DISPLAYING UNCERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT PROBABILITY: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE

Different from previous experiments that used three representations of uncertain information for probabilities: best estimate, interval and sets of probabilities, we use visual display to represent different levels of uncertainty through varying amount of probabilistic information provided to subjects. Results confirm that the individuals’ willingness to pay is higher when a larger amount of information is available. Further, individuals are found uncertainty averse for high probability of gain and uncertainty seekers for low probability of gain. Similarities in results across different representations of uncertainty indicate that the representation tested here is a viable method for communicating uncertainty to decision makers.     

Is competition really bad news for cooperatives? Some empirical evidence for Italian producers’ cooperatives

In this paper, we analyse the nature of the relationship between market power and technical efficiency for producers’ cooperatives. More specifically we test two hypotheses: first, we evaluate the extent to which increasing market pressure may help producers’ cooperatives to improve technical efficiency to guarantee positive profits; second, we test whether higher technical efficiency induces producers’ cooperatives to have a larger market share. These hypotheses are tested on a sample of Italian conventional and cooperative firms for the Wine Production and Processing sector, using both frontier analysis and dynamic panel techniques. The results support the hypothesis that increasing market pressure can affect positively the cooperatives′ efficiency, while gains in technical efficiency do not seem to have any impact on the cooperatives’ market share.

Unemployment and labour force participation in Turkey

This article investigates the relationship between labour force participation rate and unemployment rate in Turkey a developing country. Cointegration analysis is carried out for the aggregate and gender-specific series. The findings indicate that there is no long-run relationship between labour force participation and unemployment rates in Turkey. Thus, unlike in the case of the developed countries, the unemployment invariance hypothesis is supported in Turkey.     

Cost analysis of material handling systems in open pit mining: Case study on an iron ore prefeasibility study

Selection of the optimal material handling system is one of the most significant decisions to be made in mineral industries. Rapid economic changes and technological improvements make cost analysis a complicated process. On the other hand, current low commodity prices have put a greater emphasis on cost reduction and process optimization to ensure viability of mining projects. In this article, two material handling systems, a semimobile in-pit crusher and conveyor systems (IPCC) and traditional truck and shovel systems (TS), are compared through the cost analysis of an iron ore prefeasibility study. Furthermore, robustness of the design parameters is evaluated through a sensitivity analysis to determine the relative importance of project parameters. Finally, risks associated with uncertain design parameters affecting cost analysis are assessed through Monte Carlo simulation. The results indicated that IPCC is more cost effective than TS.     

Exploring the adoption of a service innovation: A study of Internet banking adopters and non-adopters

Internet banking (IB) is the latest and most innovative service offered by the banks in Turkey. However, recent indicators regarding IB use in Turkey show that the majority of the Internet users have not adopted the service. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors affecting the process of IB adoption and to characterise different IB adopter and non-adopter segments in Turkey. The paper adopted a multi-method approach employing qualitative and quantitative types of research. The findings showed that IB adopters and non-adopters have different perceptual, experience related, socioeconomic and situational characteristics. It was further revealed that besides the perceptual factors related to IB use, perceptual factors in relation to the banks in Turkey were also influential in IB adoption process. The paper applied an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Theory of Perceived Risk to characterise different IB adopter and non-adopter categories. The paper provided a methodological contribution to the adoption literature by applying the TAM to the context of the Turkish bank market and studying the issue in a multi-method research format.     

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY: SOME EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR ITALIAN PRODUCERS' COOPERATIVES

ABSTRACT ** :  In this paper, we test the extent to which producers' cooperatives can experience an increase in technical efficiency following a tightening of financial constraints. This hypothesis is tested on a sample of Italian conventional and cooperative firms for the wine production and processing sector, using frontier analysis. The results support the hypothesis that increasing financial pressure can affect positively the cooperatives efficiency.     

Long Memory in Turkish Unemployment Rates

In this article we have examined the unemployment rate series in Turkey by using long memory models and in particular employing fractionally integrated techniques. Our results suggest that unemployment in Turkey is highly persistent, with orders of integration equal to or higher than 1 in the majority of the cases. This implies lack of mean reversion and persistence of the shocks. We found evidence in favor of mean reversion in the case of female unemployment and this happens for all the groups of non-agricultural, rural, urban, and youth unemployment series. The possibility of nonlinearities are observed only in the case of female unemployment and the degree of persistence is higher in the cases of female and youth unemployment series. Important policy implications emerge from our empirical results. Thus, for example, positive shocks reducing unemployment will have permanent effects being good for the economy, but negative shocks increasing unemployment will also have permanent effects and strong measures should then be adopted to reduce it. Labor and macroeconomic policies will most likely have long-lasting effects on the unemployment rates.     

Do internal markets influence bank failures?

Empirical studies analysing the determinants of bank failures ignore the role of bank holding company affiliation in these failures. In this article, we propose a new approach of estimating affiliated banks’ failures that incorporates holding companies’ role in failures. Our logit regression results show that the holding company’s features, especially internal flows, mattered on failures more than those of the banks during the sub-prime mortgage crisis.     

Global risks and tourism industry in Turkey

Quality & Quantity - This study applies the World Economic Forum’s global risk report methodology at a country and industry specific level to understand how the national as well as the...     

Productivity,R&D Spillovers and Educational Attainment*

Economists have long agreed that the local availability of a more qualified workforce generates significant spillovers. This study suggests that these externalities may arise because plants by having access to a more qualified workforce at a regional level, can benefit more from R&D spillovers than those located in areas with less qualified workforce. This hypothesis is tested on a sample of British establishments drawn from the Annual Business Inquiry over the period 1997–2002. The main results are consistent with our expectations that the regional differences in the industry‐level educational attainment of the workforce available to a plant will condition its capability of absorbing R&D spillovers.