Use of the multinomial jack-knife and bootstrap in generalized non-linear canonical correlation analysis

In this paper we discuss the estimation of mean and standard errors of the eigenvalues and category quantifications in generalized non-linear canonical correlation analysis (OVERALS). Starting points are the delta method equations, but the jack-knife and bootstrap are used to provide finite difference approximations to the derivatives

Implications of Spatially Variable Costs and Habitat Conversion Risk in Landscape-Scale Conservation Planning

‘‘Strategic habitat conservation’’ refers to a process used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop cost-efficient strategies for conserving wildlife populations and their habitats. Strategic habitat conservation focuses on resolving uncertainties surrounding habitat conservation to meet specific wildlife population objectives (i.e., targets) and developing tools to guide where conservation actions should be focused on the landscape. Although there are examples of using optimization models to highlight where conservation should be delivered, such methods often do not explicitly account for spatial variation in the costs of conservation actions. Furthermore, many planning approaches assume that habitat protection is a preferred option, but they do not assess its value relative to other actions, such as restoration. We developed a case study to assess the implications of accounting for and ignoring spatial variation in conservation costs in optimizing conservation targets. We included assumptions about habitat loss to determine the extent to which protection or restoration would be necessary to meet an established population target. Our case study focused on optimal placement of grassland protection or restoration actions to influence bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus populations in the tallgrass prairie ecoregion of the north central United States. Our results show that not accounting for spatially variable costs doubled or tripled the cost of meeting the population target. Furthermore, our results suggest that one should not assume that protecting existing habitat is always a preferred option. Rather, our results show that the balance between protection and restoration can be influenced by a combination of desired targets, assumptions about habitat loss, and the relative cost of the two actions. Our analysis also points out how difficult it may be to reach targets, given the expense to meet them. We suggest that a full accounting of expected costs and benefits will help to guide development of viable management actions and meaningful conservation plans

Generalizations of simulation results: Practicality of statistical methods (Part one)

simulation;statistical methods;operations research

An examination of factors that hinder and programs that stimulate Papuan entrepreneurs

This report describes the results of a study on entrepreneurship in the Indonesian province Papua. The study was performed for Oikonomos Foundation to help evaluating the current entrepreneurship support programs and to identify future challenges

An examination of factors that hinder and programs that stimulate Papuan entrepreneurs

This report describes the results of a study on entrepreneurship in the Indonesian province Papua. The study was performed for Oikonomos Foundation to help evaluating the current entrepreneurship support programs and to identify future challenges. Seven important difficulties for Papuan entrepreneurs are identified (in order of relevance): - Social structures: Entrepreneurs give away goods or cash to family relatives, with the result that no reinvestments can be made. - Capital, bookkeeping and savings: Lack of good bookkeeping causes irresponsible expenses. - Motivation, discipline and focus: Lack of discipline and the right motive to work hard for the business. - Transport: Lack of transport infrastructure in Papua. - Mindset: Not used to the investment-revenues-reinvestment principle. - Exclusion and corruption: Papuans often pay higher prices than non-Papuans, and corruption causes that Papuans cannot ‘get things done’. - High prices: Raising prices of supplies causes difficulties with appropriate margins. In order to improve entrepreneurship support, we recommend the following: - Create and cultivate role models. (agents of change) - Screen entrepreneurs on their potential - More attention to private book keeping and savings - Follow-up for trainings - Include more attention to social and cultural aspects in the training