THE NORMALIZED CES PRODUCTION FUNCTION: THEORY AND EMPIRICS

Abstract The elasticity of substitution between capital and labor and, in turn, the direction of technical change are critical parameters in many fields of economics. Until recently, though, the application of production functions with specifically non‐unitary substitution elasticities (i.e., non‐Cobb–Douglas) was hampered by empirical and theoretical uncertainties. As recently revealed, ‘normalization’ of production‐technology systems holds out the promise of resolving many of those uncertainties. We survey and assess the intrinsic links between production (as conceptualized in a production function), factor substitution (as made most explicit in Constant Elasticity of Substitution functions) and normalization (defined by the fixing of baseline values for relevant variables). First, we recall how the normalized Constant Elasticity of Substitution function came into existence and what normalization implies for its formal properties. Then we deal with the key role of normalization in recent advances in the theory of business cycles and of economic growth. Next, we discuss the benefits normalization brings for empirical estimation and empirical growth research. Finally, we identify promising areas of future research.     

Does the Diversification Potential of Securitized Real Estate Vary Over Time and Should Investors Care?

This paper examines the dynamics of the covariance matrix of return rates for securitized real estate, other company stocks, and government bonds for a cross-section of eight countries. In-sample analysis establishes that in all countries the covariance matrix is time-varying and reacts stronger to bad than to good news. Using a realistic out-of-sample exercise, we find that portfolios selected with a forecasted dynamic covariance matrix are less risky than portfolios constructed with the static matrix. However, benefits of using the dynamic covariance matrix for active portfolio management are mostly offset by rebalancing cost. Passive buy-and-hold investors benefit, because the forecasted dynamic covariance matrix provides better risk assessment.     

Assessing empirical research on value-based management: Guidelines for improved hypothesis testing

The claims that value-based management (VBM) increases corporate performance have attracted considerable interest among researchers and organizations over the last three decades. Even though many studies have been conducted, the evidence on whether users outperform non-users is inconsistent. This paper attempts to place these diverse findings into perspective, and provide venues for future research. For that purpose, we drafted a framework to analyze 120 empirical studies on VBM. We concluded that meaningful hypothesis tests have been impaired by the narrow scope of data sets as well as methodological misspecifications. Based on this analysis, we categorized studies into four streams of research, employing factor analysis and cluster analysis. We then suggested that the most sophisticated studies identified positive performance effects of VBM. Lastly, we derived guidelines to improve the hypothesis testing of future studies on VBM.     

The frontiers within: why employee representatives fail to set up European works councils

This article reviews results of a study conducted by the Technische Universität München into why the majority of German multinationals covered by the European Works Council (EWC) Directive (1994) continue not to take advantage of this legal provision. After providing a brief outline of the project's research design, the main part of the article considers reasons why employee representatives fail to set up an EWC. As will be shown, these reasons mainly concern (i) a knowledge deficit about the EWC Directive; (ii) a lack of transparency regarding company structure; and (iii) the perceived limited value of an EWC on the part of German works councillors.     

Factor Substitution, Income Distribution and Growth in a Generalized Neoclassical Model

Abstract. We analyze a generalized neoclassical growth model that combines a normalized CES production function and possible asymmetries of savings out of factor incomes. This generalized model helps to shed new light on a recent debate concerning the impact of factor substitution and income distribution on economic growth. We show that this impact relies on both an efficiency and a distribution effect, where the latter is caused by the distributional consequences of an increase in the elasticity of substitution. While the efficiency effect is always positive, the sign of the distribution effect depends on the particular savings hypothesis. If the savings rate out of capital income is substantial so that a certain threshold value is surpassed, the efficiency effect dominates and higher factor substitution accelerates the accumulation of capital and works as a major engine of growth.     

Convertibility of the rouble — Monetary integration of the Russian Federation

Russia has so far failed to achieve its goal of monetary integration into the international capital markets. Due to the deep financial and currency crisis which began in 1998, the current situation is a far more difficult one than in 1991, at the start of the transformation process. The following article examines the reasons why this situation arose and formulates alternatives to the reform approaches to date.     

Günstige Aufkommensperspektiven — Steuererhöhungen nicht erforderlich

In May 2013, the Working Party on Tax Revenue Forecasting presented its new estimate, which is based on the federal government’s spring projection of the medium-term development of the overall economy. Tax revenues are estimated to expand from yy600 bn in 2012 to yy704.5 bn in 2017. Because the tax revenues increase at a faster pace than the nominal GDP, the tax-to-GDP ratio increases from 22.7% to 23.1%. Contrary to the diagnosis of the opposition parties in the German Bundestag, we see no structural revenue gap. In fact, public budgets will realise structural surpluses in the coming years if governments are successful in constraining expenditure growth. There are no convincing reasons to increase public revenues by increasing tax rates or launching new fees; in both cases tax burdens would increase and that would dampen economic growth. Instead, there will be budgetary leeway to reduce the fiscal drag if governments are committed to a sound consolidation policy.