Liberalizing NAFTA Rules of Origin: A Dynamic CGE Analysis

Most computable general-equilibrium (CGE) studies assessing the welfare impact of moving from a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to a deeper form of integration, for example a customs union (CU), typically proxy the integration as the adoption of a common external tariff toward the rest of the world. However, a CU is also an arrangement that allows for the elimination of FTAs' preferential rules of origin (ROO), which is typically not captured in CGE studies. This paper addresses the issue using a multicountry, multisector dynamic CGE model. Although the removal of distortionary ROO is likely to lower the unit costs of production within North America, it may also deteriorate North American terms of trade with the rest of the world. Thus, the net effect of the removal of NAFTA ROO on welfare is ambiguous and is an empirical issue.     

The US Economy from 1992 to 1998: Results from a Detailed CGE Model*

This paper describes historical and decomposition simulations undertaken for 1992–98 with a 500‐sector computable general equilibrium model of the US. The historical simulation provides estimates of movements in unobservable technology and preference variables. The decomposition simulation explains developments in the US economy in terms of movements in these variables and in observable exogenous variables such as tariffs. Both simulations produce many results. Here we use decomposition results to show that rapid growth in US international trade is explained mainly by technology changes that reduced costs in export‐orientated industries and increased inputs of commodities that are heavily imported.     

人民币国际化的动态CGE研究

人民币国际化将对我国的经济发展产生深远的影响.本文沿用李稻葵、刘霖林设计的三种预测人民币国际化程度的情景,运用一个中国动态可计算一般均衡(CGE)模型-MCHUGE模型分析人民币国际化对中国经济的影响,研究不同人民币国际化程度下的经济走势.仿真结果表明:人民币国际化对贸易条件的改善、就业及产业优化都具有正向作用.但目前人民币国际化程度还相当低,人民币从初步国际化到完全国际化可能需要相当长的时间.     

Biofuels and Climate Change Mitigation: A CGE Analysis Incorporating Land-Use Change

We examine the impact of a “green network effect” in a market characterized by consumers’ environmental awareness and competition between firms in terms of both environmental quality and product prices. The unique aspect of this model comes from the assumption that an increase in the number of consumers of green (brown) product increases the satisfaction of each green (brown) consumer. We show that, paradoxically, when the network effect of a green product is higher than that of a brown product, this externality reduces product environmental quality and raises consumption of the green product. Conversely, when the network effect of the brown product is higher, the externality improves product environmental quality and raises consumption of the brown product. In both cases, the network effect does not affect the overall pollution level. The externality correction requires the use of three optimal fiscal policies: an ad valorem tax on products, an emission tax, and a subsidy or a tax on the green purchase. A second-best optimum can also be reached through the green taxation.     

Distorted Trade Barriers: A Dissection of Trade Costs in a “Distorted Gravity” Model

It is common in the trade literature to use iceberg transport costs to represent both tariffs and shipping costs alike. However, in models with monopolistic competition these are not identical trade restrictions. This difference is driven by how the two costs affect the extensive margin. We illustrate these differences in a gravity model. We show theoretically that trade flows are more elastic with respect to tariffs than transport costs and find a linear relationship between the elasticities with respect to tariffs, iceberg transport costs, and fixed market costs. We empirically validate these results using data on US product‐level imports.     

中国碳减排政策的模拟分析——基于中国能源CGE模型的研究

通过构建中国能源CGE模型,在模型中引入碳税和碳排放变量,细化出能源部门,并将煤炭、石油和天然气三种主要能源作为生产要素,设定节能减排基准情景,针对碳减排、碳税和能源结构调整这三个不同的能源政策对经济发展以及碳排放的冲击效果进行了模拟分析.模拟结果表明,单一的能源政策总有不足之处,要么减排效果欠佳,要么严重制约经济发展,因此国家应该将减排政策系统化,构造一个适应现实需要的低碳经济政策体系.     

Energy biased technical change: A CGE analysis

This paper studies energy bias in technical change. For this purpose, we develop a computable general-equilibrium model that builds on endogenous growth models. The model explicitly captures links between energy, the rate and direction of technical change, and the economy. We show the importance of feedback in technical change, substitution possibilities between final goods, and general-equilibrium effects for energy bias in technical change. If the feedback effect is strong, or the substitution elasticity large, or both, our model tends to a corner solution in which only technologies are developed that are appropriate for production of non-energy intensive goods.     

Targeting Regional Output with State Government Fiscal Instruments: a Dynamic Multi-regional CGE Analysis

Between 1986/87 and 1998/99, Tasmania's share of national output declined from approximately 2.3 per cent to 1.9 per cent. At least two forecasters have projected that Tasmania's share of national activity will continue to decline over the period 1999/00 to 2003/04, falling to 1.7 per cent of national activity by the end of this period. This paper investigates whether it is within the power of the Tasmanian government to influence materially this forecast outcome by means of a budget neutral tax policy. Two such policy packages are investigated using a dynamic two-region CGE model of the Australian economy (FEDERAL-F). In the first, the question asked is whether there exists a feasible re-arrangement of the Tasmanian government's revenue raising effort which has the effect of maintaining, over the forecast period, Tasmania's share of national GDP at its 1998/99 level. This is found not to be so. Hence, a second and (comparatively) less ambitious policy is then considered. This involves the gradual but complete elimination of payroll tax over the forecast period, and its replacement with a direct tax on households. Even when such a dramatic tax change as this is considered, the impact on the forecast for Tasmania's share of national activity is not large.     

The Possibility of Inefficient Liberalization Through Tariffication*

A typical step in trade liberalization under the GATT is tariffication—the conversion of quantitative import restrictions to their ad valorem tariff equivalents. This paper shows that, if there is market power in the protected industry, tariffication may cause a global efficiency loss. In particular, in a small country, if the protected industry is a monopoly that is freely able to export but cannot profitably do so, then tariffication unambiguously imposes global efficiency costs. In a large country, the global efficiency effects are uncertain a priori. In both cases, however, tariffication unambiguously benefits the monopoly and lowers foreign welfare.     

Restoring Macroeconomic Stability through Fiscal Adjustment: a Real–Financial CGE Analysis for India

Developing‐country attempts to regain macroeconomic stability through fiscal adjustment are often unsuccessful in reducing inflation and balance‐of‐payments (BoP) disequilibrium. This paper examines why this may be so in the light of India's experience with stabilization in response to the BoP crisis in 1991. It does so using a novel real–financial computable general‐equilibrium model. Focusing on credit rather than money, the model goes beyond earlier modeling approaches by (1) incorporating credit rationing, (2) recognizing the dual role of credit for working capital and investment, and (3) allowing for switches between credit‐constrained, capacity‐constrained, and demand‐constrained, regimes. The simulations indicate that the macroeconomic effects of monetized deficit reduction differ widely depending on the mode of financing and on initial conditions in real and financial markets. Whenever fiscal reform leads to a squeeze on available working capital credit, deficit reduction will lead to only a limited inflation decline and a modest BoP improvement.     

Physical and Economic Consequences of Sea-Level Rise: A Coupled GIS and CGE Analysis Under Uncertainties

This paper develops a modelling framework that links GEMINI-E3, a multi-regional, multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium model with a cost-benefit analysis approach at local level using geographical information system tools to assess the physical and economic consequences of sea-level rise (SLR) in the twenty first century. A set of future scenarios is developed spanning the uncertainties related to global warming, the parameters of semi-empirical SLR estimates, and coastal developments (cropland, urban areas and population). The importance of incorporating uncertainties regarding coastal development is highlighted. The simulation results suggest that the potential development of future coastal areas is a greater source of uncertainty than the parameters of SLR itself in terms of the economic consequences of SLR. At global level, the economic impact of SLR could be significant when loss of productive land along with loss of capital and forced displacement of populations are considered. Furthermore, highly urbanised and densely populated coastal areas of South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand are likely to suffer significantly if no protective measures are taken. Hence, it is suggested that coastal areas needs to be protected to ameliorate the overall welfare cost across various regions.     

财税政策调整与财政风险预警研究——基于CGE模拟分析

在我国中央财政赤字增加和地方债务不断累积的情况下,观察财政风险的变化情况尤其重要。本文首先总结财政风险预警研究的最新进展,构建了一个在复杂现实背景下分析财税政策调整对财政风险影响的CGE模型,模拟了增加财政支出、提高税负和提高利率的三种情形,研究发现:在宏观经济运行的内外部条件没有改变的前提下,今后五年的财政风险都将继续加大。因此,建议对后金融危机时代的财政风险状况变化给予高度关注,提高财政透明度,设立财政偿债基金,建立风险管理及预警机制,确保风险在可控的范围内。     

Rational expectations for large CGE models: A practical algorithm and a policy application

We describe a simple iterative method for solving large dynamic CGE models under rational expectations. Details are given for Australia's MONASH model but the approach applies to a wide range of CGE models. The method is automated in the RunMONASH Windows software, putting CGE modelling under rational expectations within the reach of non-specialist modellers. We provide an illustrative application in which MONASH results under rational expectations are compared with results under static expectations. The application and supporting software can be downloaded. Results from the application are interpreted in terms of elementary economic mechanisms.     

The effects of multinationals on host economies: A CGE approach

This paper offers a new perspective regarding the effects on a host economy of the entry of multinational enterprises (MNEs). We use a computable general equilibrium (CGE) approach, through a version of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model extended to incorporate MNEs. The analysis is applied to the Czech Republic, a country that has received substantial inflows of foreign direct investment in the last few years. A special attention has been paid to the issue of profit repatriation. We find that the negative effects of profit repatriation are sizeable, and might even offset the positive impact of the entry of MNEs.     

A CGE analysis of oil price change

As Chinese economy system has been depended more on the import of petroleum with the development of China, the change in the price of international oil have caused concern among economists and policy makers. This paper is to present a financial Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model of the Chinese economy which integrates real economy and financial sectors, and to apply it to quantitatively evaluate the impacts on Chinese economy caused by international oil price changes. And the model endogenously determines the exchange rate, covering fixed, partially flexible, and completely flexile exchange rate system to consider the effect of foreign oil price changes from the point of view of macro and industrial aspects. Finally, this paper presents concluding remarks.     

Trade liberalisation and inequalities in Nepal: A CGE analysis

In this paper we examine the effects of trade liberalisation on inequality in the small developing country of Nepal. We use a Computable General Equilibrium approach applied to a newly developed social accounting matrix, simulating three liberalisation scenarios: (i) import liberalisation; (ii) export liberalisation; and (iii) import and export liberalisations implemented together under different exchange rate regimes. Outcomes reveal that industry reallocation following liberalisation does not respond to classical trade theory expectations about factor intensity and abundance. On the distributive side, liberalisation seems to increase the high-skilled/low-skilled gap and favour rich households relatively more. However, since under fixed exchange rate also the two poorest household groups increase their income levels, liberalisation may also expected to be beneficial for poverty alleviation.     

分裂的语言与畸变的社会--《中国一九五七》的语言学解析

《中国一九五七》的成功之处就在于作者深刻地体会到语言的“物质性”以及它巨大的力量并在文本中成功地展示了它。实际上,《中国一九五七》的真正价值在于其文本形式的创新性:它是一部真正运用语言学理念创作完成的小说。在整部小说中,“语言”本身（而不是传统意义上的人物、情节）成为文本的核心。     

能源要素价格改革对宏观经济影响的CGE分析

当前国内要素价格改革呼声很高,其中能源价格改革更为迫切。本文利用MCHUGE模型,研究提高能源价格对中国经济发展的影响。研究表明,提高能源价格在短期和长期均能显著降低中国能源强度,其原因在于能源价格的提高优化了中国经济产业结构,第二产业尤其是重工业在国内生产总值中所占比重下降,减少了总体的能源消费。但是能源价格提高对宏观经济带来了较大的负面影响,其导致的出口下降和投资需求下降分别是短期和长期国内生产总值下降的主要原因。     

The impact of the Indonesian income tax reform: A CGE analysis

This study evaluates the impacts of Indonesia's recent income tax reforms on key macroeconomic variables, as well as the impacts on poverty and income distribution. It was found that the reductions in personal income tax and corporate income tax increase economic growth under a balanced budget assumption. The policy reforms also lead to a small reduction in the incidence of poverty. However, the policies also lead to an increase in income inequality because the tax cut is more beneficial to households in the highest income categories. It is recommended that future tax cuts should target the urban and rural poor.