Institutions and Rules.

This short statement has three aims. First, it suggests that rules and institutionsare a convenient and productive entrypoint for analysing capitalism and mainstream proposals for its reform. But it also suggests that analyses cannot stop there if adequate critiques and alternative strategies are to be developed. Above all we need to move beyond rules and institutions to examine the microfoundations of institutions in particular subjectivities, cognitive frames, modes of calculation, norms of conduct, and forms of embodiment; and to study the macro-contexts that emerge from interaction among institutions and shape this interaction in a complex dialectic of path-shaping and path-dependency. It also suggests how to move beyond rules and institutions. Second, this statement proposes a distinctive theoretical approach based on a combination of trans- and post-disciplinary modes of inquiry. It argues that these can inform both our collective intellectual endeavours and also provide the basis for a critical popular pedagogy. And, third, it identifies some key issues for a research agenda on the political and ethical dimensions of contemporary economic activities. In the spirit of the PEKEA project, our statement is not concerned to provide yet another critique of orthodox economics (for which, see Hodgson 1989; North 1990; Rutherford 1994). Instead we emphasize the socially embedded, socially regularized nature of market economies and address changing economic norms and modes of calculation. This leads us to approach capitalism very broadly in terms of the overall ensemble of socially embedded, socially regularized and strategically selective institutions, organizations, social forces and actions that are involved in sustaining the wage-relation, a labour process and more general system of production organized in terms of profitand- loss, and a complex balance between competition and cooperation among different capitals. Seen in these terms capitalist relations of production are not just economic but is also (always, necessarily) extra-economic. In pursuing these ideas should help to provide a clearer account of the inherently political aspects of contemporary capitalism

The impact of economic growth on the competitiveness of national elite sport systems

India is the extreme under - achiever in international sport competitions. This has only marginally changed with the recent promotion of the Indian economy into the league of BRIC nations. Whereas in China high growth rates have been accompanied by a huge im provement of its performance in international sport events a similar impact of extraordinary growth rates has been almost totally absent in the case of India. Is India an exception? Several econometric studies have shown that income per capita is a signifi cant variable explaining elite sport results such as results in the Olympic Games. From this stylized fact follows the hypothesis that 'above/below average' growth rates lead to relative improvements/deterioration of elite sport results (with a time lag)‟. This paper tests the hypothesis by means of a study of the correlation between growth in GNP per capita and growth in medal points in the sports of the Olympic Summer Games. The findings show no correlation. However, a detailed analysis of country evidenc e shows interesting trends and details. The paper concludes with tentative explanations for the findings including the contradictory country evidence

Expert operator's associate: A knowledge based system for spacecraft control

The Expert Operator's Associate (EOA) project is presented which studies the applicability of expert systems for day-to-day space operations. A prototype expert system is developed, which operates on-line with an existing spacecraft control system at the European Space Operations Centre, and functions as an 'operator's assistant' in controlling satellites. The prototype is demonstrated using an existing real-time simulation model of the MARECS-B2 telecommunication satellite. By developing a prototype system, the extent to which reliability and effectivens of operations can be enhanced by AI based support is examined. In addition the study examines the questions of acquisition and representation of the 'knowledge' for such systems, and the feasibility of 'migration' of some (currently) ground-based functions into future spaceborne autonomous systems

Atomic spin squeezing in an optical cavity

We consider squeezing of one component of the collective spin vector of an atomic ensemble inside an optical cavity. The atoms interact with a cavity mode, and the squeezing is obtained by probing the state of the light field that is transmitted through the cavity. Starting from the stochastic master equation, we derive the time evolution of the state of the atoms and the cavity field, and we compute expectation values and variances of the atomic spin components and the quadratures of the cavity mode. The performance of the setup is compared to spin squeezing of atoms by probing of a light field transmitted only once through the sample.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

Deterministic multi-mode photonic device for quantum information processing

We propose the implementation of a light source, which can deterministically generate a rich variety of multi-mode quantum states. The desired states are encoded in the collective population of different ground hyperfine states of an atomic ensemble and converted to multi-mode photonic states by excitation to optically excited levels followed by cooperative spontaneous emission. Among our examples of applications, we demonstrate how two-photon entangled states can be prepared and implemented in a protocol for reference frame free quantum key distribution and how one-dimensional as well as higher-dimensional cluster states can be produced.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Economic theory

Economic theory is about coordination of decision making. Markets, corporate hierarchies and governments are seen as the most important governance mechanisms, and economics is about the proper role and scope of each mechanism. Decision making is coordinated by means of a proper division of labour between each mechanism. Some tasks are seen as best accomplished by the market, others by corporate hierarchies, and others again by the government. Some economic theories also stress the importance of proper institutions for effective coordination of the decision making. In sum, coordination takes the form of institutional framing and division of labour between governance mechanisms that are mostly seen as functioning in isolation and according to their own respective rationales. On the other hand, discursive framing of decentralized decision making and mixture of governance mechanisms as a result of direct interaction, joint decision making and negotiations between actors are beyond the theoretical perspective of economics. One of the metaphors being used for such forms of governance is the handshake. In this contribution the handshake will be used as a metaphor to represent contributions with important common elements even if only a few of them use the concept themselves. Instead of coordination directed by either the invisible hand of market forces or the visible hand of superiors in hierarchies handshakes represent coordination by agreement, bending of will and/or consensus. Handshakes can be visible or invisible. Visible handshakes are formal whereas invisible handshakes are informal. Visible handshakes are being fleshed out through direct interaction within institutional frameworks established for formal coordination and aiming for compromise. Invisible handshakes are informal coordination through means such as trust, social relationships, affinity and a common frame of meaning aiming for consensus. Because of the important role of mainstream economics in relation to the traditional forms of coordination this contribution starts off by specifying in more detail how mainstream economic theory has contributed to this traditional understanding. First, the rationale of the invisible hand with no need for interactive coordination is presented. The economic rationale of the diametrically opposite approach in the form of central state planning (the clinched fist) is presented next. Then follows an outline of micro- and macroeconomic theories that suggest the need for supplementing the invisible hand with a helping hand in order to counteract market failure, stabilize the macro economy and redistribute income. Then the focus shifts to the governance of the firm starting with the visible hand of managerial coordination followed by economizing on transaction costs, and the trends of globalization and outsourcing (the vanishing hand). Whereas the preceding sections concern theories with a focus on coordination of governance mechanisms in accordance with the generic definition of governance, the concluding sections give a more detailed account of economic theories that contribute important insight to the understanding of governance more narrowly understood as societal steering toward collectively negotiated objectives though interactive processes. A review of contributions that provide an economic theoretical rationale for formal interaction between market actors, governments and associations (visible handshakes) is presented first, followed by an outline of contributions about informal coordination in networks, by means of social capital and through discursive interaction (invisible handshakes). Finally, economic theory of the governance of common pool resources is presented as a combination of visible and invisible handshakes followed by a conclusion

A comparison of methods to determine neuronal phase-response curves

The phase-response curve (PRC) is an important tool to determine the excitability type of single neurons which reveals consequences for their synchronizing properties. We review five methods to compute the PRC from both model data and experimental data and compare the numerically obtained results from each method. The main difference between the methods lies in the reliability which is influenced by the fluctuations in the spiking data and the number of spikes available for analysis. We discuss the significance of our results and provide guidelines to choose the best method based on the available data.Comment: PDFLatex, 16 pages, 7 figures

McMindfulness in the Era of Accelerated Life

This article addresses how we are to understand mindfulness as a cultural phenomenon and why it has changed so little of what it originally set out to address. In the article, it will be argued that we need to understand the development of mindfulness as a part of the progression of neoliberalism. Central in the analysis of neoliberalism stands Harvey’s concept of accumulation by dispossession (2003, 2007) helping us understanding the transformations mindfulness has made from being a part of a religious practice to becoming a product in the modern health discourse through processes of privatizing and commodification. Finally, the article discusses if mindfulness contains critical potentials for change

The Concept of Tacit Knowledge – A Critique

This article questions the concept of tacit knowledge as the basis for our conceptual understanding of practice. The first part of the article is a critical introduction to the concept of tacit knowledge. It is emphasized that this concept is situated in various academic practices and not defined and homogeneously but in accordance with issues and intentions significant for these practices. The second part of the article outlines some consequences of conceptualizing practice as basically a matter of tacit knowledge. It is argued that tacit knowledge should be seen in relation to the growth of professions in modern society and to the need to legitimate them. It is further claimed that as a legitimating concept tacit knowledge may bring about various problems leading to a marginalization of specific experiences, to social uniformity, to the reappearance of individualism and to the maintenance of a dualistic view of knowledge