An important and notable improvement of our recent arithmetic model of the standard genetic code based on Gödel encoding is presented using a “head/tail” metaphor. Etched in the “head” we have the decimal representation of 23!, with 23 digits, from which Rumer’s division of the genetic code table into the two equal moieties M1 and M1 arises quite naturally. By ultimately reducing every digit-va...

Despite its paramount importance in the empirical growth literature, productivity convergence analysis has three problems that have yet to be resolved: (1) little attempt been made explore hierarchical structure of industry-level datasets; (2) technology heterogeneity largely ignored; and (3) cross-sectional dependence rarely allowed for. This paper aims address these within a panel data framew...

Statement of purpose: The purpose of these working papers is to promote the circulation of research results (Research Series) and analytical studies (Documents Series) made within the National Bank of Belgium or presented by external economists in seminars, conferences and conventions organised by the Bank. The aim is therefore to provide a platform for discussion. The opinions expressed are st...

Letters and digits, although similar in many respects, also differ in potentially significant ways. Most importantly, letters are elements of an alphabetic writing system, whereas digits are logographs. In this article, we explore whether letters and digits are identified by a single character identification process that makes no fundamental distinction between the two types of characters, or w...

A statistical procedure for detecting “contagious” location patterns for manufacturing establishments is presented. Manufacturing industries’ establishment clustering tendencies are ranked based on the “dispersion parameter” of the negative binomial distribution. Establishment data are for three-digit SIC manufacturing industries, nonmetro counties of BEA Component Economic Areas, 1981 and 1992...

In a remarkable empirical study of 168 U.S. manufacturing plants, James Medoff and Jon Fay (1985) have examined the magnitude of labor hoarding during economic contractions. They found that during its most recent trough quarter, the typical plant paid for about 8 percent more blue-co&t hours than were needed for regular production work. Some of these hours were used for other worthwhile work, a...

Are Workers in the Cultural Industries Paid Differently? Wage differentials between three sub-industries of the cultural industries and their respective main industry: The case of the Netherlands This paper aims to explore wage differentials between employees in three sub-industries of the cultural industries compared with the main (1-digit level) industry to which they belong. We use data from...