Rigor in Economics means Pluralism

Abstract

The two books under review could not be more different in terms of their main subject matter and writing style, but their central message is exactly the same: only a pluralist economics is scientifically rigorous and explanatorily honest and fruitful. Both books underpin this important point in their own ways. While Fullbrook draws on a wide range of history of thought in economics, philosophy and the sciences, his epistemological argument is relatively easy to grasp and full of catch phrases. Marchionatti and Cedrini on the other hand review the century long methodological dispute between economists and economic anthropologists. Their treatment of these debates is very detailed. So, it can be a bit of a struggle at times to follow the intricacies of the defensive arguments used by anthropologists in their battles against imperial attacks by economists. However, by providing an outline of the basic arguments at the start and a concluding summary at the end of most of their chapters the authors make these debates very comprehensive while offering a very thorough historical comparative overview of economic imperialism and the defences of its anthropological opponents. In critiquing its philosophical foundation, Fullbrook argues convincingly that the mainstream narrative in economics is ideologically biased and conceptually too narrow to investigate economic behaviour based on social bonds, inter-subjectivity and real freedom. To allow for such analysis, he concludes, we will need to move towards true pluralism of methods in economics.     

Modelling Site Location Decisions in Tourism

Site location analysis and retail location strategy can be considered critical factors and integral elements of an effective organizational business plan in the tourism industry. This paper focuses on two different approaches that can be applied to site location analysis and selection in tourism: spreadsheet models and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Rule Based Expert Systems are also discussed. The LOCAT model (a spreadsheet-based algebraic approach) attempts to measure the total attractiveness index of a particular site location on the basis of calculating the impact of components (degrree of accessibility, total catchment population, level of tourist product uniqueness, and probability of tourist patronization). A practical example testing the degree of applicability of the model is also introduced. The Analytic Hierarchy Process provides a general structure capable of representing a wide range of decision problems. It is especially effective when dealing within complex multivariate decisions and with variables which are difficult to quantify.     

Priorities for future innovation: Russian S&T Foresight 2030

Under the transition to a market economy Russian science, technology and innovation (STI) has changed dramatically. After the crisis of late 1990s, the government declared science and technology (S&T) as one of national priorities and started increasingly investing in this sector but it has not led to the tangible output like a bigger volume of high-tech exports or a higher share of international publications. A number of policy instruments have been introduced to increase the efficiency of STI policies. One of them is S&T Foresight.The activities aimed at identification of national S&T priorities and series of Foresight studies have helped to understand which areas are most promising for sustaining existing competitive advantages and building new ones via gradual shift from the resource-based economy towards the technology-oriented one.The paper presents the design and organisation of a large-scale Russian S&T Foresight exercise as a fully-fledged instrument of the national STI policy and discusses the achieved results and their use for policies at different levels.     

A Note on the Use of Survey Research Firms to Enable Empirical Data Collection

This forward thinking article examines the risks and rewards of using survey research firms to enable empirical data collection, and issues a cautionary note about its application. An exposition and discussion of this form of data collection in supply chain management is relevant today, due to the “survey‐fatigue” among the population of business professionals from whom we seek a response. While this approach has some history in other disciplines, it is still relatively new among supply chain management researchers. To help supply chain management scholars assess the appropriateness of this type of data collection method, this forward thinking article provides invaluable guidance as derived from the authors' recent experiences with the approach. As such, we share our observations and lessons learned. The conclusion is that the use of survey research firms for empirical data collection can be a viable, alternative approach to self‐administered surveys. However, care should be taken in its application.     

Managing Internal Supply Chain Integration: Integration Mechanisms and Requirements

In response to globalization, diversification, and other organizational drivers, managers continue to seek organizational designs that promote integration. We study this phenomenon by focusing on requirements and mechanisms for internal supply chain integration (SCI). Using qualitative interview data, we examine how managers in manufacturing firms integrate internal supply chain activities. We elaborate and extend the information processing view by studying why organizations integrate (integration requirements) and how integration mechanisms are associated with different integration requirements. Four patterns of integration requirement–mechanism linkages emerged from our study, depicting integration mechanisms that are associated with a particular integration requirement, and those that are not. We provide a detailed examination of the multidimensional nature of integration requirements, as well as an increased understanding of how integration mechanisms are used to manage different integration requirements. These findings offer deeper insights into organizational integration, enhancing the understanding of integration in the context of internal supply chains, while also contributing to the literature on organizational design. For supply chain managers, these findings describe ways in which organizational design decisions can support internal SCI efforts with varying aims.     

Country and industry convergence of equity markets: International evidence from club convergence and clustering

This study employs the panel convergence methodology developed by Phillips and Sul (2007) to explore the convergence dynamics of international equity markets. The analysis considers both country and industry effects. While traditional portfolio management strategies usually follow a top-down procedure, assuming that country-level effects drive financial aggregates (e.g., stock returns) our empirical results suggest that the equity markets of 37 of the 42 counties in our sample do form a unified convergence club. The empirical findings, however, also show more numerous stock-price convergence clubs in certain industries. That is, country factors play a more important role in explaining the actual convergence in real stock prices than industry factors. Conversely, the volatility of stock prices exhibits much more evidence of convergence than stock prices. These findings should assist portfolio managers in the design and implementation of appropriate portfolio management strategies. Regulatory authorities also can benefit in the design of financial regulation.     

中国资本所得经济税负的定性研究——基于当前税制结构和经济环境的分析

在当前税制结构下,中国资本所得经济税负大小主要由增值税、消费税、营业税、企业所得税和个人所得税决定,并受到经济环境及由其决定的税负转嫁状况的影响。增值税、消费税、营业税税负会向前转嫁,企业所得税短期很难转嫁但长期可以,个人所得税税负转嫁依不同情况而有差别。长期看,在取得环节个人资本所得可能直接承担个人所得税,企业资本却不会直接承担企业所得税,在最终消费或积累环节,个人和企业的资本所得资本所得都承担了经过转嫁的增值税、消费税、营业税、企业所得税。     

甲硝唑注射液无菌检查方法学验证研究

文章主要探讨建立甲硝唑注射液的无菌检查方法。本试验取甲硝唑注射液,按《中国药典》2005年版二部附录所载的＂无菌检查法＂进行方法学验证试验。结果表明：采用本试验方法Ⅲ进行甲硝唑注射液的无菌检查,供试品无菌生长,而6株阳性菌生长良好,方法可行。     

突发环境事件损失价值评估方法及案例研究

文章首先从评估项目设置、损失计量方法的选择、评估实施步骤等方面探讨了突发环境事件损失价值评估方法,突出其系统性及实用性。突发环境事件的影响对象可分为肇事方和外部损失承受者,其中后者又可分为生产部门、社会群体、管理部门和生态环境;损失可分为财务损失和生态环境损失两类;损失计量方法可依据法律条文并参照已有的研究成果根据具体情况选定;评估步骤包括事件调查、损失分析及计量、结果分析、撰写评估报告四步。最后利用所建立的方法,对某化工企业突发环境污染事件的损失价值评估进行了案例研究。     

中国金融形势指数及其在货币政策中的检验

利用VAR模型构建金融形势指数FCI,通过实证分析发现其能够很好地预测通胀率。研究表明,FCI含有通胀的有用信息,中央银行在实施货币政策时,应当考虑其所含变量在货币政策中的信息作用。通过检验含有金融形势指数变量的货币政策反应函数,发现中央银行的利率政策对产出缺口和金融形势的松紧有准确反应,实际利率与通胀率负相关。同时指出,利率平滑行为不再显著是由金融危机爆发后货币当局对市场利率的管制造成的。