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Articles 5311 - 5340 of 9289

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

How Narrative Focus And A Statistical Map Shape Health Policy Support Among State Legislators, Jeff Niederdeppe, Sungjong Roh, Caitlin Dreisbach Feb 2016

How Narrative Focus And A Statistical Map Shape Health Policy Support Among State Legislators, Jeff Niederdeppe, Sungjong Roh, Caitlin Dreisbach

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This study attempts to advance theorizing about health policy advocacy with combinations of narrative focus and a statistical map in an attempt to increase state legislators’ support for policies to address the issue of obesity by reducing food deserts. Specifically, we examine state legislators’ responses to variations in narrative focus (individual vs. community) about causes and solutions for food deserts in U.S. communities, and a statistical map (presence vs. absence) depicting the prevalence of food deserts across the United States. Using a Web-based randomized experiment (N = 496), we show that narrative focus and the statistical map interact to produce …


Myanmar- A New Law For A New Era, Mahdev Mohan Feb 2016

Myanmar- A New Law For A New Era, Mahdev Mohan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

On 5 January, Myanmar’s parliament enacted the Arbitration Law 2016 – Union Parliament Act No. 5 of 2016 – which repeals and replaces the Myanmar Arbitration Act 1944 and represents an important step forward in creating a legal environment that is attractive for investment and commerce.


Quantity Discounts And Capital Misallocation In Vertical Relationships, Ken Onishi Feb 2016

Quantity Discounts And Capital Misallocation In Vertical Relationships, Ken Onishi

Research Collection School Of Economics

I study transactions between aircraft manufacturers and airlines as well as airlines' utilization of their fleet. Aircraft production is characterized by economies of scale via learning-by-doing, which creates a trade-off between current profit and future competitive advantage in the aircraft market. The latter consideration makes large buyers more attractive than small buyers and induces quantity discounts. The resulting nonlinear pricing strategy may distort both production and allocation in favor of large buyers. In the data, there is a negative correlation between the size of aircraft orders and the per-unit price, and a positive correlation between the price paid and the …


Common Threshold In Quantile Regressions With An Application To Pricing For Reputation, Liangjun Su, Pai Xu, Heng Ju Feb 2016

Common Threshold In Quantile Regressions With An Application To Pricing For Reputation, Liangjun Su, Pai Xu, Heng Ju

Research Collection School Of Economics

The paper develops a systematic estimation and inference procedure for quantile regression models where there may exist a common threshold effect across different quantile indices. We first propose a sup-Wald test for the existence of a threshold effect, and then study the asymptotic properties of the estimators in a threshold quantile regression model under the shrinking-threshold-effect framework. We consider several tests for the presence of a common threshold value across different quantile indices and obtain their limiting distributions. We apply our methodology to study the pricing strategy for reputation via the use of a dataset from Taobao.com. In our economic …


Testing For Monotonicity In Unobservables Under Unconfoundedness, Stefan Hoderlein, Liangjun Su, Halbert White, Thomas Tao Yang Feb 2016

Testing For Monotonicity In Unobservables Under Unconfoundedness, Stefan Hoderlein, Liangjun Su, Halbert White, Thomas Tao Yang

Research Collection School Of Economics

Monotonicity in a scalar unobservable is a common assumption when modeling heterogeneity in structural models. Among other things, it allows one to recover the underlying structural function from certain conditional quantiles of observables. Nevertheless, monotonicity is a strong assumption and in some economic applications unlikely to hold, e.g., random coefficient models. Its failure can have substantive adverse consequences, in particular inconsistency of any estimator that is based on it. Having a test for this hypothesis is hence desirable. This paper provides such a test for cross-section data. We show how to exploit an exclusion restriction together with a conditional independence …


Granger Causality And Structural Causality In Cross-Section And Panel Data, Xun Lu, Liangjun Su, Halbert White Feb 2016

Granger Causality And Structural Causality In Cross-Section And Panel Data, Xun Lu, Liangjun Su, Halbert White

Research Collection School Of Economics

Granger non-causality in distribution is fundamentally a probabilistic conditional independence notion that can be applied not only to time series data but also to cross-section and panel data. In this paper, we provide a natural definition of structural causality in cross-section and panel data and forge a direct link between Granger (G-) causality and structural causality under a key conditional exogeneity assumption. To put it simply, when structural effects are well defined and identifiable, G- non-causality follows from structural non-causality, and with suitable conditions (e.g., separability or monotonicity), structural causality also implies G-causality. This justifies using tests of G- non-causality …


Are House Prices Driven By Capital Flows? Evidence From Singapore, Hwee Kwan Chow, Taojun Xie Feb 2016

Are House Prices Driven By Capital Flows? Evidence From Singapore, Hwee Kwan Chow, Taojun Xie

Research Collection School Of Economics

This paper investigates whether real house price appreciations can be attributed to the surge in real capital inflows into Singapore. We proxy capital flows by using the amount of foreign direct investments (FDI) to real estate capturing the foreign purchases of property in Singapore which we deflate by the private residential property price index. Notwithstanding the absence of a cointegrating relationship, our results support the hypothesis that lagged short term fluctuations in capital inflows are positively associated with the growth rates of house prices over the last decade. We also provide evidence that macroprudential measures implemented by Singapore reduced the …


Measurement Invariance Of The Brief Multidimensional Student’S Life Satisfaction Scale Among Adolescents And Emerging Adults Across 23 Cultural Contexts, Amina Abubakar, Et Al, Samantha Sim Feb 2016

Measurement Invariance Of The Brief Multidimensional Student’S Life Satisfaction Scale Among Adolescents And Emerging Adults Across 23 Cultural Contexts, Amina Abubakar, Et Al, Samantha Sim

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

There is hardly any cross-cultural research on the measurement invariance of the Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scales (BMSLSS). The current article evaluates the measurement invariance of the BMSLSS across cultural contexts. This cross-sectional study sampled 7,739 adolescents and emerging adults in 23 countries. A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit of configural and partial measurement weights invariance models, indicating similar patterns and strengths in factor loading for both adolescents and emerging adults across various countries. We found insufficient evidence for scalar invariance in both the adolescents’ and the emerging adults’ samples. A multi-level confirmatory factor analysis indicated …


Precolonial Institutions And Deforestation In Africa, S. Larcom, Terry Van Gevelt, A. Zabala Feb 2016

Precolonial Institutions And Deforestation In Africa, S. Larcom, Terry Van Gevelt, A. Zabala

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

We find that local institutions inherited from the precolonial era continue to play an important role in natural resource governance in Africa. Using satellite image data, we find a significant and robust relationship between deforestation and precolonial succession rules of local leaders (local chiefs). In particular, we find that those precolonial areas where local leaders were appointed by ‘social standing’ have higher rates of deforestation compared to the base case of hereditary rule and where local leaders were appointed from above (by paramount chiefs). While the transmission mechanisms behind these results are complex, we suggest that areas where local leaders …


Is Urban Food Demand In The Philippines Different From China?, Tomoki Fujii Feb 2016

Is Urban Food Demand In The Philippines Different From China?, Tomoki Fujii

Research Collection School Of Economics

Food is an essential good, and thus understanding its demand is important for the formulation of sound agricultural policies and developing sustainable agricultural business. A timely analysis of food demand is important because it can change over time not only because prices and incomes change but also because people’s taste itself also change. However, even in countries where food accounts for a sizable share of expenditure or where the agricultural sector accounts for a large share of output, careful analysis of food demand is often not readily available. In this study, we analyze the food demand in urban Philippines and …


Constrained Inefficiency And Optimal Taxation With Uninsurable Risks, Piero Gottardi, Atsushi Kajii, Tomoyuki Nakajima Feb 2016

Constrained Inefficiency And Optimal Taxation With Uninsurable Risks, Piero Gottardi, Atsushi Kajii, Tomoyuki Nakajima

Research Collection School Of Economics

When individuals' labor and capital income are subject to uninsurable idiosyncratic risks, should capital and labor be taxed, and if so how? In a two-period general equilibrium model with production, we derive a decomposition formula of the welfare effects of these taxes into insurance and distribution effects. This allows us to determine how the sign of the optimal taxes on capital and labor depend on the nature of the shocks and the degree of heterogeneity among consumers' income, as well as on the way in which the tax revenue is used to provide lump-sum transfers to consumers. When shocks affect …


Six Tax Reforms For 2016, Yee Loong Sum Feb 2016

Six Tax Reforms For 2016, Yee Loong Sum

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

Offers some fresh ideas on how to make Singapore more business-friendly and socially aware.


Comparative Resources: Continental Philosophy And Daoism, Steven Burik Feb 2016

Comparative Resources: Continental Philosophy And Daoism, Steven Burik

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

I argue that continental philosophical resources are more appropriate for comparative philosophy regarding classical Daoism since they in various ways challenge the dominant metaphysical orientation of Western thought and give us a better and more appropriate vocabulary to make sense of important Daoist ideas within the confines of Western languages. Since classical Daoism is largely non-metaphysical or at least not metaphysical in the same way as the Western history of philosophy is, it makes sense that those within the Western tradition who have sought to displace the dominant metaphysical tradition would be more in tune with such non-metaphysical considerations. I …


The Importance Of Bilingual Experience In Assessing Bilingual Advantages In Executive Functions, Hwajin Yang, Andree Hartanto, Sujin Yang Feb 2016

The Importance Of Bilingual Experience In Assessing Bilingual Advantages In Executive Functions, Hwajin Yang, Andree Hartanto, Sujin Yang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Paap, Johnson, and Sawi (2015) contend that bilingual advantages in executive functions (EF) do not exist, and that there is no compelling evidence that a certain bilingual experience hones a specific component of EF (p. 272). We believe that this conclusion is premature, because Paap et al.'s approach was not sufficiently refined to effectively capture the real-world complexity of bilingualism. In this commentary, we draw on the adaptive control hypothesis (Green & Abutalebi, 2013) and argue that studies of bilingualism should consider specific bilingual experiences that potentially moderate bilingual advantages through substantial demand for language control (for similar commentaries, see …


Ranking Of High-Value Social Audiences On Twitter, Siaw Ling Lo, Raymond Chiong, David Cornforth Feb 2016

Ranking Of High-Value Social Audiences On Twitter, Siaw Ling Lo, Raymond Chiong, David Cornforth

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Even though social media offers plenty of business opportunities, for a company to identify the right audience from the massive amount of social media data is highly challenging given finite resources and marketing budgets. In this paper, we present a ranking mechanism that is capable of identifying the top-k social audience members on Twitter based on an index. Data from three different Twitter business account owners were used in our experiments to validate this ranking mechanism. The results show that the index developed using a combination of semi-supervised and supervised learning methods is indeed generic enough to retrieve relevant audience …


Zainul Abidin Rasheed [Malaysia, Minister Of State For Foreign Affairs], Zainul Abidin Rasheed Jan 2016

Zainul Abidin Rasheed [Malaysia, Minister Of State For Foreign Affairs], Zainul Abidin Rasheed

Digital Narratives of Asia

Former editor of Berita Harian, who rose to become head of Mendaki, and then Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zainul Abidin Rasheed, tells DNA how his experiences during the 1964 racial riots had shaped his political views. He recalls how Lee Kuan Yew retracted from closing down Nanyang University, and Mr Goh Chok Tong's consensual style that welcomes the contributions of the Association of Muslim Professionals.


Ong Keng Yong [Singapore, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Civil Service], Keng Yong Ong Jan 2016

Ong Keng Yong [Singapore, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Civil Service], Keng Yong Ong

Digital Narratives of Asia

Ong Keng Yong, a law graduate who worked in MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) specialising in Middle East, recalls his initial years working under S. Rajaratnam, and SR Nathan. Having served as the Secretary General of ASEAN, he shares with DNA the strategic contributions of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) to Singapore, highlighting the uniqueness of ASEAN socialisation at the leadership level.


Three “I’S” To Build The Supporting Ecosystem For Our Future Economy, David Chan Jan 2016

Three “I’S” To Build The Supporting Ecosystem For Our Future Economy, David Chan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This paper discusses the supporting ecosystem for sustaining afuture vibrant economy that can co-exist with a strong Singaporesociety. Challenges and opportunities will be explicated and specificrecommendations will be made in three areas, namely, (1) thedevelopment of Singapore’s physical and virtual infrastructure; (2)the integration of the roles of universities and research institutions inresearch, education and practice; and (3) the adaptation ofGovernment policies and the functioning of the public, private andpeople sectors.Economic future is always uncertain, but it is important to be clearabout the intended direction for Singapore’s future economy. Thecountry needs to set specific, challenging and realistic goals relatedto the economy. …


What You Really Feel Can Win Over And Inspire A Team, Singapore Management University Jan 2016

What You Really Feel Can Win Over And Inspire A Team, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Sincere emotions gain trust, but how about genuine anger?


Can We Finally Save Planet Earth?, Singapore Management University Jan 2016

Can We Finally Save Planet Earth?, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris has brought governments worldwide together to solve what is now seen as an immediate problem. Perspectives@SMU speaks to SMU Professor of Public Policy Ann Florini on the opportunities presented by COP21 as well as the stumbling blocks to addressing the climate issue.


Externalities Of Capitalism, Singapore Management University Jan 2016

Externalities Of Capitalism, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Capitalism produces consequences – both good and bad – that are not intended. Strong states are needed to manage them


Getting People To Buy, Always, Singapore Management University Jan 2016

Getting People To Buy, Always, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Creating touchpoints in stores and embracing the social media world keep consumers engaged with brands


Innovation In Organisations, Singapore Management University Jan 2016

Innovation In Organisations, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Inter-team competition activates information coordination and innovative performance of teams; implication of team members’ narcissism


Framing Digital Literacy: The Acrl Framework, Bethany Anne Wilkes Jan 2016

Framing Digital Literacy: The Acrl Framework, Bethany Anne Wilkes

Research Collection Library

The Association of College and Research Library’s (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education is a key document for developing and guiding information literacy programmes. In this opinion piece the author posits that the Framework is inclusive of themes and elements that support digital literacy as well, whether it is viewed as a unique literacy or as part of the broader literacy of information literacy. The paper explores the background of the Framework, definitions of digital literacy, and the ways in which the Framework connects to digital literacy. The author argues that the Framework is a relevant guide for …


Building Community: Synergy And Empowerment Through Staff Development And Marketing In A Small Rural Academic Library, Bethany Anne Wilkes Jan 2016

Building Community: Synergy And Empowerment Through Staff Development And Marketing In A Small Rural Academic Library, Bethany Anne Wilkes

Research Collection Library

This paper presents two collaborative programs at a small academic library that leverage the insights, engagement, and interests of our most important asset: our staff. Two new library committees, the Staff Training Advisory Group and the Marketing Team, extended planning, accountability, and partnerships to paraprofessional staff members. The onset and associated activities of these two committees yielded not only direct results in terms of staff training programs and marketing initiatives, but also resulted in creating a more collaborative culture and shared purpose in our library. This paper examines how the overlap of these two committees created a convergence that fostered …


Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2015 - 2016, Singapore Management University Jan 2016

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2015 - 2016, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

As we enter the third year of our journey towards SMU Vision 2025, we need to build on the momentum that has been generated by the dedication and spirit of collaboration that has developed in the SMU community. SMU continues to transform the future of education with ground-breaking innovations in our undergraduate curriculum. At the same time, our postgraduate, professional and executive development offerings continue to expand in number and receive greater global recognition and prestigious accolades.


Public Vs. Private Schooling As A Route To Universal Basic Education: A Comparison Of China And India, William C. Smith, Devin K. Joshi Jan 2016

Public Vs. Private Schooling As A Route To Universal Basic Education: A Comparison Of China And India, William C. Smith, Devin K. Joshi

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This article examines whether focusing primarily on public schooling can lead to more rapid achievement of universal basic education (UBE) than relying on a mixture of public and private schooling. Through a structured, focused comparison, we find China's greater emphasis on public schooling has contributed to higher enrollment, attendance, graduation rates, gender parity, and proportion of students entering higher education than India, the country with the world's largest private sector in primary and secondary education. This comparison suggests that greater emphasis on public schooling in developing countries may lead to more rapid UBE attainment than encouraging privatization.


No U-Turn Needed On The Elected Presidency, Tan K. B. Eugene Jan 2016

No U-Turn Needed On The Elected Presidency, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan cited the commentary "Let's talk about policy failures and the elected presidency" by Professor Kishore Mahbubani, where the latter argued that Singapore’s policy of an elected presidency should be revisited, and perhaps "the time has come to do a U-turn", stop having direct elections and go back to the previous practice of having Parliament elect the president. While Associate Prof Tan noted that Prof Mahbubani's concern is legitimate, he emphasised that the way forward is not a U-turn, but rather, a collective effort to determine how we can reduce the likelihood of electing …


Corporate Reorganisation Of China’S Listed Companies: Winners And Losers, Zinian Zhang Jan 2016

Corporate Reorganisation Of China’S Listed Companies: Winners And Losers, Zinian Zhang

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article is the first empirical study investigating the corporate reorganisation of Chinese domestically-listed companies. Through examining these cases, it challenges the assertion made by most of these corporate reorganisation plans and by Chinese state-run media reports that creditors and general public shareholders were the major beneficiaries. Through an analysis of the data generated from all forth-three such cases, this articles reveals that: First, unsecured creditors could have, on average, received 61.37% more of their claims if the fundamental value distribution principle, the absolute priority norm, could have been complied with in these reorganisations; Second, if the general-public-shareholder-protection scheme issued …


Ipo Performance And Trading Around Lock-Up Expiration, Yuchen Wang Jan 2016

Ipo Performance And Trading Around Lock-Up Expiration, Yuchen Wang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

During the lock-up period, company insiders are prohibited from selling their shares for a set period immediately after initial public offerings (IPOs), usually 180 days. This strict prohibition limits the borrowing of securities by short sellers within this period. Therefore, upon reaching the lock-up expiry date, the short-sale constraint may be loosened and new investors may rush into the stock market, which affects asset price and stock return. This thesis focuses on the IPOs’ performance during the lock-up period and the reasons for the unusual performance. The first section commences by questioning the role of the short seller and its …