An experiment in capturing a priority-utility function in public agencies

The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology and results of an experiment performed with a group of public agency executives in order to capture an agency-wide priorityutility function. A method based on the Churchman-Ackoff-Arnoff successive comparisons approach was developed for easy administration to the policy makers. The results produced high levels of concordance among the individual executives; the use of the results as input for other decision-making, such as resource allocation or the relative effectiveness of programs, is discussed.     

Engaging the commodified face: the use of marketing in the child adoption process

This paper evaluates the ethical consequences of the use of marketing techniques in the child adoption process within England and Wales. Since 1995 the political climate in the UK has seen a reassessment of the manner in which the state organises care for children who are within its legal guardianship. Successive UK governments have acknowledged the under‐utilisation of child adoption as a moral and efficient means of child‐care. However, the presentation of child adoption in a more active fashion involves concerns about the manner in which child adoption has been organised. Increasingly child adoption organisations and social work professionals are being made accountable through the language of customer service and performance measurements. The use of commercial techniques such as marketing is justified on utilitarian grounds. However, any utilisation of marketing within the child adoption process is forced to ensure that the child is not de‐centred. Legislation requires that the needs and welfare of the child are the first consideration for the adoption agency. Here we begin to see tensions between the humanitarian project that is child adoption, and the unease produced by viewing the child as human ‘product’. This invites analysis via critical theory. The use of marketing in child adoption raises issues related to the objectification and commodification of the child and prospective adopters. Within child adoption it is assumed that we must engage with the child as ‘face’ (Bauman, 1995). But will these assumptions stand the encroachment of marketing techniques into this very sensitive area?     

Ties that Bind? A Mediation Analysis Exploring Contract Use in Family versus Nonfamily Firms

Based on the assumptions of agency theory, family business researchers have often argued that family firms are less likely to use formal methods of monitoring and control than nonfamily firms. We explore the relationship between family firm status and presence of a written agreement among the owners, a formal measure of control. We hypothesize economic goals and perceived level of risk taking and management efficacy will mediate the relationship between family firm status and presence of a written agreement. Results indicate that the primary goal of the firm serves as a partial mediator of this relationship.     

Tax illusion and savings perception: The case of compulsory loans

Summary Theexplicit specification of a short-run tax illusion effect accompanying compulsory loan levy is introduced, thus enabling its empirical verification and estimation by income group using cross-section data. Consumption-Savings/Savings-composition behaviour and decisions in both the short-run and long term and liquidity/risk-asset preference are dealt with in this context, and three possible forms of the effect are proposed: (a)continuous over, (b)discontinuous over, or (c)discontinuous within income groups, with expected results discussed accordingly. Finally, compulsory loan levy in Israel is discussed and proposed as a valid case for further study.Formerly, Economic Assistant, Economic Planning Authority, State of Israel (1970-71). The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the author's previous employer.     

African American Small Business Owners' Attitudes Toward Business Training

The attitudes toward training courses are documented for the rapidly growing African American segment of small business owners. The study provides evidence supporting the training-business creation model suggested by the Small Business Act and by Becker's work on human capital. Over 700 responses to a mail survey were divided into African American small business owners and Caucasian American small business owners. The African American small business owners rated the training courses as significantly more important than the Caucasian American small business owners for all 23 of the areas tested. A matched sample was created from the data set to evaluate the idea that demographics such as type of business and number of employees may have influenced the results. The findings from the matched sample were consistent with the findings from the total sample. Various reasons for these unusually strong results are offered as well as directions for future research.