Search results for "33"

Convergence in TFP among Italian Regions: Panel Unit Roots with Heterogeneity and Cross Sectional Dependence

2005

This paper performs a number of tests to estimate convergence in total factor productivity (TFP) among Italian regions during the period 1970-2001. We generate the regional TFP series using growth accounting methodologies, and then apply a range of panel unit root tests to analyse the process of convergence. We extend the existing literature by incorporating three main improvements. Firstly, we control for the heterogeneity arising from the different economic structure of each region. Secondly, we account for the cross-sectional dependence due to common shocks or spillovers among different regions at the same time. Finally, we look for clubs of convergence using tests of poolability both on…

Does population density matter in the matching process of heterogeneous job seekers and vacancies?

2005

This paper analyses the matching process of job seekers and vacant jobs in local labour markets. We investigate how the education level of job seekers and education requirements of vacancies match together in the areas of Local Labour Offices (LLOs), and what is the role of population density in that process. The data set is temporally, spatially, by education level of job seekers and by education requirements of vacancies highly disaggregated monthly data from 146 LLOs in Finland over 14 years. We find differences in the abilities of local labour markets to form successful matches at given levels of inputs. These differences can be explained partly by population density. We control for the…

Regional Disparities and Public Policies in Italy: Some Considerations in Light of a Performance Analysis

2006

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the Italian Government has attempted to implement a new generation of policies aimed at reducing regional disparities. It is claimed that compared to the past, these policies should be more far reaching since they emphasize the importance of the structural economic conditions in promoting growth and convergence. In this paper, we use a dataset of regional social and economic indicators in order to look at the evidence surrounding the outcome of these policies. A frontier approach seems to be suitable for the purpose of this research, as it yields a ranking of performance scores where regions can be compared in cross-sectional and a temporal dimension. Addit…

A Glance of the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the European Union

2003

Mexico has had a notable trade performance in the last years as result of a process of economic liberalisation and internal structural reforms that started in the mid-1980s and consolidated in the 1990s by establishing a network of free trade agreements. The FTA between the European Union and Mexico is a consequence of many advantages, among others to open up a bigger markets, same legal footing as their competitors and new potential investments. The liberalisation is phased until 2007. Mexico has had a big jump in exports through NAFTA, and nowadays has a preferential access to the world's largest market, the EU. In addition, Mexico offers better conditions for investment because the work …

Migration Behaviour and Duration of Residence Spells of Graduating Students in Finland in 1987-2002

2006

An interesting, but yet largely unstudied question concerns migration behaviour in different labour markets from the point of view of duration. How long are residenece spells? Why do some migrants move quite soon after the move, while others stay for a long time? How do personal and family characteristics account for differences in residence spells and repeat migration? Does earlier migration experience or other prior activity or experience explain for this? What is the role of labour market conditions and other region-specific factors? This paper deals with migration behaviour in Finland in 1987-2002. Migration will be analyzed in a duration-model context where movement is seen as terminat…

Estimating regional differences in returns to education when schooling and location are determined endogenously

2010

While the growing supply of university skills is known to have agglomerated towards the large centers in Finland, there is no research knowledge available on the development of regional demands. This paper attempts to fill this gap by analyzing regional variation in the private-sector return to university education in Finland for the period 1970 - 2004. In the analysis, we focus on studying 1) whether there are differences in the return to university between different region types, and 2) to what extent can these differences - if they exist - be explained by differences in regional skill supply and unemployment. For the econometric analysis, we use a large register-based dataset constructed…

How to Cope with Declining Small Urban Centres? - The Finnish Regional Centre Programme in perspective

2004

The severe depression which Finland suffered in the early 1990´s as well as the subsequent economic developments saw Finland faced not only with high unemployment and rising income disparities but also with deepening regional imbalance. As a handful of larger cities grew, many others either coped or declined altogether. In 2000 the Finnish government launched the Regional Centre Programme (RCP). Through the development of a regional network of different sized growth centres based on their particular strengths, expertise and specialization, the original purpose of the programme was not only to find new sources of economic growth but to find ways of spreading growth more evenly across region…

Can migration decisions be affected by income taxation policies?

2001

In this empirical paper we examine whether or not migration decisions can be affected by individual measures of regional policy. To shed light on the question, we study formation of expected earnings and effect of expected earnings on interregional migration decisions in Finland. We consider how this effect varies among individuals, especially among employees in medical and health care sector and in teaching sector. We generated expected earnings in migration and staying alternatives from an endogenous switching regression. These expected earnings were used as additional explanatory variables in a random parameter logit migration model. In the migration model individual can choose between t…

The effects of family life cycle, family ties and distance on migration: micro evidence from Finland in 1994

1999

Innovations in regional development policy of the OECD and European

2010

In the seventies the policies of regional economic development in the OECD and in Europe were joined by the correction of economic (growth rates of GDP and income unbalanced) and technical differences and by inadequate allocations of human, financial, and infrastructural resources. Regional policies were based on the following points: a)Massive financial assistance (to develop infrastructures and public services) to the poorest regions; b)Creating artificial poles of economic development at regional level; c)Creation ex-nihilo of technology; d)Attempts to keep alive in declining industries to protect local employment. After twenty years of operations the results have been disastrous, and ma…