Borders and the mobility of migrants in Luxembourg

E-print/Working paper (2019)

This country report sought to explore the border as a site of control and the ways in which it interferes with migrants’ (asylum seekers, refugees and rejected asylum seekers) trajectories before, upon ... [more ▼]

This country report sought to explore the border as a site of control and the ways in which it interferes with migrants’ (asylum seekers, refugees and rejected asylum seekers) trajectories before, upon and after arrival in Luxembourg. To this end, it explored, through qualitative interviews with a total of 29 state and civil society actors and migrants, as well as ethnographic observation at Findel airport, Luxembourg’s only external border, the multiple conceptualisations and experiences of borders. It has identified that the suppression of internal controls within the Schengen area has been accompanied by a surge of controls within the member states, either at the stage of lodging an asylum claim, or at the street level, where migrants can be stopped and searched by police officers. Furthermore, the data showed that the migrants interviewed not only did they experience bordering practices during their interactions with public actors, but they were also subject to bordering during their interactions with private actors from the housing and employment market. The principal finding of this research with regards to the interplay between borders and the mobility of migrants is that cross-border mobility is commonplace, the migrants’ mobility practices reflecting the movements of the local population. As such, borders do not represent efficient mechanisms of control which can prevent migrants’ mobility trajectories. [less ▲]

Regrouping for Justice: Could Regional Inter-Governmental Organisations Save International Criminal Justice?

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Refining transparency and responsible investment?: The case of EIB and sustainable finance

E-print/Working paper (2019)

On 8 January 2019, an action was brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union (hereafter CJEU) by an environmental law charity, ClientEarth (hereafter applicant) against a multilateral ... [more ▼]

On 8 January 2019, an action was brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union (hereafter CJEU) by an environmental law charity, ClientEarth (hereafter applicant) against a multilateral development bank (hereafter MDB) and European institution, the European Investment Bank (hereafter EIB). The case concerns the financing by the bank of a biomass energy generating project in Northern Spain – Galicia -, of the cost of 60 million euros, followed by the bank’s refusal to refine its decision to finance the aforementioned investment, regardless the applicant’s request for an internal review of this decision on April 2018. The applicant bases the request for an internal review on alleged ‘errors in the assessment of the financing combined with the provision of minimal information regarding the funding decision’. The main claim brought by the applicant involves the annulment of EIB’s refusal to conduct an internal review and subject its decision to scrutiny, as requested under Article 10 of the Aarhus Regulation (hereafter Regulation), bringing into discussion implementation issues of both International and European law. [less ▲]

Regulating banks for the public? The dilemmas of prudential regulation

E-print/Working paper (2019)

The regulation of banking activities present policymakers with a conundrum: while essential for a healthy and growing economy, they also present important risks of crises that affect all citizens ... [more ▼]

The regulation of banking activities present policymakers with a conundrum: while essential for a healthy and growing economy, they also present important risks of crises that affect all citizens. Prudential regulation is intended to contain the risks while enabling the socially beneficial functions of banks, but the shadow of financial interests influence hangs over the regulatory process. Assessing the reality and extent of this influence, this paper argues, requires first to acquire asound understanding of the social costs and benefits of banking, and the capacity of regulation to promote social welfare. This paper then offers the reader a review of the main issues covered in the literature and suggests some lessons for the study of financial interest groups. [less ▲]

The European Citizens’ Initiative: Ever more accessible and ever more influential? Comments on C-420/16P Izsák and Dabis

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Futuristic Project Becoming a Reality: Self-Driving Cars in Luxembourg

E-print/Working paper (2019)

WHY IS THE MARKET SKEWNESS-RETURN RELATIONSHIP NEGATIVE?

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Mitochondrial morphology provides a mechanism for energy buffering at synapses

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Mitochondria as the main energy suppliers of eukaryotic cells are highly dynamic organelles that fuse, divide and are transported along the cytoskeleton to ensure cellular energy homeostasis. While these ... [more ▼]

Mitochondria as the main energy suppliers of eukaryotic cells are highly dynamic organelles that fuse, divide and are transported along the cytoskeleton to ensure cellular energy homeostasis. While these processes are well established, substantial evidence indicates that the internal structure is also highly variable in dependence on metabolic conditions. However, a quantitative mechanistic understanding of how mitochondrial morphology affects energetic states is still elusive. To address this question, we here present an agent-based dynamic model using three-dimensional morphologies from electron microscopy tomography which considers the molecular dynamics of the main ATP production components. We apply our modeling approach to mitochondria at the synapse which is the largest energy consumer within the brain. Interestingly, comparing the spatiotemporal simulations with a corresponding space-independent approach, we find minor space dependence when the system relaxes toward equilibrium but a qualitative difference in fluctuating environments. These results suggest that internal mitochondrial morphology is not only optimized for ATP production but also provides a mechanism for energy buffering and may represent a mechanism for cellular robustness. [less ▲]

Les Lorrains actifs à l'étranger, analyse au niveau communal

E-print/Working paper (2019)

A growing number of people living in Lorraine cross the border for work. Today, there are more than 100 000 commuters, the majority of them working in Luxembourg. The flow of commuters into Luxembourg is ... [more ▼]

A growing number of people living in Lorraine cross the border for work. Today, there are more than 100 000 commuters, the majority of them working in Luxembourg. The flow of commuters into Luxembourg is on the increase, whereas commuting into Germany continues to shrink. The analysis of com-munes of residence shows a high proportion of cross-border commuters living as the active population in close vicinity to Luxembourg, but many also live in communes further afield; this phenomenon is moving beyond the borders and raises many issues: environmental, social and economic … [less ▲]

Monetary Policy Transmission to Consumer Financial Stress and Durable Consumption

E-print/Working paper (2019)

We examine the effects of monetary policy on household self-assessed financial stress and durable consumption using panel data from eighteen annual waves of the British Household Panel Survey. For ... [more ▼]

We examine the effects of monetary policy on household self-assessed financial stress and durable consumption using panel data from eighteen annual waves of the British Household Panel Survey. For identification, we exploit random variation in household exposure to interest rates generated by the random timing of household interview dates with respect to policy rate changes. After accounting for household and month-year-of- interview fixed effects, we uncover significant heterogeneities in the way monetary policy affects household groups that differ in housing and saving status. In particular, an increase in the interest rate induces financial stress among mortgagors and renters, while it lessens financial stress of savers. We find symmetric effects on durable consumption, mainly driven by mortgagors with high debt burden or limited access to liquidity and younger renters who are prospective home buyers. [less ▲]

Déchiffrer le phénomène des travailleurs transfrontaliers en Suisse

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Cross-border workers form a little-known but numerous population in Switzerland. Beyond clichés, this contribution brings together the main characteristics of this population based on official statistics ... [more ▼]

Cross-border workers form a little-known but numerous population in Switzerland. Beyond clichés, this contribution brings together the main characteristics of this population based on official statistics and the latest research. The introduction of the Freedom of Movement Agreement did not change the growth trend of the population that remains to live and work in proximity of the border, mostly in France and near-Switzerland agglomerations. Conversely, the occupational areas and levels have diversified. Generally, cross-border workers have no negative influence on the labour market, except on salary level in some economic sectors in Ticino. The initiation of the “priority to Swiss residents” will not change the situation, which relates above all to the economic evolution. [less ▲]

Les Lorrains actifs à l'étranger : une analyse cartographique au niveau communal

E-print/Working paper (2019)

A growing number of people living in Lorraine cross the border for work. Today, there are more than 100 000 commuters, the majority of them working in Luxembourg. The flow of commuters into Luxem-bourg is ... [more ▼]

A growing number of people living in Lorraine cross the border for work. Today, there are more than 100 000 commuters, the majority of them working in Luxembourg. The flow of commuters into Luxem-bourg is on the increase, whereas commuting into Germany continues to shrink. The analysis of com-munes of residence shows a high proportion of cross-border commuters living as the active population in close vicinity to Luxembourg, but many also live in communes further afield; this phenomenon is moving beyond the borders and raises many issues: environmental, social and economic … [less ▲]

5. Forschungsbericht zur Weiterentwicklung des Arbeitsqualitätsindexes in Luxemburg

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Der „Quality of Work Index Luxembourg“ (QoW)-Survey, der von der Universität Luxemburg und der luxemburgischen Chambre des Salariés konzipiert wurde (Steffgen, Kohl, 2013; Sischka, Steffgen, 2015, 2016 ... [more ▼]

Der „Quality of Work Index Luxembourg“ (QoW)-Survey, der von der Universität Luxemburg und der luxemburgischen Chambre des Salariés konzipiert wurde (Steffgen, Kohl, 2013; Sischka, Steffgen, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), wurde 2018 zum sechsten Mal durchgeführt. Ziel des Surveys ist es, die erlebte Arbeitssituation und -qualität luxemburgischer Arbeitnehmer zu erfassen. Der vorliegende Bericht dokumentiert die psychometrische Testung der Güte des aktuellen Erhebungsinstruments. In einem ersten Schritt erfolgt eine Beschreibung der Befragungsumstände sowie eine demographische Beschreibung der Stichprobe. Da die Erhebung 2018 als Mixed-Mode-Design – telefonische als auch Online-Befragung – durchgeführt wurde, wird auch analysiert, ob Stichprobenunterschiede zwischen den beiden Erhebungsmodi auftreten. Außerdem wird geklärt, ob es hinsichtlich demographischer Eigenschaften der Befragten, hinsichtlich der QoW-Skalen oder hinsichtlich verschiedener Well-Being-Maße zu systematischen Ausfällen seit der letzten Welle gekommen ist. Dann werden die Items der QoW- und Well-Being-Skalen auf fehlende Werte untersucht und es erfolgt eine Beschreibung der Items mittels verteilungsbeschreibender Maßzahlen und Balkendiagramme. In einem nächsten Schritt werden die Skalen mittels verschiedener Reliabilitätsstatistiken (Cronbach’s Alpha, Korrelationsanalysen der Items) sowie Koeffizienten zur Beschreibung der Skalenverteilung überprüft. Außerdem werden die Zusammenhänge der Skalen mittels Korrelationsanalysen überprüft. Im Anschluss daran wird die unterstellte Faktorenstruktur mittels konfirmatorischer Faktoren-analysen getestet. Die QoW-Skalen werden außerdem auf verschiedene Well-Being-Skalen regressiert, um deren Relevanz für den QoW-Index zu prüfen. Ebenso werden einige Längsschnitt-Regressionsanalysen durchgeführt, um zu überprüfen ob einige Arbeitsbedingungen längerfristige Effekte auf das Well-Being der Arbeitnehmer aufweisen. Die QoW-Befragung 2018 hat außerdem das Schwerpunktthema „Work-Life-Balance“ behandelt. Die Güte der Skalen zu diesem Thema wird ebenfalls geprüft. Im Anschluss werden dann Korrelationen mit den QoW- und Well-Being-Skalen berechnet. Abschließend wird das gesamte Erhebungsinstrument zusammenfassend diskutiert und Emp-fehlungen bezüglich zukünftiger Befragungen gegeben. [less ▲]

BORDERS IN THE LIVES OF ASYLUM SEEKERS & REFUGEES IN LUXEMBOURG & METZ

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Weshalb wechseln Arbeitnehmer ihren Arbeitgeber?

E-print/Working paper (2019)

4,4% der Befragten des Quality of Work Survey hat zwischen den Erhebungen 2017 und 2018 den Arbeitgeber gewechselt. Vor allem die jüngsten Arbeitnehmer (16 bis 24 Jahre) sowie Arbeitnehmer mit einer ... [more ▼]

4,4% der Befragten des Quality of Work Survey hat zwischen den Erhebungen 2017 und 2018 den Arbeitgeber gewechselt. Vor allem die jüngsten Arbeitnehmer (16 bis 24 Jahre) sowie Arbeitnehmer mit einer befristeten Arbeitsstelle wechselten eher ihren Arbeitgeber. Je geringer Partizipation und Feedback, je höher Mobbing, und je geringer Einkommenszufriedenheit, Ausbildungs- und Beförderungsmöglichkeiten ausfallen, desto höher die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines Arbeitgeberwechsels. Arbeitnehmer, die den Arbeitgeber gewechselt haben, weisen dann im Mittel einen Zuwachs an Wohlbefinden auf. [less ▲]

Rank n swapping algebra for Grassmannian

E-print/Working paper (2019)

The rank n swapping algebra is the Poisson algebra defined on the ordered pairs of points on a circle using the linking numbers, where a subspace of (K^n×K^{n∗})^r/GL(n,K) is its geometric mode. In this ... [more ▼]

The rank n swapping algebra is the Poisson algebra defined on the ordered pairs of points on a circle using the linking numbers, where a subspace of (K^n×K^{n∗})^r/GL(n,K) is its geometric mode. In this paper, we find an injective Poisson homomorphism from the Poisson algebra on Grassmannian G(n,r) arising from boundary measurement map to the rank n swapping fraction algebra. [less ▲]

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals multiple neuronal cell types in human midbrain-specific organoids

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Human stem cell-derived organoids have great potential for modelling physiological and pathological processes. They recapitulate in vitro the organisation and function of a respective organ or part of an ... [more ▼]

Human stem cell-derived organoids have great potential for modelling physiological and pathological processes. They recapitulate in vitro the organisation and function of a respective organ or part of an organ. Human midbrain organoids (hMOs) have been described to contain midbrain-specific dopaminergic neurons that release the neurotransmitter dopamine. However, the human midbrain contains also additional neuronal cell types, which are functionally interacting with each other. Here, we analysed hMOs at high-resolution by means of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), imaging and electrophysiology to unravel cell heterogeneity. Our findings demonstrate that hMOs show essential neuronal functional properties as spontaneous electrophysiological activity of different neuronal subtypes, including dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons. Recapitulating these in vivo features makes hMOs an excellent tool for in vitro disease phenotyping and drug discovery. [less ▲]

Energy policies for eco-friendly households in Luxembourg—a study based on the LuxHEI model

E-print/Working paper (2019)

In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the residential building sector is a major energy consumer and greenhouse gases emitter that is considered key in achieving the country's climate goals. The purpose of ... [more ▼]

In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the residential building sector is a major energy consumer and greenhouse gases emitter that is considered key in achieving the country's climate goals. The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of the most important policy instruments in achieving savings in the final energy consumption and direct CO2 emissions of Luxembourgish households. Our study is based on the LuxHEI model, which is an enhanced and upgraded version of the well-known French simulation model Res-IRF. This variant has been adjusted to the particular problems of a small country with growing economy and a quickly increasing population. The LuxHEI model goes beyond standard energy-economy models by incorporating global warming as a decision-making factor. The model outcomes reveal that total environmental and economic effectiveness increases if energy policy tools are applied concurrently. In 2060, and compared to the no-policy baseline scenario, the most aspirational policy mix enables energy savings of 42% and an emission mitigation of 60%. From our results we can draw the following policy implications: for a significant improvement of the sector's energy efficiency and sufficiency, (1) the implementation of a remediation duty for existing buildings and (2) the tightening of the performance standards for new constructions, (3) combined with a national carbon tax, are crucial. [less ▲]

4. Forschungsbericht zur Weiterentwicklung des Arbeitsqualitätsindexes in Luxemburg

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Der Survey zu dem „Quality of Work Index Luxembourg“ (QoW), der von der Universität Luxemburg und der luxemburgischen Chambré des Salariés entwickelt wurde (Steffgen, Kohl, 2013; Sischka, Steffgen, 2015 ... [more ▼]

Der Survey zu dem „Quality of Work Index Luxembourg“ (QoW), der von der Universität Luxemburg und der luxemburgischen Chambré des Salariés entwickelt wurde (Steffgen, Kohl, 2013; Sischka, Steffgen, 2015, 2016, 2017), wurde 2017 bereits zum fünften Mal mittels einer telefonischen Befragung durchgeführt. Ziel des Index ist es, die erlebte Arbeitssituation und -qualität luxemburgischer Arbeitnehmer zu erfassen. Der vorliegende Bericht dokumentiert die psychometrische Testung der Güte des aktuellen Erhebungsinstruments. Dazu erfolgt zunächst eine Beschreibung der für die Skalen genutzten Items, die Überprüfung der internen Konsistenz der jeweiligen Skala mittels verschiedener Reliabilitätsstatistiken (Cronbach’s Alpha, Korrelationsanalysen der Items) sowie Koeffizienten zur Beschreibung der Skalenverteilung. Konfirmatorische Faktorenanalysen dienen dazu, zu testen, ob die Items auf den a priori festgelegten Faktoren laden und ob sich die unterstellte Faktorenstruktur auch in den Daten zeigt. Außerdem werden die Zusammenhänge der Skalen mittels Korrelationsanalysen über-prüft. Die QoW-Skalen werden außerdem auf verschiedene Well-Being-Skalen regressiert, um deren Relevanz für den QoW-Index zu prüfen. Da der QoW Survey teilweise als Panelbefragung durchgeführt wird, wird außerdem geklärt, ob es hinsichtlich demographischer Eigenschaften der Befragten, hinsichtlich der QoW-Skalen oder hinsichtlich verschiedener Well-Being-Maße zu systematischen Ausfällen seit der letzten Welle gekommen ist. Ebenso werden einige Längsschnitt-Regressionsanalysen gerechnet, um zu überprüfen, ob einige Arbeitsbedingungen längerfristige Effekte auf das Well-Being der Arbeitnehmer aufweisen. Die QoW-Befragung 2017 hat außerdem das Schwerpunktthema „Digitalisierung“ behandelt. Die Themenblöcke werden mittels Latenter Profile-Analysen untersucht. Im Anschluss wird überprüft ob sich die extrahierten Profile hinsichtlich der QoW- und der Well-Being-Skalen unterscheiden. Abschließend wird das gesamte Erhebungsinstrument zusammenfassend diskutiert und Empfehlungen bezüglich der weiteren Entwicklung der Skalen gegeben. [less ▲]

Taxonomien computergestützter Forschung. Digitale Methoden und die Digital Humanities

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Corporate Governance and Skewness in Stock Returns

E-print/Working paper (2019)

This paper analyzes the relationship between corporate governance and idiosyncratic skewness of stock returns. We test this hypothesis by analyzing the impact of external as well as internal governance ... [more ▼]

This paper analyzes the relationship between corporate governance and idiosyncratic skewness of stock returns. We test this hypothesis by analyzing the impact of external as well as internal governance provisions, and are thus able to provide an overall understanding of the relationship between governance and firm-specific return asymmetries. Our results show that better governance leads to a reduction in idiosyncratic skewness in relatively non-competitive industries. In relatively competitive industries, governance has less to no impact on firm-specific return skewness. Furthermore, an overall increase in transparency, quality and disclosure of information, proxied through the Sarbanes Oxley Act, reduces relative idiosyncratic skewness. Our findings can be regarded as detrimental for shareholders, who have a preference for positive idiosyncratic skewness. The evidence contributes to a debate, which suggests that – at the end of the day – an act like Sarbanes-Oxley, which was intended to protect shareholders from accounting errors and frauds and to improve the accuracy of corporate disclosures, comes at the expenses of shareholders. The reduction of idiosyncratic skewness through better governance collides with shareholder’s preference for idiosyncratic and positively skewed stock returns, which present a lottery like upside option of monetary gains and value creation through the right tail. This side effect of governance is also in line with the literature that highlights potential costs of corporate governance. [less ▲]

COP 24 and Climate Finance: A Stepping Stone or a Blurred Line?

E-print/Working paper (2019)

In December 2018, the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), took place in Katowice, Poland. The main objective of those ... [more ▼]

In December 2018, the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), took place in Katowice, Poland. The main objective of those negotiations was to finalize the so called ‘Paris Rulebook’ [the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP)], which would constitute a set of rules to implement and operationalize the Paris Agreement. The issues at stakes varied from mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage, to more technical issues, such as transparency, climate finance and carbon market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement. This post focuses on the progress made on the issue of climate finance based on an analysis of the COP 24 decision on the relevant issues. [less ▲]

Follow the Money, If You Can - Possible Solutions for Enhanced FIU Cooperation Under Improved Data Protection Rules

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Financial information can play a key role in tackling Money Laundering (ML), Terrorist Financing (TF) and combatting serious crime more generally. Preventing and fighting ML and the financing of terrorism ... [more ▼]

Financial information can play a key role in tackling Money Laundering (ML), Terrorist Financing (TF) and combatting serious crime more generally. Preventing and fighting ML and the financing of terrorism were top priorities of the European Agenda on Security, which might explain the fast developments regarding the regulation of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorism Financing (CTF). During the past years, the European Commission (Commission) proposed several legal texts to reform the current AML framework and to facilitate timely law enforcement (LE) access to financial data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of serious crime. The line between administrative sanctions and criminal law measures seems to become increasingly blurred, as the latest proposals are no longer based on an internal market provision, but on police and judicial cooperation legal bases. Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) play a crucial role in analysing and exchanging information concerning suspicious transactions, serving as intermediaries between the private sector and Law Enforcement Authorities (LEAs). Because of the international nature of financial crime, cooperation between FIUs is of paramount importance. Yet, due to different organizational settings in the EU Member States, FIUs are not always able to exchange data effectively, which leads to information gaps. One of the reasons why the data exchange between FIUs is impeded are data protection rules that apply differently depending on the organizational structure of the FIUs in the 28 Member States. Whereas some FIUs must adhere to the stricter data protection rules under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), others may exchange data more flexibly within the scope of the data protection Directive for police and criminal justice authorities (LED). Therefore, the counter-argument to granting broader LE-access rights to financial data by LEAs could be to enable a more effective exchange of data between FIUs. This article argues that FIUs should be able to process personal data within the scope of the LED, in order to have more flexibility to receive, analyse and exchange data: On the one hand, the LED provides sufficiently high data protection standards and adequate safeguards for data subjects while allowing FIUs to carry out their tasks effectively under harmonized rules. On the other hand, this would be an argument to strengthening the role of FIUs as neutral intermediaries instead of granting additional access to personal data by LEAs. [less ▲]

ApproXON: Heuristic Approximation to the E-Field-Threshold for Deep Brain Stimulation Volume-of-Tissue-Activated Estimation

E-print/Working paper (2019)

This paper introduces a heuristic approximation of the e-field threshold used for volume-of-tissue activated computation in deep brain stimulation. Pulse width and axon diameter are used as predictors. An ... [more ▼]

This paper introduces a heuristic approximation of the e-field threshold used for volume-of-tissue activated computation in deep brain stimulation. Pulse width and axon diameter are used as predictors. An open source implementation in MATLAB is provided together with an integration in the open LeadDBS deep brain stimulation research toolbox. [less ▲]

Entire surfaces of constant curvature in Minkowski 3-space

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Les auteurs programmés en milieu scolaire

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Individual Attitudes towards Immigration in Aging Populations

E-print/Working paper (2019)

This research empirically establishes the hypothesis that the process of population aging in a society as a whole affects the attitudes of its members towards immigration. Hence, an aging social ... [more ▼]

This research empirically establishes the hypothesis that the process of population aging in a society as a whole affects the attitudes of its members towards immigration. Hence, an aging social environment exerts an effect on the attitudes of individuals towards immigration after accounting for their age and other individual characteristics. We test this hypothesis in a multilevel analysis of individuals living in 25 European OECD countries over the period 2002-2017. Our measure of “societal population aging” is the old-age dependency ratio. “Attitudes” are taken from immigration related questions in eight consecutive rounds of the European Social Survey. For these attitudes we find non-linear, U-shaped relationships. Hence, the effect of societal population aging on individual attitudes towards immigration is negative in young societies and positive in old ones. [less ▲]

Artistic Research in Art Music. Reflections on the Artistic Research Project ‘Music with the Real’

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Should we punish managers for taking too much risk? And if so, how?

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Distributional change: Assessing the contribution of household income sources

E-print/Working paper (2019)

We develop a decomposition of distributional change by factor components to quantify how changes in the association between sources of income and changes in their marginal distributions contribute to the ... [more ▼]

We develop a decomposition of distributional change by factor components to quantify how changes in the association between sources of income and changes in their marginal distributions contribute to the change in the distribution of household incomes over time. The two components are further broken down to isolate the contribution of specific income sources. Application to the change in the distribution of household incomes in Luxembourg between 2004 and 2013 reveals contrasted results: increased association between spouse earnings, public transfers, and taxes depressed the income share of poor households while changes in marginal distributions increased incomes in the upper half of the distribution. [less ▲]

Automation, Economic Growth, and the Labor Share - A Comment on Prettner (2019)

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Prettner (2019) studies the implications of automation for economic growth and the labor share in a variant of the Solow-Swan model. The aggregate production function allows for two types of capital ... [more ▼]

Prettner (2019) studies the implications of automation for economic growth and the labor share in a variant of the Solow-Swan model. The aggregate production function allows for two types of capital, traditional and automation capital. Traditional capital and labor are imperfect substitutes whereas automation capital and labor are perfect substitutes. In this paper, we point to a flaw in Prettner’s analysis that invalidates his main analytical and computational findings. In contrast to Prettner, we argue that both kinds of capital are perfect substitutes as stores of value, and, therefore, must earn the same rate of return in equilibrium. Our computational analysis shows that the model dramatically overestimates the actual decline in the US labor share over the last 50 years. [less ▲]

Trade and Vertical Differentiation

E-print/Working paper (2019)

This paper discusses a trade model with many countries, many goods produced in multiple quality versions, and non-homothetic preferences. It embeds in the same model a series of results that have been ... [more ▼]

This paper discusses a trade model with many countries, many goods produced in multiple quality versions, and non-homothetic preferences. It embeds in the same model a series of results that have been empirically confirmed: high-income countries specialize in the production of high-quality goods and trade more of those. Richer countries purchase more high-quality varieties. They import more high-quality products from the most productive exporters. The paper then studies the impact of productivity and population changes on the quality composition of exports. It finally explains why countries import higher quality goods from more distant countries. [less ▲]

Extensional Higher-Order Paramodulation in Leo-III

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit als Praxisformation. Perspektiven für eine alternative Kooperationsforschung

E-print/Working paper (2019)

The paper presents a practice-sociological approach to the description and analysis of cross-border cooperation. For this purpose, the development of cooperation research, its characteristic orientations ... [more ▼]

The paper presents a practice-sociological approach to the description and analysis of cross-border cooperation. For this purpose, the development of cooperation research, its characteristic orientations as well as the fundamentals of practical theoretical thinking will be outlined. Based on this, the heuristic figure of thought of cross-border practice formation is developed, which breaks with the premises of conventional cooperation research. It will be further differentiated on the basis of four challenges of cross-border cooperation, in order to arrive at an alternative perspective on cross-border cooperation. The following is an outlook, which deals with the research-specific features of the approach presented, with a view to a future practice-sociological and multidisciplinary cooperation research. [less ▲]

Unramifiedness of weight one Hilbert Hecke algebras

E-print/Working paper (2019)

We prove that the Galois pseudo-representation valued in the mod p^n parallel weight 1 Hecke algebra for GL(2) over a totally real number field F is unramified at a place above p if p-1 does not divide ... [more ▼]

We prove that the Galois pseudo-representation valued in the mod p^n parallel weight 1 Hecke algebra for GL(2) over a totally real number field F is unramified at a place above p if p-1 does not divide the ramification index at that place. A novel geometric ingredient is the construction and study, in the case when p ramifies in F, of generalised Theta-operators using Reduzzi-Xiao's generalised Hasse invariants, including especially an injectivity criterion in terms of minimal weights. [less ▲]

A Commentary on the Right to an Effective Remedy in the Case Law of the CJEU

E-print/Working paper (2019)

The right to an effective judicial remedy is an essential element of realising the rule of law. It is the fundamental right granting individuals the possibility to request independent review of compliance ... [more ▼]

The right to an effective judicial remedy is an essential element of realising the rule of law. It is the fundamental right granting individuals the possibility to request independent review of compliance with the legal provisions. The genius of protecting as an individual fundamental right this structural notion of independent judicial review, has much contributed to the prominence and the protection of judicial accountability and effective enforcement of EU law. Yet, this critical commentary on the right to an effective remedy shows that the case law of the CJEU has predominantly aimed at ensuring Member State compliance with the right to an effective remedy. When it comes to reviewing EU law provisions against this right, the general considerations of ensuring effective judicial remedies are a lot less pressing, and accordingly, the CJEU has decided to be less stringent in its application of the right. Such case law of the CJEU has left gaps in protection. The commentary ends with the observations that additional problems for the enforcement of the right to an effective remedy arise from the often-composite nature of procedures, linking one or several Member State bodies with European institutions and bodies in one single procedure. [less ▲]

Social division in the market: conspicous consumption with nationalist feelings

E-print/Working paper (2019)

In this paper, we explore the effects of conspicuous goods as a means of social division between native citizens and migrants. We push forward the hypothesis that choosing a particular good can confer a ... [more ▼]

In this paper, we explore the effects of conspicuous goods as a means of social division between native citizens and migrants. We push forward the hypothesis that choosing a particular good can confer a sense of place. We introduce this idea in an international vertical differentiation market with two variants and two social groups: migrants and natives. Natives are narrow-minded since they attribute a positive social value to the variant that complies with their own consumption culture. Migrants are open-minded. When consumers belonging to different groups meet, they exchange information about their consumption habits and consumption well-being that reveals their consumption culture: narrow-minded versus open-minded. Consequently, after meeting, some consumers may change beliefs (narrow-minded to open-minded or vice versa) and consumption choices. Using a dynamic model, we fully elucidate the steady-state equilibrium and highlight the impact of nationalism on migrant integration. [less ▲]

Les pratiques du quotidien transfrontalières dans la Grande Région SaarLorLux

E-print/Working paper (2019)

This paper analyses everyday practices carried out by the residents of the Saarland, Lorraine, Luxembourg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Wallonia in the neighbouring regions abroad. The key assumption is the ... [more ▼]

This paper analyses everyday practices carried out by the residents of the Saarland, Lorraine, Luxembourg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Wallonia in the neighbouring regions abroad. The key assumption is the consider-ation that the inhabitants of the Greater Region SaarLorLux define the transborder reality of life of this region through their cross-border performance of everyday practices. Such a socio-constructivist perspective is not interested in what the Greater Region SaarLorLux actually is, but in what ways it is constituted or how it manifests itself in the daily lives of its inhabitants. Therefor the most common cross-border everyday prac-tices, such as shopping for everyday needs, leisure-time shopping, outdoor recreation / tourism, cultural events, as well as visiting friends and family are looked at in greater detail. These observations are based on selected findings from three recent empirical studies of the study region, which have been linked to each other as well as socio-culturally and socioeconomically mapped in order to carve out the spatial organiza-tion, the motives and other contextual factors of cross-border everyday practices in the Greater Region SaarLorLux. This approach allows reconstructing mobility flows and spatial emphases in the context of everyday practices and gives insights into the nature of cross-border living realities in the Greater Region SaarLorLux. [less ▲]

UC Updatable Non-Hiding Committed Database with Efficient Zero-Knowledge Proofs

E-print/Working paper (2019)

We define an ideal functionality $\Functionality_{\DB}$ and a protocol $\mathrm{\Pi_{\DB}}$ for an updatable non-hiding committed database ($\DB$). $\DB$ is described as the task of storing a database ... [more ▼]

We define an ideal functionality $\Functionality_{\DB}$ and a protocol $\mathrm{\Pi_{\DB}}$ for an updatable non-hiding committed database ($\DB$). $\DB$ is described as the task of storing a database into a suitable data structure that allows you to efficiently prove in zero-knowledge (ZK) that a value is stored in the database at a certain position. The database is \emph{non-hiding} because both prover and verifier know its content. It is \emph{committed} in the sense that only ZK proofs about position-value pairs that are actually stored are possible. It is \emph{updatable} because its contents can be modified dynamically throughout the protocol execution. The $\DB$ task is used implicitly as building block of privacy-preserving protocols for e-commerce, smart billing and access control. In those protocols, this task is intertwined with others. Our functionality $\Functionality_{\DB}$ allows us to study constructions for this task in isolation. Furthermore, it allows us to improve modularity in protocol design, by using $\Functionality_{\DB}$ as building block of those protocols along with functionalities for other tasks. Our construction $\mathrm{\Pi_{\DB}}$ uses a non-hiding vector commitment (VC) scheme as building block. Thanks to the efficiency properties of non-hiding VC schemes, $\mathrm{\Pi_{\DB}}$ provides ZK proofs whose computation cost (after initialization) and whose size are both independent of the database size. Therefore, $\mathrm{\Pi_{\DB}}$ is suitable for large databases. Moreover, the database can be updated dynamically and very efficiently. [less ▲]

The political use of the term "moral hazard": evidence from policymakers of the Eurozone

E-print/Working paper (2019)

Accounting for the distributional effects of the 2007-2008 crisis and the Economic Adjustment Program in Portugal

E-print/Working paper (2019)

This paper develops a new method to model the household disposable income distribution and decompose changes in this distribution (or functionals such as inequality measures) over time. It integrates both ... [more ▼]

This paper develops a new method to model the household disposable income distribution and decompose changes in this distribution (or functionals such as inequality measures) over time. It integrates both a micro-econometric and microsimulation approaches, combining a flexible parametric modelling of the distribution of market income with the EUROMOD microsimulation model to simulate the value of taxes and benefits. The method allows for the quantification of the contributions of four main factors to changes in the disposable income distribution between any two years: (i) labour market structure; (ii) returns; (iii) demographic composition; and (iv) tax-benefit system. We apply this new framework to the study of changes in the income distribution in Portugal between 2007 and 2013, accounting for the distributional effects of the 2007-2008 crisis and aftermath policies, in particular the Economic Adjustment Program (EAP). Results show that these effects were substantial and reflected markedly different developments over two periods: 2007-2009, when stimulus packages determined important income gains for the bottom of the distribution and a decrease in income inequality; 2010-2013, when the crisis and austerity measures took a toll on the incomes of Portuguese households, particularly those at the bottom and top of the distribution, leading to an increase in income inequality. [less ▲]

Household credit and growth: International evidence

E-print/Working paper (2019)

This paper has two main objectives. First, it attempts to distinguish the effects of household and enterprise credit on economic growth for a large sample of developing and developed countries. Second, it ... [more ▼]

This paper has two main objectives. First, it attempts to distinguish the effects of household and enterprise credit on economic growth for a large sample of developing and developed countries. Second, it investigates the channels through which household credit affects economic growth. To do so, a new database covering 143 countries over the period 1995-2014 is employed. Econometric results show that household credit has a negative effect on growth, while business credit has a positive, albeit non significant, impact on growth. The literature provide two possible explanations to justify the negative effect of household credit. On the one hand, household credit expansion can induce more financial fragility. On the other hand, the negative impact of household credit could be explained by its effect on saving behaviors. Results provide some evidence indicating that the negative effect of household credit is more driven by the latter than the former. [less ▲]

The German Acton Improving Law Enforcement on Social NEtworks (NetzDG): A Blunt Sword?

E-print/Working paper (2018)

Bowditch's Q-conditions and Minsky's primitive stability

E-print/Working paper (2018)

For the action of the outer automorphism group of the rank two free group on the corresponding variety of PSL(2,C) characters, two domains of discontinuity have been known to exist that are strictly ... [more ▼]

For the action of the outer automorphism group of the rank two free group on the corresponding variety of PSL(2,C) characters, two domains of discontinuity have been known to exist that are strictly larger than the set of Schottky characters. One is introduced by Bowditch in 1998 (followed by Tan, Wong and Zhang in 2008) and the other by Minsky in 2013. We prove that these two domains are equal. We then show that they are contained in the set of characters having what we call the bounded intersection property. [less ▲]

THE PILATUS BANK SCANDAL: TIME TO RECONSIDER BANKING SUPERVISION, ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND WHISTLE-BLOWER’S PROTECTION IN THE EU

E-print/Working paper (2018)

Emploi et développement économique au sein de la Grande Région : développement économique différencié et impacts de l’emploi transfrontalier

E-print/Working paper (2018)

Axé sur le thème du développement économique et de l’emploi, ce rapport se consacrera plus spécifiquement au développement économique différencié (entre les diverses composantes de la Grande Région) et ... [more ▼]

Axé sur le thème du développement économique et de l’emploi, ce rapport se consacrera plus spécifiquement au développement économique différencié (entre les diverses composantes de la Grande Région) et aux impacts de l’emploi transfrontalier. Il se base sur l’expertise géographique et socioéconomique de ses auteurs, intéressés aux questions transfrontalières et plus particulièrement au phénomène de travail frontalier. [less ▲]

Migration patterns in Luxembourg

E-print/Working paper (2018)

Tägliches Essen von Obst und Gemüse / Consommation quotidienne de fruits et de légumes

E-print/Working paper (2018)

Ein hoher Gemüse- und Obstverzehr ist Teil eines gesunden Lebensstils. In der HBSC-Studie 2014 wurden die Schüler daher gefragt, wie häufig sie Obst und Gemüse essen: 37 % gaben an, täglich Obst zu essen ... [more ▼]

Ein hoher Gemüse- und Obstverzehr ist Teil eines gesunden Lebensstils. In der HBSC-Studie 2014 wurden die Schüler daher gefragt, wie häufig sie Obst und Gemüse essen: 37 % gaben an, täglich Obst zu essen und 32 % gaben den täglichen Verzehr von Gemüse an. Schüler der Altersgruppe 11-12 essen häufiger Obst und Gemüse als Schüler im Alter von 13-18. Der tägliche Konsum von Obst und Gemüse ist bei Mädchen häufiger als bei Jungen. Des Weiteren ist der tägliche Konsum bei Schülern aus wohlhabenden Familien weiter verbreitet als bei Schülern aus nicht wohlhabenden Familien. Schüler des Fondamental und des Enseignement secondaire geben einen täglichen Verzehr häufiger an als Schüler des Enseignement secondaire technique und des Modulaire. [less ▲]

Bewertung des Klassenklimas / Climat de classe

E-print/Working paper (2018)

In der HBSC-Studie 2014 sollten die Schüler die folgende Aussage zum Klassenklima bewerten: „Die meisten Schüler in meiner Klasse sind nett und hilfsbereit.“ 72 % stimmen dieser Aussage zu, 10 % lehnen ... [more ▼]

In der HBSC-Studie 2014 sollten die Schüler die folgende Aussage zum Klassenklima bewerten: „Die meisten Schüler in meiner Klasse sind nett und hilfsbereit.“ 72 % stimmen dieser Aussage zu, 10 % lehnen sie ab und 18 % wählen die neutrale Mittelkategorie. Getrennt nach Alter und Geschlecht zeigen sich kaum Unterschiede im wahrgenommenen Klassenklima. Allerdings bewerten Schüler des Fondamental und des Secondaire das Klassenklima besser als Schüler des Secondaire technique und des Modulaire. Je besser das Klassenklima bewertet wird, desto zufriedener sind die Schüler mit ihrem Leben und desto mehr mögen sie die Schule. [less ▲]

Qualität der Kommunikation in der Familie / Qualité de la communication au sein de la famille

E-print/Working paper (2018)

In der HBSC-Studie 2014 sollten die Schüler vier Aussagen zur Qualität der Kommunikation in ihrer Familie auf einer Skala von 1 (= niedrige Qualität) bis 5 (= hohe Qualität) bewerten. Über 80 % vergeben ... [more ▼]

In der HBSC-Studie 2014 sollten die Schüler vier Aussagen zur Qualität der Kommunikation in ihrer Familie auf einer Skala von 1 (= niedrige Qualität) bis 5 (= hohe Qualität) bewerten. Über 80 % vergeben gute Bewertungen im Bereich von 4 oder 5. Rund 12 % der Schüler bewerten die Qualität der Familienkommunikation im mittleren Bereich (3) und 5 % vergeben niedrige Bewertungen (1 oder 2). Ältere Schüler bewerten die Familienkommunikation schlechter als jüngere. Dementsprechend bewerten Schüler des Fondamental die Familienkommunikation besser als Schüler von Sekundarschulen. Schüler, die eine hohe Qualität angeben, berichten eine geringere Zahl von Gesundheitsbeschwerden. [less ▲]