Teaching and Learning in First Year Seminars

This Journal of Information Technology Education article compares the relative successes of three different teaching techniques in seminars for a first year university course. This paper tests to see if there is one overriding approach that enables all students to learn effectively in seminars or whether different students benefit from different teaching techniques. Educational levels: Graduate or professional

Venezuela: A Nation In Need of Reform

The Venezuelan economy is currently undergoing tremendous economic and political upheaval. However, of the Latin American countries, it was one of the least damaged by the events in 2001 and also made a steady recovery from the Asian crisis of 1997. Using a combination of economic indicators, it is shown that VenezuelaÂ’s difficulties occurred not through contagion from other countriesÂ’ problems but through (a) its reliance on the oil sector and (b) poorly constructed and ill-sequenced policy. Given this, the paper then explores the countryÂ’s policy options and asks what can be done to make it an emerging market success.Currency Crises, Emerging Market Economies, Natural Resources

Speculative Behaviour, Debt Default and Contagion: An Explanation of the Latin American Crisis 2001-2002

This paper provides a model incorporating strategic speculative behaviour into a framework of debt default and contagion. A basic model of contagion shows how economies which appear fundamentally sound, can fail to meet foreign obligations when there are inter-linkages with a defaulting country. Introducing speculators into the framework increases the incidence of debt default and contagion. However, when these speculators view the economy with a degree of uncertainty, the likelihood of default and contagion is even greater. SpeculatorsÂ’ perceptions over the state of the economy are therefore paramount when estimating the impact of a crisis on a region.Currency Crises, Contagion, Common Knowledge.

Investigating Health Technology Diffusion in New Zealand – How Does it Spread and Who Stands to Gain?

Previous Treasury research has identified “price and coverage” effects as playing a key role in the growth of historical health expenditure. This incorporates factors such as technological change and input prices including wages. Bryant et. al. (2004) found that between 1950-51 and 2001-02, growth in price and coverage effects was the main source of long run growth in government health expenditure and has accounted for 3-4% growth per year since the early 1990s. This paper explores how a new health technology diffuses across District Health Boards (DHBs), the price and coverage effects, and whether access is evenly spread across the population i.e. who benefits from a new device or procedure. In particular, it highlights: • the variation in clinical practice between different DHBs • the degree to which the adoption of a particular technology in one DHB impacts on neighbouring DHBs: ? a “domino” effect occurs when the adoption of a technology in one DHB leads to other DHBs following suit ? the adoption of a technology in one DHB leads to increased inter-district flows between DHBs. • differences in access between geographical regions and also ethnic groups The paper takes the example of a new procedure used in coronary care known as ‘stenting’ and examines its adoption across the different DHBs. Data used pertains to different heart procedures adopted across New Zealand over a particular time frame (1995-2004). It comprises patient details plus information relating to the DHB in which the procedure was carried out and also the patient’s domicile DHB.technology diffusion; coronary procedures; health expenditure

Fiscal Policy, intercountry adjustment and the real exchange rate within Europe

In EMU, a country may have difficulty ensuring stability in the face of asymmetric shocks; the response may be unstable, or, even if not, the real exchange rate might overshoot. Fiscal policy may help to stabilise inflation and also to target the real exchange rate. The paper argues that an improved fiscal policy process might result in improved macroeconomic performance within Europe. Within EMU, a country may have difficulty ensuring stability in the face of asymmetric shocks; the response may be unstable, or, even if not, the real exchange rate might overshoot. In this context, the rules of the SGP may interfere with the control of inflation control, with the short-run stabilisation of demand, and also with the longer term adjustment of intra-European real exchange rates. We recommend using fiscal policy to stabilise inflation and also to target the real exchange rate rather than deficits or debt. Such a policy would require a more active use of fiscal policy.adjustment, macroeconomic stability, fiscal policy, EMU, "Fiscal policy, intercountry adjustment and the real exchange rate within Europe", Allsopp , Vines

Purchasing Power Parity in East Asia: Why all the Fuss?

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) literature is now vast with literally hundreds of papers offering tests for PPP across a broad number of countries. However, despite all the elaborate techniques employed, very little explanation is given as to why PPP is so relevant1 in policy making. This paper provides a basic understanding of PPP and shows why it is considered so important when making policy choices. The discussion is focused on the Asian economies since these have been subject to intense scrutiny following the 1997 crisis, particularly with regard to their choice of exchange rate regime and possible monetary unification.Exchange Rates Regimes, Purchasing Power Parity