On the significance in signal search through the sliding window algorithm

The experimental issue of the search for new particles of unknown mass poses the challenge of exploring a wide interval to look for the usual signatures represented by excess of events above the background. A side effect of such a broad range quest is that the traditional significance calculations valid for signals of known location are no more applicable when such an information is missing. In this note the specific signal search approach via observation windows sliding over the range of interest is considered; in the assumptions of known background and of fixed width of the exploring windows the statistical implications of such a search scheme are described, with special emphasis on the correct significance assessment for a claimed discovery.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, misprints corrected, an extended version will be published on NIM

Tax compliance, income distribution and social norms

This paper studies the effect of income inequality on tax evasion. To discuss the topic, we present a simple model, based on Benabou and Tirole [6], that incorporates incentives for tax compliance such as punishment and fines, intrinsic motivation and social norms. Since we consider a regressive system of incentives to comply, income inequality increases the value of tax evasion although overall propensity to comply is unaffected. In this framework, we consider the hypothesis that social norms are group specific as in the case of social segregation or status related networks. We show that all the negative effects of inequalities are amplified: the difference between the tax compliance of the income groups and the value of tax evasion increase

Preliminary Results of a Survey of Farm Animal Biodiversity Conservation Actions in Europe Under the Framework of Agenda 2000

In this paper we report on preliminary results of a research aimed to examine the content of farm animal biodiversity conservation actions currently under implementation in the European Union in the framework of EU Agenda 2000. In particular, we surveyed sixty-three Rural Development Plans (RDPs) set up in twelve countries in application of EEC regulations 1257/99 and 1750/99. Our analysis focused on endangered breeds of six major livestock species included in the RDPs. This analysis, which is based on the comparison with the indicator's status of the DAD-IS FAO database, allowed to identify priorities in conservation efforts in each country, and estimate the level of expected public expenditure needed to ensure the moving of breeds from at-risk (of extinction) status to not-at-risk status over the period 2000-2006.farm animal biodiversity, Agenda 2000, Rural Development Plans., Livestock Production/Industries, Q18, Q20,

ON THE ROLE OF WAGES IN THE UKRAINIAN TRANSITION PROCESS : AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

There are two intriguing questions about the transition process undertaken by the Ukraine since its declaration of sovereignty in December 1991. (i) Why had one of the more prosperous republics of the former USSR in terms of economic development and population welfare been suffering of both a persistent and high inflation during the four first years of its young existence ? (ii) How - in the early months of 1996 - could the Ukrainian efficiently put an end to the skyrocketing of prices ? The aim of this paper is to understand how such an outstanding reversal of situation could occur. Firstly, in support of a cointegration test, we assert that between January 1992 and November 1995, the Ukraine was faced with a complex monetary regime in which wage was the economic variable through which most of the inflationary pressures passed, directly or indirectly. Secondly, we explain that since the beginning of 1996, the existent monetary regime has been replaced by a new one in which inflation is contained but wages and pensions arrears increase quickly. Such a situation is not sustainable in the short and we outline possible remedies.Cointegration, monetary regime, inflation, Ukraine, wages

The Secret Science of Synchronicity Paper

Several metaphysical/philosophical concepts are developed as tools by which we may further understand the essence, structure, and events/symbols of “Complex” Synchronicity, and how these differ from “Chain of Events” Synchronicity. The first tool is the concept of Astronomical vs Cultural time. This tool is to be the basis of distinguishing Simple from Complex Synchronicity as Complex Synchronicities are chunks of time that have several coincidences in common with each other. We will also look at the nature of the perspective of the time being quantized. The next tool is a particular case study of two movies, The Matrix and Black Swan, that may be viewed as an example of a Complex Synchronicity in the collective conscious of popular culture (as opposed to Simple Synchronicity or a single coincidence). And the final tool is the concept of “Chain of Events” synchronicity as a separate concept from Simple or Complex synchronicities. This 3rd tool is developed using a mathematical metaphor of foreshadowing (an element of storytelling) in the seemingly random pattern of prime numbers. The purpose of this paper is to distinguish and develop these concepts and to lay a foundation for the further study of the concept of Synchronicity first illuminated by Carl Jung as an acausal connecting principle between coincidences

Lobbying for Education in a Two-sector Model

In a two-period model, firms specialized in two different sectors lobby to induce the government to subsidize the type of education complementary to their production. Lobbying is endogenous. We show that, if lobbying is not costly, both sectors will lobby in equilibrium and education policy will induce the same skill composition that would be chosen by the social planner. However, if lobbying is costly, only one sector finds it profitable to offer monetary contribution and direct resources towards the type of education required by its production. Which sector will engage in lobbying depends on relative size, productivity and price in the two sectors.

Plastic number and possible optimal solutions for an Euclidean 2-matching in one dimension

In this work we consider the problem of finding the minimum-weight loop cover of an undirected graph. This combinatorial optimization problem is called 2-matching and can be seen as a relaxation of the traveling salesman problem since one does not have the unique loop condition. We consider this problem both on the complete bipartite and complete graph embedded in a one dimensional interval, the weights being chosen as a convex function of the Euclidean distance between each couple of points. Randomness is introduced throwing independently and uniformly the points in space. We derive the average optimal cost in the limit of large number of points. We prove that the possible solutions are characterized by the presence of "shoelace" loops containing 2 or 3 points of each type in the complete bipartite case, and 3, 4 or 5 points in the complete one. This gives rise to an exponential number of possible solutions scaling as p^N , where p is the plastic constant. This is at variance to what happens in the previously studied one-dimensional models such as the matching and the traveling salesman problem, where for every instance of the disorder there is only one possible solution.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure

FISCAL-MONETARY POLICY COORDINATION AND DEBT MANAGEMENT: A TWO STAGE DYNAMIC ANALYSIS

This paper studies the interaction between two autonomous policymakers, the central bank and the government, in managing public debt as the result of a two-stage game. In the first stage the institutional regime is established. This determines the equilibrium solution to be applied in the second stage, in which a differential game is played between the two policymakers. It is shown that, if the policymakers can communicate before the game is played, (multiple-equilibrium) coordination problems can be solved by using the concept of correlated equilibrium. Unlike Nash equilibrium, which only allows for individualistic and independent behaviour, a correlated equilibrium allows formonetary and fiscal policies, differential games, correlated equilibrium.

Correlated disorder in myelinated axons orientational geometry and structure

While the ultrastructure of the myelin has been considered to be a quasi-crystalline stable system, nowadays its multiscale complex dynamics appears to play a key role for its functionality, degeneration and repair processes following neurological diseases and trauma. In this work, we have investigated the axons interactions associated to the nerve functionality, measuring the spatial distribution of the orientational fluctuations of axons in a Xenopus Laevis sciatic nerve. At this aim, we have used Scanning micro X-ray Diffraction (SmXRD), a non-invasive already applied to other heterogeneous systems presenting complex geometries from microscale to nanoscale. We have found that the orientational spatial fluctuations of fresh axons show a correlated disorder described by Levy flight distribution. Thus, we have studied how this correlated disorder evolves during the degeneration of the nerve. Our results show that the spatial distribution of axons orientational fluctuations in unfresh, aged nerve loose the correlated disorder assuming a randomly disordered behaviour. This work allows a deeper understanding of nerve states and paves the way to study other materials and biomaterials with the same technique to detect and to characterize their states and supramolecular structure, associated with dynamic structural changes at the nanoscale and mesoscale.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure