This study investigated the effects of unit price structure, unit price descriptions, and unit price sequence on the demand for money in humans. Six groups of 3 participants solved multiplication problems in exchange for money under various unit prices. Consumption of money decreased as the unit price increased across all conditions. However, the data also showed that: (a) fixed price structures produced slightly more elastic demand than did variable price structures, (b) price descriptions produced more elastic demand under variable price structures but had little or no effect under fixed price structures, and (c) the alternate sequence used with fixed price structures produced slightly more elastic demand.

Nesta tese é apresentado o desenvolvimento de um método para elaboração de composições de custo voltado a obras de edificações. Esta abordagem, que considera as composições orçamentárias em forma de redes, foi elaborada a fim de criar uma lógica para a estruturação da massa de informações envolvidas no processo de orçar. Inicialmente foi feita uma revisão bibliográfica e um estudo exploratório que apontaram para tal necessidade. Tendo-se por base trabalhos anteriores de levantamento de produtividade em obra, propôs-se um método para elaboração de composições. Este método foi aplicado levando-se em conta o contexto das obras de um agente da cadeia produtiva da Construção Civil: um órgão financiador de obras (a Caixa Econômica Federal). Tal uso serviu para mostrar a aplicabilidade do método desenvolvido com base bibliográfica, mas também acabou sendo útil para alguns aprimoramentos do mesmo, fazendo uso das discussões entre pesquisadores e pesquisados, chegando-se, então, ao método final apresentado nesta tese. Desta forma, o método de desenvolvimento das redes de composições proposto fornece subsídios para alocação e tratamento das informações sobre custos de obra, resolvendo parte das críticas apontadas pela literatura, propiciando composições mais precisas frente às novas disponibilidades de dados e dando um suporte consistente e adequado às necessidades do gerenciamento dos custos de produção de edificações. / This thesis develops a method that helps experts arrive at unit price items for buildings. It is based on the consideration of a unit price item net as the logical way to deal with the huge amount of information associated to the estimating process. The preliminary bibliography review and an exploratory study showed the accuracy of the authors initial concerns. The method developed was based upon former productivity studies and was applied in the production of unit price items net for Caixa Econômica Federal, a public building construction financial company. Such experience showed not only that the method was feasible but also pointed out some improvements that should be made, leading to the method presented in the thesis. Finally, it can be said the method used to develop unit price item nets can help allocate and deal with information about construction costs; it solved several problems indicated by literature, improving compositions in terms of precision, and of support to cost management in the building construction area.

Nesta tese é apresentado o desenvolvimento de um método para elaboração de composições de custo voltado a obras de edificações. Esta abordagem, que considera as composições orçamentárias em forma de redes, foi elaborada a fim de criar uma lógica para a estruturação da massa de informações envolvidas no processo de orçar. Inicialmente foi feita uma revisão bibliográfica e um estudo exploratório que apontaram para tal necessidade. Tendo-se por base trabalhos anteriores de levantamento de produtividade em obra, propôs-se um método para elaboração de composições. Este método foi aplicado levando-se em conta o contexto das obras de um agente da cadeia produtiva da Construção Civil: um órgão financiador de obras (a Caixa Econômica Federal). Tal uso serviu para mostrar a aplicabilidade do método desenvolvido com base bibliográfica, mas também acabou sendo útil para alguns aprimoramentos do mesmo, fazendo uso das discussões entre pesquisadores e pesquisados, chegando-se, então, ao método final apresentado nesta tese. Desta forma, o método de desenvolvimento das redes de composições proposto fornece subsídios para alocação e tratamento das informações sobre custos de obra, resolvendo parte das críticas apontadas pela literatura, propiciando composições mais precisas frente às novas disponibilidades de dados e dando um suporte consistente e adequado às necessidades do gerenciamento dos custos de produção de edificações. / This thesis develops a method that helps experts arrive at unit price items for buildings. It is based on the consideration of a unit price item net as the logical way to deal with the huge amount of information associated to the estimating process. The preliminary bibliography review and an exploratory study showed the accuracy of the authors initial concerns. The method developed was based upon former productivity studies and was applied in the production of unit price items net for Caixa Econômica Federal, a public building construction financial company. Such experience showed not only that the method was feasible but also pointed out some improvements that should be made, leading to the method presented in the thesis. Finally, it can be said the method used to develop unit price item nets can help allocate and deal with information about construction costs; it solved several problems indicated by literature, improving compositions in terms of precision, and of support to cost management in the building construction area.

Although response effort is considered a dimension of the cost to obtain reinforcement, little research has examined the economic impact of effort on demand for food. The goal of the present study was to explore the relationship between effort and demand. Three Sprague Dawley rats were trained to press a force transducer under a series of fixed-ratio schedules (1, 10, 18, 32, 56, 100, 180, 320, and 560) under different force requirements (5.6 g and 56 g). Thus, nominal unit price (responses / food) remained constant while minimal response force requirements varied. Using a force transducer allowed the measurement of responses failing to meet the minimal force requirement (i.e. “subcriterion responses”), an advantage over prior approaches using weighted levers to manipulate effort. Consistent with prior research, increasing the unit price decreased food consumption, and raising minimum force requirements further reduced demand for food. Additionally, increasing the force requirement produced subcriterion responses. Analysis indicated that subcriterion responses did not create incidental changes in unit price. Obtained force data revealed that including obtained forces in unit price calculations provided better predictions of consumption when compared to using criterion force requirements.

State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in the U.S. have an increasing amount of digital data from various sources. One such set of data is structured unit price data collected from bid lettings. Such data contain unit prices of thousands of bid items from hundreds of projects every year. While state DOTs have such data from over a decade-long period, utilizing such data has been challenging because of the lack of automated analytical and visualization methodologies and tools to generate meaningful and actionable insights. This study develops an automated methodology to quickly and accurately generate color-coded visualization maps representing unit price variation across a geographical region. It uses Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) technique that is based on the Tobler’s First Law of Geography. The law states that points closer together in space are more likely to have a similar value than points that are farther away. The methodology is automated using ArcPy site package in ArcGIS. It imports unit price data from preformatted spreadsheets and boundary maps from existing ArcGIS shape files to generate unit price maps. The tool and the visualizations are expected to aid state DOTs in generating and communicating meaningful insights for making data-driven decisions. It can be used to investigate areas with higher unit prices for various items which can aid state DOTs in identifying potential causes of higher unit prices such as lack of competition and lack of sources of materials (e.g. quarry) in nearby locations.

A cobrança pelo uso da água é um instrumento de gestão de recursos hídricos previsto na Lei 9433/97, dentre outros objetivos, para incentivar o uso racional da água. Porém, os estudos e simulações feitos tratam a cobrança apenas como instrumento de arrecadação. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de propor preços unitários para a água com base na necessidade de redução da demanda futura na bacia do Tietê-Jacaré. Para isso, apoia-se em cenários de demanda e oferta hídricas para os anos de 2010, 2025 e 2050 elaborados por Macêdo (2005), cujas estimativas de demanda são também melhoradas neste trabalho. Para modelar a relação entre cobrança e demanda, são usados modelos econométricos adaptados de outras bacias, especialmente a do Paraíba do Sul. Tudo isso serve de base para um algoritmo de otimização, usado para propor mudanças na política de cobrança, levando ao atendimento de metas como a redução da escassez dos recursos hídricos no futuro. / Water pricing is a water resources management tool according to brazilian law 9433/97 and it serves the purpose of giving incentive to rational use of water, among others. However, studies and simulations treat pricing as a revenue generator mechanism only. This dissertation aims to propose water unit prices based on demand reduction needs in the Tietê-Jacaré basin, Brazil. In order to do it, it uses demand and supply scenarios for 2010, 2025 and 2050 developed by Macêdo (2005), whose estimates are also slightly improved here. Econometric models are used to model the relationship between pricing and demand and they are adapted from other basins, mainly the Paraíba do Sul one. All this serves as base for an optimization algorithm, which is used to propose changes in water pricing policy, leading to the attainment of water stress reduction goals in the future.

Sri Lanka is an island at the Indian Ocean with 65234 km2 and it has a power demand of 2000 MW. The hydro power was the main power source before year 2000, after maximum usage of hydro power Sri Lanka installed fossil fuel power plant to achieve the demand. Then the electricity price gradually increased due to higher increment of fuel price. As the solution for this higher price of electricity the government has to go to new profitable power source the coal power. Finally year 2011 Puttalam coal power plant 300 MW x 1 was installed with the hope of providing the low cost reliable energy supply to Sri Lanka and it will be extended to 300MW x 3 plan in year 2015. Therefore the puttalam coal power plant is the key power plant to the Sri Lankan power generation and it is expected to have the maximum output (base load) to the Power demand of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a tropical country and it has two different weather seasons as rainy season and dry season. The puttalam power plant situated at Kalpitiya peninsula and it has normally dry weather condition, Months of April, October November and December have heavy rain condition (Meteorological Department, Sri Lanka, 2012). The puttalam coal power plant may not achieve full load because of high moisture content at rainy season. So this Thesis carried out to find the capability to achieve the full load with available plant, plant capacity by using different coal qualities. Then find the economical benefits and effect on the environment with the recommended coal for different seasons and also design a storage plan to coal storage at existing coal yard. Based on the historical data and the Meteorological department rain fall data and by doing a technical analysis the recommended coal type was selected and the capability of plant equipment capacity to the recommended coal to achieve the full load was analyzed. Then the coal storage plan was designed according to annual requirement of the different recommended coal and economical benefit was analyzed by considering last year cost for generated power and the generation cost, if recommended coal is used for last year. Finally flue gas analysis was carried out for the recommended coal to find the effect on the environment. The recommended coal for rainy season is with the heating value of 6600 kcal/kg and for dry season it is 6300 kcal/kg. The capacities of main boiler and other plant equipments are capable for the recommended coal to achieve the full load of the plant. Then the design of the coal storage plan was given under figure 4.2 and table 4.1. It was calculated that a profit of 3.932 million US$ can be achieved by using the recommended  coal for the last year and also when compared with the changing price of oil and coal it will be more profitable for the future. Because the oil price increases very rapidly and the increase in coal price is very low compared to the oil price. Finally the SOx and NOx emissions from recommended coal were analyzed and it was within the environmental limits because of the high quality emission reduction plant equipments.

A cobrança pelo uso da água é um instrumento de gestão de recursos hídricos previsto na Lei 9433/97, dentre outros objetivos, para incentivar o uso racional da água. Porém, os estudos e simulações feitos tratam a cobrança apenas como instrumento de arrecadação. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de propor preços unitários para a água com base na necessidade de redução da demanda futura na bacia do Tietê-Jacaré. Para isso, apoia-se em cenários de demanda e oferta hídricas para os anos de 2010, 2025 e 2050 elaborados por Macêdo (2005), cujas estimativas de demanda são também melhoradas neste trabalho. Para modelar a relação entre cobrança e demanda, são usados modelos econométricos adaptados de outras bacias, especialmente a do Paraíba do Sul. Tudo isso serve de base para um algoritmo de otimização, usado para propor mudanças na política de cobrança, levando ao atendimento de metas como a redução da escassez dos recursos hídricos no futuro. / Water pricing is a water resources management tool according to brazilian law 9433/97 and it serves the purpose of giving incentive to rational use of water, among others. However, studies and simulations treat pricing as a revenue generator mechanism only. This dissertation aims to propose water unit prices based on demand reduction needs in the Tietê-Jacaré basin, Brazil. In order to do it, it uses demand and supply scenarios for 2010, 2025 and 2050 developed by Macêdo (2005), whose estimates are also slightly improved here. Econometric models are used to model the relationship between pricing and demand and they are adapted from other basins, mainly the Paraíba do Sul one. All this serves as base for an optimization algorithm, which is used to propose changes in water pricing policy, leading to the attainment of water stress reduction goals in the future.

相關研究指出土地面積與地價應該呈現非線性關係，隨著坵塊面積增加，土地價格將先以遞增的速率增加，之後再以遞減的速率增加，即基地面積規模不經濟（plattage）和基地面積規模經濟（plottage）現象。本研究以台南市土地交易案例進行驗證，以總價模型利用「移動式Chow Test」尋找結構變化點，據以分析其經濟結構是否具有顯著差異。實證結果顯示基地面積規模經濟(plottage)與基地面積規模不經濟(plattage)現象同時存在。 / According to some literature, there is a nonlinear relationship between the land area and the land value. Land value will enhance with an increasing pace as land area increase in the beginning. However, as land area keeps increasing, the land value will only enhance with a decreasing pace. Namely, the plattage phenomenon will follow the plottage phenomenon. Bases on the land transaction samples from Tainan city and the model with total price as dependent variable, this research searches the structural change of the land area using Chow Test sequence to analyze whether there is significant distinction in economic structure. The empirical results show the plattage phenomenon coexists with the plottage phenomenon.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:17:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernando Daniel Garcia Fontaneti.pdf: 1193004 bytes, checksum: 1c703fe842b689f430da47dd82443658 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-03 / Many studies in behavioral analysis have been making use of concepts derived from the microeconomic theory of consumer demand to analyze and interpret the data obtained or simply to put the research problem forward. The present study intended to show how such concepts have been incorporated by behavior analysis in order to identify what types of approaches have been made between the two areas and what possibilities they have indicated for the development of one or both areas. Making use of key words commonly found in the consumer demand theory, a survey of articles which used concepts of the consumer demand theory was conducted in 4 journals: JEAB, JABA, Psychological Review and Behavioural Processes. 77 texts were selected for the reading of abstracts and a general characterization of the articles followed, aiming to identify the principal researchers, institutions, types of articles and, for the researches, their types (basic, applied or historic / methodological / conceptual). Among the 77 articles, a new selection was carried out for the complete reading of the articles, being 28 articles selected, which were then, read, described and classified into 5 categories, as follow: a) studies which measure the demand for reinforcers as a function of cost changes; b) studies which measure the demand for reinforcers using the concept of unit-price and/or verify how well the demand function proposed by Hursh, Raslear, Shurtfeff, Bauman e Simmons (1988) accounted for the data obtained; c) studies about the relative strength of reinforcers (relative preference) based upon their demand curves; d) experimental studies regarding changes in income; e) studies with panel data. The results of this study show the evident importance of the economic approach for the behavioral analysis, besides demonstrating, apart from restrictions, the validity of concepts of economic theory in so far as individual behavior, whether with humans or infra-humans / Muitos estudos em análise do comportamento têm utilizado conceitos derivados da teoria microeconômica da demanda do consumidor para a análise e interpretação dos dados obtidos ou, mesmo, para a colocação do problema de pesquisa. O presente trabalho pretendeu verificar como tais conceitos têm sido incorporados pela análise do comportamento, de modo a identificar que tipos de aproximações têm sido feitas entre as duas áreas e que possibilidades elas têm apontado para o avanço de uma ou ambas as áreas. Utilizando-se de palavras-chaves comumente presentes na teoria da demanda do consumidor, foi realizado levantamento de artigos que utilizaram conceitos da teoria da demanda do consumidor em 4 periódicos: JEAB, JABA, Psychological Review e Behavioural Processes. 77 textos foram selecionados para leitura de abstracts, e foi feita a caracterização geral dos estudos, buscando-se identificar principais pesquisadores, instituições, tipos de artigo e, para os relatos de pesquisa, seus tipos (básica, aplicada ou histórica / metodológica / conceitual). Dentre os 77 textos, procedeu-se a nova seleção para leitura completa dos artigos, tendo sido selecionados 28 artigos, que foram, então, lidos, descritos e classificados em 5 categorias, a saber: a) estudos que medem a demanda por em função de variações no custo; b) estudos que medem a demanda por reforçadores, utilizando-se do conceito de preço-unitário (unit price) e/ou verificam o poder explicativo da função geral da demanda nos moldes propostos por Hursh, Raslear, Shurtfeff, Bauman e Simmons (1988); c) estudos sobre força relativa de reforçadores (preferência relativa) a partir de suas curvas de demanda; d) estudos experimentais levando-se em conta variações na renda; e) estudos com painel. O resultado deste estudo aponta para a clara importância da abordagem econômica para a análise do comportamento, além de demonstrar, ainda que com restrições, a validade de conceitos da teoria econômica no âmbito do comportamento individual, seja com humanos ou infra-humanos