Calibrating a Diffusion Pricing Model with Uncertain Volatility: Regularization and Stability

A regularized (smoothed) version of the model calibration method of 1 ) is studied. We prove that the regularized formulation is solvable and that the solution depends continuously on the input data (observed derivative security prices). Associated issues of model credibility, stability, and robustness (insensitivity to model assumptions) are discussed. The Implicit Function Theorem for Banach spaces is used for the stability proof, and some numerical illustrations are included.     

Regionalization, public spending and growth: a stylized model dealing with ‘predatory states’

In this paper, a micro-founded model analyzing the effects of ‘regionalization’ on economic activity is developed. It shows that the spatial division of public competencies can have an impact on the growth rate via the efficiency of governmental choices: initially advantageous for weak levels, decentralization (/reduction of regional size) becomes limited due to the risk of underestimation of the real profitability of public expenditure by local governments (non-internalized cross-border effects). In accordance with the theory, a transversal estimation for a sample of 51 countries for the 1990s establishes a ‘bell-shaped’ relation between indicators of regionalization and the quality of governance.     

The curse of natural resources in the transition economies*

The curse of natural resources is a well‐documented phenomenon for developing countries. Economies that are richly endowed with natural resources tend to grow slowly. Among the transition economies of the former ‘Eastern Bloc’, a similar pattern can be observed. This paper shows that a large part of the variation in growth rates among the transition economies can be attributed to the curse of natural resources. After controlling for numerous other factors, there is still a strong negative correlation between natural resource abundance and economic growth. Among the transition economies the prime reasons for the curse of natural resources were corruption and a neglect of basic education. In order to overcome the curse of natural resources and move to a sustainable path of development, the resource abundant transition countries should fight corruption and ensure that their resource revenues are invested in human capital or the preservation of natural capital.     

Pure Altruism,Consumer Behavior and Choice Modeling*

An important assumption underlying non‐market valuation is that it is not the environment but the human preference that is valued. This paper attempts to test whether individual consumer behavior is influenced by a purely altruistic motive, examining the attitude of hikers towards the hypothetical removal of the Muju ski resort from the Mount Togyu National Park in South Korea. Data were collected from samples of hikers and skiers who visited the national park. The respondents were forced to consider trade‐offs between the recovery of the lost environmental assets in the Muju ski resort area, skiers’ additional travel time, and willingness‐to‐pay amounts for the hypothetical environmental improvement. It was found that hikers did not take into account skiers’ disutility represented by additional travel time.     

医疗行业腐败的根源与对策

医疗行业的腐败是一个全球性的问题,其产生的根源既存在一定的共性,也与各国的医疗体系自身特点有关。在发展中国家和转型国家,医疗行业腐败现象显得尤为严重。本文回顾了与医疗腐败相关的经济学文献,分析了医疗行业产生腐败现象的根源,并特别指出,转型国家中的医疗腐败现象具有鲜明的时代特征;对医疗腐败具体行为进行了分析,着重研究了转型国家中常见的非正式支付现象;最后,结合我国的特点提出了相关政策建议。     

两类信贷腐败比较研究:审批腐败与支付腐败

企业在向银行寻求信贷融资时遇到的信贷腐败可分为两类：金融机构中主管信贷审批的高层人员的审批腐败;负责信贷发放的基层人员的支付腐败。通过分析两种类型的腐败在项目寻求信贷融资时的影响,揭示信贷腐败与信贷融资之间的关系,指出两类腐败具有相互影响的关系,基层支付腐败对信贷融资项目产生逆向选择,阻止了低风险项目的信贷融资行为,而高层人员倾向于和融资项目合作,因而具有减少基层机构支付腐败的动机。     

外显与内隐知识的动态接口假说

外显和内隐知识是本质不同的两种知识类型,但两者之间存在着协同效应。这种协同效应表现为两者之间的接口关系。无接口假说认为两种知识之间不存在转换关系,而接口假说（强接口假说和弱接口假说）则认为外显知识可以转换成内隐知识。人脑的生理基础和工作原理提供了外显和内隐知识相互转换的可能。在信息处理过程中,两种知识实现动态转换关系,即动态接口假说,CLARION模型可以解释动态转换关系。     

公务员高薪激励政策的现实局限——一个理论模型

结合经济转型国家的实际执法环境,提出一个不确定性条件下薪酬激励政策的理论模型,用来研究公务员高薪激励政策的现实局限性。研究结果表明,对于风险规避的代理人,由于存在现实的层级惩罚制度,一定范围内的腐败活动不可能由增薪得到遏制,只有在惩罚制度具有较好执行力的条件下,提高薪酬才能在一定程度上激励官员减少腐败;在转轨国家对腐败行为"有限容忍"的政策环境中,高薪激励手段能减少执法成本,但不能有效地遏制腐败。因此,一个旨在降低监督与执法成本的制度设计是治理腐败的较好选择。     

论当前我国贿赂犯罪的新情况及建议

贿赂犯罪是世界范围内腐败问题的重要组成部分。随着社会政治、经济、文化等方面的发展,我国贿赂犯罪呈现出新特点,贿赂方式多样化、国际化,贿赂犯罪的内涵和外延也有待法律更合适地界定。对这些新问题的研究,将有利于我们更好地预防和打击贿赂犯罪。从犯罪构成四方面对贿赂犯罪发展中出现的各种新情况、新问题进行了探讨,对我国贿赂犯罪立法和司法提出了一系列建议。