International R&D Collaboration Networks

We reconsider Goyal and Moraga-Gonzalez (Rand J. of Econ. 32 (2001), 686-707) model of strategic networks in order to analyze how government policies (e.g. subsidies) will affect the stability and efficiency of networks of R&D collaboration among three firms located in different countries. A conflict between stability and efficiency is likely to occur. When governments cannot subsidize R&D, this conflict will occur if public spillovers are not very small. However, when governments can subsidize R&D, the likelihood of a conflict is considerably reduced. Indeed, a conflict will arise only if public spillovers are very small or quite large.Network; R&D collaboration; Subsidy

Networks for Free Trade Agreements among Heterogeneous Countries

The paper examnes the formation of free trade agreements as a network formation game. We consider a three-country model in which international trade occurs between economies with imperfectly competitive product markets. Labor markets can be unionized and non-unionized in each country. We show that if all countries are of the same type (all of them are either unionized or non-unionized), the global free trade network is both the unique pairwise stable network and the unique efficient network. If some countries are unionized while others are non-unionized, other networks apart from the global free trade network are likely to be pariwise stable. however the efficient network is always the global free trade network. Thus, a conflict between stability and efficiency may occur. Moreover, starting from the network in which no country has signed a free trade agreement, all sequences of networks due to continuously profitable deviations to do not lead (in most cases) to the global free trade network, even when global free trade is stableFree-trade agreements, Network formation games, Unionization

International R&D collaboration networks

We reconsider Goyal and Moraga-Gonzalez [Rand J. of Econ. 32 (2001), 686-707] model of strategic networks in order to analyze how government policies (e.g. subsidies) will affect the stability and efficiency of networks of R&D collaboration among three firms located in different countries. A conflict between stability and efficiency is likely to occur. When governments cannot subsidize R&D, this conflict will occur if public spillovers are not very small. However, when governments can subsidize R&D, the likelihood of a conflict is considerably reduced. Indeed, a conflict will arise only if public spillovers are very small or quite large

Networks of free trade agreements among heterogeneous countries

The paper examines the formation of free trade agreements as a network formation game. We consider a three-country model in which international trade occurs between economies with imperfectly competitive product markets. Labor markets can be unionized and non-unionized in each country. We show that if all countries are of the same type (all of them are either unionized or non-unionized), the global free trade network is both the unique pairwise stable network and the unique efficient network. If some countries are unionized while others are non-unionized, other networks apart from the global free trade network are likely to be pairwise stable. However, the efficient network is always the global free trade network. Thus, a conflict between stability and efficiency may occur. Moreover, starting from the network in which no country has signed a free trade agreement, all sequences of networks due to continuously profitable deviations do not lead (in most cases) to the global free trade network, even when global free trade is stable. Key words: F15, F16, C7

Differences in the determinants and targeting of anti-dumping: China and India compared

Despite both being developing countries, China and India have markedly contrasting patterns in their use and targeting of antidumping (AD) measures. We explore the factors driving AD use by these two countries, considering in turn macroeconomic, strategic and other determinants. We find more regular or systematic features of AD use by China, while India displays a less systematic pattern of AD use. Economic growth, AD club effect and FTA participation are shown to constrain AD use by China. Compared to India, AD use by China is also more sensitive across industries. Furthermore, China targets developed countries more than developing countries, while India is less discriminating with respect to the country type it targets

Markets and markups : a new empirical framework and evidence on exporters from China

Firms that dominate global trade export to multiple countries and frequently change their foreign destinations. We develop a new empirical framework for analysing markup elasticities to the exchange rate in this environment. The framework embodies a new estimator of these elasticities that controls for endogenous market participation and a new classification of products based on Chinese linguistics to proxy for firms’ power in local markets. Applying this framework to Chinese customs data, we document significant pricing-to-market for highly differentiated goods. Measured in the importer’s currency, the prices of highly differentiated goods are far more stable than those of less differentiated products.We thank Cambridge INET, the Centre For Macroeconomics, and the Economic and Social Research Council (United Kingdom) Brexit Priority Grant R001553/1 for supporting our research. We thank the staff of the HMRC datalab, especially Yee-Wan Yau, for supporting us in our analysis of UK administrative data

Experimental and numerical studies on progressive debonding of grouted rock bolts

Understanding the mechanism of progressive debonding of bolts is of great significance for underground safety. In this paper, both laboratory experiment and numerical simulation of the pull-out tests were performed. The experimental pull-out test specimens were prepared using cement mortar material, and a relationship between the pull-out strength of the bolt and the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of cement mortar material specimen was established. The locations of crack developed in the pull-out process were identified using the acoustic emission (AE) technique. The pull-out test was reproduced using 2D Particle Flow Code (PFC2D) with calibrated parameters. The experimental results show that the axial displacement of the cement mortar material at the peak load during the test was approximately 5 mm for cement-based grout of all strength. In contrast, the peak load of the bolt increased with the UCS of the confining medium. Under peak load, cracks propagated to less than one half of the anchorage length, indicating a lag between crack propagation and axial bolt load transmission. The simulation results show that the dilatation between the bolt and the rock induced cracks and extended the force field along the anchorage direction; and, it was identified as the major contributing factor for the pull-out failure of rock bolt

A Novel Splicing Mutation Alters DSPP Transcription and Leads to Dentinogenesis Imperfecta Type II

Dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI) type II is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by a serious disorders in teeth. Mutations of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) gene were revealed to be the causation of DGI type II (DGI-II). In this study, we identified a novel mutation (NG_011595.1:g.8662T>C, c.135+2T>C) lying in the splice donor site of intron 3 of DSPP gene in a Chinese Han DGI-II pedigree. It was found in all affected subjects but not in unaffected ones or other unrelated healthy controls. The function of the mutant DSPP gene, which was predicted online and subsequently confirmed by in vitro splicing analysis, was the loss of splicing of intron 3, leading to the extended length of DSPP mRNA. For the first time, the functional non-splicing of intron was revealed in a novel DSPP mutation and was considered as the causation of DGI-II. It was also indicated that splicing was of key importance to the function of DSPP and this splice donor site might be a sensitive mutation hot spot. Our findings combined with other reports would facilitate the genetic diagnosis of DGI-II, shed light on its gene therapy and help to finally conquer human diseases