On the Growth-Maximizing Allocation of Public Investment

In this paper we present an endogenous growth model to analyze the growth maximizing allocation of public investment among N different types of public capital. Using this general model of public capital formation, we analyze the stability of the long-run equilibrium and we derive the growth-maximizing values of the shares of public investment allocated to the different types of public capital, as well as the growth-maximizing tax rate (amount of total public investment as a share of GDP). The empirical implication of the modelis that both the effects of the shares of public investment and the tax rate on the long-run growth rate are non-linear, following an inverse U-shaped pattern.

An Updated Ranking of Academic Journals in Economics

We conduct an update of the ranking of economic journals by Kalaitzidakis, Mamuneas and Stengos (2003). However, our present study differs methodologically from that earlier study in an important dimension. We use a rolling window of years between 2003 and 2008, for each year counting the number of citations of articles published in the previous ten years. This allows us to obtain a smoother longer view of the evolution of rankings in the period under consideration and avoid the inherent randomness that may exist at any particular year. Using this framework we proceed to examine the relative ranking of the Canadian Journal of Economics over time. We find the Canadian Journal managed not only to maintain its relative position, but to also improve it over time.

The Contribution of Pollution to Productivity Growth.

In this paper we examine the effect of pollution, as measured by CO2 emissions, on economic growth among a set of OECD countries during the period 1981-1998. We examine the relationship between total factor productivity (TFP) growth and pollution using a semiparametric smooth coefficient model that allow us to directly estimate the output elasticity of pollution. The results indicate that there exists a nonlinear relationship between pollution and TFP growth. The output elasticity of pollution is small with an average sample value of 0.008. In addition we find an average contribution of pollution to productivity growth of about 1 percent for the period 1981-1998. JEL Classifications: C14, O13, O40TFP Growth, Pollution, Semiparametric Estimation.

Greenhouse Emissions and Productivity Growth

In this paper, we examine the effect of emissions, as measured by carbon dioxide (CO2), on economic growth among a set of OECD countries during the period 1981–1998. We examine the relationship between total factor productivity (TFP) growth and emissions using a semiparametric smooth coefficient model that allow us to directly estimate the output elasticity of emissions. The results indicate that there exists a monotonically-increasing relationship between emissions and TFP growth. The output elasticity of CO2 emissions is small with an average sample value of 0.07. In addition, we find an average contribution of CO2 emissions to productivity growth of about 0.063 percent for the period 1981–1998

The Solow growth model: vector autoregression (VAR) and cross-section time-series analysis

The paper examines whether the Mankiw et al. results regarding the Solow model are specific tothe statistical methodology used. Therefore, instead of using cross-section data, annual data were used and the Solow model was investigated using a Vector AutoRegression (VAR) analysis for the G7 countries, and cross-section time-series data for the G3 countries. Analysis shows that, in both cases, the Mankiw et al. results generally hold. It also shows that the use of annual data can play an important and complementary role in revealing the differences in the growth process between individual countries

The Solow growth model: vector autoregression (VAR) and cross-section time-series analysis

The paper examines whether the Mankiw et al. results regarding the Solow model are specific tothe statistical methodology used. Therefore, instead of using cross-section data, annual data were used and the Solow model was investigated using a Vector AutoRegression (VAR) analysis for the G7 countries, and cross-section time-series data for the G3 countries. Analysis shows that, in both cases, the Mankiw et al. results generally hold. It also shows that the use of annual data can play an important and complementary role in revealing the differences in the growth process between individual countries.