José Luis Raymond

Regional Convergence in Productivity and Productive Structure: The Spanish Case

This article analyzes the evolution of regional differences in Spain and emphasizes the importance of a disaggregate analysis at a sectoral level. In particular, the authors observe convergence in productivity at the aggregate regional level but not at the sectoral level. Aggregate convergence seems to be due to the gradual homogenization of regional productive structures. This result may modify some of the conclusions drawn in the recent literature regarding the mechanisms that have generated convergence. In addition, we examine the so-called beta convergence hypothesis using a fixed-effects model. The results show the importance of regional specificity captured by the fixed effects and have implications that are very different from those of beta convergence analyses with cross-section data.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND EFFICIENCY OF URBAN BUS COMPANIES: THE CASE OF SPAIN

The aim of the present study is twofold. First, to provide new information concerning the technical characteristics of urban bus companies on the basis of a sample of medium and large-size cities in Spain. Second, to analyze the degree of efficiency of those companies and to quantify the reasons for this efficiency. The results should be useful in evaluating possible changes in public policies relating to urban transport, specifically changes in the way the market is organized and in pricing.The analysis is carried out by estimating a cost function. The sample is made up of a panel data set consisting of observations of nine Spanish companies that operated during the period 1983–1995. The specified functional form is translogarithmic. The output unit of measure adopted is bus*kms run. The cost function includes the network length for each company, thus permitting evidence concerning economies of density and economies of scale.The use of panel data allows us to estimate the cost function, taking into account that each company is affected by the specific characteristics of each individual city, the different features of the network in question and by different levels of efficiency. The economies of scale have been calculated, taking into account that the features of the network and of the city – represented by their specific individual effect – will vary with the companys level of output.Finally, an analysis is made of the relative productive efficiency of the companies, as well as of the variables likely to influence that efficiency.

Intrafirm human capital externalities and selection bias

This article investigates the existence of intrafirm human capital externalities in the Spanish economy. In doing so, it focusses on two estimation issues. First, a semiparametric methodology is used to estimate externalities in a more flexible way that allows to affect all parameters in the equation. Second, two approaches to control for selection bias are designed for use in cross-section data. Our results show a higher externality effect on wages when using the semi parametric approach as compared to the standard estimation approach. Additionally, the estimations even when controlling for selection bias give evidence of externalities.