Regional price levels in Germany

Cross-sectional evidence on price levels is scarce in all countries. However, several studies suggest that considerable differences in price levels within countries exist, which has obvious welfare implications. I use a sample of price levels in 50 German cities in 1993 to analyze the determinants of inter-city price level differentials. The most important factors driving price level differentials are population size and the average wage level. Using this information, I predict the price levels in all 440 German districts and aggregate them to the state level. On the state level I find convergence of the price levels to a common mean, but at a very low speed. The estimated half-life is about 15 years.

The New Keynesian Phillips Curve with Myopic Agents

Empirical estimations of the New Keynesian Phillips curve support hybrid versions with a positive weight on lagged infl ation and a weight less than one on expected infl ation. We argue that myopic price setting of some agents explains the low weight on expected infl ation. The lagged term can be explained by trend extrapolation if information about the future is costly. In a laboratory experiment we implement the Calvo (1983) microfoundations of the Phillips curve. Both of our hypotheses are supported by the experimental data. About half of the subjects set optimal Calvo prices while about a third is myopic.Hybrid Phillips curve; experimental economics; myopia; behavioral macroeconomics

Are Expectations Formed by the Anchoring-and-adjustment Heuristic? – An Experimental Investigation

Previous experimental investigations have shown that expectations are not perfectly rational due to bias. Traditional adaptive models, however, in many cases do not perfectly describe the formation of expectations either. This paper makes two contributions to the experimental literature on the formation of expectations: First, we investigate whether subjects who have more information about the economic model than in previous studies also form biased expectations. Second, we argue that in some cases macroeconomic expectations might be formed by the anchoring-and-adjustment heuristic, which is well known in psychology. We find that subjects’ expectations are biased although the design might be more favorable to rational expectations.The anchoring- and-adjustment model of expectations gets some support by our data, but the best model encompasses both the anchoring-and-adjustment model and the traditional adaptive model.Expectations, heuristics, beliefs, mental models, macroeconomic experiment

As if or What? – Expectations and Optimization in a Simple Macroeconomic Environment

In this paper we report the results of a laboratory experiment, in which we observed the behavior of agents in a simple macroeconomic setting. The structure of the economy was only partially known to the players which is a realistic feature of our experiment. We investigate whether subjects manage to approach optimal behavior even if they lack important information. Furthermore, we analyze subjects’ perceptions of the model and whether their behavior is consistent with their perceptions. The full information model predicts changes of employment correctly, but not the level of employment. In the aggregate, subjects have correct perceptions, although individual perceptions are biased.We finally show that deviations from the full information solution are due to optimization failures than than misperceptions.Methodology, macroeconomic experiment, perceptions, optimization, expectations

Peer-Mediated Instruction and Intervention to Support the Academic Achievement of Secondary Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The purpose of this paper is to review peer-mediated interventions (PMI) as an effective teaching strategy in supporting the academic achievement of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and additional learning needs. Using a systematic review of the literature, eleven (11) peer-reviewed articles met the criteria for inclusion. Results of this search identified four models of PMI that were used to promote on-task academic achievement and increases in correct academic responding. This paper concludes with suggestions for future research and recommendations for implementing peer-mediated interventions in larger inclusive secondary classroom settings

Money or morality:fairness ideals in unstructured bargaining

We augment the Nash bargaining solution by fairness ideals in order to predict the outcomes of unstructured bargaining after the individual production of a joint surplus. If production depends on individual effort, talent, and luck, fairness ideals might be based on the accountability principle. In a lab experiment with real production and unstructured bargaining, we investigate subjects’ fairness ideals, their bargaining behaviour, and the outcomes of the bargaining process. As impartial spectators, about 75% of the subjects hold meritocratic or libertarian fairness ideals. However, these ideals do not affect their bargaining behaviour which is strongly opportunistic. Therefore the fairness-augmented Nash solution with opportunistic fairness ideals predicts the bargaining outcome best

A risk based approach to evaluating the impacts of Zayanderood drought on sustainable development indicators of riverside Urban in Isfahan-Iran

In recent years, the Zayanderood River in Isfahan-Iran has been encountered by hydrological imbalance and drought. Literature review shows that long-term climate change, drought, and disruption of the river's water supply has led to depletion of underground aquifers and, consequently, gradual subsidence of the river and serious damage to old buildings and structures along the riverbank. This fact would be followed up by adverse environmental, social, and economic effect that could threaten the sustainable development of urban space. Therefore, it is necessary to use efficient risk identification and assessment approaches toward a more effective risk management. The goal of this study is to identify and prioritize the risks of river drought with regards to all three sustainable development areas including environmental, social, and economic. The research methodology was a mixed field method that included a set of questionnaires and interviews. To evaluate collected data, the analytic network process (ANP) method was used. Eighteen important risks were identified. Based on the results, decrease in the groundwater level, climate change, and gradual soil degradation were ranked first, second, and third, respectively. As this study examined the impacts of river drought on all three areas of sustainable development simultaneously and comprehensively, it is expected that the results will fill the existing theoretical and practical gap affecting improvements in assessment and management of sustainable development risks. © 2019 by the authors

Torque and twist against superlubricity

Superlubricity between incommensurate surfaces provides a desired low-friction state essential for the function of small-scale machines. Here we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that superlubricity in contacts lubricated by lamellar solids might be eliminated due to torque-induced reorientation coupled to lateral motion. We find that the possibility of reorientation always leads to stabilization of a high frictional state which corresponds to a commensurate configuration

Theory of Electron-Phonon Dynamics in Insulating Nanoparticles

We discuss the rich vibrational dynamics of nanometer-scale semiconducting and insulating crystals as probed by localized electronic impurity states, with an emphasis on nanoparticles that are only weakly coupled to their environment. Two principal regimes of electron-phonon dynamics are distinguished, and a brief survey of vibrational-mode broadening mechanisms is presented. Recent work on the effects of mechanical interaction with the environment is discussed.Comment: Revte