ESSAYS IN ECONOMICS OF LABOR, TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOPMENT

This thesis addresses various issues within the realms of the economics of technology, labor economics, and development economics. It applies several empirical methods in econometrics, and statistics to carry out substantial results and economic analysis aimed at guiding policy decisions. The first chapter explores the decay and diffusion rates of technological knowledge in manufacturing, specifically focusing on four out of twenty-five subsectors. Spanning the period 1995-2012, the study adopts a sampling method to gather patents and citations within the aerospace, computer, food, and motor vehicle industries. In addition, the study investigates the link between patent claims, citations, and knowledge stock across the manufacturing industries. Applying the double exponential specification coined by Caballero and Jaffe (1993), the study finds decay and diffusion rates of 0.0741 and 0.00022 for the entire sample. The aerospace subsector exhibits the highest decay (0.167), while the computer industry shows largest diffusion parameter (0.00063). Despite its low decay parameter (0.041) and relatively high diffusion rate (0.0005), due to fewer annual patents granted, the food subsector displays the lowest technological knowledge. The computer ranks highest in technological knowledge, and the aerospace lowest despite its relatively substantial number of patents. The findings highlight the sensitivity of obsolescence and diffusion on technological knowledge across subsectors. Further, the results reveal patent claims impact citations, especially backward citation which is a key determinant of knowledge stock. The research pinpoints the importance of both quantity and notably quality of patents in determining the level of technological knowledge. The second chapter examines the effect of computer technology on the real average wages across 455 U.S. manufacturing subsectors spanning from 2007 to 2012. This study explores the wage disparities across subsectors while focusing on size, capital intensity, professional and technical services, and labor productivity. To spell out the causal effects and describe the mechanisms through which computer technology explains the average wages, I carry out a two-stage least-squares (2-SLS) model with a two-way fixed effects approach. I consistently estimate the model in using for instrument a knowledge stock index derived from patent citations and authentic decay and diffusion rates of the manufacturing sector. My findings reveal a positive elasticity of computer technology on average wages ranging from 11.6% to 12.9% for hardware, and 15.7% to 18.3% for software across the high-tech subsectors. This positive linkage suggests more adoption of computers and related products at the workplace is associated with higher average wages. Further, the results display greater marginal effects of technology on wages for labor-productive, capital-intensive, and technology-intensive subsectors. Overall, the paper supports the skilled-biased technological change (SBTC) argument, which illustrates technological advancements create opportunities that benefit the high skilled while disadvantaging the low skilled workers.The third chapter examines the societal welfare adopting an inequality adjusting global wellbeing index derived from a principal component analysis (PCA). This index is developed using a data-driven approach which retains nine composite indicators encompassing various social and economic attributes across 178 countries. The method used is similar to previous studies but extends them by incorporating weights of variables, and inequality across countries. In addition to the classic dimensions of human development - health, education, access to resources - the study focuses on gender empowerment, environment, and social lifestyle indicators. The findings suggest countries excelling in health tend to perform well in other socioeconomic areas. Results also suggest the broad development story needs to incorporate more specific social and ecological dimensions. This new inequality-adjusted index (IAGWI) is compared to traditional development indices such as HDI, IHDI, and PHDI. They display similarities but also significant ranking dispersions across countries for several dimensions. Essentially, this research underscores a complexity of societal welfare, emphasizing the need for consideration from multiple social and economic perspectives

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDEEMING ISSUER REWARD CURRENCY FOR A CONSUMER BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT

The present disclosure provides a method for redeeming issuer reward currency. Initially consumer books travel and logs into issuer application. The present disclosure calls Card Eligibility Service (CES) by sending cardholder travel information to check for eligible lounges. The CES pulls all lounges in airport and checks if cardholder is eligible for any of the lounges. The CES returns the cardholder list of lounges eligibility information and redemption limits and prices. The present disclosure offers to purchase additional guests for the lounge using points. The present disclosure calls CES and Pay with Points APIs to purchase additional guest access using points for the lounge. A payment processing system will provide CES and Pay with Points APIs for clients, to redeem points and purchase lounge access or other benefits in advance. The CES new API calls Pay with Points to deduct points. The CES updates the redemption ledger, to add additional purchased guests

Representation, immigration, experience and memory: a study of representational dynamics of “the other” in post imperial Britain (1947-1990s) with special reference to African and African Caribbean immigrants

MA by Research Dissertation Submitted in accordance with requirements for the degree of MA Media StudiesThe study is an assessment of the proposition that the British media coverage of African and African Caribbean minority ethnic communities is permeated with 'othering'. It analysed the mode of accounting and explaining mobilised by some of the national press regarding racial unrest, focusing particularly on those major events that served to narrativise and recompose the image of immigrants as the 'other' in the context of articulating Britishness. These are Enoch Powell's Rivers of Blood speech in 1968 and the Brixton disturbance of 1981. A content/frame analysis of newspaper coverage of these events was carried out. Seymore-Ure's analysis of the media's response to Powell's speech in The Political Impact of Mass Media (1974) served as major point of reference. In addition, the study explored through in-dept interviews the relationship between lived experiences and popular media discourses in an attempt to gauge the extent to which interviewees' memories cohered or not with the media's account of events involving black people; and which news stories have had significant and formative impact on the experiences of other-ness

The Modified Pharaoh Approach: Stingless bees mummify beetle parasites alive

Social insect colonies usually live in nests, which are often invaded by parasitic species^1^. Workers from these colonies use different defence strategies to combat invaders^1^. Nevertheless, some parasitic species are able to bypass primary colony defences due to their morphology and behaviour^1-3^. In particular, some beetle nest invaders cannot be killed or removed by workers of social bees^2-5^, thus creating the need for alternative social defence strategies to ensure colony survival. Here we show, using Diagnostic Radioentomology^6^, that stingless bee workers _Trigona carbonaria_, immediately mummify invading destructive nest parasites _Aethina tumida_ alive, with a mixture of resin, wax and mud, thereby preventing severe damage to the colony. In sharp contrast to the responses of honeybee^7^ and bumblebee colonies^8^, the rapid live mummification strategy of _T. carbonaria_ effectively prevents beetle parasite advancements and removes their ability to reproduce. The convergent evolution of live mummification by stingless bees and social encapsulation by honeybees^3^ suggests that colonies of social bees generally rely on, secondary defence mechanisms when harmful nest intruders cannot be killed or ejected easily. This process is analogous to immune responses in animals

The alternative Pharaoh approach: stingless bees mummify beetle parasites alive

Workers from social insect colonies use different defence strategies to combat invaders. Nevertheless, some parasitic species are able to bypass colony defences. In particular, some beetle nest invaders cannot be killed or removed by workers of social bees, thus creating the need for alternative social defence strategies to ensure colony survival. Here we show, using diagnostic radioentomology, that stingless bee workers (Trigona carbonaria) immediately mummify invading adult small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) alive by coating them with a mixture of resin, wax and mud, thereby preventing severe damage to the colony. In sharp contrast to the responses of honeybee and bumblebee colonies, the rapid live mummification strategy of T. carbonaria effectively prevents beetle advancements and removes their ability to reproduce. The convergent evolution of mummification in stingless bees and encapsulation in honeybees is another striking example of co-evolution between insect societies and their parasite

The alternative Pharaoh approach: stingless bees mummify beetle parasites alive

Workers from social insect colonies use different defence strategies to combat invaders. Nevertheless, some parasitic species are able to bypass colony defences. In particular, some beetle nest invaders cannot be killed or removed by workers of social bees, thus creating the need for alternative social defence strategies to ensure colony survival. Here we show, using diagnostic radioentomology, that stingless bee workers (Trigona carbonaria) immediately mummify invading adult small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) alive by coating them with a mixture of resin, wax and mud, thereby preventing severe damage to the colony. In sharp contrast to the responses of honeybee and bumblebee colonies, the rapid live mummification strategy of T. carbonaria effectively prevents beetle advancements and removes their ability to reproduce. The convergent evolution of mummification in stingless bees and encapsulation in honeybees is another striking example of co-evolution between insect societies and their parasites

Nutritional Epigenomics and Age-Related Disease

Recent advances in epigenetic research have enabled the development of epigenetic clocks, which have greatly enhanced our ability to investigate molecular processes that contribute to aging and age-related disease. These biomarkers offer the potential to measure the effect of environmental exposures linked to dynamic changes in DNA methylation, including nutrients, as factors in age-related disease. They also offer a compelling insight into how imbalances in the supply of nutrients, particularly B-vitamins, or polymorphisms in regulatory enzymes involved in 1-carbon metabolism, the key pathway that supplies methyl groups for epigenetic reactions, may influence epigenetic age and interindividual disease susceptibility. Evidence from recent studies is critically reviewed, focusing on the significant contribution of the epigenetic clock to nutritional epigenomics and its impact on health outcomes and age-related disease. Further longitudinal studies and randomized nutritional interventions are required to advance the field

Training young water professionals in leadership and transdisciplinary competencies for sustainable water management in India

Young water professionals (YWPs) have a critical role in ensuring how water resources will be managed to contribute towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To address the challenges of climate change, population growth, and urbanization, YWPs require leadership skills, transdisciplinary competencies, technical knowledge, and practical experience. This article presents the India YWP training program, led by Western Sydney University and the Australia India Water Centre (AIWC), aimed at developing a cohort of skilled YWPs and nurturing the next generation of water leaders in support of India’s water reform agenda and the National Water Mission. The program engaged 20 YWPs, consisting of an equal gender representation, selected by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from various water management agencies and departments across India. The 11-month training program was designed to be transformative and interactive, and it used an online platform comprising online lectures, mentoring, and project-based learning facilitated by the AIWC team. The training methodology focused on engaged learning, incorporating online workshops, Situation Understanding and Improvement Projects (SUIPs), online group discussions, and mentoring. The SUIPs provided a platform for YWPs to work in pairs, receiving guidance from AIWC members, enabling them to develop practical skills and knowledge in realworld contexts. The program effectively enhanced participants’ capacities in project planning, design, implementation, and management, while fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills by adopting transdisciplinary approaches. Furthermore, participants demonstrated improved leadership, project management, time management, and communication skills. The training helped YWPs to equip them with a holistic perspective and stakeholder-focused mindset to address diverse water challenges from a holistic and long-term standpoint

Child Malnutrition and Mortality in Developing Countries: Evidence from a Cross-Country Analysis

In this paper we propose and test an interpretative framework on the social and economic determinants of child malnutrition and child mortality, two key human development indicators. The paper is organized as follows. Section 1 illustrates the main economic and social factors causing child malnutrition and mortality. Section 2 identifies the main clusters of food insecure and vulnerable households and briefly describes their livelihood profiles. Section 3 exposes our cross-country estimation methodology. Section 4 reports and discusses the results. Section 5 concludes