Are Investors Misled by “Pro Forma” Earnings?*

This paper uses stock market data to investigate the popular claim that investors are misled by the “pro forma” earnings numbers conspicuously featured in the press releases of some U.S. firms. We first document the frequency and magnitude of pro forma earnings in press releases issued during June through August 2000, and describe the 433 firms that engaged in this financial disclosure strategy. Our test period predates public expressions of concern by trade associations and regulators that pro forma earnings may mislead investors and the subsequent issuance of guidelines and rules on the disclosure of pro forma earnings numbers. We use two complementary approaches to determine whether the share prices that investors assign to pro forma firms are systematically higher than the prices assigned to other firms. Our market‐multiples tests for differences in price levels find some evidence suggesting that pro forma firms may be priced higher than firms that do not use the disclosure strategy. This apparent overpricing is not, however, related to the pro forma earnings numbers themselves. Our narrow‐window stock returns tests reveal no evidence of a stock return premium for pro forma firms at the quarterly earnings announcement date. Collectively, the results cast doubt on the notion that investors are, on average, misled by pro forma earnings disclosures despite the widespread concern expressed in the financial press and by regulators.     

Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change

Food policy should serve humanity by advancing the humane goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. However, these goals have recently been challenged by emerging forces including climate change, water scarcity, the energy crisis as well as the credit crisis. This paper analyses the overall role of these forces and population growth in redefining global food security. Specifically, global water supply and demand as well as the linkages between water supply and food security are examined. The analysis reveals that the water for food security situation is intricate and might get daunting if no action is taken. Investments are needed today for enhancing future food security; this requires action on several fronts, including tackling climate change, preserving land and conserving water, reducing the energy footprint in food systems, developing and adopting climate resilient varieties, modernising irrigation infrastructure, shoring up domestic food supplies, reforming international food trade, and responding to other global challenges.     

Price-Quality Relations and Hedonic Price Indexes for Cars in the United Kingdom

The main objective of this paper is to employ a complete set of panel data on UK car characteristics to estimate a hedonic car price model. This enables us to examine price differences between various car models in terms of variations in individual car characteristics.We also pay greater attention to the specification of the hedonic price model than previous studies, as shown by the wide range of diagnostics reported. A second objective of the paper is to utilise the estimates of the hedonic price model to construct a hedonic price index for cars, which allows us to investigate the increase of car prices due to quality and non-quality factors.     

A multivariate unobserved component analysis of US housing market

This study explores price dynamics and price relationships in the US housing market with a focus on four regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. It applies a multivariate state-space model to identify the common trends and common cycles in US regional markets. The study finds that the principal source of secular price variability in the Northeast and West markets is due to two common stochastic trends, while a large share of transitional price variability in the Northeast, West and Midwest originates from three common stochastic cycles. The study estimates the relationships between the common unobserved components and economic variables and finds that unemployment, federal funds rate, corporate default risk, economic expansion, unanticipated inflation in the construction market are significant underlying economic phenomena that impact the evolution of the common movements in both the short run and the long run housing dynamics. Authorship is equally shared between the authors.     

Measurement Bias in the HICP: What do we know and What do we need to know?

Abstract. The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is the primary measure of inflation in the euro area, and plays a central role in the policy deliberations of the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB defines its Treaty mandate of price stability as '… a year‐on‐year increase in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for the euro area of below 2%[…] to be maintained over the medium term.' Among the rationales given for defining price stability as prevailing at some positive measured inflation rate is the possibility that the HICP as published incorporates measurement errors of one sort or another that may cause it to systematically overstate the true rate of inflation in the euro area. This paper reviews what currently is known about the scope of measurement error in the HICP. We conclude that given the vague conceptual framework of the HICP, the scant research on price measurement issues in the EU and the ongoing improvements in the HICP, there is very little scientific basis at this time for a point (or even an interval) estimate of a positive bias in the HICP.     

上海市工业企业科技投入产出效率测度与评价——基于政府财政科技投入的视角

在市场经济条件下,如何科学地评估企业科技投入产出效率,尤其是政府科技投入,已经成为理论界迫切需要解决的焦点问题。本文采用数据包络分析方法,构建了政府科技投入的总效率、使用效率及其改善导向的影子价格等指标构成的工业企业科技投入产出效率测度体系,并利用相应指标测度体系对上海市总体、不同行业、不同所有制的工业企业政府科技投入产出效率进行了实际评价,得到了相应的结论,提出了相应的政策建议。     

土地管制、市场价格与政策选择

本文从宏观和微观两个层面考察土地管制政策对市场价格的影响,利用35个大中城市的宏观数据,检验土地供给是否对住房价格产生影响,以及其影响程度与时间路径;利用杭州286宗住宅用地微观数据,量化微观管制政策对土地价格的影响方向与程度。我们发现土地供给对住房供给在长期内(1～2年)有显著影响,短期内(1年以内)没有影响;而土地供给对住房价格在长期与短期内都有影响,如通过改变预期影响当年住房价格,通过控制住房供给影响滞后1年的住房价格等。土地出让约束条款能够显著影响土地的出让价格,容积率每增加1%,会引起土地价格上升0.777%,出让地块面积增加1%会导致单位出让价格下降0.108%。进而,从宏观和微观两个层面提出政策建议,促进住房市场与价格保持稳定。     

区域城市间住宅价格波动溢出效应的内涵分析

为了明确住宅价格波动溢出效应所包含的深层内涵,并为以后的空间计量经济建模数据分析提供理论阐释,通过对波纹效应和波动溢出效应的概念归纳得出住宅价格波动溢出效应的定义,从基础理论支撑、主体关系、客体影响因素和存在环境四个方面构建其理论框架。最后,从城市层级、人口迁移、城市经济基本面和心理预期四个类别进行多层次的内在因果关系分析,得出其完整的形成机理。     

收入差距、房价与消费变动——基于面板数据联立方程模型的分析

正确理清收入差距与房地产价格的关系,探知其对消费的影响,是实现我国扩大内需战略所面临的重要问题。本文基于我国的2000-2008年31个省、市(自治区)的面板数据,构造联立方程模型,深入探讨了收入差距、房地产价格与消费的关系,结果发现,收入差距与房价之间存在着正向的互动关系,但是对消费的影响却呈现出一定的区域差异,在东中部地区,收入差距与房价之间这种相互强化的关系,使得代表消费主体的广大中低收入群体的住房负担加重,不得不减少消费。但是在西部地区,由于住房负担相对较轻,能正向发挥财富效应,所以收入差距与房价之间的互动影响,反而促进了消费。这种差异正好折射出我国区域经济发展的不平衡性。因此,有必要通过对收入分配的合理调整,实施稳健的货币政策和有效的住房保障政策来科学调控房价,进而切实促进消费。     

资产价格对核心通货膨胀指数的修正

在目前被广泛认同的通货膨胀钉住货币政策操作中,对核心通货膨胀指数的选择存在一定争议,常用的CPI及GDP平减指数是否能真正准确及时地反映实际通货膨胀水平受到了部分经济学家的质疑。Alchian和Klein(1973)首次系统提出了对传统核心通货膨胀指数的批评,以及使用资产价格等其他经济变量对其进行修正的想法。本文将实证分析资产价格对我国传统核心通货膨胀指数的修正作用,并通过一个动态凯恩斯模型在加入通货膨胀钉住策略约束后进行检验,结果显示,经修正后的新指数可以使既定的货币政策更有效。