State of the Art in Governance Indicators

human development, democracy

Throughput Bound of XOR Coded Wireless Multicasting to Three Clients

It is a well-known result that constructing codewords over $GF(2)$ to minimize the number of transmissions for a single-hop wireless multicasting is an NP-complete problem. Linearly independent codewords can be constructed in polynomial time for all the $n$ clients, known as maximum distance separable (MDS) code, when the finite field size $q$ is larger than or equal to the number of clients, $q\geq n$. In this paper we quantify the exact minimum number of transmissions for a multicast network using erasure code when $q=2$ and $n=3$, such that $q<n$. We first show that the use of Markov chain model to derive the minimum number of transmissions for such a network is limited for very small number of input packets. We then use combinatorial approach to derive an upper bound on the exact minimum number of transmissions. Our results show that the difference between the expected number of transmissions using XOR coding and MDS coding is negligible for $n=3$.Comment: This paper appears in the proceedings of 20th IEEE International Workshop on Computer Aided Modelling and Design of Communication Links and Networks (CAMAD), 7-9 September 2015, University of Surrey, Guildford, U

Openness and inflation volatility: Cross-country evidence

Recent decades have seen a considerable expansion of global trade and a simultaneous decline in inflation volatility. This paper investigates whether greater openness to trade helps achieve inflation stability. Using panel data for a sample of developing and industrial countries over the period 1961-2000, we document a negative and statistically significant effect of openness on inflation volatility. This relationship is estimated after controlling for the potential endogeneity of openness, and the average rate of inflation. We conduct a battery of robustness tests, showing in particular the robustness of our conclusions to controlling for the choice of exchange rate regime. A sub-sample analysis suggests that the relationship between openness and inflation volatility is more pronounced in developing and emerging market economies than in OECD countries. We also identify potential channels underpinning this relationship. In particular, we provide evidence that openness may promote inflation stability through dampening monetary and terms of trade shocks.Openness, inflation, globalization, volatility, panel data.

The economics of the Arab Spring

This article explores the economic underpinnings of the Arab spring. We locate the roots of the regiosn's long-term economic failure in a statist model of development that is financed through external windfalls and rests on inefficient forms of intervention and redistribution. We argue that the rising cost of repression and redistribution is calling into question the long-term sustainability of this development model. A singular failure of tyhe Arab world is that it has been unable to develop a private sector that is independent, competetive and intergrated with global markets. We argue that developing such a orivate sector is both a political as well as a regional challenge. In so far as the private sector genertaes incomes that are independent of the rent streams controlled by the state and can pose a direct political challenge, it is viewed as a threat. And, the Arab world's economic fragmentation into isolated geographic units further undermines the prospects for private sector development. We explain this economic fragmentation as a manifestation of dentralized and segmented administrative structures. Revisiting the polictics and geo-politics of regional trade, we argue that overcoming regional economic barriers constitues the single most important collective action problem that the region has faced since the fall of the Ottoman Empire.Arab Spring, Fragmentation, Regional Trade, Protectionism

Openness and inflation volatility: cross-country evidence

Recent decades have seen a considerable expansion of global trade and a simultaneous decline in inflation volatility. This paper investigates whether greater openness to trade helps achieve inflation stability. Using panel data for a sample of developing and industrial countries over the period 1961-2000, we document a negative and statistically significant effect of openness on inflation volatility. This relationship is estimated after controlling for the potential endogenity of openness, and the average rate of inflation. We conduct a battery of robuistness tests, showing in particular the robustness of our conclusions to controlling for the choice of exchange rate regime. A sub-sample analysis suggests that the relationship between openness and inflation volatility is more pronounced in developing and emerging market economies thanin OECD countires. We also identify potential channels underpinning this relationship. In particulare, we provide eveidenc that openness may promote inflation stability through dampening monetary and terms of trade shocks.Openness, inflation, globalization, volatility, panel data

Natural resources, export structure and investment

We present cross-country empirical evidence on the role of natural resources in explaining long-run differences in private investment as a share of GDP in a sample of 72 developing countries. Our empirical results suggest important differences between oil and non-oil resources. While revenue from oil exports tends to increase private (and public) investment, there is also a robust negative effect from a measure of export concentration. After controlling for these two aspects of export structure, there is little additional information in other measures of resource abundance, or in other suggested investment determinants, such as measures of the quality of institutions, political instability or macroeconomic volatility.

The Geography of Output Volatility

This paper examines the structural determinants of output volatility in developing countries, and especially the roles of geography and institutions. We investigate the volatility effects of market access, climate variability, the geographic predisposition to trade, and various measures of institutional quality. We find an especially important role for market access: remote countries are more likely to have undiversified exports and to experience greater volatility in output growth. Our results are based on Bayesian methods that allow us to address formally the problem of model uncertainty and to examine robustness across a wide range of specifications.Volatility, Geography, Institutions, Bayesian Model Averaging

The Social Construction of Sanitation Technologies: An analysis of the technology selection and implementation process in District Mansehra, Pakistan

Aufgrund der starken Verbindung zwischen schlechten Sanitäranlagen und mehreren Entwicklungsresultaten wie Gesundheit, Armut, ökonomischer Produktivität, Sicherheit und anderem, waren Sanitäranlagen die letzten Jahrzehnte im Fokus von vielen Entwicklungsprojekten und -strategien in der internationalen Entwicklungshilfegemeinschaft. In Bezug auf die Nachhaltigen Entwicklungsziele ist die aktuelle Situation jedoch nicht befriedigend. Es existiert eine große Hürde zur Etablierung solcher Technologien, da neben diversen technologischen Ansätzen zur Lösung des Problems zusätzlich eine komplexe soziale Situation vorliegt. Typischerweise haben die beteiligten Interessensgruppen ihre eigenen Pläne, Ideen, Präferenzen und interne Regelungen, die möglicherweise nicht zu den lokalen Erwartungen und Wirklichkeiten passen. Deshalb ist es wichtig zu verstehen wie die Auswahl der Technologien erfolgt, wie die Organisation zwischen den verschiedenen Akteuren stattfindet, wie die Einrichtung in der jeweiligen Umgebung umgesetzt wird und welchen Herausforderungen die verschiedenen Akteure im Verlauf begegnen. Durch die wahrgenommene Wichtigkeit von Sanitärprojekten in der Entwicklungshilfe haben Nicht-Regierungsorganistationen (NGOs) mehr und mehr die Verantwortung zum Betrieb solcher Anlagen übernommen, wo die Regierungen von Entwicklungsländern zurückgeblieben sind. NGOs sind die bevorzugten Organisationen für aus dem Ausland finanzierte Projekte in diesem Sektor geworden und spielen eine entscheidende Rolle in deren Entwicklung und Realisierung. Durch ausländische Spender finanziert realisieren internationale NGOs (INGOs) Wasser- und Sanitärprojekte mit Hilfe lokaler NGOs, wodurch im Kontext lokaler Regelungen und Gesetze eine facettenreiche Verwaltungsstruktur entsteht. Social Construction of Technology als Leittheorie ermöglicht das Verständnis der Rollen der verschiedenen sozialen Gruppen, ihre Politik und die verschiedenen Bedeutungen, die die Technologie für die Beteiligten hat. Dies liefert einen Einblick in die Art und Weise wie die verschiedenen Akteure letzlich Technologien und ihre Anwendung formen und welche Ergebnisse diese Dynamik in verschiedenen Gemeinden hervorbringt. Methodisch basiert diese Arbeit auf Fallstudienforschung, bei der Diskussionen in Fokusgruppen mit Schlüsselinformanten im Kern der empirischen Analyse liegen. Diese Diskussionen wurden als Zugangspunkt zu den dörflichen Gemeinschaften und zum Verständnis existierender Praktiken, Vorzügen und den Erfahrungen mit Entwicklungshilfeprojekten genutzt. Tiefergehende Interviews wurden mit individuellen Haushalten auf Gemeinde-Ebene, Projektmanagern und WASH-Experten auf I/NGO-Ebene und mit Spendern, die WASHProjekte finanzieren durchgeführt. In der Studie wurden verschiedene Ansätze zur Etablierung von Sanitäranlagen betrachtet, die jeweils in mindestens zwei Dörfern umgesetzt wurden. Insgesamt wurden neun Dörfer aufrund von vier verschiedenen technologischen Ansätzen zur Entwicklungshilfe bei Sanitärtechnik betrachtet. In jedem Dorf wurde eine Fokusgruppendiskussion durchgeführt, während die Anzahl der Interviews von den begünstigten bzw. nicht begünstigten Personen des Projektes abhing. Außerdem wurden beteiligte Mitarbeiter von acht verschiedenen I/NGOs sowie Spender interviewt. In den meisten Fällen werden die Technologien von den Spendern und INGOs ausgewählt, die substanziellen Einfluss auf die Verwaltungen ausüben, um sicherzugehen, dass lokale Regelungen die ausgewählten Technologien bevorzugen. Regelungen zur Sanitärtechnik bevorzugen aktuell diejenigen Ansätze, die zwar weniger Investitionen erfordern, die jedoch nicht unbedingt zu besseren Resultaten führen und bei denen in in vielen Fällen beobachtet wurde, dass sie nicht von den lokalen Gemeinden akzeptiert werden. Die lokalen NGOs tragen eine riesige Verantwortung, genießen jedoch sehr wenig Unabhängigkeit in Schlüsselfragen. Wichtige Aufgaben an Gemeindeorganisationen abzugeben, ermöglicht es existierenden Macht- und Klassenstrukturen sowie politischer Einflussnahme in den Gemeinden sich in den Projekten zu spiegeln, wodurch der eigentliche Zweck der Entwicklungshilfe potentiell untergraben wird. Striktere Regulierung durch die Regierungen in Bezug auf die sozio-poltischen Bedingungen in der Region, wie z.B. Terrorismus, haben den Organisationen viele Möglichkeiten frei zu arbeiten genommen, was den bereits schwierigen Umsetzungsprozess noch schwieriger macht. Basierend auf diesen Herausforderungen der verschiedenen Akteure wurden Empfehlungen zum Überwinden einiger der Komplexitäten des Problems in diesem Bereich erarbeitet und den jeweiligen Akteuren unterbreitet. Diese Empfehlungen würden dabei helfen, die Auswahl und den Einsatz der Technlogien und damit die Resultate der Entwicklungshilfe im Bereich der Sanitärtechnik zu verbessern

Sequence and structural features of carbohydrate binding in proteins and assessment of predictability using a neural network

BACKGROUND: Protein-Carbohydrate interactions are crucial in many biological processes with implications to drug targeting and gene expression. Nature of protein-carbohydrate interactions may be studied at individual residue level by analyzing local sequence and structure environments in binding regions in comparison to non-binding regions, which provide an inherent control for such analyses. With an ultimate aim of predicting binding sites from sequence and structure, overall statistics of binding regions needs to be compiled. Sequence-based predictions of binding sites have been successfully applied to DNA-binding proteins in our earlier works. We aim to apply similar analysis to carbohydrate binding proteins. However, due to a relatively much smaller region of proteins taking part in such interactions, the methodology and results are significantly different. A comparison of protein-carbohydrate complexes has also been made with other protein-ligand complexes. RESULTS: We have compiled statistics of amino acid compositions in binding versus non-binding regions- general as well as in each different secondary structure conformation. Binding propensities of each of the 20 residue types and their structure features such as solvent accessibility, packing density and secondary structure have been calculated to assess their predisposition to carbohydrate interactions. Finally, evolutionary profiles of amino acid sequences have been used to predict binding sites using a neural network. Another set of neural networks was trained using information from single sequences and the prediction performance from the evolutionary profiles and single sequences were compared. Best of the neural network based prediction could achieve an 87% sensitivity of prediction at 23% specificity for all carbohydrate-binding sites, using evolutionary information. Single sequences gave 68% sensitivity and 55% specificity for the same data set. Sensitivity and specificity for a limited galactose binding data set were obtained as 63% and 79% respectively for evolutionary information and 62% and 68% sensitivity and specificity for single sequences. Propensity and other sequence and structural features of carbohydrate binding sites have also been compared with our similar extensive studies on DNA-binding proteins and also with protein-ligand complexes. CONCLUSION: Carbohydrates typically show a preference to bind aromatic residues and most prominently tryptophan. Higher exposed surface area of binding sites indicates a role of hydrophobic interactions. Neural networks give a moderate success of prediction, which is expected to improve when structures of more protein-carbohydrate complexes become available in future