A Local Instrumental Variable Estimation Method for Generalized Additive Volatility Models

We investigate a new separable nonparametric model for time series, which includes many ARCH models and AR models already discussed in the literature. We also propose a new estimation procedure based on a localization of the econometric method of instrumental variables. Our method has considerable computational advantages over the competing marginal integration or projection method.ARCH, kernel estimation, nonparametric, volatility.

ESTIMATION OF A SEMIPARAMETRICIGARCH(1,1) MODEL

We propose a semiparametric IGARCH model that allows for persistence invariance but also allows for more flexible functional form. We assume that thedifference of the squared process is weakly stationary. We propose an estimationstrategy based on the nonparametric instrumental variable method. We establishthe rate of convergence of our estimator.Inverse Problem, Instrumental Variable, IGARCH,Kernel Estimation, Nonparametric regression

Reading to learn about birds and their conservation.

The article discusses the importance of active reading concerning the various species of birds in New Zealand. It notes that this kind of activity will enhance the cognitive skills of students and will aid them in understanding the broader concepts of science. It mentions that students who are aiming to become future scientists must be able to investigate the causal factors behind the contingent extinction of birds in the country to determine the appropriate conservation methods

Object-Based Unawareness

The goal of this paper is to construct a user-friendly model of unawareness. We start from an axiom system (in first-order modal logic) that enables us to express the following kinds of sentences: “the agent is not sure whether or not there is anything that he is unaware of”, and “I am not sure whether or not you are aware of something that I am not”. We then prove a characterization theorem which describes a class of structures, called object-based unawareness structures, that correspond to this axiom system. As an application, we explain how an object-based unawareness structure can be use to model those American founding fathers who were opposed to the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the constitution.unawareness, object-based, modal logic, bill of rights

The live method for generalized additive volatility models.

We investigate a new separable nonparametric model for time series, which includes many autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (ARCH) models and autoregressive (AR) models already discussed in the literature. We also propose a new estimation procedure called LIVE, or local instrumental variable estimation, that is based on a localization of the classical instrumental variable method. Our method has considerable computational advantages over the competing marginal integration or projection method. We also consider a more efficient two-step likelihood-based procedure and show that this yields both asymptotic and finite-sample performance gains.

Student attitudes to entrepreneurship

This study on Student Attitudes to Entrepreneurship investigates the image which university students have of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. It is an initial exploratory/empirical study, which looks at the situation in Germany, Romania, Latvia, Italy and Austria. The study, based on questionnaires, shows that there are significant differences but also common features to the image of entrepreneurship and attitudes to it in the five countries. It is interesting to note that the students polled in connection with the study tended to have a neutral to positive/very positive image of entrepreneurs.attitude, attributes, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, opinion.

An assessment of nurses’ experiences of work related stress through self-reporting and hair cortisol analysis, in a metropolitan hospital in Western Australia

The aim of this study was to assess how years of experience and practice area influence work related stress amongst 1,200 nurses employed in a metropolitan hospital environment in Western Australia. A combination of self-administered questionnaires and hair cortisol, an objective stress biomarker, was utilised to measure stress levels and to relate these to practice area, age and experience. Questionnaire results indicated that there was a higher level of perceived stress for 40% of this cohort of nurses; the study methodology was able to unearth noteworthy factors within a local WA nursing population that impacted on their perceived stress. These being; inexperienced nurses suffer more work-related stress than the more experienced nurse. Leadership demands are a source of stress for nurse managers; and age and generational differences’ were also noted. Contrary to hypothesis two, this study could not determine a statistically significant effect relating to the practice area in which the nurses’ worked. Despite a weak correlation found between the hair cortisol level and results of the written questionnaires it is considered when used in conjunction with a stress questionnaire, that hair cortisol testing provides an effective diagnostic tool with adequate sensitivity to detect stress. The ‘curvilinear effect’ as reported by Wells’ (2014) postulated to be due to the physiology of the individuals coping mechanisms was replicated in this study, and therefore determined to be real. It is therefore considered that hair cortisol is a valid screening tool for stress in the occupational environmen