Application of Agent-Based Modeling: Simulating Financial Systemic Risk and Contagion within Housing and Financial Markets

This dissertation presents an agent-based model (ABM) to model systemic risk in the housing and financial markets from 1986 to 2017 and provides a unique approach to simulating the financial market along with demonstrating the phenomenon of emergence resulting from the interconnected-behavior of consumers, banks and the Federal Reserve. Consumers can buy or rent properties, and these agents own characteristics such as income and may be employed or unemployed. Banks own balance sheets to monitor their assets and liabilities and participate in the interbank lending market with one another. This tool can model the complexities within the United States’ housing market, conduct stress tests as interest rates fluctuate, and explore characteristics from the landmark financial crisis and epidemic of foreclosures. The blend of available financial products to consumers (i.e., ARM versus Fixed-Rate) certainly influences demand to purchase properties given that ARM products are more affordable than fixed-rate products; however, these specific products may increase the risk of “underwater” mortgages. The market value of a property is heavily influenced by the value of a neighboring property; therefore, individuals are able to gauge the probable value of a property that has not been developed yet. The blend of available financial products to consumers (i.e., ARM versus Fixed-Rate) certainly influences demand within the housing market given that ARM products are more affordable than fixed-rate products. Overall, these concepts are important as the understanding of the impact from increases in foreclosed properties, changes in rates, available financial products, and more can help policymakers and financial institutions understand and model the non-linear complexities within the housing market

Analysis of Sectoral Energy Demand in Pakistan

Purpose This research aims to estimate the energy demand for different sectors, including commercial, industrial, residential, transportation, and agriculture. For this purpose, various factors affecting the demand for energy in each sector have been analyzed. Methodology The adopted methodology is box Jenkins a systematic approach of identification, estimation, diagnostic checks, and forecasting of the model. This model is appropriate for time series data of medium to long-term length. Findings The data analysis outcomes specified that Pakistan's energy demand mainly depends on five fuel types. Within each sector, the consumption of fuel varies. Results show that 86% of energy consumption share is held by transport oil, industrial gas, industrial coal, residential gas, and residential electricity. Conclusion The major issue in the energy sector is the demand-supply gap primarily caused by the gas and electricity deficit. Conclusively, sectoral demand increases in each sector where commercial, residential, and industrial energy demand has higher growth. Moreover, the price effect is negative for all variables except coal, making it a Giffen goo

The Wellness Companion Portable Fitness Device

Designed to combat the unhealthy effects of sitting for long periods of time, the wellness companion is a portable treadmill that one can easily bring to school, to the office, to the library, or anywhere else one may be at for long periods of time. The companion can shrink up to one-third of its extended length using interlocking drawer sliders. In its collapsed form, the companion exists as three panels stacked on top of each other. In its extended form, these panels can slide out to tension the belt and provide a smooth walking surface. The current prototype makes use of a pre-existing treadmill from which a 2.5 HP motor, circuit board and speed controller was salvaged, and was built using medium-density fibreboard from Home Depot. A budget of $250 was allotted for this project, of which$137.67 was used. The wellness companion can easily hold over 200 lbs, and can be easily set up or put away in less than a minute. Future improvements are being considered, which include additional belt tension, a motor casing and a carrying suitcase for easy storage

Bayesian estimation using Lindley’s approximation of Inverted Kumaraswamy distribution based on lower record values

In this paper, we have considered estimation of unknown parameters based on lower record values for Inverted Kumaraswamy distribution. Maximum likelihood and approximate Bayes estimators based on lower record values for unknown parameters of this distribution are obtained. Lindley’s approximation (L-approximation) is used to obtain approximate Bayes estimators under DeGroot loss function based on lower record values. A Simulation study and a real data analysis are presented to illustrate the results.Publisher's Versio

Review of short term and long term performance of initial public offering

In today’s modern corporate world the concept of initial public offerings has gained much importance because it’s over and under performance can significantly affect the success of company. The current study aims at conducting a nonsystematic review of literature on the concept of initial public offering in order to understand its meaning and dimensions. In this regard a thorough review of existing literature has done and it has found that initial public offering concept has been explained by theorists in different ways. It meaning has significantly changed with changes in the business trends of corporate world. It was further found that over performance in short run and underperformance in the long run of initial public offering has remained mystified for the researchers although the performance of initial public offerings has significant effect on success or failure of a company. It is therefore concluded that the researchers should try to comprehend the conceptual nature and dimensions of initial public offering by examining its effects on the success of companies. In this way the companies in modern corporate world can ensure their success through effective utilization of initial public offerings

Modelling & Simulation of PV Module Connected with Three-Port DC Converter

Of the world’s electricity is being generated through conventional sources of energy like coal and atomic energy. People have realized the dire effect of using these fuels, and the amount of CO2 being released into the environment. There has been a shift in emphasis towards cleaner ways of generating electricity in recent years. Solar energy is abundantly available and the cleanest renewable energy source available in the world and is ready to use for a variety of applications, such as the generation of electricity for residential, commercial, or industrial consumption and have become very competitive solutions. It can be seen that there is trend of solar photovoltaics (PV), which has seen rapid growth over the years. The increasing trend of adopting PV system allows consumers to be known as producers or “Prosumers”. This report evaluates how solar PV can be used in combination with a battery bank along with three port converter to fulfill the requirement. Power production from PV cannot be consistent due to factors like the weather although The main benefits of solar power are that it can be easily installed cost of generation is low as there is no requirement for fuel and require very little maintenance Distributed maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and autonomous are achieved with the proposed configuration. The input-port of each TPC is connected to an independent PV energy source to achieve individual MPPT, and the output-ports of these TPCs are connected with load. Fully modular design is achieved by using Simulink/matlab

Jatropha curcas leaves mulch effect on seedling emergence and growth of maize (zea mays)

Allelopathy is a process in which one plant species may usefully or adversely affect the growth of other plant species through the production of allelochemicals. During the present investigation, mulch effect of Jatropha curcas leaves was evaluated on seed germination and seedling growth of maize varieties viz. Pioneer (V1), Azam (V2) and Jalal (V3). Mulch was applied at 1 and 2 tons/hectare. Phenolic compounds were detected in Jatropha curcas leaf (131.15 mg gallic acid eq./gm extract). Mulch applied at 2 tons/hectare significantly reduced seed germination (%), germination index, relative water content, root width and seedling dry weight. From the findings of the present investigation, it was inferred that Jatropha curcas leaves exhibited phytotoxic effects on maize at high concentrations