An agency-oriented model to explain vine-growing specialization in the province of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) in the mid-nineteenth century

[cat] En aquest treball presentem un model per explicar el proc��s d���especialitzaci�� vit��cola assolit als municipis de la prov��ncia de Barcelona, a mitjans del s. XIX,que cerca entendre com va sorgir hist��ricament un avantatge comparatiu fruit d���un proc��s que esdevindria un dels punts de partida del proc��s d���industrialitzaci�� a Catalunya. Els resultats confirmen els papers jugats pel impuls ���Boserupi����� de la poblaci�� en un context d���intensificaci�� de l�����s de la terra, i d���un impuls del mercat ���Smithi����� en un context d���expansi�� de la demanda per part de les economies atl��ntiques. Tamb�� es posa de manifest la import��ncia de les dotacions agro-ecol��giques i les condicions socioinstitucionals relacionades amb la desigualtat d���ingr��s. La difusi�� de la vinya don�� com a resultat unes comunitats rurals menys desiguals fins al 1820, tot i que aquesta desigualtat augment�� de nou a partir d'aleshores.

A comparison of the processes of institutionalisation of political economy in Spain and Italy (1860-1900)

[spa] El estudio de los procesos a trav��s de los cuales la econom��a pol��tica se ha transformado en una disciplina acad��mica es un ��rea de creciente inter��s en la historia del pensamiento econ��mico. Dicho estudio se ha abordado a trav��s del an��lisis de la importancia de la econom��a pol��tica en un conjunto de instituciones, consideradas clave en la expansi��n de la econom��a en las sociedades occidentales en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX y primeras d��cadas del XX: universidades, sociedades econ��micas, publicaciones peri��dicas de contenido econ��mico y los parlamentos nacionales. Este papel presenta una comparaci��n entre los desarrollos del proceso de institutionalizaci��n de la econom��a pol��tica en Espa��a e Italia, a trav��s del estudio de la presencia de esta disciplina en las instituciones mencionadas para el periodo 1860-1900. El objetivo es medir la posible existencia de una v��a com��n en la institucionalizaci��n de la econom��a pol��tica en ambos pa��ses, como un primer paso hacia la elaboraci��n de un modelo supranacional de institucionalizaci��n de la econom��a en este periodo.

The dynamic adjustment of local government budgets : Does Spain behave differently?

[spa] El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar si los municipios espa��oles se ajustan en presencia de un shock presupuestario y (si es as��) qu�� elementos del presupuesto son los que realizan el ajuste. La metodolog��a utilizada para contestar estas preguntas es un mecanismo de correcci��n del error, VECM, que estimamos con un panel de datos de los municipios espa��oles durante el per��odo 1988-2006. Nuestros resultados confirman que, en primer lugar, los municipios se ajustan en presencia de un shock fiscal (es decir, el d��ficit es estacionario en el largo plazo). En segundo lugar, obtenemos que cuando el shock afecta a los ingresos el ajuste lo soporta principalmente el municipio reduciendo el gasto, las transferencias tienen un papel muy reducido en este proceso de ajuste. Por el contrario, cuando el shock afecta al gasto, el ajuste es compartido en t��rminos similares entre el municipio ��� incrementado los impuestos ��� y los gobiernos de niveles superiores ��� incrementando las transferencias. Estos resultados sugieren que la viabilidad de las finanzas p��blica locales es factible con diferentes entornos institucionales.

Evaluating the effects of decentralization on educational outcomes in Spain

[cat] Diversos arguments derivats de la teoria del federalisme fiscal suggereixen que la descentralitzaci�� pot portar a majors nivells d���efici��ncia en la provisi�� de b��ns i serveis publics. L���objectiu d���aquest estudi ��s contrastar aquesta hip��tesi mitjan��ant l���avaluaci�� dels efectes de la descentralitzaci�� sobre els resultats educatius a Espanya. Els resultats educatius es mesuren d���acord amb la taxa de superviv��ncia, que es defineix com el nombre d���estudiants que es matricula en educaci�� secund��ria no obligat��ria en relaci�� als alumnes matriculats a l�����ltim curs d���educaci�� obligat��ria durant l���any acad��mic anterior.

Cotton manufacturers as bankers: the textile trade and credit in spain, 1840-1913

[cat] La historiografia ha assenyalat que en el segle XIX el cr��dit que els fabricants cotoners catalans oferien als seus clients era de car��cter informal i, per tant, impossible de ser transferit al sistema bancari. Aix�� hauria tingut un efecte negatiu en la rendibilitat de les empreses cotoneres. A partir de l���an��lisi de diversos arxius empresarials, aix�� com de fonts judicials i notarials, aquest treball confirma aquesta descripci�� dels fets per�� proposa una interpretaci�� m��s optimista. Els fabricants feien de banquers dels seus clients perqu�� eren els millor situats per a exercir aquesta funci��. Havien constru��t una bona estructura d���informaci��, gestionaven eficientment el risc creditici i obtenien beneficis d���aquesta activitat.

Why Italy and not Spain?: comparing two industrialization processes from a dissagregate time-series perspective

This study presents new evidence concerning the uneven processes of industrialization innineteenth century Spain and Italy based on a disaggregate analysis of the productivesectors from which the behaviour of the aggregate indices is comprised. The use of multivariate time-series analysis techniques can aid our understanding and characterization of these two processes of industrialization. The identification of those sectors with key rolesin leading industrial growth provides new evidence concerning the factors that governed thebehaviour of the aggregates in the two economies. In addition, the analysis of the existenceof interindustry linkages reveals the scale of the industrialization process, and wheresignificant differences exist, accounts for many of the divergences recorded in the historiography for the period 1850-1913.

The determinants of social spending in Spain (1880-1960): Is Lindert right?

[spa] El principal objetivo de este art��culo se centra en analizar los or��genes del Estado de Bienestar en Espa��a a partir del marco te��rico elaborado por Peter Lindert. Con este fin, se ofrece un an��lisis econom��trico de los factores que determinaron la evoluci��n del gasto social p��blico en este pa��s entre 1880 y 1960. Utilizando nueva evidencia cuantitativa, se construy�� un panel de datos por quinquenios con el porcentaje de gasto social respecto al PIB desagregado en tres partidas: sanidad, seguridad social y beneficencia. El an��lisis permite insertar el caso espa��ol en el debate internacional y los resultados revelan interesantes singularidades de este pa��s.

Geographical determinants of the creation of manufacturing firms: The regions of Spain

La complexitat dels mecanismes que determinen l'entrada i la sortida de signatures augmenta quan difer��ncies geogr��fiques de l'estructura de producci��, la capital humana i l'atur s��n considerades. Variacions interregionals en la tarifa de les noves de signatures dintre de cada activitat industrial persisteixen durant els per��odes llargs de temps, una circumst��ncia que indica que hi ha determinants no-conjunturals en la capacitat de regions per a crear nous projectes industrials. Aquest estudi est�� preocupat amb l'establiment d'influ��ncia variables geogr��fiques sobre la fundaci�� de nous establiments de la fabricaci��. Les ind��stries (NEIX la R 25) en les regions espanyoles (el BOIG 2) han estat preses com les unitats d'an��lisis per al per��ode 1980-1992

Are commuting and residential mobility decisions simultaneous? : the case of Catalonia (Spain)

In this paper we study the commuting and moving decisions of workers in Catalonia (Spain) and its evolution in the 1986-1996 period. Using a microdata sample from the 1991 Spanish Population Census, we estimate a simultaneous, discrete choice model of commuting and moves, thus indirectly addressing the home and job location decisions. The econometrical framework is a simultaneous, binary probit model with a commute equation and a move equation

Regional structure of wages and external economies in Spain

Regional data on wages for the Spanish economy show that workers who live in developed regions earn more than workers in other regions.Literature on external economies provides a possible explanation of why firms do not move from these regions to others where wages are lower. Previous studies for the Spanish case use aggregated sectoral data to explain in terms of external economies why average wages are different across regions. The originalcontribution of this paper consists of using individual data to detect the existenceand nature of external economies as an explanatory cause of territorial wagedifferences. With this aim, we have used individual data from the EPF 1990-91(INE). This information permits us to control the influence of individual and jobcharacteristics on wages to, first, detect the existence of external economies and,second, to test alternative explanations of their presence. The empirical evidenceobtained confirms the relevance of territorial external economies and their influence on wages, as a result of improvements in the productive efficiency of the firm. In concrete terms, the more relevant external economies are associatedwith the regional human capital stock and geographical productive specialisation

Transitional effects of a pension system change in Spain

This paper studies the output effects, transition costs and the change in pension benefits derived from the substitution of the current unfunded pension system by a fully funded pension system financed through mandatory savings.These effects are estimated by using reduced versions of the neoclassical and endogenous growth frameworks. Because of the greater capital accumulation during the transition phase, final output increases by 23,6% (neoclassicalframework); and a 24,5-31,5% (endogenous growth framework). The initial revenue loss for the government would represent a 4,8% of the GDP, raising very slowly during the transition period. Given the new growth rates, rates of return ofphysical capital, and financial intermediation costs, we have that the capitalization pension benefits obtained by all 30-contribution-year worker would be more than twice than those that guarantee the financial sustainability of thepublic pension system

Networks of people in specialty production: family firms in the iron and steel Wire industries in Spain (1870-2000)

Capital intensive industries in specialized niches of production have constituted solid ground for family firms in Spain , as evidenced by the experience of the iron and steel wire industries between 1870 and 2000. The embeddedness of these firms in their local and regional environments have allowed the creation of networks that, together with favourable institutional conditions, significantly explain the dominance of family entrepreneurship in iron and steel wire manufacturing in Spain, until the end of the 20 th century. Dominance of family firms at the regional level has not been not an obstacle for innovation in wire manufacturing in Spain, which has taken place even when institutional conditions blocked innovation and traditional networking. Therefore, economic theories about the difficulties dynastic family firms may have to perform appropriately in science-based industries must be questioned

Political economy of municipal water service privatization in Spain: a duration model analysis

This empirical work applies a duration model to the study of factors determining privatization of local water services. I assess how factors determining privatization decision evolve as time goes by. A sample of 133 Spanish municipalities during the six terms of office taken place during the 1980-2002 period is analyzed. A dynamic neighboring effect is hypothesized and successfully tested. In a first stage, private water supply firms may try to expand to regions where there is no service privatized, in order to spread over this region after having being installed thanks to its scale advantages. Other factors influencing privatization decision evolve during the two decades under study, from the priority to fix old infrastructures to the concern about service efficiency. Some complementary results regarding political and budgetary factors are also obtained

Magnetostratigraphy of the Miocene continental deposits of the Montes de Castej��n (central Ebro basin, Spain): geochronological and paleoenvironmental implications

A detailed magnetostratigraphic study has been carried out in the early to middle Miocene distal alluvial and lacustrine sediments of the Montes de Castej��n (central Ebro Basin). The study was based on the analysis of 196 magnetostratigraphic sites sampled along a stratigraphic interval of about 240 meters. Local magnetostratigraphy yielded a sequence of 12 magnetozones (6 normal and 6 reverse) which could be correlated with the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) interval C5Cr to C5AD (between 17 and 14.3 Ma.). The sampled sedimentary sequences include the boundary between two tectosedimentary units (TSU, T5 and T6) already defined in the Ebro Basin. The magnetostratigraphy of the Montes de Castej��n allows to date the T5/T6 TSU boundary at 16.14 Ma, within chron C5Cn.1n. This magnetostratigraphy also allows us to analyse in detail as well as to discuss the variations in sedimentation rates through space and time between different lacustrine environments: Outer carbonate lacustrine fringes and distal alluvial plains (Montes de Castej��n sections) show higher sedimentation rates than offshore lacustrine areas (San Caprasio section, 50 km east of Montes de Castej��n).