Telecommunications and economic growth: an empirical analysis of sub-saharan Africa

We examine the effect on economic growth of mobile cellular phones in sub-Saharan Africa where a marked asymmetry is present between land-line penetration and mobile telecommunications expansion. This study extends previous ones along two important dimensions. First, we allow for the potential endogeneity between economic growth and telecommunications expansion by employing a special linear generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator. Second, we explicitly model for varying degrees of substitutability between mobile cellular and land-line telephony, so that greater expansion of mobile telecommunications can have a different impact whenever the level of land-line penetration differs. We find that mobile cellular phone expansion is an important determinant of the rate of economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, we find that the contribution of mobile cellular phones to economic growth has been growing in importance in the region, and that the marginal impact of mobile telecommunication services is even greater wherever land-line phones are rare. Given the low cost of mobile telecommunications technology relative to other broad infrastructure projects, especially land-line infrastructure, we advocate that mobile telecommunication services be encouraged in the area.

What Is The Most Popular Movie Of All Time?: Teaching The Importance Of Ceteris Paribus

Students often have difficulty understanding the importance of distinguishing between real and nominal prices, or more generally, why ceteris paribus conditions are important. We exploit students interests in popularity to teach the nominal/real distinction, and the importance of adjusting for inflation, population, and income levels. We illustrate the importance of these topics by asking, What is the most popular movie of all time

Using RFID Technology To Track Attendance

The relationship between class attendance and academic performance continues to be of interest. The most common methods of tracking attendance, however, have their shortcomings and biases. We provide researchers with a method to collect unbiased and reliable attendance data. Late arrivals and early departures can also be recorded with ease, allowing researchers to evaluate these behaviors as well. Our method is intended to collect valuable attendance data at a minimal cost of time or money: setup takes 10-20 seconds per student initially, with no time lost subsequently, and the monetary cost is less than 29¢ for each student. An Excel-based version is discussed. Software code is provided, open-source, for instructors to implement

The Efficient Corruption Hypothesis and the Dynamics between Economic Freedom, Corruption, and National Income

Income, economic freedom, and corruption interact in complex ways as all three variables are arguably endogenous. We explicitly model this endogeneity using a panel VAR framework. The pVAR models we estimate are able to explicitly model this endogeneity better than the single-equation panel data models previously used in the literature. Using data on corruption and income from the World Bank and economic freedom from the Fraser Institute, we provide evidence that corruption and the absence of economic freedom have a negative effect on national income

Interactional group psychotherapy with substance abusers

M.A. (Clinical Psychology)Please refer to full text to view abstrac

What recantation? The wages fund doctrines of J.S. Mill in light of Smith, and Ricardo

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the various forms of the classical wages fund, and especially the claim that J.S. Mill reversed his position on the nature of the wages fund. Design/methodology/approach – Textual research from original publications of Adam Smith, David Ricardo and J.S. Mill, as well as references to current interpretations of their work are used in this paper. Findings – Although J.S. Mill was a supporter of the classical wages fund model, he did not consistently embrace its assumption of a fixed fund. His comment in his Principles that the “discretion of the capitalist” influences the size of the fund contradicts this assumption. Without consistent support for this component of the doctrine, the “recantation” loses its historical significance, in that it is simply a reaffirmation of the views which Mill held throughout. Research limitations/implications – It is hoped this paper can close the book on the debate on Mill's supposed recantation. There was no recantation because Mill held no firm position to recant. Originality/value – It is understood that no one has made the connection between Mill's recantation and his other inconsistencies regarding aspects of the wages fund.Capital, Division of labour, Economic doctrines, Economic theory, Pay