Lower semiquadratic copulas with a given diagonal section

Inspired by the notion of lower semilinear copulas, we introduce a new class of copulas. These copulas, called lower semiquadratic copulas, are constructed by quadratic interpolation on segments connecting the diagonal of the unit square to the lower and left boundary of the unit square. Moreover, we unveil the necessary and sufficient conditions on a diagonal function and two auxiliary real functions u and v to obtain a copula that has this diagonal function as diagonal section. Under some mild assumptions, we characterize the smallest and the greatest lower semiquadratic copulas with a given diagonal section.     

Panel Unit Root Tests in the Presence of Cross-Sectional Dependencies: Comparison and Implications for Modelling

Several panel unit root tests that account for cross-section dependence using a common factor structure have been proposed in the literature recently. Pesaran's (2007 Pesaran , M. H. ( 2007 ). A simple panel unit root test in the presence of cross section dependence . Journal of Applied Econometrics 22 : 265 – 312 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) cross-sectionally augmented unit root tests are designed for cases where cross-sectional dependence is due to a single factor. The Moon and Perron (2004 Moon , H. R. , Perron , B. (2004). Testing for a unit root in panels with dynamic factors. Journal of Econometrics 122:81–126.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) tests which use defactored data are similar in spirit but can account for multiple common factors. The Bai and Ng (2004a Bai , J. , Ng , S. ( 2004a ). A PANIC attack on unit roots and cointegration . Econometrica 72 : 1127 – 1177 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) tests allow to determine the source of nonstationarity by testing for unit roots in the common factors and the idiosyncratic factors separately. Breitung and Das (2008 Breitung , J. , Das , S. ( 2008 ). Testing for unit roots in panels with a factor structure . Econometric Theory 24 : 88 – 108 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and Sul (2007 Sul , D. ( 2007 ) . Panel Unit Root Tests Under Cross Section Dependence with Recursive Mean Adjustment . Mimeo : University of Auckland . [Google Scholar]) propose panel unit root tests when cross-section dependence is present possibly due to common factors, but the common factor structure is not fully exploited.

This article makes four contributions: (1) it compares the testing procedures in terms of similarities and differences in the data generation process, tests, null, and alternative hypotheses considered, (2) using Monte Carlo results it compares the small sample properties of the tests in models with up to two common factors, (3) it provides an application which illustrates the use of the tests, and (4) finally, it discusses the use of the tests in modelling in general.     

Trafficking,Exploitation and Migration on the Thailand‐Burma Border: A Qualitative Study

Migrant workers from Burma 1 often experience exploitation, abuse and violations at various stages of travel to and within Thailand and in workplaces in Thailand. Guided by Zimmerman et al.'s conceptual framework, which identifies the potential risks associated with trafficking process, this article presents findings from in‐depth interviews with 61 migrant workers living and working in and around Mae Sot, Thailand, on the Thailand‐Burma border, to describe the broader context of irregular migration from Burma to Thailand, and trafficking‐related risks in this context. Results demonstrate that use of transporters (“carries”) and brokers in order to travel to Thailand and find employment can enable trafficking. Moreover, migrant workers are exposed to a range of exploitative experiences in workplaces in Thailand, including violence, coercion, and economic exploitation. This article explores dynamics of migration that can enable trafficking in this context, as well as exploitative working conditions consistent with forced labour.     

Anxiety,Depression and Fraternal Experiences on the Birth Child in a Foster Home

If foster care primarily concerns foster children displaced from a family to another, it also constitutes a singular event for the entire family, including the children of the foster parents. The aim of this study was to examine anxiety and depressive symptoms in foster families’ birth children and to explore the statistical associations between the different types of horizontal relations (with a sibling or a foster child) and the psycho-affective equilibrium of the birth children. Self-evaluation scales on the quality of sibling relations, anxiety and depressive symptoms were used. Forty five birth adolescents, aged from 11 to 18 years old, took part in the study. These participants showed more balanced scores of anxiety and depression than the population of the same age. Post-hoc tests additionally suggest that these ones vary depending on the gender, possibly due to specific role expectations. The relations between siblings or with the foster child present differentiated outcomes on anxiety and depression scores. This study confirms that the quality of horizontal relations is important for the psycho-affective equilibrium of the birth child. The relationships between birth and foster children need to be more systematically considered in order to promote successful fostering.     

Quality of Work Life: Theoretical and Methodological Problems, and Presentation of a New Model and Measuring Instrument

Purpose: Ever since the concept of Quality of Work Life (QWL) was first used over 30 years ago, a range of definitions and theoretical constructs have succeeded each other with the aim of mitigating the many problems facing the concept. A historical overview of the concept of QWL is presented here. Given the lack of consensus concerning the solutions that have been developed to date, a new definition of QWL is suggested, inspired by the research on a related concept, general Quality of Life (QOL) which, as the literature shows, has faced the same conceptualization and definition problems as QWL. Based on the suggested definition of QOL, a definition of QWL is provided and the measuring instrument that results therefrom (the Quality of Working Life Systemic Inventory – QWLSI) is presented. Finally, the solutions that this model and measuring instrument provide for the above-mentioned problems are discussed.     

Sexual Orientation and Fear at Night: Gender Differences Among Sexual Minorities and Heterosexuals

Using data from the 2000–2010 General Social Survey, a nationally representative sample of 5,086 adults in the United States, the authors examine sexual orientation and gender differences in reports of being afraid to walk alone at night. Results indicate that sexual minorities are significantly more likely to report fear at night than heterosexuals, and women are significantly more likely to report such fear than men. Further, our findings suggest that these sexual orientation and gender differences are due to sexual minority men being more likely than heterosexual men to report fear at night. Thus, the results of this study reveal that three groups—heterosexual women, sexual minority women, and sexual minority men—do not differ from one another in reporting fear, yet these groups are all more likely than heterosexual men to report fear at night. These findings give weight to the importance of investigating the intersection of sexual orientation and gender in individuals’ reports of fear.     

The Interaction Between the Demands for Insurance and Insurable Assets

Holding more of the riskless asset and insuring the risky asset are two ways to reduce portfolio risk. These methods can be employed jointly. As a result, the amount of insurance selected to indemnify against possible losses from holding a risky asset depends, in general, on the quantities of the risky and riskless assets held in the portfolio, and vice versa. In decision models where expected utility is maximized, relatively little has been done to integrate these two decisions into a single model. Such a model is formulated in this paper and the interaction between the demand for insurance and the demand for an insurable risky asset is examined.     

Sex and marriage of raters in the evaluation of occupations

The evaluation of occupational prestige ratings obtained from different subgroups within the same society has been shown to be remarkably similar (Reiss, A. J., Jr., Duncan, O. D., Hah, P. K., and North, C. C., 1961, Occupations and Social Status, Free Press, New York; Svalastoga, K., 1959, Prestige, Class, and Mobility, Gyldendal, Copenhagen; Tiryakian, E. A., 1958, American Journal of Sociology 63 (January), 390–399). Our purpose is to explore how the gender and marital status of raters influence the evaluation of occupational prestige. Using more detailed data than heretofore available, we will reexamine the similarity between occupational prestige evaluations observed among female and male respondents. Models of the way in which characteristics of occupational incumbents, such as income and education, are constructed to explore possible differences in the ways in which male and female raters evaluate occupations. The results of this analysis by gender of rater will then be used to examine both the gender and marital status of raters.