Bootstrap and Pretest J-Type Non-Nested Tests for Orthogonal Regression Models: Some Monte Carlo Evidence

This paper compares the size and power of two J-type tests for weakly correlated or nearly orthogonal non-nested regression models: a bootstrap and a pretest test. The latter seems to outperform the former in terms of its size characteristics, especially when the alternative model has more non-nested regressors and the orthogonality between the two sets of regressors is severe. The bootstrap test does better in terms of power.

     

Cascading contingent protection and vertical market structure

Cascading contingent protection may occur when protection of an upstream industry transfers injury to the downstream industry and increases the likelihood that this industry asks and receives protection. This paper examines cascading protection within a sequential petitioning model where the upstream industry acts as leader. The analysis identifies market structure and the vertical linkage between the upstream and the downstream industry as important determinants of the occurrence of cascading protection. It is shown that the circumstances which make cascading protection more likely to occur also make it more likely that this protection has serious negative welfare consequences.     

The Effectiveness of Gun Control Laws:

ABSTRACT In the July, 1998 issue of The American Journal of Economics and Sociology Professor Tomislav V. Kovandzic strongly criticized the 1997 work on gun control by Kwon, Scott, Safranski and Bae, which appears in the same journal. A rejoinder by Kwon et al. refuted Kovnanzic's criticisms and the authors stand by their published results. The purpose of this comment is to reconsider some of the points raised by Kovandzic and to consider other issues not raised in the original exchange. The bottom line is that several of the criticisms by Kovandzic are valid and, in fact, other serious econometric problems may plague the original paper by Kwon et al.     

Measuring Harmonisation of Financial Reporting Practice

Many organisations are currently engaged in the process of national and international harmonisation of financial reporting. This paper examines the nature of the harmonisation problem and the possibility of developing a method to quantify the degree of harmony of financial reporting practice. This quantification can be useful in determining problem areas where the degree of harmony is low, and the impact of standards on financial reporting harmony and spontaneous harmonisation, i.e. harmonisation that cannot be attributed to laws, standards or guidelines. Standard setters might use the method to set goals in respect of the required degree of harmony when issuing a standard, guideline or opinion.     

Gun lobbies and gun control: Senate voting patterns on the Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban

This paper uses an econometric model to analyze the political and economic factors affecting the Senate voting patterns on the 1993 Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban. Results of a logit estimation procedure support the hypothesis that the political activities and presence of the National Rifle Association (measured as relative campaign contributions and membership) had a significant impact on the voting patterns by Senators on both bills.     

Globalisation and post‐socialist development: the Tatarstan variety of capitalism

Russia's regions are attempting to form meaningful democratic systems, free markets and profitable industrial firms. This article, based on qualitative interviewing with local and foreign economic actors in the Republic of Tatarstan in central Russia, argues that while there are strong desires for globalisation to happen, the goal of significant integration into the world market is far from being attained. In this difficult scenario the local state, far from being a ‘failed state’, instead takes on a central role in determining the present and future shape of this developing region. Implications for globalisation theory are considered in the conclusion.     

Does Foreign Direct Investment Crowd Out Domestic Entrepreneurship?

In analyzing firm entry and exit across Belgian manufacturing industries, this paper presents evidence that import competition and foreign direct investment discourage entry and stimulate exit of domestic entrepreneurs. These results are in line with theoretical occupational choice models that predict foreign direct investment would crowd out domestic entrepreneurs through their selections in product and labor markets. However, the empirical results also suggest that this crowding out effect may be moderated or even reversed in the long-run due to the long term positive effects of FDI on domestic entrepreneurship as a result of learning, demonstration, networking and linkage effects between foreign and domestic firms.     

Adoption of Online Grocery Shopping: Personal or Household Characteristics?

This article analyzes how sociodemographic characteristics impact the adoption of online grocery shopping, and relies on the Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA) model to explore what these sociodemographics actually capture and how they are linked with consumer motivations. The researchers exploit a survey among 468 customers of Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt. Their logistic regression shows that while variables at the personal level do affect adoption of the online channel, consumers’ motivations to adopt in fact lie on the household level. In particular, the effect of age disappears or becomes less strong when it is combined with household characteristics. An examination of respondents’ self-reported motivations confirms that age does not only capture a person’s ability to use the technology but also its usefulness for that person’s household, in that age is correlated with the presence of young children and the working situation in the household.     

An investigation of the impact of internal labour markets in the hotel industry

Maintaining a stable and competitive workforce is a key element of the role of management, and there has emerged a barrage of ‘recipes’ to achieve this. All too frequently, however, these new concepts replace the old, with little justification other than being innovative. This article investigates the concept of an internal labour market [ILM] as a strategic management tool. Past studies by labour market researchers have confirmed the value of the components of an ILM, yet none has investigated the concept of an ILM as a coherent whole. This paper investigates the impact of the components of an ILM – training, promotional opportunity and job security – on the key employee attitudes of job satisfaction, organisational commitment and employee intention to leave. It then examines the impact of this concept as a single variable on the employee attitudes. The study is conducted in the service industry, in particular, the hotel sector, and examines the responses of 297 non-supervisory hotel employees. The findings suggest that the use of a holistic ILM strategy could provide a new means for management to retain and develop a stable and satisfied workforce.