SN 1988Z: Spectro-photometric catalogue and energy estimates

We present a spectro-photometric catalogue of the evolution of supernova 1988Z which combines new and published observations in the radio, optical and X-ray bands, with the aim of offering a comprehensive view of the evolution of this object and deriving the total energy radiated since discovery. The major contribution to the total radiated energy comes at optical to X-ray frequencies, with a total emission of at least $2 \times 10^{51}$ erg (for Ho=50 km/s) in 8.5 years. A model-dependent extrapolation of this value indicates that the total radiated energy may be as high as $10^{52}$ erg. The high value of the radiated energy supports a scenario in which most of the kinetic energy of the ejecta is thermalized and radiated in a short interaction with a dense circumstellar medium of nearly constant density. In this sense, 1988Z is not a supernova but a young and compact supernova remnant.Comment: Accepted to be published in MNRAS (14 pages, 10 figures). Also available at http://www.inaoep.mx/~itzia

Political Regimes and Sovereign Credit Risk in Europe, 1750-1913

This article uses a new panel data set to perform a statistical analysis of political regimes and sovereign credit risk in Europe from 1750 to 1913. Old Regime polities typically suffered from fiscal fragmentation and absolutist rule. By the start of World War I, however, many such countries had centralized institutions and limited government. Panel regressions indicate that centralized and?or limited regimes were associated with significant improvements in credit risk relative to fragmented and absolutist ones. Structural break tests also reveal close relationships between major turning points in yield series and political transformations