Food choices and the younger generation

Food choice is influenced by many factors including physical, social and psychological ones. In this research, the food choices of young people in the 9–15 age group were investigated and the possible factors influencing them examined. Observations and questionnaires carried out in schools within Northern Ireland indicated that many young people are inclined to choose high-fat and high-sugar products and often dislike fresh fruit and vegetables. This raises concern, especially with the continued high incidence of coronary heart disease within the province. Further work has suggested that young people are aware of current nutrition policies and the importance of healthy eating, but still fail to put this knowledge into practice.     

Does the Liquidity of a Debt Issue Increase with Its Size? Evidence from the Corporate Bond and Medium-Term Note Markets

To investigate the liquidity of large issues, this study tests for yield differences between corporate bonds and medium-term notes (MTNs). In the sample, MTNs have an average issue size of $4 million, compared with $265 million for bonds. Among MTNs that have the same issuance date, the same maturity date, and the same corporate issuer, we find no relation between size and yields. Moreover, bonds and MTNs have statistically equivalent yields. Thus, rather than suggesting that large issues have greater liquidity, these findings indicate that large and small securities issued by the same borrower are close substitutes.     

A Modest Proposal for a Two‐Sided Market Clearing Institution under Asymmetric Supply Constraints with Skewed Pricing: The Market for Adoption and Abortion in the United States

This paper presents a theoretical model matching the potential supply of terminated pregnancies with the total demand for children within certain modeling constraints. First, the demand and supply of pregnancies should be studied within the theoretical framework of a market with economic incentives. Second, a theoretical model for the demand for abortion must incorporate the total market for children, which implies the market for pregnancy, abortion, and adoption. Third, there exist in the overall market for procreative goods and services certain unique characteristics that need to be carefully considered. Producers and suppliers within the procreative goods and services market have radically different price and cost elasticity functions and unique production asymmetries that create a potential net benefit for buyer and seller alike. The market for abortion and adoption, while seemingly related and similar, suffer from a fundamental disconnect, preventing a simple exchange of goods and services: abortion implies potential supply that does not flow to potential consumersthose seeking to adopt. Studying this market inefficiency will benefit from a two‐sided market analysis used in situations where an intermediary business must attract both producers and suppliers. There are two key findings. First, I find that the producer decision to supply the good depends primarily on exogenous preference formation and not on consumer‐provided incentives. Second, I find that the market would benefit from legal framework for a market clearing institution using the market for real estate as the blueprint.     

The Earnings of Immigrant Men in Australia: Assimilation, Cohort Effects, and Macroeconomic Conditions

This paper analyzes the earnings of immigrant men in Australia using data from Income Distribution Surveys for 1982, 1986 and 1990. The paper expands on the standard approach used in the literature to evaluate immigrant earnings adjustment by considering the impact of current labour market conditions and conditions at labour market entry on current earnings. Immigrants from non-English speaking backgrounds have significantly lower earnings on arrival in Australia compared with native-born males, and this gap is not narrowed as years in Australia increase. However, poorer macroeconomic conditions at entry are found to have a significantly smaller negative effect on the earnings of immigrants from non-English speaking backgrounds than native-born males.     

Australian Business Investment: A New Look at the Neoclassical Approach*

This paper attempts to reconcile neoclassical theory with Australian investment data. We argue that, by focusing almost exclusively on the demand for capital services, neoclassical investment theory neglects two related decisions: the decision to own the existing capital stock, and the decision to produce new capital goods. We propose a simple model of investment behaviour that integrates production decisions with portfolio decisions. Careful consideration is given to the determination of the price of capital, the rental price of capital, and the return on capital. The model is estimated by FIML, and a number of simulation results are reported.     

The Optimality of Competitive Air Transport Markets: A Review of Aspects of the ICAP Report*

The results of a model of optimal air fares and flight frequency, which can also be used to generate market results, are applied to market failure arguments, contained in the recent ICAP Report, for regulation of international airlines. The arguments of the report are classified under headings of capacity and utilization, ‘on-demand’ service and fare structure. It is argued contrary to the ICAP Report that the competitive result can he optimal in conditions likely to apply on international routes.     

A Political History of Goodwill in the U.K.: An Illustration of Cyclical Standard Setting

A cyclical pattern of standard setting has been suggested elsewhere. In this context, this paper constitutes a case study of U.K. standard setting on the subject of goodwill. It is noted that varied practice of the 1960s was followed by several stimuli for action by standard setters. Managers opposed standardization and income reductions, whereas senior policy-makers, government, press and international influences proposed it. The result is dramatic swings in the content of documents on goodwill from the Accounting Standards Committee, possibly contributing to the latter's demise.     

Career Employment and Job Stopping

Career jobs typically end well before retirement and are followed by a period of postcareer employment. Although the most financially successful transitions occur when new positions are obtained in the same industry and occupation as the career job, mobility usually involves a change in industry andlor in occupation. Pension-covered career jobs last longer and more frequently end in retirement than noncovered positions. Pensions may also reduce the probability that retirements occur at very young ages and delay retirements when coverage is first obtained in postcareer employment.