"Cyclical Informality and Unemployment"

The proportion of informal or unprotected workers in developing countries is large. In developing economies, the fraction of informal workers can be as high as 70% of total employment. For economies with significant informal sectors, business cycle fluctuations and labor market policy interventions can have important effects on the unemployment rate, and also produce large reallocations of workers between "regulated" and "unregulated" jobs. In this paper, we report the main cyclical patterns of one such labor market: Brazil. We then use the empirical regularities found in the data to build, calibrate, and simulate a two-sector search and matching labor market model, in which firms have the choice of hiring workers formally or informally. We find that our model, built in the spirit of traditional search and matching models, can explain well most of the cyclical properties found in the data. We also show that government policies that decrease the cost of formal jobs, or increase the cost of informality, raise the share of formal employment while reducing unemployment.

Reseñas

Víctor NAVARRO BROTONS ; Enrique RODRÍGUEZ GALDEANO, Matemáticas, cosmología y humanismo en la España del siglo XVI. Los «comentarios al segundo libro de la historia natural de Plinio» de Jerónimo Muño

Participatory budgets and local political institutions. Possible forms of articulation in cases of Argentina and Uruguay

El objetivo del artículo es analizar las formas de articulación entre el presupuesto participativo y las instituciones político-representativas locales (gobierno y partidos) en las experiencias de las ciudades de Córdoba, Gualeguaychú, Paysandú y Montevideo. En primera instancia, se presenta un modelo teórico de análisis con tipos ideales, que expresan formas posibles de relacionamiento. Seguidamente, utilizando el modelo planteado, se analizan los cuatro casos, en dos momentos diferentes, separados por una elección de gobierno local. Finalmente, se señala, en función de los casos estudiados, cómo en escenarios de participación plural y alcance restringido la mayor institucionalización generaría un estímulo para ir paulatinamente ampliando el alcance.The aim of the article is to analyze the forms of articulation between the participatory budget and the local political-representative institutions (government and parties) in the experiences of the cities of Córdoba, Gualeguaychú, Paysandú and Montevideo. A theoretical analysis model with ideal types expressing possible forms of articulation is presented in the first instance. Then, using the model presented, the four cases are analyzed in two moments of time separated by a local government election. Finally, it is pointed out how in scenarios of plural participation and restricted scope greater institutionalization could generate an incentive to gradually expand the scope.The aim of the article is to analyze the forms of articulation between the participatory budget and the local political-representative institutions (government and parties) in the experiences of the cities of Córdoba, Gualeguaychú, Paysandú and Montevideo. A theoretical analysis model with ideal types expressing possible forms of articulation is presented in the first instance. Then, using the model presented, the four cases are analyzed in two moments of time separated by a local government election. Finally, it is pointed out how in scenarios of plural participation and restricted scope greater institutionalization could generate an incentive to gradually expand the scope

Q curvature and gravity

In this paper, we consider a family of n-dimensional, higher-curvature theories of gravity whose action is given by a series of dimensionally extended conformal invariants. The latter correspond to higher-order generalizations of the Branson Q curvature, which is an important notion of conformal geometry that has been recently considered in physics in different contexts. The family of theories we study here includes special cases of conformal invariant theories in even dimensions. We study different aspects of these theories and their relation to other higher-curvature theories present in the literature.Fil: Chernicoff, Mariano. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Giribet, Gaston Enrique. University of New York; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Grandi, Nicolás Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Lavia, Edmundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Oliva, Julio. Universidad de Concepción; Chil

Os efeitos estruturais da política energética na Argentina, 1989-2014

El objetivo del artículo es describir las políticas energéticas desarrolladas desde las reformas neoliberales hasta 2014 para determinar los impactos estructurales que tuvieron sobre la economía argentina. La metodología utilizada radicó en utilizar fuentes secundarias, sea tanto legislación oficial y estadísticas públicas como reconstruir la voz de los principales actores involucrados con declaraciones en medios gráficos. Asimismo se desplegaron técnicas cuantitativas para confirmar la relación entre las principales variables. El trabajo muestra cómo desde las reformas neoliberales de la década de 1990 se impulsó una dinámica del sector que fue desacoplando la oferta de la demanda energética. Como respuesta, el Estado nacional promovió las importaciones para cubrir tal brecha, situación que terminó impactando en la macroeconomía, acelerando el déficit fiscal, profundizando el quiebre del balance de pagos y agudizando la restricción externa, situación que más que una crisis energética, terminaría ocasionando una crisis del modelo energético.The objective of this paper is to describe the energy policies developed since the neoliberal reforms until 2014, to determine the structural impacts of these policies on the Argentine economy. The methodology consisted in using secondary sources, such as official legislation and public statistics, and in the reconstruction of the voice of the main actors involved, using statements in graphic media. Moreover, quantitative techniques were deployed to confirm the relationship between the main variables. The work shows how, since the neoliberal reforms of the 1990s, a dynamic of the sector was promoted, which was decoupling the energy supply and demand. In response, the national government promoted imports to bridge the gap, which finally had an impact on the macroeconomics, since it accelerated the fiscal deficit, deepened the breakdown of the balance of payments and exacerbated the external restrictions; this situation, more than an energy crisis, would end up causing a crisis of the energy modelO objetivo do artigo é descrever as políticas energéticas desenvolvidas desde as reformas neoliberais até 2014 para determinar os impactos estruturais que tiveram na economia argentina. A metodologia utilizada baseou- -se no uso de fontes secundárias, legislação oficial e estatísticas públicas, e reconstrução da voz dos principais atores envolvidos com declarações na mídia. Da mesma forma, técnicas quantitativas foram implantadas para confirmar a relação entre as principais variáveis. O trabalho mostra como, desde as reformas neoliberais da década de 1990, se fomentou uma dinâmica do setor que estava desacoplando o suprimento de demanda de energia. Em resposta, o governo nacional promoveu as importações para cobrir essa lacuna, mas acabou tendo um impacto na macroeconomia, acelerando o déficit fiscal, aprofundando a quebra da balança de pagamentos e agravando a restrição externa; uma situação que, mais do que uma crise de energia, acabaria causando uma crise do modelo energético.Fil: Serrani, Esteban Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Altos Estudios Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Barrera, Mariano Alejandro. Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales. Sede Académica Argentina Buenos Aires. Área de Economía y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Energía y restricción externa en la Argentina reciente

El presente artículo analiza las consecuencias que tuvo sobre la economía la convergencia de dos tendencias contrapuestas durante las últimas décadas: el estrangulamiento de la oferta energética por la caída de la extracción de hidrocarburos, insumo esencial para el autoabastecimiento energético de la Argentina, y la expansión de la demanda que generaron las políticas de ampliación de la cobertura de energía, que ocasionaron el quiebre de la balanza comercial energética con un severo déficit de divisas para la economía. En definitiva, se busca comprender cómo la intensificación de los problemas estructurales del sector se fue consolidando como un obstáculo estructural al desarrollo económico en Argentina, afectando el crecimiento del producto interno bruto a través del fortalecimiento de la restricción externa.this article analyzes the consequences of the convergence of two opposing trends which impacted on the economy over recent decades: the strangulation of energetic supply given the drop in hydrocarbon extraction - essential material for argentine energy self-supply - and the growth of demand generated by energy coverage expansion policies, which generated a rapture in energy trade balance accompanied by a severe deficit of currency in the economy. in short, the aim is understanding how the intensification of the sector's structural problems was solidified as a structural obstacle for economic development in argentina, impacting the growth of gross domestic product through the strengthening of foreign restriction.Fil: Barrera, Mariano Alejandro. Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales. Sede Académica Argentina Buenos Aires. Área de Economía y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Serrani, Esteban Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Altos Estudios Sociales; Argentin

Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara as a Viral Vector for Vaccine Candidates against Chikungunya Virus

There is a need to develop a highly effective vaccine against the emerging chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne Alphavirus that causes severe disease in humans consisting of acute febrile illness, followed by chronic debilitating polyarthralgia and polyarthritis. In this review, we provide a brief history of the development of the first poxvirus vaccines that led to smallpox eradication and its implications for further vaccine development. As an example, we summarize the development of vaccine candidates based on the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector expressing different CHIKV structural proteins, paying special attention to MVA-CHIKV expressing all of the CHIKV structural proteins: C, E3, E2, 6K and E1. We review the characterization of innate and adaptive immune responses induced in mice and nonhuman primates by the MVA-CHIKV vaccine candidate and examine its efficacy in animal models, with promising preclinical findings needed prior to the approval of human clinical trials.This research was supported by the ICRES (Integrated Chikungunya Research), a collaborative project supported by the European Union under the Health Cooperation Work Program of the 7th Framework Program (grant agreement 261202), a grant from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2008-02036), and a grant from Acción Estratégica en Salud from the ISCIII, grant MPY 388/18.S