Multinationals and diffrsion of technology Between developed countries

This paper analyses the role played by foreign direct investment (FDI) as a mechanism through which technology flows between countries. After a short review of the existing literature it is observed that aggregate studies do not obtain evidence of the existence of technology spillovers amongst the OECD countries. These results oppose the presumption among many academics and policy-makers that FDI helps accelerate the process of economic development in host countries. The conclusion drawn is that spillovers have taken place, but that there is a problem of overlap between the variables used in these analyses which prevents their impact being captured properly.

Determinants of the Composition of Government Expenditure by Functions

In this article we analyze the determinants of the functional distribution of government expenditure using for this purpose the models of the median voter's demand common in public choice literature. First of all, we review the economic literature on the factors affecting each component of government expenditure. Then, secondly, we develop a demand model of expenditure structure and we estimate the demand equations system for the sample of OECD countries in the period 1970-1997. The results reveal that, besides income and prices, institutional factors, population density and its age structure have significant effects on the composition of government expenditure.

A Proposal of a Synthetic Indicator to Measure Poverty Intensity, With an Application to EU-15 Countries

This paper deals with the proposal of a synthetic indicator to measure intensity of poverty. So, whereas incidence of poverty can be clearly measured using the headcount ratio indicator, according to Sen (1976) dimensions of poverty, the choice of a better intensity poverty measure is still an open question to resolve. Thus, in this paper, a new procedure to obtain a synthetic indicator from a set of well-performed poverty intensity indices as a start is proposed, using an adaptation of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Conditions needed to make longitudinal comparisons possible are studied and properties of these synthetic indicators will also be analyzed, connected to TIP curves as well. As an illustration, this paper analyzes the evolution of poverty in the 15 countries of E.U., whose household income data are available through the information contained in the European Community Household Panel (ECPH). This analysis allows static and dynamic comparisons, related to the period from 1993 to 2000. Furthermore, the determination of groups of countries according to their characteristics in poverty will be accomplished.Economic Poverty, TIP’s poverty curves, Poverty in EU countries, PHOGUE.

International technology diffusion through imports and its impact on economic growth

This paper provides new evidence on the importance of international technology spillovers channelled by imports and its impact on economic TFP growth of the OECD countries. For this purpose we estimate a version of the growth model with endogenous technological change used in Benhabib and Spiegel (1994), which includes some modifications in order to capture the differences in the degree of success that countries have in benefiting from foreign technology spillovers. Our results suggest that domestic R&D and human capital stocks are critical for successful technology diffusion from abroad.

Institucionalización de racionalidades en una industria cultural: la tauromaquia en México

Se exponen los resultados del análisis realizado con una perspectiva organizacional de la tauromaquia en México. Se muestra la importancia que tienen los procesos de institucionalización de las actividades taurinas desde su aparición en la península ibérica hasta su incorporación en lo que hoy es el territorio mexicano, analizando las características de los actores organizacionales que actualmente conforman este sector, en donde se generan dinámicas de interacción caracterizadas por la tensión entre una racionalidad económica enfocada a la maximización de utilidades y otra racionalidad, la simbólica, fundamentada en diversos referentes explicativos que sólo son accesibles a través de los símbolos, evidentes en las acciones que conforman la tauromaquia mexicana. Se propone un diagrama interpretativo que explica las dinámicas de interacción entre estos actores y la convivencia de estas dos racionalidades, que de alguna manera han colaborado en la permanencia de la tauromaquia en México. Finalmente se reflexiona sobre la pertinencia de incorporar la dimensión simbólica en el análisis organizacional de otro tipo de sectores.This paper presents the results of the analysis with an organizational perspective of bullfighting in Mexico, called Tauromaquia. It shows the importance of the process of institutionalization of Tauromaquia since the beginning of this activities on the Iberian Peninsula until the present in Mexican territory. Analyzed the characteristics of organizational actors that currently form this sector, where they generate dynamics of interaction characterized by a tension between economic rationality focused on maximizing profits and symbolic rationality, based on various explanatory references only accessible through the symbols, evident in the Tauromaquia. It proposes an interpretive diagram that explains the dynamics of interaction between these actors and the coexistence of these two rationalities, which have contributed to the permanence of Tauromaquia in Mexico. Finally, we reflect on the appropriateness of incorporating the symbolic dimension in organizational analysis in other sectors

Quality of life and demographic growth in the Santa Fe Metropolitan Area

Las desiguales condiciones de vida en que se desenvuelve un conjunto poblacional urbano potencia problemas sociales y según sea la dinámica demográfica, requiere diferentes demandas y desafíos a las administraciones gubernamentales fundamentalmente de orden local a fin de reducir desigualdades. El Aglomerado Gran Santa Fe (AGSF) se caracteriza por desbalances en términos de calidad de vida y al mismo tiempo si bien presenta un crecimiento general bajo, éste no es homogéneo en toda la extensión del aglomerado. El presente artículo describe las etapas de elaboración de un índice de calidad de vida del AGSF mediante el cruce de datos aportados por variables socioeconómicas y ambientales que emanan de diversas fuentes de información y que fueron agrupadas en dimensiones ‘publicas’ y ‘privadas’ de los hogares, a fin de evaluar la incidencia específica de estos dos aspectos en la determinación de la calidad de vida. Otra cuestión destacada del trabajo radica en el análisis del vínculo entre crecimiento demográfico y calidad de vida, sin ánimo de establecer una relación directa causaefecto, a fin de cotejar tendencias generales de expansión o retracción de los grupos poblacionales con diferente calidad de vida, y su correspondiente implantación espacial. Los resultados demuestran aspectos positivos de la propuesta metodológica seguida, pudiendo ser de utilidad la estrategia de tratar por separado las ‘dimensiones’ de la calidad de vida para el estudio de ámbitos urbanos.The unequal living conditions in an urban population generate social problems, and according to demographic dynamics, requires different demands and challenges to government administrations, mainly municipal, to reduce imbalances. The Santa Fe Metropolitan Area (AGSF) is characterized by imbalances in terms of quality of life and at the same time while having a low overall growth, this is not uniform throughout the all the metropolitan area. This article describes the stages of elaboration of an index of quality of life for the AGSF by crossing data provided by socioeconomic and environmental variables that emanate from various sources of information and were grouped into 'public' dimensions and 'private' of homes, in order to assess the specific effect of these two aspects in determining the quality of life. Another issue of the work lies in the analysis of the link between population growth and quality of life, without seeking to establish a relation direct cause – effect, to compare general trends of expansion or contraction of population groups with different quality of life, and its corresponding spatial implementation. The results show positive aspects of the methodology used, and may be useful the strategy to deal separately with the "dimensions" of the quality of life in order to further knowledge of the behavior of these aspects and their interrelations, in the study of urban spaces.Fil: Gomez, Nestor Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias; ArgentinaFil: Velázquez, Guillermo Ángel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Instituto de Geografía, Historia y Ciencias Sociales. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Geografía, Historia y Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Rethinking education. A glance from “Outside” the school

Repensar la escuela es un objetivo necesario en todo proyecto orientado a la mejora de las prácticas escolares. El fracaso y abandono escolar es un signo visible de que la escuela no está funcionando, ni sirve, para los objetivos sociales que deberían plantearse en la educación obligatoria y post-obligatoria. En los últimos años, las políticas educativas se han orientado a ofrecer alternativas y refuerzos creando sistemas paralelos que no alteran lo que ocurre en los centros. Aunque defendemos que el desenganche escolar es un fenómeno complejo donde se entrecruzan factores múltiples, sin que todos sean escolares, vamos a centrar esta comunicación en el análisis de claves educativas recogidas en historias de vida con jóvenes que no lograron concluir sus estudios de secundaria, bachillerato o FP media. Las 13 historias de vida en las que se basa este trabajo, desarrolladas en el curso 14-15 y 15-16 en Madrid, Guadalajara y Bilbao, ofrecen el discurso y experiencias de estos jóvenes y estimula la reflexión de una educación que garantice el éxito escolar para todosRethinking schools is a necessary goal of any Project aimed at improving school practices. School failure and drop-out is a clear sign that schools are not responding to social objectives that they should be addressing. In recent years, educational policy has focused on providing alternatives and compensatory measures, thus creating parallel systems which do not change what is happening within the school. Although we contend that drop-out is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors, not all of them schoolrelated, we focus this paper in the analysis of key educational questions emerged from life stories of young people who did not finish their secondary education. The 13 stories developed in Madrid, Guadalajara and Bilbao, during years 14-15 and 15-16 show the discourses and experiences of these youth, and stimulates the reflection on ensuring school success for all student