Means of livelihood of city populations: a livelihood classification of the cities in India

Indian censuses provide useful data on livelihood. These data give a picture of the distribution of population deriving their living from different economic activities. According to the 1951 census, 73 cities in the country had a population over 1 lakh. These cities were, more or less, evenly distributed in the different States of the Union. Of the populations in these cities combined, nearly 40% derived its livelihood from the services and miscellaneous sources, approximately 1/4 from production other than cultivation, 1/4 from commerce, and the remaining few from transport and agriculture. These averages were fairly similar for large and small cities. Of the 32 largest cities which showed predominance of their population in 1 or more livelihood, there were about 10 in industrial-manufacturing, 6 in commerce, 9 in transport, and 10 in services. 2 of the 3 port cities, Bombay and Madras, were broad-based in employment while Calcutta was predominant in commerce. There was little uniformity in the livelihood patterns of capital cities.     

The growth of shiftwork in the British food,drink and tobacco industries

The authors develop and estimate an econometric model of shiftworking for male, manual employees in the food, drink and tobacco industries. In the demand equations TSLS techniques are used to take account of simultaneity in the determination of shiftworking, capital intensity and plant size. Market demand variables are also incorporated in the model to allow for the distinction between ex ante and ex post decisions to work shifts. A demand variable is also incorporated in the supply equations. The results confirm the diverse economic characteristics of these industries, suggesting that inter-industry studies may conceal a considerable degree of variation at MLH level.     

Trade and Industry Policy

This article consists of a review of changes in trade and industry policy, along with discussions of the determinants of change and the major problem areas. Policy between 1965 and 1985 is summarised, and the growth of unemployment in the 1970s is suggested as a key determinant of change. Higher protection in certain industries, and moves to more quantitative methods ot protection can be related to unemployment, in Australia as in other countries. Theory and empirical evidence suggest that protection is likely to prove ineffective in reducing unemployment. The reliance on protection in particular cases is ascribed to a wish by governments to preserve specific jobs, not to increase overall employment. Policy can have a role in facilitating or restricting structural change which can arise from several sources, such as changing trade patterns and preferences. The devices of policy are considered briefly to determine whether they are likely to facilitate change or not. It is concluded that they often provide incentives to avoid change. The scale problem is considered, and it is suggested that the cost of protection could be high in industries subject to significant scale economies. Scale and adjustments are considered in the light of two industries, motor vehicles and whitegoods, and the role of industry plans is examined. The actuality of trade and industry policy often differs from announced intentions, and this ambiguity can give rise to uncertainty which itself has a cost.     

Flunking economics?

Economists are in revolt over President Clinton's health care reform proposal. Many contend that the Administration is abandoning free-market principles and embracing price controls that could have disastrous consequences. But others argue that traditional rules of supply and demand don't apply to the health care sector.