Boston University

About: Boston University is a education organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 48688 authors who have published 119622 publications receiving 6276020 citations. The organization is also known as: BU & Boston U.

Human Capital vs. Signalling Explanations of Wages

Abstract: increases wages by directly increasing the worker's productivity. This learning explanation is usually associated with human capital theory. However, it seems unlikely that learning explains all the wage differences associated with schooling and work history. Better-educated workers are not a random sample of workers: they have lower propensities to quit or to be absent, are less likely to smoke, drink or use illicit drugs, and are generally healthier. It is unlikely that employers make full use of differences in propensities to quit or to be absent or sick when hiring workers. These characteristics are often not directly observed, and the Americans with Disabilities Act precludes firms from using either poor health or the likelihood of future sickness as a hiring criterion unless it is directly related to job performance.' However, if low levels of education are associated with these unfavorable employee characteristics, and employers are allowed to take education into account when hiring workers, we would expect employers to favor better-educated workers as a means of reducing their costs of sickness and job turnover. In turn, students will take these hiring criteria into account when deciding how long to stay in school. Students will choose a length of schooling to "signal" their ability to employers, and employers will demand a minimum level of schooling

Evidence for a significant urbanization effect on climate in China

Abstract: China has experienced rapid urbanization and dramatic economic growth since its reform process started in late 1978. In this article, we present evidence for a significant urbanization effect on climate based on analysis of impacts of land-use changes on surface temperature in southeast China, where rapid urbanization has occurred. Our estimated warming of mean surface temperature of 0.05°C per decade attributable to urbanization is much larger than previous estimates for other periods and locations. The spatial pattern and magnitude of our estimate are consistent with those of urbanization characterized by changes in the percentage of urban population and in satellite-measured greenness.

Psychological well-being and coping in mothers of youths with autism, Down syndrome, or fragile X syndrome

Abstract: The psychological well-being of mothers raising a child with a developmental disability varies with the nature of the disability. Most research, however, has been focused on Down syndrome and autism. We added mothers whose adolescent or young adult son or daughter has fragile X syndrome. The sample was comprised of mothers of a child with fragile X syndrome (n 5 22), Down syndrome (n 5 39), or autism (n 5 174). Mothers of individuals with fragile X syndrome displayed lower levels of well-being than those of individuals with Down syndrome, but higher levels than mothers of individuals with autism, although group differences varied somewhat across different dimensions of well-being. The most consistent predictor of maternal outcomes was the adolescent or young adult’s behavioral symptoms.