Tito Boeri, Micael Castanheira, Riccardo Faini, Vincenzo Galasso, Giorgio Barba Navaretti, Carcillo Stéphane, Jonathan Haskel, Giuseppe Nicoletti, Enrico Perotti, Carlo Scarpa, Lidia Tsyganok, and Christian Wey
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- May 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199203628
- eISBN:
- 9780191708169
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199203628.003.0003
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Public and Welfare
Theory is not ambiguous about the impact of competition on economic performance. Empirical evidence, however, suggests that competition raises productivity. Both policy-makers and the academic ...
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Theory is not ambiguous about the impact of competition on economic performance. Empirical evidence, however, suggests that competition raises productivity. Both policy-makers and the academic community agree that the benefits of competition outweigh any eventual costs. Competition boosts the incentives for innovation and raises productivity growth of firms via the process of entry and exit.Less
Theory is not ambiguous about the impact of competition on economic performance. Empirical evidence, however, suggests that competition raises productivity. Both policy-makers and the academic community agree that the benefits of competition outweigh any eventual costs. Competition boosts the incentives for innovation and raises productivity growth of firms via the process of entry and exit.
David B. Audretsch, Max C. Keilbach, and Erik E. Lehmann
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- January 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195183511
- eISBN:
- 9780199783663
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195183511.003.0004
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
This chapter attempts to link entrepreneurship to economic performance. It provides empirical evidence consistent with the hypothesis that economic performance — output measured as GDP or economic ...
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This chapter attempts to link entrepreneurship to economic performance. It provides empirical evidence consistent with the hypothesis that economic performance — output measured as GDP or economic growth — is positively related to the presence of a Standort's entrepreneurship capital. In particular, the empirical evidence based on German regions suggests that the neoclassical two-factor approach does not adequately explain economic performance, at least not in the case of contemporary Germany. Rather, including entrepreneurship provides a better explanation of why some regions exhibit a stronger economic performance than others. It is argued that the degree of entrepreneurial activity, which presumably reflects the underlying stock of entrepreneurship capital associated with a particular Standort, positively affects economic performance.Less
This chapter attempts to link entrepreneurship to economic performance. It provides empirical evidence consistent with the hypothesis that economic performance — output measured as GDP or economic growth — is positively related to the presence of a Standort's entrepreneurship capital. In particular, the empirical evidence based on German regions suggests that the neoclassical two-factor approach does not adequately explain economic performance, at least not in the case of contemporary Germany. Rather, including entrepreneurship provides a better explanation of why some regions exhibit a stronger economic performance than others. It is argued that the degree of entrepreneurial activity, which presumably reflects the underlying stock of entrepreneurship capital associated with a particular Standort, positively affects economic performance.
Russell J. Dalton
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199268436
- eISBN:
- 9780191708572
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199268436.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Theory
This chapter examines the theory that the poor economic performance of government has eroded political support by the citizenry. The analyses examine the relationship between perceptions of the ...
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This chapter examines the theory that the poor economic performance of government has eroded political support by the citizenry. The analyses examine the relationship between perceptions of the economy and support for government. Using either opinion surveys or timeseries data, there is little evidence that economic performance is a major reason for the decline in political support.Less
This chapter examines the theory that the poor economic performance of government has eroded political support by the citizenry. The analyses examine the relationship between perceptions of the economy and support for government. Using either opinion surveys or timeseries data, there is little evidence that economic performance is a major reason for the decline in political support.
Ian McAllister
- Published in print:
- 1999
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198295686
- eISBN:
- 9780191600043
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198295685.003.0009
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
A major conclusion of this book is that there are few consistent trends in popular support for the political community but there is high and perhaps even growing support for democratic values and ...
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A major conclusion of this book is that there are few consistent trends in popular support for the political community but there is high and perhaps even growing support for democratic values and declining support for regime institutions and political leaders. Earlier chapters have traced these patterns with respect to democracy worldwide, and, in particular, regions of the world. This one focuses specifically on the role of public policy in shaping popular support for democratic institutions among OECD countries. The data are aggregate indicators across twenty‐four of the twenty‐nine member countries of the OECD in 1997, as well as individual‐level data from the same twenty‐four countries based on the 1990–1 World Values Survey. The different sections of the chapter are: Explaining Institutional Confidence; Evidence for Trends in Institutional Confidence; The Role of Democratic Experience; Policy Outputs and Confidence: A Macro Analysis; Policy Outputs and Confidence: A Micro Analysis; and Discussion and Conclusions.Less
A major conclusion of this book is that there are few consistent trends in popular support for the political community but there is high and perhaps even growing support for democratic values and declining support for regime institutions and political leaders. Earlier chapters have traced these patterns with respect to democracy worldwide, and, in particular, regions of the world. This one focuses specifically on the role of public policy in shaping popular support for democratic institutions among OECD countries. The data are aggregate indicators across twenty‐four of the twenty‐nine member countries of the OECD in 1997, as well as individual‐level data from the same twenty‐four countries based on the 1990–1 World Values Survey. The different sections of the chapter are: Explaining Institutional Confidence; Evidence for Trends in Institutional Confidence; The Role of Democratic Experience; Policy Outputs and Confidence: A Macro Analysis; Policy Outputs and Confidence: A Micro Analysis; and Discussion and Conclusions.
William Mishler and Richard Rose
- Published in print:
- 1999
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198295686
- eISBN:
- 9780191600043
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198295685.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
Assesses the trajectories and dynamics of public support for seven democratizing regimes in Central and Eastern Europe—Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and ...
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Assesses the trajectories and dynamics of public support for seven democratizing regimes in Central and Eastern Europe—Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia—during the first five years following the fall of communism. It begins by offering a reconceptualization of support for new democracies. An examination is then made of popular approval of the new regimes in 1991, shortly following the collapse of communism, and the trajectory of support is tracked through to 1995. Next, a model of the dynamics underlying these trends is developed and tested, paying particular attention to the extent to which support is contingent on political and economic performance. More generally, an exploration is made of whether and to what extent the sources of support change over time as citizens acquire experience with the new regimes.Less
Assesses the trajectories and dynamics of public support for seven democratizing regimes in Central and Eastern Europe—Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia—during the first five years following the fall of communism. It begins by offering a reconceptualization of support for new democracies. An examination is then made of popular approval of the new regimes in 1991, shortly following the collapse of communism, and the trajectory of support is tracked through to 1995. Next, a model of the dynamics underlying these trends is developed and tested, paying particular attention to the extent to which support is contingent on political and economic performance. More generally, an exploration is made of whether and to what extent the sources of support change over time as citizens acquire experience with the new regimes.
Harold O. Fried, C. A. Knox Lovell, and S. Schmidt Shelton
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195183528
- eISBN:
- 9780199870288
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195183528.003.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Econometrics
This chapter begins with a brief discussion of variations in productive efficiency using airlines as an example. It then presents the main purpose of the book, which is to study inefficiency in ...
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This chapter begins with a brief discussion of variations in productive efficiency using airlines as an example. It then presents the main purpose of the book, which is to study inefficiency in production and its impact on economic and financial performance. The chapter then provides background material and focuses on hypotheses that have been proposed in literature that would explain variation in producer performance; lays the theoretical foundation for the measurement of productive efficiency; offers a brief introduction to alternative techniques that have been developed to quantify inefficiency empirically; introduces various econometric approaches to efficiency estimation; introduces variants of the mathematical programming approach to efficiency estimation; introduces the Malmquist productivity index and shows how to decompose it into various sources of productivity change, including variation in productive efficiency; and describes three ways of approximating a Malmquist productivity index: the use of superlative index numbers, the use of econometric techniques, and the use of mathematical programming techniques. An overview of the succeeding chapters is also presented.Less
This chapter begins with a brief discussion of variations in productive efficiency using airlines as an example. It then presents the main purpose of the book, which is to study inefficiency in production and its impact on economic and financial performance. The chapter then provides background material and focuses on hypotheses that have been proposed in literature that would explain variation in producer performance; lays the theoretical foundation for the measurement of productive efficiency; offers a brief introduction to alternative techniques that have been developed to quantify inefficiency empirically; introduces various econometric approaches to efficiency estimation; introduces variants of the mathematical programming approach to efficiency estimation; introduces the Malmquist productivity index and shows how to decompose it into various sources of productivity change, including variation in productive efficiency; and describes three ways of approximating a Malmquist productivity index: the use of superlative index numbers, the use of econometric techniques, and the use of mathematical programming techniques. An overview of the succeeding chapters is also presented.
William Leon Megginson
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195150629
- eISBN:
- 9780199835768
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195150627.003.0005
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Financial Economics
This chapter examines the impact of privatization on transition economies. It looks at how the 26 countries that emerged from the former Soviet bloc adapted to the new era of political freedom and ...
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This chapter examines the impact of privatization on transition economies. It looks at how the 26 countries that emerged from the former Soviet bloc adapted to the new era of political freedom and market economics that rose after 1989, and the privatization experience of China. All 26 countries that emerged from the Soviet bloc have begun the political and economic process of transition, but the process has been painful and incomplete. In contrast, China’s transition experience has been immensely successful. Over the past quarter-century, China has enjoyed rapid and almost uninterrupted economic growth, and has attracted more foreign direct investment than any country in the world except the United States.Less
This chapter examines the impact of privatization on transition economies. It looks at how the 26 countries that emerged from the former Soviet bloc adapted to the new era of political freedom and market economics that rose after 1989, and the privatization experience of China. All 26 countries that emerged from the Soviet bloc have begun the political and economic process of transition, but the process has been painful and incomplete. In contrast, China’s transition experience has been immensely successful. Over the past quarter-century, China has enjoyed rapid and almost uninterrupted economic growth, and has attracted more foreign direct investment than any country in the world except the United States.
Richard B. Freeman
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195376630
- eISBN:
- 9780199865499
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195376630.003.0011
- Subject:
- Social Work, Social Policy
From the 1990s into the first decade of the 2000s, many economic analysts viewed the United States as the peak economy in the advanced world. This chapter offers a different interpretation of the ...
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From the 1990s into the first decade of the 2000s, many economic analysts viewed the United States as the peak economy in the advanced world. This chapter offers a different interpretation of the U.S. experience. It argues that the standard reading of the U.S. experience ignores important aspects of the American model beyond flexibility and inequality. The section “U.S. Economic Performance” reviews the main areas of American economic success and failure. The following section “Rethinking the ‘Very Good’ of the U.S. System” argues that analyses of stress flexibility, deregulation of markets, and greater dispersion or inequality of pay as the hallmark of the U.S. economy miss the “shared capitalist” arrangements and private/public links that contribute to efficiency. The next section “Toward Broader Comparisons and Counterfactuals” notes that both English-speaking countries whose economic systems resemble those of the United States and continental EU economies that rely on social dialogue institutions, have had sufficiently variegated outcomes to gainsay any simple generalization about national economic models. Looking to the future, the chapter considers the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. and other economic models to surmount the problems likely to pose the greatest challenge in the next decade: those associated with global warming, energy, and the environment, and increased globalization of labor markets.Less
From the 1990s into the first decade of the 2000s, many economic analysts viewed the United States as the peak economy in the advanced world. This chapter offers a different interpretation of the U.S. experience. It argues that the standard reading of the U.S. experience ignores important aspects of the American model beyond flexibility and inequality. The section “U.S. Economic Performance” reviews the main areas of American economic success and failure. The following section “Rethinking the ‘Very Good’ of the U.S. System” argues that analyses of stress flexibility, deregulation of markets, and greater dispersion or inequality of pay as the hallmark of the U.S. economy miss the “shared capitalist” arrangements and private/public links that contribute to efficiency. The next section “Toward Broader Comparisons and Counterfactuals” notes that both English-speaking countries whose economic systems resemble those of the United States and continental EU economies that rely on social dialogue institutions, have had sufficiently variegated outcomes to gainsay any simple generalization about national economic models. Looking to the future, the chapter considers the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. and other economic models to surmount the problems likely to pose the greatest challenge in the next decade: those associated with global warming, energy, and the environment, and increased globalization of labor markets.
Stavros B. Thomadakis
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199202812
- eISBN:
- 9780191708008
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199202812.003.0008
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union, Democratization
This chapter focuses on fiscal conditions and structures and how they evolved over time in Greece, Portugal, and Spain. Their evolution went through three phases, that is, democratization, ...
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This chapter focuses on fiscal conditions and structures and how they evolved over time in Greece, Portugal, and Spain. Their evolution went through three phases, that is, democratization, consolidation of democracy and orientation of national economies towards the European Union, and European convergence and participation in the European Monetary Union. Traditionally, the states of Greece, Portugal, and Spain were weak economic entities, in terms of taxing and public spending. Democratization, in the aftermath of an international economic crisis, brought about the enlargement of public spending, without a corresponding increase of public revenues. Overall, the economic role of the state grew, but the commitment of the three states to European integration required economic stability and fiscal consolidation. In the course of achieving these goals, Greece lagged behind Portugal and Spain. Finally, the imbalance between fiscal expenditure and public revenues was corrected, and the three countries were successfully integrated into a system of more developed economies.Less
This chapter focuses on fiscal conditions and structures and how they evolved over time in Greece, Portugal, and Spain. Their evolution went through three phases, that is, democratization, consolidation of democracy and orientation of national economies towards the European Union, and European convergence and participation in the European Monetary Union. Traditionally, the states of Greece, Portugal, and Spain were weak economic entities, in terms of taxing and public spending. Democratization, in the aftermath of an international economic crisis, brought about the enlargement of public spending, without a corresponding increase of public revenues. Overall, the economic role of the state grew, but the commitment of the three states to European integration required economic stability and fiscal consolidation. In the course of achieving these goals, Greece lagged behind Portugal and Spain. Finally, the imbalance between fiscal expenditure and public revenues was corrected, and the three countries were successfully integrated into a system of more developed economies.
Lazega Emmanuel
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199242726
- eISBN:
- 9780191697166
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199242726.003.0005
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Organization Studies, HRM / IR
Niche seeking and status competition represent two potentially advantageous micro-political activities for individuals. This chapter focuses on their usefulness in connecting the interests of an ...
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Niche seeking and status competition represent two potentially advantageous micro-political activities for individuals. This chapter focuses on their usefulness in connecting the interests of an individual and that of the firm as a whole — that is, micro- and macro-levels in the firm. This is done by showing how social niches and status competition have an effect on economic (or quantitative) and professional (or qualitative) forms of performance: by making tenured partners work and by ensuring a form of unobtrusive quality control among peers.Less
Niche seeking and status competition represent two potentially advantageous micro-political activities for individuals. This chapter focuses on their usefulness in connecting the interests of an individual and that of the firm as a whole — that is, micro- and macro-levels in the firm. This is done by showing how social niches and status competition have an effect on economic (or quantitative) and professional (or qualitative) forms of performance: by making tenured partners work and by ensuring a form of unobtrusive quality control among peers.
Grzegorz W. Kolodko
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198297437
- eISBN:
- 9780191685354
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198297437.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
The great transformation undertaken by the countries of the former communist bloc exhibits immense diversity and in terms of initial conditions, shifting target models, consistency, paths, speed, ...
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The great transformation undertaken by the countries of the former communist bloc exhibits immense diversity and in terms of initial conditions, shifting target models, consistency, paths, speed, progress to date, and economic performance. This book studies the economics and politics of postsocialism. Many people writing on the reform process offer advice that is not really credible; as a member of the Polish government, and architect of the successful Polish reform, the author of this book actually solved many of the difficulties of transition, which allows him to come forward here with policy proposals and long-term forecasts. The treatment of the transition from plan to market as a historical process is an important feature of the book. The book claims that there is no historical fatality that sound policies in the present are more determining than the favourable or unfavourable legacies of the past. The aim is to create and maintain the conditions for sustainable growth and durable development.Less
The great transformation undertaken by the countries of the former communist bloc exhibits immense diversity and in terms of initial conditions, shifting target models, consistency, paths, speed, progress to date, and economic performance. This book studies the economics and politics of postsocialism. Many people writing on the reform process offer advice that is not really credible; as a member of the Polish government, and architect of the successful Polish reform, the author of this book actually solved many of the difficulties of transition, which allows him to come forward here with policy proposals and long-term forecasts. The treatment of the transition from plan to market as a historical process is an important feature of the book. The book claims that there is no historical fatality that sound policies in the present are more determining than the favourable or unfavourable legacies of the past. The aim is to create and maintain the conditions for sustainable growth and durable development.
Lane Kenworthy
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199591527
- eISBN:
- 9780191731389
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199591527.003.0010
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
If we commit to improvement in the absolute living standards of the least well-off, must we sacrifice other desirable outcomes? The comparative empirical evidence suggests not.
If we commit to improvement in the absolute living standards of the least well-off, must we sacrifice other desirable outcomes? The comparative empirical evidence suggests not.
charles Dellheim
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199251902
- eISBN:
- 9780191719059
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199251902.003.0009
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Business History
This chapter focuses on the economic culture of Jews with particular emphasis on myths and practices. While steering clear of essentialist assumptions about intrinsic ‘racial traits’, it asks whether ...
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This chapter focuses on the economic culture of Jews with particular emphasis on myths and practices. While steering clear of essentialist assumptions about intrinsic ‘racial traits’, it asks whether there was, in fact, anything distinctive about the attitudes and activities of Jewish entrepreneurs. It examines ‘Shylock's shadow’, the scurrilous stereotypes that pictured Jews as greedy, materialistic, and acquisitive; the historical and sociological literature regarding Jewish economic behaviour; and the role of Jews in specific sectors of the American economy, notably in book publishing. It is argued that the Jewish experience in American business underlines the role of social marginality as an important source of innovation.Less
This chapter focuses on the economic culture of Jews with particular emphasis on myths and practices. While steering clear of essentialist assumptions about intrinsic ‘racial traits’, it asks whether there was, in fact, anything distinctive about the attitudes and activities of Jewish entrepreneurs. It examines ‘Shylock's shadow’, the scurrilous stereotypes that pictured Jews as greedy, materialistic, and acquisitive; the historical and sociological literature regarding Jewish economic behaviour; and the role of Jews in specific sectors of the American economy, notably in book publishing. It is argued that the Jewish experience in American business underlines the role of social marginality as an important source of innovation.
HAROLD L. WILENSKY
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520231764
- eISBN:
- 9780520928336
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520231764.003.0012
- Subject:
- Sociology, Comparative and Historical Sociology
This chapter evaluates the influence of political economy, government spending, and taxation on economic performance. It examines whether the expanding welfare state and the continuing push for ...
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This chapter evaluates the influence of political economy, government spending, and taxation on economic performance. It examines whether the expanding welfare state and the continuing push for equality and job security are barriers to good economic performance. It argues that the trade-offs between job protection, social security, equality, and participatory democracy on the one hand, and worker productivity, economic growth, and other measures of economic performance, on the other hand, are not so stark as suggested in the burgeoning literature on policy analysis.Less
This chapter evaluates the influence of political economy, government spending, and taxation on economic performance. It examines whether the expanding welfare state and the continuing push for equality and job security are barriers to good economic performance. It argues that the trade-offs between job protection, social security, equality, and participatory democracy on the one hand, and worker productivity, economic growth, and other measures of economic performance, on the other hand, are not so stark as suggested in the burgeoning literature on policy analysis.
Russell J. Dalton
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- May 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199268436
- eISBN:
- 9780191708572
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199268436.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Theory
This chapter uses opinion data from the World Values Survey to compare levels of political support across a dozen advanced industrial democracies, and separate the various levels of political ...
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This chapter uses opinion data from the World Values Survey to compare levels of political support across a dozen advanced industrial democracies, and separate the various levels of political support. It then examines several theories for why trust has declined over time.Less
This chapter uses opinion data from the World Values Survey to compare levels of political support across a dozen advanced industrial democracies, and separate the various levels of political support. It then examines several theories for why trust has declined over time.
Jagdish Bhagwati
- Published in print:
- 1993
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198288473
- eISBN:
- 9780191684609
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198288473.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, South and East Asia
This book offers an overview of the policies that produced India's sorry economic performance over a third of a century. The author's analysis puts into sharp focus the crippling effects of the ...
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This book offers an overview of the policies that produced India's sorry economic performance over a third of a century. The author's analysis puts into sharp focus the crippling effects of the inward-looking, bureaucratic regime that grew to Kafkaesque dimensions, starting in the early 1950s. It provides a rationale for the economic reforms begun in June 1991 by the new government of Prime Minister Rao. These reforms are set into historical and analytical perspective.Less
This book offers an overview of the policies that produced India's sorry economic performance over a third of a century. The author's analysis puts into sharp focus the crippling effects of the inward-looking, bureaucratic regime that grew to Kafkaesque dimensions, starting in the early 1950s. It provides a rationale for the economic reforms begun in June 1991 by the new government of Prime Minister Rao. These reforms are set into historical and analytical perspective.
Andrew Reynolds
- Published in print:
- 1999
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198295105
- eISBN:
- 9780191600128
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198295103.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, Democratization
This is the first of four chapters that discusses the theoretical underpinnings of the research on democratization in southern Africa that is described in the book. It qualitatively and ...
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This is the first of four chapters that discusses the theoretical underpinnings of the research on democratization in southern Africa that is described in the book. It qualitatively and quantitatively assesses the trajectory of the five case studies along the lines of their political stability, ethnic accommodation, and the long-term prospects for democratic accommodation. In attempting to find useful indicators of the trajectory of democratization in each of the five country case studies, six possible approaches are considered: political violence (the measurement of politically related deaths), economic indicators, political and societal indicators (political rights and civil liberties; media freedom and influence), electoral indicators (turnout; spoilt ballots), and ethnic accommodation (worsening ethnic and interregional relations, as exemplified by Zambia and Malawi; improving ethnic relations, as exemplified by Namibia and South Africa; and ethnic relations with an uncertain trajectory, as exemplified by Zimbabwe). Eight institutional indices of democratization are chosen from these: ethnic accommodation, political violence, economic performance, civil liberties, political rights, free media, electoral turnout, and spoilt ballots. The findings on these indicators for each case study are summarised in a table.Less
This is the first of four chapters that discusses the theoretical underpinnings of the research on democratization in southern Africa that is described in the book. It qualitatively and quantitatively assesses the trajectory of the five case studies along the lines of their political stability, ethnic accommodation, and the long-term prospects for democratic accommodation. In attempting to find useful indicators of the trajectory of democratization in each of the five country case studies, six possible approaches are considered: political violence (the measurement of politically related deaths), economic indicators, political and societal indicators (political rights and civil liberties; media freedom and influence), electoral indicators (turnout; spoilt ballots), and ethnic accommodation (worsening ethnic and interregional relations, as exemplified by Zambia and Malawi; improving ethnic relations, as exemplified by Namibia and South Africa; and ethnic relations with an uncertain trajectory, as exemplified by Zimbabwe). Eight institutional indices of democratization are chosen from these: ethnic accommodation, political violence, economic performance, civil liberties, political rights, free media, electoral turnout, and spoilt ballots. The findings on these indicators for each case study are summarised in a table.
André Sapir, Philippe Aghion, Giuseppe Bertola, Martin Hellwig, Jean Pisani-Ferry, Dariusz Rosati, José Viñals, Helen Wallace, Marco Buti, Mario Nava, and Peter M. Smith
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- July 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780199271481
- eISBN:
- 9780191602573
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199271488.003.0004
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Economic Systems
This chapter presents an in-depth analysis of the European Union’s economic performance in terms of growth, macroeconomic stability, and cohesion. The discussion on growth focuses on long-term ...
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This chapter presents an in-depth analysis of the European Union’s economic performance in terms of growth, macroeconomic stability, and cohesion. The discussion on growth focuses on long-term economic performance, the reasons behind Europe’s slow growth, educational attainment and expenditure, new entry and product markets, innovation, finance, and labour markets. Macroeconomic stability covers the importance of stability, good practices vs. good luck in achieving stability, macroeconomic policies in the EU, and the European Monetary Union. Under cohesion, the theoretical motivation and effects of European redistribution policies are reviewed, including the evolution of regional and interpersonal inequality in last decades.Less
This chapter presents an in-depth analysis of the European Union’s economic performance in terms of growth, macroeconomic stability, and cohesion. The discussion on growth focuses on long-term economic performance, the reasons behind Europe’s slow growth, educational attainment and expenditure, new entry and product markets, innovation, finance, and labour markets. Macroeconomic stability covers the importance of stability, good practices vs. good luck in achieving stability, macroeconomic policies in the EU, and the European Monetary Union. Under cohesion, the theoretical motivation and effects of European redistribution policies are reviewed, including the evolution of regional and interpersonal inequality in last decades.
Mary O'Sullivan
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199244867
- eISBN:
- 9780191596735
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199244863.003.0002
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Microeconomics
Given the centrality of the process of innovation to the performance of dynamic economies, the types of corporate governance that will promote economic performance can be determined only within a ...
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Given the centrality of the process of innovation to the performance of dynamic economies, the types of corporate governance that will promote economic performance can be determined only within a conceptual framework that integrates an analysis of the economics of innovation. In Sect. 1.2, theoretical and empirical research on the economics of innovation is reviewed in order to identify the key stylized facts of the process through which resources are developed and utilized in the economy; innovation is specifically characterized as a process that is cumulative, collective, and uncertain. In Sect. 1.3, it is argued that these characteristics imply that innovation requires an allocation process that is (1) developmental––resources must be committed to irreversible investments with uncertain returns, (2) organizational––returns are generated through the integration of human and physical resources, and (3) strategic––resources are allocated to overcome market and technological conditions that other firms take as given. In Sect. 1.4, the critical characteristics of innovative resource allocation are contrasted with neoclassical resource allocation, which is reversible, individual, and optimal. Section 1.5 discusses the relationships between resource allocation and corporate governance, emphasizing that in spite of continuing attempts by heterodox economists to introduce one or more of the characteristics of resource allocation discussed in Sect. 1.4 to a theory of economic performance (in particular, developmental, organizational, and strategic characteristics), it is only by taking all of these characteristics together that the profound implications they have for the governance of corporations can be seen, implying the need for organizational control over the allocation of resources in the economy.Less
Given the centrality of the process of innovation to the performance of dynamic economies, the types of corporate governance that will promote economic performance can be determined only within a conceptual framework that integrates an analysis of the economics of innovation. In Sect. 1.2, theoretical and empirical research on the economics of innovation is reviewed in order to identify the key stylized facts of the process through which resources are developed and utilized in the economy; innovation is specifically characterized as a process that is cumulative, collective, and uncertain. In Sect. 1.3, it is argued that these characteristics imply that innovation requires an allocation process that is (1) developmental––resources must be committed to irreversible investments with uncertain returns, (2) organizational––returns are generated through the integration of human and physical resources, and (3) strategic––resources are allocated to overcome market and technological conditions that other firms take as given. In Sect. 1.4, the critical characteristics of innovative resource allocation are contrasted with neoclassical resource allocation, which is reversible, individual, and optimal. Section 1.5 discusses the relationships between resource allocation and corporate governance, emphasizing that in spite of continuing attempts by heterodox economists to introduce one or more of the characteristics of resource allocation discussed in Sect. 1.4 to a theory of economic performance (in particular, developmental, organizational, and strategic characteristics), it is only by taking all of these characteristics together that the profound implications they have for the governance of corporations can be seen, implying the need for organizational control over the allocation of resources in the economy.
Gustavo Flores-Macías
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199891658
- eISBN:
- 9780199933402
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199891658.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
A conclusion is presented in Chapter 7, which is divided into three parts. The first section discusses the theoretical implications of the book’s findings regarding the left in Latin America, the ...
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A conclusion is presented in Chapter 7, which is divided into three parts. The first section discusses the theoretical implications of the book’s findings regarding the left in Latin America, the politics of economic reforms, and party systems. The second section discusses the consequences of the left’s economic policies from a variety of perspectives. It evaluates governments’ performance regarding economic growth, poverty, and inequality, and finds that poverty alleviation has been the left’s single most important economic achievement. The third section focuses on the implications of party system institutionalization for economic performance and democracy. It concludes that low levels of institutionalization have detrimental effects on the sustainability of economic growth and horizontal accountability.Less
A conclusion is presented in Chapter 7, which is divided into three parts. The first section discusses the theoretical implications of the book’s findings regarding the left in Latin America, the politics of economic reforms, and party systems. The second section discusses the consequences of the left’s economic policies from a variety of perspectives. It evaluates governments’ performance regarding economic growth, poverty, and inequality, and finds that poverty alleviation has been the left’s single most important economic achievement. The third section focuses on the implications of party system institutionalization for economic performance and democracy. It concludes that low levels of institutionalization have detrimental effects on the sustainability of economic growth and horizontal accountability.
