Sequential experimental design and response optimisation

We consider the situation where one wants to maximise a functionf(θ,x) with respect tox, with θ unknown and estimated from observationsy _k . This may correspond to the case of a regression model, where one observesy _k =f(θ,x _k )+ε _k , with ε _k some random error, or to the Bernoulli case wherey _k ∈{0, 1}, with Pr[y _k =1|θ,x _k |=f(θ,x _k ). Special attention is given to sequences given by , with an estimated value of θ obtained from (x₁, y₁),...,(x _k ,y _k ) andd _k (x) a penalty for poor estimation. Approximately optimal rules are suggested in the linear regression case with a finite horizon, where one wants to maximize ∑ _i=1 ^N w _i f(θ, x _i ) with {w _i } a weighting sequence. Various examples are presented, with a comparison with a Polya urn design and an up-and-down method for a binary response problem.     

The Intervening Role of Relational Aggression between Psychological Control and Friendship Quality

This study investigated the associations among psychologically controlling parenting, relational aggression, friendship quality, and loneliness during adolescence. A model was proposed in which relational aggression plays an intervening role in the relations between both parental psychological control and friendship outcomes. In a sample comprised of middle adolescents and their parents, process analyses revealed that psychological control (indexed by parent and adolescent reports) positively predicted adolescents' self-reported relational aggression that, in turn, negatively predicted friendship quality and positively predicted loneliness. The model held for both mothers and fathers and was not moderated by adolescent gender. The discussion focuses on possible mechanisms explaining the relations among psychological control, relational aggression, and friendship outcomes.     

Continuity and equity with infinite horizons

 In an infinite dimensional space, e.g. the set of infinite utility streams, there is no natural topology and the content of continuity is manipulable. Different desirable properties induce different topologies. We consider three properties: effectiveness. l ₁-summability and equity. In view of effectivity, the product topology is the most favourable one. The strict topology is the largest topology for which all the continuous linear maps are l ₁-summable. However, both topologies are myopic and conflict with the principle of equity. In case equity is desirable, the sup topology comes forward. Received: 15 April 1993 / Accepted: 22 April 1996     

Welfarist evaluations of decision rules for boards of representatives

We consider a decision board with representatives who vote on proposals on behalf of their constituencies. We look for decision rules that realize utilitarian and (welfarist) egalitarian ideals. We set up a simple model and obtain roughly the following results. If the interests of people from the same constituency are uncorrelated, then a weighted rule with square root weights does best in terms of both ideals. If there are perfect correlations, then the utilitarian ideal requires proportional weights, whereas the egalitarian ideal requires equal weights. We investigate correlations that are in between these extremes and provide analytic arguments to connect our results to Barberà and Jackson (J Polit Econ 114(2):317–339, 2006) and to Banzhaf voting power.     

Consistent deconvolution in density estimation

Suppose we have n observations from X = Y + Z, where Z is a noise component with known distribution, and Y has an unknown density f. When the characteristic function of Z is nonzero almost everywhere, we show that it is possible to construct a density estimate f_n such that for all f, Iim_n| |=0.     

A note on Chichilnisky's social choice paradox

One of the main results in topological social choice states the non-existence of a continuous, anonymous, and unanimous aggregation rule on spheres. This note provides a proof based upon simple methods such as integration.     

A la recherche de la puissance culturelle dans les relations internationales: essai de caractérisation du concept et d'appréhension du phénomène

Dès lors qu'on admet que la puissance se joue sur plusieurs échiquiers politique, militaire, économique et culturel, il importe de prendre la puissance culturelle au sérieux; car, elle marque l'assujettissement des esprits, le contrôle des manières de penser, de représenter ou de signifier par un groupe ou par un individu. On comprend alors que la puissance culturelle soit au c?ur des relations internationales en tant qu'attribut d'acteur étatique ou non étatique, facteur d'hiérarchisation et enjeu.     

Bayesian Inference in Dynamic Disequilibrium Models: An Application to the Polish Credit Market

We propose a Bayesian approach for inference in a dynamic disequilibrium model. To circumvent the difficulties raised by the Maddala and Nelson (1974) specification in the dynamic case, we analyze a dynamic extended version of the disequilibrium model of Ginsburgh et al. (1980). We develop a Gibbs sampler based on the simulation of the missing observations. The feasibility of the approach is illustrated by an empirical analysis of the Polish credit market, for which we conduct a specification search using the posterior deviance criterion of Spiegelhalter et al. (2002).