Methodological choices in work-life balance research 1987 to 2006: a critical review

This study reviewed methodological choices (sampling frames, constructs investigated and measures used) in 245 empirical work-life balance papers published in a range of discipline-based peer-reviewed journals between 1987 and 2006. Results show that work-life balance studies need to establish greater consistency between the conceptualization of constructs and the operationalization of measures. There is also scope for well-designed field experiments to establish clear causal relationships between variables. Sampling choice in previous literature is somewhat constrained and may be enhanced by targeting single and same-sex parent families, manual and lower-skilled service workers, and employees providing eldercare. Researchers should also be more transparent in providing rationales for their choices of organizations or group lists used to target respondents. The findings have significant implications for understanding, interpreting, and utilizing the contemporary work and family literature.     

Implications of fast food restaurant concentration for preschool-aged childhood obesity

In this research, the authors examine the effects on preschool-aged childhood obesity rates associated with the direct and moderating influence of fast food restaurant density levels, consumer poverty, and urbanization. Results show that higher levels of fast food restaurant saturation are associated with increased levels of childhood obesity in both urban and poor areas, with the largest negative effect of fast food availability on obesity occurring in more economically disadvantaged, urban areas. Findings highlight why the societal impacts of targeting vulnerable populations through corporate location selection strategies should be fully considered in social marketing initiatives, especially given that unhealthy products with long term health risks are increasingly accessible.     

Hurdle and Latent Class Approaches to Serial Non-Participation in Choice Models

In repeated choice modelling studies, it is often the case that individuals always select the status quo option. Although this pattern may reflect considered choices, they may also be the result of alternative decisions about whether to participate in the choice process at all. Alternative methods of dealing with this behaviour, each with associated implications for estimates of economic values, are presented. In particular we consider the alternative strategies of excluding such individuals from the data, using hurdle models to explicitly model this group, and propose the use of latent class models to endogenously allow for different preference structures. An advantage of the latent class approach is that the form of the non-participation need not be defined in advance. These approaches are considered using UK choice experiment data on food choices where the attributes include genetic modification of food. The latent class approach reveals the presence of two forms of non-participation in the data. This paper draws work commissioned by UK Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The views presented in this paper are those of the authors alone and should not be regarded as those of DEFRA or of individuals within DEFRA.     

The sociopolitical analysis of inflation

Zusammenfassung Die soziopolitische Analyse der Inflation. — Dieser Artikel über Natur und Ursachen der gegenw?rtigen Inflation versucht, die haupts?chlichen Mikro- und Makro-Varianten der soziopolitischen Analyse, die zumindest in Europa eine heftig verteidigte Alternativlehre zum Monetarismus — der herrschenden Orthodoxie in den Vereinigten Staaten — darstellt, Revue passieren zu lassen. Die soziopolitische Analyse kann, in entsprechend abgewandelter Form, in gewisser Hinsicht als Wiedergeburt der Lehre von der kosteninduzierten Inflation angesehen werden. Allerdings ist die übliche Version des soziopolitischen Gedankenguts nicht eindeutig hinsichtlich der Rolle, die das Geld bei der Entstehung der Inflation spielt. Im allgemeinen und besonders in den spitzfindigeren Abhandlungen dieser Art wird implizit oder explizit die wichtigste Behauptung der Monetaristen anerkannt, n?mlich die, da\ eine Vermehrung der Geldmenge über die Steigerung der realen Produktion hinaus die Inflation verursache und daher die beste N?herungsvariable für die Erkl?rung der Inflation sei. Dementsprechend wird das Hauptanliegen der soziopolitischen Analyse, der Verteilungskampf sei Hauptursache der Inflation, auf eine besser zu verteidigende Grundlage gestellt.

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Résumé L’analyse socio-politique de l’inflation. — Cet article sur la nature et les sources de l’inflation actuelle essaie de revoir et d’analyser les principales micro et macro variantes de l’analyse socio-politique qui, en Europe au moins, est une vue alternative fortement défendue vis-à-vis le monétarisme qui est l’orthodoxie dominante dans les E.U. Dans un certain sens l’analyse socio-politique peut être regardée comme renaissance de l’analyse ?cost-push? dans une forme proprement modifiée. Cependant il y a encore une certaine ambigu?té dans la pensée sociopolitique regardant le r?le de la monnaie d’amener à l’inflation. Généralement, et particulièrement dans les traitements plus sophistiques qui s’occupent avec ce genre, il y a une récognition implicite ou explicite du paradigme principal des monétaristes: la croissance monétaire à l’excès de la croissance de production réelle est le déterminant approximatif de l’inflation. En conséquence, l’analyse du conflit de distribution comme instigateur majeur de l’inflation s’est retirée sur un terrain plus défendable. L’objectif général de l’analyse sociopolitique est de souligner le conflit de distribution comme déterminant fondamental de l’inflation.

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Resumen El Análisis Sociopolítico de la Inflación. — El artículo analiza las principales variantes, micro y macro, de la teoría sociopolítica de la inflación con el objeto de aclarar la naturaleza y causas de la inflación actual. En contraposición con la ortodoxia monetarista que domina actualmente la opinión norteamericana, el análisis sociopolítico de la inflación encuentra al menos en Europa un amplio frente de partidarios. El enfoque sociopolítico podría en cierta forma interpretarse como una modificación de la teoría que postula los costes de producción como la principal causa de la inflaciń. Aun así, la función del dinero en la generación de inflación es en general algo ambigua dentro del pensamiento sociopolítico. En general, pero especialmente en los trabajos más sofisticados de este género, hay un reconocimiento implícite o explicite del principal postulado monetarista: El crecimiento de la oferta monetaria en exceso del crecimiento de la producción real determina la tasa de inflación. Debido a este reconocimiento, el análisis del conflicto en la distribución de producto national como el instigador primordial de la inflación ha sido reagrupado a la largo de argumentes mas plausibles. El análisis sociopolítico postula así con todo, la existencia de un conflicto distributivo como el determinante fundamental de la inflación.

     

MODELS OF STOCK MARKET PREDICTABILITY

I briefly review the success of past studies purporting to explain equity valuations and predict future equity returns. The Campbell‐Shiller mean reversion models are contrasted with an expanded version of the so‐called Federal Reserve model. At least from 1970 to 2003, Federal Reserve–type models did somewhat better at predicting long‐horizon returns than did a mean reversion model based on dividend yields and price‐earnings multiples. However, timing investment strategies based on any of these prediction models do no better than a buy‐and‐hold strategy. Although some predictability of returns exists, there is no evidence of any systematic inefficiency that would enable investors to earn excess returns.     

Privatization: The thatcher case

This paper reviews the process of privatization under successive British governments. It concludes that the Thatcher experiment has had an effect in reversing the previous trend towards nationalization. This has been part of a continuing worldwide swing away from government enterprise. The major result has been an increase in internal efficiency (as distinct from allocative efficiency) of the enterprises concerned. Purchases of shares by management and workers of privatized firms has created an important lobby which will oppose renationalization by a future government.     

Why does workers' compensation pay more for health care?

An analysis shows that health care providers charged substantially larger amounts for treatment of workers' compensation cases than for the treatment of similar patients insured by Blue Cross.     

Analysis of the Determinants of Adoption of Organic Horticultural Techniques in the UK

The determinants of the decision to adopt organic production techniques are examined by applying binomial and multinomial logit techniques to a sample of 237 horticultural producers from the UK. The analysis indicates that organic horticultural producers are more likely to be younger, run smaller enterprises and be female than their conventional counterparts, and that there are significant non-economic aspects to the decision to adopt organic techniques which may be missed in comparative profitability studies. In addition, the analysis indicates that the registered and unregistered organic producers should not be regarded as a homogenous group, with significant differences in terms of the influence of gender and information sources observed.