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Copyright of Area Development & Policy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Using convergence estimations, the economies of the towns and districts of Rostov Oblast are shown to be resilient to four shocks to the economy – initial sanctions (2019), initial COVID and continuing sanctions (2020), continuing sanctions and worsening COVID (2021), war, harsher sanctions and declining COVID (2022). Agricultural output is resilient and represents an important growth sector for the Russian economy. Housing and floor area construction are resilient with even gross production being maintained. Labor indicators show a severe shock to unemployment and vacancies in 2020 followed by recovery in 2021 and a much tighter labor market in 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a general method of moments (GMM) aggregate production function adjusted for spatial autocorrelation, Russian regions 2001–2019 are found to exhibit no β convergence/divergence before 2009, 1% convergence 2009–2014 and then none again 2015–2019. Both human and physical capital contribute to aggregate growth as neoclassical theory predicts. Spatial autocorrelation suggests the measurement of spatial regional interdependence in Russia is more complex than in the U.S., EU or Mexico with the standard use of adjacent borders or railroad distances data not capturing regional interdependency. At the beginning of 2020, Russia's regions had not transitioned to intensive instead of extensive growth making regional growth stagnation and no further convergence likely in the decade to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counterfactual estimates of excess deaths in Russian regions in 2020 are compared with actual deaths to measure the initial COVID impact. COVID is a real threat to high labor productivity regions and those with relatively bigger defense sectors. Corruption is surprisingly found to lower excess deaths. Legacy Soviet human capital and early Putin era democracy don't appear to impact excess deaths. Urban males are most threatened with an even greater negative impact on the economy as COVID moves into working age brackets in the medium term. Living in rural areas and/or in regions far from Moscow was relatively safer in 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic growth and β-convergence of American states 1963–2015 is analyzed adjusting for significant spatial autocorrelation with system-GMM by considering the four Census macro regions individually. The Census regions converged over the last 50 years with both physical and human capital contributing to growth. In an early era (1963–1983), convergence was higher with rates varying between 4.7 and 1.5%, while for a later era (1984–2015) the rate was below 1% which is below the standard of 2% but fits well with a neoclassical growth paradigm. The Midwest region had the highest rate of convergence in the early era but then had almost no convergence in the later era with the other three regions having very low but positive convergence. Unlike many earlier studies, human as well as physical capital accumulation empirically supports economic growth as theory predicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper empirically examines municipality convergence within Mexico's southern Oaxaca region. We find municipalities are converging more rapidly than the "iron law" of 2% with up to 8% β convergence. Though homicides from the Drug War have negatively impacted growth, overall crime perhaps through strengthening local institutions has a positive but weak impact. Higher income inequality and Catholic belief are associated with higher per capita GDP growth in Oaxaca overall and within two microregions. The positive impact of a higher share indigenous population on growth in the relatively urban Valles Centrales microregion suggests a cultural element to policy making with the dependency ratio drag on growth suggesting a need for policies that give more attention to how retirees can continue to participate in the economy as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a recently developed stochastic Translog production function frontier model, technical inefficiency, technological progress and returns to scale are examined during Russia’s 1998-2007 cyclical expansion at the branch level including both the market and non-market economy. The service sector plus high skill-intensive goods production is shown to be relatively more efficient than traditional Soviet era goods sectors. Technical efficiency decreases markedly over the expansion while technological progress is quite high (23 %) suggesting an expanding frontier leaving many branches behind as the economy adjusts away from the early transition era. Much greater attention to human capital policies are suggested to foster intensive growth in an environment of low oil and gas prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The economic performance of Chechnya is examined for the first time using an aggregate stochastic frontier production function method. The 15 sectors of the economy are found to be quite inefficient in the use of capital and labour to produce aggregate output. Extensive growth is likely to continue though at a lower rate as federal subsidies from Moscow end. Intensive growth is unlikely given the lack of foreign investment and the authoritarian political system. Some evidence for the emergence of a market economy is found, suggesting that Kadyrov has overseen an economic transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a spatial dynamic panel, the long-run industrial sector convergence rate across Mexico's states is found to be 2%. The model is a system-General Method of Moments with correction for spatial autocorrelation and an explicit human capital input. The significant inequality between the richest and poorest states is caused by differences in factor accumulation. Physical capital accumulation dominates in richer states while the human capital accumulation is in poorer states. Regional inequality is predicted to grow unless there is government intervention to address the bipolar regional divide. More investment in human capital in non-industrialized states to draw strength from Mexico's diversity is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Has the Mexican inter-regional growth and convergence experience also occurred within single regions? Using the important southern region of Veracruz, the purpose of this paper is to examine this question over a 48-year period within a single Mexican state. Design/methodology/approach -- Growth is examined using a standard two input stochastic production function (SPF) that creates a measure of technical efficiency. Convergence is measured using a convergence equation from the literature but which also included the results from the SPF analysis to incorporate not only initial levels of inputs but also the ability of a municipio to utilize these inputs. Data collection in Mexico and online included a long run database of 149 municipios in Veracruz from 1960 thru 2008. Findings -- A stochastic Cobb-Douglas technology is found to fit the long run growth of Veracruz province well. In the 1960s, 2000s and the long run (1960-2008), weak evidence for the municipios in Veracruz appear to be converging with a relatively higher level of technical efficiency resulting in slower growth of industrial labor productivity is found. Some very recent improvement in technical efficiency may be the result of institutional as well as economic reforms finally allowing an exiting of inefficient firms that has kept the levels of municipio industrial technical efficiency stagnant for decades at about 70 percent. Research limitations/implications -- Data were limited to 149 municipios because of the need to track long run trends. Data were also limited by the need to use what was available in 1960 in a direct comparison with 2008. The design of the study was to use the technical efficiency index as a proxy for much of the missing data on institutions in the historic period. Panel data were used because the economic census is not done every year plus the turmoil in the Mexican economy in the 1980s thru the end of the 1990s make imputation of missing years at the local level quite difficult. Practical implications -- The paper provides a baseline to analyze the long run intra-regional economic growth of other Mexican states which have a large number of municipios. It begins the exciting possibility of looking at Mexican long run growth from the municipio level which has historically played an important role in Mexico. Originality/value -- This is the first study to examine long run growth within a Mexican state at the municipio level using both the production function and convergence literature. Results suggest several avenues for further research inside Veracruz and across Mexico. Paper type Research paper [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recently developed stochastic frontier production function methodology is used to estimate econometrically how technical efficiency, technological progress, and returns to scale contributed to US states' economic growth in 1979-2000. Improved regional human capital data that are superior to the traditional 'years of school' data are included. In support of the prior literature, overall technical inefficiency is found to be low but unlike earlier studies diverging over time with almost no shifting of the aggregate frontier. Efficiency is positively associated with relative historical wealth, human capital, relatively worse recession experience, greater market concentration, and a smaller informal economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russian macroeconomic growth in the transition era is analysed across federal districts using a neoclassical production function often found in studies of Soviet-era economic growth. An adjusted capital stock series for Russian regions is created and used in the aggregate production function for 1995-2003 to analyse growth across the 11 federal districts in Russia. Federal district output growth is found to be explained well by neoclassical growth theory, indicating that poorer regions may converge to richer regions, thereby strengthening the Russian Federation. Federal districts also have high capital/labour ratios, suggesting that expanded regional domestic and foreign investment across Russia in the future will enhance growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign Direct Investment in the United States is analyzed using a stochastic production function with FDI as an input. Low but significant technical inefficiency is found across American states similar to earlier studies but now with FDI explicitly accounted for. FDI is found to have a low but significant impact on regional economic growth. Supporting the literature, little evidence is found for human capital causing more FDI or GSP growth at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports of falsification, fabrication, plagiarism, and other violations of research integrity across the sciences are on the increase. Joining with other disciplines to actively protect the integrity of the marriage and family therapy (MFT) research literature is of utmost importance to both the discipline and the future of the profession. To inform the issues raised, results are presented of an informal survey among MFT clinical members on their perceptions about the literature together with their preferences for how best to protect its integrity. This article initiates an important discussion about the honesty of MFT research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article examines wages in rural Russia after the first decade of economic transition using data from a nationally representative household survey. The stochastic frontier analysis reveals that Russia's rural labour markets place high value on human capital. The overall level of rural wages, however, is very low, with the median wage 10% below the official subsistence level. The gender pay gap severely depresses women's wages. A woman with the same skills as a man is paid only 47% of the man's wage. Rural workers who receive income from their personal plots accept significantly lower wages. Private firms pay considerably higher wages than state or collectively owned firms, but account only for one fifth of rural workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional economic growth in Russia's regions in 1995–2000 is analysed with particular attention paid to FDI and how it influenced growth during this period. FDI appears to have been essential before the 1998 crisis in helping the economy grow despite the initial chaos of the transition. Larger regional economies that have garnered most FDI and perhaps gone further with institutional reforms that can assist in capturing the full benefits of FDI are likely to lead economic growth in the future. All regions need to take advantage now of the favourable economic environment to assess and learn from prior FDI experience to foster future growth should the price of oil and the remaining advantage of a depreciated currency change. No evidence was found that region-wide corruption hindered economic growth in the 1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unusually detailed sample of large farms in Rostov, Ivanovo and Nizhny Novgorod regions of Russia in 2001 allows microeconomic examination of the production of grain and sunflower crops on Russian farms. Farms are found to have some excess capital and labour, but not land and other types of capital. New operators are found to be more efficient than other farms thought they do not necessarily produce more output. Neither rural infrastructure, location nor specialisation has a clear impact on farm efficiency. How workers are paid is found to be a potential short-term method for improving farm efficiency that would not involve major farm restructuring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying a stochastic industrial production function at the aggregate city level for 72 cities in a single Russian region reveals industry in a variety of cities is quite similar in the ability to produce gross industrial output efficiently during the early transition era 1993–95. Weak evidence is found for cities becoming more diverse in industrial performance during the period. Using additional inefficiency impact variables, some evidence was found for a more diversified industrial base and more locally retained profit tax revenue improving efficiency among cities in a given year, suggesting more diversified cities may perform better than a one-company town in the transition era. The hypothesis of an urban agglomeration effect improving efficiency found in the literature was rejected using distance and population density variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the geographical locations and public finances (PF) of the 12 closed cities in Russia. Factors contributing to the PF crisis in 1998; Insufficiency of tax revenue collected in the closed cities; Examination of the budget deficit with and without federal grants.

Examines the implementation of training programs for paraprofessionals. Elements of the training program; Essential factors in the relationship building skills; Delivery systems for training; Factors to consider when choosing a training program for paraprofessionals.

The article argues that family life education practitioners should be guided by a code of ethics. Professionals, consumers and those responsible for regulating mental health service providers have become increasingly concerned with the quality of professional practice. Among the professions dedicated to the well-being of families, marriage and family therapy and family life education are not equally regulated. This nonregulation of family life education is not easily reconciled, especially given the popularity of family life education and some psycho-educational programs For instance, thousands of students take academic courses in family life in high schools and family science on many college campuses. The proposition advanced in this paper is that the practice of family life education requires regulation. It will be argued that the regulatory mechanisms in place for marriage and family therapy do not cover all the needs of family life education because therapy services and education services are different.

Analyzes the public finance policies in 12 cities of the Russian archipelago known as ZATO. Institution of transparent fiscal policy to overcome financial crisis; Utilization of the uniform classification code developed by the Ministry of Finance for all levels of government; Allocation of revenues and expenditures; Tax collection; Factors that influence spending priorities.

Both the ability to bond, that is, to be physically close and emotionally open to another human being, and the capacity to experience and express a wide range of emotions are essential for the development and maintenance of intimate relationships. The present paper is a pilot study that describes and assesses the use of bonding and emotional expressiveness in a psychoeducational program for couples developed to teach skills in preventing marital breakdown. Nine volunteers from a group of 31 participants in the PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills) training look part in a pre- and post-assessment of an intensive weekend which made use of bonding and emotionally expressive methods. Results indicate an increase in compatibility between partners and a reduction in feelings of hostility. Furthermore, most participants found that the workshop enhanced empathy for others, conflict resolution, emotional openness, and the ability to listen. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To assess supervisees' perceptions of supervision in AAMFT accredited programs, 72 supervisees from 14 degree programs responded to a questionnaire asking them to describe the supervision they were receiving and what they preferred. The majority reported perceiving their supervision as a mixed didactic-experiential style. Subjects were also asked to describe their perceived actual and preferred supervision on six dimensions. The findings showed that from supervisees' point of view, the quality of supervision in accredited programs is good, that some supervisees do not receive once per week supervision, and that the majority did not receive the style of supervision they preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using 1971-90 panel data from a Siberian province, two econometric methods are used side by side to examine technical inefficiency with a suggestion as to how the methods might be used in sequence. Estimates derived from a random effects method reveal that technical inefficiency is both substantial and not time invariant. Results using either a random or fixed effects method suggest that existing estimates of technical inefficiency in centrally planned economies may be biased downward because of the choice of the estimation method. Using either method, the increasing technical inefficiency found is likely to be one cause of the decline in the performance of centrally planned economies and their regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using 1971–90 panel data from a Siberian province, two econometric methods are used side by side to examine technical inefficiency with a suggestion as to how the methods might be used in sequence. Estimates derived from a random effects method reveal that technical inefficiency is both substantial and not time invariant. Results using either a random or fixed effects method suggest that existing estimates of technical inefficiency in centrally planned economies may be biased downward because of the choice of the estimation method. Using either method, the increasing technical inefficiency found is likely to be one cause of the decline in the performance of centrally planned economies and their regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Russia's regions during the period 1993-95 is analysed using recently available regional data. Russia's regions are shown to be much richer than China's, but much poorer than US states, though with far less FDI than either country. FDI into the regions is also low compared to both Western and Eastern European countries, but has grown substantially from very low levels. Relatively higher FDI is found to occur when crime is lower, market size is bigger and risk is less. Surprisingly, the education of the workforce is found to be important only in the two major cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow, suggesting FDI into Russia's regions is not drawn by cheap labour. Unlike other countries, no evidence for either infrastructure or privatization influencing FDI could be found. The use of tax breaks and exemptions to attract FDI may be short-sighted as the consequent cut in budget revenues hampers the ability of the region to fight crime and to lower business risk, resulting in an implicit marginal tax increase for future foreign investors that exceeds any benefits from shortterm tax breaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine energy efficiency in the European Union (EU) using an integrated model that connects labor and capital as production factors with energy consumption to produce GDP with a limited amount of environmental emissions. The model is a linear output-oriented BCC data envelopment analysis (DEA) that employs variables with non-negative values to calculate efficiency scores for a sample of 28 EU member states in the period 2010–2018. We assume variable returns to scale (VRS) considering the natural inclination of countries to adopt technologies that allow them to produce higher outputs over extended periods of time, which we observed through the trends of increasing labor productivity and decreasing energy intensity over the analyzed period. The average EU inefficiency margin in the sample period is 16.0%, with old member states being significantly more efficient (4.2%) than new member states (29.5%). Energy efficiency management does not improve over time, especially in new member states that had substantially worse efficiency by 2018 than in 2010. New member states could increase energy efficiency through the liberalization of the energy market, the support of energy-saving and technologically advanced industries, and the introduction of measures aimed at increasing the productivity levels in the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evaluates the Beaver-Timberlawn (BT) Family Evaluations Scale. BT is designed to be used in conjunction with other scales to more fully identify the health/competence of a particular family. Designed as a diagnostic and research, observational measure of family health/competence, the BT is based on general systems theory propositions and clinically derived family theory. The said measurement scale has greatly contributed to the clinical work. First, it allows the clinician to suspend diagnostic judgment until data are in. Also, the ratings are based on observed phenomena and not just on intuition.

This article presents the Ethics At-Risk Test, a self-administered diagnostic tool designed to help marriage and family therapists reduce their level of risk for violating ethical practice standards. It informs practitioners about their current level of vulnerability to an ethics breech and recommends a course of action. Areas of practice include dual relationships and ethics code violations that occur most often among marriage and family therapists. Most items assess the presence of precipitating conditions which in themselves are not unethical but which may lead to an ethics violation. The test will both aid practicing clinicians and raise important ethical issues for discussion in the training of marriage and family therapists.

The article presents several incidents, choices and patterns which has influenced the author's life on his dealings with human interaction and relationships. One of the incident involves the therapy session conducted by his wife who was a family therapist and a husband and wife who sought therapy for their marriage to work. The author also read the book "Pragmatics of Human Communication" which influenced his understanding on interpersonal interaction and human communication. Another critical incident which held the strongest influence on his life involves the communication based models of filial therapy and relationship enhancement.