Choice of Flexible Production Technologies Under Strategic Delegation

This work analyzes a managerial delegation model in which firms can choose between a flexible production technology which allows them to produce two different products and a dedicated production technology which limits production to only one product. We analyze whether the incentives to adopt the flexible technology are smaller or greater in a managerial delegation model than under strict profit maximization. We obtain that the asymmetric equilibrium in which only one firm adopts the flexible technology can be sustained under strategic delegation but not under strict profit maximization when products are substitutes. We extend the analysis to consider welfare implications.

Cost-Saving production technologies and strategic delegation

This work analyzes a managerial delegation model in which firms that produce a differentiated good can choose between two production technologies: a low marginal cost technology and a high marginal cost technology. For the former to be adopted more investment is needed than for the latter. By giving managers of firms an incentive scheme based on a linear combination of profit and sales revenue, we find that Bertrand competition provides a stronger incentive to adopt the cost-saving technology than the strict profit maximization case. However, the results may be reversed under Cournot competition. We show that if the degree of product substitutability is sufficiently low (high), the incentive to adopt the cost-saving technology is larger under strict profit maximization (strategic delegation).

The changing behaviour of the term structure of post-war US

Using U.S. interest rate data covering the period 1950:1-1992:7, this paper tests the rational expectations model of the term structure of interest rates. We show evidence that the rational expectations model of the term structure is supported by the data during the seventies and a period lasting from the mid-eighties to the end of the sample. However, during the …fties, sixties and a period that covers most of the Volcker’s office term (from September 1979 to April 1986) the term structure model is rejected by the data. Moreover, wefind evidence of regime changes in the short-term rate process and the term structure of interest rates. These regime switches roughly coincide with changes in the Federal Reserve chairman. The switches in monetary policy taking place when the chairmanship of the Federal Reserve changes therefore seem to play an important role in characterizing the term structure of interest rates.

Desarrollo de servicios para vigilancia tecnológica

[EN]If a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out; but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. Without de ability to observe changing environmental conditions, the frog can find itself boiled alive before realizing it is in trouble. This is known as the boiling frog syndrome. In the same manner, it is impossible to be competitive without knowing and being aware of the environmental changes. From here comes the necessity for the Technological Watch and Competitive Intelligence. The main goals of this project are to evaluate the current Technological Vigilance System of the IK4-Tekniker research center and to develop services that help in improving the system. For that purpose, first of all the Technological Vigilance is going to be placed in the business field and its origins are going to be explained. Following that, the Technological Vigilance system of IK4-Tekniker is going to be analyzed for its evaluation. Finally the creation of the services previously mentioned are going to be described in detail, showing the technologies and tools used for that purpose like the Responsive Web Design.

Evaluation of two alternative carbon capture and storage technologies

4 p.

Evaluation of Two Alternative Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies: A Stochastic Model

30 p.

Complex systems in quantum technologies

124 p.

Contributions to learning Bayesian network models from weakly supervised data: Application to Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Software Defect Classification

162 p.

Ultrastrong light-matter interaction in quantum technologies

120 p.

Modelling and Simulation of ERTMS for Current and Future Mobile Technologies

Nowadays, train control in-lab simulation tools play a crucial role in reducing extensive and expensive on-site railway testing activities. In this paper, we present our contribution in this arena by detailing the internals of our European Railway Train Management System in-lab demonstrator. This demonstrator is built over a general-purpose simulation framework, Riverbed Modeler, previously Opnet Modeler. Our framework models both ERTMS subsystems, the Automatic Train Protection application layer based on movement authority message exchange and the telecommunication subsystem based on GSM-R communication technology. We provide detailed information on our modelling strategy. We also validate our simulation framework with real trace data. To conclude, under current industry migration scenario from GSM-R legacy obsolescence to IP-based heterogeneous technologies, our simulation framework represents a singular tool to railway operators. As an example, we present the assessment of related performance indicators for a specific railway network using a candidate replacement technology, LTE, versus current legacy technology. To the best of our knowledge, there is no similar initiative able to measure the impact of the telecommunication subsystem in the railway network availability.

La encuesta sobre Equipamiento y Uso de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación en los hogares

El objetivo de este trabajo es informar acerca de La encuesta sobre Equipamiento y Uso de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC) en los hogares que realiza el INE todos los años, reflejar el cambio que se está dando en el uso de las nuevas tecnologías e intentar explicar la influencia de algunas variables en los hogares a la hora de comprar en Internet. Para ello, se analizan los resultados de la encuesta en el año 2014 en líneas generales y la metodología llevada a cabo en esta, para posteriormente realizar un análisis más exhaustivo de determinadas variables y estimar un modelo Logit que pretende explicar la influencia de esas variables en la compra por Internet de los hogares. Se ha observado que el uso que la población hace de las nuevas tecnologías está cambiando de manera significativa y se ha comprobado que ciertas variables influyen en la decisión de los hogares de comprar por Internet.

Programas de fidelización en la distribución comercial de la era digital.

Hoy en día, las empresas deben adaptarse a los cambios continuos del mercado, donde el comercio electrónico crece cada año y las redes sociales y los dispositivos móviles conectan a los consumidores con las marcas. El marketing ha evolucionado gracias a las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación para responder a un consumidor social que está conectado gran parte del día, es exigente y además, está comprometido con el medio ambiente. En un entorno muy maduro y competitivo, el cliente se ha convertido en el activo más valorado para las empresas especialmente de distribución minorista y por eso, su fidelización es un objetivo prioritario para las compañías, quienes tratan de enfocar las estrategias de marketing hacia las relaciones con los consumidores. Pero, a pesar de la infinidad de oportunidades que ofrecen las nuevas tecnologías, los programas de fidelización implantados en el entorno digital tienen un recorrido de necesaria evolución y un ajuste de mejoras para la adaptación de un medio poco estructurado a las nuevas circunstancias. A través de este trabajo fin de grado se propone dar a conocer la actualidad sobre la distribución comercial en el ámbito digital así como las tendencias en los programas de fidelización. Además, la creciente implicación en el cuidado del medio ambiente por parte de las empresas y los consumidores se incluye como una aportación original y distintiva al trabajo.

Analysis of channel quality reporting mechanisms and their impact into 4G and beyond technologies

206 p.