Showing papers by "National Research University – Higher School of Economics published in 2010"

A question of balance: Time perspective and well-being in British and Russian samples

Abstract: Two studies were conducted investigating the relationship between the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) scales and well-being measures in British (N = 179) and Russian (N = 289) student samples. On the basis of person-oriented approach, a cluster-analysis operationalization of Balanced Time Perspective (BTP) using ZTPI was proposed and validated, demonstrating more evidence for its validity than the previously suggested cut-off-point approach. Four distinct time perspective patterns were discovered in both samples: future-oriented, present-oriented, balanced and negative. The clusters revealed significant differences in well-being, with members of the BTP cluster demonstrating the highest scores in both samples. The relationship between ZTPI and Temporal Life Satisfaction Scale in the British sample was found to be non-uniform for past, present and future. Based on these findings, a distinction between three aspects of time perspective is theoretically proposed, and its implications for the futur...

Egalitarianism and International Investment

Abstract: This study identifies how country differences on a key cultural dimension - egalitarianism - influence the direction of different types of international investment flows. A society's cultural orientation towards egalitarianism is manifested by intolerance for abuses of market and political power and a desire for protecting the weak and less powerful actors. We show egalitarianism to be based on exogenous factors including social fractionalization, dominant religion circa 1900, and war experience from the 19th century era of state formation. Controlling for a large set of competing explanations, we find a robust influence of egalitarianism distance on cross-national investment flows of bond and equity issuances, syndicated loans, and mergers and acquisitions. An informal cultural institution largely determined a century or more ago, egalitarianism exercises its effect on international investment via an associated set of consistent contemporary policy choices. But even after controlling for these associated policy choices, egalitarianism continues to exercise a direct effect on cross-border investment flows, likely through its direct influence on managers’ daily business conduct.

Modular metric spaces, I: Basic concepts

Abstract: The notion of a modular is introduced as follows. A (metric) modular on a set X is a function w : ( 0 , ∞ ) × X × X → [ 0 , ∞ ] satisfying, for all x , y , z ∈ X , the following three properties: x = y if and only if w ( λ , x , y ) = 0 for all λ > 0 ; w ( λ , x , y ) = w ( λ , y , x ) for all λ > 0 ; w ( λ + μ , x , y ) ≤ w ( λ , x , z ) + w ( μ , y , z ) for all λ , μ > 0 . We show that, given x 0 ∈ X , the set X w = { x ∈ X : lim λ → ∞ w ( λ , x , x 0 ) = 0 } is a metric space with metric d w ∘ ( x , y ) = inf { λ > 0 : w ( λ , x , y ) ≤ λ } , called a modular space. The modular w is said to be convex if ( λ , x , y ) ↦ λ w ( λ , x , y ) is also a modular on X . In this case X w coincides with the set of all x ∈ X such that w ( λ , x , x 0 ) ∞ for some λ = λ ( x ) > 0 and is metrizable by d w ∗ ( x , y ) = inf { λ > 0 : w ( λ , x , y ) ≤ 1 } . Moreover, if d w ∘ ( x , y ) 1 or d w ∗ ( x , y ) 1 , then ( d w ∘ ( x , y ) ) 2 ≤ d w ∗ ( x , y ) ≤ d w ∘ ( x , y ) ; otherwise, the reverse inequalities hold. We develop the theory of metric spaces, generated by modulars, and extend the results by H. Nakano, J. Musielak, W. Orlicz, Ph. Turpin and others for modulars on linear spaces.

Mass appraisal of residential apartments: An application of Random forest for valuation and a CART-based approach for model diagnostics

Abstract: To the best knowledge of authors, the use of Random forest as a potential technique for residential estate mass appraisal has been attempted for the first time. In the empirical study using data on residential apartments the method performed better than such techniques as CHAID, CART, KNN, multiple regression analysis, Artificial Neural Networks (MLP and RBF) and Boosted Trees. An approach for automatic detection of segments where a model significantly underperforms and for detecting segments with systematically under- or overestimated prediction is introduced. This segmentational approach is applicable to various expert systems including, but not limited to, those used for the mass appraisal.

Multivariate Statistics: High-Dimensional and Large-Sample Approximations

Abstract: Preface. Glossary of Notation and Abbreviations. 1 Multivariate Normal and Related Distributions. 1.1 Random Vectors. 1.1.1 Mean Vector and Covariance Matrix. 1.1.2 Characteristic Function and Distribution. 1.2 Multivariate Normal Distribution. 1.2.1 Bivariate Normal Distribution. 1.2.2 Definition. 1.2.3 Some Properties. 1.3 Spherical and Elliptical Distributions. 1.4 Multivariate Cumulants. Problems. 2 Wishart Distribution. 2.1 Definition. 2.2 Some Basic Properties. 2.3 Functions of Wishart Matrices. 2.4 Cochran's Theorem. 2.5 Asymptotic Distributions. Problems. 3 Hotelling's T2 and LambdaStatistics. 3.1 Hotelling's T2 and LambdaStatistics. 3.1.1 Distribution of the T2Statistic. 3.1.2 Decomposition of T2 andD2. 3.2 Lambda-Statistic. 3.2.1 Motivation of Lambda Statistic. 3.2.2 Distribution of Lambda Statistic. 3.3 Test for Additional Information. 3.3.1 Decomposition of Lambda Statistic. Problems. 4 Correlation Coefficients. 4.1 Ordinary Correlation Coefficients. 4.1.1 Population Correlation. 4.1.2 Sample Correlation. 4.2 Multiple Correlation Coefficient. 4.2.1 Population Multiple Correlation. 4.2.2 Sample Multiple Correlation. 4.3 Partial Correlation. 4.3.1 Population Partial Correlation. 4.3.2 Sample Partial Correlation. 4.3.3 Covariance Selection Model. Problems. 5 Asymptotic Expansions for Multivariate BasicStatistics. 5.1 Edgeworth Expansion and its Validity. 5.2 The Sample Mean Vector and Covariance Matrix. 5.3 T2Statistic. 5.3.1 Outlines of Two Methods. 5.3.2 Multivariate t-Statistic. 5.3.3 Asymptotic Expansions. 5.4 Statistics with a Class of Moments. 5.4.1 Large-Sample Expansions. 5.4.2 High-Dimensional Expansions. 5.5 Perturbation Method. 5.6 Cornish-Fisher Expansions. 5.6.1 Expansion Formulas. 5.6.2 Validity of Cornish-Fisher Expansions. 5.7 Transformations for Improved Approximations. 5.8 Bootstrap Approximations. 5.9 High-Dimensional Approximations. 5.9.1 Limiting Spectral Distribution. 5.9.2 Central Limit Theorem. 5.9.3 Martingale Limit Theorem. 5.9.4 Geometric Representation. Problems. 6 MANOVA Models. 6.1 Multivariate One-Way Analysis of Variance. 6.2 Multivariate Two-Way Analysis of Variance. 6.3 MANOVA Tests. 6.3.1 Test Criteria. 6.3.2 Large-Sample Approximations. 6.3.3 Comparison of Powers. 6.3.4 High-Dimensional Approximations. 6.4 Approximations Under Nonnormality. 6.4.1 Asymptotic Expansions. 6.4.2 Bootstrap Tests. 6.5 Distributions of Characteristic Roots. 6.5.1 Exact Distributions. 6.5.2 Large-Sample Case. 6.5.3 High-Dimensional Case. 6.6 Tests for Dimensionality. 6.6.1 Three Test Criteria. 6.6.2 Large-Sample and High-Dimensional Asymptotics. 6.7 High-Dimensional Tests. Problems. 7 Multivariate Regression. 7.1 Multivariate Linear Regression Model. 7.2 Statistical Inference. 7.3 Selection of Variables. 7.3.1 Stepwise Procedure. 7.3.2 Cp Criterion. 7.3.3 AIC Criterion. 7.3.4 Numerical Example. 7.4 Principal Component Regression. 7.5 Selection of Response Variables. 7.6 General Linear Hypotheses and Confidence Intervals. 7.7 Penalized Regression Models. Problems. 8 Classical and High-Dimensional Tests for CovarianceMatrices. 8.1 Specified Covariance Matrix. 8.1.1 Likelihood Ratio Test and Moments. 8.1.2 Asymptotic Expansions. 8.1.3 High-Dimensional Tests. 8.2 Sphericity. 8.2.1 Likelihood Ratio Tests and Moments. 8.2.2 Asymptotic Expansions. 8.2.3 High-Dimensional Tests. 8.3 Intraclass Covariance Structure. 8.3.1 Likelihood Ratio Tests and Moments. 8.3.2 Asymptotic Expansions. 8.3.3 Numerical Accuracy. 8.4 Test for Independence. 8.4.1 Likelihood Ratio Tests and Moments. 8.4.2 Asymptotic Expansions. 8.4.3 High-Dimensional Tests. 8.5 Tests for Equality of Covariance Matrices. 8.5.1 Likelihood Ratio Test and Moments. 8.5.2 Asymptotic Expansions. 8.5.3 High-Dimensional Tests. Problems. 9 Discriminant Analysis. 9.1 Classification Rules for Known Distributions. 9.2 Sample Classification Rules for Normal Populations. 9.2.1 Two Normal Populations with S1 =S2. 9.2.2 Case of Several Normal Populations. 9.3 Probability of Misclassifications. 9.3.1 W-Rule. 9.3.2 Z-Rule. 9.3.3 High-Dimensional Asymptotic Results. 9.4 Canonical Discriminant Analysis. 9.4.1 Canonical Discriminant Method. 9.4.2 Test for Additional Information. 9.4.3 Selection of Variables. 9.4.4 Estimation of Dimensionality. 9.5 Regression Approach. 9.6 High-Dimensional Approach. 9.6.1 Penalized Discriminant Analysis. 9.6.2 Other Approaches. Problems. 10 Principal Component Analysis. 10.1 Definition of Principal Components. 10.2 Optimality of Principal Components. 10.3 Sample Principal Components. 10.4 MLEs of the Characteristic Roots and Vectors. 10.5 Distributions of the Characteristic Roots. 10.5.1 Exact Distribution. 10.5.2 Large-Sample Case. 10.5.3 High-Dimensional Case. 10.6 Model Selection Approach for Covariance Structures. 10.6.1 General Approach. 10.6.2 Models for Equality of the Smaller Roots. 10.6.3 Selecting a Subset of Original Variables. 10.7 Methods Related to Principal Components. 10.7.1 Fixed-Effect Principal Component Model. 10.7.2 Random-Effect Principal Components Model. Problems. 11 Canonical Correlation Analysis. 11.1 Definition of Population Canonical Correlations andVariables. 11.2 Sample Canonical Correlations. 11.3 Distributions of Canonical Correlations. 11.3.1 Distributional Reduction. 11.3.2 Large-Sample Asymptotic Distributions. 11.3.3 High-Dimensional Asymptotic Distributions. 11.3.4 Fisher's z-Transformation. 11.4 Inference for Dimensionality. 11.4.1 Test of Dimensionality. 11.4.2 Estimation of Dimensionality. 11.5 Selection of Variables. 11.5.1 Test for Redundancy. 11.5.2 Selection of Variables. Problems. 12 Growth Curve Analysis. 12.1 Growth Curve Model. 12.2 Statistical Inference: One Group. 12.2.1 Test for Adequacy. 12.2.2 Estimation and Test. 12.2.3 Confidence Intervals. 12.3 Statistical Methods: Several Groups. 12.4 Derivation of Statistical Inference. 12.4.1 A General Multivariate Linear Model. 12.4.2 Estimation. 12.4.3 LR Tests for General Linear Hypotheses. 12.4.4 Confidence Intervals. 12.5 Model Selection. 12.5.1 AIC and CAIC. 12.5.2 Derivation of CAIC. 12.5.3 Extended Growth Curve Model. Problems. 13 Approximation to the Scale-Mixted Distributions. 13.1 Introduction. 13.1.1 Simple Example: Student's t-Distribution. 13.1.2 Improving the Approximation. 13.2 Error Bounds Evaluated in Sup-Norm. 13.2.1 General Theory. 13.2.2 Scale-Mixed Normal. 13.2.3 Scale-Mixed Gamma. 13.3 Error Bounds Evaluated inL1-Norm. 13.3.1 Some Basic Results. 13.3.2 Scale-Mixed Normal Density. 13.3.3 Scale-Mixed Gamma Density. 13.3.4 Scale-Mixed Chi-square Density. 13.4 Multivariate Scale Mixtures. 13.4.1 General Theory. 13.4.2 Normal Case. 13.4.3 Gamma Case. Problems. 14 Approximation to Some Related Distributions. 14.1 Location and Scale Mixtures. 14.2 Maximum of Multivariate Variables. 14.2.1 Distribution of the Maximum Component of a MultivariateVariable. 14.2.2 Multivariate t-Distribution. 14.2.3 Multivariate F-Distribution. 14.3 Scale Mixtures of the F-Distribution. 14.4 Non-Uniform Error Bounds. 14.5 Method of Characteristic Functions. Problems. 15 Error Bounds for Approximations of MultivariateTests. 15.1 Multivariate Scale Mixture and MANOVA Tests. 15.2 A Function of Multivariate Scale Mixture. 15.3 Hotelling's T²0Statistic. 15.4 Wilk's Lambda Distribution. 15.4.1 Univariate Case. 15.4.2 Multivariate Case. Problems. 16 Error Bounds for Approximations to Some OtherStatistics. 16.1 Linear Discriminant Function. 16.1.1 Representation as Location and Scale Mixture. 16.1.2 Large-Sample Approximations. 16.1.3 High-Dimensional Approximations. 16.1.4 Some Related Topics. 16.2 Profile Analysis. 16.2.1 Parallelism Model and MLE. 16.2.2 Distributions of . 16.2.3 Confidence Interval for . 16.3 Estimators in the Growth Curve Model. 16.3.1 Error Bounds. 16.3.2 Distribution of the Bilinear Form. 16.4 Generalized Least Squares Estimators. Problems. Appendix. A.1 Some Results on Matrices. A.1.1 Determinants and Inverse Matrices. A.1.2 Characteristic Roots and Vectors. A.1.3 Matrix Factorizations. A.1.4 Idempotent Matrices. A.2 Inequalities and Max-Min Problems. A.3 Jacobians of Transformations. Bibliography. Index.

Internal solitary waves: propagation, deformation and disintegration

Abstract: . In coastal seas and straits, the interaction of barotropic tidal currents with the continental shelf, seamounts or sills is often observed to generate large-amplitude, horizontally propagating internal solitary waves. Typically these waves occur in regions of variable bottom topography, with the consequence that they are often modeled by nonlinear evolution equations of the Korteweg-de Vries type with variable coefficients. We shall review how these models are used to describe the propagation, deformation and disintegration of internal solitary waves as they propagate over the continental shelf and slope.

Smoothable del Pezzo surfaces with quotient singularities

Abstract: We classify del Pezzo surfaces with quotient singularities and Picard rank one which admit a ℚ-Gorenstein smoothing. These surfaces arise as singular fibres of del Pezzo fibrations in the 3-fold minimal model program and also in moduli problems.

Flexible varieties and automorphism groups

Abstract: Given an affine algebraic variety X of dimension at least 2, we let SAut (X) denote the special automorphism group of X i.e., the subgroup of the full automorphism group Aut (X) generated by all one-parameter unipotent subgroups. We show that if SAut (X) is transitive on the smooth locus of X then it is infinitely transitive on this locus. In turn, the transitivity is equivalent to the flexibility of X. The latter means that for every smooth point x of X the tangent space at x is spanned by the velocity vectors of one-parameter unipotent subgroups of Aut (X). We provide also different variations and applications.

Approaches to the Selection of Relevant Concepts in the Case of Noisy Data

Abstract: Concept lattices built on noisy data tend to be large and hence hard to interpret. We introduce several measures that can be used in selecting relevant concepts and discuss how they can be combined together. We study their performance in a series of experiments.

Agrarian Reform in Russia: The Road from Serfdom

Abstract: Part I. Dilemmas of Agrarian Reform in Russia: 1. Imperial reform, 1861-1913 2. The NEP and Soviet era reforms, 1921-89 3. Transition agrarian reform, 1991-2008 Part II. Russian Law and Rural Organization, 1861-2008: 4. Property rights reform 5. Rural organization and entrepreneurship Part. III. Russian Agricultural Performance, 1861-2008: 6. Technology and farming culture 7. The productivity of Russian agriculture Conclusion Appendices.

Modular metric spaces, II: Application to superposition operators

Abstract: Applying the theory of modular metric spaces developed in the first part of this paper [V.V. Chistyakov (2009) [1] ] we define a metric semigroup and an abstract convex cone of functions of finite generalized variation in the approach of Schramm [M. Schramm, Functions of Φ -bounded variation and Riemann–Stieltjes integration, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 287 (1) (1985) 49–63], which are significantly larger as compared to the spaces of bounded variation in the sense of Jordan, Wiener–Young and Waterman. We present a complete description of generators of Lipschitz continuous, bounded and some other classes of superposition Nemytskii operators mapping in these semigroups and cones, which extends recent results by Matkowski and Miś [J. Matkowski, J. Miś, On a characterization of Lipschitzian operators of substitution in the space BV 〈 a , b 〉 , Math. Nachr. 117 (1984) 155–159], Maligranda and Orlicz [L. Maligranda, W. Orlicz, On some properties of functions of generalized variation, Monatsh. Math 104 (1987) 53–65], Zawadzka [G. Zawadzka, On Lipschitzian operators of substitution in the space of set-valued functions of bounded variation, Rad. Mat. 6 (1990) 279–293] and Chistyakov [V.V. Chistyakov, Mappings of generalized variation and composition operators, J. Math. Sci. (New York) 110 (2) (2002) 2455–2466, V.V. Chistyakov, Lipschitzian Nemytskii operators in the cones of mappings of bounded Wiener φ -variation, Folia Math. 11 (1) (2004) 15–39].

Employment Protection Legislation in Russia: Regional Enforcement and Labor Market Outcomes

Abstract: The efficiency of the labor market critically depends on the design of its institutions, including employment protection legislation. However, since formal laws can be observed to varying degrees, the actual enforcement regime shapes incentives and constraints. Most of the studies exploring the effects of employment protection on labor market performance implicitly assume that compliance is near to complete. However, if enforcement varies widely across regions/cities or segments of firms, then this variation may cause variation in performance. This paper, looking at Russia, explores whether cross-regional and inter-temporal variation in enforcement of employment protection laws is significant and is translated into regional labor market outcomes. The paper utilizes a unique data set based on State Labor Inspectorate data and Supreme Court statistics.

${\mathbb G}_a^M$ degeneration of flag varieties

Abstract: Let $\Fl_\lambda$ be a generalized flag variety of a simple Lie group $G$ embedded into the projectivization of an irreducible $G$-module $V_\lambda$. We define a flat degeneration $\Fl_\lambda^a$, which is a ${\mathbb G}^M_a$ variety. Moreover, there exists a larger group $G^a$ acting on $\Fl_\lambda^a$, which is a degeneration of the group $G$. The group $G^a$ contains ${\mathbb G}^M_a$ as a normal subgroup. If $G$ is of type $A$, then the degenerate flag varieties can be embedded into the product of Grassmanians and thus to the product of projective spaces. The defining ideal of $\Fl^a_\lambda$ is generated by the set of degenerate Pl\" ucker relations. We prove that the coordinate ring of $\Fl_\lambda^a$ is isomorphic to a direct sum of dual PBW-graded $\g$-modules. We also prove that there exist bases in multi-homogeneous components of the coordinate rings, parametrized by the semistandard PBW-tableux, which are analogues of semistandard tableux.

Après Nous Le Déluge: Fertility and the Intensity of Struggle against Immigration

Abstract: This paper is inspired by a puzzling empirical fact that despite the importance of controlling migration for their future, the host countries allocate very limited amounts of resources to the struggle against illegal immigration. The present model analyzes this issue in the context of low fertility in the host countries and suggests a novel channel though which the intensity of the struggle against immigration can be related to fertility. The analysis shows that for childless individuals, who have no reason to care about the future, it is optimal to contribute less to the costly immigration-prevention measures.

Generation of solitons and breathers in the extended Korteweg-de Vries equation with positive cubic nonlinearity.

Abstract: The initial-value problem for box-like initial disturbances is studied within the framework of an extended Korteweg–de Vries equation with both quadratic and cubic nonlinear terms, also known as the Gardner equation, for the case when the cubic nonlinear coefficient has the same sign as the linear dispersion coefficient. The discrete spectrum of the associated scattering problem is found, which is used to describe the asymptotic solution of the initial-value problem. It is found that while initial disturbances of the same sign as the quadratic nonlinear coefficient result in generation of only solitons, the case of the opposite polarity of the initial disturbance has a variety of possible outcomes. In this case solitons of different polarities as well as breathers may occur. The bifurcation point when two eigenvalues corresponding to solitons merge to the eigenvalues associated with breathers is considered in more detail. Direct numerical simulations show that breathers and soliton pairs of different polarities can appear from a simple box-like initial disturbance.

The Changing Models of the Russian Third Sector: Import Substitution Phase

Abstract: This article offers and evaluates a theoretical framework for the appraisal of the third sector's evolution in Russia. Its history in the preceding 50 years is presented as a successive change of three models—latent growth, import-dependent and rooted—each regarded in four dimensions: developmental driving forces, sector structure, dominant organizational culture and relations with the state. The character and change of models are explained proceeding from the demand/supply characteristics of resources and institutions of the sector. Major attention belongs to the rooted model, which is presently taking shape. This versatile and problem-laden process is analysed on the basis of civil society monitoring conducted with the authors' participation since 2006. This analysis reveals rather intensive import substitution of the resources and institutions of the sector and the emergence of prerequisites for its sustainable development. Their implementation depends, however, on the state of the economic, social and...

Interaction of a large amplitude interfacial solitary wave of depression with a bottom step

Abstract: This paper is devoted to the study of the transformation of a finite-amplitude interfacial solitary wave of depression at a bottom step. The parameter range studied goes outside the range of weakly nonlinear theory (the extended Korteweg–de Vries or Gardner equation), and we describe various scenarios of this transformation in terms of the incident wave amplitude and the step height. The dynamics and energy balance of the transformation are described. Several numerical simulations are carried out using the nonhydrostatic model based on the fully nonlinear Navier–Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation. Three distinct runs are discussed in detail. The first simulation is done when the ratio of the step height to the lower layer thickness after the step is about 0.4 and the incident wave amplitude is less than the limiting value estimated for a Gardner solitary wave. It shows the applicability of the weakly nonlinear model to describe the transformation of a strongly nonlinear wave in this case. In the second simulation, the ratio of the step height to the lower layer thickness is the same as that in the first run but the incident wave amplitude is increased and then its shape is described by the Miyata–Choi–Camassa solitary wave solution. In this case, the process of wave transformation is accompanied by shear instability and the billows that result in a thickening of the interface layer. In the third simulation, the ratio of the step height to the thickness of the lower layer after the step is 1.33, and then the same Miyata–Choi–Camassa solitary wave passes over the step, it undergoes stronger reflection and mixing between the layers although Kelvin–Helmholtz instability is absent. The energy budget of the wave transformation is calculated. It is shown that the energy loss in the vicinity of the step grows with an increase of the ratio of the incident wave amplitude to the thickness of the lower layer over the step.

Pursuing the double affine Grassmannian, I: Transversal slices via instantons on $A_k$-singularities

Abstract: This article is the first in a series that describes a conjectural analog of the geometric Satake isomorphism for an affine Kac-Moody group. (For simplicity, we only consider the untwisted and simply connected case here.) The usual geometric Satake isomorphism for a reductive group G identifies the tensor category Rep(G∨) of finite-dimensional representations of the Langlands dual group G∨ with the tensor category PervG(O)(GrG) of G(O)-equivariant perverse sheaves on the affine Grassmannian GrG=G(K)/G(O) of G. (Here K=C((t)) and O=C[[t]].) As a by-product one gets a description of the irreducible G(O)-equivariant intersection cohomology (IC) sheaves of the closures of G(O)-orbits in GrG in terms of q-analogs of the weight multiplicity for finite-dimensional representations of G∨. The purpose of this article is to try to generalize the above results to the case when G is replaced by the corresponding affine Kac-Moody group Gaff. (We refer to the (not yet constructed) affine Grassmannian of Gaff as the double affine Grassmannian.) More precisely, in this article we construct certain varieties that should be thought of as transversal slices to various Gaff(O)-orbits inside the closure of another Gaff(O)-orbit in GrGaff. We present a conjecture that computes the intersection cohomology sheaf of these varieties in terms of the corresponding q-analog of the weight multiplicity for the Langlands dual affine group Gaff∨, and we check this conjecture in a number of cases. Some further constructions (such as convolution of the corresponding perverse sheaves, analog of the Beilinson-Drinfeld Grassmannian, and so forth) will be addressed in another publication

Labor Market Institutions and Labor Market Performance: What Can We Learn from Transition Countries?

Abstract: This paper studies the relationship between labor market institutions and policies and labor market performance using a new and unique dataset that covers the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which in the last two decades experienced radical economic and institutional transformations. We document a clear trend towards liberalization of labor markets, especially in the countries of the former Soviet Union, but also substantial differences across the countries studied. Our econometric analysis implies that institutions matter for labor market outcomes, and that deregulation of labor markets improves their performance. The analysis also suggests several significant interactions between different institutions, which are in line with the idea of beneficial effects of reform complementarity and broad reform packages. Finally, we show that there are important advantages of focusing on a broader set of labor market outcomes, and not only on the unemployment rate, which until now has been the main approach in the empirical literature

Analysing the Business Model of Trafficking in Human Beings to Better Prevent the Crime

Abstract: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe works for stability, prosperity and democracy in 56 States through political dialogue about shared values and through practical work that makes a lasting difference. Copyright: " All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may be freely used and copied for educational and other non-commercial purposes, provided that any such reproduction is accompanied by an acknowledgement of the OSCE/Office of the Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings as the source ". The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is a pan-European security body whose 56 participating States span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Recognized as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, the OSCE is a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in its area. Its approach to security is unique in being both comprehensive and cooperative: comprehensive in that it deals with three dimensions of security-the human, the politico-military and the economic/environ-mental. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including human rights, arms control, confidence-and security-building measures, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies , counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. It is cooperative in that all the States participating in OSCE bodies and activities are equal in status. Decisions are taken by consensus on a politically but not legally binding basis.

Russia After the Global Economic Crisis

Abstract: Russian economy in crisis : strategy of growth and strategy of reforms / Sergei Guriev and Aleh Tsyvinski -- Russian politics in a time of economic turmoil / Daniel Treisman -- Federalism in Russia / Ekaterina Zhuravskaya -- Corruption and law in Russia / Timothy Frye -- The role of high technology industries in the Russian economy / Keith Crane and Artur Usanov -- Russia's approach to climate change and the role of energy efficiency / Samuel Charap and Georgi Safonov -- Gazprom : challenged giant in need of reform / Anders Aslund -- Russian military reform against the odds / Pavel Baev -- Foreign policy : modernization or marginalization / Dmitri Trenin -- Foreign economic policy / Natalia Volchkova and David Tarr -- The post-Soviet space : an obituary / Anders Aslund -- The role of Russia in the emerging global order / Andrew Kuchins -- Conclusion / Anders Aslund, Sergei Guriev, and Andrew Kuchins.

Approaches to the selection of relevant concepts in the case of noisy data

Abstract: Concept lattices built on noisy data tend to be large and hence hard to interpret. We introduce several measures that can be used in selecting relevant concepts and discuss how they can be combined together. We study their performance in a series of experiments.

Everyone Hates Privatization, but Why? Survey Evidence from 28 Post-Communist Countries

Abstract: A 2006 survey of 28,000 individuals in 28 post-communist countries reveals overwhelming support for revising privatization, but also that most respondents prefer to leave firms in private hands. We test whether individuals support revising privatization primarily due to a preference for state property or due to concerns about the legitimacy of privatization. We find that a lack of human capital and privately owned assets affects the support for revising privatization primarily via a preference for state property over private property; whereas transition-related hardships influence support for revising privatization via both a preference for state property and concerns about the illegitimacy of privatization. These results suggest the value of analyses that not only link respondent traits with support for policy, but that also probe the motivations that underpin this support.

A report on locally conformally Kahler manifolds

Abstract: 1. Locally conformally K¨ahler manifoldsLocally conformally Kahler (LCK) geometry is concerned with complex man-ifolds of complex dimension at least two admitting a Kahler covering with decktransformations acting by holomorphic homotheties with respect to the K¨ahlermetric.We shall usually denote with Mthe LCK manifold, with (J,g) its Hermitianstructure, with Γ → M˜ → Mthe Kahler covering and with ˜ωthe K¨ahler form onthe covering.Directly from the definition, one obtainsthe existence ofan associatedcharacterχ: Γ → R

Applying CHAID for logistic regression diagnostics and classification accuracy improvement

Abstract: In this study a CHAID-based approach to detecting classification accuracy heterogeneity across segments of observations is proposed. This helps to solve some important problems, facing a model-builder: (1) How to automatically detect segments in which the model significantly underperforms? and (2) How to incorporate the knowledge about classification accuracy heterogeneity across segments to partition observations in order to achieve better predictive accuracy? The approach was applied to churn data from the UCI Repository of Machine Learning Databases. By splitting the data set into four parts, which are based on the decision tree, and building a separate logistic regression scoring model for each segment we increased the accuracy by more than 7 percentage points on the test sample. Significant increase in recall and precision was also observed. It was shown that different segments may have absolutely different churn predictors. Therefore such a partitioning gives a better insight into factors influencing customer behavior.

Stuck Between Surplus and Shortage: Demand for Skills in Russian Industry

Abstract: In order to remain competitive, firms need to keep the quantity and composition of jobs close to optimal for their given output. Since the beginning of the transition period, Russian industrial firms have been widely reporting that the quantity and composition of hired labour is far from being optimal. This paper discusses what kinds of firms in the Russian manufacturing sector are unable to optimize their employment and why. The main conclusion is that the key issue is an excess of non-viable firms and a shortage of highly efficient firms because of weak selection mechanisms. The main solution is seen to be the creation of institutional conditions that stimulate a more efficient reallocation of labour. The analysis presented in this chapter is based on data from a large-scale survey of Russian manufacturing firms.

Enterprise and Organizational Modeling and Simulation

Abstract: Ontologies and conceptual modelling are very close areas in software engineering. This paper is focused on initial steps towards the integration of conceptual models by the foundation of Ontology for Conceptual Models Integration to capture the knowledge about various conceptual modelling languages, including process, event, and objectrole modelling. It is based on previous work in this area and has an ambitious goal to allow semantic integration of conceptual models made in different languages to cover more aspects and details of the problem domain. The presented contribution consists of the related work research, the initial ontology designed to be easily extensible, and related ideas for future work based on this foundation. We foresee this ontology to help also with using various conceptual models to create complete, consistent, and requisite software implementation in an automated way.

Hochschild (co)homology of the second kind I

Abstract: We define and study the Hochschild (co)homology of the second kind (known also as the Borel-Moore Hochschild homology and the compactly supported Hochschild cohomology) for curved DG-categories. An isomorphism between the Hochschild (co)homology of the second kind of a CDG-category B and the same of the DG-category C of right CDG-modules over B, projective and finitely generated as graded B-modules, is constructed. Sufficient conditions for an isomorphism of the two kinds of Hochschild (co)homology of a DG-category are formulated in terms of the two kinds of derived categories of DG-modules over it. In particular, a kind of "resolution of the diagonal" condition for the diagonal CDG-bimodule B over a CDG-category B guarantees an isomorphism of the two kinds of Hochschild (co)homology of the corresponding DG-category C. Several classes of examples are discussed.

A stochastic model of the 2007 Russian Duma election

Abstract: In this paper we consider the nature of local Nash equilibrium (LNE) for a model of the 2007 Duma election in Russia, using estimates of valence obtained from sociodemo- graphic variables. We then extend this sociodemographic valence model by including institutional valences, the approval by voters of the various institutions, including the President, the Prime Minister, the State Duma and the Federation Council. We show by simulation that the vote maximizing LNE of this general stochastic model were not at the electoral origin. The dominant feature of the election was the influence of approval or disapproval of President Putin on each voter's political choice.