Elizabeth St. Pierre (2018) challenges us to “live the theories” that post-qualitative perspectives draw upon as there can be no prescribed methods for an approach that is concerned with complexity, interconnectedness and the dynamics of how things are happening (Springgay & Truman, 2018). In developing a PhD project that aims to explore mapping as a mode of encounter that mobilises thinking, I want to set up the field of research to permit certain properties to be enacted, such as plurality, relationality and movement (Deleuze & Guattari, 1988). To help in this endeavour, I turn to manifesto and rules (Doherty, 2013) that simultaneously declare a position and call us to action. I consider their utility as a means of shaping the building blocks of a methodology that is not prescriptive but descriptive, and therefore productive. As a thought-piece, this presentation starts with the properties of thinking that my research is seeking to make space for. Next, I will draw connections between post-qualitative approaches and the use of rules or instructions. Finally, I will present rules for researching and explore ways in which they might open up and activate the research space in my current project.

Weak identification is ubiquitous throughout the instrumental variable literature. In the nonparametric (NPIV) case, identification of the structural function φ in the ill-posed inverse problem Tφ=r has focused on the completeness condition. However, this condition is abstract and untestable, and there has been little research into weak identification in the NPIV model of relevance and use to empirical economists. We provide simulation evidence of the poor performance of the Tikhonov-regularised estimator when completeness is satisfied but the association between the endogenous regressor and instrument is weak. It is well-known that regularisation corrects for ill-posedness, but our analysis shows that regularisation cannot correct for the weak-instrument problem, suggesting that the two problems have different effects on the spectrum of T. Weak identification is shown to be an asymptotic problem, implying researchers cannot avoid the issue by simply increasing sample size (a direct analogue to the linear case). Analytically, we show that the Tikhonov-regularised estimator is inconsistent when the instrument is completely irrelevant, with the size of the bias driven by the unique non-zero eigenvalue of T and the generalised Fourier coefficients of φ.

Migration decisions are complex, multi-phased and prone to change over time. This study analyses migration intentions and the expected length of stay of migrant workers, focusing on the propensity to change or retain migration plans during the course of their experience in the host country. In addition to the usual factors identified in the literature, this study explores the role of housing satisfaction in influencing these plans, which has been little explored thus far. We look at the case of Malta, a new immigration country, which has experienced the largest inflow of foreign workers among the European Union countries since it joined the bloc in 2004. A representative survey of foreign workers staying in private rented accommodation was conducted in 2021 using the rent register of the Housing Authority as the sampling frame. Four categories of foreign workers are identified according to their changes in intentions compared to their initial plans and multinomial logit models are estimated to examine the factors influencing these changes. One of the key findings is that respondents that are dissatisfied with their housing are more likely to switch towards a shorter length of stay. While the results hold for varying skill levels, housing dissatisfaction is only significant for EU workers but not for third country nationals.

Universal Credit replaces six previously distinct benefits, and is paid to one person’s bank account (unlike previous benefits, which could be paid to either partner in a couple). Although Universal Credit policy is ‘reserved’ to the Westminster Government, payment policy was devolved to the Scottish Government as part of a new settlement originating from the narrow ‘No’ vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The reserved, GB-wide policy includes the discretion to split the Universal Credit award between each partner under exceptional circumstances. Scotland aims to make separate payments more routinely. My research explores the Westminster and Scottish Governments’ different approaches to couple payments. My presentation will draw on an analysis of official documents, using Carol Bacchi’s 'What's the Problem Represented to Be?' approach as an analytical framework. Building on Foucault, Bacchi views ‘policy’ as containing particular representations of the problem that the policy is designed to solve (rather than seeing ‘problems’ as existing independently of the solution proposed).