Alternative EFT developments and the quality of life: A theoretical analysis

This article develops a theoretical position for studying the impacts of different electronic funds transfer (EFT) arrangements upon the quality of life. A conception of quality of life is defined which emphasizes the relative power of participants in a social setting as well as their personal resources and sentiments. A ‘design space’ for characterizing alternative EFT designs is then set up, and the social textures of different EFT arrangements are examined.     

Life among the environmentalists: An elaboration on Wildavsky's “economics and environment/rationality and ritual”

The author elaborates the ideas presented by Wildavsky in “Economics and Environment/Rationality and Ritual” to clarify their meaning for the ecological debate and for the accounting profession. The differences between economic and environmental rationality are further clarified and the contribution of both ways of thinking to social discourse is suggested.     

Models for the social accountability of computing

This article examines the social dilemmas of computer use and strategies for ensuring the accountability of computing to the public. Improving the social accountability of computing means finding ways to organize groups that develop, manufacture, sell or use computer-based systems, and their markets, so that the broader public is well served. Six public policy strategies for social accountability of computing are commonly proposed: competitive market arrangements; administrative authority; professional control; regulatory commisions to administer legislative acts; judicial enforcement and review of legislative acts; and citizen action. Inspection shows that each model has problems in either its practical effectiveness or its appropriateness for computing.     

FOCUS: Women in Management: An Empirical Exploration of Ethical Issues

Dr Goffee reviews empirical evidence on the labour market position and work experience of women managers, assesses the kind of work situations which are likely to be perceived by women managers - and, in some cases, their partners and colleagues - as involving an "ethical" dimension, and suggests possible sources of differentiation in the experiences of European women managers which are worthy of further comparative research. The author is Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School.     

AN ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKETING OF PERISHABLE PRODUCTS

This paper analyses the problem of marketing uncertainty for producers of perishable products. It argues that there are two main features to this marketing uncertainty: uncertainty of demand at the market price due to quality considerations; and uncertainty of transport services associated with the independence and cost of such services. Moreover a negative correlation between the uncertainties of demand and transport services may be shown theoretically to be an additional cost for producers, and as such may be sufficient to create a reversal of supply response to a given change in market conditions.     

Seasonality and Markov switching in an unobserved component time series model

It is generally acknowledged that the growth rate of output, the seasonal pattern, and the business cycle are best estimated simultaneously. To achieve this, we develop an unobserved component time series model for seasonally unadjusted US GDP. Our model incorporates a Markov switching regime to produce periods of expansion and recession, both of which are characterized by different underlying growth rates. Although both growth rates are time-varying, they are assumed to be cointegrated. The analysis is Bayesian, which fully accounts for all sources of uncertainty. Comparison with results from a similar model for seasonally adjusted data indicates that the seasonal adjustment of the data significantly alters several aspects of the full model. First Version Received: January 2001/Final Version Received: February 2002 Send offprint requests to: Rob Luginbuhl?Correspondence to: Rob Luginbuhl     

Estimating Transition Probabilities from a Time Series of Independent Cross Sections

This paper considers the implementation of a nonstationary, heterogeneous Markov model for the analysis of a binary dependent variable in a time series of independent cross sections. The model, previously considered by M offitt (1993), offers the opportunity to estimate entry and exit transition probabilities and to examine the effects of time-constant and time-varying covariates on the hazards. We show how ML estimates of the parameters can be obtained by Fisher's method-of-scoring and how to estimate both fixed and time-varying covariate effects. The model is exemplified with an analysis of the labor force participation decision of Dutch women using data from the Socio-economic Panel (SEP) study conducted in the Netherlands between 1986 and 1995. We treat the panel data as independent cross sections and compare the employment status sequences predicted by the model with the observed sequences in the panel. Some open problems concerning the application of the model are also discussed.     

Falling through the cracks: International accounting rate reform at the ITU and WTO

Heightened attention to international accounting rates at the ITU and the WTO has led some observers to conclude that carriers soon will impose cost-based termination charges. This article concludes that while accounting rates have declined on some routes, many incumbent carriers can and will delay or thwart progress. The article examines the FCC's unilateral regulatory initiative as evidence of a growing schism between governments keen on immediate progress and those that fear a ‘free fall’ in accounting rates and a quick end to settlement surpluses. The article also considers technological innovations like call-back and Internet telephony with an eye toward assesssing whether and how widespread accounting rate reductions will occur.