Decomposing the misery index: A dynamic approach

YesThe misery index (the unweighted sum of unemployment and inflation rates) was probably the first attempt to develop a single statistic to measure the level of a population’s economic malaise. In this letter, we develop a dynamic approach to decompose the misery index using two basic relations of modern macroeconomics: the expectations-augmented Phillips curve and Okun’s law. Our reformulation of the misery index is closer in spirit to Okun’s idea. However, we are able to offer an improved version of the index, mainly based on output and unemployment. Specifically, this new Okun’s index measures the level of economic discomfort as a function of three key factors: (1) the misery index in the previous period; (2) the output gap in growth rate terms; and (3) cyclical unemployment. This dynamic approach differs substantially from the standard one utilised to develop the misery index, and allow us to obtain an index with five main interesting features: (1) it focuses on output, unemployment and inflation; (2) it considers only objective variables; (3) it allows a distinction between short-run and long-run phenomena; (4) it places more importance on output and unemployment rather than inflation; and (5) it weights recessions more than expansions

Molecular Science Research Center, 1991 annual report

During 1991, the Molecular Science Research Center (MSRC) experienced solid growth and accomplishment and the Environmental, and Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) construction project moved forward. We began with strong programs in chemical structure and dynamics and theory, modeling, and simulation, and both these programs continued to thrive. We also made significant advances in the development of programs in materials and interfaces and macromolecular structure and dynamics, largely as a result of the key staff recruited to lead these efforts. If there was one pervasive activity for the past year, however, it was to strengthen the role of the EMSL in the overall environmental restoration and waste management (ER/WM) mission at Hanford. These extended activities involved not only MSRC and EMSL staff but all PNL scientific and technical staff engaged in ER/WM programs

Characterization of hydrogen species on metal-oxide surfaces by electron-stimulated desorption: TiO/sub 2/ and SrTiO/sub 3/*

The hydrogen species on TiO/sub 2/ and SrTiO/sub 3/ have been characterized using the site specificity of electron-excited Auger Stimulated Desorption (ASD). Hydrogen is found to be bonded to surface Ti's in hydride-type bonds, to subsurface or bridgebonded O's in a hydroxyl-like bond, or be part of a surface hydroxyl. On SrTiO/sub 3/ the Ti-H and surface OH species are also found plus a high density of Sr-H and very little Sr-OH bonding. The general features of ASD, both electron- and photon-excited, are discussed

Electron- and photon-stimulated desorption as hydrogen probes

Recent results from electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) are presented along with even more recently demonstrated photon-stimulated desorption (PSD) which show that these techniques are powerful and insightful probes of atomic and molecular species on surfaces and specifically are very sensitive to hydrogen. As such they are valuable complements to the burgeoning array of electronic probes of surfaces. More importantly, they open the way for a direct study of hydrogen and its singularly important role in surface chemistry. While these techniques are primarily surface probes, it is demonstrated that ion-milling techniques can be used to determine near surface hydrogen profiles

Molecular Science Research Center annual report

The Chemical Structure and Dynamics group is studying chemical kinetics and reactions dynamics of terrestrial and atmospheric processes as well as the chemistry of complex waste forms and waste storage media. Staff are using new laser systems and surface-mapping techniques in combination with molecular clusters that mimic adsorbate/surface interactions. The Macromolecular Structure and Dynamics group is determining biomolecular structure/function relationships for processes the control the biological transformation of contaminants and the health effects of toxic substances. The Materials and Interfaces program is generating information needed to design and synthesize advanced materials for the analysis and separation of mixed chemical waste, the long-term storage of concentrated hazardous materials, and the development of chemical sensors for environmental monitoring of various organic and inorganic species. The Theory, Modeling, and Simulation group is developing detailed molecular-level descriptions of the chemical, physical, and biological processes in natural and contaminated systems. Researchers are using the full spectrum of computational techniques. The Computer and Information Sciences group is developing new approaches to handle vast amounts of data and to perform calculations for complex natural systems. The EMSL will contain a high-performance computing facility, ancillary computing laboratories, and high-speed data acquisition systems for all major research instruments

Electron and photon stimulated desorption

Stimulated desorption is investigated as a way to examine surface properties of materials. (GHT