Early labor market outcomes of university graduates: Does time to degree matter?

Using university administrative and survey data drawn from the AlmaLaurea Consortium, we analyze the effect of time to degree on the early labor market performance of Italian graduates. The empirical strategy allows identifying separately the impact of elapsed time to degree on the transition from university to work and on earnings from other determinants specific to the academic path completed. Findings suggest that delayed graduation reduces the employment probability (0.8% points for each year of delay), and this effect is still persistent five years after graduation. Once employed, graduates not completing their degree within the minimum period are also penalized in their net monthly earnings, even five years after graduation. The most penalized groups are women and graduates in non-scientific fields.     

Environmentally Sustainable Development through Stakeholder Engagement in Developed and Emerging Countries

This cross‐country study investigates the antecedents and outcomes of corporate environmental responsibility (CER) practices in developed and emerging countries. Based on stakeholder and institutional theory, we conducted an empirical study among firms in Germany, USA, India and China. We found support for a significant positive relationship between regulatory, market and social stakeholder influences, CER practices and business outcomes in the total and individual country samples. Regarding country differences, our data reveal significant similarities and differences between developed and emerging countries. Market stakeholder influences are stronger in developed countries, whereas regulatory and social stakeholder influences do not differ significantly between the two country groups. The relationship between CER practices and positive business outcomes is stronger in emerging than in developed countries. Implications for institutional theory and organizations are outlined. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

Mapping EORTC-QLQ-C30 to EQ-5D-3L in patients with colorectal cancer

Aims: The primary aim of this study was to perform a mapping of the EORTC-QLQ-C30 scores to EQ-5D-3L for the SIRFLOX study; a large dataset of patients with previously untreated liver-only or liver-dominant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). A secondary aim was to compare the predictive validity of existing mappings from EORTC-QLQ-C30 to EQ-5D-3L conducted in other cancers.

Methods and materials: Questionnaires (completed within 529 patients) were used in a linear mixed regression to model EQ-5D-3L utility values (scored using the UK tariff) as a function of the five function scores, nine symptom scores, and the global score from the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire. A Tobit regression was also performed. The mean EQ-5D-3L values for the SIRFLOX trial were calculated and compared with predicted EQ-5D-3L values derived using published mapping algorithms.

Results: The linear mixed regression model provided a satisfactory mapping between the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and the EQ-5D-3L, whilst the Tobit model did not perform as well. When utilities from the SIRFLOX data were calculated with previously published mapping studies, three out of five studies performed well (< 10% mean difference).

Limitations: The main limitation of the study was the lack of meaningful observations post-progression (67 paired observations). For this reason, this study was unable to test whether the mapping holds by disease stage. Additionally, although the study adds to the literature of mappings to the EQ-5D-3L, it is not known how results would differ using the EQ-5D-5L.

Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind in liver-only or liver-dominant mCRC, and mCRC in general. The mapping constructed showed a good fit to the data and provides practitioners with an additional mapping between EORTC-QLQ-C30 to EQ-5D-3L using a large dataset (529 patients, 707 paired observations). The study also confirmed the generalizability of mappings published by Proskorovsky, Kontodimopoulos, and Longworth to liver-only or liver-dominant mCRC.     

基于内容查询的图像数据多层模型和快速检索研究

基于内容的图像搜索是目前搜索领域的研究热点,取得了较大的成果,在实际的开发中对于图像的数据库存储和检索的要求较高。本文通过对图像特征的研究,采用了面向对象的多层数据模型,并分析了索引空间中的多维索引降维、向量空间、度量空间等方法,引出了基于预分类和预计算相似度、树索引和二分快速检索图像数据的方法。接着通过分析其工作流程,从数据模型和检索方法上进行了论述,构造了基于内容的图像检索的工作架构。本文总结了此方案的创新点和适用范围,从而在理论证明了它的优秀的检索性能。最终提出了采用此方案进行基于内容的图像查询的可行途径。     

How risky is a random process?

The riskiness of random processes is compared by (a) employing a decision theoretic equivalence between processes and lotteries on path-spaces to identify the riskiness of the former with that of the latter, and (b) using the theory of comparative riskiness of lotteries over vector spaces to compare the riskiness of lotteries on a given path-space. We derive the equivalence used in step (a) and contribute a new criterion to the theory applied in step (b). The validity of the new criterion, which applies second order stochastic dominance to utility distributions, is established by showing its equivalence to the benchmark decision theoretic criterion when comparing the riskiness of lotteries over any vector space. We demonstrate the theory’s tractability via diverse economic applications.     

成果为本教育的发展与实践

成果为本教育是近年来在经济合作与发展组织成员国与地区得到快速发展的一种教育思想。本文阐述成果为本教育的内涵、发展、原则和香港中文大学的实证研究,阐述成果为本教育面临的挑战及给予我们的启示。     

东北地区农村宅基地闲置特征及影响因素研究基于公主岭市6乡镇实地调研数据

[目的]通过实地调研和问卷调查收集农村宅基地闲置相关信息,分析农村宅基地闲置特征和影响因素,以期为乡村振兴过程中推动农村宅基地制度改革提供参考。[方法]描述性统计方法和Logistic二元回归模型。[结果]宅基地完全闲置率约为13.19%,季节性闲置率约为31.79%,宅基地季节性闲置较为严重;宅基地面积超标严重,存在内部闲置现象,庭院利用效率低下;闲置宅基地流转程度以及村集体对闲置宅基地的处置能力较低;户主年龄、人均耕地面积、家庭人均年收入、务工人数占比、宅基地数量和宅基地退出意愿影响宅基地的闲置,户主年龄、人均耕地面积和宅基地退出意愿对宅基地闲置产生负向影响,家庭人均年收入、务工人数占比和宅基地数量对宅基地闲置产生正向影响。[结论]针对宅基地闲置问题,必须在保障农民居住权之上,充分放活宅基地使用权,合理规划并管控宅基地规模,对于不同闲置类型的宅基地探索差异化解决途径,推动宅基地使用权自由流转、宅基地用途转换等,通过盘活宅基地助力乡村振兴。     

发明人角色识别及二元创新能力差异分析——社会资本视角的解释

发明人的创新活动嵌入在合作创新网络中。基于社会资本视角,从结构资本和认知资本两个维度辨识并定义4类发明人角色,包括"明星"、"纽带"、"平庸"和"活跃"发明人。以人工智能领域在德温特专利数据库(DII)授权的专利数据为样本,运用负二项模型,对4类发明人的二元创新能力进行实证对比分析。结果表明,不同角色发明人的二元创新能力显著不同。其中,"明星"发明人的二元创新能力最高,"平庸"发明人的二元创新能力最低,"活跃"发明人的二元创新能力高于"纽带"发明人,即认知资本对二元创新的影响大于结构资本。结论对提升发明人二元创新能力具有重要参考价值。     

Correlates of Drug Testing Attitudes in a Sample of Blue Collar Workers

Using responses from 1429 workers employed in the wood products industry, we examine the relationship between drug testing (DT) attitudes and several demographic, organizational, job attitude, and job outcome variables. After controlling for age and marital status, analyses revealed moderate correlations between DT attitudes and alcohol and drug variables, DT program characteristics, organizational, and work attitude variables. DT attitudes were weakly but significantly related to absences, late work arrivals, accidents, and injuries. Implications of the findings and future research suggestions are discussed.     

Labor Market Effects of Spatial Licensing Requirements: Evidence from CPA Mobility

We exploit the staggered introduction of CPA Mobility provisions in the United States to study the effects of spatial licensing requirements on the labor market for accounting professionals. Specifically, we examine whether the removal of licensing‐induced geographic barriers affects CPA wages and employment levels, as well as the pricing and quality of professional services. We find that, subsequent to the adoption of CPA Mobility provisions, wages of accounting professionals decrease, whereas employment levels are unaffected. The documented wage effect stems from smaller CPA firms, is more pronounced for CPAs holding senior positions, and persists over time. We also find that service prices decline and that this effect is concentrated in local CPA firms. Moreover, we document that the increased wage and price pressure is not associated with deteriorating service quality. Collectively, our results suggest that the removal of occupational licensing barriers has sizable effects on labor supply and service prices. Our findings inform the current regulatory debate on occupational licensing.