The Comparative Advantage of Educated Workers in Implementing New Technology: Some Empirical Evidence

In this paper we estimate variants of a labor demand equation derived from a (restricted variable) cost function in which "experience"on a technology (proxied by the mean age of the capital stock) enters "non-neutrally." Our specification of the underlying cost function isbased on the hypothesis that highly educated workers have a comparative advantage with respect to the adjustment to and implementation of new technologies. Our empirical results are consistent with the implication of this hypothesis, that the relative demand for educated workers declines as the capital stock (and presumably the technology embodied therein) ages. According to our estimates, the education-distribution of employment depends more strongly on the age of equipment than on the age of plant, and the effect of changes in equipment age on labor demand is magnified in R&D-intensive industries.

Technical Change, Learning, and Wages

This paper examines the relationship between technological change and wages using pooled cross-sectional industry-level data and several alternative indicators of the rate of introduction of new technology. Our main finding is that industries with a high rate of technical change pay higher wages to workers of given age and education, compared to less technologically advanced industries. This is Consistent with the notion that the introduction of new technology creates a demand for learning, that learning is a function of employee ability and effort, and that increases in wages are required to elicit increases in ability and effort. A related finding is that the wages of highly educated workers (especially recent graduates) relative to those of less educated workers are highest in technologically advanced industries; this is consistent with the notion that educated workers are better learners.

The First VLBI Image of the Young, Oxygen-Rich Supernova Remnant in NGC 4449

We report on sensitive 1.4-GHz VLBI radio observations of the unusually luminous supernova remnant SNR 4449-1 in the galaxy NGC 4449, which gave us the first well-resolved image of this object. The remnant's radio morphology consists of two approximately parallel bright ridges, suggesting similarities to the barrel shape seen for many older Galactic supernova remnants or possibly to SN 1987A. The angular extent of the remnant is 65 x 40 mas, corresponding to (3.7 x 2.3) x 10^{18} (D/3.8 Mpc) cm. We also present a new, high signal-to-noise optical spectrum. By comparing the remnant's linear size to the maximum velocities measured from optical lines, as well as using constraints from historical images, we conclude that the supernova explosion occurred between ~1905 and 1961, likely around 1940. The age of the remnant is therefore likely ~70 yr. We find that SNR 4449-1's shock wave is likely still interacting with the circumstellar rather than interstellar medium.Comment: 7 pages, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Analysis of Umberger\u27s theory for subtractive color reproduction

A method, proposed by Umberger, for the identification of additive stimuli representative of the red, green, and blue primaries controlled by dyes obeying Beer\u27s law was examined. The primary stability study suggests that for a set of colors created of various dye concentrations, the pattern of Umberger\u27s primary distribution is a translation of the original colors on a chromaticity diagram. Results of a theoretical color reproduction study where the colormatching functions of Umberger\u27s primaries were assumed as the color reproduction system\u27s spectral sensitivities indicate an increase in metric chroma of reproduced colors. Color reproduction errors for a large number of colors were minimized for spectral sensitivities corresponding to Umberger\u27s primaries controlled by dye concentrations resulting in an 18% transmittance gray color. A technique was proposed for optimizing the system\u27s spectral sensitivities to colors constituting the reproduced scene

Pennsylvania\u27s Accountant-Client Privilege: An Asset with Liabilities

Accountants, their clients, and attorneys for both parties are no doubt generally aware of the accountant-client privilege and feel some assurance knowing that, when faced with a summons or subpoena, the privilege may be invoked to prevent disclosure of information which clients have revealed to their accountants. However, significant limitations on the accountant-client privilege exist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To provide the reader an accurate assessment of the exact protection afforded by the privilege, this article will examine the Pennsylvania accountant-client statute and relevant case law construing the statute. This article will also touch on the availability of the Pennsylvania privilege in federal cases and discuss situations where an accountant engaged by an attorney may be protected by the attorney-client privilege

Opportunities for farming in alpine countries – pathways to truly grassland-based beef and milk production in Austria and Switzerland

Farming in the alpine countries of Austria and Switzerland fulfils important economic, socio-cultural and ecological functions for society. However, even though both Austria and Switzerland have increasingly focused their agricultural policy towards ecology, in both countries negative environmental impacts of agriculture still have to be reduced massively

Sturgeon spawning grounds in the Odra River tributaries: A first assessment

As part of a feasibility study for the re-establishment of Acipenser sturio L., 1758 in its previous range in German and Polish waters, a habitat assessment was initiated for the Odra River watershed. Spawning habitat for sturgeons is considered to be of major importance for the successful restoration and subsequent reproduction of the species, since it supports the most vulnerable life stages. The ongoing restoration project comprises three distinct phases; the first phase included the evaluation of readily available habitat. Habitat requirements were identified based on published information on sturgeon reproduction, historical catch data, and early life history. Potential spawning habitats were determined in a first step based on historic records. For the identified historic spawning sites, recent data on migration obstacles and water pollution were evaluated, thus excluding non-accessible or adversely affected sites. In the Drawa River -described as a sturgeon spawning habitat until 1939- potentially suitable habitats were determined to be readily available. Data were gathered on the dynamic of the discharge, water quality, longitudinal profiles and cross-sections of the river, as well as substrate composition. Five river stretches comprising approximately 15 000 m³ were identified as being potentially suitable for sturgeon spawning. Assuming an average fertility of 1 million eggs per female and a maximum density of 3 500 eggs/m³, the spawning-site surface required for an average female would comprise approximately 350 m³. Thus, the Drawa River could provide a spawning habitat for approx. 50 females.Como parte de un estudio de viabilidad para el restablecimiento de Acipenser sturio L., 1758 en su distribución original en aguas alemanas y polacas, se inició una valoración del hábitat en la cuenca del río Oder. Se considera que el hábitat de freza para los esturiones es de mayor importancia para el éxito de la recuperación y subsecuente reproducción de las especies, ya que mantiene los estados vitales más vulnerables. El proyecto de recuperación en marcha comprende tres fases diferentes; la primera incluyó la evaluación de hábitat fácilmente disponible. Los requerimientos de hábitat fueron identificados a partir de información publicada sobre la reproducción del esturión, datos históricos de capturas, e historia natural temprana. Los hábitats potenciales de freza fueron determinados, en una primera fase, a partir de citas históricas. Para los lugares de freza históricos identificados, los datos recientes sobre obstáculos a la migración y contaminación del agua fueron evaluados, excluyendo los lugares no accesibles o adversamente afectados. En el río Drawa -descrito como un hábitat de freza para el esturión hasta 1939- los hábitats potencialmente apropiados fueron determinados para ser fácilmente disponibles. Se reunieron datos sobre dinámica de la descarga, calidad del agua, perfiles longitudinales y secciones transversales del río, así como de la composición del sustrato. Cinco secciones fluviales, comprendiendo aproximadamente 15 000 m³, fueron identificadas como potencialmente apropiadas para la freza del esturión. Asumiendo una fecundidad media de un millón de huevos por hembra y una densidad máxima de 3 500 huevos/m³, la superficie de lugar de freza requerida para una hembra media comprendería aproximadamente 350 m³. Así, el río Drawa podría proporcionar un hábitat de freza para aproximadamente 50 hembras.Instituto Español de Oceanografí