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This paper discusses a new estimator that performs simultaneous parameter estimation and variable selection in the scope of penalized regression methods. The estimator is an extension of the Liu estimator with $$\ell _{1}$$ -norm penalization. We give the coordinate descent algorithm to estimate the coefficient vector of the proposed estimator, efficiently. We also examine the consistency properties of the estimator. We conduct simulation studies and two real data analyses to compare the proposed estimator with several estimators including the ridge, Liu, lasso and elastic net. The simulation studies and real data analyses show that besides performing automatic variable selection, the new estimator has considerable prediction performance with a small mean squared error under sparse and non-sparse data structures.

This study analyses the role of knowledge transfers via bilateral foreign direct investment (FDI) among 31 Asian economies. We make three distinct contributions to the literature on the drivers of FDI by: (1) applying the knowledge-capital model to FDI among Asian economies for the first time, using a comprehensive data set, and comparing it to an empirical gravity-type model of FDI; (2) conducting model selection tests to choose between alternative empirical specifications and estimation methods; and (3) modelling both the FDI participation decision and the decision on the amount of FDI. The main findings are: (1) while vertical FDI, driven by seeking low-cost unskilled labour, appears to be the dominant type of intra-Asian FDI, overall the knowledge-capital model is not supported by the data; and (2) conventional gravity variables (e.g., size, distance, common language) provide a better explanation of intra-Asian FDI and, therefore, a more suitable vehicle for future research.

The effective altruism movement argues that people wanting to do the most good they can should donate to charities fighting poverty in poor countries overseas, rather than to charities helping peop...

This paper discusses simultaneous parameter estimation and variable selection and presents a new penalized regression method. The method is based on the idea that the coefficient estimates are shrunken towards a predetermined coefficient vector which represents the prior information. This method can result in smaller length estimates of the coefficients depending on the prior information compared to elastic net. In addition to the establishment of the grouping property, we also show that the new method has the grouping effect when the predictors are highly correlated. Simulation studies and real data example show that the prediction performance of the new method is improved over the well-known ridge, lasso and elastic net regression methods yielding a lower mean squared error and competes about the variable selection under sparse and non-sparse situations.

Little is currently known about the effects of shocks to parental health on the allocation of children’s time between alternative activities. Using longitudinal data from the Ethiopian Young Lives surveys of 2006 and 2009, we analyse the effect of health shocks on the amount of children’s time spent in work, leisure and education. One key contribution of the paper is that we distinguish between child labour as defined by organisations such as the International Labour Organisation and other types of child work, such as light domestic chores. We find that paternal illness increases the time spent in income-generating work but maternal illness increases the time spent in domestic work. Moreover, maternal illness has a relatively large effect on daughters while paternal illness has a relatively large effect on sons. Overall, parental illness leads to large and significant increases in the amount of child labour. JEL Classification: D13, I12, I21, O15

Bu çalışmanın amacı ikinci dereceden denklemlerin öğrenme ve öğretiminde matematik tarihinin özellikle Hârezmî’nin tam kareye tamamlama metodunun bir öğretim aracı olarak kullanılmasına ilişkin ilköğretim matematik öğretmen adaylarının görüşlerinin belirlenmesidir. Yapılan çalışmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden olan durum çalışması kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın verileri ilköğretim matematik öğretmenliği bölümünde okuyan 10 öğretmen adayıyla yapılan yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşme tekniğiyle toplanmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında elde edilen bulgular, ikinci dereceden denklemlerin öğretiminde matematik tarihinin özellikle Hârezmî’nin tam kareye tamamlama metodunun öğretmen adaylarının bu konudaki mevcut matematik bilgilerine etkisi hakkındaki görüşleriyle gelecekte yapacakları öğretmenlik mesleğinde bu metodunun bir öğretim aracı olarak kullanılmasına ilişkin görüşlerini ortaya koymuştur. Harezmî yöntemi gibi matematik tarihindeki çalışmaları matematik öğretiminde kullanmak öğretmen adaylarının ikinci dereceden denklemlerin içeriğini daha iyi anlamalarını sağlamış ve onlara, matematik tarihindeki materyalleri ikinci dereceden denklemlerin öğretimine dâhil etmek için farklı yöntemler ve teknikler sunmuştur., The purpose of this study is to explore preservice elementary mathematics teachers’ conceptions regarding the use of history of mathematics as a teaching tool, especially Al-Khwarizmi’s method of completing the square in the learning and teaching of quadratic equations. The case study of qualitative research methods was used. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 teacher candidates. The results of the study revealed the conceptions of the influences of the use of history of mathematics, specifically Al-Khwarizmi’s method of completing the square, in the teaching of quadratic equations on preservice elementary mathematics teachers’ current mathematical knowledge, as well as the conceptions of the influences of the use of this method as a teaching instrument on their future teaching professions. It has been seen that using Al-Khwarizmi’s method in mathematics teaching has provided prospective teachers with better understanding of the second-order equations by presenting different techniques to integrate them into teaching quadratic equations.

Much of the existing literature on the economics of child labor assumes that child labor is synonymous with employment in income‐generating activities. However, children also perform domestic chores, and excessive involvement in chores may be detrimental to their wellbeing. This paper investigates the effect on child health and education outcomes of participation in domestic chores as well as participation in income‐generating activities. Our data come from the 2014 Young Lives survey of Ethiopia. We use the guidelines of the 18th International Conference of Labor Statisticians and the United Nations Children's Fund to make a distinction between light work and harmful work, and apply this distinction to both domestic chores and income‐generating work. Using an instrumental variables approach, we find that involvement in harmful domestic chores is strongly associated with poor health and education outcomes. Our findings suggest that excessive involvement in domestic chores constitutes a form of child labor. Ignoring domestic chores will lead to an underestimate of the prevalence of child labor, especially among girls, whose exposure to chores is much higher, on average, than that of boys.

Much of the existing literature suggests that ethnic diversity undermines economic development. However, there are also ways in which local ethnic diversity might be beneficial, and we show that in the case of Ethiopian child health, the benefits of diversity can outweigh the costs. We find that children in relatively diverse communities are better nourished and more likely to receive a full set of vaccinations. There is some evidence that one explanation for this effect is that women in relatively diverse communities are better informed about health issues and more empowered in making healthcare decisions.

GENC, Murat/0000-0002-9742-1770 WOS: 000470142400005 The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of nature-based education on the attitudes of 7th grade students towards the environment and living organisms as well as to assess the affective tendency of this education on the students. The study was carried out with 30 7th grade students at an elementary school. For this purpose, scales for "Attitudes towards Living Organisms", "Environmentally Oriented Affective Trends", and "Environmental Attitude" were used. In the study, an experimental research design using one group with pre- and post-testing was employed. The analysis of the data was conducted using the SPSS statistical software program. The study was conducted over 11 days in a natural setting. The participants completed 18 activities dealing with the natural environment, water and water pollution, pollution in general, natural habitats, recycling and biodiversity. At the end of the program, it was found that student' attitudes towards the environment and Hiving organisms, and the affective tendency on the 7th grade students were shown to be more highly developed than before the program. These results demonstrated that nature-based education had improved the students' attitudes towards the environment and living organisms, as well as their affective tendency on the students. TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [213B638] This work was supported by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey) [grant number 213B638].

GENC, Murat/0000-0002-9742-1770 WOS: 000447641900003 The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of cooperative learning on the science lessons achievement of primary school students and to designate their views on cooperative learning process. 135 sixth-grade students attending the same school took part in the study. The model of this study was the Solomon four-group model. In the study, the Cooperative Learning Process Scale and the Science Achievement Test were used to collect data. In the light of the findings, the cooperative learning activities done in the experimental group have meaningfully increased the student achievement in comparison to the control group. According to the findings, it was determined that the activities were prepared appropriately to the cooperative learning and that they were organised considering the basic principles of cooperative learning. 85.07 per cent of the students have stated that the activities done were appropriate for high level cooperative learning.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the relationships between subdimensions of environmental literacy using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The study was conducted by the analysis of students' answers to questionnaires data using SEM. Initially, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's tests were done to test appropriateness of subdimensions to factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis was done for the subdimensions that were seen to be suitable for factor analysis and then structural model was tested. At the end of the SEM test, it was found that there are positive and high relations between knowledge, behavior, attitude, and tendency. © 2016, © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.