Simulating from polynomial-normal distributions

The family of polynomial-normal distributions includes a number of widely used distributions, such as the Gram–Charlier and Edgeworth distributions. In this note, we present three simple algorithms, (i) CDF Inversion, (ii) Acceptance–Rejection, (iii) and Ratio–of–Uniforms, for simulating variates from a polynomial-normal distribution. Details on the efficiency of the Acceptance–Rejection and the Ratio–of–Uniforms algorithms and a comparison across the various implementations are provided.     

Social Entrepreneurship and Institutional Sustainability: Insights from an Embedded Social Enterprise

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations - Mainstream enterprises function by alleviating the cognitive burdens on their members and hence generating an...     

Multivariate generalized linear mixed models with?semi-nonparametric and smooth nonparametric random effects densities

We extend the family of multivariate generalized linear mixed models to include random effects that are generated by smooth densities. We consider two such families of densities, the so-called semi-nonparametric (SNP) and smooth nonparametric (SMNP) densities. Maximum likelihood estimation, under either the SNP or the SMNP densities, is carried out using a Monte Carlo EM algorithm. This algorithm uses rejection sampling and automatically increases the MC sample size as it approaches convergence. In a simulation study we investigate the performance of these two densities in capturing the true underlying shape of the random effects distribution. We also examine the implications of misspecification of the random effects distribution on the estimation of the fixed effects and their standard errors. The impact of the assumed random effects density on the estimation of the random effects themselves is investigated in a simulation study and also in an application to a real data set.     

Greasy Roads: The Impact of Bad Financial News on Road Traffic Accidents

We use evidence from a natural experiment in Greece to study the effect of the announcement of austerity measures on road traffic accidents (RTAs). We use daily RTA data from 2010 and 2011, during which a number of austerity measures were announced, including salary and pension cuts and an increase in direct and indirect taxes. We find that controlling for other factors potentially influencing RTAs, the number of RTAs increased significantly on the first two days following the announcements of austerity measures. We put forward some tentative suggestions for why this happens.     

On the generalized cumulative residual entropy weighted distributions

Recently, Feizjavadian and Hashemi (2015 Feizjavadian, S.H., Hashemi, R. (2015). Mean residual weighted versus the length-biased Rayleigh distribution. J. Stat. Comput. Simul. 85:2823–2838.[Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) introduced and studied the mean residual weighted (MRW) distribution as an alternative to the length-biased distribution, by using the concepts of the mean residual lifetime and the cumulative residual entropy (CRE). In this article, a new sequence of weighted distributions is introduced based on the generalized CRE. This sequence includes the MRW distribution. Properties of this sequence are obtained generalizing and extending previous results on the MRW distribution. Moreover, expressions for some known distributions are given, and finite mixtures between the new sequence of weighted distributions and the length-biased distribution are studied. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the new results.     

Characterizations based on generalized cumulative residual entropy functions

The Shannon entropy and the cumulative residual entropy (CRE) of a random variable are useful tools in probability theory. Recently, a new concept called generalized cumulative residual entropy (GCRE) of order n was introduced and studied. It is related with the record values of a sequence of i.i.d. random variables and with the relevation transform. In this paper, we show that, under some assumptions, the GCRE function of a fixed order n uniquely determines the distribution function. Some characterizations of particular probability models are obtained from this general result.     

PERCEIVED GAME UNCERTAINTY,SUSPENSE AND THE DEMAND FOR SPORT

This study tries bridging between different behavioral economic explanations for the lack of support of the uncertainty of outcome hypothesis in spectator sports. We test a measure of perceived game uncertainty that is comparable to objective measures frequently tested in the literature. Econometric results suggest that fans do not perceive closeness of a game differently than how economists have tended to measure it. However, fans' perceptions of suspensefulness are distinct from their perceptions of game uncertainty. Moreover, the finding that fans' preferences for game uncertainty are dominated by loss aversion also emerges—independently of fanship status—in our stated‐preference setting. (JEL L83, D12, Z2)     

Adolescent Online Gambling: The Impact of Parental Practices and Correlates with Online Activities

We present results from a cross-sectional study of the entire adolescent student population aged 12–19 of the island of Kos and their parents, on the relationship between their Internet gambling and respective parental practices, including aspects of psychological bonding and online security measures. The sample consisted of 2,017 students (51.8% boys, 48.2% girls). Our results indicate that gender, parenting practices as perceived by the adolescents and distinct patterns of adolescent Internet activities are among the best predictor variables for Internet gambling. Security practices exercised by the parents failed to make an impact on the extent of Internet gambling, demonstrating the need for specific measures to tackle this phenomenon since the provision of simple education on the dangers of the Internet is not sufficient to this regard.     

Bullying and ethnic diversity: investigating their relation in the school setting

This particular study investigated school bullying in relation to ethnic diversity in Cyprus. The research involved 469, 8–14 years old pupils of Cypriot origin and 83 pupils of non-Cypriot origin. Two different questionnaires, one for Cypriot and one for non-Cypriot students, were used and data was analyzed using the SPSS statistical package. The findings showed that ethnic diversity seems to be a factor that can precipitate school bullying and victimization in Cypriot primary and secondary schools, that non-Cypriot students feel more victimized than their Cypriot classmates and that they prefer to share their experiences relating to bullying with someone outside of the school. Additionally, the study revealed that verbal and psychological bullying were the most common kinds of bullying that Cypriot and non-Cypriot students faced, and that both groups limit their knowledge of each other to ‘songs, language, food and games’. The study also showed that the teacher’s role in facing and preventing bullying related to ethno-cultural diversity is critical. Finally, citizenship education and the use of mediation techniques are proposed as a means to foster non- Cypriot students’ social inclusion and, thus, prevent their victimization.     

The Contingent Effect of TMT International Experience on Firms’ Internationalization Speed

Drawing on upper echelons theory, we argue that there will be an inverted U‐curve‐shaped relationship between the top management team's (TMT's) level of international experience and a firm's internationalization speed. Accounting for the role of executive job demands highlighted in upper echelons theory, we further suggest that competitive pressure, product diversification and geographic scope moderate the relationship between TMT international experience and internationalization speed by increasing the demands of TMT managers’ jobs. Using data on the international expansion of 91 retailers between 2003 and 2012, we find empirical support for the inverted U‐curve‐shaped effect of TMT international experience and the moderating role of competitive pressure. We find no moderating effect of product diversification or geographic scope.