The dynamics of modal split for freight transport

The paper presents a dynamic model of modal split in a multimodal freight transport system, which supposes that the evolution over time of transport demand is accompanied by a corresponding evolution of transport modes, and that users react with delay to cost variations. Starting with these hypotheses, and following the paradigm of random utility, a recursive equation is obtained, whose iterated application furnishes the sequence of the demand fractions on the various transport modes in the successive epochs of the time period during which the evolution of the transport system is studied and enables forecasting the future modal split evolution.     

Weak links and the management of reputational interdependencies

This paper builds on a growing literature that takes into account the fact that firms in an industry may be interdependent with regard to their corporate reputations, thus sharing a “reputation commons.” We argue that the theory of public goods can help us to understand the interdependencies that link corporate reputations and to frame the contexts and requirements for collective action that they induce. In particular, we suggest that more and more frequently these interdependencies make industry reputation a “weak link” public good. We show that this raises new challenges for the strategic management of industry reputation by communities of firms. The discussion of these challenges is based on the case study of the collective action of the European chlorine companies towards restoring their reputation after being accused of not being safe, and on a model of the production of reputation by companies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The dynamic relationship between stock,bond and foreign exchange markets

This paper investigates whether the deviation of a currency from its fundamentally determined rate of return affects the relationship between interest rates and stock market yields. A time-varying transition probability, the Markov-switching vector autoregressive (MS-VAR) model, is utilized for this purpose. Wald and likelihood ratio tests are computed and used as model adequacy measures. In order to analyze the link between the variables, impulse–response functions are employed. A sticky price exchange rate model is used to show the fundamentally determined rate of return of currencies. States are defined as either overvalued or undervalued, depending on the position of the observed exchange rate compared to its fundamentally determined rate. The model is applied to four major currencies: the Australian Dollar, the Canadian Dollar, the Japanese Yen, and the British Pound. Transition between the states is linked to the risk-adjusted excess return (the Sharpe ratio) of the debt and equity markets of the respective currencies in order to understand whether over- and undervaluation is connected to the returns in these markets. The results provide evidence that the relationship between economic fundamentals and nominal exchange rates are subject to change depending on the over- or undervaluation of the currencies relative to their fundamentally determined rate of return. An extension of this result shows that the Sharpe ratios of debt and equity investments in the currencies influence the evolution of the transitional dynamics of the exchange rates’ deviation from their fundamental values.     

Equilibrium dynamics in a class of one-sector endogenous growth models with external habits: An application of special functions

This paper analyzes the equilibrium dynamics in a class of one-sector endogenous growth models with external habits. Using an explicit solution expressed in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric function, we show that the levels of consumption, habits and capital may exhibit non-monotonic transition dynamics, even though their ratios converge monotonically. A numerical simulation illustrates this result.     

The role of strategic HR practices in organisational effectiveness: an empirical investigation in the country of Jordan

This study responds to the call of researchers, and is conducted in a non-western context in the country of Jordan. The study contributes to our understanding of human resource (HR) practices' impact on organisational effectiveness. The empirical analysis is based on theoretical prepositions that motivated employees through good HR practices stay longer and contribute positively to the overall financial performance of organisations. Rigorous statistical testing of the data on the population of financial firms shows that careful recruitment and selection, training and internal career opportunities have a positive impact on reducing employee turnover. Training, in particular, is found to have a strong positive impact on financial performance measured by return on assets and return on equity. Furthermore, the findings provide strong support for the direct approach in strategic HR management–performance research that a group of best HR practices will continuously and directly generate superior performance. Despite such compelling arguments, however, we did not find evidence to support the notion that a bundle of HR practices impact better on financial performance than individual HR practices. It is possible that the optimal configuration may not only be contingent on national context, but could be due to the sector and the specific characteristics of the firm.     

加权Bergman空间上的Rudin正交性问题

通过构造广义计数函数N（φ）,α（w）,研究了加权Bergman空间A2a（D）上的Rudin正交性问题.证明了（φ）：D→D解析,（φ）（0）=0时,{（φ）k：k=0,1,2,…}构成加权Bergman空间Aα2（D）的正交集当且仅当函数Nφ（φ）α（w）=∑（φ）（z）∞∑n=1（1-｜z｜2）n＋α＋1是本性径向的;当解析函数（φ）为n阶有限Blaschke乘积且（φ）（0）=0时,若存在正整数N使得∑｜ z ｜ 2N/φ（φ）α（w）是本性径向的,则（φ）=czn,其中c为常数.     

对市场配置资源的作用与发挥政府职能的思考

面临当前的形势,政府应加快提升把握经济规律、服务企业发展、培育新的经济增长点等方面能力,最大限度地激发市场主体经济活力,使市场供给更好地适应、满足和创造市场需求,进一步解放和发展社会生产力。     

Estimating loss functions of experts

We propose a new and simple methodology to estimate the loss function associated with experts’ forecasts. Under the assumption of conditional normality of the data and the forecast distribution, the asymmetry parameter of the lin–lin and linex loss function can easily be estimated using a linear regression. This regression also provides an estimate for potential systematic bias in the forecasts of the experts. The residuals of the regression are the input for a test for the validity of the normality assumption. We apply our approach to a large data set of SKU-level sales forecasts made by experts, and we compare the outcomes with those for statistical model-based forecasts of the same sales data. We find substantial evidence for asymmetry in the loss functions of the experts, with underprediction penalized more than overprediction.     

基于列生成的毫米波多连接链路配置调度算法

多连接技术允许用户同时建立和保持与多个小区/接入点的连接，通过网络元素之间的协调在吞吐量和可靠性方面大幅提高网络性能。针对毫米波通信中超高频段的链路中断问题，研究了多连接基于链路配置的调度算法，以提高链路调度效率，降低复杂度。首先，在系统模型中采用链路配置作为优化变量；其次，设计了多连接比例公平的调度准则；最后，提出一种基于列生成算法的链路配置调度优化算法，利用Dantzig-Wolfe分解将原问题分解为限制主问题和定价问题，并结合分支定界方法获得最优解。仿真结果表明，所提算法能够在数值上逼近全局最优，并且比现有的毫米波蜂窝网络链路调度方案增益平均提高40%以上。     

企业广告英语中模糊语言的语用功能及翻译

随着经济的不断发展,越来越多的企业意识到广告宣传的重要性。广告在企业生产经营活动中的地位也越来越重要。很多情况下,企业广告商们会为了达到广告的目的而选择模糊语言,这些模糊语言给消费者以强烈的心理暗示。本文以企业广告为例,从语用功能方面对企业广告英语中的模糊语言进行不同角度的分析并简要介绍了两种对企业广告英语中模糊语言的翻译方法,旨在帮助人们更好地理解企业广告语言,更好地利用模糊语言达到企业广告的目的。