Rethinking Africa's GDP, 1796-1950

Treballs Finals del Màster d'Economia, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2017-2018, Tutor: Federico TadeiHas Africa always been poor? This thesis attempts to answer this question, presenting estimates of incomes in Africa from 1796 onwards. I build upon the work of Prados de la Escosura, who exploited the relationship between GDP per capita and income terms of trade to create African GDP estimates from 1870 to 1950. I produce new estimates, which are both of a higher quality and more extensive. My regional estimates go back as far as 1796 and the majority of my country estimates go back to 1830. Outside of South Africa, this is the first insight into the incomes in sub-Saharan Africa during this period. I find two interesting results. The first, that there was an economic boom in West and East Africa immediately prior to the scramble for Africa. The second, more surprising result, is that GDP per capita levels rise prior to 1840. I demonstrate how this contradicts previous literature and highlight how both of these booms were triggered primarily by the many structural changes which occurred during and shortly after the transatlantic slave trade. Finally, I make comparisons of my GDP estimates with the available estimates supporting the validity of my results

Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Eighth-Grade Students Toward Figures of Varying Body Weight

This study examined attitudes and behavioral intentions of eight-grade students toward figures (representing hypothetical peers) of varying body weight (average, overweight, and obese). The primary aim of this study was to investigate how weight impacts students’ attitudes toward and interactions with peers. Second, impact of the rater’s gender was explored. It was hypothesized that girls would rate average-weight figures more positively than overweight figures and overweight figures more positively than obese figures. It was also hypothesized that boys would rate average-weight figures more positively than overweight and obese figures, with less discrepancy between their ratings of overweight and obese figures. One-hundred seventy primarily Caucasian, eight-grade students (72 male, 98 female; mean age = 13.61, SD = .49) were identified as part of a convenience sample from a public elementary school and were randomly assigned to view a target photo of their same gender in one of three conditions: average-weight, overweight, obese. Participants rated attitudes toward the figures on the Adjective Checklist and behavioral intentions on the Shared Activity Questionnaire-B (SAQ-B). Results showed the hypotheses to be partially supported. Students’ responses on the SAQ-B showed they were statistically significantly more willing to interact with an overweight peer (M = 16.33, SD = 4.19) than an obese peer (M = 14.30, SD = 3.83) for active-recreational activities. The overall effect size (males and females combined) was moderate (.51), with a small effect size for females (.42) and a moderate effect size for males (.64). There were no other statistically significant differences on the SAQ-B subscales of active-recreational, academic, and social, or on the Adjective Checklist. Although differences were not significant, effect sizes for social domain for average versus obese and overweight versus obese were mostly small to medium. Conversely, almost all effect sizes for academic were nonmeaningful. Therefore, it appears weight has less impact in academic interactions than the other two areas. Effect sizes were larger for males than females for overweight versus obese on the Adjective Checklist and SAQ-B social and active recreational, showing that males tended to hold more negative views of obesity than females in these areas

Rural land ownership in Tennessee

The major purpose of this study was to provide an overall inventory of rural land ownership in Tennessee, and to develop inferences about the present and future ownership distribution of agricultural land resources. Many types of basic data are either not available in the Census of Agri-culture or are available only for farm lands operated during the census year. Information from this study used in connection with information available in the Census of Agriculture should provide a more complete and useful inventory of land ownership in Tennessee, More specifically, the objectives of this study were: (1) to determine how rural land is distributed by types and value among various classes of owners (2) to determine the extent of land ownership concentration (3) to determine how ownership was acquired (^) to determine the estate held in the land (5) to determine the amount and security of the ownership interest (6) to ascertain what plans owners have for the disposition of their land (7) to determine the relationship between ownership characteristics, kind of land held, land use, and changes in land use

Dibenzyl penta­thio­dicarbonate

In the title compound, C16H14S5, the non-bonded intra­molecular distances between the non-terminal S atoms are 2.808 (16) and 2.784 (16) Å, shorter than the typical distance of 2.9 Å. One phenyl ring participates in an offset π-π inter­action with another phenyl ring related by a centre of inversion; the inter­planar distance is 3.41 (2) Å. The crystal structure also exhibits edge-to-face C—H⋯π stacking of the phenyl rings, thus forming a herring-bone packing motif

Friends Like You: Friendships of Secondary School Pupils with ASD

Pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are increasingly included in mainstream schooling in the UK, yet there exists many challenges for these pupils negotiating the process of inclusion. This study examined the understandings and perspectives of friendship in 10 Secondary school pupils with ASD who attended mainstream provision in one Local Authority in comparison with typically-developing peers. A mixed-methodology comparative approach was utilised to examine friendships of pupils with ASD (n=10) and typically-developing peers (n=10). Self-reported friendship quality scales were compared, along with friendship motivation scales. A socio-cognitive mapping exercise was included to demonstrate the perspective of peers of pupils with ASD from their form classes. Pupils with ASD and their typically-developing peers were interviewed to gain qualitative data around friendships for comparison. Parental perspectives were investigated for both groups also. Measures of friendship quality and friendship motivation did not significantly differ between participants with ASD and typically-developing participants and no pupils were found to be socially isolated. Pupils with ASD though were more likely to have less-central roles in classroom social networks. The friendships of pupils with ASD had many features in common with those of their typically-developing peers, but differences emerged in terms of the quantity and features of their friendships, with pupils with ASD having smaller friendship groups and friends who offers support and mediation for social experiences. Changes in friendship occur as pupils progress into Secondary school, with pupils with ASD feeling that they understand themselves better and are looking for friends who understand them in turn. The role of social media as a safe and controlled environment in which friendship interactions take place was discussed by pupils with ASD also. These results have important implications for parents, pupils, and educational staff and offer a summation of the differential experience of friendship in pupils with ASD

Dynamic Response of TLPs During Tether Installation

A research study has been conducted into the dynamic response of TLPs during tether installation. The aims of this research study were to investigate tether dynamics due to coupled tether/TLP system response. In particular, to focus on low pretension conditions to include tether system behaviour during slacking (Ref Chapter 1). To facilitate this research study numerical prediction tools were developed and validated by means of comparison with experimental measurements. The prediction tools developed to predict the dynamic response of the coupled tether/TLP systems during installation utilise the time-domain simulation technique. 2No. forms of coupled tether/TLP model were developed: a Phase 1 model where the tether system was represented by a rotating axial spring system, a Phase 2 model where the tether system was represented by an assembly of 3D beam-column finite-elements (Ref Chapter 4). In addition to this software, a closed-form solution to the diffraction solution for an array of circular cylinders was also implemented into software (Ref Chapter 2). Software validation consisted of comparisons with experimental work conducted at the Universities of Glasgow and Newcastle on a case study TLP geometry (Heidrun TLP). The experiments at Glasgow University consisted of measurements of wave excitation and hydrodynamic reaction force components (Ref Chapter 3). The Newcastle experiments consisted of measurements of TLP system motion and tether tension dynamic response (Ref Chapter 5). A Case Study result data base was generated for 3No. TLP systems representative of a spectrum of TLP systems (Ref Chapter 6 and Appendix A). Comparisons were made between the Phase 1 and Phase 2 simulation models and the experimental data. Following these comparisons, and with reference to simulation and experimental data, conclusions were drawn regarding the response mechanisms governing the TLP/tether system response at low pretensions (Ref. Chapter 7). The research study undertaken is represented in the following flowchart: [diagram] A primary conclusion drawn from this study is the significance of the coupled TLP/tether system dynamics on the tether system motion and tension dynamic response during low pretension conditions