Child welfare and intra-household inequality in Albania

The present paper aims at contributing to the literature on children welfare evaluation by taking into account for intra-household distribution of resources and, as a consequence, intra-household inequality. This task cannot be accomplished within the standard framework of unitary model of consumption, and equivalence scales helps only partially, since their scope is different. To investigate what happens within the family's black box we refer to collective models, recovering information about the decision of how resources are distributed within the household. We use the estimated sharing rule to draw some conclusions about the role played by intra-household inequality for children welfare in Albania and look at the effects that different public policies can have on child welfare. We find that taking into account for intra-household inequality raises the Gini of children welfare by nearly 10 percentage points and that in-kind transfers are more effective than cash transfers in ameliorating children well-being.Child welfare, intra-household inequality, collective models, sharing rule, Albania.

Sensor Deployment for Network-like Environments

This paper considers the problem of optimally deploying omnidirectional sensors, with potentially limited sensing radius, in a network-like environment. This model provides a compact and effective description of complex environments as well as a proper representation of road or river networks. We present a two-step procedure based on a discrete-time gradient ascent algorithm to find a local optimum for this problem. The first step performs a coarse optimization where sensors are allowed to move in the plane, to vary their sensing radius and to make use of a reduced model of the environment called collapsed network. It is made up of a finite discrete set of points, barycenters, produced by collapsing network edges. Sensors can be also clustered to reduce the complexity of this phase. The sensors' positions found in the first step are then projected on the network and used in the second finer optimization, where sensors are constrained to move only on the network. The second step can be performed on-line, in a distributed fashion, by sensors moving in the real environment, and can make use of the full network as well as of the collapsed one. The adoption of a less constrained initial optimization has the merit of reducing the negative impact of the presence of a large number of local optima. The effectiveness of the presented procedure is illustrated by a simulated deployment problem in an airport environment

The passive drinking effect: Evidence from Italy

This paper investigates whether consumption of alcoholic beverages affects distribution of resources among household members. We refer to this effect, highlighting the negative impact that alcohol addicted individuals can have on other household members wellbeing. To investigate this issue we rely on the collective framework and estimate a structural collective demand system. Our results show that for Italian households a high level of alcohol consumption influences the allocation of resources in favour of the husband, with a larger effect in poor households. This evidence implies that alcohol consumption is not only an individual problem. Public costs that are transferred to the other household members should be taken into account when designing social policies.collective model ; demand system ; sharing rule ; alcohol consumption ; intra-household resources distribution ; policy implications

Primal-Dual Estimation of a Linear Expenditure Demand System

Efficient estimates require the utilization of all the available theoretical and statistical information. This fact suggests that econometric models based on an explicit optimization theory might achieve more efficient estimates when all the primal and dual relations are used for a joint estimation of the model’s parameters. We present a discussion of this idea using a Linear Expenditure System (LES) of consumer demand. We assume that the risk-neutral household chooses its consumption plan on the basis of expected information. Some time after that decision, the econometrician attempts to measure quantities and prices and in so doing commits measurement errors. Hence, the econometric model is an errors-in-variables nonlinear system of equations for which there is no known consistent estimator. We propose an easy-to-implement estimator and analyze its empirical properties by a Monte Carlo simulation that shows a relatively small bias.Consumer demand functions, primal-dual, linear expenditure system, Demand and Price Analysis, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, D0,

GDP and the Value of Family Caretaking: How Much Does Europe Care?

This study estimates the size and value of unpaid family caretaking activities at a European level. While at a country level several studies are available, a comprehensive evaluation for Europe as a whole was missing so far, mainly due to data limitations. This paper fills this gap using a method that merges the information of an EU household survey (EU-SILC) with a time use survey (HETUS). Monetary values of unpaid family domestic work and unpaid family childcare work are obtained applying both the opportunity cost and the market replacement approaches. For Europe as a whole, the total value of these activities ranges between 20.1 per cent and 36.8 per cent of the EU GDP, depending on the applied methodology. The national values of these activities are discussed and an interpretation of the country differentials in the family caretaking gender gaps is given in terms of differences in culture, economic development and welfare state.unpaid domestic work, family care work, gender inequality, opportunity cost, market replacement approach

Benchmarking matching color in composite restorations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the color samples (A2, A3 and B1) of three different brands of resin composites using dentine masses. 135 discs were prepared (5 plates for each thickness, color and brand of composite material). A colorimetric evaluation, using white and black background, was performed just after preparation. The color was measured corresponding to "Vita" scale and ΔL, Δa, Δb and ΔE values were calculated using a spectrophotometer. The results showed that Value, Chroma and Hue often differ even if the same commercial color and same thickness is used. In conclusion, this study showed that the perfect aesthetics restoration is possible combining individual abilities, experience and correct techniques

A tooth preparation technique in fixed prosthodontics for students and neophyte dentists

The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel technique of tooth preparation in fixed prosthodontics suitable for dental students and neophyte dentists.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four dental students of the sixth-year class were recruited to verify the predicibility of this technique. Each student prepared two mandibular second premolars on a typodont for a dental crown with a 90° shoulder finishing line. One tooth was prepared using standard procedures taught in the prosthodontic dental course; the other tooth was prepared with the new technique. Three Professors of Prosthodontics of the same University evaluated the result on the basis of 10 criteria. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference between the two techniques was found in 8 out of 10 criteria. The new technique showed higher values (p<0.05) in 7 criteria, while the conventional technique had better results in just 1 criterion. Moreover, the total sum of values was higher for the new technique (total 41.2±3.98, p<0.05) compared to the conventional technique (total 38.12±5.18, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the results were less dependent on manual abilities and personal experience with the novel technique. It could helps dental students and neophyte dentists in their learning curve

The passive drinking effect: Evidence from Italy

This paper investigates whether consumption of alcoholic beverages affects distribution of resources among household members. We refer to this effect, highlighting the negative impact that alcohol addicted individuals can have on other household members wellbeing. To investigate this issue we rely on the collective framework and estimate a structural collective demand system. Our results show that for Italian households a high level of alcohol consumption influences the allocation of resources in favour of the husband, with a larger effect in poor households. This evidence implies that alcohol consumption is not only an individual problem. Public costs that are transferred to the other household members should be taken into account when designing social policies.Cet article étudie si la consommation de boissons alcoolisées affecte la distribution des ressources entre les membres du ménage. Nous nous référons à cet effet comme le Passive Drinking Effect, en mettant en évidence l'impact négatif que des individus dépendant de l'alcool peuvent avoir sur le bien-être des autres membres de la famille. Pour répondre à cette question nous nous appuyons sur le modèle collectif et on estime un système structurelle de demande de consommation. Nos résultats montrent que, pour les foyers italiens un niveau élevé de consommation d'alcool influe sur la répartition des ressources en faveur du mari, avec un effet plus grand pour les ménages pauvres. Cette évidence implique que la consommation d'alcool n'est pas seulement un problème individuel: les coûts publics qui sont transférés aux autres membres du ménage doivent être pris en compte dans le cadre des politiques sociales