LABOR SUPPLY OF POLITICIANS

Using data on Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), we examine the impact of salaries on the composition and the behavior of legislators. Employing a differences‐in‐differences approach, we exploit the introduction of a law that equalized MEPs' salaries which had previously differed by as much as a factor of 10. Increasing salaries raises the fraction of MEPs who run for re‐election but decreases the quality of elected MEPs (proxied by college quality). Salary has no discernible impact on effort or legislation output. Higher salaries induce more political competition.     

Characteristic function estimation of non-Gaussian Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes

Continuous non-Gaussian stationary processes of the OU-type are becoming increasingly popular given their flexibility in modelling stylized features of financial series such as asymmetry, heavy tails and jumps. The use of non-Gaussian marginal distributions makes likelihood analysis of these processes unfeasible for virtually all cases of interest. This paper exploits the self-decomposability of the marginal laws of OU processes to provide explicit expressions of the characteristic function which can be applied to several models as well as to develop efficient estimation techniques based on the empirical characteristic function. Extensions to OU-based stochastic volatility models are provided.     

Minimum contrast estimation of random processes based on information of second and third orders

This paper presents the results on consistency and asymptotic normality of a class of minimum contrast estimators for random processes with short- or long-range dependence based on the second- and third-order cumulant spectra. Asymptotic properties of sample spectral functionals of second and third orders, which are of independent interest in view of their possible use for nonparametric estimation of processes with short- or long-range dependence, are also provided.     

Continuous-Time Stochastic Processes with Cyclical Long-Range Dependence

This paper introduces continuous‐time random processes whose spectral density is unbounded at some non‐zero frequencies. The discretized versions of these processes have asymptotic properties similar to those of discrete‐time Gegenbauer processes. The paper presents some properties of the covariance function and spectral density as well as a theory of statistical estimation of the mean and covariance function of such processes. Some directions for further generalizations of the results are indicated.     

Correlation properties of continuous-time autoregressive processes delayed by the inverse of the stable subordinator

Abstract

We define the delayed Lévy-driven continuous-time autoregressive process via the inverse of the stable subordinator. We derive correlation structure for the observed non-stationary delayed Lévy-driven continuous-time autoregressive processes of order p, emphasizing low orders, and we show they exhibit long-range dependence property. Distributional properties are discussed as well.     

Statistical estimation of quadratic Rényi entropy for a stationary m-dependent sequence

The Rényi entropy is a generalisation of the Shannon entropy and is widely used in mathematical statistics and applied sciences for quantifying the uncertainty in a probability distribution. We consider estimation of the quadratic Rényi entropy and related functionals for the marginal distribution of a stationary m-dependent sequence. The U-statistic estimators under study are based on the number of ε-close vector observations in the corresponding sample. A variety of asymptotic properties for these estimators are obtained (e.g. consistency, asymptotic normality, and Poisson convergence). The results can be used in diverse statistical and computer science problems whenever the conventional independence assumption is too strong (e.g. ε-keys in time series databases and distribution identification problems for dependent samples).     

Explaining Cross-Country Differences in Attitudes Towards Immigration in the EU-15

In this paper, we use data from the first two rounds of the European Social Survey to analyze the extent to which differences in average attitudes towards immigration across the EU-15 countries may be explained by differences in socioeconomic characteristics and individually perceived consequences of immigration, using an extension of a decomposition technique developed by Fairlie (2005). We find that despite the significant effects of socioeconomic characteristics on attitudes, differences in the distributions of these characteristics can only explain a modest share of the cross-country variation in average attitudes. A larger part can be explained by differences in perceived consequences of immigration, but the main part is still left unexplained. Apart from providing useful input for policy makers working in the area of immigration policy, this raises a number of questions for further research for which the ESS data can be successfully applied.

Hypothesis testing for Fisher–Snedecor diffusion

We consider the problem of testing the hypothesis on marginal distribution of ergodic diffusion with Fisher–Snedecor invariant distribution, to be called Fisher–Snedecor diffusion. We propose a GMM approach to testing this statistical hypothesis where the moment condition is based on eigenfunctions of the diffusion infinitesimal generator—Fisher–Snedecor polynomials. Statistical test is observed in two different settings: (1) for known values of parameters of the process; (2) for consistent moment based estimators of parameters. Results are illustrated in a short simulation study.     

Statistical inference for reciprocal gamma diffusion process

We consider the problem of parameter estimation for an ergodic diffusion with reciprocal gamma invariant distribution. Spectral decomposition of the transition density of such a Markov process is presented in terms of a finite number of discrete eigenfunctions (Bessel polynomials) and eigenfunctions related to a continuous part of the spectrum of the negative infinitesimal generator of reciprocal gamma diffusion. Consistency and asymptotical normality of proposed estimators are presented. Based on the Stein equation for reciprocal gamma diffusion and Bessel polynomials, the hypothesis testing procedure is considered.     

Effects of Caregiving on Employment and Economic Costs of Chinese Family Caregivers in Canada

A telephone survey with 339 randomly selected Chinese Canadian caregivers examined the employment and economic costs of family caregiving for the elderly. Although the Chinese culture places a strong emphasis on filial obligation, caregiving is not without economic consequences. Caregiver’s age, financial adequacy, and employment, caring for an additional care receiver, and levels of assistance in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), were the predictors for economic costs perceived by family caregivers. Caregiver’s age, caring for an additional care receiver, and care receiver’s financial adequacy were significant predictors for male caregivers. Caregiver’s financial adequacy and higher levels of assistance in ADL were the predictors for female caregivers. Policies to support family caregivers should not just focus on the social aspect, but also the financial needs.