Getting funded. Multi-level network of physicists in Italy

Much of the work in the sociology of science observes scientific communities from a micro perspective, focusing on interactions in laboratories in order to uncover the impact of social and cultural norms in the everyday production of scientific results. Other studies approach the topic from a macro perspective, analysing scientific organizations and the reciprocal influence they have with wider society, or uncovering the invisible colleges that become apparent through the analysis of co-authorship and citations’ patterns. Less attention has been paid to the meso level of interaction within and between scientists and the institutions they work in. This paper extends the structural approach of Lazega et al. (2008. Catching up with big fish in the big pond? Multi-level network analysis through linked design. Social Networks 30, 157–176) and analyses the local system of public funding to physics in Italy using bipartite networks. Data cover 10 years of funding of Projects of National Interest (Prin) from the Italian Ministry of University and Research. The micro level (collaborations between scientists), macro level (collaborations between institutions) and meso level (the combination of network measures at a micro and macro level) of interactions are independently analysed, and results are used to model the total amount of money physicists have received over the 10 years against the variables that meaningfully describe the network structure of collaborations. Results show that in order to be successfully funded what counts more than being a big fish (a scientist with a lot of connections) working in a big pond (a large University), is being in a brokerage position interacting over the years with different research groups.     

The Fertility Transition and Family Urban Income Distribution in Colombia*

This paper examines the effect of social and demographic changes on family income distribution in the largest Colombian cities between 1967 and 1968 and 1984 and 1985, two periods representing the conditions before and after Colombia's sharp fertility decline. The results indicate that urban family income distribution worsened between the two periods, when income shares from the middle-income groups declined while those received by the richest 10 percent increased and the shares received by the poorest 50 percent were unchanged. A decomposition of the Theil index revealed that the deterioration in urban family income inequality could be traced to groups whose representation in the population increased, namely: households with more educated heads, with working wives, with smaller families, and with fewer children.     

Gender, partner violence, and perceived family functioning among a sample of Vietnam veterans

This study examined partner violence and perceived family functioning among a sample of 298 male veterans and their female partners. Partner violent men were higher than partner violent women on measures of partner violence severity, although differences did not reach statistical significance. Among couples experiencing unidirectional violence, female victims of partner violence reported significantly poorer family functioning than male victims of partner violence. Data appear to suggest that the effects of male-perpetrated partner violence on perceived family functioning may be larger than that of female-perpetrated partner violence.     

Clustering ranking data in market segmentation: a case study on the Italian McDonald's customers’ preferences†

Cluster analysis is often used for market segmentation. When the inputs in the clustering algorithm are ranking data, the intersubject (dis)similarities must be measured by matching-type measures, able to take account of the ordinal nature of the data. Among them, we used a Weighted Spearman's rho, suitably transformed into a (dis)similarity measure, in order to emphasize the concordance on the top ranks. This allows creating clusters grouping customers that place the same items (products, services, etc.) higher in their rankings. Also the statistical instruments used to interpret the clusters must be conceived to deal with ordinal data. The median and other location measures are appropriate but not always able to clearly differentiate groups. The so-called bipolar mean, with its related variability measure, may reveal some additional features. A case study on real data from a survey carried out in the Italian McDonald's restaurants is presented.     

Cross-country disparities in skill premium and skill acquisition

Skilled individuals are rewarded more in poor than in rich countries. Why aren't more individuals acquiring skills in poor countries? We document that the unemployment rate of the skilled net of that of the unskilled decreases with a country's level of development. Using a matching model of occupational choice and skill acquisition, we quantify the role of barriers to enter entrepreneurship for these unemployment rates, skill premium and acquisition. The cross-country correlation between skill premium and acquisition decreases by 45% when each country's gap to the US in the entrepreneurship barrier is decreased enough to even the unemployment differential.     

Sources of Negative Attitudes toward Immigrants in Europe: A Multi-Level Analysis1

In recent times, many nations are experiencing an increase in anti-immigrant attitudes on the part of natives. Most papers only explore one or two sources of anti-immigrant attitudes at a time, which provides an incomplete picture of the effects at work. This paper tests eight different explanations for anti-immigrant attitudes: cultural marginality theory, human capital theory, political affiliation, societal integration, neighborhood safety, contact theory, foreign investment, and economic competition. Analysis is conducted using combined data from the European Social Survey and Eurostat/OECD and individual-, regional-, and national-level predictors. Results indicate that key predictors of anti-immigrant attitudes are regional and national interpersonal trust, education level, foreign direct investment, and political variables.     

The role of evidence in nutrition policy‐making in Ethiopia: Institutional structures and issue framing

Malnutrition is the single greatest contributor to the global burden of morbidity and mortality, with most cases arising in low‐ and middle‐income countries. However, the multi‐sectoral nature of nutrition policy‐making adds considerable complexity to the implementation of effective programmes. This raises questions about why or how relevant policy change can come about within different country settings. This article examines multi‐sectoral nutrition policy‐making from the health sector perspective, specifically focusing on different sectoral perspectives and the role and use of evidence within this. Ethiopia provides a unique example of the challenging nature of multi‐sectoral nutrition policy‐making, even with a strong co‐ordinating infrastructure. In December 2014 we undertook 23 in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with stakeholders from key health sector organizations, along with a related documentary analysis. Participants represented a diverse range of perspectives, including government representatives, policy stakeholders, aid providers from multi‐lateral organizations and academic researchers. Our respondents described how nutrition framing in Ethiopia is changing, with greater consideration of overweight, obesity and non‐communicable diseases, as well as undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. However, overweight‐ and obesity‐related concerns are still less evident in key documents. Some health actors described the challenge of enacting structural policy changes when doing so requires engagement from the agriculture sector. While multi‐sectoral plans and infrastructure to address malnutrition are in place, respondents suggested that the mandate for addressing nutrition resting with the health sector was reinforced by the nature of evidence collected. This study of nutrition policy‐making in Ethiopia highlights the complex interaction of evidence within different conceptualisations of policy problems and responses. Despite Ethiopia's strategic framework and its progress in achieving terms of nutrition targets, it shares the challenge of countries elsewhere in addressing nutrition as a multi‐sectoral issue.     

Violence in Roman Egypt. A Study in Legal Interpretation

Claudia Ulbrich, Leibherrschaft am Oberrhein im Spatmittelalter (Veröffentlichungen des Max‐Planck‐Instituts für Geschichte 58) (1979), 327 (Vandenhoeck &; Ruprecht, Göttingen, DM 70). (Serfdom on the Upper Rhine in the Later Middle Ages)

Mervyn James, English Politics and the Concept of Honour, 1485–1642 (1978), 92 (Oxford, Past and Present, Supplement 3, £1.75).

Walter Makey, The Church of the Covenant, 1637–1651: Revolution and Social Change in Scotland (1979), vii+216 (John Donald, Edinburgh, £15).

Hilary J. Beattie, Land and Lineage in China: A Study of Tung‐ch'eng County, Anhwei, in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties (1979), x+208 (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, £12.50).

Charles F. Nunn, Foreign Immigrants in Early Bourbon Mexico, 1700–1760 (1979), xi+243 (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, £15.00).

R. B. Rose, Gracchus Babeuf. The First Revolutionary Communist (1978), ix+434 (Edward Arnold, £12.95).

Malcom J. Rohrbough, The Trans‐Appalachian Frontier: People, Societies, and Institutions 1775–1850 (1978), xv+444 (Oxford University Press, New York, £9.25).

Michael Ruse, The Darwinian Revolution: Science Red in Tooth and Claw (1979), xiv+320 (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, £12).

Benwell Community Project, Final Report Series no. 6, The Making of a Ruling Class, Two Centuries of Capital Development on Tyneside (1979), 121 (Benwell Community Project, 85/87 Adelaide Terrace, Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne, paperback £1.80).

Adelheid von Saldern, Mittelstand im ‘Dritten Reich’. Handwerker ‐ Einzelhändler ‐ Bauern (1979), 401 (Campus Verlag, Frankfurt/New York, n.p.). (The Mittelstand in the Third Reich. Artisans ‐ Shopkeepers ‐ Peasants)