Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1988. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-163).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1986. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 229-234).

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Since Senegal's independence in 1960, groundnuts (peanuts) have been the dominant agricultural export crop. Currently, groundnut output levels are on the decline and no clear reason for the downward trend has been found. Privatization efforts are underway as the government explores ways to breathe some life into the ailing sector, particularly as it relates to groundnut production. The 50 percent currency devaluation of 1994 constituted a major exogenous shock to the sector. Much research has been done about the macro-level impact of the changes that are taking place. However, little work has been done recently (i.e. since the devaluation) at the micro-level. This work addressed this lack by studying the micro-level dynamics of groundnut production. Elasticities were generated and used in the analysis of policy impacts on production. The own-price elasticity of supply groundnut indicated that supply response should be positive following an increase in producer price. The increase in producer prices following the devaluation did not occasion the expected supply response. Possible reasons for this failure were explored. It is hoped that the information revealed will complement the store of information on production in the Groundnut Basin that is already available. Thus, the present work will prove useful to public and private researchers and policy makers seeking to increase their understanding of the sector. / Master of Science

Leung Sze Wan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-64). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgments --- p.iv / Table of Contents --- p.v / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- A review of the related literature --- p.7 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- The data --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Research methodology --- p.31 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Determinants of peg duration --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Main results --- p.41 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Predicted probabilities of devaluation --- p.51 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Results from an alternative exchange rate peg definition --- p.54 / Chapter Chapter 9 --- Conclusion --- p.59 / Bibliography --- p.62 / Appendix --- p.65

Master of Science / Department of Psychological Sciences / Kimberly Kirkpatrick / Obesity is associated with impaired decision making across a range of choice behaviors including impulsive choice behavior and incentive value. Given that people make approximately 200 food choices each day (Wansink & Sobal, 2007), it is essential to better understand this relationship between obesity and impaired decision making. As such, the current study sought to understand how long-term exposure to diets high in processed fat and sugar affected impulsive choice behavior, devaluation, and food preferences. The results suggested that diet affects impulsive choice behavior. Rats exposed to diets high in processed fat or sugar were more sensitive to changes in delay, a marker of impulsivity. Results from the bisection task indicated that the diet-induced impulsivity could be a result of poor time discrimination. In addition, there were differences in incentive value. All rats successfully devalued rewards, but the high-fat and high-sugar group showed lower overall levels of responding. Further, diet-induced impulsivity could lead to overconsumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods due to differences in food preference. After 9 months on the diets, rats fed a chow and high-sugar diet displayed a sugar preference, while the rats fed a high-fat diet displayed a fat preference. Together, the results suggest that the alterations in impulsive choice and incentive valuation induced by diet could make individuals vulnerable to overeating, and thus obesity, as well as other disorders that are characterized by impulsive choice and deficits in incentive valuation.

Food restriction has been shown to affect responding for reward and has been manipulated to devalue reward. Reward density has been shown to alter responding in both first-order schedules and chain schedules. Devaluation has differential effects in first-order schedules and the links of chain schedules. The objective of the current study was to analyze the reward devaluation effect in a two-link chain schedule by manipulating food restriction and reward density in the proximal link; these variables had previously not been studied systematically. The chain schedule required rats to lever press according to a random interval 120-s schedule to turn on a light conditioned stimulus (CS). In the presence of the CS rats were rewarded for pulling a chain; the chain was active on a variable ratio (VR) 5 schedule of reinforcement for some rats, while the chain was on continuous reinforcement (CRF) for the other rats. Food restriction protocols were either 1-hr daily free feeding (1-hr feeding) or a daily ration to maintain weight at 80% of free feed controls (ration). Devaluing the CS while in the isolated proximal link was done by exposing trained rats to sessions of chain pulling in the presence of the CS but withholding reward. In subsequent lever press sessions without the CS, decreased responding was seen in rats that had undergone the devaluation procedure, but only in rats on the 1-hr feeding protocol. This devaluation effect was found in both the CRF and VR 5 schedules. Subsequent tests of lever pressing for the CS also revealed decreased responding. Post-test CS discrimination sessions demonstrated CS devaluation that has not been demonstrated previously. These results demonstrate that the isolated devaluation of the proximal link in a heterogeneous two-link chain schedule can result in decreased responding in the isolated first link. This effect is dependent on sufficient food restriction and demonstrates a measurable devaluation effect which is independent of the reward being present. This study also demonstrated that isolated devaluation of the second link can be subsequently measured in a post-test CS discrimination re-acquisition session regardless of food restriction, which had no significant effect in the session. The devaluation effect has not been demonstrated in a re-acquisition session before, rather responding in previous re-acquisition sessions were only affected by food restriction. / Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2007-09-11 11:49:20.814

This dissertation advances a model which assumes extreme openness characterised by the absence of nontradables. The pivotal relative price is the real wage which is of central importance in the analysis of devaluation. The model incorporates a simple supply function on the basis that the supply response to a devaluation cannot be taken for granted because of structural factors and unstable expectations characteristic of the transitional period following a devaluation. The effects of devaluation depend on a combination of factors among which are highlighted capitalists' expectations of future stability and the constraints on disabsorption. Our analysis underlines the need for financial assistance to sustain the adjustments associated with devaluation episodes. An econometric application of this model to Jamaica finds devaluation to be adverse both with respect to output growth and the trade balance.

Research on the devaluation of attractive alternatives has consistently shown that the strength of one’s relationship commitment can influence an individual’s judgements about the attractiveness of a potential mate. Specifically, depending on a person’s degree of relationship commitment, he or she may devalue the physical attractiveness of that alternative as a means of minimizing the perceived threat to his or her relationship. Because the devaluation process is argued to operate as a function of perceived relationship threat, I hypothesized that in addition to the beholder’s relationship commitment, the beholder’s attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety should also predict attractiveness devaluation, since a heightened perception of threat is a shared feature among these constructs. Additional theoretical rationale for these hypotheses is derived from modern evolutionary theories of attachment, particularly as they pertain to the function of attachment security within mating contexts. Additionally, I hypothesized that these same five variables would predict both relationship quality and relationship break-up six months after initial data collection. Results generally supported all six hypotheses with some important qualifications. Relationship commitment and social anxiety each predicted attractiveness devaluation in female participants only, and attachment anxiety and avoidance predicted devaluation in male participants only. Generalized anxiety also predicted attractiveness ratings for certain targets but only when the two facets of stress and anxiety were used as separate predictors. Moreover, evidence of devaluation was also found for traits other than attractiveness (i.e., interestingness and intelligence) as well as for same-sex targets. Finally, regarding relationship outcomes, participants who scored higher on measures of anxiety also reported being less committed to their relationships on average and had higher rates of break-up at follow-up. Clinical, social, and research implication of these findings are discussed.

Thesis (M.A.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-47).