Boston Hospitality Review: Winter 2018

Table of contents: Blockchain Technology & its Implications for the Hospitality Industry By Tarik Dogru, Makarand Mody, & Christie Leonardi -- How Does My Neighbor Feel About my Airbnb? By Makarand Mody, Courtney Suess & Tarik Dogru -- 5 Keys to Successful Hospitality Leadership By Sarah Andersen -- Cutting Through the Online Hospitality Clutter: 10 Best Practices for Organic Visibility By Leora Lanz & Juan Lesmes -- When is a Group a Chain, and a Chain a Brand? By Christopher Muller -- À la Carte Dining in a Banquet Setting: Is it Feasible? By Peter Szende and Ally Run

Fiscal Incentives Revisited

This short paper attempts to clarify some of the issues and provide suggestions for reforms in the fiscal incentive system. In particular, it focuses on the Investment Incentive System embodied in the Omnibus Investment Code. The paper attempts to provide some estimate of revenues forgone, specifically from income tax holiday under different assumptions. It urges that the government should be aware of these costs, be very choosy in granting incentives, and should make sure that social benefits from preferred activities compensate for the costs. Toward this end, the paper proposes a two-tiered approach for reforms--generic and special incentives.investment incentive system, fiscal incentives

Liberalization in Directed Credit Programs for SMEs

To evaluate the effectiveness of approaches to improve policies toward the development of small and medium enterprises, this article assesses the efficiency of directed credit programs and the impact of a liberalized design of a specific project.credit program, borrowing behavior, borrower

China's WTO Entry: Effects on Its Economy and Implications for the Philippines

This paper investigates the implications of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in December 2001 for the Philippines based on an analysis of Philippine-China bilateral trade structure, a presentation of the commitments made by China for its WTO accession, and a discussion of this significant event on China’s own economy. It points to finer applications of the theory of comparative advantage, e.g., identifying niche markets, building brand images, and engaging in strategic cooperation or competition with international partners, as the ways to survive in, if not profit from, the emerging world order.competitiveness, foreign direct investment, China, WTO entry, bilateral trade structure

Impact of Children on Household Savings in the Philippines

Household savings are important indicators of family welfare, not only in terms of a household's investment and income generation prospects, but also, and perhaps more importantly--given pervasive borrowing constraints and limited social security coverage--in terms of its ability to secure protection from income shortfalls. This article examines the relationship between household savings and family size. It also provides descriptive and multivariate evidence on the relationship of household savings and family size. It likewise uses a recent nationally representative household survey in the analysis. The results show that, on average, the impact of additional children on household savings is both negative and regressive.Philippines, family size, household savings

Financial Reform and Development in the Philippines, 1980-1997: Imperatives, Performance and Challenges

This paper discusses financial reform and development in the Philippines during the past one and a half decades and the challenges facing the financial sector in the light of greater international financial integration. Issues on prudential regulation and how it can be improved and strengthened are presented. Key lessons from the Philippines and Southeast Asian experience are also discussed.Asian financial crisis, financial sector, financial liberalization, financial integration

Competitiveness of the Philippine IT Industry: What Lies Ahead

This paper examines the competitiveness of the Philippine information technology (IT) industry vis-à-vis its emerging competitors and neighboring countries in the region. While the industry boasts of being the largest foreign exchange earner for the country, it suffers from structural weaknesses that, unless addressed, render its long-term competitiveness at risk, especially as the competitors are increasing their stake in the world IT market faster than the Philippines. This paper discusses what constraints the industry’s long-term growth and identifies some crosscutting strategies to lessen or overcome such difficulties and keep the industry’s present edge.globalization, information technology (IT)

Migration and the Rural-Urban Continuum: Evidence from Bukidnon, Philippines

This paper explores the heterogeneity of the migrant experience using the Bukidnon Panel Survey, which follows up 448 families in rural Mindanao who were first interviewed in 1984-85, as well as their offspring. Migration patterns are examined using the full listing of children of the original respondents as well as a special survey including 257 of the migrant offspring who were tracked down and interviewed in 2004. The migrant survey focuses on differences in the migration experience of males and females who migrated to rural, poblacion, and urban areas. The study finds that rural areas, poblaciones, and urban areas systematically attract different types of migrants. It also finds that the most important determinants of an individual`s location decision are life-cycle effects, specifically marriage and educational attainment.migration, Bukidnon, migration decision, migration pattern

The Role of PIDS and Its Contribution to Research and Policymaking in the Philippines

Established in 1977, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has been an important research resource in the country. It has served to bring together an unprecedented concentration of intellectual minds from institutions and organizations all over the country and abroad--to engage in an independent agenda that has generated a prolific body of work with a strong orientation and focus on policy. But how effective has this been? The author gives a brisk overview of why the wealth of insights and recommendations have not translated into enhanced developmental outcomes and laments that Philippine governments since at least Macapagal and Marcos have never built on each other--they "just selectively chose what they liked, not what the country needed."policy research, Philippine development

The Recent Recession and Rising Protectionism in Developed Countries: Some Thoughts on the ASEAN Economies

This paper has been presented at the Southeast Asia Program luncheon seminar in Cornell University, Ithaca, New York on April 11, 1985. Analysis suggests that bilateral trade grow rapidly during 1962-1981. To realize the country’s full potential, internal barriers and trade regime prove to be an important areas of concentration.trade sector, General Agreement on Tariff and Trade, ASEAN, recession, protectionism