All Because of Euro? On Some Structural Changes in the Italian Foreign Trade, 1960-2000

Using a long-run series of I-O tables, some simple facts are explored with respect to the Italian trade balance in the period 1960-2000. The analysis confirms that the Italian economy underwent a de-specialisation process before the Euro era. This phenomenon weakened our export capacity, and in addition worsened significantly our dependence on non-oil imports.

Expectational Bottlenecks and the Emerging of New Organizational Forms

In this article we discuss the dynamics of organizational change when agents have heterogeneous initial conjectures and do learn. In this framework, conjectural equilibrium is defined as a steady state of the learning process, and all the adjustment occurs in disequilibrium. We discuss the properties of the system under different “rationality” assumptions, and using well-known learning algorithms. We prove analytically that multiplicity of equilibria, and failure of good organizational routines, cannot be ruled out: better, they are fairly probable. Stability is a crucial matter: it is shown to depend on initial conjectures. Finally, learning does not necessarily select the best.

Quality Risk Aversion, Conjectures, and New Product Diffusion

In this paper we provide a generalization of the standard models of the diffusion of a new product. Consumers are heterogeneous and risk averse, and the firm is uncertain about the demand curve: both learn from past observations. The attitude towards risk has important effects with regard to the diffusion pattern. In our model, downward-biased signals to consumers can prevent the success of the product, even if its objective quality is high: a “lock-in” result. We show in addition that the standard logistic pattern can be derived from the model. Finally, we discuss the asymptotic behavior of the learning dynamics, with regard to the multiplicity and the stability of equilibria, and to their welfare properties.Heterogeneity, Multiple equilibria, Lock-in, Product diffusion, Risk aversion.

On Marginal Returns and Inferior Inputs

A necessary and sufficient condition for an input to be inferior is that, taking into account the input adjustment, an increase of its price raises the marginal productivity of all inputs. Contrary to a widespread opinion, it is not necessary that (some) inputs are “rivals” (i.e., that some marginal productivity cross derivative is negative). We discuss these facts and illustrate them by introducing a few simple functional forms for the production function. Our results suggest that the existence of inferior inputs is naturally associate to the presence of increasing returns, and possibly make the case for inferiority considerably stronger.inferior and normal inputs, marginal productivity, homotheticity.

Monopolistic Competition and New Products: A Conjectural Equilibrium Approach

In this paper we generalize the heterogeneous risk adverse agents model of diffusion of new products in a multi-firm, heterogeneous and interacting agents environment. We use a model of choice under uncertainty based on Bayesian theory. We discuss the possibility of product failures, the set of equilibria, their stability and some welfare properties.Product diffusion, Risk aversion, Lock-in, Monopolistic competition, Multiple equilibria

Play and Procedural Rhetoric in Composition Coursework: A Rhetorical Analysis of Trivial Pursuit Instructions

The rhetorical strategies used in the design of Trivial Pursuit instruction sheets were studied. The textual, visual, and procedural elements of Trivial Pursuit instruction sheets published between 1984 and 2009 revealed a series of revisions that accounted for sociocultural and historical contexts. Results indicated the potential for designing instruction sheets that are both persuasive and practical. Implications for the design of academic assignment prompts and coursework are discussed

Growing, innovating, convincing, approving: intellectual stimuli from Adam Smith

It is argued that, differently from a diffuse practice among modern economists, one needs reading more than the first couple of pages of the Wealth of Nations in order to fully appreciate Smiths contribution to the economics of exchange, innovation and economic evolution. In particular, by going back to the History of Astronomy, the First Formation of Languages and the Theory of Moral Sentiments, one finds that in Smiths opinion any kind of social order (languages, theories, social norms, evaluation of products) stems from a co-evolution process. Evolution is fostered by surprise and imagination, i.e. by dissatisfaction with some existing order; however imagination (that is, innovation) can only be successful if it is approved by the community; approval, in turn, is grounded on uses, customs, moods. As a consequence, there is no guarantee that evolution is progressive. More important, self-reference and the very mechanisms of imagination (from sudden surprise to sudden invention to successful new knowledge links) imply that evolution is characterised by highly non-linear relations. It follows that, as usual in non-linear theory, there does not exist a unique path of development for a society, nor one which depends uniquely on fundamental parameters. Some of Smiths key notions -like specialization, division of labour, effectual demand, propensity to exchange, self interest, prosperity- can be read from this different perspective, leading to an interpretation which is differs deeply from the one usually adopted by modern economics

Hospital Based Emergency Department Visits With Dental Conditions: Outcomes and Policy Implications in the States of California, Nebraska and New York

The purpose of this dissertation was to present state-level estimates of hospital-based emergency department (ED) visits with dental conditions across all ages in the states of California, Nebraska, and New York. Also, this dissertation examined the outcomes and impact of changes in Medicaid policies on the utilization of ED with dental problems. State Emergency Department Databases (California, Nebraska, and New York), a component of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) was used for this dissertation. Dental conditions were identified by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. High-risk groups visiting EDs with dental conditions were identified. This dissertation highlights the need for the provision of increased resources, such as dental-related preventive programs and community clinics particularly for the high-risk groups who visit ED for dental problems