Search

Does the relative optimism of presidential remarks on the economy affect U.S. economic performance? We theorize that the relative optimism of presidential remarks should affect economic performance by altering consumer perceptions of the economic news and consumer sentiment, which in turn affect the risks consumers are willing to take in spending decisions. We measure the relative optimism of presidential remarks on the economy through content analysis of all public statements on the general economy and unemployment from January 1978 through April 2002. Controlling for current and past economic performance, we use vector autoregression analysis to show that presidential remarks significantly affect people's perceptions of the economic news, as well as their confidence about current and future economic conditions. Using simulation analyses, we also demonstrate that presidential rhetoric operating through these indirect channels can have substantial impacts on U.S. economic growth and unemployment. The larger implication is that the president has a heretofore little appreciated role as rhetorical leader of the economy.

There is little published information on heavy metals in surficial sediments of the upper Hawkesbury-Nepean River in central New South Wales, Australia. In the current investigation, the fine fraction ( Sediment in the upper Hawkesbury-Nepean River is not heavily polluted by heavy metals. Maximum enrichment over background for Ni and Ag, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn is 3x, 5.7x, 6x, 6.7x, 12x and 13.6x, respectively. Mean heavy metal concentrations for this, the upper section of the river, are about half the mean values for the Hawkesbury River between Windsor and Broken Bay in the lower, estuarine section of the river. The highest Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations (214, 108 and 334 mg [kg.sup. -1], respectively) occur in surficial sediments in Peachtree Creek at Penrith and the Nepean River near Jacksons Lane, Castlereagh. These metal concentrations are possibly associated with industrial activity at Penrith. Two of the six sewage treatment plants on the upper Hawkesbury-Nepean River are associated with high metal concentrations (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) in sediments, that is, the West Camden and Penrith sewage treatment plants. Other possible sources of heavy metals are coal mining and washing which occurs at several places in the upper catchment. The highest Cd, Co and Fe concentrations (1.7, 27.6 mg [kg.sup.-1] and 4.81%, respectively) were found in sediments 400 m downstream of the Nepean Dam and the highest concentrations of Ni and Mn (54 and 790 mg [kg.sup.-1], respectively) were located in sediment from the Nepean River at Moresby Hill Road Bridge, near Robertson and at the Avon Dam Road Bridge. The source of these metals is unknown. KEY WORDS: Hawkesbury-Nepean River; heavy metals; surface sediments; flame AAS

The ARPA and the US Air Force Rome Laboratory developed the ARPI program in 1990 to design next generation artificial intelligence (AI) tools for planning, scheduling, resource allocation and improving crisis management planning. The program develops research projects, evaluates technical progress and demonstrates the operation of AI in military planning and scheduling. By applying Total Quality Management principles the research community are allowed to attain their goals while supporting the community goals.