This paper proposes a new unit root test in the context of a random autoregressive coefficient panel data model, in which the null of a unit root corresponds to the joint restriction that the autoregressive coefficient has unit mean and zero variance. The asymptotic distribution of the test statistic is derived and simulation results are provided to suggest that it performs very well in small s...

The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. Despite strong economic growth, a "U"-curve unemployment phenomenon in Mauritius can be observed. Unemployment plunged from 21 percent to les...

Three double blind treatments of a US$ 10 dictator game are used to examine the role of anonymity and perceptions of anonymity in pro-social behavior. One treatment has dictators viewing pictures of recipients, the second has recipients receiving pictures of dictators and the third is a pictureless control. In each treatment, more than 50 percent of dictators give US$ 0. For those dictators who...

This paper examines the importance of labor market dropouts and selection bias in assessing black-white wage convergence by introducing a simple method of imputing wages to nonworkers. When nonworkers are included in the calculations, it is found that real wages of prime age black males increased less than 2 percent over the 1969-96 period in contrast to 9 percent wage growth observed among wor...

This paper investigates the impact of geography on technological diffusion via international trade and proposes to re-examine the contribution of Coe, Helpman and Hoffmaister to the knowledge spillovers literature. Using a gravitational model, we first confirm the negative effect of physical distance on imports. We also show that geographic proximity contributes to more technological diffusion ...

The Effect of Immigration on the School Performance of Natives: Cross Country Evidence Using PISA Test Scores We study whether a higher share of immigrant pupils affects the school performance of natives using aggregate multi-country data from PISA. We find evidence of a negative and statistically significant relationship. The size of the estimated effect is small: doubling the share of immigra...

The Effect of Extra Funding for Disadvantaged Pupils on Achievement This paper evaluates the effects of two subsidies targeted at disadvantaged pupils in the Netherlands. The first scheme gives primary schools with at least 70 percent minority pupils extra funding for personnel. The second scheme gives primary schools with at least 70 percent pupils from different disadvantaged groups extra fun...