Stationary distributions for a class of generalized Fleming-Viot processes

We identify stationary distributions of generalized Fleming-Viot processes with jump mechanisms specified by certain beta laws together with a parameter measure. Each of these distributions is obtained from normalized stable random measures after a suitable biased transformation followed by mixing by the law of a Dirichlet random measure with the same parameter measure. The calculations are based primarily on the well-known relationship to measure-valued branching processes with immigration.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/12-AOP829 the Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Rule Induction by EDA with Instance-Subpopulations

In this paper, a new rule induction method by using EDA with instance-subpopulations is proposed. The proposed method introduces a notion of instance-subpopulation, where a set of individuals matching a training instance. Then, EDA procedure is separately carried out for each instance-subpopulation. Individuals generated by each EDA procedure are merged to constitute the population at the next generation. We examined the proposed method on Breast-cancer in Wisconsin and Chess End-Game. The comparisons with other algorithms show the effectiveness of the proposed method

The two-parameter Poisson--Dirichlet point process

The two-parameter Poisson--Dirichlet distribution is a probability distribution on the totality of positive decreasing sequences with sum 1 and hence considered to govern masses of a random discrete distribution. A characterization of the associated point process (that is, the random point process obtained by regarding the masses as points in the positive real line) is given in terms of the correlation functions. Using this, we apply the theory of point processes to reveal the mathematical structure of the two-parameter Poisson--Dirichlet distribution. Also, developing the Laplace transform approach due to Pitman and Yor, we are able to extend several results previously known for the one-parameter case. The Markov--Krein identity for the generalized Dirichlet process is discussed from the point of view of functional analysis based on the two-parameter Poisson--Dirichlet distribution.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.3150/08-BEJ180 the Bernoulli (http://isi.cbs.nl/bernoulli/) by the International Statistical Institute/Bernoulli Society (http://isi.cbs.nl/BS/bshome.htm

Raising primary school enrollment in developing countries

Few policies are as universally accepted as raising primary school enrolment in developing countries, but the policy levers for achieving this goal are not straight forward. This paper merges household survey data with detailed school supply characteristics from official sources, in order to estimate the relative impact of demand- and supply-side determinants of rural primary school enrolment in Mozambique. Policy simulations based on a set of “plausible” interventions show that demand-side interventions, particularly those aimed at raising rural adult literacy, will have the biggest impact on primary school enrolment rates.Education, Primary Developing countries. ,Literacy. ,Supply and demand. ,Mozambique. ,

Can the Harmonization of the Corporate Taxation be Realized?

In the present period of the development of the European integration the basic requirement is enhancing the competitive power, which can be created by the demolition of the inside market’s barriers. The indirect taxes, more precisely the initiation of the valueadded tax led intensely to the implementation of the economic and monetary union. At the beginning of the millenium, the unitary monetary policy has already been realized for the member countries who have achieved the strict convergence criteria, and those who have introduced and are using the ever stronger euro. Beside the implementation of the single currency, the idea of approximation of the national tax systems comes up again, which has effects not only on the above mentioned valueadded taxation but also on the income taxes payed by corporations. In my essay I am looking for the answer to the question why the implementation of tax harmonization has not succeded in corporate taxation during the past decades and if there is a chance to accept a common European consolidated tax base. Key words: tax harmonization, corporate taxes, Common Consolidated Corpotate Tax Base, tax rate, consolidation, domestic tax systems, tax competition, share mechanism

Quality or quantity?

The role of school quality in determining educational outcomes has received much research attention in the United States. However, in developing countries, where a significant part of the school age population never attends school, policymakers must consider both quality and quantity when deciding how to maximize the impact of scarce investments. Acknowledging this difference in the policy environment in developing countries, this paper provides comparative estimates of the impact of quality versus quantity investments in school supply in rural Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries. Policy simulations show that improving school quality (through the pupil-teacher ratio) increases grade attainment and efficiency by approximately 9 percent with no impact on overall enrollment rates. However, these same results can be generated by increasing starting enrollment probabilities through the establishment of new schools in all rural villages that currently do not have schools. Furthermore, similar rates of increase in school achievement indicators can be achieved by building schools in only 56 percent of all villages currently without schools, provided these schools are placed in those villages that also do not have a school nearby. When cost information is considered, the main policy implication is that the expansion of school quantity through well targeted placement of new schools will provide the greatest increase in educational outcomes for Mozambique at this time.FCND ,School children. ,Education Economic aspects. ,Mozambique. ,

Quality or quantity?

The role of school quality in determining educational outcomes has received much research attention in the United States. However, in developing countries, where a significant part of the school age population never attends school, policymakers must consider both quality and quantity when deciding how to maximize the impact of scarce investments. Acknowledging this difference in the policy environment in developing countries, this paper provides comparative estimates of the impact of quality versus quantity investments in school supply in rural Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries. Policy simulations show that improving school quality (through the pupil-teacher ratio) increases grade attainment and efficiency by approximately 9 percent with no impact on overall enrollment rates. However, these same results can be generated by increasing starting enrollment probabilities through the establishment of new schools in all rural villages that currently do not have schools. Furthermore, similar rates of increase in school achievement indicators can be achieved by building schools in only 56 percent of all villages currently without schools, provided these schools are placed in those villages that also do not have a school nearby. When cost information is considered, the main policy implication is that the expansion of school quantity through well targeted placement of new schools will provide the greatest increase in educational outcomes for Mozambique at this time.FCND ,School children. ,Education Economic aspects. ,Mozambique. ,

Matching the gold standard: Comparing experimental and non-experimental evaluation techniques for a geographically targeted program

We compare non-experimental impact estimates based on matching methods with those from a randomized evaluation to determine whether the non-experimental approach can “match” the so-called gold standard. The social experiment we use was carried out to evaluate a geographically targeted conditional cash transfer antipoverty program in Nicaragua. The outcomes we assess include several components of household expenditure and a variety of children’s health outcomes including breast feeding, vaccinations, and morbidity. We find that using each of the following improves performance of matching for these outcomes: 1) geographically proximate comparison samples; 2) stringent common support requirements; and 3) both geographic- and household-level matching variables. Even for a geographically targeted program, in which the selection is at the geographic-, rather than at the individual- or household-level, and in which it is not possible to find comparison individuals or households in the program locales, matching can perform reasonably well. The results also suggest that the techniques may be more promising for evaluating the more easily measured individual-level binary outcomes, than for outcomes that are more difficult to measure, such as expenditure.