The Optimal Write-Down Coefficients in a Percentage for a Catastrophe Bond

Catastrophe bonds, also known as CAT bonds, are insurance-linked securities that help to transfer catastrophe risks from insurance industry to bond holders. When the aggregate catastrophe loss exceeds a specified amount by the maturity, the CAT bond is triggered and the future bond payments are reduced. This article first presents a general pricing formula for a CAT bond with coupon payments, which can be adapted to various assumptions for a catastrophe loss process. Next, it gives formulas for the optimal write-down coefficients in a percentage, implemented by Monte Carlo simulations, which maximize two measurements of risk reduction, hedge effectiveness rate (HER) and hedge effectiveness (HE), respectively, and examines how the optimal write-down coefficients in a percentage help reinsurance or insurance companies to mitigate extreme catastrophe losses. Last, it demonstrates how the number of coupon payments, loss share, retention level, strike price, maturity, frequency, and severity parameters of the catastrophe loss process and different interest rate models affect the optimal write-down coefficients in a percentage with numerical examples for illustrations.     

Canadian consumer acceptance of gene-edited versus genetically modified potatoes: A choice experiment approach

In 2016, second-generation genetically modified (GM) potatoes were approved for production and sale in Canada. In this study, we analyze how consumer acceptance of GM potatoes may be affected by various factors, including the trait introduced (i.e., the product benefits), the type of breeding technology used, and the developer of the potato using any technology. We conduct an online survey and use a stated choice experiment to collect data on consumer acceptance of GM and other potatoes in Canada. Random utility models are used to analyze the economic value consumers place on the various attributes of the potatoes. Our results show that consumers are willing to pay more for a health attribute (reduced acrylamide produced when potatoes are fried) and an environmental attribute. Respondents in general need to face discounted prices to buy potatoes created by either gene editing or GM (either transgenic or cisgenic/intragenic) technologies. However, consumers are in general more accepting of the gene editing technology than the GM technologies. Our results also show that government is the most preferred developer of the potatoes, regardless of technology. Results from this study can help guide public and private management of the introduction of new foods when the products are developed with unpopular technologies.     

Are nontariff measures and tariffs substitutes? Some panel data evidence

Using new estimates of ad valorem equivalent of nontariff measures (NTMs) over time, this paper examines NTMs and tariffs’ relationship for a sample of 70 economies for 4,949 products at the 6‐digit harmonized system level over the period 2003–2015. A panel data methodology models the lagged adjustment of NTMs to tariffs, consistent with a causal relationship. Trade policy substitution is found when the models are estimated in both levels and changes; with this holding for both OECD and non‐OECD countries, but not for the agriculture sector in OECD countries. Overall, there is a fairly complete substitution between policy instruments in absolute terms.     

The Spillover Effect of SEC Comment Letters on Qualitative Corporate Disclosure: Evidence from the Risk Factor Disclosure

In this study we use the recently mandated risk factor disclosure to examine the spillover effect of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) review of qualitative corporate disclosure. We find that firms not receiving any comment letter (“No‐letter Firms”) modify their subsequent year's disclosures to a larger extent if the SEC has commented on the risk factor disclosure of (i) the industry leader, (ii) a close rival, or (iii) numerous industry peers. We refer to this effect as “spillover.” Further, we find that after SEC comments on the industry leader's disclosure, No‐letter Firms also provide more firm‐specific disclosures in the subsequent year. The increased disclosure specificity reduces these firms’ likelihood of receiving SEC risk disclosure comments on their new filings. Our evidence suggests an indirect effect of the SEC review of qualitative disclosure.     

基于农业发展方式转变的江苏省农业产业升级发展研究

[目的]从定量方面对江苏省农业发展方式转变对农业产业升级贡献结果进行研究,以准确把握江苏省农业发展方式转变进程。[方法]构建基于农业发展方式转变的江苏省农业产业升级评价指标体系,以2007—2016年江苏省10年的年度数据为研究对象,采用熵值法计算各年度每个指标权重以及各准则层和农业发展方式转变综合得分值。[结果](1) 2007—2016年江苏省农业产业方式转变取得了一定成效,处于良好的发展势头;(2) 2012和2014年江苏省基于农业发展方式转变的农业产业升级增长最快,2016年出现大幅下跌,导致该下跌的原因是同时期农业集约型效益的大幅下降;(3)集约型升级和高效型升级对基于农业发展方式转变的江苏省农业产业升级带动作用最大;结构合理型升级发展滞后。[结论]江苏省基于农业发展方式转变的农业产业升级还处于不断探索阶段,加速农业产业结构升级对于江苏省加快转变农业发展方式尤为重要。     

Learning design and technology through social networks for high school students in China

The subject of design and technology was introduced to the curriculum for high schools in China 10 years ago. However, the teaching and learning of this subject have become difficult for both teachers and students because there is a lack of qualified teachers with design background to deliver this subject in a way to stimulate the learning interests of the students. This paper presents a research that is aimed at improving this situation by integrating the teaching and learning of design and technology within a computational environment as part of social networks sites. The purpose is to enable the collaboration among the students and interaction between teachers and students. In this research, a series of investigations were conducted, by following through several taught subjects in design and technology in prominent high schools in China. Based on these investigations, a theoretical framework for web-based design learning and teaching system in the style of social networking is developed, implemented and tested, emphasizing three features of design: innovation, collaboration, and interaction. This framework has been tested among high school students and teachers in a high school in Nanjing. It identified and validated necessary techniques and design features required to make an education-related social networking site effective and affective for the students and teachers. The results of this research indicated that social networking sites have significantly positive values in design education, especially for the collaboration and interaction on the subject of design and technology.     

基于因子及聚类分析的甘肃省14市州区域软实力综合评价

区域软实力是促进区域协调发展的有效助力，软实力建设是推动西部地区高质量发展的必要前提。本文立足于甘肃省，在研究国内文献的基础上，从区域文化、公共管理、人力素质、区域形象、宜居环境五个方面构建了区域软实力的评价指标体系，采用了因子分析和聚类分析等方法，从软实力指数、类型及排名等方面入手，对甘肃省各地区的软实力进行了综合评估。结果显示，甘肃省各地区的软实力情况可分为五类，区域间软实力发展不够均衡，差异性较大。为此，各地区可根据评估结果，正视自身软实力现状与发展差距，借鉴榜样地区的经验与做法，合理调配资源，切实提升软实力。     

名义负利率传导机理与传导效果:文献综述

在全球经济复苏乏力、新冠疫情持续冲击的背景下,名义负利率政策再度成为热议话题.本文在简要梳理主要国家的政策实践后,系统介绍了名义负利率政策的传导机理和传导效果,并讨论了其主要争议与未来展望.总的来说,名义负利率政策与传统利率政策的传导机理大致相同,仅在政策调控模式和操作工具等方面略显差异.名义负利率政策在调节汇率方面表现出色,在传导效率和对金融机构的影响方面存在争议,短期内在提振通胀方面略见成效,长期内可能存在着扭曲经济结构等多方面的非线性影响.名义负利率的政策实践具有很强的借鉴意义,其长期效果及退出等问题有待进一步研究.未来可结合数字货币的应用,对负利率的下限问题作进一步分析.     

基于双重属性的商业模式构念化与研究框架建议

商业模式是创业研究的新兴主题,既有研究文献增长迅猛,但研究结论高度零散、矛盾甚至冲突,不少学者认为缺乏概念明确性是导致商业模式研究喧嚣混沌状况的根源,但鲜有研究对此做出积极的理论探索。本文首先梳理并提炼商业模式概念的演变及其理论逻辑,发现既有研究的不足并提炼商业模式如何创造价值的架构属性,基于不同理论视角形成了不同的概念维度,特别是对于商业模式如何塑造竞争优势的价值属性研究不足。进一步地,本文构建了基于双重属性的商业模式构念化与分类模型,目的在于整合并澄清学术界对于商业模式概念的学理性认识,同时基于该模型重新审视商业模式研究框架并提出未来研究亟待关注的关键问题,以期对商业模式形成、调整及其效应机制的理论发展和实证检验起到推动作用,最后提出了国内学者开展商业模式研究的启示和建议。     

Non-tariff and overall protection: evidence across countries and over time

This paper analyzes the evolution of the incidence and intensity of non-tariff measures (NTMs). It extends earlier work by measuring protection from NTMs over time from a newly available database and provides evidence on the evolution of NTMs. In particular, building on Kee et al. (Econ J 119(534):172–199, 2009), this paper estimates the ad valorem equivalents of NTMs for 97 countries at the product level over the period 1997–2015. We show that the incidence and the intensity of NTMs were both increasing over this period, with NTMs becoming an even more dominant source of trade protection. We are also able to investigate the evolution of overall protection derived jointly from tariffs and NTMs. The results show that the overall protection level, for most countries and products, has not decreased despite the fall in tariffs associated with multilateral, regional and bilateral trade agreements in recent decades. We also document an increase in overall trade protection during the recent 2008 financial crisis. Overall, this study sheds light on an under-researched aspect of trade liberalization: the proliferation and increase of NTMs.