The flypaper effect and political strength

Simple models of local government behavior predict equal effects of private income and unconditional federal grants on local government expenditures. Numerous empirical analyses, however, find that the effect of grants is larger than the income effect. We argue that this flypaper effect may be a result of weak political leaderships in multi–issue and multi–party decision–making environments. In multi–issue institutions, a strong political leadership may reduce inefficiency due to interest group influence and inter–party bargaining in the local council. Utilizing data for Norwegian local governments in the 1930s, we find that political strength reduces the size of the flypaper effect. When the local council consists of only one political party, we cannot reject absence of a flypaper effect, while the flypaper effect is large in fragmented local councils. Received: June 2000 / accepted: February 2001     

论专利产品平行进口问题的法律实质

专利产品平行进口问题的法律实质在于物权和专利权谁优先保护的问题。从竞争法角度来探索权利用尽原则和地域性原则的理论冲突将为我国专利产品平行进口的相关立法提供有益的思路。     

Spread spectrum of knowledge network based on information integration environment

The concept and the characteristic of spread spectrum technology of knowledge network based on information integration environment are given at first. And the basic principle of the wireless network of knowledge and information is recommended. Then a project alternatives using the spread spectrum technology and wireless network is given to build a across-the abroad knowledge network system.     

论中国区域发展战略的三次转向

《中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十一个五年规划的建议》系统提出和阐述了区域协调发展的总体部署,标志着中国区域发展战略实现了第三次转向,即从局部区域优先发展战略转向区域协调发展战略。这次战略转向是建国以来区域发展战略理论与实践发展的必然结果,这一新战略具有以区域协调发展为战略目标,以区域协调机制的构建作为区域协调发展的战略重点等新的内涵。     

云南长防林体系建设中几个问题的探讨

本文就云南省长防林体系建设中存在的认识问题,指导思想、政策、资金投入及有关技术问题,进行分析。提出相应的对策和意见。     

试论我国地方政府债务及其风险控制

地方政府债务是指地方政府承担的,所有需要其在将来运用资产或其它经济资源偿还的义务。它具有以下几个特点:首先,地方政府债务是一种综合性的债务。它可能由多种因素诱发产生,或由其它形式的债务(例如金融债务)转化而来。其次,地方政府债务具有较大的隐蔽性。某些形式的地方政府债务并不直接表现在政府资产负债表上,可能直到需要偿还时才会最终暴露出来。第三,作为最终需要地方财政偿还的债务,地方政府债务一般由地方财政实施控制。     

转移支付与地区经济收敛

转移支付是政府调节区域经济的重要政策手段 ,本文分析了 1 994年新财税体制改革以后转移支付与地区经济收敛的关系 ,发现转移支付总体上没有达到缩小地区差距的效果 ;对转移支付决定的因素分析 ,则解释了现行转移支付不能缩小地区差距的原因 ,最后提出了相关的政策建议。     

A Semiparametric Method for Valuing Residential Locations: Application to Automated Valuation

This paper is motivated by automated valuation systems, which would benefit from an ability to estimate spatial variation in location value. It develops theory for the local regression model (LRM), a semiparametric approach to estimating a location value surface. There are two parts to the LRM: (1) an ordinary least square (OLS) model to hold constant for interior square footage, land area, bathrooms, and other structural characteristics; and (2) a non-parametric smoother (local polynomial regression, LPR) which calculates location value as a function of latitude and longitude. Several methods are used to consistently estimate both parts of the model. The LRM was fit to geocoded hedonic sales data for six towns in the suburbs of Boston, MA. The estimates yield substantial, significant and plausible spatial patterns in location values. Using the LRM as an exploratory tool, local peaks and valleys in location value identified by the model are close to points identified by the tax assessor, and they are shown to add to the explanatory power of an OLS model. Out-of-sample MSE shows that the LRM with a first-degree polynomial (local linear smoothing) is somewhat better than polynomials of degree zero or degree two. Future applications might use degree zero (the well-known NW estimator) because this is available in popular commercial software. The optimized LRM reduces MSE from the OLS model by between 5 percent and 11 percent while adding information on statistically significant variations in location value.     

集体钉住汇率制与地区金融稳定——兼评人民币汇率制度改革

20世纪90年代以来,东亚地区是国际金融比较动荡的地区之一。麦金农主张东亚各经济体实行“集体钉住美元”制度,以保证地区金融稳定。从理论和实践分析,集体钉住汇率制有其内在的稳定机制,也有内源性的动荡缺陷,稳定性和脆弱性同存。目前东亚各国和地区非正式的共同“软钉住美元”,有一定的合理性;但从长远看,这种集体钉住美元制度难以维持。当前人民币汇率改革不会影响东亚地区的金融稳定,维持国内金融稳定,才能防止地区金融动荡。     

Testing for Vertical Fiscal Externalities

The purpose of this paper is to design a test of whether the vertical external effects associated with tax base sharing among local and regional governments have become internalized via the intergovernmental transfer system. Such tests are important in the sense that the income tax rates chosen by different levels of government will generally be correlated, even if the resource allocation is optimal from society's point of view. By using panel data for the Swedish local and regional public sectors, the results imply that an increase in the regional income tax rate induces the municipalities in the region to decrease their income tax rates. In addition, we are able to reject the null hypothesis that the vertical external effects have become internalized.