PRICING SWAPTIONS AND COUPON BOND OPTIONS IN AFFINE TERM STRUCTURE MODELS

We propose an approach to find an approximate price of a swaption in affine term structure models. Our approach is based on the derivation of approximate swap rate dynamics in which the volatility of the forward swap rate is itself an affine function of the factors. Hence, we remain in the affine framework and well-known results on transforms and transform inversion can be used to obtain swaption prices in similar fashion to zero bond options (i.e., caplets). The method can easily be generalized to price options on coupon bonds. Computational times compare favorably with other approximation methods. Numerical results on the quality of the approximation are excellent. Our results show that in affine models, analogously to the LIBOR market model, LIBOR and swap rates are driven by approximately the same type of (in this case affine) dynamics.     

An Exploration of the Conditional Timing Performance of UK Unit Trusts

Abstract:  We examine the conditional market timing performance of UK unit trusts between January 1988 and December 2002. We find no evidence of superior conditional market timing performance by UK unit trusts either across different portfolios of trusts or by individual trusts. We also find that benchmark investing is significant for UK unit trusts and trusts have high numerical risk aversion to deviations from the benchmark. Our findings suggest that UK trusts act like benchmark investors.     

制热的新途径——液力冲击制热

文章介绍了一种国内外尚无先例的制热的新方法——液力冲击制热。并阐述了它的理论价值、经济意义、实用意义以及能容高的特点。还简要分析了冲击制热的工作原理及计算。     

Has Inflation Persistence Changed under EMU?

This paper analyzes the persistence of inflation in the euro area and, in particular, whether the persistence properties have changed since the start of European Monetary Union(EMU). For that purpose, we compare pre‐ and post‐EMU inflation persistence, use rolling‐window estimates of persistence, and apply tests specifically designed to detect break dates near the end of the sample period. In contrast to previous research, we find that inflation persistence has fallen significantly since the start of EMU. Persistence of consumer price inflation, which is central to the European Central Bank's policy mandate, has fallen more than the persistence of deflator inflation. The drop in inflation persistence is consistent with the results from a simulated small New Keynesian model with a shift toward a more aggressive monetary policy stance.     

要想富，先修路？——不同交通运输发展在贫困地区经济发展效应的差异

基于中国11个集中连片贫困地区所涉及的87个地级市的动态面板数据,利用系统广义矩估计法克服内生性问题,可对不同交通运输方式在贫困地区的经济发展效应进行实证研究。研究发现,交通运输发展对贫困地区经济发展总体上起到了正向的促进作用,但不同交通运输方式在不同地区存在明显的差异。公路运输的发展在西南贫困地区和中部贫困地区的促进效果比在西北地区好。航空运输对中部贫困地区和西北贫困地区的经济发展同样起着显著的促进作用。普通铁路则因为在贫困地区的发展优势不明显,对经济发展的促进作用没有很好地发挥出来。     

人口迁移对区域经济增长地区差异的影响分析——以陕西省为例

人口的大规模迁移流动是改革开放后我国经济社会发展的主要特征之一,其流动态势与区域之间的经济差距逐渐扩大趋势相耦合。文章以我国西部地区人口迁移与经济增长之间的关系为研究对象,以陕西省为例,分析迁移对省内各地级市的经济地区差距的影响。通过运用泰尔指数以及灰色关联度分析等方法,证明了迁移流动人口与区域经济发展具有极高的关联度。建立的人口迁移与经济增长之间计量模型的结果显示：1991—2004年期间劳动力流动有助于缩小地区间经济差距,使区域经济呈现出速度大于3％的条件收敛。并且人口迁移要素对经济增长的贡献显著,资本投入对经济增长也具有强大的推动作用。     

Sentiment-scaled CAPM and market mispricing

This study explores the conditional version of the capital asset pricing model on sentiment to provide a behavioural intuition behind the value premium and market mispricing. We find betas (β) and the market risk premium to vary over time across different sentiment indices and portfolios. More importantly, the state β derived from this sentiment-scaled model provides a behavioural explanation of the value premium and a set of anomalies driven by mispricing. Different from the static β–return relation that gives a flat security market line, we document upward security market lines when plotting portfolio returns against their state βs and portfolios with higher state βs earn higher returns.     

A spatial autoregressive stochastic frontier model for panel data incorporating a model of technical inefficiency

By integrating Battese and Coelli’s (1995) model and the spatial autoregressive model (SAR), a spatial autoregressive stochastic frontier model for panel data is developed. The main feature of this frontier model is a spatial lag term of explained variables and the joint structure of a production possibility frontier with a model of technical inefficiency. The model addresses both spatial dependence and heteroskedastic technical inefficiency. This study applies maximum likelihood methods considering the endogenous spatial lag term. The proposed model nests several existing models. Further, an empirical analysis using data on the Japanese manufacturing industry is conducted and the existing models are tested against the proposed model, which is found to be statistically supported. The findings suggest that estimates in the existing spatial and non-spatial models may exhibit bias because of lack of determinants of technical inefficiency, as well as a spatial lag. This bias also affects the technical efficiency score and its ranking.     

Challenges and Changes in Gendered Poverty: The Feminization,De-Feminization,and Re-Feminization of Poverty in Latin America

Despite reductions in poverty generally, recent trends in Latin American countries show processes of both de-feminization and re-feminization of poverty. A rise in the numbers of women to men living in income-poor households has occurred despite feminized anti-poverty programs, most notably conditional cash transfers (CCTs), which target resources to women. This paper shows that methodological differences in what, how, and who is the focus of measurement may influence patterns of poverty “feminization.” It also suggests that feminized policy interventions might in themselves be playing a role in the re-feminization of poverty, not least because of data and definitional limitations in the way female-headed households and, relatedly, women’s poverty are understood. The somewhat paradoxical interactions between the feminization of household headship, the feminization of poverty, and the feminization of anti-poverty programs present interesting challenges for redressing gender gaps in poverty within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.