Economie development and land policies in the highlands and islands of Scotland

This paper explores the complex relationship between economic development and land use in a remote part of the UK — the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. It is suggested that the essential link between land reform and economic development is obscured in the Highlands and Islands. The historic reasons for this are given in detail and attached to the argument that the problems of the area have never been fully addressed. The authors state that many government policies in the area have been on an ad hoc basis and the background and achievements of the Highlands and Islands Development Board are given. The authors conclude with a plea for further legislative changes.     

Flat whites: who gets progression in the UK café sector?

The article examines the opportunities for, and barriers to, career progression in the UK café sector. The research finds that some workers are able to move up within organisations to reach managerial levels, regardless of their qualifications. However, the limited positions available, the nature of the work and low rewards mean that most workers either do not want progression or feel that they are unlikely to succeed.     

What Do Employee Councils Do? The Impact of Non‐Union Forms of Representation on Trade Union Organisation

The article examines how non‐union forms of employee representation impact on employee attitudes to unionisation. Through an analysis of union derecognition and the introduction of an employee council in an aerospace plant, it explores a number of factors that may be important in both sustaining and undermining support for trade unions.     

Subcultural tensions in managing organisational culture: a study of an English Premier League football organisation

In this article, we explore subcultural interaction in the context of attempts by executives to control culture in the unusual organisational setting of football. We present evidence of five tension points in subcultural relations (togetherness or isolation, internal labour market, multiple identification and allegiances, individual and organisational requirements, and competition and cooperation). We examine how these tensions were induced and or exacerbated by the culture management efforts, as well as the ways in which the dynamics of change impacted on the objectives of executives. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for theory and practice.     

Modelling the Spread of the Coronavirus: A View from Economics

This article reviews the modelling of the spread in Australia of COVID‐19 from the point of view of the discipline of Economics. After a brief overview of the epidemiological approach, we show that other modelling is needed for policy purposes and especially to provide a full understanding of the economic and social costs of disease control. We look at microeconomic aspects of infection, focusing on individual behaviour, the choices facing the individual and implications for policy. The use of a cost–benefit approach and macroeconomic aspects of the pandemic are examined together with the economic consequences of policy response.     

Should AFTA and CER Link?

This article examines the logic of the link between the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Closer Economic Relations (CER) regional trading arrangements which was mooted by the Thai Prime Minister in 1993. AFTA and CER are the only two regional trading arrangements in the East Asia/West Pacific region and both are advancing to a high degree of regional integration. This article argues that there are undoubted gains to be had from an AFTA-CER link by itself which includes reciprocal trade liberalisation as well as trade facilitation. Both groups of countries would benefit from freer trade between them and both have a lot to learn from the experiences of the other regional trading arrangement. However, this link will be redundant if the Bogor Declaration of the APEC is implemented after the Osaka meeting of APEC Leaders in November 1995. If, instead, multilateral trade liberalisation through the World Trade Organisation and APEC falters, an AFTA-CER link becomes an important possibility.     

Delivering Flexibility: Contrasting Patterns in the French and the UK Food Processing Industry

This article provides a comparative analysis of changes in numerical and functional labour flexibility in the French and the UK food processing industry. Based upon case study data, it explores the interaction between competitive pressures and institutional and regulatory structures and their impact on workplace practices. The findings indicate that, faced with a similar competitive environment, firms in both countries have sought to increase labour flexibility. However, the predominant forms of flexibility vary across the two countries, partly reflecting the characteristics of national labour market institutions. Numerical flexibility dominates in the UK, with high levels of paid overtime and temporary agency work. In contrast, French workplaces rely more on internal functional flexibility while also achieving numerical flexibility through seasonal variations in work schedules and a wide range of short‐term employment contracts.