The Moral Trial: Economists and the Socratic Problem

Most people believe economists are more selfish than noneconomists. The reasons for such belief and for the related moral condemnation of economists remain confused. Both charges and evidence are insufficient to support substantial judgements. Further elaboration would be welcome before drawing implications from the current charge (i.e. economists are more selfish than noneconomists), further investigations into the causes of this phenomenon (self- selection or training) are required for blaming economists and suggesting corrections, and further evidence needs be gathered to sustain the charges. Alternative explanations (beyond selfselection and training) are also suggested, which might lead to different implications, charges, and corrections.Economics, Experiments, Moral Trial, Self-Interest, Socratic Problem

A note on the Trolley Problem and Three Weaknesses of Economic Theory

The trolley problem is a moral dilemmas in which human lives are in danger and some, but not all, can be saved by direct intervention of a decision-maker. This article discusses three weaknesses of microeconomics with respect to individual conduct in the trolley problem: (i) it cannot make predictions; (ii) after observing the conduct of participants in an experiment, it cannot explain their decisions; (iii) it cannot suggest policies that ensure the maximization of aggregate welfare, nor can it suggest laws that endorse the prevailing observed conduct.experiment, moral dilemma, trolley problem,

The Economic Ethics of Ezra Pound

The poet Ezra Pound (1885 – 1972) was a moralist who regarded economics as key to understanding human society, and thereby to solve most social problems. He became a prolific writer of economic texts, in which he espoused the ideas of two heretic economists: Major Clifford Douglas’ social credit and national dividend, and Silvio Gesell’s perishable currency. Pound’s economic thought has long been neglected, but in times of financial crisis his crusade against bankers and his utopian visions might make a timely come back. It is therefore unfortunate that, of Pound’s economic lessons, the morally most compelling are also those less economically sound.Basic Income; Ezra Pound; Major C. Douglas; Silvio Gesell; Social Credit; Stamp Scrip; Usury.

Discriminant loci of ample and spanned line bundles

Let $(X,L,V)$ be a triplet where $X$ is an irreducible smooth complex projective variety, $L$ is an ample and spanned line bundle on $X$ and $V\subseteq H^0(X,L)$ spans $L$. The discriminant locus \Cal D(X,V) \subset |V| is the algebraic subset of singular elements of $|V|$. We study the components of \Cal D(X,V) in connection with the jumping sets of $(X,V)$, generalizing the classical biduality theorem. We also deal with the degree of the discriminant (codegree of $(X,L,V)$) giving some bounds on it and classifying curves and surfaces of codegree 2 and 3. We exclude the possibility for the codegree to be 1. Significant examples are provided

Clave de taxones superiores de gorgojos sudamericanos basada en caracteres de los adultos (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea)

Los gorgojos (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) de América del Sur se clasifican actualmente en las siguientes familias y subfamilias: Nemonychidae (Rhinorhynchinae), Anthribidae (Anthribinae), Belidae (Belinae y Oxycoryninae), Attelabidae (Attelabinae y Rhynchitinae), Brentidae (Apioninae y Brentinae), Caridae (Carinae) y Curculionidae (Erirhininae, Dryophthorinae, Entiminae, Aterpinae, Gonipterinae, Rhythirrininae, Thecesterninae, Eugnominae, Hyperinae, Curculioninae, Cryptorhynchinae, Mesoptiliinae (= Magdalidinae), Molytinae, Baridinae, Lixinae, Conoderinae (= Zygopinae), Cossoninae, Scolytinae y Platypodinae). En la presente contribución se brinda una clave dicotómica para la identificación de las siete familias y 28 subfamilias de Curculionoidea sudamericanos, y para varias (21) tribus de Curculioninae y Molytinae. Estas tribus son Curculionini, Anthonomini, Ceutorhynchini, Derelomini, Otidocephalini, Erodiscini, Camarotini, Piazorhinini, Prionobrachiini, Smicronychini, Rhamphini y Tychiini, dentro de Curculioninae, e Hylobiini, Pissodini, Conotrachelini, Cleogonini, Sternechini, Pacholenini, Cholini, Petalochilini y Amalactini, dentro de Molytinae. La mayoría de estas tribus han sido clasificadas como subfamilias en los esquemas tradicionales. La clave se basa principalmente en caracteres morfológicos externos, e incluye además datos de la genitalia, piezas bucales, y rasgos biológicos de las especies. El trabajo provee definiciones e ilustraciones de los caracteres diagnósticos utilizados en la clave.The weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from South America are currently classified in the following families and subfamilies: Nemonychidae (Rhinorhynchinae), Anthribidae (Anthribinae), Belidae (Belinae and Oxycoryninae), Attelabidae (Attelabinae and Rhynchitinae), Brentidae (Apioninae and Brentinae), Caridae (Carinae) and Curculionidae (Erirhininae, Dryophthorinae, Entiminae, Aterpinae, Gonipterinae, Rhythirrininae, Thecesterninae, Eugnominae, Hyperinae, Curculioninae, Cryptorhynchinae, Mesoptiliinae (=Magdalidinae), Molytinae, Baridinae, Lixinae, Conoderinae (=Zygopinae), Cossoninae, Scolytinae and Platypodinae). In the present contribution we bring a dichotomous key for the identification of seven families and 28 subfamilies of Curculionoidea from South America, and for 21 tribes of the highly heterogeneous subfamilies Curculioninae and Molytinae. These tribes are Anthonomini, Ceutorhynchini, Derelomini, Otidocephalini, Erodiscini, Camarotini, Piazorhinini, Prionobrachiini, Smicronychini, Rhamphini and Tychiini, within Curculioninae; and Hylobiini, Pissodini, Conotrachelini, Cleogonini, Sternechini, Pacholenini, Cholini, Petalochilini and Amalactini, within Molytinae. Most of them have been classified as subfamilies in traditional schemes. The key is mainly based on external morphological characters, and also includes some biological features. Definitions and illustrations of diagnostic characters used in the key are provided. Key words: Curculionoidea, South America, dichotomous key.Fil: Marvaldi, Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Lanteri, Analía Alicia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin