bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of regional growth disparity in China's transitional economy
Authors: Chen Chien‐Hsun , Wu Hsiu‐Ling 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis study undertakes empirical analysis of the factors that have influenced economic growth in China's provinces during the process of institutional transformation, and to examine whether the disparities in economic growth between provinces have been expanding or diminishing.Design/methodology/approachPooled cross‐section (provinces) and time‐series data are employed, with the error components method also being used for the empirical testing.FindingsEmpirical test results using the error components model have shown that during the period from 1988 to 1998, there was a tendency towards divergence of the economic growth rates achieved by China's provinces, with the variables relating to the employed population, changes in property rights and foreign direct investment (FDI), all having a positive impact on economic growth.Research limitations/implicationsWith China's huge size and the idiosyncrasies of its constituents, it is difficult to quantify the data collected when measuring the geographical, social, institutional and economic ingredients of the provinces.Practical implicationsWhether or not the process of institutional transformation in China succeeds in building a truly efficient system will depend on innovation, a process within which the accumulation and transmission of knowledge plays a very important role.Originality/valueThe establishment of the empirical model in this study is based on convergence testing using the endogenous growth model, and takes into consideration the impact which China's institutional transformation has had on economic growth in individual provinces.
Wage pacts and economic growth
Authors: Zagler Martin 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to theoretically investigate the impact of wage pacts on economic growth.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents an innovation driven endogenous growth model, where firms and unions bargain over wages.FindingsFinds that the degree of centralization of the bargaining structure plays a crucial rule for economic performance. Central bargaining, which incorporates the leapfrogging externality incorporated in firm‐level bargaining, will yield lower rates of unemployment for a given rate of economic growth. The increase in labor resources will in turn also yield faster growth rates in a corporatist economy. Indeed, when unions focus on issues other than short term wage increases, they may even outperform the non‐unionized economy, as they can internalize the knowledge externality through long‐term wage moderation pacts.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is theoretical with some anecdotal evidence, and lacks thorough empirical testing.Practical implicationsThere are strong implications for economic policy, suggesting the promotion of wage pacts. Before implementation, prior empirical conformation of the results is required.Originality/valueThis is the first paper that demonstrates under which conditions unions can promote economic growth and reduce unemployment through long‐term wage pacts.
Performance measurement in tax offices with a stochastic frontier model
Authors: Pestana Barros Carlos 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to call the attention of public entities for the econometric frontier models which allows benchmarking the tax offices accurately. In the context of the European Maastricht, the European countries face public receipts shortage and to focus in the management of the tax agencies in order to maximize receipts. The procedure adopted in this paper allows benchmarking the tax agencies accurately.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts the stochastic frontier model to benchmark the tax offices. This model is presently very popular in benchmarking exercises, based on its statistical framework.FindingsThe paper finds that the tax offices analysed vary along the sample and along the period.Research limitations/implicationsThe homogeneity of the tax offices and the short data set are the main limitations of the paper. Relative to the first, since they are managed by the same entity and perform the same task we can claim that they are similar, relative to the second critic, we cannot overcome it because of the secrecy related to this units.Practical implicationThe efficiency rankings are due to the way the tax offices handle costs and outputs. The way they handle the combination of output and inputs is explained in the literature by the principal‐agent relationship, by collective‐action problem, due to asymmetric information between different tax offices andX‐inefficiency. The public policy has to address these problems in order to upgrade the efficiency of the tax offices.Originality/valueThis is the first paper adopting the stochastic frontier model in tax offices.
An exploration of earnings whispers forecasts as predictors of stock returns
Authors: Abraham Rebecca 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo test the Miller Price Optimism Model using a new proxy for heterogenous expectations and to examine if high differential stocks behave like glamour stocks and low differential stocks behave like value stocks.Design/methodology/approachWhisper/analyst forecast differentials were measured for a sample of stocks, combined into portfolios and held for one month. If the Miller model was supported, high differential stocks were expected to have lower portfolio returns than low differential stocks due to the greater divergence between optimistic whisper forecasts and rational analysts consensus forecasts.FindingsHigh differential quintiles had significantly lower future returns than low differential quintiles supporting the Miller model. High differential stocks resembled glamour stocks while low differential stocks behaved like value stocks.Research limitations/implicationsThese results pertain to the ultra‐short time horizon of two months prior to the earnings announcement. Future research should replicate this study for a longer 3‐12 month time horizon.Practical implicationsUltra short‐term investors should hold glamour stocks and long term investors should hold value stocks. Rising volatility suggests that investors should define the time horizon for holding assets.Originality/valueIt is one of only two studies that directly uses earnings forecasts as a proxy for heterogenous expectations. It adds to the sparse literature on whisper forecasts. It may be used by academicians studying price optimism effects and institutional investors following stock returns during earnings announcements.
A note on global taxes and aid for development
Authors: Zee Howell H. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the possible crowding‐out of regular development aid by global taxes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper models cross‐country interactions in aid giving using a simple Cournot‐Nash framework.FindingsThe paper argues that global taxes could lead to an increase in aid‐cum‐tax revenue if such taxes produce a globally net positive income effect. Whether this condition can be satisfied is very much an open empirical issue. An alternative to global taxes is cooperative aid‐giving among donors, which this paper shows will always result in more global aid.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the need for a shift of policy focus from designing global taxes to designing viable mechanisms for effective aid coordination, for which multilateral institutions could play a crucial role.
The role of the interprovincial transfers in the β‐convergence process
Authors: Rodríguez Gabriel 
Published: January 2007

PurposeBased on the approach of Timljonavich and Vogelsang, the purpose of this paper is to present empirical evidence of the role of the federal transfers on the β‐convergence process in Canadian provinces.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses information on annual personal income for the period 1926‐1999 to present empirical evidence about the notion of β‐convergence for the ten Canadian provinces.FindingsThe principal conclusion is that the inter‐provincial transfers were not determinant or decisive to the attainment of deterministic convergence in the Canadian provinces.Originality/valueWhile the issue of convergence has been analyzed especially using cross‐sectional data or panel data, this paper uses a time‐series methodology with statistics recently proposed by Vogelsang and Bunzel, which are robust to the presence of I(0) or I(1) disturbances.
Degree of environmental stringency and the impact on trade patterns
Authors: Cagatay Selim , Mihci Hakan 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo construct an index (index of environmental sensitivity performance) to be used in a cross‐country trade model in order to analyze the effect of various degrees of environmental stringency on the trade patterns, and especially on the export performance of the countries.Design/methodology/approachThe gravity model of trade is used in order to find the effects of environmental stringency on the variation in trade flows.FindingsThe study shows that environmental stringency has an important impact on the export of the countries. The impact of the degree of environmental stringency on the exports is significantly negative suggesting an inverse relationship between export values and relative environmental sensitivity performance of the nations.Originality/valueThis study supports the argument that the environmental stringency level differential between developing and developed nations is a crucial criteria in terms of explaining shifts in the trade patterns and international specialization of the countries.
Monetary policy and endogenous time preference
Authors: Kam Eric , Mohsin Mohammed 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to derive the real implications of inflation targeting using optimizing models characterized by endogenous time preference.Design/methodology/approachTo ensure consistent consumption and savings behavior, the rate of time preference is modeled as an increasing function of real wealth.FindingsThe results are not uniform and depend on the methods for modeling money in the general equilibrium framework; money in the utility function (MIU) and cash‐in‐advance constraints (CIA). With MIU, time preference wealth effects link the monetary and real sectors by endogenizing real interest rate. Monetary growth raises steady state capital and consumption by the Tobin effect. However, if money is introduced through CIA constraints, inflation policies are sensitive to the structure of the constraint itself. If the constraint applies to consumption and capital purchases, monetary growth lowers the steady state demand for both commodities and reverses the Tobin effect. If the constraint applies only to consumption goods, the same monetary policy is superneutral. This time preference specification has important advantages. It is consistent with the literature that integrates reinforcing wealth effects into aggregative models using ad‐hoc consumption or savings functions. Allowing the rate of time preference to depend positively on real wealth implies that optimizing behavior, not ad‐hoc specification yields wealth effects that endogenize the real interest rate and generate a Tobin effect. This time preference specification provides optimizing foundations for modeling savings as a decreasing function of real wealth, which is empirically verifiable and consistent with empirical predictions of consumption as an increasing function of real wealth.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates the different effects that monetary policy maintains on steady state capital, consumption and real balance holdings in economies characterized by an endogenous rate of time preference.
Slotting allowances and retailer market power
Authors: Wang Hao 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper attempts to understand the relationship between retailer market power and the slotting allowances demanded by large retailers.Design/methodology/approachA bilateral oligopoly model is used to study slotting allowances in retailing industries. The upstream market is a symmetric duopoly. In the downstream, a large retailer competes with many small retailers. Only the large retailer is capable of requiring slotting fees.FindingsThe model suggests that the large retailer uses slotting fees to capitalize its market power. By requiring the fees from manufacturers, the large retailer raises the wholesale prices faced by competing small retailers, and therefore, lowers their profit margins and market shares.Research limitations/implicationsMore empirical evidences are desirable to support the theory. Regarding the modeling, it might be interesting to explicitly model the bargaining between the large retailer and manufacturers.Practical implicationsRequiring slotting allowances is an exclusionary strategy of large retailers. Abuse of slotting allowances might have antitrust concern.Originality/valueThis paper presents probably the first analytic model that considers slotting allowances in an asymmetric bilateral oligopoly. This approach is interesting because slotting allowances are most likely to make difference when manufacturers are oligopolistic and retailers are heterogeneous in sizes.
Case study: selective laser sintering of the USUSat II small satellite structure
Authors: Quincieu Joel , Robinson Chris , Stucker Brent , Mosher Todd 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper illustrates an effective application of rapid prototyping (RP) to produce a high definition polymer model of a satellite structure prior to final machining of the aluminum panels. The benefits when using this type of model in the design and assembly stages of satellite fabrication make clear that RP can and should play an important role in the design and fabrication of small satellite structures.Design/methodology/approachSelective laser sintering was utilized to produce a full‐scale model of a novel modular small satellite structure. This model was then used as a tool for quality control, fit check, assembly process verification, mock‐up, and as a model for manufacturing tooling design.FindingsThis case study illustrates that the use of RP to create a model early in the design cycle is beneficial from a cost and time perspective even when applied to a product which will be produced in a quantity of one. In addition, the merits of RP mesh well with modular designs and for applications where assembly and test tooling is required to validate the quality of a product.Practical implicationsThis paper illustrates an effective use of RP in the satellite fabrication industry. The benefits described are generally applicable to other complex systems which need design validation early in the design cycle.Originality/valueThere are few examples of the effective application of RP to produce models, but not the final product, of a complex structure in the satellite and other industries where small lot production occurs.
New high speed imaging CMM system aids car production
Authors: Bogue Robert 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo describe a new vision‐based co‐ordinate measuring machine (CMM) developed in France by ActiCM, which has undergone successful trials with car maker Renault.Design/methodology/approachThe vision‐based CMM uses intelligent vision devices (IVDs) which are mounted on a robot arm. Each IVD has two high‐definition CCD cameras, a visible LED illumination source and a white light projector. Up to eight sensors can work simultaneously on the same part which the IVDs' cameras can image from two different and known positions. These two views are then geometrically manipulated by the device software using photogrammetry to extract 3D data.FindingsTrials at a Renault car production plant have shown that the system can validate a car's body shape in significantly less time than is possible with conventional CMMs. The time for a 2,000‐element validation has been reduced from around 10 to 2 h, with a dimensional accuracy of 300 μm.Originality/valueThis illustrates that vision‐based CMMs are able to reduce dramatically the time taken to validate a car's body shape whilst maintaining the same accuracy as conventional CMMs.
Medical rapid prototyping applications and methods
Authors: Hieu L.C. , Zlatov N. , Vander Sloten J. , Bohez E. , Khanh L. , Binh P.H. , Oris P. , Toshev Y. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeAims to investigate medical rapid prototyping (medical RP) technology applications and methods based on reverse engineering (RE) and medical imaging data.Design/methodology/approachMedical image processing and RE are applied to construct three‐dimensional models of anatomical structures, from which custom‐made (personalized) medical applications are developed.FindingsThe investigated methods were successfully used for design and manufacturing of biomodels, surgical aid tools, implants, medical devices and surgical training models. More than 40 medical RP applications were implemented in Europe and Asia since 1999.Research limitations/implicationsMedical RP is a multi‐discipline area. It involves in many human resources and requires high skills and know‐how in both engineering and medicine. In addition, medical RP applications are expensive, especially for low‐income countries. These practically limit its benefits and applications in hospitals.Practical implicationsIn order to transfer medical RP into hospitals successfully, a good link and close collaboration between medical and engineering sites should be established. Moreover, new medical applications should be developed in the way that does not change the traditional approaches that medical doctors (MD) were trained, but provides solutions to improve the diagnosis and treatment quality.Originality/valueThe presented state‐of‐the‐art medical RP is applied for diagnosis and treatment in the following medical areas: cranio‐maxillofacial and dental surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, orthosis and tissue engineering. The paper is useful for MD (radiologists and surgeons), biomedical and RP/CAD/CAM engineers.
Temperature controlled laser chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) using thermal imaging
Authors: Jean Daniel , Jack Lackey W. , Duty Chad E. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo describe the thermal imaging control system used to deposit lines of graphite in a laser chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) system.Design/methodology/approachA thermal imaging‐based control system is applied to the LCVD process to deposit layered carbon lines of uniform height and width. A 100 W CO2 laser focused to a 200 μm diameter spot size is used to provide the heat source for the carbon deposition. A high resolution thermal imaging camera is used to monitor and control the average deposition temperature.FindingsCarbon lines are grown with heights of 250 μm and widths of 170 μm consisting of 20 layers. Laser spot temperatures are in excess of 2,170°C, and the total pressure used is 1 atm with a 75 percent methane concentration and the remainder hydrogen. The length of the lines is 3.3 mm, and the scan speed is 5 mm/min. The volumetric deposition rate is 0.648 mm3/h.Research limitations/implicationsThe temperature process control resulted in uniform geometry at the center of the lines, but it was not as effective at the ends of the lines where the geometry was more complex.Originality/valueIntroduces a control technique for uniform line deposition for the LCVD process, which represents a core building block for complex geometries. The establishment of basic control algorithms will enable LCVD to realize the potential for rapid prototyping of metals and ceramics with sub‐millimeter feature sizes.
Direct tool steel injection mould inserts through the Arcam EBM free‐form fabrication process
Authors: Gibbons Gregory J. , Hansell Robert G. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe aim of this study is to demonstrate the benefit of design flexibility afforded by the Arcam free‐form fabrication process in the direct manufacture of injection mould inserts with complex cooling channel configurations and the process efficiency and quality gains achieved through using such inserts.Design/methodology/approachThe manufacturing process of a flood cooled injection mould insert using the Arcam EBM S12 layered manufacturing process is presented. The insert is then evaluated against two other inserts (one un‐cooled and one traditionally baffle cooled (BC)) in the manufacture of test components, with the temperature of the insert and components recorded. The process conditions were adjusted (reduced cooling time) to increase the core and component temperatures to identify the operational limits of the inserts. Thermal imaging was employed to visualize the thermal distribution within the BC and flood cooled (FC) inserts.FindingsThe cooling efficiency of the FC insert was found to be significantly higher than that of the other two inserts, and the homogeneity of the heat distribution of the FC insert was more even than the BC insert. It was possible to manufacture non‐deformed components using the FC insert with zero cooling time (ejection immediately after removal of holding pressure), this was not possible with the BC insert.Research limitations/implicationsProvides a basis for the development of more efficient and thermally homogeneous inserts through the Arcam EBM process.Practical implicationsProvides a technology/process for the manufacture of highly efficient core inserts for injection moulding, offering the industry a competitive advantage through the potential for time and cost savings and higher quality components.Originality/valueThis is the first direct comparison of an Arcam EBM manufactured insert with complex cooling geometries against traditionally cooled inserts, particularly novel is the thermal imaging analysis of the cooling efficiency and distribution.
Welding innovations for thick and thin sheet
Authors: Kochan Anna 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo highlight innovative welding technology exhibited at the Automatica exhibition in Munich.Design/methodology/approachVisited major companies participating at Automatica and spoke with them about important new developments.FindingsNew processes for welding thick and thin sheet were exhibited including novel applications for both the automotive industry and the heavy construction machinery sector.Originality/valueInforms industry about new developments and potential benefits to be achieved.
Inspection systems for electronic circuits from the “Close‐Ups” company
Authors: Connolly Christine 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo examine the different types of equipment available for optical inspection of assembled electronic circuit boards.Design/methodology/approachCompares bench magnifiers and microscopes, “eyepieceless” scopes and video microscopes. Presents the Mantis range from Vision Engineering Ltd, and the video inspection products from Close Ups. Compares the cost and performance of various systems.Findings“Eyepieceless” and video microscopes allow the operator more head movement and are less tiring than traditional microscopes. Very clear and detailed images are required for solder joint inspection, and the customer should look for equipment with an established track record in this field.Originality/valuePoints out the pitfalls of equipment selection for electronic circuit assemblers.
Virtually formed manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Yaman Ramazan , Eid Moussa Soha 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo share the authors' view for an enterprise formation, and a product assembly using communication and information technology in economic manner.Design/methodology/approachComparison of the proposed system with a conventional systems. The study explains the approach with a case study.FindingsShows the approach abilities and the minimization cost of the product.Practical implicationsThis approach shows communication and information technology effects on the manufacturing and assembly.Originality/valueThe paper has a new look on the enterprise formation, assembly, and manufacturing.