Measuring Business Cycles

The effects of the filler content and the coupling agent 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APE) on the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and morphologies of polylactic acid (PLA)/coconut shell powder (CSP) biocomposites were investigated. It was found that increasing the CSP content decreased the tensile strengths and elongations at break of the PLA/CSP biocomposites. However, incorporating CSP increased their modulus of elasticity. The tensile strengths and modulus of elasticity of the PLA/CSP biocomposites were enhanced by the presence of 3-APE, which can be attributed to a stronger filler–matrix interaction. The thermal stabilities of the biocomposites increased with the filler content, and they were enhanced by 3-APE treatment. Meanwhile, the presence of CSP increased the glass transition temperatures (T
 g) and crystallinities (X
 c) of the PLA/CSP biocomposites at a filler content of 30 php. After 3-APE treatment, T
 g and X
 c of the PLA/CSP biocomposites increased due to enhanced interfacial bonding. The presence of a peak crystallization temperature (T
 c) for the PLA/CSP biocomposites indicated that the CSP has a nucleating effect. The melting temperatures (T
 m) and the T
 c values of the biocomposites were not significantly affected by the filler content and 3-APE. PLA/CSP biocomposites that had been treated with 3-APE presented the strongest filler–matrix interaction, as confirmed by SEM.

Mechanical and thermal properties of coconut shell powder filled polylactic acid biocomposites: effects of the filler content and silane coupling agent

Exploring the impacts of a carbon tax on the Chinese economy using a CGE model with a detailed disaggregation of energy sectors

Our economic and social systems are increasingly facing challenging questions regarding the protection of the environment, the management of natural resources and the achievement of economic progress that is in some sense “sustainable” given technological and natural constraints. Decision-makers express growing concerns for these issues, though their approaches to addressing these concerns are not always consistent or well-directed. This course is founded on the conviction that economic reasoning has much to offer (though it is not a panacea) in addressing these challenges. This course is designed to provide the basic conceptual grounding for the use of economics to inform decisions regarding the proper use of the environment and natural resources.

Environmental and Resource Economics

– Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory typically concerns attributes that steer the process of inducing new ideas through various communication channels, which essentially diffuse different types of innovations into different systems. After Rogers, Tornatzky, and Klein presented 30 such attributes (five of which were Rogers’) that steered the process of innovation diffusion. The purpose of this paper is to use a systematic approach in reviewing the literature pertaining to these 30 attributes, followed by the meta-analysis of the articles collated in relevance to these attributes. , – Publications in the time frame of 1996-mid 2011 in this field of literature have been shortlisted for this review. A total of 223 innovation articles are studied in detail to collate the relevant data needed to reflect on the various informative trends exhibited by the shortlisted innovation attributes. , – An analysis of these trends will be carried out across three different categories – first, subjective analysis; second, seven features of an ideal innovation attribute study (approach, dependent variable, study type, instrument, measure, number of attributes, number of innovations, adopting unit); and third, antecedents and descendants of the innovation attributes, which altogether will be used deduce findings, limitations, and suggestions for future research from this review. , – No recent study has analysed existing research on less explored innovation adoption attributes. Therefore, analysis and findings presented in this research is original and will make adequate contribution to the existing research on this topic. Findings presented in this submission would be helpful for researchers, authors, reviewers, and editors.

/pdf/innovation-adoption-attributes-a-review-and-synthesis-of-2udds3viem.pdf

Innovation adoption attributes: a review and synthesis of research findings

Growth effects of carbon policies: Applying a fully dynamic CGE model with heterogeneous capital

Computable general equilibrium models simulate the reaction of industries on carbon taxes. Their results differ strongly on the assumption of the underlying technologies. This paper compares two models and emphasizes the differences between their approaches to technology. The first model is the CITE model, which is the first model with endogenous growth based on gains from specialization so that growth dynamics result from investment incentives. The second model is a model with exogenous growth of endowments, which is the basis for many other CGE models. The results show that the CITE model unveils dynamics that cannot be obtained with the model based on exogenous growth. Reactions are stronger in the CITE model and industries need more time to approach the new balanced growth path.

/pdf/economics-of-endogenous-technical-change-in-cge-models-the-3p39nbr8kx.pdf

Economics of Endogenous Technical Change in CGE Models - The Role of Gains from Specialization

Influence factors for scenario analysis for new environmental technologies – the case for biopolymer technology

The paper develops a new type of CGE model to predict the effects of carbon policies on consumption, welfare, and sectoral development in the long run. Growth is fully endogenous, based on increasing specialization in capital varieties, and specific in each sector of the economy. The benchmark scenario is calculated based on the endogenous gains from specialization which carry over to policy simulation. Applying the model to the Swiss economy we find that a carbon policy following the Copenhagen Accord entails a moderate but not negligible welfare loss compared to development without any negative effects of climate change. Energy extensive as well as capital and knowledge intensive sectors profit in the form of increased growth rates.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID1590948_code1462260.pdf?abstractid=1590948&mirid=1&type=2

Florentine Schwark

Papers

Growth effects of carbon policies: Applying a fully dynamic CGE model with heterogeneous capital

Economics of Endogenous Technical Change in CGE Models - The Role of Gains from Specialization

Influence factors for scenario analysis for new environmental technologies – the case for biopolymer technology

Long-run effects of post-Kyoto policies

Energy price shocks and medium-term business cycles