Neighborhood characteristics and the spatial concentration of crime: Evidence for Bogotá

Using a unique neighborhood crime dataset for Bogotá in 2011, this study uses a spatial econometric approach and examines the role of socioeconomic and agglomeration variables in explaining the variance of crime. It uses two different types of crime, violent crime represented in homicides and property crime represented in residential burglaries. These two types of crime are then measured in non-standard crime statistics that are created as the area incidence for each crime in the neighborhood. The existence of crime hotspots in Bogotá has been shown in most of the literature, and using these non-standard crime statistics at this neighborhood level some hotspots arise again, thus validating the use of a spatial approach for these new crime statistics. The final specification includes socioeconomic, agglomeration, land-use and visual aspect variables that are then included in a SARAR model an estimated by the procedure devised by Kelejian and Prucha (2009). The resulting coefficients and marginal effects show the relevance of these crime hotspots which is similar with most previous studies. However, socioeconomic variables are significant and show the importance of age, and education. Agglomeration variables are significant and thus more densely populated areas are correlated with more crime. Interestingly, both types of crimes do not have the same significant covariates. Education and young male population have a different sign for homicide and residential burglaries. Inequality matters for homicides while higher real estate valuation matters for residential burglaries. Finally, density impacts positively both crimes.

Labor supply, biased technological change and economic growth

Se utiliza un modelo de innovaciones sesgadas para estudiar los efectos de cambios exógenos en la oferta laboral. En un contexto de innovaciones sesgadas, a medida que las economías acumulan capital, el trabajo se hace relativamente más escaso y más caro, por este motivo, hay incentivos para adoptar tecnologías ahorradoras de trabajo. Del mismo modo un cambio en la oferta laboral afecta la abundancia de factores y sus precios relativos. En general, una reducción de la oferta laboral, hace que el trabajo sea más caro y genera incentivos para cambio tecnológico ahorrador de trabajo. Así, el efecto inicial que tiene el cambio en la oferta laboral sobre los precios de los factores es mitigado por el cambio tecnológico. Finalmente, los movimientos en la remuneración a los factores afectan las decisiones de ahorro y, por lo tanto, la dinámica del crecimiento. En este trabajo se exploran las consecuencias de una reducción de la oferta laboral en dos contextos teóricos diferentes: un modelo de agentes homogéneos y horizonte infinito y un modelo de generaciones traslapadas.

Biased technological change, human capital and factor shares

We propose a one-good model where technological change is factor saving and costly. We consider a production function with two reproducible factors: physical capital and human capital, and one not reproducible factor. The main predictions of the model are the following: (a) The elasticity of output with respect to the reproducible factors depends on the factor abundance of the economies. (b) The income share of reproducible factors increases with the stage of development. (c) Depending on the initial conditions, in some economies the production function converges to AK, while in other economies long-run growth is zero. (d) The share of human factors (raw labor and human capital) converges to a positive number lower than one. Along the transition it may decrease, increase or remain constant.

The crime kuznets curve

We document the existence of a Crime Kuznets Curve in US states since the 1970s. As income levels have risen, crime has followed an inverted U-shaped pattern, first increasing and then dropping. The Crime Kuznets Curve is not explained by income inequality. In fact, we show that during the sample period inequality has risen monotonically with income, ruling out the traditional Kuznets Curve. Our finding is robust to adding a large set of controls that are used in the literature to explain the incidence of crime, as well as to controlling for state and year fixed effects. The Curve is also revealed in nonparametric specifications. The Crime Kuznets Curve exists for property crime and for some categories of violent crime.

Economic shocks and crime: evidence from the crash of ponzi schemes

In November 2008, Colombian authorities dismantled a network of Ponzi schemes, making hundreds of thousands of investors lose tens of millions of dollars throughout the country. Using original data on the geographical incidence of the Ponzi schemes, this paper estimates the impact of their break down on crime. We find that the crash of Ponzi schemes differentially exacerbated crime in affected districts. Confirming the intuition of the standard economic model of crime, this effect is only present in places with relatively weak judicial and law enforcement institutions, and with little access to consumption smoothing mechanisms such as microcredit. In addition, we show that, with the exception of economically-motivated felonies such as robbery, violent crime is not affected by the negative shock.

Severidade punitiva : penas severas: um factor de dissuasão de um crime?

A justiça e a Psicologia Forense movimentam-se no mesmo terreno, o das personalidades e comportamentos humanos, no entanto, operam em campos não tão complementares quanto o necessário. O berço da investigação respeita a História e evolução da penalidade, sobrevoando posteriormente nos caminhos (en) cruzilhados entre a Psicologia e o Direito. Particularizou-se os laços que envolvem a avaliação psicológica forense e a perícia de personalidade quando pedidas em tribunal, e deslizou-se superficialmente pela ética e deontologia. A sua máxime consiste na procura de conhecimentos sobre o nível de Severidade Punitiva, em processos de menores relativos à aplicação da Lei Tutelar Educativa, sendo a adolescência uma etapa da vida onde frequentemente se cometem algumas condutas transgressivas e onde as mesmas emergem Para isso, aplicou-se um instrumento psicológico construído para o efeito, o Índice de Severidade Penalizadora e Psicologização (Criminalização Secundária – Transgressionalidades e Delinquência Juvenil (ISPP-CS-TDJ). Finalmente ousa responder à pergunta “Penas severas como factor de dissuasão de um crime?”

Metaph’ornament and crime: the sequel to the delict of the centenary of Adolf Loos’ anti-ornament indictment

Ornamento: há cem anos, de que crime se tratava? Será ainda perseguido? Será ainda castigado? Será ainda um crime? No ano do centenário do ensaio «Ornamento e Crime» de Adolf Loos, uma digressão simultaneamente histórica, teórica, cultural e fenomenológica às raízes do ornamento, e a sua transformação, do dealbar do Movimento Moderno até hoje, em algo insondável e inesperado: a metáfora.

O videoclipe victimless crime e as imagens nos videoclipes

RESUMO: No âmbito do Mestrado em Estudos Cinematográficos da Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, propôs-se a concretização de um Projecto-Tese na área do videoclipe. O projecto consiste na produção, realização e edição de um videoclipe. Victimless Crime é o nome da música, criada durante o ano de 2009 e lançada em Maio de 2010, da banda pop lisboeta Soulbizness. O resultado é um videoclipe com a duração de três minutos e vinte e seis segundos, que entende a possibilidade de uma utilização real. Na componente teórica procede-se ao estudo do videoclipe enquanto formato audiovisual e suas especificidades. Segue-se a análise de Victimless Crime, através do Modelo de Análise proposto por Francisco J. G. Tarín, assente em três vectores essenciais: Análise Textual; Análise de Recursos Expressivos e Narrativos; e Interpretação. ABSTRACT: Within the scope of the MFA in Cinematography at the Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, a thesis project was proposed in the field of music video. The project consists of producing, directing and editing a music video for the song Victimless Crime, created in 2009 and released in May 2010 by the Lisbon-based pop band Soulbizness. The result is a three minute, twenty-three second music video, complete and ready to be released. The project also includes a theoretical component, consisting of a general review of the music video as an audiovisual format and its characteristics, followed by an analysis of Victimless Crime, as per the Analysis Model proposed by Francisco J. G. Tarín, which is based on three main topics: Textual Analysis; Narrative Analysis and Expressive Language Analysis; and Interpretation.

Collaborative business networks evaluation of technological tools for decision support making

Nowadays, companies are living great difficulties on managing their business due to constant and unpredictable economic market fluctuations. Recent changes in market trends (such as the constant demand for new products and services, mass customization and the drastic reduction of delivery time) lead companies to adopt strategies of creating partnerships with other companies as a way to respond effectively to such difficult economical times. Collaborative Networks’ concept born by the consequence of companies could no longer consider their internal business processes’ management as sufficient and tend to seek for a collaborative approach with other partners for their critical processes. Information technologies (ICT) assumed a major role acting as “enablers” of these kinds of networks, enhancing information sharing and business process integration. Several new trends concerning ICT architectures have been created to support collaborative networks requirements, but still doesn’t exist a common platform to reduce the needed integration effort on virtual organizations. This study aims to investigate the current technological solutions available in the market which enhances the management of companies’ business processes (specially, Collaborative Planning). Finally, the research work ends with the presentation of a conceptual model to answer to the constraints evaluated.

Crime e contraordenação: por morrerem algumas andorinhas pode acabar a Primavera

Comments on a case of qualification of an unlawful conduct, in which it might have occurred violation to the principle of "ne bis in idem"

De la guerre au massacre - Le “crime” d’inhumanité au milieu du XVIe siècle français

Se o massacre é um tratado de história de humanidade, parece que, no contexto dos conflitos religiosos da França do século XVI, o recurso ao massacre se tornou objecto de repulsa, apesar de muito praticado. A partir da análise do dossiê do processo contra os responsáveis do massacre dos Valdenses do Lubéron em 1551, este estudo mostra como o advogado do rei denunciou este “Crime de inumanidade”.

The Central Institute for the Deaf Computer Lab: a guide to technological integration

This paper presents a guide for teachers about the computer lab at Central Institute for the Deaf.

Technological Solutions Potentially Influencing the Future of Long-Term Care. ENEPRI Research Report No. 114, April 2012

This report provides a forecast of the potential direct and indirect influences of various kinds of technologies on the LTC milieu, answering the following question: from a technology-driven perspective: “Consider each technological solution. What could be its future usage in the LTC sector?” Future technological deployments will induce changes in the respective roles of the care recipient and of the formal and informal carers, with an impact on three major concerns: the transformation of the care recipient into a proactive subject, the augmented potentiality for home care and the new functions that informal carers could assume.