Statistical Terms Glossary

In an options contract, a ratio representing the change expected to occur in the market value of an options contract as a result of a specified change in the market value of the securities underlying the contract.

Covering an open position against possible losses as a result of price movements by entering into a counter-transaction (e.g. forward contracts).

Hedging is the use of financial instruments, such as futures contracts, to offset the risk in an investment portfolio, as an increase in the value of the hedging instrument will offset declines in the other assets

The hedonic method is a regression technique used to estimate the prices of qualities or models that are not available on the market in particular periods, but whose prices in those periods are needed in order to be able to construct price relatives.

It is based on the hypothesis that the prices of different models on sale on the market at the same time are functions of certain measurable characteristics such as size, weight, power, speed, etc and so regression methods can be used to estimate by how much the price varies in relation to each of the characteristics.

The hedonic method in the compilation of construction price indices entails the use of regression techniques to construct hedonic indices to measure purchasers’ preferences for the different characteristics of construction work. This approach, which is used in the compilation of some of the price indices compiled in the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States, starts from the premise that each construction is a combination of characteristics, each of which has an implicit price. This price is set by the market and is reflected in the over-all prices for which different combinations of these characteristics are sold, and where different varieties of the same construction type, each with its own peculiar combination of characteristics, co-exist.

A method for separating the values of the various ‘functions’ of a forest estate: the land value, the timber value, the recreational (e.g. hunting, aesthetic, etc.) value.

Cultural norm that continuously connects men to power and economic achievements.

Height of the child measured in centimetres as: 1.  Recumbent Length: distance from the crown of the head to the sole while the child is measured lying supine (for children less than 2 years of age).2.  Standing Height: distance from the crown of the head to the sole while the child is measured standing (children more than 2 years of age).

See Heightened managerial care

Heightened managerial care (or heightened care) is a variant of the risk management term - "due care". The use of the word "heightened" stresses the fact that companies need to use extra vigilance and care in managing the heightened risks encountered in weak governance zones.

Agreement that came into force in 1992. This agreement prohibits (with some exceptions) the provision of tied aid loans to high-income countries (based on World Bank per capita income), and for commercially viable projects.

is a viral infection that attacks the liver.

A herbicide is a substance used to control weeds or the growth of undesirable grass or plants

A crop plant that by genetic modification(s) or conventional breeding has acquired resistance towards a herbicide it would otherwise be susceptible to.

IDF/FAO International Symposium on dairy safety and hygiene Cape Town, 2004, South Africa.

Pastoralism is an economy based on herding. Pastoralists maintain herds of animals and use their products to support themselves directly and to exchange with other civilizations.

A measure of industry concentration. The value of the index is the sum of the squares of the market shares of all firms in an industry. Higher values indicate greater concentration.

See Homogeneous products, Product differentiation

Heteronormativity is an expressed used to describe or identify a social norm relating to standardized heterosexual behavior, whereby this standard is considered to be the only socially valid form of behavior and anyone who does not follow this social and cultural posture is placed at a disadvantage in relation to the rest of society. This concept is the basis of discriminatory and prejudiced arguments against LGBT, principally those relating to the formation of families and public expression.

Assumption that every person should be heterosexual, thus marginalising those who do not identify themselves as heterosexual.

Heterosexual people are attracted to individuals of a different sex
from themselves.

The displacement of environmental assets without absorption into the economic sphere; example: overburden from mining operations.

See Underground economy

See Underground economy