This paper introduces a new empirical strategy for the characterization of business cycles. It combines non-parametric decoding methods that classify a series into expansions and recessions but does not require specification of the underlying stochastic process generating the data. It then uses network analysis to combine the signals obtained from different economic indicators to generate a uni...

This paper introduces a new empirical strategy for the characterization of business cycles. It combines non-parametric decoding methods that classify a series into expansions and recessions but does not require specication of the underlying stochastic process generating the data. It then uses network analysis to combine the signals obtained from di erent economic indicators to generate a uniqu...

This research examines the impact of omitted variables on the accuracy of parametric hospital cost function estimations based on Québec hospital level data. We assess the effect of omitted variables resulting from incomplete data on technology and performance measurement and on tests of the cost minimizing behavior of the institution. Our results show that important characteristics of hospital ...

Introduction Multivariate Fay–Herriot models for estimating small area indicators are introduced. Among the available procedures for fitting linear mixed models, the residual maximum likelihood (REML) is employed. The empirical best predictor (EBLUP) of the vector of area means is derived. An approximation to the matrix of mean squared crossed prediction errors (MSE) is given and four MSE estim...

This paper proposes to reexamine the GATT/WTO membership effect on bilateral trade flows, using nonparametric methods including pair-matching, permutation tests, and a Rosenbaum (2002) sensitivity analysis. Taken together in a coherent manner, these methods provide an estimation framework that is robust to misspecification biases, allows general forms of heterogeneous treatment effects, and add...

A common feature distinguishing between parametric/ statistical models and engineering economics models is that engineering models explicitly represent best practice technologies, whereas parametric/statistical models are typically based on average practice. Measures of energy intensity based on average practice are of little use in corporate management of energy use or for public policy goal s...

Real-time monitoring of the economy is based on activity indicators that show regular patterns such as trends, seasonality and business cycles. However, parametric non-parametric methods for signal extraction produce revisions at end sample, arrival new data makes it difficult to assess state economy. In this paper, we compare two procedures: Circulant Singular Spectral Analysis, CiSSA, a techn...

(Received 00 Month 200x; In final form 00 Month 200x) We study experimentally parametric amplification in the continuous regime using a transverse-degenerate type-II Optical Parametric Oscillator operated below threshold. We demonstrate that this device is able to amplify either in the phase insensitive or phase sensitive way first a single mode beam, then a multimode image. Furthermore the tot...