Advances in the Study of Political Advertising

One of the biggest recent advances in the study of political advertising has been the availability of systematic sources of data on when and where ads air—and their content. In this piece, we review the various data sources that scholars have used to study political advertising, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses. We then discuss recent studies that have employed data on political advertising to examine the effects of ad exposure on citizens' attitudes and political behaviors, how the content of advertising varies, and how ads have been targeted in recent political campaigns. We follow that with our own empirical contribution—an analysis of trends in advertising content, including negativity and policy focus—over the past 16 years.     

通货膨胀对股市收益的非对称性影响———基于 PSTR 模型对成熟市场的经验研究

本文通过采用非线性面板PSTR模型,利用美国、英国、日本、法国和德国五个成熟市场的月度数据,对通货膨胀对股票市场的非对称性影响进行了实证研究。结果表明,在股市处于不同的状态下,通货膨胀对股票市场的影响存在较大的非对称性。在股市收益高涨的时期,通货膨胀对股市收益存在显著的正向影响;而股市处于低收益或者负收益时期,通货膨胀对股市收益存在显著的负向影响。此外,非线性检验还发现利率变动也是导致通货膨胀对股市收益的影响存在非对称性的一个重要原因。     

论老年诈骗犯罪被害人的被害性

老年诈骗犯罪被害案件随着老龄化的发展而大有愈演愈烈之势。犯罪的发生并不是犯罪人单方面意志作用的结果,而是犯罪人与被害人双方互动的产物。这种互动从老年诈骗犯罪被害人的角度看,则表现为其生理上、心理上和经济上的被害性。仔细分析老年诈骗犯罪被害人的被害性,不仅有助于全面准确地把握老年诈骗犯罪被害的原因,而且有助于提出有针对性地预防和处理老年诈骗犯罪被害的对策。     

Using social network analysis to target criminal networks

Using social network analysis (SNA), we propose a model for targeting criminal networks. The model we present here is a revised version of our existing model (Schwartz and Rouselle in IALEIA Journal, 18(1):18–14, 2008), which itself builds on Steve Borgatti’s SNA-based key player approach. Whereas Borgatti’s approach focuses solely on actors’ network positions, our model also incorporates the relative strength or potency of actors, as well as the strength of the relationships binding network actors.

Partisan technocratic cycles in Latin America

Given their powerful positions in presidential cabinets, technocrats are an important transmission mechanism for explaining economic policy choices, but have received less attention compared to other well-established channels such as elections or democratic tenure. I incorporate the role of technocratic advisors into a domestic policymaking framework. Specifically, I contend that left governments tend to appoint technocrats, or ministers with mainstream economics training, to signal their commitment to sound governance to the electorate. This partisan technocratic pattern, however, is conditioned by a country's place in its business cycle. During periods of high growth, left governments are more likely to align with their partisan preferences and appoint heterodox advisors that drift from fiscal discipline. Employing an originally constructed data index, the Index of Economic Advisors, I conduct a statistical test of 16 Latin American countries from 1960 to 2011, finding partisan shifts in technocratic appointments and fiscal governance that are conditioned by national business cycles.     

通货膨胀目标制的内涵及在中国的检验

通货膨胀目标制是当今世界流行的一种货币政策制度.尽管学术界至今对通货膨胀目标制存在不同意见,但对这一制度的有关特征是有共识的,即要明确规定一个数量化的通货膨胀目标;货币政策操作应该有相当高的透明度;中央银行对通货膨胀目标的实现承担责任.此外,通货膨胀目标制是一个包括操作工具、操作目标、信息变量和最终目标在内的有关货币政策制定和实施的系统.本文构建了这一制度的模型框架,并用中国的数据检验了其适用性.结果表明,灵活通胀目标制规则在当前中国的货币政策实践中并不非常适合.     

2011年越南政治、经济与外交综述

2011年,越南在政治、经济、外交等各个方面都有不少值得关注的重要事件。越南召开了越共十一届党代会,进行了第十三届国会选举。在2011年里,越南完成了预定的经济计划,但仍面临诸多重大挑战。这些挑战构成了越南实现经济可持续发展的障碍。越南在外交方面注重与东南亚地区内外国家发展外交关系,其中尤为注重发展军事交往关系,积极参与国际事务,力图以此提高国际地位。但如何解决与邻国关系问题,已成为越南保持稳定的国际环境的关键因素。     

转型期的中国货币政策规则：基于拟合效果的选择

从拟合效果的角度来分析通货膨胀目标制和泰勒规则这两大最流行的货币政策规则在中国的选择问题,研究结果表明,从对中国利率走势的预测能力来看,通货膨胀目标制远远优于泰勒规则.因此,中国人民银行要想提高对宏观经济的把握能力,及时准确地获取宏观经济信息,应该选择通货膨胀目标制并积极创造实行通胀目标制的各种条件.     

Modeling and testing the diffusion of expectations: An EITM approach

This paper uses the empirical implications of theoretical models (EITM) framework to examine the consequences of the asymmetric diffusion of expectations. In the spirit of the traditional two-step flow model of communication, less-informed agents learn the expectations of more-informed agents. We find that when there is misinterpretation in the information acquisition process, a boomerang effect exists. In this equilibrium the less-informed agents’ forecasts confound those of more-informed agents. We apply the EITM approach to a key economic variable known to have a relation to economic fluctuations – inflation expectations. Using surveyed inflation expectations data for the period, 1978–2000, we find the boomerang effect exists. One implication of this finding pertains to economic policy and economic volatility: because policymakers have more information than the public, the boomerang effect can lead policymakers to make inaccurate forecasts of economic conditions and conduct erroneous policies which contribute to economic instability.     

Mis-marketing the Conservatives: The Limitations of Style over Substance

Every Tory leader since 1997 has made significant attempts to use marketing; the most recent, Michael Howard, appointed the first ever UK party Marketing Director to head a specialised Marketing Department. However, whilst the Conservatives have made use of the tools of marketing (polling, focus groups, public listening exercises, communication) they have misunderstood the concept of political marketing, which is concerned with creating a unified political product that is responsive to voter demands. Political marketing has hitherto not worked for the Conservative party. This is because there is a lack of a supportive internal culture that accepts the party change necessary to produce a market-orientated political product including policy, leadership and candidates. If political marketing is only used to sell a product that the party elite rather than the British public wants, it will never help the Conservatives regain control of government.