Local authority handling of Freedom of Information requests: lessons from a research project

The purpose of this article is to report on early findings from a wide scale research project which relies on the effectiveness freedom of information provisions in order to obtain data. If freedom of information legislation does not function to ensure disclosures by public authorities, the research data necessary for the research would either not be available or would be much more difficult to obtain. In making FOIA requests, the authors hope to map the use of whistleblowing disclosures within a complex regulatory landscape, involving both local authorities and national regulators

Beyond Optimal Forecasting

forecasting,forecast loss functions,stochastic dominance.

Assessing the Credibility of Instrumental Variables Inference With Imperfect Instruments Via Sensitivity Analysis

instrumental variables,sensitivity analysis

Growth May Be Good for the Poor, But Decline is Disastrous: On the Non-Robustness of the Dollar-Kraay "Growth is Good for the Poor" Result

Growth,poverty,income distribution

Mis-Specification and Frequency Dependence in a New Keynesian Phillips Curve

Phillips Curve, spectral regression, time series analysis

Mis-Specification in Phillips Curve Regressions: Quantifying Frequency Dependence in This Relationship While Allowing for Feedback.

Phillips Curve, spectral regression, time series analysis.

Arabian adventures

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the world’s most rapidly urbanising countries. Despite the recent downturn in the economy, the region continues to undergo rapid development, particularly around Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Consequently the country is host to many major civil engineering projects including the world’s tallest building, artificial offshore islands, new international airports, metro systems and high-speed rail networks

Frequency Dependence in Regression Model Coefficients: An Alternative Approach for Modeling Nonlinear Dynamic Relationships in Time Series

Phillips Curve, spectral regression, time series analysis

Forces on cylinders in relative fluid motion

This thesis reviews current knowledge concerning the forces between circular cylinders and relatively flowing fluids. The kinematic conditions considered are these of steady, unidirectional unsteady, oscillatory, and that of monochromatic surf act- water waves incident upon a vertical surface piercing cylinder. The complicating effects of cylinder surface roughness and freestream turbulence are also considered. Detailed investigation of an oscillating cylinder experiment carried out by the author, at high Stokes number (Reynolds divided by Keulegan Carpenter number), but covering a low range of Keulegan Carpenter number is presented. Following this, a discussion of wave tank and generator design, culminates in the design of such a facility for the testing of cylinders in progressive waves. These experimental examples are used in conjunction with model theory to explain the deficiencies and similarities between the various kinematic conditions above. The experimental utilization of simpler fluid kinematic conditions to model those that are more complex is shown to be possible within certain limitations. Guidance is given to facilitate selection of the most suitable experimental technique for the investigation of specific fluid-cylinder dynamic problems. An original picture of vortex behaviour throughout a cycle of relative planar oscillatory motion is postulated based upon recorded circumferential pressure distribution history, and resultant in-line and lift forces. The Morison equation, considered as a mathematical model which describes the cylinder-fluid dynamics, is shown to be reasonable for Keulegan Carpenter numbers less than 5 (in the inertia dominant regime), or greater than 25 (in the drag dominant regime). The equation is misleading in the intermediate region (5 to 25) where the drag and inertia force components are each of comparable importance. The neglect of the important transverse (with respect to relative flow direction) force component and the effects of flow history, contained in residual vorticity, are also shown to be important deficiencies. The implications of this work for the understanding of the fluid mechanics of vertical circular cylinders in the sea are also considered