Modeling Credit Spreads Using Nonlinear Regression

The term structure of credit spreads is studied with an aim to predict its future movements. A completely new approach to tackle this problem is presented, which utilizes nonlinear parametric models. The Brain-Cousens regression model with five parameters is chosen to describe the term structure of credit spreads. Further, we investigate the dependence of the parameter changes over time and the determinants of credit spreads.Comment: Poster presentation at IWSM 201

Mogućnosti obuke za primenu strategija učenja kroz nastavu

Based upon our understanding of learning strategies, we explore the possibilities of applying learning strategies in the teaching process. Learning strategies are considered within the frame of education seen as a process in which, besides the contents that are being learned, equal attention is paid to the way the student learns. Acquisition of procedural knowledge relates to gaining knowledge of how to apply learning strategies. The importance of the acquisition of conditional knowledge manifests itself in the ability of the student to make decisions when selecting and applying certain strategies in certain situations. Strategies differ according to the level of generality. Specific strategies are more apt for training but of a limited applicability, while general strategies are more adaptable though more difficult for training. Research shows that experts use more general strategies, relatively independent from the context, which enables them to use strategies flexibly in different situations. It is recommended that metacognitive components (awareness and control) be included in the application of learning strategies. We present a model of an efficient learning strategy application and a model of efficient learning strategies instruction. The suggested training is divided in several phases and devised for practice with students with learning difficulties.Na osnovu shvatanja o strategijama učenja razmatrane su mogućnosti obuke za primenu strategija učenja kroz nastavu. Strategije učenja razmatraju se u okviru procesualnog pristupa obrazovanju, u kome se, pored sadržaja koji se uče, pažnja posvećuje i načinu učenja. Sticanje proceduralnog znanja odnosi se na znanja o primeni strategija učenja. Značaj sticanja kondicionalnog znanja ogleda se u osposobljavanju učenika za donošenje odluka o izboru i primeni strategija u određenim uslovima. Strategije se razlikuju u odnosu na nivo opštosti. Specifične strategije su podložnije obuci, ali su ograničeno primenljive, dok su opšte strategije prilagodljive, ali ih je teže razvijati putem obuke. Istraživanja pokazuju da eksperti raspolažu opštijim strategijama, relativno nezavisnim od konteksta, što im omogućava fleksibilnu primenu strategija u različitim situacijama. Preporučuje se uključivanje metakognitivnih komponenata (svesnosti i kontrole) u obuku za primenu strategija učenja. Prikazan je Model efikasne primene strategija, kao i Model nastave zasnovan na efikasnoj primeni strategija. Predstavljeni su stadijumi u obuci za primenu strategija učenja namenjenoj učenicima koji imaju teškoće u učenju

Perceptions of the fairness of income distribution in Serbia: A comparative perspective

The paper examines perceptions of the fairness of income distribution in Serbia from a comparative perspective. The analysis is based on data collected under Round 9 of the European Social Survey in 2018/2019. Perceptions of the fairness of personal income in Serbia are compared with those from three post-Yugoslav countries (Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia) and three developed capitalist countries (Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom). The research findings indicate that the vast majority of Serbian citizens perceive their personal income (gross and net pay, pensions and social benefits) as being unfairly low. From a comparative perspective, it is noticeable that the perceived fairness of income distribution is influenced by a contextual variable that combines the effects of economic development, degree of income inequality and path dependency. Income from work (gross and net pay) is more often perceived as unfairly low in the post-Yugoslav countries of the Western Balkans (Serbia and Montenegro) than in the post-Yugoslav countries that are members of the European Union (Croatia and Slovenia). When it comes to perceptions of the fairness of pensions and social benefits, the two groups of the post-Yugoslav countries do not differ from each other. All types of income are more likely to be perceived as unfairly low in the Western Balkan states than in the developed capitalist countries

Latent structure of learning goals and strategies

A review of the relevant literature demonstrates disagreement regarding the number and nature of factors that affect learning goals and strategies, as well as whether the goals and strategies may be treated as separate groups of phenomena. In order to clarify this controversy, a sample of 364 Belgrade University students was given an instrument consisting of 94 indicators taken from a larger number of available instruments that measure approaches to learning, goal orientations and learning strategies. Factor analysis, applied on the obtained data, showed that six first-order factors related to learning goals and seven first-order factors related to learning strategies explain the latent structure of the phenomenon. Then, second order factor analysis was applied on the pool of obtained factor scores. The assumption that learning goals and strategies share a similar latent structure was confirmed. The results show that a large number of these factors can be predominantly reduced to three latent dimensions: deep approach, surface approach, and achievement approach. The paper suggests that precise operationalisation of the achievement approach is required in the future research

The international mobility of Serbian citizens at the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic

Research into the characteristics of the international mobility of Serbian citizens who found themselves abroad at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was carried out by the Institute for Sociological Research of the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Philosophy. The main goal of the research was to explore the effects of the global health crisis on the international mobility of Serbian citizens from their own perspective. In particular, the research aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the reasons and modes of return to the home country, experiences and problems during obligatory self-isolation, as well as attitudes towards national responses to the pandemic. The topic has proved important for several reasons. The emerging health crisis has shaken up globalized international flows of people, goods, and services, leading to the fact that by the end of March 2020, as many as 91% of the world’s population were living in countries whose national borders were fully or partially closed (Connor 2020). According to Serbian state officials, during the aforementioned days over 300,000 Serbian citizens returned to the country from infected areas, thus endangering the rest of the population living within state borders (Stojanovic 2020). Sensationalist media reporting about infected citizens arriving from abroad and spreading disease throughout the country contributed to the moral panic about “returnees.” (...

Trunk muscle activation patterns in subjects with low back pain

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Uloga izostajanja sa nastave u predviđanju matematičkog postignuća na osnovu self-koncepta i motivacije - TIMMS 2015 u Srbiji

This study examines how students' absenteeism moderates the relationship of math Self-Concept and motivation to learn math on one side and the achievement in the TIMSS 2015 math test on the other. The stratified random sample consists of 4036 fourth grade pupils from 160 primary schools in Serbia. Separate regression models were made for four levels of frequency of students' absenteeism. The results show that Self-Concept makes a positive contribution to the prediction of achievement, and motivation a negative one. Additionally, with the increase of absenteeism the importance of Self-Concept drops and that of motivation grows. The analysis of variance confirmed that along with the increase of absenteeism, students express lower levels of Self-Concept, while the level of motivation does not change. The most important conclusion is that regular class attendance contributes to the students' math Self-Concept and consequential achievement by developing their experiences of success in math. The usefulness of the motivation scale for predicting math test performance is discussed.U ovom istraživanju je ispitivano kako izostajanje učenika sa nastave moderira povezanost matematičkog self-koncepta i motivacije za učenje matematike sa jedne strane i postignuća na TIMSS 2015 testu iz matematike sa druge. Stratifikovani slučajni uzorak se sastojao od 4036 učenika četvrtog razreda iz 160 osnovnih škola u Srbiji. Posebni regresioni modeli su sastavljeni za svaki od četiri nivoa učestalosti izostajanja učenika sa nastave. Rezultati su pokazali da self-koncept ima pozitivan doprinos predikciji postignuća, dok je doprinos motivacije negativan. Pored toga, sa porastom izostajanja važnost self-koncepta opada, a motivacije raste. Analiza varijanse je potvrdila da sa porastom izostajanja učenici pokazuju niži nivo self-koncepta, dok se nivo motivacije ne menja. Najvažniji zaključak je da redovno pohađanje nastave doprinosi matematičkom self-konceptu učenika i posledičnom postignuću tako što podstiče njihovo iskustvo uspeha u matematici. Diskutovana je korisnost skale motivacije za predviđanje postignuća na testu iz matematike

Some New Observations for F-Contractions in Vector-Valued Metric Spaces of Perov's Type

The main purpose of this article is to improve, generalize and complement some recently established results for Perov's type F-contractions. In our approach, we use only the property (F1) of Wardowski while other authors employed all three conditions. Working only with the fact that the function F is strictly increasing on (0, +infinity)(m), we obtain as a consequence new families of contractive conditions in the realm of vector-valued metric spaces of Perov's type. At the end of the article, we present an example that supports obtained theoretical results and genuinely generalizes several known results in existing literature