Social utility and fashion behavior

This article reports the exploratory results of a computer-based behavioral simulation that examines the role of social utility in fashion behavior. Social utility is defined as those benefits of a product or service that satisfy interpersonal needs (e.g., conformity, individuality relative to others). These exploratory results suggest that social utility is a prime determinate of fashion behavior, and that selected personality traits moderate behavioral responses to social influence in the fashion domain.     

Multinational corporations and discriminatory investment controls

Zusammenfassung Multinationale Gesellschaften und diskriminierende In-vestitionskontrollen.-In diesem Aufsatz werden einige der Einflüsse untersucht, die multinationale Gesellschaften auf die internationalen Handels-und die Investitionsstr?me haben. Dabei wird ein einfaches allgemeines Gleichgewichtsmodell verwendet, das sich von früheren Arbeiten auf neoklassischer Grundlage z. B. dadurch abhebt, da\ es zwischen Kapital und solchen Faktoren unterscheidet, die für die Multis charakteristisch sind. Au\erdem wird die Aufmerksamkeit auf die Ver?nderungen der quantitativen Beschr?nkungen gerichtet, denen die Investitionen der Multis unterworfen sind. Wenn ein Gastland solche Beschr?nkungen aufhebt, lassen sich folgende Wirkungen ermitteln: (1) die Terms of Trade bewegen sich vermutlich zugunsten dieses Landes, vorausgesetzt, das Importgut wird von den Multis erzeugt; (2) die Rendite des international mobilen Kapitals dürfte ansteigen; (3) die Rendite der Faktoren, die für Multis charakteristisch sind, f?llt nicht nur im Gastland, sondern auch im Heimatland; (4) L?hne k?nnen entweder steigen oder fallen. Unter diesen Umst?nden kann a priori nicht gesagt werden, ob ein Gastland dadurch gewinnt, da\ es Investitionsbeschr?nkungen für Multis abbaut.

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Résumé Les entreprises multinationales et les contr?les discriminants de l’investissement. -Cet article analyse quelques influences des entreprises multinationales (EMN) sur le commerce international et les structures d’investissement en appliquant un simple modèle d’équilibre général. Le modèle diffère des études récentes en cadre néoclassique, entre autres, par la distinction entre le capital et des facteurs qui sont spécifiques aux EMN. En plus, les auteurs dirigent l’attention sur les changements en restrictions quantitatives imposées sur l’investissement des EMN. Si un pays emprunteur élimine de telles restrictions, les résultats suivants sont dérivés: (1) Les termes de l’échange se tourneront probablement en son faveur sous la condition que son bien importable sera produit par les EMN; (2) le rendement sur le capital internationalement mobile s’augmentera probablement; (3) les rendements sur les facteurs qui sont spécifiques pour les EMN décro?tront non seulement dans le pays emprunteur mais aussi dans le pays d’origine; (4) les salaires de la main d’oeuvre pourront s’augmenter ou se réduire. Dans ces circonstances on ne peut pas constater à priori si le pays emprunteur gagne aux réductions des restrictions sur l’investissement de l’EMN.

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Resumen Corporaciones multinacionales y controles de inversión discriminatorios. —Este artfculo analiza algunas de las influencias de corporaciones multinacionales (CMN) sobre el comercio internacional y patrones de inversión usando un modelo de equilibrio general simple. El modelo se diferencia de trabajos anteriores en un marco neoclásico, distinguiendo entre capital y factores específicos de las CMN. Adicionalmente, la atención se enfoca hacia cambios en restricciones cuantitativas impuestas sobre inversiones de CMN. Si un país huésped remueve tales restricciones se derivan los siguientes resultados: (1) los términos del intercambio se moverán probablemente en su favor, siempre que sus bienes importables sean producidos por la CMN; (2) los retornos sobre el capital internacionalmente movil probablemente aumentarán; (3) los retornos de factores especfficos de las CMN no solo caen en el país huésped sino que también en el país de origen; (4) los salarios laborales pueden tanto subir como caer. Bajo estas circunstancias, no se puede establecer a priori si el pafs huésped gana al reducir las restricciones sobre la inversión de CMN.

     

Behavioral dimensions of channels of distribution: Review and synthesis

This paper reviews and synthesizes the past research in the area of behavioral dimensions of channels of distribution. The authors explore the focal points of works on bargaining, conflict, cooperation, power, performance, member roles, member satisfaction and political economy. Suggestions for future research are supplied.     

The ethics of leveraged management buyouts revisited

Although previous ethical analyses of management buyouts have presented useful insights, they have been flawed in three major ways. First, they define the transaction too narrowly, emphasizing the going private aspect and ignoring the leveraged aspect. Leveraging alters the nature of the transaction substantially and warrants additional ethical analysis. Second, these previous analyses ignore the impact of buyouts on non-stockholder constituents of the firm, an omission which renders their implicit utilitarian approach incomplete. Third, these analyses do not include Rawlsian, libertarian, or Kantian perspectives on ethics. This paper addresses these shortcomings and finds the ethical status of leveraged management buyouts to be highly suspect. Thomas M. Jones is a Professor of Organization and Environment in the School of Business Administration at the University of Washington in Seattle. He has written on such subjects as business ethics, corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, boards of directors, shareholder litigation, and business and society paradigms. His work has appeared in the Academy of Management Review, California Management Review, Boston University Law Review and the Hastings Law Journal.Reed O. Hunt, III is currently working for the Seattle Office of Peterson Consulting Limited Partnership, a national business dispute resolution consulting firm.     

Migration and wage growth: a human capital approach

"The purpose of this paper is to analyze migration as an investment in human capital using panel data. [The authors] focus on two issues. The first is the economic motivation for migration and the reasons some movers receive high returns relative to other migrants. The second issue, and the major focus of the paper, is a test of the human capital model explaining wage profiles of nonmovers, first-time, and repeat migrants." The data are from the National Longitudinal Survey of Young Males, 1966-1971 cross-section, and concern the United States.     

Ethical Problems of Advertising Agency Executives

Abstract

A mail survey reports on ethical problems faced by 330 advertising agency executives. The most frequently cited difficult ethical problem is “treating clients fairly.” Creating honest advertisements and representing clients whose products or services are unhealthy OT not needed were also frequently mentioned. Many agency executives reported that such ethical problems affect both their performance and their relationships with co-workers.     

Allocation currencies and perceived ability to obtain permits

Abstract

In an effort to understand how permit allocation systems affect different user groups, Stankey and Baden (1977) developed an evaluation scheme based on the idea of allocation currencies. Each allocation alternative is associated with a currency that pays the costs imposed by that system. This paper hypothesizes that those who have more of the relevant currency perceive that they have a greater likelihood of successfully obtaining a permit. This relationship is tested for five common allocation alternatives (pricing, reservation, lottery, queuing, and merit) with data from a sample of river runners in Hells Canyon. Results generally support the theory, and all but one of the hypothesized relationships were significant. Other currency variables also had significant effects, however, suggesting that the costs imposed by allocation systems are fairly complex. Implications for management are discussed.