Testing the Influence of Substitute Sites in Nature Valuation by Using Spatial Discounting Factors

This paper investigates the effect of nearby nature substitute sites on preferences for nature restoration. Contrary to prior studies, we use a respondent-centric approach to control for substitute sites. We assess each respondent-specific spatial context by computing densities of nature substitute sites within various ranges from each respondent’s home. This approach considers the use and non-use values of nature together. Data from three similar discrete choice experiments carried out in Flanders (Belgium) are compared. Different spatial discounting factors are tested to explore how the substitution effect behaves with regard to distance. Latent class analyses are performed to account for preference heterogeneity among respondents. We observe divergent behaviours across groups of respondents. The “distance-to-substitutes” affects how respondents gauge substitute sites. We find a significant influence of the squared average buffer distance but this effect varies in sign across case studies and classes of respondents. Our results demonstrate that individual-specific GIS data can significantly improve the representation of the spatial context and the transferability of value functions. However, the roles played by preference heterogeneity and nature perception on respondents’ capacity to value nature still deserves further attention in future research.     

Can proactive environmental strategy improve Multilatinas' level of internationalization? The moderating role of board independence

This paper explores the relationships between proactive environmental strategy (PES) and internationalization in emerging markets multinationals from Latin America (Multilatinas). Drawing on the resource‐based view and institutional theory and using a sample of 86 listed firms during the period 2013–2017, we find that Multilatinas with higher tiers of PES are associated with higher degrees of geographic international diversification. Because adopting PES is directly conditioned by institutional pressures to comply with stakeholders' regulations and expectations, Multilatinas that implement advanced PES will be able to achieve a higher level of international presence in foreign markets. Our results also reveal that board independence positively moderates the relationship between PES and geographic international diversification. Specifically, board independence provides Multilatinas with the opportunity to integrate valuable knowledge and expertise and thus to take advantage of implementing advanced PES to achieve even greater levels of internationalization. This study expands understanding of how environmental strategies influence internationalization of firms in the Latin American business context.     

When companies improve the sustainability of the natural environment: A study of large U.S. companies

In light of the call for companies to abandon current approaches to environmental management, this study adds to the environmental strategy literature and uses the evidence of competitive dynamics among companies to identify a mechanism by which companies invest in proactive environmental strategies and thereby improve the sustainability of the natural environment. An examination utilizing fixed effects regressions on a sample of large U.S.‐based companies reveal that even after controlling the number, environmental and financial performance of leading (environmental) companies, laggard (environmental) companies are more likely to invest in proactive environmental strategies when their leading peers display higher sustainability orientations. Neither the expectation of government regulation nor social movement pressure was found to be influential in this relationship. Therefore, the future dominance of companies' investments in the sustainability of the natural environment will be driven by companies themselves as long as competitive advantages are expected.     

The demand for tobacco in post-unification Italy

This paper studies the demand for tobacco products in post-unification Italy. We construct a very detailed panel data set of yearly consumption in the 69 Italian provinces from 1871 to 1913 and use it to estimate the demand for tobacco products. We find support for the Becker and Murphy (J Polit Econ 96:675–700, 1988) rational addiction model. We also find that, in the period considered, tobacco was a normal good in Italy: aggregate tobacco consumption increased with income. Subsequently, we consider separately the four types of products which aggregate tobacco comprises (fine-cut tobacco, snuff, cigars, and cigarettes), and tentatively suggest that habit formation was a stronger factor on the persistence of consumption than physical addiction. The paper ends by showing that the introduction of the Bonsack machine in the early 1890s did not coincide with changes in the structure of the demand for tobacco, suggesting cost-driven technological change.     

企业家高工作满意度来源研究

企业家在市场经济中发挥着重要作用。在美国经济中,很多变革、创新和进步都来自企业家,并且由民营企业家创立的民营企业在提供就业机会上扮演了重要角色。本文所指的企业家遵从熊彼特的定义,认为企业家的职能是创新,创新是判断企业家的标准,在这个意义上,中小企业的创业者是纯正的企业家。一般人认为,美国一直不断产生企业家和创业者,实际上,创业者占劳动力市场的比例在1870至1973之间持续下降,到1976年后才开始回升。这种回升一直持续到现在。根据Gartnet与Shane的进一步研究发现:以每个单位资本所拥有的企业家,自20世纪70年代到20世纪90…     

河南省农业生产力现状及发展对策研究

河南省是我国重要的农产品生产基地。据统计，2004年河南生产总值8815．09亿元，比上年增长13．7％。其中，第一产业增加值1647．48亿元，增长12．8％；全年粮食总产量4260．00万吨，比上年增长19．3％，创历史最高水平，新增粮食产量居全国首位。农村经济结构进一步优化，全省优质专用小麦种植面积731．33千公顷，占小麦播种面积的36％；畜禽优质产品率进一步提高。全年肉类总产量643．00万吨，比上年增长6．5％。在几个全国有显著影响的农业优势产业区和产业带的基础上，经过多年的发展，形成了一些知名品牌，如“三全”、“思念”、“华英鸭肉”、“莲花味精”、“双汇”等。     

煤间接液化技术现状及其经济性分析

煤间接液化技术比较成熟并已得到大规模商业化运营。介绍了煤间接液化技术发展历程，详细论述了Sasol、Mobil MTG、Shell SMDS三种典型间接液化工艺，概述了反应器研究进展，对煤间接液化的技术经济性进行了分析，提出了我国煤间接液化技术发展建议。     

Unemployment and Catching Up: Europe Vis-à-vis the USA

This paper develops a two-region two-sector endogenous growth model with a dual labour market based on efficiency wages. Growth is driven by research done in the (high-tech) tradeables sector. The follower region tends to catch up in terms of labour productivity with the leader region. Differences in unemployment compensation systems can lead to relative convergence, i.e., a steady state with the backward region lagging behind the leader region. The reason for this is that high social welfare compensations generate high unemployment and reduce the amount of labour employed for R&D purposes.     

Non-market valuation of forest goods and services: Good practice guidelines

The European COST Action E45 on European Forest Externalities (EUROFOREX) participants developed a set of good practice guidelines for the non-market valuation of forests, elaborating on stated and revealed preference methodologies, as well as benefit transfer and meta-analytical procedures. This article presents a summary of the guidelines.