Changes in recreation participation in natural environments after immigration among immigrants in the U.S., Netherlands,Germany and Poland1

This study examines the use of natural environments for recreation among immigrants and factors that led to changes in their use of natural environments between home and host countries. The data were collected through individual interviews with 13 Latino and 13 Chinese immigrants in the U.S., 15 Ukrainian and 11 Vietnamese immigrants in Poland, 9 Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands and 9 Turkish immigrants in Germany. The findings show that changes in the use of natural environments for recreation are related to different types of nature in home and host countries, access-related issues, quality of natural environments, work focus among immigrants, transportation problems, cultural differences, lack of knowledge of opportunities, life stage and ageing. Based on the findings, we develop a model that outlines different types of interaction with natural environments among immigrants following their settlement in the host countries.     

¿Pacto de clase positivo en la producción globalizada? El Protocolo de Libertad Sindical de la industria indonesia de prendas deportivas

Los autores investigan las posibilidades de «mejora social impulsada por los trabajadores» a través de iniciativas de RSE en cadenas mundiales de valor (CMV). Aplican la teoría de Wright sobre el pacto de clase positivo al análisis del Protocolo de Libertad Sindical concluido en el sector de prendas deportivas de Indonesia, ampliándola para adaptarla a la complejidad de las CMV. A partir de entrevistas, fuentes académicas y periodísticas y observación participante, concluyen que, para que dichas iniciativas impulsen el trabajo decente, se requiere la participación de organizaciones de trabajadores fuertes y, como catalizador, una necesidad de cooperar con ellas por parte de los compradores o los productores.     

Conservatism,SEC investigation,and fraud

We present evidence on the relationship between firms that have engaged in fraudulent financial reporting and accounting conservatism. We empirically investigate the extent to which US firms identified by the SEC in their Enforcement Releases demonstrate higher levels of conditional conservatism in order to mitigate information asymmetry and agency problems. Specifically, by assessing the timing of changes in the litigation risk environment for fraud firms, we document how differences in heightened legal liability guide changes in conservative accounting behavior. Compared to a matched non-fraud control sample, we document that fraud firms have significantly lower levels of accounting conservatism in the pre-fraud period. Consistent with changes in potential legal liability, we find an increase in accounting conservatism for fraud firms during the SEC investigation period. Subsequently, during the public discovery of fraud, any increases in accounting conservatism are marginal and appear to converge back to lower levels compared to the SEC investigation period. Overall, our findings suggest more temporary changes in conservative reporting in the short-term for fraud firms. We also document that increased levels of accounting conservatism for fraud firms are not due solely to the passage of the SOX Act. Our findings aid in explaining fraud firms’ incentives and opportunities for accounting conservatism and lend support for why standard setters, regulators and auditors should continue to monitor and re-evaluate conservatism’s short-term effects that are conditioned on changes in a firm’s risk environment.     

Sustainability Indicators for Tourism Destinations: A Complex Adaptive Systems Approach Using Systemic Indicator Systems

This article discusses the necessity for complementing linear sustainability assessment tools, which disregard the complex and dynamic nature of tourism, with complex adaptive systems (CASs) approaches. A methodological framework for the selection and evaluation of sustainability indicators for tourism destinations, the systemic indicator system (SIS), is proposed; this framework takes the interrelatedness of sociocultural, economic and environmental issues into account. The SIS methodology is tested using a case study of a holiday eco-village project near Lamington National Park in Queensland, Australia. The results show that tourism destinations need to be viewed and studied as CASs, and that sustainability indicator systems need to be applied in the context of an adaptive management approach. Special attention is given to the capability of the SIS methodology as a decision aid for resort developers and planners to improve the effectiveness of measures for pollution prevention and mitigation.     

Revisiting the Relationship between Ethnic Diversity and Preferences for Redistribution: Reply

Here, we respond to the comments raised by Nekby and Pettersson‐Lidbom on our paper Dahlberg et al. (2012, Journal of Political Economy 120, 41–76). We argue that our estimates are internally valid, but we acknowledge that the external validity could have been discussed more thoroughly.     

Effects of machinery‐sharing arrangements on farm efficiency: evidence from Sweden

The effects of partnerships, in the form of machinery‐sharing arrangements, on farm efficiency are analyzed using data for Swedish crop and livestock farms. Efficiency scores are obtained using Data Envelopment Analysis and the findings suggest that efficiency is, on average, higher among partnership farms compared to nonpartnership farms. Moreover, partnership farms that are characterized by the most extensive form of collaboration, that is, that share all machinery with one or several other farms, display the highest average efficiency. In a two‐stage procedure in which efficiency determinants are analyzed in the second stage, the bootstrap procedures suggested by Simar and Wilson (2007) are applied in addition to the conventionally used Tobit regression. Participation in partnership arrangements is found to have a positive and statistically significant impact on farm efficiency.     

TO OWN OR TO FRANCHISE?: THE INTERNATIONAL CONTROL DECISION FOR SERVICE COMPANIES

Franchising, which accounts for a significant share of the U.S. domestic service industry, has also become a major strategic alternative in the international expansion of U.S. service firms. This article attempts to explain the international franchising and control decision by U.S.-based service firms in terms of a theoretical framework that borrows from agency theory and transaction-cost analysis. Specifically, it attempts to answer the following question: Why would a well-established service firm choose to operate in certain countries through a franchising agreement whereas in others it would set up a wholly-owned subsidiary? In their empirical test of a sample of over 10,000 international service units that were either owned or franchised by 12 U.S. multinational service companies, the authors find that the most important determinants of the decision to franchise rather than own are the following four: (1) geographical distance from headquarters; (2) extent of cultural differences; (3) years of international experience; and (4) degree of concern about reputation or brand name. Greater geographic and cultural distance make service companies more likely to franchise, as do greater experience and familiarity with international business settings. Greater concern about brand name, by contrast, makes companies more likely to own than franchise. Measures of political and exchange risk have no detectable effect.