42,830 research outputs found
Uniform and Partially Uniform Redistribution Rules
This short paper introduces two new fusion rules for combining quantitative
basic belief assignments. These rules although very simple have not been
proposed in literature so far and could serve as useful alternatives because of
their low computation cost with respect to the recent advanced Proportional
Conflict Redistribution rules developed in the DSmT framework.Comment: 4 pages; "Advances and Applications of DSmT for Plausible and
Paradoxical reasoning for Information Fusion", International Workshop
organized by the Bulgarian IST Centre of Competence in 21st Century, December
14, 2006, Bulg. Acad. of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgari
Effects of channel cross-sectional geometry on long wave generation and propagation
Joint theoretical and experimental studies are carried out to investigate the effects of channel cross-sectional geometry on long wave generation and propagation in uniform shallow water channels. The existing channel Boussinesq and channel KdV equations are extended in the present study to include the effects of channel sidewall slope at the waterline in the first-order section-mean equations. Our theoretical results show that both the channel cross-sectional geometry below the unperturbed water surface (characterized by a shape factor kappa) and the channel sidewall slope at the waterline (represented by a slope factor gamma) affect the wavelength (lambda) and time period (Ts) of waves generated under resonant external forcing. A quantitative relationship between lambda, Ts, kappa, and gamma is given by our theory which predicts that, under the condition of equal mean water depth and equal mean wave amplitude, lambda and Ts increase with increasing kappa and gamma. To verify the theoretical results, experiments are conducted in two channels of different geometries, namely a rectangular channel with kappa[equivalent]1, gamma=0 and a trapezoidal channel with kappa=1.27, gamma=0.16, to measure the wavelength of free traveling solitary waves and the time period of wave generation by a towed vertical hydrofoil moving with critical speed. The experimental results are found to be in broad agreement with the theoretical predictions
Social Security Incentives and Human Capital Investment
While the effect of social security systems on retirement decisions has received much attention, the impact of these systems on individualsâ incentives to invest in their human capital has not been analyzed. We integrate human capital investment and retirement decisions in a simple analytical life-cycle model with full certainty and investigate how different social security schemes may a€ect welfare, human capital investment and labor supply. We analyze and compare three different social security systems. Our results suggest that actuarial adjustment and the link between individual social security contributions and benefits increase human capital investment and postpone retirement.Social security, retirement, education, human capital, labor supply
Toward Eclipse Mapping of Hot Jupiters
Recent Spitzer infrared measurements of hot Jupiter eclipses suggest that
eclipse mapping techniques could be used to spatially resolve the day-side
photospheric emission of these planets using partial occultations. As a first
step in this direction, we simulate ingress/egress lightcurves for the three
brightest known eclipsing hot Jupiters and evaluate the degree to which
parameterized photospheric emission models can be distinguished from each other
with repeated, noisy eclipse measurements. We find that the photometric
accuracy of Spitzer is insufficient to use this tool effectively. On the other
hand, the level of photospheric details that could be probed with a few JWST
eclipse measurements could greatly inform hot Jupiter atmospheric modeling
efforts. A JWST program focused on non-parametric eclipse map inversions for
hot Jupiters should be actively considered.Comment: 32 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Ap
Out-of-Pocket Maximum Rules under a Compulsatory Health Care Insurance Scheme: A Choice between Equality and Equity
Using the microsimulation model ARAMMIS, this study attempts to measure the impacts of introducing an out-of-pocket (OOP) maximum threshold, or a safety net threshold, on consumer copayments for health care financed by the abolition of the Long-term Illness Regime (ALD) in France. The analysis is based on a comparison of different safety net threshold rules and their redistributive effects on patientsâ OOP payments. We attach particular importance to indicators that bring to light changes in OOP payment levels and measure their impact on the equity of OOP distribution. The first section outlines the French National Health System to provide a better understanding of the stakes involved in reforming the health care reimbursement rules under the Compulsory Health Care Insurance scheme. In the second section, we describe the hypotheses retained, the database and the microsimulation model. The final section presents key findings, measuring the impact of the reform at both individual and system levels.Microsimulation, Health expenditure, Out-of-pocket payment.
A Case for Partial Funding of Pensions with an Application to the EU Candidate Countries
The paper examines the effects of ageing and makes a case for partial pre-funding of pensions. The argument is based on inter-generational fairness in a situation where pension expenditure as compared to wages increases due to low fertility and increasing longevity. We illustrate the approach by using data representing a typical EU Candidate Country of Central and Eastern Europe with a relatively high pension replacement rate. Pre-funding can take place within the public sector or in a privatised second pillar. We emphasise the need for a consistent framework to cover the many different institutional options available for pension financing.Pension system reform, partial pre-funding, ageing
Parallel imports, innovations and national welfare: The role of the sizes of the income classes and national markets for health care.
This paper shows that regardless of any intra-country income differences, parallel imports result in a lower level of health-care innovation but, contrary to popular as well as conventional theoretical wisdom, a lower price in the Third World compared to market-based discrimination. Despite such a lower price, however, parallel imports unambiguously make all buyers in the Third World worse off when intra-country income disparity exists. On the other hand, even discarding the MNC's profit, there will be cases in which the richer country prefers price discrimination as well. That is, in those cases, no countries will have any incentive under the welfare criterion to undo price discrimination, contrary to Richardso
A case for partial funding of pensions with an application to the EU Candidate Countries.
The paper examines the effects of ageing and makes a case for partial pre-funding of pensions. The argument is based on inter-generational fairness in a situation where pension expenditure as compared to wages increases due to low fertility and increasing longevity. We illustrate the approach by using data representing a typical EU Candidate Country of Central and Eastern Europe with a relatively high pension replacement rate. Pre-funding can take place within the public sector or in a privatised second pillar. We emphasise the need for a consistent framework to cover the many different institutional options available for pension financing.pension systems, demographics, reform
- âŠ