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This paper analyzes the effects of a hypothetical tax reform in Italy, which makes current tax credits more generous and refundable, shifting the tax burden from labour to property. Our methodology contains novel features of great relevance for policy analysis: first, a structural model of labour supply of both employees and self-employed; second, a labour market equilibrium model that encompasses demand side constraints; last, detailed tax system simulation under fiscal neutrality. The empirical findings provide guidance for policy makers' actions to enhance equity and efficiency of tax system and confirm the relevance of the methodological approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is an application of the econometric price series to the analysis of dairy chain efficiency in Italy. At a theoretic level, the price transmission and asymmetry in the speed of adjustment to positive and negative price changes is supported by the Industrial Organization, multi market equilibrium, food chain theories. However this does not provide a clear signal of competitiveness as many conditions may induce stickiness (curvature of demand, local cost and externalities, long term contracts,. While evidences from past EU studies about the dairy sector are mixed, several studies have demonstrated the evidence of price asymmetries in different market contests. The aim of this research is to examine the price dynamics along the dairy chain and offer some empirical evidences about the cointegration and asymmetric price transmission at different market levels. The parametric test of asymmetry in a multivariate VECM (vector error correction term), suggests symmetry in co-movement. To explore in deeper whether these results are robust with respect to nonlinearity it is estimated the threshold VECM model; the results suggest to reject the hypothesis of asymmetry with exception for the raw milk and wholesale butter. While market competitiveness can not be inferred only from evidence of asymmetry, these findings support the hypothesis that the market structure and policy in the Italian dairy chain didn't affect greatly the price asymmetry. However, for the butter market, the public intervention seems to have generated speculative behavior among the operators and generated asymmetric price responses to positive/negative price changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergency department (ED), the heart of first aid services, is confronted by both long queues of patients waiting for treatment and limited resources to treat them. Since efficiency plays a key role in the proper functioning of an ED, interest in the measurement of ED efficiency has increased considerably. The aim of this study is to explain the dynamics of ED efficiency through a first aid market equilibrium scheme. To this end, we conduct a two-step analysis of the city of Sorrento's daily ED data. First, we implement a data envelopment analysis (DEA) to study the efficiency dynamics of the Sorrento ED. Then, we apply a Hodrick-Prescott (HP) filter to verify whether changes in ED efficiency are affected by the slope of the first aid services' supply curve. The results show an inelastic supply curve in the low tourist season and an elastic supply curve in the high tourist season. • The dynamic of emergency department efficiency is investigated. • A first aid market equilibrium scheme is used. • A Data Envelopment Analysis for time series is implemented. • The Hodrick-Prescott filter investigates the first aid services' supply curve slope. • Results show an inelastic (elastic) supply curve in the low (high) tourist season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade the growth of mobile telecommunications market has been very rapid. The technological changes have caused a drastic cost reduction and a rising differentiation in the supply of services. The Italian mobile telecommunications market is forecast to grow from about 22 million users in 1999 to an estimated 42 million in the year 2003. Currently four network operators, Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM), Omnitel Pronto Italia (OPI), Wind and BLU, share the market. The model introduced in this paper can be used to estimate the effects of a new entrant carrier in terms of profits, final prices and market share among the competitors. The proposed model through the construction of a pattern representing the considered production system allows the evaluation of the impact of carriers tariff policies in terms of final consumer prices. Such model may be useful to highlight regulatory considerations and understand relevant features related to the structure of the mobile telephony industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]