Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test Statistic and Critical Values for the Erlang-3 and Erlang-4 Distributions

Following a procedure applied to the Erlang-2 distribution in a recent paper, an adjusted Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic and critical values are developed for the Erlang-3 and -4 cases using data from Monte Carlo simulations. The test statistic produced features of compactness and ease of implementation. It is quite accurate for sample sizes as low as ten.     

From Street‐level Bureaucrats to Street‐level Policy Entrepreneurs? Central Policy and Local Action in Lottery‐funded Community Cancer Care

Recent contributions to the policy implementation literature have applied Kingdon's model of ‘policy windows’ to the implementation of policy on health inequalities in the UK, and have identified the key role played by ‘policy entrepreneurs’ at local as well as national level. Despite this, the picture that emerges is of frustration of central policy intentions at the local level, alongside frustration of local aspirations by the centre. This article explores the relationship between central policy and local implementation in the context of a Lottery‐funded initiative to develop community cancer care in the UK. We examine the relationships: between the BIG Lottery Fund and central government; between BIG and the cancer care projects it funded; and between the projects and their local economy of cancer care. We found evidence of success both in vertical cascading of policy and in local policy innovation; 83 per cent of projects succeeded in obtaining continuation funding at the end of their Lottery funding. We suggest that this was due, in part, to two features of Lottery funding and accountability that combined to differentiate it from the other policy initiatives studied. They meant that projects were ‘buffered’ not just from national policy churn, but also from competing local priorities. In the ‘protected space’ that was thus formed, ‘street‐level policy entrepreneurs’ played a key role in developing cancer care innovations for adoption by mainstream funding agencies.     

Working around the Barriers to Creating and Sharing Knowledge in Capital Goods Projects: the Client's Perspective*

The article considers knowledge management issues from the client's perspective. In the example presented, a sludge treatment centre procured by Northumbrian Water Ltd (NWL), the task faced by the client was to manage knowledge in a context where the core technology being procured was new and resulted in the need for new knowledge to be created and shared both pre‐ and post‐delivery. In exploring these issues, the article reveals the problems of (and some solutions to) managing knowledge across the project life‐cycle and between different groups, where the motivation for generating and sharing knowledge was not the same for all participants.     

Do hours matter? The relationship between motivation and study intensity in learners of English in Scotland

This paper examines the impact of English language learners’ motivation on their choice of study intensity using data from a national survey of learners in publicly funded English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses across Scotland. In particular, the motivation of learners attending only a few hours per week (i.e. very part-time learners) is compared with those attending for more hours. Our study found that there are differences in motivation and aspiration amongst very part-time and part-time or full-time learners but also that employment and child care may have as much influence as motivation in causing learners to enrol on very part-time English classes. The findings relating to these learners in our study present a particular challenge to ESOL providers which offer only very part-time courses.     

Shareholder Value and the Transformation of the U.S. Economy, 1984–20001

Using data from 62 U.S. industries for 1984–2000, this article explores the connections between shareholder value strategies, such as mergers and layoffs, and related industry‐level changes, such as de‐unionization, computer technology, and profitability. In line with shareholder value arguments, mergers occurred in industries with low profits, and industries where mergers were active subsequently saw an increase in layoffs. Industries with a high level of mergers increased investment in computer technology. This technology displaced workers through layoffs and was focused on reducing unionized workforces. Contrary to shareholder value arguments, there is no evidence that mergers or layoffs returned industries to profitability.     

Multilevel estimation of normalization constants using ensemble Kalman–Bucy filters

Statistics and Computing - This paper presents tests to formally choose between regression models using different derivatives of a functional covariate in scalar-on-function regression. We...     

A Comparison of Accelerated and Traditional MSW Students: Twenty Years Later

Abstract

There has been concern about the ideal length of time to effectively offer graduate content. Programs of less than two full years have been suspect. Thus study reports on two groups of social workers in the same program who have been professionally active for over twenty years. They completed the master's requirements under two different time conditions: One group completed study in twelve months; the other in the traditional two year period. The accelerated group reported the five major curriculum areas were more useful in their practice. In addition, they reported higher long-range achievement scores on the identical objectives of both programs.     

Beyond state-centrism? Space,territoriality, and geographical scale in globalization studies

Theory and Society -     

Minimal rights based solidarity

In a model where individuals with different levels of skills exert different levels of effort, we propose to use individuals’ minimal rights to divide an extra amount of income generated by a change in the skill profile. Priority is given to individuals with a positive minimal right which ensures that the way redistribution is performed depends on the total sum of income available in society. We characterize two families of minimal rights based Egalitarian mechanisms. One family guarantees each individual her claim when claims are feasible. The other family guarantees a non-negative income after redistribution for all individuals.