Patent Protection, Technological Change and Wage Inequality

We develop a directed-technological-change model to address the issue of the optimal patent system and investigate how the optimal patent system influences the direction of technological change and the inequality of wage, where patents are categorized as skill- and labor-complementary. The major results are: (i) Finite patent breadth maximizes the social welfare level; (ii) Optimal patent breadth increases with the amount of skilled (unskilled) workers; (iii) Optimal patent protection is skill-biased, because an increase in the amount of skilled workers increases the dynamic benefits of the protection for skill-complementary patents via the economy of scale of skill-complementary technology; (iv) Skill-biased patent protection skews inventions towards skills, thus increasing wage inequality; And, (v) international trade leads to strong protection for skill-complementary patents, hence increasing skill premia.Patent Breadth, Skill-Biased Patent Protection, Skill-Biased Technological Change, Wage Inequality, Growth

A morphospace of functional configuration to assess configural breadth based on brain functional networks

The best approach to quantify human brain functional reconfigurations in response to varying cognitive demands remains an unresolved topic in network neuroscience. We propose that such functional reconfigurations may be categorized into three different types: i) Network Configural Breadth, ii) Task-to-Task transitional reconfiguration, and iii) Within-Task reconfiguration. In order to quantify these reconfigurations, we propose a mesoscopic framework focused on functional networks (FNs) or communities. To do so, we introduce a 2D network morphospace that relies on two novel mesoscopic metrics, Trapping Efficiency (TE) and Exit Entropy (EE), which capture topology and integration of information within and between a reference set of FNs. In this study, we use this framework to quantify the Network Configural Breadth across different tasks. We show that the metrics defining this morphospace can differentiate FNs, cognitive tasks and subjects. We also show that network configural breadth significantly predicts behavioral measures, such as episodic memory, verbal episodic memory, fluid intelligence and general intelligence. In essence, we put forth a framework to explore the cognitive space in a comprehensive manner, for each individual separately, and at different levels of granularity. This tool that can also quantify the FN reconfigurations that result from the brain switching between mental states.Comment: main article: 24 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. supporting information: 11 pages, 5 figure

Technology upgrading of middle income economies: A new approach and results

We explore issues of measurement for technology upgrading of the economies moving from middle to high-income status. In exploring this issue, we apply theoretically relevant and empirically grounded middle level conceptual and statistical framework based on three dimensions: (i) Intensity (ii) breadth of technological upgrading, and (iii) technology and knowledge exchange. As an outcome, we construct a three-pronged composite indicator of technology upgrading based on 35 indicators which reflect different drivers and patterns of technology upgrading of countries at different income levels. We show that technology upgrading of middle-income economies is distinctively different from that of low and high-income economies. Our results suggest the existence of middle-income trap in technology upgrading - i.e. countries' technology upgrading activities are not reflected in their income levels. Based on the simple statistical analysis we show that the middle-income trap is present in all three aspects of technology upgrading, but their importance varies across different aspects. A trap seems to be higher for 'breadth' of technology upgrading than for 'intensity' of technology upgrading and is by far the highest for the dimension of knowledge and technology interaction with the global economy. Finally, our research shows that technology upgrading is a multidimensional process and that it would be methodologically wrong to aim for an aggregate index

Another brick in the wall? Technology leaders, patents, and the threat of market entry

Technology leaders protecting a technological headstart with a patent are provided with a powerful legal measure to restrict market entry. We analyze the impact of knowledge spillover on the decision to patent and the effect of varying patent breadth on the threat of market entry. An empirical test of our theoretical results suggests that (i) a large technological lead is protected by a patent only in industries with high knowledge spillover, and that (ii) patent breadth can mitigate the market entry threat

Multinationality, R&D and productivity: evidence from the top R&D investors worldwide

This paper investigates the effects of multinationality on firm productivity, and contributes to the literature in two respects. First, we argue that multinationality affects productivity both directly and indirectly, through higher incentives to invest in R&D. Second, we maintain that the multinational depth and breadth have different direct effects on productivity and R&D. Using data from the top R&D investors in the world, we propose an econometric model with an R&D and a productivity equation that both depend on multinationality. We find: i) multinational depth has a positive effect on productivity, while the effect of multinational breadth is negative; ii) multinationality (along both dimensions) has a positive effect on R&D intensity, translating into an indirect positive effect on productivity; iii) the positive indirect effect is however not large enough to compensate the negative direct effect of multinational breadth

On some problems of condensation, quantum dynamics and the stability of nuclei

PART I: THE STATISTICAL MECHANICS OF CONDENSING SYSTEMS. by M. Born and K. FuchsPART II: ON FLUCTUATIONS IN ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION. by M. Born and K. Fuchs.PART III: ON THE INVARIANCE OF QUANTIZED FIELD EQUATIONS. by K. Fuchs.PART IV: ON THE STABILITY OF NUCLEI AGAINST /Y-EMISSION. by K. FuchsBy means of purely qualitative arguments which do not depend on any particular model the general scheme of stable nuclei and the isotopic breadth of nuclei with odd charge number has been explained,The breadth of the isobaric region can only be obtained if the numerical values of certain energies are known. Though these can be estimated only very roughly, the values for the breadth of the isobaric region obtained in this way-are in good agreement with the experimental values, The increase in the breadth of the isobaric region from light nuclei to heavier nuclei can be explained, but no plausible explanation has been found for the fact that for the heaviest nuclei it decreases again

Survey data on household finance and consumption - research summary and policy use

The first part of this paper provides a brief survey of the recent literature that employs survey data on household finance and consumption. Given the breadth of the topic, it focuses on issues that are particularly relevant for policy, namely i) wealth effects on consumption, ii) housing prices and household indebtedness, iii) retirement income, consumption and pension reforms, iv) access to credit and credit constraints, v) financial innovation, consumption smoothing and portfolio selection and vi) wealth inequality. The second part uses concrete examples to summarise how results from such surveys feed into policy-making within the central banks that already conduct such surveys. JEL Classification: C42, D12, D14.Household finance, consumption, survey data.

Applying GSH to a Wide Range of Experiments in Granular Media

Granular solid hydrodynamics (GSH) is a continuum-mechanical theory for granular media, the range of which is shown in this paper. Simple, frequently analytic solutions are related to classic observations at different shear rates, including: (i)~static stress distribution, clogging; (ii)~elasto-plastic motion: loading and unloading, approach to the critical state, angle of stability and repose; (iii)~rapid dense flow: the $\mu$-rheology, Bagnold scaling and the stress minimum; (iv)~elastic waves, compaction, wide and narrow shear band. Less conventional experiments have also been considered: shear jamming, creep flow, visco-elastic behavior and nonlocal fluidization. With all these phenomena ordered, related, explained and accounted for, though frequently qualitatively, we believe that GSH may be taken as a unifying framework, providing the appropriate macroscopic vocabulary and mindset that help one coming to terms with the breadth of granular physics.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1207.128

Ironing out the details: Untangling dietary iron and genetic background in diabetes

The search for genetic risk factors in type-II diabetes has been hindered by a failure to consider dietary variables. Dietary nutrients impact metabolic disease risk and severity and are essential to maintaining metabolic health. Genetic variation between individuals confers differences in metabolism, which directly impacts response to diet. Most studies attempting to identify genetic risk factors in disease fail to incorporate dietary components, and thus are ill-equipped to capture the breadth of the genome’s impact on metabolism. Understanding how genetic background interacts with nutrients holds the key to predicting and preventing metabolic diseases through the implementation of personalized nutrition. Dysregulation of iron homeostasis is associated with type-II diabetes, but the link between dietary iron and metabolic dysfunction is poorly defined. High iron burden in adipose tissue induces insulin resistance, but the mechanisms underlying adipose iron accumulation remain unknown. Hepcidin controls dietary iron absorption and distribution in metabolic tissues, but it is unknown whether genetic variation influencing hepcidin expression modifies susceptibility to dietary iron-induced insulin resistance. This review highlights discoveries concerning the axis of iron homeostasis and adipose function and suggests that genetic variation underlying dietary iron metabolism is an understudied component of metabolic disease

Conducting sexualities research: an outline of emergent issues and case studies from ten Wellcome-funded projects

This letter seeks to synthesise methodological challenges encountered in a cohort of Wellcome Trust-funded research projects focusing on sexualities and health. The ten Wellcome Trust projects span a diversity of gender and sexual orientations and identities, settings; institutional and non-institutional contexts, lifecourse stages, and explore a range of health-related interventions. As researchers, we originate from a breadth of disciplinary traditions, use a variety of research methods and data sources. Despite this breadth, four common themes are found across the projects: (i) inclusivity, representations and representativeness, (ii) lumping together of diverse groups, (iii) institutions and closed settings (iv) ethical and governance barriers