Core inflation in the Euro area: an application of the generalized dynamic factor model

Since the second half of the nineties the euro area has been subject to a considerable accumulation of temporary and idiosyncratic price shocks. Core inflation indicators for the euro area are thus of utmost interest. Based on euro area-wide data core inflation in this paper is analyzed by means of an indicator derived from the generalized dynamic factor model. This indicator reveals that HICP inflation strongly exaggerated both the decline as well as the increase in the price trend in 1999 and 2000/2001. Our results reinforce those achieved by Cristadoro, Forni, Reichlin and Versonese (2001) based on euro area country data which indicates the robustness of the indicator. Klassifikation: C33, E3

The need for qualitative methods in online user research in a digital library environment

Online users of digital libraries are multi-local, multi-lingual and live in multiple time-zones. Getting "purposeful data" in online user research requires that the research be done online because the users are there. This content analysis looks at a broad sample of international publications to address the following two research questions: 1) what methods do we use for online user research and 2) what are the purposes behind the research questions? The poster suggests that we currently use methods that match poorly to the purpose of the study and that there is a real need to use qualitative methods to study online users to be able to produce purposeful data

Core inflation in the Euro area : evidence from the structural VAR approach

Against the difficult background of analysing aggregated data in this paper core inflation in the euro area is estimated by means of the structural vector autoregressive approach. We demonstrate that the HICP sometimes seems to be a misleading indicator for monetary policy in the euro area. We furthermore compare our core inflation measure to the wide-spread "ex food and energy" measure, often referred to by the ECB. In addition we provide evidence that our measure is a coincident indicator of HICP inflation. Assessing the robustness of our core inflation measure we carefully conclude that it seems to be quite reliable. This Version: April, 2002 Revised edition published in: Allgemeinenes Statistisches Archiv, Vol 87, 2003. Klassifikation: C32, E3

Object-oriented views: a novel approach for tool integration in design environments (dissertation)

Object-oriented databases have been proposed to serve as the data management component of integrated design environments. One central database represents a bottleneck, however, requiring all design tools to work on the same information model and preventing the extensibility of the system over time. In this dissertation, I propose a view-based object server that successfully addresses these problems by supporting design views tailored to the needs of individual design tools.A view on an object-oriented schema corresponds to a virtual subschema graph with restructured generalization and property decomposition hierarchies. I present a methodology for supporting multiple view schemata, called MutliView. MultiView is anchored on the following four ideas: (1) the customization of individual classes using object algebra, (2) the integration of these derived classes into one global schema graoh, (3) the extraction of virtual and base classes from the global schema as required by the view, and (4) the generation of a class hierarchy for these selected view classes. MutliView's division of view specification into these well-defined tasks, some of which have been successfully automated, makes it a powerful tool for supporting the specification of views by non-database experts while enforcing view consistency.In this dissertation, I describe solutions for all four tasks underlying MultiView. For the first task, I have formulated class derivatin operators modeled after the well-known relational algebra operators. For the second task, I have developed a classification algorithm that automatically integrates derived classes into one global schema. For the third task, I have designed a view definition language that can be used to declaratively specify the view classes required for a particular view. For the last task, I have developed an algorithm that generates a complete, minimal and consistent view schema. I present proofs of correctness, complexity analysis, and numerous illustrative examples for all algorithms.MultiView is applied to address the tool integration problem in a behavioral synthesis system. For this purpose, I first develop a unified design object model for behavioral synthesis. I then formulate customized design views of this model tailored to the needs of particular design tools. The resulting system allows the design tools to work on their view of the information model, while MultiView assures the consistent integration of the diverse design data into one object model

Women Managers: Enormous Deficit in Large Companies and Employer's Associations

Across Europe, there are much fewer women than men employed in executive positions. On European average, only 10% of the members of the highest decision-making bodies in the top 50 publicly quoted companies are women. However, the situation varies substantially from country to country. The European countries with the highest shares of women managers are Slovenia and Latvia, at 22% each, while the country with the worst record is Italy, at 2%. Germany, with a 10% share of women managers, is in the middle of the ranking order. However, the picture in Germany becomes less favourable when the figures for enterprises and associations are examined separately. For example, women occupy only 1% of the seats on the boards of management and 8% of the seats on the supervisory boards of Germany's 87 largest 'old economy' joint-stock companies. The situation is more favourable in the workers' representative bodies and the professional associations, where women account for between one fifth and one quarter of the executives - a figure that is still far removed from parity, however. Even under the broader definition of specialist and managerial staff in all areas of white-collar and public-service employment, the share of women is still less than one third, although women account for 45% of total employment in these areas. The German business sector's agreement of 2001 with the German government to commit itself to voluntarily promoting equal opportunity for women and men in the private sector has had very little impact to date at managerial level. Substantial effort is still required if this situation is to improve.

European Integration of Albania : Economic Aspects

Albania has been partner of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and the EU Stabilisation and Association process for the Western Balkan from the beginning. European integration requires very fundamental and far reaching reforms. Albania has faced the challenge, but in many cases reform measures are not yet properly implemented. Macroeconomic performances have improved recently, and there are some encouraging signs that foreign business might be ready to invest in the country. Yet uncertainties and deficiencies in the political system remain a major risk. -- Albanien ist Partner im Stabilitätspakt für Südosteuropa und im Stabilisierungs- und Assoziierungsprozess der EU. Die europäische Integration verlangt grundlegende Reformen, die Albanien zum Teil eingeleitet hat, die aber häufig in Justiz und Verwaltung noch nicht umgesetzt wurden. Der sich abzeichnende Wirtschaftsaufschwung und ausländische Investitionsbereitschaft könnten durch politische Unsicherheiten in Gefahr geraten.Albanien,EU-Stabilisierungs- und Assoziierungsprozeß für den westlichen Balkan,Systemreformen,Fortschrittsbericht der EU-Kommission,Albania,EU Stabilisation and Association process for the Western Balkan,system reforms,EU assessment report,experts´ recommendations

Do hours restrictions matter? A discrete family labor supply model with endogenous wages and hours restrictions

The labor supply of West German married and cohabiting couples is analyzed using a discrete choice model. Following van Soest (1995), the labor supply decision is based on a household utility function which is determined by the leisure of the two spouses and net household income. Furthermore, heterogeneity of preferences and the German tax and benefit system are taken into account. We extend the neoclassical labor supply model in two directions. First, we allow for endogenous wages and find that there exist substantial wage differences between part-time and full-time jobs. In view of the negative wage differentials of part-time jobs, the model with endogenous wages predicts lower part-time employment than the standard neoclassical model. Compared with the distribution of actual hours worked, the share of part-time jobs is highly underpredicted. In a second step, hours restrictions are accommodated, as a result of which the estimated wage elasticities of both spouses are substantially reduced. --