Consuming nostalgia? The appreciation of authenticity in local food production

Many consumers consider local food a more sustainable choice than conventional food because of the shorter transport distances involved as well as the support provided to local economies. In addition, consumers value the perceived safety benefits, ethical associations and improved taste of local food. In this study, we focus on the cultural meanings of locally produced food among Finnish consumers. Based on interviews with 22 consumers, our analysis suggests that, besides consumers valuing sustainable, healthy and tasty locally produced food, they perceived self‐produced, self‐processed items, including those they have gathered, hunted and fished themselves, as the most authentic local food. Furthermore, local food is associated with craftsmanship and artisan production. We also found that interviewees tended to historicize their relationship to food through local production. Thus, consumers seem to be in search of ‘real’ or ‘true’ food that is embedded in their personal and shared social histories.     

Liberty for the 21st Century: Contemporary Libertarian Thought,Edited by Tibor R. Machan and Douglas B. Rasmussen

Teaching Business Ethics -     

The proposed elimination of full cost accounting in the extractive petroleum industry: An empirical assessment of the market consequences

On July 15, 1977, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Exposure Draft of Statement 19 in which a proposal was set forth to establish the uniform usage of successful efforts accounting and to eliminate full cost accounting in the extractive petroleum industry. This study addresses the question of whether the proposed elimination of full cost accounting had an adverse effect on the security returns of full cost versus successful efforts firms. The evidence presented in this study suggests that the proposal to eliminate full cost accounting was associated with a significant negative difference in risk-adjusted rates between full cost firms and successful efforts firms whose financial reports remained unaffected by the proposed change. This observed difference was found to be sustained over an eight month period including confirming events and disclosures associated with the initial proposal. We do not attribute this difference to market inefficiencies but, rather, to the anticipated consequences which this mandated accounting change is likely to have on managerial behavior and to increased costs that will have to be borne by the affected companies.     

Guest editorial: perspectives on sustainable consumption

The typical guest editorial within a special issue of a journal will explain the theme of the special issue, introduce the different contributions that follow, outline the contributions that each makes and identify the common threads that connect them. By contrast, this editorial article seeks to provide an overview which explores the broader context for the challenges that are presented by the pursuit of ‘sustainable consumption’ as a field of scholarship, a form of behaviour and a public policy goal. It explores some of the complexities involved in understanding sustainable consumption, and the ways in which conventional approaches to understanding consumption and consumer behaviour may be insufficient to understand and promote sustainable consumption.     

Group decision-making theory and behavior under performance-based water quality payments

Two theoretical models explaining group allocation decisions under watershed level, performance-based payments are explored: (I) reward and penalize individual contributors; and (II) reduce the problem with cost-sharing and cooperative abatement. Under Model I, an optimal amount of pollution from individual contributors can be achieved with proper payment incentive and group allocation formula. Model II represents a cost effective solution to pollution reduction where the group optimizes its return from group payments, but does not necessarily achieve an optimal level of pollution. Field experiment observations support farmer behavior closer to Model II.     

PRICE AND VOLUME EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CREATION OF STANDARD & POOR'S MIDCAP INDEX

In this paper we explore price and volume effects associated with the 1991 creation of Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 index. Prior work on changes in the composition of existing indices finds a significant price response to the announcement. Various authors link the effect to price pressure, information, an outwardly shifting demand curve for securities, and the increased attention that comes with inclusion in an index. Using event study methodology, we find significant price and volume effects during the two weeks leading up to the Standard & Poor's announcement, but no significant effect in the two-day interval around the event. Apparently, information leakage and/or anticipation preceded the creation of the index. The price run-up is permanent since the positive abnormal returns leading up through the announcement are not associated with significantly negative abnormal returns after the announcement. In addition, MidCap stocks significantly outperform the market during the fifty-two weeks following the announcement. Using cross-sectional regressions, we show that these prior-period abnormal returns are positively related to abnormal volume and institutional holdings. We also find that firms trading over-the-counter had larger price run-ups than NYSE or AMEX firms.     

A critical examination of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is responsible for the Code of Professional Conduct that governs the actions of CPAs. In 1988, the Code was revised by the AICPA, but a number of issues still remain unresolved or confounded by the new Code. These issues are examined in light of the profession's stated commitment to the public good, a commitment that is discussed at length in the new Code.Specifically, this paper reviews the following issues: (1) client confidentiality and whistleblowing, (2) limited liability, and (3) auditor independence. We argue that, in each of these areas, the AICPA promotes a position that is potentially harmful to the public good.Allison Collins is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Accounting and Taxation at Colorado State University. She has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1982. She has published previously inJournal of Business Ethics.Normal Schutz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting and Taxation at Colorado State University. He has published in such journals asJournal of Business Ethics, EDP Auditor Journal andInternal Auditor.     

Environment versus industry: A case study of how the pulp and paper industry is responding to changing attitudes to the environment

‘Environment Friendly’ has become one of the most popular catchphrases of the 1990s and its implications are causing problems for many industries (The Economist, 1991a). The problems and response strategies vary from industry to industry and probably from country to country. In this study attention is focused on the pulp and paper sector in Europe. Pulp and paper is selected because for a long time it has been regarded as one of the most damaging industrial activities (Zavatta, 1988). The increasingly popular desire for a greener environment has exposed three particular problem areas for the pulp and paper industry: the production process; its supply of raw materials; and marketing strategy (Brown, 1991). Technology and consumer demand are the important variables that are dictating how fast, and to what extent the pulp and paper industry can respond and become more environment friendly. Pressures on the pulp and paper industry to improve its environmental performance are shown to emanate from three distinct groups. These environmental pressures have encouraged and are encouraging the industry to adopt new technology to improve both its production processes and the quality of its product. Environmental pressures also, have encouraged the industry, (armed with improved technology), to search for new sources of raw materials. Two of the most important developments have been the more widespread substitution of hardwoods for traditional coniferous softwoods, and the increasing trend towards the recycling of waste paper; wastepaper is now recycled more than any other commodity. Recycling of waste paper has further promoted new layers of industrial activity in the form of collection agencies, international trade and deinking installations. The combined result of all these developments is shown to influence the spatial and structural dynamics of the pulp and paper-industry in Europe.