The evolution of State-Local balance sheets in the United States, 1953–2013

State and local debt in the United States more than doubled as a share of gross domestic product between 1953 and 2007. Using a historical accounting framework, we find that there is no straightforward relationship over time between state and local deficits and debt growth. We find that only 17 percent of the variation in aggregate state–local debt ratios comes from variation in the fiscal balance. This is especially true in the 1980s, the period of most rapid increase in state–local debt ratios. Before 1980, there were small but persistent deficits, but stable debt ratios. In the 1980s, state and local sectors shifted toward budget surpluses but saw rising debt ratios. This is explained by a faster pace of asset accumulation. Our results demonstrate the autonomy of balance sheet variables and suggest that changing debt ratios cannot be explained by real income and expenditure flows.     

Productivity,innovation strategies and industrial relations in SMEs. Empirical evidence for a local production system in northern Italy

The paper aims to provide an original contribution to evaluating several kinds of relations between four areas of innovation activities – training, technology, organization, ICT (information and communication technologies) – and industrial relations and firm’s economic performance. Quantitative evidence for a SME‐based local production system is provided by exploiting two datasets: the first is derived from a direct survey carried out in 2005 collecting data on innovations, labour flexibility and industrial relations; the second is represented by a panel of official balance sheets data for the period 1998–2004. The analysis is divided in two consequential parts. We first examine the drivers of different innovation strategies and subsequently we exploit innovation indicators as potential drivers of firm’s productivity. The results show that training activities and organizational changes have strong links with many industrial relations indicators, thus emerging as industrial relations driven innovations. On the contrary, ICT and technological innovation seem to be more influenced by firms’ past performances than by industrial relations. The analysis on labour productivity drivers shows that training activities are the most relevant factors; then, ranked consequently, technological innovation, organisational innovations and, finally, ICT also appear to impact on productivity levels. It is worth noting that the role of ICT emerges more robustly when endogeneity is specifically addressed. Finally, the role of firm size seems here to be overshadowed by other drivers.     

唐至清代桂林风景建筑营建历程及机理——基于地方古文献的分析

唐至清代桂林风景建筑依托喀斯特地貌营建,是反映山水、建筑、城市三者和谐共融的经典杰作。通过古文献信息采集、现场踏勘等方法,借助历史地图转译、地理信息系统等技术,从整体上探究了唐至清代桂林风景建筑的营建历程与机理。研究认为风景建筑的营建历程可划分为成长期、全盛期、成熟期3个阶段;厘清了不同阶段风景建筑的分布特征、建设目标、营建特质与发展态势;揭示了风景建筑依托优越山水的选址智慧、呼应空间结构的秩序建构、基于价值导向的审美意境等营建机理,以期对桂林风景建筑形成新的理论认知,也为未来风景建筑的地域性创作提供支撑。     

Analyses of local ingredients and dishes on menus of the Budapest-Middle-Danube touristic region

The background of the study is based on previous studies dealing with the areas of Transdanubia of Hungary. Those works have proved the hypothesis of author that local ingredients and dishes represent minimum role on menus. The question is how similar or different the choice of menus of Budapest-Middle-Danube compared with the previously examined areas of Hungary. There can be another question about the usage of local ingredients available near to the catering units. This piece of work has studied 79 menus of Budapest-Middle-Danube, Hungary. The material was collected from different types of restaurants, small restaurants （vendeglo in Hungarian） and roadside restaurants （csarda in Hungarian）. The method of the work was on the one hand, data collecting, and on the other hand, examination of the differences between the catering units in details： the number of dishes, the right order of dishes, the appearance of local ingredients and dishes, the consideration of seasonality, the usage of different cooking methods and group of dishes. The study reflects the main problems of countryside restaurants in Hungary. Only minimum number of dishes could be connected to local dishes out of more than thousands. All in all, dishes are not as precise and perfect as the ＂old ones＂, so that is why it is important for every expert keep the traditions alive in daily routines and strategic mean too.     

关于可持续发展理论与实践的若干思考

可持续发展理论与实践的深入有赖于在四个方面的重新认识：首先，可持续发展是观念性、战略性实践性的统一；其次，可持续发展是层次性与阶段性的统一；第三，可持续发展是区域性与综合性的统一；最后， 制度变革与创新是影响可持续发展的关键因素。     

天津滨海新区区域经济特点、问题与对策

开发滨海新区是天津市经济发展的重大战略决策。经过7年的高速发展滨海新区已经形成了经济区的基本框架,成为天津市经济的龙头。本文综合分析了滨海新区的区域经济特点及其在发展过程中存在的矛盾和问题,在此基础上提出了加强区域经济持续发展能力建设的对策和建议。     

泰国城市化过程及其启示

20世纪60年代以来,泰国经济迅速发展,但城市化的进程却相对滞后.由于历史、政策以及政治体制等多方面原因,泰国在城市化过程中出现了城乡发展不协调、城市规模等级体系畸形化、贫民窟等严重的城市问题.泰国城市化过程的经验和教训对如何实现城乡协调和可持续发展具有重要的借鉴意义.对于发展中国家城市化而言,政府更应该重视优化城市层级,赋予城市一定的自治权,尊重农民的地方性知识并努力缩小城乡教育水平的差距.     

无线局域网的现状及前景展望

无线局域网技术(包括IEEE802.11、蓝牙技术、HomeRF等)将是新世纪无线通信领域最有良好发展前景的重大技术之一。文中着重介绍了无线局域网标准的进展,IEEE802.11、蓝牙技术、HomeRF等几种主流标准的比较,分析了无线局域网技术、现状、局限与应用前景。     

大力推动国储与地方物流一体化建设

阐述了国储物流与地方物流一体化含义,指出国储物流与地方物流一体化是社会主义市场经济的必然产物,其客观条件已具备,最后提出了国储物流与地方物流一体化建设应把握的几大问题。     

社区经济自治存在的问题及制度创新

从业主经济自治组织制度建设存在的问题出发,剖析了业主自治组织处境艰难,不能有效行使管理主体的权利,同时也难以承担管理主体责任的原因,进而对北京社区物业管理中业主经济自治组织的制度创新提出了若干建议.