Heterogeneous Behavioral Rules in the Oligopolistic Case

In a static symmetric duopoly the set of behavioral rules is extended to different types of markup pricing. Using an equilibrium concept suggested in Pasche (2001), it is shown that dependend on the markup neither pure Cournot nor pure Bertrand behavior is a behavioral equilibrium profile. Instead, there is a rationale for the usage of simple heuristics. The presence of markup rules leads to Stackelberg outcomes. Furthermore, pure markup behavior is more competitive than in Cournot case but less competitive than in Bertrand case. It is shown, that multiple behavioral equilibria and heterogeneous behavior may arise, where at least one player uses price setting strategies.oligopoly, markup rules, heterogeneity, behavioral equilibrium.

Fundamental Uncertainty, Portfolio Choice, and Liquidity Preference Theory

One of Keynes' core issues in his liquidity preference theory is how fundamental uncertainty affects the propensity to hold money as a liquid asset. The paper critically assesses various formal representations of fundamental uncertainty and provides an argument for a more boundedly rational approach to portfolio choice between liquidity and risky assets. The choice is made on the basis of individual beliefs which are subject to mental representations of the underlying economic structure. Self-consciousness arises when the agent is aware of the fact that beliefs are dispersed among agents due to the absence of a "true" model. Responding to this fact by increasing liquidity preference is rationalized by the higher ex post performance of choice. Moreover, we analyze the case that the portfolio is partially financed by debt. It is explored how fundamental uncertainty affects the volume of the portfolio and hence money and credit demand as well as the probability of debt failures.liquidity preference, portfolio choice, self-confidence, self-consciousness, fundamental uncertainty, bounded rationality, Keynes, Knight

Doping Plasmon-Enhanced TiO2 with Zirconia to Improve Solar Energy Harvesting in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Solar energy is a promising solution towards meeting the world’s ever-growing energy demand. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are hybrid organic-inorganic solar cells with potential for commercial application, but are plagued by inefficiency due to their poor sunlight absorption. Silver nanoparticles have been shown to enhance the absorptive properties of DSSCs, but their plasmonic resonance causes local hot spots, resulting in cell deterioration. This thesis studies the mitigation of thermal energy loss of plasmon-enhanced DSSCs by the co-incorporation of zirconia, a well-known thermostabilizer, into the cell’s photoactive material. TiO2 was also synthesized using green bio-sourced solvents in supercritical CO2 to compare its performance in DSSCs to conventionally-synthesized TiO2. Using an integrated approach to materials synthesis, characterization, cell fabrication, and solar simulation testing, it is shown that 5 molar % zirconia doping improves the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs by as much as 44%. Further, two optimized plasmonic cell architectures are presented that increase optical absorption and photocurrent in DSSCs. The integration of these nanomaterials into solar cells highlights easy fabrication methods, contributes to the development and commercialization of inexpensive and high-efficiency DSSCs, and may benefit other types of solar-harvesting devices

Conflicts in Use: The Impacts of the Oil and Gas Industry on the Herring Fishery in the North Sea

The interaction of the herring (Clupea harengus) with the oil and gas industry in the North Sea is reviewed. The population crash of the herring in the early 1970\u27s and the subsequent closing of that important fishery between 1977 and 1983 has drawn considerable attention to the influences, both biotic and abiotic, affecting the recruitment to the North Sea stock. Current accepted theory points to a change in oceanic current and the subsequent decrease in salinity in the North Sea region, resulting in a change in plankton availability for larval herring as the cause of the recruitment failure during the 1970\u27s. The vulnerability of the herring population to large fluctuations in recruitment makes the maintenance of this fishery a difficult prospect. Clupeiod species, in general, which exhibit schooling behavior as well as wide fluctuations in year class strength are far more susceptible to overfishing than are commercially important demersal species (e.e. gadoids - cod, haddock) since a significant portion of a school may be removed in a single net haul leaving behind a population that may be removed in a single net haul leaving behind a population that may not be able to rebound. This is especially true if intense fishing pressure occurs during a period of a natural trough in population fluctuations. The oil industry in the North Sea has shown steady increases in production over the last 5 years and analysts are predicting a continuation of the present trend. Hydrocarbons have been shown to have negative effects on various species, including herring, in particular, the larval stages. A combination of naturally occurring reductions in larval numbers due to hydrographic changes and reductions due to hydrocarbon effects may result in dramatic stock changes before fishing quotas and hence fishing pressures can be altered. Further research along with insightful management is needed to better understand the dynamics of North Sea herring by itself as well as with the added parameters resulting from the oil and gas industry

Lessons in Life on the Verge of Death: Spiritual Mothering in Ai Laṛkī by Hindi Author Krishna Sobti

Spiritual mothering and the mother-daughter relationship are two important and intertwined themes in <em>Ai Laṛkī</em>, a short novel written by Krishna Sobti, a major author of Hindi literature. This article offers a reading of this late twentieth century literary work through the lenses of maternal theory, examining how an ill, old, and dying mother attempts to pass on maternal wisdom to her unmarried daughter who will never become a mother. Several of the basic tenets of maternal theory are useful to read literary works of fiction produced in contexts where apprehensions of religion, spirituality, motherhood and the mother-daughter relationship differ from those of the contexts where the body of knowledge known as maternal theory first emerged

Das Vertrauensspiel - eine verhaltensorientierte Erkl�rung

Es besteht empirische Evidenz, dass reale Spieler weitaus mehr Vertrauen und Vertrauensw�rdigkeit entwickeln als es nach den Voraussagen der klassischen Spieltheorie rational ist. Das Papier skizziert den Indirekt Evolution�ren Ansatz zur Erkl�rung der Entstehung von Vertrauen nach G�th und Kliemt (2000). Nach einer kurzen methodischen Diskussion des Ansatzes wird dessen Ergebnis im Rahmen eines alternativen verhaltensorientierten Erkl�rungsmodells zun�chst reproduziert und durch den Aspekt der sozialen Integration erweitert. Es zeigt sich, dass eine Senkung der Screening-Kosten die Investitionen in soziale Integration zur�ckdr�ngt.beschr�nkte Rationalit�t, indirekte Evolution, intrinsische Motivation, regelbasiertes Verhalten, Screening, soziale Integration.