Cellular clouds

This paper progresses an analysis of what it means to be a cellular network operator and what form the ownership and control of future cellular networks may take. Alternative modes of ownership may allow for the creation of more flexible cellular networking environments in which competition for packages of resources, that is, the licenced spectrum, the RAN and core network, ensures that the most efficient and innovative architectures, services and applications are delivered to the consumer. This paper develops the concept of the Cellular Network Cloud and Utility Cellular Networking as a means to explore the possibilities for such revolution in the way in which cellular networks are owned and operated. Changes to current industry practices which would help to meet the objectives of more flexible and competitive network ownership and control are proposed.     

A commentary on ‘The long road to publishing: A user-friendly exposé’

Many of the pressing questions currently facing accounting education researchers are best addressed through experimental research. For example, experiments are useful in testing the effect of innovative educational practices on student learning. The purpose of this paper is to briefly review the literature addressing sources of invalidity which may cloud the results of experiments and describe several procedures which are helpful in controlling for these sources of invalidity. Examples are provided, from published accounting education research studies, which illustrate how researchers have attempted to address several of these threats to validity. Experiments must be carefully planned and designed, so the experiment on completion fulfills the objectives of the researcher. Although experiments are more difficult to conduct in the educational environment than in a scientist's laboratory, many procedures are available to assist accounting education researchers in designing tightly controlled experiments.     

The Emergence of Second‐Tier Auditors in the US: Evidence from Investor Perceptions of Financial Reporting Credibility

We examine changes in the association between auditor type (Big 4, Second‐Tier, and Other non‐Big 4) and perceived financial reporting credibility in the wake of events (e.g., Andersen's failure, the implementation of SOX, creation of the PCAOB, etc.) which led to significant growth in Second‐Tier client portfolios and increased scrutiny of Second‐Tier audit practices. Our results reveal that financial reporting credibility of Second‐Tier clients was lower than that of Big 4 clients and was indistinguishable from that of Other non‐Big 4 clients pre‐Andersen. However, post‐Andersen, we find that financial reporting credibility of Second‐Tier clients is higher than that of Other non‐Big 4 clients and is indistinguishable from that of Big 4 clients. We expect that our results will be of interest to regulators, both in the United States and in the European Union, who have expressed concerns about the current state of competition in the audit market, management and boards of directors that are contemplating switching to a Second‐Tier audit firm, and academics investigating quality differences among audit firm types.     

Growth of the Public Responsibility of Actuaries in Life Insurance

Abstract

The public responsibility of life insurance actuaries has changed from supervisory compliance with detailed state laws to certifying adherence to more general regulatory objectives complemented by actuarial standards of practice.     

Parental Compensatory Behaviors and Early Child Health Outcomes in Cebu, Philippines()

A dynamic optimization model of parents choosing investments in their children's health motivates an empirical model of parents' choices of health inputs for their children and the impacts of these decisions on their children's subsequent health. Estimates of the child health input demand functions and the child health production functions from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey accord with the prediction that optimizing behavior results in higher levels of aggregate child health. Observable parental behaviors respond to the physical developmental status of their children. These parental responses appear to yield large and statistically significant improvements in children's early physiological outcomes. However, because some health inputs choices are not observable, it is impossible to ascertain whether these measured effects are due solely to variations in the observed input choices.     

China's productivity challenge

After capturing the world's attention with the 2008 Olympics, what's next for China? Linda Yueh says the answer can be found by tracking China's labour productivity.     

Zhulong:Modern Management Promoting Development

Fujian Zhulong Garments Co.,Ltd.has opened China's first 2(x)ist underwear flagship in SM International Exhibition Center,Jinjiang.With output of 0.16 billion yuan,Zhulong applies its expertise in underwear manufacturing to make a meaningful difference in     

Restoring Wetlands Through Wetlands Mitigation Banks

This paper offers the first economic analysis of wetlands mitigation banks. The banks are a new alternative for restoration of wetlands by developers before receiving regulatory approval for future development of wetlands in the same watershed. A stochastic optimal control model is developed which incorporates ecological uncertainty of wetlands restoration. The model helps in examining the decisions of how much to invest in a wetlands mitigation bank. The model is calibrated with data from California bioeconomic parameters. Numerical simulation of the model provides a sensitivity analysis of how model parameters of restoration costs, stochastic biological growth, interest rate, and the market value of credits affect the trajectory of investment and the optimal stopping state of wetlands quality when the investment ends. The analysis reveals that restoration of the whole site will occur when there is a reduction in restoration costs, an increase in biological uncertainty or an increase in the value of wetlands credits. Continued restoration is harder to justify with a higher interest rate.