Consumer insights into luxury goods: Why they shop where they do in a jewelry shopping setting

The question that guides this research concerns why consumers prefer to shop where they do for luxury goods. This study applies Tauber's (1972) motives, as representative of Sheth's (1983) nonfunctional shopping motives for luxury goods purchases. The study examines how well Tauber's motives describe consumers’ shopping motivations at each retail outlet in a jewelry shopping setting. These retail outlets consist of store- and non-store formats. The study identifies motives that are considered most important by consumers and that contribute to their shopping preferences. This study also identifies demographic profiles of jewelry shoppers at each retail outlet. Jewelry shoppers are more influenced by functional motives than nonfunctional motives.     

Functioning and reforms of small claims tribunals in New Zealand

This article examines some of the pending changes to the jurisdiction and functioning of Small Claims Tribunals in New Zealand. The Disputes Tribunals Act 1988 repeals the Small Claims Tribunals Act 1976. The new Disputes Tribunals will exercise a wider jurisdiction, both in monetary terms and with respect to the nature of cases which can be heard, than did the Small Claims Tribunals. In particular, the Disputes Tribunals will have wider powers in certain areas of tort. The author also examines certain procedural reforms, and the significance and possible consequences of these.

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Zusammenfassung In Neuseeland gibt seit etwa 12 Jahren spezielle Gerichte für kleinere Streitfälle. Eine vom Justizministerium durchgeführte Evaluationsstudie stärkte die Auffassung, diese Gerichte unter bestimmten rechtlichen und Verfahrensgesichtspunkten zu reformieren.Das 1976 verabschiedete Gesetz über Gerichte für kleinere Streitfälle wurde 1988 durch das Gesetz für Rechtsstreitigkeiten ersetzt. Dieses Gesetz führte zu einer Ausweitung insofern, als die Streitwertgrenze von 1,000 $ auf 3,000 $ angehoben wurde. Bei Einigkeit beider Parteien kann der Streitwert sogar bis 5,000 $ gehen. Bisher konnten die Gerichte nur zivilrechtliche Streitigkeiten entscheiden, andere Rechtswidrigkeiten waren beschränkt auf Schäden durch fahrlässigen Umgang mit Kraftfahrzeugen. Durch die neue Gesetzgebung wird der Rechtssprechungsspielraum beachtlich erweitert. Diese Ausweitung der gerichtlichen Kompetenzen erschien notwendig, um einder breiteren Öffentlichkeit Zugang zu solchen Schlichtungsverfahren zu eröffnen — eine angesichts der ständig steigenden Kosten der Rechtssprechung sinnvolle Forderung. Außerdem hat das neue Gesetz neue Verfahrensregelungen eingeführt. Beispielsweise sind die Gerichte nunmehr verpflichtet, ihre Urteilssprüche zu begründen. Außerdem sind die Klagemöglichkeiten näher definiert.Der Beitrag analysiert die möglichen Auswirkungen dieser Änderungen auf die Funktionsweise der Gerichte.

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Cynthia Hawes is Lecturer in Law, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 1, New Zealand, and Small Claims Tribunal Referee in Christchurch.Much of the text of this article was given as a paper at the annual conference of the Australasian Universities Law Schools Association, at the University of Sydney, August, 1988.     

Does the WTO Increase Trade and Cause Convergence?

We study whether proximity to the nearest tax haven affects FDI and the number of American affiliates in a tax haven. Our results show that distance to the nearest tax haven is positively related to FDI inflows and the number of American affiliates in tax havens. These findings suggest that there is harmful competition between tax havens. We also find evidence of positive spillovers: the number of American affiliates in a tax haven is positively related to the number of affiliates in its closest neighboring tax haven. This suggests the presence of agglomeration benefits given there is an affiliate in a nearby tax haven.     

Cash holdings and business group membership

This study examines the cash policies of business group members (i.e., affiliates). Using a panel dataset of private Belgian affiliates and comparable non-affiliated firms, the empirical results show that business group affiliates hold significantly smaller amounts of cash as compared to non-affiliated firms. This finding is consistent with the notion that affiliates can afford to keep lower cash reserves because these firms can access the internal capital market of the group. The analysis also combines affiliate level and group level data to evaluate cash drivers and shows that groups in financial distress reduce cash holdings in affiliates. However, affiliates that are more important for the group's reputation and operations maintain cash levels comparable to affiliates belonging to financially healthy groups.     

The outsourcing of R&D through acquisitions in the pharmaceutical industry

We examine the performance of 160 pharmaceutical acquisitions from 1994 to 2001 and find evidence that on average acquirers realize significant positive returns. These returns are positively correlated with prior acquirer access to information about the research and development activities at target firms and a superior negotiating position. A unique Desperation Index is employed to determine the current status of a firm's internal productivity. We find that firms experiencing declines in internal productivity or which are more desperate are more likely to engage in an outsourcing-type acquisition in an effort to replenish their research pipelines.     

油气公司采用根本原因分析方法提高设备的可靠性

你的继续改进工作在取得初步成效后,是否仍以预定计划为中心而未取得实际进展?你们公司是否把长期存在的问题作为开展工作的动力?你们是否在不同的场所经常重复分析同样的问题?在你们公司里,对于什么是可靠性的问题,每个人是否都有不同的理解?我们公司在拉丁美洲5个国家中都有许多油田和气田,并且都遇到了困难,为了创造持久的利润,我们决定对不断改进的方法全面地进行标准化。改进的方法有:(1)把问题和机遇按轻重缓急依次排列起来;(2)分析这些问题和机遇的根本原因(RC);(3)开发和实施解决方法;(4)继续研究上述各种方法的利润。