The Economics of Books

The tensions between books and book markets as expressions of culture and books as products in profit-making businesses are analysed and insights from the theory of industrial organisation are given. Governments intervene in the market for books through laws concerning prices of books, grants for authors and publishers, a lower value-added tax, public libraries and education in order to stimulate the diversity of books on offer, increase the density of retail outlets and to promote reading. An overview of the different ways by which countries differ in terms of market structures and government policies is given. Particular attention is paid to retail price maintenance. Due to differences between European countries it is not a good idea to harmonise European book policies. Our analysis suggests that the book market seems quite able to invent solutions to specific problems of the book trade and that, apart from promoting reading, there is little need for government intervention.books, publishers, authors, diversity, monopolistic competition, retail price maintenance, subsidies, libraries, internet

Exploring the proportionality of representation in interest group mobilization and political access: the case of the Netherlands

Surveys reveal that there are great differences among citizens in their membership of political associations. Such differences plausibly lead to a better representation of interests of privileged citizens compared to other citizens. We examine the demographic groups (in terms of education, gender and immigration background) that tend to be members of interest groups. We also investigate the relation between the membership profile of associations and the propensity of interest groups to be routinely approached by policymakers. The results of our elite survey of Dutch interest associations indicate that relatively well-educated citizens and men are better represented in interest groups. Patterns of underrepresentation are not further exacerbated by the outreach of policy-makers, except that interest associations with a relatively large female membership are less likely to be consulted

Restarting parallel Jacobi-Davidson with both standard and harmonic Ritz values

We study the Jacobi-Davidson method for the solution of large generalized eigenproblems as they arise in MagnetoHydroDynamics. We have combined Jacobi-Davidson (using standard Ritz values) with a shift and invert technique. We apply a complete LU decomposition in which reordering strategies based on a combination of block cyclic reduction and domain decomposition result in a well-parallelizable algorithm. Moreover, we describe a variant of Jacobi-Davidson in which harmonic Ritz values are used. In this variant the same parallel LU decomposition is used, but this time as a preconditioner to solve the `correction` equation. The size of the relatively small projected eigenproblems which have to be solved in the Jacobi-Davidson method is controlled by several parameters. The influence of these parameters on both the parallel performance and convergence behaviour will be studied. Numerical results of Jacobi-Davidson obtained with standard and harmonic Ritz values will be shown. Executions have been performed on a Cray T3E

The VEL and VANLA environmental co-operatives as field laboratories

This article describes the Nutrient Management Project of the environmental co-operatives VEL and VANLA as a field laboratory. A field laboratory is defined as a heterogeneous collection of inter-linked scientific studies performed by several actors within a specific field, but – as in normal laboratories – with some protection against outside interference and disturbance. The Nutrient Management Project of VEL and VANLA demonstrates several characteristics of field laboratories. Firstly, in the project, dairy farmers and scientists carry out joint research using different sources of knowledge. Secondly, apart from research the actors are engaged in changing the location, thereby developing new knowledge and practices. In the case of VEL and VANLA this means developing the fields and farms towards sustainability. Thirdly, the actors thoughtfully experiment with several research methodologies to gain understanding on a variety of issues. So within the field laboratory of VEL and VANLA there is heterogeneity in themes, disciplines and methodologies. Simultaneously a systems perspective is created as an interpretative scheme that links up all the different activities. Finally, within VEL and VANLA, alignment among practices, research and the institutional context is essential for the continuation of the research activities