Nonlinear conductivity in CaRuO3 thin films measured by short current pulses

Metals near quantum critical points have been predicted to display universal out-of equilibrium behavior in the steady current-carrying state. We have studied the non-linear conductivity of high-quality CaRuO$_3$ thin films with residual resistivity ratio up to 57 using micro-second short, high-field current pulses at low temperatures. Even for the shortest pulses of $5\mu$s, Joule heating persists, making it impossible to observe a possible universal non-linearity. Much shorter pulses are needed for the investigation of universal non-linear conductivity.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

The People of "Linden Tree Street" and the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP)

Lately I have been receiving numerous requests for contributions to commemorative publications, farewell speeches, and anniversary lectures. I cannot respond to all of these requests, especially since not all of them are as inspiring as the one today: the 25th (in words: the twenty-fifth!) wave of the SOEP! This is indeed an anniversary that should be duly celebrated and honored. The German soap opera "Lindenstrasse" (Linden Tree Street) that was first aired in December 1985 is almost as old as the SOEP. Who could have foreseen in 1984 that there would be so many waves of the SOEP and so many episodes of "Lindenstrasse" following that first one? In the following, I will address four different aspects. First, I will describe some of my impressions while participating in the establishment of the SOEP and its first waves. Second, I will draw attention to the SOEP's role in current public debates (such as the one on migration issues). Third, I will describe my experiences as a SOEP user, and finally, I will elaborate on the great significance of the SOEP for the integration of the social sciences and their empirical methodologies.

Continued Work or Retirement? Preferred Exit-age in Western European countries?

The combination of greying populations, decreasing fertility rates and a marked trend in falling retirement age is profoundly challenging the sharing of resources and supporting responsibilities between generations in the developed world. Previous studies on earlier exit-trends have focused mainly on supply-side incentives and generally conclude that people will exit given available retirement options. Substantial cross-national variations in exit-ages however remain unexplained. This suggests that also normative factors such as attitudes to work and retirement might be of importance. Through multi-level analyses, this study evaluates how welfare regime generosity, as well as production regime coordination explains cross-national patterns of retirement preferences across twelve Western European countries. Analysis firstly shows how both men and women on average prefer to retire at 58 years, meaning on average approximately 7 or 5.5 years before statutory retirement age in the case of men and women respectively. Contrary to what is expected from previous research on supply-side factors, preferences for relatively later retirement is found within more generous welfare regimens and also within more extensively coordinated production regimes. For women, however, institutional effects do not remain once substantial cross-national differences in women's statutory retirement ages are taken into account.Continued Work; Retirement

Nonadiabatic couplings and incipience of quantum chaos

The quantization of the electronic two site system interacting with a vibration is considered by using as the integrable reference system the decoupled oscillators resulting from the adiabatic approximation. A specific Bloch projection method is applied which demonstrates how besides some regular regions in the fine structure of the spectrum and the associated eigenvectors irregularities appear when passing from the low to the high coupling case. At the same time even for strong coupling some of the regular structure of the spectrum rooted in the adiabatic potentials is kept intact justifying the classification of this situation as incipience of quantum chaos.Comment: 16 pages including figure

The dynamics of corporate governance in South Africa: broad based black economic empowerment and the enhancement of good corporate governance principles

This paper illustrates the effect of BBBEE on good corporate governance. Corporate governance and specifically directors’ duties relating to stakeholder protection are focused on. Traditionally, directors are expected to manage a company in the best interests of the shareholders collectively. The question arises as to whether directors should also consider the interests of other stakeholders, inter alia employees, creditors, the environment and the community. The South African Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003, not only aims at correcting racial imbalances, but also strives to promote social investment and the empowerment of communities. By adhering to this act, directors will by implication consider the interests of the community and give effect to the triple-bottom line approach when managing a company. This paper will illustrate the unique dynamics of corporate governance in South Africa

The protection of stakeholders: the South African social and ethics committee and the United Kingdom’s enlightened shareholder value approach: part 1

No abstract available

The protection of stakeholders: the South African social and ethics committee and the United Kingdom’s enlightened shareholder value approach: part 2

No abstract available