Growth, Fiscal Policy and the Informal Sector in a Small Open Economy

We discuss the implications of informality on growth and fiscal policy by considering an informal sector based on low tech firms, in an open economy model of endogenous growth, where labour supply is elastic and increasing returns arise from public spending. We allow for both labour and capital to allocate between sectors and examine the dynamic and policy issues that arise in an economy, where long run outcomes are still dominated by formal activities, but long macroeconomic transitions arise as a result of informal microeconomic activities, which take advantage of both government taxation and limited fiscalization.Endogenous Growth Theory; Optimal Fiscal Policy; Informal Sector; Public Capital

Growth, Fiscal Policy and the Informal Sector in a Small Open Economy

We discuss the implications of informality on growth and fiscal policy by considering an informal sector based on low tech firms, in an open economy model of endogenous growth, where labour supply is elastic and increasing returns arise from public spending. We allow for both labour and capital to allocate between sectors and examine the dynamic and policy issues that arise in an economy, where long run outcomes are still dominated by formal activities, but long macroeconomic transitions arise as a result of informal microeconomic activities, which take advantage of both government taxation and limited fiscalization.Endogenous Growth Theory; Optimal Fiscal Policy; Informal Sector; Public Capital.

Making Mountains of Debt Out of Molehills: The Pro-Cyclical Implications of Tax and Expenditure Limitations

This paper presents evidence that property tax limits have detrimental effects on state and local revenues during recessions. Property tax limits cause states to rely on income–elastic revenue sources, such as the income tax or charges and fees. Greater reliance on these revenue sources results in greater revenue declines during economic downturns. We present analysis of time–series, cross–sectional data for the U.S. states for each of these conclusions. Our results suggest that states would have fewer and more modest financial problems during economic downturns if they did not enact property tax limitations

Political culture in the Holy Roman Empire

This article reviews six essay collections and one monograph on late medieval and early modern political culture in the Holy Roman Empire. Following a general survey of historiographical trends and a discussion of the specific contributions of the works under review (covering topics from international relations, state formation and the role of language to representative assemblies and the exercise of power in towns and villages), it attempts a preliminary sketch of the basic parameters of pre-modern politics. Prominent insights include shifts in the balance between oral, ritual and written communication, the significance of informal bonds and the negotiated quality of developments at all levels of government. The conclusion assesses the potential of the ‘new’ political history and calls for renewed efforts to link discourses, representations and perceptions to the norms, structures and socio-economic conditions with which they interacted

The Therapeutic Function of Metaphor: the Case of Emotions in the Croatian Public Discourse

In this paper we (re-)examine the role of deliberate metaphors in the public discourse. Based on an analysis of metaphorical comments to the articles reporting on a dispute between the Croatian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, we argue that in addition to a number of established discursive functions, metaphor may perform a therapeutic function aiding commenters in working through their emotions. Our analyses of the course that comments take shows that they are not structured according to a usual turn-taking logic, but rather on the basis of the coherence of the emotions shared by the commenters. Moreover, the tripartite internal structure of the comments (identifying the critical event, running the blend, possibly offering a solution to the critical event) is aimed at symbolically delegitimizing politicians, putting the author in charge of the experience, thus enabling him/her to work through it. Theoretically, such a view suggests that on the discourse level it is not necessarily metaphor that is used as the structuring device, but that emotion can structure metaphor.In this paper we (re-)examine the role of deliberate metaphors in the public discourse. Based on an analysis of metaphorical comments to the articles reporting on a dispute between the Croatian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, we argue that in addition to a number of established discursive functions, metaphor may perform a therapeutic function aiding commenters in working through their emotions. Our analyses of the course that comments take shows that they are not structured according to a usual turn-taking logic, but rather on the basis of the coherence of the emotions shared by the commenters. Moreover, the tripartite internal structure of the comments (identifying the critical event, running the blend, possibly offering a solution to the critical event) is aimed at symbolically delegitimizing politicians, putting the author in charge of the experience, thus enabling him/her to work through it. Theoretically, such a view suggests that on the discourse level it is not necessarily metaphor that is used as the structuring device, but that emotion can structure metaphor

Why Are Regulations Changed? A Parcel Analysis of Upzoning in Los Angeles

Planners, officials, and neighborhood groups often debate zoning changes, yet there is little empirical evidence explaining why zoning and other land use regulations are changed. I use logistic regression models to examine density-enabling rezoning (“upzoning”) in Los Angeles. I find that upzoning occurs where there are development opportunities combined with limited political resistance. Upzoning is most likely on well-located parcels zoned for low-intensity, nonresidential uses. Meanwhile, homeowners—and particularly homeowners with access to valuable amenities—are associated with regulatory stasis. I conclude by recommending strategies for addressing homeowners’ concerns about higher density housing

Linking agrobiodiversity and culture through the adoption of agroforestry practices: The Agroforestry Indigenous Agents

Agroforestry is the result of a dialectical relationship between humans and the environment, capable of increasing agricultural biodiversity. In the Brazilian Amazon region, Agroforestry Indigenous Agents have been disseminating these practices through participatory processes. They combine traditional knowledge and new techniques and technologies in order to ensure food security, improve environmental conservation, and guarantee a good quality of life. They promote behavior change towards more sustainable land management practices through knowledge sharing

Control of carnivore overpopulation (Egyptian Mongoose and red fox) : study case in the council of Azambuja (Portugal)

The presence of predators in a habitat is considered a stabilizing force in the population of herbivores, contributing to the balance of the ecosystem. However, the predator’s overpopulation causes a drastic reduction of primary consumers, exceeding the capacity of the ecosystem and endangering the entire food chain. To solve that situation, density control actions are being implemented by man, for balance maintenance purposes or to prevent damages. Often, in the council of Azambuja, there are carried out these actions, by Hunting Associations to control the carnivore population in forest areas, in particular the egyption mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), for their allegedly effect on the lagomorphs population decline. The objective of this study was to describe the capture process end-to-end: how the authorization is required, how is it done in the field, how the fiscalization is made and the results on the biodiversity. The methodology used was the record of the process, interview of the people responsible in field for these actions, and consultation with the national authorities involved. It was verified that the national services which controls these actions (National Institute for Nature Conservation and Forestry) and responsible for the evaluation of the licenses requests, issued these ones to a local hunting association, without any previous study of those two species population’s densities or maximum carrying capacity of the environment for them. There’s no effective supervision of the implementation of this action in the field. It was also clear that hunters use these actions, not to guarantee the ecosystem balance, but to eliminate predators in order to increase the lagomorph’s population for the hunting season. So a process that first established the ecosystem’s balance can and may do exactly the opposite

Fiscal Policy in the EU Countries Most Affected by the Crisis: Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain

The global financial crisis which began in 2007-2008 had a negative effect on the economy of the European Union, mainly in selected countries of the euro area: Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. These peripheral euro zone countries come out of recession and the financial crisis largely due to the great financial support of the international institutions. Hundreds of billions of euro were spent to save these economies. At the same time, however, these countries were characterized by the lowest level of fiscal policy - measured by share of taxes in GDP - among the countries of the euro area.Światowy kryzys finansowy, który rozpoczął się w latach 2007-2008 w USA wpłynął negatywnie na gospodarkę Unii Europejskiej, a głównie na euro area, czyli w Grecji, Irlandii, Hiszpanii i Portugalii. Te peryferyjne kraje strefy euro wychodzą z recesji i kryzysu finansowego w dużym stopniu dzięki wielkiemu wsparciu finansowemu instytucji międzynarodowych. Na uratowanie tych gospodarek przeznaczono setki miliardów euro. Równocześnie jednak kraje te charakteryzowały się najniższym stopniem fiskalizacji mierzonym udziałem podatków w GDP wśród krajów należących do strefy euro