bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Free‐Trade Areas and Welfare: An Equilibrium Analysis
Authors: Yi Sang‐Seung
Published: March 2003

This paper examines the welfare effects of the formation of a free‐trade area. When a country is constrained to charge lower tariffs on imports from some countries, it is in its interest to reduce external tariffs as well. In alinear‐quadratic model of intraindustry trade, the reduction in external tariffs induced by free‐trade agreements is sufficiently large to make nonmember countries better off. Since only privately beneficial free‐trade agreements are signed voluntarily, the formation of a free‐trade area is a Pareto improvement. Owing to free‐riding problems, however, the global free‐trade area may not be a stable outcome.
Quantitative Trade Restrictions in Unionized Economies
Authors: Zhao Laixun
Published: March 2003

This paper models the interactions of a labor union and a monopoly firm under an import quota in a small open economy. The distorted equilibrium is depicted in a diagram, in which wages and employment in both sectors, and the monopoly rent, can be identified. The imposition of an import quota in the unionized sector reduces monopoly rent, union employment, and wages in both sectors, compared with the case of autarky. In addition, the paper presents several surprising comparative statics results. For instance, an increase in the world price causes the protected (i.e., “wrong”) sector to shrink, wages to decrease, and national income to rise if the initial world price is low.
Are Tariffs Inflationary?
Authors: Batra Ravi
Published: March 2003

Economists universally regard tariffs to be inflationary and free trade to be deflationary, a view that this paper challenges. It is argued that while rotectionism has generally created inflation in developing economies, the experience of the United States was totally different. Tariffs in the US were never associated with rising prices, and trade liberalization with declining prices. High tariffs were always followed by sharp drops in the cost of living. A theoretical model is developed to explain the deflationary effects of tariffs in the United States. Thus tariffs produce inflation only in nonmarket or ualistic developing economies, but not in advanced economies.
Productivity Convergence in European Manufacturing
Authors: Pascual Antonio Garcia , Westermann Frank
Published: March 2003

The paper empirically investigates international productivity convergence in the manufacturing sector, which was found not converging in earlier studies. The authors analyze subsectors of aggregate manufacturing in order to compare similar technologies and to avoid the mixing of converging and nonconverging subsectors in the aggregate. Some of the subsectors converge while others, as well as aggregate manufacturing, do not. There is stronger evidence of convergence in subsectors with a smaller number of different industries. The latter serves as a proxy for the variety of technologies. Overall, the results highlight the importance of comparing similar technologies when studying productivity convergence.
Balance–of–Payments Equilibrium and the Determinacy of Interest Rates
Authors: Polemarchakis Herakles M. , Salto Matteo
Published: March 2003

In a world economy of overlapping generations with multiple countries, a competitive equilibrium need not satisfy the condition that the balance of payments be in equilibrium. The requirement that, in addition to market clearing, a balance–of–payments equilibrium condition be satisfied selects Pareto–optimal allocations and guarantees the determinacy of equilibrium.
Urban Housing in Mainland China: A New Chapter
Authors: Hamer Andrew Marshall , Steekelenburg Ester van
Published: March 2003

Based on the results of field work conducted during 1997 and 1998 in Beijing, Shanghi, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Ningbo, this paper sets out a modest agenda. It briefly reviews China’s urban housing initiatives to date, then questions whether these form part of a coherent and comprehensive housing strategy. While focusing on issues rather than data; it ends by stressing that planning without adequate facts is problematic. The authors have not aimed to provide a detailed account of China’s housing reform history, since this is documented extensively in numerous research studies. The spotlight is on questions that still need to be answered, rather than on the more ambitious task of prescribing a blueprint for simultaneously resolving all the issues at hand.
Regional Efficiency Wages: Are They a Source of Real Earnings Differentials?
Authors: Mullen J.K. , Williams Martin
Published: March 2003

This paper investigates the role of spatial efficiency wage premiums as a partial explanation for both inter‐industry and geographic wage differentials. The empirical approach is based on an analysis of panel data for six select manufacturing industries operating within specific (U.S.) states. Besides testing for the existence of a regional “wage curve,” this research adds to the evidence on traditional determinants of spatial wage differentials. An explicit treatment of regional cost‐of‐living conditions is unique to the analysis; also, industry wage structures are accounted for in explaining regional wage differences. The findings here contribute to an initial body of evidence on regional efficiency wages. The empirical evidence indicates that the relationship between regional wages (nominal or real) and the local unemployment rate is much more complex than implied by the wage curve.
International and Intergenerational Environmental Externalities
Authors: John A. Andrew , Pecchenino Rowena A.
Published: March 2003

We examine a world in which policymakers' actions in a given country at a given time have long‐lived effects on a common resource: the global environment. We consider the first best in which long‐lived planners behave cooperatively, then examine the allocation of resources when there is non‐cooperation across countries, across time, or both. Finally we analyze the dynamic behavior of the economy along balanced growth paths. It is found that while long‐lived international institutions are necessary to internalize all externalities, cooperation at a point in time may be harmful to future generations.
Factor Taxation, Income Distribution and Capital Market Integration
Authors: Haufler Andreas
Published: March 2003

This paper addresses the optimal mix of capital and wage taxation when policymakers maximize the political support of workers and capitalists, subject to a fixed revenue requirement. Capital market integration increases the efficiency costs of a tax on capital but simultaneously changes the political equilibrium through its effect on the distribution of factor incomes. These distributional effects are directly opposed in the capital importing and the capital exporting region. While the capital tax rate will always be lowered in the capital importing region, the tax rate in the exporting country will rise when political resistance to market‐induced changes in the distribution of income is sufficiently high.
Better Monetary Control May Decrease the Distortion of Stabilisation Policy: A Comment
Authors: Letterie Wilko
Published: March 2003

Higher uncertainty about the effects of policy instruments reduces a policymaker’s inclination to actively engage in shaping economic policy. If a credibility problem exists, then this is beneficial. However, in the case where the policymaker has private information about an economic shock, higher uncertainty is costly. Hence, the policymaker faces a trade‐off when he decides on the degree of control of monetary instruments. It is shown that the optimal degree of uncertainty about the effects of policy depends on the economic preferences of the policymaker and the magnitude of the variance of the shock which is private information.
The First Century of The Scandinavian Journal of Economics
Authors: Persson Mats
Published: March 2003

This paper surveys the history of The Scandinavian Journal of Economics and the early contributions of e.g. Davidson, Wicksell, Cassel, Heckscher, Ohlin, Myrdal and Lindahl. It also analyses the population dynamics of economics journals. Finally, it addresses some issues concerning the publishing and editing of professional journals, raised by the emergence of new electronic media, internet publication, etc.
Modelling Policy Issues in a World of Imperfect Competition
Authors: Dierker Egbert , Grodal Birgit
Published: March 2003

General equilibrium theory constitutes a sound basis for the discussion of policy issues if firms do not have market power. However, if firms influence prices strategically, the concept of profits loses its meaning due to the price normalization problem. Hence, it is unclear how to model the behavior of oligopolistic firms. In order to provide a conceptual foundation for the analysis of policy issues in the case of imperfect competition, we discuss ways to formulate the objective of a strategic firm. In particular, we investigate the concept of real wealth maximization that is based on profits as well as on shareholders' aggregate demand.
Open‐Economy Macroeconomics: Developments in Theory and Policy
Authors: Obstfeld Maurice
Published: March 2003

This paper views developments in open‐economy macroeconomics through the lens of the debate over European monetary unification. The empirical tendency for nominal exchange rate regimes to affect the variability of nominal and real exchange rates alike can be rationalized by sticky‐price theories or models of asset‐market liquidity effects. But plausible liquidity models have difficulty generating enough persistence to match the data. Thus, the macroeconomic stabilization costs of forgoing the exchange‐rate realignment option seem pertinent. It is argued that our theories of efficiencies due to a common currency remain unsatisfactory, despite recent advances. The paper concludes by reviewing theories of currency crisis
How Does Uncertainty about Future Fiscal Policy Affect Current Macroeconomic Variables?
Authors: Rankin Neil
Published: March 2003

A dynamic stochastic general equilibrium macromodel is constructed, based on infinitely lived, dynamically optimising households with labour market monopoly power. Randomness in future government spending causes randomness in the future output and price levels, both when the money wage is flexible and when it is set one period in advance. We show that, through three different mechanisms, rational anticipation of this depresses current aggregate demand. If the wage is preset, it thereby also depresses current output. Such fiscal uncertainty is suggested as one possible explanation for the faltering of the economic recovery in Europe in 1995 and 1996.
Rational Choice in Strategic Environments: Further Observations
Authors: De Wolf Olivier , Forges Françoise
Published: March 2003

This note clarifies some aspects of Bernheim's (1986) characterization of Nash and correlated equilibria.
Subsidies versus Public Provision of Private Goods as Instruments for Redistribution
Authors: Boadway Robin , Marchand Maurice , Sato Motohiro
Published: March 2003

The literatures on differential commodity taxes and on quantity controls to supplement income taxation have developed separately. This paper combines these two strands in the standard framework of optimal non‐linear income taxation. We use a model with two types of households where the government has access to both subsidy policy and public provision of a good substitutable for leisure, and ouseholds can supplement the publicity provided good from the market. We present conditions under which policy should involve one or both of these two instruments alongside income taxation. The model is extended to many ability types.
Distributing the Benefits from the Commons: A Square‐Root Formula
Authors: Silvestre Joaquim
Published: March 2003

What should be the distribution of the benefits of a fishery (or common‐pool resource) where a group of fishers catch fish and sell it to consumers? I propose that, for each person i, where i is a fisher or a consumer, i's returns should be proportional to i's contributions. Unexpectedly, this implies that the fraction of benefits accruing to consumers must be √value of total output of fish/√value of total outputs of fish+√value of total fishers' labor.
Pricing‐to‐market in Swedish Exports
Authors: Alexius Annika , Vredin Anders
Published: March 2003

Fluctuations in prices of Swedish exports to five countries are investigated in this paper. We test whether there are systematic differences between prices to different markets and whether relative export prices are affected by macroeconomic conditions in destination countries. The test results indicate that deviations from no pricing‐to‐market and neutrality of money are quite common and persistent. Over a sample of 15 years, long‐run monetary neutrality is rejected in almost half of the cases. In most cases, the degree of pricing‐to‐market is also affected by aggregate demand in export markets.
Conditional Cooperation and Voluntary Contributions to Public Goods
Authors: Keser Claudia , Van Winden Frans
Published: March 2003

We compare a partners condition, where the same small group of subjects plays a repeated public good game, to a strangers condition, where subjects play this game in changing group formations. From the first period onward, subjects in the partners condition contribute significantly more to the public good than subjects in the strangers condition. Strangers' contributions show continual decay, while partners' contributions fluctuate on a high level prior to decreasing in the final periods. We interpret subjects' behaviour in terms of conditional cooperation which is characterized by both future‐oriented and reactive behaviour.

JEL classifications: C91; C92; H41
Does Precommitment Raise Growth? The Dynamics of Growth and Fiscal Policy
Authors: Krichel Thomas , Levine Paul
Published: March 2003

We develop an endogenous growth model driven by externalities from both private and public capital. The government levies distortionary taxation to finance a publicly provided consumption good and public infrastructure. Firms face adjustment costs. We compare the optimal and time‐consistent policies in a linear‐quadratic approximation of the model. Although the time‐consistent equilibrium is sub‐optimal in terms of ex‐ante intertemporal welfare, it yields higher long‐run growth and welfare, through an accumulation of assets by the state and a cut in government consumption.
Regional Insurance and Migration
Authors: Devillanova Carlo
Published: March 2003

A dynamic model of migration is developed to study whether labor mobility can hedge people against region‐specific shocks, making private or public insurance redundant. The model adopts a novel timing for migration, which is argued to be the time frame suitable for analyzing risk‐sharing issues. It also innovates on the existing literature by solving individual migration through convexification of the set of actions. The results show that the role of migration as an insurance mechanism is small: labor mobility cannot fully remove income differentials between regions. It is also shown that a fiscal stabilization scheme is, in general, optimal; moreover, any pure risk‐sharing mechanism has no influence on migration flows.
An empirical look at the Defence Mechanism Test (DMT) Stimulus effects
Authors: Zuber Irena , Ekehammar Bo
Published: March 2003

Based on a sample of non‐clinical subjects (N=74) the study examines the Defence Mechanism Test (DMT) by focusing on when perceptual distortions, called ‘signs of defence’ in DMT terminology, occur (distribution in exposure duration), which part of the picture is involved (distribution in localisation), and which ‘signs’ go together (using correlation and factor analyses). The results disclosed that the occurrence of perceptual distortions (‘signs of defence’) was related to exposure duration (some ‘defences’ are more frequent at brief exposures, some others at longer exposure durations), and to localisation on the picture. The location of misperceptions to the central person (hero) or the peripheral person (pp) of the picture was the major explanatory principle for the distribution of ‘signs’ on factors. Rather than capturing psychodynamic defence mechanisms, which is the theoretical basis of the test, the analyses imply that the DMT seems to measure misperceptions which are a function of the localisation of persons on the stimulus picture and of exposure durations.
Defense Mechanism Test (DMT) and Kernberg’s theory of personality organization related to adolescents in psychiatric care
Authors: Fransson Per
Published: March 2003

75 adolescent psychiatric patients were diagnosed with the perceptual projective test the Defense Mechanism Test (DMT) and also according to Kernberg’s theory of personality organization (PO). The test protocols were scored in respect of 130DMT variables and analyzed by means of partial least squares (PLS) discriminant analysis. The objective was to try to separate the three types of PO, psychotic (PPO), borderline (BPO) and neurotic (NPO) by means of the DMT and also to compare the results with a similar study on adult psychiatric patients. The results showed that it is possible to separate significantly the three groups of PO. The BPO group seemed to be heterogeneous. The results were fairly similar to those obtained with adult psychiatric patients. The overall results supported the concurrent validity of Kernberg’s theory of PO and for the DMT as well. The DMT seems to be a useful diagnostic method in respect of adolescent psychiatric patients.
Mental images: Specific or general, personal or impersonal?
Authors: Helstrup Tore , Cornoldi Cesare , Debeni Rossana
Published: March 2003

In three experiments the relation between visual images classified in terms of the four categories of personal, impersonal, specific, and general images was explored. The results showed that subjects were able to generate all types of images, with personal images being the easiest to recall. Personal images, together with general images, were the image types being easiest to integrate with one another. Overall, the observations suggested the existence of two imagery dimensions: specific‐general, and personal‐impersonal. Memory was found to be best for personal images. Personal images turned out to be easier to integrate in memory than specific images. The findings were discussed in terms of different image generation models.
An application of the optic sphere theory in discrimination of slant with minimal information
Authors: Eriksson Lars , Börjesson Erik
Published: March 2003

In Johansson and Börjesson (1989), a new theory of visual space perception—the optic sphere theory—was presented in which the hemispheric shape of the retina is utilized for determination of slant of plane surfaces in wide‐angle perception. The process of the optic sphere mechanism can be described as the projection of a translating distal line on the optic sphere, and an extrapolation of this projection to a great circle. The determination of the 3‐D slant of the distal line is made by identification of points of no change on the great circle during its rotation. The main objective of the present study was to investigate this process as applied to central stimulation of the retina with reduced and minimal information of slant or horizontal orientation. Each stimulus pattern consisted of either two continuous lines or two pairs of dots in motion presented on a computer screen. The pairwise lines and the pairs of dots defined simulated 3‐D slants (or horizontal orientations) of different magnitude within each pair, and the subjects' task was to discriminate between these simulated slants. It was shown that the simulations evoke percepts of 3‐D slants, and of horizontal orientations, and that it is possible to discriminate between them even from minimal information (pairs of dots). Further, the empirical findings of Börjesson (1994) indicated that longer extrapolations of the projected arc to a point of no change yield less accurate discriminations of slant. We failed to replicate this in Experiment 4, in which case stimulus variables that covaried with extrapolation length were eliminated or minimized. It is suggested that this raises some doubt about discrimination accuracy as dependent on extrapolation length per se. The overall conclusion, however, is that the optic sphere theory represents a possible explanation of, or analogy to, the process utilized by the visual system for determination of the simulated 3‐D slants and horizontal orientations in the present study.
Gender and projective imagination of threat in achievement and affiliation situations
Authors: Marongiu Sophia , Ekehammar Bo
Published: March 2003

In a study by Pollak and Gilligan (1982) where fantasies of violence were seen as indicative of perception of danger, women responded with more violent imagery to situations of achievement, whereas men responded with more violent imagery to affiliation situations. This indicates gender differences in motivational needs, which corresponds to modern gender development theories (e.g., Chodorow, 1978). In the present studies, the hypotheses that women fear achievement situations whereas men fear situations of affiliation were tested on Swedish samples totaling 44 men and 47 women. In Study 1, the hypothesis that violent imagery correlates with affiliation themes in the stories written by men was partly supported, whereas the hypothesis that violent imagery would be highly correlated with achievement themes in the stories written by women was not confirmed. In Study 2, no support was obtained for the hypotheses. In sum, contrary to previous studies, no substantial support was obtained for the hypothesis that women connect violent imagery with achievement situations, whereas some evidence was found for the hypothesis that men construe danger as arising from affiliation situations. The greater incidence of violence in men’s fantasy reported in previous studies was not supported in either of the two studies. The results are discussed in the context of cross‐cultural differences.
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), but not the Defence Mechanism Test (DMTm), separates schizophrenics and normal controls in a factorial cluster analysis
Authors: JÖNSSON SVEN A. T.
Published: March 2003

Ten schizophrenic patients and ten healthy control subjects matched with respect to sex, age and education were tested by a psychological test battery including WAIS, WCST, FAS and a modified version of the tachistoscopic Defence Mechanism Test (DMTm). In a Q‐factor analysis two factors were derived in the analysis of DMTm test scores. The distribution of cases among these factors was wholly at random. On the other hand, when analysing WAIS scores, five factors were derived and schizophrenic cases as well as control subjects were almost unequivocally clustered by different factors. It is argued that also if an unequivocal categorisation of cases had been achieved in the analysis of DMTm data, such a finding might well have been interpreted as an effect of anomalies in cerebral structures assumed to be of critical importance in the filtering of signals in the stream of visual perception. The existence of such anomalies in schizophrenics is now well established by neuroimaging as well as postmortem studies, and findings are also well in accordance with phenomenological and physiological data. The failure of DMTm to separate schizophrenic and control subjects does thus make the second and important step in a discussion on validity entirely superfluous, namely whether signs recorded really measure what they are assumed to measure, in this case defence mechanisms in a psychoanalytic sense.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the AEQ‐A questionnaire in Finland
Authors: Rönnback Sari A. , Ahllund Nina K. , Lindman Ralf E.
Published: March 2003

The Adolescent version of the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (Brown et al., 1980) was administered to a male population sample in Finland (N=195; median age 18.5 years). Three issues were investigated: Did the items of each subscale measure single latent constructs? Was the AEQ‐A better described by a single‐factor model (e.g., global positive expectancy) or by a null model implying scale independence? Were alcohol expectancies related to drinking habits? Confirmatory factor analyses by PRELIS2 and LISREL8 indicated that single‐construct models were appropriate only for the Enhanced sexuality and Increased arousal scales while several items were unrelated to the postulated latent constructs in the other five scales. Adequate fits were obtained for these scales only when unrelated items were removedand/or anlayses were based on nondichotomus scores derived from contentwise homogenous groups of items. Even when revised so that the each scale formally fitted a single latent construct, the resulting latent constructs were not well described by either the single‐factor model or the null model. Expected social benefit in terms of the revised Enhanced or impeded social behavior scale was the most significant predictor of drinking frequency while quantity consumed per drinking occasion was significantly related to the Improved cognitive and motor abilities scale only.
A ten‐year prospective study of aggression in a special secure unit for dangerous patients
Authors: Bjøkly Stål
Published: March 2003

In a 10‐year prospective study inpatient aggression was investigated in a Norwegian special secure unit covering a well‐defined catchment area with a population of 240,000. The seven bed special secure unit receives dangerous, psychotic patients for long‐term treatment. Only 19 patients were treated during the ten‐year study lasting from 1 April 1987 to 1 April 1997. Incidents of aggressive behavior were recorded on the Report Form for Aggressive Episodes by the nursing staff. The study aimed to identify, classify and measure the occurrence of aggressive behavior, as well as the relative frequency of events preceding such behavior. A total of 2021 incidents of aggressive behavior were recorded. Seventy‐five per cent of the aggressive acts were verbal or physical threats, while the remaining 25% were physical assaults directed at other persons. Four patients accounted for about 80% of the aggressive encounters. Nursing staff were victims in about 90% of the incidents. Serious physical injury was extremely rare. Situations pertaining to limit‐setting and problems of communication accounted for approximately 90% of the precipitants of aggressive behavior. There were no sex differences regarding the occurrence of aggressive behavior.
The Yale Children’s Inventory—A screening tool for attention deficits and related disorders. Normative data for boys
Authors: Olafsen K.åre S. , Sommerfelt Kristian
Published: March 2003

Norwegian populated‐based normative data on the Yale Children’s Inventory (YCI) were provided for boys. All parents of boys aged 8 through 11 years in the county of Hammerfest received the YCI, and 77% responded. Mean scores on the YCI scales attention, activity, tractability, and fine motor were significantly lower in the Norwegian sample compared to the US normative data. Factor analysis of the 40 scale items yielded factors that corresponded generally well to the YCI scale constructs derived from US samples. We conclude that the scale constructs of the YCI seem to be transferable across these two cultures, but that restandardization is warranted. Further research is needed to establish cut‐off values for clinical screening purposes. The Yale Children’s Inventory has the potential to become a valuable screening tool for behavioral problems at school‐age.
Intelligence and dyslexia: Implications for diagnosis and intervention
Authors: Gus Stefan , Samuelsson Stefan
Published: March 2003

In this paper we critically examine theoretical issues and practical consequences of including IQ in the definition of dyslexia. According to the discrepancy criterion individuals are classified as dyslexic if their reading skills are below what would be expected from their IQ scores. However, we argue that intelligence is a fuzzy concept and that there is no clear causal relationship between intelligence level and word decoding skills. Also, high and low IQ poor readers show the same reading performance patterns, indicating that both groups might benefit from the same remedial activities. Evidence for the critical role of phonological skills in dyslexia is presented and a more recent definition of dyslexia is discussed in relation to these findings. Finally, two alternative, more outcome‐based classifications of poor readers are suggested and some critical consequences for individual interventions are outlined.
Comorbidity in schizophrenia: A prognostic study of personality disorders in recovered and non‐recovered schizophrenia patients
Authors: TORGALSBØEN ANNE‐KARI
Published: March 2003

Symptoms and outcome in schizophrenia are heterogeneous. Part of the variation in outcome might be due to the coexistence of other forms of psychopathology. In the present study the prevalence of personality disorders in a group of recovered and non‐recovered schizophrenia patients was focused to examine the prognostic implications of comorbidity for the outcome of the disorder. The results showed no significant differences in prevalence of personality disorders in the two groups at first admission to the hospital, but the difference at the time of interview was close to significance. Emotional and conduct difficulties in adolescence were significantly more prevalent in the non‐recovered group. Schizoid features and emotional and conduct disorders in childhood were also more often reported among the non‐recovered subjects. The results confirm that comorbidity contributes to the variation in outcome for schizophrenia patients, but does not confirm its prognostic significance.
Cognitive ability and communicative disability
Authors: Rönnber Jerke
Published: March 2003

The area of cognitive ability and communicative disability is introduced and delineated in this special issue of Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. A set of 13 chapters is included in the issue to illustrate the theoretical and methodological advances in the areas of memory and amnesia, reading and dyslexia, speech‐reading, tactile speech and objects, and developmental disorders. Theoretical communalities among the different subspecialities are emphasized.
Reading and writing difficulties do not always occur as the researcher expects
Authors: Niemi Pekk , Poskiparta Elis , Vauras Marj , Mäk Hann
Published: March 2003

Making a prognosis about reading and learning difficulties is a tricky business, even if a large array of relevant variables is taken into account. The present article discusses such an endeavour, on the basis of a longitudinal four‐year study which started with an orthodox intervention on linguistic awareness. However, after initial success, new groups of reading, writing and math disabled children were identified in the course of years. Membership of these groups could not always be predicted on the basis of extensive cognitive diagnostics performed during the preschool. Rather, the pupil’s adaptive behaviour while coping with the demands of school work emerges as an important prognostic factor. This was particularly evident in an interaction combining math and reading comprehension in grade 3.
Cognitive deficits in developmental disorders
Authors: Frit Ut
Published: March 2003

The existence of specific developmental disorders such as dyslexia and autism raises interesting issues about the structure of the normally developing mind. In these disorders distinct cognitive deficits can explain a range of behavioural impairments and have the potential to be linked to specific brain abnormalities. One possibility is that there are specific mechanisms dedicated to particular types of information processing. These mechanisms may function independently of more general information processing systems and may have a distinct anatomical basis in the brain.
Efficient Estimation of Fixed and Time‐varying Covariate Effects in Multiplicative Intensity Models
Authors: MARTINUSSEN TORBEN , SCHEIKE THOMAS H. , SKOVGAARD IB M.
Published: March 2003

The proportional hazards assumption of the Cox model does sometimes not hold in practise. An example is a treatment effect that decreases with time. We study a general multiplicative intensity model allowing the influence of each covariate to vary non‐parametrically with time. An efficient estimation procedure for the cumulative parameter functions is developed. Its properties are studied using the martingale structure of the problem. Furthermore, we introduce a partly parametric version of the general non‐parametric model in which the influence of some of the covariates varies with time while the effects of the remaining covariates are constant. This semiparametric model has not been studied in detail before. An efficient procedure for estimating the parametric as well as the non‐parametric components of this model is developed. Again the martingale structure of the model allows us to describe the asymptotic properties of the suggested estimators. The approach is applied to two different data sets, and a Monte Carlo simulation is presented.
Conditions for Non‐confounding and Collapsibility without Knowledge of Completely Constructed Causal Diagrams
Authors: GENG ZHI , LI GUANGWEI
Published: March 2003

In this paper, we discuss several concepts in causal inference in terms of causal diagrams proposed byPearl (1993,1995a,b), and we give conditions for non‐confounding, homogeneity and collapsibility for causal effects without knowledge of a completely constructed causal diagram. We first introduce the concepts of non‐confounding, conditional non‐confounding, uniform non‐confounding, homogeneity, collapsibility and strong collapsibility for causal effects, then we present necessary and sufficient conditions for uniform non‐confounding, homegeneity and collapsibilities, and finally we show sufficient conditions for non‐confounding, conditional non‐confounding and uniform non‐confounding.
Goodness‐of‐fit Tests for GEE with Correlated Binary Data
Authors: PAN WEI
Published: March 2003

The marginal logistic regression, in combination with GEE, is an increasingly important method in dealing with correlated binary data. As for independent binary data, when the number of possible combinations of the covariate values in a logistic regression model is much larger than the sample size, such as when the logistic model contains at least one continuous covariate, many existing chi‐square goodness‐of‐fit tests either are not applicable or have some serious drawbacks. In this paper two residual based normal goodness‐of‐fit test statistics are proposed: the Pearson chi‐square and an unweighted sum of residual squares. Easy‐to‐calculate approximations to the mean and variance of either statistic are also given. Their performance, in terms of both size and power, was satisfactory in our simulation studies. For illustration we apply them to a real data set.
Multiple Kernel Procedure: an Asymptotic Support
Authors: Vieu Philippe
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT. This paper deals with kernel non‐parametric estimation. The multiple kernel method, as proposed by Berlinet (1993), consists in choosing both the smoothing parameter and the order of the kernel function. In this paper we follow this general idea, and the selection is carried out by a combination of plug‐in and cross‐validation techniques. In a first attempt we give an asymptotic optimality theorem which is stated in a general unifying setting that includes many curve estimation problems. Then, as an illustration, it will be seen how this behaves in both special cases of kernel density and kernel regression estimation.
Weighted Approximations to Continuous Time Martingales with Applications
Authors: Haeusler Erich , Mason David M.
Published: March 2003

A weighted approximation to a sequence of continuous time martingales by a time transformed Wiener process is established. The basic tool of proof is the Skorohod imbedding for martingale difference sequences. As an application of the main result a useful weighted approximation to the randomly weighted uniform empirical process is derived. A number of other applications are also discussed.
Affine Invariant Multivariate Sign and Rank Tests and Corresponding Estimates: a Review
Authors: Oja Hannu
Published: March 2003

The paper reviews recent contributions to the statistical inference methods, tests and estimates, based on the generalized median of Oja. Multivariate analogues of sign and rank concepts, affine invariant one‐sample and two‐sample sign tests and rank tests, affine equivariant median and Hodges–Lehmann‐type estimates are reviewed and discussed. Some comparisons are made to other generalizations. The theory is illustrated by two examples.
Properties and Applications of the Generalized Likelihood as a Summary Function for Prediction Problems
Authors: Bedrick Edward J. , Hill Joe R.
Published: March 2003

The generalized likelihood plays an important role in parametric inference for prediction and empirical Bayesian models. This paper emphasizes the utility of the generalized likelihood as a summarization procedure in general prediction models. Properties of the generalized likelihood when used in this setting, and examples of its use as a data analytic tool are given in a series of numerical examples.
Approaching in Distribution with Applications to Resampling of Stochastic Processes
Authors: Belyaev Y. K. , Seleznjev Oleg
Published: March 2003

We introduce the notion of weak approaching and conditionally weak approaching sequences of random processes. This notion generalizes the conventional weak convergence, and has been proposed for real valued random variables in Belyaev (1995). Some of the standard tools for an investigation of the behaviour of weak approaching sequences of random elements in metric spaces are developed. The spaces of smoothed and right‐continuous functions with left‐hand limits are considered. This technique allows us to use the resampling approach for an evaluation of distributions of continuous functionals on realizations of sum of an increasing number of independent random processes. Two numerical examples are presented for such functionals as supremum and number of level crossings.
Discretely Observed Diffusions: Approximation of the Continuous‐time Score Function
Authors: Sørensen Helle
Published: March 2003

We discuss parameter estimation for discretely observed, ergodic diffusion processes where the diffusion coefficient does not depend on the parameter. We propose using an approximation of the continuous‐time score function as an estimating function. The estimating function can be expressed in simple terms through the drift and the diffusion coefficient and is thus easy to calculate. Simulation studies show that the method performs well.
Functional Estimation of a Density Under a New Weak Dependence Condition
Authors: Doukhan Paul , Louhichi Sana
Published: March 2003

The purpose of this paper is to prove, through the analysis of the behaviour of a standard kernel density estimator, that the notion of weak dependence defined in a previous paper (cf. Doukhan & Louhichi, 1999) has sufficiently sharp properties to be used in various situations. More precisely we investigate the asymptotics of high order losses, asymptotic distributions and uniform almost sure behaviour of kernel density estimates. We prove that they are the same as for independent samples (with some restrictions for a.s. behaviours). Recall finally that this weak dependence condition extends on the previously defined ones such as mixing, association and it allows considerations of new classes such as weak shifts processes based on independent sequences as well as some non‐mixing Markov processes.
Efficient Bandwidth Selection in Non‐parametric Regression
Authors: PREWITT KATHRYN A.
Published: March 2003

In this paper we use non‐parametric local polynomial methods to estimate the regression function, m(x). Y may be a binary or continuous response variable, and X is continuous with non‐uniform density. The main contributions of this paper are the weak convergence of a bandwidth process for kernels of order (0,k), k=2j, j≥1 and the proposal of a local data‐driven bandwidth selection method which is particularly beneficial for the case when X is not distributed uniformly. This selection method minimizes estimates of the asymptotic MSE and estimates the bias portion in an innovative way which relies on the order of the kernel and not estimation of m2(x) directly. We show that utilization of this method results in the achievement of the optimal asymptotic MSE by the estimator, i.e. the method is efficient. Simulation studies are provided which illustrate the method for both binary and continuous response cases.
Articulations of Same‐sex Desire: Lesbian and Gay Male Dating Advertisements
Authors: Thorne Adrian , Coupland Justine
Published: March 2003

A survey of self and other categorisation in 200 lesbian and gay male dating advertisement texts, taken from current magazines and newspapers, reveals the discursive means by which homosexual advertisers in our corpus commodify and market sexual/self‐gendered identities. Detailed analysis of a sub‐sample of the advertisements allows us to trace the discourse processes and conventions used in formulating identity in such texts. We interpret these discourse practices in relation to a social critique of gay attitudes, beliefs and lifestyles. The different conventions for self‐commodification followed by lesbians and gay men in this survey suggest generalisable differences in sexual stance and cultural identification
Language variation on Internet Relay Chat: A social network approach
Authors: Paolillo John C.
Published: March 2003

This paper examines linguistic variation on an Internet Relay Chat channel with respect to the hypothesis, based on the model of Milroy and Milroy (1992), that standard variants tend to be associated with weak social network ties, while vernacular variants are associated with strong network ties. An analysis of frequency of contact as a measure of tie strength reveals a structured relationship between tie strength and several linguistic variants. However, the variant features are associated with social positions in a way that does not correlate neatly with tie strength. An account of these results is proposed in terms of the social functions of the different variables and the larger social context of IRC affecting tie strength.
‘But is it linguistics?’: Breaking down boundaries
Authors: Meyerhoff Miriam
Published: March 2003

Book reviewed in this article:

Rajend Mesthrie (ed.), Concise Encyclopedia of Sociolinguistics
Testing Employment Determination in Unionised Economies as a Repeated Game
Authors: Rica Sara De la , Espinosa Marìa Paz
Published: March 2003

This paper is an empirical analysis of alternative bargaining theories of wage and employment determination. Using data from manufacturing sectors of the Spanish economy, we find that unions and firms are not myopic and take dynamic considerations into account in the bargaining process. This work is an empirical test of the bargaining model in Espinosa and Rhee (1989) and provides support for their conclusions.
The Long Run Growth and Productivity Performance of the United Kingdom
Authors: Broadberry >S. N.
Published: March 2003

This paper examines Britain's long run growth and productivity performance since the late nineteenth century, taking an international comparative perspective and disaggregating by sector. Britain was richer than the United States and Germany in 1870 largely because of high levels of labour productivity in services and agriculture rather than in industry, together with a highly favourable structure, particularly a small share of the labour force in agriculture. By 1990, the productivity gap in manufacturing had not grown bigger. Rather, the deterioration in Britain's overall comparative labour productivity position has been concentrated in services and agriculture, together with the effects of structural change, particularly the later shift of labour out of agriculture in the United States and Germany.
A Stakeholding Society — What Does It Mean for Business?
Authors: Kay John
Published: March 2003

The paper describes the differences between stakeholding and shareholding views of the objects of business. In the former, the object of business is to develop good businesses. This is defined by the criteria normally associated with good businesses and valued by good businessmen themselves—satisfying customers, developing the skills and motivation of employees, earning good returns for investors. In the latter, profit is the defining purpose of business; and other objectives, although often pursued, are purely instrumental to that end. By emphasising the difference between a characteristic of an organisation— behaviour that is developed and valued for its own sake—and the policy of an organisation—behaviour that is adoped for the time being because of its hoped for consequences—I explain the greater capacity of the stakeholding company to make commitments in implicit contracts with all stakeholders. For this reason, it may perform better for all stakeholders, including shareholders.
Testing for Asymmetries in UK Macroeconomic Time Series
Authors: Speight A.E.H. , McMillan D.G.
Published: March 2003

This paper examines the asymmetric properties of a broad range of quarterly postwar UK macroeconomic time series using recently developed test statistics for contractionary ‘deepness’ and ‘steepness’ relative to trend. We also examine the robustness of these test statistics to two alternative methods of detrending, namely Hodrick‐Prescott filtering and structural time series modelling. We find strong corroborative evidence of asymmetric steepness relative to trend in durable consumption, total investment, investment in plant and machinery, exports and unemployment. We find weaker evidence of asymmetric deepness in savings, exports, labour hours, consumption and unemployment.
The Social and Economic Determinants of Voter Behaviour: Evidence from the 1992 General Election In Scotland
Authors: Fielding David
Published: March 2003

This paper presents a model of voter choice which embodies less restrictive assumptions than those previously applied to UK elections and opinion polls, relaxing the standard assumption of the ‘Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives’ and allowing for voters to ‘group’ electoral alternatives perceived to be particularly similar to each other. Application of the model to the Scottish General Election results for 1992 indicates that relaxation of this assumption is necessary. In addition, the paper provides evidence on the socio‐economic determinants of voter choice, and the relative magnitudes of the effects of income, local unemployment and social class.
Scottish Economic Thought and the High Wage Economy: Hume, Smith and MCCulloch on Wages and Work Motivation
Authors: Marshall M. G.
Published: March 2003

This article examines the work of Hume, Smith and McCulloch on wages and work motivation, and finds a clear and detailed case made for high wages within Scottish political economy. This analysis, through Hume and Smith, is based on key aspects of Scottish Enlightenment thought, and represents the culmination of the liberalization of thought regarding labour which developed in the eighteenth century. McCulloch, whose work on wages, incentives and motivation is more detailed and interesting than that of his ‘post‐Smithian’ classical colleagues, is shown to be, in this area at least, clearly in the Scottish tradition.