Fees for Reefs: Economic Instruments to Protect Mexico’s Marine Natural Areas

Stated preference methods can be used to estimate the demand function where no price variation has been observed before. This is the situation of the Mexican coral reef natural protected areas, where after the 2002 approval of a $20 pesos fee (US$1.80) the Ministry of the Environment is now considering increasing the amount of the fee, not only to raise more revenue for the park, but also to curb the number of visitors in the cases where there is excess demand. There are concerns that the very success of the reefs is bringing associated environmental damage that threatens its sustainable use. To estimate the reaction of visitors to different fee levels, we carried out a contingent valuation survey, and constructed with its results an aggregate demand for each park. This demand was then divided by seasons and nationalities, to explore the benefits and costs of differentiating fees, looking at both the revenue maximising and the welfare maximising fees. Finally we discuss how these fees would change when environmental damage functions are taken into account. The recommendation is that increasing fees up to the point where they cover both private and environmental costs would bring the highest amount of economic benefit compatible with the sustainable use of these complex and wondrous marine ecosystems.     

Swimming with the Tide: Solidary Wage Policy and the Gender Earnings Gap

This paper addresses the consequences of wage compression for the gender wage gap in Sweden during the period 1968–1991. We find that the effects of changes in the wage structure on women's wages have varied over time and have been partly counteracting. Changes in industry wage differentials have systematically worked against women, while changes in the returns to human capital and unobserved characteristics have contributed to reductions in the gender wage gap. Changes in the wage structure were particularly important between 1968 and 1974 when there was a dramatic reduction in overall wage inequality.
JEL classification : J 16; J 31; J 51     

马克思主义发展观当代阐释

立足当前发展现状,阐释了马克思主义的唯物辩证法和唯物史观的核心内容,从而说明马克思主义发展观的现实意义;并运用这两大世界观和方法论对现实发展中出现的新情况和新变化作出科学解释,力图把马克思主义发展观与当前实际有机结合.     

Hotel accounts — do men get the best jobs?

Salary levels of women in hospitality financial management appear to be lower than those of men with similar job titles. However, further analysis of a limited sample suggests that salary levels are generally dependent on the level of work and place of employment – and that men tend to be employed in the jobs with higher responsibilities and hence status. There has been some progression by women into the higher status, higher-paying jobs but certain barriers still appears to exist which affect the rate of change.