A note on direct term structure estimation using monotonic splines

A monotonic spline parametrization is proposed as a reliable alternative to the traditional Bernstein-based approach for Direct Term Structure Estimation. Numerical experiments with Italian bond data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

A note on capital budgeting in the purchase of information

A capital budgeting problem of purchasing perfect information is defined. The relationship between this problem and the Expected Value measure is shown and an illustrative example provided.     

Structural change and female participation in recent economic growth: a multisectoral analysis for the Spanish economy

ABSTRACT

Economic growth has different impacts on gender gaps. In recent decades the growing participation of women in the labour market has reduced the gender employment gap, however a notable gender pay gap still persists standing at around 15% on average in the European Union. In this context, this paper evaluates the impact of economic growth patterns on the evolution of gender employment and pay gaps. First, sectorial feminization, direct discrimination, and structural change factors are identified and evaluated as ways to explain changes observed in the gender pay gap. Second, we explore the influence of demand, technology, and intensity factors on the evolution of employment combining gender, skill, sectorial, and temporal perspectives. As a case study, we examine Spanish economic growth from 1980 to 2007 and the influences on the size, composition (by skill), and distribution (by sector) of female and male employment, as well as the consequences for gender gaps. Our results show that structural change contributed to reduce the gender employment gap in Spain; while the evolution of the gender pay gap is less conclusive, following a sort of inverted U-shape. This paper shows the suitability and potential of the multisectorial input–output framework to analyse structural and technological changes and their impacts on the gender employment and pay gaps.     

A note on the estimation of mean in normal population

An estimator for the mean of a Normal population is presented and its properties are analyzed. The efficiency with respect to the conventional sample mean is also examined.     

A way of modelling investment in a multisectoral model

The paper contains an example of how to introduce heterogeneity of capital in the model framework given by Leif Johansen's so called MSG-model. Heterogeneity of capital is in terms of differences among sectors and differences among ‘vintages’ or ‘techniques’ within each sector.     

A note on estimation based on record data

In data-processing standpoint, an efficient algorithm for identifying the minimum value among a set of measurements are record statistics. From a sequence of n independent identically distributed continuous random variables only about log(n) records are expected, so we expect to have little data, hence any prior information is welcome (Houchens, Record value theory and inference, Ph.D. thesis, University of California, Riverside, 1984). In this paper, non-Bayesian and Bayesian estimates are derived for the two parameters of the Exponential distribution based on record statistics with respect to the squared error and Linear-Exponential loss functions and then compared with together. The admissibility of some estimators is discussed.     

A note on the estimation of seemingly unrelated regression systems

In a system of simultaneous equations, one obtains the same results for the overidentified equations by applying three-stage least squares to those equations alone as one would obtain by applying three-stage least squares to the entire system. This paper obtains an analogous result for a system of seemingly unrelated regressions. In doing so it generalizes earlier results of several other authors.     

A note on the estimation of two ordered Poisson parameters

Summary Simple expressions suited to the computation of the biases and the mean square errors (MSE) of the maximum likelihood estimators of two ordered Poisson parameters are derived. An examination of a set of the computed values of the biases, the MSE's and some of the related quantities suggests a number of properties of these functions, some of which are confirmed analytically.     

A note on least squares estimation and the blue in a generalized linear regression model

In a generalized linear regression model, least squares and Gauss-Markov estimators differ, in general, if the variance-covariance matrix of the disturbances is singular. In the present note it is shown that, nevertheless, the conventional least squares procedure leads to a Gauss-Markov estimator if it is applied to a modified model which results from adding dummy constraints to the original model. These constraints reflect the effects of the singularity of the variance- convariance matrix. As a consequence, a Gauss-Markov estimate may always be obtained by standard least squares minimization, which offers considerable computational advantages.     

Monotonicity preserving regression techniques for interest rate term structure estimation: A note

Alternative methodologies are compared for measuring the term structure of interest rates via monotone approximations to the discount function. Some empirical comparisons using coupon bond data show that a simple linear methodology based on rational tension spline parametrizations turns out to yield the most efficient compromise between the conflicting goals of goodness of fit and smoothuess of the interpolaut Work supported by M.U.R.S.T. funds.     

A note on the estimation of total weight in chemical balance weighing designs

Summary This paper studies the problem of estimation of the total weight of objects using a chemical balance weighing design under the restriction |L−R| ≤a, whereL andR represent the number of objects placed on the left and right pans, respectively. A lower bound for the variance of the estimated total weight is given and a necessary and sufficient condition for this lower bound to be attained is obtained. Finally, weighing designs for which this lower bound is attainable are constructed.     

Productivity change in a multisectoral economic system

We estimate productivity growth without recourse to data on factor input shares or prices. In the proposed model, the economy is represented by the Leontief input–output model, which is extended by the constraints of primary inputs. A Luenberger productivity indicator is proposed to estimate productivity change; this is then decomposed in a way that enables us to examine the contributions of individual production factors and individual commodities to productivity change. The results allow for the identification of inputs or outputs that are the drivers of the overall productivity change. Their contributions are then decomposed into efficiency change and technical change components. Using input–output tables of the US economy for the period 1977–2006, we show that technical progress has been the main source of productivity change. Technical progress was mostly driven by capital, whereas low-skilled labour contributed negatively.     

A note on estimation of variance components in a multi-stage sampling design based on interpenetrating sub-samples

Summary In this note it is shown that unbiased estimators of the components of the sampling variance of an estimator in the case of a stratified multi-stage sampling design could easily be obtained by selecting the samples at the different stages in the form of two or more independent interpenetrating sub-samples.     

The political economy of capital punishment

Although the policy case against capital punishment appears largely settled and now closed within Britain and Europe there is a need to recognise that the well-entrenched pro-abolitionist conventional wisdom has essentially ignored the costs and exaggerated the benefits of removal of the death-penalty option.