On the efficiency of equal sacrifice income tax schedules

In an economy which primitives are exactly those in Mirrlees (1971), we investigate the efficiency of labor income tax schedules derived under the equal sacrifice principle. Starting from a given government revenue level, we use Werning’s (2007b) approach to assess whether there is an alternative tax schedule to the one derived under the equal sacrifice principle that raises more revenue while delivering less utility to no one. For our preferred parametrizations of the problem we find that inefficiency only arises at very high levels of income. We also show how the multipliers of the Pareto problem may be extracted from the data and used to find the implicit marginal social weights associated with each level of income.

Need and opportunity: what are the main security threats to the pharmaceuticals industry in Latin America?

Os preços altos de produtos farmacêuticos patenteados sempre têm sido uma polêmica na América Latina. Considerando as disparidades económicas na região e a falta histórica do desenvolvimento, muitas vezes os preços altos servem como barreiras contra o acesso aos medicamentos essenciais. Por um lado, as companhias farmacêuticas dizem que os preços elevados são necessários para financiar os processos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento e para gerar um retorno do investimento lucrativo. Por outro lado, os consumidores, tanto privados como públicos, dizem que os preços altos têm resultado em uma falta histórica de medicamentos baratos. Neste debate, ambos lados têm realizado uma série de manobras e contramanobras que têm exposto algumas das vulnerabilidades do setor. Utilizando vários métodos de análise e entrevistas com profissionais no setor, este projeto analisa as vulnerabilidades do setor para determinar o risco, ao mesmo tempo tentando a responder à pergunta: Quais são as ameaças principais na segurança da indústria farmacêutica na América Latina? Justificação deste projeto é o aumento dos crimes relacionados aos produtos farmacêuticos na última década, que têm exposto os pacientes a um número de riscos mais alto. Uma compreensão das ameaças principais é necessária para melhor mitigar o risco, garantir a integridade de produtos e preservar a saúde pública.

Inequality of opportunity in daycare and preschool services in Brazil

In this paper we measure inequality of opportunity in daycare and preschool services in Brazil. For this purpose, we construct an opportunity index that modifies the human opportunity index proposed in the literature and used in Barros et al. (2009) to measure inequality in basic opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Specifically, we construct an opportunity measure that includes not only attendance but also parental choice not to enroll children in daycare or preschool, using data from a supplementary questionnaire included in the 2006 version of Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD). The results show that there are large differences between our opportunity index and the human opportunity index for children aged 0-3 years old and considerably smaller differences for children aged 4-6 years old, which suggests that preschool may be closer to a basic opportunity than daycare.

Mobility, information, and bequest : the other side of the equal division puzzle

There is substantial empirical evidence that parental bequests to their children are typically equal in the US – a regularity inconsistent with the predictions of standard optimizing bequest models. The prior explanation for this puzzle is parents’ desire to signal equal affection given children’s incomplete information of parental preferences. However, parents also have incomplete information regarding children and the implications of this side of the information set have not previously been considered. Using a strategic bequest framework we show that when parents have sufficient uncertainty regarding children’s returns to relocation a separating equilibrium in which parents reward attentive heirs with larger bequests is precluded. We argue that such uncertainty is consistent with conditions in the contemporary US.

A avaliação ambiental estratégica no contexto brasileiro : efetividade e desafios jurídico-institucionais

Este trabalho tem por objetivo estudar o instrumento denominado Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) aplicado ao contexto brasileiro, para descobrir (1) se a AAE pode ser efetiva no sentido de influenciar de fato a tomada de decisão e alterar a cultura governamental em relação ao meio ambiente; (2) quais fatores podem influenciar a efetividade; e (3) de que forma a dimensão jurídico-institucional pode influenciar a efetividade. Para tanto, este trabalho fará, em primeiro lugar, um referencial teórico sobre a AAE e sua efetividade, adotando a premissa de que efetividade, para os efeitos deste trabalho, é o mesmo que “a influência real da AAE no processo de tomada de decisão e a alteração da visão governamental a respeito do meio ambiente” – o que pode por consequência promover o desenvolvimento sustentável. Esta primeira parte também apresentará as vantagens, obstáculos e boas práticas da AAE de acordo com a literatura, e brevemente descreverá a institucionalização da AAE no Brasil e na Holanda (como um exemplo de caso bem sucedido). Na segunda parte, será apresentado um estudo de caso da AAE feita para o Programa de Geração Hidrelétrica de Minas Gerais (PGHMG), a fim de verificar sua efetividade e quais fatores tiveram influência sobre ela. O terceiro tópico então extrairá lições do caso PGHMG, especialmente considerando a dimensão jurídico-institucional da AAE, e como ela pode influenciar sua efetividade. A questão a ser respondida, nesta terceira parte do trabalho, é se uma norma aberta que dá ampla oportunidade para o governo decidir se, quando e como implementar a AAE (como no caso PGHMG) é a regra ideal no contexto brasileiro. A hipótese deste trabalho é de que a AAE tem a potencialidade de ser efetivamente utilizada no processo de tomada de decisão governamental brasileiro e alterar a visão governamental a respeito do meio ambiente, possuindo o condão de promover o desenvolvimento sustentável, apesar de ter de superar obstáculos consideráveis relacionados a questões políticas e institucionais; para ser implementada em escala nacional, ainda segundo a nossa hipótese, é necessário desenvolver normas mais restritivas em relação à discricionariedade administrativa, de forma a criar um procedimento de AAE obrigatório pelo governo.

Second-order statistics for equal gain and maximal ratio diversity-combining reception

Exact and closed-form expressions for the level crossing rate and average fade duration are presented for equal gain combining and maximal ratio combining schemes, assuming an arbitrary number of independent branches in a Rayleigh environment. The analytical results are thoroughly validated by simulation.

The minimum quantity of lubricant (MQL) technique in the surface grinding of steel

This research aimed to analyze the viability of the minimum quantity of lubricant (MQL) technique towards different methods of lubri-refrigeration in surface grinding of steel, considering process quality, wheel life and the viability of using cutting fluids The proposal methods were the conventional (abundant fluid flow), the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) and the optimized method with Webster nozzle (rounded) This analysis was carried out in equal machining conditions, through the assessment of variables such as grinding force, surface roughness, G ratio (volume of removed material/volume of wheel wear), and microhardness The results showed the possibility of improvement of the grinding process Besides, there is the opportunity for production of high quality workpieces with lower costs The MQL technique showed efficiency in machining with lower depths of cut The optimized method with Webster nozzle applies the fluid in a rational way, without considerable waste Hence, the results show that industry can rationalize and optimize the application of cutting fluids, avoiding inappropriate disposal, inadequate use and consequently environment pollution

Spinning reserve opportunity cost in hydroelectric plants

Starting from the deregulated process of the Electric Sector, there was the need to attribute responsibilities to several agents and to elaborate appropriate forms of remuneration of the services rendered by the same. One of the services of great importance within this new electric sector is the Ancillary Services. Among the various types of Ancillary Services, Spinning Reserve is a service necessary for maintaining the integrity of the transmission system from either generation interruptions or load variations. This paper uses the application of the Economic Dispatch theory with the objective of quantifies the availability of Spinning Reserve supply in hydroelectric plants. The proposed methodology utilizes the generating units as well as their efficiencies so as to attend the total demand with the minimum water discharge. The proposed methodology was tested through the data provided by the Água Vermelha Hydroelectric Power Plant. These tests permitted the opportunity cost valuation to the Spinning Reserve supply in hydroelectric plants. © 2005 IEEE.

World food price increases and Brazil: an opportunity for everyone?

Includes bibliography.

SMEs in the environmental goods and services market: identifying areas of opportunity, policies and instruments: case studies: Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico

Includes bibliography

The millennium development goals and the challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean in making progress towards higher levels of well-being, better human capital and more equal opportunities

Includes bibliography

Achieving educational quality: what schools teach us: learning from Chile's P900 primary schools

Includes bibliography

Change and opportunity: corporate social responsibility as a source of competitiveness in small and medium enterprises in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

International finance and development: opportunity or threat?

Includes bibliography