Determinants of environmental management systems standards implementation: evidence from Greek industry

This paper employs logistic regression analysis to test a model that predicts the implementation or non‐implementation of Environmental Management Systems Standards (EMSSs) by considering various factors as explanatory variables. The dependent variable is dichotomous: industrial firms either implementing or not implementing EMSSs. From past experience we identify 15 major variables contributing to implementation of EMSSs. A sample of 259 respondents (84 implementing and 175 not) is used to estimate the parameters of the logistic regression model employing maximum likelihood. The results show an overall significant model with four of the 15 variables significant. The significance of management perception of environmental issues on their decision to implement EMSS was confirmed with regards to their perception on win–win possibilities. Pressure on companies to improve their environmental performance does not result in higher uptake of the standards. Company image and size are important factors in its decision to implement EMSS. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and ERP Environment     

An ecological niche theory approach to the measurement of brand competition

Marketers have long advocated the use of ecological theory to study markets, but the abstract definitions of key constructs have hampered empirical applications. We take a first step in applying ecological theory to product markets by quantifying concepts such as niches, niche breadth, and niche overlap. We propose a new approach for measuring competitive intensity and identifying competitive submarkets. This measure defines competition between brands as the extent to which brands compete for the same customers. The approach is suitable for both durable and nondurable goods, for markets with many brands, and it can be used to assess competition between existing and hypothetical brands. We illustrate our approach using data on the magazine market and offer suggestions for future research.     

Culture rules OK: class and culture in Brazilian cities

Cet article considère comment la culture dans les villes brésiliennes représente un reflet ainsi qu'une voie de médiation de la domination des classes. On analysera ici les pratiques et les orientations des différentes classes sociales par l'examen des stratégies employées pour répondre aux besoins materiels et culturels. On montrera comment les comportements formels et informels s'entrecoupent et comment, malgré le fait qu'ils semblent souvent ětre en conflit avec les formes ‘rationnelles’ de confronter un problème, en réalité, ils proviennent des péculiarités de l'ordre social et économique actuel, se conformant bien à la logique du processus brésilien de l'accumulation du capital.     

GOLD AS AN INFLATION HEDGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SIX MAJOR INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES

This study considers whether or not gold has been an effective hedge against inflation for investors in six major indusrial countries over the period 1975 to 1980, Gold is considered a hedge against inflation if changes in the returns on gold investments systematically offset changes in the general price level of a particular country. The results indicate that gold has only been an effective hedge against US inflation, and only over one and six month investment holding periods. When the actual inflation rate was decomposed into an expected and unexpected component, it was again found that only US investors could hedge themselves against inflation using gold.     

Introduction and Overview

As one of globalisation's most visible dimensions, foreign direct investment (FDI) is central to the prospects for developing countries in the world economy. Key issues include the direction of causation between FDI and growth, the potential role of the new information and communication technologies in attracting FDI flows (as well as the role of FDI in building such infrastructure), the process of skill acquisition associated with FDI, and the specific problems that Africa faces in attracting more FDI. Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals requires very fast growth in output and employment if global poverty is to be halved, and FDI could play a very positive role if its development benefits are maximised.