María Sarabia

A general method for generating parametric Lorenz and Leimkuhler curves

Let L0 consider an initial Lorenz curve. In this paper we propose a general methodology for obtaining new classes of parametric Lorenz or Leimkuhler curves that contain the original curve as limiting or special case. The new classes introduce additional parameters in the original family, providing more flexibility for the new families. The new classes are built from an ordered sequence of power Lorenz curves, assuming that the powers are distributed according to some convenient discrete random variable. Using this method we obtain many of the families proposed in the literature, including the classical proposal of Bradford (1934), Kakwani and Podder (1973) and others. We obtain some inequality measures and population functions for the proposed families.

Explicit expressions for the Leimkuhler curve in parametric families

In this paper we obtain the Leimkuhler curve in the case of some important statistical distributions proposed in the informetrics and econometrics literature. In this way, we complete the previous work of Burrell [Burrell, Q. L. (2005). Symmetry and other transformation features of Lorenz/Leimkuhler representations of informetric data. Information Processing and Management, 41, 1317-1329], where several open problems were stated. To do this, we use a recent and general definition of the Leimkuhler curve proposed by Sarabia [Sarabia, J. M. (2008a). A general definition of the Leimkuhler curve. Journal of Informetrics, 2, 156-163], and a new representation of the Leimkuhler curve in terms of the first-moment distribution of the population. Specifically, we obtain the Leimkuhler curve of the following distributions: classical and exponentiated Pareto distributions; three-parameter lognormal distribution; generalized gamma distribution, which includes to the exponential and classical gamma distributions among others; generalized beta distribution of the first kind and generalized beta distribution of the second kind, which includes as particular or limiting cases next important families like beta distribution of the second kind, Singh-Maddala, Dagum, Fisk or Lomax distributions. All the obtained Leimkuhler curves can be computed easily.

Japanese Knowledge Creation and the Fundamental Illusion Theory: A Fresh Look

We propose the fundamental illusion theory to explain knowledge creation based on Japanese companies. This theory is a hearing illusion which explains that when two tones occur together a third lower pitched tone is heard, but this last perceived pitch is a frequency (fundamental) for which there is no actual source vibration. If we make an analogy between fundamental frequency and knowledge, between tones occurring together and learning + culture + leadership, we have a new management model.

Missing Fundamental Illusion: A New Theory Based On Japanese Knowledge Management

AbstractWe propose the Fundamental Illusion Theory to explain knowledge creation in the case of Japanese companies. This theory is based on an analogy with a hearing illusion which explains that when two tones occur together a third lower pitched tone is heard. However, this last perceived pitch is a frequency (fundamental) for which there is no actual source vibration. If we make an analogy between fundamental frequency and knowledge, and between tones occurring together and learning + culture + leadership, we arrive at a new management model.

IN&OUT Model: Knowledge Management Applied to the Succession Process in Family Business

Evidence suggests that only 30 per cent of family businesses survive after the first generation. The purpose of this paper is to explain how the unique culture and knowledge forms, which are identified as intangible and relevant advantages on family businesses, can be protected through leadership succession. INO and the successor contributes to the group and to the organization OUT, creating a dynamic loop of biographical leadership.

How do European countries manage their knowledge? A cross analysis of investment and performance

This paper presents a cross analysis of European countries studying knowledge variables related to investment and performance. The findings of the factor analysis reflects the existence of four key factors (Push&Pull effect; what we are like; education domino effect; and knowledge employment) which should be taken into account for managing governmental strategies within the European market. According to these factors, four clusters of countries have been identified focusing the case of the first cluster, comprised of Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Austria, which has been called ‘knowledge countries’. This paper presents interesting findings about how European countries manage their knowledge and in consequence, how they establish their growth strategies.

Conditionally Specified Models: New Developments and Applications

In recent years, an important part of Enrique Castilloś research work has been focused on statistical applications of models with conditional specification. The present paper introduces some new developments and applications of these kinds of models to be studied in the near future. Firstly, some new and some old bivariate discrete distributions specified by conditionals are presented. Models of bivariate distributions where one of the conditional distributions is discrete and the other one is continuous have important applications in risk theory and actuarial statistics. In this sense, some of these mixture models are proposed. Distributions for modelling bivariate income distributions are reviewed. Certain conditionally specified densities are also shown to provide convenient flexible conjugate prior families in certain multiparameter Bayesian settings. We propose prior distributions for inference with incomplete count data and in certain hurdle models. Finally, we describe the construction of flexible bivariate continuous distributions based on specification of some prescribed conditional hazard functions.

The danger model: application to a competitive market

The behavior of the firm in a competitive market based on the idea of the human system, i.e., using a danger activator and a defence system, is modelled. The proposed model uses three variables: market share ratio, danger index and the ratio of relative investment between the firm and the total investments including the competition. The danger activator, the defence and the market reaction functions, which explain how the danger index becomes activated, how the firm reacts to a danger signal, and the market reaction to the firm’s actions, respectively, are carefully constructed. This leads to a parametric dynamic system that governs the behavior of the competitive market. The following five classical behaviors of a firm result: monopoly, below aimed market share, aimed market share, above aimed market share and out of market. Formulas for a sensitivity analysis are derived to determine how and how much the equilibrium points of the dynamic system change when the parameters change. All the concepts are illustrated by graphs that show the equilibrium points and the trajectories of the system.