Common trends and common cycles in regional crime

This paper uses the Vahid and Engle (Journal of Applied Econometrics, 8, 341-360, 1993) common trend - common cycle approach to model the dynamics of regional crime rates in England over the period 1975–1996. The evidence indicates the existence of common trends and common cycles in regional crime rates. This result is exploited to examine the system-wide effects of shocks emanating in a particular region.     

Consumption norms,trickle-down and the video/microwave syndrome

A new method is presented for investigating empirically the presence or not of consumption norms in the ownership of durables amongst different socioeconomic groups (although the method is more generally applicable to any situation in which a number of characteristics, and not just durables, may be acquired in a specific sequence). In order to illustrate the method, some results are presented for the ownership of durables as sampled by the National Readership Survey for 1985 and 1990. As a further application of the method, particular attention is paid to the changing incidence of ownership of videos and microwaves. Both theoretically and empirically, the trickle-down model of consumer choice is critically assessed and found to be wanting.     

The role of science in resolution of environmental crises at Kesterson Reservoir and Mono Lake, California

Two events in California's recent history have had a profound impact in shaping present and future water resources policy: the selenium contamination at Kesterson Reservoir and the battle to save Mono Lake. The irrigation-induced selenium toxicity discovered at Kesterson changed public perception of agriculture as a benign consumer of water, eroded the political power of the agricultural lobby, and has contributed to a revision in the allocation of water between the cities, agriculture and the environment. The Mono Lake Decisions of 1983 and 1994 set an equally important precedent in affirming the State's public trust obligation to preserve public resources and to reconsider previous water right allocations in the light of evolving knowledge and changing priorities. Both of these issues were important precursors for the current multibillion dollar State and Federal (CALFED) initiative to 'fix' the myriad of biologic, hydrologic and water quality problems of the San Francisco Bay estuary. In this paper, we compare the Kesterson and Mono Lake controversies and discuss the role of science and research in attempting to resolve these issues. We conclude by drawing linkages to the current CALFED initiative and suggesting implications for future water quality management in California's lakes and reservoirs.     

Production Contracts and Productivity in the U.S. Hog Sector

This article measures the impact of contracting on partial and total factor productivity and the production technology of U.S. hog operations. A sample selection model accounts for the fact that unobservable variables may be correlated with both the operators' decision to contract and farm productivity. Results indicate that the use of production contracts is associated with a substantial increase in factor productivity, and represents a technological improvement over independent production. Results also identify determinants of farmers' decisions to contract and other factors influencing farm productivity.     

The Effects of Offshoring to China: Reallocation,Employment and Productivity in Taiwan

We examine the extent to which outward FDI from Taiwan to mainland China has contributed to the rising unemployment rate in Taiwan. Further, it examines whether outward FDI has contributed to productivity growth in Taiwan, and the importance of linkages between sectors in determining these effects. We provide strong evidence that Taiwanese firms have increased their investments in China, and that this has lead to a reduction in employment in such sectors at home. Further, we show that these effects are also translated up the supply chain, such that outward FDI also leads to a reduction in employment upstream in the supply chain.