Stochastic differential equation modeling the prevalence of rare chronic diseases with an application to systemic lupus erythematosus

In this article we describe a system of stochastic differential equations to model the age‐specific prevalence of rare chronic diseases from incidence and mortality rates. As an application, the age profile of the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus in England and Wales in1995 is calculated. The results are in good agreement with the observed epidemiological measures.     

The Physical Attractiveness Phenomena. Patzer,Gordon L. New York: Plenum Press, 1985. 308 Pp. $39.50

This paper presents integrated marketing communication (IMC) and brand identity as critical components of the firm's brand equity strategy. Specifically, the authors provide a brand equity strategy schematic that details (1) the role of IMC in creating and maintaining brand equity, and (2) the role of brand identity in informing, guiding, and helping to develop, nurture, and implement the firm's overall IMC strategy. The authors also present a conceptual framework with testable research propositions toward IMC theory development. Finally, a discussion of implications for academics and practitioners is provided, and opportunities for future qualitative and quantitative research are suggested.     

Unemployment and inflation in Ireland: 1926–2012

Since the 1970s, the overarching view in the literature has been that a Phillips curve relationship did not exist in Ireland prior to the 1979 exchange rate break with Sterling. It was argued that, as a small open economy, prices were determined externally. To test this relationship, we study the determination of inflation between 1926 and 2012, a longer sample period than any previously used. We find that the difference between unemployment and the NAIRU is a significant determinant of inflation both in the full sample and in the subsamples spanning the periods before and after the Sterling parity link.     

Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation: A Hong Kong Study

Various parties have called on Hong Kong to pass legislation proscribing sexual orientation-based employment discrimination. The government has suggested that data on discrimination should inform debate on this matter. This survey of 792 self-identified sexual orientation minorities in Hong Kong examined (1) the prevalence of sexual orientation-based discrimination, (2) risk factors associated with experiencing discrimination, and (3) the relationship between experiencing employment discrimination and psychological outcomes. Nearly one-third of respondents reported discrimination. Rates of discrimination varied by age, education, and level of sexual orientation disclosure. Reports of discrimination were associated with negative psychological outcomes. This paper discusses how these results reinforce calls for legislative action. Limitations and directions for future research are also considered.     

Endogenous Group Formation in Contests: Unobservable Sharing Rules

We study contests in which players compete by expending irreversible effort to win a prize, the prize is awarded to one of the players, the winner shares the prize with other players in his group, if any, and each group's sharing rule is unobservable to the other groups and the singletons, if any, when the players expend their effort. The number of groups, their sizes, and the number of singletons are exogenous in the first model, whereas they are endogenous in the second model. We show that group formation occurs if the number of players is four or smaller, but does not occur otherwise. We examine the effect of endogenous group formation on total effort level and the profitability of endogenous group formation. In each of the two models, comparing the outcomes of the case of unobservable sharing rules with those of the case of observable sharing rules, we show that the two cases yield quite different outcomes.     

Consumption tilting and the current account: Evidence from Canada

This paper estimates the consumption tilting motive in Canada. A common empirical technique (vector-error correction model) is applied to a well-established theory (the small-open economy present-value model) in order to estimate the long-run behavior of the current account. The results suggest that households are patient. They modify intertemporal consumption profiles in order to tilt consumption toward the future through the accumulation of wealth, which improves the current account in the long run.