A Unified View of Nonparametric Trend-Cycle Predictors Via Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces

We provide a common approach for studying several nonparametric estimators used for smoothing functional time series data. Linear filters based on different building assumptions are transformed into kernel functions via reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces. For each estimator, we identify a density function or second order kernel, from which a hierarchy of higher order estimators is derived. These are shown to give excellent representations for the currently applied symmetric filters. In particular, we derive equivalent kernels of smoothing splines in Sobolev and polynomial spaces. The asymmetric weights are obtained by adapting the kernel functions to the length of the various filters, and a theoretical and empirical comparison is made with the classical estimators used in real time analysis. The former are shown to be superior in terms of signal passing, noise suppression and speed of convergence to the symmetric filter.     

Box–Cox t random intercept model for estimating usual nutrient intake distributions

The issue of estimating usual nutrient intake distributions and prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes is of interest in nutrition studies. Box–Cox transformations coupled with the normal distribution are usually employed for modeling nutrient intake data. When the data present highly asymmetric distribution or include outliers, this approach may lead to implausible estimates. Additionally, it does not allow interpretation of the parameters in terms of characteristics of the original data and requires back transformation of the transformed data to the original scale. This paper proposes an alternative approach for estimating usual nutrient intake distributions and prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes through a Box–Cox t model with random intercept. The proposed model is flexible enough for modeling highly asymmetric data even when outliers are present. Unlike the usual approach, the proposed model does not require a transformation of the data. A simulation study suggests that the Box–Cox t model with random intercept estimates the usual intake distribution satisfactorily, and that it should be preferable to the usual approach particularly in cases of highly asymmetric heavy-tailed data. In applications to data sets on intake of 19 micronutrients, the Box–Cox t models provided better fit than its competitors in most of the cases.     

The development of economic notions: Single sequence or separate acquisitions?

The conceptions on shops and factories of a group of 3rd-grade children were assessed by means of the Piagetian clinical method. Factorial analysis showed that children's answers about the two economic institutions yielded two distinct factors. Children were then divided into three groups (one control and two experimental); children in the experimental groups were taught, by means of two different training procedures, how the shopkeeper can earn a profit. A post-test interview, one month later, showed that both experimental groups had progressed in the target notion; however, children did not generalize to the factory what they had learned about shops. According to these results, 3rd-graders' thinking about economics consists of separate part-systems, which will eventually become integrated as children grow older.     

Explaining Legislators’ Actions on Behalf of Women in the Parliamentary Party Group: The Role of Attitudes,Resources, and Opportunities

Scholars of women’s substantive representation have often looked for an empirical link between legislators’ sex and their actions on behalf of women. However, to understand “how women’s substantive representation occurs” (Celis et al. 2008), studies also need to consider differences that exist among women and include men’s activities in the analyses. This contribution presents several sources that explain women’s as well as men’s agenda-setting behavior on behalf of women in 11 European democracies. The sources relate to legislators’ feminist awareness, gender-related resources, and the incentives they receive from the party-political context.     

Employment Decisions of Married Women: Evidence and Explanations

Aggregate evidence has revealed a significant increase in women’s labour market participation (especially among married women) and a decline in male participation, both in Italy and in all the other OECD countries. This paper empirically tests the relationship between the education and employment status of husbands and wives using the Bank of Italy Survey (1995). The results of our analysis show that employed women are likely to be married to employed men with a higher level of education and higher income. The estimates of the labour supply decisions of wives show that the effect of the unemployment status of husbands is mediated by other factors associated with the family’s view of wives working outside home. The response to a husband’s unemployment depends significantly on the employment decisions of parents (mothers and mothers‐in‐law), a proxy for the couple’s attitude towards women’s work.     

Fertility and Employment in Italy,France, and the UK

Abstract. According to the agenda for employment set by the European Union in 2000 for the following 10 years, the target for female employment was set at 60 per cent for the year 2010. Although Northern and most Continental countries have achieved this quantitative target, the Mediterranean countries are lagging behind. Labor market policies should be aimed to encourage women's participation and reduce the cost of working. However, the persistence of a negative relationship between participation and fertility in these countries implies that it is important to take fertility into account. We analyse a model of labor supply and fertility, using data from the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) for the period 1994–2000, merged with regional data describing the available labor market opportunities in the households’ environment.     

The Value Relevance of Fair Value

This paper investigates the value relevance of revalued tangible assets and its variation depending on industry, size of the firm and age of revalued amounts. It examines the reaction of investors on the Romanian market, a developing market, in the period of economic growth between 2003 and 2007, before Romania’s adherence to the European Union. Also, it suggests a model which allows for the comparative analysis of the influence over share price attributed to two equity growth sources: revaluation reserves and operational profit. The findings confirm the central hypothesis of the study—revaluated amounts of tangible assets are value relevant—and verify the predictive and feedback value, timeliness, reliability, and the possibilities for fair value implementation, characteristics which have been selected for testing. However, the results are less consistent than the outcome of the variable which reflects the equity growth due to profit, which leads to a moderate value relevance of fair value in the case of revaluated tangible assets. The value relevance analysis on clusters verifies the established hypotheses regarding the superiority of value relevance for the manufacturing sector as opposed to the service sector and of revaluations older than 2 years compared to more recent revaluations. The hypothesis regarding higher value relevance of revaluated amounts disclosed by large firms compared to SMEs is not confirmed, as only the latter presented significant statistical values.     

Gambling Disorder: Exploring Pre-treatment and In-treatment Dropout Predictors. A UK Study

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of treatment dropout in a sample of gamblers attending a specialist clinic for gambling disorder. We analysed data on 846 treatment-seeking pathological gamblers. Firstly, we investigated differences in socio-demographic and clinical variables between treatment completers and pre-treatment dropouts, as well as between treatment completers and during-treatment dropouts. Subsequently, variables were entered into a multinomial logistic regression model to identify significant predictors of pre-treatment and in-treatment dropout. Overall, 44.8% of clients did not complete the treatment: 27.4% dropped out before starting it, while 17.4% dropped out during the treatment. Younger age and use of drugs were associated with pre-treatment dropout, while family history of gambling disorder, a lower PGSI score, and being a smoker were related with in-treatment dropout. Our findings suggest that pre-treatment dropouts differ from in-treatment dropouts, and, thus, further research will benefit from considering these groups separately. In addition, this newly gained knowledge will also be helpful in increasing treatment retention in specific subgroups of problem gamblers.     

Relational Resources of Individuals Living in Couple: Evidence from an Italian Survey

The need for support becomes stronger in situations of pressure, uncertainty and overload caused by unfavorable economic, demographic or social circumstances. Especially in countries—such as Italy—where an adequate welfare system is lacking, the individual’s social space can represent a resilience (anti-frailty) tool through the activation of a support network. While the literature has mainly analyzed the support that some vulnerable categories (e.g., elderly and youths) receive from their family, we focus on individuals living in Italy in the first stages of their family life, with the aim of describing their support network. We construct the potential support ego-centered (PSE) network—at partner and couple level—of individuals living in couple using data from the survey “Family and Social Subjects” carried out in Italy in 2009 by the Italian National Statistical Institute. Furthermore, we compare the network typologies detected using two alternative clustering techniques with the objective of finding the partners’ and couples’ network types and verifying whether traditional strong support received by the family persists in Italy and/or whether new kinds of support networks are emerging. Several PSE network typologies, ranging from empty to comprehensive networks, were determined with a fair match between the two procedures. Analysis revealed the importance of friends and neighbors, especially in the North of Italy, to the support of partners and couple as a whole.     

Representativeness in panel surveys

ABSTRACT

A panel is a set of units recruited and used in successive surveys. When the sample unit is the household, so-called R-indicators together with the comparison of distributions of certain variables to those known in the total population help to measure the representativeness of the panel. The method is applied to Understanding Society, a U.K. household longitudinal study. At each wave, under- and over-represented groups of individuals are identified. This allows the implementation of better survey designs and procedures to reduce the bias of nonresponse.