The Economic effects of a Local Minimum Income Support Program

Since Reddito Minimo d'Inserimento pilot experiment ended, a number of papers have attempted to study minimum income policies in Italy. Contributions have aimed at providing insight for possible future program implementations. In this paper we present a case study as an applied contribution to this debate. We analyze a minimum income support program implemented in a small town in the South of Italy, Mola di Bari, by using a new dataset which has been designed and collected for the purpose. With respect to the program, we describe the policy intervention and we analyze such issues as (i) the eligibility criteria, (ii) the targeting choices and results, (iii) the distributive and the welfare effects on the beneficiaries and on the overall town population (iv) the incentive effects, i.e. the effects on the labour market partecipation.minimum income; policy evaluation; poverty trap

Aid Selectivity According to Augmented Criteria

A dominant trend in the literature maintains that donor assistance should be targeted to poor countries with sound institutions and policies. In this context, donor selectivity refers to what extent aid is allocated according to the principles of this "canonical" model. This paper shows that it is legitimate for donors to simultaneously use other selectivity criteria corresponding either to expected factors of aid effectiveness or to handicaps to development. It is notably argued that vulnerability to exogenous shocks and low level of human capital should be considered as selectivity criteria. Taking these other criteria into account dramatically changes the assessment of donor selectivity.Aid selectivity, aid effectiveness, vulnerability, handicaps, least developed

Aid Selectivity According to Augmented Criteria

A dominant trend in the literature maintains that donor assistance should be targeted to poor countries with sound institutions and policies. In this context, donor selectivity refers to what extent aid is allocated according to the principles of this "canonical" model. This paper shows that it is legitimate for donors to simultaneously use other selectivity criteria corresponding either to expected factors of aid effectiveness or to handicaps to development. It is notably argued that vulnerability to exogenous shocks and low level of human capital should be considered as selectivity criteria. Taking these other criteria into account dramatically changes the assessment of donor selectivity.Aid selectivity, aid effectiveness, vulnerability, handicaps, least developed countries.

The study of using information and communication technology in Hungary and in the 27 countries of the EU

The rate of personal computers and workstations in the 27 countries of the EU reached 96 %. The biggest backlog can be observed in the number of enterprises having and maintaining a website. Hungary's rate of 47 % is less than the EU average by 13 % and this rate was enough to overtake only two countries (Latvia and Portugal). In terms of small-sized enterprises having Internet access, Hungary, with 85 % came in last behind Lithuania (86 %) among the surveyed countries. The average penetration rate of intranet in the EU-25 was double than that of Hungary's

Aid Selectivity According to Augmented Criteria

A dominant trend in the literature maintains that donor assistance should be targeted to poor countries with sound institutions and policies. In this context, donor selectivity refers to what extent aid is allocated according to the principles of this "canonical" model. This paper shows that it is legitimate for donors to simultaneously use other selectivity criteria corresponding either to expected factors of aid effectiveness or to handicaps to development. It is notably argued that vulnerability to exogenous shocks and low level of human capital should be considered as selectivity criteria. Taking these other criteria into account dramatically changes the assessment of donor selectivity.Aid selectivity;aid effectiveness;vulnerability;handicaps;least developed

Foundations for measuring equality: A discussion paper for the Equalities Review

The Equalities Review is an independent panel set up by the UK government in 2005 to investigate the persistence of social inequalities and to make recommendations for the development of a unified Commission for Equality and Human Rights. This paper was originally written for the Review. It canvasses possible responses to the questions, 'equality between whom?' and 'equality of what?'. It argues that equality of outcome is intuitively appealing but risks ignoring variations in need, differences in values and preferences, and the importance of individual agency. A broad interpretation of equality of opportunity, such as is provided by the capability approach, can address these limitations, by focusing on the substantive freedom enjoyed by individuals. Substantive freedom may be limited by a lack of personal resources, or by the economic, social, political, cultural, and environmental conditions context in which the individual is operating. The paper concludes by identifying, and indicating solutions to, a number of measurement issues that arise in operationalising the capability approach.Equality, opportunity, capability approach

Information needs and institutional development

Michael W. Nicholson; Armine R. Mirzoya

The strategies of multilatinas: from the quest for regional leadership to the myth of the global corporation \r\n

The emerging Latin American corporations come essentially from Brazil and Mexico. Their prime motivation lies in the acquisition of natural resources and the search for market openings. With the exception of Cemex and Embraer who aspire to be global players, the majority of the multilatinas are regional or bi-regional companies. To a large extent, the sectorial breakdown of the multilatinas reflects the productive and technological specialisation of Latin America. They do not have at their disposal the same specific advantages as the emerging Asian multinational corporations in the high-tech industries or in the high capital-intensive sectors. The recent growth of their international activities has certainly impacted the dynamics of the global economy, particularly as regards the re-establishment of North-South links and the strengthening of South-South co-operation.Emerging multinational corporations, multilatinas, foreign direct investment, re-establishment of North-South links, South-South co-operation

Inequality and Welfare Evaluation of Heterogeneous Income Distributions

This paper establishes the principles which should govern the welfare and inequality analysis of heterogeneous income distributions. Two basic criteria?the ?equity preference? condition and the ?compensation principle??are shown to be fundamentally incompatible. The paper favours the latter, thereby vindicating the traditional method of dealing with heterogeneous samples. However, inequality and welfare comparisons will usually be well defined only if equivalent incomes are obtained using constant scale factors; and researchers will need to distinguish clearly between inequality of nominal incomes and inequality of living standards. Furthermore, household observations must always be weighted according to family size.income distribution, inequality, living standards, needs