The persistence of innovation: a panel data investigation on manufacturing firms

This paper represents a contribution to empirical debate on the persistence of innovation in the firm, by exploiting an innovative panel database that, for the first time, links three waves of the Italian Community Innovation Survey with an administrative data source providing economic and financial information for firms in the Italian manufacturing sector, 1996–2003. By using both a dynamic logistic model and a Granger causality approach, we show that in order to innovate successfully it is much more important to have an adequate flow of profits during an appropriate time span rather than high profits only during one period before innovation. Our causality tests prove the existence of a dynamic interaction between innovation and profitability: successful innovation can, in the short run, generate the profitability conditions that can then enhance the financial resources needed to reinvest in new technological opportunities, thus causing the firm to persist in its innovative behaviour. We have also shown that another important source of persistence is represented by past innovative experience. A firm with consolidated innovative behaviour would have a higher probability of future successful innovation with respect to a firm that occasionally (or accidentally) innovates. Persistence in innovation enables a firm to take advantage of substantial technological and organizational learning effects, which improve with time.     

东敢水库主坝区主要渗漏通道分析及防渗处理

在对病险水库的除险加固施工中,确定水库主要渗漏通道和主要渗漏区对项目施工至关重要。     

Inflation Dynamics: The Role of Expectations

This paper estimates the Phillips curve allowing for a simultaneous role of rational and survey expectations. We consider both a reduced form and a structural specification of the Phillips curve. The results suggest that survey expectations can be a statistically significant component of firms' expectations and inflation dynamics. However, rational expectations continue to play a dominant role.     

The Need to Provide Internationally Comparable Accounting Information and the Application of IFRS: Empirical Evidence from German Private Firms

Abstract

Our study, which is based on a survey carried out among German private firms, aims to ascertain which characteristics determine private firms’ need for providing internationally comparable accounting information and whether or not those firms that perceive such a need actually apply IFRS voluntarily. The relevance of equity from foreign investors and inclusion within an international group are positively associated with this perceived need, whereas international operating activities and a firm’s size are not. Regarding the voluntary adoption of IFRS, both the perceived need and also the interaction between size and need are significant. Our results show that smaller firms, despite perceiving a need for providing their stakeholders with internationally comparable accounting information, often do not apply IFRS.     

林业生态建设的社会经济驱动力评价:来自四川和湖北的实证

中国长期以来从事林业生态建设工程,如天然林保护工程和退耕还林工程。然而,中国的环境问题如生物多样性丧失、水土流失、沙漠化进一步恶化。该研究目的旨在从林农户视角调查林业生态建设的社会经济驱动力,基于对171林农户的调研,采用多变量回归模型,对其愿意接受补贴,从事生态环境生产进行分析。结果表明,94%的林农户愿意接受补贴,从事生态环境生产。但是,补贴高达每年每公顷6033元。计量结果进一步揭示,受教育程度越高、距离城市越远、农业收入较高,其索要的生态补贴就越高。与此相反,部分在自己地上劳作的农户和农地面积较大的农户,其索要的生态补贴就较低。     

吉林市中低收入群体医疗服务需求的调查分析

对吉林省吉林市315户中低收入家庭进行问卷调查的结果表明：部分中低收入群体的医疗费用负担沉重;城镇居民基本医疗保险的实效性较差;居民对医保政策缺乏了解;社区卫生服务机构没有充分发挥作用。强化政府责任,加大宣传力度,加强社区基础医疗卫生服务机构建设,提高居民医疗保障待遇,是完善我国中低收入群体医疗需求的有效途径。     

Employee perspectives on communication and consultation: findings from a cross-national survey

Highlighting the ongoing significance of national models of employment relations, this paper examines whether variation in communication and consultation practices between countries is reflected in employee perceptions. Drawing upon a survey of around 3,500 employees in four European countries – France, Germany, Italy and the UK – the paper explores whether workers' views on various aspects of communication and consultation are similar or different. It finds that there are certain similarities, with particular types of information and forms of communication being valued across the countries. However, differences are also identified. It is suggested that national institutions may well shape employee expectations about the nature of communication and consultation, feeding through to how satisfied they are with these processes.     

Learning from cost analyses: an illustration from the UK's New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP)

This article describes a cost analysis of an employment programme available to people claiming incapacity benefits in the UK. The NDDP was delivered locally by contracted providers called ‘job brokers’. The cost analysis found great variation among job brokers' costs and profitability, much of which seems attributable to differences in job broker size. The methods described here will be useful in evaluations wherever multiple institutions are contracted by governments to deliver services, especially when these institutions are involved in several different programmes.     

上海市中高职院校英语口语教学现状调查与分析——以上海市商贸职教集团成员学校为例

本调查通过对上海商贸职教集团成员学校英语口语教学现状的信息采集与整理,指出中高职学校在英语口语的教学方面存在着诸如学习情感、教学方法、教学资源及教学评价等方面的问题,并就培养学生的学习兴趣、夯实语言知识基础、关注学习者差异、改进教学方法与评价方式及关注中高职教学内容的衔接等方面提出了针对性建议。