Redistribution and Occupational Choice in a Schumpeterian Growth Model

We consider an R&D-driven endogenous growth model in which innovation is risky and agents are risk averse. Growth is determined by the occupational choice of agents who can either work in production for a wage or become entrepreneurs. In this context, we examine the impact of redistributive taxation and compute socially optimal tax rates. Redistribution acts as social insurance, thus encouraging innovation and accelerating growth. The general equilibrium effects of the reallocation of labour induced by taxation can offset the direct distributive impact of taxes and result in a Pareto improvement. Optimal tax rates are a hump-shaped function of the intertemporal spillover effect.growth, innovation, optimal taxation, occupational choice

Une introduction aux subventions intergouvernementales

Notre article vise principalement à donner des notions élémentaires sur les fondements de la théorie des subventions intergouvernementales, qui pourront être utiles aux nouveaux venus dans ce domaine actif de la recherche. En outre, nous donnons un aperçu sélectif des récents articles théoriques sur les subventions, en soulignant particulièrement les jeux non coopératifs entre divers niveaux de gouvernement dans un système fédéral. Les parties de notre article correspondent à des sujets généraux : les subventions de péréquation, les subventions liées au partage des recettes et les subventions conditionnelles. Pour rehausser la valeur pédagogique de cet article, nous fournissons pour chaque sujet une étude mathématique simple et unifiée (dans la mesure du possible) qui accompagnera une description discursive des points principaux relevés dans la documentation.The principal aim of our paper is to provide a primer on the foundations of the theory of intergovernmental grants, suitable for newcomers to this active field of research. In addition, we provide a selective survey of recent theoretical papers on grants, focusing particularly on non-cooperative games between different levels of government in a federal system. The sections of the paper correspond to broad topics: equalization grants, revenue-sharing grants, and conditional grants. To enhance the paper's pedagogical value, we provide a simple and (as much as possible) unifïed mathematical treatment of each topic to accompany a discursive description of the main insights found in the literature

Une introduction aux subventions intergouvernementales

The principal aim of our paper is to provide a primer on the foundations of the theory of intergovernmental grants, suitable for newcomers to this active field of research. In addition, we provide a selective survey of recent theoretical papers on grants, focusing particularly on non-cooperative games between different levels of government in a federal system. The sections of the paper correspond to broad topics: equalization grants, revenue-sharing grants, and conditional grants. To enhance the paper's pedagogical value, we provide a simple and (as much as possible) unifïed mathematical treatment of each topic to accompany a discursive description of the main insights found in the literature. Notre article vise principalement à donner des notions élémentaires sur les fondements de la théorie des subventions intergouvernementales, qui pourront être utiles aux nouveaux venus dans ce domaine actif de la recherche. En outre, nous donnons un aperçu sélectif des récents articles théoriques sur les subventions, en soulignant particulièrement les jeux non coopératifs entre divers niveaux de gouvernement dans un système fédéral. Les parties de notre article correspondent à des sujets généraux : les subventions de péréquation, les subventions liées au partage des recettes et les subventions conditionnelles. Pour rehausser la valeur pédagogique de cet article, nous fournissons pour chaque sujet une étude mathématique simple et unifiée (dans la mesure du possible) qui accompagnera une description discursive des points principaux relevés dans la documentation.

Learning Probabilistic Temporal Safety Properties from Examples in Relational Domains

We propose a framework for learning a fragment of probabilistic computation tree logic (pCTL) formulae from a set of states that are labeled as safe or unsafe. We work in a relational setting and combine ideas from relational Markov Decision Processes with pCTL model-checking. More specifically, we assume that there is an unknown relational pCTL target formula that is satisfied by only safe states, and has a horizon of maximum $k$ steps and a threshold probability $\alpha$. The task then consists of learning this unknown formula from states that are labeled as safe or unsafe by a domain expert. We apply principles of relational learning to induce a pCTL formula that is satisfied by all safe states and none of the unsafe ones. This formula can then be used as a safety specification for this domain, so that the system can avoid getting into dangerous situations in future. Following relational learning principles, we introduce a candidate formula generation process, as well as a method for deciding which candidate formula is a satisfactory specification for the given labeled states. The cases where the expert knows and does not know the system policy are treated, however, much of the learning process is the same for both cases. We evaluate our approach on a synthetic relational domain.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figures, 5 tables, 2 algorithms, preprin

Vectorisation of agrochemicals via amino acid carriers: influence of the spacer arm structure on the phloem mobility of phenylpyrrole conjugates in the Ricinus system: Vectorization of agrochemicals via amino acid carriers in the Ricinus system

International audienceBACKGROUND: Excessive agrochemical use causes significant threats to environmental safety and human health. Reducing pesticide use without reducing yield is necessary for sustainable agriculture. Therefore we developed a vectorization strategy to enhance agrochemical delivery through plant amino acid carriers.RESULTS: In addition to a fenpiclonil conjugate recently described, three new amino acid conjugates were synthesized by coupling fenpiclonil to an L-α-amino acid. Phloem mobility of these conjugates which exhibit different structures of the spacer arm introduced between fenpiclonil and the α-amino acid function, was studied using the Ricinus model. Conjugate L-14 which contains a triazole ring with the shortest amino acid chain showed the best phloem systemicity among the four conjugates. By contrast, removing the triazole ring in the spacer arm did not improve systemicity. L-14 exhibited phloem systemicity at all reported pH values (pHs from 5.0 to 6.5) of the foliar apoplast, while acidic derivatives of fenpiclonil were translocated only at pH values near 5.0.CONCLUSION: The conjugates were recognized by a pH-dependent transporter system and translocated at distance in the phloem. They exhibited a broader ability to phloem systemicity than fenpiclonil acidic derivatives within the pH value range of the foliar apoplast

One- and two-dimensional higher-point conformal blocks as free-particle wavefunctions in AdS3⊗m_3^{\otimes m}

We establish that all of the one- and two-dimensional global conformal blocks are, up to some choice of prefactor, free-particle wavefunctions in tensor products of AdS$_3$ or limits thereof. Our first core observation is that the six-point comb-channel conformal blocks correspond to free-particle wavefunctions on an AdS$_3$ constructed directly in cross-ratio space. This construction generalizes to blocks for a special class of diagrams, which are determined as free-particle wavefunctions in tensor products of AdS$_3$. Conformal blocks for all the remaining topologies are obtained as limits of the free wavefunctions mentioned above. Our results show directly that the integrable models associated with all one- and two-dimensional conformal blocks can be seen as limits of free theory, and manifest a relation between AdS and CFT kinematics that lies outside of the standard AdS/CFT dictionary. We complete the discussion by providing explicit Feynman-like rules that can be used to work out blocks for all topologies, as well as a Mathematica notebook that allows simple computation of Casimir equations and series expansions for blocks, by requiring just an OPE diagram as input.Comment: 39 pages + an appendix, 18 figures, Mathematica notebook attache

Feynman Rules for Scalar Conformal Blocks

We complete the proof of "Feynman rules" for constructing $M$-point conformal blocks with external and internal scalars in any topology for arbitrary $M$ in any spacetime dimension by combining the rules for the blocks (based on their Witten diagram interpretation) with the rules for the construction of conformal cross ratios (based on OPE flow diagrams). The full set of Feynman rules leads to blocks as power series of the hypergeometric type in the conformal cross ratios. We then provide a proof by recursion of the Feynman rules which relies heavily on the first Barnes lemma and the decomposition of the topology of interest in comb-like structures. Finally, we provide a nine-point example to illustrate the rules.Comment: 61 pages + an appendi