Is the Minimum Wage a Pull Factor for Immigrants?

This paper studies the impact of the minimum wage on immigration. A framework is presented in which inflows of immigrants are a function of the expected wage growth induced by the minimum wage. The analysis focuses on the US minimum wage increase of 1996 and 1997, using data from the Current Population Survey and the census. The estimation strategy consists of using the fraction of affected workers as the instrumental variable for the growth of expected wages. The findings show that States in which the growth of expected wages was relatively large (around 20%) exhibit inflow rate increases that are four to five times larger than States in which average wages grew 10% less. Placebo tests confirm that the policy did not affect the immigration of high wage earners.employment effects, expected wages, immigration, minimum wage, wage effects

On Hyperfocused Arcs in PG(2,q)

A k-arc in a Dearguesian projective plane whose secants meet some external line in k-1 points is said to be hyperfocused. Hyperfocused arcs are investigated in connection with a secret sharing scheme based on geometry due to Simmons. In this paper it is shown that point orbits under suitable groups of elations are hyperfocused arcs with the significant property of being contained neither in a hyperoval, nor in a proper subplane. Also, the concept of generalized hyperfocused arc, i.e. an arc whose secants admit a blocking set of minimum size, is introduced: a construction method is provided, together with the classification for size up to 10

Immigration and displacement across local labour markets

This paper investigates the impact of contemporary flows of immigrants on internal movements of natives and earlier immigrants across the local authorities of England and Wales. To analyse the impact of immigration, a theoretical framework where natives and immigrants are imperfect substitutes is adopted. The econometric analysis, based on the instrumental variable approach proposed by Card (2001), shows that immigration does not displace native working-age population; instead, flows of natives are complementary with those of new immigrants. There is evidence of displacement for earlier immigrants, with a substantial impact for those with no or low qualifications. Robustness tests are provided to corroborate the results Keywords; census, displacement, england and wales, migration, local authority

Buyer and seller power in grocery retailing: evidence from Italy

This work investigates the effect of upstream and downstream mar- ket concentration on retailers’ price-cost margins using bimonthly data over the period 1989–1992 disaggregated by retailer type and product. In addition to horizontal concentration, differentiation, and cost factors, the analysis includes buyer power amongst the determinants of retailers’ profitability, as a result of vertical bargaining. Using a fixed effects model in first differences we find evidence of bargaining activity between large chains and food manufacturers. Our analysis of price competition at the retail level also reveals some interde- pendence in the pricing decisions of the largest retail organisations and price leadership by large independent shops. ******************************************************************************************************************* Este trabajo investiga los efectos de la concentración de mercado upstream y downstream sobre el margen precio-costo de los minoristas usando datos bimestrales durante el período 1989–1992 desagregados por tipo de minorista y producto. Adicionalmente a la concentración horizontal, la diferenciación y los factores de costo, el análisis incluye el poder del comprador entre los determinantes de la rentabilidad de los minoristas, como resultado de la negociación vertical. Usando un modelo de efectos fijos en primeras diferencias, encontramos evidencia de actividad de negociación entre las grandes cadenas y los productores de alimentos. Nuestro análisis de la competencia de precios al nivel minorista también revela una cierta interdependencia en las decisiones de fijación de precios de las organizaciones minoristas m´as grandes y liderazgo en precios por parte de las grandes tiendas independientes.price-cost margins, vertical bargaining, price competition, Italiangrocery trade, panel data