@misc{Sperfeld2006, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Sperfeld, Robert}, title = {Decentralisation and establishment of local government in Lesotho}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-10867}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {This diploma thesis deals with the process of political and administrative decentralisation in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Although decentralization in itself does not automatically lead to development it became an integral part of reform processes in many developing countries. Governments and international donors consider efficient decentralized political and administrative structures as essential elements of "good governance" and a prerequisite for structural poverty alleviation. This paper seeks to analyse how the given decentralization strategy and its implementation is affecting different features of good governance in the case of Lesotho. The results of the analysis confirm that the decentralisation process significantly improved political participation of the local population. However, the second objective of enhancing efficiency through decentralisation was not achieved. To the contrary, in the institutional design of the newly created local authorities and in the civil service recruitment policy efficiency considerations did not matter. Additionally, the created mechanisms for political participation generate relevant costs. Thus it is impossible to judge unambiguously on the contribution of decentralisation to the achievement of good governance. Different subtargets of good governance are influenced contrarily. Consequently, the adequacy of the concept of good governance as a guiding concept for decentralisation policies can be questioned. The assessment of the success of decentralisation policies requires a normative framework that takes into account the relations between both participation and efficiency. Despite the partly reduced administrative efficiency the author's overall impression of the decentralisation process in Lesotho is positive. The establishment of democratically legitimised and participatory local governments justifies certain additional expenditure. However, mistakes in the design and the implementation of the decentralisation strategy would have been avoidable.}, subject = {Dezentralisation}, language = {en} } @article{YadavHusainFutrell2021, author = {Yadav, Himanshu and Husain, Samar and Futrell, Richard}, title = {Do dependency lengths explain constraints on crossing dependencies?}, series = {Linguistics vanguard : multimodal online journal}, volume = {7}, journal = {Linguistics vanguard : multimodal online journal}, publisher = {De Gruyter Mouton}, address = {Berlin ; New York, NY}, issn = {2199-174X}, doi = {10.1515/lingvan-2019-0070}, pages = {15}, year = {2021}, abstract = {In syntactic dependency trees, when arcs are drawn from syntactic heads to dependents, they rarely cross. Constraints on these crossing dependencies are critical for determining the syntactic properties of human language, because they define the position of natural language in formal language hierarchies. We study whether the apparent constraints on crossing syntactic dependencies in natural language might be explained by constraints on dependency lengths (the linear distance between heads and dependents). We compare real dependency trees from treebanks of 52 languages against baselines of random trees which are matched with the real trees in terms of their dependency lengths. We find that these baseline trees have many more crossing dependencies than real trees, indicating that a constraint on dependency lengths alone cannot explain the empirical rarity of crossing dependencies. However, we find evidence that a combined constraint on dependency length and the rate of crossing dependencies might be able to explain two of the most-studied formal restrictions on dependency trees: gap degree and well-nestedness.}, language = {en} } @book{HerbstMaschlerNiephausetal.2015, author = {Herbst, Eva-Maria and Maschler, Fabian and Niephaus, Fabio and Reimann, Max and Steier, Julia and Felgentreff, Tim and Lincke, Jens and Taeumel, Marcel and Hirschfeld, Robert and Witt, Carsten}, title = {ecoControl}, number = {93}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}tsverlag Potsdam}, address = {Potsdam}, isbn = {978-3-86956-318-3}, issn = {1613-5652}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-72147}, publisher = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {viii, 142}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Eine dezentrale Energieversorgung ist ein erster Schritt in Richtung Energiewende. Dabei werden auch in Mehrfamilienh{\"a}usern vermehrt verschiedene Strom- und W{\"a}rmeerzeuger eingesetzt. Besonders in Deutschland kommen in diesem Zusammenhang Blockheizkraftwerke immer h{\"a}ufiger zum Einsatz, weil sie Gas sehr effizient in Strom und W{\"a}rme umwandeln k{\"o}nnen. Außerdem erm{\"o}glichen sie, im Zusammenspiel mit anderen Energiesystemen wie beispielsweise Photovoltaik-Anlagen, eine kontinuierliche und dezentrale Energieversorgung. Bei dem Betrieb von unterschiedlichen Energiesystemen ist es w{\"u}nschenswert, dass die Systeme aufeinander abgestimmt arbeiten. Allerdings ist es bisher schwierig, heterogene Energiesysteme effizient miteinander zu betreiben. Dadurch bleiben Einsparungspotentiale ungenutzt. Eine zentrale Steuerung kann deshalb die Effizienz des Gesamtsystems verbessern. Mit ecoControl stellen wir einen erweiterbaren Prototypen vor, der die Kooperation von Energiesystemen optimiert und Umweltfaktoren miteinbezieht. Dazu stellt die Software eine einheitliche Bedienungsoberfl{\"a}che zur Konfiguration aller Systeme zur Verf{\"u}gung. Außerdem bietet sie die M{\"o}glichkeit, Optimierungsalgorithmen mit Hilfe einer Programmierschnittstelle zu entwickeln, zu testen und auszuf{\"u}hren. Innerhalb solcher Algorithmen k{\"o}nnen von ecoControl bereitgestellte Vorhersagen genutzt werden. Diese Vorhersagen basieren auf dem individuellen Verhalten von jedem Energiesystem, Wettervorhersagen und auf Prognosen des Energieverbrauchs. Mithilfe einer Simulation k{\"o}nnen Techniker unterschiedliche Konfigurationen und Optimierungen sofort ausprobieren, ohne diese {\"u}ber einen langen Zeitraum an realen Ger{\"a}ten testen zu m{\"u}ssen. ecoControl hilft dar{\"u}ber hinaus auch Hausverwaltungen und Vermietern bei der Verwaltung und Analyse der Energiekosten. Wir haben anhand von Fallbeispielen gezeigt, dass Optimierungsalgorithmen, welche die Nutzung von W{\"a}rmespeichern verbessern, die Effizienz des Gesamtsystems erheblich verbessern k{\"o}nnen. Schließlich kommen wir zu dem Schluss, dass ecoControl in einem n{\"a}chsten Schritt unter echten Bedingungen getestet werden muss, sobald eine geeignete Hardwarekomponente verf{\"u}gbar ist. {\"U}ber diese Schnittstelle werden die Messwerte an ecoControl gesendet und Steuersignale an die Ger{\"a}te weitergeleitet.}, language = {de} } @misc{KuhlmannWayenberg2016, author = {Kuhlmann, Sabine and Wayenberg, Ellen}, title = {Institutional impact assessment in multi-level systems}, series = {International review of administrative sciences}, volume = {82}, journal = {International review of administrative sciences}, number = {2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-405314}, pages = {22}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Comparative literature on institutional reforms in multi-level systems proceeds from a global trend towards the decentralization of state functions. However, there is only scarce knowledge about the impact that decentralization has had, in particular, upon the sub-central governments involved. How does it affect regional and local governments? Do these reforms also have unintended outcomes on the sub-central level and how can this be explained? This article aims to develop a conceptual framework to assess the impacts of decentralization on the sub-central level from a comparative and policyoriented perspective. This framework is intended to outline the major patterns and models of decentralization and the theoretical assumptions regarding de-/re-centralization impacts, as well as pertinent cross-country approaches meant to evaluate and compare institutional reforms. It will also serve as an analytical guideline and a structural basis for all the country-related articles in this Special Issue.}, language = {en} } @article{KuhlmannWayenberg2016, author = {Kuhlmann, Sabine and Wayenberg, Ellen}, title = {Institutional impact assessment in multi-level systems: conceptualizing decentralization effects from a comparative perspective}, series = {International review of administrative sciences : an international journal of comparative public administration}, volume = {82}, journal = {International review of administrative sciences : an international journal of comparative public administration}, number = {2}, publisher = {Sage}, address = {London}, issn = {0020-8523}, doi = {10.1177/0020852315583194}, pages = {233 -- 272}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Comparative literature on institutional reforms in multi-level systems proceeds from a global trend towards the decentralization of state functions. However, there is only scarce knowledge about the impact that decentralization has had, in particular, upon the sub-central governments involved. How does it affect regional and local governments? Do these reforms also have unintended outcomes on the sub-central level and how can this be explained? This article aims to develop a conceptual framework to assess the impacts of decentralization on the sub-central level from a comparative and policy-oriented perspective. This framework is intended to outline the major patterns and models of decentralization and the theoretical assumptions regarding de-/re-centralization impacts, as well as pertinent cross-country approaches meant to evaluate and compare institutional reforms. It will also serve as an analytical guideline and a structural basis for all the country-related articles in this Special Issue. Points for practitioners Decentralization reforms are approved as having a key role to play in the attainment of 'good governance'. Yet, there is also the enticement on the part of state governments to offload an ever-increasing amount of responsibilities to, and overtask, local levels of government, which can lead to increasing performance disparities within local sub-state jurisdictions. Against this background, the article provides a conceptual framework to assess reform impacts from a comparative perspective. The analytical framework can be used by practitioners to support their decisions about new decentralization strategies or necessary adjustments regarding ongoing reform measures.}, language = {en} } @techreport{BorckOshiroSatō2022, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Borck, Rainald and Oshiro, Jun and Satō, Yasuhiro}, title = {Property tax competition}, series = {CEPA Discussion Papers}, journal = {CEPA Discussion Papers}, issn = {2628-653X}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-56222}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-562228}, pages = {71}, year = {2022}, abstract = {We develop a model of property taxation and characterize equilibria under three alternative taxa-tion regimes often used in the public finance literature: decentralized taxation, centralized taxation, and "rent seeking" regimes. We show that decentralized taxation results in inefficiently high tax rates, whereas centralized taxation yields a common optimal tax rate, and tax rates in the rent-seeking regime can be either inefficiently high or low. We quantify the effects of switching from the observed tax system to the three regimes for Japan and Germany. The decentralized or rent-seeking regime best describes the Japanese tax system, whereas the centralized regime does so for Germany. We also quantify the welfare effects of regime changes.}, language = {en} } @article{ZhongCausaMooreetal.2020, author = {Zhong, Yufei and Causa, Martina and Moore, Gareth John and Krauspe, Philipp and Xiao, Bo and G{\"u}nther, Florian and Kublitski, Jonas and BarOr, Eyal and Zhou, Erjun and Banerji, Natalie}, title = {Sub-picosecond charge-transfer at near-zero driving force in polymer:non-fullerene acceptor blends and bilayers}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {11}, journal = {Nature Communications}, number = {1}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group UK}, address = {London}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-14549-w}, pages = {1 -- 10}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Organic photovoltaics based on non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) show record efficiency of 16 to 17\% and increased photovoltage owing to the low driving force for interfacial charge-transfer. However, the low driving force potentially slows down charge generation, leading to a tradeoff between voltage and current. Here, we disentangle the intrinsic charge-transfer rates from morphology-dependent exciton diffusion for a series of polymer:NFA systems. Moreover, we establish the influence of the interfacial energetics on the electron and hole transfer rates separately. We demonstrate that charge-transfer timescales remain at a few hundred femtoseconds even at near-zero driving force, which is consistent with the rates predicted by Marcus theory in the normal region, at moderate electronic coupling and at low re-organization energy. Thus, in the design of highly efficient devices, the energy offset at the donor:acceptor interface can be minimized without jeopardizing the charge-transfer rate and without concerns about a current-voltage tradeoff.}, language = {en} } @misc{ZhongCausaMooreetal.2020, author = {Zhong, Yufei and Causa, Martina and Moore, Gareth John and Krauspe, Philipp and Xiao, Bo and G{\"u}nther, Florian and Kublitski, Jonas and BarOr, Eyal and Zhou, Erjun and Banerji, Natalie}, title = {Sub-picosecond charge-transfer at near-zero driving force in polymer:non-fullerene acceptor blends and bilayers}, series = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {1}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-51193}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-511936}, pages = {12}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Organic photovoltaics based on non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) show record efficiency of 16 to 17\% and increased photovoltage owing to the low driving force for interfacial charge-transfer. However, the low driving force potentially slows down charge generation, leading to a tradeoff between voltage and current. Here, we disentangle the intrinsic charge-transfer rates from morphology-dependent exciton diffusion for a series of polymer:NFA systems. Moreover, we establish the influence of the interfacial energetics on the electron and hole transfer rates separately. We demonstrate that charge-transfer timescales remain at a few hundred femtoseconds even at near-zero driving force, which is consistent with the rates predicted by Marcus theory in the normal region, at moderate electronic coupling and at low re-organization energy. Thus, in the design of highly efficient devices, the energy offset at the donor:acceptor interface can be minimized without jeopardizing the charge-transfer rate and without concerns about a current-voltage tradeoff.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Yin2009, author = {Yin, Chunhong}, title = {The interplay of nanostructure and efficiency of polymer solar cells}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-29054}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The aim of this thesis is to achieve a deep understanding of the working mechanism of polymer based solar cells and to improve the device performance. Two types of the polymer based solar cells are studied here: all-polymer solar cells comprising macromolecular donors and acceptors based on poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and hybrid cells comprising a PPV copolymer in combination with a novel small molecule electron acceptor. To understand the interplay between morphology and photovoltaic properties in all-polymer devices, I compared the photocurrent characteristics and excited state properties of bilayer and blend devices with different nano-morphology, which was fine tuned by using solvents with different boiling points. The main conclusion from these complementary measurements was that the performance-limiting step is the field-dependent generation of free charge carriers, while bimolecular recombination and charge extraction do not compromise device performance. These findings imply that the proper design of the donor-acceptor heterojunction is of major importance towards the goal of high photovoltaic efficiencies. Regarding polymer-small molecular hybrid solar cells I combined the hole-transporting polymer M3EH-PPV with a novel Vinazene-based electron acceptor. This molecule can be either deposited from solution or by thermal evaporation, allowing for a large variety of layer architectures to be realized. I then demonstrated that the layer architecture has a large influence on the photovoltaic properties. Solar cells with very high fill factors of up to 57 \% and an open circuit voltage of 1V could be achieved by realizing a sharp and well-defined donor-acceptor heterojunction. In the past, fill factors exceeding 50 \% have only been observed for polymers in combination with soluble fullerene-derivatives or nanocrystalline inorganic semiconductors as the electron-accepting component. The finding that proper processing of polymer-vinazene devices leads to similar high values is a major step towards the design of efficient polymer-based solar cells.}, language = {en} }