Colin Wren

Bio: Colin Wren is an academic researcher from Newcastle University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Regional policy & Foreign direct investment. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 74 publications receiving 1577 citations. Previous affiliations of Colin Wren include University of Newcastle & University of Reading.

Evaluating the Effect of Soft Business Support upon Small Firm Performance

Abstract: The paper applies robust econometric techniques to assess the impact of publicly-provided subsidised 'soft' business support on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It considers the assistance for consultancy advice provided towards marketing under the UK Enterprise Initiative, looking at its effect on sales turnover, employment and survival, and making explicit allowance for selection effects. It is found that the policy has no impact on the survival of smaller SMEs, and that it is most effective in the mid-range SMEs, where it raises survival rates by about 4% over the longer run and growth rates in surviving firms by up to 10% per annum. Overall, the scheme has a substantial impact, but the paper draws attention to the possible displacement effects.

Evaluating the effect of soft business support upon small firm performance

Abstract: The paper applies robust econometric techniques to assess the impact of publicly-provided subsidised 'soft' business support on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It considers the assistance for consultancy advice provided towards marketing under the UK Enterprise Initiative, looking at its effect on sales turnover, employment and survival, and making explicit allowance for selection effects. It is found that the policy has no impact on the survival of smaller SMEs, and that it is most effective in the mid-range SMEs, where it raises survival rates by about 4% over the longer run and growth rates in surviving firms by up to 10% per annum. Overall, the scheme has a substantial impact, but the paper draws attention to the possible displacement effects.

Evaluation of European Union Cohesion policy: Research questions and policy challenges

Abstract: The first part (Leonardi; Mairate) provides overviews from different perspectives on the rationale for EU Cohesion policy and its effects, including 'added value'. The second part (Batterbury; Bradley; Martin and Tyler) provides a critical assessment of Cohesion policy evaluation, focusing on the current regulatory framework. It examines contrasting macro-based approaches for determining the effect of policy, comprising a model-based approach to ex-ante evaluate the Structural Funds and a shift-share, residual-based method to evaluate interventions in Objective 1 regions. This part offers a new estimate of the employment effect of Cohesion policy. The third part (Florio; Baslae#169;; Blazek and Vozab; Eser and Nussmueller; Armstrong and Wells) examines the evaluation experience in a variety of circumstances, including different policy measures (Structural Funds, Community Initiatives and Cohesion Fund) and different kinds of evaluation (ex-ante, mid-term and ex-post).3 It explores other issues such as the use of cost-benefit analysis, the evaluation of community economic development (CED) initiatives and the preparation of programming documents in a new Member State. Finally, the fourth part has shorter contributions (Barca; Huber; Jakoby; Raines) that take a policy-maker perspective on evaluation culture in a variety of EU regions and countries.

Marginal and average tax rates and the incentive for self-employment

Abstract: The paper examines how the incentives for individuals to take up self-employment, rather than paid employment, are influenced by the marginal and average income tax rate. A model is developed in which an individual optimally chooses the supply of labor effort and the amount of tax to evade. Assuming that remuneration is more responsive to effort but that the opportunities for evasion are greater in self-employment, we find a negative relationship between self-employment and the marginal tax rate but a positive relationship with the average rate. This is supported by empirical evidence for 15 OECD countries over the 1980s.

UK Regional Policy: An Evaluation

Abstract: INTRODUCT ION ities in unemployment during the recession of the early 1990s, which bit deeply in the southern regions. However, the convergence of regional unemployment rates UK regional policy has existed at varying levels of intensity for nearly seven decades. Throughout its conceals persistent spatial disparities in unemployment at a higher level of disaggregation. Fig. 2 shows that existence, the overriding objective has been to provide economic help to the country’s most heavily depressed those Travel-to-work Areas experiencing the highest unemployment rates in 1985 tend to be the same areas or least well-oV areas. A wide variety of policy measures have been used to create employment and thereby some 10 years later. Further, Table 1 shows that the spatial pattern of unemployment at county level has reduce unemployment in the areas with persistently high unemployment. This paper has two primary aims: remained remarkably stable. Broad regional aggregates conceal immense spatial disparities in unemployment ® rstly, to identify the major bene® ts of regional policy; and secondly, to investigate ways in which UK regional within regions, and these spatial disparities are persistent over time. It is this high unemployment persistence that policy can be made more eVective and hence more eYcient. ultimately justi® es spatially discriminating policies such as regional policy. As a ® rst step, it needs to be established that the UK actually has a regional problem. It is easy to demonstrate The paper is organized as follows. The next section identi® es the major economic and social bene® ts of that spatial disparities in unemployment, at a broad level, have virtually disappeared during the 1990s. The regional policy, followed by a review of recent government views on the case for regional policy. The fourth `north± south divide’ that was so evident in the 1980s has been eroded by a substantial convergence in unsection compares two diVerent approaches to solving regional problems: the ® rst is a market-based approach employment rates. This is vividly illustrated in Fig. 1 which shows the dramatic narrowing of regional disparwhich aims to make local labour markets more exible;

Estimation and Inference in Econometrics

Abstract: Offering a unifying theoretical perspective not readily available in any other text, this innovative guide to econometrics uses simple geometrical arguments to develop students' intuitive understanding of basic and advanced topics, emphasizing throughout the practical applications of modern theory and nonlinear techniques of estimation. One theme of the text is the use of artificial regressions for estimation, reference, and specification testing of nonlinear models, including diagnostic tests for parameter constancy, serial correlation, heteroscedasticity, and other types of mis-specification. Explaining how estimates can be obtained and tests can be carried out, the authors go beyond a mere algebraic description to one that can be easily translated into the commands of a standard econometric software package. Covering an unprecedented range of problems with a consistent emphasis on those that arise in applied work, this accessible and coherent guide to the most vital topics in econometrics today is indispensable for advanced students of econometrics and students of statistics interested in regression and related topics. It will also suit practising econometricians who want to update their skills. Flexibly designed to accommodate a variety of course levels, it offers both complete coverage of the basic material and separate chapters on areas of specialized interest.

Preventing Crime: What Works, What Doesn't, What's Promising

Abstract: In 1996, a Federal law required the U.S. Attorney General to provide Congress with an independent review of the Many crime prevention programs work. Others don’t. Most programs have not yet been evaluated with enough scientific evidence to draw conclusions. Enough evidence is available, however, to create provisional lists of what works, what doesn’t, and what’s promising. Those lists will grow more quickly if the Nation invests more resources in scientific evaluations to hold all crime prevention programs accountable for their results. Issues and Findings

An Agenda for a Reformed Cohesion Policy A place-based approach to meeting European Union challenges and expectations

Abstract: EU regional policy is an investment policy. It supports job creation, competitiveness, economic growth, improved quality of life and sustainable development. These investments support the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy. The present paper analysis two strategically different options of EU regional policy: place-neutral versus place-based policies for economic development. Our results suggest that in many EU regions the place-neutral policies may no be the best policy response to facing new challenges posed by deeper economic integration and globalisation.