Convenience food consumption in the Nordic countries and St. Petersburg area

Building on the theoretical framework provided by sociological research on eating practices, family meals, self‐cooked meals and time use, this study examines national differences and similarities in the use of convenience food in Northern Europe. The study draws on two quantitative sets of data, the primary data set (N = 8248) collected in 2012 in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, and the complementary data set (N = 800) collected in St. Petersburg area in 2013. In general, consumers’ attitudes towards convenience food were negative. Time saving was an important motivator for convenience consumption in all countries. The effects of other attitudes were diffuse and factors such as low cost, health effects, and taste of convenience food, affected convenience consumption differently in different countries. In the four Nordic countries women used less convenience food than men. In Finland and in Norway older respondents used convenience food less often than the young. Generally, the use of convenience food was most frequent among those living alone. The effects of education and occupation were small, implying that the phase of life is more important than social stratification in explaining convenience food consumption. In the St. Petersburg data, there were no differences related to social background.     

Determinants of severe injury and mortality from road traffic accidents among motorcycle and car users in Southern Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to identify factors associated with severe injury and mortality from road traffic accidents (RTA) among motorcycle and car users in southern Thailand. The data were obtained from the Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Thailand, for years 2008–2013. Chi-squared tests were used to assess associations between determinants and outcomes and these associations were then estimated after adjusting for possible confounding with other factors using logistic regression. Severe injury and mortality contributed 11.6% and 5% to RTA of motorcycle users, and 14.3% and 7.5% for car users. Among motorcycle users, male gender, older age, and not wearing a helmet increased severe injury and mortality rates, whereas drivers had more severe injuries than passengers. Older car users had higher severe injury and mortality rates, whereas not fastening seat belts had higher mortality. Safety device use should be made mandatory for both drivers and passengers. Male motorcycle users and the elderly should be focused on.     

健康不平等视角下医疗服务可及性对老年健康的影响* ——基于CLHLS数据的实证分析

随着我国人口预期寿命的延长和人口老龄化进程的加剧,如何促进老年健康成为学术界及政策制定者亟需关注的重要议题。基于2005年、2008年、2011年及2014年"中国老年健康影响因素跟踪调查"(CLHLS)数据,以健康不平等理论为研究视角,探讨医疗服务可及性对老年健康的影响。研究结果表明,医疗服务可及性与老年健康之间呈显著相关,医疗服务不可及会显著增加老年人IADL、ADL及认知功能障碍和死亡风险;且这种关系随性别、年龄及城乡呈现出差异性。具体表现为医疗服务可及性对女性老人健康结果的影响大于男性老人;对低龄和中龄女性老人与中高龄男性老人的影响大于同性别的其他年龄组;与城镇老人相比,医疗服务可及性对农村老人健康结果的影响更大。医疗服务可及性对老年健康影响的性别、年龄及城乡差异,与其在整个生命周期中所遭遇的不公平制度环境有关。研究的政策意义在于,在我国人口快速老龄化的背景下,如何通过提升医疗保障制度在不同性别、年龄以及城乡之间的公平性来提高老年人医疗服务可及性,消弭由于制度不公平而带来的健康不平等,从而降低老年人IADL、ADL及认知障碍的发生率及死亡风险,实现老年群体的健康老龄化。     

Impact of trade openness on GDP growth: Does TFP matter?

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is to empirically explore the impact of trade openness on GDP growth initiating with the idea that trade openness cannot be fully characterized through the different openness measures only, we propose to account for total factor productivity (TFP) development level as an additional dimension of countries’ trade integration. Our empirical application is based on 35 years’ balanced panel of 82 countries spanning 1980–2014. To address the potential endogeneity issue, we use the system GMM estimator developed for dynamic panel data models. The results outline that there exists an interesting non-linear pattern between trade openness and GDP growth when TFP development level is taken as an intervening variable into account: trade may have a negative impact on GDP growth when countries have specialized in low-TFP development level; trade openness clearly boosts GDP growth once countries exhibit a minimum threshold of TFP development level. Therefore, there is some pattern of complementarity between trade openness and TFP development level so that the higher the TFP development level, the higher the impact of the trade openness on GDP growth.     

Megamarketing

Abstract

Recent political, economic, and social changes occurring in Eastern Europe are providing opportunities for Western firms to expand to this region. This study presents evidence on the wealth effects associated with expansion by U.S. firms to Eastern European countries. The results of this study show that differential wealth effects are associated with announcements of different modes of expansion, and with country of expansion. The results suggest that Hungary and Poland are important for expansion to Eastern Europe, and that joint ventures should be the preferred mode of expansion for U.S. firms seeking to expand to Eastern Europe. The results also suggest that investors are able to discern between different levels of country risk.     

基于OECD 国家面板数据的金融风险影响 因素研究

本文选取1980~2013年OECD 28个国家经济与金融的样本数据,采用面板logit模型对这些国家金融风险的影响因素进行逐步回归分析。结果显示,GDP增长率、经常账户余额占GDP比率以及总储备占GDP的比率对OECD国家金融风险的影响是负向的,即随着它们的增长,金融风险产生的概率减小;汇率对OECD国家金融风险的影响是正向的,即随着汇率的增长,金融风险产生的概率增大。     

Prevalence of mortality in cannabis consumer motorcyclists: meta-analysis of international studies

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of mortality in cannabis consumer motorcyclists across the world. A systematic review was conducted from publications PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar from August 2010 to March2019. The variances of each study were calculated using the binomial distribution formula and the heterogeneity among the studies was analyzed by Q-Cochran test with a significant level less than 0.1 and the index of changes attributed to I² heterogeneity. The prevalence of mortality in cannabis consumer motorcyclists was estimated 0.15 (95% CI = 0.08–0.22). Subgroup analysis based on country type showed that the mortality rate of cannabis consumer motorcyclists in developed countries is 16% (0.08–0.24) and in developing countries is 8% (0.04–0.10). These findings have implications for developing interventions through presenting appropriate solution, educating people and raising awareness to address the changing nature of drug use among motorcyclists in the world.     

New Cultures,New Strategies,New Formats and New Relationships in European Retailing

Abstract

During the last fifteen years there has been a substantial restructuring of retailing in Europe. The implications of this reach beyond Europe. The restructuring involves not only competitive relationships amongst retailers but also involves new forms of relationships with suppliers. A new perspective of the role of retailing is emerging that places retailing in a global framework of international store operations, international sourcing of products, international flows of management and managerial know-how, and international awareness by consumers of the retailers who are becoming international brands. The aim of this paper is to place the restructuring in context, to consider the nature of it and to explore how the new global framework will begin to have effects for distribution industries in Asia.     

Design and construction of an Unintentional Injury Risk Index (UIRI) to measure frequency and severity of accidental injuries in Europe

ABSTRACT

In today's Risk Society, accidental injuries are considered an important public health problem. To design coherent programmes aimed at reducing risk, it is necessary to measure the magnitude of this phenomenon with its changing meaning –from random misfortune to foreseeable and preventable risk. To calculate the total volume of accidental injuries in Europe, the empirical aim of this article, we have designed an adequate measurement instrument: the Unintentional Injury Risk Index (UIRI) counts both the probability (incidence) and the consequences (severity) of injuries. The index calculated for EU countries in 2009 revealed that accidents caused injuries and suffering equivalent to 96.4 deaths per 100,000 population. Based on the index, other specific indices can be calculated, such as personal proneness, country risk or site hazard indices, useful for deepening knowledge on the risk factors for unintentional injuries.     

Globalizing Business Ethics Research and the Ethical Need to Include the Bottom-of-the-Pyramid Countries: Redefining the Global Triad as Business Systems and Institutions

A majority of the countries in the world are still considered “developing,” with a per capita income of less than U$1,000. Hahn (2008, Journal of Business Ethics 78, 711–721) recently proposed an ambitious business ethics research agenda for integrating the “bottom-of-the-pyramid” countries (Prahalad and Hart, 2002, Strategy and Competition 20, 2–14) through sustainable development and corporate citizenship. Hahn’s work is among the growing field of research in comparative business ethics including the global business ethics index (Michalos, 2008, Journal of Business Ethics 79(1), 9–19; Scholtens and Dam, 2008, Journal of Business Ethics 75(3), 273–284; Tsalikis and Seaton, 2008, Journal of Business Ethics 75(3), 229–238). This article is complementary to Hahn’s work and it advocates an urgent need for business ethics researchers to globally integrate the bottom-of-the-pyramid countries through a fundamental re-definition of the global economic triad, including the United States, Western Europe, and Japan [Ohmae, 1985, Triad Power: The Coming Shape of Global Competition (New York: Free Press)]. The definition that we propose is based on business systems and institutional perspectives that include the bottom-of-the-pyramid countries. We also propose to broaden the research in business ethics to enable comparisons across business systems indifferent income levels.     

Cultural Dimensions,Risk Aversion and Corporate Dividend Policy

ABSTRACT

How does risk aversion affect corporate dividend payout? Finance theories have long suggested a relationship between risk aversion and dividends but there is little empirical evidence on the extent of this relationship. In this paper we construct measures of risk based on two cultural dimensions developed by Hofstede (1983, 1991). Using over ten years of data for firms in 14 countries, this study is the first to provide evidence that firms in countries with higher risk aversion exhibit both lower dividend ratios and lower propensity to pay dividends.     

Interdependence of Major Exchange Rates in Ghana: A Wavelet Coherence Analysis

ABSTRACT

We have employed the three-dimensional continuous Morlet wavelet transform methodology to explore the co-movement amongst the returns of four major currencies in Ghana (dollar, euro, pound, and yen) for the period May 1999 to February 2018. The analysis reveals that the dynamics of the interdependence of the currencies is time-varying and heterogeneous. Our empirical findings demonstrate that the currencies are closely linked or interconnected. The lead–lag relationships between the returns of the exchange rates established that volatilities in the euro and yen significantly affect movements in the other currencies in daily and weekly exchange rate returns. The presence of lead–lag effects and stronger co-movements at short-run fluctuations may induce arbitrage and diversification opportunities to investors, albeit with limited space. The differences in the co-movements of returns and the evidence of contagion among the foreign exchange markets provide reliable incentive to the monetary authorities for unflinching strides to halt the speeding exchange rates.     

An Empirical Analysis of the Determinants of Interest Rates in Ghana

ABSTRACT

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the determinants of the bank lending rate in Ghana using annual time series data from 1970 to 2013. We found evidence of a long-run equilibrium relationship between the average lending rate charged by commercial banks and its determining factors. In the long run, bank lending rates in Ghana are positively influenced by nominal exchange rates and Bank of Ghana’s monetary policy rate but negatively with fiscal deficit, real GDP and inflation. We also find positive dependence of the bank lending rate on exchange rates, and the monetary policy rate both in the short and long run. Specifically, our findings reveal that the Bank of Ghana’s monetary policy rate and the exchange rate, by far, show strong contemporaneous effects on the average bank lending rate in Ghana.     

Poverty as we never knew it: THE source of vulnerability for most of humankind

ABSTRACT

Most of humankind lives in poverty. Over 1.2 billion people survive on less than $1.25 per day, and around 2.7 billion people survive on less than $2.50 per day. Of course, these statistics do not take into account those living in relative poverty within the very highest development nations in the world. Yet few within entitled sectors of the global economy have had much to do with people living in poverty, except for occasional and indirect contact. Even basic ideas about poverty lack clarity; for example, what is the line between poor and not poor both within and among countries? Is it only about income or do other resources matter or act as substitutes for money when impoverished consumers engage their markets? Is poverty in the USA the same or different than poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa? Answers to such questions are provided in this commentary through an examination of three different research projects conducted in poverty communities. Together, they reveal distinct patterns of results between more affluent and more impoverished consumers across the globe.     

人力资本在经济增长中的作用：中国和巴基斯坦的比较研究

本文通过比较分析中国和巴基斯坦的经济增长 ,检验人力资本在各自国家经济增长中的作用。我们的结果是 :GDP与用除小学教育外不同教育水平的在校学生比率代表的人力资本有正相关关系 ,但是 ,当我们用各级学校的在校学生比率与劳动力相乘 ,反映参与GDP生产的劳动力的人力资本存量时 ,中国的GDP与所有各教育水平所表示的人力资本量成正相关关系 ,巴基斯坦小学层次的量则仍与其GDP增长成负相关。从总体上 ,对于两个国家来说 ,后一种测量方法要比用简单的在校学生率要好。     

The perception of fire risk by older people and its impact on relevant fire safety education

Accidents due to ‘fire and flames’ are second only to “falls” as the most important cause of accidental death in the homes of elderly individuals throughout the United Kingdom. This study aims to ascertain whether older people are receiving fire accident advice appropriate to their needs. A questionnaire addressing the issues of risk perception, fire preventative action and access to fire safety information was distributed to 1100 randomly selected members of the ‘Thousand Elders’ (a nation-wide consumer group established by the Centre for Applied Gerontology at The University of Birmingham, comprising people above the age of 50 years). Eight hundred and four questionnaires were returned and were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Fire risk was perceived as far less of an immediate threat than the danger of a personal attack by an intruder in the home. Recognition of fire risk and the effectiveness of fire safety measures did not result directly in safety appliances being fitted. The majority of ‘Elders’ had received no fire-fighting training, yet more than half felt confident in tackling a small fire. Neither did experience of a fire in the home necessarily increase action towards safety precautions. The majority had not been exposed to a fire safety campaign in the past 12 months. On exposure to a campaign, the impact towards fire safety was positive. The educational process should aim to close the gap between the recognition of the need for fire safety precautions and the implementation of fire safety measures. The key to effective fire prevention amongst older people depends upon: Information, Training and Support, i.e., relevant information supported by practical help and subsequent practical training in-situ by trusted community figures.     

How much would low- and middle-income countries benefit from addressing the key risk factors of road traffic injuries?

Abstract

Despite strong advocacy, the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011–2020) is ending with most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) no closer to the Sustainable Development Goals target of reducing traffic mortality by half. In contrast, most high-income countries (HICs) have seen large benefits in recent decades from large-scale safety interventions. We aimed to assess how much LMICs would benefit from interventions that address six key risk factors related to helmet use, seatbelt use, speed control, drink driving, and vehicle design for safety of occupants and pedestrians. We use a comparative risk assessment framework to estimate mortality and health loss (disability adjusted life years lost, DALYs) that would be averted if these risks were reduced through intervention. We estimate effects for six countries that span all developing regions: China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Iran, and Russia. We find relatively large benefits (27% reductions in road traffic deaths and DALYs) from speed control in all countries, and about 5%-20% reductions due to other interventions depending on who is at risk in each country. To achieve larger gains, LMICs would need to move beyond simply learning from HICs and undertake new research to address risk factors particularly relevant to their context.     

Vertical monopoly power,profit and risk: The British beer industry,c.1970–c.2004

ABSTRACT

By investigating surplus and risk distribution in the British brewing industry, this article shows that risk and risk transfer are important dimensions of vertical supply chain relationships. A comparative financial analysis shows the effects of models of vertical ownership before and after the break-up of producer controlled tenanted estates and the strategy and performance of pub-owning companies. Contrasting mechanisms for controlling the capture of surplus and division of risk are evaluated. The article complements prior studies that have concentrated on the brewers by assessing winners and losers amongst pub owning companies and tenants in different models of vertical organisation and how they might be effectively regulated.     

Hospitalized fall-related injury trends in Sweden between 2001 and 2010

Previous studies have indicated increasing trends of hospitalized fall-related injuries amongst elderly. Whether this is true also in Sweden is unknown though it is important to study considering the potential societal impact. Data were obtained regarding hospitalized injuries with falls as external cause among those aged 65 years and above with information on injury type, gender and age, on a yearly basis, from 2001 to 2010. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated (per 100,000 population) for all fall-related injuries, and for each injury type and trend lines were drawn. Linear regression analyses and percentage change were calculated for the types of fall-related injuries. A decreasing incidence was observed in the younger age groups (65–79 years) with greater decreases amongst women (women: ?14.6%, men 65–79 years: ?10.5%). However, increasing rates were observed in the older age group (80 years and above), with greater increases amongst men (women: 4.3%, men: 11.4%). Superficial injuries showed greater increases than fractures amongst those aged 80 years and above. This study indicates that older elderly in Sweden are increasingly being hospitalized for less serious injuries. This changing injury panorama is important to include in the future planning of both health care and fall-related prevention.