A class of weighted dependence measures for bivariate failure time data

This paper considers a class of summary measures of the dependence between a pair of failure time variables over a finite follow-up region. The class consists of measures that are weighted averages of local dependence measures, and includes the cross-ratio-measure and finite region version of Kendall's τ; recently proposed by the authors. Two new special cases are identified that can avoid the need to estimate the bivariate survivor function and that admit explicit variance estimators. Nonparametric estimators of such dependence measures are proposed and are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal with variances that can be consistently estimated. Properties of selected estimators are evaluated in a simulation study, and the method is illustrated through an analysis of Australian Twin Study data.     

Confidence intervals for secondary parameters following a sequential test

In sequential studies, formal interim analyses are usually restricted to a consideration of a single null hypothesis concerning a single parameter of interest. Valid frequentist methods of hypothesis testing and of point and interval estimation for the primary parameter have already been devised for use at the end of such a study. However, the completed data set may warrant a more detailed analysis, involving the estimation of parameters corresponding to effects that were not used to determine when to stop, and yet correlated with those that were. This paper describes methods for setting confidence intervals for secondary parameters in a way which provides the correct coverage probability in repeated frequentist realizations of the sequential design used. The method assumes that information accumulates on the primary and secondary parameters at proportional rates. This requirement will be valid in many potential applications, but only in limited situations in survival analysis.     

Analysis of Competing Risks by Using Bayesian Smoothing

We consider the competing risks set-up. In many practical situations, the conditional probability of the cause of failure given the failure time is of direct interest. We propose to model the competing risks by the overall hazard rate and the conditional probabilities rather than the cause-specific hazards. We adopt a Bayesian smoothing approach for both quantities of interest. Illustrations are given at the end.     

GMM Estimation with persistent panel data: an application to production functions

This paper considers the estimation of Cobb-Douglas production functions using panel data covering a large sample of companies observed for a small number of time periods. GMM estimatorshave been found to produce large finite-sample biases when using the standard first-differenced estimator. These biases can be dramatically reduced by exploiting reasonable stationarity restrictions on the initial conditions process. Using data for a panel of R&Dperforming US manufacturing companies we find that the additional instruments used in our extended GMM estimator yield much more reasonable parameter estimates.     

韩国人口老龄化与老年人社会保障

随着近几十年生育率的持续下降及平均寿命的不断提高 ,韩国人口逐渐出现了老龄化趋势。到下世纪初韩国人口老龄化进程将进一步加快。韩国人口老龄化的显著特征 ,就是在急剧的现代化过程中 ,还没来得及健全老年人社会保障、福利、医疗、保健等制度的情况下将迎来迅速的人口老龄化 ,从而使全社会面临着不断增长的老年人福利、医疗、保健需求     

论高校专业资料室在教改中的特点及服务

本文从多方面对高校专业资料室的工作特点、内容及形式进行探讨 ,以使其在教改及科学研究中发挥更大的作用。     

浅析我国再就业工程所面临的问题及对策思路

随着我国企业改革的不断深化,全国各地不断涌现一大批下岗待业人员和为数众多的失业者。如若得不到妥善安置,势必影响企业深化改革的顺利进行和社会的稳定。再就业工程为一项旨在帮助下岗和失业职工重返工作岗位的宠大工程,已引起社会各界的重视。再就业工程在实施的两年多时间里,取得了一定成效,但也面临许多问题,要顺利解决这些问题,必须要有新的思路和对策     

论责任转质

责任转质并非一种偶然的法律现象,它是对质权作为一种担保物权所要求物尽其用,财尽其流,价尽其位的一种弥补。文章运用比较的方法,论述了责任转质制度在我国确立的必要性,结合该制度在世界各国的立法例,尝试构建我国的责任转质制度。     

论我国纳税人权利与保障

我国纳税人权利及保障体系的不健全,严重损害了我国对外开放形象,降低了我国综合竞争力。为此,我国必须借鉴国外纳税人权利及保障体系的先进经验,通过构建“一个法、两个意识、三个机制”来打造我国科学的纳税人权利及保障体系,切实保护纳税人权利,全面提升我国综合竞争力。     

住房抵押贷款证券化的必要性及相关问题探析

走发展我国住房抵押贷款证券化之路,是降低金融风险、弥补房地产业资金缺口,合理配置社会闲置资金,繁荣证券市场的需要。然而,在推进我国住房抵押贷款证券化的进程中,还必须切实解决好影响和制约其发展的一些关键问题。