Ten possible experiments on communication and deception

I describe ten situations in which experimental data may provide useful guidance to the study of cheap-talk games. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C92, D8. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

On the relationship between individual and group decisions

Each member of a group receives a signal about the unknown state of the world and decides on a utility-maximizing recommendation on the basis of that signal. The individuals have identical preferences. The group makes a decision that maximizes the common utility function assuming perfect pooling of the information in individual signals. An action profile is a group action and a recommendation from each individual. A collection of action profiles is rational if there exists an information structure under which all elements in the collection arise with positive probability. With no restrictions on the information structure, essentially all action profiles are rational. In fact, given any distribution over action profiles, it is possible to find an information structure that approximates the distribution. In a monotone environment in which individuals receive conditionally independent signals, essentially any single action profile is rational, although some collections of action profiles are not. © 2014 Joel Sobel

Multiple Equilibria in a Single-Column Model of the Tropical Atmosphere

A single-column model run under the weak temperature gradient approximation, a parameterization of large-scale dynamics appropriate for the tropical atmosphere, is shown to have multiple stable equilibria. Under conditions permitting persistent deep convection, the model has a statistically steady state in which such convection occurs, as well as an extremely dry state in which convection does not occur. Which state is reached depends on the initial moisture profile.Comment: Submitted to Geophysical Research Letter

United States Taxation of Its Citizens Abroad: Incentive or Equity

The United States, unlike many sovereignties, has exercised worldwide income tax jurisdiction over its individual citizens since the inception of the income tax. Since 1926, however, United States citizens working abroad have received special treatment in the taxation of their foreign earned income. By the use of a tax credit, direct double taxation has been avoided. In addition, various exclusions and deductions have been permitted. Such tax preferences have been justified on the grounds that they promote tax equity and that they serve as incentives to encourage Americans to work overseas. This Article considers whether the special treatment of United States expatriate citizens is justified on either equity or incentive grounds. It begins by reviewing the concept of tax equity as it relates to the United States tax system and its taxation of American citizens living abroad. It then considers the use of tax incentives to encourage American citizens to work in foreign countries. The Article then traces the history of the foreign earned income provisions, concluding that Congress, over the years, has come to justify this tax preference primarily on incentive grounds. Finally, it analyzes whether, in fact, the provisions have served the congressional goal of acting as an incentive to encourage exports and to further American public interests

Vulvovaginal Trichosporonosis

Objective: Isolation of Trichosporon species from vaginal secretions is a rare event, and no data are available on its pathogenic role. A case series is presented to determine the pathogenic role of Trichosporon species in vulvovaginal infections. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients seen in the W.S.U. Vaginitis Clinic in order to identify patients from whom Trichosporon species were isolated. Results: Between 1986 and 2001, a total of 13 patients had a total of 18 positive vaginal cultures for Trichosporon species. All 18 vaginal isolates were T. inkin. In general, positive vaginal cultures were accompanied by low yeast colony counts. Four out of 18 positive T. inkin cultures were obtained from visits by asymptomatic patients. Of the remaining 14 positive T. inkin cultures from patients with symptoms, nine out of 14 cultures had other diagnoses (Candida albicans, six cases; bacterial vaginosis, two cases; Trichomonas, one case). Five positive T. inkin cultures were obtained from visits at which patients had symptoms and no associated diagnosis. In only one of the five episodes could we establish a clear pathogenic role for Trichosporon. In this case the patient was treated with boric acid and had resolution of symptoms and a negative culture at follow-up. In-vitro susceptibility tests revealed that T. inkin was resistant to flucytosine and susceptible to all topical and oral azoles. Conclusions: T. inkin is occasionally found in vulvovaginal cultures and is usually a non-pathogen. Transient colonization tended to occur in women, usually of African—American origin, with major perturbations in vaginal flora (bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis) and increased pH. Pathogenic consequences of Trichosporon colonization appear to be rare

Stochastic Games, Oligopoly Theory and Competitive Resource Allocation

We define discrete time sequential games which are multiperson Markov decision processes. The extant theory is sketched and compared with our assessment of research needs in dynamic models of oligopoly and other competitive resource allocation problems. A special class of economic survival games is noted

The Design Thinking Mindset: An Assessment Of What We Know And What We See In Practice

We review the design and management literature to identify and define key components of a design thinking mindset and report initial findings from fifteen in-depth interviews with innovation managers, who reflect on their practices while implementing design thinking in their organizations. Our study confirms a set of commonly understood and applied mindsets, but also reveals organizational constraints on translating cognition into behaviour. We argue that further mapping of design thinking mindsets and linking them to leadership theory provides a suitable point of departure for the study of design thinking and its role for innovation

Workshop on Tropical Cyclones and Climate, March 27-29, 2006

In March 2006, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) hosted a two and a half day workshop on "Tropical Cyclones and Climate". The centerpiece of the workshop was a set of invited lectures, with a modest number of contributed oral presentations and a small poster session. Relatively lengthy discussion periods were built into the schedule, allowing in-depth discussion of the presentations and related issues