1,525 research outputs found
Estimating Real Production and Expenditures Across Nations: A Proposal for Improving the Penn World Tables
In this paper we propose a new approach to international comparisons of real GDP measured from the output-side. The traditional Geary-Khamis system to measure real GDP from the expenditure-side is modified to include differences in the terms of trade between countries. It is shown that this system has a strictly positive solution under mild assumptions. On the basis of a set of domestic final output, import and export prices and values for 14 European countries and the U.S. it is shown that differences between real GDP measured from the expenditure and output-side can be substantial, especially for small open economies.
X-ray vs. Optical Variations in the Seyfert 1 Nucleus NGC 3516: A Puzzling Disconnectedness
We present optical broadband (B and R) observations of the Seyfert 1 nucleus
NGC 3516, obtained at Wise Observatory from March 1997 to March 2002,
contemporaneously with X-ray 2-10 keV measurements with RXTE. With these data
we increase the temporal baseline of this dataset to 5 years, more than triple
to the coverage we have previously presented for this object. Analysis of the
new data does not confirm the 100-day lag of X-ray behind optical variations,
tentatively reported in our previous work. Indeed, excluding the first year's
data, which drive the previous result, there is no significant correlation at
any lag between the X-ray and optical bands. We also find no correlation at any
lag between optical flux and various X-ray hardness ratios. We conclude that
the close relation observed between the bands during the first year of our
program was either a fluke, or perhaps the result of the exceptionally bright
state of NGC 3516 in 1997, to which it has yet to return. Reviewing the results
of published joint X-ray and UV/optical Seyfert monitoring programs, we
speculate that there are at least two components or mechanisms contributing to
the X-ray continuum emission up to 10 keV: a soft component that is correlated
with UV/optical variations on timescales >1 day, and whose presence can be
detected when the source is observed at low enough energies (about 1 keV), is
unabsorbed, or is in a sufficiently bright phase; and a hard component whose
variations are uncorrelated with the UV/optical.Comment: 9 pages, AJ, in pres
Confluence reduction for Markov automata
Markov automata are a novel formalism for specifying systems exhibiting nondeterminism, probabilistic choices and Markovian rates. Recently, the process algebra MAPA was introduced to efficiently model such systems. As always, the state space explosion threatens the analysability of the models generated by such specifications. We therefore introduce confluence reduction for Markov automata, a powerful reduction technique to keep these models small. We define the notion of confluence directly on Markov automata, and discuss how to syntactically detect confluence on the MAPA language as well. That way, Markov automata generated by MAPA specifications can be reduced on-the-fly while preserving divergence-sensitive branching bisimulation. Three case studies demonstrate the significance of our approach, with reductions in analysis time up to an order of magnitude
Correlated X-ray and Optical Variability in Mkn 509
We present results of a 3 year monitoring campaign of the Seyfert 1 galaxy
Markarian 509, using X-ray data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and
optical data taken by the SMARTS consortium. Both light curves show significant
variations, and are strongly correlated with the optical flux leading the X-ray
flux by 15 days. The X-ray power spectrum shows a steep high-frequency slope of
-2.0, breaking to a slope of -1.0 at at timescale of 34 days. The lag from
optical to X-ray emission is most likely caused by variations in the accretion
disk propagating inward.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Estimating Real Production and Expenditures Across Countries: A Proposal for Improving the Penn World Tables
We propose a new approach to the international comparison of real GDP, as measured from the output-side. The traditional Gary-Khamis system, which measures real GDP from the expenditure-side, is modified to include differences in the terms of trade between countries. It is shown that this system has a strictly positive solution under mild assumptions. On the basis of a sample of 151 countries in 1996, it is shown that differences between real GDP measured from the expenditure-side and output-side can be substantial, especially for small open economies. We also obtain cross-country measures of “real openness ” and the terms of trade. JEL-code: F41, O471 1
Modelling and analysis of Markov reward automata
Costs and rewards are important ingredients for many types of systems, modelling critical aspects like energy consumption, task completion, repair costs, and memory usage. This paper introduces Markov reward automata, an extension of Markov automata that allows the modelling of systems incorporating rewards (or costs) in addition to nondeterminism, discrete probabilistic choice and continuous stochastic timing. Rewards come in two flavours: action rewards, acquired instantaneously when taking a transition; and state rewards, acquired while residing in a state. We present algorithms to optimise three reward functions: the expected cumulative reward until a goal is reached, the expected cumulative reward until a certain time bound, and the long-run average reward. We have implemented these algorithms in the SCOOP/IMCA tool chain and show their feasibility via several case studies
A variability study of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 6300 with XMM-Newton
We present the results of timing analysis of the XMM-Newton observation of
the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 6300. The hard X-ray spectrum above 2 keV consists of
a Compton-thin-absorbed power law, as is often seen in Seyfert 2 galaxies. We
clearly detected rapid time variability on a time scale of about 1000 s from
the light curve above 2 keV. The excess variance of the time variability
(sigma2_RMS) is calculated to be ~0.12, and the periodogram of the light curve
is well represented by a power law function with a slope of 1.75. In contrast
with previous results from Seyfert 2 nuclei, these variability characteristics
are consistent with those of Seyfert 1 galaxies. This consistency suggests that
NGC 6300 has a similar black hole mass and accretion properties as Seyfert 1
galaxies. Using the relation between time variability and central black hole
mass by Hayashida et al. (1998), the black hole mass of NGC 6300 is estimated
to be ~2.8x10^5 Mo. Taking uncertainty of this method into account, the black
hole mass is less than 10^7 Mo. Taking the bolometric luminosity of 3.3x10^43
erg/s into consideration, this yields an accretion rate of > 0.03 of the
Eddington value, and comparable with estimates from Seyfert 1 galaxies using
this method. The time variability analysis suggests that NGC 6300 actually has
a Seyfert 1 nucleus obscured by a thick matter, and more generally provides a
new pillar of support for the unified model of Seyfert galaxies based on
obscuration.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
The Next Generation of the Penn World Table
We describe the theory and practice of real GDP comparisons across countries and over time. Version 8 of the Penn World Table expands on previous versions in three respects. First, in addition to comparisons of living standards using components of real GDP on the expenditure side, we provide a measure of productive capacity, called real GDP on the output side. Second, growth rates are benchmarked to multiple years of cross-country price data so they are less sensitive to new benchmark data. Third, data on capital stocks and productivity are (re)introduced. Applications including the Balassa-Samuelson effect and development accounting are discussed
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