Showing papers by "National Research University – Higher School of Economics published in 1997"

Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic, and Political Change in 43 Societies

Abstract: Acknowledgments Ch. 1 Value Systems: The Subjective Aspect of Politics and Economics Ch. 2 Individual-Level Change and Societal-Level Change Ch. 3 Modernization and Postmodernization in 43 Societies Ch. 4 Measuring Materialist and Postmaterialist Values Ch. 5 The Shift toward Postmaterialist Values, 1970-1994 Ch. 6 Economic Development, Political Culture, and Democracy: Bringing the People Back In Ch. 7 The Impact of Culture on Economic Growth Ch. 8 The Rise of New Issues and New Parties Ch. 9 The Shift toward Postmodern Values: Predicted and Observed Changes, 1981-1990 Ch. 10 The Erosion of Institutional Authority and the Rise of Citizen Intervention in Politics Ch. 11 Trajectories of Social Change App. 1 A Note on Sampling: Figures A.1 and A.2 App. 2 Partial 1990 WVS Questionnaire, with Short Labels for Items Used in Figure 3.2 App. 3 Supplementary Figures for Chapters 3, 9, and 10 Figures A.3 (Chapter 6), A.4-A.21 (Chapter 9), A.22-A.26 (Chapter 10), and A.27 (Chapter 11) App. 4 Construction of Key Indices Used in This Book App. 5 Complete 1990 WVS Questionnaire, with Variable Numbers in ICPSR Dataset References Index

Hecke Symmetries and Characteristic Relations on Reflection Equation Algebras

Abstract: We analyze the relation between the properties of Hecke symmetry (i.e., Hecke type R-matrix) and the algebraic structure of the corresponding reflection equation (RE) algebra. Analogues of the Newton relations and Cayley–Hamilton theorem for the matrix of generators of the RE algebra associated with a finite rank even Hecke symmetry are derived.

Global Intersection Cohomology of Quasimaps' Spaces

Abstract: Let $C$ be a smooth projective curve of genus 0. Let $\CB$ be the variety of complete flags in an $n$-dimensional vector space $V$. Given an $(n-1)$-tuple $\alpha\in\BN[I]$ of positive integers one can consider the space $\CQ_\alpha$ of algebraic maps of degree $\alpha$ from $C$ to $\CB$. This space admits some remarkable compactifications $\CQ^D_\alpha$ (Quasimaps), $\CQ^L_\alpha$ (Quasiflags), $\CQ^K_\alpha$ (Stable Maps) of $\CQ_\alpha$ constructed by Drinfeld, Laumon and Kontsevich respectively. It has been proved that the natural map $\pi: \CQ^L_\alpha\to \CQ^D_\alpha$ is a small resolution of singularities. The aim of the present note is to study the cohomology $H^\bullet(\CQ^L_\alpha,\BQ)$ of Laumon's spaces or, equivalently, the Intersection Cohomology $H^\bullet(\CQ^L_\alpha,IC)$ of Drinfeld's Quasimaps' spaces. We calculate the generating function $P_G(t)$ (``Poincar\'e polynomial'') of the direct sum $\oplus_{\alpha\in\BN[I]}H^\bullet(\CQ^D_\alpha,IC)$ and construct a natural action of the Lie algebra ${\frak{sl}}_n$ on this direct sum by some middle-dimensional correspondences between Quasiflags' spaces. We conjecture that this module is isomorphic to distributions on nilpotent cone supported at nilpotent subalgebra.

Power: A Conceptual Analysis

Abstract: Contents: Introduction The Conceptual Analysis of Power: Theoretical Approaches and Major Problems The Meaning of Power Basic Forms of Power.

What Affects the Propensity to Subsidize: Determinants of Budget Subsidies and Transfers Financed by the Russian Regional Governments in 1992-1995

Abstract: Making certain federal transfers conditional on reform could indirectly influence the pattern of regional subsidy financing in Russia. Subsidies funded by Russia's regional governments represented about 5.2 percent of GDP in 1995, almost triple the 2 percent of GDP in subsidies funded by the federal government. Regional policies vary greatly, influenced more by local factors than by the federal government. To find out what affects the regional governments' propensity to subsidize, Freinkman and Haney examined available data for 1992-95, asking: How great is the variation across regions in the incidence of subsidies, and what are recent trends in such variation? What are the relative influences of supply and demand factors in shaping the current levels of subsidy? How do federal budget transfers affect regionally funded subsidies to local enterprises? To what extent are federal transfers distortionary, encouraging subsidies and postponing the liberalization of local markets? Their findings: Regional wealth and federal budget transfers to regional governments are two of the most important determinants of regional propensity to subsidize. Even when regional budgetary wealth is controlled for, depressed regions (those affected most by industrial decline and unemployment) tend to spend less on subsidies than regions with more favorable economies. Federal budget transfers are quite distortionary, that is, they encourage regional governments to continue subsidy policies and postpone structural reforms. In fact, federal transfers tend to be concentrated in regions with the most distortionary policies. Housing receives the lion's share of total regional subsidies, and there are greater disparities in housing subsidies than in agricultural subsidies. Housing and transportation subsidies are strongly counter-equalizing: Households in wealthier regions receive more in housing subsidies and rural populations have less access to those subsidies, so up to 30 percent of regional subsidies are questionable in terms of equity. Federal transfers have less effect on regional subsidies in agriculture, which are influenced more by the region's own tax base and its share of rural population or by such factors as the political influence of local interest groups. To accelerate structural reforms, the federal government might consider reducing the number of recipients of federal budget transfers and changing the rules of allocation of the transfers, in particular by introducing conditional transfers linked to increases in cost recovery. This paper is a product of the Country Operations Division 2, Europe and Central Asia, Country Department III.

Holonomic Links and Smale Principles for Multisingularities

Abstract: A loop S1 → ℝn is holonomic if it is the (n - 1)-jet extension of a function S1 → ℝ1. We prove that for n = 3 any tame link in ℝn is isotopy equivalent to a holonomic one; for n > 3 the space of holonomic links is holotopy equivalent to the space of all differentiable links.

The Russian Empire in the Eighteenth Century: Tradition and Modernization: Tradition and Modernization

Abstract: The "Third Rome" on the Eve of Reform The Birth of the Reforming Tsar The Origins of Empire "You Know Who's Daughter I Am" The Era of Catherine the Great The Empire Advances "He Wanted to Become Ivan IV"

Russian Economic Growth: Perspectives and Impediments

Abstract: economy was left with extremely obsolete capital stock. It is well recognized by various groups of economists that nowadays investment is a crucial point for Russia, but investment is still falling: neither domestic nor foreign investors are eager to invest in the real sector. Based on an analysis of historical data this paper seeks to discuss the impediments that hamper economic

On invariants and homology of spaces of knots in arbitrary manifolds

Abstract: Finite-order invariants of knots in arbitrary 3-manifolds (including non-orientable ones) are constructed and studied by methods of the topology of discriminant sets. Obstructions to the integrability of admissible weight systems to well-defined knot invariants are identified as 1-dimensional cohomology classes of generalized loop spaces of the manifold. Unlike the case of the 3-sphere, these obstructions can be non-trivial and provide invariants of the manifold itself. The corresponding algebraic machinery allows us to obtain on the level of the ``abstract nonsense'' some of results and problems of the theory, and to extract from other the essential topological part.

Four-Wave Interaction Brtween the Flow and the Field in a Resonsnt Periodic Waveguide

Abstract: Interaction of space-charge waves with forward-traveling and backward-traveling field waves in a resonant periodic waveguide is considered. It is shown that the type of the periodic surface resonance determines whether the plasma frequency of the flow dynamically decreases or increases. An eigenwave structure of a system with a flow is analyzed. For a four-wave-type interaction between the flow and the field near the edge of the transparency band, regions of the wave amplification and decay are found without solving the boundary-value problem.

Long-term housing finance from scratch: The Russian case

Abstract: In the summer of 1991, Russia began its economic and political transformation with a complete lack of experience in mortgage lending. Mortgages were not a legally recognized form of lending. Loans were originated uniquely by the State Savings Bank, where loan underwriting and servicing were primitive. By early 1994, this bank essentially quit long-term housing lending after suffering losses on its pretransition loan portfolio. The government of Russia formulated a new program of housing lending in 1993 and has supported it with a law on collateral, presidential decrees, and regulations, which have created the minimum conditions for such lending. Still, the important law on mortgage has not been passed by the State Duma. Meanwhile, a number of Russia's numerous commercial banks have experimented with mortgage lending, developing ways of coping with interest-rate and credit risk. The result of these endeavors, combined with the growing macroeconomic stability, is that an increasing number of banks are making long-term home-purchase loans a significant part of their lending operations.

Global Intersection Cohomology of Quasimaps' Spaces

Abstract: Let $C$ be a smooth projective curve of genus 0. Let $\CB$ be the variety of complete flags in an $n$-dimensional vector space $V$. Given an $(n-1)$-tuple $\alpha\in\BN[I]$ of positive integers one can consider the space $\CQ_\alpha$ of algebraic maps of degree $\alpha$ from $C$ to $\CB$. This space admits some remarkable compactifications $\CQ^D_\alpha$ (Quasimaps), $\CQ^L_\alpha$ (Quasiflags), $\CQ^K_\alpha$ (Stable Maps) of $\CQ_\alpha$ constructed by Drinfeld, Laumon and Kontsevich respectively. It has been proved that the natural map $\pi: \CQ^L_\alpha\to \CQ^D_\alpha$ is a small resolution of singularities. The aim of the present note is to study the cohomology $H^\bullet(\CQ^L_\alpha,\BQ)$ of Laumon's spaces or, equivalently, the Intersection Cohomology $H^\bullet(\CQ^L_\alpha,IC)$ of Drinfeld's Quasimaps' spaces. We calculate the generating function $P_G(t)$ (``Poincar\'e polynomial'') of the direct sum $\oplus_{\alpha\in\BN[I]}H^\bullet(\CQ^D_\alpha,IC)$ and construct a natural action of the Lie algebra ${\frak{sl}}_n$ on this direct sum by some middle-dimensional correspondences between Quasiflags' spaces. We conjecture that this module is isomorphic to distributions on nilpotent cone supported at nilpotent subalgebra.