Testing Multiple Non-Nested Factor Demand Systems

This article explains how to obtain straightforward extensions of the most popular univariate non‐nested statistics, and of the RESET‐test, to a multivariate context and examines how to use these tests to compare alternative factor demand systems. The empirical application involves the classical Berndt–Khaled KLEM data set. A statistically adequate specification is determined for each competing factor demand system. The empirical results are interpreted for each system, the models are compared on the basis of multivariate paired and joint non‐nested procedures and practical indications about what to expect if these tests are applied to alternative factor demand specifications are provided.     

Combating deceptive advertisements and labelling on food products – an exploratory study on the perceptions of teachers

People are becoming more health conscious nowadays, but most of them are not able to adopt a lifestyle with adequate physical exercise and a healthier eating pattern. Many attempt to compensate by taking ‘health foods’. Despite the recent economic recession, the functional food market is expanding rapidly in Asian countries. Recent statistics indicate a huge increase in weight loss and functional food product advertising expenditure in Hong Kong and other Asian countries. In a large scale survey conducted by the Hong Kong Consumer Council on advertisements, it was found that 85% of the medicines, health food and therapies sampled contain questionable claims and misleading messages, which was the second most problematic category of the survey. In addition, young people do not understand much about modern food processing, in particular with regard to low energy and functional foods, and they know very little about modern food marketing strategies. The situation is potentially detrimental to consumer welfare, especially to the younger generation. This study was conducted to reflect critically on implications of the issue on the health and well‐being of young people in Hong Kong. Attempts are made to explore directions for designing relevant and effective education programmes to empower young people's abilities in understanding food advertising strategies and making informed decisions on food choice. This paper begins with a critical review of the current situation with regard to Hong Kong. Then, the results of an interview survey and a questionnaire survey on pre‐service and in‐service teachers’ perception towards misleading food advertising and labelling are reported. The situations at schools are defined and problems faced by teachers in providing relevant consumer education programmes to students are identified. Finally, some prospective foci for further investigation of this important issue, with a view to developing students’ critical skills in evaluating claims offered in food advertisements, will be considered.     

Does price reflect emotional,structural or performance quality?

Three denim jeans products from the same manufacturer with differentiated pricing and labels (antiqued, sandblasted, and stonewashed) were used to determine the relationship between price and quality. Both qualitative and quantitative procedures were used to analyse the garments. All three jeans were made of twill weave with 3 × 1 repeat. Both structural and performance characteristics were compared using standardized tests. Analysis of variance was used to compare the selected structural and performance characteristics among the three jeans products. Tukey’s HSD tests were used for post hoc multiple comparisons for three jeans. The findings revealed that despite the fact that all three jeans products were from the same store, and that the fabrics used the same weave, degree and direction of twist, the jeans differed significantly for several structural and performance characteristics. Several possibilities for future research were explored.     

The approximation capabilities of the minflex-Laurents,translog, and generalized Leontief forms

This paper compares the approximation capabilities of the minflex-Laurents translog and minflex generalized Leontief cost functions with their translog and generalized Leontief counterparts in Monte Carlo experiments. The minflex Laurent specifications generally provided closer approximations to underlying technical and economic parameters. Imposition of nonlinear restrictions on some of the parameters of the minflex Laurent models yielded measurable improvement in estimated elasticities of substitutions, returns to scale, and rates of technical change.The refereeing process of this paper was handled through E. Appelbaum.     

功能性监管:我国金融监管模式的最佳选择

在全球金融业混业经营的共同趋势下,我国现行的机构性监管模式面临巨大的挑战。功能性金融监管是基于金融体系基本功能而设计的更具连续性和一致性,并能实施跨产品、跨机构、跨市场协调的监管,因而是金融业混业经营下金融监管模式的最优选择。本文在借鉴国外功能性监管框架基础上,对构建我国功能性金融监管模式进行了探讨。     

金融发展理论中“金融发展”涵义的演进

戈德史密斯（1969）和爱德华·肖（1973）分别对发达国家和落后国家的金融发展状况进行了实证研究，得出了落后国家经济之所以落后，主要是因为其金融发展与发达国家之间存在着明显的差异的结论，由此提出了金融深化的观点，标志着金融发展理论的形成。在金融发展理论的指导下，许多落后国家纷纷改革其金融体制，推行金融自由化，以促进其金融发展。然而20世纪90年代以后，全球金融危机的频繁爆发，引起了人们对金融发展理论的反思。金融发展理论的再度兴起，使金融发展的涵义不断得到丰富与发展，金融发展涵义从结构观、制度观向功能观和环境观逐步演进。     

基于金融功能范式的社会主义新农村金融体系建构研究

农村金融体系建构和改革是社会主义新农村建设的重要内容和重要保障。实践证明,以往以机构范式为指导的农村金融改革忽略了对农村金融体系功能的关注,往往是以牺牲效率或违背市场发展方向为代价的。与社会主义新农村建设相适应的农村金融体系建构和改革,以社会主义新农村的需求为依据,明确了农村金融体系的功能定位,并在此基础上确定了农村金融体系的机构构成和各自的职能分工,以期为我国深化农村金融改革提供新的思路和有效的路径。     

规范农（副）产品批发市场建设的对策

农（副）产品批发市场的历史成因和现存问题,不利于调动农民的生产积极性,对于扩大内需,拉动经济,构建社会主义市场经济体系也都是极其不利的,因此确定政府主管部门,彻底解决“群龙治水”的局面,通过税费改革以及提高市场管理人员素质,增强现代管理设施的投入,指导产地生产,疏通流通渠道,加强市场管理,健全法律法规等项综合治理措施,是规范农（副）产品批发市场建设的必然选择。农（副）产品批发市场的规范建设,是开拓     

经营城市:功能导向与制度创新

在我国市场化改革日益深入的条件下 ,在全球化浪潮中 ,面对城市化快速发展 ,地区竞争日益激烈的挑战 ,经营城市必须由资金导向转向功能导向 ,以实现城市资源资本在容量、结构、秩序和功能上的最大化与最优化 ,城市建设投入和产出的良性循环以及城市的可持续发展。在此过程中 ,政府必须在经营城市中发挥积极的作用 ,促成市场行为和政府行为的有机结合 ,并积极推进功能导向的城市经营制度创新 ,从而实现城市经营模式的战略转变。     

生态园林城市规划理论研究

分析了生态园林城市的概念及提出背景;对园林城市、生态园林城市、生态城市建设理论模式进行了辨析;探讨了生态园林城市规划理念,即整体协调发展理念、综合要素统筹理念、有限目标理念、城市开敞空间管制理念、科学指标体系理念;指出生态园林城市实现生态化的主导途径为城市结构生态化和城市功能生态化;提倡在继承、发展和保护的基础上规划生态园林城市的主体--生态园林绿地系统.