53 research outputs found
Macroeconomic Causes of Unbalanced Productivity Growth in Open Economies
It is a well-known empirical fact that the goods producing (tradables) sector of industrialized economies tends to have a higher rate of labor productivity growth than the service (non-tradables) sector. The difference has been used to explain unbalanced sectoral growth patterns, structural inflation and other macroeconomic phenomena. This paper sets forth and tests the proposition that a significant part of the observed productivity growth difference is the result of a relative decline of the tradables sector, which in turn is caused by macroeconomic disturbances leading to a relative increase of the product wage in that sector. Explicit hypotheses on an endogenous determination of productivity growth differences are derived from a small macro model and tested on data from 1960 to 1975 for 14 OECD countries divided into two groups: large economies and small open economies. We find empirical support for the hypothesis of a structural explanation of the sectoral productivity growth difference in both large and small economies. For small open economies there is also a significant relationship between product wage disturbances and the relative decline of the tradables sector. The empirical analysis indicates that in these countries productivity growth is the same in both sectors in the absence of product wage disturbances
Abstract machines: overlaying virtual worlds on physical rides
Overlaying virtual worlds onto existing physical rides and altering the sensations of motion can deliver new experiences of thrill, but designing how motion is mapped between physical ride and virtual world is challenging. In this paper, we present the notion of an abstract machine, a new form of intermediate design knowledge that communicates motion mappings at the level of metaphor, mechanism and implementation. Following a performance-led, in-the-wild approach we report lessons from creating and touring VR Playground, a ride that overlays four distinct abstract machines and virtual worlds on a playground swing. We compare the artist's rationale with riders' reported experiences and analysis of their physical behaviours to reveal the distinct thrills of each abstract machine. Finally, we discuss how to make and use abstract machines in terms of heuristics for designing motion mappings, principles for virtual world design and communicating experiences to riders
Flowering of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is reduced by long photoperiods
Mature kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa âHaywardâ) vines grown under standard orchard management were exposed to 16-h photoperiods from the longest day in summer until after leaf fall in autumn. Photoperiod extension was achieved with tungsten halogen lamps that produced 2â8 ”mols mâ2 sâ1 photosynthetically active radiation. Long day treatments did not affect fruit dry matter or fruit weight at harvest during the growing season that the treatments were applied or during the following growing season. However, flowering was reduced by 22% during the spring following treatment application. As this reduction in flowering was not accompanied by a decrease in budbreak, the long day effect is not consistent with a delay in the onset of winter chilling. It is suggested therefore, that the observed reduction in flowering may be because of a diminution of floral evocation
Implementation of Pedestrian Meso Models in Portugal. VRU-TOO Deliverable 8.
DRIVE I Project "An Intelligent Traffic System for Vulnerable Road Users" created a computer model WLCAN1, which simulated the crossing behaviour of pedestrians on a length of urban street. Furthermore, a car-based assignment model SATURN was used to assess the effect on cars of pedestrian-friendly policies. The attitude towards this modelling work were very "Northern European" in four important senses: - The technical approach was based upon technology developed in Northern Europe for network models of cars, which are used widely throughout Northern Europe. - The behavioural sub-models used in WLCANl and SATURN were all taken from empirical results obtained in Northern Europe. - All data to feed and calibrate the models was collected at Northern European sites. - All the partners in the DRIVE I project were from Northern Europe, and so the model development automatically followed their way of thinking. The objectives of this deliverable are to assess the transferability of the modelling work of VULCANl (and subsequent updating in DRIVE 11) and SATURN to Portugal. These objectives cover both the transferability of empirically created behavioural sub-models as well as the usefulness of the technology to the practical end user
Families and mobile devices in museums: designing for integrated experiences
This paper presents an observational study of eight families engaging with a bespoke tablet experience produced for a space science centre. It documents the various ways in which family members orientate themselves to the usage of technology in this environment, with a particular focus on the work done to manage the tablet and facilitate the engagement of younger children with the narrative of the experience. These findings are considered in the broader context of the need to design experiences that cater for engagement by families as a whole. We conclude by motivating the need for technologies that are robust in light of regular disengagement and by family members, and which provide functionality to directly support facilitation work
Geomagnetically induced currents during the 07-08 September 2017 disturbed period: a global perspective
Measurements from six longitudinally separated magnetic observatories, all located close to the 53â° mid-latitude contour, are analysed. We focus on the large geomagnetic
16 disturbance that occurred during 7 and 8 September 2017. Combined with available geomagnetically induced current (GIC) data from two substations, each located near to a
18 magnetic observatory, we investigate the magnetospheric drivers of the largest events. We analyse solar wind parameters combined with auroral electrojet indices to investigate the driving mechanisms. Six magnetic field disturbance events were observed at mid-latitudes with dH/dt >60 nT/min. Co-located GIC measurements identified transformer currents >15 A during three of the events. The initial event was caused by a solar wind pressure pulse causing largest effects on the dayside, consistent with the rapid compression of the dayside geomagnetic field. Four of the events were caused by substorms. Variations in the Magnetic Local Time of the maximum effect of each substorm-driven event were apparent with magnetic midnight, morning-side, and dusk-side events all occurring. The six events
27 occurred over a period of almost 24 hours, during which the solar wind remained elevated at >700 km s
-1, indicating an extended time scale for potential GIC problems in electrical power networks following a sudden storm commencement. This work demonstrates the challenge of understanding the causes of ground-level magnetic field changes (and hence GIC magnitudes) for the global power industry. It also demonstrates the importance of
32 magnetic local time and differing inner magnetospheric processes when considering the global hazard posed by GIC to power grids
Cinema-going trajectories in the digital age
The activity of cinema-going constantly evolves and gradually integrates the use of digital data and platforms to become more engaging for the audiences. Combining methods from the fields of Human Computer Interaction and Film Studies, we conducted two workshops seeking to understand cinema audiencesâ digital practices and explore how the contemporary cinema-going experience is shaped in the digital age. Our findings suggest that going to the movies constitutes a trajectory during which cinemagoers interact with multiple digital platforms. At the same time, depending on their choices, they construct unique digital identities that represent a set of online behaviours and rituals that cinemagoers adopt before, while and after cinema-going. To inform the design of new, engaging cinemagoing experiences, this research establishes a preliminary map of contemporary cinema-going including digital data and platforms. We then discuss how audiences perceive the potential improvement of the experience and how that would lead to the construction of digital identities
Constructing investor rights? Why some states (fail to) terminate bilateral investment treaties
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