Welfare Effects of Uzbekistanís Foreign Exchange Regime

In addition to transferring about 16 percent of GDP from exporters to importers, Uzbekistanís quasi-fiscal multiple exchange rate regime generates identifiable welfare losses of 2-8 percent of GDP on import markets and up to 15 percent on export markets. These excess burdens have increased substantially with the growing difference among exchange rates. The welfare analysis allows some conclusions regarding the optimal reform strategy: (i) welfare losses will decline overproportionally as exchange rates unify, (ii) exchange rate unification should be supplemented by changing the explicit fiscal system; (iii) at a minimum, Uzbekistan would benefit from moving to an explicit fiscal regime. Copyright 2001, International Monetary Fund

The Theatre of the Absurd and Psychoanalysis: E. Albee’s The Zoo Story as a Study Case.

This article aims at showing the link between Psychology/ Psychoanalysis and The Theatre of the Absurd. An attempt is made to study the postmodern anti-hero in Edward Albee’s absurd tragedy in order to show the way new thoughts, beliefs, and morals are oppressed by the old certainties of the mainstream cultural discourse. The study puts emphasis on one major psychological aspect-for instance the transference process- coined by Julia Kristeva to demonstrate the psychical obstacles, traumas, fears, and desires of the self in his never completed identity stability. This transference process should move through a three-dimensional temporality to ensure a well-balanced identity of the self. The first time is called the linear time; the second is the zero time, and the third is the resurrection time. In order to conduct this issue, I have proposed to analyze Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story as a sample of the postmodern struggle for achieving identity stability. As a conclusion, I have reiterated that unlike any other theatre of any other previous age, The Theatre of the Absurd-with its complex language and its literary devices- is much closer to Psychoanalysis and much concerned with an individual’s inner struggle that seeks to secure a position of respect and dignity within the symbolic order of the world.     

“Humanism and Christianity”. Translated by Kees van Kooten Niekerk, Bjørn Rabjerg and Robert Stern

Translators’ notes: This is a translation of Knud E. Løgstrup, “Humanisme og kristendom,” originally published in Heretica 3 (1950): 456–474; reprinted in Kulturdebat 1944–58, ed. Erik Knudsen, Ole Wivel. Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 1958, 280–292. Pagination in square brackets is to the first edition. We are grateful to Hans Fink for his help with this translation. For a discussion of Løgstrup’s article, see Bjørn Rabjerg, Robert Stern, “On K. E. Løgstrup’s ‘Humanism and Christianity”’, this journal pp. 97–107

Influences of processing technique on electrical characteristics of TVS used in communication systems

An improved technique is proposed in fabricating a semiconductor surge protection device which is used in high-speed wideband information transmission systems. In order to increase the surge handling capability of the device, a double p-type diffusion is used. Specifically, in the diffusion step of gallium, SiO2 is used as a mask to obtain a very small base width and to avoid the reduction of carrier lifetime. It is found that this is a very useful way to reduce the on-state voltage drop and therefore the energy dissipation of the device.published_or_final_versio

Numerical study of a non-equilibrium interface model

We have carried out extensive computer simulations of one-dimensional models related to the low noise (solid-on-solid) non-equilibrium interface of a two dimensional anchored Toom model with unbiased and biased noise. For the unbiased case the computed fluctuations of the interface in this limit provide new numerical evidence for the logarithmic correction to the subnormal L^(1/2) variance which was predicted by the dynamic renormalization group calculations on the modified Edwards-Wilkinson equation. In the biased case the simulations are in close quantitative agreement with the predictions of the Collective Variable Approximation (CVA), which gives the same L^(2/3) behavior of the variance as the KPZ equation.Comment: 15 pages revtex, 4 Postscript Figure

Equation of State for Exclusion Statistics in a Harmonic Well

We consider the equations of state for systems of particles with exclusion statistics in a harmonic well. Paradygmatic examples are noninteracting particles obeying ideal fractional exclusion statistics placed in (i) a harmonic well on a line, and (ii) a harmonic well in the Lowest Landau Level (LLL) of an exterior magnetic field. We show their identity with (i) the Calogero model and (ii) anyons in the LLL of an exterior magnetic field and in a harmonic well.Comment: latex file, 11 page