500 Kilovolt Cathode Rays

The high potential x-ray tube at the California Institute has been modified so as to permit either x-rays or cathode rays to be produced. Electron currents up to 35 microamperes have been obtained through an aluminum window. A typical magnetic velocity spectrum of the high speed electrons passing out of an aluminum window is presented. The high velocity limit corresponds to about 500 kilovolts when the transformer voltage is 600 kilovolts peak. The velocity spectrum appears to be continuous and no absorption anomalies due to aluminum and lead foil are evident. The time required to obtain a velocity spectrum was reduced to a few minutes by allowing the electrons after being magnetically deflected, to pass through a copper foil into the air. The outside of the foil is coated with calcium tungstate and the photographic plate is placed in contact with the tungstate. It is noted that part of the photographic action of the high speed electrons is due to fluorescence of the glass backing of the photographic plates

Agrarian Structure and Endogenous Financial System Development

The development of the financial system is shown, both historically and in contemporary data, to be adversely affected by inequality in the distribution of land. To accommodate these empirical findings, a theory is developed that highlights the incentives of landowners to oppose competition in the financial sector. The theory provides an explanation for the co-incident development of the financial sector and overall economy.Land Distribution, financial development, overlapping generations, financial institutions

The Dual Economy in Long-run Development

This paper provides a dynamic model of the dual economy in which differences in productivity across sectors arise endogenously. Rather than relying on exogenous price distortions, duality arises because of differences between sectors in the separability of their fertility and labor decisions. The model demon- strates how a dual economy will originate, persist, and eventually disappear within a unified growth framework. It is also shown that agricultural productivity growth will exacerbate the ine±ciencies of a dual economy and slow down long-run growth.Dual economy, unfied growth, endogenous fertility

Agrarian Structure and Endogenous Financial System Development

The development of the financial system is shown, both historically and in contemporary data, to be adversely affected by inequality in the distribution of land. To accommodate these empirical findings, a theory is developed that highlights the incentives of landowners to oppose competition in the financial sector. The theory provides an explanation for the co-incident development of the financial sector and overall economy.Land distribution, financial development, overlapping generations, financial institutions

Wealth Distribution and the Provision of Public Goods: Evidence from the United States

This paper examines the role of inequality in the provision of public goods. County level data from the U.S. in 1890 provides comparable units of analysis operating with similar property tax systems, ensuring that we do not empirically confuse differences in tax systems with differences in public goods provision. Climatic data is used as an instrument for land inequality to provide identification of the effect of inequality. The results indicate that land inequality caused significantly lower overall property tax rates. This effect is driven almost exclusively by the effect of land inequality on taxes related directly to schooling. In contrast, non-school funding was not significantly affected by inequality. While informative about the effect of land inequality on public goods provision, an examination of the details of the tax system suggests that these results should not necessarily be taken as a rejection of median voter predictions.Land distribution, Inequality, Public Goods, Property Taxes

NORTH AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL MARKET INTEGRATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE FOOD AND FIBER SYSTEM

Economic change and market dynamics have fundamentally altered the structure and performance of agricultural markets in the United States, Canada, and Mexico within the last 25 years. Many factors have helped shape the current North American food and fiber system, including technological change, domestic farm policies, international trade agreements, and the economic forces of supply and demand. Ratification of NAFTA, for example, helped integrate the North American market, sparking a surge in trade and investment among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In recent years, efforts to further integrate the continental market seem to have slowed. Broadening the scope of NAFTA to include institutional reforms that lead to a more unified system of commercial law, the establishment of common antitrust and regulatory procedures, harmonization of product standards, and increased coordination of domestic farm, market, and macroeconomic policies would deepen market integration and enhance market efficiency and growth within North America.agriculture, market integration, market segmentation, law of one price, price transmission, elasticities, exchange-rate pass-through, market efficiency, bilateral trade intensity, regional trade agreements, NAFTA, CUSTA, trade policy, WTO, GATT, Industrial Organization, International Relations/Trade, Marketing,

Distribution of Crown of Thorns (Acanthaster planci) Outbreaks along the North Shore of TutuilaDistribution of Crown of Thorns (Acanthaster planci) Outbreaks along the North Shore of Tutuila

Outbreak levels of Crown of Thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci, COTs) have been occurring around Tutuila since 2011. These outbreaks are thought to be caused by increased nutrients due to terrestrial runoff. Outbreaks were confined to the south side of Tutuila in 2011 and 2012, but spread to the north side in 2013. A possible reason for the observed outbreaks on the south side could be that most of Tutuila’s population live on the south side of the island. Thus, we hypothesize that due to the small population of people on the north side of Tutuila, there should be limited COTs outbreaks on the north shore. Our study was conducted by using the tow boarding method along the north side of Tutuila Island. Tow boarding is conducted by towing two snorkelers behind a boat over a reef slope. While being towed, the reef is scanned and GPS coordinates are taken for any outbreaks that are seen. After taking the coordinates, the average depth, time, and intensity of each outbreak are noted. Each site is recorded as light, moderate, or heavy. During our tow board surveys, we came along a stretch of moderate and heavy outbreaks along Fagasa Bay to Fatuelo point, as well as between Fagamalo and Aloau Bay. Contrary to our hypothesis, the data collected showed that there were large outbreaks on the north shore, and that the outbreaks were very heavy. With this data, divers have eradicated 1115 COTs to date in the area that was surveyed