An efficient application and development of renewable energy sources is one of the most important contribution to the energetic balance of the human society. Anyhow, statistical model of the renewable energy market, which would fundamentally explain relevant economical rules related to these perspective energetic resources, is not clearly known up to now. Nevertheless, the relevant statistical data concerning application of solar energy (photovoltaic and thermo-solar heating) are available for the last twenty years. Based on the economic models, statistical data concerning sales of photovoltaic models and thermo-solar collectors sales have been analysed in this work. It has been shown that the model of constant elasticity predicts an exponential increase which will slow down when a certain level of annual cumulative sales was reached. The model of constant elasticity was found to be successful to interpret past sales data. In the approach of variable elasticity model the parameter of the elasticity has been modified as a function of variables such as market volume, price and time through the statistical evaluation. It enabled to calculate initial, saturation and competitive market conditions, as well. Whereas the constant elasticity demand model describes exponential growth of sales and installations, which was characteristic for the beginning of the application of these renewable resources of energy, the variable elasticity demand model describes a more realistic situation, where cumulative sales either increase or decrease and prices vary subsequently. Simple growth model of unlimited demand based on the growing sales is not realistic and could not be feasible in the long term. The market elasticity could be understood as a real economical parameter representing percentual market increase or decrease at a given time; in the variable demand elasticity model, the constant elasticity is replaced by a function of a market volume, price and time. In this case, we can estimate model parameters for the different market conditions: growth, saturation and decrease. The function representing the capital adequacy in the generalized market model has also been deliberated. Statistical models have been used to determine cumulative sales and market prices of photovoltaic modules and thermo-solar collectors. Moreover, model parameters have been used for the calculation of the realized photovoltaic and thermo solar projects' capital adequacy on the renewable energy market. By using model parameters, renewable energy market forecast up to 2020 has been estimated. We have used generalized market model to credibly estimate future renewable energy market until 2020; as well as extend model parameterization on other resources of renewable energy (water and wind, geothermal sources, biomass) and set prices of energy produced from these renewable sources. Potential energetic savings have been estimated for households (apartments and private houses), who can be relevant consumers of energy from renewable sources. We have performed statistical findings on randomly selected files, where we have reached a real energy consumption, to prove this. This research allowed us to perform a real estimate of a renewable energy contribution to the total energy balance. We have successfully proved that linearly growing capital adequacy function, with an annual growth between 2.5% and 3.0%, is reflecting the renewable energy market sufficiently and is fully in line with an average growth of the total energy consumption. Renewable energy share on the total energy balance will grow substantially to reach a level of 15% in 2015 on the world market and a level of 8% in the Czech Republic for the same period with a perspective to reach a level of 11% in 2020 respectively. Assuming this level of renewable energy on the total production will lead to a decrease of CO2 emissions by three million of tones in 2015 and by four million of tones in 2020. Final reach of this status quo is fully predicted by our statistical model for renewable energy market.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-08-16T13:06:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernando Henrique Fernandes Sousa_.pdf: 2658604 bytes, checksum: e7b64f91760b00255d2c12f5440cf17d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T13:06:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernando Henrique Fernandes Sousa_.pdf: 2658604 bytes, checksum: e7b64f91760b00255d2c12f5440cf17d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-28 / Nenhuma / O módulo de elasticidade é um parâmetro que mensura a rigidez do concreto, sendo uma das propriedades que é levada em consideração na verificação da segurança estrutural, pois expressa as condições dos estados limites último e de serviço. Quando é avaliada - a influência da substituição de agregados graúdos naturais por agregados graúdos reciclados - o comportamento elástico do concreto torna-se imprescindível, uma vez que não é similar ao comportamento de resistência à compressão, que por sua vez pode alcançar resistências superiores ao concreto produzido inteiramente com agregados graúdos naturais. Nesse sentido, o uso da resistência à compressão como parâmetro único, para se estimar o módulo de elasticidade do concreto produzido com agregados graúdos reciclados, tem sido cada vez mais questionável. Tratando-se da influência do uso de agregado graúdo reciclado no módulo de elasticidade do concreto, poucos são os estudos que apresentam os valores de módulo de elasticidade estático e módulo de elasticidade dinâmico. Diante disso, o objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar a relação entre o módulo de elasticidade estático e o módulo de elasticidade dinâmico de concretos produzidos com agregados graúdos reciclados em substituição aos agregados graúdos naturais, com o intuito de relacionar o tipo de agregado graúdo ao módulo de elasticidade. Para tal, foram utilizados agregados graúdos reciclados de concreto e agregados graúdos reciclados de cerâmica vermelha em taxa de substituição de 30% em relação ao agregado graúdo natural. Os concretos foram produzidos em três traços experimentais, sendo eles: traço pobre (maior relação a/c), traço intermediário e traço rico (menor relação a/c). As propriedades dos concretos foram avaliadas aos 28 dias, sendo elas: massa específica do concreto no estado fresco e endurecido; porosidade; resistência à compressão; módulos de elasticidade estático e dinâmico. Como principais resultados, verificou-se que o tipo de agregado graúdo reciclado de modo geral influenciou negativamente o módulo de elasticidade, sendo essa influência mais pronunciada no módulo de elasticidade dinâmico; não foi possível obter uma relação entre o módulo de elasticidade estático e dinâmico dos concretos produzidos com agregados graúdos reciclados; o módulo de elasticidade estático dos concretos produzidos com agregados graúdos reciclados é mais fortemente relacionado à resistência e à compressão; o módulo de elasticidade dinâmico possui maior relação com a porosidade dos concretos produzidos com agregados graúdos reciclados; os módulos de elasticidade estimados por equações algébricas apresentam elevada variabilidade. / Modulus of elasticity is a parameter that measures the stiffness of the concrete, being one of the properties taken into account in the structural safety check, since it expresses the conditions of the ultimate and service boundary state. When the influence of the replacement of natural aggregates by recycled aggregates is evaluated, the elastic behavior of the concrete becomes essential, since it cannot be compared to the behavior of compressive strength, usually lower than the concrete produced with natural aggregates. The use of compressive strength as a single parameter to estimate the modulus of elasticity of concrete produced with recycled aggregates has been increasingly questionated. Considering the influence of the use of recycled aggregate on the modulus of elasticity of concrete, only a few studies have compared the values of static elastic modulus and dynamic modulus. This research aims to evaluate the relationship between the static elastic modulus and the dynamic elastic modulus of concrete produced with recycled aggregates in replacement of natural aggregates, in order to correlate the type of aggregate to the modulus of elasticity, verifying the relationship between the two procedure of determination of elasticity modulus. Aggregates made of recycled concrete and of ceramic bricks were used in a replacement rate of 30% to the natural aggregate. The concretes were produced in three experimental proportions (lower w/c ratio, intermediate w/c ratio and higher w/c ratio). The properties evaluated at 28 days are: bulk concrete mass; porosity; compressive strength; static and dynamic modulus of elasticity. The main conclusions are: the recycled aggregate decrease the modulus of elasticity, mainly the dynamic modulus; there are no relationship between the static and dynamic modulus of elasticity of concrete produced with recycled aggregates; the static modulus of concrete produced with recycled aggregates has a higher relationship to the compressive strength; the dynamic modulus of elasticity is higher related to the porosity of concrete produced with recycled aggregates; the moduli of elasticity estimated by algebraic equations present high variability.

Objetivo. Analisar a influência da renda e dos preços dos alimentos sobre a participação de frutas, legumes e verduras no consumo alimentar das famílias residentes no município de São Paulo. Métodos. A Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF) da Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas (FIPE), realizada entre 1998/1999 no município de São Paulo, serviu de base para este estudo. O padrão alimentar das famílias foi descrito a partir da participação relativa de 18 grupos de alimentos no total mensal de calorias adquirido pela família para consumo no domicilio. A influência da renda familiar e do preço dos alimentos sobre a participação de frutas, legumes e verduras (FLV) no padrão alimentar foi estudada empregando-se técnicas de análise de regressão múltipla (modelo log-log) para estimação de coeficientes de elasticidade-preço e elasticidade-renda. Resultados. Identificou-se efeito estatísticamente significante da renda familiar (efeito positivo), do preço das próprias frutas, legumes e verduras (efeito negativo) e do preço do conjunto dos demais alimentos (efeito positivo). A comparação da magnitude desses efeitos, feita pela comparação dos coeficientes de elasticidade, indica maior efeito do preço das frutas, legumes e verduras (1% de aumento no preço das FLV reduziria em 0,2% a participação desses alimentos no total calórico), efeito intermediário do preço dos demais alimentos (1% de aumento aumentaria em 0,07% a participação de FLV no total calórico) e efeito menor da renda familiar (1% de aumento na renda familiar aumentaria em 0,04% a participação de FLV no total calórico). O efeito da renda familiar e do preço das frutas, legumes e verduras sobre o consumo relativo desses alimentos foi semelhante nos vários estratos de renda enquanto o efeito dos preços dos demais alimentos tendeu a diminuir nos estratos de maior renda. Conclusão. Políticas públicas que levassem à redução do preço de frutas, legumes e verduras seriam as mais recomendadas para aumentar o consumo desses alimentos no município de São Paulo e em realidades urbanas semelhantes. / Objective. Analyze the influence of income and food prices on fruits and vegetables share of household food consumption in São Paulo city. Methods. The data obtained through Family Budget Survey (POF) from Fundacao Instituto de Pesquisas Economicas (FIPE), concerning the population of the city of Sao Paulo during the period of 1998 and 1999, was the base in this study. The household nutritional patterns were described by means of the relative participation of 18 food groups in total calories monthly acquired for home consumption. Income and food prices? influence on fruits and vegetables share was assessed through the use of multiple regression analysis techniques (Log-Log model) in order to estimate income elasticity and price elasticity coefficients. Results. Statistically significant effects of income (positive effect), fruits and vegetables prices (negative effect) and other foods prices (positive effect) were identified. Magnitude comparison among the effects observed, through comparison of elasticity coefficients, indicates a major effect from fruits and vegetables price (1% increase in prices results in a 0.2% reduction in the share of fruits and vegetables), an intermediate effect from other foods prices (1% increase in prices results in a 0.07% increase in the share of fruits and vegetables) and a smaller effect from income (1% raise in household income would achieve a 0.04% increase in the share of fruits and vegetables). The effect of household income and F&V price was similar in different income classes, while the effect of other food prices declined in higher income classes Conclusion. Public policies for reducing fruit and vegetables? prices should be the most recommended line of action in order to obtain an increase in fruit and vegetables? consumption in Sao Paulo city or any other similar urban centers.

首先針對租屋市場與與購屋市場，分別估計其所得彈性與價格彈性。對租 屋者而言，僅包括消費性的需求。藉由彈性的估計，我們可知道住宅為必 需品或是奢侈品；在價格上漲時，消費者是否有議價能力。另外再將購屋 市場依不同的需求目的，如居住目的與非居住目的，估計所得彈性與價格 彈性。對非居住目的的購屋者而言，僅包含投資性的住宅需求。接著利用 估計的消費性與投資性需求彈性，計算出對只有一棟房屋的購屋者，其消 費與投資需求佔房屋支出之比例。 In this paper, we estimated the elasticity of income and price for rental and purches housing. For rental housing, it just includes the consumption demand for housing. By these estimations, we can know housing is a luxury or a necessity. When the price increase, the consumers are able to charge. On the other hand, by the different targets --- living or not, there is only one or there are two or more houses, we estimate the elasticities. For two or more houses, it just includes the investment demand for housing. Then we use the elasticities to computer the share of consumption and investment in housing expenditure.

Oregon's nursery and greenhouse industry has ranked the first in the State's agricultural for 18 years. The majority of nursery sales from the Pacific Northwest come from Oregon. Due to data limitations, empirical study of the Oregon nursery industry is rare. The present dissertation consists of three essays that analyze the demand and supply of inputs and outputs and the relationship between producers and retailers in the Oregon nursery industry. Chapter 2 identifies the major factors affecting farm labor supply and demand and evaluates their relative importance in the Oregon nursery industry from 1991 to 2008. Empirical results show that border control effort doesn't have an influential role in labor supply, while the Oregon and Mexican minimum wage do. It is because of the substantial gap between the U.S. and Mexican economies, reflected for an example in the minimum wage gap, which attracts a continual flow of immigrants. Risk of border apprehension is not great enough to prevent the flow. Increases in Oregon minimum wage is more effective than border apprehension policies in boosting the average wage and in reducing the number of hours that illegal immigrants work in the nursery sector. Chapter 3 investigates producers' and retailers' choices of, and reactions to, various contract types in the Oregon nursery industry from 2005 to 2010. As new and fast-growing retailers in the industry, big-box stores are less likely than independent retailers to make pre-order contracts with the producer. However, once a pre-order contract is chosen, big-box stores demand more days of pre-order interval than independent retailers do. Transactions with independent retailers exhibit – on average over the sample range – scale economies and scope diseconomies. Boosting per-transaction revenue scale and the number of species sold to big-box stores enhances transaction efficiency. Chapter 4 examines the interaction between supply and demand in Oregon nursery products. The result indicates that the production and transaction costs are major drivers on the supply side, while transportation costs and consumer demand for nursery products play important roles on the demand side. At the genus level, the supply elasticities of coniferous plants are larger than those of deciduous plants, which in turn are higher than those of flowering plants. The demand elasticities are the lowest in coniferous trees followed by deciduous plants, then flowering plants. Price discounts on plants with high demand elasticities would significantly boost sales and enlarge the market, while those on plants with low demand elasticities would have less sales impact. Empirically, patenting seems to bring no direct signs of greater profitability. The wholesale nursery may wish to reconsider the pricing and marketing policies of its patented plants to differentiate them more effectively from its non-patented plants. / Graduation date: 2013

In this thesis we are concerned with the numerical simulation of the in- teraction of compressible viscous flow and an elastic structure in 2D. For the elastic deformation we use a 2D linear model and nonlinear St. Venant- Kirchhoff and neo-Hookean models. The flow is described by the compressible Navier-Stokes equations written in the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) form in order to take into account the time-dependence of the flow domain. The discretization of both the flow problem and the elasticity problem is re- alized by the discontinuous Galerkin finite element method (DGM). We focus on testing the DGM applied to the solution of the flow and elasticity prob- lems. Furthermore, we discuss the coupling algorithm and the technique, how to deal with the deformation of the computational domain for the fluid flow problem. Our work is motivated by the biomedical applications. Numerical experiments include numerical simulation of vibrations of human vocal folds induced by the compressible viscous flow.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T21:00:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 marcionappoturma2004.pdf.jpg: 16064 bytes, checksum: 63bd8903de8fded97b33bd71e456a876 (MD5) marcionappoturma2004.pdf: 541228 bytes, checksum: 4eb48d6772562d8bf4233391e15100f5 (MD5) marcionappoturma2004.pdf.txt: 124264 bytes, checksum: 8b4a2d0be3b8e70952e08462dfaa0e70 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-02T00:00:00Z / A questão central que buscou-se responder no presente estudo foi: qual o impacto dos veículos flex-fuel sobre a demanda por gasolina no Brasil? Para tentar responder esta questão foi estimada a função demanda por gasolina no Brasil e suas elasticidades-preço e renda, para o período de agosto de 1994 a julho de 2006 (era pós-Plano Real), utilizando-se técnicas de cointegração para avaliar a existência de uma relação de equilíbrio de longo prazo entre variáveis do modelo. Com a renovação da frota automotiva, centrada cada vez mais nos veículos flex-fuel, cuja participação nas vendas nacionais de veículos novos deve ultrapassar os 70% em 2006, surge a preocupação de que o deslocamento do consumo de gasolina pelo álcool hidratado leve a excedentes crescentes de gasolina no Brasil. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo indicam que a demanda por gasolina no Brasil é inelástica no longo prazo, tanto em relação a variações nos preços deste combustível, quanto a alterações na renda dos consumidores. Os valores estimados para as elasticidades-preço e renda de longo prazo foram de -0,197 e 0,685, respectivamente. Também foi estimado o coeficiente de uma variável binária de inclinação associada ao preço da gasolina, incluída no modelo com o objetivo de capturar os impactos da entrada do flex-fuel sobre a curva de demanda por gasolina a partir de março de 2003. Esta variável binária de inclinação apresentou-se com um coeficiente de aproximadamente -0,137. Isto significa que a partir de março de 2003 há uma significativa mudança na elasticidade-preço da demanda por gasolina, que se torna mais elástica, saindo de -0,197 para -0,334. Este resultado indica que o mercado nacional de combustíveis de ciclo Otto pode estar passando por mudanças estruturais, para as quais a entrada dos veículos flex-fuel é a causa mais provável e que o álcool hidratado tem se tornado um substituto menos imperfeito da gasolina. / The central question that this study seeks to answer is: What is the impact of flex-fuel vehicles on the demand for gasoline in Brazil? To attempt to answer this question, the function demand for gasoline in Brazil was estimated, as were the price and income elasticities, for the period August 1994 through July 2006 (post Plano Real era), using cointegration techniques to evaluate the existence of a long-term balance relationship between the model’s variables. With the renewal of the automotive fleet increasingly centered on flex-fuel vehicles, whose market share in the domestic sales of new vehicles should be over 70% in 2006, there is some concern that the shift from consumption of gasoline to hydrated alcohol may lead to a growing excess of gasoline in Brazil. The results obtained in this study indicate that the demand for gasoline in Brazil is inelastic in the long term, in relation both to the price variations of this fuel and to the alterations in consumer income. The amounts estimated for the price and long-term income elasticities were –0.197 and 0.685, respectively. An estimate was made of the coefficient of a dummy inclination variable, associated with the price of gasoline and included in the model to capture the impact flex-fuel has on the gasoline demand curve, starting in March 2003. This dummy inclination variable had a coefficient of approximately –0.137, meaning that, as of March 2003, there is a significant change in the price elasticity of the demand for gasoline, which becomes more elastic, going from –0.197 to –0.334. This result indicates that the Otto cycle’s national fuel market might be facing structural changes in which the launching of flexfuel vehicles is the most likely cause and that hydrated alcohol has become a less imperfect substitute for gasoline.

In 1997 industrialized nations, the Third Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, met in Kyoto, Japan to sign a treaty (the “Kyoto Protocol”) in terms of which industrialized nations would be required to reduce their greenhouse gas emission by at least five percent below 1990 levels by the end of the “first commitment period” 2008-2012. South Africa is not regarded as an industrialized nation, but nonetheless acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. The literature reviewed in the present research reveals that, although idealistic, the Kyoto Protocol has been problematic. Fourteen meetings of the Conference of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol between 1997 and 2011 have achieved little more than to repeatedly defer and redefine Kyoto obligations. This research was undertaken to document the existing environmental taxation policies employed in selected international jurisdictions with a view to providing a framework for environmental tax policy formation in South Africa to assist this country in meeting its “greenhouse gas” emission targets, while at the same time promoting economic growth. A doctrinal research methodology was adopted in this study as it mainly analysed and interpreted legislation and policy documents and therefore the approach was qualitative in nature. An extensive literature survey was performed to document the various environmental policies that have been legislated in the selected jurisdictions. Comparisons were drawn with proposed tax policy measures for South Africa. The literature indicates that in the selected international jurisdictions carbon taxes achieved less-than-optimal results, largely due to political and industry-competitive agendas. With South Africa planning to introduce a carbon tax, it is submitted that the implementation of a carbon tax regime in isolation will be counter-productive, given South Africa’s economic profile. On the basis of the literature reviewed, it was concluded that South Africa should consider “recycling” carbon tax revenues within the economy to fund a broad-based tax incentive regime that will stimulate the change to non-carbon energy whilst promoting growth through sustainable development

This dissertation thesis consists of six papers on macroeconomics, international economics, and energy economics. All the papers are tied together by the use of meta-regression analysis, which is essential for the derivation of robust policy-relevant conclusions from often conflicting results presented in the empirical literature. I use meta-analysis to quantitatively synthesize the reported research results on a given topic, correct the literature for publication selection bias, and filter out the effect of various misspecifications present in some primary studies. My results can be summarized as follows: 1) The elasticity of intertemporal substitution in consumption, a key input to all dynamic models in finance and macroeconomics, varies significantly across countries. The differences can be explained by the level of stock market participation, when countries with higher participation exhibit larger values of the elasticity; the mean reported elasticity is 0.5. 2) The effect of borders on international trade, which most authors find to be surprisingly large, can be explained away by innovations in methodology introduced in the last decade. When these innovations are taken into account jointly, the border effect disappears for developed countries, and is relatively small for developing countries. 3) When...

Objetivo. Analisar a influência da renda e dos preços dos alimentos sobre a participação de frutas, legumes e verduras no consumo alimentar das famílias residentes no município de São Paulo. Métodos. A Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF) da Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas (FIPE), realizada entre 1998/1999 no município de São Paulo, serviu de base para este estudo. O padrão alimentar das famílias foi descrito a partir da participação relativa de 18 grupos de alimentos no total mensal de calorias adquirido pela família para consumo no domicilio. A influência da renda familiar e do preço dos alimentos sobre a participação de frutas, legumes e verduras (FLV) no padrão alimentar foi estudada empregando-se técnicas de análise de regressão múltipla (modelo log-log) para estimação de coeficientes de elasticidade-preço e elasticidade-renda. Resultados. Identificou-se efeito estatísticamente significante da renda familiar (efeito positivo), do preço das próprias frutas, legumes e verduras (efeito negativo) e do preço do conjunto dos demais alimentos (efeito positivo). A comparação da magnitude desses efeitos, feita pela comparação dos coeficientes de elasticidade, indica maior efeito do preço das frutas, legumes e verduras (1% de aumento no preço das FLV reduziria em 0,2% a participação desses alimentos no total calórico), efeito intermediário do preço dos demais alimentos (1% de aumento aumentaria em 0,07% a participação de FLV no total calórico) e efeito menor da renda familiar (1% de aumento na renda familiar aumentaria em 0,04% a participação de FLV no total calórico). O efeito da renda familiar e do preço das frutas, legumes e verduras sobre o consumo relativo desses alimentos foi semelhante nos vários estratos de renda enquanto o efeito dos preços dos demais alimentos tendeu a diminuir nos estratos de maior renda. Conclusão. Políticas públicas que levassem à redução do preço de frutas, legumes e verduras seriam as mais recomendadas para aumentar o consumo desses alimentos no município de São Paulo e em realidades urbanas semelhantes. / Objective. Analyze the influence of income and food prices on fruits and vegetables share of household food consumption in São Paulo city. Methods. The data obtained through Family Budget Survey (POF) from Fundacao Instituto de Pesquisas Economicas (FIPE), concerning the population of the city of Sao Paulo during the period of 1998 and 1999, was the base in this study. The household nutritional patterns were described by means of the relative participation of 18 food groups in total calories monthly acquired for home consumption. Income and food prices? influence on fruits and vegetables share was assessed through the use of multiple regression analysis techniques (Log-Log model) in order to estimate income elasticity and price elasticity coefficients. Results. Statistically significant effects of income (positive effect), fruits and vegetables prices (negative effect) and other foods prices (positive effect) were identified. Magnitude comparison among the effects observed, through comparison of elasticity coefficients, indicates a major effect from fruits and vegetables price (1% increase in prices results in a 0.2% reduction in the share of fruits and vegetables), an intermediate effect from other foods prices (1% increase in prices results in a 0.07% increase in the share of fruits and vegetables) and a smaller effect from income (1% raise in household income would achieve a 0.04% increase in the share of fruits and vegetables). The effect of household income and F&V price was similar in different income classes, while the effect of other food prices declined in higher income classes Conclusion. Public policies for reducing fruit and vegetables? prices should be the most recommended line of action in order to obtain an increase in fruit and vegetables? consumption in Sao Paulo city or any other similar urban centers.