Does a Seller’s eCommerce Reputation Matter? Evidence from eBay Auctions

With internet commerce, a buyer cannot directly examine the product and so must rely upon the accuracy and reliability of the seller in deciding whether and how much to bid. In this setting, the seller's reputation can become an important factor in the bid. This paper examines the impact of the seller's reputation on the willingness of buyers to bid on items sold via internet auctions, using a 1999 mint condition U.S. $5 gold coin whose average price was $32.73. The empirical results show that the seller's reputation has a positive, statistically significant, but small impact on the price.     

Entrepreneurship in the Soviet Union and post-Socialist Russia

This article advances the understanding of the present and future of Russian entrepreneurship. Based on secondary information published in the West and in contemporary Russia, empirical research and personal interviews, general characteristics of Russian entrepreneurship within different controversial periods that occurred during different periods of this country's history are presented. Also discussed are the influences of ethnic and religious minorities and foreign businesses on entrepreneurship development as well as the relatively low social status of the entrepreneur. The vitality of entrepreneurial response is discussed in terms of recent events in post-Socialist Russia including the transformation of its economy and society and its integration into the global market. In so doing, the article presents the latest trends in entrepreneurship in the country as well as a profile of the Russian entrepreneur.     

3M: Role model for emerging markets

This article focuses on the role of multinational companies in transferring advanced human resource management practices to post‐Communist countries. It reviews the lessons learned from the complex cultural and historical configuration of a transitional economy. The authors analyze 3M's experience in Russia and the results of interviews with the company managers. They summarize innovative solutions in hiring, training, motivating employees, and creating organizational culture, and discuss the company's position as a role model for emerging markets. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.