Optimally Combining Censored and Uncensored Datasets

Economists and other social scientists often face situations where they have access to two datasets that they can use but one set of data suffers from censoring or truncation. If the censored sample is much bigger than the uncensored sample, it is common for researchers to use the censored sample alone and attempt to deal with the problem of partial observation in some manner. Alternatively, they simply use only the uncensored sample and ignore the censored one so as to avoid biases. It is rarely the case that researchers use both datasets together, mainly because they lack guidance about how to combine them. In this paper, we develop a tractable semiparametric framework for combining the censored and uncensored datasets so that the resulting estimators are consistent, asymptotically normal, and use all information optimally. When the censored sample, which we refer to as the master sample, is much bigger than the uncensored sample (which we call the refreshment sample), the latter can be thought of as providing identification where it is otherwise absent. In contrast, when the refreshment sample is large and could typically be used alone, our methodology can be interpreted as using information from the censored sample to increase effciency. To illustrate our results in an empirical setting, we show how to estimate the effect of changes in compulsory schooling laws on age at first marriage, a variable that is censored for younger individuals. We also demonstrate how refreshment samples for this application can be created by matching cohort information across census datasets.

Moment Based Inference with Stratified Data

Many datasets used by economists and other social scientists are collected by stratified sampling. The sampling scheme used to collect the data induces a probability distribution on the observed sample that differs from the target or underlying distribution for which inference is to be made. If this effect is not taken into account, subsequent statistical inference can be seriously biased. This paper shows how to do efficient semiparametric inference in moment restriction models when data from the target population is collected by three widely used sampling schemes: variable probability sampling, multinomial sampling, and standard stratified sampling.

Did Impending War in Europe Help Destroy the Gold Bloc in 1936? An Internal Inconsistency Hypothesis

This paper investigates the gold bloc operated between France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium, especially over the period after the USA left the gold standard in March 1933 to its end in September 1936. It enquires into the effect of military-political developments in Germany and Italy on the sustainability of the gold bloc between its members. Juxtaposed is the view of leading political scientists, such as Henry Kissinger, who see impending war in Europe as deeply and adversely affecting psychology in Europe, and what may be called the standard "economists' view" that sees the demise of the gold bloc as being caused almost exclusively by economic factors. Developing concepts of external and internal inconsistency of the gold bloc, this investigation concludes that both economic and military-political developments played important roles in destroying the last vestiges of the gold standard.

The Secret Life of Mundane Transaction Costs

Transaction costs, one often hears, are the economic equivalent of friction in physical systems. Like physicists, economists can sometimes neglect friction in formulating theories; but like engineers, they can never neglect friction in studying how the system actually does let alone should work. Interestingly, however, the present-day economics of organization also ignores friction. That is, almost single-mindedly, the literature analyzes transactions from the point of view of misaligned incentives and (especially) transaction-specific assets. The costs involved are certainly costs of running the economic system in some sense, but they are not obviously frictions. Stories about frictions in trade are not nearly as intriguing as stories about guileful trading partners and expensive assets placed at risk. But I will argue that these seemingly dull categories of cost what Baldwin and Clark (2003) call mundane transaction costs actually have a secret life. They are at least as important as, and quite probably far more important than, the more glamorous costs of asset specificity in explaining the partition between firm and market. These costs also have a secret life in another sense: they have a secret life cycle. I will argue that these mundane transaction costs provide much better material for helping us understanding how the boundaries among firms, markets, and hybrid forms change over time.

Crossing the border for dental care: Factors related to dental health among the south Texas border region

Objectives. The purpose of this thesis is to understand the underlying socioeconomic characteristics affecting dental insurance coverage, yearly dental visits, and factors related to visiting a dentist in Mexico among border region residents. Methods. Using data from the Border Epidemiological Study of Aging, dental utilization in the previous 12 months, dental visits to Mexico, and dental insurance (proxy) were calculated utilizing logistic regression. Three different models were utilized for the dependent variables adjusting for diverse socioeconomic characteristics such as gender, age, marital status, income, education, years of residence in the United States (for immigrants), English proficiency, general health status, employment and dental insurance. Results. After adjustment, diverse variables were significant for the three different models calculated. Conclusion. Although the Mexican health market constitutes a viable option for dental services for border residents, dental insurance and dental yearly visits were lower in this region when compared to national averages. ^

An empirical model to estimate the demand for primary care in urban settings

Objective. To measure the demand for primary care and its associated factors by building and estimating a demand model of primary care in urban settings.^ Data source. Secondary data from 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2005), a population-based random-digit dial telephone survey, conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research in collaboration with the California Department of Health Services, and the Public Health Institute between July 2005 and April 2006.^ Study design. A literature review was done to specify the demand model by identifying relevant predictors and indicators. CHIS 2005 data was utilized for demand estimation.^ Analytical methods. The probit regression was used to estimate the use/non-use equation and the negative binomial regression was applied to the utilization equation with the non-negative integer dependent variable.^ Results. The model included two equations in which the use/non-use equation explained the probability of making a doctor visit in the past twelve months, and the utilization equation estimated the demand for primary conditional on at least one visit. Among independent variables, wage rate and income did not affect the primary care demand whereas age had a negative effect on demand. People with college and graduate educational level were associated with 1.03 (p < 0.05) and 1.58 (p < 0.01) more visits, respectively, compared to those with no formal education. Insurance was significantly and positively related to the demand for primary care (p < 0.01). Need for care variables exhibited positive effects on demand (p < 0.01). Existence of chronic disease was associated with 0.63 more visits, disability status was associated with 1.05 more visits, and people with poor health status had 4.24 more visits than those with excellent health status. ^ Conclusions. The average probability of visiting doctors in the past twelve months was 85% and the average number of visits was 3.45. The study emphasized the importance of need variables in explaining healthcare utilization, as well as the impact of insurance, employment and education on demand. The two-equation model of decision-making, and the probit and negative binomial regression methods, was a useful approach to demand estimation for primary care in urban settings.^

Examining seasonal variations in physical activity among low-income Hispanic walk-trail users living in the Cameron Park Colonia

This study examines variations in physical activity by season, and within seasons by age and gender among park users living in the Cameron Park Colonia, a low-income Hispanic community along the Texas-Mexico border. This is the first study of its kind to evaluate seasonal variations by physical activity among a Hispanic population. We hypothesized that (1) there are no differences in overall physical activity by season; (2) youth engage in more sport-related physical activity compared to adults, (3) males engage in more physical activity than females, and (4) there are differences in physical activity between walk-trail users compared to non walk-trail users in the park.^ Physical activity behavioral data was collected (males n=2,093; females n=1,014) at two time periods (winter 2007; summer 2007) via direct observations and assessed park use, walking trail use, and physical activity (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by seasons. Frequencies for physical activities were calculated for gender, age groups, and season. Separate Pearson's chi-square analyses were used to address variations in physical activity, age, gender, intensity level of physical activity by season, between walk-trails users and non walk-trail users.^ People visiting the park engaged in more sedentary behavior in winter than summer and a higher percentage engaged in MVPA in the summer than winter (p<.05). More females engaged in light activity compared to males (p<.05). Walk-trail users consisted mostly of females and engaged in more light activity than non walk-trail users (p<.05) who participated in more MVPA.^ Increasing access to parks and walk-trails may be an intervention strategy to increase physical activity among Hispanics. More research is needed to assess promoting trail use and determining long-term effects on physical activity among minority/ethnic groups at greater risk of a sedentary lifestyle and reasons for trail use and non-use. Future studies should focus on the types of activities Hispanics engage in at different parks particularly between men and women. As a result of this study city officials and planners may use this information to build and design parks that cater to the types of activities that Hispanics engage in and may use to meet physical activity guidelines.^

Promoting Family Continuity - Perspectives from Italy

In this essay I review a recent research study from Italy, “Le Radici nel Futuro – La Continuita’ della Relazione Genitoriale oltre la Crisi Familiare,” edited by Paola Dallanegra (2005). The contributors focus on “Spazio Neutro,” a multi-purpose child welfare agency in southern Italy that facilitates parent-child visiting and relationships between children placed in out-of-home care and their families. They delineate and illustrate, through comments from family members, selected principles and strategies for maintaining such continuity throughout the out-of-home placement.

Gestión del territorio y proceso de construcción de la ciudad : reacciones y posicionamientos ante la redefinición de la normativa urbanística para las áreas centrales de Rosario

El artículo se refiere a la propuesta de la Secretaría de Planeamiento de la Municipalidad de Rosario para el reordenamiento urbanístico del área central y primer anillo perimetral expuesta públicamente en marzo 2007 y al proceso de discusión previo a su elevación al Concejo Municipal para su tratamiento en la ciudad de Rosario. Se trata de dar cuenta acerca de las dificultades encontradas –y los intereses manifestados– para arribar a una propuesta consensuada acerca de la transformación y futuro de la ciudad y del valor otorgado a su patrimonio construido. En el trabajo a presentar se abordará las siguientes cuestiones: situación en el momento en que se formula la propuesta, la propuesta de reordenamiento urbanístico, los mecanismos de discusión, la reacción de los actores, la oposición del mercado inmobiliario (Cámara Argentina de la Construcción, Asociación de empresarios de la Vivienda, Cámara Inmobiliaria, Colegio de Arquitectos), la opinión y participación de los concejales y del mundo académico, las propuestas de los vecinos y la opinión del comité de expertos convocados para la audiencia pública. El trabajo se basa fundamentalmente en el análisis del discurso de los distintos actores en base notas oficiales, comunicados de prensa, apuntes de reuniones, información periodística, presentaciones escritas ante la audiencia pública, documentos de expertos. Para la interpretación de la dinámica del proceso de construcción de tiene en cuenta la documentación municipal respecto de la dinámica de la construcción en la ciudad en los últimos años, la opinión de economistas especializados en el tema y la opinión de agentes inmobiliarios.

Francisco Valsecchi y las peripecias de una axiología económica católica en la Argentina del siglo XX

El recorrido intelectual de Francisco Valsecchi (1907-1992) en la historia de las ideas económicas católicas muestra las inflexiones teóricas de una axiología derivada de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia. Sin embargo, las condiciones históricas del desarrollo de una economía católica en la Argentina y las transformaciones sociales, económicas y políticas del periodo 1930-1970 incidieron sobre las tendencias conceptuales de esa axiología en apariencia perenne. Para explicar los cambios operados se sigue la trayectoria de Valsecchi. Se muestran las fases principales de sus posiciones, destacando tres momentos fundamentales coincidentes con los tres momentos de la economía católica en la Argentina. Al mismo tiempo se muestra la curva teórica de los economistas católicos, que los aleja de una propuesta propiamente católica de una economía política para concentrar su punto de vista en la dimensión ética de las prácticas empresariales. El recorrido intelectual de Valsecchi revela el pasaje de una visión crítica de la economía predominante en 1930 a una funcionalidad con la propuesta en clave antipopulista por las clases propietarias en 1970.

Fundamentos y límites de una economía de la justicia

The Economic Analysis of Law should be considered the most important bridge between Law and Economics at the present time. We can find its foundations in 1960’s, mainly since the publication of two great economists’ works: Ronald Coase (University of Chicago) and Guido Calabresi (University of Yale). Furthermore, several works of Richard Posner (University of Chicago Law School) have contributed to its diffusion beyond the frontiers of the american universities. In this paper, we show the internal structure of the Economic Analysis of Law, based upon the neoclassical model in Economics, and the main critics adressed to it from Institutional Economics as well as from Legal Theory.

Elements of the reception of aristotelian thought in 19th century german-language philosophy and economics

La cuestión de la interpretación de Aristóteles por parte de la Academia alemana del siglo XIX es de interés tanto para filósofos como para economistas. Esto se debe a que el pensamiento clásico constituyó una cuestión de discusión e inspiración para el Idealismo, el Hegelianismo, el Historicismo y los economistas históricos alemanes (comenzando por Roscher) y su oponente austríaco, Carl Menger, fundador de la Escuela Austríaca de Economía. De este modo la filosofía antigua permaneció vigente. Al evaluar esta recepción, en este trabajo se muestra que el debate sobre entidades colectivas versus individualidad encuentra allí una base, y el individualismo metodológico, una justificación. Esto resulta útil aún hoy en el siglo veintiuno, en que presenciamos una crisis de la corriente principal de la economía.

El estado como eje articulador de las relaciones sociales

El presente trabajo intenta realizar una síntesis de cómo se fue articulando la sociedad a partir del modelo capitalista de producción en el período histórico que transcurre desde el impulso desarrollado en la Segunda Revolución Industrial, a finales del siglo XIX , hasta la primera década del siglo XXI. Este período determinará una forma de integración social que va estar vinculada al trabajo asalariado y ligada a un Estado más presente, articulador y distribuidor de la riqueza social. Algunos de los elementos constitutivos que sostuvieron este modelo fueron el New Deal y la política económica keynesiana, que van a perdurar hasta bien entrada la década de 1970. En esta etapa, la relación capital-trabajo va a entrar en crisis; el modelo keynesiano de pleno empleo no le es útil al capitalismo; y, por lo tanto, el Estado va a permitir la incorporación de un nuevo discurso, enarbolado por los denominados economistas liberales ortodoxos y, ya en la última década del siglo XX , por el economista norteamericano John Williamson, relacionado con un movimiento intelectual denominado "Consenso de Washington"; esto dando lugar una nueva forma de estructuración social en la que van a coexistir ganadores y perdedores del sistema. Se intenta explicar, además, el impacto que provocó en la Argentina adherir al modelo neoliberal a través de una economía abierta (1989-2002). Por último, describimos la situación de la Provincia de San Luis; los dispositivos y mecanismos que utilizó para contrarrestar los dos dígitos de desocupación producidos después del año 2002; para ello, nos referimos al Plan de Inclusión Social, expuesto a través de datos estadísticos tomados del INDEC y de la Dirección Provincial de Estadísticas y Censos de la Provincia de San Luis

Max Aub y Triunfo (más, con la venia, alguna evocación personal)

Cuando Max Aub visita España por primera vez después de más de un cuarto de siglo de exilio, el periodista Emilio Romero publica un texto crítico y descalificador sobre el escritor. Para canalizar su respuesta, Aub se dirige a Triunfo, revista que en la época se distinguía por su posición antifranquista, que le provocó numerosos problemas con la censura. A partir de esta circunstancia, y durante el segundo y último viaje que Aub realiza a España, el director de Triunfo ofrece al escritor la posibilidad de publicar el Discurso apócrifo, escrito con motivo de su imaginario ingreso en la Academia Española. A pesar del escepticismo de Aub sobre el éxito de este proyecto, la revista consigue editar en junio de 1972 un suplemento especial con el texto íntegro del discurso aubiano, documento que se reproduce en este número de Olivar.

¿El museo como forma de "conocer la Historia"? El público interpreta la inmigración

El trabajo analiza cómo la exposición presentada en el Museo Nacional de la Inmigración fue aprehendida e interpretada por su público visitante. Dependiente de la Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, el Museo funcionó entre los años 2001 y 2009 en el edificio del antiguo Hotel de Inmigrantes (en Retiro). Para este estudio utilizamos más de 700 mensajes registrados en el Libro de Visitas del Museo, que fueron clasificados en nueve categorías, de acuerdo a los aspectos comunes que expresaban. A lo largo del análisis, el concepto de memoria se volvió fundamental para comprender los sentimientos y deseos expresados por el público que visitó la institución. Dentro de los temas que aparecieron en los mensajes, pudimos verificar la importancia que le atribuían los visitantes al Estado argentino por la construcción del Hotel, la recepción de los inmigrantes y, actualmente, por la preservación de su memoria y patrimonio; también se evidenció un agradecimiento a los inmigrantes, cuya "fuerza" y "esperanza" contribuyeron al desarrollo del país