Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Equity Market Performance and Economic Growth in Nigeria: An Application of Vector Error Correction Model

Equity market has been seen as a vehicle for promoting economic growth by mobilizing long term funds for productive investment, but theoretical postulations differ over this role. The understanding of this role is of strong policy relevance in Nigeria. This paper therefore attempts to establish the existence of long-run relationship between economic growth and equity market performance with the view to improving policy formulation that will promote growth through capital market in Nigeria. Using data from Q1:1998 to Q4:2018, the Johansen and Juselius (1990) multivariate cointegration results establish long-run relationship between economic growth and each of equity market capitalization and turnover ratio. The test result could not find cointegration between economic growth and number of securities traded. The VEC Granger Causality/Block Exogeneity Wald test results establish a uni-directional relationship running from market capitalization and turnover ratio to economic growth, while bi-directional relationship exist between economic growth and number of securities traded. The parsimonious VECM for economic growth and equity market capitalization (model 1) shows that market capitalization and turnover impact on economic growth positively. The paper recommends that market capitalization as measure of equity market performance should be considered by policy makers as a veritable policy instrument for enhancing economic growth in Nigeria.
Public Preferences for Food–Energy–Water Tradeoffs in the Western U.S.

The food–energy–water (FEW) nexus is, by definition, a “wicked problem” in that potential solutions in one sector may inadvertently create perverse effects in another. For example, rapid population growth in conjunction with increasing urbanization will add additional stress to current pressures on the world’s FEW resources. Water scarcity will increase challenges in providing plentiful foods, as well as clean, potable water. Water is also critical to energy production—and conversely—energy is needed to deliver clean, safe water. Extant and projected demand for FEW creates an intertwined problem of supply and demand and new policy considerations for managing the nexus. This study examines the FEW policy tradeoff preferences of the public in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington states, using survey data collected in 2018. More specifically, this study examines the impact of demographic control variables, FEW knowledge, and environmental values and beliefs on hypothetical tradeoffs between FEW policy preferences. Findings suggest that those respondents that believe in human-caused climate change and with higher new ecological paradigm (NEP) scores were more supportive of water quality issues versus hydroelectric energy production, rural solar energy development versus limiting rural solar development for food production, and water quality over food production for a growing population.
Comparative Education in South Asia: Contribution, Contestation, and Possibilities

Several countries in South Asia face the challenge of ineffective educational reforms manifest in increasing rates of school failure and poor learning outcomes after embarking along education for all. Critical voices from the South have questioned the relevance and appropriateness of ideas that have shaped these reforms. Narratives from the region tell us that importation of educational concepts and policy orientations have led to the dismantling of existing structures and processes of education, creating new forms of inequities and disadvantage. The sheer scale and diversity of populations within the region poses formidable challenges and opportunities for contextual innovation. The construction of national imaginaries in the diverse societies of South Asia has the potential to provide new discourses to educational reform; going beyond the abstract goals set by disconnected international experts and the institutional processes they represent. This chapter deliberates on the need to establish a persuasive critical perspective that can influence and shape the trajectories of policy and practice, research and theorization, within the field of comparative education in South Asia, and the global south.
Agricultural Sustainability: A Review of Concepts and Methods

This paper presents a methodological framework for the systematic literature review of agricultural sustainability studies. The framework synthesizes all the available literature review criteria and introduces a two-level analysis facilitating systematization, data mining, and methodology analysis. The framework was implemented for the systematic literature review of 38 crop agricultural sustainability assessment studies at farm-level for the last decade. The investigation of the methodologies used is of particular importance since there are no standards or norms for the sustainability assessment of farming practices. The chronological analysis revealed that the scientific community’s interest in agricultural sustainability is increasing in the last three years. The most used methods include indicator-based tools, frameworks, and indexes, followed by multicriteria methods. In the reviewed studies, stakeholder participation is proved crucial in the determination of the level of sustainability. It should also be mentioned that combinational use of methodologies is often observed, thus a clear distinction of methodologies is not always possible.
A review of tools, models and techniques for long-term assessment of distribution systems using OpenDSS and parallel computing

Many distribution system studies require long-term evaluations (e.g. for one year or more): Energy loss minimization, reliability assessment, or optimal rating of distributed energy resources should be based on long-term simulations of the distribution system. This paper summarizes the work carried out by the authors to perform long-term studies of large distribution systems using an OpenDSS-MATLAB environment and parallel computing. The paper details the tools, models, and procedures used by the authors in optimal allocation of distributed resources, reliability assessment of distribution systems with and without distributed generation, optimal rating of energy storage systems, or impact analysis of the solid state transformer. Since in most cases, the developed procedures were implemented for application in a multicore installation, a summary of capabilities required for parallel computing applications is also included. The approaches chosen for carrying out those studies used the traditional Monte Carlo method, clustering techniques or genetic algorithms. Custom-made models for application with OpenDSS were required in some studies: A summary of the characteristics of those models and their implementation are also included.
Challenges of International Students from Pre-Departure to Post-Study

Studying in overseas universities or colleges presents international students with exciting opportunities; however, with these opportunities come challenges that they need to overcome. The purpose of this review is to summarize the challenges of international students. Drawing on the existing literature since the year 2000, this article addresses several challenges confronting international students within some top sending countries and receiving countries. The challenges are categorized into pre-departure, post-departure, and post-study to create a model of the issues of international students. The findings revealed a plethora of challenges including some common ones such as obtaining accurate information, admission procedure, and preparing documents for VISA while preparing for study abroad. Similarly, international students have to deal with language, financial challenges, and cultural adjustment when they are in host countries. Uncertain future and paperwork are the major challenges after graduation.
Revisiting the Stealth Trading Hypothesis: Does Time-Varying Liquidity Explain the Size-Effect?

Large trades have a smaller price impact per share than medium-sized trades. So far, the literature has attributed this effect to the informational content of trades. In this paper, we show that this effect can arise from strategic order placement. We introduce the concept of a liquidity elasticity, measuring the responsiveness of liquidity demand with respect to changes in liquidity supply, as a major driver for a declining price impact per share. Empirical evidence based on Nasdaq stocks strongly supports theoretical predictions and shows that the aspect of liquidity coor- dination is an important complement to rationales based on asymmetric information.
A framework for the benchmarking of OD estimation and prediction algorithms

In this research we describe the development of a common evaluation and benchmarking platform that has been developed within the framework of the European Union COST Action MULTITUDE. The main goal of this platform is to provide a testbed in which a number of algorithms can be implemented and tested under the same conditions. The objective is not to conclude that one approach is “best”, but to provide a support comparison in a variety of settings and conditions in order to help determine the particular situations and conditions under which one approach might behave more favorably than another. The design of the platform is presented, along with a detailed experimental design for the application of different OD estimation algorithms. The considered algorithms are then presented, along with a demonstration of the extensibility of the presented framework to accommodate additional data sources. The presented results demonstrate that the developed framework is capable of supporting the development, application and testing of a wide range of algorithms. First, both off-line/planning level algorithms (like the Bilevel-DUE) and on-line algorithms (like that SPSA AD-PI and the KFX2) are presented.
Employee Recruitment with Fuzzy Tsukamoto Algorithm

This research is intended to determine employees who suitable with company criteria. Method which used is Fuzzy Tsukamoto Algorithm. Inferences process on this method done with the rules IF-THEN shaped and use AND operation, where will choose minimum value from two variable. The result of the research is employees who criteria is appropriate. The result is obtain from fuzzy tsukamoto process, start with taking criteria from company as parameter, then do fuzzyfication process that is create fuzzy community from company’s criteria, here in after create membership function, create rules, finished with defuzzyfication and value which obtained is 67,41. Certainly with those value, fuzzy tsukamoto very help company to determine best employees to work in the company.
An Empirical Study on the Relationship Between Foreign Investors and Earnings Quality

This study examines the impact of foreign investors on earnings quality in emerging capital market using Korean manufacturing firms’ panel data set, regarding competing for international investment and business opportunities during the period 2000 to 2012. This paper tests earnings quality using four proxies based on the International Financial Reporting Standards: 1) persistence, 2) value relevance, 3) conservatism, and 4) accruals quality. This research finds foreign investor is positively associated with only user needs earnings quality; persistence and value relevance. This result shows that the positive impact of foreign investor on earnings quality is evident but limited.
Corporate venture capital: technological innovation or value creation? A comparative study of CVC- and IVC-invested Chinese listed companies

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the effects of corporate venture capital (CVC) and independent venture capital (IVC) backing on technological innovation and value creation in invested companies. Using data on Chinese listed companies, we show that CVC investment can induce higher firm value than can IVC investment. By considering different dimensions of complementary assets, technological fit, geographical proximity, and product market relations, we explore the mechanism through which CVC contributes to innovation and value creation in invested companies in China.
Abductive Reasoning to Explain Integrated Development: Lessons from the Multi-Method Evaluation of the Millennium Villages Project

The use of mixed methods in impact evaluation often focuses on the triangulation of findings or using qualitative data to explain statistical assessments of impact (net effect). In this article, we argue for the benefits of combining and contesting ex ante etic-informed theory with ex post emic-informed grounded theory. Using the case of the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) evaluation in northern Ghana, we highlight examples of where emergent theory led to a deeper understanding that valued how local people view change. In the context of an independent evaluation that set out to assess the MVP model – and with little scope for the evaluation to influence or adapt implementation – the theories of change created abductively helped fill a theoretical void. We argue that this is particularly applicable for integrated programmes where ex ante theory may struggle to capture the complex interaction of different sector-based activities, overlook unintended effects, and undervalue local perceptions of change.
The perceptions towards the Bologna process implementation: comparing russian experience to Ukraine and Armenia

The problems connected with joining the Bologna higher education reform has caused many contradictive debates, which continue after more than ten years after the signing the Bologna agreement by Russian Federation. Many researchers paid sufficient attention to the analysis of the Bologna process features. The current study focuses on the perceptions and attitudes of senior academic staff of one University in Russian Federation towards the Bologna implementation. This aspect was chosen in order to conduct the empirical study that involves the opinion of the driving force of the changes connected with Bologna reform, deans of faculties in Higher Ediucational Institu-tion. The participants of the study, twelve deans in one University, were interviewed and gave their opinion related to this problem. The collected data was analized and compared to existing research carried out by the scholars from the post-Soviet space countries, Ukrain and Armenia, in order to find correla-tions and contradictions in the perceived changes and their outcomes.
The Role of Political Connections on Family Firms’ Performance: Evidence from Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of firms with family ownership and their performance in Indonesia and further examine on how political connections affect this relationship. This study used 933 samples from 413 companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the period between 2014 and 2016. Using ordinary least square (OLS) regression, the results shows that firms without family ownership (non-family firms) have better performance than firms with family ownership (family firms) in Indonesia. Furthermore, the findings also show that the performance of family firms significantly improve when the firms are affiliated with political connections. Our findings imply that establishing political connections in family firms will increase the performance of the firms.
MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA BERBASIS ANDROID PADA MATERI PROGRAM LINEAR

The objective of this research and development was to produce a product of learning media based on android that were valid and practical to use for the student. This research type was Research and Development (R&D). The model used in this research was ADDIE model consisting of 5 stages. The instruments of data collection used the questionnaires product validation by experts and practicality by students. Based on the validations process were obtained the result that the developed learning media fulfill very feasible category, with the average percentage of 84.5%, which means that developed learning media was very valid. While the results of small group trials were obtained the result that the response of the students who numbered 10 students with an average of 88.1% stated strongly agree which means learning media developed was very practical. Based on predetermined criteria, the android-based mathematics learning media on linear program material developed fulfill the valid and practical criteria.
Pareto-Efficient Tax Deductions

We analyze Pareto-ei¬? cient tax deduction rules for work-related expenses (e.g. housekeeping services, child care or elderly care). Pareto ei¬? ciency dictates a tight rule for how the rate of deductibility should vary with income and expenditures. An immediate implication is a recipe for designing Pareto-improving tax reforms. We apply our theory to housekeeping services in the U.S.: Introducing deduction rules such that between 55% (low expenses) and 85% (high expenses) of housekeeping services can be marginally deducted from taxable income yields a Pareto improvement if combined with a slight increase in marginal tax rates. Nobody is made worse-oi¬? and tax revenue increases by 20 Dollars per capita.
Multiple Pathways to Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Public Service Delivery: A Cross-City Comparison of Bicycle-Sharing Service in China

ABSTRACT Although extant studies have examined the factors affecting the formation of public–private partnerships (PPPs) for urban public service delivery, few have conducted case studies on how institutional and strategic complexities have been addressed in service PPPs that recur across a geographical area. This article applies a perspective of collaborative governance to studying Mobike bicycle-sharing services in four Chinese cities: Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Policy learning and regulations address two complexities. Four pathways to the formation of PPPs emerged from comparative case studies: spontaneous market-driven, regulation-driven, innovation-driven and active governance-driven. Shared value and trust, interaction, policy reinvention and joint actions are embedded in these pathways.
Culture, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. An Empirical Approach

Abstract This paper investigates the influence of culture on the level of entrepreneurship and the possible moderating role of the level of economic development upon this relationship. For our purpose, an initial sample of 125 countries (43 high-income and 82 low-income countries) is used, over the 2006–2016 time period. At first, we use a panel analysis of the reduced sample which is furthermore completed by a hierarchical regression analysis. Our main results provide clear evidence that culture represents an important predictor of the level of entrepreneurship. Among the dimensions of culture, uncertainty avoidance and indulgence versus restraint are found to have the highest influence upon the level of entrepreneurship. Moreover, our empirical findings reveal that the relationship between culture and entrepreneurship is moderated differently by economic development. Thus, high-income countries face a three times higher rate of entrepreneurship than low-income countries. Our findings suggest that culture is more valued in high-income countries offering a higher social support in entrepreneurial activities than in low-income countries. We also find that some cultural patterns such as individualism, femininity, low uncertainly avoidance, short-term orientation or restrain may stimulate entrepreneurship in high-income countries but may be very dysfunctional in low-income countries. Our findings are also useful for policy makers to acknowledge the relationship between the cultural values of a country and its entrepreneurial activities, in order to adjust their policy measures for a better stimulation of the business environment.
The Role of Cultural Distance Across Quantiles of International Joint Venture Longevity

Rapid global economic development and liberalization have increased the motivation and opportunities for firms to enter into international joint venture (IJV) agreements. Numerous studies in the international marketing literature have examined the impact of international partners’ cultural differences on IJV longevity; however, results are inconclusive, potentially due to limitations in the methods used. While this study examines the varied impact of cultural differences on IJV longevity based on the IJV’s age, it uses quantile regression, enabling the detection of varying effects’ strengths across the dependent variable’s entire distribution. The results demonstrate variations in the role of cultural differences across individual cultural dimensions as well as variations in the patterns of association between cultural differences and IJV longevity dependent on the IJV’s age. Implications for theory and the practice of international marketing are offered as well as potential applications of this study’s methodological approach.
The Effects of Female Leadership on Women's Voice in Political Debate

Abstract Do female leaders amplify the voices of other women in politics? The author addresses this question by examining parliamentary debates in the UK House of Commons. In the context of a difference-in-differences design that exploits over-time variation in the gender of cabinet ministers, the article demonstrates that female ministers substantially increase the participation of other female MPs in relevant debates, compared to when the minister is male. It also uses a measure of debate influence, based on the degree to which words used by one legislator are adopted by other members, to show that female ministers also increase the influence of female backbenchers. To explore the mechanisms behind these results, the author introduces a new metric of ministerial responsiveness and shows that female ministers are significantly more responsive than their male counterparts to the speeches of female backbenchers.
The Profitability of Momentum Strategies : A Study of Indonesian Stock Exchange

We investigate the profitability of style and price momentum strategy in the Indonesian stock market from the year 2000 to 2015. We find the style momentum strategy yields significant positive returns while the price momentum strategy tends to produce negative returns. This result confirms the findings of Lewellen (2002) that style momentum returns are generally stronger than the conventional momentum. The average monthly returns of the double-sorted size-B/M style momentum are ranging from 1.98% to 2.64% and persistent after controlling for market factor using JSX index. Our findings suggest investors should utilize publicly available information such as size and book-to-market ratio on their investment decision in the Indonesian stock market.
Public Funding and Innovation Strategies. Evidence from Italian SMEs

Abstract Using a dataset which combines Community Innovation Survey (CIS) and accounting information on Italian manufacturing firms, we adopt a two step econometric procedure to investigate whether the receipt of public funding determines firms’ innovation strategy selection. In the first step an innovation selection equation is estimated, in the second we adopt a bivariate probit model. The main finding is that public funding influences whether firms select the make, the buy or the make&buy strategy, favoring the latter. The composite strategy is the one linked to the build up of absorptive capacity which, according to the empirical evidence, turns out to be associated to a better innovative performance.