Optimization of the Two-Baseline Beta-Beam

We propose a $\beta$-Beam experiment with four source ions and two baselines for the best possible sensitivity to $\theta_{13}$, CP violation and mass hierarchy. Neutrinos from $^{18}$Ne and $^6$He with Lorentz boost $\gamma=350$ are detected in a 500 kton water \chr detector at a distance L=650 km from the source. Neutrinos from $^8$B and $^8$Li are detected in a 50 kton magnetized iron detector at a distance L=7000 km from the source. Since a tilt angle $\vartheta=34.5^\circ$ is required to send the beam to the magic baseline, the far end of the ring has a maximum depth of $d=2132$ m. We alleviate this problem by proposing to trade reduction of the decay ring with the increase in the boost factor of the $^8$Li and $^8$B ions up to $\gamma_{^8\mathrm{Li}}=390$ and $\gamma_{^8\mathrm{Li}}=650$, such that the number of events at the detector remains almost the same. We study the sensitivity reach of this two-baseline two-storage ring $\beta$-Beam experiment, and compare it with the corresponding reach of the other proposed facilities.Comment: 5 pages. Based on the talk given at Nufact09, Chicago, July 20-25, 2009. Typos correcte

The Argentine Competition Law and its Enforcement

This article analyzes the basic characteristics of the Argentine competition law and the way in which it has been enforced in several important antitrust cases. We begin with a section that introduces the evolution of the law, followed by another section about the basic economic and legal principles underlying that law. The rest of the article describes the enforcement of the law, in a number of cases that involve collusive practices, exclusionary practices, vertical restraints, abuses of dominant position, and mergers.Competition law, antitrust, Argentina

The Socio-Economic Significance of Four Phonetic Characteristics in North American English

This paper uses a least-square regression method that relates per-capita income to four phonetic characteristics (r-dropping, and the so-called "father-bother", "cot-caught" and "pin-pen" mergers), to study the socio-economic significance of those characteristics in North American English. As a result we find a positive and statistically significant relationship between per-capita income and r-dropping, and between per-capita income and the presence of the "cot-caught" merger, and a negative and statistically significant relationship between per-capita income and the "pin-pen" merger. No statistically significant relationship is found, however, between per-capita income and the presence of a "father-bother" merger or split.

Bertrand and Price-Taking Equilibria in Markets with Product Differentiation

In this paper we show that a homogeneous-product market with multiple Bertrand equilibria becomes a market with a single Bertrand equilibrium when we introduce a small degree of product differentiation. When differentiation tends to zero, that Bertrand equilibrium converges to the unique price-taking equilibrium of the homogeneous-product market, which is in turn one of the multiple Bertrand equilibria for that market.Bertrand equilibrium, price-taking equilibrium, product differentiation

Competition, Bargaining and Income Distribution in Argentina and the United States

This paper presents a model of capital accumulation and income distribution that comes from the dynamic interaction between capitalists and workers in an economy. The model is later applied to fit data from the Argentine and the US economies, and to test if they are closer to the implications of a competitive or a bargaining solution. The first one is associated to a Walrasian equilibrium of the theoretical model, while the second is computed as a Nash cooperative solution. The empirical results obtained seem to confirm our original intuitions that the United States exhibits a greater degree of competitive behavior and bargaining forces have been more important in Argentina, but no single behavioral hypothesis is able to explain income distribution in any of the two countries.

Estimation of demand systems based on elasticities of substitution

This paper develops a model for demand-system estimations, whose coefficients are own-price Marshallian elasticities and elasticities of substitution between goods. The model satisfies the homogeneity, symmetry and, eventually, adding-up restrictions implied by consumer theory, and is primarily useful for the estimation of the demands of several goods of the same industry or group of products. The characteristics of the model are compared to other existing alternatives (logarithmic, translog, AIDS and QUAIDS demand systems). The model is finally applied to estimate the demands for several carbonated soft drinks in Argentina, and its results are presented, together with the ones obtained with the other estimation methods.Demand Systems, Elasticity of Substitution, Simultaneous Equations, Carbonated Soft Drinks

Damages for Breach of Contract, Impossibility of Performance and Legal Enforceability

This paper develops a game-theoretic model of a contract between a creditor and a debtor where equilibrium depends on the damage rule chosen for breach-of-contract situations, the use of impossibility-of-performance excuses and the level of legal contract enforceability. We find that, under perfect legal enforceability, the different alternative damage rules (based on expectation or reliance damages, with or without performance excuses) are able to induce an efficient performance by the contracting parties. But we also find that, if legal enforceability is imperfect, then a rule based on expectation damages with an excuse for impossibility of performance is able to work more efficiently than the other alternative damage rules.breach of contact, impossibility of performance, legal enforceability

Econometric Estimation of PCAIDS Models

This paper presents a version of the proportionally calibrated almost ideal demand system (PCAIDS) model, useful for merger simulations, which can be econometrically estimated using price data for two firms in a market. The model is then applied to a database of the Argentine gasoline market, and its results are compared to the ones obtained with other alternative specifications.PCAIDS, demand estimation, merger simulations, Argentine gasoline market