Do Iconic Hand Gestures Really Contribute to the Communication of Semantic Information in a Face-to-Face Context?

Previous research has shown that iconic gestures are effective at communicating semantic information, particularly about the size and relative position of objects. However, the conclusions of these experiments have been somewhat limited by the fact that the methodology has typically involved presenting gesture–speech samples on video rather than in an actual face-to-face context. Because these different viewing conditions can impact on addressees’ behavior and perception, and therefore potentially impact on the amount of information they receive from gestures, the present study compares the communicative effectiveness of iconic gestures when viewed in a face-to-face context compared to when viewed on video. The results are quite striking in that gestures seemed at least as effective, and in some cases even more effective at communicating position and size information when they occurred in the face-to-face condition compared to video.     

Testing for panel cointegration in an error-correction framework with an application to the Fisher hypothesis

In this article, three innovative panel error-correction model (PECM) tests are proposed. These tests are based on the multivariate versions of the Wald (W), likelihood ratio (LR), and Lagrange multiplier (LM) tests. Using Monte Carlo simulations, the size and power of the tests are investigated when the error terms exhibit both cross-sectional dependence and independence. We find that the LM test is the best option when the error terms follow independent white-noise processes. However, in the more empirically relevant case of cross-sectional dependence, we conclude that the W test is the optimal choice. In contrast to previous studies, our method is general and does not rely on the strict assumption that a common factor causes the cross-sectional dependency. In an empirical application, our method is also demonstrated in terms of the Fisher effect—a hypothesis about the existence of which there is still no clear consensus. Based on our sample of the five Nordic countries we utilize our powerful test and discover evidence which, in contrast to most previous research, confirms the Fisher effect.     

温室效应:人口要负多大责任?

由于各国经济利益不一致,气候变化谈判博弈艰难。在这种形势下,人口控制对减少温室气体排放的意义,近来被国际社会部分人士及中国政府重新提及,值得关注。自1972年世界环境大会以来,发达国家对世界人口问题的看法发生过180度的转变,否认发展中国家人口快速增长对经济的不利作用,否认人口与环境问题相关的观点,渐成西方学术界主流,由学术界蔓延到西方政府,并深刻影响着发展中国家许多学者的认识。文章论述了人口规模对温室气体排放的影响,试分析了上述西方主流观点在研究方法上存在的问题。目前,中国正进入快速工业化阶段,对庞大人口不断放大的经济、资源、环境影响,本文认为必须有极为清醒的认识。     

Goodness of fit of generalized linear models to sparse data

We derive approximations to the first three moments of the conditional distribution of the deviance statistic, for testing the goodness of fit of generalized linear models with non-canonical links, by using an estimating equations approach, for data that are extensive but sparse. A supplementary estimating equation is proposed from which the modified deviance statistic is obtained. An application of a modified deviance statistic is shown to binomial and Poisson data. We also conduct a performance study of the modified Pearson statistic derived by Farrington and the modified deviance statistic derived in this paper, in terms of size and power, through a small scale simulation experiment. Both statistics are shown to perform well in terms of size. The deviance statistic, however, shows an advantage of power. Two examples are given.     

A comparative study of tests for paired lifetime data

In this paper, we investigate different procedures for testing the equality of two mean survival times in paired lifetime studies. We consider Owen’s M-test and Q-test, a likelihood ratio test, the paired t-test, the Wilcoxon signed rank test and a permutation test based on log-transformed survival times in the comparative study. We also consider the paired t-test, the Wilcoxon signed rank test and a permutation test based on original survival times for the sake of comparison. The size and power characteristics of these tests are studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations under a frailty Weibull model. For less skewed marginal distributions, the Wilcoxon signed rank test based on original survival times is found to be desirable. Otherwise, the M-test and the likelihood ratio test are the best choices in terms of power. In general, one can choose a test procedure based on information about the correlation between the two survival times and the skewness of the marginal survival distributions.     

动态广义最小二乘法在面板协整中的应用研究

在进行非平稳面板数据的协整分析时,使用动态最小二乘法（DOLS）可以有效消除内生性问题,从而得到具有渐进正态分布的统计量。但在小样本条件下,由于可使用解释变量差分项的阶数有限,导致模型中均衡误差项的序列相关,使得DOLS统计量出现严重的检验水平畸变。为此,本文将单一时间序列的动态广义最小二乘法（DGLS）应用于非平稳的同质面板数据模型。在序贯极限分布的条件下,DGLS统计量仍具有正态的条件极限分布。而仿真实验表明,对于非平稳的同质面板数据模型,即使在均衡误差项存在高序列相关的条件下,DGLS统计量仍具有较好的小样本性质。     

A new Markov chain approach for the economic statistical design of the VSS T2 control chart

An economic statistical design model for a T² chart which uses a variable sample size (VSS) feature is developed in this article. This study mainly differs from the others conducted in the field. In that a new approach is offered to achieve closed form of some statistical criteria. In other words, the proposed formulas can be considered as a better alternative approach in designing the VSS control charts in terms of simplicity and yet providing the users with better optimal solutions.     

通货膨胀、利益集团与国民收入分配——基于多国面板数据的实证分析

不同国家和地区长期的通货膨胀水平存在明显差异。这个现象的背后应该隐藏着某些带有共性特征的决定性因素。本研究率先引入利益集团作为关键的外生变量,通过构建包括富人和执政党两方的完全信息静态博弈模型找出了这些因素,并对32个国家1980-2005年的非平衡面板数据分析进行验证①;我国当前的经济和政治结构易于引发通货膨胀,应稳健有序地退出积极的财政和货币政策,压缩地方政府投资项目,适度打压包括房地产在内的投机性行业,减少全社会信贷投放总量。     

城镇贫困的特征演变

本文利用中国家庭收入调查数据研究了1988-2013年间我国城镇居民的贫困问题。以利用“马丁法”计算的各省历年贫困线作为贫困识别标准,发现25年间城镇地区的贫困率下降明显,尤其暂时性贫困和持久性贫困的贫困率已经很低,贫困人口以选择性贫困为主,即消费不足成为我国城镇人口贫困的主要特征。家庭人口多、有未成年子女会有更大概率陷入贫困,而教育和稳定的就业则可以有效缓解贫困。当前我国城镇地区的贫困人口认定和救助主要以收入为标准,本文认为应充分重视贫困人口消费不足的问题,拓展专项救助的范围,同时增大对教育、卫生、住房等基本民生保障的投入,减少低收入群体的过度储蓄,并特别关注贫困青少年的精神和物质消费需求。     

区域竞争下流动人口的规模及分布

本文重新定义了流动人口概念,并分析了流动人口的实际规模及分布。广义流动人口包括离开户口所在地(乡、镇、街道)半年以上的长期流入者和半年以下经济型短期流入者。基于2005年全国1%人口抽样调查的现有人口数据,我们发现经济型短期流入规模达1676.5万,占重要流入省市总人口比重的2%以上。2005年,全国流动人口总数在1.5亿左右,其中跨省流动人口大约6844万。省际流动的流入地及流出地都比较集中:近3/4来自中南及西南9个欠发达省份,3/4流向经济发达区域广东(34.2%),长三角(28.5%)和环渤海地区(13%)。对珠、长三角的选择由距离决定:邻近省选择高度集中,等距或长距时则分散到两个区域。以上分布显示沿海发达地区对中西部人口的强烈吸引力,也反映出区域发展多极化后发达区域间劳动力需求竞争加剧。