Returns from the South: Effects of return migration of Ghanaian migrants from China on livelihoods and wealth inequalities in Ghana

The sedentary bias that characterizes discourses on migrations from and within the Global South has failed to inform a consistent exploration of international migration from and among global southern countries as normal, desirable and impactful to migrants and their social networks at different spatial levels. Migration-development nexus analyses are predominantly framed around Global South-Global North migration episodes whereby cash and social remittances from the North to the South are expected to trigger development in poorer global southern origin countries. This approach neglects the possibility of similar outcomes accruing from south-south migrations. Drawing on qualitative research methods among Ghanaian migrants to China, our paper addresses the question how does south-south migration affect livelihoods and wealth inequality? We argue that blunt global categorizations such as “Global South” and “Global North” only serve to obfuscate what is a rather heterogenous bunch of countries, with divergent opportunities for migrants. We recommend that greater focus should be on the contextual factors at the origin and destination, the quality of return preparedness and the human capital of the migrants rather than an arbitrary clustering around a binary Global South-Global North trajectory as though they are internally homogenous. We conclude that there is heterogeneity in the effects of south-south migration on household livelihoods and wealth inequalities.     

Testing Symmetry of the Error Distribution in Nonlinear Heteroscedastic Models

Using the empirical characteristic function, we derive a Cramér-von Mises test for symmetry of the error distribution in a class of nonlinear parametric heteroscedastic models. We study the convergence of the residual-based empirical distribution function. We establish a functional limit theorem for an empirical process of residuals, and investigate the asymptotic null distribution function of our test statistic. A simulation experiment is conducted to evaluate small-sample performances of our test.     

Age-period-cohort analysis: an illustration of the problems in assessing interaction in one observation per cell data

This paper discusses the specific problems of age-period-cohort (A-P-C) analysis within the general framework of interaction assessment for two-way cross-classified data with one observation per cell. The A-P-C multiple classification model containing the effects of age groups (rows), periods of observation (columns), and birth cohorts (diagonals of the two-way table) is characterized as one of a special class of models involving interaction terms assumed to have very specific forms. The so-called A-P-C identification problem, which results from the use of a particular interaction structure for detecting cohort effects, is shown to manifest itself in the form of an exact linear dependency among the columns of the design matrix. The precise relationship holding among these columns is derived, as is an explicit formula for the bias in the parameter estimates resulting from an incorrect specification of an assumed restriction on the parameters required to solve the normal equations. Current methods for modeling A-P-C data are critically reviewed, an illustrative numerical example is presented, and one potentially promising analysis strategy is discussed. However, gien the large number of possible sources for error in A-P-C analyses, it is strongly recommended that the results of such analyses be interpreted with a great deal of caution.     

A Survey of the Teaching of Statistics in M.B.A. Programs

A survey of business schools was conducted to obtain information about the current state of the teaching of business statistics to students enrolled in M.B.A. degree programs. The survey was undertaken for and presented at a June 1986 conference on “Making Statistics More Effective in Schools of Business,” held at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business. Information was elicited concerning both the required statistics sequence and elective statistics courses for M.B.A. students, as well as computer usage in these courses. This article summarizes the information obtained from the survey.     

Parametric Nonlinear Regression with Endogenous Switching

Based on the insightful work of Olsen (1980 Olsen , R. J. ( 1980 ). A least squares correction for selectivity bias . Econometrica 48 : 1815 – 1820 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) for the linear context, a generic and unifying framework is developed that affords a simple extension of the classical method of Heckman (1974 Heckman , J. ( 1974 ). Shadow prices, market wages, and labor supply . Econometrica 42 : 679 – 694 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], 1976 Heckman , J. ( 1976 ). The common structure of statistical models of truncation sample selection and limited dependent variables and a simple estimator for such models . Annals of Economic and Social Measurement 5 : 475 – 492 . [Google Scholar], 1978 Heckman , J. ( 1978 ). Dummy endogenous variables in a simultaneous equation system . Econometrica 46 : 931 – 959 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], 1979 Heckman , J. ( 1979 ). Sample selection bias as a specification error . Econometrica 47 : 153 – 161 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) to a broad class of nonlinear regression models involving endogenous switching and its two most common incarnations, endogenous sample selection and endogenous treatment effects. The approach should be appealing to applied researchers for three reasons. First, econometric applications involving endogenous switching abound. Secondly, the approach requires neither linearity of the regression function nor full parametric specification of the model. It can, in fact, be applied under the minimal parametric assumptions—i.e., specification of only the conditional means of the outcome and switching variables. Finally, it is amenable to relatively straightforward estimation methods. Examples of applications of the method are discussed.     

Developing “A Framework for Planning U.S. Federal Statistics, 1978–1989”

The Statistical Policy Division of the Office of Management and Budget has the overall responsibility for the planning and coordination of U.S. government statistics. The present staff of the Statistical Policy Division is attempting, through an integrated publication entitled “A Framework for Planning U.S. Federal Statistics, 1978–1989,” to state its perspective on necessary developments in the coming years. This article illustrates the character of the Framework materials and outlines the process for public review and comment on this undertaking.     

On constructing T 2 control charts for retrospective examination

In this paper we consider the issue of constructing retrospective T ² control chart limits so as to control the overall probability of a false alarm at a specified value. We describe an exact method for constructing the control limits for retrospective examination. We then consider Bonferroni-adjustments to Alt's control limit and to the standard x ² control limit as alternatives to the exact limit since it is computationally cumbersome to find the exact limit. We present the results of some simulation experiments that are carried out to compare the performance of these control limits. The results indicate that the Bonferroni-adjusted Alt's control limit performs better that the Bonferroni-adjusted x ² control limit. Furthermore, it appears that the Bonferroni-adjusted Alt's control limit is more than adequate for controlling the overall false alarm probability at a specified value.     

Risk Perception: Reflections on 40 Years of Research

Numerous studies and practical experiences with risk have demonstrated the importance of risk perceptions for people's behavior. In this narrative review, we describe and reflect upon some of the lines of research that we feel have been important in helping us understand the factors and processes that shape people's risk perceptions. In our review, we propose that much of the research on risk perceptions to date can be grouped according to three dominant perspectives and, thus, approaches to study design; they are: the characteristics of hazards, the characteristics of risk perceivers, and the application of heuristics to inform risk judgments. In making these distinctions, we also highlight what we see as outstanding challenges for researchers and practitioners. We also highlight a few new research questions that we feel warrant attention.     

“They give you back that dignity”: understanding the intangible resources that make a transitional house a home for homeless families

Approximately 33% of the homeless population in 2017 were families with children. Researchers have argued for interventions and services to employ an ecological perspective to mitigate some of the unintentional harm inherent in existing programs designed to serve homeless families. This paper utilized a case study of a transitional housing program to (1) determine how well the program met recommendations informed by the ecological perspective and (2) explore underlying themes across recommendations. Past and current residents of a transitional housing program participated in semi-structured interviews as part of a program evaluation. Interviews were deductively and inductively coded to meet aims 1 and 2, respectively. Residents identified several aspects of the program that met the ecological perspective recommendations including culturally-responsive services, trauma-based services, and social and community connections. Major underlying themes spanning across recommendations included interpersonal resources (caring, sense of belonging), empowerment resources (advocacy, family preservation), impact on family (family life, positive youth development), and communication. This case study, through the analysis of residents’ perspectives, highlights the important role of transitional housing programs in providing a supportive, empathetic, empowering, and home-like environment that gives residents “back that dignity” so they are emotionally and physically prepared to successfully transition to permanent housing.     

Aquatic landscape change,extirpations, and introductions in the Chicago Region

Urban Ecosystems - Prior to European settlement, swamps, marshes, lakes, and streams were the major landscape features of the Chicago region. Much of this has been altered or lost in the past...