1988 — 1990 |
Murphy, Kevin Vishny, Robert Shleifer, Andrei |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Income Distribution, Market Size and Industrialization @ National Bureau of Economic Research Inc
In many less developed countries, industrialization begins when a leading sector such as agriculture or commodity exports generates income that enlarges domestic markets for manufactured goods. As domestic markets grow, industries that could not break even in smaller markets become profitable. One of the critical determinants of market size that can affect the success of industrialization is the distribution of income. If profits from an export or agricultural boom are too unequally distributed, they will be spent on domestic or imported luxuries, rather than on domestic, industrialized goods. The effect of income distribution on market size can help explain the success and failure of industrialization in several historical episodes. It can also shed light on the effects of industrialization on the distribution of income and export promotion. The purpose of this project is to explore theoretically the determinants of market size for manufacturing goods in an under developed country and to relate market size to the extent of industrialization. Of particular interest is the effects of the composition of consumer demand on the possibility of viable industrialization. Attention will also be paid to the question of whether industrialization, itself, can generate enough income and, therefore, demand for industrial goods so that manufacturing firms can enjoy increasing returns to scale and enhanced profitability.
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0.903 |
1988 — 1991 |
Murphy, Kevin Topel, Robert |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Studies in Labor Mobility and Unemployment @ National Bureau of Economic Research Inc
A major puzzle in economics is why the equilibrium rate of unemployment is much higher now than it was twenty years ago. For example, in the case of men in their prime working years, the unemployment rates of the early and mid 1980s were more than triple the rates experienced by this group in the 1960s. Other groups show similar increase in their equilibrium rates of unemployment. Under the previous grant, the authors characterized many of the key features of the evolution of unemployment over this period, which caused them to reject existing theories of unemployment because they were inconsistent with the facts. It was found that rising unemployment over this period was associated with much longer periods of unemployment and declining sectoral mobility of the labor force. In addition, unemployment cut much more deeply into the population of prime aged workers. Using various sources of micro data on individual unemployment and unemployment duration, the authors will extent this earlier empirical work to a more thorough study of unemployment dynamics at the individual level, including the key role of mobility. An optimizing model will be developed and tested which emphasizes the importance of specific skills and specialization of workers, along with optimal individual mobility decisions by specifically trained workers. Existing theories of labor markets cannot adequately explain the secular increase in equilibrium unemployment rates observed over the past twenty years or so. This project will develop and test a theoretical framework for doing just that. It is hoped that the results of this study may suggest ways of reducing the long-term equilibrium rate of unemployment, and the duration of unemployment spells.
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0.903 |
1989 |
Murphy, Kevin |
R01Activity Code Description: To support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing his or her specific interest and competencies. |
Effects of Drug Testing On Work Attitudes and Behaviors @ Colorado State University-Fort Collins
This study is designed to examine the effects of employee drug testing programs ion the attitudes and work behaviors of job applicants and incumbents. Research on personnel practices suggests that both applicants and incumbents develop perceptions ,of the organization that are heavily influenced by recruitments, selection, and other personnel practices, and that these perceptions influence job search and choice, job and organizational commitment, job performance, absenteeism, and turnover. If a drug testing program is viewed by employees and job applicants as unjustified or overly invasive, drug testing may lead to lower rather than higher levels of productivity. Several studies are proposed over a two-year period. First, we will develop scales to measure attitudes toward employee drug testing practices, along with scales for measuring the characteristics of actual testing programs. Second, we will conduct several attitude surveys on populations of both job incumbents and job applicants. These surveys will lead to specific predictions about job choice, absenteeism, etc. that will be tested in concurrent and predictive validity studies. Third, we will use studies of simulated job search and choice to determine how individuals integrate information about specific characteristics of drug testing programs in forming an overall evaluation of the program, and, by extension, of the organization. Results from these three groups of studies will allow us to determine the circumstances under which employee drug testing is likely to lead to a net gain, vs. a net loss in productivity.
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0.943 |
1992 — 1995 |
Topel, Robert Murphy, Kevin |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Quantitative Studies of Labor Market Performance @ National Bureau of Economic Research Inc
The purpose of this research is to assess the evolution and the performance of the labor market in the U.S. and abroad. The research will consist of four separate, but related projects. The first will analyze the determinants of regional fluctuations in wages, earnings, and employment. This project is built around an empirical model of labor demand that can isolate the effects of product demand shifts and technical change on labor market outcomes. This is of interest for its application to local labor markets, and for its implications for changes in aggregate wages and employment. Second, a set of international comparisons will be developed regarding the evolution of labor markets, focusing on countries that provide important contrasts to the U.S. experience. A key goal is to compare the evolution of labor markets in Korea and Taiwan where productivity and wages tripled in less than 15 years to the more developed countries of the U.S. and Sweden that experienced sluggish growth in productivity and wages. Third, the relationships between changes in wages, labor supply, and unemployment will be determined and analyzed. Finally, work will be initiated on a modern, quantitative history of labor markets in the U.S. Among other topics this project will include work on changes in the structure of wages, the evolution of unemployment and labor force participation, changes in labor markets, and effects of immigration.
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0.903 |
1997 — 2001 |
Murphy, Kevin |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Career: Nonlinear Vibrations, Stability and Control of Axially Moving Material in Manufacturing Processes @ University of Connecticut |
0.961 |
2001 — 2004 |
Begley, Matthew (co-PI) [⬀] Murphy, Kevin |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Development of Novel in-Situ Tests and Modeling For Integrated Mems Research and Education @ University of Connecticut
Agency: NSF - Civil and Mechanical Systems (Alison Flatau)
PI's: Kevin D. Murphy and Matthew R. Begley University of Connecticut
Proposal #: 0085122
Title: Development of Novel In-Situ Tests and Modeling for Integrated MEMS Research and Education
300 WORD PROJECT SUMMARY
The performance of micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) is strongly influenced by adhesive forces and surface energies. In some regimes, these quantities cause device failure, when components come into sticking contact and cannot continue to perform their designated task. In order to identify acceptable operating regimes, significant advances are needed in our ability to quantify close range attractive forces and adhesion energies. This program will develop (i) novel experimental techniques to characterize these quantities in-situ and (ii) physics-based models to predict component performance when adhesion and stick-release events are critical factors. Both quasi-static and dynamic behavior of a model MEMS system will be studied, with an emphasis on the transition between sticking and no-stick regimes. These studies will determine if and when dynamic excitation may be used initiate and control stick-release events. Such information may be used to design novel vibratory assembly processes used to manufacture complex MEMS. A state-of-the-art nanoindentation facility will be integrated with an idealized MEMS device to directly measure forces and displacements at the micron level. In addition to established dynamic measurement techniques used in nanoindentation systems, a combination of electronic and optical measurements will be implemented. Adhesive energies, electrostatic forces, and the dynamic response of the MEMS device will be quantified during both mechanical and electrical excitation. The measured MEMS behavior will be used to validate a combination of analytical and numerical models that incorporate electrostatic forces and surface energies. These models will be used to predict a priori transient dynamic response, including stick and stick-release events. The proposed program integrates research and education through the development of a MEMS test facility. Graduate and undergraduate research assistants will design and fabricate test rigs and will contribute to model development. Students will also spend time collaborating with the Micro-Technology Group at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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0.961 |
2008 — 2011 |
Murphy, Kevin |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Collaborative Research: Improvement of Mems Performance by Structural Vibrations - Theory and Practical Implementations @ University of Connecticut
Sticking contact (adhesion) between moving components in Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) is a major problem limiting reliability. Sticking contact, referred to as ?stiction failure,? is fatal to the component; stiction prevents the individual component from operating properly and, hence, jeopardizes the reliability of the overall device. Preliminary experiments, performed by the investigators, indicate that electrically induced structural vibrations can lead to the initiation of stick-release. The purpose of this research endeavor is to create a theoretical foundation, validated by experiments on real MEMS devices, for using electrical excitation to drive MEMS components in order (i) to prevent adhesion (through mechanical dithering) and (ii) to repair stiction failures. This non-contacting (noninvasive) approach will enable stick-prevention and stick-release of a component without causing damage to the component or its neighbors. Moreover, the electrical actuation may be built into the MEMS chip, using the existing functionality of the chip to overcome adhesion. This is a cost effective, easy-to-implement approach that may be used in-situ. Also note that the framework developed here will also be applicable on nano-scale devices (NEMS).
This work is broken into an experimental and theoretical component. The experimental portion of this project involves using simplified geometries (micro-cantilevers) and real MEMS components (gear systems, mirrors, etc.) to validate the model results and to demonstrate the utility of electrically induced vibrations in both stiction prevention and stiction repair. Theoretical models will be created to develop a more complete understanding of the fundamental mechanics involved in the dithering and stick-release processes.
Currently there are no commercially available MEMS or Nano-Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) with contacting/sliding parts due to the reliability issue caused by adhesion failures. To enable their commercial introduction, practical techniques for the prevention of stiction and repair of failed devices under normal service conditions are required. The proposed methodology is a viable approach, enabling commercialization. The general framework developed here may be extended to nano-devices.
The educational portion of this project integrates MEMS vibrations testing into a required undergraduate lab course. This will give students hands-on experience with MEMS and will demonstrate that near field forces (negligible in macro-scale tests) may not be ignored in all micro-scale tests. Outstanding undergraduates and particularly those from under-represented groups (note that the UNM is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)), will be involved in the research.
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0.961 |
2008 — 2009 |
Murphy, Kevin [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Does Social Pressure Motivate Private Contributions to a Public Good? Evidence From a Field Experiment in the Residential Electricity Market
This dissertation research determines whether social pressure encourages voluntary electricity conservation. The project is a field experiment conducted with the cooperation of a large electric utility. The experiment tests whether households are more likely to sign up for an energy efficiency program when their participation is observable by their neighbors. Residents of high rise apartment buildings sign up for the energy efficiency program on sign up sheets posted publicly in their building lobby. The sign up sheets help move the sign up decision from the privacy of residents' living rooms to a public setting, where social pressure may increase the motivation to participate. The design of the sign up sheets varies so that in some cases residents' decisions to participate remain anonymous. In other cases, these decisions are observable. If social pressure motivates participation, then more people will participate when their decision is observable. To help determine the conditions under which social pressure is most effective, residents are invited to participate via varied mailers which emphasize different aspects of the program.
The broader impact of this project is its contribution to conservation efforts. The research documents Americans' intrinsic motivation to save energy and it tests replicable methods of encouraging conservation. The real-world setting makes it easy to generalize the results of this experiment to other settings. The research results will assist regulators and green marketers in reducing energy consumption and encouraging consumers to purchase green products.
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0.964 |
2011 — 2015 |
Murphy, Kevin Renfro, Michael |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Reu Site: Engineering Next Generation Energy Processes and Systems @ University of Connecticut
Increased energy usage by the United States (in addition to developing countries) has negatively impacted energy costs and has occasionally led to energy shortages. These trends are expected to worsen in coming decades, as energy usage in the U.S. alone is projected to grow by more than 50% in the next 25 years. Clearly, developing new and innovative approaches to energy generation and energy systems will be a key challenge for the next generation. To meet this challenge, it is critical that the next generation of engineers learn to develop novel, yet practical solutions to energy related problems. They must understand the critical issues related to energy generation and learn to attack unfamiliar problems in this field. This will be accomplished by conducting energy research. This REU Site program at the University of Connecticut will give twelve undergraduates per year an opportunity to conduct research on next generation energy processes and systems. Each of the twelve students will have two faculty mentors, who will help steer the project. In addition to the student's research efforts, this program also provides a series of novel seminars and workshops that are intended: (1) to provide a framework for conducting research through a series of seminars on "how to do research", (2 ) to insure that the students understand how to conduct research ethically, (3) to increase their awareness of the many industry-based problems related to energy generation and (4) to improve their written and oral communication skills. The program will conclude with an end-of-program mini-conference, at which participants will present their research findings.
The continued increase in world-wide energy utilization poses problems that can no longer be ignored. New technical solutions will be required to address increased energy generation. Moreover, a continuous stream of trained professionals will be required to provide research and design expertise. By involving undergraduate engineering students in a structured program to introduce them to the challenges in energy generation research, this program expects to provide some of these professionals. Moreover, this program will also introduce important insight into research ethics and communications. The REU site program has five clearly identifiable broader impacts. These include: (1) students will conduct meaningful research that contributes knowledge toward their respective problems, (2) students will appreciate the importance and complexity of doing research and doing it ethically, (3) that, in part, because of this research experience the students will pursue graduate work, (4) that this program will encourage students from underrepresented groups to participate in research, and (5) PIs will port the ideas developed from this program (specifically dealing with "how to do research" and "research ethics") to the undergraduate program, such that a larger audience will be affected.
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0.961 |