Exploring the Relationship between Business Elite Networks and Redistributive Social Policies in Latin American Countries

Although the cohesion of business elites has been associated with income concentration and regressive policies, few studies have investigated in depth the role of business elite networks in macrosocial issues such as redistributive social policies. This research explores the relationship between business elite networks and redistributive social policies in several Latin American countries. To do so, this paper (1) examines business elite networks applying a network analysis of interlocking directorates, and (2) performs a cross-national comparative analysis of the cohesiveness of business elite networks, coverage and incidence of social protection and labor programs, and other variables. Results show that where business elites formed cohesive networks, social protection and labor programs were more inclusive. In conjunction with other factors, business cohesion plays a crucial role in business elites’ acceptance of redistributive social policies because it enables long-term cost-sharing agreements, reduces uncertainty and internal divergent interests, and facilitates inducement

Country Risk: An Empirical Approach to Estimate the Probability of Default in Emergent Markets

In this paper we have suggested a new methodology to estimate the probability of default of a country as a function of other macroeconomics variables. Such methodology is based in the valuation of the prices in the secondary market of bonds issued by debtor countries. We have chosen the Brady bonds because their institutional characteristics do not depend on the issuer country which allows us to build a homogeneous panel. The methodology proposed takes elements of traditional models such as the functional structure of the probability and elements of term structure models. The paper demonstrates a new way to extract sovereign risk, implicit in trade bond prices.

Improving the detection of the transport mode in the MobilitApp Android application

Millorar els algorismes de detecció del medi de transport dels ciutadans de l'Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona.El objetivo ha sido el de mejorar la aplicación MobilitApp ya existente, para ello se han añadido dos módulos. El primer módulo que se ha añadido ha sido un detector de accidentes. Debido a que en los anteriores trabajos se estaba tratando con el acelerómetro, nos pareció interesante intentar sacar más provecho al acelerómetro e incluir la funcionalidad de poder detectar cuando el móvil ha sufrido un impacto. Una vez el impacto ha sido detectado se envía un mensaje de emergencia. El segundo módulo consiste en un podómetro, MobilitApp cuenta los pasos del usuario y se presenta junto a una aproximación de la distancia recorrida y del número de calorías quemadas. Como último paso, hemos realizado un análisis sobre las gráficas que se han obtenido de los usuarios tomadas del acelerómetro sobre metro o tren, y hemos comprobado su parecido con una señal sinusoidal. Esta característica ayudará en futuros trabajos para identificar mejor el tipo de sistema de transporte utilizado por el usuario. Además, sería de gran ayuda para ahorrar batería ya que la señal GPS sería menos utilizada.This study aims to improve an existing application for citizen mobility analytics: MobilitApp. Two modules were added to the app in order to develop the desired functionalities. The first module has been added is an accident detector. Because of the previous work involves dealing with the accelerometer, it seemed interesting to try to get more out of the accelerometer and include the functionality to detect when the phone has suffered an impact. Once the impact has been detected, an emergency message is sent. The second module consists of a pedometer, MobilitApp counts the number of the user’s steps and presents them with an approximation of the distance walked and the number of calories burned. As a last step, we have made an analysis of the graphs that have been obtained from the user’s accelerometers travelling on train or subway, and we have checked their resemblance to a sinusoidal signal. This feature will help in future works to better identify the type of public transportation system being used by the user. Besides, it would help to save battery since the GPS signal will be less used.L’objectiu ha estat el de millorar l’aplicació MobilitApp ja existent, per això s’han afegit dos mòduls. El primer mòdul que s’ha afegit ha estat un detector d’accidents. A causa que en els anteriors treballs s’estava tractant amb l’acceleròmetre, ens va semblar interessant intentar treure més profit a l’acceleròmetre e incloure la funcionalitat de poder detectar quan el mòbil ha patit un impacte. Un cop l’impacte ha estat detectat s’envia un missatge d’emergència. El segon mòdul consisteix en un podòmetre, MobilitApp compte els passos de l’usuari i se’ls presenta amb una aproximació de la distància recorreguda y de les calories cremades. Com a últim pas, em fet un anàlisi sobre les gràfiques que s’han obtingut dels usuaris preses de l’acceleròmetre sobre metro o tren, i hem comprovat la seva semblança amb una senyal sinusoïdal. Aquesta característica ens ajudarà en treballs futurs per identificar millor el tipus de sistema de transport utilitzat per l’usuari. A més, seria de gran ajuda per estalviar bateria ja que el senyal GPS seria menys utilitzat

Reversal of Fortune

Colombia’s annual GDP growth fell to an average of 3% between 1980 and 2000 from 5% between 1950 and 1980. The sources-of-growth decomposition shows that this reversal can be accounted entirely by changes in productivity. Indeed, between 1960 and 1980 productivity gains increased output per capita by nearly 1% per year. Since 1980, productivity losses have reduced output per capita at about the same rate. The time series analysis suggests that the implosion of productivity is related to the increase in criminality which has diverted capital and labor to unproductive activities. In turn, the rise in crime has been the result of rapid expansion in drug-trafficking activities, which erupted around 1980. This explanation is supported by cross-country evidence that shows that Colombia is clear outlier in terms of conflict and fragmentation, and suggests that high crime is associated with low productivity.Economic growth,

Economic Growth in Colombia: a Reversal of Fortune"?"

Since 1979, Colombia´s annual GDP growth has been on average two percentage pointslower than what was observed between 1950 and 1980. The sources-of-growth decomposition shows that this deceleration can be accounted entirely by changes inproductivity. Indeed, between 1960 and 1980 productivity gains increased output perworker by nearly 1% per year. Since 1980, productivity losses have reduced output perworker at about the same rate. The time series analysis suggests that the implosion ofproductivity was caused by the increase in criminality which diverted capital and labor tounproductive activities. In turn, the rise in crime was the result of rapid expansion indrug-trafficking activities, which erupted around 1980. Consequently, the fortunesassociated with the emergence of Colombia as the world largest producer of cocaine had a significantly negative effect on growth and productivity. This explanation is supportedby cross-country evidence that shows that Colombia´s underperformance, especially inthe 1990s, is explained by its high homicide rate.Economic growth, productivity, social capital, crime and conflic

Tachyonic Quintessential Inflation

We study the possibility to construct an observationally viable scenario where both early Inflation and the recently detected accelerated expansion of the universe can be explained by using a single scalar field associated with the Tachyon. The Reheating phase becomes crucial to enable us to have a consistent cosmology and also to get a second accelerated expansion period. A discussion using an exponential potential is presented.Comment: 5 pages, Revtex4. Added some references. To be published in Physical Review