Asymptotic distributions of statistics and parameter estimates for mixed Poisson processes

Mixed Poisson processes have been used as natural models for events occurring in continuous or discrete time. Our main result is the derivation of the joint asymptotic distributions of statistics, including parameter estimators, computed in different time intervals from data generated by mixed Poisson processes. These distributions can be used, for example, to test the hypothesis about the adequacy of the mixed Poisson process against data. We provide some simulation results and test the model on actual market research data.     

The relationship between leisure and life satisfaction: application of activity and need theory

The purpose of this study was to better understand the complex relationship between leisure and life satisfaction. Components of two distinct, but potentially integrative, theoretical frameworks (i.e., activity theory and need theory) predicting the relationship between leisure and life satisfaction were tested with a sample of residents from a Midwestern community (n = 633). Findings provided support for both theoretical perspectives, but stronger relationships were found between satisfied needs than with participated activities. In spite of these findings, the various inconsistencies within the two theoretical frameworks suggest that future research is needed.     

Communicating Research to Policymakers

This piece offers suggestions based on some things we expected to learn and from some things we did not expect to learn about communicating research to congressional policymakers. Some of these are insider discoveries from working as a professional staff member for a joint committee of the US Senate and the US House of Representatives. Other things we learned came largely as surprises from attempts to provide basic information and issue awareness about socioeconomic conditions in the Southern Black Belt directly to the Congress as well as indirectly through public interest and grassroots groups. One of the surprising discoveries, working professionally both on the inside of Congress and on the outside as social scientists, is how well social interaction actually works. And there were other surprises as well. This article is based on an August 16 panel presentation by the first author at the 2003 meeting of the American Sociological Association in Atlanta. The panel was organized by Larry Burmeister of the University of Kentucky. Material written in the first person singular in the first section of this article, “From the Inside,” is from the first author’s experiences. Later, portions of the text beginning with the subhead, “On the Outside,” and stated in the first person plural are by both authors.     

SPC Study of a Brewing Process

The process of brewing is a complex one, in which several biological and chemical reactions occur that involve many variables and their interactions. This pilot study is an attempt to understand and to control the chemical and biological nature of the process of 'beer cooking'. Through data collection and analysis the measurement system was initially evaluated and improved to allow the assessment of the stability of the analysed response variable: wort's F (F is a fictitious name for this variable due to confidentiality). Next, a deeper analysis was carried out to characterize, improve and control the behaviour of this factor by means of confidence intervals and several regression analyses. The way to control F is by adding a certain amount of element X according to a previously empirically developed table. After the analyses, this table was questioned and a new one was developed. This study is the outcome of the willingness of a group of people in this company to incorporate into its traditional and, at some stages, artisan way of producing beer, the utilization of statistical techniques for analysing and improving its processes and products.     

Goodness-of-fit tests for parametric models in censored regression

The authors propose a goodness-of-fit test for parametric regression models when the response variable is right-censored. Their test compares an estimation of the error distribution based on parametric residuals to another estimation relying on nonparametric residuals. They call on a bootstrap mechanism in order to approximate the critical values of tests based on Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Cramér-von Mises type statistics. They also present the results of Monte Carlo simulations and use data from a study about quasars to illustrate their work.     

来自纽黑文的博弈大师

巴里·纳莱巴夫是一位不折不扣的冰淇淋迷。当然，他不是任何冰淇淋都喜欢。他所喜欢的，是他在巴尔的摩天然产品东部博览会看到的一种有机橙味冰淇淋。现年48岁的纳莱巴夫显然属于经济学家中的稀有品种一他一边在耶鲁大学管理学院担任教授，一边在自己经营的欧内斯特茶业公司担任主席。     

Paternal domination and the mafia state under post-communism

This review essay discusses Bálint Magyar’s most recent book, Stubborn Structures: Conceptualizing Post-communist Regimes (Budapest: CEU Press 2019). Bálint Magyar first published in Hungarian in 2015 (published in English by CEU Press in 2016) a path-breaking book on The Post-Communist Mafia State: The Case of Hungary. This was the first major attempt to move beyond political controversies and offer a systematic critique of post-communist states. The book also went beyond the usual accusation of “corruption.” Magyar’s key point is that—at least in Hungary—a mafia style of “upper-world” was created, with a “godfather” at the top of it and an “adopted family” below it. This fascinating idea was followed by edited books that included contribution by other scholars. The latest such book is Magyar’s Stubborn Structures: Conceptualizing Post-communist Regimes (CEU Press 2019), which includes articles applying the “mafia state theory” to a great variety of post-communist countries.

     

Vertical and Horizontal Inequality in Ecuador: The Lack of Sustainability

We analyse the evolution of vertical and horizontal inequality in Ecuador in the long-run (1990–2016), as well as during and after the recent commodities boom (2005–2014). Using data from censuses, living standard measurement surveys, and employment surveys we show that Ecuador has made significant progress in reducing inequality, particularly since 2000. However, inequality has not decreased further since 2011. We argue that a key factor behind the reduction and ensuing stagnation of inequality is the dynamic of oil revenues, particularly regarding its effect on economic growth and on the financing of redistributive policies. Using the decomposition of the Gini coefficient by income source proposed by Lerman and Yitzhaki (Rev Econ Stat 67:151–156, 1985) we show that during the last decade there has been a shift away from market sources towards sources of income derived from government expenditures. Following the end of the commodities boom, this process is no longer sustainable. Indeed, we show that the underlying causes that led to the change in the sources of income started long before the end of the boom. The temporary shock following the 2008 financial crisis already affected the structure of Ecuador’s public finances and its current account. And, since around 2011, its institutions and labour market indicators have also deteriorated. We conclude that sustainable inequality reductions require improving the current institutions.

     

The Role of Neighborhood in the Analysis of Spatial Economic Inequality

Social Indicators Research - Spatial inequality measures should take into account the geographical position of the data of reference if the focus is on the spatial aspects of territorial...     

Moving college health research forward: Reconsidering our reliance on statistical significance testing

Understanding the unique health needs of college students and establishing best practices to address them depend, heavily, on the inherent quality and contribution of the research identifying these needs. College health-focused publications currently exemplify less than ideal statistical reporting practices. Specifically, college health practitioners and researchers continue to rely heavily upon null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) as the sole standard for effectiveness, validity, and/or replicability of scientific studies, even though NHST itself was not designed for such purposes. Herein we address the following questions: (a) What is NHST? (b) What are the inherent limitations of NHST? (c) What are recommended alternatives to NHST? and (d) How can editorial policies promote adopting NHST alternatives? Using college health data from the CORE 2011 Alcohol and Drug survey, we provide a heuristic example demonstrating how effect sizes do not suffer from the same limitations as NHST.