Who will be idol? The importance of social networks for winning on reality shows

This paper examines, both theoretically and empirically, the effect of social networks and belonging to minority groups (or race) on the probability of winning in reality television shows. We develop a theoretical model that studies viewer behavior by presenting a framework of competition between two contestants from two different groups. The results are examined empirically using unique contestant data from the highly popular reality show “A Star Is Born”, the Israeli counterpart of “American Idol”. Our main finding is that social networks and belonging to minority groups play key roles in the contestant's victory. While the effect of belonging to a minority group is positive, the social network effect is U-shaped. Beyond the world of reality TV, this paper sheds light on the general behavior of social networks as well.     

Do ‘soft law’ board gender quotas work? Evidence from a natural experiment

In a new era of “open governance”, in which societal and corporate change is taking place, 15 predominantly European countries, including Spain, enacted board gender quotas to increase the share of women on boards. In this paper, we explore the effectiveness of the European Union’s first “soft” quota – the 2007 Spanish Gender Equality Act recommending all large public and private Spanish firms to appoint a target of 40 percent of each gender to serve as board directors by 2015. The Act provides an incentive in that quota compliant firms may receive a preference for the tendering of public contracts. We draw on institutional and resource dependency theories to motivate the first empirical test of a “soft” quota which is distinct from Norway’s “hard law” board gender quota, and more similar to the proposed EU-wide quota. Using a large novel panel of 767 Spanish firms and 2786 firm-year observations from 2005 to 2014, we exploit the Spanish Act as a natural experiment and employ a difference-in-differences model. We find that less than nine percent of targeted firms fully comply with the quota. Firms that depend on public contracts are significantly more likely to increase female representation, although quota compliant firms do not actually benefit from the Act’s potential incentive. The results highlight the Spanish government’s lack of commitment to the quota, and that the quota’s normative obligations did not trigger the adoption of gender-balanced boards.     

十六大以来中共新闻思想的创新与发展

十六大以来,中国共产党的新闻思想随时代的发展而不断发展、创新。时代发展所带来的社会生活和新闻实践的变迁,是党的新闻思想发展的不竭动力之一;而党的执政理念和治国方略的与时俱进,则是党的新闻思想发展的另一不竭动力。创新与发展主要体现在如下六个方面:将以人为本作为新闻宣传工作的根本要求;倡导按照新闻传播规律办事;由舆论引导发展为提高舆论引导能力/传播能力;以新闻传媒为重要渠道,实行信息公开;统筹国内国际两个方面,加大对外传播力度;对互联网坚持加强建设与加强管理并重。     

Remittance volatility and financial sector development in sub-Saharan African countries

In this study we examine the relationship between remittances, remittance volatility and financial sector development in sub-Saharan Africa using a two-step system GMM estimator over the period 2002–2014. Separately focussing on banking sector- and stock market development, our study distinguishes between the effect of remittances and remittance volatility on financial sector depth and financial sector efficiency. The results indicate remittances act as a substitute for the formal banking system in sub-Saharan African countries. We further provide evidence that remittance volatility is detrimental to both banking sector depth and efficiency. No evidence is found that remittance volatility is related to stock market development. A policy implication from our study is that sub-Saharan African countries should have measures in place to monitor the predictability of remittances while the cost of remittance transfer needs to be investigated.     

深入贯彻中央十六号文件精神进一步加强大学生思想政治教育工作

文章从学习和宣传中央十六号文件精神的实际工作人手,强调加强与改进大学生思想政治教育工作的重要意义以及增强工作责任感和使命感的必要性,分析了目前大学生思想政治教育工作中存在的一些问题,并对加强与改进大学生思想政治教育提出了工作思路和具体措施.     

认真贯彻十六大精神 ,切实加强高校党的建设

党的十六大提出全面建设小康社会,加快推进社会主义现代化,必须毫不放松加强和改善党的领导,全面推进党的建设新的伟大工程.我国高等学校在社会主义建设事业中的特殊地位和作用决定了高校党建工作的重要性和迫切性.必须高举十六大精神伟大旗帜,用邓小平理论和"三个代表"重要思想为指导,加强高校党的思想建设、组织建设和作风建设.     

不同经济收入单亲家庭大学新生个性特征的比较

目的：探讨不同经济收入单亲家庭大学新生个性特征的差异。整群抽取某大学近四年来大一新生12448名,采用卡特尔16种人格因素量表（16PF）、一般人口学变量调查表和自编家庭经济收入量表进行调查。结果：单亲家庭与普通家庭大学新生在有恒性、世故性、实验性、怯懦与果断、感情用事与安详机警、专业成就动机因素和新环境成长能力存在显著差异。不同家庭经济收入单亲大学新生群体在有恒性、怀疑性、忧虑性、紧张性、适应与焦虑、专业成就动机因素和新环境成长能力存在显著差异,在忧虑性、适应与焦虑和新环境成长能力方面有显著的交互作用。结论：单亲家庭大学新生社会性性格发展不良。与贫困和中等单亲家庭大学新生相比,富裕单亲家庭大学新生个性特征表现出低有恒性、低适应、低专业成就动机、低新环境中成长能力和高忧虑性的特点。     

论建设社会主义政治文明

发展社会主义民主政治 ,建设社会主义政治文明 ,是全面建设小康社会的重要目标。根据这一目标要求 ,文章界定了政治文明概念的涵义及其分析其与物质文明和精神文明之间的关系 ;梳理了社会主义政治文明概念提出的历史过程 ;从党的领导、人民民主、党内民主、依法治国等四个方面阐述了建设社会主义政治文明的基本内容 ;分析了建设社会主义政治文明的基本特征及其重要意义。     

中国共产党的先进性是具体的历史的

江泽民同志在“5·3 1”讲话、“十六大”报告中 ,强调指出党的先进性是具体的历史的 ,也就是与时俱进。这是马克思主义世界观的根本要求 ,是时代的根本要求。只有这样 ,才能始终做到“三个代表”。     

表见合伙之价值评判——兼新新《台伙企业法》第76条

2007年6月1日开始实施的新《合伙企业法》是一部非常有效地法律，但其最大缺陷是仍然没有规定表见合伙制度。表见合伙与表见代理、与民事欺诈是有明显区别的，不能用表见代理与民事欺诈解决实践中的表见合伙纠纷。新《合伙企业法》第76条的规定让人困惑，像似表见合伙，实则不然。建立表见合伙制度更有利于保障交易公平和安全，彰显善意第三人的利益，充分救济善意第三人的权利。因此，我国应当建立表见合伙制度。