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Intermediate microeconomics : A modern approach
01 Jan 2006-
TL;DR: The Varian approach as mentioned in this paper gives students tools they can use on exams, in the rest of their classes, and in their careers after graduation, and is still the most modern presentation of the subject.
Abstract: This best-selling text is still the most modern presentation of the subject. The Varian approach gives students tools they can use on exams, in the rest of their classes, and in their careers after graduation.
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01 Jan 2003
9 citations
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the effects of various forces driving deforestation based on series of single equation models, and found that directly taking farmland as regressor suffer problems, e.g. endogeneity.
Abstract: FOREST COVER CHANGE IN NORTHEAST CHINA DURING THE PERIOD OF 1977-2007 AND ITS DRIVING FORCES By Miaoying Shi Motivated by asking the question whether or not the large Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP) had been effective in protecting the natural forests in northeast China. Ten adjacent counties were selected in Sanjiang Plain area of Heilongjiang, upon which region the NFPP had been heavily concentrated. The three chief hypotheses are: (1) the region had undergone severe deforestation and forest degradation before the implementation of NFPP; (2) while the decline of forest cover might have been slowed down following the initiation of NFPP, it would take a longer time to see any significant gain; (3) farmland expansion is the dominant driver of deforestation, whereas population increase, economic growth, and management policy are among the more fundamental forces. Thus the specific tasks were set to detect the regional LUCC over a period of 30 years (1977-2007) and to explore the demographic, economic, political, and other determinants of the detected changes. Landsat images for six periods were acquired to derive the Land Use Land Cover (LUCC) information. With minor classes being merged, classification resulted in four classes—forestland, farmland, built-up land and other (wetland being a main component). Rule-based rationality evaluation and formal accuracy assessment both proved the classification results are acceptable. The detection results show that: (1) farmland and forestland are the two predominant classes of the regional land use; (2) farmland and built-up land increased persistently during the 30 years; (3) forestland suffered an extended, heavy loss before the end of last century and the decline slowed down significantly thereafter; and (4) “other” land declined continuously. Detailed examination based on extended conversion matrixes reveals that although forestland experienced the most loss, while wetland suffered the largest proportional reduction. Moreover, the calculated landscape diversity and integrity indexes show that the distribution of land-cover types became more uneven, and land-use patches became more interspersed. During the investigation the effects of various forces driving deforestation based on series of single equation models, it was found that directly taking farmland as regressor suffer problems, e.g. endogeneity. Thus instrument variables analysis and simultaneous equation modelling were employed to remedy the endogeneity problem and to incorporate the interaction and feedback effects between different land uses. The outcomes of using the instrumental variable (IV) method were much improved—the coefficients of NFPP is significant, implying that the program has played a positive role in protecting local forests. In addition, the coefficient of the “Forestland-Farmland-Wetland” system are generally consistent with those derived from the IV method. The area of wetland is negatively correlated with the area of forestland, indicating a mutual substitution in farmland expansion; likewise, farmland is negatively correlated with wetland. The significantly positive coefficient of built-up area in the farmland equation suggests a strong link between farming activities and residential construction. The significant negative coefficient of irrigation confirms that wetland loss is adversely affected by the change in local cropping structure. However, due to the limitations of small sample data, estimates could possibly suffer an upward bias while inferences are not
9 citations
TL;DR: The process community, including the SPICE standardization group, can initiate discussions in order to determine the measurement scale and the aggregation methods with the authors' six candidate solutions, which are based on measurement theories and MADM.
Abstract: Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted Highlights? This study identifies three issues in SPICE assessment methods. ? They are a measurement scale for outcome achievement and aggregation methods. ? Six candidate solutions are presented along with their strengths and weaknesses. ? The solutions are based on measurement theories and MADM. ? Two examples are given to illustrate and explain the candidate solutions. ContextThis study identified three issues in SPICE (Software Process Assessment and Capability dEtermination) assessment method based on ISO/IEC 15504-2 (Performing an assessment). The issues include a lack of a measurement scale for characterizing the extent to which an outcome (practice) is achieved (implemented) and two shortcomings of the aggregation methods in order to generate a process attribute (PA) rating. Such issues may be weaknesses to the needs of retaining consistent assessment results comparable within and across assessed organizations. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to identify issues, such as the measurement scale and aggregation methods, in SPICE assessment methods and to provide candidate solutions based on measurement theories, while the rating scales of the current PA and capability are retained. MethodFor those purposes, the present study reviews scale types based on a measurement theory and uses the reflective and formative measurement models in order to find the relationships between PAs and practices. Composite measure development methods that are dependent on the relationships are then proposed on the basis of appropriate aggregation methods by using multiple attribute decision making (MADM) methods. ResultsSix candidate solutions are presented along with their strengths and weaknesses based on practical and theoretical perspectives. Two examples are given to illustrate and interpret six candidate solutions for the issues identified. By applying six candidate solutions to the examples shows that the measurement scale and the aggregation methods influence the PA rating. ConclusionThe process community, including the SPICE standardization group, can initiate discussions in order to determine the measurement scale and the aggregation methods with our six candidate solutions. The rationale and methods addressed in this study can also be applied to other domains in order to derive a composite (aggregate) value or rating.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a detailed analysis and comparison of the differences between standard versus agent approaches is presented, yielding new insights about benefits and limitations of computational markets, and an important outcome is that "local information plus market communication produces global control".
Abstract: Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) promise to offer solutions to problems where established, older paradigms fall short. In order to validate such claims that are repeatedly made in software agent publications, empirical in-depth studies of advantages and weaknesses of multi-agent solutions versus conventional ones in practical applications are needed. Climate control in large buildings is one application area where multi-agent systems, and market-oriented programming in particular, have been reported to be very successful, although central control solutions are still the standard practice. We have therefore constructed and implemented a variety of market designs for this problem, as well as different standard control engineering solutions. This article gives a detailed analysis and comparison, so as to learn about differences between standard versus agent approaches, and yielding new insights about benefits and limitations of computational markets. An important outcome is that "local information plus market communication produces global control".
9 citations
9 citations