Measuring welfare effects in models with random coefficients

In economic research, it is often important to express the marginal value of a variable in monetary terms. This marginal monetary value is the ratio of two partial derivatives of the conditional indirect utility function, which reduces to the ratio of two coefficients if the utility function is linear. Based on the overwhelming evidence of taste differences among people, random coefficient models have become increasingly more popular in recent years. In random coefficient models, the marginal monetary value is the ratio of two random coefficients and is thus random itself. In this paper, we study the distribution of this ratio and particularly the consequences of different distributional assumptions about the coefficients. It is shown both analytically and empirically that important characteristics of the distribution of the marginal monetary value may be sensitive to the distributional assumptions about the random coefficients. The median, however, is much less sensitive than the mean. The authors would like to thank Ton Steerneman for stimulating discussions and helpful comments.

Measurement error in a single regressor

For the setting of multiple regression with measurement error in a single regressor, we present some very simple formulas to assess the result that one may expect when correcting for measurement error. It is shown where the corrected estimated regression coefficients and the error variance may lie, and how the t-value behaves.

Assurance of learning : the role of work integrated learning and industry partners

In the partnering with students and industry it is important for universities to recognize and value the nature of knowledge and learning that emanates from work integrated learning experiences is different to formal university based learning. Learning is not a by-product of work rather learning is fundamental to engaging in work practice. Work integrated learning experiences provide unique opportunities for students to integrate theory and practice through the solving of real world problems. This paper reports findings to date of a project that sought to identify key issues and practices faced by academics, industry partners and students engaged in the provision and experience of work integrated learning within an undergraduate creative industries program at a major metropolitan university. In this paper, those findings are focused on some of the particular qualities and issues related to the assessment of learning at and through the work integrated experience. The findings suggest that the assessment strategies needed to better value the knowledges and practices of the Creative Industries. The paper also makes recommendations about how industry partners might best contribute to the assessment of students’ developing capabilities and to continuous reflection on courses and the assurance of learning agenda

Tunneling calculations for GaAs-Al(x)Ga(1-x) as graded band-gap sawtooth superlattices

Quantum mechanical tunneling calculations for sawtooth (linearly graded band-gap) and step-barrier AlGaAs superlattices were performed by means of a transfer matrix method, within the effective mass approximation. The transmission coefficient and tunneling current versus applied voltage were computed for several representative structures. Particular consideration was given to effective mass variations. The tunneling properties of step and sawtooth superlattices show some qualitative similarities. Both structures exhibit resonant tunneling, however, because they deform differently under applied fields, the J-V curves differ

The melancholic animal:On depression and animality

The phenomenon of depression fundamentally challenges common western ideas about what it means to be human, such as Cartesian distinctions between body and mind, and existing notions of rationality, autonomy and agency. Like madness more generally, melancholy and depression are historically shaped constructions, which interconnect at several points with constructions of animality. Focusing on these connections is helpful for rethinking depression in the human case, and for understanding nonhuman animal depression. Other animals are often neglected in studies of depression, even though they may from it too and human and animal depressions are often related, symbolically and practices. Examining the psycho-geographical dimensions of depression in connection to animality can contribute to a different discourse, aimed at interspecies healing