The Quantum and Tempo of Life-Cycle Events

This study develops and applies a general framework for the analysis of the period quantum and tempo of life-cycle events, extending methods developed previously by the authors. The existence of tempo distortions is demonstrated in selected period quantum measures such as the total fertility rate and in period tempo measures such as life expectancy. A tempo distortion is defined as an inflation or deflation of a period quantum or tempo indicator of a life-cycle event, such as birth, marriage, or death, that results from a rise or fall in the mean age at which the event occurs. Period measures derived from life tables are also found to be subject to tempo distortions. Methods to remove these tempo distortions are then developed and applied.

Is distance dying at last? Falling home bias in fixed effects models of patent citations

We examine the “home bias” of international knowledge spillovers as measured by the speed of patent citations (i.e. knowledge spreads slowly over international boundaries). We present the first compelling econometric evidence that the geographical localization of knowledge spillovers has fallen over time, as we would expect from the dramatic fall in communication and travel costs. Our proposed estimator controls for correlated fixed effects and censoring in duration models and we apply it to data on over two million citations between 1975 and 1999. Home bias declines substantially when we control for fixed effects: there is practically no home bias for the more “modern” sectors such as pharmaceuticals and information/communication technologies

Pricing-to-market in NSW rice export markets

The Ricegrowers’ Cooperative Limited is a single‐desk seller of NSW Japonica rice on the export market. Confidential monthly price data supplied by the Cooperative were used to examine ‘pricing‐to‐market’ in four of its major export markets. The hypothesis of a competitive market was rejected. The Cooperative has been able to vary mark‐ups over different markets and with respect to the importer’s currency in each market. The exchange rate results in particular suggest that the Cooperative has been able to exercise market power to obtain price premiums.Crop Production/Industries, International Relations/Trade,

The Effect of camera motion on MTF and SQF for handheld camera at two weights

Two hundred seven measurements of camera motion, made while operators took photographs, were used to calculate the average Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) and Subjective Quality Factor (SQF) due to the motion. Eight experiments were performed with a 35mm camera at weights of 300 and 600 grams. The camera displacement path was sampled at intervals ranging from 0.5 milliseconds to 15.6 milliseconds. The MTF and SQF were calculated, at several shutter times, from the measured displacement paths using the model of a perfectly efficient shutter. SQF was a linear function of shutter time. The MTF due to camera motion and shutter was also calculated for two inefficient shutters. The perfectly efficient shutter has higher MTF than either inefficient shutter modeled. For both efficient and inefficient shutters, performance was better with the heavier, 600 gram, camera

Does Removing Quizzes Impact Student Performance in an Online Course?

Data for 295 college online introductory statistics students were examined to determine if removing four module (weekly) quizzes impacted student performance on a cumulative exam. In this research, student performance was not significantly impacted by the removal of the quizzes. The difference in the exam mean score earned by the group of students who did not take quizzes was less than 0.8 of a point lower than the exam average for students who took the quizzes prior to the exam. Withdraw rates significantly declined from 5 percent to 1 percent. Results of this study support the idea that course designers can explore reducing the amount of work in online courses to decrease extraneous cognitive load on students as long as learning outcomes are met. STEM courses are often seen as barriers for students in completing coursework toward degree accomplishments. Effectively designed coursework that does not unnecessarily duplicate evidence of achieving course objectives may also aid in student persistence and retention. Future researchers can examine methods used in this study to evaluate courses in more traditional 16-week term lengths in different university settings

Mapping the two faces of R&D: productivity growth in a panel of OECD industries

Many writers have claimed that R&D has two 'faces'. In addition to the conventional role of stimulating innovation, R&D enhances technology transfer by improving the ability of firms to learn about advances in the leading edge ('absorptive capacity'). In this paper we document that there has been convergence of TFP within a panel of industries across thirteen OECD countries since 1970. Furthermore, we find evidence that both R&D and human capital appear statistically and economically important in this catch up process as well as stimulating innovation directly. Trade, by contrast, plays a more modest role in productivity growth.R&D; human capital; Total Factor Productivity; convergence

How special is the special relationship? Using the impact of US R&D spillovers on UK firms as a test of technology sourcing

How much does US-based R&D benefit other countries and through what mechanisms? We test the 'technology sourcing' hypothesis that foreign research labs located on US soil tap into US R&D spillovers and improve home country productivity. Using panels of UK and US firms matched to patent data we show that UK firms who had established a high proportion of US-based inventors by 1990 benefited disproportionately from the growth of the US R&D stock over the next 10 years. We estimate that UK firmsÒ Total Factor Productivity would have been at least 5% lower in 2000 (about $14bn) in the absence of the US R&D growth in the 1990s. We also find that technology sourcing is more important for countries and industries who have 'most to learn'. Within the UK, the benefits of technology sourcing were larger in industries whose TFP gap with the US was greater. Between countries, the growth of the UK R&D stock did not appear to have a major benefit for US firms who located R&D labs in the UK. The 'special relationship' between the UK and the US appears distinctly asymmetric.international spillovers; technology sourcing; productivity;

Adjunct Faculty Training, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Department Level

Improve the learning experience for students by improving performance of adjunct faculty. Learn the strategies and tools used by an award winning university to support adjunct faculty by: - Effective selection and faculty development - Departmental support at the course level - Providing effective mentoring and feedbac

Adjunct Faculty Training, Mentoring and Evaluation at the Department Level

Improve the learning experience for students by improving performance of adjunct faculty. Learn the strategies and tools used by an award-winning university to support adjunct faculty