The relationship between population growth and standard-of-living growth over 1870–2013: evidence from a bootstrapped panel Granger causality test

This paper examines the linkages between population growth and standard-of-living growth in 21 countries over the period of 1870–2013. We apply the bootstrap panel causality test proposed by Kónya (Econ Model 23:978–992, 2006), which accounts for both dependency and heterogeneity across countries. We find one-way Granger causality running from population growth to standard-of-living growth for Finland, France, Portugal, and Sweden, one-way Granger causality running from standard-of-living growth to population growth for Canada, Germany, Japan, Norway and Switzerland, two-way causality for Austria and Italy, and no causal relationship for Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sri Lanka, the UK, the USA, and Uruguay. Dividing the sample into two subsamples due to a structural break yields different results over the two periods of 1871–1951 and 1952–2013. Our empirical results suggest important policy implications for these 21 countries as the directions of causality differ across countries and time period.     

Does intellectual monopoly stimulate or stifle innovation?

This study develops an R&D-based growth model with vertical and horizontal innovation to shed some light on the current debate on whether patent protection stimulates or stifles innovation. We analyze the effects of patent protection in the form of blocking patents. We show that patent protection changes the direction of innovation by having asymmetric effects on vertical innovation (i.e., quality improvement) and horizontal innovation (i.e., variety expansion). Calibrating the model and simulating transition dynamics, we find that strengthening the effect of blocking patents stifles vertical innovation and decreases economic growth but increases social welfare due to an increase in horizontal innovation. In light of this finding, we argue that in order to properly analyze the growth and welfare implications of patents, it is important to consider their often neglected compositional effects on vertical and horizontal innovation.     

制造传统——关于傣族泼水节及其相关新年话语的研究

有关泼水节即傣历新年的说法在当代学术界已成定论。然而,为什么这一节日庆典的日期不在傣历的一月一日？对此,既有研究并未给出令人满意的解释。在对相关文献进行梳理和作者本人田野研究所得发现的基础上,本文提出了自己的看法,认为泼水节并非傣历新年,而是佛教新年和傣族远古泼水习俗两个来源的结合体。继而,作者指出,被视为傣历新年的泼水节实际上是一种被制造出来的传统。     

Firm turnover,restructuring and labour productivity in transition: the case of Poland

Many studies have found strong and positive relationship between per capita income and health care expenditure. These studies usually adopt the assumptions that (1) the relationships among the variables are constant; and/or (2) the supply-side market for health care could be treated by using standard demand functions models. To take into account of the supply side of health care, we use the demand and supply approach with the cointegration model to re-examine this issue. By using Taiwan health care expenditure data, our results show that the real income elasticity is smaller than unity and the health care expenditures are primarily for ‘curing’ rather than ‘caring’.     

DETERMINANTS OF A FIRM'S ISO 14001 CERTIFICATION: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF TAIWAN

Abstract.   Only rarely have empirical studies analysed the responses of Taiwanese manufacturing firms to ISO 14001, despite firm responses to environmental issues being an important aspect of environmental management. This study empirically examines the determinants of firms' environmental self-governance. Export oriented Taiwanese firms, which face environmental concerns from foreign consumers, are found to be more likely than domestic focused firms to adopt ISO 14001. This study also finds that several firm attributes are decisive for firm adoption of ISO 14001. However, this study does not find any significant impact of local governors' political party affiliation on firms' ISO 14001 certifications.     

社会事业家理论评析

1980年代末以来,关注民间组织卓越领导人的社会事业家理论开始建构.领袖-特质理论认为社会事业家是以其对社会使命的不懈追求和强烈的伦理整合性来促成社会价值的最大化.建构主义理论认为社会事业家嵌入特定的组织结构和规则当中,并致力于创造新的制度或改造既有制度.社会事业家有四种理想形态:传统的创业型社会事业家、传统的拓展型社会事业家、自给创业型社会事业家和自给拓展型社会事业家.我国应从理念到制度层面培育社会事业家.     

城镇化会增加居民能源需求吗——基于事实与文献的述评*

城市消耗了中国70%的能源总量,新型城镇化发展要求实现“高城镇化、低能源消耗”。未来的城镇化是否会推高居民能源需求？以往观点往往得出肯定的结论。本文基于典型事实和逻辑推理对此提出质疑,分别对基于“自上而下”和 “自下而上”视角的两类文献进行了综述和比较,并构建了一个融合两种研究视角的传导机制分析框架。在系统总结现有文献的基础上,本文提出未来三个可创新的方向：首先是融合不同学科与视角,将微观居民的用能行为置于城镇化这一动态变迁中进行研究;其次是突破数据和研究方法局限,运用微观数据和实验性方法来科学识别相关性和因果性,并进行政策影响评估;最后是结合国际化视野和规范分析方法来研究中国城镇化中的能源、环境等本土问题,并凝练形成城镇低碳化发展的“中国模式”与“中国经验”。     

低碳经济与人类可持续发展

低碳经济是一种正在全球兴起的以采用低碳能源和去碳技术减少温室气体排放、应对全球气候变暖为目标的新经济,是人类实现可持续发展的新途径。世界上所有国家和地区都要为此进行努力,但发达国家负有巨大的历史债务,应当承担更多、更大的责任。中国作为一个发展中国家,按照"共同但有区别的责任"原则,正在积极展开自主行动,为人类可持续发展作出更大的贡献。     

浅谈加强我国石油建筑企业的合同管理

市场经济既是契约经济也是法治经济,合同是商品交换的法律表现形式。合同联系着企业的经济往来。有效做好合同管理,是企业取得成功的一个重要法宝。由此可知,合同管理在企业中的作用至关重要。本文主要对石油建筑企业的合同管理进行了探讨。     

北京市基本养老保险基金现状与对策研究

基本养老保险基金是国家为保障法定范围内的退休人员的基本生活所筹集的资金，充足的基本养老保险基金是确保基本养老保险制度顺利运行的物质基础，加强基本养老保险基金在征缴、营运和给付方面的管理具有重要意义。由于北京市基本养老基金不够充足，使基本养老保险制度存在一定风险，亟待采取措施加以解决。