Perceptions of the risks and benefits of genetically-modified foods and their influence on willingness to consume

There has been debate in the literature as to whether: (1) the risks and benefits of genetically-modified (GM) food and agriculture are considered and determined by individuals separately or whether they are jointly determined by attitudes; (2) consumer acceptance is determined by individuals weighing up their risk and benefit perceptions in a rational, even-handed manner, or if benefit perceptions are more important than risk perceptions, and (3) certain types of risk and benefit are more important than others. Against this background, this paper assesses the categories of risks and benefits and their relative importance in determining willingness to consume. A survey was carried out to collect data on the categories of risks and benefits in the US, UK and France, and the relative importance of selected perceived risk and benefit dimensions was estimated. The findings show: risk and benefit perceptions are negatively correlated, but not perfectly and, given that regressions we performed support the proposition that benefits are more important than risks in determining willingness to consume, a strong case can be made for measuring risks and benefits separately. Almost 2/3 of consumers perceive medium to high potential benefits from GM, though the proportion is slightly lower in the UK and down to 40% in France. Nevertheless, this suggests a much higher level of support for the technology than is normally assumed. From the study, benefits are more important for consumers' willingness to consume than perceived risks, and slightly more interviewees scored above than below the mean on willingness to consume GM food.     

HRD practices in local private sector companies and MNC subsidiaries in Australia, 1996–2009

This study charts human resource development (HRD) practices in locally owned private sector companies (APS) and subsidiaries of overseas-headquartered multinational companies (MNCs) located in Australia from 1996 to 2009.Using data from three iterations of the CRANET Australia survey, the research analyses the degree of difference between APS and MNCs, tests whether HRD practices are increasing in sophistication and if there is convergence or divergence between the two groups. The influence of company size and industry category is also explored as separate independent variables. The results suggest a decreasing overall level of HRD sophistication, that MNC subsidiaries are generally operating at a higher level of sophistication than APS companies and that there is directional, but not final, convergence.     

Returning to the workforce after retiring: a job demands,job control,social support perspective on job satisfaction

Despite growing interest in the aging of the workforce, few investigations have explored a key aspect of diversity among older workers: whether or not they consider themselves retired. Using a sample of workers ages 50 and older from the National Study of the Changing Workforce (2008), we apply career development theory and the job demand–control(–support) framework to investigate potential differences between working retirees (i.e. employed older adults 50+ who consider themselves retired) and working non-retirees (i.e. employed older adults 50+ who do not consider themselves retired) in terms of their job characteristics (i.e. demands, control, support) and how these job characteristics are related to job satisfaction. We find that working retirees report lower job demands and higher social support, and that there is limited evidence for the buffering hypothesis. Implications for researchers and employers are discussed.     

Giving voice to heritage tourists: indicators of quality for a sustainable heritage experience at Petra,Jordan

ABSTRACT

The tourist experience should be placed at the heart of management and planning process to achieve the goal of sustainable heritage tourism. The concept of indicators and standards of quality, which emerged in the field of natural resources and outdoor recreation management as a conceptual framework for understanding visitors’ experiences, has been widely applied in nature-based parks rather than cultural heritage sites. This study applies the concept of indicators to heritage experience at Petra Archaeological Park in Jordan. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 tourists to understand the tourist experience at the park, and to formulate indicators of the tourism experience. Results suggest that cultural and natural scenic value, crowding, attractions accessibility, vendor persistence, and odor of animals waste are potential indicators for the tourism experience at the park. Related management implications and recommendations are also discussed.     

Cost-effectiveness of the convergent procedure and catheter ablation for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Objective:

Patients with persistent or longstanding atrial fibrillation have modest success achieving sinus rhythm with catheter ablation or rhythm control medications. Their high risk of stroke, bleed, and heart failure leads to significant morbidity and health care costs. The convergent procedure has been shown to be successful in this population, with 80% of patients in sinus rhythm after 1 year. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the convergent procedure, catheter ablation, and medical management for non-paroxysmal AF patients.

Methods:

A Markov micro-simulation model was used to estimate costs and effectiveness from a payer perspective. Parameter estimates were from the literature. Three patient cohorts were simulated, representing lower, medium, and higher risks of stroke, bleed, heart failure, and hospitalization. Effects were estimated by quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Single-variable sensitivity analysis was performed.

Results:

After 5 years, convergent procedure patients averaged 1.10 procedures, with 75% of survivors in sinus rhythm; catheter ablation patients had 1.65 procedures, with 49% in sinus rhythm. Compared to medical management, catheter ablation and the convergent procedure were cost-effective for the lower risk (ICER <$35,000) and medium risk (ICER <$15,000) cohorts. The procedures dominated medical management for the higher risk cohort (lower cost and higher QALYs). The convergent procedure dominated catheter ablation for all risk cohorts. Results were subject to simplifying assumptions and limited by uncertain factors such as long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm after successful procedure and incremental AF-associated event rates for AF patients relative to patients in sinus rhythm. In the absence of clinical trial data, convergent procedure efficacy was estimated with observational evidence. Limitations were addressed with sensitivity analyses and a moderate 5 year time horizon.

Conclusion:

The convergent procedure results in superior maintenance of post-ablation sinus rhythm with fewer repeat ablation procedures compared to catheter ablation, leading to lower cost and higher QALYs after 5 years.     

The Financial Knowledge Scale: New Analyses,Findings, and Development of a Short Form

We use data from the Understanding America Study (UAS) internet panel to build upon the Knoll and Houts Financial Knowledge Scale (FKS). Specifically, we provide practitioners with a shorter 10-item scale, describe additional analyses on both the full- and short-form versions of the scales, and explore the relationship between FKS scores and a variety of retirement-related outcome variables. Importantly, the full- and short-form scales are developed using a statistical model that accounts for guessing, which allows us to provide more accurate estimates of financial knowledge than similar scales that do not account for guessing. The paper also provides conversion tables that can aid in the analysis and interpretation of FKS scores in practice. With the development of a 10-item short form that accounts for guessing, we hope to provide practitioners and researchers with a tool that will enable them to reliably measure financial knowledge more parsimoniously and accurately than other measures currently in use.     

Key Factors in Understanding Trends in Hollywood Product Placements from 2005 to 2015

This study updates extant product placement research by identifying the evolutions in product placements between 2005 and 2015 in top grossing Hollywood films. Using a quantitative content analysis, this research also offers insights into how production costs impact the use and implementation of product placements. The findings revealed films with lower production costs have significantly more placements overall, products are on screen longer, more brands are in films, products are mentioned and shown more often, and films contain more character involvement. Significant increases were found between 2005 and 2015 in all variables except the number of brands and length of placements.