Neo-Patrimonialism,Rent-Seeking and Development: Going with the Grain?

This contribution summarises research conducted by the Africa Power and Politics Programme, which finds that contrary to standard policy advice, neo-patrimonial governance can under certain conditions be compatible with a growth-enhancing investment climate.     

Compositional data analysis and zeros in micro data

The application of compositional data analysis methods in economics has some attraction. The methodology relies upon the use of 'log-ratios' in the statistical analysis. Such an approach is not possible when the data to be analysed include observations where the observed budget share is zero. We, therefore, consider and extend the methods of compositional data analysis in the situation where the data to be analysed include observations where the observed budget share is zero. The modified compositional data methods are discussed both in statistical terms and through potential economic interpretations of the method. Further, the modified methodology is applied to the 1988-89 Australian Household Expenditure Survey yielding estimates for a system of Engel curves.     

Value creation from the innovation environment: partnership strategies in university spin‐outs

University spin‐out (USO) companies play an increasingly important role in generating value from radical, generic technologies, but this translation requires significant resources from other players to reach the market. Seven case studies illuminate how relationships with each type of partner can be leveraged to help the firm create value. We find that most firms in the sample are aware of the importance of corporate partners and actively seek to cultivate these relationships, but may not be taking full advantage of the resources available through nonparent academic institutions and other USOs with similar or complementary technologies.     

American step-up and step-down default swaps under Lévy models

This paper studies the valuation of a class of default swaps with the embedded option to switch to a different premium and notional principal anytime prior to a credit event. These are early exercisable contracts that give the protection buyer or seller the right to step-up, step-down, or cancel the swap position. The pricing problem is formulated under a structural credit risk model based on Lévy processes. This leads to the analytic and numerical studies of several optimal stopping problems subject to early termination due to default. In a general spectrally negative Lévy model, we rigorously derive the optimal exercise strategy. This allows for instant computation of the credit spread under various specifications. Numerical examples are provided to examine the impacts of default risk and contractual features on the credit spread and exercise strategy.     

Die sterblichkeit der versicherten in schwedischen lebensversicherungsgesellschaften während der Zeit vom 1. Juli 1918–30. Juni 1919

Abstract

Die grossen Influenzaepidemien von 1918 und den folgenden Jahren haben aus natürlichen Gründen das Interesse der Lebensversicherungsstatistiker der ganzen Welt auf sich gelenkt. Statistische Ergebnisse über den Einfluss dieser Epidemien auf die Sterblichkeit von Lebensversicherten findet man so z. B. in folgenden Abhandlungen: Dr. A. WINTER, De sterfte in de laatste jaren. Het Verzekerings-Archief, Jaargang II, No. 2; JAMES D. CRAIG and LOUIS I. DUBLIN, The influenza Epidemic of 1918. Transactions of the Actuarial Society of America, vol. 20, No. 61; R. J. BACKLUND, Dödligheten i spanska sjukan i Kaleva 1918–1920. Nordisk Försäkringstidskrift, Årg. I, n:r 4.     

Expenditure elasticities of the demand for leisure services

Although some research has already focused on the analysis of expenditure elasticities of leisure demand, some shortcomings with regard to the content and the underlying theoretical model as well as the applied methods exist. This article aims at avoiding these problems to provide consistent derivatives of leisure service expenditure elasticities. Therefore, a regular demand system is derived from microeconomic duality theory. To implement leisure specific demand factors (i.e. demand- and supply-based sports and recreational opportunities as well as sports and recreational preferences) while still being consistent with neoclassical demand theory, the basic model is extended by applying the demographic translation framework. Data of the continuous household budget survey (n?=?7724) from Germany is used for the estimation of the derived demand system. It is shown how sensitive the results are depending on the applied (censored) regression model: 16 out of 18 analysed services are indicated as luxury goods based on the findings of the Tobit model type I but as necessities based on the findings of the Tobit model type II. Possible implications are presented and discussed.     

The Internationalization of Service Firms in China: A Comparative Analysis with Manufacturing Firms

In this article, we expand upon the springboard perspective of emerging markets in the service sector. We investigate the phenomenon of service firm internationalization in China and the distinct differences between service and manufacturing firms during international expansion. Using dynamic analysis of historical data for 363 service firms and 569 manufacturing firms from 2001 to 2007, we find that the internationalization of service firms in China is different from that of manufacturing firms in terms of resource requirement and experience exploitation. The internationalization of service firms relies more on international experience than corporate resources. Furthermore, we also identify the structural differences between hard and soft service industries. In China, identifiable intangible assets are found to be more important for the international expansion of hard service firms than they are for soft service firms. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Anstieg der Altersarmut?

The development of old-age poverty has become an important topic in Germany. Contrary to most studies, a recent report written by the scientifi c advisory council at the German Federal Ministry of Economy asserts that old-age poverty will not become a large socio-political problem in Germany in the future. The authors of this paper warn against downplaying the problem of old-age poverty, and they plead in favour of further reliable research on the issue.     

Richard E. Holl. From the Boardroom to the War Room: America's Corporate Liberals and FDR's Preparedness Program

In August 1939, the U.S. military remained terribly ill equippedfor a major international conflict. The average infantry soldierwas armed with a 1903 Springfield rifle, field artillery dependedupon 75-mm howitzers designed for the First World War, and armorconsisted of about five hundred outdated tanks. U.S. industry,still almost completely geared for peacetime production, wasin little position to be of much help. By December 1942, however,the once "disarmed forces" of the United States had become amilitary superpower and American industry the "arsenal of     

Commitment to a friend,a service provider,or a service company—are they distinctions worth making?

In two studies, the authors examine three targets of commitment in service provider–consumer relationships and their effects on customer loyalty. The results indicate that service consumers distinguish between commitment to a service company, commitment to an individual in the role of service employee, and commitment to an individual outside of the role of service employee (e.g., a personal commitment such as a friendship). In addition, these three targets of commitment are hierarchically related and have differential effects on various customer responses. The results have implications for both customer relationship managers and researchers studying such relationships.