Competitive Evolution Research Articles

Generalities on legal regulation of cartel agreements

This article provides an overview of the evolution of competition and competition law, both in the Republic of Moldova and in some European and US countries. Also, the paper crystallizes the conceptual approaches on cartels and offers an analysis of the doctrine of the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russia, France, Germany, USA, Great Britain regarding cartel agreements. Following the analysis carried out in this paper, it was observed that the contribution of foreign academics in the field of defining and classifying cartel agreements is substantial, and the jurisprudence of the European Commission and the European Court of Justice has served as a source of inspiration and progress for the academic environment, as well as for the development of competition on the market. Although in the Republic of Moldova there is limited research in the field of cartel agreements, it is gratifying that the legislation is harmonized with European directives, and the doctrine is developed starting from the most important international research in the field of protection of competition.

On the evolution of male competitiveness

Since a man’s reproductive success depends on his ability to outcompete other men, male competitiveness may be expected to have been exposed to strong selective pressure throughout human history. Accordingly, the relatively low level of physical violence observed between men has been viewed as a puzzle. What could have limited the eagerness of men to out-compete each other? I study the evolution of male competitiveness in a model where men compete for both reproductive and productive resources. I show that high levels of male competitiveness are then consistent with evolution by natural selection if (a) the ecology is generous enough for men to supply little or no food to their children, (b) competing is not too costly in terms of productive resources, and (c) relatedness among males is low enough. While the main analysis takes women to passively accept the husband that emerges from the male-male competition, the results are qualitatively robust to allowing for female mate choice following the male-male competition game. Possible implications for our understanding of the evolution of marriage systems are discussed.

Competition Analysis on Industry Populations Based on a Three-Dimensional Lotka–Volterra Model

The classical Lotka–Volterra model is mainly a two-dimensional configuration. The two-dimensional form limits the application scenarios of the Lotka–Volterra model. The research objective of this paper is to develop a feasible three population equilibrium model to analyze the industry competition. In order to expand the Lotka–Volterra model to empirical analysis, this paper proposes a symbiosis model of enterprise population based on a three-dimensional Lotka–Volterra model. This paper analyzes the symbiotic system from two aspects: the balanced development of three species and the competitive evolution of the three species, taking the sales volume of three local automobile enterprises in China as the sample for empirical analysis. The symbiotic optimization under the equilibrium state of three populations indicates that there is the possibility of equilibrium and reciprocity in the growth of three automobile product populations. The empirical analysis fully explains the feasibility of this research paradigm. The analysis of competition evolution shows that cooperative action is better than competitive strategy and that comprehensive cooperation is the ideal state of a three-population symbiotic system.

The Design of Firms: Part 2 - Competitive Advantage

Abstract One of the essential aspects of a company's design is its source of competitive advantage. Extrapolating from Raymond Loewy's famous design strategy acronym, MAYA—the Most Advanced Yet Acceptable Principle—and treating the firm as the object of design, this article explains the competitive advantage of firms from a design perspective. Our design-based recommendation for the competitive advantage of firms is to focus on shaping heterogeneity-based advantages of the firm in ways its paying customers would deem valuable. The novelty and conventionality dynamics of its industry will influence the degree of heterogeneity of the firm. Firms can shape their heterogeneity-based advantages through policies relating to organizational structure, routines, and product portfolio to name a few. Going beyond the role of a design in creating rents above and beyond what other firms can imagine, our claim focuses on the ways in which heterogeneity is a fundamental driver of its competitive advantage. If correct, the design-based view suggests that the ideal level of heterogeneity of the firm relative to current competitive conditions and evolution paths adopted by the firm and its competitors is more fundamental to firm profitability than its resources.

BSO20: efficient brain storm optimization for real-parameter numerical optimization

Brain storm optimization (BSO) is an emerging global optimization algorithm. The primary idea is to divide the population into different clusters, and offspring are generated within a cluster or between two clusters. However, the problems of inefficient clustering strategy and insufficient exploration exist in BSO. In this paper, a novel and efficient BSO is proposed, called BSO20 (proposed in 2020). BSO20 pays attention to both the clustering strategy and the mutation strategy. First, we propose a hybrid clustering strategy, which combines two clustering strategies, i.e., nearest-better clustering and random grouping strategy. The size of the subpopulation clustered by two strategies is dynamically adjusted as the population evolves. Second, a modified mutation strategy is used in BSO20 to share information within a cluster or among multiple clusters to enhance the ability of exploration. BSO20 is tested on the problems of the 2017 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation competition on real parameter numerical optimization. BSO20 is compared with several variants of BSO and two variants of particle swarm optimization, and the experimental results show that BSO20 is competitive.

Cannabinoid Modulation of Dopamine Release During Motivation, Periodic Reinforcement, Exploratory Behavior, Habit Formation, and Attention.

Motivational and attentional processes energize action sequences to facilitate evolutionary competition and promote behavioral fitness. Decades of neuropharmacology, electrophysiology and electrochemistry research indicate that the mesocorticolimbic DA pathway modulates both motivation and attention. More recently, it was realized that mesocorticolimbic DA function is tightly regulated by the brain’s endocannabinoid system and greatly influenced by exogenous cannabinoids—which have been harnessed by humanity for medicinal, ritualistic, and recreational uses for 12,000 years. Exogenous cannabinoids, like the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, produce their effects by acting at binding sites for naturally occurring endocannabinoids. The brain’s endocannabinoid system consists of two G-protein coupled receptors, endogenous lipid ligands for these receptor targets, and several synthetic and metabolic enzymes involved in their production and degradation. Emerging evidence indicates that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol is necessary to observe concurrent increases in DA release and motivated behavior. And the historical pharmacology literature indicates a role for cannabinoid signaling in both motivational and attentional processes. While both types of behaviors have been scrutinized under manipulation by either DA or cannabinoid agents, there is considerably less insight into prospective interactions between these two important signaling systems. This review attempts to summate the relevance of cannabinoid modulation of DA release during operant tasks designed to investigate either motivational or attentional control of behavior. We first describe how cannabinoids influence DA release and goal-directed action under a variety of reinforcement contingencies. Then we consider the role that endocannabinoids might play in switching an animal’s motivation from a goal-directed action to the search for an alternative outcome, in addition to the formation of long-term habits. Finally, dissociable features of attentional behavior using both the 5-choice serial reaction time task and the attentional set-shifting task are discussed along with their distinct influences by DA and cannabinoids. We end with discussing potential targets for further research regarding DA-cannabinoid interactions within key substrates involved in motivation and attention.

Elеmеnts of Organizational Culturе That Facilitatе Thе Conduct of Efficiеnt Activitiеs Within Modеrn Organizations

Because of its impact on an institution’s functionality and performance, organisational culture is one of the most discussed topics in management, organisational behaviour, and sociology. The majority of the debates centre on this organisational phenomenon’s ability to significantly contribute to the entity’s competitive evolution by mobilising its resources, particularly human resources. Even though there is still debate about the definition of organisational culture, experts agree that most of its components contain the fundamental values of any institution. Moreover, any institution considers a robust organisational culture essential for outstanding performance. This paper aims to highlight the concepts of organisational culture at the organisational level from the standpoint of modern economics. A questionnaire was used as a research tool, and the data collected from it was analysed using quantitative statistical-mathematical analysis. The non-implementation or functioning with deficiencies in organisational culture can raise concerns about the entity’s functioning and the managerial act’s quality and efficiency.

AI and the capitalist space economy

ABSTRACT The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has fuelled concerns ranging from ‘existential risk for humanity’, framed as evolutionary competition with machines, to predictions of the ‘end of work’ via widespread substitution of humans by robots. Yet these extreme scenarios tend to operate at the intractable scale of ‘humanity' and lack a geographically nuanced conceptual scaffolding. This article proposes such a scaffolding, starting with a conceptual dyad that is core to the geographical tradition: place and space. This perspective is intended to inform and situate debates about the role of AI in the construction and transformation of the capitalist space economy.

Exploration of the Ability of Fungi for Decomposing Natural Resources Based on Multiple Regression Equation and Cellular Automata

With the development of society, carbon emissions are increasing. The key organisms to maintain the stability of the carbon cycle are fungi that can be easily seen and ignored. In this paper, we selected several fungi to establish the model of decomposition and reproduction so that we can understand the role they played. First of all, we studied several physiological indexes of fungi, and established the degradation model through multiple regression analysis, and multiple linear regression equation for the relationship between decomposition rate, growth rate, unit volume density of mycelium, temperature and humidity tolerance. Next, we established the competitive growth model based on logistic model, simulated the competitive growth process of strains with different growth rates, humidity tolerance, and the total decomposition rate. In order to be closer to the real situation, we set up the competitive growth model among four species. By arranging fungal communities randomly to simulate different biodiversity, we analyzed the effects on the decomposition rate in the case of that the environmental temperature and humidity changed by 10% respectively. After that, we established a growth prediction model based on ARIMA. By querying the climate data of five typical climates, we established the competitive growth model with 4 combinations, and we obtained a short-term model, a medium-term trend and a long-tern forecast to describe growth, reproduction and decomposition rate. In order to refine the strains of the pressure of competition and the influence of the distance between the strains of competition, we have established improved competition evolution model based on the cellular automata theory of population. The model helped us comprehend the competition between species on a micro level. All these analyses showed us the significance of biodiversity and the great role decomposers play in Earth.

Banking Sector Consolidation and Stability in Kenya

This paper sought to examine the evaluation of competition and stability conditions in the Kenya banking sector amidst adoption various aspects of consolidation. This was achieved by exploring evolution of competition and stability conditions using bank-level and peer-level annual data from 2001 to 2017 for 37 banks. The paper adopted three-step estimation approach; first, estimated two competition measures Lerner Index and Panzar-Rosse H statistics to assess evolution of competition conditions. Secondly, constructed two stability measures Altman Z - Score and Bankometer S - Score to assess evolution of stability conditions. Thirdly, using panel GMM estimators introduced the estimated competition measures as explanatory variables and re-examined stability conditions to evaluate the role of competition in promoting banking sector stability. The study findings indicate competition conditions have increased and can be characterized as monopolistic competition. The banking sector stability conditions are high and sound, though downward trending. Increase in level of competition promotes stability conditions. The paper concludes that, adoption of various aspect of banking sector consolidation has led to improved competition and stability conditions in Kenya. Banking sectors players should continue implementing and adopting various policies that promote competition and stability such as market driven consolidations. JEL classification numbers: G2, G01, G33. Keywords: Bank Stability, Consolidation, Competition, Market Power, Lerner Index, Altman Z-Score, Bankometer S-Score, H-statistics.

Experimental Evolution of Interference Competition.

The importance of interference competition, where individuals compete through antagonistic traits such as the production of toxins, has long been recognized by ecologists, yet understanding how these types of interactions evolve remains limited. Toxin production is thought to be beneficial when competing with a competitor. Here, we explore if antagonism can evolve by long-term selection of the toxin (pyocin) producing strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in the presence (or absence) of one of three clinical isolates of the same species (Recipient) over ten serial transfers. We find that inhibition decreases in the absence of a recipient. In the presence of a recipient, antagonism evolved to be different depending on the recipient used. Our study shows that the evolution of interference competition by toxins can decrease or increase, experimentally demonstrating the importance of this type of interaction for the evolution of species interactions.

Competitive Evolution of Professional Wheelchair Tennis from the Paralympic Games in Athens 2004 to Rio 2016: An Observational Study

The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the activity pattern and technical-tactical parameters of men’s wheelchair tennis matches from the Paralympic Games (PG) in Athens 2004 (A), Beijing 2008 (B), London 2012 (L) and Rio 2016 (R). A total of 5702 shots from twelve final round matches were analysed. Activity patterns (e.g., rally duration, shots per rally…) and technical effectivity (e.g., errors, winners…) were recorded. An ANOVA test with post hoc pairwise comparisons was conducted to compare the mean differences among matches of different PG. Game duration, points and shots per game differed according to the PG (R and L > B and A). Rally duration (p < 0.001) and shots per rally (p < 0.001) were longer at R and L than B and A. The effectivity of the last shots was different, the errors have been increasing and the winners have been decreasing. The main finding indicates that activity patterns and technical parameters have evolved mainly between A and B to L and R. This study gives an overview of the development of the sport over time, and coaches can use this information to adapt their training sessions to the current needs of the competition.

Liberalization and evolution of free competition in the energy market in Brazil, the US and the European Union: a comparative study for the demonstration of factors prejudicial to the establishment of competitiveness in the energy market

LIBERALIZATION AND EVOLUTION OF FREE COMPETITION IN THE ENERGY MARKET IN BRAZIL, THE US AND THE EUROPEAN UNION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF FACTORS PREJUDICIAL TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPETITIVENESS IN THE ENERGY MARKET Abstract: This paper aims to analyse the legal paradigm of free competition in the energy market development, especially in relation to distribution services to final consumers (retail services), in Brazil, European Union and United States of America. In this work, seek out to understand the level of similarities and differences between the energetic regulation models adopted in these three legal backgrounds, in order to expose the strikes and mistakes of the create a competitive energy market in retail level. In this case, it was necessary recognize how the energy services inserted on each legal framework and in the roles of the state, and identify the positive and negative circumstances of experiences of implementation of a typical competition energy market. Keywords: Regulation. Electricity. Economic-Administrative Law. Comparative Law. Free competition. LIBERALIZACAO E EVOLUCAO DA LIVRE CONCORRENCIA NO MERCADO DE ENERGIA NO BRASIL, ESTADOS UNIDOS E UNIAO EUROPEIA: UM ESTUDO COMPARATIVO PARA A DEMONSTRACAO DE FATORES PREJUDICIAIS AO ESTABELECIMENTO DA COMPETITIVIDADE NO MERCADO DE ENERGIA Resumo: O presente trabalho busca analisar o panorama juridico da livre concorrencia no desenvolvimento do mercado de energia, especialmente em relacao a distribuicao ao consumidor final, no Brasil, na Uniao Europeia e nos Estados Unidos da America. No caso, busca-se compreender os graus de similitudes e diferencas entre os modelos de regulacao energica adotados nesses tres cenarios juridicos, de modo a expormos os acertos e desacertos quanto a insercao da competitividade no mercado varejista de energia. No caso, tornou-se necessario entender como o servico de energia se inseriu no ordenamento juridico de cada regiao e dentro das funcoes do Estado, bem como compreender as circunstâncias positivas e negativas de experiencias praticas de implantacao de um mercado energetico competitivo. Palavras-chaves : Regulacao. Energia Eletrica. Direito Economico-Administrativo. Direito Comparado. Livre concorrencia. Data da Submissao: 11/06/2020 Data da Aprovacao: 07/07/2020

A Modified Bat Algorithm for Solving Large-Scale Bound Constrained Global Optimization Problems

In the last two decades, the field of global optimization has become very active, and, in this regard, many deterministic and stochastic algorithms were developed for solving various optimization problems. Among them, swarm intelligence (SI) is a stochastic algorithm that is more flexible and robust and has had the ability to find an optimum solution for high-dimensional optimization and search problems. SI-based algorithms are mainly inspired by the social behavior of fish schooling or bird flocking. Among the SI-based algorithms, Bat algorithm (BA) is one of the recently developed evolutionary algorithms. It employs an echolocation behavior of microbats by varying pulse rates of emission and loudness to perform their search process. In this paper, a modified Bat algorithm (MBA) is developed. The main focus of the MBA is to further enhance the exploration and exploitation search abilities of the original Bat algorithm. The performance of the modified Bat algorithm (MBA) is examined over the benchmark functions designed for evolutionary algorithms competition in the special session of 2005 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation. The used benchmark functions include the unimodal, multimodal, and hybrid benchmark functions with high dimensionality. Furthermore, the impact analysis with respect to different values of temperatures is conducted by executing the proposed algorithm twenty-five times independently by using each benchmark function with different random seeds.

Competitive complex particle swarm optimization: An efficient algorithm for optimization of linear-rotational sun-tracking control parameters

ABSTRACT Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a well-established heuristic global optimization algorithm inspired on the social behaviors observed in flocking birds. Premature convergence is major issues in PSO that may converge prematurely around the local optima. In this paper, control parameters of a new dual axis sun tracking system are optimized by an improved variant of particle swarm optimization, named as competitive complex multi-leader particle swarm optimization (CCPSO). Good properties of the proposed algorithm such as clustering, dispersion control, enhancement fitness in clustering and competitive complex evolution approach not only enable the algorithm to have an enhanced and systematic global search in high dimensional problems but also can make balance between the exploration and extraction and as a result prevent from premature convergence. These characteristics make the algorithm robust, effective and fast. The proposed algorithm results in more efficiency for the power generation of a new dual-axis sun-tracker by seeking the optimal solution of control parameters for single-axis and dual axis modes (e.g.: 823.2 Wh surplus energy in 7 h effective sunlight, 49% energy production using linear-rotational with respect to fixed-axis, and etc). Finally, to show the performance and the efficiency of the proposed method, the tracking speed, and energy consumption of motors are compared with algorithms in different climates.

Two decades of evolution in tourism competitiveness: a co-word analysis

Purpose The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of tourism competitiveness over the years, ascertaining the state of the art and the degree of consensus among scholars on its constituent elements to propose an integrative and updated concept. Design/methodology/approach A set of 130 definitions on tourism competitiveness formulated between 1999–2018 was analyzed and segmented into three periods, allowing its historical evolution to be ascertained. It is a qualitative and quantitative exploratory research that uses a combination of techniques, namely, content analysis, analysis of co-words and consensus analysis. Findings The results indicated a low use of elements such as the quality of life and the environment in the authors' definitions during 1999–2018, although these elements were present in the first concept of tourism competitiveness by Crouch and Ritchie (1999, 2003). Another finding of this study shows a reduction in the analysis of tourism competitiveness based on the supply and demand side. Nowadays, the research tends to turn on the basis of the population directly affected. It also reveals the enrichment of the theoretical corpus with new lines of research arising and new groups of scholars of the subject, consequently a new frontier in tourism competitiveness. Research limitations/implications The authors recommend deepening the analysis in each category of conceptual elements of tourism competitiveness to identify the origins of the low consensus. The authors also suggest conducting further research on the largest invisible schools of thought on this subject to understand their relations and perspectives, and thus to advance in the theoretical streams of the field. Finally, it is imperative to develop research on new models and monitors of tourism competitiveness that meet its renewed concept and integrate dimensions to consider the perspective of supply, demand, tourists and residents, as well as not excluding the economic bias but including the social side. Practical implications Owing to the fact that monitors of tourism competitiveness have practically no variables related to the social, most of the surveys are carried out from the supply or demand perspective, leaving the resident distant from the process. In this way, the results allow authors to indicate that new models of competitiveness measurement should be formulated based on the vision of the community impacted by tourism, i.e. a new version of tourism competitiveness not based on productivity but rather on the social aspect. Originality/value The findings of this study contribute to the field literature by offering an integrative concept of tourism competitiveness based on the elements with a higher level of consensus among researchers. Furthermore, the results accentuate a worrying fact regarding the operationalization of this concept, as the theoretical basis is not expressed in the monitors of competitiveness. Thus, nor it is possible in the management of the tourism industry.

The economics of renewable energy power in China

Affected by user demand and policy, the technological innovation speed and economic efficiency of different power technologies will change internally. By setting different policy scenarios, based on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) model, the paper comprehensively compared the impact of different policy portfolios and policy input intensity on the economics and stage of power technologies, and the market competitiveness evolution of coal power and renewable energy power is mainly analyzed. After 2020, with the increase in coal fuel prices and the acceleration of nuclear power technology learning, the LCOE of coal power has shown an upward trend, while the LCOE of nuclear power has shown the declining year by year. With the positive effects of technological innovation and diffusion, the LCOE of solar photovoltaic power (PV), and centralized solar power (CSP) technologies has also shown a downward trend year by year. In Scenario 1, continuing the existing energy policies, the LCOE of wind power, solar PV and CSP was significantly lower than coal power in 2040. In Scenario 2, implementing low-level coal resource tax, environmental tax, carbon tax and PV price subsidy, the LCOE of wind power and solar PV power was lower than coal power in 2030, and the LCOE of CSP was lower than coal power in 2040. In Scenario 3, implementing more rigorous energy policies, with the obvious economic advantages, the alternative of new energy power sources such as wind power and solar PV power is stronger.

Insights into evolution mechanism of PAHs in coal thermal conversion: A combined experimental and DFT study

The evolution mechanism and energy conversion of volatile in low-rank coal with pyrolysis temperatures still remain uncertain. The experimental results on gas products and light tar pyrolyzed from Shenfu coal at various pyrolysis temperatures reflect the complex correlation between volatiles and coal structure affected by temperatures. Thermodynamic competitive evolution towards CO from oxygen-containing structures are analyzed by density functional theory. The formation mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from by-product cyclopentadienyl through Diels-Alder reaction and C–H β-scission are confirmed at the CBS-QB3//M06–2X/def2-TZVP level of theory. Kinetic rate coefficients of the rate-limiting step are computed. Thermodynamic and kinetic calculation results indicate that phenols pyrolysis have to cross a higher energy barrier. Moreover, cyclopentadienyl thermodynamically tends to form indene at 645 °C, while forming PAHs such as naphthalene, even fluorene, phenanthrene, and anthracene at 855 °C, which is consistent with the experimental results. A hydrogen-rich environment can kinetically facilitate the formation of PAHs.

Digital platform-based ecosystems: The evolution of collaboration and competition between incumbent producers and entrant platforms

The rise of the Internet has seen traditional incumbent producers challenged by competition from digital entrant platforms. It is unclear, however, how those two types of actors—which are in competition but also mutually dependent—can co-exist in the new platform-based ecosystem. This paper sheds light on that pivotal phenomenon by connecting the traditional literature on incumbent adaptation with the growing conversation on digital platform-based ecosystems. Through a qualitative longitudinal (2005–2019) study of the global digital advertising ecosystem, we examine how incumbent producers pivot between competitive and cooperative strategies in response to digital entrant platforms. Our analysis reveals a process characterized by three sequential phases: (1) selective cooperation, (2) allied competition, and (3) selective coopetition. Those phases show how switching between different multi-level strategies spanning market segments, products, and technological components represents a viable solution for incumbent producers adapting in the face of entrant platforms.

Adjustable mode ratio and focus boost search strategy for cat swarm optimization

&lt;abstract&gt;&lt;p&gt;Evolutionary algorithm is one of the optimization techniques. Cat swarm optimization (CSO)-based algorithm is frequently used in many applications for solving challenging optimization problems. In this paper, the tracing mode in CSO is modified to reduce the number of user-defined parameters and weaken the sensitivity to the parameter values. In addition, a &lt;italic&gt;mode ratio&lt;/italic&gt; control scheme for switching individuals between different movement modes and a search boosting strategy are proposed. The obtained results from our method are compared with the modified CSO without the proposed strategy, the original CSO, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and differential evolution (DE) with three commonly-used DE search schemes. Six test functions from IEEE congress on evolutionary competition (CEC) are used to evaluate the proposed methods. The overall performance is evaluated by the average ranking over all test results. The ranking result indicates that our proposed method outperforms the other methods compared.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/abstract&gt;