http://hdl.handle.net/1920/263 Working papers by SPP doctoral students Search the Channel search http://digilib.gmu.edu:8080/dspace/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/1920/2449 Title: Revisiting the Constitution: A Case For Parliamentary System in Central Asia?<br/><br/>Authors: Abdukadirov, Sherzod<br/><br/>Abstract: Institutional design can impact the dynamics of power relations in authoritarian regimes. Under the presidential system in Central Asian states, the elite factions agree upon a presidential candidate before the elections and then ensure their candidate’s victory by manipulating the elections. As the cost of exclusion in this process is very high, every elite faction is forced to collude with the other factions. Under a parliamentary system, bargaining among the elites in selection of the head of state would occur after the elections as the elites would have to first secure parliamentary seats to be able to vote for the head of state. Such a process would reduce the stakes in each particular election, making it harder for the elites to manipulate elections yet safer to allow some opposition. Furthermore, the balance of power among the elites in parliament would be decided by the people, giving them a voice in the process. Wed, 16 May 2007 15:11:20 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1920/1905 Title: Constrained Optimization: The State and the Indian Entrepreneur<br/><br/>Authors: Banerjee, Pritam<br/><br/>Abstract: The quality of entrepreneurship has been considered by many scholars as a critical factor in the economic development of a society. While some scholars have sought to explain the difference in entrepreneurial quality among societies based on cultural grounds, this paper argues that entrepreneurship is a function of the incentives derived from institutions and the historical context that entrepreneurs face. It also argues that entrepreneurs are not inert actors in the institutional and historical process, but are actively engaged in shaping the political-economic landscape which they inhabit. The paper undertakes an historical analysis of Indian entrepreneurship in the last hundred years as an illustrative example of this theory of entrepreneurial dynamics in a society. Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:43:14 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1920/1864 Title: The Determinants of Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Adoption: Insights from State Registration Data<br/><br/>Authors: Diamond, David; Auerswald, Philip<br/><br/>Abstract: This paper examines the effect of tax incentives, gasoline prices and other socio-economic factors on the demand for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) in different U.S. states. As hybrid sales increase, it is important for policymakers to understand how these factors influence demand in order to judge the effectiveness of competing HEV incentive policies. The paper develops a demand model for per-state market-share, and uses cross-sectional time-series data on new Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) registrations in different U.S. states in 2003 and 2004 to evaluate the significance of difference factors. In 2003, a number of predictors were significant, suggesting different policy alternatives for promoting adoption. In 2004, when demand for the Toyota Prius exceeded supply, HEV registrations were explained almost entirely by dealer location. Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:08:14 GMT