El análisis crítico del discurso y el pensamiento social

Original en su forma, el texto que se presenta a continuación es una co-elaboración escrita, de tipo conversacional, creada y revisada con Teun van Dijk. Se discuten inquietudes relativas a sus planteamientos y el espacio que ocupa su visión del análisis crítico del discurso (ACD) en las ciencias sociales actualmente

Further experience in Bayesian analysis using Monte Carlo Integration

An earlier paper [Kloek and Van Dijk (1978)] is extended in three ways. First, Monte Carlo integration is performed in a nine-dimensional parameter space of Klein's model I [Klein (1950)]. Second, Monte Carlo is used as a tool for the elicitation of a uniform prior on a finite region by making use of several types of prior information. Third, special attention is given to procedures for the construction of importance functions which make use of nonlinear optimization methods. *1 This paper started as a revision of Van Dijk and Kloek (1978). In the course of the work our ideas developed to such an extent that the final result is an almost completely new paper. We are indebted to a referee for a number of very useful suggestions. We also wish to thank A.S. Louter and G. den Broeder of the Econometric Institute for their help in preparing the necessary computer programs

Efficient estimation of income distribution parameters

The parameters of several families of distributions are estimated by means of minimum χ2; use is made of random samples taken from Dutch income-earning groups in 1973. The numerical search routine used, is the Complex method due to Box. The χ2 function is evaluated by standard numerical integration procedures. The lognormal and the Gamma families are rejected because of a poor fit. The log t and the log Pearson IV families are introduced. This results in a considerable improvement of χ2 critical levels. The generalized Gamma and the Champernowne function describe the income distribution reasonably well in some cases

Bayesian estimates of equation system parameters, An application of integration by Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo (MC) is used to draw parameter values from a distribution defined on the structural parameter space of an equation system. Making use of the prior density, the likelihood, and Bayes' Theorem it is possible to estimate posterior moments of both structural and reduced form parameters. The MC method allows a rather liberal choice of prior distributions. The number of elementary operations to be preformed need not be an explosive function of the number of parameters involved. The method overcomes some existing difficulties of applying Bayesian methods to medium size models. The method is applied to a small scale macro model. The prior information used stems from considerations regarding short and long run behavior of the model and form extraneous observations on empirical long term ratios of economic variables. Likelihood contours for several parameter combinations are plotted, and some marginal posterior densities are assessed by MC

Knowledge and News

Este artículo explora algunas relaciones entre el conocimiento y las noticias en la prensa. Dentro del marco de la psicología del procesamiento del discurso, se proponen sugerencias para el estudio del papel del conocimiento en la producción y la comprensión de las noticias, por ejemplo una tipología de conocimientos, basada sobre las comunidades que comparten ese conocimiento. El discurso de las noticias contiene estrategias que combinan conocimiento general (nacional), con nuevos conocimientos de eventos, representados en modelos mentales.This article explores some of the relations between knowledge and news in the press. Within the framework of the psychology of discourse processing some new proposals are made for the study of the role of knowledge in news production and comprehension, for instance a typology of knowledge, e.g., based on which communities share such knowledge. News discourse features strategies that combine general (national) presupposed “common ground” knowledge with new event knowledge represented in event models

Pathways in Local Economic Development in Tanzania : Institutionalisation of Collective Action: The Case of Mbulu and Karatu Districts

In the sustainable livelihoods framework, the interaction between livelihood assets and transforming structures and processes determines the effectiveness of policies and strategies. These form the basis upon which rural people address their vulnerability context, formed by seasonality, trends and shocks. A limitation of the framework is that it is household centred and bypasses collective action. Making use of the sustainable livelihoods framework I investigate what institutional developments occurred in the sphere of local collective action addressing a given vulnerability context. How did endogenous forces create an enabling institutional environment for collective action towards socio-economic development? How did collective action operate in an array of institutional settings? This part of the sustainable livelihoods framework, which is still under-investigated, is the focus of this research. Over a period of more than 20 years household level development in eight villages in different agro-ecological zones in rural Tanzania were surveyed. Local reports were consulted and focus group discussions were conducted with actors in various types of collective action. Key changes among households were identified with reference to their level of education, agricultural production, use of natural resources, livestock ownership, ownership of agricultural and household implements, their sources of income and their household expenditure. These were in retrospect classified in terms of the livelihood framework. People organised themselves in various forms of collective action to enhance socio-economic development. This research examined the correlation between the average household’s level of education, number of collective actions in the community, institutionalisation of collective action and the village’s socio-economic development. A link was found between increased levels of education, increased collective action and higher household incomes. That last represents increased local economic development. Village level collective action emerged to safeguard and/or exploit natural resources and/or to construct socio-economic and physical infrastructure. Feeder roads were constructed. Irrigation schemes dug and maintained. Schools and dispensaries were constructed and managed. Kilometres of pipes were laid down and domestic water supply was managed and maintained. Interests were advocated and lobbied for. Inputs were purchased jointly. Information was shared. Households saved money in small groups and gave each other credit under collective management. Sports were organised together. At the village level, the current study identified on average 40 to more than 60 instances of ongoing collective action. Some were linked with lower local government, though they operated largely independently. Collective action to establish socio-economic infrastructure or input supply was observed to be rather effective. However, collective action to manage such infrastructure to enhance socio-economic service delivery was identified as rather ineffective. Factors limiting the functioning of socio-economic service delivery related to its institutionalisation in conjunction with local capacity. Factors limiting the success of collective production, processing and marketing related to local capacity as well. In conjunction with local level capacity development, bottom-up institutionalisation of collective action helps communities to grasp top-down induced opportunities to enhance socio-economic development. The observed ineffective management of socio-economic service delivery was partly explained by the inability of local leaders and their constituencies to grasp the opportunities available. This is explained in part by the poor functioning of the ‘decentralisation by devolution’ government policy. One general conclusion is that the institutionalisation of collective action was inadequately preceded or accompanied by the necessary capacity building of local leaders to make it a success