Arrow-Debreu and the classical and neoclassical economics

This article challenges the notion that the modern general equilibrium theory of Arrow-Debreu is a rigorous formulation of neoclassical economics and that, by contrast, Sraffian and Marxian economics are not compatible with it. It shows that the standard Arrow-Debreu assumptions regarding the production sets and profit maximization are sufficient to determine equilibrium prices, which then do not depend on consumers’ preferences. Arrow-Debreu equilibrium prices are similar to Marxian labor values since they are proportional to labor time and factor prices are variables that determine the distribution of income but not commodity prices. Instead of being related to the quantity of capital, profits are also proportional to the quantity of labor, causing capital to have different prices at the same point in time and at the same market, which is hardly compatible with the hypothesis of free competition. If the notion of equilibrium prices is modified as to make capital to be rewarded at the same rate in all sectors of the economy, the hypothesis of decreasing returns to scale ensures that competitive prices are an increasing function of demand and, as a consequence, they can be viewed as a product of the interaction between supply and demand. However, in any case there is no inverse relationship between the quantity of capital and its rate of rewards, as requires the neoclassical law of diminishing returns.Arrow-Debreu model, general equilibrium theory, Marxian economics, Sraffian economics, capital controversy

Nonmesonic Weak Decay Dynamics from proton spectra of Λ\Lambda-Hypernuclei

A novel comparison between the data and the theory is proposed for the nonmesonic (NM) weak decay of hypernuclei. Instead of confronting the primary decay rates, as is usually done, we focus attention on the effective decay rates that are straightforwardly related with the number of emitted particles. Proton kinetic energy spectra of $^5_\Lambda$He, $^7_\Lambda$Li, $^9_\Lambda$Be, $^{11}_\Lambda$B, $^{12}_{\Lambda}$C, $^{13}_\Lambda$C, $^{15}_{\Lambda}$N and $^{16}_{\Lambda}$O, measured by FINUDA, are evaluated theoretically. The Independent Particle Shell Model (IPSM) is used as the nuclear structure framework, while the dynamics is described by the One-Meson-Exchange (OME) potential. Only for the $^{5}_{\Lambda}$He, $^{7}_{\Lambda}$Li, and $^{12}_{\Lambda}$C hypernuclei is it possible to make a comparison with the data, since for the rest there is no published experimental information on number of produced hypernuclei. Considering solely the one-nucleon-induced ($1N$-NM) decay channel, the theory reproduces correctly the shapes of all three spectra at medium and high energies ($E_p \geq 40$ MeV). Yet, it greatly overestimates their magnitudes, as well as the corresponding transition rates when the full OME ($\pi+K+ \eta+\rho+\omega+K^*$) model is used. The agreement is much improved when only the $\pi+K$ mesons with soft dipole cutoff parameters participate in the decay process. We find that the IPSM is a fair first order approximation to disentangle the dynamics of the $1N$-NM decay, the knowledge of which is indispensable to inquire about the baryon-baryon strangeness-flipping interaction. It is shown that the IPSM provides very useful insights regarding the determination the $2N$-NM decay rate. In a new analysis of the FINUDA data, we derive two results for this quantity with one of them close to that obtained previously

O contributo da auditoria pública para a Good Governance

Dissertação de Mestrado em Gestão e Políticas PúblicasEste trabalho visa discutir o papel das ISC enquanto entidades de auditoria pública, e qual o seu contributo para a good governance. Das diversas pesquisas bibliográficas efetuadas, apurou-se que a good governance é tida como uma forma de governação, boa, que assenta em participação pública, em transparência, responsabilização, respeito, cumprimento da lei e satisfação das necessidades das populações, onde se basearia a força do desenvolvimento social. Face aos objetivos de trabalho definidos, foi assim produzido e aplicado um guião de entrevista a vários intervenientes qualificados de auditoria pública, tendo-se recolhido opinião, experiências e visão sobre o modo como a good governance acontece hoje em Portugal, nomeadamente quanto à transparência da governação, quanto acautela os riscos da atividade pública e quanto permite a aplicação da accountability. A utilização e aplicação de auditoria pública, facilitará o processo de criação de valor e confiança pública de toda uma comunidade. De acordo com a literatura de referência e com os entrevistados, a auditoria de contexto público tem um papel determinante na concretização da good governance. De resto, vários organismos internacionais de referência (OCDE, ONU, FMI, Banco Mundial, entre outros) perseguem e fomentam a prática da good governance, não só, mas também, com recurso ao reforço de práticas e procedimentos de auditoria pública, fazendo relevar o papel complementar entre a produção de auditorias de compliance e de auditorias de performance. Das entrevistas aos intervenientes qualificados nestas matérias, foram obtidos importantes contributos, em especial de reforço da prática da good governance através da auditoria pública e dos relatórios produzidos por esta, reforçando assim a cidadania.This paper aims to discuss the role of SAIs as public audit entities, and is contribution to good governance. From the various bibliographical studies carried out, it was found that good governance is considered as a good form of governance, based on public participation, transparency, accountability, respect, compliance with the law and meeting the needs of the population for social development. In view of the defined work objectives, an interview guide was produced and applied to a number of qualified interviewees which used public audit. Their opinions, experiences and insights were collected on how good governance occurs; how it is transparent and of much to guard against the risks of public activity and how much it allows the application of accountability today in Portugal. The public audit outcome will be to create public value and trust for an entire community. According to the reference literature and the interviewees, the public context audit plays a decisive role in the achievement of good governance. In addition, several international reference organizations (OECD, UN, IMF, World Bank, among others) pursue and foster good governance not only, but also through the reinforcement of public auditing practices and procedures, regarding the complementary role between the production of compliance audits and performance audits. From the interviews with the qualified actors in these matters, important contributions were obtained, in particular to reinforce the practice of good governance through public auditing and the reports produced by it, thus reinforcing citizenship.N/