Positional Externalities Cause Large and Preventable Welfare Losses

Daily food consumption and feeding rhythm of silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) during fry to fingerling period

This paper explores the link between status‐seeking and the exploitation of a common property exhaustible resource. The extracted resource is an input in the production of a final good. The other input is man‐made capital, which is a second state variable. Extraction requires efforts. Economic agents derive utility not only from absolute consumption, but also from relative consumption, because the latter is a signal of relative status. We consider a differential game involving n infinitely lived agents. We compare the Markov‐perfect Nash equilibrium of this game with the outcome under cooperation. We find that the degree of status‐consciousness has important impact on the Markov‐perfect Nash equilibrium. A higher degree of status‐consciousness leads to greater excessive consumption, and lower capital accumulation. If extraction is costless, status‐consciousness has no impact on the extraction/resource‐stock ratio. However, with costly extraction, higher status‐consciousness reduces this ratio. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enlargement of the scope of human activities and the improvement of the ability to transform nature are posing severe challenges to the environmental carrying capacity of the entire planet. Earth's environmental resource systems are facing systemic risks that cannot be evaded. Environmental crises have become a bottleneck restricting economic and social development. Resources are most likely to become the most important strategic resources. The social production methods and operating mechanisms under the traditional economic model are bound to be challenged, as the era of ecological civilization is approaching. On the basis of fully respecting the laws of nature and society, this paper uses mechanism design theory to design environmental resources including environmental coordination and assessment mechanisms, market trading mechanisms, macro-control mechanisms, scientific innovation mechanisms, and innovative talent introduction mechanisms. Conclusions and suggestions are rendered accordingly to use mechanisms to resolve the contradiction between economic development and environmental protection, aiming to coordinate relevant conflicts of interest.

IntroductionBreast pain is a major barrier to running for women. While breast support through the use of sports bras reduces breast-related discomfort, the effect of breast support on running performance is less understood. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of greater breast support on oxygen consumption and running economy during a treadmill running task.MethodsFifteen female recreational runners performed a 10-min treadmill running task at their preferred running speed in each of two sports bra conditions: low support and high support. Participants ran on an instrumented treadmill (1,200 Hz, Bertec) while indirect calorimetry was performed using a metabolic measurement system (100 Hz, TrueOne, ParvoMedics). Average VO2 (absolute and relative) from the third to 10th minutes was used to evaluate oxygen consumption. Running economy was calculated as the distance traveled per liter of oxygen consumed. Paired samples t-tests were used to compare mean oxygen consumption and running economy values between breast support conditions. Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between breast size and change in running performance.ResultsGreater breast support was associated with reductions in absolute (p < 0.001) and relative oxygen consumption (p < 0.001; LOW: 30.9 ± 7.1 ml/kg/min; HIGH: 28.7 ± 6.7 ml/kg/min). Greater breast support was associated with increases in running economy (p < 0.001; LOW: 88.6 ± 29.1 m/L O2; HIGH: 95.2 ± 31.1 m/L O2). No changes in temporospatial characteristics of running were observed including cadence (p = 0.149), step length (p = 0.300) or ground contact time (p = 0.151). Strong positive linear correlations were observed between the change in running performance metrics and breast size (Oxygen Consumption: p < 0.001, r = 0.770; Relative Oxygen Consumption: p < 0.001, r = 0769; Running Economy: p < 0.001, r = 0.807).ConclusionsGreater breast support was associated with reduced oxygen consumption and increased running economy. These findings demonstrate that greater breast support is not only associated with improved comfort but also improved running performance.

Los mosquitos representan una amenaza para la salud del hombre y de los animales debido a que actúan como vectores de distintas enfermedades. Especies de peces nativos son potenciales candidatos a tenerse en cuenta para control biológico de poblaciones de culícidos. Experiencias de consumo de media hora y de 24 horas por Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Jenyns, 1842) y Jenynsia multidentata (Jenyns, 1842) se llevaron a cabo con larvas de Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758), midiéndose longitud estándar, ancho de boca y peso en individuos de las dos especies. En ambas pruebas, J. multidentata consumió más C. pipiens que C. decemmaculatus, consumiendo las hembras de esta última especie más que los machos (e igual a ambos sexos de J. multidentata en la prueba de 24 horas de duración). Estos resultados no variaron cuando se compararon tantos consumos absolutos o relativos para las pruebas de media hora, sin embargo cuando se compararon los consumos relativos al peso no se encontraron diferencias entre las especies para las pruebas de 24 horas. Análisis de regresión entre las tasas de consumo versus las variables morfométricas y el peso mostraron poco valor explicativo en las pruebas de media hora de duración, mientras que en las pruebas de 24 horas de duración los análisis de regresión tuvieron un mayor valor explicativo, especialmente con el ancho de la boca. Por último, pruebas de media hora de duración fueron llevadas a cabo exponiendo a hembras de C. decemmaculatus con larvas de C. pipiens y Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1742) observándose una fuerte preferencia por las últimas. Este trabajo permitió evidenciar que las especies de peces en estudio presentan grandes diferencias en las tasas de consumo de C. pipiens en periodos cortos. Estas diferencias se atenuaron cuando las tasas de consumo se prolongaron y hasta llegar a desaparecer cuando el peso se tuvo en cuenta.

This thesis examines three questions: first, do national government coalitions favour local governments connected to them to receive local public goods? Secondly, does favouritism in the allocation of public goods imply large welfare losses? Finally, how national governments form, and what are the consequences of this for national policy making? These questions are answered in the particular context of Brazil, where rich data on national politics and local public good allocation is available. The first chapter of the thesis summarizes aspects of the Brazilian context that are relevant for the rest of the thesis – covering aspects of Brazilian national politics, and of the rules for allocation of funds for local public goods. The chapter also discusses the disaggregated data on the universe of matching grant transfers from the Brazilian national government to municipalities, used in the second and third chapters. The second chapter answers the following question: are regions connected to the national government favoured to receive funding for local public goods? While a broad literature shows that “politically connected” regions receive more funds from national governments, it is unclear whether this reflects favouritism, or simply connections allowing the national government to know better the needs of regions connected to them. The chapter finds evidence broadly consistent with favouritism. The third chapter then examines the welfare losses associated with favouritism. I build a model of grant requests by cities and approvals by the national government and provide estimates of the model’s parameters. Despite ample evidence of favouritism, if the only source of conflict between the national government and society is due to favouritism, the welfare losses for society due to favouritism are of the order of 0.24% of the budget for grants. The second and third chapters suggest large effects of the national coalition over local public good provision. The fourth and final chapter, instead, analyses how national coalitions interact with national policies. More precisely, do government coalitions form to include legislators ideologically close to the executive, or ideologically unattached legislators whose votes are “easier to buy”? Moreover, what are the consequences of this for policy making at the national level – in particular, for roll call votes in the chamber of deputies?

In the standard neoclassical approach to analyzing monopoly, monopolies are merely assumed to exist. This assumption has never set well with many economists, who argue that there should be competition for monopolies just as there is competition within an industry. The issue has been considered recently within what has come to be known as 'rent-seeking' literature.1 While the rent-seeking literature has many dimensions, one of its central arguments is that the competition for monopolies increases the welfare loss resulting from them.2 The rent-seeking model argues that the welfare loss from monopoly is not only the 'Harberger' triangle; it also includes an amount related to the monopolist's profit and in the special case of 'competitive rent-seeking' the welfare loss from rent-seeking equals the entire monopoly profits. Thus, in the special case of competitive rent-seeking the total welfare loss from monopoly is given by the shaded trapezoid in Figure 1.

The traditional economic model create wealth and bring the problems of resources, energy and environment. So we need to change the traditional economic model, realize coupling optimization on industrial system, natural systems and social system by using ecological development model, promote the natural, social and economic coordinated development.

This chapter starts by reflecting on the notion of value in economics. It then describes how economic decision-making models are framed and examines their moral dimension. The foundations of traditional economic decision-making models contrast with the emphasis of psychological research on the role of deontological considerations in decision-making. The focus is on a specific deontological value, so called values. The chapter describes the main characteristics of individuals endowed with protected values in particular when these values focus on honesty, and reviews experimental evidence on the role of protected values for honesty in economic decision-making. Finally, some speculative thoughts are offered on the relevance of research on moral values for business policies, incentive design, and regulation. Also discussed are some open research questions regarding the role of moral values in economic decision-making.

Happiness equations for Malawi are estimated using a new household survey. It is apparent that absolute consumption level is strongly associated with satisfaction. Both objective and subjective relative consumption in the neighbourhood is positively associated with satisfaction. Male satisfaction is associated strongly with relative consumption but female satisfaction is not. Separated or widowed females are less happy than males indicating a vulnerability that acts as a disincentive to leave husbands during marital problems. Polygamous females in traditional religions are less satisfied than other females whilst there is some evidence that male Muslims in polygamous relationships are more satisfied. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Wicked problems in environmental economics refer to complex, multifaceted issues that defy straightforward solutions due to the interplay of social, economic, and environmental factors. These problems are often characterized by uncertainty, competing values, and dynamic conditions, making them challenging to address through traditional economic models or policy approaches. One of the key characteristics of wicked problems is that they lack a clear, definitive solution. Unlike “tame” problems, where outcomes can be predicted and optimized, wicked problems involve multiple stakeholders with diverse interests and values. For example, climate change, biodiversity loss, and water resource management are all wicked problems because they affect various sectors—agriculture, energy, and ecosystems—each with their own priorities. What benefits one group may harm another, creating conflicts over the best course of action. Another complicating factor is the high level of uncertainty associated with wicked problems. Scientific data and economic models can help predict potential outcomes, but they often cannot capture the full scope of these issues, especially when considering long-term environmental impacts. In environmental economics, this uncertainty is exacerbated by the interdependence of ecological systems and human activities. Wicked problems are also dynamic, meaning they evolve over time as new information becomes available and as social, economic, and environmental conditions change. Finally, the resolution of wicked problems often involves trade-offs between competing goals, such as economic growth and environmental protection. These trade-offs are inherently political, as different stakeholders—governments, industries, communities, and advocacy groups—often have divergent views on what should be prioritized. This complicates the policy process, requiring negotiation and collaboration across sectors.

This article explores the emerging field of Behavioral Macroeconomics, which seeks to integrate insights from psychology into traditional economic models. The intersection of behavioral science and macroeconomics opens new avenues for understanding economic phenomena by incorporating human behavior, emotions, and cognitive biases into the analysis. We examine key principles, methodologies, and challenges in this interdisciplinary approach, emphasizing the potential implications for policy-making and the broader understanding of economic dynamics.

SUMMARYOBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption of ultra-processed foods by Brazilian pregnant women and its association with the nutritional quality of the diet.METHODS:This is a prospective and cross-sectional study with food consumption data of Brazilian pregnant women from the 2017 to 2018 Family Budgets Survey (Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares). Food consumption was measured using two 24-h food recalls, and the foods were categorized according to the NOVA classification. The averages of absolute and relative energy consumption for each of the NOVA groups and subgroups were estimated. The sociodemographic characteristics described the diet's caloric contribution of ultra-processed and non-ultra-processed food fractions. Linear regression models were used to describe the association between quintiles of the caloric contribution of ultra-processed foods and the average content of nutrients in the diet.RESULTS:Consumption of ultra-processed foods represented 20.9% of the total calories in the diet of Brazilian pregnant women. There was a higher energy contribution of ultra-processed foods in the diet of pregnant women living in urban areas (22%), with higher per capita income (23.7%), and in the south region of the country (26.9%). In addition, the data showed an association between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods with reduced intake of protein, carbohydrate, fiber, potassium, iron, zinc, and folate and increased intake of total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, and free sugar.CONCLUSION:Results show that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with a reduction in the nutritional quality of the diet of Brazilian pregnant women.

Sensitization and allergy to legumes can be influenced by different factors, such as exposure, geographical background, and food processing. Sensitization and the allergic response to legumes differs considerably, however, the reason behind this is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate if there is a correlation between legume protein consumption and the prevalence of legume sensitization. Furthermore, the association between sensitization to specific peanut allergens and their concentration in peanut is investigated. Legume sensitization data (peanut, soybean, lupin, lentil, and pea) from studies were analyzed in relation to consumption data obtained from national food consumption surveys using the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS), and What We Eat in America—Food Commodity Intake Database (WWEIA-FCID) databases. Data were stratified for children <4 years, children 4–18 years, and adults. Sufficient data were available for peanut to allow for statistical analysis. Analysis of all age groups together resulted in a low correlation between peanut sensitization and relative peanut consumption (r = 0.407), absolute peanut consumption (r = 0.468), and percentage of peanut consumers (r = 0.243). No correlation was found between relative concentrations of Ara h 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 in peanut and sensitization to these peanut allergens. The results indicate that the amount of consumption only plays a minor role in the prevalence of sensitization to peanut. Other factors, such as the intrinsic properties of the different proteins, processing, matrix, frequency, timing and route of exposure, and patient factors might play a more substantial role in the prevalence of peanut sensitization.

The effect of acute calcium slow-channel antagonism on the cardiorespiratory responses of 12 healthy males was studied during multistage maximal exercise testing. Oral diltiazem (60 mg), nifedipine (10 mg), verapamil (80 mg), and placebo were administered in a randomized double-blind crossover fashion 1.5 h before an intermittent multistage cycle ergometer exercise test. At peak effort, heart rate, pulmonary ventilation, CO2 production, and respiratory exchange ratio were not significantly modified by drug ingestion. In contrast, maximal O2 consumption (2.6% reduction, P less than 0.02) and performance time (6.4% reduction, P less than 0.02) were reduced by nifedipine. During submaximal exercise, the chronotropic response was accentuated by nifedipine but not by diltiazem or verapamil. Furthermore, nifedipine altered the relationship of percentage of maximal O2 consumption to percentage of maximal heart rate, and both the relative and absolute O2 consumption corresponding to 70% and 85% of the maximal heart rate were significantly reduced after nifedipine ingestion. The results indicated that in persons without symptomatic coronary artery disease exercise performed at a given percentage of the maximal heart rate will yield a lower than expected relative and absolute intensity in the presence of acute nifedipine-induced calcium slow-channel antagonism.