The diversity of diversity: further methodological considerations on the use of the concept in cultural economics

The implications of diversity still raise confusion in the cultural debate. We address them from both a formal and conceptual viewpoints, putting in check the validity of some arguments. We conclude that: measuring diversity demands key decisions and careful statistical procedures; ignorance on optimal diversity levels and on ways to generate them is widespread in the cultural field; there is no support for cultural diversity as something associated to fair economic and political systems; restriction to sheer economics requires the establishment of links between diversity and measurable properties – something rather incipient. Diversity, as a social choice, should be distinguished from it as an economic value.

Use of the lean model at Pro Sky

O modelo lean startup representa uma forma recente de desenvolver novos produtos e serviço. No entanto, existe pouca informação sobre a implementação em empresas. O autor desta tese aborda esta lacuna na literatura, fornecendo um exemplo prático de uma organização adaptando o modelo lean startup. O estudo de caso único envolve o intermediário de serviços aéreos Pro Sky que tenta desenvolver um novo serviço de concierge em aeroporto. Um entendimento profundo é obtido por meio de entrevistas, participant-observation e a simulação do novo serviço. Em comparação com desenvolvimentos passados de novos serviços na Pro Sky, o modelo lean startup ajuda a acelerar o processo de desenvolvimento, reduzir o desperdício de recursos e reduzir os efeitos negativos dos vieses cognitivos. O modelo reforça o objetivo da Pro Sky se desenvolver numa empresa voltada para o cliente. Obstáculos incluem oferecer aos clientes um produto inacabado e o medo resultante da perda de reputação.

Changes in test scores distribution for students of the fourth grade in Brazil: a relative distribution analysis for the years 1997 to 2005

To assess the quality of school education, much of educational research is concerned with comparisons of test scores means or medians. In this paper, we shift this focus and explore test scores data by addressing some often neglected questions. In the case of Brazil, the mean of test scores in Math for students of the fourth grade has declined approximately 0,2 standard deviation in the late 1990s. But what about changes in the distribution of scores? It is unclear whether the decline was caused by deterioration in student performance in upper and/or lower tails of the distribution. To answer this question, we propose the use of the relative distribution method developed by Handcock and Morris (1999). The advantage of this methodology is that it compares two distributions of test scores data through a single distribution and synthesizes all the differences between them. Moreover, it is possible to decompose the total difference between two distributions in a level effect (changes in median) and shape effect (changes in shape of the distribution). We find that the decline of average-test scores is mainly caused by a worsening in the position of all students throughout the distribution of scores and is not only specific to any quantile of distribution.