The heterogeneous effects of COVID-19 on labor market flows: evidence from administrative data

The Journal of Economic Inequality - We investigate the short-term effects of COVID-19 on labor market flows and how they are mediated by labor market policy. Using Italian administrative data on a...     

A comparison between the simulated annealing and the EM algorithms in normal mixture decompositions

We compare the performances of the simulated annealing and the EM algorithms in problems of decomposition of normal mixtures according to the likelihood approach. In this case the likelihood function has multiple maxima and singularities, and we consider a suitable reformulation of the problem which yields an optimization problem having a global solution and at least a smaller number of spurious maxima. The results are compared considering some distance measures between the estimated distributions and the true ones. No overwhelming superiority of either method has been demonstrated, though in one of our cases simulated annealing achieved better results.     

Open collaborative innovation and digital platforms

Abstract

This study uses contract theory to analyse the relationship between open collaborative innovation strategies and digital platforms. We argue that a collaborative mechanism and governance of the platform affect how operations are run and impact firm ambidexterity. We also explain how the twofold revealing strategy, both selective and free occurs via the platform and how governance positively impacts the coordination mechanism. A case study analysis on TIM OPEN draws a ground-breaking framework for future investigations. The analysis suggests that the combination of digital platform and collaborative innovation can facilitate the creative process and be a driver of operational synergies. Results confirm that the adoption of digital platforms for collaborative innovations reduces transaction costs.     

Gender disparities in the Italian regions from a human development perspective

The aim of this paper is to analyse, which is the current situation of gender disparities in Italy and how such disparities are distributed among Italian regions. In order to quantify such disparities a comprehensive framework for assessment is required by using a human development approach. A gender-oriented investigation of effective available capabilities for men and women in the Italian regions reveals that gender inequality in Italy seems to be a persistent phenomenon. Finally, the gender disparities in the empowerment dimension and in the other social dimensions seem to be mutually reinforcing with the economic dimensions, especially in the labour market.     

Awareness and partitional information structures

This is the first of two papers where we present a formal model of unawareness. We contrast unawareness with certainty and uncertainty. A subject is certain of something when he knows that thing; he is uncertain when he does not know it, but he knows he does not: he is consciously uncertain. On the other hand, he isunaware of something when he does not know it, and he does not know he does not know, and so on ad infinitum: he does not perceive, does not have in mind, the object of knowledge. The opposite of unawareness is awareness, which includes certainty and uncertainty.This paper has three main purposes. First, we formalize the concept of awareness, and introduce a symmetry axiom which states that a subject can be aware of something, say, if and only if he is aware of its negation not-; in other words, that and not- are perceived together, or neither is. We then derive the basic properties of awareness.The second purpose is to prove a different axiomatic characterization, based on the concept of awareness of the system which underlies the model of information with partitional structures (known asS5).The third purpose of this paper is to show that without a substantial weakening of the rules of inferences normally assumed in modal logic a satisfactory model of unawareness, which includes the symmetry axiom, is impossible. This alternative approach is developed in a second paper by the same authors.     

Relation of Type and Amount of Training to Career Counseling Self‐Efficacy in Italy

This study examined the relation of self‐efficacy to length and type of training in a sample of Italian career counselors. Findings indicated that amount of career counseling training was positively related to counselors' self‐efficacy regarding their abilities to conceptualize vocational problems, deal with career indecision concerns, and provide educational counseling. In addition, counselors who had participated in an in‐service training course that focused on social cognitive/learning theories reported stronger self‐efficacy regarding their skills at vocational problem conceptualization and at educational counseling than did those who received more eclectic training.     

The stochastic inverse projection and the population of Velletri (1590-1870)

A new stochastic method of inverse projection based on the simulation of age and sex of deaths is proposed. The method is implemented in two procedures, i.e., SIPAV (forward inverse projection) and SIPIN (backward inverse projection). The two procedures are used to study the history of the population of Velletri from 1590 to 1870.