Budget deficits and real interest rates: Updated empirical evidence on causality

Using error-correction model (ECM) estimation, the paper empirically examines the causality relationship between the federal government budget deficit and the ex ante real interest rate yield on high grade long term tax free municipal bonds in the U.S. To clarify this deficit or interest rate relationship, the budget deficit is measured by the primary budget deficit, which excludes net interest payments by the Treasury. In a model that includes federal personal income tax rates and net international capital flows, as well as money supply growth, the ECM estimates strongly suggest a bi-directional relationship between the primary budget deficit and the ex ante real interest rate yield. Budget deficits apparently do matter! William Simon's concerns were justified.The author is indebted to P. A. V. B. Swamy for ideas and helpful suggestions and Will Perry for data assembly and processing.     

Additive and Multiplicative Uncertainty Revisited: What Explains the Contrasting Biases?

above the certainty level while for additive uncertainty the price should be lower than the certainty level. This note gives an intuitive explanation for the result after first presenting a parsimonious review of the two models. We also discuss which, if either, of the two models is more realistic. Received December 14, 2001; revised version received July 16, 2002 Published online: April 30, 2003 We thank referees for helpful comments. Ciaran Driver would like to acknowledge the research facilities from ANU, Canberra for their help in writing this paper.     

2000年我国原油进口首破七千万吨原因分析及其思考

2000年我国原油进口量创记录地达到7013．4万吨，较1999年增加了91．5％，造成进口量猛增的原因，一是国民经济增长加快，拉动内需增加，二是国内原油产量增长有限而出口量增多，三是成品油进口量减少而出口量增加，四是在油价下落，需求减少的情况下，原油进口量和炼厂加工量未能及时调减，石油消费和进口石油的快速增长呼唤尽快建立符合我国国情的石油安全体系，呼唤全社会重视并大力推动节能，调整不合理的能源结构，这是一个复杂的系统工程，需要综合治理，采取切实有效的措施并认真加以贯彻落实，此外，适应市场经济的经营运作规律，抓好市场预测，根据市场的变化搞好原油进口，炼厂加工，成品油销售和库存等环节的衔接和协调，也是我们必须尽快掌握的一种管理技巧。