Econometric Causality

This paper presents the econometric approach to causal modelling. It is motivated by policy problems. New causal parameters are defined and identified to address specific policy problems. Economists embrace a scientific approach to causality and model the preferences and choices of agents to infer subjective (agent) evaluations as well as objective outcomes. Anticipated and realized subjective and objective outcomes are distinguished. Models for simultaneous causality are developed. The paper contrasts the Neyman–Rubin model of causality with the econometric approach.     

MIND THE GAP: UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE NEW EU REGIONS

Abstract.  The paper surveys the theoretical and empirical literature on regional unemployment during transition in Central and Eastern Europe. The focus is on optimal speed of transition (OST) models and on comparison of them with the neo-classical tradition. In the typical neo-classical models, spatial differences essentially arise as a consequence of supply side constraints and institutional rigidities. Slow-growth, high-unemployment regions are those with backward economic structures and constraints on factors mobility contribute to making differences persistent. However, such explanations leave the question unanswered of how unemployment differences arise in the first place. Economic transition provides an excellent testing ground to answer this question. Pre-figuring an empirical law, the OST literature finds that the high degree of labour turnover of high unemployment regions is associated with a high rate of industrial restructuring and, consequently, that low unemployment may be achieved by implementing transition more gradually. Moreover, international trade, foreign direct investment and various agglomeration factors help explain the success of capital cities compared to peripheral towns and rural areas in achieving low unemployment. The evidence of the empirical literature on supply side factors suggests that wage flexibility in Central and Eastern Europe is not lower than in other EU countries, while labour mobility seems to reinforce rather than change the spatial pattern of unemployment.     

Status quo and countermeasures of energy audit in oil and gas field enterprises

To develop energy audits in oil and gas field enterprises has important and realistic significance. Chinese energy audit in oil and gas field enterprises is still in the exploratory stage, the paper puts forward some countermeasures and proposals through the analysis on status quo to identify the shortcomings.     

Urban density and pupil attainment

We explore the association between urban density and pupil attainment using three cohorts of pupils in schooling in England. Although—as widely recognised—attainment in dense urban places is low on average, this is not because urban environments disadvantage pupils, but because the most disadvantaged pupils with low average attainments attend the most urbanised schools. To control for this, we exploit changes in urban density faced by pupils during compulsory transition from Primary to Secondary school, and measure educational progress at the end of the Secondary phase, relative to attainment at the end of Primary schooling. Our results suggest that there are small but significant benefits from education in schools in more densely urbanised settings. We detect this density advantage even amongst pupils moving relatively short distances between Primary and Secondary schools within urban areas, so we cannot attribute it to broad urbanisation effects experienced by pupils making rural–urban school moves. A more likely explanation lies in greater school choice and competition between closely co-located educational providers.     

中国轿车工业自主品牌发展研究——技术学习的视角

社会各界对中国轿车工业自主品牌关注的焦点已从要不要搞自主品牌、能不能搞自主品牌的争论转变到怎样去发展自主品牌的思考。本土企业与合资企业的自主品牌由于外部环境和企业自身条件的不同选择了不同的发展模式,采取了不同的主导技术学习方式,从而积累了不同层次的技术能力,并取得了不同的市场绩效。实践证明,有效的技术学习和技术能力的不断积累提升从而形成自主开发能力是支撑中国轿车工业自主品牌发展壮大的关键所在。     

绍兴、吴江农村城市化的情况调研

通过对江苏吴江市和浙江绍兴县两地部分建制镇和部分原农村居民点的实地调研 ,作者认为 ,目前两地农村工业化、城市化处于发展的上升期 :中心镇经济和城市化发展相当快 ;中心镇以下的部分行政村异地或就地实现城市化。在城市化进程中 ,以下问题有待探讨解决 :迁村并点、撤乡并镇的速度与规模 ;城镇建设用地指标及相关政策 ;社区建设改造过程中 ,农民征地拆迁补偿标准和社会保障等。     

警惕我国企业集群发展中潜在问题

企业集群是当今区域经济发展规划的新趋势 ,引起了多学科领域学者关注。我国已经出现了一些企业集群的雏形 ,但是这些企业集群都存在不同的问题。以东莞、温州及部分的高新区为例 ,从各自的形成过程、发展轨迹等角度 ,讨论了各具特色的区域集群存在的不同性质的问题     

人居环境科学的人文思考

人居环境 (建筑与城市建设 )科学不能失去人文精神。作者以自己的实践 (北京菊儿胡同等 )说明如何才能在建筑设计和城市规划中发扬民族的文化精神。     

保护传统街区特色延续古城历史文脉--对喀什历史街区保护的思考和对策

喀什在国内外具有较高的知名度,喀什的文化特色在新疆最具有典型性和吸引力,在长达两千多年的历史演变中,欧亚文化、佛教文化、伊斯兰文化在这里交流融汇,形成了独特的古西域文化特色,喀什历史街区形态和传统建筑特色在中西亚城市发展历史上曾经普遍存在,但在上世纪后期已消失殆尽,在我国西部地区城市中,唯一保存下来了一片古城街区.但历史街区居住人口稠密,市政基础设施落后,与现代化城市发展需求的矛盾日渐突出,在处理历史街区保护和现代城市建设的关系上,需要得到名城保护及城市规划方面的专家、学者的大力支持.     

论两种规模经济：专业规模经济和综合规模经济

当前国际上出现了一种“企业规模无关论”的新观点,与我国目前盛行的“唯规模经济论”截然相反。笔者以为,上述两论都失之片面,正确的理论是在承认的前提下,将规模经济分为两类:专业规模经济和综合规模经济。前者因专业化分工效应而扩大产销规模与市场份额;后者因企业(集团)内部协调成本小于市场交易成本而获得效应。随着市场发育和市场交易成本下降,拥有专业规模经济的企业集团,比之拥有综合规模经济的企业集团更能适应市场的变化与竞争。