Statistical Issues in Macroeconomic Modelling*

The paper describes the influx of mathematical statistics in economics. It focuses on an approach to macroeconometric modelling which is based on fundamental statistical concepts like the joint distribution function of all observable variables for the whole sample period. The methodology relies on valid conditioning and marginalization of this function in order to arrive at tractable subsystems, which can be analysed with statistical methods. Two case studies—the modelling of the household sector and of wages and prices in the Norges Bank RIMINI model—highlight this.     

Global Cities,Public Transportation,and Social Exclusion: A Study of the Bus System in Abu Dhabi

As cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council grow and integrate with global markets, questions relating to their unique social compositions continue to emerge. Abu Dhabi has been competing with other cities in the region through massive investments in infrastructure and megaprojects, including the provision of public transportation. The paper examines the issues of bus ridership in Abu Dhabi and relates it to the broader debates on social exclusion and transportation. As a globalizing city with a majority expatriate population, and with a large presence of blue-collar workers, unique rifts in the society are further complicating the ‘usual’ prejudice against buses. The paper reports on results from fieldwork including surveys and observations. It concludes that the bus system could be more effective in fostering social inclusion if a broader accessibility planning approach is used.     

Integrating people with disabilities: their right – our responsibility

A full understanding of disability recognizes that it has a powerful human rights dimension and is often associated with social exclusion, and increased exposure and vulnerability to poverty. Disability is a human rights issue. The World Bank (1999) report points out that one in five of the world’s poorest are disabled, for whom access to basic rights is a daily struggle. Though arising from physical or intellectual impairment, disability has social implications as well as health ones. In most countries, government services for disabled people are still small‐scale rehabilitation projects separated from the rest of the community. People with disabilities are amongst the poorest of the poor. Barriers built by disability and poverty can only be removed by the concerted and integrated effort of the government, NGOs, corporates, movie mughals and educational institutions. It is the duty of the rest of society to acknowledge the rights of the poor and the disabled. This can no longer be treated as philanthropy but is a responsibility.     

Vulnerability,Risk Perception,and Health Profile of Marginalized People Exposed to Multiple Built‐Environment Stressors in Worcester,Massachusetts: A Pilot Project

Millions of low‐income people of diverse ethnicities inhabit stressful old urban industrial neighborhoods. Yet we know little about the health impacts of built‐environment stressors and risk perceptions in such settings; we lack even basic health profiles. Difficult access is one reason (it took us 30 months to survey 80 households); the lack of multifaceted survey tools is another. We designed and implemented a pilot vulnerability assessment tool in Worcester, Massachusetts. We answer: (1) How can we assess vulnerability to multiple stressors? (2) What is the nature of complex vulnerability—including risk perceptions and health profiles? (3) How can findings be used by our wider community, and what lessons did we learn? (4) What implications arise for science and policy? We sought a holistic picture of neighborhood life. A reasonably representative sample of 80 respondents captured data for 254 people about: demographics, community concerns and resources, time‐activity patterns, health information, risk/stress perceptions, and resources/capacities for coping. Our key findings derive partly from the survey data and partly from our experience in obtaining those data. Data strongly suggest complex vulnerability dominated by psychosocial stress. Unexpected significant gender and ethnic disease disparities emerged: notably, females have twice the disease burden of males, and white females twice the burden of females of color (p < 0.01). Self‐reported depression differentiated by gender and age is illustrative. Community based participatory research (CBPR) approaches require active engagement with marginalized populations, including representatives as funded partners. Complex vulnerability necessitates holistic, participatory approaches to improve scientific understanding and societal responses.     

W. E. B. Du Bois at the center: from science,civil rights movement,to Black Lives Matter

I am honoured to present the 2016 British Journal of Sociology Annual Lecture at the London School of Economics. My lecture is based on ideas derived from my new book, The Scholar Denied: W.E.B. Du Bois and the Birth of Modern Sociology. In this essay I make three arguments. First, W.E.B. Du Bois and his Atlanta School of Sociology pioneered scientific sociology in the United States. Second, Du Bois pioneered a public sociology that creatively combined sociology and activism. Finally, Du Bois pioneered a politically engaged social science relevant for contemporary political struggles including the contemporary Black Lives Matter movement.     

边缘化：高校辅导员工作的尴尬处境及其对策

新时期高校学生思想政治工作面临新的机遇和挑战。本文从高校辅导员工作边缘化现象及成因入手,试图探讨解决辅导员工作边缘化问题的有效途径。     

光荣的独舞——重返文研会“拜伦百年祭”现场

1924年,由于创造社等团体的缺席,文学研究会通过"百年祭"活动独力将中国的"拜伦热"推向高潮,其成果也体现了当时中国学界拜伦研究的侧重点,代表了当时的拜伦研究水平.其后,在激烈的现实斗争环境中,拜伦遭到边缘化.     

组织员工边缘化管理研究综述

本文从组织员工边缘化的定义、特征、类型、成因、影响、边缘员工困境、防治、实证8个方面总结了目前学者们对组织员工边缘化的研究现状;可以看到对组织员工边缘化的研究在员工边缘化的管理理论基础、员工边缘化的判断标准与量表开发、组织员工群体边缘化、边缘化员工的利益诉求与维护、不同层级的员工边缘化以及组织员工边缘化的动态管理体系的构建6个方面还有待加强。     

美学与政治——莫的“黑孩”与福克纳的“班吉”对比研究简

随着人们审美意识的觉醒,美学进入了生活的各个领域,政治美学的诞生体现了两者间的相互渗透性,关注人性是政治与美学结合的基础,这也为彼此间深层次结构的探索提供了可能。莫言中篇小说《透明的红萝卜》中的黑孩及福克纳小说《喧哗与骚动》中的班吉两个人物的美学形象为我们揭示了人物之间在社会关系、话语权力及意识形态中的相互交织与矛盾冲突。     

社会排斥与农民工的城市融入问题

农民工在城市社会遭受着经济、政治、文化、社会保障、教育和空间等多个方面的社会排斥.这种排斥通过制度机制、群体机制、市场机制、农民工适应能力等得以运作,它主要是一种制度性排斥.在社会排斥的境况下,农民工内部的不同群体在融入现状与前景上是有差异的,大量农民工将在城市长期维持一种边缘化状态,并形成边缘化的再生产,这可能带来一系列消极社会影响.为此,必须采取彻底改革城乡二元分割制度等对策.