The Culture of The Economist. A Further Evidence of “The Economist” Index

This paper offers further evidence to “The Economist” index of economic power developed by Pujol (2003). The original index is composite by construction and it gives information about year 2000, comparing the results with year 1990. Also econometric evidence is offered. Testing the robustness of the ranking of selected countries obtained by Pujol’s index, this paper applies the same methodology to two specific years: 1995 and 2001. This paper tries to ascertain if the evolution of the ranking of countries among years 1990 and 2000 is not merely a chance. If the index is valid, it should work for any single year, reflecting the evolution of the power of each country during a chosen period of time. The number of times each country appears in tables and graphs of the different “The Economist” issues for year 1995 confirms the evolution of the index between 1990 and 2000. Data for year 2001 gives continuity and support to the ranking developed in year 2000. Then we verify that “The Economist” index as an easier and valid alternative to other traditional ways in order to reflect the relative economic and financial power of the different countries. In other words, the data analyzed from this magazine make sense, because at the end it gives the same information that the one obtained from other more traditional and sophisticated ways. In other words, that we call The cultural of The Economist workscomposite indexes, economic power

Walking inside the Potential Tax Evader's Mind

The classical Allingham-Sandmo-Yitzhaki model explains tax evasion behavior based on the probability of being discovered, the amount of the fine imposed and the level of risk aversion. Nonetheless, empirical studies show that the decision and the level of tax evasion depends also on non economic considerations, usually named as the "psychological costs" associated to tax evasion. We build a theoretical model of tax evasion including non monetary considerations. We propose an empirical study on the determinants of the psychological costs of tax evasion, based on the theoretical taxonomy proposed by Lagares (1994). Data come from a questionnaire filled by 781 university students. The dependent variable is the percentage of students considering acceptable to evade taxes. Using a binomial logit model we find that the justification of tax evasion is statistically related with: the presence of grievance in absolute terms (those who feel that taxes are too high; waste of public funds) and grievances in relative terms (the suspected level of tax evasion by others, those accepting black economy labor). The sense of duty and the level of solidarity are also relevant factors, but in a lesser extent.

An index of political support for decentralization: the Spanish case.

This paper presents a method to make measurable what was not: the discourses of politicians regarding decentralization. For this purpose, we develop a “matrix of arguments” and a set of indexes, and apply them to provide a snapshot of the politicians’ views on the “General Law of Budgetary Stability”, a landmark for the process of decentralization in Spain.political party, matrix of decentralization, arguments, index of decentralization.

THE POSITION OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE NEW GENERAL LAW OF BUDGETARY DISCIPLINE: THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE SUBCENTRAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

The present work analyzes the different positions of the different political parties in Spain with respect to the new General Law of Budgetary Discipline. In this sense, the paper extracts the relevant information about this law from the different parliamentary debates. First, we elaborate a previous theoretical matrix containing the potential arguments to be used by politicians in their debates, in order to show their opinions supporting the law or going against it. Among the main conclusions, we observe that the central level of government supports the law using mainly legislative and public choice arguments, in the context of its support for the autonomy of the low levels of government. By the contrary, the rest of the political parties, mainly the Catalans Nationalist Parties, consider that the new law is clearly against the autonomy of the low levels of government.matriz de análisis, identificación de argumentos, posiciones de los partidos políticos

ANALYSIS OF THE DECENTRALIZATION OF PUBLIC SPENDING IN SPAIN

This paper studies the decentralization process of public spending in Spain, which has been one of the main landmarks in recent years, and not only in Spain but also in many different countries. The classical assumption to speak about this kind of processes is the theory of fiscal federalism. However, nowadays this theory is considered more as a set of general "guidelines" than a practical rule of application. To undertake this study the article proposes a new method to describe the outcomes of the decentralization process through the functional classification of spending. The analysis of the data in each level of government -central, regional and local- is made in order to justify the process. So far, mainly political motives have justified the transference of competencies from the central to the regional and local governments in Spain. The fiscal federalism theory can enlighten our analysis from a theoretical point of viewDecentralization in Spain, public spending, fiscal federalism theory

Synthesis of Versatile Functionalities in Arrangements of 3D Unit-Cells

The authors would like to thank Dr. L. Le Coq and F. Boutet from IETR, for their help in the experimental activities, aswell as T. Pierré from Thales Alenia Space, for his assistance in the printing of the prototype. This work has been supported in part by the Region de Bretagne, Thales Alenia Space, Thales group through their KTD-Hardware, CNES through R&T funding, the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, and by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Brittany & Rennes Metropole, through the CPER Project SOPHIE STIC & OndesThis contribution concentrates on the conception of periodic structures that are built from metallic three-dimensional unit-cells. Such arrangements allow synthesizing diverse functionalities such as polarization conversion, frequency filtering, and impedance matching. In addition, the topologies considered here can be built monolithically employing only metal, therefore providing multiple advantages, such as low insertion losses, high power handling and manufacturing certainty.Brittany & Rennes MetropoleEuropean CommissionCentre National d’Etudes SpatialesMinistère de l'Education Nationale, de l'Enseignement Superieur et de la RechercheEuropean Regional Development Fun

International Competitiveness in Services in Some European Countries: Basic Facts and a Preliminary Attempt of Interpretation.

In spite of the increasing economic and social importance of services, the analysis of their international competitiveness is still in its very preliminary stages. The lack of adequate statistical information and theoretical background explains that backwardness. The aim of this paper is to contribute to a better understanding of competitiveness in services activities of European countries. To carry out this task the investigation is divides into two parts: the first consists of the classification of the competitive position of the economies along 1990-2001 according to the competitiveness matrix developed by the UNO and the World Bank. Secondly, a first attempt of interpretation is made by exploring the factors which can explain the different behaviour of the countries, giving an especial importance to elements related to knowledge incorporation. In both cases, three sub-sectors are considered: transport and communication, travel and other business services. Finally, a number of recommendations as well as future research topics are included in the conclusions.A pesar de la creciente importancia económica y social de los servicios, el análisis de su competitividad internacional está todavía en sus fases preliminares, como consecuencia de las dificultades de información estadística existentes, así como por el escaso desarrollo de una teoría convincente. El propósito de este estudio es contribuir a un mejor conocimiento de la competitividad de los países europeos en los servicios. Para llevar a cabo esta tarea la investigación se divide en dos pare complementarias: la primera consiste en una clasificación de la posición competitiva de los países siguiendo la matrices de competitividad desarrolladas por la ONU y el Banco Mundial, la segunda incluye una primer intento de interpretación de aquellas posiciones y su evolución en el tiempo, dando especial importancia a factores relacionados con el conocimiento. En ambas fases el estudio se hace para tres sectores ampliamente representativos: transporte y comunicaciones, viajes y otros servicios a empresas. Por último, en las conclusiones se ofrecen algunas recomendaciones de actuación, así como futuras líneas de trabajo.Services, Competitiveness, Internationalisation, knowledge, Servicios, competitividad, internacionalización, conocimiento.

Ranking Italian Universities and Other Research Institutions Taking Into Account Public Economics Publications

The different ways to rank universities regarding their research production include a great number of factors. The quality of journals where faculty members are publishing is one of the most relevant aspects in order to determine the quality of the affiliation institution. Among other more traditional ways determining the quality of journals, this paper takes into account a new one based on the publishing behavior of top ranked authors, supposing a matching model approach among journals and authors. Using this methodology, the article establishes a ranking of the Italian universities and other research institutions regarding Public Economic Journals.matching model, ranking public economic journals, Italian universities

Methodology for Improving Scanning Performance Loading an Array Element with a 3D All-Metal WAIM

All-metal 3D printing technologies are allowing the conception of new structures for different applications. This publication explores the potential of employing for the first time an all-metal 3D unit-cell topology to perform wide-angle impedance matching layers. A new equivalent circuit is derived for the oblique incidence, providing a good estimation of the cell response for the scanning range (theta = [0 degrees, 55 degrees]) in the main scanning planes for a linearly polarized radiated field. This analytical model is later used to develop a wide-angle impedance matching design methodology for a generic antenna. This methodology is tested in practice to match a phased array made of metallic horns at 18 GHz. An improvement of 5 dB is obtained in the simulations for angles theta > 35 degrees for the H -plane.European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)french region of BrittanyConseil Departemental 35 through the CPER Project SOPHIE/STIC OndesMinistry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MHESR)Thales GroupRegion Bretagn

Colonial scientific-medical documentary films and the legitimization of an ideal state in post-war Spain

This paper explores the role of film and medical-health practices and discourses in the building and legitimating strategies of Franco's fascist regime in Spain. The analysis of five medical-colonial documentary films produced during the 1940s explores the relationship between mass media communication practices and techno-scientific knowledge production, circulation and management processes. These films portray a non-problematic colonial space where social order is articulated through scientific-medical practices and discourses that match the regime's need to consolidate and legitimize itself while asserting the inclusion-exclusion dynamics involved in the definition of social prototypes through processes of medicalization.O artigo explora o papel de práticas e discursos em saúde e cinema na construção e legitimação das estratégias do regime fascista de Franco na Espanha. A análise de cinco documentários médicos coloniais produzidos na década de 1940 explora a relação entre as práticas de comunicação de massa e os processos de produção, circulação e administração do conhecimento técnico-científico. Tais filmes retratam um espaço colonial não problemático onde a ordem social é articulada por meio de práticas e discursos médico-científicos que atendem à necessidade de consolidar e legitimar o regime, validando a dinâmica de inclusão-exclusão envolvida na representação de protótipos sociais por meio de processos de medicalização