MIS‐SPECIFICATION TESTING IN RETROSPECT

The primary objective of this paper is threefold. First, to undertake a retrospective view of Mis‐Specification (M‐S) testing, going back to the early 20th century, with a view to (i) place it in the broader context of modeling and inference and (ii) bring out some of its special features. Second, to call into question several widely used arguments undermining the importance of M‐S testing in favor of relying on weak probabilistic assumptions in conjunction with generic robustness claims and asymptotic inference. Third, to bring out the crucial role of M‐S testing in securing trustworthy inference results. This is achieved by extending/modifying Fisher's statistical framework with a view to draw a clear line between the modeling and the inference facets of statistical induction. The proposed framework untangles the statistical from the substantive (structural) model and focuses on how to secure the adequacy of the statistical model before probing for substantive adequacy. A case is made for using joint M‐S tests based on custom‐built auxiliary regressions with a view to enhance the effectiveness and reliability of probing for potential statistical misspecifications.     

LIFE IN THE CELL: SUPERVISION AND TEAMWORK IN A ‘MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS ENGINEERING’ ENVIRONMENT

David Buchanan, Professor of Human Resource Management and Diane Preston, Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour, at the University of Loughborough Business School present the findings of a case study which explores the implications of manufacturing systems engineering (MSE) for the role of foremen and for shopfloor autonomy in an engineering company, Moore Components. MSE is a currently fashionable socio-technical systems approach to production facility design, combining aspects of group technology, cell autonomy, ‘facilitative’ supervision, and just-in-time workflow. The case is used to identify key aspects of emerging new manufacturing methods, to indicate the potential of these methods for developments in work organisation and management practice, and to demonstrate how specific HRM policies can inhibit or facilitate the changes in supervision and teamwork which MSE ostensibly encourages.     

FLY‐BY‐NIGHT BUILDERS IN HARBIN AND SHANGHAI

This paper examines residential property development in the Chinese cities of Harbin and Shanghai in 2001–07. It reveals that development firms generally only built one residential development during the study period, which contrasts with the situation in most developed countries, where large, established firms engage in numerous projects. This finding appears to contradict theories on economies of scale, brand names and reputation. It is argued that institutional failure may be largely responsible for the business practices observed.     

THE CHOICE OF CELLS IN CHI–SQUARE TESTS

The choice of cells in chi–square goodness of fit tests is a classical problem. Some recent results in this area are discussed. It is shown that the likelihood ratio of alternatives w.r.t. null distributions plays a key role when judging different procedures. The discussion centers on the case of a simple hypothesis, but location–scale models and tests of independence in contingency tables are also considered.     

EMERGENT COMPLEXITY IN AGENT‐BASED COMPUTATIONAL ECONOMICS

Abstract In this paper, we shall review two kinds of emergent complexity in agent‐based computational economics (ACE). The first kind is based on the complex systems initiated in the 1980s or even earlier by mathematicians and physicists, whereas the second kind is based on the idea of complex adaptive systems composed of autonomous agents, for which many representative works have been collected in Rosser. For the latter, we shall go further to examine the two elements which have just recently been incorporated in agent‐based economic modelling, namely, intelligence and modularity. This augmentation leads to the development of neurocognitive software agents, which can guide the generation and direction of future ACE studies with a multistage ‘brain/behaviour‐to‐emergency‐to‐brain/behaviour’ approach.     

ELINOR OSTROM – NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS 2009

Elinor Ostrom's groundbreaking studies on self-governance systems and on how people solve common-pool resource problems have challenged the theory and practice of economic development. Two theses stand at the core of this challenge. Firstly, any single, comprehensive set of formal laws intended to govern a large expanse of territory containing diverse ecological niches is bound to fail. Secondly, improving the abilities of those directly engaged in the particulars of their local conditions to organise themselves is potentially a better strategy than attempting to implement idealised, theoretically optimal institutional arrangements. From there to tangible national-level economic growth strategies in developing countries is a long road but Ostrom and her team have pointed the direction and opened the way.     

INTER‐CITY BUS SERVICES IN CANADA – TIME FOR DEREGULATION

The regulatory framework for inter‐city bus operators in Canada is facing multiple challenges with regard to productivity, consumer satisfaction and cost controls. In spite of government reports calling for deregulation, there has been little action by provincial governments to deregulate entry and pricing. As a result, Canadians are paying higher fares and service quality is lower than in the more deregulated markets of the United Kingdom and the United States.     

INTERNAL MIGRATION IN TURKEY, 1965–1985: TEST OF CONFLICTING FINDINGS IN THE LITERATURE

The purpose of this paper is to bring new insights to some of the conflicting findings in the migration literature about developing countries by using detailed analyses of Turkish migration data. The possible reasons behind inconsistencies in the findings are explained in terms of spatial and temporal characteristics of the data, and by national macro factors (mainly the level of urbanization and the characteristics of the urban systems). Tested were rural out-migration and push factors; changes in the size of rural-to-urban and urban-to-rural return migration; the effect of distance; and the share and effect of rural-to-urban migration in the urban growth and in the unbalanced population distribution in developing countries.