在本論文中我們使用複雜系統研究方法，分析增長、分配和相關的基本社會經濟問題，經濟系統在本文中被視為包含巨大自由度的複雜系統。 / 我們首先提出了一個無代表性經濟行為人的非同質的Poisson 創新增長模型以證明長期可持續的經濟增長的最終引擎來自於變異型的創新（非研發型），此機制是和持續增長的社會無序度一致的唯一機制。我們也討論了創新的異質特性。我們並且證明了各個部門的生產率分佈並非退化為單一的社會平均生產率，而是服從Maxwell‐Boltzmann 分佈，這一結果表明總需求對總產出存在真實的重要作用。我們隨後從複雜系統角度研究了經濟分配的問題。我們證明在封閉系統中，即使在很弱的假設前提下，收入或財富的分配不可避免得向兩極化的方向演化。隨後我們使用連續時間的Simon‐Yule 過程分析開放系統的經濟分配問題，此開放系統以新部門的不斷產生和遞減的代際影響力為特徵。我們證明了在此開放系統排除了分配兩極化的可能，代際類型穩定性必然在一定階段崩潰。 / 隨後我們研究了路徑依賴、無限方差和雙參數Poisson‐Dirichlet 過程。我們發現主流的新古典宏觀經濟學的建模方法在此框架內無穩固的數學基礎。 / 我們從更一般和更哲學的角度分析了一些涉及經濟學研究方法和範式的基本問題。我們主張複雜系統研究方法不僅在包括物理學和生物學的自然科學領域具有啟發性，在經濟、金融和其他社會科學領域裡同樣如此。我們認為，各式經濟系統儘管存在各自的特殊性，但總是沿著從低熵態向高熵態的方向演化，並在社會經濟生活各個領域出現不斷增長和發展的複雜的耗散結構。複雜系統方法的引入有助於對許多經濟謎題提供科學的解釋。除了傳統的經濟研究對象，在同一分析框架內，我們分析了現代企業制度、城市、政治和司法制度以及宗教等相關問題。 / In the essays we employ the complex system perspective to analyze growth, distribution and related fundamental socioeconomic issues where the economy is viewed as a complex system with large degrees of freedom. / We first propose a non-homogeneous Poisson innovation growth model with no representative agent to show that the ultimate engine of sustainable economic growth stems from mutation-style innovation (not R & D style), which is the only mechanism consistent with ever-increasing degree of social disorder. Heterogeneous innovation impacts are also investigated. And we show that sectoral productivity distribution in an economic system does not degenerate to the social average productivity level but follows the Maxwell- Boltzmann distribution instead, which in turn implies that aggregate demand has real impacts on total output. / The economic distribution issue is then investigated from the complex system perspective. We show that in closed economic systems, under weak assumptions, distribution in income or wealth inevitably evolves into polarization. Then we employ the continuous-time Simon-Yule process to analyze distribution in an open economic system with innovation and decreasing intergenerational influence. We show distribution polarization is impossible thereof and intergenerational type stability breaks down definitely at certain threshold phase. / Third, we study infinite variance, path dependence and two-parameter Poisson-Dirichlet model. We find that mainstream neoclassical modeling approach has no sound mathematical foundation within our framework. / Then from a more general and philosophical perspective, we analyze several fundamental issues concerning economic research methodology and paradigm. We argue that the complex system perspective is insightful not only in natural sciences such as physics and biology, but also in economics, finance and other social sciences. We state that all economies, despite their particularities, evolve from low entropy (ordered) macrostate to high entropy (disordered) macrostate with the increasing emergence and development of complicated dissipative structures in every aspect of socioeconomic life. The introduction of the complex system perspective also helps to provide scientific solutions to many economic puzzles. Besides traditional economic research issues, we also analyze modern enterprises, megacities, political systems, judiciary systems and religions within our framework. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wang, Zhendong. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-125). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Economic Growth --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Structure Matters! --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Disorder Matters! --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Consequences of the Neoclassical Approach --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Bose-Einstein Economy --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2 --- Sectoral Productivity Distribution --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Why Does it Matter? --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution --- p.37 / Chapter 1.3 --- Innovation, Mutation and Growth --- p.46 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Non-homogeneous Poisson Innovation Model --- p.46 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Stochastic Combinatorial Models --- p.58 / Chapter 1.4 --- Policy Evaluation Benchmark --- p.60 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Cities --- p.61 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Politics and Judiciary Systems --- p.62 / Chapter 1.5 --- Conclusions --- p.65 / Chapter 2 --- Inequality and Distribution --- p.66 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.66 / Chapter 2.2 --- The Closed System --- p.71 / Chapter 2.3 --- Intergenerational Family Stability --- p.77 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Introduction and Background --- p.78 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Model: Continuous-time Simon-Yule Process with Infinitely Many Types --- p.79 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Conclusions --- p.84 / Chapter 3 --- Infinite Variance, Path Dependence and Large Deviations --- p.90 / Chapter 3.1 --- Infinite Variance --- p.91 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Poisson-Dirichlet distribution --- p.92 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Size-biased Sampling --- p.94 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Path Dependence --- p.96 / Chapter 3.3 --- Consequences --- p.97 / Chapter 4 --- Methodology, Paradigm and Political Economy --- p.99 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2 --- Methodology and Paradigm --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3 --- Philosophy --- p.104 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Entropy and the Arrow of Time in Economics --- p.104 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Life, Dissipative Structures, Order and Disorder --- p.108 / Chapter 4.4 --- More Applications --- p.111 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- The Spending Multiplier and Tax Multiplier --- p.112 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Religion --- p.114 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion and Policy Implications --- p.116 / Bibliography --- p.120

Li, Yun. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 303-320). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

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Using regime theory, we consider in this thesis whether there is evidence of the gradual establishment of norms, principles, rules and regulations governing donor policies with regards to linking foreign aid to human rights practices. We hypothesize that, despite the constraints caused by the multiplicity of foreign policy objectives for any given donor, there is evidence of a developing human rights regime in the foreign aid policies and practices of donors of aid. Using a historical approach, we study the aid policies and practices of two international organizations (the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) and two aid donors (Norway and the United States). We investigate the donors' policy statements, monitoring mechanisms, policy implementation and changes in donor behavior for evidence of the presence of a regime. Our findings suggest regime development occurring over three distinct periods of time (1945-50; 1973-83; 1989-94), with the resulting regime operating at three distinct levels with varying degrees of efficiency and effectiveness.

South Africa has become a significant role player in the international relations since being readmitted into the world community after the first democratic election in 1994. The primary focus of country’s international relations is the African continent. South Africa has played a pivotal role in bringing peace across the continent. There has also been an increase in South Africa’s engagement with the continent on economic and trade issues. South Africa’s economic diplomacy has been scrutinized from different angles. There has been perceptions of a South Africa with imperialists or hegemonic tendencies resembling those of the West. There are also those who view South Africa’s economic role in the continent in the positive light as a contributor to economic growth and development. The South African governments have always preached the notion of the “African agenda” and the interest in fair trade and engagement with the continent. This study assesses different debates regarding South Africa’s economic diplomacy in Africa and explores if this is benefiting the continent’s development. The study also considers if such economic diplomacy has positive spin off for the South African economy. Since economic diplomacy is operated at government level the study also considers how economic diplomacy is coordinated in South Africa. There are a number of recommendations presented for the improvement of economic diplomacy in South Africa.

Freedom is universally valued and fundamentally affects social life. In this thesis, I examine how freedom affects an important dimension of business: long-term commitment (LTC). The LTC of corporations is vital for economic growth because economic development is reliant on entrepreneurs continuously investing in physical and social capital. Corporate opportunism will never lead to long-term economic growth. Specifically, this study examines the effects of political freedom (PF) and economic freedom (EF) on two LTC-related variables: investment and the commitment to maintaining a loyal shareholder base, both of which are essential topics in the business literature. This study consists of two essays. The first essay investigates the effects of a country's political versus economic freedom on corporate investment based on a sample of 19,605 companies operating in 49 countries for the timespan covering 1995 to 2015. First-differencing (FD) regressions show that PF and EF are positively associated with corporate investment, but PF's effect is larger. I also find that the effect of EF is conditional on the development of PF but not vice versa. Further, the effect of PF does not seem to be due to concurrent changes in uncontrolled factors: major changes in PF have larger effects than minor changes, and I do not observe a reversion in the effect of PF. Lastly, I find that an improvement in PF is associated with a larger growth in investment among firms with state ownership or political connections, suggesting a larger distorting effect of low PF on these firms' investment decisions. Overall, the findings shed new light on the economic reforms designed by policymakers: economic reforms, no matter how easy they seem, may not work well without political reforms. The second essay examines the impacts of a country's political compared with economic freedom on corporations' commitment to maintaining a loyal shareholder base. With a sample of 45 countries spanning 12 years, the FD result shows that PF and EF are positively associated with corporations' commitment to shareholder loyalty (CSL). More importantly, PF has a greater effect than EF. It is also determined that the impact of EF is dependent on the advancement of PF, but the reverse is not true. Furthermore, the impact of PF is not caused by concurrent changes in uncontrolled factors: major changes in PF are more impactful than minor changes, while a reversion in the impact of PF is not observed. Finally, I find that an enhancement to PF is correlated with a more significant increase in CSL among firms with state ownership or political connections than in firms without. This implies that low PF has a greater distorting effect on the CSL of such firms. In general, these results indicate that while it is comparatively easier for policymakers to enact economic reforms, their effectiveness may be reduced in the absence of concurrent political reforms.

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