RBIR Based on Signature Graph

This paper approaches the image retrieval system on the base of visual features local region RBIR (region-based image retrieval). First of all, the paper presents a method for extracting the interest points based on Harris-Laplace to create the feature region of the image. Next, in order to reduce the storage space and speed up query image, the paper builds the binary signature structure to describe the visual content of image. Based on the image's binary signature, the paper builds the SG (signature graph) to classify and store image's binary signatures. Since then, the paper builds the image retrieval algorithm on SG through the similar measure EMD (earth mover's distance) between the image's binary signatures. Last but not least, the paper gives an image retrieval model RBIR, experiments and assesses the image retrieval method on Corel image database over 10,000 images.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Trade, Remittances, Institutions, and Economic Growth

This paper empirically investigates the role of trade, remittances, and institutions in economic development in a large sample of developing countries using recently developed instruments for all these variables. Both cross country (over 30 years) and dynamic panel data (over 5-year periods) regressions of growth rates on instrumented trade, remittances, and institutions provide evidence of a significant impact of trade, institutions, and remittances on growth. While institutions foster growth, remittances hamper it. The effect of trade on growth is positive in cross sectional regressions but ambiguous in dynamic panel data regressions. These results are indicative of a more important role for trade in explaining growth in the very long run than over shorter horizons.

R&D spillovers through student flows, institutions, and economic growth: What can we learn from African countries?

Using modern panel cointegration estimation techniques, this paper examines whether tertiary student flows can effectively transmit technological knowledge from industrialized countries to African countries. The results obtained lend strong support to this hypothesis. In addition, this paper extends the analysis to include institutional variables such as the ease of doing business, legal origins, and religious majority in order to see if institutional characteristics affect the way knowledge diffusion affecting total factor productivity. However, it is not clear that institutional differences are important factors that influence the degree of R&D spillovers and, hence, the total factor productivity of African countries.

Remittances for Economic Development: the Investment Perspective

Based on the economic theory of the family, this paper constructs a model of remittances where the migrant, besides sending money to his family, also invests in his home country. The investment is looked after by a family member in return for some monetary compensation. The model focuses on two different cases: statecontingent transfers (transfers are tied to investment outcomes) and fixed transfers (transfers are mainly of altruistic motive). As the migrant derives utilities from consumption, his consumption-investment decision is driven by preferences and future investment prospects. The transfers are to increase with both business encouraging and income compensatory effects.

Remittances for Economic Development: the Investment Perspective

Based on the economic theory of the family, this paper constructs a model of remittances where the migrant, besides sending money to his family, also invests in his home country. The investment is looked after by a family member in return for some monetary compensation. The model focuses on two different cases: state-contingent transfers (transfers are tied to investment outcomes) and fixed transfers (transfers are mainly of altruistic motive). As the migrant derives utilities from consumption, his consumption-investment decision is driven by preferences and future investment prospects. The transfers are to increase with both business encouraging and income compensatory effects.remittances, investment, financial development, income transfer

North - South R&D Spillovers and Student Flows

In global context, as human capital embodies technology, international student flows may play an important role as a channel of R&D spillovers from developed countries to less developed ones. Empirical study on a data set of 76 developing countries during 1998-2005 lends strong support to this hypothesis.