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German stock market dynamics

This article estimates generalized ARCH (GARCH) models for German stock market indices returns, using weekly and monthly data, various GARCH specifications and (non)normal error densities, and a variety of diagnostic checks. German stock return series exhibit significant levels of second-order dependence. Our results clearly demonstrate that for both weekly as well as monthly return series the Student-t distribution is superior to the standard normal distribution. In particular, the estimated GARCH-t models appear to be reasonably successful in accounting for both observed leptokurtosis and conditional heteroskedasticity from German stock return movements.     

Die Akzeptanz von Versicherungsdienstleistungen im Internet

There is not much known about the factors that determine online demand for insurances. This current study is a first attempt to locate the variables that affect the acceptance of online-purchase of an insurance policy from existing research and empirically verify them. Results show that good terms coupled with online purchase-experience is the most important cause for acceptance. Additionally, convenience (i.e., easy access to information through internet sites of insurance companies and easy and fast contracting), perceived barriers when transferring from a traditional insurance contract to an ?online contract“, information quality of the internet offer, perceived personal risk as well as perceived transaction risk are significant factors driving online demand for insurances.     

Where are all the gay fathers?: Reflections on recruiting gay fathers as participants in leisure research

ABSTRACT

There is a dearth of understanding of gay fathers’ perspectives on leisure studies topics. If researchers are to conduct research that better reflects all fathers, it is important to gain insights into recruiting gay fathers, and to ensure that gay fathers know that their perspectives are needed and desired. Thus, in this research note, we highlight two important reflections on the difficulties we encountered when attempting to recruit gay fathers as research participants: (1) Heteronormativity exists in leisure studies and it is problematic for the recruitment of gay fathers; and (2) understaffed organisations are at times unable to help recruit gay fathers for research. Researchers who work with gay fathers may draw on our reflections to overcome similar difficulties that they may face. It is our hope that our reflections may contribute towards achieving the important social justice goal of including gay fathers in leisure studies.     

Institutional arrangements and price rebalancing: empirical evidence from the United States and Europe

This paper explores the rebalancing of prices for voice service in the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) from conceptual and empirical perspectives. We determine the overall cost and structure of a standardized basket of residential and business services. Our data indicate that during the 1994–2000 period the degree of rate rebalancing was significantly higher in the EU than in the US. While the developments at the level of EU Member States are more heterogeneous and the process of rate rebalancing is not completed, these findings correspond to the predictions derived from our comparative institutional analysis.     

Scope and patterns of tourist injuries in the European Union

European Union (EU) countries are among the leading tourist destinations in the world. Despite growing consumer demands on the safety of travelling, injuries amongst tourists remain an essentially invisible problem. Unique national and regional data sources are the only means by which the important negative impact of injuries on the health of non-domestic tourists in the EU-15 is underlined. With an estimated number of 3800 tourists dying each year, injuries account for up to 30% of fatalities during vacation. This toll reflects an increased risk of mortality in tourists compared to the domestic population. Amendments to national and EU health and injury monitoring are suggested in order to enable authorities to examine personal risks to travellers in more detail.