1. Producing and Quantifying enriched Para - H(2)
Abstract: The production of enriched para H(2) is useful for many scientific applications, but the technology for producing and measuring para - H(2) is not yet widespread. In this note and in the accompanying auxillary material, we describe the design, construction,and use of a versatile standalone converted that is capable of producing para - H(2) enrichments of upto > or -= 99.99% at continous flow rates of upto 0.4 SLM. We also discuss para - H(2) storage and back conversion rates, and improvement to three techniques (thermal conductance, NMR and solid hydrogen impurity spectroscopy) used to quantify the para - H(2) enrichment.
2. Cash Dividends and Share Repurchases in Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Companies
Abstract: The study attempts to pinpoint politically and economically induced corporate payout patterns in Ukrainian pharmaceutical firms. The authors identify key trends of corporate payouts of private pharmaceutical companies in Ukraine. The research analyses panel data generated from the ten biggest firms during 2010–2017. Pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) regression is used to check if financial performance, competition and macroeconomic indicators affect the level of cash dividends and share repurchases. The final sample includes 720 observations. The decision to pay a certain proportion of dividends and repurchases is an outcome of countervailing macroeconomic, firm-level, competitive and political forces. The amount of cash dividends is directly proportional to retained earnings and earnings per share. Dividends also tend to decline as total assets grow. Share repurchases are negatively affected by Consumer Price Index and market competition and boosted by increased retained earnings.
Weblink: Journal Link
The IITs have a huge problem. Here's how we can fix it
Abstract: At IITs more than 50% of students do not continue with their core areas. They go into finance and consulting hence making lot of money spent on them a waste. This article suggests a method to improve the screening system so that this problem of bad allocation can be solved.
Weblink: The IITs have a huge problem: Here is how we can fix it.
2. Game theory and Premchand's Idgah
Abstract: Idgah is one of the best stories of the great Indian writer Munshi Premchand. In this article, I have tried to analyse the story from the Game theoretical lens. The journey of Hamid and his friends to the Idgah, the purchase of different things from the marketplace, Hamid's strategies and the end when they return back - many aspects of the story smell of Game theory.
Weblink: Game Theory and Premchand's Idgah
3. Tracing the Carbon Tax: Here is how implementing it will move towards better energy
Abstract: The article speaks of the few important developments in the field of carbon tax around the world and the need for India to encourage carbon tax policies. It also discusses the current carbon taxes in India and in summary about the effects of tax on carbon.
Weblink: Tracing the Carbon tax in India
4. Three articles on the Access to (In)equality index published in The Wire:
Weblink: AEI Index part 1 , AEI Index part 2 , AEI Index part 3
Speaker, India China Immersion Program at Jindal Global University, February 1, 2018.
Topic: Doing Business in India: The Startup Conundrum
Presentation file: Attached at the end.
Working Papers
India, Religion, and economic thinking:
Abstract: Benjamin Friedman has analyzed Economic thinking in the west through the lens of religion. I look at some facets of Indian history and economy to understand if religion has influenced the economy and to ask questions for further research.
Weblink: SSRN Link
The Originality Score
Abstract: I argue that the incentives for current researchers are misaligned. And propose a new score for categorizing research papers.
Weblink: SSRN Link
Game theory and Vijaydan Detha's Kechhuli
Abstract: Kechulli is a popular story of the Shakespeare of Rajasthan Vijaydan Detha. In this paper, a game theoretic analysis of the bargaining present in this story is done. The story is presented as a sequential game. It is followed by a discussion of strategy. Indian stories have not been analyzed from a game theoretic framework and this is a first attempt to do so.
Weblink: SSRN link
Modelling teacher student class interaction in Indian higher education as a Prisoners dilemma
Abstract: A Prisoner’s dilemma model with student and teachers as players with high efforts and low efforts for class preparation as player strategies has been designed. Data from an Indian University shows the existence of the Prisoner’s dilemma with strategy of the players being {LE,HE} where the student puts a low effort in class preparation while the teacher puts in a high effort. The reasons for such strategy could be myopic thinking on the part of the students or assigning higher expected utility to extracurricular activities.
Weblink: SSRN Link
An econometric analysis of Solar Auctions in India
Abstract: This paper studies the bids of Government run solar auctions in India (JNNSM Phase II Batch I). Using an econometric model, it is found that the government firms bid lower than the private firms and the energy firms have a higher bid. It is also speculated that their could be collusion between the firms even though the paper cannot prove it due to lack of data.
Weblink: SSRN Link
Financing India's NAMA targets
Abstract: NAMA (Nationally Appropiate Mitigation Actions) are a policy tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a nation. This paper discusses different types of NAMA’s and the channels of funds and operational initiative which would help India achieve its NAMA targets.
Weblink: SSRN link
Is Clean Development Mechanism dead?
Abstract: As the first commitment period ended in 2012, the Clean Development Mechanism was predicted to die down. yet data shows that it has not. Around 130 million CERs were issued in the year 2016. With the Kyoto mechanism still in place, countries like China, India, and Brazil along with new entrants like Cambodia will keep the CDM mechanism going. The year 2016 saw a rise in the number of CERs issued. Figures of India in the year 2015 (9.5 million) were similar to the figures in 2010 (9.4 million) whereas figures in 2016 (13 million) are higher. Even though the talk in climate change has drifted towards the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), there is still no consensus on every country sharing a mandatory responsibility to reduce its emissions. Hence mechanisms like CDM (in its second commitment period till the year 2020) which are still funding projects in developing countries and hence transferring funds hold importance. In no way the interest in CDM has died down.
Weblink: SSRN link