Selecting the right cause partners for the right reasons: The role of importance and fit in cause‐brand alliances

Cause‐brand alliances (CBAs) are becoming a routine strategy to enhance the image of the brand and the cause and to encourage brand sales. This research conducted two studies to evaluate importance and fit as selection criteria for the cause partner. Study 1 evaluated the relative importance of a cause on attitudes and purchase intent for a familiar versus an unfamiliar brand. Results suggested that importance of the cause had an effect on attitudes and purchase intent for an unfamiliar brand but not for a familiar brand. Based on an unexpected finding in Study 1, a second study was conducted that addressed the issue of cause–brand fit. Results show that perceptions of logical fit between the cause and the brand does not have an effect for either the familiar or unfamiliar brand. These findings suggest that the importance of the cause may be a more relevant criterion for optimizing a CBA for an unfamiliar brand but, unlike other forms of alliances and contrary to popular anecdotal belief, perceptions of fit may not be relevant for either familiar or unfamiliar brand. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Differences between older and younger Poles in functional food consumption,awareness of metabolic syndrome risk and perceived barriers to health improvement

The aim of the study was to analyze the differences between older and younger Poles in functional food consumption, awareness of metabolic syndrome risk and perceived barriers to health improvement. A national representative sample of 1005 adults aged 15+ was selected for the study. The eldest age group (65+ years) more often than the youngest age group (15–24 years) reported having high blood cholesterol (OR = 12.30), high blood pressure (OR = 10.61), central obesity (OR = 7.94), high blood sugar (OR = 4.33), high stress level (OR = 2.12). A smaller number of the older in comparison to the younger consumed probiotic yoghurt drinks (OR = 0.48), foods with added vitamins and/or minerals (OR = 0.31), energy drinks (OR = 0.05) at least once a week. Younger people were more likely to report that they were ready to increase physical activity (OR = 0.21), cut down on or stop smoking (OR = 0.48) or drink less alcohol (OR = 0.46), but more of them would prefer to take medicines than food-related intervention (OR = 3.05). Older people rarely complained about a lack of time (OR = 0.26) to improve their health. In conclusion, intervention to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent and treat metabolic syndrome would need to target older Poles.     

The effect of a closing call auction on market quality and trading strategies

We study the effects of the introduction of a closing auction (CA) on the microstructure on the continuous trading phase in Borsa Italiana and Paris Bourse. We postulate and compare several empirical predictions based on both standard Kyle-type models and more recent models of limit order book. We find that while the CA has no effect during most of the day, its effect on the last minutes of trading is dramatic. We document a sharp decline in volume, associated with a significant reduction in spread and volatility, and an increase in aggressiveness of liquidity suppliers during the last minutes. We show that the differences in the Reference Price algorithm between Milan and Paris have a significant effect: the CA attracts greater volumes when the Reference Price is equated to the CA price.     

Politics with(out) Coase

Political markets may be curative of political externalities, yet they are often unviable due to the presence of bargaining externalities. In this paper, we study the extent to which the choice of voting dimensions may affect the viability of Coasian bargaining in a political context. The results suggest that bargaining in a multi-dimensional policy space, although desirable in an ideal world of zero-transaction costs, is almost unavoidably affected by bargaining externalities. Disaggregating the policy choices and voting in a one-dimensional policy space can reduce bargaining externalities and lead to median voter outcomes. Bargaining by a limited number of players in a median voter situation can achieve a social first-best. We show the equivalence between the outcomes of multiple independent voting in one-dimensional space and the hypothetical outcome of Coasian bargaining in a multi-dimensional policy space.     

Behavioral Integrity: How Leader Referents and Trust Matter to Workplace Outcomes

Behavioral integrity (BI) is the alignment pattern between an actor??s words and deeds as perceived by another person. Employees?? perception that their leader??s actions and words are consistent leads to desirable workplace outcomes. Although BI is a powerful concept, the role of leader referents, the relationship between perceived BI of different referents, and the process by which BI affects outcomes are unclear. Our purpose is to elaborate upon this process and clarify the role of different leader referents in determining various outcomes. To understand the impact of referents, we explicitly compared the BIs of two leader referents: senior management and supervisor. In contrast to previous research findings where supervisory BI was found to have a stronger relationship with outcomes than senior management, we find that both referents are important. However, their impact varies based upon the outcome studied. Only senior management BI predicted organizational commitment, while senior management BI, supervisory BI and supervisory trust predicted organizational cynicism. Only trust in supervisor, and not supervisory BI, impacted organizational citizenship behaviors. When senior management is the referent, trust and not BI might play an important role for outcomes that require extensive employee investments, such as organizational commitment. In contrast, when the outcome measured does not require employee investments, BI might have a direct impact on the outcome. We also uncovered that trust in supervisor substantially influences the trust employees have in their senior management.     

Schutz für die helfenden Hände

Handschuhe im Gesundheitswesen müssen verschiedenen Anforderungen gerecht werden: Der eine ben?tigt sie zum Ansetzen einer Desinfektionsl?sung, der n?chste im Rahmen des Verbandswechsels und der Dritte zur Intimpflege. Somit sollte klar sein, dass nicht ein Handschuh allen Aufgaben gerecht werden kann, sondern Pflegende vor einer mittlerweile endlos scheinenden Vielfalt stehen.     

Inflation persistence in the Euro area before and after the European Monetary Union

This paper provides new evidence on inflation persistence before and after the European Monetary Union (EMU). Taking into account fractional integration of inflation, we confirm that inflation dynamics differed considerably across Euro area countries before the start of EMU. Since 1999, however, results obtained from panel estimation indicate that the degree of long run inflation persistence has converged. In line with theoretical predictions, we find that the persistence of inflation has significantly decreased in the Euro area, probably as a result of the more effective monetary policy of the ECB.     

Sensitivity of the weighting summation decision method to incorrect application

The weighting summation decision method is commonly used and misused for multiobjective decisions. The formal requirements of this method are outlined and some of the kinds of errors that are commonly made in applying it are discussed. Monte Carlo simulation is used to assess the potential that five classes of errors have for causing incorrect decisions. An index is developed which quantifies the complexity of decision problems. The simulations demonstrate that complexity can be about twice as important to quality of decisions as are errors in applying the weighting summation.     

Trade Credit Terms Offered by Small Firms: Survey Evidence and Empirical Analysis

Trade credit has been shown to be an important source of short-term finance for smaller firms but small firms are also suppliers of trade credit. There is little empirical evidence on the credit granting decisions of small firms. Previous empirical work (Petersen and Rajan, 1997; and Ng, Smith and Smith, 1999) has focused on credit granting and investment in accounts receivable in larger firms. In this paper we look at the influences on credit granting for the smallest firms, using a sample of firms with an average of 10 employees. As in previous studies we find that product and demand characteristics influence credit terms. Moreover, we find evidence that firm size affects credit extension choices directly by setting limits on the possibilities for economies of scale, but it also impacts indirectly by affecting the firm's access to finance and its bargaining strength vis-à-vis suppliers. The dominant position of larger customers in bargaining with small suppliers constrains the impact of other factors on the firm's choice of credit terms. Small firms are also under pressure to conform to industry norms, although lack of resources can be a limiting factor. Constrained firms may make use of two-part terms in an attempt to improve their cashflow.