Nested multiple imputation of NMES via partially incompatible MCMC

The multiple imputation of the National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) involved the use of two new techniques, both having potentially broad applicability. The first is to use distributionally incompatible MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo), but to apply it only partially, to impute the missing values that destroy a monotone pattern, thereby limiting the extent of incompatibility. The second technique is to split the missing data into two parts, one that is much more computationally expensive to impute than the other, and create several imputations of the second part for each of the first part, thereby creating nested multiple imputations with their increased inferential efficiency.     

A theory of negotiated equity financing

We examine the sale of equity within the context of a modelof negotiation between a firm and a less well informed purchaser.We introduce a simple form of negotiation by allowing the firmto set the price of the issue and by assuming that the purchaseis a financier-underwriter who acts strategically. This transactionis analyzed as a noncooperative game, and we identify sequentialequilibria that are consistent with observed behavior: namelythat negotiations occasionally fail, that market reactions toequity offers are not uniformly negative, and that equity placementsare often underpriced.     

Children's responses to TV advertising: Product versus premium orientation

Attention has focused on a call for a ban on premium offers in children's television ads. Key considerations for proposing a ban was reflected in the FTC's statements regarding the confusion and difficulties of choice when the injection of a premium becomes the selling point rather than product merit. The sparsity of previous research in this area led to this exploration of television advertising viewing of different commercial content as it affects the “consumer learning process” of a child. This basically involves a continuum of learning, from the simplest recall of specific marketing-oriented elements such as identification of product or sponsor to the more complex level of understanding the use or value of a particular product or service. Trends noted in this study give additional insight to the marketing practitioner concerning the types of elements a child can assimilate and to the child's understanding of the message.     

Employers’ Perspectives on the Canadian National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace

Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada, with costs estimated at 51 billion dollars annually in addition to significant social costs. The Canadian National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard), recently released by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, aims to promote psychological health and safety in Canadian workplaces. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of Canadian employers on the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Ten employers from large, medium, and small workplaces participated in qualitative semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Employers are concerned with workplace mental health and see value in the Standard, but are relatively uninformed about it. Employers identified leadership as a critical ingredient for effective Standard implementation, and believed that benefits of the Standard can be far reaching. Roger’s (2003) Diffusion of Innovations model is applied to conceptualize the uptake of this important social change. Employers’ perspectives and foundational knowledge about the Standard provides a starting point for collaborations between human resource professionals, workplace consultants, and workplace leaders to move the implementation of the Standard forward and create psychologically healthy work environments.     

Understanding and modifying beliefs about climate change through educational travel

Understanding the factors that shape individuals’ beliefs about climate change is key to the development of effective climate change communication and education strategies. In this study, we test a path model of the social psychological antecedents of beliefs about climate change and evaluate the effectiveness of an educational travel program in changing them. Results show that environmental worldview and affective association with nature are two significant predictors of students’ belief in the occurrence of climate change. Gender was found to influence belief in an anthropogenic causation, while political orientation was a significant predictor of conviction that climate change is occurring. Regression analysis was used to test for changes in climate beliefs before and after participation in an educational travel experience, compared to a control group, using a quasi-experimental design. Results indicate participation strengthened climate change beliefs.     

不同价格背景下肉鸡产业链主体利益优化研究

[目的]为全面分析肉鸡产业链各主体利益分配情况。[方法]文章以肉鸡主产区山东、河南、河北等省为例,对肉鸡出栏价格处于不同变化趋势下的产业链环节主体成本收益情况进行对比分析,并利用Shapley值测算产业链各主体最佳利益分配值。[结果](1)价格高峰与低谷期肉鸡产业链各环节主体利益分配格局差别较大,研究农产品产业链利益分配时需将农产品价格周期纳入研究范围。(2)各主体合作加强合作可实现利益分配的合理化及增加链条总收益。价格低谷期产业链环节主体种鸡场、养殖户、屠宰加工企业、零售商利益分配值与最佳利益分配比例为10.49:(-0.45):44.42:45.54调整为13.96:18.51:31.33:36.20,合作后肉鸡产业链增值比合作前高1.68元/只。现实利益分配情况与夏普利值测算的最佳分配方案存在一定差距。(3)一体化模式、公司+农户模式下肉鸡产业链各环节由于合同或契约的存在,各主体之间在生产管理、要素供应等方面协作更加紧密,抗市场风险能力相对较强,利益分配格局相对合理。[结论]提出加强肉鸡产业链各环节主体间相互合作、建立公司与农户更加紧密的利益联结机制、做强做大肉鸡行业协会促进肉鸡产业健康发展等建议。     

Managerial economics: a forward looking assessment

We examine recent trends in managerial economics, particularly in relation to behavioral, experimental, global and organizational influences. Managerial economics shows healthy development over the recent decade and is still grounded in practical applications. Examples are given using recent articles from Managerial and Decision Economics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

From equilibrium to disequilibrium: the genesis of Don Patinkin's interpretation of the Keynesian theory

This paper explains the reasons that led Don Patinkin to interpret the Keynesian theory in a disequilibrium perspective. We claim that the author adopted this position because he believed that the assumption of wage rigidity misrepresented the concept of involuntary unemployment and that, consequently, it had to be rejected. It is shown that this conclusion resulted from the confrontation of Patinkin, during the writing of his Ph.D. thesis, with the interpretations of the Keynesian theory argued respectively by Lange, Klein and Modigliani.     

Reading, writing, and religion: Institutions and human capital formation

In this paper, we empirically test the role that religious and political institutions play in the accumulation of human capital. Using a new data set on literacy in colonial India, we find that Muslim literacy is negatively correlated with the proportion of Muslims in the district, although we find no similar result for Hindu literacy. We employ a theoretical model which suggests that districts which experienced a more recent collapse of Muslim political authority had more powerful and better funded religious authorities, who established religious schools which were less effective at promoting literacy on the margin than state schools. We test this hypothesis econometrically, finding that the period of Muslim political collapse has a statistically significant effect on Muslim literacy while controlling for it eliminates the significance of the proportion of Muslims on Muslim literacy. This suggests that the “long hand of history” has played some role in subsequent differences in human capital formation through the persistence of institutions discouraging literacy.     

Franchising: A marketing system to improve inner city conditions

One of the most pressing problems for society today is that of the Race/Poverty dilemma. The plight of the black and the ghetto are synonymous in that they are a portrait of poverty. One program which many have heard very little about can make a significant contribution to upgrading of a ghetto area. It can do so primarily by creating new opportunities for the nation's small businessman—and, in the process, for those in disadvantaged minority groups. This paper examines the many facets of thefranchise system exploring its attractiveness to minority group members who aspire to own their own businesses, in uplifting the economic base of the ghetto, and in easing the plight of its inhabitants.