I. Tsung Tsai

The spatial layout of an urban system has important effects on the indoor cooling load and outdoor thermal comfort especially for regions with extreme hot weather. These effects, however, are difficult to analyze in the presence of human adaptation to thermal stress. This paper presents an integrated model to analyze the effects of urban geometry on indoor cooling load and outdoor thermal comfort taking into accounts urban heat island effects and pedestrian adaptation to thermal stress. We apply the model to study downtown Abu Dhabi city and the Masdar city of the United Arab Emirates. Sensitivity analysis shows optimal urban design parameters that improve energy efficiency and pedestrian health in this region.

While the social conflict theory (SCT) suggests that absolute monarchies will not tolerate inclusive economic institutions, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have regularly achieved above global average ratings for property rights protection, entry barriers, disruptive wealth redistribution and corruption. This paper discusses the extent to which GCC states have potential to further improve their institutional quality. We explore whether inclusive economic institutions may emerge in GCC states, such as: (1) regional economic integration and competition which alleviate rulers’ capability to expropriate private property and ease entry barriers to the market, (2) rulers of resource rich economies sustain political power with control of natural resources as opposed to the extraction of private property; and (3) prospect of long-term gain for the ruler incentivizes the adoption of a market-based economy. Strong state involvement in manufacturing and the monopoly of some services, the effect of tribalism in economic affairs and the distribution of resources, as well as a sponsorship system for foreign workers in these states may all impede the development of a truly competitive and free economy.