Banning the purchase of prostitution increases rape: evidence from Sweden

In this paper I exploit IV techniques to study the effect of banning the purchase of prostitution on rape using Swedish regional data from 1997 to 2014. Recent economic literature reported evidence on the effect of decriminalizing prostitution on rape. Yet, little is known on the effect of criminalizing prostitution on rape. This paper exploits plausibly exogenous within and across regions variation in access to sex tourism to assess the impact of banning the purchase of prostitution on rape. I find that this regulation raises rape temporarily. In particular, this regulation increased reported rape by 47% between 1999 and 2014. Moreover, my findings show that this regulation also changes the composition of rapes committed: increasing completed and outdoor rapes, and reducing attempted rapes. This empirical evidence suggests that the increment in rapes is due to a shift of the demand of prostitution, while I find no evidence supporting that such an increment is supply driven

Stories from different worlds in the universe of complex systems: A journey through microstructural dynamics and emergent behaviours in the human heart and financial markets

A physical system is said to be complex if it exhibits unpredictable structures, patterns or regularities emerging from microstructural dynamics involving a large number of components. The study of complex systems, known as complexity science, is maturing into an independent and multidisciplinary area of research seeking to understand microscopic interactions and macroscopic emergence across a broad spectrum systems, such as the human brain and the economy, by combining specific modelling techniques, data analytics, statistics and computer simulations. In this dissertation we examine two different complex systems, the human heart and financial markets, and present various research projects addressing specific problems in these areas. Cardiac fibrillation is a diffuse pathology in which the periodic planar electrical conduction across the cardiac tissue is disrupted and replaced by fast and disorganised electrical waves. In spite of a century-long history of research, numerous debates and disputes on the mechanisms of cardiac fibrillation are still unresolved while the outcomes of clinical treatments remain far from satisfactory. In this dissertation we use cellular automata and mean-field models to qualitatively replicate the onset and maintenance of cardiac fibrillation from the interactions among neighboring cells and the underlying topology of the cardiac tissue. We use these models to study the transition from paroxysmal to persistent atrial fibrillation, the mechanisms through which the gap-junction enhancer drug Rotigaptide terminates cardiac fibrillation and how focal and circuital drivers of fibrillation may co-exist as projections of transmural electrical activities. Financial markets are hubs in which heterogeneous participants, such as humans and algorithms, adopt different strategic behaviors to exchange financial assets. In recent decades the widespread adoption of algorithmic trading, the electronification of financial transactions, the increased competition among trading venues and the use of sophisticated financial instruments drove the transformation of financial markets into a global and interconnected complex system. In this thesis we introduce agent-based and state-space models to describe specific microstructural dynamics in the stock and foreign exchange markets. We use these models to replicate the emergence of cross-currency correlations from the interactions between heterogeneous participants in the currency market and to disentangle the relationships between price fluctuations, market liquidity and demand/supply imbalances in the stock market.Open Acces

Banning the purchase of prostitution increases rape: evidence from Sweden

In this paper I exploit IV techniques to study the effect of banning the purchase of prostitution on rape using Swedish regional data from 1997 to 2014. Recent economic literature reported evidence on the effect of decriminalizing prostitution on rape. Yet, little is known on the effect of criminalizing prostitution on rape. This paper exploits plausibly exogenous within and across regions variation in access to sex tourism to assess the impact of banning the purchase of prostitution on rape. I find that this regulation raises rape temporarily. In particular, this regulation increased reported rape by 47% between 1999 and 2014. Moreover, my findings show that this regulation also changes the composition of rapes committed: increasing completed and outdoor rapes, and reducing attempted rapes. This empirical evidence suggests that the increment in rapes is due to a shift of the demand of prostitution, while I find no evidence supporting that such an increment is supply driven

ON THE ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF PROSTITUTION: MARRIAGE COMPENSATION AND UNILATERAL DIVORCE IN U.S. STATES

This paper studies the hypothesis that marriage opportunities are an economic determinant of female prostitution. I exploit differences in the timing of entry into force of unilateral divorce laws across U.S. states to explore the effect of such laws on female prostitution (proxied by arrests of female prostitutes). Using a difference-indifference estimation approach, I find that unilateral divorce reduces prostitution by 10%. My results suggest that unilateral divorce improves the option value of marriage by increasing wives’ welfare. As a result, the opportunity cost of becoming a female prostitute increases and the supply of prostitution declines

1D Modelling and Analysis of Thermal Conditioning Systems for Electric Vehicles

The limited driving range, due to the poor storage capability of electric batteries, represents one of the greatest challenges in the development of electric vehicles. This concern leads to an extremely demanding design of every component within the vehicle powertrain in order to achieve their maximum energy efficiency and decrease the demand on the battery. Additionally, in cold climate conditions, the efficiency of the heating system of an electric vehicle decreases and it can result in further reducing its driving range. In this thesis, 1D modelling in Amesim will be used to analyze different concepts of thermal management for an electric vehicle. Firstly, a 1D model of the original refrigeration system of the chosen vehicle (Fiat 500e) was built by implementing the data of each component. The components were individually modelled, then assembled within a system level model and the final model was validated. Secondly, starting with the validated system, a 1D model of a heat pump system was proposed as a replacement for the commonly used positive temperature coefficient heater (PTC). This model was obtained exploiting the information available on the refrigeration system and assuming all the unknown characteristics. An energy and exergy analysis was carried out to determine the individual components and overall system performance. Finally, the vehicle cabin was modelled exploiting a new Embedded CFD tool of Amesim capable of combining the advantages of 1D and 3D modelling, hence providing lower CPU resources and time consumption required to perform a simulation due to the lower effort to model the temperature distribution inside the cabin. This approach gives also the chance to study zonal heating and cooling of the cabin in order to reduce the energy demand on the battery. Numerous simulations were performed to analyze the impact of different settings and parameters validating each of them through comparison with experimental data

Bautechniken und Methoden zur Konstruktion von klimaneutralen Schulgebäuden in Italien

With respect to the past the schools today must satisfy the new needs mainly related to the society changes and the development of innovative teaching and pedagogical methods and at the same time, in the context of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 climate and energy framework, be designed as neutral carbon buildings with low primary energy needs. In Italy the last law deals with the environmental system of school buildings dates to 1975. The only integration proposed by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), dated 2013 outlines only a series of uniquely qualitative guidelines, without any reference to any building’s typological features. Furthermore, this national law of 1975th did not refer to any energy requirements because the first regulation about the buildings’ energy performance was approved in Italy in 1976. Moreover, the design support manuals appear outdated, especially because they are based on the current school regulation of 1975th. In addition, in Italy, the European legislation on energy saving has been implemented with the Ministerial Decree of 26th June 2015 and it points out that starting from the 1st January of 2019 all the public buildings must be nZEB. Therefore, for the design of a new school building specific and interdisciplinary references are currently absent that considers both the innovations introduced by new didactic and pedagogical methods and the principles of sustainability for environmentally friendly buildings, with almost low energy needs and zero emissions. Now the designer cannot refer to a guide, to updated typological models and to specific indications that can direct him towards proper and coherent design choices both in relation to the internal layout organisation and functional distribution of the school building and to energy and environmental strategies. The main aim of the research work is to define qualitative and quantitative guidelines that can help the designer during the preliminary phase of the design process to build carbon-neutral kindergartens and elementary schools in Italy.In Vergleich zur Vergangenheit müssen Schulen heute neuen Bedürfnisse befriedigen, die hauptsächlich mit den gesellschaftlichen Veränderungen und der Entwicklung innovativer Lehr- und pädagogischer Methoden zusammenhängen. Im Rahmen des Pariser Abkommens und des Klima- und Energierahmens 2030 müssen Schulen als Carbon-neutralen und mit geringem Primärenergiebedarf konzipiert werden. In Italien stammt das letzte Gesetz über das Umweltsystem von Schulgebäuden aus dem Jahr 1975. Die einzige vom Ministerium für Bildung, Universität und Forschung (MIUR) vorgeschlagene Integration vom Jahr 2013 enthält nur eine Reihe einzigartiger qualitativer Richtlinien, ohne Bezug auf jene typologische Merkmale der Gebäuden. Darüber hinaus bezog sich dieses nationale Gesetz von 1975 nicht auf den Energiebedarf, da in Italien die erste Regelung zur Energieeffizienz von Gebäuden erst in 1976 verabschiedet wurde. Außerdem erscheinen die Handbücher zur Entwurfsunterstützung veraltet, insbesondere weil sie auf Schulverordnung von 1075 basieren. In Italien wurde die europäische Gesetzgebung zur Energieeinsparung mit dem Ministerialdekret vom 26. Juni 2015 umgesetzt, und es wird darauf hingewiesen, dass erst ab dem 1. Januar 2019 alle öffentlichen Gebäude nZEB sein müssen. Daher fehlen für die Gestaltung eines neuen Schulgebäudes derzeit spezifische und interdisziplinäre Referenzen, diese sollten die durch neue didaktische und pädagogische Methoden eingeführten Innovationen als auch die Prinzipien der Nachhaltigkeit für umweltfreundliche Gebäude mit nahezu geringem Energiebedarf und null Emissionen berücksichtigen. Designer können sich gerade nicht mehr auf einen Leitfaden, auf aktualisierte typologische Modelle und auf spezifische Hinweise beziehen, die ihnen zu richtigen und kohärenten Entwurfsentscheidungen führen können, dieses gilt auch für die interne Layoutorganisation und die funktionale Verteilung des Schulgebäudes als auch für Energie- und Umweltstrategien. Das Hauptziel der Forschungsarbeit ist die Definition qualitativer und quantitativer Richtlinien, die dem Designer in der Vorphase des Entwurfsprozesses helfen können, klimaneutrale Kindergärten und Grundschulen in Italien zu bauen

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis of the Brainstem as a Clinical Entity.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare progressive neurological disorder of early adolescence caused by persistent infection of the measles virus, which remains prevalent worldwide despite an effective vaccine. SSPE is a devastating disease with a characteristic clinical course in subcortical white matter; however, atypical presentations of brainstem involvement may be seen in rare cases. This review summarizes reports to date on brainstem involvement in SSPE, including the clinical course of disease, neuroimaging presentations, and guidelines for treatment. A comprehensive literature search was performed for English-language publications with keywords "subacute sclerosing panencephalitis" and "brainstem" using the National Library of Medicine PubMed database (March 1981-September 2017). Eleven articles focusing on SSPE of the brainstem were included. Predominant brainstem involvement remains uncharacteristic of SSPE, which may lead to misdiagnosis and poor outcome. A number of case reports have demonstrated brainstem involvement associated with other intracranial lesions commonly presenting in later SSPE stages (III and IV). However, brainstem lesions can appear in all stages, independent of higher cortical structures. The varied clinical presentations complicate diagnosis from a neuroimaging perspective. SSPE of the brainstem is a rare but important clinical entity. It may present like canonical SSPE or with unique clinical features such as absence seizures and pronounced ataxia. While SSPE generally progresses to the brainstem, it can also begin with a primary focus of infection in the brainstem. Awareness of varied SSPE presentations can aid in early diagnosis as well as guide management and treatment

Republicanism’s Globalist Problem: How the Inevitability of International Engagement Undermines States’ Capacity for Self-Governance

This thesis examines the difficulties philosophical theories have in adapting to international issues. This work primarily focuses on the philosophical theory of government known as “Republicanism”. According to republicanism, the government’s overarching goal is to promote freedom, which republicans understand as the ability to pursue choices without being under the arbitrary power of others. After establishing its merits, I lay out the core principles of republicanism as are most clearly articulated in Phillip Pettit’s work, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and Government. The second chapter then examines how Pettit applies his own view to analyze the state of Republican freedom in Prime Minister Luis Zapatero’s Spain. Drawing from his treatment of the Catalonian secession movement, I argue that Pettit seems to overlook certain crucial international dynamics at play in his analysis. From here, the third chapter applies Pettit’s framework to analyze the status of the rule of law in Northern Kosovo, where high levels of distrust and the entrenchment of international actors pose unique problems for Pettit’s framework. Crucially, the case of Kosovo reveals that the establishment of freedom, in republican terms, sometimes requires the paternalistic involvement of an international, impartial actor. Despite its necessity, the sort of interference appears arbitrary and in tension with republicanism’s core principles. In my view, this tension leaves Republicanism ill-equipped to adapt to the novel types of dominating relationships that exist in international cases