The Returns to Education: Microeconomics

In this paper we focus on education as a private decision to invest in "human capital" and the estimation of the rate of return to that private investment. While the literature is replete with studies that estimate the rate of return using regression methods where the estimated return is obtained as the coefficient on a years of education variable in a log wage equation that contains controls for work experience and other individual characteristics, the issue is surrounded with difficulties. We outline the theoretical arguments underpinning the empirical developments and show that the evidence on private returns to the individual is compelling. Despite some of these issues surrounding the estimation of the return to schooling, our evidence, based on estimates from a variety of datasets and specifications, is that there is an unambiguously positive effect on the earnings of an individual from participation in education. Moreover, the size of the effect seems large relative to the returns on other investments.     

Three Corrected Score Tests for Generalized Linear Models with Dispersion Covariates

We develop three corrected score tests for generalized linear models with dispersion covariates, thus generalizing the results of Cordeiro , Ferrari and Paula (1993) and Cribari-Neto and Ferrari (1995) . We present, in matrix notation, general formulae for the coefficients which define the corrected statistics. The formulae only require simple operations on matrices and can be used to obtain analytically closed-form corrections for score test statistics in a variety of special generalized linear models with dispersion covariates. They also have advantages for numerical purposes since our formulae are readily computable using a language supporting numerical linear algebra. Two examples, namely, iid sampling without covariates on the mean or dispersion parameter oand one-way classification models, are given. We also present some simulations where the three corrected tests perform better than the usual score test, the likelihood ratio test and its Bartlett corrected version. Finally, we present a numerical example for a data set discussed by Simonoff and Tsai (1994) .     

Interviewers,Interviewer Continuity,and Panel Survey Nonresponse

It is widely known that in practice, different interviewers have different response rates, though there has been no systematic examination of whether this is because of differences among interviewers or differences among those areas allocated to the interviewers (area effects), or both. Furthermore, the conventional wisdom in survey research suggests that it is advisable to have the same interviewers return to the same respondents in order to maintain good response rates in longitudinal surveys, though once again there has been very little documented experimental research to support this. This paper makes use of the interpenetrated sample design experiment in Wave 2 of the British Household Panel Study (BHPS) (i) to explore the effects of interviewers' background characteristics and years of experience on response rates, (ii) to identify and estimate the differential effects of interviewers on response rates and compare the magnitudes of area and interviewer effects, and (iii) to investigate the impact of interviewer continuity. The analysis is facilitated by the use of cross-classified multilevel modelling. The paper also looks at the issue of interviewer continuity qualitatively, through the impressions of the interviewers themselves.     

On a monotonicity property of the Klein-Rubin true cost-of-living index

It is shown that the Klein-Rubin true cost-of-living index associated with the Stone-Geary Linear Expenditure System has a highly restrictive feature. When used to measure the impact of relative price changes on different income (expenditure) groups, the index numbers will always be monotonic in income.     

Are stock price dynamics affected by financial analysts recommendations? Evidence from Italian green energy stocks

Quality & Quantity - In this paper we analyze whether financial analysts recommendations on trading strategies related to a given stock can influence its price dynamics. The recommendation for...     

What is a multinational corporation? Classifying the degree of firm-level multinationality

The degree of firm-level multinationality is a key dimension that spans all theoretical frameworks, levels of empirical analysis and domains of investigation in international business research. There is, however, no agreed approach to defining or measuring firm-level multinationality. This is reflected in inconsistent approaches to sample selection and empirical testing, and it has curtailed the advancement of the discipline. We propose that instead of searching for the elusive, all-encompassing definition of an MNC, international business scholars should instead agree on a classification system for the degree of firm-level multinationality. We illustrate the advantages of this approach by constructing a simple classification system that takes into account the firm's breadth and depth of multinational engagements. We illustrate our matrix of firm multinationality by classifying a novel sample of over 1000 firms from seven countries, and we demonstrate how it can guide theory development and empirical testing. We also provide examples of potential future research directions.     

The Role of Ideas in Understanding Industrial Relations Policy Change in Liberal Market Economies

This paper analyzes the uneven processes underpinning industrial relations policy liberalization in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. Drawing upon 140 elite interviews and building upon ideational comparative political theories, the paper highlights the role of ideas in the policy change process. It identifies how particular ideas can be used to construct policy problems, how these ideas can gain legitimacy through battles with competing ideas, and how policy legacies can influence whether ideas take root. The findings from the comparative case analysis expose a critical difference between “positive legacies” and “negative legacies” to account for different liberalization trajectories.     

The IAS/IFRS application on the intangible assets of non-listed companies

With the introduction of IFRS （International Financial Reporting Standards） most of the intangibles are expensed on the income statement and hence they ＂disappear＂ from the balance sheet, while investments in tangible assets are capitalized. Based on a sample of 128 firms, made up of 99 SMEs （Small and Medium Enterprises） and 29 large firms, and through a simulation of IAS （International Accounting Standards） transition, the authors＇ study finds that IAS 38 reduces the amount of intangible assets recognized on the balance sheet of SMEs, while large firms do not appear to experience such large reductions in their intangible assets. The differential effect of IAS 38 on SMEs and large firms can be explained by the different growth strategies of these firm types. SMEs largely depend on internal paths of growth and intangibles assets that typically arise from internal growth strategies are eliminated from the balance sheet under IAS 38. Larger firms are less exposed to such reductions in their intangibles assets, because they mostly follow external paths of growth and the treatment of those intangible assets that typically arise from external growth strategies requires the impairment test.     

A structural portfolio balance model of the Sterling-Dollar exchange rate

Zusammenfassung Ein Strukturmodell des verm?genstheoretischen Ansatzes zur Erkl?rung des Pfund-Dollar-Wechselkurses. — In diesem Aufsatz wird eine Variante des verm?genstheoretischen Ansatzes zur Bestimmung des Wechselkurses in seiner Strukturform auf den Pfund-Dollar-Kurs des Zeitraums 1973–1982 angewandt. Dabei wird die Methodologie von Brainard und Tobin benutzt, wodurch sichergestellt wird, da\ die Koeffizienten bestimmten Restriktionen genügen. Gesch?tzt wird das Modell sowohl mit der Kleinst-Quadrate-Methode als auch mit dem Theil-Goldberger-Verfahren der gemischten Sch?tzungen. Mehrere Aktiva-Schocks werden simuliert und die Reaktionen der Zinss?tze und der Wechselkurse aufgezeigt.

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Résumé Un modèle structurel de ?portfolio balance? du taux de change Sterling-Dollar.- Dans cet article les auteurs appliquent la structure d’une version de l’approche de ?portfolio balance? à la détermination du taux de change sterling-dollar sur la période 1973–1982. Dans le modèle, la méthodologie de Brainard et Tobin est utilisée qui garantit que les restrictions nécessaires d’addition sont satisfaites. Les méthodes des moindres carrés ordinaires aussi bien que les procédures d’estimation mixte de Theil-Goldberger sont appliquées pour estimer le modèle. Les auteurs simulent un nombre des chocs d’actif et illustrent la réponse des taux d’intérêt et du taux de change.

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Resumen Un modelo ?portfolio balance? estructural del tipo de cambio entre la libra esterlina y el dólar. - En este trabajo se presenta una versión del modelo de ?portfolio balance? para determinar el tipo de cambio, que es implementado estructuralmente para el tipo libra esterlina - dólar en el período 1973–1982. En la implementación de este modelo se utiliza la metodología de Brainard y Tobin, que garantiza la consistencia de las restricciones. Con el fin de estimar el modelo se aplica tanto el método de cuadrados mínimos como también el método mixto de Theil y Goldberger. Se llevan a cabo varias simulaciones a base de shocks de activos para ilustrar la reacción de las tasas de interés y del tipo de cambio.

     

Unit nonresponse errors in income surveys: a case study

A survey on the economic and social conditions of households in the city of Modena was carried out in 2002 and in 2006 (two waves) by the CAPP (Centre for Analyses of Public Policies). In the first wave of 2002, each designated sampling unit (i.e., the family) had three units as reserves. If the first refused to be interviewed, the interviewer contacted the three reserves, one after the other, until obtaining either one respondent or four non-participant units. At the end of the survey four categories of units were distinguished: interviewees, refusals, noncontacts, and unused reserves. All units were matched with their corresponding record in the databases of the Ministry of Finance of 2002 and the Census of 2001. The resulting data set permitted the analysis of unit or total nonresponses. The distribution of fiscal income showed different shapes for the four categories, implying a selective participation of the families. The interviewees yielded a positive bias of about 600?, holding constant other factors. The selection of the significant factors affecting nonresponse was performed via backward elimination in a logit model and with the lasso method. Participation increased as fiscal income and age increased and by education level (secondary school and university degree), while it decreased among entrepreneurs, independent workers, managers, and medium-to-low skilled workers.