A restatement of the case for Scottish fiscal autonomy : or: the Barnett Formula - a formula for a Rake’s Progress

In this paper, we rebut the case that Ashcroft, Christie and Swales [ACS] (2006) make in favour of the status quo fiscal settlement in Scotland that stems from the Scotland Act 1998. This Act in creating the Scottish Parliament and Executive effectively separated public spending by the Scottish government from the need to raise taxes to finance it; rather, financing comes from Westminster through the Barnett formula. We do not think that these arrangements provide a stable political solution in the UK, as is evidenced by the so-called West Lothian question - a matter that may be becoming of greater concern in England than hitherto. Scotland, therefore, should be forewarned that even if it does not move from the status quo, movement might anyway be forced on it

A Restatement of the Case for Fiscal Autonomy (or: The Barnett Formula - a formula for Rake's Progress)

In this paper, we rebut the case that Ashcroft, Christie and Swales (2006) make in favour of the status quo fiscal settlement in Scotland that stems from the Scotland Act 1998. This Act in creating the Scottish Parliament and Executive effectively separated public spending by the Scottish government from the need to raise taxes to finance it; rather, financing comes from Westminster through the Barnett formula. We do not think that these arrangements provide a stable political solution in the UK, as is evidenced by the so-called West Lothian question - a matter that may be becoming of greater concern in England than hitherto. Scotland, therefore, should be forewarned that even if it does not move from the status quo, movement might anyway be forced on it.

Measuring atomic NOON-states and using them to make precision measurements

A scheme for creating NOON-states of the quasi-momentum of ultra-cold atoms has recently been proposed [New J. Phys. 8, 180 (2006)]. This was achieved by trapping the atoms in an optical lattice in a ring configuration and rotating the potential at a rate equal to half a quantum of angular momentum . In this paper we present a scheme for confirming that a NOON-state has indeed been created. This is achieved by spectroscopically mapping out the anti-crossing between the ground and first excited levels by modulating the rate at which the potential is rotated. Finally we show how the NOON-state can be used to make precision measurements of rotation.Comment: 14 preprint pages, 7 figure

Vortex Dynamics in Anisotropic Traps

We investigate the dynamics of linear vortex lattices in anisotropic traps in two-dimensions and show that the interplay between the rotation and the anisotropy leads to a rich but highly regular dynamics.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Creation of macroscopic superpositions of flow states with Bose-Einstein condensates

We present a straightforward scheme for creating macroscopic superpositions of different superfluid flow states of Bose-Einstein condensates trapped in optical lattices. This scheme has the great advantage that all the techniques required are achievable with current experiments. Furthermore, the relative difficulty of creating cats scales favorably with the size of the cat. This means that this scheme may be well-suited to creating superpositions involving large numbers of particles. Such states may have interesting technological applications such as making quantum-limited measurements of angular momentum.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Kleptocracy and Illiberalism: the Establishment of Fudan University Campus in Hungary

openThis thesis will explore the conceptual links between illiberalism and kleptocracy in Hungary with a focus on the Fudan University Campus in Budapest. The objective of the paper is to examine the extent to which so-called illiberalism can be defined as an ideological movement unto itself or whether the behaviour of the Hungarian political elite is merely an example of state corruption with no motive other than personal enrichment - or, a combination of both. Through the use of a vast literature review, which will cover an array of conceptual fields such as illiberalism, authoritarianism, transnational kleptocracy, and the effect on Western higher education, a broad theoretical framework will be developed from which to begin analysis. Then, a mixed qualitative methodology will be utilised. Interviews, online legal documents and media reports will contribute to the examination of the Fudan University Campus and the role that kleptocracy has played in its foundation. Firstly, through the literature review, it is found that the question of illbieralism as an ideology unto itself deserves a mixed response, that most likely the phenomon in Hungary is a combination of both top-down corruption and bottom-up ideological backlash. In other words, while there certainly exists certain consistent characteristics that are shared by proponents internationally, the trend of illiberalism - the weakening of rule of law principles, for example - is stoked in part by a kleptocratic elite seeking greater control of state apparatus. The research methodology finds that state corruption is pervasive in Hungary, and the reformation of the higher education system there is a microcosm of a much wider problem that has allowed the government to exert more control over different aspects of society. Finally, the foundation of the Fudan Campus is being used by Hungarian political elites to continue a trend of hiding wealth originating within the corruption of the higher education system, as well as potentially contributing to a trend of increasing authoritarianism via strengthened links with China. These findings shed light on the relationship between illbieralism, kleptocracy, and the erosion of democratic values within Hungary. It also contributes to the broader discourse on the impact of corruption on higher education and the implications for democratic governance.This thesis will explore the conceptual links between illiberalism and kleptocracy in Hungary with a focus on the Fudan University Campus in Budapest. The objective of the paper is to examine the extent to which so-called illiberalism can be defined as an ideological movement unto itself or whether the behaviour of the Hungarian political elite is merely an example of state corruption with no motive other than personal enrichment - or, a combination of both. Through the use of a vast literature review, which will cover an array of conceptual fields such as illiberalism, authoritarianism, transnational kleptocracy, and the effect on Western higher education, a broad theoretical framework will be developed from which to begin analysis. Then, a mixed qualitative methodology will be utilised. Interviews, online legal documents and media reports will contribute to the examination of the Fudan University Campus and the role that kleptocracy has played in its foundation. Firstly, through the literature review, it is found that the question of illbieralism as an ideology unto itself deserves a mixed response, that most likely the phenomon in Hungary is a combination of both top-down corruption and bottom-up ideological backlash. In other words, while there certainly exists certain consistent characteristics that are shared by proponents internationally, the trend of illiberalism - the weakening of rule of law principles, for example - is stoked in part by a kleptocratic elite seeking greater control of state apparatus. The research methodology finds that state corruption is pervasive in Hungary, and the reformation of the higher education system there is a microcosm of a much wider problem that has allowed the government to exert more control over different aspects of society. Finally, the foundation of the Fudan Campus is being used by Hungarian political elites to continue a trend of hiding wealth originating within the corruption of the higher education system, as well as potentially contributing to a trend of increasing authoritarianism via strengthened links with China. These findings shed light on the relationship between illbieralism, kleptocracy, and the erosion of democratic values within Hungary. It also contributes to the broader discourse on the impact of corruption on higher education and the implications for democratic governance