multipliers in Turkey over the period 2002:q3-2016:q2. In contrast to many previous papers that concentrate on fiscal policy instruments -taxes and government spending- at the aggregate level, in the paper we consider these instruments at the sub-component level. We examine output responses to discretionary changes in five fiscal variables (value-added tax, special consumption tax, personal income tax, real government spending, and transfer payments), and then we estimate the size of fiscal multipliers for taxes and government spending. Overall, our empirical findings indicate that the size of multipliers for taxes is different from that of government spending. Depending on the sub-components, the size of the multiplier ranges from -0.83 to -0.27 for taxes, and from 0.02 to 0.98 for government spending respectively. Overall, these findings corroborate the idea that a shock to government spending creates a (weak) Keynesian effect on GDP in the short run, while a shock to taxes brings about a non-Keynesian effect. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162763/1/PAPER--Fiscal%20Multipliers--04July2017.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E6, E62, H2, H30 Keywords: Fiscal Multipliers, Fiscal Policy, SVAR, Turkey Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162763 #END 1189 #BEGIN 1190 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Seeliger, Andreas Author-Name: Jeschull, Stefan Author-Name: Krönauer, Bernd Author-Name: Limberg, Stefan Author-Name: Schreiner, Christina Author-Name: de Souza, Mariana Author-Name: Verza, Melanie Title: Elektrobusse im ÖPNV - Eine technisch/wirtschaftliche Analyse unter Berücksichtigung praktischer Anwendungsbeispiele Abstract: Der Mobilitätssektor ist zwar grundsätzlich ein wichtiger Baustein der "Energiewende", allerdings sind bisher kaum Fortschritte in Richtung Zielerreichung realisiert worden. Diese eher schleppende Umsetzung steht im deutlichen Kontrast zu den Erfolgen im Stromsektor. Ein wesentlicher Baustein der geplanten Maßnahmen im Verkehrssektor bezieht sich auf eine deutliche Ausweitung der Elektromobilität. Die Politik und auch die öffentliche Wahrnehmung fokussieren dabei aber zumeist auf den PKW-Bereich, dessen Ziele besonders öffentlichkeitswirksam verbreitet wurden ("1 Mio. Elektroautos bis 2020"). Weniger häufig werden hingegen Konzepte zur Elektromobilität für den öffentlichen Personennahverkehr (ÖPNV) diskutiert. Dabei könnte in Zukunft eine Umstellung der bisher fast vollständig durch Diesel betriebenen Busflotte auf verschiedenen Elektrobustechnologien von besonderer Bedeutung sein. Im Rahmen des Master-Studiengangs Energiewirtschaftsingenieurwesen an der Hochschule Niederrhein beschäftigte sich ein studentisches Projekt mit den ökonomischen, ökologischen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen des Elektrobuseinsatzes im ÖPNV. Die wesentlichen Erkenntnisse dieses Projekts sind in der vorliegenden Arbeit zusammengefasst. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162175/1/Elektrobusse%20im%20%c3%96PNV%20final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q42, R41 Keywords: Elektromobilität, ÖPNV Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162175 #END 1190 #BEGIN 1191 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Díaz-Chao, Ángel Author-Name: Ficapal-Cusí, Pilar Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Title: Workplace or working environment? Job quality and economic crisis in Spain Abstract: Through a representative sample of 9,100 and 8,755 employees in 2008 and 2010, and a using structural equation model, this working paper empirically analyses the multi-dimensional determinants (direct effects) of job quality in Spain. The research concludes that: #1 despite the economic crisis, job quality improved over the analysis period; #2 intrinsic job quality, work organisation, and inclusion and access to the labor market are the key explanatory dimensions of job quality; and #3 the main effect of the economic crisis on job quality was a significant restructuring of its explanatory dimensions in favour of those more directly linked to the working environment, and specifically to social relations, health and safety at work, working conditions, and gender equality and work-life balance. These results suggest the importance of the working environment and social relationships, beyond the quality of the workplace, as important tools of employment public policy to improve labor markets and to overcoming the economic crisis. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162057/1/Diaz_Ficapal_Torrent_2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J24, J28 Keywords: Job quality, Economic crisis, Work organisation, Workplace relationships Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162057 #END 1191 #BEGIN 1192 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Wilzcynska, Aleksandra Author-Name: Batorski, Dominik Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Title: Employment flexibility, job security and job satisfaction of knowledge workers in Poland Abstract: A number of empirical studies have shown a positive influence of employment stability on job satisfaction. Employment stability, usually measured by a proxy, "type of contract”, may affect one's job satisfaction directly, as well as through an impact on other relative variables, such as job security, as a stable position seem to bring individuals a sense of security. The aim of the research is to investigate the relationships between job security, employment stability and job satisfaction of workers in Poland. In the study, we strive to show how these factors impact differently the groups of knowledge workers and routine task workers. In order to conduct analysis, we propose a logistic model, with job satisfaction as a dependent variable and type of contract, job security, job character character as independent variables. Our main finding shows that job security is a major factor determining job saitsfaction, rather than a by-product of employment working arrangements. We also discovered that job satisfaction of knowledge workers is more influenced by job security. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162056/1/Wilczynska_Batorski_Torrent_2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J24, J28 Keywords: Knowledge workers, job satisfaction, Employment flexibiliy, job security Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162056 #END 1192 #BEGIN 1193 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Velazco Portocarrero, Jackeline Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Author-Name: Viñas-Bardolet, Clara Title: Job satisfaction of Spanish knowledge-based workers: Characterization and determinants Abstract: The aim of the working paper is to address the characterization and determinants of job satisfaction for knowledge-based workers in Spain. To do this, micro data of 8,061 workers from the 2010 Survey of Quality of Life at Work was used for empirical analysis. Regarding job satisfaction, the variable was approximated by declared worker satisfaction, measured on a scale of 0 to 10, from total dissatisfaction to complete satisfaction. It is observed that only a small fraction of Spanish workers are explicitly dissatisfied. 61.3% of knowledge-based workers report very satisfied job satisfaction (levels 8 to 10). 41.4% of the less knowledge-based report satisfied job satisfaction (levels 5 to 7). An ordered probit model, which is designed to model the choice between discrete alternatives, was preferred for the determinants analysis. Evidence suggests that financial and non-financial (work organisation and work intensity) job dimensions are the most important determinants of knowledge-based workers satisfaction in Spain. In particular, job satisfaction in knowledge-based workers is basically explained by satisfaction with salary, level of motivation, career advancement, manager’s evaluation, relationships between managers and employees, satisfaction with working hours, and satisfaction with job security. Additionally, stress and risk levels have negative effects. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162055/1/Velazco_Torrent_Vinas_2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J24, J28, J81 Keywords: knowledge-based work, Job satisfaction, Work organisation, Work intensity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162055 #END 1193 #BEGIN 1194 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ficapal-Cusí, Pilar Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Author-Name: Boada-Grau, Joan Author-Name: Hontangas-Beltrán, Pedro M. Title: Job change without changing job? Exploring job crafting in Spain Abstract: The working paper explores job crafting and their convergent validity with work engagement and proactive personality in Spain. Based on the Job Demands- Resources model with four dimensions (increasing structural job resources, decreasing hindering job demands, increasing social job resources, and increasing challenging job demands) the working paper validates a job crafting scale using a sample of 896 employees working for firms in Spain. The results of the confirmatory factor and invariance analyses suggest that the four-factor model satisfactorily describes the dimensional structure of the 21-item scale, with Cronbach's alpha reliability indices between 0.70 and 0.79. Regarding convergent validity, the factors increasing structural job resources, increasing social job resources, and increasing challenging job demands correlate positively with the three sub-scales of Work Engagement (vigour, dedication and absorption) and with the Proactive Personality Scale. In contrast, the factor decreasing hindering job demands correlates negatively with the sub-scales of work engagement and not at all with proactivity. These results essentially point towards potential interventions that employees could make to influence their skills, learning and professional development; the interaction with and inspiration drawn from supervisors and colleagues; the proactivity in terms of developing new job demands; and reducing job-related mental and emotional intensity and difficulties. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162054/1/Ficapal_Torrent_Boada_Hontangas_2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J24, J28 Keywords: Job demand-resources theory, job crafting, Work engagement, proactivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162054 #END 1194 #BEGIN 1195 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Skorupinska, Aleksandra Aldona Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Title: ICT, Innovation and Productivity: Evidence from Eastern European Manufacturing Firms Abstract: Main motivation behind this study is to evaluate relations between ICT, management practices, innovation, human capital and organizational changes in sample of manufacturing enterprises from Eastern European countries. Using data from Management, Organization and Innovation (MOI) Survey 2009 for a representative sample of 444 firms from Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine and using ordinary least squares and structural equation modelling econometric techniques we examined direct and indirect determinants of labour productivity. Main finding that have emerged from the study is that cost for employees is the main determinant of labour productivity. In addition, the casual relationship between ICT and its complementarities and productivity, has been established indirectly. Mainly, by the enterprise workers ICT use. The results of the investigation bridge the gap of insufficient academic research about Eastern European countries extend existing research on firm-level labour productivity determinants and enable to compare the results at the international framework. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162053/1/Skorupinska_Torrent_2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O33, J24 Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Innovation, Firm productivity, Eastern and Central European Countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162053 #END 1195 #BEGIN 1196 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Saigí-Rubió, Francesc Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Author-Name: Jiménez-Zarco, Ana Isabel Title: Drivers of telemedicine use: International evidence from three samples of physicians Abstract: The aim of the working paper is to analyse the determinants of telemedicine use. To that end, the study makes two basic contributions. First, it considers six working hypotheses in the context of technology acceptance models (TAMs). Second, it uses data obtained for three samples of 510 physicians: 113 in Spain, 118 in Colombia and 279 in Bolivia, and it performes binary logistic regression. In the three samples, it was found that the physician's level of ICT use in his/her personal life was the variable that had the highest explanatory power on telemedicine use. In the Spanish sample, the physicians' perceived ease-of-use of ICTs in clinical practice and propensity to innovate were the two other variables that determined telemedicine use, whereas in the Colombian and Bolivian samples, it was the level of optimism about ICTs. The results showed a more complete model that contemplated personal, usability and innovatory aspects in the explanation of telemedicine use in Spain, whereas the results for the Latin American samples indicated a more primary model in the explanation of telemedicine use, which was completed by an optimism factor that did not emerge in the Spanish sample. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162052/1/Saigi_Torrent_Jimenez_2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I12, I14, I31 Keywords: Telemedicine, eHealth, Technology Acceptance Models (TAM) Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162052 #END 1196 #BEGIN 1197 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Author-Name: Díaz-Chao, Ángel Title: ICT uses, innovation and SMEs productivity: Modeling direct and indirect effects in small local firms Abstract: The working paper analyses new co-innovative sources of labour productivity (ICTs, human capital and training, and new forms of work organisation) in small firms producing for local markets. Using 2009 survey data for a representative sample of 464 firms based in Girona (a province in the north-east of Spain) and using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) econometric estimation techniques, two main findings have emerged from the study. First, that mean wage is the main determinant of labour productivity. And second, unlike the evidence available for larger firms, in small local firms co-innovation has an indirect effect on labour productivity. Direct causal relationships between co-innovation and productivity have only been identified in the innovative small local firms. A causal relationship between co-innovation and all small local firms' productivity has been established indirectly, by the effect that the capacity to export to markets outside the European Union. Also, some new directions in public policy to improve the productivity in small local firms have been identified. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162051/1/Torrent_Diaz_2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O33, J24, L25 Keywords: Information and communication technologies (ICT), Co-innovation, Firm productivity, Small Local Firms (SLF) Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162051 #END 1197 #BEGIN 1198 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ficapal-Cusí, Pilar Author-Name: Díaz-Chao, Ángel Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Title: Gender inequality in job quality. What has happened in Spain during the recession? Abstract: Through a representative sample of 5,381 (3,079 men and 2,302 women) and 4,925 (2,719 men and 2,206 women) employees in 2008 and 2010, and a using two-stage structural equation model, this article empirically analyses the multi-dimensional determinants (direct effects) of gender-related job quality in Spain. The research revealed four main results. First, despite the economic crisis, job quality in Spain had improved over the analysis period. Second, the improvement in job quality during the crisis was more favourable to men than it was to women. Third, the gender differences in the explanation of job quality during the crisis increased considerably in favour of men. Fourth, this increase in gender difference in job quality in favour of men is explained by a worsening of 4 of the 5 explanatory dimensions thereof: intrinsic job quality; work organisation and workplace relationships; working conditions, work intensity and health and safety at work; and extrinsic rewards. Only inequality in the work-life balance dimension remained stable from 2008 to 2010. In terms of employment and gender equality public policy our research results suggest two important conclusions. In the first place, the importance of paying much greater attention to working environment and social relation dimensions in gender-related employment public policies. Second, gender equality public policy should also address new problems associated with the accelerated changes at work. In particular, the different job quality problems between highly skilled and less skilled working men and women, the link between gender gap and occupations, and the need to consider the different institutional regimes and organised labour to overcome gender-related job inequalities. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162050/1/Ficapal_Diaz_Torrent_IN3_WPS_2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J16, J28, J53 Keywords: Gender inequality, job quality, Economic crisis, Structural equation modelling Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162050 #END 1198 #BEGIN 1199 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Matos-Vila, Jesus Author-Name: Torrent Sellens, Joan Title: Measuring economic order in the knowledge economy: A cross-country analysis Abstract: The advent of the knowledge economy has transformed the behavior of economic agents and the nature of transactions. In particular, the increase of knowledge based transactions not associated with monetary flows is weakening the significance of traditional measures of economic dynamics like gross domestic product (GDP) or national income (NI). The objective of the working paper is to improve the measurement of new economic dynamics introducing a model that measures and explains Economic Order in the knowledge economy driven by the agents of Governance, Wealth, Conflict and Mutuality. Income, a component of the Wealth agent, is an independent variable of the model. Its maximization is not an objective within the analyzed economic framework. Therefore, income and production growth are not primary goals, but instead they make a complementary contribution to Order. Besides, Welfare is not built exclusively on the optimal distribution of income, and sourced on individual utility and preferences, but on the economic order of the system. The Transaction is the vehicle that constitutes the minimal unit facilitating or preventing exchange within and among the economic agents. An empirical analysis is performed over a cross-sectional sample of quantitative and qualitative data of 142 countries of the world economy in the period 2010-2011. A Logit regression is constructed where the dependent variable explaining Order is an index denominated Disentropy. Lower income inequality (Gini) does not mean a higher level of Order. As an economy achieves more economic order Wealth becomes a less relevant agent. Human development (HDI) is positively correlated with economic order. The Disentropy linear function is normalized to obtain a Cobb-Douglas analogous function. This function is twice differentiable and its hessian is lower than zero evidencing a concave behavior of the Disentropy variable. Hence Order presents decreasing outputs to scale across the considered sample of countries. A ranking of world top ordered economies is listed probably having the following common features among them: knowledge intensive, international focus, small population, homogeneous culture, self-identity, solid institutions and mainly democratic. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/162049/1/Matos_Torrent_IN3_WPS_2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C21, O33 Keywords: Knowledge economy, Economic order, Disentropy, Transactionality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:162049 #END 1199 #BEGIN 1200 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rhodes, Andrew Author-Name: Wilson, Chris Title: False Advertising Abstract: There is widespread evidence that some firms use false advertising to overstate the value of their products. We consider a model in which a policymaker is able to punish such false claims. We characterize an equilibrium where false advertising actively influences rational buyers, and analyze the effects of policy under different welfare objectives. We establish precise conditions where policy optimally permits a positive level of false advertising, and show how these conditions vary intuitively with demand and market parameters. We also consider the implications for product investment and industry self-regulation, and connect our results to the literature on demand curvature. Creation-Date: 2017 Classification-JEL: M37, L15, D83 Keywords: Misleading Advertising, Product Quality, Pass-through, Self-Regulation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128476 #END 1200 #BEGIN 1201 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Elsner, Wolfram Title: Policy and State in Complexity Economics Abstract: Complexity economics has developed into a powerful empirical, theoretical, and computational research program in the last three decades, advancing more realistic economics. It converges with long-standing heterodox schools, and its theoretical and empirical findings are consistent with older heterodox research interests and predictions. Economic complexity is characterized by path-dependence, idiosyncrasies, some self-organization capacity, structural emergence, and certain statistical distributions in economic topologies and motions, as complex economic systems move between building order and phases of sudden disorder. In agent-based systems, underlying “intentionality” of agents includes improving their performance, reducing perceived complexity, and generating social institutions. Boosted by the financial crisis 2008ff., a surge to explore complexity-economics’ policy implications has emerged. This chapter will briefly review the literature on economic Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) and derive implications for economic-policy interventions and the state to act upon socio-economic complexity. From an “evolution-of-cooperation” perspective, we exemplarily derive some more specific policy orientations, specified “framework-policy” or “interactive-policy” approaches, embedded in a conception that we call “new meritorics”. We consider some required structures and capacities that a modern effective state, capable of a strong and persistent, but learning and adapting “complexity policy”, should have. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/158766/1/Policy_and_State_in_Complexity_Economics_Handbook_of_Government_w_Title_Page_3_17.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Complex adaptive systems (CAS), complexity, economic policy, emergence, evolution, institutions, networks, self-organization, group size, state structure, qualification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:158766 Note: Submission to the Handbook of Government Intervention, ed. by Nikolaos Karagiannis and John E. King, forthcoming 2017. #END 1201 #BEGIN 1202 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Author-Name: Smyth, Russell Title: Friendship network composition and subjective wellbeing Abstract: Using data from the UK Community Life Survey, we present the first study to examine the relationship between heterogeneity in one’s friendship network and subjective wellbeing. We measure network heterogeneity by the extent to which one’s friends are similar to oneself with regard to ethnicity and religion. We find that people who have friendship networks with characteristics dissimilar to themselves have lower levels of subjective wellbeing. Specifically, our two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimates, using measures of ethnic and religious diversity based on the Herfindahl-type fractionalization index that are flipped between adjoining rural/urban areas as instruments, suggest that a standard deviation increase in the proportion of one’s friends from different ethnic (religious) groups is associated with a decrease of 0.276 (0.451) standard deviations in subjective wellbeing. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/158003/1/Network%20heterogeneity%20and%20wellbeing.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Z12, J15, I31 Keywords: friendship, heterogeneity, social capital, networks, wellbeing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:158003 #END 1202 #BEGIN 1203 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chatelain, Jean-Bernard Author-Name: Ralf, Kirsten Title: Hopf Bifurcation from new-Keynesian Taylor rule to Ramsey Optimal Policy Abstract: This paper shows that a shift from Ramsey optimal policy under short term commitment (based on a negative-feedback mechanism) to a Taylor rule (based on positive-feedback mechanism) in the new-Keynesian model is in fact a Hopf bifurcation, with opposite policy advice. The number of stable eigenvalues corresponds to the number of predetermined variables including the interest rate and its lag as policy instruments for Ramsey optimal policy. With a new-Keynesian Taylor rule, however, these policy instruments are arbitrarily assumed to be forward-looking variables when policy targets (inflation and output gap) are forward-looking variables. For new-Keynesian Taylor rule, this Hopf bifurcation implies a lack of robustness and multiple equilibria if public debt is not set to zero for all observation. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/158001/1/2017%20Chatelain%20Ralf%20WP%20NK4%20bifurc%20figures.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, C62, E43, E47, E52, E58 Keywords: Bifurcation, Taylor rule, new-Keynesian model, Ramsey optimal policy, Finite horizon commitment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:158001 #END 1203 #BEGIN 1204 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Can Capitalists Afford a Trumped Recovery? Abstract: The presidential election of Donald Trump has rekindled hopes for a U.S. recovery. The new president promises to ‘make America great again’, partly by creating many millions of new jobs for U.S. workers, and judging by the rising stock market, capitalists seem to love his narrative. But if Trump actually delivers on his promise, their attitude is likely to change radically. In our 2016 paper, ‘A CasP Model of the Stock Market’, we developed the concept of a ‘CasP policy cycle’, the idea that government policy, insofar as it caters to the imperative of capitalized power, favours low employment growth in order to enable low rates of interest and sustain the capitalist share of income. Should Trump proceeds with and succeeds in reversing this CasP policy cycle, his authoritarianism may end up undermining rather than boosting capitalized power. In this sense, his regime could well mark the beginning of the next major bear market. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157859/1/bna-499_20170100_bn_can_capitalists_afford_a_trumped_recovery.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Donald Trump, Iron Heel, major bear market, stock market, strategic sabotage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157859 #END 1204 #BEGIN 1205 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Capitalizing Obesity Abstract: In his 2014 article, 'Food Price Inflation as Redistribution', Joseph Baines shows the intimate correspondence between differential profit and world hunger. But the capitalization of food is a dialectical process. As Michael Harrington noted more than half a century ago in his seminal book 'The Other America', the other side of affluence is poverty; and among the American poor, the other side of hunger is overweight and obesity. Over the next fifty years, the global proportion of undernourished people has diminished while that of the obese has risen; and since the early 2000s, for the first time in history, the obese have outnumbered the undernourished. How has this remarkable hunger-to-obesity transformation evolved? What forms of capital drive the obesity epidemic, including its counter-movements of anti-obesity drugs, non-communicable disease treatments, diets, surgical fixes and psychological interventions? What are the material/ideal technologies that shift the world toward ever more destructive yet profitable forms of mass overfeeding? What policies and legislation have supported this shift, and how have they been imposed on the world’s population? And most importantly, what are the qualitative and quantitative links, if any, between these various strategies of sabotage on the one hand and differential profit and capitalization on the other? Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157858/1/bna-474_20160400_bn_capitalizing_obesity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capitalization, food, hunger, obesity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157858 #END 1205 #BEGIN 1206 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Energy Conflicts and Differential Profits: An Update Abstract: During the late 1980s and early 1990s, we identified a new phenomenon that we called ‘energy conflicts’ and showed that these conflicts were intimately linked to the differential profitability of the leading oil companies. This link remains as true today as it was in the early 1970s. Like earlier energy conflicts, the ‘Arab Spring’, the outsourced wars that followed and the third Gulf War against ISIS continue to march to the drum beat of differential profits. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157857/1/bna-415_20141000_bn_energy_conflicts_and_differential_profits.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: crisis, differential accumulation, energy conflicts, Middle East, Petro-Core Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157857 #END 1206 #BEGIN 1207 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Nonlinearities of the Sabotage-Redistribution Process Abstract: The relationship between sabotage and redistribution is inherently nonlinear. This research note illustrates aspects of this nolinearity in the case of the United States. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157856/1/bna-405_20140500_bn_nonlinearities_of_the_sabotage_redistribution_process.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: sabotage, redistribution, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157856 #END 1207 #BEGIN 1208 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: How Capitalists Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Crisis Abstract: Do capitalists really want a recovery? Can they afford it? On the face of it, the question sounds silly: of course capitalists want a recovery; how else can they prosper? According to the textbooks, both mainstream and heterodox, capital accumulation and economic growth are two sides of the same process. Accumulation generates growth and growth fuels accumulation, so it seems bootless to ask whether capitalists want growth. Growth is their lifeline, and the more of it, the better it is. Or is it? In the United States, rising unemployment – which hammers the well-being of workers, unincorporated businesses and the unemployed – serves not to undermine but to boost the overall income share of capitalists. And as employment growth decelerates, the income share of the Top 1% – which includes the capitalists as well as their protective power belt – soars. Under these circumstances, what reason do capitalists have to ‘get the economy going’? Why worry about rising unemployment and zero job growth when these very processes serve to boost their income-share-read-power? Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157855/1/bna-387_20131100_bn_how_capitalists_learned_to_stop_worrying.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, crisis, DA, economic, policy, economic, theory, growth, income, distribution, labour, Marxism, monetarism, neoclassical, economics, power, profit, underconsumption, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157855 #END 1208 #BEGIN 1209 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: McMahon, James Title: The Rise of a Confident Hollywood: Risk and the Capitalization of Cinema Abstract: This paper investigates the historical development of risk in the Hollywood film business. Using opening theatres as a proxy for future expectations, the paper demonstrates how, from 1981 to 2011, Hollywood has improved its ability to predict the financial rankings of its films. More specifically, the Hollywood film business has become better at predicting which films will earn a greater-than average share of all US box-office gross revenues through a wide release strategy. This greater predictability suggests that confidence in film earnings projections has increased. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157854/1/bna-354_20130214_mcmahon_the_rise_of_a_confident_hollywood.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capitalization, cinema, Hollywood, risk Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157854 #END 1209 #BEGIN 1210 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ali, Syed Ozair Title: Power, Profit and Inflation: A Study of Inflation and Influence in Pakistan Abstract: An economist’s take on differential accumulation and inflation in Pakistan. Our analysis seeks to look at inflation as a political economic phenomenon, based on a framework devised by Jonathan Nitzan and christened differential accumulation. The theory of differential accumulation rejects the conventional definitions of capital and draws upon Veblenian economics to integrate the definitions of power and capital by describing the ownership of capital as differential power claims over social processes. In order to maximize capital accumulation, businessmen allocate resources, in response to the socio-political environment, to beat a certain benchmark rate of return in their pursuit of maximizing capital accumulation. We find evidence for the existence of this phenomenon in Pakistan by assuming that a certain group of businessmen seeks to maximize power by maximizing relative profit, which in turn affects overall inflation. However, we have not established proof through a scientifically rigorous process due to incomplete datasets. We believe that these findings merit further investigation and propose that the maximization of relative profit as opposed to absolute profit, may, in fact, be a behavioral phenomenon. Such a finding will merely be the doppelganger of the maximization of relative utility, as opposed to absolute utility, in consumer decision-making models. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157853/1/bna-325_ali_2011_power_profits_and_inflation_pakistan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: differential, accumulation, dominant, capital, inflation, Pakistan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157853 #END 1210 #BEGIN 1211 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Inflation and Market Structure Abstract: This is the third in a series of three essays which explore modern theories for inflation. Here we examine theories that reject the universal validity of perfect competition and link inflation with alternative, more realistic structures and institutions. In contrast to macroeconomic theories which emphasize ‘excess demand’ and growth inflation, structural theories relate primarily to stagflation. While most macroeconomists share a common belief in the ideal type of ‘profit maximization,’ structural theorists differ widely in their views on what motivates economic actors. The multiplicity of motivational assumptions lead different theorists toward distinct explanations for inflation. With their greater sensitivity toward real institutions, these theories offers important insights into the process of modern inflation. The structural literature, is, nevertheless limited by some of its methodological foundations. Creation-Date: 1990 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157852/1/bna-161_900101N_Inflation_and_market_structure.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: business structure, corporate concentration, full-cost, growth, inflation, markup, monopoly, normal price, oligopoly, price smoothing, profit, pull-push spirals, stagflation, stagnation, target rate of return, wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157852 #END 1211 #BEGIN 1212 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Price Behaviour and Business Behaviour Abstract: The present essay is the second in a series of three papers which examine alternative approaches to inflation. Here we identify some of the principal criticisms expressed against neoclassical views on price behaviour and business behaviour. These challenges grew from the early discovery of ‘administered prices’ by Means and the subsequent findings by Hall and Hitch regarding ‘full cost’ pricing. The notions that industrial prices were relatively inflexible and that businessmen set those prices by imprecise rules of thumb stood in sharp contrast to the pristine simplicity of neoclassical models. Yet these attempts for greater realism seemed to undermine the prospects of constructing a coherent theory for prices. Creation-Date: 1990 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157851/1/bna-160_900101N_Price_behaviour_and_business_behaviour.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: administered prices, business objectives, competition, corporate concentration, corporation, full cost, marginalism, market prices, monopoly, oligopoly, price theory, profit, target rate of return Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157851 #END 1212 #BEGIN 1213 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Macroeconomic Perspectives on Inflation and Unemployment Abstract: The present paper is the first in a series of three essays in which we examine the macroeconomic and structural approaches to inflation. In this paper we explore some of the key contributions to the macroeconomic literature which appeared since the late 1950s. Much of this literature evolved in a dual love hate relationship with the Phillips Curve. Scholars who endorsed the Phillips Curve on the basis of historical evidence were surprised when it started to crumble as soon as they assimilated it into their macroeconomic models. The gradual emergence of stagflation and the progressive breakdown of the Phillips Curve presented mainstream macroeconomics with the most serious challenge since the Second World War. Macroeconomists attacked the Phillips Curve but their criticisms sought to modify, not nullify. The idea that inflation and unemployment were inversely related was apparently too significant to discard so the notional relationship was simply ‘augmented’ by auxiliary factors. The cost of saving the Phillips Curve was substantial. To explain stagflation, macroeconomists resorted to 'disequilibria,' ‘rigidities’ and ‘exogenous shocks’ and they abandoned, at least temporarily, the ideal formulation of the neoclassical synthesis. Creation-Date: 1990 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157850/1/bna-159_900101N_Macro_perspectives_on_inflation_unemployment.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, demand, disequilibrium, distortions, equilibrium, imperfections, inflation, labour, macroeconomics, markup, microeconomics, neoclassical, perfect competition, Philips Curve, profit, rational expectations, stagflation, stagnation, supply shocks, u Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157850 #END 1213 #BEGIN 1214 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Price and Quantity Measurements: Theoretical Biases in Empirical Procedures Abstract: The presence of qualitative changes in the nature of many commodities hinders our ability to construct meaningful price and quantity indices. This paper assesses some of the quality-change literature that seeks to resolve this problem. Several writers have endeavoured to develop objective, theory-neutral procedures designed to measure qualitative changes in some timeless, quantitative units. These measures, they argued, could be used to properly adjust ordinary price and quantity statistics for distortions introduced by quality changes. A careful examination suggests, however, that such procedures are neither objective nor free of theoretical biases. First, all existing attempts to develop ‘objective’ commodity measures in the presence of quality changes are besieged by a constant resort – explicit or implicit – to ‘subjective’ considerations. Second, both the idea that quality can be measured and the methods developed for that purpose are closely tied with the neoclassical theoretical paradigm, particularly with its emphasis on perfect competition and equilibrium. Creation-Date: 1989 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157849/1/bna-137_890101N_Price_and_Quantity_Measurements.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: consumption, equilibrium, hedonic index, hedonic regression, measurement, national accounting, neoclassical economics, perfect competition, price, quality change, technology Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157849 #END 1214 #BEGIN 1215 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Rowley, Robin Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: The Armadollar-Petrodollar Coalition: Demise or New Order? Abstract: This is the final paper in a series of four essays that deal with the political economy of armament and oil. Since the 1980s, military imports to the Middle East increased while revenues from oil exports declined substantially. These disparities highlight structural changes which affect the Armadollar-Petrodollar Coalition of large armament and oil companies. Relations between oil producing countries and petroleum companies were restructured and there was a surge in corporate concentration. A ‘military bias’ in Europe and Japan increased the global competition for military orders but also enhances the cohesiveness of an emerging international armament lobby of military contractors. In addition, the domestic influence of the U.S. Armament Core was heightened by corporate concentration and symbiotic relations between contractors and the Pentagon. The two sides of the Armadollar-Petrodollar Coalition have consolidated their positions and may again seek to benefit from renewed cycles of armed conflicts and oil crises in the Middle East. Creation-Date: 1989 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157848/1/bna-135_890101RBN_ADPD_Coalition_Demise_or_New_Order.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: arms exports, arma-core, concentration, corporation, elite, Europe, free flow, foreign policy, institutionalized waste, Japan, limited flow, Middle East, Asia, military contractors, military spending, national security, oil, OPEC, petro-core, petrodollars Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157848 #END 1215 #BEGIN 1216 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rowley, Robin Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: The Armadollar-Petrodollar Coalition and the Middle East Abstract: This is the third paper in a series of four essays that deal with recent developments affecting the political economy of armaments. It begins by identifying the ‘military bias paradox’ of divergent behaviour, whereby the large armament corporations experienced an almost uninterrupted growth since the peak of the Vietnam War while domestic military spending exhibited a decade-long decline. The resolution of this apparent paradox could be found in the merging institution of arms exports, which supplemented domestic military budgets. The expansion of world markets for weapons coincided with the oil crisis of the 1970s. The Middle East became the focus of these developments. The interaction during the 1970s of rising military exports to this area and growing oil exports from the region provided a bsais for cooperation between major armament and energy corporations in an ‘Armadollar-Petrodollar Coalition’. The consolidation of this coalition removed a major conflict between ‘civilian’ and ‘military’ producers in the United States and affected the course of U.S. domestic and foreign military policies. Creation-Date: 1989 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157847/1/bna-134_890101RBN_ADPD_Coalition_and_the_ME.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: arms exports, arma-core, corporation, elite, free flow, foreign policy, institutionalized waste, limited flow, Middle East, Asia, military spending, oil, petro-core, petrodollars, profit, redistribution, ruling class, Vietnam War, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157847 #END 1216 #BEGIN 1217 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Rowley, Robin Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Changing Fortunes: Armaments and the U.S. Economy Abstract: The present essay is the second in a series of four papers in which examine the political economy of armaments in recent decades. In this paper we focus on the ‘armament core’ of large military producers which recently emerged as a powerful bloc within the big economy of the United States. The rise of this core was heightened by a gradual shift of large civilian companies toward the armament business. We argue that the decline of large U.S.-based corporations in civilian world markets since the late 1960s was both a stimulus to and a partial consequence of the increasing involvement with better investment opportunities in government-related activity, especially military production. The increasing significance of international developments inhibits the earlier effectiveness of the U.S. government in assisting corporations based in the United States with its own military spending. Creation-Date: 1989 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157846/1/bna-133_890101NRB_Changing_Fortunes.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: armament, civilian business, military bias, military contractors, profit, subsidies, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157846 #END 1217 #BEGIN 1218 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Rowley, Robin Title: The Political Economy of Armaments Abstract: The interaction of oil exports from the Middle East in the 1970s with arms imports to this region has drawn attention from several researchers. The existing literature, however, is seriously flawed for it ignores the large corporate players whose actions synchronize the two flows of income and, thus fails to identify the significance of these corporations for the political economy of armaments. This present paper is the first of a series of four essays that attempt to relate the dynamics of market structures to the escalation of military sales. Here we briefly asses some neo-Marxist and institutional writings that offer insight into the subject of relevant issues. We find them deficient and perhaps outdated in some respects. Creation-Date: 1989 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157845/1/bna-132_890101BNR_PE_of_Armament.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: armament, Baran, corporation, institutionalized waste, Kalecki, Middle East, Macro-Marxism, monopoly capital, oil, surplus, Sweezy, Tsuru, underconsumption, Veblen, Vietnam War Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157845 #END 1218 #BEGIN 1219 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rowley, Robin Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Some Aspects of Aggregate Concentration in the Israeli Economy, 1964-1986 Abstract: This essay examines the Israeli market structure from the perspective of ownership. We distinguish between the several corporate holding-groups that dominate the ‘Big Economy’ and the multitude of smaller, largely independent, business entities of the ‘Small Economy’. Although the two “sectors” operate under the same macroeconomic conditions, the analysis reveals marked differences in their business performance. These differences were reflected in an upward trend of aggregate concentration through the 1964-1968 period. Until the early 1970s the upward trend was moderate and was largely due to the different expansion paces of the two “sectors”. Since then, however, the trend intensified as the ‘Small Economy’ stagnated while profits in the ‘Big Economy’ continued to grow. Creation-Date: 1988 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157844/1/bna-131_19880101rbn_some_aspects_of_aggregate_concentration_in_the_israeli_economy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: concentration, dual economy, holding groups, Israel, market structure, national accounting, ownership, profit, surplus Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157844 #END 1219 #BEGIN 1220 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: The Enlightened Capitalist Abstract: On April 16, 2014, we published a short article in the Indian fortnightly Frontline, titled 'Profit from Crisis'. Scarcely had a day passed from the article’s publication that we got an angry email from an asset manager whom we'll call 'Mr. X'. Mr. X is an enlightened capitalist, and reading our piece had set him on fire. Our article, he protested, was 'terribly flawed'. It 'failed miserably' in understanding capitalism, and its allegation that capitalists do not want recovery is doing 'tremendous harm'. This note deconstructs Mr. X's protestations in the context of the current capitalist angst. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157839/1/bna-397_20140400_bn_the_enlightened_capitalist.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: beating the average, environment, real capitalism, sabotage, statism Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157839 #END 1220 #BEGIN 1221 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francis, Joseph Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: The Buy-to-Build Indicator: New Estimates and Comment Abstract: The first part of the exchange is a short article by Joe Francis. The article provides new long-term estimates and an assessment of the buy-to-build indicator for the United States and Britain, going back to the beginning of the 20th century. The second part offers commentary by Shimshon Bichler and Jonathan Nitzan. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157838/1/bna-361_20130400_fbn_buy_to_build_estimates_and_comment.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Britain, M&A, measurement, methodology, stagflation, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157838 #END 1221 #BEGIN 1222 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Baines, Joseph Title: Walmart’s Contested Expansion in the Retail Business: Differential Accumulation, Institutional Restructuring and Social Resistance Abstract: This paper offers an analysis of Walmart's contested expansion in the retail business. It draws on, and develops, some aspects of the capital as power framework so as to provide the first quantitative explication of the company's power trajectory to date. After rapid growth in the first four decades of its existence, the power of Walmart appears to be flat-lining relative to dominant capital as a whole. The major problems for Walmart lie in the fact that its green-field growth is running into barriers, while its cost cutting measures seem to be approaching a floor. The paper contends that these problems are in part born out of resistance that Walmart is experiencing at multiple social scales. This resistance helps to explain why Walmart is nearing what appears to be an 'asymptote' – a distributional limit that the company might not be able to pass. Walmart’s power trajectory may give us clues about the future limits on the power of dominant capital as a whole. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157836/1/bna-358_20120925_baines_walmart_contested_expansion.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, accumulation, corporate power, resistance, Walmart, capitalization, asymptotes Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157836 #END 1222 #BEGIN 1223 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Aki and Friends Abstract: Aki, a man enamoured with life and enchanted by animals – including humans of different varieties – pays a visit to his friend, the veterinarian. The vet tells him of two seniors who suffer from depression, and Aki is quick to raise their spirits and warm up their aching bodies. He hangs the boa constrictor on his neck and places the hairy tarantula on his head. There is no need to worry, he assures us. After all, why would two elderly creatures hurt an empathetic being so eager to help them? This view was typical of Aki. That is how he viewed the world, its history and conflicts – as well as the solutions for those conflicts. 'Just think about it logically', he says. 'Why would a Palestinian suddenly turn into a "terrorist"? What reason does he have to oppose "peace"? Why should he be eager to fight the "only democracy in the Middle East"? Is it his culture, religion or race? Is it "in his nature", as the Zionist propaganda machine reiterates?' Of course not, he answers. For more than a century, the Palestinians have confronted a Zionist movement whose colonial policies have gradually deprived them of their life, land and autonomy. As often happens with occupiers, the Israelis have preferred to blame their victim. Their fancy academic theories, spiced up with ideologies of culture, religion and race, prove, at least to themselves, that there can be no 'political solution'. The 'Arabs', they say, cannot be trusted. Like the boa constrictor and tarantula, it is 'their nature' to bite and strangle. Nowadays, these explanations have no traction. Most sensible observers around the world have come to accept Aki’s logic and reject the official Israeli line as self-serving, if not ludicrous. But that wasn’t always the case. Half a century ago, when Aki and his friends started their hazardous journey to explore the underlying logic of the conflict, they were considered illogical, if not weird, and branded as 'traitors' (although it was never clear exactly what or who they had 'betrayed'). Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157835/1/bna-357_20130400_bn_aki_and_friends.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Akiva Orr, autonarchy, biography, capitalism, consciousness, democracy, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, history, MATZPEN, science and church Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157835 #END 1223 #BEGIN 1224 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: Profit by Fiat Abstract: If there is no objective value, how can fraud ‘distort’ prices, profit and the normal rate of return? Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157834/1/bna-338_20120720_bn_profit_by_fiat.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: banking, crime, price, profit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157834 #END 1224 #BEGIN 1225 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brennan, Jordan Title: NAFTA, Investiture and Redistribution. The Power Underpinnings of Trade and Investment Liberalization in Canada Abstract: Criticism of trade and investment liberalization (TAIL) in North America has drawn attention to weak economic performance, wage-profit redistribution, social dumping and fiscal pressure on government programs as evidence that the TAIL regime has failed to deliver on some of its key promises. This criticism has been unable, however, to establish satisfactory conceptual and empirical connections between the dramatic distributional changes witnessed in the TAIL era and the reorganization of power that the TAIL regime entrenched. This paper will undertake a quantitative assessment of the Canadian political economy to see who the main beneficiaries of the TAIL era have been, contrasting returns to labor and to capital in the pre-TAIL and TAIL eras. Employing tools from radical institutionalism, two pictures are painted: the first picture examines broad changes in the distribution of income and the second picture examines differential business performance. The evidence from this inquiry suggests that although the official purpose of TAIL was to enhance the prosperity of all Canadians, this trade deal actually represented—both in its intentions and consequences—a political-economic transformation written by dominant capital, for dominant capital. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157833/1/bna-326_20120200_brennan_nafta_investiture_and_redistribution.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Canada, capital as power, distribution, differential accumulation, dominant capital, globalization, trade and investment liberalization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157833 #END 1225 #BEGIN 1226 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Differential Accumulation Abstract: Early in 2011, we received a surprising invitation from the Financial Times Lexicon. A reader had suggested that an entry on differential accumulation be added to the Lexicon, and the online content developer asked us if we would be willing to write it. Our first thought was that this must have been a mistake. . . . Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157832/1/bna-323_20121200_bn_da_ft_lexicon.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, capitalization, differential accumulation, finance, investment, modes of power, sabotage Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157832 #END 1226 #BEGIN 1227 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Imperialism and Financialism. A Story of a Nexus (Revised and Expanded) Abstract: Over the past century, Marxism has been radically transformed in line with circumstances and fashion. Theses that once looked solid have depreciated and fallen by the sideline; concepts that once were deemed crucial have been abandoned; slogans that once sounded clear and meaningful have become fuzzy and ineffectual. But two key words seem to have survived the attrition and withstood the test of time: imperialism and financialism. Talk of imperialism and financialism – and particularly of the nexus between them – remains as catchy as ever. Marxists of different colours – from classical, to neo to post – find the two terms expedient, if not indispensable. Radical anarchists, conservative Stalinists and distinguished academics of various denominations all continue to use and debate them. The views of course differ greatly, but there is a common thread: for most Marxists, imperialism and financialism are prime causes of our worldly ills. Their nexus is said to explain capitalist development and underdevelopment; it underlies capitalist power and contradictions; and it drives capitalist globalization, its regional realignment and local dynamics. It is a fit-all logo for street demonstrators and a generic battle cry for armchair analysts. The secret behind this staying power is flexibility. Over the years, the concepts of imperialism and financialism have changed more or less beyond recognition, as a result of which the link between them nowadays connotes something totally different from what it meant a century ago. The purpose of our article is to outline this chameleon-like transformation, to assess what is left of the nexus and to ask whether this nexus is still worth keeping. In so doing, our goal is not to present our own view of the nexus, but rather to critique what others have written about it. We try to stick to the categories and units of the theories we examine – categories and units with which we often disagree – so that we can compare and contrast the theories on their own terms. And we make no attempt to pick and choose. We do not try to decide which version of the nexus is correct in some universal sense, and not even which version was correct for its time. Instead, our aim is to highlight the historical development of the nexus, particularly the loose manner in which it has been altered – to the point of meaning everything and nothing. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157831/1/bna-294_20100900_bn_imperialism_and_financialism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, dependency, finance, hegemony, imperialism, Marxism, monopoly, world systems Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157831 #END 1227 #BEGIN 1228 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Systemic Fear, Modern Finance and the Future of Capitalism Abstract: Existing theories of political economy, liberal as well as Marxist, see capital as a dual entity. According to these theories, the "real" essence of capital consists of material/productive commodities, while the "financial" appearance of capital either accurately mirrors or fictitiously distorts this underlying reality. We reject this duality. Capital, we argue, is finance, and only finance. In its modern incarnation, capital exists as forward-looking capitalization, a universal financial ritual that discounts expected future earnings to a singular present value. The universality of this reduction makes capitalization the most supple power instrument ever known to humanity. Previously, distributive power was associated with clear socio-ecological distinctions -- differences between king and subject, owner and slave, tiller and landlord, field and citadel, village and town. Capitalization flattens these qualitative features to the point of irrelevance. In principle, anyone can be a capitalist, and what distinguishes one capitalist from another is the quantity of their capitalization: the most powerful are those with the greatest capitalization (dominant capital), and those that hold that power achieve and augment it by increasing their capitalization faster than others (differential accumulation). In this way, capitalization crystallizes the power of capitalists to shape their world, as well as the resistance of those that oppose this power. It gauges the capitalists' success in directing production and consumption, in shaping ideology and culture, in affecting the law, public policy, conflict, war and even the environment. It is the all-encompassing algorithm that creorders -- or creates the order -- of the capitalist mode of power. The purpose of our paper is to examine the breakdown of this algorithm. To be sure, this type of inquiry is hardly novel. Marxists have long searched for objective signs of capitalist collapse, preliminary omens that would foretell the system’s imminent disintegration. However, because of their dual conception of capital, they've tended to look for such signs in the so-called real sphere of production and consumption, while paying far less attention to finance, which, in their view, is merely a distorted mirror of that reality. But finance isn’t a mirror of real capital; it is real capital – and indeed the only real capital. So if we want to look for signs of systemic crisis and possible disintegration, our search should begin here, in the very ritual of capitalization. The specific focus of the article is two historical ruptures of modern finance – the periods of 1929-1939 and 2000-2010. During both periods, capitalists abandoned the conventional forward-looking ritual of capitalization, resorting instead to the backward-looking posture of pre-modern finance. In our view, these rare episodes are of great importance for understanding the nature of capitalist confidence and the capitalists’ ability to rule – as well as the possibility that this system of rule will collapse. Our inquiry seeks, first, to characterize key features of these episodes; second, to speculate on their causes; and third, to assess, however speculatively, what they might imply for the future of capitalism. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157830/1/bna-289_20100700_bn_systemic_fear_modern_finance_future_of_capitalism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: asset, pricing, capitalization, capitalism, collapse, complex systems, confidence in obedience, discounting, dominant ideology, fear of death, financial markets, forward-looking, modes of power, peak oil, systemic crisis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157830 #END 1228 #BEGIN 1229 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Capital as Power: Toward a New Cosmology of Capitalism Abstract: Conventional theories of capitalism are mired in a deep crisis: after centuries of debate, they are still unable to tell us what capital is. Liberals and Marxists think of capital as an economic entity that they count in universal units of utils and abstract labor, respectively. But these units are totally fictitious: they can be neither observed nor measured. They don’t exist. And since liberalism and Marxism depend on these non-existing units, their theories hang in suspension. They cannot explain the process that matters most – the accumulation of capital. This breakdown is no accident. Every mode of power evolves together with its dominant theories and ideologies. In capitalism, these theories and ideologies originally belonged to the study of political economy -- the first mechanical science of society. But the capitalist mode of power kept changing, and as the power underpinnings of capital became increasingly visible, the science of political economy disintegrated. By the late nineteenth century, with dominant capital having taken command, political economy was bifurcated into two distinct spheres: economics and politics. And in the twentieth century, when the power logic of capital had already penetrated every corner of society, the remnants of political economy were further fractured into mutually distinct social sciences. Nowadays, capital reigns supreme – yet social scientists have been left with no coherent framework to account for it. The theory of Capital as Power offers a unified alternative to this fracture. It argues that capital is not a narrow economic entity, but a symbolic quantification of power. Capital has little to do with utility or abstract labor, and it extends far beyond machines and production lines. Most broadly, it represents the organized power of dominant capital groups to reshape -- or creorder -- their society. This view leads to a different cosmology of capitalism. It offers a new theoretical framework for capital based on the twin notions of dominant capital and differential accumulation, a new conception of the state of capital and a new history of the capitalist mode of power. It also introduces new empirical research methods – including new categories; new ways of thinking about, relating and presenting data; new estimates and measurements; and, finally, the beginning of a new, disaggregate accounting that reveals the conflictual dynamics of society. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157829/1/bna-285_20100500_bn_casp_toward_a_new_cosmology_of_capitalism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: abstract labour, capital, capitalization, finance, political economy, power, price, production, science, state, utility, value Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157829 #END 1229 #BEGIN 1230 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Notes on the State of Capital Abstract: These notes are transcribed from a commentary on a paper by Sean Starrs, titled 'State and Capital: False Dichotomy But Still Inter-Related'. Both the paper and the commentary were presented as part of an integrated panel series on 'Capital as Power', held at the 36th Annual Conference of the Eastern Economic Association in Philadelphia, February 26-28, 2010. Sean Starrs claims that we need to discard our notion of the 'state of capital'. The gist of his argument is simple enough. Capitalist societies, he says, involve a myriad of power relations, many of them very important. These relationships, although often linked to the logic of capital, are distinct from that logic and therefore cannot be reduced to it. And since we are talking about separate social processes, we cannot encompass them all under the same rubric. His conclusion: the notion of a totalizing mode of power – which we call the state of capital – must be dispensed with. The notes attempt to clarify. They seek to explain, first, what we mean by a 'mode of power', and, second, why we use this concept in the first place. The sequence of our presentation is as follows. We begin by contrasting two spatial conceptions of the state. We then explain the notion of capitalization, which in our view represents the logic of the state of capital. And, finally, we flesh out the argument with a series of historical examples. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157828/1/bna-282_20100300_bn_notes_on_the_state_of_capital.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, capitalization, China, environment, power, public debt, state, war Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157828 #END 1230 #BEGIN 1231 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Imperialism and Financialism. A Story of a Nexus Abstract: Over the past century, Marxism has been radically transformed in line with circumstances and fashion. Theses that once looked solid have depreciated and fallen by the sideline; concepts that once were deemed crucial have been abandoned; slogans that once sounded clear and meaningful have become fuzzy and ineffectual. But two key words seem to have survived the attrition and withstood the test of time: imperialism and financialism. Talk of imperialism and financialism – and particularly of the nexus between them – remains as catchy as ever. Marxists of different colours – from classical, to neo to post – find the two terms expedient, if not indispensable. Radical anarchists, conservative Stalinists and distinguished academics of various denominations all continue to use and debate them. The views of course differ greatly, but there is a common thread: for most Marxists, imperialism and financialism are prime causes of our worldly ills. Their nexus is said to explain capitalist development and underdevelopment; it underlies capitalist power and contradictions; and it drives capitalist globalization, its regional realignment and local dynamics. It is a fit-all logo for street demonstrators and a generic battle cry for armchair analysts. The secret behind this staying power is flexibility. Over the years, the concepts of imperialism and financialism have changed more or less beyond recognition, as a result of which the link between them nowadays connotes something totally different from what it meant a century ago. The purpose of this article is to outline this chameleon-like transformation, to assess what is left of the nexus and to ask whether this nexus is still worth keeping. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157827/1/bna-267_20090900_bn_imperialism_and_financialism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, dependency, finance, hegemony, imperialism, Marxism, monopoly, world systems Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157827 #END 1231 #BEGIN 1232 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: From Welltop to Laptop? Abstract: Over the past decade, soaring commodity prices have had a relatively minor impact on the overall level of prices, at least by historical standards. Whereas oil is twelve times more expensive now that it was in 1999, consumer prices in industrialized countries are only 20 per cent higher. This short note explains why the sluggish response of inflation may be about to change. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157826/1/bna-251_20080515_bn_from_welltop_to_laptop.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, high-tech, inflation, Middle East, oil prices, stagflation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157826 #END 1232 #BEGIN 1233 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Israel's Roaring Economy Abstract: Many observers of the Israeli scene have been perplexed by the country’s apparent resilience to bad political news. The headlines of late seem uniformly dreadful. While the country is still licking its wounds from a botched, if not humiliating war with Hezbollah, the Palestinian territories again slide into turmoil, and the experts rumour yet another conflict with Syria. The U.S. entanglement is Iraq and Afghanistan is only getting deeper, and many speak of an imminent attack on Iran with untold regional consequences. Israeli politicians and public officials – from the president, through the prime minister, to the chief of staff, to the justice minister – have been embroiled in corruption and other scandals. The courageous capitalist media routinely expose government officials as incompetent crooks and the Israelis Parliament as an irrelevant institution. And yet, none of these headlines seem to impact the economy. It’s roaring. Many commentators have been trying to make sense of this apparent puzzle. But their explanations, whether plausible or not, all fall into the same trap: they believe the capitalist media. They rush to explain why the Israeli economy is roaring without ever stopping to ask whether it is roaring. Creation-Date: 2007 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157825/1/bna-232_20070600_bn_israel_roaring_economy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: capital, finance, growth, Israel, ownership, measurement, neoclassical economics, stock market, transnationalization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157825 #END 1233 #BEGIN 1234 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: The Scientist and the Church Abstract: The April 21, 2005 issue of the LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS carried a lead article titled ‘Blood for Oil?’ The paper is attributed to a group of writers and activists – Iain Boal, T.J. Clark, Joseph Matthews and Michael Watts – who identify themselves by the collective name ‘Retort.’ In their article, the authors advance a supposedly new explanation for the wars in the Middle East. Much of their explanation – including both theory and fact – is plagiarized. It is cut and pasted, almost ‘as is,’ from our own work. The primary source is ‘The Weapondollar-Petrodollar Coalition,’ a 71 page chapter in our book THE GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ISRAEL (Pluto 2002). The authors also seem inspired, incognito, by our more recent papers, including ‘It’s All About Oil’ (2003), ‘Clash of Civilization or Capital Accumulation?’ (2004), ‘Beyond Neoliberalism’ (2004) and ‘Dominant Capital and the New Wars’ (2004). In their paper, the Retort group credits us for having coined the term ‘Weapondollar-Petrodollar Coalition’ – but dismiss our ‘precise calibration of the oil/war nexus’ as ‘perfunctory.’ This dismissal does not prevent them from freely appropriating, wholesale fashion, our concepts, ideas and theories – including, among others, the ‘era of free flow,’ the ‘era of limited flow,’ ‘energy conflicts,’ the ‘commercialization of arms exports,’ the ‘politicization of oil’ and the critique of the ‘scarcity thesis.’ Nowhere in their article do the authors mention the source of these concepts, ideas and theories; occasionally, they even introduce them with the prefix ‘Our view is. . . .’ Their treatment of facts is not very different. They freely use (sometimes without understanding) research methods, statistics and data that took us years to conceive, estimate and measure – again, never mentioning the source. These concepts, theories and facts are far from trivial. Until recently, they were greeted with strategic silence, from both right and left. Their publication has been repeatedly denied and censored by mainstream as well as progressive journals (including, it must be said, by the LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS, that turned down our paper on the subject). They cannot be found anywhere else in the literature, conservative or radical. To treat them as ‘common knowledge’ is deceitful. To cut and paste them without due attribution is blatant plagiarism. The first part of our paper illustrates this process of ‘intellectual accumulation-by-dispossession’ with selected examples. The issue, though, goes well beyond personal vanity and self-aggrandizement. At the core, we are dealing here with the clash of science and church, with the constant attempt of organized faith – whether religious or academic – to disable, block and, if necessary, appropriate creativity and novelty. Creativity and novelty are dangerous. They defy dogma and undermine the conventional creed; they challenge the dominant ideology and threaten those in power; occasionally, they cause the entire edifice of power to crumble. For these reasons, the latent purpose of intellectual accumulation-by-dispossession – like the accumulation of private property – is primarily negative. The word ‘private’ comes from the Latin ‘privatus,’ meaning ‘restricted,’ and from ‘privare,’ which means ‘to deprive.’ And, indeed, the most important feature of private ownership is not to enable those who own, but to disable those who do not. It is only through the threat of prevention – or ‘strategic sabotage’ as Thorsein Veblen called it – that accumulation can take place. It is only by restricting the free creativity of society that society itself can be controlled. The second section of the paper explains how the appropriators of ‘Blood for Oil?’ fit this pattern. The final section of the paper is an epilogue. It describes our failed attempts to get this paper published with The LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS; Retort’s efforts to mislead us; and some additional insight from their AFFLICTED POWERS, a 2005 Verso book that contains the same plagiarism and more. The epilogue concludes with a few observations on the nature of academic dialectics. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157824/1/bna-185_050731NB_The_Scientist_and_the_Church.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: academia, arms, accumulation, capital, capitalism, church, conflict, corporation, crisis, data, development, distribution, dual, economy, elite, energy, finance, globalization, growth, imperialism, distribution, institutionalism, IPE, liberalization, meth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157824 #END 1234 #BEGIN 1235 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Human Security, Consumer Confidence, and the Future of Neoliberalism Abstract: The two opening shots have been fired. On September 11, 2001, someone orchestrated an unprecedented suicide attack on the World Trade Centre in New York and on the Pentagon in Washington DC. The U.S. government immediately laid the blame on Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organization. It announced a total ‘war on terrorism,’ imaginatively nicknamed ‘infinite justice,’ and quickly moved to retaliate. On October 7, together with British forces and the blessing of many countries, it launched its first retaliation, bombing targets in Afghanistan, where bin Laden allegedly hides. Much has already been written on the background and causes of these developments, and no doubt more will be coming. But so far, there has been little attempt to understand the possible consequences for contemporary capitalism. There is a real likelihood that these two events will mark the beginning of a global cycle of violence, with military operations, terror attacks, retaliations and counter-retaliations becoming the hallmark of the new century. And yet, could this type of warfare coexist with neoliberal capitalism? Can the ideology of ‘consumer sovereignty’ survive the reality of human insecurity? How might the new reality of terror affect the accumulation of capital? Will it engender a conflict within the ruling capitalist class? And if so, could such conflict open alternative possibilities for a less violent future? Creation-Date: 2001 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157823/1/bna-139_011105N_Human_security_consumer_confidence.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: consumer confidence, consumption, human security, investor confidence, military spending, neoliberalism, profit, terrorism, tourism, war Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157823 #END 1235 #BEGIN 1236 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Title: New Imperialism or New Capitalism? Abstract: Over the past century, the institution of 'capital' and the process of its 'accumulation' have been fundamentally transformed. By contrast, the theories that explain this institution and process have remained largely unchanged. The purpose of this mimeograph is to address this mismatch. Using a broad brush, we outline a new, power theory of capital and accumulation. We use this theory to assess the changing meaning of the corporation and the capitalist state, the new ways in which capital gets accumulated and the specific historical trajectory of twentieth-century capitalism up to the present. Creation-Date: 2004 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157822/1/bna-124_041214NB_NewImperialismNewCapitalism-Ver2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: arms, accumulation, capital flow, capitalism, conflict, corporation, crisis, distribution, elite, energy, finance, globalization, growth, imperialism, GPE, liberalism, Marxism, Middle East, military, national interest, neoclassical economics, neoliberalis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157822 #END 1236 #BEGIN 1237 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: The End of Neoliberalism? Abstract: This article was commissioned by the French newspaper Le Monde. The newspaper was one of several sponsors of an International Conference on Global Regulation, held at the University of Sussex on May 29-31, 2003, where we presented a plenary paper. As part of its sponsorship, Le Monde agreed to publish two articles reflecting the spirit of the conference. The first of these articles, written by four of the conference organizers, was published prior to the conference. After the conference, the organizers asked the two of us to submit a second, short article highlighting the gist of our presentation. This article is enclosed below. The paper was sent by the organizers to Le Monde’s Editor in Chief, Serge Marti. Many phone calls followed. In each call, Mr. Marti promised to publish the paper promptly. He never did. Creation-Date: 2003 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157821/1/bna-102_030611BN_End_of_neoliberalism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: accumulation, capital, capitalism, conflict, crisis, deflation, distribution, elite, energy, finance, globalization, growth, imperialism, inflation, liberalism, Middle East, military, national interest, Iraq, neoliberalism, oil, OPEC, ownership, peace, po Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157821 #END 1237 #BEGIN 1238 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: New Economy or Leveraged Hype? Abstract: The U.S. stock market is driven more by mergers and acquisitions than by the so-called "real economy." Until another merger boom develops, don't expect a new bull market. Creation-Date: 2002 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157820/1/bna-101_030806BN_New_economy_or_leverged_hype.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: acquisition, corporation, finance, market, merger, M&A, stock, US, United States Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157820 #END 1238 #BEGIN 1239 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Global Accumulation and the New Middle East Wars Abstract: The unravelling of the Middle-East peace process continues to baffle the pundits. The early optimism of the Oslo peace accord has now turned into despair. Prime minister Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist. The Palestinians have embarked on a new Intifada. And Israel has re-occupied much of the West Bank. What brought this reversal? How deep are the fractures? Can they be healed?. Creation-Date: 2002 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157819/1/bna-084_020701BN_Global_accumulation_the_new_middle_east_wars.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: arms, accumulation, capital, centralization, conflict, crisis, distribution, dual economy, elite, energy, finance, globalization, growth, imperialism, distribution, Israel, Middle East, military, security, oil, OPEC, peace, politics, power, privatization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157819 #END 1239 #BEGIN 1240 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: New Economy or Transnational Ownership? The Global Political Economy of Israel Abstract: An analysis of the political economy of Israel during the 1990s. Creation-Date: 2002 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157818/1/bna-082_020502BN_New_economy_or_transnational_ownership.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: accumulation, acquisitions, capital, capitalism, centralization, competition, conflict, conglomeration, corporation, credit, crisis, debt, demographics, development, distribution, dual economy, elite, finance, globalization, growth, distribution, inflatio Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157818 #END 1240 #BEGIN 1241 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Political Economy: Past and Future Abstract: Political economy, radical as well as conservative, remains anchored in Newtonian cosmology. This cosmology, liberating as it was in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, has become a fetter on understanding present-day society. Creation-Date: 2003 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157817/1/bna-064_031101BN_PE_past_and_future.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: methodology, postmodernism, political economy, science Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157817 #END 1241 #BEGIN 1242 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bichler, Shimshon Author-Name: Nitzan, Jonathan Title: Israel's Global Capitalism Abstract: The flaring up of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the early 2000s caught most experts by surprise. The 1990s euphoria of the Oslo ‘peace process’ suddenly dissipated, replaced by a second intifada; the newspeak of ‘peace dividends’ gave way to debates about ‘imperialism’; and instead of ‘global villageism’ there is now much talk about the ‘war on terrorism.’ Interestingly, most analysts, popular as well as academic, seem to view this dramatic change largely as a ‘chance occurrence.’ In a world dominated by postmodern ‘narrative’ and ‘discourse,’ nothing is truly ‘real’ – or alternatively, the only ‘reality’ is what we see on television and read in the newspapers. According to the media, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, like all conflicts, is a matter of ethnicity, religion and culture, and these sentiments have their ups and downs. The prime agitators of such sentiments are ‘leaders’ of various kinds – state officials, army generals, spiritual figures and religious icons – whose clashing urges produce different outcomes. In the present conjunction, the shift from peace to war was triggered by Israel’s far right, which, led by Benjamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon, decided to derail the fragile Oslo Accord in order to continue the settlement of Greater Israel. Unfortunately, so far there has been little attempt to go beyond these immediate appearances. History certainly is open-ended, but it is not random. And while ethnicity, religion and culture are real features of our capitalist world, they cannot adequately explain its development. Israel is a capitalist country in a capitalist world, and therefore its history – including its conflict with the Palestinians – needs to be situated within the broader processes of capitalist development, local and global. Focusing on the 1990s, the purpose of this paper is to identify several key developments in global capitalism, examine how these processes altered the political economy of Israel and speculate on what they may mean for the future. Creation-Date: 2004 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157816/1/bna-020_040701BN_Israel_Global_Capitalism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: accumulation, acquisitions, capital, capitalism, centralization, competition, conflict, conglomeration, corporation, crisis, development, distribution, dual economy, elite, energy, finance, globalization, growth, distribution, institutionalism, high-tech Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157816 #END 1242 #BEGIN 1243 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zaveh, Fakhraldin Title: Search, Rigidities and Unemployment Dynamics Abstract: In this paper, I study the sources of cross-country differences in unemployment dynamics. Elsby, Hobijn and Sahin (forthcoming) find that in Anglo-Saxon economies unemployment fluctuations are mainly driven by changes in the outflows out of unemployment, while in continental European and Nordic countries changes in inflows into unemployment are almost equally important. I provide evidence that a category of labor market regulations which I refer to as the restrictive regulations raise contributions of inflows into unemployment. On the contrary, higher firing costs reduce the importance of this driver of unemployment dynamics which is in line with the literate. I introduce an aggregate regulatory rigidity into an otherwise standard search and matching framework. The consequent model is consistent with the mentioned fact. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157661/1/Search%2c%20Rigidities%20and%20Unemployment%20Flows.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24 Keywords: Unemployment Dynamics, Search and Matching, Rigidity, Restrictive Regulations Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157661 #END 1243 #BEGIN 1244 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Sharif, Naubahar Author-Name: Park, Seung-Ho Title: The Optimal Design of the Qianhai Special Economic Zone Abstract: Qianhai – an innovation park in Shenzhen – has the possibility of boosting innovation in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and in the wider region. This paper analyses the costs and benefits of existing plans for Qianhai and discusses the profit-maximising design of the Qianhai. We review existing evidence about which policies have promoted profitable innovation in the Qianhai region (Hong Kong and Shenzhen) in the past. We also show how a raft of legal changes concomitant with Hong Kong-Shenzhen development of Qianhai can increase innovation-led profits in the two jurisdictions. Some of these changes touch upon the mandate and organisation of the Qianhai Authority itself, and relatively poor-performing innovation agencies and schemes especially in Hong Kong. We find that such a zone would increase innovation-led profits in the logistics, IT, and other Qianhai-targeted sectors by a factor of four in the short-run and a factor of ten in the longer run. As a contribution to the wider field of innovation policy, we derive a model of the optimal innovation agency. That model shows the equilibrium and optimal levels of profits, R&D spending and cash/investment for innovative companies in a particular jurisdiction. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157389/1/Qianhai%20Paper6.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P48, R12, R58 Keywords: Qianhai, Cross-border economic zones, innovation, special economic zones Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157389 #END 1244 #BEGIN 1245 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lukovics, Miklós Author-Name: Lengyel, Imre Author-Name: Imreh, Szabolcs Author-Name: Zuti, Bence Title: Cross-Border European Funding Opportunities Abstract: Many Hungarian and foreign professionals are concerned with the issues regarding cross-border regions. Nowadays it is important to discuss this topic, as the European integration and globalisation extends the opportunities of cooperation between different states. As a matter of fact, the unification of Europe is considered one of the most significant processes in the 21st century. Even the new, even the older Member States have to face different challenges of cooperation. The establishment of connections between the nations is not only the interest of the European Union, but all states. In the European Union the transition between borders and the enhancement of cooperations are considered as primary questions. The cross-border cooperations can serve as a foundation to strengthen relations, so the actors can obtain funds even more easily together and they can use it more efficiently. The cross-border, transnational and interregional relations are considered as separate programmes in the regional policy of the European Union between the 2007-2013 programming period. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157384/1/Cross-Border%20European%20Funding%20Opportunities.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I20, I23, I25, R10, R58 Keywords: Regional development, planning and policy, regional competitiveness Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157384 Note: Project ID: HURO/1001/148/2.3.1 #END 1245 #BEGIN 1246 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kuntner, Tobias Author-Name: Teichert, Thorsten Title: Price Promotions: Enablers or Obstacles for Brand-Led Innovation Adoption – A Double-Hurdle Approach Abstract: Innovative new products and a strong brand are essential assets to sustain and expand a company’s competitive position in the marketplace. Separate research in the innovation and marketing field has found that marketing instruments, such as price promotions, can influence both new product diffusion and brand image. However, a holistic, brand-oriented investigation of marketing drivers’ effects on new product diffusion is missing. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the effect of price promotions on new product diffusion from a brand manager’s perspective. The analytic basis is a large-scale panel data set that covers four established fast-moving consumer goods categories and the innovation activities of 177 brands across four years. A double-hurdle model is applied to separately explore the effects of price promotions on consumers’ decisions to try and to repurchase (i.e., adopt) a new product. The results show that prices promotions’ impact depends on the stage of the diffusion process: while frequent price discounts foster new product trial, they hinder the persistent adoption of new product launches. In addition, the findings reveal that a strong brand name fulfills a supporting (risk-reducing) function at the trial stage but becomes less important for persistent adoption. This study contributes to extant literature by enhancing understanding of the linkages between innovation and brand management. Furthermore, it advances methodology by applying a double-hurdle model that accounts for the two-step process of consumers’ adoption decisions. Finally, it extends current knowledge on price promotion and innovation adoption by revealing opposite effects in the two innovation stages. The findings imply that managers need to handle price promotions carefully: although discounts encourage initial product trial, they should be used sparingly in later diffusion stages. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157297/1/Kuntner%20%26%20Teichert_Price%20Promotions-Enablers%20or%20Obstacles%20for%20Brand-Led%20Innovation%20Adoption_April%202017_Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: new product introduction, brand management, price promotion, double-hurdle model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157297 Note: Part of doctoral dissertation, University of Hamburg, Submitted 10.03.2016, Examiners: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Teichert, Prof. Dr. Karen Gedenk #END 1246 #BEGIN 1247 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kuntner, Tobias Title: Price promotions and brand equity: the role of brand types Abstract: Purpose - This study investigates whether the influence of selected marketing-mix elements on brand equity differs for different types of brands. The main focus is on price promotions' influence. In addition, the impact of discount-store distribution is explored. Design/methodology/approach - This study applies fixed-effects regression to analyze German panel data, which includes 126 national brands in four product categories across five years. Findings - The results reveal that frequent price promotions and intensive discount-store distribution have a negative influence on brand equity. However, this effect differs across brand types: the higher a brand's initial equity level, the more harmful is the impact of these marketing activities on brand equity. Research implications - This study shows that brand types play an important role in moderating the influence of marketing activities on brand equity. Thus, further research endeavors may generate new insights by accounting for these brand-related differences in their investigations. Practical implications - Managers of high-equity brands should avoid frequent price promotions and intensive discount-store distribution. In contrast, managers of low-equity brands may use these instruments more widely because their detrimental effects are less severe. Originality/value - Current research mainly focuses on improving the conceptualization of brand equity or exploring different kinds of marketing-mix elements. Findings on potential effect moderators are scarce. Thus, this study substantiates and extends existing findings by emphasizing the importance of distinguishing different brand types when investigating the effect of marketing-mix elements on brand equity. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157296/1/Kuntner_Price%20promotions%20and%20brand%20equity_April%202017_Manuscript.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Price promotion, Brand equity, Brand type, Panel data Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157296 Note: Part of doctoral dissertation, University of Hamburg, Submitted 10.03.2016, Examiners: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Teichert, Prof. Dr. Karen Gedenk #END 1247 #BEGIN 1248 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sta. Romana, Leonardo L. Title: Trade and Poverty Issues: A Country Case Study of the Philippines Abstract: This study begins with an overview of the poverty situation in the Philippines. It then takes a brief look at the poor in the rural areas, followed with a discussion of the poor in the informal sector. It then brings these two sectors together, with an examination of the poor and the urban/rural and formal/informal divides. It concludes with a discussion of the relationship among trade, poverty and the structural transformation of the Philippine economy. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157271/1/LLStaRomana_Trade-Poverty%20Paper_for%20Web.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Rural, informal sector, Asia, South East Asia, development economics, structural transformation, economic liberalization, economic openness, inclusive growth, unemployment, underemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157271 Note: This paper was written in response to a joint call for papers by the World Trade Organization and the World Bank. A detailed and comprehensive abstract, on which this paper is based, went through the screening process of a WTO/World Bank selection committee. #END 1248 #BEGIN 1249 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gruninger-Hermann, Christian Title: Zukunft der Innenstädte? - Auswirkungen zunehmender Online-Käufe auf den stationären Einzelhandel und die Innenstädte Abstract: Demographischer Wandel, Innovationen innerhalb der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie und die Digitalisierung ändern das Kaufverhalten der Konsumenten zunehmend. Innerhalb der letzten zwei Jahrzehnte ist der E-Commerce in Deutschland ständig gewachsen und hat sich die Struktur des stationären Handels stark verändert. In der Folge nimmt die Versorgungsfunktion des stationären Handels in den Städten ab und macht diese zusehends weniger attraktiv. In einigen Regionen Deutschlands, vor allem in ländlichen Gegenden und in der Umgebung von Großstädten, leiden Kleinstädte unter diesen strukturellen Veränderungen der Handelslandschaft. Immer häufiger wird in der Öffentlichkeit die Frage nach der Verödung der (Innen-)Städte gestellt. Mit diesem Arbeitspapier wird eine breite Informationsgrundlage geschaffen, die Motive für den Innenstadtbesuch bzw. für den Kauf in Geschäftsstätten des stationären Einzelhandels, das gegenwärtige Online-Kaufverhalten, Prognosen zur zukünftigen Entwicklung des E-Commerce und schließlich Handlungshinweise, wie auf diese grundlegenden Änderungen reagiert werden kann, umfasst. Die Handlungshinweise richten sich an Unternehmen des Einzelhandels, ihre Verbände und Interessengemeinschaften, ebenso wie an Kammern, Immobilienbesitzer und an die öffentliche Verwaltung. Abstract: Demographic change, technological innovations and digitization are modifying consumer buying behaviour. For the last two decades e-commerce in Germany is continuously evolving and structures of retail trade radically change. Subsequently the retail function of cities declines and makes them less attractive. In some parts of Germany especially small rural cities and small cities near metropoles suffer from these structural changes. More and more in public the question is raised if cities will become deserted. The focus of this working and discussion paper is to provide a broad range of information including motives to buy in cities, online shopping behaviour and forecasts of the future e-commerce development to finally come up with recommendations for stakeholders as retail companies and retail associations, real estate owners as well as municipalities on how to react to the profound structural change. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157259/1/DHBW_WDP_Zukunft_der_Innenst%c3%a4dte_170331_web.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L81, R23, M20 Keywords: future development of German E-Commerce, online-sales, development of German cities and their stakeholders, strategies for German retail companies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157259 #END 1249 #BEGIN 1250 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Todorova, Tamara Title: Transaction Costs, Market Failure and Economic Development Abstract: This paper relates economic development to transaction costs. It reveals the triad transaction costs-market failure-economic underdevelopment. Many scholars attribute the problems of development to the failure of markets to perform their role of resource allocation. Some deny market failure and blame government instead. Of those who trace the roots of economic backwardness to market failure, few, if none, investigate transaction costs in their linkage with market failure. This paper tries to bridge development economics with transaction cost theory and new institutional analysis. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157218/1/Transaction%20Costs%20and%20Development.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D02, D23, O10, P14 Keywords: Transaction costs, Market failure, Opportunism, Economic development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157218 #END 1250 #BEGIN 1251 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Todorova, Tamara Title: Is There Excess Capacity Really? Abstract: Excess capacity is viewed as a distinctive feature and an essential inefficiency of monopolistic competition as the large-group case of imperfect competition. Using a simple geometrical approach and studying the demand and cost curves faced by the individual firm, we find that there is little potential for excess capacity in monopolistically competitive markets, opposite to the common perception and wide coverage in the literature. We see monopolistic competition as the true type of competition in the presence of transaction costs where perfect competition is a hypothetical and ideal benchmark which cannot exist under positive transaction costs. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/157217/1/Excess%20Capacity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D23, D24, D43, L13 Keywords: excess capacity, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, transaction costs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:157217 #END 1251 #BEGIN 1252 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Daube, Carl Heinz Author-Name: Dobernig, Harald Author-Name: Becker, Marco Author-Name: Peskes, Markus Title: Mittelstandsfinanzierung: Rahmenbedingungen, Status Quo und Entwicklung Abstract: Small and midcap companies are the backbone of the German economy with respect to employment, contribution to GDP, tax payments, share at world market, innovation – to mention just a few. Hence, it is important that economic and political conditions are favorable for small and midsize enterprises. The article takes a closer look at the funding conditions for companies of the non-financial sector using data starting 2002 analyzing the usage of bank loans and turnover. The statistical outcome suggests that there is often a strong correlation between bank loans and turnover. However, it also suggests the traditional funding from banks is becoming less important and direct funding instruments using capital markets becoming more important. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/156177/1/Daube_et_al_2017_Mittelstandsfinanzierung_Rahmenbedingungen_Status%20Quo_Entwicklung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F0 Keywords: Mittelstand, Mittelstandsfinanzierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:156177 #END 1252 #BEGIN 1253 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: A Real-Business-Cycle model with reciprocity in labor relations and fiscal policy: the case of Bulgaria Abstract: In this paper we introduce reciprocity in labor relations and government sector to investigate how well the real wage rigidity that results out of that arrangement ex- plains business cycle fluctuations in Bulgaria. The reciprocity mechanism described in this paper follows Danthine and Kurmann (2010) and is generally consistent with micro-studies, e.g. Lozev et all. (2011) and Paskaleva (2016), while at the same time comes into contrast with models with efficiency wages of no-shirking type that empha- size the importance of aggregate labor market conditions as the main determinant in wage setting, e.g. Vasilev (2017). Rent-sharing considerations, and worker's own past wages turn out to be the most important aspects of how labor contracting happens. In contrast, aggregate economic conditions, as captured by the employment rate, are not found to be quantitatively important for wage dynamics. Overall, the model with reciprocity and fiscal policy performs well vis-a-vis data, especially along the labor market dimension, and in addition dominates the market-clearing labor market frame- work featured in the standard RBC model, e.g Vasilev (2009). Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/156164/1/RBC_fair_wages_DK_v8.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, E32, J41 Keywords: reciprocity, efficiency wages, general equilibrium, gift exchange, fiscal policy, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:156164 #END 1253 #BEGIN 1254 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Payroll Tax and Welfare Abstract: This paper takes a general equilibrium approach to payroll taxation. The focus of the study will be to estimate the welfare costs due to that distortionary policy. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/154751/1/payroll_tax_welfare.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A1 Keywords: payroll tax, welfare Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:154751 #END 1254 #BEGIN 1255 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Angelov, Aleks Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Microeconomic Simulator of Firm Behavior under Monopolistic Competition Abstract: Computer simulators are proving to be indispensable education tools as they enable their users to readily apply theoretical knowledge and to automatically receive immediate feedback, which is invaluable both to learners and to their instructors. Yet at present, there is virtually no publically available software for teaching economics to people who are new to this discipline. The Microeconomic Simulator of Firm Behavior under Monopolistic Competition is an interdisciplinary project which tries to fill this niche by providing an interactive means of strengthening and assessing a person’s grasp of fundamental economic concepts. It simulates the dynamic conditions of real-world markets that exhibit characteristics both of monopoly and of perfect competition, and demonstrates how choices made by a company’s executives affect its profitability. This is done in an intuitive manner through a user-friendly web application, which can be accessed from any device with an HTML5-compliant browser. The application is based on a proprietary algorithm which transforms the abstract economic model of monopolistic competition into a series of easy-to-follow steps and supplies diagrams and pop-ups, which help users comprehend the consequences of their actions. The parameters of the model are fully customizable so that different economic environments can be explored. After the end of a simulation, users are presented with a summary of their performance, which they can use to measure their progress over time, or to see how they rank among their peers. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/154750/1/Microeconomic_Simulator_Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A1 Keywords: monopolistic competition, computer simulators Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:154750 #END 1255 #BEGIN 1256 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peinl, Iris Author-Name: Bildat, Lothar Title: Forschungsdesiderate: Bezahlte repetitive Crowdarbeit und Gesundheit Abstract: Das zentrale Thema des Human Resource Managements ist die Digitalisierung von Produktion und Arbeit sowie die damit verbundenen Möglichkeiten der Tele- und Cloudarbeit. Hier werden effizientere Lösungen des Personaleinsatzes ausgemacht. Dabei steht besonders auch die Clickarbeit im Zentrum des Interesses. Sie weist zurzeit große Wachstumsraten auf. Im Unterschied dazu gibt es kaum Befunde über das individuelle Erleben dieser Arbeit und deren gesundheitsbezogenen Gefährdungspotenziale. Daher wird in diesem Übersichtsartikel den Fragen nachgegangen: Welche schon systematisch feststellbaren Merkmale liegen für diese Clickarbeit und ihrer gesundheitlichen Auswirkungen vor? Und: Inwieweit beinhaltet das klassische betriebliche Gesundheitsmanagement arbeitsgestaltende Strategien für die Clickworker? Als Ergebnis wird festgehalten: Die Clickarbeit ist jenseits klassischer Beschäftigungs-, Arbeits- und Gesundheitsschutzregeln eine routinebasierte, fragmentierte Arbeit, die eine geringe Anforderungsvielfalt ausweist. Sie ruft nur marginal das berufliche Wissen und die entsprechenden Kompetenzen der Arbeitenden ab und bietet geringe persönliche Anerkennungs- und Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten. Diese Tätigkeit wird gering entlohnt, ist einer schwankenden Auftragslage ausgesetzt und beinhaltet erhebliche gesundheitsbezogene Gefährdungsrisiken. Das klassische betriebliche Gesundheitsmanagement kann diesen Risiken nicht entsprechen. Daher werden Überlegungen zu einem Gesundheitsmanagement im Zeichen des digitalen Wandels von Arbeit vorgetragen. Abstract: The main theme of human resource management is the digitalization of production and work and the related opportunities for telecommunications and cloud work. Efficient solutions of human resources can be realized where these topics meet. The central focus of this paper is that of the "crowd worker", an employment arrangement that is quickly growing in use. Despite its popularity, little evidence has been collected on the individual experience of this work and its potential for health hazards. The issues reviewed in this article will include: Which systematically observable health effects are known to be associated with crowdworkers? And to what extent does the existent traditional health management system offer formative strategies for crowdworkers? The findings will conclude that crowdworking challenges the existing traditional employment and occupational safety and health systems. Crowdwork is fragmented work that can be carried out with a low level of skill. It only marginally requires professional knowledge and relevant skills of workers and offers little personal recognition or development opportunities. Crowdwork is poorly compensated, it suffers from highly fluctuating rates of work availability, and it involves significant health hazard risks. The traditional health management system cannot take on these risks. Suggestions for health management measures in response to the digital transformation of work will be presented. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/150007/1/Clickworker_Peinl_Bildat.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J23, J81 Keywords: Crowdsourcing, Clickwork, Telearbeit, Arbeitsanalyse, Gesundheitsrisiken der Clickarbeit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:150007 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10139.46886 #END 1256 #BEGIN 1257 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chatelain, Jean-Bernard Author-Name: Ralf, Kirsten Title: Publish and Perish: Creative Destruction and Macroeconomic Theory Abstract: Macroeconomic theories of the 1980s faced accelerated depreciation when not sudden death. By contrast with econometrics and microeconomics and despite massive progress in access to data and the use of statistical softwares, macroeconomic theory appears not to be a cumulative science so far. When attempts are done to settle controversies by "nature" (testing the theories), they are designed to fail due to Gresham's law of selecting theories based on too many parameters, which are weakly or non-identified when testing them. Two examples are provided, one in growth theory and testing convergence, one in business cycles theory and testing inflation persistence. Creation-Date: 2017 Classification-JEL: B22, B23, B41, C52, E31, O41, O47 Keywords: Macroeconomic theory, Controversies, Identification, Economic Growth, Convergence, Inflation Persistence Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:149994 #END 1257 #BEGIN 1258 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Goo, Say-Hak Title: The Role of Hong Kong’s Financial Regulations in Improving Corporate Governance Standards in China: Lessons from the Panama Papers for Hong Kong Abstract: Hong Kong contributes to poor corporate governance on the Mainland. Could regulatory reform in Hong Kong help improve corporate governance standards/practices (and thus firm value) on the Mainland? In this paper, we discuss ways to incentivize Mainland firms to improve their corporate governance by adopting numerous market-value increasing reforms in Hong Kong. These include the limited extra-territorial application of corporate governance provisions, changes to the Listing Rules to ‘contract’ for better corporate governance, and incentives to collect better corporate governance data. Other reforms include increasing financial transparency (particularly about corporate ownership and control), reducing financial firms’ incentives to trade in shell corporations, regulating relationships with tax havens, and encouraging the redrafting of China’s 2002 Code of Corporate Governance. We provide 31 recommendations and estimate that these recommendations can increase market values on the Mainland by 7% (or in value of roughly $330 billion), while improving the value-added of Hong Kong’s own incorporation/corporate services companies. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/149992/1/Implementing%20Corporate%20Governance%20Standards%20Abroad.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G34, N25, M14 Keywords: Chinese corporate governance, extra-territoriality, Hong Kong, Listing Rules Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:149992 #END 1258 #BEGIN 1259 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chen, Haipeng (Allan) Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Title: End of 9-Endings and Price Perceptions Abstract: We take advantage of a natural experiment to document an emergence of a new price ending that has the same effects as 9-endings. In January 2014, the Israeli parliament has passed a law prohibiting the use of non 0-ending prices. We find that one year after 9-ending prices have disappeared, 90-ending prices acquired the same status as 9-ending prices had before the law was passed. 90-ending prices became the new psychological price points. The retailers and the shoppers both reacted to the regulatory intervention optimally, which has eliminated the regulation’s intended effect. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/149558/1/End%20of%209-Endings.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, L16, K20 Keywords: 9-ending prices, psychological price points, sticky prices, price regulation, rigid prices, price recall, price control, integer constraint Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:149558 #END 1259 #BEGIN 1260 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Title: Potterian Economics Abstract: Recent studies in psychology and neuroscience find that fictional works exert strong influence on readers and shape their opinions and worldviews. We study the Potterian economy, which we compare to economic models, to assess how Harry Potter books affect economic literacy. We find that some principles of Potterian economics are consistent with economists’ models. Many others, however, are distorted and contain numerous inaccuracies, which contradict professional economists’ views and insights, and contribute to the general public’s biases, ignorance, and lack of understanding of economics. Creation-Date: 2017 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/149466/1/Levy%20and%20Snir%20-%20Potterian%20Economics.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A13, A14, D72, D73, H00, H11, I20, P16, P48, P51, Z11, Z13 Keywords: Economic and Financial Literacy, Political Economy, Public Choice, Rent Seeking, Folk Economics, Popular Opinion, Harry Potter, Social Organization of Economic Activity, Literature, Fiction, Potterian Economy, Potterian Economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:149466 #END 1260 #BEGIN 1261 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Todorova, Tamara Author-Name: Ramachandran, Bharath Title: Emotions and Economic Preference Abstract: We wish to examine critically the viewpoint that: a) economists take too narrow a view of rationality and do not recognize the role of emotions as a component of rationality and b) do not address the question of whether preferences are rational or not, and instead take them as just given. We trace the relationship between economics and emotions showing some economic dimensions of emotional states. We illustrate them with examples of economic behavior based on emotional reactions. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148646/1/emotion.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A12, A13 Keywords: Rationality, Emotions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148646 #END 1261 #BEGIN 1262 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Yakimova, Ivona Author-Name: Todorova, Tamara Title: MNCs and their Role in the Economies of CEE. The Bulgarian Case Abstract: After nearly a decade of profound economic changes and a market transformation the countries in Central and Eastern Europe now face the challenge of development and sustainable growth. The development priorities include achieving a high income growth for their economies by raising investment rates, strengthening technological capacities and skills, and improving the competitiveness of their exports, distributing the benefits of growth equitably by creating more and better employment opportunities. An important factor for reaching these goals is not only the input and national endowments of the country but also the world economic environment and the main economic participants in it as for most of the transition countries (the smaller ones, in particular) the exogenous impetus turns to be the main determinant for the success of the reforms. The reason behind it is the full exhaustion of the ineffective usage of the national resources (natural, human, capital, financial) in the old "socialist" model and the great economic and technology gap which has existed between the region and the rest of the developed economic world. The purpose of the paper is to reveal the importance of MNCs activities in Central and Eastern Europe for marketization of the region and for effective integration in the globalizing world economy. The different aspects of MNCs' impact on Bulgarian economy are examined with respect to their new comparative advantages. The main determinants of the investment climate in the country are also studied and the special accent is put on commenting the results of an empirical study of MNCs transaction costs activities in Bulgaria and the critical issues concerning a better investment climate in the country. The last section of the paper deals with some conclusions and recommendations for more effective governmental policies towards MNCs as they are looked as "economic locomotives" of Bulgarian economy's sustainable growth. Creation-Date: 2000 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148575/1/ivona2_MNCs_Fulbright.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F23, O43 Keywords: Multinational corporations, Sustainable Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148575 #END 1262 #BEGIN 1263 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: A Real-Business-Cycle model with efficiency wages and fiscal policy: the case of Bulgaria Abstract: In this paper we investigate the quantitative importance of efficiency wages in explaining fluctuations in Bulgarian labor markets. This is done by augmenting an otherwise standard real business cycle model a la Long and Plosser (1983) with unobservable workers effort by employers and wage contracts as in Shapiro and Stiglitz (1984). This imperfection in labor markets introduces a strong propagation mechanism that allows the model to capture the business cycles in Bulgaria better than earlier models. The model performs well vis-a-vis data, especially along the labor market dimension, and in addition dominates the market-clearing labor market framework featured in the standard RBC model, e.g Vasilev (2009). Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148413/1/RBC_efficiency_wages_v4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E24, E32 Keywords: general equilibrium, shirking, efficiciency wages, unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148413 #END 1263 #BEGIN 1264 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Todorova, Tamara Title: Some Efficiency Aspects of Monopolistic Competition: Innovation, Variety and Transaction Costs Abstract: We stress some efficiency aspects of monopolistic competition justifying it on account of its tendency to innovate and the questionable excess capacity paradigm. Some further efficiency aspects revealed are product variety and transaction cost savings. We view the monopolistically competitive firm as an essential source of technological innovation, product variety and cost economies. While perfect competition is universally considered a benchmark and a social optimum, we consider it a strongly unrealistic theoretical setup where the monopolistically, rather than the perfectly, competitive firm turns out to be the true type of competition and social optimum in the real world of positive transaction costs. The monopolistically competitive firm not only offers product variety and innovation but is the optimal institutional arrangement under positive transaction costs. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148367/1/Efficiency%20Aspects%20of%20Monopolistic%20Competition.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D23, D24 Keywords: monopolistic competition, variety Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148367 #END 1264 #BEGIN 1265 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Morone, Andrea Author-Name: Temerario, Tiziana Title: Individual and Group Preferences Over Risk: An Experiment Abstract: The recent literature on individual and group choices over risk has led to different results. In some studies under unanimity, groups were found to be less risk averse than individuals, while those under majority did not highlight significant differences. However, both the types of studies impose the decision rule to the group. In the present work we elicited groups' preference under risk using a consensus rule, i.e. groups are free to solve disagreement endogenously, just as in the real life. Results from our pairwise choices experiment shows that when group members are free to use any rule they want in order to reach unanimity, there is no statistical difference between individuals' and groups' risk aversion. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148357/1/Morone_Temerario_Exp2016.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C9, C90 Keywords: Group Preferences, Risk, Individual Preferences, Lab Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148357 #END 1265 #BEGIN 1266 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Morone, Andrea Author-Name: Temerario, Tiziana Title: Are dyads conditionally cooperative? Evidence from a public goods experiment Abstract: We analysed dyads strategies in one-shot public goods game. By means of a laboratory experiment, using a variant of the strategy-method, we found that more than one third of the dyads are conditional cooperators, whereas 18% can be categorised as free riders. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148356/1/Are%20dyads%20conditionally%20cooperative%20%28manuscript%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H41, C91 Keywords: Voluntary contributions, Conditional cooperation, Free riding, Strategy-method Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148356 #END 1266 #BEGIN 1267 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vulanovic, Milos Title: SPACs: Post-merger survival Abstract: This paper studies how institutional characteristics of Specified Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) are related to their post-merger survival. SPACs are unique financial firms that conduct the IPO with the solely purpose to use the proceeds to acquire another private company. Paper finds that institutional characteristics of SPACs are important in determining post-merger outcomes of new company, specifically when it comes to their suvival/failure. Namely, increases in pre-merger commitment by SPAC stakeholders and initial positive market performance increase post-merger survival likelihood. On the contrary, mergers with higher transaction costs and focused on foreign companies exhibit increased failure likelihood. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148304/1/SPACs%20After%20the%20merger%20survival%20_Econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G12, G14, G24, G30, G32, G34 Keywords: Blank checks, Initial public offering, IPO survival, M&A, SPACs, Specified purpose acquisition companies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148304 #END 1267 #BEGIN 1268 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Meier, Mario Author-Name: Obermeier, Tim Title: Employer Screening, Unemployment Stigma and Optimal Unemployment Insurance Abstract: This paper studies how firms’ screening behavior and crowding out among applicants affect the optimal design of unemployment policies. In our model, firms face a pool of applicants and observe unemployment duration and a signal about productivity. Firms screen the applicants with the highest expected productivity first. The probability of being hired declines with duration due to declining beliefs about productivity and competition by other job seekers. We estimate the model using German administrative employment records and information on job search behavior, vacancies and applications. The model matches the observed decline in search effort and job finding rates and the implied decline of callback rates is in line with recent evidence from audit studies. Optimal policy takes into account that unemployment benefits can affect hiring probabilities by making unemployment duration more or less informative and by changing the applications-per-vacancy ratio due to search effort or vacancy responses. In theory, optimal benefits for the long-term unemployed can be higher or lower than for the short-term unemployed and the equilibrium elasticity of unemployment duration to benefits can be larger or smaller than the standard micro elasticity. Our quantitative findings suggest that benefit levels should be more generous, especially after the first year of unemployment. We also find that extended benefits do not increase the duration of unemployment as much as suggested by a model without employer screening. Creation-Date: 2017 Classification-JEL: H20, J64, J65, J7 Keywords: Unemployment, Optimal Unemployment Insurance, Job Search, Employer Screening Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148303 #END 1268 #BEGIN 1269 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Optimal fiscal policy in the presence of VAT evasion: the case of Bulgaria Abstract: This paper explores the effects of fiscal policy in an economy based on indirect taxes, and in the presence of VAT evasion channel. In addition, the government is taxing all income at the same rate. The focus of the paper to compare and contrast two regimes - the exogenous (observed) vs. optimal (Ramsey) policy case. The results are evaluated in light of consumption vs. income taxation debate, the issue of optimal provision of valuable public services, and the effect of fiscal policy on the size of VAT evasion. To this end, a Real-Business-Cycle model, calibrated to Bulgarian data (1999-2014), is augmented with a government sector. Bulgarian economy was chosen as a case study due to its dependence on consumption taxation as a source of tax revenue, and the prevalence of VAT evasion. The main findings from the computational experiments performed in the paper are: (i) The optimal steady-state income tax rate is zero; (ii) The benevolent Ramsey planner provides the optimal amount of the utility- enhanc- ing public services, which are now three times lower; (iii) The optimal steady-state consumption tax needed to finance the optimal level of government spending is twice lower, as compared to the exogenous policy case. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148049/1/Ramsey_evasion_fixed_theta_h1_v2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D58, H26 Keywords: consumption tax, income tax, VAT evasion, general equilibrium, fiscal policy, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148049 #END 1269 #BEGIN 1270 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kalamov, Zarko Y. Title: A Sales Tax Is Better at Promoting Healthy Diets than the Fat Tax and the Thin Subsidy Abstract: Rising prevalence of obesity among adults and children is a major policy issue in many countries. Two widely discussed instruments to address obesity are a tax on unhealthy foods (fat tax) and a subsidy on healthy foods (thin subsidy). We compare these two policies to a sales tax on all food products, taking into account the different opportunity costs in terms of time for healthy and unhealthy meals. We show that the policy which reduces obesity under the most general conditions is the sales tax without the fat tax and the thin subsidy. Moreover, this policy is the only one which unambiguously stimulates healthy consumption. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/148007/1/Kalamov%20%282016%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D11, I12, I18, H31, H51 Keywords: fat tax, thin subsidy, sales tax, obesity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:148007 #END 1270 #BEGIN 1271 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Morone, Andrea Author-Name: Temerario, Tiziana Title: Preferences over social risk: does (group) size matter? Abstract: In this paper, we first replicated Harrison et al. (2012). Then, we studied if the group’s size has an impact on group’s risk aversion. In line with Harrison et al. (2012), our results confirm that no significant differences occur between individuals and groups risk aversion in three-person group. We also found that group size does not affect the level of risk aversion. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/147413/1/Preferences%20over%20social%20risk%20.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, C92, D01 Keywords: Risk attitude, Preferences Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:147413 #END 1271 #BEGIN 1272 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shelegia, Sandro Author-Name: Wilson, Chris Title: A Generalized Model of Sales Abstract: To provide a more flexible workhorse model of temporary price reductions or `sales', this paper presents a substantially generalized `clearinghouse' sales framework. Our framework permits multiple dimensions of firm heterogeneity, and views firms as competing directly in utility rather than prices. The paper i) reproduces and extends many equilibria from the existing literature, ii) offers a range of new results on how firm heterogeneity affects market outcomes, iii) provides original insights into the number and type of firms that use sales, and iv) extends a `cleaning' procedure that is commonly used in empirical studies of sales and price dispersion. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/147411/1/AsymPaper17.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L13, D43, M3 Keywords: Sales, Price Dispersion, Advertising, Clearinghouse, Heterogeneity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:147411 #END 1272 #BEGIN 1273 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roth, Steffen Author-Name: Ströhle, Lorenza Title: Wie weit geht Crowdsourcing? Transnationale Open-Innovation-Strategien gegen den Braindrain der GUS-Staaten Abstract: Vor dem Hintergrund der Abwanderung hochqualifizierter Arbeitskräfte aus den GUS-Staaten zeigt die vorliegende Arbeit anhand der Arbeitsweise zweier Schweizer Open- Innovation-Dienstleister, wie Open-Innovation- und Crowdsourcing-Strategien nachhaltige Vorteile aus der exzellenten Bildungsinfrastruktur der GUS-Staaten schöpfen können. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/147408/1/Wie%20weit%20geht%20Crowdsourcing_opt.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A14, Z13 Keywords: Open Innovation, Brain Drain, GUS, Crowdsourcing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:147408 #END 1273 #BEGIN 1274 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Is consumption-Laffer curve hump-shaped? The role of VAT evasion Abstract: This paper shows a standard RBC model, when augmented with a VAT evasion channel, where evasion depends on the consumption tax rate, can produce a hump-shaped consumption Laffer curve. Furthermore, when the evasion channel is turned off, the hump in the Laffer curve disappears, resulting in a monotone relationship between the VAT rate and both the consumption and total tax revenue. This result comes in stark contrast to Hiragara and Nituhara (2015), who generate a peaking curve for consumption tax revenue in a model with a separable utility in consumption and leisure and no evasion. Their results are contingent on implausible values for elasticity parameters, and in addition predict a revenue-maximizing consumption tax rate which is implausibly high. The paper contributes to the public finance literature by providing evidence for the importance of the evasion mechanism, while at the same time adding to the debate about the existence of a peak tax rate for consumption tax revenue. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/147001/1/Cons_Laffer_3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D58, E26, H26 Keywords: consumption Laffer curve, VAT evasion, general equilibrium, fiscal policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:147001 #END 1274 #BEGIN 1275 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Optimal fiscal policy with utility-enhancing government spending, consumption taxation and a common income tax rate: the case of Bulgaria Abstract: This paper explores the effects of fiscal policy in an economy based on indirect taxes, and taxing all income at the same rate. The focus of the paper is on the relative importance of consumption vs. income taxation, as well as on the provision of valuable public services. To this end, a Real-Business-Cycle model, calibrated to Bulgarian data (1999-2014), was set up with a richer public finance side. Bulgarian economy was chosen as a case study due to its dependence on consumption taxation as a source of tax revenue. To illustrate the effects of fiscal policy, two regimes were compared and contrasted to one another - exogenous vs. optimal (Ramsey) policy case. The main findings from the computational experiments performed are: (i) The optimal steady-state (capital and labor income) tax rate is zero, as it is the most distortionary tax to use; (ii) The benevolent Ramsey planner provides the optimal amount of the utility-enhancing public services. (iii) The optimal steady-state consumption tax has to triple to finance the optimal level of government spending. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/146939/1/cons_Ramsey_4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D58 Keywords: consumption tax, income tax, general equilibrium, fiscal policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:146939 #END 1275 #BEGIN 1276 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Morone, Andrea Author-Name: Nuzzo, Simone Title: Do Markets (Institutions) Drive Out Lemmings or Vice Versa? Abstract: We investigate, by mean of a lab experiment, a market inspired by two strands of literature on one hand we have herd behaviour in non-market situations, and on the other hand aggregation of private information in markets. The former suggests that socially undesirable herd behaviour may result when information is private; the latter suggests that socially undesirable behaviour may be eliminated through the market. As the trading mechanism might be a compounding factor, we investigate two kinds of market mechanism: the double auction, where bids, asks and trades take place in continuous time throughout a trading period; and the clearing house, where bids and asks are placed once in a trading period, and which are then cleared by an aggregating device. As a main result, this paper shows that double auction markets are, in several instances, superior to clearing house markets in terms of informational efficiency. Moreover, the employed trading institutions do not exhibit significant differences in both market volume and price volatility. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/146917/1/Do%20Markets%20%28Institutions%29%20Drive%20Out%20Lemmings%20or%20Vice%20Versa.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, D02, G14 Keywords: Experimental Markets, Market Efficiency, Double Auction, Clearing House Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:146917 #END 1276 #BEGIN 1277 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Morone, Andrea Author-Name: Nemore, Francesco Author-Name: Nuzzo, Simone Title: Experimental Evidence on Tax Salience and Tax Incidence Abstract: While a basic theoretical principle in public economics assumes that individuals' behaviour is fully-optimizer with respect to the introduction of a tax, an increasing body of research is presenting evidence that agents decision making is often affected by non-negligible cognitive biases, which could be responsible for lower market performance as well as for deviations from standard theoretical predictions. This paper extends the latter strand of research focusing on two trend topics in public economics: tax salience and tax incidence. While the former refers to the prominence of the tax, the latter places emphasis on the statutory vs. factual division of tax payments. Is market performance affected by the salience of the tax? Is the incidence of a tax independent of which side of the market it is levied on (Liability Side Equivalence Principle, LES)? We address these questions through a laboratory experiment in which one unit of a fictitious good is traded through a double-auction market institution. Based on a panel data analysis, our contribution shows that a non-salient tax reduces both the allocational and informational efficiency of the market with respect to the instance in which the tax is salient. Moreover, we show that the Liability Side Equivalence Principle does not hold in practice. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/146916/1/Experimental%20Evidence%20on%20Tax%20salience%20and%20Tax%20incidence.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C91, H20, H21, H30 Keywords: Tax incidence, Tax salience, Liability Side Equivalence, choice behaviour, laboratory Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:146916 #END 1277 #BEGIN 1278 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Wenzel, Stefan Title: App'ification of Enterprise Software - Evaluating Mobile App Characteristics Enabling Online Purchase And Their Portability To Enterprise Application Software Abstract: Enterprise application software vendors seek to re-produce the success story of consumer mobile apps in their domain. Like private users, business users ask for flexible, consumer-grade applications for their daily work. However, enterprise software applications do not meet those expectations and are not ready for the “App Store Model”. Therefore, IT departments are facing new challenges with consumerization and “shadow IT”. Practitioners and researchers expect to counteract these issues if enterprise software was more flexible and consumer-like – in other words, if enterprise software was app’ified. Therefore, this study investigates typical “app characteristics” from the business users’ perspective. Special focus is on the characteristics that are relevant for online purchases. Furthermore, it is evaluated if app characteristics can be applied to enterprise application software. To study the “app phenomenon”, a self-completion questionnaire and mainly quantitative data analyses have been used. The results are addressed to both IS researchers and practitioners. For IS research this study offers insights into the under-investigated topic of apps as an own concept. Enterprise software vendors and IT departments can use the results to design enterprise software which targets an employee-driven adoption using online channels or to assess existing applications and app store initiatives. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/146785/1/Appification_Econstor_2014_Wenzel_whitepaper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: App Store, Mobile Apps, App'ification, Consumerization of IT, Enterprise Software, Business Software Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:146785 #END 1278 #BEGIN 1279 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gunes, Okay Title: Physiconomics for the identification of relativistic satisfaction Abstract: Abstract Recent developments in identifying economic and social phenomena within the theory and laws of physics do not provide a sufficient basis of information for economists. In this article, an interdisciplinary analysis in microeconomics, is proposed to overcome this limit by establishing a new economic theory in the way of better analyzing economic problems from the methodological perspectives of physics. This new theoretical approach is tested on a model using individual time use values that identifies how life satisfaction may be defined through economic utility so as to better investigate the income-happiness paradox as pointed out by Easterlin. The theoretical analysis point out that an increase in happiness would depend on the ability to replace subsidiaries with conspicuous consumption so long as they have common characteristics that satisfy the same needs. This consumption pattern implies that consumers would draw more satisfaction from less usage of conspicuous goods than from higher usage of subsidiaries, under given budget and time constraints. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/146402/1/Physiconomics_for_the_identification_of_relativistic_satisfaction_EconStor_Okay%20GUNES.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J22, D01 Keywords: Time use, Relativistic Satisfaction, Satisfaction Waves, Speed of Satisfaction Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:146402 #END 1279 #BEGIN 1280 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Weins, Sebastian Author-Name: Alm, Bastian Author-Name: Wang, Tawei Title: Rethinking The Future of Auditing: How an Integrated Continuous Auditing Approach Can Leverage the Full Potential of Continuous Auditing Abstract: The concept of Continuous Auditing has been around for more than three decades. The ongoing discussion on the benefits and models on adoption has made Continuous Auditing become a more critical issue. Although a lot of progress has been made in previous years, we argue that the entire potential of Continuous Auditing still remains unrevealed. This paper provides a new conceptual framework on how to bring Continuous Auditing to the next level. It goes beyond the existing technical concepts and solutions for implementation by developing a more holistic Integrated Continuous Auditing Approach. We illustrate how Continuous Auditing can be adopted in order to increase audit efficiency by enabling a new collaborative design between internal and external auditors as well as by readjusting the roles of different auditing parties. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/146401/1/160918_Audit%20Paper_DP_final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: continuous auditing, internal audit, audit collaboration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:146401 #END 1280 #BEGIN 1281 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Insurance-markets Equilibrium with Sequential Non-convex Private- and Public-Sector Labor Supply Abstract: This paper describes the lottery- and insurance-market equilibrium in an economy with non-convex private- and public-sector employment. In contrast to Vasilev (2015a, 2015b), the public-sector labor supply decision is a sequential one. This requires two separate insurance market to operate, one for private-sector work, and one for public- sector employment. In addition, given that the labor choice for private- and public- sector hours is made in succession, the insurance market for public emloyment needs to open once the other insurance market has closed. This segmentation and sequentiality of insurance markets operation is a new result in the literature and a direct consequence of the double non-convexity, and the sequential nature of the sectoral labor supply decision. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/146308/1/insurance_lotteries_markets_sequential_public_v2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J22, J45 Keywords: indivisible labor, public employment, sequential lotteries, insurance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:146308 #END 1281 #BEGIN 1282 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: Sozioökonomische Bildung in der sozialwissenschaftlichen Domäne Abstract: Sozioökonomische Bildung gehört zur Domäne Sozialwissenschaften. Ökonomische Phänomene und Probleme lassen sich nur mit Wissen aus allen Sozialwissenschaften sinnvoll analysieren. Am Exempel Ökonomisierung der Lebenswelten zeigt sich, dass vor allem die Soziologie ökonomische Aufklärung verspricht. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145991/1/Hedtke_WP-R-10_2013_soziooekonomische-bildung-sozialwissenschaftliche-domaene.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20 Keywords: socio-economic education, economization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145991 Note: Ursprünglich erschienen in: GWP – Gesellschaft. Wirtschaft. Politik. Sozialwissenschaften für politische Bildung, ISSN: 2196-1654, Jg. 63 (2013), Nr. 4, S. 597-604. #END 1282 #BEGIN 1283 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: Gemeinsam und unterschieden. Zum Problem der Integration von politischer und ökonomischer Bildung Abstract: Welche theoretischen Konzeptionen gibt es für die Integration der Behandlung von Wirtschaftsthemen in die politische Bildung? Gibt es Konzeptionen, die die von Fachvertretern beklagte Nachteile einer Integration weitgehend reduzieren können? Kann die Integration zu Synergieeffekten führen, die die beklagten Nachteile aufwiegen können? Zunächst stelle ich einige aktuelle Vorschläge zur Integration von ökonomischer und politischer Bildung vor, um in die Thematik einzuführen. Im zweiten Kapitel begründe ich meinen Begriff von Integration, beschreibe die Probleme der Integration aus Sicht der Sozialwissenschaften und der Fachdidaktikwissenschaften sowie der Lernenden und begründe die Aufgabe, ein Integrationskonzept zu entwickeln. Das nächste Kapitel zeigt, wie breit das Spektrum der Formen von Integration ist und welche vielfältigen Alternativen es in der Praxis sozialwissenschaftlicher Bildung bietet. Im vierten Kapitel diskutiere ich, welche Folgen zu erwarten sind, wenn man politische und ökonomische Bildung integriert. Creation-Date: 2007 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145990/1/Hedtke_WP-R-1_2007_Integration_gemeinsam-und-unterschieden.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20 Keywords: Wirtschaftsdidaktik, Ökonomische Bildung, Integration, Sozialwissenschaftliche BIldung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145990 Note: Durchgesehene und ergänzte Version des Buchkapitels in: Dietmar Kahsnitz (Hrsg.), 2005, Integration von politischer und ökonomischer Bildung? Wiesbaden: Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, ISBN: 978-3-531-14667-6, S. 19-74. #END 1283 #BEGIN 1284 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: Sozialwissenschaftliche ökonomische Bildung Abstract: In diesem Beitrag versuche ich exemplarisch zu zeigen, wie fragwürdig verbreitete Selbstverständlichkeiten einer wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen ökonomischen Bildung sind. Als Alternative dazu skizziere ich Elemente eines sozialwissenschaftlichen Ansatzes ökonomischer Bildung. Eine sozialwissenschaftliche Wirtschaftsdidaktik und eine sozialwissenschaftlich angelegte ökonomische Bildung unterscheiden sich in einigen Punkten erheblich von den rein wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Konzeptionen. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145989/1/Hedtke_WP-R-3_sozialwissenschaftlich-oekonomische-Bildung_2006.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20 Keywords: Wirtschaftsdidaktik, Ökonomische Bildung, Sozialwissenschaften Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145989 Note: Ursprünglich erschienen in: Fischer, Andreas (Hrsg.), 2006, Ökonomische Bildung - Quo vadis? Bielefeld: Bertelsmann, ISBN: 978-3-7639-3450-8, S. 95-119. #END 1284 #BEGIN 1285 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: Von der Betriebswirtschaftslehre lernen? Handlungsorientierung und Pluralismus in der ökonomischen Bildung Abstract: Das schulische ökonomische Wissen droht zunehmend irrelevant für die wirtschaftliche Praxis zu werden. Denn seit etwa zehn Jahren fixiert sich der wirtschaftsdidaktische Mainstream fast ausschließlich auf einzelne mikroökonomische Richtungen der Volkswirtschaftslehre. Er ignoriert zugleich eine ganze wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Disziplin: die Betriebswirtschaftslehre. Was folgt aus dem orthodoxen Ansatz ökonomischer Bildung für das Bildungsziel, wirtschaftlich kompetenter handeln zu lernen? Würden betriebswirtschaftliche Denkfiguren die ökonomische Bildung handlungswirksamer machen? Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145988/1/Hedtke_WP-R-7_2010_von-der-bwl-lernen_handlungsorientierung-pluralismus.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20 Keywords: Ökonomische Bildung, Betriebswirtschaftslehre, Handlungsorientierung, Pluralismus Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145988 Note: Ursprünglich erschienen in: GWP – Gesellschaft. Wirtschaft. Politik. Sozialwissenschaften für politische Bildung, ISSN: 2196-1654, Jg. 59 (2010), Nr. 3, S. 355-366. #END 1285 #BEGIN 1286 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: Wer hat Angst vor der BWL? Was die Konsumentenbildung von der Betriebswirtschaftslehre lernen kann Abstract: Die Wirtschaftsdidaktik versteht ökonomische Bildung als einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Verbraucherbildung“ (DeGöB). Dieses Bekenntnis ist weit weniger klar, als es klingt. Denn was jugendliche Verbraucherinnen und Verbraucher von ökonomischer Bildung erwarten können und was nicht, hängt davon ab, wie man ökonomische Bildung konzipiert. Der Mainstream der Wirtschaftsdidaktik versteht ökonomische Bildung als bevorzugt volkswirtschaftliche Bildung und als Bildung durch das Paradigma der Ökonomik; damit blendet er betriebswirtschaftliche Denkweisen weitestgehend aus. Welche Folgen hat dies für eine verbraucherorientierte Wirtschaftsdidaktik? Was kann Konsumentenbildung gewinnen, wenn sie sich auf die Methodologie der Betriebswirtschaftslehre stützt? Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145987/1/Hedtke_WP-R-8_2010_wer-hat-angst-vor-der-bwl_konsumentenbildung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20 Keywords: Konsumentenbildung, Wirtschaftsdidaktik, Ökonomische Bildung, Betriebswirtschaftslehre Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145987 Note: Ursprünglich erschienen in: Retzmann, Thomas (Hrsg.), 2010, Finanzielle Bildung in der Schule. Mündige Verbraucher durch Konsumentenbildung. Schwalbach/Ts.: Wochenschau-Verlag, ISBN: 978-3-8974657-0, S. 185-200. #END 1286 #BEGIN 1287 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Aggregation with sequential non-convex public- and private-sector labor suply decisions Abstract: This paper explores the problem of non-convex labor supply decisions in an economy with both private and public sector jobs. In contrast to Vasilev (2015a), the sectoral labor choice is made in a sequential manner. Still, the micro-founded representation obtained from explicit aggregation over homogeneous individuals again features different disutility of labor across the two sectors. Thus, there is little merit in the timing of the sectoral non-convex labor choice. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145316/1/seq_double_lottery_rev.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J22, J45 Keywords: indivisible labor, public employment, sequential lottery, aggregation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145316 #END 1287 #BEGIN 1288 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Insurance-markets Equilibrium with Sequential Non-convex Straight-time and Over-time Labor Supply Abstract: This note describes the lottery- and insurance-market equilibrium in an economy with non-convex straight-time and overtime employment. In contrast to Hansen and Sargent (1988), the overtime-decision is a sequential one. This requires two separate insurance market to operate, one for straight-time work, and one for overtime. In addi- tion, given that the labor choice for regular and overtime hours is made in succession, the insurance market for overtime needs to open once the insurance market has closed. This segmentation and sequentiality of insurance markets operation is a new result in the literature and a direct consequence of the sequential nature of the overtime labor decision. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145298/1/insurance_lotteries_markets_sequential_overtime.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E1, J2 Keywords: indivisible labor, straight-time, overtime, sequential lotteries, insurance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145298 #END 1288 #BEGIN 1289 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Author-Name: Todorova, Tamara Title: Some Transaction Cost Effects of Authoritarian Management Abstract: This paper studies the transaction-cost economizing effects of authoritarian management in organizations and systems subject to higher transaction costs originating from various sources. We analyze the nature, mechanisms and transaction-cost aspects of the authoritarian management style. We argue that the higher the transaction costs of internal organization, the more autocratic the manager is likely to be. We study the features of authoritarian managers in general but more specifically in the context of high transaction cost systems such as East European societies with significant transactional or organizational opportunism as well as other sources of market failure. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145297/1/Authoriarian_management.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D23, L23, M12 Keywords: authoritarian management, transaction costs, opportunism, multidivisional structure, information transfer Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145297 #END 1289 #BEGIN 1290 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christl, Michael Author-Name: Köppl-Turyna, Monika Author-Name: Lorenz, Hanno Title: Investitionen: Warum wir sie brauchen und wie wir sie kriegen Title: Blessed is he who expects nothing? The role of expectations for investment Abstract: Dieser Beitrag untersucht den Zusammenhang zwischen Investitionswachstum, Zinsen und Erwartungen für Österreich. Basierend auf einem Panel von 73 Wirtschaftssektoren zeigt sich, dass Zinsänderungen nur dann einen positiven Einfluss auf Investitionswachstum haben, wenn die Erwartungen stark zurückgehen. Sind die Erwartungen konstant (gut oder schlecht), so haben Zinsen jedoch kaum einen Einfluss. Ebenso zeigt sich, dass stark steigende Erwartungen einen positiven Effekt auf das Investitionswachstum aufweisen. Außerdem geht ein Anstieg der Produktionsbesteuerung sowie stärkere Kapitalmarktregulierung mit einem negativen Investitionswachstum einher. Abstract: This article focuses on the relationship between investment growth, interest rates and economic expectations. Using a panel based on 73 sectors of the Austrian economy, we show that a reduction in the interest rate is associated with positive investment growth, but only if expectations decrease. If expectations remain stable, decreasing interest rates has no effect on investment growth. An increase in expectations is associated with higher investment growth. Additionally, we show that higher taxation on production as well as increasing capital market regulation tend to decrease investment growth. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145294/1/Investitionen_Endversion.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E22, E43, E66, H32 Keywords: investment, interest rate, expectations, Austria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145294 #END 1290 #BEGIN 1291 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kucsera, Dénes Author-Name: Christl, Michael Title: Actuarial neutrality and financial incentives for early retirement in the Austrian pension system Abstract: This paper studies actuarial neutrality in the Austrian pension system. It is often argued that actuarial neutrality constitutes an incentive for people to retire. We show that there are almost no financial incentives within the Austrian pension corridor, when we use the traditional definition of actuarial neutrality. Taking taxation into account, our results suggest that financial incentives for early retirement stem mainly from the Austrian tax system and not from the pension system itself. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145293/1/Pensionen2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J26, H55 Keywords: actuarial neutrality, early retirement, pension system, retirement Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:145293 #END 1291 #BEGIN 1292 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: VAT Evasion in Bulgaria: A General-Equilibrium Approach Abstract: This paper utilizes an otherwise standard micro-founded general-equilibrium setup, which is augmented with a revenue-extraction mechanism to assess the magnitude of VAT evasion. The model is calibrated to Bulgaria after the introduction of the currency board (1999-2014), as one of the very few countries in Europe with a non-differentiated consumption tax rate, and an economy where VAT revenue makes almost half of total government tax revenue. A computational experiment performed within this setup estimates that on average, the size of evaded VAT is a bit more than one-fourth of output, an estimate which is in line with the figures provided in both Philip (2014) and the European Commission (2014). In addition, model-based simulations suggest that increases in spending on law and order could generate substantial welfare gains by decreasing VAT evasion. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144817/1/VAT_evasion_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D58, E26, H26, K42 Keywords: VAT evasion, general equilibrium, Bulgaria Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144817 #END 1292 #BEGIN 1293 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Business Cycle Accounting: Bulgaria after the introduction of the currency board arrangement (1999-2014) Abstract: This paper focuses on explaining the economic fluctuations in Bulgaria after the introduction of the currency board arrangement in 1997, the period of macroeconomic stability that ensued, the EU accession, and the episode of the recent global financial crisis. This paper follows Chari et al. (2002) and performs business cycle accounting (BCA) for Bulgaria during the period 1999-2014. As in Cavalcanti (2007), who studies the Portuguese business cycles, most of the volatility in output per capita in Bulgaria over the period is due to variations in the efficiency and labor wedges. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144816/1/wedges_BG_economy_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E37, O47 Keywords: Business Cycle Accounting, Bulgarian economy, efficiency and labor wedges Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144816 #END 1293 #BEGIN 1294 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andric, Vladimir Author-Name: Arsic, Milojko Author-Name: Mladenovic, Zorica Title: The Dynamics of Public Debt in Serbia - A Nonlinear Analysis Creation-Date: 2016 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144713 #END 1294 #BEGIN 1295 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: US Health and Aggregate Fluctuations Abstract: This paper aims to shed light on the importance of health considerations for business cycle fluctuations and the effect of health status on labor productivity and availability of labor input for productive use. To this end, Grossman's (2000) partial-equilibrium framework with endogenous health is incorporated in an otherwise standard Real- Business-Cycle (RBC) model. Health status in this setup is modelled as a utility-enhancing, intangible, and non-transferrable capital stock, which depreciates over time. The household can improve their health ("produce health") through investment using a health-recovery technology. The main results are: (i) overall, the model compares well vis-a-vis data; (ii) the behavior of the price of healthcare is adequately approximated by the shadow price of health in the model; (iii) the model-generated health variable exhibits moderate- to high correlation with a large number of empirical health indicators. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144584/1/health_RBC_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E37 Keywords: real business cycles, health status, health investment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144584 #END 1295 #BEGIN 1296 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Holden, Tom D. Title: Computation of solutions to dynamic models with occasionally binding constraints Abstract: We construct the first algorithm for the perfect foresight solution of otherwise linear models with occasionally binding constraints, with fixed terminal conditions, that is guaranteed to return a solution in finite time, if one exists. We also provide a proof of the inescapability of the “curse of dimensionality” for this problem when nothing is known a priori about the model. We go on to extend our algorithm to deal with stochastic simulation, other non-linearities, and future uncertainty. We show that the resulting algorithm produces fast and accurate simulations of a range of models with occasionally binding constraints. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144569/1/ComputationalPaper_rev.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, C63, E3, E4, E5 Keywords: occasionally binding constraints, zero lower bound, computation, DSGE, linear complementarity problem Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144569 #END 1296 #BEGIN 1297 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Insurance-markets equilibrium with double indivisible labor supply Abstract: This paper describes the lottery- and insurance-market equilibrium in an economy with both private and public sector employment and non-convex labor supply. In addition, when households are constrained to search for jobs only in a certain sector, the framework requires that there should be separate insurance markets: a public- and private sector one, which would pool the unemployment risk of the corresponding group of households. The unemployment insurance market segmentation is a new result in the literature and a direct consequence of the non-convexity of the labor supply in each sector and the sorting effect of the sector-type shock introduced in the model setup. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144532/1/insurance_markets_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H31, J21 Keywords: indivisible labor, public employment, insurance, lotteries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144532 #END 1297 #BEGIN 1298 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Business Cycles in Bulgaria and the Baltic Countries: An RBC Approach Abstract: This paper explores the business cycle in Bulgaria and the Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during the 1993-2005 period. The paper aims at deepening the understanding of the nature of output fluctuations. The neoclassical approach will be employed, much in the spirit of the Real Business Cycle (RBC) literature, which gives a general equilibrium picture of the transition process. The model used in this paper follows the methodology of King, Plosser and Rebelo (1988). Both the model and data series show that the major drop in output was due to productivity. In addition, the timing of the banking reforms coincides with the improvement of economic performance. This is a strong indication that banking regulations in place were crucial for the output performance throughout the period in Bulgaria and the Baltic countries, a finding that has important implications for economic policy. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144531/1/RBCpaper_Vasilev.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C68 Keywords: Business cycles, productivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144531 #END 1298 #BEGIN 1299 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Growth and Convergence in the Central and East European Countries towards EU /1992-2002/ Abstract: The main focus of the paper is the growth process in transition countries in the period 1992-2002, by taking the production function approach. The empirical cross-section study performed found that initial life expectancy and net savings speed up growth while death rate, inflation, and terms of trade hamper the increase in GDP. The paper also aims at policy implications, such as better spending in the legal system, health care and social security could help governments foster the restructuring process and decrease the effect of the mistakes done in the past. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144530/1/Growth_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C01 Keywords: Growth, transition countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144530 #END 1299 #BEGIN 1300 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Macroeconomic effects of public-sector unions Abstract: Motivated by the highly-unionized public sectors, the high public shares in total employment, and the public-sector wage premia observed in Europe, this paper examines the importance of public-sector unions for macroeconomic theory. The model generates cyclical behavior in hours and wages that is consistent with data behavior in an economy with highly-unionized public sector, namely Germany during the period 1970-2007. The union model is an improvement over a model with exogenous public employment. In addition, endogenously-determined public wage and hours add to the distortionary effect of contractionary tax reforms by generating greater tax rate changes, thus producing higher welfare losses. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144529/1/AV_public_sector_unions_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E62, J51 Keywords: public sector labor unions, fiscal policy, public wages, public employment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144529 #END 1300 #BEGIN 1301 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Welfare gains from the adoption of proportional taxation in a general-equilibrium model with a grey economy: the case of Bulgaria's 2008 flat tax reform Abstract: This paper provides a quantitative evaluation of the welfare effect of the introduction of proportional taxation in Bulgaria in 2008, an effect that operates through the grey economy channel. Using a general-equilibrium model, augmented with informal sector, a computational experiment is performed to evaluate the welfare gain from the adoption of proportional taxation. The lower effective tax burden in the new tax regime produces a relocation of people into the official sector, stimulates investment, and increases output and consumption. Finally, under the flat tax regime, the size of the informal sector is smaller, and quantitatively consistent with OECD (2009) and European Commission (2012) figures. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144528/1/flat_tax_Bulgaria_informal_sector_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D91, J46 Keywords: taxation, informal sector Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144528 #END 1301 #BEGIN 1302 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: The welfare effect of flat income tax reform: the case of Bulgaria Abstract: This paper is a first attempt to provide a quantitative evaluation of the welfare gains resulting from the introduction of flat income taxation in Bulgaria in 2008. Using a calibrated micro-founded endogenous growth model with physical and human capital accumulation to Bulgarian data, a computational experiment is performed to quantify the dynamic welfare effect of progressive income taxation vis-a-vis flat income taxation. The model demonstrates that significant welfare gains, measured in terms of per-period consumption, can be realized with the introduction of flat income taxation. In addition, these welfare gains increase proportionally with the length of the time horizon considered. Finally, sensitivity analysis was performed to demonstrate that the results obtained are robust. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144527/1/flat_tax_Bulgaria_Vasilev_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D91, O41 Keywords: taxation, endogenous growth, human capital, welfare gains Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144527 #END 1302 #BEGIN 1303 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Progressive taxation and (in)stability in an exogenous growth model with an informal sector Abstract: We show that in a exogenous growth model with informal economy calibrated to Bulgarian data under the progressive taxation regime (1993-2007), the economy exhibits equilibrium indeterminacy due to the the presence of an unofficial production. These results are in line with the findings in Benhabib and Farmer (1994, 1996) and Farmer (1999). Also, the findings in this paper are in contrast to Guo and Lansing (1988) who argue that progressive taxation works as an automatic stabilizer. Under the flat tax regime (2008-14), the economy calibrated to Bulgarian data displays saddle-path stability. The decrease in the average effective tax rate addresses the indeterminacy issue and eliminates the "sink" dynamics. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144525/1/stability_informal_sector_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D91, J46 Keywords: Progressive taxation, Informal economy, Equilibrium (in)determinacy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144525 #END 1303 #BEGIN 1304 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Progressive taxation and (in)stability in an endogenous growth model with human capital accumulation: the case of Bulgaria Abstract: We show that in a endogenous growth model with human accumulation calibrated to Bulgarian data under the progressive taxation regime (1993-2007), the artificial economy exhibits equilibrium indeterminacy. These results are in line with the recent findings in Chen and Guo (2015) in the context of an AK endogenous growth model. Also, the findings are in contrast to Guo and Lansing (1988) who argue that progressive taxation works as an automatic stabilizer. Progressive taxation in our setup lead to equilibrium indeterminacy. This indeterminacy result could explain, at least partially, why the economic performance under the progressive taxation regime in Bulgaria was not impressive. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144212/1/stability_paper_v7.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E62 Keywords: Progressive Income Taxation, Human capital, Endogenous Growth, Equilibrium (In)determinacy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144212 #END 1304 #BEGIN 1305 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Di Nola, Alessandro Author-Name: Kocharkov, Georgi Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Productivity, Taxation and Evasion: A Quantitative Exploration of the Determinants of the Informal Economy Abstract: This paper evaluates the relative importance of labor productivity vs. income taxes and social security contributions for tax compliance in an economy with a large degree of informality. To this end, we build a bargaining model in which matched employer-employee pairs of heterogeneous productive capacities make decisions on output sharing and the degree of tax evasion. The quantitative model takes as inputs the income tax structure and the estimated aggregate productivity series. The estimation strategy recovers the bargaining parameters and the cost function of tax evasion in the model by matching the empirical series for the size of the informal sector (2000-2014). The results from the performed computational experiments point out that the most important factor is labor productivity, followed by the corporate tax. Income tax progressivity in Bulgaria is found not to be quantitatively relevant for tax evasion. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144164/1/DKV_draft.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H24, H25 Keywords: informal economy, tax evasion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144164 #END 1305 #BEGIN 1306 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pesheva, Milena Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Endogenizing Total Factor Productivity: The Foreign Direct Investment channel in the case of Bulgaria (2004-2013) Abstract: This paper estimates the contribution of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) of Bulgaria for the period 2004-2013. Since TFP captures the joint efficiency of capital and labor, it is likely to be influenced by investments from abroad. As predicted by theory, a positive relationship between TFP and FDI is documented. The effect of ignoring the implications of this model on the economy is explored through simulations and it is proven that this action leads to a distorted view of the growth path of the economy. The standard Ramsey (optimal) growth model, augmented with the FDI channel is used to compare the speed of convergence to an identical setup without FDI. The results of the study can serve as justification for introduction of policies and development of governmental strategies for attracting FDI inflows. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144163/1/anonymized_pdf.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E13, E22 Keywords: TFP, FDI Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144163 #END 1306 #BEGIN 1307 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gesheva, Nadezhda Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Revisiting the Invisible Hand Hypothesis: A Comparative Study between Bulgaria and Germany Abstract: This paper examines Adam Smith’s concept of an Invisible Hand of the market in light of the underlying assumptions for the theory to hold. Furthermore, the study focuses on Total Factor Productivity as a measure of efficiency of resource allocation, employs growth accounting in Bulgaria relative to a frontier country (Germany), and tries to explain the Total Factor Productivity gap with the difference in the quality of institutions and economic freedom performance (where the latter is based on the Freedom Index Indicators). Satisfactory results have been obtained, favoring the hypothesis that freer markets perform better and a “catching up” effect of Bulgaria’s Total Factor Productivity levels towards those of Germany has been observed. Finally, the study provides policy recommendations facilitating the Invisible Hand Process in Bulgaria for a more rapid convergence towards Germany’s productivity levels. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144162/1/IHM_publication.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C82, O11 Keywords: Invisible Hand of the Market, Free Market Economy, Total Factor Productivity, Convergence Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144162 #END 1307 #BEGIN 1308 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Galego, Aurora Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: Understanding the Transition to Work for First Degree University Graduates in Portugal -- The Case of the University of Évora Abstract: A traditional way of looking at the importance of universities assumes that these are sources of many positive effects from the point of view of the inputs, i.e. from a demand side perspective. In accordance to this perspective, the importance of a university can be measured by its multiplier effects, at a regional or national level. This perspective can be complemented with the analysis of the issues associated with the transition to work by their graduates. The paper thus analyses the factors that reveal to be explanatory of the time spent by first degree students of a small university in Portugal, the University of Évora, in order to enter the labour market. In doing so, we employ a sample of 767 students and estimate several specifications of discrete-time duration models. The results show that there are significant differences among the students from the several courses and highlight the importance of the final mark in the course. On the other hand, we did find any significant differences between male and female students. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144149/1/wp_2009_06.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C41, I23, J64 Keywords: Duration Models, Graduates, Labour Market, Universities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144149 #END 1308 #BEGIN 1309 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caetano, José Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: Economic Freedom and Foreign Direct Investment -- How different are the MENA countries from the EU? Abstract: The risk perceived by investors is crucial in the decision to invest, in particular when it concerns a foreign country. The investment risk associated is a multi-faceted element given that it reflects many aspects that are relevant to (foreign) investors, such as the level of transparency, corruption, rule of law, governance, etc. In this paper we consider the level of economic freedom, as provided by the "Heritage Foundation", for the most recent years, in order to analyse how is this measure of risk related to the inward foreign direct investment performance index, as provided by the UNCTAD. Given the subjectivity of risk an appropriate methodology consists on using fuzzy logic clustering, which is applied in the paper in order to verify how different the MENA region is from the set of EU-member states. The results show that economic freedom and inward FDI are positively associated, in particular in the cluster of countries that present a higher economic freedom. Of particular interest is the result that some MENA countries belong to the same cluster of most of the EU-countries. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/144148/1/wp_2009_02.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C49, E22, F21 Keywords: Economic Freedom, European Union, Foreign Direct Investment, Fuzzy Clustering, Institutions, Middle East North Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:144148 #END 1309 #BEGIN 1310 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: The Political Economics Side of the J-Curve Abstract: About twenty years ago, an article by van der Ploeg analysed the implications of the J-curve effect for the political business cycle in a small open economy [van der Ploeg (1989c)]. It was them shown that a sudden jump on the exchange rates in the election day should be observed if the government, in order to maximise its popularity, explores a J-curve effect. As a way of celebrating this work, that should have been more influential, i is presented in the paper a simulation study, which confirms the overvaluation result a la van der Ploeg. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142777/1/wp_2008_02.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, E32, F31 Keywords: Exchange Rates, J-Curve, Partisan Business Cycles, Political Business Cycles Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142777 #END 1310 #BEGIN 1311 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: What Does Economics Assume About People’s Knowledge? Who knows? Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to explore, from an assessment viewpoint, the ideas below. Economics, as a social science, has always considered sets of individuals with assumed characteristics, namely the level of knowledge, although in an implicit way in most of the cases. In this sense, an influential approach in Economics assumed that society, as a global set of individuals, was characterised by a certain level of knowledge that, indeed, could be associated with the one of its representative agent. In fact, an attentive recall of the evolution of these matters in Economics will immediately recognise that, since the very first economic models of the government, it was assumed that the level of knowledge of society, represented by a set of voters, was not the same as the one of the agent being elected, i.e. the government. The irrelevance of the difference in the level of knowledge of economic agents was soon abandoned after some seminal works of Hayek and Friedman. More recently, the viewpoint of Economics has changed by focusing on the characteristics (e.g. knowledge) of individuals, who may interact in sub-sets of society. From this point of view is clearly relevant, given the close connection with the assumed level of knowledge, to distinguish the adaptive behaviour from the rational one, as well as the full rational from the bounded rationality behaviour by people. Quite recent developments in the Economics of Knowledge, i.e. the so-called learning models, have been considered as more realistic approaches to model the process by which individuals acquire knowledge, for instance from other individuals that are, themselves, acquiring knowledge. Creation-Date: 2007 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142776/1/wp_2007_04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A12, B41, C91, D83 Keywords: Bounded Rationality, Economics of Knowledge, Knowledge, Learning, Rationality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142776 #END 1311 #BEGIN 1312 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: On the Synchronisation of Elections -- A differential Games Approach Abstract: The paper offers an analysis of the issues related to the election dates synchronisation between two countries. The first purpose of the paper is to analyse the circumstances in which a government of a single country, considered to be a small economy, has incentives, or not, to synchronise the domestic election dates with the election dates (not necessarily determined in an endogenous way) of a country performing the role of an ‘anchor’, considered to be a big economy. To achieve this purpose, the paper uses an asymmetric version of MILLER and SALMON’s (1990) model in order to derive the optimal domestic electoral period length, which, in this sense, can be said to be endogenously determined. The second main purpose of the paper is to re-analyse the situation being studied by considering that the foreign government also determines its election dates in an optimal way, this leading to a differential game played by the two incumbents from which incentives to totally synchronise the election dates may result. The paper shows that the interests of both economies in what concerns the existing electoral period length in the other economy are not always compatible. Creation-Date: 2006 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142775/1/wp_2006_05.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C73, E32, E61, F42 Keywords: Differential Games, Electoral Business Cycles, Election Dates, Mandates Duration, Synchronisation of Elections Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142775 #END 1312 #BEGIN 1313 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: Output Persistence and Upside Down Electoral Business Cycles. What Does Really Matter? Abstract: This note shows in what circumstances output persistence may invert the pattern of the electoral cycle when inflation expectations are of the adaptive or rational type and the government preferences are quadratic over output and inflation. Creation-Date: 2006 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142774/1/wp_2006_04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E23, E32, E52, E61 Keywords: Electoral Cycles, Output Persistence Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142774 #END 1313 #BEGIN 1314 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chowdhury, Nasif Title: The Impact of Electronic Word-of-Mouth on Consumers’ Purchase Intentions in Bangladesh Telecommunication Industry Abstract: Electronic informal (eWOM) is a rising promoting background for customers which affect their evaluation of various existing brands and items, for example, versatile brands through online correspondence channels. The World Wide Web is a magnificent pattern of the thousand years that the key pattern in correspondence has planned. Correspondence is a crucial capacity of the web that is not seen in other media. The World Wide Web gives likelihood to make points of interest to individuals, for example, the distributed business sector, the capacity to return subtle elements through telephone, aides, and productions make considering potential outcomes, and also self-learning. Movies and TV give pleasure, and every one of these things are done in the meantime. This study expects to clarify the impact of electronic informal (eWOM) on customers buy goals in Bangladesh telecom industry. Notwithstanding, the primary components are having audits and the ability to convey, which customizes the correspondence procedure. This study has been roused by the need to see how eWOM impacts buyers' buy goals as to the Bangladesh point of view. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142747/3/The%20Impact%20of%20Electronic%20Word%20of%20Mouth%20on%20Consumers%20purchase%20intentions%20in%20Bangladesh%20Telecommunication%20Industry-2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M31 Keywords: Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM), Consumers Purchase Intentions, Bangladesh Telecommunication Industry, Word of Mouth Marketing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142747 #END 1314 #BEGIN 1315 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Iritié, B. G. Jean Jacques Title: Economic issues of innovation clusters-based industrial policy : a critical overview Abstract: Criticisms vis-à-vis cluster policy are numerous, often confusing and really unhelpful; while some authors systematically question the merits, others on the contrary play a genuine role of counsel in his favour. This paper attempts to refocus the debate and analyses the economic issues, impacts and implications of the innovation clusters policy. To do this, we take a critical view of the literature on clusters, focusing on analysis of the effects of three industrial dynamics in perpetual movement within clusters, especially research and development, industrial location and technology cooperation. We assume that innovation cluster "potentiates", by a synergistic action, the beneficial effect of each of these three industrial dynamics in favour of localised firms. However, it appears from the analysis that the hopes and expectations invested in cluster policy must be reconsidered and relativised. So the reasons for the rising power of cluster policies must be sought elsewhere than in a necessarily consensual and tangible evidence of positive impacts of clusters. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142746/1/Revised-LWP2-2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O25, O30, R10 Keywords: cluster, innovation, competitiveness pole, research and development, industrial location, technology cooperation, localised knowledge spillovers, LKS, epistemic communities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142746 Note: Revised and expanded of LADEG Working Paper No. 002/2015 #END 1315 #BEGIN 1316 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caetano, José Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: Corruption and Foreign Direct Investment. What kind of relationship is there? Abstract: Globalization and technological innovations create investment opportunities for firms worldwide. In fact, while firms pursue foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities on a global basis, countries compete to attract these flows. Investment decisions by firms depend on complex and distinct factors. In particular, in the case of foreign investment one of these factors relates to the perception that investors have about the level of risk and/or corruption (or transparency) that characterises countries. Recent studies suggest that corruption negatively impacts on FDI and may act as a disincentive to investment. By using information for 97 countries, concerning inward FDI performance and perceived level of corruption, this paper intends to analyse how corruption influences on the FDI. Given that a certain level of perceived corruption can, in fact, be subject to different subjective evaluations by investors, the paper uses a fuzzy logic approach in order to determine conceivable clusters in the FDI-corruption space. The use of fuzzy clustering techniques reveals the existence of two well-defined clusters: one is formed by high-level corruption countries, where, indeed, corruption is negatively correlated, in a significant way, with FDI; the other is formed by low-level corruption countries, where the influence of corruption on FDI is not so evident. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142738/1/wp_2005_18.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C49, E22, F21 Keywords: Corruption, Foreign Domestic Investment, Fuzzy Clustering Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142738 #END 1316 #BEGIN 1317 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mendes, Maria Filomena Author-Name: Guerreiro, Gertrudes Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: Fertility in Portugal. How persistent is it? Abstract: The decline in fertility that has been observed in Portugal is an apparent fact. From 1960 to 2002, the average number of children by woman has decreased from 3.1 to 1.5. Not ignoring this strong evidence of a sustainable decrease in fertility, the fact is that the numbers on the fertility rates by women' ages show different realities. At the first sight, the decline in fertility of younger women has been the result of a postponement of births given that a general increase in fertility rates has been observed for older women. A question that then comes up is the following: are these observed trajectories sustainable in the sense of reflecting persistence in time or are just mere phases of a cycle in fertility? The paper intents to start giving an answer to that question by the use of statistical techniques, in a univariate approach, which are adequate to measure the degree of persistence over time. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142737/1/wp_2005_12.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C22, J11, J13 Keywords: Fertility, Persistence, Portugal Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142737 #END 1317 #BEGIN 1318 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: How to Classify a Government? Can a Neural Network do it? Abstract: An electoral cycle created by governments is a phenomenon that seems to characterise, at least in some particular occasions and/or circumstances, the democratic economies. As it is generally accepted, the short-run electorally-induced fluctuations prejudice the long-run welfare. Since the very first studies on the matter, some authors offered suggestions as to what should be done against this electorally-induced instability. A good alternative to the obvious proposal to increase the electoral period length is to consider that voters abandon a passive and naive behaviour and, instead, are willing to learn about government's intentions. The electoral cycle literature has developed in two clearly distinct phases. The first one considered the existence of non-rational (naive) voters whereas the second one considered fully rational voters. It is our view that an intermediate approach is more appropriate, i.e. one that considers learning voters, which are boundedly rational. In this sense, one may consider neural networks as learning mechanisms used by voters to perform a classification of the incumbent in order to distinguish opportunistic (electorally motivated) from benevolent (non-electorally motivated) behaviour of the government. The paper explores precisely the problem of how to classify a government showing in which, if so, circumstances a neural network, namely a perceptron, can resolve that problem. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142736/1/wp_2005_09.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C45, D72, E32 Keywords: Classification, Elections, Government, Neural Networks, Output Persistence, Perceptrons Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142736 #END 1318 #BEGIN 1319 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: On some of the consequences of being possible to call early elections Abstract: This note presents some of the consequences due to the possibility of having early elections. First of all, elections, whether exogenously or endogenously determined, are relevant to challenge the well known neutrality principle of economic policies under rational expectations. Furthermore, in the particular case of being possible to admit early elections, the electoral advantages of right-wing parties in relation to left-wing parties suffer a diminishment. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142735/1/wp_2005_04.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, E52, E61 Keywords: Early Elections, Median Voter, Partisan Policies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142735 #END 1319 #BEGIN 1320 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: How is Confidence Related to Unemployment in Europe? A fuzzy logic answer Abstract: Notwithstanding the numerous applications of fuzzy logic in several fields of economics, it is surprising that, to the best of our knowledge, so very few applications have been made in modelling approximations of subjective economic variables, such as confidence, satisfaction or even expectations, by objective ones, such as unemployment, output or inflation. This gap in the literature is accompanied by a lack on the availability of data concerning those subjective variables. Given that one of the main concerns of fuzzy logic is to capture approximate rather than exact forms of reasoning, and this also characterises many economic situations, such as in fact forming intrinsically subjective measures of confidence, this logic can and should indeed be used to understand how some of those subjective measures can be approximated by objective ones. This task is accomplished in the paper by the use of data on consumer confidence and on the unemployment rate for the pre-enlargement fifteen European Union member states. The results indicate the clear importance of unemployment on confidence, which is a result that should be taken into account when analysing policy-making that, from a naïve and/or easy viewpoint, considers confidence as a relevant variable but ignores unemployment. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142734/1/wp_2005_01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C10, C82, E32 Keywords: Confidence, European Union, Fuzzy Logic, Unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142734 #END 1320 #BEGIN 1321 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: Economic Policies and Elections. A principal-agent point of view Abstract: One of the most crucial lessons to be taken from the literature on electoral business cycles is that the short- run electorally-induced fluctuations prejudice the long-run welfare. Since the very first studies on the matter, some authors offered suggestions as to what should be done against this electorally-induced instability. The problem assumes an interesting form, given that we can presume that if electoral business cycles do exist it is because voters, being ignorant, allow them to exist or, indeed, because the government, in the case of implementing policies that are optimal in the long-run for society, may be electorally punished by voters. As the government's optimal policies depend crucially on the behaviour of voters, the paper analyses the circumstances under which a non-representative behaviour of voters may induce the government to behave as representative of the society's interests (without punishing it). As is well-known, governments may have the temptation to exploit the Phillips curve. This discretionary way of making economic policy generates an inflation bias. The literature has then evolved to analyse possible punishment strategies in order to avoid that discretionary behaviour. Traditionally it is considered that the punishment takes the form of people considering announced policies as non-credible. This introduces the problem of arranging the right mechanism or moment in time to implement these punishment strategies. It turns out that elections are indeed the appropriate mechanism to punish or to reward the past behaviour of the incumbent. In fact, elections can be used to turn voters, i.e. the public into the principal who has all the incentives to motivate the government, as the agent, to use the appropriate policies. The paper analyses the circumstances under which an optimal contract can be established between the electorate and the government in order to guarantee that the government behaves in accordance with the true interests of the society. Creation-Date: 2004 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142709/1/wp_2004_09.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, E32, E61 Keywords: Economic Policies, Elections, Optimal Contracts, Principal-Agent Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142709 #END 1321 #BEGIN 1322 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Author-Name: Guerreiro, Gertrudes Title: Understanding the Election Results in Portugal. A spatial econometrics point of view Abstract: The great majority of the theoretical analysis about electoral cycles has considered the national space as the territory of interest for the study of the economic consequences of an electoralist behaviour by the central government. This fact, in conjunction to the nature of the data most commonly available, has lead many authors to empirical studies which, by the use of more or less sophisticated econometric techniques, intend to verify the empirical evidence of electoral cycles whether in their political versions or in their partisan versions. Given that the election results for the main parties, at least for Portugal, clearly reflect some spatial localization we find rather intriguing to verify that so very few of those empirical studies use spatial econometrics techniques. This being said, the main objective of the paper is to analyse the results corresponding to the last legislative election that took place in Portugal, from the partisan viewpoint, by the use of well-known techniques of spatial econometrics. The confrontation of the results with the ones obtained ignoring the spatial localization of the data will lead us to the nature and extent of the improvement on the results obtained by spatial econometrics techniques in what concerns the detection of empirical evidence supporting the existence of a link between voters' ideology and the election results obtained by the two main parties in Portugal. Creation-Date: 2003 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142695/1/wp_2003_12.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C31, E32, R12 Keywords: Elections, Partisan Models, Portugal, Spatial Econometrics, Voters Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142695 #END 1322 #BEGIN 1323 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rahmanov, Ramiz Author-Name: Qasimov, Asif Author-Name: Tahirova, Gulzar Title: The Labor Market in Azerbaijan Abstract: This paper analyzes the development of the labor market in Azerbaijan from the early 1990s until the early 2010s. The analysis shows that the labor market has a range of positive characteristics such as high labor force participation and employment, low youth and female unemployment, flexibility, and a low share of the "working poor", all of which can beneficially influence future economic prospects. However, the Azerbaijani labor market also experiences certain undesirable developments, such as an increase in the share of labor with primary education, a shift towards elementary occupations, a high share of self-employment, and an excess of labor cost growth over productivity growth, all of which can threaten further economic development. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142694/1/The%20labor%20market%20in%20Azerbaijan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J21, J63, J65, P23, P31 Keywords: labor market, labor market flexibility, employment, unemployment, labor force, Azerbaijan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142694 #END 1323 #BEGIN 1324 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Caleiro, António Title: Subjective Versus Objective Economic Measures. A fuzzy logic exercise Abstract: It is rather evident that there is much more (statistical) information about objective aggregates, such as inflation, output or unemployment than that concerning subjective aggregates, such as well-being, satisfaction, confidence or even expectations. Due to its characteristics, fuzzy logic can and should indeed be used to understand how some of those subjective measures can be approximated by objective ones. This task is accomplished in the paper by the use of Portuguese data on consumer confidence - the subjective economic measure - and on the unemployment rate - the objective economic measure -. The results clearly indicate that to be a worthwhile exercise as the clear importance of unemployment on confidence is only revealed by the fuzzy logic approximation. Creation-Date: 2003 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142693/1/wp_2003_11.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C10, C82, E32 Keywords: Confidence, Fuzzy Logic, Objective Measures, Subjective Measures Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142693 #END 1324 #BEGIN 1325 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: New Keynesian Phillips Curve Estimation: The Case of Hungary /1981-2006/ Abstract: This paper investigates for the presence of a New Keynesian Phillips (NKPC) curve in Hungary in the period 1981:3-2006:2, following the methodology proposed by Gali and Gertler (1999). They claim that a potential source of inflation may be the sluggish adjustment of real marginal costs to movements in output. The empirical model we test features forward-looking firms who pre-set prices for a couple of periods ahead, using Calvo (1983) pricing rule. In addition, measures of real marginal cost are used instead of the old-fashioned output gap. The reason is that marginal costs are a better proxy for the impact of the productivity gains on inflation, which the ad hoc measure output gap misses. We also estimate a hybrid version of NKPC, where some of the firms are backward-looking, and others are forward-looking in their price-setting behavior. Real marginal costs and forward-looking behavior are statistically significant and quantitatively important in the NKPC. However, there are some econometric issues to be considered, such as the weak identification of the parameters of the structural NKPC as well as those of the hybrid NKPC. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142472/1/NKPC_Hungary.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C22, C26, E24 Keywords: New Keynesian Phillips curve, Hungary, instrumental non-linear GMM Estimation, weak identification Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142472 #END 1325 #BEGIN 1326 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Freydorf, Christoph Author-Name: Kimmich, Christian Author-Name: Koudela, Thomas Author-Name: Schuster, Ludwig Author-Name: Wenzlaff, Ferdinand Title: Wachstumszwänge in der Geldwirtschaft. Zwischenbericht der Wissenschaftlichen Arbeitsgruppe nachhaltiges Geld Abstract: Dieser Beitrag untersucht ökonomische Wachstumsnotwendigkeiten anhand der Funktionsweise der gegenwärtigen Geldwirtschaft im zweistufigen Bankensystem sowie anhand eines bestands- und flussgrößenkonsistenten Modells. Ergebnis des Modells ist, dass die Funktionsweise der Geldwirtschaft wirtschaftliches Wachstum bedingt. Die „Notwendigkeit von Wachstum“ ist dabei als These zu verstehen, dass mittelfristig ohne Wachstum kein sozial-ökonomisches Gleichgewicht möglich ist. Diese ökonomische Wachstumsnotwendigkeit ergibt sich dabei nicht aus der Geldwirtschaft an sich – und auch nicht alleine aus einem positiven Zinsniveau für Kredite –, sondern aus der Kombination von einkommensabhängiger Sparquote und Liquiditätspräferenz. Weil ökologische Nachhaltigkeit gesellschaftlich kaum umsetzbar sein wird, wenn durch die Beschränkung Krisen verursacht und Verteilungskonflikte verschärft werden, muss ökologisch motivierte Wachstumskritik beachten, dass ihre Forderungen nur im Rahmen sozial-ökonomischer Nachhaltigkeit sinnhaft und dauerhaft realisierbar werden. Liegt eine monetär bedingte Wachstumsnotwendigkeit zur Aufrechterhaltung sozial-ökonomischer Stabilität vor, erwächst für die Wirtschaftswissenschaft die Aufgabe, in ihren Modellen und Analysen dem besonderen Charakter der Geldwirtschaft stärker Rechnung zu tragen um erklären zu können, warum und wie genau Volkswirtschaften ohne Wachstum in die Krise geraten. Und um darauf aufbauend Wege zu einer nachhaltige Geld- und Finanzarchitektur aufzuzeigen, welche die ökologische Forderung nach weniger, Null- oder Negativ-Wachstum einzulösen erlaubt. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142471/1/geld-und-nachhaltigkeit_de__wachstumszwaenge_in_der_geldwirtschaft.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q01, O44, E12, E43 Keywords: Wachstumszwang, Geldwirtschaft Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142471 #END 1326 #BEGIN 1327 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Modeling Real Private Consumption Expenditure in Bulgaria after the Currency Board Implementation (1997-2005) Abstract: In this paper, an econometric model of consumption in Bulgaria for the period 1997-2005 is constructed. The Error-Correction Model (ECM) approach is employed and long-run relationship between household consumption and income was found. The primary purpose of this empirical paper is to get a better understanding of the factors driving household consumption in Bulgaria and to estimate a consumption function to be used for medium-term forecasting. It is shown that all households behave in a Keynesian way, basing their consumption decisions on current income. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142469/1/BG_cons_function_submission.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E21, E27 Keywords: Keynesian consumption function, Error-correction model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142469 #END 1327 #BEGIN 1328 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Analysis of Sovereign Yield Spreads Behavior: The French Bonds Case Abstract: The introduction of the Euro has led to price level stability and fostered growth within the European Union. Consequently, since its launch as a store of value and unit of account, there has been a clear convergence between the yield of France’s sovereign debt and German benchmark. This paper tries to estimate the effect of certain macroeconomic fundamentals on the yield spread of French 10-year bonds, relative to the German Bund of the same maturity for the period January 1999-March 2003. It reaches the conclusion that staying in line with Maastricht criteria decreases the risk premium of external debt. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142468/1/French_bonds_Vasilev.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G12, G15 Keywords: French bonds, yield spreads Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142468 #END 1328 #BEGIN 1329 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Is There an Environmental Kuznets Curve: Empirical Evidence in a Cross-section Country Data Abstract: This paper tests the effect of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita on pollution, measured by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per capita. World Bank 1992 study claims that pollution rises with income, but at a slower and slower speed and eventually declines. Using Ordinary Least Squares estimation procedure, we find a quadratic relationship ("inverted U-hypothesis") between CO2 emissions per capita and GDP per capita in a cross-section of world countries with data from 2000, thus proving the existence of Environmental Kuznets Curve. The result is important because it may have important policy implications. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142467/1/Environmental%20Kuznets%20Curve.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Q2 Keywords: Environmental Kuznets curve, pollution Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142467 #END 1329 #BEGIN 1330 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: RBC Models and the Hours-Wages Puzzle: Puzzle Solved! Abstract: This paper shows that a modified real business cycle (RBC) model, one that includes home production and fiscal spending shocks, can solve one of the RBC puzzles and generates zero correlation between wages and hours. In addition, the micro-founded model presented here provides a sound theoretical model to analyze fiscal policy in a neoclassical framework and is able to capture many aspects of the data that the benchmark RBC model was missing. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142466/1/warsaw.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C63, E62, E32 Keywords: fiscal policy, home production, government spending shock, indivisible labor Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142466 #END 1330 #BEGIN 1331 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: On the cost of opportunistic behavior in the public sector: A General-Equilibrium approach Abstract: This paper studies the wasteful effect of bureaucracy on the economy by addressing the link between opportunistic behavior of government bureaucrats and the public sector wage bill. In particular, public officials are modeled as individuals competing for a larger share of those public funds. A simple extraction technology in the gov- ernment administration is introduced in a standard Real-Business-Cycle (RBC) setup augmented with detailed public sector. The model is calibrated to German data for the period 1970-2007. The main findings are: (i) the model performs well vis-a-vis the data; (ii) Due to the existence of a significant public sector wage premium and the high public sector employment, a substantial amount of working time is spent in opportunistic activities, which in turn leads to significant losses in terms of output; (iii) The model-based loss measures obtained for the EU-12 countries are highly-correlated to indices of bureaucratic inefficiency. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142465/1/RS_final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E69, E62, E32, J45 Keywords: rent-seeking, opportunism, bureaucracy, government emloyment and wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142465 #END 1331 #BEGIN 1332 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: On the cost of rent-seeking by government bureaucrats in a Real-Business-Cycle framework Abstract: This paper studies the wasteful effect of bureaucracy on the economy by addressing the link between rent-seeking behavior of government bureaucrats and the public sector wage bill, which is taken to represent the rent component. In particular, public officials are modeled as individuals competing for a larger share of those public funds. The rent-seeking extraction technology in the government administration is modeled as in Murphy et al. (1991) and incorporated in an otherwise standard Real-Business-Cycle (RBC) framework with public sector. The model is calibrated to German data for the period 1970-2007. The main findings are: (i) Due to the existence of a significant pub- lic sector wage premium and the high public sector employment, a substantial amount of working time is spent rent-seeking, which in turn leads to significant losses in terms of output; (ii) The measures for the rent-seeking cost obtained from the model for the major EU countries are highly-correlated to indices of bureaucratic inefficiency; (iii) Under the optimal fiscal policy regime,steady-state rent-seeking is smaller relative to the exogenous policy case, as the government chooses a higher public wage premium, but sets a much lower public employment, thus achieving a decrease in rent-seeking. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142339/1/rentseeking.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, J45 Keywords: rent-seeking, bureaucracy, public employment, government wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142339 #END 1332 #BEGIN 1333 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Fiscal policy in a Real-Business-Cycle model with labor-intensive government services and endogenous public sector wages and hours Abstract: Motivated by the high public employment, and the public wage premia observed in Europe, a Real-Business-Cycle model, calibrated to German data (1970-2007), is set up with a richer government spending side, and an endogenous private-public sector labor choice. To illustrate the effects of fiscal policy, two regimes are compared and contrasted to one another - exogenous vs. optimal (Ramsey) policy case. The main findings from the computational experiments performed in this paper are: (i) The op- timal steady-state capital tax rate is zero; (ii) A higher labor tax rate is needed in the Ramsey case to compensate for the loss in capital tax revenue; (iii) Under the optimal policy regime, public sector employment is lower, but government employees receive higher wages; (iv) The benevolent Ramsey planner provides the optimal amount of the public good, substitutes labor for capital in the input mix for public services produc- tion, and private output; (v) Government wage bill is smaller, while public investment is three times higher than in the exogenous policy case. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142338/1/fiscal.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E62, H40, J5 Keywords: government spending, public employment and wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142338 #END 1333 #BEGIN 1334 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Cyclical and welfare effects of public sector unions in a Real-Business-Cycle model Abstract: Motivated by the highly-unionized public sectors, the high public shares in total employment, and the public sector wage premia observed in Europe, this paper examines the importance of public sector unions for macroeconomic theory. The model gen- erates cyclical behavior in hours and wages that is consistent with data behavior in an economy with highly-unionized public sector, namely Germany during the period 1970-2007. The union model is a significant improvement over a model with exogenous public employment. In addition, endogenously-determined public wage and hours add to the distortionary effect of contractionary tax reforms by generating greater tax rate changes, thus producing significantly higher welfare losses. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142337/1/unions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C68, E62, J45, J51 Keywords: fiscal policy, public employment, public wages, public sector unions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142337 #END 1334 #BEGIN 1335 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Search and matching frictions and business cycle fluctuations in Bulgaria Abstract: In this paper we investigate the quantitative importance of search and matching frictions in Bulgarian labor markets. This is done by augmenting an otherwise standard real business cycle model a la Long and Plosser (1983) with both a two-sided costly search and fiscal policy. This introduces a strong propagation mechanism that allows the model to capture the business cycles in Bulgaria better than earlier models. The model performs well vis-a-vis data, especially along the labor market dimension, and in addition dominates the market-clearing labor market framework featured in the stan- dard RBC model, e.g Vasilev (2009), as well as the indivisible labor extension used in Hansen (1985). Creation-Date: 2016 Classification-JEL: D51, E24, E32, J40 Keywords: general equilibrium, unemployment and wages, business cycles, fiscal policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142336 #END 1335 #BEGIN 1336 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Straight-time and Overtime: A Sequential-Lottery Approach Abstract: This note explores the problem of aggregation with non-convex labor supply decisions in an economy with both straight time and overtime. In contrast to Hansen and Sargent (1988), the paper models this as a sequential decision. Instead of changing from one to infinity, with a sequential non-convexity, the aggregate elasticity of labor supply for overtime work is a function of overall participation rate, and the aggregate elasticity of labor supply for full-time work depends on the share of workers doing overtime. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142243/1/overtime_lotteries_TPREF.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J2, E13 Keywords: straight time, overtime, indivisible labor, sequential lottery Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142243 #END 1336 #BEGIN 1337 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Aggregation with a mix of indivisible and continuous labor supply decisions: the case of home production Abstract: This note explores the problem of non-convex labor supply decision in an economy with both discrete and continuous labor decisions. In contrast to the setup in Mc- Grattan, Rogerson and Wright (1997), here each household faces an indivisible labor supply choice in the market sector, while it can choose to work any number of hours in the non-market sector. We show how lotteries as in Rogerson (1988) can again be used to convexify consumption sets, and aggregation over individual preferences. With a mix of discrete and continuous labor supply decisions, disutility of non-market work becomes separable from market work, and the elasticity of the latter increases from unity to infinity. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142234/1/mix_aggregation.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E1, J22 Keywords: indivisible labor, non-convexities, home production, lotteries, aggregation, discrete-continuous mix Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142234 #END 1337 #BEGIN 1338 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Aggregation with a double non-convex labor supply decision: indivisible private- and public-sector hours Abstract: This paper explores the problem of non-convex labor supply decisions in an economy with both private and public sector jobs. To this end, Hansen (1985) and Rogerson's (1988) indivisible-hours framework is extended to an environment featuring a double discrete labor choice. The novelty of the study is that the micro-founded representation obtained from explicit aggregation over homogeneous individuals features different disutility of labor across the two sectors, which is in line with the observed difference in average wage rates (OECD 2011). This theory-based utility function could be then utilized to study labor supply responses over the business cycle. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142233/1/Vasilev_2015a.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J22, J30, J45 Keywords: indivisible labor, public employment, aggregation, labor supply elasticity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142233 #END 1338 #BEGIN 1339 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Aggregation with two-member households and home production Abstract: This note explores the problem of family labor supply decision in an economy with two-member households, joint home production, and fixed cost of joint labor supply. Even though the labor supply decisions are not indivisible per se, the presence of such fixed cost and partners with unequal labor productivity create non-convexities. The note shows how lotteries as in Rogerson (1988) can again be used to convexify consumption sets, and we perform aggregation over individual preferences. The main result demonstrated in the paper is that aggregate preferences of males do not differ from individual level ones. However, for females, the disutility of non-market work at the aggregate becomes separable from market work, but keeps its original (logarithmic) form, while the female labor elasticity of the market hours supply increases from unity to infinity. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142232/1/family_home_production_v4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E1, J22 Keywords: family labor supply, home production, aggregation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142232 #END 1339 #BEGIN 1340 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Zschirnt, Eva Author-Name: Ruedin, Didier Title: Ethnic discrimination in hiring decisions: A meta-analysis of correspondence tests 1990–2015 Abstract: For almost 50 years field experiments have been used to study ethnic and racial discrimination in hiring decisions, consistently reporting high rates of discrimination against minority applicants - including immigrants -, irrespective of time, location, or minority groups tested. While Riach and Rich (2002) and Rich (2014) provide systematic reviews of existing field experiments, no study has undertaken a meta-analysis to examine the findings in the studies reported. In this article we present a meta-analysis of 730 correspondence tests in 42 separate studies conducted in OECD countries between 1990 and 2015. In addition to summarizing research findings, we focus on subgroups to ascertain the robustness of findings, emphasizing differences across countries, gender, and economic contexts. Moreover we test hypotheses with regard to taste-based and statistical discrimination. To this end, we draw on the fact that the groups considered in correspondence tests and the contexts of testing vary to some extent. We focus on first- and second generation immigrants, differences between specific minority groups, the implementation of EU directives, and the length of job application packs. There are many indications that ethnic discrimination in hiring decisions reflects taste-based discrimination, although in some cases statistical discrimination seems to occur. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142176/1/Zschirnt%20Ruedin%202016%20Meta%20Pre-Print.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J7, J71, J15, J22, J61, O15, M51 Keywords: ethnic discrimination, hiring, correspondence test, meta-analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142176 DOI: 10.10800/133693183X.20105.11303279 #END 1340 #BEGIN 1341 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hudde, Ansgar Title: Fertility Is Low When There Is No Societal Agreement on a Specific Gender Role Model Abstract: Many authors argue that societal fertility levels are a function of changing gender relations, but the mechanism behind this association remains unclear and mainly untested. This paper argues that the variation in realized gender roles and gender role attitudes influences fertility: a great variation in attitudes among potential partners causes uncertainty and conflicts, which decreases people’s propensity to choose to have a first or an additional child. How this idea is tested: macro-level regressions are run on 24 countries. A measure for the average gender role attitude as well as the dispersion in attitudes are regressed on the level of fertility. Attitudes are computed through factor analysis and capture opinions towards the gendered division of given tasks and privileges, such as childrearing or the uptake of parental leave. The measure includes attitudes towards different female and male roles. The dispersion in attitudes is the standard deviation of the factor variable in the given country. Attitudinal information are from the ISSP 2012. The analysis gives support to the hypothesis: the greater the variation in gender role attitudes, the lower is the fertility. The association is considerably strong, significant, and holds against various robustness checks. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142175/1/Hudde_2016_Fertility%20Is%20Low%20When%20There%20Is%20No%20Societal%20Agreement%20of%20a%20Specific%20Gender%20Role%20Model%20-%20Discussion%20Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: fertility, gender role attitudes, gender revolution, cross-country comparison, CFR Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142175 #END 1341 #BEGIN 1342 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Goerke, Björn Author-Name: Albers, Sönke Title: Long-term effects of subsidies on firm growth: introducing the concept of outcome additionality Abstract: Public agencies provide subsidies for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to foster their development in terms of employment and sales. Although input and output additionality have been researched intensively little is known about the actual long-term effects of subsidies on SME growth. Relying on a unique dataset of actual SMEs we provide a means of evaluating whether subsidies lead to the expected positive long-term effects. We apply a specifically designed 3-stage-effects-model (3SEM) from the input of resources to the final outcome. The results imply that the effects of subsidies differ across types: While R&D grants unfold enduring positive effects other subsidies like corporate matchmaking might even harm companies. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142164/1/Working%20Paper%20WTSH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L2, H2, O3 Keywords: subsidies, additionality, innovation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142164 #END 1342 #BEGIN 1343 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mehrafshan, Nima Author-Name: Goerke, Björn Author-Name: Clement, Michel Title: The Effect of Unexpected Chart Positions on the Firm Value of Music Labels. An Event Study of Album Success Abstract: We conduct an event study to (1) analyze whether investors revise their expectations about a music album’s success when new chart information is published and (2) estimate how these revised expectations affect the value of a music label. We find that expectations about the success of an album are formed with respect to the performance of the promotional singles and that failure to meet these expectations leads to negative stock returns. However, unexpectedly high chart positions do not lead to significantly higher valuations of labels. The initial album success is anticipated at a very early stage when single charts are released one week prior to the release of the initial album charts. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/142161/1/Working%20Paper%20ESM.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M31, O3 Keywords: Event Study Methodology, Product Samples, Music industry, expectation model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:142161 Note: Eine vorherige Version wurde im Rahmen einer anderen kumulativen Dissertation bereits wie folgt veröffentlicht: Mehrafshan, N. (2013). Essays on Value Creation in Marketing Management. Unveröffentlichte Dissertation. Universität Hamburg. #END 1343 #BEGIN 1344 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andric, Vladimir Author-Name: Arsic, Milojko Author-Name: Nojkovic, Aleksandra Title: Fiscal Pressure of Interest Payments in Serbia - a Time Series Exploration Creation-Date: 2016 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:141322 #END 1344 #BEGIN 1345 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Zhao, Simon Title: Bubble Economics How Big a Shock to China’s Real Estate Sector Will Throw the Country into Recession, and Why Does It Matter? Abstract: How far do China’s property prices need to drop in order to send the country into a recession? What does this question tell us about the way Bubble Economies work? In this paper, we develop a theory of Bubble Economics – non-linear and often “systemic” (in the mathematical sense of the word) forces which cause significant misallocations of resources. Our theory draws on the standard elements of most stories of Bubble Economics, looking at the way banking, construction, savings/investment, local government and equities sectors interact. We find that Bubble Economies’ GDP growth can depend on property prices changes differently at different times -- depending on risks building up in the economy. We argue that a tacit, implicit Bubble Risk Factor might provide a way of understanding a key variable academics and practitioners omit when they try to explain how economies (mis)allocate resources during bubbles. A 15%-20% property price drop could cause recession, if China’s economy resembles other large economies having already experienced property-related asset crises. However, a 40% decline would not be out of the question. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/141314/1/Housing%20Disaster%20Paper%20Online.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D58, N15, L85, G01 Keywords: China recession, bubble economics, fragility, housing bubble Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:141314 #END 1345 #BEGIN 1346 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Traverso, Silvio Title: Heterogeneous effects of international migration: evidences from Bangladesh. Abstract: Despite the general consensus regarding the important role played by international migration in the development of Bangladesh, little has been done to quantitatively estimate its effects. Within the framework of Rubin's causal model, this paper contributes to the literature estimating the net impact of international migration on the welfare of the members of households with migration experience. By taking advantage of the non-parametric nature of matching estimators, the effect of migration is disaggregated on the basis of expenditure quartiles and length of migration period. Additionally, the estimated counterfactual outcomes of migrant households are used to build a transition matrix showing the effect of migration on social mobility. The effect of migration turns out to be positive and statistically significant, even though its magnitude is considerably affected by technical assumptions regarding household economies of scale. International migration appears to be a risky strategy which, if successful, leads to a substantial increase of the well being of migrant households' members. Finally, moving on to normative considerations, the paper argues that the resources deployed for pro-migration policies do not directly benefit the poorer sections of the population. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140882/1/Traverso%20-%20Heterogeneous%20effects%20of%20migration.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, O12, O15, O53 Keywords: International migration, Counterfactual framework, Matching estimation, Bangladesh Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140882 #END 1346 #BEGIN 1347 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Traverso, Silvio Title: The political connotation of international trade and globalisation: a common misunderstanding Abstract: Globalisation is often associated with a conservative political ideology and it usually finds the opposition of progressive political groups. The present essay contends this idea and tries to illustrate how the process is consistent with a progressive political philosophy. It also argues that the removal of this political bias would allow both the promoters of international trade and the progressive political organisations to be more effective in pursuing their own objectives. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140881/1/Traverso%20-%20The%20political%20connotation%20of%20international%20trade%20and%20globalisation%20RG.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Globalisation, Free trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140881 #END 1347 #BEGIN 1348 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Behrens, Doris A. Author-Name: Wang, Yong Title: On the evolutionary edge of migration as an assortative mating device Abstract: In a haystack-type representation of a heterogeneous population that is evolving according to a payoff structure of a prisoner's dilemma game, migration is modeled as a process of 'swapping' individuals between heterogeneous groups of constant size after a random allocation fills the haystacks, but prior to mating. Migration is characterized by two parameters: an exogenous participation-in-migration cost (of search, coordination, movement, and arrangement-making) which measures the migration effort, and an exogenous technology - of coordinating and facilitating movement between populated haystacks and the colonization of currently unpopulated haystacks - which measures the migration intensity. Starting from an initially heterogeneous population that consists of both cooperators and defectors a scenario is postulated under which 'programmed' migration can act as a mechanism that brings about a long-run survival of cooperation. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140816/1/573879206.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140816 #END 1348 #BEGIN 1349 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Fan, C. Simon Title: Rural-to-urban migration, human capital, and agglomeration Abstract: A new general-equilibrium model that links together rural-to-urban migration, the externality effect of the average level of human capital, and agglomeration economies shows that in developing countries, unrestricted rural-to-urban migration reduces the average income of both rural and urban dwellers in equilibrium. Various measures aimed at curtailing rural-to-urban migration by unskilled workers can lead to a Pareto improvement for both the urban and rural dwellers. In addition, the government can raise social welfare by reducing the migration of skilled workers to the city. Moreover, without a restriction on rural-to-urban migration, a government's efforts to increase educational expenditure and thereby the number of skilled workers may not increase wage rates in the rural or urban areas. Creation-Date: 2007 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140812/1/573874875.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B12, H21, O15, O18, R13, R23 Keywords: Rural-to-urban migration, The externality effect of the average level of human capital, Agglomeration economies, Public policies Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140812 #END 1349 #BEGIN 1350 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Fan, C. Simon Title: Losses and gains to developing countries from the migration of educated workers: An overview of recent research, and new reflections Abstract: This paper synthesizes and extends recent research on 'The New Economics of the Brain Drain.' In a unified framework, the paper shows that while recently identified adverse repercussions of the brain drain exacerbate the long-recognized negative impact of the brain drain, longer-term consequences turn the brain drain into the harbinger of powerful gains. These gains have been studied already in recent research, or merit attention in future research. Creation-Date: 2007 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140804/1/573870624.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, I30, J24, J61, J64, O15 Keywords: International migration, Human capital formation, Overeducation, 'Educated unemployment', Beneficial brain drain, Social welfare Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140804 #END 1350 #BEGIN 1351 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Fan, C. Simon Title: The brain drain, "educated unemployment", human capital formation, and economic betterment Abstract: Extending both the 'harmful brain drain' literature and the 'beneficial brain drain' literature, this paper analyzes both the negative and the positive impact of migration by skilled individuals in a unified framework. The paper extends the received literature on the 'harmful brain drain' by showing that in the short run, international migration can result in 'educated unemployment' and overeducation in developing countries, as well as a brain drain from these countries. A simulation suggests that the costs of 'educated unemployment' and overeducation can amount to significant losses for the individuals concerned, who may constitute a substantial proportion of the educated individuals. Adopting a dynamic framework, it is then shown that due to the positive externality of the prevailing, economy-wide endowment of human capital on the formation of human capital, a relaxation in migration policy in both the current period and the preceding period can facilitate 'take-off' of a developing country in the current period. Thus, it is suggested that while a controlled migration of educated individuals may reduce the social welfare of those who stay behind in the short run, it improves it in the long run. Creation-Date: 2007 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140802/1/573870047.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, I30, J24, J61, J64, O15 Keywords: Brain drain, Human capital formation, 'Educated unemployment', Overeducation, Social welfare Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140802 #END 1351 #BEGIN 1352 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: A preference for migration Abstract: At least to some extent migration behavior is the outcome of a preference for migration. The pattern of migration as an outcome of a preference for migration depends on two key factors: imitation technology and migration feasibility. We show that these factors jointly determine the outcome of a preference for migration and we provide examples that illustrate how the prevalence and transmission of a migration-forming preference yield distinct migration patterns. In particular, the imitation of a migrationfavoring preference yields migration scenarios that would not have taken place absent the imitation. Creation-Date: 2007 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140800/1/573869111.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A13, F22, J61, R23 Keywords: Migration-favoring preferences, Imitation and transmission of a preference for migration, Economic behavior Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140800 #END 1352 #BEGIN 1353 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Fan, C. Simon Title: The analytics of seasonal migration Abstract: A framework that yields different possible patterns of migration as optimal solutions to a simple utility maximization problem is presented and explored. It is shown that seasonal migration arises as an optimal endogenous response to a comparison of costs (of living and of separation) and returns (to work) over a set of three alternative options, even if a year-long migration is feasible. Creation-Date: 2006 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140796/1/573713197.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D10, F22, J61, P23, R23 Keywords: Seasonal migration, Optimal types of migration, Cost of living differential, Cost of separation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140796 #END 1353 #BEGIN 1354 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Fan, C. Simon Title: A reluctance to assimilate Abstract: Quite often, migrants appear to exert little effort to absorb the mainstream culture and to learn the language of their host society, even though the economic returns (increased productivity and enhanced earnings) to assimilation are high. We show that when interpersonal comparisons affect individuals' wellbeing and when a more intensive assimilation results in migrants' comparing themselves more with the richer natives and less with fellow migrants, then the effort extended to assimilate will be muted. Creation-Date: 2006 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140795/1/573713065.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, J15, J24, J61, O15, Z10 Keywords: Migrants' behavior, The effort to assimilate, Income gains, Social proximity, Interpersonal comparisons, Deprivation losses Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140795 #END 1354 #BEGIN 1355 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Author-Name: Fan, C. Simon Title: International migration and "educated unemployment" Abstract: This paper provides a novel explanation of 'educated unemployment,' which is a salient feature of the labor markets in a number of developing countries. In a simple job-search framework we show that 'educated unemployment' is caused by the perspective of international migration, that is, by the possibility of a 'brain drain.' In addition, the analysis shows that a developing country may end up with more educated workers despite the brain drain and educated unemployment. Creation-Date: 2006 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140793/1/57371259X.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, J24, J61, J64, O15 Keywords: International migration, Human capital formation, "Educated unemployment", Beneficial brain drain Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140793 #END 1355 #BEGIN 1356 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: Work effort, moderation in expulsion and illegal migration Abstract: Illegal migrants supply a valuable productive input: effort. But their status as illegals means that these migrants face a strictly positive probability of expulsion. A return to their country of origin entails reduced earnings when the wage at origin is lower than the wage at destination. This prospect induces illegal migrants to exert more work effort than comparable workers who face no such prospect. The lower the probable, alternative earnings, the harsher the penalty that illegal migrants will be subjected to upon their return, for a given probability of expulsion, and the higher the level of effort they will exert at destination. While the homecountry wage that awaits the illegal migrants upon their return is exogenous to the host country, the probability of their return is not. Given the home-country wage, a higher probability of expulsion will induce illegal migrants to supply more effort. Hence, different combinations of probabilities of expulsion and home-country wages yield the same level of effort. Thus, variation in the extent to which receiving countries undertake measures aimed at apprehending and expelling illegal migrants can be attributed not to characteristics of the illegal migrants themselves but to a feature that pertains to the illegal migrants' country of origin. Creation-Date: 2006 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140792/1/573712352.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, F22, J61, K42, O15 Keywords: Illegal migration, Probability of expulsion, Home-country wage, Work effort, Moderation in expulsion Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140792 #END 1356 #BEGIN 1357 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stark, Oded Title: Inequality and migration: A behavioral link Abstract: We provide an analytical-behavioral explanation for the observed positive relationship between income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, and the incentive to migrate. We show that a higher total relative deprivation of a population leads to a stronger incentive to engage in migration for a given level of a population's income; that total relative deprivation is positively related to the Gini coefficient; and that, consequently, the Gini coefficient and migration are positively correlated, holding the population's income constant. Creation-Date: 2005 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140785/1/573710090.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Income inequality, Relative deprivation, The Gini coefficient, The incentive to migrate Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140785 #END 1357 #BEGIN 1358 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andrietti, Vincenzo Author-Name: Su, Xejuan Title: Education Curriculum and Student Achievement: Theory and Evidence Abstract: This paper proposes a theory of education curriculum and analyzes its distributional impact on student learning outcomes. Different curricula represent horizontal differentiation in the education technology, thus a curriculum change has distributional effects across students. We test the model using the quasi-natural experiment of the G8 reform in Germany. We find evidence of heterogeneous reform effects consistent with our theory. While the reform improves student test scores on average, such benefits are more pronounced for well-prepared students. In contrast, less-prepared students do not benefit from the reform. Creation-Date: 2016-04-01 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140619/1/wp1607_new.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I21, I28, D04 Keywords: Education curriculum, Horizontal differentiation, Distributional effects, Difference-in-differences, Conditional quantile regression, Unconditional quantile regressionI Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140619 #END 1358 #BEGIN 1359 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andrietti, Vincenzo Title: The causal effects of an intensified curriculum on cognitive skills: Evidence from a natural experiment Abstract: This paper exploits a unique universal educational policy - implemented in most German states between 2001 and 2008 - that compressed the academic-track high school curriculum into a (one year) shorter time span, thereby increasing time of instruction and share of curriculum taught per grade. Using 2000-2012 PISA data and a quasi-experimental approach, I estimate the impacts of this intensified curriculum on cognitive skills. I find robust evidence that the reform improved, on average, the reading, mathematical, and scientific literacy skills acquired by academic-track ninth graders upon treatment. However, I also provide evidence that the reform widened the gap in student performance with respect to parental migration background and student ability. Finally, although the reform did not affect, on average, high school grade retention, I find that the latter increased for students with parental migration background. Taken together, these findings suggest that moving to a compressed high-school curriculum did not compromise and benefited, on average, students' cognitive skills. However, they also raise equity concerns that policy-makers should be aware of. Creation-Date: 2016-04-01 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/140618/1/wp1606_new.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I21, I28, D04 Keywords: G8 reform, Intensified curriculum, Instruction time, Learning intensity, Cognitive skills, Academic-track high school, Grade retention, Remedial education Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:140618 #END 1359 #BEGIN 1360 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tunder, Ralph Author-Name: Martschinke, Belinda Title: Die Beurteilung des Arzneimittelmarkt-Neuordnungsgesetzes (AMNOG) aus Sicht der gesetzlichen Krankenkassen Abstract: Die Umfrage unter einzelnen gesetzlichen Krankenkassen in Deutschland hatte zwei wesentliche Ziele: Zum einen sollten rückblickend die Prozesse, Wirkmechanismen und Ergebnisse des AMNOG betrachtet werden, um zu erheben, wie dies aus der Perspektive einzelner gesetzlicher Krankenkassen wahrgenommen wird. Zum anderen sollte erhoben werden, welche künftigen Bedarfe an Nachbesserungen und Weiterentwicklungen die einzelnen gesetzlichen Krankenkassen vorschlagen. Zum Rückblick: Die Hälfte der Befragten beurteilt das AMNOG (Arzneimittelmarktneuordnungsgesetz) als gelungenes Steuerungsinstrument. Die meistgenannten Auswirkungen des AMNOG werden in der Senkung der Arzneimittelausgaben gesehen, gefolgt von mehr Patientenorientierung. Allerdings gibt es auch kritische Stimmen. So geben drei Krankenkassen an, keinerlei Auswirkungen des AMNOG spüren zu können und es wird vereinzelt die Zunahme an Bürokratie, eine langsamere Verbreitung neuer Arzneimittel oder sogar die Erhöhung der Arzneimittekosten als Auswirkung wahrgenommen. Nach den einzelnen Phasen gefragt schneidet insbesondere die Bewertung des Zusatznutzens durch IQWiG und G-BA gut ab, wohingegen in der Phase der Preisverhandlungen (teils großer) Unmut mit den Verhandlungsergebnissen des GKV-SV oder den Entscheidungen der Schiedsstelle herrscht. Bestandsmarktaufruf und Teilausschluss der Verordnungsfähigkeit für Subgruppen ohne Zusatznutzen werden von der überwiegenden Mehrheit der Befragten befürwortet. Zum Ausblick: Die meisten Vorschläge auf der Nachbesserungs-Agenda betreffen die Preissetzung von innovativen Arzneimitteln. Der mit Abstand am häufigsten genannte Verbesserungsvorschlag seitens der Krankenkassen sieht die rückwirkende Gültigkeit des Erstattungsbetrags ab dem ersten Tag des Inverkehrbringens vor. Nichtsdestotrotz sehen die Krankenkassen aber auch, dass an den Mechanismen der zweckmäßigen Vergleichstherapie weiter nachgebessert werden sollte. Das überwiegende Meinungsbild stimmt mit den vom GKV-Spitzenverband vertretenen Positionen überein. Allerdings ist an vielen einzelnen Stellen zu beobachten, dass die Ansichten mancher Krankenkassen davon abweichen können und somit ein differenziertes Bild von den Auswirkungen des AMNOG auf die Krankenkassen sowie deren Erwartungen an Nachbesserungen im System entsteht. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130542/1/Tunder%26Martschinke_Beurteilung%20AMNOG%20aus%20Sicht%20der%20Krankenkassen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I13, I18 Keywords: AMNOG, Gesetzliche Krankenkassen Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130542 #END 1360 #BEGIN 1361 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rapacki, Ryszard Title: The Role of Licensing in the Strategy of Western Firms in the Eastern European Markets: The Case of Poland Abstract: The aims of this paper are to examine the role of licensing in the strategy of Western firms aimed at increasing their share in East European markets and to establish the pattern of their licensing policy pursued there. It is also expected that, as a by-product of this study, some other important features of East-West trade in licenses will be found out. Creation-Date: 1986 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130521/1/RR_Role%20of%20licensing%20in%20the%20strategy%20of%20Western%20firms_WERI%20working%20paper_1988.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O33, O34 Keywords: East-West trade, licenses Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130521 #END 1361 #BEGIN 1362 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rapacki, Ryszard Title: Poland and Greece - Two Contrasting EU Enlargement Experiences Abstract: The aim of this contribution is a comparative analysis of the challenges Poland and Greece (and more broadly – CEE-10 and GIPS countries) had to face in the past as latecomers to the European Union and are facing now, in the aftermath of the world financial and economic crisis of 2008-09. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130190/1/Poland%20and%20Greece_ZEI%20Discussion%20Paper%20213_2012%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O1, F15 Keywords: European union, economic development Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130190 #END 1362 #BEGIN 1363 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Piekalkiewicz, Marcin Title: Money, Social Capital and Materialism. Evidence from Happiness Data Abstract: Are unhappiness, high concern for money and scarcity of social capital different faces of the same phenomenon? Economists tend to treat these variables as distinct correlates of well-being. On the contrary, positive psychologists argue that they all relate to materialism, a system of personal values ascribing great importance in life to extrinsic motivations and low priority to intrinsic motivations. Using data from two European cross-sectional surveys and the German Socio-Economic Panel, I test the hypothesis that material interests, proxied by the effects of individual and reference income on well-being, are associated with low levels of social capital. The results suggest that people with scarce social capital tend to have greater material interests, whereas the negative effect of income comparisons on well-being is eliminated for individuals exhibiting the highest levels of social capital. The implication of such finding is that promoting social capital reduces people's material concerns and has positive impact on their well-being. The results from a country-level analysis additionally show that, since social capital moderates the importance of income for well-being on individual level, the well-being gap between income groups is significantly smaller in countries with higher social capital. Creation-Date: 2016-03-23 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130185/1/Piekalkiewicz_2016_Money-Social-Capital-and-Materialism.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, I31, Z13 Keywords: subjective well-being, life satisfaction, social capital, materialism, relative income, social comparisons, happiness inequality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130185 #END 1363 #BEGIN 1364 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Wilson, Chris M. Title: Information Matters: A Theoretical Comparison of Some Cross-Border Trade Barriers Abstract: There is widespread evidence that geographical borders reduce trade. This paper presents a theoretical model capable of providing a succinct comparison of three broad forms of trade barriers involving i) trade costs, ii) localized tastes, and iii) information frictions. Despite being traditionally under-researched, it provides the stark finding that information frictions often provide the relatively more powerful marginal effect in reducing cross-border trade, and associated levels of welfare. This result remains robust under a number of extensions that further document the roles of product differentiation and alternative forms of trade costs. Creation-Date: 2016-04-11 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130180/1/WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F10, L13 Keywords: Information Frictions, Search Costs, Trade Costs, Localized Tastes, Product Differentiation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130180 #END 1364 #BEGIN 1365 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brunhart, Andreas Title: The Swiss business cycle and the lead of small neighbor Liechtenstein Abstract: This contribution investigates the business cycles of Switzerland compared to its five neighboring countries Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Liechtenstein. In contrast to the widespread notion of small countries “importing” the business cycle from bigger neighbors, it is shown that the real GDP of the very small neighboring country Liechtenstein is a leading indicator for Switzerland’s economy, regarding the growth rates as well as the output gap. This finding is based on cross correlation analyses and univariate and multivariate Granger causality tests, applying annual data from 1972 until 2013. The significant lead of one year is robust across all the various country-samples, time frames and model specifications. This conclusion indicates the possibility that small nations are not only more opposed to foreign shocks, react more sensitively to international economic fluctuations, and are more volatile than big nations – all stylized facts from small state economics literature –, but that their business cycles are also affected earlier. Abstract: Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht den schweizerischen Konjunkturzyklus vergleichend mit den fünf angrenzenden Staaten Deutschland, Österreich, Italien, Frankreich und Liechtenstein. In Kontrast zu der weitverbreiteten Auffassung, dass kleine Staaten ihren Konjunkturzyklus von Grossstaaten „importieren“, kann gezeigt werden, dass das reale BIP des Klein(st)staates Liechtenstein einen Vorlaufindikator für die Volkswirtschaft der Schweiz darstellt, sowohl was die Wachstumsraten als auch die Trendabweichung (Produktionslücke) betrifft. Diese Schlussfolgerung, auf Jahresdaten für 1972 bis 2013 gestützt, beruht auf Kreuzkorrelationsanalysen sowie univariaten und multivariaten Granger-Kausalitätstest. Der statistisch signifikante Vorlauf von einem Jahr ist robust für alle verwendeten Länder-Samples, Zeitfenster der vorliegenden Jahresbeobachtungen und Modellspezifikationen. Dieses Ergebnis deutet die Möglichkeit an, dass Mikrostaaten nicht nur ausländischen Schocks stärker ausgesetzt sind, empfindlicher auf internationale Fluktuationen reagieren und volatiler als Grossstaaten sind – alles stilisierte Fakten der Literatur der Kleinstaaten-Ökonomie –, sondern dass deren Konjunkturzyklen auch früher betroffen sind. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130154/1/LIAP_051_1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C22, C32, E32, O52 Keywords: Business Cycles, Leading Indicators, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, VAR, Granger Causality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130154 DOI: 10.13091/li-ap-51 #END 1365 #BEGIN 1366 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Brunhart, Andreas Title: Liechtensteinische Wachstumsschwäche bei Produktion und Einkommen verschärft sich. Aktualisierte empirische Beobachtungen Abstract: Liechtenstein wies im Jahre 2012 ein Bruttoinlandsprodukt pro erwerbstätige Person in der Höhe von ungefähr 144’000 CHF aus, während jenes der Schweiz im selben Jahr etwa 131’000 CHF betrug. Zudem verfügte Liechtenstein im Jahre 2012 unter allen EU- und EFTA-Staaten über das klar höchste kaufkraftbereinigte Bruttonationaleinkommen pro Kopf, trotz den im Vergleich zu allen anderen Staaten teils sehr starken Einbrüchen seit 2008 (vgl. Amt für Statistik [2014b, S. 16]). Der wirtschaftliche Wohlstand Liechtensteins ist also nach wie vor ausserordentlich hoch. Allerdings hat Liechtenstein ein volkswirtschaftliches Wachstumsproblem, das sich immer deutlicher manifestiert. Es zeigt sich, dass sich das seit den 1970er-Jahren überdurchschnittlich rasante Wachstum der liechtensteinischen Wirtschaftsleistung stark abgebremst hat, auch gegenüber der Schweiz, Österreich und Deutschland. Die reale Produktionsleistung in Liechtenstein ist noch immer nicht auf dem Niveau von vor der Finanzkrise. Neben den exogenen Schocks der letzten Jahre war der Hauptgrund für diese Entwicklung das sich stark abschwächende Produktivitätswachstum, welches sich bereits seit der Jahrtausendwende nachweisen lässt und sich in jüngster Vergangenheit sogar zu einem Rückgang der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Arbeitsproduktivität ausgeweitet hat. Das (geringe) durchschnittliche Wirtschaftswachstum in diesem Jahrtausend wurde vor allem durch den Ausbau der Beschäftigung gestützt. Das reale Wachstum der Wertschöpfung im Wirtschaftsbereich „allgemeine Dienstleistungen“ verlief nur gering rückläufig seit 1998. In den anderen wichtigen Wirtschaftsbereichen „Industrie und warenproduzierendes Gewerbe“ und „Finanzdienstleistungen“ gingen die Wachstumstrends in jenem Zeitraum allerdings deutlich und kontinuierlich zurück, in den jüngsten Jahren war dort sogar ein strukturelles Negativwachstum zu verzeichnen. In letztgenanntem Wirtschaftsbereich brach die Produktivität regelrecht ein.Auch in Bezug auf das inländische aggregierte Einkommen lässt sich eine Wachstumsverlangsamung feststellen, beziehungsweise eine Schrumpfung in jüngster Vergangenheit. Vergleicht man Liechtenstein mit der Schweiz bezüglich Volkseinkommen pro Kopf, sieht man, dass Liechtenstein die Schweiz gegen Ende der 1960er-Jahre überholt hat und nach stärkerem Wachstum bis Ende der 1980er-Jahre auf fast das doppelte Niveau der Schweiz angestiegen ist. Seit der Jahrtausendwende hat sich das liechtensteinische Volkseinkommen pro Kopf im Trend wieder auf das schweizerische Niveau zubewegt und liegt nach hier vorgenommenen Schätzungen, welche Sondereffekte in der liechtensteinischen Volkswirtschaftlichen Gesamtrechnung der Jahre 2011 und 2012 bereinigen, nur noch geringfügig über dem 1,5-fachen Niveau der Schweiz. Üblicherweise hängt die Einkommensentwicklung einer Volkswirtschaft eng mit der Produktionsentwicklung zusammen, in Liechtenstein ist aber eine fortschreitende Entkopplung von Produktion im Inland und Einkommen der inländischen Bevölkerung zu beobachten.Unter den verschiedenen in dieser Publikation angesprochenen Ursachen der liechtensteinischen Wachstumsschwäche kommen vor allem in Frage: Das Erklärungsmuster der Wachstumstheorie für schwaches Wachstum hoch entwickelter Volkswirtschaften (z. B. der „Catch-Up-Effekt“), der sich ändernde Employment-Mix in Liechtenstein, tiefe Investitionen oder Anpassungseffekte als Folge eines sich schnell ändernden Arbeits-Kapital-Verhältnisses. Für eine tiefere Analyse der Ursachen und die Erarbeitung möglicher wirtschaftspolitischer Handlungsempfehlungen wären weitere (aufwendige) Analysen und Studienprojekte notwendig. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130153/1/LIAK_001_2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130153 DOI: 10.13091/li-aktuell-2015-1 #END 1366 #BEGIN 1367 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dumitru, Ana-Maria Author-Name: Urga, Giovanni Title: Jumps and Information Asymmetry in the US Treasury Market Abstract: This paper analyses the informational role of the trading activity when jumps occur in the US Treasury market. As jumps mark the arrival of new information to the market, we explore the contribution of jumps in reducing the informational asymmetry. We identify jumps using a combination of jump detection techniques. For all maturities, the trading activity is more informative in the proximity of jumps. For the 2- and 5-year maturities, there is a lower level of information asymmetry before the jump, followed by a high level during the jump window and up to 20 minutes after the jump occurs. Thus, the incorporation of new information in prices is not instantaneous but several transactions are needed for the market to completely acknowledge the new information. Finally, we propose the use of the estimated integrated volatility as an exogenous predictor of jump occurrence in addition to announcement surprises. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130148/1/DumitruUrgaJumpsInfoAssym.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G12, G14, C01, C51 Keywords: Jumps, High Frequency Data, Jump Tests, US Treasury Market, Macroeconomic News, Information Asymmetry Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130148 #END 1367 #BEGIN 1368 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Holden, Tom Title: Computation of solutions to dynamic models with occasionally binding constraints. Creation-Date: 2016-04-04 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130143 #END 1368 #BEGIN 1369 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Holden, Thomas Title: Existence and uniqueness of solutions to dynamic models with occasionally binding constraints. Creation-Date: 2016-04-04 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130142 #END 1369 #BEGIN 1370 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rathke, Alex Augusto Timm Author-Name: Rezende, Amaury José Title: Exploring the characteristics of transfer pricing systems across countries Abstract: This paper analyses the characteristics of transfer pricing systems across countries, in order to identify the grouping structures intrinsically related with rules' similarities, and to explore the key characteristics revealed by each group. Applying hierarchical agglomerative technique for comparison of an extensive set of attributes from domestic transfer pricing regulations, we find substantial differences among transfer pricing rules thus to support the segregation of three major groups of countries. The variance across transfer pricing systems refers not only to formal tax provisions, but also to practical requirements and regular actions from authorities, and to governments' openness for discussion of unclear tax positions. Although most regulations follow the main guidelines established by OECD, additional unilateral mechanisms remain, suggesting that countries face distinct profit shifting occurrences and need to create specific measures in attempt to restrain it. It thus implies the existence of gaps in current transfer pricing guidelines, and reinforces the call for new anti-shifting mechanisms to cover a broader set of shifting arrangements. Creation-Date: 2016-03-05 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/130141/1/rathke_rezende_exploring%20the%20characteristics%20of%20tp%20systems%20across%20countries.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F23, H26, K34 Keywords: profit shifting, transfer pricing systems, BEPS Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:130141 #END 1370 #BEGIN 1371 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chatelain, Jean-Bernard Author-Name: Ralf Kirsten Title: Countercyclical versus Procyclical Taylor Principles Abstract: Assuming inflation is a forward variable in Taylor (1999) model, this paper finds opposite policy rule recommandations with counter-cyclical policy rule parameters (Taylor principle: inflation rule larger than one and bounded upwards) in the case of optimal policy under commitment versus pro-cyclical policy rule parameters (inflation rule parameter below zero) in the case of discretionary policy. For the observed high inertia of the Fed with variations of the nominal policy rate within the range [0%,4%] during the great moderation, the cost of time-inconsistency is negligible for optimal policy. Time-inconsistency cannot be the ultimate argument to reject counter-cyclical Taylor principle. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/129796/1/Taylor_v2_figures.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C6, E4, E5 Keywords: Monetary policy, Optimal policy under commitment, Time consistent discretionary policy, Taylor rule Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:129796 #END 1371 #BEGIN 1372 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Angelov, Aleks Author-Name: Vasilev, Aleksandar Title: Using Computer Simulators for Teaching Macroeconomics at the Undergraduate Level Abstract: The integration of technology in the educational process is becoming increasingly important for improving the 21st century student’s understanding and retention of academic material. Being able to readily apply the theory covered in class and to automatically receive immediate feedback is invaluable. And with gamification now permeating into nearly every area of our lives, computer games are proving to be an effective way to successfully engage any audience. Presently, there are only a few freely available macroeconomic simulators on the Internet which are suitable for undergraduate students. The two most prominent ones are the European Central Bank’s €conomia and the Chair the Fed game. But both of them focus solely on monetary policy. Thus, there is no educational simulator that allows students to examine the effects of fiscal policy. This is particularly problematic since Bulgaria and several other countries in the region, which are not part of the Eurozone, operate under a currency board, meaning that they do not have much control over their monetary policy, so the emphasis there is mainly on conducting fiscal policy. Hence, we developed the “Keynesian Macroeconomic Simulator of Fiscal Policy”. Creation-Date: 2016-02-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/129504/1/Simulator%20-%20Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: simulators, fiscal policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:129504 #END 1372 #BEGIN 1373 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martin Mendelski Title: The EU's Rule of Law Promotion in Central and Eastern Europe: Where and Why Does It Fail, and What Can Be Done About It? Abstract: This policy paper identifies two key dilemmas of the EU's rule of law promotion: 1. The problem of supporting unaccountable reformers in a partisan way (ownership dilemma); 2. The problem of valuing quantity over quality (change vs. stability dilemma). It is argued that these dilemmas reinforce legal pathologies which undermine the rule of law in Central and Eastern Europe. The paper offers two unconventional policy recommendations to enhance the quality of rule of law reform and assessment. Creation-Date: 2016-02 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/129437/1/Mendelski%202016.%20The%20EUs%20rule%20of%20law%20promotion%20in%20Central%20and%20Eastern%20Europe.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Central and Eastern Europe, European Union, Europeanization, rule of law Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:129437 #END 1373 #BEGIN 1374 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schulz, Erika Author-Name: Radvansky, Marek Title: Impact of Ageing Populations on Silver Economy, Health and Long-Term Care Workforce Abstract: The socio-ecological transition will led to an overall change in the supply and demand of goods and services and therefore to a change in consumption as well as production structure at national level, but also to changes in the single sectors. It is expected that in particular three sectors will show a high dynamic caused by the demographic change: the health sector, the long-term care sector as well as change in demand and supply for goods and services for the elderly. This policy brief summarize the findings of Work package 12 of NEUJOBS project: “Health care, goods and services for an ageing population”. Main attention is related to current employment situation within these sectors and exploration of possible changes in employment structure across European countries in following 15 years. Creation-Date: 2014-01 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128604/1/Schulz_Impact-Ageing-Populations.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128604 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1374 #BEGIN 1375 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schulz, Erika Title: Impact of Ageing on Long-Term Care Workforce in Denmark Abstract: This paper aims to show the impact of societal change on the demand and supply of long-term care workforce. As age is the major driver of the need for care the growth in the numberof elderly and oldest old will increase the demand for long-term care workforce. Caregiving to the elderly is predominantly the task of the family in almost all European countries. However, the majority of European countries provide some kind of formal care either in institutions, at home or as cash benefits. The amount of provided publicly financed long-term care services and the required formal workforce spread widely across the European countries depending on the long-term care system and the financial resources. We selected five countries: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland and Slovakia which represent different long-term care systems and financial resources. In all studied countries the demand for long-term care workforce will increase significantly. Although also the informal caregiving potential aged 50+ is expected to increase, the increase in the demand for formal care workforce is projected to be higher than the supply. The current shortage of nursing and caring personnel will be strengthened. This requires an expansion of recruitment and retention strategies. Creation-Date: 2014-01 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128603/1/Schulz_Impact-Ageing-Long.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128603 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1375 #BEGIN 1376 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schulz, Erika Author-Name: Geyer, Johannes Title: Societal Change, Care Need and Long-Term Care Workforce in Selected European Countries Abstract: This paper aims to show the impact of societal change on the demand and supply of long-term care workforce. As age is the major driver of the need for care the growth in the number of elderly and oldest old will increase the demand for long-term care workforce. Caregiving to the elderly is predominantly the task of the family in almost all European countries. However, the majority of European countries provide some kind of formal care either in institutions, at home or as cash benefits. The amount of provided publicly financed long-term care services and the required formal workforce spread widely across the European countries depending on the long-term care system and the financial resources. We selected five countries: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland and Slovakia which represent different long-term care systems and financial resources. In all studied countries the demand for long-term care workforce will increase significantly. Although also the informal care giving potential aged 50+ is expected to increase, the increase in the demand for formal care workforce is projected to be higher than the supply. The current shortage of nursing and caring personnel will be strengthened. This requires an expansion of recruitment and retention strategies. Creation-Date: 2013-12 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128602/1/Schulz_2013_Societal-Change-Care.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128602 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1376 #BEGIN 1377 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schulz, Erika Author-Name: Coda Moscarola, Flavia Author-Name: Golinowska, Stanisława Author-Name: Radvansky, Marek Author-Name: Geyer, Johannes Title: Impact of Ageing on Curative Health Care Workforce in Selected EU Countries Abstract: Population ageing combined with a shrinking potential workforce are main factors influencing future socio-economic development and the labour market. This paper has the objective to show the impact of population change on one important sector of the economy, the health care market. As the need for health care services increases with age, the population ageing is expected to have a direct influence on the demand for services and the workforce needed. The shrinking labour force and the currently high share of elderly health professionals will have an impact of the future supply of health workforce. Based on the NEUJOBS demographic scenarios tough and friendly and age- and gender specific utilization rates the changes in the health workforce needed are calculated. Changes in labour supply and employment are shown using the results of the econometric model NEMESIS. In both scenario a decline in population size and an ageing of the population is expected. In the friendly scenario the demand for health care services is expected to increase, although the population size declines. The population ageing has a higher effect on the demand as the shrinking population size. In the tough scenario the significant decline in population dominates the demand for health workforce. Due to the demographic change also a decline in labour supply is calculated, while the employment in health care is estimated to increase in both scenarios. In 2025, the estimated employment is higher than the demand for health workforce. But on the demand side the calculations show only the pure demographic effect. Due to data restrictions we could not take into account the technological medical progress, changes in health utilization behaviour or changes in health status of the population. All these factor have an influence on the future health workforce demand. Creation-Date: 2013-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128601/1/Schulz_2013_Impact-Ageing-Selected.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128601 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1377 #BEGIN 1378 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schulz, Erika Title: Impact of Ageing on Curative Health Care Workforce : Country Report Denmark Abstract: This paper shows the impact of demographic change on the demand for and supply of health care workforce in Denmark. As the need for health care services increases with age, the population ageing is expected to have a direct influence on the demand for health care and its workforce. The future supply of the health workforce is determined by the currently considerable portion of workforce that is approaching retirement age during the next 15 years. Based on the NEUJOBS demographic scenarios tough and friendly and age- and gender specific utilization rates the changes in the health workforce needed are calculated. Changes in labour supply and employment are shown using the results of the econometric model NEMESIS. In both demographic scenarios an increase in population size and an ageing of the population is expected. In 2025 every fifth persons will be at least 65 years old. In the tough scenario with constant fertility rates and a moderate increase in life expectancy the pure demographic effect will lead to an increase in the demand for health professionals by around 8 %. In the friendly scenario with an increase in fertility rates and a higher increase in life expectancy the demand for health workforce will increase by 13 %. The estimated increase in employment will meet the demand in the friendly scenario, while in the tough scenario a strengthening of the health workforce shortage is calculated. Creation-Date: 2013-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128600/1/Schulz_2013_Impact-Ageing-Denmark.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128600 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1378 #BEGIN 1379 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schulz, Erika Title: Impact of Ageing on Curative Health Care Workforce : Country Report Germany Abstract: Population ageing combined with a shrinking potential workforce are main factors influencing future socio-economic development and the labour market. This paper has the objective to show the impact of population change on one important sector of the economy, the health care market. As the need for health care services increases with age, the population ageing is expected to have a direct influence on the demand for services and the workforce needed. The shrinking labour force and the currently high share of elderly health professionals will have an impact of the future supply of health workforce. Based on the NEUJOBS demographic scenarios tough and friendly and age- and gender specific utilization rates the changes in the health workforce needed are calculated. Changes in labour supply and employment are shown using the results of the econometric model NEMESIS. In both scenario a decline in population size and an ageing of the population is expected. In the friendly scenario the demand for health care services is expected to increase, although the population size declines. The population ageing has a higher effect on the demand as the shrinking population size. In the tough scenario the significant decline in population dominates the demand for health workforce. Due to the demographic change also a decline in labour supply is calculated, while the employment in health care is estimated to increase in both scenarios. In 2025, the estimated employment is higher than the demand for health workforce. But on the demand side the calculations show only the pure demographic effect. Due to data restrictions we could not take into account the technological medical progress, changes in health utilization behaviour or changes in health status of the population. All these factor have an influence on the future health workforce demand. Creation-Date: 2013-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128599/1/Schulz_2013_Impact-Ageing-Germany.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128599 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1379 #BEGIN 1380 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schulz, Erika Title: Employment in Health and Long-Term Care Sector in European Countries Abstract: Health care is an important sector in all European countries showing a high dynamic in the past. In 2011 about 23 million persons were employed in health and social care, that is to say 10.4 % of total employment. The share of health care expenditures in GDP was 10 %. The health care workforce increased despite the overall trend of declining employment also during the economic crisis. The high dynamic in health care can be explained by demographic changes as well as by other non-demographic drivers. Due to the ageing of the population a further increase in the demand for health workforce is expected. This paper gives an overview of the health and social workforce in the EU Member States based on the EU labour force survey. It focuses on the current situation and the changes in the last years as well as the differences across the Member States in the three main areas human health care, residential care, and social work. Creation-Date: 2013-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128598/1/Schulz_2013_Employment-Health-Long.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128598 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1380 #BEGIN 1381 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schulz, Erika Title: Ageing, Care Need and Long-Term Care Workforce in Germany Abstract: This paper aims to show the impact of population ageing on the demand and supply of long-term care workforce. As age is the major driver of the need for care the growth in the number of elderly and oldest old will increase the demand for long-term care services. Since 1995 formal care services in institutions and at home as well as cash benefits for informal home care financed by the long-term care insurance system are available, but only for people with at least substantial impairments in activities of daily living. Thus the bulk of caregiving to the elderly is still the task of the family. In Germany the demand for long-term care workforce will increase significantly. Although also the informal caregiving potential aged 50+ is expected to increase, the increase in the demand for formal care workforce is projected to be higher than the supply. The current shortage of nursing and caring personnel will be strengthened. This requires an expansion of recruitment and retention strategies. Creation-Date: 2013-12 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128597/1/Schulz_2013_Ageing-Care-Need.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128597 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1381 #BEGIN 1382 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cullmann, Astrid Author-Name: Geppert, Kurt Title: Socio-Economic Trends and New Territorial Dynamics in the European Union : Convergence and Agglomeration Abstract: In this study, we explore how general socio-economic trends within the European Union are reflected in the development of different types of regions during the period from 1995 to 2009 and how economic disparities between EU regions change in the course of these processes. Overall, there is a decrease of regional inequalities in terms of per-capita income, but this is mainly the result of catching up of the Middle and Eastern European countries. Disparities within the EU15 and the EU 12 have remained constant. Moreover, all of the socio-economic tendencies considered in this study in their spatial dimension the shift towards services, the shift towards technology and knowledge-intensive activities, the rise in labour market participation and the renewed tendency towards urbanisation point at a persistent or even increasing spatial concentration of economic activities. Thus, we observe two overlapping and opposing trends: convergence and agglomeration. Finally, the regions of the new member states have been gradually catching up in terms of income and productivity since 2000, but the wide gap between the EU12 and the EU15 regarding technology, knowledgeintensity and innovation is hardly narrowing. It might take very long for the EU12 countries to approach the development level of the old member states. Creation-Date: 2012-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/128596/1/Cullmann_2012_Socio-Economic-Trends.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:128596 Note: This publication was produced as part of the NEUJOBS project, funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme under contract no. 266833 (http://www.neujobs). #END 1382 #BEGIN 1383 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Holden, Tom D. Title: Existence, uniqueness and computation of solutions to dynamic models with occasionally binding constraints Abstract: We present the first necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a unique perfect-foresight solution, returning to a given steady-state, in an otherwise linear model with occasionally binding constraints. We derive further conditions on the existence of a solution in such models, and provide a proof of the inescapability of the “curse of dimensionality” for them. We also construct the first solution algorithm for these models that is guaranteed to return a solution in finite time, if one exists. When extended to allow for other non-linearities and future uncertainty, our solution algorithm is shown to produce fast and accurate simulations. In an application, we show that widely used New Keynesian models with endogenous states possess multiple perfect foresight equilibrium paths when there is a zero lower bound on nominal interest rates. However, we show that price level targeting is sufficient to restore determinacy in these situations. Creation-Date: 2016-02-11 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/127430/1/paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, C62, C63, E17, E3, E4, E5 Keywords: occasionally binding constraints, zero lower bound, existence, uniqueness, price targeting, DSGE, linear complementarity problem Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:127430 Note: The latest version of this paper is available from: https://github.com/tholden/dynareOBC/raw/master/paper.pdf #END 1383 #BEGIN 1384 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andric, Vladimir Author-Name: Arsic, Milojko Author-Name: Nojkovic, Aleksandra Title: Public Debt Sustainability in Serbia-Evidence from Transition and the Great Recession Creation-Date: 2016-02-09 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:126682 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2715184 #END 1384 #BEGIN 1385 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Steinkraus, Arne Title: Investigating the Carbon Leakage Effect on the Environmental Kuznets Curve Using Luminosity Data Abstract: This paper studies the effect of carbon leakage on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) using satellite nighttime light data. I show that nighttime lighting is an important variable for estimating carbon dioxide emissions that is superior to other existing indicators and covers all countries in the world. I find evidence of an inverted-U shaped relationship between light and, thus, greenhouse gas emissions and income, with a turning point at approximately US $50,000. However, the relationship is primarily driven by changes in the structure of international trade, implying strong carbon leakage effects. Consequently, environmental regulations that become operative in only one part of the world may fail without global coordination. Creation-Date: 2016 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/126084/1/Investigating_the_Carbon_Leakage_Effect_on_the_Environmental_Kuznets_using_luminosity_data_final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F18, F64, Q50 Keywords: Carbon Leakage, Environmental Kuznets Curve, Nighttime Lighting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:126084 #END 1385 #BEGIN 1386 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nuhu, Ahmed Salim Title: Domestic Violence, Intrahousehold Bargaining and Child Health Development in Ghana Abstract: I explore a unique exogenous instrument to examine how the intra-familial position of women influence health outcomes of their children using micro data from Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 2008. Using the 2 SLS-IV estimation technique, I build a model of household bargaining and child health development with perceptions of women regarding wife-beating and marital rape in the existence of domestic violence laws, in Ghana. Even though the initial OLS estimates suggest that women’s participation in decisions regarding purchases of household consumption goods help to improve child health outcomes, the IV estimates reveal that the presence of endogeneity underestimates the impact of women’s bargaining power on child health outcomes. Our Hausman test for endogeneity also confirms that health development of children is mediated through domestic violence laws, which protect women from physical and sexual abuse in the household. Creation-Date: 2015-12-20 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/125776/1/HouseholdBargaining%20Final%20%20-%20Cy.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J12, J13 Keywords: Intrahousehold Bargaining, Domestic Violence, Child Health Investment, Child BMI Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:125776 #END 1386 #BEGIN 1387 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Siawor-Robertson, Diana Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Title: The Mining Industry and Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Two Mining Communities in Ghana Abstract: There is an ongoing debate on the relevance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its ability to provide visible development. In this study, we consider two major mining companies in Ghana, Anglogold Ashanti and Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, and draw on a sample from communities in which these companies operate in order to determine the impact of CSR on various dimensions of community development. We find that, in Ghana, the debate is not about whether CSR is developmental or not but rather what strategies and policies can help increase CSR efficiency. Findings suggest that CSR accounts for several visible infrastructure in mining communities. However, there is a major flaw in empowering community members and improving their livelihoods. Creation-Date: 2015-12-07 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/123725/1/Corporate%20Social%20Responsitbility.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Mining, CSR, Ghana Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:123725 #END 1387 #BEGIN 1388 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Author-Name: Korankye Danso, Jeffrey Author-Name: Nyatefe, Elikem Title: Microfinance Institution Performance: Does the Macro-economy matter? Abstract: Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have been compared at various levels for the purpose of replications and policy formulations. However, the potential effects of the macro-economy on MFI performance are often not considered. We propose that understanding the possible effects of country-level factors on MFI performance can help provide a more accurate evaluation and explain where microfinance fits in the development process. Based on data collected on 563 MFIs, merged with country-level macroeconomic and macro-institutional data, we examine the effects of the macro-economy on MFI performance, specifically, financial and outreach performance as well as default and interest rates. Results suggest that high economic growth is associated with better MFI performance. However, other modes of economic development, including wage-employment opportunities, appear to impede MFI growth, especially outreach growth. Evidence also arises for the rivalry between MFI performance and better institutions. Overall, we find that the success of MFIs depend on macro-economic and institutional factors, although it is likely observed effects may differ by geographical location. Creation-Date: 2015-12-07 Keywords: microfinance, economic growth, financial performance, sustainability, outreach Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:123724 #END 1388 #BEGIN 1389 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Title: Fractionalization and Entrepreneurial Activities Abstract: The vast majority of the literature on ethnicity and entrepreneurship focuses on the construct of ethnic entrepreneurship. However, very little is known about how ethnic heterogeneity affects entrepreneurship. This study attempts to fill the gap, and thus examines the effect of ethnic heterogeneity on entrepreneurial activities in a cross-section of 90 countries. Using indices of ethnic and linguistic fractionalization, we show that ethnic heterogeneity negatively influences entrepreneurship. We argue that potential channels that can explain the negative effect of fractionalization on entrepreneurship include trust, social network, social capital, innovation, and discrimination among others. Results are robust to several checks. Creation-Date: 2015-12-07 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/123723/1/Fractionalization%20and%20Enterpreneurial%20Activities.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: entrepreneurship, ethnic diversity, fractionalization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:123723 #END 1389 #BEGIN 1390 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Author-Name: Korankye Danso, Jeffrey Author-Name: Appau, Samuelson Title: Microcredit and Poverty Reduction in Bangladesh: Beyond Publication Bias, Does Genuine Effect Exist? Abstract: We review the empirical evidence on the impact of microcredit on poverty in Bangladesh. Drawing on evidence from seven empirical studies with 306 estimates, we examine the impact of microcredit on three proxies of poverty – income, assets and consumption/expenditure. After addressing issues of publication selection bias, we find that microcredit has a statistically insignificant effect on income, and also on assets. Evidence shows a positive but weak effect of microcredit on consumption/expenditure. Meta-regression analysis reveals that sources of variations in the existing literature such as study design, data characteristics and empirical methodology can explain the differences in reported estimates. Creation-Date: 2015-12-07 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/123722/1/Microcredit%20and%20Poverty.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, I32, I38 Keywords: Microfinance, Poverty, Bangladesh, Meta-analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:123722 #END 1390 #BEGIN 1391 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Author-Name: Ocloo, Janet Exornam Author-Name: Siawor-Robertson, Diana Title: Ethnic diversity makes me sick! An examination of ethnic diversity’s effect on health outcomes Abstract: This study hypothesizes a relationship between ethnic diversity and health outcomes. We explore the effects of ethnic and linguistic heterogeneity (measured by indices of ethnic and linguistic fractionalization) on 30 health outcome variables in a cross-section of 87 countries. We explore outcomes related to four major categories of health: 1) immunization rates, 2) prevalence of diseases, 3) life expectancy and mortality rates, and 4) health related infrastructure and staff. Across all dimensions examined, evidence suggests that higher heterogeneity is bad for health. We explore several potential mechanisms which could explain the observed negative effects of ethnic and linguistic diversity on health. Creation-Date: 2015-12-07 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/123721/1/Ethnic_Diversity_Health.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: health, Fractionalization, linguistic diversity, ethnic diversity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:123721 #END 1391 #BEGIN 1392 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Huerta, Daniel Author-Name: Egly, Peter V. Author-Name: Escobari, Diego Title: The Liquidity Crisis, Investor Sentiment, and REIT Returns and Volatility Abstract: The real estate investment trust (REIT) industry experienced a liquidity crisis resulting from reduced access to credit commitments as banks were restoring their balance sheets during the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Employing generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models we examine the impact of the liquidity crisis and investor sentiment on REIT returns and volatility over the sample period from December 2001 to February 2013. We find that the liquidity crisis negatively impacts REIT returns and helps explain increases in volatility; this finding is robust to multiple specifications. We show that investor sentiment is a significant factor in explaining the REIT return generating process with institutional sentiment playing a dominating role over individual sentiment; furthermore, institutional sentiment was the only relevant sentiment variable during liquidity crisis. Creation-Date: 2015-11-21 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/123499/1/RR_REIT_Liquidity_Crisis_and_Sentiment%20_Nov_24%20_2015_EconStor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G11, G14, G23 Keywords: Investor Sentiment, Liquidity Crisis, REIT returns, REIT volatility, GARCH-M Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:123499 #END 1392 #BEGIN 1393 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Escobari, Diego Author-Name: Serrano, Alejandro Title: Reducing Asymmetric Information in Venture Capital Backed IPOs Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to model asymmetric information and study the profitability of venture capital (VC) backed initial public offerings (IPOs). Our mixtures approach endogenously separates IPOs into differentiated groups based on their returns’ determinants. We also analyze the factors that affect the probability that IPOs belong to a specific group. Design/methodology/approach – We propose a new method to model asymmetric information between investors and firms in VC backed IPOs. Our approach allows us to identify differentiated companies under incomplete information. We use a sample of 2,404 U.S. firms from 1980 through 2012 to estimate our mixture model via maximum likelihood. Findings – We find strong evidence that companies can be separated into two groups based on how IPO returns are determined. For companies in the first group the results are similar to previous studies. For companies in the second group we find that profitability is mainly affected by the reputation of the seed VC and capital expenditures. Tangible assets and age help explain group affiliation. We also motivate our findings for a continuum of heterogeneous IPO groups. Practical implications – The proposed mixture approach helps decrease asymmetric information for investors, regulators, and companies. Originality/value – Our mixture methods help decrease asymmetric information between investors and firms improving the probability of making profitable investments. Separating between groups of IPOs is crucial because different determinants of an IPO operating performance can potentially have opposite effects for different groups. Creation-Date: 2015-11-20 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/123498/1/VentureCapital27EconStor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C31, D82, G24, G32 Keywords: Venture Capital, Mixture Model, Initial Public Offerings, Asymmetric Information Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:123498 #END 1393 #BEGIN 1394 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Darko, Christian Kwasi Title: Determinants of Economic Growth in Ghana Abstract: Determinants of economic growth in Ghana are analysed using restricted vector autoregressive (VAR) model for the period 1975-2013. The empirical results reveal that GDP per capita in long-run is driven by export, oil and mineral rents while government consumption retard economic growth. Therefore the dynamic relationship between these variables on economic growth should not be underestimated by policymakers. However, Ghana’s economic growth is subject to uncertainty associated with expected risks of price volatility of primary commodities which make a great proportion of the export and the so-called Dutch disease which may hinder economic growth in the long-run. Creation-Date: 2015-11-23 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/123098/1/Darko%20Determinants%20of%20Economic%20Growth%20in%20Ghana.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O10, C22 Keywords: economic growth, export, error correction model, weak exogeneity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:123098 #END 1394 #BEGIN 1395 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mikhailova, Tatiana Title: LOOKING FOR MULTIPLE EQUILIBRIA IN RUSSIAN URBAN SYSTEM Abstract: This paper studies the effect of forced labor relocation in GULAG, and the losses during the WWII on the long-term dynamics of city growth in the USSR. The main goal is to test whether the impact of Stalinist policies and the WWII on economic geography of the USSR persists in long run, and whether, in response to these policies, the long-term dynamics of the Soviet city growth shows evidence of multiple equilibria. I find that WWII does not have a statistically significant long-term effect on city growth, controlling for other factors, while GULAG system does. The growth of an average city in 1960s exhibits partial mean-reversion after the shocks of 1930s-1950s. The dynamics is consistent with multiple equilibria hypothesis: cities that received a lot of investment (as measured by the GULAG population) in the 1930s-1950s, have a higher chance not to revert to the previous trajectory, but to continue growing, while neglected cities are more likely to decline. Abstract: Эта статья изучает влияние принудительного труда в ГУЛАГе, переселения, и потерь во Второй мировой войне на долгосрочную динамику роста города в СССР. Основная цель заключается в проверке, сохранилось ли влияние сталинской политики и Второй мировой войны на экономическую географию СССР в долгосрочной перспективе, и показывала ли, в ответ на эти политики, долгосрочная динамика роста советского города свидетельство множественного равновесия , Я считаю, что Вторая мировая война не оказывает статистически значимого долгосрочного влияния на рост города, при учете других факторов, в то время как система ГУЛАГа - оказывает. Рост среднего города в 1960-е годы проявляет частичное возвращение к норме после потрясений 1930-1950. Динамика согласуется с гипотезы множественного равновесия: города, которые получили много инвестиций (измеренных в населении ГУЛАГа) в 1930-1950, имеют более высокий шанс не вернуться к прежней траектории, а продолжать расти, в то время как рост оставшихся в стороне городов, вероятно, снизится. Creation-Date: 2015-02-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/122139/1/prepeng%20%2820%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R11, R12, P25 Keywords: economic geography, cities, USSR, GULAG Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:122139 #END 1395 #BEGIN 1396 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Melnichuk, A. S. Author-Name: Selezneva, E. V. Title: Acme in Personal Values and Meanings (Age Aspect) Abstract: It is noted in the article that inclusion of the notion «acme» (designating summits in the development and most productive periods of human life) in the active vocabulary of many people actualizes revealing of the specificity of his personal meanings and place of acme in the system of values. The results of empirical study of everyday understanding of acme carried out with the use of the subjective scaling and semantic differential are given in it. Generals and particulars in the subjective interrelations of the notion «acme» with semantically near words in representatives of different age groups is shown. It is revealed that in respondents «adolescents» (aged 19 and younger) an acme image to a larger extent is associated with external achievements than with changes in the inner world, and in respondents «adults» (above 19 years of age) these components are presented in a more balanced manner. The values nearest to the notion «acme» and determining the specificity of its interpretation in humans of different age are outlined. It is determined that the notion «acme» in both age groups is inferior by significance to the majority of personality values, and also interrelations between the personality significance of acme and the human value preferences are shown. On the basis of the factor analysis a latent structure of possible meanings of the acme phenomenon is presented. Some causes of the age differences in the images of acme, level of its significance and also preferences in the spheres of its achievement are discussed. Abstract: В статье отмечено, что включение понятия «верх» (обозначения вершин в развитии и наиболее продуктивных периодов жизни человека) в активной лексике многих актуализирует выявление специфики его личностных смыслов и место акме в система ценностей. В ней приведены результаты эмпирических исследований повседневного понимания акме, осуществленные с использованием субъективного масштабирования и семантического дифференциала. Показано общее и частное в субъективных взаимосвязях понятия «акме» семантически возле слов у представителей разных возрастных групп. Демонстрируется, что у опрошенных подростков (в возрасте 19 лет и моложе) представление об акме в большей степени связано с внешними достижениями, чем с изменениями во внутреннем мире, взрослые же респонденты (старше 19 лет) представляют эти компоненты более сбалансированно. Изложены значения, ближайшие к понятию акме и определении специфики его интерпретации у человека разного возраста. Установлено, что понятие «акме» в обеих возрастных группах уступает по значимости для большинству личных ценностей, а также показаны взаимосвязи между личностной значимостью акме и ценностными предпочтениями человека. На основе факторного анализа представлена скрытая структура возможных смыслов явления акме. Обсуждаются некоторые причины возрастных различий в представлениях об акме, уровень его значимости, а также предпочтения в сфере его достижения. Creation-Date: 2015-02-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/122107/1/prepeng%20%2818%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: acme, values, personal meaning, semantic distance, age specificity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:122107 #END 1396 #BEGIN 1397 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pavlova, Natalia Author-Name: Shastitko, Andrey Title: Effects of Hostility Tradition in Antitrust: Leniency Programs and Cooperation Agreements Abstract: The article focuses on the effects that type I errors can have on the incentives of firms to compete, collude or engage in efficiency promoting socially beneficial cooperation. Our results confirm that in the presence of type I errors the introduction of a leniency program can have ambiguous effects, including the destruction and prevention of welfare enhancing horizontal cooperation agreements. The obtained results help understand the negative impact the hostility tradition resulting in type I enforcement errors can have on social welfare when applied to the regulation of horizontal agreements. Abstract: В статье рассматриваются эффекты, которые ошибки I типа могут накладывать на стимулы фирм к тому, чтобы конкурировать, вступать в сговор или участвовать в эффективности продвижения социально выгодного сотрудничества. Наши результаты подтверждают, что в присутствии ошибок типа I введение программы смягчения может иметь неоднозначные последствия, в том числе уничтожение и препятствование соглашениям о горизонтальном сотрудничестве, увеличивающем благосостояния. Полученные результаты помогут понять негативное воздействие, которое традиция враждебности в результате ошибки I типа может оказать на социальное обеспечение, когда применяется к регулированию горизонтальных соглашений. Creation-Date: 2014-04-17 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/122051/1/prepeng%20%2817%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D43, K21, L41 Keywords: antitrust, competition, collusion, cooperation agreements, leniency, errors Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:122051 #END 1397 #BEGIN 1398 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Artamonova, Alyona Author-Name: Mitrofanova, Ekaterina Title: Is cohabitation an alternative to marriage in Russia? Abstract: Declining marriage rates and increasing cohabitation rates in modern Russia have become a trend that many scholars have observed and tried to explain through the perspective of the Second Demographic Transition. Our research is another attempt to understand these changes and to answer the question on the nature of cohabitation in Russia. We aimed to find the difference between some patterns of matrimonial events and to define the nature of cohabitations in Russia. For these purposes, we applied descriptive statistics and Event History Analysis. We also suggested a logical scheme of the ways of development of the first cohabitations. We observed the opposite trends of matrimonial behavior: the younger Russian people are, the higher their probability of starting of the first cohabitation and the lower their risk to have the first marriage. Our analysis showed that a cohabitation is not yet a complete alternative to marriage, but it has a possibility of becoming it for younger generations. Abstract: Снижение количества браков и увеличение количества сожительств в современной России стало тенденцией, которую многие ученые наблюдали и пытались объяснить через призму второго демографического перехода. Наше исследование является еще одной попыткой понять эти изменения и ответить на вопрос о природе сожительства в России. Мы стремились найти разницу между некоторыми моделями супружеских событий и определить характер сожительств в России. Для этих целей, мы применили описательную статистику и анализ истории событий. Мы также предложили логическую схему путей развития первых сожительств. Мы наблюдали противоположные тенденции супружеского поведения: чем моложе русские, тем выше вероятность совместного проживания и ниже риск первого брака. Наш анализ показал, что сожительство не полная альтернатива браку, но у него есть возможность стать таковой для младших поколений. Creation-Date: 2014-10-22 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/122050/1/prepeng%20%2812%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: marriage, Russia, life course, cohabilitation, Event History Analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:122050 Note: Quetelet Journal, forthcoming #END 1398 #BEGIN 1399 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Taganov, Boris Title: FDI and long-term economic growth in Russia Abstract: In this paper we consider relationship between foreign direct investment (as one of the mechanisms of technological development) and long-term economic growth. In the beginning we discuss the role of FDI in the increase of total factor productivity from the viewpoint of endogenous growth theory. We then turn to the comparative analysis of FDI inflow to Russia and other countries broken down by economic industries. We find that Russian industries capable of increasing TFP and positively impacting the long-term economic growth are significantly underinvested relative to other countries. Since, in our opinion, pre-existing sources of Russia’s economic growth are almost completely exhausted, we suggest several economic policy measures aimed at attracting FDI in Russia and improve the absorptive capacity of the country. Abstract: В этой статье мы рассмотрим отношения между прямыми иностранными инвестициями (в качестве одного из механизмов технологического развития) и долгосрочным экономическим ростом. В начале мы обсудим роль ПИИ в повышении общей производительности факторов с точки зрения теории эндогенного роста. Затем мы обратимся к сравнительному анализу притока ПИИ в России и других странах с разбивкой по отраслям экономики. Мы считаем, что российская промышленность, способная к повышению СФП и положительно влияющая на долгосрочный экономический рост, испытывает значительный дефицит инвестиций по сравнению с другими странами. Так, на наш взгляд, уже существующие источники роста российской экономики почти полностью исчерпаны, мы предлагаем ряд мер экономической политики, направленных на привлечение ПИИ в Россию и улучшение поглощающей способности страны. Creation-Date: 2014-04 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/122049/1/prepeng%20%2811%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E66, F21, O15, O43 Keywords: FDI, TFP, economic growth, economic policy, human capital Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:122049 #END 1399 #BEGIN 1400 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Varshaver, Evgeni Author-Name: Rocheva, Anna Title: Migrant communities in Moscow: Their origins, functionality, and maintenance mechanisms Abstract: This text presents the results of a study in which we have sought answers to questions of: what kinds of migrant communities exist in Moscow, how they arise and function, what types of people they unite, and how they are structured. Due to the peculiar circumstances encountered by migrants in the process of integration into the cityscape and social spheres of Moscow, we chose as our setting-off point not ― ethnic neighborhoods,‖ which unlike in European and American cities do not exist in Moscow, but rather the ― ethnic cafés‖ that are scattered throughout the city. Our study draws upon interviews and observations done in eighty Moscow cafés — empirical data collected over the research project‘s six-month period. Having chosen as a conceptual centerpiece the appellation ― community,‖ we will delineate in the first portion of this paper a theoretical framework for our research, after which we will progress to the main portion, an ethnographic description of two different types of community, in order to depict here how such migrant communities are, in reality, structured in Moscow. Abstract: Этот текст представляет результаты исследования, в котором мы стремились ответить на вопросы: какие существуют виды общин мигрантов в Москве, как они возникают, каковы их функции, какие типы людей они объединяют, и как они структурированы. Из-за особых обстоятельств, с которыми сталкиваются мигранты в процессе интеграции в городской пейзаж и социальной сферах Москве, мы выбрали в качестве нашей точки настройка выключения не этнические кварталы, которых в отличие от европейских и американских городов не существует в Москве, но скорее - этнические заведения, которые разбросаны по всему городу. Наше исследование опирается на интервью и наблюдения, сделанных в восьмидесяти московских кафе - эмпирических данных, собранных в течение шестимесячного периода исследовательского проекта. Выбрав в качестве концептуального центра сообщества, мы очертим в первой части этой статьи теоретическую основу для нашего исследования, после чего мы будем развивать в основной части этнографическое описание двух разных типов общины, чтобы изобразить здесь, как такие общины мигрантов, в действительности, структурированны в Москве. Creation-Date: 2014-04-18 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/122019/1/prepeng%20%2810%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, O15, R23 Keywords: migrant communities, integration of migrants, ethnic cafes, Moscow, Muslim communities, Homeland-rooted communities, Azerbaijani business, Communities within walking distance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:122019 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2426477 #END 1400 #BEGIN 1401 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shishkin, Sergey Author-Name: Burdyak, Alexandra Author-Name: Potapchik, Elena Title: PATIENT CHOICE IN THE POST-SEMASHKO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Abstract: The opportunity for patient choice in the health care system in CIS countries was created by the partial destruction of the referral system and the development of paid medical services. The data of two population surveys conducted in Russia in 2009 and 2011 show that patient choice of medical facility and physician is taking place in the post-Semashko health care system, and it is not restricted to the area of paid medical services. However for the majority of population the choice of medical facility and physician is not a necessity. Part of reason for patient choice is caused by the failure of the patient referral system to ensure the necessary treatment. For some Russian citizens, the choice of health care provider is a means to obtain better quality care, and in this respect the enhancement of patient choice is leading to the improved efficiency of the emerging health care system. Abstract: Была создана возможность для выбора пациента в системе здравоохранения в странах СНГ путем частичного разрушения системы направлений и развития платных медицинских услуг. Данные двух исследований, проведенных в области народонаселения в России в 2009 и 2011 показывают, что выбор медицинского учреждения и врача пациентом происходит в после-семашковской системе здравоохранения, и не ограничивается областью платных медицинских услуг. Однако для большинства населения выбор медицинского учреждения и врача не является необходимостью. Часть причины для выбора пациента вызвано неспособностью пациента реферальной системы в обеспечить необходимое лечение. Для некоторых российских граждан, выбор медицинских услуг является средством для получения лучшего качества медицинской помощи, и в этом отношении поощрение выбора пациента ведет к повышению эффективности создаваемой системы здравоохранения. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/122018/1/prepeng%20%289%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I10, I11 Keywords: health care, Semashko system, patient choice, Russia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:122018 #END 1401 #BEGIN 1402 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gurevich, Yuri Author-Name: Yavorskaya, Tatiana Title: On Bounded Exploration and Bounded Nondeterminism Abstract: This report consists of two separate parts, essentially two oversized footnotes to the article "Sequential Abstract State Machines Capture Sequential Algorithms" by Yuri Gurevich. In Chapter I, Yuri Gurevich and Tatiana Yavorskaya present and study a more abstract version of the bounded exploration postulate. In Chapter II, Tatiana Yavorskaya gives a complete form of the characterization, sketched in the original paper, of bounded-choice sequential algorithms. Abstract: Этот отчет состоит из двух отдельных частей, по существу двух малых примечаний к статье "Sequential Abstract State Machines Capture Sequential Algorithms" Юрия Гуревича. В главе I, Юрий Гуревич и Татьяна Яворская представляют и рассматривают более абстрактный вариант постулата ограниченнго открытия. В главе II, Татьяна Яворская дает полную форму характеристики вариантно ограниченных последовательных алгоритмов, намеченную в оригинальной статье. Creation-Date: 2006-01 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121998/1/prepeng%20%2814%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Bounded Nondeterminism, Bounded Exploration Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121998 #END 1402 #BEGIN 1403 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Taganov, Boris Title: Quantifying the Value of Preferential Trade in Russia and CIS Abstract: In this paper, we assess the value of Russia’s preferential imports from all trade partners and CIS countries in particular. Total value of preferential imports in Russia (both duty free imports as well as imports subject to the discounted MFN duty under GSP) is equal to ca 12% (37.8 USD bln.) of the total imports, of which ca 7.4% accounted for imports of Russia from CIS countries. We should note that ca 2.5% of preferential imports of Russia under GSP treatment was not imported duty free, but was subject to a 25% discount to MFN duty. Abstract: В этой статье, мы оцениваем стоимость льготного импорта России из всех торговых партнеров и в частности - из стран СНГ. Общая стоимость льготного импорта в России (как дьюти-фри импорт, так и импортльготный импорт в режиме наибольшего благоприятствования под GSP) равна приблизительно 12% (37,8 млрд. долл.) от общего объема импорта, из которых около 7,4% приходится на импорт России из стран СНГ. Отметим, что приблизительно 2,5% преференциального импорта России в режиме GSP не ввозится беспошлинно, однако имеет скидку в 25% в режиме наибольшего благоприятствования. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121997/1/prepeng%20%2813%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F13, F15 Keywords: trade preferences, preferential trade agreement, MFN, GSP Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121997 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2611072 #END 1403 #BEGIN 1404 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mikhailova, Tatiana Title: Gulag, WWII and the Long-run Patterns of Soviet City Growth Abstract: This paper analyzes the geographical patterns of city growth in the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation in relation to the Stalinist policies of the 1930s to 1950s, and WWII. Using a unique data set on the locations of Gulag camps, and on the evacuation of industrial enterprises during WWII, I estimate the effect of these factors on city growth throughout the Soviet and post-Soviet period. The cities where Gulag camps were located grew significantly faster than similar cities without camps. WWII events (location of the frontlines, evacuation) also affected local population growth, but their impact diminished with time and disappeared completely after 25 years. In contrast, the effect of Gulag camps has been permanent. Abstract: Эта статья анализирует географические закономерности роста города в Советском Союзе и Российской Федерации в связи со сталинской политикой с 1930-х по 1950-е года и во время Второй мировой войны. Используя уникальный набор данных о местах лагерей ГУЛАГА данные и об эвакуации промышленных предприятий в течение Второй мировой войны, я оцениваю влияние этих факторов на рост города на протяжении всего советского и постсоветского периода. Города, в которых были арсположены лагеря ГУЛАГа, расли значительно быстрее, чем аналогичные города без лагерей. События Великой Отечественной войны (расположение фронта, эвакуации пострадавших), также повлияли на локальный рост населения, но их влияние уменьшилось со временем и совсем исчезло после 25 лет. В отличие от этого, эффект лагерей ГУЛАГА был постоянным. Creation-Date: 2012-09-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121963/3/prepeng%20%287%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R11, R12, P25 Keywords: Cities, USSR, Gulag, WWII Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121963 #END 1404 #BEGIN 1405 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kovalev, Vjacheslav V. Title: Effect of interpersonal relationships on the quality of joint activities in a collective Abstract: According to numerous studies of Russian psychologists, the normal interpersonal relationships in the team contributes to high labor productivity, prevent conflict situations, have a direct impact on the quality of the joint venture. This is due to the fact that the balanced interpersonal relationships positive emotional support to the team. It is estimated that productivity growth is directly dependent on the good mood and working up to 5-10% of the average. Conversely, a bad mood by the same amount from the average level reduces productivity. Thus, depending on the mood of the working, it can range from 10 to 20%. Consequently, the working mood can be regarded as an important industrial factor. Mutual respect and mutual attention to the individual staff member present in normal morale and relationships are the norm. Abstract: По данным многочисленных исследований российских психологов, нормальные межличностные отношения в команде способствует высокой производительности труда, предотвращению конфликтных ситуаций, оказывают непосредственное влияние на качество совместной деятельности. Это связано с тем, что сбалансированные отношения между людьми положительно эмоционально поддерживают команду. Считается, что рост производительности труда напрямую зависит от хорошего настроения и работает до 5-10% в среднем. И наоборот, плохое настроение снижает производительность на столько же процентов от среднего уровня. Таким образом, в зависимости от настроение работы, он может колебаться от 10 до 20%. Следовательно, рабочее настроение можно считать важным фактором деятельности. Взаимное уважение и взаимное внимание к индивидуальной морали и отношениям сотрудника являются нормой. Creation-Date: 2014-11-30 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121962/1/prepeng%20%285%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: interpersonal relationships, collective Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121962 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2532000 #END 1405 #BEGIN 1406 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Idrisov, Georgij I. Author-Name: Taganov, B. Title: Regional trade integration in the CIS area Abstract: The article covers main stages of integration processes in the CIS area since its formation. We analyzed the specifics of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) in the CIS. We prepared an exhaustive list of expired and currently effective PTAs in the CIS area, taking into account the initial levels of exemptions and the dynamics of their cancellations. We analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively the economic aspects of PTAs. We discussed further integration agenda of the Russian Federation and a role of PTAs as a tool of international economic integration. Abstract: В статье рассматриваются основные этапы интеграционных процессов на пространстве СНГ со времени его формирования. Мы проанализировали специфику преференциальных торговых соглашений (ПТС) в странах СНГ. Мы подготовили исчерпывающий перечень истекших и в настоящее время эффективных ПТС на пространстве СНГ, принимая во внимание начальные уровни изъятий и динамику их отмены. Мы проанализировали качественно и количественно экономические аспекты ПТС. Мы обсудили дальнейшую повестку дня интеграции Российской Федерации и роль ПТС в качестве инструмента международной экономической интеграции. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121961/1/prepeng%20%288%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: trade, trade integration, preferential trade agreements, CIS Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121961 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2345210 #END 1406 #BEGIN 1407 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ponomarev, Yuri Author-Name: Trunin, Pavel V. Author-Name: Uljukaev, Aleksej V. Title: Exchange Rate Pass-through in Russia Abstract: The article provides estimates of short-run and medium-run exchange rate pass-through into domestic prices in Russia during the period of 2000–2012 using vector error correction model. Exchange rate pass-through asymmetry estimates, its assessments on different sub-periods and exchange rate volatility effect on pass-through are also provided. Abstract: В статье приводятся оценки краткосрочной перспективе и обменного курса среднесрочной перспективе сквозной в внутренних цен в России в период 2000-2012 с использованием вектора коррекции ошибок модели. Обменный курс сквозного асимметрия оценкам, его оценки по различным суб-периодов и курсовой волатильности влияния на сквозного также предоставляются. Creation-Date: 2014-03 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121960/1/prepeng%20%284%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C32, E31, E52, F31, F41 Keywords: exchange rate pass-through, asymmetry of exchange rate pass-through, exchange rate volatility, inflation, monetary policy, vector error correction model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121960 #END 1407 #BEGIN 1408 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michajlova, Tatjana Title: Where russians should live: a counterfactual alternative to Soviet location policy Abstract: This paper investigates the extent of distortions in Russia's spatial economy that are inherited from the Soviet system. Using Canada as a benchmark for spatial dynamics of economic activity in a market economy, I construct the spatial allocation of population that would result in Russia, given its initial conditions and existing regional endowments, in the absence of Soviet location policy. The results show that Siberia and the Far East were overpopulated by about 14.5 million people by the end of the Soviet period. Overdevelopment of Siberia comes at the expense of the European area of the country. This discrepancy persists, even after adjusting the simulated counter- factual allocation for WWII. Abstract: Эта статья исследует степень искажений в российской пространственной экономике, унаследованных от советской системы. Используя Канаду в качестве ориентира для пространственной динамики хозяйственной деятельности в условиях рыночной экономики, я построил пространственное выделение населения, сложившегося в России, учитывая свои начальные условия и существующую региональную обеспеченность, в отсутствие советской локационной политики. Результаты показывают, что к концу советского периода Сибирь и Дальний Восток были перенаселены около 14,5 миллионами человек. Переразвитие Сибири происходит за счет Европейской площади страны. Это расхождение сохраняется, даже после регулировки имитации встречных фактических ассигнований Второй мировой войны. Creation-Date: 2012-01-13 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121959/3/prepeng%20%286%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R1, P5 Keywords: location policy, Russia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121959 #END 1408 #BEGIN 1409 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Benzell, Seth G. Author-Name: Goryunov, Eugene Author-Name: Kazakova, Marija Author-Name: Kotlikoff, Laurence J. Author-Name: LaGarda, Guillermo Author-Name: Nesterova, Kristina Author-Name: Zubarev, Andrey Title: SIMULATING RUSSIA’S AND OTHER LARGE ECONOMIES’ CHALLENGING AND INTERCONNECTED TRANSITIONS Abstract: This paper develops a large-scale, dynamic life-cycle model to simulate Russia’s demographic and fiscal transition under favorable and unfavorable fossil-fuel price regimes. The model includes Russia, the U.S., China, India, the EU, and Japan+ (Japan plus Korea). The model predicts dramatic increases in tax rates in the U.S., EU, India, and Russia. Indeed, the increases are so large as to question their political feasibility let alone their actual collection given the potential for tax avoidance and tax evasion. Creation-Date: 2015-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121939/1/prepeng%20%282%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F0, F20, H0, H2, H3, J20 Keywords: economy, transitions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121939 #END 1409 #BEGIN 1410 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Goryunov, Eugene Author-Name: Kazakova, Marija Author-Name: Kotlikoff, Laurence J. Author-Name: Mamedov, Arseny Author-Name: Nesterova, Kristina Author-Name: Nazarov, Vladimir Author-Name: Grišina, Elena Author-Name: Trunin, Pavel V. Author-Name: Shpenev, Alexey Title: Russia's Fiscal Gap Abstract: Every country faces what economists call an intertemporal (across time) budget constraint, which requires that its government’s future expenditures, including the servicing of its outstanding official debt, be covered by its government’s future receipts when measured in present value. The difference between the present value of a country’s future expenditures and its future receipts is called its fiscal gap. This study estimates Russia’s 2013 fiscal gap at 890 trillion rubles or $28 trillion. This longterm budget shortfall is 8.4 percent of the present value of projected GDP. Consequently, eliminating Russia’s fiscal gap on a smooth basis requires fiscal tightening by 8.4 percent of each future year’s projected GDP. One means of doing this is to immediately and permanently raise all Russian taxes by 29 percent. Another is to immediately and permanently cut all spending, apart from servicing outstanding debt, by 22.4 percent. How can a country with vast energy resources and foreign reserves and other financial assets that exceed its official debt still have very major fiscal problems? The answer is that the Russia’s energy resources are finite, whereas its expenditure needs are not. Moreover, Russia is aging and facing massive obligations from its pension system and other age related expenditures. Creation-Date: 2013-11 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121938/1/prepeng%20%281%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: fiscal gap, Russia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121938 #END 1410 #BEGIN 1411 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Knobel, Alexander Author-Name: Chokaev, Bekhan Title: Possible Economic Outcomes of a Trade Agreement with the European Union Abstract: This paper investigates the possible economic effects of Russia-EU free trade agreement, implying a mutual zero import tariffs in the trade of the Customs Union and the EU. Analysis of the effects is made using CGE Globe v1 model. We estimate the impact of an FTA on the economies, both at the level of the entire economy and at the industry level. The sensitivity analysis is made. It is shown that, in both relative and absolute terms, Russia potentially more benefits from the agree-ment than the EU. The cumulative gain of the CU is strictly positive, but the benefits and costs are unevenly distributed among its members, with negative effect for Belarus. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121853/1/56339f1f139ad.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C68, F15, F17 Keywords: Customs Union, European Union, Free Trade Agreement, CGE Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121853 #END 1411 #BEGIN 1412 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Leonard, Carol S. Author-Name: Yanovskiy, Konstantin Ė. Author-Name: Shestakov, D. Title: How Democracy could foster Economic Growth: The Last 200 Years Abstract: In this paper we explore current understandings of the influence of political rights, among historical legacies, on economic development. We construct variables for selected political regimes for 1811-2010. We find significant association between individual rights and economic growth. We argue that current understanding of political regimes supportive of growth (Acemoglu, etc), should parse the concept of property rights to include the protection of the individual in their focus on private property rights protection, alone, respected in various forms of government, are insufficient; what matters is the security of individuals from arbitrary arrest, regardless of “type of regime”. Discretionary rights of rulers or democratic governments to arrest citizens undermines the protection of private property rights and other attributes classically given to democratic foundations of economic growth, for example, free press, freedom of the exercise of religious belief. We suggest, as a research agenda, that the power of the politically competitive system therefore comes from weakening discretionary authority over law enforcement Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121852/1/0106Yanovsky.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: P16, P50, N40, O40 Keywords: rule of law, Rule of Force, Personal Rights, Private Property Protection, Economic Growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121852 #END 1412 #BEGIN 1413 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Šastitko, Andrej E. Author-Name: Kurdin, Alexander A. Title: Incentives for Process Innovations under Discrete Structural Alternatives of Competition Policy Abstract: This study analyses the incentives for process innovations under different conditions determined by the competition policy for intellectual property rights (IPR) and particular features of markets and technologies. Competition policy is defined by the presence or absence of compulsory licensing, markets are characterized by technological leadership or technological competition. The results of modelling show that the uncertainty engendered by technological competition may lower the intensity of innovative activities, if there are no mechanisms of coordination between participants. Voluntary licensing generally improves social welfare but does not guarantee an increase in innovative efforts. Compulsory licensing can impede innovations due to the opportunistic behaviour of market participants but certain measures of state policy can prevent this negative effect. Creation-Date: 2015-04-14 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121851/1/92EC2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L24, O31, K21 Keywords: competition policy, compulsory licensing, process innovations Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121851 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2594664 #END 1413 #BEGIN 1414 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kalabichina, Irina E. Author-Name: Tyndik, Alla Title: Does current demographic policy in Russia impact on fertility of different educational groups? Abstract: This article is devoted to investigation current demographic policy in Russia impact on fertility of different educational groups. Authors use qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data for this analysis come from the Gender and Generation Survey in Russia (2004, 2007, 2011 waves). Semi-structured interview method (Moscow, 2010) was used to assess the cognitive and emotional aspects of fertility behaviour (to give birth the next child). One of the important results of this study that Russian population could not be satisfated with current demographic policy. Moreover, higher educated people have stronger demand for family-work measures to reach desired family size. People with higher education estimate influence of existing measures lower as a whole, but influence of potential measures (directed on combination of career and parenthood) the estimated higher. Creation-Date: 2014-02-10 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121850/1/0010.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J13, J16, J18 Keywords: demographic policy, fertility, Russia Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121850 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2393345 #END 1414 #BEGIN 1415 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stepantsov, Pavel Author-Name: Vakhshtayn, Viktor Title: The Issue of Causal Explanation and Meaning Understanding of Social Action Abstract: This text deals with epistemological clash between positivistic and intentionalistic programs in the social sciences. The main question, raised here, is whether a social action can be comprehended in both causal and motivational terms, which is stressed to be necessary condition for the consistency of the social sciences. It enables imputing the deed to a concrete actor. The first part of the text deals with historical reconstruction of epistemological dualism between Kulturwissenschaften and Naturwissenschaften. Then the model of singular causality is critically examined. The concluding part suggests the decision of the problem basing on Wittgensteinian metaphor of changing the aspect. Abstract: Этот текст - об эпистемологическим столкновении между позитивистской и интентионалистской программами в области социальных наук. Основной вопрос, поставленный здесь, может ли социальная акция быть понята как в причинных, так и в мотивационных точках, что подчеркивается как необходимое условие согласованности социальных наук. Это позволяет приписывать действие к конкретному актору. Первая часть текста посвящена исторической реконструкции эпистемологического дуализма между науками о культуре и науками о природе. После критически рассматривается модель особой причинности. В заключительной части предлагается решение проблемы базирования на витгенштейнианской метафоры изменения аспекта. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121778/1/SSRN-id2529028.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: action, explanation, causality, intention, reason, event, changing-aspect Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121778 #END 1415 #BEGIN 1416 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Šastitko, Andrej E. Title: Effects of third party errors Abstract: Type-I and type-II errors effects do matter both from the rules enforcement perspective and vertically upward to rules enactment. The paper support conventional idea about detrimental influence on deterrence of both types of errors. At the same time special role of type-I errors is demonstrated based on strategic interaction between economic exchange participants supported by third-party enforcement with opportunities to discriminate players. The paper highlights the issue that errors in enforcement is not whole story: the simple classification of cases is suggested from the perspective of type-I and type-II errors in rules enforcement and rules enactment. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/121747/1/SSRN-id2529026.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D02, K10, K42, P48 Keywords: types-I&II errors, institutions, rules enforcement, rules enactment, discrimination, Nash equilibrium Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:121747 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2529026 #END 1416 #BEGIN 1417 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andrietti, Vincenzo Title: The causal effects of increased learning intensity on student achievement: Evidence from a natural experiment Abstract: I exploit a unique educational policy - implemented in most German states between 2001 and 2007 - that reduced high school duration by one year while keeping its curriculum unaltered to investigate how the resulting increase in learning intensity affected student achievement. Using 2000-2009 PISA data and a difference-in-differences approach, I find robust evidence that the reform significantly improved the reading, mathematics, and science literacy skills acquired by academic-track high school students upon treatment. A more direct estimate of the effects of the increased learning intensity - as measured by the cumulative weekly number of instructional hours delivered in high school grades - corroborates the latter finding. Furthermore, there is some evidence that the effects of the reform differ by gender and grade retention. Finally, I find no evidence of a significant average effect of the reform on high school grade retention, although I do find that the latter increased significantly for boys and for students with a migration background. Creation-Date: 2015-06-01 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/120874/3/wp1506.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I21, I28, D04 Keywords: G8, Learning intensity, Instructional hours, Student achievement, Academic-track high school, Difference-in-Differences Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:120874 #END 1417 #BEGIN 1418 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Woisetschläger, David Author-Name: Backhaus, Christof Author-Name: Dreisbach, Jan Author-Name: Schnöring, Marc Title: Sponsoringstudie 2015 – Die Sponsoringpotenziale in der Fußball-Bundesliga Creation-Date: 2015-10-05 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/120871/1/Sponsoringstudie%202015%20der%20TU%20Braunschweig.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Sponsoring, Imagetransfer, Fußball-Bundesliga, Sponsor-Fit, Sponsoringaktivierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:120871 #END 1418 #BEGIN 1419 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Woisetschläger, David M Author-Name: Backhaus, Christof Author-Name: Dreisbach, Jan Author-Name: Schnöring, Marc Title: Fußballstudie 2015 - Die Markenlandschaft der Fußball-Bundesliga Creation-Date: 2015-08-24 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/119604/1/Fu%c3%9fballstudie%202015%20der%20TU%20Braunschweig.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Fußball-Bundesliga, Vereinsmarke, Markenwahrnehmung, Markenmanagement Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:119604 #END 1419 #BEGIN 1420 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mehta, Deepshikha Title: Operational Shift in Banking- A Global Study Abstract: The banks are known as the backbones of any economy. The banks link the saving surplus units with deficit units thereby providing investment and capital formation opportunities to both the units. In the recent times of financial shrinkages and up & down, the banking sector has witnessed various influences both in terms of technological as well as non-technological issues. This paper identifies and records the operational shifts of the banking sector in the recent times. Be it the newer markets or technological up gradation, the paper reviews all of them. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/119529/1/Operational%20Shift%20in%20Banking-%20A%20Global%20Study.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G20, G21 Keywords: banking sector, banking operations, change in banking sector, operational risks in banking sector, banking opportunities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:119529 #END 1420 #BEGIN 1421 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Iritié, B. G. Jean Jacques Author-Name: Djaléga, Fabrice Soukou Title: Diversification of Income Sources for Cocoa Farm Households : A Case Study of the Central West of Côte d’Ivoire Abstract: This paper is aimed at identifying complementary sources of income for cocoa farm households in the Central West of Côte d’Ivoire. Our methodology con- sists of four successive stages: (i) a need assessment of cocoa households and specificities of the study area through a participatory diagnosis in order to pro- pose potential income generating activities; (ii) a technical qualitative analysis of these activities; (iii) an analysis of the profitability and (iv) an analysis of their social acceptability. It appears that beekeeping and snail breeding are the most appropriate activities for this cocoa producing region. However, the results show that the lack of information and technical knowledge, the religious burdens and the high local illiteracy rate can constitute barriers to the imple- mentation of IGAs. Finally, as future prospects, we discuss the opportunity to combine horizontal diversification and vertical diversification (especially, cocoa processing) in order to give more added value to the sustainable cocoa produc- tion and to contribute to the industrial development of Ivorian economy. Creation-Date: 2015-09-18 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/118742/1/PUB_LADEGWP004-2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O13, Q12, Q13 Keywords: Cocoa farm households, vulnerability, income generating activities, diversification, Côte d’Ivoire Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:118742 #END 1421 #BEGIN 1422 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaivo-oja, Jari Author-Name: Roth, Steffen Title: The Technological Future of Work and Robotics Abstract: In this article we discuss the futures of work and robotics. We evaluate key future trends in the field of robotics and analyse different scenarios regarding the futures of human beings and work life. Subsequently, we presents a roadmap of robotics, which covers key aspects of industrial and service robotics, discuss technology foresight insights and inter-linkages to robotics, and identify three critical technology roadmaps: (1) the technological future of robotics, (2) digitalization and (3) ICT technologies. Finally, we analyse key challenges of future work life and labor policy in the European Union: economic, social, and political and inform readers about some important strategic projects of the European Union, especially about European robotics strategy. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/118693/1/Robotics.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O32, O33 Keywords: Robotics, Futurology Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:118693 #END 1422 #BEGIN 1423 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohnert, Dirk Title: Democratisation via elections in an African 'narco state'? The case of Guinea-Bissau Abstract: Recent development cooperation with Guinea-Bissau, focusing on good governance, statebuilding and conflict prevention, did not contribute to democratization nor to the stabilization of volatile political, military and economic structures. The portrayal of Guinea- Bissau as a failed “narco-state”, as well as Western aid meant to stabilize this state, are both based on dubious concepts. Certainly, the impact of drug trafficking could endanger democratization and state-building if continued unchecked. However, the most pressing need is not state-building facilitated by external aid that is poorly rooted in the social and political fabric of the country. Rather, it is grassroots nation-building that is a pre-condition for the creation of viable state institutions. Abstract: La démocratisation par le biais des élections dans un «narco-État» de l'Afrique? Le cas de la Guinée-Bissau: La coopération de développement récente avec la Guinée-Bissau, en se concentrant sur les élections, la consolidation de la bonne gouvernance et l'état de prévention des conflits, ni contribué à la démocratisation, ni à la stabilisation des structures politiques, militaires et économiques volatiles du pays. Tant la représentation de la Guinée-Bissau comme un échec «narco-État» ainsi que l'aide occidentale destinée à stabiliser cet état grâce à l'appui des élections multipartites sont basées sur des concepts et des hypothèses douteuses. Certes, l'impact du trafic de drogue pourrait mettre en danger la démocratisation et le renforcement de l'État si il se poursuit sans frein. Cependant, le besoin le plus urgent n’est pas le renforcement de l'État, mal ancré dans le tissu social et politique du pays, facilitée par l'aide extérieure, mais la construction d’une nation par le bas comme une condition préalable à la création d'institutions étatiques viables. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/118635/1/Kohnert-2011-RGB.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: N4, Z1, Z13, O17, E26, H76, D72, K14 Keywords: Democratization, narco states, Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, good governance, fragile states Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:118635 Note: Author's Version #END 1423 #BEGIN 1424 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mehta, Deepshikha Title: Evidences of Efficient Investment Portfolio in Indian Capital Markets - An Analysis Based on BSE and NSE Indices Abstract: A decent budgetary portfolio is nothing more, and nothing less, than an accumulation of advantages that develop in quality and produce abundance money for the financial specialist to spend or reinvest. Markowitz (1959) is one of the pioneers of present day portfolio hypothesis. Generally, the measure of danger utilized as a part of portfolio advancement models is the fluctuation. On the other hand, option measures of danger i.e., beta (un-standardized coefficient) has been utilized by Sharpe as a part of single file model. This paper goes for applying so as to build an ideal portfolio Sharpe's single record model. For this reason the day by day shutting costs of 50 organizations recorded on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) which include the Nifty Index would be considered for the period July 2012 to June 2014. The study shows financial specialist ought to be making interest in HCL Technologies Ltd. with an extent of 77.91%, and Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd. with an extent of 22.09%. Financial specialist is obliged to short offer Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Asian Paints Ltd., United Spirits Ltd., and Bharti Airtel Ltd., stocks to expand portfolio return. This paper would be of extensive importance and valuable to the different financial specialists in determination of stocks for their portfolios. Creation-Date: 2015-08-27 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/117335/3/Mehta_Efficient-Investment-Portfolio.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G11, G12, G13, G14 Keywords: Indian capital market, Efficient Investment Portfolio, Stock markets, Investment, BSE, NSE Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:117335 DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1536453 #END 1424 #BEGIN 1425 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Velauthapillai, Jeyakrishna Title: Makroprudenzielle Regulierung – eine kurze Einführung und ein Überblick Abstract: Obwohl die Idee der makroökonomischen Perspektive der Regulierung des Banken- und Finanzmarktes bereits in den 1970er und 1980er Jahren entstand, hat dieser Ansatz erst durch die Immobilien- und Finanzkrise dieses Jahrhunderts große Bedeutung erlangt. Aufgrund mangelnder Erfahrungen der Industrieländer mit dieser Art der Regulierung gibt es in den letzten Jahren große Bestrebungen sowohl auf nationaler als auch auf internationaler Ebene einen geeigneten Politikrahmen zu entwickeln und die Operationalisierung dieser Politik voranzutreiben. Dieser Aufsatz gibt einen Überblick über die Literatur, die sich mit der makroprudenziellen Regulierung auseinandersetzt und liefert eine Einführung in die wichtigsten relevanten Aspekte dieser Politik. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/116781/1/db-490.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, G28, E52, E58, E44 Keywords: makroprudenzielle Regulierung, Finanzstabilität, Banken- und Finanzmarkt, regulatorische Politik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:116781 #END 1425 #BEGIN 1426 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Asongu, Simplice Author-Name: Efobi, Uchenna Author-Name: Beecroft, Ibukun Title: Inclusive human development in pre-crisis times of globalisation-driven debts Abstract: The paper verifies the Azzimonti et al. (2014) conclusions on a sample of 53 African countries for the period 1996-2008. Authors of the underlying study have established theoretical underpinnings for a negative nexus between rising public debt and inequality in OECD nations. We assess the effects of four debt dynamics on inequality adjusted human development. Instrumental variable and interactive regressions were employed as empirical strategies. Two main findings were established which depend on whether debt is endogenous to or interactive with globalisation. First, when external debt is endogenous to globalisation, the effect on inclusive human development is negative, whereas when it is interactive with globalisation, the effect is positive. This may reflect the false economics of pre-conditions. The magnitudes of negative estimates from endogenous related effects were higher than the positive marginal interactive effects. Policy implications were discussed. Creation-Date: 2014-12 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/114570/1/AGDI_Asongu_Efobi_Beecroft.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E60, F40, F59, D60, O55 Keywords: Debts, globalisation, inequality, inclusive development, Africa Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:114570 Note: Comments and Suggestions are welcome. #END 1426 #BEGIN 1427 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Asongu, Simplice Author-Name: Efobi, Uchenna Author-Name: Beecroft, Ibukun Title: FDI, Aid, Terrorism: Conditional Threshold Evidence from Developing Countries Abstract: We investigate how foreign aid dampens the effects of terrorism on FDI using interactive quantile regressions. The empirical evidence is based on 78 developing countries for the period 1984-2008. Bilateral and multilateral aid variables are used, while terrorism dynamics entail: domestic, unclear, transnational and total number of terrorist attacks. The following findings are established. First, while the effects of multilateral aid are consistently significant with positive threshold evidence, bilateral aid is only positively significant in bottom quantiles. Second, with the slight exception of transnational terrorism in bilateral aid regressions, the impacts of terrorism dynamics are unexpectedly positive, in: (i) bottoms quantiles with domestic terrorism and the 0.25th quantile with total terrorism, for bilateral aid regressions, and (ii) the 0.25th quantile with domestic terrorism and bottom quantiles of transnational terrorism, for multilateral aid regressions. Third, interactions between terrorism and foreign aid dynamics unexpectedly yield negative effects in: (i) bilateral aid and domestic terrorism in bottom quantiles and (ii) multilateral aid and domestic (transnational) terrorism in the 0.25th(bottom) quantile(s). The modifying threshold value of bilateral aid is higher than that of multilateral aid. Fourth, there is positive threshold evidence from GDP growth, infrastructural development and trade openness. Policy implications are discussed. Creation-Date: 2015-05 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/114569/1/AGDI_Asongu_Efobi_Beecroft_terrorism_WP_15_019.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C52, D74, F23, F35, O40 Keywords: FDI, Foreign aid, Terrorism, Quantile regression Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:114569 Note: This is a working paper. Authors welcome suggestions and comments. #END 1427 #BEGIN 1428 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Efobi, Uchenna Author-Name: Nnadi, Matthias Title: Foreign Aid, IFRS Adoption and Foreign Direct Investment Abstract: The attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is arguably of particular importance to countries’ foreign policy, where competing factors determine the choice of location of these investors. IFRS adoption, being one of the cardinal frameworks that portray the quality of a countries information environment, is seen as having a significant influence on the choice of FDI location. Noting that foreign aid (a form of foreign finance) may compete directly with, or complement FDI, this paper investigates the extent to which IFRS adoption is able to at-tract FDI in the presence of this form of finance. The main idea being that the effect of IFRS adoption on FDI may be adjustable depending on the presence of, and the kind of foreign aid flow in the country. Using a panel data of 92 countries for the period 2003-2012, we indeed find that IFRS adoption attracts more FDI, conditioned on foreign aid; however, when dis-aggregating foreign aid, the effect of bilateral aid was contradictory, while multilateral aid flow was positive. This result remained consistent despite the battery of checks. Creation-Date: 2015-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/114568/1/Foreign_Aid_IFRS_FDI_Efobi_Nnadi_revised.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Accounting Standards, Foreign Aid, Foreign Direct Investment, Globalisation, IFRS Adoption Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:114568 Note: This is a working paper and comments are welcomed. #END 1428 #BEGIN 1429 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christl, Michael Author-Name: Kucsera, Dénes Title: Reformoptionen des österreichischen Pensionssystem und ihre finanziellen Auswirkungen Abstract: Dieser Beitrag untersucht die Auswirkungen unterschiedlicher Reformoptionen auf die Finanzierbarkeit des österreichischen Pensionssystems bis zum Jahr 2060. Es werden sowohl Änderungen im Verhalten der Arbeitnehmer (effektives Pensionsantrittsalter) als auch Änderungen des Pensionssystems (gesetzliches Pensionsantrittsalter) simuliert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ein alleiniger Anstieg des effektiven Antrittsalters nicht ausreichend ist um den staatlichen Zuschuss (Bundesbeitrag) mittelfristig stabil zu halten. Vielmehr muss das gesetzliche Antrittsalter jährlich um zumindest zwei Monate steigen, damit auch eine langfristige Stabilität gewährleistet ist. In diesem Fall würde der Bundesbeitrag zwar mittelfristig (bis 2040) auf das 1,5fache (in Prozent des BIP) ansteigen, langfristig jedoch würde er (bis 2060) auf dem Wert von 2014 bleiben. Abstract: This paper analyzes the impact of various reform options with regard to the financial stability of the Austrian pension system until 2060. We distinguish between different cases of retirement behavior by simulating various increases of the effective and/or the statutory retirement age. Our results suggest that an increase in the effective retirement age by three months per year does not stabilize the Austrian pension system in the medium run. We show that at least a steady increase of the statutory retirement age by two months per year is necessary to keep the system stable in the long run (until 2060). Nevertheless, in this case the federal grant for the pension system (as a share of GDP) will have to increase by 50 percent until 2040, however, it will decrease to its current level until 2060. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/113283/1/Pensionen_Christl_Kucsera.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J26, H53, H55 Keywords: Pensionssystem, Bundesbeitrag, Prognose, Antrittsalter Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:113283 #END 1429 #BEGIN 1430 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rehman, Naqeeb Ur Title: Does Internal and External R&D Affect SMEs Innovation Performance? Micro Level Evidence from India and Pakistan Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of internal and external R&D on SMEs innovation performance. Micro level data was obtained from Enterprise Survey. For analysis, bivariate models have been used. The results show that internal and external R&D positively affects the product and process innovations. However, this effect is stronger for Indian SMEs. In comparison, only external R&D showed positive association to product and process innovation for Pakistani SMEs. Similarly, Pakistani SMEs are externally constrained (lack of access to credit) than Indian SMEs. Moreover, Indian SMEs are dominant in terms of undertaking internal R&D, generating product and process innovations than Pakistani SMEs. Lastly, the complementary relationship has been examined between internal and external R&D for both countries. Regarding contribution, this research study for the first time has examined the Indian and Pakistani SMEs innovation activities. The implication of this study suggests that business managers can utilize the balance combination of internal and external R&D to accelerate the SMEs innovation performance. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/113229/1/India.Pak-1.DR.NAQEEB.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O3 Keywords: Internal and External R&D, SMEs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:113229 Note: Dr. Naqeeb has received his PhD in economics from University of Glasgow in 2012. He is active researcher related to SMEs productivity and innovation. Presently, he is working as researcher at Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan. #END 1430 #BEGIN 1431 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hoyningen-Huene, Wiebke von Title: Heuristics for an Integrated Maintenance and Production Scheduling Problem on Parallel Machines with Stochastic Failures and Non-Resumable Jobs Abstract: Maintenance activities can have a large impact on the performance of a production process and promised delivery dates. Therefore, maintenance and production planning should be handled as an integrated problem. In this paper, the problem of scheduling n jobs on m identical parallel machines is solved such that the expected makespan is minimised. The machines are affected by stochastic machine failures which are assumed to result in long production stops. To avoid this, preventive maintenance activities are planned beforehand. If a failure cannot be averted, a corrective maintenance has to be performed. Furthermore, it is assumed that jobs, interrupted by machine failure, have to be repeated (non-resumable case). In this paper, three construction heuristics and an Ant Colony System (ACS) algorithm are developed for solving this integrated problem. The excellent performance of the ACS as well as the benefit solving the problem in an integrated manner instead of sequentially, is shown in a numerical study. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/112746/1/Heuristics.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Parallel Machine Scheduling, Maintenance, Stochastic Failures, Non-Resumable Jobs, Ant Colony System Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:112746 #END 1431 #BEGIN 1432 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Zhao,Simon Author-Name: Wojcik, Dariusz Title: What Role Can an International Financial Centre’s Law Play in the Development of a Sunrise Industry? The Case of Hong Kong and Solar Powered Investments Abstract: How can international financial centres like Hong Kong increase assets under management – and thus their size and ranking? Most policymakers and their advisors wrongly answer this question by focusing on financial institutions, and the law that governs them. Instead, policymakers need to start by looking at actual markets. What new tastes and technologies need funding? How can such funding fit into already existing geographies of production, distribution and finance? In this paper, we show how a focus on funding sunrise industries can help increase assets under management for the financial institutions operating in an international financial centre like Hong Kong. We show – using the specific example the photovoltaic (solar power) sector – how changes in financial law need to be contingent on market needs. We specifically show how legal changes which promote the securitisation of solar assets (and the sale of these securities) can help increase Hong Kong’s financial institutions’ assets under management. By using this specific case, we hope to provide insight into the broader question of how technological change, geography, and financial law interact. Creation-Date: 2015-07-20 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/112700/1/Powering%20Hong%20Kong%20to%20Become%20a%20New%20Generation%20Energy%20Financial%20Centre2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K22, G18 Keywords: solar finance, securitization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:112700 #END 1432 #BEGIN 1433 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peckhaus, Stefanie Title: Qualitätsmanagement bei öffentlichen Auftragsvergaben. Neue Anforderungen an ein Qualitätsmanagement bei komplexen IT-Ausschreibungen Abstract: Die zentrale Zielsetzung dieser Arbeit besteht darin, einen Qualitätsmanagement-ansatz für IT-Vergaben zu entwickeln, um die Qualität der Ausschreibungen zu erhöhen. Hierfür werden die Prozesse der öffentlichen Auftragsvergabe von IT-Leistungen betrachtet. Dabei könnten die internen Vorbereitungsaufgaben innerhalb des Vergabeprozesses die maßgebenden Erfolgsfaktoren für die Steigerung der Qualität darstellen. Creation-Date: 2015-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/111417/1/Peckhaus%20-%20Qualit%c3%a4tsmanagement%20bei%20%c3%b6ffentlichen%20Auftragsvergaben.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H720, H760 Keywords: Öffentliche Vergabe, Qualitätsmanagement, IT-Beschaffung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:111417 #END 1433 #BEGIN 1434 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Author-Name: Yew, Siew Ling Author-Name: Ugur, Mehmet Title: Does government size affect per-capita income growth? A Hierarchical meta-regression analysis Abstract: We conduct a hierarchical meta-regression analysis to review 87 empirical studies that report 769 estimates for the effects of government size on economic growth. We follow best-practice recommendations for meta-analysis of economics research and address issues of publication selection bias and heterogeneity. When measured as the ratio of total government expenditures or government consumption expenditures to GDP, government size is associated negatively with per-capita income growth in developed countries. However, the partial correlation coefficient is insignificant when the evidence relates to developing countries. When the evidence for both country types is pooled together, the partial correlation is insignificant in the case of total government expenditures but negative and significant in the case of government consumption. We also report that government size is associated with less adverse effects when primary studies control for endogeneity and are published in journals and more recently, but it is associated with more adverse effects when primary studies use averaged cross-section data. These findings indicate that the relationship between government size and growth is context-specific and the existing evidence is insufficient to establish a negative causal effect due to: (i) potential biases induced by reverse causality between government size and per-capita income; (ii) lack of control for country fixed effects in cross-section studies; and (iii) absence of control for non-linear relationships between government size and per-capita GDP growth. Creation-Date: 2015-06-16 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110903/1/Gov_Size_Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O40, H50, C1 Keywords: Economic growth, Government size, Government expenditure, Government consumption, Meta-analysis, Evidence synthesis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110903 #END 1434 #BEGIN 1435 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Author-Name: Okai, Davidson Author-Name: Posso, Alberto Title: Internet Use and Ethnic Heterogeneity in a Cross-Section of Countries Abstract: This paper investigates the association between ethnic heterogeneity and information technology related outcomes such as internet access and internet use. We argue that the global digital divide, as measured by cross-country differences in internet access and use, could be explained by cross-country differences in ethnic heterogeneity. We use indices of ethnic and linguistic fractionalization as measures of ethnic heterogeneity. Using data on a cross-section of 93 countries, we find evidence of a negative association between ethnic heterogeneity and the use and access of internet. Thus, cross-country differences in the global digital divide can be explained by the levels of ethnic fractionalization. Other determinants of the digital divide include income, infrastructure, literacy level, level of urbanization and inequality. Creation-Date: 2015-06-16 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110902/1/EconStor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: ethnic diversity, digital divide, information inequality, internet Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110902 #END 1435 #BEGIN 1436 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Author-Name: Yew, Siew Ling Author-Name: Ugur, Mehmet Title: Effects of Government Education and Health Expenditures on Economic Growth: A Meta-analysis Abstract: Using a sample of 306 estimates drawn from 31 primary studies, this paper conducts an empirical synthesis of the link between economic growth and government expenditure on education or health using meta-analysis. We also explain the heterogeneity in empirical results. We find that the effect of government education expenditure on growth is positive, whereas the growth effect of government health expenditure is negative. Our meta-regression analysis suggests that factors such as econometric specifications, publication characteristics as well as data characteristics explain the heterogeneity in the literature. We also find no evidence of publication selectivity. Creation-Date: 2015-06-16 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110901/1/Human_Capital_Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: government education expenditure, government health expenditure, human capital, economic growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110901 #END 1436 #BEGIN 1437 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa Author-Name: Yew, Siew Ling Author-Name: Ugur, Mehmet Title: Does government size affect per-capita income growth? A Hierarchical meta-regression analysis Abstract: We conduct a hierarchical meta-regression analysis to review 87 empirical studies that report 769 estimates for the effects of government size on economic growth. We follow best-practice recommendations for meta-analysis of economics research, and address issues of publication selection bias and heterogeneity. When size is measured as the ratio of total government expenditures to GDP, the partial correlation between government size and per-capita GDP growth is negative in developed countries, but insignificant in developing countries. When size is measured as the ratio of consumption expenditures to GDP, the partial correlation is negative in both developed and developing countries, but the effect in developing countries is less adverse. We also report that government size is associated with less adverse effects when primary studies control for endogeneity and are published in journals and more recently, but it is associated with more adverse effects when primary studies use cross-section data. Our findings indicate that the relationship between government size and per-capita GDP growth is context-specific and likely to be biased due to endogeneity between the level of per-capita income and government expenditures. Creation-Date: 2015-06-15 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110897/1/Ugur_et_al_Prague.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O40, H50, C1 Keywords: Economic growth, Government size, Government expenditures, Government consumption, Meta-analysis, Evidence synthesis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110897 Note: This paper synthesize the evidence on the relationship between government size and growth, using a hierarchical meta-regression model. It provides a systematic assessment of the literature and offers some insights into the heterogeneity of the existing findings. #END 1437 #BEGIN 1438 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Guidi, Francesco Author-Name: Solomon, Edna Author-Name: Trushin, Eshref Author-Name: Ugur, Mehmet Title: Inverted-U relationship between innovation and survival: Evidence from firm-level UK data Abstract: Theoretical and empirical work on innovation and firm survival has produced varied and often conflicting findings. In this paper, we draw on Schumpeterian models of competition and innovation and stochastic models of firm dynamics to demonstrate that the conflicting findings may be due to linear specifications of the innovation-survival relationship. We demonstrate that a quadratic specification is appropriate theoretically and fits the data well. Our findings from an unbalanced panel of 39,705 UK firms from 1997-2012 indicate that an inverted-U relationship holds for different types of R&D expenditures and sources of funding. We also report that R&D intensity is more likely to increase survival when firms are in more concentrated industries and in Pavitt technology classes consisting of specialized suppliers of technology and scale-intensive industries. Finally, we report that the effects of firm and industry characteristics as well as macroeconomic environment indicators are all consistent with prior findings. The results are robust to step-wise modeling, controlling for left truncation and use of lagged values to address potential simultaneity bias. Creation-Date: 2015-06-15 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110896/1/R%26D_and_firm_survival_econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C41, D21, D22, L1, O3 Keywords: innovation, R&D, firm dynamics, survival anaysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110896 Note: This paper proposes and tests a quadratic specification for the relationship between R&D intensity and firm survival, using a rich dataset on UK firms. It argues that the linear specification in the exiting literature may be subject to misspecification bias. #END 1438 #BEGIN 1439 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kalamov, Zarko Y. Title: Safe Haven vs. Earnings Stripping Rules: a Prisoner Dilemma? Abstract: Internal debt financing can be used by multinational firms to shift profits from high-tax to low-tax countries. Governments apply thin capitalization rules (TCRs), which limit the deductibility of interest expenses, to restrict this behavior. TCRs fall in two main categories: safe haven rules and earnings stripping rules. We derive the locally and the socially optimal type of TCR in a general equilibrium two country model. A unilateral switch from safe haven to earnings stripping rules is welfare improving, because it allows governments to tax at different effective rates domestic and multinational firms. Thus, we provide an explanation for the recently observed trend to replace safe haven rules with earnings stripping rules. Depending on the degree of transfer price manipulation undertaken by multinational enterprises, a prisoner dilemma result emerges, as local governments may have a dominant strategy to choose earnings stripping, even when it is not mutually welfare maximizing. Creation-Date: 2015-06-15 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110895/1/Safe%20Haven%20vs.%20Earnings%20stripping%20rules%20-%20a%20Prisoner%20Dilemma.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H25, H7, F23 Keywords: thin capitalization rules, safe haven rules, earnings stripping rules, profit shifting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110895 #END 1439 #BEGIN 1440 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sonnabend, Hendrik Title: Good Intentions and Unintended Evil? Clients’ Punishment in the Market for Sex Services with Voluntary and Involuntary Providers Abstract: While there is no consensus concerning the legal and moral judgment towards prostitution, there is an overwhelming agreement on the need to fight sexual slavery. The paper shows the effect of clients’ punishment in the market for commercial sex (the so called neo-abolitionism or nordic prostitution regime) as it concerns sexual slavery. As a result the theoretical analysis reveals that this effect is ambiguous and crucially depends on the size of the deterrence effect and on local properties of the market demand. Policy implications that arise are identified and discussed. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110682/1/clients%e2%80%99%20punishment_sonnabend_2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K42, J3, L51, I18 Keywords: Prostitution, Regulation, Forced Labor, Sexual Slavery Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110682 #END 1440 #BEGIN 1441 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Majumder, Amlan Title: An alternative measure of economic inequality in the light of optics Abstract: An ideal state of development, when viewed with fantasy, is nothing but a state or condition where light touches everybody without refraction. The diagonal line of the Lorenz Curve Framework represents such an ideal condition. In the presence of inequality, however, it deviates or refracts from the ideal condition. In this paper, I try to measure economic inequality from the index of refraction. First, I compute such an index for each stratum to evaluate condition in each and then add all to propose an overall measure of economic inequality, which appears to be a standardised measure of the length of the Lorenz Curve relative to that of the diagonal line. The exercise is done utilising data on distribution of income or consumption from the WDI 2014. Results are lively and remarkable. While an index value of less than 1.00 represents an ‘anomalous refraction’ in Optics, such a condition of inequality is true and too common for many of us (60-80 %) in reality. In contrast to that, in some countries, the index of refraction of the richest group exceeds that of Diamond (2.42), where an index value of 1.00 depicts an ideal condition that is enviable. In regard to technicalities, it goes at par Gini Index and beyond. Additionally, it makes analysis of economic inequality more sensible. Presumably, the proposed index could be a good substitute of the Gini Index as it is found perfectly correlated with the latter by quadratic equation with an Adjusted R Square value of 1.00. Creation-Date: 2014-11 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110681/1/ECINEQ2014-346.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D63 Keywords: Gini index, Inequality, Lorenz curve, Optics, Refractive index, Snell's law Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110681 Note: A modified version of it appeared as Majumder (2015): http://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2015/Volume35/EB-15-V35-I2-P110.pdf. #END 1441 #BEGIN 1442 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Goo, Say Title: Last of the Tai-Pans: Improving the Sustainability of Long-Term Financial Flows by Improving Hong Kong’s Corporate Governance Abstract: Hong Kong leads the rank tables as an international financial centre. However, the data indicate that some parts of her corporate governance arrangements probably detract from – rather than contribute to – that leading position. In this brief, we show how excessive shareholding concentration, probably self-dealing, insufficient minority shareholder recourse to mechanisms aimed at protecting their investments, and Hong Kong’s close links with several “tax havens” probably weaken Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre. We present 18 recommendations aimed at increasing the volume of international financial capital coming to the city by improving Hong Kong’s corporate governance. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110604/1/Prospects%20for%20Reforming%20Hong%20Kong2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G34, K22 Keywords: corporate governance, hong kong Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110604 #END 1442 #BEGIN 1443 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Wojick, Dariusz Author-Name: Arner, Douglas W. Author-Name: Tong, Wilson Author-Name: Lin, Chen Author-Name: Zhao, Simon Title: What Determines M&A Legal and Financial Advisors’ Competitiveness in an International Financial Centre: Using China’s Going Out Policy as a Natural Experiment Abstract: Roughly 60% of all publically announced advisors to China’s “Going Out” M&A transactions from 2000 to 2014 were from international financial centres (representing over 70% of deal value). Why did advisors, located so far away from both acquirer and target, manage to dominate the M&A advisory market in the early stages of the “Going Out” policy? What can we learn from the smaller advisors located outside of these financial centres who managed to capture a growing share of this business in “Going Out’s” more recent stages? In this paper, we hypothesize the existence of a “legal complexity externality” that had the effect of increasing a financial centre’s ability to attract international business. We look at the way Going Out advisors have responded to advisory opportunities using what management theorists call “blue ocean strategy.” We show that relationships across geography changed, as large global advisors lost their share of advisory business to advisors outside of international financial centres due to the interplay of these legal complexity externalities and blue ocean strategies. As cities helps foster changes in the law governing Going Out transactions – and as financial and legal advisors adapted their strategies to compete – cities gained or lost Going Out business. We provide 5 recommendations to existing and aspiring international financial centres looking to capture a larger share of global M&A and other investment advisory business. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110603/1/China%20Going%20Out%20Working%20Paper%20SSRN%20Version.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K40, G34 Keywords: law schools, international financial centre, mergers and aquisitions, Going Out Policy, legal complexity externality, professional services Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110603 #END 1443 #BEGIN 1444 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lenz, Rainer Title: Banking 2025: The Bank of the Future Abstract: Developments in information technology are fundamentally changing many traditional business models. Progress in the IT area is bringing about one change in particular: it is reducing search costs and allowing buyers and sellers of products and services to find each other directly on web-based platforms, without the need for a mediator, broker or intermediary. All business models of trade are affected by this development, and this means that financial trade is also affected. However, bank customers will only turn to the new business model of web-based financial intermediation if the economic advantage of a behavioural change, in which the individual approaches the unfamiliar, is so compelling that the associated transaction costs of learning the new as well as the initial uncertainty of action are justified. Once the number of new users reaches a critical mass, the process of reorganisation is no longer linear and continuous, but advances in bursts and exponentially. This means that, at a certain point in time, the process of system change gains so much momentum that it can hardly be controlled. In view of the inefficiency of the existing banking system as well as the economic superiority of web-based alternatives, it seems that it will only be a matter of time before a system change takes place in the banking business. Abstract: Die Entwicklung in der Informationstechnologie verändert viele traditionelle Geschäftsmodelle grundlegend. Der IT-Fortschritt bewirkt vor allem eines: Er reduziert die Suchkosten, so dass sich Anbieter und Nachfrager von Dienstleistungen und Produkten nunmehr unmittelbar ohne Zwischenschaltung eines Mittlers, Maklers oder Intermediärs auf web-basierten Plattformen finden. Von dieser Entwicklung betroffen sind alle Geschäftsmodelle des Handels und insofern auch der Handel mit Geld. Doch die Bankkunden werden sich dem neuen Geschäftsmodell der web-basierten Vermittlung von Kapital erst dann zuwenden, wenn der ökonomische Vorteil einer Verhaltensänderung im Sinne der Hinwendung des Individuums zu etwas Neuen so gravierend ist, dass er die Transaktionskosten der Einarbeitung in das Neue und die verbundene erste Unsicherheit des Handelns rechtfertigt. Hat die Anzahl der neuen Nutzer eine kritische Masse erreicht, dann wird der Prozess der Neuordnung nicht mehr linear und stetig, sondern sprunghaft und exponentiell verlaufen. Das heißt, der Prozess der Systemänderungen gewinnt ab einem gewissen Punkt an kaum mehr zu steuernder Eigendynamik. Angesicht der Ineffizienz des bestehenden Bankensystems und der ökonomischen Überlegenheit der web-basierten Alternativen scheint es nur eine Frage der Zeit zu sein, wann ein Systemwechsels im Bankgeschäft erfolgt. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110466/1/Banking%202025%20-%20The%20Bank%20of%20the%20Future%20-%20Lenz%202015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G18, G21, G28, O33 Keywords: banking and financial market regulation, reform of the monetary system, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110466 #END 1444 #BEGIN 1445 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lorenz, Hanno Title: Was an Pikettys Thesen dran ist – und was nicht: Eine bedeutende Datensammlung, die keine Argumente für Reichensteuern liefert Abstract: Nun liegt es auch auf Deutsch vor: „Das Kapital im 21. Jahrhundert“ von Thomas Piketty, jenes Buch, das in den USA und von dort nach Europa ausstrahlend für ein ökonomisches Werk ungewöhnlich viel Medienaufmerksamkeit bekam – ironischerweise sogar im Magazin „Vanity Fair“, das im Allgemeinen über die Reichen und Schönen berichtet. Auf mehr als drei Vierteln des Buches präsentiert der französische Ökonom Daten über die Größe und Aufteilung von Vermögen in mehreren Ländern über den Zeitraum von gut 200 Jahren. Bei deren Bewertung ist er zunächst relativ vorsichtig; in sich hat es dann das verhältnismäßig kurze letzte Kapitel mit Pikettys eigener Interpretation der Ergebnisse. Diese beruhen auf Annahmen, die zumindest diskussionswürdig sind. Hier nun eine Zusammenfassung und kritische Würdigung des Buches. Creation-Date: 2014-10 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110465/1/Agenda%20Austria_Piketty.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Y30, A10 Keywords: Buchrezension, Piketty Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110465 #END 1445 #BEGIN 1446 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christl, Michael Author-Name: Kucsera, Dénes Title: Pensionsreform: Wann ist die Mehrheit weg? Wer von einer Pensionsautomatik profitieren würde. Und wer nicht. Abstract: Die Studienautoren unterstellen die Beibehaltung des staatlichen Umlageverfahrens, in dem das Pensionsantrittsalter mit der Lebenserwartung mitwächst (Pensionsautomatik) und vergleichen dieses reformierte Modell mit den plausibelsten Alternativen. Einerseits mit der von der Regierung präferierten zarten Reform, die einen Anstieg des durchschnittlichen Pensionsantrittsalters auf 61,1 Jahre bis 2030 vorsieht. Andererseits mit einer deutlich flotteren Reform, die einen Anstieg des Pensionsantrittsalters von 65 Jahren für Männer und Frauen bis 2020 unterstellt. Die Autoren beantworten also die Frage, wie das schwedische Modell aus Sicht der Wähler im Vergleich zu den Alternativen abschneidet, wie also auf ein finanziell nachhaltigeres und für die Jungen gerechteres Pensionssystem umgestellt werden könnte. Damit geben sie den politischen Entscheidungsträgern Antwort auf die essenzielle Frage: Wie gehe ich es am besten an, wenn das staatliche Pensionssystem dauerhaft und allen Generationen gegenüber fair abgesichert werden soll? Creation-Date: 2015-02 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110464/1/Agenda-Austria-Pensionsreform-Mehrheit.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J26, J11 Keywords: Pensionssystem Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110464 #END 1446 #BEGIN 1447 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christl, Michael Author-Name: Kucsera, Dénes Title: Elchtest für Österreichs Pensionssystem. Wie Schwedens Sozialdemokraten unsere Renten sichern Abstract: Das österreichische Pensionssystem ist dabei, zu einer kaum noch finanzierbaren Belastung für die gesamte Volkswirtschaft zu werden. Der Grund dafür ist ein sehr erfreulicher: eine um drei Monate pro Jahr steigende Lebenserwartung. Falls nicht reformiert wird, führt das allerdings dazu, dass der Staat (real) über kurz oder lang doppelt so viel Geld aus dem Budget zuschießen muss wie heute, in 30 Jahren bereits dreimal so viel. Schon jetzt werden aus dem Bundesbudget knapp zehn Milliarden Euro pro Jahr in das Pensionssystem gepumpt. Finanziert werden die steigenden Zuschüsse vorerst über höhere Staatsschulden, letzten Endes müssen sie aber von den Steuerzahlern bezahlt werden. Die Frage ist nur, von welchen Jahrgängen – also wann. Creation-Date: 2014-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110463/1/AgendaAustria_Pensionsstudie_HP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J26, J11 Keywords: Pensionssystem Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110463 #END 1447 #BEGIN 1448 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Christl, Michael Author-Name: Kucsera, Dénes Title: Österreich, das Land der versteckten Arbeitslosigkeit Abstract: Die offiziellen Arbeitsmarktstatistiken zeigen ein höchst widersprüchliches Bild. So lag die Arbeitslosenrate in Österreich laut nationaler Berechnung im vergangenen Jahr bei 7,0 Prozent, laut EU-Definition aber nur bei 4,3 Prozent (2012). Für ein und dasselbe Land, in ein und demselben Zeitraum. Das ist übrigens kein österreichisches Phänomen, sondern ein europäisches. Mit Hilfe eines ökonometrischen Modells wird der Personenkreis, der im Englischen als „hidden unemployed“ bezeichnet wird, berechnet (die Wirtschaftswissenschaft spricht von „versteckter Arbeitslosigkeit“) Creation-Date: 2013-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110462/1/Agenda-Austria-Versteckte-Arbeitslosigkeit.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J64, J21 Keywords: Arbeitslosigkeit, Hidden Unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110462 #END 1448 #BEGIN 1449 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Geymüller, Philipp Author-Name: Christl, Michael Title: Teurer Wohnen. Wie Politik und Mietrecht den Wohnungsmarkt außer Kraft setzen und drei Vorschläge für leistbare vier Wände Abstract: Die Funktionstüchtigkeit des österreichischen Wohnungsmarktes wird derzeit von mehreren Seiten in Frage gestellt. Zum einen tobt eine politische Debatte über eine drohende Knappheit an leistbarem Wohnraum, in deren Zusammenhang neue Eingriffe in privatrechtliche Mietverträge gefordert werden. Zum anderen klagt eine wachsende Zahl von Wohnungssuchenden über stark anziehende Mieten, während die Wohnungseigentümer immer öfter die fehlende Rentabilität von Vermietungen kritisieren. Die vorliegende Studie bringt Licht in die verwirrende Gemengelage, arbeitet Problemfelder heraus, benennt deren Ursachen und zeigt Lösungswege für einen funktionstüchtigen Wohnungsmarkt auf. Creation-Date: 2014-01 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110461/1/Agenda-Austria-Studie-Teurer-Wohnen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R28, R31 Keywords: Wohnen, Immobilienmarkt Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110461 #END 1449 #BEGIN 1450 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gresch, Cornelia Author-Name: Piezunka, Anne Author-Name: Solga, Heike Author-Name: Blank, Jonna Title: Eine Ergänzungsstichprobe von Integrationsschülerinnen und -schülern im Rahmen des Nationalen Bildungspanels: Möglichkeiten und Perspektiven Abstract: Das vom BMBF geförderte dreijährige Projekt beschäftigte sich mit der Frage, ob und wie im Rahmen des Nationalen Bildungspanels diejenigen Schüler_innen mit sonderpädagogischer Förderung (Lernen) in hinreichend großer Fallzahl einbezogen werden können, die an Regelschulen unterrichtet werden. Hierzu wurden erstens die unterschiedlichen Modalitäten von Inklusion/Integration in den Bundesländern systematisch erfasst, zweitens im Rahmen einer Stichprobenpilotierung die praktischen Voraussetzungen für eine Integrationsstichprobe geprüft und drittens eine umfassende Konzeptspezifikation von Integration als Grundlage für die Entwicklung von Erhebungsinstrumenten zur Erfassung der Inklusion-/Integrationssituation erarbeitet. Als zentrales Ergebnis zeigt sich, dass eine bundesweite Integrationsstichprobe auf Schülerebene zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt nur unter erheblichem Aufwand und mit bestimmten Einschränkungen möglich ist. Zur genaueren Umsetzung werden insgesamt neun Empfehlungen ausgesprochen. Darüber hinaus ergab die nähere Auseinandersetzung mit der Umsetzung von Inklusion/Integration in den einzelnen Bundesländern, dass sich diese, aber auch Schulen und Klassen, teilweise erheblich in der Umsetzung unterscheiden. Entsprechend ist eine alleinige Beschränkung auf das Label „Integrationsschüler_in“ als Grundlage für eine empirische Untersuchung nicht ausreichend, sondern die unterschiedlichen Gegebenheiten der Inklusion/Integration sollten explizit erhoben werden. Hierzu werden neun Dimensionen vorgestellt, die bei der Untersuchung von Integrationsschüler_innen einbezogen werden sollten. Abschließend werden zwei Empfehlungen für die zukünftige Forschung im Bereich der Inklusion ausgesprochen: Zum einen bedarf es eines Standards an bundesweit einsetzbaren Erhebungsinstrumenten zur Identifikation von Integrationsschüler_ innen und zur Erfassung der Integrationssituation. Zum anderen bietet die Untersuchung von Integrationsschüler_innen grundsätzlich auch bei geringeren Fallzahlen großes Analysepotenzial. In diesem Fall wäre allerdings die Konzentration auf Integrationsschüler_innen in möglichst ähnlichen Integrations-/Inklusionssettings zielführend. Hier sollten weitere Forschungsarbeiten ansetzen. Abstract: The 3-year project funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) deals with the feasibility of an additional sample of students with special educational needs in the area of learning taught at regular schools (included students) as part of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). To reach this aim, we first systematically assessed various modalities of inclusion; second, we examined the practical conditions for a sample of included students by conducting a pilot sample, and third, we drafted a comprehensive conceptual specification of inclusion as a basis for developing survey instruments to assess the situation of included students. Our project research has resulted in the main finding that a nationwide sample at student level would currently only be feasible with considerable additional effort and specific restrictions. In this regard we have issued nine recommendations. What is more, we discovered great differences between Federal States, schools, and even classes regarding the implementation of inclusive teaching. Thus, it is not sufficient to base empirical analyses solely on the restrictive label of “included students”. Instead, the different parameters for inclusion need to be surveyed explicitly. Therefore, we present nine aspects of inclusion, which should be taken into account when considering a study about inclusive teaching. By way of conclusion, we offer two recommendations with regard to future research in the field: First, we call for a standard of survey instrumentation to identify included students and to assess the setting of inclusion in a way that can be implemented nationwide. On the other hand, we see a high potential for investigating included students even with a small number of cases. In this event, we would advise focusing on included students from comparable settings of integration. Further research should continue from here. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110376/1/WorkingPaper_FINALVersion_ocr.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Inklusion, sonderpädagogischer Förderbedarf, bundesweite Erfassung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110376 #END 1450 #BEGIN 1451 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roth, Steffen Author-Name: Dana, Léo-Paul Title: What is a self-made expat? Self-disclosures of self-initiated expatriates Abstract: The label expatriates is increasingly used by and applied to a growing number of persons who do not fit classical concepts of company-driven expatriation. While relevant research is engaged in establishing interaction with smaller samples of self- initiated expatriates, the present article represents netnography of a larger, international sample of self-designated self-initiated expatriates who, independently of any research intervention, engaged in an online conversation headlined “Self-Made Expats?” on the international expatriates platform internations.com. While key findings from this non- responsive approach to the self-disclosures of an internationally diverse web community of self-made expatriates support certain dimensions of prevailing academic definitions, they also suggest reconsidering the so far disclaimed relevance of entrepreneurialism for the concept of self-initiated expatriation. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110355/1/Roth-Dana-Selfmade.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L26, L31 Keywords: expatriation, self-made expats, entrepreneurship, netnography, internations.com Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110355 #END 1451 #BEGIN 1452 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roth, Steffen Title: Die dunkle Seite des Netzwerkmanagements: Von der Kunst, ein funktionierendes Netzwerk zu zerstören. Abstract: Positive Vorurteile sind bei weitem nicht die schlechtesten: Netzwerke stehen für unzensierten Informationsfluss, für Synergieeffekte, Partizipation und Identitätsstiftung. Mit Gedanken an Netzwerke verbindet sich die Hoffnung auf überlegene Problemlösestrategien. Netzwerke sind eine effiziente Organisationsform. Nebenbei ist diese gewisse Euphorie auch der kleinste gemeinsame Nenner einer sonst unübersichtlichen Debatte, die eine Entwicklung diskutiert, deren Unausweichlichkeit selbst und gerade deren Kritiker proklamieren1. Netzwerke sind die Gussform des Fortschritts, eben „... die charakteristische Gesellschaftsstruktur des Informationszeitalters“ (Castells 2001b: 43). Sich mit der Zerstörung von Netzwerken auseinander zu setzen, mag da im ersten Ansehen eine Donquichotterie sein: Netzwerke sind selbstorganisierende Einheiten, Servomechanismen, und gerade dieser Eigenregie der Netze (Faßler 2001: 21) verdanken wir neue Maßstäbe im Denken über Flexibilität und Innovation. Die mittlerweile erkannten Nachteile netzförmiger Organisation lassen sich überwiegenden Teils als Steuerungsprobleme beim Jungfernflug behandeln. Grundsätzlich sind Netzwerke hocheffiziente Instrumente. Wir teilen diese Annahme. Gerade dann, wenn wir uns im Folgenden mit deren Zerstörung beschäftigen. Wir sehen Fragen zu diesem Thema auch im sozial- und wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Diskurs angelegt und halten sie für angezeigt und fruchtbar (II). Hinter der Vernachlässigung des Themas im Bereich der Sozial- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften konnten wir daher Struktur vermuten (III). Im nächsten Schritt erschließen wir uns zwei Definitionen der Zerstörung von Netzwerken (IV). Ausgehend von einem integrativen Netzwerk-Modell präzisieren wir nun unseren Gegenstandsbereich (V), erweitern das klassische Netzwerkverständnis der Transaktionskostentheorie und entwickeln einen eigenen Ansatz (VI). Darauf aufbauend können wir schließlich Strategien der Zerstörung von Netzwerken herausarbeiten (VII) und die Konsequenzen unserer Arbeit diskutieren (VIII). Creation-Date: 2004 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/110207/1/DiedunkleSeite.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A14 Keywords: Netzwerk, Zerstörung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:110207 #END 1452 #BEGIN 1453 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ugur, Mehmet Author-Name: Solomon, Edna Author-Name: Guidi, Francesco Author-Name: Trushin, Eshref Title: R&D and productivity in OECD firms and industries: A hierarchical meta-regression analysis Abstract: Effects of R&D investment on frim/industry productivity have been investigated widely thanks to pioneering contributions by Zvi Griliches and others in late 1970s and early 1980s. We aim to establish where the balance of the evidence lies and what factors may explain the variation in the research findings. Using 1,258 estimates from 65 primary studies and hierarchical meta-regression models, we report that the average elasticity and rate-of-return estimates are both positive, but smaller than those reported in prior narrative reviews and meta-analysis studies. We discuss the likely sources of upward bias in prior reviews, investigate the sources of heterogeneity in the evidence base, and discuss the implications for future research. Overall, this study contributes to existing knowledge by placing the elasticity and rate-of-return estimates under a critical spot light and providing empirically-verifiable explanations for the variation in the evidence base. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109962/1/R%26D_and_productivity_meta_econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D24, O30, O32, C49 Keywords: R&D, knowledge capital, productivity, meta-analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109962 #END 1453 #BEGIN 1454 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Title: Foreign Under-Investment in US Securities and the Role of Relational Capital Abstract: Over 70 academic papers attempt to explain why foreigners invest in US securities. All ignore the vital role of the US broker-dealer. Macroeconomic factors like a trade balance or corporate governance may guide foreign investors toward certain markets. But US broker-dealers provide information to foreign investors and execute the actual trades. We hypothesize that particular foreign investors under-invest in US securities because of a lack of relational capital with US broker-dealers. We find that broker-dealer marketing intensity in foreign markets partly explains foreigners' decisions to invest in US securities. We also estimate "pent-up" demand for US securities in developing countries -- like China, Argentina, Turkey and Russia --equals roughly half-a-trillion dollars. Such pent-up demand - represented as a convergence gap with investment-to-GDP ratios in highly developed capital markets -- helps predict which markets these broker-dealers are likely to invest marketing effort in the future. As such, broker-dealers interested in assisting foreign investors find the right securities for their portfolios should not focus on big, rich economies. They should focus on economies with the largest convergence gaps. We also find that broker-dealers must take in account the effect their marketing effort has on the typical variables (like relative returns, risks, asymmetric shocks and communication with the US) when they use these screening variables in deciding where to build their relational capital (and place their sales effort) in any year. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109961/1/Finance%20Paper2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F21, G11 Keywords: portfolio investment, us securities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109961 #END 1454 #BEGIN 1455 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Hartwell, Christopher A. Author-Name: Ho, Gary Title: Does Financial Market Development Explain (or at Least Predict) the Demand for Wealth Management and Private Banking Services in Developing Markets? Abstract: How should wealth managers and private bankers find and serve the wealthy – particularly in developing countries? Several banks and consulting firms provide market sizing estimates for the number of high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals. However, it is still an open question whether financial management services actually create wealth (or increase the number of wealthy persons). How can financial advisors know if, on a macro-level, their service offerings grow their collective assets under management and increase their prospect numbers? In this paper, we find evidence that advanced wealth management and private banking services might help grow a wirehouse’s book of business in developed, but not developing, markets. If wealth management and private banking follow general trends affecting the broader financial sector, their business also grows wealth in less advanced economies. Such evidence sheds light on the currently ambiguous role that financial development seems to play in creating affluent, high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109960/1/HNW%20paper4.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, O10 Keywords: wealth management, private banking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109960 #END 1455 #BEGIN 1456 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Popov, Maja Title: The Size and Structure of Government Abstract: Does government size and structure adapt to changes in government’s organisational environment (particularly to uncertainty and complexity) as predicted by organisational theory? We find – using a range of statistical analyses – support for each of the major theories of organisation adaptation (the contingency-based view, resource-based view, and rational choice view). We find that both government size and structure change – holding other factors constant – for changes in the uncertainty and complexity of governments’ organisational environments. We find seven clusters of governments which adapt their organisational sizes differently in response to changes in the uncertainty and complexity of their organisational environments – and four clusters of governments with differing preferences for the way they adapt governmental structures. We also use the available data to divide governments according to the extent to which they adapt their organisational size and structure reactively (after changes occur in their organisational environment), contemporaneously or strategically (before these changes in their organisational environment occur). Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109959/1/The%20Structure%20of%20Government3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E6, H1 Keywords: government structure, size of government Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109959 #END 1456 #BEGIN 1457 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chirico, Alessandra Title: Credit Rating Agencies: The Main Lacuna in EU Regulation Governing Conflicts of Interest Abstract: Credit Rating Agencies play a key role in European capital markets today, publishing ratings on the creditworthiness of issuers/issues of debt securities. Independent, objective and internationally consistent credit ratings raise the integrity, transparency and competitiveness of capital markets, lower the costs of capital for issuers and contribute to investor protection. Moreover, ratings are widely used by investors as a guide to the creditworthiness of the issuers of debt, and in financial covenants. As a result, credit rating agencies play a major role not only in the pricing of debt securities, but also in the regulatory process. It may well happen, in fact, that regulators co-opt rating agencies as information-producing agents for regulatory purposes. In this way, when ratings serve not just as a tool for investors but become the very foundation for regulation, they become extremely powerful, and as a consequence, the risk that conflicts of interest will arise becomes much sharper. Creation-Date: 2008-01-31 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109213/1/Credit%20Rating%20Agencies%202008.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Credit rating agencies, financial market supervision, conflicts of interest, MiFID, financial markets regulation, transparency, European Commission Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109213 #END 1457 #BEGIN 1458 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Henze, Philipp Title: Structural Change and Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from Germany Abstract: This paper uses a long time series of German employment data to test the theory of Ngai & Pissarides (2007). The theory suggests that the shift of employment shares from manufacturing to services is due to divergent growth rates of total factor productivity (TFP) in the two sectors. To test the theoretical predictions, I use the "Establishment History Panel" together with sectoral data on total factor productivity. The results confirm the theoretical predictions, i.e. they show a negative relationship between employment growth and TFP growth. Creation-Date: 2015-04-16 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109138/4/Structural%20Change%20and%20Total%20Factor%20Productivity_Evidence%20from%20Germany_Henze.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L16, O14, O40, D24 Keywords: Structural Change, Economic Growth, Total Factor Productivity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109138 #END 1458 #BEGIN 1459 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Apostoloski, Nenad Title: The Middle Eastern Wealth Management Industry: Boon or Bust? Abstract: The wealth management industry has expanded greatly in the Middle East -- following the fortunes of wealth itself. How can wealth managers identify and grow their portfolios in this region? What policies can they push for in order to build wealth management and private banking services? What threats does ordinary retail business pose to the premium model? Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109022/1/Wealth%20Management%20in%20the%20Middle%20East.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, F23 Keywords: wealth management, middle east Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109022 #END 1459 #BEGIN 1460 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Popov, Maja Title: Do Customs Trade Facilitation Programmes Help Reduce Customs-Related Corruption? Abstract: Customs-related corruption costs World Customs Organisation (WCO) members at least $2 billion in customs revenue each year. Using recent data only about bribe payers’ actual experiences in paying bribes, we show that trade facilitation would only help reduce corruption and improve efficiency – in a large number of customs agencies -- if the customs agency’s director undertakes a big-bang approach to reform. We also find support for the corruption clubs theory – that customs agencies in the process of reform are either moving toward OECD levels of integrity and efficiency; or they are sliding toward a “red zone” group of countries. Such a sliding results from the incentives corrupt customs officers have to stymie reform. As such, countries undertaking customs programmes – such as those endorsed by the World Customs Organisation – should not adopt reform measures piecemeal. They need to engage in anti-corruption and efficiency-enhancement programmes deeply enough to ensure they benefit from trade facilitation. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109021/1/Abu%20Dhabi%20Combined.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D21, O12 Keywords: corruption, customs, trade facilitation, organisational capacity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109021 #END 1460 #BEGIN 1461 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Hartwell, Christopher A. Author-Name: Korovkin, Vladimir Title: CP ALL and the Case of Value Web Creation Abstract: The two-dimensional value chain model has served business theorists for decades. Yet, we know that integrated companies in emerging markets combine many dimensions of service and product to generate customer value. What does CP All teach us about the new "value web" concept? Using a simple model, we derive implications for returns on capital, wages and other variables which interest managers. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/109020/1/CPAll%20Final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D46, G11 Keywords: retailing, emerging markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:109020 #END 1461 #BEGIN 1462 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Title: Who Is Your Company? Where to Locate to Compete in Emerging Markets Abstract: Who’s your city? For companies in the developing world, this question determines their market sizes, access to innovative ideas, regulatory environment and proximity to innovative staff. In this brief, we identify the most attractive metropolitan areas to locate in to sell in emerging markets. Taipei, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Shanghai and Beijing comprise our top 10 list. Close runners-up include Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Cairo and others. We describe how companies can work with local governments to provide a more attractive business environment in these emerging metropoli. Some ways including providing resources for airport development, working with government on business simplification, encouraging the free movement of persons (by lowering visa requirements), helping to build out infrastructure around the airport and working with local academics. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/108998/1/Cities%20Brief.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: R11, R23 Keywords: optimal location, urban economics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:108998 #END 1462 #BEGIN 1463 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Title: The Upcoming Four Trillion Dollar Infrastructure Gold Rush Abstract: The largest 25 emerging markets (by population size) will need to make about four trillion dollars worth of investments by 2020. What does this mean for investors looking to cash in on the boom in government (and hopefully private) spending on infrastructure? Which markets will generate the most revenues for large international and domestic engineering and construction companies? How can investors profit from this $4 trillion “gold rush”? In this brief, we identify the global “design firms” and local construction and engineering companies based in emerging markets which will benefit most. We also provide five recommendations for improving the rate of return these companies can earn from this infrastructure boom. Such recommendations include lobbying for the full implementation of the WTO Agreement on Public Procurement (particularly in emerging markets), directly investment at emerging market infrastructure companies, securitizing and investing in water and transport companies, increasing the scope of services provided during master-planning projects and selling equity in infrastructure more widely in developing markets. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/108997/1/The%20Infrastructure%20Brief.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G18, H54 Keywords: infrastructure, emerging markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:108997 #END 1463 #BEGIN 1464 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Title: Playing the Shadowy World of Emerging Market Shadow Banking Abstract: For emerging market regulators, shadow banking represents an activity which they must control. For businessmen in economies like Russia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico, shadow banking represents an important business opportunity. By extending credit to risky (but promising) activities through shadow banking, financiers in these economies can earn far higher returns for excess-cash than placing it in cash management accounts. In this brief, we describe ways that cash-rich individuals and companies can use shadow banking activities to help themselves (by earning more money) and help the economy (by extending credit in these traditionally credit-starved economies). Some of these activities include issuing debt which shadow bankers use as collateral, chopping project-lending into privately-placed share offerings, investing in trade, real estate and insurance securities as well as centring shadow banking activities in regulation-friendly jurisdictions. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/108996/1/Shadow%20Banking%20Brief2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G18, G21 Keywords: shadow banking, financial services, emerging markets, securitization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:108996 #END 1464 #BEGIN 1465 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Pahle, Michael Author-Name: Schweizerhof, Henriette Title: A risk perspective on market integration and the reform of support of renewables in Germany Abstract: After more than a decade of supporting power from renewable energy (RE) through guaranteed feed-in tariffs, the German Government has initiated reforms to integrate RE into the market. To eventually achieve market integration requires that RE investors carry power market risks, in particular the power price risk. At the same time however, under the current financial structure higher risks are likely to have a negative impact on the bankability of new RE projects, which by extension may endanger further deployment and the achievement of renewable targets with it. Against this background we take a risk perspective to assess the past and upcoming EEG reforms, with the aim of developing a proposal to gradually shift risk towards RE investors without endangering project finance. To that end we first discuss the case for more market risk and classify the specific respective risks for RE, analyze how they have been allocated so far, and find that past policy reforms have initiated only a marginal transfer of revenue risks to renewables. On that basis we argue that more ambitious steps in this direction need to be taken, for which regulatory complexity and reform outcome uncertainty suggest a continuous and transparent transition rather than a grand all-at-once intervention. We outline and discuss two elements that could be at the center of it: First, a support framework that creates incentives for RE projects to increasingly take risks, for which we propose a cascading risk auction mechanism that prioritizes “more risky” projects. Second, design options for (a) “more risky” support contracts and (b) risk transfer in power purchase contracts, which if standardized could help to develop and establish suitable risk mitigation and management approaches on the side of financers. While this paper does not deliver a fully spelled-out action plan for these elements, it provides a basic sketch and identifies the main research gaps that should be filled for implementing it. Giving the long lead times of reforms and the need to think ahead that arises from it, we are sure that this proposal can make an important contribution to the next EEG reform in Germany expected for 2016/2017. Creation-Date: 2015-02 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/107963/1/dp_risk_renewable_support_2015.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D81, Q28, Q42, Q58 Keywords: Germany, renewable support, risk Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:107963 #END 1465 #BEGIN 1466 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alm, Bastian Author-Name: Meurers, Martin Title: Entwicklung der Investitionstätigkeit in Deutschland Abstract: Die nachfolgende Analyse zeigt, in welchem Sinne und in welchen Bereichen die Investitionsentwicklung in Deutschland als „schwach“ eingestuft werden kann. Dabei werden die unterschiedlichen Trends auf verschiedenen staatlichen Ebenen und in einzelnen Wirtschaftsbereichen näher herausgearbeitet. Darüber hinaus wird die Reagibilität der Investitionstätigkeit auf den Konjunkturverlauf sowie Bestimmungsgründe für das Investitionsverhalten von Unter-nehmen unter Verwendung von ökonometrischen Verfahren untersucht. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/107580/1/150228%20Investitionst%c3%a4tigkeit.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C29, H54, O16 Keywords: Investitionen, Konjunktur, Wirtschaftspolitik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:107580 #END 1466 #BEGIN 1467 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Title: Does Objectives-Based Financial Regulation Imply A Rethink of Legislatively Mandated Economic Regulation? The Case of Hong Kong and Twin Peaks Financial Sector Regulation Abstract: Objectives-based legislation – or laws which focus on achieving particular and concrete outcomes – has become a new and important tool that financial sector regulators use to tackle large and varied financial system risks. Yet, objectives-based legislation – and the frequent principles-based regulation underpinned by such legislation – represents a stark departure from traditional ways of legislating. In this paper, we describe the problems and prospects of implementing objectives-based financial regulation in Hong Kong – in the form of a Twin Peaks regulatory structure. A focus on the objectives of achieving financial market stability and proper market conduct would require a different approach to legislating and regulating in Hong Kong (and most other countries). By describing the way Hong Kong’s legislators would adopt such objectives-based legislation putting a Twin Peaks regulatory structure in place, we hope to shed light on the broader trend in academic and practitioner circles toward thinking about how to use objectives-based legislation to tackle complex social risks. Such an approach may also reduce the use of patchworks of complex inter-agency agreements and rulemaking between traditional regulators as they try to solve large and difficult regulatory problems. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/107579/1/Rethinking%20Economic%20and%20Financial%20Regulation%20-%20Hong%20Kong%20and%20Twin%20Peaks.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G18, K23, G28 Keywords: twin peaks, financial regulation, hong kong, financial law Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:107579 #END 1467 #BEGIN 1468 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Williams, Mark Author-Name: Munisamy, Susila Title: The Cost of Antitrust Law to Malaysia’s Financial Services Sector Abstract: Judging by only economic incentives, Malaysian financial institutions (particularly banks) should completely ignore the Competition Act. The data show that Malaysian banks probably benefit from anticompetitive behaviour. Political and family connections likely facilitate such behaviour. Given that the Malaysian Competition Commission will likely lack the resources to investigate and sanction anti-competitive behaviour in Malaysia’s banking industry – the banks’ best response to the Act probably consists of ignoring it. Maximum fines of 10 million ringgit and revenue-tied penalties of only 10% of worldwide revenue mean that banks still have strong incentives to engage in anticompetitive behaviour and to pay any low fine that might be levied. The best compliance programme for banks in Malaysia likely consists of actions that avoid detection rather than detecting and preventing anticompetitive behaviour. Private rights of action are unlikely to provide any stronger economic incentives for Malaysian banks to adopt strong antitrust compliance programmes and internal audit programmes. By staying the course, Malaysian banks can continue to earn about 15 billion ringgits (approximately US$4.6 billion in anticompetitive rents). Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/107402/1/Malaysia%20Banks%20Final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D41, L41, L44 Keywords: antitrust, Malaysia, internal audit, compliance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:107402 #END 1468 #BEGIN 1469 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Title: What Does Brunei Teach Us About Using Human Development Index Rankings as a Policy Tool? Abstract: The Bruneian Government has set an ambitious target to achieve a top 10 ranking on the UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI) by 2035. To achieve its objective (described in a national strategy document called the Wawasan 2035), Brunei’s economy needs to grow by 6%-7%. Is setting an HDI target a good way to govern Brunei’s policymaking? Is it a good way to govern any country’s policymaking? In this paper, we look at the role HDI-rank targets play on economic and fiscal policy. We show that such a headline target (much like a profit target in a private company setting) automatically sets targets for growth in various economic sectors and fiscal policy targets. As such, HDI-rank targeting may provide a useful mechanism for co-ordinating development policies and for monitoring progress against a wide range development goals using only one number. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/107401/1/Brunei%20HDI.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F63, O11, L74, C61 Keywords: Human Development, Brunei, Dynamic Optimization, Urban Planning Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:107401 #END 1469 #BEGIN 1470 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Michael, Bryane Author-Name: Falzon, Joseph Author-Name: Shamdasani, Ajay Title: A Theory of Financial Services Competition, Compliance and Regulation Abstract: Do financial regulation advisors help their clients become more profitable? In this paper, we present a model where financial service firms may add to their own compliance teams or hire outside compliance advisors. We derive the conditions under which a financial services firm will want to hire a compliance services company, and show how much money they should spend. Financial services firms in competitive locations like Hong Kong and Singapore will particularly benefit (at least in the short run) from their services. We also show that their advice may lead to an embarrass de riches – whereby the lower compliance costs and higher profit advantages they confer may lead to more regulation. Regulators may furthermore tighten regulation – with the expectation that financial service firms will adapt somehow. We present a fresh perspective on the Menon Hypothesis, deriving conditions under which financial regulations help the competitiveness of an international financial centre. We provide five potential policy responses for dealing with ever ratcheting financial regulations. Creation-Date: 2015-02-23 Classification-JEL: G24, K40 Keywords: compliance, financial law, compliance capacity, optimal regulation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:107400 #END 1470 #BEGIN 1471 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vallizadeh, Ehsan Author-Name: Muysken, Joan Author-Name: Ziesemer, Thomas Title: Offshoring of Medium-skill Jobs, Polarization, and Productivity Effect: Implications for Wages and Low-skill Unemployment Abstract: We examine the effects of endogenous offshoring on cost-efficiency, wages and unemployment in a taskassignment model with skill heterogeneity. Exact conditions for the following insights are derived. The distributional effect of offshoring (high-) low-skill-intensive tasks is similar to (unskilled-) skill-biased technology changes, while offshoring medium-skill-intensive tasks induces wage polarization. Offshoring improves cost-efficiency through international task reallocation and puts a downward pressure on all wages through domestic skill-task reallocation. If elasticities of task substitution are low (high), the downward pressure on wages in neighboring skill segments is low (high) with a net effect of higher (lower) wages and employment. Creation-Date: 2015-02-04 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/107080/1/wp2015-004.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F16, F66, J21, J24, J64 Keywords: Task Assignment, Offshoring, Skills, Cost-efficiency Effect, Equilibrium Unemployment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:107080 #END 1471 #BEGIN 1472 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Winkelbach, Andreas Author-Name: Walter, Achim Title: The More Learning, the Better? The Curvilinear Relationship between Technological Learning and New Product Commercialization Abstract: Managers entrusted with new product development (NPD) have to seek the optimal balance between prior competencies and learning activities to generate successful products. Yet prior NPD research has largely taken a positivistic view of learning despite an inkling that too much learning can lead to dysfunction. This study attempts to contribute the NPD literature by analyzing whether and, if so, when technological learning engenders shortcomings and affects new product commercialization. We use a multi-informant longitudinal design combining unique survey and patent data on a multi-industry sample of about 163 product-based R&D collaborations in Germany. The results of a Cox regression reveal that prior technological knowledge is pervasively important for NPD and confirm that an inverted U-shaped relationship holds between the likelihood of commercialization and technological learning. The inverted U-shaped relationship supports the characterization of learning as a double-edged sword that helps overcome rigidities but also has downsides if taken too far. Exploitive learning, in particular, is the later of the two to incur downsides. This draws attention to the inherent uncertainty and costs of experimentation when learning is geared to exploration. As expected, technological progress determines NPD, but the influence is negligibly small. We argue that inertia dominates NPD projects, at least in the short-term. Our findings mainly contribute to the NPD literature by demonstrating a differentiated learning-performance relationship. The results reveal whether and, if so, when, learning can become a drag to NPC and traps may occur. Managers are advised to ensure, at least, a fit between project requirements and prior competencies, but also to ensure adequate learning. Irrespective whether learning is geared to exploration or exploitation, it is advisable to maintain it at an appropriate level. This article suggests a patent-based instrument to monitor and manage learning efforts. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/107018/1/Winkelbach_Walter_Technological%20Learning%20and%20New%20Product%20Commercialization_WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O310, O320, O340, D830 Keywords: new product development, technological learning, prior technological knowledge, technological progress, patent data Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:107018 #END 1472 #BEGIN 1473 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ahrend, Klaus-Michael Author-Name: Meyer-Renschhausen, Martin Title: Bewertung von Strom- und Gasnetzen mit Ertragswert und Realoptionen Abstract: Die Bewertung von Strom- und Gasnetzen hat für jeden Netzeigentümer eine hohe Bedeutung. In dem Beitrag werden die relevanten Bewertungsmethoden dargestellt. Vertieft werden die Elemente für die Ermittlung des Ertragswerts unter Berücksichtigung der deutschen Netzregulierung. Für die gewichteten Kapitalkosten, den WACC, wird eine neue Formel für die Berechnung präsentiert. Auch wird die Realoptionstheorie auf die Bewertung von Energienetzen übertragen. Die Werte der bestehenden Realoptionen können den ermittelten Ertragswert erhöhen oder ihn reduzieren. Jedenfalls lassen sich Realoptionen bei den Verhandlungen für einen angemessenen Preis der Energienetze berücksichtigen. Der Beitrag schließt mit Empfehlungen für die Netzbewertung in der Praxis. Abstract: The valuation of electricity and gas grids is an important task for every grid company. Starting from the relevant valuation methods the paper focuses on the elements of the earnings valuation method. Those are described based on the inputs from the German Grid regulation. For the WACC – as one key element of the earnings valuation – a new calculation formula is presented. In the paper the real options theory is transferred on the valuation of energy grids. The values from existing real options can be added to or subtracted from the calculated earnings value. In any case the real options valuation can be used as a means for negotiating the appropriate price of the energy grid. The article closes with recommendations for the valuation of grids in business practice. Creation-Date: 2014-06-15 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/106943/1/Netzbewertung%20Final%20Ahrend%20Renschhausen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: H70, L5, L94, L95, M1, Q4, Q43 Keywords: Bewertungsverfahren, Ertragswert, Energienetze, Stromnetz, Gasnetz, Realoptionsbewertung, Energieregulierung, Netzregulierung, Rekommunalisierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:106943 #END 1473 #BEGIN 1474 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: von Hoyningen-Huene, Wiebke Author-Name: Kiesmüller, Gudrun P. Title: Maintenance and Production Scheduling on a Single Machine with Stochastic Failures Abstract: In this paper we study the problem of determining a production schedule for an order of n jobs on a single machine which is subject to stochastic machine failures. To avoid long downtime of the machine caused by unexpected failures, preventive maintenance should be planned as well. If a failure cannot be averted, a corrective maintenance activity is performed. Both maintenance activities are assumed to restore the machine to become `as good as new'. Furthermore it is assumed that jobs, interrupted by a machine failure, have to get restarted after the corrective maintenance is finished (non-resumable case). The aim is to minimise the average cost, composed of cost through order tardiness, when exceeding a due date, and cost for preventive as well as corrective maintenance activities. In order to regard practical relevance we compare simple production and maintenance scheduling rules for a huge number of jobs. In the course of a simulation study we first illustrate that in general an adjusted First Fit Decreasing algorithm generates the best results compared to other common used scheduling rules. We secondly show that the optimal length of the preventive maintenance interval can be estimated by using an extended decomposition approach which regards the non-resumable case, even if the processing times of the jobs are very long. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/106608/3/Maintenance_Production.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M11 Keywords: Maintenance, Scheduling, Stochastic Failures, Non-Resumable, Simulation Study Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:106608 #END 1474 #BEGIN 1475 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ahrend, Klaus-Michael Title: Corporate Governance in der Energiewirtschaft – zwischen Unternehmenswert und Public Value Abstract: Eine verantwortungsvolle Corporate Governance soll dazu beitragen, dass einerseits das Energieunternehmen und andererseits der wesentliche Gesellschafter, die Kommune, bei der Erfüllung ihrer Ziele unterstützt werden. Wie jeder private Anteilseigner strebt die politische Führung einer Kommune einen angemessenen Einfluss auf Entscheidungen bei den Beteiligungen der kommunalen Stadtwirtschaft an. Neben dem Vertrauen in eine geeignete Geschäftsleitung und einer effektiven Unternehmensaufsicht ist besonders die Ausgestaltung des Zielsystems erfolgskritisch. Für das Zielsystem von kommunalen Energieunternehmen präsentiert der Artikel die beiden Konzepte Wertorientierte Unternehmensführung und Public Value Management. Auch wenn die Kapitalgeber bei der wertorientierten Steuerung im Vordergrund stehen, sind auch zufriedene Stakeholder die Voraussetzung für eine Erhöhung des Unternehmenswerts. Ein Wert für die Kapitalgeber wird nur geschaffen, wenn die Kunden einen hohen Nutzen wahrnehmen, die Lieferanten für ihre Produkte und Dienstleistungen wertschöpfende Erträge erwirtschaften und die Beschäftigten angemessen vergütet werden. Entsprechend ist dabei auch der Public Value zu berücksichtigen. Public Values sind Werte für die Gesellschaft, für die Bürgerinnen und Bürger einer Gebietskörperschaft oder Region. Eine Orientierung des Energieunternehmens hin zum Public Value führt zu einem ganzheitlichen Verständnis des Unternehmens als Mitglied, als aktiver und kooperierender Teil des Netzwerks Kommune. Folgende Public Values werden vorgestellt: Einbezug der Öffentlichkeit, Gesellschaftliches Engagement, Ökologische Nachhaltigkeit, Querverbund, Förderung der Gründungsregion und das regionalökonomische Netzwerk. Für diese Public Values werden jeweils anwendbare Kennzahlen zur Steuerung und Messung präsentiert. Durch die authentische Berücksichtigung des Public Value im Rahmen der Corporate Governance können sich kommunale Energieunternehmen gegenüber dem Wettbewerb, insbesondere auch den privaten Wettbewerbern differenzieren. Eine bessere Kundenbindung kann die Folge sein. Abschließend werden Ansatzpunkte für die Verbesserung der Corporate Governance im Zuge der Einführung des Public Value Ansatzes und darüber hinaus präsentiert. Abstract: An effective corporate governance intends to support the municipal energy company and the major shareholder, the community, in meeting their goals. Like any private shareholder the political leadership of a community seeks for a reasonable influence on decisions of municipal subsidiaries. In addition to the trust in an appropriate management team and an effective supervisory board particularly the design of the target system is critical for success. For the target system of municipal energy companies the article presents the concepts Value-oriented Management and Public value Management. Even if the owners are in the focus of value-based management, satisfied stakeholders are the prerequisite for an increase in corporate value. A value for the investor is only created when customers perceive high benefits, suppliers generate sufficient income for their products and services and employees receive a reasonable remuneration. In addition, the value for the public has to be considered. Public Values are values for society, for citizens of a municipality or a region. An orientation of the energy company towards public value leads to a holistic understanding of the company as a member, as an active and cooperating part of the network community. The following public values are described: citizen participation, social commitment, environmental sustainability, corporate synergies, encourage an entrepreneurial region and the regional economic network. For those public values usable key performance indicators for management and measurement are presented. Through the authentic consideration of public value in companies’ corporate governance, municipal energy companies are able to differentiate themselves from competition, especially from private competitors. A better client relationship can be achieved. Finally, aspects for the improvement of corporate governance in the context of the introduction of the public value approach and beyond are presented. Creation-Date: 2014-10-20 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/106508/1/Ahrend%20Corporate%20Governance%20in%20der%20Energiewirtschaft%2030.10.2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G32, G34, G38, H23, H31, H70, H83, I31, L14, L21, L25, L26, L32, L94, L95, M1, M4, Q4, R1 Keywords: Energiewirtschaft, Public Value, Gemeinwohl, Ertragswert, Wertorientierte Führung, Zielsysteme, Unternehmensstrategien, Unternehmenssteuerung, Corporate Governance, Public Corporate Governance, Unternehmensaufsicht, Integrierte Berichterstattung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:106508 #END 1475 #BEGIN 1476 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Giessmann, Andrea Author-Name: Feurer, Sven Author-Name: Schneider, Thomas Author-Name: Wenzel, Stefan Title: Consumers’ Preferences on Platform as a Service and SAP`s Engineering Response Abstract: Platform as a service (PaaS) solutions are changing the way how software is produced, distributed, consumed, and priced. To be competitive on the market, PaaS providers have to be aware of drivers of successful platforms and design or adjust solutions accordingly. Surprisingly, prior research has made little attempt to investigate consumers’ preferences on PaaS that influence developers’ choice on PaaS solutions. This paper examines this understudied issue through a conjoint study. Based on the results, SAP`s engineering response is present in terms of SAP`s OnDemand Platform, SAP`s Business ByDesign Studio, SAP HANA Cloud solution as well as SAP`s Store. Creation-Date: 2015 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/106129/1/Platform-as-a-Service-and-SAPs-Engineering-Response.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: platform-as-a-service, paas, enterprise software, enterprise platform, app store, platform business model, software ecosystem Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:106129 #END 1476 #BEGIN 1477 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kriegbaum, Catharina Title: Valuation of Brands - A Critical Comparison of Different Methods Abstract: In recent years intangible assets have become increasingly important for many companies. One significant category of intangible assets are brands. Because of their growing importance, researchers have begun to develop methods to better measure and account for brand names. Traditional brand management performance measures usually are short-term oriented and give no incentives to invest in brands but rather lead to short-term activities which harm longterm brand value. This is alarming, especially for companies where brands are the main assets. Brand value, if correctly measured, could represent a useful goal for the management of brands. In mergers and acquisitions, brand value could help in determining a corporation's price and support the decision process. Another area where a valid brand valuation method would be helpful is the licensing of brands. Finally, brand valuation is needed for balance sheet purposes. So far, current accounting standards in Germany assign no balance-sheet value to brand names until another firm acquires them. But since brands are legal in balance sheets of companies in other European countries, German law might change in order to harmonize European law. Then, an accepted valuation method will be indispensable. Depending on the purpose of brand valuation and on the method used, different brand values will result. But as long as valuation methods are not objective and comparable, companies will be reluctant to the valuation of brands. This paper evaluates the usefulness of methods in order to use brand value as a long-term performance measure in brand management and controlling. Creation-Date: 1998 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104968/1/kriegbaum_valuation-of-brands.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104968 #END 1477 #BEGIN 1478 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stacy, Brian Title: Left with Bias? Quantile Regression with Measurement Error in Left Hand Side Variables Abstract: This paper examines the effect of measurement error in the dependent variable on quantile regression, because unlike OLS regression, even classical measurement error can generate bias. I examine the pattern and size of the bias using both simulation and an empirical example. The simulations indicate that classical error can cause bias and that non-classical measurement error, particularly heteroskedastic measurement error, has the potential to produce substantial bias. Also, the size and direction of the bias depends on the amount of heterogeneity in the effects across quantiles and the regression error distribution. Using restricted access Health and Retirement Study data containing matched IRS W-2 earnings records, I examine whether estimates of the returns to education statistically differ using a precisely measured and mismeasured earnings variable. I find that returns to education are over-stated by roughly 1 percentage point at the median and 75th percentile using earnings reported by survey respondents. Creation-Date: 2014-12-08 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104744/1/wp_left_with_bias.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C01, C21, C31, J24, I26 Keywords: Quantile Regression, Dependent Variable Measurement Error, Returns to Education Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104744 #END 1478 #BEGIN 1479 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stacy, Brian Title: Ranking Teachers when Teacher Value-Added is Heterogeneous Across Students Abstract: The typical measure used by researchers and school administrators to evaluate teachers is based on how the students' achievement increases after being exposed to the teacher, or based on the teacher's "value-added''. When teacher value-added is heterogeneous across her students, the typically used measure reflects differences in the average value-added the teacher provides. However, researchers, administrators, and parents may care not just about the average value-added, but also its dispersion. In this paper, I examine the robustness of typical teacher quality measures to alternate ranking systems factoring in the variance of value-added. Encouragingly, ranking systems factoring in the variance produce similar rankings as the ranking system based only on the mean. I also examine whether classroom characteristics and teacher experience affect a teacher's value-added variance and find that they explain little of the variation in value-added variances. Creation-Date: 2014-12-08 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104743/1/wp_teacher_mean_var.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I0, I20, I21, I28, J01, J08, J24, J44, J45 Keywords: teacher value-added, heterogeneity, value-added variance, teacher quality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104743 #END 1479 #BEGIN 1480 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roth, Steffen Title: Neu für wen? Erste Aufnahmen aus der Sozialdimension der Innovation Abstract: Innovation assoziieren wir mit Technologie und Wirtschaft. Begriffliche Alternativen wie die „nicht-technologischen“ oder „sozialen Innovationen“ verweisen in der Regel auf eine Residualkategorie nicht-ökonomischer Randbedingungen des wirtschaftlichen Erfolgs von Innovationen, oder werden so allgemein verwandt, dass sie als unterdefinierte Container-Begriffe zu kaum mehr als zum Transport unterschiedlichster ökonomisierungsskeptischer Ressentiments taugen. Insgesamt ist schliesslich immer wieder unklar, ob der Begriff auf neue Objekte oder den Prozess der Neuerung angewandt werden soll, oder er erst dann Sinn macht, wenn das Neue weite Teile der Gesellschaft und hier vorzugsweise eben wieder den ökonomischen Markt erreicht hat. Entsprechend spricht man mitunter von der Innovation als Paradoxon (John 2005). Vor diesem Hintergrund verfolgt die vorliegende Arbeit zwei Anliegen: Zum wird in Anwendung der Theorie sozialer Systeme (Luhmann 1987, 1997) ein dreidimensionales Modell entwickelt das den Umgang mit dem paradoxen Phänomen erheblich erleichtert: wie alles das Sinn macht hat Innovation demnach eine Sach-, eine Zeit- und eine Sozialdimension, und erscheint entsprechend sowohl als sachliche Neuheit, als zeitlicher Wandel und als sozialer Vorteil. Zum anderen wird die Sozialdimension der Innovation als Forschungslücke vorgestellt, die auch von Innovationssoziologen bislang nicht systematisch bearbeitet wird. Im Sinne erster Aufnahmen aus der bislang unterbelichteten Sozialdimension werden Grundtypen sozialer Beziehungen entwickelt und der Unterschied aufgezeigt, den die Innovation als Vorteil im jeweiligen Fall macht. Hochauflösendere Bilder scheitern dabei allerdings am Fehlen einer spezifischen Soziologie des Vorteils. Immerhin aber gelingt noch ein überraschender Schnappschuss: Da es neben ökonomischen noch eine ganze Reihe weiterer Vorteile gibt, können wir die wirtschaftliche Innovation als Sonderfall der Innovation präsentieren. Entsprechend lassen sich nun auch robuste Innovationen vorstellen, die in mehr als einer Wettbewerbssphäre der Gesellschaft Vorteile bringen und die uns als besonders nachhaltige und profitable Form von Innovation gelten können Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104596/1/Neu%20f%c3%bcr%20wen%20WP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O35 Keywords: Innovation, Robuste Innovation, Soziale Innovation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104596 #END 1480 #BEGIN 1481 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Title: Shrinking Goods Abstract: If producers have more information than consumers about goods’ attributes, then they may use non-price (rather than price) adjustment mechanisms and, consequently, the market may reach a new equilibrium even if prices don't change. We study a situation where producers adjust the quantity per package rather than the price in response to changes in market conditions. Although consumers should be indifferent between equivalent changes in goods' prices and quantities, empirical evidence suggests that consumers often respond differently to price changes and equivalent quantity changes. We offer a possible explanation for this puzzle by constructing and empirically testing a model in which consumers incur cognitive costs when processing goods’ price and quantity information. Creation-Date: 2013-01-22 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104552/1/levy_13_03_paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L11, L15, L16, M21, M31, M37, M38, K20, E31, D21, D22, D40, D83 Keywords: Quantity Adjustment, Cognitive Costs of Attention, Information Processing Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104552 #END 1481 #BEGIN 1482 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Snir, Avichai Author-Name: Levy, Daniel Author-Name: Gotler, Alex Author-Name: Chen, Haipeng (Allan) Title: Not All Price Endings Are Created Equal: Price Points and Asymmetric Price Rigidity Abstract: Using data from three sources (a laboratory experiment, a field study, and a large US supermarket chain), we document a surprising asymmetric behavior of 9-ending prices: they are more rigid upward, but not downward, in comparison to non 9-ending prices. The data from the lab experiment and the field study suggest that shoppers are less likely to notice higher prices when they end with 9, or price increases when the new prices end with 9, in comparison to other endings. The consumers' misperception seems to be caused by their use of 9-endings as a signal for low prices, which interferes with price information processing. The supermarket data suggest that retail price setters respond strategically to the consumer misperception by setting 9-ending prices more often after price increases than after price decreases. 9-ending prices, therefore, usually increase only if the new prices are also 9-ending. Consequently, 9-ending prices exhibit asymmetric rigidity: they are more rigid than non 9-ending prices upward but not downward. Creation-Date: 2014-11-05 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104540/1/Snir%20Levy%20Gotler%20Chen%20Not%20All%20Price%20Endings%20Oct%202012.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, L16, C91, C93, D03, D80, M31 Keywords: Price Points, Price Recall, Sticky Prices, Rigid Prices, Price Rigidity, Price Adjustment, 9-Ending Prices, Psychological Prices, Asymmetric Price Adjustment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104540 #END 1482 #BEGIN 1483 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Fiorillo, Damiano Author-Name: Nappo, Nunzia Title: Formal and informal volunteering and health across European countries Abstract: In this paper, we compare the correlation among formal and informal volunteering and self-perceived health across 13 European countries after controlling for socio-economic characteristics, housing features, neighborhood quality, size of municipality, social and cultural participation and regional dummies. We find that formal volunteering has a significantly positive association with self-perceived health in Finland and the Netherlands, significant negative relationship in Belgium, but none in the other countries. By contrast, informal volunteering has a significantly positive correlation with self-perceived health in France, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece and Portugal, and a significantly negative relationship in Italy. Our results point out that although formal and informal volunteering are correlated one with another they represents different aspects of volunteering whose correlations with self-perceived health depend, among others, on social and cultural characteristics of each country. Creation-Date: 2014-11-25 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104062/1/Formal%20and%20informal%20volunteering%20and%20health.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I10, D64, P5, Z1 Keywords: self-perceived health, formal and informal volunteering, European countries Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104062 #END 1483 #BEGIN 1484 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roth, Steffen Title: Die zehn Systeme. Ein Beitrag zur Kanonisierung der Funktionssysteme Abstract: Funktionale Differenzierung gilt nicht nur als das zentrale Alleinstellungsmerkmal moderner Gesellschaften, sondern auch als eines der wenigen Felder wissenschaftlicher Ehre, auf denen die Systemtheorie Gäste empfängt und nicht auswärts spielt. Als gute Gastgeberin spielt die Theorie in Form dieses Beitrags mit der für die Sozialforschung nicht unerheblichen Frage, wie Funktionssysteme bestimmt werden können und was aktuell als Kanon der Funktionssysteme gelten kann. Der Beitrag geht zunächst knapp auf jene Systeme ein, die weitgehend unangefochten als Funktionssysteme betrachtet werden. Im nächsten Schritt diskutiert er mögliche Kriterien für den Funktionssystemstatus und entwickelt entlang der Konzepte Reflexion, Leistung und Funktion einen Vorschlag zur Unterscheidung von Nicht- /Funktionssystemen. Auf dieser Grundlage diskutiert er, welche Funktionssystem-Kandidaten sich qualifizieren können und arbeitet so den Kanon der Funktionssysteme heraus. Der Soziologie eröffnet sich schliesslich die Aussicht auf eine systematisch betriebene interfunktional vergleichende Sozialforschung. Creation-Date: 2014-11 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104017/1/14-11-24%20Die%20zehn%20Systeme.%20Ein%20Beitrag%20zur%20Kanonisierung%20der%20Funktionssysteme.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A14, Z1 Keywords: Funktionale Differenzierung, Theorie sozialer Systeme, Interfunktional vergleichende Sozialstrukturanalyse Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104017 #END 1484 #BEGIN 1485 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Čizmović, Mirjana Author-Name: Popović, Milenko Title: Causes of Growth in Transition Countries 1990-2012: Comparative Analysis Abstract: This paper provides comparative analysis of the proximate causes of growth of South East European, Central European and Former Soviet Union countries. The first section covers comparative sources of growth analysis for GDP. Apart from this conventional sources-of-growth analysis, both the demand and the industry side decomposition of the GDP growth rate, is given in second section of the paper. In the demand side of the sources-of-growth analysis, special attention is devoted to the issue of the level of capital account liberalisation and its influence on the growth anatomy. Connected with this is the issue of industry / sectors side sources-of-growth analysis. The third section covers comparative source-of-growth analysis for GDP per capita as an approximation of growth of standard of living. The results of the above mentioned different sources-of-growth approaches present a good basis for further research of fundamental causes of growth of these countries. Creation-Date: 2014-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/104005/1/12.%20Cizmovic%20Popovic%20Causes%20of%20Growth%20of%20Transitional%20Economies%20Edited%2033%20pages.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O47, O52 Keywords: Causes of Growth, Proximate causes, Fundamental causes, Convergence Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:104005 #END 1485 #BEGIN 1486 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alm, Bastian Author-Name: Bade, Franz-Josef Title: The impact of firm subsidies: Evaluating German regional policy Abstract: Recently, the number of state interventions and of firm subsidies has largely increased. However, the possible outcome of such interventions is rather am-biguous. This paper investigates the impact of firm subsidies granted by Ger-man regional policy. The long experiences made with regional capital and em-ployment assistances provide a good opportunity for evaluating the impact of firm subsidies in a systematic way. The first part of the paper begins with a brief introduction into the institutional structure of the German regional assis-tance scheme, its objectives and main instruments. It follows a discussion of earlier evaluation studies putting the emphasis on their methodological charac-teristics. In the second part, an alternative approach of impact analysis is devel-oped concentrating on the economic performance of the individual firm as-sisted by investment grants. The empirical basis is given by linking data of the assisted firms with the social security data differentiated by firms. One main advantage of the uniform database is that it allows to measure and to compare the employment performance of assisted and non-assisted firms free of distor-tions caused by different data sources. In addition, the database provides in-formation about the number and structure of firm employment for a longer pe-riod of time. Thus, micro-econometric methods of evaluation are applied such as matching procedures by pairing firms with and without financial subsidies and controlling them for other influences, simultaneously. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/103402/1/NARSC%202009Conference%20paperalmbade%202009-10-29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C14, R00, R11, C21, R28, R58 Keywords: Policy Evaluation, Regional Policy, Capital Subsidies, Statistical Matching Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:103402 Note: Paper presented at 56th North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association #END 1486 #BEGIN 1487 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alm, Bastian Author-Name: Bade, Franz-Josef Title: Beschäftigungseffekte der regionalen Investitionsförderung. Analyse der gewerblichen Subventionen der Bund-Länder- Gemeinschaftsaufgabe „Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur“ im Zeitraum 1999 bis 2006 Abstract: Im Rahmen der Bund-Länder-Gemeinschaftsaufgabe „Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur“ werden zur Förderung strukturschwacher Regionen vor allem Investitionszuschüsse an gewerbliche Betriebe vergeben. Welche Wirkung diese Subventionen gehabt haben, wird in diesem Beitrag mit einem mikroökonometrischen Ansatz untersucht. Grundlage sind die Förderfälle von 1999 bis 2006, deren Beschäftigungsentwicklung bis 2008 ermittelt und analysiert wird. Die Angaben zur Beschäftigung stammen aus der Statistik der sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigten. Deren Daten werden nach Betrieben zusammengefasst und anschließend mithilfe von Informationen aus der offiziellen Förderstatistik in geförderte und nicht-geförderte unterschieden. Die Wirkung der Förderung wird mit der Matching-Verfahren ermittelt: Für jeden geförderten Betrieb wird ein nicht-geförderten Betrieb ausgewählt, der ihm in den Determinanten der betrieblichen Beschäftigungsentwicklung möglicht ähnlich ist. Der Kreuz-Vergleich beider Betriebsgruppen zeigt, dass die subventionierten Betriebe sich nach ihrer Förderung bis 2008 signifikant günstiger entwickeln. Allerdings ist zu berücksichtigen, dass Investitionszuschüsse vor allem von expansiven Betrieben in Anspruch genommen werden. Zur Kontrolle dieses Selektionsverzerrung wird in einem weiteren Analyseschritt eine Differenz-von-Differenzen-Schätzung vorgenommen, bei der die Entwicklung vor dem Zeitpunkt der Förderung in zweifacher Weise berücksichtigt wird: Über die übliche Differenzen-Berechnung hinaus wird die Vorher-Entwicklung zusätzlich beim Matching eingesetzt, d.h. es werden lediglich solche nicht-geförderten Betriebe als Referenz ausgewählt, die vor dem Zeitpunkt der Förderung ähnlich expansiv gewesen sind. Trotz des verschärften Vergleichsmaßstabes unterscheiden sich die geförderten Betriebe weiterhin einen signifikanten Wachstumsvorsprung. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/103401/1/GRW-Evaluierung%20C%202010-10-27.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C23, R23 Keywords: Evaluation, Matching Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:103401 #END 1487 #BEGIN 1488 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sta. Romana, Leonardo L. Title: Some Lessons from Korea's Industrialization Strategy and Experience Abstract: We look at Korea's industrialization strategy and experience from the 1960s to the mid-1990s. Three elements of the Korean industrial development and structural change are discussed: 1) its outward orientation and export push, 2) its climb up the ladder of comparative advantage, and 3) its economic management of the industrialization effort. Finally, we reflect on the lessons from the Korean experience. Creation-Date: 2014-04-30 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/102088/1/LLStaRomana-Korea%20Industrial-revised%20for%20Web.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F14, L52, N65, O14 Keywords: South Korea, Industrialization, East Asia, Economic Planning, Economic Growth, Japanese Economic Model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:102088 Note: This paper was written in response to a call for papers by the Global Development Network, a public international organization headquartered in New Delhi, with an office in Washington, DC. #END 1488 #BEGIN 1489 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mecikovsky, Ariel Author-Name: Meier, Matthias Title: Do plants freeze upon uncertainty shocks? Abstract: Following the real option literature, whether or not uncertainty shocks drive business cycles depends on the degree of adjustment frictions. The more plants freeze and remain inactive in response to increased uncertainty, the stronger the adverse effects on the economic activity. Using quarterly labor flow data of U.S. establishments, we find that an unexpected increase in uncertainty reduces hiring, quits and job creation, while it raises layoffs and job destruction. Our finding suggests that plants remain active as a result of uncertainty shocks. A partial equilibrium model with capital and labor adjustment costs can not explain our empirical results. Surprise increases in uncertainty leads plants to freeze investment and labor policies. We are able to rationalize our findings using a version of this model without labor adjustment frictions. As uncertainty increases, more plants adopt a wait-and-see policy for investment. This, in turn, reduces capital through depreciation of the existing capital stock, and thereby lowers labor demand, which implies more layoffs and less hiring. The model implies that economies with flexible labor market regulations should experience more layoffs and job destruction upon an uncertainty shock with respect to economies with stricter regulations. Using additional labor ow data from Germany, France and UK, we obtain empirical evidence that supports this hypothesis. Creation-Date: 2014-08-28 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/100662/1/_Paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J23, J63, D81 Keywords: Uncertainty, real-option, labor demand Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:100662 #END 1489 #BEGIN 1490 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: David M. Woisetschläger Author-Name: Christof Backhaus Author-Name: Jan Dreisbach Author-Name: Marc Schnöring Title: Sponsoringstudie 2014 - Die Sponsoringpotenziale in der Fußball-Bundesliga Creation-Date: 2014-08-19 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/100273/1/Sponsoringstudie%202014%20der%20TU%20Braunschweig.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Sponsoring, Fußball-Bundesliga, Imagetransfer, Sponsoringaktivierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:100273 #END 1490 #BEGIN 1491 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eisele, Martin Author-Name: Zhu, Junyi Title: Multiple imputation in a complex household survey - the German Panel on Household Finances (PHF): challenges and solutions Abstract: In this paper, we present a case study of the imputation in a complex household survey - the first wave of the German Panel on Household Finances (PHF). A household wealth survey has to be built on a questionnaire with rather complex logical structure mainly because the probes of many wealth items have to be proceeded on both intensive and extensive margins. Hence the number of potential predictors for each imputation model grows and more non-compliance can confront standard modelling due to, e.g., irregular missing patterns, interdependent logical constraints, data anomalies etc. Our model selection procedure borrows the techniques for the out-of-sample prediction to handle the overfitting often associated with the introduction of a large number of predictors. We also take the measures to produce ex ante evaluation for modelling which can be more efficient than the common diagnosis done after imputation in practice. Solutions for the difficulties in the real data and questionnaire structures are also presented. On the other hand, we incorporate the rich flagging information in developing various measures of item-nonresponse to access this complication from logical structure. We find that information loss due to the contagion of item-nonresponse between variables is not serious in our imputed data. Creation-Date: 2013-12 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/100007/1/imputation_phf4_zhu_discussion_paper.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C15, C52, C42 Keywords: Multiple imputation, Model selection, Panel on household finance, item-nonresponse evaluation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:100007 #END 1491 #BEGIN 1492 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Flores Unzaga, Ismael Martin Author-Name: Zhu, Junyi Title: Bracket Creep Revisited: Progressivity and a Solution by Adjusting the Rich Tax in Germany Abstract: This paper studies the redistributive and revenue effects of bracket creep in Germany under various inflation scenarios and evaluates the feasibility to charge a rich tax to fight bracket creep for the income distribution in 2009. Using a tax micro-simulation model developed for the newly available PHF data, we document an inverted U-shaped overall redistribution effect of the tax system with respect to the inflation rate, which contrasts Immervoll (2005) who finds that the fiscal drag always enhances the equalizing property. Delaying indexation might not be better off in terms of inequality. A politically in-between approach is proposed to raise the marginal tax rate for the top bracket to compensate the government revenue loss due to indexing the tax schedule in Germany. The rich tax required for fully financing the indexation can be sizable. Under our simulation environment, this rate can reach above 75% with four years’ inaction on 4% annual inflation. When this rich tax can be fiscally possible, it can totally offset the decrease of global redistribution effect from indexation. Our results echo the inequality indexing proposed by Burman, Shiller, Leiserson, Rohaly and Kennedy (2007) by suggesting institutionalizing a joint adjustment of rich tax and bracket creep / inflation indexing which justifies a pro-growth, risk reducing, revenue-neutral and framing effective policy. Creation-Date: 2014-07 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/100006/1/FZ_20140723.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C81, H24, D31, H23 Keywords: Inflation, Fiscal Drag, Rich Tax, Progressivity of Income Tax, Income Distribution, Micro-simulation, Inequality Indexation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:100006 #END 1492 #BEGIN 1493 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Adam, Klaus Author-Name: Zhu, Junyi Title: Price Level Changes and the Redistribution of Nominal Wealth Across the Euro Area Abstract: We document the presence of sizable distributional effects from unexpected price level movements in the Euro Area (EA) using sectoral accounts and newly available data from the Household Finance and Consumption Survey. The EA\ as a whole is a net winner of unexpected price level increases, with Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain being the biggest beneficiaries, and Belgium and Malta being the largest losers. Governments are net winners of inflation, while the household (HH) sector is a net loser. HHs in Belgium, Ireland, Malta and Germany incur the biggest per capita losses, while HHs in Finland and Spain turn out to be net winners of inflation. Considerable heterogeneity exists also within the HH sector: relatively young middle class HHs are net winners of inflation, while older and richer HHs are losers. As a result, wealth inequality for the EA as a whole decreases with unexpected inflation, although in some countries (Austria, Germany and Malta) inequality increases due to presence of relatively few young borrowing HHs. We document that HHs inflation exposure varies systematically across countries, with HHs in high inflation EA countries holding systematically lower nominal exposures. Creation-Date: 2014-04 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/100005/1/AZ-Version3_noDE.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E31, D31, D14 Keywords: inflation, redistribution, Euro Area, household survey Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:100005 #END 1493 #BEGIN 1494 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chatelain, Jean-Bernard Author-Name: Ralf, Kirsten Title: A finite set of equilibria for the indeterminacy of linear rational expectations models Abstract: This paper demonstrates the existence of a finite set of equilibria in the case of the indeterminacy of linear rational expectations models. The number of equilibria corresponds to the number of ways to select n eigenvectors among a larger set of eigenvectors related to stable eigenvalues. A finite set of equilibria is a substitute to continuous (uncountable) sets of sunspots equilibria, when the number of independent eigenvectors for each stable eigenvalue is equal to one. Creation-Date: 2014-07-25 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/99752/1/BK_A-v3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C60, C61, C62, E13, E60 Keywords: linear rational expectations models, sunspots, indeterminacy, multiple equilibria, matrix Riccati equation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:99752 #END 1494 #BEGIN 1495 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sabatini, Fabio Author-Name: Sarracino, Francesco Author-Name: Yamamura, Eiji Title: Social norms on rent seeking and preferences for redistribution Abstract: Empirical studies have shown that preferences for redistribution are significantly correlated with expectations of future mobility and the belief that society offers equal opportunities. We add to previous research by investigating the role of individual and social norms on rent seeking. We find that the individual propensity for stigmatizing rent seeking significantly and positively affects preferences for redistribution. On the other hand, living in an area where most citizens do not stigmatize rent seeking, makes men more favourable to redistribution, which may be seen as a social equalizer in an unfair society that does not offer equal opportunities to all. This effect does not hold for women, whose preference for redistribution is negatively associated to the regional tolerance of rent seeking. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/98662/1/Paper-Redistribution-140705.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D31, D63, D64, D72, H26, Z13 Keywords: redistribution, welfare state, civic values, social norms, rent seeking, social capital Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:98662 #END 1495 #BEGIN 1496 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Yamamura, Eiji Author-Name: Sabatini, Fabio Title: Superstars in politics: the role of the media in the rise and success of Junichiro Koizumi Abstract: This paper explores the role of mass media in people’s perceptions of charismatic leaders, focusing on the case of Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. Using survey data collected immediately after Koizumi’s 2005 landslide electoral victory, this study empirically assesses the influence of television (TV) and newspapers on individuals’ support for Koizumi and for the most distinctive policy action he announced during his campaign—the privatization of the postal service. The major findings are: (1) the frequency of exposure to mass media is positively related to the support for Koizumi but not for his principal policy and (2) a significant impact of TV is only observed among women. The habit of reading newspapers only slightly correlates with men’s support for Koizumi.. Our study’s results suggest that compared to a political platform, charisma and attractiveness wield a greater influence on TV watchers of the opposite sex. Television apparently works as a powerful amplifier of leaders’ appealing attributes. The resulting superstar effect may allow a charismatic candidate to win an election, even though his main agenda item (i.e., postal privatization) is strongly opposed by special interest groups and members of the ruling party. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/98661/1/Paper%20Koizumi%20140707%20for%20EconStore.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D72, L88, L82, Z13 Keywords: mass media, television, newspapers, election, Koizumi, Japan, voting behavior, social norms, social capital, superstar effect Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:98661 #END 1496 #BEGIN 1497 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rewel, Thomas Title: Target-2-Salden - Fluch oder Segen für das Eurosystem? Abstract: In dieser Arbeit wird ein Blick auf die aktuelle Debatte um die TARGET-2-Salden, welche insbesondere durch Sinn in den letzten beiden Jahren initiiert worden ist, geworfen. Diese Betrachtung verhilft dem Leser dieses Aufsatzes, die relativ hohen Salden im Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System (TARGET) (Echtzeit-Bruttozahlungssystem des Eurosystems für Transaktionen in Zentralbankgeld) und den Konstruktionsfehler im Eurosystem zu verstehen. Aus jetziger Sicht zeigen die momentanen Verwerfungen im Eurosystem das Fehlen eines wirksamen, marktkonformen Preisanpassungsmechanismus im Euroraum auf, welche in fortlaufenden Nettoauslandsschulden münden. Durch den Entzug des Vertrauens der privaten Marktteilnehmer in die GIPS-Länder, floss in diese Peripherie kein Geld mehr, welches dringend benötigt wurde. Anstelle des privaten Marktes traten die nationalen Zentralbanken und schlussendlich die Europäische Zentralbank mit ihren TARGET-Krediten. Die EZB tolerierte die Kreditvergabe der nationalen Zentralbanken , indem sie sich mit immer weniger Sicherheiten bei ihrer Geld- und Kreditschöpfung begnügte. Mitte 2012 beliefen sich die TARGET-Forderungen (bzw. die entsprechenden Verbindlichkeiten) in den Bilanzen der NZBen des Eurogebiets auf insgesamt 1 Billion €. Diese Möglichkeit in dieser Art und Weise Kredite aufzunehmen, ist ein wesentlicher Konstruktionsfehler, welcher sich systemgefährdend für den Euroraum entwickeln kann. Dieser Fehler blieb jedoch jahrelang unbemerkt und konnte erst im Zuge der europäischen Schuldenkrise aufgedeckt werden. Aufgrund der Komplexität des geldpolitischen Instrumentariums der EZB, welches ökonomische Zusammenhänge leicht verdecken, war es Sinn, der 2011 als erster Ökonom auf die Gefahr der TARGET-Salden hinwies. Die hohen Target Salden sind insbesondere ein Ergebnis der Umsetzung der Geldpolitik im Euroraum unter den besonderen Umständen, welche die Krise hervorgebracht hat. Die Salden bilden lediglich die finanziellen Risiken ab, die mit den hinter den Salden stehenden geldpolitischen Geschäften des Eurosystems verbunden sind. Doch wo genau liegt das Problem? Aus der Makroperspektive ergibt sich genau genommen kein Problem. Es sind alles Annahmen, welche getroffen werden, wenn sich ein Szenario der in diesem Aufsatz betrachteten Möglichkeiten ergibt. Genau in diesen Wahrscheinlichkeiten liegt die Problematik. Verschiedene Ökonomen lieferten draufhin mögliche Lösungsvorschläge und Politikempfehlungen, welche ebenfalls Bestandteil dieses Aufsatzes sein sollen. Creation-Date: 2013-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/97621/1/Target-Salden%2010.06.2014.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: TARGET, Eurosystem, EZB, Staatsschulden Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:97621 #END 1497 #BEGIN 1498 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gärtner, Stefan Author-Name: Flögel, Franz Title: Call for a Spatial Classification of Banking Systems through the Lens of SME Finance - Decentralized versus Centralized Banking in Germany as an Example Abstract: We are calling for comparisons of banking and banking systems from a spatial perspective. Therefore, this paper develops a classification identifying decentralized and centralized banking according to two characteristics: geographical market orientation (regional vs. supraregional) – to determine whether banks facilitate regional savings-investment cycles – and place of decision-making (proximity vs. distance) – to identify whether the flow of soft information is supported in SME lending. The degree of banks’ centralization is also approximated by the spatial concentration of bank employees and shows remarkable explanatory power in Germany, as de-centralized banks increase lending at the expense of centralized banks. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/97512/1/IAT_Discussion_Paper_14_01.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G21, P51, R51, O16 Keywords: comparing banking systems, SME finance in Germany, savings and cooperative banks, decentralized vs. centralized banking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:97512 #END 1498 #BEGIN 1499 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hutter, Katharina Title: Unusual Location and Unexpected Execution in Advertising: Content Analysis and Test of Effectiveness in Ambient Advertisements Creation-Date: 2014-06-03 Classification-JEL: M37 Keywords: Ambient advertising, guerrilla marketing, surprise, advertising effectiveness, execution, location Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:97306 #END 1499 #BEGIN 1500 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kirui, Benard Kipyegon Title: Reconciling Cournot and Bertrand Outcomes: A Review Abstract: This paper reconciles the Cournot and Bertrand Models of oligopolistic competition, highlighting its weaknesses and giving an opinion thereafter. The pertinent question in this paper is why Cournot (1838) ignored the price and Bertrand (1883) ignored the quantity? From the review, the main conclusion of this paper is that oligopoly competition is guided in the long run by production capacity competition, as advocated by Cournot, equilibrated through price competition in the short run, as advocated by Bertrand. Creation-Date: 2013-04 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/97305/1/RECONCILING%20COURNOT%20AND%20BERTRAND%20OUTCOMES-%20A%20REVIEW.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D43, L13 Keywords: Cournot Competition, Bertrand Competition, Oligopoly, equilibrium Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:97305 #END 1500 #BEGIN 1501 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohn, Wolfgang Title: Last Success Problem: Decision Rule and Application Abstract: Where is the most likely position for the last success in n events, if each event has the same probability Pr(A)? What is the probability for the last success? This situation assumes returning successes which is different to the stop waiting problem where a single best event is assumed. We set F. Thomas Bruss's theory into a simple probability framework and develop a decision rule for the last success. The results are applied to the Apple share prices. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/97215/1/lastsuccess.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C65, E47, G17 Keywords: Optimal Stopping Problem, Mathematical Tools Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:97215 #END 1501 #BEGIN 1502 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohn, Wolfgang Title: Kapitalwertmethode bei nicht-flacher Zinsstrukturkurve Abstract: In der einfachen finanzmathematischen Welt herrscht ein konstanter Zinssatz. Wird die Modellwelt hinsichtlich einer nicht flachen Zinssatzstruktur abgeändert, so sollten die Barwertfaktoren um zwischenzeitliche Zinszahlungen (Zinseszinsen) neutralisiert werden. Die Berechnung der Barwertfaktoren mittels der Duplizierung von Zahlungsströmen (Bootstrapping) führt zu Kapitalwerten, die steigende bzw. fallende Finanzierungskosten der Investition besser im Kapitalwert berücksichtigen. Die Kapitalwerte der Investitionen fallen bzw. steigen gegenüber der herkömmlichen Berechnung und berücksichtigen damit besser die Markterwartungen aus der Zinsstrukturkurve. Die Unternehmensentscheidungen wirken damit stabilisierender auf die konjunkturelle Entwicklung. Ferner wird gezeigt, dass eine Barwertmarge bzw. Rentabilitätsmarge berechnet werden kann, die die Differenz zur gegebenen Zinssatzstruktur angibt, bei der der Kapitalwert Null wird. Alle Ergebnisse entsprechen dem traditionellen Ansatz, wenn die Zinssatzstruktur flach ist. Abstract: The simple financial world assumes a constant interest rate over time (flat yield curve). If this restriction is released for a non constant interest rate (non-flat yield curve) the compounded interest should be neutralized for this interest payments. The net present value with neutralized interest payments (bootstraping method) leads towards net present values which takes better increasing and decreasing interest terms structures into account which results in lower or higher net present values. Therefore the investment decisions are more in line with the interest term structure. Further on a net present value margin is introduced, which shows for a given interest term structure the margin when the net present value is zero. It is an extension of the internal return of investment. All calculations are in line with a flat interest term structure. Creation-Date: 2013-10-14 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/97147/1/kapitalwert.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E43, E44, G11, G31 Keywords: Kapitalwertmethode, Zinsstrukturkurve, Marktzinsmodell, Finanzmathematik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:97147 Note: revidierte Fassung #END 1502 #BEGIN 1503 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Woisetschläger, David M. Author-Name: Backhaus, Christof Author-Name: Dreisbach, Jan Author-Name: Schnöring, Marc Title: Fußballstudie 2014 - Die Markenlandschaft der Fußball-Bundesliga Creation-Date: 2014-05-14 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/96940/1/Fu%c3%9fballstudie%202014%20der%20TU%20Braunschweig.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Fußball-Bundesliga, Vereinsmarke, Markenwahrnehmung, Markenmanagement Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:96940 #END 1503 #BEGIN 1504 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mai, Robert Author-Name: Hutter, Katharina Title: Non-Linear Effects of Absurdity in Advertising Creation-Date: 2014 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:96480 #END 1504 #BEGIN 1505 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heinrichs, Simon Author-Name: Tischler, Joachim Author-Name: Walter, Achim Title: Leistungsprofile von Inkubatoren technologiebasierter Unternehmen: Eine empirische Bestandsaufnahme Abstract: Inkubatoren unterstützen Neugründungen und junge Unternehmen beim Aufbau ihrer Geschäftstätigkeit. In diesem Beitrag wird auf Basis einer Stichprobe von 72 deutschen Inkubatoren eine Klassifizierung der Inkubatorlandschaft auf Basis ihrer Leistungsangebote vorgenommen. Anhand einer Clusteranalyse können drei Inkubatortypen identifiziert werden, deren Leistungsangebote sich deutlich voneinander unterscheiden. Für den Vergleich und die Konzeption differenzierter Leistungsprofile von Inkubatoren bietet die empirische Analyse gezielt Anhaltspunkte. Auffallend selten stehen Inkubatoren ihren Unternehmen bei der Erstellung von Marktanalysen zur Seite. Abstract: Incubator organizations support new ventures in their early business development. Based on a sample of 72 business incubators located in Germany we classify these organizations corresponding to their service offerings. Using cluster analysis we are able to identify three types of business incubators which differ fundamentally in their type and intensity of new venture support. Our results offer guidelines for future empirical studies which aim to compare incubators with similar services. Our findings reveal that incubators rarely offer assistance in market research. Creation-Date: 2014-04-18 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/96158/1/Leistungsprofile%20von%20Inkubatoren.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C38, L00, M13, R38 Keywords: Entrepreneurship Inkubator, Start-ups, Technologie-und Gründerzentren, Typisierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:96158 #END 1505 #BEGIN 1506 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tischler, Joachim Author-Name: Walter, Sascha Title: Das Patentierverhalten akademischer Gründer nach Abschaffung des Hochschullehrerprivilegs Abstract: Akademische Unternehmerinnen und Unternehmer müssen seit der Abschaffung des Hochschullehrer-privilegs im Jahr 2002 ihre Erfindungen gegenüber den Hochschulen offenlegen und können nicht unmittelbar frei über deren Verwertung verfügen. Wir untersuchen, welchen Einfluss diese Gesetzes-novelle auf das Patentierverhalten akademischer Unternehmer ausübt. Grundsätzlich sind fördernde und hemmende Einflüsse sowohl vor als auch nach vollzogener Ausgründung denkbar. Analysen von 206 Hochschulausgründungen zeigen, dass sich vor und nach der Gesetzesnovelle gegründete Spin-Offs in ihrem Patentierverhalten nicht unterscheiden. Allerdings ist ein Anstieg von Patentanmeldungen zu verzeichnen, die von Hochschule und Gründern/Spin-Off gemeinsam angemeldet werden. Abstract: Since the abolition of the “professors’ privilege” in 2002 university entrepreneurs have to disclose their inventions to the university so that the university can decide to patent and exploit them. An empirical investigation of 206 university spin-offs indicate that their patenting behavior did not substantially change after the legal change both in the pre-founding phase and in the post-founding phase. Moreover, changes in the patents’ ownership patterns show that university entrepreneurs apply more often their patents together with their university. Creation-Date: 2014-04-18 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/96157/1/Patentierverhalten%20akademischer%20Gr%c3%bcnder.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M13, O34, O38 Keywords: Professors’ Privilege, Hochschullehrerprivileg, Patentierverhalten, Akademische Gründer, Akademische Spin-offs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:96157 #END 1506 #BEGIN 1507 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tischler, Joachim Title: Characteristics of technological base, pace of technological development, and growth of young technology-based firms Abstract: Young technology ventures are strongly affected by technological environmental conditions. In the light of opportunity theory, this study focuses on the interaction of a young firm’s technological base and the pace of technological development in its field. It distinguishes three technological characteristics: radicalness, scope, and the degree of collaborative development. Empirical results support the hypothesis that young technology-based firms commercializing radical technologies grow faster in rapidly developing technology fields. By contrast, young firms commercializing technologies that are developed through research collaborations with established firms outperform others when the pace of technological progress is relatively slow. This study provides empirical evidence of a beneficial interplay between technological characteristics and technological environment and offers a modified patent-citation-based criterion for measuring the pace of technological development in different technology fields. Creation-Date: 2014-04-18 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/96156/1/Characteristics%20of%20technological%20base%2c%20pace%20of%20technological%20development%2c%20and%20growth%20of%20young%20technology-based%20firms.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L25, L26, M13, O33 Keywords: academic spin-off, technology venture, pace of technological progress, patent data, technological base Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:96156 #END 1507 #BEGIN 1508 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Chatelain, Jean-Bernard Author-Name: Ralf, Kirsten Title: Stability and Identification with Optimal Macroprudential Policy Rules Abstract: This paper investigates the identification, the determinacy and the stability of ad hoc, "quasi-optimal" and optimal policy rules augmented with financial stability indicators (such as asset prices deviations from their fundamental values) and minimizing the volatility of the policy interest rates, when the central bank precommits to financial stability. Firstly, ad hoc and quasi-optimal rules parameters of financial stability indicators cannot be identified. For those rules, non zero policy rule parameters of financial stability indicators are observationally equivalent to rule parameters set to zero in another rule, so that they are unable to inform monetary policy. Secondly, under controllability conditions, optimal policy rules parameters of financial stability indicators can all be identified, along with a bounded solution stabilizing an unstable economy as in Woodford (2003), with determinacy of the initial conditions of non- predetermined variables. Creation-Date: 2014-04-14 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/95979/1/Stability%20Identification%20Rules%20v1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C61, C62, E43, E44, E47, E52, E58 Keywords: Identification, Financial Stability, Monetary Policy, Optimal Policy under Commitment, Augmented Taylor rule Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:95979 #END 1508 #BEGIN 1509 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bjornskov, Christian Author-Name: Bogetic, Zeljko Author-Name: Hillman, Arye Author-Name: Popovic, Milenko Title: Trust and Identity in a Small, Post-Socialist, Post-Crisis Society Abstract: The principal focus in the substantial literature on impediments to economic development has been on the inadequacies of policies and governance. However, successful economic development requires effectiveness of markets and incentives for investment, which in turn require trust. This paper reports on trust in a development context. The paper uses trust experiments, a post-experiment survey, and econometric analysis relating trust to identity and other personal attributes in the setting of Montenegro, a small, recently-independent, post-socialist, post-crisis society. External validity was sought by providing sufficient material reward to balance identity-related expressive motives and by having two groups of subjects, one usual university students and another group that, while also students, was somewhat older and had had greater market or ommercial experience. The paper reviews cultural priors that can be expected to affect trust and distinguishes between generalized trust that can be socially beneficial and particularized trust that can be disadvantageous for development. The empirical results suggest that trust among private individuals is not an impediment to development in Montenegro. As a result, policy reform can improve economic and social outcomes. However, the results redirect the focus to issues of governance and political entrenchment as potential explanations for impediments to development. Creation-Date: 2014-04-11 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/95968/1/10.%20Policy%20Research%20Working%20Papers%20WPS6828.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D03, O12, P16, Z13 Keywords: particularized trust, Generalized trust, identity, trust game, trust experiment, betrayal aversion, expressive behavior, political entrenchment, Montenegro Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:95968 DOI: 10.1596/1813-9450-6828 #END 1509 #BEGIN 1510 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Tayler, William Author-Name: Zilberman, Roy Title: Macroprudential Regulation and the Role of Monetary Policy Abstract: This paper examines the macroprudential roles of bank capital regulation and monetary policy in a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium model with endogenous financial frictions and a borrowing cost channel. We identify various transmission channels through which credit risk, commercial bank losses, monetary policy and bank capital requirements affect the real economy. These mechanisms generate significant financial accelerator effects, thus providing a rationale for a macroprudential toolkit. Following credit shocks, countercyclical bank capital regulation is more effective than monetary policy in promoting financial, price and overall macroeconomic stability. For supply shocks, macroprudential regulation combined with a strong response to inflation in the central bank policy rule yield the lowest welfare losses. The findings emphasize the importance of the Basel III regulatory accords and cast doubt on the desirability of conventional Taylor rules during periods of financial distress. Creation-Date: 2014-03-31 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/95230/1/Tayler-Zilberman_%28MARCH2014%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E32, E44, E52, E58, G28 Keywords: Bank Capital Regulation., Macroprudential Policy, Basel III, Monetary Policy, Cost Channel Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:95230 #END 1510 #BEGIN 1511 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Afflatet, Nicolas Title: European Monetary Policy in the Heterogeneous Currency Area and the Open Question of Convergence Creation-Date: 2014-03 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:93382 #END 1511 #BEGIN 1512 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Scholtz, Hellmut D. Title: Die Berechnung von rentenäquivalenten Versicherungsprämien unter dem Blickwinkel des SGB VI, § 154 (3) bzw. der Höhe zukünftiger Renten. Abstract: Auf der Grundlage der Sterbetafel 2011 des Statistischen Bundesamtes wird gezeigt, welche Beitragssätze bei versicherungsmathematischer Betrachtungsweise erforderlich wären, um eine gleich hohe Rente wie in der gRV zu erreichen. Mit einem solchen Maßstab ist es möglich, steuerliche Belastungen, Ungleichbehandlungen und erforderliche Bundeszuschüsse zu quantifizieren und den Eigentumsschutz von Rentenleistungen zu stärken. Eine Neuformulierung des SGB VI § 213 wird insoweit vereinfacht. Eine ausführliche Darstellung zur Berechnung einer aktuellen Versicherungsprämie aus versicherungsmathematischer Sicht ist als Anhang beigefügt. Creation-Date: 2012-03 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/93124/3/Praemie-Paragraph-154.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D6, J19 Keywords: Beitragsäquivalenz, Umverteilung, Rentenversicherung, Prämienberechnung gRV, Ungleichbehandlung, Bundeszuschuss Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:93124 #END 1512 #BEGIN 1513 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohn, Wolfgang Title: Stop Waiting Problem: Decision Rule with Ψ function and Application with Share Prices Abstract: In this paper the stop-waiting strategy of Franz Bruss is set into a simple probabilistic framework and applied to the apple share prices from 1984 to 2013. Within the probabilistic framework a heuristic and a mathematical decision rule using the $\Psi$ function is developed. The results are in line with Bruss's theory. We apply the stop-waiting strategy to the Apple share prices and compare the results with a simple start-end and chart technique strategy. Creation-Date: 2014-03-04 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/93096/1/stopwaiting.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C65, E47, G17 Keywords: Optimal Stopping Problem, Mathematical Tools, Share Market Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:93096 #END 1513 #BEGIN 1514 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Title: Keynesian macroeconomics without the LM curve: IS-MP-IA model and Taylor rule applied to some CESEE economies Abstract: Applying IS-MP-IA model and the Taylor rule, this study finds that for selected CESEE economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia), lower expected inflation rate, real exchange rate appreciation, a lower world interest rate which is calculated like a federal funds rate minus inflation in US, and more world output would help to increase output of the selected economies in the sample. A lower ratio of government consumption spending to GDP would also increase the output of the selected economies. Hence, fiscal prudence is needed, and the conventional approach of real depreciation to stimulate exports and raise real output does not apply to the selected CESEE economies. When private household consumption is in the model the coefficient on government spending to nominal GDP is insignificant implying that Ricardian equivalence does hold for the selected countries. These results are robust because they are controlled in the period of four decades from 1969 to 2013. Study uses 4 decadal dummies that control for each decade. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/92955/1/David%20Romer%20trud%20dushko.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E52, F41 Keywords: IS-MP-IA, Taylor Rule Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:92955 #END 1514 #BEGIN 1515 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shachmurove, Yochanan Author-Name: Vulanovic, Milos Title: SPACs with focus on China Abstract: In this study, we examine characteristics of Specified Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) used as a financing tool for companies from China in period 2004-2011. We offer the evidence that, similarly to evidence from studies on reverse mergers focusing on China, SPACs that focus on China are not different in their characteristics from other SPACs. We test for the performance of the SPACs focused on China and show that their performance is not inferior to the performance of other SPACs. On the contrary, an investment in the equally weighted portfolio of SPACs with focus on China provides higher absolute return than an investment in the equally weighted portfolio of other SPACs. This evidence establishes that, on average, SPACs focused on China are as equally a valid investment choice as any other SPAC. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/92407/1/SPACs%20with%20focus%20on%20ChinaSSRN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G12, G14, G24, G30, G32, G34 Keywords: SPAC, Specified Purpose Acquisition Companies, China, Blank Checks Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:92407 #END 1515 #BEGIN 1516 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Title: Personnel economics issues: What causes increasing work intensity, and what are the policy responses? Abstract: In this paper the issue from personnel economics such as work intensity has been investigated. George Akerlof back in 1976 argued that the real life failed to correspond to the standard general equilibrium model set by Arrow-Debreu. In the real life information is neither complete nor it’s costless. In real life workers tend to work in harsh conditions, and put more efforts in order to receive better wages, also they have incentives to educate themselves more, as better educated employees are more productive. More productive means that they work faster as the rat’s race to the cheese and faster rats will get to the cheese first and get more cheese than slower rats. In reality workers do not want to share their output with slower workers. But it is because of bad norms that firms sets or taxes that government imposes that workers tend to work suboptimal i.e. work more than what is required in equilibrium, or work less than the equilibrium socially optimal required effort. The problem also arises when firms compare worker and pick ‘’average’’ worker, nowadays in OECD (rich) countries club, workers tend to get paid more and get spurious data on increased productivity and the measure average effort to be biased, so wage function will then be biased w=w (ē, t), wage is function of average effort and time needed to produce output. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/91640/1/Seminar%203%20personnel%20dushko.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M50, M51, M52 Keywords: Rat race equilibrium, labour market regulation policies, job satisfaction, workers performance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:91640 #END 1516 #BEGIN 1517 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Title: Essential themes in Personnel economics Abstract: In this paper are presented essential themes in the subject of personnel economics. In the first part analysis has been conducted on the impact of peer pressure on workplace behaviour. Then again models for compensation structures within firms, and their influence on the utility of work by employees. In the final section of the paper the productivity spillover effect has been analyzed, and the causes of existence of spillovers and their impact on workers’ productivity Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/91614/1/Personnel%20economics.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M00, M52, M55 Keywords: Personnel economics, compensation structures, peer pressure, spillover effect Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:91614 #END 1517 #BEGIN 1518 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rana, Arslan Tariq Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Title: The Political Economy of FDI flows into Developing Countries: Does the depth of International Trade Agreements Matter? Abstract: There is considerable debate whether the domestic political institutions (specifically, the country’s level of democracy) of the host developing country toward foreign investors are effective in establishing the credibility of commitments are still underway, researchers have also analyzed the effect of international institutions such as (GATT-WTO) membership and Bilateral Investment treaties (BIT) in their role of establishing the credibility of commitment to attract foreign investments. In addition, most recent studies have examined the effect of International Trade Agreements (TAs) on FDI flows as they contain separate investment chapters and dispute settlement mechanism, thus providing confidence to investor regarding the security of their investments. We argue that there are qualitative differences among various types of trade agreements and full-fledged trade agreements (FTA-CU) provide credibility to foreign investors and democracy level in the host country conditions this effect whereas the partial scope agreements (PSA) are not sufficient in providing credibility of commitments and not moderated by democracy. This paper analyses the impact of heterogeneous TAs, and their interaction with domestic institutions, on FDI inflows. Statistical analyses for 122 developing countries from 1970 to 2005 support this argument. The method adopted relies on fixed effects estimator which is robust to control endogeneity on a large panel dataset. The strict erogeneity of results by using a method suggested by Baier and Bergstrand (2007) and no feedback effect found in sample. The results state that (1) More the FTA-CU concluded, larger the amount of FDI inflows are attracted into the developing countries and PSA are insignificant in determining the FDI inflow; (2) FTA CU are complementary to democratic regime whereas the conditional effect of PSA with democracy on levels of FDI inflows is insignificant Creation-Date: 2014-02-03 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/91501/1/The%20Political%20Economy%20of%20FDI%20flows%20into%20Developing%20Countries%20Does%20the%20depth%20of%20International%20Trade%20Agreements%20Matter.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F21, F55, F59 Keywords: foreign direct investment, free trade agreements, partial scope agreements, domestic institutions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:91501 #END 1518 #BEGIN 1519 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Title: Personnel Economics essay: Issues in Human Capital Theory, training and earnings of workers Abstract: In this paper the issues from the personnel economics has been investigated. The issues such as training of workers from Becker’s human capital theory and their association with the workers’ productivity. In the second part of the paper the issue of grooming has been investigated in relation with earnings for which there exist and it is presented empirical evidence. In the equation as regressors are also present Mincerian variables: age, marital status and others. Also the four puzzles in the empirical literature about the determinants of earnings has been investigated. And how the empirical literature helps in resolving them. Creation-Date: 2014-01-30 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/90913/1/Personnel%20economics%20Dushko.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M50, M52, M53 Keywords: Personnel economics, training, earnings, grooming Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:90913 #END 1519 #BEGIN 1520 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Author-Name: Magdinceva-Sopova, Marija Title: Economic theory and the New-Keynesian school Abstract: In this paper it is described the school of neo-Keynesians (Akerlof and Stiglitz are in the group of ”Hard” New-Keynesians, that don’t accept New neo-classical synthesis, i.e. Dynamic Stochastic General equilibrium models-DSGE),that as a basic source of instability in the economies view the demand аnd supply side shocks, short run is important for them, wages and prices are rigid, expectations of the economic agents are rational, but also historical data are of great importance, and they introduced microeconomic foundations for their macroeconomic models. Creation-Date: 2014 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/90909/1/TRUD%20ZA%20MND-NEO-KEJNZIJANSKA%20EKONOMIJA-prevod.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E00, E12 Keywords: New-Keynesians, nominal rigidities, microeconomic foundations Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:90909 #END 1520 #BEGIN 1521 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shachmurove, Yochanan Author-Name: Vulanovic, Milos Title: SPACs in Shipping Abstract: In this study we examine how Specified Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) were used as a financing tool for companies in the shipping industry in period 2004-2011. We confirm that SPACs focused on acquisitions in the shipping industry have similar characteristics as the population of SPACs that entered U.S financial markets in the same period. When their characteristics differ, SPACs focused on shipping are larger in size than the rest of SPACs, have larger number of underwriters in syndicate, and have a higher rate of merger success. Also, the founders of shipping SPACs tend to be, on average, younger than their counterparts. Additionally, we confirm that shipping companies merge into SPACs for the benefits of acquiring public listing and receiving SPAC’s cash. The fact that some SPACs in our sample went private soon after the merger makes us believe that financing motives were more important than public listing motives Creation-Date: 2013-12 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/88633/1/SPACs%20in%20Shipping.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G24, G32, G34 Keywords: SPACs, Blank Checks, Shipping Finance, IPO, Mergers, Private Equity, Maritime Finance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:88633 #END 1521 #BEGIN 1522 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Herr, Hansjörg Author-Name: Sonat, Zeynep M. Title: Neoliberal Unshared Growth Regime of Turkey in the Post-2001 Period Abstract: After the 2001 crisis, Turkey continued to pursue a radical market-oriented reform strategy that followed the philosophy of the Washington Consensus. By the early 2000s the government had already liberalised the capital account, privatised many banks and enterprises, and kick-started the processes of financialisation. The government had also withdrawn from redistribution and social justice policies. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the post-2001 period was relatively high, but it was a “jobless” growth caused by substantial productivity increases generated largely by intensifying the work process rather than by technological advancements. Today, Turkey is still characterised as a country with very high income inequality. The economic growth in the post-2001 period benefited the society very unequally. This type of growth regime harbours great economic risks and is socially unjust. The development of Turkey is vulnerable thanks to the high current account deficit, high currency mismatch particularly in the enterprise sector, high income inequality, high unemployment, and an unsatisfactory development of the industrial sector despite some limited successes. We recommend a new development regime with selective capital controls, a balanced current account, an active industrial policy by the government, stronger unions and employer associations combined with coordinated wage bargaining on the sectoral level, and, last but not least, redistributive policies aiming to achieve a more equal income distribution. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/88606/1/GLU_WP_No.19.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E02, O11 Keywords: economic development, economic policy, economic conditions, trend, Turkey Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:88606 #END 1522 #BEGIN 1523 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Woisetschläger, David M. Author-Name: Backhaus, Christof Author-Name: Dreisbach, Jan Author-Name: Schnöring, Marc Title: Sponsoringstudie 2013 – 50 Jahre Fußball-Bundesliga: Von den Anfängen des Sponsoring bis zur Gegenwart Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/88167/1/Sponsoringstudie%202013%20der%20TU%20Braunschweig.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Sponsoring, Fußball-Bundesliga, Sponsoringwirkung, Imagetransfer, Sponsoringerfolg Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:88167 #END 1523 #BEGIN 1524 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Woisetschläger, David M. Author-Name: Backhaus, Christof Author-Name: Dreisbach, Jan Author-Name: Schnöring, Marc Title: Fußballstudie 2013 – Die Markenlandschaft der Fußball-Bundesliga Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/88166/1/Fu%c3%9fballstudie%202013%20der%20TU%20Braunschweig.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Markenwahrnehmung, Fußball-Bundesliga Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:88166 #END 1524 #BEGIN 1525 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Woisetschläger, David M. Author-Name: Backhaus, Christof Author-Name: Dreisbach, Jan Author-Name: Schnöring, Marc Title: Fußballstudie 2012 – Wie die Vereinsmarken der Fußball-Bundesliga wahrgenommen werden Abstract: Betrachtung der Markenwahrnehmung der Fußball-Bundesligisten Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/88165/1/Fu%c3%9fballstudie%202012%20TU%20Braunschweig_Markenmeisterschaft.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Markenwahrnehmung, Fußball-Bundesliga Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:88165 #END 1525 #BEGIN 1526 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sabatini, Fabio Author-Name: Sarracino, Francesco Title: Will Facebook save or destroy social capital? An empirical investigation into the effect of online interactions on trust and networks Abstract: Studies in the social capital literature have documented two stylised facts: first, a decline in measures of social participation has occurred in many OECD countries. Second, and more recently, the success of social networking sites (SNSs) has resulted in a steep rise in online social participation. Our study adds to this body of research by conducting the first empirical assessment of how online networking affects two economically relevant aspects of social capital, i.e. trust and sociability. We find that participation in SNSs such as Facebook and Twitter has a positive effect on face to face interactions. However, social trust decreases with online interactions. Several interpretations of these findings are discussed. Creation-Date: 2013-11-29 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/88145/1/Paper%20LCSR%20131128.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C36, D85, O33, Z13 Keywords: social participation, online networks, Facebook, Twitter, social capital, broadband, digital divide, Internet-mediated communication Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:88145 Note: We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Laboratory for Comparative Social Research at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. We are indebted to Ronald F. Inglehart, Eduard Ponarin, Luca Stanca, Christopher Swader, and Christian Welzel for useful comments and suggestions. We are grateful to Angelo Antoci, Alessandra Gualtieri, Malgorzata Micucka, and Mauro Sodini for precious conversations on our research topics. The paper also benefited from comments by Anna Amalkaeva, Luciano Canova, Barbara Collevecchio, Lucia Ferrone, Anna Nemirovskaya, Serban Tanasa, Balazs Telegdy and Bogdan Voicu, by participants at the 3rd LCSR International Workshop (Saint Petersburg, April 26-30, 2013), and at the Conference “Cultural and Economic changes under cross-national perspective” (Moscow, November 12-16, 2013). Usual caveats apply. The paper has been accepted for presentation at the XVIII ISA World Congress of Sociology (session on Sociology of Communication, Knowledge and Culture) to be held in Yokohama, Japan, on July 13-19, 2014. #END 1526 #BEGIN 1527 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Soviana, Soviana Title: Case Survey for Assessing Community-Based Enterprise: A Research Design Abstract: Despite the increasing implementation of community-based enterprise (CBE), two problems are prevailing: (1) lack of comprehensive understanding about the organization of CBE and (2) lack of generalizability of the individual findings. In response to these problems, this paper aligns its research on organizational theory and it aims to present a research design, introducing and explaining the possibility of implementing the case survey methodology for assessing CBE. Creation-Date: 2013-10 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/84707/1/Case%20survey%20for%20assessing%20cbe%20-%20a%20research%20design.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: community-based enterprise, organizational architecture, performance, case survey Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:84707 #END 1527 #BEGIN 1528 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Author-Name: Gelova, Elena Title: Kuhn-Tucker Theorem Foundations and its Basic Application in the Mathematical Economics Abstract: In this paper the issue of mathematical programming and optimization has being revisited. The theory of optimization deals with the development of models and methods that determine optimal solutions to mathematical problems defined. Mathematical model must be some function of any solution that accompanies a value which is a measure of quality. In mathematics Kuhn-Tucker conditions are first order necessary conditions for a solution in non-linear programming. Under, certain specific circumstances, Kuhn- Tucker conditions are necessary and sufficient conditions as well. In this paper it is also introduced the use of these mathematical methods of optimization in economics. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/83888/1/dushko%20i%20elena%20gelova%20trud.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C60, C61 Keywords: Kuhn-Tucker conditions, nonlinear programming Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:83888 #END 1528 #BEGIN 1529 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kohn, Wolfgang Title: Kapitalwertmethode bei nicht-flacher Zinsstrukturkurve Abstract: In der einfachen finanzmathematischen Welt herrscht ein konstanter Zinssatz. Wird die Modellwelt hinsichtlich einer nicht flachen Zinsstruktur abgeändert, so sollten die Barwertfaktoren um zwischenzeitliche Zinszahlungen (Zinseszinsen) neutralisiert werden. Die Berechnung der Barwertfaktoren mittels der Duplizierung von Zahlungsströmen (Bootstrapping) führt zu Kapitalwerten, die steigende bzw. fallende Finanzierungskosten der Investition besser im Kapitalwert berücksichtigen. Die Kapitalwerte der Investitionen fallen bzw. steigen gegenüber der herkömmlichen Berechnung und berücksichtigen damit besser die Markterwartungen aus der Zinsstrukturkurve. Die Unternehmensentscheidungen wirken damit stabilisierender auf die konjunkturelle Entwicklung. Ferner wird gezeigt, dass eine Barwertmarge bzw. Rentabilitätsmarge berechnet werden kann, die die Differenz zur gegebenen Zinsstruktur angibt, bei der der Kapitalwert Null wird. Alle Ergebnisse entsprechen dem traditionellen Ansatz, wenn die Zinsstruktur flach ist. Abstract: The simple financial world assumes a constant interest rate over time (flat yield curve). If this restriction is released for a non constant interest rate (non-flat yield curve) the compounded interest should be neutralized for this interest payments. The net present value with neutralized interest payments (bootstraping method) leads towards net present values which takes better increasing and decreasing interest terms structures into account which results in lower or higher net present values. Therefore the investment decisions are more in line with the interest term structure. Further on a net present value margin is introduced, which shows for a given interest term structure the margin when the net present value is zero. It is an extension of the internal return of investment. All calculations are in line with a flat interest term structure. Creation-Date: 2013-10-14 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/83786/1/kapitalwert.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E43, E44, G11, G31 Keywords: Kapitalwertmethode, Zinsstrukturkurve, Marktzinsmodell, Finanzmathematik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:83786 #END 1529 #BEGIN 1530 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Aliu, Armando Title: The Theory of Interhybridity: Socio-political Dimensions and Migration Abstract: The Western Balkans integration within the EU has started a legal process which is the rejection of former communist legal/political approaches and the transformation of former communist institutions. Indeed, the EU agenda has brought vertical/horizontal integration and Europeanization of national institutions (i.e. shifting power to the EU institutions and international authorities). At this point, it is very crucial to emphasize the fact that the Western Balkans as a whole region has currently an image that includes characteristics of both the Soviet socialism and the European democracy. The EU foreign policies and enlargement strategy for Western Balkans have significant effects on four core factors (i.e. Schengen visa regulations, remittances, asylum and migration as an aggregate process). The convergence/divergence of EU member states’ priorities for migration policies regulate and even shape directly the migration dynamics in migrant sender countries. From this standpoint, the research explores how main migration factors are influenced by political and judicial factors such as; rule of law and democracy score, the economic liberation score, political and human rights, civil society score and citizenship rights in Western Balkan countries. The proposal of interhybridity explores how the hybridization of state and non-state actors within home and host countries can solve labor migration-related problems. The economical and sociopolitical labor-migration model of Basu (2009) is overlapping with the multidimensional empirical framework of interhybridity. Indisputably, hybrid model (i.e. collaboration state and non-state actors) has a catalyst role in terms of balancing social problems and civil society needs. Paradigmatically, it is better to perceive the hybrid model as a combination of communicative and strategic action that means the reciprocal recognition within the model is precondition for significant functionality. This will shape social and industrial relations with moral meanings of communication. Creation-Date: 2013-01-29 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/83785/1/The_Theory_of_Interhybridity.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, C1, J61, A1, P48, P4, F5, J6, P3, C8, J5, J53 Keywords: Interhybridity, Migration, Politics, Western Balkans Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:83785 Note: Munich Personal RePEc Archive Paper No. 44056 #END 1530 #BEGIN 1531 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Popović, Milenko Author-Name: Ratković, Kruna Title: Oversupply of Labor and Other Peculiarities of Arts Labor Market Abstract: There are several striking peculiarities of the arts labor market that have attracted the attentions of researchers in the last several decades: first is constant long run excess supply of arts labor; second, artists are more likely to be multiple-job-holders than other professions; third, artists pay significant earning penalties; finally, there are huge variations in artists earnings and huge inequalities among artists themselves. In order to explain these peculiarities, in this paper we developed two dynamic models of an artist’s behavior and arts labor supply. In the first model proposed here an artist is depicted as someone who is hired on the arts labor market and paid for his artistic time. In the second model an artist is described as someone who sells his products, like paintings for instance, on the market for artistic products. In order to make these models dynamic, an artist’s productivity is here supposed to be a function of accumulated human capital of the artist. As a consequence, the supply of labor in the arts market appears as the result of an inter-temporal process of resources allocation. Both models end with the same result: the cost of producing a unit of an artistic commodity in a particular year should be equal to the present value of expected streams of all monetary and nonmonetary benefits generated by production of a given artistic unit. This result appears to be pretty suitable for formalization of several existing hypotheses aimed at explaining arts labor market peculiarities. Especially, by referring to the stream of expected nonmonetary benefits, models developed here are able to formalize the most promising among these hypotheses according to which an artist’s need for self-discovery and self-actualization is the driving force in explaining the oversupply of arts labor. Creation-Date: 2013-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/83025/1/1.%20Kruna%20and%20Milenko%20OverSupplyofLabor%20Septembe.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: Z10, Z11, J22, J24 Keywords: household production function, allocation of time, arts, expected benefits Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:83025 #END 1531 #BEGIN 1532 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Backhaus, Klaus Author-Name: Bröker, Ole Author-Name: Brüne, Philipp Author-Name: Gausling, Philipp Title: Digitale Medien in B2B-Beschaffungsprozessen - eine explorative Untersuchung Abstract: Die vorliegende Studie befasst sich mit dem Einsatz von digitalen Medien in B2B-Beschaffungsprozessen im deutschen Markt. Dieser wird in der existierenden Literatur nur unzureichend erfasst. Zum einen wird die Vielfalt digitaler Medien nicht berücksichtigt. Zum anderen werden die Heterogenität des B2B-Marktes und ihr Einfluss auf die Ausgestaltung von Beschaffungsprozessen außer Acht gelassen. Auf Basis des Geschäftstypenansatzes von BACKHAUS (1998) wird daher ein Konzept zur Unterscheidung unterschiedlicher Beschaffungssituationen erarbeitet. Die Höhe des Risikos wird dabei als entscheidender Einflussfaktor identifiziert. In einer zweistufigen, explorativ-empirischen Untersuchung wird zunächst eine qualitative Analyse von Tiefeninterviews mit Experten aus dem B2B-Bereich durchgeführt. Die daraus abgeleiteten Erkenntnisse über Beschaffungsprozesse im B2B-Bereich und die Relevanz digitaler Medien werden im Rahmen einer Befragung auf Beschaffungsseite im Hinblick auf ihre Generalisierbarkeit überprüft. Die empirische Untersuchung ergibt, dass die Ausgestaltung von B2B-Beschaffungsprozessen im Wesentlichen von produktbezogenen und systembezogenen Risiken abhängt. Insgesamt ergeben sich drei unterschiedliche Gruppen von Beschaffungsprozessen, die sich in Bezug auf Formalisierungsgrad, Phasen, Beschaffungsdauer und Zahl der beteiligten Personen im Buying Center unterscheiden. Für jede dieser Gruppen werden Aussagen bezüglich der Nutzung und Relevanz von Online-Medien getroffen und Handlungsempfehlungen für das digitale Marketing abgeleitet. Für alle Beschaffungsprozesse gilt, dass aufgrund der zunehmenden Digitalisierung des Online-Bereichs in den nächsten Jahren bei der Kommunikationspolitik der Fokus zunehmend auf den Online-Bereich zu setzen ist. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/80715/3/Digitale_Medien_in_B2B-Beschaffungsprozessen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Online-Marketing, Digitale Medien, B2B-Beschaffungsprozesse, Webseiten, Suchmaschinen, Internet, Business-to-business Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:80715 #END 1532 #BEGIN 1533 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Author-Name: Bardarova, Snezana Title: Causal relationship between wages and prices in R. Macedonia: VECM analysis Abstract: In this paper the issue of causality between wages and prices in R. Macedonia has been tested. OLS relationship between prices and wages is positive; productivity is not significant in determination of prices or wages too. Engle-Granger test proved that variables of interest CPI and average real wage are cointegrated, i.e. there exists long run relationship between those variables, when first differenced. While their levels are not cointegrated. ARDL regression proved that between CPI and average real wage there exists almost significant long run relationship (tstat=1.60), and coefficient is of size 0.3353 at one lag. Unit root test showed that CPI and average real wage are I (1) variables. Johansen’s test of cointegration showed that we cannot reject the null hypothesis of having rank 1 (rank=1) and therefore the number of cointegrating vectors is one. Optimal number of lags according for VARs and VECMs is 1. From the VECM model we can see which variable responds more if there is shock in the system, and it seems that average real wage responds more on the shock in the system. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/77910/1/regresivna%20analiza%20prilep%20posledna%20verzija%20_2_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C50, E31 Keywords: Granger causality, wages, prices, VECM Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:77910 #END 1533 #BEGIN 1534 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hessler, Markus A. Author-Name: Loebert, Ina Title: Zu Risiken und Nebenwirkungen des Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetzes Abstract: Im Jahr 2000 wurde das Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG) zur Förderung erneuerbarer Energien durch die rot-grüne Bundesregierung beschlossen. 2050 soll der Anteil der Stromerzeugung aus Erneuerbaren Energien am Bruttostromverbrauch 80% betragen. Die Energiewende scheint zu gelingen – doch zu welchem Preis? Den von Befürwortern genannten Vorteilen stehen erhebliche Probleme und Kosten gegenüber. Das Ziel des Beitrages ist es, diese näher zu beleuchten aber auch auf alternative Förderinstrumente hinzuweisen, mit denen die Energiewende unter Umständen kostengünstiger bewältigt werden kann. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/76784/1/hsu-wp-vwl-136-1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D78, L59, L94 Keywords: EEG, Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, Energiewende, Energiepolitik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:76784 #END 1534 #BEGIN 1535 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Podlech, Nils Title: Die Auswirkungen des Steuersystemwechsels vom Halbeinkünfteverfahren zur Abgeltungssteuer auf die Ausschüttungspolitik von Unternehmen Abstract: Mit der Einführung der Abgeltungsteuer zum 1. Januar 2009 hat sich die Besteuerung von Einkünften aus Kapitalbeteiligungen in Deutschland grundlegend verändert. In diesem Beitrag wird analysiert, welche Auswirkungen der Steuersystemwechsel vom Halbeinkünfteverfahren zur Abgeltungssteuer auf die Ausschüttungspolitik von Unternehmen hat. Zu diesem Zweck werden die Vermögenspositionen von Aktionären eines Unternehmens betrachtet, welches liquide Mittel entweder in Form einer Dividende oder in Form eines Aktienrückkaufes ausschüttet, oder diese Mittel alternativ für eine Investition einbehält. Auf der Grundlage dieser Vermögenspositionen werden anschließend für beide Steuersysteme die kritischen Werte für die Rendite einer zusätzlichen Investition bei Einbehaltung abgeleitet und miteinander verglichen. Dabei stellt sich heraus, dass nach dem Steuersystemwechsel Unternehmen im Interesse des Großteils ihrer Aktionäre auf Investitionsprojekte verzichten sollten, die das Vermögen der Aktionäre unter dem Halbeinkünfteverfahren noch gesteigert haben. Anstatt in diese Projekte zu investieren ist den Unternehmen heute angeraten diese Mittel auszuschütten. Abstract: Since January 1, 2009 capital gains on equity participations are taxable with a flat tax rate in Germany. This paper examines the impact of the tax system change on the payout policy of corporations. For this purpose the shareholder wealth is examined if the corporation pays out free cash in the form of a dividend or share repurchase or alternatively retains the funds for a company-internal investment. The results suggest that in the interest of most of its shareholders corporations should no longer invest in all projects that were beneficial under the previous tax system. Instead the corporations should pay out these funds. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/75274/1/Die%20Auswirkungen%20des%20Steuersystemwechsels%20vom%20Halbeink%c3%bcnfteverfahren%20zur%20Abgeltungssteuer%20auf%20die%20Aussch%c3%bcttungspolitik%20von%20Unternehmen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D14, G35, H24 Keywords: Ausschüttungspolitik, Dividende, Aktienrückkauf, Abgeltungssteuer, Halbeinkünfteverfahren, Vermögensoptimierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:75274 #END 1535 #BEGIN 1536 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Podlech, Nils Title: Dividenden und Aktienrückkäufe unter der Abgeltungssteuer Abstract: Für Aktionäre waren bis zur Einführung der Abgeltungssteuer am 1.1.2009 Ausschüttungen in Form von Aktienrückkäufen aus steuerlichen Erwägungen in Deutschland gegenüber Dividenden vorteilhaft. Bei einem Aktienrückkauf wurde innerhalb der Spekulationsfrist nur ein realisierter Kursgewinn besteuert und nach einer Haltedauer von einem Jahr konnte der Gewinn aus einem Aktienrückkauf vollständig steuerfrei vereinnahmt werden, während Dividenden in vollem Umfang besteuert wurden. Nach der Einführung der Abgeltungssteuer und der Abschaffung der Spekulationsfrist werden Kapitalerträge in Deutschland gleichartig besteuert. Um die vorteilhafteste Ausschüttungsform für Aktionäre im derzeit gültigen deutschen Steuersystem zu identifizieren, werden in diesem Aufsatz die Vermögenspositionen von Aktionären analysiert, die Ausschüttungen entweder in Form von Aktienrückkäufen oder Dividenden erhalten. Dabei stellt sich heraus, dass sich auch unter der Abgeltungssteuer ein Aktienrückkauf im Vergleich zu einer Dividende vorteilhaft auf die Vermögensposition der Aktionäre auswirkt. Die Abschätzung der quantitativen Bedeutung dieses Vorteils erfolgt insbesondere unter Rückgriff auf numerische Berechnungen. Abstract: Since January 1, 2009 capital gains are taxable with a flat tax rate in Germany regardless of the investor’s holding period. Prior to that point of time stock owners preferred profit distributions by share repurchase instead of a dividend due to the fact that a share repurchase could be collected tax-free when the stock was held for a period longer than one year. To find out which distribution alternative is preferred by stock owners in the current German tax system this paper examines the wealth of stock owners when a firm distributes earnings by dividend or share repurchase instead. The results suggest that firms should always distribute earnings by share repurchase. Numerical calculations illustrate the results of the analysis. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/75273/1/Dividenden%20und%20Aktienr%c3%bcckk%c3%a4ufe%20unter%20der%20Abgeltungssteuer.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D14, G35, H24 Keywords: Ausschüttungspolitik, Dividende, Aktienrückkauf, Abgeltungssteuer, Vermögensoptimierung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:75273 #END 1536 #BEGIN 1537 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Soviana, Soviana Title: Framework for Analyzing Community-Based Enterprise (CBE): Literature review of organizational architecture and organizational performance Abstract: Community-based enterprise (CBE) has increasingly been acknowledged as a potential solution for environmental-poverty problems in developing countries. However, the imprecision of how the CBE is defined and the lack of clarity regarding the organization of CBE have posed a challenge of identifying effective way to successfully implement the CBE model. These facts have become the motivation of conducting research in this topic. The aim of this working paper is to present a literature review regarding the possibility of assessing the CBE from the organizational perspective, namely by looking at organizational architecture and performance issues. Four features of organizational architecture are taken into account, i.e. contextual constraints, organizational goals, collection of resources, and architectural design. As for organizational performance, the focus is on measuring the relative growth of the triple-bottom-line and survivability dimensions. Some next steps are also suggested at the end of the paper. Creation-Date: 2013-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/74719/1/Working%20paper%20-%20Framework%20for%20analyzing%20CBE.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: community-based enterprise, organizational architecture, organizational performance Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:74719 #END 1537 #BEGIN 1538 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Title: L’impact de l’endettement sur la profitabilité. Une étude empirique sur données françaises en panel Title: The impact of debt on profitability. An empirical study on French data panel Abstract: Cet article a pour objectif d’analyser l’effet de l’endettement sur la profitabilité. Cet effet peut être expliqué par trois théories essentielles: la théorie du signal, la théorie de l’agence et l’influence de la fiscalité. L’échantillon se compose d’un panel de 1078 entreprises françaises, non cotées, de type anonymes et de SARL, appartenant au secteur de la construction sur la période 1999-2006. Nous montrons, en utilisant la méthode des moments généralisée (MMG), que l’endettement affecte négativement la profitabilité, non seulement linéairement, mais aussi, de façon non linéaire (concave). Cependant, en détaillant l’analyse selon différentes classe de taille, nous constatons que l’effet négatif linéaire et l’effet non linéaire ne sont significatifs que dans les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME). Abstract: This article aims to analyze the effect of debt on the profitability. This impact can be explained by three essential theories: signaling theory, the agency costs theory and tax theory. The sample consists of a panel of 1,078 French firms, unlisted, anonymous type and Limited Liability Company; belonging to the construction sector over the period 1999-2006. We show, by using the generalized method of moments (GMM), that the debt affects negatively the profitability, not only linearly, but also, in a non-linear (concave) way. However, by detailing the analysis according to different class of size, we find that the linear negative effect and the non-linear effect are significant only in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73692/1/L%e2%80%99impact%20de%20l%27endettement%20sur%20la%20profitabilit%c3%a9%20Une%20%c3%a9tude%20empirique%20sur%20donn%c3%a9es%20fran%c3%a7aises%20en%20panel.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C33, G32, L25 Keywords: Endettement, Profitabilité, Données de panel, GMM Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73692 #END 1538 #BEGIN 1539 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Title: L’endettement affecte-t-il la profitabilité? Le cas des firmes agro-alimentaires françaises Title: Does debt affect profitability? The case of French agro-food firms Abstract: Cet article a pour objectif d’élargir le champ de la connaissance empirique sur l’impact de l’endettement sur la profitabilité des entreprises. Nous analysons un échantillon de 568 entreprises françaises non cotées, de secteur d’Agro-alimentaires, observées sur la période entre 1999 et 2006. Nous montrons, en utilisant la méthode des moments généralisée (GMM), que l’endettement affecte négativement sur la profitabilité, mais cet effet est faible et parfois non significatif selon le ratio de profitabilité utilisé (Prof1, Prof2 ou ROA). De plus, nous trouvons une relation non linéaire (une courbe concave) de l’impact de la dette sur la profitabilité, mais, cet impact non linéaire n’est significatif que dans les toutes petites entreprises (TPE). Abstract: This article aims to expand existing empirical knowledge on the impact of debt level on profitability of companies. We analyze a sample of 568 unlisted French companies (Agro-food sector) spanning over a period of 1999 to 2006. We show, by using the generalized method of moments (GMM), that debt affects negatively on the profitability, but this effect is negligible and sometimes insignificant according to the ratio of profitability used (Prof1, Prof2 or ROA). Furthermore, we find existence of non-linear relationship (concave curve) between level of debt and profitability, but this non-linear impact is validated only in the case of very small enterprises. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73691/1/L%e2%80%99endettement%20affecte-t-il%20la%20profitabilit%c3%a9%20Le%20cas%20des%20firmes%20agro-alimentaires%20fran%c3%a7aises.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C33, G32, L25 Keywords: Données de panel, Endettement, GMM, Profitabilité Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73691 #END 1539 #BEGIN 1540 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shah, Syed Noaman Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Title: US Corporate Bond Yield Spread. A default risk debate Abstract: According to theoretical models of valuing risky corporate securities, risk of default is primary component in overall yield spread. However, sizable empirical literature considers it otherwise by giving more importance to non-default risk factors. Current study empirically attempts to provide relative solution to this conundrum by presuming that problem lies in the subjective empirical treatment of default risk. By using post-hoc estimator approach of Lubotsky & Wittenberg (2006), we construct an efficient indicator for risk of default, by using sample of 252 US non-financial corporate data (2000-2010). On average, our results validate that almost 48% of change in yield spread is explained by default risk especially in recent financial crisis period (2007-2009). Hence, our results relatively suggest that potential problem lies in the ad-hoc measurement methods used in existing empirical literature. Creation-Date: 2013-03-08 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73690/1/US%20Corporate%20Bond%20Yield%20Spread%20A%20default%20risk%20debate.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C1, C30, G12, G14 Keywords: Default risk, Credit spread, Risk-aversion, Measurement error, Index construction Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73690 #END 1540 #BEGIN 1541 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Khan, Muhammad Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Author-Name: Nenovsky, Nikolay Title: Inflation Uncertainty, Output Growth Uncertainty and Macroeconomic Performance: Comparing Alternative Exchange Rate Regimes in Eastern Europe Abstract: In the late 90's, after severe financial and economic crisis, accompanied by inflation and exchange rate instability, Eastern Europe emerged into two groups of countries with radically contrasting monetary regimes (Currency Boards and Inflation targeting). The task of our study is to compare econometrically the performance of these two regimes in terms of the relationship between inflation, output growth, nominal and real uncertainties from 2000 till now. In other words, we test the hypothesis of non-neutrality of monetary and exchange rate regimes with respect to these connections. In a whole, the empirical results do not allow us to judge which monetary regime is more appropriate and reasonable to assume. EU enlargement is one of the possible explanations for the numbing of the differences and the lack of coherence between the two regimes in terms of inflation, growth and their uncertainties. Creation-Date: 2013-03 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73689/1/Inflation%20Uncertainty%2c%20Output%20Growth%20Uncertainty%20and%20Macroeconomic%20Performance%20Comparing%20Alternative%20Exchange%20Rate%20Regimes%20in%20Eastern%20Europe.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C22, C51, C52, E0 Keywords: Inflation, Inflation uncertainty, Real uncertainty, Monetary regimes, Eastern Europe Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73689 #END 1541 #BEGIN 1542 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Title: La structure du capital et la profitabilité : Une étude empirique sur données françaises en panel Abstract: L’objectif de cet article est d’analyser l’impact de la structure du capital sur la profitabilité. Cet impact peut être expliqué par trois théories essentielles: la théorie du signal, l’influence de la fiscalité et la théorie de l’agence. Nous montrons, à partir d’un échantillon de 9136 entreprises réparties sur sept secteurs prises sur la période 1999-2006, à l’aide d’une étude sur panel dynamique en utilisant la méthode des moments généralisée (GMM), qu’il y a une hétérogénéité des comportements entre les secteurs en ce qui concerne l’effet de la structure du capital sur la profitabilité. L’analyse empirique a permis de distinguer trois groupes différents de secteurs: pour le premier groupe (l’industrie, l’énergie et le service), la structure du capital n’a aucune incidence sur la profitabilité. Le deuxième groupe ne contient que le secteur de transport, c’est le groupe où l’endettement affecte négativement la profitabilité de manière linéaire. Le dernier groupe (l’agro alimentaire, la construction et le commerce) se caractérise par la présence d’un effet négatif de façon linéaire et non linéaire Abstract: The objective of this article is to analyze the impact of capital structure on profitability. This impact can be explained by three essential theories: signaling theory, tax theory and the agency costs theory. From a sample of 9136 firms distributed on seven sectors taken over the period 1999-2006 by means of a study on dynamic panel by using the generalized method of moments (GMM), we show that there exists heterogeneity of behavior between sectors regarding the impact of capital structure on profitability. The empirical analysis allowed us to distinguish three different groups of sectors: for the first group (industry, energy and service), the capital structure has no impact on profitability. The second group, containing only the transport sector, is the group where the debt affects negatively the profitability in a linear way. The last group (agro-food, construction and trade) is characterized by the presence of a negative effect in a linear and nonlinear way Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73559/1/LEO%20dr%202012%2008.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C33, G32, L25 Keywords: Structure du capital, profitabilité, GMM, données de panel Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73559 #END 1542 #BEGIN 1543 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hathroubi, Salem Title: Epidemic corruption: a bio-economic homology Abstract: This paper aims to study corruption as an epidemic phenomenon using the epidemic diffusion model of Kermack and Mc-Kendrick (1927). We seek to determine the dynamics of corruption and its impact on the composition of the population at a given time. We determine a threshold epidemiological corruption based on the approximation of the honest population. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73558/1/Epidemic%20corruption.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C6, D72, D73, K42 Keywords: Corruption, Epidemiology, SIR model Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73558 #END 1543 #BEGIN 1544 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Author-Name: Shah, Syed Muhammad Noaman Ahmed Title: The effect of debt on corporate profitability: Evidence from French service sector Abstract: Current study aims to provide new empirical evidence on the impact of debt on corporate profitability. This impact can be explained by three essential theories: signaling theory, tax theory and the agency cost theory. Using panel data sample of 2240 French non listed companies of service sector during 1999-2006. By utilizing generalized method of moments (GMM) econometric technique on three measures of profitability ratio (PROF1, PROF2 and ROA), we show that debt ratio has no effect on corporate profitability, regardless of the size of company (VSEs, SMEs or LEs). Abstract: L'étude actuelle a pour but de fournir une nouvelle évidence empirique sur l'impact de dette sur la profitabilité d'entreprise. Cet impact peut être expliqué par trois théories essentielles: la théorie du signal, l’influence de la fiscalité et la théorie de l’agence. En utilisant un échantillon d’un panel de 2240 entreprises Françaises non cotées du secteur des services au cours de la période 1999-2006. En utilisant la méthode des moments généralisée (GMM) sur trois mesures de ratio de rentabilité (PROF1, PROF2 et ROA), nous montrons que le ratio de la dette n'a aucun effet sur la profitabilité des entreprises, quelle que soit la taille de l'entreprise (TPE, PME ou ETI). Creation-Date: 2013-01 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73556/1/dr201301.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C33, G32, L25 Keywords: Debt, GMM, Panel data, Profitability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73556 #END 1544 #BEGIN 1545 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Title: La structure du capital et la profitabilité: le cas des entreprises industrielles françaises Abstract: L’objectif de cet article est d’analyser l’impact de la structure du capital sur la profitabilité. Nous montrons, à partir d’un échantillon de 1846 entreprises industrielles françaises prises sur la période 1999-2006, à l’aide d’une étude sur panel dynamique en utilisant la méthode des moments généralisée (GMM), que la structure du capital n’a aucune influence sur la profitabilité des entreprises industrielles françaises quelle que soit la taille de l’entreprise. Abstract: The objective of this article is to analyze the impact of capital structure on profitability. This impact can be explained by three essential theories: signaling theory, tax theory and the agency costs theory. A sample of 1846 French industrial firms are taken over the period 1999-2006, as a dynamic panel study by using the generalized method of moments (GMM). We show that capital structure has no influence on the profitability of French firms, regardless the size of the company. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73188/1/La%20structure%20du%20capital%20et%20la%20profitabilit%c3%a9%20le%20cas%20des%20entreprises%20industrielles%20Fran%c3%a7aises.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C33, G32, L25 Keywords: Structure du capital, profitabilité, GMM, données de panel Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73188 #END 1545 #BEGIN 1546 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kebewar, Mazen Title: Does debt affect profitability? An empirical study of French trade sector Abstract: This article aims to expand existing empirical knowledge on the impact of debt level on profitability of companies. We analyze a sample of an unbalanced panel of 2325 unlisted French companies of trade sector spanning over a period of 1999 to 2006. By using the generalized method of moments (GMM), we show that the debt affects negatively the profitability, not only linearly, but also, in a non-linear (concave) way. However, while analyzing according to different size classes (VSEs, SMEs and LEs); we find that the linear negative effect becomes larger and the non-linear effect is significant only in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Creation-Date: 2013-05-10 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/73185/1/Does%20debt%20affect%20profitability%20An%20empirical%20study%20of%20French%20trade%20sector.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C33, G32, L25 Keywords: Debt, GMM, Panel data, Profitability Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:73185 #END 1546 #BEGIN 1547 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Azizi, Karim Author-Name: Canry, Nicolas Author-Name: Chatelain, Jean-Bernard Author-Name: Tinel, Bruno Title: Government Solvency, Austerity and Fiscal Consolidation in the OECD: A Keynesian Appraisal of Transversality and No Ponzi Game Conditions Abstract: This paper investigates the relevance of the No-Ponzi game condition for public debt (i.e. the public debt growth rate has to be lower than the real interest rate, a necessary assumption for Ricardian equivalence) and of the transversality condition for the GDP growth rate (i.e. the GDP growth rate has to be lower than the real interest rate). First, on the unbalanced panel of 21 countries from 1961 to 2010 available in OECD database, those two conditions were simultaneously validated only for 29% of the cases under examination. Second, those two conditions were more frequent in the 1980s and the 1990s when monetary policies were more restrictive. Third, in tune with the Keynesian view, when the real interest rate is higher than the GDP growth, it corresponds to 75% of the cases of the increases of the debt/GDP ratio but to only 43% of the cases of the decreases of the debt/GDP ratio (fiscal consolidations). Creation-Date: 2013-04-29 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/72550/1/Ponzi%20public%20debt.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: E43, E5, E6, H6, O4 Keywords: Government solvency, Austerity, Fiscal consolidation, No-Ponzi game condition, transversality condition, budgetary policy, monetary policy, economic growth Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:72550 #END 1547 #BEGIN 1548 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Khan, Mashrur Mustaque Author-Name: Yousuf, Ahmed Sadek Title: Macroeconomic Forces and Stock Prices: Evidence from the Bangladesh Stock Market Abstract: The study examines the influence of a selective set of macroeconomic forces on stock market prices in Bangladesh. The Dhaka Stock Exchange All-Share Price Index (DSI) is used to represent the prices in the stock market while deposit interest rates, exchange rates, consumer price index (CPI), crude oil prices and broad money supply (M2) are selected to represent the macroeconomic variables affecting the stock prices. Using monthly data from 1992m1-2011m6, several time-series techniques were used which include Cointegration, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), Impulse Response Functions (IRF) and Variance Decompositions (VDC). Cointegration analysis, along with the VECM, suggests that interest rates, crude oil prices and money supply are positively related to stock prices, exchange rates are negatively related to stock prices, and CPI is insignificant in influencing the stock prices, in the long-run. Both the IRF and VDC suggest that shocks to macroeconomic variables explain a small proportion of the forecast variance error of the DSI, but these effects persist for a long period. Creation-Date: 2013-04-24 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/72453/1/Joint%20Collab.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C22, E44, E58, G12 Keywords: Asset Prices, Macroeconomic Factors, Dhaka Stock Exchange, Cointegration, VEC Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:72453 #END 1548 #BEGIN 1549 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Spatial analysis of the tourism supply, in Portugal, at NUTs III level Abstract: The tourism in Portugal has been an important contribution to the economic development of the country, namely in zones where is difficult to implement others activities, specifically the manufacturing. The objective of this work is to analyze, for the period 2002-2011, with spatial econometric techniques (using the GeoDa informatics program), the statistic data, available in the Statistics Portugal (INE), of some variables related with the tourism in the NUTs III of Portugal Continental, namely: capacity (N.º) in accommodation establishments; capacity in accommodation establishments per 1000 inhabitants (N.º); nights (N.º) in accommodation establishments; nights in accommodation establishments per 100 inhabitants (N.º); accommodation establishments (N.º); average stay (N.º) in accommodation establishments; customers (N.º) in accommodation establishments; proportion of foreign customers (%); and net rate of bed occupancy (%) in accommodation establishments. The first, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth variables were further disaggregated for the several forms of accommodation establishments, as following: all accommodation establishments; hotels; pensions; guesthouses; inns; motels; hotels-apartments; holiday villages; and tourist apartments. The data was used in average and the econometric analyses were cross section. There are some signs of spatial autocorrelation in some variables and some forms of accommodation establishments. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/71762/1/TC%20%28Coimbra%291.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C21, L83, O18 Keywords: Spatial econometrics, Tourism supply, Portuguese NUTs III Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:71762 #END 1549 #BEGIN 1550 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Tourism in the Portuguese Rural Areas Abstract: The tourism in the rural areas is an important contribution to the local economies and an additional income for the traditional local activities as the agricultural sector. Some traditional rural activities, as the agriculture, sometimes and in some locations are not sufficient to provide an acceptable return to their promoters. So the different forms of tourism in rural zones, as the small industry and others sectors, are important contributions to the economic activity in the rural areas. This study pretends to analyze some information and statistical data about the several forms of tourism in the Portuguese rural areas, namely tourism accommodation, rural tourism, agritourism, village tourism, country house and rural hotel. There were used data from 2004 to 2008 available in the Statistics of Portugal (INE) for the Portuguese NUTs II. These data were analyzed with econometric methods, namely, spatial econometrics and panel data analysis. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/71761/1/TER1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, L83, C20 Keywords: Tourism, Portugal, Rural areas, Econometric analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:71761 #END 1550 #BEGIN 1551 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Puzon, Klarizze Title: Cost-reducing R&D in the presence of an appropriation alternative: an application to the natural resource curse Abstract: This study proposes a new mechanism for the resource curse: crowding-out of innovation due to the existence of an option to engage in conflict. Using a game theoretical framework, it is argued that an increase in the amount of natural resources (in the informal sector where conflict for a common-pool rent materializes) reduces the incentives of entrepreneurial groups to engage in cost-reducing R&D (in the non-resource sector where production occurs). Compared to most models of the resource curse, the impact of resource abundance on income and welfare was interestingly observed to be non-monotonic. An increase in the amount of resources in the common pool induces intensified conflict among groups and less R&D investment. Depending on the relative strengths of the income and diversion effects, three scenarios were exhibited. First, there is a 1.) Pure Blessing. This happens when both the extent of technological spillovers and the initial level of resource are low. Starting from scarcity, the increase in natural resource generates an overall jump in the groups' income levels. Even if an increase in resources decreases innovation in the formal sector, both income and welfare still go up. Meanwhile, for intermediate initial values of the natural resource, there is a 2.) Pseudo-curse. A resource boom induces an immediate income effect. However, this income gain is dominated by the indirect diversion effect due to lower output and higher price (because of less cost-reducing R&D). Consequently, while income increases, the welfare of the economy decreases. The range of resource levels where this occurs is greater when spillovers are high. Finally, a 3.) Double Curse occurs for extremely high initial levels of natural resources. Both aggregate income of the economy and welfare suffer. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/71189/1/PUZON_RDRCArticle_2013.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O13, Q33 Keywords: innovation, appropriation, natural resources, conflict Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:71189 #END 1551 #BEGIN 1552 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Author-Name: Fotov, Risto Title: Gravity Modeling: International Trade and Innovations Abstract: In this paper issue of gravity modeling in international trade has been investigated. Standard gravity equation augmented with other variables to control for transportation cost, whether trade partners are neighbors and whether country is landlocked, or countries participants in trade have had colonial history together. Also in our model we control whether traded commodities are homogenous, differentiated or high tech , as well referenced. Variable to denote technology are :TAI index, which stands for technological achievement index, also variables for creation and diffusion of technology , as measured by the number of patents from the residents and royalty and license fees receipts, by the foreign citizens. Results are as expected and the show that trade is highly dependent on the exporters and importers levels of technology Creation-Date: 2013-03-26 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/71060/1/Gravity%20model%20dushko%20Fotov.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F11, F41 Keywords: gravity model, bilateral trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:71060 #END 1552 #BEGIN 1553 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kuehnle, Daniel Title: The causal effect of family income on child health: A re-examination using an instrumental variables approach Abstract: Despite a recent growth in studies examining the association between family income and child health, very few studies investigate whether this is a causal relationship. This paper addresses this major methodological gap and examines the causal effect of family income on child health in the UK. Using rich observational data from a British cohort study, we exploit exogenous variation in local labour market characteristics to instrument for family income. We estimate the effect of family income on subjective child health and control for potential transmission channels through which income could affect child health. The results from our models provide novel evidence that income has a small but significant causal effect on subjective child health. Moreover, the analysis shows that parental health does not drive a spurious relationship between family income and child health as argued in recent contributions. We do not find significant effects of family income on chronic indicators of child health. The results are robust to different sets of instrumental variables, and to alternative measures of income. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/70821/1/133_Kuehnle.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: I1 Keywords: child health, income gradient, instrumental variables, transmission channels, UK Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:70821 #END 1553 #BEGIN 1554 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Woisetschläger, David Author-Name: Backhaus, Christof Author-Name: Dreisbach, Jan Author-Name: Schnöring, Marc Title: Sponsoringstudie 2012 – Wie die Sponsoren der Fußball-Bundesliga von der Stärke der Vereinsmarken profitieren können Abstract: Hervorgehend aus der zentralen Bedeutung der Zielsetzung des Transfers von positiven Einstellungsmerkmalen auf die Sponsorenmarke widmet sich die Sponsoringstudie 2012 speziell den folgenden Fragestellungen: 1. Welche Potenziale bieten die Vereine ihren Sponsoren hinsichtlich eines positiven Einstellungstransfers von der Vereinsauf die Sponsorenmarke? 2. Unter welchen Voraussetzungen kann ein solcher Einstellungstransfer von der Vereins- auf die Sponsorenmarke gelingen? Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/70791/1/Sponsoringstudie_2012.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M30, M31, M37 Keywords: Sponsoring, Sponsoringwirkung, Marke, Werbewirkung Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:70791 #END 1554 #BEGIN 1555 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schneck, Stefan Title: My Wage is Unfair! Just a Feeling or Comparison with Peers? Abstract: This paper descriptively analyzes the nexus between income comparisons and perceptions of unfair pay. A German household survey reveals that individuals who perceive their wages as unfair earn significantly lower wages than fairly paid individuals with similar characteristics. This suggests that unfairness perceptions with respect to wages are based on sound income comparisons with peers. When asked about a subjectively fair amount in Euros, individuals tend to claim much higher wages than fairly paid individuals with identical characteristics. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/70096/1/DP_Schneck_2013.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J30, J31 Keywords: Fairness, Wages Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:70096 #END 1555 #BEGIN 1556 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ben Abdelkader, Ines Author-Name: Hathroubi, Salem Author-Name: Ben Jemaa, Mohamed Mekki Title: Microfinance Institutions’ Efficiency in the MENA region: a Bootstrap-DEA approach Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of microfinance institutions in The MENA region over the period 2006-2009. Following Simar and Wilson (1998, 2000) we use a DEA-Bootstrapping methodology to drift appropriate measures of DEA efficiency scores. The estimated results show that average efficiency of the most countries of the region has decreased over the period under study. Results also reveal that efficiency significantly differs by legal status of the microfinance institutions. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/69525/1/ISMEconstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C14, G21 Keywords: Microfinance, DEA, Bootstrap, MENA Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:69525 Note: A first draft of this paper has been submitted to the PS2D workshop held in Hammamet (Tunisia) and to the 12th Mediterranean meeting held in Sousse (Tunisia), both in june 2011. #END 1556 #BEGIN 1557 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Walter, Sascha Author-Name: Heinrichs, Simon Author-Name: Walter, Achim Title: Hostile Parent Firms and Child Firm Performance Abstract: We investigated how and when parent hostility (degree to which a parent firm disapproves the spawning of an own spin-out) affects spin-out performance and how spin-outs can effectively react to it. Analyses of 144 technology spin-outs support our arguments that spin-outs suffer from hostility. Hostility consequences are, however, less severe if market turbulence is high or if the spin-out pursues effective network development. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/68592/1/Hostile%20Parent%20Firms%20and%20child%20firm%20performance.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M13 Keywords: parent-child relationship Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:68592 #END 1557 #BEGIN 1558 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heinrichs, Simon Author-Name: Walter, Sascha Title: Don’t Step Into Your Parent’s Shoes – How Exploitation and Exploration Affect Spin-out Growth Abstract: This study examines how different organizational learning strategies (i.e., exploration or exploitation) impact the sales growth of technology spin-outs, and the role of the parent firm in this context. Using knowledge-based and learning views of the firm, we propose that spin-out performance benefits from exploration, but suffers from exploitation. Results based on a sample of 134 spin-outs support these arguments. Additionally, parent goodwill reinforced the positive effect of exploration, whereas high market similarity to the parent firm increased the negative effect of exploitation. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/68591/1/Don%27t%20Step%20Into%20Your%20Parent%27s%20Shoes.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M13 Keywords: Spin-outs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:68591 #END 1558 #BEGIN 1559 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Heinrichs, Simon Author-Name: Walter, Sascha Title: Who Becomes an Entrepreneur? A 30-Years-Review of Individual-Level Research and an Agenda for Future Research Abstract: This article reviews the theoretical background and cumulates findings of 126 published studies (1980 - 2009) on individual determinants of entrepreneurial status. We categorize determinants into one of six paradigms (trait, cognitive, affective, intentions, learning, and economic) and review findings for 46 repeatedly studied variables. We then examine trends in the field and propose an agenda for future research. Our article complements prior reviews and meta-analyses by picturing the breadth of the field and adding important points to the research agenda. Creation-Date: 2013 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/68590/1/Who%20Becomes%20an%20Entrepreneur.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M13 Keywords: entrepreneurial status Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:68590 #END 1559 #BEGIN 1560 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lakicevic, Milan Author-Name: Shachmurove, Yochanan Author-Name: Vulanovic, Milos Title: Institutional changes of SPACs Abstract: We document the changes of corporate design of modern Specified Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) from 2003 to 2012. We assign the impact on changes of SPACs to each of the three groups of stakeholders: founders, investors and underwriters and test whether institutional characteristics of SPACs determine the success of their merger outcomes. We document that SPACs significantly redesigned its structure in the period under observation. Additionally, the probability of the merger for SPACs is increasing if they are able to; announce the deal soon after the IPO, focus that deal on China and have their IPO underwritten by EarlyBirdCapital Creation-Date: 2013-02-03 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/68589/1/Institutional%20changes%20of%20SPACs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: spac, Blank Checks Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:68589 #END 1560 #BEGIN 1561 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Author-Name: Magdinceva Sopova, Marija Title: Market value of the firms and R&D investment: Theoretical overview and empirical estimation for the panel of countries Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate the issue of R&D investment and the market value of the firm. This idea dating back from Arrow paper, later developed by Paul Romer but in the area of economic growth. Zvi Griliches (1979), first introduced the production function, which later would be used in a vast literature from this area (Market value of the firms and R&D investment). In the theoretical section of this paper we are describing Tobin’s original model, and Abel’s (1984) model, this models relates Tobin’s quotient with intangible assets of the company. In the empirical part we develop cross-section time series model (Feasible Generalized Least Squares Model), for a panel of countries in Europe including UK and Turkey, in total of 11 panels. Later we test that model by estimating the marginal effects of R&D investment with Tobin’s q on a small economy such as R. Macedonia. The results exert positive and statistically significant relationship between market value of the firms and R&D investment. Creation-Date: 2013-01-31 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/68488/1/Tobin.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D9, D46 Keywords: Tobin’s q, R&D, knowledge absorption Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:68488 #END 1561 #BEGIN 1562 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Effects on women empowerment of awareness raising Abstract: This work is based on a project developed by the ACCIG (Association of the Culture and Knowledge for the Gender Equality) for some rural municipalities in the Center of Portugal. This project was financed by national funds and by funds from the European Union through the NSRF (National Support Reference Framework). The ACCIG aims to empower people, namely the more disadvantaged, particularly the women who are in more vulnerable situation. From the project, for this work, was used the information about the awareness raising. Namely, the information about what was did in these actions of sensitization, about the characterization of the participants in these initiatives and about the receptivity of the women for these projects. The principal objective of this project is to empower the more disadvantaged social groups, particularly women, enabling these persons to a more civic participation. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/67517/1/Paper%20MS3.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, R00, Z13 Keywords: Women empowerment, rural municipalities, awareness raising Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:67517 #END 1562 #BEGIN 1563 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Muysken, Joan Author-Name: Vallizadeh, Ehsan Author-Name: Ziesemer, Thomas Title: Migration, Unemployment, and Over-qualification: A Specific Factors-Model Approach Abstract: This paper analyses the impact of the skill composition of migration flows on the host country's labour market in a specific-factors-two-sector model with heterogeneous labour (low, medium, and high skill) and price- and wage-setting behaviour. The low- and medium-skilled labour markets are characterized by frictions due to wage bargaining. Moreover, we assume bumping down of unemployed medium-skilled workers into low-skilled labour supply. Endogenous benefits create an interdependency between the two bargaining processes. Particular attention is paid to medium-skilled migration which enables us to augment the literature by replicating important stylized facts regarding medium skills, such as i) the interaction between immigration, low-skilled unemployment and medium-skilled over-qualification, ii) the polarization effect where both low- and high-skilled wages increase relative to the medium-skilled. The model is calibrated using German data. The key findings are: (i) a migration-induced supply shock of medium-skilled workers decreases the low-skilled unemployment rate because of the endogenous benefits; (ii) immigration of medium-skilled labour together with some high-skilled labour has a positive effect on output per capita; (iii) migration of only medium-skilled labour has a neutral impact on GDP per capita. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/67479/1/MVZ2012_revised.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F22, J51, J52, J61, J64 Keywords: Medium-Skilled Migration, Wage and Price Setting, Specific Factors Model, Unemployment, Over-qualification, Wage Polarization Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:67479 Note: Extra Appendices are available upon request. #END 1563 #BEGIN 1564 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Yousuf, Ahmed Sadek Title: Assessing Impact of Health Oriented Aid on Infant Mortality Rates Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between health aid and infant mortality, using data from in total 135 countries (for the purposes of this study, developing countries), between 1975 and 2010. Utilizing both conventional Instrumental Variable and System GMM approaches, a tentative conclusion can be drawn that aid comes to have a statistically significant and positive effect on infant mortality rate, as doubling of aid leads to an approximately 1.3% reduction in infant mortality rates. Thus for an average aid recipient country, doubling per capita aid leads to a reduction of about 790 deaths per million live births in a particular year. This effect, in comparison to the set goals of the Millennium Development Goals, is small and may not be enough to ensure that the MDG targets are met by 2015. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/67391/1/Assessing%20Impact%20of%20Health%20Oriented%20Aid.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F35, C23, C33, I10 Keywords: Health Oriented Aid, Infant Mortality Rates, Panel Instrumental Variable, System GMM, MDG Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:67391 Note: This paper is based on the author's MSc dissertation at the University of Nottingham. Title of the original work: Impact of Health Aid on Infant Mortality Rates, also available at EconStor: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/67334 #END 1564 #BEGIN 1565 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lakicevic, Milan Author-Name: Vulanovic, Milos Title: A Story on SPACs Abstract: We study characteristics of Specified Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) and examine the performance of their securities over time. We find that SPACs represent a fairly unique way to raise capital. The incentives of their founders, underwriters, and investors are interdependent and successful business combinations generally result in significant returns to founders. We also show that different SPAC securities generate different reactions in response to the announcement news regarding their corporate status. While holders of all three securities realize abnormal returns on the announcement day, the strongest reaction is observed among the investors holding warrants, while common stock holders tend to react very mildly. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/65843/1/A%20Story%20on%20SPACs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G32 Keywords: SPACs, Blank Checks, Venture Capital, IPO's, Warrants, Reverse Mergers Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:65843 #END 1565 #BEGIN 1566 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Atif, Syed Muhammad Author-Name: Mohazzam, Sardar Title: Inclusive Growth Strategies for Pakistan ─ Myth or Reality for Policymakers Abstract: The mantra of inclusive growth is taking over the public policy debates addressing poverty alleviation and sustained development in the developing world. In order to reduce poverty substantially, rapid pace of growth is not only necessary, but it should be sustainable in the long run and broad-based across sectors, nonetheless, inclusive of country’s labour force at large. Poverty and growth were much discussed and analysed in separation by policymakers in the previous decades. Inclusive growth strategy is an integration of these two strands of analyses implying relationship between the macro and micro determinants of growth. This paper examines the nature of relationship between the macroeconomic and social-development indicators by using a Multiple Regression Framework and Vector Auto Regression Model, as proposed by Toda-Yamamoto, is used to determine the direction of causality between the key macroeconomic variables of Pakistan over the period of 1997-98s to 2009-10. The paper critically examines Inclusive growth paradigm ─ for market led growth, and suggests its weaknesses which can be addressed through review of the pro-poor goals of economic policy of Post Washington Consensus (PWC). Finally, the paper urges to explore the myths and realities of inclusive growth strategies for policymakers in Pakistan to identify and prioritize the Pakistan specific constraints i.e. Low spending on health and education, promote growth in agriculture and rural development for sustained and inclusive growth. Creation-Date: 2012-07-07 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/65714/1/AtifSM_MohazzamS_InclusiveGrowthPoliciedForPakistan.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C32, E61 Keywords: Inclusive Growth, Washington Consensus, Pakistan, Toda-Yamamoto Causality Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:65714 #END 1566 #BEGIN 1567 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Atif, Syed Muhammad Author-Name: Siddiqi, Muhammad Wasif Title: The Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus in Pakistan: A New Evidence Abstract: This study examines the Granger causality between electricity consumption and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Pakistan using annual data covering the period 1971 to 2007. Augmented Dickey-Fuller test and Phillips-Perron test reveal that both the series, after logarithmic transformation, are non-stationary and individually integrated at order one. Engle and Granger Cointegration test exhibits the absence of long-run relationship among the variables. Two tests of causality, standard Granger Causality test and Modified WALD test (T-Y test) affirm the existence of unidirectional Granger causality from electricity consumption to economic growth without any feedback effect. Therefore, an immediate effort to increase electricity availability is required and energy conservation policies are supposed to halt the economic growth. Creation-Date: 2010-02-12 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/65688/1/AtifSM_EconomicGrowthAndElectricityConsumption_TodaYamamoto.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C32, O20, Q43 Keywords: Economic Growth, Electricity Consumption, Toda-Yamamoto, Pakistan Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:65688 #END 1567 #BEGIN 1568 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Atif, Syed Muhammad Author-Name: Sauytbekova, Moldir Author-Name: Macdonald, James Title: The Determinants of Australian Exchange Rate: A Time Series Analysis Abstract: The paper analyzes Australian exchange rate and its determinants by providing an insight into the economic and non-economic factors. By drawing a comparison between quarterly and annual data over the period of 1975 to 2012, it is suggested that Australia’s trade components and macroeconomic indicators such as output and liquidity relative to the US, play a significant role in determination of its exchange rates. However, interest rate and inflation appear insignificant in this relationship. The study also emphasizes on the pertinence of unobservable effects such as political events and external shocks in influencing the exchange rate. Engle-Granger Cointegration test exhibits a long run relationship between exchange rate and its determinants, and corroborates the substantial role of macroeconomic indicators in diminishing the uncertainty in foreign exchange market. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/65665/1/The%20Determinants%20of%20Australian%20Exchange%20Rate.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C22, F31 Keywords: Exchange Rate, Backward Elimination Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:65665 #END 1568 #BEGIN 1569 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Atif, Syed Muhammad Author-Name: Srivastav, Mudit Author-Name: Sauytbekova, Moldir Author-Name: Arachchige, Udeni Kathri Title: Globalization and Income Inequality: A Panel Data Analysis of 68 Countries Abstract: The causal effect of globalization on income inequality is an issue of significant academic interest. On one hand globalization is considered to promote global economic growth and social progress, while on the other, it is blamed for growing income inequality and environmental degradation, causing social degeneration and difficulty of competition. This paper analyses the impact of globalization on income inequality by estimating static and dynamic models for panel data of 68 developing countries over the period of 1990-2010. The results conform to a priori expectations and it is suggested that an increase in globalization in developing countries leads to an increase in the level of income inequality. However, this analysis suffers from certain limitations, which lead to the conclusion that perhaps a simple, overarching relationship does not exist in the subject matter. Rather it is possible that the impact of globalization on income distribution varies between nations, depending on the structures and institutions that are in place in each country. Creation-Date: 2012-10-29 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/65664/3/Atif_Globalization_Inequality.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F63, C33 Keywords: Globalization, Income Inequality, Panel Data Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:65664 #END 1569 #BEGIN 1570 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Atif, Syed Muhammad Title: Critical Review of the Paper 'A Simple Model of Firm Heterogeneity, International Trade and Wages', Stephen Ross Yeaple (2005), Journal of International Economics, vol. 65, pp. 1-20 Abstract: This report critically analyses the paper "A Simple Model of Firm Heterogeneity, International Trade and Wages' authored by, Stephen Ross Yeaple. Yeaple (2005) introduces a static model in which ex-ante homogeneous firms are differentiated based on heterogeneity in technology adoption and skill selection. The process of decision making is based on comparative study of revenues and costs associated with acquisition of technology and labor. By segmenting technology into high- and low-tech, and labor into high- and low-skilled, Yeaple suggests that high-tech firms hire skilled labor at greater wages and yield the access to international market, while on the other hand, the low-tech firms hire moderate skilled labor, pay lower wages and supply to the domestic market only. Furthermore, he shows that under an open economy, a reduction in costs of international trade leads to an increase in share of high-tech (exporting) firms and induces some low-tech firms to switch to the high-tech industry. Creation-Date: 2012-10-26 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/65661/1/Critical%20Review.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: F16, J21 Keywords: Firm Heterogeneity, International Trade Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:65661 #END 1570 #BEGIN 1571 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Atif, Syed Muhammad Author-Name: Endres, James Author-Name: Macdonald, James Title: Broadband Infrastructure and Economic Growth: A Panel Data Analysis of OECD Countries Abstract: Broadband infrastructure facilitates the generation and distribution of decentralised information and ideas in a knowledge economy comprising of markets that rely on information as an input. This paper analyses the effect of broadband penetration on output per capita by estimating a static fixed effects model and a basic linear dynamic model using an annual panel of 31 OECD countries over a period from 1998 to 2010. The results suggest that broadband penetration has had a positive impact on economic growth, and a 10 percent increase in the growth of broadband penetration will raise economic growth per employee by approximately 0.035 percentage points. The conclusion adds further weight to calls for Governments to adopt policies that accelerate broadband penetration and promote investment in broadband infrastructure. Creation-Date: 2012-10-24 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/65419/1/Broad%20Infrastructure%20and%20Economic%20Growth.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O11, O33 Keywords: Endogenous Growth, Broadband, OECD Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:65419 #END 1571 #BEGIN 1572 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Women empowerment in Portuguese rural municipalities: Outcomes from a project Abstract: The work presented here is based in a set of outcomes from a project developed in four rural municipalities of the center of Portugal, with the names Vouzela, Mangualde, Seia and Guarda. This project was supported by the National Support Reference Framework (NSRF) and had the objective of the women empowerment. The NSRF is a framework financed by Portuguese and European funds and has a duration from 2007 to 2013. The objective of this work is, using the information that it was possible obtain with this project, to analyze the dynamics, essentially, of the women in rural areas, namely at the empowerment level. For that it was examined, specifically, the expectations of different groups of namely women about the possibility of valorization and more society participation at several levels. It is possible to conclude about the weak expectations of public in general in the rural zones about the possibilities of empowerment, namely because social, cultural and economic contexts. Creation-Date: 2012-10-10 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/64806/1/Paper%20MS2.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, R00, Z13 Keywords: Women empowerment, rural municipalities, women expectations, internal and external contexts Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:64806 #END 1572 #BEGIN 1573 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josheski, Dushko Author-Name: Lazarov, Darko Title: New Keynesian Macroeconomics: Empirically tested in the case of Republic of Macedonia Abstract: In this paper we test New Keynesian propositions about inflation and unemployment trade off with the New Keynesian Phillips curve and the proposition of non-neutrality of money. The main conclusion is that there is limited evidence in line with the New-Keynesian theory. Money and growth are cointegrated series and that money growth influences the economics growth with one quarter lag. Cointegration means also that if the two series are cointegrated they have long run equilibrium. St.Louis model in the paper showed overall that increase in money growth leads to decrease in the economy growth. But the effect in the equation at three quarters lag is positive. The NAIRU rate in the unemployment inflation trade off model is almost similar as high to the actual unemployment. In the New Keynesian Phillips curve not surprisingly, there appears to be no statistically significant relationship between inflation and unemployment – even in the classical Philips curve and in adaptive expectations Philips curve by Modigliani-Papademos (1975). Or the Friedman-Phelps-Lucas expectations augmented one between the difference of actual and expected inflation rate and the gap between actual and the natural rate of unemployment presented in the next equation. Creation-Date: 2012-09-25 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/64403/1/NEW-KEYNESIAN.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: B22, B23 Keywords: New-Keynesian Macroeconomics, NAIRU Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:64403 #END 1573 #BEGIN 1574 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Women empowerment in Portugal: Realities, constraints, policies, strategies and initiatives Abstract: In Portugal we have yet problems with disadvantaged groups, in some cases because the social conditions, in other cases because the economic conditions and in another situations from the familiar and physical circumstances. This context sometimes is worse in the rural areas, because has other factors associated, as the alcoholism. So, is important to analyze these dynamics, write about those, propose some policies to interview and do something, namely for the women, which are yet in some situations a social group with disadvantages. In this line the objectives of this work is to present here some explanations and reflections about the Portuguese disadvantaged groups, referring some statistics available in some Institutions and analyzing profiles, and finally describe a project, as an example of social intervention, developed in rural counties in the center of Portugal with disadvantaged women, namely unemployed. In the final of this project was interviewed several persons and Institutions to understand their opinion about this initiative and all had a favorable judgment, what reflect the need and the importance of these social interventions. From here were proposed new social policies to be implemented in the Portuguese context that can help the public Institutions in the definition of the public strategies. Creation-Date: 2012-09-17 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/62595/1/paperms1.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, R00, Z13 Keywords: disadvantaged groups, rural areas, women empowerment Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:62595 #END 1574 #BEGIN 1575 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alakbarov, Naib Title: Estimating the Effect of Common Currencies on Trade: The Case Study of EU and Turkey Abstract: Here is estimated the effect of monetary union and the exchange rate volatility on trade. First of all, Frankel and Rose (1997, 1998) have developed the idea that the suitability of European countries for the EMU cannot be judged on the basis of historical data. I use an augmented gravity model to estimate the effects of currency unions and exchange rate volatility on trade. The model is “augmented” in that the standard gravity model only includes income and distance variables. The estimated results show that two countries that use the same currency trade more, but it can be seen that the currency union effect of trade is not large. These findings are similar to those in Nardis and Vicarelli (2003). That is, they are not as large as those found in Rose (2000) and Glick and Rose (2002). The effect of the variable of ECU is also positive und significant. These findings are similar to those in Berger and Nitsch (2005), which claim that the potential trade-creating affects of the EMU must be viewed and analyzed in the proper historical perspective. Creation-Date: 2012-08-13 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/60464/1/ver%c3%b6ffent.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Currency Areas, Lucas Critique, Trade Integration, gravity equation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:60464 #END 1575 #BEGIN 1576 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alakbarov, Naib Title: Die Wirkung der gemeinsamen Währung auf den Handel: Die Fallstudie zu der EU und der Türkei Abstract: Hier wird der Effekt der Währungsunion und der Wechselkursvolatilität auf den Handel geschätzt. Frankel und Rose (1997, 1998) argumentierten als erste, dass historische Daten keine ausreichende Grundlage sind, um die Eignung der europäischen Länder für eine Währungsunion zu beurteilen. Ich verwende ein erweitertes Gravity-Modell, um den Effekt der Währungsunion und der Wechselkursvolatilität auf den Handel zu schätzen. Die Ergebnissen zeigen, dass zwei Länder mit gleicher Währung mehr Handel haben. Aber der Effekt der Währungsunion auf den Handel ist nicht groß. Somit stützen diese Ergebnisse nicht die Arbeiten von Rose (2000) und Glick und Rose (2002). Die Ergebnisse dieser Forschung ähnelt auch den Ergebnissen von Berger und Nitsch (2005), wonach die handelsauslösende Wirkung der EWU unter genauer historischer Perspektive untersucht werden müsse. Creation-Date: 2012-08-13 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/60463/1/%c3%9cc%c3%bcnc%c3%bc%20b%c3%b6l%c3%bcm_DEUTSCH.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Währungsunion, Endogenitätsproblem, Gravity-Modell, Handelsintegration, Lucas-Kritik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:60463 #END 1576 #BEGIN 1577 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joachim Kaldasch Title: The Experience Curve and the Market Size of Competitive Consumer Durable Markets Abstract: An evolutionary model of the product life cycle is applied to derive the experience curve and the market size of (expensive) durable goods. The experience (learning) curve suggests that the real costs per unit decrease with an increasing cumulative output (Henderson's law). Based on the idea that in a competitive market firms are forced to pass cost advantages on to the price, the evolutionary model suggests that the mean price and also the mean costs are governed by an exponential decline with time. Simultaneously the mean price evolution satisfies Henderson's law. The market size is defined here by the number of active firms. The market size is shown to follow the total market revenue if the latter exhibits fast variations, else the size is nearly constant. A comparison with an empirical investigation confirms the model predictions. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/59749/1/experience.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: experience curve, learning curve, market evolution, evolutionary economics, economic growth, product diffusion, Gompertz diffusion, product life cycle, durable goods Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:59749 #END 1577 #BEGIN 1578 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaldasch, Joachim Title: Evolutionäre Diffusion und der Produktlebenszyklus von Gebrauchsgütern Abstract: Es wird eine kurze Zusammenfassung der Theorie des Produktlebenszyklus unter Berücksichtigung der evolutionären Diffusion von Gebrauchsgütern gegeben. Creation-Date: 2012-07-16 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/59748/1/manuscript%20v11.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Diffusion, Gebrauchsgüter, Produktlebenszyklus, Evolution Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:59748 #END 1578 #BEGIN 1579 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: What the Keynesian theory said about Portugal? Abstract: With this work it is intended to analyze the contributions of the Keynesian theory to the explanation of the regional evolution in Portugal. Considering the Keynesian models in different perspectives and taking into account the Verdoorn (1949) relationship it is did data and econometric analysis for the Portuguese economy in the period from 1995 to 1999. There are not many or none works based in the Keynesian theory and in the Verdoorn relationship for Portugal, namely at regional level. On the other hand the models based in this theory are regularly used to explain the regional economic growth in many countries. So, it is thought that analyze the economic Portuguese context with this theory is an important contribution to the economic theory and to the Portuguese understanding. As main conclusion it can be said that the Keynesian theory show for Portugal, in this period, regional and sectoral divergence. Creation-Date: 2012-06-18 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/59007/1/Paper_econstor_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, C23 Keywords: Keynesian theory, Verdoorn law, Portuguese regions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:59007 #END 1579 #BEGIN 1580 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Stefan Schneck Title: Revisiting Procedural Utility: Evidence from European Survey Data Abstract: This research note presents cross-country evidence that job satisfaction is higher for self-employed than for employees. The examination, however, does not stop at this point and examines the reasons why this is the case. Using data on 25 European countries, we can show that individuals seem to derive utility from the way outcomes are achieved. In other words, our results are in line with procedural utility theory (Benz and Frey, 2004, 2008). Abstract: Dieser Beitrag zeigt, dass die Zufriedenheit mit dem Beruf bei Selbstständigen größer ist als bei abhängig Beschäftigten. Die Analyse bezieht sich auch auf die Gründe für diese Beobachtung. Es werden Daten aus 25 europäischen Ländern herangezogen mit denen gezeigt wird, dass Personen nicht nur Nutzen aus den Resultaten ihrer Arbeit erzielen, sondern auch aus der Bewältigung der Ziele. Dieses Ergebnis stimmt mit der 'procedural utility' Theorie (Benz und Frey, 2004, 2008) überein. Creation-Date: 2012-05-16 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/57929/1/Econstor_DP.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J81, L22, L29, M54 Keywords: Self-employment, job satisfaction, procedural utility Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:57929 #END 1580 #BEGIN 1581 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vijay Kumar Varadi Title: An evidence of speculation in Indian commodity markets Abstract: Recent price surge in commodity markets has stipulated the intensity of various factors which lead the price volatility. There are multiple-factors namely, traditional supply and demand, excess global liquidity (i.e., monetary inflows in commodity markets), and financialization i.e., financial investors (portfolio investment and speculation) attitude. This paper is an attempt to investigate for the evidence and impact of speculation on volatility of commodity prices in Indian commodity markets. And, results exhibit that speculation has played decisive role in the commodity price bubble during the global crisis in India. Creation-Date: 2012-04-23 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/57430/1/Paper%20on%20Speculative%20evidience.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: G12, G18, G28 Keywords: Commodity Markets, Speculation, Price Volatility, Financialization, Investor’s behaviour Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:57430 #END 1581 #BEGIN 1582 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bielecki, Andre Author-Name: Albers, Sönke Title: Eine Analyse der Forschungseffizienz deutscher betriebswirtschaftlicher Fachbereiche basierend auf den Daten des Centrums für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE) Abstract: Die Erstellung qualitativ hochwertiger Benchmarkings für die Forschung betriebswirtschaftlicher Fachbereiche ist von hoher praktischer Relevanz. Den Studierenden, aber auch dem wissenschaftlichen Personal und der Hochschulpolitik, wird auf diese Weise ermöglicht, die Leistungen von Fachbereichen zu vergleichen und besonders forschungsstarke Standorte zu identifizieren. Den Fachbereichen wird die Möglichkeit geboten, Verbesserungspotenziale zu identifizieren und gegebenenfalls von leistungsstärkeren Fachbereichen zu lernen. Das Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE) veröffentlicht alle drei Jahre Rankings von Hochschulen zu einzelnen Studienfächern. Hierbei werden verschiedene Leistungsindikatoren, beispielsweise zu der Anzahl und Qualität von Publikationen, den Promotionen und Habilitationen sowie den Forschungsgeldern herangezogen. Basierend auf den Daten des CHE aus dem Jahr 2008 sowie einem kürzlich veröffentlichten neuen CHE-Ranking (2011) wird in dem vorliegenden Aufsatz ein auf die Forschung der individuellen Fachbereiche bezogenes und auf die quantitativen Daten des CHE gestütztes relatives Effizienz-Benchmarking der Fachbereiche erstellt. Im Gegensatz zu einem rein Output-bezogenen Effektivitätsranking analysiert die vorliegende Effizienzanalyse die Leistungsfähigkeit der Fachbereiche bei der Transformation und Gewichtung von Forschungsinput (z.B. Professoren, Forschungsgelder und Promotionen) in Forschungsoutput (Publikationen). Je mehr Forschungsoutput mit dem gegebenen Forschungsinput erzielt wird (und vice versa), desto leistungsfähiger ist der jeweilige Fachbereich und desto höher ist sein Effizienzwert. Ein für eine solche Analyse geeignetes und in dem vorliegenden Aufsatz verwendetes Verfahren ist die Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Es zeigt sich, dass zwischen den Effizienzrankings der Fachbereiche keine erheblichen Unterschiede zwischen den Jahren 2008 und 2011 bestehen. Deutliche Unterschiede ergeben sich jedoch bei einem Wechsel der Leistungsindikatoren (Outputfaktoren) von nationalen zu internationalen Publikationen, die mit den Forschungsgeldern, den Promotionen und Habilitationen als Inputfaktoren erzeugt werden. Für einen Großteil der untersuchten Fachbereiche ergibt sich ferner ein erhebliches Potenzial für Steigerungen der Forschungseffizienz. Um diese zu realisieren, werden für jeden ineffizienten Fachbereich operationale individuelle Output-Ziele (Publikationsziele) und effiziente Benchmark-Fachbereiche als Orientierung vorgegeben. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/57429/1/Analyse%20der%20Forschungseffizienz%20deutscher%20BWL%20Fachbereiche.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M00, M10 Keywords: Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung, Hochschulranking, Effizienzanalyse, Benchmarking, Betriebswirtschaftliche Fachbereiche Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:57429 #END 1582 #BEGIN 1583 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Albers, Sönke Author-Name: Bielecki, Andre Title: Wovon hängt die Leistung in Forschung und Lehre ab? Eine Analyse deutscher betriebswirtschaftlicher Fachbereiche basierend auf den Daten des Centrums für Hochschulentwicklung Abstract: Das Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung veröffentlicht alle drei Jahre Rankings von Hochschulen zu einzelnen Studienfächern. Hierbei werden verschiedene Leistungsindikatoren (zum Beispiel zu Publikationen, der Reputation und der Studienzufriedenheit) herangezogen, um die Bewertung einzelner Fachbereiche zu ermöglichen. Basierend auf den Daten des CHE aus dem Jahr 2008 sowie einem kürzlich veröffentlichen neuen Ranking (2011) werden in der vorliegenden Analyse fachbereichsübergreifend die wichtigsten Einflüsse auf die Leistung in den Bereichen Forschung und Lehre analysiert. Für die Forschung werden hierbei sowohl die Einflüsse auf die Forschungsreputation als auch auf die nationalen und internationalen Publikationen untersucht. Für die Lehre werden diejenigen Faktoren analysiert, welche die Gesamtzufriedenheit der Studierenden mit der Lehre an den Fachbereichen erklären. Als wesentlicher Einfluss auf die Forschungsreputation erweist sich die nationale und internationale Publikationsleistung, wobei hier von 2008 zu heute eine Entwicklung weg von nationalen und hin zu internationalen Publikationen erkennbar ist. Promotionen haben einen Einfluss auf nationale Publikationen, wohingegen Habilitationen einen Einfluss auf internationale Publikationen haben. Forschungsgelder wirken positiv auf nationale wie internationale Publikationen. Für die Zufriedenheit der Studierenden zeigt sich, dass diese an privaten Hochschulen höher ist an als öffentlichen Universitäten. Daneben spielt der Einbezug der Praxis, etwa durch Praktiker in der Lehre oder Praxisbeiräte, eine wesentliche Rolle. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/57428/1/Wovon%20h%c3%a4ngt%20die%20Leistung%20in%20Forschung%20und%20Lehre%20ab.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M10, M00 Keywords: Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung, Forschungsleistung, Lehre, Betriebswirtschaftliche Fachbereiche Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:57428 #END 1583 #BEGIN 1584 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bielecki, Andre Author-Name: Albers, Sönke Author-Name: Mantrala, Murali Title: Salesperson Efficiency Benchmarking Using Sales Response Data: Who is Working Hard and Working Smart? Abstract: A key to enhancing sales force productivity is finding ways to help existing reps sell more. In this paper, we focus on the process of internal efficiency benchmarking of a firm’s sales representatives aimed at identifying strong and weak performers and providing meaningful and actionable directions for improving productivity of relatively inefficient performers. We propose to do this by utilizing measures of two fundamental attributes of a salesperson’s controllable work activity as inputs in a DEA (data envelopment analysis) – based procedure: how hard and how smart s/he works. The suggested metrics are derived in an empirical application using archival sales response data from a pharmaceutical company sales force. The application shows that, on average, working smart has larger effects on sales than working hard. In comparison to a conventional DEA benchmarking that simply uses raw sales calls as input measures, the proposed model that uses more ‘processing’ of the sales response data to derive working smart and hard input measures shows much larger potential for efficiency improvement and offers more meaningful and actionable guidance for improving sales force productivity. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/57427/1/Salesperson%20Efficiency%20Benchmarking%20using%20Working%20hard%20and%20smart.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M30, M10 Keywords: Working Smart, Working Hard, Salesperson Benchmarking, Data Envelopment Analysis, Efficiency Analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:57427 #END 1584 #BEGIN 1585 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Desjardins, Richard Author-Name: Warnke, Arne Jonas Title: Ageing and Skills: A Review and Analysis of Skill Gain and Skill Loss Over the Lifespan and Over Time Abstract: The relationship between ageing and skills is becoming an important policy issue, not least in the context of population ageing. Data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) will potentially add considerably to the understanding of the relationship between ageing and foundation skills. In particular, the fact that data from the 1994-1998 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) and the 2003-2007 Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey (ALL) will be linked with PIAAC offers a unique opportunity to examine trends over time at the cohort level for a wide range of countries. Specifically, repeated measures will enable an analysis of whether there is skill gain and skill loss over the lifespan of cohorts and overtime between cohorts. This is especially important because age-skill profiles observed on the basis of a single cross-section are difficult to interpret. With this as a backdrop, this paper has sought to provide an overview of what is known about age-skill profiles and to conduct an analysis that demonstrates how trend data based on repeated cross-sectional observations of direct measures of skill at the cohort level can be used to estimate skill gain and skill loss over the lifespan and over time. Creation-Date: 2012-03-22 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/57089/1/2012_Desjardins_Warnke.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: J24, J14, D91, J00, I19, I29 Keywords: Ageing, Cognitive Skills, PIAAC, IALS, Adult Literacy, Aging, ALL, Skills, Education Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:57089 DOI: 10.1787/5k9csvw87ckh-en #END 1585 #BEGIN 1586 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schüssler, Reinhard Author-Name: Seidel, Christian Title: Gale Shapley auf dem Arbeitsmarkt Abstract: Wir definieren die Arbeitsproduktivität als Ergebnis der arbeitsplatzspezifischen Höhe und Übereinstimmung von Anforderungen des Arbeitsplatzes und Eigenschaften/Kompetenzen des Bewerbers und verwenden den Gale-Shapley Algorithmus als dezentrale doppelte Auktion zur Zuordnung von Arbeitsplätzen und Arbeitskräften nach dem Kriterium der Produktivität. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/55829/1/Gale%20Shapley%20auf%20dem%20Arbeitsmarkt%20280510.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: C78, D44, J24 Keywords: Gale Shapley Algorithmus, doppelseitige Auktion, Arbeitsmarkt, Matching Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:55829 #END 1586 #BEGIN 1587 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Title: Wirtschaft in der Schule. Agendasetting, Akteure, Aktivitäten Abstract: Der Beitrag analysiert das interessen- und bildungspolitische Feld der ökonomischen Bildung und fragt nach den relevanten Akteuren, ihren Ziele, Interessen und Aktivitäten. Er arbeitet die Grundlinien der bildungspolitischen Kontroverse um ein separates Schulfach Wirtschaft heraus und zeigt, dass sich darin wirtschafts- und gesellschafts-politische Interessenlagen und parteipolitische Strukturen spiegeln. Besonders ein-flussreiche Akteure sind Großunternehmen sowie Arbeitgeber- und Wirtschaftsverbän-de und ihnen nahestehende Stiftungen und Forschungseinrichtungen. Dieses konser-vativ-wirtschaftsliberale Netzwerk dominiert den Diskurs und dringt mit politisch einsei-tigen Unterrichtsmaterialien breit und tief in die Schulen ein. Zugleich bleibt die Frage, wie man ökonomische Bildung organisieren soll, umstritten. Die Forderungen der Wirt-schaftsverbände zielen auf eine Zerlegung multidisziplinärer Schulfächer in viele kleine disziplinäre Einzelfächer und sehen im Fach Wirtschaft einen tayloristisch durchgeplan-ten Kompetenzerwerb im 20-Minuten-Takt vor. Der Kern der Kontroverse liegt aber im Verhältnis von Wirtschaft und Politik: Ein separates, vorwiegend auf die Volkswirt-schaftslehre gegründetes Fach Wirtschaft symbolisiert den Autonomieanspruch der kapitalistischen Marktwirtschaft gegenüber demokratischer Politik. Abstract: The paper “Trade and industry into schools? Agenda setting, actors and activities” analyses the field of economic education – focusing on interest groups and education policy – and looks for relevant actors, their goals, interests and activities. It provides an outline of the educational policy controversy about a separated school subject “econo-my” and shows how it reflects interests relating to economic policy and social policy and party-political affiliations. Big companies, employers’ associations and trade asso-ciations as well as foundations and research institutes close to them turn out to be in-fluential actors in economic education policy and practice. A network with clear con-servative and economic-liberal leanings is dominating the public discourse and pene-trating schools with politically one-sided teaching and learning material. At the same time, the question how to organize economic education remains a controversial issue. The political demands of these pressure groups are aiming at cutting up currently dom-inating multidisciplinary school subjects like civics, social studies or social sciences into many small single subjects with a narrow disciplinary focues. In a tayloristic manner, in the new subject “economy” students are expected to acquire a new “economic” competence every 20 minutes. The core of the controversy, however, is the general relationship between economy and democracy: a separated and isolated school subject “economy” providing mainly knowledge from economics symbolizes the demand for autonomy of the capitalist market society against democratic policy. Creation-Date: 2012 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54981/1/Hedtke_Wirtschaft-in-der-Schule_WP3-2012.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20, I2 Keywords: Ökonomische Bildung, Bildungspolitik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54981 #END 1587 #BEGIN 1588 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eich, Frank Author-Name: Swarup, Amarendra Title: Pensions: A Complex Landscape Abstract: Pension reforms have been high on the political agenda in many developed countries over recent years and pension issues have been discussed intensely in the public as a result. In recent years, much effort has been devoted to make state, public and private pension systems fiscally more sustainable in the light of demographic change. In many developed countries, this has been achieved - at least ex ante - by encouraging greater private sector and personal involvement. Equally, many governments in emerging economies and developing countries have been pursuing their own pension reform agendas. Nevertheless, despite this spotlight on pensions, many important facets remain badly understood and need to be discussed in greater detail. Most observers would agree that societies have not yet reached the end of the reform process and that dealing with pensions may always remain “work in progress” as new information becomes available – such as on trends in life expectancy - and as societies evolve. Furthermore, additional effort will most likely be required to ensure that the desired outcomes will eventually materialise. The purpose of this note is to ask some of the key questions that could inform future research into pensions. The general issue under consideration is not new. How to structure the future provision of pensions, taking into account wider economic, demographic and societal considerations at home and abroad? Governments around the world have been dealing with this issue for years, international organisations, think tanks and trade unions have given advice, and universities have provided valuable analysis. Societies have been dealing with this in their own particular ways, reflecting differences in cultural and historical backgrounds, and economic and demographic circumstances. Despite the closer integration of the world economy, in most countries, this issue has been treated as a domestic issue. The private sector has played its own important part in many countries by offering occupational pensions or by offering financial products, helping both the sponsors of pensions as well as individuals prepare financially for retirement. The fact that governments across the world have reduced ex ante their future fiscal burden by encouraging greater private sector and personal involvement does not mean though that this will also be ex post the eventual outcome. For the desired outcome to materialise, the private sector and personal involvement must develop as intended. Experience from around the world shows that this has not always been the case, requiring frequent and potentially costly policy changes and putting additional burdens on individuals and businesses alike. The complex interactions between fiscal policy and pension savings also play a role for both – an area touched on briefly later in this essay when we examine the role of tax relief. In a number of developed countries, for example, defined benefit pension plans have been closed to new members as scheme sponsors face increasing liabilities in the light of ever higher life expectancy and find the resulting regulatory funding requirements increasingly unaffordable. Does this trend require adjustments elsewhere in a country’s pension arrangements? Will today’s structures deliver the desired outcomes or do participants such as governments and financial markets need to innovate? There are a number of ways the issue of future pension provision could be approached. For example, one might want to think about the issue in terms of desirable objectives for a pension system such as: Efficiency (static and dynamic) Equity (fairness) Affordability and sustainability (both financial and social) These objectives could then be used as a core set of overlapping “lenses” when looking at the issue of future pension provision, though other “lenses” are feasible too. Importantly, as we shall demonstrate, these “lenses” can be used to study pensions simultaneously at a range of scales from large “big picture” macroeconomic themes such as political uncertainty to subtler, smaller scale but equally important issues such as the management of assets and liabilities for an individual pension fund. There is also the issue of credibility – in particular, political consistency – which cuts across all the lenses under consideration here and is touched on later in the essay. However, before doing so, this note provides some background on pension arrangements in developed and developing countries. Creation-Date: 2008-11 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54563/1/20090805_Pensions_A_Complex_Landscape.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Financial markets, Economics, Savings, Pension systems, Labour market, Government policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54563 #END 1588 #BEGIN 1589 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eich, Frank Author-Name: Swarup, Amarendra Title: Longevity: Trends, uncertainty and the implications for pension systems Abstract: This paper presents historical trends in life expectancy in the United Kingdom and other countries and discusses how these trends might evolve over the coming decades. The paper argues that the expected increases in longevity are likely to have significant implications for the structure of pension systems in the future. Individuals, businesses and governments have already responded to these expected increases – for example by working longer, closing defined-benefit pension schemes or introducing parametric reforms to the state pension system – and are likely to change their behaviours further in the future. The issue is complicated by the fact that future longevity trends are uncertain. This makes it more difficult to allocate longevity risk efficiently and fairly across the different economic agents, while making it also more difficult to guarantee the sustainability of the system overall. The paper shows though that innovative solutions to this challenge are being developed, from businesses moving towards hybrid defined-benefit/defined-contribution pension schemes, to governments introducing mechanisms which automatically split the financial burden arising from future increases in life expectancy between state and individual, to businesses taking advantage of new products being developed to transfer any risk to the capital markets. Creation-Date: 2009-03 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54562/1/20090805_Longevity_0.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Pensions, Uncertainty, Financial markets, Longevity, Pension liabilities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54562 #END 1589 #BEGIN 1590 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eich, Frank Title: Evaluating public and private sector pensions: The importance of sectoral pay differentials Abstract: There is currently a strong perception that public sector pensions are generous relative to those offered in the private sector, leading them to be branded “gold plated”. This study argues that pensions should be considered deferred pay; as such any discussion on the relative generosity of pension entitlements in the public and private sectors ought to be conducted against the backdrop of relative public and private sector pay levels. The available evidence shows that median pay is higher in the public sector than in the private sector, but using this to assess relative pay levels is misleading. This is because median pay hides significant variations in relative pay across the genders, occupations and by location. For example, the range of occupations available in the private sector is wider at the lower end of the skills distribution range than in the public sector; for female workers the highest median annual pay in 2008 could be found in education, which is overwhelmingly in the public sector. There is evidence that public sector pay is relatively generous for employees at the lower end of the income distribution but this does not hold for employees at the upper end of the income distribution. In addition, there is substantial evidence that public sector pay is relatively less generous in the south east of England generally and in London in particular. Compared with the private sector, the public sector compensates its employees too little for living in low amenity and/or high cost areas. As a consequence, the quality of public services varies across the UK, with the public sector especially in the south east finding it difficult to recruit and retain skilled staff. Anyone contemplating a reform of public sector pensions ought to take into account the knock-on effects on recruitment and retention of highly-skilled staff in all parts of the UK, and in the south east in particular. As an (unintended) consequence, any reform of public sector pensions might demonstrate the need to review the public sector pay setting structure more generally. Creation-Date: 2009-05 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54561/1/Binder_Evaluating_public_and_private_sector_pensions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Government policy, Labour market, Occupational pensions, Public sector pensions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54561 #END 1590 #BEGIN 1591 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eich, Frank Title: Public sector pensions: Rationale and international experiences Abstract: This paper is about public sector pensions, an issue that has become increasingly contentious in a number of countries in recent years, including in the United Kingdom. In the UK the public debate has focussed on the perceived generosity of these pensions, which, it is often claimed, contrasts with the pension promises made in the private sector. This paper does not attempt to answer whether public sector pension promises are relatively generous in the UK or elsewhere but instead aims to provide the bigger picture against which a discussion of public sector pension provision could be held. The origin of today’s public sector pensions can be traced back at least to Ancient Rome, which offered pensions to its military personnel. Pensions to public sector workers can also be traced back several centuries even though their provision remained on an ad-hoc basis for longer, while universal pension provision for all is a creation of the modern welfare state. The issue of public sector pensions is intrinsically linked to the role of the state in society. Beyond the provision of pure public goods such as defence, the role of the state varies widely across countries, for example in the provision (and funding) of health or long-term care. The role of the state has also changed over time, for example in the telecommunications sector, reflecting technological progress and ideological changes. In most countries working for the state comes with a number of privileges (e.g. job security) but also with certain responsibilities (e.g. relinquishing the right to strike). An international comparison reveals that in a number of countries the state is also a special employer in the sense that it offers more generous pensions than the private sector. This is, however, not the case in all countries. The paper argues that the government might pursue a number of objectives going beyond poverty alleviation by offering more generous pensions but also stresses that more generally the objectives of efficiency, equity and sustainability remain desirable even in the context of public sector pensions. Creation-Date: 2009-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54560/1/20090808_Public_sector_pensions_Rationale_and_international_experiences.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Government Policy, Public sector pensions, Pension liabilities, Labour market, International comparisons Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54560 #END 1591 #BEGIN 1592 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eich, Frank Author-Name: Swarup, Amarendra Title: Back to the drawing board: The economic crisis and its implications for pension provision in the United Kingdom Abstract: This paper focuses on an issue, which so far has received relatively little attention by policy makers and the media, namely that the economic crisis has highlighted inherent weaknesses in existing pension systems in many countries. Using the example of the UK, the paper argues that the economic crisis will usher in further changes to the future provision of pensions, with the role of the private and public sectors likely to evolve in the years ahead. To support this argument, the paper first presents the pension landscape in the UK prior to the crisis, which was dominated by the closure of defined benefit pension schemes in the private sector and the government’s reform efforts. The paper then describes the impact of the economic crisis from both a macroeconomic and financial perspective on all aspects of the pension system, from the government’s deteriorating public finances to the collapsing funding position of occupational defined-benefit and defined-contribution schemes. The paper concludes by suggesting that the crisis has left the British pension system in a weakened state and that it is unlikely that it will return to its “pre-crisis” status once the economy recovers from the crisis. Creation-Date: 2009-06 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54559/1/20090805_Back_to_the_drawing_board_0.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economic crisis, Pension finances, Pension systems, Defined benefit pensions, Pension liabilities, Government policy, Financial markets Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54559 #END 1592 #BEGIN 1593 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eich, Frank Title: Who will pay? Inter-generational transfers and public sector pensions Abstract: This paper analyses the different channels through which particular generations within one society can end up subsidising other generations through the functioning of the welfare state. The welfare state, which is organised and funded by “society” through taxation, plays an important part in almost all countries, often providing services such as education and health care or transfers such as state pensions. Whether a generation receives a net subsidy from another generation (or other generations) can only be determined at the end of their life cycle and not at any particular point in time during their lives. The paper therefore focuses on the flows between the welfare state and generations over their whole lifespan, from birth to childhood, to working life to old age and eventual death. The paper argues that depending on the underlying cause of a potential inter-generational imbalance, the policy response might very well differ. Tax smoothing (and letting debt fluctuate as a buffer) is an appropriate response to varying cohort sizes (the baby boomer example). However, tax smoothing does not help with more structural changes such as the increase in longevity across successive generations. Increasing retirement ages in line with increases in longevity would be one appropriate response as would be making entitlements in old age less generous. In reality many developments take place at the same time so that a policy mix will be required. Last but not least the paper shows that the issue of funded versus unfunded public sector pensions is not as clear cut as some might believe it to be. Perhaps counter intuitively, having unfunded public sector pensions might actually be inter-generationally fairer than having funded pensions. This will depend on the circumstances though. Creation-Date: 2010-07 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54558/1/20100723_Who_will_pay_Inter-generational_transfers_and_public_sector_pensions.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Inter-generational fairness, Labour market, Public finances, Public sector pensions, Government policy Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54558 #END 1593 #BEGIN 1594 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eich, Frank Title: The financial and economic crisis and pension systems: International experiences Abstract: There has been much discussion in the British general and specialised media over the last year on the adverse consequences of the economic and financial crisis on the British pension system. It should come as no surprise that the crisis has also adversely affected pension systems in most other countries too. This paper contributes to the current debate on pensions in the UK by discussing how pension systems outside the UK have been affected by the economic and financial crisis, and what governments have done to deal with the emerging issues. The paper starts by discussing what theory tells us about the likely impact of this type of crisis on different types of pension systems. While the impact should be more long term in the case of pay-as-you-go state pensions and defined-benefit occupational pensions, theory would suggest that the effects will be felt more immediately in the case of defined-contribution pension schemes or private savings. The paper then goes on to present a number of key developments and policy actions (if any) that have taken place in a select number of countries in the realm of pensions since the onset of the crisis in the second half of 2007. These countries have been chosen as they are representative for a large number of countries, from Chile with its very high dependency on private pensions to Germany, where unfunded social security pensions remain by far the most important source of retirement income. The paper finds that the real world experiences are in line with what could be expected theoretically and argues that regardless of whether a country relies more heavily on an unfunded pay-as-you-go state pension system or funded private pensions (whether defined benefit or defined contribution) the crisis has had an adverse effect everywhere. Existing systems will have to be refined or restructured more fundamentally, with the exact response likely to vary from country to country reflecting society’s interpretation of “inter-generational fairness”. Annex A provides information on the respective ageing trends in these countries, while Annex B discusses the respective arrangements set up to protect current and future pensioners’ entitlements if and when a pension scheme’s corporate sponsor becomes insolvent. Creation-Date: 2009-12 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54557/1/20091211_The_crisis_and_pensions_-_international_experiences.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Public sector, Private sector, Pension systems, International comparisons, Financial markets, Economic crisis, Defined contributions, Defined benefit Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54557 #END 1594 #BEGIN 1595 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Eich, Frank Title: The importance of defined-benefit occupational pension schemes in selected OECD countries Abstract: This paper discusses the role which (funded) defined benefit private sector occupational pension schemes play in national pensions in a sub-group of OECD countries. The paper shows that in the majority of countries under consideration statutory (state) pension schemes are the main if not only source of income in retirement for most people, with occupational pensions only playing at most a minor role. In several countries private sector occupational pension schemes do play an important role in providing pensioner incomes though. In these countries there has generally been a shift from DB to DC pensions, with the risks associated with pensions moved from businesses to individuals. Australia, for example, shifted from DB to compulsory DC pensions a generation ago, leaving only a few major businesses with any sizeable DB pension liabilities now. The US has undergone a similar shift though there is no compulsion. In the UK the economic and financial crisis has accelerated the closure of existing DB pension schemes and dealing with the legacy of DB pension liabilities is becoming a major issue. The picture is similar in the Netherlands and Ireland. The paper also shows the diverging DB arrangements in the private and public sectors, with governments in a number of countries continuing to offer (unfunded) DB pension promises when they have become less popular in the private sector. Creation-Date: 2010-08 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/54556/1/20100728_Defined_benefit_pensions_in_OECD_countries.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Defined benefit pensions, Pension systems, State pensions, Pension funds, Pension liabilities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:54556 #END 1595 #BEGIN 1596 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Author-Name: Uppenbrock, Carolin Title: Atomisierung der Stundentafeln? Schulfächer und ihre Bezugsdisziplinen in der Sekundarstufe I Abstract: Die Studie untersucht, welche Folgen eine konsequente Anwendung des Prinzips „Eine Wis-senschaftsdisziplin – ein Schulfach“ auf die gesamte Stundentafel hätte. Die Wirtschaftsverbände fordern, multidisziplinäre Schulfächer abzuschaffen und für jede Einzeldisziplin ein eigenes Unterrichtsfach einzurichten. Dies verlangen sie insbesondere für ein disziplinscharf zugeschnittenes Schulfach Wirtschaft. Da das multidisziplinäre Schulfach in der Sekundarstufe I der Regelfall ist, müsste man die Stundentafeln tief greifend ändern. Das Ergebnis wäre eine Atomisierung in eine Vielzahl von Kleinfächer mit sehr geringem Stundenvolumen. Ein Fach wie Sozialkunde würde beispielsweise in sechs Einzelfächer zerlegt: Wirtschaft(swissenschaft), Politik(wissenschaft), Gesellschaft (Soziologie), Recht(swissenschaft), Medien(wissenschaft) und Erziehung(swissenschaft). Die Analyse zeigt, dass durch die Zersplitterung der Schulfächer (und entsprechend der Studienfächer der Lehramtsstudierenden) der Anteil fachfremd erteilten Unterrichts dauerhaft steigen würde, gerade auch im Fach Wirtschaft (Fachlehrer-Paradox). Zugleich legt die Studie ein Multidisziplinaritäts-Paradox offen: Einerseits fordern die Wirtschaftsverbände vehement, multidisziplinäre Unterrichtsfächer und interdisziplinäre Studienfächer wie Sozialwissenschaften abzuschaffen. Andererseits verlangen sie ebenso nachdrücklich, ein neues, multidiszpilinäres Schul- und Studienfach Wirtschaft einzuführen, das aus Volkswirtschaftslehre, Betriebswirtschaftslehre und Rechtswissenschaft bestehen soll. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/52515/1/hedtke-uppenbrock_stundentafel-atomisierung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A20 Keywords: Schulfach Wirtschaft, Ökonomische Bildung, Stundentafel, Sekundarstufe I Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:52515 #END 1596 #BEGIN 1597 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: The Economic Theory and the Portuguese Manufactured Industry Abstract: This work aims to compare the Keynesian theory, namely by the Verdoorn Law, the neoclassical theory, by the absolute convergence, and the geographic concentration, by the Rybczynski equation, explanations about the different manufactured industry of the Portuguese regions (NUTs II), for the period 1986-1994. The Verdoorn Law, is tested with the alternative specifications of Kaldor (1966. The absolute convergence is tested for the productivity. To analyze the geographic concentration, with Rybczynski equation, is tested the importance which the natural advantages and local resources are in the manufacturing industry location, in relation with the "spillovers" effects and industrial policies. Creation-Date: 2011-11-16 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/51350/1/Artigo33%20_ROM1_.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O18, C23, R11, L60 Keywords: Verdoorn law, convergence theories, geographic concentration, panel data, manufactured industries, Portuguese regions Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:51350 #END 1597 #BEGIN 1598 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Entrepreneurship: some considerations Abstract: In this work it is presented some considerations about entrepreneurship. Most of these questions are linked with Portuguese context. Portugal has some particularities, namely because the asymmetries between the littoral and the interior. This situation carried out some problems that complicate and prevent the appearance of new innovated business. In a situation of crisis like that we have today this context can become a really problem to solve some questions. Creation-Date: 2011-11-02 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/50908/1/V%c3%adtor%20MartinhoEntrepreneurship%28b%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: L26, M13, R11 Keywords: entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs, economic activity Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:50908 #END 1598 #BEGIN 1599 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martinho, Vítor João Pereira Domingues Title: Entrepreneurship: what´s happening? Abstract: Much has been said lately about entrepreneurship, so it seems important to leave here some personal analysis on this topic. The issues outlined here result from a work in about a year in which because a personal and professional obligations it was doing some research on these issues. This is an interesting topic that has not yet expired and on which there is much to research, do it is an area where there are many challenges. Creation-Date: 2011-11-02 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/50907/1/V%c3%adtor%20MartinhoEntrepreneurship%28a%29.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: O55, O32, L26, M13, O31 Keywords: entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs, innovation Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:50907 #END 1599 #BEGIN 1600 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reimer, Kerstin Author-Name: Albers, Sönke Title: Modeling Repeat Purchases in the Internet when RFM Captures Past Influence of Marketing Abstract: Predicting online customer repeat purchase behavior by accounting for the marketing-mix plays an important role in a variety of empirical studies regarding individual customer relationship management. A number of sophisticated models have been developed for different forecasting purposes based on a – mostly linear – combination of purchase history, so called Recency-Frequency-Monetary Value (RFM)-variables and marketing variables. However, these studies focus on a high predictive validity rather than ensuring that their proposed models capture the original effects of marketing activities. Thus, they ignore an explicit relationship between the purchase history and marketing which leads to biased estimates in case these variables are correlated. This study develops a modeling framework for the prediction of repeat purchases that adequately combines purchase history data and marketing-mix information in order to determine the original impact of marketing. More specifically, we postulate that RFM already captures the effects of past marketing activities and the original marketing impact is represented by temporal changes from the purchase process. Our analysis highlights and confirms the importance of adequately modeling the relationship between RFM and marketing. In addition, the results show superiority of the proposed model compared to a model with a linear combination of RFM and marketing variables. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/50730/1/Modeling%20Repeat%20Purchases%20in%20the%20Internet%20when%20RFM%20Captures%20Past%20Influence%20of%20Marketing_econstor.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M3, C4 Keywords: Repeat Purchase Forecasting Models, Marketing Actions, Generalized Bass Model, Media Downloads Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:50730 #END 1600 #BEGIN 1601 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaldasch, Joachim Title: Evolutionary Model of Non-Durable Markets Creation-Date: 2011 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:50531 #END 1601 #BEGIN 1602 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Kaldasch, Joachim Title: The Product Life Cycle of Durable Goods Creation-Date: 2011 Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:50530 #END 1602 #BEGIN 1603 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Siegert, Olaf Author-Name: Werner-Schwarz, Korinna Title: Open Access and Open Assessment: The Future of Peer Reviewed Journals? Experiences with a New Journal in Economics Abstract: Open Access Journals have become more and more popular as a publishing model for academic scholars. There are already more than 3,500 of them listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). To establish these journals as a relevant and trustful source for validated research results (and as an alternative to licensed publisher-based journals), peer review is a necessary requisite. The Internet offers new ways to organize the peer review process. It allows for example comments and ratings from readers of freely available papers and articles. So far only a few Journals use these Open Assessment methods. The presentation will showcase “Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal” as one prime example. “Economics”, as the name indicates, covers papers from all parts of Economic Research. These papers, if accepted, are first published as Discussion Papers and then, after a successful evalution both by invited referees and by registered readers, as Journal Articles. The peer review stands in the centre of the journal, as its main goal is to be recognized as one of the top journals in its field. Therefore the traditional peer review process is substantially supplemented by a "public" peer review process in which the community of active researchers from all over the world has a hand in the evaluation process. After registering with the journal they can share their views in two ways. Either by commenting on the Discussion Papers in review or by rating the final Journal Articles. Within one year of existence, almost 1,800 researchers have registered with the journal. They are based all over the world including wellknown institutions like the American ivy league universities, the World Bank or the London School of Economics (LSE). After a slow start more and more comments and reviews are added to new papers, with now about four comments per paper. Even if the Article rating is less used so far, the overall picture is quite optimistic: Researchers are taking the chance of Open Assessment in Academic Journals, especially, if a critical mass of peers are following the same path. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/49530/1/00195034.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Economics, Communication, Higher education, Universities Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:49530 #END 1603 #BEGIN 1604 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Reimer, Kerstin Author-Name: Becker, Jan U. Title: Revisiting the Use of Customer Information for CRM Abstract: For the past decade, customer relationship management (CRM) has been one of the priorities in marketing research and practice. However, many of the CRM systems did not perform as the companies expected. As such shortcoming could be due to inappropriate data input, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the empirical CRM literature. Along the phases of the CRM process, the authors show which kind of data has successfully proven to achieve the CRM objectives. The study provides researchers with a review of the empirical research on CRM and allows practitioners insights on the usability of customer data for CRM. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/48552/1/Revisiting%20the%20Use%20of%20Customer%20Information%20for%20CRM_Reimer_Becker_2011.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: M31 Keywords: Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Customer Data Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:48552 #END 1604 #BEGIN 1605 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Author-Name: Möller, Lucca Title: Wem gehört die ökonomische Bildung? Notizen zur Verflechtung von Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und Politik Abstract: Wirtschaftsverbände, unternehmernahe Stiftungen, Institute und Initiativen fordern mehr ökonomische Bildung an Schulen. Die vorliegenden Studien zeigen, dass sie als locker verbundene Lobbyisten zusammen mit einigen Wirtschaftsdidaktikern ein gut finanziertes politisch-pädagogisches Netzwerk bilden. Seine Akteure und Aktivitäten finden parteipolitische Unterstützung vor allem bei CDU und FDP. In und mittels der ökonomischen Bildung befördert dieses Netzwerk die Interessen der privaten unternehmerischen Wirtschaft sowie politische Positionen des wirtschaftsliberal-konservativen Spektrums. In diesem Sinne sollen auch die Schülerinnen und Schüler einseitig beeinflusst werden. Das legen Analysen einiger Unterrichtsmaterialien nahe, die Akteure aus diesem Netzwerk entwickelt haben und verbreiten. Pluralistische Ansätze in Wirtschaftstheorie und Wirtschaftspolitik sucht man dort meist vergebens. Über Lehr-Lern-Materialien strebt insbesondere die Finanzindustrie nach Präsenz im Klassenzimmer, ihre Mitarbeiter sollen zu Finanzieller Allgemeinbildung unterrichten. Das ist eine bemerkenswerte Vermischung von Bildungsauftrag und Gewinninteressen. Fasst man die Ergebnisse der einzelnen, explorativen Analysen zusammen steht zu befürchten, dass ein Schulfach Wirtschaft zum Fach der Wirtschaft und Wirtschaftsverbände wird und wirtschaftsliberal-konservatives Denken in die Schulen bringen soll. Den Unternehmer- und Wirtschaftsverbänden steht aber kein Alleinvertretungsanspruch für „die Wirtschaft“ zu. Auch Akteure wie Gewerkschaften, Umwelt- und Verbraucherverbände haben zu wirtschaftlichen Themen Wichtiges zu sagen. Creation-Date: 2011 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/45497/1/moeller_hedtke_netzwerkstudie.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A2 Keywords: Ökonomische Bildung, Wirtschaftslobby Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:45497 #END 1605 #BEGIN 1606 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hedtke, Reinhold Author-Name: Famulla, Gerd-E. Author-Name: Fischer, Andreas Author-Name: Weber, Birgit Author-Name: Zurstrassen, Bettina Title: Für eine bessere ökonomische Bildung! Abstract: Die Kurzexpertise kritisiert das Gutachten der Wirtschaftsverbände „Ökonomische Bildung an allgemein bildenden Schulen“ (2010) als unter fachwissenschaftlichen, fachdidaktischen, pädagogischen und pragmatischen Aspekten unzureichend. Sie verlangt, ökonomische Fragen in gesellschaftliche, politische und kulturelle Zusammenhänge einzubetten. Sie fordert, dass sich ökonomische Bildung auf die Lebenswirklichkeit der Lernenden bezieht. Ökonomische Bildung verlangt für wissenschaftlichen, politischen und weltanschaulichen Pluralismus und Multiperspektivität; sie darf den Lernenden kein einseitiges Weltbild aufzwingen. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/43429/1/Bessere_oekonomische_Bildung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A21, A22 Keywords: Ökonomische Bildung, Wirtschaftsdidaktik Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:43429 #END 1606 #BEGIN 1607 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Thieme, Sebastian Title: Sozialstaatlicher Reformgeist und ethische Legitimität Abstract: Der vorliegende Beitrag geht der Frage nach, inwiefern die deutschen „Hartz-Reformen“ sowie die Ende 2010 vorgestellten neuen Regelsätze wirtschaftsethisch legitim sind. Orientierung bietet dabei das Modell der integrativen Wirtschaftsethik von Peter Ulrich. Darauf basierend wird außerdem gezeigt, dass die „Hartz-Reformen“ einen Bruch mit der Stilidee der Sozialen Marktwirtschaft bedeuten. Mit Beispielen aus der ökonomischen Ideengeschichte soll ebenfalls belegt werden, dass das wirtschaftswissenschaft­liche Engagement keineswegs die Beschäftigung mit der ethischen Legitimität ökonomischer Empfeh­lungen ausschließen muss. Mit kritischem Blick versucht der Artikel nachzu­zeichnen, welche Bedeutung die Ökonomik der ethischen Legitimität beimisst und wie sich das auf an­dere Bereiche der Gesellschaft überträgt. Abstract: This article attempts to answer the question about the ethical legitimation of the German labour “reforms”, called “Hartz IV”, as well as the newly calculated amount of the social transfers (published by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in the End of September 2010). This survey is based on the idea of the integrative economic ethics by Peter Ulrich. Additionally, the article is engaged in the question about the compatibility of “Hartz IV” with the economic system of the Soziale Marktwirtschaft. Furthermore, it should also be considered that economic thinking may include the thought of the ethical legitimation of economic recommendations. Finally, the relevance of ethical legitimation in economy as well as in other spheres of society is attempted to be clarified. Creation-Date: 2010-11-09 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/41476/1/thieme2010_reformgeist.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A13, B00, B59, Z10, Z13, Z19 Keywords: Hartz-Reformen, integrative Wirtschaftsethik, Peter Ulrich, Alfred Müller-Armack, Soziale Irenik, Legitimität, Zumutbarkeit, ALG II, Hartz IV, Soziale Marktwirtschaft, Verantwortung, integrative economic ethics Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:41476 #END 1607 #BEGIN 1608 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Bozhilova, Polina Title: Die Einbeziehung außerwettbewerblicher Erwägungen in Artikel 81 EGV Abstract: Eine der in Art. 3 I lit. g EGV aufgezählten Aufgaben der Gemeinschaft ist die Errichtung eines Systems unverfälschten Wettbewerbs. Dabei nimmt Art. 81 EGV eine Schlüsselstellung ein. Er stellt sicher, dass die abgebauten Handelsbeschränkungen des Staates nicht durch unternehmerische Machtkonzentrationen ersetzen werden. Besonders problematisch für die Anwendung der Vorschrift ist das Verhältnis der Wettbewerbspolitik zu den anderen Gemein-schaftspolitiken. Einerseits kann sie nicht isoliert von den Auswirkungen der anderen Gemeinschaftsziele durchgeführt werden, da sie nur einen von vielen Politikbereichen der Gemeinschaft darstellt. Andererseits könnte die Berücksichtigung allgemeinpolitischer Aspekte im Rahmen des Art. 81 EGV zur Gefährdung der eigenen Zielsetzung der Norm füh-ren. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht, ob und inwieweit außerwettbewerbliche Ziele in Art. 81 EGV einbezogen werden können. Diese Frage stellt sich sowohl auf Tatbestands- als auch auf Rechtfertigungsebene. Der klare Wortlaut des Abs. 1 zeigt, dass die Berücksichtigung anderer als wettbewerblicher Erwägungen im Tatbestand nicht zulässig ist. Dagegen ist dies auf der Rechtfertigungsebene möglich, allerdings nicht losgelöst von den Freistellungsvoraus-setzungen des Abs. 3. Doch hat die VO 1/2003 die Möglichkeit einer gemeinwohlfreundlichen Auslegung der Freistellungsmerkmale in Frage gestellt, da seit deren Inkrafttreten die Behör-den und die Gerichte der Mitgliedstaaten diese unmittelbar, d.h. ohne vorherige Entscheidung der Kommission, anwenden. Daher erzwingt das System der Legalausnahme ein streng wett-bewerbliches Verständnis der Freistellung, um Rechtssicherheit zu gewährleisten und Rechts-missbrauch zu vermeiden. Mithin kann die Wettbewerbspolitik nicht mehr als Mittel zur Verfolgung anderer Gemeinschaftsziele benutzt werden. Schlagworte: Wettbewerbsrecht, Kartellverbot, Allgemeininteressen Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/41425/3/Bozhilova_final.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: K21 Keywords: Wettbewerbsrecht, Kartellverbot, Allgemeininteressen, rule of reason, nichtwettbewerbliche Ziele, Querschnittsklauseln Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:41425 Note: zugl. Master Thesis, 2010, Institute for European Integration am Europa-Kolleg Hamburg #END 1608 #BEGIN 1609 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Müller, Dirk Title: Alliance Coordination, Dysfunctions, and the Protection of Idiosyncratic Knowledge in Strategic Learning Alliances Abstract: In high technology industries firms use strategic learning alliances to create value that can’t be created alone. While they open their interorganizational membrane to gain new skills and competences, generate new products and services, accelerate development speed, and enter into new markets their idiosyncratic knowledge base may be impaired when knowledge related dysfunctions like the unintended knowledge transfer, asymmetric learning speed or premature closing occur. Within a value approach we examine the interplay of alliance coordination activities that enhance value creation, emerging knowledge related dysfunctions, and formal and organizational protections measures which shall safeguard firms intellectual crown jewels. We tested our hypotheses with a sample of 111 strategic alliances of young technology based Enterprises (YTBEs) with competing partners in high and key technology industries. Our findings suggest that a focal firm’s alliance management is well advised to intensely coordinate the alliance and to be aware of dysfunctional tendencies that erode alliance value. Since organizational protection measures could exaggerate dysfunctional effects they should be deployed very deliberately on a modest level. Formal protections measures, in contrast, seem to aggravate coordination activities’ value creation effect by setting behavioral guidelines. Moreover, an unsuccessful negotiation process of formal protection agreements may allow a deselection of partners that would not obey others intellectual property interests. Finally, we highlight theoretical and managerial implications that arise from these findings. Creation-Date: 2010-10-14 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/41039/3/Knowledge%20Protection%20in%20Strategic%20Learning%20Alliances.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Strategic Learning Alliance, Protection Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:41039 #END 1609 #BEGIN 1610 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Walter, Sascha G. Author-Name: Schmidt, Arne Author-Name: Walter, Achim Title: The Patenting Behavior of Academic Founders Abstract: This study explores why academic entrepreneurs patent their inventions before and after creating a firm. Drawing on start-up data combined with patent data, we specifically examine the impact of five, relatively under-researched factors (scientific field, pace of technological development, technological uncertainty, entrepreneurial orientation, and patent effectiveness. The study shows that some scientific fields, technological uncertainty, and patent effectiveness are positively related to patent propensity, both before and after founding. The effects of pace of technological development and entrepreneurial orientation were timespecific. Our study suggests that patenting by academic entrepreneurs is driven by special rationales and that prior research on full-time scientists and established firms does not necessarily generalize to them. We discuss the implications of our findings both in terms of contribution to the current literature and technology transfer policies. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/37083/4/Patenting-Behavior%20of%20Academic%20Founders.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: academic patenting Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:37083 #END 1610 #BEGIN 1611 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schmidt, Arne Author-Name: Walter, Sascha G. Author-Name: Walter, Achim Title: Contingency Factors and the Technology-Performance-Relationship in Start-ups Abstract: This study identifies the pace of technological development and market heterogeneity as crucial environmental conditions shaping start-ups' performance when commercializing radical technologies. Using a unique dataset that combines survey and patent data for 85 technology-based start-ups, we found that technological radicalness has a positive effect on performance when the development pace in a start-up's technological field is high. Contrarily, under heterogeneous market conditions, technological radicalness diminishes a start-up's performance. The results emphasize that the impact of technological radicalness on start-ups' performance is context specific. Overall, these findings contribute to a better understanding of when technological radicalness represents an asset or a liability for technology-based startups. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/37082/4/Contingency-Factors%20and%20Technology-Performance-Relationship.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: technological radicalness Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:37082 #END 1611 #BEGIN 1612 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Schmidt, Arne Author-Name: Heinrichs, Simon Author-Name: Walter, Achim Title: Ein Forschungsüberblick zu Einflussgrößen der Entwicklung technologieorientierter Spin-off-Unternehmen Abstract: Technologiebasierte Spin-offs aus öffentlichen Forschungseinrichtungen und privatwirtschaftlichen Unternehmen stellen wichtige Untergruppen junger, innovationsorientierter Unternehmen dar. In diesem Beitrag wird der aktuelle Stand empirischer Forschungsarbeiten bezüglich Einflussfaktoren der Unternehmensentwicklung systematisch dargelegt und diskutiert. Besonderes Augenmerk wird dabei auch auf das methodische Vorgehen und die Messung der untersuchten Einflussfaktoren gelegt. Auf Basis der Literaturanalyse werden übergeordnete Faktoren identifiziert, die für beide Unternehmenstypen einen Einfluss auf deren Entwicklung nehmen. Darüber hinaus werden Lücken der jeweiligen Forschungsbereiche aufgedeckt und zukünftige Forschungsfelder aufgezeigt. Es werden methodische Einschränkungen bestehender Studien diskutiert, aus denen Implikationen für zukünftige Studien zu akademischen und privatwirtschaftlichen Spin-offs abgeleitet werden. Abschließend werden Schwerpunktaufgaben für das Management von Spin-offs herausgestellt. Creation-Date: 2010 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/37081/4/Forschungsueberblick_Spin-offs.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: Spin-offs Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:37081 #END 1612 #BEGIN 1613 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Groß, Thomas Author-Name: Hardmeier, Sibylle Title: Sinkende Geburtenraten als Herausforderung für den Wohlfahrtsstaat: Lösungswege der Familien- und Arbeitsmarktpolitik im internationalen Vergleich Abstract: Die zentrale Stoßrichtung dieses Beitrages ist es, Wege für eine erfolgreiche Familienpolitik aufzuzeigen. Basierend auf einem 16-Ländersample und unter Zuhilfenahme des neuen MVQCA-Ansatzes werden unterschiedliche europäische familienpolitische Regulierungsmuster multivariat untersucht. Die theoretischen Annahmen basieren auf dem Ernährermodell. Es zeigt sich, dass (noch) in fast allen Ländern ernährertypische Strukturen zu finden sind und die Kinderraten entscheidend beeinflussen. Es wird dargestellt, warum flankierende familienpolitische Maßnahmen, besonders im finanziellen Bereich, neben einem hohen Kinderbetreuungsangebot und einer umfassenden Teilhabe der Frauen am Arbeitsmarkt, zentrale Faktoren sind, die zu einer Erhöhung der Kinderrate beitragen können. Abstract: The main focus of this contribution is to present pathways leading to a successful family policy. With the aid of the new MVQCA approach, we shall perform a multivariate analysis of various European patterns of regulation in family policies based on a sample of 16 countries. The theoretical assumptions are based on the breadwinner model. It is shown that structures typical of the breadwinner model can (still) be found in almost all the countries examined, and that these have a crucial effect on the birth rate. This article demonstrates why, along with child care supply and comprehensive female participation in the labour market, accompanying measures in family policy, especially financial support, are key factors in the increase of birth rates. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/32802/4/Gross_Hardmeier_2009.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: D63, H31, H53, I38, J13, J16, J21 Keywords: Geburtenrate, Sozialstaat, Frauenerwerbstätigkeit, Kinderbetreuung, Familienbesteuerung, Erziehungsurlaub, Mutterschutz, Öffentliche Sozialausgaben, Multi-Value Qualitative Comparative Analysis Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:32802 #END 1613 #BEGIN 1614 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Naik, Prasad A. Author-Name: Peters, Kay Author-Name: Raman, Kalyan Title: Heterogeneous Response Functions in Advertising Abstract: De Fleur (1956) provides the earliest evidence of diminishing returns. He finds a common logarithmic pattern for leaflets dropped and message recalled in field experiment. Since then, many researchers have applied logarithmic or square root patterns to capture the effect of diminishing returns with their advertising response modeling across different media. But discussions with managers support the notion that the diminishing returns to incremental dollars spent on one medium (say, television) are not likely to be the same as those for equivalent dollars spent on other media (e.g., Print). But if diminishing returns indeed vary across media, how does that change the resulting allocation recommendation? To address this issue, we derive a dynamic model that captures the notion of differential diminishing returns and disentangles it from closely related notions of differential carryovers and differential ad effectiveness. Second, we develop a systematic method to estimate the model's parameters using market data and illustrate empirically that all three effects, diminishing returns, carryover and ad effectiveness vary across the four media employed. Finally, we investigate the normative implications for managerial decision-making. Here, we additionally account for varying media buying efficiencies across media. Taken together, the approach and its illustration should provide managers with a better toolkit to allocate their multimedia budgets. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/27679/1/2008_Naik_Peters_Raman_Druckfassung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:27679 #END 1614 #BEGIN 1615 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peters, Kay Author-Name: Albers, Sönke Author-Name: Kumar, V. Title: Is there more to international Diffusion than Culture? An investigation on the Role of Marketing and Industry Variables Abstract: Companies employ international diffusion models to assess the local market potential and local diffusion speed to support their decision making on market entry. After their entry into a country, they use the model forecasts for their performance controlling. To this end, empirical applications of international diffusion models aim to link differential diffusion patterns across countries to various exogenous drivers. In the literature, macro- and socioeconomic variables like population characteristics, culture, economic development, etc. have been linked to differential penetration developments across countries. But as companies cannot influence these drivers, their marketing decisions that shape national diffusion patterns are ignored. Is this reasonable? What then, is the role of marketing instruments in an international diffusion context? We address this issue and compare the influence of these prominent exogenous drivers of international diffusion with that of industry and marketing-mix variables. To account for all of these factors and simultaneously accommodate the influence of varying cross-country interactions, we develop a more flexible yet parsimonious model of international diffusion. Finally, to avoid technical issues in implementing spatially dependent error terms we introduce the test concept of Moran's I to international diffusion model. We demonstrate that the lead-lag effect in conjunction with spatial neighborhood effects controls most of the spatial autocorrelation. Using this combined approach we find that - for cellulars - industry and marketing-mix variables explain international diffusion patterns better than macro- and socioeconomic drivers. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/27678/1/2008_Peters_Albers_Kumar_Druckfassung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:27678 #END 1615 #BEGIN 1616 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peters, Kay Author-Name: Albers, Sönke Author-Name: Schäfers, Björn Title: Die Wertschöpfungskette des Handels im Zeitalter des Electronic Commerce - Was eingetreten ist und was dem Handel noch bevorsteht Abstract: Vor zehn Jahren untersuchten Albers/Peters (1997) die Einflüsse des eCommerce auf die Wertschöpfungskette im Handel. Seit dieser Zeit ist die Entwicklung weiter vorangeschritten. Neben der erwarteten Entbündelung von Handelsaktivitäten wurde seitdem vor allem die Unterstützung des Kaufprozesses der Konsumenten von branchenfremden Infomediären übernommen. Neue Technologien, Anwendungen und ein geändertes Konsumentenverhalten werden die Effekte noch verstärken und stellen alle heutigen Marktteilnehmer, sowohl Infomediäre als auch Stationär-, Online- und Multichannel-Händler, zukünftig vor noch größere Herausforderungen. Abstract: Ten years ago Albers/Peters (1997) analyzed the impact of eCommerce on the retail value chain. Since then major change has taken place. Apart from the expected unbundling of several retail activities along the value chain, especially the consumer buying process has been taken online and increasingly supported by new infomediaries. Those new infomediaries have taken the retailer's traditional ground. New technologies, applications and a changing consumer behavior will confront today's market players, infomediaries as well as offline-, online- and multichannelretailers, with even bigger challenges. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/27677/1/2008_Peters_Albers_Schaefers_Druckfassung.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Keywords: eCommerce, Handel, Strategie, Multichannel, Wertschöpfungskette, Konsumentenverhalten Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:27677 #END 1616 #BEGIN 1617 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Albers, Sönke Title: Discriminating Rankings of Research in Business Abstract: The attempts by Schulze, Warning, and Wiermann (2008) and Ritzberger (2008) to develop a joint ranking list of journals for economics and business research are critically evaluated. Their lists suggest that the quality of top business journals is substantially lower than that of many economics journals. If, however, the authors of these lists do not want to claim a general superiority of one discipline (economics) over another one (business), they should give a clear indication that these lists are only applicable for economists. This warning appears necessary because Fabel, Hein, and Hofmeister (2008) derive a ranking of universities and departments with respect to research productivity in business from the business research discriminating list RbR_IMP by Schulze et al. While Diamantopoulos and Wagner (2008) already show a lack of face-validity of these results, this article explains that the reason for this lies not only in the degrading and also biased weighting of the business journals across subfields, but even more importantly, in a remarkable incompleteness of the data base. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/24827/1/Albers%20Rankings%20in%20Business%20Reply%20for%20GER%20V9.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Classification-JEL: A12, I23, M00 Keywords: Journal ranking, University ranking Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:24827 #END 1617 #BEGIN 1618 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hansen, Ann-Kristin Title: The Interplay of Personal Selling and Direct Marketing: An Exploratory Study in the Pharmaceutical Industry Abstract: Beyond dispute, personal selling represents the dominant and most effective promotional element in industrial settings, but its costs are quite substantial. Against this background, sales managers are forced to reexamine alternative approaches for servicing and informing customers in order to justify the productivity of their industrial selling mix. In this context, the complementary use of direct marketing to field selling becomes a primary concern as it allows for confidentiality and personalization of the message in contrast to mass communication while it provides information at a lower cost than does personal selling. However, no study has empirically investigated the interplay of personal selling and various direct marketing instruments with regard to several contextual factors determining the preferred use of direct marketing over personal selling so far. Thus, focusing on business-to-business transactions, this study’s objective is to deepen the understanding of the direct marketing and personal selling interplay. Due to limited empirical insights to this area, an exploratory research design is adapted. Results indicate that the advantageousness of direct marketing in comparison to personal selling is determined by customer-related, internal and external contextual conditions. Further, a well-designed interplay helps to improve selling productivity, brand awareness and customer satisfaction – and thus business unit performance. Creation-Date: 2009 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/24826/1/WorkingPaperHansen.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:24826 #END 1618 #BEGIN 1619 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Himme, Alexander Title: Erfolgsfaktoren des Kostenmanagements: Ergebnisse einer empirischen Untersuchung Abstract: Kostenmanagement ist konzeptionell in breiter Form untersucht worden. Ergänzend dazu sind einige empirische Beiträge vorzufinden, die insbesondere die Verbreitung und Ausgestaltung verschiedener Kostenmanagement-Instrumente (z. B. Target Costing) und methodische Aspekte (z. B. Formen der Kostenplanung) untersucht haben. Konzeptionell wird darauf hingewiesen, dass Kostenmanagement nur dann erfolgreich sein kann, wenn auf das Verhalten der Betroffenen entsprechend eingewirkt und Widerständen gegenüber Veränderungen entgegengewirkt wird. Die vorliegende empirische Untersuchung kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass insbesondere dem Engagement des Top Managements und der Partizipation der Betroffenen eine zentrale Bedeutung für den Erfolg des Kostenmanagements zukommt. Abstract: Cost management has been broadly discussed on a conceptual basis. However, so far empirical research is mainly focused on the design of cost management instruments (e. g. target costing) and methodical issues (e. g. cost planning methods). It is argued that human behavior and resistance to change play an important role in cost management. Therefore, this study examines the relevance of behavioral factors in comparison to methodical issues in respect of the implementation of cost management projects. Data were collected from 131 chief controllers and employees of controlling departments of medium-size and large German companies, and the relations were tested using path analysis. The results indicate that besides the quality of the planning process top management commitment and participation are of particular importance for implementing a successful cost management. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/22073/1/Kostenmanagement_Erfolgsfaktoren.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:22073 #END 1619 #BEGIN 1620 Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Himme, Alexander Title: Kostenmanagement: Bestandsaufnahme und kritische Beurteilung der empirischen Forschung Abstract: Seit Beginn der 1990er Jahre wird das Kostenmanagement intensiv in der deutschen Betriebswirtschaftslehre diskutiert. Entsprechende empirische Untersuchungen haben sich mit verschiedenen Einzelaspekten des Kostenmanagements beschäftigt. Insbesondere das Target Costing, das neben dem Benchmarking im deutschen Sprachraum am weitesten verbreitet ist, wurde intensiv untersucht. Dem Target Costing wird die größte Erfolgswirksamkeit zugewiesen, die jedoch teilweise durch den hohen Implementierungsaufwand und ein potenzielles Over-Engineering geschmälert wird. Inhaltlich lässt sich an den existierenden Arbeiten kritisieren, dass es ein Großteil der Beiträge versäumt, die empirische Untersuchung auf einen geschlossenen konzeptionellen Bezugsrahmen zu stützen. Die Erhebung personenbezogener Aspekte zur Überwindung potenzieller Widerstände gegen Kostensenkungsmaßnahmen fand zudem bisher weitgehend nicht statt. In methodischer Hinsicht basieren die Studien vorwiegend auf vergleichenden Fallstudien oder kleinzahligen Erhebungen sowie rein deskriptiven Auswertungen. Dementsprechend mangelt es auch an empirisch validierten Aussagen zu den Erfolgsfaktoren des Kostenmanagements. Abstract: Since the beginning of the 1990s cost management is widely discussed on a conceptual basis. Empirical research is mainly focused on special aspects of cost management. Especially, target costing is empirically analyzed. The results indicate the effectiveness of target costing, while some studies criticize its complexity and its results in terms of overengineered products. In general, empirical results with regard to cost management are very fragmented and ignore very often theoretical contributions. Particularly, empirical research neglects behavioral aspects of cost management. These behavioral aspects are important since theoretical research implies that cost management provokes opposition in business companies. With regard to the methodology the derived results are mainly based upon case studies and small samples within a special industrial environment. The data analysis is generally descriptive and does not allow to derive any managerial implications. Therefore, there is a lack of empirical conclusions which success factors are relevant in the context of cost management. Creation-Date: 2008 File-URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/22072/1/Kostenmanagement_Bestandsaufnahme.pdf File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:22072 #END 1620