Obituary: Henri Theil, 1924–2000

This note contains a short biography of Professor Henri Theil and a brief sketch of his contributions to econometrics and related fields. Professor Theil is known as the author of the Principles of Econometrics , one of the most cited advanced textbooks of econometrics, and in particular made a large number of contributions including two and three stage least squares, the inequality coefficient, the Rotterdam model of consumer demand and the entropy based measure for income inequality.     

Further experience in Bayesian analysis using Monte Carlo integration

An earlier paper [Kloek and Van Dijk (1978)] is extended in three ways. First, Monte Carlo integration is performed in a nine-dimensional parameter space of Klein's model I [Klein (1950)]. Second, Monte Carlo is used as a tool for the elicitation of a uniform prior on a finite region by making use of several types of prior information. Third, special attention is given to procedures for the construction of importance functions which make use of nonlinear optimization methods.     

Een produktieproces in ontwikkeling

Waarin de lezer wordt rondgeleid in een fabriek die met behulp van econometrische methoden kwantitativee economische beleidsadviezen produceert; en waarin enige voordelen worden geschilderd van het vervangen van machines van het merk Neyman-Pearson door machines van het merk Bayes. Rede uitgesproken bij de aanvaarding van ambt van gewoon hoogleraar in de econometrie aan de Nederlandse Economische Hogeschool, te Rotterdam op 8 februari 1968. 1) Zie Tinbergen (1936); voor een Engelse vertaling: Tinbergen (1959).     

Beyond Ethnic Stereotypes – Identities and Outdoor Recreation Among Immigrants and Nonimmigrants in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT

Studies on immigrants' recreational use of greenspace have tended to focus on ethnic groups as homogeneous entities. In a qualitative study based on group interviews, this article focuses on the cultural diversity among and within ethnic groups. We used an identity perspective to study outdoor recreation of young Dutch adults with Chinese, Turkish, or nonimmigrant backgrounds. Results show that primarily personal identities, age, and ethnicity inform recreational behavior. The multiplicity of peoples' identities results in more heterogeneity between and within ethnic groups, as well as more homogeneity between immigrants and nonimmigrants, than commonly described. When immigrants are considered as a homogeneous group that underparticipates in outdoor recreation, individual immigrants who frequently participate in outdoor recreation are overlooked. Furthermore, we show that acculturation does not progress at the same rate among all ethnic groups, and that ethnic identity may be sustained among second and subsequent generations through certain recreational activities.     

Efficient estimation of income distribution parameters

The parameters of several families of distributions are estimated by means of minimum χ²; use is made of random samples taken from Dutch income-earning groups in 1973. The numerical search routine used, is the Complex method due to Box. The χ² function is evaluated by standard numerical integration procedures. The lognormal and the Gamma families are rejected because of a poor fit. The log t and the log Pearson IV families are introduced. This results in a considerable improvement of χ² critical levels. The generalized Gamma and the Champernowne function describe the income distribution reasonably well in some cases.