This paper presents a maximum likelihood panel test of the cointegrating rank in heterogeneous panel models based on the mean of the individual rank trace statistics. The existence of the first two moments of the asymptotic distribution of the individual trace statistic is established. Based on this, the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic is shown to be normal. The small-sample size and power properties are investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. An empirical example for a consumption model including consumption, income and inflation is estimated for 23 OECD countries over the period 1960-1994. The results indicate that two cointegrating relations exist in the system: one containing consumption and income and one inflation only.

BackgroundThe original British instrument the Normalization Process Theory Measure (NoMAD) is based on the four core constructs of the Normalization Process Theory: Coherence, Cognitive Participation, Collective Action, and Reflexive Monitoring. They represent ways of thinking about implementation and are focused on how interventions can become part of everyday practice.AimTo translate and adapt the original NoMAD into the Swedish version S-NoMAD and to evaluate its psychometric properties based on a pilot test in a health care context including in-hospital, primary, and community care contexts.MethodsA systematic approach with a four-step process was utilized, including forward and backward translation and expert reviews for the test and improvement of content validity of the S-NoMAD in different stages of development. The final S-NoMAD version was then used for process evaluation in a pilot study aimed at the implementation of a new working method for individualized care planning. The pilot was executed in two hospitals, four health care centres, and two municipalities in a region in northern Sweden. The S-NoMAD pilot results were analysed for validity using confirmatory factor analysis, i.e. a one-factor model fitted for each of the four constructs of the S-NoMAD. Cronbach’s alpha was used to ascertain the internal consistency reliability.ResultsIn the pilot, S-NoMAD data were collected from 144 individuals who were different health care professionals or managers. The initial factor analysis model showed good fit for two of the constructs (Coherence and Cognitive Participation) and unsatisfactory fit for the remaining two (Collective Action and Reflexive Monitoring) based on three items. Deleting those items from the model yielded a good fit and good internal consistency (alphas between 0.78 and 0.83). However, the estimation of correlations between the factors showed that the factor Reflexive Monitoring was highly correlated (around 0.9) with the factors Coherence and Collective Action.ConclusionsThe results show initial satisfactory psychometric properties for the translation and first validation of the S-NoMAD. However, development of a highly valid and reliable instrument is an iterative process, requiring more extensive validation in various settings and populations. Thus, in order to establish the validity and reliability of the S-NoMAD, additional psychometric testing is needed.

ObjectiveThe main aim was to investigate the development of health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) and symptoms of anxiety and depression in a cohort diagnosed with cancer during adolescence from shortly after up to 10 years after diagnosis.MethodsParticipants (n = 61) completed the SF‐36 and the HADS shortly; six, 12, and 18 months; and two, three, four, and 10 years (n = 28) after diagnosis. Polynomial change trajectories were used to model development.ResultsPolynomial change trajectories showed an initial increase which abated over time into a decrease which abated over time for the SF‐36 subscales Mental Health and Vitality; an initial decline which abated over time into an increase for HADS anxiety; and an initial decline which abated over time into an increase which abated over time for HADS depression. The SF‐36 mental component summary showed no change from two to 10 years after diagnosis whereas the SF‐36 physical component summary showed an increase from two years after diagnosis which declined over time. Ten years after diagnosis 29% reported possible anxiety.ConclusionsDevelopment of HRQOL and symptoms of anxiety and depression appears to be non‐linear among persons diagnosed with cancer during adolescence. Well into permanent survivorship an increase in symptoms of anxiety is shown and approximately a third of the participants report possible anxiety. The findings indicate the need for: studies designed to pinpoint the times of highest psychological risk, clinical follow‐up focusing on psychological problems, and development of effective psychological interventions for survivors of adolescent cancer. © 2015 The Authors. Psycho‐Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

This article presents a general likelihood-based framework for inference in panel vector autoregressive (VAR) models with cointegration restrictions. The cointegrating relationships are restricted to each cross section while the rest of the model is unrestricted. The homogeneous restriction of common cointegrating space is also considered. Asymptotic distributions of parameter estimators and the test statistics for the cointegrating rank and the homogeneous restriction are derived. The asymptotic distribution for the cointegrating rank is shown to be the convolution of the standard distribution of the trace statistic and the χ 2 distribution. The homogeneous restriction test statistic is asymptotically χ 2 . A Monte Carlo simulation investigates the small-sample properties of the two tests. The empirical size of the test for the cointegrating rank is well above the nominal. A Bartlett-corrected test statistic is shown to have size very close to the nominal. We give an empirical example for a consumption model, including consumption, income, and inflation as well as considering the monetary exchange rate model of Groen and Kleibergen.

Uncertainty concerning future income lowers consumption. This is often called the precautionary demand for savings. In this paper the existence of precautionary savings. In this paper the existence of precautionary saving is investigated using Swedish data for the years 1973-1992. As there are no variables for consumers' uncertainty a proxy is used. Assuming an underlying distribution of attitudinal data, a variance series is derived. Including the proxy in different specifications of the consumption function, indication of precautionary saving can be found. As a result, no uncertainty would raise consumption by 4.9%.