Tax reform in Georgia and the size of the shadow economy

This study applies three different methods widely used in the literature to track changes in shadow economic activity in Georgia following a drastic tax reform in 2005. The first method is a currency demand approach based on macrolevel data. The second and third methods rely on micro level data from household surveys. Overall, we find evidence that the amount of income underreporting decreased in the years following the reform. The biggest change is observed for households headed by a farmer, followed by ‘other’ types of households where the head does not report any working status. Employed and self‐employed households appear very similar before the tax reform and show minimal adjustment in income reporting in the post‐reform period. Results, however, suggest that much of any difference may have come from increased enforcement efforts rather than rate changes.     

Impacts of BSE on World Trade in Cattle and Beef: Implications for the Canadian Economy

This paper evaluates the impact of BSE‐related trade restrictions on Canada using a general equilibrium model. It links selected results of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) approach, a global computable general equilibrium model, with Basic Model of Regional Trade (BMRT), a Canadian regional model. We find first, that while producers were hurt a lot, there are other general equilibrium considerations (gains to processors and/or consumers) and sectoral adjustments that at the regional level tend to partially offset the losses suffered by producers. We also assess the extent to which opening of the U.S. border is important relative to access to the rest of the world. Our results indicate that the losses to the Canadian economy are around $1 billion and they were reduced significantly when Canada resumed beef trade with the United States, as a result of various government allegations. Le présent article évalue, à l'aide d'un modèle d'équilibre général, les répercussions des restrictions commerciales imposées envers le Canada à la suite de la découverte d'un cas d'ESB. Il établit un lien entre les résultats sélectionnés du Projet d'analyse des échanges commerciaux (GTAP), un modèle d'équilibre général mondial et programmable, et ceux du Modèle de base des échanges régionaux (Basic Model of Regional Trade – BMRT), un modèle régional canadien. Bien que les producteurs aient été très touchés, il faut considérer d'autres éléments d'équilibre général (gains réalisés par les transformateurs et/ou les consommateurs) et des ajustements sectoriels qui, à l'échelle régionale, tendent à compenser partiellement les pertes subies par les producteurs. Nous avons évalué l'étendue de l'importance de l'ouverture des frontières des États‐Unis par rapport à l'accès au marché du reste du monde. Selon nos résultats, les pertes pour l'économie canadienne avoisinent le milliard de dollars et ont considérablement diminué lorsque le Canada a repris le commerce duf avec les États‐Unis à la suite de diverses allégations de la part du gouvernement.     

Utilizing Ultrasound Technology to Improve Livestock Marketing Decisions

This study estimates the value of using ultrasound technology to improve cattle marketing decisions by optimally choosing a particular marketing method. For the particular group of cattle analyzed, results indicate that using ultrasound information to selectively market cattle could have increased revenue by $25.53/head, $4.98/head, or $32.90/head, compared with simply marketing all animals on a live weight, dressed weight, or grid basis, respectively. Even if producers incorporate such information as placement weight, days on feed, and breed into their expectations about final carcass characteristics, our results indicate that ultrasound measures could improve average revenue by $4.16/head.     

A comparison of two methods for estimating income uncertainty with an application to aggregate consumption behaviour

Econometric theory now provides various techiniques for estimating the variance of a variable for which only a single. Observation is available at each sample point. This paper compares the autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (ARCH) and linear moment (LM) estimated of the variance of disposable labour income as measures of income uncertainty. Consumer theory postulates a negative relationship between uncertainty about future income and current consumption. Using quarterly post-world war II data with income modelled as a random walk with drift, both ARCH and LM estimates of the variance of income are included in a standard specification of the consumption function. It is found that while noth the ARCH and LM estimates of income uncertainty provide essentially the same predicted reduction in consumption growth as uncertainty increases the LM estimates yield a statistically significant influence on consumption while the ARCH estimated do not. However, both uncertainty measures provide a statistically significant imporvement in the specification of the consumption function relative to estimating the equation in the absence on an uncertainty measure. Thus, recent advances in estimation techniques, for post-world waf II data, show that the uncertainty theorists of over two decades ago were correct, that is estimation of a consumption function in the absence of an uncertainty measure relults in an equation with a biased estimate of the marginal propensity to consume as well as biased estimates of coefficients for all other included variables (see e.g. Leland, 1968, PP. 470-472).     

Short term labour market consequences of teenage pregnancy

Pregnancies by unwed teenagers leading to either a birth or an abortion lead to fewer years of completed education. Less education translates to lower wages and a corresponding decrease in labour supplied to the market. The empirical results for young women who give birth are similar to the findings of other studies. The results for young women who have abortions are original. This research indicates that young women who become pregnant as teenagers have poorer short-term labour market outcomes than other young women who do not become pregnant.     

Visitor perceptions of the role of tour guides in natural areas

This paper explores the potential of tour guides to contribute to the protection of natural areas by educating their customers through interpretation and modeling environmentally appropriate behaviors. Applying Cohen's (1985) model of the guides' role, modified by Weiler and Davis (1993) Weiler, B. and Davis, D. 1993. An exploratory investigation into the roles of the nature-based tour leader. Tourism Management, 14(2): 91–98. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], as a framework, it examines the potential role that kayak tour guides can play in shaping the experience of visitors to one marine area, the Pacific Rim National Park. It uses two approaches to explore the perceptions of clients about the role of kayak guides using: (1) a pre- and post-trip questionnaire and (2) participant observation. Results indicate that five of the six roles were rated high in importance, but one role, the communication role, was not as important. Comparing performance with importance attached to each role revealed congruence with five roles, but lower levels of performance in relation to importance with the role of “motivator of responsible behavior”. Variability within all of the importance and performance measures suggest that for some individuals, performance did not match importance, highlighting the need to consider market segmentation in future studies. These findings are discussed within the ecotourism paradigm, and their implications for protected area management and for visitor behavior modification are considered.     

A Conceptual Foundation for Ethical Decision Making: A Stakeholder Perspective in the Lodging Industry (U.S.A.)

The purpose of this study was to build upon previous ethical research; thereby, advancing the hospitality industry's understanding of ethical decision making in lodging operations. In particular, this study reviewed: (a) the primary normative ethical precepts (i.e., egoism, benevolence, and principle) used as a criterion in ethical decision making, and (b) the predominant locus of analysis (e.g., individual, local, or cosmopolitan referent sources) used in applying ethical precepts to ethical decisions.The sample consisted of 500 lodging operations as randomly abstracted from the 1994 Hotel Travel Index produced by Reed Travel. The researcher selected full service, limited service, or as rooms-only lodging operations throughout the United States. A full service property offered guest rooms, meeting rooms, and food and beverage services. A limited service property offered a continental breakfast, small meeting facilities, and guest sleeping rooms. A rooms-only property only offered guest rooms. This purposive sampling process resulted in 198 usable surveys.The responding general managers indicated that: (a) benevolence was the primary ethical precept impacting ethical decision making in the lodging organization, (b) the predominant locus of analysis emanated from a cosmopolitan perspective, which was external to the organization, and, (c) an individual's educational level of attainment and length of experience in the industry interacted with the ethical precept used.     

Import penetration and strike activity in manufacturing, 1961–77

Conclusion The model estimated in this paper shows that foreign trade has an impact on the industrial relations process in the domestic market. The impact of trade on industrial conflict, however, is not uniform across all manufacturing industries. Stratifying the manufacturing sector by net exports shows that where import penetration is a problem for the industry, labor and management have modified their relationship in ways that have reduced the incidence of formal strikes. When strikes do occur, however, the state of the economy is an important determinant of the action. In those industries where import penetration is not substantial, strike events are not influenced significantly by the state of the economy.     

Designing and Implementing an HR Scorecard

Verizon HR has effectively designed and implemented a strategic management system, which is based upon the balanced scorecard model of Dr. David Norton and Dr. Robert Kaplan of Harvard Business School. The HR Balanced Scorecard was conceived with New Economy organizational dynamics in mind. The scorecard uses a broad range of “leading and lagging” indicators—overall strategy, operational processes, customer perceptions, and financials to evaluate the effectiveness of HR initiatives to the bottom line. The HR Balanced Scorecard provides the means to monitor workforce indicators, analyze workforce statistics, diagnose workforce issues, calculate the negative financial impact, prescribe solutions, and track improvements. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.