abstract: Due to the increasing trend of electricity price for the future and the price reduction of solar electronics price led by the policy stimulus and the technological improvement, the residential distribution solar photovoltaic (PV) system’s market is prosperous. Excess energy can be sold back to the grid, however peak demand of a residential customer typically occurs in late afternoon/early evening when PV systems are not a productive. The solar PV system can provide residential customers sufficient energy during the daytime, even the exceeding energy can be sold back to the grid especially during the day with good sunlight, however, the peak demand of a regular family always appears during late afternoon and early evening which are not productive time for PV system. In this case, the PV customers only need the grid energy when other customers also need it the most. Because of the lower contribution of PV systems during times of peak demand, utilities are beginning to adjust rate structures to better align the bills paid by PV customers with the cost to the utility to serve those customers. Different rate structures include higher fixed charges, higher on-peak electricity prices, on-peak demand charges, or prices based on avoided costs. The demand charge and the on-peak energy charge significantly reduced the savings brought by the PV system. This will result in a longer the customer’s payback period. Eventually PV customers are not saving a lot in their electricity bill compare to those customers who do not own a PV system. A battery system is a promising technology that can improve monthly bill savings since a battery can store the solar energy and the off-peak grid energy and release it later during the on-peak hours. Sponsored by Salt River Project (SRP), a smart home model consists 1.35 kW PV panels, a 7.76 kWh lithium-ion battery and an adjustable resistive load bank was built on the roof of Engineering Research Center (ERC) building. For analysis, data was scaled up by 6/1.35 times to simulate a real residential PV setup. The testing data had been continuously recorded for more than one year (Aug.2014 - Oct.2015) and a battery charging strategy was developed based on those data. The work of this thesis deals with the idea of this charging strategy and the economic benefits this charging strategy can bring to the PV customers. Part of this research work has been wrote into a conference paper which is accepted by IEEE PES General Meeting 2016. A new and larger system has been installed on the roof with 6 kW PV modules and 6 kW output integrated electronics. This project will go on and the method come up by this thesis will be tested. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Electrical Engineering 2016

Orientador: Renato Leite Marcondes / Resumo: Utilizando a herança documental de duas unidades fiscais da província de São Paulo, o registro de Rio Negro e a barreira de Itapetininga, o trabalho procura desvendar a estrutura do sistema de comercialização de animais de carga - muares e cavalares - estabelecido entre as regiões sul e centro-sul do Brasil. A análise cobre o período 1830-1869 e abrange diversos aspectos. Após uma breve contextualização histórica da discussão, passamos a apresentar as séries compiladas com os volumes negociados, comparando-as entre si e com as demais evidências estatíticas disponíveis. No caso de Itapetininga, trata-se de uma série inédita, ao passo que a série de Rio Negro retifica outra da mesma natureza elaborada por Aida MansaniLavalle. Passamos então a nos ocupar da estrutura das tropas negociadas, atentando para a participação relativa de cada tipo de rebanho e também para as variações de tamanho entre as tropas. Agregando informações sobre a identidade dos proprietários, apresentamos em seguida um esforço de mensuração dos níveis de concentração do negócio e sua evolução ao longo do tempo. Posteriormente, voltamos nossa atenção para os locais de origem dos indivíduos envolvidos no negócio, traçando um mapa da distribuição espacial das atividades correlatas. Por fim, apresentamos informações sobre a identidade dos partícipes e sua interrelações, esboçando em traços gerais a divisão do trabalho e as diferentes formas de inserção neste complexo sistema de abastecimento. / Abstract: Using the documental inheritage from two of São Paulo's province tax outposts, Rio Negro's registro and Itapetininga's barreira, the work seeks t uncover the structure of the cargo animals - mules and horses - commercializing system established between Brazil's southern and south-central regions. The analysis covers the period from 1830 to 1869 and captures several aspects. After a brief comment on the theme's historical background, we present the statistical seris compiled with respect to negotiated volumes, comparing them against each other and against other available statistical evidences. As to Itapetininga, it is an inedit series, while in the case of Rio Negro we have rectified another similar effort present by Aida Mansani Lavalle. We proceed by studying the negociated herd's structure, carefully examining the share of both animal species in the whole market and also the size variations among herds. Adding information about the herd owners'identities, we employ our efforts in an attempt to estimate the market's concentration levels and their evolution over time. Afterwards, we examine involved people's geographic origins, drawing a map of the correlated activities spatial distribution. Finally, some information is brought up regarding the participants' identities and their interrlations, achieving general notions as to this complex system's division of labor and different ways of integration. / Mestre

This thesis presents original evidence on changes occurring within the exchange economy of a north-west Oxfordshire rural community during the first half of the eighteenth century. It has been suggested that capitalism began to evolve in rural areas of England during this period due to the transformation of agriculture and growth of consumerism. Thus one would expect to find evidence of a growing commercialisation of the agrarian population characterised by increased reliance upon the market and a diminution of customary exchange and self-provisioning. Drawing evidence from the Ditchley estate accounts, the balance of monetary and nonmonetary exchange, the nature of transactions, and the role of kinship connections in mediating them, are described and analysed. It is argued that whilst the accounts do reveal significant levels of monetization and widespread use of market exchange especially after 1725, an extensive, largely non-monetized internal estate market in goods operated in parallel. These two systems appear to have been as much complementary as in competition, reflecting the high levels of integration within the local agrarian economy of the stonebrash region. Moreover, analysis of kinship networks suggests that many seemingly monetary transactions had a social component. Market exchange at Ditchley was essentially as dependent on social relations as reciprocal exchange within the neighbourhood area. The customary economy of kinsman and neighbour continued to flourish and to complement the expanding market economy in early eighteenth-century England, because both had a moral component. For the villagers at Ditchley there was no clear dichotomy between the two.

The main aim of this thesis is to explore the operation of the ideological discourse in Turkey that 'liberalisation in economy brings liberalisation in politics'. This early claim of the modernization theorists has been renewed in the age of globalization with the assumption that the state is in decline; statism in the economy is corning to end and as a result of this, democracy, civil society and citizenship are flourishing.

This thesis analyses the evolution and characteristics of Portugal’s inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) in recent years and how they reflect changes in the country’s competitiveness. Inward FDI was investigated using regression analysis and a postal questionnaire. For outward FDI, semi-structured interviews were conducted at locally owned firms with productive capacity abroad. The investment development path (IDP) was the framework used to integrate the results obtained with the analysis of national competitiveness. The thesis also suggests a novel functional relationship for the IDP in order to reconcile the empirical tests with the underlying theory. Inward FDI flows into Portugal have declined sharply in recent years, which was shown to be incommensurate with Portugal’s size and level of development. The questionnaire survey suggested that efficiency seeking investment was especially affected. This points to the geopolitical changes that have occurred in Europe as a major reason for Portugal’s lower attractiveness as a location for FDI. Bureaucracy and a shortage of skilled workers were other important obstacles to foreign investment. Both correspond to institutional failures: the failure to promote an efficient legal environment, and the failure to create advanced assets that compensate for rising production costs as locational determinants of FDI. Outward FDI was found to be more in line with Portugal’s level of development. It is growing fast but requires consolidation. Investment is concentrated in few locations, and cultural proximity (particularly language) plays a major role. I Iowever, more than exploiting existing ownership advantages, the firms surveyed were internationalising in order to build new ownership advantages. To reach an efficient size, which is not possible at home when the market is small, or to consolidate the relationship with important clients in oligopsonistic industries were the dominant motivations for internationalisation amongst the firms surveyed.

Magister Economicae - MEcon / Since the 1980s China had different exchange rate regimes. For example, in 1981, a dual-exchange rate system was introduced, with the official exchange rate applying to non-trade-related foreign exchange transactions and the depreciated internal settlement rate (ISR) applying to trade related transactions. This system was discontinued in 1985, but after the establishment of special economic zones to boost the country's export performance, the dual-exchange rate system was reintroduced in 1986. In 1994 the country informed the IMF that it will be switching to a managed floating exchange rate system and this was the official policy for almost ten years. However, de facto, the country chose to peg its currency to the USD during all these years (whilst Japan was the most important trading partner).The report provides a descriptive analytical overview of how China in this era of globalization and with the importance of the World Trade Agreement, managed to keep its currency pegged to the USD over such a long period of time. The most important factors explaining this choice were identified as the desire to stimulate export-let economic growth, the risk related to capital mobility, financial sector liberalization, relative price level stability, dollarization and politics. / South Africa

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / In this mini-thesis I explore the key characteristics of the farming household and the livelihood strategies they employ with particular reference to their farming systems. The study sought to determined the contribution made by agriculture to the total household income, as a means to justify for promoting booth subsistence and smallholder production as a policy direction. I established that rural households who are former labour tenants engage in both on and off farm income generating activities as a response to capital and labour accessibility. A fairly moderate contribution was made from cash cropping; however, I argue that the value could be much higher if considering high proportion of produce is for home consumption. There is a pattern where subsistence production intensifies to smallholder production with accessibility to water, high potential land and markets. I also found cattle herd sizes to be highly variable amongst households and goat production being correlated with a pattern of feminisation in agriculture. I give evidence that calls into doubt common claims of land degradation and instead call for more clearly defined communal range land management research. I then argue that farming systems are driven and adapted to farmer‟s non-static objectives and subsequent opportunistic strategies employed. This mini thesis concludes that with realistic comprehensive support to small scale agriculture there is potential for petty commodity production which will stimulate rural economies.

The world economy is currently dominated by information- and communication technology, and has consequently become increasingly competitive and globalised. The changing economy also impacts on our living and working environment. A qualitative approach to research was followed in examining the implications of the changing economy on the field of human resource management, with the objective of developing a model for describing the role of human resource management in the new economy. The qualitative analysis focused on the most recent publications in this regard and it is apparent that the changing economy has a direct and definite influence on the role of human resource management in organisations. All human resource management practices will have to change dramatically to answer to the demands of the new economy. Important concepts relating to the new economy and included in the model are intellectual capital, human capital, knowledge management, the internet, e-commerce and globalisation. Whereas the competitive advantage for organisations in the old economy centred on financial capital and technology, the emerging economy necessitates an emphasis on investment in human capital, knowledge, and the commitment and enthusiasm of the employees. The focus in the business world has shifted from physical assets to knowledge and information, i.e. intellectual capital. The effective management of human and intellectual capital poses new challenges in the organisation for leadership and managerial capabilities. The model that has been developed to describe the role of human resource management in the new economy focuses on the integration of intellectual and human capital and information management in the human resource strategy of the organisation. The content validity of the model was determined according to Lawshe’s technique, using an evaluation panel. The panel consisted of eleven individuals, all with a sound knowledge of the new economy as well as the field of human resource management. Four panel members have Doctorate degrees and seven have Masters degrees in Human Resource Management. A total content-validity index of 0,89 was obtained, indicating that the model is acceptable and valid. The model emphasises the fact that the human resource management function in an organisation has to utilize the drivers of the new economy, i.e. internet, globalisation and e-commerce. The model also indicates how these aspects are to be utilised in the human resource practices of selection, placement, training and development of human potential. In the last instance the model focuses on the implementation of a people-oriented strategy that will address the effective management of intellectual capital, human capital and information management. Copyright / Dissertation (MCom (Human Resources Management))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the effects of euro adoption on the economy. The main focus is to describe situation in Slovakia as a new member state of eurozone and to examine stages of preparation for euro adoption of other former V4 members -- Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. The economy of all countries is strongly influenced by world financial crisis, effects of which are definitely being considered and reflected in this depiction.

Orientador: João Carlos Kfouri Quartim de Moraes / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T03:05:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tabosa_AdrianaSantos_M.pdf: 692293 bytes, checksum: 84fe47213298d16962c928e5f67c57e6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: A partir das discussões em torno do ¿problema da análise econômica¿ em Aristóteles, nós investigamos numa perspectiva comparativa, os textos da Política I, 9, onde são examinados quatro tipos de aquisição por troca, e da Ética a Nicômaco V, 5, onde é abordada a questão da troca justa e necessária cujo limite é a comunidade. Procuramos definir a diferença entre a troca natural, ou aquisição natural, pertencente à economia, com a troca antinatural, ou aquisição artificial, pertencente à crematística. A distinção entre economia e crematística, relacionada aos conceitos de práxis e poiêsis, permitem explicar em que consiste a verdadeira riqueza, que é conforme a natureza, por oposição à falsa riqueza, que é antinatural / Abstract: À partir du débat autour du problème de l¿analyse économique chez Aristote, nous avons étudié, dans une perspective comparative, les textes de Politique, I, 9 où sont examinés quatre types d¿acquisition par l¿échange et de l¿Étique à Nicomaque, V, 5, où il est question de l¿échange juste et nécessaire, dont la limite est la communauté. Nous discutons, notamment la différence entre l¿acquisition et l¿échange naturel, qui relèvent de l¿économie, et l¿acquisition et l¿échange anti-naturel, qui appartiennent à la chrématistique. La distinction entre économie et chrématistique, mise en rapport avec les concepts de práxis et de poiêsis, permet d¿expliciter la signification de la vraie richesse, qui est conforme à la nature, par opposition à la fausse richesse, qui est anti-naturelle / Mestrado / Mestre em Filosofia