Oligopoly and behavioral uncertainty: An application of fuzzy set theory

This paper provides a brief sketch of fuzzy mathematics. It employs this relatively new mathematical tool to define and describe oligopoly markets and to quantitatively establish the impacts of uncertainty on the decision making that is intrinsic to oligopolistic industries. It illustrates how the technique would be used, for example, by applying fuzzy mathematics to the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index.The authors acknowledge and appreciate the helpful comments provided by the anonymous referees.     

Purchasing power parity: Evidence from developing Countries

This paper utilizes the dynamic error-correction model (DECM) to examine the issue of purchasing power parity (PPP) for 11 developing countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Guatemala, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa, and Venezuela). For comparison purposes, evidence from the traditional unit root methods of the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron is presented. The results from the conventional unit root tests failed to find evidence of PPP in all of the cases. However, the results from the generalized error-correction model detected evidence of PPP for nine out of the 11 countries under consideration. Based on these results, it was concluded that PPP holds in the long-run for the sample countries and that the implicit restrictions associated with unit root tests prevented earlier studies from finding evidence in support of PPP theory.The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors only. They do not reflect the views of the World Bank.     

Sun,sand and September 11: a model of tourism demand for the Maldives

Tourism is a key source of income for many small island economies, and so it is important to understand its determinants in such countries. We estimate a tourism demand model for the Maldives’ five main source markets and find that, in addition to the usual foreign income and own price variables, the cost of travel and of visiting alternative destinations (often missing from studies of this nature) almost always have a significant role. In addition, the country’s own marketing efforts prove effective at influencing demand. Finally, we find evidence the War on Terror has persistently depressed demand from some markets.     

Higher Ethical Objective (Maqasid al-Shari’ah) Augmented Framework for Islamic Banks: Assessing Ethical Performance and Exploring Its Determinants

This study utilises higher objectives postulated in Islamic moral economy or the maqasid al-Shari’ah theoretical framework’s novel approach in evaluating the ethical, social, environmental and financial performance of Islamic banks. Maqasid al-Shari’ah is interpreted as achieving social good as a consequence in addition to well-being and, hence, it goes beyond traditional (voluntary) social responsibility. This study also explores the major determinants that affect maqasid performance as expressed through disclosure analysis. By expanding the traditional maqasid al-Shari’ah,, we develop a comprehensive evaluation framework in the form of a maqasid index, which is subjected to a rigorous disclosure analysis. Furthermore, in identifying the main determinants of the maqasid disclosure performance, panel data analysis is used by including several key variables alongside political and socio-economic environment, ownership structures, and corporate and Shari’ah governance-related factors. The sample includes 33 full-fledged Islamic banks from 12 countries for the period of 2008–2016. The findings show that although during the nine-year period the disclosure of maqasid performance of the sampled Islamic banks has improved, this is still short of ‘best practices’. Through panel data analysis, this study finds that the Muslim population indicator, CEO duality, Shari’ah governance, and leverage variables positively impact the disclosure of maqasid performance. However, the effect of GDP, financial development and human development index of the country, its political and civil rights, institutional ownership, and a higher share of independent directors have an overall negative impact on the maqasid performance. The findings reported in this study identify complex and multi-faceted relations between external market realities, corporate and Shari’ah governance mechanisms, and maqasid performance.

     

Resource Accounting and Executive Agencies

Executive agencies have had several years' experience of the introduction and development of accruals based accounting systems. Senior agency managers therefore provide an authoritative source of information on the problems that could follow from introducing it more widely across government. A survey of senior managers revealed that, despite major improvements in accounting information systems, agencies still face difficulties in implementing accruals accounting. Government departments also seem unlikely to accept easily the switch from cash accounting to accruals accounting without extensive training. The effort and resources required for this should not be underestimated.     

The relationship between personality,gender and departments: application of 16 personality factor questionnaire in the Antalya region of Turkey

This study evaluates relationship between personality, gender and departments of a random sample of 294 employees working in 5-star hotels in the Antalya Region of Turkey. Evaluation was conducted using Cattell’s 16 PF (Sixteen Personality Factor) questionnaire. T-test assessed the relationship between personality and gender and one-way Anova analysed personality and department relationship. Results indicate that in the relationship between personality and gender there were significant variance for the subscales dominance, rule-consciousness, sensitivity and self-reliance. Sixteen Personality Factor (16 PF) showed significant differences for warmth, reasoning, emotional stability, dominance, social boldness, apprehension and tension subscales, in terms of personality and department relationship.     

Work–family conflicts and job attitudes of single women: a developing country perspective

This study addresses work–family conflicts and job attitudes of white-collar single women and the ensuing work-related attitudes in a developing country context. After an overview of gender roles in Arab society, several hypotheses were advanced and tested. Although married females reported higher family–work conflicts than single females, the latter group faced a host of strains, which are presented and analyzed. Despite being educated, single females were underpaid and their upward mobility seemed to be significantly hampered. They reported lower job satisfactions and had high intentions to leave their organization. Implications for further research and practice are discussed.     

Intercompany mobbing: the effects of company growth

Exploring the concept of mobbing, we have conducted a study of small and middle sized enterprises (commonly referred to as SMSE). In this study we observed corporate policies of repression and intimidation while taking into consideration the aim of these policies and their possible consequences. The ultimate purpose of this work is to shed light onto forthcoming academic studies of the same topic. Our focus has been the effects of the various presses, forms of harassment and market entry prevention carried out by companies that dominate the market against those companies entering the market and those already competing in the market. To determine these effects on 150 companies that conduct business in Turkey, we created a survey consisting of 15 categories. The results have been depicted with charts and graphs. The conclusion of the investigation has found that many of the attitudes which comprise of mobbing acts can be seen in the mutual behavior of the companies that work in the Turkish labor market. Although there are a number of reasons for the prevalence of the mobbing culture in Turkish business, it’s our belief that the Turkish labor market codes of conduct and regulations influence the perpetuation of ruthless behaviors between different companies.