A qualitative approach to the intangible cost of road traffic injuries

The consequences of fatal and non-fatal road traffic injuries (RTI) at the personal and household levels were analysed using qualitative interviews of 12 injured and of 12 relatives of people who died for this reason. Collisions change physical and mental health both of the injured and of their relatives. This leads to changes in daily activities and even to the redefinition of future life. RTI also changes the way people see and act in life, becoming an experience that teaches them. Survivors commonly transmit a road safety message afterwards. Changes in family life were evident (in extreme cases family's composition also changed), affecting intra-familial relationships. Associated unexpected and unplanned expenditures and loss of income have consequences in the short, medium and long term that unbalance household's economies and immerse people into a constant stress. Individuals and family's future plans are occasionally condition to whether they have or not debts. Household dependence in economic terms was sometimes observed, as well as uncertainty about future life and household's sustainability. Sometimes, households change and adapt their life to what they now are able to afford, having important repercussions in vital spheres.     

Some Comments on the GRAS Method

Junius and Oosterhaven (2003) Junius, T. and Oosterhaven, J. 2003. The solution of updating or regionalizing a matrix with both positive and negative entries. Economic Systems Research, 15: 87–96. [Taylor & Francis Online] [Google Scholar] present a RAS matrix balancing variant that can incorporate negative elements in the balancing. There are, however, a couple of issues in the approach described – the first being the handling of zeros in the initial estimate, and the second being the formulation of their minimum-information principle. We present a corrected exposition of GRAS.     

McGrath v Riddell: A flexible approach to the insolvency distribution rules?

The rules relating to the division of the insolvent estate assume considerable importance in the field of international insolvencies, where different legal systems interact. International instruments including the European insolvency regulation and the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross‐Border Insolvency have provided a framework which governs the relationship between local and foreign distribution schemes. For English lawyers, questions remain however regarding the future role of the courts' statutory power to cooperate with the courts of ‘relevant’ countries or territories, and of the common law principle of universalism. An important issue connected to the determination of such questions is the established judicial approach to the pari passu rule, in the application of domestic law. This paper examines the manifestation of this tension in the litigation arising from the collapse of the HIH Casualty & General Insurance group of companies. It notes the scope which remains for continued resort to the statutory power of cooperation, and the potential for the Cross‐Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 to encourage a more flexible approach to resolving differences between distribution schemes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

What do tourism students know about sustainability and sustainable tourism? An exploratory study of Latin American students

While research has started to pay attention to the content and delivery of sustainable tourism education, little is known about what students actually know and feel with respect to sustainability. This preliminary study explores students’ knowledge of and attitudes toward sustainable tourism as well as their sense of competence and empowerment to make sustainability-related decisions. The focus was on Latin America, where tourism has caused severe negative impacts and where sustainability knowledge and skills are most needed to protect fragile natural and cultural resources. Results show that although most tourism students think sustainable tourism is important, they have limited knowledge of sustainability principles and technical aspects related to sustainable tourism. Implications for teaching are discussed.     

Are entrepreneurial foreign activities of Peruvian SMNEs influenced by international certifications, corporate social responsibility and green management?

Given the crucial role of entrepreneurial foreign activity as a source of corporate profits and competitive advantage, it is of interest to investigate which factors may help promote it. This paper evaluates whether entrepreneurial foreign activities of small and medium-sized multinational enterprises (SMNEs) of Latin American developing countries are affected by international certifications, corporate social responsibility and green management. To that aim, we use a sample of 100 Peruvian exporting firms from several sectors and a methodology consisting of partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results reveal that, while acquiring and holding international certifications as well as the investments carried out in actions related to corporate social responsibility do not have positive effects on the performance of entrepreneurial foreign activities of Peruvian SMNEs, green management exerts a positive influence. Therefore, environmental management is revealed as an effective tool to help firms from developing countries compete successfully in the markets and, in turn, improve the economic situation in those regions.     

Regional wage convergence in Spain 1850–1930

This paper presents a new regional database on real wages for Spain from 1850 to 1930. This evidence is used to analyze the evolution of wages across regions and occupations. Substantial wage convergence occurred from 1850 to 1914, despite low rates of internal migration. World War I and the subsequent globalization backlash were associated with a spectacular increase in wage differentials. However, real wage convergence across Spanish provinces resumed during the 1920s, this time accompanied by high rates of internal migration.     

NAFTA Students’ Whistle-Blowing Perceptions: A Case of Sexual Harassment

Business students from the three NAFTA countries were shown a possible Sexual Harassment scenario from Arthur Andersen’s Business Ethics Program. They were asked to respond to a pre-questionnaire concerning the three characters’ behaviors and possible actions and a post-questionnaire after writing a report from the points of view of the three characters in the scenario. The students were asked to consider whether the characters should report the possible harasser to their supervisor, and thus engage in whistle-blowing behavior, as well as directly confront the harasser. Hypotheses are formulated for the three NAFTA countries based on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. There were significant differences, but in some cases not in the direction expected. Gender differences are also explored, but there were few significant differences.     

The role of post-use trust in the acceptance of a technology: Drivers and consequences

The aim of this paper is to shed light on the role of trust in the acceptance of a technology once the firm has already used it (post-use trust). First, we examine the drivers which encourage the firm to trust in a technology and, second, we study the consequences of trust in terms of firm performance and intentions to continue to use the technology. The drivers involve (1) perceptions experienced by the firm during the employment of the technology, (2) the influence of the firm's trading partners and (3) the importance of the IT manager's attitude towards the technology. The study focuses on the acceptance of e-invoicing in Spain and the sample consists of 100 early adopter firms who have perceptions and knowledge about this technology. Our findings clarify the relationship between trust and technology acceptance and have important implications about trust-building structures that could improve the application of technologies that are in the early stages of implementation.     

Size, performance and financial conditions for Spanish real estate firms 2004-2007

Spanish real estate has experienced more than a decade of continuous buoyancy, from 1995 to mid 2006. High rates of return, especially in the housing sector, during this period, have prompted the entry of many firms in the market and the growth in activity of incumbents, with the subsequent excess capacity. This situation, combined with the reduction in demand associated with fiancial constraints, has brought about a deep crisis within the real estate industry. In the future scenario of reconfiguration and consolidation of the sector, many firms will be likely to disappear. One key question is that which type of real estate firm will survive. Casual evidence suggests that size may be a relevant factor through its connection with efficiency. This paper explores the roles of size, performance and financial leverage using a sample of Spanish developers and builders over the period 2004-2007. Basic results from a panel estimation suggest the existence of a positive correlation between size, proxied both by income and assets, and Return on Equity （ROE）. In turn, the estimates also suggest that larger firms display higher margins （computed as profits over sales） and are more leveraged in relative terms. Our interpretation is that many finns may lack the critical mass necessary to dilute fixed costs and achieve larger levels of efficiency. This feature endangers not only the possibility of profits in harder times, but also their survival. These empirical findings suggest, in addition, that a process of concentration among Spanish firms in the industry could entail gains in terms of efficiency.