The optimal portfolio for the two-pillar mandatory pension system: the case of Poland

In the recent decade, there has been observed across the Central and Eastern European states the regulatory trend towards the increase of the non-financial (first) pension pillar size at the expense of the financial (second) pillar. It tends to question the consequences of this shift for the future retirement benefits. Applying the portfolio approach we address this issue by running a series of simulations to find out how to allocate pension contributions between both pillars in an optimal way. Our study contributes to the existing literature as follows. First, we do not perform the assessment of the predetermined regulatory solutions, but we look for an optimal one. Moreover, we allow our optimal rule to be time-varying, if necessary, which would be a true novelty in this research area. Second, we do not base our estimates on historical trends; rather, we apply the long-term economy’s projection to account for the society’s ageing impact, which is a crucially important factor for the solvency of the pension system. Adapting some of the simulation assumptions to fit the Polish case, our results confirm that current regulations underestimate the role of the capital pillar and the optimal allocation between both pillars should be time-varying.     

试析FDI对我国产业结构的影响

外商直接投资对一个国家产业结构优化有着重要的影响，它直接关系着产业结构优化的程度。就我国目前的情况来看，外商直接投资对中国的产业结构的调整和优化还需要有不小的改进。基于此．本文对外商直接投资对我国产业的利弊作分析，进而提出解决的对策。     

An integrated system for information security management with the unified framework

Information security management plays an essential role for drawing the roadmap of information security; thus, many theoretical methodologies and practical standards are brought into this domain. However, many standards and methodologies are too cumbersome to be adopted by an organization. Additionally, there is no unified framework to systematically handle the tedious tasks of information security management. This study’s primary goal is to design an integrated system for information security management (ISISM) that aims to use current methodologies and standards to solve the above-mentioned issues. Because business impact analysis and risk analysis are the most important areas within this domain, we carefully select the related methods and then integrate them into a unified framework, upon which the proposed ISISM depends. To achieve this outcome for this study, security requirement engineering is adopted, which enables the designed system to support system users in generating risk assessment reports with related information security policies.     

A MCGP decision aid for homebuyers to make the best choice

This study adopts a new approach, the multi-choice goal programming (MCGP), to evaluate houses in order to help homebuyers to find better house based on the residential preferences. According to the function of MCGP, homebuyers can set multiple housing goals with multiple aspiration levels. This increases the flexibility to find a suitable house. Compared with other classical methods such as checklist and analytic hierarchy process, MCGP is more efficient, especially while considering a lot of housing criteria and house alternatives. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of MCGP decision aid for housing selection, a real case study is then provided. Furthermore, ten volunteers are invited to participate in the empirical experiment. The results also validate the effectiveness and efficiency of MCGP decision aid.     

The Effect of Scarcity on the Purchase Intentions of Prevention and Promotion Motivated Consumers

This study investigates the influence of consumers’ motivational orientations (“prevention” vs. “promotion”) on their susceptibility to demand‐based versus supply‐based scarcity, measured by purchase intention scores. Prevention‐focused participants were more inclined to adopt a product when it was perceived to be demand‐scarce rather than supply‐scarce, while those who were identified as promotion‐focused responded positively to scarcity attributed to supply shortfall. In addition, products that could be associated with a prevention motive enhanced purchase intentions when presented as demand‐scarce but not if perceived to be supply‐scarce; conversely, products associated with the promotion motive scored better if the scarcity was seen to be supply‐generated rather than demand‐generated. Lastly, messages focused on prevention were more effective than those focused on promotion in the case of perceived demand scarcity, whereas the converse holds true for supply scarcity. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the motivational differences underlying the effectiveness of scarcity appeals. They furthermore suggest the strategic implication that improved intention to purchase occurs when the regulatory focus evoked by a scarcity‐related message is compatible with the appeal it communicates.     

PRICING CHAINED OPTIONS WITH CURVED BARRIERS

This paper studies barrier options which are chained together, each with payoff contingent on curved barriers. When the underlying asset price hits a primary curved barrier, a secondary barrier option is given to a primary barrier option holder. Then if the asset price hits another curved barrier, a third barrier option is given, and so on. We provide explicit price formulas for these options when two or more barrier options with exponential barriers are chained together. We then extend the results to the options with general curved barriers.     

Constructing a Multifactor Model for the Shanghai Stock Exchange

ABSTRACT

We examine the validity of five factor models for explaining the time-series and cross-sectional variations in stock returns in the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The factor models include four models proposed by previous literature. Moreover, we propose a four-factor model (comprising market, size, book-to-market, and sales-to-price factors) to explain variations of stock returns in the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The results show that the Shanghai stock market exhibits size, book-to-market, and sales-to-price effects. Both the adjusted coefficient of determination and regression model intercepts indicate that the proposed four-factor model explains variations of stock returns in the Shanghai Stock Exchange more effectively in comparison with other multifactor models.     

Resource dependency and parent–subsidiary capability transfers

In this paper, we treat the multinational firm as an internal market in which various business units compete for scarce resources. By using the resource dependence theory to examine the parent–subsidiary relationship, we view this relationship as more of a political coalition than a hierarchy. We studied the pattern of capability transfers from the headquarters to the subsidiary to highlight this relationship. Using Taiwan-based multinational firms as the sample, our results show that the pattern is more reminiscent of a power game than an effort to maximize global efficiency. In essence, a triangular power play between the headquarters, subsidiary, and local networks determines the extent to which firm-specific capabilities are to be transferred abroad. It is almost certain that capabilities will never be completely transferred. A subsidiary can leverage local market potential to prompt more capability transfers from the headquarters, but any inclinations for the subsidiary to differentiate itself from the parent will discourage such transfers.     

员工企业社会责任感知影响人力资源管理效能？—基于领导行为的协同中介

通过对贵州、广东和福建3个省80家企业1148名员工进行调研,基于员工对企业社会责任、领导行为感知对人力资源管理效能带来积极影响为研究问题构建了一个中介模型。企业社会责任在组织微观层面的内涵越来越得到企业的重视,实现了员工的企业社会责任由产出需求转向投资视角,成为企业满足员工工作需要和工作资源的参照标准体系,有利于提升企业人力资源管理效能。本文研究发现:企业社会责任分别从企业经济责任、法律责任、伦理责任和自行裁量责任影响人力资源管理效能;变革型领导和交易型领导对企业社会责任和人力资源管理效能具有协同中介作用。研究结论对于企业社会责任、领导行为和人力资源管理三者匹配具有重要的理论和现实意义。