Inequality and Growth in European Regions: Towards a Place-based Approach

Abstract

Does agglomeration matter for growth? This paper addresses this question by evaluating the impact that intra-regional income distribution has on regional growth in Europe. By using a spatially augmented Solow growth model, we investigate the convergence process among 188 EU regions between 1991 and 2004 and extend the traditional growth models to account for the impact of regional inequality on growth, as well as the effects of interaction among regions. Our assumption is that existing levels of inequality between sub-regional territorial units could positively contribute to regional economic growth in Europe, through the positive effects generated by the emergence of agglomeration economies. Our results show that while we cannot find any overall significant relationship in Europe between agglomeration and growth, once we distinguish between Objective 1 and Non-objective 1 regions we are able to find that agglomeration positively impacts subsequent growth, but only in the less developed regions.     

Entanglements of Periphery and Informality in Mexico City

Mexico City is a well‐known case of urban expansion. Most of the growth has been in its peripheries, occurring during two phases of housing privatization: a predominantly self‐built urbanization by residents establishing irregular settlements (starting in the 1930s); and a relatively recent surge of mass‐produced small‐scale single‐family housing built by state‐sponsored development companies (underway since the year 2000). Informality, we argue, should not be understood as a mode of housing production setting in opposition self‐build practices against industry‐led and/or state‐sponsored processes, but rather as a dialectical urbanization logic shaped by the entanglements of in/formal processes in governance practices, land privatization and regularization, and urban infrastructure and services deficits. We are particularly interested in a dominant narrative whereby the embeddedness of informality is constantly underplayed and irregular settlements are cast as a residual category, a problem to tolerate or in need of intervention, or the inevitable combination of demographic growth and housing shortage, rather than the direct outcome of urban policies and development processes. Conversely, recent housing policy in Mexico is officially narrated as an economic stimulus, a means to control and order (irregular) urban expansion, and an impulse to democratize homeownership. Our discussion of the entanglements of informality in Mexico City is based on an extended literature review of academic articles and official reports (predominantly in English), supplemented by a series of street and neighborhood explorations (in the summers of 2012 and 2013) across the metropolis.     

Trade Openness and Spatial Inequality in Emerging Countries

Abstract

Emerging world countries have experienced over the last two decades a significant change in their trade patterns. Bold trade reforms have been followed by rapid rises in international trade levels. However, despite these radical changes, we know remarkably little about how changes in trade patterns are affecting the evolution of regional inequality in the developing world. This paper addresses the link between trade openness and spatial inequality across 22 emerging countries over the period between 1990 and 2006. Our findings show that changes in international trade bring about a significant rise in within-country inequality across the developing world and that this impact is greatest in the poorest countries. This result is robust to the inclusion of a number of control variables, and to changes in the specification of the sample and in the measure used to quantify the level of regional disparities. Consequently, the increase in trade exposure across the emerging world, while possibly benefiting the countries involved in the process in aggregate terms, is generating winning and losing regions.     

柯西不等式的几种证明方法

如果某一知识跟很多学科或者一个学科的很多分支有着密切联系,那么这个知识肯定是很重要的,而二次型、欧式空间内积、詹森不等式都是高等数学中代数、实函、微积分的基本内容。本文运用二次型理论、欧式空间中内积性质和詹森(Jensen)不等式三种方法证明柯西不等式,并简要说明柯西不等式与高等数学之间的联系。     

中国城乡居民住房不平等分析

随着中国城镇住房分配体制的转型,居民的居住条件在很大程度上依赖于家庭的收入水平,因此不断扩大的收入差距也在无形中影响着住房的不平等状况。基于2002年和2013年的城镇和农村的住户调查数据,本文从住房面积和房产价值两个角度分析中国农村和城镇居民住房不平等的总体状况。研究发现,在住房市场化体制建立和发展的过程中,虽然从财产所有权上的住房均等化有所提升,家庭居住面积有了很大的改善,但人均居住面积分布的不均等程度却进一步扩大。房产价值的不平等分析表明,虽然这一时期居民的住房财富高速增长,但城乡内部和城乡之间的房产差距都急剧扩大。基于回归分解的方法考察住房财富不平等的影响因素后发现,区域差异、收入差异和人力资本是造成居民房产价值分布差距不断扩大的重要因素。     

中国经济发展的地区差距与随机收敛检验

研究目标：测度中国经济发展地区差距并识别随机收敛俱乐部。研究方法：基于DMSP/OLS夜间灯光数据,利用Dagum基尼系数及分解方法测度中国经济发展的空间非均衡程度,并通过面板单位根检验对地区内经济发展收敛俱乐部进行识别。研究发现：中国总体地区差距主要来源于地区间差距,而不同地区间交叉重叠的影响极小。东部地区的河北、江苏、浙江、福建等省份,中部地区的河南、湖北、湖南等省份,西部地区的广西、重庆、四川、贵州等省份,它们的经济发展存在向局部均值随机收敛的趋势。研究创新：基于夜间灯光数据重新审视了中国经济发展的地区差距与随机收敛特征。研究价值：揭示出中国总体地区差距的主要来源,并进一步识别出各地区内经济发展收敛俱乐部。     

一类不等式的加强

针对一类不等式,给出相关讨论,揭示其内在联系,并提出待研究的问题。     

Interregional Input–Output Modelling in Indonesia: A Constrained Growth Rate Approach with Endogenous Investment

In interregional input–output (IO) models, investment can be endogenized in many different ways, varying from dynamic Leontief-type solutions to computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. However, large versions of these models are difficult to implement because of the absence of the required data. In this paper, a different, less data-demanding treatment of regional investment is presented for an interregional IO forecasting model in which a simultaneous solution is given for regional GDP by industry, on the one hand, and for regional aggregate investment, on the other hand. In this way, investment plays its role as a disaggregate demand factor by industry and region, as well as being an aggregate supply constraint on regional capital stock at the same time. Some empirical results are presented for a 27-region model in Indonesia, which has been used by the government during the preparations for the new national 5-year plan for 1994–1999.     

Place of origin and internal migration decisions in Mexico

This paper investigates internal migration decisions in Mexico. It analyses, first, the associations between migration decisions and pre-migration individual characteristics, testing the hypothesis of positive selection; second, whether and how the characteristics of the place of origin affect migration decisions; and third, whether the relationship between place characteristics and migration decisions varies depending on individual traits. Results indicate positive selection of emigrants in terms of both quantity and quality of human capital; and an important role of origin characteristics, consistent with migration transition theory.     

Understanding Income Inequality in China: A Multi-Angle Perspective

Economic reforms have brought about spectacular growth and vast improvements of people’s living standards in China since 1978. In the meantime, unbalanced regional growth and income inequality have become two important concerns of future development. Most available studies on income distribution have either focused on the rural population or on the urban citizens. This paper stresses the importance of adopting a multi-angle approach to fully understand income inequality in China. We first use some top-down information to form a general picture of inequality for the whole country, and then use some bottom-up household survey data to explain in detail the development of inequality over time regarding rural/urban inequality, rural inequality, urban inequality and inter-regional inequality, the relative importance of different income sources to overall inequality. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

积分不等式的证明

通过若干实例较系统地介绍了积分不等式的证明方法和技巧,以便使积分不等式的证明更为简捷。     

金融发展、创新不平等与区域经济差距的实证研究

构建1990年至2010年地区经济差距、金融发展不平等和创新不平等三者的基尼系数。以总产出模型作为基础,运用E-G两步法构建三者之间的协整关系和误差修正模型。通过Granger因果关系检验最终得到结论:金融发展不平等是产生地区经济差距显著因素;创新不平等是缩小地区经济差距的因素,但是这种影响在短期是不显著的。     

城市居民财产性收入与贫富差距的实证分析

利用1988～2009年国家统计局全国入户调查数据,本文研究了我国城市居民财产性收入的规模、组成、变化以及其对收入差距的贡献。采用基尼系数的分解方法,将每年的收入差距分解到各个收入成分的贡献,并发现与其他收入形式相比,财产性收入分布的基尼系数是最高的,对总收入差距的贡献也在迅速扩大,这一现象值得重视。本文还分别对东、中、西部地区进行了分析,发现财产性收入主要集中在东部地区。     

Objective Bayes Factors for Inequality Constrained Hypotheses

This paper will present a Bayes factor for the comparison of an inequality constrained hypothesis with its complement or an unconstrained hypothesis. Equivalent sets of hypotheses form the basis for the quantification of the complexity of an inequality constrained hypothesis. It will be shown that the prior distribution can be chosen such that one of the terms in the Bayes factor is the quantification of the complexity of the hypothesis of interest. The other term in the Bayes factor represents a measure of the fit of the hypothesis. Using a vague prior distribution this fit value is essentially determined by the data. The result is an objective Bayes factor.     

A multivariate analysis of hybrid and electric vehicles sales in Mexico

This paper presents a multivariate analysis considering economic and ecological factors that are associated with the acquisition of low emission vehicles in Mexico. We analyzed the data available in the Mexican context from its 32 states and use econometric analyses with linear regression models to determine the significant factors associated with the sales of hybrid and electric vehicles. We found that the sales of these vehicles are positively correlated with the GDP per capita, the cost of consumed electricity, the price of gasoline and an indicator variable defined for sustainable practices. This indicator variable is calculated using data on the certificates issued by the government environmental office, energy intensity, adequate disposal of waste and waste separation. Based on these results, we infer that adherence to sustainable practices has a positive correlation with the acquisition of low emission vehicles in Mexico. However, for the buyers, the affordability of these vehicles is more important than their energy efficiency. In addition, we found that the most industrialized states are adopting hybrid and electric vehicles at higher rates than states whose economy depends on commerce and tourism.     

Trade Liberalization and Pollution: An Input–Output Study of Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Mexico

This paper examines the environmental effects associated with Mexico's participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The objective is to provide quantitative estimates of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from changes in the level and structure of production and consumption activity in Mexico following a liberalization of trade. The quantitative analysis was performed using input–output methods with fuel use modifications to account for CO₂ emissions before and after NAFTA's implementation. As a result of NAFTA, CO₂ emissions are expected to increase from the anticipated increase in the size of the Mexican economy. While total emissions increase as a result of tariff elimination, there is also a shift in the structure of production and final consumption away from those sectors that are the most C02 intensive.