Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy

The thirteenth meeting in a long-standing series of “Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy” (TRVS) conferences was held May 19th to 25th at the Kardinal Döpfner Haus in Freising, Germany, organized by the two Munich Universities - Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität and Technische Universität München. This international conference continues the illustrious tradition of the original in 1982, which took place in Lake Placid, NY. The series of meetings was initiated by leading, world-renowned experts in the field of ultrafast laser spectroscopy, and is still guided by its founder, Prof. George Atkinson (University of Arizona and Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State). In its current format, the conference contributes to traditional areas of time resolved vibrational spectroscopies including infrared, Raman and related laser methods. It combines them with the most recent developments to gain new information for research and novel technical applications. The scientific program addressed basic science, applied research and advancing novel commercial applications. The thirteenth conference on Time Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy promoted science in the areas of physics, chemistry and biology with a strong focus on biochemistry and material science. Vibrational spectra are molecule- and bond-specific. Thus, time-resolved vibrational studies provide detailed structural and kinetic information about primary dynamical processes on the picometer length scale. From this perspective, the goal of achieving a complete understanding of complex chemical and physical processes on the molecular level is well pursued by the recent progress in experimental and theoretical vibrational studies. These proceedings collect research papers presented at the TRVS XIII in Freising, German

The Interest Rate-Exchange Rate Link in the Mexican Float

This paper examines empirically the interest rate-exchange rate link in the context of the Mexican experience with a floating exchange regime. The impulse response function derived from an ECM estimated by GMM reveals a lasting positive effect of a currency depreciation on the peso-dollar interest rate differential. Some of the macroeconomic consequences from this pattern are discussed, together with a possible explanation based on the incorporation of the central bank reaction function into private expectations.interest rate-exchange rate link, floating exchange rate regimes

Sector-Level Disaggregate Stochastic Trends in Mexico’s Real Output

Our aim is to examine whether sectorial production shocks have predominated in Mexico’s long annual real output, and whether shocks from different sectors are correlated. We study the long-run movement and comovements of 6 production sectors, using long, low frequency data for the Mexican economy from 1921 to 1993 and Johansen’s (1991, 1995) method to test for cointegration, that is, the possibility of common stochastic shocks driving growth among sectors. Under cointegration, the idiosyncratic sectorial shocks cancel out and vanish, giving rise to a (possibly multiple) stochastic growth component common to all (some) sectors. We show that the sources of permanent innovations in Mexico’s real output are more likely to come from sector-group-specific sources rather than from either independent sector-specific technological shocks, or common aggregate permanent innovations.Sectorial Production, Sequential Unit Root Testing, Cointegration, Common Trends

Inflation Performance and Constitutional Central Bank Independence. Evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper explores the relationship between the constitutional entrenchment of central bank independence and inflation performance. Empirical studies for developing countries have not found a relationship between central bank independence, proxied by the de jure independence established in the central bank law, and inflation. We argue that the Constitution is likely to be better enforced than ordinary statutes owing to its higher legal rank. Our empirical analysis finds that in a sample of Latin American and Caribbean countries, those countries that entrench the independence of the central bank in the Constitution have a better inflation performance.central bank independence, inflation, Latin American countries.

An Economic Model of Tax Compliance with Individual Morality and Group Conformity

Scholars in public finance traditionally have analyzed tax compliance using the Allighman-Sandmo model. I include in this model both moral and social payoffs for compliance. This approach can explain four pieces of evidence that have not been explained by the traditional model, namely i) high level of tax compliance; ii) honest responses when individuals pay their taxes, even in the presence of high incentives for tax evasion; iii) the level of evasion increases with the tax rate; and iv) individuals are more likely to evade when they realize that there is a large number of evaders in society.tax compliance, evasion, social norms, honesty, moral values, social interaction.

Note: Secured Creditors in Wage Earner Proceedings: Interpreting the Validity of Bankruptcy Rule 13-307(d)

On October 1, 1973 the Supreme Court promulgated rules prescribing the practice and procedure to be followed in cases and proceedings governed by Chapters I-VII and Chapter XIII of the Bankruptcy Act. The procedural changes are extensive, permeating every stage of straight bankruptcy and Chapter XIII Wage Earner proceedings. One of the more important rules is Bankruptcy Rule 13-307(d), which deals with claims of secured creditors in Wage Earner proceedings under Chapter XIII. Secured creditors have challenged the validity of Rule 13-307(d), claiming that the rule modifies the secured party\u27s substantive right to full recovery of the contract price. Thus, they allege that it is a substantive rule of law and outside the Supreme Court\u27s rulemaking power. Various courts have made conflicting decisions. The resolution of this issue will have significant impact on future creditor-purchaser relations and on the future of Chapter XIII Wage Earner proceedings as a viable alternative to straight bankruptcy

PERBEDAAN MINAT BERWIRAUSAHA SISWA OTOMOTIF KELAS XIII SEBELUM DAN SETELAH PRAKTIK INDUSTRI SMK NEGERI 2 DEPOK SLEMAN YOGYAKARTA TAHUN 2011

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui: 1) Mendeskripsikan varibel minat berwirausaha siswa sebelum dan setelah Praktik Industri. 2) Mendeskripsikan variabel dari pelaksanaan Praktik Industri. 3) Perbedaan minat berwirausaha dibidang otomotif pada siswa kelas XIII Program Keahlian Teknik Perbaikan Bodi Otomotif SMK N 2 Depok Sleman Yogyakarta sebelum melaksanakan dan setelah melaksanakan Praktik Industri. Penelitian ini termasuk dalam jenis penelitian ex-postfacto atau lebih tepatnya adalah penelitian comparative research dengan bentuk penelitian komparasi. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas XIII Program Keahlian Teknik Perbaikan Bodi Otomotif SMK N 2 Depok Sleman Yogyakarta. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan angket dengan Skala Likert. Validitas instrumen diuji menggunakan Product Moment dan reliabilitas instrumen menggunakan Alpha Cronbach dengan bantuan komputer program microsoft office excel 2007. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah statistik deskriptif dan komparatif t-test dengan taraf kesalahan yang ditentukan sebesar 5%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa, 1) Minat berwirausaha di bidang otomotif pada siswa kelas XIII Program Keahlian Teknik Perbaikan Bodi Otomotif SMK N 2 Depok Sleman Yogyakarta Tahun 2011 sebelum melaksanakan Praktik Industri menunjukkan dalam kategori tinggi dengan rerata 103,16. 2) Minat berwirausaha di bidang otomotif pada siswa kelas XIII Program Keahlian Teknik Perbaikan Bodi Otomotif SMK N 2 Depok Sleman Yogyakarta Tahun 2011 setelah melaksanakan Praktik Industri menunjukkan dalam kategori tinggi dengan rerata 115,38 3) Pelaksanaan Praktik Industri siswa otomotif kelas XIII Program Keahlian Teknik Perbaikan Bodi Otomotif dalam kategori tinggi dengan rerata 101,22 4) Terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan antara minat berwirausaha siswa kelas XIII Program Keahlian Teknik Perbaikan Bodi Otomotif SMK N 2 Depok Sleman Yogyakarta sebelum dan setelah melaksanakan Praktik Industri. Perhitungan ditunjukkan dengan nilai t-test hitung 3,463 > 1,660 tabel. Hal tersebut menunjukan adanya perbedaan minat berwirausaha siswa di bidang otomotif sebelum dan setelah Praktik Industri