Robust synthetic control

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2018.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 63-65).In this thesis, we present a robust generalization of the synthetic control method. A distinguishing feature of our algorithm is that of de-noising the data matrix via singular value thresholding, which renders our approach robust in multiple facets: it automatically identifies a good subset of donors, functions without extraneous covariates (vital to existing methods), and overcomes missing data (never been addressed in prior works). To our knowledge, we provide the first theoretical finite sample analysis for a broader class of models than previously considered in literature. Additionally, we relate the inference quality of our estimator to the amount of training data available and show our estimator to be asymptotically consistent. In order to move beyond point estimates, we introduce a Bayesian framework that not only provides practitioners the ability to readily develop different estimators under various loss functions, but also equips them with the tools to quantitatively measure the uncertainty of their model/estimates through posterior probabilities. Our empirical results demonstrate that our robust generalization yields a positive impact over the classical synthetic control method, underscoring the value of our key de-noising procedure.by Dennis Shen.S.M

Social values in context: a study of the European knowledge society

This thesis investigates how social values align with changing patterns of economic development, work and quality of life in the European knowledge society. Conceptually, the thesis draws upon Richard Florida's Theory of the Creative Class (2002) and Human Values Theory as developed by Shalom Schwartz (1992). The research combines different methodological approaches and is structured in three parts. The first study involves a secondary data analysis of the European Social Survey that includes Schwartz's value inventory and other value related items. It aims at mapping the values of Florida's three key occupational groups: knowledge, service and manufacturing workers. While manufacturing workers were found to be distinct from knowledge and service workers, the latter two categories were rather similar. In addition, a mixture of liberal and traditional values characterised knowledge workers' value systems. Little empirical support was found for Schwartz's circumplex structure of values. The second part of the thesis, using two split-ballot experiments and cognitive interviews, explores the role of context in the conceptualisation and study of values. Drawing on the concept of 'behavioural spheres' (Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck, 1961), the operation of values in the familial, recreational and occupational sphere is examined. The findings show that many values demonstrated context specificity. In-depth interviews with Greek and British knowledge and service workers constitute the third and final study. I examine how workers' valuing processes delineate their creative endeavours to construct the meaning of work and good life, as embedded in the wider societal, economic, political and work contexts. Creativity focuses on how workers, create value meanings and enact values, combine different roles, make sense of their living and the world and deal with adversities. It was shown that the ability to transform work into a meaningful activity is not restricted to knowledge workers. The findings altogether did not corroborate Florida's proposal of an emerging creative class with distinct value orientations and Schwartz's model of a structure of universal values, captured in a set of binary oppositions. A range of challenges for policy making in the knowledge society is implied when authenticity rather than creativity - as defined by Florida- was found to delineate the European work ethos

Proceedings of the tenth international conference Models in developing mathematics education: September 11 - 17, 2009, Dresden, Saxony, Germany

This volume contains the papers presented at the International Conference on “Models in Developing Mathematics Education” held from September 11-17, 2009 at The University of Applied Sciences, Dresden, Germany. The Conference was organized jointly by The University of Applied Sciences and The Mathematics Education into the 21st Century Project - a non-commercial international educational project founded in 1986. The Mathematics Education into the 21st Century Project is dedicated to the improvement of mathematics education world-wide through the publication and dissemination of innovative ideas. Many prominent mathematics educators have supported and contributed to the project, including the late Hans Freudental, Andrejs Dunkels and Hilary Shuard, as well as Bruce Meserve and Marilyn Suydam, Alan Osborne and Margaret Kasten, Mogens Niss, Tibor Nemetz, Ubi D’Ambrosio, Brian Wilson, Tatsuro Miwa, Henry Pollack, Werner Blum, Roberto Baldino, Waclaw Zawadowski, and many others throughout the world. Information on our project and its future work can be found on Our Project Home Page http://math.unipa.it/~grim/21project.htm It has been our pleasure to edit all of the papers for these Proceedings. Not all papers are about research in mathematics education, a number of them report on innovative experiences in the classroom and on new technology. We believe that “mathematics education” is fundamentally a “practicum” and in order to be “successful” all new materials, new ideas and new research must be tested and implemented in the classroom, the real “chalk face” of our discipline, and of our profession as mathematics educators. These Proceedings begin with a Plenary Paper and then the contributions of the Principal Authors in alphabetical name order. We sincerely thank all of the contributors for their time and creative effort. It is clear from the variety and quality of the papers that the conference has attracted many innovative mathematics educators from around the world. These Proceedings will therefore be useful in reviewing past work and looking ahead to the future

A grounded theory of the determinants of women's under-achievement in large construction companies

In response to impending skills shortages and changing employment patterns in recent years, the construction industry has made considerable efforts to attract more women to its professions. However, despite women's increasing representation, they exhibit high organisational and occupational mobility patterns in comparison to men. This threatens the success that women have had in addressing the gender imbalance within the industry. This research investigates the careers of men and women working for large contracting organisations, in order to establish the determinants of women's career progression, and to develop human resources management (HRM) strategies to improve their retention. A primarily qualitative methodology was employed for the research, in which career profiles were developed through interviews with 41 matched pairs of male and female employees. This allowed the gender specific determinants of careers to be established across a range of different organisations, and from informants from different vocational and life-cycle stages. The career profiles were supported by a range of other qualitative and quantitative data, which were analysed within a grounded theory framework. This led to the formulation of a set of eight interrelated theoretical models, from which a theory of women's career development was constructed. This approach provides insights into the interaction of structural, cultural and action-centred determinants, which combine to subordinate women's positions within construction organisations. The theory reflects that the construction workplace is a competitive and conflictual environment, where women are overtly and covertly discriminated against by men, who use structural systems to deliberately undermine their contribution. Women's actions in dealing with these barriers are shown to perpetuate existing work cultures. This leads to a self-fulfilling circle of women's continued under-achievement. The research provides insights into the compatibility and conflicts between personal actions and resolutions, and the HRM policy of large construction companies. It suggests that previous research efforts in attracting women to work in construction may have been misguided, as the industry's patriarchal culture must first be moderated if women are to have the opportunity to develop their careers in parity with men. "Soft" HRM initiatives are suggested as offering the potential to facilitate the cultural change necessar

Reports to the President

A compilation of annual reports for the 1981-1982 academic year, including a report from the President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as reports from the academic and administrative units of the Institute. The reports outline the year's goals, accomplishments, honors and awards, and future plans

Crisis management: towards a model for the hotel industry : an examination of crisis preparedness and stakeholder relationships in crisis situations.

Crises are inevitable. There is no way to prevent all crises from happening. In fact, in today's business environment crises are an integral part of organizational life. Crisis situations are by nature novel, unstructured, frameworks. Crises are sudden, acute, and demand a timely response. Most man-made crises are in principle preventable. Crisis management is a new field of research that addresses the problems of dealing with crises, and the stress that accompanies crises. Crisis management involves efforts to prevent crises from occurring; to prepare for a better protection against the impact of a crisis agent; to make for an effective response to an actual crisis; and to provide plans and resources for recovery and rehabilitation in the aftermath of a crisis. It is no longer enough to consider "if" a crisis will happen but rather "when" a crisis will occur, "which type", and "how". There is no doubt that the travel and tourism industry is especially susceptible and vulnerable to crises. It is argued that the hotel industry, given its operational characteristics, management practices (which is strongly influenced by long established traditions), and its operating environment, is even more prone to crises. However, very little has been done to understand crisis (that is, how a crisis evolves, crisis typology, anatomy, and management of crisis). This study describes and discusses all major relevant elements and issues to the emerging field of crisis management. Within the domain of crisis management theory, the study describes and elaborates on critical issues such as crisis typology, anatomy of crisis, crisis planning and training, crisis decision making, crisis communication, and crisis management. It is argued in this study that organizational culture is the most fundamental element in crisis preparedness. That is, organizational culture, not organization structure, size, financial history, etc., is the main determinant of crisis preparedness. The research also argue that stakeholders are fundamental in crisis prevention, crisis management and crisis recovery. 2 This study, in a first instance, examines the crisis preparedness of 33 of the 50 top hotel organizations operating in the UK (HCIMA, 1995). Crisis preparedness is examined in the light of organizational culture. For that, top executives in those organizations were interviewed and responded to two questionnaires. A crisis preparedness framework (or continuum) was derived from the application of factor analysis on the questionnaire data. The results suggest that the hotel industry is not prepared for crises. Given that a crisis is a multi-stakeholder phenomenon (it inevitably involves other agents) this study also explores, building upon the results obtained from the crisis preparedness continuum, the notion of stakeholders relationships in crisis situations. More specifically, the research proposition states that organizations that are crisis "prepared" are more consistent on their opinions about stakeholders' role and behaviour in crisis situations than those organizations that are not prepared for crises. The study confirmed both the research question and proposition. The study also presents an operational definition of crisis management and proposes a model for crisis management

The theory and praxis of humanitarian intervention

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the conceptual foundations of the doctrine of humanitarian intervention and scrutinise the pertinent practice within the identified lego-philosophical framework. The present study is organised into three major sections. The first section contains the theory of humanitarian intervention and it has been subdivided into four chapters which represent the main legal theories. The pursued analysis is, thus, manifold. It proceeds with a theoretical appraisement of natural law, positivism, realism, and critical legal studies by presenting and evaluating their main dispositions, inadequacies and interrelations. Additionally, those trends in the practice of humanitarian intervention which coincide with the identified theoretical tenets are also appraised. The thrust of the pursued analysis is, we hope, to rationalise the contradiction in legal doctrine which stems from the different philosophical stances adopted by legal theorists. These contradictions could be surmised in the antithetical poles of peace/justice; human rights/sovereignty. The next section could be introduced as the praxis of humanitarian intervention and contains two chapters. Having identified the arguments and contradictions, two articles of the United Nations Charter which attempt to control the notion of humanitarian intervention by legal means are analysed; that is, Article 2(4) on the non-use of force and Article 51 on self-defence. The diversified effectuation of humanitarian intervention renders the identified contradictions and opposing theoretical trends more evident. However, our aim is not merely to deconstruct the legal and philosophical milieu relating to humanitarian intervention but also to present a new framework for analysis. Consequently, the last two chapters contain our phronesis. They deal with the assumption of human dignity which transgresses the compartmentalisation of legal doctrine and its unreflective actualisation in the praxis of humanitarian intervention. At this point, the aim of the present research is to substitute a sterile lego-philosophical dogmatism and to submit under scrutiny a vision whereby the critical parameters of any humanitarian action are evaluated and accounted for. This, we hope, consists of the innovative aspect of this research. The existing lego-philosophical approach to humanitarian intervention – negative or positive - suffers from an unreflective automation. The negative approach submits any relevant action to strictly defined criteria compliance with which is conditio sine qua non for legality. On the other hand, the positive approach encounters greater difficulties. It weighs any humanitarian action according to certain criteria but disguises its value choices within the legal context. The fear of incommensuration in legal argument invites indecisive and restrained attitudes. In contradistinction, our approach entails an explicit aim of attaining human dignity which redirects our reflective nature towards distinguishing and deconcretising the manifold aspects which humanitarian actions contain. Instead of monolithic evaluations, one should see in any humanitarian action the values which are at stake and what should be done in order to ameliorate the situation