Developing criminal personas for designers

This paper describes a research method used to develop criminal personas for use by designers in a process called Cyclic Countering of Competitive Creativity (C4). Personas rather than profiles are developed to encourage designer ownership, to improve the level of engagement with countering the criminal mind, and encourage the responsibility to keep the personas live and developing, rather than be adopted as simple checklists built from available criminal profile data. In this case study indirect access to offender details was used to develop the personas. The aim was to give particular focus to the offenders’ ‘creative prompts’, which enable designers to more effectively counter their own design solutions, by a role-play approach to critical review and counter design. The C4 process enables learning through failure, and strengthens the development and selection that takes place within the design process, but C4 does rely upon the development of relevant and engaging personas to be effective

Saving Rates of New Zealanders: A Net Wealth Approach

Reliable estimates of actual household saving rates in New Zealand have proved elusive as existing sources of data have in the past given disparate estimates, making it difficult to reach a consensus of the real rate of household saving. For the first time in New Zealand, however, longitudinal data on the assets and liabilities of households at the unit record level are becoming available from Statistics New Zealand’s multi-year national longitudinal Survey of Family Income and Employment (SoFIE). In this paper we first update estimates from the Reserve Bank’s aggregate data on the household sector (a stock approach) and those from Statistics New Zealand’s national accounts (a flow approach). These continue to give widely different estimates of the overall household saving rate, although both were negative in 2008 and both below their long-run trend values. We then present initial estimates derived from SoFIE by comparing individuals’ net wealth in 2004 with that in 2006 and computing the implied real saving rate on an annual basis. This yielded an overall median estimate of 16%. This is virtually the same as the long-run average annual saving rate measured from the aggregate household balance sheet from RBNZ. Furthermore, the estimated saving rates between 2004 and 2006 for the whole household sector in total are almost identical using RBNZ and SoFIE data. However, it must be stressed that median estimates should be complemented with a measure of dispersion. There is a strikingly wide distribution of saving rates. For example across many categories of individuals around 40% are estimated to have had a decline in net wealth, implying a negative rate of saving. Initial explorations into the reasons for this are undertaken in the paper, but as yet are not fully understood. Measurement errors in the data can account for some of the disparities but much remains for further research. Finally we demonstrate that over the period 2004 to 2006, passive saving in the form of the revaluation of house prices constituted a major part of the total change in net wealth. After removing owner-occupied property as an asset, the median saving rate remained positive at 5%, close to the long run average rate from the aggregate RBNZ data after correcting for changes in house prices.Net wealth; saving; saving rates; unit records; permanent wealth; transitory components; New Zealand

Household Debt in New Zealand

In recent years, the total debt of the household sector has risen appreciably. This has led to concerns about “excessive” borrowing, and to the possibility that some households may have become unduly vulnerable in the event of unexpected shocks. This paper draws on both aggregate and household level data to assess the extent and composition of household debt; to analyse the distribution of debt in relation to income; to examine the factors associated with high ratios of debt servicing relative to income and consider the extent to which individuals and households are vulnerable to unexpected shocks. Between 1982 and 2007, household debt grew from 33% to 149% of household disposable incomes. However due to the faster growth of assets, net wealth grew from 319% of disposable income in 1982 to 430% by 2002 and 604% by 2007; ie, even before the sharp rise in house prices, the overall balance sheet of households was stronger in 2002 than any time in the previous two decades, despite the increase in debt levels. Mortgages represented about 85% of total liabilities, the balance made up of credit card debt and student loans. Higher absolute debt levels amongst couples were associated with home ownership and higher levels of assets and income. Maori and Pacific Island couples recorded liabilities some $6,500 greater than European couples. The paper defines those as vulnerable as having debt servicing obligations exceeding 30 percent of their gross income. It is estimated that in 6.2% of non-partnered individuals and 8.1% of couples fell into this category in 2004. When the underlying levels of income, asset values and mortgage interest rates were adjusted to correspond to values in 2008, it is estimated that these proportions doubled. Those at risk were defined as having debt servicing obligations exceeding 30 percent of their gross income and, at the same time, recording negative net wealth. In part, negative net wealth arises because of lack of any assets that match the liability of student loans. Some 1.9% of individuals were deemed at risk, falling to 1.5% when student loans were excluded. Student loans distort the net wealth estimates of those holding them as only the liability with no corresponding asset is recorded. When this is allowed for, the share of nonpartnered individuals at risk drops further. The unit record data ended in 2004. However the paper makes projections to 2008. For non-partnered individuals; there was little or no change in our estimate of the proportion with negative net wealth who also had debt servicing costs exceeding 30% of their income (ie, at risk). However for couples our estimate of the proportion at risk rose from 0.8% to 1.1%, corresponding to an increase from about 6,000 to 8,000 families.Household debt; New Zealand; vulnerability

Closeup: Women\u27s Studies at the College of New Rochelle

In the fall of 1973, the College of New Rochelle will offer an interdisciplinary major in Women\u27s Studies. Student and faculty enthusiasm and a sympathetic administration have made possible the rapid expansion of the program from two courses in the fall of 1971 to eight courses this year. By the fall of next year, eight departments will participate in the program through course offerings, and tutorials will be available in five other departments

Conversion from Staple to Cash Crop Production in Mexico After NAFTA: Effects of PROCAMPO and Credit Constraints

In this paper, we ask whether PROCAMPO helped Mexican agricultural producers benefit from NAFTA. Specifically, we explore the effect of these decoupled income payments (PROCAMPO) on producers’ ability to switch to cash crop production, and whether these payments help alleviate credit constraints for poorer producers. Given that WTO negotiations are currently stalled in part because of the trade concerns of developing nations, exploring the constraints that small producers face and whether decoupled subsidies can assist those producers in benefiting from new markets is important. Unlike previous studies, who concentrated on specific regions and ejidal lands, we use nationwide county-level data, which allows for us to see the regional distribution of change across Mexico. We use these data to estimate the change in staple crop production as a function of county-level characteristics. We find some evidence to support the hypothesis that an increase in PROCAMPO payments leads to a decrease in the area planted in staples. Second, the implementation of NAFTA is associated with greater cash crop production and we can see that the creation of new markets is, in general, leading to a reduction in land planted in staples. Third, we find that the effect of PROCAMPO is even larger for ejido producers, implying that their benefits are not constrained to larger producers. Last, we find evidence that areas closest to the United States border have seen a greater movement to cash crop production after NAFTA.NAFTA, PROCAMPO, Credit Constraint, Mexico, staple production, crop choice, International Relations/Trade,

Inter/View: Talks with America\u27s Writing Women

Twenty-eight powerful and individual voices are heard as Pearlman and Henderson offer a forum for a generous cross-section of the women writing fiction in America today—writers whose vital statistics cross the borders of race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual preference, marital status, age, geography, and lifestyle. Each writer is presented in an essay/interview reflecting the dynamic that develops naturally when two vital minds meet to discuss topic of mutually interest. The writers talk about the role of memory, space, and family in their work, about politics, dreams, and race, about their mothers and children and alma maters, about book reviewing and their agents, editors, and publishers, and about each others’ work. A bibliography of principal works follows each essay. A valuable contribution to writers both female and male, for above all else, this is a book about writing. Through a deft selection of writers with diverse geographic and ethnic backgrounds, Inter/View balances profiles of experienced writers with first novelists. . . . More than any book of its kind so far, Inter/View illuminates what drove the process of becoming a writer. —New York Times This collection of unfailingly perceptive reflections is a treasure trove for readers of today\u27s fiction. —Publishers Weeklyhttps://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_english_language_and_literature_north_america/1055/thumbnail.jp

A Competency-based Approach to Faculty Development

Background—Faculty development at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (VCU SOM) has previously focused on enhancing teaching and learning in the medical and clinical education settings. While this work is important, this narrow focus does not address all facets a faculty member’s role. To broaden their programming, the VCU SOM faculty development team adopted a competency-based approach to the development and planning of faculty development activities. Summary of work—The Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs completed a research project focused on successful medical faculty who promote through the tenure process and advance in their careers. She identified the following categories for success: teaching, service, scholarship, advancing, and leadership. Each of these categories contains action-focused competencies that align with career progression addressing early, mid, and late career stages. The faculty development team adopted the identified competencies to their curriculum development and planning processes. Summary of results—The results of this adoption have been clearer goals for learners, a mapped structure for faculty development activities, and a broader range of topics offered that align with career stages. Discussion—Faculty development activities are now categorized into five (5) categories: Teach, Lead, Serve, Discover, and Advance with each category color coded for easy recognition in event marketing materials. A new logo reflecting these competency categories is now included on all Office of Faculty Affairs communications. Faculty are beginning to recognize and register for activities they need for promotion, tenure, and advancement. Conclusions—The adoption of the competencies for success from the Senior Associate Dean’s study has enriched faculty development offerings providing a recognizable structure allowing faculty to easily identify competency areas for development

The Effect Of Open Space On Residential Property Values In Wake County, NC

This Masters Project employs hedonic price analysis, a revealed preference method, to estimate a component of the economic value of open space in Wake County, NC. Specifically, I seek to quantify the portion of economic value that is reflected in increased sale prices of single-family residential properties. If significant, these results can be used to calculate the incremental property tax revenue associated with open spaces, demonstrating that open spaces actually do provide a modest return to local government in the form of increased property taxes. As mentioned above, this research could also be used to encourage additional private provision of open space, by showing a positive relationship between proximity to private open spaces and house sale price.Master of City and Regional Plannin