Regional Science Inquiry

Yuheng LI

Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,
Chinese Academy of Sciences
11A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China;
liyuheng@igsnrr.ac.cn

Hans WESTLUND

Department of Urban Planning and Environment,
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract:

This paper investigates the relationship between overall inequality in China and the contributions of physical capital, human capital and social capital. The investment in physical capital tends to enlarge overall inequality while human capital helps to reduce the inequality. Human capital appears to be more influential than physical capital in overall inequality reduction in the research period. Social capital (people’s social networks) however, does not seem to exert any impact on overall inequality in the post-reform era. Possible policy implications of these results are that measures should be taken to pursue more even distributed investment of physical capital and to increase people’s education in order to reduce overall inequality in China.

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Ioannis Th. MAZIS

School of Economics and Political Sciences,
National & Kapodistrian University of Athens,
Chair of the Dpt of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, Hellas
mazis@her.forthnet.gr
www.geo-mazis.gr

Michalis SARLIS

School of Economics and Political Sciences,
Dpt of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies,
National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellas
michail1899@yahoo.gr

Abstract

This paper presents a systemic analysis of the Iran-Syria-Lebanon geopolitical sub-system within the frame of the Wider Middle East geo-complex and in light of the geopolitical factor of the Shiite Islamist movement. We consider that the Shiite Islamist movement, which is represented by Hezbollah in Lebanon and by proxy Shiite organizations in Iraq (Kataeb Hezbollah and Asa’ib Ahl al Haq), has been transformed, under Tehran’s management and direction, into an important power redistribution factor in the region. Turkey’s foreign policy is evaluated as unsuccessful and dangerous for the security of the state of Israel and the stability of the Middle Eastern geopolitical system, particularly in relation to Ankara’s support of radical Islamist groups operating inside Syria. Ankara’s policy is also considered as a trigger mechanism for the acceleration of secessionist and state-formation ambitions, such as in the case of the gradual autonomy of an ethnically Kurdish zone in the northeastern Syrian territory. In addition, the US – Russian initiative for the destruction of the chemical arsenal of the Assad regime is evaluated as beneficial for the regional stability. Equally, we evaluate the US – Iranian negotiation process as a strategically agile diplomatic maneuver from Washington’s part.

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Iris SHAHINI

Economic University of Tirana, Accounting Department
irisshahini @gmail.com

Orfea DHUCI

Economic University of Tirana, Accounting Department
odhuci@alpha.gr

Abstract :

The current economic crisis has highlighted that a well-functioning financial system is significantly important for economic growth. This study investigated factors affecting housing finance supply in Albania.

Housing Finance is a major factor determining the quality and tenure of housing consumption, the overall financial portfolio of the public and the stability and effectiveness of the financial system (Diamond and Lea 1992a). Struyk and Turner (1986) and Stephens (2000 & 2002) argued that housing finance plays an important role in shaping each country’s wider housing system and the housing system takes important social and economic consequences. Then, it follows that the development of a viable housing finance system is of utmost importance in the developed economies.

For a typical house-owner, the house is a major asset in his portfolio and for many household, the purchase of a house represents the largest (and often only) life long investment and a store of wealth (Goodman 1989; Sheppard 1999; Malpezzi 1999; Bundick and Sellon Jr 2007; Dickerson 2009). In societies like Albania, where social housing is not on the priority list of government, the housing affordability would have to be looked at from the point of view of individual’s ability to raise money needed to meet the cost or price of their housing needs. The first source of funding for individual is their income. This is often the cheapest source because there is no payment of extra cost in form of interest. The problem that arises in case of individuals in the emerging economies is that income levels are generally low. The low income means low disposal income which prohibits the individuals to qualify for housing loans.

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