How does FDI affect domestic firms’ wages? theory and evidence from Vietnam

This paper explores the role of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) as a determinant of domestic firms’ wages, namely wage spillovers. We first construct a theoretical model to demonstrate that the presence of FDI firms affects domestic firms’ expected average wages via productivity spillovers and a cut-off capability. We then estimate FDI-induced wage spillovers by employing IV-GMM estimator with a five-year panel dataset of a growing service industry in Vietnam. Despite FDI firms on average pay 2.25 times that of domestic firms, they put a downward pressure on domestic firms’ wages. A one percent increase in FDI presence causes domestic firms to cut average wages by 2.03 percent. The estimations also find that firm-specific features are attributable to significant differences in their wages as well as FDI-linked wage spillovers.     

The impact of new goods and service products on firm growth: evidence from Austrian-linked firm-level data

Using a matched innovation survey and structural business statistics, we investigate the impact of the introduction of new service products and other types of technological innovations on firm growth measured as subsequent two-year employment growth. Results, based on median and robust regression methods for manufacturing firms, show that, on average, both the introduction of new goods and process innovations have a significant and positive impact on subsequent firm growth. In contrast, the introduction of new services does not, on average, have a significant impact on firm growth for both manufacturing and service firms. However, quantile regressions show that the introduction of new service products has a significant and positive impact on firm growth for high-growth service firms. Finally, in manufacturing, the introduction of product innovations has a positive impact on firm growth at both the lower and higher ends of distribution (i.e. for both high-growth and shrinking firms).     

Adoption of health information technologies: the case of a wireless monitor for diabetes and obesity patients

This paper explores what determines the adoption of health information technologies through the use of a case study of a wireless service prototype developed for patients with diabetes and obesity. A technology acceptance model was used as the basis for developing the theoretical framework, which was later tested through a field study. Results indicated that the usefulness of an e-health service was affected by the quality of service, its compatibility with users’ lifestyle, the quality of support, the quality of information presented in the service, usage time, image, accessibility, and ease-of-use characteristics of the service. Designers should develop services that do not require much usage time as users do not want to spend much time using the service. In addition, users should be able to access data presented in the service quickly and easily when they need it. Customisable menu items and short cut keys can be used to make data access quick and easy.     

J. S. Mill on Wages and Women: A Feminist Critique

"J. S. Mill on Wages and Women" questions the common belief that Mill, despite his feminism, never suggested an end to the sexual division of labor because of his devotion to the concept of efficiency and other tenets of classical economics. A review of Mill's analysis of a competitive labor market indicates that he believed it to be fully consistent with women's equality in the workforce. In fact, in his works on women, it becomes clear that Mill was concerned that the logical extension of classical economic principles might lead to the commodification of domestic duties, including child rearing, a notion he evidently feared. Therefore, it was Mill's fear of, rather than dedication to, extreme allegiance to efficiency and unimpeded capitalism that limited his feminism.     

Innovation in knowledge-based professional service firms. An integrated conceptual model*

ABSTRACT

The current paper offers a new conceptual model to understanding innovation processes in professional service firms, to make hidden relationships more explicit and to find out what are the issues still unexplored. The paper employs a systematic literature review, and draws upon original categorizations of extant literature, to identify main processes for each category of PSFs. It unveils connections among a wide range of factors setting a conceptual model for innovation pathways and highlighting neglected questions relevant from both the theoretical and the practical perspectives.     

The World Market for Labor and the World Market for Industrial Sites

At the center of the on-going debate about the U.S. Social Security system is the question of whether the way the system is financed can cope with the future challenges posed by the retiring Baby Boom generation. The "reformers" suggest changing the design of the system by moving to fully funded defined contribution retirement plans. Others argue that the so-called demographic problems are being used as an excuse to privatize the system. But both sides spend almost all of their energy and time figuring out the timing of insolvency of the system and the validity of the assumptions made in each forecast. In contrast, the present study closely examines the changing macroeconomic dynamics of the system since the 1960s. The analysis shows that undermining of the system is caused not by demographic changes or financing mechanisms but by low wages and medical inflation.     

空乘专业学生急救实训方法

急救在空中乘务工作中是非常重要的一项技术,它直接关系到飞行安全和旅客的安全。根据当前空乘专业学生急救教学的实际以及就业反馈情况,分析急救实训教学改革的必要性,通过研究急救实训教学中培养和提高空乘专业学生急救能力的可行性实训方法,对空乘专业学生核心能力培养提供积极的探索。     

空中乘务专业认同测量模型及其实证研究

综合采用文献分析与深度访谈,提出了空中乘务专业认同四维度测量模型,它包括：专业教学、专业前景、专业意识及专业发展。开发并验证了用于测量空中乘务专业认同的量表。实证结果表明：开发的量表具有良好的信效度。对开展空中乘务专业认同优化管理提供参考依据。     

全球价值链下中国的对外贸易

全球价值链(GVC)作为一种组织和治理力量,已使当今的国际贸易发生了重大变化,也对中国的对外贸易产生了深刻影响。本文首先总结在GVC的影响下,当前国际贸易呈现的6个特征性事实;其次揭示了在中国贸易急剧增长的表象下,隐藏着GVC这样一种组织和治理的力量,并从结构、地区、主体和地位等方面,分析了GVC对中国对外贸易的影响;最后,指出中国外贸在GVC下面临的挑战及相关的对策。     

地区性行政垄断的经济增长效应

地区性行政垄断是指地方政府运用行政权力对市场竞争的限制和排斥,往往造成了要素价格扭曲,进而诱致地方保护和市场分割。本文基于一个经济增长模型,并将地区性行政垄断指数纳入该模型中,实证研究了地区性行政垄断对经济增长的影响以及这种影响在开放程度不同的地方会发生什么样的变化。结果表明,地区性行政垄断与经济增长呈倒U型关系,而且经济开放程度越高,地区性行政垄断越不利于经济增长。