Fertility, Non-Altruism and Economic Growth: Industrialization in the Nineteenth Century

This paper presents a model of fertility, which is specific for the industrialization that took place during the nineteenth century and which was concurrent with the demographic transition that occurred over the period. While previous research on demographic transition assumed altruism as the main element explaining the increase in fertility rates, this paper does not, since altruism seems irrelevant over this period. The relationship between parents and children is part of a whole set of values and social norms that evolved over time and were affected by changes in the economic environment. In the nineteenth century, parental behavior was not compatible with altruism. I therefore present a model that suits the social norms of the nineteenth century. The value that seems to correspond to the legal system and social norms regarding the parent-child relationship of the period of industrialization is perpetuation. Due to a budget constraint on workers, perpetuation is displayed differently in different social classes. This paper will therefore focus on the interaction between the different social classes and show how industrialization is linked to demographic transition.altruism; social classes; demographic transition; capital; proletariat; fertility; growth.

Is Privatization Necessary to achieve Quality of Universities?

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between privatization in higher education and the quality of universities. An interesting fact is that of the top 10 universities in the US, nine are private. Previous studies have claimed that there is a relationship between the privatization of universities and their quality, since countries with a high proportion of private resources have superior universities. The purpose of this paper is to analyze if indeed this supposed relationship is due to empirical regularities between quality and ownership, or whether the two are unrelated. The analysis presented herein is based on data collected on 508 universities in 40 countries. I show that flexibility is the important element affecting quality, and not ownership per se.Higher Education, quality, privatization, ranking

Changes in the Recruitment and Education of the Power Elites in Twentieth Century Western Democracies

The aim of this paper is to examine the evolution of recruitment of elites and to investigate the nature of the links between recruitment and training of elites and economic development. We show that there was a key shift at the turn of the nineteenth century in the way the Western world trained its elites, with a second shift taking place after World War II, when meritocracy became the basis for recruitment of elites. Although meritocratic selection should result in the best being chosen, we show that meritocratic recruitment leads to class stratification and auto-recruitment. We analyze whether stratification resulting from meritocratic selection is optimal for the development of a country, and show that it is dependent on the type of technological changes occurring in the country.elite; auto-recruitment; training; education; meritocracy; stratification; economic growth

Was the Korean slave market efficient?

Over the decades, the traditional condemnation of slavery has been based not only on philosophical argumentation and moral values, but also on the conjecture that slavery was inefficient. This position led to one of the most passionate debates in economic history on the efficiency of the US slave market. This question of efficiency has not been analyzed on the slave market in Korea. The aim of this paper is to analyze the efficiency of the Korean slave market by examining the behavior of slave prices during the period 1689-1893. In order to do so, we collected long-run series of slave prices from nationwide surveys of more than 25 public and private historical records. We then tested whether the slave market was efficient using the arbitrage asset equation. We found slavery to have been efficient most of the time.arbitrage asset equation; efficient markets; Korea; slave

The Role of Higher Education Institutions: Recruitment of Elites and Economic Growth

The aim of this paper is to examine the evolution of recruitment of elites and to investigate the nature of the links between recruitment of elites and economic growth. The main change that occurred in the way the Western world trained its elites is that meritocracy became the basis for their recruitment. Although meritocratic selection should result in the best being chosen, we show that meritocratic recruitment actually leads to class stratification and auto-recruitment. We analyze the consequences of stratification resulting from meritocratic selection for the development of a country, and show that these consequences are dependent upon the type of technological changes occurring in the country.economic growth, education, elites, meritocracy, recruitment, social mobility, stratification

Conservation Plan for the Suddards-Manuel-Clark Funerary Monument, The Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

The Suddards-Manuel-Clark is one of the oldest, largest and most significant structures of the Woodlands Cemetery, one of the country’s early rural garden cemeteries. This vault was constructed during the main period of development of the Cemetery and has remained greatly intact over its more than 150-year history. This research develops a conservation plan for the monument, focusing on a study of the design, weathering and performance issues of the sandstone structure. Although little is known about the families interred therein or about the construction of the monument, it is clear that there was considerable attention paid to the architectural style and design of the monument as well as to the selection of high quality building materials that have endured decades of a harsh environment. Despite its alternate function as a retaining wall to the bank of a hill, the tomb has withstood constant moisture and structural loads on three sides and numerous decay mechanisms at its façade. A conditions glossary specific to this monument has been created and a conditions survey has been completed. The conditions of the monument were assessed in relation to the design and environment of the site and in relation to each other. Pilot cleaning was carried out and recommendations are made for appropriate future conservation treatments as part of a conservation and management plan for the site

Art, Life Story and Cultural Memory: Profiles of the Artists of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial

A case study of four public artists uncovered how the artists’ lived experiences and awareness of cultural memory influenced their creation of commemorative artwork for the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. The study involves how the professional and cultural experiences of two White artists and two Native American artists living or working in the Missouri River Valley in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana influenced their art. Professional factors influencing the artists included education, involvement with the Lewis and Clark bicentennial, work space, and connections to arts communities. Cultural factors influencing artists were family relationships and ethnic, political, gender, and religious identification. Artists played two roles, as journeyers and as leaders. Artists first understood the creative process as an expedition, where the path to the finished artwork is not always clear with the potential to alter their beliefs and practices. Artists also understood their role as leaders in transforming the viewer’s understanding of commemorative events. The findings are useful in valuing the complexity of the artist’s life, the leadership role artists play in interpreting controversial events, and the challenges of maintaining an authentic creative voice in today’s society

From Monograph to International Movement: Music Assisted Learning Across the Life Span for Students with Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders

https://remix.berklee.edu/able-assembly-conference/1020/thumbnail.jp