A Model of Partnership Formation with Friction and Multiple Criteria

We present a model of partnership formation based on two discrete character traits. There are two classes of individual. Each individual observes a sequence of potential partners from the other class. The traits are referred to as attractiveness and character, respectively. All individuals prefer partners of high attractiveness and similar character. Attractiveness can be measured instantly. However, in order to observe the character of an individual, a costly interview (or date) is required. On observing the attractiveness of a prospective partner, an individual must decide whether he/she wishes to proceed to the interview stage. During the interview phase, the prospective pair observe each other's character and then decide whether they wish to form a pair. Mutual acceptance is required for both an interview to occur and a pair to form. An individual stops searching on nding a partner. A set of criteria based on the concept of a subgame perfect Nash equilibrium is used to define an equilibrium of this game. It is argued that under such a general formulation there may be multiple equilibria. For this reason, we define a specific formulation of the game, the so called symmetric version, which has a unique symmetric equilibrium. The form of this equilibrium has some similarities to the block separating equilibrium derived for classical models of two-sided mate choice and job search problems, but is essentially different.mutual mate choice, game theory, common preferences, homotypic preferences, subgame perfect equilibrium

No Rest for the Democratic Peace

Proponents of the democratic peace are accustomed to criticism. Early refutations of the research program\u27s findings focused on questions of measurement and statistical inference. Skepticism about such matters has not fully subsided, but many more now accept the democratic peace as an empirical regularity. The aim of recent complaints has shifted to democratic peace theory. The typical approach has been to highlight select historical events that appear anomalous in light of the theory and the causal mechanisms it identifies. Sebastian Rosato\u27s (2003) is one such critique, noteworthy for the range of causal propositions held up for scrutiny and the unequivocal rejection of them all. But Rosato fails to appreciate the dyadic logic central to democratic peace theory, and much of his criticism is therefore misdirected. Those cases that remain unexplained by the theory are not especially problematic for this progressively evolving research program

The Illicit Arms Trade: a Social Network Analysis

In recent years, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Small arms are difficult to track and are not the stuff of military parades, but they are immensely destructive. In addition to what is already circulating, a substantial percentage of what is newly produced enters the black market and is destined for conflict zones across the globe. I argue that the illicit trade in small arms shares some important properties with networked forms of organization studied by sociologists. I then employ quantitative methods developed for the study of social networks in an effort to show the basic structure of illegal small arms transfers worldwide. The analysis draws from my Illicit Arms Transfers Database (IATD) still in development, so the results make use of the most rudimentary information being collected. They are suggestive, however, and the analytical approach promises to shed considerable light on a corner of the international arms trade that is of great interest to the research and activist communities, and of great consequence to those in war-torn regions of the world

Corporate Law: Ohio\u27s Newest Claim Outside of an Appraisal for Dissenting Shareholders in a Merger Situation - Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Stepak v. Schey, 51 Ohio St. 3d 8, 553 N.E.2d 1072 (1990)

Former Soviet Bloc Locales in Africa\u27s Illicit Arms Trade Network

Small arms and light weapons are the primary cause of death in the violent conflicts raging today, but the small arms trade is difficult to track, and the illicit trade in small arms is doubly so. Nevertheless, information is available and research institutes like the Small Arms Survey and the Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers are at the forefront of efforts to collect and distribute this information. This paper focuses on the illicit arms trade and draws on a database I am developing, the Illicit Arms Transfer Database, which systematizes information contained in journalistic reports on illicit small arms transfers. This and previous studies, which employ some basic tools of social network analysis (SNA), reveal high profile positions occupied by former Soviet bloc countries in the illicit arms trade network. I set up this analysis with discussion of the features of social networks that allow them to facilitate the transfer of illicit weaponry, and follow the presentation of my findings with some explanations for the prominence of Russia and other post-communist countries in this trade

Risk of critical illness among patients with solid cancers: a population-based observational study of 118,541 adults

Importance: Critical illness may be a potential determinant of cancer outcomes and geographic variations, but its role has not been described before. Objective: To determine the incidence of admission to intensive care units (ICUs) within 2 years following cancer diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective observational study using cancer registry data in 4 datasets from 2000 to 2009 with linked ICU admission data from 2000 to 2011, in the West of Scotland region of the United Kingdom (population, 2.4 million; all 16 ICUs within the region). All 118 541 patients (≥16 years) diagnosed as having solid (nonhematological) cancers. Their median age was 69 years, and 52.0% were women. Main Outcomes and Measures: Demographic and clinical variables associated with admission to an ICU and death in an ICU. Results: A total of 118 541 patients met the study criteria. Overall, 6116 patients (5.2% [95% CI, 5.0%-5.3%]) developed a critical illness and were admitted to an ICU within 2 years. Risk of critical illness was highest at ages 60 to 69 years and higher in men. The cumulative incidence of critical illness was greatest for small intestinal (17.2% [95% CI, 13.3%-21.8%]) and colorectal cancers (16.5% [95% CI, 15.9%-17.1%]). The risk following breast cancer was low (0.8% [95% CI, 0.7%-1.0%]). The percentage who died in ICUs was 14.1% (95% CI, 13.3%-15.0%), and during the hospital stay, 24.6% (95% CI, 23.5%-25.7%). Mortality was greatest among emergency medical admissions and lowest among elective surgical patients. The risk of critical illness did not vary by socioeconomic circumstances, but mortality was higher among patients from deprived areas. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, about 1 in 20 patients experienced a critical illness resulting in ICU admission within 2 years of cancer diagnosis. The associated high mortality rate may make a significant contribution to overall cancer outcomes

Symbols of Statehood: Military Industrialization and Public Discourse in India

This article examines the forces driving the pursuit of military production capacity in India, including those behind the Indian nuclear and space programmes. We are mainly interested in whether symbolic motivations regularly find expression in the public discourse. We review all articles on the subject of weapons development and production appearing in India Today from May 1977 to April 1999. There are three closely interrelated yet distinguishable concerns in the public discourse that we consider symbolic: that military industrialization is a means of asserting India\u27s autonomy in international affairs, that it is a means of establishing India\u27s international status and prestige, and that it serves to enhance India\u27s self-image. We contend that the symbolic motivations are a prominent force behind the military industrialization process in India. The precise form that symbolic motivations take vary-some statements seem to have more symbolic content than others-but, as a whole, such references are not rare or isolated. Our findings suggest that symbolism can be an important component of the quest for an indigenous arms-production capacity, and perhaps other elements of statebuildings as well

Protecting privacy in today\u27s knowledge based society

With the growing use of the Internet in everyday life, consumers are increasingly concerned about personal privacy. This paper examines issues concerning consumer privacy and provides solutions available to protect that privacy

Labour efficiency on-farm

End of project reportImprovements in milking efficiency have a greater influence than any other aspect of the dairy farmers work on overall farm labour inputs (Whipp, 1992). In order to facilitate the examination of milking process labour inputs, the milking process may be divided into the following three components: herding pre and post milking (transfer of cows to and from the milking parlour); milking (milking tasks / work routines within the parlour); and washing (washing of milking machine and yard). Meanwhile, within milking specifically, the number of cows milked per operator per hour is the best measure of both the performance of the operator and the milking installation (Clough, 1978). This is affected by the following three factors: the milking times of the cows, the number and arrangement of the milking units, and the operator’s work routine (Whipp, 1992). The addition of extra milking units will only increase milking performance if the operator has idle time during milking (Hansen, 1999)