Werbeanzeigen von Versicherungsunternehmen zur Aufklärung über Gesundheitsrisiken

Insurers offering health-related services as accident insurance, health insurance coverage or nursing insurance for instance have a legitimate interest in reducing costs of ill insured. Information about health-conscious behavior and health risks provided by advertisement may contribute this impact. In an experimental study, we analyze the effect of credibility of advertisement and independent third-party trustmark on health risk perception and health behavior intentions. Results demonstrate significant influence of credibility of advertisement on health risk perception and higher credibility for advertisement with independent trustmark. Furthermore, higher health risk perception conducts to healthier behavior intentions.     

Die neue Schuldenregel in Deutschland und die Schuldenbremse der Schweiz Wege zu nachhaltigen öffentlichen Finanzen?

Zusammenfassung  Im Februar 2009 haben sich Bund und L?nder im Rahmen der F?deralismuskommission II auf eine neue Schuldenregel geeinigt. Diese stimmt in den Grundzügen mit der 2001 in der Schweiz eingeführten Schuldenbremse überein. Wie sind diese Regelungen ausgestaltet? Was wird an ihnen kritisiert? Prof. Dr. Karl Heinz Hausner, 39, lehrt Volkswirtschaftslehre an der Fachhochschule des Bundes für ?ffentliche Verwaltung in Mannheim; Prof. Dr. Silvia Simon, 38, lehrt Volkswirtschaftslehre an der Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft in Chur, Schweiz.     

The role of social identification and hedonism in affecting tourist re-patronizing behaviours: The case of an Italian festival

Since the 1990s Europe and other continents have been organising a significantly larger number of festivals with the objective of stimulating tourism and exploiting potential economic opportunities. The prominence of these events has led to intense competition between festivals in attracting visitors and it has become important to analyse factors which might influence attendees’ retention. Drawing on existing literature on retail and service sectors, this study aims to identify the role played by emotions, hedonism, satisfaction, and social identification in mediating the effects of environmental factors on attendees’ re-patronizing intention. This study includes an on-site survey of 449 visitors attending an Italian festival gaining in popularity, and analyses data using a structural equations model. Results suggest that hedonism and social identification are key-facilitators between environmental cues and attendees’ re-patronizing intention.     

Insight into the impact of energy caps on the costs of cellular networks with different layouts and technologies

We investigate the options of a network operator who needs to reduce its carbon footprint, expressed in terms of a global energy cap. First, we propose two ways to meet the energy limitations: by efficiently managing the energy consumed by the legacy networks or by installing additional capacity to the initial topology. We show the power savings that can be obtained in both cases as well as the incurred costs. Then we identify the initial composition of the network and the available technology in the upgrade phase as the factors that have the most influence on the ability of a network to meet the energy caps. Finally, we show the intrinsic unfairness of the energy caps, which are imposed to all the networks without taking into account the differences among them. In conclusion, we highlight the fundamental role of carbon markets and emission trading systems to guarantee a measure of fairness between the operators.