Demand elasticities in international trade : are they really low?

The authors analyze the U.S. demandfor Bangladeshi imports for products restricted under the Multifiber Arrangement. Because Bangladesh is only a small supplier of these products and Latin American and Asian countries can supply close substitutes, the authors expected a high elasticity of demand for Bangladeshi imports, and they found consistently high estimates based on statistically significant coefficients. Their finding accords with trade theorists'prejudice that small countries can essentially behave as price takers, but conflicts with the empirical literature view that demand elasticities are low, rarely exceeding 3 and generally between 1 and 2. The authors'analysis differs from the existing literature in three ways: they derive a set of estimation equations from an explicit, utility-maximization model and use the estimated parameters of the utility function to obtain the Marshallian own-price and cross-price elasticities as well as the income elasticity of demand; they take explicit account of U.S. imports from competitors of Bangladesh, relying directly on competitors'prices; and they use highly disaggregated data that make the unit value of exports a better proxy for price than using aggregated export data commonly used in this literature. The authors outline their theoretical model for deriving their estimated equations in Section 1; preliminarily determine who Bangladesh's competitors are in Section 2; and estimate the demand equation derived in Section 1, and derive the price and income elasticities facing Bangladesh in Section 3.Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Markets and Market Access,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Consumption,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Access to Markets,Markets and Market Access,Consumption

Estimation of Standardized Effort in the Heterogeneous Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fleet

In this paper we estimate nominal and standardized shrimping effort in the Gulf of Mexico for the years 1965 through 1993. We accomplish this by first developing a standardization method (model) and then an expansion method (model). The expansion model estimates nominal days fished for noninterview landings data. The standardization model converts nominal days fished to standard days fished. We then characterize the historical trends of the penaeid shrimp fishery byvessel configuration, relative fishing power, and nominal and standardized effort. Wherever possible, we provide comparison with previous estimates by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

Soil-Structure Interaction of Soft Clay Using Prefabricated Vertical Geodrains Under Seismic Stresses

Experimental model study was carried out on soft Kaolinite clay using modified hydraulically pressurized oedometer with vertical sandwick of different diameter using open mandrel technique to investigate consolidation characteristics based on settlement and excess pore water pressure dissipation measurements. The main aim of this paper is to know the behavior of this consolidated mass under seismic stresses for different periods of time using shaking table.Pre and post shear strength of consolidated soil mass is evaluated using vane shear apparatus under seismic stresses. The interaction phenomena between clay and sandwick drain is also studied in oedometer to know stability of vertical geodrain under vibratory loads. Average degree of consolidation is computed from settlement and pore pressure measurement readings and is compared with theoretical solutions developed by authors. The results clearly indicate that by using sandwicks the % loss in strength can be reduced within the limits. Also it was concluded that clay-drain interface was not much disturbed under seismic stresses and quick clay condition can be reduced by using sandwicks

First report on four species of predatorynematodes, mononchids (Nematoda : Mononchida) from Nepal

A nematological survey was conducted for free and plant nematodes affecting economically important vegetable crops grown in Bhaktapur and Kavre, hilly districts of Nepal with altitudes ranging between 1315m to 1500m which revealed various plant parasitic nematodes along with four species of predatory nematodes belonging to the order Mononchida. These species were Mononchus aquaticus Coetzee, 1968, Iotonchus indicus Jairajpuri 1969, Mylonchulus contractus Jairajpuri, 1970 and Parahandronchus shakili (Jairajpuri, 1969) Mulvey, 1978. The measurements, descriptions, remarks and illustrations along with habitat and locality of these predatory nematodes are provided. These species are the first report from Nepal

Complete microcrystalline p-i-n solar cell—Crystalline or amorphous cell behavior?

Complete µc-Si:H p-i-n solar cells have been prepared by the very high frequency glow discharge method. Up to now, intrinsic µc-Si:H has never attracted much attention as a photovoltaic active material. However, an efficiency of 4.6% and remarkably high short circuit current densities of up to 21.9 mA/cm2 due to an enhanced absorption in the near-infrared could be obtained. First light-soaking experiments indicate no degradation for the entirely µc-Si:H cells. Voltage-dependent spectral response measurements suggest that the carrier transport in complete µc-Si:H p-i-n cells may possibly be cosupported by diffusion (in addition to drift)

Survey of Available Literature on Optimum Design of Structures

A survey of available literature on optimum design of structures is the scope of this report. The material presented in this report is an evaluation of the current literature pertaining to optimum design of structures. The principal methods of approach to achieve optimum design of structures are included in this report. The stress control method of getting optimum design is presented and its application to several problems is shown. Selected bibliography of the available literature with short descriptions of the contents is also included for further references and detailed study.Civil Engineerin

Microcrystalline p–i–n cells: a drift-controlled device?

The objective of this paper is to get more insight into the physics of microcrystalline silicon based solar cell by studying electric field profiles, spectral responses and current–voltage characteristics. Based on a comparison with a-Si:H p–i–n and c-Si p–n diodes, we concluded that μc-Si:H p–i–n devices are not field-controlled despite the presence of a high electric field in the i-layer