scholarly journals Testing for Convergence in Competitiveness and Growth in Selected Economies from 1994 to 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-164
Author(s):  
Marinko Skare ◽  
Małgorzata Porada-Rochon ◽  
Sasa Stjepanovic
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Economic Planning ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Monetary Policies ◽  
Quarterly Data ◽  
Development Path ◽  
Convergence Clubs ◽  
Export Competitiveness ◽  
Convergence Club

Competitiveness on a small and large scale is necessary for growth. A definitive link between the level of competitiveness and growth has been difficult to prove. One of the primary objectives of economic planning is to promote price and exchange rate stability. Entrepreneurialism and productivity also increase the country’s export competitiveness. The aim of this study is to test for the convergence in competitiveness and convergence club existence in selected economies. No previous research had tested for convergence in competitiveness using a nonlinear timevarying factor model. This paper provides an overview on convergence in competitiveness and convergence clubs’ existence for 42 countries using quarterly data from 1994q1 to 2020q4 testing on competitiveness. Convergence log (t) test results show differences in competitiveness between classified convergence clubs. Russia, Brazil, and Turkey are the clubs (groups of countries) that show a transitional path (convergence in competitiveness) that differs entirely from the rest of the sample. Countries with more natural resources and exogenous monetary policies follow a unique development path to competitiveness. We find no evidence of divergence in countries within the clubs. However, we find a club (group of countries) following a clear divergence path from the other countries (Russia, Brazil, and Turkey). Our findings could potentially explain the increase in divergence in competitiveness across countries after the financial crisis of 2008.

scholarly journals Does High-Speed Railway Influence Convergence of Urban-Rural Income Gap in China?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4236
Author(s):  
Weidong Li ◽  
Xuefang Wang ◽  
Olli-Pekka Hilmola
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
High Speed Railway ◽  
Income Gap ◽  
Rural Income ◽  
Convergence Clubs ◽  
Convergence Club ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Transportation is an important factor affecting the balance of regional economic pattern. The construction of high-speed railway enhances the mobility of population, capital, technology and information resources between urban and rural areas. Will it further affect the income gap between urban and rural areas? Based on the nonlinear time-varying factor model, this paper analyzes the convergence of urban-rural income gap with the angle of high-speed railway. After rejecting the assumption of overall convergence in the traditional four economic regions, three convergence clubs of urban-rural income gap were found. For these ordered logit regression model is used to explore the initial factors that may affect the formation of “convergence club”. Empirical results show that the construction of High-speed railway has effectively narrows the urban-rural income gap in China, but it is not the cause of the formation of the three convergence clubs. The convergence effect of High-speed railway on the urban-rural income gap in China is still relatively weak.

Closer together or further apart? Club convergence in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lokman Gunduz ◽  
Hamad Mohammed Rahman Humaid Alshamsi ◽  
Mehmet Yasin Ulukus
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Physical Capital ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Convergence Clubs ◽  
Club Membership ◽  
Convergence Club ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis

Purpose This paper aims to examine the per capita income convergence of 57 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over the period 1990–2017 and to investigate the determinants of convergence club formations. Design/methodology/approach The authors applied the methodology of Phillips and Sul (2007, 2009) to identify the convergence clubs and estimated several-ordered logit models to determine the key drivers. Findings The results support existence of two convergence clubs and one diverging unit, indicating that 30 and 26 member countries form two separate groups converging to their own steady-state paths. They also suggest a significant productivity divergence between these clubs. The authors showed that the number of convergence clubs started to decline after the global financial crisis in 2008. Moreover, they found that fixed capital formation, education and political stability are key drivers of convergence club membership. Practical implications There is a strong need for large-scale policy interventions to close the gap between leading and lagging clubs of the OIC. A substantial investment in human and physical capital seems necessary for lower-income OIC countries. Originality/value This is the first empirical study on the existence of convergence clubs among member countries of the OIC.

Convergence or Divergence Patterns in Global Defence Spending: Further Evidence from a Nonlinear Single Factor Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Shaaba Saba
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
National Income ◽  
Testing Procedure ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Convergence Clubs ◽  
Defence Spending ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
World Income ◽  
International Convergence

AbstractThis study re-examines the international convergence in defence spending for 125 countries spanning 1985–2018. We employ the approach of Phillips and Sul, which tests for the existence of convergence clubs and the modelling of different transition paths to convergence. Our findings suggest no overall defence spending convergence at the world, income groups (except the low-income countries) and regional levels. However, we identify two convergence clubs using an iterative testing procedure and eventually (i) at world level, these two clubs exhibit convergence, and (ii) while taking into account Gross national income, geography and defence alliances/economic cooperation it is possible to make different number of convergence/divergence clubs. Contrary to previous findings, this study finds that the process of convergence in defence spending does not reflect the desirable emanations of defence policies sharing similar characteristics, at least in terms of the allocation of scarce public resources across the globe.

Using Indicator Bacteria and Salmonella Test Results from Three Large-Scale Beef Abattoirs over an 18-Month Period To Evaluate Intervention System Efficacy and Plan Carcass Testing for Salmonella

2007 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 2732-2740 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN R. RUBY ◽  
JUN ZHU ◽  
STEVEN C. INGHAM
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Microbiological Contamination ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Intervention Process ◽  
Beef Carcasses ◽  
Causative Factors ◽  
Plate Counts

To develop a process for predicting the likelihood of Salmonella contamination on beef carcasses, we evaluated the influence of several possible causative factors (i.e., year, abattoir, day of week, month, and intervention system components) on the risk of Salmonella and indicator organism contamination. Hide and carcass sponge samples were collected in 2005 to 2006 in six steps at three abattoirs in the East (A), Midwest (B), and Southwest (C) United States. Each abattoir used the same intervention system. Samples were analyzed for aerobic plate counts (APCs; n = 18,990) and Enterobacteriaceae counts (EBCs; n = 18,989) and the presence or absence of Salmonella (n = 5,355). Our results demonstrated that many factors play a significant role in the level of microbial contamination of beef carcasses. Overall, Salmonella prevalence and EBC levels were significantly higher in 2006 than in 2005. APCs and EBCs were highest in abattoirs A (3.57 log CFU/100 cm2) and B (1.31 log CFU/100 cm2). The odds of detecting a positive Salmonella isolate were greatest in abattoir C and lowest in abattoir A. Across the three abattoirs, the overall intervention process effectively reduced microbiological contamination. Salmonella prevalence fell from 45% (preevisceration) to 0.47% (postchilled–lactic acid), and there were APC and EBC reductions of 5.43 and 5.28 log CFU/100 cm2, respectively, from hide-on to postchilled–lactic acid samples. At each abattoir, composites of three individual EBC-negative carcass samples yielded Salmonella-negative results 97 to 99% of the time. These results suggest the possibility of using indicator test results to accurately predict the absence of Salmonella in a beef carcass sample.

High Frequency Vibration Analysis of Automotive Body Panels with Damping Materials

2010 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 293-296
Author(s):  
Yoshio Kurosawa ◽  
Takao Yamaguchi
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The Body ◽  
Viscoelastic Damping ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Automotive Body ◽  
Modal Damping ◽  
Practical Tool ◽  
Damping Materials

We have developed a technique for estimating vibrations of an automotive body structures with viscoelastic damping materials using large-scale finite element (FE) model, which will enable us to grasp and to reduce high-frequency road noise（200～500Hz）. In the new technique, first order solutions for modal loss factors are derived applying asymptotic method. This method saves calculation time to estimate modal damping as a practical tool in the design stages of the body structures. Frequency responses were calculated using this technique and the results almost agreed with the test results. This technique can show the effect of the viscoelastic damping materials on the automotive body panels, and it enables the more efficient layout of the viscoelastic damping materials. Further, we clarified damping properties of the automotive body structures under coupled vibration between frames and panels with the viscoelastic damping materials.

scholarly journals Ice-Accretion Test Results for Three Large-Scale Swept-Wing Models in the NASA Icing Research Tunnel

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy P. Broeren ◽  
Mark G. Potapczuk ◽  
Sam Lee ◽  
Adam M. Malone ◽  
Bernard P. Paul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Ice Accretion ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Swept Wing

Analytical Model for Rockfall Protection Galleries - a Blind Prediction of Test Results and Conclusion

2011 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 722-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Schellenberg ◽  
Norimitsu Kishi ◽  
Hisashi Kon-No
Keyword(s):  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Blind Prediction ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Input Parameters ◽  
Scale Test ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Protective Structures ◽  
Cushion Layer

A system of multiple degrees of freedom composed out of three masses and three springs has been presented in 2008 for analyzing rockfall impacts on protective structures covered by a cushion layer. The model has then been used for a blind prediction of a large-scale test carried out in Sapporo, Japan, in November 2009. The test results showed substantial deviations from the blind predictions, which led to a deeper evaluation of the model input parameters showing a significant influence of the modeling properties for the cushion layer on the overall results. The cushion properties include also assumptions for the loading geometry and the definition of the parameters can be challenging. This paper introduces the test setup and the selected parameters in the proposed model for the blind prediction. After comparison with the test results, adjustments in the input parameters in order to match the test results have been evaluated. Conclusions for the application of the model as well as for further model improvements are drawn.

Design and Testing of ITER TF Coil Insulations

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 3127-3131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew W. Hooker ◽  
Jennifer K. Walsh ◽  
Mark W. Haynes ◽  
Naseem A. Munshi
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Vacuum Impregnation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Qualification Test ◽  
Insulation System ◽  
Cyanate Ester Resin ◽  
Design And Testing

The design of the ITER Toroidal Field (TF) coils requires an insulation system that is amenable to the very large scale vacuum impregnation processes planned for the construction of these devices, and that will provide reliable electro-mechanical performance after radiation exposure. To address this need, CTD has developed an epoxy/cyanate ester resin system designated CTD-425. This material meets the processing requirements for use in the TF coils, and cyclic mechanical testing of conductor assemblies has demonstrated its electro-mechanical strength after 60,000 mechanical cycles. In addition, this product recently passed radiation exposure tests coordinated by the ITER International Organization and is now qualified for use in constructing the TF coils. This paper summarizes the performance characterization and qualification test results for this insulation.

scholarly journals Seismic Behavior and Force-Displacement Characterization of Neotype Column-Slab High Piers

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
YanQun Zhou ◽  
YeZhi Zhang ◽  
MeiXin Ye ◽  
MengSi Zhan
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Behavior ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Lateral Displacements ◽  
High Pier ◽  
Experimental Values ◽  
Large Scale Tests ◽  
Force Displacement

The seismic behavior and plasticity spreading of a neotype column-slab high pier are researched in this paper. Four scale model tests of a web slab with two boundary columns are carried out under cyclic inelastic lateral displacements simulating seismic response. The test results show that the neotype column-slab high pier has strong and stable bearing capacity, good ductility, and energy dissipation capacity. The experimental values pertaining to the spread of plasticity are derived. An approach for deriving the spread of plasticity analytically is deduced and applied to the four tests. This method accurately assesses a pier’s spread of plasticity for most ductility levels. At nearly all ductility levels, the mean difference between analytical assessments of the spread of plasticity and results from 4 large-scale tests is 12% with a 9% coefficient of variation.

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