On the coase theorem and coalitional stability: the principle of equal relative concession

The Coase theorem is argued to be incompatible with bargaining set stability due to a tension between the grand coalition and sub-coalitions. We provide a counter-intuitive argument to demonstrate that the Coase theorem may be in complete consonance with bargaining set stability. We establish that an uncertainty concerning the formation of sub-coalitions will explain such compatibility: each agent fears that others may `gang up' against him and this fear forces the agents to negotiate. The grand coalition emerges from the negotiations if each agent uses the principle of equal relative sacrifice to determine the actual allocation. We also establish the rational basis for the choice of the principle of equal relative concession by the negotiating agents. Hence we argue that the Coase theorem will be valid even if there are stable sub-coalitions.     

中世纪阿中文明对话及其缘起

伊斯兰文明与中华文明的对话历史源远流长,它们在交流中互通有无,相得益彰,影响深远,堪称古代世界文明交流的佳话.本文旨在以阿拉伯文、中文文献及实地调查资料为基础,对唐朝至明朝期间阿中友好往来的历史进行回顾,以期以史为鉴,继往开来.     

Estimating Average Worth of the Selected Subset from Two-Parameter Exponential Populations

ABSTRACT

Suppose independent random samples are available from k(k ≥ 2) exponential populations ∏₁,…,∏ _k with a common location θ and scale parameters σ₁,…,σ _k , respectively. Let X _i and Y _i denote the minimum and the mean, respectively, of the ith sample, and further let X = min{X ₁,…, X _k } and T _i  = Y _i  ? X; i = 1,…, k. For selecting a nonempty subset of {∏₁,…,∏ _k } containing the best population (the one associated with max{σ₁,…,σ _k }), we use the decision rule which selects ∏ _i if T _i  ≥ c max{T ₁,…,T _k }, i = 1,…, k. Here 0 < c ≤ 1 is chosen so that the probability of including the best population in the selected subset is at least P* (1/k ≤ P* < 1), a pre-assigned level. The problem is to estimate the average worth W of the selected subset, the arithmetic average of means of selected populations. In this article, we derive the uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) of W. The bias and risk function of the UMVUE are compared numerically with those of analogs of the best affine equivariant estimator (BAEE) and the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE).     

Sacrificing Women: A Study of Ritualized Practices among Women Volunteers in India

This study addresses issues related to inequality formation and reproduction, especially in regard to gender dynamics operating in a non-western society. Grounded in a post-colonial understanding of urban educated upper and middle class women NGO volunteers in contemporary India, it analyzes how they negotiate new approaches to challenge existing traditional gender roles, yet in critical ways contribute to their reproduction, particularly the traditional concept of ideal Indian womanhood. Employing structural ritualization theory we examine how ritualized symbolic practices related to the traditional concepts of caretaking, sacrifice, and the concept of natural sexual differences continue to be emphasized in a generation confronted with conflicting expectations about modern women’s roles. Twenty-one testimonies provide the major source of evidence along with data gathered through participant observation. This research enhances our understanding of the power of rituals and how they can continue to shape the cognitions and activities of actors.

Estimating parameters of a selected Pareto population

Let Π₁,…,Π_k be k populations with Π_i being Pareto with unknown scale parameter α_i and known shape parameter β_i;i=1,…,k. Suppose independent random samples (X_i1,…,X_in), i=1,…,k of equal size are drawn from each of k populations and let X_i denote the smallest observation of the ith sample. The population corresponding to the largest X_i is selected. We consider the problem of estimating the scale parameter of the selected population and obtain the uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) when the shape parameters are assumed to be equal. An admissible class of linear estimators is derived. Further, a general inadmissibility result for the scale equivariant estimators is proved.     

Consistency between fertility attitudes and behaviour: A conceptual model

Abstract The consistency (or lack of it) between attitude and behaviour has been a controversial issue in social psychology for the past several decades,(1) and more recently has become a focus of considerable controversy in the field of population studies.(2) In accordance with Freedman, Hermalin and Chang,(3)it is argued here that this controversy will not be resolved by theoretical discussions, and evidence is needed from many countries at several time points to resolve this issue. This paper presents evidence on consistency between fertility attitudes and behaviour from survey data from Venezuela and, based upon analysis of the present data, suggests a conceptual model for the study of consistency between fertility attitudes and behaviour.     

Uncovering the Truth: The Lake Perućac Exhumations in Eastern Bosnia

The aggression and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 1992 to 1995 left an estimated 30,000 missing persons mainly Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims). These victims consisted of mostly male civilians, but also a significant number of women, elderly and children. Remains of victims are being uncovered in mass graves by expert teams since 1996. The mass graves included various sites spread across the territory that became known as Republika Srpska after the war ended. In many cases ravines, rivers and lakebeds were used as mass graves where the bodies were dumped and hidden. This article describes the largest operation to uncover human remains of victims in BiH and beyond, which took place in 2010, and was undertaken by the Missing Persons Institute of BiH on the dried up surface of the Peru?ac Lake on the Drina River in Eastern Bosnia. This article aims to record the important aspects of the operation and the personal stories of the victims found.