The role of R&D and patent activity in economic growth: some empirical evidence

This paper explains growth of labour productivity through (inter)national spillovers from R&D and patenting. We develop a formal model that is tested for Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America using a new set of panel data. The results indicate that, for the period 1957 until 1991, domestic R&D has an indirect and positive impact on productivity growth for the economy as a whole via technological catch up. For the period 1974–1991 we only find such a postive effect for French manufacturing.

Do skin suits increase average skating speed?

We analyze the effectiveness of speedskating suits to increase average skating speed at the 2002 Olympic winter games of Salt Lake City. We model the average skating speed of male and female speed skaters at distances from 500 to 10000 meters. Speed not only depends on physical characteristics of the skaters, but also on previous performance and speedskating suits that reduce drag. We find that one specific suit, the so-called Swift Skin suit, significantly increases average skating speed, especially in long-distance events. This suits increase speed by up to 0.2-0.3 seconds per lap on a 400-meter oval. The effects are more pronounced for men than for women and show up in the first part of the race.

Trends in productivity: the case of capital shortage

Abstract This paper analyses the effect of rising wage rates and real interest rates on labour productivity and capital productivity in a situation of capital shortage. Furthermore, it shows the effect of rising wage rates and real interest rates on the capital intensity of the production process. This latter effect can not be determined unambiguously.

Modelling the development of world records in running

We model the development of world records of metric running events from the 100 meter dash to the marathon for men and women. First, we review methods to fit time-series curves of world records in general. We discuss methods to estimate curves and review candidate functional forms that fit the systematic shape of the progress of world records. Next, we fit the asymmetric Gompertz-curves for 16 events and compute implied limit values. In order to assess the implied limits we use the Francis (1943)-model to relate limit records and distance in a log-log specification. We compare men and women and conclude that there is a fixed difference in record times between the two sexes. Finally, using the log-log relationship between time and distance we calculate the development of the world record of the mile in a robustness check.

Endurance in speed skating

Abstract We analyse the development of world records speed skating from 1893 to 2000 for both men and women. The historical data show that it is likely that the relation between skating speed and distance of the various events is non-linear and converges to a limit value. We pay special attention to technical innovations in speed skating, especially, the introduction of the klapskate in the 1996/1997 season, and its impact on the long-run limit value. We focus on endurance and we estimate lower bounds for world records given the current technological state of the art.

Trends in productivity: the case of capital shortage

This paper analyses the effect of rising wage rates and real interest rates on labour productivity and capital productivity in a situation of capital shortage. Furthermore, it shows the effect of rising wage rates and real interest rates on the capital intensity of the production process. This latter effect can not be determined unambiguously.

Endurance in speed skating

We analyse the development of world records speed skating from 1893 to 2000 for both men and women. The historical data show that it is likely that the relation between skating speed and distance of the various events is non-linear and converges to a limit value. We pay special attention to technical innovations in speed skating, especially, the introduction of the klapskate in the 1996/1997 season, and its impact on the long-run limit value. We focus on endurance and we estimate lower bounds for world records given the current technological state of the art.

Indicators of financial crises do work! : an early-warning system for six Asian countries

Indicators of financial crisis generally do not have a good track record. This paper presents an early warning system for six countries in Asia, in which indicators do work.We distinguish three types of financial crises, currency crises, banking crises and debt crises, and extract four groups of indicators from the literatureexternal, financial, domestic (real and public), and global indicatorsthat are likely to affect the probability of financial crises. The significance of the indicator groups is tested in a multivariate logit model on a panel of six Asian countries for the period 1970:01-2001:12. An additional feature is that we examine four different currency crisis dating definitions. A within-sample signal extraction experiment reveals that some currency crises dating schemes outperform others.

Indicators of financial crises do work! An early-warning system for six Asian countries

Indicators of financial crisis generally do not have a good track record. This paper presents an early warning system for six countries in Asia, in which indicators do work.We distinguish three types of financial crises, currency crises, banking crises and debt crises, and extract four groups of indicators from the literature—external, financial, domestic (real and public), and global indicators—that are likely to affect the probability of financial crises. The significance of the indicator groups is tested in a multivariate logit model on a panel of six Asian countries for the period 1970:01-2001:12. An additional feature is that we examine four different currency crisis dating definitions. A within-sample signal extraction experiment reveals that some currency crises dating schemes outperform others.financial crises, currency crises, banking crises, debt crises, early warning system, panel data, multivariate logit, factor analysis