A Re-examination of the Performance of Value Strategies in the Athens Stock Exchange

This study tests the performance of contrarian (value) strategies in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) in a recent period of time (2003–8) on the basis of the price to earnings ratios, dividend yields, firm size (market value), market to book ratios, financial leverage ratios, and market beta. Apart from the univariate portfolio analysis, we implement a novel panel data analysis based on the procedure suggested by Pesaran (2004, Econometrica 74:967–1012, 2006) that provides a valid estimation and inference under cross sectional dependence. Our portfolio analysis results highlight for investors in the ASE the superiority of value strategies formed on the basis of stocks with low price-to-earnings, high dividend yield ratios, and low market-to-book ratios. Our panel data analysis results depend on whether or not we correct for the problem of cross-sectional correlation in the regression residuals as suggested by Pesaran’s (Econometrica 74:967–1012, 2006) method. When we correct for this problem, we obtain evidence which support only a negative association between annual stock returns and market-to-book ratios. This may imply to investors that an adoption of a value strategy based on the market-to-book ratio may constitute a safer option compared with the other two alternatives suggested by the portfolio analysis results.     

Reinforcing organizational defensive routines: An unintended human resources activity

Although human resources professionals are against the proliferation of defensive routines, they often design programs that reinforce them. This paper examines one organization in depth in order to illustrate how its human resources professionals acted in ways that unintentionally reinforced the very defensive routines that they were trying to reduce. Organizational defensive routines organized into self-reinforcing loops can result in lack of effective line leadership and increasing difficulty for management development, organizational development, education, organizational diagnosis, and compensation to achieve their objectives.     

Saltwater Crocodiles as Tourist Attractions

These study reports the results derived from a pilot research study based on a phenomenographic research approach with 50 respondents in the Northern Territory of Australia. The data permitted a perceptual map to be drawn which identifies tourist fascination with crocodiles as being based on attributes of potential threat, danger, power, links with the prehistoric, and survivorship. However the study also found that when asked to describe the Northern Territory, crocodiles did not immediately come to mind, even though, arguably, the reptile is etched upon the ethos of the 'Top End'. However prompted responses quickly elicited mention of crocodiles. There was also a preference to see crocodiles within their natural terrain. Some evidence of a minority of tourists being prepared to mitigate their behaviours was also found, and hence this study may have wider implications.     

Network science: A Review Focused on Tourism

This paper presents a review of the methods of the science of networks with an application to the field of tourism studies. The basic definitions and computational techniques are described and a case study (Elba, Italy) used to illustrate the effect of network typology on information diffusion. A static structural characterization of the network formed by destination stakeholders is derived from stakeholder interviews and website link analysis. This is followed by a dynamic analysis of the information diffusion process within the case destination demonstrating that stakeholder cohesion and adaptive capacity have a positive effect on information diffusion. The outcomes and the implications of this analysis for improving destination management are discussed.     

The Role of Ideas in Understanding Industrial Relations Policy Change in Liberal Market Economies

This paper analyzes the uneven processes underpinning industrial relations policy liberalization in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. Drawing upon 140 elite interviews and building upon ideational comparative political theories, the paper highlights the role of ideas in the policy change process. It identifies how particular ideas can be used to construct policy problems, how these ideas can gain legitimacy through battles with competing ideas, and how policy legacies can influence whether ideas take root. The findings from the comparative case analysis expose a critical difference between “positive legacies” and “negative legacies” to account for different liberalization trajectories.     

Claims,Concerns and Interests In British Credit Union Development

The British credit union movement has grown rapidly over the past decade, albeit from a low base relative to other nations. That growth has been led by a natlonal credlt union pollcy network. Thls article provides a detailed appraisal of the structure of that network, the motivations of its members and the relations between them.

This study highlights the existence of contradictions in the ‘policy space’ occupied by this network that have obscured the public interest In credit union development to date. These contradictions need to be resolved if the performance of the system as a whole is to be improved and public policy goals are to be met Increasing visibtlity ensuing from repeated endorsement of credit unions by the Labour government is bringing added pressures to bear on that network. New actors may be expected to enter the credit union polltlcal market as a result The irnpacts of entry, both positive and negative, are evaluated in terms of the coheslon and effectiveness of ihe credit union policy network.     

Working sick and out of sorts: a cross-cultural approach on presenteeism climate,organizational justice and work–family conflict*

Abstract

A climate of presenteeism has important effects on employee well-being and the organization itself. Our study, based on surveys of health sector employees in six different countries (Brazil, Ecuador, Lebanon, Portugal, Russia and Spain) examines whether organizational justice plays a mediating role in the relationship between a presenteeism climate in the organization and work–family conflict (WFC). Our results indicate that the perception of organizational justice and the presenteeism climate do influence WFC. Moreover, higher levels of WFC were found in non-Latin countries. This study contributes to the work attendance and life balance field by providing cross-cultural empirical evidence corroborating the effect of justice and presenteeism climate on the WFC.     

Comparative HRM: European views and perspectives

The US originated notion of HRM has been widely accepted across the world – and also widely criticized. The underlying features of the European economy are different from those of the USA and it is argued that these have led to a different approach to HRM being developed in Europe. Differences in features such as more limited individualism, a greater role for the State, different patterns of consultation and patterns of ownership, are linked to these different practices and have led to more varied patterns of research and a more critical literature.