The effects of expatriate demographic characteristics on adjustment: A social identity approach

As demand increases for expatriates to manage far‐flung operations in a global economy, scholars and practitioners are focusing their attention on the factors that contribute to expatriate success. One such factor is the support that expatriates receive from host country nationals (HCNs) with whom they work. Researchers interested in understanding expatriate success have not closely examined the phenomenon from an HCN perspective, however. At the same time, although we have gained a significant understanding of the roles of psychological, organizational, and contextual variables in the international assignment, there is still much to be understood about how expatriates' demographic characteristics affect their experiences in international assignments. Current findings regarding the effects of demographic characteristics often are inconsistent, highlighting the need for more complex theorizing. This article reviews recent research on the effects of expatriate demographic characteristics and proposes a social identity approach to understanding how these characteristics affect HCN support for the expatriate. It also seeks to develop a theory that addresses discrepancies in extant empirical findings, provides propositions to guide future research in the study of expatriates, and discusses implications for both researchers and practitioners. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Origins of the Pioneer Cotton Mills in Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1868-1879: A Reassessment

The Brazilian economy before the First World War has been generallycharacterized as an economy specializing in the production ofprimary goods for the international market—chiefly coffeefor export. The emergence of the first industrial factorieshas been seen as closely connected to the performance of theexport sector. The first cotton mills established in one provinceof Brazil, Minas Gerais, were not connected to the export sector,however. Minas Gerais was different in key respects from otherregions. This article describes the peculiarities of the Mineiroeconomy during the 1870s and investigates the establishmentof the first cotton mills there. It considers the location,size, and financing of the mills, as well as the structure ofownership and relations between partners. The results show thatthe emergence of the textile industry in Minas Gerais was independentfrom the performance of the foreign sector of the Brazilianeconomy.     

Fixprice analysis in productive economies

The paper compares the definitions of Fixprice Equilibrium for productive convex economies due to Drèze, Benassy, and Malinvaud-Younès. It turns out that Drèze's (resp., Malinvaud-Younès') notion is the strictest (resp. least strict) one. The three notions are, however, equivalent under smoothness and absence of intermediate goods. They are, in particular, equivalent for the familiar fixprice model with three goods (money, labor, and output) studied among others by Barro-Grossman, Benassy and Malinvaud.     

Exporting barriers: Insights from Portuguese small- and medium-sized exporters and non-exporters

This study aimed to identify some of the major barriers that may hinder potential exporters and non-exporters from exporting their operations. Both parametric and semi-parametric binary choice models were used to analyze the data with the aim of assessing which of the major barriers detected can better explain the surveyed SMEs' decision to export or not. Six out of the 23 distinct barriers defined initially in the survey were found as statistically significant determiners of the probability that a surveyed SME firm would be a non-exporter. If public agents are interested in promoting and implementing the most effective mechanisms to stimulate exporting of domestic firms, several policy measures are advisable in order to minimize or alleviate the perceived inhibiting impact of barriers on SME firms' exporting decisions. In summary, results from the study revealed that non-exporters consider the lack of knowledge of potential markets, lack of qualified export personnel, lack of technical suitability, degree of competition in the sector, lack of financial assistance (governmental and financial institutions), and lack of qualified human resources as the main export barriers. By comparison, exporters perceived warehousing and control of the physical product flow in the target market to be the biggest barrier.     

Water losses and hydrographical regions influence on the cost structure of the Portuguese water industry

Despite the growing research about water utilities, some questions still remain to be solved on the supply side, which are frequently absent from empirical studies based on the estimation of cost functions. This paper aims to fill to some extent this gap in the literature by focusing the consequences of water losses reduction and the management of water resources based on their availability at an integrated river basin level. Major findings derived from the estimation of a multiproduct cost function suggest advantages from reducing water losses, given that an adjusted measure of economies of scope, adapting the fact that water lost cannot be sold, reveals that there are small diseconomies of scope. In addition, generally the variables related to the hydrographical regions used have significant effects on water costs. Since the outcomes also reveal the existence of economies of scale, more concentration in the Portuguese water industry at the retail level would be beneficial.     

Classical Surplus Theory and Heterodox Economics

It has recently been suggested that heterodox economics can benefit from an engagement with classical surplus theory. However, caution is often recommended due to the ideological concepts that are embedded in classical political economy. This article argues that many of the ideological concepts that are often attributed to classical political economy are actually not part of classical political economy, but rather of a “vulgar” form of political economy, a project that emerged after Ricardo. This vulgar project, often termed as “Ricardian economics,” is often mistakenly taken to be a development of classical political economy, but it is actually a rupture with the classical political economy of Petty, Smith, and Ricardo, as Marx, and later Sraffa, argued. Once this is acknowledged, the relationship between classical political economy and heterodox economics becomes clearer.     

Can Hand Washing Influence Hedonic Food Consumption?

The act of hand washing has been a routine part of hygienic practices across time and society. Aside from its physiological effects, hand washing has also been shown to symbolically cleanse individuals of their transgressions. However, most research demonstrating the metaphorical effect of hand washing has mainly been focused within the domain of morality. The objective of the current research is to explore the role of hand washing on consumption behavior, and more specifically, hedonic food consumption. Across two studies, this article establishes the role of hand washing after hedonic food consumption as well as prior to a hedonic food choice. In Study 1, washing one's hands after consumption of hedonic food decreased perceived guilt. In Study 2, washing one's hands prior to choice led to an increased likelihood of choosing a more hedonic (compared to less hedonic) food item. Thus, by washing one's hands, individuals are provided with a license to indulge in hedonic foods without the guilt that is commonly associated with such a choice. Several implications for consumer behavior research and the effects of hand washing on food decision making are discussed.