Developing a raster detector system with the J array processing language

All digital copying aims to reproduce an original image as faithfully as possible under certain constraints. In the past, image processing had to be implemented in hardware for performance reasons. Here, a 100% software solution is outlined. In order to find such a solution an appropriate methodology based on the array processing language J is used. Although J is ideal for prototyping such designs, its wider application is seriously hindered by the lack of awareness of array processing languages amongst engineers, and by the lack of available education in this language and methodology

Do Ifo Indicators Help Explain Revisions in German Industrial Production?

This paper studies the information content of some Ifo indicators. In particular, we investigate whether two Ifo indicators, one on the current business situation, the other on current production development, provide information on revisions of German industrial production. A new feature of our analysis is the construction and use of a real-time dataset. We conclude that the Ifo indicators play a role in explaining revisions, but counterintuitively the business situation indicator performs better than the production indicator.Ifo Business Survey indicators, German industrial production, real-time analysis, data revision

A real-time analysis of the Swiss trade account

First estimates of trade account statistics attract quite some attention in the media as they contain substantial information on recent economic developments. It is well known, however, that subsequent revisions of in particular this series can sometimes have substantial consequences for ex post evaluations of the economy. As a small open economy, Swiss overall growth as measured by its GDP is particularly prone for these revisions. This paper sets up a real-time dataset which is then used to analyze to what extent the first release of current account data (as compared to its revision) contains a structural bias and/or can be improved upon by the use of survey results as gathered by KOF at the ETH Zurich. If this is the case, this would allow for improvements in its future first release and thereby enhance the current assessment of the Swiss economycurrent account statistics, real-time analysis, data revision

Business cycles in the Netherlands, 1815-1913

This article exploits a unique new dataset containing information on the economy of the Netherlands to date business cycles turning points in the 19th century (1815-1913) using a modern econometric technique. The business cycle in the Netherlands is compared to the international (UK and US) business cycle for the second half of the sample. We conclude that business cycles do exist in the Netherlands in the 19th century – even before 1870. The Netherlands follows the international business cycle before 1870 and after 1890. In the in-between period the Dutch production could not meet both domestic demand and export demand.

Height, income, and nutrition in the Netherlands: the second half of the 19th century

This paper explores the relationship between height and its explanatory variables, explicitly paying attention to dynamics involved in the velocity of growth. We establish that the relationship is characterized by a changing lag pattern. We try to illustrate this with recently published data on the nineteenth century for the Netherlands. We find some evidence for changing lag patterns in the relationship between height and some measures of income and nutrition.

Adding-up constraints and gross substitution in portfolio models

The paper considers a (static) portfolio system that satisfies adding-up contraints and the gross substitution theorem. The paper shows the relationship of the two conditions to the weak dominant diagonal property of the matrix of interest rate elasticities. This enables to investigate the impact of simultaneous changes in interest rates on the asset demands.

A comparison of currency crisis dating methods: East Asia 1970-2002

Generally, a currency crisis is defined to occur if an index of currency pressure exceeds a threshold. This paper compares several currency crisis dating methods adopting different definitions of currency pressure indexes and ad-hoc and extreme value based thresholds. We illustrate the methods with data of six East Asian countries for the January 1970?December 2002 period, and evaluate the methods on the basis of the IMF chronology of the Asia crisis in 1997-1998.

Productivity impacts of infrastructure investment in the Netherlands 1853-1913

The paper considers a (static) portfolio system that satisfies adding-up contraints and the gross substitution theorem. The paper shows the relationship of the two conditions to the weak dominant diagonal property of the matrix of interest rate elasticities. This enables to investigate the impact of simultaneous changes in interest rates on the asset demands.

Consumer demand in the Industrial Revolution: The Netherlands, 1815-1913

The industrial revolution is mostly seen as a supply side phenomenon. Ever since Gilboy stated that factors of demand may have been equally important, scholars have stressed the importance of investments and technological change. This paper re-considers Gilboy?s ideas, using the dataset of the Dutch historical national accounts for the nineteenth century. Using a counterfactual VAR analysis, it is investigated to what extent changes in (determinants of) consumer demand may have affected patterns of industrial development.

Height, income, nutrition, and smallpox in the Netherlands: the (second half of the) 19th century

Recent contributions to growth theory stress the importance of localized innovation for the performance of more backward countries. In earlier papers, analyses by means of DEA techniques confirmed this intuition. In this paper, we extend this type of analysis by relaxing the macroeconomic viewpoint adopted until now. New databases on output, labor and capital input in the agricultural and manufacturing sector are developed for 40 countries. Using intertemporal DEA, it is found that changes in the global production frontier are localized at high levels of capital intensity. This result is stronger in agriculture than in manufacturing. Further, a decomposition of labor productivity growth in eight Asian countries for the period 1975-1992 into the effects of capital intensification, knowledge assimilation and innovation is made. The results suggest that there is a particular development path in which increases in capital intensity appear to be a prerequisite to benefit from international technology spillovers.