An Improved Class of Estimators in Two-Phase Sampling Using Two Auxiliary Variables

This article suggests an improved class of estimators under the general framework of two-phase sampling scheme in presence of two auxiliary variables. This class includes a large number of estimators (Chand, 1975 Chand , L. ( 1975 ). Some Ratio-Type Estimator Based on Two or More Auxiliary Variables. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Iowa State University, Iowa . [Google Scholar]; Kiregyera, 1980 Kiregyera , B. ( 1980 ). A chain ratio-type estimator in finite population double sampling using two auxiliary variables . Metrika 27 : 217 – 223 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar], 3; Mukharjee et al., 1987 Mukharjee , R. , Rao , T. J. , Vijayan , K. ( 1987 ). Regression-type estimators using multiple auxiliary information . Aust. J. Statist. 29 : 244 – 254 . [Google Scholar]) and also the class of estimators suggested by Sahoo et al. (1993 Sahoo , J. , Sahoo , L. N. , Mohanty , S. ( 1993 ). A regression approach to estimation in two phase sampling using two auxiliary variables . Curr. Sci. 65 ( 1 ): 73 – 75 . [Google Scholar]).     

Making Inter-country Comparison of Life Expectancy Inequality Sensitive

Two populations with the sameoverall longevity but different age andage-specific-mortality profiles may produce avariety of differences in terms of issues thatare relevant for development policy. A simplemethod of comparing countries has beensuggested in this paper, which is sensitive tosome of these differences that are usuallyhidden under life expectancy figures. In theprocess, some of the recent attempts inadjusting life expectancy for `inequality' havebeen critically examined.     

The optimum targeting for a single filling operation with rectifying inspection

One of the important issues in quality control is finding the optimal target value for a process under various inspection policies. Researchers have considered various aspects of this problem with 100% inspection and with quality sampling plans. In this paper we consider the problem of targeting the set point when rectifying inspection is used. We develop a model for this problem and propose a scheme for solving it. We also provide a numerical example.     

Trust,Social Networks and Subjective Wellbeing in China

Using data from the World Values Survey, this study examines the associations among trust, social networks and subjective wellbeing in China. We address the endogenous nature of trust and social networks, and examine how these elements of social capital affect subjective wellbeing. We also explore the interplay between trust and social networks. Existing literature suggests that trust and social networks positively impact wellbeing, with one strand of the literature suggesting that in developed countries social capital is a stronger determinant of wellbeing than income. However, we find that this is not the case for China (a developing country) where the effects of trust and social networks on wellbeing are found to be relatively weaker compared to the effect of income.     

Study on lumbar kinematics and the risk of low back disorder in female university students by using shoes of different heel heights

The study was taken up to investigate the effects of heel heights on lumbar kinematics and the risk of Low Back Disorder (LBD) in females. Nineteen female university students (24.5 ± 3.36 yrs) volunteered in the study. Lumbar kinematics was measured by using Industrial Lumbar Motion Monitor (iLMM). The volunteers were asked to walk for a distance of 50 meters in 3 different given conditions i.e bare foot (Heel 0), with flat heels (Heel 1) and with high heels (Heel 2). Heights of Heel 1 and Heel 2 were 1.5 ± 0.84 cm and 5.5 ± 1.70 cm respectively. The Lumbar kinematic parameters studied were- Average Twisting Velocity (ATV), Maximum Sagital Flexion (MSF) and Maximum Lateral Velocity (MLV). It was observed that all the above mentioned Lumbar kinematics - ATV, MSF and MLV increases with increase of heel heights, which in turn increases the risk of LBD. As a result of increase in Lumbar kinematic values with increase in heel heights, LBD risk has also increased. Mean and SD of the LBD risk with Heel 0, Heel 1 and Heel 2 were 16.79 ± 6.04%, 19.00 ± 7.38% and 22.11 ± 6.98% respectively. Lower stature with high heels showed higher risk of LBD than the higher stature with high heels.     

Demand Forecast Sharing in Supply Chains

This paper examines the incentives of a manufacturer and a retailer to share their demand forecasts. The demand at the retailer is a linearly decreasing function of price. The manufacturer sets the wholesale price first, and the retailer sets the retail price after observing the wholesale price. Both players set their prices based on their forecasts of demand. In the make‐to‐order scenario, the manufacturer sets the production quantity after observing the actual demand; in the make‐to‐stock scenario, the manufacturer sets the production quantity before the demand is realized. In the make‐to‐order scenario, we show that sharing the forecast unconditionally by the retailer with the manufacturer benefits the manufacturer but hurts the retailer. We also demonstrate that a side payment contract cannot induce Pareto‐optimal information sharing equilibrium, but a discount based wholesale price contract can. The social welfare as well as consumer surplus is higher under the discount contract, compared with under no information sharing. In the make‐to‐stock scenario, the manufacturer realizes additional benefits in the form of savings in inventory holding and shortage costs when forecasts are shared. If the savings from inventory holding and shortage costs because of information sharing are sufficiently high, then a side payment contract that induces Pareto‐optimal information sharing is feasible in the make‐to‐stock scenario. We also provide additional managerial insights with the help of a computational study.     

Multi-Dimensional Deprivation in India During and After the Reforms: Do the Household Expenditure and the Family Health Surveys Present Consistent Evidence?

This paper uses the recent approach of multidimensional deprivation measures to provide a comprehensive and wide ranging assessment of changes to living standards in India during the period, 1992/93–2004/5. This covers the reforms and the immediate post reforms time periods. The study is the first to be based on the simultaneous use of two parallel data sets, namely the National Sample Survey (NSS) and National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data sets, covering proximate rounds and near identical time periods. The results allow a check of consistency on the picture of deprivation in India between these two data sets. The study is conducted both at regionally disaggregated levels and by socio economic groups. The deprivation dimensions range widely from the conventional expenditure dimensions to non-expenditure dimensions such as access to drinking water and clean fuel, to health dimensions such as child stunting and the mother’s BMI. The use of decomposable deprivation measures allows the identification of regions, socio economic groups and deprivation dimensions that are contributing more than others to total deprivation.     

Are Targeted Unconditional Cash Transfers Effective? Evidence from a Poor Region in India

The paper is based on a well-focused and purposive field survey of 200 randomly selected sample households (HHs) from 20 villages of Odisha (the poorest state) in India, provides a critique of present institutional arrangements for delivery of social security measures-in terms of outreach and effectiveness. The exercise shows, on the one hand, the dissonance between below poverty line households and asset/wealth position of households and thus there is strong evidence of inclusion and exclusion errors and on the other, weak targeting efficiency and an important determinant of which seems to be what is called HH social/structural capital.     

Knowing One’s Lot in Life Versus Climbing the Social Ladder: The Formation of Redistributive Preferences in Urban China

This paper examines, how individual preferences for redistribution in general and redistribution to improve access to education, improve social protection for the poor, reduce income inequality and reduce unemployment depend on beliefs about what determines one’s lot in life and self-assessed prospects for climbing the social ladder in urban China. We find that beliefs about what determine one’s lot in life and subjective perceptions of future mobility are correlated with preferences for redistribution. We find that those who believe one’s lot in life is outside their control are generally more likely to favour redistribution. We show that this result is consistent with the existence of an altruism effect among the rich and entitlement effect among the poor. These findings are robust to the inclusion of control variables for the respondent’s personal characteristics and the location in which he or she lives.