Welfare spending and ethnic heterogeneity: Evidence from a massive immigration wave

The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between ethnic heterogeneity and redistribution, by using the recent and massive arrival of immigrants in Spain. Specifically, we focus on the effect of changes in immigrant density, recorded between 1998 and 2006, on contemporaneous changes in municipal welfare spending. We instrument for immigrant density using established settlement patterns per country of origin so as to assign predicted flows of immigrants to municipalities. We find that welfare spending increased less in those municipalities that recorded the largest increases in immigrant density. We also provide evidence of a positive relationship between immigrant density and the vote share accruing to right-wing parties. Hence, our results are consistent with theories that predict a negative relationship between ethnic heterogeneity and redistribution.welfare spending, ethnic heterogeneity, redistribution, immigration

Searches for Squarks and Gluinos at CDF and D0 Detectors

This contribution reports on preliminary measurements on searches for squarks and gluinos at CDF and D\O detectors in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV. The analyses are performed using event topologies with multiple jets and large missing energy in the final state. The mSUGRA scenario and R-parity conservation is assumed. No excess with respect to the Standard Model predictions is observed and new limits on the gluino and squark masses are extracted.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings Particles and Nuclei International Conference (PANIC 05), Santa Fe, NM, October 24-28, 200

Financing public education when altruistic agents have retirement concerns

Human capital and, therefore, education have an impact on the societys future welfare. In this paper we study the connection between the voters support to public education and the retirement concerns. We show that voters anticipate the positive effect of education on future pensions. The support for a publicly financed education system increases, the more redistributive the pension system is, and this is true also amongst citizens preferring a private school. We also show that the ends against the middle equilibrium can occur even when the voters preferred tax rate is decreasing in income.olg, pension system, altruism, education, voting

Individual prediction of automobile bodily injury claims liabilities

Most motor bodily injury (BI) claims are settled by negotiation, with fewer than 5% of cases going to court. A well-defined negotiation strategy is thus very useful for insurance companies. In this paper we assume that the monetary compensation awarded in court is the upper amount to be offered by the insurer in the negotiation process. Using a real database, a log-linear model is implemented to estimate the maximal offer. Non-spherical disturbances are detected. Correlation occurs when various claims are settled in the same judicial verdict. Groupwise heteroscedasticity is due to the influence of the forensic valuation on the final compensation amount.multivariate statistics, negotiation process, generalized confidence intervals

Is the matching function Cobb-Douglas?

We study the theoretical properties that particular matching functions must satisfy to represent a frictional labor market within a general equilibrium random matching model. We analyze Cobb-Douglas, CES and other functional forms of the matching function. Our findings establish restrictions on the parameters of these matching functions to ensure that the equilibrium is interior. These restrictions provide both theoretical reasons to choose among several functional forms and model misspecification tests for empirical work.interior equilibrium, random matching, matching function, cobbdouglas

Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Aggression in a Young Man with Mental Retardation: Long-Term Treatment in a Community-Based Setting

A longitudinal, intensive treatment program is described that was implemented over an 8-year period in a community-based setting for a young man with mental retardation and oppositional defiant disorder with severe physical aggression. The development of this disorder and its systematic treatment are described, with new components added based on improvement in the individual’s behavior. The individual made steady progress and has maintained good behavioral stability for the final three years of the treatment program. This paper highlights the inherent difficulties of applying empirically validated treatment strategies in community-based settings

Transformation kernel density estimation of actuarial loss functions

A transformation kernel density estimator that is suitable for heavy-tailed distributions is discussed. Using a truncated Beta transformation, the choice of the bandwidth parameter becomes straightforward. An application to insurance data and the calculation of the value-at-risk are presented.non-parametric methods, heavy-tailed distributions, value at risk

Code of good research practices

Podeu consultar la versió en català a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/28542 i en castellà a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/28543As stated in its Statutes, one of the University of Barcelona's (UB) priority objectives is to carry out the highest level of research. This quality research should contribute to the following: progress in all knowledge areas, qualityof-life improvements, environmental preservation and improvement, the promotion of peace, the elimination of social and economic inequalities between individuals and peoples, and scientific and artistic progress in general. The equal opportunities of women and men are respected in all of these areas. The University does not participate in research projects that are incompatible with this objective. In particular, it does not take part in projects that could contribute to the arms race. The UB ensures that all of its research is of a high quality. To achieve this, it evaluates studies undertaken by individuals, research groups and any other forms of research collaboration (Article 100.6, University of Barcelona Statutes). The entities in the UB Group are responsible for ensuring that all of their research is undertaken in accordance with the current legislation and using good scientific practices