A Theory of Modern Transition Applied to Thailand

Modern Transition, Sector-Specific Complementarity, TFP and Inequality Dynamics

Discovering the Sources of TFP Growth: Occupation Choice, Capital Heterogeneity, and Financial Deepening

The sources of "total factor productivity (TFP) growth" or the "Solow residual" typically remain unknown as a residual. This paper aims to identify the underlying sources of this residual growth, being explicit about micro underpinnings and transitional growth from occupation choices of heterogeneous agents and financial deepening in use of both macro and micro data. We develop a method of growth accounting that decomposes not only the overall growth but also the residual TFP growth into four components: occupational shifts, financial deepening, capital heterogeneity, and sectoral Solow residuals. Applying this method to Thailand, which experienced rapid growth with enormous structural changes for the two decades between 1976 and 1996, we find that 55 percent of TFP growth can be explained on average by occupational shifts and financial deepening, without presuming exogenous technical progress. Expansion of credit is a major part of this explained TFP growth. Decomposition of the simulation helps us to infer that for the remainder TFP growth, capital-heterogeneity effect is behind during the initial period (1976-1980) while sectoral Solow residuals, due to the surge of wage after 1986, is behind during the latter decade (1986-1996)TFP, Capital Heterogeneity, Occupation Choice, Financial Deepening

Mirage cosmology with an unstable probe D3-brane

We consider the mirage cosmology by an unstable probe brane whose action is represented by BDI action with tachyon. We study how the presence of tachyon affects the evolution of the brane inflation. At the early stage of the brane inflation, the tachyon kinetic term can play an important role in curing the superluminal expansion in mirage cosmology.Comment: 11 pages, improved presentation with some clarifications, typos corrected, references adde

Legacy of Khmer Rouge on Skill Formation in Cambodia

This paper explores the effects of the demographic shocks related to the genocide of Khmer Rouge regime and their implications on skill formation in Cambodia. We found that the mass and targeted massacre created a deep hole in the middle-aged and the educated. After the end of the regime and the subsequent transition periods, baby boom followed. This baby-boom generation youth had difficulty in finding qualified teachers at schools and experienced mentors at workplaces and this led to the breaks of the intergenerational link of human capital transfer in Cambodia. Unfortunately, the current curriculum design of the TVET and general education in Cambodia is biased against the skill needs of the Cambodian labor market. Fixing these problems is an urgent issue for the sustainable development in Cambodia

Finance, Growth, and Inequality: New Evidence from the Panel VAR Perspective

This study analyzes the relationship among financial development, economic growth, and income inequality using cross-country panel VAR models. Most theoretical models state that these variables interact with one another and generate feedback dynamics. Under the presence of such interactive dynamics, single-equation regression analysis cannot capture the genuine relationship among finance, growth, and inequality. We use the panel VAR models to reflect these interactive feedback dynamics. Our estimation results suggest that the real GDP per capita decreases in response to financial deepening shock in private credit or liquid liability but increases to stock market capitalization shock. The effects of financial deepening on inequality are only weakly positive and short-lived. Positive income shock tends to increase inequality but this effect is not robust to financial deepening measures. However, inequality is harmful for growth controlling for every financial deepening measure

Accurate geometric correction by using centroid of polygon as control point

高分解能衛星画像IKONOSを対象に,ポリゴンの図心を基準点とした高精度幾何補正の有効性を検討した。ポリゴンとして田畑の形を利用した。地球の丸みによる歪を補正したデジタル画像を使用したデータ,シミュレーションによる検討,地上基準点の取得手法として地上基準点ポリゴンの取得と図心計算手法,画像基準点の取得方法として画像基準点ポリゴンの取得と図心計算手法,取得データ及び幾何補正結果を述べた。結果によれば,1/4ピクセルは達成しなかったもののサブピクセルでの幾何補正が行えた。Recently, high resolution satellite imageries (about 1 meter spatial resolution) are used in many fields. Generally, they are expected to be overlaid with GIS data and updating existing map. It is important issue for remote sensing to detect land-use/land-cover changes using high resolution satellite imageries. Therefore, the accuracy of geometric correction should be reduced to sub-pixel error. It is necessary to prepare accurate control points to correct geometrically. The control points are Ground Control Point (GCP) collected from the ground surface and corresponded Image Control Point (ICP) from selected imagery. Nowadays, the defined centroids of circles on the ground are used as accurate control points. However, it is difficult to prepare circle type GCPs. The existing types could be evaluated at first part of this study. Continuously, accurate geometric correction could be established using centroids of the polygons as control points. The result showed 0.54m pixel error by applying proposed methodology. It showed that the accuracy of proposed method is approximately same as circle type centroid method. Therefore centroid of rectangular type and polygon type were efficient for the geometric correction of high resolution imageries

Natural durability of some hardwoods imported into korea for deck boards against decay fungi and subterranean termite in accelerated laboratory tests

This study evaluated the natural durability of seven imported hardwoods (bangkirai, burckella, ipe, jarrah, kempas, malas, and merbau) used for deck boards against decay fungi (Fomitopsis palustris, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Trametes versicolor, and Irpex lacteus) and the subterranean termite (Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis) in accelerated laboratory tests. Ipe, jarrah, and merbau were very durable to fungal attack, with performance comparable to ACQ-treated wood. Bangkirai, burckella, kempas, and malas were classified as durable or moderately durable, depending on the fungal species tested. All wood species except for merbau were highly resistant to termite attack. Termite resistance was similar to ACQ-treated wood. Merbau showed somewhat less than all other species but still significant termite resistance. These results indicated that selected naturally durable hardwood species could inhibit fungal and termite attacks as effectively as ACQ treatment. The natural durability of wood species tested in this study is most likely due to the biocidal extractive content of the wood