Upward Convergence Research Articles

Prices and cross-border cigarette purchases in the EU: evidence from demand modelling

BackgroundPrevious studies of cross-border cigarette purchases in the European Union (EU) relied on survey-reported data. Results of those studies might be affected by under-reporting of tax avoidance in those surveys....

Demand Effects of Gender Inequality in Wages and Female Bargaining Power

This paper examines the influence of gender inequality in the determination of effective demand in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia. Focusing on consumption as a pathway to growth, the simple Keynesian construction of consumption behaviour is extended by introducing differences in the marginal propensity to consume out of male and female income. The methodology involves time-series estimation of consumption specifications. Building on micro-level evidence, we examine the long-run effects and short-run dynamics of gender wage inequality and female bargaining power on aggregate consumption. Econometric evidence is presented that upward convergence of women’s wages to men’s has a substantial positive impact on aggregate consumption when household spending is assumed to be wage-constrained. This conclusion is especially true for the UK, the US and Australia; we do not find conclusive evidence to show that rising gender wage inequality had a dampening effect on the time path of consumption in Canada between 1975 and 2014. Overall, the argument is made that, all things equal, improvements in the labour market conditions of women has an overall positive effect on aggregate household consumption expenditure and the short to medium term composition of aggregate consumption.

Social Inequalities in Europe The Challenge of Convergence and Cohesion

Social Inequalities in Europe The Challenge of Convergence and Cohesion

Spreading speeds for a class of non-local convolution differential equation

The spatial spreading dynamics is considered for a class of convolution differential equation resulting from physical and biological problems. It is shown that this kind of equation with monostable structure admits a spreading speed, even when the nonlinear reaction terms without monotonicity. The upward convergence of spreading speed is also established under appropriate conditions.

Multilingual Accommodation in Namibia

This study examined how six different ethnolinguistic groups in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, adjust their language use during intergroup encounters. Invoking communication accommodation theory, we predicted that relatively low-vitality groups (high-vitality groups) would be inclined towards linguistic convergence (maintenance), but that these general patterns would be moderated by prevailing sociocultural norms and each group’s language proficiency. These hypotheses were largely supported. Relatively low-vitality groups tended to linguistically converge (typically via lingua francas), whereas relatively high-vitality groups tended to engage in linguistic maintenance. This resulted in two distinct patterns of adjustment: (a) symmetrical accommodation in interactions involving groups of relatively equal vitality, typically consisting of mutual convergence to lingua francas or mutual maintenance of a shared heritage language and (b) asymmetrical accommodation in intergroup interactions involving groups of relatively unequal vitality, typically consisting of upward convergence among lower vitality groups, and maintenance among higher vitality groups.

Spatial dynamics for a non-quasi-monotone reaction-diffusion system with delay and quiescent stage

In this paper, we study the spreading speed and traveling wave solutions of a non-quasi-monotone delayed reaction-diffusion model for a single species population with separate mobile and stationary states. By using comparison arguments, Schauder’s fixed-point theorem and a limiting process, we establish the existence of the spreading speed and characterize it as the minimal wave speed for traveling wave solutions. The upward convergence of the spreading speed and traveling wave solutions are also established by applying a fluctuation method. In particular, the effects of the delay and transfer rates on the spreading speed are investigated.

Effect of country-of-origin contextual factors and length of stay on immigrants' substance use in Spain.

Factors explaining disparities in risk of substance use between immigrants and natives and between immigrant subgroups are poorly understood. We aimed to describe such disparities and identify some explanatory factors in Spain. Participants were residents aged 15-64 years from 2005 to 07 nationally representative surveys. Outcomes were prevalences of alcohol, tobacco, sedative-hypnotics, cannabis and other illegal substance use. Immigrants were recent if <5 years of Spanish stay and long term if ≥10 years. Country-of-origin income per capita and population level of substance use were taken from international databases. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and percent change from Poisson regression with robust variance were used to estimate risk disparities and effects of immigration variables. Most immigrants had lower substance use than natives, although it generally increased with increasing Spanish stay, especially for illegal substances. This lower risk could be partially explained by country-of-origin contextual factors as a lower level of income or substance use and religious or cultural factors such as Islam. By origin, recent immigrant aPRs and convergence-divergence risk patterns were, respectively, as follows: lower aPRs with upward convergence (often incomplete) toward natives' risk in immigrants from Muslim area, Eastern-Europe and Latin-America excluding South-Cone, lower/similar aPRs with upward overtaking or divergent patterns in South-Cone Americans and similar/higher aPRs with stable or upward divergent patterns in Non-Eastern-Europeans. Spain is a host context that seems to facilitate increased substance use among immigrants, even those from countries with prevalences close to Spain. However, country-of-origin context is important in explaining disparities in substance use among immigrants.

Global attractivity, spreading speeds and traveling waves of delayed nonlocal reaction–diffusion systems

The purpose of this work is to study the spatial dynamics of some delayed nonlocal reaction–diffusion systems in whole space. We first establish a series of comparison theorems to investigate the global attractivity of the equilibria for a delayed nonlocal reaction–diffusion system with and without quasi-monotonicity. Then we show that the spreading speed of a general system without quasi-monotone conditions is coincident with the minimal wave speed. Applying a fluctuation method, we further provide some sufficient conditions to ensure the upward convergence of the spreading speed and traveling wave solutions. Finally, we point out the effects of the delay and nonlocality on the spreading speed of the non-quasi-monotone systems.

Spatial dynamics of a lattice population model with two age classes and maturation delay

This paper is concerned with the spatial dynamics of a monostable delayed age-structured population model in a 2D lattice strip. When there exists no positive equilibrium, we prove the global attractivity of the zero equilibrium. Otherwise, we give some sufficient conditions to guarantee the global attractivity of the unique positive equilibrium by establishing a series of comparison arguments. Furthermore, when those conditions do not hold, we show that the system is uniformly persistent. Finally, the spreading speed, including the upward convergence, is established for the model without the monotonicity of the growth function. The linear determinacy of the spreading speed and its coincidence with the minimal wave speed are also proved.

The Effect of Globalization on the Distribution of Taxes and Social Expenditures in Europe: Do Welfare State Regimes Matter?

This paper estimates the effect of globalization on the implicit tax rates (ITRs) on capital income, labor income, and consumption, and the share of social protection expenditures in total public expenditures in Western and Eastern Europe. It tests the coexistence of efficiency and compensation effects of globalization on the expenditure and the revenue sides of government budgets. In Western Europe, globalization leads to an increase in social expenditures; however, these expenditures are to an increasing extent financed by taxes on labor. There are important differences between the welfare states. In the conservative regimes, both social expenditures and taxes on labor increase due to globalization. In the social-democratic regimes social expenditures are not affected by globalization, but the ITR on labor increases, whereas ITRs on capital and consumption decrease as a result of globalization. In the liberal regimes, the ITR on labor is rising, while social expenditures are declining. In the southern welfare regime globalization does not have any significant effects on the distribution of taxes or social spending. In Eastern Europe, in the Baltic states globalization leads to a decrease in social spending, whereas in the other Central and Eastern European New Member States (postcommunist European regimes) there is an upward convergence in social spending due to globalization. The ITRs on consumption decrease due to globalization in the postcommunist European regimes, whereas in the Baltic states there is no robust significant effect of globalization on taxes.

Strong gradient of benthic biogeochemical processes along a macrotidal temperate estuary: focus on P and Si cycles

This study aims to investigate the role of spatial and temporal physical, biological and biogeochemical gradients on sediment biogeochemistry along a macrotidal and Si-rich estuary. Scanning and biogeochemical analyses were performed in the inner, mid and outer Aulne Estuary (France) at four seasons. The inner estuary shows high diagenetic activity linked to fluid mud dynamics and river loads. The highest authigenic phosphorus (Aut-P) concentrations ever found in the literature are observed in the inner estuary (18 μmol g−1 PS sediment). This is explained by a combination of favorable factors, i.e. the high organic matter and nutrient loads, the reductive conditions, the freshwater properties (low pH, OH−, sulfate and Mg2+ concentrations), the increase of particle residence time by the upward convergence of particles due to residual currents, and allochthonous riverine Aut-P. We suggest that the high Si(OH)4 concentrations (>400 μM) may even increase Aut-P precipitation through the increase of Fe–P formation in these low salinity conditions. In the mid estuary, erosion–deposition dynamics dominate in point bars and lead to the succession of poor and rich organic and authigenic phosphorus layers, recording thus the seasonality of matter loads and its seasonal translocation from the inner estuary. In the outer estuary, deposition rates are high and constant and biogeochemical properties are characteristic of marine environments. The precipitation of Aut-P from free phosphate (PO4 3−) is lower than in the inner estuary and might be limited by higher Mg2+ concentrations in saline waters. This study highlights that small macrotidal estuaries, and especially their freshwater sediments, may constitute an important phosphorus sink through the precipitation of Aut-P. This precipitation could even be enhanced in fresh or brackish environments, thus increasing long term phosphorus storage and altering benthic fluxes of PO4 3− to the pelagic ecosystem.

More or less travel: personal mobility trends in the Swedish population focusing gender and cohort

This study explores mainstream trends and countertrends in the development of spatial mobility in the Swedish population. Tracing incipient change in travel behaviour is important for understanding the preconditions for social and environmental sustainability. We use data from the Swedish national travel surveys, conducted intermittently over almost 30years (1978–2006), covering both daily and long-distance mobility. International travel is included for the last decade. With respect to mainstream trends, the results primarily concern the continuation of the spatial extension of overall mobility and of the motorization and individualization of travel modes, as well as an upward convergence between women’s and men’s mobility. When it comes to countertrends, substantial reductions in daily mobility and long-distance domestic travel are observed among the young.

A California Effect for International Environmental Externalities?

An influential conventional wisdom holds that globalization could induce upward convergence in environmental regulations. Wealthy countries impose environmental regulations that prompt exporters in other countries to adopt sustainable production techniques, so the cost of environmental regulation in these countries decreases. However, previous research has only examined this California Effect for environmental regulations to address domestic externalities. I formally investigate the case of international externalities, such as global warming or ozone depletion. I find that a country can exercise leadership by enacting environmental regulations to strategically induce other countries to regulate in the future, but only if the incentive to free ride is not too strong. Surprisingly, under deep economic integration, environmental regulations are strategic complements with positive spillovers, so that international coordination is necessary to capitalize on the California Effect. In addition to showing that the California Effect is a powerful instrument of environmental statecraft, the results suggest new reasons why liberal trade and investment policies might improve environmental protection. They can also inform a strategy to promote efforts to mitigate global warming.

Economic crisis and social protection in the European Union: Moving beyond immediate responses

AbstractThe economic crisis has served to remind us that social protection is both a social buffer and an economic stabilizer that cushions the impacts of recession. Social benefits are being used by the countries of the European Union (EU) as well as by the Union itself as part of its recovery plan, to support those negatively effected by the crisis and to boost household consumption, thus providing support for business activities and employment. But the crisis could also represent an opportunity for the EU to strengthen its social protection systems, through seeking inspiration from the basic principles of international social law, to emphasize the legitimacy of high levels of social protection, to encourage upward convergence among the social protection systems of its Member States and to increase budget allocations for social protection.

Convergence of per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the EU: Legend or reality?

Designing appropriate environmental and energy policies, in order to meet the Kyoto protocol's carbon dioxide (CO 2) reduction targets in the European Union (EU), requires a detailed examination and thorough understanding of CO 2 emission trends across the EU member states. This paper investigates whether CO 2 emissions have converged across 22 European countries over the 1971 to 2006 period. The Bayesian shrinkage estimation method is employed to do this work and the results reveal the following: first, the hypothesis of absolute convergence in per capita CO 2 emissions is supported and a slight upward convergence is observed; second, the fact that countries differ considerably in both their speed of convergence and volatility in emissions makes it possible to identify different groups of countries; third, the results with respect to convergence do not vary much once the share of industry in GDP is accounted for in a conditional convergence analysis. However, a decreasing share of industry in GDP seems to contribute to a decline in per capita emissions. These findings may carry important implications for both national and EU environmental policies.

Spreading speeds and travelling waves for non-monotone time-delayed lattice equations

A non-monotone time-delayed lattice system with global interaction is considered. The spreading speed, including the upward convergence, is established by comparison arguments and a fluctuation method. The existence of travelling waves is obtained by Schauder’s fixed-point theorem and a limiting process. It turns out that the minimal wave speed of travelling waves coincides with the spreading speed.

Welfare state: Convergence: Downward versus upward

The aim of this paper is to contribute, in the theoretical and empirical sense, to better understanding the challenges of the EU welfare regimes and how particular regimes react on them. Despite significant differences among the EU welfare regimes, it is real to expect that they will converge because of the common challenges confronting them. In this paper, using the model of sigma and beta convergence, we are trying to predict the possible direction of convergence in the sense that Europe will go toward to more or less generosity or in other words it will converge downward or upward. The downward convergence means the strengthen competition among existing welfare regimes, in order to maintain and/or attract capital, that could reduce the social spending generosity. On the other hand, the upward convergence above involves the strengthening of coordination among existing welfare regimes according to the values of solidarity and social justice, which characterise not only the most developed EU countries but also the supranational European social model. .

The Future of European Union Social Policy and its Implications for Housing

European economic integration raises important questions about the role of social policy in an economic and monetary union. In the past, it was often argued that there would be upward convergence in the social policies of member-states. More recently, fears have been expressed about downward convergence, partly as a result of globalisation pressures. These fears are shown to be largely unfounded, although there have been trends towards greater similarity in social policy across countries. In the future, it is very unlikely that an extensive welfare state at the European level will develop. However, further European action in 'peripheral' parts of the social policy agenda is more likely. This includes actions in relation to housing, which lies at the intersection of economic policy and social policy.

/S/ Variation as Accommodation

The few remaining fluent speakers of isleno dialect of Spanish vary their casual pronunciation of /s/ in a manner consistent with, but not identical to, other caribbean Spanish dialects. The behavior of /s/ in the speech of nonfluent islenos parallels that of fluent speakers, differing only in the higher degree of aspiration and deletion. This variation by isleno semispeakers can be regarded as a type of speech accomodation called 'upward convergence' expressing social integration and identification

Gonial angle distortion in lateral head films: A methodologic study

The distortion of the gonial angle in lateral roentgenographic head films was studied in skull material. The left and the right gonial angles were determined craniometrically and roentgenocephalometrically, and the observations were compared. Mean difference of 8.48 degrees and 5.15 degrees between the roentgenocephalometric and the craniometric registrations were found for the side closer to the film and the side farther away from it, respectively. For the intermediate gonial angle, the difference was 6.65 degrees. The differences were all statistically significant. It was demonstrated that they were mainly attributable to a systematic method error in the roentgenocephalometric method, involving a magnification of the gonial angles. The magnification was significantly larger on the side closer to the film than on the side farther away from it. A pronounced individual variation in gonial angle distortion was observed. For intermediate gonial angle it ranged between magnifications of 1.17 degrees and 17.54 degrees. The distortion is closely associated with the form of the mandible. It is largest in mandibles with a pronounced divergence of the two halves of the corpus and a pronounced upward convergence of the rami. It is smallest in mandibles with a modest divergence of the two halves of the corpus and a pronounced upward divergence of the rami. By some very special combinations of corpus divergence and ramus inclination, a correct reproduction may be obtained. No such cases were found in the sample studied, but there can hardly be any doubt that they exist. There is an association between corpus divergence and ramus inclination. Maximum magnifying effect of the forward-extending leg tends to coincide with the maximum magnifying effect of the upward-extending leg. Conversely, minimum magnifying effect of the forward-extending leg tends to coincide with a dimishing effect of the upward-extending leg. This is the clue to an understanding of the great individual variation in gonial angle distortion. Generally speaking, lateral head films do not permit reliable registrations of the gonial angle. At present no method is available for an exact assessment of the distortion in head films of the single living person.