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In this paper I would like to raise the question at which extent the Union's cohesion policy can promote convergence within the Union. I will discuss major aspects of an analysis on the justification and of the design of the Union's cohesion policy. For this purpose recent empirical data and policies will be investigated. The paper will focus on the weaker Member States of the European Union. (author's abstract) / Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

This dissertation investigates the determinants of economic growth in China since 1978, with a focus on the determinants of spatial growth. A study of the theories of economic growth shows that both proximate and fundamental factors can contribute to economic growth. In the case of China, institutional changes are the keys to the Chinese transitional economy. Given the special nature of China's economy, the main institutional reforms since 1978 are examined, together with the gradual transition process. Furthermore, from the overview of empirical literature, it is found that the proximate determinants such as initial gross domestic product (GDP), investment, population growth, human capital and openness are determinants of economic growth in China based on the findings in cross-country growth literature. From growth accounting exercises, capital formation and total factor productivity (TFP) growth can be seen to play important roles in the rapid economic growth in China. However, while the nationwide economic growth is impressive, the pace of reform and economic development has been uneven across provinces. In the existing literature, geography and preferential policy are emphasised as particular factors that affect coastal-interior disparity. This study incorporates the economic variables identified as important stimulants to growth, drawing on major findings in the study of convergence and economic growth to estimate the determinants of regional economic growth in China. To address the weaknesses of using ordinary least squares (OLS) for cross-country regression analyses, fixed-effects ordinary least squares (OLS) and random-effects generalised least squares (GLS) panel data estimators are applied to provincial data from 1994 to 2003. It is concluded that the convergence hypothesis does not hold in China, and that export, investment, education, foreign direct investment (FDI) growth and coastal dummy have a positive effect on regional GDP per capita growth in China while population growth affects the annual growth rate negatively. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The development of the concept of a filter leads to a theory of convergence in topological spaces. There is a close relationship between the concept of a net and that of a filter.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Les problèmes de complémentarité interviennent dans de nombreux domaines scientifiques : économie, mécanique des solides, mécanique des fluides. Ce n’est que récemment qu’ils ont commencé d’intéresser les chercheurs étudiant les écoulements et le transport en milieu poreux. Les problèmes de complémentarité sont un cas particulier des inéquations variationnelles. Dans cette thèse, on offre plusieurs contributions aux méthodes numériques pour résoudre les problèmes de complémentarité. Dans la première partie de cette thèse, on étudie les problèmes de complémentarité linéaires 0 6 x ⊥ (Mx+q) > 0 où, x l’inconnue est dans Rn et où les données sont q, un vecteur de Rn, et M, une matrice d’ordre n. L’existence et l’unicité de ce problème est obtenue quand la matrice M est une P-matrice. Une méthode très efficace pour résoudre les problèmes de complémentarité est la méthode de Newton-min, une extension de la méthode de Newton aux problèmes non lisses.Dans cette thèse on montre d’abord, en construisant deux familles de contre-exemples, que la méthode de Newton-min ne converge pas pour la classe des P-matrices, sauf si n= 1 ou 2. Ensuite on caractérise algorithmiquement la classe des P-matrices : c’est la classe des matrices qui sont telles que quel que, soit le vecteur q, l’algorithme de Newton-min ne fait pas de cycle de deux points. Enfin ces résultats de non-convergence nous ont conduit à construire une méthode de globalisation de l’algorithme de Newton-min dont nous avons démontré la convergence globale pour les P-matrices. Des résultats numériques montrent l’efficacité de cet algorithme et sa convergence polynomiale pour les cas considérés. Dans la deuxième partie de cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à un exemple de problème de complémentarité non linéaire concernant les écoulements en milieu poreux. Il s’agit d’un écoulement liquide-gaz à deux composants eau-hydrogène que l’on rencontre dans le cadre de l’étude du stockage des déchets radioactifs en milieu géologique. Nous présentons un modèle mathématique utilisant des conditions de complémentarité non linéaires décrivant ces écoulements. D’une part, nous proposons une méthode de résolution et un solveur pour ce problème. D’autre part, nous présentons les résultats numériques que nous avons obtenus suite à la simulation des cas-tests proposés par l’ANDRA (Agence Nationale pour la gestion des Déchets Radioactifs) et le GNR MoMaS. En particulier, ces résultats montrent l’efficacité de l’algorithme proposé et sa convergence quadratique pour ces cas-tests / This manuscript deals with numerical methods for linear and nonlinear complementarity problems,and, more specifically, with solving gas phase appearance and disappearance modeled as a complementarity problem. In the first part of this manuscript, we focused on the plain Newton-min method to solve the linear complementarity problem (LCP for short) 0 6 x ⊥ (Mx+q) > 0 that can be viewed as a nonsmooth Newton algorithm without globalization technique to solve the system of piecewise linear equations min(x,Mx+q) = 0, which is equivalent to the LCP. When M is an M-matrix of order n, the algorithm was known to converge in at most n iterations. We show that this resultno longer holds when M is a P-matrix of order > 3. On the one hand, we offer counter-examplesshowing that the algorithm may cycle in those cases. P-matrices are interesting since they are thoseensuring the existence and uniqueness of the solution to the LCP for an arbitrary q. Incidentally,convergence occurs for a P-matrix of order 1 or 2. On the other hand, we provide a new algorithmic characterization of P-matricity : we show that a nondegenerate square real matrix M is a P-matrixif and only if, whatever is the real vector q, the Newton-min algorithm does not cycle between twopoints. In order to force the convergence of the Newton-min algorithm with P-matrices, we havederived a new method, which is robust, easy to describe, and simple to implement. It is globallyconvergent and the numerical results reported in this manuscript show that it outperforms a methodof Harker and Pang. In the second part of this manuscript, we consider the modeling of migration of hydrogen produced by the corrosion of the nuclear waste packages in an underground storage including the dissolution of hydrogen. It results in a set of nonlinear partial differential equations with nonlinear complementarity constraints. We show how to apply a robust and efficient solution strategy, the Newton-min method considered for LCP in the first part, to this geoscience problem and investigates its applicability and efficiency on this difficult problem. The practical interest of this solution technique is corroborated by numerical experiments from the Couplex Gas benchmark proposed by Andra and GNR MoMas. In particular, numerical results show that the Newton-min method is quadratically convergent for these problems

81 Summary This thesis focuses on predatory pricing in competition law of European Union and United states of America. The main goal of the thesis is to analyze the development of predatory pricing on the both sides of Atlantic and to show where the approach to predatory pricing is similar and where was used different perspective. The thesis is divided to three chapters. First part of first chapter describes predatory pricing in general. It supplies a complete view on basic elements of predatory pricing that were and some still are used to identify them. Second part of first chapter brings overview of the most important tests of costs and basic economic terminology, that is important for price tests. Last part introduces most important schools of competition law, that had the biggest impact on forming of approaches to predatory pricing. Second chapter deals with main milestones of development of predatory pricing in the United States. It brings chronological overview of laws and decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, and analyses their importance for next judicial practice. End of this chapter summarizes development of predatory pricing in the USA on basis of foregoing findings. Third chapter similarly describes historically younger, but equally dynamic development of predatory pricing in European Union. At...

In this work we apply the Adomian decomposition method to an orientation aggregation problem modelling the time distribution of filaments. We find analytical solutions under certain specific criteria and programmatically implement the Adomian method to two variants of the orientation aggregation model. We extend the utility of the Adomian decomposition method beyond its original capability to enable it to converge to more than one solution of a nonlinear problem and further to be used as a corrector in path following bifurcation problems.

This thesis examined the extent to which there is convergence in inflation rates, interest rates and incomes in the Common Monetary Area (CMA). It also investigated if countries in the area exhibit asymmetric adjustments to aggregate shocks. Based on optimum currency area theory, lack of convergence and the presence of asymmetric adjustments to shocks is likely to pose serious challenges that need to be addressed as the CMA moves towards a fully-fledged monetary union. I formulated and estimated a macroeconomic model to capture the transmission of shocks in the CMA. The model consists of four equations namely; Phillips curve, IS curve, exchange rate and monetary policy rule. The model links the CMA countries via the aggregate demand, inflation and interest rate equations. I simulated the model to assess the economic performance of the smaller countries when subjected to either a single monetary policy rule or country specific monetary policy rules. Such an analysis is used to gauge if a move towards a fully-fledged monetary union will result in higher benefits for the smaller countries. Furthermore, I estimated a structural VAR model based on the theoretical model. The identification restrictions in the VAR are also derived from the model. The analysis confirms monetary convergence, which is supported by the strong evidence of co-movement in interest rates and inflation rates in the CMA. Monetary convergence is an indicator of strong financial sector integration in the area. There is also evidence that inflation in the smaller countries is driven by that of South Africa. This result is mainly attributable to the strong trade links in the area as well as the existing parity between currencies in the area. The results also show that countries in the area are likely to face asymmetric shocks based on their composition of exports as well as the low correlation of growth rates. However, this asymmetry does not mean that countries cannot move towards iii creation of a fully-fledged monetary union, but rather that the existing asymmetries should be considered seriously by ensuring that other adjustment mechanisms are put in place. Extending the analysis to the SADC region shows that this region exhibits weak monetary convergence even though the poor countries show some form of real convergence with South Africa. Simulations from the VAR model show a price puzzle for Swaziland and South Africa but it is not prolonged. Based on the analysis the study concludes that a monetary union is possible in the CMA and is likely to be less costly. However, the evident asymmetries call for gradual step by step phasing in of the monetary union.

L'objet de ce travail de thèse est l'étude théorique et numérique des quelques problèmes relevants de l'analyse et de la modélisation de forme. Les problèmes considérés sont issus d'applications modernes comme la modélisation de décollement de membrane par mouvements minimisants, des inégalités isopérimétriques et de traitement d'image. Analyse et optimisation de formes des valeurs propres de l'opérateur de conductivité. Dans un ouvert de mesure finie on considère le Laplacian avec conditions aux bord de type conductivité, i.e. Constantes localement ou globalement, avec constantes libres. Cet opérateur intervient dans le processus de détection de défauts par mesures au bord et a fait l'objet d'une première analyse par Greco et Lucia dans le cadre globalement constant. Nous étudions des propriétés qualitatives des valeurs propres en relation avec la géométrie, des inégalités isopérimétriques générales par réarrangement et/ou [gamma]-convergence, et nous implémentons un algorithme génétique pour déterminer les formes minimisantes pour les valeurs propres d'ordre petit, à mesure constante, La génération des formes est basée sur les niveaux des séries de Fourier tronquées, contrôlées par les coefficients. Simulation numérique du décollement d'un membrane. On étudie le modèle de décollement d'une membrane adhésive proposé par Bucur, Buttazzo et Lux, dans le cadre des mouvements minimisantes quasi-statiques. Suivant la dissipation de l'énergie, le décollement consiste en une évolution de domaines ou une évolution de mesures. Mon travail a consisté dans la simulation associées à des stratégies évolutionnaires en relation avec la dérivée de forme, méthodes des lignes de niveaux et la dérivation des mesures. Etude numérique du problème de localisation optimale. Nous nous intéressons à l'analyse numérique des différents problèmes de localisation optimale tels que le problème de chois optimal des pixels d'appui pour l'interpolation d'image ou la minimisation de la compliance (cadre linéaire ou non linéaire). Différentes méthodes sont utilisées, tels que le gradient topologique, les algorithmes génétiques et le calcul asymptotique par [gamma]-convergence / We are interested in a few problems which can be viewed in the framework of shape optimization like : the conductivity eigenvalue problem. In an open set of finite measure we considers the Laplacian with conductivity boundary conditions, i.e., constants locally or globally with free constants. The operator intervenes in the process of the defect identication of a material by electrostatic boundary measurements and was the subject of a first properties of the eigenvalues in relation with the geometry, general isoperimetric inequalities by rearrangement and/or [gamma]-convergence, and we implement a genetic with constant measure. The generation of the forms is based on the levels of truncated Fourier series, controlled by the coefficeints. Numerical implementation for debonding membranes. We study the model of quasistatic evolution of an adhesive membrane subjected to a debonding force proposed by Bucur, Buttazzo and Lux, within the framwork of the minimizing movements. According to the dissipation of energy the debonding process consisted in the numerical simulation of the debonding process in the two situations. Methods of descent are associated with the evolution strategies in relation to the shape derivative ; level set method and the mesure derivation. Numerical results for a few problem of optimal location. We are interested in the numeraical analysis of the various problems of optimal location such as the problem of best alternative of the pixels of support for the image interpolation or minimization of compliance (framework linear and not linear). Various methods are used, such as the topological gradient, the genetic algorithms and asymptotic calculation by [gamma]-convergence