Relative efficiency of specific and ad-valorem tariffs in a model of monopolistic competition

The relative efficiency of ad-valorem and specific tariffs is still an active debate in the international trade literature. Contrary to the general belief about the ad-valorem tariff being superior under various imperfectly competitive market settings, it is shown that the specific tariff generates more welfare under monopolistic competition. We argue that this result is not general. If we follow the empirical evidence that firms use variable mark-ups and use a utility function that allows for it, we find that the ad-valorem tariff is more efficient when consumers’ love for variety is low. The relative efficiency overturns to the specific tariff as consumers’ love for variety increases

Development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) based biosendor set for detection of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and Escherichia coli (E. Coli)

The worldwide usage of products with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is constrained by different legal frameworks. GMO's usage limits are determined by the related regulations in each countries. "Regulation on Genetically Modified Organisms and Products" named law – effective since 2010 – draws the aforementioned conditions in Turkey. As a consequence, a variety of products are monitored by undergoing a GMO detection and classification processes. Researchers have been proposing different works regarding the specifically important problem of GMO-based products’ detection. Various methods such as Polymerase Chain Reaction, Ligase Chain Reaction, Rotating Circle Amplification are commonly used for DNA amplification, a crucial preprocessing step of the detection process. In this work, the loop-based isothermal amplification (LAMP) method which provides fast results and requires fewer temperature cycles is used. For the LAMP method to be properly implemented, the sample should be kept at 60-65:C between 35-120 minutes. Conventional laboratory devices used for this purpose can be characterized - on average – to be heavy (1-12 kg), expensive (1300-15000 €), unmovable and only operable by trained experts. In this thesis, we present the design, implementation and performance analysis of two prototype GMO-based product and bacteria detection devices that are portable (108-240 g) , fast (<30-40 minutes), affordable (<25-30 €) and pocket-size (6x6x3-9.7x6.8x5 cm) provided with battery system that allows its functionality outside laboratory environment. The temperature level controller, heater design, feedback circuit and the exterior of the device are prepared via different mechanical and electronic design software. A Proportional control based feedback control scheme is used to adjust the temperature with a high accuracy of (± 0.2:C). In this work, we extended the devices uses to E.coli bacteria detection as well. The detection was done using the LAMP method and is presented as the second device with its customized design providing high output (105 microchannels). Roundup Ready Soybean (RRS), gts40-3-2) with 0%, 0.1%, 1% and 10% GMO content were used for GMO analysis part and E. Coli ATCC 10536 bacteria for bacterial analysis. Both GMO and Bacteria detection and analysis results were done by the proposed devices showed similar performance in terms of accuracy and sensitivity when compared to the laboratory or commercial correspondents in the market while successfully outperforming them in the other already mentioned aspect

Taxation, aggregates and the household

We evaluate reforms to the U.S. tax system in a dynamic setup with heterogeneous married and single households, and with an operative extensive margin in labor supply. We restrict our model with observations on gender and skill premia, labor force participation of married females across skill groups, and the structure of marital sorting. We study four revenue-neutral tax reforms: a proportional consumption tax, a proportional income tax, a progressive consumption tax, and a reform in which married individuals file taxes separately. Our findings indicate that tax reforms are accompanied by large and differential effects on labor supply: while hours per-worker display small increases, total hours and female labor force participation increase substantially. Married females account for more than 50% of the changes in hours associated to reforms, and their importance increases sharply for values of the intertemporal labor supply elasticity on the low side of empirical estimates. Tax reforms in a standard version of the model result in output gains that are up to 15% lower than in our benchmark economy

Taxation, Aggregates and the Household

We evaluate reforms to the U.S. tax system in a dynamic setup with heterogeneous married and single households, and with an operative extensive margin in labor supply. We restrict our model with observations on gender and skill premia, labor force participation of married females across skill groups, and the structure of marital sorting. We study four revenue-neutral tax reforms: a proportional consumption tax, a proportional income tax, a progressive consumption tax, and a reform in which married individuals file taxes separately. Our findings indicate that tax reforms are accompanied by large and differential effects on labor supply: while hours per-worker display small increases, total hours and female labor force participation increase substantially. Married females account for more than 50% of the changes in hours associated to reforms, and their importance increases sharply for values of the intertemporal labor supply elasticity on the low side of empirical estimates. Tax reforms in a standard version of the model result in output gains that are up to 15% lower than in our benchmark economy.taxation, two-earner households, labor force participation

Taxation, aggregates and the household

We evaluate reforms to the U.S. tax system in a dynamic setup with heterogeneous married and single households, and with an operative extensive margin in labor supply. We restrict our model with observations on gender and skill premia, labor force participation of married females across skill groups, and the structure of marital sorting. We study four revenue-neutral tax reforms: a proportional consumption tax, a proportional income tax, a progressive consumption tax, and a reform in which married individuals file taxes separately. Our findings indicate that tax reforms are accompanied by large and differential effects on labor supply: while hours per-worker display small increases, total hours and female labor force participation increase substantially. Married females account for more than 50% of the changes in hours associated to reforms, and their importance increases sharply for values of the intertemporal labor supply elasticity on the low side of empirical estimates. Tax reforms in a standard version of the model result in output gains that are up to 15% lower than in our benchmark economy.Taxation

Taxing Women: A Macroeconomic Analysis

Based on well-known evidence on labor supply elasticities, several authors have concluded that women should be taxed at lower rates than men. We evaluate the quantitative implications of taxing women at a lower rate than men. Relative to the current system of taxation, setting a proportional tax rate on married females equal to 4% (8%) increases output and married female labor force participation by about 3.9% (3.4%) and 6.9% (4.0%), respectively. Gender-based taxes improve welfare and are preferred by a majority of households. Nevertheless, welfare gains are higher when the U.S. tax system is replaced by a proportional, gender-neutral income tax.taxation, two-earner households, labor force participation

Income Taxation of U.S. Households: Basic Facts

We use micro data from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to document how households' tax liabilities vary with income, marital status and the number of dependents. We report facts on the distributions of average and marginal taxes, properties of the joint distributions of taxes paid and income, and discuss how taxes are affected by marital status and the number of children. The data reveals a large dispersion in tax rates and taxes paid. Ranking households according to the average tax rates they face, those at top 1% face taxes in excess of 27.5%, while the median tax rate is about 8%. About 14.5% of married and 31.8% of unmarried households do not pay any taxes. Given the progressivity in the system, tax liabilities are more unequally distributed than income. The top 5% (1%) of households account for 54% (34.8%) of total tax liabilities, while top 5% (1%) of households have 34.8% (20.3%) of total income. We also provide parametric estimates of tax functions for use in applied work in macroeconomics and public finance.taxation, tax progressivity, households

Centralized and Distributed Detection of Compromised Smart Grid Devices using Machine Learning and Convolution Techniques

The smart grid concept has further transformed the traditional power grid into a massive cyber-physical system that depends on advanced two-way communication infrastructure. While the introduction of cyber components has improved the grid, it has also broadened the attack surface. In particular, the threat stemming from compromised devices pose a significant danger: An attacker can control the devices to change the behavior of the grid and can impact the measurements or damage the grid equipment. In this thesis, to detect such malicious smart grid devices, we propose a novel machine learning and convolution-based framework, named PowerWatch, that is able to run in centralized and distributed settings. After gathering library and system calls, the framework is able to identify how close the observed device is behaving with respect to its normal operations, with mispredictions having the implication of compromise. We evaluated the framework through a state-machine-based computational model of the smart grid devices that explore a wide variety of possible cases that may occur in grid operations: attaining 95.1% accuracy at 0.03% false positive rate over 37500 experiments. The framework was then further tested on a realistic smart grid testbed, where it was able to successfully detect the compromised device in every attack scenario considered in the threat model

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DETERMINATION OF SEED-BORNE FUNGI IN SOME MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS

The aim of this study was to identify as well as to determine and pathogenicity of fungi, using the agar plate and blotter method, associated with the seeds of anise (Pimpinella anisum), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), flax (Linum usitatissimum), fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). A total of six fungi namely Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Arthrinium arundinis, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and Penicillium spp. isolated from seeds of the medicinal and aromatic plants. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that A. alternata was pathogenic in lemon balm and fenugreek seeds at the rates of 70 and 75%, respectively. B. cinerea was determined as a pathogen in lemon balm seed at the rate of 35%. A. arundinis was detected at rates of 96 and 67% pathogen in coriander and lemon balm seeds, respectively. A. niger was determined as pathogen in coriander seed at the rate of 100%. C. sphaerospermum was found as pathogen in fennel and flax seeds at the rates of 86 to 90%, respectively. To our knowledge this is the first report on A. alternata, B. cinerea and A. arundinis isolated from melissa seeds in Turkey. This study also represents the first reported cases of C. sphaerospermum in flax and fennel seeds and A. alternata in fenugreek seeds and A. niger and A. arundinis on coriander seeds for Turkey