Elections and COVID-19 benefit payments

This study examines the political factors associated with the implementation of a benefit payment policy in Japan during the COVID-19 crisis. The Japanese government announced a universal cash payment program in April 2020, but the payment date differed across localities. This study estimates the correlation between this timing and local politicians’ characteristics, finding that local governments with mayors elected unopposed tended to start making payments comparatively early. As such, mayors elected uncontested may be able to mobilize resources within government offices to execute programs such as the Special Fixed Benefit program in Japan, which attracted public attention.     

Measuring performance: Ranking state success over two decades in India

This paper proposes new composite measures of relative and dynamic state performance to improve governance and delivery of public programs in developing countries with a federal structure. We illustrate the use of the indices to rank the performance of 19 major Indian states on two large development programs launched by the Indian government over the last two decades using publicly available data. Although we find volatility in performance over time, there exists a positive correlation between measures of initial (administrative) state capacity, development and accountability with program outcomes. Our findings have important implications for both the design and implementation of large-scale public programs across developing countries.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of government programs of socioeconomic development of regions of Russia

The article shows the importance of assessing the effectiveness of government programs due to the increasingly widespread use of the program approach in the system of public administration, strategic planning, and the formation of budgets at all levels. The problems and the possibilities of assessing the effectiveness of government programs, “Socioeconomic Development of the Far East and the Baikal Region” and “Socioeconomic Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation up to 2020” have been considered.     

Reducing the Number of Pesticide- Related Illnesses: The Impact on Household Incomes in Indonesia

The increasing number of human health problems caused by the use of pesticides serves as a warning to countries to develop preventive programs Developing countries, however, are concerned about the effect of such programs on household incomes. With Indonesia as a case study, this paper presents a procedure to broaden a Social Accounting Matrix to include the impact of agricultural pesticide use on human health This approach utilises the Constrained Fixed Price Multiplier method to analyse the effect, on the household incomes of different socio-economic classes, of government programs that are designed to reduce human pesticide-related illnesses The results show that reducing such illnesses through the Safe Use of Pesticides program or the Integrated Pest Management program induces a more equal income distribution.     

沪渝两地房产税试点方案比较及对今后房产税改革的启示

在新"国八条"出台后,不到24个小时,上海和重庆版房产税改革试点方案实施细则相继公布。本文就从沪渝两地房产税试点方案的比较入手,探讨了房产税试点方案出台的意义,以及对今后房产税全面铺开的启示。     

ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGIES IN INDONESIA

During 19992000 Indonesia pursued many anti-corruption reforms but appeared to achieve little success in reducing the level of corruption, which remained a high profile problem in all branches of government. This article summarises the reform initiatives carried out since 1998 and offers an explanation for their very limited success. Obstacles to reducing corruption in Indonesia include the economic and political constraints facing the current government and the entrenched nature of corruption. The content of the reform program itself may also contribute to the persistence of the problem. The program consists primarily of moves to introduce monitoring and sanctioning mechanisms that are external to particular government organisations. Internal reforms that aim to improve organisational self-discipline have received much less attention. The reform program may thus be inherently incomplete.     

创造适合中国中小企业发展的政府融资项目

I. IntroductionIt is widely recognized that the growth of small -and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs) is akey ingredient for the sustainable economic development of a nation. Cavalluzzo,Small-and Medium -Sized Enterprises in ChinaCavalluzzo, and Wolken (2002), for example, conclude that small enterprises serve as animportant engine of growth in the U.S. economy. In China, as a result of the economicreforms and market opening measures, SMEs have enjoyed remarkable development andhave g…     

Towards A More Effective Conditionality: An Operational Framework

The “inducement” function of conditionality has failed. Its intrusive, shortsighted and ineffective character is now increasingly criticized, and may have contributed, at least in part, to the poor growth performance associated with adjustment programs in sub-Saharan Africa. This article proposes a new approach to conditionality attached to adjustment programs. It is built around three main features: recipient ownership of the appropriate reform program, considered to be a key factor for success; a more long-term approach to economic reform, avoiding in particular the disruptive practice of stop-go disbursements, and enhanced donor coordination as a factor for greater aid efficiency. Its implementation should lead to greater aid selectivity in favor of reforming countries, increased responsibility for aid recipients to decide on the rhythm and sequencing of reforms, and smoother aid flows with less disruptive aid suspensions.     

房产税如何征收才能更公平——基于四种征收方案的对比视角

文章引入税款贴现方法和断路器机制,利用CFPS家庭微观数据模拟测算了新房产税在人均面积扣减、家庭面积扣减、首套房免税和人均价值减免四种方案下的累进程度。研究发现:(1)通过税款贴现方法计算房产税MT指数,得到的最优扣减面积相比非贴现方法偏小,累进程度最高的人均扣减面积为20平米,家庭扣减面积为80平米,人均价值减免扣减面积为20平米;(2)人均价值减免方案对家庭财产的再分配效应最强,首套房免税方案次之,首套房免税方案对家庭收入的再分配效应最强,人均价值减免方案次之;(3)引入断路器机制既能够保证纳税家庭的税款支付能力,还使得高收入阶层负担的房产税份额有所提升,四种征收方案的累进程度在引入断路器机制后都得到显著提高。基于多重因素考量,未来房产税改革应当优先选择首套房免税方案,此方案下不仅能兼顾公平性和家庭支付能力,征管难度也相对更低。     

Is Being Stuck with a Five Percent Growth Rate a New Normal for Indonesia?

Indonesia’s economic growth over the past three years has been stuck at approximately 5% annually, despite a changing global environment and the Indonesian government’s efforts to boost growth. This paper asks whether this level of growth is a new normal for Indonesia—i.e. do government efforts and the global environment matter, or will the country’s economic growth remain at around 5% annually. If private consumption, the major component of GDP, continues to grow at its current level and inflation is controlled, this paper concludes that Indonesia might maintain its current annual growth rate of 5% for several more years. The probability of higher growth, however, is not promising. Lower growth seems more likely. To ensure the current level of economic growth will be sustained in the foreseeable future, this paper recommends stricter economic reforms to allow larger and more productive capital investments; more aggressive management of exchange rates to improve the country’s competitiveness; a more effective fiscal space to support improvements to needed infrastructure by developing innovation to increase revenue; a reduced energy subsidy; and a more flexible upper bound of deficit. Effective programs to improve the country’s human capital and innovation are crucial.     

天津市旅游制度环境现状与建设思路

天津市旅游经历了一个从政府强制性政策法规调控为主的制度环境发展到逐渐以旅游市场基础配置为主、政府宏观调控为辅的制度环境。本文借助于制度经济学的基本理论对天津市旅游制度环境的现状及其对旅游产业的影响进行了分析,并提出了建设思路。     

The International Monetary Fund Support Program in Indonesia: Comparing Implementation under Three Presidents

This note, based mainly on the author's experience during the crisis period as part of government teams negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), discusses how three aspects of the IMF-supported program in Indonesia--conditionality, ownership of the program and implementation capacity--affected implementation of the program under Presidents Soeharto, B.J. Habibie and Abdurrahman Wahid.     

Transmigration: looking to the future

The probabilities that the Indonesian government will reach its target of resettling 750,000 families from Java and Bali to other parts of the country during the course of the present development plan (Repelita IV), which extends through 1988-1989, are assessed. Problems encountered in the implementation of previous transmigration programs are reviewed. The author concludes that the government may well decide to focus on quality rather than quantity in the implementation of its transmigration policies.     

Lessons Learned from Public–Private Partnerships in Indonesia’s Water Sector

This paper surveys officials involved in public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the water sector in order to examine the differing motives of Indonesian actors in adopting PPPs. It also analyses the challenges of vertical coordination across different levels of government in PPP programs. We find that four motives for adopting PPPs are perceived differently by central government respondents and subnational government respondents. However, no significant differences are found between the two groups’ perceptions of the importance of vertical coordination problems. These results highlight the need for local capacity-building programs and improved coordination mechanisms to enhance PPP adoption and implementation in the water sector.     

Recent changes in the housing status of blacks in los angeles

In the aftermath of reductions in federal housing assistance programs during the 1980s, many cities are experiencing severe shortages of affordable housing. It is particularly difficult for low income and minority households to find and maintain adequate, low-cost housing. This article describes how Los Angeles has responded to this need through implementation of a particular housing policy and financing strategy. It specifically examines what impacts this program has had in producing affordable housing in the city’s low-income, minority neighborhoods. Recommendations for further public action on housing needs in Los Angeles are also offered.     

美国金融监管改革方案及其对我国的启示

全球金融危机的爆发,暴露出美国旧的金融监管体制漏洞百出。由此,2009年6月奥巴马政府出台了美国自上世纪30年代以来规模最大的金融改革方案。该方案不仅对于美国,而且对国际金融监管体系将产生重大影响,其中一些建议和措施尤其值得理论界关注和思考。本文追溯了美国金融监管体制改革的历史变迁,考察了美国现有金融监管体制的特点和缺陷,并结合此次金融监管改革方案的内容,深入分析其特征及存疑之处,并得出对完善我国金融监管体制的若干启示。     

我国西南地区旅游扶贫实施中应注意的若干问题

分析了旅游资源比较丰富的我国西南贫困地区旅游扶贫实施中应该注意的十大问题,包括实现多重目标的有机结合问题、旅游资源保护与开发的有机综合问题、旅游扶贫与小城镇开发建设有机整合问题、旅游扶贫与提升人力资源的有机会融合问题、旅游扶贫与旅游规划结合问题、旅游扶贫与其他扶贫方式结合问题、旅游扶贫理论与旅游扶贫实践结合问题、旅游扶贫的短期性的个别人收益与长期性的多数人受益结合问题、旅游扶贫与其他产业的共同发展结合问题、旅游扶贫和西部大开发结合起来等,为我国西南地区各级政府以及旅游部门有效开展旅游扶贫工作提供新思路。     

Does the high- and new-technology enterprise program promote innovative performance? Evidence from Chinese firms

This study evaluates the unique high- and new-technology enterprise (HNTE) program implemented in China. The program grants a reduced corporate income tax rate to certificated HNTEs. Based on a sample of Chinese listed firms during 2006–2016, we investigate the impact of HNTE certification on firms' R&D intensity and productivity using a combination of the propensity score matching approach and difference-in-differences estimator. The results confirm the overall effectiveness of the program in promoting innovative performance among Chinese listed firms in terms of both R&D intensity and productivity. Such effects are persistent over the valid certification period. However, the overall effects mask substantial heterogeneity across different types of certification users. Positive effects are mainly driven by repeatedly certificated firms, while no significant effects are found for firms acquiring their HNTE certificate for the first time. By distinguishing one-time and highly qualified certifications, we reveal the potential existence of fraudulent HNTEs. These results imply that the effectiveness of government programs in supporting innovation could be improved through a more thorough policy design and implementation.     

Overcoming Information Asymmetries in Low-Income Lending: Lessons from the “Working Wheels” Program

Without access to transportation, the welfare-to-work transition is nearly impossible, yet little is known about the effectiveness of programs designed to improve credit access. Since 1998, Vermont's TANF funds have provided automobile loans through the “Working Wheels” program. We use microlevel data from this program to explore how to cost-effectively provide loans to clients who cannot obtain affordable loans elsewhere. Our results verify the importance of relationship lending, particularly among those without documented credit histories. In the presence of information asymmetries about credit history, our results justify the increased trust placed in clients with whom the bank has a stronger relationship; such clients, ceteris paribus, are less likely to default. We conclude that in the current climate of welfare reform, policymakers should consider programs that encourage welfare recipients to establish and maintain relationships with financial institutions in order to facilitate access to credit and minimize the risk of default.     

地方政府投资与区域经济协调发展问题研究——基于大中原经济区视角

在国务院《促进中部地区崛起规划》的基础上,河南省制订了“大中原经济区”规划,该规划对我国区域协调发展具有重要的战略意义。文章通过实证分析指出,地方政府投资有利于缩小省间经济增长差距,促进区域协调发展。文章在此基础上结合国家的战略意图及大中原经济区的比较优势,提出了指导性、预测性的中长期地方政府区域投资发展规划,希冀为解决“中国难题”提供思路和样本。