Peliosis of the spleen with intraperitoneal hemorrhage

We encountered a patient with steroidrelated peliosis of the spleen, a rare disease characterized by multiple blood-filled cavities in the splenic parenchyma, with spontaneous intraperitoneal hemorrhage. The ultrasonographic, computed tomographic, and angiographic images were compared with pathologic findings of the material obtained surgically.     

RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND EFFICIENCY OF SHARECROPPING UNDER UNCERTAINTY*

The paper examines how efficiency of sharecropping under uncertainty can be tested empirically. It demonstrates even under uncertainty, equality of factor ratios between sharecropped land and owner-cultivated land supports the hypothesis that the terms of share contracts are effectively enforced by landlords, so as to achieve socially optimum resource allocation and risk sharing, unless the direct elasticities of substitution are identically equal to one. It also provides evidence, that the comparative yield tests conducted in different parts of South and Southeast Asia support the efficiency view of sharecropping.     

Recalculating the agricultural labor force in China

In this study, we use a hypothetical method to recalculate the agricultural labor force based on statistical data on the labor force in China. We confirm the revised agricultural labor force data by estimating the agricultural production function. Through comparing the marginal labor productivity with the subsistence level of wages in the agricultural sector, we find that the overstated figures of agricultural labor force not only result in the underestimation of agricultural labor productivity but also are misleading by indicating that China reaches the Lewis turning point later than in actuality. The process of labor transfer in China, a large part of which is through rural migrant workers, has been much faster than expected.     

The impacts of China on economic growth: Evidence for Brazil,Chile, and Peru

This study empirically analyzes the direct impacts derived from the swift increase in exports to China (referred to as “the impact of China”) on the economic growth of three selected South American countries, Brazil, Chile, and Peru, during the commodity boom between 2001 and 2008. The results stemming from the balance-of-payments-constrained growth model suggest that the magnitude of China’s impact was less than 1 percent, although it ranged from the largest to the second largest impact among all trading partners for the three countries. The estimated balance-of-payments growth rate of domestic income is lower than the real growth rate of domestic income. This is because the growth rates of the export volumes were not sufficient even during the commodity boom, on account of the continued increasing trends of income elasticity of demand for imports. Furthermore, the income elasticities of demand for imports from China were especially high. Therefore, the three countries will continue to face further increase in the income elasticity of demand for imports as well as a stagnant growth rate of export volumes. Thus, the balance-of-payments position will continue to be the main growth constraint for these countries.     

中国企业的效率和生产率及其决定因素——基于包络线分析的讨论

自70年代末开始施行的改革开放政策以来,中国开始专注于各类企业改革。以提高生产效率为目的,所取得的成果是近年来惊人的经济增长,对此成就已不容置疑。但是另一方面,国有企业部门的经营改善等企业改革还在进行过程中,这也是事实。因此,对目前企业改革的具体成果从微观角度在数据上加以清晰化依然是重要的研究主题。     

‘Inpatriation’ for knowledge-transfer within Japanese multinational corporations

This article uses knowledge management theory and the gravity model to analyse the determinants of ‘inpatriation’ for knowledge-transfer within multinational corporations (MNCs) and the differences in their effects based on the region of the subsidiary’s host country. The empirical analysis uses data collected through a survey of the overseas subsidiaries of Japanese MNCs and finds that factors related to both the countries and the individual MNCs affect inpatriation, with the former factors having a stronger influence than the latter. With regard to the country factors, a smaller geographic distance and a larger cultural distance between the home and host countries and a lower GDP per capita in the subsidiary’s host country increase inpatriation. Regarding the individual MNC factors, a larger subsidiary R&D budget, a larger parent firm and the execution of collaborative R&D projects between a subsidiary and its parent firm increase inpatriation. Additionally, this study finds that in Asia, geographic closeness and low GDP per capita facilitate inpatriation, whereas a relatively small R&D budget and rare collaborative R&D projects with Japan decrease inpatriation. More subsidiaries in Asia send inpatriates to Japan than do subsidiaries in other regions because these positive factors are much stronger than these negative factors.     

Tariffs,Offshoring and Unemployment in A Two‐Country Model

This paper develops a two‐country model that incorporates offshoring opportunities, and analyses the effects of tariffs under economic stagnation in a liquidity trap that causes unemployment. We find that a rise in tariffs on imports of outsourced goods contributes to an increase in employment by inducing a shift in production, but also leads to an appreciation of the real exchange rate that tends to reduce employment. The effect of real exchange rate appreciation dominates the effect of the production shift, and accordingly employment and consumption fall. The effects of tariff adjustments are reversed, however, when there is no liquidity trap and hence no unemployment.     

Technical and Allocative Efficiency among Socialist Enterprises: The Case of the Garment Industry in China

Using survey data, this paper compares technical and allocative efficiency among state, urban collective, township-village, and joint venture enterprises in the garment industry in China. Township-village enterprises are further classified into independent enterprises and cooperative ventures with state and urban collective enterprises. According to the estimation results of the production and labor share functions, state and urban collective enterprises are much less efficient, both technically and allocatively, than cooperative township-village enterprise and joint ventures. These findings suggest that this new type of socialist enterprise and joint ventures will eventually dominate in the garment industry. J. Comp. Econom. December 1994, 19(3), pp. 410-433. Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachiohji City, Tokyo 192-03, Japan; Tokyo Gakugei University, Koganei City, Tokyo 184, Japan; and International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC 20036.     

Introducing team working–a motor industry case study from Germany

Teamwork is seen as a key component of lean production, and often was and still is viewed as an attack on union influence in the workplace. This case study from Germany, based on its introduction in one automobile plant, shows how trade unions, works-council and management were able to create a team-concept beneficial to both sides.