Microeconometric Models of Rationing, Imperfect Markets, and Non-Negativity Constraints

This paper provides a theoretically consistent approach to estimating demand relationships in which kink points occur either in the interior or on the vertices of the budget set. There are important classes of problems in developing countries which demonstrate such kinked budget sets including binding non-negativity constraints. This paper also extends these methods to the estimation of production structures. As an application a translog cost function for three energy inputs is estimated from cross-sections of individual Indonesian firms.Political Economy,

Alternate Scheme for Optical Cluster-State Generation without Number-Resolving Photon Detectors

We design a controlled-phase gate for linear optical quantum computing by using photodetectors that cannot resolve photon number. An intrinsic error-correction circuit corrects errors introduced by the detectors. Our controlled-phase gate has a 1/4 success probability. Recent development in cluster-state quantum computing has shown that a two-qubit gate with non-zero success probability can build an arbitrarily large cluster state with only polynomial overhead. Hence, it is possible to generate optical cluster states without number-resolving detectors and with polynomial overhead.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables; made significant revisions and changed forma

Experimental Impacts into Feldspar Phenocrysts

Meteorite impact craters are the dominant surface feature on most terrestrial planetary bodies [1]. The extreme temperatures and pressures generated by hypervelocity impact events produce a variety of microscopic shock metamorphic effects in minerals, as well as non-exclusive shock-related features such as pervasive fracturing and brecciation.<p></p> Studies of shock effects in feldspar group minerals have been limited due to the the comparatively rapid rate at which feldspars weather, and the complexity of their microtextures which renders them difficult to study using conventional optical techniques. However, feldspars are becoming increasingly investigated for use as shock barometers due to their importance in planetary studies and meteoritics, where rocks often contain little or no quartz [e.g., 2]. This provides the motivation to examine more closely the effects of high-velocity impact of a projectile, in the method of [3], into a feldspathic target, in order to the resultant microstructural variation.<p></p&gt

Simulated Maximum Likelihood Estimation of the Linear Expenditure System with Binding Non-Negativity Constraints

This paper discusses issues on the estimation of consumer demand equations subject to binding non-negative constraints. We propose computationally feasible specifications and a simulated maximum likelihood (SML) method for demand systems. Our study shows that the econometric implementation of the SML estimates can avoid high-dimensional integration problems. As contrary to the simulation method of moments and simulated pseudo-likelihood methods that require the simulation of demand quantities subject to nonnegativity constraints for consumers in the sample, the SML approach requires only simulation of the likelihood function. The SML approach avoids solving for simulated demand quantities because the likelihood function is conditional on observed demand quantities. We have applied SML approach for the linear expenditure system (LES) with non-negativity constraints. The results of a seven-goods demand system are presented. The results provide empirical evidence on the importance of taking into account possible cross equation correlations in disturbances.Simulated likelihood, Linear expenditure system, Non-negativity constraints, Multivariate censored variables, Nonlinear simultaneous equations

Advertising and Product Confusion: A Case Study of Grapefruit Juice

Demand relationships for two closely related products -- grapefruit juice and grapefruit-juice cocktail -- were estimated from grocery-store scanner data to analyze the contention that consumer confusion exists between the two products. Results suggest confusion may exist, with grapefruit-juice advertising not only increasing the demand for grapefruit juice but also for grapefruit-juice cocktail.advertising, demand, grapefruit juice, cocktail, scanner data, Agribusiness, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis,