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13 - Developments in Data for Economic Research
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- By Roberto Barcellan, Eurostat, Luxembourg, Peter Bøegh Nielsen, Statistics Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark, Caterina Calsamiglia, CEMFI, Madrid, Spain, Colin Camerer, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA, Estelle Cantillon, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium, Bruno Crépon, CREST and JPAL, Paris, France, Bram De Rock, Université Libre de Bruxelles, ECARES, Brussels, Belgium, László Halpern, Hungarian Academy of Science, Budapest Hungary, Arie Kapteyn, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, Asim I. Khwaja, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, MA, Georg Kirchsteiger, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Vigdis Kvalheim, Norway Social Science Data Service, Bergen, Norway, Julia Lane, New York University, New York, USA, Markus Mobius, Microsoft Research, Cambridge, MA, USA, Luke Sibieta, Institute for Fiscal Studies, London, UK, Joseph Tracy, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York, USA, Frederic Udina, Idescat, Barcelona, Spain, Gugliemo Weber, University of Padua, Padua, Italy, Lisa Wright, Bureau Van Dijk, Manchester, UK
- Edited by Laszlo Matyas, Central European University, Budapest, Richard Blundell, University College London, Estelle Cantillon, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Barbara Chizzolini, Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Milan, Marc Ivaldi, Wolfgang Leininger, Universität Dortmund, Ramon Marimon, European University Institute, Florence, Frode Steen
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- Book:
- Economics without Borders
- Published online:
- 24 March 2017
- Print publication:
- 27 April 2017, pp 568-611
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Summary
Abstract
There has been a steep increase in empirical research in economics in the past 20–30 years. This chapter brings together several actors and stakeholders in these developments to discuss their drivers and implications. All types of data are considered: official data, data collected by researchers, lab experiments, randomized control trials, and proprietary data from private and public sources. When relevant, emphasis is placed on developments specific to Europe. The basic message of the chapter is that there is no single type of data that is superior to all others. We need to promote diversity of data sources for economic research and ensure that researchers are equipped to take advantage of them. All stakeholders – researchers, research institutions, funders, statistical agencies, central banks, journals, data firms, and policy-makers – have a role to play in this.
Introduction
The past 20–30 years have witnessed a steady rise in empirical research in economics. In fact, a majority of articles published by leading journals these days are empirical, in stark contrast with the situation 40 or 50 years ago (Hamermesh, 2013). This change in the distribution of methodologies used in economic research was made possible by improved computing power but, more importantly, thanks to an increase in the quantity, quality and variety of data used in economics.
This chapter brings together several actors and stakeholders in these changes to discuss their drivers and implications. All types of data are considered. When relevant, emphasis is placed on developments specific to Europe. Sections 13.2 and 13.3 deal with official microdata. Section 13.2 focuses on the level of access to microdata in Europe and its determinants. Section 13.3 focuses on cross-country data harmonization. Section 13.4 then switches gears entirely and discusses the benefits and costs of large-scale data collection efforts led by researchers, instead of statistical offices. Section 13.5 discusses data produced by researchers, either in the context of lab experiments or in the context of randomized control trials. Both types of data have led to major advances; for the first one in our understanding of human behaviour and the robustness of economic institutions; for the second in our understanding of the impact of policies and themechanisms underlying them.
Conception sécurisée des structures soumises aux valeurs extrêmes de processus stochastiques stationnaires
- Bruno Colin
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- Journal:
- Mechanics & Industry / Volume 10 / Issue 2 / March 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 July 2009, pp. 131-150
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- March 2009
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Face à la nécessité d'accroître les performances de mobilité tout terrain de ses véhicules et à sa volonté d'y intégrer désormais des équipements "low cost" provenant du secteur civil, la Société Nexter s'est dotée de démarches de conception sécurisantes, permettant de faire face à ce type de compromis antinomique. Basée sur la capacité d'évaluer rapidement les valeurs des contraintes extrêmes produites sur les structures embarquées, dès le début du cycle de développement du produit, l'originalité de la démarche de conception proposée réside dans le fait qu'elle permet de synthétiser un grand nombre de processus d'excitation stochastique, décrits par le profil d'emploi opérationnel des clients, prendre en compte le caractère aléatoire des excitations concernées, en supposant de surcroît une indépendance statistique des situations stochastiques retenues, et de revenir à un chargement dynamique unique, reproduisant fidèlement les valeurs des contraintes extrêmes des processus concernés, avec un risque de dépassement maîtrisé puisque spécifié. Éprouvée dans le cadre du développement du VBCI (Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie), cette démarche de conception dynamique a notamment mis en évidence le caractère peu sécurisant des démarches de conception forfaitaire à caractère statique déployées dans le passé.
Functional expression of bcl-2 protein family and AIF in bovine mammary tissue in early lactation
- Monica Colitti, Colin J Wilde, Bruno Stefanon
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- Journal:
- Journal of Dairy Research / Volume 71 / Issue 1 / February 2004
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 March 2004, pp. 20-27
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- February 2004
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Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured in bovine mammary tissue around the time of peak milk production in three heifers, and compared with changes in the expression of bcl-2-related intracellular signals and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were relatively constant during the study period with no significant change in the incidence of either event. However, the ratio of apoptotic to proliferating cells tended to change from 0·99 on day 45 of lactation to 1·82 on day 63 (P=0·064), suggesting that in the course of the study, a dynamic balance may have been succeeded by net cell loss. Average milk production recorded 6 d after biopsy was correlated with the estimated number of cells (r=0·898; P<0·01) but not with the apoptosis to proliferation ratio (r=−0·224, P>0·05). Turnover of the cell population was associated with relatively constant expression of anti-apoptotic bcl-2. Competitive PCR also indicated expression of bax, in contrast to observations in lactating rodent mammary tissue. Bax expression was relatively low compared with that of bcl-2, but immunohistochemical staining for bax protein, which was not detectable on day 45, was observed on day 53 and, more intensely, on day 60 when the protein appeared to be membrane-associated. A partial coding sequence for bovine AIF was identified and AIF expression was evaluated by in situ hybridization. The results indicated that AIF was expressed in luminal alveolar cells and that, in concert with a change in bax to bcl-2 ratio, they might contribute to signalling of a change in the dynamic balance of the cell population as lactation progresses.
Mammary apoptosis and lactation persistency in dairy animals
- BRUNO STEFANON, MONICA COLITTI, GIANFRANCO GABAI, CHRISTOPHER H. KNIGHT, COLIN J. WILDE
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- Journal:
- Journal of Dairy Research / Volume 69 / Issue 1 / February 2002
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 17 June 2002, pp. 37-52
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- February 2002
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The decline in milk yield after peak lactation in dairy animals has long been a biological conundrum for the mammary biologist, as well as a cause of considerable lost income for the dairy farmer. Recent advances in understanding the control of the mammary cell population now offer new insights on the former, and a potential means of alleviating the latter. The weight of evidence now indicates that a change in mammary cell number, the result of an imbalance between cell proliferation and cell removal, is a principal cause of declining production. Further, it suggests that the persistency of lactation, the rate of decline in milk yield with stage of lactation, is strongly influenced by the rate of cell death by apoptosis in the lactating gland. Mammary apoptosis was first demonstrated during tissue involution after lactation, but has now been detected during lactation, in mammary tissue of lactating mice, goats and cattle. Those factors that determine the rate of cell death by apoptosis are as yet poorly characterized, but include the frequency of milking in lactating goats. Initial evidence suggests that nutrition also is likely to influence cell survival after peak lactation, an important factor being the degree of oxidative stress imposed by feed and the tissue's ability to deal with, and prevent damage by, reactive oxygen species. Comparison of cows in calf or not pregnant during declining lactation also indicates a likely influence of reproductive hormones, with oestradiol and progesterone acting to preserve mammary ductal and alveolar integrity during the dry period, while allowing a degree of apoptosis and cell replacement. In each case, the molecular mechanisms controlling mammary cell survival (or otherwise) are as yet poorly defined. On the other hand, more persistent lactations are likely to benefit animal welfare through fewer calvings and by placing less emphasis on maximal production at peak lactation, and modelling of persistent lactation with longer calving intervals indicates their likely economic benefits. In these circumstances, there is considerable incentive to elucidate the determinants of mammary apoptosis, and the factors controlling the dynamic balance between cell proliferation and cell death in the lactating mammary gland.