A Secondary Tool for Demarcation Problem: Logical Fallacies

According to Thagard, the behavior of practitioners of a field may also be used for demarcation between science and pseudoscience due to its social dimension in addition to the epistemic one. I defended the tendency of pseudoscientists to commit fallacies, and the number of fallacies they commit can be a secondary tool for demarcation problem and this tool is consistent with Thagardian approach. In this paper, I selected the astrology as the case and I revealed nine types of logical fallacies frequently committed by astrologers while introducing their field and/or defending their claims against the scientific inquiries and refutation efforts. I also argued that recognizing these fallacies may help the audience to demarcate between the scientific and the pseudoscientific arguments

Talep belirsizliğinin Türk imalat firmalarının maliyet yapısı üzerindeki etkisi

Cost rigidity defines the characteristics of cost structure which is defined as the proportion of fixed costs to variable costs of firms. When the proportion of fixed costs are higher than the variable costs, then the cost structure is defined as a rigid cost structure. The structure of operating costs of Turkish manufacturing firms between years 1995 and 2014 is tested in terms of their “rigidity” in this paper. Moreover, the effect of demand uncertainty, as measured by the standard deviation of net sales, on the cost structure of operating costs is also tested. Findings support that higher levels of demand uncertainty are associated with higher portions of fixed costs in the cost structure (i.e., more rigid cost structure). That result contradicts the common wisdom that firms tend to lower the fixed costs in their cost structure as they are confronted with uncertainty

Gelişmekte olan piyasalarda enerji tüketimi ve büyüme ilişkisinin panel kantil regresyon ile incelenmesi: VISTA ülkeleri örneği

Energy consumption and economic growth relationship is an important topic for global economy. Most of researchers investigated this relationship with different methods on different macro-economic data. These methods are including not only time-series econometrics but also panel data analysis. Moreover, they analyzed different countries or country groups classified by OECD, World Bank or any other economic organizations. The aim of study is the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth with panel quantile regression method on VISTA countries (Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey and Argentina). Estimations are made annually for 1985 – 2013 period. Dependent variable is GDP per capita growth and independent variables are logarithmic energy consumption indicators which are Oil Consumption, Coal Consumption, Hydroelectricity Consumption and Primary Energy Consumption. Results show that the effects of logarithmic energy consumption variables are changing on economic growth for different quantiles (τ = 0.25; 0.50; 0.75; 0.90). In conclusion, effect of oil consumption on economic growth is falling at high quantiles of GDP growth. In contrast, effect of hydroelectricity consumption and primary energy consumption on economic growth is rising at high quantiles. But, there is not a statistical significant effect of coal consumption on economic growth at any quantile

The risk analysis of Bitcoin and major currencies: value at risk approach

Purpose – This study aims to compare investors of major conventional currencies and Bitcoin (BTC) investors by using the value at risk (VaR) method common risk measure. Design/methodology/approach – The paper used a risk analysis named as VaR. The analysis has various computations that Historical Simulation and Monte Carlo Simulation methods were used for this paper. Findings – Findings of the analysis are assessed in two different aspects of singular currency risk and portfolios built. First, BTC is found to be significantly risky with respect to the major currencies; and it is six times riskier than the singular most risky currency. Second, in terms of inclusion of BTC into a portfolio, which equally weights all currencies, it elevates overall portfolio risk by 98 per cent. Practical implications – In spite of the remarkable risk level, it could be considered that investors are desirous of making an investment on BTC could mitigate their overall exposed risk relatively by building a portfolio. Originality/value – The paper questions the risk level of Bitcoin, which is a digital currency. BTC, a matter of debate in the contemporary period, is seen as a digital currency free from control or supervision of a regulatory board. With the comparison of major currencies and BTC shows that how could be risky of a financial instrument without regulations. However, there is some advice for investors who would like to invest digital currencies despite the risk level in this study

Examining the dynamics of macroeconomic indicators and banking stock returns with bayesian networks

According to the modern portfolio theory, the direction of the relationship between the securities in the portfolio is stated to be effective in reducing the risk. Moreover, securities in high correlation are avoided by taking place in the same portfolio. The models structured by the Bayesian networks are capable of visually illustrate the probabilistic relationship. Also, portfolio returns could be refreshed simultaneously when new information has arrived. The study aims to provide dynamic information through Bayesian networks and to investigate the relationship between macroeconomic indicators and stock returns of Turkish major bank stocks based on the Arbitrage Pricing Model. The dataset includes stock returns of four banks listed in the Borsa Istanbul from June 2001 to January 2017. Besides, macroeconomic variables such as BIST-100 Index, oil prices, inflation, exchange, and interest rate & money supply are gathered for the same period. The results suggest that the Bayesian network models allow dynamics among stock returns could be investigated in more detail. Additionally, it determines that macroeconomic variables would have various impacts on stock returns on bank stocks by comparison of the conventional methods

Prenatal breastfeeding self efficacy scale: validity and reliability study

Aim: To determine the validity and the reliability of the Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. Material and Methods: This was a methodologic study. The sample of the research comprised 200 pregnant women who presented to the outpatient clinic of Gynecology between April and June 2015. An introductory information form and the Prenatal Breast Self-Efficacy Scale were used to collect the data. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics, content validity index for coverage validity, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis for construct validity, and Cronbach-alfaα for reliability were used. Results: In the explanatory factor analysis of the scale, the Kaiser-Meyer- Olkin floor number was 0.84 and the Barlett’s sphericity test results were χ2=1812.608; df=171; p<0.001. The contribution of the factors to total variance was 59.06%. According to confirmatory factor analysis of the scale, the Chi-square test result was as follows: χ2=254.23 (p<0.001, SD=146). The model fit indices were as follows: χ2/SD=1.74, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=0.06, Comparative Fit Index=0.96, Normed Fit Index=0.92, Non-Normed Fit Index=0.96, Goodness of Fit Index=0.88 and Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index=0.85. The internal consistency reliability coefficient of Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale was 0.86. Conclusion: The Prental Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale is a valid and reliable scale which is applicable to Turkish culture and an appropriate tool which can be used by all healthcare workers who wish to design and evaluate interventions to support breastfeeding in the prenatal period. © 2018 by Turkish Pediatric Association

Impact of Local Public Services and Taxes on Dwelling Choice within a Single Taxing Jurisdiction: A Discrete Choice Model

Discrete choice models of household location assume local public finance variables remain the same within a given taxing jurisdiction. Thus far, no such model has tested the validity of this assumption. This study employs McFadden’s (1978, 2001) discrete choice model to test for the significance of dwelling specific local taxes and public services on household location decisions within a single taxing jurisdiction. The findings indicate that such variables are significant determinants of location decisions even within a single taxing jurisdiction, and should not be assumed away. Failure to include such variables in a model may, therefore, result in biased statistical results.

Directions of Trade Flows and Labor Movements between High- And Low-Population Growth Countries: An Overlapping Generations General Equilibrium Analysis

This paper considers a two-country world where the population in one country grows faster than the other, and investigates the implications of the addition of non-stationary population dynamics to a simple 2- commodity, 2-factor model of international trade within an overlapping- generations framework. The two countries in the world considered are assumed to be identical in every respect except, for their population growth rates initially. The effects of differential speed of population growth on relative factor endowments and patterns of international trade are explored by comparing simulation results obtained from the overlapping-generations general equilibrium model under autarky and trade scenarios. Unequal population growth rates are shown to give rise to differentials in wage rates and rentals for capital under autarky conditions. This, in turn, causes costs of production and relative prices to differ, creating the grounds for trade in the sense of Heckscher-Ohlin (HO). Yet, the results from simulation exercises indicate that static welfare results from the standard 2x2x2 HO model can not be generalized to hold in a dynamic setting with overlapping generations of individuals.Unequal population growth rates, labor migration, international trade, overlapping-generations