Semilinear fractional differential equations: global solutions, critical nonlinearities and comparison results

In this work we study several questions concerning to abstract fractional Cauchy problems of order α ∈ (0, 1). Concretely, we analyze the existence of local mild solutions for the problem, and its possible continuation to a maximal interval of existence. The case of critical nonlinearities and corresponding regular mild solutions is also studied. Finally, by establishing some general comparison results, we apply them to conclude the global well-posedness of a fractional partial differential equation coming from heat conduction theory.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoCoordenação de aperfeiçoamento de pessoal de nivel superiorFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São PauloMinisterio de EducaciónMinisterio de Ciencia e InnovaciónJunta de Andalucí

MetLife´s International Strategy : Alico´s acquisition

The current business environment is characterized by a huge uncertainty, competitiveness and constant attempt to decrease costs and increase productivity. The companies’ focus is even more on processes in order to achieve the desired results. In order to remain in the market, companies were led to change their organization structure and processes to satisfy customers’ needs, who are increasingly demanding and diverse. It is essential that companies are able to develop sustainable strategic plan. If the strategy is well executed, this will result in the creation of a competitive advantage for the company, with the purpose of generate added value. This thesis aims to analyze MetLife’s international strategies. The study will have as main focus, the international expansion, Iberian integration and especially the Alico’s acquisition by MetLife - the main benefits and risks of this operation. It was made an effort to have the largest possible access to participants in these three processes in order to understand the main reasons for the continued growth of MetLife, in a market that is increasingly global and competitive

Instrument evaluation of lamb carcass yield and quality characteristics

2011 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document

On the Welfare Costs of Business-Cycle Fluctuations and Economic-Growth Variation in the 20th Century

Lucas (1987) has shown a surprising result in business-cycle research: the welfare cost ofbusiness cycles are very small. Our paper has several original contributions. First, in computingwelfare costs, we propose a novel setup that separates the effects of uncertainty stemming frombusiness-cycle fluctuations and economic-growth variation. Second, we extend the sample from which to compute the moments of consumption: the whole of the literature chose primarily to work with post-WWII data. For this period, actual consumption is already a result of counter-cyclical policies, and is potentially smoother than what it otherwise have been in their absence. So, we employ also pre-WWII data. Third, we take an econometric approach and compute explicitly the asymptotic standard deviation of welfare costs using the Delta Method. Estimates of welfare costs show major differences for the pre-WWII and the post-WWII era. They can reach up to 15 times for reasonable parameter values -β=0.985, and ∅=5. For example, in the pre-WWII period (1901-1941), welfare cost estimates are 0.31% of consumption if we consider only permanent shocks and 0.61% of consumption if we consider only transitory shocks. In comparison, the post-WWII era is much quieter: welfare costs of economic growth are 0.11% and welfare costs of business cycles are 0.037% - the latter being very close to the estimate in Lucas (0.040%). Estimates of marginal welfare costs are roughly twice the size of the total welfare costs. For the pre-WWII era, marginal welfare costs of economic-growth and business- cycle fluctuations are respectively 0.63% and 1.17% of per-capita consumption. The same figures for the post-WWII era are, respectively, 0.21% and 0.07% of per-capita consumption.