The Applicability of a Contingent Factors Model to Accounting Ethics Research

This paper discusses the relevancy of a contingent factors model posited by Jones for conducting accounting ethics research. Using a sample of 37 experienced Australian auditing managers and partners of all of the ‘Big Four’ multinational accounting firms, we find that the contextual model developed by Jones can help guide accounting ethics research by isolating the contingent factors that affect ethical decision making. Moreover, we examine how the factors differ across different accounting settings. Implications for accounting ethics research and accounting practice are then discussed.Jeffrey R. Cohen, PhD is an Associate Professor at the Carroll School of management at Boston College. His research focuses primarily on behavioral ethics issues as well as investigating governance from a behavioral perspective.Nonna Martinov Bennie is a Senior Lecturer at Sydney University. Her research focuses on ethical issues in auditing as well as issues surrounding materiality judgments.     

Customs-related Transaction Costs,Firm Size and International Trade Intensity

customs are generally perceived as a time-consuming impediment to international trade. However, few studies have empirically examined the determinants and the impact of this type of government-imposed transaction costs. This paper analyses the role of firm size as a determinant of customs-related transaction costs, as well as the effect of firm size on the relationship between these costs and the international trade intensity of firms. The results of this study indicate that customs-related transaction costs repress international trade activities of firms, even at low levels of these costs. The paper identifies transaction-related economies of scale, simplified customs procedures and advanced information and communication technology as main determinants of customs-related transaction costs. It is shown that when these factors are taken into account, firm size has no effect on customs-related transaction costs. Policy implications are considered for firm strategy and public policy.     

An Analysis of the Factor Structure of Jones’ Moral Intensity Construct

In 1991, Jones developed an issue-contingent model of ethical decision making in which moral intensity is posited to affect the four stages of Rest’s 1986 model (awareness, judgment, intention, and behavior). Jones claimed that moral intensity, which is “the extent of issue-related moral imperative in a situation” (p. 372), consists of six characteristics: magnitude of consequences (MC), social consensus (SC), probability of effect (PE), temporal immediacy (TI), proximity (PX), and concentration of effect (CE). This article reports the findings of two studies that analyzed the factor structure of moral intensity, operationalized by a 12-item Perceived Moral Intensity Scale (PMIS) adapted from the work of Singhapakdi et al. [1996, Journal of Business Research, 36, 245–255] and Frey [2000, Journal of Business Ethics, 26, 181–195]. The two items that were purported to measure CE were dropped due to their inability to effectively tap into the characteristic proposed by Jones. Factor analyses of the remaining 10 items supported a 3-factor structure, with the MC, PE, and TI items loading on the first factor, the PX items loading on the second factor, and the SC items loading on the third factor. These factors were labeled: Probable Magnitude of Consequences, Proximity, and Social Consensus. The authors conclude that moral intensity consists of three characteristics, rather than the six posited by Jones.     

入世后中日制成品贸易发展的实证分析

中国"入世"后,中日贸易的发展与中国其他主要贸易伙伴相比有一定的差距,其占中国对外贸易总额的比重不断下降。为了深入了解中日贸易的发展变化,本文以制成品为研究对象,在国际贸易标准分类的基础上,借助贸易强度指数、互补性指数、产业内贸易指数等进行了定量分析。结果表明,双方紧密的贸易联系和较强的互补性并没有发生改变。只要能妥善处理诸多政治分歧,双方贸易增长还将有很大的潜力。     

中国碳排放强度影响因素的实证研究

运用计量经济模型从能源强度、产业结构和能源结构3个方面研究了影响中国碳排放强度的因素,研究表明,能源强度的提高能够使碳排放强度上升,第二产业、第三产业以及非化石能源比重的提高能够使碳排放强度下降,并对2010年和2011年中国碳排放强度变化做了分解,研究表明中国碳排放强度的下降主要是由能源效率减排引起的,基于以上研究提出当前应优化产业结构和稳步提高非化石能源比重等建议,对于政府制定节能减排政策具有一定的借鉴意义。     

中国 R & D 强度区位分布条件因素的差异分析--基于稳健MM估计的EBA模型的实证研究

依据空间计量经济学的相关理论,运用稳健MM估计的EBA （异常值检验的极值边界分析）模型,采用中国30个省际区域2002～2012年的面板数据,实证研究中国东部、中部、西部地区R&D强度区位分布条件的“稳健性（Robust ）”影响因素。结果表明：我国东部、中部、西部各地区的R&D强度存在差异,且其影响因素也不尽相同。R&D强度较高的东部地区,科技水平、市场规模、固定资产投资、要素禀赋等4个因素对中国R&D强度具有抗干扰的“稳健性”影响;R&D强度中等的中部地区,3个“稳健性”影响因素是政府公共政策、科技水平和要素禀赋;而对于R&D强度较低的西部地区,技术创新和要素禀赋对提高R&D强度作用具有“稳健性”。由此揭示我国R&D强度的发展规律以及各区域间的差异性,并根据实证结论提出一些政策建议,为各地区制定科技政策目标和实施方案提供经验证据和决策参考。     

我国工业化、城市化对能源消费强度的动态效应与区域差异——基于动态面板数据模型的系统广义矩(SYS-GMM)分析方法

基于2002-2012年中国的省际面板数据,将能源消费强度分为低、中和高三个层次,运用动态面板数据模型的系统广义矩(SYS-GMM)分析方法,对工业化、城市化对中国能源消费强度的动态效应与区域差异进行了实证分析。研究结果表明,工业化、城市化水平提高均会导致地区间能源消费强度的增加,但城市化对低能源消费强度区域的影响并不显著,而对高能源消费强度区域的影响却十分明显。此外,上一期的能源消费强度、地区经济发展水平、能源价格和技术创新等均对中国能源消费强度产生不同的影响,而且中国存在技术创新的反弹性效应且能源价格对技术创新有诱致性作用。     

The Effect of Moral Intensity on Ethical Judgment

Following an extensive review of the moral intensity literature, this article reports the findings of two studies (one between-subjects, the other within-subject) that examined the effect of manipulated and perceived moral intensity on ethical judgment. In the between-subjects study participants judged actions taken in manipulated high moral intensity scenarios to be more unethical than the same actions taken in manipulated low moral intensity scenarios. Findings were mixed for the effect of perceived moral intensity. Both probable magnitude of consequences (a factor consisting of magnitude of consequences, probability of effect, and temporal immediacy) and social consensus had a significant effect; proximity did not. In the within-subject study manipulated moral intensity had a significant effect on ethical judgment, but perceived moral intensity did not. Regression of ethical judgment on age, gender, major, and the three perceived moral intensity factors was significant between-subjects, but not within-subject. Ethical judgment was found to be a more robust predictor of intention than perceived moral intensity using a within-subject design. Joan M. McMahon is an Assistant Professor of Management in the Luter School of Business at Christopher Newport University, teaching courses in Organizational Behavior, Leadership, and Human Resources. She has a B.A. in Speech from the State University of New York, College at Oneonta; an M. Ed. in Early Childhood Education from James Madison University; and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Robert J. Harvey is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He has a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Ohio State University. Dr. Harvey has authored a number of articles in the Journal of Applied Psychology, the Journal of Personality Assessment, Personnel Psychology, and others. He is the author of the chapter on job analysis in the Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.     

中国和新加坡商品贸易实证研究

自中国和新加坡建交以来,伴随着两国经济增长,双边贸易有了较大的发展。中新双边贸易强度不断增强,但指数并不高,贸易合作前景广阔。相对而言,中国的比较优势指数不如新加坡,新加坡在双边贸易中略占优势。中新双边贸易主要以产业内贸易为主,这些产业内贸易主要集中在几个少数的产品;中新的产业内贸易并不是基于水平分工的产业内贸易,而是基于垂直分工的产业内贸易。     

Moderating effect of capital intensity on the relationship between leverage and financial distress in the U.S. restaurant industry

During the recent and ongoing economic turmoil, countless businesses have been facing financial distress and many have filed for bankruptcy. This issue is especially critical for the restaurant industry due to restaurants’ sensitivity to economic fluctuations. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the financial distress issue in the U.S. restaurant industry. In particular, the study examines a moderating effect of capital intensity on the relationship between a firm's leverage and degree of financial distress. The dataset includes publicly traded U.S. restaurant firms during the period 1990–2008. The study measures the degree of financial distress by modified Z-scores, and findings suggest a positive moderating effect of capital intensity on the relationship between leverage and financial distress.