Refining Targeting against Poverty Evidence from Tunisia*

We introduce a new methodology to target direct transfers against poverty. Our method is based on estimation methods that focus on the poor. Using data from Tunisia, we estimate ‘focused’ transfer schemes that highly improve anti‐poverty targeting performances. Post‐transfer poverty can be substantially reduced with the new estimation method. For example, a one‐third reduction in poverty severity from proxy‐means test transfer schemes based on OLS method to focused transfer schemes requires only a few hours of computer work based on methods available on popular statistical packages. Finally, the obtained levels of undercoverage of the poor are particularly low.     

Swedish CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Emissions 1993–2006: An Application of Decomposition Analysis and Some Methodological Insights

This study undertakes a decomposition analysis to identify the drivers of carbon dioxide emissions change in the Swedish business and industry sectors 1993–2006. On aggregate, energy intensity decreased, but this does not seem to have been very important for reducing emissions. Rather, fuel substitution seems to have been more important, which is in line with findings from the decomposition literature on Sweden. However, at the sectoral level, we find no clear pattern of the effect of fuel substitution and energy intensity on emissions. We also draw some methodological conclusions: decomposition analysis should be undertaken at the most disaggregate level possible; assessing decomposition results by summing results over several time periods leads to biased results; and decomposition analysis should not be based only on some initial and final years of a long time period. Furthermore, we address the problem of double counting energy flows in decomposition analysis of aggregate effects when the energy sector is included, and point out potential problems related to output measured in monetary terms.     

Poverty and inequality under income and price dispersions

Abstract.  We introduce an analytical framework for welfare analysis that accounts for changes in the joint distribution of prices and incomes by using parametric formulae of poverty and inequality measures. We propose statistical indicators for the levels, variabilities and a statistical link of price indices and nominal living standards, which are consistent with a bivariate lognormal model. Our analysis provides intuitive insight about the social welfare impact of economic shocks affecting levels, variabilities, and correlation of prices and incomes. The roles of price and income variabilities for poverty and inequality are exhibited, with the possibility of several variation regimes. JEL classification: I32, O15, D31     

Risking it all at the Biometric Border: Mobility,Limits, and the Persistence of Securitisation 1

This article considers the emerging security dispositif, particularly in terms of the growing reliance on risk, risk management, and technologies of risk in relation to contemporary border security. With the ongoing application of biometrics in the contemporary mobility regime in mind, the article argues that the use of these technologies, in combination with the widespread reliance on risk management, contributes to the re-imagination of borders and the bodies that cross them. The contention that the securitisation of mobility and bodies that results from this emerging logic of rule and the accompanying commitments to specific identification technologies (biometrics), also relies on a nuanced and complex reading of securitisation well beyond the caricatured accounts of the Copenhagen School.     

Computerized electronic temperature control system for thermal efficiency during baking in food research

A more sophisticated temperature control system than the capillary thermostat in conventional electric ovens is necessary for laboratory research on foods. The aim of the study was to develop a computerized temperature control system (CTCS) for conventional electric ovens and to determine whether the CTCS could effect comparable and consistent results in two ovens with regard to oven and product characteristics of baked products. No significant differences were found between the two ovens with regard to average oven temperature, texture and height of products. In most instances there were also no significant differences between the ovens with regard to instrumental colour measurement and moisture loss. The regression results also illustrated the effectiveness of the CTCS, i.e. that an increase in set oven temperature of 1°C has a significant effect on specific oven and product characteristics. The CTCS therefore significantly improved the reproducibility of quality characteristics of baked products. Thus, more consistent and repeatable results can be obtained to improve the reliability of consumer‐driven food research.