Ricardian equivalence for sub-national states

The authors test Ricardian equivalence within an endogenous growth model for U.S. states, which have high rates of migration relative to most countries. Results are consistent with both Ricardian equivalence and endogenous growth, despite the relative ease of migration. Increases in productive government expenditures increase long-run real growth by the same amount, for example, whether financed by taxes or bonds. State rules limiting the use of bond financing may play a role in supporting Ricardian equivalence. The study provides the first explicit test of Ricardian equivalence for sub-national states in the context of an endogenous growth model.endogenous growth

An Economist’s Guide to Heaven

This paper is the first to offer an economic model of God and humanity as optimizing agents in the context of concrete belief archetypes (religious ‘contracts’) in Judeo-Christian theology. Data support the model’s unique predictions, despite their otherwise counterintuitive, unlikely nature. For example, the model requires that in one belief archetype, ‘good works’ not increase with strength of faith, as one might otherwise expect, and that what appears may be God’s dominant contract precisely balances divine penalties for reneging on promises with incentives to seek divine ‘gifts’—an equivalence supported in the data.economics;religion

The Influences of Microbial Diversity on Carbonate Geochemistry Across a Transition from Fresh to Saline Water in the Edwards Aquifer, Texas

Microbially-mediated karstification through the production of metabolic byproducts has been well-documented in cave environments, but less is known about deep karstic settings. This research aimed to distinguish between microbial and geochemical influences on carbonate dissolution in the Edwards Aquifer, a prolific karst aquifer in central Texas, specifically from a transect of six wells across a transition from fresh to saline water in New Braunfels. For the first time, a portion of the aquifer’s bacterial diversity was examined from molecular 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, which revealed that Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Betaproteobacteria dominated the aquifer, with rare Bacteroidetes, Nitrospirae, and Firmicutes taxonomic groups. Local geochemical conditions for each well (H2S levels, TDS, and depth) accounted for ~83% of the genetic variability among wells. In general, putative chemoorganotrophic microorganisms were prevalent in all wells, but chemolithoautotrophs associated with sulfur oxidation were prevalent only in sulfidic wells. Sterile and reactive in situ microcosms containing experimental calcite and dolomite fragments were deployed in the transect wells for ~1 month. Most of the mineral fragments in the microcosms (~64%) had statistically significant mass loss, although fluids were saturated with respect to calcite (SI= +0.6 to +0.14) and dolomite (SI= +0.18 to +0.43). There was greater mass loss in reactive microcosms having higher surface cell densities on colonized mineral surfaces. These results suggest that microbial colonization establishes geochemical disequilibrium between mineral surfaces and bulk aquifer fluids, regardless of the metabolic potential of the microorganisms. Microbially-mediated carbonate dissolution is possible in both fresh and saline water deep karstic zones of the aquifer

The rising share of nonmarital births: A response to Ermisch, Martin, and Wu

We are flattered that our recent paper in Demography, GSS (2006), has attracted such close attention from Ermisch Martin and Wu (EMW). In this response we appreciate the opportunity to expand on several key aspects of our paper, but see no reason to substantially revise any of our major conclusions based on EMW comments. Reading EMW, one might think we had proposed the demographic equivalent of Newton’s second law of thermodynamics – the existence of a universal phenomenon, manifest in identical form in all places, for all groups, during all times periods, regardless of circumstances. It will be helpful, then, to review briefly the central points in GSS before turning to the major EMW comments, along with our responses.fertility, illegitimacy ratio, marriage, nonmarital fertility ratio, nonmarital births

E-learning at University of the Arts London

This report is a systematic exploration of staff relationships with e-learning. It presents a renewed evidence base from which e-learning provision and related support can be planned particularly in a rapidly changing HE terrain and an institutional context where e-learning and academic structures are emerging from large change programmes. The research is based on 25 interviews with programme directors (PD) evenly distributed across the 4 colleges, with representatives from all discipline groups, and levels of study. The interviewees provided rich insights into attitudes to, practices in and aspirations for e-learning, but in some instances, were also limited by the newness of the PD role. While some PDs had an intimate understanding of their programme areas, others, understandably, given the newness of posts, were in the process of familiarising themselves with the work of their teams

A haptic-enabled multimodal interface for the planning of hip arthroplasty

Multimodal environments help fuse a diverse range of sensory modalities, which is particularly important when integrating the complex data involved in surgical preoperative planning. The authors apply a multimodal interface for preoperative planning of hip arthroplasty with a user interface that integrates immersive stereo displays and haptic modalities. This article overviews this multimodal application framework and discusses the benefits of incorporating the haptic modality in this area

Conservation Difficulties for Hylobates lar: Effects the Illegal Pet Trade has on White-Handed Gibbons' Behavioral Health and Successful Rehabilitation

White-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) are currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and wild populations are rapidly declining. In Thailand, the primary threat to this species is hunting for the purpose of capturing infants for the illegal pet trade. During their time in the pet trade, gibbons may be used as a tourist attraction and photographic prop. Some are relatively well cared for while others are reared in abusive conditions with no conspecific contact. In order to determine what effects the illegal pet trade has on white-handed gibbons' behavioral health and rehabilitation prospects, I analyze the behavior of numerous individual gibbons currently housed at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (GRP) in Phuket, Thailand. I also analyze the behavior of reintroduced gibbons. Results show that gibbons in the pet trade exhibit a variety of abnormal behaviors that correspond to those of deprived captive and laboratory primates. Some aberrancies cannot be modified later in life and many individuals will never be released. Other aberrancies are more easily alleviated and numerous gibbon groups have been successfully reintroduced into the Khao Phra Theaw Non-Hunting Area. Some important factors to rehabilitation success are age upon arrival and a rearing environment with conspecifics. However, reintroduced gibbon behavior differs from wild gibbon behavior in ways that affect immediate safety. In order for reintroduction programs to be successful, conservation initiatives must address multiple interrelated aspects including education, law enforcement, habitat protection, and economic alternatives

Performing feminist research: creative tactics for communicating COVID-19, gender, and higher education research

Presenting research findings outside of the form of a traditional research report requires different modes of making and communicating. This paper offers an account of how The #FEAS Report, a satirical news video, was made to communicate the findings from interviews and a survey as part of the mixed-methods study, Sexism, Higher Education, and COVID-19: The Australian Perspective to a wider public. Three creative tactics for research communication were used: DIY aesthetics, humour, and situated bodies. These communication tactics enabled the researchers to think differently about what research findings mean, and how to articulate them in ways that are intelligible. The paper shows how these tactics worked to bring findings to audiences beyond the academy and ask audiences within the academy to think differently about research reporting and knowledge communication. The paper considers how performing research in this way generates different conversations that compliment those started by more common ways of presenting research findings, and most importantly, how crucial it is for feminist researchers to make space for the creative within contemporary higher education