On solving bias‐corrected non‐linear estimation equations with an application to the dynamic linear model

In a seminal paper, Mak, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society B, 55, 1993, 945, derived an efficient algorithm for solving non‐linear unbiased estimation equations. In this paper, we show that when Mak's algorithm is applied to biased estimation equations, it results in the estimates that would come from solving a bias‐corrected estimation equation, making it a consistent estimator if regularity conditions hold. In addition, the properties that Mak established for his algorithm also apply in the case of biased estimation equations but for estimates from the bias‐corrected equations. The marginal likelihood estimator is obtained when the approach is applied to both maximum likelihood and least squares estimation of the covariance matrix parameters in the general linear regression model. The new approach results in two new estimators when applied to the profile and marginal likelihood functions for estimating the lagged dependent variable coefficient in the dynamic linear regression model. Monte Carlo simulation results show the new approach leads to a better estimator when applied to the standard profile likelihood. It is therefore recommended for situations in which standard estimators are known to be biased.     

Qualitative analysis of feminine morality and visible personality characteristics among young adults

This article documents the perceptions and judgments of youth about character of female as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, based on her visible personality characteristics. A qualitative study is carried out among the undergraduate students in two public sector universities. This study highlights contextual factors linked with the choice of clothing and quality of physical appearance among young girls. The judgments about a girl’s character are based on immediate, apparent personality characteristics. This study found that there are two contrasting categories of clothing and visible personality associated with positive and negative feminine morality. Certain expectations are also found to be associated with the attire of young women in Pakistani society which restricts their individual choices. Pakistani and Britain national boys judged girl’s character as immoral or bad based on cosmetics usage, fashion-ability, body exposedness, physical attractiveness, friendliness, bold temperament, and easiness while interaction with boys.     

The Impact Of Business Intelligence Systems on an Organization’s Effectiveness: The Role of Metadata Quality From a Developing Country’S View

ABSTRACT

Business Intelligence (BI) systems are extensively used by large hotels in Jordan; however their effectiveness has not yet been researched. The aim of this research is to explore the relationships among definitional metadata quality, data quality metadata quality, navigational metadata quality, lineage metadata quality, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and system effectiveness in enhancing organizational effectiveness of five star hotels in Aqaba, Jordan. To test the research hypotheses, 225 usable responses containing 37 items were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and a Machine Learning technique. Results suggest that organizational effectiveness was directly and positively affected by perceived usefulness and BI systems effectiveness. Nevertheless, perceived usefulness did not impact BI systems effectiveness.     

Motivations for corporate social responsibility reporting by MNC subsidiaries in an emerging country: The case of Bangladesh

While many studies of the motivations behind the corporate social responsibility reporting (CSRR) practices of large corporations have been reported internationally, few have focussed on multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries. Most importantly, we still do not know how host country institutional norms, or parent corporation policies, influence MNC subsidiaries embarking upon CSRR. By integrating legitimacy theory (LT) and neo-institutional theory (NIT) explanations, this paper offers a theoretical framework for investigating the CSRR practices of MNC subsidiaries in general, and provides empirical evidence on the nature and motivations of subsidiaries’ CSRR practices in Bangladesh, a developing country. Employing a case study method and using qualitative data, the study finds that CSRR practice in Bangladeshi MNC subsidiaries is limited, consisting mainly of employee information. This observation mirrors the overall CSRR trend in Bangladesh. A desire for internal legitimacy emerges as the primary motivation for CSRR practice in MNC subsidiaries. In particular, the external host country environment of the Bangladeshi subsidiaries seems to be a major limitation in the development of CSRR.     

Does the hazard rate for new plants vary between low- and high-tech industries?

Based on a longitudinal data base the hazard rates of over 12000 newly established plants in U.S. manufacturing industry in 1976 are estimated and then compared between low and high-tech industries. It is found that the hazard rate differs across industries, and it also varies between low and high-tech industries. The hazard rate in lowtech industries is reduced in the presence of scale economies, whereas the exposure to risk tends to be higher in high-tech industries. The influence of start-up size in reducing the hazard rate is apparently similar between low and high-tech industries, but its role is found to be more important in the high-technological industries. Market growth and R&D intensity exert no influence on the hazard rate in either the low- or high-tech industries.     

The Pivotal Role of User-Friendly Food Label and Personality Traits on Intention to Consume Packaged Food Products

The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of friendly food labels on packaged food consumption intention. A questionnaire method was adopted for data collection. The data were collected from 14 Pakistani universities. The systematic random sampling technique was used to draw the required sample size. The sample size was 365, where 730 questionnaires were distributed among students of 14 universities to achieve the required sample. Findings disclosed that a friendly food label has a positive and significant relation with packaged food consumption intention. But in the intervening effect of personality traits between exogenous and endogenous variables, only three personality traits have positive significant mediation—extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness—whereas no mediation was found with neuroticism and agreeableness. Studies have unveiled the fact that there is need to investigate the decisiveness of personality traits for the selection of healthy food (Friedman & Kern, 2014).     

Unemployment,Vacancies and Conditions of Excess Demand for Labor in Canada

The explanation of state and local government expenditures has received considerable attention since Fabricant's study Trends in Government Activity Since 1900. These studies have been subject to at least two important shortcomings. One of their limitations stems from the estimation procedures used, while the other is the result of an incomplete model of the process underlying the determination of such expenditures. For the most part, past studies have used either cross-sectional data for a particular year or time series data for a single state. Consequently, the explanations resulting from these analyses either fail to capture the dynamic aspects of the problem in the first case, or remain localized to a particular state in the second. Since expenditure decisions are influenced by both historical events acting through time and economic, political, and demographic factors working at a point in time, studies which fail to integrate both types of information into the estimation process are imcomplete.

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a methodology for using both types of information. Accordingly, the resulting technique is a more efficient approach for estimating state and local government expenditure determinants. The technique is a generalized Aitken estimator for a system of unrelated regressions and was first introduced by ZELLNER (1962). The second problem with past research is the result of the inadequacy of our models for public goods and collective consumption in general, the decision process underlying public provision of goods and services has not been subjected to comprehensive modeling. ^{1 1} Some work has begun in this area. See HAEFELE (1970, 1971, 1972) as well as the references he cites. Therefore empirical analyses of expenditure patterns have been based on incompletely developed models. Our approach will be to suggest a model which is representative of the existing literature, sketch its theoretical foundation, and discuss the areas for future research. The present paper will not, however, attempt to develop a more complete model of the public decision process.

Section I of the paper briefly summarizes the primary research efforts in this area. It is followed by an explanation of the model and of the technique used for this study. Section IV presents the results for nine expenditure categories for state and local governments in the U.S. in 1957, 1962, and 1967. The last section summarizes the conclusions of the paper and discusses the scope for further research.     

Exploring the Impacts of Service Guarantee Strategy

This study examines the impacts of service guarantee in terms of consumers' perceived purchase risks, loyalty, complaint behaviors, and intent to use “word-of-mouth” within the context of the casual dining restaurant segment. The scenario method was developed and used to test the research hypotheses. The results of the study reveal that a well-executed service guarantee could reduce consumers' perceived purchase risks, and increase a positive word-of-mouth and customer loyalty. On the other hand, it also raises consumers' intent to complain upon service failure. Furthermore, the results of the study indicate that a “specific” service guarantee is much more effective in reducing consumers' perceived purchase risks, and increasing consumers' intent to claim after a service failure as opposed to an “unconditional” service guarantee. The results of the study suggest that a service guarantee offered by independent restaurants could offer a competitive advantage over brand restaurants not offering a service guarantee.