Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miquel-Àngel Garcia-López Author-Email: miquelangel.garcia@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Institut d’Economia de Barcelona Author-Name: Rosa Sanchis-Guarner Author-Email: r.sanchis-guarner@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universitat de Barcelona and Institut d’Economia de Barcelona Author-Name: Elisabet Viladecans-Marsal Author-Email: eviladecans@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universitat de Barcelona, Institut d’Economia de Barcelona and CEPR Title: Transportation and housing markets in cities Keywords: transportation, housing prices, within cities Abstract:This paper surveys recent literature estimating the causal effects of urban transport investments and urban mobility policies on housing markets. We synthesise evidence along three dimensions: the capitalisation of accessibility gains, the internalisation of transport-related externalities, and the rise of green mobility initiatives. Results indicate that while improved accessibility is generally capitalised into higher property values, negative externalities—such as noise, pollution, and congestion—can attenuate or reverse these effects. Policies such as congestion pricing, zoning reforms, and low-emission zones also influence these outcomes, highlighting how institutions, network design, and local environmental conditions shape the housing market’s response to transport investments. Recent green interventions in city centres have shown an even stronger impact on housing prices, although they can also create spillover effects in nearby neighbourhoods. Length: 39 pages Creation-Date: 2026-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2601.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2601 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francesco Fasani Author-Email: francesco.fasani@unimi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Milan, CEPR, CReAM, RF-Berlin and IZA Author-Name: Simone Ferro Author-Email: simone.ferro@unimi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Milan Author-Name: Alessio Romarri Author-Email: alessio.romarri@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona,IEB and RF-Berlin Author-Name: Elisabetta Pasini Author-Email: elisabetta.pasini@almaeconomics.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Alma Economics Title: A More Conservative Country? Asylum Seekers and Voting in the UK Keywords: Refugees; Elections; Brexit; MP speeches. Abstract: This paper provides the first causal evaluation of the political impact of asylum seekers in the UK. Although they are dispersed across areas on a no-choice basis, political bargaining between central and local governments introduces potential endogeneity in their allocation. We address this concern with a novel IV strategy that exploits predetermined public-housing characteristics. Focusing on 2004-2019, we estimate a sizeable increase in the Conservative-Labour vote share gap in local elections: a one within-area standard deviation increase in dispersed asylum seekers widens the gap by 3.1 percentage points in favour of the Conservatives. We observe a similar shift to the right in national elections and longitudinal survey data on voting intentions, along with an increase in the Leave vote in the Brexit referendum. Electoral gains are observed for UKIP as well, although this finding is less robust. No effect is detected for non-dispersed asylum seekers, who forgo subsidised housing and make independent residential choices. Turning to mechanisms, voters move to the right without becoming more hostile towards foreigners. Leveraging the universe of MPs' speeches, we show that representatives from more exposed areas emphasise asylum and migration more, with no systematic change in tone or content. This heightened salience appears to shape voters' choices, with Conservative MPs particularly effective at channelling discontent. Length: 60 pages Creation-Date: 2025-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2520.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2520 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rosella Nicolini Author-Email: rosella.nicolini@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Juan A. Piedra-Peña Author-Email: piedrajuan@uniovi.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universidad de Oviedo, Spain Author-Name: José Luis Roig Sabaté Author-Email: JosepLluis.Roig@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Riccardo Turati Author-Email: riccardo.turati@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Dep Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain & IZA, Germany & RFBerlin, Germany Title: Diversity and polarization between natives and immigrants: the case of Barcelona Keywords: . Abstract: The scope of our research is to conduct an empirical investigation into the degree of ethnic cohesion in a multiethnic city such as Barcelona (Spain). Our aim is to assess how immigrant and native groups are distributed across the city’s neighborhoods and understand their locational patterns in order to identify potential polarization trends that could undermine socioeconomic cohesion among citizens. Unlike much of the existing literature, we adopt a research strategy based on spatial analysis. Our findings indicate that, between 2008 and 2020, Barcelona experienced a decrease in polarization and an increase in diversity—understood as the co-location of different communities—at the neighborhood level. Income emerges as a relevant determinant: it is associated with lower diversity and positively correlated with polarization. We identify that high-income neighborhoods are predominantly inhabited by natives and Europeans, while other communities are relegated to peripheral areas, which in turn become more diverse. However, this distribution pattern is reinforced by the linguistic and religious distance. A deeper interpretation of our results suggests that initiatives aimed at fostering human capital development and education could serve as effective tools to promote a more balanced spatial distribution of communities that could enhance urban social cohesion. Length: 50 pages Creation-Date: 2025-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2519.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2519 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Giovanna D'Adda Author-Email: giovanna.dadda@unimi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Milan, Italy and CMCC Author-Name: Simone Ferro Author-Email: simone.ferro@unimi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Milan, Italy Author-Name: Tommaso Frattini Author-Email: tommaso.frattini@unimi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Milan, LdA, CEPR, RFBerlin Author-Name: Alessio Romarri Author-Email: alessio.romarri@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain & RFBerlin, Germany Title: Riders in the Smog: How Air Pollution Affects Workers in Urban Environments Keywords: Air Pollution; Food Delivery Riders; Absenteeism; Labor Productivity; Workplace Safety. Abstract: Using large-scale high-granularity data from a food delivery platform and granular pollution and weather information, we study how PM2.5 fluctuations affect riders' absenteeism, productivity, and accidents. Exploiting exogenous pollution variation from inverse boundary layer height, we find that higher pollution increases absenteeism for all workers and raises delivery times and accident rates only among (e-)bike riders, who must exert physical effort while working. Affected workers compensate productivity losses by working longer hours. Monetary incentives mitigate the effects on absenteeism but do not offset the decline in productivity and appear to exacerbate accident risk. Length: 62 pages Creation-Date: 2025-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2518.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2518 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gabriele Guaitoli Author-Email: gabriele.guaitoli@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain Title: Modelling the Aggregate Effects of Housing Supply Policies Keywords: housing supply, structural models, zoning, bias Abstract: What are the aggregate effects of housing supply-side policies, such as zoning reforms? In structural models, the answer involves characterising the equilibrium housing price function. I show that a housing price function should separately characterise how policies affect: 1) the response of house prices to new demand ("Elasticity Effect''); 2) the cost of satisfying existing housing demand ("Baseline Effect''). While the former can be calibrated to match estimates of price-demand elasticities such as Saiz (2010), the latter requires a separate calibration. However, popular models in Urban Economics and Economic Geography do not separately characterise and calibrate the Baseline and Elasticity Effects, introducing potential biases in the estimation of long-run policy effects. I propose a characterisation that makes such biases explicit, nests most popular characterisations, and allows to separately characterise and estimate the two effects. Calibrating the Baseline Effect to conservative empirical estimates from the literature, I find housing supply policy effects up to one order of magnitude larger than other characterisations applied to the same model. Length: 34 pages Creation-Date: 2025-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2516.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2516 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Karen Davtyan Author-Email: karen.davtyan@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Adel R. Kalozdi Author-Email: adel.kalozdi@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain Title: The Power of Words: Central Bank Green Communication and Performance of Energy Sectors Keywords: central bank communication, ECB green speeches, text analysis, high-frequency identification, energy sectors Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of climate- and energy-related (green) communication by the European Central Bank (ECB) on the performance of renewable and fossil-based energy sectors. Using a sentence-embedding natural language processing method, we identify 247 ECB speeches from 2015 to 2024 that explicitly reference both climate and energy themes, categorize them, and compute a green score for each. The analysis reveals prominent topics of climate and financial risk, and monetary policy and economic conditions, along with consistently positive and trust-related emotional cues. We then use high-frequency identification to estimate the effect of ECB green speeches on the return differential between the green and the brown energy sectors. The results show that such ECB communication positively and significantly affects sectoral relative returns, highlighting the communicative role of the ECB in influencing the relative performance of green and brown energy sectors. The results remain robust across a series of sensitivity analyses. The effect does not change significantly with respect to the outbreak of the Russian–Ukrainian war or the ECB communication topics. Length: 48 pages Creation-Date: 2025-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2515.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2515 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francesco Amodio Author-Email: francesco.amodio@mcgill.ca Author-WorkPlace-Name: McGill University, BREAD, and CEPR Author-Name: Elia Benveniste Author-Email: benvenie@ebrd.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: European Bank for Reconstruction and Developmet Author-Name: Mario F. Carillo Author-Email: mario.carillo@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain & IPEG Author-Name: Marc Riudavets-Barcons Author-Email: marc.riudavetsbarcons@helsinki.fi Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Helsinki & HGSE Title: The Effect of Migrant Regularization on Labor Exploitation Keywords: amnesty programs, working conditions, exploitation, extreme heat Abstract: This paper shows that granting migrants legal status reduces labor exploitation. We study Spain's 2005 large-scale regularization program, which granted legal status to 600,000 undocumented migrants. We proxy labor exploitation with hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses among working-age individuals, capturing exposure to hazardous working conditions in outdoor occupations. We implement a triple-difference design that exploits cross-provincial variation in pre-reform shares of undocumented migrants and temporal variation in extreme temperatures. Our results show that the incidence of heat-related hospitalizations during heatwaves declined significantly in provinces with greater exposure to the amnesty. Specifically, an additional day above 35°C became 3.3 percentage points less likely to result in heat-related hospitalization in highly exposed provinces, representing a 9.4% reduction relative to the pre-reform mean. Our findings demonstrate that migrant regularization is a powerful policy for improving worker well-being and reducing their vulnerability to extreme climatic events. Length: 34 pages Creation-Date: 2025-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2514.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2514 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Angela S. Bergantino Author-Email: angelastefania.bergantino@uniba.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari, Italy & Laboratory of Applied Economics (LEA), Italy. Author-Name: Antonello Clemente Author-Email: antonello.clemente@uniba.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari, Italy & Laboratory of Applied Economics (LEA), Italy Author-Name: Stefano Iandolo Author-Email: siandolo@unisa.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Salerno, Italy Author-Name: Riccardo Turati Author-Email: riccardo.turati@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Dep Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain & IZA, Germany & RFBerlin, Germany Title: Shaped by Urban-Rural Divide and Skill: the Drivers of Internal Mobility in Italy Keywords: Migration, Human Capital, Urban-Rural, Italy, COVID-19. Abstract: This paper examines the evolution and determinants of skill-specific internal mobility among Italian citizens by urban–rural origin. Using administrative data from the Registry of Trans- fer of Residence (ADELE), which records the universe of skill-specific bilateral moves across more than 700 millions potential municipality pairs between 2012 and 2022, we document distinct trends in residential mobility for college-educated and non-college-educated citi- zens. We then assess the role of economic and non-economic factors in shaping these flows, employing a Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimator with an extensive set of destination and origin-by-nest fixed effects. Our findings show that low-skilled movers respond more strongly to economic factors, while high-skilled movers are respond more to non-economic ones, with the urban–rural divide at origin amplifying these differences. More- over, we find that after the COVID-19 pandemic, economic drivers became less relevant, whereas non-economic factors gained importance. Overall, this study highlights that, simi- lar to international migration, the drivers of internal mobility are inherently skill-specific. Length: 54 pages Creation-Date: 2025-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2513.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2513 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Adriano Ruggiero Author-Email: adriano.ruggiero@uniba.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics and Finance, University of Bari 'A. Moro', Italy. Author-Name: María Cervini-Plá Author-Email: maria.cervini@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain & EQUALITAS. Title: Business cycles and mortality in Italy Keywords: Business Cycles; Mortality Rates; Unemployment; Public Health; Italy; Regional Disparities; COVID-19 Impact Abstract: Our study examines the relationship between business cycles and mortality rates in Italy over the period 2004–2019. Using the unemployment rate as a proxy for macroeconomic conditions, we investigate how economic fluctuations affect mortality rates across causes of death, age groups, genders, and educational levels. The analysis relies on data from the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) and applies panel data methods to control for province-specific heterogeneity and time effects. The findings reveal a procyclical pattern, with higher unemployment rates associated with lower mortality. Substantial heterogeneity emerges across demographic groups and causes of death. To test robustness, the analysis is extended to include the COVID-19 pandemic years (2020–2021), thereby assessing its impact on the previously identified relationships. Results suggest that the pandemic disrupted established unemployment–mortality dynamics, particularly for transport accidents and respiratory diseases. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of targeted public policies to mitigate health risks during economic expansions and provide insights into how macroeconomic conditions shape public health outcomes in Italy. Length: 23 pages Creation-Date: 2025-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2512.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2512 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: María Cervini-Plá Author-Email: maria.cervini@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain & EQUALITAS. Author-Name: Alina Machado Author-Email: alina.machado@fcea.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Instituto de Economía, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. Title: Gender Performance in Online University Education Keywords: Gender, education, performance, online learning, university Abstract: This paper examines the impact of the exogenous shock of COVID-19 which led to a transition from in-person to online education, on the academic performance of university students, with a particular focus on gender differences. We exploit a unique and comprehensive dataset that includes all evaluation activities and their outcomes, for students enrolled in 2018 and 2019 at the main university in Uruguay. Using difference-in-differences techniques, we find that female students outperformed their male counterparts by passing more courses and improving their grade point average. This effect is observed among women from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and those who enter university immediately after finishing secondary school. Exploring the mechanisms behind these outcomes, we find that women report having greater participation compared to in-person classes, perceive more advantages in staying at home, and recognize more benefits in not commuting to the educational institution. Length: 27 pages Creation-Date: 2025-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2511.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2511 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Perihan O. Saygin Author-Email: peri.saygin@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. Author-Name: Garrison Pollard Author-Email: garrisonpollard@ufl.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Florida, US. Author-Name: Thomas Knight Author-Email: thomas.knight@ufl.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Florida, US. Author-Name: Mark Rush Author-Email: markrush@uf.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Florida, US. Title: Gender Biased Resistance to Harsh Feedback Keywords: gender, backlash, stereotypes. Abstract: Responses to performance feedback play a critical role in shaping future out comes in educational and professional contexts. This paper examines whether evaluator gender influences the likelihood that individuals contest feedback. Using an experiment conducted in large introductory economics courses, we exploit the random assignment of evaluators with randomly assigned male- or female-sounding names to identify a systematic gender bias: individuals are significantly more likely to contest feedback when it is delivered by an evaluator with a female-sounding name than when similar feedback comes from a male-sounding evaluator. This gender disparity is most pronounced when evaluations are harsh relative to a “fair” assessment, fall short of students’ performance expectations, and are more ambiguous. These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments and have implications for their authority, credibility, and career advancement in both educational and workplace settings. Length: 42 pages Creation-Date: 2025-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2510.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2510 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Frédéric Docquier Author-Email: frederic.docquier@liser.lu Author-WorkPlace-Name: LISER, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, Luxembourg Author-Name: Stefano Iandolo Author-Email: siandolo@unisa.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: DISES, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Italy. Author-Name: Hillel Rapoport Author-Email: hillel.rapoport@psemail.eu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Paris School of Economics, France, CEPII, LISER and CEPR Author-Name: Riccardo Turati Author-Email: riccardo.turati@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. Author-Name: Gonzague Vannoorenberghe Author-Email: gonzague.vannoorenberghe@uclouvain.be Author-WorkPlace-Name: IRES-LIDAM, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium Title: Populism and the Skill-Content of Globalization Keywords: Globalization, Populism, Immigration, Trade. Abstract: We propose new ways to measure populism, using the Manifesto Project Database (1960-2019) as main source of data. We characterize the evolution of populism over 60 years and show empirically that it is significantly impacted by the skill-content of globalization. Specifically, imports of goods which are intensive in low-skill labor generate more right-wing populism, and low-skill immigration shifts the distribution of votes to the right, with more votes for right-wing populist parties and less for left-wing populist parties. In contrast, imports of high-skill labor intensive goods, as well as high-skill immigration flows, tend to reduce the volume of populism. Length: 171 pages Creation-Date: 2025-08 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2509.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2509 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: François Courtoy Author-Email: Francois.courtoy@ec.europa.eu Author-WorkPlace-Name: IRES/LIDAM, UC Louvain, Belgium Author-Name: Michel De Vroey Author-Email: michel.devroey@uclouvain.be Author-WorkPlace-Name: IRES/LIDAM, UC Louvain, Belgium Author-Name: Riccardo Turati Author-Email: riccardo.turati@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. Title: What do we teach in Macroeconomics? Evidence of a theoretical discrepancy Keywords: macroeconomics; textbooks; IS-LM/AS-AD; DGE Abstract: The aim of our paper is to assess what we call the ‘discrepancy hypothesis’. It states that the transformation of macroeconomics triggered by Lucas, Kydland and Prescott has failed to percolate in the contents of undergraduate textbooks. In the theoretical part of the paper, we draw a contrast between AS-AD and DGE modeling based on three benchmarks: the presence of microfoundations, the expectations assumption and the equilibrium concept used. In its empirical part, we measure how undergraduate textbooks fare with respect to AS-AD/DGE divide. We use two sources, the WorldCat database, and a survey of the undergraduate textbooks used for teaching in leading universities. The discrepancy hypothesis is confirmed. Thirty-four out of the thirty-nine textbooks retained from the WorldCat catalogue are based on the AS-AD, and three on the DGE core model. Eleven out of twelve most used undergraduate textbooks of the teaching sample adopt the AS-AD line. Length: 50 pages Creation-Date: 2025-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2508.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2508 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Toni Mora Author-Email: tmora@uic.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Research Institute for Evaluation and Public Policies (IRAPP), Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. Author-Name: Manuel Flores Author-Email: manuel.flores@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Serra Hunter Fellow, Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Author-Name: David Roche Author-Email: droche@uic.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Research Institute for Evaluation and Public Policies (IRAPP), Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. Title: Causal Effects of Air Pollution on Child Health: Evidence from a Low-Pollution Setting. Keywords: air pollution; low-pollution setting; healthcare use; respiratory illnesses; children; spatio-temporal kriging; instrumental variables. Abstract: To what extent does air pollution in low-pollution settings affect children’s health? Which children benefit most from further reductions, and what factors moderate this relationship? We address these questions using the universe of administrative medical records from the universal public healthcare system in Catalonia (Spain) between 2013 and 2017. We combine these data with spatio-temporal kriging techniques to construct complete time-by-location data on several air pollutants and environmental confounders. We then instrument for local PM10 concentrations—the main reference pollutant for air quality policies at the time—using variation in local wind direction in a multiple fixed effects model. Our primary outcome is respiratory-related healthcare visits, a measure of child morbidity. We find that even at relatively low ambient levels, increases in PM10 concentrations raise the incidence of respiratory-related visits. Our preferred instrumental variables estimate indicates that a 1 µg/m³ (or 4.5%) increase in PM10 leads to a 0.5% increase in overall respiratory visits, driven mainly by lower respiratory illnesses, which carry more serious health implications than other respiratory illnesses. We also find evidence of heterogeneous effects, with the youngest children (ages 0–5) and those exposed during hot or drier months being most affected. We estimate that the observed decline in PM10 concentrations during our sample period may have prevented approximately 16 million respiratory-related visits and saved around €800 million in direct healthcare costs. The results highlight the value of targeted public health interventions, particularly for young children and during periods of elevated environmental risk. Length: 43 pages Creation-Date: 2025-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2507.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2507 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Diego Buitrago-Mora Author-Email: dbuitragomora@tudelft.nl Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Urbanism,TU Delft. Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Title: Accessibility and population patterns: A study of the expansion ofthe rail network in Madrid (1998–2020). Keywords: Accessibility, population patterns, suburbanization, rail expansion. Abstract: This study examines the relationship between the expansion of the rail system in the Madrid metropolitan area and patterns of population redistribution between 1998 and 2020. We focus on two major Metro expansion phases, which together account for approximately 40% of the current network. To capture the effects of improved infrastructure, we construct an accessibility measure based on the increase in job opportunities resulting from reductions in travel time. To address potential endogeneity in this key variable, we propose an instrument based on subsoil permeability, which serves as a novel proxy for tunneling feasibility. We estimate an elasticity of population with respect to travel time of 0.7, which remains stable across varying magnitudes of travel time reductions. The effect is stronger for individuals aged 40 to 59 and for the Spanish-born population. Length: 40 pages Creation-Date: 2025-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2506.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2506 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martin Bordon Lesme Author-Email: martin.blesme@gmail.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Autonomous University of Barcelona. Author-Name: Gerardo Blanco Author-Email: gerardo.blanco@pucv.cl Author-WorkPlace-Name: Escuela de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. Author-Name: Jaume Freire-Gonzalez Author-Email: jaume.freire@iae.csic.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Institute for Economic Analysis (CSIC) and Barcelona School of Economics. Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Autonomous University of Barcelona. Title: A System Dynamics Approach to the Rebound Effect: Policy Volatility and Energy Justice in Emerging Economies Keywords: Rebound effect, Energy justice, System dynamics modeling, Time-varying policy, Emerging economies, Energy affordability Abstract: Energy efficiency is critical for decarbonization, yet its benefits are often undermined by the rebound effect, particularly in emerging economies where pent-up demand is high. Traditional static models fail to capture the temporal dynamics, behavioral feedbacks, and systemic instabilities that shape policy outcomes. This study addresses these gaps by developing a novel system dynamics model to serve as a ’policy sandbox.’ We analyze the dynamic consequences of policy interventions, moving beyond conventional metrics to assess household welfare trajectories. Our findings reveal that while isolated efficiency gains can backfire, conventional corrective taxes, when interacting with realistic household financial behaviors, can engineer a devastating energy poverty trap—a state where vulnerable households pay more for a reduced level of essential energy service. This research unmasks a fundamental tension not just between sustainability and equity, but between a policy’s intended equilibrium and the survivability of its transient path. We provide a robust analytical tool for designing adaptive, justice-centered policies capable of navigating this complex landscape and avoiding the most severe, unintended consequences of the energy transition. Length: 24 pages Creation-Date: 2025-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2505.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2505 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miguel-Angel Lopez-Garcia Author-Email: miguelangel.lopez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Title: Pensions, housing and savings Keywords: social security pensions; capital funds; owner-occupied housing; savings and investment incentives; savings motives. Abstract: This paper deals with the interactions between, on the one hand, the provision of public retirement pensions and the episodes of real-estate booms, and, on the other, individual decisions concerning savings. It explores the implications of these interactions in terms of intergenerational transfers of income and wealth, and the ensuing effects on the evolution of the savings rate. Some reforms of social security financing, involving public capital funds, and the effects of savings and investment incentives addressed to owner-occupied housing, are analysed. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2025-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2504.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2504 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ignacio González Author-Email: ignaciog@american.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, American University. Author-Name: Hector Sala Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) & IZA Author-Name: Pedro Trivín Author-Email: pedro.trivin@unimi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: DEMM, University of Milan Title: Consumption Responses to a Major Minimum Wage Increase: Evidence from Spain Keywords: Minimum Wage, Consumption, Transaction Data, Discretionary Spending, Nonhomothetic Preferences. Abstract: This paper investigates the effects of minimum wage increases on household consumption, focusing on Spain’s 2019 mínimum wage increase, which raised the floor on wages by an unprecedented 22.3% in a low-inflation environment. Leveraging high-frequency, confidential transaction data from point-of-sale devices and crèdit card païments at the municipal level, we exploit geographic variation in exposure to the reform to identify its effects. We find that the increase led to a significant rise of 4.5% in household consumption, with the largest gains concentrated in non essential categories such as electronics, leisure, and spending at restaurants and hotels. We corroborate these findings using household-level data from the Spanish Household Budget Survey. Our findings can be rationalized by a simple model featuring nonhomothetic preferences. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2025-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2503.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2503 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Asensio Author-Email: javier.asensio@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) & Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB). Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) & Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB). Author-Name: Josep-Lluís Raymond Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia i d'Història Econòmica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Title: Policies to reduce cars’ emissions between the opposing forces of technological change and demand for characteristics Keywords: CO2 emissions, technological change, car characteristics, hybrid technology, demand determinants, electric vehicles Abstract: This paper carries out an empirical analysis of the determinants of CO2 emissions of new cars in Spain between 2015 and 2020. Technological change is shown to result in a decrease of emissions by 9%. However, the demand shift towards larger and more powerful vehicles has offset half of these gains. Moreover, the penetration of hybrid technologies has contributed to reducing emissions by a further 8.7%. Additionally, we estimate the determinants of emissions due to car characteristics, and we find that they are sensitive to socioeconomic and geographic variables, such as income, city size or its rural/urban character. We find an emissions elasticity with respect to fuel prices of -0.37. This is shown to be due to the purchase of less emitting cars and a higher share of more technologically efficient vehicles. Finally, scrappage programs, subsidies to the purchase of electric vehicles and the establishment of low emission zones succeed in reducing emissions. However, their effects are small and depend on the design of such measures. Length: 42 pages Creation-Date: 2025-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2502.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2502 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andreas Kyriacou Author-Email: andreas.kyriacou@udg.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia, Universitat de Girona (Spain) Author-Name: Ronald Miranda-Lescano Author-Email: ronald.miranda@fcea.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos and Departamento de Economía, Universidad de la República (Uruguay), and EMANES fellow Author-Name: Leonel Muinelo-Gallo Author-Email: leonel.muinelo@fcea.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departamento de Economía and Instituto de Economía, Universidad de la República (Uruguay) Author-Name: Oriol Roca-Sagales Author-Email: oriol.roca@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) Title: Subnational Life Expectancy Disparities in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Measurement and Determinants Keywords: subnational disparities, life expectancy, inequality measurement, inequality determinants Abstract: This article constructs new indicators of subnational disparities in life expectancy for up to 101 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2021, offering critical insights into health inequalities within countries. The findings reveal that subnational disparities in life expectancy are markedly higher in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to other LMIC world regions throughout the period. Moreover, while subnational disparities in life expectancy have decreased in most regions, Sub-Saharan Africa stands out as an exception, with persistently high disparities alongside rising average life expectancy. A country-level analysis indicates that subnational disparities in life expectancy declined in 61 countries, increased in 30, and remained unchanged in 10. A gender-specific analysis highlights that, while women generally live longer than men across all countries studied, subnational life expectancy disparities are greater for women. Sub-Saharan Africa exhibits the largest disparities in female life expectancy and the widest gap in disparities between men and women. Regression analysis identifies factors influencing life expectancy disparities. Variables such as good governance and public health spending help reduce disparities, while decentralization, larger country size, geographic diversity and ethnic fractionalization tend to increase them. Subnational disparities in income and education emerge as the most significant drivers of life expectancy inequalities, with disparities in female education playing a particularly critical role. These findings emphasize the need for targeted policies aimed at reducing subnational education inequalities, particularly for women, as a key strategy for addressing life expectancy disparities. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2025-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2501.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2501 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Karen Davtyan Author-Email: karen.davtyan@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Author-Name: Omar Elkaraksy Author-Email: omar.elkaraksy@autonoma.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Title: Uncovering the Financial Effects of the Exchange Rate Regime Transition in Egypt Keywords: monetary policy, financial markets, exchange rate regime, developing economy,Egypt Abstract: We evaluate the financial effects of monetary policy over the transition period from a fixed to a floating exchange rate regime in Egypt. The baseline evaluation is implemented through an event study methodology (high frequency identification) by estimating the effects of monetary policy announcements on financial indicators. The results reveal that a currency devaluation leads to a significant increase in stock prices. A change in the monetary policy interest rate significantly affects treasury yields. It takes more time for treasury yields with longer maturities to reflect the effects of monetary policy announcements. The results are mainly driven by the period when the exchange rate regime was closer to a floating system. The results also highlight the importance of politically and economically stable environment for the efficient transmission of monetary policy. Length: 37 pages Creation-Date: 2024-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2407.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2407 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Asensio Author-Email: javier.asensio@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) & Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB). Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) & Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB). Title: Competition effects of intercity bus tendering reforms in Spain Keywords: Tendering, Intercity bus, Coach, Score function auctions, Spain. Abstract: Spain operates a ‘competition for the market’ system to award the regulated monopoly rights to run intercity bus services across its different regions. Such tendering system has undergone different changes since 2007. We assess the impact of those changes on different outcomes of the auctions, such as participation, submitted prices and frequencies, as well as on outcomes of the whole process in terms of prices and frequencies offered to final consumers. The results show that the design of the terms of tender can significantly modify the conditions under which bus services are operated. The weight given to price bids in the score function is shown to be a relevant variable to increase competition for the market. Length: 26 pages Creation-Date: 2024-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2406.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2406 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mario F. Carillo Author-Email: mario.carillo@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), IPEG & CSEF. Author-Name: Lavinia Piemontese Author-Email: lavinia.piemontese@unibocconi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Bocconi University, Unit CLEAN, BAFFI. Author-Name: Francesco Flaviano Russo Author-Email: francescoflaviano.russo@unina.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Università Federico II di Napoli & CSEF Title: Timing Matters: Integration Policies and Local Wealth Keywords: Immigration, Attention, Real Estate Prices, Reception, Integration Abstract: This paper examines the impact of migrant integration policies on local wealth, focusing on implementation timing. Leveraging a unique policy measure that converted centers providing temporary reception for refugees into centers aimed at integrating them in the hosting society, we conduct an event study analysis. Our findings reveal that the timing of integration policy is important: implementation during heightened public attention to immigration negatively impacts local wealth. By contrast, Integration interventions implemented during periods of low attention have no impact on wealth. Our findings highlight that the backlash effect of integration policy estimated in the literature might be largely explained by extreme public perceptions of the migration crisis. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2024-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2405.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2405 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jordi Brandts Author-Email: Jordi.brandts@iae.csic.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Instituto de Análisis Económico (CSIC) & Barcelona School of Economics Author-Name: Isabel Busom Author-Email: isabel.busom@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Author-Name: Cristina Lopez-Mayan Author-Email: cristina.lopez-mayan@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Serra Húnter Fellow & AQR-IREA, Universitat de Barcelona. Title: Do giving voice and social information help in revising a misconception about rent–control? Keywords: policy beliefs, ideology, zero–sum thinking, refutational communication, online experiments. Abstract: Citizens’ ability to make informed and thoughtful choices when voting for policy proposals rests on their exposure to accurate information about the costs and benefits that each proposal entails. We study whether certain social factors affect the disposition to drop a misconception, the belief that rent control increases the availability of affordable housing. We design an on–line experiment where all participants watch a video explaining the scientific evidence on the consequences of this policy. We test whether letting them give feedback (giving voice) and informing them about others’ change of beliefs (social information) helps in reducing the misconception. Giving voice does not have an additional effect relative to a benchmark group that only watches the video. Social information further reduces the misconception when it specifies how different groups of people have responded to the video, but not when these distinctions are not made. Additionally, changes in beliefs translate into intended voting against the policy, and into recommending the video. Finally, ideological position and a zero–sum mentality are correlated with the initial misconception, but these two factors do not hinder the disposition to dropping it following the intervention. Length: 64 pages Creation-Date: 2024-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2404.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2404 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Manuel Flores Author-Email: manuel.flores@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Serra Hunter Fellow, Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain. Author-Name: Fernando G. Benavides Author-Email: Author-WorkPlace-Name: Centre d’Investigació en Salut Laboral, Universitat Pompeu Fabra & CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health Author-Name: Laura Serra-Saurina Author-Email: Author-WorkPlace-Name: CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health & Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona. Title: Unintended Health Consequences of Decreasing Unemployment Insurance Generosity During an Economic Recession Keywords: Unemployment insurance, sickness absence, policy reform, financial stress. Abstract: We exploit an unexpected labor market reform to estimate the effects of a significant decrease in unemployment insurance (UI) generosity during an economic recession. On July 13, 2012, the Spanish Government reduced the replacement rate from 60% to 50% after 180 days of UI benefit receipt for all spells beginning after July 14, 2012. Using rich linked administrative data and a difference-in-differences approach, we show that the decrease in UI generosity resulted in higher sickness absence rates, thereby reducing the previously documented government savings from this reform. Our findings suggest that both financial stress and moral hazard are possible mechanisms. Length: 68 pages Creation-Date: 2024-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2403.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2403 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: David Castells-Quintana Author-Email: David.Castells.Quintana@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Univ Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Roberto Gasquez Author-Email: gasquez@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economic History, Institutions, Politics and World Economy. Univ de Barcelona, 08034, Barcelona, Spain Title: Club football and economic dynamism: a regional analysis for Europe Keywords: sport; football; regions; Europe; development. Abstract: The connection between sports and development has long been highlighted in academia and policy debates. But the extent to which the success of professional sport teams can spur economic dynamism has hardly been studied in the literature. In this paper, we look at the potential connection between sporting success and economic development. We focus on club football and economic dynamism in European regions. To do so, we build a unique dataset with information for 395 football clubs, matched with economic information for 295 NUTS3 European regions, for the 2000-2020 period. Using several econometric techniques, we find robust evidence of a positive connection between club success and regional economic performance. This connection seems especially strong when sporting success comes from relatively modest clubs. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2024-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2402.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2402 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cristina Bellés-Obrero Author-Email: cristina.belles@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Universitat de Barcelona & IEB Author-Name: Manuel Flores Author-Email: manuel.flores@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Serra-Húnter Fellow, Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Author-Name: Pilar García-Gómez Author-Email: garciagomez@ese.eur.nl Author-WorkPlace-Name: Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University. Author-Name: Sergi Jiménez-Martín Author-Email: sergi.jimenez@upf.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, BSE & FEDEA. Author-Name: Judit Vall-Castelló Author-Email: judit.vall@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Universitat de Barcelona, IEB & CRES (UPF) Title: Social Security Reforms and Inequality among Older Workers in Spain Keywords: Social Security; Inequality; pension reforms; life expectancy; Spain. Abstract: This chapter studies social security reforms and trends in inequalities among older workers over the last decades in Spain. Its main goal is to analyze the redistributive impact of the various pension reforms on older income inequality. Compared to the rules in 1985, recent pension reforms have led to an average increase on Social Security Wealth of approximately 18,000€ for men and 15,000€ for women. This represents a ten and eight percent increase, respectively. This effect is mostly driven by the mechanical or direct effect (e.g. via benefit adjustments), while changes in retirement probability (secondary or behavioral effect) are close to zero. Furthermore, we find striking differences across income quartiles, for both men and women. In both cases, there is a clear income gradient, where the richest quartile has benefitted the most with an increase close to twenty percent, or over €50,000, for both men and women. Conversely, the change for the poorest income quartile for men and the two poorest income quartiles for women is close to zero or even slightly negative. This is likely due to the effect of minimum benefits (that mark the generosity of the system, see Boldrin et al, 1999) that automatically absorb any other effect for low-income individuals. Length: 36 pages Creation-Date: 2024-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2401.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2401 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jordi Brandts Author-Email: jordi.brandts@iae.csic.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Instituto de Análisis Económico and Barcelona School of Economics, Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Isabel Busom Piquer Author-Email: isabel.busom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Cristina López-Mayan Author-Email: cristina.lopez-mayan@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Serra Húnter Fellow and AQR-IREA, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Judit Panadés Martí Author-Email: judith.panades@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Title: Pictures are worth many words: Effectiveness of visual communication in dispelling the rent–control misconception Keywords: misconceptions; written and visual communication; refutation; persuasion; online experiment Abstract: The popular belief that rent–control leads to an increase in the amount of affordable housing is in contradiction with ample empirical evidence and congruent theoretical explanations. It can therefore be qualified as a misconception. We present the results of a preregistered on–line experiment in which we study how to dispel this misconception using a refutational approach both in a video and in a text format. Communication in a video format comes closer to how citizens are typically exposed to information. We find that the refutational video has a significantly higher positive impact on revising the misconception than a refutational text, an effect that is driven by the departure from the misconception by individuals who initially agreed with it. The refutational text, in turn, does not have a significant impact relative to a non–refutational baseline text. Higher cognitive reflective ability positively affects the impact on beliefs of all interventions. Our research shows that visual communication effectively reduces the gap between scientific economic knowledge and the views of citizens. Length: 47 pages Creation-Date: 2022-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2202.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2202 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Asensio Ruiz de Alda Author-Email: javier.asensio@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Anna Matas Prats Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: EDepartment of Applied Economics, Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Title: The impact of competitionfor the market regulatory designs on intercity bus prices Keywords: intercity buses, prices, tendering, competition for the market. Abstract: Spain regulates its intercity bus market by means of a ‘competition for the market’ mechanism, whose design has been modified several times in the last years. This implies that current services are operated under contracts whose conditions are heterogeneous. We take advantage of such fact to empirically measure the impact that regulatory designs may have on fares paid by the users. The results show very large differences between routes whose contracts were awarded under relatively open conditions compared to regionally regulated routes or very old contracts whose concessions were extended and have not been retendered. Length: 19 pages Creation-Date: 2022-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2201.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2201 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martín Bordón Lesme Author-Email: martin.blesme@gmail.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Jaume Freire-González Author-Email: Author-WorkPlace-Name: ENT Foundation, Josep Llanza, 1-7, 2 3, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Title: The direct rebound effect for two income groups: The case of Paraguay Keywords: Direct Rebound Effect, Electricity Consumption, Energy Services, Low-Income Households, Panel Data. Abstract: We estimate the direct rebound effect (DRE) for all energy services requiring electricity for their provision in Paraguayan households. Using recent panel data from 2001 to 2017, we estimate the magnitude of the DRE at the province and municipality levels. Because we estimate the DRE through the own-price elasticity of electricity demand, we not only provide the first empirical evidence of the DRE for Paraguay, a developing country, but also update the study of Paraguay’s residential electricity demand. Our findings suggest a positive DRE emerges after an improvement in energy efficiency, but the magnitude of the DRE does not completely reduce the resulting energy savings. We find a lower DRE in low-income households, which may be explained by two factors: electricity is not the main source of energy for most low-income households, and most clandestine electricity connections are from low-income households. Paraguay is one of the countries with the highest generation of electricity per capita through hydroelectric plants. However, this electricity supply does not match electricity consumption, especially in low-income households, because of distribution issues in relation to energy sources Length: 32 pages Creation-Date: 2021-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2103.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2103 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Adam Levai Author-Email: adam.levai@uclouvain.be Author-WorkPlace-Name: IRES/LIDAM, UCLouvain Author-Name: Riccardo Turati Author-Email: riccardo.turati@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Title: The Impact of Immigration on Workers Protection Keywords: Migration, Labor Market Institutions, Labor Regulation, Workers Protection Abstract: Even though the current literature investigating the labor market impact of immigration assumes implicitly or explicitly labor market regulation as exogenous to immigration (both in terms of size and composition), this is not necessarily the case. This paper shows that the composition of the immigrant population affects, in the medium and long-run, the labor market regulation. We build a new workers protection index based on 36 labor law variables over a sample of 70 developed and developing countries from 1970 to 2010. Exploiting a dynamic panel setting using both internal and external instruments, we find that migrants impact the destination countries’ workers protection mainly through the degree of workers protection experienced in their origin countries, captured by an ”epidemiological” effect. On the other hand, the size of the immigrant population has a small and rather insignificant effect. The results are robust to alternative and competing immigration effects such as diversity, polarization and skill-selection. The effects are particularly strong across two dimensions of the workers protection index: worker representation laws and employment forms laws. This paper provides suggestive evidence that immigrants’ participation to unions and its implications for the political actors is one of the potential mechanisms through which the epidemiological effect could materialize. Finally, calculations based on the estimated coefficients suggest that immigration contributes to a reduction of the degree of workers protection, particularly in OECD high-income countries Length: 54 pages Creation-Date: 2021-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2102.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2102 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Riccardo Turati Author-Email: riccardo.turati@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: IRES/LIDAM, UCLouvain Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Title: Do you want to migrate to the United States? Migration intentions and Cultural Traits in Latin America Keywords: International migration, migration intentions, self-selection, cultural traits, Latin America region Abstract: This paper empirically investigates whether aspiring emigrants from nineteen Latin American countries to the United States hold a different set of cultural traits compared to stayers. Using Gallup World Poll data and proxy on individual pro social behaviors and political attitudes towards the president of the United States, we observe that aspiring migrants share more pro social behaviors and support more the U.S. political leader than stayers. We find that already existing migration network reduces cultural selection on social behaviors, which holds mainly among the young and less educated population, and in less developed countries. The paper shows that such cultural self-selection is unlikely to affect the distribution of cultural traits in the origin countries, avoiding potential negative effects for Latin American countries. If any, culturally selected immigrants should have a beneficial effect to the United States Length: 42 pages Creation-Date: 2021-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2101.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2101 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miquel-Àngel Garcia-López Author-Email: MiquelAngel.Garcia@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Ilias Pasidis Author-Email: ipasidis@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB), Universidad de Barcelona 08034, Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Elisabet Viladecans-Marsal Author-Email: eviladecans@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Universidad de Barcelona 08034, Barcelona, Spain Title: Congestion in highways when tolls and railroads matter: Evidence from European cities Keywords: congestion, highways, Europe, cities Classification-JEL: R41, R48 Abstract: Using data from the 545 largest European cities, we study whether the expansion of their highway capacity provides a solution to the problem of traffic congestion. Our results confirm that in the long run, and in line with the ’fundamental law of highway congestion’, the expansion in cities of lane kilometers causes an increase in vehicle traffic that does not solve urban congestion. We disentangle the increase in traffic due to the increases in coverage and in capacity. We further introduce road pricing and public transit policies in order to test whether they moderate congestion. Our findings confirm that the induced demand is considerably smaller in cities with road pricing schemes, and that congestion decreases with the expansion of public transportation. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2020-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2011.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2011 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gabriel A. Facchini Palma Author-Email: Gabriel.Facchini@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Title: Forgetting-by-not-doing: The case of surgeons and cesarean sections. Keywords: Learning-by-doing, human capital, experience, volume, cesarean section, productivity Classification-JEL: J24, I10, I18 Abstract: This paper provides new evidence on the link between patient outcome and physician experience. Using birth certificates data from a large hospital in Italy, I analyze whether cesarean section surgeons who have performed more procedures in the recent past observe an improvement in performance. By using data from the Italian health care system, where patients are not allowed to choose their physician, I lower concerns of potential reverse causality (selective referral). I find evidence indicating a strong learning-by-doing effect: for emergent cases, a one standard deviation increase in recent experience reduces the likelihood of neonatal intensive care unit admission by nearly 2.9 percentage points (12%) and of being born with a low Apgar Score by about 1.3 percentage points (9.5%), all else equal. This effect is not present for the case of elective C-sections. Length: 24 pages Creation-Date: 2020-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2010.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2010 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gabriel A. Facchini Palma Author-Email: Gabriel.Facchini@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Title: Low Staffing in the Maternity Ward: Keep Calm and Call the Surgeon Keywords: cesarean section, workload, midwives, physician induced demand, bargaining power Classification-JEL: D82, H42, H51, I18, J13, J16, J22 Abstract: This paper examines how workload affects the provision of care in a large but understudied segment of the healthcare sector – maternity wards. I use detailed patient-level administrative data on childbirth, and exploit quasi-random assignment of unscheduled patients to different staffing ratios. I find that patients who at admission observe a higher ratio of patients-to-midwives are more likely to receive a C-section. I show that this result is not attributable to patients’ differential sorting across workload levels. Instead, I find evidence that C-sections are used to alleviate midwives’ workload -they are faster than vaginal births and performed by physicians. I also exploit patient’s civil status to determine whether the effect varies with patient’s bargaining power -single women are on average more likely to be alone in the delivery room. Consistent with induced demand, only single patients are more likely to receive a C-section when admitted at high workload levels. Length: 38 pages Creation-Date: 2020-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2009.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2009 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lyna González Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Jordi Perdiguero Garcia Author-Email: Jordi.Perdiguero@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Alex Sanz Fernández Author-Email: alex.sanz@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics and Economic History, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Title: Impact of public transport strikes on air pollution and transport modes substitution in Barcelona Keywords: Air pollution; Public transport strike; Econometric regression analysis; Public Transport Substitution Classification-JEL: C33, Q53, Q56, Q58 Abstract: Many cities in Spain are wrapped in air containing excessive levels of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, generally a problem in big cities caused by traffic. Pollutants largely associated with volume of traffic in urban cities and their outlying areas, such as Madrid and Barcelona, which is suffering from one of the worst levels of air pollution in the country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 96.8% of Spain population breathe pollutant air. This paper shows empirical evidence about the contribution of public transport in the air quality of Barcelona using public transport strikes, through econometric analysis based on data from 2008 - 2016. During the study period, there were 147 days affected by some type of public transport strike:bus (57), metro (21), train (71) and tram (4) system, against 4 general strikes. The estimates indicate that public transit strikes have a statistically significant and positive effect on the concentration level of SO2, CO, PM10 and NOX in all over the city, especially in the case of metro and train. These results also allows us to understand better how commuters substitute transports modes between them and what policies can be implemented to increase the use of public transports. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2020-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2008.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2008 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jordi Roca Jusmet Author-Email: jordiroca@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departmento de Teoría Económica, Universidad de Barcelona, 08034, Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departmento de Economía Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Title: Globalización y responsabilidad en los problemas ecológicos Keywords: Contabilidad desde la perspectiva del consumo; problemas ecológicos; huella de carbono; huella material; desplazamiento de carga ambiental Abstract: La mayoría de las estadísticas, análisis y políticas sobre presiones ambientales adoptan una perspectiva territorial. De acuerdo con esta, las presiones ambientales se asignan al país (región o ciudad) en el que se generan. Sin embargo, la economía global se caracteriza por flujos masivos de mercancías entre diferentes territorios. Por ello, es importante analizar las presiones ambientales causadas por las demandas internas de un país, independientemente de dónde estas tengan lugar. Esta perspectiva se conoce como perspectiva “basada en el consumo” y se relaciona con el concepto de huella ambiental. En este artículo se ven algunos ejemplos de esta doble perspectiva, tanto en un caso de un problema global, como es el de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, como en otros indicadores ambientales de problemas más locales o regionales. Las importantes diferencias entre los indicadores obtenidos con ambas perspectivas refuerzan la necesidad de tener en cuenta la perspectiva “basada en el consumo” para tener una mejor información de las diferentes responsabilidades en los diferentes problemas ambientales. Creation-Date: 2020-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2007.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2007 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miquel-Àngel Garcia-López Author-Email: MiquelAngel.Garcia@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Jordi Jofre-Monseny Author-Email: jordi.jofre@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics , Universidad de Barcelona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain and Institut d´Economia de Barcelona (IEB) Author-Name: Rodrigo Martínez-Mazza Author-Email: rodrigo.martinez@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics , Universidad de Barcelona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain and Institut d´Economia de Barcelona (IEB) Author-Name: Mariona Segú Author-Email: mariona.segu@universite-paris-saclay.fr Author-WorkPlace-Name: RITM, Université Paris Sud, Paris Saclay Title: Do short-term rental platforms affect housing markets? Evidence from Airbnb in Barcelona Keywords: Housing markets, short-term rentals, Airbnb. Abstract: In this paper, we assess the impact of Airbnb on housing rents and prices in the city of Barcelona. Examining very detailed data on rents and both transaction and posted prices, we use several econometric approaches that exploit the exact timing and geography of Airbnb activity in the city. These include i) panel fixed-effects models, where we run multiple specifications that allow for different forms of heterogeneous time trends across neighborhoods, ii) an instrumental variables shift-share approach in which tourist amenities predict where Airbnb listings will locate and Google searches predict when listings appear, iii) event-study designs, and iv) finally, we present evidence from Sagrada Familia, a major tourist amenity that is not found in the city centre. Our main results imply that for the average neighborhood, Airbnb activity has increased rents by 1.9%, transaction prices by 4.6% and posted prices by 3.7%. The estimated impact in neighborhoods with high Airbnb activity is substantial. For neighborhoods in the top decile of Airbnb activity distribution, rents are estimated to have increased by 7%, while increases in transaction (posted) prices are estimated at 17% (14%). Creation-Date: 2020-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2006.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2006 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain Author-Name: Pablo del Río González Author-Email: pablo.delrio@cchs.csic.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Instituto de Políticas y Bienes Públicos, Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Calle Albasanz 26-28, Madrid, 28037, Spain Title: The driving factors of CO2 emissions from electricity generation in Spain: A decomposition analysis Keywords: CO2 emissions; electricity generation; logarithmic mean Divisia index. Abstract: We apply an index decomposition analysis to investigate the main drivers of CO2 emissions in the electricity generation sector in Spain over the period 1991–2017. The analysis allows us to quantify the impact of five different effects —associated with an extended version of the Kaya identity— that influence those emission trends. These effects are: the carbonisation effect, the transformation effect, the fossil intensity effect, the electricity intensity effect and the production effect. Taking into account the evolution of these emissions over the period, four subperiods are identified. The results show that the relevance of the drivers has changed over time (i.e. in the four subperiods). The fossil intensity, electricity intensity and production effects played an important role in the increase in emissions during the first half of the period, and particularly from 1999 to 2005. In contrast, the carbonisation and fossil intensity effects were the dominant drivers of the reduction in emissions between 2006 and 2010. The research allows the impact of different measures on emissions to be evaluated by considering their influence on the different effects, and suggests which sets of measures would be more effective in reducing emissions. Therefore, several policy implications are derived. Creation-Date: 2020-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2005.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2005 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Paolo Veneri Author-Email: paolo.veneri@oecd.org Author-WorkPlace-Name: OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, Paris, France Author-Name: Andre Comandon Author-Email: acomandon@ucla.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), United States Author-Name: Miquel-Àngel Garcia-López Author-Email: miquelangel.garcia@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut d’Economia de Barcelona, Spain Author-Name: Michiel N. Daams Author-Email: m.n.daams@rug.nl Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Groningen, Department of Economic Geography, Groningen, Netherlands Title: What do divided cities have in common? An international comparison of income segregation Keywords: segregation, income, functional urban areas, international urban comparison, spatial inequalities Classification-JEL: D63, R12 Abstract: This paper provides a comparative assessment of income segregation within cities in 12 countries. We use spatial entropy indexes based on small-scale gridded income data and consistent definition of city boundaries to ensure international comparability of our segregation measures. Results show considerable variation in the levels of income segregation across cities, even within countries, reflecting the diversity of cities within urban systems. Larger, more affluent, productive, and more unequal cities tend to be more segregated. Urban form, demographic, and economic factors explain additional variation in segregation levels through the influence of high-income households, who tend to be the most segregated. The positive association between productivity and segregation is mitigated in polycentric cities. Length: 53 pages Creation-Date: 2020-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2004.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2004 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: CO2 emissions of the construction sector in Spain during the real estate boom: input–output subsystem analysis and decomposition. Keywords: CO2 emissions; construction sector; input–output subsystem; productive structure; real estate boom. Classification-JEL: C67, L74, Q54. Abstract: The construction sector has a special interest in the case of the Spanish economy, given its large economic dimension and environmental impact, particularly during the real estate boom prior to the last economic crisis that started in 2008. We study the CO2 emissions of construction activities in 2007, at the height of the construction boom, in the context of the productive structure of Spain. For this, we use an input–output subsystem method, which allows us to study the productive structure of the subsystem’s activities, taking into account its links with the rest of the sectors. The decomposition of total emissions in four explanatory components allows us to make a classification of the different sectors according to the type of relationships that are established between the subsystem and the rest of the economy. We derive some implications for environmental policy from the analysis of these interrelations Length: 24 pages Creation-Date: 2020-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2003.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2003 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Martín Bordon Lesme Author-Email: martinadolfo.bordon@e-campus.uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Jaume Freire-González Author-Email: jfreire@ent.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: ENT Foundation Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The Direct Rebound Effect of Electricity Energy Services in Spanish Households: Evidence from Error Correction Model and System GMM estimates. Classification-JEL: Q43,Q48 Abstract: We review the empirical literature concerning the magnitude of the direct rebound effect in households, ocusing on econometric studies, and analyze the theoretical and methodological aspects for the estimation of the direct rebound effect. We then estimate the magnitude of the direct rebound effect of households’ electricity consumption in Spain. Using panel data from 2007 to 2016 for all the Spanish provinces, we estimate the short- and long-run direct rebound effects. In order to deal with cointegration of variables and to solve potential spurious relationships between them, we use a two-step Error Correction Model. We also estimate the dynamic model through a GMM system. The results indicate a direct rebound effect between 26% and 35% in the short- run and around 36% in the long-run. These findings suggest that, in Spain, energy efficiency policies with the aim of saving electricity consumption are significantly less effective without complementary measures to tackle the direct rebound effect. Moreover, one can expect a greater electricity savings response from households to price changes than to income or weather changes. We find a significant influence of other energy sources that appear to be complementary to electricity consumption according to our estimation. Length: 49 pages Creation-Date: 2020-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2002.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2002 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jorge Andrés Vélez-Ospina Author-Email: JorgeAndres.Velez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Empresa, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Isabel Busom Piquer Author-Email: isabel.busom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Subsidizing Innovation Over the Business Cycle. Classification-JEL: O25, O38, C14, C21, D22, L29, L53, H50. Abstract: We investigate whether the impact of direct support for business investment in R&D and innovation varies over the business cycle. We address several questions: whether firms that obtain public support in a recession differ from firms that obtain it during expansions; whether the impact of support is smaller in recessions than in expansions, and whether effects vary with the treatment pattern. Using firm-level data from Spain during the period 2005 to 2014, we combine propensity score matching and difference-in-differences methods to estimate firms’ response to direct support in different phases of the cycle. Two findings stand out. First, while the impact of support on monetary investment in innovation is pro-cyclical, it is countercyclical in terms of the employee-time allocation to innovation activities. Second, the additionality of a one-year treatment is smaller than that of longer treatments, or repeate program participation. Firms receiving public support during the recession have assigned more employee time to innovation activities than a matched control group, preventing a decline of knowledge capital during the big recession. Length: 70 pages Creation-Date: 2020-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea2001.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2001 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Artur Colom Jaen Author-Email: artur.colom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: África Subsahariana: ¿del afropesimismo a la transformación económica? Classification-JEL: O10, O55 Abstract: El ciclo de crecimiento económico que se inauguró en África Subsahariana a partir del año 2000 ha aparcado en cierta manera la narrativa del afropesimismo, y ha dado paso a otra narrativa más optimista acerca de las posibilidades de desarrollo del continente. Además, nuevos enfoques heterodoxos se toman en consideración a la hora de diseñar las estrategias de crecimiento, creación de empleo y reducción de la pobreza. Si en la etapa del ajuste estructural la ortodoxia macroeconómica era la norma, ahora el estado desarrollista, la política industrial, y en definitiva el discurso de la transformación económica se abre paso. En este artículo se analizan los diferentes aspectos que comporta una estrategia de transformación económica en África Subsahariana a la luz de diferentes aspectos como el desarrollo humano, la demografía, las políticas públicas y la cooperación especialmente con China. Length: 29 pages Creation-Date: 2019-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1907.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1907 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: J. Vicente Blanes Cristobal Author-Email: jvblacri@upo.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Comercio intra-industrial y presencia de capital extranjero en España. Keywords: comerci o intra-industrial, inversion extranjera directa Classification-JEL: F12;F14;F15;F21 Abstract: Este trabajo investiga y encuentra una influencia positiva de la inversión extranjera directa (ED) sobre la importancia del comercio intra-industrial (CII) en los sectores manufactureros españoles. Los sectores participados mayoritariamente presentan índices de CII superiores a la media y en el análisis econométrico de los determinantes del CII, las variables que aproximan la IED presentan signos positivos y significativos. Al mismo tiempo, se contrastan las principales hipótesis sobre los determinantes, nacionales y sectoriales, del CII, obteniéndose unos resultados consistentes con las teorías y altamente significativos. Por su novedad, destaca la influencia positiva sobre su CII de las similitudes culturales entre España y los países latinoamericanos. Otras aportaciones son que los índices de CII se han calculado a partir del máximo nivel de desagregación posible, minimizando el registro de CII espurio, y que la muestra de países socios, sesenta, incluye tanto países desarrollados como en desarrollo. Length: 40 pages Creation-Date: 1997-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea9705.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea9705 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: J. Vicente Blanes Cristobal Author-Email: jvblanes@volcano.uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: El comercio intra-industrial de España con los países de la comunidad europea(1982-1990):determinantes y efectos de su integración. Keywords: comercio intra-industrial, integracion economica Classification-JEL: F12;F14;F15 Abstract: Este trabajo tiene un objetivo doble. Primero, contrastar los determinantes del comercio intraindustrial (CII) en manufacturas de España con sus socios comunitarios en los períodos anterior y posterior a suintegración. Se incluyen características tanto nacionales como sectoriales así como aproximacionesalternativas a algunas variables y se comparan diferentes especificaciones para la variable de economías de escala. Segundo, evaluar la incidencia de la integración de España en la CE sobre los determinantes del CII. Con ese fin, se calcula un modelo empírico que indica dos orígenes distintos en los cambios observados en el CII: el producido por la influencia de la integración u otros factores en las variables explicativas y el ocasionado por la distinta magnitud de los efectos después de la integración. Se encuentra que el aumento en el índice de CII se debe principalmente a cambios en la magnitud de sus determinantes, especialmente el incremento en la diferenciación de producto y en el tamaño medio de mercado y la disminución en la diferencia de rentas per capita. Para el conjunto de las variables explicativas, la distinta magnitud de los efectos después de la integración tiene una influencia negativa sobre el CII. Pero distinguiendo entre los diferentes determinantes del CII se observa que las economías de escala, la diferenciación de producto y el tamaño medio de los mercados tienen un mayor impacto tras la integración, mientras que la concentración sectorial y las diferencias en tamañode mercado lo tienen menor. Length: 34 pages Creation-Date: 1997-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea9704.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea9704 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xavier Ramos Morilla Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Josep Lluís Raymond Bara Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Josep Oliver Alonso Author-Email: josep.oliver@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Not All University Degrees Yield the Same Return: Private and Social Returns to Higher Education for Males in Spain Classification-JEL: I21;J23 Abstract: In this paper we use micro data from the Spanish Family Expenditure Survey for 1990 to estimate, for the first time, the private and social rates of return of different university degrees in Spain. We compute internal rates of return and include investment on higher education financed by the public purse to estimate social rates of return. Our main finding is that, as presumed, there is large heterogeneity in rates of return amongst different university Length: 24 pages Creation-Date: 1999-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea9904.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea9904 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jordi Roca Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Mariona Farré Author-Name: Vittorio Galletto Title: Economic growth and atmospheric pollution in Spain: discussing the environmental Kuznets curve by hypothesis Keywords: Environmental Kuznets Curve, atmospheric pollution, Spain. Abstract: The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis posits an inverted U relationship between environmental pressure and per capita income. Recent research has examined this hypothesis for different pollutants in different countries. Despite certain empirical evidence shows that some environmental pressures have diminished in developed countries, the hypothesis could not be generalized to the global relationship between economy and environment at all. In this article we contribute to this debate analyzing the trends of annual emission flux of six atmospheric pollutants in Spain. The study presents evidence that there is not any correlation between higher income level and smaller emissions, except for SO2 whose evolution might be compatible with the EKC hypothesis. The authors argue that the relationship between income level and diverse types of emissions depends on many factors. Thus it cannot be thought that economic growth, by itself, will solve environmental problems. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2001-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0101.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0101 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lidia Andres Delgado Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Magda Mercader Prats Author-Email: magda.mercader@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Sobre la fiabilidad de los datos de renta en el Panel de Hogares de la Unión Europea (PHOGUE, 1994) Keywords: PHOGUE, fiabilidad, renta, microdatos. Abstract: Este trabajo tiene por objetivo evaluar la fiabilidad de los datos de renta procedentes de la primera Ola del PHOGUE (Panel de Hogares de la Unión Europea) de 1994, versión nacional del Production Data Length: 40 pages Creation-Date: 2001-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0102.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0102 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Galindo Title: Estructura metropolitana y funciones de densidad residencial. El caso de la región metropolitana de Barcelona Keywords: Population density functions, Barcelona, polycentricity Classification-JEL: R14;R40 Abstract: La relación que se establece entre el nivel de densidad residencial y la accesibilidad al lugar de empleo en el interior de una área urbana parece ser más compleja que la supuesta en el Modelo de Ciudad Monocéntrica. Las estimaciones de funciones de densidad residencial más simples, sustentadas en un modelo teórico que suponía una concentración total del empleo en el distrito central y que utilizaban como única medida de accesibilidad la distancia al centro, han dado paso a estimaciones más sofisticadas donde la distancia al centro no es la única medida de accesibilidad utilizada, la función de densidad es más flexible y la densidad no sólo se explica en función de la accesibilidad. Length: 34 pages Creation-Date: 2001-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0103.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0103 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Horacio Levy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Magda Mercader Prats Author-Email: magda.mercader@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Los principales elementos del nuevo IRPF: una valoración a partir de ESPASIM Classification-JEL: D31;H24 Abstract: El Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Físicas (IRPF) es uno de los instrumentos claves del sistema tributario español. En este trabajo se estudia el impacto de los principales elementos del Nuevo IRPF, a partir de ESPASIM, el primer modelo integrado de microsimulación de impuestos y subsidios (tax-benefit) para España, que emplea micro datos procedentes de la Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares (EPF) representativos de la población española. Tomando como sistema de base el impuesto sobre la renta anterior (IRPF 1998), se analiza cómo la introducción de la nueva figura impositiva afecta la tributación en términos de recaudación, número de contribuyentes y de declarantes, los tipos marginales efectivos de imposición y impacto distributivo, tanto para el conjunto de la población como por grupos de hogares. Las estimaciones que se presentan muestran que el Nuevo impuesto conlleva una reducción sustancial de la presión fiscal media por IRPF que va acompañada de una reducción del tipo marginal efectivo medio de 2,12 puntos de porcentaje. El importante coste que en términos recaudatorios suponen la introducción del mínimo vital personal y familiar, las nuevas escala de gravamen y deducción por rendimientos del trabajo por cuenta ajena, no contribuyen a reducir la desigualdad relativa, beneficiando sobretodo a la población situada en los tramos medios y altos de la escala de renta. La reforma no beneficia tampoco ni a los hogares con cargas familiares ni a los perceptores de rendimientos por cuenta ajena, que experimentan (ambos colectivos) una reducción impositiva muy similar a la del conjunto de la población. Igualmente, son los grupos relativamente más pobres -personas solas y hogares monoparentales- los que menos ganan con la reforma. La reducción del número de declarantes (en 2,1 millones) asociada al nuevo impuesto, va acompañada de más complejidad legislativa y de una pérdida de generalidad de este instrumento impositivo. Length: 29 pages Creation-Date: 2001-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0104.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0104 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Guillen Sala Author-Name: Hector Sala Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Cambio ocupacional en los servicios financieros: nuevos requerimientos laborales ante la transformación del sector Abstract: El presente estudio relaciona la evolución de los servicios financieros y su entorno competitivo con la transformación de las características del ocupado tipo en el sector. Para ello dispone tres modelos de elección discreta binomial que estiman el perfil diferencial de la ocupación en los servicios financieros con respecto al conjunto de los servicios. El sistema financiero español se caracteriza por un elevado grado de asalarización del empleo y presenta requerimientos de factor trabajo crecientemente sesgados hacia una mano de obra con elevada formación. Ello responde a un nuevo entorno, más competitivo y liberalizado, en el que la institución financiera debe aproximarse al cliente. El trabajador asume progresivamente, por tanto, funciones comerciales en detrimento de las tareas de carácter administrativo tradicionales en la banca. En este contexto, el nivel educativo es utilizado más bien como señal de competencias que como repertorio de conocimientos adquiridos. Length: 47 pages Creation-Date: 2001-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0105.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0105 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josep Oliver Alonso Author-Email: josep.oliver@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Xavier Ramos Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: José Luis Raymond-Bara Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Recent trends in Spanish Income Distribution: A Robust Picture of Falling Income Inequality. Abstract: Income distribution in Spain has experienced a substantial improvement towards equalisation during the second half of the seventies and the eighties; a period during which most OECD countries experienced the opposite trend. In spite of the many recent papers on the Spanish income distribution, the period covered by those stops in 1990. The aim of this paper is to extent the analysis to 1996 employing the same methodology and the same data set (ECPF). Our results not only corroborate the (decreasing inequality) trend found by others during the second half of the eighties, but also suggest that this trend extends over the first half of the nineties. We also show that our main conclusions are robust to changes in the equivalence scale, to changes in the definition of income and to potential data contamination. Finally, we analyse some of the causes which may be driving the overall picture of income inequality using two decomposition techniques. From this analyses three variables emerge as the major responsible factors for the observed improvement in the income distribution: education, household composition and socioeconomic situation of the household head. Length: 40 pages Creation-Date: 2001-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0107.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0107 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Asensio Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: José Luis Raymond Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Efectos redistributivos de las subvenciones al transporte público en áreas urbanas Keywords: efectos redistributivos, subvenciones transporte urbano, ecuaciones de gasto. Classification-JEL: D19;H23;R48 Abstract: El objetivo de este artículo es evaluar los efectos redistributivos derivados de las subvenciones al transporte público tomando como unidad de análisis a las familias. La fuente de datos es la Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares 1990-91. Dado que la subvención consiste en una cantidad fija por billete comprado, cabe postular que la subvención recibida es proporcional al gasto efectuado en transporte público. Por ello, se estima una relación entre gasto en transporte público y nivel de renta que permite calcular los efectos redistributivos. No obstante, para solventar el problema de falta de representatividad muestral de la EPF para determinados colectivos, el análisis utiliza una aproximación indirecta a través de la estimación de una función de gasto que discurre en dos fases. La primera es la decisión de gastar o no gastar, que se cuantifica a través de un modelo de elección discreta y, la segunda, evalúa la cantidad gastada por medio de una ecuación de regresión continua. Estas modelizaciones parciales se integran en un modelo cuasi recursivo que se simula conjuntamente y permite evaluar distintas situaciones hipotéticas para una familia tipo. La conclusión global es que las subvenciones al transporte –en ausencia de efectos adversos sobre la eficiencia- tienen efectos progresivos, dado que representan una mayor proporción de la renta para las decilas inferiores. Este efecto es más acentuado en las grandes ciudades de Madrid y Barcelona. Length: 28 pages Creation-Date: 2001-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0108.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0108 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Asensio Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: José Luis Raymond Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Petrol consumption and redistributive effects of its taxation in Spain Keywords: petrol consumption, redistributive effects, Spain. Classification-JEL: D19;H23;Q41 Abstract: The objective of this paper is to estimate a petrol consumption function for Spain and to evaluate the redistributive effects of petrol taxation. We use micro data from the Spanish Household Budget Survey of 1990/91 and model petrol consumption taking into account the effect that income changes may have on car ownership levels, as well as the differences that exist between expenditure and consumption. Our results show the importance that household structure, place of residence and income have on petrol consumption. We are able to compute income elasticities of petrol expenditure, both conditional and unconditional on the level of car ownership. Non-conditional elasticities, while always very close to unit values, are lower for higher income households and for those living in rural areas or small cities. When car ownership levels are taken into account, conditional elasticities are obtained that are around one half the value of the non- conditional ones, being fairly stable across income categories and city sizes. As regards the redistributive effects of petrol taxation, we observe that for the lowest income deciles the share of petrol expenditure increases with income, and thus the tax can be regarded as progressive. However, after a certain income level the tax proves to be regressive. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2001-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0109.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0109 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alfredo Serrano Mancilla Author-Email: alfredo.serrano@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Análisis de los efectos redistributivos del IVA español en la última década Abstract: El Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido se ha convertido en el año 2000 en el tributo de mayor poder recaudatorio en la economía española. Esto pone de manifiesto la progresiva tendencia de sustitución de la imposición directa por los impuesto indirectos. Este trabajo pretende evaluar las consecuencias redistributivas de la actual legislación del IVA. Para la consecución de tal empresa, se ha utilizado la Encuesta Básica de Presupuesto Familiares 90-91, y se ha elaborado una nueva propuesta de clasificación de categorías de gasto, que contribuyen positivamente a una mejora en la homogeneización de los grupos e identificación de los tipos. Dicho tributo ha sufrido innumerables reformas fiscales en la década de los noventa, basada en cambios sustanciales en los tipos impostivos. En este sentido, se pretende enjuiciar la adecuación de dichas modificaciones a la contribución de los objetivos de equidad, y sus. Por tanto, se analiza el impacto diferencial en el tiempo de las tres reformas más relevantes en los últimos años mediante las técnicas de microsimulación. Dicha simulación se lleva a cabo bajo la asunción de dos hipótesis posibles de las decisiones de consumo: ausencia y presencia de comportamiento. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2001-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0110.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0110 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josep Oliver Alonso Author-Email: josep.oliver@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Xavier Ramos Morilla Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: José Luis Raymond Bara Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Capital humano y desigualdad en Españá: 1985-1996 Keywords: Distribución renta, Capital humano, Ecuación de ingresos. Classification-JEL: D31;I21 Abstract: En el período 1985-1996 la desigualdad de la renta en España se redujo de forma notable, en claro contraste con lo sucedido en otros países avanzados. En este trabajo se profundiza en el impacto que sobre esta reducción en la desigualdad ha ejercido la redistribución del stock de capital humano, uno de los factores que aparecen como más relevantes para explicar tanto la distribución de la renta como sus modificaciones. Las conclusiones obtenidas sugieren que aproximadamente un tercio de la reducción en la desigualdad que se ha producido entre los dos años extremos contemplados (1985 frente a 1996) se debe al comportamiento del capital humano. Otros factores tales como el tamaño de la familia o la participación de ambos cónyuges en el mercado de trabajo, han actuado en el mismo sentido. Finalmente, un elevado porcentaje de mejora en la distribución permanece por explicar y deberá ser objeto de investigaciones futuras. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2001-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0111.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0111 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alfredo Serrano Mancilla Author-Email: alfredo.serrano@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Impacto redistributivo desagregado del IVA actual en España: posibles vías de reforma Abstract: The VAT is the most revenue tax in the Spanish economy in the year 2000. The aim of this research is to develop an analysis dissintegrated of the distributional effect of the current VAT in Spain, that is to say, this paper assesses the capacity of redistribution of the tax treatment of each expenditure category. It proposes different approaches for the analysis of the redistributive impact differential of each expenditure concept, and it desires to advocate the method of total decomposition of isolated contribution to the global distributional effect of the VAT. In this sense, this study shows the possibilities to identify the guidelines for possible fiscal adjustments of the Value Added Tax to contribute positively to the objectives of social justice, and its respective consequences on the population's welfare. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2001-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0113.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc: uab: wprdea: wp0113 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Peter J. Lambert Author-Name: Xavier Ramos Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Welfare comparisons: sequential procedures for heterogenous population Classification-JEL: D63,I31 Abstract: Some analysts use sequential dominance criteria, and others use equivalence scales in combination with non-sequential dominance tests, to make welfare comparisons of joint distributions of income and needs. In this paper we present a new sequential procedure which copes with situations in which sequential dominance fails. We also demonstrate that the recommendations deriving from the sequential approach are valid for distributions of equivalent income whatever equivalence scale the analyst might adopt. Thus the paper marries together the sequential and equivalizing approaches, seen as alternatives in much previous literature. All results are specified in forms which allow for demographic differences in the populations being compared. Length: 17 pages Creation-Date: 2001-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0114.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc: uab: wprdea: wp0114 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Olivera Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Jose Luis Roig Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Suburbanizacion, distribución espacial de la renta y segregación residencial en la región metropolitana de Barcelona Keywords: Segregation, Barcelona, intrametropolitan migrations Classification-JEL: R23 Abstract: La región metropolitana de Barcelona ha experimentado durante los últimos veinte años un intenso proceso de suburbanización e integración metropolitana. La combinación de ambos procesos ha dejado una profunda huella en el territorio conformando una conurbación policéntrica a la vez que dispersa. Esta nueva realidad plantea algunas preguntas interesantes: (a) ¿cuáles son las características de los municipios que atraen población, (b) ¿cómo se ha redistribuido espacialmente la renta debido al proceso de suburbanización? y (c) ¿se ha intensificado el carácter especializado segregado- de los municipios de la RMB?. Length: 21 pages Creation-Date: 2001-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0115.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc: uab: wprdea: wp0115 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Josep Oliver Alonso Author-Email: josep.oliver@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: José Luís Raymond Bara Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Hector Sala Lorda Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Necesidad de formación en el mercado de trabajo español: composición del empleo y estructura productiva Keywords: empleo, cambio técnico, educación, ocupaciones, sobreeducación. Classification-JEL: I2;J4;O3 Abstract: Este trabajo estudia las intensas transformaciones que se han producido en la composición del empleo español por niveles de educación y por categoría profesional. Mediante una técnica de descomposición “shift-share” se desagregan los efectos inputados al cambio técnico sesgado y al cambio técnico desigual, y se advierte que, en la segunda mitad de los noventa, se ha producido una ruptura con la pauta de comportamiento anterior. En efecto, a partir de 1995, el incremento de participación total del empleo cualificado ha venido determinado con mucha mayor intensidad que en períodos anteriores por el cambio técnico sesgado. Cuando, en cambio, esta influencia se examina desde la perspectiva de la recomposición del empleo por categoría profesional se observa que ha sido mucho menor. Ello permite introducir, aunque de manera muy preliminar, la hipótesis de sobreeducación en el mercado de trabajo español, que según los resultados obtenidos y como es de esperar, sólo afectaría a los colectivos más formados con relación a las categorías profesionales con empleos no manuales. Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2001-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0117.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc: uab: wprdea: wp0117 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Gemma Cairó i Céspedes Author-Name: Artur Colom Jaen Author-Email: artur.colom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: El alivio de la deuda en Africa ¿hacia la reducción de la pobreza? Classification-JEL: F34;O55 Abstract: En este artículo se estudian las oportunidades de reducción de la pobreza en África subsahariana surgidas a raíz de la reciente propuesta de condonación de deuda del G-7, del Banco Mundial y del Fondo Monetario Internacional, la llamada Iniciativa PPAE. En primer lugar se realiza un repaso histórico al proceso de endeudamiento africano a partir de las independencias en los años 60, señalando sus causas y analizando la estructura de la deuda. En segundo lugar, se analizan los términos de la Iniciativa, estudiando su planteamiento, implementación y estado de aplicación a fecha de junio de 2001. Finalmente se aportan elementos de crítica a la Iniciativa desde un enfoque de desarrollo humano, apuntando las limitaciones de ésta de cara a la reducción de la pobreza en África subsahariana. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2001-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0118.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc: uab: wprdea: wp0118 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miguel Angel Garcia Lopez Author-Email: miguelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Distribución de la Actividad Económica y Estructura Urbana: El caso de la región metropolitana de Barcelona Abstract: La RMB es una ciudad de tipo policéntrico en la que resaltan unas ciudades de tamaño medio con elevada presencia de actividad económica y que, en muchos casos, destacan por sus dinámicas de crecimiento endógeno. El objetivo de esta investigación era hallar evidencia empírica en la RMB acerca de los determinantes de la localización de la actividad económica. Un objetivo que, a la par, requería la inclusión del estudio de la estructura urbana de la región para poder evaluar el efecto que en ella ejercen los determinantes de la localización. Si bien los resultados obtenidos con la Exponencial son buenos, la inclusión de formas funcionales de tipo polinómico para capturar los grumos de densidad han demostrado su eficiencia. Aunque la Cubic-Spline obtiene buenos resultados, tiene el inconveniente de no poder interpretar sus coeficientes. No obstante, nuestra propuesta, la Spline-Lineal, nos permite detectar la presencia de los subcentros que constituyen la región en base a la existencia de gradientes de densidad positivos. Length: 46 pages Creation-Date: 2001-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0119.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc: uab: wprdea: wp0119 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Galindo Title: Ecological sustainability and urban form Keywords: Ecological footprint, Barcelona, transportation system, urban sprawl Classification-JEL: Q32; Q56; R4 Abstract: One controversial idea present in the debate on urban sustainability is that urban sprawl is an ecological stressing problem. We have tested this popular assumption by measuring the ecological footprint of commuting and housing of the 163 municipalities of the Barcelona Metropolitan Region and by relating the estimated values with residential density and accessibility, the fundamental determinant of residential density according to the Monocentric City Model. Length: 16 pages Creation-Date: 2001-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0120.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc: uab: wprdea: wp0120 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Jordi Roca Title: The proposals for a European tax on CO2 and their implications for intercountry Keywords: carbon tax, distributive effects, energy tax, European Union, inter-country Classification-JEL: D30,H30,Q25,Q48 Abstract: This paper analyzes the advantages and implications of the implementation of a European tax on carbon dioxide emissions as an own resource of the European Union. In contrast to a harmonized tax, which would only have distributive effects within each member state, a tax collected at European scale would also have important distributive effects among different countries. These effects would also depend on the use of tax revenues. The paper investigates the distributive effects among the member states of three tax models: a pure CO2 Length: 27 pages Creation-Date: 2002-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0201.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0201 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Jordi Roca Jusmet Title: Las propuestas para un impuesto europeo sobre el CO2 y sus potenciales distributivas entre países Keywords: distribución entre países, efectos distributivos, impuesto sobre el carbono,Unión Europea Classification-JEL: D30,H30,Q25,Q48 Abstract: En el presente artículo se revisan las propuestas sobre fiscalidad energética y, en concreto, sobre un impuesto europeo que grave las emisiones de dióxido de carbono y las dificultades con que se han encontrado. Se estudian las posibles implicaciones que tendría un impuesto, no ya armonizado, sino recaudado a nivel del conjunto de la Unión Europea. Este tipo de impuesto tendría importantes efectos distributivos no solo a nivel de un país (como un impuesto armonizado) sino también entre diferentes países. El trabajo estudia dichos efectos potenciales según diferentes modelos concretos de implantación (un modelo puro sobre el CO2; un modelo 50%/50% energía-CO2; un modelo puro sobre el CO2 pero gravando también la energía nuclear) y de destino de los fondos recaudados. Length: 24 pages Creation-Date: 2002-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/Wp0201cast.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:Wp0201cast Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name:Ana Galindo Author-Name:Miguel Angel García Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Urban spatial structure and suburbanisation. The case of the Barcelona Metropolitan Keywords: Suburbanisation, decentralisation, Barcelona Classification-JEL: R30;R14 Abstract: The metropolitan spatial structure displays various patterns, sometimes monocentricity and sometimes multicentricity, which seems much more complicated than the exponential density function used in classic works such as Clark (1961), Muth (1969) or Mills (1973) among others, can effectively represent. It seems that a more flexible density function,such as cubic spline function (Anderson (1982), Zheng (1991), etc.) to describe the density-accessibility relationship is needed. Also, accessibility, the fundamental determinant of density variations, is only partly captured by the inclusion of distance to the city centre as an explanatory variable. Steen (1986) has proposed to correct that miss-especification by including an additional gradient for distance to the nearest transportation axis. In identifying the determinants of urban spatial structure in the context of inter-urban systems, some of the variables proposed by Muth (1969), Mills (1973) and Alperovich (1983) such as city age or population, make no sense in the case of a single urban system. All three criticism to the exponential density function and its determinants apply for the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, a polycentric conurbation structured on well defined transportation axes. Length: 22 pages Creation-Date: 2002-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0202.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0202 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: José-Luis Raymond Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The demand elasticity on tolled motorways Keywords: Demand elasticity, tolled motorways, private transport. Abstract: This paper analyses the elasticities of demand in tolled motorways in Spain with respect to the main variables influencing it. The demand equation is estimated using a panel data set where the cross-section observations correspond to the different Spanish tolled motorways sections, and the temporal dimension ranges from the beginning of the eighties until the end of the nineties. The results show a high elasticity with respect to the economic activity level. The average elasticity with respect to petrol price falls around -0.3, while toll elasticities clearly vary across motorway sections. These motorway sections are classified into four groups according to the estimated toll elasticity with values that range from -0.21 for the most inelastic to -0.83 for the most elastic. The main factors that explain such differences are the quality of the alternative road and the length of the section. The long-term effect is about 50 per cent higher than the short term one; however, the period of adjustment is relatively short. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2002-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0203.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0203 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name:Xavier Raurich Author-Name: Hector Sala Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name:Valeri Sorolla Title: Employment and Public Capital in Spain Keywords: employment, wage equation, public capital, economic growth. Classification-JEL: E24, J38 Abstract: This paper analyses the e¤ects on employment of increasing the stock of public capital. To this end, we derive a wage equation so that wages are endogenized. This allows us to show that, by means of a higher elasticity of labour demand with respect to wages, a rise in public capital increases employment. The estimation of a structural model for the Spanish private sector tests and con…rms empirically this relationship. The results show that an increase in public capital has a significant and positive direct influence on employment, and indirect e¤ects derived from lower wages and higher economic growth. Finally, we undertake a simulation exercise to assess the long run efects on employment and economic growth of increasing public capital. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2002-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0204-1.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0204-1 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcantara Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Nota metodológica sobre la determinación de sectores "clave" en el consumo de energía final: una primera aproximación al caso español Keywords: Elasticidad del consumo energético, Input-output, Sectores "clave" Abstract: En este artículo analizamos la determinación de sectores "clave" en el consumo de energía final. Enfocamos esta cuestión desde una perspectiva input-output, diseñando una metodología basada en las elasticidades de la demanda del consumo de energía final. A modo de ejercicio, aplicamos la metodología a la economía española. El análisis permite señalar la mayor o menor relevancia de los distintos sectores en el consumo energético final, indicando qué sectores merecen mayor atención en el caso español y apuntando las implicaciones para la política energética. Length: 18 pages Creation-Date: 2002-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0205cast.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0205cast Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcantara Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Methodological note about the determination of “Key” sectors in final energy consumption: a preliminary approach to the Spanish case Keywords: Energy consumption elasticities, Input-output, "Key" sectors Abstract: In this paper we analyze the determination of "key" sectors in the final energy consumption. We approach this issue from an input-output perspective and we design a methodology based on the elasticities of the demands of final energy consumption. As an exercise, we apply the proposed methodology to the Spanish economy. The analysis allows us to indicate the greater or lesser relevance of the different sectors in the consumption of final energy, pointing out which sectors deserve greater attention in the Spanish case and showing the implications for energy policy. Length: 17 pages Creation-Date: 2002-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0205.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0205 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Revisión crítica de las limitaciones y sesgos del análisis económico convencional de las políticas de cambio climático. Hacia un análisis coherente con el desarrollo sostenible Keywords: cambio climático, control de emisiones, evaluación de políticas,desarrollo sostenible, limitaciones del análisis convencional. Abstract: En el presente trabajo se ponen de manifiesto los numerosos problemas del análisis económico convencional en la evaluación de las políticas de mitigación del cambio climático causado antropogénicamente. Tras señalar las principales características del fenómeno, se destacan las muchas limitaciones, arbitrariedades y omisiones que han caracterizado a la mayoría de modelos aplicados hasta el momento. Éstas actúan de forma casi abrumadora sesgando el resultado hacia la recomendación de una menor agresividad en las políticas de mitigación. En consecuencia, se cuestiona que los resultados obtenidos por los modelos convencionales de evaluación den una respuesta adecuada al problema. A continuación, se señalan algunos de los puntos que deberían tenerse en cuenta para realizar un análisis de las políticas de mitigación coherente con el desarrollo sostenible. Finalmente, se recogen las principales conclusiones del trabajo. Length: 36 pages Creation-Date: 2002-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0206cast.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0206cast Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Limitations and biases of conventional analysis of climate change. Towards an analysis coherent with sustainable development Keywords: climate change, conventional analysis limitations, emissions control, evaluation of policies, sustainable development Abstract: This paper shows the numerous problems of conventional economic analysis in the evaluation of climate change mitigation policies. The article points out the many limitations, omissions, and the arbitrariness that have characterized most evaluation models applied up until now. These shortcomings, in an almost overwhelming way, have biased the result towards the recommendation of a lower aggressiveness of emission mitigation policies. Consequently, this paper questions whether these results provide an appropriate answer to the problem. Finally, various points that an analysis coherent with sustainable development should take into account are presented. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2002-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0206.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0206 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Trullén Author-Email: joan.trullen@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Josep Lladós Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Economía del conocimiento, ciudad y competitividad Keywords: Economía del conocimiento; Economía urbana; Indicadores urbanos; Competitividad Classification-JEL: O0;R0 Abstract: Desde finales de los años 80’s, Barcelona se convierte en una metrópolis internacional en la que se concentra el grueso de la competitividad exterior de la economía española. Hasta el momento, el esfuerzo para comprender las razones por las cuales la economía de Barcelona ha conseguido esta posición tan destacada son de naturaleza fundamentalmente urbana. En diferentes investigaciones se ha subrayado la existencia de factores territoriales de competitividad específicos: proximidad a los mercados europeos, expansión del área metropolitana, y existencia de economías externas de naturaleza territorial como son las economías de localización, de urbanización y de red. En el presente trabajo destacamos que el nuevo modelo económico de Barcelona presenta también otra característica propia de las ciudades y las economías más avanzadas. Se trata del cambio de su base productiva hacia una dirección fundamental: el impulso de la economía del conocimiento. El objetivo es averiguar hasta qué punto los cambios detectados en la forma de producir y en la localización de la actividad económica se relacionan con el crecimiento de las actividades densas en conocimiento, y si en el éxito internacional del modelo de Barcelona existen razones asociadas a la progresión de las actividades de tecnología e intensidad de conocimientos más elevada. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2002-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wp0207.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wp0207 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Cals Güell Author-Email: joan.cals@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Las cajas de ahorro en el sistema financiero español. Trayectoria histórica y realidad histórica actual. Abstract: La OCDE (1971) calificaba al sistema financiero español, a comienzos de los años setenta, como uno de los más rígidos y reglamentados de los países que integraban la organización. A su vez, la cajas de ahorros españolas figuraban entre las que de forma más restrictiva debían desarrollar sus actividades (Ros, 1967). Por ello, era lógico que a partir de 1973-74 y, especialmente, 1977, se iniciara un proceso de reforma y liberalización que operaría en diversos frentes y daría paso a la equiparación funcional de las cajas con los bancos, la apertura limitada del negocio bancario a las entidades extranjeras, la libertad de tipos de interés, la reducción de los circuitos de financiación privilegiada, la ampliación de la muy restringida gama de activos y pasivos financieros y la liberalización de la normativa de expansión de la red de oficinas. Length: 24 pages Creation-Date: 2002-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0208.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0208 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Galindo Author-Email: ana.galindo@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Miguel Ángel García Author-Email: magarcia@selene.uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Cubic spline population density functions and subcentre delimitation. The case of Barcelona Keywords: polycentrism, cubic spline functions Classification-JEL: R14;R40 Abstract: The presence of subcentres cannot be captured by an exponential function. Cubic spline functions seem more appropriate to depict the polycentricity pattern of modern urban systems. Using data from Barcelona Metropolitan Region, two possible population subcentre delimitation procedures are discussed. One, taking an estimated derivative equal to zero, the other, a density gradient equal to zero. It is argued that, in using a cubic spline function, a delimitation strategy based on derivatives is more appropriate than one based on gradients because the estimated density can be negative in sections with very low densities and few observations, leading to sudden changes in estimated gradients. It is also argued that using as a criteria for subcentre delimitation a second derivative with value zero allow us to capture a more restricted subcentre area than using as a criteria a first derivative zero. This methodology can also be used for intermediate ring delimitation. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2002-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0209.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0209 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alfredo Marvao Pereira Author-Email: ampere@wm.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics The College of William and Mary Author-Name: Oriol Roca Sagalés Author-Email: oriol.roca@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Spillover effects of public capital formation : evidence from the spanish regions Keywords: public capital, regional spillovers Classification-JEL: C32;H54;R53 Abstract: Maybe because of the inconclusive nature of the results on the impact of public capital on output at the regional level, the issue of the possible existence of the regional spillovers from public capital formation has received little attention. The objective of this paper is to provide evidence on the possible existence of such spillovers. We consider the case of Spain and its seventeen regions. Our methodological approach consists in estimating an aggregate VAR model for Spain as well as seventeen region-specific VAR models in which both capital installed in the region and capital installed outside the region are allowed to play a role in enhancing regional output. The estimation results can be summarized as follows. The aggregate effects of public capital formation in Spain are important. They cannot, however, be captured in their entirety by the direct effects in each region from public capital installed in the region itself. When for each region both the capital installed in the region and the capital installed outside the region are considered the total disaggregated effect from the seventeen regional models are very much in line with the aggregate results. Furthermore, the aggregate effect seems to be due in almost equal parts to the direct and spillover effects of public capital formation. Ultimately, this paper establishes the relevance of both capital installed in each region and spillover effects in the understanding of the regional decomposition of the aggregate effects of public capital formation. In doing so it opens the door to some tantalizing and potentially highly charged research issues in terms of the determination of the optimal location of public investment projects. Length: 20 pages Creation-Date: 2002-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0210.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0210 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Marika Karanassou Author-Email: M.Karanassou@qmul.ac.uk Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Queen Mary, University of London Author-Name: Hector Sala Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Dennis J.Snower Author-Email: DSnower@econ.bbk.ac.uk Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Birkbeck College, University of London Title: Long-run Inflation-Unemployment Dynamics: The Spanish Phillips Curve and Economic Policy Keywords: Inflation-unemployment trade, Phillips curve, staggered wage contracts, nominal inertia, forward-looking expectations, monetary policy Classification-JEL: E2;E3;E4;E5;J3 Abstract: This paper takes a new look at the long-run dynamics of inflation and unemployment in response to permanent changes in the growth rate of the money supply. We examine the Phillips curve from the perspective of what we call "frictional growth", i.e. the interaction between money growth and nominal frictions. After presenting theoretical models of this phenomenon, we construct an empirical model of the Spanish economy and, in this context, we evaluate the long-run inflation-unemployment trade for Spain and examine how recent policy changes have afected it. Length: 42 pages Creation-Date: 2002-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0211.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0211 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Horacio Levy Author-Email: Horacio.Levy@campus.uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Magda Mercader Prats Author-Email: magda.mercader@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Eficacia y eficiencia de los subsidios asistenciales en la lucha contra la pobreza en España: Una valoración a partir de EspaSim Keywords: subsidios asistenciales, Renta Mínima de Inserción, pobreza, España. Abstract: Según las estimaciones presentadas en este trabajo, el actual sistema de subsidios asistenciales reduce notablemente la pobreza extrema - entre un 41 y un 54 por ciento según el índice de pobreza considerado. También tiene un impacto importante sobre la intensidad y severidad de la pobreza según el umbral recomendado por Eurostat (entre un 32 y un 41 por ciento). Se ha demostrado que el elemento más importante dentro de este conjunto protector es el subsidio de desempleo en lo que se refiere tanto a su efectividad como a su eficiencia como instrumento de combate de la pobreza, seguido del complemento de mínimo de pensiones y las pensiones no contributivas de vejez. La eficiencia vertical de estos programas se sitúa, en media, en un 57 por ciento mientras que la eficiencia en la reducción de la pobreza es de un 47 por ciento. El conjunto de prestaciones contributivas del sistema de seguridad social, tiene un efecto sobre la pobreza mucho más importante que el sistema de subsidios asistenciales. Las prestaciones contributivas reducen la pobreza extrema entre un 73 y un 88 por ciento y la pobreza moderada entre un 44 y un 78 por ciento, según el índice de pobreza utilizado. Length: 34 pages Creation-Date: 2003-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0301.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0301 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Factor decomposition of spatial income inequality: a revision Keywords: Theil index; inequality decomposition. Classification-JEL: C10;F00 Abstract: Duro and Esteban (1998) proposed an additive decomposition of Theil populationweighted index by four income multiplicative factors (in spatial contexts). This note makes some additional methodological points: first, it argues that interaction effects are taken into account in the factoral indexes although only in a fairly restrictive way. As a consequence, we suggest to rewrite the decomposition formula as a sum of strict Theil indexes plus the interactive terms; second, it might be instructive to aggregate some of the initial factors; third, this decomposition can be immediately extended to the between- and within-group components. Length: 10 pages Creation-Date: 2003-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0302.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0302 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Trullén Author-Email: joan.trullen@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Barcelona, Metropolis policentrica en red Keywords: networks of cities; polycentrism; Barcelona Classification-JEL: R11;R12 Abstract: La organización de la producción en el espacio se asocia con el crecimiento y el desarrollo económico. En esta investigación se propone el estudio de las relaciones entre Barcelona y los municipios de su sistema urbano desde tres niveles del análisis: el área metropolitana, la región metropolitana policéntrica, y la red de ciudades. El estudio del área metropolitana permite comprobar el cambio de extensión de la metrópolis de Barcelona, la dirección de la expansión y la creciente integración con otras áreas urbanas de Cataluña. El análisis interno del área metropolitana nos permite comprobar que a pesar del gran peso específico del municipio de Barcelona, el sistema urbano es policéntrico. El incremento en extensión de la metrópolis se debe a la expansión conjunta de la interacción con Barcelona y con un conjunto de ciudades de antigua tradición industrial. Las áreas de influencia de todos estos subcentros se entrelazan al expandirse, formado una región metropolitana policéntrica. Finalmente, la aplicación al análisis de las teorías de redes de ciudades permite identificar un sistema urbano en el que coexisten relaciones jerárquicas con no jerárquicas, y en el que se generan relaciones de complementariedad y sinergia. El análisis de las redes de ciudades en clave de economía del conocimiento permite deducir la dependencia en la transmisión de información y conocimiento tanto de las redes verticales como de las horizontales. Posteriores estudios deben encaminarse a cuantificar los efectos de la estructura urbana sobre la productividad y la utilidad. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2003-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0303.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0303 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Demand and revenue implications of an integrated public transport policy. The case of Abstract: One of the most popular options for promoting public transport use is the provision of an integrated and high quality public transport system. This was the strategy adopted by the regional government in Madrid in 1986 and since then public transport patronage has increased by more than 50%. This paper has two objectives. The first is to identify the factors underlying the significant increase in the demand for public transport in Madrid. To do this we estimate an aggregate demand function for bus and underground trips, which allows us to obtain the demand elasticities with respect to the main attributes of public transport services and also to calculate the long-term impact of changes in those explanatory variables on patronage. The second objective is to evaluate the impact on revenue derived from the introduction of the travel card scheme, and to discuss the consequences on revenue of changes in the relative fare levels of different types of ticket without substantially affecting patronage. This latter issue is addressed by estimating a matrix of own and cross-price elasticities for different ticket types. Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2003-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0304.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0304 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alfredo Marvão Pereira Author-Email: ampere@wm.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics The College of William and Mary Author-Name: Oriol Roca-Sagalés Author-Email: oriol.roca@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: On the regional impact of public capital formation in spain Keywords: public capital, regional effects, regional spillovers, Spain. Classification-JEL: C32;H54;R53 Abstract: The objective of this paper is to investigate, in a methodologically consistent manner, the regional effects of public capital formation and the possible existence of regional spillover effects in Spain. The empirical results are based on VAR estimates at both the aggregate and regional levels using output, employment, and private capital, as well as different measures of public capital. Empirical results suggest that public capital affects output positively at the aggregate level as well as in all but one region. For most regions, the effects of public capital installed in the region itself are important but the spillover effects induced from public capital installed elsewhere are also very important. In fact, the spillover effects account for over half of the total effects of public capital formation in Spain. Furthermore, these spillover effects have a clear geographical pattern in that they tend to be more important in the peripheral regions of the country. We also find that relative to their share of the Spanish output, the biggest beneficiaries of public capital formation are the largest regions in the country. This suggests that public capital formation has contributed to concentration of output in these regions. Finally, in terms of the effects of public capital formation on the private inputs we find that both private capital and employment are affected positively at the aggregate level as well as for most of the regions. Nevertheless, the effects on private capital seem to be larger. Also, the spillover effects are very important for private capital but not for employment. This reflects a great degree of dynamism and mobility in the capital markets as opposed to the labor markets. Length: 37 pages Creation-Date: 2003-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0305.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0305 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. Author-Name: Rosa Duarte Author-Email: rduarte@posta.unizar.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departamento de Análisis Económico, Universidad de Zaragoza. Author-Name: Teresa Obis Author-Email: Teresa.Obis@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia de l’Empresa,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Title: Regional decomposition of CO2 emissions in the world: a cluster analysis Keywords: Cluster analysis, CO2 emissions, geographical emissions, greenhouse effect Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to study the possible differences among countries as CO2 emitters and to examine the underlying causes of these differences. The starting point of the analysis is the Kaya identity, which allows us to break down per capita emissions in four components: an index of carbon intensity, transformation efficiency, energy intensity and social wealth. Through a cluster analysis we have identified five groups of countries with different behavior according to these four factors. One significant finding is that these groups are stable for the period analyzed. This suggests that a study based on these components can characterize quite accurately the polluting behavior of individual countries, that is to say, the classification found in the analysis could be used in other studies which look to study the behavior of countries in terms of CO2 emissions in homogeneous groups. In this sense, it supposes an advance over the traditional regional or rich-poor countries classifications . Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2003-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0306.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0306 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Shahin Yaqub Author-Email: shahin.yaqub@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Relating Severe Poverty and Chronic Poverty Abstract: The severely poor are very poor since their consumption is far below the absolute poverty line, and the chronically poor are very poor since their consumption persists for long periods below the absolute poverty line. A combination of chronic poverty and severe poverty (CSP) must represent the very worst instance of poverty. Yet the exercise in this paper of asking simple questions about CSP shows large research gaps. Quantified statements on CSP at the country level can be made for just 14 countries, and at the household level in just six countries. This data suggests a positive correlation between severe poverty and chronic poverty, both at the country level and the household level. Understanding the CSP relationship – whether it is strong, where it arises, what causes it – may improve our explanation of observed cross-country variation in the elasticity between macroeconomic growth and poverty reduction, and why within countries, some households take better advantage of opportunities afforded by macroeconomic growth. Some limited data suggests similarity in socioeconomic characteristics of the severe poor and the chronic poor in terms of location, household size, gender, education and economic sector of work. Of concern is that microlongitudinal datasets drop large proportions of their base year samples, and how this affects our understanding of CSP is not well evaluated. On causal mechanisms, evidence suggests that CSP may be caused by parental CSP (i.e. an intergenerational CSP cycle) and in households not previously poor, CSP may be caused by a morbidity cycle. Length: 61 pages Creation-Date: 2003-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0307.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0307 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ambra Poggi Author-Email: ambra.poggi@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Does persistence of social exclusion exist in Spain? Keywords: Social Exclusion, Dynamics, Persistence, Heterogeneity, Discrete panel data Classification-JEL: I30;C23;C25 Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyze the causes leading to social exclusion dynamics. In particular, we wish to understand why any individual experiencing social exclusion today is much more likely to experience it again. In fact, there are two distinct processes that may generate a persistence of social exclusion: heterogeneity (individuals are heterogeneous with respect to some observed and/or unobserved adverse characteristics that are relevant for the chance of experiencing social exclusion and persistence over time) and true state of dependence (experiencing social exclusion in a specific time period, in itself, increases the probability of undergoing social exclusion in subsequent periods). Distinguishing between the two processes is crucial since the policy implications are very different. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2003-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0308.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0308 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Galindo Author-Name: Miguel Ángel Garcia Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Es Barcelona una ciudad policéntrica ? Keywords: policentrisme,estructura urbana,economies d'aglomeració,Barcelona Abstract: La Región Metropolitana de Barcelona (RMB) ha sido caracterizada como un sistema urbano policéntrico. Sin embargo, no existe un criterio comúnmente aceptado que haya permitido identificar con claridad los subcentros de la región. La investigación que aquí se presenta persigue un doble objetivo: en primer lugar identificar los subcentros de empleo de la RMB mediante un método objetivo y, en segundo lugar, valorar su grado de policentrismo. Para identificar los subcentros se procede siguiendo dos pasos: primero se identifican los municipios candidatos a subcentro utilizando criterios basados en la densidad de empleo y en el índice Empleos/Población, para a continuación estimar una función de densidad de población utilizando como variables explicativas, además de la distancia al CBD, la distancia a cada uno de los candidatos a subcentro. Los municipios identificados mediante este doble filtro sólo capturan un porcentaje relativamente reducido del total de puestos de trabajo debido a que el núcleo ampliado (Barcelona más continuo urbano) concentra un porcentaje de empleos muy significativo, y a que el ratio Empleos/Población presenta unos valores muy homogéneos en todos los municipios con independencia de su tamaño. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2003-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0309.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0309 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xavi Ramos Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Christian Schluter Author-Email: C.Schluter@soton.ac.uk Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Southampton Title: Subjective Income Expectations, Canonical Models and Income Risk Keywords: subjective expectation data, canonical income models, income risk. Classification-JEL: D84;D91;D31;C23 Abstract: Expectations are central to behaviour. Despite the existence of subjective expectations data, the standard approach is to ignore these, to hypothecate a model of behaviour and to infer expectations from realisations. In the context of income models, we reveal the informational gain obtained from using both a canonical model and subjective expectations data. We propose a test for this informational gain, and illustrate our approach with an application to the problem of measuring income risk. Length: 22 pages Creation-Date: 2003-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0310.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0310 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Oriol Roca Sagalés Author-Email: oriol.roca@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Hector Sala Lorda Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Producción, empleo y eficiencia productiva de la empresa española Keywords: Productividad, PYMES, Exportación, España. Classification-JEL: L11;O40 Abstract: En este artículo se analiza la productividad de las empresas españolas, utilizando la información estadística empresarial contenida en el Sistema de Análisis de Balances Españoles (SABE). Se demuestra la validez de SABE para el estudio de las empresas españolas de más de 9 trabajadores y se analiza el comportamiento diferencial de la productividad de estas empresas teniendo en cuenta el tamaño, el sector de actividad y su vocación exportadora. Los resultados confirman la mayor productividad de la mediana empresa y del sector industrial y, se muestra que la actividad exportadora de las empresas está claramente correlacionada con mayores niveles de productividad. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2004-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0401.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0401 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Análisis de agrupaciones provinciales a partir del enfoque de desigualdad y polarización: una nota Keywords: provincias, desiguadad, polarizacion Classification-JEL: D39;D63;R12 Abstract: Con motivo de analizar las fuentes de las desigualdades interprovinciales de la renta en España las provincias vienen siendo agrupadas en función de su pertenencia a las CCAA. Este criterio de tipificación, de origen administrativo, no agota, sin embargo, las posibilidades existentes en orden a dividir a las provincias en grupos pretendidamente homogéneos. Disponemos, por ejemplo, de agrupaciones informales como las NUTS 1 europeas, los ejes de desarrollo (VILLAVERDE Y PÉREZ (1996) y las áreas geoeconómicas (ALCAIDE (2002) ó formales, como las sugeridas por AGHEVLI y MEHRAN (1981) y DAVIES y SHORROCKS (1989). El principal objeto de esta nota consiste en evaluar el atractivo asociado a esta variedad de agregaciones atendiendo a dos criterios básicos: el error de agregación y el número de grupos considerado. Length: 16 pages Creation-Date: 2004-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0402.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0402 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Polarització comarcal de rendes a Catalunya Keywords: comarques, polaritzacio, distribucio renda Classification-JEL: D39;D63;R12 Abstract: Sovint parlem de les comarques catalanes en termes de grups més o menys homogenis. Per exemple, les segmenten en riques i pobres, en dinàmiques i estancades, en interiors o costaneres, etc. Apart de l’interès com a instrument de síntesi, el grau de formació de grups cohesionats i distants entre si pot ser un assumpte rellevant en termes de la cohesió territorial. En aquestes circumstàncies, la disponibilitat d’una mesura específica que permeti la quantificació precisa d’aquest fenomen sembla particularment útil. En aquest sentit, la literatura ens ha suggerit diverses mesures de polarització, entre les que s’haurien de destacar els Índexos de Polarització Generalitzada (Esteban, Gradín i Ray (1999)). El principal objecte d’aquest treball consisteix a aplicar aquestes mesures a la distribució comarcal de la renda a Catalunya al llarg del període 1990-2002. El principal resultat obtingut apunta cap a una creixent polarització econòmica de les comarques que, conjuntament amb l’increment observat en les desigualtats, recolzaria una actitud molt més decidida per part de l’administració en el reequilibri del territori. Length: 26 pages Creation-Date: 2004-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0403.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0403 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xavier Raurich Author-Email: xavier.raurich@udg.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia, Universitat de Girona Author-Name: Hector Sala Lorda Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and IZA Author-Name: Valeri Sorolla Author-Email: valeri.sorolla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia i d’Història Econòmica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Title: Unemployment, growth and fiscal policy: new insights on the hysteresis hypothesis Keywords: hysteresis, multiple equilibria, economic growth,fiscal policy. Classification-JEL: E24;E62;O41 Abstract: We develop a growth model with unemployment due to imperfections in the labor market. In this model, wage inertia and balanced budget rules cause a complementarity between capital and employment capable of explaining the existence of multiple equilibrium paths. Hysteresis is viewed as the result of a selection between these di?erent equilibrium paths. We use this model to argue that, in contrast to the US, those fiscal policies followed by most of the European countries after the shocks of the 1970’s may have played a central role in generating hysteresis. Length: 42 pages Creation-Date: 2004-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0404.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0404 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Isabel Busom Author-Email: isabel.busom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Andrea Fernández-Ribas Author-Email: andrea.fernandez@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Firm Strategies in R&D: Cooperation and Participation in R&D Programs Keywords: R&D, vertical cooperation, public-private partnerships, innovation policy. Classification-JEL: O31;O38;H32;C25;C35 Abstract: This paper presents empirical evidence on firms’ decisions to cooperate in R&D and the extent to which government sponsored R&D programs increase cooperation. Using a sample of firms from the Spanish innovation survey we jointly estimate the determinants of firm participation in R&D programs and of choice of cooperation partners. We find that (i) firms participating in national and European programs have different profiles, suggesting program complementarity; (ii) private-private and publicprivate cooperation are associated on average with firms with different characteristics, and (iii) national R&D programs seem to have a positive effect on all types of cooperation, but especially on public-private partnerships. Length: 39 pages Creation-Date: 2004-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0405.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0405 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Anna Matas Prat Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: José Luis Roig Sabaté Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Una aproximación sectorial a la localización industrial en Cataluña Classification-JEL: R30 Abstract: El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las decisiones de localización de las actividades industriales desde una óptica sectorial. En concreto, se explica la distribución municipal en Catalunya del número de nuevas inversiones procedentes del Registro de Establecimientos Industriales, durante el período 1986-2000. Los determinantes de la localización industrial se han agrupado en tres categorías: condiciones de oferta de factores, economías de aglomeración y accesibilidad. El análisis se lleva a cabo utilizando un modelo de eventos discretos con datos de panel. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los tres conjuntos de variables introducidas son relevantes en la explicación de la localización de las empresas manufactureras y que actúan en diferente grado para los diferentes sectores. Length: 38 pages Creation-Date: 2004-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0406.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0406 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: J. Vicente Blanes Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universidad Pablo de Olavide Author-Name: Isabel Busom Author-Email: ibusom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. Title: "WHO PARTICIPATES IN R&D SUBSIDY PROGRAMS?. The case of Spanish Manufacturing Firms" Keywords: R&D, subsidies, technology policy, program participation, innovation. Classification-JEL: L52;O31;O38 Abstract: Empirical evidence on the effectiveness of R&D subsidies to firms has produced mixed results so far. One possible explanation is that firms and project selection rules may be quite heterogeneous both across agencies and across industries, leading to different outcomes in terms of the induced additional private effort. Here we focus on the participation stage. Using a sample of Spanish firms, we test for differences across agencies and industries. Our results suggest that firms in the same industry face different hurdles to participate in different agencies’ programs, that participation patterns may reflect a combination of agency goals, and that patterns differ across high-tech and low-tech industries. Length: 48 pages Creation-Date: 2004-08 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0407.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0407 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francesco Capone Author-Email: francesco.capone@unifi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Business Economics, University of Florence. Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-Email: rafael.boix@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Sources of Competitiveness in Tourist Local Systems Keywords: Tourism and travel industry, industrial districts theory, regional and local development, external economies, spatial econometrics. Classification-JEL: L83;R11;R12;L1 Abstract: At the end of the XIX Century, Marshall described the existence of some concentrations of small and medium enterprises specialised in a specific production activity in certain districts of some industrial English cities. Starting from his contribute, Italian scholars have paid particular attention to this local system of production coined by Marshall under the term industrial district. In other countries, different but related territorial models have played a central role as the milieu or the geographical industrial clusters. Recently, these models have been extended to non-industrial fields like culture, rural activities and tourism. In this text, we explore the extension of these territorial models to the study of tourist activities in Italy, using a framework that can be easily applied to other countries or regions. The paper is divided in five sections. In the first one, we propose a review of the territorial models applied to tourism industry. In the second part, we construct a tourist filiere and we apply a methodology for the identification of local systems through GIS tools. Thus, taxonomy of the Italian Tourist Local Systems is presented. In the third part, we discuss about the sources of competitiveness of these Tourist Local Systems. In the forth section, we test a spatial econometrics model regarding different kinds of Italian Tourist Local Systems (rural systems, arts cities, tourist districts) in order to measure external economies and territorial networks. Finally, conclusions and policy implications are exposed. Length: 26 pages Creation-Date: 2004-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0408.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0408 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ambra Poggi Author-Email: ambra.poggi@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Social exclusion mobility in Spain, 1994-2000 Keywords: Social Exclusion, Mobility, Transition Matrix Classification-JEL: I3;J6 Abstract: Social exclusion can be defined as a process leading to a state of multiple functioning deprivations. Cross-sectional headcount ratios of social exclusion may overstate the extent of the problem if most individuals do not remain in the same state in successive years. To address this issue, we need to focus on mobility. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse changes in the individual levels of social exclusion focusing on the extent to which individuals change place in social exclusion distribution. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2004-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0409.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0409 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Sara Ayllón Author-Email: sara.ayllon@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Magda Mercader Author-Email: magda.mercader@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Xavier Ramos Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Caracterización de la privación y de la pobreza en Catalunya Keywords: privación, pobreza,análisis multidimensional, logit multinomial, PaD Classification-JEL: D63;I31;I32 Abstract: Este trabajo contribuye a la escasa literatura sobre la evaluación multidimensional del nivel de bienestar de los individuos más desfavorecidos de nuestra sociedad. Se distingue claramente entre pobreza monetaria y privación multidimensional, para proceder entonces a su cuantificación y caracterización empleando una base de datos nueva (PaD) para Cataluña y utilizando, por vez primera, una metodología que nos permite considerar de forma conjunta la pobreza y la privación. Nuestros resultados empíricos deberían informar a la política social. Aportamos evidencia nueva sobre viejas y nuevas relaciones entre situaciones de desventaja económica y características de los individuos, algunas de las cuales invitan a reconsiderar viejas concepciones. This paper contributes to the scarce literature on the multidimensional assessment of the well-being of the worse off individuals. We document and characterise monetary poverty and multidimensional deprivation using a new database (PaD) for Catalonia. The econometric methodology we employ allows for a join analysis of poverty and deprivation, which has not been seen before. Our empirical findings should be informative for social policy. We provide new evidence on old and new relations between situations of economic disadvantage and individual characteristics, some of which invite to reconsider old conceptions. Length: 38 pages Creation-Date: 2004-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0410.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0410 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: J.A. Duro Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Regional Income Inequalities in Europe: An Updated Measurement and Some Decomposition Results Keywords: regional inequality, inequality decomposition Classification-JEL: D39;D63;R12 Abstract: In this paper well-known summary inequality indexes are used to explore interregional income inequalities in Europe. In particular, we mainly employ Theils’population-weighted index because of its appealing properties. Two decomposition analysis are applied. First, regional inequalities are decomposed by regional subgroups (countries). Second, intertemporal inequality changes are separated into income and population changes. The main results can be summarized as follows. First, data confirm a reduction in crossregional inequality during 1982-97. Second, this reduction is basically due to real convergence among countries. Third, currently the greater part of European interregional disparities is within-country by nature, which introduce an important challenge for the European policy. Fourth, inequality changes are due mainly to income variations, population changes playing a minor role. Length: 46 pages Creation-Date: 2004-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0411.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0411 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Pasqual Author-Email: joan.pasqual.rocabert@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Eficiencia y equidad en la ubicación de bienes colectivos locales indivisibles Keywords: bienes colectivos locales, ubicación, eficiencia, equidad, elección social Classification-JEL: R53 Abstract: En contraste con el problema clásico en el que, en el óptimo, un bien colectivo local se suministra en todas y cada una de las localidades en alguna cantidad, la mejor ubicación para un bien colectivo local indivisible no es un problema que pueda resolverse atendiendo exclusivamente a la eficiencia paretiana. Con sólo dos ciudades ocurre que la frontera de posibilidades de bienestar asociada a la ubicación del bien en una ciudad no siempre domina o es dominada por la correspondiente a la otra ciudad. Para resolver la indeterminación existen tres alternativas: prescindir de la distribución del bienestar, de la eficiencia, o bien complementar el criterio de eficiencia paretiana con un criterio distributivo. En el trabajo se examinan diversas formas de decisión, como una función de bienestar social, los criterios de Kaldor y de Rawls, la unanimidad, la mayoría simple y el despotismo Length: 14 pages Creation-Date: 2004-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0412.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0412 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Pasqual Author-Email: joan.pasqual.rocabert@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Environmental management problems, future generations and social decisions Classification-JEL: Q50;D62;D63;H41;H43 Abstract: The decisions of many individuals and social groups, taking according to well-defined objectives, are causing serious social and environmental problems, in spite of following the dictates of economic rationality. There are many examples of serious problems for which there are not yet appropriate solutions, such as management of scarce natural resources including aquifer water or the distribution of space among incompatible uses. In order to solve these problems, the paper first characterizes the resources and goods involved from an economic perspective. Then, for each case, the paper notes that there is a serious divergence between individual and collective interests and, where possible, it designs the procedure for solving the conflict of interests. With this procedure, the real opportunities for the application of economic theory are shown, and especially the theory on collective goods and externalities. The limitations of conventional economic analysis are shown and the opportunity to correct the shortfalls is examined. Many environmental problems, such as climate change, have an impact on different generations that do not participate in present decisions. The paper shows that for these cases, the solutions suggested by economic theory are not valid. Furthermore, conventional methods of economic valuation (which usually help decision-makers) are unable to account for the existence of different generations and tend to obviate long-term impacts. The paper analyzes how economic valuation methods could account for the costs and benefits enjoyed by present and future generations. The paper studies an appropriate consideration of preferences for future consumption and the incorporation of sustainability as a requirement in social decisions, which implies not only more efficiency but also a fairer distribution between generations than the one implied by conventional economic analysis. Length: 44 pages Creation-Date: 2005-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0502.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0502 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Alfredo Serrano Author-Email: alfredo.serrano@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Inequality in CO2 emissions across countries and its relationship with income inequality: a distributive approach Keywords: environmental Kuznets curve, inequality across countries, CO2 emissions. Classification-JEL: C14;D39;Q43 Abstract: This paper analyses the inequality in CO2 emissions across countries (and groups of countries) and the relationship of this inequality with income inequality across countries for the period (1971-1999). The research employs the tools that are usually applied in income distribution analysis. The methodology used here gives qualitative and quantitative information on some of the features of the inequalities across countries that are considered most relevant for the design and discussion of policies aimed at mitigating climate change. The paper studies the relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP and shows that income inequality across countries has been followed by an important inequality in the distribution of emissions. This inequality has diminished mildly, although the inequality in emissions across countries ordered in the increasing value of income (inequality between rich and poor countries) has diminished less than the “simple” inequality in emissions. Lastly, the paper shows that the inequality in CO2 emissions is mostly explained by the inequality between groups with different per capita income level. The importance of the inequality within groups of similar per capita income is much lower and has diminished during the period, especially in the low-middle income group. Length: 39 pages Creation-Date: 2005-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0503.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0503 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Trullén Author-Email: joan.trullen@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-Email: rafael.boix@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Knowledge, networks of cities and growth in regional urban systems Keywords: Knowledge city, networks of cities, urban growth, external economies, spatial econometrics. Classification-JEL: R11;R12;O3 Abstract: The objective of this paper is to measure the impact of different kinds of knowledge and external economies on urban growth in an intraregional context. The main hypothesis is that knowledge leads to growth, and that this knowledge is related to the existence of agglomeration and network externalities in cities. We develop a three-stage methodology: first, we measure the amount and growth of knowledge in cities using the OCDE (2003) classification and employment data; second, we identify the spatial structure of the area of analysis (networks of cities); third, we combine the Glaeser - Henderson - De Lucio models with spatial econometric specifications in order to contrast the existence of spatially static (agglomeration) and spatially dynamic (network) external economies in an urban growth model. Results suggest that higher growth rates are associated to higher levels of technology and knowledge. The growth of the different kinds of knowledge is related to local and spatial factors (agglomeration and network externalities) and each knowledge intensity shows a particular response to these factors. These results have implications for policy design, since we can forecast and intervene on local knowledge development paths. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2005-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0504.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0504 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Galindo Author-Email: annamaria.galindo@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Miguel Ángel García Author-Email: miguelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Descentralización, integración y policentrismo en Barcelona Keywords: Descentralización del empleo, policentrismo, integración metropolitana Classification-JEL: R12;R14 Abstract: En este trabajo se identifican los subcentros de empleo de la Región Metropolitana de Barcelona utilizando diferentes criterios. Una vez catalogados en función de su naturaleza, esto es, subcentros surgidos de la integración y de la descentralización, se contrasta si su impacto sobre la densidad de población depende de su origen. Los resultados obtenidos confirman un mayor impacto de los subcentros integrados en comparación con los descentralizados, amplificada, a su vez, por el hecho de que los primeros están más lejos del CBD y presentan una mayor autocontención en el mercado de trabajo. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2005-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0505.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0505 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miguel Ángel García Author-Email: miguelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Descentralización del empleo: ¿compactación policéntrica o dispersión? El caso de la región metropolitana de Barcelona 1986-1996 Keywords: Subcentros de empleo, identificación, descentralización, dispersión, compactación, policentrismo Classification-JEL: R12;R14 Abstract: La Región Metropolitana de Barcelona (RMB) ha sido caracterizada en repetidas ocasiones como un sistema urbano de tipo policéntrico. Este trabajo pretende corroborar esta afirmación haciendo uso de una metodología que permite identificar los subcentros de empleo y valorar el grado de policentrismo de la RMB en 1986 y 1996. Los resultados obtenidos en los dos años confirman la existencia y extensión del policentrismo. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2005-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0506.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0506 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: ANÁLISIS DE LAS EMISIONES DE CO2 Y SUS FACTORES EXPLICATIVOS EN LAS DIFERENTES ÁREAS DEL MUNDO Keywords: diferencias entre regiones, evolución de emisiones, identidad de Kaya, protocolo de Kioto. Classification-JEL: D39;Q43;Q54;Q56 Abstract: En el presente artículo se analiza la evolución de las emisiones de CO2 –el principal gas de efecto invernadero– en las diferentes áreas del mundo, prestando mayor atención a lo ocurrido en la Unión Europea y España. El análisis se centra especialmente en lo sucedido desde 1990, año de referencia en el protocolo de Kioto para la gran mayoría de países. Se investigan también los principales factores determinantes de las emisiones y su evolución utilizando el análisis de los factores de la identidad de Kaya. El análisis permite explicar las grandes diferencias que se dan entre unas zonas y otras y las distintas variaciones que se ha Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2005-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0507.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0507 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ambra Poggi Author-Email: ambra.poggi@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Endogenous population subgroups: the best population partition and optimal number of groups Keywords: stopping rule, optimal grouping, Gini index Classification-JEL: I32;D30;C10 Abstract: The aim of this paper is to suggest a method to find endogenously the points that group the individuals of a given distribution in k clusters, where k is endogenously determined. These points are the cut-points. Thus, we need to determine a partition of the N individuals into a number k of groups, in such way that individuals in the same group are as alike as possible, but as distinct as possible from individuals in other groups. This method can be applied to endogenously identify k groups in income distributions: possible applications can be poverty Length: 15 pages Creation-Date: 2005-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0508.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0508 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miguel Ángel García Author-Email: miguelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: El impacto espacial de las economías de aglomeración y su efecto sobre la estructura urbana.El caso de la industria en Barcelona, 1986-1996 Keywords: economías de aglomeración, crecimiento empleo industrial, localización intrametropolitana, estructura espacial Classification-JEL: R11;R12;R14;R30;L60 Abstract: Este trabajo trata sobre el papel de la accesibilidad espacial a las economías de aglomeración en el cambio de la estructura espacial del empleo industrial para el caso de la Región Metropolitana de Barcelona (RMB). Utilizando como indicador de cambios en la estructura espacial del empleo el crecimiento de la densidad bruta del empleo municipal entre 1986 y 1996 para siete subsectores industriales, se explora el impacto espacial de las economías de aglomeración que operan a escala local –el municipio y tres áreas de 5, 8 y 12 kilómetros que rodean al propio municipio-, aquellas que emergen del CBD y de los principales subcentros especializados de la región, y las economías de red asociadas al total de puestos de trabajo de la región cuyo acceso depende de la distancia respecto a las principales infraestructuras de transporte. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2005-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0509.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0509 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Pasqual Rocabert Author-Email: joan.pasqual.rocabert@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Nuevos instrumentos de política ambiental Keywords: externalidades, bienes públicos, medio ambiente, desarrollo sostenible,generaciones futuras Classification-JEL: H23;H41;H43 Abstract: El propósito de este papel es describir los principales instrumentos económicos que pueden utilizarse en la política medio ambiental. Se examinan críticamente las soluciones clásicas, sin olvidar las espurias. Se introduce el tiempo en el análisis, se examina la importancia de la tasa de descuento en el cálculo económico y se presenta el concepto de economías de duración, para estudiar el conflicto entre los intereses individuales y el social y generar propuestas de solución. Se presta especial atención al conflicto entre los intereses de las generaciones presentes y las futuras, apuntando algunas vías para solventarlo. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2005-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0510.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0510 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miguel Angel Garcia Lopez Author-Email: miguelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Olivera Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Employment descentralisation: polycentric compaction or sprawl? The case of the Barcelona Metropolitan Region 1986-1996 Keywords: Employment subcentres, identification, descentralisation, sprawl, compaction, polycentrism. Classification-JEL: R12;R14 Abstract: The Barcelona Metropolitan Region (BMR) has been repeatedly characterised as a polycentric-type urban system. The aim of this study is to corroborate this affirmation by making use of a methodology that enables the identifying of employment subcentres and valuing of the degree of polycentrism of the BMR in 1986 and 1996. The results obtained in the two years confirm the existence and extension of the polycentrism. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2005-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0511.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0511 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Galindo Author-Email: annamaria.galindo@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Miguel Angel García Author-Email: miguelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Descentralisation, Integration and polycentrism in Barcelona Keywords: Employment decentralisation, policentric city, metropolitan integration Classification-JEL: R12;R14 Abstract: In this study the employment subcentres of the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona are identified using different criteria. Once catalogued according to their nature,i.e. subcentres arising from integration and decentralisation, they are analysed to see whether their impact on population density depends on their origin. The results obtained confirm a greater impact of integrated subcentres in comparison with decentralised ones, amplified in turn by the fact that the former are further from the CBD and present a greater degree of self-containment in the labor market. Length: 29 pages Creation-Date: 2005-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0512.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0512 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Miguel Angel García Author-Email: miguelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The spatial effect of intra-metropolitan agglomeration economies Keywords: Agglomeration economies, industrial employment growth, intra-metropolitan localisation, spatial structure. Classification-JEL: R11;R12;R14;R30;L60 Abstract: This study deals with the role of spatial accessibility to agglomeration economies in the change in spatial structure of industrial employment for the case of the Barcelona Metropolitan Region of Barcelona (BMR). Using the growth in gross density of municipal employment between 1986 and 1996 for seven manufacturing industries as an indicator of changes in the spatial structure of employment, an exploration is made of the spatial impact of agglomeration economies operating on a local scale – the municipality and three areas 5, 8 and 12 kilometres away surrounding the municipality itself - , agglomeration economies emerging from CBD and the main specialised subcentres in the region, and the network economies associated with the total jobs in the region, access to which depends on the distance from the main transport infrastructures Length: 27 pages Creation-Date: 2005-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0513.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0513 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-Email: rafael.boix@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Vittorio Galleto Author-Email: vittorio.galletto@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Sistemas Locales de Trabajo y Distritos Industriales Marshallianos en España Keywords: distritos industriales marshallianos; sistemas locales de trabajo; pequeña y mediana empresa; política industrial Classification-JEL: L60; R12; R23 Abstract: El objetivo de la presente investigación es la identificación en España de Sistemas Locales de Trabajo (SLT) y potenciales Distritos Industriales (DI) a partir de la utilización de la metodología italiana del ISTAT. A pesar de que la estructura urbana y el sistema industrial español e italiano muestran rasgos muy similares, esta metodología no había sido aplicada en España debido a la falta de un censo industrial y de datos de movilidad laboral entre municipios. La aplicación es ahora posible al disponer de datos de movilidad laboral intermunicipal en el Censo de 2001 y utilizarse datos del DIRCE (Directorio Central de Empresas) para aproximar la dimensión de los establecimientos por sector y Sistema Local de Trabajo. La identificación para España de los distritos industriales permite el impulso de una nueva línea de política industrial que reconoce en las pymes y el territorio dos de los pilares fundamentales para el crecimiento de la productividad, y cuya aplicación se ve reforzada por la extensa experiencia italiana en la gestión de distritos industriales. Length: 41 pages Creation-Date: 2005-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0514.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0514 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hector Sala Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and IZA Author-Name: José I. Silva Author-Email: hector.jisilva@ecap.uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Central Bank of Venezuela Title: The relevance of Post-Match LTC: Why has the Spanish labor market become as volatile as the US one? Keywords: Search, Matching, Training, Firing costs, Productivity Differentials. Classification-JEL: J23; J24; J31; J41; J63; J64 Abstract: We present a Search and Matching model with heterogeneous workers (entrants and incumbents) that replicates the stylized facts characterizing the US and the Spanish labor markets. Under this benchmark, we find the Post-Match Labor Turnover Costs (PMLTC) to be the centerpiece to explain why the Spanish labor market is as volatile as the US one. The two driving forces governing this volatility are the gaps between entrants and incumbents in terms of separation costs and productivity. We use the model to analyze the cyclical implications of changes in labor market institutions affecting these two gaps. The scenario with a low degree of workers’ heterogeneity illustrates its suitability to understand why the Spanish labor market has become as volatile as the US one. Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2005-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0515.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0515 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: An input-output analysis of the "key" sectors in CO2 emissions from a production perspective: an application to the Spanish economy Keywords: CO2 emissions,key productive sectors,input-output analysis Classification-JEL: C67;Q40;Q43 Abstract: Here we present an approach that allows the identification of the "key" productive sectors responsible for CO2 emission. For this purpose, we develop an input- output methodology from a supply perspective. We focus on the impact of an increase in the value-added of the different productive sectors on total CO2 emissions and we identify the productive sectors responsible for the increase in CO2 emissions when there is an increase in the income of the economy. The approach shows the contribution of the various sectors to CO2 emission from a production perspective and allows us to identify the sectors that deserve more consideration for mitigation policies. This analysis is complementary to the input–output analysis from a demand perspective. The Length: 24 pages Creation-Date: 2006-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0601.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0601 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Moreno Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Análisis de los factores determinantes de las desigualdades internacionales en las emisiones de CO2 per cápita aplicando el enfoque distributivo: una metodología de descomposición por factores de Kaya Keywords: desigualdad en las emisiones, desigualdad entre países, factores de Kaya,índice de Theil Classification-JEL: C19;D39;Q43 Abstract: En este trabajo desarrollamos una metodología para descomponer las desigualdades internacionales en las emisiones de CO2 en factores (multiplicativos) de Kaya y dos términos de interacción. Utilizamos el índice de desigualdad de Theil y mostramos que esta metodología de descomposición puede extenderse para analizar los componentes de desigualdad inter e intragrupal. A continuación podemos analizar los factores detrás de las desigualdades en las emisiones de CO2 per cápita entre países, entre grupos de países y dentro de los grupos de países. La ilustración empírica sugiere algunas cuestiones. Primero, la desigualdad internacional en las emisiones de CO2 per cápita es principalmente atribuible a las desigualdades en los niveles de renta per cápita, lo que ayuda a explicar su reciente reducción, mientras que las diferencias en la intensidad de carbono de la energía y la intensidad energética han hecho una contribución mucho menos significativa. Este resultado está fuertemente influenciado por el comportamiento de China e India. En segundo lugar, el componente de la desigualdad entre grupos, que es el mayor, está también explicado en buena medida por el factor ingreso. En tercer lugar, el componente de la desigualdad dentro de los grupos aumentó ligeramente durante el período, algo principalmente debido al cambio en el Length: 32 pages Creation-Date: 2006-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0602.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0602 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Miguel Angel Garcia Author-Email: miguelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Daniel Calatayud Author-WorkPlace-Name: Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura del Vallès, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona Title: SPRAWL. Definición, causas y efectos Abstract: El término Sprawl ha servido como un gran contenedor capaz de dar cabida a explicaciones, teorías y definiciones de diferente naturaleza, con lo que en ocasiones resulta difícil separar causas y efectos, teorías y hechos comprobados, descripciones y deseos. Este trabajo pretende ofrecer una definición neutra y operativa del fenómeno, así como un marco de análisis sobre sus causas y efectos prestando especial atención al caso europeo y español. Length: 42 pages Creation-Date: 2006-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0603.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0603 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-Email: rafael.boix@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Vittorio Galletto Author-Email: vittorio.galletto@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: El nuevo mapa de los distritos industriales de España y su comparación con Italia y el Reino Unido Keywords: distritos industriales marshallianos, sistemas locales de trabajo, pequeña y mediana empresa, política industrial Classification-JEL: L60; R12; R23 Abstract: En 2004 se elabora el primer mapa de Distritos Industriales Marshallianos de España (Boix y Galletto 2004 y 2006), basado en la metodología Sforzi-ISTAT (1996 y 1997). Por primera vez, este mapa permite la comparación cuantitativa de los distritos industriales de España con los de Italia y el Reino Unido. A finales del año 2005, el ISTAT revisa la metodología de identificación de distritos industriales en Italia, introduciendo mejoras importantes en el procedimiento. El objetivo del presente trabajo es la elaboración de un nuevo mapa de distritos industriales en España utilizando la nueva metodología Sforzi-ISTAT (2006) para el año 2001. El nuevo mapa utiliza como unidad territorial de referencia los sistemas locales de trabajo identificados en Boix y Galletto (2004 y 2006), datos del Censo de Población de 2001, y una combinación de microdatos de empresas con el DIRCE. Los resultados se comparan con los de la aplicación anterior para España y con el nuevo mapa de distritos industriales de Italia y el Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2006-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0604.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0604 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Antonia López Villavicencio Author-Email: antonia.lopez.villavicencio@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Real equilibrium exchange rates. A panel data approach for advanced and emerging economies. Keywords: Equilibrium exchange rates, panel data, cointegration, emerging economies, misalignments, error correction models. Classification-JEL: C33;F31;F41 Abstract: Based on an behavioral equilibrium exchange rate model, this paper examines the determinants of the real effective exchange rate and evaluates the degree of misalignment of a group of currencies since 1980. Within a panel cointegration setting, we estimate the relationship between exchange rate and a set of economic fundamentals, such as traded-nontraded productivity differentials and the stock of foreign assets. Having ascertained the variables are integrated and cointegrated, the long-run equilibrium value of the fundamentals are estimated and used to derive equilibrium exchange rates and misalignments. Although there is statistical homogeneity, some structural differences were found to exist between advanced and emerging economies. Length: 27 pages Creation-Date: 2006-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0605.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0605 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Antonia López Villavicencio Author-Email: antonia.lopez.villavicencio@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Josep Lluís Raymond Bara Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The short and long-run determinants of the real exchange rate in Mexico Keywords: real exchange rate, purchasing power parity, Balassa-Samuelson effect, error correction models, bounds cointegration test. Classification-JEL: C32;F31;F41;F49 Abstract: This paper explores the real exchange rate behavior in Mexico from 1960 until 2005. Since the empirical analysis reveals that the real exchange rate is not mean reverting, we propose that economic fundamental variables affect its evolution in the long-run. Therefore, based on equilibrium exchange rate paradigms, we propose a simple model of real exchange rate determination which includes the relative labor productivity, the real interest rates and the net foreign assets over a long period of time. Our analysis also considers the dynamic adjustment in response to shocks through impulse response functions derived from the multivariate VAR model. Length: 29 pages Creation-Date: 2006-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0606.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0606 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Asensio Author-Email: javier.asensio@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Commuters’ valuation of travel time variability in Barcelona Keywords: travel time variability, value of time, commuting, stated preference Classification-JEL: D12;R41 Abstract: The value given by commuters to the variability of travel times is empirically analysed using stated preference data from Barcelona (Spain). Respondents are asked to choose between alternatives that differ in terms of cost, average travel time, variability of travel times and departure time. Different specifications of a scheduling choice model are used to measure the influence of various socioeconomic characteristics. Our results show that travel time variability. Length: 23 pages Creation-Date: 2007-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0701.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0701 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: ANÁLISIS INPUT-OUTPUT Y EMISIONES DE CO2 EN ESPAÑA: UN PRIMER ANÁLISIS PARA LA DETERMINACIÓN DE SECTORES CLAVE EN LA EMISIÓN Keywords: Input-output, emisiones de CO2, sectores clave en la emisión, multiplicadores de demanda y producción. Classification-JEL: C67;Q40;Q43 Abstract: El objetivo de estas páginas, que es parte de una investigación más amplia, es el desarrollo de un primer análisis de las relaciones entre la estructura productiva de la economía española y las emisiones de CO2, el más importante de los gases de efecto invernadero, a la atmósfera. Después de exponer la metodología utilizada, que permite la utilización conjunta en análisis expost, como el que nos ocupa, de los multiplicadores de oferta y demanda, se obtienen resultados relevantes que permiten un estudio detallado de las mencionadas relaciones. Posteriormente se determinan los sectores Length: 21 pages Creation-Date: 2007-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0702.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0702 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Pasqual Author-Email: joan.pasqual.rocabert@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: La evaluación de proyectos con impacto ambiental. Eficiencia y sostenibilidad. Classification-JEL: H4;K11;Z10 Abstract: Suele darse por sentado que la valoración de los impactos que recaen sobre las generaciones presentes no comporta dificultad alguna. Sin embargo esto no es cierto. Es más, no se dispone de una metodología ampliamente aceptada para contabilizar dichos impactos. Algunos de los aspectos más controvertidos son: la elección del valor apropiado para la tasa de descuento, las unidades -físicas o monetarias- en que deben expresarse los flujos y la valoración de los bienes tangibles e intangibles. Cuando existen impactos a muy largo plazo surge el problema de valorar los costes y beneficios que afectan a las generaciones futuras mediante, por ejemplo, una tasa de descuento intergeneracional. Incluso en este último caso estaría dominando la perspectiva de las generaciones presentes, que actuarían como si poseyeran la totalidad de los derechos de propiedad sobre todos los recursos. Por lo tanto es necesario incorporar el requisito de sostenibilidad en el análisis. En este trabajo se examinan algunos de estos aspectos y se proponen vías de solución. Length: 17 pages Creation-Date: 2007-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0703.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0703 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Pasqual Author-Email: joan.pasqual.rocabert@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The Appraisal of Projects with Environmental Impacts. Efficiency and Sustainability Abstract: It is usually assumed that the appraisal of the impacts experienced by present generations does not entail any difficulty. However, this is not true. Moreover, there is not a widely accepted methodology for taking these impacts into account. Some of the controversial issues are: the appropriate value for the discount rate, the choice of the units for expressing the impacts, physical or monetary units —income, consumption or investment— and the valuation of tangible and intangible goods. When approaching the problem of very long term impacts, there is also the problem of valuing the impacts experienced by future generations, through e.g., the use of an intergenerational discount rate. However, if this were the case, the present generation perspective would prevail, as if all the property rights on the resources were owned by them. Therefore, the sustainability requirement should also be incorporated into the analysis. We will analyze these problems in this article and show some possible solutions. Length: 15 pages Creation-Date: 2007-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0704.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0704 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nicola Cantore Author-Email: nicola.cantore@unibo.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan - University of York Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Equity and CO2 Emissions Distribution in Climate Change Integrated Assessment Abstract: Emissions distribution is a focus variable for the design of future international agreements to tackle global warming. This paper specifically analyses the future path of emissions distribution and its determinants in different scenarios. Whereas our analysis is driven by tools which are typically applied in the income distribution literature and which have recently been applied to the analysis of CO2 emissions distribution, a new methodological approach is that our study is driven by simulations run with a popular regionalised optimal growth climate change model over the 1995-2105 period. We find that the architecture of environmental policies, the implementation of flexible mechanisms and income concentration are key determinants of emissions distribution over time. In particular we find a robust positive relationship between measures of inequalities Length: 20 pages Creation-Date: 2007-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0705.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0705 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Moreno Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@urv.net Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Análisis de la distribución de las emisiones de CO2 a nivel internacional mediante la adaptación del concepto y las medidas de polarización Keywords: acuerdos internacionales; distribución internacional de CO2; emisiones de CO2; formación de grupos de países; polarización Classification-JEL: D39; Q43; Q56 Abstract: La medida de la polarización está ligada a la inestabilidad potencial —la aparición de grupos con intereses opuestos— generada por una situación de distribución específica. Esta investigación analiza la distribución internacional de las emisiones de CO2 per cápita a través de la adaptación del concepto y las medidas de polarización. La descripción agrupada más interesante que se deriva del análisis de polarización es la de dos grupos. Estos grupos coinciden ampliamente con los países del Anexo B del Protocolo de Kyoto y los que no lo son, lo que podría indicar la capacidad del análisis de polarización para explicar la generación de grupos en el mundo real. El análisis muestra una reducción significativa en la polarización internacional de las emisiones de CO2 per cápita entre 1971 y 2001. Esto se explica en gran parte por el aumento en las emisiones experimentado por China e India. Una reducción en la polarización puede implicar una reducción en la dificultad de alcanzar acuerdos. No obstante, la polarización no ha cambiado mucho desde 1995 o 1997 (año en que tuvieron lugar las negociaciones de Kyoto), lo que podría indicar que la polarización de la distribución de emisiones entre países es aún uno de los factores importantes llevando a la dificultad en alcanzar nuevos acuerdos respecto a las políticas globales de Length: 43 pages Creation-Date: 2007-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0706.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0706 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ana Isabel Guerra Hernández Author-Email: anaisabel.guerra@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Title: Effects of Competition over Quality-Adjusted Price Indexes: An Application to the Spanish Automobile Market Abstract: Using a newly constructed data set, we calculate quality-adjusted price indexes after estimating hedonic price regressions from 1988 to 2004 in the Spanish automobile market. The increasing competition was favoured by the removal of trade restrictions and the special plans for the renewal of the Spanish automobile fleet. We find that the increasing degree of competition during those years led to an overall drop in automobile prices by 20 percent which implied considerable consumer gains thanks to higher market efficiency. Additionally, our results indicate that loyalty relevance and discrepancies in automobile reliability declined during those years. This is captured Length: 20 pages Creation-Date: 2007-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0707.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0707 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: SUBSISTEMAS INPUT-OUTPUT Y CONTAMINACIÓN: UNA APLICACIÓN AL SECTOR SERVICIOS Y LAS EMISIONES DE CO2 EN ESPAÑA Abstract: El análisis de subsistemas input-output nos proporciona una herramienta de gran utilidad para estudiar la estructura productiva de los diferentes sectores que componen una economía. En el presente trabajo se ha desarrollado este análisis para estudiar las emisiones de CO2 relacionadas con el conjunto de ramas productivas que conforman el sector servicios. La descomposición de la producción total del subsistema servicios nos permite obtener las emisiones de CO2 relacionadas con diferentes efectos (escala, propio, feed-back y spill over). De los resultados obtenidos, destaca el diferente papel de las distintas ramas productivas de servicios. Las actividades de transporte serían las responsables de las mayores emisiones generadas directamente en el sector. Estas actividades son demandadas por el resto de sectores de la economía en mayor grado que su propia demanda final, teniendo mayor responsabilidad la producción vendida a otros sectores que la propia demanda final. No obstante, para el resto de actividades las emisiones directas e indirectas asociadas a la demanda final son mucho más importantes, por el fuerte efecto de arrastre sobre otras ramas de la economía que ejercen las actividades de servicios. A este respecto, destacan los servicios de Comercio, Hostelería, Inmobiliarias y servicios empresariales y la Administración pública, actividades que reciben escasa atención en el diseño de políticas orientadas a reducir las emisiones, pero que tienen una responsabilidad muy destacable en el fuerte aumento de emisiones experimentado en los últimos años. Length: 19 pages Creation-Date: 2007-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0708.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0708 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jordi Roca Jusmet Author-Email: jordiroca@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament de Teoria Econòmica, Universitat de Barcelona Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Actividad económica, consumo final de energía y requerimientos de energía primaria en Cataluña, 1990-2005. Análisis mediante el uso de los balances energéticos desde una perspectiva input-output Abstract: Este trabajo analiza la evolución de los consumos finales de energía en Cataluña durante el periodo 1990-2005. En conjunto, los consumos finales de energía crecen por encima del crecimiento del PIB en términos reales. La disponibilidad actual de datos permite una desagregación en cinco actividades: sector primario; sector industrial; sector servicios; transporte; y sector doméstico. Los aumentos relativos más importantes se dan en los sectores servicios, doméstico y transporte. Es esta última actividad (que incluye el transporte privado y comercial) la que experimenta un mayor aumento en términos absolutos, hasta llegar a representar un consumo final de energía Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2007-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0709.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0709 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Jordi Roca Jusmet Author-Email: jordiroca@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament de Teoria Econòmica, Universitat de Barcelona Title: Actividad económica y emisiones de CO2 derivadas del consumo de energía en Cataluña, 1990-2005. Análisis mediante el uso de los balances energéticos desde una perspectiva input-output Abstract: A lo largo del trabajo hemos analizado, tanto desde una perspectiva agregada, como posteriormente con todo el detalle posible, la evolución experimentada por estas emisiones, teniendo en cuenta las limitaciones de información . Para hacerlo se han utilizado conceptos y precisiones metodológicas ampliamente utilizadas en la literatura científica sobre el tema. Del estudio realizado en la primera parte del trabajo resulta evidente que el importante crecimiento de las emisiones en Cataluña durante el periodo considerado, de un 60.1%, muy superior a la media española (50,5%), se explica como principal factor por el aumento en el PIB per cápita, con un crecimiento del 33,35% . El crecimiento demográfico también habría contribuido de forma importante al incremento en las emisiones totales, con un aumento del 10,5% de la población; sobre todo a partir de 1999, ya que en la década de los noventa la población se mantuvo estable con pocas Length: 42 pages Creation-Date: 2007-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0710.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0710 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mario Giampietro Author-Email: Mario.Giampietro@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: ICREA Institut de Ciencia i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Kozo Mayumi Author-Email: mayumi@ias.tokushima-u.ac.jp Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Tokushima Author-Name: Jesus Ramos-Martín Author-Email: jesus.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MUSIASEM): An Outline of Rationale and Theory Keywords: Energy, Flow-Fund Model, Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis, Mosaic Effects, Impredicative Loop, Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism, Hierarchy, Multi-Purpose Classification-JEL: O11;O13;Q01;Q57;Q58 Abstract: This paper presents an outline of rationale and theory of the MuSIASEM scheme (Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism). First, three points of the rationale behind our MuSIASEM scheme are discussed: (i) endosomatic and exosomatic metabolism in relation to Georgescu-Roegen’s flow-fund scheme; (2) the bioeconomic analogy of hypercycle and dissipative parts in ecosystems; (3) the dramatic reallocation of human time and land use patterns in various sectors of modern economy. Next, a flow-fund representation of the MUSIASEM scheme on three levels (the whole national level, the paid work sectors level, and the agricultural sector level) is illustrated to look at the structure of the human economy in relation to two primary factors: (i) human time - a fund; and (ii) exosomatic energy - a flow. The three levels representation uses extensive and intensive variables simultaneously. Key conceptual tools of the MuSIASEM scheme - mosaic effects and impredicative loop analysis - are explained using the three level flow-fund representation. Finally, we claim that the MuSIASEM scheme can be seen as a multi-purpose grammar useful to deal with sustainability issues. Length: 15 pages Creation-Date: 2008-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0801.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0801 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mario Giampietro Author-Email: Mario.Giampietro@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: ICREA Institut de Ciencia i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Kozo Mayumi Author-Email: mayumi@ias.tokushima-u.ac.jp Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Tokushima Author-Name: Jesús Ramos-Martín Author-Email: jesus.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: An application of MSIASM to Chinese exosomatic energy metabolism Keywords: China, Energy, Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis, Societal Metabolism, Classification-JEL: O11;O13;O53;Q01;Q57;Q58 Abstract: The methodology of Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal Metabolism (MSIASM) is applied to analyze the Chinese economy. This paper presents four tasks: (i) identifying a set of benchmarks that makes it possible to compare various characteristics of the Chinese economy with those of other country groups and the world (level) average; (ii) explaining the differences over the selected set of benchmarks, by looking at the characteristics of the various sub-sectors of the Chinese economy; (iii) understanding existing trends and future feasible future development paths for China by studying the existence of reciprocal constraints between the whole economy and its sub-sectors; and Length: 19 pages Creation-Date: 2008-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0802.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0802 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jesus Ramos-Martín Author-Email: jesus.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Nina Eisenmenger Author-Email: nina.eisenmenger@uni-klu.ac.at Author-WorkPlace-Name: IFF Social Ecology, University of Klagenfurt, Schottenfeldgasse Author-Name: Heinz Schandl Author-Email: Heinz.Schandl@csiro.au Author-WorkPlace-Name: CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Gunghalin Homestead Title: Different trajectories of exosomatic energy metabolism for Brazil, Chile and Venezuela: using the MSIASM approach Keywords: Development, Energy, Social Metabolism, MSIASM, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela Classification-JEL: O11;O13;O54;Q01;Q57;Q58 Abstract: Economic development goes hand in hand with an increase in the consumption of natural resources. Some analysts use material flows to describe such relationship [Eurostat 2001, Weisz et al., 2006], or exergy [Ayres et al., 2003]. Instead this paper will use a characterisation of the exosomatic energy metabolism based on expected benchmark values to describe possible constraints to economic development posed by available human time and energy. The aim of the paper is to identify types of exosomatic energy metabolism of different societies to interpret its consequences for economic development. This is done with the application of the accounting methodology called Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal Metabolism (MSIASM) to the particular case of energy metabolism for the analysis of the economies of Brazil, Chile and Venezuela. Length: 14 pages Creation-Date: 2008-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0803.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0803 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-Email: rafael.boix@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Los distritos industriales en la Europa Mediterránea: los mapas de Italia y España Keywords: distritos industriales marshallianos, mercados locales de trabajo, pequeñas y medianas empresas Classification-JEL: L60; R12; R23 Abstract: El presente trabajo ofrece una comparación de los mapas de distritos industriales marshallianos de España e Italia, elaborados a partir de la metodología Sforzi - ISTAT (2006). Como principales similitudes se destaca que los distritos industriales son una realidad generalizada en ambos países y su importancia relativa es equivalente, se especializan principalmente en industria ligera y mecánica, y muestran una elevada concentración territorial. Como principales diferencias se destaca la mayor especialización relativa de los distritos industriales de España en productos para la casa e industria alimentaria, mientras que en Italia es superior la especialización relativa en industria mecánica, y en textil y confección; la menor dimensión de los distritos industriales españoles respecto de los italianos; y que los distritos industriales españoles tienen una dinámica positiva y superior a la del resto del país, mientras en Italia su dinámica negativa contrasta con la del resto de la economía. Length: 28 pages Creation-Date: 2008-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0804.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0804 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Luciana Lazzeretti Author-Email: luciana.lazzeretti@unifi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Dept. of Business Economics, University of Florence Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-Email: rafael.boix@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Francesco Capone Author-Email: francesco.capone@unifi.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Dept. of Business Economics, University of Florence Title: Do creative industries cluster? Mapping Creative Local Production Systems in Italy Keywords: creative industries, creative local systems, agglomeration economies Classification-JEL: L22;R12;L82 Abstract: An important debate on the role of creativity and culture as factors of local economic development is distinctly emerging. Despite the emphasis put on the theoretical definition of these concepts, it is necessary to strengthen comparative research for the identification and analysis of the kind of creativity embedded in the territory as well as its determinants. Creative local production systems are identified in Italy and Spain departing from local labour markets as territorial units, and focusing on two different kinds of creative industries: traditional cultural industries (publishing, music, architecture and engineering, performing arts) and technology-related creative industries (R&D, ICT, advertising). The results suggest the existence of different patterns of concentration of creative industries in both countries and the concentration of creative industries in the Length: 29 pages Creation-Date: 2008-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0805.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0805 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: J. Ramos-Martin Author-Email: jesus.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: S. Cañellas-Bolta Author-WorkPlace-Name: Consell Assessor per al Desenvolupament Sostenible, Generalitat de Catalunya Title: Why Catalonia will see its energy metabolism increase in the near future: an application of MuSIASEM Keywords: Catalonia, exosomatic energy, energy metabolism, economic development, hierarchical levels, multi-scale, integrated analysis Classification-JEL: O11; O13;O52;Q01;Q57;Q58 Abstract: This paper applies the so-called Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM) to the economy of the Spanish region of Catalonia. By applying Georgescu-Roegen’s fund-flow model, it arrives at the conclusion that within a context of the end of cheap oil, the current development model based on the growth of low productivity sectors such as services and construction must change. The change is needed not only because of the increasing scarcity of affordable energy carriers, or because of the increasing environmental impact that the present development represents, but also because of an ageing population that demands labour productivity gains. This will imply industry requiring more energy consumption per worker in order to increase its productivity, and therefore its competitiveness. Thus, we conclude that energy intensity, and exosomatic energy metabolism of Catalonia will increase dramatically in the near future unless major conservation efforts are implemented in both the household and transport sectors. Length: 15 pages Creation-Date: 2008-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0806.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0806 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rafael Boix Author-Email: rafael.boix@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Title: Industrial districts, innovation and I-district effect: territory or industrial specialization? Keywords: industrial districts, innovation, external economies, district effect Classification-JEL: O14; O31; R12 Abstract: The I-district effect hypothesis establishes the existence of highly intense innovation in Marshallian industrial districts due to the presence of external localization economies. However, industrial districts are characterized by specific manufacturing specializations in such a way that this effect could be due to these dominant specializations. The objective of this research is to test whether the effect is explained by the conditions of the territory or by the industrial specialization and to provide additional evidence of the existence and causes of the highly intense innovation in industrial districts (I-district effect). The estimates for Spain of a fixed effects model interacting territory and industry suggest that the high innovative performance of industrial districts is maintained across sectors whereas the industrial specialization behaves differently depending on the type of local production system in which it is placed. The I-district effect is related to the conditions of the territory more than to the industrial specialization. The territory is a key variable in explaining the processes of innovation and should be considered a basic dimension in the design of innovation and industrial policies. Length: 32 pages Creation-Date: 2008-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0807.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0807 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Evans Jadotte Author-Email: evans.jadotte@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Labor Supply Response to International Migration and Remittances in the Republic Keywords: Republic of Haiti, international migration, remittances, labor supply Classification-JEL: C39;F22;F24;J22 Abstract: The Republic of Haiti is the prime international remittances recipient country in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region relative to its gross domestic product (GDP). The downside of this observation may be that this country is also the first exporter of skilled workers in the world by population size. The present research uses a zero-altered negative binomial (with logit inflation) to model households’ international migration decision process, and endogenous regressors’ Amemiya Generalized Least Squares method (instrumental variable Tobit, IV-Tobit) to account for selectivity and endogeneity issues in assessing the impact of remittances on labor market outcomes. Results are in line with what has been found so far in this literature in terms of a decline of labor supply in the presence of remittances. However, the impact of international remittances does not seem to be important in determining recipient households’ labor participation behavior, particularly for women. Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2008-09 File-URL: httpa://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0808.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0808 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Rosella Nicolini Author-Email: rosella.nicolini@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Agglomeration and inequality across space: What can we learn from the European experience? Keywords: Core-periphery structure, Inequality, EU policies, Brazil Classification-JEL: O54;R12;R58 Abstract: The purpose of this contribution is to draw a picture of the (uneven) distribution of economic activities across the states of the European Union (EU) and the consequences entailed by it. We will briefly summarize the most salient and recent contributions. Then, in the light of the economic geography theory, we will discuss the economic and social advantages and disadvantages associated with a core– periphery structure. In this sense, particular attention will be addressed to the EU financial system of Structural Funds and the effects they produced. Finally, we will formulate some suggestions, relying on the EU experience, that could be of interest to the current Brazilian regional policy. Length: 41 pages Creation-Date: 2008-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0809.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0809 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Borek Vasícek Author-Email: borek.vasicek@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The monetary policy rules in EU-15: before and after the euro Keywords: monetary policy, Taylor rule, European Monetary Union, panel data Classification-JEL: E52;E58 Abstract: The objective of this paper is to identify empirically the logic behind short-term interest rates setting of: 1) the monetary authorities of the 15 EU countries before the launch of the European Monetary Union (EMU) and 2) the European Central Bank (ECB) and the central banks of the non-EMU participants since 1999. We find that the Taylor rule, based on the response to inflation and to the output gap, is a reasonable description of the interest rate setting for only a few economies. In addition, the foreign interest rate and the long-term interest rate are often crucial to explain short-term interest rate developments. On the contrary, the impact of other variables often proposed in the literature (exchange rates, monetary growth and asset prices) is negligible. The application of singleequation analysis to Euro area aggregate data to identify the ECB policy rule seems to suffer econometric deficiencies. Besides, we find some evidence indicating that the ECB considers also national information for its decision-making and consequently that the ECB interest-rate rule can be revealed in quasi-panel setting. Length: 38 pages Creation-Date: 2008-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0810.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0810 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francisco Navarro Gálvez Author-Email: Francisco.Navarro@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Sobre los subsistemas input-output en el análisis de emisiones contaminantes. Una aplicación a las emisiones de CH4 en Cataluña Keywords: Input-output, subsistemas, integración vertical, emisiones de CH4 Classification-JEL: D57;Q53;C67 Abstract: En el presente trabajo se desarrolla un estudio de las emisiones de CH4 relacionadas con el sector agroalimentario catalán a través de un análisis alternativo, o al menos complementario, de subsistemas input-output. Una herramienta de gran utilidad para estudiar la estructura productiva de los diferentes sectores que componen una economía. La aplicación de esta técnica permite las descomposición del subsistema en distintos efectos en función de los vínculos intersectoriales existentes con el conjunto de las ramas productivas de la economía, dentro y fuera del subsistema. De los resultados obtenidos destaca la importancia de las relaciones intrasectoriales del subsistema agroalimentario, que muestra una relevante autonomía en cuanto a este tipo de emisiones respecto al resto de la economía. Esta característica orienta el tipo de políticas medioambientales a implementar con el objetivo de reducir el impacto atmosférico de dicha actividad. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2009-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0901.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0901 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Vázquez Grenno Author-Email: javier.vazquez@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Spanish Pension System: Population Aging and Immigration Policy Keywords: Immigration policy, public pensions, sustainability. Classification-JEL: E62;F22;H55;J61 Abstract: There is a widespread consensus in the literature that, as consequence of the demographic transition, the current Spanish pension system will become unsustainable in the next decades. In this article we evaluate the sustainability of the contributory pensions' sub-system, taking into account the demographic projections by the Spanish Statistical Oce (INE). A baseline scenario is projected as well as several reforms are simulated, focusing on: (i) selective immigration policy, (ii) changes in the way of tting the pensions and (iii) increase of the legal age of retirement up to 68. The main results are the following. The current system would not incur de cits until 2018, from then de cits will begin to be accumulated. The expenditure in pensions practically would double (from 8.3 % in 2005 to 17.2 % in 2050). A selective immigration policy -towards foreign young people- would help, but does not solve the long-term sustainability of the current system. A policy that combines a pensions' growth at a pace lower than productivity growth and extends the legal age of retirement up to 68 would give solvency to the system beyond 2029. Length: 39 pages Creation-Date: 2009-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0902.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0902 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Borek Vasícek Author-Email: borek.vasicek@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Monetary policy rules and inflation process in open emerging economies: evidence for 12 new EU members Keywords: open emerging economies, monetary policy rules, open economy Phillips curve, conditional inflation variance Classification-JEL: E31;E52;E58;P24 Abstract: This paper has three objectives. First, it aims at revealing the logic of interest rate setting pursued by monetary authorities of 12 new EU members. Using estimation of an augmented Taylor rule, we find that this setting was not always consistent with the official monetary policy. Second, we seek to shed light on the inflation process of these countries. To this end, we carry out an estimation of an open economy Philips curve (PC). Our main finding is that inflation rates were not only driven by backward persistency but also held a forward-looking component. Finally, we assess the viability of existing monetary arrangements for price stability. The analysis of the conditional inflation variance obtained from GARCH estimation of PC is used for this purpose. We conclude that inflation targeting is preferable to an exchange rate peg because it allowed decreasing the inflation rate and anchored its volatility. Length: 39 pages Creation-Date: 2009-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0903.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0903 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: María Cervini Plá Author-Email: maria.cervini@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Measuring intergenerational earnings mobility in Spain: A selection-bias-free Keywords: Intergenerational mobility, earnings, two sample two stage least square estimator, Spain. Classification-JEL: D31;J31;J62 Abstract: This paper analyses intergenerational earnings mobility in Spain correcting for different selection biases. We address the co-residence selection problem by combining information from two samples and using the two-sample two-stage least square estimator. We find a small decrease in elasticity when we move to younger cohorts. Furthermore, we find a higher correlation in the case of daughters than in the case of sons; however, when we consider the employment selection in the case of daughters, by adopting a Heckman-type correction method, the diference between sons and daughters disappears. By decomposing the sources of earnings elasticity across generations, we find that the correlation between child's and father's occupation is the most important component. Finally, quantile regressions estimates show that the influence of the father's earnings is greater when we move to the lower tail of the offspring's earnings distribution, especially in the case of daughters' earnings. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2009-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0904.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0904 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Moreno Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@urv.net Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departamento de Economía, Universidad Rovira i Virgili Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: La desigualdad en las intensidades energéticas y la composición de la producción. Un análisis para los países de la OCDE Keywords: análisis shift-share, composición sectorial, eficiencia energética, desigualdades entre países, desigualdades entre regiones, intensidad energética Classification-JEL: C69;D39;Q43 Abstract: Esta investigación analiza las desigualdades de las intensidades energéticas entre países de la OCDE, su evolución y sus causas. Estas intensidades constituyen uno de los principales factores determinantes de las emisiones per cápita y, por tanto, de las diferencias que se dan entre países y grupos de países. Se desarrolla una metodología que permite la descomposición de la desigualdad en los consumos de energía per cápita en factores explicativos, además de analizar la contribución de diferentes grupos de países. Destaca que, si bien las diferencias en afluencia económica son el factor más relevante en la explicación las desigualdades en el consumo energético per cápita, la desigualdad en intensidad energética juega un papel prominente en su reducción en el periodo analizado. A continuación, se desarrolla una metodología que permite determinar la importancia de las diferentes estructuras productivas y de las diferencias en eficiencia energética en el mayor o menor uso de energía por unidad de PIB en los diferentes países y grupos de países. Los resultados muestran que la especialización productiva gana peso en la explicación de las desigualdades en las intensidades energéticas, mientras que se da una importante tendencia a la igualación de la eficiencia energética entre países sector a sector. Esta tendencia explicaría, a su vez, el peso decreciente de la intensidad energética como factor explicativo de las desigualdades en consumos energéticos. Length: 34 pages Creation-Date: 2009-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0905.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0905 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Catia Nicodemo Author-Email: catia.nicodemo@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Selection Bias and Unobservable Heterogeneity applied at the Wage Equation of European Married Women Keywords: Female participation, labor supply, family benefits, unbalanced panel data Classification-JEL: J2;J3;C2;C3 Abstract: This paper utilizes a panel data sample selection model to correct the selection in the analysis of longitudinal labor market data for married women in European countries. We estimate the female wage equation in a framework of unbalanced panel data models with sample selection. The wage equations of females have several potential sources of Length: 19 pages Creation-Date: 2009-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0906.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0906 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nicola Cantore Author-Email: nicola.cantore@unibo.it Author-WorkPlace-Name: Overseas Development Institute, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Emissions distribution in post–Kyoto international negotiations: a policy perspective Keywords: climate change, equality, emissions, technology, spillovers Classification-JEL: Q52;Q53 Abstract: An abundant scientific literature about climate change economics points out that the future participation of developing countries in international environmental policies will depend on their amount of pay offs inside and outside specific agreements. These studies are aimed at analyzing coalitions stability typically through a game theoretical approach. Though these contributions represent a corner stone in the research field investigating future plausible international coalitions and the reasons behind the difficulties incurred over time to implement emissions stabilizing actions, they cannot disentangle satisfactorily the role that equality play in inducing poor regions to tackle global warming. If we focus on the Stern Review findings stressing that climate change will generate heavy damages and policy actions will be costly in a finite time horizon, we understand why there is a great incentive to free ride in order to exploit benefits from emissions reduction efforts of others. The reluctance of poor countries in joining international agreements is mainly supported by historical responsibility of rich regions in generating atmospheric carbon concentration, whereas rich countries claim that emissions stabilizing policies will be effective only when developing countries will join them. Scholars recently outline that a perceived fairness in the distribution of emissions would facilitate a wide spread participation in international agreements. In this paper we overview the literature about distributional aspects of emissions by focusing on those contributions investigating past trends of emissions distribution through empirical data and future trajectories through simulations obtained by integrated assessment models. We will explain methodologies used to elaborate data and the link between real data and those coming from simulations. Results from this strand of research will be interpreted in order to discuss future negotiations for post Kyoto agreements that will be the focus of the next Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen at the end of 2009. A particular attention will be devoted to the role that technological change will play in affecting the distribution of emissions over time and to how spillovers and experience diffusion could influence equality issues and future outcomes of policy negotiations. Length: 18 pages Creation-Date: 2009-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0907.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0907 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Nicholas T. Longford Author-Email: NTL@sntl.co.uk Author-WorkPlace-Name: SNTL and Departament d’Economia i Empresa, Universitat Pompeu Fabra Author-Name: Catia Nicodemo Author-Email: catia.nicodemo@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: A sensitivity analysis of poverty definitions Keywords: EU-SILC database, poverty rate, sampling weights Abstract: We conduct a sensitivity analysis of several estimators related to household income, to explore how some details of the definitions of the variables concerned influence the values of the common estimates, such as the mean, median and (poverty) rates. The purpose of this study is to highlight that some of the operational definitions entail an element of arbitrariness which leaves an undesirable stamp on the inferences made. The analyses use both a cross-sectional and a longitudinal (panel) component of the EU-SILC database. Length: 46 pages Creation-Date: 2009-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0908.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0908 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Catia Nicodemo Author-Email: catia.nicodemo@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Heterogeneity across Immigrants in the Spanish Labour Market: Advantage and Disadvantage Keywords: Gender gap, quantile regression, immigration, counterfactual decomposition Classification-JEL: J16; J31;C2;C3 Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the diferences that immigrants have in the Spanish labour market. Immigrants in Spain come from a diversity of continents (Africa, South America, Eastern Europe, Asia, etc.), and there are substantial diferences in characteristics not only among continents but also among countries in each continent. Using a quantile regression method of decomposition we estimate these diferences that are reflected in the labour market and in particular are mirrored in the wage, so some immigrants are more discriminated or segregated that others because they have less advantage. For example Argentineans and Peruvians have the same origin and culture but we can find diferences in the wage that they receive in the Spanish labor market, or for example Moroccans have a advantage with respect to the Rest of Africans, due to the geographical proximity to Spain. So when we study the pay gap and the gender pay gap we need to take into consideration the origin of immigrants. We also want to study how the integration of immigrants evolved across years, whether the wage gap that we find in the first episode of work between immigrants and natives disappears or continues to be present in the Spain labour market. Length: 23 pages Creation-Date: 2009-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0909.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0909 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Determinantes del crecimiento de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en España (1990-2007) Keywords: descomposición factorial, eficiencia energética, gases de efecto invernadero, intensidad energética, índice de carbonización, transformación energética. Classification-JEL: Q43;Q53;Q56 Abstract: La evolución de los gases de efecto invernadero en España se está distanciando notablemente del objetivo marcado por el Protocolo de Kyoto. En el presente trabajo se analizan los diferentes factores que han contribuido al importante aumento experimentado en las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero provenientes del consumo de energía en España en el período 1990-2007. La metodología de descomposición factorial utilizada permite hacer una distribución exacta (sin residuos) de la variación de emisiones en diferentes efectos (efecto carbonización, efecto transformación, efecto intensidad y efecto escala). Los resultados muestran claramente que el efecto escala -la variación en el nivel de producción- ha sido determinante en explicar el aumento de emisiones, mientras que la contribución de los otros efectos, que deberían ser los que cambiaran la tendencia de crecimiento de emisiones, no ha permitido moderar su aumento. Una contribución especialmente negativa es la atribuible al efecto intensidad, que refleja la variación en la intensidad energética final del PIB, ya que incluso habría contribuido a aumentar las emisiones. En sentido opuesto, el efecto transformación, el impacto atribuible a la transformación energética, habría contribuido a moderar el aumento de las emisiones totales. El trabajo discute las implicaciones de los resultados obtenidos. Length: 22 pages Creation-Date: 2009-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0910.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0910 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Alejandro Agafonow Author-Email: alejandro.agafonow@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Venezuelan Economic Laboratory. The Case of the Altruistic Economy of Felipe Pérez Martí Keywords: altruism, Nash equilibrium, game theory, planning, communism, equality Classification-JEL: B5;D5;D7;D8;O2;P2 Abstract: Felipe Pérez Martí, who was the Venezuelan Minister of Planning and Development in the government of Hugo Chávez, proposes an economic model that he calls the altruistic economy or fourth way, which leads cooperative game theory to its logical extremes postulating a pure communism. Here we sustain that, first, it is impossible in the model of Pérez Martí to marginally allocate non-primary goods to those most in need or who most value them, facing a problem of defective economic calculation, and second, in order to achieve equality, he would have to replace his atomic local planners by a central planner, who would be unable to overcome the problem of imperfect and and incomplete information. Length: 29 pages Creation-Date: 2009-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0911.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0911 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Borek Vasícek Author-Email: borek.vasicek@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Inflation dynamics and the New Keynesian Phillips curve in EU-4 Keywords: Inflation dynamics, New Keynesian Phillips curve, CEEC, GMM estimation Classification-JEL: C32;E31 Abstract: The paper seeks to shed light on inflation dynamics of four new EU member states: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. To this end, the New Keynesian Phillips curve augmented for open economies is estimated and additional statistical tests applied. We find the following. (1) The claim of New Keynesians that the real marginal cost is the main inflation-forcing variable is fragile. (2) Inflation seems to be driven by external factors. (3) Although inflation holds a forward- looking component, the backward-looking component is substantial. An intuitive explanation for higher inflation persistence may be rather adaptive than rational price setting of local firms. Length: 37 pages Creation-Date: 2009-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea0912.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0912 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Antonio Di Paolo Author-Email: antonio.dipaolo@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Josep Lluís Raymond Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Language knowledge and earnings in Catalonia Keywords: Language, Earnings, Self-Selection, Skill-Complementarity, Catalonia Classification-JEL: J79;J24;J61;C31 Abstract: In this paper we are aimed to investigate the relationship between Catalan knowledge and individual earnings in Catalonia. Using data from 2006, we find a positive earning return to Catalan proficiency; however, when accounting for self-selection into Catalan knowledge, we find a higher language return (20% of extra earnings), suggesting that individuals who are more prone to know Catalan are also less remunerated than others (negative selection effect). Moreover, we also find important complementarities between language knowledge and completed education, which means that only more educated individuals benefit from Catalan knowledge. Length: 32 pages Creation-Date: 2010-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1001.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1001 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lionel Artige Author-Email: lionel.artige@ulg.ac.be Author-WorkPlace-Name: HEC-Department of Economics, Université de Liège. Author-Name: Rosella Nicolini Author-Email: rosella.nicolini@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Memory in Contracts: The Experience of the EBRD (1991-2003) Keywords: Financial contract,Empirical contract theory,Reputation,Asymmetric Classification-JEL: D21;D82;G21;L14;P21 Abstract: The objective of this paper is to identify the role of memory as a screening device in repeated contracts with asymmetric information in financial intermediation. We use an original dataset from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. We propose a simple empirical method to capture the role of memory using the client’s reputation. Our results unambiguously isolate the dominant effect of memory on the bank’s lending decisions over market factors in the case of established clients. Length: 57 pages Creation-Date: 2010-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1002.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1002 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Joan Pasqual Author-Email: joan.pasqual.rocabert@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Nuevos y viejos criterios de rentabilidad que concuerdan con el criterio del Valor Actual Neto Keywords: Equivalent Annuity, Benefit-Cost Ratio, Maximum Delay of Benefits, Project appraisal, Cost Recovery Period, Difference Project, Internal Rate of Return, Net Present Value, Net Final Value. Classification-JEL: D92;Q28 Abstract: El análisis de criterios clásicos de rentabilidad, como la Tasa Interna de Rendimiento o el Cociente Beneficio/Coste, revela que, contra lo que se suponía, concuerdan con el criterio Valor Actual Neto si se aplican correctamente. Lo mismo ocurre con los viejos criterios Valor Final Neto y Anualidad Equivalente y los nuevos Demora Máxima de Beneficios y Plazo de Recuperación de Costes. Se demuestra, además, que para elegir entre dos proyectos mutuamente excluyentes, la aplicación de los criterios citados al proyecto diferencia o incremental es una condición suficiente para que exista concordancia con el criterio Valor Actual Neto. Length: 21 pages Creation-Date: 2010-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1003.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1003 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Evans Jadotte Author-Email: evans.jadotte@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Vulnerability to Poverty: A Microeconometric Approach and Application to the Republic of Haiti Keywords: vulnerability, poverty, hierarchical model, Republic of Haiti. Classification-JEL: C19;C11;I39;R20 Abstract: This paper investigates vulnerability to poverty in Haiti. Research in vulnerability in developing countries has been scarce due to the high data requirements of vulnerability studies (e.g. panel or long series of cross-sections). The methodology adopted here allows the assessment of vulnerability to poverty by exploiting the short panel structure of nested data at different levels. The decomposition method reveals that vulnerability in Haiti is largely a rural phenomenon and that schooling correlates negatively with vulnerability. Most importantly, among the different shocks affecting household’s income, it is found that meso-level shocks are in general far more important than covariate shocks. This finding points to some interesting policy implications in decentralizing policies to alleviate vulnerability to poverty. Length: 47 pages Creation-Date: 2010-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1004.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1004 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Ordóñez Author-Email: jmonfort@eco.uji.es. Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló Author-Name: Hector Sala Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: José I. Silva Author-Email: jose.silva@udg.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia, Universitat de Girona Title: Oil price shocks and labor market fluctuations Keywords: Oil Prices, Unemployment, Vacancies, Business Fluctuations. Classification-JEL: E22;E32;J63;J64 Abstract: We examine the impact of real oil price shocks on labor market flows in the U.S. We first use smooth transition regression (STR) models to investigate to what extent oil prices can be considered as a driving force of labor market fluctuations. Then we develop and calibrate a modified version of Pissarides’ (2000) model with energy costs, which we simulate in response to shocks mimicking the behavior of the actual oil price shocks. We find that (i) these shocks are an important driving force of job market flows; (ii) the job finding probability is the main transmission mechanism of such shocks; and (iii) they bring a new amplification mechanism for the volatility and should thus be seen as complementary of labor productivity shocks. Overall we conclude that shocks in oil prices cannot be neglected in explaining cyclical labor adjustments in the U.S. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2010-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1005.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1005 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Marika Karanassou Author-Email: m.karanassou@qmul.ac.uk Author-WorkPlace-Name: School of Economics and Finance, Queen Mary, University of London Author-Name: Hector Sala Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The Wage-Productivity Gap Revisited: Is the Labour Share Neutral to Employment? Keywords: Wages, productivity, labour income share, employment. Classification-JEL: E24;E25;O47 Abstract: This paper challenges the prevailing view of the neutrality of the labour income share to labour demand, and investigates its impact on the evolution of employment. Whilst maintaining the assumption of a unitary long-run elasticity of wages with respect to productivity, we demonstrate that productivity growth affects the labour share in the long run due to frictional growth (that is, the interplay of wage dynamics and productivity growth). In the light of this result, we consider a stylised labour demand equation and show that the labour share is a driving force of employment. We substantiate our analytical exposition by providing empirical models of wage setting and employment equations for France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, and the US over the 1960-2008 period. Our findings show that the timevarying labour share of these countries has significantly influenced their employment trajectories across decades. This indicates that the evolution of the labour income share (or, equivalently, the wage-productivity gap) deserves the attention of policy makers. Length: 44 pages Creation-Date: 2010-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1006.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1006 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jaromír Baxa Author-Email: jaromir.baxa@centrum.cz Author-WorkPlace-Name: Institute of Economic Studies, Charles University, Prague and Institute of Information Theory and Automation, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague Author-Name: Roman Horváth Author-Email: roman.horvath@cnb.cz Author-WorkPlace-Name: Czech National Bank and Institute of Economic Studies, Charles University, Prague Author-Name: Borek Vasícek Author-Email: borek.vasicek@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: How Does Monetary Policy Change? Evidence on Inflation Targeting Countries Keywords: Taylor rule, inflation targeting, monetary policy, time-varying parameter model,endogenous regressors. Classification-JEL: E43;E52;E58 Abstract: We examine the evolution of monetary policy rules in a group of inflation targeting countries(Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom) applying moment- based estimator at time-varying parameter model with endogenous regressors. Using this novel flexible framework, our main findings are threefold. First, monetary policy rules change gradually pointing to the importance of applying time-varying estimation framework. Second, the interest ate smoothing parameter is much lower that what previous time-invariant estimates of policy rules typically report. External factors matter for all countries, albeit the importance of exchange rate diminishes after the adoption of inflation targeting. Third, the response of interest rates on inflation is particularly strong during the periods, when central bankers want to break the record of high inflation such as in the U.K. or in Australia at the beginning of 1980s. Contrary to common wisdom, the response becomes less aggressive after the adoption of inflation targeting suggesting the positive effect of this regime on anchoring inflation expectations. This result is supported by our finding that inflation persistence as well as policy neutral rate typically decreased after the adoption of inflation targeting. Length: 53 pages Creation-Date: 2010-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1007.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1007 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@urv.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia, Universidad Rovira i Virgili Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: Emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Inequality across countries in energy intensities: an analysis of the role of energy transformation and final energy consumption Keywords: Energy efficiency, energy intensities, energy transformation, Theil index Classification-JEL: C69;D39;Q43 Abstract: This paper analyzes the role of the energy transformation index and of final energy consumption per GDP unit in the disparities in energy intensity across countries. In that vein, we use a Theil decomposition approach to analyze global primary energy intensity inequality as well as inequality across different regions of the world and inequality within these regions. The paper first demonstrates the pre-eminence of divergence in final energy consumption per GDP unit in explaining global primary energy intensity inequality and its evolution during the 1971–2006 period. Secondly, it shows the lower (albeit non negligible) impact of the transformation index in global primary energy inequality. Thirdly, the relevance of regions as unit of analysis in studying crosscountry energy intensity inequality and their explanatory factors is highlighted. And finally, how regions around the world differ as to the relevance of the energy transformation index in explaining primary energy intensity inequality. Length: 26 pages Creation-Date: 2010-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1008.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1008 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Matías Piaggio Author-Email: MatiasJose.Piaggio@campus.uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: Emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: CO2 Emissions and Economic Activity: heterogeneity across countries and non stationary series Keywords: Bound testing, cointegration, CO2 emissions, environmental Kuznets curve, heterogeneity Classification-JEL: C32;O13;Q53;Q56 Abstract: This paper explores the homogeneity of the functional form, the parameters, and the turning point, when appropriate, of the relationship between CO2 emissions and economic activity for 31 countries (28 OECD, Brazil, China, and India) during the period 1950 to 2006 using cointegration analysis. With a sample highly overlapped over time between countries, the result reveals that the homogeneity across countries is rejected, both in functional form and in the parameters of long term relationship. This confirms the relevance of considering the heterogeneity in exploring the relationship between air pollution and economic activity to avoid spurious parameter estimates and infer a wrong behavior of the functional form, which could lead to induce that the relationship is reversed when in fact it is direct. Length: 44 pages Creation-Date: 2010-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1009.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1009 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Borek Vasícek Author-Email: borek.vasicek@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Is Monetary Policy in New Members States Asymmetric? Keywords: monetary policy, inflation targeting, nonlinear Taylor rules, threshold estimation Classification-JEL: C32;E52;E58 Abstract: Estimated Taylor rules became popular as a description of monetary policy conduct. There are numerous reasons why real monetary policy can be asymmetric and estimated Taylor rule nonlinear. This paper tests whether monetary policy can be described as asymmetric in three new European Union (EU) members (the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland), which apply an inflation targeting regime. Two different empirical frameworks are used: (i) a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation of models that allow discrimination between the sources of potential policy asymmetry but are conditioned by specific underlying relations (Dolado et al., 2004, 2005; Surico, 2007a,b); and (ii) a flexible framework of sample splitting where nonlinearity enters via a threshold variable and monetary policy is allowed to switch between regimes (Hansen, 2000; Caner and Hansen, 2004). We find generally little evidence for asymmetric policy driven by nonlinearities in economic systems, some evidence for asymmetric preferences and some interesting evidence on policy switches driven by the intensity of financial distress in the economy. Length: 36 pages Creation-Date: 2010-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1010.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1010 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xosé Luis Quiñoa López Author-Email: joseluis.quinoa@usc.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departamento de Economia Cuantitativa Title: Topologías en espacios de matrices y sistemas Leontief y Leontief-Sraffa Keywords: Homogeneización, Sistema, Leontief-Sraffa, Excedente, Capital, Trabajo Classification-JEL: C67;D57;R15 Abstract: Se demuestra que todo sistema tipo Leontief (o Leontief-Sraffa) puede ser transformado en uno estructuralmente equivalente en el que la matriz tecnológica A tenga la propiedad de que la suma de los elementos de cada columna sea el autovalor máximo a de A; lo que equivale a transformar las unidades físicas originales en unidades que (haciendo abstracción de la componente trabajo) tengan idéntica composición de capital. A un tal sistema transformado lo denominaremos homogeneizado. En este tipo de sistemas aparecen más cómodos los estudios del sistema de precios de Sraffa, la limitación del tipo de beneficio, el reparto del excedente, la interpretación económica de 1/(I – A), la interpretación de los precios utilizando el teorema del punto fijo, la evolución de los precios al variar el tipo de beneficio, etc. Se demuestra que en un sistema homogeneizado “idéntica composición orgánica de capital” (Marx) equivale a idéntica cantidad de trabajo directo. Length: 62 pages Creation-Date: 2011-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/Quino_01-2011.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:Quino_01-2011 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jaromír Baxa Author-Email: jaromir.baxa@gmail.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Institute of Economic Studies, Charles University, Prague and Institute of Information Theory and Automation, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Author-Name: Roman Horváth Author-Email: roman.horvath@gmail.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Czech National Bank and Institute of Economic Studies, Charles University, Prague Author-Name: Borek Vasícek Author-Email: borek.vasicek@gmail.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Monetary Policy Rules and Financial Stress: Does Financial Instability Matter for Monetary Keywords: financial stress, Taylor rule, monetary policy, time-varying parameter model, endogenous regressors. Classification-JEL: E43; E52;E58 Abstract: We examine whether and how main central banks responded to episodes of financial stress over the last three decades. We employ a new methodology for monetary policy rules estimation, which allows for time-varying response coefficients as well as corrects for endogeneity. This flexible framework applied to the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada and Sweden together with a new financial stress dataset developed by the International Monetary Fund allows not only testing whether the central banks responded to financial stress but also detects the periods and type of stress that were the most worrying for monetary authorities and to quantify the intensity of policy response. Our findings suggest that central banks often change policy rates: mainly decreasing it in the face of high financial stress. However, the size of a policy response varies substantially over time as well as across countries, with the 2008-2009 financial crisis being the period of the most severe and generalized response. With regards to the specific components of financial stress, most central banks seemed to respond to stock market stress and bank stress, while exchange rate stress is found to drive the reaction of central banks only in more open economies. Length: 46 pages Creation-Date: 2011-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1101.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1101 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andrés E. Luengo Author-Email: andreseduardo.luengo@campus.uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Medición del poder de mercado en la industria del cobre de Estados Unidos: Una aproximación desde la perspectiva de la Nueva Organización Industrial Empírica. Keywords: Poder de mercado, Nueva Organización Industrial Empírica, Industria del Classification-JEL: D40; D43; L13; L61; L72 Abstract: El estudio de la relación entre la estructura de la industria y el poder de mercado ha sido uno de los temas más discutidos en la literatura microeconómica. En esta investigación se adopta el enfoque de la “Nueva Organización Industrial Empírica” (NOIE) y se siguen los modelos desarrollados por Bresnahan (1982) y Lau (1982), y Porter (1983) para analizar el efecto de varias fusiones y adquisiciones sobre el poder de mercado de la industria del cobre en Estados Unidos durante el periodo 1994 – 2009. Se destaca que aunque el análisis de la industria muestra una mayor concentración, los resultados sugieren que las fusiones y adquisiciones no tuvieron efecto sobre el poder de mercado y que la industria mantuvo una conducta competitiva durante el periodo analizado. Length: 48 pages Creation-Date: 2011-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1102.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1102 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Roser Masjuan Author-Email: roser.masjuan@campus.uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Pau Morera Author-Email: paumorera@gmail.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Miquel-Angel Garcia-Lopez Author-Email: miquelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-WorkPlace-Name: Institut d'Economia de Barcelona Title: Ciudades que contribuyen a la Sostenibilidad Global Keywords: Ecological Footprint, urban form, urban sostenibility Classification-JEL: R14;Q51;Q57 Abstract: Trabajos anteriores han demostrado que gran parte de la variabilidad observada en la huella ecológica per cápita de los países puede explicarse a partir de las diferencias en renta per cápita y temperatura. La pregunta que nos planteamos en esta investigación es si el modelo urbano (densidad urbana y tamaño urbano) también puede ayudar a explicar dicha variabilidad. Los resultados obtenidos confirman el significativo impacto de la densidad urbana sobre la huella, por lo que controlar la dispersión urbana parece ser un mecanismo eficiente para reducir la huella ecológica de los países. En lugar de reflexionar sobre si las ciudades son o no son insostenibles por naturaleza, esta investigación se ha orientado de forma más operativa, intentando discernir qué tipo de modelo urbano contribuye en mayor medida a la sostenibilidad del planeta. Length: 23 pages Creation-Date: 2011-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1103.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1103 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xose Luis Quiñoa, Author-Email: joseluis.quinoa@usc.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departamento de Economía Cuantitativa, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela Author-Name: Laia Pié Author-Email: laia.pie@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Homogeneización en un Sistema de tipo Leontief (o Leontief-Sraffa). Keywords: Homogeneización, sistema de Leontief, Leontief-Sraffa, tipo de beneficio, excedent,capital, trabajo Classification-JEL: C67;D57;R15 Abstract: Dado un sistema tipo Leontief (o Leontief - Sraffa), se demuestra que puede ser transformado en uno estructuralmente equivalente que denominaremos sistema homogeneizado en el que la matriz tecnológica A así como la inversa de Leontief poseen propiedades matemáticas relevantes relacionadas con el autovalor máximo a de A. Para un sistema homogeneizado es condición necesaria y suficiente para que los precios relativos en el sentido Sraffa permanezcan invariantes al modificar el tipo de beneficio, que los coeficientes de trabajo directo sean iguales. Asimismo para este tipo de sistemas, la razón entre la suma de las mercancías que componen el excedente y la suma de las mercancías utilizadas como medios de producción coincide con el tipo máximo de beneficio. Es lo que Sraffa denomino “razón patrón” (global) en su Sistema Patrón. Length: 28 pages Creation-Date: 2011-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1104.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1104 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Leonel Muinelo Author-Email: walterleonel.muinelo@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Oriol Roca-Sagalés Author-Email: oriol.roca@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Economic Growth and Inequality: The Role of Fiscal Policies Keywords: fiscal policy, inequality, growth, panel data models Classification-JEL: E62;D31;O47;C23 Abstract: This paper analyses the impact of different instruments of fiscal policy on economic growth as well as on income inequality, using an unbalanced panel of 43 upper-middle and high income countries for the period 1972-2006. We consider and estimate two individual equations explaining growth and inequality in order to assess the incidence of different fiscal policies. Firstly, our approach considers imposing orthogonal assumptions between growth and inequality in both equations, and secondly, it allows growth to be included in the inequality equation, and inequality to be included in the growth equation. The empirical results suggest that an increase in the size of government measured through current expenditures and direct taxes diminishes economic growth while reducing inequality, being public investment the only fiscal policy that may break this trade-off between efficiency and equity, since increases in this item reduces inequality without harming output. Therefore, the results reflect that the trade-off between efficiency and equity that governments often confront when designing their fiscal policies may be avoided. Length: 39 pages Creation-Date: 2011-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1105.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1105 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@urv.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics and CREIP, Univ. Rovira i Virgili Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Univ. Autónoma de Barcelona Title: Cross-country polarisation in CO2 emissions per capita in the European Union: changes and explanatory factors Keywords: CO2 emissions, distribution of emissions, European Union, mitigation agreements, polarisation. Classification-JEL: Abstract: In this study, we analyse the degree of polarisation—a concept fundamentally different from that of inequality—in the international distribution of CO2 emissions per capita in the European Union. It is analytically relevant to examine the degree of instability inherent to a distribution and, in the analysed case, the likelihood that the distribution and its evolution will increase or decrease the chances of reaching an agreement. Two approaches were used to measure polarisation: the endogenous approach, in which countries are grouped according to their similarity in terms of emissions, and the exogenous approach, in which countries are grouped geographically. Our findings indicate a clear decrease in polarisation since the mid-1990s, which can essentially be explained by the fact that the different groups of countries have converged (i.e. antagonism among the CO2 emitters has decreased) as the contribution of energy intensity to between-group differences has decreased. This lower degree of polarisation in CO2 distribution suggests a situation more conducive to the possibility of reaching EU-wide agreements on the mitigation of CO2 emissions. Length: 28 pages Creation-Date: 2011-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1106.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1106 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@urv.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics and CREIP, Univ. Rovira i Virgili Title: EXPLANATORY FACTORS OF CO2 PER CAPITA EMISSION INEQUALITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Keywords: CO2 emissions, emission inequality, European Union, Kaya factors, Theil index. Classification-JEL: Abstract: The design of European mitigation policies requires a detailed examination of the factors explaining the unequal emissions in the different countries. This research analyzes the evolution of inequality in CO2 per capita emissions in the European Union (EU-27) in the 1990–2006 period and its explanatory factors. For this purpose, we decompose the Theil index of inequality into the contributions of the different Kaya factors. The decomposition is also applied to the inequality between and within groups of countries (North Europe, South Europe, and East Europe). The analysis shows an important reduction in inequality, to a large extent due to the smaller differences between groups and because of the lower contribution of the energy intensity factor. The importance of the GDP per capita factor increases and becomes the main explanatory factor. However, within the different groups of countries the carbonization index appears to be the most relevant factor in explaining inequalities. Length: 25 pages Creation-Date: 2011-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1107.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1107 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Crecimiento economico y estructura productiva en un modelo Input-Output: Un analisis alternativo de sensibilidad de los coeficientes. Keywords: Crecimiento, Modelo input-output, sensibilidad coeficientes, elasticidades. Abstract: A partir de la relación que existe entre el valor propio de la matriz de coeficientes técnicos y la tasa de crecimiento en un modelo simple de Leontief, se propone una medida de la sensibilidad de los coeficientes de dicha matriz. Ello permite determinar la importancia del impacto de los cambios en los distintos coeficientes sobre la tasa de crecimiento de la producción del sistema. Así mismo, se propone una extensión de este planteamiento al estudio del crecimiento de otras variables vinculadas con la producción. Length: 12 pages Creation-Date: 2011-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1108.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1108 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xavier Raurich Author-Email: xavier.raurich@ub.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament de Teoria Econòmica, Universitat de Barcelona and CREB Author-Name: Hector Sala Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and IZA Author-Name: Valeri Sorolla Author-Email: valeri.sorolla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia i d’Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Factor shares, the price markup, and the elasticity of substitution between capital and labor. Keywords: Elasticity of substitution, Price markup, Factor shares, Capital deepening Classification-JEL: E22;E24;E25 Abstract: In a Walrasian labor market, the labor income share is constant under the assumptions of a Cobb-Douglas production function and perfect competition. Given the observed decline of the labor share in recent decades, this paper relaxes these assumptions, proposes a time-series calculation of the aggregate price mark-up reflecting the degree of imperfect competition in the product market, and provides estimates of the elasticity of substitution under such product market imperfections. We focus on Spain and the U.S. and show that the elasticity of substitution is above one in Spain and below one in the U.S. We also show that the price markup drives the elasticity of substitution away from one, upwards in Spain, downwards in the U.S. These results are used to explain the declining path of the labor income share, common to both economies, and their contrasted patterns in terms of capital deepening. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2011-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1109.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1109 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francisco Navarro Author-Email: Francisco.Navarro@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Construcción de un modelo Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) medioambiental para Cataluña y el resto de España: Estudio del balance en CO2 incorporado en el comercio. Keywords: emisiones de gases efecto invernadero, análisis input-output, modelos multi-región input-output, contaminación incorporada Classification-JEL: D57;Q53;C67;R15 Abstract: El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el impacto, en emisiones de CO2, de la demanda final de Cataluña en relación a los vínculos comerciales interregionales con el resto de España y el resto del mundo. Este proceso implica el análisis del balance en CO2 incorporado para Cataluña, lo que permitirá evaluar la responsabilidad de la economía catalana respecto a estas emisiones. Para este propósito se construye, para esta determinada desagregación regional, un modelo Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) extendido al medioambiente con sectores verticalmente integrados. La incorporación de la técnica de la integración vertical nos permite un enfoque alternativo para el Balance Neto y un análisis más detallado de los vínculos interregionales entre los diversos sectores productivos, centrado en la responsabilidad última de la demanda final de cada sector en cada región. Hasta el momento, los estudios previos sobre los impactos medioambientales incorporados al comercio español se han centrado principalmente en el ámbito nacional. No obstante, por un lado el comercio interregional con el resto de España en términos monetarios representa cerca de la mitad del comercio exterior catalán. Por otro lado, los distintos metabolismos energéticos de ambas economías tienen como consecuencia una importante diferencia en la intensidad de emisión en la producción de bienes y servicios. Esta situación genera para Cataluña un déficit en el Balance Neto estimado con el resto de España, aún teniendo un importante superávit monetario. De esto se desprende la importancia de integrar el nivel interregional en los estudios de los impactos medioambientales incorporados en el comercio y, en consecuencia, en la planificación y formalización de políticas económicas y ambientales a nivel nacional. Length: 49 pages Creation-Date: 2012-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1201.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1201 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Artur Colom-Jaén Author-Email: artur.colom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Recursos naturales y desarrollo en el Chad: ¿maldición de los recursos o inserción periférica? Keywords: Recursos naturales, maldición de los recursos, Chad Classification-JEL: O55; Q34 Abstract: The significant increase in foreign investment in the African extractive sector in the last decade has refuelled the debate on the effects on development of the rents generated in this sector. From the resource curse theory, it is argued that the negative effects on development of these rents have to do basically with internal disfunctions, getting around the elements and external actors that shape and influence these internal features. The case of Chad, an oil-producing country since 2003 with the support of the World Bank, is presented and analysed in this article, and we reach the conclusion that the analysis of the peripherical insertion of the country is crucial to understand the disfunctions generated by oil rent. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2012-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1202.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1202 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francisco Navarro Author-Email: Francisco.Navarro@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Cristina Madrid Author-Email: cristina.madrid@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: "Deuda hídrica y escasez. Análisis MRIO del uso del agua en Andalucía" Keywords: integración vertical, modelos multi-region input-output, Agua Virtual, gestión hídrica integrada. Classification-JEL: F18;R15;Q25;Q57 Abstract: El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar un análisis regional y sectorial del Balance Neto de agua virtual asociada al comercio entre la región de Andalucía y el resto de España para el año 2005. Para ello, desarrollamos una metodología que nos permite efectuar un análisis comparativo del uso del agua en ambas regiones, en cuanto al impacto de su producción sectorial y de su demanda final. Incluimos en el marco metodológico el nuevo concepto de Agua Virtual, ya que está tomando gran relevancia en la arena de la Gestión Hídrica. La base del marco metodológico es el análisis Input-Output. En particular, construimos un modelo Input- Output Multi-Regional (MRIO) para las regiones consideradas. Esta herramienta es el método más utilizado para los estudios en los que se asigna la responsabilidad del uso de recursos de acuerdo a la demanda final, localizada territorialmente, de cada rama productiva. Entre otras ventajas, nos permite analizar los vínculos interregionales e intersectoriales de las regiones consideradas. La incorporación de la técnica de la integración vertical o subsistemas a nivel interregional nos permite un enfoque alternativo para el Balance Neto resultante, en el que puede examinarse la importancia de una determinada rama productiva de acuerdo a su influencia en el resto de sectores de las diversas regiones. No tenemos constancia de que este enfoque haya sido utilizado con anterioridad en los análisis MRIO aplicados al estudio de los impactos medioambientales incorporados en el comercio. Tampoco la tenemos sobre la aplicación de los MRIO de forma general para estos impactos a nivel interregional de la economía española. Los estudios previos sobre el uso del agua de la región andaluza se han centrado en el comercio internacional ante la dificultad de hacer un análisis exhaustivo a nivel sectorial utilizando las estadísticas de transporte por carretera. Sin embargo, en términos monetarios, el comercio interior de la región con el resto de España supone un 52% de las “exportaciones” y un 62% de las “importaciones”. Por lo tanto, a nivel práctico, este trabajo aporta a los estudios desarrollados con anterioridad la esencial perspectiva del comercio interior. Los resultados esperados contribuyen a mejorar una información de extrema relevancia para una posible reforma estructural de la economía y el comercio interregional andaluz acorde a un mejor uso del recurso agua. Length: 26 pages Creation-Date: 2012-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1203.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1203 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Matías Piaggio Author-Email: matias.piaggio@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Economic structure and key sectors analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in Uruguay Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions, input–output, Key sectors, Uruguay Classification-JEL: C67;Q40;Q43;Q56 Abstract: This paper identifies the key sectors in greenhouse gas emissions of the Uruguayan economy through input–output analysis. This allows to precisely determine the role played by the different productive sectors and their relationship with other sectors in the relation between the Uruguayan productive structure and atmospheric pollution. In order to guide policy design for GHG reduction, we decompose sectors liability between the pollution generated through their own production processes and the pollution indirectly generated in the production processes of other sectors. The results show that all the key polluting sectors for the different contaminants considered are relevant because of their own emissions, except for the sector Motor vehicles and oil retail trade, which is relevant in CO2 emissions because of its pure, both backward and forward, linkages. Finally, the best policy channels for controlling and reducing GHGs emissions are identified, and compared with the National Climate Change Response Plan (NCCRP) lines of action. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2012-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1204.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1204 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Daniel Calatayud Author-WorkPlace-Name: Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura del Vallès, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona Author-Name: Roger Dobaño Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Los límites de la compacidad urbana como instrumento a favor de la sostenibilidad. La hipótesis de la compensación en Barcelona medida a través de la huella ecológica de la movilidad y la vivienda. Classification-JEL: R11;R14 Abstract: La hipótesis de la compensación plantea la posibilidad de que los individuos que viven en centros urbanos densos tengan una mayor propensión a disponer de una segunda residencia y/o llevar a cabo desplazamientos más frecuentes hacia destinos más alejados durante los fines de semana y las vacaciones que los individuos que viven en zonas poco densas. En este contexto, no está claro cuál es el efecto neto de la densidad en términos ambientales. En esta investigación se contrasta la hipótesis de la compensación en la Región Metropolitana de Barcelona utilizando como indicador de impacto ambiental la huella ecológica de la movilidad y de la vivienda. Los resultados obtenidos rechazan la hipótesis de la compensación en un sentido fuerte, pero se detecta la existencia de un nivel máximo de densidad a partir del cual ejerce un impacto de signo positivo. Length: 20 pages Creation-Date: 2012-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1205.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1205 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francisco Callado Author-Email: franciscojose.callado@udg.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Girona Author-Name: Jana Hromcová Author-Email: Jana.Hromcova@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Natalia Utrero Author-Email: natalia.utrero@udg.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Girona Title: Openness and Technology Diffusion in Payment Systems: The Case of NAFTA Keywords: cash, payments, openness, NAFTA Classification-JEL: E42;F43;O33;O54 Abstract: We study the relationship between openness and payment system development. In particular, we analyze how the existence of technology diffusion from a more developed country fosters a transformation of payment choice in a less developed country. We apply our analysis to Mexico. Economic growth in Mexico was not high enough to cause a transformation of payment choice observed in the data after 2001. We argue that the switch towards electronic payments can be attributed to openness and related payment technology spillovers from the US in the context of NAFTA. Length: 21 pages Creation-Date: 2012-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1206.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1206 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Miguel-Àngel García-López Author-Email: miquelangel.garcia@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Chaos and order in the contemporary city. The impact of urban spatial structure on population density and commuting distance in Barcelona, 1986-2001. Abstract: One of the criticisms leveled at the model of dispersed city found all over the world is its unarticulated, random, and undifferentiated nature. To check this idea in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, we estimated the impact of the urban spatial structure (CBD, subcenters and transportation infrastructures) over the population density and commuting distance. The results are unfavorable to the hypothesis of the increasing destructuring of cities given that the explanatory capacity of both functions improves over time, both when other control variables are not included and when they are included. Length: 24 pages Creation-Date: 2012-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1207.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1207 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xavier Ramos Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Dirk Van de gaer Author-Email: dirk.vandegaer@UGent.be Author-WorkPlace-Name: SHERPPA, Vakgroep Sociale Economie, F.E.B., Ghent University, Tweekerkenstraat 2, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. Title: Empirical Approaches to Inequality of Opportunity: Principles, Measures, and Evidence Keywords: equality of opportunity, measurement, compensation, responsibility, effort, circumstances. Classification-JEL: D3;D63 Abstract: We put together the different conceptual issues involved in measuring inequality of opportunity, discuss how these concepts have been translated into computable measures, and point out the problems and choices researchers face when implementing these measures. Our analysis identifies and suggests several new possibilities to measure inequality of opportunity. The approaches are illustrated with a selective survey of the empirical literature on income inequality of opportunity. Length: 44 pages Creation-Date: 2012-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1208.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1208 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roxana Gutiérrez-Romero Author-Email: Roxana.Gutierrez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Determinants of Spanish Firms' Life Cycle and Job Creation: A Pseudo-Panel Approach Keywords: firm's life cycle, job creation, credit, immigration, pseudo-panel, instrumental variables Classification-JEL: D22;D92;O16;R23;C23;C26 Abstract: This paper examines the role of human capital, individual entrepreneurial traits and the business environment on firms’ life cycle and on job creation in Spain. For this purpose, we have constructed a pseudo-panel, by using the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey over the period 2001-2008. We have found that the creation, maturity and survival of firms were aided by the availability of bank credit and the large immigration inflows that Spain received over this period. However, of these two factors, only bank credit had a positive effect on the creation of jobs and on improving expectations of job expansion. The relatively high levels of youth unemployment experienced even before the crises of 2008 hurt the firm’s chances of maturity and survival. The results also suggested that the gender gap in entrepreneurial activities had narrowed. In relative terms, women with higher levels of education were more likely to create mature firms than men. Based on the empirical findings and those of related literature, the paper offers policy recommendations to foster a sustainable entrepreneurial sector capable of contributing to the recovery of the Spanish economy. Length: 34 pages Creation-Date: 2012-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1209.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1209 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roxana Gutiérrez-Romero Author-Email: Roxana.Gutierrez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: An Inquiry into the Use of Illegal Electoral Practices and Effects of Political Violence Keywords: Political competition, electoral violence, vote-buying, election fraud, ethnic identity, Kenya Abstract: This article investigates whether vote-buying and the instigation of violence in the disputed 2007 Kenyan elections were strategically motivated, and whether those affected by electoral violence changed their views towards ethno-politics and the use of violence. To answer these questions, a panel survey conducted before and after the elections is combined with external indicators of electoral violence. We find that political parties targeted vote-buying towards specific groups to weaken the support of their political rivals and to mobilize their own supporters. Furthermore, parties instigated violence strategically in areas where they were less likely to win. Although the victims of violence would prefer that parties are no longer allowed to organize in ethnic or religious lines, they are more likely to identify in ethnic terms, support the use of violence and avoid relying on the police to resolve disputes. The overall findings suggest an increased risk of electoral-violence reoccurring. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2012-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1210.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1210 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jean-François Carpantier Author-Email: jeanfrancois.carpantier@uni.lu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universite Catholique de Louvain Author-Name: Christelle Sapata Author-Email: sapata@fusl.ac.be. Author-WorkPlace-Name: Facultés Universitaires de Saint Louis Title: An ex-post view of inequality of opportunity in France and its regions Keywords: Inequality of Opportunity, Fairness, Regional Inequalities Classification-JEL: D31;D63;J62 Abstract: This paper proposes an ex-post measure of inequality of opportunity in France and its regions by assessing the inequality between individuals exerting the same effort. To this end, we define a fair income that fulfils ex-post equality of opportunity requirements. Unfairness is measured by an unfair Gini based on the distance between the actual income and the fair income. Our findings reveal that the measures of ex-post inequality of opportunity largely vary across regions, and that this is due to di_erences in reward schemes and in the impact of the non responsibility factors of income. We find that most regions have actual incomes closer to fair incomes than to average income, excepted Ile de France where the actual income looks poorly related to effort variables. Finally, we find that income inequality and inequality of opportunity are positively correlated among regions. Length: 37 pages Creation-Date: 2012-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1211.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1211 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Isabel Busom Author-Email: isabel.busom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Beatriz Corchuelo Author-Email: bcorchue@unex.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Deparment of Economy, University of Extremadura Author-Name: Ester Martinez Ros Author-Email: emros@emp.uc3m.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departamento de Economía de la Empresa, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and UNU-MERIT Title: Tax incentives and direct support for R&D: What do firms use and why? Keywords: R&D, tax incentives, subsidies, policy mix Classification-JEL: H25;L60;038;O31 Abstract: This paper studies whether firms’ use of R&D subsidies and R&D tax incentives is correlated to two sources of underinvestment in R&D, financing constraints and appropriability. We find that financially constrained SMEs are less likely to use R&D tax credits and more likely to obtain subsidies. SMEs using legal methods to protect their intellectual property are more likely to use tax incentives. Results are ambiguous for large firms. For both having previous experience in R&D increases the likelihood of using tax incentives, while it reduces the likelihood of using exclusively subsidies, suggesting that the latter induce entry into R&D. Results imply that direct funding and tax credits do not have the same ability to address each source of R&D underinvestment, and that on average subsidies may be better suited than tax credits at least for SMEs. From a policy perspective these tools may be complements rather than substitutes. Length: 50 pages Creation-Date: 2012-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1212.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1212 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Luciana Méndez Errico Author-Email: paulaluciana.mendez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The Impacts of Social Networks on Immigrants’ Employment Prospects: The Spanish Case 1997-2007 Keywords: Immigration, Labor market, Social Networks, Quantile regression, Semi-parametric estimations Classification-JEL: J15;J31;J61;C15 Abstract: This paper studies the extent to which social networks influence the employment stability and wages of immigrants in Spain. By doing so, I consider an aspect that has not been previously addressed in the empirical literature, namely the connection between immigrants’ social networks and labor market outcomes in Spain. For this purpose, I use micro-data from the National Immigrant Survey carried out in 2007. The analysis is conducted in two stages. First, the impact of social networks on the probability of keeping the first job obtained in Spain is studied through a multinomial logit regression. Second, quantile regressions are used to estimate a wage equation. The empirical results suggest that once the endogeneity problem has been accounted for, immigrants’ social networks influence their labor market outcomes. On arrival, immigrants experience a mismatch in the labor market. In addition, different effects of social networks on wages by gender and wage distribution are found. While contacts on arrival and informal job access mechanisms positively influence women’s wages, a wage penalty is observed for men. Length: 49 pages Creation-Date: 2013-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1301.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1301 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cristina Lopez-Mayan Author-Email: Cristina.Lopez.Mayan@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Performance in Post-compulsory Education: Evidence from Vocational and Academic Tracks Keywords: Dropout, high school performance, grade progression, youth employment, control function. Classification-JEL: I20;I21;J24 Abstract: This paper investigates the factors in_uencing grade performance in two different high school tracks (academic and vocational), including the effect of the amount of work achieved while studying. The empirical strategy analyzes grade progression through the outcomes, passing, repeating and dropping out, conditioning on previous outcomes, and dealing with the endogeneity introduced by the working variable. The analysis is based on a unique Spanish data with information on schooling and labor histories. Findings show that working reduces performance in both tracks, mainly during the first year, although the ffects are less detri- mental in the vocational path. Additionally, good performance in compulsory education, at- tending a private high school, or having high-educated parents improve outcomes, particularly in academic high school. Length: 53 pages Creation-Date: 2013-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1302.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1302 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Asensio Author-Email: javier.asensio@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) and Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB) Author-Name: Andrés Gómez-Lobo Author-Email: agomezlo@econ.uchile.cl Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Chile Author-Name: Anna Matas Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics (UAB) and IEB Title: How effective are policies to reduce gasoline consumption? Evaluating a quasi-natural experiment in Spain Keywords: Fuel consumption, cross-elasticities, transport policies, biofuel Classification-JEL: Q48;R41;R48 Abstract: Using a panel of 48 provinces for four years we empirically analyze a series of temporary policies aimed at curbing fuel consumption implemented in Spain between March and June 2011. The first policy was a reduction in the speed limit in highways. The second policy was an increase in the biofuel content of fuels used in the transport sector. The third measure was a reduction of 5% in commuting and regional train fares that resulted in two major metropolitan areas reducing their overall fare for public transit. The results indicate that the speed limit reduction in highways reduced gasoline consumption by between 2% and 3%, while an increase in the biofuel content of gasoline increased this consumption. This last result is consistent with experimental evidence that indicates that mileage per liter falls with an increase in the biofuel content in gasolines. As for the reduction in transit fares, we do not find a significant effect for this policy. However, in specifications including the urban transit fare for the major cities in each province the estimated cross-price elasticity of the demand for gasoline -used as a proxy for car use- with respect to the price of transit is within the range reported in the literature. This is important since one of the main eficiency justification for subsidizing public transit rests on the positive value of this parameter and most of the estimates reported in the literature are quite dated. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2013-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1303.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1303 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jean-François Carpantier Author-Email: jeanfrancois.carpantier@uni.lu Author-WorkPlace-Name: University of Luxembourg Author-Name: Christelle Sapata Author-Email: chrissapata@gmail.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Title: Empirical Welfare Analysis: When Preferences Matter Keywords: Random Utility, Preference Heterogeneity, Welfare, Inequality of Opportunity, Labour Supply Classification-JEL: C35;D31;D63;H24;H31;J22 Abstract: Fleurbaey and Maniquet have proposed the criteria of conditional equality and of egalitarian equivalence to assess the equity among individuals in an ordinal setting. Empirical applications are rare and only partially consistent with their framework. We propose a new empirical approach that relies on individual preferences, is consistent with the ordinal criteria and enables to compare them with the cardinal criteria. We estimate a utility function that incorporates individual heterogeneous preferences, obtain ordinal measures of well-being and apply conditional equality and egalitarian equivalence. We then propose two cardinal measures of well-being, that are comparable with the ordinal model, to compute Roemer’s and Van de gaer’s criteria. Finally we compare the characteristics of the worst-off displayed by each criterion. We apply this model to a sample of US micro data and obtain that about 18% of the worst-off are not common to all criteria. Length: 39 pages Creation-Date: 2013-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1304.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1304 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Moreno Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@urv.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia and CREIP, Universitat Rovira i Virgili Author-Name: Jordi Teixidó-Figueras Author-Email: jordijosep.teixido@urv.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia and CREIP, Universitat Rovira i Virgili Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Empirics of the international inequality in CO2 emissions intensity: explanatory factors according to complementary decomposition methodologies Keywords: CO2 international distribution, inequality decomposition, CO2 emissions intensity Classification-JEL: D39; Q43; Q56 Abstract: This paper analyses the international inequalities in CO2 emissions intensity for the period 1971- 2009 and assesses explanatory factors. Multiplicative, group and additive methodologies of inequality decomposition are employed. The first allows us to clarify the separated role of the carbonisation index and the energy intensity in the pattern observed for inequalities in CO2 intensities; the second allows us to understand the role of regional groups; and the third allows us to investigate the role of different fossil energy sources (coal, oil and gas). The results show that, first, the reduction in global emissions intensity has coincided with a significant reduction in international inequality. Second, the bulk of this inequality and its reduction are attributed to differences between the groups of countries considered. Third, coal is the main energy source explaining these inequalities, although the growth in the relative contribution of gas is also remarkable. Fourth, the bulk of inequalities between countries and its decline are explained by differences in energy intensities, although there are significant differences in the patterns demonstrated by different groups of countries. Length: 44 pages Creation-Date: 2013-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1305.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1305 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Matías Piaggio Author-Email: mpiaggio@iecon.ccee.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Instituto de Economía, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The materiality of the immaterial. Services sectors and CO2 emissions in Uruguay Keywords: input-output analysis, subsystems, carbon dioxide emissions, services Abstract: This paper analyzes the carbon dioxide emissions of the services sectors subsystem of Uruguay in 2004. Services, with the exception of transport, are often considered intangible because of their low level of direct emissions. However, the provision of services requires inputs produced by other sectors, including several highly material-intensive sectors. Through input output analysis we investigate the relationship between the services subsystem and the rest of the economy as regards carbon dioxide emissions. This approach allows us to study the importance of the set of services branches as a unit in the economic structure as well as to analyze in detail the relationship between the branches. The results depict that services’ direct emissions are the main component, as a consequence of transport-related sectors. However, the pollution that the services subsystem makes the rest of the economy produce is very significant, and it is almost all explained by non- transport-related sectors. This analysis is useful for determining the sectors in which mitigation policies are more effective, and whether they would be better tackled through technical improvements and better practices or through demand policies. Length: 23 pages Creation-Date: 2013-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1306.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1306 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lidia Andres Delgado Author-Email: lidia.andres@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Energy Intensity in Road Freight Transport of Heavy Goods Vehicles in Spain Keywords: energy intensity, road freight transport, LMDI, Divisia index decomposition Abstract: This paper examines the factors that have influenced the energy intensity of the Spanish road freight transport of heavy goods vehicles over the period 1996–2012. This article aims to contribute to a better understanding of the factors behind the energy intensity change of road freight and also to inform the design of measures to improve energy efficiency in road freight transport. The paper uses both annual single-period and chained multi-period multiplicative LMDI-II decomposition analysis. The results suggest that the decrease in the energy intensity of Spanish road freight in the period is explained by the change in the real energy intensity index (lower energy consumption per tonne-kilometre transported), which is partially offset by the behaviour of the structural index (greater share in freight transport of those commodities the transportation of which is more energy intensive). The change in energy intensity is analysed in more depth by quantifying the contribution of each commodity through the attribution of changes in Divisia indices. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2014-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1401.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1401 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Juan Antonio Duro Author-Email: juanantonio.duro@urv.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia and CREIP, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus. Spain. Author-Name: Jordi Teixidó-Figueras Author-Email: jordijosep.teixido@urv.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia and CREIP, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus. Spain. Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. Title: The causal factors of international inequality in CO2 emissions per capita: A regression-based inequality decomposition analysis. Keywords: CO2 emissions, international emissions inequality, regression-based decomposition Classification-JEL: C19; D39; Q43 Abstract: This paper uses the possibilities provided by the regression-based inequality decomposition (Fields, 2003) to explore the contribution of different explanatory factors to international inequality in CO2 emissions per capita. In contrast to previous emissions inequality decompositions, which were based on identity relationships (Duro and Padilla, 2006), this methodology does not impose any a priori specific relationship. Thus, it allows an assessment of the contribution to inequality of different relevant variables. In short, the paper appraises the relative contributions of affluence, sectoral composition, demographic factors and climate. The analysis is applied to selected years of the period 1993–2007. The results show the important (though decreasing) share of the contribution of demographic factors, as well as a significant contribution of affluence and sectoral composition. Length: 34 pages Creation-Date: 2014-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1402.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1402 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francisco J. Callado-Muñoz Author-Email: fcallado@unizar.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Centro Universitario de la Defensa de Zaragoza, Academia General Militar Author-Name: Jana Hromcová Author-Email: jana.hromcova@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. Author-Name: Natalia Utrero-González Author-Email: n.utrero@unizar.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Centro Universitario de la Defensa de Zaragoza, Academia General Militar. Title: Effects of Institutional Environment and Technology Development on Payment Choice Keywords: Technology, Institutions, European Integration, Payment Classification-JEL: E42;E51;G21;O52 Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the combination of institutional factors and technology advances as determinants of payment systems choice. The theoretical set up suggests that countries entering into a new institutional environment approach accepting group attitudes towards payment choices as a consequence of institutional pressure and technology development. We apply the results of the model to 2004 European Union enlargement process. Results confirm the relevance of both institutional environment and technology development in retail payment system decisions of newly acceded countries. Length: 21 pages Creation-Date: 2014-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1403.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1403 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Dario Simon Judzik Author-Email: dariojudzik@gmail.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Hector Sala Lorda Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The determinants of capital intensity in Japan and the U.S. Keywords: Capital intensity, Biased technological change, Elasticity of substitution, Capacity utilization rate, Employment Classification-JEL: E22; E24; O33 Abstract: We estimate the determinants of capital intensity in Japan and the US, characterized by striking different paths. We augment an otherwise standard Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) model with demand-side considerations, which we find especially relevant in the US. In this augmented setting, the elasticity of substitution between capital and labor is placed around 0.85 in Japan, and 0.30 in the US. We also find evidence of biased technical change, which is capital-saving in Japan but labor-saving in the US. These differences help us explain the diverse experience in the capital deepening process of these economies, and lead us to conclude that demand-side drivers may also be relevant to account for different growth experiences. A close look at the nature of technological change is also needed before designing one-size-fits-all industrial, economic growth, and/or labor market policies. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2014-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1404.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1404 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Javier Ordóñez Author-Email: jmonfort@eco.uji.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló Author-Name: Hector Sala Lorda Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Hector José I. Silva Author-Email: J.I.Silva-Becerra@kent.ac.uk Author-WorkPlace-Name: School of Economics, Keynes College, University of Kent, Title: Real unit labour costs in Eurozone countries: Drivers and clusters Keywords: Real unit labour costs, Eurozone, Real wages, Capital intensity, Technology Classification-JEL: F43;F62;O47;O52 Abstract: We examine the trajectories of the real unit labour costs (RULCs) in a selection of Eurozone economies. Strong asymmetries in the convergence process of the RULCs and its components —real wages, capital intensity, and technology— are uncovered through decomposition and cluster analyses. In the last three decades, the PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Spain) succeeded in reducing their RULCs by more than their northern partners. With the exception of Ireland, however, technological progress was weak; it was through capital intensification that periphery economies gained efficiency and competitiveness. Cluster heterogeneity, and lack of robustness in cluster composition, is a reflection of the difficulties in achieving real convergence and, by extension, nominal convergence. We conclude by outlining technology as the key convergence factor, and call for a renewed attention to real convergence indicators to strengthen the process of European integration. Length: 38 pages Creation-Date: 2014-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1405.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1405 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roxana Gutierrez-Romero Author-Email: roxana.gutierrez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonama de Barcelona Author-Name: Alessandra Conte Author-Email: alessandra.conte@e-campus.uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Estimating the impact of Mexican drug cartels on crime Keywords: Crime, difference-in-difference, instrumental variables, Mexico Classification-JEL: K49;O170;R59;C26 Abstract: We estimate the impact of drug cartels and drug-related homicides on crime and security perceptions in Mexico. For this purpose, we combine surveys on crime victimization with indicators of where drug cartels operate with and without drug-related homicides. Using the difference-in-difference estimator, we find that people living in areas that experienced drug-related homicides are more likely to take extra precautions to guard their security, yet these areas also more likely to experience some crimes, particularly thefts and extortions. In contrast, these crimes and perceptions of unsafety do not change in areas where cartels operate without leading to drug-related homicides. Length: 49 pages Creation-Date: 2014-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1406.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1406 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roxana Gutierrez-Romero Author-Email: roxana.gutierrez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonama de Barcelona Author-Name: Monica Oviedo Leon Author-Email: monicajuliana.oviedo@e-campus.uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The good, the bad and the ugly: The socio-economic impact of drug cartels and their violence in Mexico Keywords: Drug Cartels; Violence; Poverty; Inequality; Education; Migration; Kernel matching Classification-JEL: K49; O160; O170; R59; C26 Abstract: This paper assesses the impact that drug cartels and their associated violence have had on development in Mexico. For this purpose, we monitor official and media reports to identify where cartels have operated with and without drug related homicides. Using the difference-in-difference kernel matching method, we find that on the one hand, inequality declined to a large extent in areas where cartels were active without incidents of drug related homicides. On the other, poverty increased in areas that had both the lowest and the highest rates of drug related homicides. Two reasons could explain this increase in poverty. In the most violent areas the number of employers and remunerations declined in key industries, such as manufacturing. In the least violent areas poverty increased possibly due to people migrating from the more violent places. Length: 54 pages Creation-Date: 2014-10 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1407.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1407 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Roxana Gutierrez-Romero Author-Email: roxana.gutierrez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonama de Barcelona Author-Name: Luciana Méndez Errico Author-Email: paulaluciana.mendez@campus.uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The Long-Term Impact of Inequality on Entrepreneurship and Job Creation Keywords: Entrepreneurship, income distribution, job creation, pseudo-panel, instrumental variables Classification-JEL: M2, O1, D3, C23 Abstract: We assess the extent to which historical levels of inequality affect the likelihood of businesses being created, surviving and of these creating jobs overtime. To this end, we build a pseudo-panel of entrepreneurs across 48 countries using the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Survey over 2001-2009. We complement this pseudo-panel with historical data of income distribution and indicators of current business regulation. We find that in countries with higher levels of inequality in the 1700s and 1800s, businesses today are more likely to die young and create fewer jobs. Our evidence supports economic theories that argue initial wealth distribution influences countries’ development path, having therefore important policy implications for wealth redistribution. Length: 41 pages Creation-Date: 2015-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1501.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1501 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Cristina Lopez-Mayan Author-Email: cristina.lopez.mayan@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonama de Barcelona Author-Name: Ana Hidalgo-Cabrillana Author-Email: ana.hidalgo@uam.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departamento de Análisis Económico, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Title: Teaching styles and achievement: Student and teacher perspectives Keywords: Students and teacher reports; Test scores; Teacher quality; Modern and traditional teaching Classification-JEL: I20; I21; J24 Abstract: Using data from a Spanish assessment program of fourth-grade pupils, we analyze to what extent using certain teaching practices and materials in class is related to achieve- ment in maths and reading. We distinguish using traditional and modern teaching styles. As a novelty, we measure in-class work using two di erent sources of information -teacher and students. Our identi cation strategy relies on between-class within-school variation of teaching styles. We nd that modern practices are related to better achievement, specially in reading, while traditional practices, if anything, are detrimental. There are di erences depending on the source of information: the magnitude of coecients is larger when practices are reported by students. These ndings are robust to considering al- ternative de nitions of teaching practices. We obtain heterogeneous e ects of teaching styles by gender and type of school but only when using students' answers. Our nd- ings highlight the importance of the source of information, teacher or students, to draw adequate conclusions about the e ect of teaching style on achievement. Length: 53 pages Creation-Date: 2015-02 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1502.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1502 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Isabel Busom Author-Email: isabel.busom@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Beatriz Corchuelo Author-Email: bcorchue@unex.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universidad de Extremadura, Departamento de Economía Author-Name: Ester Martínez-Ros Author-Email: ester.martinez@uc3m.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Departamento de Economía de la Empresa Title: Dynamics of firm participation in R&D tax credit and subsidy programs Keywords: R&D, innovation policy, tax incentives, subsidies, persistence, dynamic random effects, bivariate probit Classification-JEL: 031 Abstract: We provide comparative evidence on R&D tax credit and subsidy programs by studying whether firms' participation in each program exhibits state dependence and whether cross program interactions exist and are significant. We use a panel of manufacturing Spanish firms, which could use both types of support, to estimate a random effects bivariate dynamic probit model of program participation. We find that true state dependence of participation in R&D subsidy and tax credit programs accounts respectively for about 55% and 60% of observed persistence. In contrast, we do not find evidence of cross program interaction, suggesting that each tool is used by firms with different profiles. Digging on the role of some observable variables, we find that both programs reach on average stable R&D performers, and that they do not foster participation of young firms relative to older ones. We also identify significant differences across programs: while diversified and commercially successful firms are more likely to use tax incentives, those with high productivity are more likely to obtain subsidies. We discuss some policy implications of these findings Length: 32 pages Creation-Date: 2015-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1503.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1503 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcantara Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Economic growth and productive structure in an input/output model: An alternative coefficient sensitivity analysis (english version of working paper 11.08) Keywords:Growth, input–output model, coefficients sensitivity, elasticities Abstract: Taking into account the relationship between the eigenvalue of the matrix of technical coefficients and the rate of growth in a simple Leontief model, a measure of the sensitivity of the coefficients of such matrix is proposed. This allows to determine the importance of the impact of changes in the different coefficients on the rate of production growth of the system. Moreover, an extension of this approach to the analysis of the growth of other variables linked to production is proposed. Length: 9 pages Creation-Date: 2015-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1504.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1504 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jana Hromcová Author-Email: jana.hromcova@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d’Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Pablo Agnese Author-Email: pablo.agnese@fh-duesseldorf.de Author-WorkPlace-Name: yFH Düsseldorf and IZA, Department of Business Studies Title: Low-Skill Offshoring and Welfare Compensation Policies Keywords:Offshoring, Welfare, Unemployment benefits, Labor Market Flexibility, Upgrading. Classification-JEL: F66, J68. Abstract: We analyze the effects of low-skill offshoring on welfare. In the context of a matching model with different possible equilibria, we discuss two alternative policies that could potentially outweigh the negative welfare effects of offshoring, namely, a change of the unemployment benefits and the flexibilization of the labor market. Our calibrations for the German economy suggest that the flexibilization of the labor market can bring low-skill workers to pre-offshoring welfare levels by slightly reducing the vacancy costs, something that cannot be accomplished by meddling with the unemployment benefits scheme. In addition, we find that a full compensation can be achieved by an upgrading of low-skill workers, its size depending on the type of equilibrium involved. In sum, our analysis gives support to flexibilization and upgrading by education as best therapies for offshoring. Length: 26 pages Creation-Date: 2015-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1505.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1505 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Matias Piaggio Author-Email: matias.piaggio@iecon.ccee.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Instituto de Economia, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Carolina Roman Author-Email: croman@iecon.ccee.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Environment for Development, Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Educación, Turrialba Title: The long-run relationshiop between C02 emissions and economic activity in a small open economy: Uruguay 1882-2010 Classification-JEL: Q43, C32, Q56 Abstract: The long-run relationship between carbon dioxide emissions from energy use and economic activity level is estimated for Uruguay between 1882 and 2010. We apply cointegration techniques and estimate a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) for testing whether these variables are endogenous over the long-rung while also considering the short-run dynamics. The economic productive structure, the degree of openness, and the share of clean sources on total energy supply are also considered as explanatory variables. The results show that there exists a linear relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and per capita economic activity level. Moreover, emissions increase jointly with the industrial sector participation in total output, as a consequence of the intensity of this activity in the consumption of energy from fossil fuels sources. The degree of openness is inversely related with carbon dioxide emissions. This is so because the periods of major opening were based on primary inputs exports, lower in energy intensity than industrial products. The changes in carbon dioxide emission are inversely related to the variation in the share of clean sources on total energy supply. Finally, all the variables included in the cointegration vector are endogenous, adjusting together to the deviations from the long-run relationship. As a consequence of the above, economic growth appears to be not enough for diminishing Uruguayan emissions in the long-run. Changes in the energy matrix should be encouraged, and emissions reduction should come not by energy constraints but by the development of clean sources or energy use efficiency improvements, given the impact of energy on economic activity level. Length: 28 pages Creation-Date: 2015-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1506.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1506 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Andrea Baranzini Author-Email: andrea.baranzini@hesge.ch Author-WorkPlace-Name: Haute Ecole de Gestion Genève, University of Apllied Sciences Western Switzerland Author-Name: Jeroen van den Bergh Author-Email: jeroen.bergh@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Institute of Environmental Science annd Technology (UAB); ICREA; Institute of Environmental Studies & Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (LSE) Author-Name: Stefano Carattini Author-Email: stefano.carattini@hesge.ch Author-WorkPlace-Name: Haute Ecole de Gestion Genève, University of Apllied Sciences Western Switzerland; Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (LSE) Author-Name: Richard Howarth Author-Email: rbhowarth@dartmouth.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name: Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Applied Economics (UAB) Author-Name:Jordi Roca Author-Email: jordi.roca@eb.edu Author-WorkPlace-Name:Faculty of Economics and Business (UB) Title: Seven Reasons to Use Carbon Pricing in Climate Policy Abstract: The idea of a global carbon price has been a recurrent theme in debates on international climate policy. Discarded at the Conference of Parties (COP) of Copenhagen in 2009, it remained part of deliberations for a climate agreement in subsequent years. Unfortunately, there is still much misunderstanding about the reasons for implementing a global carbon price. As a result, ideological and political resistance against it prospers. Here we present the main arguments in favor of a carbon price to stimulate a fair and well-informed discussion about climate policy instruments. This includes arguments that have received surprisingly little attention so far. It is stressed that a main reason to use carbon pricing is environmental effectiveness, so not only economic efficiency (including the special case of cost-effectiveness). In addition, we provide ideas on how to implement a uniform global carbon price, whether using a carbon tax or emissions trading. Length: 11 pages Creation-Date: 2015-11 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1507.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1507 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Isabel Busom Piquer Author-Email: isabel.busom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Cristina López-Mayán Navarrete Author-Email: clopezmayan@gmail.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Department of Economics, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Student preconceptions and learning economic reasoning Keywords: Economic education; student beliefs; cognitive bias; psychology; teaching of economics Classification-JEL: A12,A20,Y8 Abstract: Economic views held by the general public tend to differ significantly from those of economic experts. To what extent would these differences fade away if people were exposed to economic instruction? In this paper we identify first-year college students’ initial preconceptions about economic issues, explore some cognitive biases behind them, verify their persistence, and test whether beliefs are correlated to course performance. We conduct a survey at the beginning and the end of the semester on a sample of students taking an economic principles course. We find evidence of preconception persistence, inconsistencies and self-serving bias. Most students do not incorporate the newly learned tools into their thinking process, even if they perform well. Many economics senior students have some beliefs that are contradicted in a principles course. Instruction in economics could be more efficient if it explicitly addressed students’ preconceptions and biases, a path already taken in other disciplines. Length: 29 pages Creation-Date: 2015-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1508.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1508 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Vicent Alcantara Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Matías Piaggio Author-Email: mpiaggio@iecon.ccee.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universidad de la República, Uruguay Title: NOx emissions and productive structure in Spain: an input-output perspective Keywords: input-output analysis, Nox emissions, subsystems Abstract: We analyse the NOX gas emissions of different productive sectors in Spain. Using input–output analysis, we study all sectors as subsystems of the economy and classify them according to the explanatory factors of their total (direct and indirect) emissions. This classification provides guidance on the type of policies that should be developed in the different sectors with the aim of mitigating NOX emissions. Some sectors that seem less important when looking at their direct emissions turn out to be highly relevant in terms of their total emissions. The results indicate that demand policies can be effective in these sectors, especially in construction, but also in some service sectors that do not appear to be important polluters at first sight. These policies can complement technical improvements and best practice measures applied to directly polluting sectors. Length: 15 pages Creation-Date: 2016-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1601.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1601 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ferran Brunet Cid Author-Email: ferran.brunet@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Economía de la Europeriferia Abstract: En este capítulo se analizan seis aspectos de la economía de los países mediterráneos cuya moneda es el euro: i) Los rasgos de su estructura económica y de su sistema institucional. ii) El auge de las economías mediterráneas en la primera fase de la unión monetaria europea (UME) y su caída con la crisis financiera y la segunda fase del euro. iii) El carácter no óptimo de la eurozona, especialmente por la inmovilidad de la fuerza de trabajo, con la consecuencia de severos desequilibrios en los mercados de trabajo. iv) La pronunciada brecha de competitividad entre los Estados Miembros (EM) de la Unión Europea (UE) y la aparición de crecientes euroimbalances y divergencias entre ellos. v) La orientación de las políticas adoptadas para contrariar los efectos de la crisis por los EM de la europeriferia y la UE (Banco Central Europeo, Consejo y Comisión) y, en particular, los programas de rescate arbitrados y las nuevas formas de gobernanza europea. vi) Los déficits en la calidad de la regulación económica de la UE y la necesidad de Europa, especialmente para la europeriferia. Tras la crisis del eurosistema subyace una poderosa lógica: i) la UME ha desencadenado un choque asimétrico en los EM (burbuja y crack, así como déficits en la europeriferia, y superávits en el eurocentro); ii) siendo el eurosistema una zona monetaria no óptima, y habiéndose desarrollado intensas políticas que han financiado los grandes desequilibrios, la corrección de éstos vía ajuste estructural y estabilización coyuntural se ha demorado en el tiempo. En este contexto, a menudo las políticas de los EM e incluso de la UE han socavado la sostenibilidad fiscal (profundos déficits públicos financiados con deuda fácil y barata, en contradicción con el Pacto de Estabilidad y Crecimiento) y han postergado las reformas estructurales. Todo ello ha propiciado las subsiguientes crisis fiscal y bancaria que, a su vez, llevaron al rescate de varios EM. La UME significó un paso adelante esencial en la integración europea. Sin duda, el proceso de integración tiene efectos generales muy positivos y permanentes; pero también tiene otros efectos menores que son parcial y transitoriamente negativos. Los costes de estos perjuicios parciales y transitorios pueden ser, deben ser y han sido compensados por los beneficios generales y permanentes. Precisamente, en esto consiste el arte de la gobernanza económica europea. En conjunto, pues, los efectos de la UME deberán completarse y revertir en progreso para todos los europeos. Length: 19 pages Creation-Date: 2016-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1602.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1602 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Mauricio Duran Author-Email: ivanmauricio.duran@e-campus.uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Television and voting in Catalonia Keywords: Media, Elections, Voting behaviour, Natural experiment, Difference-in-Differences Classification-JEL: L82,D72,C99 Abstract: To what extent can be electoral results in Catalonia explained by the exposure of individuals to television? This paper sheds light on this question by looking into the effect of TV3 on two distinguished political outcomes in the 1984 Catalan Parliamentary election. The outcomes of interest are voter turnout and the vote share of Convergència i Unió (CiU), one of the strongest political forces in Catalonia who has mainly driven the channel since its creation. We resort to a natural experiment based on the geographically differentiated expansion of TV3 in Catalonia. Using a Difference-in-Differences Kernel matching method, we found that the introduction of TV3 caused an increase both in the voter turnout and the CiU vote share in the 1984 Catalan parliamentary elections. Length: 54 pages Creation-Date: 2016-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1603.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1603 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Olivera Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Vania Sánchez Trujillo Author-Email: Vania.Sanchez@e-campus.uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: ¿CONLLEVA LA DESCENTRALIZACIÓN DE LA POBLACIÓN Y DEL EMPLEO UN MODELO DE MOVILIDAD MÁS EFICIENTE? EVIDENCIA PARA EL CASO DE CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2000-2010 Abstract: The research adresses the relation between proximity to employment and commuting distance for the case of Mexico City. Two mechanisms can reduce commuting distance associated to changes in proximity to employment: co-location (a more balanced relation between workers and employment at a local level) reduces the number of external commuters, and b) a decrease in external commuting distance since external commuters go to a periferic employment subcenter closer that the main CBD. Our results indicate that the decrase in commuting distances is only explained by co-location, questioning the positive effect of polycentrism in terms of mobility. Length: 21 pages Creation-Date: 2016-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1604.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1604 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Muñiz Olivera Author-Email: ivan.muniz@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Carolina Rojas Author-Email: Author-WorkPlace-Name: Author-Name: Carles Busuldu Author-Email: Author-WorkPlace-Name: Author-Name: Alejandro García Author-Email: Author-WorkPlace-Name: Author-Name: Mariana Filipe Author-Email: Author-WorkPlace-Name:Marc Quintana Title: El impacto de la forma y estructura espacial urbana sobre las emisiones de CO2 en Concepción (Chile). ¿Es compatible una baja densidad residencial con un bajo nivel de emisiones? Abstract: Esta investigación persigue dos objetivos, en primer lugar, calcular las emisiones de CO2 asociadas a la movilidad y a la vivienda de los habitantes de Concepción. El segundo objetivo es estimar el impacto de la forma y estructura espacial sobre el volumen de emisiones. A partir de un amplio cuestionario se estimaron las emisiones individuales en 19 barrios, dando como resultado un volumen llamativamente inferior al calculado en otros trabajos de naturaleza similar. En cuanto al impacto de la forma y estructura urbana, contrariamente a lo esperado, la densidad no parece ejercer impacto alguno sobre las emisiones de CO2. Sí lo hace en cambio la distancia al CBD, por lo que políticas urbanísticas orientadas a frenar la expansión suburbana pueden resultar indicadas para reducir el volumen total de emisiones. Length: 23 pages Creation-Date: 2016-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1605.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1605 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francesc Trillas Jané Author-Email: francesc.trillas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Behavioral Regulatory Agencies Keywords: bounded rationality, regulation, commitment, delegation Abstract: This article analyses how the commitment problem in regulation, and the potential for a strategic delegation solution, is affected by the consideration of bounded rationality by agents that participate in the regulatory interaction. Regulators and other agents have endogenous preferences. Non-optimizing behavior, expert biases (and related de-biasing strategies), and a concern for fairness and process also modify the traditional regulatory game. As a result, on the one hand independent regulators are seen as part of a potentially more robust regulatory system, and on the other hand their contribution to this system can be based on a wider range of instruments. Length: 40 pages Creation-Date: 2016-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1606.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1606 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Francesc Trillas Jané Author-Email: francesc.trillas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Ramon Xifré Author-WorkPlace-Name: ESCI-Universitat Pomepue Fabra, Public-Private sector research center, IESE Business School Title: Institutional Reforms to Integrate Regulation and Competition Policy: Economic Analysis, International Perspectives, and the Case of the CNMC in Spain Abstract: We review the related academic literature and the international evidence on the institutions of regulation and competition policy, to analyze the creation in 2013 of the new macro regulator in Spain, the CNMC. The institutional reform merged the competition policy authority with virtually all sector regulators with the exception of the financial regulator. The aim of the paper is to assess the extent to which the Spanish reform follows international best practices as well as how it fits within the analysis found in the academic literature. Although there is not a universally superior approach, neither in practice nor in theory, important shortcomings remain with the model that was finally adopted in Spain. Some institutional diversity would facilitate an optimal level of regulatory independence and governmental coordination for each sector, and ultimately achieving better results in terms of consumer welfare. Length: 39 pages Creation-Date: 2016-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1607.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1607 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Anna Matas Prat Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Josep Lluís Raymond Bara Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Jorge Andrés Domínguez Moreno Author-Email: jorgeandres.dominguez@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Changes in fuel economy: An analysis of the Spanish car market Keywords: fuel efficiency, technological change, car characteristics Abstract: This paper estimates the role that technological change and car characteristics have played in the rate of fuel consumption of vehicles over time. Using data from the Spanish car market from 1988 to 2013, we estimate a reduced form equation that relates fuel consumption with a set of car characteristics. The results for the sales-weighted sample of vehicles show that energy efficiency would have improved by 30% and 42% for petrol and diesel cars respectively had car characteristics been held constant at 1988 values. However, the shift to bigger and more fuelconsuming cars reduced the gains from technological progress. Additionally, using the results of the fuel equation we show that, besides a natural growth rate of 1.1%, technological progress is affected by both the international price of oil and the adoption of mandatory emission standards. Moreover, according to our estimations, a 1% growth in GDP would modify car characteristics in such a way that fuel consumption would increase by around 0.23% for petrol cars and 0.35% for diesel cars. Length: 41 pages Creation-Date: 2016-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1608.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1608 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Hector Sala Lorda Author-Email: hector.sala@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Atanu Ghoshray Author-WorkPlace-Name: Newcastle University Business School Author-Name: Javier Ordóñez Author-WorkPlace-Name: Instituto de Economía Internacional, Universitat Jaume I, UPAEP Title: Euro, crisis and unemployment: Youth patterns, youth policies? Keywords: Unemployment, structural breaks, crisis, Eurozone, youth, education Classification-JEL: J64, O52, J08, F66 Abstract: This paper examines the occurrence of structural breaks in European unemployment associated with major events experienced by the European economies at an institutional level: the creation of the European and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999, and the Euro/financial crisis in 2008- 2009, which was followed by a general and intensive reform process in the years afterwards. Beyond the well documented asymmetries across countries, we uncover different responses of adult and youth unemployment rates. While adult unemployment is more prone to experience structural breaks, youth unemployment is more sensitive to business cycle oscillations. This has been especially so in the recent crisis and calls for fine tuning policy measures specifically targeted to youth unemployed in bad times. One important implication of our findings is that generic labour market reforms are not effective enough to solve the youth unemployment problem across Europe. We point to educational policies that raise average qualifications and help school-to-work transitions as suitable complementary cures. Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2016-05 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1609.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1609 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Anna Matas Prat Author-Email: anna.matas@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Adriana Karina Ruíz Marín Author-Email: adrianakarina.ruiz@campus.uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Josep Lluís Raymond Bara Author-Email: josep.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: How do road infrastructure investments affect the regional economy? Evidence from Spain Keywords: infraestructure, Regional investment, Market potential, Travel time Classification-JEL: R4, R11 Abstract: This paper analyses the relationship between road infrastructure improvements and investment in capital assets. Using aggregate data at a provincial level for 1977-2008, an equation for machinery and equipment investment is estimated applying Panel Corrected Standard Errors. The results indicate that the long-term elasticities of investment in relation to market potential, GDP and average years of schooling are 0.90, 0.75 and 0.80, respectively. Additionally, the long run impact of a road infrastructure investment policy is assessed. We find that the elasticities of investment in machinery and equipment, capital stock and GDP in relation to travel time are 1.18, 0.33 and 0.11, respectively. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2016-06 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1610.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1610 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Isabel Busom Author-Email: isabel.busom@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Jorge-Andrés Vélez-Ospina Author-Email: jorgeandres.velez@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Empresa, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Innovation, public support and productivity in colombia Classification-JEL: O31,O32,O33,O40,L8,C30 Abstract: We investigate the association between perceived barriers to innovation and the allocation of public support for innovation in manufacturing and service industries in Colombia, as well as the potential heterogeneity of returns to innovation across the firm-level productivity distribution. We extend the CDM recursive system by including an equation for the allocation of direct support and using quantile regression methods to estimate the productivity equation. We find some differences across manufacturing and service industries. Financing constraints are correlated with obtaining public support in manufacturing and in some services, but in knowledge intensive services (KIS) barriers associated with regulations are more significant. The introduction of innovations increases mostly the productivity of firms below the median of the productivity distribution, especially in services. Increasing human capital would boost productivity of firms in all industries, providing support to the hypothesis that human capital is indeed a bottleneck for productivity growth across the board in Colombia. We conclude that addressing factors that hinder innovation by low productivity firms in all service industries could significantly contribute to increasing productivity and reduce its dispersion. Length: 45 pages Creation-Date: 2017-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1701.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1701 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lidia Andrés Delgado Author-Email: lidia.andres@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Driving factors of GHG emissions in EU transport activity Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions; STIRPAT model; transport activity Abstract: This research identifies the driving factors of greenhouse gas emissions in transport activity in the EU-28 and the contribution of each of them to its changes during the period 1990–2014. The analysis is based on the STIRPAT model, which is broadened to investigate in depth the impact on transport emissions of changes in the transport activity and in the whole economy. In short, the study takes into account the population, economic activity, transport volume, transport energy intensity and structural composition of transport activity in terms of transport modes’ share and of energy sources’ mix. Using panel data econometric techniques, the significance of each factor and the impact of its change on emissions are identified. A better knowledge of the key driving forces is crucial for implementing policies focused on successfully reducing emissions in transport activity. The results allow a preliminary assessment of the potential effectiveness of the 2011 Transport White Paper measures aimed at cutting transport emissions. Length: 31 pages Creation-Date: 2017-03 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1702.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1702 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Mariateresa Silvi Author-Email: msilvi@gmx.com Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Pro-environmental behavior: On the interplay of intrinsic motivations and external conditions Abstract: A key issue for ecological economics concerns the processes whereby people engage in ecologically responsible behavior and contribute to environmental quality even when they involve a personal cost for a shared benefit. This paper explores the relative impact of intrinsic motivation versus external conditions and economic incentives on eight pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). Previous research has mostly focused on one of these two aspects or studied whether external incentives can crowd out moral motivation. More comprehensive accounts of the interplay of these factors are rare and mostly dated or report small-scale experiments and case studies. Using a data set measuring PEBs and environmental attitudes in the European Union’s 28 member states, this paper tests both sets of variables on a wider scale. It assesses the importance of intrinsic motivation as a dominant factor and shows how differing levels of intrinsic motivation influence the effectiveness of external conditions, such as monetary incentives and green infrastructures. External incentives are found to interact positively with intrinsic motivation. The findings also suggest that the influence of external factors varies depending on whether the behavior examined is cost neutral or implies costs or rewards. We further show that other non-strictly-related factors can affect the salience of an environmental norm and consequently the adoption of the corresponding behavior. Pressing economic preoccupations can distract individuals from behaving pro-environmentally, and PEBs are more likely to arise in individuals who care about the future. The results suggest that two-pronged policies, which take into account intrinsic motivation and external conditions, are needed to reach a high observance rate in the population in the short and in the long term. The wider significance of these results for environmental policy and policy guidance for each of the eight PEBs is discussed. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2017-04 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1703.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1703 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Natalia Utrero-Gonzalez Author-Email: n.utrero@unizar.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Centro Universitario de la Defensa de Zaragoza, Academia General Militar Author-Name: Jana Hromcová Author-Email: Jana.Hromcova@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Francisco J. Callado-Muñoz Author-Email: fcallado@unizar.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Centro Universitario de la Defensa de Zaragoza, Academia General Militar Title: Defence Spending, Institutional Environment and Economic Growth: Case of NATO Keywords: military alliance, defence spending, public spending, growth. Classification-JEL: D74,H5,O4 Abstract: This paper analyses the impact of participating in a military alliance on the nexus between defence spending and economic growth. In particular, we study how the process of gradual association to a military organization influences the defence spending of new-comers, and consequently their economic growth. Conclusions from the theoretical model are tested empirically for countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Results show that the prospect of intensified military alliance partnership and membership has a positive effect on economic growth. In addition, increased security and stability gained by closer military cooperation reinforces the positive link with economic growth. Empirical evidence supports theoretical priors. Length: 26 pages Creation-Date: 2017-07 File-URL: https://cap.uab.cat/RePEc/doc/wpdea1704.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1704 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Paola Azar Dufrechou Author-Email: pazar@iecon.ccee.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona; Institute of Economics, Universidad de la República-Uruguay Title: Higher education and economic development: can public funding restrain the returns from tertiary education? Keywords: tertiary education, public spending, economic growth, income per capita Classification-JEL: H52, I25, I26, O40, O50 Abstract: This paper examines whether the contribution of tertiary education to economic growth and income per capita depends on the structure of public education budgets. The analysis resorts to a panel of 41 countries over the period 1970-2010. The empirical approach is based on system GMM regressions and Hierarchical Linear Models, which allow dealing with endogeneity concerns and parameter heterogeneity. The estimates show that budget imbalances against basic schooling seem to undermine the achievement of productivity gains from higher education. Length: 32 pages Creation-Date: 2018-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1802.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1802 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Paola Azar Dufrechou Author-Email: pazar@iecon.ccee.edu.uy Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona; Institute of Economics, Universidad de la República-Uruguay Title: Electoral politics and the diffusion of primary schooling: evidence from Uruguay, 1914-1954 Keywords: primary education, pork-barrel, economic history Abstract: Based on the compilation of Uruguayan department-level data, this paper argues that the extent of fiscal commitment to primary education during the first half of the 20th century can be explained by the interests of tactically motivated politicians. The empirical test relies on panel data fixed effects models covering 18 Uruguayan departments over 40 years. The main findings reveal that political motivations have had a significant role in schooling provision across the territory. Throughout the period, the incumbent government seems to have used the resource allocation in primary education both to reward its core supporters and to persuade political opponents. Length: 43 pages Creation-Date: 2018-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1801.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1801 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xavier Ramos Morilla Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Daniel Gerszon Mahler Author-Email: dmahler@worldbank.org Author-WorkPlace-Name: World Bank Title: Equality of opportunity in four measures of well-being Keywords: Equality of opportunity, measurement, responsibility, e ort, well-being Classification-JEL: D3, D63, I31 Abstract: A growing literature has tried to measure the extent to which individuals have equal opportunities to acquire income. At the same time, policymakers have doubled down on e orts to go beyond income when designing policies to enhance well-being. We attempt to bridge these two areas by measuring the extent to which individuals have equal opportunities to achieve a high level of well-being. We use the German Socio-Economic Panel to measure well-being in four di erent ways including incomes. This makes it possible to determine if the way well-being is measured matters for identifying who the opportunity-deprived are and for tracking inequality of opportunity over time. We find that, regardless of how well-being is measured, the same people are opportunity-deprived and equality of opportunity has improved over the past 10 years. This suggests that going beyond income has little relevance if the objective is to provide equal opportunities. Length: 38 pages Creation-Date: 2018-12 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1803.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1803 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Xavier Ramos Morilla Author-Email: xavi.ramos@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Luciana Méndez Errico Author-Email: lucimerrico@gmail.com. Author-WorkPlace-Name: Instituto de Economía, Universidad de la República & EQUALITAS Title: Selection and educational attainment: Why some children are left behind? Evidence from a middle-income country. Keywords: Schooling transition, selection, inequality, education, ethnicity, cognitive and noncognitive abilities, sequential dynamic model Classification-JEL: I20, I24, J13, J15, J24 Abstract: We model schooling as a sequential process and examine why some children are left behind. We focus on the factors that explain selection at early stages of the education system. Our findings for Uruguay suggest that long-term factors, such as parental background or ethnicity matter across all education stages while the effect of short-term factors, such as family income, wear out as individuals progress in the education system, suggesting a severe selection process at early stages. Length: 27 pages Creation-Date: 2019-01 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1901.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1901 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lidia Andrés Delgado Author-Email: lidia.andres@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Transportation and storage sector and greenhouse gas emissions: an input-output subsytem comparison from supply and demand side perspectives Keywords: Ghosh model, greenhouse gas emissions, input-output, subsystem analysis, transportation and storage sector Abstract: We develop an input–output subsystem analysis based on the Ghosh model. Our method analyzes the interrelations in terms of emissions between the different subsystem subsectors and between the subsystem and the rest of sectors of the economy through the decomposition of total emissions into four explanatory components. In contrast to previous subsystem analyses based on the Leontief model, our method considers the emissions of the whole activity of the subsystem and not only those related to its final demand. This is particularly relevant to study the responsibility for emissions of the activity of sectors that produce mainly for other sectors. We apply this method and also the subsystem analysis from the demand-side perspective to analyze the transportation and storage subsystem in Spain in 2014. The activity of the subsystem induced the rest of sectors of the economy to pollute less than the emissions it was induced to emit. There are significant differences between the outcomes from demand- and supply-side perspectives, so that the consideration of both perspectives provides more accurate policy recommendations. Length: 32 pages Creation-Date: 2019-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1902.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1902 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Jordi Perdiguero Garcia Author-Email: jordi.perdiguero@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Alex Sanz Author-Email: alex.sanz@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Cruise activity and pollution: the case of Barcelona Keywords: Air pollution, Cruise ships emissions, Pollutants, Port externalities, Port of Barcelona, Urban air quality Classification-JEL: D62, L91, Q53, R49 Abstract: One of the main causes of mortality worldwide is air pollution. To tackle this problem, local, regional and national governments have implemented policies to reduce emissions from industrial and on-road sources. However, when these policies are being designed, shipping emissions are often overlooked. There has been a drastic increase in the demand for cruises and its economic relevance is also growing in port-cities. Barcelona is Europe’s leading cruise port, and it is located near the centre of the city. In this context, this paper analyses the impact of cruise ships in the air quality of the entire city of Barcelona using a dataset with information about pollutants and the number of cruises arriving to the port. We show that there is a direct impact between cruises staying at the port and city pollution. Additionally, the size and age of the cruise also affect air quality. The larger (or newer) the cruise is, the higher the emission generated. Moreover, our simulations show that the whole city is affected by these emissions. Length: 30 pages Creation-Date: 2019-07 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1903.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1903 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lourdes Isabel Patiño Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universidad Castro Carazo, Costa Rica Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Josep Lluís Raymond Bara Author-Email:joseplluis.raymond@uab.cat Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia i Història Econòmica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: The relation of GDP per capita with energy and CO2 emissions in Colombia Keywords: CO2 emissions; environmental Kuznets curve; partial adjustment model; primary energy Abstract: We analyze the relation of CO2 emissions per capita and primary energy per capita with GDP per capita and other relevant variables, for the period 1971–2011. Two dynamic econometric partial adjustment models are estimated using data from the International Energy Agency. The results suggest a relation that is compatible with the hypothesis of the environmental Kuznets curve, and whose turning points are within the range of the sample, reflecting a change in the relations between both indicators and GDP per capita. Several factors explain this change, the policies applied during the period being crucial. We compute the trajectory of the elasticities of these environmental pressures with respect to GDP, which decline significantly over time. We develop a new method, better fitted for asymmetric distributions, to compute the confidence intervals of these elasticities. Some determinants of the reduction of these environmental pressures are the change in the composition of primary energy sources, which entailed both primary energy savings and a reduction in CO2 emissions, as well as the favorable impact of the regulations imposed by the government aimed at controlling CO2 emissions from the transport and industrial sectors. The results provide important insights for the design of environmental and energy policies in developing countries to allow economic and social improvement without further growth in energy use and emissions. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2019-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1904.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1904 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Lourdes Isabel Patiño Author-WorkPlace-Name: Universidad Castro Carazo, Costa Rica Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Driving forces of CO2 emissions and energy intensity in Colombia Keywords: CO2 emissions, energy efficiency, Kaya identity, LMDI decomposition, structural change. Abstract: We analyze the driving factors of CO2 emissions generation and energy intensity during almost four decades. We apply a factorial decomposition for CO2 emissions, starting from the Kaya identity, using the logarithmic mean Divisia index method. The results indicate that the increase in emissions is mainly explained by the affluence effect and the population effect, but is partially offset by the effect of energy intensity and, to a lesser extent, the carbonization effect. We then analyze the driving factors of energy intensity. With this objective, we first transform final energy into its total primary energy requirements. We find that the decrease in total energy intensity is mainly due to the reduction in sectoral energy intensity and, to a lesser extent, to structural change. The most important contribution to the reduction in sectoral energy intensity is explained by efficiency improvement in the transport sector, but also by industry, while the decrease in the share of industry would be the most relevant component explaining the reduction of the structural change effect. This is the first application of this type to the Colombian case and provides useful information for the analysis and design of energy and environmental policies. Length: 33 pages Creation-Date: 2019-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1905.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1905 Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Author-Name: Edwin Buenaño Author-WorkPlace-Name: School of Physical and Mathematics Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito Author-Name: Emilio Padilla Rosa Author-Email: emilio.padilla@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Author-Name: Vicent Alcántara Escolano Author-Email: vicent.alcantara@uab.es Author-WorkPlace-Name: Departament d'Economia Aplicada, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Title: Identification of relevant sectors in CO2 emissions in Ecuador through input-output analysis Keywords: CO2 emissions, input–output analysis, key sectors Abstract: We analyse the relationship between the Ecuadorian economy and environmental pollution from an input-output approach, thereby identifying the key sectors in CO2 emissions and establishing a typology of them for the year 2013. The methodology used determines the economic activities that have greater responsibility in the generation of emissions, due to their own production or their interrelation with other activities. In addition, this influence is broken down into two types of effects (own and pure), which allow for a better perspective of the influence that the key sectors exert on the rest of the activities. The results show that, in addition to activities traditionally considered as polluting (transport, electricity and oil derivatives), there are others, such as commerce, construction, telecommunications and government administrative services, which are also highly responsible for the generation of emissions in the entire productive system. Length: 35 pages Creation-Date: 2019-09 File-URL: https://ddd.uab.cat/repec/doc/wpdea1906.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea1906