The J/ψDDJ/\psi D D Vertex in QCD Sum Rules

The $J/\psi D D$ form factor is evaluated in a QCD sum rule calculation for both $D$ and $J/\psi$ off-shell mesons. We study the double Borel sum rule for the three point function of two pseudoscalar and one vector meson current. We find that the momentum dependence of the form factors is different if the $D$ or the $J/\psi$ meson is off-shell, but they lead to the same coupling constant in the $J/\psi D D$ vertex.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, 4 eps figure

J/psi D*D* vertex from QCD sum rules

We calculated the strong form factor and coupling constant for the $J/\psi D^* D^*$ vertex in a QCD sum rule calculation. We performed a double Borel sum rule for the three point correlation function of vertex considering both $J/\psi$ and $D^*$ mesons off--shell. The form factors obtained are very different, but they give the same coupling constant.Comment: 7 pages and 4 figures, replaced version accepted for publication in Phys. Lett.

Divisional power, intra-firm bargaining and rent-seeking behavior in multidivisional corporations

Increasing divisional operational responsibilities and the dispersal of knowledge creating activities within the firm have loosened the traditional hierarchical structure of multi-divisional firms. In this paper we argue that a similar mixture of competition and cooperation that is found in inter-firm relationships now characterizes intra-firm relationships. Our model describes a situation in which divisional managers have their own objectives that may diverge from those of the firm as a whole.Thus, divisional managers are both profit-seekers in creating value that can be appropriated and rent-seekers in attempting to maximize their divisional share of the value d by the firm. The bargaining power of a division to maintain and increase its share of the profits generated by the operations of the firm as whole is crucially determined on its strategic independence.

Electoral Participation and Communicative Voting in Europe

This paper provides an empirical investigation of electoral participation and communicative voting in 14 European countries. We estimate a multi-level voting process where individuals face a participation decision (whether to vote or abstain) and a voting decision (whether to vote strategically for a likely winner party or as communicating for a sure loser party). Our main findings can be summarized as follows. First, individuals who are either independent or uninformed are less likely to turnout. However, being both independent and uninformed does not have any statistically significant effect on electoral participation. Thus, our results question the empirical relevance of the swing voter's curse theory in large elections. Second, the probability of voting as communicating is positively related with the level of education and the degree of dissatisfaction with the political system. Finally, political preferences and institutional features characterizing the functioning of the political system and of the media market have a significant effect both on electoral participation and on the voting decision.Electoral turnout; Swing Voter's Curse; Communicative voting; Strategic voting; Multi-level qualitative choices

Looking for meson molecules in B decays

We discuss the possibility of observing a loosely bound molecular state in a B three-body hadronic decay. In particular we use the QCD sum rule approach to study a $\eta^\prime-\pi$ molecular current. We consider an isovector-scalar $I^G J^{PC}= 1^-~0^{++}$ molecular current and we use the two-point and three-point functions to study the mass and decay width of such state. We consider the contributions of condensates up to dimension six and we work at leading order in $\alpha_s$. We obtain a mass around 1.1 GeV, consistent with a loosely bound state, and a $\eta^\prime-\pi\rightarrow K^+ K^-$ decay width around 10 MeV.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure