Crises, depressions, and expansions: Global analysis and secular trends

The goal of this paper is to present a new vision about the evolution of some economics-related agents during the last one and half centuries, which when considered as a whole allow a better comprehension on what is happening and shed some light about possible future trajectories. Four actors, or agents, were minutely examined: world population, its global output (GDP), gold price and the Dow Jones index. The joint action of these actors, despite of being only a part of the whole, might be seen as a good depiction of the great piece representing the world economic realm. The application of analytical tools as spectral analysis, logistic curves and the singularity approach on time series data about the historical unfolding of these actors allows the demonstration that the present crisis seems to be a mix of a self-correction mechanism that brought the global output back to its original learning natural growth pattern, and that it carries also signals of an imminent transition to a new world economic order. Moreover it is demonstrated that the next decade (2011-2020) will be probably one of worldwide economic expansion, corresponding to the second half of the expansion phase of the fifth K-wave. The present results combined with previous empirical work of this author suggest that we are witnessing a transition to a new global socioeconomic system whose evolutionary trajectory is leading the world system toward a true age of transition.     

The future of the mobile phone business

One of the fastest growing technologies of our times is that of mobile phones. In this article we use the assumption that the diffusion of mobile technology, as measured by the number of active mobile accounts, follows the well known S-curve of natural growth in competition systems. The accuracy of the logistic fit is tested against actual data for the whole world, Europe, China and the GSM system. Using the produced models predictions concerning the future of mobile business are deliberated.According to these models active mobile accounts around the globe are expected to grow from 1.7 billion in 2004 to approximately 2 billion in 2008, reaching a peak penetration of 29.2%. Growth barriers, apart from the age of the potential user, are also low income and extreme poverty. Europe, early adopter of mobile technology and leader in active mobile accounts against all other regions in the world, has apparently reached a peak with almost every European, apart from the very young or very old, using a mobile phone. The mobile market in China is anticipated to exceed 500 million active accounts and may increase even further depending on the economic and social reform that is currently under way in that part of the world. GSM will most likely remain the leading mobile technology in the future as it is today.The growth process for the world, Europe, and the GSM system is almost completed and during this stage instabilities may occur before the potential emergence of a new wave of growth.     

全球化时代的中国经济及其世界性影响

全球化进程决定了中国经济的高度开放,造就了双重资本积累模式,即内资主导的工业化城市化积累和外资主导的全球低端制造平台积累.这一模式加速了中国经济增长,同时削弱了经济自主.反过来,中国对世界经济造成了多方面影响,包括改变劳资利益格局,推动各国产业重组,改变金融市场结构,加强中美金融依赖等,这些影响随着中国的经济增长和结构升级将日趋显著.因此,中国必须立足内需实现可持续增长,并依靠技术创新来控制资源和环境成本.     

论经济全球化对世界民主化进程的推动作用

20世纪90年代以来,经济全球化进程不断加快,世界各国各地区之间的经济联系更加密切,世界各国日益强调平等互利原则,相互竞争的同时注重协调与合作,多元化、宽容、妥协与合作,成为各国经济国际化进程中的基本共识。经济全球化发展,还使更多国家选择了市场经济体制。各国市场经济体制的建立与发展,使得推动民主化进程的民主力量不断发展壮大。作为世界民主化进程的基本内容,民主的制度化与权力运作的法制化,相应地也得到各国普遍认同,在实践当中进一步丰富和发展。     

Does VIX or volume improve GARCH volatility forecasts?

This article considers whether the inclusion of two additional variables can improve volatility forecasts over a standard GARCH-based model. We consider three alternative ways of incorporating the volatility index (VIX) and trading volume as exogenous variables within a selection of GARCH models. We are particularly interested in whether these variables have additional incremental forecast power over and above the baseline GARCH specification. Our results suggest that both the VIX and volume do provide some additional forecast power, and this is generally improved when considering both of these series jointly in the model. However, while the results may be statistically significant the gain is marginal and the coefficient values small. Moreover, in a horse race exercise VIX does not outperform the GARCH approach. In answering the question of whether VIX produces better forecasts than the GARCH model, then the answer is no, but the informational content of VIX cannot be ignored and should be incorporated into forecast regressions.     

A new methodology for the logistic analysis of evolutionary S-shaped processes: Application to historical time series and forecasting

A new multi-logistic methodology to analyze long range time series of evolutionary S-shaped processes is presented. It conceptually innovates over the traditional logistic approach. The ansatz includes computing the residuals to an optimized multi-logistic trend curve least squares fitted to the time-series data. The elements of the residuals series are checked for autocorrelations and once detected the residuals series is further analyzed to search for eventual presence of underlying periodic structures using a truncated Fourier sine series. The method foundations ensures both a universal applicability and a capacity to disclose the existence of active clocks that can be possibly traced to the driving motors of the evolutionary character of the time series, due to the responsiveness of corresponding process to the development of economic cycles. On associating these two views, it is found that the methodology has a strong potential to improve the quality of short-term forecasts. These findings have been put to test through applications of the methodology to studying the time evolution of two commodities of strong economic and social importance (corn and steel) and good results were consistently obtained for both the analytical and forecasting aspects.     

绿色创新与经济增长动态关系研究——基于VAR模型的实证分析

基于湖北省1993—2018年相关数据,运用VAR模型对绿色创新与经济增长的动态关系进行实证研究,同时将绿色创新分为发明专利授权和实用新型专利授权两个要素。研究发现,经济增长与发明专利授权、实用新型专利授权存在长期协整关系;发明专利授权对经济增长存在“扩散效应”,实用新型专利授权对经济增长先体现“扩散效应”,后体现“挤出效应”,而经济增长对两者均具有“扩散效应”;发明专利授权对经济增长的促进作用明显大于实用新型专利授权对经济增长的促进作用。因此,应积极构建绿色创新与经济增长的长效互动机制;加大绿色创新开发投入,完善绿色创新相关制度;提升绿色创新的投入效率,加速绿色创新成果转化率。     

自由经济与国际分工：剖析全球城市个案

经济全球化的相关进程促使世界各个大城市生化联结而成一个相对有机的体系,令城市产生新的经济活动特征和产业结构调整,并使城市的中枢地位与影响力变得更突出。＂全球城市＂的衍生是全球经济发展与全球化进程深化的结果。全球城市既是国际经济全球化的空间依托、区域经济集团的支撑点、各类＂经济圈＂的核心,也是国家实现与国外经济联系的桥梁和基地,故此对＂全球城市＂的形成及其发展进行研究便具有积极意义,也将对＂全球化＂现象具体作用于经济实体的过程提供一个独特的诠释视角。据此,尝试检视＂全球城市＂这一概念框架,继之指出香港正是全球化时代中的一个全球城市,并进而剖析香港城市衍生为＂全球城市＂的背后动力因素。     

国防支出与经济增长均衡关系的理论和实证研究——基于门槛回归模型的检验分析

文章首先将国防支出纳入Solow增长模型进行理论分析,假定国防支出通过影响技术进步对经济增长产生影响。与现有实证分析不同,文章基于1952-2008年中国的有关时间序列数据,尝试运用非线性门槛回归模型来分析国防支出与经济增长之间的数量关系。研究发现:国防支出与经济增长之间存在门槛效应,国防支出占GDP的比例低于3.434%时,国防支出占GDP的比例的增加不利于经济增长,且这种负面作用较为显著;当该比例高于3.434%时,该比例的增加将显著促进经济增长。当然,该比例并非越低越好,也并非越高越好,其局部最优规模由次级门槛值决定。     

Optimal time paths with age-dependence: a theory of population policy

A mathematical model is established whereby optimal accumulation paths of population and the economy can be figured when the basic feature of population dynamics, age dependence, is taken into account. This model series links 2 previously separate disciplines and literatures - i.e., formal policy dealing with the dynamics of age and time. An integral-equation control theory is utilized. Recognition of age structure in analyzing fertility trends is important at both macro- and microeconomic levels. The present model was constructed by embedding an age-disaggregated population in a simple economic growth model where the fertility level and rate of savings can both be influenced by government policy. Such policy should balance the lifetime value of births and capital against the social costs necessary to create them. One the problem has been defined and a dynamic theory developed, optimum static theories can be establihsed where the variables are held constant over time.     

Catching Up and Convergence: Long-run Growth in East Asia

The paper attempts to combine the traditional learning model with the recent theory of economic growth using Maddison's long‐run real GDP per capita data of the three fastest growing countries in East Asia: Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. The authors first explain games of catching‐up among nations, and then explain the learning coefficients of Taiwan and Korea with Japan and the United States through periods before and after World War II. The model of leaning leads to the logistic model of economic growth of convergence between two countries. Using time‐series data, the coefficients of a logistic model are estimated to confirm that the real GDP per capita of Taiwan and Korea are converging to that of Japan and the United States, respectively. Similarly, Japan's GDP per capita converges to that of the United States. The time required for finite convergence for these countries is also estimated.     

The Effect of Transfer Policies on Economic Growth

In a world in which people have different incomes owing to differences in initial factor endowments, a government may use transfer policies if it cares about equity as well as efficiency. It will be shown that, in a simple endogenous growth model in which the engine of growth is a linear capital accumulation technology, if a Ramsey policy is not available, then the government should transfer output but leave the differences in factor endowments unchanged in order to achieve economic growth and income equity at the same time.
JEL Classification Number: 023     

What does export diversification do for growth? An econometric analysis

It is frequently suggested that export diversification contributes to an acceleration of growth in developing countries. Horizontal export diversification into completely new export sectors may generate positive externalities on the rest of the economy as export oriented sectors gain from dynamic learning activities due to contacts with foreign purchasers and exposure to international competition. Vertical diversification out of primary into manufactured exports is also associated with growth since primary export sectors generally do not exhibit strong spillovers. Yet there have been remarkably few empirical investigations into the link between export diversification and growth. This paper attempts to examine the hypothesis that export diversification is linked to economic growth via externalities of learning-by-doing and learning-by-exporting fostered by competition in world markets. The diversification-led growth hypothesis is tested by estimating an augmented Cobb–Douglas production function on the basis of annual time series data from Chile. Based on the theory of cointegration three types of statistical methodologies are used: the Johansen trace test, a multivariate error-correction model and the dynamic OLS procedure. Given structural changes in the Chilean economy, time series techniques considering structural breaks are applied. The estimation results suggest that export diversification plays an important role in economic growth.     

浅析现代经济增长理论的演变

经济增长不仅是经济学研究的永恒主题,更是全世界都普遍关注的问题。从亚当·斯密开始,经济学家就不断地对经济增长进行探索。正是由于经济增长与全世界人民的福利息息相关,所以我们对经济增长的研究就显得格外重要。然而随着经济全球化的发展,传统经济增长理论已经不能解释现代社会经济发展过程中出现的种种现象。理论和现实之间的矛盾促使我们探求现代经济增长理论,以更好地解释世界。因此,对现代经济增长理论的演变进行探索,具有积极的理论和现实意义。本文从经济增长的事实入手,首先界定了现代经济增长的概念,然后对现代经济增长理论的发展脉络进行梳理和阐述,分别对哈罗德一多马模型、新古典经济增长模型（外生增长理论）和新增长模型（内生增长理论）进行了详细分析。通过分析可见现代经济增长理论经历了由技术外生增长到内生增长、市场结构由完全竞争到垄断竞争的演变。     

Population and economic growth: a cointegration analysis of lesser developed countries

The authors examine the temporal relationship between population growth and economic growth in Nepal, India, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Philippines, Guatemala, Syria, Peru, Thailand, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico, conducting Granger-causality tests in the context of error correction models when cointegration is present. Their goal is to provide additional time series econometric evidence on the short-run and long-run time series behavior of population growth and the growth of real per capita gross domestic product for a sample of low to middle income developing countries. Cointegration was found in only 3 of the 13 countries examined. Even though 10 countries in this study exhibited no properties of cointegration, researchers conducting time series studies of the relationship between population growth and economic growth using differenced data should nonetheless evaluate the possible long-term relationship. Capturing the short- and long-run behaviors of the respective time series may give the researcher a more robust test of Granger-causality.     

Population growth and economic growth: a reconsideration

The relationship between population growth and development has long been a controversial topic in the economic development literature. Early work by Hoover and Coale and more recent work by Blanchet suggest that high fertility suppresses per capita income growth. However, recent work by Kelley and Srinivasan are ambivalent about such a neo-Malthusian relationship between population growth and economic growth. The authors examine these conflicting positions. They emphasize that the rates of both population growth and income growth are endogenous variables within a general equilibrium framework. An endogenous growth model with endogenous fertility is then developed. It is found that when all exogenous variables are controlled for, there exists an inverse relation between population growth and economic growth. However, when some exogenous factors change, such as an improvement in technological progress, the relation becomes ambiguous. This suggests that the conflicting findings in the literature may be because of the presence of substantial heterogeneity in unobserved variables across countries and over time in cross-country panel data sets.     

An analysis of the effect of the economic situation on modeling and forecasting the diffusion of wireless communications in Finland

In this paper, the diffusion of wireless communications in Finland is studied. The objectives are to find factors which have affected the diffusion process and to forecast the diffusion of wireless communications in Finland. The diffusion process is based on the epidemic diffusion theory. The data consists of annual wireless subscribers of networks based on Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standards in 1981-1998. The data is fitted into the logistic model by means of nonlinear least squares after writing two parameters of the logistic model as functions of certain variables. The results show that the economic situation has affected the relative growth rate, and that the wireless network coverage has affected the number of potential adopters. By extrapolating the logistic model, a forecast with a confidence interval of wireless communications subscriber rates in Finland is made. The forecast shows that the final penetration rate will be some 91.7% in 2009. The model predicts the actual figures of year 1999 very accurately. Finally, the time derivatives of the diffusion process are analyzed; they clarify the effect of economic situation on the diffusion.     

Do population age groups matter in the energy use of the oil-exporting countries?

This study examines the impacts of the population age groups of 20–34, 35–49, 50–64 and 65–79 on the per capita energy use of the oil-exporting countries of Commonwealth Independent States: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia employing the modified-STIRPAT framework. Considering that estimations using non-stationary data may yield spurious results, unlike many prior STIRPAT studies, we explore integration and cointegration properties of the data and then estimate long- and short-run elasticities as well as speed of adjustment coefficients. Since our time series analysis covers only 23 observations (1990-2012), as a robustness check, we also conduct panel data analysis by pooling the mentioned countries data with that for members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. We apply the Autoregressive Distributed Lags Bounds Testing approach in the time series analysis and Pooled Mean Group estimator in the panel analysis, both are superior in small samples. The findings from the time series analysis are supported by those from the panel data analysis. According to the results, there is cointegrated relationship among the variables. The age groups together with affluence and oil prices have statistically significant impacts on the per capita energy use in the selected countries. Moreover, we find the speed of adjustments exhibiting different magnitudes for different countries depending on which population age group is considered. The findings suggest that policymakers should pay special attention to the population age groups of 35–49 and 50–64, as they have a large effect on per capita energy use. Since these groups are the main part of the working age population, increase in their energy consumption is likely to lead to economic growth. Furthermore, the policymakers should take into consideration the finding that speed of adjustments towards an equilibrium path is quite high. It implies that any policy related shocks to the per capita energy use relationship could disappear within a year or even sooner.     

Economic growth,business cycles and products variety: exploring the role of demand satiety

The paper presents a model of economic growth based on a population of heterogeneous and interacting agents. This model succeeds to generate - in a single framework - GDP growth and cycles as well as product life cycles. Contrary to the existing literature, we find that an increasing variety of consumer goods is not a necessary condition for sustaining the economic growth when consumers are subject to satiation. Indeed, intensive creative-destruction - that is an intensive process of sectors births and deaths - appears to be a more powerful growth engine. We also find that changing consumers’ satiety thresholds is likely to affect the nature of the correlation between the cyclical components of macroeconomic time series.