This dissertation combines micro-level empirical analyses and general equilibrium models to study the issues of output price, price-cost markup, and business cycle dynamics. In the first chapter, I study how a credit crunch affects output price dynamics. I build a unique micro-level dataset that combines scanner-level prices and quantities with producer information, including the producer's banking relationships, inventory, and cash holdings. I exploit the Lehman Brothers' failure as a quasi-experiment and find that firms facing a negative credit supply shock decrease their output prices approximately 15% relative to their unaffected counterparts. I hypothesize that such firms reduce prices to liquidate inventory and to generate additional cash flow from the product market. I find strong empirical support for this hypothesis: (i) firms facing a negative bank shock temporarily decrease their prices and inventory and increase their market share and cash holdings relative to their counterparts, and (ii) this effect is stronger for firms and sectors with high initial inventory or small initial cash holdings. To discuss the aggregate implications of these findings, I integrate this micro-level study into a business cycle model by explicitly allowing for two identical groups of producers facing different degrees of credit supply shock. The model predicts that a negative credit supply shock leads to a large temporary drop in aggregate inflation---as a result of the aggressive liquidation of inventory---followed by an increase in inflation as producers eventually run out of inventory. This prediction for inflation and inventory dynamics is fully consistent with observations for the 2007-09 recession. In the second chapter, I study price-cost markup cyclicality. Existing empirical evidence on price-cost markup cyclicality is mixed. I find that markups are procyclical unconditionally, and procyclical conditional on demand shock using a flexible production function. The estimated production function features a larger input complementarity than that in a tightly parametrized production function (Cobb-Douglas and CES), producing both greater efficiency and higher markups during an expansion. These results have two striking implications: (i) much of the cyclicality in markups arises from input complementarity, rather than nominal rigidity, and (ii) the U.S. economy behaves as if it has increasing returns to scale. The third chapter studies the business cycle with a Translog production function. We empirically identify a complementarity between labor and energy that leads to procyclical returns to scale, which is not compatible with the tightly parameterized production function commonly used in the literature (Cobb-Douglas and CES). We, therefore, propose a flexible Translog production function that not only features complementarity-induced procyclical returns to scale but is also consistent with a balanced growth path. A simple calibrated business cycle model with the proposed production function generates strikingly data-consistent dynamics following demand shock without relying on either nominal rigidities or countercyclical markups. Our model also produces a stronger amplification effect than the model without complementarity. We then incorporate our production function into a benchmark medium-scale New Keynesian model (Smets and Wouters 2007) and repeat the business cycle accounting exercise. We find that input complementarity leads to a more dramatic decrease in the role of ''suspicious shocks" than of ''structural shocks."

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: leaves 320-328. / by Marie Isabel Howland. / Ph.D.

Submitted by Ana Livia Rodero null (analivia.alr@gmail.com) on 2017-03-07T13:02:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Ana Livia Rodero.pdf: 1161759 bytes, checksum: 274c1765e8f585d91f579d2bde566cb8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-10T17:49:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 rodero_al_me_sjrp.pdf: 1161759 bytes, checksum: 274c1765e8f585d91f579d2bde566cb8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-10T17:49:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rodero_al_me_sjrp.pdf: 1161759 bytes, checksum: 274c1765e8f585d91f579d2bde566cb8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Estudamos dois critérios sobre a não existência ou existência e unicidade de ciclos limites para campos vetoriais planares. Aplicamos esses critérios em algumas famílias de campos vetoriais quadráticos e cúbicos, além de estudarmos uma fórmula explícita para o número de ciclos limites que bifurcam do centro linear x’=-y, y’=x, quando o perturbamos com um campo vetorial polinomial arbitrário de grau n tendo a origem como um ponto singular. Usando o segundo critério, exibimos a configuração dos ciclos limites que bifurcam deste centro. Por fim, apresentamos uma segunda aplicação do segundo critério, onde mostramos que toda configuração finita de curvas fechadas simples do plano é topologicamente realizável como um conjunto de ciclos limites de um campo vetorial polinomial planar. / We study two criteria about the nonexistence or existence and uniquiness of limit cycles of planar vector fields. We apply these criteria to some families of quadratic and cubic polynomial vector fields. In addition to studying an explicit formula for the number of limit cycles wich bifurcate out of the linear centre x’=-y, y’=x, when we perturb it by an arbitrary polynomial vector field of degree n having the origin as a singular point. By the second criterion, we present the shape of the bifurcated limit cycles of this center. Finally, we present a second application of the second criterion, where we show that every finite configuration of disjoint simple closed curves of the plane is topologically realizable as the set of limit cycles of a planar polynomial vector field.

Orientador: Lucia Maria Carareto Alves / Coorientador: Alessandro de Mello Varani / Banca: Hugo Miguel Preto de Morais Sarmento / Banca: Rodrigo Matheus Pereira / Banca: Everlon Cid Rigobelo / Banca: Silvana Pompéia do Val de Moraes / Resumo: O composto orgânico produzido a partir de carcaças, resíduos animais e vegetais é uma alternativa viável para a substituição total ou parcial dos fertilizantes minerais utilizados na atualidade. No processo de compostagem participam diferentes populações microbianas, e com isso o composto torna-se um sistema rico para utilização como fertilizante no solo, complementando assim as necessidades nutricionais e microbianas do meio ambiente. Entretanto, há poucos trabalhos envolvendo análise da diversidade bacteriana em solos sob uso de composto orgânico feito a partir de carcaças, e também pouco se conhece sobre o impacto ambiental do uso agrícola de composto orgânico na qualidade da água. Existe também a questão se há influência da água utilizada para irrigação na qualidade do solo. O objetivo central desse trabalho foi analisar a diversidade bacteriana e perfil funcional de um solo de horta e da água de um córrego utilizada para irrigação. E como objetivo secundário, através do isolamento de bactérias da água verificar o potencial biotecnológico de produção e uso de exopolissacarídeo como bioemulsificante de óleo e hidrocarbonetos. As amostras de solo e água utilizadas nesse trabalho foram coletadas na área do departamento rural da Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo, em setembro de 2014. Todo material coletado foi transportado até o Laboratório de Bioquímica de Micro-organismos e de Plantas, onde realizou-se a extração de DNA total e sequenciamento através de tecnologia Ion ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The organic compost produced from carcasses, animal and vegetable waste is a viable alternative to full or partial replacement of mineral fertilizers used nowadays. In the composting process there are involved different microbial populations, and the compost becomes a rich system for use as a fertilizer in the soil, thereby supplementing the nutritional and microbial requirements of the medium. However, there are few studies involving the analysis of bacterial diversity in soil under use of organic compost made from carcasses, and also little is known about the environmental impact of agricultural use of organic compost in water quality. Furthermore, there is also the question of whether there is influence of the water used for irrigation on soil quality. Because of these questions, the central objective of this study was to analyze the bacterial diversity and functional profile of a soil from vegetable garden and freshwater used for irrigation from a local stream. As a secondary objective, we aimed to verify the production and biotechnology potential of a bacterial exopolysaccharide as oil and hydrocarbons bioemulsifier. Soil and freshwater samples used in this study were collected at rural department of the Zoo Foundation Park of São Paulo, in September 2014. All material collected was transported to the Laboratório de Bioquímica de Micro-organismos e de Plantas where we proceeded with the total DNA extraction experiments, sequencing through Ion Proton technology (Life Technologies), bacterial isolation, production and application of exopolysaccharide as bioemulsifier. By analyzing the metagenomic DNA it was observed that both freshwater and soil were plenty of bacterial communities normally found in agricultural areas under influence of organic amendments. Through the analysis of genes related to biogeochemical cycles, it was found abundance ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

The purpose of the thesis is to analyze the causes of economic crisis in Europe, identify the fundamental reasons and propose possible solutions to it. The first chapter provides a theoretical basis for various aspects of economic cycles based on current loans. The second chapter focuses on the causes of the global financial crisis and the reasons of the crisis in Europe. The third chapter analyzes the development of the EU foreign trade since 2002 and the territorial structure of the latter, as well as the situation in the real economy. Finally, the last section discusses potential solution approaches to the economic crisis in Europe.

Trata-se de uma pesquisa teórica e de campo, com o objetivo de analisar as práticas de recuperação que foram implantadas nas escolas estaduais paulistas, como resultado da opção pelo regime de progressão continuada e da organização do ensino fundamental em ciclos a partir de 1998. O objetivo central de nosso trabalho foi o de caracterizar a concepção das práticas de recuperação na Lei de Diretrizes e Bases nº 9394/96 e como as mesmas foram regulamentadas no Estado de São Paulo, por meio do Conselho Estadual de Educação de São Paulo e da Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo. Não obstante, as práticas de recuperação se vinculam sempre a um posicionamento político e a uma opção por determinados valores e princípios que norteiam a avaliação escolar. Longe de representar um aspecto apenas técnico do cotidiano escolar, a avaliação envolve esferas muito mais amplas e complexas, já que se apóia em orientações legais (legislação federal e estadual) que, por sua vez, espelham fundamentações teóricas que lhes apontam diretrizes. O desenvolvimento deste trabalho de pesquisa acompanhou um período de sucessivas transformações em relação ao sistema de avaliação e às práticas de recuperação nas escolas de 1ª a 4ª série da rede pública estadual de São Paulo. Embora a Lei nº 9394/96 continue a representar a orientação legal mais ampla para as práticas de recuperação em nível federal, o Parecer CEE/SP nº 67/98, a Resolução SE 05/98 e a Resolução SE 06/08 (alterada pela Resolução 26/08) representam indicadores legais estaduais paulistas sobre as práticas de recuperação que revelam aspectos vitais para o entendimento do sistema de recuperação que tem vigorado em nossas escolas. Além da análise da legislação federal e estadual que apóia as atividades de recuperação nas escolas estaduais, aplicamos um questionário a trinta professores da rede pública estadual de São Paulo sobre as práticas de recuperação no regime de progressão continuada. O conjunto de dados obtidos permitiu concluir que a maioria dos professores considera que houve mudanças significativas na organização da escolarização em ciclos, principalmente porque afasta o fantasma da repetência (63%), mas 37% se declararam contra a recuperação no sistema de ciclos por considerar que não há respaldo suficiente aos professores para trabalhar com as práticas de recuperação e que o tempo que antecede a recuperação ao final de ciclo é longo demais (quatro anos). / It is a theorical and field-work research, which has the aim to annalyse the revision classes that were implanted in the public schools of the State of São Paulo as result of the option for the continuous promotion and the new organization of primary school that happened in 1998. The central objective of this work was the characterization of the conception of the revision classes in Leis de Diretrizes e Bases (LDB -Guidelines and Bases Act of Education)-, Law n. 9394/96 and how it was regulated in the State of São Paulo, by the Conselho Estadual de Educação de São Paulo (CNE - Brazilian Council for Education) and by the Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo (State Secretariat of Education of São Paulo). Nevertheless, the practice of revision classes are always linked to a political position and to an option for some values and principles that structure the educational evaluation. The intention is not only represent the technical aspect; the educational evaluation involves more complexes questions because of the fact that is based in legal orientation (federal and state legislation) that revels theorycal fundaments of the guidelines. The development of this research followed a period of transformations in the relation of education evaluation system and the revision classes in the 1st to 4th grades in the public schools of the state of São Paulo. Although the Law nº 9394/96 continues to represent a broaden legal orientation to the revision in the federal level, the resolutions Parecer CEE/SP nº 67/98, a Resolução SE 05/98 e a Resolução SE 06/08 (modified by Resolução 26/08) represent state legal indicators about the revision classes, which revels vital aspects for the understanding of revision classes system existent in our schools. Besides the analyze of the federal and state legislation that supports the revision activities in the state schools, we collected data of 30 teachers using a questionnaire about the revision classes in the universe of continuous promotion. The data we have obtained permitted conclude that the large majority of teachers consider that it had important changes in the organization in cycles. It hides the ghost of repeater (63%), but 37% declare themselves against the revision classes in the system of cycles owing to the fact that there is no sufficient base for the teachers to work with the repetition practice and that the time that occurs before the recuperation in the end of the cycle is too long (four years).

Cette thèse porte sur les réactions de cyclisation des 1,6-enynes impliquant des catalyseurs de ruthénium. Trois types différents de cyclisation ont été élaborés à partir de précurseurs facilement disponibles, tels que les 1,6-enynes et alcynes. Dans un premier temps, une nouvelle cyclisation hydroalcynylante des 1,6-enynes, à l'aide d'alcynes terminaux comme co-réactifs, catalysée par le ruthenium a été explorée. Cette réaction fournit une méthode de synthèse de cycles à cinq chaînons doté d'un motif 1,5-enyne exocyclique. Un complexe du ruthenium neutre et riche en électrons, Cp*Ru(cod)Cl, s'est avéré être le catalyseur de choix de ces transformations. Dans un deuxième temps, en utilisant le même complexe, la cycloaddition [2+2+2] des 1,6-enynes et alcynes catalysée par le ruthénium a été développée. Les alcynes internes et terminaux sont appropriés pour accéder en une seule étape aux bicyclohexadienes avec de hauts rendements. Une bicycloannulation inhabitelle des 1,6-enynes, intégrant un atome d’azote, catalysée par le ruthénium a également été élaborée. Pour ces cyclisations, seul un complexe du ruthénium électrophile et alkynophile tel que [RuCl2(CO)3]2 a été en mesure d'effectuer la réaction. La formation exclusive des 3-azabicylo[4.1.0]hept-1-enes a été observée avec les 1,6-enynes dotés d'une unité alcyne interne. Ces réactions de cyclisation, respectant le principe des réactions à économie d’atome, sont discutées et sur la base de leur mécanisme de formation. / This dissertation focuses on cyclization reactions of 1,6-enynes involving ruthenium catalysts. Three different types of cyclization were developed from readily available precursors, such as 1,6-enynes and alkynes. In one application, a novel ruthenium-catalyzed hydroalkynylative cyclization of 1,6-enynes using terminal alkynes as co-reactants was explored. This reaction provides and entry to five-membered rings featuring an exocyclic 1,5-enyne motif. A neutral electron-rich ruthenium complex Cp*Ru(cod)Cl proved to be the catalyst of choice for these transformations. In another application, using the same complex, the ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-enynes and alkynes was developed. Both internal and terminal alkynes were suitable substrates to access bicyclohexadienes with high yields in a single step. An intriguing ruthenium-catalyzed bicycloannulation of nitrogen-tethered 1,6-enynes has also been developed. For these cyclizations, only the electrophilic and alkynophilic ruthenium complex [RuCl2(CO)3]2 was able to perform the reaction. The exclusive formation of 3-azabicylo[4.1.0]hept-1-enes was observed with 1,6-enynes featuring an internal alkyne unit. These cyclization reactions fulfil the atom-economical reactions principle and are discussed on the basis of their mechanisms of formation.

It is both curious and frustrating, given the perennial popularity of the cycle concept in Ancient Greece, that there has not been a single book written devoted to the wide variety of philosophic and historical conceptions bound up with that loosely descriptive designation. This study was originally undertaken to satisfy my own curiosity on the subject. Herein I intend to survey the entire history of the cycle concept in general from about 700 B.C. to the time of Polybius in the second-century A.D. It is intended to be a descriptive as well as an analytical report.

In the first chapter of this dissertation, I estimate the cyclicality of real wages for job stayers, and hires from both employment and from unemployment, using an administrative matched employer-employee dataset from Germany. I find that the wages of new hires appear to be lessprocyclical than the wages of job stayers. I propose an explanation based on countercyclical selection on match quality: when aggregate productivity is low, worker-firm matches have to be unusually productive to warrant job creation. The presence of the match quality selection effect is supported by the relationship between the initial aggregate conditions and the subsequent risk of separation: jobs started when unemployment is high are at a decreased risk of ending with a separation to unemployment, which suggests that they are positively selected. Motivated by the findings of the first chapter, I build a Diamond-Mortensen-Pissarides search and matching model with match-specific productivity and turnover costs. The model-generated wages and job durations have cyclical properties empirically established in the previous chapter: the wages of new hires are less procyclical than the wages of job stayers, and jobs started when productivity is high are at a higher risk of subsequent separation. I show that the relative cyclical properties of wages are generated by changes in average match-specific productivity for new hires relative to job stayers. Match-specific productivity is subjected to countercyclical selection: when aggregate productivity is low, match-specific productivity has to high to justify creating or maintaining a match. Due to turnover costs, countercyclical selection for new hires is stronger than for job stayers. Low match-specific productivity of matches started when aggregate productivity is high generates the positive relationship between initial aggregate productivity and subsequent risk of separation. In the third chapter, I examine the behavior of wages within employment spells, before separation from a job and after movement between jobs in order to evaluate hypotheses concerning job-to-job transitions. Using German administrative microdata, I establish three empirical findings. First, the properties of wage changes within employment spells and associated with job-to-job transitions are broadly similar. Second, wages deteriorate in the year preceding separation from a job, for all separations, including job-to-job transitions. The wage deterioration manifests as slower wage growth and lowering of real wages expected given workers' characteristics. Third, for job-to-job transitions wage growth after accession is faster if the initial wage is lower than the last wage in the previous job. This effect is not present for job-unemployment-job transitions. The second finding supports the notion that some job-to-job transitions are induced by the worsened job situation. The third suggests that, to some extent, workers might voluntarily make job-to-job transition that decreases their wages in expectation of higher wage growth in the future.

Les petites sociétés génèreraient de meilleures performances en périodes économiquement favorables et leurs performances seraient plutôt médiocres en périodes économiquement défavorables. Nous avançons l‟hypothèse selon laquelle l‟effet taille n‟est manifeste que durant les périodes d'expansion économique. Notre étude empirique confirme cette hypothèse pour la période 2000-2009. Nous utilisons un modèle avec variables binaires pour estimer les alphas ainsi que trois indicateurs du cycle économique : l'indicateur composite avancé de l‟OCDE, l‟indice CAC 40 et l‟Euribor 1 mois. / It would seem that small companies perform better in economically favourable times and give more mediocre performances in economically unfavourable times. We put forward the hypothesis that size effect only occurs during periods of economic expansion. Our empirical study confirms this hypothesis for the 2000-2009 period. We use a model with binary variables to estimate alphas as well as three economic cycle indicators: the OCDE composite leading indicator, the CAC 40 index and the 1 month Euribor rate.