Evaluating Projects in a Dynamic Economy: Some New Envelope Results

Abstract. This paper deals with the modern theory of social cost–benefit analysis in a dynamic economy. The theory emphasizes the role of a comprehensive, forward-looking, dynamic welfare index within the period of the project rather than that of a project's long-term consequences. However, what constitutes such a welfare index remains controversial in the recent literature. In this paper, we attempt to shed light on the issue by deriving three equivalent cost–benefit rules for evaluating a small project. In particular, we show that the direct change in a net national product (NNP) qualifies as a convenient welfare index without involving any other induced side effects. The project evaluation criterion thus becomes the present discounted value of the direct changes in NNP over the project period. We also illustrate the application of this theory in a few stylized examples.     

Beyond Flying Geese: The Expansion of East Asia's Electronics Trade

The flying geese (FG) hypothesis, which asserts the sequential catching‐up processes of the latecomers, holds well in the past. Yet a simultaneous boom within the electronics industry across East Asia casts doubt on the applicability of the hypothesis. By using the RCA and NET indices, the paper finds that the FG pattern shows in the electronics industry as a whole, but not always so at the disaggregated level. This suggests that the FG formation may not appear in other industries, if they are involved in international production fragmentation or have differentiated products, and if certain latecomers have become new leaders.     

基于计算机网络的大学英语教学改革研究——以中南林业科技大学为例

为了提高大学英语教学质量,中国高校正在全面推进和实践大学英语教学改革。中南林业科技大学作为全国首批31所大学英语教学改革示范点项目学校之一,实施了基于计算机网络与课堂教学的教学改革,并取得较好的成效,在同层次、同地区、同类型的高校中发挥了先锋示范作用。实践表明：深化大学英语教学改革,应科学处理好制约大学英语教学的6大重要关系。     

Technology,science and American innovation

This article offers for consideration four propositions about business, government, and innovation in the post-World War Two United States, points which may have a wider resonance as well. They concern the long term role of continuous innovation, technology–science relationships, state-led problem setting for innovation, and the ‘permanent uncertainties’ that arise from Cold War-era technological advance. Each of these has implications for the practice of business history, for conceptualizing innovation, and for our understanding of post-war science–technology trajectories.     

INCOME INEQUALITY, RECIPROCITY AND PUBLIC GOOD PROVISION: AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS

This paper analyses the impact of income inequality on public good provision in an experimental setting. A sample of secondary school students were recruited to participate in a simple linear public goods game where income heterogeneity was introduced by providing participants with unequal token endowments. The results show that endowment heterogeneity does not have any significant impact on contributions to the public good, and that consistent with models of reciprocity, low and high endowment players contribute the same fraction of their endowment to the public pool. Moreover, individuals appear to adjust their contributions in order to maintain a fair share rule.     

旅游企业开展网络营销存在的问题和对策——以温州为例研究

旅游网络营销已经成为当前旅游业发展的趋势,旅游业通过与现代信息技术的融合,可以提升旅游目的地的知名度,提高旅游企业的营销效率,降低成本,为旅游企业创造效益。通过分析研究温州旅游企业开展网络营销存在的问题,温州旅游企业应尽快转变旅游营销观念,充分运用现代网络营销技术,改进网络营销手段,并积极开发建设温州旅游电子商务平台,建立专业网络旅游资料库,为游客提供各种旅游相关信息和服务,也为众多的旅游企业提供在线旅游交易,为企业创造商机,促进旅游产业的持续发展和产业升级。     

Notes on some present day Questions regarding Mortality

Abstract

In the absence of any definite development of actuarial science in Great Britain which would be a suitable subject for this paper I considered that the most useful course would be to discuss some of the problems which are at present exercising my own mind, and no doubt the minds of many of my colleagues. Probably, many of these questions are akin to others which arise in other countries, so that their discussion at a meeting such as this may prove of mutual interest, while even if they are peculiar to ourselves, a disclosure of our doubts and difficulties will indicate the directions in which future developments may be expected. I must, however, emphasize that any views expressed are purely personal, and do not in any way pretend to represent a consensus of British actuarial opinion. Throughout this paper only Ordinary (as opposed to Industrial) business in considered.     

Consumption-leisure nonseparabilities in asset market participants’ preferences

We use panel data to estimate nonlinear Euler equations for preferences that are nonseparable in consumption and leisure. This approach departs from existing panel data studies that investigate linearizations and/or separable preferences. Intuitively plausible estimates are obtained only when excluding nonassetholders from the sample, which indicates the importance of asset market participation. For market participants, estimated parameter values are intuitively appealing, but differ from existing estimates. They also differ from parameter values commonly used in computational experiments. These findings have implications for the extensive literature in macroeconomics and finance that studies models of intertemporal decision-making, and they confirm the importance of market incompleteness.     

Monetary Policy Transmission with Interbank Market Fragmentation

This paper shows how interbank market fragmentation disrupts the transmission of monetary policy. Fragmentation is the fact that banks, depending on their country of location, have different probabilities of default on their interbank borrowings. Once fragmentation is introduced into standard theoretical models of monetary policy implementation, excess liquidity arises endogenously. This leads short-term interest rates to depart from the central bank policy rates. Using data on monetary policy operations, I show that this mechanism has been at work in the euro area since 2008. The model is used to analyze conventional and unconventional monetary policy measures.