Symmetron with a non-minimal kinetic term

We investigate the compatibility of the Symmetron with dark energy by introducing a non-minimal kinetic term associated with the Symmetron. In this new model, the effect of the friction term appearing in the equation of motion of the Symmetron field becomes more pronounced due to the non-minimal kinetic term appearing in the action and, under specific conditions after symmetry breaking, the universe experiences an accelerating phase which, in spite of the large effective mass of the scalar field, lasts as long as the Hubble time $H_{0}$.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, to appear in JCA

‘Electricity Sector Reform in Developing Countries: A Survey of Empirical Evidence on Determinants and Performance’

This paper reviews the empirical evidence on electricity reform in developing countries. We find that country institutions and sector governance play an important role in success and failure of reform; reforms appear to have increased operating efficiency and expanded access to urban customers; they have to a lesser degree passed on efficiency gains to customers, tackled distributional effects, or improved rural access. Moreover, some of the literature is not methodologically robust or on a par with general development economics literature and findings on some issues are limited and inconclusive while some important areas are yet to be addressed. Until we know more, implementation of reforms will be more based on ideology and economic theory rather than solid economic evidence.Electricity, reform, developing countries