What's beyond the human developement index?

In this note, we firstly discuss Chakravarty (2003) axiomatic foundation of the Generalized Human Development Index (GHDI) then we pro- pose a different set of axioms through which a class of Foster-Shorrocks-like Human Development Measures phases out. As we will argue, this class better deals with some recent philosofical advancements of the Capability Approach.HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX; WELL-BEING MEA- SURES; CAPABILITY APPROACH

On contextually embedded choices

Starting from Amartya Sen’s works on rational behaviour, in this essay a contextually-embedded choice theory is presented. Using concepts and tools from poset mathematics, we show how to inject in rational choice theory cultural and social effects. Specifically, we define some choice super-structures seen as choice sets’ transformations imposed by accepted external consistency of choice requirements. As we will argue, these applications can be of some help in explaining preference changes within different contexts of choice. Hence, using the same analytical framework, some well-known results about maximizing and optimizing behaviour may be confirmed as well as some insights on intransitive choices phase out

Copyleft vs copyright: some competitive effects of Open Source

In this paper, we study oligopolistic competition between closed and open source softwares. By intersecting existing economic contributions on open source, we propose a two stage game with perfect information and product differetiation in which producers firstly set software's quality, then they determine prices (constrained at zero for open source programs). In doing this, we explicitly model lock-in effects, network externality components' of software quality as well as knowledge accumulation in software use and implementation. With respect to a monopolistic benchmark case, we argue that in duopoly a pro- prietary sofware producer facing an open source software will reduce its selling price whether: (i) its network of users is larger than open source's one and its consumers are largely experienced on its program, (ii) it has a small network of un-skilled consumers. In opposition, after open source software's emergence, proprietary software price does augment if proprietary software users form a large, but poorly skilled network. Fur- thermore, we show that, in all above cases, proprietary software quality increases because of the existence of a open source alternative to a previouisly monopolistic program. Finally, by modeling knowledge accumulation processes through difference equa- tions, we show that the ratio between closed and open source programs' opportunity costs of software learning and deployment plays a crucial role in shaping market out- comes. Until an open source software remains too complex and technical for unskilled or time-scarse users, a shared market solution in which both softwares are adopted is predicted. In contrast, if opportunity costs in learning and understanding open source programs are remarkably low, or at least equal to opportunity costs of a closed source software, then a open source dominance outcome (i.e. all software are open ones) phases out

A multistage mechanism for managing aggressive flows in the next generation internet

In this note, we provide a multistage game form which may be used for managing aggressive flows which may cause network congestion or monopolisation. The mechanism here presented attains economic efficiency, technical e¢ciency and other desirable properties

Vertical Product Differentiation, Network Competition and Regulation of Connectivity

In this paper competition between two network firms is analysed under two alternative regulatory regimes: a global connectivity regulation (GCR) and an efficient component pricing regulation (ECPRe). Whereas a GCR imposes a full quality of reciprocal interconnection, firms will choose vertical product differentiation in order to lower price competition, while under a ECPRe they will choose the maximum level of services quality and a global degradation of connectivity. Hence firms’ decisions about whether or not vertically differentiate products seems to be, at least partially, related to regulatory rules imposed on the market

Screening efficiency of networks

In this paper, we study screening efficiency of networks as organizations in comparison with polyarchies and hierarchies. Firstly, we briefly characterize these organizational architectures, then we rank them in the case of infinitely many and finitely many decisional units. As we show and discuss, networks are more efficient than polyarchies and hierarchical architectures with good initial choice portfolios. In opposition, whether Type II errors are very likely to occur, a hierarchy preforms better than polyarchies and networks. Finally, we illustrate how these organizations perform when a budget constraint has to be fulfilled

Poverta' e Natura Umana

Il concetto di poverta' e stato, negli ultimi anni, ampiamente dibattuto all'interno delle scienze sociali. La giungla terminologica e la polisemia di significati associati al termine hanno, tuttavia, alimentato piu' confusioni e dispute che agevolato la reale comprensione delle diverse radici filosofiche di nozioni concorrenti di poverta'. In questo saggio, argomentiamo come tale molteplicita' di definizioni sia giustificata dall'esistenza di diverse visioni della tipicita' della condizione umana. In particolare, discuteremo come sia possibile rintracciare nelle divergenze fondamentali delle filosofie essenzialista, esistenzialista ed edonista le cause di diverse interpretazioni del concetto di poverta'.poverta'; natura umana; essenzialismo; esistenzialismo; edonismo

Gender Auditing in a Capability Approach

Feminist studies have developed several tools to assess the gender impact of public policy and, in particular, of public budgets. We introduce an innovative approach to gender auditing of public budgets inspired by the capability approach. On the one hand we expand the scope of assessing the gender policy impact taking into account women’s multidimensional wellbeing, on the other hand, we use a women’s perspective to conceptualize the capability approach and make it operational in the space of public policies. Within this extended reproductive approach, gender budgets could become a tool for advancing a reflection on social and individual well being and for greater transparency on the gender division of labour, the distribution of resources and sharing of responsibilitiesHuman development; Economics of gender; Gender auditing; Capabilty approach

Content delivery and vertical integration in O-L content markets

On-line content delivery and vertical alliances between conduit and content providers are nowadays crucial issues in digital markets. In this paper, we discuss and compare a push and a pull model for on-line content delivery in the case of non-zero marginal cost for network transits because of network services for content delivery (like data caching). Under both models, we show that rationales for vertical strategic integration between conduit and content providers phase out in successive monopolies and Bertrand duopolies

Optimal Participation Income and Negative Income Tax in poverty Alleviation Programs

We compare two different redistributive policies specifically designed to alleviate poverty. The first one is inspired to the idea of participation income, the second focused on the introduction of a negative income tax. Briefly characterizing an economy with workers and non-workers and using income as evaluation space for poverty, we determine optimality conditions of both measures under a flat rate labor income tax. Finally, we emphasize a necessary condition for these measures to mitigate poverty