Sparse Signals in the Cross‐Section of Returns

This paper applies the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) to make rolling one‐minute‐ahead return forecasts using the entire cross‐section of lagged returns as candidate predictors. The LASSO increases both out‐of‐sample fit and forecast‐implied Sharpe ratios. This out‐of‐sample success comes from identifying predictors that are unexpected, short‐lived, and sparse. Although the LASSO uses a statistical rule rather than economic intuition to identify predictors, the predictors it identifies are nevertheless associated with economically meaningful events: the LASSO tends to identify as predictors stocks with news about fundamentals.     

ECONOMIC TRANSITION AND LABOUR MARKET DYNAMICS IN CHINA: AN INTERPRETATIVE SURVEY OF THE ‘TURNING POINT’ DEBATE

Has the Chinese economy approached the ‘Lewisian turning point’ that marks the ending of the initial phase of industrial transformation fuelled by surplus labour? In this paper we undertake an interpretative survey of the literature on this issue, in the context of China's labour market conditions prior to the reforms and structural change of the past three decades. The available evidence is mixed, and our assessment makes a strong case for probing institutional constraints to labour mobility from an economy‐wide perspective, going beyond the confines of the rural economy.     

Ag econ angst crisis revisited

The present paper was inspired by and is a response to the Rola-Rubzen, Hardaker and Dillon paper 'Agricultural economists and world poverty: progress and prospects' (Rola-Rubzen et al. 2001). It is agreed that the position of agricultural economists in foreign aid and poverty programs has declined over recent decades. Such a feeling of guilt and remorse expressed by the above authors does indeed create considerable 'angst'. A major reason for this state of affairs lies in 'the flavour of the month' approach of the development agencies. These include women in development, gender-based farming systems research, household nutrition and food security, people participation, and targeting the poorest of the poor. These fads have driven disciplinary considerations to the wall and the more widely-defined objectives have reduced the drive for economic efficiency. We argue there is still a place for better designed and delivered assistance programs within the wider framework of assistance that has become fashionable. Greater application of institutional principles in both the political processes associated with assistance and the implementation agencies would improve the outcomes of many projects. Particular attention would need to be given to the interface between the development agencies and recipient governments. The present paper picks up on the market failure aspects of agriculture's rather poor contribution to development, and develops a wider perspective in terms of the new institutional economics and a continuing role for the agricultural economist.     

科技对纺织的战略意义

世界主要工业发达国家以及亚洲“四小龙”在工业化过程中，尤其是在工业化初期和中期，作为劳动密集型的纺织工业具有重要的推动和关联作用。从目前和今后一段时期我国经济发展和工业化趋势来看，纺织工业在21世纪前50年间，在出口创汇、增加就业、扩大消费等方面仍将为我国国民经济发展起到重要的支撑作用，这种作用是其他产业一时难以取代的。这与中国纺织工业在原料供给、加工能力、产业体系、劳动力成本及素质等方面仍然具有明显的比较优势，以及占有世界市场最多的份额作为竞争的基础有着直接关系。由此，依靠科技、深化改革把我们的纺织大国建成纺织强国越来越具有重要的战略意义。     

略论中国企业跨文化管理的原则与方法

本文阐述了跨文化管理的基本原则,重点探讨了企业实施跨文化管理的主要方法。     

双因素理论在客户营销中的应用

文章根据赫茨伯格的双因素理论,将导致客户满意感的因素称为客户激励因素,将导致客户不满意感的因素称为客户保健因素.通过对客户需要和客户购买心理的分析,总结了客户保健因素和客户激励因素的识别方法,并指出企业应当如何在客户营销中有效的实施客户保健和客户激励.     

浅析物流产业的发展途径

探讨了物流在经济生活中的作用和现阶段我国物流产业方面存在的问题。提出了发展我国物流产业的基本途径。指出了我国的物流企业应该适时调整经营战略。顺应世界经济的发展趋势。不断提高自身的生存和发展能力。以应对未来更为激烈的竞争局面。     

Possibilities for remote participation in trade unions: mobilising women activists

This paper argues that trade union activism within the new era of information and communication technologies (ICTs) offers the potential for unions to become more inclusive of under‐represented groups. Traditional conceptions of activism, participation and democracy within trade unions require physical presence at meetings at times and in spaces incompatible with caring responsibilities and atypical hours of work. This restricts the participation of women and other ‘atypical’ workers in trade unions. The paper explores the complexities of electronic forms of union activism in practice, indicating that while some positive features are experienced, there are also a range of obstacles, barriers and possible negative consequences.