Corporate social responsibility and employee attitudes: The moderating role of employee age

This study examines the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on employee engagement and job satisfaction. Using 322 responses from employees of selected companies in Ghana, and employing hierarchical regression analysis, the study examines the direct impact of economic, legal, ethical and discretionary CSR practices on employee satisfaction and engagement in organisations. The study further explores the moderating role of employee age on the relationship between CSR and employee engagement and satisfaction. The results provide evidence that economic, legal, ethical and discretionary CSR practices influence higher employee engagement and satisfaction levels at work. However, the study finds no evidence of employee age moderating the association between each of the four CSR dimensions and employee job attitudes (engagement and satisfaction). These findings are insightful and provide a response to calls for research on these issues. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that ethical CSR practices strongly influence employees' satisfaction and engagement levels; legal and discretionary CSR activities also have an influence, though to a lesser extent; and the economic dimension of CSR activities has the least impact. The managerial, practical and further research implications of these findings are discussed.     

Adoption and Implementation of Internal Marketing Systems by Ghanaian Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

This paper explores the concept of internal marketing (IM) as an internal supportive system that could provide the infrastructure for a strategic business take-off. It investigates how IM, as a concept, is understood and made practical in the context of Ghanaian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This qualitative research method was used due to the nature of the enquiry. The government of Ghana is constantly searching for more effective ways of assisting SME performance, through various strategic growth and development schemes. Despite the fact that much has been said in the literature, the IM concept remains elusive. Most SMEs are not aware of IM and demonstrate little understanding of the concept. And SMEs have problems with the implementation of IM. The manufacturing sector demonstrates more IM orientation than does the service sector. This paper unravels sociocultural factors that frustrate the practice of IM among Ghanaian SMEs and calls for a greater awareness of the concept by stakeholders. Suggestions include more general business support for SMEs to improve performance and subsequently grow. The paper finishes by drawing attention to management implications within the practice of IM.     

Local Government,Spatial Spillovers and the Absorption of EU Structural Funds

The allocation of regional policy funds varies dramatically across regions even when one controls for regional development indicators. We investigate the impact of local government performance as well as spillovers in knowledge, financial means and social relations as determinants of regional fund absorption. Government performance is derived within a Data Envelopment Analysis approach. Spillovers are investigated using a spatial Durbin model. Results show that government performance has a positive impact on fund absorption. Spillovers occur in knowledge as well as in financial means. The empirical analyses focus on Special Accession Program for Agriculture and Rural Development in Slovakia using panel data.     

互联网金融背景下征信体系建设问题探讨

随着我国互联网金融的蓬勃发展,征信成为互联网金融业务必不可少的重要环节.分析我国互联网金融模式下征信体系发展现状及面临的问题,认为今后应明晰征信体系模式,加快征信相关立法工作,提高征信数据的质量,加强隐私保护力度,完善失信惩戒机制,加强信用文化建设等,以促进征信业规范可持续发展.     

Social marketing on AIDS: using Transtheoretical model to understand current condom usage among commercial drivers in Accra,Ghana

• This is an exploratory research to utilise the Transtheoretical model to assess condom usage intentions among commercial drivers in Ghana. A convenience‐based non‐probability sampling method was employed, and a face‐to‐face questionnaire was administered on 132 commercial drivers in Accra. The analysis of variance and one sample t‐test statistical method was employed to establish relationship between variables based on the Transtheoretical model. The result reveals that over 71.9% of commercial drivers are at precontemplation, contemplation and preparation stages. This means that most commercial drivers interviewed have not yet taken action to use condoms to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. The findings of the study constitute a series of marketing ideas, useful in decision making with social marketing organisations.

Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

日本长期护理保险制度发展方向及对我国的启示

随着我国老龄化程度日益加深,需要长期护理服务的失能老年人数急剧攀升,构建高效的长期护理保险制度已迫在眉睫。经过10多年的发展,日本长期护理保险制度已十分成熟。本文通过对日本长期护理保险制度的研究,总结出社会性长期护理保险制度的优势和不足,为我国构建可持续发展的长期护理保险制度提供启示。从日本的经验得出,我国应构建社会性性长期护理保险与商业性长期护理保险相结合的长期护理保险制度,以期同时实现广覆盖、保障性、资金筹集方式多元化与保单形式多样化等目标。     

Effects of farm credit access on agricultural commercialization in Ghana: Empirical evidence from the northern Savannah ecological zone

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how farmers' access to credit affects agricultural commercialization in the northern Savannah ecological zone of Ghana. The study uses data from the Ghana Feed the Future baseline survey involving a total sample of 2,962 farm households. The study employs endogenous switching regression for ordered outcomes to account for endogeneity and self‐selection bias in the decision to access credit. The results from the estimations revealed that education, age, nonfarm business equipment, multiple crop production, and group membership are the variables influencing farmers' access to credit. Agricultural commercialization is determined by gender, age, marital status, household size, farm size, nonfarm business equipment, means of transport, group membership, assets index, multiple crop production, and location. In terms of causal effect, the results show that credit access stimulates higher commercialization. Thus policies that enhance farmers' access to credit are more likely to be successful in getting them to commercialize.     

新型城镇化背景下农业人口转化的财政金融对策研究

党的十八大后,党和国家将新型城镇化建设作为推动我国经济和社会发展的重要战略部署。新型城镇化的核心是农业人口的有效转化。农业人口有效转化涉及方方面面的问题,文章以我国城镇化现状为出发点,对我国农村人口转化的现状和特点进行分析,梳理城乡分隔体制下农民身份固化问题对经济社会的不利影响,重点研究农业人口有序转化的财政金融体制障碍和现实需求。在此基础上,提出:改革城乡分隔的财政体制,建立统一的社会保障体系;加大公共财政的财力安排,支持或引导建立服务中小微企业发展的金融体系和社会化服务体系;制定信贷政策,加大信贷资金投入;加大城镇居民住房建设支持力度;满足新型城镇居民的多元化金融服务需求。     

Resolution of restatement-induced lawsuits after the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

Using a sample of 185 restating firms that were sued between 1997 and 2005, we examine the role of accounting irregularity, other restatement characteristics and the Sarbanes Oxley Act in the resolution of litigation after the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA). The empirical results indicate that restatement due to an accounting irregularity and investigation of accounting misstatement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are associated with a higher probability of settlement. Furthermore, the more negative the investor reaction to a restatement, the higher the probability that a lawsuit will be settled. Finally, we do not find any evidence that the Sarbanes Oxley Act is associated with the probability of a settled lawsuit. Our findings suggest that restatement-induced lawsuits with strong inference of fraud are settled in the period after the PSLRA. The results also highlight the importance of making a distinction between dismissed and settled restatement-induced lawsuits.