A method for air flow measurement using high frequency vibrations

Air flow measurements are very important in technological processes. A new air flow measurement method is proposed. The method is based on the interaction of air flow with the end of a fiber waveguide located in the flow. As the result of this interaction, random high frequency vibrations are generated in the fiber waveguide. The stochastic transducers are created for the realization of this method. The stochastic transducer consists of the fiber waveguide, the piezoceramic element and the preamplifie

Three Essays on Fiscal Federalism and the Role of Intergovernmental Tranfers

This dissertation is composed of three essays, each examining a unique question relating to the role of intergovernmental transfers in fiscal federalism. Using a panel of the 48 contiguous U.S. states along with recent advances in nonstationary panel and spatial econometric methods this dissertation offers a number of important insights into the workings of intergovernmental transfers and therefore a clearer understanding of the interactions among the different layers of government. The third chapter examines the relationship between intergovernmental revenues from the federal government and intergovernmental expenditures to local governments. As observed by Wildasin (2010), there remains remarkable stability in the ratio of state-tolocal transfers to federal-to-state transfers despite the disparate programs being financed by each. Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to examine the extent to which states serve as a conduit for funds from the federal government to local governments. In particular, the research question asks to what degree do federal transfers stimulate transfers to local governments. The fourth chapter explores the direction of causality between tax revenues and expenditures in answering the four hypotheses set forth in the literature: tax-spend, spend-tax, fiscal synchronization, and institutional separation. Furthermore, along with exploring the role served by intergovernmental transfers within the revenue-expenditure nexus, this essay also examines differences relating to the revenue-expenditure nexus between states with relatively higher debt levels and states with low debt levels, in order to better understand the fiscal causal links favorable for debt accumulation. The purpose of the fifth chapter is to ascertain the effect interstate fiscal interactions on the stimulative effect of grants on state level expenditures. The vast literature on fiscal competition suggests that states do not make decisions in isolation, therefore, spatial econometrics are used to capture spillovers and mimicking behavior across states. Following Boarnet and Glazer (2002), the effect of informational externalities arising from grants awarded to neighboring states are examined as well as the effect of spending spillovers from neighboring states. The results show that the flypaper anomaly (i.e. the stimulative effect of grants greater than a pure income effect) can be explained by interstate fiscal interactions

Estimation of surface roughness using high frequency vibrations

Surface roughness is an important parameter for evaluating the quality of material surfaces. It affects the tribological and optical properties of the materials. The paper proposes a new method for estimation of surface roughness, which is based on measurement of high frequency vibrations that are generated when air flow interacts with the surface of a solid body. It was determined that intensity of high frequency vibrations depends on surface roughness. Sandpapers with different magnitudes of surface roughness were used for the experimental stud

The Relationship between Electricity Prices and Electricity Demand, Economic Growth, and Employment

There is growing concern over the emissions of greenhouse gases in the United States. Policymakers at both the state and national levels have discussed, and in some cases enacted, policies with the goals of reducing energy demand and encouraging the use of more efficient energy technologies. Because these policies will have an effect on the cost of energy, a quantitative examination of the energy demand is warranted. In this project, we estimate the likely effects of increased electricity prices on the demand for electricity, production as measured by Gross State Product (GSP), and employment

Report to Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform by Economic Consultants

Excerpts from the executive summary: Two basic points come from our analysis of Kentucky’s tax system: a broader tax base is needed so that revenue can keep pace with future economic growth, and changes are needed to improve Kentucky’s economic competitiveness. Without fundamental reforms Kentucky could face a $1 billion shortfall by 2020, and could find itself at a competitive disadvantage to neighboring states for business growth, retention, and recruitment. The options we present below can improve future revenue growth and economic competitiveness—which are evaluated with respect to other important factors, such as fairness and simplicity. The Commission should view these options as alternative routes to a different tax system, but with varying implications for adequacy, elasticity, competitiveness, fairness, and simplicity

International Disease Epidemics and the Shadow Economy

Adding to the emerging body of research related to the current coronavirus crisis, this paper studies the impact of disease epidemics on the worldwide prevalence of the shadow or the underground economy. The informal sector undermines compliance with government regulations and lowers tax collections. Our main hypothesis is that epidemics positively impacts the spread of the shadow economy. Using data on nearly 130 nations and nesting the empirical analysis in the broader literature on the drivers of the shadow sector, we find that both the incidence and the intensity of epidemics positively and significantly contribute to the spread of the underground sector. Numerically, a ten percent increase in the intensity of epidemics leads to an increase in the prevalence of the shadow economy by about 2.1 percent. These findings about the spillovers from epidemics have implications for economic policies in the current times of coronavirus. JEL-Codes: I150, K420

A method for air flow measurement using high frequency vibrations

Air flow measurements are very important in technological processes. A new air flow measurement method is proposed. The method is based on the interaction of air flow with the end of a fiber waveguide located in the flow. As the result of this interaction, random high frequency vibrations are generated in the fiber waveguide. The stochastic transducers are created for the realization of this method. The stochastic transducer consists of the fiber waveguide, the piezoceramic element and the preamplifie

Relación entre los gastos e ingresos del gobierno en España, 1958-2014

En este artículo se utiliza metodología de cointegración y causalidad en series temporales para analizar la relación ingreso-gasto, gasto-ingreso en la economía española durante el período 1958-2014. Se ha tenido en cuenta el posible cambio estructural en ambas series durante el período objeto de estudio, así como la posible existencia de causalidad tanto a corto como a largo plazo. Los resultados muestran causalidad en la dirección ingreso a gasto, pero no al contrario. Dada la importancia en España de la reducción del déficit público se infiere que es necesario ajustar a la baja el gasto público con el consiguiente perjuicio que se puede producir en el crecimiento económico español

An empirical note on structural breaks in the U.S. R & D production function: Semi-endogenous versus schumpeterian growth models

Using data from the U.S. this paper provides new evidence in support of Schumpeterian growth theory. In particular, the second generation growth models discussed by Ha and Howitt (2007) and Madsen (2008) are extended to consider structural breaks in the R&D production function. The results favor the Schumpeterian theory with a shift in the R&D production function over time