National Research University – Higher School of Economics

About: National Research University – Higher School of Economics is a education organization based out in Moscow, Russia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Politics. The organization has 12873 authors who have published 23376 publications receiving 256396 citations.

Regularized Newton methods for minimizing functions with Hölder continuous Hessians

Abstract: In this paper, we study the regularized second-order methods for unconstrained minimization of a twice-differentiable (convex or nonconvex) objective function. For the current function, these metho...

Semi-infinite Schubert varieties and quantum K -theory of flag manifolds

Abstract: Let g be a semi-simple Lie algebra. In this paper we study the spaces of based quasi-maps from the projective line P^1 to the flag variety of g (it is well-known that their singularities are supposed to model the singularities of the so called semi-infinite Schubert varieties which are hard to define directly). In the first part of the paper we show that the above spaces are normal and in the case when g is simply laced they are also Gorenstein and have rational singularities. In the second part of the paper we compute the character of the ring of functions on the above spaces; in view of the above results this computation can be thought of as a computation of the (equivariant) K-theoretic J-function of the flag variety of g. We show that when g is simply laced the above characters satisfy the "fermionic recursion" version of the difference quantum Toda lattice (due to B.Feigin, E.Feigin, M.Jimbo, T.Miwa and E.Mukhin). As a byproduct we show that the equivariant K-theoretic J-function of the flag variety of a simply laced Lie algebra g is the universal eigen-function of the difference quantum Toda lattice, thus proving a conjecture of Givental and Lee. Some modification of this result is also shown to hold for non-simply laced g. We also discuss an extension of the above results to the case when g is an affine Lie algebra (this extension is conjectural except when g=sl(N)).

ICT Management for Global Competitiveness and Economic Growth in Emerging Economies (ICTM)

Abstract: New information and communication technologies have imposed a dynamic on the contemporary world that is inducing transformational change within economic, social and cultural realms, resulting in synergy and convergence effects that are difficult to predict. To put it simply, within the growing complexity and unpredictability of the ambient conditions, there is no defined, closed repertoire, strategy, or solution, whether business oriented or institutional, that provides both effective and innovative approaches to the increasing structural problems of the global stage. The only existing solution to maintain a sustainable competitive advantage within today’s world of permanent and endogenous change is the involvement of human capital (potential): its creativity and innovative approaches which alone can become a source of Schumpeter’s creative destruction. This implies even more, in the case of emerging economies, which still lag behind the more mature, developed countries both in economic, social and cultural standards of living. To truly close this gap, an interdisciplinary approach to human capital (human resources) is more than required, especially in reference to the transformational potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and any associated new management techniques, new business models, and new regulatory policies. Thus, the objective of this conference is to provide a forum for interested researchers and practitioners to exchange their experiences and creative ideas related to ICT management for global competitiveness and economic, social and cultural growth in emerging economies. Possible topics may include but are not limited to the following aspects of innovation: • Economical, psycho-social and legal frameworks as they relate to ICT and ICT Management • Unique ICT management techniques for emerging and transition economies • Methods for measuring the benefits and costs of projects involving the adoption of ICT • The role of human and social capital • Gender and other socio-demographic factors in human and social capital and in innovations processes • Innovative ways for generating revenues and creating commercial knowledge products • Educational systems and training as they relate to ICT and ICT Management • Tradition and contemporaneity of pedagogical thought • ICT innovations to support small and medium enterprises • ICT innovations as a path to economic growth • ICT productivity with specific reference to the prevalent social and business conditions • Global supply chain management in emerging and transition economies • Country specific case studies, with specific reference to the prevalent psychosocial and business conditions • ICT off-shoring/outsourcing into emerging and transition economies • ICT project management, with specific reference to the prevalent social and business conditions • Digital divide in emerging and transition economies • E-commerce impact in emerging and transition economies • E-government in emerging and transition economies • Healthcare and ICT Management • Psychological, social, and economic aspects of Internet use in emerging and transition economies • Virtual reality in psychological treatment and psychotherapy • Analytical psychology and psychotherapy in the era of new technology • Information and communication technologies in personnel recruitment, assessment and development • Leadership and new technologies • Psychological aspects of working in a virtual team • Information and communication technologies in an ageing society • Quantitative methods and information technology in management

Comparing results of an exact vs. an approximate (Bayesian) measurement invariance test: a cross-country illustration with a scale to measure 19 human values

Abstract: One of the most frequently used procedures for measurement invariance testing is the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA). Muthen and Asparouhov recently proposed a new approach to test for approximate rather than exact measurement invariance using Bayesian MGCFA. Approximate measurement invariance permits small differences between parameters otherwise constrained to be equal in the classical exact approach. However, extant knowledge about how results of approximate measurement invariance tests compare to the results of the exact measurement invariance test is missing. We address this gap by comparing the results of exact and approximate cross-country measurement invariance tests of a revised scale to measure human values. Several studies that measured basic human values with the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) reported problems of measurement noninvariance (especially scalar noninvariance) across countries. Recently Schwartz et al. proposed a refined value theory and an instrument (PVQ-5X) to measure 19 more narrowly defined values. Cieciuch et al. tested its measurement invariance properties across eight countries and established exact scalar measurement invariance for 10 of the 19 values. The current study applied the approximate measurement invariance procedure on the same data and established approximate scalar measurement invariance even for all 19 values. Thus, the first conclusion is that the approximate approach provides more encouraging results for the usefulness of the scale for cross-cultural research, although this finding needs to be generalized and validated in future research using population data. The second conclusion is that the approximate measurement invariance is more likely than the exact approach to establish measurement invariance, although further simulation studies are needed to determine more precise recommendations about how large the permissible variance of the priors may be.