Book Reviews

Books reviewed:
M Hollander and D Wolfe, Nonparametric Statistical Methods
T Leonard and J.S.J Hsu, Bayesian Methods     

Deconvolution with supersmooth distributions

Nonparametric deconvolution problems require one to recover an unknown density when the data are contaminated with errors. Optimal global rates of convergence are found under the weighted L_p-loss (1 ≤ p ≤ ∞). It appears that the optimal rates of convergence are extremely low for supersmooth error distributions. To resolve this difficulty, we examine how high the noise level can be for deconvolution to be feasible, and for the deconvolution estimate to be as good as the ordinary density estimate. It is shown that if the noise level is not too high, nonparametric Gaussian deconvolution can still be practical. Several simulation studies are also presented.     

Missing data and forecasting in multivariate time series: An application of the common components dynamic linear model

Summary The paper deals with missing data and forecasting problems in multivariate time series making use of the Common Components Dynamic Linear Model (DLMCC), presented in Quintana (1985), and West and Harrison (1989). Some results are presented and discussed: exploiting the correlation between series, estimated by the DLMCC, the paper shows as it is possible to update state vector posterior distributions for the unobserved series. This is realized on the base of the updating of the observed series state vectors, for which the usual Kalman filter equations can be applied. An application concerning some Italian private consumption series provides an example of the model capabilities.     

中小企业内部控制系统现状及完善对策的探讨

会计信息失真现象与社会环境、经济环境、市场经济的发育程度等企业的外部环境息息相关，但单位内部控制系统弱化是一个更重要、更直接的内部因素。因此，建立和加强单位的内部控制，使内部控制合理设计并有效实施，才能最大可能地防止会计造假等错弊行为的发生，保证会计信息的真实、完整、相关、透明，才能促使企业价值的增值。本文以中小企业作为研究对象，对中小企业如何加强与完善内部控制系统作了一些探讨，提出了一些具体的措施。     

中国城市化道路模式探讨

改革开放以来,我国城市化进程明显加快,进入到加速发展的新时期。但长期实施的城市化方针却严重阻碍了我国城市化向更高层次的迈进。积极发展小城镇并非是适合我国城市化进程的选择,大城市的快速发展是城市化进程中不可阻挡的潮流,我国的城市化进程中大城市的发展应得到充分重视。     

PATTERN RECOGNITION VIA ROBUST SMOOTHING WITH APPLICATION TO LASER DATA

Nowadays airborne laser scanning is used in many territorial studies, providing point data which may contain strong discontinuities. Motivated by the need to interpolate such data and preserve their edges, this paper considers robust nonparametric smoothers. These estimators, when implemented with bounded loss functions, have suitable jump‐preserving properties. Iterative algorithms are developed here, and are equivalent to nonlinear M‐smoothers, but have the advantage of resembling the linear Kernel regression. The selection of their coefficients is carried out by combining cross‐validation and robust‐tuning techniques. Two real case studies and a simulation experiment confirm the validity of the method; in particular, the performance in building recognition is excellent.     

中小企业发展与融资体系的构建

中小企业在其不同的发展阶段面临着不同的融资需求。文章以金融支持为主线,先从宏观层面上考察了企业融资结构分别对宏观经济波动和企业融资体系的影响,再从微观角度出发,试图在对中小企业各发展过程中融资行为、融资约束、融资结构等的分析中探求其“融资难”之所在。最后再依据我国的现实国情,并结合发达国家先进经验,探讨我国中小企业融资体系的构建。     

Is CSR the panacea for SMEs? A study of socially responsible SMEs during economic crisis

There is increasing research attention as to how SMEs might realize corporate social responsibility opportunities. Most studies focus on the pursuance of responsible business strategies that result in favourable business outcomes. This study investigates SMEs who actively participate in CSR activities in a south-eastern European country during the economic crisis of the Eurozone. Data collected reveals that stakeholder salience and proximity moderate the relationship between CSR and financial performance. The context of this study is important as it addresses the paucity of research carried out in countries during economic crisis and sheds light on the positive aspects of CSR practices adopted during crisis.     

An ISO 9001:2000-based framework for realizing quality in small businesses

The purpose of ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System (QMS) is to provide businesses with a model to grow systematically while assuring the quality of their products. The validity of ISO 9001:2000 QMS stems, largely, from the fact that the best minds worldwide have contributed to its development and maintenance, and the fact that many companies have reported real business gains because of its implementation. Unfortunately, many small businesses fail to survive due to the absence or lack of adequate system for managing quality. An obvious recommendation would be to implement ISO 9001:2000 QMS. Nevertheless, small businesses often cite lack of resources and time as the main reasons for not implementing ISO 9001:2000 QMS.     

A new approach to statistical efficiency of weighted least squares fitting algorithms for reparameterization of nonlinear regression models

We study nonlinear least-squares problem that can be transformed to linear problem by change of variables. We derive a general formula for the statistically optimal weights and prove that the resulting linear regression gives an optimal estimate (which satisfies an analogue of the Rao-Cramer lower bound) in the limit of small noise.