Does procedural fairness crowd out other-regarding concerns? A bidding experiment

Bidding rules that guarantee procedural fairness may induce more equilibrium bidding and moderate other-regarding concerns. In our experiment, we assume commonly known true values and only two bidders to implement a best-case scenario for other-regarding concerns. The two-by-two factorial design varies ownership of the single indivisible commodity (an outside seller versus collective ownership) and the price rule (first versus second price). Our results indicate more equilibrium behavior under the procedurally fair price rule, what, however, does not completely crowd out equality and efficiency seekinAuctions, Fair Division Games, Procedural fairness

Mechanisms of conflict and dispute resolution in Ancient Near Eastern Treaties

The paper focuses on the problems of a juridical classification and evaluation of Ancient Near Eastern treaties with regard to the question if there existed an Ancient Near Eastern International Law or not. Alternatively treaties and their content are looked at uncommitted as mechanisms of conflict and dispute resolution. Main aspects are preliminary and prophylactic conflict resolution in treaties and the procedural context and efficiency of treaties

The influence of problem features and individual differences on strategic performance in simple arithmetic

The present study examined the influence of features differing across problems (problem size and operation) and differing across individuals (daily arithmetic practice, the amount of calculator use, arithmetic skill, and gender) on simple-arithmetic performance. Regression analyses were used to investigate the role of these variables in both strategy selection and strategy efficiency. Results showed that more-skilled and highly practiced students used memory retrieval more often and executed their strategies more efficiently than less-skilled and less practiced students. Furthermore, calculator use was correlated with retrieval efficiency and procedural efficiency but not with strategy selection. Only very small associations with gender were observed, with boys retrieving slightly faster than girls. Implications of the present findings for views on models of mental arithmetic are discussed

The Relevance of Judicial Procedure for Economic Growth

It has been argued that procedural formalism undermines economic efficiency by fostering rent-seeking and corruption. We challenge this view by arguing that a number of judicial procedures foster economic growth by increasing the predict-ability of court decisions, which leads to more transactions and higher investment levels. We investigate the effects on economic growth of 15 judicial procedures. Employing a standard growth model, we find in a cross-section of 67 countries that timeliness, written—as opposed to oral—procedures, and the right to counsel have a positive effect on growth, whereas the number of independent procedural actions as well as the presumption of innocence have negative effects. Our results partially contradict the results of former studies based on the Lex Mundi dataset.Judicial procedure, legal formalism, judicial Independence, rule of law, investment, growth.

A Utility Proportional Fairness Radio Resource Block Allocation in Cellular Networks

This paper presents a radio resource block allocation optimization problem for cellular communications systems with users running delay-tolerant and real-time applications, generating elastic and inelastic traffic on the network and being modelled as logarithmic and sigmoidal utilities respectively. The optimization is cast under a utility proportional fairness framework aiming at maximizing the cellular systems utility whilst allocating users the resource blocks with an eye on application quality of service requirements and on the procedural temporal and computational efficiency. Ultimately, the sensitivity of the proposed modus operandi to the resource variations is investigated

Merton and the Hot Tub: Scientific Conventions and Expert Evidence in Australian Civil Procedure

Recently in Australia, common-law judges began to modify the way expert evidence is prepared and presented. Judges from a range of civil jurisdictions have conscientiously sought to reduce expert partisanship and the extent of expert disagreement in an attempt to enhance procedural efficiency and improve access to justice. One of these reforms, concurrent evidence, enables expert witnesses to participate in a joint session with considerable testimonial latitude. This represents a shift away from an adversarial approach and a conscientious attempt to foster scientific values and norms. Here, Edmond describes how changes to Australian civil procedure, motivated by judicial concerns about the prevalence of partisanship among expert witnesses, may have been enfeebled because they were based upon enduring scientific conventions such as the ethos of science

Posterior stabilized designs in modern total knee arthroplasty: Vestigial organs

Clinical difference between posterior-stabilized (PS) and cruciate-retaining (CR) designs in total knee arthroplasty has remained elusive for decades. This classic debate has been given pause due to futile efforts to prove one design superior over the other. Recently, anterior-lipped and more conforming CR bearings have emerged to substitute for the posterior-cruciate ligament (PCL), if absent, damaged or resected, and obviate the need for the archaic cam-post mechanism of a traditional PS design. Advantages of avoiding a PS TKA include eliminating the risk of box cut induced femoral condylar fracture, operative efficiency by removing procedural steps, removing the articulation that is a source of wear, post deformation, breakage, or dislocation, and eliminating patellar clunk