Two-orbital Systems with Crystal Field Splitting and Interorbital Hopping

The nondegenerate two-orbital Hubbard model is studied within the dynamic mean-field theory to reveal the influence of two important factors, i.e. crystal field splitting and interorbital hopping, on orbital selective Mott transition (OSMT) and realistic compound Ca$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$RuO$_{4}$. A distinctive feature of the optical conductivity of the two nondegenerate bands is found in OSMT phase, where the metallic character of the wide band is indicated by a nonzero Drude peak, while the insulating narrow band has its Drude peak drop to zero in the mean time. We also find that the OSMT regime expands profoundly with the increase of interorbital hopping integrals. On the contrary, it is shown that large and negative level splitting of the two orbitals diminishes the OSMT regime completely. Applying the present findings to compound Ca$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$RuO$_{4}$, we demonstrate that in the doping region from $x=0.2$ to 2.0, the negative level splitting is unfavorable to the OSMT phase.Comment: 7 pages with 5 figure

Bridge to Somewhere: The Value of Auckland's Northern Motorway Extensions

We estimate benefits that have resulted from extensions to Auckland's Northern Motorway since 1991. Population and employment rose substantially in locations near the new exits and to the north of the motorway extension, relative to developments elsewhere on the North Shore and in the broader Auckland Region. Land values also rose strongly near the new exits. Our approach to measuring net benefit uses changes in land values (after controlling for other factors) as a revealed preference indicator of value. We compare the estimated benefits with costs of the project to gain a measure of the project's benefit:cost ratio (B:C). Our results indicate that the gross benefit of the extensions from Tristram Avenue to Orewa is at least $2.3 billion (2004 NZ$s) compared with the estimated extension costs (discounted to 2004) of $366 million, giving a B:C ratio of at least 6.3, which exceeds the standard ratio of 4.0 used to approve roading projects in New Zealand. Our estimates take account of the possibility of diminution in value occurring elsewhere near the existing Northern Motorway network, but not in other areas of Auckland or elsewhere in the country. Conversely, they do not include any benefits that may be impounded in commercial property values in the CBD (and elsewhere) arising from increased accessibility to an enlarged labour pool.infrastructure; transport investment; benefit:cost; Auckland motorway

An Auckland Land Value Annual Database

We construct an annual land value database at the meshblock (MB) level for the Greater Auckland region. The database provides a resource for research work that requires land values (per hectare) across the region. The data is based on valuation records sourced from Quotable Value New Zealand (QVNZ). It covers seven Territorial Authorities (TAs): Rodney District, North Shore City, Waitakere City, Auckland City, Manukau City, Papakura District and Franklin District. The valuation data, which are generally available on a three-yearly cycle for each TA, are interpolated to annual frequency using sale price data for residential vacant land at the TA level. The resulting database extends from 1990-2003 (annually) for MBs in all seven TAs. In some TAs, data are available for slightly longer periods depending on source data availability.Auckland; Land values; Database

Spatial Determinants of Land Prices in Auckland:Does the Metropolitan Urban Limit Have an Effect?

Land prices within monocentric cities typically decline from the centre to the urban periphery. More complex patterns are observed in polycentric and coastal cities; discrete jumps in value can occur across zoning boundaries. Information on these patterns within Auckland is important to understand: (a) the nature of Auckland's development, including the impact of infrastructure investments; and (b) the effects of regulation in causing discrete land valuation changes. One such regulation in Auckland is the metropolitan urban limit (MUL); we specifically examine whether the existence of this growth limit affects land prices. We do so in the context of a model of all Auckland land values over a twelve-year period, finding a strong zoning boundary effect on land prices.growth limits; zoning restrictions; boundary effects; land value gradients

Labour Market Outcomes for Young Graduates

This paper examines income and employment outcomes for 18 to 30 year old New Zealanders with post-school qualifications, using data from the 1996 and 2001 Censi. Outcomes are analysed by field of study, to highlight the variation in outcomes within the post-school graduate (PSG) population. Fields are characterised according to the specialisation of job choices made by PSGs. A preliminary investigation is undertaken of changes in supply and demand of PSGs in different fields. Part A of the report summarises patterns for all PSGs, and compares fields of study. Part B contains field profiles for each of 26 grouped fields of study that can be compared across the two years.Labour Market outcomes, Tertiary Qualification, Young Graduates, New Zealand

Effects of interorbital hopping on orbital fluctuations and metal-insulator transitions: Extended linearized dynamical mean-field theory

We study the effects of interorbital hopping on orbital fluctuations and Mott-Hubbard metal-insulator transition (MIT) in the two-orbital Hubbard model within the extended linearized dynamical mean-field theory. By mapping the model onto an effective model with different bandwidths through the canonical transformation, we find that at half-filling, the increases of the interorbital Coulomb interaction $U^{\prime}$ and the Hund's coupling $J$ drive the MIT, and the critical $J_{c}$ for MIT increases with the lift of the inter-orbital hopping integral $t_{ab}$. Meanwhile at quarter filling and in the strong correlation regime, the system without $t_{ab}$ exhibits MIT with the decreasing of $J$, and favors the orbital liquid ground state. However, the system transits from metal to insulator with the increasing of t$_{ab}$, accompanied with the rising of the orbital order parameter. These results show the important role of the interorbital hopping in the orbital fluctuation and orbital ordering.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure