Relative-price variability and output-inflation tradeoffs in an open economy

Zusammenfassung Schwankungen der relativen Preise und Trade-Off zwischen Produktion und Inflation einer offenen Volkswirtschaft. — Der Zweck dieses Aufsatzes ist es, in einer ?konometrischen Untersuchung zu zeigen, welche Ansto\wirkung von der Inflation und den Schwankungen der relativen Preise auf das reale Produktionsniveau einer kleinen offenen Volkswirtschaft ausgeht. Betrachtet man die Erfahrung Mexikos w?hrend der Periode fester Wechselkurse (1953-1976), dann zeigt sich, da\ die Schwankungen der relativen Preise die Gesamtproduktion beeintr?chtigten. Es kann indes kein signifikanter Trade-Off zwischen Produktion und Inflation auf der Ebene der aggregierten Gr?\en festgestellt werden. Wird dagegen die Gesamtproduktion in handelbare und nichthandelbare Güter disaggregiert, dann zeigt sich, da\ das Produktionsniveau in beiden. Sektoren eine abnehmende Funktion der Variabilit?t der relativen Preise ist und in signifikanter Weise positiv auf unerwartete Ver?nderungen der Inflationsrate reagiert. Insgesamt stützen die Ergebnisse die “natural-rate” Version der Wechselbeziehung zwischen Produktion und Inflation, wenn sie um die Wirkungen relativer Preise und die Besonderheiten einer offenen Volkswirtschaft erweitert wird.

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Résumé La variabilité en prix relatifs et le ?trade-off? production-inflation d’une économie ouverte. — Le but de cet article est d’évaluer dans une étude économétrique l’effet de l’inflation et de la variabilité en prix relatifs sur le niveau de la production réelle dans une petite économie ouverte. En considérant l’expérience du Mexique pendant la période de taux de change fixe (1953–1976) les auteurs démontrent que la variabilité en prix relatifs a des effets négatifs sur la production agrégée. Cependant, un ?trade-off? production-inflation significatif ne peut pas être identifié au niveau agrégé. Si la production totale est désagrégée en biens commercés et non-commercés on trouve que le niveau de la production dans les deux secteurs est une fonction décroissante de la variabilité en prix relatifs et une fonction croissante significative des changements en inflation imprévue. En général, les résultats supportent la version de ?taux naturel? du ?trade-off? production-inflation si elle est étendue pour inclure les effets des prix relatifs aussi bien qu’une considération de l’économie ouverte.

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Resumen Variabilidad en los precios relativos y alternativas entre inflación y producto en una economia abierta. — El estudio es una evaluación econométrica del impacto de la inflación y de la variabilidad de precios relativos sobre el producto real en una peque?a economía abierta. Analizando la experiencia de Méjico en el período de tipo de cambio fijo (1953–1976), se muestra la influencia negativa sobre el producto nacional del grado de variabilidad en los precios relativos. Sin embargo, no se identifica de forma significativa un conflicto entre producto e inflación a nivel agregado. Cuando el producto nacional se divide en dos partes, según si sus correspondientes bienes y servicios se comercien o no con el exterior, el resultado es, que el nivel de producto en los dos sectores es una función decreciente de la variabilidad de precios relativos y la inflación inesperada tiene también un efecto positivo significativo sobre el nivel de producto de los dos sectores. En conjunto, los resultados son consistentes con la interpretatión del conflicto entre inflación y desempleo por medio de la teoría de la Tasa Natural de Desempleo, esta última ampliada de forma que se tengan en cuenta los posibles efectos de los precios relativos y del grado de apertura exterior de la economía.

     

Macroeconometric testing of the rational expectations and structural neutrality hypotheses for the United States

Empirical tests of the neutrality of money growth found in recent literature are tests of the joint hypothesis of rational expectations and structural neutrality. Although tests of this joint hypothesis are informative, it is also important to gain information on the accuracy of its constituents. This paper presents the application of a methodology capable of providing information on the empirical validity of the rational expectations, structural neutrality, and joint hypotheses. Tests of these hypotheses are performed on the basis of FIML estimation of an extended version of a model recently presented by Robert Barro, using U.S. data for 1946–1973.     

Does a clustered location matter for high-technology companies' performance? The case of biotechnology in the Netherlands

Young entrepreneurial companies in biotechnology tend to cluster in space, nearby research universities and research centers. This pattern is often ascribed to the availability of external economies, mainly local knowledge spillovers that help to reduce the uncertainty from a disruptive technology faced by these companies. Given a shortage of empirical research on cluster advantages and performance of clustered companies, we present results of a comparative analysis of clustered and non-clustered companies in biotechnology and Bionanotechnology in the Netherlands. It appears that, among other influences, a clustered location has no significant influence on innovation and speed of growth. However, a location in the largest cluster (Leiden) does contribute to a better performance in terms of innovativeness compared with all other locations. The kind of external economies involved seems to vary according to the stage in the knowledge value chain and the segment in biotechnology industry. Knowledge spillovers tend to be local for companies involved in new drugs and diagnostics research only in the first stage of the knowledge chain and for service companies regardless of the stage in the knowledge chain.     

Inside the bank lending channel

This paper tests cross-sectional differences in the effectiveness of the bank lending channel. The results, derived from a comprehensive sample of Italian banks, suggest that heterogeneity in the monetary policy pass-through exists. After a monetary tightening the decrease in lending is lower for well-capitalized banks that are perceived as less risky by the market and are better able to raise uninsured deposits. Liquid banks can protect their loan portfolio against monetary tightening simply by drawing down cash and securities. The presence of internal capital markets in bank holding companies also contributes to insulate monetary shocks. Bank size is never relevant.     

Tempered stable and tempered infinitely divisible GARCH models

In this paper, we introduce a new GARCH model with an infinitely divisible distributed innovation. This model, which we refer to as the rapidly decreasing tempered stable (RDTS) GARCH model, takes into account empirical facts that have been observed for stock and index returns, such as volatility clustering, non-zero skewness, and excess kurtosis for the residual distribution. We review the classical tempered stable (CTS) GARCH model, which has similar statistical properties. By considering a proper density transformation between infinitely divisible random variables, we can find the risk-neutral price process, thereby allowing application to option-pricing. We propose algorithms to generate scenarios based on GARCH models with CTS and RDTS innovations. To investigate the performance of these GARCH models, we report parameter estimates for the Dow Jones Industrial Average index and stocks included in this index. To demonstrate the advantages of the proposed model, we calculate option prices based on the index.     

Settlement delays in the money market

We track 38,000 money market trades from execution to delivery and return, and provide a first empirical analysis of settlement delays in financial markets. In accord with the predictions of recent models of strategic settlement of financial claims, we document a tendency by lenders to delay delivery of loaned funds until the afternoon hours. We find banks to follow a simple strategy to manage the risk of account overdrafts, by delaying settlement of large payments relative to that of small payments. More sophisticated strategies such as increasing delays when own liquid balances are low and when dealing with small trading partners play a marginal role. We find evidence of strategic delay also when returning borrowed funds, although we can explain a smaller fraction of the dispersion in delays in the return than in delivery leg of money market lending.     

Branding destinations versus branding hotels in a gaming destination—Examining the nature and significance of co-branding effects in the case study of Macao

This paper considers destinations and hotels operating within a gaming destination as co-branded experiential choice products. Specifically, it examines the overall and individual effects of visitors’ perceived brand equity of a gaming destination and their perceived brand equity of various hotels, including ‘flagship’ or branded hotels, in terms of influencing their reaction to a hypothetical brand loyalty scenario in which their intended and preferred hotel was unable to provide accommodation thus forcing them to either: (1) choose an alternate hotel in the destination and continue with the visit, (2) cancel the trip and choose another destination to visit, or (3) insist on staying at the preferred hotel but postpone the trip at another period. The study's expectation is that visitors’ response to such a hypothetical scenario is moderated by the relative influence of their perceived brand equity for the destination and for hotels. The emergent gaming destination of Macao is used as a case study for this purpose. The study's findings indicate that visitors’ overall destination brand equity perceptions—rather than hotel brand equity perceptions—is robustly significant when it comes to influencing visitors’ response to the brand loyalty scenario. Results of the study indicate several relevant implications for destination management organizations (DMOs) seeking to enhance their destination-branding efforts and for hotel operators, especially internationally branded hotel chains.     

Trade,competitiveness and investment: an empirical assessment

ABSTRACT

The Eurozone crisis has exposed several weaknesses of the European Monetary Union economies. This paper aims to assess the impact on external competitiveness of an expansionary capital stock policy that could contribute to reduce the trade balance asymmetries within the EU and help European exporters to recover their competitive role in international markets. A policy action to increase capital stock accumulation through investment in selected European countries could generate a double dividend: increasing both price and nonprice competitiveness, so stimulating their competitive position as exporters, and consolidating the growth path of EU economy. The analysis employs a bilateral trade model built at INFORUM with several distinguishing characteristics: a comprehensive bilateral data set, econometric estimation of key parameters, and emphasis on sectoral details. Our findings show that a capital stock increase is effective in narrowing trade imbalances within EU. Heterogeneous effects are estimated for commodities in China and the US.     

FISCAL STIMULUS WITH LEARNING‐BY‐DOING

Using a Bayesian structural vector autoregression analysis, we document that an increase in government purchases raises private consumption, the real wage, and total factor productivity (TFP) while reducing inflation. These three facts are hard to reconcile with both neoclassical and New Keynesian models. We extend a standard New Keynesian model to allow for skill accumulation through past work experience. An increase in government spending increases hours and induces skill accumulation and higher measured TFP and real wages in subsequent periods. Future marginal costs fall lowering expected inflation and, through the monetary policy rule, the real interest rate. Consumption increases as a result.