Rodrigo Mendieta Muñoz - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Rodrigo Mendieta Muñoz

Research paper thumbnail of The business cycle in Ecuador: an analysis of stylised facts before and after dollarisation

The business cycle in Ecuador: an analysis of stylised facts before and after dollarisation

Global Business and Economics Review, 2023

This study examines stylised facts related to the business cycle in Ecuador for the period of 199... more This study examines stylised facts related to the business cycle in Ecuador for the period of 1990-2019. To reflect on the dollarisation process that the country went through by the end of 1999, the analysis is conducted for two sub-periods: 1990-1999 and 2000-2019. The paper investigates a wide range of macroeconomic variables for Ecuador, including variables regarding demand, the labour market, nominal variables, and variables related to an open economy. The sensitivity of correlations is studied through two detrending techniques: 1) the modified Hodrick-Prescott (MHP) filter; 2) a Hodrick-Prescott filter with a smoothing parameter of 1,600. The results reveal substantial changes in the cyclical behaviour of the Ecuadorian economy under dollarisation. In particular, the country shows greater dependence on the international market and high vulnerability to demand shocks.

Research paper thumbnail of Labour Force Participation and Sectoral Dynamics Over The Business Cycle: Regional Evidence For Ecuador

Labour Force Participation and Sectoral Dynamics Over The Business Cycle: Regional Evidence For Ecuador

Romanian Journal of Economic Forecasting, 2024

Ecuador is a developing country characterised by a high degree of informality and has undergone s... more Ecuador is a developing country characterised by a high degree of informality and has undergone significant economic transformations that have had an impact on the labour market. Despite the national trend of a slight decline in labour force participation, there are notable differences in development across the country, making it an interesting case study. This article examines the determinants of regional differences in labour force participation and the sectoral structure of employment. Using a regional panel data analysis, it identifies the cyclicality of labour force participation, formal and informal wage employment and self-employment for both sexes. The results of the decomposition highlight the significant influence of education, household conditions, age distribution and regional factors on regional labour force participation and employment composition. The results show that labour force participation has undergone significant changes over time and exhibits strong counter-cyclical behaviour. The analysis shows that formal employment is procyclical, while informal wage employment shows countercyclical fluctuations. Moreover, self-employment does not seem to be affected by the business cycle, except in recent years. Finally, it is concluded that women's participation in the labour force is more related to policies affecting the educational level of the population than to business cycle factors.

Research paper thumbnail of Corporate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: An approximation based on business data from Ecuador

Corporate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: An approximation based on business data from Ecuador

Estudios Gerenciales, 2024

This study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic reactivation carried out... more This study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic reactivation carried out in Ecuador in 2021 on the corporate performance of Ecuadorian companies; in this country, most of the business fabric is made up of micro and small companies, which is why it could provide new insights to the literature. The empirical analysis is based on the DID impact evaluation methodology from a company database obtained from the financial statements of the Superintendency of Companies of Ecuador. The results reveal that there is great heterogeneity in the corporate impact of the pandemic and that the affected ones were mainly micro and small companies; additionally, they indicate that the negative effects of the pandemic on financial performance extended into 2021, thus signaling a weak economic recovery. These results are key for designing policies aimed at economic reactivation in the business segments and industries most impacted by the pandemic.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative analysis of prevention and treatment costs associated with cervical cancer in Ecuador

Comparative analysis of prevention and treatment costs associated with cervical cancer in Ecuador

Killkana Salud Y Bienestar, 2024

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death due to oncological pathology in Ecuadorian w... more Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death due to oncological pathology in Ecuadorian women. Vaccination and early detection have high efficacy in preventing this disease. The costs of treating cervical cancer are high. Objective: To compare the costs per person for cervical cancer prevention versus the treatment of cervical lesions. Methodology: An analysis of therapeutic recommendation and the cost related with to the treatment and prevention based on the cost schedule for the national health system of Ecuador. Results: The investment in prevention varies according to the scheme used. When using the optimal vaccination and screening with cytology, the investment is 395.62USD.Whenusingtheoptimalvaccinationandhumanpapillomavirusdetectionscheme,thecostis395.62 USD. When using the optimal vaccination and human papillomavirus detection scheme, the cost is 395.62USD.Whenusingtheoptimalvaccinationandhumanpapillomavirusdetectionscheme,thecostis761.42 USD. The cost of follow-up for low-grade lesions is 490.7USD;forhigh−gradelesionsandinsitucancerwithoutpatientmanagement,itis490.7 USD; for high-grade lesions and in situ cancer with outpatient management, it is 490.7USD;forhighgradelesionsandinsitucancerwithoutpatientmanagement,itis685.43 USD. In the case of in situ cancer/Stage IAI/or non-conizable cervixes, the cost reaches 3465.68USD.ForinvasivestagesIto2;IB;IIA,itis3465.68 USD. For invasive stages I to 2; IB; IIA, it is 3465.68USD.ForinvasivestagesIto2;IB;IIA,itis23,762.20 USD, and for stages IIB-III-IV, the minimum cost is 28,560.22USD.Conclusions:Thecostofmanagingadvancedandinvasivecervicallesionsis10to101timesmoreexpensivethanpreventionperperson.Thecostforapersonwithabasicsalaryof28,560.22 USD. Conclusions: The cost of managing advanced and invasive cervical lesions is 10 to 101 times more expensive than prevention per person. The cost for a person with a basic salary of 28,560.22USD.Conclusions:Thecostofmanagingadvancedandinvasivecervicallesionsis10to101timesmoreexpensivethanpreventionperperson.Thecostforapersonwithabasicsalaryof460 USD would create inequities in access to treatment and survival. The cost per person that the state must cover for the treatment of advanced cervical cancer is much higher than the investment in prevention.

Research paper thumbnail of Job quality in the shadow of informality: the mediating role of education. A regional analysis in Ecuador between 2014 to 2019

Job quality in the shadow of informality: the mediating role of education. A regional analysis in Ecuador between 2014 to 2019

Journal of Regional Research, 2024

This paper investigates the relationship between informality and job quality in Ecuador, emphasiz... more This paper investigates the relationship between informality and job quality in Ecuador, emphasizing the role of education as a mediating factor. Utilizing data from the National Survey of Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment from 2014 to 2019, the study employs an Employment Quality Index to assess job quality. Through a detailed empirical strategy incorporating pooled ordinary least squares regressions, panel data analyses, and spatial models, the research unveils a negative impact of informality in employment quality. However, the findings indicate that education does not significantly influence this relationship at the regional level. These results highlight the necessity for targeted policy interventions that address the structural issues in the labor market.

Research paper thumbnail of Ejercicios de Políticas Económicas

Ejercicios de Políticas Económicas

Ejercicios de Políticas Económicas, 2019

Este libro era una promesa a nuestros colegas: acompañar el libro ”Fundamentos Avanzados para la ... more Este libro era una promesa a nuestros colegas: acompañar el libro ”Fundamentos Avanzados para la Política Economica” con un libro de ejercicios que facilitara la docencia de la política económica. Esperamos haber ́ cumplido con las expectativas creadas pero, sobre todo, esperamos que nuestros lectores disfruten de esta obra. El libro se compone de 700 preguntas tipo test, 140 ejercicios de desarrollo, 28 temas de lectura, 36 crucigramas y otros juegos didácticos. Además, añadimos una sección especial dedicada al cine económico, con películas y documentales comentados. Cada capítulo incluye un pequeño resumen y 4 actividades, cada una con 25 preguntas de tipo test, 5 ejercicios de desarrollo, 1 tema de debate y 1 crucigrama. Las preguntas de tipo test cubren el objetivo de consolidar los conocimientos adquiridos, sin exigir una comprensión profunda. Los ejercicios, en cambio, piden una comprensión de la teoría. Por ello, muchos ejercicios tratan de crear una situación que obligue al estudiante a aplicar los conocimientos. En la medida de lo posible, se han incluido ejercicios que deben ser resueltos con herramientas matemáticas. Sin embargo, se da mayor peso a ejercicios que son aplicaciones de las teorías. A diferencia del libro de texto, Fundamentos Avanzados para la Pol ́ıtica Económica, el libro Ejercicios de Pol ́ıtica Económica persigue fomentar el pensamiento crítico. Por eso, se incluyen varios textos franceses de Le Monde Diplomatique y Alternatives Economiques, que contrastan con el pensamiento mas ortodoxo de la American Economic Association. Se hace un especial esfuerzo en que los temas de lectura sean actuales o relevantes, suficientemente flexibles, con un lenguaje cuidado, que den lugar a un debate orientado o reflexion sobre el significado de los conocimientos aprendidos y, además, mejoren el vocabulario de los estudiantes. Los crucigramas y las sugerencias de películas se alinean con nuevas formas de docencia, que tratan de dar una dimension lúdica a los conocimientos adquiridos. Asimismo, se adapta a cursos cuyo objetivo es inducir a una reflexion sobre la política económica, más que a un conocimiento formal. Es ineludible comentar que los temas de lectura son adaptaciones de los textos originales que, sin alterar las principales ideas del texto original, son reconstrucciones que crean textos manejables dentro de una clase. Puesto que, las traducciones han sido realizadas por los autores, no expertos en traducción e interpretación, rogamos tolerancia con las licencias literarias. Agradecemos las correcciones, aportaciones y sugerencia de los revisores anónimos, esenciales para lograr el resultado final. Agradecemos a la Universidad de Cuenca, Escuela Politécnica Nacional y Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea por garantizar los medios necesarios para su realización. Y, por supuesto, a nuestros estudiantes, que son el leitmotif de este trabajo.

Research paper thumbnail of On the association between housing deprivation and urban size: Evidence from South Asia

On the association between housing deprivation and urban size: Evidence from South Asia

World Development

Housing is a basic human need; however, in recent decades slums have become the face of urbanizat... more Housing is a basic human need; however, in recent decades slums have become the face of urbanization in developing economies. Urbanization drives economic growth, playing an important role in providing adequate housing and reducing poverty. In this paper, we investigate the association between housing deprivation and the urban size at a regional level for South Asian countries in the year 2015. We use two main sources of data. The first is the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), which provide microdata that allows us to build housing deprivation indexes based on the material characteristics of households and housing assets. The second source is satellite imagery, used to define urban cores and measure the urban size of each region. Then, we use a two-step procedure to identify the relationship between the urban size and housing deprivation. Our results indicate that age and higher levels of education (of the head of household) are negatively associated with our housing deprivation indexes in South Asian households. Furthermore, a greater number of children in South Asian households is related to higher levels of housing deprivation. In the second step, we show that there is a significant negative association between material housing deprivation and the urban size at a regional level for our full sample and for the majority of countries taken individually. An important exception is India, where an inverted-U-shaped relationship between deprivation and urban size is found. This result is robust even when an IV approach is used.

Research paper thumbnail of Canton growth in Ecuador and the role of spatial heterogeneity

CEPAL Review, 2020

This paper identifies the determinants of per capita gross value added (GVA) growth in Ecuador du... more This paper identifies the determinants of per capita gross value added (GVA) growth in Ecuador during the 2007-2015 period, using a spatial extension of the Mankiw, Romer and Weil (MRW) model. Because as a country Ecuador is characterized by deep territorial socioeconomic imbalances, estimates using classical techniques that measure average or "global" effects would not be as justifiable and would have limited political implications. Accordingly, this study uses a spatial filtering technique, which is a recent evolution of geographically weighted regression (GWR), to account for the spatial heterogeneity of the coefficients of a growth regression that explicitly considers both physical and human capital. The results show that Ecuadorian cantons have a wide range of convergence rates and that the effect of physical and human capital varies across space.

Research paper thumbnail of Mendieta Muñoz, Luis Rodrigo

Ecuador is a developing country characterized by severe territorial disparities reflected in a he... more Ecuador is a developing country characterized by severe territorial disparities reflected in a heterogeneous economic and social geography that risk to undermine a future balanced development. The paper analyses for the first time the impact of main economic sectors on sub-national growth process in the context of the “Changing Productive Matrix” policy objective, which aims to achieve productive diversification based on adding value through de-concentration of production from the existing poles to the whole territory. The estimation is performed using new data provided by Central Bank of Ecuador for the period 2007-2014 through a panel econometric technique. The results prove that, despite the strategy aimed at changing the productive matrix pushed by the government, this process is far to be completed. In particular, the country is too much focused on low productive sectors which depress economic growth and the manufacture and financial services sectors are too much concentrated i...

Research paper thumbnail of Cohort Analysis of Labor Participation and Sectoral Composition of Employment in Ecuador

Journal for Economic Forecasting, 2022

The study assesses the contribution of cohort, age and business cycle effects to the evolution of... more The study assesses the contribution of cohort, age and business cycle effects to the evolution of labor participation rate and sectoral employment in Ecuador from 2000 to 2019. Being characterized by a large amount of informality, as well as by significant economic and institutional changes, Ecuador could provide new insights to the literature. The empirical analysis reveals that both female and male labor participation rate decreases for the younger generations. The life cycle profiles for sectoral employment show that formal employment rate has an inverted U-shaped form. In contrast, younger workers are found to be more likely to participate in the informal salaried sector, while self-employment notably increases with age. A sustained growth in formal employment rate is observed for the new generations, while the opposite occurs for the informal salaried and self-employment. Finally, the results suggest that female labor participation is strongly countercyclical, which correspond to the added worker effect hypothesis.

Research paper thumbnail of On the association between housing deprivation and urban size: Evidence from South Asia.

On the association between housing deprivation and urban size: Evidence from South Asia.

World Development, 2022

Housing is a basic human need; however, in recent decades slums have become the face of urbanizat... more Housing is a basic human need; however, in recent decades slums have become the face of urbanization in developing economies. Urbanization drives economic growth, playing an important role in providing adequate housing and reducing poverty. In this paper, we investigate the association between housing deprivation and the urban size at a regional level for South Asian countries in the year 2015. We use two main sources of data. The first is the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), which provide micro-data that allows us to build housing deprivation indexes based on the material characteristics of households and housing assets. The second source is satellite imagery, used to define urban cores and measure the urban size of each region. Then, we use a two-step procedure to identify the relationship between the urban size and housing deprivation. Our results indicate that age and higher levels of education (of the head of household) are negatively associated with our housing deprivation indexes in South Asian households. Furthermore, a greater number of children in South Asian households is related to higher levels of housing deprivation. In the second step, we show that there is a significant negative association between material housing deprivation and the urban size at a regional level for our full sample and for the majority of countries taken individually. An important exception is India, where an inverted-U-shaped relationship between deprivation and urban size is found. This result is robust even when an IV approach is used.

Research paper thumbnail of Subnational Multidimensional Poverty Dynamics in Developing Countries: the cases of Ecuador and Uruguay.

Investigaciones Regionales – Journal of Regional Research, 2022

This paper studies deprivation dynamics at the subnational level, introducing a Local Multidimens... more This paper studies deprivation dynamics at the subnational level, introducing a Local Multidimensional Poverty Index (LMPI), and focusing on multidimensional poverty in Ecuador and Uruguay between the last two available censuses, 1990-2010 and 1996-2011, respectively. As a first step, we construct the LMPI at the municipal level using microdata from both counties. Subsequently, we explore spatial and temporal dynamics through a set of tools such as the salter graph, Moran's I, Moran scatterplot, and spatial transition matrix. The results indicate that compared to Ecuador, Uruguay was initially in a better position in terms of the LMPI. However, Ecuador achieved a generalized reduction of the LMPI during the period of analysis, reaching levels close to that of Uruguay. Nevertheless, spatial persistence in the LMPI is observed.

Research paper thumbnail of Factores institucionales como determinantes del crecimiento económico subnacional en Ecuador

Revista De Economía Del Caribe, 2021

Ecuador es un país en desarrollo con grandes heterogeneidades económicas a nivel regional. El obj... more Ecuador es un país en desarrollo con grandes heterogeneidades económicas a nivel regional. El objetivo del estudio es analizar la importancia de la calidad institucional como determinante del ingreso per cápita subnacional. Se ha demostrado el efecto positivo de las instituciones en el crecimiento económico a nivel nacional. Sin embargo, los estudios que analizan las instituciones como determinantes de crecimiento regional para países en vías de desarrollo aún son escasos. Se utiliza encuestas del Latinobarómetro 2007-2018 para obtener información de la percepción de la calidad institucional y se sigue la metodología de los Indicadores de Gobernanza Mundial del Banco Mundial para analizar tres dimensiones de gobernanza: voz y rendición de cuentas, efectividad del gobierno y estado de derecho. El análisis empírico
se lleva a cabo a partir de un modelo de regresión de datos de panel y ejercicios contrafactuales. Los resultados señalan que la mejora de la calidad institucional se asocia con incrementos en el nivel de renta regional, después de controlar por factores como el capital humano, infraestructura y stock de capital. Aunque, el análisis revela que las instituciones solo explican una parte moderada de las diferencias regionales del ingreso per cápita. Desde el punto de vista de política, el análisis sugiere la necesidad de considerar el fortalecimiento de la calidad institucional como una estrategia que puede complementar y potenciar los efectos de otros instrumentos que busquen promover el crecimiento
económico regional.

Research paper thumbnail of Territorial growth in Ecuador: the role of economic sectors

Romanian Journal of Economic Forecasting, 2018

Ecuador is a developing country characterized by severe territorial disparities reflected in a he... more Ecuador is a developing country characterized by severe territorial disparities reflected in a heterogeneous economic and social geography that risk to undermine a future balanced development. The paper analyses for the first time the impact of main economic sectors on sub-national growth process in the context of the “Changing Productive Matrix” policy objective, which aims to achieve productive diversification based on adding value through de-concentration of production from the existing poles to the whole territory. The estimation is performed using new data provided by Central Bank of Ecuador for the period 2007-2014 through a panel econometric technique. The results prove that, despite the strategy aimed at changing the productive matrix pushed by the government, this process is far to be completed. In particular, the country is too much focused on low productive sectors which depress economic growth and the manufacture and financial services sectors are too much concentrated i...

Research paper thumbnail of Explaining the regional economic heterogeneity in Ecuador

This paper aims to present the economic heterogeneity of Ecuador's regions using a descriptive an... more This paper aims to present the economic heterogeneity of Ecuador's regions using a descriptive analysis, and also to explain its main causes and implications. In comparison to the European Union, Ecuador exhibits a much higher degree of economic heterogeneity within regions and provinces. We relate this pattern to the dynamics of the economic structure, and we also highlight the progress done by now in enhancing regional convergence in Ecuador. The implications of the regional economic heterogeneity are important for the design of effective governmental policies.

Research paper thumbnail of Land consumption and income in Ecuador: A case of an inverted environmental Kuznets curve

Ecological Indicators, 2020

The ratio of building permits to population is a key indicator to evaluate land consumption. Howe... more The ratio of building permits to population is a key indicator to evaluate land consumption. However, few researchers focus on land consumption and its environmental spillovers, for developing countries. The aim of our study, using a Bayesian comparison approach applied to a spatial panel, is to analyse the existence of an inverted U-shaped curve relationship between land consumption and economic development, namely the environmental Kuznets curve, with data that ranges from 2007 to 2015 for 221 cantons in Ecuador. The Bayesian comparison approach allows us to identify: i) the spatial weight matrix that best fits the data, and ii) the best spatial model according to the type of spatial spillovers (local or global). These are both of extreme interest because a knowledge of the extent to which the spatial spillovers spread over space, and their functional form, supports the planning of effective land use policies. The results do not support the inverted U-shaped hypothesis of the Kuznets curve. By contrast, the curvature is convex, which means higher levels of land consumption for higher levels of wealth. Spatial spillovers spread to a limited extent, highlighting an imitation game among agents, both institutions and private agents, in the neighbour locations. Policy implications go from the strengthening of the institutional framework and local tax management, to the urban regeneration to limit real estate speculation. All these interventions should be coordinated among neighbours to avoid freeriding behaviours.

Research paper thumbnail of El crecimiento cantonal en el Ecuador y el papel de la heterogeneidad espacial

Revista de la CEPAL, 2020

En este documento se identifican los determinantes del crecimiento del valor agregado bruto (VAB)... more En este documento se identifican los determinantes del crecimiento del valor agregado bruto (VAB) per cápita en el Ecuador durante el período 2007-2015, utilizando una extensión espacial del modelo de Mankiw, Romer y Weil (MRW). Debido a que el Ecuador es un país caracterizado por profundos desequilibrios socioeconómicos a nivel de los territorios, las estimaciones con técnicas clásicas que miden efectos medios o "globales" no serían tan justificables y tendrían escasas implicaciones políticas. En consecuencia, en el presente artículo se utiliza la técnica de filtrado espacial, que es una evolución reciente de la regresión geográficamente ponderada (GWR), para tomar en cuenta la heterogeneidad espacial de los coeficientes de una regresión de crecimiento que considera explícitamente tanto el capital físico como humano. Los resultados muestran que los cantones ecuatorianos tienen una amplia gama de tasas de convergencia y que el efecto del capital físico y humano varía en el espacio. Palabras clave Crecimiento económico, análisis económico, desarrollo regional, economía regional, modelos econométricos, indicadores del desarrollo, Ecuador Clasificación JEL

Research paper thumbnail of Cantonal convergence in Ecuador: A spatial econometric perspective

Journal of Applied Economic Sciences, 2015

The paper analyses the convergence process of Ecuadorian cantons during the period 2007-2012 acco... more The paper analyses the convergence process of Ecuadorian cantons during the period 2007-2012 accounting for the role of spatial spillovers through spatial econometric tool. The advantage of this technique is to provide a reliable estimation because it takes into account the spatial interaction in the territory. In addition, it allows identifying clusters of cantons characterised by similar spatial patterns that can be interpreted as convergence clubs because they represent areas with similar initial conditions in the “basin of attraction” that, according to economic theory, converge to a common steady state equilibrium. The results highlight that a convergence process is present, but it involves the cluster of most developed cantons. This opens various policy implications related to i) the capacity of cantons to take advantage from the positive dynamics of neighbours, ii) the persistence of development in some circumscribed areas, and iii) the spatial unbalanced development.

Research paper thumbnail of La concepción de la racionalidad humana en las teorías de la organización

Retos: Revista de Ciencias de la Administración y Economía, 2013

The following is a discussion about assumed human behavior upon which organizational theory has b... more The following is a discussion about assumed human behavior upon which organizational theory has been built. The analysis allows to conclude that these assumptions not only have hardly evolved from a traditional stance about organizations, but they have rather become more rigid since,in addition to seeingit as a utilitarian and individual attitude of human behavior, which is considered a criminal act, leaves aside qualitiessuch as motivational factors, the creation of values, creativity, a sense of cooperation and solidarity, and the generation of trust among individual persons. These aspects should promote new research, or past research should be reviewed, so that new model proposals can arise with more realistic solutions to organizational conflict.

Research paper thumbnail of La estructura temporal de las tasas de interes como predictor de la actividad real caso ecuatoriano (1993-1999)

El modelo keynesiano, IS-LM, establece las combinaciones de tipos de interés y de niveles de prod... more El modelo keynesiano, IS-LM, establece las combinaciones de tipos de interés y de niveles de producción con los que tanto el mercado de bienes y el de dinero se encuentran en equilibrio, tratando a la tasa de interés como una variable endógena del producto. Las tasas de interés, a su vez, poseen una estructura de plazo, es decir se diferencian de acuerdo al período de maduración, existiendo así tasas cortas y largas, cuyas variaciones se grafican en la llamada curva de retorno. Volviendo al modelo IS-LM, una política fiscal o monetaria originará cambios en la demanda agregada y por ende en la producción al mismo tiempo que se registra un giro en la curva de retorno de las tasas de interés, estableciéndose una clara

Research paper thumbnail of The business cycle in Ecuador: an analysis of stylised facts before and after dollarisation

The business cycle in Ecuador: an analysis of stylised facts before and after dollarisation

Global Business and Economics Review, 2023

This study examines stylised facts related to the business cycle in Ecuador for the period of 199... more This study examines stylised facts related to the business cycle in Ecuador for the period of 1990-2019. To reflect on the dollarisation process that the country went through by the end of 1999, the analysis is conducted for two sub-periods: 1990-1999 and 2000-2019. The paper investigates a wide range of macroeconomic variables for Ecuador, including variables regarding demand, the labour market, nominal variables, and variables related to an open economy. The sensitivity of correlations is studied through two detrending techniques: 1) the modified Hodrick-Prescott (MHP) filter; 2) a Hodrick-Prescott filter with a smoothing parameter of 1,600. The results reveal substantial changes in the cyclical behaviour of the Ecuadorian economy under dollarisation. In particular, the country shows greater dependence on the international market and high vulnerability to demand shocks.

Research paper thumbnail of Labour Force Participation and Sectoral Dynamics Over The Business Cycle: Regional Evidence For Ecuador

Labour Force Participation and Sectoral Dynamics Over The Business Cycle: Regional Evidence For Ecuador

Romanian Journal of Economic Forecasting, 2024

Ecuador is a developing country characterised by a high degree of informality and has undergone s... more Ecuador is a developing country characterised by a high degree of informality and has undergone significant economic transformations that have had an impact on the labour market. Despite the national trend of a slight decline in labour force participation, there are notable differences in development across the country, making it an interesting case study. This article examines the determinants of regional differences in labour force participation and the sectoral structure of employment. Using a regional panel data analysis, it identifies the cyclicality of labour force participation, formal and informal wage employment and self-employment for both sexes. The results of the decomposition highlight the significant influence of education, household conditions, age distribution and regional factors on regional labour force participation and employment composition. The results show that labour force participation has undergone significant changes over time and exhibits strong counter-cyclical behaviour. The analysis shows that formal employment is procyclical, while informal wage employment shows countercyclical fluctuations. Moreover, self-employment does not seem to be affected by the business cycle, except in recent years. Finally, it is concluded that women's participation in the labour force is more related to policies affecting the educational level of the population than to business cycle factors.

Research paper thumbnail of Corporate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: An approximation based on business data from Ecuador

Corporate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: An approximation based on business data from Ecuador

Estudios Gerenciales, 2024

This study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic reactivation carried out... more This study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic reactivation carried out in Ecuador in 2021 on the corporate performance of Ecuadorian companies; in this country, most of the business fabric is made up of micro and small companies, which is why it could provide new insights to the literature. The empirical analysis is based on the DID impact evaluation methodology from a company database obtained from the financial statements of the Superintendency of Companies of Ecuador. The results reveal that there is great heterogeneity in the corporate impact of the pandemic and that the affected ones were mainly micro and small companies; additionally, they indicate that the negative effects of the pandemic on financial performance extended into 2021, thus signaling a weak economic recovery. These results are key for designing policies aimed at economic reactivation in the business segments and industries most impacted by the pandemic.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative analysis of prevention and treatment costs associated with cervical cancer in Ecuador

Comparative analysis of prevention and treatment costs associated with cervical cancer in Ecuador

Killkana Salud Y Bienestar, 2024

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death due to oncological pathology in Ecuadorian w... more Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death due to oncological pathology in Ecuadorian women. Vaccination and early detection have high efficacy in preventing this disease. The costs of treating cervical cancer are high. Objective: To compare the costs per person for cervical cancer prevention versus the treatment of cervical lesions. Methodology: An analysis of therapeutic recommendation and the cost related with to the treatment and prevention based on the cost schedule for the national health system of Ecuador. Results: The investment in prevention varies according to the scheme used. When using the optimal vaccination and screening with cytology, the investment is 395.62USD.Whenusingtheoptimalvaccinationandhumanpapillomavirusdetectionscheme,thecostis395.62 USD. When using the optimal vaccination and human papillomavirus detection scheme, the cost is 395.62USD.Whenusingtheoptimalvaccinationandhumanpapillomavirusdetectionscheme,thecostis761.42 USD. The cost of follow-up for low-grade lesions is 490.7USD;forhigh−gradelesionsandinsitucancerwithoutpatientmanagement,itis490.7 USD; for high-grade lesions and in situ cancer with outpatient management, it is 490.7USD;forhighgradelesionsandinsitucancerwithoutpatientmanagement,itis685.43 USD. In the case of in situ cancer/Stage IAI/or non-conizable cervixes, the cost reaches 3465.68USD.ForinvasivestagesIto2;IB;IIA,itis3465.68 USD. For invasive stages I to 2; IB; IIA, it is 3465.68USD.ForinvasivestagesIto2;IB;IIA,itis23,762.20 USD, and for stages IIB-III-IV, the minimum cost is 28,560.22USD.Conclusions:Thecostofmanagingadvancedandinvasivecervicallesionsis10to101timesmoreexpensivethanpreventionperperson.Thecostforapersonwithabasicsalaryof28,560.22 USD. Conclusions: The cost of managing advanced and invasive cervical lesions is 10 to 101 times more expensive than prevention per person. The cost for a person with a basic salary of 28,560.22USD.Conclusions:Thecostofmanagingadvancedandinvasivecervicallesionsis10to101timesmoreexpensivethanpreventionperperson.Thecostforapersonwithabasicsalaryof460 USD would create inequities in access to treatment and survival. The cost per person that the state must cover for the treatment of advanced cervical cancer is much higher than the investment in prevention.

Research paper thumbnail of Job quality in the shadow of informality: the mediating role of education. A regional analysis in Ecuador between 2014 to 2019

Job quality in the shadow of informality: the mediating role of education. A regional analysis in Ecuador between 2014 to 2019

Journal of Regional Research, 2024

This paper investigates the relationship between informality and job quality in Ecuador, emphasiz... more This paper investigates the relationship between informality and job quality in Ecuador, emphasizing the role of education as a mediating factor. Utilizing data from the National Survey of Employment, Unemployment, and Underemployment from 2014 to 2019, the study employs an Employment Quality Index to assess job quality. Through a detailed empirical strategy incorporating pooled ordinary least squares regressions, panel data analyses, and spatial models, the research unveils a negative impact of informality in employment quality. However, the findings indicate that education does not significantly influence this relationship at the regional level. These results highlight the necessity for targeted policy interventions that address the structural issues in the labor market.

Research paper thumbnail of Ejercicios de Políticas Económicas

Ejercicios de Políticas Económicas

Ejercicios de Políticas Económicas, 2019

Este libro era una promesa a nuestros colegas: acompañar el libro ”Fundamentos Avanzados para la ... more Este libro era una promesa a nuestros colegas: acompañar el libro ”Fundamentos Avanzados para la Política Economica” con un libro de ejercicios que facilitara la docencia de la política económica. Esperamos haber ́ cumplido con las expectativas creadas pero, sobre todo, esperamos que nuestros lectores disfruten de esta obra. El libro se compone de 700 preguntas tipo test, 140 ejercicios de desarrollo, 28 temas de lectura, 36 crucigramas y otros juegos didácticos. Además, añadimos una sección especial dedicada al cine económico, con películas y documentales comentados. Cada capítulo incluye un pequeño resumen y 4 actividades, cada una con 25 preguntas de tipo test, 5 ejercicios de desarrollo, 1 tema de debate y 1 crucigrama. Las preguntas de tipo test cubren el objetivo de consolidar los conocimientos adquiridos, sin exigir una comprensión profunda. Los ejercicios, en cambio, piden una comprensión de la teoría. Por ello, muchos ejercicios tratan de crear una situación que obligue al estudiante a aplicar los conocimientos. En la medida de lo posible, se han incluido ejercicios que deben ser resueltos con herramientas matemáticas. Sin embargo, se da mayor peso a ejercicios que son aplicaciones de las teorías. A diferencia del libro de texto, Fundamentos Avanzados para la Pol ́ıtica Económica, el libro Ejercicios de Pol ́ıtica Económica persigue fomentar el pensamiento crítico. Por eso, se incluyen varios textos franceses de Le Monde Diplomatique y Alternatives Economiques, que contrastan con el pensamiento mas ortodoxo de la American Economic Association. Se hace un especial esfuerzo en que los temas de lectura sean actuales o relevantes, suficientemente flexibles, con un lenguaje cuidado, que den lugar a un debate orientado o reflexion sobre el significado de los conocimientos aprendidos y, además, mejoren el vocabulario de los estudiantes. Los crucigramas y las sugerencias de películas se alinean con nuevas formas de docencia, que tratan de dar una dimension lúdica a los conocimientos adquiridos. Asimismo, se adapta a cursos cuyo objetivo es inducir a una reflexion sobre la política económica, más que a un conocimiento formal. Es ineludible comentar que los temas de lectura son adaptaciones de los textos originales que, sin alterar las principales ideas del texto original, son reconstrucciones que crean textos manejables dentro de una clase. Puesto que, las traducciones han sido realizadas por los autores, no expertos en traducción e interpretación, rogamos tolerancia con las licencias literarias. Agradecemos las correcciones, aportaciones y sugerencia de los revisores anónimos, esenciales para lograr el resultado final. Agradecemos a la Universidad de Cuenca, Escuela Politécnica Nacional y Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea por garantizar los medios necesarios para su realización. Y, por supuesto, a nuestros estudiantes, que son el leitmotif de este trabajo.

Research paper thumbnail of On the association between housing deprivation and urban size: Evidence from South Asia

On the association between housing deprivation and urban size: Evidence from South Asia

World Development

Housing is a basic human need; however, in recent decades slums have become the face of urbanizat... more Housing is a basic human need; however, in recent decades slums have become the face of urbanization in developing economies. Urbanization drives economic growth, playing an important role in providing adequate housing and reducing poverty. In this paper, we investigate the association between housing deprivation and the urban size at a regional level for South Asian countries in the year 2015. We use two main sources of data. The first is the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), which provide microdata that allows us to build housing deprivation indexes based on the material characteristics of households and housing assets. The second source is satellite imagery, used to define urban cores and measure the urban size of each region. Then, we use a two-step procedure to identify the relationship between the urban size and housing deprivation. Our results indicate that age and higher levels of education (of the head of household) are negatively associated with our housing deprivation indexes in South Asian households. Furthermore, a greater number of children in South Asian households is related to higher levels of housing deprivation. In the second step, we show that there is a significant negative association between material housing deprivation and the urban size at a regional level for our full sample and for the majority of countries taken individually. An important exception is India, where an inverted-U-shaped relationship between deprivation and urban size is found. This result is robust even when an IV approach is used.

Research paper thumbnail of Canton growth in Ecuador and the role of spatial heterogeneity

CEPAL Review, 2020

This paper identifies the determinants of per capita gross value added (GVA) growth in Ecuador du... more This paper identifies the determinants of per capita gross value added (GVA) growth in Ecuador during the 2007-2015 period, using a spatial extension of the Mankiw, Romer and Weil (MRW) model. Because as a country Ecuador is characterized by deep territorial socioeconomic imbalances, estimates using classical techniques that measure average or "global" effects would not be as justifiable and would have limited political implications. Accordingly, this study uses a spatial filtering technique, which is a recent evolution of geographically weighted regression (GWR), to account for the spatial heterogeneity of the coefficients of a growth regression that explicitly considers both physical and human capital. The results show that Ecuadorian cantons have a wide range of convergence rates and that the effect of physical and human capital varies across space.

Research paper thumbnail of Mendieta Muñoz, Luis Rodrigo

Ecuador is a developing country characterized by severe territorial disparities reflected in a he... more Ecuador is a developing country characterized by severe territorial disparities reflected in a heterogeneous economic and social geography that risk to undermine a future balanced development. The paper analyses for the first time the impact of main economic sectors on sub-national growth process in the context of the “Changing Productive Matrix” policy objective, which aims to achieve productive diversification based on adding value through de-concentration of production from the existing poles to the whole territory. The estimation is performed using new data provided by Central Bank of Ecuador for the period 2007-2014 through a panel econometric technique. The results prove that, despite the strategy aimed at changing the productive matrix pushed by the government, this process is far to be completed. In particular, the country is too much focused on low productive sectors which depress economic growth and the manufacture and financial services sectors are too much concentrated i...

Research paper thumbnail of Cohort Analysis of Labor Participation and Sectoral Composition of Employment in Ecuador

Journal for Economic Forecasting, 2022

The study assesses the contribution of cohort, age and business cycle effects to the evolution of... more The study assesses the contribution of cohort, age and business cycle effects to the evolution of labor participation rate and sectoral employment in Ecuador from 2000 to 2019. Being characterized by a large amount of informality, as well as by significant economic and institutional changes, Ecuador could provide new insights to the literature. The empirical analysis reveals that both female and male labor participation rate decreases for the younger generations. The life cycle profiles for sectoral employment show that formal employment rate has an inverted U-shaped form. In contrast, younger workers are found to be more likely to participate in the informal salaried sector, while self-employment notably increases with age. A sustained growth in formal employment rate is observed for the new generations, while the opposite occurs for the informal salaried and self-employment. Finally, the results suggest that female labor participation is strongly countercyclical, which correspond to the added worker effect hypothesis.

Research paper thumbnail of On the association between housing deprivation and urban size: Evidence from South Asia.

On the association between housing deprivation and urban size: Evidence from South Asia.

World Development, 2022

Housing is a basic human need; however, in recent decades slums have become the face of urbanizat... more Housing is a basic human need; however, in recent decades slums have become the face of urbanization in developing economies. Urbanization drives economic growth, playing an important role in providing adequate housing and reducing poverty. In this paper, we investigate the association between housing deprivation and the urban size at a regional level for South Asian countries in the year 2015. We use two main sources of data. The first is the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), which provide micro-data that allows us to build housing deprivation indexes based on the material characteristics of households and housing assets. The second source is satellite imagery, used to define urban cores and measure the urban size of each region. Then, we use a two-step procedure to identify the relationship between the urban size and housing deprivation. Our results indicate that age and higher levels of education (of the head of household) are negatively associated with our housing deprivation indexes in South Asian households. Furthermore, a greater number of children in South Asian households is related to higher levels of housing deprivation. In the second step, we show that there is a significant negative association between material housing deprivation and the urban size at a regional level for our full sample and for the majority of countries taken individually. An important exception is India, where an inverted-U-shaped relationship between deprivation and urban size is found. This result is robust even when an IV approach is used.

Research paper thumbnail of Subnational Multidimensional Poverty Dynamics in Developing Countries: the cases of Ecuador and Uruguay.

Investigaciones Regionales – Journal of Regional Research, 2022

This paper studies deprivation dynamics at the subnational level, introducing a Local Multidimens... more This paper studies deprivation dynamics at the subnational level, introducing a Local Multidimensional Poverty Index (LMPI), and focusing on multidimensional poverty in Ecuador and Uruguay between the last two available censuses, 1990-2010 and 1996-2011, respectively. As a first step, we construct the LMPI at the municipal level using microdata from both counties. Subsequently, we explore spatial and temporal dynamics through a set of tools such as the salter graph, Moran's I, Moran scatterplot, and spatial transition matrix. The results indicate that compared to Ecuador, Uruguay was initially in a better position in terms of the LMPI. However, Ecuador achieved a generalized reduction of the LMPI during the period of analysis, reaching levels close to that of Uruguay. Nevertheless, spatial persistence in the LMPI is observed.

Research paper thumbnail of Factores institucionales como determinantes del crecimiento económico subnacional en Ecuador

Revista De Economía Del Caribe, 2021

Ecuador es un país en desarrollo con grandes heterogeneidades económicas a nivel regional. El obj... more Ecuador es un país en desarrollo con grandes heterogeneidades económicas a nivel regional. El objetivo del estudio es analizar la importancia de la calidad institucional como determinante del ingreso per cápita subnacional. Se ha demostrado el efecto positivo de las instituciones en el crecimiento económico a nivel nacional. Sin embargo, los estudios que analizan las instituciones como determinantes de crecimiento regional para países en vías de desarrollo aún son escasos. Se utiliza encuestas del Latinobarómetro 2007-2018 para obtener información de la percepción de la calidad institucional y se sigue la metodología de los Indicadores de Gobernanza Mundial del Banco Mundial para analizar tres dimensiones de gobernanza: voz y rendición de cuentas, efectividad del gobierno y estado de derecho. El análisis empírico
se lleva a cabo a partir de un modelo de regresión de datos de panel y ejercicios contrafactuales. Los resultados señalan que la mejora de la calidad institucional se asocia con incrementos en el nivel de renta regional, después de controlar por factores como el capital humano, infraestructura y stock de capital. Aunque, el análisis revela que las instituciones solo explican una parte moderada de las diferencias regionales del ingreso per cápita. Desde el punto de vista de política, el análisis sugiere la necesidad de considerar el fortalecimiento de la calidad institucional como una estrategia que puede complementar y potenciar los efectos de otros instrumentos que busquen promover el crecimiento
económico regional.

Research paper thumbnail of Territorial growth in Ecuador: the role of economic sectors

Romanian Journal of Economic Forecasting, 2018

Ecuador is a developing country characterized by severe territorial disparities reflected in a he... more Ecuador is a developing country characterized by severe territorial disparities reflected in a heterogeneous economic and social geography that risk to undermine a future balanced development. The paper analyses for the first time the impact of main economic sectors on sub-national growth process in the context of the “Changing Productive Matrix” policy objective, which aims to achieve productive diversification based on adding value through de-concentration of production from the existing poles to the whole territory. The estimation is performed using new data provided by Central Bank of Ecuador for the period 2007-2014 through a panel econometric technique. The results prove that, despite the strategy aimed at changing the productive matrix pushed by the government, this process is far to be completed. In particular, the country is too much focused on low productive sectors which depress economic growth and the manufacture and financial services sectors are too much concentrated i...

Research paper thumbnail of Explaining the regional economic heterogeneity in Ecuador

This paper aims to present the economic heterogeneity of Ecuador's regions using a descriptive an... more This paper aims to present the economic heterogeneity of Ecuador's regions using a descriptive analysis, and also to explain its main causes and implications. In comparison to the European Union, Ecuador exhibits a much higher degree of economic heterogeneity within regions and provinces. We relate this pattern to the dynamics of the economic structure, and we also highlight the progress done by now in enhancing regional convergence in Ecuador. The implications of the regional economic heterogeneity are important for the design of effective governmental policies.

Research paper thumbnail of Land consumption and income in Ecuador: A case of an inverted environmental Kuznets curve

Ecological Indicators, 2020

The ratio of building permits to population is a key indicator to evaluate land consumption. Howe... more The ratio of building permits to population is a key indicator to evaluate land consumption. However, few researchers focus on land consumption and its environmental spillovers, for developing countries. The aim of our study, using a Bayesian comparison approach applied to a spatial panel, is to analyse the existence of an inverted U-shaped curve relationship between land consumption and economic development, namely the environmental Kuznets curve, with data that ranges from 2007 to 2015 for 221 cantons in Ecuador. The Bayesian comparison approach allows us to identify: i) the spatial weight matrix that best fits the data, and ii) the best spatial model according to the type of spatial spillovers (local or global). These are both of extreme interest because a knowledge of the extent to which the spatial spillovers spread over space, and their functional form, supports the planning of effective land use policies. The results do not support the inverted U-shaped hypothesis of the Kuznets curve. By contrast, the curvature is convex, which means higher levels of land consumption for higher levels of wealth. Spatial spillovers spread to a limited extent, highlighting an imitation game among agents, both institutions and private agents, in the neighbour locations. Policy implications go from the strengthening of the institutional framework and local tax management, to the urban regeneration to limit real estate speculation. All these interventions should be coordinated among neighbours to avoid freeriding behaviours.

Research paper thumbnail of El crecimiento cantonal en el Ecuador y el papel de la heterogeneidad espacial

Revista de la CEPAL, 2020

En este documento se identifican los determinantes del crecimiento del valor agregado bruto (VAB)... more En este documento se identifican los determinantes del crecimiento del valor agregado bruto (VAB) per cápita en el Ecuador durante el período 2007-2015, utilizando una extensión espacial del modelo de Mankiw, Romer y Weil (MRW). Debido a que el Ecuador es un país caracterizado por profundos desequilibrios socioeconómicos a nivel de los territorios, las estimaciones con técnicas clásicas que miden efectos medios o "globales" no serían tan justificables y tendrían escasas implicaciones políticas. En consecuencia, en el presente artículo se utiliza la técnica de filtrado espacial, que es una evolución reciente de la regresión geográficamente ponderada (GWR), para tomar en cuenta la heterogeneidad espacial de los coeficientes de una regresión de crecimiento que considera explícitamente tanto el capital físico como humano. Los resultados muestran que los cantones ecuatorianos tienen una amplia gama de tasas de convergencia y que el efecto del capital físico y humano varía en el espacio. Palabras clave Crecimiento económico, análisis económico, desarrollo regional, economía regional, modelos econométricos, indicadores del desarrollo, Ecuador Clasificación JEL

Research paper thumbnail of Cantonal convergence in Ecuador: A spatial econometric perspective

Journal of Applied Economic Sciences, 2015

The paper analyses the convergence process of Ecuadorian cantons during the period 2007-2012 acco... more The paper analyses the convergence process of Ecuadorian cantons during the period 2007-2012 accounting for the role of spatial spillovers through spatial econometric tool. The advantage of this technique is to provide a reliable estimation because it takes into account the spatial interaction in the territory. In addition, it allows identifying clusters of cantons characterised by similar spatial patterns that can be interpreted as convergence clubs because they represent areas with similar initial conditions in the “basin of attraction” that, according to economic theory, converge to a common steady state equilibrium. The results highlight that a convergence process is present, but it involves the cluster of most developed cantons. This opens various policy implications related to i) the capacity of cantons to take advantage from the positive dynamics of neighbours, ii) the persistence of development in some circumscribed areas, and iii) the spatial unbalanced development.

Research paper thumbnail of La concepción de la racionalidad humana en las teorías de la organización

Retos: Revista de Ciencias de la Administración y Economía, 2013

The following is a discussion about assumed human behavior upon which organizational theory has b... more The following is a discussion about assumed human behavior upon which organizational theory has been built. The analysis allows to conclude that these assumptions not only have hardly evolved from a traditional stance about organizations, but they have rather become more rigid since,in addition to seeingit as a utilitarian and individual attitude of human behavior, which is considered a criminal act, leaves aside qualitiessuch as motivational factors, the creation of values, creativity, a sense of cooperation and solidarity, and the generation of trust among individual persons. These aspects should promote new research, or past research should be reviewed, so that new model proposals can arise with more realistic solutions to organizational conflict.

Research paper thumbnail of La estructura temporal de las tasas de interes como predictor de la actividad real caso ecuatoriano (1993-1999)

El modelo keynesiano, IS-LM, establece las combinaciones de tipos de interés y de niveles de prod... more El modelo keynesiano, IS-LM, establece las combinaciones de tipos de interés y de niveles de producción con los que tanto el mercado de bienes y el de dinero se encuentran en equilibrio, tratando a la tasa de interés como una variable endógena del producto. Las tasas de interés, a su vez, poseen una estructura de plazo, es decir se diferencian de acuerdo al período de maduración, existiendo así tasas cortas y largas, cuyas variaciones se grafican en la llamada curva de retorno. Volviendo al modelo IS-LM, una política fiscal o monetaria originará cambios en la demanda agregada y por ende en la producción al mismo tiempo que se registra un giro en la curva de retorno de las tasas de interés, estableciéndose una clara

Research paper thumbnail of Ejercicios de Política Económica

Universidad de Cuenca, 2019

A mis estudiantes, pasados, presentes y futuros.

Research paper thumbnail of Fundamentos Avanzados para la Política Económica

Universidad de Cuenca , 2018

Este libro nace para cubrir la necesidad de un material que facilite el debate desde las teorías ... more Este libro nace para cubrir la necesidad de un material que facilite el debate desde las teorías ortodoxas y heterodoxas, revisadas y actualizadas, huyendo de los dogmas y de las recetas fáciles. El eje del libro es el fundamento teórico con soporte matemático. El contrapunto es la inclusión de la política económica en Ecuador. Cada capítulo incluye varias teorías, adaptables a diferentes formas de entender la política. Se hace un especial esfuerzo en que las referencias aporten una visión crítica, actual, y que pongan en tela de juicio las recetas y los dogmas de fe de la economía. El objetivo es convertir el debate político en una prelación de objetivos económicos, donde las ideologías son manifestaciones de gustos y votos.

Research paper thumbnail of Remesas y Disparidades Económicas Territoriales. El Caso Ecuatoriano

Este trabajo plantea un marco analítico alternativo para evaluar la relación Remesas – Desarrollo... more Este trabajo plantea un marco analítico alternativo para evaluar la relación Remesas – Desarrollo Económico en localidades de alta incidencia migratoria. A diferencia de enfoques tradicionales, se fundamenta un esquema que permite evaluar la interdependencia entre las remesas y las disparidades económicas territoriales. Para ello se discuten diferentes teorías que explican los desequilibrios subnacionales, persistentes en la mayoría de países de América Latina. Con esta base se formulan dos hipótesis de investigación. Por un lado, que la heterogenidad de los sistemas productivos locales representa un factor determinante para la inversión productiva de las remesas; y, por otro, que las remesas, independientemente de su uso, reforzarían los desequilibrios subnacionales, ya que beneficiarían a aquellos territorios con tejidos empresariales organizados. La contrastación empírica se ejecuta en el contexto de la migración ecuatoriana. En un primer momento, mediante la aplicación de una encuesta, se analizan las empresas conformadas con remesas en las provincias de Azuay y Cañar, territorios de relevancia migratoria y caracterizados por un desempeño económico asimétrico y sistemas productivos dispares. Posteriormente, se estima un modelo econométrico no lineal de convergencia condicional con remesas entre los diferentes municipios (cantones) que conforman el Ecuador para el período 2007 – 2012. Con las respectivas salvedades, los hallazgos apoyan las dos hipótesis y sugieren no desestimar las interacciones económicas espaciales al momento de estudiar el impacto de las remesas.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparatively Examining the Migration Flows in Romania and Ecuador: Common Patterns and Differences.

Comparatively Examining the Migration Flows in Romania and Ecuador: Common Patterns and Differences.

Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017

This chapter aims to comparatively analize the common characteristics of and differences between ... more This chapter aims to comparatively analize the common characteristics of and differences between the migratory flows in two different countries (Romania and Ecuador) which belong to two different continents. This empirical exercise undertakes a descriptive approach focused on discussing the structure, dynamics and causes of migratory flows in these countries, after briefly describing the macroeconomic frameworks. The study reveals many similarities as well as differences in the migration processes in Ecuador and Romania, and concludes that the government-level solutions addressing the migration problem should be different and adapted to national peculiarities. In subsidiary the research suggests that each country could benefit from the experience of other countries affected by migration problems, and could also use solutions that have already been successfully applied by other countries.

Research paper thumbnail of Capturando el Ahorro de los Emigrantes. Un análisis comparativo Ecuador – México.

Capturando el Ahorro de los Emigrantes. Un análisis comparativo Ecuador – México.

Proyecto Migración Internacional y Desarrollo Local, Universidad de Cuenca, Universidad de Amberes, Consejo de Universidades Flamencas de Bélgica – VLIR., 2011

Research paper thumbnail of La pobreza multidimensional en el Ecuador. Un análisis espacial

Fundación Konrad Adenauer (KAS), 2018

En este documento se analiza el ámbito espacial de la pobreza multidimensional en el Ecuador. E... more En este documento se analiza el ámbito espacial de la pobreza multidimensional en el
Ecuador. El objetivo es determinar la existencia de una dependencia espacial mutua entre diferentes sectores geográficos del país y su variación a través del tiempo. La unidad geográfica de análisis es el cantón (municipio), para cada uno de los cuales se calculó el Índice de Pobreza Multidimensional (ipm) y la Tasa de Pobreza Multidimensional (tpm) empleando datos del Censo de Población y Vivienda para los años 1990, 2001 y 2010. Entre los principales resultados reportados se tiene que la autocorrelación espacial de los indicadores de pobreza para los tres años analizados es significativo y de naturaleza positiva, lo que implica que la pobreza a nivel cantonal está ligada con el comportamiento de este fenómeno en sus municipios vecinos, mostrando un mayor nivel de dependencia en el año 2010. Asimismo, es posible determinar la posible conformación de conglomerados de pobreza. Por otro lado, se evidencia una disminución de la pobreza a nivel nacional a lo largo de los períodos analizados. Esta disminución de la pobreza responde a factores como la ampliación de la cobertura de los servicios y mejoras en los logros educativos.

Research paper thumbnail of Migración desde América Latina. Remesas y divergencia económica con Estados Unidos

Universidad de Guadalajara, 2016

En Canales, A. I. (2016). Debates contemporáneos sobre migración internacional. Editorial Miguel ... more En Canales, A. I. (2016). Debates contemporáneos sobre migración internacional. Editorial Miguel Ángel Porrúa.

Research paper thumbnail of Disparidades económicas territoriales en Ecuador. ¿Convergencia o divergencia?.

Universidad de Cuenca, 2014

A partir de 2007 en el Ecuador se ejecuta un nuevo proyecto político – económico cuyo objetivo de... more A partir de 2007 en el Ecuador se ejecuta un nuevo proyecto político – económico cuyo objetivo de fondo es equilibrar las relaciones de poder, aun concentrado en pocas familias, empresas, ciudades y territorios. Pudiendo destacarse dos hechos concretos sin precedentes en el país. Por un lado, el ingente gasto en inversión social, educación e infraestructura a lo largo del territorio nacional, fruto de una favorable renegociación de la deuda externa y de contratos petroleros, y de un aumento en la recaudación fiscal; y, por otro, una nueva normatividad de ordenamiento territorial que propende ampliar las capacidades para el desarrollo local en las diferentes instancias sub-nacionales de gobierno: regiones, provincias, municipios y juntas parroquiales.
Diversos estudios dan cuenta de beneficios de este giro en la visión y política de desarrollo en el Ecuador, tanto en términos de crecimiento económico, así como en reducción de la pobreza y de la desigualdad en la distribución del ingreso. Sin embargo, no se ha analizado la cuestión de si las disparidades económicas entre territorios se han ampliado o reducido. De esta forma, el presente estudio cumple con dos objetivos: 1) diagnosticar el estado reciente de las disparidades económicas territoriales a nivel provincial en el Ecuador; y, 2) evaluar si estas disparidades siguen un proceso de divergencia o convergencia a lo largo del tiempo. Para el primer objetivo se realiza un análisis transversal con información de los últimos censos de población y económico efectuados en 2010; así como un ejercicio de tipificación de provincias en base a CEPAL (2009) y Silva (2005). Para evaluar la divergencia/convergencia provincial se contrasta la hipótesis de la convergencia absoluta (sigma y beta) con datos desde 1993, siguiendo a Barro y Sala i Martin (1991).
Aparte de esta introducción el capítulo contempla cuatro secciones. La sección dos ofrece un breve marco de referencia sobre el contexto reciente de las disparidades económicas territoriales en el Ecuador, problemática que es diagnosticada en la tercera sección. La cuarta sección resuelve la hipótesis de la convergencia absoluta a nivel provincial; y, la sección final concluye.

Research paper thumbnail of LA ESTRUCTURA TEMPORAL DE LAS TASAS DE INTERES COMO PREDICTOR DE LA ACTIVIDAD REAL CASO ECUATORIANO (1993-1999)

El modelo keynesiano, IS-LM, establece las combinaciones de tipos de interés y de niveles de prod... more El modelo keynesiano, IS-LM, establece las combinaciones de tipos de interés y de niveles de producción con los que tanto el mercado de bienes y el de dinero se encuentran en equilibrio, tratando a la tasa de interés como una variable endógena del producto. Las tasas de interés, a su vez, poseen una estructura de plazo, es decir se diferencian de acuerdo al período de maduración, existiendo así tasas cortas y largas, cuyas variaciones se grafican en la llamada curva de retorno. Volviendo al modelo IS-LM, una política fiscal o monetaria originará cambios en la demanda agregada y por ende en la producción al mismo tiempo que se registra un giro en la curva de retorno de las tasas de interés, estableciéndose una clara relación. Estudios realizados en países como Estados Unidos y Canadá investigan el contenido predictivo de la estructura de plazo de las tasas sobre el crecimiento de la producción futura, y encuentran una importante relación. Esta tesis estudia la aplicación del modelo para el Ecuador en el período comprendido entre 1993 y 1999, y se encuentra, en efecto, un contenido predictivo importante de la curva de retorno sobre la producción futura, relación que se ve incrementada con la inclusión de variables como el crecimiento del IPC, del M1 real y la tasa de interés real. Los hallazgos básicos se centran en la marcada presencia de inflación como término perturbante del modelo y el especial comportamiento del efecto liquidez en la economía.

Research paper thumbnail of El Tipo de Cambio Real de Equilibrio y la Dolarización. Evidencias para el caso ecuatoriano.

En los últimos años se ha discutido la relevancia de la política cambiaria en la eficiencia econó... more En los últimos años se ha discutido la relevancia de la política cambiaria en la eficiencia económica de las naciones. Se ha argumentado a favor y en contra de esquemas monetarios y cambiarios extremos que enfrenten los shocks de naturaleza externa, que afectan en mayor medida a las economías emergentes, y, por otro lado, impongan cierta disciplina fiscal.
Argumentos que han llevado a muchos países a optar por sistemas flexibles, y a unos pocos por sistemas fijos.
En medio de una aguda crisis económica, política y social, el Ecuador adopta el sistema rígido de dolarización total de su economía a inicios del año 2000. Desde entonces, al reducirse el grado de maniobra de la política cambiaria, toma importancia el análisis del tipo de cambio real (TCR) que experimenta una rápida apreciación a partir de 2000 con efectos no deseados en el sector externo.
Segovia (2003) otorga evidencia que hacia el año 2002 el TCR se encuentra sobrevaluado en un 13% de su valor de equilibrio. Incluso se llega a debatir sobre la posibilidad de optar por una política de defensa del TCR.
El TCR representa un precio relativo determinante del grado de competitividad externa y de la asignación de recursos entre sectores. Asumido el régimen de dolarización, la literatura prevé que los desajustes del TCR en torno a su nivel de equilibrio de largo plazo se torna más difícil de corregir dado que se abandona el tipo de cambio nominal como instrumento de corrección de tales desajustes, ocasionando desequilibrios macroeconómicos importantes.
Resulta, entonces, intelectualmente demandante analizar la implicancia de la dolarización en la dinámica de equilibrio del TCR en el caso ecuatoriano. Así, el objetivo central del presente trabajo es investigar el tipo de cambio real de equilibrio en el Ecuador considerando el cambio de régimen cambiario de dolarización adoptado hacia inicios del año 2000. La hipótesis central es que la adopción de la dolarización es relevante para la relación de equilibrio de largo plazo del TCR por lo que, siguiendo el método desarrollado por Gregory y Hansen (1996), se internaliza dicho cambio de régimen y se testea la cointegración existente. Con ésta evidencia se analiza la dinámica del tipo de cambio real de equilibrio en el Ecuador y cómo se afectó por el régimen de dolarización.
Aparte de ésta introducción, el trabajo incluye en el punto dos el modelo teórico desarrollado, que busca determinar qué variables fundamentales son relevantes para el TCR de equilibrio. El punto tres expone aspectos sobre la dolarización, sus beneficios y costos, a la vez que se incluyen los antecedentes económicos previos a la adopción de dicho sistema en el Ecuador. Concluye con las implicancias de la dolarización en el TCR de equilibrio. En el punto cuatro se expone la metodología empírica aplicada para: estimar la relación de largo plazo del TCR, determinar su trayectoria de equilibrio, medir el desalineamiento correspondiente, testear la existencia de una relación de equilibrio estable de largo plazo y si la dolarización representa un cambio de régimen para dicha relación, y, finalmente, explorar cómo afectó la dolarización a la dinámica del TCR de equilibrio. Los resultados y su respectivo análisis se incluyen en el punto cinco. El punto seis cierra el trabajo con un resumen y conclusiones.