Weyl Anomaly Induced Stress Tensors in General Manifolds

Considering arbitrary conformal field theories in general (non-conformally flat) backgrounds, we adopt a dimensional regularization approach to obtain stress tensors from Weyl anomalies. The results of type A anomaly-induced stress tensors in four and six-dimensions generalize the previous results calculated in a conformally flat background. On the other hand, regulators are needed to have well-defined type B anomaly-induced stress tensors. We also discuss ambiguities related to type D anomalies, Weyl invariants and order of limit issues.Comment: 15 page

MEASURING FOOD MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY: GROSS- OR NET-OUTPUT APPROACH?

The measured multifactor productivity index of the value of shipments shows a trend of declining and then moving up and down along the level of the base year 1975. The influence of technological changes to the output growth is rather limited. The measured labor productivity index of the value-added exhibits a trend of steady increase over years. The contribution of the food-manufacturing sector to the growth of GDP increased during 1975-97.Food manufacturing, multifactor productivity, labor productivity, Agribusiness, Productivity Analysis,

HOW ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCE THE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF DIETS

Economic factors such as food prices and consumer income affect food choices with consequences for the availability of nutrients. A model is developed to estimate how the availability of 28 nutrients would change as consumers alter their food purchases in response to changes in food prices and income.Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Measuring Inverse Demand Systems and Consumer Welfare

Demand and Price Analysis, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

On Measuring Consumer Welfare Effects of Trade Reform

We develop a measure of consumer welfare by approximating Hicksian compensating variation as a function of all commodity prices and compensated price elasticities. The unique feature of this approach is that all direct- and cross-commodity effects of a demand system are incorporated into the welfare measurement. This approach is useful for developing an instrumental model to evaluate the consumer welfare effects of trade reform. For illustration, the proposed procedure is applied to Taiwan's meat industry, and various scenarios are considered to show the effects of eliminating meat tariff rates on the quantities of meat demanded and on the savings of meat expenditures.Consumer/Household Economics, International Relations/Trade,

How Increased Food and Energy Prices Affect Consumer Welfare

We analyze the consumer welfare effects of increased food and energy prices and find that the own-price elasticities of both food and energy are relatively inelastic, which explain well the dynamics of the recent soaring food and energy prices. The estimated demand elasticities are then used to analyze the consumer welfare effects of price changes in food and energy. The results indicate that an increase of food and energy prices would incur a substantial consumer welfare loss, which is a heavy burden for low income households.Demand elasticity, compensating variation, consumer welfare, Demand and Price Analysis,

Do Americans Change Toward Healthy Diets?

American’s nutritional and health status appear to be trending toward healthier diets, as measured by a reduction in cholesterol intake and an increase in calcium intake. The levels of food energy and total fats, however, increased substantially.Changes in American diet, nutrient economic responses, Health Economics and Policy, Poster 3601001,