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Purpose - The paper seeks to analyse the impact of different public policies on inequality, unemployment, growth and the tax burden. Design/methodology/approach - A dynamic general equilibrium model is built, in which growth is driven by endogenous technical progress, to analyse the impacts of several policies (minimum wage, redistribution and R&D subsidies financed by an income tax). Findings - All policies except pure redistribution are better than non-intervention in terms of growth. The authors distinguish three major policy patterns. The Anglo-Saxon model is characterised by high growth, high inequality, low unemployment and a low tax burden. The Nordic model combines high growth, low inequality and low unemployment, and a high tax burden. The Continental European model puts together medium inequality and a medium tax burden, and higher long-term growth is paid for by high unemployment. Research limitations/implications - The model could be extended by the introduction of educational policy. Originality/value - The paper distinguishes three configurations that capture the main features of the developments in Anglo-Saxon countries, Scandinavian countries, and Continental European countries in the 1990s. It thereby provides a general framework to analyse and compare these experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to examine current databases available for manufacturing engineering and summarizes their relevance. Design/methodology/approach -- To promote research in manufacturing engineering, comprehensive literature should be made accessible through relevant databases. Databases not only provide information on global research but aid in assessing the impacts of research and identify promising research directions. The databases are presented in eight sections according to the type of document being sought. Findings -- The manufacturing engineering literature is robust; there are excellent products available to support this highly technical field, The databases found are from many different sources: commercial publishers, professional organizations, national and international agencies, and collaborative endeavors. Research limitations/implications -- Sources found originate mainly from the USA and Europe. Originality/value -- This paper demonstrates the importance of literature mining in manufacturing engineering which is ingrained in the processes to designing, developing and producing goods and services. It is also a teaching tool for students, a guide to professional engineers, and a valuable resource for librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The paper aims to query the value of strategies implemented, notably in France, and to demonstrate the largely ignored link between demographics and economics. Design/methodology/approach - The paper achieves its objective by comparing statistics of European Union (EU) members and competitors to reveal that traditional views on economics and social policy may no longer apply. Findings - The paper finds that the Old Europe stagnated due to political lack of will, but a renewed Europe has begun. The Euro as scapegoat for poor performance is dismissed. Productivity figures show how foreign trade and debt can be efficiently managed. Overall, trade must be encouraged worldwide. Low-wage countries will inevitably compete and cannot ethically be ignored. The subsidy debate heats up as the EU agricultural policy ends and the USA extends Farm Aid. Regardless, EU members must focus on sustainable development. The low birthrate in the Old Europe means social policy should be reformed to encourage families to have children and allow selective immigration to meet labour needs. The implication is that France - Europe in general - must review the EU mission and structure. The French president seems to be headed in this direction. In future research, demographics must be monitored to make social and economic plans for the working lives of our youth and retirement of our seniors. Originality/value - This paper will interest economists, politicians and policy-makers, especially those unaware of the role of demographics in productivity and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of developments in the USA related to digital rights management (DRM) through legal, technological, and market developments in recent years. Design/methodology/approach - This article summarizes recent developments in DRM in two areas. First is the legal landscape, including copyright law developments that apply to digital content and attempts to impose DRM technology through legislation and litigation. Second are recent advances in DRM-related technology and developments in digital content markets that are based on DRM. In both cases, USA developments are compared with the situation in Europe. Findings - Developments in American copyright law, DRM technology, and digital content markets exert heavy influences on the spread of DRM in Europe, but the legal and technological frameworks are not different, giving rise to incompatibilities. Practical implications - DRM technologies need to evolve differently for European markets, because they need to exist in the context of fundamentally different copyright law frameworks (e.g., Private Copying) and incumbent technologies (e.g., Conditional Access television). Originality/value - European readers of this paper should gain an understanding of American DRM technology and its legal context, and how they influence developments in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boeing Co. has been the world's leading producer of large commercial airplanes for several decades. However, in the late 1990s, Europe-based Airbus Industries competed with Boeing aggressively and captured almost fifty percent of the over-100-seat airplane market. This paper examines the battle between Boeing and Airbus, including a concise report on Air/nix' launch of its A380 superjumbo project. The paper also contains the authors' recommendations to Boeing and the U. S. government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to assess the effects of traditional inputs and firms' R&D capital on labour productivity growth. Design/methodology/approach - The study measures the effects of the traditional inputs on firms' productivity growth, through four procedures: OLS in first differences, within group, GMIvI in first differences and GMrvI system. Findings - Whatever the specification considered, the more efficient estimates obtained from the GMM system show a similar effect of the firm's R&D stock upon its labour productivity performance. Practical implications - The results suggest that physical capital plays a more prominent role for European firms than for US ones, while employees are more productive in the USA. Originality/value - By presenting some empirical evidence on the effects of R&D on labour productivity, at the firm level, the present study makes two main contributions to the existing literature. First, a unique firm-level database for European and US firms is used. It is self evident that firms in these countries operate in different economic and institutional settings; as a consequence the results identify some robust common effects concerning the two areas considered (the USA versus Europe) at the micro level. Second, service and manufacturing sectors are merged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]