The effect of corruption on the manufacturing sector in India

This article investigates the effects of corruption on the performance of the manufacturing sector at the state level in India. We employ conviction rates of corruption-related cases as an instrument for the extent of corruption, address the underreporting problem, and examine the impact of corruption on the gross value added per worker, total factor productivity, and capital-labor ratio of three-digit manufacturing industries in each state. Our estimation results show that corruption reduces gross value added per worker and total factor productivity. Furthermore, we show that the adverse effects of corruption are more salient in industries with smaller average firm size.     

Information in generalized method of moments estimation and entropy-based moment selection

In this paper, we make five contributions to the literature on information and entropy in generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation. First, we introduce the concept of the long run canonical correlations (LRCCs) between the true score vector and the moment function f(_vt,_θ0)$f(v_t,{\theta }_0)$ and show that they provide a metric for the information contained in the population moment condition E[f(_vt,_θ0)]=0$\mathrm{E}[f(v_t,{\theta }_0)]=0$. Second, we show that the entropy of the limiting distribution of the GMM estimator can be written in terms of these LRCCs. Third, motivated by the above results, we introduce an information criterion based on this entropy that can be used as a basis for moment selection. Fourth, we introduce the concept of nearly redundant moment conditions and use it to explore the connection between redundancy and weak identification. Fifth, we analyse the behaviour of the aforementioned entropy-based moment selection method in two scenarios of interest; these scenarios are: (i) nonlinear dynamic models where the parameter vector is identified by all the combinations of moment conditions considered; (ii) linear static models where the parameter vector may be weakly identified for some of the combinations considered. The first of these contributions rests on a generalized information equality that is proved in the paper, and may be of interest in its own right.     

JOINT BIDDING,GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT COSTS:A CASE OF ROAD PROJECTS*

ABSTRACT *** : To utilize public resources efficiently, it is important to take advantage of competition in public procurement auctions to the maximum extent. Joint bidding is a common practice that potentially facilitates competition. By pooling financial and experiential resources, more firms are expected to enter the market, but it will also directly reduce competition if more than one bidder who is solely qualified makes a coalition. In theory joint bidding may or may not be beneficial to auctioneers, depending on the model. The paper empirically examines the impacts of joint bidding on firms' entry as well as bidding behaviour, using data on public road projects in developing countries. It shows that coalitional bids, in particular by local firms, would be competitive, but foreign joint ventures would undermine competition. It is also found that good governance can encourage firms' entry into the tendering and facilitate joint bidding practices.     

Option Approach to Search for Threshold Rice Price Toward Sustainable Paddy Field Management

This paper applies an option approach to search for the threshold rice price toward the sustainable paddy field management under rice price stochasticity. Rice price is assumed to follow geometric Brownian motion. The management model for paddy fields is a discrete stochastic dynamic programming model with binomial approximation for geometric Brownian motion, where a control variable is a decision to sustain or terminate paddy yield management. Our computational experiments indicate that an increase in rice price volatility could lower the threshold rice price for farmers to continue rice production. It is also shown that depending on the degree of rice price volatility, even under a lower price level than production costs, maintaining the management could become beneficial. Considering an option to terminate production could make the higher expected value of rice production than without it. Using 12 sets of time series data on voluntarily marketed rice produced in Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukui, Ibaragi, Chiba, Niigata, Toyama and Nagano, the minimum threshold rice price of 6,700 Yen/60 kg was found in Chiba with the largest volatility, and the maximum of 7,250 Yen/60 kg in Ibaragi with the smallest volatility. If the market price becomes lower than the threshold rice price, some policy measures would be necessary toward sustainable paddy field management by covering the difference between them.     

A review and comparison of medical expenditures models: two neural networks versus two‐part models

This paper compares the two‐part model (TPM) that distinguishes between users and non‐users of health care, with two neural networks (TNN) that distinguish users by frequency. In the model comparisons using data from the National Health Research Institute (NHRI) in Taiwan, we find strong evidence in favor of the neural networks approach. This paper shows that the individuals in the self‐organizing map (SOM) network clusters can be described as several different forms of frequency distributions. The integration model of SOM and back propagation network (BPN) proposed by this paper not only permits policymakers to easily include more risk adjusters besides the demographics in the traditional capitation formula through the adaptation and calculation power of neural networks, but also reduces the incentives for cream skimming by decreasing estimation biases.     

Portfolio Optimization under Lower Partial Risk Measures

Portfolio management using lower partial risk (downside risk) measures is attracting more attention of practitioners in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to review important characteristics of these riskmeasures and conduct simulation using four alternative measures, lower semi-variance, lower semi-absolute deviation, first order below targetrisk and conditional value-at-risk.We will show that these risk measures are useful to control downside risk whenthe distribution of assets is non-symmetric. Further, we will propose a computational scheme to resolve the difficultyassociated with solving a large dense linear programming problems resulting from these models. We will demonstrate that this method can in fact solve problems consisting of10⁴ assets and 10⁵ scenarios within a practical amount of CPU time.     

The Stability of the Japanese Banking System: A Historical Perspective

In this paper we study the stability of the Japanese banking system in the prewar period. First, we review the development of the Japanese banking system from the Meiji Restoration until the Second World War. It will be shown that government policy toward the banking industry changed drastically after the 1927 banking panic. Second, we examine the causes of bank closings in 1927. We test whether or not such bank closings were due to their unsound management, which was reflected in the structure of assets and liabilities and bank performance, using a qualitative model. Our empirical results conclude that bank closings occurred more for banks with unsound management and inefficient operations. J. Japan. Int. Econ., December 1993, 7(4), pp. 387–407. School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, 6-1 Nishiwaseda 1-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160, Japan; and University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.     

Constrained suboptimality in incomplete markets: a general approach and two applications

Summary. In this paper we re-examine generic constrained suboptimality of equilibrium allocations with incomplete numeraire asset markets. We provide a general framework which is capable of resolving some issues left open by the previous literature, and encompasses many kinds of intervention in partially controlled market economies. In particular, we establish generic constrained suboptimality, as studied by Geanakoplos and Polemarchakis, even without an upper bound on the number of households. Moreover, we consider the case where asset markets are left open, and the planner can make lump-sum transfers in a limited number of goods. We show that such a perfectly anticipated wealth redistribution policy, though consistent with the assumed incomplete financial structure, is typically effective. Received: August 14, 1995; revised version: April 11, 1997     

The Yonmenkaigi System Method: An Implementation-Oriented Group Decision Support Approach

The Yonmenkaigi System Method (YSM) is presented as a participatory method to support group decision making. It is composed of four main steps: conducting a SWOT analysis, completing the Yonmenkaigi chart, debating, and presenting the group’s action plan. The YSM is an implementation and collaboration-oriented approach that incorporates the synergistic process of mutual learning, decision making and capacity building. It fosters small and modest breakthrough and/or innovative strategy development. The YSM addresses the issues of resource management and mobilization as well as effective involvement and commitment by participants and provides a strategic communication platform for participants. A case study for developing a disaster reduction action plan, carried out with a local community organization in the City of Kyoto, Japan, is used to demonstrate the characteristics of the YSM.