Simplification traps

Over-Simplification

Situated Simplification

Testing satisfaction of guards is the essential operation of concurrent constraint programming (CCP) systems. We present and prove correct, for the first time, an incremental algorithm for the simultaneous tests of entailment and disentailment of rational tree constraints to be used in CCP systems with deep guards (e.g., in AKL or in Oz). The algorithm is presented as the simplz+ztion of the co...

Work Simplification

means of increasing worker productivity so that higher wages can be paid and as a means of getting the work done with a smaller labor force. A part, at least, of the difference between the level of mechanization here and abroad is explained by differences in wage rates. As wages go up, it pays to use more machines and fewer men. In recent years, for example, it took about 67 gallons of milk to ...

Aspiration Traps

Fundamental choices, like location or education, affect the attitudes and beliefs with which the individual will analyze future day to day decision problems. These effects cannot be assumed to be transparent to the individual. To restore methodological discipline in the analysis of such choices, we propose a solution concept based on an idea of consistency: the individual should not regret her ...

Dollarization Traps *

The paper analyzes dollarization in the sense of asset substitution, where a foreign currency competes with local assets, especially domestic capital, as a store of value, the impact of dollarization on capital accumulation and output, and why economies remain dollarized long after a successful inflation stabilization. We relate this dollarization hysteresis to a financial intermediation failur...