Long-Run Patterns of Demand: The Expenditure System of the CDES Indirect Utility Function - Theory and Applications

In this paper, we unify and extend the analytical and empirical application of the ”indirect addilog” expenditure system, introduced by Leser (1941), Somermeyer- Wit (1956) and Houthakker (1960). Using the Box-Cox transform, we present a parametric analysis of the Houthakker specification of the fundamental indirect utility function - called the CDES specification (constant differences of Allen elasticities of substitution) by Hanoch (1975). It is shown that the CDES demand system is less restrictive than implied by standard parameter restrictions in the literature, Hanoch (1975), Deaton & Muellbauer (1980), or else neither adequately indicated, Houthakker (1960), Silberberg & Suen (2001). Our parametric examination implies that Marshallian own-price elasticities are no longer restricted to being all larger than one in absolute value; hence CDES can now naturally exhibit both the inelastic and elastic own price elasticities of observable (Marshallian) demands. Furthermore, we argue that in computable general equilibrium models (CGE), the CDES compares favorably with other expenditure systems, e.g. the linear expenditure system (LES), since CDES and LES need the same outside information for calibration of the parameters, but CDES is not confined to constancy of marginal budget shares (linear Engel curves). Moreover, we show that the non-homothetic CDES preferences are a simple and natural extension of the homothetic CES (constant elasticities of substitution) preferences, and, accordingly, CDES can more realistically be used in specifying CGE models with a demand side of non-unitary income elasticities. A succint theoretical briefing of the CDES history with general and concise formulas is offered. We illustrate CDES estimation and the calculation of a comprehensive set of income and price elasticities by applying CDES to Danish budget survey data. With a large number budget items included, coherent numerical values for the income, own, and cross price elasticities, as shown here, seem nowhere calculated and available in the voluminous literature.CDES demand systems, non-homothetic preferences, general price elasticities, CGE modeling, budget data implementation

Relative production rates of 6^{6}He, 9^{9}Be, 12^{12}C in astrophysical environments

We assume an environment of neutrons and $\alpha$-particles of given density and temperature where nuclear syntheses into $^{6}$He, $^{9}$Be and $^{12}$C are possible. We investigate the resulting relative abundance as a function of density and temperature. When the relative abundance of $\alpha$-particles $Y_{\alpha}$ is between 0.2 and 0.9, or larger than 0.9, the largest production is $^{9}$Be or $^{12}$C, respectively. When $Y_{\alpha}<0.2$ $^{6}$He is mostly frequently produced for temperatures above about 2 GK whereas the $^{9}$Be production dominates at smaller temperatures.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Reconsidering the calculation and role of environmental footprints

Following the recent Copenhagen Climate Change conference, there has been discussion of the methods and underlying principles that inform climate change targets. Climate change targets following the Kyoto Protocol are broadly based on a production accounting principle (PAP). This approach focuses on emissions produced within given geographical boundaries. An alternative approach is a consumption accounting principle (CAP), where the focus is on emissions produced globally to meet consumption demand within the national (or regional) economy1. Increasingly popular environmental footprint measures, including ecological and carbon footprints, attempt to measure environmental impacts based on CAP methods. The perception that human consumption decisions lie at the heart of the climate change problem is the impetus driving pressure on policymakers for a more widespread use of CAP measures. At a global level of course, emissions accounted for under the production and consumption accounting principles would be equal. It is international trade that leads to differences in emissions under the two principles. This paper, the second in this special issue of the Fraser Commentary, examines how input-output accounting techniques may be applied to examine pollution generation under both of these accounting principles, focussing on waste and carbon generation in the Welsh economy as a case study. However, we take a different focus, arguing that the ‘domestic technology assumption’, taken as something of a mid-point in moving between production and consumption accounting in the first paper, may actually constitute a more useful focus for regional policymakers than full footprint analyses

In silico prediction of mutant HIV-1 proteases cleaving a target sequence

HIV-1 protease represents an appealing system for directed enzyme re-design, since it has various different endogenous targets, a relatively simple structure and it is well studied. Recently Chaudhury and Gray (Structure (2009) 17: 1636 -- 1648) published a computational algorithm to discern the specificity determining residues of HIV-1 protease. In this paper we present two computational tools aimed at re-designing HIV-1 protease, derived from the algorithm of Chaudhuri and Gray. First, we present an energy-only based methodology to discriminate cleavable and non cleavable peptides for HIV-1 proteases, both wild type and mutant. Secondly, we show an algorithm we developed to predict mutant HIV-1 proteases capable of cleaving a new target substrate peptide, different from the natural targets of HIV-1 protease. The obtained in silico mutant enzymes were analyzed in terms of cleavability and specificity towards the target peptide using the energy-only methodology. We found two mutant proteases as best candidates for specificity and cleavability towards the target sequence

Performances of peace: Utrecht 1713

The Peace of Utrecht (1713), which brought an end to the War of the Spanish Succession, was a milestone in global history. Performances of Peace aims to rethink the significance of the Peace of Utrecht by exploring the nexus between culture and politics. For too long, cultural and political historians have studied early modern international relations in isolation. By studying the political as well as the cultural aspects of this peace (and its concomitant paradoxes) from a broader perspective, this volume aims to shed new light on the relation between diplomacy and performative culture in the public spher

Predicting time to graduation at a large enrollment American university

The time it takes a student to graduate with a university degree is mitigated by a variety of factors such as their background, the academic performance at university, and their integration into the social communities of the university they attend. Different universities have different populations, student services, instruction styles, and degree programs, however, they all collect institutional data. This study presents data for 160,933 students attending a large American research university. The data includes performance, enrollment, demographics, and preparation features. Discrete time hazard models for the time-to-graduation are presented in the context of Tinto's Theory of Drop Out. Additionally, a novel machine learning method: gradient boosted trees, is applied and compared to the typical maximum likelihood method. We demonstrate that enrollment factors (such as changing a major) lead to greater increases in model predictive performance of when a student graduates than performance factors (such as grades) or preparation (such as high school GPA).Comment: 28 pages, 11 figure

Theoretical restrictions on the parameters of the indirect addilog system revisited

The correct parameter restrictions- less restrictive than commonly thought-of the indirect addilog system (IAS) are derived. Under correct restrictions, the IAS is superior to the linear expenditure system in computable general equilibrium models with data scarcity.CGE-modelling;indirect addilog system;parameter restriction