Idiosyncratic use of credit facilities by consumers in an emerging economy

A worldwide increase in household debt since the turn of the century has created considerable concern about the indebtedness of households, especially those in emerging economies that have been hit particularly hard by the global economic slump. In this study, the credit consumption of consumers in Swaziland (N = 264) was investigated by means of a survey that aimed to identify and describe factors that encouraged consumers' use of credit, the influence of credit on their buying behaviour when choosing major household appliances or furniture as well as consumers' knowledge of the conditions of credit facilities that were available for their use in retail. Findings revealed that consumers unequivocally appreciate the convenience that is associated with credit, specifically to cope with unexpected purchases, to benefit from special offers and opportunity to afford expensive goods. These advantages apparently negate the negative consequences such as high interest rates and strain on household budgets. Mean scores that were obtained in the knowledge test that only reflected upon credit agreements that respondents have actually entered into in the past, confirmed their ignorance pertaining to their contractual obligations and their consequent vulnerability. Consumers' age and gender seem to have noteworthy consequences for efforts to enhance informed consumer decision‐making. Younger females were significantly better informed that their older counterpart while the reverse was true for males, although differences were not significant. The significant inverse relationship between income and the LS‐means for the credit knowledge test differ from findings in developed countries and provide valuable opportunity for further investigation.     

浅析北京市高职院校计算机专业群建设存在的问题

计算机专业群的内涵可以从高职教育的使命、北京区域经济社会发展状况、高职院校办学实际等几个方面来把握。笔者认为,做好专业群建设是高职院校提高质量,办出特色,形成品牌,提升内涵的切入点。因此,明确我市计算机专业群建设存在的问题,则有利于我们更好的实施专业群建设和管理。     

模块化设计塑造企业竞争优势的机制研究——以珠三角大中型制造企业为例

为研究模块化设计塑造企业创造持续竞争优势的机制,基于动态能力理论,以技术创新为中介变量,构建了模块化设计与持续竞争优势间关系的理论模型。利用来自珠三角大中型制造企业的300份问卷,应用SPSS16.0与LISREL8.7结构方程模型对问卷数据进行实证分析。结果表明模块化设计能帮助企业获得持续竞争优势,技术创新在模块化设计与品牌优势、连续先动优势和大规模定制优势的关系中均起完全中介作用。     

发酵型红茶饮料加工工艺的研究

以云南CTC红茶为主要原料,经乳酸菌、酵母菌共生发酵,研究发酵型红茶饮料的加工工艺。     

河北省县域投资环境评价指标体系的构建

县域是区域的基本单位,也是城镇化的重点发展地区。作为一种行政区划型区域,县域投资环境既和其他区域投资环境具有共同性,又由于其城乡结合等特点具有特殊性。文章根据河北省县域发展情况,有针对性地构建投资环境评价指标体系,有助于对河北省各县投资环境进行合理准确的评价。     

西南地区农村敬老院室内外环境通用设计初探

通用设计作为一种设计方法,近年来已成为环境设计领域研究的热点。本文以通用设计原则,结合西南农村老人对敬老院室内外环境的生理特征和心理特征,对西南地区敬老院室内外环境进行探讨,指出目前西南地区农村敬老院室内外设计的误区,对农村敬老院室内外环境进行建议,并阐述西南地区农村敬老院室内外环境通用设计的意义。     

安全标准化在矿山企业推进中所存在的问题及对策

近几年来,国家十分重视安全标准化,安全标准化在运行中取得了较好的成果,也出现了很多问题。文章主要对安全标准化的原理,安全标准化的重要性,安全标准化所存在的问题及对策做出简单的探讨,提出要重视员工安全培训,安全评价机构的考评过程以及政府监督体系的建立,进而促进安全标准化的顺利推进,达到安全标准化的最终目标。     

关于修建结构的防渗技术探析

渗漏作为修建结构中最常见的质量通病,由于施工不当常会引发较大的渗漏,因此,为了避免渗漏问题的出现,必须依照相关施工标准进行施工。本文对修建结构产生渗漏的原因进行分析后提出了预防措施,希望能够为有效避免修建结构的渗漏问题提供参考意见。     

关于城市区级政府购买社会组织公共服务的分析和思考——以上海市杨浦区为例

社会组织是社会建设的重要组成部分。如何科学、高效地管理好社会组织,成为社会管理的一个重要课题。政府购买社会组织公共服务这一举措有效推动了政府从全能型政府向有限职能和有限责任政府的转变。     

高职院校校内施工技术实训基地功能的研究

通过对我院校内施工技术实训基地功能的研究,提出了一些新的观点和看法,指出实训基地除了要满足教学要求、素质教育功能外,还应满足社会培训、职业技能鉴定等功能。