The Economic Effects of Integration in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community: Some General Equilibrium Estimates for Cameroon

In this paper we quantitatively assess the impact of the CEMAC on its largest member, Cameroon. We find that Cameroon will gain between 0.41 and 0.62 percent of its GDP. Our decomposition shows that the part of the agreement that calls for further preferential reduction of tariffs is immiserizing, although given the low level of intra‐regional imports, the quantitative impact is quite small. Improved access to partner country markets accounts for about one‐quarter of the gains. We find, however, that about three‐quarters of the gains come from reduction of Cameroon’s tariff against the rest of the world. Moreover, our estimates for Cameroon’s unilateral trade liberalization show that it can gain marginally even more from full unilateral trade liberalization than it can from implementation of the CEMAC arrangements. Our results incorporate, in an otherwise small open economy model, the fact that Cameroon may possess regional market power, and we assess the difference in results with models that have no regional market power. Dans cet article, nous évaluons quantitativement l’impact de la CEMAC sur son pays membre le plus important par son poids économique: le Cameroun. Nos estimations indiquent que le Cameroun enregistrera un gain compris entre 0,41% et 0,62% de son PIB. La décomposition de cet impact montre que l’approfondissement des préférences tarifaires réduit le bien‐être, même si compte tenu du faible niveau des importations intra‐régionales, son impact quantitatif apparaît assez faible. L’amélioration de l’accès aux marchés des partenaires régionaux explique environ un quart des gains. Cependant, environ trois quarts des gains sont expliqués par la réduction par le Cameroun de ses tarifs vis‐à‐vis du reste du monde. De plus, nos estimations indiquent qu’àla marge, le Cameroun gagnerait plus d’une libéralisation commerciale unilatérale que de la mise en oeuvre des accords de la CEMAC. Nos résultats incorporent dans ce qui est par ailleurs un modèle d’une petite économie ouverte, le fait que le Cameroun puisse posséder un pouvoir de marché régional, et nous comparons les résultats àceux des modèles sans pouvoir de marché régional.     

Quantifying Foreign Direct Investment Productivity Spillovers in China: A Computable General Equilibrium Model

For the purposes of this study, we will construct a static monopolistically‐competitive computable general equilibrium model to quantify the endogenous productivity spillovers from foreign and domestic firms, using the Chinese economy as a case study. Our simulation results indicate: (i) that the net spillover effects are positive in terms of national total output, GDP and welfare; (ii) that both state‐owned and privately‐owned firms benefit, but that private firms benefit more; (iii) that industries with large volumes of foreign direct investment (FDI) do not necessarily observe the largest spillover effects; and (iv) that the spillover effects become more prominent when the initial market structure is more concentrated.     

Structural Adjustment Policies and the Kenyan Economy: A Computable General Equilibrium Model Analysis

A computable general equilibrium model is used to analyse policies under structural adjustment programmes for Kenya. The model was used to analyse the economic implications of two key elements in the structural adjustment programmes, namely fiscal adjustment and trade liberalization. In each case, three options were considered: fiscal adjustment through expenditure cuts, indirect tax increases and direct tax increase; trade liberalization through tariff reductions with no mitigating measures, accompanied by indirect tax increases or by increased foreign aid. Although the results do not support the application of one option in respect of all variables, they suggest that fiscal austerity through raising indirect taxes and trade liberalization supported by foreign aid inflows achieve the best overall outcomes. Un modèle d'équilibre général calculable est utilisé pour analyser les politiques mises en œuvre dans le cadre des programmes d'ajustement structurel au Kenya. Ce modèle a servi à analyser les implications économiques de deux éléments fondamentaux des programmes d'ajustement structurel, à savoir l'ajustement des politiques budgétaires et la libéralisation des échanges. Dans chaque cas, trois options ont été envisagées: l'ajustement des politiques budgétaires par la compression des dépenses et l'augmentation des impôts indirects et directs; la libéralisation des échanges par l'abaissement des tarifs douaniers sans mesures d'atténuation, accompagnée de l'augmentation des impôts indirects ou de l'aide extérieure. Si les résultats ne permettent pas de privilégier l'une ou l'autre option, compte tenu de toutes les variables, ils portent à croire néanmoins que l'austérité budgétaire par l'augmentation des impôts indirects et la libéralisation des échanges soutenue par des apports d'aide extérieure favorisent les meilleurs résultats globaux.     

全面减免东盟关税对中国宏观经济和产业影响的可计算一般均衡分析

Chingem模型是一个中国静态CGE模型.本文在Chingem模型的基础上,分析了2010年中国全面减免东盟原六国关税对中国宏观经济和产业的长期影响.在原模型的基础上,改进了宏观闭合条件.将原来作为剩余量处理的居民消费与居民收入联系起来,使经济增长会作用到居民消费,使模拟结果更加符合实际.研究表明全面减免对东盟的关税有利于我国经济的和谐发展;减少了经济增长对净出口的依赖;促进了进、出口商品结构的升级;促进了服务业的发展,但农业和制造业的一些部门会受到负面影响;制造业的就业会下降,服务业和农业的就业会上升.     

General Equilibrium Approach for Poverty Analysis: With an Application to Cameroon

Abstract: In this paper we use a computable general equilibrium model to study the impact of a trade shock and a tariff reform on household poverty for an archetype developing country. Unlike other studies, we present the income distribution of each household group as a Beta statistical distribution. In contrast to other studies, this paper presents the poverty lines as being endogenous. With this specification, the poverty line will change following a variation in relative prices. With the new distributions and poverty line, the poverty levels of the base year are compared with the ex‐post values. Foster, Greer and Thorbecke's (1984) poverty measures are used. We work with the Cameroon household survey data of 1995–96. We consider two scenarios. The first is a 30 percent fall in the world price of the country's export crop and the second is a reduction of 50 percent in the country's import tariffs. For the first simulation, results indicate a drop in all household incomes and a decrease in the poverty line. Unilateral trade liberalization also has negative consequences on all household incomes. As in the first simulation, the poverty line decreases with a unilateral trade liberalization. In the trade liberalization simulation, the poverty line effect counters the income effect in most cases analyzed. In the other simulation, the poverty line effect attenuates the decrease in the poverty measures.     

Population Ageing and Pension System Reform in China: A Computable Overlapping-Generations General Equilibrium Model Analysis

Over the next 50 years, China will face an increase of its old-age population by approximately three times. Such a demographic change may result in a large increase of pension payments, which would require a significant rise in the pension contribution rate. This also implies important intergenerational redistribution issues and may even harm living standards as a whole. This paper analyses for China the economic impact of an ageing population by means of a computable dynamic general equilibrium model with an overlapping generations structure. The paper explores the effect on the social security system and economic development of China under alternative scenarios for the benefit rates on pensions, retirement age and technological progress. Our research indicates that a pension reform plus positive technological progress can compensate for the menace of a decline in living standards for both seniors and working generations.     

泛太平洋战略经济伙伴关系协定对中国纺织品服装出口的潜在影响——基于一般均衡模型的评估

本文基于全球贸易分析(GTAP)一般均衡(CGE)模型,就TPP对中国纺织品服装出口的潜在影响进行了定量评估。研究结果表明,TPP实施后,在贸易转移效应和美洲及亚洲纺织品服装区域性生产贸易网络(RPTN)等因素的共同作用下,中国对美国、日本和北美自由贸易区(主要为加拿大)市场的服装出口将大幅减少;中国纺织品一定程度上可以享受越南和亚洲地区TPP成员对进口纺织品需求增加而带来的额外出口机会,但也将面临日本纺织品贸易转移效应的冲击;日本加入TPP对中国纺织品服装出口负面影响巨大。本文的研究内容和结论对于我国广大纺织服装出口企业了解TPP生效后出口环境的变化以及国家层面贸易、产业政策的制定具有重要的参考价值。     

Effects of Trade Liberalization on Taiwan: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

Joining the GATT has been established as one of the most important economic and political targets of the Taiwan government. However, the effects of this action are difficult to establish. Because of the openness of Taiwan's domestic market there could be serious changes in the production structure and income distribution, especially in the relative status of the agricultural and nonagricultural sectors, of protected and unprotected sectors, and also of producers and consumers. The possible high cost of this move on society has caused its necessity to be questioned. In order to clear up the controversy surrounding this issue, this paper, uses a CGE model to analyse the possible effects of this policy change. Following proposals from the Final Draft of the Uruguay Round, we use tariff and nontariff barriers, aggregate measurement of support (AMS), and export quota in our model as policy tools. We omit liberalization in the service sector, because of quantification difficulties. Our analysis includes the impacts on resource allocation, production structure, income distribution and consumers' welfare.     

基于可计算一般均衡方法的增值税转型优化研究

论文运用可计算一般均衡方法分析了2009年消费型增值税转型改革后的进一步优化问题。研究发现＂拓宽税基＋降低税率＂组合方式远比单边调整更为可取,这种组合方案进行的越彻底,越能满足增值税改革的政策目标和当前宏观经济形势需要。针对当前改革的不足,并提出了新方案下可能产生的一些问题及解决思路。新的＂一步到位＂方案,不仅可以更好地满足税收收入中性条件,更有利于增加有效需求,提高国民经济整体效益,增强综合国力和国际竞争力,这在当前的宏观经济形势下具有重要意义。     

Technical Efficiency Change in Kenyan Agriculture and the Poor: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis.

Abstract: A computable general equilibrium model is used to analyze the allocative as well as distributional impact of fifty percent input specific and ten percent general technical efficiency change in Kenyan agriculture. Two alternative specifications of the labour market are adopted to assess the sensitivity of model result to particular conditions prevailing in the labour market. The Kenyan Social Accounting Matrix is used in the model, though this has been aggregated and dis-aggregated in the light of other evidence and arranged to follow the transaction value (TV) approach. Technical efficiency change does not appear to be significantly affected by the different specifications. Input specific technical efficiency change results in a small improvement in agricultural production, income and the GDP. The impact, though small, is mixed on labour employment. General efficiency improvement on the other hand, results in a significant boost to agricultural production and a modest improvement in GDP; it also results in a boost to household income and real consumption. Résumé: On a utilisé un modèle informatisé d'équilibre général pour analyser l'impact de l'affectation et de la distribution de cinquante pour cent du changement de l'efficacité technique liéà des facteurs spécfiques, et de dix pour cent du changement général de l'efficacité technique, sur l'agriculture kényane. On a adopté deux caractéristiques interchangeables du marché du travail pour évaluer la sensibilityé du résultat du modèle vis-à-vis des conditions particulières qui prévalent sur le marché du travail. La matrice de comptabilité sociale du Kenya a été utilisée dans le modèle, bien que celuici ait été globalisé puis venulé en fonction d'autres données, et aménagé pour tenir compte de la méthode de la valeur de transaction. Le changement de l'efficacité technique ne semble pas être affecté de manière significative par les différents caractéristiques. Le changement de l'efficacité technique dûà des facteurs spécifiques provoque une petite amélioration de la production agricole, du revenu et du PIB. Et l'impact, quoique minime, est tout de même varié en ce qui concerne l'utilisation de la main-d'œuvre. Par contre, l'amélioration de l'efficacité généerale donne une grande impulsion à la production agricole et génère une légère amélioration du PIB; il stimule également le revenu et la consommation réelle des ménages.     

Poverty Effects of the Philippines’ Tariff Reduction Program: Insights from a Computable General Equilibrium Analysis*

A computable general equilibrium micro‐simulation model is used to assess the economic and poverty impacts of tariff reduction in the Philippines. Tariff reduction induces consumers to substitute cheaper imported agricultural products for domestic goods, thereby resulting in a contraction in agricultural output. In contrast, tariff reduction reduces the domestic cost of production, benefiting the outward‐oriented and import‐dependent industrial sector. The national poverty headcount decreases marginally as lower consumer prices outweigh the nominal income reduction experienced by the majority of households. However, both the poverty gap and severity of poverty worsens, implying that the poorest of the poor become even poorer.     

企业年金制度的经济效应——基于一般均衡模型的研究

在人口老龄化背景下,企业年金制度得到了广泛发展,其产生的经济效应不容忽视.本文在一般均衡框架下,利用世代交叠模型(0LG)从宏观经济资本与产出、微观经济生产者、微观经济消费者三个层面分析了企业年金制度带来的经济效应.分析结果表明,企业年金制度的建立,使资本量和产量增加,使资本-劳动比、产出-劳动比及资本-产出比提高;导致利率和工资水平下降,但幅度不大;使工作期和退休期的消费增加,个人消费效用水平提高.就整体而言,企业年金制度的经济效应是正面的.     

人民币国际化的经济效应:一般均衡分析

人民币国际化进程已经开始,人民币国际化必将会对中国宏观经济内外均衡造成影响,这已经成为众多国内学者的共识。但很少有学者运用模型来分析人民币国际化的经济效应。本文通过一个简单的一般均衡模型,分析了在固定汇率制和浮动汇率制下,人民币国际化对中国宏观经济、货币、财政政策以及货币危机的影响。     

The 2007 General Elections in Nigeria: An Account of the Politics of Personal Rule in an African Country by a former Presidential Aide

This article is an insider’s account of the vicious political struggles that shaped the April 2007 general elections in Nigeria which were adjudged to be fraudulent. It argues that the form of political struggles that gave rise that election derive from the enthronement of a particularly vicious and violent form of personal rule which is itself a product of Nigeria’s colonial rule and long history of military dictatorship which saw to the concentration of power and resources in the state in the context of the existence of a weak bourgeois class and generalized poverty for the generality of the population. The intrigues and power struggles in Nigeria during its 4th Republic 1999–2007, particularly the power struggle between the country’s President and his deputy are discussed to illustrate the character of Nigerian (and perhaps African) politics. Some suggestions are offered for a more just and stable Nigerian polity.     

Indeterminacy and Pollution Haven Hypothesis in a Dynamic General Equilibrium Model

This paper develops a two-sector dynamic general equilibrium model of a small open economy in which production activities are accompanied by pollution emissions that have a negative effect on welfare. It is shown that the dynamic equilibrium may display indeterminacy (i.e., continuum of dynamic equilibrium paths converging to a common steady state), depending on (i) the relationship between capital intensity and pollution intensity, (ii) the property of households’ discount rate as a function of total pollution, and (iii) the pollution-consumption relationship in instantaneous utility. In addition, the effect of environmental policy on the economy’s comparative advantage and its relation to indeterminacy are examined.     

An Estimated Stochastic General Equilibrium Model with Partial Dollarization: A Bayesian Approach

In this paper, we develop and estimate a dynamic stochastic, general-equilibrium New Keynesian model with partial dollarization. Bayesian techniques and Peruvian data are used to evaluate two forms of dollarization: currency substitution (CS) and price dollarization (PD). The empirical results are as follow: first, it is noted that the two forms of partial dollarization are important in explaining the significance of the Peruvian data. Second, models with both forms of dollarization dominate models without dollarization. Third, a counterfactual exercise shows that by eliminating both forms of partial dollarization, the response of both output and consumption to a monetary policy shock doubles, making the interest rate channel of monetary policy more effective. Fourth, based on the variance decomposition of the preferred model (with CS and PD), it is found that demand type shocks explain almost all the fluctuation in CPI inflation, the monetary shock being the most important (39%). Remarkably, foreign disturbances account for 34% of the output fluctuations.     

开放经济下的结构转型:一个三部门一般均衡模型

本文在一个全要素生产率增长率不同的三部门模型中,讨论了部门之间全要素生产率变化对产业结构的影响。结果发现:当不同商品间的替代弹性比较小时,就业人口流向服务业部门的充分条件是,本国农业的全要素生产率增长率快于制造业,且制造业的全要素生产率增长率快于服务业,而国外农业的全要素生产率增长率快于制造业。通过对模型校准,本文较成功的模拟出美国的产业结构转型。美国的历史经验说明,实现产业结构的转型,关键在于提高制造业和农业的全要素生产率。