Targeting the Exchange Rate Under Inflation*

The purpose of this paper is to implement empirically a variant of the new theory of exchange-rate targeting, suitable for high-inflation, small, open economies. We formulate an expectations-induced relationship between the exchange rate and the fundamental, subject to random shocks and target-zone constraints on rates of depreciation. the empirical analysis provides estimates for the key parameters of the exchange-rate dynamic equation, and thereby identifies the unique roles played by policy variables and market fundamentals in foreign-exchange markets.     

Comprehensive income taxation, investments in human and physical capital, and productivity

This paper analyses the implications of the comprehensive income tax for the accumulation of human and physical capital and for the overall productivity level of the economy. A comprehensive income tax, applying to both labour income and capital income, is shown to discriminate against investments in human capital relative to investments in physical capital. It has an adverse impact on human capital accumulation and lowers productivity.     

Re-integrating the central Asian republics into the world economy

The dissolution of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) out of the former Soviet Republics has seen the creation of a number of new independent countries in Central Asia. These six Republics —Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan—are, albeit to different degrees, only at the beginning of the historic process of transformation from a command to a predominantly competitive market-based economic system. This paper¹ will survey the prospects for industrial development and the challenges for enterprise restructuring, privatization and private sector development in four of the republics: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.     

Determinants of external imbalances: The role of taxes, government spending, and productivity

This paper develops and estimates a dynamic optimizing model of the current account. The model focuses on real factors that determine the evolution of saving and investment and hence the external balance. Three types of shocks are at the center of the analysis: productivity shocks, shocks to labor input, and tax policy shocks. While our approach is in line with the real business cycle models of the current account, the distinguishing feature of the work is the application of econometric methods to time series data for a small open economy so as to directly estimate the parameters governing saving and investment under rational expectations restrictions.     

The performance of the Slovenian hotel industry: evaluation post‐privatisation

This study analyses the technical efficiency of Slovenian hotels using the data envelopment analysis method. Multiple inputs and outputs are included in the analysis, ranging over the period 2005–2007. The results reveal an increase in efficiency over the period analysed. The results also confirm that factors such as the hotel's year in business, star rating and size are positively related to efficiency variations between hotels. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The cost efficiency of Australian airports post privatisation: A Bayesian methodology

This paper reports on the cost efficiency of Australian airports using a Bayesian panel stochastic frontier model. With data from 2002 to 2007, the paper focuses mainly on the post privatisation period of Australian airports. The results show that the cost efficiency of Australian airports has increased over time to reach a high value of 90.08% in 2007. The paper discusses the potential impact of factors such as privatisation, price cap regulations and capital investments on the current efficiency level of Australian airports.