Inter-domain traffic engineering is a key issue when QoS-aware resource optimization is concerned. Mapping inter-domain traffic flows into existing service level agreements is, in general, a complex problem, for which some algorithms have recently been proposed in the literature. In this paper a modified version of a multi-objective genetic algorithm is proposed, in order to optimize the utiliz...

The desirability of fiscal constraints in monetary unions depends critically on whether the monetary authority can commit to follow its policies. If it can commit, then debt constraints can only impose costs. If it cannot commit, then fiscal policy has a free-rider problem, and debt constraints may be desirable. This type of free-rider problem is new and arises only because of a time inconsiste...

Abstract The literature lacks consensus on the role of currency regimes in explaining external competitiveness. Countries not only differ terms regimes, but can also have different institutional arrangements, namely trade agreements and inflation targeting (IT) frameworks addition to overall quality governance. Hence, using real effective exchange rate by covering 35 developing countries over p...

Previous studies of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have evaluated the union’s success in comparison to other integration initiatives and according to traditional theory on the optimum currency area, which calls for high intraregional trade and correlated business cycles. This study seeks to determine the prospects for further integration in West Africa given the region’s...

In monetary unions, monetary policy is typically made by delegates of the member countries. This procedure raises the possibility of strategic delegation– that countries may choose the types of delegates to in‡uence outcomes in their favor. We show that without commitment in monetary policy, strategic delegation arises if and only if three conditions are met: shocks a¤ecting individual countrie...

In the last few decades, the effects of cooperative R&D arrangements on innovation and welfare have played an important role in policy making. Both the US and the EU have legislation in place providing for lenient antitrust treatment of such cooperative agreements. The goal of this paper is to analyze the effects of cooperative R&D arrangements in a model with a stochastic R&D process and outpu...

Inter-institutional cooperation is becoming the norm for innovations putting at centre stage of research inquiry the organisational knowledge for establishing, coordinating and innovating through cooperation. Case study evidence depicts the development of systematic processes for partner identification and management of cooperative agreements. Researchers recognising potential partners would pe...

Negotiated Agreements (NAs) are arrangements between firms and regulators in which firms voluntarily agree to reduce their pollution. This article analyzes the institutional features that facilitate or hamper the implementation of NAs. We illustrate the analysis with case studies on the implementation of NAs in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. We find that NAs are implem...

The end of the Cold War has called into question the activities of the national laboratories and, more generally, the level of support now given to federal intramural research in the United States. This paper seeks to analyze the potential role of the laboratories, with particular attention to the possibility, on the one hand, of integrating private technology development into the laboratory's ...

Altruism, Cooperation, and Efficiency: Agricultural Production in Polygynous Households Altruism among family members can, in some cases, inhibit cooperation by increasing the utility that players expect to receive in a non-cooperative equilibrium. To test this, we examine agricultural productivity in polygynous households in West Africa. We find that cooperation is greater – production is more...