On efficiency of the ratio estimator

Summary The exact mean square error for the ratio estimator of a finite population total based on simple random sampling without replacement is shown to have an expected value less than that of the variance of the ratio estimator based on Midzuno’s scheme, under a usual super-population model.     

On estimating the mean of the selected normal population under the LINEX loss function

Following Parsian and Farsipour (1999), we consider the problem of estimating the mean of the selected normal population, from two normal populations with unknown means and common known variance, under the LINEX loss function. Some admissibility results for a subclass of equivariant estimators are derived and a sufficient condition for the inadmissibility of an arbitrary equivariant estimator is provided. As a consequence, several of the estimators proposed by Parsian and Farsipour (1999) are shown to be inadmissible and better estimators are obtained. Received January 2001/Revised May 2002     

Trade intensity,country size and corruption

Abstract. Several authors claim to provide evidence that governmental corruption is less severe in countries where trade intensity is higher or populations are smaller. We argue that theory is highly ambiguous on these questions, and demonstrate that empirical links between corruption and trade intensity – or country size, strongly related to trade intensity – are sensitive to sample selection bias. Most available corruption indicators provide ratings only for those countries in which multinational investors have the greatest interest: these tend to include almost all large nations, but among small nations only those that are well-governed. We find that the relationship between corruption and trade intensity disappears, using newer corruption indicators with substantially increased country coverage. Similarly, the relationship between corruption and country size weakens or disappears using samples less subject to selection bias. Received: July 2001 / accepted: April 2002 We thank Anand Swamy and two anonymous referees for helpful comments and suggestions, Paul Schorosch for able research assistance, and Ray Fisman, Roberta Gatti, Aart Kraay, and Shang-jin Wei for kindly providing data. The conclusions of this paper are not intended to represent the views of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent.     

The Measurement of Consumption Efficiency Considering the Discrete Choice of Consumers

In this study we propose a mathematical definition of the consumption efficiency of multi-attribute products in the price–quality space. A new model, the discrete Range Adjusted Measure (RAM) model, is suggested as an empirical tool to measure the level of consumption efficiency. We further discuss the effect of consumption efficiency on the innovation incentive. Empirical work is made for the mobile phone market. We expect that the consumption efficiency concept will contribute to the extension of the traditional framework of production efficiency analysis on the one hand and to the understanding of the nature of innovation in a technology-intensive market on the other hand.JEL Classification: C67, D11, D12, D21     

A two-stage stratified Warner’s randomized response model using optimal allocation

This paper applies Kim and Wardes (2004) stratified Warners randomized response model to Mangat and Singhs (1990) two-stage randomized response model. The proposed stratified randomized response model has an optimal allocation and a large gain in precision. Hence, the estimator based on the proposed method is more efficient than Kim and Wardes (2004) and Mangat and Singhs (1990) estimators under the conditions presented in both the case of completely truthful reporting and that of not completely truthful reporting by the respondents.     

城乡收入差距对城镇失业的影响及对策分析

当前我国城乡收入差距日益扩大引发了庞大的乡-城人口流动,在一定程度上加剧了城镇的高失业状况.正确认识这种状况,需要运用适当的理论,予以科学的分析.利用托达罗模型对此现象进行了理论分析,并利用格兰杰因果关系检验方法对城乡收入差距加剧我国城镇失业问题进行了实证检验,最后提出了短期内利用新农村建设缓解我国城镇失业压力的政策措施及建议.     

外在压力与内在激励：老龄化背景下地方政府的财政选择

在人口老龄化背景下,地方政府的财政支出选择存在外在压力和内在激励。在理论分析人口老龄化影响地方财政支出偏好的作用机制基础上,采用中国省级财政数据检验老龄化背景下地方财政选择偏好。研究结果表明：地方政府财政支出是提高社会福利支出的外在压力和增强地方财政可持续性的内在激励的多路径效应结果,这种影响效应具有财政自给率和老龄化程度的非对称性。为了实现地方财政可持续性和有效应对老龄化社会的公众诉求压力,有必要尽快完善地方政府考核体系,完善地方公共支出的需求表达机制,改善当前财政支出责任地方化的状态。     

人口老龄化背景下如何构建我国的农村养老保险制度

人口老龄化是我国未来面临的一个重大问题,它对我国,特别是对农村的养老保险制度提出了挑战.针对我国农村养老保险制度现存的问题,提出了构建合理有效的农村养老保险制度的若干建议.     

转型期流动人口犯罪的社会控制

人口的自由流动对原有的人口管理制度带来了巨大冲击,相应地,流动人口犯罪也对原有的犯罪控制措施提出新的课题.应从减少"盲流"、加强流动人口管理、建立流动人员社会安全阀制度和犯罪综合防控模式等方面着手,解决流动人口犯罪问题.     

贫困与中国经济长期稳定增长的聚类分析

依据聚类分析,从收入差距、失业率与人口增长三个方面分析贫困对中国经济长期稳定增长的影响.结果可以看出,失业率与经济增长从负相关关系到正相关关系转变;经济的高速增长伴随着收入差距的扩大,但收入差距的扩大应当取决于经济增长的性质与经济结构;人口增长率与经济增长率之间存在一定的正相关关系.因此,解决贫困问题不仅要依赖经济的长期稳定增长,同时要考虑经济增长的结构特征.