Partisan cycles and the consumption volatility puzzle

Standard real business cycle theory predicts that consumption should be smoother than output, as observed in developed countries. In emerging economies, however, consumption is more volatile than income. In this paper the authors provide a novel explanation of this phenomenon, the ‘consumption volatility puzzle,’ based on political frictions. They develop a dynamic stochastic political economy model where parties that disagree on the size of government (right-wing and left-wing) alternate in power and face aggregate uncertainty. While productivity shocks affect only consumption through responses to output, political shocks (switches in political ideology) change the composition between private and public consumption for a given output size via changes in the level of taxes. Since emerging economies are characterized by less stable governments and more polarized societies, the effects of political shocks are more pronounced. For a reasonable set of parameters the authors confirm the empirical relationship between political polarization and the ratio of consumption volatility to output volatility across countries.Business cycles ; Developing countries

Generic dijet soft functions at two-loop order: correlated emissions

We present a systematic algorithm for the perturbative computation of soft functions that are defined in terms of two light-like Wilson lines. Our method is based on a universal parametrisation of the phase-space integrals, which we use to isolate the singularities in Laplace space. The observable-dependent integrations can then be performed numerically, and they are implemented in the new, publicly available package SoftSERVE that we use to derive all of our numerical results. Our algorithm applies to both SCET-1 and SCET-2 soft functions, and in the current version it can be used to compute two out of three NNLO colour structures associated with the so-called correlated-emission contribution. We confirm existing two-loop results for about a dozen $e^+e^-$ and hadron-collider soft functions, and we obtain new predictions for the C-parameter as well as thrust-axis and broadening-axis angularities.Comment: 58 pages, 8 figures, associated package can be found at https://softserve.hepforge.org/. Minor revisio

A Gatekeeper Final Boss: An Analysis of MOGAI Representation in Video Games

There have been MOGAI characters since near the beginning of video games, but their representation has been something of debate and controversy. This paper looks at not only the history of representing MOGAI characters, but the dynamics of how these populations are represented within video games, and analyses how players feel regarding this subject.

Leading for Learning: Reflective Tools for School and District Leaders

Provides reflective ideas and tools for educators to enhance leadership in learning. Includes key ideas, real examples, and reflective questions that leaders can use can use to assess their organizations, enact strategic plans, and teach colleagues

France and the American Civil War, A Diplomatic History

Stéve Sainlaude, associate professor of history at the University of Paris IV Sorbonne, provides an in depth look at the American Civil War from the French perspective. He challenges many older interpretations by American historians concerning France\u27s motives during the conflict. He focusses on how Napoleon III, his diplomats, people and press viewed the possibility of French intervention. A key factor in the study concerns France\u27s occupation of Mexico as part of the emperor\u27s Grand Design to win national glory, regain international influence, protect monarchical and imperial regimes, and save the Catholic Latin Race from worldwide Anglo-Saxon domination. The author maintains that Napoleon III\u27s occupation of Mexico would have been impossible without the South\u27s secession and that initially the emperor believed an independent Confederacy would be the last barrier that could block Yankee domination of Latin America

Student-centered instruction and its effects on mathematics engagement by race

This study aimed to improve knowledge about the efficacy of student-centered instruction in mathematics and specifically examine relevant racial differences in its efficacy. In particular, the study tested student-centered instruction’s effects on four dimensions of mathematics engagement: behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and social. This was done using a multilevel path analysis that included a racial interaction variables as well as other control variables. The sample of the study was taken from Western Pennsylvania and is made up of 3883 6th through 12th graders. The study determined there was a positive relationship between student-centered instruction for all four measures of mathematics engagement. Black students appeared to benefit less from student-centered instruction than white students on all four measures of engagement, but those of low socioeconomic status seemed to benefit more from student-centered instruction on three of the dimensions. The implication that there is a racial difference in the effect of student-centered instruction should be investigated further