The purpose of this study is to explore the implications for various government stabilization policies of explicit consideration of market disequilibrium, especially credit rationing in the commercial bank loan market. The analysis centers in each case on the value of the government expenditure multiplier. First, a control or equilibrium version of the model is developed which is consistent with standard macrotheory and which contains a welldescribed banking sector. The results of the simulations with this version of the model confirm that the impact multiplier is larger when the deficit is financed by printing money than when bonds are issued to meet the requirement for funds. However, it is shown that in the long run the bond-financed multiplier is greater than the money-financed multiplier. This version of the model also confirms the possibility raised in the current literature that the bondfinanced case may be unstable. Since the current model has a well developed banking sector, the theory of the government finance restraint is extended to consider the case in which the deficit is financed by transferring the ownership of government bank deposits to the private sector. This case closely resembles the bond-financed case in the short run but it is statically stable. The deposit-financed case is limited, of course, by the initial size of the government deposits. Therefore, the restoration of the level of government deposits by one of the other means of financing is considered. Next, a disequilibrium version of the control model is developed consistent with current literature on disequilibrium phenomena. This version of the model contains a feedback mechanism by which a disequilibrium in one market will affect the decisions in all other markets. The results of the simulations with the disequilibrium model show that the government expenditure impact multiplier may be increased by the presence of credit rationing. In fact the bond-financed case which is unstable in the control version becomes stable under "equilibrium" credit rationing, where the loan rate does not adjust at all. Since the model used in this study is ad hoe, sensitivity analysis is used to investigate the importance of the exact values of the key parameters of the system. The policy implications of the study do appear to hing on the values of the feedback coefficients. If the force of credit rationing is mainly felt in the real sector, the government expenditure impact multiplier will be smaller in the disequilibrium version than in the control model. -on the other hand, if the impact of credit rationing is mainly felt in the financial sector, the opposite result will occur. However, the range of values that the multiplier may take on, depending on the impact of the credit rationing, is quite small. Thus, given the size of the error of prediction of standard models, this study concludes that it is unlikely that the inclusion of credit rationing will allow a better evaluation of government stabilization policies. This is especially true if the impact of credit rationing is believed to be in roughly the same proportion as normal expenditures in the various markets. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Nearly half of Britain’s carbon dioxide emissions result from the activity of households, both within the home and from personal transport. This research examines how the carbon dioxide emissions of households can be reduced, particularly through the calculation of carbon footprints and testing the public’s reaction to the concept of personal carbon allowances (PCAs). Two data collection stages were used - a postal survey providing quantitative data, followed by semi-structured interviews producing mainly qualitative data. The research was carried out in a largely rural district which is run by a council noted for its work on sustainable energy, Newark and Sherwood. The survey looked at PCAs as well as a variety of contemporary issues that might influence household footprints such as energy efficiency grants and information, as well as relationships with gas and electricity suppliers. Each interview involved the calculation of a household carbon footprint, the identification of measures to reduce it, and the gathering of attitudes about personal carbon allowances, in order to identify challenges and opportunities with respect to reducing household carbon emissions. Support for PCAs was higher than anticipated, and tended to be associated with those who were prepared to use public transport or cycle more, or were supportive of renewable energy in homes. Interviewees had much to say about individual carbon reducing measures. Opposition was associated with those who envisaged that they would be unlikely to sell carbon units. Regarding personal transport, long commutes were common, and the cost of public transport was of concern. Specific findings were made about domestic heating, insulation, lighting, refrigeration, water use, commuting, public transport, and rail as an alternative to short-haul flights. There was more interest in monetary savings than carbon savings. Recommendations about policy and regarding further research are made.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

The Issue of the Just Distribution of Limited Resources in the Health Sector The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the current state and development of the principal legal institutes concerning health care financing and to define their relationship to the main principles of distributive justice. Health care financing is a specific issue, from both the economic as well as legal point of view, especially because human life is dealt with in this domain. The first chapter therefore deals with distributive justice in health care as a potentially leading principle for elaborating legislation. The history of philosophy has provided legislators with some useful tools which can help them to decide whether a norm can be labelled as "just". The following part of the text consists of three chapters which deal with different levels of redistribution. In the first chapter, the national level is focused on, the key issues being the evolution of health care systems, their typology according to the financial sources (taxes, insurance or private financing) and main advantages and disadvantages of each of the options. Furthermore, this part of the text discusses the total amount of money provided for health care by the state, extra financial resources and the question of the right to health. A characteristic...

The relationship between Public Administration and the people is one that requires legitimacy and compromise in order to solve complex problems. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families during the last fifty years have put forth an agenda that calls for the advancement of rights for the disabled and more integration into the larger society. In this arena, government, with post civil rights legislation like the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), plays a huge role in promoting social awareness and bringing down barriers of stigmatization, understanding, and access. This struggle is fought on many fronts. A significant part of the effort focuses on moving the locus of long-term care of the disabled, including the IDD population, from an institutional setting to the least restrictive setting that will foster social ties and integration. Since the early 1980s as part of this effort to deinstitutionalize the disabled, legislation at both the federal and state level has supported and incentivized the creation of Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) programs. HCBS waivers, as they are typically called, are also promoted as a means of containing government expenditures for long-term care. However, the effectiveness of these waivers is poorly understood. The critical questions being - Do HCBS waivers promote and create an environment that increases awareness of the needs of IDD individuals? Do the programs help reduce stigmatization, promote understanding, and increase access to services and activities that foster social interaction? Or, do HCBS waivers create a new "iron cage" where the intellectually or developmentally disabled are once again relegated to existing as second class citizens? In this research, programs are mapped and then evaluated to paint a better picture of how HCBS waivers change long-term care. / This research combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to triangulate on these phenoamea as a means to investigate when and how HCBS waiver programs facilitate, promote, or stifle the social integration of those with IDD. How does social integration manifest itself in the quality long-term care of those who often cannot take care of themselves? / by Enrique M. Perez. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

This thesis aims to explore and investigate the state of current investment appraisal practices within Libyan firms. In particular, the thesis attempts to answer four research questions: (1) How do Libyan firms appraise capital investments? (2) Do Libyan firms incorporate risk into their capital investment appraisal processes? (3) Do Libyan firms face capital rationing and, if so, is it externally or internally imposed? and (4) Does the availability of Islamic Finance affect Libyan firms' view of the capital investment appraisal process? This study is based on a qualitative empirical approach, with a subjectivist orientation but a main concern with the sociology of regulation; the interpretive paradigm is employed in this thesis. Rather than simply providing a simple description of the phenomena under investigation, the aim of this thesis is to interpret and understand the issues surrounding the problem being considered. Thus, this study seeks to establish a better understanding about the nature of the capital investment appraisal process in Libyan corporations, and how it differs across Libyan economic sectors. In order to provide evidence and contribute to our knowledge about this topic, two research methods, both compatible with the interpretive paradigm and consistent with the methodology and the researcher’s beliefs about the topic under investigation, are employed. The research methods used are: (i) a semi-structured interviews; then (ii) a questionnaire survey based upon the literature review and on the key results from (i). For the former, 20 interviews were conducted, involving two groups: firm-based interviewees (‘insiders’ working in firms) in five economic sectors with different size and ownership structures and ‘outsider’ interviewees (bankers, academics and chartered accountants). In the second phase, 45 questionnaires were collected from firms which operate in five economic sectors, again with various size and ownership patterns. The main findings indicate that non-financial criteria (e.g. political priorities, State development plan and personal experience) play a more important role than financial factors. While Libyan companies use multiple techniques to appraise capital investments, usage of discounted cash flow techniques (DCF), although increasing is not yet as high as in developed nations, with payback remaining the most popular. The evidence shows that the source of the funding (followed by project size and nature of the project, respectively) also plays a role in choosing the appraisal techniques. Typically, the process of capital investment appraisal in Libya appears to have five stages (determination of budget, research and development, evaluation, authorisation, and monitoring and controlling). Libyan firms consider the first of these as the most important stage. The majority of the respondents employ a post-audit phase of two years or less; about half the sampled firms conduct the post-audit by comparing the actual performance with the feasibility study on which the project was based. The companies consider real options when looking at flexibility, but they have no effect on the choice of the appraisal techniques or the process generally. Similarly, there are no changes in the techniques or the process when advanced manufacturing technology investments are considered. Regarding risk evaluation, this is mostly subjective although scenario analysis and sensitivity analysis are employed to some extent. Around 50% of the firms calculate the cost of capital, but most of these firms do so subjectively (e.g. via interest rate observations), while the rest use CAPM to calculate the cost of capital. Fewer than one in ten of the firms that calculate the cost of capital employ project-specific rates. The majority of the companies noted their experience of capital rationing, mostly of the external variety (primarily reflecting State actions). The majority of the firms claimed to be considering the Libyan Stock Market as source of funding, but not in the near future, essentially because of a lack of knowledge among Libyan companies about its functioning. The findings suggest that use of Islamic finance is not yet common among Libyan firms. However, two thirds of the firms suggested that they would use Islamic financial products to finance their future projects for several reasons; mainly religion, to avoid paying interest or demurrage, plus risk sharing though the use of Islamic financial products such as Musharakah. Those firms, which did not view Islamic finance positively, mentioned the incompatibility of the current products with Islamic Shariah law, suggesting that in reality they are just traditional financial products with Islamic names. Some notable differences between theory and practice emerged in this research. For instance, certain non-financial criteria (e.g. political priorities) were more important than financial factors. Relatedly, there was evidence of external interested parties such as academics seeing practice and ideals differently. This type of finding suggests a key contribution of this study as highlighting the need for contextual specificities to be carefully considered when investigating an issue as (theoretically) straightforward as investment decision-making in practice.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Submitted by Lucienne Costa (lucienneferreira@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-16T21:10:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DÁTIA PAULA MARQUES MAIA LUCENA – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGECA) 2018.pdf: 1669662 bytes, checksum: e6aeed62df7d854d9943d6f2cf6efe3e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-16T21:10:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DÁTIA PAULA MARQUES MAIA LUCENA – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGECA) 2018.pdf: 1669662 bytes, checksum: e6aeed62df7d854d9943d6f2cf6efe3e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-28 / CNPq / Reservatórios localizados em regiões semiáridas apresentam alta variabilidade nas afluências hídricas, baixas vazões de regularização, comparadas a outros em climas mais úmidos, e são sujeitos a grandes perdas por evaporação, principalmente quando cheios, fazendo com que a gestão efetiva dos mesmos seja de extrema importância. Este trabalho mostra como modelos matemáticos podem ser utilizados como ferramenta de apoio a tomada de decisão na operação de reservatórios e como medidas de gestão podem afetar situações de racionamento e crise hídrica. O caso de estudo dessa pesquisa é o reservatório Epitácio Pessoa (Boqueirão), localizado em Campina Grande-PB, semiárido brasileiro. O açude Boqueirão recentemente enfrentou a maior crise hídrica desde sua construção, uma gestão não otimizada pode ser apontada como uma das causas do agravamento dessa crise hídrica. É proposta uma metodologia que consiste na definição de oito cenários, compostos por ações ou conjunto de ações que poderiam ter sido tomadas em relação à gestão hídrica do manancial. Dentre o conjunto de ações propostas, tem-se ações meramente gerenciais e outras que envolvem a utilização de técnicas de redução de perdas por evaporação. Tais cenários foram simulados no modelo matemático AcquaNet, para um período de 63 meses, para analisar qual ação teria sido a mais benéfica para a população, e como cada conjunto de ações poderiam ter impactado, quantitativamente, a questão do racionamento em Campina Grande e região. Para fazer a análise e comparação desses cenários, foram utilizados índices de sustentabilidade (confiabilidade, resiliência e vulnerabilidade), bem como os valores dos volumes finais do reservatório e atendimento médio à demanda em cada cenário. A partir destes, foram feitas as comparações entre os cenários para identificação das medidas que causaram maior impacto no sistema. Os resultados encontrados demonstraram que as medidas que incluíram a adoção de técnicas de redução de evaporação na bacia hidráulica do reservatório poderiam ter evitado completamente a adoção do severo racionamento a que a população foi submetida por um longo período de tempo. Adicionalmente, fica demonstrado que modelos matemáticos de simulação podem ser muito úteis na tomada decisão quanto a gestão de reservatórios em épocas de escassez hídrica, principalmente em regiões de clima árido ou semiárido. / Reservoirs located in semi-arid regions present high hydrological variability, low regularization flows, compared to others in more humid climates, and are subject to large evaporation losses, mainly in their periods of high water levels, making their effective management extremely important. This article aims to show how mathematical models can be used as a tool to support decision-making process in the operation of reservoirs and how management measures can affect rationing and water crises. The case study of this research is the Epitacio Pessoa Reservoir (also called Boqueirão), located in the city of Campina Grande-PB, Brazilian semiarid region. The Boqueirão went through the biggest water crisis since its construction, a non-optimized management of these resources can be pointed as one of the causes of these water crisis aggravation. It is proposed a methodology that consists in the definition of eight scenarios, composed by actions or set of actions that could have been taken regarding to the water management of this reservoir during that period. Among the set of actions proposed, there are managing actions and others involving the use of techniques to reduce evaporation losses. The scenarios were simulated with the mathematical model AcquaNet, for a period of 63 months, in order to analyze which action would have been the most beneficial for the population, and how each set of actions could have, quantitatively, affected the water shortage issue in Campina Grande and region. Sustainability indexes (reliability, resilience and vulnerability), reservoir final volumes and average meeting of the water demand requirements, were used to analyze and compare the scenarios. From these results, comparisons were made among the scenarios to identify the measures that would have caused the greatest impact on the system. The results pointed out that measures which included the use of evaporation rates reduction techniques in the reservoir’s hydraulic basin could have completely avoided the adoption of severe rationing to which the population was submitted for a long time. In addition, it is demonstrated that mathematical simulation models can be useful in decision-making processes regarding the management of reservoirs in a water scarcity situation, especially in arid or semi-arid climate regions.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Doctor of Technology: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / In 2006, the government-supported microfinance programmes implemented by the Kenyan government started lending credit to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) using a group-lending mode, a change which represented a paradigm shift from individual lending mode. The overall aim of this research is to provide an investigation of whether the transformation of this lending policy was backed by any theoretical and empirical support. Specifically, the entirety of this study is intended to give an insight of what might have influenced the change, what informed it and what might have been overlooked. To achieve clarity and the study aim, the research is compartmentalised into three discrete studies. In the first study, a historical investigation into the factors which hindered MSEs from acquiring credit was undertaken. The second study investigated the reasons MSEs were credit rationed. The third study investigated whether the problems experienced by MSEs, associated with lack of credit access (lack of credit demand and rationing), could have been mitigated by group lending. The research utilised quantitative research design, the first two studies utilised data derived from National MSEs Baseline survey conducted in 1999. The third study utilised primary data collected from micro credit groups of the Kenya Rural Enterprise Programme (K-REP) in 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya. Various economic models and regression analysis were utilised in analysing different outcomes. In particular, the research utilised Univariate Probit, Bivariate Probit and Heckman Two-Stage Models to model various credit access outcomes. The study found that group lending largely mitigated information asymmetry- the main cause of MSEs failure to access credit. However, the study concludes that asymmetric information was not the only source of credit failure in Kenya. For group lending to work, or to have worked, it required support by other pro-MSE programme dynamics. This suggested that the government decision to change policy was partially informed by theory and practice. / D

La tesi contiene due saggi sull'economia delle politiche pubbliche a sostegno dell'accesso al credito per le piccole e medie imprese. Il primo valuta l'impatto netto sulla disponibilità e il costo del credito e sulle performanec delle imprese del più grande schema di garanzie pubbliche al credito in Italia. Il secondo indaga empiricamente gli effetti distorsivi della politica e i costi che ne derivano, con particolare focus sull'eterogeneità a livello di banca e di impresa. / The dissertation deals with the role of public policy in support of firms' access to credit. It is composed of two essays. The first is an evaluation of the net effect of an Italian public credit guarantee scheme in support of PMIs. The impact evaluation assesses financial outputs such as credit availability and conditions, as well as economic outputs such as firms' performance. The second essay empirically investigates how the presence of asymmetry of information can affect the output of these policies at the bank and firm level.