The local economic impact of construction projects in a small and relatively self-contained economy: The case of Lancaster University

Whilst the local multiplier impacts of the annual operation of universities has been the subject of intensive research, the economic impacts of capital construction projects have been almost completely ignored. This paper presents the results of detailed analysis of capital projects at Lancaster University in 1993-The reasons for the radically different annual operation and construction multipliers estimated in the Lancaster study are examined. Despite the smaller size of construction multipliers it is argued that it is a serious mistake to estimate local construction multipliers by making simplifying assumptions on the size of the key parameters in the multiplier equations.     

应采用永续年金法

本刊今年1～2期合刊和第4期分别发表了何太痴和杜业明两位先生与中国人民大学周诚教授商榷的文章。4月11日,周诚教授给本刊来信说:“我以笔名在《中国国土资源报》上发表了答何太痴先生的文章;昨日又发出一篇答杜业明先生的文章给李莹女士,希望刊登在报纸上。现在我建议,贵刊转载我的第一篇文章(笔名不变),把我的第二篇文章由该报转到贵刊发表。这样,答贵刊两文的两篇拙文,便都到位于‘主阵地’了,是否更为顺当?此外,我感到何、杜二文的火气似乎都比较大。这样的文风,是否会在一定程度上影响其学术性呢?”应周教授的授权,本刊本期将他的两篇文章一起转发。另外,鉴于最近关于征地补偿问题的回应文章和来稿比较多,本刊选择几篇,从不同角度审视现行的征地补偿标准。值得强调的是,这些文章都是作者的一家之言。我们组发这些文章,目的是引起更多读者的思考和参与讨论,也为国家征地制度改革提供有价值的思路参考。     

The economics of shortage and problems of reform in Chinese industry

This paper employs the economics of shortage framework to examine post-Mao reforms in Chinese state-owned industry. Performance has been disappointing because reforms through 1985 failed to fundamentally alter economic agent behavior. The “soft” budget constraints at the enterprise and local government levels continue to generate “quantity” and “expansion” drives. The resultant inflationary pressures have necessitated administrative interventions and thwarted reform progress. The Maoist legacy of active participation by local governments in economic management is high-lighted as a major obstacle to the elimination of paternalism in state-enterprise relations.     

Editor's Introduction: Symposium on Free-Market Competitive Goals and Antitrust Policies

Review of Industrial Organization -     

Tort Reform and Insurance Markets

Proposed tort reforms have focused on punitive damages and noneconomic damages, each of which pose problems for jury decision making. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in State Farm v. Campbell will greatly limit very large punitive damages awards, and will affect smaller punitive awards to a lesser degree. Noneconomic damages caps enacted by state legislatures have greatly enhanced insurance market performance. Insurers operate within the context of a highly imperfect, regulated market in which there is substantial price rigidity induced by regulation. Reform efforts should strive to establish greater predictability and stability in these awards components rather than simply being concerned with imposing specific numerical caps.     

Uncertainty in the Austrian Theory of Capital

This paper is based on the traditional Austrian Theory of Capital which deals with expected values of future returns of investments over various periods of time. The longer the time period that elapses between the beginning of a production process and its end, the higher the (expected) productivity must be due to positive time preferences of individuals. This paper focuses on the uncertainty of future returns and on uncertainty preferences, instead. Based on the Hayekian idea of the dispersion of knowledge in society, it will be shown that there is a systematic relationship between the structure of capital and uncertainty. This result will be derived for a production process characterized by complete vertical integration and one which is not completely vertically integrated. The distinction between these two settings is crucial, if one accepts the distinction between an individual and a social period of production and the planning horizon which are introduced in this paper.