Modeling Disinterest and Dislike: A Bounded Bayesian Mixed Logit Model of the UK Market for GM Food

Mixed logit models represent a powerful discrete choice analytical model but require assumptions about the functional form of the parameter distributions. The use of unbounded distributions, such as the normal distribution, may be regarded as unsuitable where theory indicates that all are negatively affected by increases in an attribute, such as price. Bounded distributions such as the triangular and log-normal are unable to model the case where a section of the population is indifferent towards an attribute, while the remainder are negatively disposed toward it. Train and Sonnier’s bounded mixed logit model accommodates these features and is employed in this paper. A censored normal and Johnson’s S_b distribution are used to model preferences in the UK for food attributes, including price and GM technology. Bi-modal distributions are identified regarding GM food: some are unlikely to ever consume it, some are close to indifference and willing to consume at relatively small discounts while the remainder are fairly unresponsive to further price reductions.     

Economic reforms,efficiency and productivity in Chinese banking

This paper analyzes the impact of banking reforms on efficiency and total factor productivity (TFP) change in Chinese banking industry. Using an input distance function, we find that joint-equity banks are more efficient than wholly state-owned banks (WSOBs). Furthermore, both WSOBs and joint-equity banks are found to be operating slightly below their optimal size, suggesting potential advantages in expansion of their businesses. Overall, TFP growth was 4.4% per annum for the sample period 1993–2002. Joint-equity banks experienced much higher growth in TFP (5.5% per annum) compared to the WSOBs (1.4% per annum).      

Quantitative growth effects of subsidies in a search theoretic R&D model

Should government subsidize R&D and does it matter how these subsidies are allocated? We examine these questions in a dynamic model where R&D is described as sequential sampling from a distribution of new ideas. Successful discoveries affect future available resources and incentives for further R&D. Consequently, there may be under-investment in R&D. We study the effect of government interventions aimed at fostering growth through R&D. Calibrating the model with aggregate data from the Israeli business sector allows us to quantitatively compare two forms of support resembling those actually used to encourage R&D in the Israeli business sector: (i) an unrestricted subsidy that may be used at the recipients' discretion to finance R&D or other investments, (ii) a subsidy earmarked by the government for R&D activities only. While there is no theoretical way to determine which of the two subsidies will have a greater impact on search for new ideas and growth, we find that in the calibrated economy both subsidies have a significant but similar impact on the economy's output and TFP growth rates. Accordingly, in the case of the Israeli business sector, the incentives to conduct R&D were sufficiently strong, and no R&D-specific encouragement was needed. However, a sensitivity analysis reveals that for economies characterized by other parameter values this result may not be true. Correspondence to: B. Bental     

研究型大学教育科技创新能力体系结构及创新战略

分析了研究型大学教育科技创新能力体系的多元化、板块化结构,着重提出并强调了创新资源的供给和吸纳能力在研究型大学教育科技创新能力体系构建中的重要意义;提出并分析了研究型大学构建教育科技创新能力体系的战略选择,即实施开放创新战略、集成创新战略、创新人才战略和创新文化战略。     

我国电子政务的现状与发展

本文首先介绍了国外电子政务的发展趋势和我们的启示，论述了我国实施电子政务的意义，现状和存在的问题。最后，对我国发展电子政务在制订其总体发展规划和相关标准，整顿和规范现行的政务流程、整合政府信息资源、提高全体公务员对电子政务的认识和相应的素质、保证安全和加强领导等方面提出了建议。     

Individual bidder behavior in first-price private value auctions

Individual bid functions display sensitivity to the strategic considerations inherent in first-price auctions. However, several formal models, including heterogeneous Nash equilibrium bidding models with constant relative risk aversion, perform quite poorly.     

虚拟水及其在缓解区域水资源短缺中的应用研究

虚拟水是指生产商品和服务所需要的水资源数量。虚拟水战略是指贫水国家或地区通过贸易的方式从富水国家或地区购买水密集型农产品(粮食)来获得本地区水和粮食的安全。本文在综述前人对虚拟水研究的基础上,计算了2002年甘肃省及不同地区主要农产品虚拟水含量,并对甘肃省加强虚拟水贸易的战略进行了探讨。     

澳大利亚、新西兰政府扶持小企业发展的经验及思考

加强政府对小企业发展的扶持,创新扶持的方式,是我国经济发展中面临的课题。作者通过对澳大利亚、新西兰扶持小企业发展情况的考察,论述了两国政府对小企业管理和扶持的系统做法,重点介绍了澳大利亚政府所资助的商业企业服务中心(简称BEC)的职能、体系、运作方式、服务内容和标准,阐述了政府对BEC实施管理和服务的方式方法,并结合作者所在市实际,对地方政府借鉴澳、新经验构筑中小企业服务平台,运用市场机制发展类似商业企业服务中心等机构,加强对中小企业的政策扶持,提高支持中小企业发展的组织程序提出了对策建议。     

不完全合同理论的新视角——基于演化经济学的分析

长期以来,主流不完全合同理论一直没有在理论逻辑上圆满解答"合同为什么不完全",其理论基础存在很大的争议,这也导致其研究范式存在内在的逻辑矛盾与冲突,大量有关不完全合同的研究本质上却是关注完全合同。本文尝试从演化经济学的视角重新审视不完全合同理论,强调必须从知识不完全性的视角来阐释合同的不完全性,认为个体的有限认知是合同不完全性的重要理论基础,在此视角下探讨了不完全合同的功能、生成及其演变,并重新考察了权威在不完全合同中的作用。     

资源型城市转型与循环经济发展--以黑龙江省伊春市为例

随着人类对资源的不断利用,资源型城市大都面临着转型问题,如何实现资源型城市的可持续发展,既是一个需要研究的理论问题,更是一个亟待解决的实际问题。通过伊春市经济资本和技术资本发展困境分析,采用生态足迹方法计算了资源型城市伊春市2003年的生态足迹,得出此地区尚未出现生态赤字,但对它的转型却迫在眉睫,据此提出了伊春市应向循环经济型生态城市转型的思路及实现路径和方法。