The Implications for Agricultural Statistics of Changes in the System of National Accounts

Recent changes to the internationally-agreed system of national accounts carry implications for the aggregate production accounts for agriculture in the EU, notably a shift away from using the ‘national farm’ concept. They have also encouraged the development, within the national accounts framework, of accounts for the agricultural households subsector. These changes not only impose new tasks on producers of agricultural statistics but also provide new material which is likely, in some instances, to challenge policy-makers, economists and other users to revise their thinking about the nature of this industry and the problems that are faced.     

How should you stabilise your supply chains?

This case based research paper examines the stabilisation strategies used within seven supply chains and presents a framework to help practitioners stabilise their chains. The findings show that organisations should first select a cushioning strategy and then reduce demand uncertainty to lower the level of cushion held. However, they need to recognise that other organisations within the supply chain are making similar decisions and the whole supply chain needs to be stabilised. Despite this, businesses seem to only share information about their demand uncertainty-reducing mechanisms and not their cushioning strategies. This means that companies often make decisions in isolation of each other, which can then destabilise the chain.     

Designing Effective Promotional Games: Opportunities and Problems

Abstract

Games such as sweepstakes and contests have become increasingly popular parts of promotional and advertising campaigns. Despite their wide use, very little academic theory or research exists about how consumers perceive and respond to promotional games. This paper presents a conceptual model of why consumers decide to participate in games, and how the process of play and game outcomes influences attitudes, self-perceptions, and behavior. The model provides a theory-based perspective for the design of promotional games that considers both the opportunities and ethical dilemmas that game sponsors face. Managerial implications are provided and hypotheses are suggested for future research.     

Dividends, Values and Agency Costs in REITs

This study examines the market value of REIT dividends conditional on transparency of operating structure and effectiveness of boards. Results suggest that total, mandatory and discretionary dividends are valued by the market. Consistent with agency cost theory, results provide some evidence that discretionary dividends paid by REITs with greater principal-agent conflicts have greater market value. Specific results suggest an increased value of excess dividends paid by firms with more complex organizational structures (UPREITs) and, to some degree, less independent boards. This evidence implies the equity market recognizes REITs’ substitution of discretionary dividends for stronger governance.     

Stalking the Poverty Consumer A Retrospective Examination of Modern Ethical Dilemmas

This research takes a retrospective look at modern consumption opportunities of the U.S. poor from both sides of the marketing exchange relationship. The paper opens with a critical assessment of the consumer-behavior literature and its primary focus on middle-class Americans. The next section profiles the impoverished and their purchasing habits and closes with a summary of how both have changed over the last forty years. Then a theoretical account is presented using consumer literature from the same timeframe. The paper ends with a discussion of common business practices and moral dilemmas that have continued over these decades, along with an ethical paradigm involving distributive justice to guide future management tactics.     

中国的标准化战略——成就与挑战

文章论述了我国加入WTO后的标准化战略及其在我国经济发展和创新体系建设中的地位和作用。通过对科技部技术标准战略课题成果和各级政府部门出台的标准化战略或规划进行的分析,总结出我国标准化战略思想形成的脉络;实际形成并得到实施的标准化战略;所取得的成果和当前所面临的挑战。