Optimal random sampling designs in random field sampling

A Horvitz-Thompson predictor is proposed for spatial sampling when the characteristic of interest is modeled as a random field. Optimal sampling designs are deduced under this context. Fixed and variable sample size are considered

The welfare cost of Argentine risk

In this paper we do a couple of things: discussing a way to measure the welfare cost of country risk, and measuring it for Argentina in the period 1875-2006. There are two conclusions: a) the welfare cost of Argentine risk has been huge: for example, in the period 1976-2006 it was around 20% of GDP, several times larger than the welfare cost of any conventional distortion; b) this cost would be wholly paid by labor. These fascinating results deserve further investigation.country risk, welfare cost, growth, Argentina