Inflation-inflation uncertainty nexus in Iran——Using TARCH model

This paper examines the relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty in Iran economy using monthly data of Iran over the period 1990-2009. TARCH model is used to peruse the stochastic variation and asymmetries in the economic instruments. The result indicates that there is a positive relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty. Also, the authors investigate from the Granger causality test that inflation is Granger causality of inflation uncertainty.     

Testing the compounding structure of the CP-INARCH model

A statistical test to distinguish between a Poisson INARCH model and a Compound Poisson INARCH model is proposed, based on the form of the probability generating function of the compounding distribution of the conditional law of the model. For first-order autoregression, the normality of the test statistics’ asymptotic distribution is established, either in the case where the model parameters are specified, or when such parameters are consistently estimated. As the test statistics’ law involves the moments of inverse conditional means of the Compound Poisson INARCH process, the analysis of their existence and calculation is performed by two approaches. For higher-order autoregressions, we use a bootstrap implementation of the test. A simulation study illustrating the finite-sample performance of this test methodology in what concerns its size and power concludes the paper.     

DOES CONTRACEPTION BENEFIT WOMEN? STRUCTURE,AGENCY, AND WELL-BEING IN RURAL MEXICO

The authors of this paper examine Amartya Sen's contributions to the concept of human well-being from a gender perspective and argue that this concept is particularly useful for explaining women's decisions on contraceptive use. The study draws on data collected in six rural communities of Chiapas, Mexico. It emphasizes the ways in which public discourse articulates the apparent benefits of having small families; the context of the household and community in which rural women make reproductive decisions; and the impact of family planning programs on women's sense of subjective well-being. In particular, it questions the assumption that reduced fertility through contraception necessarily enhances women's well-being and points to the importance that women attach to being a party to reproductive decisions. The authors also explore the links between women's assessment of these decisions and of paid work, and their actual education levels and real possibilities of employment.     

The economic uncertainty and private investment nexus in Iran： Application of the EGARCH model and the ARDL approach

This paper examines the impact of economic uncertainty on private investment in lran. In addition, the authors also examine the impact of other economic factors on the level of private investment. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag （ARDL） approach is applied to investigate the relationship of these variables. The data span is from 1975 to 2007. The results indicate that economic uncertainty has a significant negative effect on private investment. Public investment and the availability of financing have a significant positive effect on private investment, while the impact of output gap and the exchange rate is negative. Hence, government should aim at creating a stable macro-economic environment in order to makes private investment attractive.     

Agility evaluation in public sector

Agility metrics are difficult to define in general, mainly due to the multidimensionality and vagueness of the concept of agility itself. In this paper, a knowledge-based framework is utilized for the measurement and assessment of public sector＇s agility by A. T. Kearney model. In this research, the authors used Z2 test in SPSS software. So, the authors discovered that the General Office of Standards ＆ Industrial Research of Sistan ＆ Baluchestan Province in Iran is agile. Finally, the authors determine the weakness points of organization by Friedman test.     

Applying knowledge management implementation model in Water Resources Management Company by the purpose of continuous improvement

This research seeks to explore the current knowledge management （KM） practice in the Water Recourses Management Company （WRMC） according to Jashpar＇s knowledge management cycle which comprises four loops, including knowledge creation, knowledge organization, knowledge sharing and knowledge leverage. This research used a qualitative method, and data were collected through questionnaires. The 92 respondents were the staff of office. The data were analyzed through SPSS software. The findings of this research reveal that, the knowledge creation and knowledge organization were in good level, but knowledge sharing condition was not suitable, therefore, it has negative effect on leveraging knowledge, hence we tried to demonstrate a knowledge management implementation model using the knowledge management concept and taking advantage from the concept of excellence model by the purpose of continuous improvement. This paper suggests proper knowledge management implementation （KMI） is a managerial approach that can turn an organization to an agile one. In order to verify and validate the performed research, the planned model has been accomplished in the Hydropower Plant Department, Water Recourses Management Company, positive and acceptable results were obtained and organizations total factor productivity increase was achieved which was appreciated by the organization.     

Possible selves and identity in relation to career development: evidence from Chilean male middle‐aged managers' career narratives

Social and economic conditions, as well as the dynamism of the Chilean labour market, place new demands on middle‐aged workers who have to explore both internal and external opportunities to develop successful careers. We assumed that possible self and identity in future states are core organizing aspects in this process. Identities, being core components of the self‐concept, comprise self‐representations that are contextually based and rooted in a social structure. Given the fact that there is a serious lack of empirical research in this domain, this study was aimed to help close an important gap in the literature. More specifically, it was intended to better understand the role played by possible selves and identity – that is, knowledge about what the self might eventually achieve or become – in career development. Based on an in‐depth qualitative study among 25 male middle‐aged Chilean managers, we found that the possible selves reported: (1) are evolving processes that vary in terms of content, stability and elaboration; (2) are related to career variety; (3) help in both career transitions and the adjustment process in novel situations; and (4) act as an incentive in career development. It is important to stress that in cases of challenging work contexts, employees are urged to create and recreate new selves and identities at work in order to increase their adaptability to ever‐increasing working life demands and enhance their employability.