This paper focuses on the application of computer-based, iterative methods for deriving analytical solutions to economic models expressed as systems of simultaneous linear and/or nonlinear equations. Practical suggestions for using four specific methods are emphasized. Analogies form economics...

The closed economy neoclassical model predicts lung-run convergence in per-capita income. We show, within a neoclassical framework, that international trade among two countries differing only in their initial capital endowment generates long-run income differences. Our results suggests that...

Disenchantment with the Washington Consensus has led to an emphasis on growth diagnostics. In the case of Brazil, the literature suggests three main factors impeding growth: low domestic savings, a shortage of skilled workers, and lack of investment in the country’s transportation...

This paper develops a two-sector growth model incorporating the essential distinguishing features of agriculture, including the reliance of production on a natural resource base as well as on industrially produced inputs, the low income elasticity of demand for food and the life-sustaining...

Governments often establish economic policy in response to political pressure by interest groups. Since these groups' political activities may alter prices, economies so affected cannot be characterized by perfect competition. We develop a model of a "lobbying economy" in which consumers' choice...

A model of expected utility maximization and a stochastic health production function are used to show how consumer's beliefs, the certainty of beliefs, and the presence of information affects demand for goods as they are driven by the demand for health. Then, it is shown that competitive markets...

The role of international trade in the new growth theory is investigated from several perspectives. Following a historical outline and a brief analytical sketch of the R&D based models, the results from fitting three structural models to data are presented. Results show the relative impacts on...

Commodity price volatility in international markets has been used to justify numerous policy interventions, including the need for buffer stocks and counter-cyclical payments. The common measure of volatility, the standard deviation or coefficient of variation, likely overstates the actual...

This paper focuses on the problem of decision making when the parameters of the underlying technology are either unknown or are not known with certainty by producers. This problem is considered within the context of Tunisian durum wheat production in Northern Tunisia where farmers ability to...