Informality and mobility

Informality is a defining characteristic of labour markets in developing and transition countries. This paper analyzes patterns of mobility across different forms of formal and informal employment in Russia. Using the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey household panel we estimate a dynamic multinomial logit model with individual heterogeneity and correct for the initial conditions problem. Simulations show that structural state dependence is weak and that transition rates from informal to formal employment are not lower than from non-employment. These results lend support to the integrated view of the labour market.     

中国城市消费的空间分布与空间相关关系研究

运用空间相关性检验的莫兰指数分析和空间面板计量的SDM模型,讨论了中国城市消费的空间分布特征,并从跨区域空间效应的视角分析了影响城市消费的经济、交通、政策等因素.研究发现,中国人均消费较高的“热点”城市较少,邻近城市的收入、客运交通等因素对本地城市消费呈现显著的负相关作用,城市空间消费市场结构更多地表现为区隔效应而非集聚效应,我国区域经济和市场一体化程度有待提升.     

Role of income diversification in reducing forest reliance: Evidence from 1838 rural households in China

Among a number of households worldwide, forest use and income diversification have been seen as substitute livelihood strategies: farmers with more diverse income sources face a higher opportunity cost in harvesting forests and so tend to rely less on forestry resources. The current study uses rural household survey data captured in the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Shaanxi, Hunan, and Jiangxi. It applies a Heckman regression model and a quantile regression model to determine the effect of income diversification on forest dependence. The three main findings of this study are as follows. (1) The mean income diversification index values in Fujian, Shaanxi, Hunan, and Jiangxi are 1.81, 1.46, 1.63, and 2.00, respectively; this indicates that livelihood activities within the study areas are limited. (2) When the income diversification index increases by 10%, the proportion of forest income to total income within the study areas decreases by 4–8%; this indicates that income diversification can significantly reduce a household's dependence on forest resources, especially among the poorest households. (3) For the top 20% of high-income households, the effect of income diversification on forest dependence is insignificant, but for the bottom 20% of low-income households, income diversification has a major impact in terms of reducing their forest reliance (6–10%). The findings of this study will help inform the design of alternative policies that could alleviate pressure relating to forest-resource protection.     

Determinants of Residential Land-Use Conversion and Sprawl at the Rural-Urban Fringe

We estimate a probit model of residential land conversion using parcel-level data from a rural-urban county in Ohio. Spatial landscape pattern metrics are used to quantify land-use patterns and to link patterns of residential sprawl with factors estimated to influence parcel-level land conversion. Findings indicate that the location of new residential development is influenced by preferences for lower density areas that nonetheless are close to existing urban development. Combined, these forces have generated a moderated pattern of residential sprawl. Spatial error autocorrelation is controlled using a spatial sampling technique that enables consistent estimation of the probit model.     

中国水生蔬菜出口市场集中度和依赖度分析

[目的]水生蔬菜作为我国区域性特色明显的优势农产品,出口创汇能力强。以莲藕、芋头和荸荠为主要研究对象,分析其出口规模、产品结构和市场分布,可全面把握中国水生蔬菜的出口市场形势,有助于防范出口市场风险,以便更好地推进中国水生蔬菜出口市场的进一步优化。[方法]文章通过测算市场集中率和依赖度系数,对2012—2021年中国水生蔬菜的出口市场集中度与依赖度进行分析。[结果]中国水生蔬菜出口市场集中度高,由高到低依次为芋头、莲藕和荸荠;出口依赖性强,其中莲藕对马来西亚、日本、美国的市场依赖性强;芋头对日本、美国的市场依赖性强;荸荠对马来西亚、新加坡和越南的市场依赖性强。[结论]基于研究结果和发现,提出拓展新兴市场、提升质量标准、延长产业链条等建议,以降低水生蔬菜出口风险、提升国际竞争力,推动中国水生蔬菜更好地发展。     

寿险合同持续期的实证研究:一个契约的视角

本文将寿险合同持续期,作为研究的对象。以契约经济学的方法,分析保险合同,将影响持续期的因素分为:投保人特点、保险人行为以及契约外部环境。运用来自山东某人寿保险公司的保单数据,研究了各类因素对持续期的影响。极大似然估计的结果显示,三类因素对寿险合同持续期都有显著影响。其中,服务质量、职业风险以及定期存款利率对契约持续的影响最大。另外,收入、年龄、同业竞争,也对持续期有显著影响。     

技术创新、金融市场泡沫与金融制度的适应性效率

金融市场对于技术创新的重要性是不言而喻的。但金融市场的发展不可避免地会产生泡沫。严重的泡沫会导致金融市场的崩溃,从而对经济增长造成灾难性的后果。政府对金融市场泡沫的不同干预方式又会将金融市场锁定在不同的发展路径。我们发现,政府的角色十分关键,金融市场的发展,一方面需要政府的良好执法来建立竞争性市场秩序,并降低既得利益集团对金融市场创新的阻挠;另一方面,又需要避免政府过多的行政干预所导致的对投资者权力的破坏。只有这样,才能有效地将泡沫效应转化为推动金融市场创新的原动力。     

Daily income target effects: Evidence from a large sample of professional commodities traders

We provide evidence of rational reference-dependent preferences in the proprietary trading of professional traders. We find increased trading effort and risk taking by traders following morning losses. Further analysis provides no evidence of a deterioration in trading performance subsequent to losses, as neither risk-adjusted performance nor trade execution appear to be negatively affected by prior losses. The evidence supports the existence of rational reference-dependent preferences in the form of trader daily income targets: these professional traders exhibit increased work effort subsequent to abnormal morning losses. The evidence is inconsistent with the alternative explanation of costly loss aversion.     

Spatial Economic Analysis in Data‐Rich Environments

Controlling for spatial effects in micro‐level studies of consumer and producer behaviour necessitates a range of analytical modifications. These range from modest changes in data collection and the definition of variables to dramatic changes in the modelling of consumer and producer decision‐making. This paper discusses conceptual, empirical and data issues involved in modelling the spatial aspects of economic behaviour in data‐rich environments. Attention is given to established and emerging agricultural economic applications of spatial data and spatial econometric methods at the micro‐scale. Recent applications of individual and household data are featured, including models of land‐use change at the urban–rural interface, agricultural land values, and technological change and technology adoption.