Towards a theory of point optimal testing

This paper puts the case for the inclusion of point optimal tests in the econometrician's repertoire. They do not suit every testing situation but the current evidence, which is reviewed here, indicates that they can have extremely useful Small-sample power properties. As well as being most powerful at a nominated point in the alternative hypothesis parameter space, they may also have optimum power at a number of other points and indeed be uniformly most powerful when such a test exists. Point optimal tests can also be used to trace out the maxemum attainable power envelope for a given testing problem, thus providing a benchmark against which test procedures can be evaluated. In some cases, point optimal tests can be constructed from tests of simple null hypothesis against a simple alternative. For a wide range of models of interst to econometricians, this paper shows how one can check whether a point optimal test can be constructed in this way. When it cannot, one may wish to consider approximately point optimal tests. As an illustration, the approach is applied to the non-nested problem of testing for AR(1) distrubances against MA(1) distrubances in the linear regression model.     

PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT IN THE HOME IN NEW ZEALAND

Results are reported for a national opinion poll of 1,000 adult New Zealanders which focussed on two questions: what are New Zealand parents currently doing to discipline their children, and what are the current attitudes of New Zealanders towards physical punishment in the home? Changes appear to be occurring in the attitudes and behaviour of New Zealanders toward physical punishment in the home. Although smacking with the hand is still both approved and used as a common parental response to the misbehaviour of children of all ages, anything more severe is no longer part of the repertoire of most parents or the experience of most children. Further evidence of change is provided by data on difference among the groups in the sample. Younger parents, current parents and the more highly educated are less likely to report using and endorsing the more severe forms of physical punishment that those who are older, have never had children or who have less education. Unlike the reported child-rearing practices of 30 years ago, parents today appear to be making use of a range of non-physical responses to misbehaviour and are more frequently explaining or discussing matters with their children.     

CRITICAL VALUE APPROXIMATIONS FOR TESTS OF LINEAR REGRESSION DISTURBANCES

Two important classes of tests for non-spherical disturbances in the linear regression model involve test statistics whose null distributions and hence critical values depend on the regressors. This paper investigates the accuracy of the normal, two moment beta and four moment beta approximations to the critical values of such tests. An empirical experiment aimed at evaluating the accuracy of the approximations for a variety of tests against autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity is conducted. Overall the approximations are found to provide reasonably accurate critical values with skewness being a factor determining the degree of accuracy.     

A “Subterranean Agenda”? Racial Attitudes, Presidential Evaluations, and Tea Party Membership

Recent research suggests that fiscally conservative policy preferences and disapproval of President Obama are significant predictors of Tea Party membership (Maxwell and Parent 2012). Unfortunately, however, we know very little about the reasons why Tea Party members so aggressively disapprove of President Obama. While Tea Party members adamantly deny that President Obama’s race plays any role in their motivations, their critics argue that racial attitudes are a primary reason why individuals choose to join the movement. In this article, using national survey data conducted by Knowledge Networks (n = 1649), we explore the possibility that three unique racial attitudes have been influential in the establishment of the Tea Party. Specifically, we investigate the role of symbolic racism, racial stereotypes, and ethnocentrism as predictors of self-identified Tea Party membership among whites.     

Step to college. Moving from the high school career academy through the 4-year university.

This study addresses the question "Do school-to-work programs, as embodied by career academies, facilitate postsecondary education?" The author conceptualizes postsecondary education as a series of steps through the university and examines the high school career academy's influence on entrance into, route through, and outcomes from a 4-year university. Data are drawn from applicant and student records at a comprehensive, urban university for all individuals originating from a single district's high schools. The findings suggest that students from career academies have higher academic achievement upon leaving high school, less need for remediation in English at the university, and a 4-percentage-point increase in graduation from the university than students who are not from academies. These findings suggest that school-to-work programs could facilitate positive outcomes in postsecondary education. However, the continued high rates of remediation and the low rates of graduation, even for students from career academics, suggest that their influence might not be enough to ensure success in postsecondary education. This analysis therefore suggests that further research should identify program components that increase postsecondary education and determine how these components can be institutionalized and built on in subsequent reforms.     

Solution of a single stage machine load planning problem

A subgradient algorithm and a binary integer assignment algorithm are used in tandem to determine economic run quantities for an injection molding facility. The model considers machine regular time and overtime capability, machine-tool compatibility, storage area capacity, and the economics of lot size decisions. Use of the model in scheduling and alternative facility evaluation are discussed.