Statistical properties and economic implications of Jump-Diffusion Processes with Shot-Noise effects

This paper analyzes the Shot-Noise Jump-Diffusion model of Altmann, Schmidt and Stute (2008), which introduces a new situation where the effects of the arrival of rare, shocking information to the financial markets may fade away in the long run. We analyze several economic implications of the model, providing an analytical expression for the process distribution. We also prove that certain specifications of this model can provide negative serial persistence. Additionally, we find that the degree of serial autocorrelation is related to the arrival and magnitude of abnormal information. Finally, a GMM framework is proposed to estimate the model parameters

Weak value amplification: a view from quantum estimation theory that highlights what it is and what isn't

Weak value amplification (WVA) is a concept that has been extensively used in a myriad of applications with the aim of rendering measurable tiny changes of a variable of interest. In spite of this, there is still an on-going debate about its true nature and whether is really needed for achieving high sensitivity. Here we aim at solving the puzzle, using some basic concepts from quantum estimation theory, highlighting what the use of the WVA concept can offer and what it can not. While WVA cannot be used to go beyond some fundamental sensitivity limits that arise from considering the full nature of the quantum states, WVA can notwithstanding enhance the sensitivity of real detection schemes that are limited by many other things apart from the quantum nature of the states involved, i.e. technical noise. Importantly, it can do that in a straightforward and easily accessible manner.Comment: 2 pages, 5 figure

Generalized uncertainty principle impact onto the black holes information flux and the sparsity of Hawking radiation

We investigate the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) corrections to the entropy content and the information flux of black holes, as well as the corrections to the sparsity of the Hawking radiation at the late stages of evaporation. We find that due to these quantum gravity motivated corrections, the entropy flow per particle reduces its value on the approach to the Planck scale due to a better accuracy in counting the number of microstates. We also show that the radiation flow is no longer sparse when the mass of a black hole approaches Planck mass which is not the case for non-GUP calculations.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, typos corrected, published in Phys. Rev.

Re-Employment Probabilities for Spanish Men: What Role Does the Unemployment Benefit System Play?

We analyse the re-employment probabilities of almost 330,000 Spanish men aged 20-59 years who began a unemployment insurance (UI) spell between February 1987 and November 1991 using data derived from the national unemployment benefit administration database (SIPRE) and discrete time duration models with flexible baseline hazards. We show: (i) the level of UI benefits has a relatively small disincentive effect on re-employment rates; (ii) re-employment exit hazards increase as UI exhaustion approaches but, again, the effect is relatively small. (iii) Extensions to Unemployment Assistance eligibility lowered reemployment probabilities. Also (iv) there are clear seasonal and cyclical effects on reemployment rates, and (v) rates are much higher for those who enter UI from a fixed-term employment contract rather than permanent one, and (vi) for young workers. These results are consistent with other research drawing attention to the impact on unemployment of inflexibilities in Spanish labour market institutions, combined with low inter-regional mobility and reliance by many for support via their family.

The Causal Relationship between Individual’s Choice Behavior and Self-Reported Satisfaction: the Case of Residential Mobility in the EU

One of the most persistent and lasting debates in economic research refers to whether the answers to subjective questions can be used to explain individuals’ economic behavior. Using panel data for twelve EU countries, in the present study we analyze the causal relationship between self-reported housing satisfaction and residential mobility. Our results indicate that: i) households unsatisfied with their current housing situation are more likely to move; ii) housing satisfaction raises after a move, and; iii) housing satisfaction increases with the transition from being a renter to becoming a homeowner. Some interesting cross-country differences are observed. Our findings provide evidence in favor of use of subjective indicators of satisfaction with certain life domains in the analysis of individuals’ economic conduct.Housing satisfaction, residential mobility, homeownership, individual’s choice behavior.

Minimal length and the flow of entropy from black holes

The existence of a minimal length, predicted by different theories of quantum gravity, can be phenomenologically described in terms of a generalized uncertainty principle. We consider the impact of this quantum gravity motivated effect onto the information budget of a black hole and the sparsity of Hawking radiation during the black hole evaporation process. We show that the information is not transmitted at the same rate during the final stages of the evaporation and that the Hawking radiation is not sparse anymore when the black hole approaches the Planck mass.Comment: Awarded Honorable Mention in the 2018 Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competitio

How to automate a kinematic mount using a 3D printed Arduino-based system

We demonstrate a simple, flexible and cost-effective system to automatize most of the kinematic mounts available nowadays on the market. It combines 3D printed components, an Arduino board, stepper motors, and simple electronics. The system developed can control independently and simultaneously up to ten stepper motors using commands sent through the serial port, and it is suitable for applications where optical realignment using flat mirrors is required on a periodic basis.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

A 3D Printed Toolbox for Opto-Mechanical Components

Nowadays is very common to find headlines in the media where it is stated that 3D printing is a technology called to change our lives in the near future. For many authors, we are living in times of a third industrial revolution. Howerver, we are currently in a stage of development where the use of 3D printing is advantageous over other manufacturing technologies only in rare scenarios. Fortunately, scientific research is one of them. Here we present the development of a set of opto-mechanical components that can be built easily using a 3D printer based on Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and parts that can be found on any hardware store. The components of the set presented here are highly customizable, low-cost, require a short time to be fabricated and offer a performance that compares favorably with respect to low-end commercial alternatives.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure