Integration of migrants in Italy: A simple general and objective measure

Measuring migrants’ integration into host societies is a challenging task as, in general, measuring any social behavior and social phenomena. The task is affected by many specific problems related to the definition of the objective of study and the impact of subjective evaluations in the construction of an index. Our study aims to provide a measure of integration as much as possible general and objective. More in details, first, we consider some different general aspects of the integration problem related to migrants’ polarization, cultural diversification, social stability, integration in the labor market. Second, we aggregate them in a synthetic linear index, which is rather objective since the weights are computed by only considering the statistical properties of our dataset, i.e. choosing those weights that minimize the information loss in terms of data variances/co-variances.Migrations; migrants’ integration; regional index; principal component analysis

Integration of migrants in Italy: A simple general and objective measure

Measuring migrants’ integration into host societies is a challenging task as, in general, measuring any social behavior and social phenomena. The task is affected by many specific problems related to the definition of the objective of study and the impact of subjective evaluations in the construction of an index. Our study aims to provide a measure of integration as much as possible general and objective. More in details, first, we consider some different general aspects of the integration problem related to migrants’ polarization, cultural diversification, social stability, integration in the labor market. Second, we aggregate them in a synthetic linear index, which is rather objective since the weights are computed by only considering the statistical properties of our dataset, i.e. choosing those weights that minimize the information loss in terms of data variances/co-variances.migrations, migrants’ integration, regional index, principal component analysis

The Voice of Optimization

We introduce the idea that using optimal classification trees (OCTs) and optimal classification trees with-hyperplanes (OCT-Hs), interpretable machine learning algorithms developed by Bertsimas and Dunn [2017, 2018], we are able to obtain insight on the strategy behind the optimal solution in continuous and mixed-integer convex optimization problem as a function of key parameters that affect the problem. In this way, optimization is not a black box anymore. Instead, we redefine optimization as a multiclass classification problem where the predictor gives insights on the logic behind the optimal solution. In other words, OCTs and OCT-Hs give optimization a voice. We show on several realistic examples that the accuracy behind our method is in the 90%-100% range, while even when the predictions are not correct, the degree of suboptimality or infeasibility is very low. We compare optimal strategy predictions of OCTs and OCT-Hs and feedforward neural networks (NNs) and conclude that the performance of OCT-Hs and NNs is comparable. OCTs are somewhat weaker but often competitive. Therefore, our approach provides a novel insightful understanding of optimal strategies to solve a broad class of continuous and mixed-integer optimization problems

Breaking Electroweak Symmetry Strongly

The problem of electroweak symmetry breaking is reviewed with discussion of future relevant experimentation at LHC and $e^+e^-$ linear colliders. The possibility of strong electroweak symmetry breaking is examined in more detail, using the BESS (Breaking Electroweak Symmetry Strongly) model as a basis for the discussion. The formal constructions are briefly presented and the possible expectations at future colliders are summarized.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX, UGVA-DPT 1994/04-846. To appear in the Memorial Volume for Professor Robert Marshak, edited by E.C.G. Sudarshan, World Scientific Publishing Compan

The impact of a massive migration flow on the regional population structure: The case of Italy

Low economic growth rates are a common problem in many developed countries in Europe. This paper aims to highlight the possible role of demographic factors. Problems of low growth may be exacerbated by an increase in dependency ratios. However, large-scale migrations have been shown to positively affect the age composition of a population. Focusing on Italy, we estimate the impact of migration on the working age population ratio, population size and gross domestic product. We also show that migration may affect the economic gap between the North and South, posing a new potential problem to policymakers.