Skilled Worker Migration and Trade: Inequality and Welfare

We develop a two-sector, two-country model where trade is driven by technological differences. Each country is populated by large number of heterogeneous workers distinguished by their level of skills. Given that one country has a technological advantage in the skilled intensive good when we allow for both trade and migration skilled workers migrate to that country. We analyze the consequences of this migration for both inequality and welfare for the source and the host country.skilled labor, migration, welfare, political economy

Skilled Worker Migration and Trade: Inequality and Welfare

We develop a two-sector, two-country model where trade is driven by technological differences. Each country is populated by large number of heterogeneous workers distinguished by their level of skills. Given that one country has a technological advantage in the skilled intensive good when we allow for both trade and migration skilled workers migrate to that country. We analyze the consequences of this migration for both inequality and welfare for the source and the host country.Skilled Labor, Migration, Welfare, Political Economy

African Trade Policy in the 1990s: Political Economy or Technocratic Reforms?

The majority of African countries implemented import liberalisation in the 1990s. This paper explores factors that may explain the pattern of protection and of tariff reform. We consider political economy explanations, motivated specifically by the Grossman and Helpman (1994) model of protection in response to industry lobbies, and the possibility that reforms are technocratic. Using industry-level data for a sample of six African countries, we find limited evidence that political economy factors have influenced the pattern of tariffs or tariff reductions since the early 1990s. One result does appear frequently: relative sector size (measured by the number of employees or establishments) appears to be associated with the relative level of protection. We then explore various descriptive statistics for tariff changes in seven African countries. The analysis suggests that the pattern of tariff reductions was essentially technocratic in structure - across the board reduction in average tariffs and in the dispersion of rates, with larger proportional reductions for higher tariffs – consistent with policy reforms being guided by the World Bank. While political economy factors may have influenced the initial pattern of protection, the technocratic reforms since the early 1990s have diluted political economy influences on average and relative protection.Pattern of Protection, Tariff Reform, Political Economy, Africa

One-Participant 401(k) as a Tool for Farmers and Ranchers

According to USDA, only 40% of farm households participate in some type of retirement account. For self-employed farmers and ranchers without full-time employees, the opportunity to invest in a One-Participant 401(k) plan is a way to (1) save money for retirement, (2) reduce taxable income, and (3) provide the potential option to borrow from the plan. This series of articles will review these features. What is a One-Participant 401(k)? The One-Participant 401(k)is a qualified retirement plan designed specifically for business owners with no full-time employees other than the business owners and their spouses. Visit with your financial planner and tax advisor if you have part-time employees and are considering establishing a 401(k) for your business to make sure you comply with 401(k) funding rules

One-Participant 401(k): Saving for Retirement and Reducing Taxes

The adage that farmers and ranchers are often asset-rich and cash poor does indeed appear to be true! According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), just forty percent of farmers contribute to a retirement plan. And because many farmers and ranchers invest profits in their business rather than take a high salary, they show little income on their tax returns. This means they will have paid less into Social Security and their benefits will be lower when they retire. This can create cash flow challenges, especially for an older generation of farm and ranch families wanting to bring the next generation into the operation and keep the business going. For self-employed farmers and ranchers without full-time employees, the opportunity to invest in a One-Participant 401(k) plan is a way to (1) save money for retirement, (2) reduce taxable income, (3) provide the potential option to borrow from the plan. This series of articles will review these features. This article focuses on saving for retirement and reducing tax liability

The affects of background features on far testing

Examined is whether or not the background features of the typical Pacific University examination room affect the patient\u27s visual behavior as shown in lateral phoria and duction tests performed at six meters. Far phoria and duction measurements were taken on 36 subjects under the following three conditions: 1) Cluttered Field - the unstructured normal exam room background; 2) Empty Field - a large, featureless screen obscuring that background; 3) Cluttered Field with Instructions - with instructions for the subject to be aware of the normal exam room background. Significant changes in phorias and ductions were found when the subjects were instructed to be aware of the several objects in the field