Relative Income and Investment Comparisons among OECD Nations

Cross-section and time series studies of convergence generally have led to opposite conclusions about the convergence hypothesis. The methodologies employed in these studies suffer certain conceptual or statistical weaknesses. In this study, an entirely different approach is taken. The analytics of convergence is modeled using differential equations and the necessary and sufficient condition for absolute (steady state) convergence is derived. While our results reject absolute convergence for the OECD nations in a differential equation-time only model and in a differential equation model with capital accumulation and time as arguments, we find evidence of relative convergence with a weaker differential equation model.     

Do strained bilateral relations affect tourists’ desire to visit a country that is a target of animosity?

ABSTRACT

This study examines the attractiveness of destination tourism offerings when the destination country and the source market country are engaged in ongoing political and economic conflict. The study is set in the Russia–United States (US) context, where Russia is the tourism-generating region and the US are the vacation destination. Specifically, the study investigates how the desire of Russian tourists to vacation in the US is affected by perceptions of the US as a country and as a vacation destination, animosity toward the US, and Russian tourists? level of national attachment and ethnocentric tendencies. The study found that country image, destination image, and general animosity have a direct effect on intention to visit. The effects of consumer ethnocentrism and national situational animosity on intention to visit are mediated by destination image and country image respectively.     

Efficient use of commodity futures in diversified portfolios

We provide evidence on the role of commodity futures in portfolios comprised of stocks, bonds, T‐bills, and real estate. Over the period investigated (1973–1997), Markowitz optimization over a range of risk levels gives substantial weight to commodity futures, thereby enhancing the portfolios’ returns. We find dramatically different results when we use a simple ex ante measure of monetary stringency to dichotomize the sample into expansive‐versus‐restrictive monetary‐policy periods. In periods characterized by restrictive monetary policy, commodity futures are shown to have substantial weight in the efficient portfolios, with significant return enhancement at all levels of risk. In periods characterized by expansive monetary policy, commodity futures are shown to have little or no weight in the efficient portfolios, with no return enhancement at all levels of risk. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 20:489–506, 2000     

Market value analysis of a Chinese e-commerce holding group: a multicriteria approach

There has been a worldwide expansion in the offer of services via web portals. E-commerce companies have experienced the fastest and steadiest growth, with the corresponding effect on their value. Among the main problems faced is the possible overvaluation of these companies and, particularly, their share prices. Consequently, it would be of great interest to determine the best manner in which to calculate and correct their market value. This study combines a multicriteria method and the valuation ratio to determine the value of a Chinese e-commerce holding group. This company was chosen due to the wide catalogue of e-services it offers.     

Examining the Leontief Paradox in U.S. Agricultural Trade

Factor intensity of United States agricultural trade is examined in the context of Leontief's classic paradox using Leontief's method as well as methods developed recently by Leamer and others. Findings indicate that factor endowments are important determinants of U.S. agriculture's comparative advantage in trade as suggested by the Heckscher-Ohlin theory.     

Economic policy and income distribution in China

"Using the Kakwani interpolation method to reconstruct rural and urban size distributions, the authors present Lorenz curve estimates for Chinese income distribution by period, 1952-1986. The level of inequality is one of the lowest in the world. The change in inequality over time conforms to the experience of other less-developed countries. Although rural inequality increased after 1978, national inequality fell, due to a reduction in the rural-urban income gap."     

Systematic and Liquidity Risk in Subprime-Mortgage Backed Securities

The misevaluation of risk in securitized financial products is central to understanding the Financial Crisis of 2007–2008. This paper characterizes the evolution of factors affecting collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) based on subprime mortgages. A key feature of subprime-mortgage backed indices is that they are distinct in their vintage of issuance. Using a latent factor framework that incorporates this vintage effect, we show the increasing importance of a common factor on more senior tranches during the crisis. We examine this common factor and its relationship with spreads. We estimate the effects of the financial crisis on the common factor.     

Involvement of resources in Russia’s construction materials complex

The problems of using resources in the construction materials complex of the Russian Federation are reviewed in the paper. The processes of involvement of resources in the economic application in the main types of economic activities providing production of materials are analyzed. The scope of limitations of resources used in economic branches is revealed on the basis of research of corporate and financial development mechanisms. The necessity to strengthen reproduction processes in the country as a basis for the formation of demand for domestic constructional materials is substantiated.