We propose a sequential sampling policy for noisy discrete global optimization and ranking and selection, in which we aim to efficiently explore a finite set of alternatives before selecting an alternative as best when exploration stops. Each alternative may be characterized by a multi-dimensional vector of categorical and numerical attributes and has independent normal rewards. We use a Bayesi...

This paper investigates the world economic implications of climate change policy strategies, and particularly evaluates the impacts of an implementation of clean development mechanisms (CDM), joint implementation (JI) and emissions trading with a world integrated assessment model. Of special interest in this context are welfare spill over and competitiveness effects resulting from diverse clima...

Previous quantitative assessments of likely impacts of recent reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (in particular the Agenda 2000) differ across empirical studies. Differences are mainly due to the ways the policy instruments are taken into account (explicit modeling or implicit modeling i.e. using ad-valorem equivalents). The aim of this paper is to assess empirically the impacts of recen...

Many aspects of ECI—its theory of action, its administrative structure, the incentives it created, and its strategy for inducing the state to take over financial responsibility—suggest lessons for future largescale private-public initiatives. This chapter discusses those lessons, presents some promising alternative models for the design of ECE initiatives, and addresses some of the public-polic...

Background SUPPORT tools consist of 18 articles addressing the health policy-makers so that they can learn how to make evidence-informed health policies. These tools have been particularly recommended for developing countries. The present study tries to explain the process of evidence utilization for developing policy documents in the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) and...