Production externality and productivity of labor.

In this paper we consider two imperfectly competitive industries, with the polluting emissions from one industry harming the productivity of labor in the other. The polluting industry has to pay an environmental tax chosen by the government. In this framework, we analyze how the different organizational structure adopted by workers affect the environmental tax set by the government, total pollution emissions from the polluting industry and the productivity of workers in the industry that suffers the externality. We obtain that this depends on the degree to which pollution emissions from the polluting industry affects the marginal product of labor in the other industry.Production externality, productivity of labor, environmental taxes, imperfect competition, unionized labor.

Static and Dynamic Poverty in Spain, 1993-2000

We focus on the statics and dynamics of poverty in Spain using data from the first eight waves of the European Community Household Panel from 1994 to 2001, a period not sufficiently covered by recent literature. The results confirm the pattern of poverty changes noted by other authors for the early nineteen-nineties. After this period poverty reduces slightly in incidence and intensity, but 2000 is the turning point. In the dynamic perspective, the pattern revealed is one of much mobility, but most of it short-range.ECHP, exit rate, income distribution, poverty dynamics, re-entry rate, Spain, static poverty.

Static and Dynamic Poverty in Spain, 1993-2000

We focus on the statics and dynamics of poverty in Spain using income data from the first eight waves of the European Community Household Panel. These data are for the years 1993-2000, a period not sufficiently covered by recent literature. The results confirm the pattern of poverty changes noted by other authors for the early nineteen-nineties. After this period poverty reduces slightly in incidence and intensity, but 2000 is a turning point. In the dynamic perspective, the pattern revealed is one of much mobility, but most of it short-range.ECHP, income distribution, poverty dynamics, re-entry and exit rate, static poverty.

La muerte de las luciérnagas. Sobre filosofía, educación y la presencia en el presente

Este ensayo trata de pensar la experiencia del aprender como una temática central para una filosofía de la educación atenta al tiempo presente. Se trata de pensar el aprender como un momento súbito o como una toma de conciencia recorrida por la persuasión �entendida como una afirmación de la vida en el presente � y por el extrañamiento, pensada como una relación singular con lo que nos pasa. El título de este texto, �la muerte de las luciérnagas�, pretende funcionar como metáfora de un cierto diagnóstico de nuestro presente, cuyas características dificultan la recuperación de la educación como experiencia singular de esa toma de conciencia; como una forma atención

Can you teach me to speak? Oral practice and anxiety in a language MOOC

The present chapter examines learners’ beliefs and attitudes with regard to speaking in a learning environment that is neither formal nor informal. The main research question is whether learners perceive Massive Open Online Language Courses (LMOOCs) as a completely informal context that is free of anxiety or rather as a virtual classroom where Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLA) (Horowitz et al., 1986) is present. Data was obtained from over 200 beginner learners on self-reflective questionnaires and forum discussions. Results indicate that learners have a positive attitude towards language learning on LMOOCs, but FLA is present in this asynchronous speaking environment too and needs to be addressed by the course instructors

Endogenous Timing in a Mixed Duopoly: Wighted Welfare and Price Competition

In this paper we analyse the endogenous order of moves in a mixed duopoly for differentiated goods. Firms choose whether to set prices sequentially or simultaneously. The private firm maximises profits while the public firm maximises the weighted sum of the consumer and producer surpluses (wighted welfare). It is shown that the result obtained in equilibrium depends crucially on the weigth given to the consumer surplus in weighted welfare and on the degree to which goods are substitutes or complements. We also anlyse whether the equilibria obtained maximise the sum of the consumer and producer suspluses or not. Finally we study whether the nationality of the private firm influences the results.mixed duopoly, price competition, endogenous timing, weighted welfare

Poética de la espera. Una filosofía íntima (con fragmentos de Proust y Pizarnik)

Resumen: Frente a una forma más o menos pública, académica e impersonal de filosofar, este texto aspira a poner en práctica una filosofía íntima. A partir de algunos fragmentos de Proust y Pizarnik, el propósito de este texto es ofrecer una reflexión sobre una poética de la espera. La espera es el tiempo de la duración, del tedio y del aburrimiento, un tiempo  a nuestro tiempo acelerado, medido y previsible. Se trata, sin duda, del tiempo de un aprender involuntario. Palabras clave: Poética de la espera, filosofía del amor, aprendizaje involuntario, Marcel Proust, Alejandra Pizarnik. Abstract: Faced with a more or less public, academic and impersonal philosophy, this text aims to implement an intimate philosophy. From fragments of Proust and Pizarnik, the purpose of this text is to provide a poetic reflection on the wait. The wait is the time duration, the tedium and boredom, a time to our time accelerated, measured and predictable. This is undoubtedly a involuntary learning.Key Words: Poetics of waiting, philosophy of love, involuntary learning, Marcel Proust, Pizarnik.

Cost-Saving production technologies and strategic delegation

This work analyzes a managerial delegation model in which firms that produce a differentiated good can choose between two production technologies: a low marginal cost technology and a high marginal cost technology. For the former to be adopted more investment is needed than for the latter. By giving managers of firms an incentive scheme based on a linear combination of profit and sales revenue, we find that Bertrand competition provides a stronger incentive to adopt the cost-saving technology than the strict profit maximization case. However, the results may be reversed under Cournot competition. We show that if the degree of product substitutability is sufficiently low (high), the incentive to adopt the cost-saving technology is larger under strict profit maximization (strategic delegation).strategic delegation, duopoly, cost saving production technologies