Application of Relationship Investment Model in Predicting Student Engagement towards HEIs

Using the Relationship Investment Model, this study examines the effects of satisfaction, relationship investment dimensions, and alternative attractiveness on student commitment and, consequently, on student engagement towards higher education institutions (HEIs). This research adopts the positivism, quantitative, and deductive approaches. Data were gathered from a sample of 250 students through the street-intercept systematic sampling and were analyzed using structural equation modelling. The findings reveal that satisfaction and student direct investment significantly affect student commitment, which in turn influences student engagement towards HEIs. While the findings provide guidance to HEIs in designing an effective engagement program that will ensure their relevance in the competitive educational world, this research is limited by several factors, which will require refinement and replication in future research.     

Endogenous Restrictions for Least Developed Economies

The paper explores appropriate trade restrictions for least developed countries facing external terms-of-trade disturbances in terms of minimizing variations in the real sphere of the economy. Two alternative models are explored: export-subsidy versus import-tariff endogeneity. The theoretical model indicates that the tariff regime is a more appropriate policy. Empirical evidence from Sudan (1950– 1991) suggests that, although there is some discernable evidence that Sudan followed the tariff regime, the country did not apply the policy correctly, adjusting the tariff mainly in response to foreign import prices rather than foreign export prices, which are more unstable.     

Ministers’ statements: a policy implementation instrument for sustainable tourism?

Consistent communication of tourism policies by tourism ministers might raise public and industry awareness and promote support for sustainable tourism. The statements made by ministers contain messages that can inform the public and industry stakeholders, and potentially, these statements can draw attention to sensitive issues and bring about changes in practices that encourage sustainability in the tourism industry. Analyzing the statements of the five most recent tourism ministers in Turkey, delivered between 2001 and 2009, this study identifies the ministers’ priorities for tourism and compares them with the tourism policy objectives set out in Turkey's Tourism Strategic Action Plan. Further comparison is undertaken to see whether priorities changed within and between governments. The results of the content analysis indicate that the statements of the Turkish tourism ministers were economically driven and growth-oriented, and that there were inconsistencies between the ministers’ priorities and the corresponding policy objectives in the national tourism strategy. While the period between 2001 and 2009 saw changing governments and ministers, the different ministers emphasized an almost identical set of priorities. Implications are discussed for public awareness of tourism policies and for sustainable tourism.     

Is the US Dollar a Suitable Anchor for the Newly Proposed GCC Currency?

Responses of inflation and non‐oil output growth from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to monetary policy shocks from the United States (US) were estimated to determine whether there is evidence to support the US dollar as the anchor for the proposed unified currency. A structural vector autoregression identified with short‐run restrictions was employed for each country with Fed funds rate as the US monetary policy instrument, non‐oil output growth and inflation. The main results suggest that for inflation, the GCC countries show synchronised responses to monetary policy shocks from the US which are similar to inflation in the US, and for non‐oil output growth, there is no clear indication that US monetary policy can be as effective for the GCC countries as it is domestically. Consequently, importing US monetary policy via a dollar peg may guarantee only stable inflation for the GCC countries – not necessarily stable non‐oil output growth. If the non‐oil output response is made conscientiously – and there are concerns over the dollar’s ability to perform its role as a store of value – a basket peg with both the US dollar and the euro may be a sound alternative as confirmed by the variance decomposition analysis of our augmented SVAR with a proxy for the European short‐term interest rate.     

Determining the property ownership on cadastral works in Turkey

The transformation process from state to civil ownership in Turkey was started at the end of the Ottoman Empire and continued until after the formation of Turkish Republic. In this process, in accordance with the Civil Code legislation, most land users who had been using state lands were regarded as owners of those lands. These parcels of real estate were used in various ways and it became necessary to register these properties by using a process called ‘written cadastre’. The initial process was slowed down during World War II but an intensive cadastral program was begun after the war in both urban and rural areas, particularly in 1950s. The cadastre work had two components called technical and legal. The definition of land ownership is the legal foundation of the cadastre. If properties have their titles, land ownership can be defined based on the title; otherwise the ownership can be defined according to statements by experts chosen from local people. However, without title or written evidence, determining the land ownership is more problematic. In this context, this study explains how the ownership of properties, with or without a title, is determined in cadastral work in Turkey.     

Technological change and human resource development practices in Asia: a study of Singapore‐based companies

Technological change is a constant phenomenon in contemporary organizations. How to prepare employees for technological change has increasingly become an issue for human resource development theory and practice. This study investigated the human resource development practices of organizations in Singapore, where companies are continuously responding to rapid technological changes in order to remain competitive. The results show similar patterns of responses across business sectors; however, some differences were found in the transport and communications sectors. On‐the‐job training was reported as the most frequently used training method to address organizational change needs. The discussion and recommendations focus on the need for improved change management approaches.     

Measuring service quality of travel agents: evidence from Northern Cyprus

Service quality delivered by travel agents in Northern Cyprus was examined using a SERVQUAL scale. The translated instrument was purified using an item-categorisation technique and administered to 337 current users of travel agents in the region. Expectations and performance (SERVPERF) scores indicated that respondents were concerned most with the efficiency and least with the personalisation of the services offered. The largest service gaps were identified with the ‘modern’ appearance of the service and service-scape, and the smallest with interpersonal qualities of service. Multiple regression showed promptness, empathy, efficiency and service-scape aesthetics to be the main determinants of customer satisfaction. SERVPERF scores gave a better prediction of overall satisfaction and showed marginally better reliability and validity than those from which expectations were subtracted. Instead of the predicted SERVQUAL five-factor solution, factor analysis showed an underlying uni-dimensionality that is consistent with the findings of other authors. Possible management actions suggested by the findings are discussed in the context of the small business environment in Northern Cyprus.     

Can Loan Valuation Adjustment (LVA) approach immunize collateralized debt from defaults?

This study focuses on structuring tangible asset backed loans to inhibit their endemic option to default. We adapt the pragmatic approach of a margin loan in the configuring of collateralized debt to yield a quasi‐default‐free facility. We link our practical method to the current Basel III (2017) regulatory framework. Our new concept of the Loan Valuation Adjustment (LVA) and novel method to minimize the LVA converts the risky loan into a quasi risk‐free loan and achieves value maximization for the lending financial institution. As a result, entrepreneurial activities are promoted and economic growth invigorated. Information asymmetry, costly bailouts and resulting financial fragility are reduced while depositors are endowed with a safety net equivalent to deposit insurance but without the associated moral hazard between risk‐averse lenders and borrowers.     

Determining the Best Sales Time Period for Dried Figs: A Game Theory Application

Variations in producer prices over time cause constant fluctuations in farm incomes. In this study, the author uses a game theory approach to determine the economically optimal time to sell dried figs for the agricultural firms that produce them. Based on the price producers received in the period between August 2003 and July 2010, dried fig prices were converted into 2003 real price levels. According to a linear programming model based on these assumptions, it was determined that the best time for producers to sell dried figs, with the rate of 26.63%, was November and December.     

Conflict,exhaustion, and motivation: A study of frontline employees in Northern Cyprus hotels

This study develops and tests a model that investigates the effects of work-family conflict, emotional exhaustion, and intrinsic motivation on affective job outcomes using data from frontline employees in Northern Cyprus hotels. Results show that work-family conflict is positively related to emotional exhaustion. Work-family conflict was found to be negatively associated with job satisfaction. However, the study results demonstrate that work-family conflict did not depict any significant relationships with affective organizational commitment and intention to leave. Results indicate that emotional exhaustion leads to job dissatisfaction, decreased affective organizational commitment, and high levels of intention to leave. Results reveal that intrinsic motivation is significantly related to emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and affective organizational commitment. In addition, the study results provide empirical support for the positive impact of job satisfaction on affective organizational commitment and the negative effects of job satisfaction and affective commitment to the organization on intention to leave. Discussion and implications of the results are presented in the study.