Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When Measure Matters: Coresident Sample Selection Bias in Estimating Intergenerational Mobility in Developing Countries

Potential biases from coresident sample selection have been a major stumbling block for research on intergenerational mobility in developing countries. We use two rich data sets from Bangladesh and India to provide evidence on the extent of coresidency bias in standard measures of intergenerational mobility: intergenerational regression coefficient (IGRC) and intergenerational correlation (IGC). Estimates for all children, father-son, and mother-daughter persistence in schooling show that the IGRC estimates are severely biased downward (average 30 percent). In contrast, the bias in IGC estimates is much lower (average less than 10 percent, in many cases less than 5 percent). Truncation due to coresidency criterion in a survey biases the IGRC estimate downward, but it also biases upward the estimate of the ratio of the standard deviations of parental to children's schooling. The IGC estimate suffers from lower bias because the upward bias in the estimate of the ratio of standard deviations partly cancels out the downward bias in the IGRC estimate. The evidence suggests that the available household surveys in developing countries can be fruitfully used to understand intergenerational mobility if one focuses on IGC. The findings have important implications for cross-country comparison of intergenerational economic mobility.
Does Agency Theory Provide a General Framework for Audit Pricing

This paper examines whether agency theory provides a general framework for audit pricing. It is hypothesized that audit fees are determined by agency theory and a set of other factors identified in the previous literature. To empirically test the hypothesis, audit pricing is analyzed in seven countries representing different kinds of accounting and economic environments. The results of the study confirm that a negative relationship exists between audit fees and manager ownership and that a positive relationship exists between audit fees and free cash flow in several countries. This implies that agency theory can be used, at least to some extent, to explain audit fees internationally. Moreover, agency theory explains audit fees similarly across countries while the control variables have different impact on audit fees.
Causality between housing returns, inflation and economic growth with endogenous breaks

This paper investigates the housing-macroeconomic nexus in Taiwan with endogenous structural breaks during 1991–2006. GDP and CPI are taken into consideration for examining the inflation hedging ability of Taiwan's housing returns and the contribution of the housing market to economic growth. The empirical results show that the growth of GDP actually affects inflation, but it does not cause the growth in housing returns. In particular, when taking the time trend into account, it is found that the effect of inflation on housing returns is negative and the effect of housing returns on inflation is positive. This evidence demonstrates the ineffectiveness of inflation hedging of Taiwan's housing during the period of study and the opportunistic characteristic of investors. In addition, the growth of the housing market is not beneficial for economic growth in the long-run, yet it leads to higher inflation in the short-run.
Gender Differences in Quality of Life Among Cardiac Patients

Objective Prior studies of quality of life among cardiac patients have examined mostly men. This study evaluated gender differences in quality of life and examined the degree to which social support was associated with quality of life. Methods A sample of 536 patients (35% women) was recruited during a 14-month period from the inpatient cardiology service of a University-based hospital. Participants completed assessments at baseline and at 3-month intervals over the subsequent 12 months, for a total of 5 assessments. Measures at each assessment included quality of life [Mental Component Score (MCS) and Physical Component Score (PCS) from the Medical Outcomes Study—Short Form 36] and social support [Interpersonal Support Evaluation List—Short Form]. Results A total of 410 patients completed the baseline assessment and at least one follow-up, and were included in the data analyses. Linear mixed effects modeling of the MCS score revealed a significant effect of gender (p = .028) and time (p < .001), as well as a significant interaction of gender by social support (p = .009). Modeling of the PCS revealed a significant effect of gender (p = .010) and time (p < .001). Conclusions Women with cardiac disease indicated significantly lower quality of life than men with cardiac disease over the course of a 12-month longitudinal follow-up. Social support, especially a sense of belonging or companionship, was significantly associated with emotional quality of life (MCS) among women. Strategies to increase social support may be important for health and well-being of women with cardiac disease.
The quality of earnings in Shariah-compliant companies: evidence from Malaysia

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the quality of reported earnings in the corporate reports of Shariah-compliant companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – This study hypothesises that companies with Shariah compliance status have higher quality of earnings because of greater demand for and supply of high-quality financial reports. The quality of reported earnings is measured using the cross-sectional Dechow and Dichev (2002) accrual quality model. The study uses a balanced panel data of 3,048 observations from 508 companies during a six-year period of 2003-2008. Findings – This paper finds robust evidence that Shariah-compliant companies have significantly higher earnings quality compared to other firms. The results provide support for the arguments that Shariah-compliant companies supply a higher quality of reported earnings to attract foreign investment, have greater demand for high-quality financial reporting because of their Shariah status and are subject to gre.
Marx-Biased Technical Change and the Neoclassical View of Income Distribution

This paper empirically tests two competing views about capital–labour substitution at the aggregate level in capitalist economies: the classical model with Marx-biased technical change versus the neoclassical model. Following Foley and Michl (1999), the classical viability condition of technical change is used to draw out two different hypotheses about the profit share in national income corresponding to the two competing models. A stochastic version of the viability condition is empirically tested with data from the Extended Penn World Tables 2.1 using a simple cross-country estimation strategy. It is found that the data overwhelmingly rejects the neoclassical theory.
Delayed Capital Reallocation

How do firms adjust their balance sheets and reallocate capital stock in response to recurrent productivity or profitability shocks? Why does capital reallocation fluctuate procyclically, while the potential benefits to reallocate appear to be countercyclical? To answer these questions, this paper develops a tractable dynamic general equilibrium model. In the model, firms face idiosyncratic productivity shocks while at the same time are restricted by the illiquidity of capital stock and financing constraints. The model shows that asset illiquidity and financing constraints interact and generate capital reallocation delays. These delays result in cross-sectional productivity dispersion and losses of total factor productivity (TFP), which become more severe during recessions.
Examining the Internationalisation of Malaysian Housing Developers Using the Eclectic Paradigm

Abstract The international expansion of housing developers from developing countries is a fairly recent phenomenon. This paper examines the internationalisation of several Malaysian housing developers abroad. It uses the Eclectic Paradigm as the basis for analysis. Understanding foreign market potential was regarded as the most important firm-specific ownership advantage whereas house buyer demand in Malaysia was ranked the highest country-specific advantage. Of the locational factors that the surveyed Malaysian developers considered when venturing in foreign markets, availability and cost of land ranked the highest. Protection of the firms’ reputation was the strongest motivator to invest abroad directly rather than use the market mechanism e.g. licensing.
Considerations About Risk Factors for Peripheral Neuropathies in Romanian HIV-Infected Patients

Purpose: The study aims at detecting risk factors for developing peripheral neuropathy in Romanian HIV infected subjects. Material/Methods: retrospective study (january 1990-january 2009) who analyzed data from patients hospitalized in the Regional Center Craiova. We have compared 26 patients (group N) diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy with 40 patients (group C) without neuropsychological sufferings, randomly selected. We have analysed: age, height, HIV mode of transmission, AIDS status, the average and nadir of CD4 lymphocytes, the mean viral load, the average duration of antiretroviral treatment (ART), use and duration of use of d-drugs, the presence of certain coinfection, diabetes or ethanol abuse. Results: the following differences were statistically significant: age (31,54±14,64 vs 23,9±12,03 years, p=0.024), HIV mode of transmission (parenteral/sexual: 13/13 vs 28/8, p = 0.044), the monitoring time duration (5,31±3,77 vs 7,75±5,4 years, p=0.043), median ART duration (37,2±9,66 vs 45,12±8,75 months, p=0.001). Close to the threshold of statistical significance are the CD4 nadir (97,33±65,6 vs 123,15±43,35 cells/mm3, p=0.058) and duration of use of d–drugs (22,5±31,94 vs 12,24±8,6 months, p=0.057). Odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR) increase with age. ROC analysis for the study group establishes a threshold difference of 29 years (sensitivity 50%, specificity 80%). Conclusions: higher age and advanced immunosupression are the most important risk factors for developing symptomatic peripheral neuropathy in Romanian HIV infected patients; taking into account the small number of cases studied, although not statistically significant, it should be noted the CD4 nadir and the length of d-drug use.
Externalities and School Enrollment Policy: A Supply-Side Analysis of School Choice in New Zealand

This article is an in-progress examination of the current landscape of school choice in a well-known case of universal decentralization: New Zealand's public school system. Using a supply-side analysis of the implications of a specific policy—school enrollment schemes—this author seeks to test hypotheses about zoning and self-preservation using theoretical frameworks from the political economy literature of metropolitan areas. The author used a sample of 656 state and state-integrated schools in 4 urban areas: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Nelson. The collective action dilemma and a model of negative externalities forms the basis for how the author investigated the determinants of whether the schools in this sample have adopted an enrollment scheme—which includes a catchment area known as a home zone. Using spatial analysis to link 2006 Census mesh block data with specific school characteristics, the author explores the “democratic dilemma” of balancing the competing interests of localized access with broad school choice. This research raises the question of who should decide access to schools while providing insight on the ramifications of decentralized decision making surrounding school catchment areas.
Reliability of physical examination items used for classification of patients with low back pain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the interrater reliability of measurements obtained by examiners administering tests proposed to be important for classifying low back pain (LBP) problems. SUBJECTS Ninety-five subjects with LBP (41 men, 54 women) and 43 subjects without LBP (17 men, 26 women) were examined by 5 therapists trained in the techniques used. METHODS A manual was developed by the first author that described the clinical examination procedures. The therapists were trained by the first author in the test procedures and definitions. The training included instruction through videotapes, practice and a written examination. Each examination was conducted by a pair of therapists. Within a pair, a therapist was the primary examiner for half of the subjects and an observer was the primary examiner for half of the subjects. Examination findings were recorded independently, without discussion. RESULTS Percentage of agreement and generalized kappa coefficients were used to analyzed the data. Kappa values were > or = . 75 for all 28 items related to the symptoms elicited and > or = . 40 for 72% of the 25 items related to alignment and movement. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION The results suggest that experienced therapist who had trained together were able to agree on the results of examinations and obtain an acceptable level of reliability. Future work should focus on testing of reliability when more than one therapist performs the examination and when therapist not trained by the test developer to administer the examination perform the tests. [Van Dillen LR, Sahrmann SA, Norton BJ, et al. Reliability of physical examination items used for classification of patients with low back pain.
Collaborating for Impact: A Multilevel Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative

This article presents Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures, a multilevel initiative in Boston, Massachusetts, which brings major institutions' missions and resources together to address early childhood obesity prevention. Programming is designed to facilitate healthy eating and physical activity in preschool children's home, school, and community environments by engaging parents and early childhood educators in the places where they live, learn, and play. This article describes how established interventions were implemented in a novel setting to engage the parents of children attending Head Start and staff, and presents pilot data from the first 2 years of the initiative. Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures is a feasible initiative, which has shown concrete, positive results that can be replicated.
The role of D1-dopamine receptor in working memory: local injections of dopamine antagonists into the prefrontal cortex of rhesus monkeys performing an oculomotor delayed-response task.

1. To examine the role of dopamine receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) on working memory, we injected dopamine antagonists (SCH23390, SCH39166, haloperidol, sulpiride, and raclopride) locally into the dorsolateral PFC in two monkeys trained to perform an oculomotor delayed-response (ODR) task. In the ODR task, monkeys fixate a central spot on a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor while a visual cue is briefly (300 ms) presented in one of several peripheral locations in the visual field. After a delay of 1.5-6 s, the fixation spot is turned off, instructing the monkey to move its eyes to the target location that had been indicated by the visuospatial cue before the delay. Each monkey also performed a control task in which the cue remained on during the delay period. In this task the monkey's response was sensory rather than memory guided. 2. Local intracerebral injection of the selective dopamine antagonists SCH23390 (10-80 micrograms) and SCH39166 (1-5 micrograms) and/or the nonselective dopamine antagonist haloperidol (10-100 micrograms) induced deficits in ODR task performance at a total of 22 sites in the dorsolateral PFC. The deficit was characterized by a decrease in the accuracy of the memory-guided saccade as well as an increase in the latency of the response. The deficit usually appeared within 1-3 min after the injection, reached a peak at 20-40 min, and recovered at 60-90 min. 3. Performance change was restricted to a few specific target locations, which varied with the injection site and were most often contralateral to the injection site. 4. The degree of impairment in the ODR task occasioned by the injection of the dopamine antagonists was sensitive to the duration of delay; longer delays were associated with larger decreases in the accuracy and delayed onset of the memory-guided saccade. 5. The deficit was dose dependent; higher doses induced larger errors and increases in the onset of the memory-guided saccade. 6. Dopamine antagonists did not affect performance on the control task, which required the same eye movements but was sensory guided. Thus, in the same experimental session in which ODR performance was impaired, the accuracy and the latency of the sensory-guided saccades were normal for every target location. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Transition from Work to Retirement

The European Employment Strategy has set the goal of raising the retirement age of workers in the EU through a strategy of "active ageing". Yet despite some progress over the last decade, empirical data show persistent diversity across EU member states. Institutional arrangements of social and labor market policies can be seen as the core factors behind cross-national diversity. Hence, institutional change is crucial to explain structural changes. The paper tries to assess the role of supranational policy initiatives and national politico-economic factors in shaping the transition from work to retirement in EU member states which is still governed by the national political economy. Taking the German case as an example in point, the paper shows the dynamic interaction between policy changes, in particular in benefit systems and activation, and changes in the approach of firms and workers to early retirement. Policy changes influence actors’ behavior in the medium run and open up opportunities for subsequent reforms.
Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Alters a Pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans Strongly Resembling That of Bile Acid Biosynthesis and Secretion in Vertebrates

Mammalian bile acids (BAs) are oxidized metabolites of cholesterol whose amphiphilic properties serve in lipid and cholesterol uptake. BAs also act as hormone-like substances that regulate metabolism. The Caenorhabditis elegans clk-1 mutants sustain elevated mitochondrial oxidative stress and display a slow defecation phenotype that is sensitive to the level of dietary cholesterol. We found that: 1) The defecation phenotype of clk-1 mutants is suppressed by mutations in tat-2 identified in a previous unbiased screen for suppressors of clk-1. TAT-2 is homologous to ATP8B1, a flippase required for normal BA secretion in mammals. 2) The phenotype is suppressed by cholestyramine, a resin that binds BAs. 3) The phenotype is suppressed by the knock-down of C. elegans homologues of BA–biosynthetic enzymes. 4) The phenotype is enhanced by treatment with BAs. 5) Lipid extracts from C. elegans contain an activity that mimics the effect of BAs on clk-1, and the activity is more abundant in clk-1 extracts. 6) clk-1 and clk-1;tat-2 double mutants show altered cholesterol content. 7) The clk-1 phenotype is enhanced by high dietary cholesterol and this requires TAT-2. 8) Suppression of clk-1 by tat-2 is rescued by BAs, and this requires dietary cholesterol. 9) The clk-1 phenotype, including the level of activity in lipid extracts, is suppressed by antioxidants and enhanced by depletion of mitochondrial superoxide dismutases. These observations suggest that C. elegans synthesizes and secretes molecules with properties and functions resembling those of BAs. These molecules act in cholesterol uptake, and their level of synthesis is up-regulated by mitochondrial oxidative stress. Future investigations should reveal whether these molecules are in fact BAs, which would suggest the unexplored possibility that the elevated oxidative stress that characterizes the metabolic syndrome might participate in disease processes by affecting the regulation of metabolism by BAs.
How Different Are Telephoning and Canvassing? Results from a ‘Get Out the Vote’ Field Experiment in the British 2005 General Election

Can the positive impact of non-partisan ‘Get Out the Vote’ (GOTV) campaigns be generalized to a variety of institutional and cultural contexts? Gerber, Green and colleagues tested for the effects of these campaigns in a series of pioneering field experiments, which show that a face-to-face contact from a non-partisan source, carried out by a field force calling at the homes of citizens seeking to persuade them to vote, can increase voter turnout. Further experiments find that telephoning has an impact ranging from ineffective to positive, depending on the nature of the call; and there are positive, if weaker, results for other forms of intervention, such as door postings and leafleting; none for e-mail; and weakly positive or null impacts from rote telephoning. Many of these results derive from single cases or from a limited number of research sites; however, the culmination of these findings allows political scientists to be confident of the impact and hierarchy of these interventions. Although GOTV studies of this kind cannot adjudicate authoritatively on theories of mobilization, the difference in impact between the types of intervention, in particular the greater success of personalized messages, implies that it is the personal and face-to-face basis of influence that has an effect, rather than the types of message received and the simple provision of information. So far most of this kind of research has been carried out in the United States, which means that, even with its variety of groups and locations, the range of variation in the institutional frameworks and social conditions is limited to the one-country case.
Cannabis Use and its Effects on Health, Education and Labor Market Success

Cannabis is the most popular illegal drug. Its legal status is typically justified on the grounds that cannabis use has harmful consequences. Empirically investigating this issue has been a fertile topic for research in recent times. We provide an overview of this literature, focusing on studies which seek to establish the causal effect of cannabis use on health, education, and labor market success. We conclude that there do not appear to be serious harmful health effects of moderate cannabis use. Nevertheless, there is evidence of reduced mental well-being for heavy users who are susceptible to mental health problems. While there is robust evidence that early cannabis use reduces educational attainment, there remains substantial uncertainty as to whether using cannabis has adverse labor market effects.
An empirical investigation of the relationship between inequality and growth

This paper studies the correlation between inequality, measured by the Gini coefficent of incomes, and the growth rate of per capita GDP in a panel of countries between the late 1950s and late 1990s. Inequality Granger causes growth with a negative coefficient, while growth Granger causes inequality with a positive sign. Quantitatively, the former effect appears much larger than the latter. Once I allow for the effect to differ between rich and poor countries interesting differences emerge. While lagged inequality appears positively correlated with growth in the subgroup of rich countries, in poor countries besides a negative and significant effect of lagged inequality on growth there is a negative and significant effect of lagged growth on inequality
Incentives, Productivity, and Labor Contracts

The relationship between age-earnings profiles and worker incentives is examined by contrasting wage and salary workers with the self-employed. It is argued that the steepness of wage and salary workers' age-earnings profiles reflects the desire to provide work incentives to those workers. Since self-employed workers do not face this agency problem, they are used as a benchmark to gauge productivity. Empirical support of the proposition is provided, and the effects of human capital accumulation are separated empirically from incentive effects. The most important conclusion is that under some strong assumptions, most of the slope in age-earnings profiles is accounted for by the desire to provide incentives, rather than by on-the-job training.