Absenteeism and peer interaction effects: Evidence from an Italian Public Institute

Using microdata for a sample of about 350 workers employed by an Italian public institute, we explain individual absence rates considering both variables that may be related to health conditions and variables that may suggest shirking behaviour. Among these variables we especially focus our attention on the influence produced by the behaviour of randomly assigned peers. In order to handle reflection problems, we combine random assignment with the use of instrumental variables. The proportion of females in the peer group is used as an instrument of peer absence behaviour. From Two-Stage Least Square estimates it emerges that social and group interaction plays an important role in shaping individual absence behaviour.     

TEACHING SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT THROUGH GLOBAL PROJECTS WITH GLOBAL PROJECT TEAMS

In this article, we describe the Global Project Coordination Course, a course in which project teams composed of three students from each of two overseas universities execute company‐sponsored projects dealing with global supply chain management issues. The $75,000 to $100,00 contributed in total by the three to four sponsoring companies funds all course expenses. We assess the benefits and challenges of the use of cross‐cultural project teams with diverse educational backgrounds. We conclude that the course provides a unique and effective vehicle for furthering students' knowledge of Supply Chain Management and Information Systems, improving understanding of “soft” issues, and training students to work in diverse, global, cross‐cultural project teams.     

寻求价值均衡：现代和谐宪政建构的必由之路

审视现代西方宪政制度运行所面临的诸多问题和价值冲突,本文认为,寻求政治价值的某种均衡与和谐,是现代宪政发展的必然选择。寻求政治价值均衡既是现代社会多元利益关系相互博弈的合理抉择,也有着厚实的理论基础。从政府权力运用这一维度来考察,实现政治价值均衡的路径主要是解决公共权力"有限"与政府"有为"之间的关系问题。解决权力"有限"的核心是建构多元化的、相互补充的有机控权机制;实现政府"有为"的基础是塑造有效政府,保障政府治理在实现公共性、公平性、回应性、开放性、合作性、凝聚性等方面积极有为,增进社会和谐。     

Electricity consumption prediction with functional linear regression using spline estimators

A functional linear regression model linking observations of a functional response variable with measurements of an explanatory functional variable is considered. This model serves to analyse a real data set describing electricity consumption in Sardinia. The interest lies in predicting either oncoming weekends’ or oncoming weekdays’ consumption, provided actual weekdays’ consumption is known. A B-spline estimator of the functional parameter is used. Selected computational issues are addressed as well.     

A disarmingly simple idea? Practical bottlenecks in the implementation of a universal basic income

This article considers the implementation of a universal basic income, a neglected area in basic income research. We identify and examine three important practical bottlenecks that may prevent a basic income scheme from attaining the universal reach desired and proclaimed by its advocates: i) maintaining a population‐wide cadaster of eligible claimants ensuring full takeup; ii) instituting robust modalities of payment that reach all intended beneficiaries; and iii) designing an effective oversight mechanism in a policy context that actively opposes client monitoring. We argue that the implementation of universal basic income faces unique challenges that its proponents must consider carefully.     

Performance of coefficient of variation estimators in ranked set sampling

In this paper, we propose and evaluate the performance of different parametric and nonparametric estimators for the population coefficient of variation considering Ranked Set Sampling (RSS) under normal distribution. The performance of the proposed estimators was assessed based on the bias and relative efficiency provided by a Monte Carlo simulation study. An application in anthropometric measurements data from a human population is also presented. The results showed that the proposed estimators via RSS present an expressively lower mean squared error when compared to the usual estimator, obtained via Simple Random Sampling. Also, it was verified the superiority of the maximum likelihood estimator, given the necessary assumptions of normality and perfect ranking are met.     

Interval estimation for the Sharpe Ratio when returns are not i.i.d. with special emphasis on the GARCH(1,1) process with symmetric innovations

In this paper, assuming that returns follows a stationary and ergodic stochastic process, the asymptotic distribution of the natural estimator of the Sharpe Ratio is explicitly given. This distribution is used in order to define an approximated confidence interval for the Sharpe ratio. Particular attention is devoted to the case of the GARCH(1,1) process. In this latter case, a simulation study is performed in order to evaluate the minimum sample size for reaching a good coverage accuracy of the asymptotic confidence intervals.     

Are More Competent Workers More Satisfied?

Abstract. In this paper, we analyse the relationship between workers' competencies and their job satisfaction in the context of dual (i.e. vocational versus communicative) skill demands. We analyse the effects of workers' competencies on their overall, intrinsic, and extrinsic job satisfaction. We focus on pharmacy assistants who need both pharmaceutical and communicative competencies in their work. Results from a linked employer–employee survey show that assistants with more communicative competencies are more satisfied with their job, whereas assistants with more pharmaceutical competencies are not more satisfied than the less competent assistants. In addition, workers who perform tasks below their level of competence are more dissatisfied with both their remuneration and career prospects and the content of their job as such, than were other workers. Our results indicate that the demand shift from vocational towards communication skills, which occurs in many professions, can affect the job satisfaction of the most competent workers.     

西部乡镇财政收支矛盾研究——以乡镇债务的成因及化解为视角

西部地区一些乡镇财政收支矛盾尖锐,负债问题严重,阻碍了地方经济和社会的全面发展。西部地区乡镇负债成因复杂,主要原因有:乡镇财政收入的源头先天不足;农业税费改革使乡镇财政的增收空间缩小;各种刚性支出超越乡镇财政的实际负担能力且有不断增加的趋势;非正常超额支出及不合理考评机制严重影响了乡镇财政收支平衡;乡镇事权与财权不对等状况严重以及乡镇体制内存在的问题等。这些因素错综复杂地交织在一起,加大了化解债务的难度。从可操作性或现实性的角度而言,可从规范乡镇公共财政体制、完善制度、强化管理、杜绝债务的累增以及在借鉴先进经验的基础上并提出本地区化债的合理措施等方面入手逐步深入进行化解。