Business Ethics – to Teach Or Not to Teach?

While some studies have explored the effects of taking business ethics classes on business students, several shortcomings in them invite greater scrutiny of this critical issue (cf. Robertson, 1993). In contrast to previous research, this study more directly assesses the impact of taking business ethics class on ethical decisions made by future business executives. To determine if teaching business ethics modifies behaviors or behavioral intentions, the current study examines decisions made in ethical situations rather than inferring the same by measuring attitudes, values, etc. Furthermore, these were measured in three different business contexts: whistle blowing, recruitment, and industrial espionage, to enhance the generalizability of the findings. Finally, unlike most previous studies, a within-subject's design was chosen to eliminate confounds that may be caused by not controlling for individual differences (Glenn, 1992). The current results indicate that business ethics classes have minimal effect on ethical decision making in any of the three contexts investigated, empirically providing support for Wolfe's (1993) and Wynd and Mager's (1989) position that teaching business ethics may have limited benefits.     

How does qualitative data collection modality affect disclosure of sensitive information and participant experience? Findings from a quasi-experimental study

Quality & Quantity - Focus groups (FGs) and individual interviews (IDIs) can be conducted in-person or in several different online contexts. We conducted a quasi-experimental study and assessed...     

Push and pull factors and Hispanic self-employment in the USA

This study examines the main push and pull factors driving Hispanic self-employment in the USA by modeling the self-employment decision as a function of sectoral earnings differences, country of origin, and other factors. Findings indicate that a main reason Hispanics engage in self-employment is they can earn more working for themselves than in wage/salary work. Immigrants appear to be pushed into self-employment as a result of limited opportunities in the wage work sector. Although low relative earnings in wage/salary work could push workers with limited English proficiency into self-employment, our findings indicate barriers to this. Results suggest that workers pulled into self-employment are those with more work experience and a college degree. Workers who originate from Southern South America and Colombia have relatively high self-employment rates, while Mexico-origin workers have relatively low self-employment rates. We also uncover differences across Hispanic origin groups in terms of the influence of gender, education, and personal wealth on self-employment participation.     

Cross-country diversity and non-IFRS financial performance measures

We investigate the disclosure of non-IFRS performance measures by 400 companies from eight countries using IFRS Standards (Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom) in the years 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2013 (1595 company-years). The incidence of disclosure is higher in UK and France but lower in Hong Kong, Germany and Singapore. Exclusions relating to impairment, tax, and mergers and acquisitions are frequent. Firms making non-IFRS disclosures are more likely to be larger, have higher leverage, and exhibit greater volatility in their reported income. Additional tests show national reporting traditions and practices affect non-IFRS disclosures.     

Designing randomized response surveys to support honest answers to stigmatizing questions

Review of Economic Design - Randomized response survey methods use noise to mask respondents’ answers to stigmatizing questions in an attempt to elicit honest responses. Respondents weigh the...     

Money matters: consumption variability across the income distribution

Using the Consumer Expenditure Survey, we document the level and variability of quarterly consumption across the socio-economic distribution. While the measurement of well-being is focused on income, the secular and policy discourse prioritises income-adequacy to meet family needs. This concern over income-adequacy centres on the capacity of families to predictably consume minimally acceptable levels of basic needs, and the social and economic mobility consequences of low consumption. Our results show a clear socio-economic and demographic gradient of lower consumption amid higher consumption variability for disadvantaged groups. Food, entertainment, and personal care goods and services exhibit relatively high levels of consumption variability among low-income households.     

Personal taxes,cost of insurer equity capital,and the case of offshore hedge fund reinsurers

Insurer investment returns are taxed in the United States at the corporate level and at the personal level when they are distributed to shareholders. This paper examines the implications of personal taxes for the tax cost on insurers equity capital and how these tax costs have varied over time under different tax regimes and with different asset portfolios. The paper also discusses how personal taxes provide tax incentives to form offshore hedge fund reinsurers, which provide an interesting case study illustrating the relevance of personal taxes. Finally, the paper discusses the tax treatment of alternative capital arrangements, such as collateralized reinsurance and sidecars.