scholarly journals The Arrival of Fast Internet and Employment in Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 1032-1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Hjort ◽  
Jonas Poulsen

To show how fast Internet affects employment in Africa, we exploit the gradual arrival of submarine Internet cables on the coast and maps of the terrestrial cable network. Robust difference-in-differences estimates from 3 datasets, covering 12 countries, show large positive effects on employment rates—also for less educated worker groups—with little or no job displacement across space. The sample-wide impact is driven by increased employment in higher-skill occupations, but less-educated workers’ employment gain less so. Firm-level data available for some countries indicate that increased firm entry, productivity, and exporting contribute to higher net job creation. Average incomes rise. (JEL F14, J23, J24, J63, L86, O15, O33)

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssef Benzarti ◽  
Dorian Carloni

This paper evaluates the incidence of a large cut in value-added taxes (VATs) for French sit-down restaurants in 2009. In contrast to previous studies, which only focus on the price effects of VAT reforms, we estimate the effects of the VAT cut on four groups: workers, firm owners, consumers, and suppliers of material goods. Using a difference-in-differences strategy on firm-level data, we find that: firm owners pocketed more than 55 percent of the VAT cut; consumers, sellers of material goods, and employees shared the remaining windfall with consumers benefiting the least; and the employment effects were limited. (JEL H22, H25, L83)


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berihu Assefa Gebrehiwot

Abstract Using a large dataset from the 10 largest cities in Ethiopia, this paper studies what entrepreneurial characteristics and attributes contribute to quality job creation in the micro and small enterprises (MSE) sector. We measure job quality in two ways – i) using wage and contract, and ii) health and occupational safety variables. We find that micro and small enterprises that create quality jobs tend to be operated by highly educated and experienced entrepreneurs. This highlights the role of human capital in quality job creation and poverty reduction. Further, we find that micro and small enterprises that create quality jobs tend to be larger in size and managed by professionally recruited managers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Yamada ◽  
Tien Manh Vu

Abstract In literature, there is limited direct evidence regarding the effect of health insurance coverage on firm performance and worker productivity. We study the impacts of health insurance on medium- and large-scale domestic private firms’ performance and productivity in Vietnam, using a large firm level census dataset. We find statistically, but suggestive, positive health insurance effects on both aggregate profit and profit per worker for both complying and non-complying firms when using the full sample. We further restrict the sample to specific industries. The positive health insurance effects could exist for both complying and non-complying firms in the heavy manufacturing and construction sector, while such positive effects could be only significant for complying firms in the wholesale/retail sectors. We could not find any evidence of positive health insurance effects in the light manufacturing sector. These results imply that the impacts of health insurance could be industry specific.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan M. Jensen

AbstractGovernment economic development programmes provide opportunities for firms to leverage financial incentives for business expansion and relocation. This article examines the ability of these incentives to promote employment. Using establishment-level data from the state of Kansas as well as original firm-level survey data, I evaluate the effectiveness of financial incentives in creating jobs through recipient firms. My findings from the establishment-level data indicate that incentive programmes have no discernable impact on firm expansion, measured by job creation. In addition, the survey data suggest that incentive recipients highly recommend this programme to other firms, but few firms actually increased their employment in Kansas because of these incentives; similarly, very few firms would have left the state if they had not benefited from this programme. Thus, incentives have little impact on the relocation or expansion decisions of firms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Philip Carthy ◽  
Sean Lyons

This paper examines the effects of deploying digital subscriber line (DSL) broadband on job creation within existing firms. We use spatial information on broadband and firm locations, exploiting geographical and temporal variation in broadband availability in Ireland during 2007-2014. This is linked to a panel of firm-level data on employment and other characteristics. Econometric models are used to explore the relationship between DSL and employment over time and across local economic and industry contexts. We also investigate whether effects might vary depending upon local educational attainment. We find little evidence of a general effect of DSL roll-out on employment in Irish firms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-69
Author(s):  
Francisco Rodrigues ◽  
Nuno Tavares ◽  
Gabriel Osório de Barros

2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaping Yang ◽  
Zhuhong Wu ◽  
Yutian Chen

Using firm-level data of Chinese manufacturing enterprises between 1998 and 2007, we investigate the existence and channels of ?learning by outward FDI?. Difference-in-differences estimation reveals that productivity of Chinese parent firms is significantly improved by their outward foreign direct investment and the learning effects form a ?V? shape in the following years. There is no significant difference in learning effects between state-owned enterprises and non-state-owned enterprises; neither do we find any evidence that investing in countries with advanced technology gives more learning effects. In addition, we find that learning effects mainly come from technology transfer, technology spillovers and an enlarged production scale.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Baoliang Hu

Purpose This paper aims to identify the relationships of both organizational isomorphism and knowledge search with the innovation performance of cluster enterprises. It also specifies the mechanism by which organizational isomorphism affects innovation performance, through knowledge search. Design/methodology/approach Firm-level data were collected with questionnaires distributed to cluster enterprises in Zhejiang Province, China, which produced 165 usable responses for the analysis. Both multiple regression analyses and structural equation modelling were used to test the hypotheses. Findings Normative isomorphism and mimetic isomorphism have inverse U-shaped effects on the innovation performance of cluster enterprises, as does exploratory knowledge search. Exploitative knowledge search and the balance between two types of knowledge search have positive effects on the innovation performance of cluster enterprises; exploratory and exploitative knowledge searches exert partial mediation effects between the organizational isomorphism and innovation performance of cluster enterprises. The mediating effect of knowledge search transforms the inverse U-shaped effect of normative isomorphism and mimetic isomorphism on innovation performance into a positive effect. Originality/value This study provides new insights into the effects of organizational isomorphism on innovation performance by showing the indirect influence of organizational isomorphism in clusters. The study proposes a strategic logic of moderate isomorphism, clarifies the innovative effect of different knowledge search modes and reveals the construction and management mechanisms of organizational isomorphism and knowledge search strategy of firms in clusters.


Author(s):  
Igor Semenenko ◽  
Junwook Yoo ◽  
Parporn Akathaporn

Growing tax competition among national governments in the presence of capital mobility distorts equilibrium in the international corporate tax market. This paper is related to the literature that examines impact of international tax policies on corporate accounting statements. Employing international firm-level data, this study revisits the race-to-the-bottom hypothesis and documents that tax exemptions lowering effective tax rates relative to statutory rates increase pre-tax returns. This finding directly contradicts the implicit tax hypothesis documented by Wilkie (1992), who provided empirical evidence on inverse relationship between pre-tax return and tax subsidy. We also find evidences that relative importance of permanent versus timing component depends on the geography and that decline in corporate tax rates reduces impact of tax subsidies on profitability. Our findings suggest that tax subsidies play a different role than in 1968-1985, which was examined by Wilkie (1992). These results are consistent with the race-to-the-bottom hypothesis and income shifting explanation


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document