Jozef Zbigniew Dziechciarz

Changing and Random Coefficient Models: A Survey

This chapter contains a survey of various econometric model formulations in which it is assumed that coefficients vary across time. Depending on the accepted parameter variation structure one may classify such models into two main groups: models with variable but nonstochastic parameters and models with randomly varying coefficients. The latter group consists of two types — models where coefficients are generated from stationary and models in which coefficients are generated from nonstationary stochastic processes. All three groups are surveyed. Several representative models from each group are shown with special emphasis on estimation, testing the specification and possible fields of implementation. Justification for the various model formulations is given. A detailed list of references ends the survey.

Ordinal Variables in the Segmentation of Advertisement Receivers

The paper presents segmentation study, which employs methods of classification to single out the segments. The variables measured on the ordinal scale were used as the criteria of market segmentation. Variables used reflected students’ attitude towards 20 statements about advertising. Ordinal character of the data required application of specific measure (1) of object’s distance. This measure was used in order to evaluate the similarities of objects, which were based on numbers of relations “equal to”, “greater than” and “smaller than”.

Household possession of consumer durables on background of some poverty lines

Monitoring of poverty indexes and structure of household expenditures is one of diagnostic and warning tool for social politics. Well-being or poverty of selected households’ groups can be illustrated not only by mentioned categories, but also by possession of consumer durables. Thus, there is implication for poverty and possession (or lack) of some consumer durable goods. This assumption is being tested in Polish reality. In the article Polish households are grouped according to chosen classification method. Ownership of selected consumer durables was vital in obtaining clusters. Moreover, in the analysis of clusters, life quality and durable goods possession, modified poverty indexes were implemented. Obtained results were confirmed taht there is the significant relationship between the social poverty and consumer durable goods.

Conditions for SME Sector Growth in Poland. Human Resources Issue

The goal of the study is to identify and to analyse key growth factors in the Polish SME sector.

Non‑Metric Data in Household Durable Goods Analysis. Selected Aspects

Measurement of household endowment with durables is crucial in many aspects of assessing the social and economic situation of a country and its citizens. The demand (sales) for durables is regarded as one of the key indicators of economic conditions. Similarly, analysis and evaluation of household durable goods are usually considered in the context of measuring the quality of life. The possession of durables is measured by means of the number and quality of goods in households. Measurement of household endowment is conducted usually by means of weak measurement scales, namely nominal and ordinal. Such data require the use of specialised tools for analysis and modelling. This study discusses the possibilities of statistical analysis of such data. Additionally, modelling and problems of inference on the basis of obtained results are discussed.

Various Approaches to Measuring Effectiveness of Tertiary Education

This paper aims at assessing selected approaches to measuring the effectiveness of investment in tertiary education and their applicability. It summarizes various results obtained in the research project Methods of Measuring the Return on Investment in Higher Education. The applied methods, include classical methods (ANOVA, Mincerian earnings function, correspondence analysis, hierarchical agglomerative clustering) as well as new ideas (application of the Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed-Rank Test to determine the significance of differences in incomes before and after reaching the tertiary education). The research is based on data coming both from Polish (Social Diagnosis, Study of Human Capital) as well as German databases (Social Economic Panel, SOEP). The obtained results support the hypothesis that tertiary education influences the level of incomes. Moreover, the estimated pseudo rates of return to education provide the basis for the evaluation of the effectiveness of private investment in education.

Professor Zdzisław Hellwig (1925-2013). A Giant in the Renaissance Style

Professor Zdzislaw Hellwig was a widely recognized, eminent scholar of international standing. The field of research of the Professor includes the theory and application of quantitative methods in economics. Hundreds of major publication written by the Professor have inspired and still inspire many researchers. The works of Professor Z. Hellwig were pioneering in the country and worldwide.

Assessment of the Polish Manufacturing Sector Attractiveness: An End User Approach

This is the presentation of the preliminary results of the larger project on the determination of the manufacturing branches attractiveness. For that purpose the hierarchical classification has been made. Additionally, the tendencies in branches position in the attractiveness hierarchy have been described. The attractiveness is defined depending on end-user of the classification. The theoretical framework for the study, and the economic background has been discussed on the XXV GfKI 2001 Conference in Munich ((2002)). The goal of this investigation is differences identification in the construction of the composite indicator Z depending on end-users’ particular interest. This general framework may be used for any part of NACE Classification i.e. unit (division), group or class. In the present study the applicability of developed framework will be illustrated on the example of one of the divisions in the section D— Manufacturing.

Information Needs Determination for Small and Medium Size Firms in Poland: An Empirical Assessment

The scope of the research is determined by the data availability. Polish state statistical system collects information according to the NACE Classification (Nomenclatures des Activitiees de Communite Europeene). In this system four levels are represented: seventeen sections, 60 divisions, 220 groups and 512 classes. From the authors point of view, one of the most important area is the manufacturing sector - the section D in the NACE classification. This determined the area of this study.

Study Major Choice — Factor Preference Measurement

Multidimensional statistical analysis uses techniques of variables selection and aggregation. Numerous economic phenomena belongs to the application field of multivariate analysis. Generally all phenomena described by large number of variables may be analysed within this framework. Those phenomena require descriptive characteristics that bring difficulty of clear understanding and unilateral evaluation. Bank evaluation is one amidst the others that undoubtedly demands multidimensional analysis. Bank as an institution of public trust is evaluated both from outside (client, stockholders, investors) and inside (bank management). This calls for better methodology: transborder reference system might be regarded as one of the interesting proposals.