The international infant formula controversy: A dilemma in corporate social responsibility

One of the most controversial issues to face any industry has been the infant formula problem, especially in the less-developed countries (LDCs). Producers of infant formula were confronted with a boycott which evolved from a grass-roots level to one which involved many nations, international and national public agencies, non-profit organizations, scientific research institutions, large church denominations, and every company in the industry. An international boycott was aimed at Nestlé, one of the largest producers of infant formula.The aim of this paper is (1) to examine both sides of the controversy, and (2) to analyze the results of the boycott, specifically the introduction of product codes and changes in industry and company strategies. In both areas ethical implications were involved. James C. Baker is Professor of Finance and International Business at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Previously he was Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland and Associate Professor at San Francisco State University. His most important publications are Multinational Marketing: Dimensions in Strategy(1975) (with J. K. Ryans); International Bank Regulation(1978). He published more than 70 articles in e.g. Columbia Journal of World Business, Journal of World Trade Law, Journal of International Marketing, Foreign Trade Review, Management Decision, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Business Finance and Accounting.     

The Impact of Company Pre-Listing Attributes on the Market Reaction to NYSE Listings

This study examines the market behavior of common stocks transferring from the NASDAQ stock market to the New York Stock Exchange from 1982 to 1989. Using event study methodology, the study tests the joint liquidity-signaling hypothesis that a stock's pre-listing liquidity and earnings per share (EPS) growth (a proxy for signaling) affect the market behavior around NYSE listings. The results show that the market responds more favorably to stocks with low liquidity and high signaling than to stocks with high liquidity and low signaling before listing. Stocks in the former group do not have an anomalous pattern of negative post-listing abnormal returns.     

Comparative research in industrial relations: helping the survey cross frontiers

There has been a relative dearth of comparative, cross-national research which has followed a survey-based approach. This partly reflects the difficulty that researchers encounter in collecting such information, either via primary collection or the secondary matching of existing survey material. This paper addresses these difficulties and suggests ways in which their impact can be minimized. It notes that such difficulties are much more severe in the case of secondary matching and are thereby likely to constrain the scope of this approach. They are not totally absent in primary collection and it is suggested that there are limits to what can be achieved during data collection to promote the development of like data-sets across countries. This indicates that great care must be taken in interpreting data so obtained. Despite such limits and cautions, it is nevertheless concluded that the survey approach can be an important adjunct to the process of understanding why the world of work varies across frontiers.     

The Oxford Handbook of Work & Organization – Edited by Stephen Ackroyd,Rosemary Batt,Paul Thompson and Pamela S.

Books reviewed: The Oxford Handbook of Work & Organization edited by Stephen Ackroyd, Rosemary Batt, Paul Thompson and Pamela S. Tolbert. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005, xiii + 655 pp., ISBN 0 19 926992 0, £75.00.     

Innovation,embeddedness and policy: evidence from life sciences in three UK regions

This paper draws upon a survey of the life science and biotechnology regions of Oxford, Central Scotland and South West England to examine the innovation and embeddedness traits of the regions. The insights into the compositional weaknesses and strengths of the regions suggest opportunities and threats for the future development of the UK's life sciences and biotechnology. The discussion moves forward debates on biotechnology, regional innovation, regional economic development and policy by posing research questions relating to the gap of knowledge of two under-researched regions, the need for a differentiated view of regions and a public policy approach tailored towards them, as well as the prospects of ‘engineering’ high-tech regions. Some of the highlighted policy challenges are common to the three regions, while others are region-specific and reflect the variations of regional make-up and stage of development.