Beyond nudges: Tools of a choice architecture

The way a choice is presented influences what a decision-maker chooses. This paper outlines the tools available to choice architects, that is anyone who present people with choices. We divide these tools into two categories: those used in structuring the choice task and those used in describing the choice options. Tools for structuring the choice task address the idea of what to present to decision-makers, and tools for describing the choice options address the idea of how to present it. We discuss implementation issues in using choice architecture tools, including individual differences and errors in evaluation of choice outcomes. Finally, this paper presents a few applications that illustrate the positive effect choice architecture can have on real-world decisions.     

The relationships between political support,party strength,and term limits

This paper translates two implications of a recent game-theoretical explanation for term limitations [Mao, 2001] into an empirical context for testing. One implication involves the pattern of political support for a candidate over time and its relationship to the strength of the candidate's party. To test this implication, this study focuses on the careers of senators of the 106^th Congress and applies a suitable regression analysis. Consistent with Mao's theory, the statistical evidence suggests that the greater the strength of the candidate's party, the longer it takes for the politician's support to spread beyond his or her party. A second implication pertains to the effect of the majority party's strength on the likelihood of term limit legislation being passed. To test this implication, the study focuses on the states' stances on federal term limits, prior to 1995, and applies a probit analysis. In this case, the statistical evidence suggests that the greater the strength of the majority party, the less likely the state to have passed federal term limit legislation. The relationship is not statistically significant by conventional standards, though it is nearly so. However, taken together, these empirical results are generally supportive of Mao [2001].     

Effects of counterfactual thought on postpurchase consumer affect

This study explored the effects of counterfactual thinking (CFT) on postpurchase consumer affect. CFT is the process of imagining what might have been, that is, comparing reality (what is; the facts) with alternative possibilities. In a vignette study, the presence or absence of CFT, its direction (upward or downward), and outcome valence (positive, negative, or neutral) were manipulated. The participants' tendencies toward strategic optimism and defensive pessimism were measured, and the impact of these factors on postpurchase affect was observed. As expected, results indicated that negative outcomes were associated with greater levels of spontaneous counterfactual thought, and greater affective amplification was associated with the presence of counterfactual thought. More surprising was the finding that consumer regret increased with both downward and upward counterfactual thought, indicating that both contrast and assimilation mechanisms may be operational. With respect to personality, strategic optimists were less sensitive to purchase outcomes and counterfactual thought manipulations than were other respondents. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Characteristics and outcomes of grievance arbitration decisions in hospitality firms

The establishment of a grievance arbitration process in the collective bargaining agreement remains the principal method for resolving contractual disputes in unionized settings in the US. This study presents an analysis of grievance arbitration cases in the hospitality industry published during the period from January 1985 through December 1995. It examines some of the unique characteristics of arbitration in this industry. Included is a discussion of the significant implications of arbitration cases for the training of managers and supervisors responsible for the application of the discipline process, and the resolution of disciplinary grievances.     

Barriers to Lone Parents' Employment Looking beyond the obvious

In Britain, unemployment amongst lone parents remains persistently high. It does so despite government funded employment and training initiatives, and the tightening of welfare benefits. In October 1998, the Government launched its National Child Care Strategy, aimed partly at getting lone parents back to work. Whilst lack of affordable child care is a crucial barrier to employment for lone parents, without an understanding of the complexity of the transition from benefits to employment, the strategy will have little effect. This article looks at that transition in relation to the neighbourhoods in which many lone parents live.     

Implications for Savings of Aging in the Asian 'Tigers'

Significant aging is projected for many high-saving emerging economies of East and Southeast Asia. By 2025, the share of the elderly in their populations will at least double in most of these countries. The share of the young will fall. Aging populations could adversely affect savings rates in these economies, particularly after 2025. For the world, one may observe that initially, the Asian Tigers become increasingly important for world savings, reflecting their high saving and growth rates and the aging of the industrial countries. After 2025, the aging of the Tigers may reinforce the tendency toward a declining world savings rate.     

电源供应市场仍然分散

分散、破碎、不可或缺,这些词汇都是用来形容电源供应市场的,十分必要却又难以捉摸。“电源供应市场是行业中基础最为广泛的跨领域部门之一,”iSuppli高级分析师Chris Abarian在被问到如何界定这一特殊部门时如是说。