An empirical model of firm entry with endogenous product‐type choices

I describe a model of entry with endogenous product‐type choices. These choices are formalized as the outcomes of a game of incomplete information in which rivals' differentiated products have nonuniform competitive effects on profits. I estimate the model for location choices in the video retail industry using a nested fixed‐point algorithm solution. The results imply significant returns to product differentiation. Simulations illustrate the tradeoff between demand and intensified competition and the extent to which markets with more scope for differentiation support greater entry.     

Distributional Implications of Environmental Taxation in Denmark

Environmental taxes have been introduced in many countries. However, few countries have reached the level of environmental taxation that is seen in Denmark today. This paper analyses the individual taxes as well as the combination of all these taxes and duties related to environmental concerns, including taxes on heating, transport fuels, electricity, water, waste, plastic bags, registration of cars, annual car use and pesticides. The distributional effect of taxes is examined in relation to household income, socio‐economic class, residential location and family status. The shifting of the tax structure from high marginal income tax to consumption‐based taxes, especially environmental taxes, might have distributional impacts that have not been considered part of the tax policy. The results suggest that in Denmark taxes on petrol and registration duties for cars are progressive, whereas most other environmental taxes are regressive, especially the green taxes on water, retail containers and CO2 emissions.     

A longitudinal study of Olympic Games’ impact on the image of a host country

This study tracked the change in Brazil’s image due to hosting a mega event. The authors measured perceptions of Brazil before and at three points in time after the 2016 Summer Olympics. The findings revealed some differences in the country image but no significant changes in destination image or Olympics image over time. This may indicate how difficult it is to change people’s perceptions positively in a world filled with negative media coverage, such as what Brazil received leading up to and during the Olympics. For DMOs, controlling the media narrative is more important than ever when forming the destination image.     

Strategic investment decision making practices: A contextual approach

This paper proposes a contextual approach to explaining differences in strategic investment decision (SID) making practices. First, a systematic contextual framework is developed from the existing research literature. Then this framework's potential for explaining differences in SID making practices is explored through 14 case studies of U.K., U.S. and Japanese companies from both stable and dynamic business sectors. Our findings suggest substantial SID differences across our four contextual categories of market creators, value creators, refocusers and restructurers. The differences relate to the emphasis on strategic versus financial considerations, the thoroughness and rigidity of financial analysis, the attitudes towards incorporating less easily quantifiable factors and the level of hurdle rates.     

The effects of the high school curriculum on school dropout

High school dropouts and their lower employment prospects are a major concern for developed countries. This article answers the question whether the high school curriculum has the potential to affect students’ dropout decision. Focusing on the curriculum is also motivated by the manifold curriculum reforms or reform initiatives worldwide. Using a quasi-experimental evaluation design, we identify the effects of a curriculum reform on students’ probability to drop out of high school in the short run, i.e. for the first three cohorts graduating under the new curriculum requirements. The reform increased the curriculum requirements in high school, for instance, by reducing the freedom of choice in course selection. The results show that high school dropout rates increased for males and females alike.     

Viel Arbeit und wenig Geld

Belastungserleben und Burnout - Pflegende in den Krankenh?usern haben in den letzten zehn Jahren eine dramatische Verdichtung ihrer Arbeit erlebt. Restrukturierungsprojekte zur Effizienzsteigerung und Kostenminimierung wurden in den H?usern durchgeführt. Doch welchen Einfluss übt diese Entwicklung auf die psychische Gesundheit der Pflegenden aus?     

Disentangling sector and status effects in German employment growth

From 1992 to 2006, part-time employment in western Germany has grown by 83%, whereas full-time employment has shrunk by 15%. In addition, employment schemes vary substantially across industries and industries which are themselves developed differently. The paper analyses the extent to which the divergence of status-specific employment can be explained by factors inherent in full-time or part-time employment (status effect) or by changes in the sectoral composition (sector effect). A regression-analogue shift–share model is estimated. Economic variables like unit labour costs and output gap are controlled. As a dynamic panel data model is specified, a bias-corrected least squares dummy variable estimator is used. In a second step, the fixed effects of the estimation into parameters for employment status and 16 sectors are decomposed. The results show that status-specific characteristics dominantly explain changes in employment patterns.