Survival on the Titanic: Illustrating Wald and Lagrange Multiplier Tests for Proportions and Logits

Abstract: Students are interested in lecture examples and class exercises involving data connected to the maiden voyage and the sinking of the liner Titanic. Information on the passengers and their fate can be used to explore relationships between various tests for differences in survival rates between different groups of passengers. Among the concepts the authors examined are tests for differences of proportions using a normal distribution, a chi-square test for independence, a test for the equality of two logits, and a test for the significance of the coefficient of a binary variable in logit model. The authors examined the relationship between Wald and Lagrange Multiplier test statistics and give two related examples.     

Re-testing Prebisch–Singer hypothesis: new evidence using Fourier quantile unit root test

The Prebisch–Singer hypothesis in economics asserts that over time the relative price of primary goods relative to manufactured goods should experience a downward trend. To test the hypothesis, we must first establish the unit root properties of the relative price term and then regress the stationary series on a trend term. We use the quantile unit root test which allows for both smooth unknown numbers and the form of breaks in the trend function through a Fourier function to show that the relative price of 23 out of 24 primary goods is stationary. However, the Prebisch–Singer hypothesis is supported only in half of the primary commodities.     

资源错配、要素市场总扭曲及福利损失测算*——基于单位要素成本的生产率分解视角

通过引入单位要素成本指标,本文对佩特兰和勒文叟汉（Petrin and Levinsohn）的生产率分解模型进行了拓展,［1］得到了一个更为准确的资源重置效应。利用2000—2007年中国规模以上制造业企业数据,经过测算显示,技术进步和要素市场总扭曲是生产率增长的主要来源;样本期间资源重置对生产率增长的平均贡献仅有324%,且日渐式微。然而资源错配造成的福利损失却依旧占制造业增加值的近2663%。这表明,在现有体制下通过市场自发调节促进要素合理配置的空间已经耗尽,经济结构呈现出一定的“固化”倾向,进一步的资源重置应来自对现有经济结构的改革,以缓解资源错配。本文最后通过测算各地区的资源重置潜力,为区域结构优化提供了一个量化参考。     

FDI对国际贸易的影响：来自中国的证据

本文利用2003~2006年的面板数据检验了我国外向与内向FDI存量与进出口贸易之间的关系。通过实证分析发现:我国的外向FDI与进出口均存在互补关系,因此外向FDI具有贸易创造效应,其中又以出口创造效应为甚,从而使我国的外向FDI具有"净出口"效应;而内向FDI与进出口的关系都不显著。     

中国金融发展与外贸关系的面板协整检验和因果分析

基于跨省面板数据,运用面板协整理论和面板因果检验方法分析了中国金融发展与对外贸易之间的关系.多种协整检验方法一致表明,金融发展与出口贸易、金融发展与进口贸易之间都存在长期均衡稳定关系;而基于面板误差修正模型的Granger因果检验则表明金融发展与对外贸易之间同时存在长、短期双向因果关系.这意味着在金融深化改革和贸易增长方式调整的特殊历史时期,保持金融和贸易政策的有效组合具有十分重要的意义.     

Too small to be independent? On the influence of ECB monetary policy on interest rates of the EEA countries

Monetary policy independence is regarded as the central argument in favour of floating exchange rates and monetary integration. We evaluate the actual independence of non-euro members of the European Economic Area by using heterogeneous panel cointegration methods that allow cross-dependency. We show that domestic interest rates follow the euro interest rates. These spillovers imply a low monetary independence despite the insulation given by floating exchange rate regimes and inflation-targeting frameworks. We therefore find significant spillover effects of the European Central Bank policy and argue that the costs of monetary integration in Europe may be lower than expected.     

国土空间分区的概念与方法探讨

研究目的：以国土空间分区为研究对象,对中国国土空间分区的内涵、方法和基本问题进行了探讨,为中国省和区域国土空间规划的编制提供指导和参考。研究方法：文献分析,资料总结与归纳。研究结果：（1）提出以县级行政区为主体,乡镇组团、保护区等为辅助的国土空间分区评价单元划分方式;（2）从生产、生活和生态三方面对国土空间进行多功能表达并阐述分区指标体系构建的方法;（3）制定了自上而下与自下而上相结合的省和区域国土空间分区技术路线。研究结论：解决了如何划分评价单元、构建分区指标体系和分区技术路线等国土空间分区的基本问题,研究成果可为省和区域国土空间规划编制提供科学依据,并对区域均衡与可持续发展具有指导意义。     

中国财产保险需求的实证研究:基于险种结构

决定财产保险需求的因素分为宏观性间接因素和结构性直接因素两大部分。选择具有代表性的三个宏观性变量和三个结构性变量,利用2005-2009年我国的省级面板数据,使用逐步回归方法,研究整体财产保险需求和企财险、工程险、车险、信用险等四个要主子险种需求的决定因素。实证结果较好地解释了我国财产保险需求的内因。应逐步建立商业保险补偿为主,社会救济为辅的新型社会风险管理体系。     

The sequencing of reform in transition economies

In this paper, we examine the consequences of sequencing on the progress of reforms in transition economies. The paper uses panel logit models to determine whether or not progress in some reforms enhances the prospects for other reforms. We find that progress on small-scale privatization is associated with advances in several other reforms, perhaps because small-scale privatization creates lobbies for reform. Our estimations suggest that a comprehensive program of small-scale privatization is needed to stimulate large-scale privatization, trade, and banking reform in a country that has undertaken little reform. Moreover, if restructuring is to occur banking reform is necessary. We also find that relaxing the fiscal constraint stimulates large-scale privatization, restructuring, and trade reform. Finally, we find that negotiations about EU accession negotiations advance the transition but only in banking reform and competition policy. Journal of Comparative Economics 33 (4) (2005) 835–850.     

Testing for PPP: Should we use panel methods?

A common finding in the empirical literature on the validity of purchasing power parity (PPP) is that it holds when tested for in panel data, but not in univariate (i.e. country-specific) analysis. The usual explanation for this mismatch is that panel tests for unit roots are more powerful than their univariate counterparts. In this paper we suggest an alternative explanation. Existing panel methods assume that cross-unit cointegrating relationships, that would tie the units of the panel together, are not present. Using simulations, we show that if this important underlying assumption of panel unit root tests is violated, the empirical size of the tests is substantially higher than the nominal level, and the null hypothesis of a unit root is rejected too often even when it is true. More generally, this finding warns against the automatic use of panel methods for testing for unit roots in macroeconomic time series.First version received: November 2001/Final version received : October 2003