Strategic Cost Reduction and Cost Revelation

Strategic cost reduction requires cost transparency. When unilateral cost revelation is feasible, strategic cost reduction indeed arises as equilibrium. If it is not feasible, however, credible revelation has to be organized, possibly by a trade association. Then, firms face a prisoners' dilemma: in Cournot duopoly, cost revelation arises as an equilibrium, but hurts firms; in Bertrand duopoly, cost concealing is the equilibrium, while firms would be better off with cost revelation. Since cost revelation is socially desirable (undesirable) in Cournot (Bertrand) competition, it should be encouraged (discouraged).     

Using Information Communication Technology to Develop International Entrepreneurship Competencies

Many researchers claim that the use of web-based learning tools and information and communication technology (ICT) will revolutionize traditional learning methods in university contexts and fundamentally change the process of how knowledge is gathered and disseminated. However, there are conflicting views regarding the benefits of these techniques and actual learning outcomes. This paper posits that by using ICT and particularly the Web as a dynamic and integrating learning tool, several strategic competencies can be deployed and that the international knowledge, skills and competencies of entrepreneurship students can be radically enhanced. In light of an extensive literature review on research in the field, suggestions are provided for using the Web as a comprehensive teaching tool.     

How 'modern' is the modern apprenticeship?

Despite the fact that some sectors of industry are facing major skills shortages, the Scottish labour market continues to be characterised by occupational segregation and a large disparity between the wages of women and men. The concentration of individuals in occupations and training based on their gender effectively restricts the pool of potential recruits to industry and is unlikely to make the best use of human capital. Moreover, it obstructs the pursuit of gender equality by reinforcing the gender pay gap and restricting individual career choices. This paper reports on the government's flagship training policy, the Modern Apprenticeship programme, from a gender perspective. It concludes that, ten years on from its introduction, the scheme represents something of a 'missed opportunity' to tackle occupational segregation and its deleterious effects in the wider economy and in society at large. It is recommended that the government and organisations involved in the development and delivery of Modern Apprenticeships adopt a more conscious and cohesive approach to promoting non-traditional choices at the vocational level.     

Reevaluating hedging performance

Mixed results have been documented for the performance of hedging strategies with the use of futures. This article reinvestigates this issue with the use of an extensive set of performance‐evaluation metrics across seven international markets. The hedging performances of short and long hedgers are compared with the use of traditional variance‐based approaches together with modern risk‐management techniques, including value at risk, conditional value at risk, and approaches based on downside risk. The findings indicate that use of these metrics to evaluate hedging performance yields differences in terms of best hedging strategy as compared with the traditional variance measure. Also, significant differences in performance between short and long hedgers are found. These results are observed both in sample and out of sample. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 26:677–702, 2006     

Book reviews

Books reviewed Jim Stewart and Graham Beaver. HRD in Small Organisations, Research and Practice.     

Regulating Life Assurance: Objectives and Machinery

Misdirected regulation can be not merely ineffective but actually damaging to customers. Recent developments in the regulation of life assurance sales show how this can happen.