Relative risk aversion, relative prudence and comparative statics under uncertainty: The case of (μ, σ)‐preferences

From the expected‐utility approach, relative risk aversion being smaller than one and relative prudence being smaller than two emerge as preference restrictions that fully determine the optimal responses of decisions under uncertainty to certain shifts in probability distributions. We characterize the magnitudes of relative risk aversion and relative prudence in terms of the two‐parameter, mean‐standard deviation approach. We demonstrate that this characterization is instrumental in obtaining comparative static results in the two‐parameter setting. We further relate our findings to the results in the expected‐utility framework.     

Working While the World Sleeps: A Consideration of Sleep and Shift Work Design

The evolution of society and economic pressure has provided the impetus for operating on a 24-hr basis in many industries. This has occurred with relatively little attention toward sleep deprivation and related problems facing shift workers and the organizations employing them. This paper first documents the move toward shift work and some sleep problems associated with it. We then describe sleep disorders that impact job performance. Next, we describe alternative schedules and give suggestions for shift work implementation. Finally, we offer some normative advice regarding the treatment of shift employees.     

Why are Small Firms Different? Managers’ Views

Do incentives differ between large and small organizations? Results from a representative survey of compensation managers are used to shed light on the issues. I find that (i) small establishments rely less on pecuniary incentives, and have a significantly more hostile attitude towards incentive schemes based on competition and relative rewards; (ii) large units are more vulnerable to mechanisms of efficiency wages, effects that remain even after controlling for differences in monitoring ability; (iii) large units are more prone to indicate that negative reciprocity is important, and that their employees care about relative pay. I argue that these findings fit with behavioral stories of incentives and motivation, in particular those stressing group interaction effects, inequity aversion and gift exchange.     

Comparing the True Cost of Living Indices of Demographically Different Households

The comparison of true cost of living indices between demographically different households (relative equivalence scale) is argued to be sensitive to the way demographic characteristics enter demand analysis. In particular, parameters reflecting the cost of demographic characteristics at base prices, though themselves do not have welfare (equivalence scale) interpretation, can alter the benchmark from which demographically varying inflation effects are measured. The empirical analysis, based on a rank‐3 demand system applied to UK individual household data, shows that the inflation adjustment of child benefits can vary with the way demographic costs at base period prices are specified.     

基于AHP＋熵组合的相对发达地区新乡镇建设评价——以苏南三镇为例

面对新农村建设活跃和城市化进程加速，新乡镇建设也初见端倪，选取苏南三镇作为实证地点，构建相对发达地区新乡镇建设评价体系，利用主观赋权的层次分析法（AHP）和客观赋权的熵权法进行组合评价。     

弱势群体就业扶持政策研究

分析了当前我国弱势群体失业情况的严重性、特殊性及其原因 ,提出了构建我国弱势群体扶持政策的基本原则及标本兼治、着眼未来的就业扶持政策     

低房价房地产开发项目桩基方案优化价值分析

软土地区低房价商品房的开发可行性,很大程度上取决于桩基设计方案。文中以一个小高层商品房的桩基方案优选为对象,基于价值分析法,在桩基工程功能和成本分析的基础上,提出桩基设计方案的价值评价指标,并用于该项目评价,结果与传统对比分析法一致。表明:1)价值分析法适用于桩基方案优选,而且与传统的对比分析法相比,用定量的数据说话,更准确、科学;2)所提出的价值评价指标对该项目是正确适用的。此外,还对该工程其它的桩基设计方案以及价值评价指标的通用公式进行了简要探讨,供进一步研究和同类工程参考。     

对欠发达地区货币传导扭曲的实证分析

我国货币政策对生产活动的影响主要通过银行贷款渠道.1997年央行从松货币政策的措施实施以来,全国与西北贷款规模相对差异的拉大、投资规模相对差异的缩小及资本形成率差异增大.本文以银行贷款渠道为例对西北地区货币政策传导进行分析,得出货币政策效果差异的直接原因是特定的基础货币投放机制和西北地区过度的信贷萎缩,根本原因在于西北地区经济基础差,投资收益率低,商业银行机构撒并和信贷策略调整,民间投资不足等因素.     

收入差距、位置消费与社会稳定

适度、合理的收入差距,不仅是激励人们竞争,促进发展的重要务件,也是位置消费产生的基本条件;但过分悬殊的收入差距则不仅会影响人们的社会心理,不利于提高有效消费,而且可能产生畸形的位置消费行为,甚至会因此影响社会的稳定.在分析和研究目前收入分配问题时,应当从位置消费的新视角研究它们对社会稳定的影响.研究位置消费有利于我们从人们相互比较的满意度中观察改革的效果,权衡各项利弊得失,并及时地采取微调措施,尽可能地减少改革的摩擦和阻力.     

西北民族地区产业结构变迁的减贫效应模型分析

[目的]随着我国社会经济发展进入新时代,在新的发展理念下解决相对贫困和区域深度贫困问题成为扶贫工作重点。在此背景下,探讨产业结构变迁对缓解民族地区相对贫困的影响,具有重要的理论与现实意义。[方法]文章以"相对农民人均纯收入增长率"作为相对贫困的表征指标,对2006—2014年西北民族地区61个国家级扶贫重点县相对贫困变动情况进行了测算。在此基础上,利用面板数据,对产业结构变迁整体效应进行逐步回归分析,并通过构建工具变量对回归结果进行稳健性检验。[结果]西北民族地区的经济增长主要依靠第二产业的快速发展,虽然所有地区都表现出第二产业的不足或定位不高的现象,但是对于拉动整体经济和构建产业链仍然具有不可替代的作用。受传统因素的影响,第二产业的从业人员数量很少,大量从业人员仍然集中于第一产业。[结论]由于扶贫体制机制存在的问题,贫困人口由第二产业发展的直接获益有限。贫困人口的主要获益方式仍然是政府主导的国民收入再配,所以财政支出对于贫困变动始终具有明显的正向效应。做好西北民族地区的扶贫工作,应当加大扶贫政策的倾斜力度,加强扶贫对象和措施的精准性,着重智力扶贫和技能扶贫措施。