Series Expansion for a Hypergeometric Function of Matrix Argument with Applications

A series expansion is obtained for the confluent hypergeometric function of the second kind when the argument is a 2 times 2 positive definite matrix. Applications are made to the distributions of Hotelling's generalized T₀² statistic, and the smallest latent root of the covariance matrix.     

Use of functional capacity evaluations in workplaces and the compensation system: a report on workers' and report users' perceptions

Until recently, little was documented about how functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) are used by employers and workers' compensation organizations. Such information was one focus of a comprehensive research study on FCEs carried out in southern Ontario, Canada, which involved representatives from the full range of groups involved in FCEs: referral sources, assessors, return-to-work specialists, third party payers and injured workers [1]. This paper shares findings from a cohort of injured workers undergoing FCEs, and explored how their FCE results were perceived and utilized by those receiving the reports. Based on study findings, we provide recommendations as to how FCEs should be requested, undertaken, reported and particularly applied to reduce work disability among injured workers.     

The household registration system and social stratification in China: 1955–1996

The Chinese household registration system (hukou), which divides the population into "agricultural" and "nonagricultural" sectors, may be the most important determinant of differential privileges in state socialist China, determining access to good jobs, education for one's children, housing, health care, and even the right to move to a city. Transforming one's hukou status from rural to urban is a central aspect of upward social mobility. Using data from a 1996 national probability sample, we show that education and membership in the Chinese Communist Party are the main determinants of such mobility.     

Civil unions in Vermont: political attitudes, religious fundamentalism, and sexual prejudice

In 2000, Vermont passed civil union legislation that granted same-sex couples the same legal rights as traditionally married opposite sex couples. This study examined the influence that sexual prejudice, religious fundamentalism, social dominance orientation, and support for civil unions had on voters' choice for governor in the subsequent election. Results showed that support for civil unions was a primary motivator for many voters in the election, and that sexual prejudice, religious fundamentalism, and social dominance orientation were unique predictors of voters' choices. These results show that prejudice can be a key factor in determining whom voters elect to represent them in government.     

A diagrammatic exposition of justice

Several different analytical theories of justice are analyzed in the context of a uniform diagrammatic exposition. The diagrams make use of ordinary economic tools of analysis - production possibility frontiers and indifference curves. Additionally, numerous propositions are set forth which establish either the critical differences between alternative theories, or the conditions under which different theories yield identical results.This paper is a revised version of a lecture delivered at the University of Chicago (1976) and at the Public Choice Meetings in New Orleans (1978).     

Asymptotic properties of Bayes risk for one-sided tests

Consider a given sequence {T_n} of estimators for a real-valued parameter θ. This paper studies asymptotic properties of restricted Bayes tests of the following form: reject H₀:θ ≤ θ₀ in favour of the alternative θ > θ₀ if T_n ≤ C_n, where the critical point C_n is determined to minimize among all tests of this form the expected probability of error with respect to the prior distribution. Such tests may or may not be fully Bayes tests, and so are called T_n-Bayes. Under fairly broad conditions it is shown that and the T_n-Bayes risk where a_n is the order of the standard error of T_n, - is the prior density, and μ is the median of F, the limit distribution of (T_n – θ)/a_nb(θ). Several examples are given.     

Incompatibility of strategy-proofness and the Condorcet principle

For social choice rules that can select either one or two alternatives, strategy-proofness is incompatible with a weak Condorcet principle. Received: 8 July 1996 / Accepted: 9 June 1997     

Symmetry extensions of “neutrality”

For n3 candidates, a system voting vector W ⁿ specifies the positional voting method assigned to each of the 2 ⁿ –(n+1) subsets of two or more candidates. While most system voting vectors need not admit any relationships among the election rankings; the ones that do are characterized here. The characterization is based on a particular geometric structure (an algebraic variety) that is described in detail and then used to define a partial ordering among system voting vectors. The impact of the partial ordering is that if W ⁿ ₁ W ⁿ ₂, then W ⁿ ₂ admits more kinds of (single profile) voting paradoxes than W ⁿ ₁. Therefore the partial ordering provides a powerful, computationally feasible way to compare system voting vectors. The basic ideas are illustrated with examples that completely describe the partial ordering for n=3 and n=4 candidates.This reearch was supported in part by NSF Grant IRI-9103180.