What benefit specialists think about medical savings account options for large firms

Currently, tax-preferred medical savings accounts (MSAs) are being offered on a trial basis to employees of small companies. This article reports results of a survey investigating the potential impact of adding an MSA to a medium- or large-sized firm's employee benefit offerings. The variables examined fall into the categories of attitudes toward views on employee benefits in general, the MSA option and issues associated with risk segmentation.     

Attitude Change through Visual Imagery in Advertising

A new theory of the way in which advertising can influence consumers' attitudes toward products is proposed. The theory is based on visual imagery and classical conditioning rather than on the typical verbal belief summation approach to attitude. A supportive experiment is presented and the persuasive function of visual imagery in advertising is discussed.     

Market Reactions to Corporate Restructurings

This article examines the stock price reactions to restructuring announcements by the DJIA 30 corporations over the period 1988–1995 by employing the event study methodology and cross-sectional regression analyses. Corporate restructurings, historically regarded as highly unusual accounting events, became increasingly common after 1987. One probable cause is the discretionary power managers enjoy due to the flexibility allowed by the Accounting Principles and Financial Accounting Standards Boards. Our general findings are that, contrary to contemporary press comments, restructurings, especially those impose a charge against the firm's earnings, are typically associated with negative excess returns. This evidence seems to be consistent with the notion that restructurings reveal unfavorable information of the firm's future performance. Furthermore, the larger the size of the restructuring amount announced in the Wall Street Journal, the more negative the stock price reaction is.