Variations in farm consumption and their relationship to income: an empirical investigation of Illinois farm households

Empirical tests of household consumption have yielded mixed results regarding the validity of the life cycle/permanent income (LCPI) hypothesis. A significant problem with such studies is the difficulty in finding sufficient micro-level data on household expenditures. By using the recent rich quantity of such data in the Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) data for Illinois farms from 1995 to 2009, the study reported here for farm households should provide more consistent results regarding the LCPI hypothesis. Applying an empirical model based on the LCPI hypothesis, this article identifies the determinants of farm consumption and the relationship to income. This study provides evidence that current income changes are not significant in explaining the consumption changes of farm households, thus supporting the LCPI hypothesis for farm households.     

Analysis on inbound tourists satisfaction in China:an empirical study based on the investigation of 5 cities

In China,the tourism industry is regarded as one means of fostering local economic development.This paper tries to examine inbound tourism development in China in the last decade and analyze inbound tourism's satisfaction of their travel experience with tourist attractions,facilities,services and price by an empirical study based on the investigation of Lanzhou,Wuhan,Guangzhou,Shanghai and Beijing.This paper discusses the demographie characteristics of visitors from Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan,US,Korea and Japan by surveying a sample of 528 visitors in five different cities.The survey showed that four provinces/autonomous region in western China ranked the top 10 popular destinations.Chinese natural landscape,culture and food were highly regarded by the tourists.At the same time,tourists expressed less satisfaction with tourist language convenience,tourist facility and nightlife in China.It was also found that only 7.4% of the tourists thought travel in China was far more than what they had paid,that 6.5% regarded they got what they paid for,and that 34.9% thought the travel cost was reasonable.Most tourists were satisfied with their travel experience in China;many of them would like to return to China and would like to recommend China.For the sustainable development of tourism,Chinese tourism authorities should strengthen the construction,propaganda and management of scenic spots,improve tourist facility and tourist edueation,especially language convenience,and strengthen the supervision of tickets,souvenir and hotel prtce.     

The effect of leadership on performance management, good governance, internal and external satisfaction in study programs

Rapid changes in business environment have increased the needs of graduates who have capabilities of anticipating to the changes. The faculty, especially at the level of study program, has an important role in affecting the quality of graduates, because the study program is the core element in the higher education institution which involves directly in planning, organizing, executing and controlling the teaching and learning activities. This dissertation is to examine the effect of leadership on performance management and good governance, and also to examine the effect of performance management and good governance on internal and external satisfaction. The data for this causal research is collected by questionnaire. Unit of analysis in this research is all study programs in all accredited faculty of economics in East Java. The respondents are academic staffs, students and administrative staffs in the study program. There were 83 of 125 accredited study program which has been successfully contacted and agreed to participate in the research. There were 900 students and 285 academic staffs filling up the questionnaires. The data analysis is conducted by Path Analysis with the SPSS 11.5 version software to measure construct validity and reliability and to test causal relationships between variables in the model. The findings of the research showed that： （1） Leadership affects performance management significantly; （2） Leadership affects good governance significantly; （3） Leadership affects internal satisfaction significantly; （4） Performance management affects internal satisfaction; （5） Good governance significantly affects external satisfaction; （6） Internal satisfaction does not affect external satisfaction. Based on the findings in this research, it is suggested that the study programs take into account the implementation of performance management in order to undertake improvement continuously considering that performance management supports the quality assurance activity. It is also suggested that the faculty implements good governance formally. However, the implementation should empower the study program to undertake the improvement.     

Understanding TFP growth in inland regions of China: an empirical study of the effects of three factors

In this paper, we empirically examine the potential effects of international openness, domestic coastal-inland market integration, and human capital accumulation on TFP growth in inland provinces in China. By using a nonlinear technique as our main regression approach as well as an extended GMM method as robustness checks, we show that human capital accumulation plays an important role in promoting TFP growth in the inland provinces. Our results support the argument that the most important contribution of human capital to income growth lies not in its static, direct effect as an accumulable factor in the production function, but in its dynamic role in promoting TFP growth. Our regression results also provide evidence for the positive roles international openness and domestic coastal-inland market integration play in promoting TFP growth in inland provinces in China.     

The treatment of seasonality in error correction models as unobserved component: a case study for an Austrian consumption function

This paper deals with an alternative approach to treating seasonality in error correction models for consumption with a parsimonious parameterization as proposed by Harvey and Scott. We introduce an unobserved seasonal component into an error correction model for Austrian consumer expenditures on nondurables and services and compare the results with different approaches. The use of stochastic seasonal results in a definite improvement of the estimated model. First version received: October 1997/Final version received: May 2000     

The satisfaction of university students in Spain: differences by field of study

This article analyses the factors associated with student satisfaction in a sample of undergraduate students from the University of Zaragoza (Spain). In addition to considering socio-demographic characteristics, we also examine factors related to expectations and motivations. Using data from a survey carried out during the academic year 2011/12, we show that the level of satisfaction of the students varies according to their field of study, finding that students in Engineering and Science are comparatively less satisfied than those in other disciplines. Also, expectations about whether having a university degree will be enough to obtain a job are associated with their level of satisfaction. Moreover, alcohol consumption is positively associated with their level of satisfaction. Analysing the correlates of student satisfaction is important to understand student retention and persistence.     

中国管理咨询行业的客户满意标准体系

近年来,管理咨询行业在我国得到了前所未有的发展,建立符合我国国情的客户满意标准体系,对推动我国管理咨询行业的健康发展具有重要意义。本文从管理咨询过程满意和管理咨询结果满意两个角度出发,利用深度访谈和已有实践经验,形成管理咨询客户满意标准的初始要素,通过调查问卷搜集数据,运用因子分析等统计技术建立了管理咨询行业客户满意标准体系。     

中国企业的需求导向创新实证研究

This paper analyzes the interrelationship among competition, market size and innovation by using the data from total 37 industries in China within a simultaneous equations model. It finds that: (1) Competition and innovation are mutually-enhanced, and this is the consequence of the long-run Darwinian effect in competitive market; (2) Market size and innovation are also positively correlated, because firms’ innovation is essentially demand-oriented (market-oriented), and innovation impelling technological progress will finally increase market size; (3) Between competition and market size, the effect of competition on market size is ambiguous, while the reverse is significantly positive. The policy implication of this paper is as follows: under the condition that China has especially huge market size and market demand, the industry policy of intensifying competition can stimulate firms’ persistent demand-oriented innovation.      

农家乐的服务质量、顾客满意度及忠诚度的关系研究——以天目山地区为例

通过问卷调查和当面访谈相结合的方法,以天目山景区周边的农家乐为例,对其服务质量、顾客满意及忠诚度的关系进行研究。结果表明,农家乐服务质量对于顾客满意度、顾客忠诚度具有正向关系,顾客满意度对于顾客忠诚度也具有正向关系。为进一步提升整体农家乐服务质量,增加顾客满意度,提高顾客的重游意愿和推荐意愿,提出相关建议和意见,以期促进天目山景区周边农家乐的可持续发展。     

我国收入不平等、金融发展和消费需求波动的实证研究:1978～2001

本文考察了收入不平等与总消费需求变动之间的联系,在高收入地区,不平等程度越大似乎消费需求波动越大,而在低收入地区,收入不平等越大,消费需求波动反而较小。本文找到证据表明金融发展水平能有助于解释为什么收入分配在高收入和低收入地区中影响消费需求的短期波动是不同的,本文的政策含义是,加快低收入地区如中西部的经济和金融发展步伐,加大金融发展相机调整的力度。     

Expectation and satisfaction of rural tourism：a case study of Hainan,China

This study uses the rural tourist motivation scale to measure the motivations, expectations, and satisfaction of nearly 200 rural tourists in five areas of Hainan, China by importance-Performance Analysis （IPA） and factor analysis. The results show that the main motivation for participating in rural tourism is to be close to nature, improve family rela-tionship and relaxation. Tourists are highly satisfied with the landscape and pastoral views as well as the friendliness of the local people and hotels. The results also show that the sample people most care about easy parking and reasonable prices, and they expect ethnic festivals and farm life experiences. Besides the environment, facilities, recreational activities and psychological experience of rural tourism, the overall satisfaction is high. The results of this study can be used by local government leaders as well as the tourism industry to devise ways to promote and improve rural tourism.     

Determinants of agricultural water saving technology adoption: an empirical study of 10 provinces of China

In recent years, China has been faced by an increasingly severe water shortage due to the continual growth of demand on water resources. Although the Chinese government has been actively promoting the agricultural water-saving technology adoption, it is ill-informed of the adoption degree of the current agricultural watersaving technologies as well as the function of the governmental policies, Therefore, this paper＂ analyzes the aforesaid problems based on investigative data of 10 provinces in China. The results demonstrate that although there is a rapid increase of adopted agricultural water-saving technologies, the actual adoption area is rather limited. Moreover, the governmental policies and scarcity of water resources are the deierminants of agricultural water-saving technology adoption. Ultimately, the paper proposes some policy suggestions.     

A study of environmental impact on manufacturing products trade in Shandong,China

Based on the situation that the trade of manufactured goods takes the main position in Shandong Province,this paper identifies Shandong industrial pollutant discharge by three indices,which are industrial effluent discharge,industrial SO2 emission,and solid waste disposal.Furthermore,it conducts an empirical analysis of the trade terms of pollution content transfer on nine identified industrial sectors.The conclusion is that the increase in industrial effluent discharge,industrial SO2 emission,and solid waste disposal has paralleled the growth of the GDP in Shandong.The rapid economic growth brings obvious negative impact on the environment.Compared with that in 1998,the increase in the pollution content of exports in 2007 indicated that more environmental costs were generated with the economic development in Shandong.There is a need for optimization of foreign trade structure in Shandong,especially the need for increasing import of the pollution intensive products and decreasing the export of the pollution intensive products.The research on the relationship between manufactured goods trade and the environmental impact will make a contribution to the adjustment of foreign trade and environmental policies.     

Organisational change, technology, employment and skills: an empirical study of French manufacturing

This paper analyses the correlations between technological change,organisational change and skill change using a survey on organisationalchange in manufacturing firms conducted in 1993. Considerablediversity is allowed for in terms of the measure of technologicaland organisational change, and the analysis shows a positivecorrelation between technological change and reorganisations,whatever their types. The paper then analyses the relationshipsbetween these changes and the employment behaviour of firms.It shows that changes in the required skills and in the occupationalstructure of firms are more closely connected to organisationalthan to technological change. Although organisational changeaffects the work content and skill requirements of blue collarworkers, it is mainly indirect workers that are affected interms of the number employed. Finally, the analysis shows thattechnology tends to stabilise the workforce whereas the movetowards the model of ‘flexible enterprise’ favoursits renewal.     

Policy variables affecting marginal level of low carbon employment：an empirical study based on provincial data of China

Low Carbon Employment is an inevitable choice for the purpose of ＂energy-saving and emission reduction＂ and ＂promoting employment＂. By Multi-variable Linear Backward Regression method, this study presents an empirical analysis of the emplovment impact of policy variables indexes that involves economic pull, industry upgrading, population development, technical inputs and so on. The paper demonstrates that wide range offactors will affect low carbon employment, that industry upgrading will affect how carbon employment remarkably, that to increase years of people education will notably improve low carbon employment level of secondary vocational-technical labor, and that to raise technical inputs will significantly enhance college students＇ low carbon employment.     

The moderating effects of gender on customer satisfaction and continuance intention in mobile commerce: a UTAUT-based perspective

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study is to investigate the moderating effects of gender on proposed model relationships. In order to test the moderating effects of gender on the relationships of the model developed, multi-group SEM was applied. Performance expectancy was found to be the strongest predictor of satisfaction and comparative value was identified as the main driver of continuance intention. In addition, significant difference in attitudes between women and men were confirmed in the case of three out of ten effects. The originality of the study is its measurement of the moderating effects of gender on user satisfaction in relation to m-commerce and continuance intentions.     

Competitive strategies,innovation, and firm performance: an empirical study in a developing economy environment

This paper studies the relationships between competitive strategies, innovation, and firm performance within the context of Turkish manufacturing companies. The data were collected from top management of the firms via Computer Assistant Telephone Interviewing method. One hundred and forty manufacturing firms operating in various sectors including textile, automotive supply, computer and electronics provide the basis for this empirical research. In order to test our model, we employ structural equation modelling using partial least squares. The results show that competitive strategies such as cost-leadership and differentiation can lead to innovation, which, in turn, increase firm performance. Managers implement cost-leadership and differentiation strategies to take part in competitive market conditions; however, they should put additional importance on innovation that plays a significant role as a bridge between competitive strategies and firm performance.     

The empirical study on price discovery of cornstarch futures market in China

This article aims at exploring the performance of the price discovery function of cornstarch futures market in China. In order to test the stationarity of the cash and futures prices of cornstarch, the augmented Dickey–Fuller test is applied. Both prices are integrated of order one. Then, the Johansen cointegration test is conducted to test the cointegrating relationship between those two prices. Finally, the Granger causality test is performed to observe the direction of causality. The evidence shows that there is a long-run relationship between cash and futures prices and the futures price Granger causes cash price. As a whole, price discovery of cornstarch market in China is present although it is a newly emerged market.     

收入风险对居民耐用品消费的影响

本文首次采用大型微观家庭面板数据对我国城乡居民的耐用品消费进行深入研究,主要结论包括:(1)改革进程方面,20世纪90年代中后期国企转制和员工下岗等就业体制方面的重大变革,使居民"收入风险"显著上升,进而明显抑制了城乡家庭的耐用品消费。(2)城乡对比方面,农村家庭面临更高的收入风险,其消费决策对风险因素也更为敏感,因此在当前的"新农村"建设中,建立健全农业保险和农村就业保障体系,对于提高农民消费和福利水平意义重大。(3)本文的研究结果完全支持(S,s)理论模型;同时在收入风险的度量和代理变量选取方面,文章中的一些分析方法也可以应用于汽车、住房等相关领域的研究和政策评价。     

Non-Keynesian effects of fiscal policy in OECD economies: an empirical study

This article explores the hypothesis that the propensity to consume out of income varies in a nonlinear fashion with fiscal variables, and in particular with government debt per capita. Using panel data from 18 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, we examine whether there is any empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that households move from non-Ricardian to Ricardian behaviour as government debt reaches high levels and as uncertainty about future taxes increases. Our results provide support for this hypothesis, and also suggest that private and government consumption are complements in the household utility function.