The Euro versus the U.S. dollar: an overview

The creation of the euro will prove to be a remarkable development in international relations and carries far-reaching implications for the international monetary system. The objectives of this paper are four-fold. The first objective is to provide a brief overview of previous monetary unions in Europe. It covers three surviving monetary unions and two that failed. The second objective is to provide a review of major developments leading to the creation of the euro. The third objective is to analyze the opportunities and threats associated with the euro. The fourth objective is to provide an overview of the on-going debate as to whether the euro will be a serious challenger to the U.S. dollar.     

Employees' choices in learning how to use information and communication technology systems at work: strategies and approaches

The purpose of this paper is to promote the understanding of how employees learn to use information and communication technology (ICT) systems at work. The elements of a learning activity in the context of ICT use are identified from the literature. In particular, approaches to learning, learning strategies and problem‐solving strategies are reviewed. The empirical part of the study examines how employees choose to start learning how to use ICT systems, and how they choose to learn while solving problems related to system use. The data were collected using qualitative semi‐structured interviews with 39 employees in three organizations. The interviewees usually preferred to learn how to use ICT quickly and without investing too much effort. The interviewees preferred informal learning and problem‐solving strategies. The most commonly used strategies were to try things out alone or together with peers, or to ask for help from peers. The main conclusions of the study are that the users' learning intentions affect the kind of learning support they need and that ICT learning is best approached as a learning activity strongly rooted in collaboration and the social context.     

The effect and moderation of gender identity congruity: Utilizing “real women” advertising images

The present article examines the predictive ability of gender identity congruity in explaining women's responses to advertising appeals. The contributions of the article are twofold: (1) to demonstrate whether advertisements that are congruent with female consumers' gender identities elicit strong positive responses and (2) to identify the factors that moderate/mediate the impact of gender identity congruity on consumer responses to advertisements. The research findings provide evidence of the ability of gender identity congruity to elicit positive responses to advertising appeals. The relationship between gender identity congruity and responses to the advertisement is mediated by advertising involvement. The moderating roles of national culture, physical concern, and physical view are also supported. Overall, the congruity theory provides a powerful framework to examine consumer responses to gender portrayals in advertising. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Determinants of customers’ intentions towards environmentally sustainable banking: Testing the structural model

The increasing urbanization and changing consumption patterns are putting great strain on environmental sustainability. The consumption patterns need to be reformed due to the great contribution to rising carbon emissions. The customers are also becoming aware of the various environmental issues. The current research developed and tested a conceptual framework to scrutinize the antecedents of customers' intentions to adopt environmentally sustainable banking services and activities. Following the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this paper incorporated the constructs namely trust, environmental consciousness, and perceived behavioural outcomes in addition to its basic variables. The data were gathered from a cross-sectional sample of 440 Indian bank customers using a survey method. PLS-based structural equation modelling technique was employed to test the research model. The results indicated that TPB constructs exert significant influence on customers’ behavioural intention. The environmental consciousness was marked as a highly significant predictor of perceived behavioural outcomes which in turn was found to be a significant determinant of trust as well as behavioural intention. Moreover, the attitude was found to be a significant outcome of trust and environmental consciousness. This research puts forth the theoretical as well as managerial implications and provides directions for further research in the concerned thrust area.     

COMPETING VIEWS OF THE MONEY SUPPLY PROCESS: THEORY AND EVIDENCE

This paper examines three competing approaches to the determination of the money supply. The first approach is labelled the pure portfolio approach, and corresponds to the orthodox approach to the money supply. The second approach is labelled the pure loan demand approach, and corresponds to the Post Keynesian accommodationist view of endogenous money. The third approach is labelled the mixed portfolio-loan demand approach, and corresponds to the Post Keynesian structuralist view of endogenous money. The critical theoretical difference between the latter two models is identified in terms of the importance of the private initiatives of banks in accommodating expansions of loan demand. The paper then provides Granger-causality evidence on the three approaches, and concludes in favor of the mixed portfolio-loan demand approach.     

The responses of U.S. multinational corporations to increased competition for international markets

Abstract

Extending the original Taylor rule and applying the VAR model, the author finds that the federal funds rate (FFR) responds positively to a shock to the output gap, the inflation gap, the long-term interest rate, or the lagged FFR, and it reacts negatively to a shock to the unemployment rate gap or the exchange rate. The response of FFR to stock prices is insignificant at the 5% level. The long-term rate can explain up to 41.3% or 46.1% of the variation in FFR, depending on the model considered. The exchange rate can explain up to 8.5% or 12.3% of the variance, depending on the model considered. The output gap can explain up to 26.6% of FFR variance. The unemployment rate gap can explain up to 26.8% of the variation in FFR. Because FFR responds to a shock to the output gap and the unemployment rate gap in a similar manner, both may be considered in conducting monetary policy. The more explanatory power of the long-term interest rate than the inflation gap may suggest that both need to be taken into consideration in the Taylor rule.     

Muddling through cybersecurity: Insights from the U.S. healthcare industry

The U.S. healthcare sector is inadequately prepared to deal with the reality of cyber threats. The increasing use of smart medical equipment and mobile devices is making healthcare organizations more susceptible to ransomware and other types of malware. The size and complexity of operations, coupled with the presence of numerous legacy and incompatible systems, make it difficult to implement effective cybersecurity measures. The daunting nature of the problem often results in an if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it stance among senior healthcare leaders. The preponderance of healthcare-related laws, compliance regulations, and security guidance frameworks serve to complicate the cybersecurity challenge further and too often results in senior leadership assuming a state of blissful ignorance. This study sheds light on the key factors contributing to the chaotic state of affairs and presents a roadmap to a more deliberate and proactive approach to cybersecurity risk management.     

基于“不可持续困境”视角审视可持续发展的必然性

控制自然、改造自然致使生态环境日益恶化,片面强调当代人的眼前利益是人类欲望无限膨胀的后果,人类发展因此陷入困境。可持续发展是人类在长期的发展经验中的理性选择,人类选择可持续发展的道路和模式是基于发展中面临的“不可持续发展的困境”所决定的。资源、环境是可持续发展的两个重要内容．只有珍惜资源、保护环境。才能真正做到全面协调、可持续发展。     

我国产业技术创新能力的若干思考

中国产业发展的关键是提高产业技术创新能力。我国技术创新所处的新环境对技术创新能力提出很大的挑战,而科技水平不高和创新机制不完善说明了我国产业技术创新能力还不高,与发达国家还有很大的差距,从而提出了现阶段提高我国产业技术创新能力的对策。     

Using a Faculty Survey to Kick-Start an Ethics Curriculum Upgrade

The article briefly reviews the external pressures for teaching business ethics. It then summarizes why teaching business ethics across the curriculum is essentially a necessity in the current environment. This leads to a discussion of six commonly adopted elements used when seeking to improve a business ethics curriculum. The case study uses these six elements to provide insights into contemporary challenges facing many business schools. The particular contribution of this article is in the area of methods to assess the status of the curriculum. The case study provides details about a faculty survey used as a compelling tool to kick-start a business ethics curriculum upgrade, not only based on the information that it yields, but the potent opportunity for conversation and collaboration. The conclusion summarizes the contemporary challenges and opportunities that business schools face. The instrument itself is in the appendix.     

宋代民间助学述论

宋代教育发达，但其教育投入却相当有限，因此两宋文化的极盛很大程度上实有赖于民间对教育的支持与资助。这种资助既有面向学校的赡学与建学，也有面向举子个人的捐助赴试费用。总体上看，宋代民间助学表现为典型的“官倡民助”模式，且捐助风气南宋浓于北宋，捐助方式以产业捐助为主，且呈现出明显的地域差异性。宋代民间助学对今天的启示是民闻助学的热情需要官方调动和引导，助学的方式应以产业助学为主，以保证助学的长期、持续性，而且营造良好的民间助学氛围是政府的重要责任。     

Does Victim Responsibility Influence Nonprofit Volunteerism?

Volunteers provide billions of dollars of nonpaid labor to nonprofit organizations every year. The purpose of this study is to better understand why volunteers join nonprofit organizations. The central research question examines victim responsibility. That is, does the circumstance of the victim influence a volunteer's willingness to donate time? A survey was designed to investigate the research question. The survey contained nine questions related to age and circumstance of the victim and the likelihood of volunteering. One hundred and seventy-five surveys were completed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. The results indicate that volunteers are more likely to volunteer to help when the victims are not responsible for their circumstance.     

The role of purchasing in a partnering relationship

The paper aims to explore the nature of partnership sourcing or partnering and the implications for the changing role of the purchasing function in the new situation. Partnering has evolved as a solution to changing market requirements. The change to collaboration as the operating paradigm changes the required operational job roles within the purchasing function. The paper concludes that purchasing becomes central to the whole cost-reducing, innovation-enhancing, market-competitive positionining of an organization. Purchasing's role may then evolve to business relationship management within a high-visibility, strategic context. The need is a business need, not a functional one.     

时间同步系统短波校时失败分析及解决方法

针对时间同步系统短波校时失败的现象,给出了一种数模结合实现的相关自动增益控制（AGC）电路模型。短波校时接收机采用超外差接收机方案,结合短波授时的特点,找到校时失败的原因。介绍了短波授时的信号格式,分析了模拟非相关自动增益控制电路对接收机的影响——模拟的自动增益控制电路容易使传输信号的幅度和相位发生畸变,并且对输入信号的响应时间慢。最后通过分析计算,建立了数模结合的相关自动增益控制电路模型。实验测试结果表明,采用此设计的短波校时接收机能解决信号格式及信道失真引起的短波校时的不同问题,对短波校时接收机的设计具有指导作用。     

Use of conceptual models in self‐evaluation of personal competences in learning and in planning for change*

This paper demonstrates the use of conceptual modelling to assist with the competence development of adult learners with interrupted occupational and learning careers. The research introduces a self‐evaluation approach used with a group of adult female students in the United Kingdom. The study aimed at increasing learners' awareness of the qualities and nature of their individual learning processes. The paper applies Kontiainen's dynamic concept analysis modelling method as a tool to assist individual students in the evaluation of their personal competences in learning. The findings of the current study suggest that providing adult learners with opportunities to evaluate their own competences may facilitate a process of making their skills visible to themselves as well as to their tutors and employers. This aims to increase their motivation to use and develop their competences. The paper provides an example and a demonstration of the self‐evaluation process in action illustrated by two case studies.     

民法法典化视野下的性自主权

理论界与实务界对性自主权问题论及不多,在目前民法法典化的背景下研究性自主权具有其独特的价值。性自主权属于民事权利的范畴,其具体属性应当是具体人格权而非一般人格权。性自主权的基本内容应当包括性保持权与性决定权两个方面。性自主权应当在我国未来的民法典中得到规定。     

Responses to out-of-stocks and on-shelf availability in UK fashion retailing

The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes and approaches adopted by fashion retailers when presented with an out-of-stocks (OOS) issue and to measure in store on-shelf availability (OSA) of one particular fashion retailer across a sample of stores across the United Kingdom. The research was carried out in three phases. The first two phases used participants' observation/mystery shopper techniques to determine shop-floor representatives' responses to an OOS situation in the jeans category of seven retailers and then to measure the OOS/OSA of a sample of 10 stores of a middle market fashion retailer in the United Kingdom. A comparison with the electronic inventory database readings was then carried out. The final phase involved interviews with head office management to explore possible differences between headquarters (HQ) policy and store operations. The first phase of the research revealed that all retailers had processes available to them at store level to solve OSA issues, but six of the seven retailers could not solve the problem. From the in-depth survey of OSA in the sample of stores, availability was on average 79% against a database availability figure of 90%. The difference of 11% is mainly related to inventory inaccuracy. The interviews with head office management did reveal that the differences in attitudes between HQ staff and store staff could be attributed to a lack of communication to train staff adequately on processes to solve OOS issues.     

Individualism and the ‘new tourism’: a perspective on emulation,personal control and choice

Changes can be identified in patterns of Western tourism over recent decades. The changes are linked with the theorized cultural shift from modern to postmodern. The discourse of change points to a shift in emphasis from the designated resort environment to a proliferation of individuated experiences. Analysts are apt to link these changes to a growth in individualism and individualistic expression. This study argues that the new tourists' real needs are to discover a new form of the collective. The argument is constructed drawing on the work of Veblen and Bourdieu. The final diagnosis draws on the work of Foucault.     

我国养老基金的投资模式

人口老龄化对养老保险制度提出了严峻的挑战 ,“统账结合”的基金缺口将通过国有股减持来弥补。而出于保值增值的需要 ,具有积累或部分积累性质的养老基金有必要进入资本市场 ,并具备了一定的进入条件。相应地 ,养老基金的投资模式也要进行多样化的投资选择 ,以达到保值增值的目的。     

Indoctrination or education? Intention of unqualified teachers to transfer consumption norms in home economics teaching

Almost two thirds of home economics (HE) teachers in Sweden are formally unqualified (FU). Historically, HE has focused more on fostering and prescribing the ‘right’ choices whereas the modern (2011‐) curriculum focuses on teaching consequences of choices and giving students tools for assessing alternatives. Restraining from prescribing norms requires a high degree of professionalism. The objective of this study was to empirically investigate the prevalence of intentions of FU teachers to prescribe consumption norms not supported by the curriculum. Furthermore, to investigate to what extent these intentions are correlated with years of experience as a teacher, personal preferences, or personal consumption. The intention to transfer norms were measured using the concept of intentional misalignment applied to a survey distributed to a sample of FU teachers attending complementary teacher education. A two part survey was used. The first part consisted of multiple choice questions asking the teachers how important they saw it to transfer different consumption norms to their students (e.g. to consume local or organic food). These responses were evaluated quantitatively (Spearman rank correlation, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Kruskal‐Wallis analysis of variance). The second part consisted of an open‐ended question asking teachers to describe what they saw as the most important take‐home message for students in HE. The answers were compared to the national curriculum to identify intentions to transfer unsupported norms. The study indicates that more than a third of the FU HE teachers in Sweden express the intention to prescribe specific types of consumption or to transfer consumption norms that are not supported by the curriculum. The prevalence is correlated to personal preferences and thus indicates difficulties with keeping a professional perspective. These teachers must be given collegial support and opportunities for continued education–to ensure high‐quality HE education for future generations.