THE IMPACT OF THE INDONESIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS ON CHILDREN: AN ANALYSIS USING THE 100 VILLAGES DATA

This paper examines the impact of the Asian financial crisis on children in Indonesia. Specifically, data from four rounds of the 100 Villages Survey are used to examine changes in school attendance rates, child labour force participation and health status. The paper also examines ways in which households are coping with the crisis. The findings provide little evidence that the crisis has had a dramatic negative impact on children. School attendance dropped slightly after the onset of the crisis but has since rebounded to higher than pre-crisis levels. Fewer children are now working, although the older children who are working and not attending school seem to be working longer hours. Comparisons of child health status indicators over time are complicated by changes in the questionnaire but appear to show a relatively stable pattern of child health.     

Research into the motives and factors of investment activities of enterprises (by the example of companies in the Volga Federal District)

In the paper, the results of research into the determinants of the incremental investments of companies in the Volga Federal District (based on microeconomic data) are given. The paper is a continuation of the topic raised in the theoretical article of academician A.D. Nekipelov [1] on the motives of a company’s activities in a market economy. In this publication, the applied aspects of the problem are emphasized: on the one hand, the motivations and factors of a company’s activities (growth rates of the value of its fixed assets,noncurrent and total assets) and, on the other hand, an evaluation of the impact on the investment expenditures of factors, such as profitability, financial leverage, lag value of the growth in revenues, credit risk level, age, and the size and activity type of a company. Quantitative evaluations were obtained by using tobit models as applied to a sampling of panel data for 2001–2011 from the 500 largest nonfinancial companies in the Volga Federal District.     

Bainbridge Festive Foods

Lara Owens and Kathleen Pegram were starting to worry about their newly acquired business, Bainbridge Festive Foods. Bainbridge, a supplier of specialty jams, jellies, and pickles, sold its product through many outlets but relied heavily on a relationship with Cracker Barrel (a restaurant usually accompanied with a country gift store). Many issues face Bainbridge Festive Foods and its new owners. This case offers the opportunity to examine a small agribusiness facing many common issues: reputation (food quality and safety), change in ownership, reliance on one outlet, and a price structure that had not been examined since the firm's inception.     

Towards an economic and monetary union

One of the most important results of the Paris Summit of the nine EEC-members was the decision taken to establish a European Monetary Union until April 1, 1973. Will the Economic Union be now approached more rapidly than in the past?     

Accounting infrastructure and accountability in the management of public expenditure in developing countries: A focus on Nigeria

Accountability in the control and management of public funds is one of the most sensitive aspects of the activities of government in all democracies. Hence, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria contains provisions relating to legislative powers and control over public funds. However, the required level of accountability in public expenditure has not been achieved in Nigeria. The situation has remained worrisome even though the country does not lack in the appropriate laws and regulation required to bring sanity into the system. Though there have been some bold steps and initiatives in the recent past by the government by strengthening existing institutions and creating new ones with responsibility for fraud and other controls, the issue of weak accounting infrastructure has not been addressed. The paper argues that accountability in public expenditure can more easily be realized within the context of a sound accounting infrastructure and a robust accounting profession and not in the multiplicity of laws and anti-corruption agencies; all of which are reactive in nature. Therefore, the paper reports on the current state of accounting infrastructure in Nigeria, and conclude with an assessment of the existing agencies and current reform initiatives in ensuring accountability in public expenditure in Nigeria.     

Einzelbesprechungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Perceptions and Willingness to Adopt Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Practices among Goat Producers

The major food safety issue confronting federal policymakers is to ensure that consumers can purchase foods acceptably free of microbial contaminants and hazardous chemicals. While these concerns are not new, added dimensions to the problem continually challenge regulators. In most cases, control at the farm level may provide the most cost-effective means of eliminating the pathogens or problems of animal origin. Focusing on the goat industry, this research examines whether goat producers are willing to voluntarily adopt Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) practices. Results reveal a diversified set of preferences, with more than half of the respondents indicating willingness to adopt HACCP practices.