The new international economic order: The beneficiaries

The two substantive elements of the programme of action for a ‘new international economic order’ (NIEO) that have been most stressed by developing countries are those dealing with primary commodity prices and relief from debt service burdens. The provision of adequate amounts of official development assistance (ODA) has received less stress. An examination of 75 oil-importing developing countries for which adequate data were available grouped by per capita product, shows that if the priorities of the NIEO are carried out the principal beneficiaries would be the wealthier developing countries. For the very poorest countries, those for which the existing order has provided little in the way of material benefits, the most critical external element in helping them meet their development aspirations would be more ODA.     

Brain wave analysis. An electroencephalographic technique used for evaluating the communications-effect of advertising

The results from the authors's applied research studies of communications-effect and electroencephalographic (EEG) recording, which took place over the last ten years, employing thousands of respondents, are integrated in this paper. Application of EEG methodology to ad research, rather than theory, is stressed. Brain Wave Analysis

1 Brain Wave Analysis is a service mark of NeuroCommunication Research Laboratories, Inc., for its brand of EEG service.

, an EEG technique, is described. A positive relationship determined between Brain Wave Analysis and sales is discussed, as well as various applications such as “brain typing” the target market. The application of Brain Wave Analysis in determining effective advertising frequency is discussed as it relates to Krugman's three exposure theory. The continuing development of EEG analysis is briefly discussed.     

Transitioning to IFRS in Japan: Corporate Perceptions of Costs and Benefits

This paper examines the ongoing transition to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Japan with a particular focus on recent institutional developments and corporate concerns. While Japan has committed to the convergence of Japanese generally accepted accounting principles (J‐GAAP) with IFRS it has not as yet formally adopted IFRS. This paper reports on Japanese corporate perceptions of the likely costs and benefits of adopting and implementing IFRS using survey data collected from senior financial executives of 292 Japanese listed companies in 2013–14. Our findings reveal that Japanese companies identify a number of major areas of general concern with the adoption and implementation of IFRS. Most importantly, uncertainty regarding the interpretation of standards followed by staff training, IT systems, technical knowledge and differences between J‐GAAP and IFRS were reported as major concerns. Our survey also highlights that revenue recognition, depreciation, consolidated financial statements, financial statement presentation and the retrospective application of IFRS were viewed as key IFRS accounting issues. While the large majority of companies expected a moderate degree of benefits to arise from IFRS, substantial benefits were perceived more likely to apply to large and overseas listed companies mainly arising from improvements in the international comparability of financial statements.     

An assessment of alternative empirical measures of cultural distance: Evidence from the Republic of Korea

This study assesses the relative merits of alternative cultural frameworks as the basis to construct indices of cultural distance using the one introduced by Kogut and Singh (1988). We assess not only Hofstede (1980, 1991) but also the more recent Schwartz (1994, 2003) and GLOBE (2004) frameworks. Using primary data collected through a questionnaire survey of 228 foreign manufacturing firms in the Republic of Korea, we find consistently across the three different frameworks that cultural distance has a positive association with full ownership. These results support not only the robustness of Kogut and Singh’s method to construct an index of cultural distance but also the consistency of the alternative indices of cultural distance used to explain ownership mode decisions by MNEs.

Regional Clusters, Location Tournaments and Incentives: An Empirical Analysis of Factors Attracting Japanese Investment to Singapore

This paper develops a new model for testing the role of incentives in FDI location choice by integrating the theory of the MNE with new approaches to location theory. From the theory our paper derives four testable hypotheses related to the role of policy variables in the location choice of Japanese MNEs in Singapore. Specifically we test for the existence of regional investment clusters and national tournaments as key elements in the FDI location decision. We also test for differences in the incentive preferences of export-oriented versus market-oriented investors and for first investments compared to reinvestments. Using survey data from 134 Japanese MNEs our study confirmed the existence of a Southeast Asian regional investment cluster and a location tournament between regional states. Our study also found that different incentives attracted export-oriented and market-oriented investors, but there were no significant differences in the incentive preferences of first investors compared to re-investors. The policy implications of these findings are discussed.     

Future thinking: A marketing perspective on reducing wildlife crime

This paper discusses how, using both a futures studies perspective and social contract theory, marketing is uniquely positioned to help reduce crimes against wildlife. The futures studies perspective involves predicting probable, preferable, and possible futures. Moreover, marketers have an obligation (i.e., a social contract) to society—wildlife included—to meet consumer needs through well-rounded, morally robust strategies. Using face-to-face and digital data collection methods, a broad set of consumers were asked about their perspectives on the future wildlife. Grounded theory was used to analyze responses until a point of thematic saturation. The results indicate that consumers take a broad, inclusive view of wildlife crime. Participants describe the immediate probable future where micro-, meso-, and macrolevel wildlife crimes persist, and a preferred future of wildlife, including among others, reduced wildlife crime, decreased animal cruelty, and human–wildlife symbiosis. Respondents expressed a desire to reduce what they view as wildlife crime and presented viable paths to reduce such crimes. Theoretical and managerial implications are offered.