Business reform outcomes: Why so different?

Post-crisis policy making increasingly focuses on doing business reforms. We argue that the effects of those reforms will be different across countries. To understand the reasons for the reform outcome divergence, we advance a novel firm-size distribution (FSDs) argument. At the center of the argument is the fact that FSDs are different across countries and stable over time. Then, if a given doing business reform induces firms of different size to grow differently, this will produce a variety of reform outcomes across countries. To advance the argument, we set up a tractable general equilibrium (GE) model and study how firms of different size grow after a doing business reform. The model predicts that larger firms will grow faster than smaller firms after the reform. The model predictions are tested on the Enterprise Surveys (ES) data, merged with the Doing Business indicators. We confirm that firms of different size grow differently after a Doing Business reform. Thus, based on the notable differences of firm size distributions across countries, identical reforms to start, operate and close a business will produce a variety of reform outcomes across countries.     

Fixed T dynamic panel data estimators with multifactor errors

This article analyzes a growing group of fixed T dynamic panel data estimators with a multifactor error structure. We use a unified notational approach to describe these estimators and discuss their properties in terms of deviations from an underlying set of basic assumptions. Furthermore, we consider the extendability of these estimators to practical situations that may frequently arise, such as their ability to accommodate unbalanced panels and common observed factors. Using a large-scale simulation exercise, we consider scenarios that remain largely unexplored in the literature, albeit being of great empirical relevance. In particular, we examine (i) the effect of the presence of weakly exogenous covariates, (ii) the effect of changing the magnitude of the correlation between the factor loadings of the dependent variable and those of the covariates, (iii) the impact of the number of moment conditions on bias and size for GMM estimators, and finally (iv) the effect of sample size. We apply each of these estimators to a crime application using a panel data set of local government authorities in New South Wales, Australia; we find that the results bear substantially different policy implications relative to those potentially derived from standard dynamic panel GMM estimators. Thus, our study may serve as a useful guide to practitioners who wish to allow for multiplicative sources of unobserved heterogeneity in their model.     

Estimation for a first-order bifurcating autoregressive process with heavy-tail innovations

Asymptotics of an alternative extreme-value estimator for the autocorrelation parameter in a first-order bifurcating autoregressive (BAR) process with non-gaussian innovations are derived. This contrasts with traditional estimators whose asymptotic behavior depends on the central part of the innovation distribution. Within any BAR model, the main concern is addressing the complex dependency between generations. The inability of traditional methods to handle this dependency motivated an alternative procedure. With the combination of an extreme-value approach and a clever blocking argument, the dependency issue within the BAR process was resolved, which in turn allowed us to derive the limiting distribution for the proposed estimator through the use of regular variation and non-stationary point processes. Finally, the implications of our extreme-value approach are discussed with an extensive simulation study that not only assesses the reliability of our proposed estimate but also presents the findings for a new estimator of an unknown location parameter θ and its implications.     

基于学分绩点与综合素质测评的换算模型建立

学生综合素质测评体系的完善对有效实施大学生综合素质测评工作以及指导大学生健康发展有重要意义,其中,学生综合素质测评体系的关键在于学分绩点与综合素质测评的换算模型的转化。通过分析高校现行学分绩点测评公式,发现其存在的主要缺陷是转化公式不满足统计学原理,并指出学分绩点测评的换算公式应建立在对特定学生群体特征参数群数值分析的基础上。以西南石油大学某专业学生某学年的成绩分布数据进行验证,采取统计原理、常数变异法和不动点原理进行建模,利用求导方法对学分绩点测评中的特征参数群进行层次划分,然后对每段划分积分,通过归一化来确定变异项,得出新的换算模型。结果表明新模型能更好地反映学生的学习成绩在综合素质测评中的地位。     

Quantile Regression for Location‐Scale Time Series Models with Conditional Heteroscedasticity

This paper considers quantile regression for a wide class of time series models including autoregressive and moving average (ARMA) models with asymmetric generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity errors. The classical mean‐variance models are reinterpreted as conditional location‐scale models so that the quantile regression method can be naturally geared into the considered models. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the quantile regression estimator is established in location‐scale time series models under mild conditions. In the application of this result to ARMA‐generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models, more primitive conditions are deduced to obtain the asymptotic properties. For illustration, a simulation study and a real data analysis are provided.     

Exact and approximate distributions for linear contrasts of means and variances

A Bayesian analysis is presented for the K-group Behrens-Fisher problem. Both exact posterior distributions and approximations were developed for both a general linear contrast of the K means and the K variances, given either proper diffuse or informative conjugate priors. The contrast of variances is a unique feature of the heterogeneous variance model that enables investigators to test specific effects of experimental manipulations on variance. Finally, important-differences were observed between the heterogeneous variance model and the homogeneous model.     

Sums of powers of binomial coefficients

An asymptotic series for sums of powers of binomial coefficients is derived, the general term being defined and usable with a computer symbolic language. Sums of squares of coefficients in the symmetric case are shown to have a link with classical moment problems, but this property breaks down for cubes and higher powers. Problems of remainders for the asymptotic series are mentioned. Using the reflection formula for I'(.), a continuous form for a binomial function is set up, and this becomes oscillatory outstde the usual range. A new contmued fraction emerges for the logarithm of an adjusted sum of binomial squares. The note is a contribution to the problem of the interpretation of asymptotic series and processes for their convergence acceleration.     

“定岗双元”：STW在健雄职业技术学院的本土化探索和实践

在西方职业教育发展过程中,STW是一个理论与实践探讨的热点。在科学借鉴西方国家STW成功经验的基础上,健雄职业技术学院结合自己实际校情,就＂定岗双元＂人才培养模式进行了探索,较好地解决了高职学生从学校到工作的过渡性问题。     

Sequential estimation problems for negative exponential populations

The literature on sequential estimation problems for negative exponential populations has been reviewed here, We attempt to bring in all the published and unpublished materials known to us in a fairly coherent fashion. Both the concepts and theoretical findings are discussed.     

唐代的家族、地域与国家认同——唐代“归葬”现象考察

出土的唐代墓志中出现了较多的归葬现象：从唐帝国的边缘地区归葬于国家的中心长安、洛阳。唐代国家观念中的天下观与家国观,蕴含着地域观念和家族观念：地域上是对天下中心的王朝核心区的归属与认同,家族上以忠孝方式表达对家国的忠诚。这为分析唐代的国家认同提供了理路。迁葬或归葬这种耗资巨大的行为仪式即唐代士大夫阶层朴素的国家认同的表达方式。分析唐人的国家认同与唐代社会的互动,有助于吸取历史养分,理解影响国家认同的因素,促进现代的国家认同。