Do Small Businesses Create More Jobs? New Evidence for the United States from the National Establishment Time Series

We use a new database, the National Establishment Time Series (NETS), to revisit the debate about the role of small businesses in job creation. Birch (e.g., 1987) argued that small firms are the most important source of job creation in the U.S. economy. But Davis et al. (1996a) argued that this conclusion was flawed, and based on improved methods and using data for the manufacturing sector, they concluded that there was no relationship between establishment size and net job creation. Using the NETS data, we examine evidence for the overall economy, as well as for different sectors. The results indicate that small firms and small establishments create more jobs, on net, although the difference is much smaller than what is suggested by Birch's methods. Moreover, in the recent period we study, a negative relationship between establishment size and job creation holds for both the manufacturing and services sectors.job creation, job destruction, small businesses

Farm-gate N and P balances and use efficiencies across specialist dairy farms in the Republic Ireland

working paperThis study establishes farm gate N and P balances and use efficiencies based on the average of 2 years of Teagasc National Farm Survey data in 2009 and 2010. The weighted average farm gate N surplus for this nationally representative sample of specialist dairy farms was 143.4 kg N ha-1. Average farm gate nitrogen use efficiency was 23.2%. For dairy farms operating under an EU Nitrates Derogation, the average N surplus was higher at 181.8 kg N ha-1 and averageN use efficiency was slightly lower at 22.2%. The total average farm gate P balance was 4.1 kg ha-1 in surplus, and P use efficiency averaged 83.9%. P balance ranged from -7.3 to 23.0 kg ha-1. A total of 27% had a negative P balance. The average P surplus for farms with a Nitrates Derogation was below the average of all farms at 3.5 kg P ha-1 and average P use efficiency for these Derogation farms was above the average of all farms at 90%

MCNP Modeling of a Molten Salt Reactor

GURC Conference – Deadline: 9/21/2018 MCNP Modeling of a Molten Salt Reactor David Wall and Chris Berry Mentors: Dr. Andrew Hummel Dr. Tien Mun Yee Dr. Jungkyu Park Dr. Eduardo B. Farfán Draft: 9/21/2018 A variety of national and international companies are looking into innovative and nontraditional nuclear reactor systems, known as Generation IV reactors. Recently, there has been an increased interest in a reactor type that uses molten salts of various compositions as nuclear fuel because of its economic and technological advantages. This research study is an exploratory exercise of the nuclear attributes of molten salt fuels in Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs); particularly, fluoride-based thorium salts and the feasibility of their use in nuclear reactors. A scoping analysis is performed to look at the behavior of molten salts in simple reactor core geometric configurations, such as a cylindrical core of various dimensions and core arrangement in a repeated lattice structure. The investigation was conducted by means of a probabilistic computer simulation through the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP) developed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In conjunction with other Kennesaw State University students’ research, this study is part of an effort to provide integral data for the completion of a comprehensive study of MSRs, their fuels, and the potential part they play for the future of the nuclear power industry

Special Economic Zones in China: the administrative and regulatory framework

Few policy changes can be more radical than the introduction of market forces into a centrally planned economic system. This, however, was the intention behind the establishment of special economic zones in China. It is difficult to devise practical management systems and administrative and regulatory frameworks needed to ensure that policies are operationally effective and that objectives are efficiently achieved. This paper addresses the question of whether or not the management system established for the special economic zones policy is appropriate. Worldwide, types of 'economic zones' range from whole territories such as Hong Kong, through industrial estates which are physically separated from the rest of the economy, to individual warehouses or factories, or even parts of factories. Zones differ in their form of management structure and in the specific nature of the regulations that determine which companies can operate, what activities they can carry out and how they must conduct their operations to qualify for zone status. The common denominator of most zones is a focus on the encouragement of export-oriented activities. Although their physical fom1s vary. they are usually referred to collectively as export processing zones. The regulatory framework of China's special economic zones is modelled on frameworks developed for export processing zones in other countries but it also includes other objectives that are often in conflict with the export aims. This paper compares special economic zones with export processing zones and shows that the regulatory framework in China is not functioning efficiently or effectively. China's special economic zone regulations, which seek to emulate a market environment, are dominated by state control mechanisms. Resources are allocated by contacts rather than by productivity. Finns are encouraged to put effort and resources into developing contacts and seeking favours rather than improving efficiency. Regulations determining ·special' access to domestic raw materials, capital goods, labour and markets, are largely redundant, leaving zone firms on the same footing as any other (state) firms. Profitable firms can be constrained and loss-making inefficient firms can be sustained under the planning control mechanisms. The bureaucracy and control associated with access to zone incentives have discouraged many foreign investors. The main beneficiaries of the zones policy seem to be state enterprises which can manipulate state controls. Sweeping and effective enterprise reforms, and political commitment to the private sector and to a market system is crucial to the successful development of economic zones in China. Otherwise the substantial and physically impressive development in the special economic zones will remain costly and result in a net loss to the Chinese economy

Educational Deserts and Trade Areas: SCSU and the Geography of College Opportunity

This presentation defines the terms educational desert , trade area , and proportional market area within the context of St. Cloud State University and the regions within the state from which it recruits students. Several profiles of incoming students at other 4 year Minnesota State institutions emerge from the data

Multiple safety net regulators and agency problems in the EU: is Prompt Corrective Action a partial solution?

Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) provides a more efficient mechanism for dealing with problem banks operating in more than one European country. In a PCA framework, a bank’s losses are likely to be substantially reduced. This reduction in the losses to deposit insurance and governments will improve the problem of allocating those losses across the various insurance schemes and make it less likely that any deposit insurer will renege on its obligations in a cross-border banking crisis. This paper explores the institutional changes needed in Europe if PCA is to be effective in resolving the cross-border agency problems that arise in supervising and resolving cross-border banking groups. The paper identifies these changes starting with enhancements in the availability to prudential supervisors of information on banking groups’ financial condition. Next, the paper considers collective decision-making by prudential supervisors with authority to make discretionary decisions within the PCA framework as soon as a bank of a cross-border banking group falls below the minimum capital standard. Finally, the paper analyses the coordination measures that should be implemented if PCA requires the bank to be resolved.banking supervision; European Union; Prompt Corrective Action

Multiple safety net regulators and agency problems in the European Union: Is prompt corrective action partly the solution?

This paper discusses the institutional changes needed in Europe if prompt corrective action (PCA) is to be effective in supervising and resolving cross-border banking groups. The paper identifies these changes starting with enhancements in the availability of information on banking groups’ financial condition to prudential supervisors. Next, the paper considers the collective decision making by prudential supervisors with authority to make discretionary decisions within the PCA framework as soon as a bank in a cross-border banking group falls below the minimum capital standard. Finally, the paper analyzes the coordination measures that should be implemented if PCA requires the bank to be resolved.