Let Γ be a subsemigroup of G = GL(d,ℝ), d > 1. We assume that the action of Γ on ${ℝ}^d$ is strongly irreducible and that Γ contains a proximal and quasi-expanding element. We describe contraction properties of the dynamics of Γ on ${ℝ}^d$ at infinity. This amounts to the consideration of the action of Γ on some compact homogeneous spaces of G, which are extensions of the projective space ${\mathbb{P}}^{d-1}$. In the case where Γ is a subsemigroup of GL(d,ℝ) ∩ M(d,ℤ) and Γ has the above properties, we deduce that the Γ-orbits...

For every $k\in \mathbb{N}$, we produce a set of integers which is $k$-recurrent but not $(k+1)$-recurrent. This extends a result of Furstenberg who produced a $1$-recurrent set which is not $2$-recurrent. We discuss a similar result for convergence of multiple ergodic averages. We also point out a combinatorial consequence related to Szemerédi’s theorem.