Design-based distribution function estimation for stigmatized populations

In this paper, we discuss in a general framework the design-based estimation of population parameters when sensitive data are collected by randomized response techniques. We show in close detail the procedure for estimating the distribution function of a sensitive quantitative variable and how to estimate simultaneously the population prevalence of individuals bearing a stigmatizing attribute and the distribution function for the members belonging to the hidden group. The randomized response devices by Greenberg et al. (J Am Stat Assoc 66:243–250, 1971), Franklin (Commun Stat Theory Methods 18:489–505, 1989), and Singh et al. (Aust NZ J Stat 40:291–297 1998) are here considered as data-gathering tools.     

DOES GOVERNMENT SPENDING AFFECT INCOME INEQUALITY? A META-REGRESSION ANALYSIS

In this paper findings of a meta-regression analysis are presented exploring the effects of government spending on income inequality, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. We identify a total of 84 separate studies containing over 900 estimates of the effect of one or more measures of spending on one or more measures of income inequality. The results show some evidence of a moderate negative relationship between government spending and income inequality, which is strongest for social welfare and other social spending, and when using the Gini coefficient or the top income share as the measure of inequality. However, both the size and direction of the estimated relationship between government spending and income inequality is affected by a range of other factors, including the control variables and estimation method used. We also find evidence of publication bias, in that negative estimates of the relationship appear to be under-reported in the literature.     

Networks and the Dynamics of Firms' Export Portfolio: Evidence for Mexico

We use network analysis tools to identify communities in the web of exporters' destinations. Our network‐based community measure is purely outcome based, it captures multilateral rather than bilateral dependence across countries, and it can be calculated at the industry level. Next, we use our network‐based community measure as predictor of additional countries chosen by firms expanding their export destination portfolio. Using data on Mexican new exporters, the probability of choosing a new export destination doubles if it belongs to the same community of any of the firm's previous destinations. The introduction of the network‐based community variable improves the accuracy of the model up to 19 per cent relative to a model that only includes gravity variables. Industry‐specific communities and general communities play similar roles in determining the dynamics of Mexican exporters' country portfolio.     

The Behaviour of the Real Exchange Rate: Evidence from an Alternative Price Index

Although the long–run purchasing power parity (PPP) hypothesis is expected to hold across tradable goods, all price indices available to researchers for testing the validity of PPP contain some proportion of non–tradable goods prices, which may generate substantial persistence in the real exchange rate. We construct time series for quarterly price indices that minimize the presence of non–tradable goods for six major economies. Applying recently developed nonlinear econometric techniques to the resulting five US dollar real exchange rate series for the recent floating exchange rate regime, we provide evidence that the nonlinear mean reverting properties of these real exchange rate series are stronger than the mean reverting properties of real exchange rate time series constructed using the consumer price index (CPI). In turn, these results have a natural economic interpretation.
(J.E.L.: F31).     

The Impact of Family Involvement on SMEs’ Performance: Theory and Evidence

By complementing agency theory with behavioral assumptions, we explore the effects of family involvement on small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) performance. We identify three separate dimensions of family involvement and hypothesize nonlinear, direct, and interaction effects on the performance of an SME. The evidence on 787 SMEs suggests that an inverted U‐shaped relationship exists between family ownership and performance, and ownership dispersion among family members negatively affects performance. Balancing family and nonfamily members in the top management team (TMT) is found to be beneficial to SMEs’ performance, but the family ratio in the TMT becomes crucial only at high levels of family ownership.     

Bayesian estimation of proportion and sensitivity level in randomized response procedures

A Bayesian approach to the joint estimation of population proportion and sensitivity level of a stigmatizing attribute is proposed by adopting a two-stage randomized response procedure. In the first stage the direct question method is carried out for each respondent, while in the second stage the randomization is exclusively carried out for those individuals declaring their membership in the non-sensitive group. The randomization is implemented on the basis of Franklin’s procedure. The proposed Bayesian method avoids the drawbacks usually connected with the use of maximum-likelihood or moment estimation.     

Erratum: Multipoint competition,strategic similarity and entry into geographic markets L. Fuentelsaz,J. Gómez. Strategic Management Journal, 2006; 27; 477–499

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Strategic Management Journal Vol. 27, No. 5, pp 477–499, 2006. DOI: 10.1002/smj.529 A paragraph in Spanish on page 481 of the Strategic Management Journal Vol. 27, No. 5, pp 477‐499, 2006, DOI: 10.1002/smj529 was incorrectly included. The publisher apologises for this error.     

New evidence on the forward unbiasedness hypothesis in the foreign‐exchange market

A large empirical literature has tested the unbiasedness hypothesis in the foreign‐exchange market with the use of forward exchange rates. This article amends the conventional testing framework to exploit the information in currency options, with a newly constructed data set for three major dollar exchange rates. The main results are that (a) tests based on stationary regressions suggest that options provide biased predictions of the future spot exchange rate, and (b) co‐integration–based tests that are robust to several statistical problems afflicting stationary regressions and allow for endogeneity issues arising from a potential omitted risk premium term are supportive of unbiasedness. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 26:627–656, 2006     

Organisational Change and the Tensions of Decentralisation: the Case of Royal Mail

Miguel Martinez Lucio and Mike Noon, who are Lecturers in Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour respectively at the Cardiff Business School, draw on a case study of Royal Mail to explore the reasons for decentralisation and the issues this poses for managers and employees. They argue that the restructuring of Royal Mail was the result of three different imperatives for change: market, technological and political – pressurising managers to decentralise the formal structures of management-trade union relations. Decentralisation of these structures, however, has been far from a straightforward process: it has led to considerable tensions in the management of industrial relations, created scope for the development of new workplace industrial relations institutions and agendas, and given rise to a constant process of management reform.     

The Internet,employment and Polish migrant workers: communication,activism and competition in the new organisational spaces

This article discusses the content of Polish community–administered websites and trade union engagement. It is based on three sources of data, firstly, semi‐structured interviews with Polish web administrators and trade union officers in the north of England. Secondly, audits of the location of Polish administered UK websites undertaken in April 2007 and 2008. Lastly, an in‐depth thematic questionnaire was undertaken of websites in November 2008. The key findings are that the Internet is an increasingly systematic feature of new migrant politics and representation. Further the trade union movement is not ‘at odds’ with independent and virtual forms of communication and representation. It does pose questions of how to combine and coordinate these and create a more meaningful and sustainable dialogue based on a politics of empowerment.