Anomalous Dynamic Arrest in a Mixture of Big and Small Particles

We present molecular dynamics simulations on the slow dynamics of a mixture of big and small soft-spheres with a large size disparity. Dynamics are investigated in a broad range of temperature and mixture composition. As a consequence of large size disparity, big and small particles exhibit very different relaxation times. As previously reported for simple models of short-ranged attractive colloids and polymer blends, several anomalous dynamic features are observed: i) sublinear behavior for mean squared displacements, ii) concave-to-convex crossover for density-density correlators, by varying temperature or wavevector, iii) logarithmic decay for specific wavevectors of density-density correlators. These anomalous features are observed over time intervals extending up to four decades, and strongly resemble predictions of the Mode Coupling Theory (MCT) for state points close to higher-order MCT transitions, which originate from the competition between different mechanisms for dynamic arrest. For the big particles we suggest competition between soft-sphere repulsion and depletion effects induced by neighboring small particles. For the small particles we suggest competition between bulk-like dynamics and confinement, respectively induced by neighboring small particles and by the slow matrix of big particles. By increasing the size disparity, a new relaxation scenario arises for the small particles. Self-correlators decay to zero at temperatures where density-density correlations are frozen. The behavior of the latters resembles features characteristic of type-A MCT transitions, defined by a zero value of the critical non-ergodicity parameter.Comment: Version 2. Added major new result

What a Difference Kyoto Made: Evidence from Instrumental Variables Estimation

The Kyoto Protocol’s success or failure should be evaluated against the unobserved counterfactual of no treatment. This requires instrumental variables. We find that countries’ membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) predicts Kyoto ratification in a panel model. Both multilateral policy initiatives triggered concerns about national sovereignty in many countries. We argue that ICC membership can be excluded from second-stage regressions explaining emissions and other outcomes. This is supported by first-stage diagnostics. Our results suggest that Kyoto had measurable beneficial effects on the average Kyoto country’s energy mix, fuel prices, energy use and emissions, but may have speeded up deindustrialization.CO 2 emissions, energy, evaluation model, instrumental variables, Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto and the Carbon Footprint of Nations

A country’s carbon footprint refers to the CO 2 emissions caused by domestic absorptionactivities. Trade in goods drives a wedge between the footprint and local emissions. Weprovide a panel database on carbon footprints and carbon net trade. Using a differencesin-differences IV estimation strategy, we evaluate the Kyoto Protocol’s effects on carbonfootprints and emissions. Instrumenting countries’ Kyoto commitment by their participationin the International Criminal Court, we show that Kyoto reduced domestic emissionsin committed countries by 7%, has not lowered footprints, but increased the share ofimported over domestic emissions by 17 percentage points. This indicates carbon leakage.Carbon content of trade, carbon footprint, carbon leakage, evaluation model, instrumental variables

Kyoto and the carbon content of trade

A unilateral tax on CO2 emissions may drive up indirect carbon imports from non-committed countries, leading to carbon leakage. Using a gravity model of carbon trade, we analyze the effect of the Kyoto Protocol on the carbon content of bilateral trade. We construct a novel data set of CO2 emissions embodied in bilateral trade flows. Its panel structure allows dealing with endogenous selection of countries into the Protocol. We find strong statistical evidence for Kyoto commitments to affect carbon trade. On average, the Kyoto protocol led to substantial carbon leakage but its total effect on carbon trade was only minor. --Carbon leakage,gravity model,international trade,climate change,embodied emission,input-output analysis

Estimating the effects of Kyoto on bilateraltrade flows using matching econometrics

Many Kyoto countries fear a loss of competitiveness due to unilateral climate policyefforts; policymakers therefore call for carbon-related border tax adjustments. With thispaper we attempt to estimate the treatment effect of Kyoto commitment on bilateralexport flows using regression-adjusted differences-in-differences matching techniques.The gravity and international environmental agreement formation literatures provideguidelines for the choice of matching variables. We find that Kyoto countries' exportsare reduced by 13–14% due to Kyoto commitment. Trade effects are largest in energyintensive,homogeneous industries such as iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, organicand inorganic chemicals but also in machinery and equipment.Competitiveness, Kyoto Protocol, matching econometrics, treatment effects

Forward Trading and Collusion of Firms in Volatile Markets

Commodity markets are characterized by large volumes of forward contracts as well as high volatility. They are often accused of weak competitive pressure. This article extends the existing literature by analyzing tacit collusion of firms, forward trading and volatility simultaneously. The expected collusive profit may depart from the monopoly outcome in a volatile market (Rotemberg and Saloner, 1986). Introducing forward trading enables firms to gain the expected monopoly profit for a broader range of parameters. In contrast to a deterministic market (Liski an Montero, 2006), trading forward in a volatile market may lead to an expected collusive profit below the monopoly one

Single-photon generation and simultaneous observation of wave and particle properties

We describe an experiment that generates single photons on demand and measures properties accounted to both particle- and wave-like features of light. The measurement is performed by exploiting data that are sampled simultaneously in a single experimental run.Comment: The following article has been submitted to Proceedings of "Foundations of probability and physics-3", Vaxjo, Sweden 2004. After it is published, it will be found at http://proceedings.aip.org/ . 1 Reference was added in version