Price Squeezes and Imputation Tests on Next Generation Access Networks

A vertically integrated firm that wholesales to its retail rivals can, if it has sufficient market power, set the margin between its retail and wholesale prices so as to harm its rivals. Conventionally, an imputation test is used to determine whether such behavior is being undertaken. Such tests are common in electronic communications, and the EC calls for their potentially intensive ex ante application in the supply of NGANs. This paper shows that while imputation tests are helpful analytical tools for understanding the nature of price squeezes, difficulties associated with implementation, which are sharp in an NGAN context, can make them misleading in practice. Instead, price squeezes are best dealt with through the rigorous comparison of expected outcomes, given the alleged anticompetitive behavior, with the outcomes expected in that behavior’s absence. Such analysis is not suited to ex ante application.price squeeze, imputation tests, next generation access networks, vertical discrimination, electronic communications, regulation

Chapter 5: Food Security

The current food system (production, transport, processing, packaging, storage, retail, consumption, loss and waste) feeds the great majority of world population and supports the livelihoods of over 1 billion people. Since 1961, food supply per capita has increased more than 30%, accompanied by greater use of nitrogen fertilisers (increase of about 800%) and water resources for irrigation (increase of more than 100%). However, an estimated 821 million people are currently undernourished, 151 million children under five are stunted, 613 million women and girls aged 15 to 49 suffer from iron deficiency, and 2 billion adults are overweight or obese. The food system is under pressure from non-climate stressors (e.g., population and income growth, demand for animal-sourced products), and from climate change. These climate and non-climate stresses are impacting the four pillars of food security (availability, access, utilisation, and stability)

A period-doubling bifurcation for the Duffing equation(Study of Partial Differential Equations by means of Functional Analysis)

Background: Dietary assessment is complex and strategies to select the most appropriate dietary assessment tool (DAT) in epidemiological research are needed. The Dietary Assessment Tools Network (DIET@NET) aimed to establish expert consensus on Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) for dietary assessment using self-report. Methods: The BPG were developed using the Delphi technique. Two Delphi rounds were conducted. 131 experts were invited, of these 65 accepted, with 48 completing Delphi round I and 51 completing Delphi round II. In all, a total of 57 experts from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia commented on the 47 suggested guidelines. Results: 43 guidelines were generated, grouped into 4 stages: Stage I. Define what is to be measured in terms of dietary intake (what? who? and when?); Stage II. Investigate different types of DAT; Stage III. Evaluate existing tools to select the most appropriate DAT by evaluating published validation studies; Stage IV. Think through the implementation of the chosen DAT and consider sources of potential biases. Conclusions: The Delphi technique consolidated expert views on best practice in assessing dietary intake. The BPG provide a valuable guide for health researchers to choose the most appropriate dietary assessment method for their studies, these guidelines will be accessible through the Nutritools website, www.nutritools.org