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This thesis considers the economics of preferences in two different contexts. First it examines damages from climate change. I argue that our ignorance of the welfare implications of higher levels of warming, as well as scientific uncertainty in precisely what might trigger these scenarios, imply that our tastes and beliefs are incomplete (in the sense of Galaabaatar and Karni, 2013). That is, there are many 'plausible' ways to evaluate a given scenario. In Chapter 1, then, I develop this theory, and use it to formally separate climate impacts into three sorts: those understood well, those understood badly, and those representing the worst possible scenario. I provide a generalisation of the 'dismal theorem' of Weitzman (2009a), and address the question of policy choice: prices versus quantities (cf. Weitzman, 1974). Chapter 2 is an example of the analysis propounded in Chapter 1. I explore the sensitivity of the social cost of carbon to assumed damages from 4C warming, to the assumed extent of CO2 emissions, and to the modelling of the climate and carbon cycles. The analysis shows that differing prior assumptions can alter our evaluation of policy by orders of magnitude. The second part of this thesis regards preferences for indivisible goods. In Chapter 3, which is joint work with Paul Klemperer, I introduce to this field the 'tropical hypersurface', being those prices at which an agent's demand changes. Simple geometric features of this set tell us the precise trade-offs that interest the agent. Thus we develop a new taxonomy of valuations, `demand types'; familiar notions such as substitutes and complements are examples. Finally, we provide a necessary and sufficient condition on these `demand types' for existence of competitive equilibrium, which implies several existing results, as well as new and quite different examples.

This study investigated the impact of changing climate and growing population on water supply and demand in one of the most rapidly growing cities in the semi-arid regions of western US, Las Vegas Valley (LVV), Nevada. Future scenarios of supply and demand using climate and hydrological models of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) and a more recent CMIP5 have been evaluated and a comparison of their results has been made. A system dynamics model for LVV was developed with a period of study from 1989 to 2049. For the study area, climate and hydrological data projections for the future period (2013-2049) were obtained from the outputs of 16 Global Climate Models (GCMs) of CMIP3 model ensemble with 3 emission scenarios and that from 37 GCMs of CMIP5 model ensemble with 4 Representative concentration pathways. Population growth forecast by Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) and prevalent conservation practices by Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) were used for the model. The water availability scenario in the future for LVV in the form of Lake Mead elevation was assessed and the water demand was also predicted. This study found that mean lake elevation for the future period (2013-2049) can go as low as 21.8% lesser than that for the historical period (1989-2012). 59 of 97 projections of CMIP5 models against 27 of 48 projections of CMIP3 models indicated that the future mean lake elevation would be lower than the historical mean. Demand forecasts showed Southern Nevada Water Authority conservation goal for 2035 could be met under prevalent conservation practices. This study can be very useful for the water managers and planners to predict the future water budget, plan accordingly, and make decisions to achieve water sustainability. This study has been performed as a part of the Thriving Earth Exchange (TEX) program to assess the current vulnerability of LVV to drought, and the impact on supply and demand of water resources for the future climate scenarios.

abstract: Financing lease has bloomed as a new financing tool in China for the last several years. In this thesis I investigate the factors that influence China’s automobile financial leasing decisions by both lessors and lessees through market surveys. Based on Probit regression analysis of the data collected from 250 companies and 300 individuals, I find that a firm is more likely to use automobile financial leasing when its corporate tax rate is lower, growth potential is more stabilized, and profit is higher. It is also more likely to happen when a firm's long-term debt ratio and its degree of internationalization are higher. At the individual level, I find that the likelihood of individuals’ leasing decision is influenced by their risk preference, income level, and car price. Individuals’ gender, age and education level show no effect. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis, I further find that financing costs, service value-added, and products diversity are the three most important competitive factors for the auto financial leasing service providers. This is the case for both the corporate and individual customers in the sample. By contrast, the factors of sales channel and government relationship are found to be much less important. Finally, through an in-depth case study of the leasing company Shanghai Auto Financial Leasing, I find that the key factors determining the customers’ credit default risk are interest rate and automobile type. I also investigate factors that influence business risk during the automobile procurement stage, at the selling stage, and toward the disposition stage. The managerial implications of the above results are discussed throughout the thesis. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2015

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A dissertation submitted to the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology Construction Management / This study investigated the causes and impact of the effects of shortages of skilled artisans on contractor productivity. The objectives of the study were as follows: (i) to identify causes of shortages of skills during the construction production phases; (ii) to define the effects of shortages of skills during the production phase of a project; (iii) to examine how to deal with shortages of skills when they happen; (iv) to determine ways in which the shortage of skills may be reduced; (v) to determine whether shortages of skills cause poor contractor performance. The study was inspired by many international and local studies demonstrating a lack of concern for the impact of shortages of skilled artisans on project performance, and their effects on project time. The research method adopted for study was a survey of construction sites and staff within the NMC group in the Cape Peninsula metropolitan area of the Western Cape Province. The study collected data from 65 participants from 10 different NMC sites. The participants in the survey included Project managers, site managers, quantity surveyors and artisans on sites. The findings of the study revealed that there is lack of formal training of artisans; performance of artisans is not highly regarded and there is lack of motivation, these factors contribute to the shortages of skilled artisans. It is also evident that shortage of skills causes’ poor contractor performance and leads to poor quality of work. The researchers also found that, setting out errors occur due to lack of coordination between the main contractor and subcontractors and the lack of skills on the part of the artisans. In addition, inexperience on the side of the leading hand and / or supervisor and trades foremen and their inability to interpret the drawings contributed to rework during construction phase. A reason also given for shortage of artisans is that young people are afraid to get their hands dirty. Young people would rather work with computers than for engineering and its associated professions. It is recommended that to increase the supply of artisans some measures will have to be implemented to encourage young people to become artisans.

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister of Technologiae: Human Resource Management In the Faculty of Business At the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2012 / This research focused on investigating perceptions of the socio economic impact of skills shortage on the community of Khayelitsha, Western Cape. The objectives of this study were to critically investigate the causes of skills shortage in the community of Khayelitsha; to assess the perceived social impacts that it has on the community; and to critically investigate whether skills shortage is one of the causes of unemployment. The research also went as far as examining measures, which were taken by government and other stakeholders to address skills shortage. Chapter One of the study provides information related to a background of the research under study. Chapter Two briefly considers skills shortage, globally, prior to looking thoroughly at the causes for skills shortage in Khayelitsha. It further presents evidence of skills shortage in South Africa by considering different sectors. Furthermore, the research details the social and the economic impact of skills shortage, the state of poverty and inequality, as well as the state of unemployment. Chapter Two also details the role of government and other stakeholders to address skill shortage. Chapter Three introduces the research design and methodologies that were used, while Chapter Four presents an analysis and assessment of data that was collected. Chapter Five concludes the research by making recommendations. Two types of methodologies were employed by the researcher, namely qualitative and quantitative research methodology. The researcher employed two types of data analysis, namely content analysis and descriptive statistics. These techniques were helpful for the study because they explored perceptions and evidence of skills shortage in South Africa and Khayelitsha, in particular. The study further explores the impact of skills shortage on the economic development of the country, unemployment poverty and the society at large. Finally, the research shows that respondents perceive that skills shortage does indeed have a negative impact on South Africa by being one of the causes of unemployment and poverty, and hence economic growth. While socially, respondents believe that skills shortage is the main driver of issues such as crime, violence, teenage pregnancy, prostitution, HIV/AIDS poverty and other social issues, which are prevalent nationwide.

Desde meados dos anos 1970 os preços do algodão vêm caindo no Brasil e, mesmo assim, após a reestruturação dos anos 1990, a produção se expande de forma marcante. Neste trabalho argumenta-se que tal perfomance decorreu de uma conjugação de fatores de ordem tecnológica (do lado da oferta) e mercadológica (do lado da demanda). A capacidade empresarial e empreendedora dos produtores brasileiros foi essencial para aproveitar as oportunidades e superar os obstáculos para que a produção de algodão e derivados alcançasse o elevado padrão de produtividade e eficiência dos dias de hoje. Por um lado, o setor se organizou e se transformou numa ?cotonicultura empresarial?, com o plantio sendo realizado em grandes extensões, num sistema capitalizado e tecnificado. Ao mesmo tempo, a partir dos anos 1990 verifica-se um processo de redefinição institucional. Devido à escassez de recursos estatais a partir dos anos de 1980, a iniciativa privada passa a investir inclusive em pesquisa. Deste processo resultam saltos de produtividade que se viabilizam graças às exportações, que moderavam as quedas de preços que, fatalmente ocorreriam caso a expansão da produção ficasse represada no mercado interno. Desenvolve-se um modelo econômico para aferir o crescimento do setor em termos de choques de oferta e de demanda utilizando as idéias básicas desenvolvidas por Blanchard e Quah (1989), que foram adaptadas ao setor agrícola por Barros; Spolador e Bacchi (2006). Aplica-se a Análise de Auto-Regressão Vetorial ? VAR a dados da renda nacional (PIB), do quantum exportado de algodão em pluma, da produtividade agrícola de algodão em caroço, da área colhida com algodão, da produção de algodão em caroço e do preço recebido pelo produtor no mercado interno. Os resultados do trabalho apontaram que a área colhida com algodão tem uma evolução fortemente marcada por um processo auto-regressivo. Aparentemente, definidas as condições gerais econômicas e tecnológicas, a área da cultura passa a seguir um processo de elevação ou redução em direção ao valor desejado que pode levar uma década ou mais. Entretanto, aproximadamente 30% do crescimento da produção de algodão no Brasil se deveu ao comportamento da produtividade da lavoura. Outros 15% do aumento da produção pode ser atribuído à evolução do preço. Quase um quarto da evolução da exportação de algodão pode ser atribuído ao comportamento da produtividade. Entre trinta e cinco e quarenta porcento se devem a mudanças de produção não associadas diretamente à produtividade e preços. Em síntese, podese dizer que o desenvolvimento da cotonicultura brasileira pode ser atribuído principalmente a mudanças do lado da oferta. / Brazilian cotton prices have been decreasing since the 1970s. Even after the restructuring of the sector, in 1990s, cotton production has been increasing in a great pace. This paper argues that this performance is directly related to technological (supply) and marketing (demand) factors. Entrepreneurial and management abilities were essential to Brazilian growers take opportunities and overcome obstacles. That is why the cotton production has reached the current standard of productivity. The sector has been reorganized, turning into a ?cottonculture business?, with plant activities both in large extensions, as well as capitalized and hi-tech systems. At the same time, from 1990s, it was noted a process of institutional redefinition. Due to scarcity of federal resources starting in 1980s, private companies have also started to invest in cotton research. The result was a big improvement of productivity assisted by increasing exports, which was crucial to support prices. An economic model was developed to measure the growth of the sector in terms of supply and demand disturbances, considering the ideas used by Blanchard and Quah (1989), which were adapted to the agricultural sector by Barros, Spolador, and Bacchi (2006). Analysis of Vector Autoregression ?VAR was applied to data of the national income (Gross Domestic Product ? GDP), the cotton exported volume, the agricultural productivity of cotton, the harvested cotton area, the cotton production, and the price received by growers in the domestic market. The paper concluded that the cotton harvested area showed progress manifested by an Auto Regression (AR) process. Apparently, defined economic and general technological conditions, the area of the culture starts to follow a process of rise or reduction in direction of the desired value that can take one decade or more. However, around 30 percent of the cotton production?s growth in Brazil was related to technical productivity. Another 15 percent of the rise of the production can be attributed to prices? changes. Almost a quarter of development of cotton export can be explained by the productivity. Between 35 and 40 percent is linked to production alterations, not directly linked to productivity and prices. To summarize, the development of Brazilian cotton culture can be associated with supply-side disturbances.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho é medir e testar empiricamente a importância dos choques de oferta e demanda no vigoroso crescimento da agricultura brasileira, ao longo dos últimos trinta anos. Pressupõe-se que a agricultura brasileira tem o seu desempenho, relacionado não apenas a fatores microeconômicos ou setoriais – como tecnologia e condições específicas de mercado e apoio setorial governamental – mas também macroeconômicos: (a) políticas fiscal, monetária/creditícia e cambial e; (b) eventos de ampla repercussão econômica em âmbito nacional e internacional. Nem sempre há uma conjunção claramente favorável ou desfavorável desses fatores de distintas naturezas; assim, por exemplo, a rentabilidade de uma nova tecnologia pode ser prejudicada por uma valorização cambial. Dessa forma métodos especiais são necessários para estimar os efeitos de cada variável. Historicamente a agricultura brasileira sempre teve uma função relevante no que diz respeito ao crescimento econômico do país. A agricultura tinha que crescer em consonância ao crescimento da economia, ou seja, sem que se rompessem de forma severa o equilíbrio interno (nível de preços e grau de abastecimento) e/ou equilíbrio externo (geração de divisas necessárias para financiar importações ou pagamento da dívida externa). Tais equilíbrios nem sempre se verificam simultaneamente, e têm importantes impactos distributivos na economia de modo que: moeda supervalorizada pode ser compatível com abastecimento interno satisfatório, mas desequilíbrio externo grave; um caso como esse, por exemplo, é marcado por forte transferência de renda dos produtores para os consumidores nacionais. A hipótese central deste trabalho é que a maior parte do crescimento da agricultura brasileira, nos últimos trinta anos, pode ser atribuída a dois fatores gerais relacionados a dois tipos de choques sobre a agricultura: de demanda - originado a partir do mercado doméstico (renda) e, também, do mercado externo (taxa de câmbio) e de oferta - relacionado à produtividade do setor agrícola. Ao longo do tempo tanto a produtividade agrícola como a demanda agregada apresentaram tendência crescente; assim, entende-se que se os choques positivos (tendentes a aumentar a produção) de oferta predominarem em relação ao choque positivos de demanda (idem), a agricultura estará cumprindo com folga seu papel. Através da revisão da literatura, é realizado um levantamento sobre a participação da agricultura no equilíbrio macroeconômico do país, cujo interesse é caracterizar os cenários macro e microeconômicos da agricultura. Finalmente, estabelece-se um modelo econométrico, baseado na metodologia de Blanchard e Quah (1989), a fim de se verificar e mensurar os impactos do comportamento das variáveis macroeconômicas e microeconômicas sobre o crescimento da agricultura. Os resultados indicam que tanto os choques de oferta, como os choques de demanda, afetam permanentemente preço e produto agrícolas. As estimativas realizadas permitem concluir que a expansão do produto agrícola é explicado, em grande proporção, pelos aumentos de produtividade. A integração aos mercados internacionais foi essencial para assegurar a lucratividade e adoção contínua de novas tecnologias, que levaram a ganhos de produtividade. / The main objective of this work is to measure and to test empirically the importance of the supply and demand shocks in the vigorous growth of Brazilian agriculture in the last thirty years. We hypothesize that Brazilian agriculture has its performance not only related to the microeconomic factors – such as technology and specific market conditions and governmental support - but also macroeconomic factors: (a) fiscal policies, monetary/credit policies and exchange rate systems and; (b) events of ample economic repercussion in national and international environment. The conjunction of these factors of distinct natures may be either favorable or unfavorable to agriculture; thus, for example, the yield gain de to a new technology can be more than offset by a appreciation of exchange rate. Then, special methods are necessary to estimate the effects of each variable. Historically, the Brazilian agriculture has had a relevant role in Brazil’s economic growth. Agriculture had to grow in accordance to the growth of the economy so that internal balance (level of prices and raw material supply) and external balance (generation of foreign currency) are not severely disrupted. For instance, an overvalued currency can be compatible with satisfactory internal supply at the cost of serious external disequilibria with a strong transference of income from producers to consumers. The central hypothesis of this work is that most of the growth of Brazilian agriculture, in last the thirty years, can be attributed to two general factors related the two types of shocks on agriculture: demand - originated from domestic market (income) and, also, of the external market (exchange rate) and supply - related to the productivity of the agricultural sector. It is understood that if the positive supply shocks (tending to increase production) predominate compared to the demand positive shocks (they idem), agriculture will have fulfilled its role. An econometrical model, based in the methodology of Blanchard e Quah (1989), is defined in order to verify and to measure the impacts of the macroeconomic and microeconomic variables on the growth of agriculture. The results indicate that supply shocks and demand shocks permanently affect agricultural price and output. The expansion of the agricultural output is largely explained by productivity increases. The integration to the international markets was essential to assure the profitability and continuous adoption of new technologies that had taken the productivity profits.

Neste trabalho, a oferta e a demanda de açúcar no Estado de São Paulo foram analisadas para o período de janeii-o de 199,5 a outubro de 2000 através de um sistema de equações simultâneas a fim de se obter as elasticidades preço da oferta e as elasticidades preço e renda da demanda, as quais são instrumentos úteis no auxílio à determinação das políticas públicas voltadas ao setor sucroalcooleiro. O período analisado está inserido na fase de desregulamentação do setor sucroalcooleiro, no qual o governo deixou de determinar as cotas de produção de açúcar e de álcool para cada usina ou destilaria, os preços da matéria-prima e dos produtos finais e a operacionalização das exportações de açúcar excedente produzido. As variáveis consideradas na equação da oferta (preço do açúcar cristal no Estado de São Paulo, preço do açúcar no mercado internacional e preço do álcool) apresentaram sinais coerentes aos esperados e significativas a 10% de probabilidade com exceção da variável preço do álcool hidratado, que apesar de ter apresentado sinal correto, mostrou-se estatisticamente não-significativo. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a oferta é elástica a preços, tendo-se encontrado uma elasticidade preço da oferta de 1,8917, indicando que, um aumento de 1% nos preços do açúcar a oferta varia 1,8917% no mesmo sentido. O coeficiente da variável preço do açúcar no mercado internacional foi de -0,4233 indicando que a um aumento de 1% no preço do açúcar no mercado internacional, a oferta de açúcar no mercado interno varia 0,4233% em sentido oposto, pois parte do açúcar ofertado internamente será deslocado para o mercado externo. Esses resultados devem ser analisados, no entanto, com certa cautela visto que os resultados econométricos obtidos não foram satisfatórios. As variáveis consideradas no ajustamento da equação da demanda, preço do açúcar cristal no Estado de São Paulo e renda, foram estatisticamente não significativos e apenas a variável preço do açúcar cristal no Estado de São Paulo apresentou sinal coerente ao esperado. Portanto, não foi possível a obtenção das elasticidades preço e renda da demanda. A variável dependente defasada foi incluída para eliminar o problema de autocorrelação de resíduos. A fim de se obter as elasticidades preço e renda da demanda, estimou-se uma equação de demanda de açúcar através do método dos mínimos quadrados ordinários, visto que a variável dependente é relativas à quantidade de açúcar comercializada no Estado de São Paulo. Os resultados indicaram que as variáveis preço do açúcar no Estado de São Paulo (-0,4703) e renda (0,9960) são significativas a 10% e 1%, respectivamente. Os valores dos coeficientes obtidos, -0,4703 e 0,9960 para as variáveis preço do açúcar e renda respectivamente, indicaram que a demanda é inelástica a preço e renda por ser o açúcar um bem essencial e de necessidade básica. / In this paper, the supply and dermand for sugar in the State of Sao Paulo were analyzed for the period of January 1995 to October 2000, using a system of simultaneous equations, in order to obtain price elasticity of supply, as well as price and income elasticities of demand. These are useful instruments to determine public policies for the sugarcane sector. The period analyzed coincides with the deregulation of the sugarcane sector, in which the Brazilian government stopped determining sugar and ethanol production quotas for each sugarmill and ethanol distillery, price of raw material and of the final products and relinquished its control for exporting sugar. The variables considered in the supply equation (price of crystal sugar in the State of Sao Paulo, price of sugar in the international market and price of ethanol) showed expected signs, significant at 10% probability except the 'price of ethanol' which was not statistically significant. Results indicate a price supply elasticity of 1,8917, indicating that a 1 percent price increase would cause a 1,8917 percent increase in supply. The coefficient of the variable 'price of sugar in the international market' was estimated to be -0,4233 indicating that an increase of 1% in the price of sugar in the international market would cause a decrease of sugar supply in the internal market of 0,4233. These results should be taken with caution, since the econometric results obtained were not totally satisfactory. The variables considered in the adjustment of the demand equation: price of granulated sugar in the State of Sao Paulo and income, were not statistically significant and only the variable granulated sugar in the State of Sao Paulo, showed the expected sign. Therefore it was not possible to obtain the price and income elasticities of the demand. The lag dependent variable was included to eliminate the autocorrelation of residues. In order to obtain price and income elasticities of demand an equation for sugar demand, was estimated using ordinary least squares, given that the dependent variable is relative to the amount of sugar marketed in the State of Sao Paulo. Results indicate that the variable price of sugar in the State of Sao Paulo (-0,4703) and income (0,9960) are statistically significant at a probability level of 10% and 1% respectively. These coefficients indicate that the demand is inelastic for price and income, since sugar is a basic good.