Determinants of net trade flows in the OECD: new evidende with special emphasis on the case of the former communist members

This study explores - by estimating an econometric panel data model – the capacity of some of the hypotheses formulated in the recent dynamic models of trade and economic growth to explain the bilateral trade of OECD countries. In this respect, special emphasis is placed on the former communist members in order to assess whether their case differs from that of the OECD on the whole. Amongst other findings, our study suggests that the larger a country’s endowment of capital, both tangible and intangible (human and technological capital), in relation to that of its trade partners, the better the export/import ratio of its bilateral trade. It also shows that direct investment enhances the export/import ratio with the host country. The results obtained for the former communist countries reflect only a few minor differences in relation to the others.trade flows, Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs)

An Assessment of Real Convergence of Less Developed EU Members: Lessons for the CEEC Candidates

The main purpose of this study is to provide an assessment of the different experiences of convergence of the four less developed EU members (Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece) after joining the EU and their main determining factors. Here special emphasis is placed on the assessment of their respective capital stocks, both physical and intangible, given their essential influence on growth and, consequently, on economic welfare. In addition, it aims to draw conclusions for these experiences that may help in the elaboration of suitable strategies of accession for the CEEC candidates..

"The Role of International Technological Spillovers in the Economic Growth of the OECD Countries "

This paper explores the role of imports as a mechanism of transmission of international technological spillovers and the significance of these for the growth and economic convergence of the OECD countries. For this purpose a growth model is estimated that includes amongst its determinants a measure of the stock of technological knowledge. The results reveal first that international technological spillovers transmitted through imports have had a favourable influence on the economic growth of the OECD countries, Secondly, they suggest that the capacity of countries to take advantage of those spillovers depend on their own human and R&D capital endowments..

Spatial productivity spillovers across Spanish municipalities

Whilst a great deal of e¤ort has been dedicated to identification of agglomeration effects on labour productivity, the measurement of spatial productivity spillovers is a question that has been addressed only occasionally along the New Economic Geography literature. We estimate agglomeration effects, nonetheless conditioned to the possible existence of spatial productivity spillovers across Spanish municipalities in year 2001. To this respect, we find that agglomeration effects are in the same order of magnitude than thoseencountered when measured in the standard way. Further, these agglomeration efects coexist with very strong spatial productivity spillovers in a close neighbourhood of 10 km. Finally, these spatial e¤ects are shown to quickly diminish as distance increases.IV estimation, elevation, spatial externalities, productivity, neighbourhood, Spain

Fecundity of Litopenaeus setiferus, Farfantepenaeus aztecus and F. duorarum, in the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico

Fecundity of white shrimp, Litopenaeus setiferus, brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus, and pink shrimp F. duorarum and relationships to gonad weights and total and carapace length were estimated. Ovigerous females were collected in the southern Gulf of Mexico in February, May, August and November 1993. Fecundity was estimated by means of a gravimetric method. The equations relating fecundity to total weight and fecundity to gonad weight were linear in the 3 species. However, an exponential relationship was found between fecundity and carapace length in L. setiferus and F. aztecus. Of the relationships examined, gonad weight was considered a more precise indicator of fecundity. Fecundity estimates ranged from 70,647 to 558,270 eggs for 0.203 and 5.639 g gonad weight of L. setiferus, from 23,298 to 494,292 eggs for 0.061 to 2.561 g gonad weight in F. aztecus and from 138,618 to 225,543 eggs for 0.120 to 0.998 g gonad weight in F. duorarum

The European Map of Job Flows

The European Map of Job Flows (EMJF) is a term used to denote a dataset of meso- and macro-level variables describing different aspect of labour mobility within national labour markets in Europe. In this paper, EMJF is centred on the notion of job “flows”, namely the changes in the level of employment at different breakdowns and levels of aggregation. EMJF is very rich in information content due to the wide variety of possible breakdown of the data and in this sense it is a “map” mostly in the virtual sense, namely, that it is not possible to visualise in the form of geographic maps all the wealth of available information. In terms of its value as a research product and tool, EMJF is mostly an intermediate product in the sense that it is a convenient means to organise the relevant information, which could subsequently be used for different analytical and research purposes. It provides both for cross-sections/snapshots of job flows at different point in time but also it allows their assessment and analysis over longer periods of time. In this sense, EMJF can be widely used for various types of labour-market analysis and research. EMJF’s visual components can also be a convenient tool for policy makers dealing with labour market policies at different level (regional, national or supra-national) in the decision-making process. Here we present a Compilation of a EMJF on the basis of firm-level data In this sense the job flows are built up on the basis of firm-level data for individual countries, following a common methodology. We adopt an approach of establishing such a EMJF on the basis of the AMADEUS dataset developed by the consultancy Bureau van Dijk. The dataset in its most extended version contains balance sheet data and ownership data for almost 14 million firms from 43 different European countries (September 2009 update). For many EU countries the dataset has in principle access to the entire universe of firms which have to report a balance sheet. In terms of countries, the geographic coverage of AMADEUS encompasses information for all the 27 members of the European Union (albeit with different qualities in terms of national coverage) as well as other 16 European countries that complete the geographical and political definition of the continent. Another interesting feature of the database is given by the detailed definition of a firm's location, with data available on the region (NUTS2) and the city in which the firm operates. This project deliverable presents the main results from the final stage of MICRO-DYN work on the EMJF. It discusses the approach to building the EMJF on the basis of AMADEUS data and illustrates the analytical potential of the EMJF as a research tool with a range of Europe-wide analytical exercises. Probably the most important outcome of this research effort is the demonstrated capability to perform meta-analysis at the European level of important labour market characteristics on the basis of firm-level data.job flows, europe, labor market, microdata

Determinants of bilateral foreing direct investment flows in the OECD, with a closer look at the former coummunist countries

The main purpose of this paper is to study the determinants of bilateral foreign direct investment (hereafter FDI) flows in OECD countries. Special emphasis is placed on the new Central and Eastern European members (Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland) in order to assess whether they differ from those of the OECD on the whole. Our theoretical framework is based on the OLI paradigm (ownership, location, internalization) developed in Dunning (1974, 1980 and 1993). The panel data estimation takes into account the ideas suggested in Zhang and Markusen (1997). According to our findings the variables that can best explain the bilateral FDI flows within the OECD are: on the one hand, the technological superiority of the investor vis-à-vis the host and, on the other, the relative abundance of physical capital, the endowments of human capital, transport infrastructure, and the size of the host countries, which clearly act as a factor of attraction for FDI.foreing direct investment, Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs)

Sharing the cost of river basin adaptation portfolios to climate change: Insights from social justice and cooperative game theory

[EN] The adaptation of water resource systems to the potential impacts of climate change requires mixed portfolios of supply and demand adaptation measures. The issue is not only to select efficient, robust, and flexible adaptation portfolios but also to find equitable strategies of cost allocation among the stakeholders. Our work addresses such cost allocation problems by applying two different theoretical approaches: social justice and cooperative game theory in a real case study. First of all, a cost-effective portfolio of adaptation measures at the basin scale is selected using a least-cost optimization model. Cost allocation solutions are then defined based on economic rationality concepts from cooperative game theory (the Core). Second, interviews are conducted to characterize stakeholders perceptions of social justice principles associated with the definition of alternatives cost allocation rules. The comparison of the cost allocation scenarios leads to contrasted insights in order to inform the decision-making process at the river basin scale and potentially reap the efficiency gains from cooperation in the design of river basin adaptation portfolios.The study has been partially supported by the IMPADAPT project (CGL2013-48424-C2-1-R) from the Spanish ministry MINECO (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad) with European FEDER funds. The first author is supported by a grant from the University Lecturer Training Program (FPU12/03803) of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Spain. The second author is financially supported by BRGM's research program 30 (environmental and risk economics). Readers interested in the data can request those by e-mail to Corentin Girard, [email protected], CDP.; Rinaudo, J.; Pulido-Velazquez, M. (2016). Sharing the cost of river basin adaptation portfolios to climate change: Insights from social justice and cooperative game theory. 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Afterschool Music Education Program Linked to Social-Emotional Advantages for Children Facing Economic Hardship

Background: The start of the 21st century has hosted decreased access to music education, particularly for children facing economic hardship and children who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) (McMurrer, 2007). This is problematic in terms of arts equity and social-emotional benefits children may gain via music participation. The present study examines the impact of an afterschool music education program on social-emotional functioning for elementary school children facing risks related to poverty and racism. Method: Participants were 503 students who attended public elementary schools: 345 students received the Music Education Program (MEP), whereas 158 students enrolled for comparison purposes, did not receive MEP. Of participants, 60.8% were female, and 70.1% Black/African American. Child age ranged from 7 to 14 years (M = 9 yrs, 7 mo). Nearly all children had family income-to-needs ratios falling below the federal threshold for poverty status. Ethical standards were followed, and all procedures were approved by the appropriate IRBs. At start-of-year and end-of-year time points, students completed The Brief™ Problem Monitor (Achenbach, McConaughy, Ivanova, et al., 2011). Results and Implications: Multivariate tests revealed a significant main effect of MEP, and a significant interaction of MEP and time, with MEP students showing greater improvement across the year. Univariate tests indicated a significant interaction of time and MEP for: internalizing, externalizing, and total problems. Although not designed as music therapy, this after school music education program seemed to have something of a therapeutic benefit for participating students

Radical Catholic resistance to the Mexican Revolution: the Cristero Rebellion and the Sinarquista Movement

The Cristero Rebellion and the Sinarquista Movement were reactionary forces that opposed the progression of the Mexican Revolution in the first half of the twentieth century. This thesis compares the two movements, with particular emphasis on their ideologies. Both groups embodied Catholic resistance against an anticlerical and socialist Mexican government. The struggle between the church and state, which can be traced to colonial times, reached a zenith with the highly anticlerical Mexican Revolution of 1910. As revolutionary ideology was vigorously implemented by the Mexican state, Catholics rallied behind the church and sought recourse in violence. This culminated in the Cristero Rebellion of 1926-29, with disastrous results. In the 1930s, when the new threat of socialism emerged, Catholics abandoned the path of bloodshed and supported the Sinarquista Movement. These movements represented the ultimate expression in religious protest, yet little is written that compares the Sinarquistas with the Cristeros. Moreover, some historians contended that the two groups had little in common. In essence, present historiography views the movements as two separate events. This thesis argues that while a few differences exist, the Sinarquistas shared many of the goals, ideologies, and demographics of the Cristeros. Moreover, it concludes that the Sinarquista Movement was essentially a continuation of the Cristero struggle