Estimated non-linearities and multiple equilibria in a model of distributive-demand cycles

We introduce the results of a non-parametric estimate of the US wage-Phillips Curve into a simplified version of the model of the wage-price spiral by Flaschel and Krolzig (2008). Making use of Okun’s law, the non-linearity in the wage inflation-employment relation translates into a non-linearity in the so-called ‘distributive curve’ of the economy. Exploiting the observed non-linearity in extending an otherwise standard demand-distribution model (Taylor 2004 Taylor, Lance. 2004. Reconstructing macroeconomics. structuralist proposals and critique of the mainstream, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.  [Google Scholar]), we provide a dynamical analysis both in wage-led and profit-led effective demand regimes. In a profit-led scenario, shown to be the empirically relevant case for the US economy, there are two stable equilibria of Goodwin (1967 Goodwin, R.M. 1967. “A growth cycle”. In Socialism, capitalism and economic growth, Edited by: Feinstein, C.H. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press.  [Google Scholar]) growth cycle type, identified as a stable depression and a stable boom, and a saddle-path stable equilibrium in between them. Both stable steady states are surrounded by trajectories that cycle counterclockwise around their basins of attraction. The obtained type of growth fluctuations can be verified by a long phase cycle estimation for the US economy using a method developed by Kauermann, Teuber and Flaschel (2008 Kauermann, G., Teuber, T. and Flaschel, P. 2008. “Estimating loops and cycles using penalized splines”. Bielefeld: CEM working paper.  [Google Scholar]).     

Biofuel policies and the environment: Do climate benefits warrant increased production from biofuel feedstocks?

We examine whether climate benefits warrant policies promoting biofuel production from agricultural crops when other environmental impacts are accounted for. We develop a general economic-ecological modelling framework for integrated analysis of biofuel policies. An economic model of farmers' decision making is combined with a biophysical model predicting the effects of farming practices on crop yields and relevant environmental impacts. They include GHG emissions over the life cycle, nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, and the quality of wildlife habitats. We apply our model to crop production in Finland. We find that under current biofuel production technology the case for promotion of biofuels is not as evident as has been generally thought. Only reed canary grass for biodiesel is unambiguously desirable, whereas biodiesel from rape seed and ethanol production from wheat and barley cause in most cases negative net impacts on the environment. Suggested policies in the US and the EU tend to improve slightly the environmental performance of biofuel production.     

Environmental impacts of changes to healthier diets in Europe

Food consumption causes, together with mobility, shelter and the use of electrical products, most life cycle impacts of consumption. Meat and dairy are among the highest contributors to environmental impacts from food consumption. A healthier diet might have less environmental impacts. Using the E3IOT environmentally extended input output database developed in an EU study on Environmental Impacts of Products (EIPRO), this paper estimates the difference in impacts between the European status quo and three simulated diet baskets, i.e. a pattern according to universal dietary recommendations, the same pattern with reduced meat consumption, and a ‘Mediterranean’ pattern with reduced meat consumption. Production technologies, protein and energy intake were kept constant. Though this implies just moderate dietary shifts, impact reductions of up to 8% were possible in reduced meat scenarios. The slightly changed food costs do not lead to significant first order rebound effects. Second order rebounds were estimated by applying the CAPRI partial equilibrium model. This analysis showed that European meat production sector will most likely respond by higher exports to compensate for losses on the domestic meat market. Higher impact reductions probably would need more drastic diet changes.     

Backcasting energy futures using industrial ecology

Backcasting has been widely used for developing energy futures. This paper explores the potential for using industrial ecology to guide the development of energy futures within a backcasting framework. Building on the backcasting work of Robinson [1], a seven step method is presented to embed industrial ecology principles within the development and assessment of future scenarios and transition paths toward them. The approach is applied to the case of backcasting regional energy futures in the Latrobe Valley, near Melbourne, Australia. This region has substantial brown coal deposits which are currently mined and used in coal-fired power stations to generate electricity. Bounded by a sustainability vision for the region in a carbon-constrained world, regional industrial ecologies in 2050 were backcast around three themes: bio-industries and renewables (no coal usage); electricity from coal with carbon capture and storage (low to high coal usage); and coal to products such as hydrogen, ammonia, diesel, methanol, plastics and char (demonstrating medium to high overall coal use relative to current levels). Potential environmental, technological, socio-political and economic impacts of each scenario across various life cycle stages were characterised. Results offer a platform for regional policy development to underpin deliberation on a preferred future by the community, industry and other stakeholders. Industrial ecology principles were found to be useful in backcasting for creatively articulating alternative futures featuring industrial symbiosis. However, enabling the approach to guide implementation of sustainable transition pathways requires further development and would benefit from integration within the Strategic Sustainable Development framework of Robèrt et al. [2].     

西方对外直接投资理论的演进及评述

对外直接投资反映了一个经济体中某一居民实体(直接投资者)在另一经济体的某一企业(直接投资企业)中获得永久利益的目的,同时这种永久利益意味着直接投资者和直接投资企业之间存在着一种长期的关系以及对该企业的管理产生了重大影响。西方学者对该问题的研究主要按照三条路径演进:渐进的演化路径、间断的演化路径和经过临界点的演化路径。本文主要将西方对外直接投资理论中目前引用率较高的观点分别按照其演进方式进行归纳、介绍和评价,认为有必要在学习西方对外直接投资理论的基础上,结合我国的经济实践,建立适合中国国情的对外直接投资理论。     

旅游目的地品牌研究

旅游目的地营销经历了旅游地形象、旅游宣传口号之后,迎来了旅游目的地品牌竞争时代,构建旅游目的地品牌已经成为一种必然趋势。通过在前人研究基础上对旅游目的地品牌做进一步研究,探究了旅游目的地品牌内涵及自身发展规律,对旅游地品牌有进一步的认识,更好的促进旅游地可持续发展。     

解释经济波动现象的两种理论比较

真实经济周期理论从微观出发研究宏观经济,认为经济周期的产生原因来自于经济体系之外的真实冲击,其对宏观经济波动的解释与传统凯恩斯主义波动理论观点迥异,从而对后者在宏观经济研究中的统治地位提出了挑战,并为经济研究开拓了新的思路。比较了两种理论在经济波动的原因、性质、传播机制、研究方法、模型以及政策含义等方面的差异,并评价了两种理论各自的优劣之处。     

互联网对党员生活方式的影响及其应对

共产党员的生活方式是无产阶级政党阶级属性的社会体现,是党员的现实社会活动的综合表现,其实质是党员以党性为基本规定所表现出来的社会生活稳定形式和行为特征。在政党政治时代,党员的生活方式问题具有某种公共性。互联网对党员生活方式具有复杂的影响,必须对党员的生活方式进行正确定位和积极应对。     

欠发达地区旅游政策演变及趋势展望———以贵州省为例

旅游政策是欠发达地区加快旅游产业发展、调控旅游产业运行的主要手段。虽有不少学者分别从不同角度对旅游政策进行研究,但对于经济欠发达地区的旅游产业政策研究缺乏动态性、针对性和代表性。本文以欠发达、欠开发的贵州省为例,在制度变迁理论的指导下,以旅游地生命周期理论发展阶段为线索,从旅游政策发展演变与旅游地发展演变具有相互影响、相互作用的关系入手,对贵州旅游政策外事接待、经济优先、协调发展演变过程进行分析,在对各阶段政策效用评价的基础上,总结了旅游发展大会、“多彩贵州”形象推广、“两赛一会”模式、乡村旅游和四位一体等成功经验、分析主要存在旅游政策缺乏动态性、持续性、方向性、操作性和灵活性、缺乏监督考核评价机制和旅游业研发政策力度支持较弱等问题,探讨了贵州旅游政策目标、机制体制、市场、产品、空间布局政策体系以及不同生命周期阶段的旅游产业政策实施重点等演变方向与趋势。     

试析我国金融资产收益变动对寿险保费的影响

在金融资产选择理论框架下，利用时间序列研究了金融资产长期、短期波动对寿险保费的主要影响。并从居民投资角度建立了寿险与部分金融资产间的ECM模型，结果发现：储蓄增长对保费短期贡献大于长期贡献，加息会在短期内刺激保费增加但长期内有抑制作用；国债和股票受结构性因素影响未表现出与寿险保费有长期均衡关系。寿险公司在短期内应把部分储蓄转化为保费；在长期内应拓展新营销渠道，加快寿险产品和保障型产品的开发。