Minimum time control of heterodirectional linear coupled hyperbolic PDEs

We solve the problem of stabilization of a class of linear first-order hyperbolic systems featuring n rightward convecting transport PDEs and m leftward convecting transport PDEs. Using the backstepping approach yields solutions to stabilization in minimal time and observer based output feedback

Education and Migration Choices in Hierarchical Societies: The Case of Matam, Senegal

The paper aims at studying determinants of schooling in traditional hierarchical societies confronted with an established history of outmigration. In the village, a ruling caste controls local political and religious institutions. For children who do not belong to the ruling caste, migration is a social mobility factor that is enhanced by formal schooling. Since formally educated children tend not to return, the ruling caste seeks to develop family loyalty by choosing religious education instead. The theory hence predicts that the social status of the family has a significant impact on educational choice. Children from the ruling caste who are sent abroad have a lower probability of being sent to formal school. They are more likely to be sent to Koranic schools that emphasize religious and family values. The theoretical predictions are tested on data from Matam region in Senegal, a region where roughly one of every two children have ever attended school.Schooling, Migration, Social Status, Haalpulaar

Two sided boundary stabilization of two linear hyperbolic PDEs in minimum time

International audience— We solve the problem of stabilizing two coupled linear hyperbolic PDEs using actuation at both boundary of the spatial domain in minimum time. We design a novel Fredholm transformation similarly to backstepping approaches. This yields an explicit full-state feedback law that achieves the theoretical lower bound for convergence time to zero

Religious Co-option in Autocracy: A Theory Inspired by History

The relationship between religion and politics is explored from a theoretical standpoint, assuming that religious clerics can be coopted by the ruler acting as an autocrat. The comparative effects of decentralized versus centralized religions on the optimal level of cooperation between the autocrat and the religious clerics, which itself impinges upon political stability, is analysed. The paper shows that the presence of a decentralized body of clerics makes autocratic regimes more unstable. It also shows that in time of stability, the level of reforms is larger with a centralized religion than with a decentralized one. When the autocrat in the decentralized case pushes more reforms than in the centralized one, he always does so at the cost of stability. Historical case studies are presented that serve to illustrate the main results

Delay-robust stabilization of an n + m hyperbolic PDE-ODE system

International audienceIn this paper, we study the problem of stabilizing a linear ordinary differential equation through a system of an n + m (hetero-directional) coupled hyperbolic equations in the actuating path. The method relies on the use of a backstepping transform to construct a first feedback to tackle in-domain couplings present in the PDE system and then on a predictive tracking controller used to stabilize the ODE. The proposed control law is robust with respect to small delays in the control signal

Minimum time control of heterodirectional linear coupled hyperbolic PDEs with controls in both sides

Minimum time control of heterodirectional linear coupled hyperbolic PDEs with controls in both side

The Explosive Combination of Religious Decentralisation and Autocracy: the Case of Islam

The relationship between religion and politics is explored from a theoretical standpoint. Religious clerics can be seduced by an autocrat and political stability is at stake. The autocrat's decisions consist of two measures susceptible of antagonising religious clerics: adopting secular reforms and unduly appropriating part of national wealth, which generally are complement. Compared to centralized religions, decentralized religions, such as Islam, tend to discourage secular reforms and corruption but those effects are not guaranteed if the autocrat accepts political instability. The main hypotheses and the central results of the theory are illustrated with regime case studies that refer to contemporary times

Education and Migration Choices in Hierarchical Societies: The Case of Matam, Senegal

The paper aims at studying determinants of schooling in traditional hierarchical societies\ud confronted with an established history of outmigration. In the village, a ruling caste\ud controls local political and religious institutions. For children who do not belong to the\ud ruling caste, migration is a social mobility factor that is enhanced by formal schooling.\ud Since formally educated children tend not to return, the ruling caste seeks to develop\ud family loyalty by choosing religious education instead. The theory hence predicts that\ud the social status of the family has a significant impact on educational choice. Children\ud from the ruling caste who are sent abroad have a lower probability of being sent to formal\ud school. They are more likely to be sent to Koranic schools that emphasize religious\ud and family values. The theoretical predictions are tested on data from Matam region in\ud Senegal, a region where roughly one of every two children have ever attended school