Considerando as micorregiões do Censo Agropecuário de 1995-1996 e dos Censos Demográficos de 1991 e 2000, este trabalho estima, primeiramente, uma função de produção Cobb-Douglas. Para tal, controla-se o efeito dos preços regionais sobre o valor da produção. São levados em conta fatores tradicionais (mão-de-obra, terra, insumos químicos e capital) e o capital humano (nível de escolaridade formal e conhecimento de mercado). A estimativa foi obtida através do método de mínimos quadrados em três estágios – MQ3E. O método se justifica pelo modelo econômico proposto ser um sistema de equações (estima-se também a demanda por capital e o custo relativo da utilização deste fator) e pela forte presença de heteroscedasticia na estimação em mínimos quadrados ordinários – MQO. Em seguida, estima-se a Produtividade Total dos Fatores – PTF por estado, verificando-se a contribuição relativa do capital humano. / Using data from the Agricultural Census of 1995-96 and the Demographic Censuses of 1991 and 2000, this dissertation first estimate a Cobb-Douglas production function. The value of production is calculated in order to control the effect of regional prices. Traditional factors (labor, land, fertilizers and capital) and human capital (years of schooling and market knowledge) are used as explanatory variables in the production function. The economic model is a simultaneous equations system that considers both decisions to produce and maximize profits. Results of the proposed economic model are obtained by using the three-stage least squares (3-SLS) method due to presence of heteroskedasticity. Afterwards, total productivity factor (TFP) is estimated to each of the Brazilian states and the relative contribution of human capital is analyzed.

Solar cells constitute the most direct way of converting solar energy to electricity, and thin-film solar-cell technologies have lately been growing in importance, allowing the fabrication of less expensive modules that nonetheless have good power-conversion efficiencies. This thesis focuses on solar cells based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2, which is the thin-film technology that has shown the highest conversion efficiency to date, reaching 20.3 % on the laboratory scale. Solar modules still have some way to go to become entirely competitive with existing energy technologies, and there are two possible paths to this goal: Firstly, reducing their manufacturing costs, for instance by minimizing the material usage per module and/or by increasing the throughput of a given factory; and secondly, increasing the power output per module in other words, the module efficiency. The subject matters of this thesis are related to those two approaches. The first issue investigated is the possibility for reducing the thickness of the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 layer and compensating for lost absorption by using a ZrN back reflector. ZrN layers are fabricated by reactive sputtering and I present a method for tuning the sputtering parameters so as to obtain a back reflector with good optical, electrical and mechanical properties. The reflector layer cannot be used directly in CIGS devices, but relatively good devices can be achieved with a precursor providing a homogeneous supply of Na, the addition of a very thin sacrificial Mo layer that allows the formation of a film of MoSe2 passivating the back contact, and optionally a Ga gradient that further keeps electrons away from the back contact. The second field of study concerns the three-stage CIGS coevaporation process, which is widely used in research labs around the world and has yielded small-area cells with highest efficiencies, but has not yet made it to large scale production. My focus lies on the development and the effect of gradients in the [Ga]/[In+Ga] ratio. On the one hand, I investigate 'intrinsic' gradients (ones that form autonomously during the evaporation), and present a formation model based on the differing diffusivity of Ga and In atoms in CIGS and on the development along the quasi-binary tie line between (In,Ga)2Se3 and Cu2Se. On the other hand, I determine how the process should be designed in order to preserve 'extrinsic' gradients due to interdiffusion. Lastly, I examine the electrical effects of Ga-enhancement at the back and at the front of the absorber and of In-enhancement at the front. Over a wide range, In-rich top layers prove to have no or a weakly beneficial effect, while Ga-rich top regions pose a high risk to have a devastating effect on device performance.

No description available.

本文透過三階段資料包絡分析法評估台灣有線電視系統經營者，在面對市場結構改變與集團化趨勢下，其經營效率之表現。為了評估廠商純管理上之效率表現，必須排除經營環境差異及隨機干擾因素之影響。又由於某些組織或制度面因素亦為經營者所無法完全掌控之變數，因此，本文於環境變數之選取上，除了包含外在環境因素外，亦將組織與制度面因素一併納入考量。結果顯示，人口密集度、集團化及董事會規模與投入差額之間，皆具有正向關係，當市場結構為獨占時，亦會增加業者之投入差額，促使效率值之降低，而員工分紅及公司集權程度則與投入差額呈現反向關係，亦即公司實施員工分紅制度或集權程度愈高者，都將有助於經營效率的提升；排除環境因素前後，效率值具有顯著差異，顯示欲衡量系統業者真實之經營效率，考量環境因素確實有其必要性；此外，本文針對台灣有線電視產業五大集團進行經營效率之比較，發現小型集團因為受到經營區人口數目較少且無法跨區經營之限制，規模效率呈現偏低的情形；針對獨占造成經營效率之下降，以及小型集團受限於經營區特性，而無法提升本身經營規模之現象，本文認為政府應儘早修正跨區經營之限制，逐步擴大經營區範圍，如此才能改善目前經營區內因競爭不足而產生資源浪費之現象，使整體產業之經營效率能獲得提升。

本文根據2002年至2008年的各綜合券商財報資料，採用三階段資料包絡分析法，評估綜合券商之經營效率分析，研究的對象包含台灣金控體系下十四家綜合券商和上市櫃十一家綜合券商證券公司（非金控體系）共25家綜合券商。實證結果如下：第一階段廠商無效率之主要來源為純技術無效率與第三階段之部分，估計之結果不同，綜合券商經營管理無效率的情形相當嚴重，綜合券商純技術效率平均值為0.955，規模效率平均值為0.769，代表受評綜合券商經營上產生無效率之來源為生產規模之無效率，假若不考慮外在因素之衝擊則會低估純技術效率值，將造成廠商無效率來源之誤判，本文利用Wilcoxon符號等級檢定(Wilcoxon signed rank test)檢驗第一階段與第三階段效率值，顯示在1%的顯著水準下，第一階段與第三階段 DEA 估計之技術效率值、純技術效率值及規模效率值確實存在顯著差異；SFA迴歸評估結果顯示，營運據點數、董事規模、董監事股權質押比率對勞動投入差額呈顯著正向關係，2008金融風暴、業務集中度、業務風險、發放員工分紅對勞動投入差額呈顯著負向關係；營運據點數、業務集中度、業務風險、董事規模、董監事股權質押比率對資本投入差額呈顯著正向關係，2008金融風暴及發放員工紅利，對資本投入差額呈顯著負向關係；2008金融風暴、業務風險、發放員工紅利、董事規模、董監事股權質押比率對其他費用投入差額呈顯著正向關係，營運據點數、業務集中度，對其他費用投入差額呈顯著負向關係。

Considerando as micorregiões do Censo Agropecuário de 1995-1996 e dos Censos Demográficos de 1991 e 2000, este trabalho estima, primeiramente, uma função de produção Cobb-Douglas. Para tal, controla-se o efeito dos preços regionais sobre o valor da produção. São levados em conta fatores tradicionais (mão-de-obra, terra, insumos químicos e capital) e o capital humano (nível de escolaridade formal e conhecimento de mercado). A estimativa foi obtida através do método de mínimos quadrados em três estágios – MQ3E. O método se justifica pelo modelo econômico proposto ser um sistema de equações (estima-se também a demanda por capital e o custo relativo da utilização deste fator) e pela forte presença de heteroscedasticia na estimação em mínimos quadrados ordinários – MQO. Em seguida, estima-se a Produtividade Total dos Fatores – PTF por estado, verificando-se a contribuição relativa do capital humano. / Using data from the Agricultural Census of 1995-96 and the Demographic Censuses of 1991 and 2000, this dissertation first estimate a Cobb-Douglas production function. The value of production is calculated in order to control the effect of regional prices. Traditional factors (labor, land, fertilizers and capital) and human capital (years of schooling and market knowledge) are used as explanatory variables in the production function. The economic model is a simultaneous equations system that considers both decisions to produce and maximize profits. Results of the proposed economic model are obtained by using the three-stage least squares (3-SLS) method due to presence of heteroskedasticity. Afterwards, total productivity factor (TFP) is estimated to each of the Brazilian states and the relative contribution of human capital is analyzed.

No description available.

This dissertation consists of three essays on the empirical analysis of economic growth and technology development. In particular, I consider spillover effects in different frameworks. The first chapter outlines the three topics involved and briefly discusses the motivations, methods as well as some conclusions in each of the following chapters. The second chapter considers the spillovers in economic growth and convergence. Spillovers are prevalent in nowadays' economy. I formally model the spillover effects as the interdependence of total factor productivity (TFP), and develop a model in which spillover effects of R&D through the channel of international trade make the TFPs correlated among countries. In this sense, I apply the thoughts of international trade to the economic growth framework. Empirically, I develop a three-stage generalized method of moment(GMM) to estimate the dynamic panel spatial error autoregressive model. Simulation results show that my estimator is consistent and efficient. Through counterfactual analysis, I find that there are positive spillovers through both geographic connection and trade connection. Such a positive spillover effect, however, slows down the convergence speed. Moreover, there were little spillovers in the early 1960s. Spillover effects become stronger overtime. The third chapter is about the determinants of technology development in China. What makes my paper different from others is that I take a full consideration of the spillover effects: provincial spillovers in Science and Technology (S&T) capital as well as S&T personnel, and international spillovers through trade and FDI. The most interesting point in my paper is that I consider the indirect effects of institutions on technology development. Marketization, measured by the share of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the economy, affects the production of technology through different channels at different stages. I use a semiparametric varying-coefficient model to account for the effects. In this paper, I find that provincial spillovers are mainly through the externalities of S&T capital stock while international spillovers occur through trade. Marketization affects the technology development through S&T capital, S&T capital spillovers and trade. Although a certain share of SOEs is necessary for technology production, the marketization process will promote the development of technology in China in the long run. The fourth chapter looks into the provincial technology spillovers from another aspect. Instead of the S&T endowment spillovers from the nearby provinces, I consider the technology transfer from the frontier province to the targeted province as well as the absorptive capacity of the targeted province itself. Two forms of technology transfer are analyzed: the technology distance due to the structural discrepancy in the patent portfolio and the technology gap because of the difference in the patent level. Through the empirical analysis, several factors contributing to patent growth, such as S&T investment, road density, international spillovers from imports and FDI, are identified. Moreover, I find that technology transfer due to the technology distance can stimulate patent growth. However, I fail to find robust evidence of technology transfer due to the technology gap, which implies that the provincial technology convergence may not exist in China. / Ph. D.

This study is an exploration of the representation of masculinity in film, with particular focus on the way in which the leading male characters in a purposive sample of action genre and romantic comedy genre films represent masculinity. It is posited that masculinity is a construct, the meaning of which is dependent on the social context of the individual. Film being a social artefact could then possibly influence individuals understanding of the construct. Therefore an exploration of the kind of masculinity, the variations thereof across genres, and masculine characteristics of masculinity prevalent in each genre, is a first step in understanding possible influences of the definition of masculinity. In order to accomplish this exploration, a combination of methods is used to analyse these fictional characters according to a set of codes and „real‟ world norms. The real world norms are based on seven theoretically derived norms of masculinity developed from previous research on masculinity conducted by Levant, Hirsch, Celentano, Cozza, Hill, MacEachern, Marty and Schnedekerl (1992). The results of the findings from this study indicate that the way in which male characters are created for each genre are different, with male lead characters from the action genre having more characteristics that align with the „real‟ world norms of masculinity (Levant et al 1992). Alternatively, the male lead characters from the romantic comedy genre, have fewer characteristics that align with the seven theoretically derived norms of masculinity. The masculinity represented in the romantic comedy genre is more emotionally available and expressive, less aggressive, more compromising and reliant on others; while in the action genre masculinity is more independent, stoic, aggressive and more physically adventurous. The male lead characters in the romantic comedy genre are more about the emotional aspects of masculinity while the male lead characters in the action genre are more about the physical aspects of masculinity. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)

本文採用三階段之DEA經濟效率分析民國93年至民國96年46家臺灣本國銀行的表現，其中第二階段依Fried et al. (1999)所示，利用Tobit迴歸將可能的外部環境因素排除，本文特色為在此階段考慮臺灣於民國95年甫正式上路之財務會計準則第34號公報及其對金融資產，特別是衍生性金融所造成的影響。本文發現：經二階段調整後效率值確有顯著的差異，故壞帳、公民營、衍生性商品使用程度、分行數等非內部經營管理所能掌握因素排除後，效率值確實改變；且衍生性商品使用程度，以各銀行衍生性金融商品名目本金除以總資產以為衡量之，將此一外在環境制度因素加入第二階段TOBIT分析，結果顯示其確實顯著的影響資本資金及投入等三項差額變數，且均為遞增關係。 / In this research we try to analyze the efficiency of Taiwan’s banking industry with multi-stage DEA approach. Following Fried et al. (1999), we exclude the environmental factors by running Tobit regressions for every input variables at the second stage. Among all existing researches focus on banking efficiency, this is the only one which take into account the effect of Accounting Standards No. 34. The new rule set up different concepts about how to disclose financial assets and derivatives properly, which may also change consumers’ behaviors. We find out that the second stage adjustments did make differences on efficiency scores. Also the usage of derivatives are proved to be significantly and positively related to three input slake variables.