Federal Influences and Intergovernmental Relations: Constraints, Conflicts, and Benefits

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Quantum-like models cannot account for the conjunction fallacy

Human agents happen to judge that a conjunction of two terms is more probable than one of the terms, in contradiction with the rules of classical probabilities—this is the conjunction fallacy. One of the most discussed accounts of this fallacy is currently the quantum-like explanation, which relies on models exploiting the mathematics of quantum mechanics. The aim of this paper is to investigate the empirical adequacy of major quantum-like models which represent beliefs with quantum states. We first argue that they can be tested in three different ways, in a question order effect configuration which is different from the traditional conjunction fallacy experiment. We then carry out our proposed experiment, with varied methodologies from experimental economics. The experimental results we get are at odds with the predictions of the quantum-like models. This strongly suggests that this quantum-like account of the conjunction fallacy fails. Future possible research paths are discussed

Inflation as a Strategic Response

In this paper, we examine the effect of increases in health care costs and general inflation on optimal insurance policies and waste in a model of imperfect information with costly auditing. We show that in such a setting, individuals will buy more than full insurance. Moreover, as the cost of medical increases, consumers (i.e., patients) reduce their probability of filing injustified claims, at the same time as insurance providers audit with lower probability. As a result, waste associated with costly auditing is reduced. We also show that a general increase in the opportunity cost of illness (reflected through lost wages due to illness) also decreases the likelihood of false claims, of auditing and thus of waste, but not as much as health care costs increase. Nous étudions dans ce document de recherche l'impact d'une augmentation des coûts des soins de santé et de l'inflation en général sur le contrat optimal d'assurance médicale et sur le gaspillage dans une économie où les agents-consommateurs possèdent une information privilégiée et où le principal-assureur doit encourir des coûts d'audit pour vérifier l'information des agents. Nous montrons dans cet article que les agents seront plus que pleinement assurés au sens où l'indemnité reçue est plus grande que la perte encourue. De plus, au fur et à mesure que le coût des soins de santé augmente, les agents réduisent leur probabilité de demander des soins de santé injustifiés, alors que le principal réduit sa probabilité d'audit. En conséquence, le gaspillage associé aux audits onéreux diminue. Nous montrons finalement qu'une augmentation dans le coût de la vie en général (que nous approximons par une augmentation des pertes de salaire encourues à cause de la maladie) réduit également le gaspillage associé aux audits,0501s dans une mesure moindre qu'une augmentation du coût des soins de santé.Health care fraud, asymmetric information, contract theory, Fraude médicale, information asymétrique, théorie des contrats

Spin chain simulations with a meron cluster algorithm

We apply a meron cluster algorithm to the XY spin chain, which describes a quantum rotor. This is a multi-cluster simulation supplemented by an improved estimator, which deals with objects of half-integer topological charge. This method is powerful enough to provide precise results for the model with a theta-term - it is therefore one of the rare examples, where a system with a complex action can be solved numerically. In particular we measure the correlation length, as well as the topological and magnetic susceptibility. We discuss the algorithmic efficiency in view of the critical slowing down. Due to the excellent performance that we observe, it is strongly motivated to work on new applications of meron cluster algorithms in higher dimensions.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, published versio

Exploration of Treatment Resistance in a Parenting Skills Group for At-Risk Mothers

Treatment resistance is a consistent impediment across psychological interventions. Specifically, the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences, and symptoms of depression, have both been posited to contribute to this phenomenon. This is noteworthy, particularly in parenting interventions, given that maternal ACEs and depression are predictors of suboptimal parenting outcomes and thus the risk factors that increase need for intervention may simultaneously be the very factors that impede with one’s intervention engagement. This study explored if this phenomenon replicates in Mom Power - a 10-week, trauma-informed, parenting skills group for at-risk mothers. A multiple linear regression was performed to predict intervention attendance (could range from 0-10) based on ACE score and maternal depression at pre-treatment for n = 66 mothers of young children (ages 0-5). The overall model was not significant F(2, 59) = 1.07, p = .35. Further, maternal ACE scores and depression symptoms only accounted for only 3.5% of the variance in intervention attendance. The authors propose that the trauma-informed Mom Power intervention may be addressing the treatment resistance of at-risk mothers, and that Mom Power effectively engages mothers despite ACE scores or depression symptoms

The odd-dimensional Goldberg Conjecture

An odd-dimensional version of the Goldberg conjecture was formulated and proved by Boyer and Galicki, using an orbifold analogue of Sekigawa's formulas, and an approximation argument of K-contact structures with quasi-regular ones. We provide here another proof of this result and give some applications.Comment: An application to the main result adde

Les interprétations de la mécanique quantique : une vue d'ensemble introductive

La mécanique quantique est une théorie physique contemporaine réputée pour ses défis au sens commun et ses paradoxes. Depuis bientôt un siècle, plusieurs interprétations de la théorie ont été proposées par les physiciens et les philosophes, offrant des images quantiques du monde, ou des métaphysiques, radicalement différentes. L'existence d'un hasard fondamental, ou d'une multitude de mondes en-dehors du nôtre, dépend ainsi de l'interprétation adoptée. Cet article, en s'appuyant sur le livre Boyer-Kassem (2015), Qu'est-ce que la mécanique quantique ?, présente trois principales interprétations quantiques, empiriquement équivalentes : l'interprétation dite orthodoxe, l'interprétation de Bohm, et l'interprétation des mondes multiples