Structural Estimation of Marriage Models

This paper uses a structural approach to examine who matches with whom. A two-sided matching model that allows for marital sorting in response to marriage market flexibility and agents' preferences is utilized. Estimation is based on imbedding the numerical solution of a matching model within a maximum-likelihood procedure. Results using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID, 1968-1993) indicate that wage is a more desirable trait than education in predicting marriageability for white men, while education is more desirable for black men. The marriage market for white men is also more flexible. The desirability of wage and marriage market flexibility both decrease with age for white men. The effects of age for black men are mixed.Positive Assortative Mating, Marriage Classes, Classification Errors

Urban and Intellectual Beauty: Aspects of Oscar Wilde’s Influence

In the 1920s and 1930s, Chinese scholars exalted Oscar Wilde as a worthy model for others to follow. His ideas about freedom, iconoclasm, and passion without limits tremendously influenced Chinese intellectuals, more so than did his dramatic techniques. This paper examines the literary influence of Salomé on certain Chinese literary works. The Chinese intellectuals of the era understood the fatal physical desires and the meaning and consequence of ultimate defiance in Salomé, but they also saw her invincibility, which in turn was thought to be helpful in achieving breakthroughs in a traditional feudalistic society. In those days, the play was regarded as an unconventional discourse that exemplified a radical personality that was deemed to be suitable for China. The Chinese stories are all set in cities that foreground the individual’s search for assertion and love. Salomé, instead of being a femme fatale, is redefined with a positive and rational attitude that reflects a deeper concern for the role of intellectuals. The transformation is fueled by the desire to affect a change in cultural consciousness in terms of the search for one’s role and the striving for freedom, especially for women. An intellectual and bourgeoisie overtone is apparent in these stories, and it is connected to the underlying urban discourse. The indebtedness to Wilde is more a kind of inspiration than a blind imitation. By studying Salomé’s literary representations in selected Chinese works and by investigating the poetical devices and treatment of certain themes in relation to the sociocultural and intellectual concerns of the Chinese authors, I hope to broaden our understanding on major intellectual concepts in those days.In the 1920s and 1930s, Chinese scholars exalted Oscar Wilde as a worthy model for others to follow. His ideas about freedom, iconoclasm, and passion without limits tremendously influenced Chinese intellectuals, more so than did his dramatic techniques. This paper examines the literary influence of Salomé on certain Chinese literary works. The Chinese intellectuals of the era understood the fatal physical desires and the meaning and consequence of ultimate defiance in Salomé, but they also saw her invincibility, which in turn was thought to be helpful in achieving breakthroughs in a traditional feudalistic society. In those days, the play was regarded as an unconventional discourse that exemplified a radical personality that was deemed to be suitable for China. The Chinese stories are all set in cities that foreground the individual’s search for assertion and love. Salomé, instead of being a femme fatale, is redefined with a positive and rational attitude that reflects a deeper concern for the role of intellectuals. The transformation is fueled by the desire to affect a change in cultural consciousness in terms of the search for one’s role and the striving for freedom, especially for women. An intellectual and bourgeoisie overtone is apparent in these stories, and it is connected to the underlying urban discourse. The indebtedness to Wilde is more a kind of inspiration than a blind imitation. By studying Salomé’s literary representations in selected Chinese works and by investigating the poetical devices and treatment of certain themes in relation to the sociocultural and intellectual concerns of the Chinese authors, I hope to broaden our understanding on major intellectual concepts in those days

Climate Change Impacts on Waterfowl Habitat in Western Canada

climate change, wetlands

Bioeconomic modeling of wetlands and waterfowl in Western Canada: Accounting for amenity values

This study extends an original bioeconomic model of optimal duck harvest and wetland retention by bringing in amenity values related to the nonmarket (in situ) benefits of waterfowl plsi the ecosystem values of wetlands themselves. The model maximizes benefits to hunters as well as the amenity values of ducks and ecosystem benefits of wetlands, subject to the population dynamics. Results indicate that wetlands and duck harvests need to be increased relative to historical levels. Further, the socially optimal ratio of duck harvest to wetlands is larger than what has been observed historically. Including amenity values leads to a significant increase in the quantity of wetlands and duck harvests relative to models that focus only on hunting values.bioeconomic modelling, wetland protection, wildlife management, nonmarket values, Prairie pothole region, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q57, C61, Q25,

Bioeconomic modeling of wetlands and waterfowl in Western Canada: Accounting for amenity values

bioeconomic modelling; wetland protection; wildlife management; nonmarket values; Prairie pothole region

Income Convergence and Assimilation in a Two-Sided Matching Model

This paper develops a method suggested by the theory to estimate the structural parameters of a two-sided matching model in the context of a marriage market. A discrete marriage index is proposed to rank individuals’ measured attributes, and a matching algorithm is proposed to solve for the acceptable pool of partners numerically following the optimal reservation-match policy in the model. Estimation is based on imbedding the numerical solution of a matching model within a maximum-likelihood procedure. The structural estimation provides a unified treatment of stochastic processes that govern both marriage offers and separation and the acceptability of partners. Results from Monte Carlo experiments support the stability of the method. The usefulness of the technique is investigated through an application to the Panel Study of Income and Dynamics (1968-1993). Methods of correcting for unobserved heterogeneity are proposed.

The development and year one implementation of the Local Justice Reinvestment Pilot

This report focuses on the initial findings from a process evaluation of the Local Justice Reinvestment pilot (commissioned by the Ministry of Justice), which examines the early development and implementation of the pilot in the first test year. The pilot is one of the Ministry of Justice Payment by Results (PbR) schemes. The methodology was primarily qualitative and included: interviews with strategic and operational managers; interviews and focus groups with front line staff; workshops to map partnership and criminal justice system changes and a focus on exemplar interventions at three sites