What is the appropriate level of aggregation for productivity indices?

Conradie, B, Piesse, J and Thirtle, C (2009), What is the appropriate level of aggregation for productivity indices? Comparing district, regional and national measures, Agrekon, Vol 48, No 1, March.   Abstract This paper examines the appropriate level of aggregation for the construction of total factor productivity (TFP) indices. The dataset covers the magisterial districts…

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Crossing boundaries: The role of universities in unlocking regional development

Atkinson, D (2011), “Crossing boundaries: The role of universities in unlocking regional development”, Inaugural lecture, University of the Free State.   This presentation is about making connections and crossing boundaries. When I read EM Forster’s books at the age of 19, his philosophy of Only Connect made an enormous impression on me. In 1924, EM…

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A Review of International Arid Areas Research Agencies

Atkinson, D (2009b), A Review of International Arid Areas Research Agencies: The Implications for investment in the Karoo, Kalahari and Namaqualand, Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Council (ECSECC), East London.   Executive Summary South African arid areas have not received much attention for the purposes of socioeconomic development. The broader issues of regional development in arid areas, small town…

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