Tilburg University

About: Tilburg University is a education organization based out in Tilburg, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 5550 authors who have published 22330 publications receiving 791335 citations.

Ethnic intermarriage in the Netherlands: confirmations and refutations of accepted insights

Abstract: Previous studies on ethnic intermarriage have been done mainly in the United States and in other classical immigration countries. This article examines ethnic intermarriage among Surinamese, Dutch Antilleans, Turks, and Moroccans in the Netherlands. From a theoretical and empirical perspective, it is important to examine whether patterns observed earlier in traditional immigrant countries equally apply to the Dutch context. To obtain a sufficiently large sample, this study pools five nationally representative surveys, conducted in the period 1988–2002. In line with findings documented before, it observes that ethnic exogamy occurs more frequently among the second generation, and among those who arrived at a younger age, and who are higher educated. Equally corresponding to previous work, the study reports that ethnic intermarriage is more frequent when the group-specific sex ratio is more uneven and when the ethnic group is predominantly second generation. Contrary to findings observed elsewhere, results show that the black Surinamese and Dutch Antilleans have high intermarriage rates and that there is little evidence for status exchange in mixed marriages. Les etudes anterieures sur les mariages inter-ethniques ont ete realisees essentiellement aux Etats-Unis et dans d’autres pays classiques d’immigration. Cet article examine les mariages mixtes inter-ethniques entre ressortissants originaires du Surinam, des Antilles neerlandaises, de Turquie et du Maroc aux Pays-Bas. D’un point de vue theorique et empirique, il est important de savoir si les schemas observes a ce jour dans les pays d’immigration s’appliquent egalement au contexte neerlandais. Pour obtenir un echantillon suffisamment grand, cette etude rassemble cinq enquetes representatives a l’echelle nationale, menees entre 1988 et 2002. En accord avec les resultats de la litterature, nous observons que l’exogamie ethnique est plus frequente dans la seconde generation, parmi ceux qui ont immigre a un âge plus jeune, et parmi les plus instruits. De la meme facon, nous observons que les mariages mixtes inter-ethniques sont plus frequents quand le sex ratio du groupe est desequilibre et quand le groupe est constitue en majorite de migrants de seconde generation. A l’oppose de la litterature, nous observons que les ressortissants noirs du Surinam et ceux des Antilles neerlandaises ont des taux eleves de mariages mixtes, et il ne semble pas qu’il y ait d’ «echange de statuts» dans les mariages mixtes.

Buying Beauty: On Prices and Returns in the Art Market

Abstract: This paper investigates the price determinants and investment performance of art. We apply a hedonic regression analysis to a new data set of more than one million auction transactions of paintings and works on paper. Based on the resulting price index, we conclude that art has appreciated in value by a moderate 3.97% per year, in real U.S. dollar terms, between 1957 and 2007. This is a performance similar to that of corporate bonds---at much higher risk. A repeat-sales regression on a subset of the data demonstrates the robustness of our index. Next, quantile regressions document larger average price appreciations and higher volatilities in more expensive price brackets. We also find variation in historical returns across mediums and movements. Finally, we show that measures of high-income consumer confidence and art market sentiment predict art price trends. This paper was accepted by Wei Xiong, finance.

The Audit Committee: Management Watchdog or Personal Friend of the CEO?

Abstract: To ensure that audit committees provide sufficient oversight over the auditing process and quality of financial reporting, legislators have imposed stricter requirements on the independence of audit committee members. Although many audit committees appear to be “fully” independent, anecdotal evidence suggests that CEOs often appoint directors from their social networks. Based on a 2004 to 2008 sample of U.S.-listed companies after the Sarbanes-Oxley Act we find that these social ties have a negative effect on variables that proxy for oversight quality. In particular, we find that firms whose audit committees have “friendship” ties to the CEO purchase fewer audit services and engage more in earnings management. Auditors are also less likely to issue going-concern opinions or to report internal control weaknesses when friendship ties are present. On the other hand, social ties formed through “advice networks” do not seem to hamper the quality of audit committee oversight.

Who talks to whom? Intra-and interdisciplinary communication of economics journals

Abstract: Citation patterns between 42 journals in economics from 1995 to 1997 are examined, plus between economics and anthropology, political science, psychology, sociology and five business disciplines. Building on social network theory, we identify a hierarchical organization of journals in economics and seven journal clusters. Major citation flows are found from all areas of economics to the general interest and theory and method clusters, but not the other way around. Economics emerges as a significant source of interdisciplinary knowledge for the other social sciences and business. However, no area of economics appears to build substantially on insights from its sister disciplines.