Assessment of Interjudge Reliability in the Open-Ended Questions Coding Process

In the process of coding open-ended questions, the evaluation of interjudge reliability is a critical issue. In this paper, using real data, the behavior of three coefficients of reliability among coders, Cohen’s K, Krippendorff’s α and Perreault and Leigh’s I _r are patterned, in terms of the number of judges involved and the categories of answer defined. The outcome underlines the importance of both variables in the valuations of interjudge reliability, as well as the higher adequacy of Perreault and Leigh’s I _r and Krippendorff’s α for marketing and opinion research.     

Henry George and British Socialism

Abstract . Henrys George, the American social reformer and Single Tax advocate, had a decisive impact on native British socialism considered apart from the Marxist and revolutionary types imported from the continent. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels were hostile critics but the typically English Fabian Society was influenced by George's seminal ideas. The Fabians were especially attracted to two notions: the conception that George gave to the thought of his time, that poverty was an evil preventable by political intervention—by State action; and that the disparity in incomes could be explained by the theory of unearned increment. In turn Sydney Olivier, George Bernard Shaw, Sidney Webb, Annie Besant, H. G. Wells and E, R. Pease came under the influence of George. Soon to affect the Fabians, however, was the development of the economist, P. H. Wicksteed, beyond George to Jenons and Marginalism. Key figures in the Parliamentary and Independent Labour parties almost achieved land value taxation.     

Henry George's Theory of State's Agenda: The Origins of His Ideas on Economic Policy in Adam Smith's Moral Theory

Abstract . The tension between Henry George's reformism and his laissezfaire liberalism was resolved through a system of natural liberty George derived from the relation between Adam Smith's ethics and economics. Crucial for George's nonutilitarian philosophy of government was the interdependence between the moral sense (sympathy) and the prevailing socioeconomic order. In the appropriate institutional environment, the role of the government was diminished since the pervasive moral sense insured justice by monitoring the individual's pursuit of economic self-interest. In contrast, a defective socio economic order required government intervention. For example, land monopoly and the maldistribution of income undermined the role of sympathy, promoted excessive self interest and the breakdown of the system of natural liberty. Government action through the single tax eliminated the “fear of want,” restored an operative moral sense and guaranteed justice in society. Under these conditions, government can provide additional services for a growing society without being susceptible to “corrupt and tyrannous” behavior.     

A queueing problem with correlated arrivals and correlated phase-type service zur theorie des rangtests

Summary This paper studies the steady-state behaviour of a discrete-time, single-channel, first-come-first-served queueing problem wherein (i) the arrivals at two consecutive time-marks are correlated (ii) the service is accomplished in phases and (iii) the completion of phases at two consecutive time-marks are correlated. The probability generating function (p.g.f.) of the number of phases waiting and in service is obtained. Further, the p.g.f. of queue length is obtained for the case when each unit demands only one phase of service, and the mean queue length is derived therefrom. Finally, the p.g.f. and the mean queue length are discussed for the special cases, (i) r=0,R≠0, (ii) r≠0,R=0, (iii) r=0,R=0, (iv) r≠0,R=−I, (v) r=0,R=−I, (vi) r=−I,R≠0, (vii) r=−I,R=0, (viii) r=I,R≠0, (ix) r=I,R=0, (x) r≠0,R=I, (xi) r=0,R=I, where r andR are the respective coefficients of correlation between arrivals and completion of phases at two consecutive time-marks.     

Some Determinants of Property Crime: Economic Factors Influence Criminal Behavior But Cannot Completely Explain the Syndrome

Abstract . An empirical analysis of the property crimes, robbery, burglary and larceny, is presented for all 120 counties in Kentucky. While this analysis is based on an economic model of crime, certain sociological and legal variables are included as well in the system of equations. Overall, the empirical results support prior studies’findings with the exception that a quadratic relationship is found to exist between urbanization and each of the property crimes. Furthermore, neither the economic nor the non economic influences measured appear more important for affecting crime rates. Specifically, results indicate that the level of poverty, the degree of tourism, the presence of police, the unemployment rate and the apprehension rate all affect property crimes. In contrast, the length of sentence, the degree of industrialization, the level of public assistance payments and the proportion of youth in the county have no affect on property crime rates in these areas.     

Ready or Not? Homosexuality,Unit Cohesion,and Military Readiness

The U.S. military argues that homosexuals are unfit for service because their presence compromises military readiness and unit cohesion. Based on this assumption, it continues to discharge homosexuals at an average rate of approximately 925 per year. On the other hand, the extant research suggests that homosexuals are no more disruptive to military life than their heterosexual counterparts. By integrating the legal and scientific literature, this paper examines the soundness of the military’s assumptions and aims to improve our understanding of the issues involved. Within this context, the efficacy of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue” policy and whether it is in the best interest of the military and its soldiers and sailors is discussed.

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Beechey, V. and Perkins, T. 1987: A matter of hours: women, part-time work and the labour market. Darden, J.T., Child Hill, R., Thomas, J. and Thomas, R. 1987: Detroit: race and uneven development. Duncan, S. and Goodwin, M. 1988: The local state and uneven development. Eades, J. editor, 1987: Migrants, workers and the social order. Henderson, J. and Karn, V. 1987: Race, class and housing: inequality and the allocation of public housing in Britain. Hughes, J.W. and Sternlieb, G. 1987: The dynamics of America's housing. Jenkins, R. and Solomos, J. editors, 1987: Racism and equal opportunity policies in the 1980s. Linge, G.J.R. editor, 1988: Peripheralisation and industrial change. Lubeck, P.M. 1987: Islam and urban labour in northern Nigeria: the making of a Muslim working class. Massey, D. 1987: Nicaragua. Matzerath, H. 1985: Urbanisierung in Preußen 1815–1914. Page, E.C and Goldsmith, M.J. editors, 1987: Central and local government relations: a comparative analysis of west European unitary states. Hoffman-Martinot, V. 1987: Finances et pouvoir local: l'expérience allemande. Pradilla, E. 1984: Contribucion a la critica de la teoría urbana: del espacio a la crisis urbana. Pradilla, E. 1987: Capital, estado y vivienda en América Latina. Reade, E. 1987: British town and country planning. Savage, M. 1987: The dynamics of working-class politics: the labour movement in Preston 1880–1940. Teague, P. editor, 1987: Beyond the rhetoric: politics, the economy and social policy in Northern Ireland. Wilson, G. 1987: Money in the family.     

Nature in Economic Theories: Hans Immler Traces Recognition of the Environment—and Its Neglect—in Various Classics

Abstract . Labor and capital are usually considered as the primary factors of production, the costs of which are of utmost importance. In contrast, nature (including all natural resources), as the essential third factor, is disregarded. She is generally assumed to be always available, self-regenerating, and to be exploited without long-term costs. In other words, she is more or less viewed as a constant. Hans Immler's new treatise represents an important contribution in that he emphasizes the role and function of the natural environment, and its neglect, in the formulation of theories of value and their long-term consequences on contemporary economic theories and on the person and society. This essay traces Immler's evaluation with extensive quotations—especially with regard to Physiocracy and the classical economists— of nature's role and function, or their neglect, in the formulation of theories of value through the writings of Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, William Petty, John Locke, Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Karl Marx, and others—all dealt with in Part 1 of his book—and Francois Quesnay and the Physiocrats—the topic of Part 2.     

Is Technology-ridden U.S. Agriculture in a Long-run Decline?

Abstract . The American family farm is threatened by the combination of low, unstable commodity prices and high costs of machine and chemical technology. Overplanting, erosion, excessive taxation, and non-farm development diminish the best cropland. Government and corporate business policy have encouraged overproduction and soil abuse. To survive, the small farmer takes a second job or joins the urban industrial proletariat. No single national organization protects agriculture or equals the effective lobbying of business and unions for their own interests. “Modern” technology often produces less per land unit than traditional labor-intensive cultivation and costs more in terms of energy, capital, and depleted soil and natural resources. Usurious interest, archaic tax laws, and rapid rise of current technological production costs force insolvency of the small farm while facilitating expansion of giant agribusiness corporations, but technological innovation may have reached the point of diminishing returns. Meanwhile disruption of rural society continues, aggravating metropolitan overpopulation, unemployment, and social disorganization.     

On maximum likelihood prediction based on Type II doubly censored exponential data

In this paper, the maximum likelihood predictor (MLP) of the kth ordered observation, t _k, in a sample of size n from a two-parameter exponential distribution as well as the predictive maximum likelihood estimators (PMLE's) of the location and scale parameters, θ and β, based on the observed values t _r, …, t _s (1≤r≤s<k≤n), are obtained in closed forms, contrary to the belief they cannot be so expressed. When θ is known, however, the PMLE of β and MLP of t _k do not admit explicit expressions. It is shown here that they exist and are unique; sharp lower and upper bounds are also provided. The derived predictors and estimators are reasonable and also have good asymptotic properties. As applications, the total duration time in a life test and the failure time of a k-out-of-n system may be predicted. Finally, an illustrative example is included. Received: August 1999     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed: Held, David, Anthony McGrew, David Goldblatt and Jonathan Perraton Global transformations: politics, economics and culture Lin, George C.S. Red capitalism in South China Keyder, Ç. (ed.) Istanbul: between the global and the local JGlasser, Irene and Rae Bridgman Braving the street: the anthropology of homelessness Vanhove, Norbert Regional policy: a European approach Downey, John and Jim McGuigan (eds.) Technocities Malbon, Ben Clubbing: dancing, ecstasy and vitality Hedlund, Stefan Russia’s `market’ economy. A bad case of predatory capitalism Chavez, John R. Eastside landmark: a history of the East Los Angeles Community Union 1968–1993 Butler, Ruth and Hester Parr (eds) Mind and body spaces: geographies of illness, impairment and disability Germaine, Annick and Damaris Rose Montréal: the quest for a metropolis Narotzky, Susana New directions in economic anthropology     

Henry George's Thought in Relation to Modern Economics

Abstract . Henry George's influence on economic thought has been neglected although his readers included Clark, Marshall, Hobson, Commons, Lerner and Böhm-Bawerk and his ideas provoked thought and discussion, Clark made clear that George stimulated him to develop his marginal productivity theory. But the 19th century American theorist affected or touched upon the neoclassical concept of capital, the theory of externality, the neoclassical versus the classical concept of monopoly; the entitlements approach to distributive justice; the burden of debt and other transfer incomes and capital formation and the theory of expectations. George's influence is wider than generally recognized. The last of the classical economists, he wrote in high Victorian prose about some very modern problems.     

Book Reviews

Harvey, David, Justice, Nature & the Geography of Difference Jeffrey, Charlie, (ed.) The Regional Dimension of the European Union. Towards a Third Level in Europe? Keating, Michael and Jeffrey Loughlin (eds.)The Political Economy of Regionalism Le Galès, Patrick and Christian Lequesne, (eds.) Les Paradoxes des régions en Europe Grabner, Gernot and David Stark, (eds.) Restructuring networks in post-socialism. Legacies, linkages and localities Taylor, Ian, Karen Evans and Penny Fraser, A Tale of Two Cities: Global Change, Local Feeling and Everyday Life in the North of England. A Study in Manchester and Sheffield Caulfield, Jon and Linda Peake, (eds.) City Lives and City Forms. Critical Research and Canadian Urbanism Turnbull, Geoffrey K., Urban Consumer Theory Barringer, Herbert, Robert W. Gardner and Michael Levin Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States Hardy, Sally, Mark Hart, Albrechts Louis and Anastasios Katos An Enlarged Europe: Regions in Competition?     

Henry George's Impact at Home and Abroad: He Won the Workers of Marx's Adopted Country But Through Leninism Marxism Has Won Half the World

Abstract . Henry George, the American economist and social philosopher, considered it an anomoly that, under modern industrial conditions, progress and poverty should march together. He recognized that the juxtaposition of wealth and want was a worldwide phenomenon and traced its cause to monopoly, particularly the monopoly of land and natural resources. Realizing that current taxes on consumption and production were disincentives to capital and labor, he proposed that governments tax the only true surplus, economic rent, through land value taxation. This would enable the people to reassert their common title to the land—the earth. His message was accorded a more favorable reception abroad than at home. Karl Marx wrote Das Kapital in England but it was George, not Marx, who appealed to the British workers. Yet it was Marxism that swept half the world into State socialism, conquering by political power and bayonet-Leninism while George's followers pursued the democratic approach of public education.     

Evaluation of P(Xt>Yt ) when both Xt and Yt are residual lifetimes of two systems

Let the random variables X and Y denote the lifetimes of two systems. In reliability theory to compare between the lifetimes of X and Y there are several approaches. Among the most popular methods of comparing the lifetimes are to compare the survival functions, the failure rates and the mean residual lifetime functions of X and Y. Assume that both systems are operating at time t > 0. Then the residual lifetimes of them are X_t=X?t | X>t and Y_t=Y?t | Y>t, respectively. In this paper, we introduce, by taking into account the age of systems, a time‐dependent criterion to compare the residual lifetimes of them. In other words, we concentrate on function R(t ):=P(X_t>Y_t) which enables one to obtain, at time t, the probability that the residual lifetime X_t is greater than the residual lifetime Y_t. It is mentioned, in Brown and Rutemiller (IEEE Transactions on Reliability, 22 , 1973) that the probability of type R(t) is important for designing as long‐lived a product as possible. Several properties of R(t) and its connection with well‐known reliability measures are investigated. The estimation of R(t) based on samples from X and Y is also discussed.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Beauregard, R. , editor, 1989: Economic restructuring and political response. Blanke, B., Heinelt, H. , and Macke, C.-W. 1987: Großstadt und Arbeitslosigkeitein Problemsyndrom im Netz lokaler Sozialpolitik. Block, F.R. 1988: Revising state theory: essays in politics and postindustrialism. Breckner, I. and Krummacher, M. 1985: Regionalentwicklung zwischen Technologieboom und Resteverwertung. Krummacher, M., Schrooten, F. and Wupper, H. 1986: Umbruch der Stadt — z. B. Bochum. Forrest, R. and Murie, A. 1988: Selling the welfare state: the privatisation of public housing. Gottdiener, M. 1987: The decline of urban politics: political theory and the crisis of the local state. Harris, A., Lloyd, G. and Newlands, D. 1988: The impact of oil on the Aberdeen economy. Huttman, E. and van Vliet, W. editors, 1988: Handbook of housing and the built environment in the United States. Keim, D. , editor, 1989: Arbeit an der Stadt: Plädoyers für eine selbstproduktive Politik der Stadtentwicklung. Lefèvre, Ch., Body-Gendrot, S. et al. 1988: Les villes des Etats-Unis. Peet, R. , editor, 1987: International capitalism and industrial restructuring: a critical analysis. Porteous, J.M. 1989: Planned to death: the annihilation of a place called Howdendyke. Prigge, W. , editor, 1987: Die Materialität des Städtischen: Stadtentwicklung im gesellschaftlichen Umbruch. Scott, A.J. 1988: New industrial spaces. Smith, M. P. 1988: City, state and market: the political economy of urban society. Solomos, J. 1988: Black youth, racism and the state: the politics of ideology and policy. Stoker, G. , 1988: The politics of local government. Tomlinson, R. and Addleson, M. , editors, 1988: Regional restructuring under apartheid: urban and regional policies in contemporary South Africa. Weiss, M. A. 1987: The rise of the community builders: the American real estate industry and American land planning. White, M. 1987. American neighbourhoods and residential differentiation. Wolch, J. and Dear, M. , editors, 1989: The power of geography, how territory shapes social life.     

Applying jump-diffusion processes to liquidate and convert venture capital

This study attempts to apply real options and expand the model designed by Lin and Huang [Lin, T.T., Huang, Y.T.: J. Technol. Manage. 8(3), 59–78 (2003)], which helps venture capital (VC) companies to optimize project exit decisions. The expected discounted factor and a jump-diffusion process combine to assess the value of a start-up company, and determine the threshold of the exit timing of liquidation or convertibility for establishing the optimal disinvestment evaluation model for VC companies. When the project value is below V_L^*V_L^\ast, the VC company carries out liquidation, but when the project value exceeds V_C^*V_C^\ast, the VC company performs convertibility. The project value is ranging between (V_L ^*,V_C^*)\left({V_L ^\ast,V_C^\ast}\right), and the best choice is holding the decision and waiting to carry out the rights of liquidation and convertibility next time. Besides, this work attempts to identify the expected discounted time in terms of the investment time for VC companies.     

Simple and powerful GMM over-identification tests with accurate size

Based on the series long run variance estimator, we propose a new class of over-identification tests that are robust to heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation of unknown forms. We show that when the number of terms used in the series long run variance estimator is fixed, the conventional J statistic, after a simple correction, is asymptotically F-distributed. We apply the idea of the F-approximation to the conventional kernel-based J tests. Simulations show that the J^∗ tests based on the finite sample corrected J statistic and the F-approximation have virtually no size distortion, and yet are as powerful as the standard J tests.     

Limit theorems for reflected Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes

This paper studies one‐dimensional Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) processes, with the distinguishing feature that they are reflected on a single boundary (put at level 0) or two boundaries (put at levels 0 and d > 0). In the literature, they are referred to as reflected OU (ROU) and doubly reflected OU (DROU), respectively. For both cases, we explicitly determine the decay rates of the (transient) probability to reach a given extreme level. The methodology relies on sample‐path large deviations, so that we also identify the associated most likely paths. For DROU, we also consider the ‘idleness process’ L_t and the ‘loss process’ U_t, which are the minimal non‐decreasing processes, which make the OU process remain ≥ 0 and ≤ d, respectively. We derive central limit theorems (CLTs) for U_t and L_t, using techniques from stochastic integration and the martingale CLT.