Realization and accumulation in a Marxian model of the circuit of capital

A mathematical model of Marx's circuit of capital is presented, whose elements, the composition of capital, the rate of surplus value, the rate of capitalization of surplus value, and production, sales and financial time lags, are measurable from the accounts of capitalist firms. The model is solved for exponential paths. A solution with a positive rate of accumulation generally exists. On paths with positive rates of accumulation and positive time lags in the recommital of realized value to production an expansion of credit is required to permit the sale of commodities. A model of demand pull inflation is incorporated in the framework.     

Technical efficiency and ownership characteristics of manufacturing firms in a developing country: A Brazilian case study

Zusammenfassung Technische Leistungsf?higkeit und Eigentumsmerkmale von gewerblichen Unternehmen in einem Entwicklungsland: Eine brasilianische Fallstudie. — In diesem Aufsatz wird versucht, zwei Dinge zu tun: (1) eine qualitative Beurteilung der Leistungen verschiedener Gruppen von Unternehmungen vorzunehmen, die nach den Eigentumsverh?ltnissen klassifiziert wurden, und (2) Analysen und Sch?tzungen auf der Basis von Produktionsfunktionen durchzuführen, um die relativen Unterschiede zwischen ausl?ndischen, einheimischen und Staatsunternehmungen in bezug auf Leistungsf?higkeit und Skalenertr?ge zu ermitteln. Es wurde festgestellt, daβ für unterschiedliche Eigentumsklassen unterschiedliche Produktionsfunktionen gelten. Es werden Belege dafür vorgelegt, daβ Firmen in ausl?ndischem Eigentum gr?βere Skalenertr?ge erzielen und gr?βere Substitutionselastizit?ten besitzen als Industrieunternehmen, die im Eigentum von Inl?ndern stehen.

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Résumé L’efficience technique et les caractéristiques propriétaires des entreprises manufacturières dans un pays en voie de développement: Une étude de cas Brésilien. — Cet article essaie de faire deux choses: (1) d’entreprendre quelques jugements qualitatives sur la performance économique des groupes différents des entreprises comme classifiées par la propriété et (2) d’employer une analyse de la fonction de production et une estimation pour déterminer la différence relative d’entreprises possédées par des étrangers, le gouvernement et les privés locaux concernant l’efficience technique et les économies d’échelle. Nous avons trouvé qu’il y a des fonctions de production existantes pour des classes différentes et nous présentons quelque évidence que les entreprises possédées par les étrangers ont des rendements d’échelle plus grands et des élasticités de substitution plus grandes que les entreprises manufacturières locales.

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Resumen Eficiencia técnica y características de la propiedad de empresas manufactureras en un país en desarrollo: un estudio de caso del Brasil. — Este artículo représenta un intento para hacer dos cosas: (1) emitir juicios cualitativos sobre el desempe?o económico de diferentes grupos de empresas clasificadas según su propiedad y (2) emplear el análisis y la estimación de funciones de produción para determinar la diferencia relativa de firmas de propiedad extranjera, estatal y doméstica privada con respecto a su eficiencia técnica y economías de escala. Se encontró que existen diferentes funciones de producción para las distintas clases de propiedad. Se presenta alguna evidencia que firmas de propiedad extranjera poseen retornos de escala más grandes y elasticidades de sustitución mayores que empresas manufactureras de propiedad doméstica.

     

Consumers' surplus and the demand for cigarettes

This paper examines the demand for cigarettes in South Africa over a 20-year period from 1970 to 1989. Consumption per capita was found to be significantly determined by price and disposable income per capita; but not by advertising. Price and income elasticities and consumers' surplus were computed from the demand model. The question was raised as to whether or not consumers' surplus should be regarded as having been inferred from a health-hazard-discounted demand schedule. The answer depends on the degree to which smoking decisions are taken with full information or, conversely, are influenced by habit. Given the latter assumption, the consumers' surplus measured for cigarette consumption is nevertheless substantially higher than the estimated health costs of smoking as computed by the Medical Research Council.     

Teamwork,Skill Development and Employee Welfare

There has been a sharp divergence in the literature about the benefits of teamwork. Some have claimed that it is solely in the interests of management, others that it is beneficial for employees and yet others that it makes little difference to either productivity or well‐being. This article draws upon the British Skills Survey Series. It shows that while teamwork did expand between the early 1990s and 2006, this was due primarily to the growth of the type of teamwork that allowed employees little in the way of decision‐making power. Indeed, there was a decrease in the prevalence of self‐directive teamwork. At the same time, our evidence shows that the benefits of teamwork, in terms of both enhancing work motivation and employee welfare, are confined to self‐directive teams, while non‐self‐directive teams suppress the use of personal initiative and discretion at work.     

Environmental evaluation of agri-environment schemes using participatory approaches: Experiences of testing the Agri-Environmental Footprint Index

The Agri-Environment Footprint Index (AFI) has been developed as a generic methodology to assess changes in the overall environmental impacts from agriculture at the farm level and to assist in the evaluation of European agri-environmental schemes (AES). The methodology is based on multi-criteria analysis (MCA) and involves stakeholder participation to provide a locally customised evaluation based on weighted environmental indicators. The methodology was subjected to a feasibility assessment in a series of case studies across the EU. The AFI approach was able to measure significant differences in environmental status between farms that participated in an AES and non-participants. Wider environmental concerns, beyond the scheme objectives, were also considered in some case studies and the benefits for identification of unintentional (and often beneficial) impacts of AESs are presented. The participatory approach to AES evaluation proved efficient in different environments and administrative contexts. The approach proved to be appropriate for environmental evaluation of complex agri-environment systems and can complement any evaluation conducted under the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. The applicability of the AFI in routine monitoring of AES impacts and in providing feedback to improve policy design is discussed.