A Note on Testing ¡°Tax-and-Spend, Spend-and-Tax or Fiscal Synchronization¡±: The Case of China

The hypothesis of tax-and-spend, spend-and-tax, or fiscal synchronization was tested using annual time series data for China over the period 1977 to 1999. We include GDP as a control variable into the model like Baghestani and Mcnown (1994), Koren and Stiassny (1998), and Chang et al. (2002). The results from Granger causality test based on the corresponding multivariate error-correction models (MVECM) suggest feedback between government revenues and government expenditures, supporting the fiscal synchronization hypothesis for China.

A REEXAMINATION OF SOUTH KOREA¡¯S AGGREGATE IMPORT DEMAND FUNCTION: THE BOUNDS TEST ANALYSIS

This paper uses a robust estimation method referred to as the unrestricted error correction model - the bounds test analysis to re-analyze the long-term relationships between the demand for imports and it¡¯s determinants for South Korea over the period 1980-2000. Our results show that the volume of imports, income, and relative prices are all cointegrated. The estimated long-run (short-run) elasticities of import demand with respect to income and relative price are 1.86 (0.86) and -0.2 (-0.05), respectively. The major implication of our study is that neither monetary nor fiscal policies may be used as instruments to maintain the trade balance in South Korea¡¯s favor during this sample period.Aggregate Import Demand Function, UECM, Bounds Test Analysis

REVISITING HYSTERESIS IN UNEMPLOYMENT FOR TEN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: AN EMPIRICAL NOTE ON A MORE POWERFUL NONLINEAR (LOGISTIC) UNIT ROOT

In this empirical note we use a more powerful nonlinear (logistic) unit root test advanced by Leybourne et al. (1998) to investigate the hysteresis in unemployment for ten European countries for the period 1961-2003. The hypothesis is confirmed for all the European countries for which Leybourne et al.¡¯s (1998) nonlinear (logistic) unit root test is performed, except for Belgium and the UK.Hysteresis in Unemployment, European Countries, Logistic Unit Root Tests

Does High Unemployment Rate Cause High Suicide Rate? Evidence from Japan and South Korea

This study utilizes an asymmetric Granger causality test suggested by Hatemi-J (2012) to examine the causal relationship running from unemployment rate to suicide rate over the period of 1985 to 2012 in Japan and South Korea. Empirical results show that no Granger causality running from unemployment rate to suicide rate exists in Japan. However, results show that for South Korea, Granger causality exists running from a negative unemployment rate shock to a negative shock in suicide rate. More specifically, a decrease in unemployment rate leads to a decrease in suicide rate. Although the findings of this study do not support that an increase in unemployment rate has led to an increase in suicide rate for Japan and South Korea, a decrease in unemployment rate leads to a decrease in suicide rate in South Korea. Therefore, policy makers in South Korea could decrease unemployment rate to cause a decrease in suicide rate

The Impact of Governance on Income Inequality in Ten Asian Countries

This study utilizes panel data analysis over the 1996 to 2015 period to investigate the impact of governance quality (including democratic quality and technical quality) on income inequality in ten Asain countries, classified as “advanced economies” and “emerging market and developing economies”. The empirical results show that the impacts of democratic quality and technical quality on income inequality are significantly negative within “emerging market and developing economies”. However, for the “advanced economies”, the effects of democratic quality and technical quality on income inequality are nonsignificantly positive and significantly positive, respectively. These findings imply that promoting good governance is useful to reduce income inequality for “emerging market and developing economies” but the effect may not be effective for “advanced economies

The impact of governance on economic growth in Malaysia

This study uses the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine the effect of governance on economic growth in Malaysia over the 1996 to 2018 period. In this study the standard of governance is graded as democratic and scientific. These two global governance metrics are synonymous with “voice and accountability” and “political stability and absence of violence” (WGIs). In the meantime, four WGI metrics are concerned with “government effectiveness”, “regulatory quality”, “rule of law”, and “control of corruption”. Empirical results show that the impact of democratic quality and technical quality on economic growth is significantly positive. The findings suggest that the promotion of good governance is useful in facilitating economic growth in Malaysia

Antimicrobial effects of free nitrous acid on Desulfovibrio vulgaris: Implications for sulfide-induced corrosion of concrete

Hydrogen sulfide produced by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in sewers causes odor problems and asset deterioration due to the sulfide induced concrete corrosion. Free nitrous acid (FNA) was recently demonstrated as a promising antimicrobial agent to alleviate hydrogen sulfide production in sewers. However, knowledge of the antimicrobial mechanisms of FNA is largely unknown. Here we report the multiple-targeted antimicrobial effects of FNA on the SRB Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough by determining growth, physiological and gene expression responses to FNA exposure. The activities of growth, respiration and ATP generation were inhibited when exposed to FNA. These changes were reflected in transcript levels detected during exposure. Removal of FNA was evident by nitrite reduction that likely involved nitrite reductase and the poorly characterised hybrid cluster protein, and the genes coding for these proteins were highly expressed. During FNA exposure lowered ribosome activity and protein production were detected. Additionally, conditions within the cells were more oxidising and there was evidence of oxidative stress. Based on interpretation of the measured responses we present a model depicting the antimicrobial effects of FNA on D. vulgaris. These findings provide new insight for understanding the responses of D. vulgaris to FNA and will provide foundation for optimal application of this antimicrobial agent for improved control of sewer corrosion and odor management

Characteristics of Boron Decorated TiO 2 Nanoparticles for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Photoanode

Different boron weight percents on mixed-phase (anatase and rutile) TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthesized to investigate structure morphology, defect states, luminescence properties, and energy conversion. The measured results indicate that boron doping of TiO 2 both increases the crystallite size and rutile-phase percent in an anatase matrix. Decreasing the band gap by boron doping can extend the absorption to the visible region, while undoped TiO 2 exhibits high UV absorption. Oxygen vacancy defects generated by boron ions reduce Ti +4 and affect electron transport in dye-sensitized solar cells. Excess electrons originating from the oxygen vacancies of doped TiO 2 downward shift in the conduction band edge and prompt the transfer of photoelectrons from the conduction band of the rutile phase to the lower energy anatase trapping sites; they then separate charges to enhance the photocurrent and sc . Although the resistance of the electron recombination ( ) between doped TiO 2 photoanode and the electrolyte for the doped TiO 2 sample is lower, a longer electron lifetime ( ) of 19.7 ms with a higher electron density ( ) of 2.1 × 10 18 cm −3 contributes to high solar conversion efficiency