Building a World Trade Model: Some Lessons We Are Learning

International Relations/Trade,

Spectroscopy of Globular Clusters in the Sculptor Group Galaxies NGC 253 and NGC 55

We have obtained spectra for 103 published globular cluster candidates in the Sculptor Group galaxies NGC 253 and NGC 55. On the basis of radial velocities and digitized plate images, 14 globular clusters are identified in NGC 253 and one probable globular cluster is identified in NGC 55. The majority of the objects in the sample appear to be background galaxies. We have obtained and analysed COSMOS plate scans of NGC 253 and NGC 55 and use these along with the spectroscopically identified clusters to define new samples of globular cluster candidates in the two galaxies which should have reduced contamination.Comment: 11 pages, 9 postscript figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

GENERAL CROPLAND RETIREMENT: EFFECTS ON THE SOUTH OF RETIRING LOW-NET-RETURN ACREAGE VS. RETIRING HIGH-COST PRODUCTION

Land Economics/Use,

PREFERENTIAL TRADING ARRANGEMENTS IN WESTERN HEMISPHERE COUNTRIES

Many countries of the Western Hemisphere in recent years have shown interest in participating in preferential trading arrangements (PTA) in anticipation of expanding exports. Results in this paper show that export expansion depends upon the type of agreement that is formed and who else is participating. Trade of two agricultural commodities are examined; wheat, and fruit and vegetable juices. Five PTAs are examined, each including the United States and one or more Western Hemisphere countries.International Relations/Trade,

Estimated Impacts of a Potential U.S.-Mexico Preferential Trading Agreement for the Agricultural Sector

We develop a three region - U.S., Mexico, and Rest-of-World - simulation model to analyze the effects on the agricultural sector of a potential preferential trading arrangement (PTA) between Mexico and the United States. The simulation exercises indicate that two-way agricultural trade increases and welfare improves in the United States and Mexico from a bilateral preferential agreement on agricultural products. Our results show that when border protection is eliminated by the United States and Mexico, bilateral agricultural trade expands by over 15 percent. Relative to the size of the two agricultural sectors, however, the overall impact is very small for the U.S. agricultural sector but there is a more significant adjustment for Mexican agriculture.preferential trading arrangements, simulation model, agricultural trade, United States and Mexico, International Relations/Trade,

IMPACT OF CFTA/NAFTA ON U.S. AND CANADIAN AGRICULTURE

CFTA/NAFTA is estimated annually to add $1,430 million of U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and$1,884 million of Canadian agricultural exports to the United States. Thus CFTA/NAFTA contributed an estimated 25 percent of the $5.8 billion of U.S. agricultural exports to Canada in 1995. Classical welfare analysis was used to estimate the implications of free trade in the dairy, poultry, sugar, and other industries that continue to be protected. In aggregate, consumers benefit from liberalization by nearly$1 billion per year in each country. Losses to Canadian producers are absolutely and relatively greater than to U.S. producers. Overall deadweight gains are positive to each country. The annual combined two-country addition to national income ($292 million) totals a present value of$5.8 billion when discounted in perpetuity at a 5 percent rate.International Relations/Trade,

PART-FARM GENERAL CROPLAND RETIREMENT: EFFECTS OF SOME ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS

Land Economics/Use,

Engaging with maths online - teaching mathematics collaboratively and inclusively through a pandemic and beyond

This case study details several concrete approaches to integrating the use of student-loaned iPads in the teaching of mathematics in Higher Education. Although there is a scarcity of rigorous studies into the efficacy of tablet devices for improved educational outcomes, previous case studies have argued that tablet devices, if used, should be integrated into the whole learning experience. The mathematics teaching team at Middlesex University have developed an inclusive digital pedagogy over the last five years that enabled us to effectively respond to the remote teaching imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic by loaning iPads to all students on specialist mathematics programmes. As we begin the return to campus we continue to integrate these devices into our teaching to address the observed “digital divide” in Generation-Z students which is characterised not by access to smart devices but by the digital skills to use them as effective learning tools. This is particularly relevant at Middlesex University which is disproportionately affected by digital poverty amongst its student population. We discuss the use of virtual whiteboard apps, the necessity of handwritten mathematics, the rich integration of multimedia content, persistent collaborative “problem solving spaces”, and how a common hardware platform allows for varied and equitable inclusive assessment. We also report the results of students’ surveys of iPad use during the remote-only 2020-21 academic year