The Problem with Self-Forgiveness: Forgiving the Self Deters Readiness to Change Among Gamblers

Self-forgiveness is generally understood to be a mechanism that restores and improves the self. In the current study, we examine the possible deleterious consequences of forgiving the self among gamblers-specifically in regard to gamblers' readiness to change their problematic behavior. At a large Canadian university, 110 young adult gamblers' level of gambling pathology was assessed, along with their readiness to change and self-forgiveness for their gambling. Participants were 33 females and 75 males (2 unspecified) with a mean age of 20.33. Results revealed that level of pathology (at risk vs. problem gamblers) significantly predicted increased readiness to change. Self-forgiveness mediated this relationship, such that level of gambling pathology increased readiness to change to the extent that participants were relatively unforgiving of their gambling. Implications for seeking professional assistance as well as treatment and recovery are discussed.     

LEANING AGAINST WINDY BANK LENDING

Using an estimated dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with banking, this paper first provides evidence that monetary policy reacted to bank loan growth in the United States during the Great Moderation. It then shows that the optimized simple interest‐rate rule features no response to the growth of bank credit. However, the welfare loss associated to the empirical responsiveness is small. The sources of business cycle fluctuations are crucial in determining whether a “leaning‐against‐the‐wind” policy is optimal or not. In fact, the predominant role of supply shocks in the model gives rise to a trade‐off between inflation and financial stabilization. (JEL E32, E44, E52)     

Écrire l'événement : le travail agricole mis en mémoire

Pieces of writing about work can be taken to be a cognitive resource for action, especially when the way to act cannot be fully stated beforehand. To prove this, a pragmatic interpretation is proposed of the interactions between writing and cognition in agriculture, a sector where keeping an agenda is a widespread but seldom studied practice. After describing the diversity of the information (mainly technical or economic) that farmers noted from day to day, the functions of remembering on-the-job events are described in relation to farming activities: how this memory serves to follow up on activities, to think about what should be done and when. This detailed study of how agendas are actually used sheds light on the means available to farmers for managing their activities. Sometimes, writing serves to codify operations; sometimes, to make plans and assessments; and sometimes, to routinize an activity. In general, it helps stabilize the farmer’s work environment, splintered as it is among various places and schedules.     

Production mondialisée et progrès social: le cas du textile et de l'habillement

La fragmentation de la production au sein de réseaux mondiaux n'obéit pas seulement à l'avantage comparatif, mais aussi aux décisions de localisation des entreprises dominantes en fonction de la capacité de négociation des producteurs locaux et du rôle qu'elles leur assignent dans la chaîne de production. Les auteurs examinent les conséquences de cette spécialisation dans le textile et l'habillement, pour vingt‐six pays où l'offre de main‐d'?uvre est abondante, sur la période 1990–2007. L'étude économétrique montre que le secteur ne tire pas toujours bénéfice de l'intégration commerciale: on observe plutôt une association négative entre spécialisation verticale et salaires réels.     

Basic notions for the analysis of large two-mode networks

Many large real-world networks actually have a two-mode nature: their nodes may be separated into two classes, the links being between nodes of different classes only. Despite this, and despite the fact that many ad hoc tools have been designed for the study of special cases, very few exist to analyse (describe, extract relevant information) such networks in a systematic way. We propose here an extension of the most basic notions used nowadays to analyse large one-mode networks (the classical case) to the two-mode case. To achieve this, we introduce a set of simple statistics, which we discuss by comparing their values on a representative set of real-world networks and on their random versions. This makes it possible to evaluate their relevance in capturing properties of interest in two-mode networks.     

Risk Policies in the United States: Definition and Characteristics Based on a Scoping Review of the Literature

The concept of “risk policy” is used with increasing frequency by decisionmakers, researchers, and the media. However, there is no precise, generally accepted definition of what is covered by policies in this area. Based on a scoping review of the literature published in key journals in the sector, we have identified the main characteristics of public risk policies drawn up and implemented in the United States. The sample comprised 21 articles published in six multidisciplinary journals between 2000 and 2010.     

A non-parametric regression approach to repeated measures analysis in cancer experiments

The validity conditions for univariate or multivariate analyses of repeated measures are highly sensitive to the usual assumptions. In cancer experiments, the data are frequently heteroscedastic and strongly correlated with time, and standard analyses do not perform well. Alternative non-parametric approaches can contribute to an analysis of these longitudinal data. This paper describes a method for such situations, using the results from a comparative experiment in which tumour volume is evaluated over time. First, we apply the non-parametric approach proposed by Raz in constructing a randomization Ftest for comparing treatments. A local polynomial fit is conducted to estimate the growth curves and confidence intervals for each treatment. Finally, this technique is used to estimate the velocity of tumour growth.