Quebec's Green Future: The Lowest-Cost Route to Green Gas Reductions

The authors say Quebec’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must face some key facts. First, the possibilities of an effective reduction of GHG emissions through the substitution of one energy source for another are limited in Quebec. Second, Quebec’s era of low-cost hydroelectric production is finished. And third, low domestic electricity prices favour heavy usage and limit Quebec’s capacity to export clean hydroelectricity. This Backgrounder is also available in French.economic growth and innovation, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), Quebec, carbon tax

An Econometric Analysis of Intergenerational Reliance on Social Assistance

This paper examines the intergenerational transmission of participation in Québec's social assistance program. The analysis takes into account two sources of intergenerational transmission: one that is due to a causal link between parents' and children's participation and one that is due to a correlation between individual or environment-specific characteristics across generations. Our data come from the records of Québec's Ministère de la Solidarité Sociale and cover 17,203 young people who were 18 years old in 1990 and whose parents were recipients of social assistance during at least one month between 1979 and 1990. Our results reveal that, on average, a one-month increase in the parental participation during the youth's pre-adult years (age 7-17) raises the youth's participation by about 0.15 month during early adulthood (age 18-21). Moreover, this impact is stronger during the early stages of childhood (age 7-9) and late adolescence (age 16-17).Dynamics of social assistance participation, Intergenerational correlation, Canadian welfare programmes

Une analyse des taux marginaux effectifs d'imposition au Québec

Cet article dresse un portrait de la situation des taux marginaux effectifs d'imposition (TMEI) sur le revenu de travail au Québec. Il vise à permettre une meilleure compréhension de l'impact des politiques gouvernementales sur le comportement des agents économiques. À l'aide d'un modèle de microsimulation comptable reproduisant les systèmes d'impôts et de transferts au Québec pour 2002, nous mesurons les TMEI qui résultent de l'interaction des mécanismes de perception et de redistribution. En outre, nous en évaluons la répartition au sein de la population. L'analyse de ces taux démontre, entre autres, que la politique familiale du gouvernement, dont l'aide est ciblée vers les familles à faible revenu, engendre des TMEI élevés attribuables à la réduction généralement rapide des transferts avec le revenu de travail. Ainsi, plus du quart des chefs de famille monoparentale ont un TMEI pouvant atteindre, et même excéder, 80%. Quant aux familles biparentales, elles font majoritairement face à un TMEI qui approche 50%. Nous montrons l'importance de tenir compte de l'hétérogénéité, à la fois selon les types de familles et selon les niveaux de revenu, de manière à bien évaluer la variabilité des TMEI à travers la population

Une analyse des taux marginaux effectifs d’imposition au Québec

Cet article dresse un portrait de la situation des taux marginaux effectifs d’imposition (TMEI) sur le revenu de travail au Québec. Il vise à permettre une meilleure compréhension de l’impact des politiques gouvernementales sur le comportement des agents économiques sur le marché de la main-d’oeuvre. À l’aide d’un modèle de microsimulation comptable reproduisant les systèmes d’impôts et de transferts au Québec pour 2002, nous mesurons les TMEI qui résultent de l’interaction des mécanismes de perception et de redistribution. En outre, nous en évaluons la répartition au sein de la population. L’analyse de ces taux démontre, entre autres, que la politique familiale du gouvernement, dont l’aide est ciblée vers les familles à faible revenu, engendre des TMEI élevés attribuables à la réduction généralement rapide des transferts avec le revenu de travail Ainsi, plus du quart des chefs de famille monoparentale ont un TMEI pouvant atteindre, et même excéder, 80 %. Quant aux familles biparentales, elles font majoritairement face à un TMEI qui approche 50 %. Nous montrons l’importance de tenir compte de l’hétérogénéité, à la fois selon les types de familles et selon les niveaux de revenu, de manière à bien évaluer la variabilité des TMEI à travers la population.This article draws up a portrait of effective marginal tax rates (EMTRs) on labour income in Quebec. It aims in part to provide a better understanding of the impact of tax policy on the labour market and saving behavior of agents. Using an accounting micro-simulation model that incorporates the system of taxes and transfers in 2002 Quebec, we measure the EMTRs that result from the interaction of the mechanisms of income taxation and redistribution. Moreover, we evaluate the distribution of EMTRs in the population. The analysis of EMTRs shows, inter alia, that family policy, whose assistance is targeted towards low to medium income families, generates high levels of EMTRs ascribable to the generally rapid reduction of transfers as income increases. More than a quarter of the heads of single-parent households face an EMTR that can reach, and even exceed, 80%. As for the two-parent families, they mostly face EMTRs of around 50%. We finally show the importance of accounting for EMTR heterogeneity, both with respect to family types and income levels, in order to assess properly the variability of EMTRs in the population

Une analyse des taux marginaux effectifs d’imposition au Québec

This article draws up a portrait of effective marginal tax rates (EMTRs) on labour income in Quebec. It aims in part to provide a better understanding of the impact of tax policy on the labour market and saving behavior of agents. Using an accounting micro-simulation model that incorporates the system of taxes and transfers in 2002 Quebec, we measure the EMTRs that result from the interaction of the mechanisms of income taxation and redistribution. Moreover, we evaluate the distribution of EMTRs in the population. The analysis of EMTRs shows, inter alia, that family policy, whose assistance is targeted towards low to medium income families, generates high levels of EMTRs ascribable to the generally rapid reduction of transfers as income increases. More than a quarter of the heads of single-parent households face an EMTR that can reach, and even exceed, 80%. As for the two-parent families, they mostly face EMTRs of around 50%. We finally show the importance of accounting for EMTR heterogeneity, both with respect to family types and income levels, in order to assess properly the variability of EMTRs in the population. Cet article dresse un portrait de la situation des taux marginaux effectifs d’imposition (TMEI) sur le revenu de travail au Québec. Il vise à permettre une meilleure compréhension de l’impact des politiques gouvernementales sur le comportement des agents économiques sur le marché de la main-d’oeuvre. À l’aide d’un modèle de microsimulation comptable reproduisant les systèmes d’impôts et de transferts au Québec pour 2002, nous mesurons les TMEI qui résultent de l’interaction des mécanismes de perception et de redistribution. En outre, nous en évaluons la répartition au sein de la population. L’analyse de ces taux démontre, entre autres, que la politique familiale du gouvernement, dont l’aide est ciblée vers les familles à faible revenu, engendre des TMEI élevés attribuables à la réduction généralement rapide des transferts avec le revenu de travail Ainsi, plus du quart des chefs de famille monoparentale ont un TMEI pouvant atteindre, et même excéder, 80 %. Quant aux familles biparentales, elles font majoritairement face à un TMEI qui approche 50 %. Nous montrons l’importance de tenir compte de l’hétérogénéité, à la fois selon les types de familles et selon les niveaux de revenu, de manière à bien évaluer la variabilité des TMEI à travers la population.

Une analyse des taux marginaux effectifs d'imposition au Québec

Cet article dresse un portrait de la situation des taux marginaux effectifs d'imposition (TMEI) sur le revenu de travail au Québec. Il vise à permettre une meilleure compréhension de l'impact des politiques gouvernementales sur le comportement des agents économiques. À l'aide d'un modèle de microsimulation comptable reproduisant les systèmes d'impôts et de transferts au Québec pour 2002, nous mesurons les TMEI qui résultent de l'interaction des mécanismes de perception et de redistribution. En outre, nous en évaluons la répartition au sein de la population. L'analyse de ces taux démontre, entre autres, que la politique familiale du gouvernement, dont l'aide est ciblée vers les familles à faible revenu, engendre des TMEI élevés attribuables à la réduction généralement rapide des transferts avec le revenu de travail. Ainsi, plus du quart des chefs de famille monoparentale ont un TMEI pouvant atteindre, et même excéder, 80%. Quant aux familles biparentales, elles font majoritairement face à un TMEI qui approche 50%. Nous montrons l'importance de tenir compte de l'hétérogénéité, à la fois selon les types de familles et selon les niveaux de revenu, de manière à bien évaluer la variabilité des TMEI à travers la population.Taux d'imposition, fiscalité, microsimulation, politique familiale

Fundamental measurements with muons - View from PSI

Muons can serve as probes to precisely determine fundamental parameters of the Standard Model or search for `new physics'. The high intensity muon beams at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) allow for precision measurements and searches for rare or forbidden processes. Both types of experiments challenge the Standard Model in a way complementary to high energy physics. We give a short overview of recent results and ongoing experiments at PSI, and of ideas for the future.Comment: 7 pages, 4 Figures Proceedings of the PANIC'08 Conference, Eilat, Israel, (invited talk

Evolution of severe sleep-wake cycle disturbances following traumatic brain injury: a case study in both acute and subacute phases post-injury

Abstract Background Sleep-wake disturbances are frequently reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI), but they remain poorly documented in the acute stage of injury. Little is known about their origin and evolution. Case presentation This study presents the case of a patient in the acute phase of a severe TBI. The patient was injured at work when falling 12 m into a mine and was hospitalized in the regular wards of a level I trauma centre. From days 31 to 45 post-injury, once he had reached a level of medical stability and continuous analgosedation had been ceased, his sleep-wake cycle was monitored using actigraphy. Results showed significant sleep-wake disturbances and severe sleep deprivation. Indeed, the patient had an average nighttime sleep efficiency of 32.7 ± 15.4 %, and only an average of 4.8 ± 1.3 h of sleep per 24-h period. After hospital discharge to the rehabilitation centre, where he remained for 5 days, the patient was readmitted to the same neurological unit for paranoid delusions. During his second hospital stay, actigraphy recordings resumed from days 69 to 75 post-injury. A major improvement in his sleep-wake cycle was observed during this second stay, with an average nighttime sleep efficiency of 96.3 ± 0.9 % and an average of 14.1 ± 0.9 h of sleep per 24-h period. Conclusion This study is the first to extensively document sleep-wake disturbances in both the acute and subacute phases of severe TBI. Results show that prolonged sleep deprivation can be observed after TBI, and suggest that the hospital environment only partially contributes to sleep-wake disturbances. Continuous actigraphic monitoring may prove to be a useful clinical tool in the monitoring of patients hospitalized after severe TBI in order to detect severe sleep deprivation requiring intervention. The direct impact of sleep-wake disturbances on physiological and cognitive recovery is not well understood within this population, but is worth investigating and improving

Evolution of severe sleep-wake cycle disturbances following traumatic brain injury: a case study in both acute and subacute phases post-injury.

BACKGROUND: Sleep-wake disturbances are frequently reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI), but they remain poorly documented in the acute stage of injury. Little is known about their origin and evolution. CASE PRESENTATION: This study presents the case of a patient in the acute phase of a severe TBI. The patient was injured at work when falling 12 m into a mine and was hospitalized in the regular wards of a level I trauma centre. From days 31 to 45 post-injury, once he had reached a level of medical stability and continuous analgosedation had been ceased, his sleep-wake cycle was monitored using actigraphy. Results showed significant sleep-wake disturbances and severe sleep deprivation. Indeed, the patient had an average nighttime sleep efficiency of 32.7 ± 15.4 %, and only an average of 4.8 ± 1.3 h of sleep per 24-h period. After hospital discharge to the rehabilitation centre, where he remained for 5 days, the patient was readmitted to the same neurological unit for paranoid delusions. During his second hospital stay, actigraphy recordings resumed from days 69 to 75 post-injury. A major improvement in his sleep-wake cycle was observed during this second stay, with an average nighttime sleep efficiency of 96.3 ± 0.9 % and an average of 14.1 ± 0.9 h of sleep per 24-h period. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to extensively document sleep-wake disturbances in both the acute and subacute phases of severe TBI. Results show that prolonged sleep deprivation can be observed after TBI, and suggest that the hospital environment only partially contributes to sleep-wake disturbances. Continuous actigraphic monitoring may prove to be a useful clinical tool in the monitoring of patients hospitalized after severe TBI in order to detect severe sleep deprivation requiring intervention. The direct impact of sleep-wake disturbances on physiological and cognitive recovery is not well understood within this population, but is worth investigating and improving

Sleep-wake disturbances in hospitalized patients with traumatic brain injury: association with brain trauma but not with an abnormal melatonin circadian rhythm.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To test whether the sleep-wake cycle disruption in patients hospitalized with traumatic brain injury (TBI) (1) is also found in patients with traumatic injuries other than TBI (non-TBI) and (2) is associated with a weaker or abnormal circadian clock signal. METHODS: Forty-two non-mechanically ventilated and non-sedated patients hospitalized for moderate-to-severe TBI were compared to 34 non-TBI patients. They wore wrist actigraphs for 9.4 ± 4.2 days, starting 19.3 ± 12.6 days post-injury. Of these, 17 TBI and 14 non-TBI patients had their urine collected every hour for 25 hours, starting 18.3 ± 12.3 days post-injury. We calculated urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin concentration to obtain total 24-hour excretion, excretion onset, offset, duration, amplitude, and acrophase. Using Student's t-tests, we compared groups on actigraphy (daytime activity ratio, nighttime total sleep time, and fragmentation index) and melatonin variables. We investigated associations between melatonin and actigraphy variables using Pearson's correlations. RESULTS: TBI patients had poorer daytime activity ratio (TBI: 77.5 ± 9.4%; non-TBI: 84.6 ± 6.9%), shorter nighttime total sleep time (TBI: 353.5 ± 96.6 min; non-TBI: 421.2 ± 72.2 min), and higher fragmentation index (TBI: 72.2 ± 30.0; non-TBI: 53.5 ± 23.6) (all p-values < 0.01). A melatonin rhythm was present in both groups, and no group differences were found on melatonin variables. No associations were found between melatonin and actigraphy variables in TBI patients. CONCLUSION: Moderate-to-severe TBI patients have more serious sleep-wake disturbances than non-TBI patients hospitalized in the same environment, suggesting that the brain injury itself alters the sleep-wake cycle. Despite their deregulated 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, TBI patients have a normal circadian clock signal