Network analysis of exchange data: Interdependence drives crisis contagion

In this paper we detect the linear and nonlinear co-movements presented on the real exchange rate in a group of 28 developed and developing countries that have suffered currency and financial crises during 15 years. We have used the matrix of Pearson correlation and Phase Synchronous (PS) coefficients and an appropriate metric distance between pairs of countries in order to construct a topology and hierarchies by using the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST). In addition, we have calculated the MST cost and global correlation coefficients to observe the co-movements dynamics along the time sample. By comparing Pearson and phase synchronous information we address a new methodology that can uncover meaningful information on the contagion economic issue and, more generally, in the debate around interdependence and/or contagion among financial time series. Our results suggest some evidence of contagion in the Asian currency crises but this crisis contagion is due to previous and stable interdependence.econophysics, linear co-movements, phase synchronous co-movements, MST, interdependence and contagion

An Examination of Campus Engagement and GPA for Latinx College Athlete

Despite the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s focus on improving outcomes among college athletes, research has overlooked Latinx college athletes. This paper focuses on how campus engagement with peers, faculty, administrators, and athletic staff are positively related to GPA among Latinx college athletes. I used an ordinary least square (OLS) regression model to examine the relationships between engagement and Latinx college athletes\u27 GPA. The findings suggest that high school GPA, participation in class, and faculty-student interactions were significant for Latina/o college athletes\u27 GPA. Additionally, interactions with teammates and coach were both significant predictors, but team interactions had a slight negative effect on GPA. Lastly, identifying as a Latina college athlete had a positive association on GPA when compared to Latino college athletes

Economic growth and currency crisis: A real exchange rate entropic approach

We propose a country classification of economic growth currency crisis consequences based on the entropic analysis of the real exchange rate. We show that this ranking is highly correlated with the annual minimum rate of growth, a proxy used to quantify real currency crisis effects.currency crises; entropy; growth effects of currency crises

Cost-Effectiveness of Water Conservation Measures: A Multi-level Analysis with Policy Implications

Groundwater in Spain, as in other arid or semiarid countries worldwide, has been intensely used for the expansion of irrigated agriculture. This booming development has induced a remarkable socioeconomic development in many rural areas but has produced far-reaching environmental problems. In the Spanish Western La Mancha Aquifer, the excessive, and sometimes illegal, water abstraction for irrigation agriculture has resulted in the Aquifer’s overexploitation and has been responsible of the degradation of the associated wetlands “Tablas de Daimiel”, an internationally reputed, Ramsarnominated aquatic ecosystem. To undertake this analysis, a mathematical programming model has been developed to simulate farmers’ behaviour and their responses to different water policy scenarios. Specifically, the policy simulations selected are: alternative water pricing schemes (uniform volumetric and block-rate water tariffs), water use quota systems and water rights market. Results show that controlling illegal water mining is a necessary condition but it is not sufficient to recover the aquifer. Consequently, other measures will be necessary for an effective water management in this area. Among these, the block-rate water pricing scheme seems the most cost-effective system to reach the goal of aquifer sustainability but will entail important income losses in several farms. Therefore, we cannot conclude that a unique water conservation policy instrument will be the best overall solution for all types of holdings that will respond to efficiency as well as to equity considerations. It seems reasonable to make a combination of the tools proposed, even including additional measures that promote an environmental protection and develop sustainable agricultural systems.Environmental degradation, water policies, cost-effectiveness analysis, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Reactivity indexes for different geometries of palladium leads

Electronic transport through metallic break junctions or molecules is clearly dependent not only on the electronic structure of the central nanodevice connecting the leads, but also the shape and crystalline orientation of the contacts which can define the possible conduction channels. In this work we examine different geometries of contacts of palladium characterizing them through global and local reactivity indexes as electrophilicity, chemical hardness and Fukui functions. In molecules, these indicators are essentially defined by the energies of the frontier molecular orbitals and in solids they are related with the local and partial density of states. We use for this purpose an ab-initio based code (FIREBALL), applied to plane contacts with (001) fcc faces and also pyramidal tips grown following a (001) and (111) packaging. The results allow us to have an insight about the chemical features of this type of nanojunctions.Fil: Gómez Carrillo, Sandra Carolina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, J.. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; EspañaFil: Bolcatto, Pablo Guillermo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentin

Synchronization and Diversity in Business Cycles: A Network Approach Applied to the European Union

This paper analyses synchronization in business cycles across the European Union (EU) since 1989. We include both old and new European Union members and countries which are currently negotiating accession, as well as potential European Union members. Our methodological approach is based on the correlation matrix and the networks within, which allows us to summarize the individual interaction and co-movement, while also capturing the existing heterogeneity of connectivity within the European economic system. The results indicate that the synchronization of the old EU countries remained stable until the current financial crisis. Additionally, the synchronization of the new and potential members has approached to the old EU members although we observe the existence of different synchronization levels and dynamics in output growth in single countries as well as in groups of countries. Some countries have achieved an important degree of co-movement (such as the Baltic Republics, Hungary, Slovenia and Iceland), while others have experienced reduced synchronization, or even desynchronization (such as Romania, Bulgaria and even Greece and Ireland).Business cycle synchronization, European Union countries, EU candidates, complex systems, network topology.

Measuring Globalization: A hierarchical network approach

This paper investigates the business cycle co-movement across countries and regions since the middle of the last century as a measure for quantifying the ongoing globalization process of the world economy. Our methodological approach is based on analysis of a correlation matrix and the networks it contains. Such an approach summarizes the interaction and interdependence of all elements and it represents a more accurate measure of the global interdependence involved in the economic system. Our results show (1) that the dynamics of globalization has been more driven by synchronization in regional growth patterns than by the synchronization of the world economy as a whole in contrast with other empirical works and (2) that world crisis periods increase dramatically the global co movement in the world economy.Globalization, regionalism, correlation matrix, clustering, synchronization

Middle Ordovician conodonts and graptolites at Los Cauquenes range, central Precordillera of San Juan, Argentina

The Ordovician System is superbly represented in the Precordillera of western Argentina, at the Andean foothills. During the Middle Ordovician, an important paleogeographical rearrangement of depocenters and source areas took place associated with the demise of the Eopaleozoic carbonate platform of the Precordillera. This critical interval is recorded in the basin through widespread deposition of black shales over the fossiliferous limestones of the San Juan Formation, punctuated by local deposition of olistostromes, debris flows, conglomerates, and turbidites (e.g., Astini et al., 1995; Keller, 1999). Fossil dating of the lowest black shales and equivalent units indicates a diachronous deposition from north to south in the Precordillera basin (Hünicken, 1985; Albanesi et al., 1998).Fil: Voldman, Gustavo Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Museo de Paleontología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Gladys del Carmen. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Museo de Paleontología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Albanesi, Guillermo Luis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Museo de Paleontología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentin