Der Tod ist kein Zufall: Ungleiche Lebenszeitchancen als Herausforderung für die Sozialpolitik

Menschen sind vor dem Tod ungleich, und zwar nicht nur hinsichtlich sozialem Status, sondern auch im Hinblick auf ihre Lebenszeitchancen. Menschen mit geringen Lebenschancen verfügen über weniger Bildung, Einkommen, Vermögen und sterben früher als Menschen mit grösserer Ressourcenausstattung. Dieser Zusammenhang lässt sich sowohl global als auch innerhalb von reichen Ländern wie etwa der Schweiz nachweisen. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt zunächst einen Überblick über die Ursachen ungleicher Lebenszeitchancen. Danach folgt ein Überblick über ausgewählte empirische Analysen. Abschliessend wird auf sozialpolitische Aspekte fokussiert. So liegt es auf der Hand, dass ein fixes Rentenalter, sei das 65 oder 67 Jahre, vor allem jene Menschen benachteiligt, die über ein hohes Risiko verfügen, unterdurchschnittlich früh zu sterben

Quantifying excitations of quasinormal mode systems

Computations of the strong field generation of gravitational waves by black hole processes produce waveforms that are dominated by quasinormal (QN) ringing, a damped oscillation characteristic of the black hole. We describe here the mathematical problem of quantifying the QN content of the waveforms generated. This is done in several steps: (i) We develop the mathematics of QN systems that are complete (in a sense to be defined) and show that there is a quantity, the ``excitation coefficient,'' that appears to have the properties needed to quantify QN content. (ii) We show that incomplete systems can (at least sometimes) be converted to physically equivalent complete systems. Most notably, we give a rigorous proof of completeness for a specific modified model problem. (iii) We evaluate the excitation coefficient for the model problem, and demonstrate that the excitation coefficient is of limited utility. We finish by discussing the general question of quantification of QN excitations, and offer a few speculations about unavoidable differences between normal mode and QN systems.Comment: 27 pages, 14 figures. To be published in: J. Math. Phys. (1999

Perturbative evolution of the static configurations, quasinormal modes and quasi normal ringing in the Apostolatos - Thorne cylindrical shell model

We study the perturbative evolution of the static configurations, quasinormal modes and quasi normal ringing in the Apostolatos - Thorne cylindrical shell model. We consider first an expansion in harmonic modes and show that it provides a complete solution for the characteristic value problem for the finite perturbations of a static configuration. As a consequence of this completeness we obtain a proof of the stability of static solutions under this type of perturbations. The explicit expression for the mode expansion are then used to obtain numerical values for some of the quasi normal mode complex frequencies. Some examples involving the numerical evaluation of the integral mode expansions are described and analyzed, and the quasi normal ringing displayed by the solutions is found to be in agreement with quasi normal modes found previously. Going back to the full relativistic equations of motion we find their general linear form by expanding to first order about a static solution. We then show that the resulting set of coupled ordinary and partial differential equations for the dynamical variables of the system can be used to set an initial plus boundary values problem, and prove that there is an associated positive definite constant of the motion that puts absolute bounds on the dynamic variables of the system, establishing the stability of the motion of the shell under arbitrary, finite perturbations. We also show that the problem can be solved numerically, and provide some explicit examples that display the complete agreement between the purely numerical evolution and that obtained using the mode expansion, in particular regarding the quasi normal ringing that results in the evolution of the system. We also discuss the relation of the present work to some recent results on the same model that have appeared in the literature.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figure

Black hole quasinormal mode spectroscopy with LISA

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for black hole quasinormal mode sources of low-frequency gravitational waves is estimated using a Monte Carlo approach that replaces the all-sky average approximation. We consider an eleven dimensional parameter space that includes both source and detector parameters. We find that in the black-hole mass range $M\sim 4$-$7\times 10^6M_{\odot}$ the SNR is significantly higher than the SNR for the all-sky average case, as a result of the variation of the spin parameter of the sources. This increased SNR may translate to a higher event rate for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). We also study the directional dependence of the SNR, show at which directions in the sky LISA will have greater response, and identify the LISA blind spots.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Participation and Sharing, or Peaceful Co-Existence? Visions of Integration among Muslims in Switzerland

At least three traditions in sociological thought address the question of social inclusion. In the systems theory proposed by Luhmann, inclusion means that individuals are able to adapt and gain access to functional subsystems, such as the labor market or the welfare state. In the tradition of Simmel, social inclusion is seen as an outcome of “cross-cutting social circles”. Both perspectives are addressed in Lockwood’s distinction between social integration and system integration. Building on these theoretical traditions, the study proposes a typology of migrant integration in which inclusion requires a realization of both social and system integration. Against this theoretical background, the paper deals with the question of which kind of integration the Swiss Muslims strive for through civic engagement. Drawing on narrative autobiographical interviews, the study reveals two main tendencies among the studied Muslims. While some seek an opportunity to engage with people of other worldviews through civic engagement (social integration), others limit their civic engagement only to those religious communities that cultivate a strong collective Muslim identity, and reduce their contact with non-Muslims to a peaceful co-existence (system integration). The study also shows that these two attitudes are associated with two views on outgroup tolerance. While the advocates of social integration are for liberal tolerance, the supporters of system integration show tendency towards multicultural tolerance

Near-Extreme Black Holes and the Universal Relaxation Bound

A fundamental bound on the relaxation time \tau of a perturbed thermodynamical system has recently been derived, \tau \geq \hbar/\pi T, where $T$ is the system's temperature. We demonstrate analytically that black holes saturate this bound in the extremal limit and for large values of the azimuthal number m of the perturbation field.Comment: 2 Pages. Submitted to PRD on 5/12/200

Varieties and drivers of social welfare in sub-Saharan Africa: A critical assessment of current research

How can we conceptually grasp social policies on the macro level in sub-Saharan Africa? Decommodification and defamilialisation, two key concepts of Esping-Andersen’s seminal typology, are not very helpful to distinguish welfare regimes in sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, typologies that have been developed for the Global South hardly consider social stratification. In conclusion, there is no typology including African states that covers all relevant dimensions of welfare and includes education, agricultural, and housing policies. There is also more need for compara-tive research on the drivers of social policies and especially policies that are more likely to reduce inequality