Biased Perceptions of Income Distribution and Preferences for Redistribution: Evidence from a Survey Experiment

Individual perceptions of income distribution play a vital role in political economy and public finance models, yet there is little evidence regarding their origins or accuracy. This study examines how individuals form these perceptions and posits that systematic biases arise from the extrapolation of information extracted from reference groups. A tailored household survey provides original evidence on the significant biases in individuals’ evaluations of their own relative position in the distribution. Furthermore, the data supports the hypothesis that the selection process into the reference groups is the source of those biases. Finally, this study also assesses the practical relevance of these biases by examining their impact on attitudes towards redistributive policies. An experimental design incorporated into the survey provides consistent information on the own ranking within the income distribution to a randomly selected group of respondents. Confronting agents’ biased perceptions with this information has a significant effect on their stated preferences for redistribution. Those who had overestimated their relative position and thought of themselves relatively richer than they were demand higher levels of redistribution when informed of their true ranking. This relationship between biased perceptions and political attitudes provides an alternative explanation for the relatively low degree of redistribution observed in modern democracies.Fil: Cruces, Guillermo Antonio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas. Departamento de Ciencias Económicas. Centro de Estudios Distributivos Laborales y Sociales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Perez Truglia, Ricardo Nicolas. Harvard University; Estados UnidosFil: Tetaz, Martin Alberto. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas. Departamento de Ciencias Económicas. Centro de Estudios Distributivos Laborales y Sociales; Argentin

Contrucción y ensayo de colectores solares calentadores de aire utilizando materiales no habituales

Se presentan los resultados del diseño, construcción, ensayo y comparación de colectores solares para calentamiento de aire de bajo costo. Se compararon seis prototipos con un área expuesta nominal de 1 m². Las superficies absorbedoras han sido construidas con materiales no habituales y/o reciclados: chapa ondulada de acero galvanizado, chapa plana galvanizada perforada, latas de aluminio, viruta metálica. La cubierta, de film de polietileno transparente de 200 micrones. Se presentan las ventajas y desventajas con relación al diseño, los procesos y factibilidades constructivas acordes al medio social en el cuál serán transferidos (comunidad de escasos recursos). Se analizan los niveles térmicos alcanzados en el aire de entrada y salida de cada colector y en un recinto de 1 m3 adosado a cada uno de ellos como área a climatizar. La medición se realizó en los meses de julio y agosto de 2010. Como conclusiones se identifican los sistemas que han presentado las mejores prestaciones.This work exposes the results of designing, construction, testing and comparison of low cost air heating solar collector. Six prototypes were compared with a nominal surface area of 1 m2 . Absorber surfaces have been built with unusual and / or recycled materials: corrugated metal, galvanized steel, aluminum cans, metal shavings. The cover is a 200 microns transparent polyethylene sheet. Advantages and disadvantages related to designing, processes and feasibility constructive related to social location in which will be transferred, is presented. Achieved thermal levels from input and output air collector and a 1 m3 air container connected to each of them, were analyzed. Measurement was realized in July and August 2010. As a result, systems that have presented the best performance were identified.Fil: San Juan, Gustavo Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Instituto de Inv y Politica del Ambiente Construido; ArgentinaFil: Viegas, Graciela Melisa. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Instituto de Inv y Politica del Ambiente Construido; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Discoli, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Instituto de Inv y Politica del Ambiente Construido; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Federico. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Instituto de Inv y Politica del Ambiente Construido; ArgentinaFil: Lamonica, Martin. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Instituto de Inv y Politica del Ambiente Construido; ArgentinaFil: Ruótolo, Carla. No especifica;Fil: Güimil, Ana. No especifica

Electrical characterization and modeling of 1T-1R RRAM arrays with amorphous and poly-crystalline HfO2

In this work, a comparison between 1T-1R RRAM arrays, manufactured either with amorphous or poly-crystalline Metal–Insulator–Metal cells, is reported in terms of performance, reliability, Set/Reset operations energy requirements, intra-cell and inter-cell variability during 10k endurance cycles and 100k read disturb cycles. The modeling of the 1T-1R RRAM array cells has been performed with two different approaches: (i) a physical model like the Quantum Point Contact (QPC) model was used to find the relationship between the reliability properties observed during the endurance and the read disturb tests with the conductive filament properties; (ii) a compact model to be exploited in circuit simulations tools which models the I–V characteristics of each memory cells technology

Experiencias visuales y cognitivas a través de GIFS en Educación Primaria

El GIF se ha convertido en un formato de expresión y comunicación habitual de las redes sociales, adquiriendo también protagonismo como un género artístico. Objetivos: El objetivo es generar experiencias cognitivas visuales en las que los niños sean protagonistas de su aprendizaje a través de ejemplos prácticos. Método: Para ello analizamos los archivos GIF clasificándolos a partir de tres criterios: intencionalidad, contexto y contenido, e identificando aplicaciones digitales (APPS) que permiten realizar GIFS. Asimismo, diseñamos una metodología bimodal que enlaza la identificación de APPS con la creación de GIFS. Resultados: Se han creado nueve GIFS a partir de contenidos curriculares artísticos utilizando APPS y procesos adecuados a la etapa de Primaria. Discusión: El análisis de APPS y los GIFS creados indican que ambos elementos asociados permiten trabajar contenidos en Educación Primaria presentando la información de un modo más dinámico y visual. Abstract: The GIF has become a habitual form of expression and communication in the social media, also acquiring importance as an artistic genre. Objectives: The aim is to generate visual cognitive experiences in which children are the protagonists of their learning through practical examples. Method: To this end, we analyse GIF files by classifying them according to three criteria: intentionality, context and content, and identifying digital applications (APPS) that allow GIFS to be made. We also designed a bimodal methodology that links the identification of APPS with the creation of GIFS. Results: Nine GIFS were created based on artistic curricular content using APPS and processes appropriate to the Primary level. Discussion: The analysis of APPS and the GIFS created indicate that both associated elements allow work on content in Primary Education presenting the information in a more dynamic and visual way

RIP-MD: a tool to study residue interaction networks in protein molecular dynamics

Protein structure is not static; residues undergo conformational rearrangements and, in doing so, create, stabilize or break non-covalent interactions. Molecular dynamics (MD) is a technique used to simulate these movements with atomic resolution. However, given the data-intensive nature of the technique, gathering relevant information from MD simulations is a complex and time consuming process requiring several computational tools to perform these analyses. Among different approaches, the study of residue interaction networks (RINs) has proven to facilitate the study of protein structures. In a RIN, nodes represent amino-acid residues and the connections between them depict non-covalent interactions. Here, we describe residue interaction networks in protein molecular dynamics (RIP-MD), a visual molecular dynamics (VMD) plugin to facilitate the study of RINs using trajectories obtained from MD simulations of proteins. Our software generates RINs from MD trajectory files. The non-covalent interactions defined by RIP-MD include H-bonds, salt bridges, VdWs, cation-π, π–π, Arginine–Arginine, and Coulomb interactions. In addition, RIP-MD also computes interactions based on distances between Cαs and disulfide bridges. The results of the analysis are shown in an user friendly interface. Moreover, the user can take advantage of the VMD visualization capacities, whereby through some effortless steps, it is possible to select and visualize interactions described for a single, several or all residues in a MD trajectory. Network and descriptive table files are also generated, allowing their further study in other specialized platforms. Our method was written in python in a parallelized fashion. This characteristic allows the analysis of large systems impossible to handle otherwise. RIP-MD is available at http://www.dlab.cl/ripmd

A preliminary taxonomy and a standard knowledge base for mental-health system indicators in Spain

Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft