Controlling informalization: Punitive versus strategic measures

Most developing countries are characterized by large informal sectors, which are plagued by low productivity and other serious problems. This paper suggests a three-ford remedy for formalizing the large informal sector: formalization of property rights, alleviation of corruption and deregulation. In the case of India, which is studies in the paper, it is seen that the first two channels are more promising than the third one. The paer also rejects the notion of idcontinuation of informal business activity by force.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in Huntington's disease.

The accumulation of mutant protein is a common feature of neurodegenerative disease. In Huntington's disease, a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein triggers neuronal toxicity. Accompanying neuronal death, mutant huntingtin aggregates in large macromolecular structures called inclusion bodies. The function of the machinery for intracellular protein degradation is linked to huntingtin toxicity and components of this machinery colocalize with inclusion bodies. An increasing body of evidence implicates the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the failure of cells to degrade mutant huntingtin. A number of potential mechanisms that link compromised ubiquitin-proteasome pathway function and neurodegeneration have been proposed and may offer opportunities for therapeutic intervention

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) distributions within urban estuarine sediments

Sediments and pore waters from two urban estuaries ranging in sediment mixing energy were studied to evaluate the potential release of contaminants from particles during sediment diagenesis. Two sites in Elizabeth River, VA and two tributaries in the Hudson River Watershed were sampled for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Sediment age, total sediment organic carbon (TOC), carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios, and particle surface area (SA) were also sampled at these sites. In the Elizabeth River, both sites sampled (Site 1 and Site 2) have been non-depositional for the past 70 y or are comprised of old dredge spoil. PAH K&\sp\prime\sb{lcub}\rm OC{rcub}&s were significantly higher at Site 2 than Site 1 indicating a different type of particle-PAH association at each site independent of the amount of TOC. Decreasing down-core K&\sp\prime\sb{lcub}\rm OC{rcub}&s at Site 1 coincided with down-core change in TOC accessible for PAH binding. at Site 2 in the Elizabeth River, high and uniform K&\sp\prime\sb{lcub}\rm OC{rcub}&s may have resulted from particles with PAHs entrapped by an organic coating. Deposition rates in the East River and Newark Bay were calculated to be &\sim&27 cm/y and &\sim&2 cm/y, respectively. Sediment PAH concentrations were significantly higher in the East River than Newark Bay, coincident with the higher amounts of TOC and SA in East River sediments. Low molecular weight PAHs were not detectable in East River sediments and PAHs were not detectable in East River pore waters. The East River seems to be a site of intense physical mixing where pore water PAHs possibly bound to DOC may be continuously mobilized out of the seabed. In contrast, PAHs in Newark Bay sediments are able to attain equilibrium due to lower intensity of physical mixing. Aspects of sediment geochemistry such as the occlusion of TOC for PAH binding, particle porosity, and amount of pore water DOC may affect PAH distributions in areas where the physical energy of mixing is infrequent or low. PAH distributions in areas that are subject to high energy physical disturbances, may be controlled by the physical energy affecting the system rather than compositional aspects of particulate or pore water dissolved organic matter

Utility Maximisation as a Pathway for Maximisation of Happiness

It is hypothesized that pursuit of human happiness is carried out through adaptive change in utility functions by drawing lessons from, in an ex-post manner, the effect of short run utility maximizing choices on utility possibilities. A reference frame for future research is designed to check the truth of this hypothesis which would draw on the methodology already in use for conducting happiness surveys

ECU professors research effects of BP oil spill in Gulf of Mexico and beyond

The BP oil spill, also known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, has riveted the attention of the public since an explosion April 20 aboard an offshore oil rig caused crude oil to begin to leak into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, East Carolina University professors are participating in various research projects that may help determine some of the effects of this catastrophic event

Reviving the informal sector from the throes of demonetisation

While recent measures announced by the government indicate some awareness of the hardships inflicted on the informal sector by the note ban, more needs to be done. In this article, Kaushik Bhattacharya, Siddhartha Mitra, Sarmistha Pal and Bibhas Saha summarise the emerging evidence on the significant adverse impact of demonetisation on the informal sector, and suggest policy measures to ensure a steady recovery

ECU aids with research of the BP oil calamity

On April 20, the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon led to a substantial oil spill catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill caused the death of 11 people and also took a vast toll on the marine environment, suffocating many populations of sea-life. Progress has been made in containing the spill since the initial impact. ECU professor Siddhartha Mitra is conducting research to establish the effects of the spill. Mitra began his research in May and speaks enthusiastically about his ongoing efforts

Corruption, Pricing of Public Services and Entrepreneurship in Economies with Leakage

The paper presents a theoretical model with bureaucratic corruption where bribe income can leak out of an economy. In such an economy given its perception about the extent of leakage the government sets the price of public services required for entrepreneurship by maximizing the welfare of the economy. We show that the corruption persists at the equilibrium. The government prices its services at a level higher than their unit cost of provision in high leakage economies. However, the price falls to unit cost level in more prosperous economies. We also find that the number of entrepreneurs starting business and the total income received as bribe are non-increasing functions of the prosperity level and the extent of leakage from the economy. The predictions of the model generate interesting policy implications: for example it clearly shows that in low prosperity economies the control of leakage may induce higher level of corruption, while the opposite is true in the high prosperity economies