Evaluating Pedagogical Quality of Learning Activities Using Fuzzy Evaluation Mappings: The Case of Pedagogical Games of Mathematical Proof

This paper introduces a conceptual framework for developing pedagogical games of mathematical proof (PGMP) designed to help non-STEM students learn mathematical reasoning in a playful manner and without “fear”. Within the constructivist learning paradigm it develops an in-class learning activity where social science students learn the concept of mathematical deduction playfully using toys to construct tables from which formal proofs of propositions are derived without calculations. A PGMP pedagogy quality assurance evaluation method based on fuzzy evaluation mappings capturing learning effectiveness, learning efficiency, and learning satisfaction is introduced. Our results from an in-class experiment show that pedagogical games of mathematical proof help non-STEM students to effectively engage with mathematical reasoning playfully. The results are consistent according to a quality assurance consistency index.

Switching Regimes in Economics: The Contraction Mapping and the ω-Limit Set

This paper considers a dynamical system defined by a set of ordinary autonomous differential equations with discontinuous right-hand side. Such systems typically appear in economic modelling where there are two or more regimes with a switching between them. Switching between regimes may be a consequence of market forces or deliberately forced in form of policy implementation. Stiefenhofer and Giesl [1] introduce such a model. The purpose of this paper is to show that a metric function defined between two adjacent trajectories contracts in forward time leading to exponentially asymptotically stability of (non)smooth periodic orbits. Hence, we define a local contraction function and distribute it over the smooth and nonsmooth parts of the periodic orbits. The paper shows exponentially asymptotical stability of a periodic orbit using a contraction property of the distance function between two adjacent nonsmooth trajectories over the entire periodic orbit. Moreover it is shown that the ω-limit set of the (non)smooth periodic orbit for two adjacent initial conditions is the same.

Topological Properties of the Catastrophe Map of a General Equilibrium Production Model with Uncertain States of Nature

This paper shows existence and efficiency of equilibria of a production model with uncertainty, where production is modeled in the demand function of the consumer. Existence and efficiency of equilibria are a direct consequence of the catastrophe map being smooth and proper. Topological properties of the equilibrium set are studied. It is shown that the equilibrium set has the structure of a smooth submanifold of the Euclidean space which is diffeomorphic to the sphere implying connectedness, simple connectedness, and contractibility. The set of economies with discontinuous price systems is shown to be of Lebesgue measure zero.

The Catastrophe Map of a Two Period Production Model with Uncertainty

This paper shows existence and efficiency of equilibria of a two period production model with uncertainty as a consequence of the catastrophe map being smooth and proper. Its inverse mapping defines a finite covering implying finiteness of equilibria. Beyond the extraction of local equilibrium information of the model, the catastrophe map renders itself well for a global study of the equilibrium set. It is shown that the equilibrium set has the structure of a smooth submanifold of the Euclidean space which is diffeomorphic to the sphere implying connectedness, simple connectedness, and contractibility.

Conspicuous Ethics: Existence of Price Dependent Ethical Utility Functions

The purpose of this paper is to model ethical consumption behaviour based on price-dependent preferences. We motivate ethical consumption founded on the idea that ethical consumers compete for moral superiority relative to their peers by purchasing more expensive ethical conspicuous goods. An ethical consumer model in which consumers display moral consumption choices by purchasing ethical conspicuous goods is developed. This requires de_ning ethical conspicuous goods, social labels, and formalizing a set of assumptions on price-dependent ethical preferences. We show that an ethical utility function exists without relying on the usual transitivity assumption. We utilise Blashke's Rolling Theorem to show our main result.