Harmonisation of food regulations and trade in the Single Market: evidence from disaggregated data

A structural gravity model is used to quantify the effect ofharmonisation of EU food regulations on intra-EU trade during1990–2001. We construct a database that identifies foodproducts covered by harmonised regulations at a very detailedlevel. We find, at different levels of aggregation, that harmonisationof food regulations has led to more intra-EU trade, and thatthe tariff equivalents of the cost of not harmonising food regulations,subject to the sub-sector elasticity of substitution, vary significantlyacross some food sub-sectors.     

Analyzing reciprocal relationships by means of the continuous-time autoregressive latent trajectory model

Over the past decades, several analytic tools have become available for the analysis of reciprocal relations in a non-experimental context using structural equation modeling (SEM). The autoregressive latent trajectory (ALT) model is a recently proposed model [BOLLEN and CURRAN Sociological Methods and Research (2004) Vol. 32, pp. 336–383; CURRAN and BOLLEN New Methods for the Analysis of Change (2001) American Psychological Association, Washington, DC], which captures features of both the autoregressive (AR) cross-lagged model and the latent trajectory (LT) model. The present article discusses strengths and weaknesses and demonstrates how several of the problems can be solved by a continuous-time version: the continuous-time autoregressive latent trajectory (CALT) model. Using SEM to estimate the exact discrete model (EDM), the EDM/SEM continuous-time procedure is applied to a CALT model of reciprocal relations between antisocial behavior and depressive symptoms.     

"汇率报复案"的逆向报复效应——舒默-格雷厄姆法案的美国代价

"舒默-格雷厄姆法案"是美国施压人民币升值的一个最重的筹码。该法案具有浓厚的贸易保护主义特征,其核心内容是"美国将对所有从中国进口的产品征收27.5%的惩罚性关税"。文章从理论和实证上证明了该法案对美国的通货膨胀、GDP和就业率都存在逆向报复效应;同时,通过因果检验及VAR模型测算了该效应的大小。文章的结论是,"舒默-格雷厄姆法案"的实施将导致美国每年损失约50万个就业机会,远大于因中国进口商品竞争而丧失的就业数量。美国应做的是进行痛苦的结构改革,除此之外,没有捷径;而中国也不会短视地受迫于各类"汇率报复案",打乱其汇率制度改革的节奏。     

TARIFF POLICY AND WELFARE IN AN INTERNATIONAL DUOPOLY WITH CONSUMER‐FRIENDLY INITIATIVE

The purpose of this paper is to explore how strategic tariff policy and welfare are affected by the consumer‐friendly initiative of foreign exporting firms. We define a firm that is consumer‐friendly or non‐profit‐based if it considers both its own profit and consumer surplus. This paper extends Brander and Spencer by taking the consideration of consumer‐friendly firms into an international duopoly, and within such context examining the tariff policy and welfare. The consumer‐friendly initiative that leads to trade liberalization is a ‘Win‐Win‐Win’ solution in the sense that it is not only beneficial for foreign exporting firms, but also for the government and consumers of the importing country.     

Relational Norms in Interfirm Exchanges: From Transactional Cost Economics to the Service-Dominant Logic

Purpose: This article investigates the implication and importance of the service-dominant (S-D) logic to the increasingly relevant study and practice of Interorganizational relational exchange. It points out that relational exchange theory (norms) is an earlier reflection of the S-D logic. Recognizing a need for the transactional cost economics (TCE) framework to address bilateral or hybrid types of exchanges, marketing channel researchers have for over twenty years incorporated relational exchange theory (RET) and TCE to investigate problems of formal contract, environmental uncertainty, power/dependency, and opportunism. However, some theoreticians view relational modes of exchange to be broader in scope than that studied within TCE. We propose a conceptual framework that incorporates TCE constructs with S-D logic principles in order to provide a rich contemporary guide for future relational exchange research and practice.

Methodology/Approach: We first expose the essential elements of the S-D logic and describe relational exchange theory and the problems generated by TCE. Database searches reveal a continuous stream of fifty empirical studies between 1988 and 2009 in which Macneil's relational norms were operationalized in the context of interfirm exchanges. The studies are analyzed from the viewpoint of TCE and the emerging S-D logic. The empirical findings were also discussed in terms of their contribution to validating a fundamental premise of the S-D logic. Subsequently, using S-D logic's conception of operant resources, we suggest several avenues for developing questions and conducting future relational norms research.

Empirical Findings: The findings validate the fundamental assumption of S-D logic, that relational exchange is instrumental in the co-creation of value (exchange performance) whether service is rendered directly or indirectly through goods or a combination of both. Exchange performance is better when the formal contract exists within a relational context. Relational exchange is effective in contexts of both high and low environmental uncertainty, may attenuate the negative effects of power/dependency differences and mitigate opportunistic behavior.

Originality/Value/Contribution: This article is a comprehensive review of relational norms research. It links the empirical findings conducted within the combined conceptual approaches of relational exchange theory and the TCE framework. It provides a comprehensive discussion of the essentials of the S-D logic and its compatibility with previous relational norm research. It outlines an S-D logic inspired framework for future research linking operant resources (knowledge, skills, and technology) to relational norms, facilitators of service-for-service, and value co-creation in interorganizational exchange networks.     

Economic liberalisation,gender wage inequality and welfare

The article develops a 3-sector general equilibrium model appropriate for economies with female labour oriented export sector to examine the effects of economic liberalisation policies on gender based wage inequality. It is assumed that there exist disparities in efficiencies between male and female labour due to skewed access to education and health, and differences in their spending patterns leading to differential effects of respective wages on their nutrition. The results indicate that tariff cut may reduce gender wage inequality, but may have detrimental effects on welfare; while foreign capital inflow may accentuate the inequality, despite improving the welfare of the economy. However, government policies to increase the provision of education and health have favourable effects on gender wage inequality but may be welfare deteriorating. Thus, the article provides a theoretical explanation to empirical evidences of diverse effects of liberalisation on gender wage inequality and explains the possibility of a trade-off between gender inequality and social welfare.     

All you can drink: should we worry about quality?

“All you can drink” specials are forbidden by law in several places. Authorities claim that establishments tend to offer low quality drinks when they use this type of promotion. In this paper, I elaborate a model to determine whether a monopolist produces higher or lower quality goods when using buffet pricing (all you can drink) instead of a two-part tariff. I find that the more profitable strategy is usually associated with a higher quality good than the less profitable strategy. However, under certain conditions buffet pricing is more profitable and leads to lower quality goods than the alternative.      

Renewable Energy Policy Instruments and Market Power

Markets for green certificates allow generators with market power to squeeze the margins of their competitors, as a generator that is vertically integrated into network activities might do. We analyze this issue in a stylized electricity industry in which a dominant producer of both conventional and renewable energy is facing a competitive fringe of renewable‐energy producers. We demonstrate that whether or not a dominant firm is vertically integrated into network activities, it can disadvantage the fringe producers by distorting certificates prices, thereby inducing cost inefficiency in the generation of renewable energy. We compare green certificates to a system of feed‐in tariffs, where a similar margin squeeze is not possible.     

论我国应对碳关税贸易壁垒的对策——基于国际经济法基本原则视角

随着全球气候变化,发达国家以保护环境为名提出了低碳经济,实为新的贸易保护,本文从国际经济法基本原则角度分析了碳关税对发展中国家的不利影响,并提出了我国应采取的相应对策。