This paper presents methods to analyze convergence in cross-sectional data collected over time using distribution free statistics that are not sensitive to the magnitudes involved. Measures of concordance and discordance are employed in the empirical analysis of real personal income per capita...

Marburger (2006) explored the link between absenteeism and exam performance by assessing the impact on absenteeism of removing a university wide policy of mandatory attendance for a single class. His results indicate that while an attendance policy has a strong impact on reducing absenteeism the...

W EBBER D. J. and W HITE P. (2003) Regional factor price convergence across four major European countries, Reg. Studies 37 , 773-782. Neo-classical growth models predict that the free movement of goods and factors will result in the spatial convergence of output and an ensuing convergence of...

Two simple but seemingly profitable betting rules for betting on the away win in association football are developed. One rule is consistent with avoiding those games in which there is a clear favourite. The second rule is based directly on modelling bookmaker odds and assessing the residuals...

This article presents a simple method for identifying distributional dynamic properties of economies using the ideas of concordance and discordance. It can be employed to examine the strength and validity of the results of other methods. The method has the advantage of comparing distributions at...

This paper presents a “broken stick” method to test for structural breaks in a regression model. The method is illustrated using output data across the EU and the results are bootstrapped to identify statistical significance.

Abstract: Papers examining a developed nation’s labour productivity frequently ignore spatial effects. We present empirical results indicating that geographical proximity matters for plant-level productivity.

Economists use various measures to account for the affect of poverty, welfare or health on economic growth but there is a lack of understanding of the movement of such variables over time and whether countries experiences similar trends. This paper presents an analysis of life expectancy across...