Journal of Economic and Social Measurement - Volume 19, issue 1

Authors: Johnson, John D. | Slottje, Daniel J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Today, COLA's are routinely used in labor contracts, social security and pension adjustments and in many other bilateral agreements where uncertainty about the future is part of the negotiating process. Neo-classical economic theory attempted to deal with this concept through …the development of the true cost-of-living index (TCLI). This will be discussed in greater detail below. This article examines the sensitivity of the cost-of-living to some aspects of price changes (and consequently real income changes) that have not been analyzed before. Specifically, we examine the impact of changes in the prices of commodities and monetary aggregates on consumer preferences. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-1993-19101

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 1-19, 1993

Authors: Mandarino, Nicola

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: IRI (“Istituto per la Ricostruzione lndustriale”) is the largest mixed-state enterprise of Italy: because of its size and scope, the question has often arisen on how IRI's policy decisions are influenced and in turn influence the Italian economy. This paper …attempts to indicate a method for the evaluation of this interrelationship via input-output techniques. A dynamic input-output model partitioned between IRI and the Rest Of the Country has been built in order to endogenize investments, such a crucial factor in corporate strategies. Moreover, the I/O framework has been used to analyze the effects of corporate shifts in the sectoral portfolio diversification, where acquisition and selling policies can substantially modify the production structure of a large company. The policy exercise presented here builds on the compilation of an extensive database, mainly focused on evaluating sectoral capital stocks from establishment data. The results of the model are discussed to envisage how 1991–95 IRI's sectoral investments and production plans will be affected by the macroeconomic scenarios. On the other hand, since IRI plans are adjusted annually, an application of the proposed methodology may point out to policy-makers which changes are needed in investment outlays in order to achieve economic targets. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-1993-19102

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 21-35, 1993

Authors: Van Driel, Hans | Boon, Martin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In 1982 the Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics published time-series of private consumption expenditure and price index numbers for 106 consumer goods and services for the Netherlands over the period 1951–1977. Recently, new series have become available, with a slightly …different classification of 99 consumer goods and services. These series range over the years 1948–1988. Additionally, they have been linked to the series which were published by Barten for 98 consumer goods and services over the period 1921–1939 on an aggregation level of 25 groups of goods and services. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-1993-19103

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 37-39, 1993

Authors: Nelson, Charles T. | Coder, John F.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Household income statistics produced by the U.S. Census Bureau have traditionally been based on a calendar-year, pre-tax, post-transfer income measure. This definition has three major weak points: 1) it fails to account for the effect of government non-cash programmes which …provide medical, housing and food assistance, 2) it fails to reflect the effect of income and payroll taxes on the distribution of income, and 3) it fails to include private sector non-cash benefits, such as employer-provided health insurance. This paper describes efforts at the Census Bureau over the last ten years to expand the definition of income beyond the original pre-tax, post-transfer concept. This effort began with a series of exploratory reports that focused on the effect of government non-cash benefits on the number of families and persons living in poverty. A second series of studies examined the effect of taxes on the distribution of income. Research efforts were expanded and integrated in the late-1980s to create a new series of reports that have provided a comprehensive picture of the effect of taxes and non-cash benefits on income distributional measures and the prevalence of poverty. The annual release of these estimates is now a permanent part of the Census Bureau's statistical programme. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/JEM-1993-19104

Citation: Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 41-58, 1993