An experimental test of Rubinstein's bargaining model

This paper offers an experimental test of a version of Rubinstein’s bargaining model in which the players’ discount factors are unequal. We find that learning, rationality, and fairness are all significant in determining the outcome. In particular, we find that a model of myopic optimization over time predicts the sign of deviations in the opening proposal from the final undiscounted agreement in the previous period rather well. To explain the amplitude of the deviations, we then successfully fit a perturbed version of the model of myopic adjustment to the data that allows for a bias toward refusing inequitable offers

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Washington, D.C.: Prevalence of antiretroviral resistance in treatment naïve patients from 2007 to 2010

HIV treatment has been greatly impacted by transmitted resistance to antiretrovirals (ARV). Several studies have documented resistance in naïve individuals and estimates of transmitted drug resistance mutations range from \u3c5% to as high as 25%. Washington, D.C. has one of the highest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence rates in the United States (3.2% in 2009), but local data regarding the frequency of major mutations and antiretroviral (ARV) resistance has been limited. Medical records of HIV positive, ARV-naïve adults at two facilities in Washington, D.C., The George Washington University Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, were retrospectively analyzed in subjects who had genotypic resistance testing from 2007 to 2010. Of 407 ARV-naïve patients, at least one transmitted drug resistance mutation was detected in 17% of our patients, with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (NNRTI) mutations observed in 15%. Among patients with at least one reverse transcriptase (RT) or major protease region (Pr) resistance mutation, 85% had resistance against a single ARV class. Dual and triple class resistance mutations were seen in 8 patients (2%) and 3 patients (0.7%), respectively. Most of the multiple class resistance was seen in 2010. A gradual increase in NNRTI resistance was noted during 2008 to 2010. Our prevalence of transmitted RT, major Pr mutations (17.4%) and ARV resistance (8.6%) were high but similar to rates reported by others within the United States. Given the high HIV prevalence in the District of Columbia, this has important implications for treatment of these ARV-naïve patients

Focal points and bargaining

This is a contribution to the growing experimental literature on how trial-and-error adjustment processes can establish a convention for coordination on an equilibrium in a game. A simple bargaining game introduced by Nash is used for this purpose. Subjects are conditioned in different treatments to use four different bargaining solutions. The stability of the conditioning is then studied as the bargaining game is played over an extended period. The data obtained is unusually sharp. In the long run, the median subject behaves as though optimizing often down to a fraction of a penny. The results are therefore not supportive of the view that strategic considerations in such situations can be neglected in favor of a study of fairness norms. Indeed, the equilibrium actually achieved in a session turns out to be a very good predictor of what the median subject says is “fair” in the game after play is over.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45837/1/182_2005_Article_BF01240133.pd

Controlling Groundwater Exploitation Through Economic Instruments: Current Practices, Challenges and Innovative Approaches

Groundwater can be considered as a common-pool resource, is often overexploited and, as a result, there are growing management pressures. This chapter starts with a broad presentation of the range of economic instruments that can be used for groundwater management, considering current practices and innovative approaches inspired from the literature on Common Pool Resources management. It then goes on with a detailed presentation of groundwater allocation policies implemented in France, the High Plains aquifer in the USA, and Chile. The chapter concludes with a discussion of social and political difficulties associated with implementing economic instruments for groundwater management

Treasury auctions Uniform or discriminatory?

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m00/31847 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Conflicts in conservation Aggregating total economic values

Paper presented at World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists, 24-27 June 1998, Venice, ItalyAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:3597.7738(06-2000) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo