Is there a distinction between a priori and a posteriori

This thesis studies whether there is a tenable distinction between a priori justification and a posteriori justification. My research considers three possible conceptions of a priori: (1) Justification Independent of Experience, (2) Mere Meaning Based Justification and (3) Justification by Rational Insight, and examines whether they can provide a sound and significant distinction between a priori and a posteriori. This thesis contains five chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the background knowledge of the a priori/a posteriori distinction. Chapter 2 analyzes the traditional conception of a priori, i.e. justification independent of experience, and considers whether the distinction based on it is tenable. Five approaches for defining “experience” are examined, but none of them succeed in providing a distinction between a priori and a posteriori. Chapter 3 focuses on the empiricist conception of the a priori, i.e. a priori as mere meaning based justification, and argues that the distinction based on it has a problem of classification. Chapter 4 concerns the rationalist conception of the a priori, i.e. a priori as justification by rational insight, and argues that neither the idea of justification by rational insight itself nor the distinctive features of rational insight could provide a distinction between a priori and a posteriori. Given that none of the current major accounts seem to work, we should not be optimistic about the potential for success in accounting for the distinction between a priori and a posteriori. In the last chapter, I will conclude the thesis and point out the implication of abandoning the a priori/a posteriori distinction: a need to reform our understanding of the nature of different sources of justification and knowledge

Analyzing the Efficiency and Loan Loss Provisioning of the Banks in Hong Kong

This study examines the efficiency and determinants of loan loss provisions by using data from 19 commercial banks in Hong Kong over the period 2006-2011. Distinct from previous studies, we conduct a two-stage analysis, in the first stage X-efficiency is estimated and then included in the second stage for the estimation of determinants of loan loss provisions using system GMM estimation method. In particular, we examine the income smoothing and capital management hypothesis, the relationship between loan loss provisions and the business cycle (i.e. pro-cyclicality and counter-cyclicality) as well as the effect of X-efficiency on loan loss provisioning. Our findings demonstrate that Hong Kong banks exhibit income smoothing, however, the income smoothing effect is mitigated by the pro-cyclicality provisioning. Since Hong Kong implemented the IAS 39 in 2005, this backward looking provisioning guideline is accused as the cause of the pro-cyclicality provisioning. By including X-efficiency as one of the determinants, we control for the management effect on loan loss provisions, we find that Hong Kong banks manipulate earnings not for the purpose of smooth earnings, but for the prudent management, they set aside extra capital buffer for future loss. Moreover, there is sign of capital management by Hong Kong banks in which they manipulate the loan loss provisions for the purpose of maintaining stable dividend ratio and setting aside excess capital preparing for future loss as well as the increase of capital buffer under Basel III requirement. This prudent practice of Hong Kong banks is probably the result of tightened capital requirement by regulators (i.e. Basel, HKMA etc.) as well as the proposed expected loss approach in loan loss provisioning

Journey to the West: An inquiry into Chinese cinema studies as a field of struggles over cultural capital

It has been acknowledged by scholars that there has been a theoretical and hierarchical tension between Chinese cinema studies and film studies in English, but such a tension has not yet been addressed at length. While many would argue that the establishment of the field of Chinese cinema studies in English is a reaction to the so-called ‘Euro-American paradigm’ in film studies, there is a gap of knowledge in exploring the reasons, the processes and results regarding such a tension. This thesis wishes to address this gap of knowledge and thus asks: ‘to what extent does Chinese cinema studies in English-language academia exemplify a field of discursive struggles over cultural capital?’ It turns to Bourdieu’s (1993) theory ‘field’ to establish a conceptual framework to explore possible answers. The investigation focuses on the ‘relational’ aspect between (and in) both the field of film studies and Chinese cinema studies, throughout their professionalisation. Furthermore, within this framework, it applies Bourdieu’s notion of ‘cultural capital’ as a tool to investigate the organisation and distribution of discourses that have been shaping different research interests and agendas in both fields of studies. Enabled by a primary method of archival research, this thesis locates evidence that documents the processes of initial knowledge production as discourses making. It demonstrates, through a field analysis of materials such as scholarly publications, newspaper articles and meeting minutes, how different theoretical positions and linguistic strategies in a specific field context exerted influence on each other to obtain academic recognition. This thesis discovers three main problematics which exemplify Chinese cinema studies in English as a field of struggles over cultural capital. The first refers to how Chinese cinema as a research topic was not included in the main debates contributing to the professionalisation of film studies between the 1950s to the 1970s; it conducts a field analysis of the ‘discourse of film as a discipline’, the ‘discourse of film as art’, the ‘discourse of film as signification’ and 7 questions how Chinese films were not considered as a relevant topic in support of these major debates by film scholars during this period. The second problematic refers to the continuously marginalised position of Chinese cinema as a research area in film studies between the 1960s and 1990s, where findings expose the lack of recognition of both scholarly and public attempts to further integrate the topic to academic discussions. The final problematic refers to how the rise of Chinese cinema studies as a new field in the 1990s was legitimised by the incorporation of a semi- ‘cultural studies’, where scholars also encountered struggles over different theoretical position-taking. Similar patterns as how film studies was professionalised also took place in the field of Chinese cinema studies. Three discourses have been identified in this thesis that shape the main interests of the field through theorising Chinese films as ‘territories’, ‘ethnicities’, ‘languages’ and ‘independent’. This thesis further investigates the making of each of these discourses as well as evaluates the current state of the academic field of Chinese cinema studies. Apart from presenting previously unavailable archival materials, the principal contribution of this thesis will be to theory-building. By rethinking the emergence of Chinese cinema studies in English-language academia critically, this thesis aims to establish basis for further enquiries. Proposed way forward is informed by Bourdieu’s concept of ‘field’ to make sense of the struggles over cultural capital, battles over position-takings in academic disciplines such as the case of Chinese cinema studies. In looking forward, the conclusion identifies concrete strategies for future work regarding the current issues facing the field of Chinese cinema studies, including those of the disconnection between academic studies and the film industry as well as the disconnection between scholarship produced in mainland China and in English. The conclusion also provides suggestions for solution to how these ongoing issues could be resolved or at least further critically examined in future research

How Large is the Bias is Self-Reported Disability?

A pervasive concern with the use of self-reported health and disability measures in behavioral models is that they are biased and endogenous. A commonly suggested explanation is that survey respondents exaggerate the severity of health problems and incidence of disabilities in order to rationalize labor force non-participation, application for disability benefits and/or receipt of those benefits. This paper re-examines this issue using a self-reported indicator of disability status from the Health and Retirement Survey. Using a bivariate probit model we test and are unable to reject the hypothesis that the self-reported disability measure is an exogenous explanatory variable in a model of individual's decision to apply for DI benefits or Social Security Administration's decision to award benefits. We further study a subsample of individuals who applied for Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for whom we can also observe SSA's award/deny decision. For this subsample we test and are unable to reject the hypothesis that self-reported disability is health and socio-economic characteristics similar to the information used by the SSA in making its award decisions. The unbiasedness restriction implies that these two variables have the same conditional probability distributions. Thus, our results indicate that disability applicant do not exaggerate their disability status at least in anonymous surveys such as the HRS. Indeed, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that disability applicants are aware of the criteria and decision rules that SSA uses in making awards and act as if they were applying these same criteria and rules when reporting their own disability status.

Hong Kong's Mandatory Provident Fund system : a study of the evolution of governance and policy tools

published_or_final_versionPolitics and Public AdministrationMasterMaster of Public Administratio

Long-term prognostic impact of cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy: A population-based competing risk analysis.

Our study investigated how adverse cardiovascular outcomes are impacted by cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with prostate cancer treated by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Using prospective, population-based data, all Hong Kong patients with prostate cancer who received ADT during 1 January 1993 to 3 March 2021 were identified and followed up for the endpoint of cardiovascular hospitalization/mortality until 31 September 2021, whichever earlier. Multivariable competing risk regression was used to compare the endpoint's cumulative incidence between different combinations of major cardiovascular comorbidities (heart failure [HF], myocardial infarction [MI], stroke and/or arrhythmia), with noncardiovascular death as competing event. Altogether, 13 537 patients were included (median age 75.9 [interquartile range 70.0-81.5] years old; median follow-up 3.3 [1.5-6.7] years). Compared to those with none of prior HF/MI/stroke/arrhythmia, the incidence of the endpoint was not different in those with only stroke (subhazard ratio [SHR] 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92-1.23], P = .391), but was higher in those with only HF (SHR 1.67 [1.37-2.02], P < .001), arrhythmia (SHR 1.63 [1.35-1.98], P < .001) or MI (SHR 1.43 [1.14-1.79], P = .002). Those with ≥2 of HF/MI/stroke/arrhythmia had the highest incidence of the endpoint (SHR 1.94 [1.62-2.33], P < .001), among whom different major cardiovascular comorbidities had similar prognostic impacts, with the number of comorbidities present being significantly prognostic instead. In conclusion, in patients with prostate cancer receiving ADT, the sole presence of HF, MI or arrhythmia, but not stroke, may be associated with elevated cardiovascular risks. In those with ≥2 of HF/MI/stroke/arrhythmia, the number of major cardiovascular comorbidities may be prognostically more important than the type of comorbidities. [Abstract copyright: © 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Cancer published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of UICC.

Statin use and mortality risk in Asian patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy: A population-based cohort study

Background This study aimed to examine the associations between the use of statins concurrent with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the risks of mortality in Asian patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa). Methods Adult patients (≥18 years old) diagnosed with PCa who were receiving any form of ADT and were being treated at public hospitals in Hong Kong from December 1999 to March 2021 were retrospectively identified, with follow-up conducted until September 2021. Patients who had received medical castration for <180 days without subsequent bilateral orchidectomy, those who had used statins concurrently with ADT for <180 days, and those with missing baseline total cholesterol levels were excluded. Statin users were defined as individuals who had used statins for ≥180 days concurrent with ADT, while non-users were those who had not used any statins. PCa-related mortality was the primary outcome, while all-cause mortality served as the secondary outcome. Inverse probability treatment weighting was employed to balance the covariates. Results A total of 4920 patients were included, consisting of 2578 statin users and 2342 non-users (mean age 76.1 ± 8.2 years). Over a mean follow-up period of 4.2 ± 3.3 years, it was observed that statin users had significantly lower risks of both PCa-related mortality (weighted hazard ratio [wHR] 0.56 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48, 0.65], p < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (wHR 0.57 [95% CI 0.51, 0.63], p < 0.001), regardless of the type of ADT used. Notably, these associations were more pronounced among patients with less advanced PCa, as indicated by the absence of androgen receptor antagonist or chemotherapy usage (p value for interaction <0.001 for both outcomes). Conclusion(s) The use of statins concurrent with ADT was associated with reduced mortality risks among Asian patients with PCa. These findings suggest the need for additional research to explore the potential role of statins in the treatment of PCa patients

Metformin use and hospital attendance-related resources utilization among diabetic patients with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy: A population-based cohort study

Background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), used increasingly in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), negatively influences glycemic control in diabetes and is associated with an increased risk of diabetes complications where hospitalization commonly ensues. Metformin could decrease the metabolic consequences of ADT and enhance its effect. This study examined the association of metformin use with healthcare resources utilization among diabetic, PCa patients receiving ADT. Methods Diabetic adults with PCa on ADT in Hong Kong between December 1999 and March 2021 were identified. Patients with <6 months of concurrent metformin and ADT use were excluded. All included patients were followed up until September 2021. The outcomes were hospital attendances and related costs. Results In total, 1,284 metformin users and 687 non-users were studied. Over 8,045 person-years, 9,049 accident and emergency (A&E), and 21,262 inpatient attendances, with 11,2781 days of hospitalization were observed. Metformin users had significantly fewer A&E attendances (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.61 [95% confidence interval 0.54–0.69], p < 0.001), inpatient attendances (IRR: 0.57 [0.48–0.67], p < 0.001), and days of hospitalization (IRR: 0.55 [0.42–0.72], p < 0.001). Annual attendance costs were lower for metformin users than non-users (cost ratio: 0.28 [0.10–0.80], p = 0.017). Conclusions Metformin use was associated with decreased hospital attendances, days of hospitalization, and associated costs, which could help reduce healthcare resource utilization following ADT in the treatment of PCa