Fees and the Efficiency of Tradable Permit Systems: An Experimental Approach

The paper presents the results of an economic experiment in which the effects of fees on allocative efficiency of tradable utilization permits (e.g. pollution permits) are explored. Laboratory subjects (university students) play the roles of firms whose generic product requires a specific input or permits. Scarcity is exogenously introduced by a fixed supply of tradable production permits. Three treatments are compared: No fee imposed (N); a fixed tax per permit (T); and partial retraction of permits and subsequent redistribution by auction (A). Treatments T and A represent two different ways of imposing fees, which are designed to be revenue equivalent. Our results indicate that, after controlling for deviation of permit prices from a prediction based on fundamentals, fees have an impact on distribution of permits. Interestingly, a fixed tax enhances efficiency compared to the case of no fees while retraction and reallocation by auction tends to reduce efficiency. Apparently, subjects’ decision making is affected by the imposition of fees, but how and to what extent depends on the method used.     

Efficiency of Nonpoint Source Pollution Instruments: An Experimental Study

In nonpoint source pollution problems, the regulator does not observe each polluters individual emission, which prevents him from using the conventional policy instruments. Therefore, new instruments have been designed to regulate this type of pollution. In an experiment, we compare the efficiency of some of these instruments: an input-based tax, an ambient tax/subsidy, an ambient tax, and a group fine. We assume that polluters themselves are affected by environmental damages. A control session without any regulation is also carried out in order to study the status quo situation. Our experimental data show that the input tax and the ambient tax are very efficient and reliable, and the group fine is fairly efficient and reliable. These instruments improve social welfare with respect to the status quo. On the contrary, the ambient tax/subsidy decreases social welfare with respect to the status quo, and its effect is very unreliable.     

中国地区能源效率差异及其影响因素分析

深入分析我国地区能源效率差异及其影响因素,对挖掘地区节能降耗潜力、提高能源利用效率有着重要的意义。文章首先分析了我国地区能源效率现状和地区能源效率差异特征;其次探讨了能源效率差异主要影响因素,通过构建计量模型,对能源效率差异影响因素进行了实证研究。研究结果表明：1998～2008年我国地区能源效率呈现明显的东、中、西递减的梯状现象,能源效率较高的地区主要集中在东南沿海省份,能源效率较低的地区主要集中在资源禀赋比较丰富的西部内陆省份;地区间的能源效率差异正在拉大而地区内部的能源效率差异则相对收敛;技术进步、经济发展水平、能源消费需求对地区能源效率差异有显著正向影响,而就业结构、经济开放程度呈现显著的负向影响。针对实证结果,文章最后提出了相应的政策建议。     

An Efficiency Approach to the Evaluation of Policy Changes

This paper describes an efficiency approach to the evaluation of policy changes. Rather than comparing the utility allocations that arise before and after a policy change is introduced, this approach evaluates a policy change by comparing it with other possible changes which might be made from the status quo. The main merit of the approach is that it is founded on the Pareto criterion rather than on a distributional value judgement. The paper provides a precise statement of the approach and applies it to a number of examples. Some objections to the approach are also anticipated and discussed.     

Price Expectations and International Quota Trading: An Experimental Evaluation

This paper reports a preliminary experimental test of international quota trading on a market characterized by several dominant traders. Uncertain quota demand and supply imply true market-clearing prices that in general differ from an expected competitive quota price. However, in the experiment the expected price level emerges as a focal point on which the bulk of quota trade contracts are keyed. Thus, incomplete price discovery occurs.     

The Efficiency of Direct Public Involvement in Environmental Policymaking: An Experimental Test

In collaborative negotiation, stakeholder representatives are charged with the development of a mutually acceptable set of public policies. Although this approach has become popular in environmental negotiations, little is known about the characteristics of the outcomes that are reached. In this paper, we employ an Edgeworth box framework to investigate the nature of bargaining over public goods (environmental policies) that have multiple attributes. We then design and conduct laboratory experiments within this framework to test whether negotiated outcomes satisfy standard axiomatic bargaining predictions under a variety of conditions. Specifically, we test whether two parties with Pareto inefficient endowments of two goods will trade to Pareto improving and Pareto efficient outcomes, and to the Nash bargain in particular. We vary whether the Nash bargain coincides with or diverges from the outcome that maximizes the joint payoff, or the outcome that equalizes payoffs, and whether subjects are provided full or partial information. We find that bargainers reach Pareto improving and efficient outcomes across treatments, but withdraw support for the Nash bargain when it generates unequal payments or when payoff information is private. We conclude that this experimental framework offers a promising method for studying multi-attribute negotiations.     

On the Evaluation of Options on Lotteries: An Experimental Study

We present the results of a comparative experimental study of the evaluation of simple lotteries and call/put/insurance options on these lotteries. The main findings and conclusions are:

(a) The observed bidding patterns depend on the type of asset under evaluation. In particular, subject behavior when buying or selling a basic lottery seems much more cautious than their behavior when buying or selling options on that lottery.

(b) The observed bidding patterns also depend on subject positions with respect to the underlying asset. In particular, the bids for buying lotteries and options long are statistically uncorrelated with the bids for selling the same lotteries and options short.

(c) Subjects with extreme risk attitudes are more inclined to violate basic no-arbitrage conditions (like the call-put parity) when bidding for the different lotteries.

We demonstrate that it is difficult to reconcile the experimental evidence with mainstream theories on individual decision and choice (although we find strong support for prospect theory in some parts of the data). We conclude that the evaluation of options on lotteries is context-dependent and subtler than perceived by existing theories.     

产品架构评估:分析框架与准则

构建了包括架构流动和变动两维度的产品架构评估分析框架。其中,架构流动体现了架构在价值创造活动间的情境转换,架构变动体现了架构自身特性的演变特征。该框架包含经验主义准则、价值实现准则、结构主义准则和成长目的准则四种方法。     

Design of the 3G Spectrum Auctions in the UK and Germany: An Experimental Investigation

Abstract. This paper analyses the auction designs chosen for awarding 3G licences in the UK and Germany and compares them with respect to revenues and bidders' surplus using a laboratory experiment. In our study with a given number of bidders, the German design leads to higher revenues. However, bidder surplus in the German design is lower and bidders face a severe exposure problem. Because this might discourage participation, it will probably lead to less competitive bidding in real applications.     

拔尖人才的引领效能和客观筛选标准

必须用科学化的硬标准筛选和公开核查相结合的方式,才能筛选出真正的拔尖人才。确定同国际接轨的符合可持续发展现代要求的系统化的筛选标准,是解决问题的关键。注意专业对口地使用拔尖人才,才能良好地发挥其引领效能。注重学风建设、务实求真,从源头反腐败,还学界净土,才能引领社会走向风清气正、可持续高效益的发展轨道。     

中国对非投资促进非洲东道国经济增长的效率评价——基于DEA

使用数据包络分析方法,运用CCR模型与BCC模型对中国对非投资促进非洲东道国经济增长的技术效率、纯技术效率与规模效率进行了评价。从中国企业的对非投资决策、适应市场环境能力和实现经营规模等方面来看,中国对非投资的总体发展趋势是逐步扩大经营规模,但对部分国家的生产要素投入应有所控制。     

基于DEA的财政支出效率评价研究

财政支出的绩效评价应该将投入和产出两方面结合起来进行分析.对财政支出的经济绩效评价,在财政支出的投入指标方面,应定义人均财政支出、财政支出比、经济性财政支出比三个投入指标;在财政支出的产出指标方面,应定义财政收入增长率、实际GDP增长率、财政支出资本形成拉动系数、财政支出弹性和财政支出倍率五个产出指标.这样,才能从规模与结构角度较为全面地表征财政支出的绩效.     

An Evaluation of the Vanderbilt-JCEE Experimental PSI Course in Elementary Economics

This is considerably longer than articles normally accepted by the JEE, but we considered it to be an important follow-up of our Special Issue No. 2, “The Vanderbilt-JCEE Experimental Course in Elementary Economics.” (Winter 1974.) The authors address a number of aspects of PSI, some of which have rarely been touched upon by other researchers interested in this method. This paper deals not only with student learning and student reactions to PSI, but with its effects on performance in higher level economics courses, its impact on the student proctors in terms of their learning of economics, and the costs of establishing and maintaining a PSI course. Siegfried and Strand have not answered all the questions pertaining to self-paced instruction but, along with Allison, Billings, Fels, Soper, Spector, Tietenberg and others, they have contributed significantly to our knowledge of the effectiveness of PSI.     

行业因素对风险投资项目评价指标影响的实证研究

风险投资项目评价的有效性是影响风险投资公司获利的关键因素。在借鉴国内外风险投资项目评价指标体系方面研究成果的基础上,运用因子分析法对风险投资评价决策程序中初步评价阶段的评价指标进行研究,并在此基础上,运用非参数检验的方法对风险投资项目评价指标在高科技行业和传统行业项目评估上的差异进行了研究,研究结果显示,国内风险投资项目评价指标在这两类行业上存在显著性的差异。     

实地实验及其在经济学中的应用

最近十几年来实地实验方法在经济学研究中日益流行,国际顶级期刊发表了大量使用这种方法的文献。实地实验在真实的经济社会环境下进行受控实验,以识别因果关系和潜在的作用机制为最终目的,填补了实验室实验和使用自然生成数据方法在实证研究中的中间地段。目前使用实地实验方法研究的话题涉及教育、农业、金融信贷、就业歧视、腐败、慈善等领域,并应用于对传统和最新的经济理论的检验。实地实验方法对发展中国家一些重要现实问题的研究尤其引人注目,也使其兼具极强的政策适用性。了解实地实验的特征和主要方法,特别是对发展中国家问题的研究思路,对我国经济学科的发展和经济社会改革的实践都具有重要意义。     

上市公司治理结构效率评估

建立有效的公司治理结构无论对于所有者还是对于投资者而言都是有利的。基于诸如委托代理人理论、不对称信息理论等前沿理论成果,兼顾考虑到正在发展中的中国资本市场环境,本文运用数据包络分析(DEA)分析和研究了中国上市公司治理结构的有效性和效率。     

Learning Through Advocacy: An Experimental Evaluation of an Adversary Instructional Model

Dr. Kourilsky describes the use of her Adversary Instructional Model and reports on an experiment in which the Model was used in high school economics classes. Control and experimental groups were tested with the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, the Dietz Test of Economic Understanding and a specially designed Attitude Rigidity Inventory or “opinion ballot.” Some of the results are surprising, but the superior performance of the experimental group on the Watson-Glaser test strongly suggests that the Adversary Instructional Model is a valuable instructional device.     

广东省城市旅游效率评价与区域差异研究

采用DEA方法,以广东省21市为研究对象,从《广东旅游年鉴》中选取相关指标,利用2008—2010年旅游行业的面板数据,对旅游效率进行评价,并分析其在珠三角、粤东、粤西和粤北四个地区的差异。研究发现,广东省城市旅游总效率、技术效率和规模效率均较高;各市之间、各地区之间的总效率和技术效率差距较大,规模效率差距较小,且各类效率的差距均有缩小的趋势。其次,近40%的城市处于规模收益不变的阶段,这些城市多位于珠三角地区。最后,根据旅游效率的大小和增速,可以将城市划分为草根型、新秀型、明星型和贵族型四类。相关部门和企业可以根据这些特征和规律,对旅游资源要素的投入规模和各项技术的利用水平进行相应调整。