scholarly journals Resource endowments and the problem of small change: insights from two American mints, 1600–1700

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Jane E. Knodell ◽  
Catalina M. Vizcarra
Keyword(s):  
Monetary Authority ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Massachusetts Bay ◽  
Historical Evidence ◽  
Resource Endowment ◽  
Large Level ◽  
Resource Endowments ◽  
Small Change ◽  
Relative Scarcity

This article discusses historical evidence from the Potosi mint and Massachusetts Bay mint that illustrates the importance of the resource endowment (in this case silver) for the provision of small change. We show that the availability of silver was fundamental in shaping incentives. The relative scarcity of silver in Massachusetts Bay contributed to the small scale of the mint's operations, and implied that neither the monetary authority nor the mintmaster faced a significant tradeoff between drawing seigniorage from the mint and the production of small-denomination coins. In contrast, in the Viceroyalty of Peru, the abundance of silver, and the consequent large level of production of the mint's heavy peso coin, heightened the tradeoff between the fiscal and monetary objectives of the coinage. We suggest that these incentives negatively affected the production of fractionary coinage in the Peruvian viceroyalty, whereas in Massachusetts Bay the production of small-denomination coins was the norm.

Small change: individual farm work and collective life in a western Nigerian savanna town, 1969–88

Africa ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane I. Guyer
Keyword(s):  
Farming System ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cropping Patterns ◽  
Farm Work ◽  
Small Change ◽  
Returns To Labour ◽  
Individual Farm ◽  
Ceremonial Life ◽  
Nigerian Savanna

AbstractA comparison of data collected in western Nigeria (the Yoruba area) in 1968-69 and 1988 suggests that small-scale male farmers' patterns of work remained quite similar in the total amount of work they did and in the amount by task. This finding seemed surprising, since the study area lies in the food supply hinterland of the rapidly growing cities of Ibadan, Lagos and Abeokuta. The farming system has changed in several ways in response to increased urban demand and improved transport, including an increase in farm size on the part of male farmers. Changed cropping patterns, the increased use of hired labour and somewhat increased returns to labour seem only partly to account for the persistence. Analysis of the work data in terms of its timing, rather than in terms of time, suggests that farmers are tending to work at the same task in longer stretches ofconsecutive days, and this, in turn, is related to the marked rescheduling of traditional ceremonial life and the intensified politico-associational life moved to the weekend.

scholarly journals Accommodation services for competitive tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Historical evidence from Malawi

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (38) ◽  
pp. 73-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Magombo ◽  
Christian M. Rogerson ◽  
Jayne M. Rogerson
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Historical Evidence ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Acceptable Quality ◽  
Destination Competitiveness ◽  
Competitive Prices ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractThe accommodation services sector is a vital underpinning of the competitiveness of destinations in especially emerging tourism regions of the global economy. Within the environment of Africa building the competitiveness of countries as tourism destinations is inseparable from the challenge of establishing a network of different forms of accommodation at competitive prices and internationally acceptable quality standards. This paper uses a longitudinal approach to analyse the development of the accommodation services sector in one African country - Malawi - which is scaling up its tourism industry. Using historical evidence the objective is to examine the unfolding evolution of accommodation services as a factor in enhancing tourism destination competitiveness. The chequered pathway followed in Malawi to building the country’s network of hotels and small-scale accommodation establishments is traced from the colonial period to post-independence developments. It is argued that in understanding the historical evolution of accommodation services policy re-orientations have been significant drivers of change.

scholarly journals Social science knowledge and induced institutional innovation: an institutional design perspective

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
VERNON W. RUTTAN
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Institutional Design ◽  
The United States ◽  
Institutional Innovation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Science Knowledge ◽  
Social Science Knowledge ◽  
Resource Endowments

In this paper I advance a model in which institutional innovation is induced by changes in resource endowments, cultural endowments, and technical change. I also introduce the role of advances in social science knowledge as a source of institutional innovation. The sources of institutional innovation are illustrated by changes in land tenure and labor relations in Philippine agriculture, by the transition from command and control to market-based systems of resource management in the United States, and by the development of institutional design principles based on studies of small-scale resource management. In a final section, I elaborate a pattern model that maps the relationships among changes in resource endowments, cultural endowments, technology, and institutions.

scholarly journals Retention of Nanoparticles: From Laboratory Cores to Outcrop Scale

Geofluids ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harpreet Singh ◽  
Farzam Javadpour
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Homogeneous Medium ◽  
Laboratory Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
The Media ◽  
Small Change ◽  
Homogeneous Media

Laboratory experiments on small scale core plugs have shown controlled nanoparticles (NPs) retention. The length scale of subsurface media where NPs must be transported is an important factor that should be accounted for in a comprehensive manner when translating laboratory results to field scale. This study investigates the fraction of NPs retained inside porous media as a function of length scale of the media. A two-dimensional numerical model was used to simulate the retention of NPs at multiple scales of porous media, starting from laboratory scale cores to heterogeneous outcrop scales. Retention of NPs is modeled based on the concept of reversible and irreversible retention, by using the laboratory scale determined parameters. Our results show that the fraction of retained NPs increases nonlinearly with the length scale of the homogeneous media. The results also show that if the heterogeneity of the medium is consistent across scales, the fraction of retained NPs would behave just like homogeneous medium. In this study, small change in heterogeneity at two outcrop scales affects the retention of NPs, suggesting that heterogeneity may significantly impact the retention behavior of NPs that may not necessarily follow the behavior predicted from homogeneous cores (or periodically heterogeneous medium).

The local distribution of endowments matters: Modelling tax competition with heterogeneous local residents

Urban Studies ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (14) ◽  
pp. 3239-3259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dae Jin Kim ◽  
In Kwon Park
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Dependence ◽  
Tax Competition ◽  
Local Distribution ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Spatial Panel ◽  
Seoul Metropolitan Area ◽  
Panel Model ◽  
Resource Endowment ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Resource Endowments

This study expands on the tax competition literature by incorporating the heterogeneity of resource endowments into the tax competition framework. It theoretically elaborates that the local distribution of resource endowments affects both the level of tax rate and the degree of spatial dependence in tax competition, and empirically confirms the theory using the data for 60 urban municipalities in the Seoul metropolitan area (SMA), Korea in the years 2004–2006. A spatial panel model for tax cut confirms the presence of tax competition in the SMA and the effects on tax cut of the resource endowment distribution. Another regression model for local indicators of spatial dependence uncovers the fact that the spatial dependence in tax cut is also determined by the local endowment distribution.

scholarly journals Research on Layout Optimization of Villages in Poverty-Stricken Counties —A Case Study of Wangmo County, Guizhou, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 713-722
Author(s):  
Shuai Zhang ◽  
Lin Zhu ◽  
Weili Wang
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Layout Optimization ◽  
Entropy Method ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Public Resource ◽  
Resource Endowment ◽  
Low Efficiency

Against the background of rural revitalization in China, this study takes Wangmo County as the study area, and uses mathematical models such as entropy method and rank-size rule to quantitatively evaluate the rural development potential of Wangmo County and rural development scale and hierarchical structure in Wangmo County. Based on this, the study puts forward suggestions for village layout optimization. According to the results, (i) evaluation elements of rural subject, industrial development, resource endowment, and habitat environ­ment in Wangmo County are presented in the spatial pattern of being scattered as a whole and be agglomerated locally. (ii) The rank-size distribution of village is that there are more villages in the medium-ranking position, while there are fewer high-and-low-ranking villages with spindle structure of “being small on both ends, and large in the middle”, showing that the agglomeration of village elements has a weak degree of spatial polarization. (iii) By comprehensively evaluating results and field investigation situation, a township hierarchy of central village-general village-merged village is constructed to divide the development types of three rural areas, including agglomeration type for improvement, equilibrium, and stable type, as well as relocation and merger type. The results of the study in the case area can provide a reference for the local scientific response to the decreasing trend of rural population and change the predicament of low efficiency of public resource allocation caused by small-scale and scattered distribution of the rural areas.

scholarly journals Determinants of SARS-CoV-2 Impacts on Small-Scale Commercial Broiler Production Systems in Egypt: Implications for Mitigation Strategies

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1354
Author(s):  
Assem Abu Hatab ◽  
Zhen Liu ◽  
Asmaa Nasser ◽  
Abourehab Esmat
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Broiler Production ◽  
Resource Endowment ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Commercial Broiler ◽  
The Impact

As in many other countries, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, together with subsequent government containment measures, posed significant challenges to small-scale broiler production systems in Egypt. Based on a survey of 205 specialist small-scale commercial broiler farms (SCBFs) consisting of both farm-based and household-based production systems, this study identifies the primary pathways through which COVID-19 has affected SCBFs and investigates the determinants of farm perception of these effects. A polychoric principal component analysis sorted the effects of the pandemic on the SCBFs surveyed into five categories, namely, input availability, production and operational costs, labor and human resources, consumer demand and sales, and farm finances. Next, five ordered logit models were constructed to examine the determinants of the SCBFs’ perception of each category of these effects. Generally, the empirical results revealed that COVID-19 affected SCBFs heterogeneously based on their management and production systems and resource endowment. Female-led and household-based SCBFs perceived significantly greater COVID-19 effects. In contrast, individually owned farms and those with membership of poultry producer organizations and larger total asset values perceived fewer effects. In addition, SCBFs operating in both local and provincial markets were less likely to perceive negative effects from the pandemic on their broiler farming activities. Although the adoption of strict and immediate containment measures was essential for controlling the virus and protecting public health, our results indicate that policy responses to COVID-19 must consider the likely effects on small businesses such as SCBFs since disruptions to such socioeconomically important supply chains will intensify human suffering from the pandemic. Overall, our findings provide important implications for the formulation of effective strategies for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on small-scale broiler production systems in Egypt and enhancing their preparedness and resilience to future pandemics, natural hazard risks, and market shocks.

The Iceland goat: past and present

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 53-59
Author(s):  
Ó.R. Dýrmundsson
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Programme ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Health Product ◽  
Historical Evidence ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
Goat Population ◽  
Endangered Breed

SummaryThe Iceland goat is a rare, isolated breed of Nordic origin dating back to the settlement of Iceland over 1 100 years ago. There is no evidence of goat imports since that time and the only goats which have been exported were a group of six included in a cashmere breeding programme in Scotland in 1986. Historical evidence and records from 1703 onwards, show that goats have been kept in all parts of the country, albeit in small numbers. This goat population was on the verge of extinction a century ago and reached a maximum of nearly 3 000 in 1930. At present there are 370 winterfed goats in 47 flocks located across the country. The goats are mainly kept as pets and are highly inbred. Efforts are being made to market the meat in a few food stores and restaurants, the skins for book binding and the milk as a health product, on a small scale. The cashmere, however, has so far not been harvested for marketing. A state conservation grant, available for individually recorded goats since the late 1960s, has contributed to the maintenance of this endangered breed. Generally, goats are found to be susceptible to the same diseases as sheep in Iceland. However, scrapie has never been diagnosed in goats.

Technical efficiency and metatechnology ratios under varying resource endowment in different production systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mohi Uddin ◽  
Bernhard Brümmer ◽  
Kurt Johanes Peters
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
Technological Advantage ◽  
Resource Endowment ◽  
Resource Endowments

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare technical efficiency and metatechnology ratios (MTR) in three production systems confronted with different technological and resource endowments in Bangladesh to identify the suitable production systems for increasing productivity. Design/methodology/approach – The primary data collected by authors from 180 dairy farmers were sampled and modeled in a stochastic metafrontier framework due to its ability to estimate and compare the efficiency of firms among various groups with possibly different group-specific technologies and heterogeneous production environments. Findings – The empirical results show that farms from intensive system were closer to their production frontier than extensive and traditional system. Regarding productivity differences among systems, the MTR is by far highest for intensive, indicating the technological advantage of this system over others two systems. The estimation of farm-specific inefficiency model revealed that farmers’ access to extension and credit services are assumed to be significant determinants in reducing inefficiency. Practical implications – This study concludes that the ability of the farmers to increase productivity vary depending on the production systems due to variation in resource endowments and access to various inputs and support services. Thus, improving productivity depends on effective policy design on harmonizing access to resources and delivery of extension and credit services. Originality/value – The empirical analysis of data representing different production endowments by stochastic metafrontier make it possible to identify the efficiency level as well as technology gap, thus, ways to identify the possible policy options reducing those gaps and improving productivity.

Hawthorne's Puritans: From Fact to Fiction

1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEBORAH L. MADSEN
Keyword(s):  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Family History ◽  
Massachusetts Bay ◽  
Wide Spread ◽  
Historical Evidence ◽  
Connecticut River ◽  
History Of ◽  
Business Connections ◽  
Witchcraft Trials

Nathaniel Hawthorne's view of his first American ancestors as belonging to a grim and gloomy race, impatient with human weaknesses and merciless towards transgressors, reflects a wide-spread popular attitude towards the Massachusetts Bay colonists. Indeed, Hawthorne's contribution to the construction and perpetuation of this view is not inconsiderable. Hawthorne frankly confesses to his own family descent from one of the “hanging judges” of the Salem witchcraft trials, and he does not spare any instance of persecution, obsession, or cruelty regarding the community led by his paternal ancestors. But Hawthorne does not stop at indicting his own family history; in a famous exchange with the president of Hartford College, Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, shortly after the publication of The House of the Seven Gables (1851) Hawthorne is accused of blackening the reputation of another of New England's great colonial families. Hawthorne denied any knowledge of a “real” Pynchon family, let alone one with living (and litigious) descendants. He apologized for his mistake and offered to write an explanatory preface (which never appeared) for the second edition. Historical evidence suggests that Hawthorne, in fact, knew the history of the Pyncheon family, in particular William Pyncheon and his son John, of Springfield, who shared political and business connections throughout the mid-seventeenth century with William Hathorne of Salem. William Hathorne was a notorious persecutor of Quakers and his son John was the “hanging judge” of the witchcraft trials; William Pyncheon was a prominent fur-trader and founder of several towns along the Connecticut River who left the colony abruptly in circa 1651 accused of heresy. Given this history, a more likely model for the grim Colonel Pyncheon of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel is rather a composite of John and William Hathorne than William Pynchon. So why should Nathaniel, who had already in his fiction revealed his family skeletons, choose to displace his own family history on to the Pyncheon family, with all the trouble that then ensued?

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