Rent Seeking, Market Structure and Growth

We construct a model where firms compete in both political and economic markets. In political markets, firms compete for influence over government transfer policy (rents). This activity can be beneficial for the firm, but is purely wasteful from the point of view of society because resources are utilized to achieve a redistribution of income. In the economic market, firms compete for market share through cost reducing technological innovation. Market structure plays an important role in this economy because competition drives firms to invest more in innovation resulting in higher growth. Rent-seeking affects economic growth in two important ways. It diverts resources away from innovation and it affects the number of firms that are supported in equilibrium. The former has a negative effect on growth while the latter effect is ambiguous, depending on whether rent seeking induces entry or exit. This market structure effect depends on a combination of political and economic factors that the theory highlights.Rent Seeking, Market Structure, R&D Investment, Growth, Welfare

Searching for Freedom: An Investigation of Form in Japanese Storytelling and Animation

This project investigated characteristics of storytelling within Japanese animation known as anime. Through the use of textual analysis and historical research methods, I explored the story element of theme and it’s relation to character development and narrative structure within the anime and manga series, Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin). I identified two story themes: 1) The World’s Cruelty, Oppression of man and 2) Searching & Fighting for freedom against the cruel world—and a strong influence of folklore and Eastern and Western art that attribute to the story structure and aesthetic elements of the anime story. These findings informed my creative activity where I completed a film scenario, mood board, and storyboard to communicate the visual aesthetic of the final film production. This project will result in a better understanding of the traditions of Japanese storytelling within anime and strengthen my own creative practice

Diagnostic de l’Etat de Fertilité des Sols Sous Culture Cotonnière Dans les Principaux Bassins de Production de Côte d’Ivoire

The study was conducted to assess the fertility potential of cotton soilsin Côte d’Ivoire. A total of 500 plots of cotton farmers in 5 regions of thecotton basin was selected for soil sampling in the horizon 0-20 cm. Thechemical analyzes of soil samples in the laboratory were performed on thefollowing parameters: particle size, pHwater, organic matter, total N, availableP, K, Ca, Mg and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of soil. The physicalcharacterization revealed that the studied soils are mainly sandy texture in thesurface horizon. This gives them a very low retention capacity. The chemicalcharacterization of soils showed that they have reactions ranging from slightlyacid to neutral (6.4 <pH<7). These soils have very low levels of total organicmatter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus (in northern, south-central andwestern regions), calcium, potassium, and low values of cation exchangecapacity

Dynamique Urbaine et Risque de Litiges Fonciers dans la Ville de Toumodi (Centre-Sud de la Cote d’Ivoire)

La ville de Toumodi, dans le centre ivoirien, connaît ces dernières années une croissance spatiale rapide due à l’accélération de l’urbanisation traduisant une dynamique urbaine. Celle-ci s’appréhende à travers la croissance spatiale, la dynamique démographique et ses effets sociaux.  La présente recherche a pour objectif d’analyser les effets de la dynamique urbaine sur foncier dans la ville de Toumodi. La méthodologie a consisté en une observation de terrain, des entretiens auprès des autorités administratives et des autorités coutumières et un questionnaire qui ont permis de caractériser la dynamique urbaine de la ville de Toumodi et analyser les effets de celle-ci sur le développement des litiges fonciers. L’enquête par questionnaire adressée à un échantillon de 278 personnes réparties dans les 15 quartiers de la ville de Toumodi. Par ailleurs les résultats de la recherche révèlent que la dynamique spatiale rapide et une démographie accélérée engendrent des litiges fonciers dans la ville.  Ainsi parce qu’ils fragilisent la cohésion sociale de la population de plus en plus croissante, il est important de trouver des solutions à cette situation.   This present research has as aim to analyze the effects of urban dynamic on the land in Toumodi’s city. The methodology consisted in a field’s observation,interviews from administrative authorities and accustomed authorities and a questionary that permit to characterize the urban dynamic in Toumodi’s city and analyse their effects on the development of land dispute.This investigation by questionary addressed to a specimen of 278 persons distributed into the 15 quarters of Toumodi’s city.Otherwise,the results of this research reveals that the rapid space dynamic and an accelerated demography generate land dispute in the city.Thereby,because they are destroying the social cohesion of the population more and more rising,it’s important to find solutions to this situation

ASSAINISSEMENT ECOLOGIQUE: ENTRE LOGIQUE DES ACTEURS ET ADOPTION D’UNE INNOVATION

Clean up the environment by a rural innovation is an activity that requires both a technological expertise and support of the people The study conducted in Petit Badien (southern Côte d'Ivoire), has shown that it is possible to overcome socio-cultural resistance due to ecological sanitation (EcoSan).The methodology was based on the realization of special latrines that promote the separation of urine from the faeces, public urinals, the introduction into the cans of households called " Bidur " to collect the urine and the use of urine and sanitized faeces to fertilize two experimental fields (yam and cassava). Awareness-raising activities were also conducted. To measure the change in behavior of populations, different socio-anthropological studies were conducted at each major project time: the beginning of the project, at the time of construction of the works and harvesting of agricultural products. The results show that doubt and mistrust towards the use of project implementation beginning in urine population gradually gave way to their accession to the effective use of urine as fertilizer. Women showing interest in cassava production from fields fertilized with urine by accepting to cook the harvested tubers. People have consumed the product of the harvest in various forms (meal). Students not defecate near the primary school and teachers volunteer to popularize the EcoSan concept in their regions of origin

The Influence of Adult Attachment Orientations and Multicultural Competence on Higher Education Faculty Perceptions of ELL Students

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the influence of adult attachment orientations and multicultural competence on higher education faculty perceptions of ELL (English Language Learner) students. My primary research question is whether difficulty working with ELL students, from the perspective of faculty members, is associated with individual differences in adult attachment orientations or cultural competence. There were 60 faculty members from three Midwestern American universities who completed the survey. Faculty perceptions, the dependent variable, were measured through faculty reports of their attitudes towards ELL students and their perceived adequacy of the English language proficiency of ELL students. The independent variables included adult attachment insecurity (i.e., adult attachment anxiety and adult attachment avoidance) and multicultural competence (i.e., personal sense of cultural awareness and self-efficacy in teaching culturally diverse students). Correlations to assess bivariate relationships among all the primary variables indicated a negative, moderate, and significant relationship between one aspect of multicultural competence, multicultural teaching efficacy, and one aspect of faculty perceptions, faculty attitudes towards ELL students. Limitations and implications of the findings were discussed

Dynamique Urbaine et Risque de Litiges Fonciers dans la Ville de Toumodi (Centre-Sud de la Cote d’Ivoire)

La ville de Toumodi, dans le centre ivoirien, connaît ces dernières années une croissance spatiale rapide due à l’accélération de l’urbanisation traduisant une dynamique urbaine. Celle-ci s’appréhende à travers la croissance spatiale, la dynamique démographique et ses effets sociaux.  La présente recherche a pour objectif d’analyser les effets de la dynamique urbaine sur foncier dans la ville de Toumodi. La méthodologie a consisté en une observation de terrain, des entretiens auprès des autorités administratives et des autorités coutumières et un questionnaire qui ont permis de caractériser la dynamique urbaine de la ville de Toumodi et analyser les effets de celle-ci sur le développement des litiges fonciers. L’enquête par questionnaire adressée à un échantillon de 278 personnes réparties dans les 15 quartiers de la ville de Toumodi. Par ailleurs les résultats de la recherche révèlent que la dynamique spatiale rapide et une démographie accélérée engendrent des litiges fonciers dans la ville.  Ainsi parce qu’ils fragilisent la cohésion sociale de la population de plus en plus croissante, il est important de trouver des solutions à cette situation.   This present research has as aim to analyze the effects of urban dynamic on the land in Toumodi’s city. The methodology consisted in a field’s observation,interviews from administrative authorities and accustomed authorities and a questionary that permit to characterize the urban dynamic in Toumodi’s city and analyse their effects on the development of land dispute.This investigation by questionary addressed to a specimen of 278 persons distributed into the 15 quarters of Toumodi’s city.Otherwise,the results of this research reveals that the rapid space dynamic and an accelerated demography generate land dispute in the city.Thereby,because they are destroying the social cohesion of the population more and more rising,it’s important to find solutions to this situation