Harrod's cumulative growth circle

In this paper I aim to show through an analysis from a history of economic thought perspective that Harrod's famous model, An Essay in Dynamic Theory (1939), can be considered a fundamental example of cumulative growth circle. Having described the original model, I then go on to examine the meaning of dynamic analysis and instability in Harrod's approach, analyzing respectively the debates between Asimakopulos and Kregel and between Harrod and Keynes. Finally, I describe the main properties of Harrod cumulative growth circle by comparing Harrod's model to Domar's (1946). I argue that Harrod's growth approach is very different from the mainstream version.Harrod, instability, dynamic analysis.

Innovation and Growth in the Grossman-Helpman's 1991 Model with Increasing Returns.

In this paper I consider the 1991 Grossman-Helpman model which analyses the role of innovation on growth. The model assumes constant returns to scale. I intend to show what happen in this model if I assume strong increasing returns. In particular, under the assumption of increasing returns of capital but leaving all other main features of the Grossman-Helpman model unchanged, I analyse the influence of the rate of innovation on three variables: the rate of growth of final output, the level of prices of final output and the rate of investment.Grossman-Helpman's 1991 Model, growth, innovation, increasing returns to scale

Growth and institutions in Paolo Sylos Labini's thought

According to Paolo Sylos Labini (1920-2005), it is vital for an economist to be acutely conscious of the responsibility to study society for the sake of promoting progress—the economic, social and civil progress of society—and not for personal interest. In his last book, Ahi serva Italia (2006), Sylos Labini spoke as a civic-minded economist to all those Italians who refuse to understand that respect for the rules is an absolute requirement for a market economy, and, in particular, that a market economy needs rules to defend the community against the unbridled expansion of positions of power. Within this analytical framework, our paper aims to discuss the role of institutions along different lines: the role of the market in the process of economic growth, public intervention in the economy and the process of institutional innovations.Paolo Sylos Labini, growth, institutions, regulation, innovations

Application of a Multi-criteria and Participated Evaluation Procedure to Select Typology of Intervention to Redevelop Degraded Urban Area

Through urban redevelopment of a degraded area, the deficiency in urban planning and/or building developments can be remedied, allowing for the flourishing of activities that can provide economic stimulus while improving the living conditions of citizens; in this way the local economy can be relaunched. Evaluation methodologies and procedures can contribute to steering the choices made by Public Administration (PA) in creating programmes and hypothesis of intervention that may be considered sustainable and shared by stakeholders. The text proposes the application of an evaluation procedure (Capanne area in Terracina, Latina, Lazio Region), based on the integrated use of a Multi-Criteria Analysis technique - the Analytic Hierarchy Process, as well as a technique promoting participation and interaction among stakeholders, the Stakeholders Analysis. The evaluation procedure can be used to support the PA to make the decision related to the best type of hypothesis of intervention among those possible: the decision must be taken on the basis of identified Stakeholders' needs and available resources, in order to further exploit the unexpressed potential of the intervention area. The structural elements of the evaluation procedure are aligned to article 1 of the "Prime Ministerial Decree" regarding ‘Projects for the social and cultural regeneration of decaying urban areas’ (15 October 2015) in order to identify the type of intervention allowable for financing provided in the Decree

A Methodology for the Selection of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Methods in Real Estate and Land Management Processes

Real estate and land management are characterised by a complex, elaborate combination of technical, regulatory and governmental factors. In Europe, Public Administrators must address the complex decision-making problems that need to be resolved, while also acting in consideration of the expectations of the different stakeholders involved in settlement transformation. In complex situations (e.g., with different aspects to be considered and multilevel actors involved), decision-making processes are often used to solve multidisciplinary and multidimensional analyses, which support the choices of those who are making the decision. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods are included among the examination and evaluation techniques considered useful by the European Community. Such analyses and techniques are performed using methods, which aim to reach a synthesis of the various forms of input data needed to define decision-making problems of a similar complexity. Thus, one or more of the conclusions reached allow for informed, well thought-out, strategic decisions. According to the technical literature on MCDA, numerous methods are applicable in different decision-making situations, however, advice for selecting the most appropriate for the specific field of application and problem have not been thoroughly investigated. In land and real estate management, numerous queries regarding evaluations often arise. In brief, the objective of this paper is to outline a procedure with which to select the method best suited to the specific queries of evaluation, which commonly arise while addressing decision-making problems. In particular issues of land and real estate management, representing the so-called “settlement sector”. The procedure will follow a theoretical-methodological approach by formulating a taxonomy of the endogenous and exogenous variables of the multi-criteria analysis method

Public initiatives of settlement transformation. A theoretical-methodological approach to selecting tools of multi-criteria decision analysis

In Europe, the operating context in which initiatives of settlement transformation are currently initiated is characterized by a complex, elaborate combination of technical, regulatory and governance-related factors. A similar set of considerations makes it necessary to address the complex decision-making problems to be resolved through multidisciplinary, comparative approaches designed to rationalize the process and treat the elements to be considered in systematic fashion with respect to the range of alternatives available as solutions. Within a context defined in this manner, decision-making processes must often be used to obtain multidisciplinary and multidimensional analyses to support the choices made by the decision-makers. Such analyses are carried out using multi-criteria tools designed to arrive at syntheses of the numerous forms of input data needed to describe decision-making problems of similar complexity, so that one or more outcomes of the synthesis make possible informed, well thought-out, strategic decisions. The technical literature on the topic proposes numerous tools of multi-criteria analysis for application in different decision-making contexts. Still, no specific contributions have been drawn up to date on the approach to take in selecting the tool best suited to providing adequate responses to the queries of evaluation that arise most frequently in the various fields of application, and especially in the settlement sector. The objective of this paper is to propose, by formulating a taxonomy of the endogenous and exogenous variables of tools of multi-criteria analysis, a methodology capable of selecting the tool best suited to the queries of evaluation which arise regarding the chief categories of decision-making problems, and particularly in the settlement sector

The Assessment of Real Estate Initiatives to Be Included in the Socially-Responsible Funds

The acknowledgment of the ongoing economic and financial crisis involving real estate, creates the need to formulate proposals and scenarios (in real estate) with the characteristics of socially responsible investments. These kind of investments aim towards “sustainable” development both environmentally (safeguarding the shortage of resources such as land, energy, and natural elements), and socially (protecting the population and raising its level of well-being) according to so-called “ethical finance”, instead of a mere “speculative” investment. Effectively, real estate is still an investment sector only marginally explored by the socially-responsible funds. Based on these premises, this paper will: (i) briefly analyze the nature of socially-responsible investments, setting their characteristics apart from “traditional investments”; and (ii) propose a possible procedure (of the multi-criteria type) which aims to assess socially-responsible investments in real estate. This will be applied to a case study regarding a social housing initiative in the municipality of Anguillara Sabazia (Rome, Italy)