Trade intensity,country size and corruption

Abstract. Several authors claim to provide evidence that governmental corruption is less severe in countries where trade intensity is higher or populations are smaller. We argue that theory is highly ambiguous on these questions, and demonstrate that empirical links between corruption and trade intensity – or country size, strongly related to trade intensity – are sensitive to sample selection bias. Most available corruption indicators provide ratings only for those countries in which multinational investors have the greatest interest: these tend to include almost all large nations, but among small nations only those that are well-governed. We find that the relationship between corruption and trade intensity disappears, using newer corruption indicators with substantially increased country coverage. Similarly, the relationship between corruption and country size weakens or disappears using samples less subject to selection bias. Received: July 2001 / accepted: April 2002 We thank Anand Swamy and two anonymous referees for helpful comments and suggestions, Paul Schorosch for able research assistance, and Ray Fisman, Roberta Gatti, Aart Kraay, and Shang-jin Wei for kindly providing data. The conclusions of this paper are not intended to represent the views of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent.     

A two-stage stratified Warner’s randomized response model using optimal allocation

This paper applies Kim and Wardes (2004) stratified Warners randomized response model to Mangat and Singhs (1990) two-stage randomized response model. The proposed stratified randomized response model has an optimal allocation and a large gain in precision. Hence, the estimator based on the proposed method is more efficient than Kim and Wardes (2004) and Mangat and Singhs (1990) estimators under the conditions presented in both the case of completely truthful reporting and that of not completely truthful reporting by the respondents.     

外在压力与内在激励：老龄化背景下地方政府的财政选择

在人口老龄化背景下,地方政府的财政支出选择存在外在压力和内在激励。在理论分析人口老龄化影响地方财政支出偏好的作用机制基础上,采用中国省级财政数据检验老龄化背景下地方财政选择偏好。研究结果表明：地方政府财政支出是提高社会福利支出的外在压力和增强地方财政可持续性的内在激励的多路径效应结果,这种影响效应具有财政自给率和老龄化程度的非对称性。为了实现地方财政可持续性和有效应对老龄化社会的公众诉求压力,有必要尽快完善地方政府考核体系,完善地方公共支出的需求表达机制,改善当前财政支出责任地方化的状态。     

中国城镇化进程中社会保障制度的城乡统筹

长期以来,我国实行城乡二元保障格局和严格的户籍管理制度, 使城乡居民享受不平等的社会保障待遇,导致城乡隔离和分割,限制了农村剩余劳动力的转移和向城市的流动,延缓了我国城市化进程.适应城镇化建设需要,构建一元化的社会保障制度是中国社会保障制度设计的终极目标.根据当前实际,应从户籍制度改革、城乡社会保障项目整合、制度完善等方面采取对策措施.     

四化联动:小城镇发展的新思路

发展小城镇是农村城市化的必然选择，而小城镇的发展程度和水平，则依赖于农业产业化、农村工业化、农业人口知识化及城市化的互动作用。为了使农村城镇化有质的飞跃，必须以工业理念管理现代农业，以园区管理理念整合农村工业，以育人理念提高人口素质，以城市管理理念提升城镇水平。     

转型时期中国城市反贫困论

目前城市反贫困具有其紧迫性,文章在对城市反贫困的现状及其应对策略进行理性思考的基础上,构建了较为完善的城市反贫困策略体系,具体划分为预防型策略与补救型策略两大系统,各系统又有其具体的运作机制。     

日本城市老年人的亲属人际关系网——以日本名古屋市为例

根据日本名古屋老龄化程度最高的中村区日吉学区调查的数据,分析了日本老年人亲属人际关系网的特征和影响老人亲属人际关系网的主要因素。结果表明,影响老年人亲属人际关系网的主要因素是居住距离和老年人的学历、家庭收入、居住面积等社会经济资源。即,生态学上的距离虽然是影响“社会人际关系维系型”和“社会人际关系松散型”的重要因素,但不会使亲属人际关系数量衰减。学历、家庭收入、居住面积等社会经济资源是影响亲属人际关系网规模增减的重要因素。     

中国外汇储备快速增长的原因探析——基于人口结构的视角

近年来,中国外汇储备快速增长成为我国理论界和实务界关注的热点问题.通过理论推演和实证分析得出结论:中国外汇储备快速增长与独特人口年龄结构密切相关.当前,中国不能陶醉在外汇储备世界第一的光环中,要清醒地看到其中的隐忧,采取诸如转变经济增长方式、增加人力资本投入、强化外汇储备管理等措施来加以应对.     

人口流动与城乡发展:探索发展中国家的经验

围绕发展中国家城乡二元经济结构下人口流动对城乡发展的影响,以及城乡发展对人口流动的作用,认识人口流动与城乡发展之间的关系,探讨人口城市化受城乡发展不平衡的影响及相应对策.     

流动人口社会救助问题研究

数量众多的流动人口享受不到应有的基本社会保障状况在构建和谐社会的大背景下显得尤为触目惊心.建立流动人口社会救助管理制度具有深远的现实意义.现行流动人口社会救助管理制度是对历史的进步,但存在一定的局限性,应该进一步改革与完善流动人口社会救助管理制度.