Testing for convergence clubs in income per-capita: A predictive density approach

The paper proposes a technique to jointly test for groupings of unknown size in the cross sectional dimension of a panel and estimates the parameters of each group, and applies it to identifying convergence clubs in income per-capita. The approach uses the predictive density of the data, conditional on the parameters of the model. The steady state distribution of European regional data clusters around four poles of attraction with different economic features. The distribution of incomeper-capita of OECD countries has two poles of attraction and each grouphas clearly identifiable economic characteristics.

O Brasil pode repetir o milagre econômico?

This article analyze the necessary conditions for Brazilian income per capita to duplicate in a time span of fifteen years, as it happened in the 1970s. Growth accounting is used to identify the sources of growth of Asian countries (China, Hon Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan) and Brazil during periods where income per capita has doubled in the past. The main restriction for the Brazilian economy to get back the growth performance of the 1970s is the low rate of investment. To increase this rate requires a substantial increase of the domestic savings rate.

How does corruption hurt growth? Evidences about the effects of corruption on factors productivity and per capita income

Corruption is a phenomenon that plagues many countries and, mostly, walks hand in hand with inefficient institutional structures, which reduce the effectiveness of public and private investment. In countries with widespread corruption, for each monetary unit invested, a sizable share is wasted, implying less investment. Corruption can also be a burden on a nation’s wealth and economic growth, by driving away new investment and creating uncertainties regarding private and social rights. Thus, corruption can affect not only factors productivity, but also their accumulation, with detrimental consequences on a society’s social development. This article aims to analyze and measure the influence of corruption on a country’s wealth. It is implicitly admitted that the degree of institutional development has an adverse effect on the productivity of production factors, which implies in reduced per capita income. It is assumed that the level of wealth and economic growth depends on domestic savings, foster technological progress and a proper educational system. Corruption, within this framework, is not unlike an additional cost, which stifles the “effectiveness” of the investment. This article first discusses the key theories evaluating corruption’s economic consequences. Later, it analyzes the relation between institutional development, factor productivity and per capita income, based on the neoclassical approach to economic growth. Finally, it brings some empirical evidence regarding the effects of corruption on factor productivity, in a sample of 81 countries studied in 1998. The chief conclusion is that corruption negatively affects the wealth of a nation by reducing capital productivity, or its effectiveness.

Changes in retirement age and fertility: their effects on economic dependency, per capita income and transfer pension systems

Includes bibliography

Infirmities of per capita national income estimates when employed to compare levels of living between developed and retarded areas.

Mode of access: Internet.

Northeast : 1984 population and 1983 per capita income estimates for counties and incorporated places.

"Issued June 1986."

Northeast : 1986 population and 1985 per capita income estimates for counties and incorporated places.

Errata page inserted.

West : 1986 population and 1985 per capita income estimates for counties and incorporated places.

Errata page inserted.

West North Central : 1988 population and 1987 per capita income estimates for counties and incorporated places.

"Issued March 1990."

South : 1986 population and 1985 per capita income estimates for counties and incorporated places.

Errata page inserted.

Per capita versus adult-equivalent estimates of calorie availability in household budget surveys

This study aims to estimate an adult-equivalent scale for calorie requirements and to determine the differences between adult-equivalent and per capita measurements of calorie availability in the Brazilian population. The study used data from the 2002-2003 Brazilian Household Budget Survey. The calorie requirement for a reference adult individual was based on the mean requirements for adult males and females (2,550kcal/day). The conversion factors were defined as the ratios between the calorie requirements for each age group and gender and that of the reference adult. The adult-equivalent calorie availability levels were higher than the per capita levels, with the largest differences in rural and low-income households. Differences in household calorie availability varied from 22kcal/day (households with adults and an adolescent) to 428kcal/day (households with elderly individuals), thus showing that per capital measurements can underestimate the real calorie availability, since they overlook differences in household composition.

Inseticidas domésticos: padrão de uso segundo a renda per capita

OBJETIVO: Os inseticidas são poluentes largamente utilizados em muitos países, no entanto são poucos os estudos existentes sobre o uso desses produtos em ambiente doméstico. Assim, realizou-se estudo com o objetivo de caracterizar o padrão de uso de inseticidas domésticos e sua relação com a renda per capita. MÉTODOS: Entre outubro de 1999 e janeiro de 2000, foram aplicados questionários sobre o uso de inseticidas domésticos em 2.039 domicílios da área urbana de Pelotas, RS. Coletaram-se informações sobre o uso de inseticidas no último ano, forma de apresentação e grupo químico dos produtos disponíveis no momento da entrevista, proteção mecânica utilizada para o controle de insetos e nível socioeconômico. Utilizou-se o teste Qui-quadrado de tendência linear para verificar as associações, bem como a razão de prevalências e os intervalos de confiança. RESULTADOS: Em 89% dos domicílios visitados foram utilizados inseticidas domésticos, pelo menos uma vez, nos 12 meses que antecederam a entrevista e em 79% dos domicílios havia um ou mais produtos disponíveis no momento da entrevista. As formas de apresentação mais prevalentes foram os aerossóis e as pastilhas para aparelho elétrico do grupo químico piretróide. A proteção mecânica contra os insetos foi pouco utilizada. CONCLUSÕES: As famílias de melhor nível de renda dispunham com maior freqüência de inseticidas em aerossol do grupo químico piretróide, enquanto que as soluções pulverizadoras compostas por organofosforados estiveram mais presentes em domicílios de menor renda.

Anemia em pessoas da cidade de Caceres/MT e suas relações com renda per capita

Foram estudadas a anemia e suas relações com a renda per capita em 1178 pessoas na cidade de Cáceres, Maio Grosso, Brasil nas faixas etárias de 6 a 14 anos (ambos os sexos), 15 a 45 anos do sexo feminino e 15 a 45 anos do sexo masculino. Encontrou-se maior prevalência de pessoas anêmicas nas faixas de renda < 1/4 do salário mínimo e 1/4 - 1/2 do salário mínimo nas três faixas etárias estudadas. Observou-se associação estatística entre a renda per capita e as médias de hemoglobina para as três faixas etárias.