Variable population welfare and poverty orderings satisfying replication properties

We discuss and compare the variable population axioms of Critical Level (CL) and Population Replication Invariance (PRI) introduced in the economic and philosophical literature for evaluating distributions with different population size. We provide a common framework for analyzing these competing views considering a strengthening of the Population Replication Principle (PRP) based on Dalton's (1920) "principle of proportionate additions to persons" that requires an ordering defined over populations of the same size to be invariant w.r.t. replication of the distributions. The strong version of PRP extends the invariance condition to hold also when distributions of different population size are compared. We suggest ethically meaningful general specifications of the invariance requirement underlying the Strong PRP and characterize the associated classes of parameterized evaluation functions that include CL principles and PRI properties. Moreover, we identify a general class of evaluation functions satisfying the Strong PRP: the social evaluation ordering will be represented by the simple formula considering the product of the population size times a strictly monotonic function of the Equally Distributed Equivalent Income (EDEI). Interesting ethical properties are shown to be associated with the shape of the function transforming the EDEI. Implications for poverty measurement are investigated.Variable Population Social Choice, Population Replication, Welfare Measurement, Poverty Measurement.

Social Exclusion Orderings

We consider the problem of measuring social exclusion using qualitative data. We suggest a class of social exclusion indicators deriving the partial orderings associated with dominace for these indicators. We characterize the set of transformations on the distribution of individual deprivation scores underlying the dominace conditions proposed.Social esclusion, dominance, measures.

Ethnic Distribution, Effective Power and Conflict

This paper highlights the fact that different distributional aspects of ethnicity matter for conflict. We axiomatically derive a parametric class of indices of conflict potential obtained as the sum of each group relative power weighted by the probability of across group interactions. The power component of an extreme element of this class of indices is given by the Penrose-Banzhaf measure of relative power. This index combines in a non-linear way fractionalization, polarization and dominance. The empirical analysis verifies that it outperforms the existing indices of ethnic diversity in explaining ethnic conflict onset

Shared destinies and the measurement of social risk equity

URL des Documents de travail : http://ces.univ-paris1.fr/cesdp/CESFramDP2008.htmClassification JEL : D63, D81.Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 2008.69 - ISSN : 1955-611XThe evaluation of social risk equity for alternative probability distributions over the potential sets of fatalities is analyzed axiomatically. Fishburn and Straffin [Equity considerations in public risks valuation, Operatons Research 37 (1999), 229-239] have identified a necessary and sufficient condition for two social risk distributions to be judged to be socially indifferent whenever their associated distributions of risk of death for individuals and for the number of fatalities are the same. It is argued that this approach does not permit society to exhibit any concern for the number of people an individual perishes with. A weakening of the Fishburn-Straffin condition that is compatible with a concern for shared destinies is proposed.Nous proposons une analyse axiomatique de l'évaluation de l'exposition collective à un risque de décès. Il s'agit plus précisément de comparer, en termes d'équité, différentes distributions de probabilité de décès pour l'ensemble des sous-groupes de la population. Fishburn and Straffin [Equity considerations in public risks valuation, Operatons Research 37 (1999), 229-239] ont identifié une condition nécessaire et suffisante pour que deux risques sociaux soient jugés également équitables dès lors qu'ils conduisent d'une part à des probabilités individuelles de décès identiques, et d'autre part aux même distributions de probabilité sur le nombre de décès. Nous montrons qu'une telle approche ne permet pas de prendre en compte l'importance que peut avoir le fait de partager son destin avec un plus ou moins grand nombre d'autres personnes. Nous proposons un affaiblissement de la condition de Fishburn et Straffin qui permet de tenir compte de l'influence de la communauté de destin dans l'évaluation d'un risque social

The measurement of segregation sensitive spatial income deprivation

We develop dominance criteria to assess the patterns of residential ethnic segregation and urban income deprivation across neighborhoods of a city. The results combine aggregate information on inequality and residential segregation within neighborhoods and disparities across neighborhoods in average incomes. We use this methodology to investigate the dynamic of these phenomena in the cities of Chicago and in New York from 1990 to 2012

Urban Poverty : Measurement Theory and evidence from American cities,

We characterize axiomatically a new index of urban poverty that i) captures aspects of the incidence and distribution of poverty across neighborhoods of a city, ii) is related to the Gini index and iii) is consistent with empirical evidence that living in a high poverty neighborhood is detrimental for many dimensions of residents' well-being. Widely adopted measures of urban poverty, such as the concentrated poverty index, may violate some of the desirable properties we outline. Furthermore, we show that changes of urban poverty within the same city are additively decomposable into the contribution of demographic, convergence, re-ranking and spatial eects. We collect new evidence of heterogeneous patterns and trends of urban poverty across American metro areas over the last 35 years

Measuring the interaction dimension of segregation: the Gini-Exposure index

We study the heterogeneity of social interaction profiles among individuals and define the extent of the interaction dimension of segregation. An interaction profile quantifies the probabilities that one individual has to interact with different social groups. It can be inferred, for instance, from observation of social ties through networks data. Heterogeneity is minimal if everybody exhibit the same profile, and is maximal if everybody interacts with only one group. All the in-between configurations can be ordered on the bases of an intuitive principle based on operation that generate mixtures of interaction profiles. We proposes a characterization of the Gini-exposure index to assess heterogeneity in interaction patters in a society. One key advantage of this index is that overall heterogeneity can be decomposed into the segregation experienced by every individual with respect to other people in his own group (isolation) or in other groups (exposure). An preliminary empirical investigation of interaction patterns of natives and immigrants across Italian municipalities reveals connections and differences with other exposure measures

Transcriptome profiles of strawberry (Fragaria vesca) fruit interacting with Botrytis cinerea at different ripening stages

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is a major cause of economic losses in strawberry fruit production, limiting fruit shelf life and commercialization. When the fungus infects Fragaria × ananassa strawberry at flowering or unripe fruit stages, symptoms develop after an extended latent phase on ripe fruits before or after harvesting. To elucidate the growth kinetics of B. cinerea on flower/fruit and the molecular responses associated with low susceptibility of unripe fruit stages, woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca flowers and fruits, at unripe white and ripe red stages, were inoculated with B. cinerea. Quantification of fungal genomic DNA within 72 h postinoculation (hpi) showed limited fungal growth on open flower and white fruit, while on red fruit, the growth was exponential starting from 24 hpi and sporulation was observed within 48 hpi. RNA sequencing applied to white and red fruit at 24 hpi showed that a total of 2,141 genes (12.5% of the total expressed genes) were differentially expressed due to B. cinerea infection. A broad transcriptional reprogramming was observed in both unripe and ripe fruits, involving in particular receptor and signaling, secondary metabolites, and defense response pathways. Membrane-localized receptor-like kinases and nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat genes were predominant in the surveillance system of the fruits, most of them being downregulated in white fruits and upregulated in red fruits. In general, unripe fruits exhibited a stronger defense response than red fruits. Genes encoding for pathogenesis-related proteins and flavonoid polyphenols as well as genes involved in cell-wall strengthening were upregulated, while cell-softening genes appeared to be switched off. As a result, B. cinerea remained quiescent in white fruits, while it was able to colonize ripe red fruit

Randomized phase II study with two gemcitabine- and docetaxel-based combinations as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Docetaxel and gemcitabine combinations have proven active for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare two treatment schedules, one based on our own preclinical data and the other selected from the literature.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with stage IV NSCLC and at least one bidimensionally-measurable lesion were eligible. Adequate bone marrow reserve, normal hepatic and renal function, and an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2 were required. No prior chemotherapy was permitted. Patients were randomized to arm A (docetaxel 70 mg/m²on day 1 and gemcitabine 900 mg/m²on days 3–8, every 3 weeks) or B (gemcitabine 900 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, and docetaxel 70 mg/m2 on day 8, every 3 weeks).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The objective response rate was 20% (95% CI:10.0–35.9) and 18% (95% CI:8.6–33.9) in arms A and B, respectively. Disease control rates were very similar (54% in arm A and 53% in arm B). No differences were noted in median survival (32 vs. 33 weeks) or 1-year survival (33% vs. 35%). Toxicity was mild in both treatment arms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results highlighted acceptable activity and survival outcomes for both experimental and empirical schedules as first-line treatment of NSCLC, suggesting the potential usefulness of drug sequencing based on preclinical models.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>IOR 162 02</p