Ordering univariate distributions by entropy and variance

This paper examines the role of variance and entropy in ordering distributions and random prospects. There is no universal relation between entropy and variance orderings of distributions. But we place their relationship in the context of a stronger ordering relation known as dispersion ordering. Further, some conditions are identified under which variance and entropy order similarly when continuous variables are transformed. We also analyze parametric changes which do not disturb the agreement between these rankings. The results are conveniently tabulated in terms of distribution parameters.     

An Iterative Process for International Negotiations on Acid Rain in Northern Europe Using a General Convex Formulation

This paper proposes a game theoretical approach of internationalnegotiations on transboundary pollution. This approach is distinguished bya discrete time formulation and by a suitable formulation of the localinformation assumption on cost and damage functions: at each stage of thenegotiation, the parties assign the best possible cooperative state, giventhe available information, as an objective for the next stage. It is shownthat the resulting sequences of states converges from a non-cooperativesituation to an international optimum in a finite number of stages.Furthermore, a financial transfer structure is also presented that makesthe desired sequence of states individually rational and stategically stable.The concepts are applied in a numerical simulation of the SO₂transboundary pollution problem related to acid rain in Northern Europe.     

Compulsory Ethics Education and the Cognitive Moral Development of Salespeople: A Quasi-Experimental Assessment

This study investigated several basic research questions suggesting a positive relationship between education and cognitive moral development. More specifically, these research questions examined the relationship between government mandated ethics education and cognitive moral development by testing the efficacy of a compulsory ethics intervention. Kohlberg's (1969, 1984) Cognitive Moral Development Theory was applied to test the efficacy of compulsory ethics education on the moral development of real estate salespeople used comparative statistical measures of ethical reasoning ability.The results of this research, while somewhat counterintuitive, suggest that the value of compulsory ethics education as an intervention to improve the moral reasoning of real estate salespeople is highly questionable. However, the results of the study do provide new insights into the relationship between ethics education and cognitive moral development.     

Accounting for optimism and pessimism in expected utility

We provide a preference foundation for decision under risk resulting in a model where probability weighting is linear as long as the corresponding probabilities are not extreme (i.e., 0 or 1). This way, most of the elegance and mathematical tractability of expected utility is maintained and also much of its normative foundation. Yet, the new model can accommodate the extreme sensitivity towards changes from 0 to almost impossible and from almost certain to 1 that has widely been documented in the experimental literature. The model can be viewed as “expected utility with the best and worst in mind” as suggested by Chateauneuf, Eichberger and Grant (Chateauneuf, Alain, Eichberger, Jürgen, Grant, Simon, 2007. Choice under uncertainty with the best and worst in mind: NEO-Additive capacities. Journal of Economic Theory 137, 538–567) or, following our preference foundation, interpreted as “expected utility with consistent optimism and pessimism”.     

Evidence in development of sustainability reporting: a case of a developing country

Current development in social accounting presents an interesting phenomenon. Companies are increasingly engaging in sustainability initiatives and reporting their activities in annual reports, company websites and other media of communication. Unlike previous studies, which have mainly used ex post content analysis of annual reports or other published data to study the relationship between disclosure and possible determinants, this study starts with an interview with the local preparer before the data is triangulated to determine the significant possible determinants. The interview findings are interpreted through institutional theory for possible identification of determinants. Initially, the interview findings indicate that all three mechanisms of isomorphism, the coercive, the normative and the mimetic, contribute to Malaysian company sustainability reporting. However, the regression results prove that only a government linked company in the plantation industry, which is large in size, has a significant amount of sustainability reporting. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

从功能翻译理论的视角探讨商标名称翻译

功能翻译理论为商标名称翻译研究开辟了一个新的视角。商标名称翻译应根据商标名称的文本类型、语言特点等,找出商标翻译最佳的翻译方法,如音译、意译、音意结合等,以提高品牌名称翻译的质量,实现译名的规范化,增强译名的可读性。     

激励对员工工作的影响研究——基于两种激励理论的探讨

人作为生产活动的主体，往往根据自身需求是否得到满足来决定其工作态度，迫使许多企业和学者对激励进行研究，由此诞生了很多激励理论，其中需求层次理论以人的需求层次来划分人们的不同需求，双因素理论以保健因素和激励因素的划分来分析人们的需求，这两种理论之间相互联系，一个针对人的需要和动机，一个针对满足这些需要的目标和诱因，两者结合起来运用才能够更好、更有效地激励人们。     

The timing of exchange rate collapse

Recent episodes of exchange rate collapse have renewed interest in models of speculative attacks. These episodes have been considered by some observers to be inconsistent with “fundamentals” models of attack since there was no prolonged period of policy misalignment and declining reserves, as required by such models. This paper develops a fundamentals model in which collapse is instantaneous at the time of unexpected policy change and/or a change in the expectations of future policy, even for a reserve abundant country.     

发展研究的发展趋势和理论任务

目前国内外发展理论中出现了发展研究的大众普及化、生态学化、哲学化、东方化、马克思化和意识形态化等新趋势。据此 ,本文提出发展理论研究的根本任务是 :建立跨世纪跨学科的发展科学 ;思考和建构具有中国特色的社会发展理论体系。     

区域经济中地方政府行为的博弈分析——以京津冀地区为例

引入博弈论方法来研究京津冀三地的区域合作问题,把京津冀三方行政主体看作博弈的局中人,关注其中的"核心"问题--三方都能接受的利益分配方案、如何分配合作利益、如何建立有效的磋商机制以及协调机制的可行性与有效性.同时,提出应当在区域补偿、区域发展、产业布局三个方面寻求政策的改善.