Geographic Inequality in Income and Mortality in Germany*

We use data from the German Federal Statistical Office on population counts, births, deaths and income to study the development of socio‐economic inequality in mortality rates from 1990 to 2015 for different age groups and both genders. Ranking the 401 German districts by average disposable income per capita, we observe large inequalities in district‐level mortality rates in 1990, which had almost disappeared, or at least been flattened considerably, by 2015 particularly for infants, children and the very old. The most important driver of this reduction in inequality is German reunification in 1990. As indicated by more detailed analyses comparing districts in the former East and the former West, even five years after reunification there was a large gap in disposable income, with all Eastern districts considerably poorer than the poorest district in the West. At the same time, mortality rates were higher for all age groups and both genders in the East. Income has caught up, to the extent that there are equally poor districts in the East and West in most recent years (although the West is still much richer on average). Mortality rates in the East have improved considerably and are even below mortality rates for similarly poor districts in the West in the most recent data.     

On Kolmogorov equations for anisotropic multivariate Lévy processes

For d-dimensional exponential Lévy models, variational formulations of the Kolmogorov equations arising in asset pricing are derived. Well-posedness of these equations is verified. Particular attention is paid to pure jump, d-variate Lévy processes built from parametric, copula dependence models in their jump structure. The domains of the associated Dirichlet forms are shown to be certain anisotropic Sobolev spaces. Singularity-free representations of the Dirichlet forms are given which remain bounded for piecewise polynomial, continuous functions of finite element type. We prove that the variational problem can be localized to a bounded domain with explicit localization error bounds. Furthermore, we collect several analytical tools for further numerical analysis.     

Thoroughbred racing: Backstage at the Sport of Kings

Thoroughbred racing is a global industry that provides numerous benefits, notably income from wagering, and the demonstration of social status, which form the basis for leisure experiences for thousands of racegoers. The paper applies the theory of front and back stage to conceptualise the human and animal performances on Race Day. Data from a sample of 66 race meetings revealed that injuries were reported for racing thoroughbreds on a regular basis, at almost all of the meetings sampled including the internationally recognised Melbourne Cup. The reality for thoroughbreds on the back stage is therefore inconsistent with the impression on the front stage. The study calls for further research regarding the use of domestic animals for entertainment.     

The multiple roles of battlefield war museums: a study at Fromelles and Passchendaele

Today’s war museums are large institutions that cater to a broad range of people and provide a number of functions. In recent years, activities and displays relating to the notion of ‘edutainment’ have been incorporated into their offerings. On the Great War battlefields of Europe, the war museums tend to address specific battles that were fought in the immediate area, and traditionally they attracted visitors with a familial or national connection to the site. An on-site survey at two battlefield war museums found that remembrance remains a primary function, but overall, visitors did not support the museums as places for leisure experiences. Personal connections, both familial and national, were important, and while a broader European connection was strongly supported, it was not unique to any particular group. Peace and anti-war appeared to be seen as distinct elements. The study reinforces previous work in the field that argues personal connection provides the initial motivation for visitation.     

Numerical methods for Lévy processes

We survey the use and limitations of some numerical methods for pricing derivative contracts in multidimensional geometric Lévy models.      

An Evaluation of the Determinants and Implications of Panel Attrition in the National Income Dynamics Survey (2008‐2010)

Panel surveys offer a valuable tool for researchers to explore the dynamics underlying individual and household behaviours. The Achilles heel of panel data is attrition. This paper examines the determinants and implications of attrition in the first two waves of South Africa's National Income Dynamics Survey. Multivariate tests in labour market and health specifications show that there is some moderate evidence of attrition bias in estimated coefficients based on the non‐attriting sample. This bias can be seen in labour market specifications, in particular for men, and for Africans, and to a much lesser degree in health specifications, in particular for small samples of Whites. Researchers should take care when using the panel data set to generalise to the overall population.