Endogenous Fiscal Policies, Environmental Quality, and Status-Seeking Behavior.

This paper analyzes endogenous fiscal policy and public decision in an endogenous growth model where agents care about social status and environmental quality. The quest for a higher status is assimilated to a preference for capital wealth. The government uses income tax to finance infrastructure and environmental protection, and maximizes individual welfare. We find that accounting for preferences for social status and environmental quality may lead to an allocation of tax revenue in favor of cleanup effort to the detriment of infrastructure. It does not necessary have a negative impact on growth. Status seeking can however harm economic growth and environmental quality when its motive is important enough. Finally, we show that economic growth is consistent with environmental preservation but is not necessarily welfare-improving as in the case of absence of status-seeking behavior.Endogenous policy; endogenous growth; environmental quality; status-seeking; public expenditure; Wagner's law.

Visualization and Numerical Analyses for Mass Transport Due to Internal Waves Propagating in the Density-stratified Water with a Diffusive Transition Layer

In general, below sea surface, water can be divided into three layers: (i) mixing layer, (ii) thermocline, and (iii) deep layer. Internal waves form at the thermocline over the edge of a steep bottom feature. These waves transport a considerable amount of energy and momentum horizontally and vertically. The study of internal waves in the density-stratified water is essential to the coastal environment because they cause the transport of planktonic larvae from the offshore to the coast and the mixing between subsurface water and bottom water. The shoaling and breaking of internal waves play important roles in the suspension, transport, and deposition of sediments in the ocean bottom. Knowing the water particle motion in an internal wave cycle is the key to solving the transport phenomenon. The subject may be of considerable importance for nearshore internal wave problems; however, the number of such investigations is still limited compared with those concerning nonlinear wave shapes. This is due to the inconvenience of describing the particle velocity and path experimentally under wave motion in the Lagrangian system. Use of recent imaging technique has made it possible to investigate the mechanism of internal waves in a wave tank. The latest developments in Particle Image Velocimetry have led to the visualization of velocity fields and particle paths. Although the essential problems arising from the motion of internal waves approaching the coastal areas are changes in wave characteristics and wave-induced flows, the peculiar features of mass transport in a shallow water region are still not understood. The objective of this study is to measure and quantify the physical quantities of internal waves over a flat bottom and a uniform slope during a runup event using experimental techniques and a two-dimensional non-hydrostatic numerical model. Mass transport by internal wave is focused to investigate in the density-stratified water with a diffusive transition layer. For a two-layer density-stratified water, mass transport property has been quantified as the function of wave parameters and thickness ratios between the upper and lower layers.首都大学東京, 2014-09-30, 博士(工学), 甲第420号首都大学東

Income distribution dynamics across European regions

We use two datasets to study the convergence process across European regions. Relying on Quah (1966a,1997), we examine the dynamics of income distribution and find evidence of polarization whatever the time horizon considered. Regions whose incomes were close together at an initial period transit subsequently to widely different income levels.distribution dynamics

Health and the Experience of Childhood in Late Neolithic Vietnam

The article aims to examine aspects of mortuary behavior in late Neolithic/early Bronze Age (Phung Nguyen phase) populations represented at the site of Man Bac in Viet Nam, specifically how mortuary behavior illuminates the role of children, and adult attitudes toward children. In addition, the authors discuss biological characteristics of the human sample, focusing particularly on the child burials, in order to explore aspects of childhood palaeohealth. The methodology includes combining various measures of health-including palaeodemography (childhood mortality), analysis of oral health (Early Childhood Caries or ECC), and analysis of physiological health (Cribra Orbitalia and LEH)-with studies of culturally defined mortuary practices to suggest that, while children clearly had significant health deficiencies and many suffered early deaths, their treatment in mortuary rites shows significant economic value and social esteem placed on children. KEYWORDS: Viet Nam, Neolithic, childhood, health, mortuary behavior, palaeodemography, bioarchaeology

China's Angel Investment Policy

Purpose: This paper summarized and systematized the case of China's policies applied to attract angel investment which turned this country into a global highlight in angel investment.   Theoretical framework: The authors conducted a literature review on start-up and angel investment to introduce angel investment in China, analyze the role of angel investments in developing start-ups, and factor determinants and policy of angel investment in China.   Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper uses qualitative method to provide overviews on the case of China in attracting angel investment for their start-ups with an updated analysis on their relevant factor determinants and policies that contributed to the success of China.   Findings: It is found that the Chinese Government has actively carried out packages, including tax incentives, built programs, investment cooperation funds, developed networks, and angel investment education systems to boost funding readiness for firms. They also focus on promoting the start-up ecosystem and providing financial support to implement an innovation-driven development strategy to raise the nation's competitiveness.   Research, practical & social implications: This paper provides some suggestions for Chinese government in making policies to enhance the role of angel investments in developing start-ups.   Originality/Value: This paper contributes to the evolvement of research about start- up and angel investment, particularly in China, in the context of high-tech  production and breakthrough technologies, by providing a policy perspective to imply lessons for other countries