Pollution Control, Competitiveness, and Border Tax Adjustment

This paper explores in a general equilibrium framework the welfare and sectoral implications of an optimally designed system of border tax adjustments (BTA) on the imports of energy-intensive industries. Recently, several propositions have been made by policy makers and researchers to use BTA as a restrictive trade policy instrument to address the loss of competitiveness induced by unilateral stringent domestic pollution control policies. In this paper, we define the loss of competitiveness not as a loss of output by domestic energy-intensive producers, but instead as a loss of their market shares. We argue and we show using the Canadian economy as illustration that the most often proposed BTA, which is based on the carbon embodiment of the import good, may under- or over-achieve the objective of addressing the competitive disadvantage of domestic energy-intensive industries. In some cases, the proposed BTA may over protect the domestic energy-intensive industries by providing implicit subsidies as they might even increase their production in the presence of carbon taxes. Similarly, the proposed BTA may fail to fully restore the competitiveness of domestic producers, vis-à-vis their foreign peers. We determine the optimal BTAs on imports that fully restore the competitiveness of domestic firms following unilateral stringent pollution control policies. The ‘optimal’ BTAs take into consideration the general equilibrium effects of the carbon tax and of the import charges on the prices of domestic goods. In most cases, the impact their impact on import prices is higher than in the previous case. As a consequence, they entail higher distortions on resource allocation in the economy and hence higher welfare cost to households.Border tax adjustment, competitiveness, energy-intensive industries, general equilibrium, Canada.

Energy Substitutability in Canadian Manufacturing: Econometric Estimation with Bootstrap Confidence Intervals

This study provides estimates of the price and Morishima substitution elasticities between energy and non-energy inputs in two Canadian energy-intensive manufacturing industries: Primary Metal and Cement. The elasticities are estimated using annual industry-level KLEM data (1961- 2003) and relying on two flexible functional forms: the Translog and the Symmetric Generalized McFadden (SGM) cost functions. In addition to the point estimates, the confidence intervals of the elasticities are computed using single- and double-bootstrap resampling techniques. For both industries, the estimation results suggest that capital, labour, material and energy are pairwise substitutes and that energy is the most substitutable input. However, the low magnitudes of the estimated elasticities do not seem to offer great flexibility to these industries to adapt to high increases in energy prices.Energy; Elasticity of substitution; Translog cost function; Symmetric Generalized McFadden (SGM) Cost Function; Single Bootstrap; Double Bootstrap.

A Model of the EFA Liabilities

The authors describe the liabilities model of the Exchange Fund Account (EFA). The EFA is managed using an asset-liability matching framework that requires currency and duration matching of both sides of the balance sheet. The model chooses the mix of liabilities across instruments and tenors that maximizes the return of the fund subject to a fixed asset-allocation rule and duration matching. The model considers two types of instruments: cross-currency swaps and global bonds. The main trade-off in the model is the cost advantage of cross-currency swaps relative to global bond issuance. Cross-currency swaps are, on average, a cheaper source of funding, but carry counterparty risk. The model penalizes a skewed maturity profile of liabilities because it carries rollover risks. The model also reports the implied asset-liability gap, which is a function of the total amount of cross-currency swaps.Debt Management; Foreign reserves management

The role of trait emotional intelligence (EI) in the workplace

This thesis applies the concept of trait El within the context of a theoretical framework of emotions (covering e.g. behaviour, personality and decisions) by analysing its relationship with employees' job-related feelings (Job Satisfaction, Organisational Commitment and Emotional Motivation), emotion-related behaviour (Decision-Making, Counterproductivity in work behaviour), and emotion-related\ud personality traits (e.g. Competitiveness, Perfectionist, Socialised Leadership Traits).\ud With regard to the definition of trait El, Petrides and Furnham (2001) have proposed that individuals differ in the extent to which they attend to, process and utilise effect laden information. Its investigation should therefore be primarily conducted within a personality framework, measured using self-report questionnaires. The data used in\ud this thesis were gathered from questionnaires and 3600 feedback assessments distributed in various sectors in the UK and Ireland, and analysed using correlation and regression techniques. Chapter 3 (Study I and 2) and 5 (Study 5) confirmed that trait El's investigation should be primarily conducted within a personality framework,\ud since strong relationships were found between trait El and emotion-related personality traits. \ud The findings of Chapter 4 (Study 3) and Chapter 5 (Study 5) revealed that trait El is positively related to employees' job-related feelings (e.g. Job Satisfaction,\ud Organisational Commitment and Emotional Motivation). From the perspective of emotion-related behaviour, Chapter 4 (Study 4) showed that a person with low trait El\ud is more likely to exhibit deviant behaviour, such as absence and aggressiveness.\ud Chapter 6 (Study 6) showed that positive emotionality such as well-being and emotional awareness clearly influences decision making. Overall comparisons between high and low trait El scorers were also investigated and the results were in 1ine with the theoretical framework of emotions, in terms of negative vs. positive emotionality. In the present thesis, trait El seems to be broadly consistent with the neuropsychological theories where emotions, dispositions and feelings are presented as biological brain functions, linked to behaviour, personality and decisions

Regionalization and Labour Market Rigidities in Developing Countries: A CGE Analysis of UEMOA

In this study, we analyse the impact of the creation of a customs union among UEMOA (Western African Economic and Monetary Union)countries, with a special emphasis on the labour market structure. The implementation of the customs union reform will translate in most of these countries, into a greater openness, even with third party countries. This greater openness raises concerns in these countries as regards its potential impact on welfare, production and employment. In this study, in contrast to many other papers, we relax the assumption of a perfect functioning of the labour market. We consider the presence of a dualism in the labour market and the existence of a minimum wage for the formal workers. We use a multi-country and multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium model (CGE) to assess the impact of the reform. We find that the presence of a minimum nominal wage for the formal workers may significantly reduce the gains stemming from the customs union reform. Our simulation results indicate that the costs induced by this rigidity may exceed 45%, in some cases, in terms of the reduction in the welfare gains obtained without rigidity.Economic integration, Customs union, Labor market, Dualism, Wage rigidity

Household Incidence of Pollution Control Policies: A Robust Welfare Analysis Using General Equilibrium Effects

This study assesses the incidence of pollution control policies on households. In contrast to previous studies, we employ an integrated framework combining a multisector general equilibrium model with a stochastic dominance analysis using household-level data. We consider three policy instruments in a domestic emission trading system: (i) an output-based allocation of permits (OBA); (ii) the use of the proceeds of permit sales to reduce payroll taxes (RPT); (iii) and the use of these proceeds to reduce consumption taxes instead(UCS). The general equilibrium results suggest that the return to capital is more negatively affected than the wage rate in all simulations, since polluting industries are capital intensive. Abstracting from pollution externalities, the dominance analysis allows us to conclude that all three policies have a normatively robust negative (positive) impact on welfare (poverty). Formal dominance tests indicate that RPT first-order welfare dominates OBA over all values of household incomes. UCS also first-order poverty dominates RPT for any choice of poverty line below $CAN 18,600, and for any poverty line at the second order. Finally, while the three pollution control policies do not have a numerically large impact on inequality (in comparison to the base run), statistical tests indicate that inequality increases statistically more with OBA and RPT than with UCS.Pollution control policies; household incidence; stochastic dominance; general equilibrium effects.

Household Incidence of Pollution Control Policies: a Robust Welfare Analysis Using General Equilibrium Effects

This study assesses the incidence of pollution control policies on households. In contrast to previous studies, we employ an integrated framework combining a multisector general equilibrium model with a stochastic dominance analysis using household-leved data. We consider three policy instruments in a domestic emission trading system: (i) an output-based allocation of permits (OBA); (ii) the use of the proceeds of permit sales to reduce payroll taxes (RPT); (iii) and the use of these proceeds to reduce consumption taxes instead (UCS). The general equilibrium results suggest that the return to capital is more negatively affected than the wage rate in all simulations, since polluting industries are capital intensive. Abstracting from pollution externalities, the dominance analysis allows us to conclude that all three policies have a normatively robust negative (positive) impact on welfare (poverty). Formal dominance tests indicate that RPT first-order welfare dominates OBA over all values of household incomes. UCS also first-order poverty dominates RPT for any choice of poverty line below $CAN 18,600, and poverty dominates for any poverty line (and thus welfare dominates) at the second order. Finally, while the three pollution control policies do not have a numerically large impact on inequality (in comparison to the base run), statistical tests indicate that inequality increases significantly more with OBA and RPT than with UCS.Pollution control policies, household incidence, stochastic dominance, general equilibrium effects

Effect of the constructivists teaching method, undergraduate students’ statistics self-concept and other psychological constructs in mediating their motivation for learning statistics

This study sought to model the effect of the constructivists teaching method, learners’ statistics self-concept and their psychological constructs (i.e. need for competence, relatedness and autonomy) in mediating undergraduate students’ motivation for learning statistics in a Ghanaian university. The study adopted quantitative approach by using simple random sampling techniques. A sample of 107 students from the Faculties of Technical and Vocational Education of the University of Education, Winneba were given questionnaires to measure how the constructivists teaching method and as well as psychological constructs have mediated their motivation for learning statistics. The data obtained were analysed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to estimate model parameters to answer the research questions and test hypotheses. The study revealed that students’ psychological need for competence, relatedness and autonomy is positively and significantly influenced by the constructivism teaching approach. Moreover, students’ psychological need for relatedness and autonomy positively and significantly affect the students’ statistics self-concept. The results further suggested that students’ statistics self-concept positively and significantly influences students’ motivation to study statistics. The study concluded that the teaching method predicts students’ needs for competence (R2=0.189), relatedness (R2=0.503) and autonomy (R2=0.198). In addition, students psychological need for competence, relatedness and autonomy significantly predict (R2=0.630) students self-concept in statistics. Finally, students’ motivation can be predicted (R2=0.480) by constructivism teaching approach using psychological needs and self-concept as mediating variables

Learners’ Attitude towards Mathematics, Technology on Their Mathematics Interest: The Mediating Role of Learners’ Mathematics Perception

This research work surveyed inquired into, and scanned carefully, the exhibiting indirect causation of learners’ mathematics perception, a connection jointly engaging learners’ stance towards mathematics and technology on their mathematics interest. This inquest was conducted on 200 Senior High School learners sampled in the Central part of Ghana. The employment of a survey and comprehensive questionnaire was necessitated. Amos Software (v. 23) was instrumental in the Modeling analysis computations (SEM: EFA/CFA), and the paths were tested on the hypotheses. Attitude towards mathematics produced a positive impact on learners’ interest, which in turn impacted positively on learners’ perception of mathematics, and technology yielded a positive impact on how learners perceive mathematics. There was a complete mediation of learners’ perception of mathematics in the association between learners’ attitudes towards mathematics and their interest in mathematics. Further studies could be carried out on the parameters using other methods to inquire about the impact of learners’ attitudes on mathematics and the technology involved in their learning on their mathematics interests. The education system must be mindful of learners’ attitudes, perceptions, and technology in their learning process. Colleges of education must bring up teachers in the light of learners’ attitudes, perceptions, and technology in their learning and the appropriate pedagogy in their delivery of lessons

Teacher-Student Variables as Predictor of Students' Interest in Mathematics: The Use of Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression Analysis

The study investigated the effect of teacher and student variables on student interest in Mathematics. The study used quantitative approach to research to explore and explain the effect of teacher and students variable on students’ interest in Mathematics. The study used probability sampling technique to select and administer questionnaires to the participating schools and students. A sample of One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Three (1,263) was selected from Ten (10) schools in the Ashanti region of Ghana using the random sampling technique. The study revealed that six (6) out of eight (8) predictor variables are statistically significant in predicting students’ interest in Mathematics. The teacher’s ability to connect Mathematics to real life problems and school leadership contributed 37.8% and 2% approximately to the variance in the student interest. The study further concluded that, students’ perception, students’ background, Mathematics facility as well as instructor quality and availability were statistically significant in predicting the student interest in Mathematics. However, the contribution of these predictor variables in explaining the variance in students’ interest was less than 1%. The study recommends that in order for students to be interested in Mathematics, Mathematics teachers should connect Mathematics to real life scenarios to help build student interest