In this paper, we use the instrumental quantile regression approach developed in Chernozhukov and Hansen (2001) to examine the effects of 401(k) plans on wealth using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Using 401(k) eligibility as an instrument for 401(k) participation, we estimate the quantile treatment effects of participation in a 401(k) plan on several measures of weal...

This study reports the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of 144 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated from urban sewage and animal wastewaters using a Shiga toxin 2 gene variant (stx(2))-specific DNA colony hybridization method. All the strains were classified as E. coli and belonged to 34 different serotypes, some of which had not been previously reported to ca...

The tax regimes applied to couples in many countries including the US, France, and Germany imply either a marriage penalty or a marriage bonus. We study how they affect the decision to get married by considering two potential spouses who play a marriage proposal game. At the end of the game they may get married, live together without formal marriage, or split up. In this signaling game, proposi...

In mammals and in yeast the conversion of Riboflavin (RF) into flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is catalysed by the sequential action of two enzymes: an ATP:riboflavin kinase (RFK) and an ATP:FMN adenylyltransferase (FMNAT). However, most prokaryotes depend on a single bifunctional enzyme, FAD synthetase (FADS), which folds into two modules: the C-terminal asso...

This paper contributes to the literature on welfare programs by using a GPS-based approach to estimate the impact of a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) on labor supply in Brazil. Unlike other CCT programs that have been evaluated, Bolsa Famı́lia’s is a widespread program that have taken place not only in rural and isolated areas, but also in large cities. Previous findings have shown that this ty...

This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. This paper shows that increasing government social expenditur...

I present a model of consumption and savings for multi-person households in which members are imperfectly altruistic and share wealth. I show that, despite having standard exponential time preferences, the household is time-inconsistent: members save too little and overspend on private consumption goods. Access to private illiquid durable goods can exacerbate overconsumption by providing a way ...

The virulence of the uropathogenic E. coli strain 536 (O6:K15:H31) which produces the S-fimbrial adhesin (Sfa+), is serum-resistant (Sre+) and hemolytic (Hly+) and its derivatives were assessed in five different animal models. Cloned hemolysin (hly) determinants from the chromosomes of O6, O18 and O75 E. coli strains and from the plasmid pHly152 were introduced into the spontaneous Sfa-, Sre-, ...

In-Work Benefits for Married Couples: An Ex-Ante Evaluation of EITC and WTC Policies in Italy This paper investigates labor supply and redistributive effects of in-work benefits for Italian married couples using a tax-benefit microsimulation model and a multi-sectoral discrete choice model of labor supply. We consider two in-work benefit schemes following the key principles of the Earned Income...

The Effects of In-Work Benefit Reform in Britain on Couples: Theory and Evidence This paper examines the effects of the Working Families’ Tax Credit (WFTC) on couples in Britain. We develop a simple model of household decisions which explicitly accounts for the role played by the tax and benefit system. Its main implications are then tested using panel data from the British Household Panel Surv...