Spanning forests on the Sierpinski gasket

We present the numbers of spanning forests on the Sierpinski gasket $SG_d(n)$ at stage $n$ with dimension $d$ equal to two, three and four, and determine the asymptotic behaviors. The corresponding results on the generalized Sierpinski gasket $SG_{d,b}(n)$ with $d=2$ and $b=3,4$ are obtained. We also derive the upper bounds of the asymptotic growth constants for both $SG_d$ and $SG_{2,b}$.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, 7 table

Climate Change and Crop Yield Distribution: Some New Evidence From Panel Data Models

This study examines the impact of climate on the yields of seven major crops in Taiwan based on pooled panel data for 15 prefectures over the 1977-1996 period. Unit-root tests and maximum likelihood methods involving a panel data model are explored to obtain reliable estimates. The results suggest that climate has different impacts on different crops and a gradual increase in crop yield variation is expected as global warming prevails. Policy measures to counteract yield variability should therefore be carefully evaluated to protect farmers from exposure to these long-lasting and increasingly climate-related risks.Yield response, Climate change, Panel data, Unit-root test

Threshold Effects in Cigarette Addiction: An Application of the Threshold Model in Dynamic Panels

We adopt the threshold model of myopic cigarette addiction to US state-level panel data. The threshold model is used to identify the structural effects of cigarette demand determinants across the income stratification. Furthermore, we apply a bootstrap approach to correct for the small-sample bias that arises in the dynamic panel threshold model with fixed effects. Our empirical results indicate that there exists the heterogeneity of smoking dynamics across consumers.Cigarettes demand, price elasticity, threshold regression model, dynamic panel model, bias correction, bootstrap

Estimating the Impacts of Climate Change on Mortality in OECD Countries

The major contribution of this study is to combines both climatic and macroeconomic factors simultaneously in the estimation of mortality using the capital city of 22 OECD countries from the period 1990 to 2008. The empirical results provide strong evidences that higher income and a lower unemployment rate could reduce mortality rates, while the increases in precipitation and temperature variation have significantly positive impacts on the mortality rates. The effects of changing average temperature on mortality rates in summer and winter are asymmetrical and also depend on the location. Combining the future climate change scenarios with the estimation outcomes show that mortality rates in OECD countries in 2100 will be increased by 3.77% to 5.89%.Climate change; mortality; panel data model