The choice axiom,revealed preference,and the theory of demand

The paper relates the classical economic theory of consumer demand to Luce's well-known general theory of choice behaviour. After discussing some fundamental similarities between the two theories, a simplified variant of Luce's probabilistic theory is used as an aid to construct, by analogy, a generalization of the classical theory of demand. In the light of Luce's theory it is then examined in what sense the representative demand of the uncertain consumer will coincide with the demand that maximizes utility, and in what sense it will coincide with classical demand.     

Sexual expression: its emotional context in heterosexual, gay, and lesbian couples

Much of what is known about emotions and sexuality explores the relationship enhancing qualities of positive affect. This research extends the current literature by focusing on the association between negative feelings and sexual thoughts and experiences in the context of close relationships, controlling for the effect of positive feelings. Specifically, the unique effects of daily negative feelings toward one's partner in general and specific negative feelings (i.e., anger, anxiety, and sadness) on the sexual experience of heterosexual, gay male, and lesbian relationships were explored. Participants completed an initial questionnaire followed by daily diary measures for 14 consecutive days. Positive feelings were positively associated with sexual variables as expected. Negative feelings were associated with increases in sexual behaviors for heterosexual men and women and gay men, but not lesbian women. Sadness showed a unique positive association with arousal, lust, wanted sexual behavior, and sexual behavior for heterosexual men and women and gay men, but not lesbian women. Neither anger nor anxiety was uniquely associated with the sexual experience for heterosexual or same-sex couples.     

Migration,Precarization and the Democratic Deficit in Global Governance

This article attempts to provide a critical understanding of the dual signification of “precarity”. It explores what “precarity” as a concept may potentially offer to studies of the changing contemporary political economy of migration. It discusses shifting trends in global migration and point to tendencies for a possible convergence between “South” and “North”, “East” and “West”. Based on a review of current advances in research, it discusses, with reference to the classical work of Karl Polanyi, the potential for a contemporary “countermovement” which would challenge the precarity of migrants. Bringing forward the issue of the “space for civil society” the article addresses a still lingering democratic deficit in the global governance of migration.

Policy Implications

The article is relevant to policymakers, trade unions and civil society organizations. It contributes to the understanding of policy making processes in emerging multilevel global governance and focuses on issues of precarization, migration, and the implementation and accountability of human, migrant and labour rights.     

Hispanic Immigration and Black Violence at the Macro‐Level: Examining the Conditioning Effect of Victim Race/Ethnicity

Much attention has been devoted to the relationship between Hispanic immigration and violent offending at the macro‐level, including how it varies across racial and ethnic groups. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to the conditioning effect of the race/ethnicity of the victim, or how Hispanic immigration is associated with crime by one racial/ethnic group against members of the same or different groups. Using National Incident‐Based Reporting System offending estimates and American Community Survey data, we examine the association between Hispanic immigration and black intra‐ and intergroup (black‐on‐white and black‐on‐Hispanic) homicide, robbery, and serious index violence in over 350 U.S. communities. We employ advanced imputation methods to address missing data that have constrained much prior research, as well as utilize crime measures adjusted for the likelihood of random contact between groups. Findings suggest that (1) Hispanic immigration has a positive association with black violence on the whole, but that (2) this association is conditioned by the race/ethnicity of the victim. Our results reinforce the importance of distinguishing across offender–victim dyads in research on the immigration–crime nexus, particularly in light of competing theoretical expectations. Directions for future research and policy are discussed.     

Sectors of activity, topography, and parasitism in home areas of New Guinea coarse-haired rats, and Trombiculidae (Acarina)

Summary Home areas of hosts are, in effect the gardens in which parasite populations grow. The parasites flourish in response to the kind and amount of host activity modified, of course, by the habitat, and become microcommunities supported by their host and its artifacts. When scatter diagrams of points at which hosts have been observed are divided by median major and minor axes, and when the resulting four quarters, designated A, B, C, D, corresponding to concentration of points in the quarters, the relative concentration usually is: A>B>C>D. The concentration of observed points also is generally greatest nearest the major axis and frequently, but not always, near the median center. Nests of hosts, hence nest-parasites, appear generally to be near the center. For the host examined in detail here, the New Guinea coarse-haired rat, mostLeptotrombidium deliensis appear to have been acquired in the AB sector of the host's home areas but a greater diversity of chiggers is acquired in the CD sector. It is postulated that, ifL. akamushi had been present, it would have occurred in the CD sector where, though the observed concentration of host activity was least, the mixed grassforb and shrub habitat would have been more suitable than in the AB sector.Gahrliepia pingue, C. ewingi, Schoengastia blestowei andS. schueffneri, appear also to be more abundant in the CD sector than in the AB sector. The chiggers themselves have home clusters, or lairs, and adjacent areas of activity (home areas) somewhat resembling those of the hosts. This analysis of sectors of home areas was begun in 1965 under provision of a research grant (AI-03653) by the National Institutes of Health to the Division of Parasitology, University of California at Berkeley. It was completed during 1967.     

Does Activism in Social Science Explain Conservatives’ Distrust of Scientists?

Data from the General Social Survey suggest that conservatives have become less trustful of scientists since the 1970s. Gauchat argues that this is because conservatives increasingly see scientific findings as threatening to their worldview. However, the General Social Survey data concern trust in scientists, not in science. We suggest that conservatives’ diminishing trust in scientists reflects the fact that scientists in certain fields, particularly social science, have increasingly adopted a liberal-activist stance, seeking to influence public policy in a liberal direction.     

Implementing media literacy training for social work programs at HBCUs: A literary analysis of barriers and opportunities

ABSTRACT

The image of the social work profession in the media is problematic for many reasons. Social work and its practitioners are often depicted as incompetent, ineffective, and unnecessary. Despite the necessity of the services provided to the public by social workers, public opinion of the profession remains low. To reverse the current trend, social work programs, particularly those at historically Black colleges and universities, can begin to provide media literacy training and media awareness within the curriculum to assist future social workers in stemming the tide of negative coverage and portrayals of the profession in the media. Using the media diffusion of information theory as an overview, this literary analysis provides a historical view of the profession and highlights current trends in social work practice, education, and media training.     

Modeling Take-or-Pay Contract Decisions

Long-term purchase contracts for natural resources, such as natural gas, often contain take-or-pay provisions that penalize the buyer for not purchasing (taking) a minimum quantity of output over some period of time. In some contracts for a limited time interval, known as the make-up period, the penalty payments can be credited against future “takes” in excess of the take-or-pay level. Additionally, options to “buy down” or “buy out” existing contracts, or to initiate new contracts, may exist. The purchaser, faced with projected requirements over some planning horizon, must determine purchase levels from a selected set of take-or-pay contracts so as to minimize purchase, inventory holding, penalty costs, contract initiation, and buy-out or buy-down costs. This paper presents a mixed-integer programming model of take-or-pay decisions with and without make-up provisions.