Profiles of ideological and instrumental union bonds: a test in the U.S. and Ghana contexts

Abstract

Configuration or profile of commitments, a person-centered approach, is one of the approaches that have gained a foothold in the commitment research. The importance of this approach to commitment research is the identification of groups that share similarities on a set of commitment constructs. However, profile research on bonds (attachments) to the union is rare. The purpose of this study was to investigate the typology of union profiles based on the ideological and instrumental bonds and to determine if different national settings will lead to discernible patterns of union profiles in the different contexts. The study also seeks to validate the emerged profiles by their association patterns with culture, economic and citizenship behaviors in the union. A field investigation of unionized employees in multiple unions revealed a four-cluster solution in both US and Ghana settings. Profiles explained meaningful variation in psychological collectivism and citizenship in both settings. However, profile differences were only observed for economic dependency for the Ghana sample but not that of the U.S. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.     

Peasant agency in Ghana's oil palm sector: The impact of multiple markets on food sovereignty

This paper contributes to the debate on peasant differentiation and market integration in the food sovereignty literature by examining the smallholder‐oriented oil palm sector in Ghana's eastern region. Against the background of loosening entry barriers in global value chains, and through an analysis of farmers' different positions in palm oil's multiple markets, we witness peasant‐like patterning of production and strategic market participation among well‐situated non‐contract farmers. We propose that such interface settings where commodity relations are present, but do not penetrate fully offer valuable entry points for revisiting the role of global markets in peasant reproduction in the Global South. We consequently argue the need to replace the idealized category of “peasant” with an analytical category that can recognize social differentiation and reproduction through partial engagement with commodity markets.     

Home country institutional impediments and international expansion of developing country SMEs

Though institutional contexts are critical drivers of firms’ international expansion, very limited research efforts have focused on how and when these factors facilitate developing country firms’ outward market activities. This study derives insights from the institution-based view and activity theory to test how perceived environmental uncertainty mediates the link between institutional impediments and international expansion. Using data from small and medium-sized firms from Ghana (N = 222) and Ethiopia (N = 203), the findings suggest that high levels of perceived regulatory and cognitive impediments amplify the mediation effect of perceived environmental uncertainty on the degree of SME’s international expansion. Additionally, the findings suggest that, when political connections are well-developed and deployed, the potency of perceived environmental uncertainty as a driver of international expansion is attenuated. Moreover, the study finds that varying levels of home-country industry competition moderate the relationship between perceived environmental uncertainty and the degree of international expansion. Implications relating to theory and practice are discussed.     

“I just like this e-Retailer”: Understanding online consumers repurchase intention from relationship quality perspective

In an increasingly competitive market, retaining customers is essential for both e-retailers and online shopping platforms. This study focuses on relationship quality as it pertains to repurchase intentions in Ghana. The mediating role of price level is addressed. The results show that customer trust, customer commitment, and customer satisfaction affect price level. Customer trust and satisfaction affect repurchase intention, but customer commitment does not affect repurchase intention. Also, price level mediates the relationship between relationship quality and repurchase intention. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

Proactive environmental strategy and firm performance at the bottom of the pyramid

This paper utilizes insights from the natural resource-based view to examine the conditions under which proactive environmental strategy (PES) drive firm performance. Using data collected from 266 small- and medium-sized enterprises operating in Ghana, the results suggest that the impact of PES on firm performance is more pronounced in firms that do not purse bottom of the pyramid orientation but not significant for firms pursuing the bottom of the pyramid orientation. Besides, the findings show that the influence of PES on firm performance is amplified for firms adopting imitation orientation but not significant for nonimitation-oriented firms. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.     

Connecting the dots: The nexus between transport and telecommunication in Ghana

This paper examines the relationship between transport and telecommunication in developing countries within the broader concept of Smart Cities. Using Ghana as a case study, and drawing mainly on secondary data and few institutional surveys, the paper establishes that telegraph and telephone facilities, as well as new fiber optic networks are heavily dependent on rights-of-way of roads and railways in Ghana, as was observed in the advanced countries. In addition, the paper observed that at the macro level, the nature of the relationship between telecommunication and transport tends to support the complementary role of telecommunication rather than a substitution role. The paper concludes by recommending further studies at the micro level to untie the dilemma in the nexus between telecommunication and transport to inform public policy.     

Young Entrepreneurs in the Mobile Telephony Sector in Ghana: From Necessities to Aspirations

Despite increasing research interest in the mobile telephony sector, only a few studies have devoted attention to informal businesses in the sector. Using qualitative field data collected on young mobile telephony entrepreneurs in Accra, this paper argues that despite the businesses being ‘informal’, they cannot be dismissed as ‘necessity’ enterprises unworthy of support. On the contrary, many young entrepreneurs have aspirations which are influencing their desire to stay in business. The article thus questions the bifurcated nature of entrepreneurial motivations, using the burgeoning mobile telephony sector as a case study, and draws out implications for policy support for youth-run businesses in the informal sector generally.     

Ghana's national health insurance,free maternal healthcare and facility‐based delivery services

Ghana implemented the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2005 and introduced free maternal healthcare (FMH) into the scheme in 2008. These reforms aimed at improving the utilization of healthcare, especially for expectant mothers. Using data from the 2008 and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS) with a sample of 8,081, this study employed multivariate probit and conditional mixed process (CMP) estimators to analyze the NHIS enrolment and the use of facility‐based delivery services among expectant mothers within the context of Sustainable Development Goal 3 in Ghana. The influence of birth order on these policies has also been explored. Before and after analysis was used for the effect of the FMH on NHIS enrolment and the use of delivery services while CMP was used for the effect of NHIS on delivery services. It is concluded that higher birth order reduces the likelihood of NHIS enrolment and health facility delivery. Moreover, the FMH policy has improved both NHIS enrolment and facility‐based delivery. Finally, the NHIS policy proves to be a reliable factor to induce utilization of facility‐based delivery services. It is recommended that maternal health education at antenatal care visits should be enriched with potential consequences and complications associated with multiple births. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) should provide registration desks for expectant mothers at health facilities.