Factor price equalisation in the UK

This paper develops a general test of factor price equalization that is robust to unobserved regional productivity differences, unobserved region-industry factor quality differences and variation in production technology across industries. We test relative factor price equalization across regions of the UK. Although the UK is small and densely-populated, we find evidence of statistically significant and economically important departures from relative factor price equalization. Our estimates suggest three distinct relative factor price areas with a clear spatial structure. We explore explanations for these findings, including multiple cones of diversification, region-industry technology differences, agglomeration and increasing returns to scale.

Relative wage variation and industry location

Relative wages vary considerably across regions of the United Kingdom, with skill-abundant regions exhibiting lower skill premia than skill-scarce regions. This paper shows that the location of economic activity is correlated with the variation in relative wages. U.K. regions with low skill premia produce different sets of manufacturing industries than regions with high skill premia. Relative wages are also linked to subsequent economic development: over time, increases in the employment share of skill-intensive industries are greater in regions with lower initial skill premia. Both results suggest firms adjust production across and within regions in response to relative wage differences.Deindustrialization, Relative Factor Prices, Diversification Cones

Spinal direct current stimulation enhances vertical jump power in healthy adults

Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) is a safe, non-invasive neuromodulation tool that can affect sensory, motor and pain spinal cord circuits and pathways. The polarity dependent neuroplastic effects are reported to persist after stimulation in a dose dependent manner. It is not known whether tsDCS neuromodulation can translate to any measurable change in functional motor power production post stimulation. In this study we investigate the effect of 15 min of anodal lumbosacral cord level tsDCS on vertical countermovement jump (VCJ) power production up to 3 hours after stimulation in healthy volunteers: the VCJ is a test of maximal lower limb power and involves a powerful eccentric countermovement. In tandem with this, we mapped concomitant changes in lower limb posterior root-muscle (PRM) reflexes over the same time course.We employed a double-blind, randomized, crossover sham-controlled design approved by our local ethics committee. 13 healthy individuals completed 5 maximal effort VCJs on a force platform before and 0, 20, 60 and 180 min after sham and active tsDCS (25 VCJs per session, at least 7 days apart). 6 of the subjects completed 2 further sham/active tsDCS session where lower limb PRM reflexes were induced before and up to 180 min after tsDCS using single pulse biphasic stimulation of the spine via the same electrode montage as in place for tsDCS.tsDCS induced a mean (95% CI) 15.4 (7.4—23.5)% difference in max (sham – 6.4%, active + 9%, p <0.001) and a 11.4 (5—17.8)% difference in ave (sham - 5%, active + 6.4%, p < 0.001) countermovement power, leading to an overall difference of 4.2 (2.1—6.4)% in max (sham -3.6%, active +0.6%, p < 0.001) and 3.7 (1.9—5.6)% difference in ave peak to peak VCJ power (sham -2.7%, active +1%, p < 0.001). These changes did not significantly differ between time point post tsDCS. We found that over both tsDCS conditions, changes in hamstring PRM reflexes were moderately correlated with changes in ave VCJ force (r = 0.60, p <0.001). Anodal tsDCS preserved and enhanced countermovement power production over three hours, whereas there was a significant fatigue effect after sham tsDCS. These changes appear to be due to changes in force potentiation mechanisms, demonstrated by excitability changes in reflex circuitry. We have shown for the first time that anodal tsDCS quickly, easily and painlessly counters the fatigue normally associated with repeated maximal power performance. tsDCS-induced fatigue resistance and an enhancement of motor power in the absence of physical training have important implications for rehabilitation after central nervous system injury

Reducing the barriers against analytical epidemiological studies in investigations of local foodborne disease outbreaks in Germany – a starter kit for local health authorities

Thousands of infectious food-borne disease outbreaks (FBDO) are reported annually to the European Food Safety Authority within the framework of the zoonoses Directive (2003/99/EC). Most recognised FBDO occur locally following point source exposure, but only few are investigated using analytical epidemiological studies. In Germany, and probably also in other countries of the European Union, this seems to be particularly true for those investigated by local health authorities. Analytical studies, usually cohort studies or case–control studies, are a powerful tool to identify suspect food vehicles. Therefore, from a public health and food safety perspective, their more frequent usage is highly desirable. We have developed a small toolbox consisting of a strategic concept and a simple software tool for data entry and analysis, with the objective to increase the use of analytical studies in the investigation of local point source FBDO in Germany

Factor Price Equalization in the UK?

This paper develops a general test of factor price equalization that is robust to unobserved regional productivity differences, unobserved region-industry factor quality differences and variation in production technology across industries. We test relative factor price equalization across regions of the UK. Although the UK is small and densely-populated, we find evidence of statistically significant and economically important departures from relative factor price equalization. Our estimates suggest three distinct relative factor price areas with a clear spatial structure. We explore explanations for these findings, including multiple cones of diversification, region-industry technology differences, agglomeration and increasing returns to scale.

Relative Wage Variation and Industry Location

Relative wages vary considerably across regions of the United Kingdom, with skill-abundantregions exhibiting lower skill premia than skill-scarce regions. This paper shows that thelocation of economic activity is correlated with the variation in relative wages. U.K. regionswith low skill premia produce different sets of manufacturing industries than regions withhigh skill premia. Relative wages are also linked to subsequent economic development: overtime, increases in the employment share of skill- intensive industries are greater in regionswith lower initial skill premia. Both results suggest firms adjust production across and withinregions in response to relative wage differences.Deindustrialization, Relative Factor Prices, Diversification Cones

Relative Wage Variation and Industry Location

Relative wages vary considerably across regions of the United Kingdom, with skill-abundant regions exhibiting lower skill premia than skill-scarce regions. This paper shows that the location of economic activity is correlated with the variation in relative wages. U.K. regions with low skill premia produce different sets of manufacturing industries than regions with high skill premia. Relative wages are also linked to subsequent economic development: over time, increases in the employment share of skill-intensive industries are greater in regions with lower initial skill premia. Both results suggest firms adjust production across and within regions in response to relative wage differences.

All is not equal.

Theory suggests that market forces should bring the relative pay of skilled workers into line in different regions within a country. Andrew Bernard, Stephen Redding, Peter Schott and Helen Simpson show that this is not the case for the UK and argue that regional industrial policy needs to take this into account.

Defining quality bulk tonnage: A task for researchers and policy-makers

The aim of this paper is to propose a set of suitable variables on which a comprehensive definition of quality bulk shipping can be built. The authors of this paper explore the alternatives of quality differentiation in bulk shipping, in view of the methodological and data problems researchers have encountered by the absence of a definition of quality for traditional bulk tonnage that goes beyond catch-all indicators such as the age of the vessel. The lack of appropriate available data for the otherwise extensively, yet not necessarily systematically documented, bulk shipping markets, calls for concerted action on the part of researchers and policy makers to compile such databases and make them publicly (widely) available