Do Equally Owned Small Businesses Have Equal Access to Credit?

Previous research in small-business financing has generally ignored those businesses owned equally by males and females. The rationale has been that such businesses share the characteristics of both types of owners and would confound any gender-based differences. This paper presents an empirical study in which the credit access experiences of equally owned small businesses are compared to those of their female- and male-owned entrepreneurial counterparts. Various measures of credit constraints are introduced that suggest that equally owned businesses often do experience larger constraints than male-owned businesses and smaller constraints than female-owned businesses, when all credit applicants are considered. However, the results are more mixed in comparisons of successful applicants’ constraints. A different approach from that of existing research is then used to study exactly how equally owned small businesses’ experiences are unique, rather than merely whether they differ from those of their counterparts. The evidence indicates that different factors are determining the credit application outcomes of all three ownership groups. Where similar determinants are found, equally owned businesses are influenced in a manner more similar to male-owned small businesses. The results show that equally owned small businesses’ credit access experience is not equally balanced between those of their counterparts.      

Can the PRC’S new anti-monopoly law stop monopolistic activities: Let the PRC’S telecommunications industry tell you the answer

A new PRC Anti-Monopoly Law (AML) was enacted on August 30, 2007 and took effect on August 1, 2008. The new AML is a milestone in Chinese economic policy. It will reorganise the competition paradigm in many Chinese domestic sectors.     

钟表巨献,时间轨迹

刚刚过去的第19届日内瓦国际高级钟表展,共有17家品牌亮相,其中首次参加本届展览的两家品牌分别是拉尔夫劳伦(Ralph Lauren),以及瑞士钟表工业联合会(FSWI)。虽然今年的展期较往年提前,参观人数较往年也略有下降,但风采不输以往。媒体关注和交易金额再创新高,充分显示了在当今全球经济环境并不景气的背景下,高级腕表工业并未受到冲击。     

Quality,quantity, spending and prices

One measure of the change in the “quality” of consumption is the degree to which the consumption basket as a whole moves towards more luxurious goods, away from necessities. We introduce two related measures based on the luxury/necessity distinction. One is an index of the extent to which the prices of luxuries change as compared to necessities, while the second indexes the change in spending. These two measures are interpreted as the price of and spending on quality. The “volume” of quality is then spending deflated by its price. Using the recent International Comparison Program data for 100+ countries, we find that, on average, quality increases with income, but at a slower rate; luxuries are relatively more expensive in richer countries, necessities cheaper; and approximately 75 percent of additional spending on quality flows into a volume component, with the remaining 25 percent accounted for by prices.     

A Cross-National Investigation on How Ethical Consumers Build Loyalty Toward Fair Trade Brands

Although Fair Trade has recently experienced rapid growth around the world, there is lack of consumer research that investigates what determines consumers’ loyalty toward Fair Trade brands. In this research, we investigate how ethical consumption values (ECV) and two mediating variables, Fair Trade product beliefs (FTPB) and Fair Trade corporate evaluation, (FTCE) determine Fair Trade brand loyalty (FTBL). On the basis of two empirical studies that use samples from the U.S. and Korea, we provide evidence demonstrating that the manner in which ECV influence FTBL differs in the U.S. and Korea. In the U.S., ECV determine FTBL only indirectly via FTPB, whereas in Korea they determine FTBL directly as well as indirectly via FTCE. We discuss theoretical and managerial implications of these findings.     

A citation analysis measuring the impact of Albrecht ＆ Sack （2000）

This educational note measures the impact of the Albrecht ＆ Sack （2000） monograph in accounting education literature from its publication date at the end of 2000. Impact refers to the number of times Albrecht ＆ Sack （2000） has been cited and referenced in the three leading US Accounting education journals, being Advances in Accounting Education, Issues in Accounting Education, and the Journal of Accounting Education. This educational note found that since 2001, and until 2007, ＂Albrecht ＆ Sack （2000）＂ has been cited in 29.3% of research papers, and the most cited chapter was Chapter 5-＂Improving accounting education＂. While Albrecht ＆ Sack （2000） has been widely cited, the impact in terms of policy changes, and changes to the accounting curriculum has yet to be eventuated. Indeed it may still be too early to examine impact beyond pure citation.     

Who Takes Up Free Flu Shots? Examining the Effects of an Expansion in Coverage

The risk of costly complications and the externalities of contagious diseases lead many countries provide free flu shots to certain populations. In 2008, the Netherlands expanded their flu shot program to cover all individuals over the age of 60, instead of 65. We investigate the effects of the expansion and examine those factors that influence people to change their behavior. We find that the main barrier to take up of free flu shots is labor force participation. Expansion of the program did little to change the behavior of those at increased risk, primarily because these individuals were already getting flu shots.     

Voluntary Disclosure by State-owned Enterprises Listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong

This study examines the impact of international capital market pressures on the voluntary disclosure of three types of information (strategic, financial, and non-financial) in the annual reports of former wholly state-owned People's Republic of China (PRC) enterprises, listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK). Consistent with a cost­benefit framework, we find that PRC H-Share firms disclose significantly more strategic and financial information than other SEHK firms. Additional analysis of disclosures in their home listings on the PRC exchanges, however, suggests an alternative explanation. The fact that these firms have been selected for "showcasing" in international capital markets may also play a role in our findings. While H-Share firm disclosures in the PRC also appear sensitive to management's assessment of the associated costs, the magnitude of differences across listing locations suggests that disclosure practices on the SEHK may also reflect the effects of state-encouraged disclosure policies. Our findings contribute to the understanding of disclosure behavior among former wholly state-owned enterprises and to the emerging literature on the efficacy of the privatization process.