Two-way Flow Networks with Small Decay

The set of equilibrium networks in the two-way flow model of network formation (Bala and Goyal, 2000) is very sensitive to the introduction of decay. Even if decay is small enough so that equilibrium networks are minimal, the set of equilibrium architectures becomes much richer, especially when the benefit functions are nonlinear. However, not much is known about these architectures. In this paper we remedy this gap in the literature. We characterize the equilibrium architectures. Moreover, we show results on the relative stability of different types of architectures. Three of the results are that (i) at most one players receives multiple links, (ii) the absolute diameter of equilibrium networks can be arbitrarily large, and (iii) large (small) diameter networks are relatively stable under concave (convex) benefit functions.Network formation, two-way flow model, decay, non-linear benefits

Network Formation with Heterogeneous Players

This paper studies a connections model of network formation in which players are heterogeneous with respect to values as well as the cost of forming links. We start by showing that value heterogeneity is important in determining the level of connectedness of a network, while cost heterogeneity is important in shaping both the level of connectedness as well as the architecture of individual components in a network. We then explore the role of cost heterogeneity in a society which is divided into distinct groups and intra-group links are cheaper as compared to inter-group links. Here we find that inter-connected stars with locally central players are socially efficient as well as dynamically stable. We interpret our results as saying that centrality, center-sponsorship and small diameter are robust features of networks.

(Non-)Existence and Scope of Nash Networks

For the connections model of strategic network formation, with two-way flow of information and without information decay, specific parameter configurations are given for which Nash networks do not exist. Moreover, existence and the scope of Nash network architectures are briefly discussed.

‘In welchem Style sollen wir wohnen?’

In ‘The Exhibitionist House’, Beatriz Colomina highlights how the house has become ‘the most important vehicle for the investigation of architectural ideas in this century’. The role that what I would call ‘style rooms’ – exhibited house interiors – have played in this process should not be underestimated. These temporary and relatively simple architectural installations are not only able to quickly demonstrate an idea to a large audience, but can also transcend the manifesto, the sales brochure, or the promotional leaflet by evoking an immediate illusion of the interior. In my article, I want to position several of these style rooms in a debate about style and interiors that up to the present day remains of great importance to architecture and design. These specific interiors played a role in this debate at crucial moments in the first half of the twentieth century. Style, a key architectural concept, forms the foundation of many architectural-theoretical considerations and polemics, and is defined in the dictionary somewhat laboriously as the ‘collective characteristics of . . . artistic expression or way of presenting things or decorative methods proper to a person or school or period or subject.’In ‘The Exhibitionist House’ benadrukt Beatriz Colomina hoe het woonhuis ‘het belangrijkste instrument voor het onderzoek naar architectonische ideeën in deze eeuw’ is geworden. Stijlkamers – tentoongestelde woninginterieurs – hebben hierbij een niet te onderschatten rol gespeeld. Deze tijdelijke en relatief eenvoudig te realiseren architectonische installaties zijn niet alleen in staat om snel een idee aan een groot publiek te tonen, maar kunnen ook het manifest, de verkoopbrochure of de promotiefolder overstijgen door een onmiddellijke illusie van interieur op te roepen. In mijn artikel wil ik enkele stijlkamers plaatsen in een debat over stijl en interieur, dat van grote betekenis is voor architectuur en design, tot op de dag van vandaag. Het gaat om interieurs die op cruciale momenten in de eerste helft van de twintigste eeuw een rol gespeeld hebben in dit debat. Stijl is een essentieel architectonisch begrip, dat aan de basis staat van veel architectuurtheoretische beschouwingen en polemieken, en wordt in het woordenboek wat moeizaam gedefinieerd als ‘het geheel van bij elkaar aansluitende uitdrukkingsvormen, die kenmerkend zijn voor hetzij een bepaalde kunstenaar, hetzij, in de regel, voor een bepaalde school of richting of een bepaald tijdperk’

Het wonen en de dingen’

The Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE), which evolved from its forerunner the Akademie Industriële Vormgeving Eindhoven, has played an important role in design education in the Netherlands since the Second World War. The academy has been considered one of the most important design schools in the world since the 1990s and, as a result, attracts an increasing number of foreign students, particularly for the Master’s courses. After the departure of Gijs Bakker, the founder of the DAE Master’s programme, Jan Boelen, Joost Grootens and Louise Schouwenberg took over responsibility. Since 2010, Schouwenberg has headed the department of Contextual Design, which focuses on product design in a broad sense. Schouwenberg successively studied psychology, sculpture and philosophy and is the author of many publications, including a monograph about artist Robert Zandvliet (2012) and two on designer Hella Jongerius (2004 and 2010). In addition, she curated several exhibitions for, among others, Galerie Fons Welters in Amsterdam, the TextielMuseum Tilburg and Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam.De Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE), voortgekomen uit de Akademie Industriële Vormgeving Eindhoven, speelt sinds de Tweede Wereldoorlog een belangrijke rol in het Nederlandse designonderwijs. Sinds de jaren 1990 geldt de academie internationaal als een van de belangrijkste ontwerpopleidingen in de wereld en trekt daardoor steeds meer buitenlandse studenten aan, vooral in het masteronderwijs. Na de terugtreding van Gijs Bakker, grondlegger van het masterprogramma van de DAE, namen Jan Boelen, Joost Grootens en Louise Schouwenberg het stokje over. Sinds 2010 geeft Schouwenberg leiding aan de afdeling Contextual Design, die zich richt op productdesign in brede zin. Schouwenberg studeerde achtereenvolgens psychologie, beeldhouwen en filosofie, en heeft diverse publicaties op haar naam, waaronder een monografie over kunstenaar Robert Zandvliet (2012) en twee over ontwerper Hella Jongerius (2004 en 2010). Daarnaast stelde ze in de rol van curator enkele tentoonstellingen samen, onder andere voor Galerie Fons Welters in Amsterdam, het TextielMuseum Tilburg en Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam

The introduction of an appeals court in Dutch tax litigation

Since January 1, 2005, the Dutch tax litigation comprises an appeals court. Before 2005, it had but one court of instance. That means that now, after a court of first instance has given its verdict in a tax dispute, an unsatisfied party may appeal to a higher instance, where this was impossible before. In this paper we investigate which consequences introducing an appeals court has for the way tax payers and the tax administration solve their disputes. We focus on the following questions. Are more or less tax payers willing to go to court to solve the dispute? Is it more or less difficult for parties to agree upon a settlement? Which appeal rate can we expect? What is the role of trust in the courts in the answers to the questions above?Economic analysis of law; Litigation; Appeal