Post-War Productivity Patterns in U.S. Agriculture: Influences of Aggregation Procedures in a State-Level Analysis

Annual data for forty-eight states are used to account for changes in the composition of input and output aggregates over space and time, and thereby to obtain new evidence on changes in inputs, outputs, and productivity in U.S. agriculture. The measures change significantly when we use state-specific rather than national prices and when we allow for changes in the composition of the aggregates, especially of labor and capital inputs. We compare our estimates and those reported by Ball et al. ( American Journal of Agricultural Economics 81(1999):164–79). The national estimates are similar but substantial differences are found in state-level productivity growth.     

Variations in hub service in the US domestic air transportation network

This paper looks at the various types of hubs that have evolved in the air transportation network in the USA. Since deregulation of the industry at the end of the 1970s, the major air carriers have expanded their networks to become more competitive, and the number and types of hubs have grown accordingly. A connectivity analysis using a traditional matrix approach is used to derive indices which are the basis for the development of a connectivity classification scheme. In addition, the various service functions of hubs are explored.     

Cereal producers and the structural adjustment programme (SAP) in Ghana: A welfare analysis of the first decade of SAP

Small-scale food producers in Ghana produce about 90 per cent of the food in the country. Behaviourial patterns characteristic of these semi-commercial producers are complex, making it hard for policy makers to predict the consequences of policies on them. This study analyses the effects of the Structural Adjustment Programme on cereal producers in Ghana. A system of demand and supply equations was employed in a simulation analysis performed under three different scenarios to observe the aftermath of price increases; measure the impact of devaluation of the cedi; and gauge the effect of price increases and devaluation. The results show that cereal producers gain but consumers lose in terms of producer and consumer surplus. There is a net welfare loss as a result of the SAP.     

Airline mergers and their effect on network structure

The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 introduced high-level competition into the US domestic industry. The resulting network changes have created a deluge of research, largely focused on the hub-and-spoke structure. Over 15 years have passed since deregulation, and the industry still appears somewhat unsettled. Recent concerns of domestic carriers include downsizing of some hubs, and discussions of further consolidation of operations. Mergers may be the answer for airlines with shrinking markets within the US transportation system. This study examines the effect on network structure created by the merger of two carriers from the perspective of hub structures, accessibility and geographic coverage.     

State-controlled economies vs. rent-seeking states: Why small and medium enterprises might support state officials

This study examines the reasons for support that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) provide to government representatives of their choice (in the form of donations, influence through their networks, information and votes). The study tests stakeholder and social capital approaches as legitimate explanations for SMEs’ relationships with state representatives in different transition economies, specifically Belarus and Ukraine. The study shows that the stakeholder approach is sensitive to business environments and more applicable in a rent-seeking state where the parties perceive value in their exchange. Social relations motivate the SMEs’ support in both types of transition economies.     

Predicting Intended and Actual Travel Behaviors: An Examination of Chinese Outbound Tourists to Australia

This exploratory study examines the predictive power of psychographic and demographic variables on intended and actual travel behaviors. A pre-tour and after-tour survey on the intended and actual travel behaviors of 397 Chinese ¹ 1. For the specific purposes of this research, “China” refers to Mainland China, excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan due to their historical background. Hence, Chinese tourists refer to tourists from Mainland China. View all notes outbound tourists to Australia was conducted. Four of the five intended travel behaviors (Sightseeing, Culture and Heritage Activity, Shopping and Dining, and Entertainment) and three of the five actual travel behaviors (Sightseeing, Culture and Heritage Activity, and Entertainment) proved to be statistically significant with a combination of psychographic and demographic contributors. The results of this study are discussed and the market implications indicated.     

Who is responsible for rehabilitating the poor? The case for church-based financial services for the poor

This article is a qualitative study, the first part of an ongoing empirical study on the role of churches in providing financial access to the poor. It begins with the question of whether Christian Churches should be involved in providing financial services for the poor. Drawing on the teachings of the Bible, Catholic Social Teachings (CSTs), it concludes that providing such a service is consistent with Christian principles. It then uses the theory of people's psychological sense of a community, the Bible, CST and the extant literature to develop a number of propositions that could form a framework for church-based micro-finance institutions (MFIs).     

The role of Ghanaian churches in the financial rehabilitation of the poor: Implications for re-visiting the social mission of religious institutions

The article examines the role of Ghanaian churches in the financial rehabilitation of the poor. It offers a critical analysis of the biblical mandate of the Church to promote social justice, and highlights the efforts made by selected Ghanaian churches in alleviating poverty through their social programs. The article examines the potential of the Church, particularly its untapped resources that could be used to promote alternative development programs, such as micro-financing. The article recommends that the state form strategic alliance with the Church to promote micro-financing in Ghana. It concludes that despite some of the criticisms leveled against the Church, it is an institution with untapped potential to assist the poor, regardless of political, ethnic, gender, religious or class distinction.