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on Confederation of Independent States |
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Issue of 2019‒04‒29
eight papers chosen by |
| By: | Denis Stremoukhov (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | Unlike in the 1990s and early 2000s, nowadays scholars rarely address the issue of international activity of Russian regions (phenomenon known as paradiplomacy). Due to the successful centralization efforts, Russian governors almost lost their domestic as well as external agency. However, there is still a considerable variation in the levels of their international activity which remains unexplained. Employing an original dataset on the international activity of Russian governors from 2005 to 2015 I investigate the effect local political regime, ethnicity and other factors have on the level of gubernatorial participation in paradiplomacy. Contrary to other studies I find that ethnicity has a positive effect on the external activity. I argue that paradiplomacy of republics serves as a tool of their ethnic policy. I also find that more democratic local political regimes bolster the willingness of the governors to participate in paradiplomacy. Varyag governors with no prior connections to the region are also more active internationally. |
| Keywords: | paradiplomacy, subnational governance, ethnicity, Russia. |
| JEL: | Z |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:66/ps/2019&r=all |
| By: | Sergei V. Akopov (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Svetlana V. Krivokhizh (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | Based on idea of the analysis of symbolic representations of sovereignty and framework of poststructuralist international relations theory this research is exploring the performative nature of sovereignty in a comparative empirical perspective. We have taken four well-known speeches on sovereignty issues to see which symbolic representations of sovereignty were involved in the specific discourse of the four presidents: France, the United States of America, Russia and China. In the analysed symbolic representations of sovereignty we encounter important differences synthesize ten symbolic representations of sovereignty that are common to all four examined discourses. |
| Keywords: | Russia, France, USA, China, Sovereignty, Symbolic Representations |
| JEL: | Z |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:65/ps/2019&r=all |
| By: | Edmond Berisha (Feliciano School of Business, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043); Rangan Gupta (Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa); John Meszaros (U.S. Postal Service) |
| Abstract: | In this paper we empirically investigate how the evolution of the three Fisher Variables (income growth, interest rates, and the price level) have driven income inequality across a variety of countries, with particular focus on Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (known as the BRICS economies), during the period 2001 to 2015. The results suggest that increases in inflation and real income growth contribute to increases in income inequality. We find some evidence that increases in real interest rates correspond with higher income inequality. The results also reveal that the relationship between the three Fisher Variables and income inequality for the BRICS economies is stronger compared to the full sample. Interestingly, for these five economies, the relationship between real interest rates and income inequality is negative. |
| Date: | 2019–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pre:wpaper:201933&r=all |
| By: | Kvartiuk, Vasyl; Herzfeld, Thomas |
| Abstract: | [Introduction] When Ukraine adopted the 2002 Land Code, it chose to follow a liberal path of agricultural land relations, but failed to create the necessary conditions for the land market to function fully. The moratorium on land sales, implemented directly after the adoption of the Land Code, prohibited 6.92 million owners of land shares (16 % of the population) from fully exercising their property rights. Initially intended as a temporary measure, the moratorium has, to date, been extended eight times. As such, many landowners have passed away without ever being able to fully exercise their property rights. Economic losses caused by the prohibition of land sales are considerable. First, inability to transfer land from less to more efficient producers contributes to a situation where tenancy insecurity substantially reduces incentives to invest in technologies improving land use productivity. As a result, growth of the agricultural sector is substantially lower than it could have been with a free land market. Second, current management of land lease contracts incurs high transaction costs, which could be lowered if land users were able to buy plots. Third, one quarter of Ukrainian agricultural land is still owned by the government. Privatization of 10.5 million ha could generate substantial financial resources for newly reformed local governments. In addition, land sales market has a potential to expand respective tax base and improve the collection of land tax. Resources from privatization and improved tax revenues could substantially help restore the dilapidated rural infrastructure. In sum, due to gains in agricultural production and land privatization, Ukrainian experts estimate that liberalization could lead to a 3-9 % increase in the annual growth rate of the GDP. |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iamodp:287762&r=all |
| By: | Petrick, Martin; Djanibekov, Nodir |
| Abstract: | Диверсификация сельского хозяйства и сокращение посевных площадей под хлопок стали отличительными чертами нынешней стратегии модернизации в Узбекистане спустя два с половиной десятилетия производства хлопка под государственным контролем. В контексте реформ сельскохозяйственной политики цель данной аналитической записки состоит в оценке успехов реструктуризации фермерских хозяйств. Кроме того, в ней ставится вопрос о том, что должны сделать лица, разрабатывающие политику, для повышения конкурентоспособности сельского хозяйства, вместе с тем не упуская из виду социальные последствия реформ. После первоначального сокращения размеров бывших колхозов и достижения номинальной самообеспеченности зерном в 1990-е годы, правительством прилагаются усилия в поиске новой модели для сектора фермерских хозяйств. В январе 2019 года правительство инициировало очередной этап консолидации фермерских хозяйств. Лицам, разрабатывающим политику, рекомендуется сосредоточиться не на отпределенных типах или размерах фермерских хозяйств, а на обеспечении фермеров доступом к неискаженным рыночным сигналам и к оптимальному набору содействующих государственных услуг. Поэтапная либерализация рынков продукции и факторов производства будет способствовать достижению этой цели. Для достижения успешных преобразований в сельском хозяйстве этот процесс должен быть дополнен государственными услугами, отвечающими потребностям различных сельскохозяйственных производителей. Эти преобразования будут важны для производителей сектора домашних хозяйств, которые, вероятно, оценят более широкие возможности получения несельскохозяйственных доходов в результате реформ, выходящих за рамки сельскохозяйственного сектора. |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:iamopb:36r&r=all |
| By: | Talis Putnins (Finance Discipline Group, University of Technology Sydney); Arnis Sauka (Centre for Sustainable BusinessStockholm School of Economics in Riga); Adriana Ana Maria Davidesc (Department of Labour Market PoliciesNational Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest) |
| Abstract: | This report presents estimates of the size of the shadow economy in Moldova and Romania during the years 2015–2016. The estimates are based on surveys of entrepreneurs in both countries, following the method of Putninš and Sauka (Journal of Comparative Economics 43:471–490, 2015). The components of the shadow economy captured by this approach include misreported business income, unregistered or hidden employees, and ‘envelope’ wages. Our findings suggest that both Moldova and Romania exhibit high levels of bribery, which is influenced by the number of unregistered companies. The results of this chapter highlight the importance of focusing on different forms of entrepreneurship particularly in transition economies. |
| Date: | 2019–01–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uts:ppaper:2019-1&r=all |
| By: | Inaki Arto (Basque Centre for Climate Change – BC3); Jose M. Rueda-Cantuche (European Commission – JRC); Ignacio Cazcarro (Basque Centre for Climate Change – BC3); Antonio F. Amores (European Commission – JRC); Erik Dietzenbacher (University of Groningen); M. Victoria Roman (European Commission – JRC); Zornitsa Kutlina-Dimitrova (European Commission – TRADE) |
| Abstract: | The European Commission identified trade policy as a core component of the European Union's 2020 Strategy. The fast changing global economy, characterised by the dynamic creation of business opportunities and increasingly complex production chains, means that it is now even more important to fully understand how trade flows affect income generation. Gathering comprehensive, reliable and comparable information on this is crucial to support evidence-based policymaking. Guided by that objective, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Commission's Directorate General for Trade have collaborated to produce this publication. It aims to be a valuable tool for trade policymakers. Following up the first edition (Arto et al., 2015), the report features a series of indicators to illustrate in detail the relationship between trade and income (i.e. value added) generation for the EU as a whole and for each EU Member State using the World Input-Output Database (WIOD), 2016 release (Timmer et al., 2015, 2016), as the main data source. This information has been complemented with data on labour compensation by skill from EUKLEMS. All the indicators relate to the EU's exports to the rest of the world so as to reflect the scope of EU trade policymaking. Most indicators are available as off 2000 but, due to data constraints, the indicator on labour compensation split by skill is only available from 2008 to 2014. The geographical breakdown of the data includes the 28 EU Member States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, Taiwan, the United States of America, and an aggregate "Rest of the World" region. On the basis of the value added embodied in every million EUR worth of exports in 2014 and more recent data on international trade in goods and services, this report also provides projections elaborated by the JRC for 2017 using a different methodology, so they should be taken with caution. The information presented in this pocketbook is complemented with an electronic version allowing downloads of the tables with the complete time series (2000-2014 and 2017). |
| Keywords: | Income, Exports, European Union |
| JEL: | C67 |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc113072&r=all |
| By: | Inaki Arto (Basque Centre for Climate Change – BC3); Jose M. Rueda-Cantuche (European Commission – JRC); Ignacio Cazcarro (Basque Centre for Climate Change – BC3); Antonio F. Amores (European Commission – JRC); Erik Dietzenbacher (University of Groningen); M. Victoria Roman (European Commission – JRC); Zornitsa Kutlina-Dimitrova (European Commission – TRADE) |
| Abstract: | The European Commission identified trade policy as a core component of the European Union's 2020 Strategy. The fast changing global economy, characterised by the dynamic creation of business opportunities and increasingly complex production chains, means that it is now even more important to fully understand how trade flows affect employment. Gathering comprehensive, reliable and comparable information on this is crucial to support evidencebased policymaking. Guided by that objective, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Commission's Directorate General for Trade have collaborated to produce this publication. It aims to be a valuable tool for trade policymakers. Following up the first edition (Arto et al, 2015), the report features a series of indicators to illustrate in detail the relationship between trade and employment for the EU as a whole and for each EU Member State using the new World Input-Output Database (WIOD), 2016 release (Timmer et al, 2015, 2016), as the main data source. This information has been complemented with data on employment by age, skill and gender from other sources such as EUKLEMS. All the indicators relate to the EU exports to the rest of the world so as to reflect the scope of EU trade policymaking. Most indicators are available as off 2000 but, due to data constraints, the indicators on employment split by skill, gender and age are only available from 2008 to 2014. The geographical breakdown of the data includes the 28 EU Member States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, Taiwan, the United States of America, and an aggregate "Rest of the World" region. On the basis of the number of jobs embodied in every million EUR worth of exports in 2014 and more recent data on international trade in goods and services, this report also provides projections elaborated by the JRC for 2017 using a different methodology, so they should be taken with caution. The information presented in this pocketbook is complemented with an electronic version allowing downloads of the tables with the complete time series (2000-2014 and 2017). |
| Keywords: | Employment, Exports, European Union |
| JEL: | C67 |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc113071&r=all |