Traditional And Non-Traditional Determinants Of Foreign Direct Investment In Developing Countries

This paper extends previous studies on the determinants of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by looking at both traditional and non-traditional factors that influence the amount of FDI flowing to developing countries. Emphasis is placed on the role of non-traditional qualitative factors. Data from 1998 and 2000 for fifty-five developing countries are employed to estimate an empirical model of FDI. Results indicate that FDI is significantly affected by several qualitative factors such as the level of economic freedom, level of corruption, and the level of international trade regulations adopted in the host country. These findings support the need for increased considera- tion of cultural and institutional factors in attempting to better estimate and understand the devel- opment process

Deployment Issues And Security Concerns With Wireless Local Area Networks: The Deployment Experience At A University

This paper presents and discusses various issues pertaining to the deployment of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs).  The popularity of WLANs has steadily increased in the last two years and has led to their deployment in a variety of organizations.  Yet, making a business case for WLANs is an important step in their deployment.  In addition to highlighting the need for a business case for WLAN deployment, the paper outlines the reasons for, benefits of, and security problems associated with, their deployment.  The latter part of this paper presents a case study about the deployment of a WLAN at the University of Akron.  Therein, it discusses the context for the deployment, the process that was used to justify the deployment, and the efforts made to protect users’ information from security deficiencies of wireless networks

Culture and Income across Countries: Evidence from Family Ties,

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to examine how much difference in income can be explained by familial culture that persists in different societies. Design/methodology/approach – We employ a two-step methodology to evaluate the impact of familial culture on income across countries. In the first step, we construct the macro measures of familial culture from micro survey data. In the second step, the growth model is estimated.Findings – First-step micro regression results show that family is more important to female, richer, highly educated, unemployed and married individuals. Male, poorer, less educated and unemployed individuals are more likely to respect and love parents unconditionally. The same group is also more likely to think that parents must do the best for their kids. Finally, the macro results show that the strength of national familial ties explains significant differences in income across countries. Research limitations/implications – We show that countries with weak family ties are richer than those with strong family ties. These results are useful for policymakers who design public policies that accommodate the type of familial culture that persists in their society. Originality/value – We construct the macro measures of familial culture from the micro survey data. The paper adds to the literature on the effect of culture on income at the macro level

Squared torsion f(T,T)f(T,\mathcal{T}) gravity and its cosmological implications

We present the coupling of the torsion scalar $T$ and the trace of energy-momentum tensor $\mathcal{T}$, which produces new modified $f(T,\mathcal{T})$ gravity. Moreover, we consider the functional form $f(T,\mathcal{T}) =\alpha \mathcal{T}+\beta T^2$ where $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are free parameters. As an alternative to a cosmological constant, the $f(T,\mathcal{T})$ theory may offer a theoretical explanation of the late-time acceleration. The recent observational data to the considered model especially the bounds on model parameters is applied in detail. Furthermore, we analyze the cosmological behavior of the deceleration, effective equation of state and total equation of state parameters. However, it is seen that the deceleration parameter depicts the transition from deceleration to acceleration and the effective dark sector shows a quintessence-like evolution.Comment: 7 figures, 8 pages Comments are welcom

Reconstruction of f(Q,T)f(Q,T) Lagrangian for various cosmological scenario

The variety of theories that can account for the dark energy phenomenon encourages current research to concentrate on a more in-depth examination of the potential impacts of modified gravity on both local and cosmic scales. We discuss some cosmological reconstruction in $f(Q,T)$ cosmology (where $Q$ is the non-metricity scalar, and $T$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor) corresponding to the evolution background in Friedmann-La\^imatre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe. This helps us to determine how any FLRW cosmology can arise from a specific $f(Q,T)$ theory. We use the reconstruction technique to derive explicit forms of $f(Q,T)$ Lagrangian for the different kinds of matter sources and Einstein's static universe. We also formulate the models using several ansatz forms of the $f(Q,T)$ function for $p=\omega \rho$. We demonstrate that several classes of $f(Q,T)$ theories admit the power-law and de-Sitter solutions in some ranges of $\omega$. Additionally, we reconstruct the cosmological model for the scalar field with a specific form of $f(Q,T)$. These new models with cosmological inspiration may impact gravitational phenomena at other cosmological scales.Comment: PLB published versio

Knowledge and Action in Non-Dualistic Vedānta: The Incongruity

Non-dualistic Vedanta insists on the importance of knowledge rather than action for attaining liberation. Knowledge is regarded as the direct and immediate means of liberation. The cause of the bondage is ignorance (avidyā) and the latter can be removed by knowledge. Non-dualistic Vedānta advocates that the individual is ignorant of the truth that his Self is none other than the Brahman and gets involved in the chain of transmigration. Knowledge of the Self leads to liberation. However, this position leads to a debate between Non-dualistic Vedānta and Mīmāmsā School of thought with reference to understanding whether knowledge itself is a mental action. The objective of the present paper is to examine whether knowledge can be regarded as a mental action