Organisation

The forum is jointly sponsored by SIRE and the Department of Economics at the University of Strathclyde. Giuseppe De Feo () and Rodolphe Desbordes () will make the practical arrangements. Information about this event is available from the Strathclyde SIRE Young Researchers Forum webpage

Venue

The event will take place in the Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde in 2.12. A map of the campus is available on the Strathclyde SIRE Young Researchers Forum webpage

Schedule

  • Refreshments will be available before and during the seminar.
  • Presentations start at 2pm and run until 5.30pm.
  • Afterwards we will go for a meal together.

Speakers

Keynote Speaker:
Farid Toubal (ENS Cachan and PSE)

Title:

Native Language, Spoken Language, Translation and Trade, with Jacques Melitz (Heriot-Watt University and CEPR )

Abstract:

We construct new series for common native language and common spoken language for 195 countries, which we use together with series for common official language and linguistic proximity in order to draw inferences about (1) the aggregate impact of all linguistic factors on bilateral trade, (2) whether the linguistic influences come from ethnicity and trust or ease of communication, and (3) in so far they come from ease of communication, to what extent translation and interpreters play a role. The results show that the impact of linguistic factors, all together, is at least twice as great as the usual dummy variable for common language, resting on official language, would say. In addition, ease of communication is far more important than ethnicity and trust. Further, so far as ease of communication is at work, translation and interpreters are extremely important. Finally, ethnicity and trust come into play largely because of immigrants and their influence is otherwise difficult to detect. CEPR DP 8994,

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The Junior Researchers:
Arjunan Subramanian (University of Glasgow)

Title:
Reliability of agricultural statistics in developing countries: Reflections from a comprehensive village survey on crop area statistics in India.

Abstract:

Despite the importance of agriculture in developing countries, and the general recognition of the need for strengthening data quality, very few studies examine the quality of available data and the data generation methods in agriculture. In this paper, we use data from an extensive deployment of geospatial technology, administrated concurrently alongside the conventional method in the Indian state of Karnataka, to assess the discrepancy between methods in terms of the magnitude of difference in the crop area, type and number of crops grown. The crop area estimates based on alternative method, utilising the geospatial technology, exceeded that from the estimates based on conventional method. Conventional method is unable to respond quickly to changes in the cropping pattern and therefore, do not record accurately thearea underhigh value cash crops. This has wider implications for commercializing agriculture and delivery of farm credit and insurance services in the developing countries. Some research and policy implications are discussed.

Stephan Heblich (University of Stirling)

Title:

E-Lections: Voting Behavior and the Internet

Abstract:

This paper analyses the effect of information disseminated by the Internet on voting behavior. We address endogeneity in Internet availability by exploiting regional and technological peculiarities of the preexisting voice telephony network that hinder the roll-out of fixed-line broadband infrastructure for high-speed Internet. We find small negative effects of Internet availability on voter turnout, and no evidence that the Internet systematically benefits single parties. Robustness tests including placebo estimations from the pre-Internet era confirm our results. We relate differences in the Internet effect between national and local elections to a crowding out of national but not local newspapers.

Reimbursement

Lecturers will be reimbursed for their travel expenses (2nd class rail fare).

The dinner will be paid by the sponsoring institution.

A contribution toward accommodation expenses will be provided to a limited number of lecturers who cannot return on the same day. Due to limited resources it will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Please contact us well in advance for this contribution. The maximum reimbursement for accommodation by SIRE is £40.00. Lecturers who want to stay overnight should book their own accommodation.

If booking accommodation the following link may be useful However, The Premier Travel Inn, George Streetwould be a good option as it is very near the University,

If you need any help or advice please contact Kirsty Fontanella.

The expenses claims form can be found on the Strathclyde SIRE Young Researchers Forum homepage Reimbursement will close 1 month after the event. Reimbursement is on production of original receipts only.

After the event, please send your expenses claims form to:
Kirsty Fontanella
Department of Economics
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow
G4 0GE
Scotland UK

Registration

To assist with organisation and due to capacity constraints, we require prior registration of all participants, irrespective whether they are lectures (except for accommodation). Please register by Friday 26th Octoberby clicking on Registration on the Strathclyde SIRE Young Researchers Forum webpage

We will confirm your registration. We are looking forward seeing you at Strathclyde.

Giuseppe De Feo and Rodolphe Desbordes

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