The Tail of the HI Mass Function

The contribution of extragalactic objects with HI masses below $10^8 M_\odot$ to the HI mass function remains uncertain. Several aspects of the detection of low-mass sources in HI surveys are not always considered, and as a result different analysis techniques yield widely different estimates for their number density. It is suggested at one extreme that the number density of galaxies follows a shallow Schechter power-law slope, and at the other extreme that it follows a steep faint-end rise like that found for field optical sources. Here we examine a variety of selection effects, issues of completeness, and consequences of LSS. We derive results for the large Arecibo Dual Beam Survey which indicate that the field mass function does rise steeply, while within the Virgo Cluster environs, the slope appears to be much shallower. Dependence on the local density of galaxies may partially explain differences between surveys.Comment: 8 pages, presented at Mapping the Hidden Universe: The Universe in HI. eds Kraan-Korteweg, Henning, Andernac

Using a VAT for Deficit Reduction

Examines implications of imposing a value-added tax, compared with increasing individual income tax rates (including capital gains tax), such as the distribution of the tax burden on households, distortions on economic decisions, and government costs

Using a VAT to Reform the Income Tax

Analyzes a proposal to simplify the tax system and improve economic incentives by adopting a value-added tax, removing most current taxpayers from income tax rolls, reforming the corporate income tax, and lowering the top individual and corporate rates

Reducing the Deficit by Increasing Individual Income Tax Rates

Estimates impact on debt-to-GDP ratio of raising all individual income tax rates, including the capital gains tax; raising the top three rates and leaving capital gains rate unchanged; and raising the top two rates and leaving capital gains unchanged

Methodology for Distributing a VAT

Proposes a revised methodology for analyzing the distributional effects of a value-added tax - the economic burden placed on households of different income levels and demographics - as well as on government revenues and spending and capital

Gas and Stars in an HI-Selected Galaxy Sample

We present the results of a J-band study of the HI-selected Arecibo Dual-Beam Survey and Arecibo Slice Survey galaxy samples using the 2 Micron All-Sky Survey data. We find that these galaxies span a wide range of stellar and gas properties. However, despite the diversity within the samples, we find a very tight correlation between luminosity and size in the J-band, similar to that we previously found (Rosenberg & Schneider 2003) between the HI mass and size. We also find that the correlation between the baryonic mass and the J-band diameter is even tighter than between the baryonic mass and the rotational velocity.Comment: AJ in press, 17 pages (including tables and figures) + 6 additional jpg figure