Children’s Snacks,their Ads and Consumer Sovereignty

Abstract

The concept of sovereign consumer preferences is challenged from three sides: child consumers, unhealthy food and advertising. The two theoretical concepts of merit goods and libertarian paternalism are implemented in order to classify situations in which full consumer sovereignty does not apply. An empirical analysis of ads for children’s snacks reveals the libertarian paternalist perspective as helpful for understanding the demand for and justification of ‘soft’ governmental intervention in the case of the advertised snacks, whilst the ads for these snacks may well be demerit goods. The banning or heavy taxation of these ads is therefore advocated.     

DOES FOREIGN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION AFFECT US EXPORTS AND FDI?

Several previous studies have examined the relationship between intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, exports, and FDI independently. However, very few prior analyses jointly examined the linkages between IPR protection and multiple modes of international transactions. This paper investigates how foreign IPR protection affects how US firms jointly serve overseas markets through exports and FDI. Using both static pooled regressions and a dynamic panel GMM estimator on a panel data of 53 countries, we examine whether stronger foreign IPR protection stimulates US international transactions. The empirical results suggest that foreign countries that strengthen their IPR protection, especially those with strong imitative ability, can attract more international transactions from the USA.     

Epidemics,labour markets and unemployment: the impact of SARS on human resource management in the Hong Kong service sector

This article examines the links between epidemics and their economic consequences, specifically in terms of their impacts on labour markets and jobs. To exemplify the above, we examine the effects of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) on the Hong Kong economy, its labour market and its level of employment and unemployment. The article hypothesizes that the greatest impact would be on human resource management (HRM) in the service industries and on particular sub-sectors, such as the hotel sector. It concludes that the dramatic demand and supply ‘shocks’ significantly affected both the demand for and the supply of labour in the sector, with discernible HRM consequences.     

无线射频识别技术和物联网的发展与应用

射频识别技术(RFID,Radio Frequency IdentifiCation)是自动识别技术在无线电技术方面的具体应用与发展。该项技术通过采用一些先进的技术手段,实现人们对各类物体或设备(人员、物品)在不同状态(移动、静止或恶劣环境)下的自动识别和管理。由于大规模集成电路技术的成熟,射频识别系统的体积缩小成本下降,使得射频识别技术进入实用化的阶段,成为一种成熟的自动识别技术。     

Effect Symmetry of Benefit Criteria in Postpurchase Evaluations

This research proposes a theoretical model of postpurchase evaluations that incorporates seven sets of benefits: functional, symbolic, economic, safety, hedonic, moral, and leisure benefits. These benefit criteria are well documented in the literature. The study reported here was designed to test the effect symmetry of these benefit criteria in postpurchase evaluations. Effect symmetry refers to whether increases in a benefit are likely to cause proportional increases in postpurchase evaluations. The study tested the hypothesis that “must‐have” benefits (functional, economic, and safety benefits) are negatively asymmetric, whereas the “nice‐to‐have” benefits (symbolic, hedonic, moral, and leisure benefits) are positively symmetric. Five surveys were conducted in relation to five product categories in four countries (computers and automobiles in the United States, banks in France, housing in Korea, and leisure travel in Germany). Respondents completed 2386 questionnaires, of which 2291 were used in the statistical analysis. With respect to effect symmetry, the results indicate that the criterion of functional benefits is negatively asymmetric in predicting postpurchase evaluations, whereas symbolic and moral benefits are positively asymmetric. Hedonic and leisure benefits are symmetric. Managerial implications are discussed.