Local Revenue Hills: Evidence from Four U. S. Cities

We provide estimates of the impact and long-run elasticities of tax base with respect to tax rates for four large U.S. cities: Houston (property taxation), Minneapolis (property taxation), New York City (property, general sales, and income taxation), and Philadelphia (property, gross receipts, and wage taxation). Results suggest that three of our cities are near the peaks of their revenue hills; Minneapolis is the exception. A significant negative effect of a balanced budget increase in city property tax rates on city property base is interpreted as a capitalization effect and suggests that marginal increases in city spending do not provide positive net benefits to property owners. Estimates of the effects of taxes on city employment levels for New York City and Philadelphia -- the two cities for which employment series are available -- show the local income and wage tax rates have significant negative effects on city employment levels.Local Taxation, City Fiscal Policy, Urban Economic Development

High-efficiency degenerate four wave-mixing in triply resonant nanobeam cavities

We demonstrate high-efficiency, degenerate four-wave mixing in triply resonant Kerr $\chi^(3)$ photonic crystal (PhC) nanobeam cavities. Using a combination of temporal coupled mode theory and nonlinear finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations, we study the nonlinear dynamics of resonant four-wave mixing processes and demonstrate the possibility of observing high-efficiency limit cycles and steady-state conversion corresponding to $\approx 100$% depletion of the pump light at low powers, even including effects due to losses, self- and cross-phase modulation, and imperfect frequency matching. Assuming operation in the telecom range, we predict close to perfect quantum efficiencies at reasonably low $\sim$ 50 mW input powers in silicon micrometer-scale cavities

Accelerating Student Learning of Technology Terms: The Crossword Puzzle Exercise

The authors suggest using an alternative teaching methodology to impart knowledge regarding information systems phraseology and vocabulary. Specifically, a series of crossword puzzles or scrabbles are used to present information system (IS) terminology to students in an introductory business information systems course. The puzzle terms and answers are selected from a computer concepts textbook used by all students. The terms or phrases used are representative of those the students will need in later IS courses and IS related careers. Reported classroom results are given using statistical testing and qualitative feedback indicating that the exercises were both well received and effective as a conduit for learning

Building Camaraderie Through Information Processing: The Wuzzle Picture-Puzzle Exercise

Information systems (IS) and other instructors sometimes express frustration with coordinating and developing cohesiveness among their student project teams. The \u27wuzzle-picture puzzle\u27 exercise requires individual students, under the direction of the IS professor, to solve a series of information coded anagrams on their own, and then solve a similar series within a diversified team. The improvement concomitant with a diverse group of individuals in the second, wuzzle-puzzle condition demonstrates that cohesive and cooperative groups may indeed improve decision-making. This demonstration may be of special interest to the IS instructors as they encourage collaborative work. Further, systems practitioners may find the exercise useful for encouraging diversity in the workplace while improving teamwork, communication and cooperation among team members