Inequality, survival to adulthood, and the growth drag of pollution

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-79
Author(s):  
Andreas Schaefer

Abstract We theoretically investigate the interrelationship between economic inequality and the exposure to pollutants during the course of economic development. Environmental pollution adversely affects children’s probability of surviving to adulthood, thereby reducing parental expenditures on children’s quality and increasing the number of births necessary to achieve a desired family size. Children’s exposure to environmental pollution is determined by economic inequality because wealthier households live in cleaner areas, which then shapes variations in the level of human capital per child. This is the key mechanism through which environmental conditions impose a growth drag on the economy. Our theory proposes explanations for: (i) the hump-shaped evolution of child mortality ratios between cleaner and more polluted areas during the course of economic development, and (ii) the observed positive correlation between inequality and the concentration of pollutants at the local level.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 745-758
Author(s):  
S.N. Larin ◽  
E.Yu. Khrustalev ◽  
N.V. Noakk

Subject. Currently, as the global economy evolves, its innovative components should demonstrate a tendency of accelerated growth as intellectual capital, information technologies, increasing knowledge and digitization of mushrooming production processes. Nowadays, intellectual capital is one of the economic development drivers. However, the economic community is found to have no generally accepted wording of the concept, thus laying the basis for this article. Objectives. The study sums up the analysis of approaches used by the Russian and foreign economists to determining the economic substance of intellectual capital. We also identify the importance of human capital as its components and specify the definition of the concept. Methods. The article overviews and analyzes proceedings by the most renowned authors, which substantiate how the economic substance of intellectual capital should be unveiled, and suggest its definitions. Results. We specified the definition of intellectual capital concerning the current economic development. We suggest integrating a new component into intellectual capital, such as intellectual property, which includes products of intellectual activity and intangible assets. They can be owned by the entity or other legal entities and individuals, including some employees of the entity. Conclusions and Relevance. The specified definition of intellectual capital will help address issues of sustainable economic development and ensure the competitiveness of the Russian entities nationwide and worldwide, since it directly contributes to intellectual capital and its components.


Author(s):  
Taras Malyshivskyi ◽  
Volodymyr Stefinin

The article examines the relationship between attracting foreign capital in the form of foreign direct investment and ensuring economic development. In particular, the analysis of the current structure of the economy is indicated, its raw material character is pointed out and, based on other researches, the necessity of its reform is substantiated, as Ukraine will remain a low-income country if the current trend continues. This is due to the fact that countries with a raw material structure of the economy are characterized by a low level of economic complexity, and therefore are not able to generate high levels of income in society. As a result, the expediency of stimulating the attraction of investment resources into the country’s economy, in particular in the form of foreign direct investment, is substantiated. The dynamics of attracting foreign direct investment to Ukraine and a number of other countries for the period from 1991 to 2019 is analyzed and the key negative factors that deter foreign investors from investing in the economy of Ukraine are indicated. As a result of the analysis, divergent trends in the economic development of Ukraine and other analyzed countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Romania, Hungary) were identified, which contributed to economic stagnation and restrained economic growth and development. Taking into account the analysis, as well as based on the concept of investment and innovation growth, it is proposed to use the experience of Israel to improve the country’s investment attractiveness and stimulate foreign capital inflows by adapting the Yozma program to Ukrainian realities. According to our estimates, the adaptation of this program to the Ukrainian economy will attract about $ 350 million over a five-year period of venture capital alone. In addition, programs such as YOSMA can also be implemented at the regional or even local level. We believe that the use of this tool will improve the investment attractiveness of the country, as well as provide sufficient financial resources to modernize the domestic economy and ensure rapid economic growth.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-202
Author(s):  
Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi ◽  
T. William Lester

The use of tax increment financing (TIF) remains a popular, yet highly controversial, tool among policy makers in their efforts to promote economic development. This study conducts a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of Missouri’s TIF program, specifically in Kansas City and St. Louis, in creating economic opportunities. We build a time-series data set starting 1990 through 2012 of detailed employment levels, establishment counts, and sales at the census block-group level to run a set of difference-in-differences with matching estimates for the impact of TIF at the local level. Although we analyze the impact of TIF on a wide set of indicators and across various industry sectors, we find no conclusive evidence that the TIF program in either city has a causal impact on key economic development indicators.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7559
Author(s):  
Shu Yu ◽  
Shuangshuang Zhang ◽  
Takaya Yuizono

“Innovation driven” is the proper term for promoting regional sustainable development under the general goal of national high-quality development. University–industry collaboration (UIC) has become an important innovation resource for regional sustainable development. The study aims to analyze the influencing factors and mediating mechanisms of university–industry collaboration scientific and technological (S&T) and business activities oriented for regional sustainable development in 30 provinces in China (excluding Tibet). Specifically, we used the partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling method to test the effects of innovation climate and resource endowments on regional sustainable development through two mode pathways of university–industry collaboration activities. The results show that the innovation climate and resource endowments significantly affect UIC in scientific and technological innovation activities, and then affect the regional economic development and human capital. UIC S&T innovation activities play positive mediating roles in promoting regional sustainable development. In addition, the innovation climate does not significantly impact the business activities of UIC. Therefore, region can get a greater sustainable development through UIC S&T innovation activities than business activities. Much more UIC S&T activities can improve the economic development, human capital, and environmental conditions in the region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2803
Author(s):  
Huaide Wen ◽  
Jun Dai

This paper extends the “sources of growth” explanation for the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) proposed by Copeland and Taylor in a concise theoretical framework, that is, when the sources of growth are transformed from physical capital and labor to human capital and knowledge, the environmental pollution could at first rise and then fall with a sustainable growth in per capita income. Using the provincial panel data from 1995 to 2017 in the mainland of China, an empirical analysis is carried out by the System Generalized Method of Moment (sys-GMM). The results show that: first, the EKC hypothesis exists in China. The inflection point for SO2 emissions has been passed in all of the provincial regions, and for CO2 and comprehensive environmental pollution losses have not been passed in some regions, but the inflection point from the national average level in China has been passed; second, the main production factors of the traditional economy, physical capital and labor, are positively correlated with environmental pollution, while human capital and green technological progress, the main production factors of the knowledge economy, are negatively related to environmental pollution; third, human capital and green technological progress have become important factors to promote economic growth, and human capital, in particular, has become the primary factor, which indicates that China is in the process of transforming traditional economy into a knowledge economy. The stage of China’s economic development and the trend of environmental pollution is consistent with the extended “sources of growth” explanation for the EKC, which proved the theoretical hypothesis. This has an important practical significance for China’s current economic reform and important theoretical value for the economic transformation and sustainable development of developing countries. The paper finally puts forward corresponding policy recommendations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Hüther ◽  
Matthias Diermeier

Abstract Can the rise of populism be explained by the growing chasm between rich and poor? With regard to Germany, such a causal relationship must be rejected. Income distribution in Germany has been very stable since 2005, and people’s knowledge on actual inequality and economic development is limited: inequality and unemployment are massively overestimated. At the same time, a persistently isolationist and xenophobic group with diverse concerns and preferences has emerged within the middle classes of society that riggers support for populist parties. This mood is based on welfare chauvinism against immigration rather than on a general criticism of distribution. Since the immigration of recent years will inevitably affect the relevant indicators concerning distribution, an open, cautious but less heated approach is needed in the debate on the future of the welfare state. In order to address and take the local concerns of citizens seriously, an increased exchange with public officials on the ground is needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuhong Wang ◽  
Lu Xing ◽  
Hanxue Chen

Purpose Recently, China has been paying increasing attention to how to improve the efficiency of the marine environment and realize a green and sustainable development of the marine economy. Consequently, the industrial structure is crucial to improving efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to introduce environmental factors into the efficiency analysis framework and explore the relationship between marine industrial structure and marine environmental efficiency. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses marine economic data under the DEA-BBC model to measure the marine environmental efficiency of provinces and cities and classifies them by cluster analysis. Then, the marine industrial structure and marine environmental efficiency are studied by an econometric model with human capital, ownership structure, land economic development level, scientific research input and government intervention degree as control variables. Findings The overall level of marine environmental efficiency is relatively low in China, increasing and then decreasing over the research period. The rationalization of industrial structure and scientific research input have significant promoting effects on marine environmental efficiency, while the degree of government intervention has a significant inhibiting effect. The positive effect of human capital on efficiency depends on whether it can be successfully converted into productivity. The effects of industrial structure advancement, ownership structure and land economic development level of on the marine environmental efficiency are mixed. Originality/value The results provide a theoretical and decision-making basis for China to transform and upgrade its marine industrial structure and sustainably develop the marine economy.


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