The theme of this thesis is to analyze the impact of policy interventions such as financing human development (HD), tax reform and conditional cash transfer programmes, under the framework of growth and sustainable development. These policy instruments are evaluated through the application of both partial and general equilibrium models, and the last paper concentrates on developing regional social accounting matrices (SAMs) as a core database for spatial general equilibrium modelling. Essay 1: Trade-offs in Achieving Human Development Goals for Bangladesh investigates the benefits and costs associated with alternative investment financing options for achieving HD goals by applying the MAMS (Maquette for Millennium Development Goals Studies) model. We find that full achievement of these goals would have led to a GDP loss that would have been significantly larger in the domestic borrowing scenario than in the tax scenario. The tax-financing alternative is thus the better option for financing large development programs. In terms of public spending composition, we find that, under some circumstances, a trade-off arises between overall Millennium Development Goal (MDG) progress and poverty reduction. Essay 2: Welfare impact of broadening VAT by exempting Small-Scale food markets: The case of Bangladesh analyses the welfare impacts of different VAT reforms. A general and uniform VAT on all commodities is preferred as it is more efficient and less administratively costly. However, due to equity concerns, food is normally exempted from VAT. On the other hand, exemptions on food mean that an implicit subsidy is provided to high-income households. Hence, we analyze a broad-based VAT regime with a high threshold that excludes small-scale operators (where the low-income households buy their products most, including food) and the simulation result shows that welfare improves for the low-income households. Essay 3: Effect of Girls’ Secondary School Stipend on Completed Schooling and Age at Marriage: Evidence from Bangladesh estimates the effect of a conditional cash transfer programme on education and age at marriage. We apply both difference in differences (DiD) and regression discontinuity methods to evaluate the impact of the policy instrument. Our estimation results show that the girls in the treatment group who were exposed to the programme had a higher average number of completed years of schooling and also delayed their first marriage compared to the girls in the control group. We also show that the DiD approach might produce a biased result as it does not consider the convergence effect. Essay 4: Estimation of Multiregional Social Accounting Matrices using Transport Data proposes a methodology for estimating multiregional SAMs from a national SAM by applying the cross-entropy method. The methodology makes possible the construction of regional SAMs that are consistent with official regional accounts and minimize deviations from transport data.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2015-12-08T10:15:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 erikaburkowski.pdf: 2341345 bytes, checksum: 7283bd13c0d58afa344b806685e77f7f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2015-12-09T13:34:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 erikaburkowski.pdf: 2341345 bytes, checksum: 7283bd13c0d58afa344b806685e77f7f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-09T13:34:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 erikaburkowski.pdf: 2341345 bytes, checksum: 7283bd13c0d58afa344b806685e77f7f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-01 / O objetivo desta pesquisa é verificar os fatores que influenciam a demanda das firmas brasileiras (restritas e irrestritas) por financiamento, e quais os efeitos de choques no setor de intermediação financeira sobre o produto e sobre essa demanda no Brasil. Buscou-se na metodologia Insumo-Produto, e em suas recentes abordagens, elementos que contribuíssem para o entendimento das restrições de oferta na decisão de estrutura de capital das empresas brasileiras. Foram construídas Matrizes de Contabilidade Social e Financeiras, as quais evidenciam a variação de ativos e passivos dos agentes econômicos, e por meio delas, foram extraídos multiplicadores do produto, que representam o efeito de choques exógenos sobre a produção brasileira. O impacto de choques no setor de intermediação financeira sobre o produto dos demais setores de atividade econômica foi denominado: Multiplicador Financeiro Setorial (MFS), por permitir visualizar o impacto de restrições dos fluxos financeiros no nível do setor. O impacto de restrições financeiras no nível da firma foi analisado com o modelo de Almeida e Campello (2010), destacando que a demanda por recursos externos é menos sensível ao fluxo de caixa em firmas mais propensas a sofrer restrições financeiras, o que implica na aceitação de que as decisões de investimento e financiamento são endógenas, ao menos para a firmas restritas, ressalvando as proposições tradicionais da teoria de estrutura de capital, como Dynamic Trade-off (DTO) e Pecking Order Theory (POT), bem como a necessidade de tratamento especial na modelagem econométrica. O modelo de Flannery e Rangan (2006), estimado pelo Método das Variáveis Instrumentais, de forma a considerar a restrição financeira, revela a importância de diversos fatores determinantes do endividamento além do fluxo de caixa, como tamanho, tangibilidade, risco, elementos relacionados a janelas de oportunidades, o custo da dívida e o efeito negativo do MFS, que o destaca como indicador da sensibilidade setorial. Estimando o modelo de Shyam-Sunders e Myers (1999), pelo Método dos Momentos Generalizados, também de forma a considerar a presença de restrição, observou-se que a POT é adequada para explicar a decisão de estrutura de capital somente das empresas irrestritas. / The goal of this research is to analyze the factors influencing the demand of Brazilian firms (restricted and unrestricted) for funding, and what the effects of shocks in the financial intermediation sector on the product and this demand in Brazil. Sought in the input-output methodology, and its recent approaches, elements that contribute to the understanding of supply constraints in the decision of capital structure of Brazilian companies. Were built a Financial and Social Accounting Matrix, which show the variation of assets and liabilities of economic agents, and through them, were extracted product multipliers, representing the effect of exogenous shocks on the Brazilian production. The impact of shocks in the financial intermediation sector about the product from other economic sectors was called: Financial Sector Multiplier (MFS), it allows to visualize the impact of restrictions on financial flows at the sector level. The impact of financial constraints at the firm level was analyzed in accordance with Almeida and Campello (2010). The demand for external funds is less sensitive to cash flow in firms more likely to suffer financial constraints. It implies acceptance that investment and financing decisions are endogenous, at least for constrained firms, safeguarding the traditional beliefs of the capital structure theory, as Dynamic Trade-off (DTO) and Pecking Order Theory (POT) as well as the need for treatment in econometric modeling. In order to consider the financial constraint, the Flannery and Rangan (2006) model was estimated by Instrumental Variables Method. It reveals the importance of various determinants of capital structure beyond the cash flow, such as size, leverage, risk elements related to market timing, the cost of debt and the negative effect of MFS, which stands as an indicator of sectorial sensitivity. Also to take into account the presence of restriction, we estimate the Shyam-Sunders and Myers (1999) model with the Generalized Method of Moments, it was observed that the POT is adequate to explain only the unconstrained firms capital structure decision.

L’objectif de la thèse est d’identifier la pertinence des modèles en équilibre général calculable (MEGC) pour analyser la problématique posée par les Accords de Partenariat Économique (APE) entre l’Union européenne et les pays ACP. Une revue de la littérature est d’abord réalisée, puis un modèle en équilibre général calculable (MEGC) à dynamique intertemporelle est construit pour analyser l’impact de l’APE sur un pays spécifique : le Ghana. À partir du constat portant sur la diversité des résultats de simulations, qui dépendent essentiellement de la structure du modèle et des modes de fermeture choisis par le modélisateur, ce travail cherche à mettre en évidence la largeur du faisceau de résultats possibles et l’impossibilité de mettre en avant les bénéfices potentiels qui peuvent être attendus d’un tel accord en s’appuyant simplement sur des MEGC néoclassiques standards. / This work aims to analyze to what extent the use of an applied general equilibrium model (AGE) allows to correctly assess the potential economic impact of EPAs between ACP countries and the European Union. First, a review of the literature is conducted and then an intertemporal dynamic AGE model is built in order to assess the potential impact of EPA on a specific country: Ghana. From the variety of results resulting from the models simulations and depending on hypothesis made on the model structure and the type of closure chosen by the modeler, our work aims to stress the risk of using standard neoclassical Walrasian models to assess the potential benefits of an EPA on ACP countries economy.

O estudo objetiva mapear e analisar a integração da sustentabilidade às práticas de controle gerencial (CG) das empresas no Brasil. A sustentabilidade foi considerada sob as dimensões econômica, ambiental e social da abordagem triple bottom line - TBL (ELKINGTON, 1997). A abordagem de controle gerencial, por sua vez, usou o modelo de alavancas de controle (SIMONS, 1995), acrescido de controles especializados, apropriados ao controle da sustentabilidade nas dimensões do TBL. A amostra deste estudo foi formada por 59 empresas que divulgaram os chamados relatórios de sustentabilidade no Brasil, ao menos uma vez entre os anos 2007 e 2009. Estas companhias foram submetidas a um levantamento do tipo survey, de forma a obter dados sobre a possível integração da sustentabilidade às suas práticas de controle gerencial, ou seja, testar a presença de tópicos sociais e ambientais e foco mais amplo em stakeholders em seus instrumentos de CG. Os dados foram submetidos a técnicas de estatística univariada descritiva e multivariada de modelagem de equações estruturais. Uma escala para classificar o estágio de divulgação dos relatórios de sustentabilidade foi proposta e os relatórios das empresas classificados de acordo com a mesma. As hipóteses foram construídas sob as suposições de que a divulgação dos relatórios de sustentabilidade se dá como resposta estratégica às demandas da sociedade, de forma a assegurar legitimidade (OLIVER, 1991; SUCHMAN, 1995) e visa demonstrar a conformidade da empresa com o tema da sustentabilidade (MEYER; ROWAN, 1977; DIMAGGIO; POWELL, 1983), que as empresas lidam com a sustentabilidade de maneira ceremonial, estando suas práticas de controle gerencial desvinculadas ou frouxamente vinculadas à sustentabilidade (MEYER; ROWAN, 1977). Além disso, a legitimidade adquirida pela divulgação do relatório de sustentabilidade permitiria às empresas levar adiante suas práticas de negócios com foco convencional, sem encarar o desafio da sustentabilidade de maneira mais engajada. Como conclusão geral, comprovou-se que a divulgação do relatório de sustentabilidade impacta as práticas de controle gerencial, principalmente no que se refere à presença da sustentabilidade nos artefatos, mas não necessariamente à intensidade do uso dos mesmos. Esse achado é relevante dado o estágio inicial do tema sustentabilidade nas empresas, que requer o desenvolvimento de novos artefatos que possam capturar mais adequadamente as componentes da sustentabilidade e, mais importante do que isso, sua integração aos modelos de gestão. / The study aims to map and analyse the integration of sustainability into the management control (MC) practices of companies in Brazil. Sustainability was represented by the economic, envinronmental and social dimensions of the triple bottom line approach (ELKINGTON, 1997), and management control was addressed by the \'levers of control\' management control model (SIMONS,1995), as well as specialized controls for sustainability. The sample is formed by 59 companies that issued the so-called sustainability reports at least once over the years 2007-2009. A survey was carried out to collect data on the possible embededness of the sustainability subject into the companies management control practices, that is, to test the presence of social and environmental topics as well as a broad focus on stakeholders in their MC artefacts. The data was analysed using univariated descriptive and multivariate structural equation modeling statistical techniques. A scale to measure the sustainability reports disclosure stage was proposed and the sustainability reports of the sample were classified accordingly. The hypotheses lie in assumptions that: the sustainability reports disclosure represents companies\' strategic responses to society\'s demands in order to ensure legitimacy (OLIVER, 1991; SUCHMAN, 1995) and aims to show conformity with sustainability (MEYER; ROWAN, 1977; DIMAGGIO; POWELL, 1983); companies deal with sustainability in a ceremonial way and their management control practices are decoupled or loosely coupled to sustainability (MEYER; ROWAN, 1977). Moreover, the legitimacy acquired by disclosing sustainability reports would permit companies to progress their \'business as usual\' practices without facing the sustainability challenge in a more engaged way. The findings show that the disclosure of sustainability reports impact the management control practices, specially regarding the presence of sustainability on the artefacts, but not necessarily the extent of their use. This is relevant due to the initial stage of sustainability in companies which requires both the development of new artefacts that can capture sustainability components more adequately and, more importantly, the embeddedness of sustainability into management models.

Obiettivo di questo lavoro è studiare i fattori socio-economici responsabili del cambiamento nella distribuzione del reddito dovuto a un cambiamento nel contesto politico di riferimento, in Vietnam durante il periodo delle riforme. La metodologia adottata analizza i cambiamenti nella distribuzione del reddito sia a livello micro che a livello macro. A livello micro, l'analisi indaga sulle caratteristiche individuali e familiari da cui dipende il livello e la distribuzione della spesa. E' possibile inoltre valutare gli effetti diretti di cambiamenti nel quadro politico di riferimento. Il livello macro di analisi consente di individuare le caratteristiche strutturali della disuguaglianza nella distribuzione del reddito personale e di isolare anche gli effetti indiretti delle politiche. Gli strumenti analitici selezionati in questo studio sono un modello supply-driven, rappresentato da un modello di microsimulazione e un modello demand-driven, costituito dalla Matrice di Contabilità Sociale. In particolare, il modello di microsimulazione ha consentito la derivazione di una distribuzione controfattuale e la disaggregazione della variazione della disuguaglianza in Vietnam in: effetto di prezzo, effetto di una variazione della componente non osservata dei salari, effetto dovuto a cambiamenti nelle scelte occupazioni e effetti dovuti a cambiamenti nella popolazione. Utilizzando una nuova metodologia di scomposizione ad un livello microscopico dei moltiplicatori derivati dalla SAM, è stato possibile derivare e isolare tutti gli effetti diretti e indiretti di uno shock esogeno sulla distribuzione personale del reddito. / The aim of this work is to investigate the socio-economic factors that affect in income distribution changes caused by changes in the policy framework in Vietnam during the period of reforms. The adopted methodology analyzes policy induced changes in income distribution both at the micro and the macro level. At the micro level, the analysis of inequality can help identifying the socio-economic factors affecting the level of household expenditure and its distribution and evaluating direct effects of policies. The macro level identifies the structural characteristics of inequality and evaluates also the indirect effects of policies on the personal income distribution. The two analytical tools have been selected have been a supply driven model represented by the microsimulation model and a demand driven model, constituted by the Social Accounting Matrix. The microsimulation model allowed deriving a counterfactual distribution of income and disaggregating change in the Vietnamese income inequality into four effects: price effect, effect of a change in the unobservable component of wages, occupational choice effect and population effect. Using a new technique of decomposition of SAM-based multipliers in 'microscopic' detail, the macro model allowed deriving all the direct and indirect effects of an exogenous shock to personal income distribution.

O estudo objetiva mapear e analisar a integração da sustentabilidade às práticas de controle gerencial (CG) das empresas no Brasil. A sustentabilidade foi considerada sob as dimensões econômica, ambiental e social da abordagem triple bottom line - TBL (ELKINGTON, 1997). A abordagem de controle gerencial, por sua vez, usou o modelo de alavancas de controle (SIMONS, 1995), acrescido de controles especializados, apropriados ao controle da sustentabilidade nas dimensões do TBL. A amostra deste estudo foi formada por 59 empresas que divulgaram os chamados relatórios de sustentabilidade no Brasil, ao menos uma vez entre os anos 2007 e 2009. Estas companhias foram submetidas a um levantamento do tipo survey, de forma a obter dados sobre a possível integração da sustentabilidade às suas práticas de controle gerencial, ou seja, testar a presença de tópicos sociais e ambientais e foco mais amplo em stakeholders em seus instrumentos de CG. Os dados foram submetidos a técnicas de estatística univariada descritiva e multivariada de modelagem de equações estruturais. Uma escala para classificar o estágio de divulgação dos relatórios de sustentabilidade foi proposta e os relatórios das empresas classificados de acordo com a mesma. As hipóteses foram construídas sob as suposições de que a divulgação dos relatórios de sustentabilidade se dá como resposta estratégica às demandas da sociedade, de forma a assegurar legitimidade (OLIVER, 1991; SUCHMAN, 1995) e visa demonstrar a conformidade da empresa com o tema da sustentabilidade (MEYER; ROWAN, 1977; DIMAGGIO; POWELL, 1983), que as empresas lidam com a sustentabilidade de maneira ceremonial, estando suas práticas de controle gerencial desvinculadas ou frouxamente vinculadas à sustentabilidade (MEYER; ROWAN, 1977). Além disso, a legitimidade adquirida pela divulgação do relatório de sustentabilidade permitiria às empresas levar adiante suas práticas de negócios com foco convencional, sem encarar o desafio da sustentabilidade de maneira mais engajada. Como conclusão geral, comprovou-se que a divulgação do relatório de sustentabilidade impacta as práticas de controle gerencial, principalmente no que se refere à presença da sustentabilidade nos artefatos, mas não necessariamente à intensidade do uso dos mesmos. Esse achado é relevante dado o estágio inicial do tema sustentabilidade nas empresas, que requer o desenvolvimento de novos artefatos que possam capturar mais adequadamente as componentes da sustentabilidade e, mais importante do que isso, sua integração aos modelos de gestão. / The study aims to map and analyse the integration of sustainability into the management control (MC) practices of companies in Brazil. Sustainability was represented by the economic, envinronmental and social dimensions of the triple bottom line approach (ELKINGTON, 1997), and management control was addressed by the \'levers of control\' management control model (SIMONS,1995), as well as specialized controls for sustainability. The sample is formed by 59 companies that issued the so-called sustainability reports at least once over the years 2007-2009. A survey was carried out to collect data on the possible embededness of the sustainability subject into the companies management control practices, that is, to test the presence of social and environmental topics as well as a broad focus on stakeholders in their MC artefacts. The data was analysed using univariated descriptive and multivariate structural equation modeling statistical techniques. A scale to measure the sustainability reports disclosure stage was proposed and the sustainability reports of the sample were classified accordingly. The hypotheses lie in assumptions that: the sustainability reports disclosure represents companies\' strategic responses to society\'s demands in order to ensure legitimacy (OLIVER, 1991; SUCHMAN, 1995) and aims to show conformity with sustainability (MEYER; ROWAN, 1977; DIMAGGIO; POWELL, 1983); companies deal with sustainability in a ceremonial way and their management control practices are decoupled or loosely coupled to sustainability (MEYER; ROWAN, 1977). Moreover, the legitimacy acquired by disclosing sustainability reports would permit companies to progress their \'business as usual\' practices without facing the sustainability challenge in a more engaged way. The findings show that the disclosure of sustainability reports impact the management control practices, specially regarding the presence of sustainability on the artefacts, but not necessarily the extent of their use. This is relevant due to the initial stage of sustainability in companies which requires both the development of new artefacts that can capture sustainability components more adequately and, more importantly, the embeddedness of sustainability into management models.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-11T13:52:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 renato.pdf: 918334 bytes, checksum: c22232e1466b4c7d89bbbe00975b8a09 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-15 / Understanding the intricacies of the production structure of a given region or country is as important as the planning and action phases, and as complex in terms of implementation and deepening processes. It was with this kind of motivation that this project examined in some detail the production structure of the Amazon state, choosing as time reference the year 2006. To reach the main objective of this project, it was left aside the technique of Regional Social Accounting to be able to order in a more coherent and consistent manner the necessary information that resulted in macroeconomic aggregates. The main tool used was the construction of some quadrants as of production (A1), intermediate consumption (B1) and value added components (C), all of those components of the Table of Uses and Resources of goods and services of the Amazon. The results generated tabulations producing levels of aggregation in ranges of 110 products by 56 activities, 17 products by 17 activities and 12 products by 12 activities, respecting in all cases statistical confidentiality due to imposition of non-identification in some specific cases. Furthermore, the project followed with analysis and discussions, in which were always presented comparisons that refer to the information contained in the Brazil´s TRU. Finally, the results point out to several future possibilities of use of this project, and also of its future developments, aiming mainly at its application in planning activities and public policy making. / Entender os meandros da estrutura produtiva de determinada região ou país é importante como instrumento de planejamento e de ação, assim como complexo em sua efetivação e aprofundamento. Foi com essa motivação que este trabalho buscou analisar com certo nível de detalhe a estrutura produtiva do estado do Amazonas, escolhendo como referência temporal o ano de 2006. Para atingir o objetivo proposto, apropriaram-se das técnicas da Contabilidade Social para ordenar com coerência e consistência as informações necessárias que resultem em agregados macroeconômicos. O principal ferramental utilizado foi a construção dos quadrantes de produção (A1), consumo intermediário (B1) e componentes do valor adicionado (C), todos eles elementos da Tabela de Recursos e Usos de bens e serviços do Amazonas (TRU-AM/2006). Os resultados gerados produziram tabulações de agregação em níveis de abertura de 110 produtos por 56 atividades, 17 produtos por 17 atividades e 12 produtos por 12 atividades, respeitando em todos os casos o devido sigilo estatístico por imposição da desidentificação em casos específicos. Seguiram-se as análises e discussões, apresentando sempre comparações referenciadas às informações contidas na TRU do Brasil. Por fim, o estudo aponta para diversas possibilidades futuras de utilização e aprofundamento do ferramental visando, principalmente, a sua aplicação nas atividades de planejamento e políticas públicas.

No description available.

Luxembourg is one of the most successful financial centers in the world. Initially associated with international syndicated loans, euro-bonds and euro-currency markets, Luxembourg has developed as a center for private banking and is currently the second largest center for the domiciliation of investment funds in the world after the US - with a portfolio equivalent to about sixty times the country’s GDP -, and the first captive reinsurance market in the European Union. As in many other financial centers, the interbank market plays an important role. This partly reflects intra-group operations of foreign banks using their Luxembourg branches and subsidiaries to adjust their liquidity position. More generally, Luxembourg has attracted foreign banks seeking to benefit from its favorable regulatory framework, political stability, language skills of the local workforce and the agglomeration of specialized skills in accounting and legal services.<p><p>The importance of the financial sector in Luxembourg implies that a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model with explicit modeling of the financial sector is indispensable in order to properly take into account the interaction between the financial and the real sector in the economy and the interconnectedness between different financial institutional sectors (e.g. commercial banks and investment funds). Explicit modeling of the financial sector also allows for an analysis of how the economy might respond to financial shocks.<p><p>This dissertation contributes to the literature by developing two analytical tools:<p><p>1.\ / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Corporate reporting has changed from the traditional form of reporting which covered financial information only to the modern form of reporting called integrated reporting which covers, financial, corporate governance and sustainability information. The levels of corporate disclosure among corporate entities within any country and between countries are thus likely to have been affected by this change. Motivated by the IMF/World Bank (2006) that observed that corporate reporting improved in Botswana during the previous five years, without indicating what the actual level was or how it compares with that of other countries; this study sought to determine the actual level of corporate disclosure of two samples of companies: 23 companies listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) and the top 40 companies (by market capitalisation) that are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The study also shows how the two levels of corporate disclosure compare. This study is qualitative and descriptive by design; and involves analysing the content of the corporate annual report of each company in a sample using a corporate disclosure checklist; and determining the level of corporate disclosure for each sample of companies. The process ends with a comparative analysis of the levels of corporate disclosure of the companies from the two samples. Consistent with the IMF/World Bank report, the study revealed that the level of corporate disclosure in the BSE sample was low but increasing. However, the increase in the level of corporate disclosure varied from sector to sector and the specific information items. The study also showed that integrated reporting was not practised at all by the companies in the BSE sample. Comparatively, companies in the JSE sample had a higher level of corporate disclosure than that of companies in the BSE sample; and the rate of increase was much higher than that in the BSE sample. The study further found integrated reporting practiced in the entire JSE sample, although at different levels. xi This study also noted that although in principle it is sensible to benchmark from the best, other fundamental factors need to be considered before carrying out the exercise. Furthermore, the study indicated that the prevalent low level of corporate disclosure in the BSE sample was evidence that the corporate reporting environment in which the BSE lies was not conducive for the theories of corporate disclosure to fully explain corporate disclosure. A number of recommendations were made including establishing corporate disclosure indices and creation of a corporate environment in which all the theories discussed in the study can explain corporate disclosure. This study contributes to the literature on cross-country corporate disclosure and cautions companies with low levels of corporate disclosure not to embark on benchmarking without creating an environment conducive for corporate reporting. The study also offers useful insights to policymakers in Botswana and South Africa; and stimulates further research on cross-country corporate disclosure. The academia too will be able to identify areas for further research from this study. / Business Management / M. Com. (Accounting)