Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Job quality, job satisfaction and services in Spain

Usually, labour market has been evaluated from a quantitative point of view. But nowadays, a new interest stress on quality of job and job satisfaction. Related with this last perspective, a frequent hypothesis that is used to explain the aggregate evolution of job quality establish that the growth of service employment is connected with the increase in the number of low skilled or badly paid jobs. Nevertheless, defining and understanding service jobs are tasks that are not free of difficulties. Recent developments in the economic analysis of service activities overcome these shortcomings, and the nature of these activities has been re-invented. In this context, the paper aims a double objective. First, to check if job quality levels on services are lower than the ones observed in the rest of the economy. Second, to know if relevant differences among services activities exist in term of job quality. Our analysis uses a double perspective to measure the job quality: one based on the characteristics of job and the other on workers perception of job. Results point out that services have not the lower quality job levels. On the contrary, workers in services activities report higher job satisfaction levels. We conclude that into services there is an important heterogeneity by branches in terms of job quality. Services and no services share job satisfaction components. So, the observed differences in job satisfaction are sustained rather on differences into the characteristics and conditions of jobs more than into worker perceptions.JEL codes: J28, J24, J81
Government Intervention in Response to the Subprime Financial Crisis: The Good into the Pot, the Bad into the Crop

The subprime-related 2007/2008 global financial crisis represented a major economic challenge. In order to prevent such episodes of market failure, it is vital to understand what caused the crisis and which lessons are to be learned. Given the tremendous bailout packages worldwide, we discuss the role of governments as lenders of last resort. In our view, it is important not to suspend the market mechanism of bankruptcy via granting rescue packages. Only those institutions which are illiquid but solvent should be rescued, and this should occur at a significant cost for the respective institution. We provide a formal illustration of a rescue mechanism, which allows to distinguish between illiquid but solvent and insolvent banks. Furthermore, we argue that stricter regulation cannot be the sole consequence of the crisis. There appears to be a need for improved risk awareness, more sophisticated risk management and a better alignment of interests among the participants in the market for credit risk.
University professors and research commercialization : An empirical test of the "knowledge corridor" thesis

There has been an increasing interest in the determinants and outcomes of successful technology transfer and commercialization of research results. In this study we test the validity of the “knowledge corridor” thesis for explaining the involvement of university professors’ in the early stages of research commercialization. Statistical analysis on a sample of 86 respondents from engineering, natural science and medical faculties in a large Swedish university shows that both entrepreneurial and private industry experience significantly influence their ability to spot and generate business ideas in their research. Moreover, we find that research based business idea generation increase at a faster rate for professors with private sector work experience who have more time for research in their positions. The article ends with a discussion of our empirical findings together with its implications for support activities related to technology transfer and commercialization of research results.
The total factor productivity in China and India: new measures and approaches

Purpose - This paper aims to measure and compare agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) growth in China and India and relates TFP growth in each country to policy milestones and investment in agricultural research. Design/methodology/approach - TFP is measured using a non-parametric Malmquist index which allows the decomposition of TFP growth into its components: efficiency and technical change. Findings - Comparing TFP growth in China and India it is found that efficiency improvement played a dominant role in promoting TFP growth in China, while technical change has also contributed positively. In India, the major source of productivity improvement came from technical change, as efficiency barely changed over the last three decades, which explains lower TFP growth than in China. Agricultural research has significantly contributed to improve agricultural productivity in both China and India. Even today, returns to agricultural R&D investments are very high, with benefit/cost ratios ranging from 20.7 to 9.6 in China and from 29.6 to 14.8 in India. Originality/value - The applied methodology and the comparison between TFP growth patterns contribute to a better understanding of the consequences that the different approaches to agricultural reform followed by China and India had on the performance of agriculture in both countries.
Robustness Tests of the Augmented Solow Model

This paper demonstrates some techniques for testing the robustness of cross-section and panel data regressions, and applies them to the influential augmented Solow growth model. The paper focuses on robust estimation and analysis of sensitivity to measurement error. In particular, it is shown that estimated technology parameters and convergence rates are highly sensitive to measurement error. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primetime Spin: Media Bias and Belief Confirming Information

This paper develops a model of media bias in which rational agents acquire all their news from the source that is most likely to confirm their prior beliefs. Despite only wishing to make the correct decision, agents act as if they enjoy receiving news that supports their preconceptions. By exclusively gathering information from a source biased towards his prior, there is little chance an agent will be persuaded to change his mind. Moreover, it is shown that even an unbiased agent prefers to receive biased news as it is unlikely to produce conflicting reports. The media caters to the informational demands of consumers and accordingly slants its reporting. It is shown that competition may not decrease bias, but may actually enhance it. Finally, even when it increases bias, competition may improve welfare by expanding the market for news.
Why do Cities Hoard Cash? Determinants and Implications of Municipal Cash Holdings

ABSTRACT: This study examines the determinants of municipal cash holdings and the implications of holding high levels of cash. The first part of the analysis investigates municipal manager incentives to accumulate cash as part of normal operations. Results indicate that municipalities with a higher variation in revenues, fewer sources of revenues, and higher growth accumulate more cash. Larger governments and those receiving relatively more state revenue accumulate less cash. Further analysis considers whether high levels of cash indicate agency problems, and finds municipalities with high cash holdings spend more on administrative expenses, city manager salaries, and bonuses. I find no evidence that municipalities with excess cash reduce taxes. The presence of staggered councils and councils that are not independent tend to exacerbate excessive cash holdings. These results are consistent with the proposition that municipalities with high cash levels have agency problems relative to those with lower cash .
The Entrepreneurial Development System: Transforming Business Talent and Community Economies

In this conceptual and practical article, the authors suggest an alternative to the current paradigm for developing enterprises in local communities and regions through-out the United States. They also propose implementing a new approach, called the entrepreneurial development system, for transforming community economies. They first lay out the specifications for the new paradigm, drawing distinctions between current practice and their proposal. They then describe the major components of their proposed enterprise development system; detail its benefits to entrepreneurs, service providers, and the community; and discuss challenges to its full-scale implementation. Throughout, implications for further research suggested by the new paradigm are noted.
Development of a Traceable Calibration Methodology for Solid 68Ge/68Ga Sources Used as a Calibration Surrogate for 18F in Radionuclide Activity Calibrators

We have developed a methodology for calibrating 68Ge radioactivity content in a commercially available calibration source for activity calibrators in a way that is traceable to the national standard. Additionally, the source was cross-calibrated for equivalent 18F content by direct comparison with the national standard for 18F in the same geometry. Methods: Sources containing standardized 68GeCl4 or 18F-FDG solutions were prepared at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with mock syringe blanks used in the construction of a commercially available epoxy-based 68Ge calibration source. These sources and several NIST-constructed epoxy-based 68Ge mock syringes were then used as artifact standards to determine calibration factors for NIST-maintained activity calibrators and secondary standard ionization chambers to enable calibration of the actual commercial sources. A direct comparison between the solution-based 68Ge sources and the 18F-FDG sources allowed for an empiric determination of the relative response for these radionuclides in several commercial activity calibrators. Potential measurement effects due to differences between the solution composition and the epoxy and theoretic 68Ge-to-18F response ratios were studied by Monte Carlo simulation. Results: The calibration factors developed in this study enabled NIST to calibrate epoxy-based mock syringe sources with a relative combined standard uncertainty of 0.52%. The direct comparisons of the 68Ge and 18F standards in the various ionization chambers allowed the activity to be expressed in terms of equivalent 18F activity with a relative combined standard uncertainty of about 0.9%. Conclusion: The ability for NIST to calibrate these epoxy-based mock syringes enabled, for the first time to our knowledge, the direct traceability to the national 68Ge standard to be established for this type of source. Through a direct comparison with the NIST 18F standard, the determination of the relative response ratios in activity calibrators enabled the equivalent 18F activity to be determined in a way that was also traceable to the national 18F activity standard.
The Relationship between Financial Incentives for Company Presidents and Firm Performance in Japan

Kaplan (1994) concludes that the relationship between top pay and stock performance in Japan is similar to that in the USA. Using a new and comprehensive data set that includes presidents’ stock and their stock option holdings, this study estimates the sensitivity of Japanese presidents’ wealth to shareholder wealth in the period 1977–2000. Contrary to the commonly held belief that Japanese corporate governance is becoming more like that in the USA, the results show that pay–performance sensitivity actually decreased substantially after 1990. In 2000, Japanese presidents received $US22,100 when stock returns increased from −2.1% to 14.8%.
The Performance of Alternative Integration Strategies for Combining Regional Econometric and Input-Output Models

As the number of integrated econometric and input-output models appearing in the literature grows, the need for a closer examination of the different approaches towards integration is warranted. This paper suggests a taxonomy of strategies for combining econometric and input-output models at the regional scale. The properties of the different integration strategies are then examined from a theoretical perspective, focusing on the treatment of model closure, dynamic representation. interregional linkages, sectoral aggregation, and estimation issues. Initial empirical insight as to the simulation and impact analysis capabilities of the alternative integration strategies is provided through a series of experiments employing integrated multiregional econometric and input-output models for five regions in Southern California. The results suggest that integrated models as a class can provide for improved forecasting accuracy as well as more comprehensive impact analysis capabilities over traditional non-integrated models. Additional insights are provided regarding the sensitivity of model performance to the choice of integration strategy.
Bond Immunization for Affine Term Structures

This paper generalizes a number of important immunization theorems. We show that the Fisher and Weil immunization, Bierwag and Khang minimax, Redington multiple liability, and Bierwag, Kaufman, and Toevs coverage theorems can be generalized to the class of affine term structures. This class of term structures contains many models that are commonly used in the finance literature. Copyright 1999 by MIT Press.
Feedback in Tournaments Under Commitment Problems: Experimental Evidence

We theoretically as well as experimentally analyze tournaments in which one of the agents leads over the other before entering the tournament, that is, in which one of the competitors benefits from a head start. The principal may decide upon informing the agents about the degree of this asymmetry. She cannot commit to giving feedback ex ante or not and, thus, chooses the strategy that is optimal for her ex post. In equilibrium, the principal reveals information if the asymmetry is not too large. Our experimental findings qualitatively confirm our theoretical prediction. Moreover, behavior of the principal and the agents is well aligned to each other.
Globalization and Economic Growth: A Political Economy Analysis for OECD Countries

Abstract Globalization is commonly defined as a strict economic path by most previous works, but it is really a fuzzy concept with unrestrained dimensions. While the ideological location of an incumbent political party is a powerful predictor of its policy position, the role of a political party in the globalization-growth nexus has never been fully empirically investigated. By applying Pedroni's panel cointegration technique instead of a time-series or traditional panel data approach, this paper aims to empirically re-examine the co-movement and the causal relationship among economic growth, the overall globalization index, and its three main dimensions—economic, social, as well as political integrations—by using panel data for 23 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries for 1970 to 2006. Certainly, the political party variable is taken into account as the advanced test is promoted, and we finally discover that all variables move together in the long run. Based on the results of the panel causality test, though the evidence of short-run causality is very weak, it does show long-run unidirectional causality running from the overall index of globalization, economic globalization, and social globalization to growth. Finally, the critical role of the political party is deeply discussed in relation with our results.
Inclusive and Exclusive Social Capital in the Small-Firm Sector in Developing Countries

This article explores the role of social capital created by social network membership in the small-firm sector in developing countries. Some empirical studies find that social capital hampers economic performance by creating market segmentation and inducing rent-seeking activities. Other studies conclude that social capital is an important prerequisite for productive interaction among small firms. This paper develops a concept of social capital governance which distinguishes between inclusive and exclusive social capital. It argues that inclusive social capital furthers economic performance while exclusive social capital may not. Two case studies are included.
IMF Lending to Developing Countries : Issues and Evidence

As the linchpin of the global financial system, the International Monetary Fund provides the balance of payments support, chiefly to developing countries, conditional on strict remedial policy measures. Its approach to policy remains highly controversial, however. While the Fund claims it has adapted, critics allege its policies are harshly doctrinaire, imposing hardships on already poverty-stricken people. For the critics, the half century of its existence is 'fifty years too long' and radical change is essential. This book examines the arguments, tracing the extent of Fund adaption, presenting major new evidence on the consequences of fund programes, and considering its future role.
Worker Characteristics, Job Characteristics, and the Receipt of On-the-Job Training

The authors examine the relationship between the receipt of employer-provided training and the characteristics of workers and jobs using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972 and the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. They find that the intensity of training and the duration of training were negatively related; the incidence of training was slightly higher among women than among men, but the amount of training was higher among men; blacks received somewhat more training than whites; post-secondary education had a strong positive relationship with training; and aptitude had a positive effect on training. Training does not appear to have been affected by high school curriculum or by observable and unobservable factors specific to the individual's high school.
Identification of COL3A1 and RAB2A as novel translocation partner genes of PLAG1 in lipoblastoma

Lipoblastoma is a rapidly growing, benign neoplasm in children. Surgical excision is usually curative, with a recurrence rate of about 20%. Because the histology of lipoblastoma is heterogeneous and overlaps with other lipomatous tumors, some lipoblastoma cases have been difficult to diagnose. The detection of PLAG1 gene rearrangement is useful for the diagnosis of lipoblastoma. Three fusion partner genes are known in relation to PLAG1 in lipoblastoma HAS2 at 8q24.1, COL1A2 at 7q22, and RAD51L1 at 14q24. Herein, we describe another two novel fusion genes in lipoblastoma tumor specimens. We checked six tumors for the presence of two known fusion genes, HAS2‐PLAG1 and COL1A2‐PLAG1. Only HAS2‐PLAG1 was found in one of the cases. Next, we attempted to identify potential PLAG1 fusion partners using 5'RACE. Sequence analysis revealed two novel fusion genes, COL3A1‐PLAG1 in three cases and RAB2A‐PLAG1 in one case, respectively. As a result of the translocations, the constitutively active promoter of the partner gene drives the ectopic expression of PLAG1. We also evaluated whether a high level of PLAG1 expression can be used to help differentiate lipomatous tumors. PLAG1 expression was evaluated by real‐time PCR in five lipoblastoma tumor specimens. The expressions were 70–150 times higher in lipoblastomas than in human adipocytes. However, PLAG1 expression was low in one case of lipoma. These results demonstrate that PLAG1 overexpression is a potential marker of lipoblastoma. Our findings, in agreement with previous studies, show that lipoblastoma is a group of lipomatous tumors with PLAG1 rearrangement and overexpression. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
VP1 and VP3 Are Required and Sufficient for Translation Initiation of Uncapped Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Genomic Double-Stranded RNA

ABSTRACT Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a bisegmented double-strand RNA (dsRNA) virus of the Birnaviridae family. While IBDV genomic dsRNA lacks a 5′ cap, the means by which the uncapped IBDV genomic RNA is translated effectively is unknown. In this study, we describe a cap-independent pathway of translation initiation of IBDV uncapped RNA that relies on VP1 and VP3. We show that neither purified IBDV genomic dsRNA nor the uncapped viral plus-sense RNA transcripts were directly translated and rescued into infectious viruses in host cells. This defect in translation of the uncapped IBDV genomic dsRNA was rescued by trans-supplementation of the viral proteins VP1 and VP3 which was dependent on both the intact polymerase activity of VP1 and the dsRNA binding activity of VP3. Deletion analysis showed that both 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of IBDV dsRNA were essential for VP1/VP3-dependent translation initiation. Significantly, VP1 and VP3 could also mediate the recovery of infectious IBDV from the authentic minus-sense strand of IBDV dsRNA. Moreover, downregulation or inhibition of the cap-binding protein eIF4E did not decrease but, rather, enhanced the VP1/VP3-mediated translation of the uncapped IBDV RNA. Collectively, our findings for the first time reveal that VP1 and VP3 compensate for the deficiency of the 5′ cap and replace eIF4E to confer upon the uncapped IBDV RNA the ability to be translated and rescued into infectious viruses. IMPORTANCE A key point of control for virus replication is viral translation initiation. The current study shows that the uncapped IBDV RNA cannot be translated into viral proteins directly by host translation machinery and is thus noninfectious. Our results constitute the first direct experimental evidence that VP1 and VP3 are required and sufficient to initiate translation of uncapped IBDV genomic RNA by acting as a substitute for cap and replacing the cap-binding protein eIF4E. Significantly, VP1/VP3 mediate the recovery of infectious IBDV not only from the plus-sense strand but also from the minus-sense strand of the IBDV dsRNA. These findings provide not only new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the life cycle of IBDV but also a new tool for an alternative strategy for the recovery of IBDV from both the plus- and the minus-sense strands of the viral genomic dsRNA.
MARKET COMPETITION, COMPUTER-AIDED MANUFACTURING AND USE OF MULTIPLE PERFORMANCE MEASURES: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

This paper reports the results of an empirical investigation into use of multiple measures of performance in manufacturing organisations. More specifically, it examines how a multiple performance measurement system is associated with the intensity of market competition and the application of computer-aided manufacturing processes. To test this association, data were collected from 71 New Zealand-based manufacturing units. The results suggest that greater emphasis on multiple measures for performance evaluation is associated with businesses facing high competition and making greater use of computer-aided manufacturing processes.
Procurement management using option contracts: random spot price and the portfolio effect

This article considers the value of portfolio procurement in a supply chain, where a buyer can either procure parts for future demand from sellers using fixed price contracts or, option contracts or tap into the market for spot purchases. A single-period portfolio procurement problem when both the product demand and the spot price are random (and possibly correlated) is examined and the optimal portfolio procurement strategy for the buyer is constructed. A shortest-monotone path algorithm is provided for the general problem to obtain the optimal procurement solution and the resulting expected minimum procurement cost. In the event that demand and spot price are independent, the solution algorithm simplifies considerably. More interestingly, the optimal procurement cost function in this case has an intuitive geometrical interpretation that facilitates managerial insights. The portfolio effect, i.e., the benefit of portfolio contract procurement over a single contract procurement is also studied. Finally, an extension to a two-period problem to examine the impact of inventory on the portfolio procurement strategy is discussed.