Non-fatal violence-related injuries in Kingston,Jamaica: a preventable drain on resources

Using data for a one-year period from the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) in Jamaica, we describe patterns of non-fatal violence-related injuries, and carry out simulation analysis to estimate rates of hospital admission under various injury reduction scenarios, and the potential savings that can be realized by reducing violent crimes. In this period there were 6107 registered violence-related visits to the KPH representing 11.5% of all recorded visits. Of these 16.6% (1001) were admitted. The most common methods of inflicting injury was by stabbing (52.1%), blunt injuries (37.9%) and gunshot wounds (7.3%). Multivariate analyses indicated that gunshot injuries, stab injuries, being male between the ages of 15 and 44 years, receiving the injury in November or December, and being injured by a stranger or unknown assailant, were significant correlates of a higher probability of admission. Simulation analysis with various injury reduction scenarios indicated decreases in the probability of admission ranging from 12% to 44%, with estimated savings of up to 31% of the annual supplies budget of KPH.     

The development of the Personality Audit: a psychodynamic multiple feedback assessment instrument

The Personality Audit (PA) was developed to meet a need for a relatively simple multiple feedback instrument that could clarify the various motivational needs of executives. Using a psychodynamic approach to leadership, the PA allows the test-taker to assess him- or herself in seven personality dimensions important in human behaviour and to identify personal ‘blind spots’. The resulting insights can be used to formulate appropriate leadership development goals.

The objective of this paper is to describe the design and psychometric properties of the PA. This instrument, in contrast with other tools that can be used to clarify the inner theatre of individuals, is designed not only to report information given by the test-taker but also to reflect the perceptions of observers representing both the test-taker's public and private spheres. This paper describes in detail the conceptual foundations of the questionnaire, the psychometric methods used to confirm its validity and reliability, and possible directions for future research.     

A COMPARISON OF RISK EFFICIENCY CRITERIA IN EVALUATING GROUNDNUT PERFORMANCE IN DROUGHT-PRONE AREAS

This paper contributes to an evaluation of the performance of ground nuts in drought-prone areas by estimating yield response functions to water from experimental data. They are combined with meteorological data to simulate yields by location. Efficient genotypes are identified by several risk criteria. Genotype rankings based on these risk criteria and simulated yields are different from those based on experimental data and plant scientists' traditional methods of evaluation.     

The economics of a good party: Social mechanics and the legitimization of art/culture

Putting value on cultural goods is a messy business. Cultural value is not just an economic act but instead part of an intense social process of valorization and legitimization. Art/culture is socially consumed and socially aware. Economic value is determined by intangible (and ephemeral) social value formed from and within specific contexts by particular people, the “scene”, so to speak. What are the mechanisms by which the social dynamics of art/culture impact its economic legitimacy? This article looks at how art/culture attains market value, focusing on the social contexts by which culture is produced, evaluated and distributed.     

Effects of information format and similarity among alternatives on consumer choice processes

This study explores how similarity among alternatives and a new information format, branching, affect consumer choice processes. A branching format organizes real, physically present objects by attribute levels. Thirty-six female consumers made six choices from sets of products in a laboratory setting and provided concurrent verbal protocols. Compared to a brand format, a branching format elicited fewer comparisons, had no effect on cognitive effort other than comparisons, and had no effect on intention to choose the best. Compared to the similar set, the dissimilar set elicited more comparisons, lower levels of other measures of cognitive effort, and less intention to choose the best. These effects of similarity and information format were consistent across the two product classes tested. However, the effects of information format and similarity on comparisons differed from their effects on other measures of cognitive effort. She received her Ph.D. from Columbia University. Her research on consumer choice processes has been published in Advances in Consumer Research and Psychology and Marketing.     

Aviation Policy: Past and Present

Airline deregulation has been a symbol of the trend toward less expansive government over the past quarter century. The move from economic regulation to deregulation has delivered on its efficiency promises. There have been significant benefits to consumers in terms of lower prices and more convenient schedules. However, airline competition, particularly at hub airports, remains imperfect. The nature of these imperfections is explained better by models of oligopolistic behavior than by the contestability theory. Paradoxically for this industry, the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, has ushered in an expanded role of government in aviation policy. This expanded role does not reinstate government intervention in airline economic decisions. Rather, it provides financial stabilization (bailout and loan guarantees) of the industry in the short run and long-term structural change in aviation security.     

Comparisons of the Educational Value of Distance Delivered versus Traditional Classroom Instruction in Introductory Agricultural Economics

As many universities are promoting distance courses, the comparative advantages and disadvantages over conventional classroom delivery are being debated. Student attitudes and test performance in an introductory microeconomics course are compared across the two different course delivery formats. Results show that students with average or below-average college aptitude test scores perform more poorly in the distance class.     

Audit Reports in Australia during the Global Financial Crisis

The Global Financial Crisis reduced economic growth, impacted equity and credit markets, and increased business risk. To the extent that this increased risk translates into greater uncertainty of companies’ ability to continue as going concerns, this should be reflected in audit reports. This paper investigates how the crisis impacted auditor reporting in Australia by examining the period 2005–2009. It finds that the main reason for audit report modification is going concern and that modification rates increased from 12% in 2005–2007 to 18% in 2008 and 22% in 2009. Serious audit report qualification rates remain around 3%.