A note on internal and external reference in efficiency wage models

According to Bewley, a workers’ morale depends on being treated fairly within firms. This implies that the internal comparison of the own wage with wages paid to other workers within the firm affects individual effort determination. By contrast, the standard efficiency wage models only consider a comparison of the own wage with external income opportunities as the only determinant for individual effort. We provide a simple efficiency wage framework in which both the internal and external perspectives can affect individual effort determination. Our framework suggests that the internal reference is essential for the existence of real wage rigidity while the external reference ensures an upward-sloping wage-setting curve.      

Nominal versus indexed debt: A quantitative horse race

The main arguments in favor and against nominal and indexed debts are the incentive to default through inflation versus hedging against unforeseen shocks. We model and calibrate these arguments to assess their quantitative importance. We use a dynamic equilibrium model with tax distortion, government outlays uncertainty, and contingent-debt service. Our framework also recognizes that contingent debt can be associated with incentive problems and lack of commitment. Thus, the benefits of unexpected inflation are tempered by higher interest rates. We obtain that costs from inflation more than offset the benefits from reducing tax distortions. We further discuss sustainability of nominal debt in developing (volatile) countries.     

人民币名义汇率与中国通胀的区制转换特征研究

我们通过扩展巴拉萨—萨缪尔森假说,对名义汇率升值和通胀的相互替代作用进行了理论解释,并使用马尔科夫区制转换模型研究了1983年1月至2010年11月间人民币/美元汇率和中国通胀率的时间序列行为。经验研究显示,在缩小中美之间价格差距的过程中,结构性通胀与名义汇率升值有着相同的作用。人民币外在升值压力与国内通胀并存的问题,对于宏观经济平衡和货币政策制定者来说,既意味着机遇,也意味着挑战。我们认为,通胀与名义汇率升值的合适政策搭配会降低人民币升值预期,并逐步缓解人民币升值压力。     

人民币汇率与货币替代关系的实证研究——基于1997Q4～2007Q1中国的实际数据

本文在现有的国内外研究的基础上,借助于中国1997Q4～2007Q1间的实际数据,对人民币名义汇率水平及其波动性与货币替代率的经济关系进行了实证分析。研究结果表明,人民币名义汇率的波动性与货币替代率不存在长期的均衡关系,而人民币名义汇率水平与货币替代率则存在一定的协整关系,即中国的货币替代更多的是出于保值需要,不具有投机性。此外,研究还表明,当前中国货币替代率的变化更多地则是受汇率以外的因素影响。     

An Open Economy DSGE Model with Search-and-Matching Frictions: The Case of Hungary

This article builds and estimates a medium scale, small open economy DSGE model augmented with search-and-matching frictions in the labor market, and different wage setting behavior in new and existing jobs. The model is estimated using Hungarian data between 2001–2008. We find that: (i) the inclusion of matching frictions significantly improves the model’s empirical fit; (ii) the extent of new hires wage rigidity is quantitatively important for key macro variables; (iii) labor market shocks do not play an important role in inflation dynamics, but the structure of the labor market influences the monetary transmission mechanism.     

Nominal rigidities, skewness and inflation regimes

The menu-costs model developed by Ball and Mankiw (BM) [Ball, L., Mankiw, N.G., 1994. Asymmetric price adjustment and economic fluctuations. Economic Journal 104 (423), 247–261; Ball, L., Mankiw, N.G., 1995. Relative-Price Changes as Aggregate supply shocks. Quarterly Journal of Economics 110 (1), 161–193] predicts that inflation is positively related to the skewness of price changes distribution. We test this prediction in different inflationary contexts: Spain (1975–2002) and Argentina (1960–1989). We find a positive inflation–skewness relationship in both countries at low inflation, even though the mean annual inflation rates were very different: 2.2% for Spain and 23% for Argentina. Therefore, the threshold of low inflation under which the menu-costs model is suitable is determined endogenously, and it depends on the inflationary experience of each economy. In the higher inflation periods skewness is not significant. Finally, our results suggest that the menu-costs model is not suitable beyond certain threshold of inflation.     

Hybrid Delphi: A methodology to facilitate contribution from experts in professional contexts

This work presents a new methodology based on three well-known qualitative techniques (Focus Group, Nominal Group Technique and Delphi method), with a view to harmonising their potentialities and reducing their limitations, through application in real contexts with experts who are professionals in their respective activities.The main contribution of this methodology is its joint consideration of the needs of the investigators and also of experts who act in professional contexts, in order to improve the effectiveness of preceding techniques in achieving the scientific and social objectives of the study.We have tested this methodological approach in three real cases, with experts holding different responsibilities in different companies and public organisations, and the results secured are highly satisfactory, due to both the quantity and quality of the proposals obtained, and the satisfaction exhibited by the experts taking part, with regard to the research methodology.