Using Meta-Analysis and GIS for Value Transfer and Scaling Up: Valuing Climate Change Induced Losses of European Wetlands

There is growing policy and academic interest in transferring ecosystem service values from existing valuation studies to other ecosystem sites at a large geographic scale. Despite the evident policy demand for this combined transfer and “scaling up” of values, an approach to value transfer that addresses the challenges inherent in assessing ecosystem changes at a national or regional level is not available. This paper proposes a methodology for scaling up ecosystem service values to estimate the welfare effects of ecosystem change at this larger geographical scale. The methodology is illustrated by applying it to value the impact of climate change on European wetlands for the period 2000–2050. The proposed methodology makes use of meta-analysis to produce a value function. The parameters of the value function include spatial variables on wetland size and abundance, GDP per capita, and population. A geographic information system is used to construct a database of wetland sites in the case study region with information on these spatial variables. Site-specific ecosystem service values are subsequently estimated using the meta-analytic value function. The proposed method is shown to enable the adjustment of transferred values to reflect variation in important spatial variables and to account for changes in the stock of ecosystems.     

Factors attracting online consumers to choose e-Malls for e-procurement in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

A large segment of consumers prefer e-procurement because it provides several advantages such as a variety of options and lower prices. The business-to-consumer approach is spreading on a global scale, but its role is limited in countries such as Saudi Arabia due to the size and strength of the economy. Saudi Arabia has the fourth highest level of economic growth in the Middle East and ranks 38th globally in terms of Internet infrastructure. Its rate of Internet growth is 12% yearly, and 40% of the population has access to the Internet. The volume of online trade in Saudi Arabia was USD 800 million in 2012, and 56% of this amount was for purchases through foreign websites.The end consumers are one of the most important target segments of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute 90% of Saudi Arabian companies. These companies face limitations in establishing e-procurement channels because these channels require financial support beyond their funding capabilities. Therefore, one of the best low-cost solutions is the adoption of e-Malls, which provide various benefits to consumers and are a suitable environment for SMEs to present and sell their products. The e-Mall is a modern idea in Saudi Arabia; thus, it could be beneficial to adopt the diffusion of an innovative approach to the spread of e-Malls. This article focuses on determining the requirements and obstacles facing consumers who make purchases through e-Malls. A quantitative survey was conducted on a random sample of 381 residents of all ages in Saudi Arabia who had made online purchases. The main factors influencing the adoption of e-Malls were organisational, technical and cultural elements.     

论科学发展观与社会责任标准的关系及实施

文章将科学发展观与社会责任标准进行了结合分析,论证了两者之间的关系,并针对我国目前对社会责任标准的理解和认证的现实,提出了尽快熟悉和研究社会责任标准的重要意义。根据我国的现实,进一步提出了应对国际上社会责任标准认证趋势的策略。     

Credibility of corporate announcements and market reaction: evidence from Canadian share repurchase programs

Do market participants evaluate the credibility of a firm's share repurchase announcement based on the firm's share repurchase history? Using a sample of 1,507 share repurchase programs for firms listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange from 1994 to 2005, we find that 69% of firms fail to acquire the target number of shares specified at announcement and many firms fail to repurchase any shares. We develop credibility indices and find a positive relationship between current announcement abnormal returns and completion credibility of previous announcements. We conclude that the market prices completion credibility of past share repurchase announcements in reacting to current repurchase announcements. Copyright © 2010 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.