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spécification

English translation: specification

03:21 Jan 16, 2020
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Economics / econometrics
French term or phrase: spécification
This is from an Economics research paper in the methodology section:

Nous avons utilisé trois spécifications principales (Afrique, Afrique avec ressources naturelles, Afrique sans ressources naturelles) avec les méthodes MMG et MCO. [...] La spécification du modèle global indique qu’une augmentation de 1 % des investissements domestiques et du capital humain entraîne une augmentation du PIB par habitant, respectivement, de 0,10 % et de 0,25 %.

I have not been able to find a surefire translation of "spécification" in these two sentences, and I'm not sure they have the same meaning across these two sentences. "Specification" does not seem correct to me in English.

Thanks in advance.
Adam Lozier
United States
Local time: 20:15
English translation:specification
Explanation:
Looking up the MCO and MMG methods mention, they refer to statistical analysis models:

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinary_least_squares
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized_method_of_moments

And model specification is part of building a statistical model (choosing form, variables, etc.):

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_model_specificatio... (as referenced by Marco Solinas in the discussion section).

So it seems that "specification" is definitely correct in this context.

"Description" would be confusing in this context I believe and cannot therefore be used, e.g. "The description of the global model..." implies reference to an unrelated description of the model, whereas "The specification of the global model..." is still referring to the global model and its specifics (variables, etc.).

Hope this helps.
Selected response from:

Leighton Jacobs
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:15
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4specification
Leighton Jacobs
3 +1description/specification
Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
description/specification


Explanation:
My opinion.

Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón
Mexico
Local time: 22:15
Native speaker of: Spanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  abe(L)solano: (statistical) description
7 hrs
  -> Gracias abe(L)!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
specification


Explanation:
Looking up the MCO and MMG methods mention, they refer to statistical analysis models:

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinary_least_squares
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized_method_of_moments

And model specification is part of building a statistical model (choosing form, variables, etc.):

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_model_specificatio... (as referenced by Marco Solinas in the discussion section).

So it seems that "specification" is definitely correct in this context.

"Description" would be confusing in this context I believe and cannot therefore be used, e.g. "The description of the global model..." implies reference to an unrelated description of the model, whereas "The specification of the global model..." is still referring to the global model and its specifics (variables, etc.).

Hope this helps.


Leighton Jacobs
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:15
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Francois Boye
1 hr
agree  Cyril Tollari
3 hrs
agree  Daryo
8 hrs
agree  erwan-l
22 hrs
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