Global human development: accounting for its regional disparities

This study’s multilevel statistical models quantify the effects of civilization zones and instrumental factors on the capacities for human agency that a country provides its citizens. These capacities are measured by the UN’s human development index, which synthesizes measures of literacy, longevity, and income. Indicators of political democracy, slavery, national debt, corruption, and internal conflict gauge the instrumental factors. Political freedom and emancipative employment coupled with civil order account for the regional differences in human development scores; civilization zones, heavily indebted poor countries, and corruption influence the variability among countries within the regions.     

Comparing regional human development using global frontier difference indices

It is well-known that composite indicator construction relies on several intermediate modelling steps and that, as a result, one should be cautious about the exact rankings of observations on the basis of specific composite index values. One way to deal with this concern rests on comparing groups rather than individual observations, which has e.g. been advocated for the well-known Human Development Index. Data Envelopment Analysis, which has become quite popular for composite indicator construction, also provides some tools to assess such intergroup differences. We here focus on the Global Frontier Difference index as introduced by Asmild and Tan [1]; and use some variants of this index to study inter-regional differences in human development performance.     

An envelopment-based approach to measuring regional social progress

Today, more than ever, it is becoming evident that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) alone is not sufficient in guiding national development strategies. In this sense, measuring the social progress of a country can provide an additional lens on national performance, which would eventually help policymakers to not only gain an advanced understanding of the ways that would unleash greater long-term economic success, but also be able to propose strategies that would create the conditions for all individuals in a society to reach their full potential, enhancing and sustaining the quality of their lives. In this paper, we propose a method to measure social progress at the sub-national level, with an application to the Peruvian regions. As such, this paper builds a unified envelopment-based model for integrating a two-stage process of the index generation. We compare and contrast the radial and non-radial envelopment approaches; it is evident from the model that the non-radial approach provides better insights when compared to the radial approach.     

Spatially blind trade and fiscal impact policies and their impact on regional economies

The evidence for the US suggests that spatially blind policies often generate greater impacts on regional economic growth and development than policies specifically targeted at regions on regional issues generally. In this presentation, attention will be directed to two sets of national policies that have been promulgated without due consideration of their specific spatial (regional) impacts – trade policy and fiscal policy.Drawing on research conducted for the US, Japan and Brazil, an examination of trade policies will be presented, using the experience of NAFTA in North America and MERCOSUR in Brazil. Some further analysis of experience in Colombia will also provide insights into the role of national trade policy and, in the case of Colombia, fiscal decentralization policies. The second part of the presentation will examine fiscal policy impacts mediated through regional business cycles; the experience of Japan and the US will be examined.The results affirm the important implications that national (spatially blind) policies can have on regional economies; in the case of Brazil, trade policies have exacerbated already wide differentials in per capita income across states.     

Efficiency evaluation for higher education institutions in China considering unbalanced regional development: A meta-frontier Super-SBM model

The development of higher education institutions (HEIs) is related to the future overall development of higher education in China. Studying the efficiency of provincial HEIs in China has great significance in deepening the reform of higher education evaluation, promoting coordinated regional development, and building a country powerful in its higher education. Based on the Super-SBM method, this paper creatively integrates meta-frontier theory and an index of international exchange and cooperation into an evaluation system for higher education efficiency. Taking 2011–2020 as the sample period, this study conducts a dynamic assessment of the higher education efficiency in 30 mainland Chinese provinces. It explores the differences in production technology in the eastern, central, and western regions, analyzing the environmental factors that affect the efficiency of higher education. The results show that during the sample period, the overall efficiency of higher education in China improved steadily. Efficiency Change is the main driving force. The three regions have significantly different technology gap ratio, and the structure of resource allocation significantly impacts efficiency. Therefore, this study's main recommendations are that the Chinese government should not only deepen the coordinated development of higher education between regions but also pay more attention to solving the problem of unbalanced development between China's geographical regions. At the same time, educational authorities should expand the number of ordinary colleges and universities in the central and western regions, develop non-financial funding sources, and improve the level of refined management of HEIs.     

Impact of high-speed railway construction on spatial patterns of regional economic development along the route: A case study of the Shanghai–Kunming high-speed railway

The Shanghai–Kunming high-speed railway spans the eastern, central, and western regions of China and is an important "horizontal" in the "eight vertical and eight horizontal" railway network of China. This paper estimates the direct impact of opening a high-speed railway on the spatial patterns of regional economic development along the route by integrating GIS technology, spatial panel data models, and the entropy method. The results show that the high-speed railway can significantly increase the economic aggregate and urbanization rates along the route and promote the upgrading of industrial structures, but it has a limited effect on the economic growth rate, showing a weak trend. In terms of spatial patterns, the high-speed railway significantly improves regional accessibility, the strength of economic ties, and economic potential along the route. The regional economy is characterized by weak spatial agglomeration and presents a trend of balanced development. In general, although the economic effect of HSR for the economically lagged regions is smaller in the short term than that in the economically and less economically developed regions, the high-speed railway has the greatest impact on regional economic development and spatial patterns in economically backward areas, thus the economically backward regions have a greater posterior advantage, which is conducive to balancing regional economies and narrowing regional differences.     

Productivity change in Brazilian water services: A benchmarking study of national and regional trends

Assessing the evolution of the performance of water supply and sanitation services is essential to monitor progress towards the universalization of water services, as specified by the Sustainable Development Goal 6 of Agenda 2030, adopted by United Nations member countries. Brazil, a developing country with a continental size and geographical diversity, will face significant challenges to achieve this goal. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the evolution of productivity of water supply and sanitation services in Brazilian municipalities in the period 2012–2019. The analysis also explores whether water services’ performance is balanced across the country, with a specific analysis of performance at the macroregion level. From a methodological perspective, this research evaluates productivity change over time using a Malmquist Productivity Index estimated with a metafrontier, satisfying the circularity property. It also develops a pseudo Malmquist index that compares productivity levels across macro-regions. The results revealed a productivity loss of approximately 4% at the national level, with an unequal profile across the macro-regions. The Southeast municipalities stand out for exhibiting, on average, higher productivity levels than the South and Northeast municipalities.     

Traces of the Iron Curtain: A multivariate analysis of regional cohesion in Europe

The present study aims to test relative welfare differences among regions in Europe, so as to examine whether the post-communist era has led to more socio-economic cohesion in Europe. The performance of European regions is analysed, compared, and assessed by using the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI) and stylised fixed nominal categories. The current status of regional cohesion is tested on the basis of detailed data on 268 NUTS 2 European regions by using a robust methodology oriented towards univariate comparison of location parameters, multivariate classification by the decision tree and CHAID algorithm, and comparison of nominal variables with four values based on density plots.Multivariate classification appears to offer statistically excellent results with an overall correct prediction rate for post-socialist and capitalist regions in Europe of 99.6%. The research results from the Higher education and Innovation pillars, reveal a convergence of capitalist and post-socialist regions with capital cities and a divergence of regions with administrative capitals and other regions. Relatively, the two groups which perform best are both groups with capitals, while the group of capitalist regions with a capital city is significantly better in almost all pillars.The key message is that the transition of post-socialist regions is not yet over. Capitalist regions in Europe perform better than post-socialist regions in eight of the nine pillars of regional competitiveness. Our research results also reveal that the group of post-socialist regions without capital cities are significantly lagging behind the rest of the regions in Europe, and thus form the most vulnerable group of European regions. As there is data continuity in the official RCI classification and measurement, policy makers will be able to compare the performance of their own regions over time and to design appropriate concerted strategies accordingly. From this perspective, our study draws several interesting lessons and results for policy makers at various levels. Place-based regional planning and policy based on our analysis framework may be helpful in developing effective measures to cope with the socio-economic legacy of the “Iron Curtain” and get closer to regional cohesion in Europe.     

Real income convergence and the patterns of financial integration in the EU

We analyse real income convergence among the EU28 countries throughout 1995–2017 and the relationship with the convergence patterns of financial systems. We apply the nonlinear latent factor model of Phillips and Sul (2007, 2009) to real incomes and the IMF financial development indices for financial markets and financial institutions (Svirydzenka, 2016), and identify convergence clubs endogenously. We have several results. First, income disparities narrowed significantly over the last twenty years; yet, the growth convergence process lost momentum triggered by the global financial crisis and countries legacies shaped up asymmetries that have crystallised. Second, countries' financial systems exhibit high fragmentation, especially for financial markets, with the new EU member states at a lower financial development, confirming the existence of a two-tier Europe. Overall, the convergence patterns for real incomes and financial development are strongly correlated. Finally, the financial structure matters and market-oriented economies feature higher long-run growth, indicating the need to implement pan-European policy actions that increase the opportunities of risk diversification, enhance capital raising and channel large-scale financing to firms.     

Situated regional university incubation: A multi-level stakeholder perspective

From a macro perspective, it is widely acknowledged that University incubation models within a region are important stimulants of economic development through innovation and job creation. With the emergence of quadruple helix innovation ecosystems, universities have had re-evaluate their University incubation activity and models to engage more fully with industry and end users. However, within a given region, the type of University may influence their ability to engage with quadruple helix stakeholders and consequently impact their incubation activity. To date there is a scarcity of research which explores this 'meso' environment and its subsequent impact on University incubation models. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to use a stakeholder lens to explore University Incubation models within unique regional and organisational characteristics and constraints. The research methodology employed was based on a comparative case analysis of incubation of two different Universities within a UK peripheral region. It was found that variances existed in relation to the two universities incubation models which were found to result from both regional (macro environment) and organisational (meso environment) influences (i.e. university type). This research contributes to both regional and national agendas by empirically illustrating the need for appropriate design and tailoring of university incubation models (via acknowledgement of quadruple helix stakeholder influence) to incorporate contextual influences rather than adopting a best practise approach.     

A new approach based on BWM and MULTIMOORA methods for calculating semi-human development index: An application for provinces of Iran

Human Development Index (HDI) is a useful tool for policy makers to understand the degree of development in their societies and set new policies to improve it. Traditionally, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) releases HDI scores of countries based on the three key dimensions of healthy life, population education and standards of living annually. However, HDI scores have some deficiencies such as methodology, indexes selection and measures time lag. In this paper, a new approach is proposed to calculate semi-HDI scores. First, in each dimension of health, education and standard of living, new and extra criteria are selected. Then, policy makers' preferences are considered to assign the weights of criteria in each dimension using best worst method (BWM). Then, MULTIMOORA method is applied to rank provinces of Iran in each dimension. Finally, the semi-HDI scores of provinces are calculated based on geometric mean of healthy life, population education and living standards. According to the semi-HDI scores, Kohgiluyeh & Boyer- Ahmad and Sistan & Baluchestan provinces are the most and the least developed provinces of Iran, respectively.     

Gender and regional employment differences: an industrial relations approach

This paper analyses gender differences in regional employment in Europe. An industrial relations approach is used, which requires that regulations and institutions in the labour market be analysed in regard to power relations in the workplace. Gender relations and working conditions are seldom included when welfare-state arrangements and the functioning of the labour market are discussed at a national level. The results of this study show that welfare-state policies, in a broad sense, support women's opportunities to take part in paid work in the labour market. Women in Europe are beginning to occupy an increasing share of the new jobs that are created as they improve their labour-force participation rates. Women are also moving into higher growth sectors of the economy to a larger extent than men. But in terms of occupations, hierarchies and power relations, the mechanisms of segregation in the workplace are changing very slowly. While considerable literature exists on the segregation processes within organizations, very little deals with how to change segregation patterns and how to balance the differences in power between women and men in the workplace.     

A Special Gen(d)re of Statistics: Roots,Development and Methodological Prospects of Gender Statistics

The very expression Gender Statistics calls for a double interpretation. It accounts for the popular mix‐up of statistical methodology with its typical products such as indexes, tables and graphs. At the same time it implies a broader and forward‐looking perspective, which is inspired by the increasing demand of gender sensitive statistical information coming from society, official agencies, economy. Gender statistics stands as a proper independent field of statistics with its own objectives and a variety of applications in social, human and life science. Concurrently an emerging necessity of appropriate equipment of methods and dissemination tools is noticeable. The paper tracks the roots and the historical development of gender statistics, reviews critically the existing indexes and practice and outlines methodological needs and research prospects.     

A measure of regional influence with the analytic network process

The metropolitan region is commonly defined by a socio-spatial network of urban nodes that are linked in territory and function. Such a network is differentiated by size and dominance of the linked nodes, characterized by physical or virtual flows of a wide-ranging variety. The analytic network process (ANP) is a multi-criteria analytic method that measures the influence or dominance of the nodes in a network with feedback. We illustrate how ANP determines county rank as a measure of influence in a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) defined by its interrelated socio-economic and spatial elements qualitatively and quantitatively. We compare the ANP results to similar measures of regional influence in the literature.     

中国三大都市圈经济增长趋于收敛还是发散?——基于协整分析和Granger因果检验

本文采用Engle和Granger(1987)提出的协整检验方法和Im、Pesaran和Shin(1997)的方法,从时间序列分析角度入手,研究目标是在不同的空间尺度上(全国和三大都市圈),从不同的时间尺度上揭示中国区域经济差异的演化规律。探索改革开放以来三大都市圈区域经济不平衡程度的演化历程与变化趋势。主要结论:长三角和珠三角具有收敛趋势而环渤海都市圈内不存在收敛;三大都市圈之间不存在收敛趋势,在长期受两个共同冲击的影响。     

Estimating the output gap in real time: A factor model approach

By using a dynamic factor model, we can substantially improve the reliability of real-time output gap estimates for the U.S. economy. First, we use a factor model to extract a series for the common component in GDP from a large panel of monthly real-time macroeconomic variables. This series is immune to revisions to the extent that revisions are due to unbiased measurement errors or idiosyncratic news. Second, our model is able to handle the unbalanced arrival of the data. This yields favorable nowcasting properties and thus starting conditions for the filtering of data into a trend and deviations from a trend. Combined with the method of augmenting data with forecasts prior to filtering, this greatly reduces the end-of-sample imprecision in the gap estimate. The increased precision has economic importance for real-time policy decisions and improves real-time inflation forecasts.     

Australia's regional innovation systems: inter-industry interaction in innovative activities in three Australian territories

Regional specifics reveal in differences in economic activity and structure, the institutional, socio-economic and cultural environment and not least in the capability of regions to create new knowledge and to generate innovations. Focusing on the regional level, this paper for three Australian territories (New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland) explores patterns of innovative activities in their private business sectors. Furthermore, these patterns are compared to specifics of each region's economic structure. We make use of input–output-based innovation flow networks, which are directed and weighted instead of binary. The value added of the proposed analysis is that we are able to trace a variety of different aspects related to the structure of innovative activities for each territory. It gets evident that mostly innovative activities in each territory are not strong in ‘niche’ branches but in fields of intense economic activity, signalising the high path-dependency of innovative activities in a specific geographical environment.     

我国人力资本的地区性趋同假说及实证分析

本文证明了我国经济增长倒U形趋同理论的一个必要条件，即我国人力资本的地区性趋同假定。首先在设定人力资本投资率一致的条件下，本文基于物质资本的边际收益递减规律，提出了人力资本地区性趋同假定，证明了相对趋同与绝对趋同的一致性。然后通过计算我国改革开放以后各省区的人力资本数据验证了这一假定，并给出了预测结果。最后提出了增加人力资本，缩小人力资本地区差异的政策建议。     

Efficiency evaluation of Chinese regional industrial systems using a dynamic two-stage DEA approach

Industrial air pollution control recently becomes a major policy issue in China. Performnce evaluation can examine policy effectiveness and provide decesion support for industrial development. A regional industrial system in China contains production and abatement stages. Within this structure, the capacity of industrial waste gas treatment can be treated as a carry-over variable. More precisely, it is a desirable output of the abatement stage in the previous period but an input to the abatement stage in the current period. Using this framework, this study establishes a dynamic two-stage data envelopment analysis model to explore the efficiencies of regional industrial systems in China. This model provides measures of the overall, period, stage, and period stage efficiencies. Based on empirical data from 2007 to 2015, it is concluded that (1) the carry-over variable capacity of industrial waste gas treatment has significant influences on the operational efficiency scores of regional industrial systems, especially in the abatement stage; (2) there exist distinct geographic characteristics of inefficiencies in the regional industrial systems; (3) the average period efficiency of the abatement stage was lower than that of the production stage during China's 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006–2010); however, the reverse happens during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011–2015); and 4) industrial structure and economic development level are the key influencing factors of regional industrial efficiencies. This study entails important implications for policy makers in terms of industrial waste gas treatment and revelant contextual factors.