Efficiency Analysis for Peruvian electricity distribution sector: Inefficiency’s explicative factors. A study for 2000 – 2008

"This paper estimates the inefficiency of Peruvian electricity distribution companies to determine if the expected results from the 90’s reform were met. To do this, we used data for 19 distribution companies for the period 2000 – 2008 using a Cost Stochastic Frontier approach and estimating inefficiency in a one-step procedure. The analysis suggests that private utilities are less inefficient than public Utilities because of better management practices. In other words, private management and investments had been favorable in terms of efficiency for the period studied. Also, regulation changes, especially in 2005, have increased distribution costs and geographical characteristics impact negatively on efficiency, especially in public Utilities. This can be explained by the fact that State investment in difficult areas, with public Utilities operating, imposes additional costs (management and operational) that makes them inefficient. Future investigations should focus in a Region Analysis, for the sake of a bigger Panel sample."Distribution sector, Utilities, Inefficiency, Ranking, Stochastic Frontier, Reform

Assembly and continuity in the proto principles of science of knowledge 1794 and 1804

Las siguientes consideraciones giran sólo sobre una finalidad: demostrar en Fichte el ensamble que existe en los principios, y sólo en ellos, de dos versiones de su doctrina de la ciencia. El escrito tiene en mira dar cuenta de la unidad interna en las dos versiones del sistema científico y la continuidad existente de carácter externo en la doctrina misma; se diferencia así el concepto de doctrina y de sistema o ciencia. Por otro lado, la unidad interna se encarga de justificar la diferencia, semejanza e igualdad entre los conceptos Thathandlung (1794) y ser absoluto (1804). Al esbozar en líneas generales cómo se ensambla y continua tanto la doctrina como el sistema en las dos versiones científicas aquí expuestas se pretende dar una visión global del concepto de la doctrina de la ciencia.The following considerations revolve only on one purpose: to demonstrate the correlation that exists just in the principles of two versions of the doctrine, the Science of Knowledge. The writen paper aims to give an account of the internal unity in the two versions of the scientific system and the existing continuity of external character in the doctrine itself; thus, the concept of doctrine and system or science is differentiated. On the other hand, the internal unit is responsible for justifying the difference, similarity and equality between the concepts Thathandlung (1794) and absolute (1804). By outlining in general terms how the doctrine and the system are assembled and continued in the two scientific versions presented here, it is intended to give a global vision of the concept of the Science of Knowledg

Nonsustainable Use of Renewable Resources: Mangrove Deforestation and Mariculture in Ecuador

The paper provides a conceptual model that examines (i) open-access exploitation and(ii) mangrove deforestation as two potential causes for the scarcity of post-larval shrimp inputs to shrimp mariculture in Ecuador. Results indicate that conversion of mangrove ecosystems to shrimp ponds may have obtained short-term profit at the expense of long-term productivity. Open-access collection of post-larval shrimp may also have contributed to dwindling stock levels. Specific policy recommendations are presented, and future empirical studies are proposed.Mariculture, mangroves, deforestation, shrimp, fisheries, Ecuador, Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics,

Deudas soberanas europeas y esfuerzos en pos de la estabilidad

Tratando de superar la crisis financiera global, los gobiernos se endeudaron, en gran medida, y aumentaron sus déficit fiscales, sentando así las bases de una crisis de deudas soberanas. Al trascender los altos niveles del déficit fiscal y de la deuda gubernamental de Grecia, y para evitar que otros países de la eurozona sufrieran problemas similares, la Unión Europea y el Fondo Monetario Internacional decidieron “ayudar” a Grecia, pero al hacerlo le impusieron limitaciones presupuestales que, lejos de resolver sus problemas, la sumirán en la recesión. Además, esta crisis ha hecho aflorar los severos problemas internos de la eurozona; el hecho de que en Europa se haya generalizado la austeridad fiscal, constituye un freno más para la incipiente recuperación económica global

Aspectos monetarios y cambiarios del Pacto de Solidaridad Económica

El artículo aborda aspectos monetarios y cambiarios del Pacto de Solidaridad Económica, en especial dos de los elementos más importantes: el tipo de cambio y la tasa de interés. Un tipo de cambio sobrevaluado atenta contra el esfuerzo exportador y propicia la fuga de capitales; una tasa de interés alta frena la inversión y hace que la sociedad viva bajo perspectivas inflacionarias, alimentándose así la "tendencia inercial de la inflación". De ahí la gran importancia de ambas variables

An Analysis of Disparities in Education: The Case of Primary School Completion Rates in Bolivia

The Education Reform Program launched in the mid-1990s by the Government of Bolivia had important accomplishments, particularly by increasing the coverage of primary education. However, the high rates of coverage observed at national level conceal the inequality in the distribution of schooling across children from different income groups, from indigenous households or even among municipalities from different areas of the country. This document intends to present a brief diagnosis of disparities in education access an attainment exploring data at individual and municipal level. The document finds that children from low-income families, indigenous groups and/or rural areas are less likely to finish primary school. Similar disparities are evident when observing data at municipal level. High poverty incidence, high indigenous-groups concentration and high dispersion of the population, are basic characteristics of municipalities with low primary school completion rates. The document also suggests a simple methodology that allows to identify municipalities that are high performers and low performers. This approach combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and may well bring to light important actions that could be undertaken in the poorly performing school districts to improve their ability to improve their performanceEducation disparities analysis of education.

The growing Chinese presence in Latin America and its (Geo)political manifestations in Bolivia

In recent years, the growing Chinese presence in Latin America has triggered heated academic and policy debates, as well as social and political conflict across countries in the region. Against this background, the present paper explores the specific characteristics taken on by this dynamic in the Bolivian case, by adopting a novel research strategy in which we tested these debates with a combined process-tracing analysis of the evolution of the structural geo-economic relationship between Bolivia and China, and a survey of the state of negative and positive perceptions of the Bolivian population about the growing presence of China in Bolivia. The objective was to attain a complete overview of the political implications of the structural changes in the sources of geopolitical power in the bi-lateral relationship. Empirically, there is room to conclude that the region and Bolivia are geo-economically turning more dependent on China and that relations are not benefiting broad-based development; however, there is less room to talk about a deterministic relationship between the above and a direct geopolitical influence in the region. Bolivian public opinion is divided in a way that mirrors the regional debate on the issue, and the divide has reached high levels of politicization, as it overlaps with an internally polarized political system. The Bolivian case is important because this dynamic could replicate in the region and define the orientation of the region’s foreign policy towards China in the future

VALOR NUTRITIVO DE LAS MATERIAS PRIMAS EMPLEADAS EN LA ALIMENTACIÓN DE BOVINOS DE LECHE EN GANADERÍAS DEL CANTÓN CAYAMBE

Es común que la alimentación de los animales en crianza en un hato lechero sea subestimada y conlleve a deficiencias nutricionales que se reflejan en bajas ganancias de peso, animales sin el peso adecuado al primer servicio (16-18 meses de edad) y baja producción de leche cuando alcanzan su etapa productiva. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar la calidad nutricional de las principales materias primas que se emplean en la alimentación de bovinos lecheros del cantón Cayambe. Las materias primas se evaluaron en función de la composición química, parámetros de consumo y relación calidad, consumo, ganancia de peso y costo. Esta información puede contribuir a toma de decisiones de manejo y al cumplimiento de objetivos nutricionales o productivos específicos. La crianza de los animales de remplazo en los sistemas productivos ganaderos es de gran importancia ya que de ellos depende la continuidad y mejoramiento del hato. // Commonly, feeding of replacement heifers in a dairy farm is underestimated which leads to nutritional deficiencies reflected on low weigh gain, low adequate weight at first service (16-18 months old) and low milk production when replacement heifers reach their production stage. The objective of this research was to determine the nutritional quality of the main raw materials used dairy cattle feeding in Canton Cayambe. Raw materials were assessed based on the chemical composition, consumption parameters and the relationships between quality, consumption, weigh gain and costs. This data can contribute with management decisions compliance of specific nutritional or production targets. Rising of replacement heifers dairy production systems is of great importance since they will determine the continuity and improvement of the herd

Sobrecostos por la falta de infraestructura en agua potable: una aproximación empírica

La ausencia de infraestructura o un atraso tecnológico en la misma hace que los usuarios de los servicios públicos tengan que pagar un sobrecosto. Los sobrecostos por una inadecuada infraestructura se refieren a la medida monetaria de los costos adicionales que los usuarios están obligados a soportar por la utilización (o no utilización) de inadecuada (o inexistente) infraestructura, en comparación con una situación de provisión óptima de la misma. El presente estudio estima dichos sobrecostos para el caso peruano con una metodología alternativa a la utilizada por el Sistema Nacional de Inversión Pública. Estos equivalen a US$ 349’000,466 anuales