Motivation and Acceptability Norms of Human-Caused Sound in Muir Woods National Monument

Acceptability of sound, natural or human-caused, was predicted to vary by an individual's motivation for quiet at Muir Woods National Monument. This study used a dose-response methodology where visitors (n = 157; response rate = 54%) listened to five audio recordings varying in the percentage of time that human-caused sound was louder than natural sound (percent time above). Visitors then rated the acceptability (pleasing to annoying) of each recording. Cluster analysis was used to segment individuals into three homogenous groups based on their motivations (i.e., low, moderate, and high motivation for quiet) for visiting the park. Results indicated that as percent time above natural sound increased, visitor ratings of human-caused sound decreased. Reactions to human-caused sound also decreased as motivation for quiet increased. Consensus regarding the acceptability of sound was greatest when the percent time above natural sound was lowest (i.e., quietest sounds). Recommendations are offered for setting standards to meet soundscape objectives.     

INVESTOR OVEROPTIMISM AND PRIVATE EQUITY PLACEMENTS

We reexamine investor tendency to overweight recent experiences when predicting future performance of firms by examining a sample of firms making private equity placements. Our findings are consistent with the projection argument that investors use the recent experiences of other firms to predict the success of placing firms. Specifically, we find that the placements preceded by a larger number of recently very successful firms are associated with the significantly more favorable market reaction to the placement announcement and significantly poorer post‐placement stock price performance.     

The impact of media on the legitimacy of new market categories: The case of broadband internet

Building on research in institutional theory and market categories, we argue that media coverage, through the effects of cognitive and sociopolitical legitimacy, influence the creation of new market categories. Using data on the broadband access industry, we develop and test a media coverage model of market category entries, demonstrating the legitimacy effects of media-based information exchange on the emergence of new market categories. We include two post hoc analyses on mediation effects to test the relationship between population density and media coverage. These results indicate a possible mediation relationship, which we discuss in the implications of our study.     

Structural change through exchange rate policy

Zusammenfassung Strukturwandel durch Wechselkurspolitik. -Dieser Aufsatz untersucht, ob und wie die Wechselkurspolitik Produktivit?t und Qualit?t industrieller Produkte beeinflu?t. Anhand ?sterreichischer Daten wird gezeigt, da? Aufwertungen des Schillings die strukturelle Anpassung im ?sterreichischen Exportsektor begünstigt haben. In den siebziger Jahren haben reale Aufwertungen die Produktivit?t erh?ht und die Produktqualit?t verbessert, weil die Firmen ihre Wettbewerbsf?higkeit aufrechterhalten wollten. Es wird gezeigt, da? dies im Einklang mit dem Produktzyklusmodell und dem Modell des importinduzierten Wachstums steht, welche eine positive Beziehung zwischen dem Wechselkurs und der nicht durch den Preis bestimmten Wettbewerbsf?higkeit nahelegen.

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Résumé Changement structurel par la politique de taux de change. -Cet article explore l'influence de la politique de taux de change sur la productivité industrielle et la qualité des produits. Il est démontré par des données autrichiennes que les révalorisations du schilling ont favorisé l'ajustement structurel dans le secteur exportatrice autrichien. Pendant les années soixante-dix les révalorisations réels ont mené à une productivité plus haute et amélioré la qualité des produits parce que les entreprises cherchaient à maintenir leur capacité concurrentielle. Suivant l'auteur cela se trouve en conformité avec le ?product-cycle? modèle et le ?import-led-growth? modèle suggérant une relation positive entre le taux de change et la capacité concurrentielle non-prix.

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Resumen Ajuste estructural através de la política cambiaria. -Este trabajo explora el efecto de la política de cambios sobre la productividad industrial y la calidad de los productos. Utilizando datos austríacos se muestra que las revaluaciones del tipo de cambio favorecen el ajuste estructural en el sector exportador austríaco. En los a?os setenta, las revaluaciones del tipo de cambio contribuyeron a aumentar la productividad y a mejorar la calidad de los productos, dado que las empresas estaban preocupadas por mantener su margen competitivo. Esto concuerda con la teoría del ciclo del producto y con el modelo de crecimiento inducido hacia las importaciones, que sugiere la existencia de una relación positiva entre el tipo de cambio y la competitividad no basada en el precio.

     

What Explains the Rise in Executive Pay in Germany? A Panel Data Analysis for 1977–2009

Executive compensation in Germany has become highly controversial since Vodafone's hostile takeover of Mannesmann in 2000. It has again been in the spotlight since the outbreak of the 2008–2009 global financial crisis. Using a unique panel dataset of the 500 largest firms in Germany in the period 1977–2009, we find that executives tend to be rewarded when the sector is doing well rather than the firm they work for. Furthermore, we find that CEO pay and the demand for managers increases in Germany in difficult times when the typical firm size shrinks. Finally, domestic and global competition for managers appear to contribute to the rise in executive pay.