The poverty effect of remittance flows : evidence from Georgia

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the poverty effect of remittance flows in Georgia through direct and indirect channels within the context of a modified computable general equilibrium model (CGEM). The main questions of interest are if and to what extent remittance flows contribute to the production and consumption pattern of the poor. Two aspects of poverty reduction are emphasized in this study: (1) the impact of remittances on the aggregated and sectoral economic growth; and (2) the impact of remittances on the poor households, their production and consumption patterns across regions. Apart from households’ factor endowments and consumption patterns, which are reported elsewhere, particular attention is paid to regional differences in terms of market access and transaction costs. The conclusion to be drawn from this study is that, while having a strong macroeconomic growth effect at the aggregated level, emigration and inward remittance flows do not affect all sectors and residents symmetrically. Moreover, they have a rather limited impact in terms of poverty and income inequality.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Labor market regulations and trade patterns : the panel data analysis within a modified ricardian setting

The paper focuses on the question of how labor market regulations can affect a country’s competitive position in international trade and international trade patterns. The analysis shows that differences in labor market flexibility between countries affect their competitive positions in international markets and can serve as an independent cause of international trade. It is argued that an increase in labor market flexibility may change the relative price of goods within the country making it more competitive in international markets for commodities with uncertain demand. Changes in relative prices can alter countries’ comparative advantage and thus international trade patterns. Furthermore, it is shown that due to the differences in relative prices resulting from different labor market regulations, international trade between countries can be observed even if they are identical in all respects (e.g., labor productivity and production technology). Data reveal that a country with a more flexible labor market has comparative advantage in, and tends to export, goods with more variable demand (e.g., fashionable clothes, seasonal toys), while a country with a more rigid labor market has a comparative advantage in, and tends to export, commodities with more stable demand.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Labor migration from East to West in the context of European integration and changing sociopolitical borders

Labor migration from Eastern Europe and the member countries of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the Western countries became an important socio-economic issue. Since political systems and the nature of border management in these regions, migrations turned out to be a very complex and unpredictable issue. The purpose of this study is to analyze the region specific factors, practices and policies of migration in the Eastern countries, the possible scenarios and demographic consequences of the future migration flows. In order to address this issue properly, some of the complexities of labor migration phenomenon in the region are uncovered.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Labor Migration from East to West in the Context of European Integration and Changing Socio-political Borders

Labor migration from Eastern Europe and the member countries of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the Western countries became an important socio-economic issue. Since political systems and the nature of border management in these regions, migrations turned out to be a very complex and unpredictable issue. The purpose of this study is to analyze the region specific actors, practices and policies of migration in the Eastern countries, the possible scenarios and demographic consequences of the future migration flows. In order to address this issue properly, some of the complexities of labor migration phenomenon in the region are uncovered.Labor economics, demographic trends and forecast, immigration

The poverty effect of remittance flows : evidence from Georgia

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the poverty effects of emigration and inward remittance flows through direct and indirect channels within the context of a standard computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. For that purpose, we use a novel approach in modeling a social accounting matrix (SAM) based CGE model by combining a novel and original data set, containing rich, highly-disaggregated household budget suveys with detailed macro-level data for Georgia. A distinctive contribution of this study is the attention paid to regional differences in terms of market access and transaction costs, in addition to households’ factor endowments and consumption patterns. The main questions of interest are if and to what extent remittance flows contribute to the production and consumption pattern of the poor. Two aspects of poverty reduction are emphasized: (1) the impact of remittances on the aggregate and sectoral economic growth; and (2) the impact of remittances on poor households, their production and consumption patterns across regions. The study concludes that while having a strong macroeconomic growth effect at the aggregate level, emigration and inward remittance flows do not affect all sectors and residents symmetrically. Moreover, they have a rather limited impact in terms of poverty and income inequality.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Technological Imitation and Innovation in New European Union Markets

We analyze the role of imitation and innovation in promoting technological progress in new members of European Union: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The two modes of technological development—innovation and imitation—are distinguished from one another by identifying the dominant orientation of innovation efforts at the industry level. Specific industry features and the origin, structure and size of foreign direct investments in these countries are utilized for this purpose. The empirical relationship between intra-industrial bilateral trade flows, which proxy the level of technological progress, and innovation expenditures is analyzed using a gravity model. During the estimation stage, we use appropriate instruments to account for the potential endogeneity of innovation to trade. The results reveal the important role of foreign direct investment and multinationals in the technological progress of the region. Specifically, technological progress that is due to innovation is driven mainly by affiliates of foreign firms and multinationals.foreign direct investment, innovation, imitation, international trade, European Union

A multivariate logit for propensity to choose package tour over independent travel

The antecedents of choosing package tours as opposed to independent travel have received surprisingly little attention in empirical tourism research. This paper therefore examines how a number of independent variables by means of logistic regression analysis explain the propensity for package tours to be chosen over independent travel. The empirical context is the inbound tourism market to the Azores, and the data refer to two visitor surveys conducted in 2007. There are two main findings. (1) Socio-demographic variables explain very little of the propensity to engage in package tourism. (2) Country-of-residence and certain trip-related variables, by contrast, are important predictors of this propensity. Implications for policy and future research are finally discussed.N/

Essays on Monetary Integration, Inflation, and Trade Competitiveness in Transition Countries

This dissertation contains three essays focused on macroeconomic issues in the Commonwealth Independent States (CIS). The aim of the first essay is to analyze the possible impact of planned monetary integration on public sector revenues from seigniorage in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. Using the concept of total gross seigniorage, the main sources and uses of the central bank revenues in these countries is investigated. Special attention is given to the role of seigniorage revenues in financing public sector expenditures. Amounts of yearly transfers from central banks to the state budget in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia are evaluated, and the size of potential gains and losses in seigniorage revenues under different scenarios of monetary integration are estimated. The second paper focuses on the question of how labor market regulations can affect a country's competitive position in international trade and international trade patterns. The analysis shows that differences in labor market flexibility between countries affect their competitive positions in international markets and can serve as an independent cause of international trade. It is argued that an increase in labor market flexibility may change the relative price of goods within the country making it more competitive in international..

Labor migration from East to West in the context of European integration and changing socio- political borders Labor migration from East to West in the context of European integration and changing socio- political borders Labor migration from East to West

RESUMO/ABSTRACT Labor migration from East to West in the context of European integration and changing socio-political borders Labor migration from Eastern Europe and the member countries of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the Western countries became an important socio-economic issue. Since political systems and the nature of border management in these regions, migrations turned out to be a very complex and unpredictable issue. The purpose of this study is to analyze the region specific factors, practices and policies of migration in the Eastern countries, the possible scenarios and demographic consequences of the future migration flows. In order to address this issue properly, some of the complexities of labor migration phenomenon in the region are uncovered. Abstract Labor migration from Eastern Europe and the member countries of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the Western countries became an important socio-economic issue. Since political systems and the nature of border management in these regions, migrations turned out to be a very complex and unpredictable issue. The purpose of this study is to analyze the region specific factors, practices and policies of migration in the Eastern countries, the possible scenarios and demographic consequences of the future migration flows. In order to address this issue properly, some of the complexities of labor migration phenomenon in the region are uncovered