ON OPTIMAL AND AD HOC STABILIZATION POLICY RULES

This paper compares the structure of ad hoc stabilization policy rules of the type suggested by Phillips with the structure of optimal policy rules derived for the same models using the Maximum principle. More particularly the paper suggests that the performance of ad hoc rules could be improved by reformulating them to accommodate both the lag structure and the forecast structure of the underlying macroeconomic model. The paper also illustrates the superiority of policy rules which utilize time-varying policy coefficients.     

The Relationship Between Divorce and Children with AD/HD of Different Subtypes and Comorbidity: Results from a Clinically Referred Sample

This study investigated the relationship between divorce and the symptom profile of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). The files of 1,201 children from a pediatric practice in Sydney, Australia were used in this study. Children were aged 6 to 18 years, and were diagnosed with either the inattentive or combined type of AD/HD. Results show that 213 children had parents who were divorced. Children with the combined type, and especially boys with comorbid conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder (CD/ODD) were more common in the divorced group, and children of the inattentive type with comorbid learning disabilities were overrepresented in nondivorced families. Results suggest that divorce is associated with disruptive behavior patterns in children with AD/HD. The importance of including marital status as an important correlate in AD/HD treatment outcomes is discussed.