Suchergebnisse

AbstractTo assess the educational performance gaps in Eastern Europe, this article takes a look at the differences in PISA test scores between Finland and seven Eastern European countries, as well as between Eastern European countries. The methodology applied is a semiparametric version of the threefold Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition. We find that main part of the average test score gap cannot be explained by the individual characteristics. Furthermore, our analysis at different quantiles provides evidence that the average test score gaps are due to the fact that poorly performing students in Finland score much higher than poorly performing students in Eastern Europe.

The reality television program, 30 Days with Morgan Spurlock, relates a compelling narrative in its episode entitled "Immigration" by having Frank, an avowed Minuteman, live with the Gonzalez family -- whose members are undocumented -- in East Los Angeles. The episode begins with images of Frank patrolling the border, binoculars in hand & 9mm handgun at his side, while passionately arguing that the United States must enforce its immigration laws. He insists that immigrants who have crossed "illegally" must be policed & deported back to their country. The viewers are then introduced to the seven Gonzalez family members, who live in a 500-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment. Upon entering the Gonzalez's home, Frank adamantly argues that the family must be deported. Although his intransigent views slowly melt away due to the warmth & hardworking nature of this family, the critical turning point for Frank occurs when he goes to Mexico & witnesses firsthand the "squalor" & abject poverty from which the Gonzalez family fled. After this horrible experience, Frank explains that the Gonzalez family was merely trying to survive by entering the United States "Illegally." By the end of the episode, he tearfully embraces one of the daughters, & promises to sponsor her if she is deported. Adapted from the source document.

We examine partisan bias in inflation expectations. Our dataset includes inflation expectations of the New York Fed's Survey of Consumer Expectations over the period June 2013 to June 2018. The results show that inflation expectations were 0.46% points higher in Republican-dominated than in Democratic-dominated US states when Barack Obama was US president. Compared to inflation expectations in Democratic-dominated states, inflation expectations in Republican-dominated states declined by 0.73% points when Donald Trump became president. We employ the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition method to disentangle the extent to which political ideology and other individual characteristics predict inflation expectations: around 25% of the total difference between inflation expectations in Democratic-dominated versus Republican-dominated states is based on how partisans respond to changes in the White House's occupant (partisan bias). The results also corroborate the belief that voters' misperceptions of economic conditions decline when the president belongs to the party that voters support.

Macroeconomic adjustment and sectoral reforms have strongly modified the framework for rural development in Central America. Local producers have only received marginal benefits from the liberalization of markets and the privatization of financial and commercial services. This book offers a structural analysis of agrarian policies in Central America and their impact on production conditions and farmers' welfare. Segmentation of rural factor and product markets and institutional failures have imposed severe constraints on the effectiveness of the applied policy instruments.

The 19 chapters included in this book provide an overview of research conducted within the framework of the collaborative research programme on 'Regional Food Security Policies for Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Economies' (RESPONSE). The programme aimed to identify strategic options for agricultural and rural development in less-favoured areas and policy instruments than enhance rural household's investments in improved and sustainable natural resource management. Through the study of less-favoured areas in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, development pathways allowing for the careful adjustment of resource use strategies at the field, farm-household and village levels are explored. The book consists of five sections under the following headings: (i) development strategies for poor people in less-favoured areas; (ii) resource management options; (iii) livelihoods and food security; (iv) markets and institutional development; and (v) strategies and policy priorities. This text is intended for researchers and students as well as policy makers and economists. The book has a subject index