Freedom of choice as control over outcomes

As interactions between individuals are introduced into the freedom of choice literature by the mean of game forms, new issues appear. In particular, in this paper it is argued that individuals face uncertainty with respect to outcomes as they lose the control they implicitely exert over options in the opportunity set framework. A criterion is proposed as to compare alternative game forms in terms of the control they offer to individuals. The CardMin criterion suggests that any game form should be judged on the basis of the strategy offering the lowest number of pairwise different outcomes. An axiomatic characterization is provided in the case of two individuals.

Melodic Analysis of Speech Method applied to Spanish and Catalan

In this paper, we present the Melodic Analysis of Speech method (MAS) that enables us to carry out complete and objective descriptions of a language's intonation, from a phonetic (melodic) point of view as well as from a phonological point of view. It is based on the acoustic-perceptive method by Cantero (2002), which has already been used in research on prosody in different languages. In this case, we present the results of its application in Spanish and Catalan.

Is the Spanish Inheritance and Gift Tax incompatible with the free movement of workers and capital?: The reasoned opinion of the EU Commission IP/10/513

The aim of my speech is answering to the question if the Spanish Inheritance and Gift Tax is incompatible with the free movement of workers and capital. We are going to pay special attention to the European Commission���s request to Spain to change its Inheritance and Gift Tax provisions for Non-Residents or Assets held abroad. In order to answer to the question mentioned above five points will be explained. At first place I am going to describe the infrengement procedure established in the Article 258 that the EU Commission can follow when a Member State doesn���t comply with Community Law. At second place, we are going to explain what is the content of the EU Commission delivered on 5th of may 2010 regarding the spanish Inheritance and Gift Tax. Then, we will analise what establishes the Community Law regarding the freedom of workers and capital and how they are understood by the EU Court of Justice in similar cases. Finally, we are going to provide possible amendments that Spain could undertake.

States of maximum entropy production in a onedimensional vertical model with convective adjustment

We investigate the hypothesis that the atmosphere is constrained to maximize its entropy production by using a one-dimensional (1-D) vertical model. We prescribe the lapse rate in the convective layer as that of the standard troposphere. The assumption that convection sustains a critical lapse rate was absent in previous studies, which focused on the vertical distribution of climatic variables, since such a convective adjustment reduces the degrees of freedom of the system and may prevent the application of the maximum entropy production (MEP) principle. This is not the case in the radiative���convective model (RCM) developed here, since we accept a discontinuity of temperatures at the surface similar to that adopted in many RCMs. For current conditions, the MEP state gives a difference between the ground temperature and the air temperature at the surface ���10 K. In comparison, conventional RCMs obtain a discontinuity ���2 K only. However, the surface boundary layer velocity in the MEP state appears reasonable (���3 m s-��). Moreover, although the convective flux at the surface in MEP states is almost uniform in optically thick atmospheres, it reaches a maximum value for an optical thickness similar to current conditions. This additional result may support the maximum convection hypothesis suggested by Paltridge (1978)

Damage spreading transition in glasses: A probe for the ruggedness of the configurational landscape

We consider damage spreading transitions in the framework of mode-coupling theory. This theory describes relaxation processes in glasses in the mean-field approximation which are known to be characterized by the presence of an exponentially large number of metastable states. For systems evolving under identical but arbitrarily correlated noises, we demonstrate that there exists a critical temperature T0 which separates two different dynamical regimes depending on whether damage spreads or not in the asymptotic long-time limit. This transition exists for generic noise correlations such that the zero damage solution is stable at high temperatures, being minimal for maximal noise correlations. Although this dynamical transition depends on the type of noise correlations, we show that the asymptotic damage has the good properties of a dynamical order parameter, such as (i) independence of the initial damage; (ii) independence of the class of initial condition; and (iii) stability of the transition in the presence of asymmetric interactions which violate detailed balance. For maximally correlated noises we suggest that damage spreading occurs due to the presence of a divergent number of saddle points (as well as metastable states) in the thermodynamic limit consequence of the ruggedness of the free-energy landscape which characterizes the glassy state. These results are then compared to extensive numerical simulations of a mean-field glass model (the Bernasconi model) with Monte Carlo heat-bath dynamics. The freedom of choosing arbitrary noise correlations for Langevin dynamics makes damage spreading an interesting tool to probe the ruggedness of the configurational landscape.

Challenges and Opportunities of Online Entertainment. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Internet, Law & Politics. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, 9-10 July, 2012.

El VIII Congr��s Internacional Internet, Dret i Pol��tica (IDP 2012) que s'ha dut a terme a Barcelona els dies 9 i 10 de juliol de 2012 sota el t��tol gen��ric de "Reptes i oportunitats de l'entreteniment en l��nia", ha abordat alguns dels principals reptes als que s'enfronta la societat de la informaci�� des de la perspectiva jur��dica i politol��gica. Concretament, els temes centrals han estat el debat sobre l'entreteniment a la xarxa, aix�� com altres q��estions relacionades amb Internet i els drets de propietat intel��lectual, la privacitat, la seguretat o la llibertat d'expressi��.

Some Considerations Concerning Regulation and Competition in the Port Sector

The aim of this paper is to discuss the circumstances in which the process of competition between ports takes place in Spain ��� circumstances arising from the way the port system is currently set up and from the regulations governing it. The importance of this matter lies both in the fact that intensified competition between ports is the way to set about boosting the efficiency of the Spanish port sector and in the relevance of this business to the economies of the regions in which the ports are located. It is precisely for this reason that the reform instituted in 1992 aimed to combine balanced development of the national port system with the defence of the interests of autonomous regions. To this end the current regulatory framework provides for the possibility of port authorities drawing up their own competitive strategies, but makes their implementation conditional upon approval of their business plan by the Spanish state port authority. The latter body coordinates the national port system to ensure the guidelines set by the central government authorities are followed in the field of transport. However, the scale of the differences which exist among both the size of facilities and their relevant markets on the one hand, and the financial and economic circumstances of each of them on the other, suggest that each port authority's needs must be very different. Consequently, their competitive strategies must also be very different. It is therefore valid to ask whether coping with this diversity calls for different guidelines to regulate their freedom of action. Key words: Competition, regulation, port sector JEL classification numbers: L1, L5, L9

ATiPAP : desenvolupament de materials docents amb suport multimedia pels continguts d'Atenci��, Percepci�� Auditiva i de la Parla adaptats als cr��dits ECTS i a l'EEES dins l'ensenyament de Psicologia

El projecte ha perm��s finan��ar el suport t��cnic necessari per a poder desenvolupar materials informatitzats corresponents a activitats te��rico-pr��ctiques de l���assignatura troncal de la llicenciatura de Psicologia (actualment tamb�� en el Grau) ���Percepci�� i Atenci�����. Els materials desenvolupats corresponen a diferents punts del programa de l���assignatura i s��n els seg��ents: demostraci�� de la t��cnica d���ombrejat per l���an��lisi de l���atenci�� focalitzada; parpelleig atencional en s��ries de presentacions r��pides d���informaci�� visual (RSVP); canvis encoberts de l���atenci�� i el mecanisme d���inhibici�� de retorn; efectes dels filtrats sobre la percepci�� de la parla i la m��sica; il��lusions auditives i els principis d���organitzaci�� de la informaci�� sonora complexa; la percepci�� categ��rica dels sons de la parla i la naturalesa continua del processament l��xic (paradigma d���obertura successiva o gating). Per totes aquelles activitats amb continguts de llenguatge, s���han desenvolupat dues versions equivalents, catalana i castellana, per permetre que els estudiants fessin la pr��ctica en la seva llengua dominant. A la primera fase del projecte, al llarg del curs 2006-07, es van preparar els materials i la programaci�� de les diferents pr��ctiques i es van poder identificar alguns problemes que es van solucionar posteriorment. En el curs 2007-08 totes les activitats de pr��ctiques ja es van fer accessibles als estudiants (Plataforma Moodle, Campus Virtual) i la valoraci�� sobre el seu funcionament, feta pels estudiants mitjan��ant q��estionaris, va ser satisfact��ria en m��s d���un 95% dels casos (els ��nics problemes detectats estaven relacionats amb les caracter��stiques dels ordinadors del usuaris i del navegador utilitzat per accedir als materials). La valoraci�� de les activitats per part dels estudiants va ser globalment positiva i, en el seu ��s continuat al llarg dels cursos 2008-09 i 2009-10, s���ha observat una participaci�� creixent (acc��s voluntari a les activitats) i un aprofitament millor de la informaci�� presentada, que es tradueix en millores en les puntuacions obtingudes en les avaluacions de l'assignatura.

Did the cooperative start life as a Joint-Stock company? business law and cooperatives in Spain, 1869���1931

Studies of Spanish cooperatives date their spread from the Law on Agrarian Syndicates of 1906. But the first legislative appearance of cooperatives is an 1869 measure that permitted general incorporation for lending companies. The 1931 general law on cooperatives, which was the first act permitting the formation of cooperatives in any activity, reflects the gradual disappearance of the cooperative���s "business" characteristics. In this paper we trace the Spanish cooperative���s legal roots in business law and its connections to broader questions of the freedom of association, the formation of joint-stock enterprises, and the liability of investors in business and cooperative entities. Our account underscores the similarities of the organizational problems approach by cooperatives and business firms, while at the same time respecting the distinctive purposes cooperatives served.

La met��fora com a proc��s cognitiu : el futbol ��s una guerra

Tradicionalment, la met��fora ha estat estudiada pels fil��legs com una figura ret��rica utilitzada sobretot en la poesia. Recentment, per��, la ling����stica cognitiva s'ha interessat per la met��fora. Actualment, a partir dels estudis de Lakoff i Johnson, s'ha demostrat que aquesta figura ret��rica no nom��s ��s una figura estil��stica, sin�� que, a m��s a m��s, ��s reflex d'un proc��s cognitiu que impregna tot el nostre llenguatge i pensament. Els humans en la nostra vida quotidiana, constantment, conceptualitzem ��rees m��s abstractes de la nostra experi��ncia mitjan��ant dominis m��s concrets.D'entrada, farem un breu recorregut sobre la hist��ria dels estudis que tracten la met��fora: partirem dels cl��ssics i arribarem al segle XX amb els estudis de Lakoff i Johnson. En segon lloc, explicarem la met��fora dins el marc te��ric de la sem��ntica cognitiva. En tercer lloc, estudiarem el llenguatge b��l��lic utilitzat per parlar del futbol. Finalment, analitzarem els tres tipus de met��fores - estructurals, ontol��giques i orientatives - que podem trobar en els diaris esportius, centrant-nos, per��, en la met��fora estructural EL FUTBOL ��S UNA GUERRA. L'objectiu del nostre estudi ��s analitzar met��fores que usem en la nostra vida quotidiana per parlar de l'esport, cenyint-nos en el futbol. Concretament, la nostra an��lisi se centrar��, dins de l'��mbit dels mitjans de comunicaci��, en els diaris esportius. Aquest treball no nom��s hauria de servir per adonar-nos de les met��fores que impregnen el m��n dels esports, sin�� que, a m��s a m��s, hauria de servir per adonar-nos dels motius pels quals fem servir aquestes met��fores i no unes altres, uns motius que, com ens mostren els estudiosos Lakoff i Johnson, estan relacionats amb la nostra cultura i la relaci�� que mantenim amb el m��n que ens envolta.

De qu�� vas, t��o? G��nere i llengua en la cultura juvenil

L'exist��ncia dels parlars juvenils ens recorda el fet que totes les formes de cultura, i les identitats mateixes de les persones, van estretament lligades a les maneres de parlar que els s��n pr��pies. El que segueix ��s doncs una reflexi�� sobre aquest lligam, aquestes relacions tan estretes entre les cultures i les identitats per una banda, i les maneres de parlar i les lleng��es per l'altra. La primera part del llibre tracta sobre les diverses identitats de g��nere que vaig detectar dins els grups estudiats. El lector es preguntar�� potser qu�� ��s aix�� de les identitats de g��nere, i per qu�� s��n tan importants. Els estudis del g��nere tracten sobre el funcionament de la divisi�� sexual en la nostra societat, ��s a dir, sobre els diversos papers que homes i dones tenen en el mercat laboral, en la pol��tica, en la fam��lia, etc. A partir de tots aquests conceptes, a la segona part del llibre procedir�� a explicar quines identitats i ideologies anaven associades a les diverses formes de parlar (argot juvenil, accent andal��s) i a l'��s de les lleng��es catalana i castellana. I aqu�� es veur�� tamb�� perqu�� ��s important estudiar les diverses veus que apareixen en la nostra parla.

L'Educaci�� lliure: una mirada a les experi��ncies educatives alternatives

Investigaci�� educativa de car��cter qualitatiu que estudia l���educaci�� lliure. La recerca es basa en quatre experi��ncies educatives alternatives actuals que presenten diversos models pedag��gics, en l�����mbit de l���Estat Espanyol: Paideia, educaci�� llibert��ria; Ojo de agua, ambient educatiu; i l�����mbit de Catalunya: El Roure, escola viva i La Llavor, escola Waldorf, per tal de con��ixer, analitzar i contrastar les seves pr��ctiques educatives, observant les seves possibilitats en el moment de crisi educativa actual

La legislaci��n como condicionante en la creatividad: perspectiva de g��nero y estereotipos

Entre los varios t��picos que rodean al ��mbito publicitario, aquellos relacionados con el tratamiento de g��nero, espec��ficamente al femenino, a trav��s de las representaciones de roles y estereotipos en las que, adem��s, el cuerpo tiene especial relevancia, han determinado que la publicidad sea considerada como uno de los factores que refuerzan y fomentan la discriminaci��n hacia las mujeres. Dentro de los l��mites que el marco regulador establece para la libertad de expresi��n y por iniciativas propias del sistema publicitario a trav��s del autocontrol, en las estrategias creativas y en quienes las producen, se han iniciado procesos, llamados a repensar las identidades femeninas y masculinas, pese a ello, existen efluvios que demuestran que el sexismo continua presente en las sociedades en las que la publicidad se desenvuelve, por tanto le dan cabida a ��sta y otras formas de comunicaci��n y de procesos y comportamientos sociales

Common law and civil law as pro-market adaptations

We argue that in the development of the Western legal system, cognitive departures are themain determinant of the optimal degree of judicial rule-making. Judicial discretion, seen here as the main distinguishing feature between both legal systems, is introduced in civil law jurisdictions to protect, rather than to limit, freedom of contract against potential judicial backlash. Such protection was unnecessary in common law countries, where free-market relations enjoyed safer judicial ground mainly due to their relatively gradual evolution, their reliance on practitioners as judges, and the earlier development of institutional checks and balances that supported private property rights. In our framework, differences in costs and benefits associated with self-interest and lack of information require a cognitive failure to be active.

Judges' cognition and market order

We argue that during the crystallization of common and civil law in the 19th century, the optimal degree of discretion in judicial rulemaking, albeit influenced by the comparative advantages of both legislative and judicial rulemaking, was mainly determined by the anti-market biases of the judiciary. The different degrees of judicial discretion adopted in both legal traditions were thus optimally adapted to different circumstances, mainly rooted in the unique, market-friendly, evolutionary transition enjoyed by English common law as opposed to the revolutionary environment of the civil law. On the Continent, constraining judicial discretion was essential for enforcing freedom of contract and establishing a market economy. The ongoing debasement of pro-market fundamentals in both branches of the Western legal system is explained from this perspective as a consequence of increased perceptions of exogenous risks and changes in the political system, which favored the adoption of sharing solutions and removed the cognitive advantage of parliaments and political leaders.