Is Contracting out of Public Services still the Great Panacea? A Systematic Review of Studies on Economic and Quality Effects from 2000 to 2014

This article presents the results of a systematic review of international studies on economic and quality effects of contracting out published in the period from 2000 to 2014. We conducted a comprehensive search of the literature and identified 49 relevant studies. There are three main findings of the systematic review: (1) cost savings documented in international contracting out literature have been decreasing over time; (2) cost savings have been much greater in technical services than in social services; and (3) economic effects have been twice as large in Anglo‐Saxon countries compared with other countries. With regard to measuring the effect of contracting out on service quality, which is a vital component of any service delivery arrangement, very few studies assess this issue in a comprehensive manner. There is also a significant lack of studies that include measures of transaction costs, thereby making it difficult to evaluate the impact of contracting out on overall cost‐effectiveness of public service delivery. We conclude that generalization of effects from contracting out should be made with caution and are likely to depend, among other things, on the transaction costs characteristics of the service, the market situation and the institutional/regulatory setting.     

首都会展业与区域经济的互动关系

会展业作为"城市经济的助推器",在扩大经济规模、带动相关投资、平衡产业结构等各个方面能产生广泛的经济效应。同时,会展经济在推动地区基础设施建设、增加就业、提高城市影响力等非经济效益方面也做出了很大的贡献。本文通过对首都会展业与区域经济的相关分析,发现首都会展业对区域经济有明显的推动作用,对北京地区生产总值、旅游业、零售业和就业有明显的驱动效应。同时,区域经济发展也为会展业的兴起提供了物质基础,影响着会展业的规模和发展速度。     

Liberalization,crisis and growth in MENA region: Do institutions matter?

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the interaction between financial liberalization, banking crisis and economic growth by taking into consideration the role of institutions. Our sample covers 15 Middle East and North African observed during the period 2000–2013. Using a dynamic panel data framework, our findings reveal that financial liberalization contributed to improve economic growth in MENA countries while banking crisis had harmful effects on MENA economies. The quality of institutions did not have a clear impact except for rule and order and democratic institution. These results have important policy implications. To grow output and avoid the occurrence of banking crisis, MENA countries should reinforce their institutions quality by adopting good practice of governance and regulation.     

Regional Specialization and Urban Development in England during the Industrial Revolution*

The Industrial Revolution led to the formation of a clear regional specialization in terms of production in England. Northwestern England developed into a modern industrial area, where the secondary industry sector was the main sector. London and its periphery in southeastern England developed mainly domestic and foreign trade, the financial industry and high-level service industry, all of which belong to the tertiary industry sector. The vast intermediate area between the northwest and the southeast mainly developed the first industry sector, namely commercial corn-animal husbandry. This regional economic specialization had a profound impact on urban development, under which the development of the three major regions showed different characteristics in terms of urban functions, city size and regional urban system. Specially, in the intermediate zone, there left traces of rural towns in the pre-industrial period.     

城镇居民普遍信任的区域间及区域内差异分析——基于“资源因素论”视角

本研究采用CGSS2003数据分析普遍信任的区域间及区域内的差异,发现中国城镇居民的普遍信任程度从高到低排序依次为东部、中部和西部。该发现从“资源因素论”的视角验证了普遍信任的程度差异与地区层面的宏观公共资源的相关性,微观层面的资源（包括个人拥有的资源和个人借用的资源）对地区内城镇居民的普遍信任有正向影响,这一影响会因宏观层面资源的不同而发生变化。     

Transmissions of real economic shocks across the Pacific Rim economies

We use Asian International Input–Output Tables 1995 in measuring trade dependencies of 10 Pacific Rim economies within a regional general equilibrium model. We develop two sets of metrics in measuring the trade dependencies of the economies. First, we use final demand elasticity of exports in measuring the sensitivities of the economies in the model to autonomous changes in the final demand in any other economy in the region. Second, we use a final-demand-weighted index of export elasticities that are induced by variations in the final demand vector of any economy in the model as indicators of the strength of the shocks transmitted across countries.The estimated coefficients have important policy implications. First, these coefficients identify the most vulnerable sectors of the economies in terms of the export/import dependency. Second, these coefficients may be readily used in bilateral and regional trade negotiations. Using these coefficients, policy makers can provide mutual trade concessions in dampening the effects of real and financial shocks transmitted from the trading partners.     

Has Transport Infrastructure Promoted Regional Economic Growth？—— With an Analysis of the Spatial Spillover Effects of Transport Infrastructure

在综合考虑多维要素对中国区域经济增长的协同作用的基础上,构建交通基础设施对区域经济增长的空间溢出模型,利用1993．2009年的中国省级面板数据和空间计量经济学的研究方法,实证分析得出以下主要结论。（1）中国交通基础设施对区域经济增长的产出弹性值合计约0．05．0．07,表明其对中国区域经济增长具有重要的作用。（2）中国交通基础设施对区域经济增长的空间溢出效应非常显著,若不考虑空间溢出效应,会高估交通基础设施对区域经济增长的作用。（3）外地交通基础设施对本地经济增长表现为以正的空间溢出效应为主,但是也有空间负溢出的证据。（4）在影响区域经济增长的多维要素中,劳动力与其他公共部门资本存量对中国区域经济弹性的贡献仍然较大,新经济增长因素与新经济地理因素的作用也不容忽视。     

Does inflation targeting lower inflation and spur growth?

Over the last few decades several countries have turned to inflation targeting as a policy choice for instilling stability into their economies. Prior studies have shown that inflation targeting has reduced inflation in those countries without significantly impacting GDP. This study seeks to improve upon these results by identifying the impact of timing on the policy decision as well as its impact as related to specific regions of the world. The focus is on developing countries across six regions. We find significant regional variation in developing countries in our sample in terms of the direction of changes in inflation following a switch to the inflation targeting policy. Moreover, although the impact of inflation targeting on real GDP is minimal overall, there is a statistically significant increase in real GDP among developing countries in certain regions only, namely, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.     

Protecting the Old in a Young Economy: Old Age Insurance in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Taking the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a reference point, this paper looks at social protection in developing economies, which are beset by economic stagnation, widespread poverty and unemployment. If the main breadwinner dies, is unable to work or is an older person, these factors are prime causes of absolute poverty. This is hardly surprising, since private and public systems of social security are totally inadequate in this area in particular. Current thinking on social security suggests that what is needed is the rapid introduction of a comprehensive system of retirement provision, comprising a mandatory capital-funded insurance component, with defined contributions, administered on a decentralized basis; and a state-administered pay-as-you-go basic insurance component with lump-sum transfers to safeguard the poorest. A system of this kind works to prevent poverty in old age by redistributing funds from some individuals to others and ensuring an income for life, and it represents a compromise between a fair return on what people have contributed and a fair distribution over society as a whole. It is thus a major force for stability in society.     

Wagner’s law vs. Keynes’ hypothesis in very different countries (Armenia and Spain)

There is considerable controversy in the economic literature concerning whether particular government expenditures have an impact on economic growth. This study analyzes the macroeconomic magnitude of government expenditures in Armenia and Spain and evaluates whether there exists a causal relationship between government expenditures and economic growth, and vice versa (Keynes’ hypothesis and Wagner’s law). The study employs the VAR methodology to analyze annual data for the years 1996–2014. By utilizing Granger causality tests, the study reveals whether the government expenditures are a significant factor in economic growth in short-term perspective. Finally, IRF and FEVD tests are applied to estimate the effects of a change in particular government expenditures on GDP for twelve year time horizon. This study validates the hypothesis that, irrespective of size and nature of the economy (Armenia vs. Spain), some public expenditures (e.g. healthcare) positively contribute to the growth of the economy, while social protection in both countries is negatively related to GDP.     

Preservation versus motorized recreation: Institutions, history, and public lands management

The management of the public lands in the United States has been shaped by the long-running conflict between environmental and utilitarian values. Recently, changing social expectations have increased demand for motorized recreational use and access. Critics contend such use of the public lands is a threat to their ecological health. Yet even as motorized use draws increased scrutiny and challenge, some commentators conclude that the battle is already over—and recreational users have won. This article focuses attention on the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service and contends they are predisposed as institutions to favor demands for motorized recreational use and access. It concludes that what is needed is an explanation that seeks to place motorized recreational use in a historical and institutional context that offers a more complete understanding of why such users might be winning the battle.     

Spillover effects of taxes on government debt: a spatial panel approach

It is claimed that tax policy is neither time- nor space-independent due to cross-border tax base mobility, which induces spillovers. Specifically, fiscal shocks in one country are supposed to have an impact on fiscal policies in other countries. Different types of taxes influence economies differently. This paper addresses the question of their impact on government debt. Within a framework of spatial econometric modeling, we evaluate the impact of capital, labor and consumption taxes on public debt in 34 European countries in 2002–2011, and find strong spatial spillovers. We show that a consumption tax and, to a lesser degree, a capital tax significantly affect the sovereign debt, and that the global relations play a leading role (i.e. dominate the local ones) in shaping fiscal policy.     

国家综合配套改革试验区——区域经济发展的新模式探索

经过28年的改革开放,我国的经济体制改革已经进入攻坚阶段,改革的复杂性、艰巨性和风险性大大增强.经济领域内部各项改革的推进需要其他各项改革相配套,因此,改革的路径需要从单方面改革向综合配套改革转变。在这种形势下,国家综合配套改革试验区应运而生。这就需要从国家综合配套改革试验区的内涵和特征以及对区域经济发展的作用、机理以及政策建议等问题展开探讨。     

Impact of Providing Off-Site Economic Development Funds to Dependent Regions Surrounding the U.S. DOE's Major Nuclear Weapons Sites

Using an interregional econometric simulation model, a comparative analysis was made of the economic impacts of providing funds for environmental management, education, and infrastructure to the regions surrounding four of the United States Department of Energy's massive former nuclear weapons sites in Idaho, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Washington. Infrastructure funds were used to build sewers, water lines, roads, bridges, and maintain existing infrastructure. Education funds were invested in higher education, primary and vocational schools, books, and libraries. Environmental management funds were invested in on-site remediation. Education produced the most jobs and personal income per dollar of investment, followed by environmental management. Infrastructure, by far, produced the least impact. An important reason for these results is that the relatively small regional economies surrounding these sites are unable to supply the goods and services required for major expansions. Hence, there is considerable leakage of investments to other regions. The limitations of these models to capture feedbacks from investments is emphasized.     

旧方志与区域旅游文化开发的关系研究——以陕西利用旧志的经验为主要考察对象

旧方志具有促进区域旅游发展的现实意义,但在利用时一定要仔细甄别。要挖掘旧方志中的人文元素,以名人轶事、传说故事造势,提升旅游文化品位;以旧方志中的地图及文字记载为依据,有重点地保护与恢复重建文物古迹;利用旧方志,打造特色风土民情观光游;依据旧方志所记载的当地农副特产等经济资源,带动当地土特产种植,发展旅游产品销售,促进旅游经济增长。     

Political Participation and Cumulative Disadvantage: The Impact of Economic and Social Hardship on Young Citizens

In this article, we seek to provide the most comprehensive exploration to date of the effects of economic and social disadvantage on young citizens' voter turnout. We look at four overlapping domains of hardship—those rooted in (a) the family context, (b) the community context, (c) the school context, and (d) major events and life transitions. Our conceptual model of cumulative advantage/disadvantage identifies the different ways in which disadvantages can have cumulative effects on social outcomes generally and on civic participation in particular. Our framework also suggests how patterns of advantage and disadvantage may be mediated by social institutions. Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Survey, we show that disadvantages rooted in the family have major impact on all groups of young citizens and that family disadvantage interacts with school disadvantage for whites. We also show that the effects of early parenthood, being arrested, and dropping out of school have differential effects depending on race. We also show that community colleges function as civic leveling institutions—especially for African American youth.     

"扩权强县"与地区公共产品供给研究

提供更多的以公共产品为主的公共服务是转型期政府的主要责任和职能,政府为减少行政成本提高行政效率的层级改革同样应考虑公共产品的供给。"扩权强县"是近年来在我国部分省区为促进县域经济发展采取的一种分权措施,这种以扩大县(市)地方政府权力为手段,以提高行政效率,推动地区经济发展为目标的改革,对我国当前地区公共产品的供给产生了一定影响。     

关于整合海域为新板块纳入国家区域开发总体战略问题探讨

为了跟进经济全球化和区域一体化的世界潮流,跟从全国区域经济协调发展的现实进程,中国目前应当抓紧整合海域为新版块,并与东部、西部、东北、中部一起纳入"区域发展总体战略",为制定《中华人民共和国国民经济和社会发展第十二个五年规划纲要》以及海洋经济开发专项规划提供理论支撑。有鉴于此,必须对于整合海域为新板块纳入国家区域开发总体战略进行价值定位,并依据实施海洋区域经济开发战略的现实条件进行机遇认定,进而做出实施海洋区域开发战略的对策创意。本文通过构建海域开发体系,改善地缘经济关系,造就和谐海洋氛围,促进完善全国区域经济开发格局和总体战略,真正实现"经略海洋"的战略构想。     

A NOTE ON AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INEQUALITIES

In common with other advanced market economies, regional and rural communities in Australia have come under increasing economic and social stress. One manifestation of this phenomenon is the growing spatial inequalities in social and economic conditions. This paper briefly reviews the genesis of spatial inequalities and examines their consequences in the contemporary Australian political milieu. The discussion concludes with an analysis of the policy implications of these inequalities for local governments and communities in disadvantaged regional and rural areas.     

首都经济圈综合功能区划研究

首都经济圈综合功能区划是优化配置区域空间资源、合理组织区域空间结构方案的基础。本文在研究首都经济圈区域综合发展条件的基础上,界定首都经济圈空间范围,构建首都经济圈综合功能区划目标及原则,建立首都经济圈综合功能区划研究框架,分析首都经济圈土地利用特征、水资源空间分异特征、人口和经济总量分异特征、产业结构分异特征及基础设施支撑度分异特征,并在以上分析的基础上构建首都经济圈综合功能区划,确定未来首都经济圈各功能区功能定位及发展方向,为未来首都经济圈空间结构的优化配置奠定基础。