On the cost-benefit of the regionalisation of the National Health Service

In this paper we analyse in formal terms the desirability of the regionalisation of a National Health Service. The policy consists of a devolution process, i.e. the increase in the health services provision to be decided by a region and financed by an increase in its revenues. The change is a marginal one, as it regards the part of supply of the health services exceeding a minimum standard, which for purposes of equity is maintained uniform in the national territory. As the central government is responsible for this component of the provision of health care (a federal “mandate”), the level of the said component is chosen by this authority and financed by federal taxation. Moreover, the government also applies an equalisation scheme based on the difference between a standard level of tax revenues and the revenues which the region is deemed able to raise for this purpose. Within the theoretical context of welfare improving reforms with distortionary taxation, we derive two conditions which focus on the regional, as well as the social, convenience of regionalisation. Received: May 5, 1999 / Accepted: January 21, 2000     

Monetary Policy Coordination and the Level of National Debt

This paper uses the Canzoneri-Henderson benchmark framework of monetary policy coordination in interdependent economies to analyze how high levels of national debt affect monetary policy interactions. Using a two-country model, I first study how central banks interact in a flexible exchange-rate regime. I find that a low-debt country is better off interacting with a country with high debt, when both economies are affected by an aggregate inflationary shock. I also consider a political dependence scenario, in which central banks are subject to political pressure. In the case of a debt-burdened country, the political incentive to reduce interest payments on debt will spur a Gordon–Barro like inflation bias. However, under a flexible exchange-rate regime, the low-debt country will not be affected. Under a monetary union instead, political pressure may affect the low-debt country as well, and possibly create an inflation bias even greaterthan in the flexible exchange-rate regime. This scenario presents another example of how Rogoff's counterproductive monetary cooperation may arise under European Monetary Union.     

Understanding IJV performance in a learning and conflict mediated context

Determinants of international joint venture (IJV) performance are examined within the context of cross-border learning. Using a structural equation model, we test the multifaceted interactions among strategic goal congruency, national culture differences, learning and conflict. Cross-border learning is recognized as a kernel variable which is influenced by matching strategic motives, national culture differences, and conflicting relations, and which affects the performance of IJVs. In particular, we hypothesize that interpartner goal congruency and national culture differences have an indirect effect on IJV performance through cross-border learning and conflict; previous studies established their direct relationship. The test results show that congruent strategic motives and cultural similarity had a positive effect on cross-border learning, which was reinforced by learning capacity, and which in turn led to better performance. Conflicting relations between partners and heterogeneous cultural backgrounds were shown to discourage cross-border learning.     

房地产投资项目融资风险的灰色模糊评判研究

房地产投资项目的融资风险问题具有灰色性(信息不完全)和模糊(概念不明确)性。考虑到灰色性和模糊性的影响，采用适用性更广的灰色模糊多级综合评判理论，对房地产投资项目融资风险的多级指标体系进行综合评判，可以有效地、全面地和系统地评价房地产投资项目融资风险的大小，为项目融资项目决策提供准确依据。     

我国中小企业融资效率综合评价和实证分析

中小企业在我国的国民经济和社会发展中发挥着重要作用,然而,中小企业在发展过程中面临很多困难和难题,其中以融资难最为突出。因企业的融资方式决定着企业的融资结构和融资效率,而融资效率又直接影响着企业的融资目的是否有效达到。因此,在我国现实背景下研究中小企业融资效率问题具有重要现实意义。文章在构建企业融资效率的数学评价模型时运用模糊综合评价方法。首先,对中小企业的五种融资模式的融资效率进行模糊综合评价,得出五种融资模式的融资效率,进而对我国中小企业的融资效率分析。其次,选取深圳中小企业板上市的28家中小企业作为研究样本来实证分析,比较权益和债券两种融资模式的融资效率。最后,由分析结果得出结论并提出相应的建议。     

Tourism,Marketing and Sustainable Development in the English National Parks: The Role of National Park Authorities

This paper examines the work of the English National Park Authorities (NPAs) in relation to aspects of the development of sustainable tourism. The NPAs have implicitly sought to achieve sustainable tourism development since the parks were first designated, striving to balance the needs of visitors and the environment within the context of living, working landscapes. Studies have revealed, however, that some NPAs are not fully championing sustainable tourism development. The paper examines the NPA's use of marketing and marketing perspectives in encouraging sustainable tourism, exploring attitudes, roles and activities. A diverse, piecemeal and sometimes underinformed approach is revealed. The paper concludes with ways forward for English NPAs and for other protected area management organisations.     

Increasing Inflationary Pressure

China＇s CPI rose to 8.7 percent in February after hitting 7.1 percent in January,creating a 12-year high, the National Bureau of Statistics said.The figure exceeded market expectations,as the Bank of China,the country＇s second- largest lender,     

高技术产业国家价值链网络结构与省域增加值分解——来自电子信息产业的证据

为破解我国在高技术产业全球价值链中面临的低端锁定困境,需要构建并完善国家价值链分工体系。构建中国高技术产业国家价值链内生增值传导网络结构分析框架,并以电子信息产业为例,对省域国内增加值进行分解。结果表明,现阶段中国电子信息产业上游技术研发能力较弱,整体增值能力不强;下游间接关联产业部门数量及关联系数值仍待提高;除中游外,上下游出口国内增加值偏低,国际竞争力较弱;东、中部省域国内完全增加值占据优势,内生增值能力方面各有所长,东北、西部省域国内完全增加值及其内生增值能力均较弱。同时,中国省域国际垂直专业化程度未表现出显著地理地区特征,即使同一地域的省域之间也存在不同程度差异。     

鄂尔多斯铁路枢纽客运系统布局方案研究

为加强鄂尔多斯铁路枢纽建设,提高鄂尔多斯与外界联系通道的运输能力,完善铁路枢纽内客运系统布局,基于鄂尔多斯铁路枢纽现状分析,结合城市现状规划和枢纽客运预测,从铁路枢纽内线路走向、铁路枢纽内客运站布局、枢纽内高速铁路车站选址3个方面,对鄂尔多斯铁路枢纽客运系统布局方案进行研究。经综合比选分析,分别采用沿既有铁路通道的中线引入方案、高速铁路"两站"格局方案及新设东胜北站。在此基础上,提出鄂尔多斯铁路枢纽内客运站建设方案,不断提高鄂尔多斯与外界联系通道的运输能力。     

Trade matters except to war neighbors: The international stock market reaction to 2022 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

We investigate the role of international trade and proximity to war in international stock markets during the invasion of Ukraine by employing DiD designs and panel data comprising 70 stock markets. We find that differences in trade exposure to warring countries (trade effect) have a substantial and negative impact on non-European equity markets but are irrelevant for European markets. In contrast, differences in the distance to warring countries (proximity effect) have a significant and negative impact on European markets but have no bearing on non-European markets. We find that the relevance of rent from mineral, natural gas, and oil resources and the relevance of metals, ores, and fuels in exports operate as mitigators of the trade effect. Our paper provides valuable empirical evidence regarding the importance of mitigating the vulnerability of financial markets to international trade when a major war breaks out.