本文利用一個與Barro(1990)及Koichi et al.(1993)相類似的模型，來探討一個具有私人資本及生產性公共財的內生性成長模型，其最大的差異是利用對偶性的原理，將模型簡化，以分析複雜的兩財模型。本文的重點有三： 　　(1)探討均衡解的存在，唯一及穩定性。 　　(2)描繪出當體系受干擾時，內生變數收歛的方向。 　　(3)探討稅率的比較靜態分析。

This dissertation comprises two essays. The first essay explores how the size of government, as measured by the level of spending, affects growth. Theoretical models suggest a nonlinear relationship; however, testing this hypothesis empirically in cross-country studies is complicated by the endogeneity of government spending and the accurate identification of turning points. This paper examines the nonlinear hypothesis by incorporating threshold analysis in a cross-country growth regression. Using a broad panel of countries over the period 1971-2005, the results show evidence in favor of a nonlinear effect, but not of the form predicted by theory. When total government spending is low, there is no statistically significant effect on economic growth. However, after passing a certain threshold government spending exhibits a negative effect on growth. The second essay develops a dynamic macroeconomic model to explore how variations in the composition and financing of government expenditures affect economic growth in the long-run. The model is used to analyze how public investment spending funded by taxes or borrowing affects long-term output growth. The model is calibrated to reflect economic conditions in the seven largest Latin American economies during the period 1990 to 2008. We find that, where tax rates are not already high, funding public investment by raising taxes may increase long-run growth. If existing tax rates are high, then public investment is only growth-enhancing if funded by restructuring the composition of public spending. Interestingly, using debt to finance new public investment compromises growth, regardless of the initial fiscal condition.

This thesis studies the effect of generosity of unemployment insurance on economic growth. More generous unemployment insurance is argued to cause an increase in unemployment on the one hand and better job match quality on the other. Our model shows that in the developed countries, there may be some level of unemployment insurance which ensures that the productivity gain offsets the loss due to higher unemployment. On the contrary, in the developing countries, any level of unemployment insurance was revealed to harm economic growth. Moreover, we present strong evidence in favour of a positive effect of unemployment insurance on the aggregate productivity growth. Key words: Unemployment Insurance, Distance to Frontier, Endogenous Growth Model, Technology Growth, Economic Growth

本論文由三篇文章所構成。第二章主要針對參考點（reference points）的選擇問題。在綠色國民所得帳中，選擇哪個參考點作為扣除環境質損與自然資源折耗是很重要的。由於既有文獻中的參考點選擇大多過於極端，本文遂針對文獻上的缺失，建議以法定的環保標準做為參考點，使得環境質損、環境效益、自然資源折耗與服務都可顯示出來。 第三章則以台灣的烏魚業為對象，以不合作賽局分析大陸漁民在烏魚迴游路徑上捕魚以及溫室效應對台灣漁業及消費者造成的影響。 第四章則指出Huang and Cai (1994)一文在理論模型設計上的問題，並提出改正，以使其論點獲得支持。 / This dissertation is made up of three essays that address the issues of green net national product, renewable resources and pollution externalities. In Chapter 2, the issue of choosing reference points is discussed. The reference point is a key parameter for estimating the values of environmental degradation and natural resource depletion that are used to adjust the Net National Product. Most of the reference points used in the literature are extreme points in the spectrum of environmental quality and may thus result in estimated values of degradation and depletion that are not consistent with the standard theory of environmental economics. In this chapter, we argue that by using clearly defined standards as reference points, e.g., environmental quality standards, for managing environmental quality and natural resources, correct values of environmental degradation and services, and natural resource depletion and direct nature services, as well as green NNP can emerge. In Chapter 3, we examine the problem of non-cooperative fishing between Mainland China (MC) and Taiwan (TW) as well as the effects of rising sea surface temperature (SST) on the grey mullet fishery. By setting the three stages of the non-cooperative game, it is shown that the expansion of the fleets in MC and the rising SST cause the rent obtained from the TW fishery to decline, and that Taiwan may partially offset such an adverse effect by adjusting its fleet size. This essay also shows that Taiwan can expand its fleet to a greater extent when facing an imperfectly elastic demand for fish than when facing a perfectly elastic demand. In addition, when consumer welfare is included in the determination of the size of the fleet, fleet size can expand more than when profit is considered alone. In Chapter 4, we point out the problems in Huang and Cai (1994) that arise from the absence of a “pollution externality.” We modify their model by introducing the emission tax and find that it supports Huang and Cai (1994)’s claim that the share of private abatement expenditure is constant at all times, a claim that is criticized by Shieh, et al. (2001).

Economic growth from a globalisation point of view is seen as being impacted to a large extent by two phenomena – foreign direct investments (FDI) and trade. FDI brings many positive spillovers such as technological progress and increases in human capital. Trade can help improve the efficiency of production allocation in which the comparative advantage lies. According to David Nellor (2008) parts of sub-Saharan Africa today experience growth rates similar to those of the first five founding members of ASEAN in the beginning of the 1980’s: Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to analyse the role of FDI and trade openness in promoting economic growth in Africa and Asia. The contrast in how FDI and openness to trade affect growth rates in these regions in particular is something that has been left out from previous studies. It may give a hint of what factor(s) are important for Africa and Asia to focus on in order to stimulate economic growth. The effects of FDI and trade openness on economic growth are empirically tested using data on a sample of 82 countries in Africa and Asia over the years of 1999-2006. Regressions are conducted using the total sample as well as the regions separately to show on differences of the importance and effects of the explanatory variables in each of the two regions. The regression results most often indicate a positive relationship between FDI, trade and their combined effect on economic growth. Despite this the results are weaker than expected and in general insignificant. A possible explanation for the unexpected results may be due to additional forces driving economic growth such as macroeconomic stability, human capital, taxes and inflation all of which have been left out from the estimated model. / Ekonomisk tillväxt påverkas ur ett globaliseringsperspektiv, av två fenomen: utländska direktinvesteringar och handel. Utländska direktinvesteringar medför många positiva tillskott, som tekniska framsteg och högre nivåer av humankapital. Handel gör länder mer effektiva, då de kan fokusera sin produktion på varor där de har komparativa fördelar. Enligt David Nellor (2008) kan delar av tillväxtnivåer i sub-Sahara jämföras med grundarna av ASEAN:s under tidigt 1980-tal: Singapore, Thailand, Filippinerna, Malaysia och Indonesien. Syftet med denna kandidatuppsats är att analysera utländska direktinvestingar och frihandels roll för att gynna ekonomisk tillväxt i Afrika och Asien. Effekten av utländska direktinvesteringar och frihandel på tillväxtnivåer i dessa två regioner är något som utelämnats i tidigare studier. Resultaten kan indikera vilken eller vilka faktor(er) är viktiga för att stimulera ekonomisk tillväxt i Afrika och Asien. Uppsatsen fokuserar på 82 länder i Afrika och Asien under åren 1999-2006. Analysen är genomförd på afrikanska och asiatiska länder tillsammans, men också för kontinentalspecifika effekter. Resultaten visar i hög grad positiva samband mellan utländska direktinvesteringar, frihandel och dess kombinerade effekt på ekonomisk tillväxt. Resultaten är svagare än förväntat och en möjlig förklaring kan vara de komplexa samband av krafter som driver ekonomisk tillväxt, till exempel makroekonomisk stabilitet, humankapital, skatter och inflation som är utelämnande från den estimerade modellen.

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