Has Fiscal Federalism Worked for Macroeconomic Purposes？ The Chinese Experience 1994-2003

China＇s central government undertook major tax regime reform in 1994 that was characterized by fiscal federalism. In hindsight, this reform might be viewed as being more emphatic towards the revenue side than the expenditure side. The reform has resulted in certain success both for revenue shifting and inflation fighting purposes. However, the reform and its subsequent follow-ups have not addressed some fundamental issues pertaining to China＇s government finance system, such as the overhauling of the function of government finance and redrawing lines between the central and regional governments with regard to their fiscal responsibilities and duties. Moreover, fiscal federalism might have actually increased fiscal burden on the economy, especially on domestic sectors of the economy. However, coupled with enhanced policy support for China＇ s external development, fiscal federalism might have helped to further accelerate resource shifts toward the external sector, thus resulting in an unprecedented rapid expansion in China＇ s exports since the mid1990s.     

Is Financial Development Another Source of Comparative Advantage？ Evidence from China

Using panel data for 29 provinces in China during 1990-2004, the present paper attempts to explore a possible link between financial development and China＇s foreign trade. Three measures of comparative advantage in manufactured goods have been applied in our study, including Balassa＇s revealed comparative advantage, the net manufactured export index, and the Michaely index. We also use four indicators of financial development to identify the different functions of regional financial development, and to determine both size and efficiency features of financial institutions. The estimation results suggest that besides factor endowments, foreign firms and infrastructure, financial development has a quantitatively large and robust effect on China ＇ s manufactured goods trade. Therefore, further reform of China＇s financial system should be encouraged to fully exploit the comparative advantage of China＇s foreign trade.     

Regional Incentives to Increase the Competitiveness of a Renewable Energy Business Cluster in a Small Island Like Corsica （France）

Renewable energy （RE） has grown to become part of mainstream economics, industry, and energy. The process started in the wake of oil shortages amid the 1970s energy crisis, when the major industrial countries of the world sought out an array of energy security strategies. Diversifying energy import-export trade, restructuring GDP, and increasing and backing home-sourced offers are all basic essential measures that different countries have adopted to different degrees in an effort to reduce dependency on imported oil. The last of these measures counts RE as a vector of local generation. The past decade has seen the RE sector really take off, driven by now well-structured industries starting to mobilize now-mature technologies. This developmental shift towards RE has been framed by different policy measures that nevertheless share the same core rationale climate change. Among the pro-renewables policies adopted by France, the deployment of competitive clusters has proved an effective tool for leveraging the growth of renewables. Business clusters are geographically-concentrated economic structures assuring the often tenuous link between efficient national industrial policy .efforts and regional planning and branding issues. From this perspective, the logic of synergy by connecting global to local issues remains to be created around a new paradigm： regional attractiveness/place branding. In today＇s fast-globalizing world, the much-hyped concept of place branding has become critical for regions in fierce global competition to capture and secure geographically-mobile investment. In this context, promoting and attracting inward investment is a multidimensional challenge where business clusters have a pivotal role to play. Corsica, a small island economy, represents a case-in-point target of analysis through its long-standing plan for the regional and sustainable development of Corsica （French decentralization policy on Corsica under the law dated 22 January 2002） and the CAPENERGIES business cluster a key l     

Policy Options for China＇s Bio-ethanol Development and the Implications for Its Agricultural Economy

The present paper analyzes the potential impacts of bio-ethanol expansion on agricultural production, food prices and farmers＇ incomes in different regions of China. The results show that increase in demand for feedstock to produce bio-ethanol will lead to large increase in the prices of agricultural products. The increase in prices will trigger a significant rise in the production of feedstock at the cost of lower rice and wheat production. The study also reveals that the impacts of bio-ethanol on farmers＂ incomes vary largely among regions and farmer groups. Given the expected expansion of bio-ethanol production in the future, and the limited land resources for feedstock production in China, the viability of different crops as feedstock for bio-ethanol requires careful analysis before a large-scale expansion of China＇s bio-ethanol program. Bio-ethanol production in China should be relying more on the second generation of bio-ethanol technologies （i.e. using celluloses to produce bio-ethanol）, and China＇s government should increase research investment in this field.     

Economic Policies for a Harmonious Society： A Symposium Editorial Introduction

China＇s remarkable economic growth has produced dramatic structtral and socioeconomic change. Economic growth has solved many problems but the accompanying changes in the economy and society have brought new problems to the fore. This has been recognized by China＇s Government in the recent emphasis that it has placed on the need to create a ＂harmonious society.＂ The new leadership will wish to devise new policies for the current challenges and those ahead.     

Declining Labor Share： Is China＇s Case Different？

This paper explores why labor share in China has declined since the middle of the 1990s. Existing literature usually ascribes the labor share decline in developed countries to biased technological progress. However, our investigation shows that China ＂s case is different. Using a simultaneous equation model estimated with three-stage least squares, we find that FD1, levels of economic development and privatization have negative effects on the labor share. The negative influence of FDl on labor share results from regional competition for FD1, which weakens labor forces＂ bargaining power. A U-shaped relationship exists between labor share and the level of economic development, and China is now on the declining part of the curve. The negative effects of privatization on the labor share stem from the elimination of the so-called ＂wage costs eroding profit ＂ situation and the positive supply shock on the labor market.     

China＇s Economy in 2007/2008： Coping with Problems of Runaway Growth

Fuelled by high domestic investment and rapid export expansion, China ＂s economy grew by ll.4 pereent in 2007, the highest increase since 1994 and the fifth eonseeutive year of double-digit growth. Such spectacular growth performance is unprecedented in the world＇s economic history. However, the Chinese Government is again worried about a possible ＂hard landing＂for the economy, as no economy can sustain very strong growth for extremely long period without overheating. Cracks in China ＂s economy are indeed emerging. The eonsumer priee index shot up to 6.9percent in November 2007, the highest level in a decade, with the annual inflation for 2007 rising to 4.S pereent, well above the government＇s ＂comfort level＂ of 3 percent. This prompted China＇s top leadership to declare that reducing economic overheating and curbing inflation would be the top poliey priorities for 2008. To contain such cost-push inflation, the government has to tackle its root causes, such as excessive liquidity, which is caused by the undervaluation of the renminbi, which in turn is attributable to China＇s chronic external and internal maeroeeonomie imbalances~ High growth is likely to continue in 2008, at around l O pereent, with inflation of S-6 pereent expected, despite the anticipated tighter maeroeeonomie control measures and the more troubled external economic environment （e.g. the expected US economic slowdown）. Regardless, China ＂s fundamental problems associated with runaway growth will largely remain. In addition, if the US economy slips into a serious recession, the Chinese economy will not be able to deeouple from it and escape unscathed.     

Why Are Chinese Exports Not So Special？

Applying a commonly used index for export sophistication in a cross-country study, Rodrik finds that the technological content of Chinese exports over the past decade has been so high that it cannot be explained simply by the economic fundamentals of a low-income country abundant with unskilled labor. Question has been raised for the empirical robustness of the index. I am also doubtful with Rodrik＇ s analysis but develop my argument from a different perspective. This paper briefly reviews Rodrik＇s methodology and identifies other factors his empirical results potentially hinge on. Based on this, it elaborates on China＇ s unique processing trade regime, the uneven distribution of its exports across Chinese regions and the limitation of HS codes in terms of identifying differentiated products, in an attempt to show that these factors also contribute to higher estimations of China＇s export sophistication level. Finally, it organizes trade data to reveal the trade patterns that are indeed consistent with the country＇s comparative advantage.     

Growing Economic Interdependence of China and the Gulf Cooperation Council

The six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council （GCC） have approximately 40percent of total proven oil reserves as well as 23 percent of the world＇s gas reserves. Although rising oil revenues have led to greater outward investment flows, there is also a growing need for significant expansion of the domestic energy sector＇s capacity. Meanwhile, China＇s sustained economic boom has resulted in China emerging as the world＇s second largest consumer and importer o foil, with close to 40percent of its import demand presently sourced from the GCC. This share will grow significantly in the future. Commercial relations between the GCC and China have to date been dominated by energy-related bilateral investment flows and China＇s oil imports. Although this will continue to be a central feature, trade and investment links in non-energy areas will further broaden and deepen the relationship. China ＇s relationship with the USA in terms of energy is also emerging as a major issue. Rather than being competitors, a mutual dependence on stable and secure supplies from the GCC highlights the need for a cooperative relationship.     

Business Cycle Asymmetry in China： Evidence from Friedman＇s Plucking Model

Friedman＇s plucking model of business fluctuations suggests that output cannot exceed an upper limit, but it is occasionally ＂plucked＂ downward below trends as a result of economic recessions. This paper investigates China＇s business fluetuations using quarterly real GDP data for the period 1978 2009. Our results show some evidence supporting Friedman＇s plucking model. We find that a ceiling effect of real output exists, and that negative asymmetric shocks significantly affect the transitory component, which captures the plucking downward behavior during the recession. The results also suggest that the basic asymmetric unobserved component model is not appropriate for directly modeling China＇s real output because the business＂ cycle is inaccurately measured, but it works quite well when considering a structural break in the second quarter of 1992. The results reveal that although China＇s economy strengthened in the second quarter of 2009, it is essential for China＇s government to take further positive and effective measures to maintain sustainable development of the economy.     

Bureaucratic integration and regional specialization in China

Fiscal decentralization introduced as part of China's economic reform since 1979 has unleashed strong incentives for China's local governments to pursue economic development, but the same incentives have also led to local protectionist policies inhibiting the process of regional specialization. This paper focuses on the constraints or freedom with which local governments can implement their protectionist policies. Using a panel data of 29 China's regions over the time period of 1985–1997, we find that China's political system of bureaucratic integration (specifically, concurrent appointment of local government officials in the central government) imposes constraints on the local governments from practicing protectionism. We also find that the effectiveness of local protectionist policies is limited by market competition, specifically, competition from foreign-invested firms operating in China and foreign imports. Our results on the role of local protectionism remain robust to controls for the regional variations in the size of the economy and the stage of economic development.     

我国各省教育投资对经济增长贡献的实证分析

文章运用教育生产函数模型对中国各省市1996～2004年间教育投入对经济增长的贡献进行了计量分析,结果表明,总体上教育投入对经济增长具有十分显著的正影响。从地区间来看,东、中、西部地区教育投资对GDP增长的贡献由高到低呈梯次分布。由此提出了中国现时期应该采用"因地制宜"方针制定教育投资政策,实现各地区经济的稳定增长。     

数字经济对中国全要素生产率的影响机理:提升效应还是抑制效果？

数字经济是新时代引领中国经济高质量发展的关键抓手。然而现阶段数字经济普惠性发展尚未实现，掣肘着其对国内全要素生产率的提升力度。文章在理论分析的基础上，基于熵权TOPSIS法测算了2012-2018年中国数字经济发展水平指数，探讨了中国数字经济对全要素生产率的影响机理。研究发现：数字经济的发展显著提升了中国全要素生产率水平，但区域层面上，东部地区的数字经济发展明显领先于中西部地区，引领着中国全要素生产率快速增长。从全要素生产率的分解指标来看，数字经济推动了技术效率提升，但现阶段国内关键核心技术环节薄弱以及数字产业化带来的人才和资金的虹吸效应导致数字经济对技术进步产生了阻碍作用。此外，当前数字经济对不同产业的渗透度存在明显的不均衡性，筑高了创新资源的流动壁垒，影响产业间协调创新及合理化布局，进而抑制了对全要素生产率的提升力度。进一步的机制检验表明在创新环境的支持下，人才集聚及金融规模强化了数字经济对全要素生产率的提升力度。     

我国区域金融风险的时空演化及驱动机制——基于经济四部门视角

文章基于我国2005至2016年的分省数据，采用SMR和基尼系数法刻画了区域金融风险的时空演化趋势，并通过构建多样化空间关联模式，运用空间偏微分方法，从经济四部门视角验证了区域金融风险时空演化的驱动机制。研究发现：从我国区域金融风险的时空演化来看，在时间维度上，大部分省份仍存在较高的金融风险，在空间维度上，样本考察期内东部地区和西部地区金融风险地区内差异较大，中部较小，东部地区和中部地区金融风险的地区间差异最大，东部地区和西部地区次之，中部地区和西部地区最小；区域内政府、企业和家庭部门是导致区域金融风险时空演化的主要原因，且区域间的风险外溢效应加大了对区域金融风险的冲击作用。因此，国家防控金融风险要切中要害，从区域金融风险的源头抓起，充分考虑地区之间的空间关联，防止区域内外驱动机制对区域金融风险的放大作用，避免决策偏误。     

区域经济差异：资本深化效应还是投资效率改进？

我国经济增长的地区差异一直是改革不可回避的问题。文章利用泰尔指数测算后,发现我国的地区经济差异在2004年后缩小更多的是由于国家或地区的政策倾斜使一些落后地区得到大量的资金,通过投资拉动经济进而缩小了地区间的差异。但各地区间的投资效率却没有缩小地区间差距。因此,只有提高资金的投资效率,才能真正做到在缩小地区差异的同时保持经济的可持续发展。     

企业国际化发展中税收政策运用的国际比较

政府税收政策的制定和实施对企业的国际化发展起重要的促进作用,无论在发达国家还是发展中国家,税收政策都为企业的发展融入全球经济提供了必不可少的条件。随着中国经济形势的变化和发展,我国税收政策面临诸多挑战,和发达国家比较,不仅存在一些不合理的因素,甚至和有些发展中国家的某些税收政策相比,也有不足之处。本文试图分别从出口、海外引资及境外投资等3种企业国际化主要形式入手,对比典型发达国家及发展中国家与我国政府税收政策的差异、优劣,佐证企业的国际化发展绝对离不开政府税收政策的支持和指导,也离不开具体的税收制度提供的服务和帮助。     

日美科技城市发展比较分析

经济全球化和信息化使城市发展突破地理空间局限,城市类型呈现出多元化的发展趋势。自20世纪50年代以来,科技城市异军突起,成为世界城市经济发展的新潮流。科技城市让经济增长受限的国家和地区实现跨越式发展成为可能,并在全球产业结构调整过程中成为区域经济新的增长极。各国在推进科技城建设中所采取的发展战略也有所不同,其中日本与美国的科技城市分别代表了政府主导与市场主导两种截然不同的发展模式。我国目前正处于城市化快速发展时期,发展科技城是解决城市化问题的重要手段。采取何种模式来推动我国科技城市的发展,对于处在发展关键时期的中国经济来讲十分重要。     

发达国家政府投资项目管理模式的分析与借鉴

本文通过综合分析美国、英国政府投资项目管理的基本情况,总结了发达国家政府投资项目管理的特点,认为其基本目标是公平、诚实、经济和效率。在此基础上,结合我国政府投资项目管理的现状,探讨了对我国项目管理的借鉴和启发。     

产业集群与中西部地区发展产业集群的政府作为

当前产业集群日益成为提升产业与区域竞争力的重要方式.打造中西部地区的产业集群成为推动产业优化升级,实现跨越式发展及拉动区域经济发展的重要动力,政府的引导和扶持则是中西部地区发展产业集群的巨大推动力量.     

战后日本区域开发与法律支撑体系

战后的日本区域开发由政府主导,并建立了一套法律支撑体系。日本的区域开发战略经历了多个阶段的演化,但整体而言其区域开发政策遵循着公平优先于效率的原则,对欠发达地区的经济发展起到了极大的推动作用。但是,当日本经济进入长期萧条后,基于公平原则的均衡发展政策便凸显出资源配置非效率性的弊端,相关的法律支撑体系也面临着调整与转换。