REY S. J. and MONTOURI B. D. (1999) US regional income convergence: a spatial econometric perspective, Reg. Studies 33 , 143-156. This study reconsiders the question of US regional economic income convergence from a spatial econometric perspective. Recently developed methods of exploratory spatial data analysis provide new insights on the geographical dynamics of US regional income growth patterns over the 1929-94 period. Strong patterns of both global and local spatial autocorrelation are found throughout the study period, and the magnitude of global spatial autocorrelation is also found to exhibit strong temporal co-movement with regional income dispersion. A spatial econometric analysis of the familiar Baumol specification reveals strong evidence of misspecification due to ignored spatial error dependence. Because of this dependence, shocks originating in one state can spillover into surrounding states, potentially complicating the transitional dynamics of the convergence process. REY S. J. et MONTOURI...

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US Regional Income Convergence: A Spatial Econometric Perspective

The authors present an overview of the academic literature on charitable giving based on a literature review of more than 500 articles. They structure their review around the central question of why people donate money to charitable organizations. They identify eight mechanisms as the most important forces that drive charitable giving: (a) awareness of need; (b) solicitation; (c) costs and benefits; (d) altruism; (e) reputation; (f) psychological benefits; (g) values; (h) efficacy. These mechanisms can provide a basic theoretical framework for future research explaining charitable giving.

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A Literature Review of Empirical Studies of Philanthropy: Eight Mechanisms That Drive Charitable Giving

This paper is a review of the post-war literature on income distribution and development. It argues that the literature has cycled from one consensus to another, responding to emerging policy issues and new analysis. On the basis of the review, the paper identifies five areas that will command the attention of analysts in the coming two decades: (i) country case studies rather than cross-country regression analysis; (ii) the phenomenon of increasing inequality; (iii) different levels of disaggregation, particularly distribution between broadly defined groups; (iv) intra-household allocation; and (v) alternative modes of redistribution in face of inequality increasing tendencies.

Income Distribution and Development

Perceptual determinants of nonprofit giving behavior

This paper looks at the relationship between fiscal and political decentralization and the evolution of regional inequalities in a panel of 26 countries -- 19 developed and 7 developing -- for the period between 1990 and 2006. Using an instrumental variables method, it finds that whereas for the whole sample decentralization is completely dissociated for the evolution of regional disparities, the results are highly contingent on the level of development, the existing level of territorial inequalities, and the fiscal redistributive capacity of the countries in the sample. Decentralization in high income countries has, if anything, been associated with a reduction of regional inequality. In low and medium income countries, fiscal decentralization has been associated with a significant rise in regional disparities, which the positive effects of political decentralization have been unable to compensate. Policy preferences by subnational governments for expenditure in economic affairs, education, and social protection have contributed to this trend.

Does Decentralization Matter for Regional Disparities? A Cross-Country Analysis

Unbalanced regional growth and regional income inequality in the latter stages of development

The direct benefits motive underlying charitable contributions has been extensively used as the dominant assumption in charity literature. Indded, it is theoretically simpler to assume independent rather than interdependent utility functions. This study does not justify exclusive assumption of direct benefits motive in theoretical or empirical analysis. Both indirect benefits and Kantian motives are implied by this study. While a clear cut dominance of one motive is not indicated in these results (and not surprising due to the cross-section, aggregate state data used), there is little or no support for the direct benefits motive. The existence of indirect and Kantian motives are indicated by the data. Future research into charitable behavior should take note of these findings, either to develop methodologies able to unambiguously discuss the motives, or to incorporate and provide more than simple acknowledgement of indirect benefits and Kantian motives.

Empirical analysis of motives underlying individual contributions to charity

A model of the interaction between regional financial markets and regional growth

This paper analyzes the relation between regional development and perceived life satisfaction measures. Using Oklahoma it is identified that people in less developed regions tend to be equally (or more) satisfied in almost every aspect of their lives. This leads to the conclusion that aspirations, in addition to the attainment of aspirations, depend on the level of development.

Life satisfaction and regional development: A case study of Oklahoma

This paper investigates the inter-county variation of per capita personal income within US states from 1969 to 2006. It is a test of the growth pole cycles theory of spatial-temporal economic development that combines the theory of growth poles with the theory of long wave cycles. Standard OLS regression analysis is performed using data from the Bureau of Economic. Results indicate that regional income variation increased for the majority of states with no indication of a decrease or convergence of regional incomes.

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Orley M. Amos

Papers

Unbalanced regional growth and regional income inequality in the latter stages of development

Empirical analysis of motives underlying individual contributions to charity

A model of the interaction between regional financial markets and regional growth

Life satisfaction and regional development: A case study of Oklahoma

Evidence of Increasing Regional Income Variation in the United States: 1969-2006