Clientelism and development: Vote-buying meets patronage

Offering employment in the public sector in exchange for electoral support (patronage politics) and vote-buying are clientelistic practices frequently used by political machines. In the literature, these practices are typically studied in isolation. In this paper, we study how the interaction between these two practices (as opposed to having just one tool) affects economic development. We present a theoretical model of political competition, where, before the election, the incumbent chooses the level of state investment that can improve productivity in the private sector. This decision affects the income levels of employees in the private sector, and, thereby, the costs and effectiveness of vote-buying and patronage. We show that when the politician can use both clientelistic instruments simultaneously, his opportunity cost for clientelism in terms of foregone future taxes declines. As a result, the equilibrium amount of public investment is typically lower when both tools are available than otherwise.

Study of the Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)-kaolinite Composite Reference to Adsorption of Cd and Pb from Aqueous Solutions

A novel poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/ kaolinite composite was produced by copolymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid and acrylamide with sawdust for crosslinking applying Bis-acrylamide having linear formulae (C₇H₁₀N₂O₂.), (H₂C=CHCONH) 2CH₂, potassium persulfate, K2S2O8 as initiator and sodium sulphite used as accelerator to reduce the polymerization time. Physiognomy of the composite was performed by techniques viz., Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-Radiation Diffractometry (Crystallography), Structural-Equation-Modeling, Energy-Dispersal X-Radiation-Analysis and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller methods. Divalent cadmium and lead electrolytes (adsorbate) adsorption on the adsorbent (composite) in aqueous solution was studied in batch experiments optimizing reaction parameters like “IA” of equilibrium amount, “CT” (wet time), neutrality (alkalinity and acidity) and calefaction (thermal reading). The quasi 2nd order kinetic archetypal ensued by AK. Adsorption isotherrms were applied to the empirical statistics which fitted well with a) Irving-Langmuir-isotherm and b) Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The supreme adsorption dimensions, qm (from Irving-Langmuir isotherm) at 25oC, were 28.57 mg g-1 and 32.25 mg g-1 for divalent cadmium and lead electrolytes, respectively. Data of activation energy (12.148 kJ mol-1 and 7.165 kJ mol-1 for divalent cadmium and lead electrolytes respectively) indicated physio-absorption. Results of thermodynamic parameters like ∆Go, ∆Ho and ∆So for both divalent cadmium and lead electrolytes suggested the phenomenon of the endothermic and spontaneity nature of the process. The newly synthesized composite attributed to its cost effective and environment friendly nature of the synthesis which will be deemed as a capable substance for the exclusion of adsorbent divalent cadmium and lead electrolytes from aqueous suspensions.

The Economics of Hacking

Hacking is becoming more common and dangerous. The challenge of dealing with hacking often comes from the fact that much of our wisdom about conventional crime cannot be directly applied to understand hacking behavior. Against this backdrop, hacking studies are reviewed in view of the new features of cybercrime and how these features affect the application of the classical economic theory of crime in the cyberspace. Most findings of hacking studies can be interpreted with a parsimonious demand-and-supply framework. Hackers decide whether and how much to “supply” hacking by calculating the return on hacking over other opportunities. Defenders optimally tolerate some level of hacking risks because defense is costly. This tolerance can be interpreted as an indirect “demand” for hacking. Variations in law enforcement, hacking benefits, hacking costs, legal alternatives, private defense, and the dual-use problem can variously affect the supply or demand for hacking, and in turn the equilibrium amount of hacking in the market. Overall, it is suggested that the classical economic theory of crime remains a powerful framework to explain hacking behaviors. However, the application of this theory calls for considerations of different assumptions and driving forces, such as psychological motives and economies of scale in offenses, that are often less prevalent in conventional (offline) criminal behaviors but that tend to underscore hacking in the cyberspace.

Adsorption of Mixed Dye System with Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide Modified Sepiolite: Characterization, Performance, Kinetics and Thermodynamics

In this study, sepiolite was modified by calcination (200 °C) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) treatment. Though the specific surface area sharply declined, the adsorption amount of Acid Orange II (AO), Reactive Blue (RB), Acid Fuchsin (AR) and their mixed solution were improved. The morphology of modified sepiolite showed a better dispersibility and looser structure. The adsorption performance was highly impacted by the pH condition and adsorbent dosage. The electrostatic attraction of positively charged adsorption sites on the adsorbent surface and the negatively charged anionic dye could enhance the adsorption amount especially under acid condition. The order of preferentially adsorbed dye was AO > RB > AR. The adsorption process was much correlated to the quasi-second-order reaction kinetics. The adsorption amount and equilibrium amount of single dye system, as well as in the mixed system were in accordance with the Langmuir model and extended Langmuir isotherm.

Giving Advice Versus Making Decisions: Transparency, Information, and Delegation

We generalize standard delegation models to consider policymaking when both information and authority are dispersed among multiple actors. In our theory, the principal may delegate partial authority to a privately informed agent while also reserving some authority for the principal’s use after observing the agent’s decision. Counterintuitively, the equilibrium amount of authority delegated to the agent is increasing in the preference divergence between the principal and agent. We also show that the amount of authority delegated depends upon whether the agent can observe the principal’s own private information (a condition we refer to as “top-down transparency”): this form of transparency increases the authority that must be delegated to the agent to obtain truthful policymaking. Accordingly, such transparency can result in less-informed policymaking. Nonetheless, the principal will sometimes but not always voluntarily choose such transparency.

Tight and Loose Coupling in Organizations

Some industries have consumers who seek novelty and firms that innovate vigorously and whose organizational structure is loosely coupled, or easily adaptable. Other industries have consumers who take comfort in the traditional and firms that innovate little and whose organizational structure is tightly coupled, or not easily adaptable. This paper proposes a model that explains why the described features tend to covary across industries. The model highlights the pervasiveness of equilibrium inefficiency (innovation can be insufficient or excessive) and the nonmonotonicity of welfare in the equilibrium amount of innovation.

Effects of High Temperature Treatments on PPB’s in a P/M Superalloy

FGH96 components of aircraft engines were produced by a processing route of hot isostatic pressing plus heat treatment (as-HIP). The prior particle boundaries (PPB’s) could be found in those articles in spite of the lower carbon content in the alloy. Attempts to eliminate or reduce PPB’s in as-HIP FGH96 alloy have been carried out by either increasing the HIP temperature from 1180oC to 1230oC or taking an appended annealing treatment at 1230oC. Based on experimental results, a thermodynamic analysis by using Jmat Pro has been conducted to understand the effects of high temperature treatments on PPB’s in FGH96 alloy. PPB’s found in as-HIP FGH96 alloy were mainly constituted by MC carbides enriched in Ti and Nb. The results of a thermodynamic analysis presented that carbides precipitated on TiN nucleus and grew up to form PPB’s. High temperature treatments, both increasing HIP temperature and taking a high temperature annealing treatment after HIP, could reduce the equilibrium amount of MC carbides and the surface segregation of Ti in powder particles, and turned the continuous precipitates into broken particles on PPB’s. Although the PPB’s could not be completely eliminated by high temperature treatments, an obvious improvement in rupture life of the material could be observed.

Effect of Live Crude on Alkaline/Surfactant Polymer Formulations: Implications for Final Formulation Design

Summary Phase-behavior experiments have identified several surfactant systems that develop high solubilization ratios and low interfacial tension (IFT) with a specific dead paraffinic crude oil at specific salinities. The purpose of this work is to test these surfactant systems with reconstituted live crude. Emulsion-screening tests were performed in sight cells where an equilibrium amount of solution gas is dissolved in the crude at reservoir pressure (1,100 psi). The results indicate that the surfactant is relatively more soluble in the oil phase under these conditions. Thus, a formulated chemical slug for field conditions should contain either less salinity or a more hydrophilic surfactant system than that used in formulations with dead crude. Phase-behavior measurements estimate this offset to be approximately 0.25% less NaCl for the particular live crude in this study. The relevance of this offset is shown by comparing the results of dead-crude corefloods with a live-crude coreflood. A control experiment pressurizing oil with nitrogen at the same condition, 1,100 psi, did not show enhanced relative surfactant solubility in the oil phase.

Monoaromatic Pollutant Removal by Carbon Nanotubes from Aqueous Solution

The removal of monoaromatic (benzene (B) and toluene (T)) from aqueous solution by multi walled, single walled, and hybrid carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, SWCNTs, and HCNTs) was evaluated for a nanomaterial dose of 1 g/l, concentration of 10-100 mg/l, and pH 7. The equilibrium amount removed by SWCNTs (B: 9.98 mg/g and T: 9.96 mg/g) was higher than for MWCNTs and HCNTs. Toluene has a higher adsorption tendency on CNTs than benzene, which is related to the increasing water solubility and the decreasing molecular weight of the compounds. The SWCNTs performed better for B and T sorption than the MWCNTs and HCNTs. Isotherms study based on isofit program, indicate that the Generalized Langmuir-Freundlich (GLF) isotherm expression provides the best fit for benzene sorption and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm is the best fit for toluene adsorption by SWCNT. SWCNTs are efficient B and T adsorbents and possess good potential applications to water and wastewater treatment and maintain water of high quality that could be used for cleaning up environmental pollution.

Ethylbenzene Removal by Carbon Nanotubes from Aqueous Solution

The removal of ethylbenzene (E) from aqueous solution by multiwalled, single-walled, and hybrid carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, SWCNTs, and HCNTs) was evaluated for a nanomaterial dose of 1 g/L, concentration of 10–100 mg/L, and pH 7. The equilibrium amount removed by SWCNTs (E: 9.98 mg/g) was higher than by MWCNTs and HCNTs. Ethylbenzene has a higher adsorption tendency on CNTs, so that more than 98% of it adsorbed in first 14 min, which is related to the low water solubility and the high molecular weight. The SWCNTs performed better for ethylbenzene sorption than the HCNTs and MWCNTs. Isotherms study indicates that the BET isotherm expression provides the best fit for ethylbenzene sorption by SWCNTs. Carbon nanotubes, specially SWCNTs, are efficient and rapid adsorbents for ethylbenzene which possess good potential applications to maintain high-quality water. Therefore, it could be used for cleaning up environmental pollution to prevent ethylbenzene borne diseases.