A Forward Looking Version of the MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) Model

Abstract and PDF report are also available on the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change website (http://globalchange.mit.edu/).This paper documents a forward looking multi-regional general equilibrium model developed from the latest version of the recursive-dynamic MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model. The model represents full inter-temporal optimization (perfect foresight), which makes it possible to better address economic and policy issues such as borrowing and banking of GHG allowances, efficiency implications of environmental tax recycling, endogenous depletion of fossil resources, international capital flows, and optimal emissions abatement paths among others. It was designed with the flexibility to represent different aggregations of countries and regions, different horizon lengths, as well as the ability to accommodate different assumptions about the economy, in terms of economic growth, foreign trade closure, labor leisure choice, taxes on primary factors, vintaging of capital and data calibration. The forward-looking dynamic model provides a complementary tool for policy analyses, to assess the robustness of results from the recursive EPPA model, and to illustrate important differences in results that are driven by the perfect foresight behavior. We present some applications of the model that include the reference case and its comparison with the recursive EPPA version, as well as some greenhouse gas mitigation cases where we explore economic impacts with and without inter-temporal trade of permits.This research was supported by the U.S Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration; and the Industry and Foundation Sponsors of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change: Alstom Power (USA), American Electric Power (USA), A.P. Møller-Maersk (Denmark), Cargill (USA), Chevron Corporation (USA), CONCAWE & EUROPIA (EU), DaimlerChrysler AG (USA), Duke Energy (USA), Electric Power Research Institute (USA), Electricité de France, Enel (Italy), Eni (Italy), Exelon Power (USA), ExxonMobil Corporation (USA), Ford Motor Company (USA), General Motors (USA), Iberdrola Generacion (Spain), J-Power (Japan), Merril Lynch (USA), Murphy Oil Corporation (USA), Norway Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Oglethorpe Power Corporation (USA), RWE Power (Germany), Schlumberger (USA),Shell Petroleum (Netherlands/UK), Southern Company (USA), StatoilHydro (Norway), Tennessee Valley Authority (USA), Tokyo Electric Power Company (Japan), Total (France), G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation (USA)

Alumbramentos: investigação e escrita de argumento para documentário

Trabalho de Projeto submetido à Escola Superior de Teatro e Cinema para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Desenvolvimento de Projecto Cinematográfico - especialização em Narrativas Cinematográficas.Este trabalho tem por objetivo compreender as etapas da investigação e escrita de um documentário e apresentar um dossier para um filme de 50 minutos. Foi realizada uma pesquisa de referências fílmicas dentro do chamado filme-ensaio, com ênfase na história de vida de um personagem principal ou na relação entre tal personagem e o realizador. Recorremos ao trabalho de Sheila Bernard e Michael Rabiger para seguir um modelo estrutural e a exemplos do nosso próprio personagem, Deífilo Gurgel, para encontrar inspiração para nosso estilo autoral.ABSTRACT - This study aims to understand the stages of the research and writing of a documentary and present a dossier for a 50 minute film. A search of filmic references within the film-essay category was performed, with an emphasis on the life history of a main character or the relationship between this character and the director. We used the work of Sheila Bernard and Michael Rabiger to follow a structural model and examples of our own character, Deífilo Gurgel, to find inspiration for our authorial style

The War to End All Germans: Wisconsin Synod Lutherans and the First World War

The First World War came to the United States to the consternation of many of its citizens, especially its German Americans. On the home front, government officials required complete adherence to the war effort. This also included religious adherence. The Wisconsin Synod Lutherans, a German-speaking religious group, met tremendous difficulties during the war years. In addition to the crusade against all things German, the synod faced religious persecution because it doctrinally abstained from religiously sanctioning the war aims and programs of the United States. The repression of the synod came from both patriotic citizens and government agents who typically misunderstood or disdained the religious practices of the synod. The situation created predicaments for German Lutherans as they attempted to serve both God and country

Regional, multilateral, and unilateral trade policies on MERCOSUR for growth and poverty reduction in Brazil

The authors estimate that the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA), the EU-MERCOSUR agreement, and multilateral trade policy changes will all be beneficial for Brazil. The Brazilian government strategy of simultaneously negotiating the FTAA and the EU-MERCOSUR agreement, while supporting multilateral liberalization through the Doha Agenda, will increase the benefits of each of these policies. The authors estimate that the poorest households typically gain roughly three to four times the average for Brazil from any of the policies considerethe United States protects its most highly protected markets. Both the FTAA and the EU-MERCOSUR agreements are net trade-creating for the countries involved, but excluded countries almost always lose from the agreements. The authors estimate that multilateral trade liberalization of 50 percent in tariffs and export subsidies results in gains to the world more than four times greater than either the FTAA or the EU-MERCOSUR agreement. This shows the continued importance to the world trading community of the multilateral negotiations.Trade Policy,Economic Theory&Research,Rules of Origin,Environmental Economics&Policies,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Trade and Regional Integration,Trade Policy

Economic Loss to the Brazilian Regions Due to the Doha Round Failure

We build a database and model to develop general equilibrium analysis of the Brazilian economy at the level of the five macro regions. The model is multiregional at global level as also at the Brazilian level. The project is coupled to the GTAP model through disaggregation of the original Brazilian input-output matrix and trade flows and follows the GTAPinGAMS structure and syntax to generate the General Equilibrium Analysis Project for the Brazilian Economy (PAEG). The regional database is that of the GTAP version 6 and represent the 2001 world economy. We aggregate the data in seven regions plus the five Brazilian sub-regions and nineteen commodities/sectors to apply the scenario Doha Round to determine the probable losses to the Brazilian regions from the failure of the Doha round of negotiations. It is analyzed cuts in the agricultural and manufactures (NAMA proposal) import tariffs via the application of the Swiss formula, reduction in the agricultural production subsidies and elimination of agricultural export subsidies. The results show that although the regions are affected in different ways, the Doha Round failure generates losses for all Brazilian regions. The losses are greater for the Midwest and South regions, the most important for the Brazilian agricultural production.Brazilian regions, General equilibrium, Agribusiness, Trade liberalization, International Development, International Relations/Trade, F13, F15, Q17,

An epistemological discussion of scientific imagination: the construction of knowledge across Albert Einstein's views

Este trabalho tem como objetivo discutir o papel da imaginação científica na construção do conhecimento. O estudo teórico foi realizado em duas etapas. Primeiramente, discutimos a relação da racionalidade com a imaginação na epistemologia contemporânea. A discussão teórica é complementada com uma análise histórica do pensamento de Albert Einstein, para tornar possível a apresentação de uma visão de construção do conhecimento científico que considere e valorize o papel da imaginação.The goal of this work is to discuss the role of the scientific imagination in construction of knowledge. The theoretical study is composed of two parts. Firstly, we have discussed the relationship between rationality and imagination on contemporary epistemology. The theoretical study is completed with a historical analysis of Albert Einstein's thoughts to present one view of the scientific knowledge construction which considers and valorizes the role of the imagination

On k-leaf-connected graphs

AbstractA graph G is Hamilton-connected if given any two vertices u and v of G, there is a Hamilton path in G with ends u and v. In this note we consider a generalization of this property. For k ≥ 2 we say that a graph G = (VG, EG) is k-leaf-connected if |VG| > k and given any subset S of VG with |S| = k, G has a spanning tree T such that the set S is the set of endvertices of T. Thus a graph is 2-leaf-connected if and only if it is Hamilton-connected. This generalization is due to U. S. R. Murty. We prove that the k-leaf-connectedness property is (|VG| + k − 1)-stable, give sufficient conditions for a graph to be k-leaf-connected, present some necessary conditions and other related results. We show that for all naturals n, k, 2 ≤ k < n − 2, there is a sparse k-leaf-connected graph of order n

The metropolises of the interior of northeastern Brazil : characterizing a regional metropolitan type

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar como as configurações dão suporte à constituição do que se denominou Regiões Metropolitanas no Interior do Nordeste (RMINEs), buscando a caracterização de um tipo metropolitano regional. Nas últimas décadas, a urbanização cresceu nas cidades médias e nas franjas perimetropolitanas, convertendo esses territórios em polos de atração de migrações internas e inter-regionais. A pesquisa abrange as RMINEs com mais de 500.000 habitantes com indícios de conurbação física. Tais áreas são caracterizadas por seu estágio intermediário de metropolização em relação às grandes metrópoles nacionais, congregando equipamentos, serviços e empregos que atendem a uma escala regional e que, portanto, representam uma dominância socioeconômica e funcional dessas cidades-sede sobre suas hinterlândias.The objective of this work is to present how configurational properties support the constitution of what is called Metropolitan Regions in the Interior of Northeastern Brazil (RMINEs), in an attempt to characterize a regional metropolitan type. In recent decades, urbanization has grown in medium-sized cities and perimetropolitan fringes, converting these territories into poles of attraction of internal and inter-regional migrations. The study covers RMINEs with more than 500,000 inhabitants and signs of physical conurbation. These areas are characterized by their intermediary stage of metropolization in relation to large national metropolises, bringing together equipment, services and jobs that serve a regional scale and, therefore, represent a socioeconomic and functional dominance of these cities over their hinterland regions