Identification and the narrative approach: A reply to Leeper

Contrary to the arguments of Leeper (1997), the problems that arise in VAR investigations of monetary policy do not arise with our use of the narrative approach. The apparent high predictability of our monetary-policy variable that Leeper finds is due to overfitting. And the estimated effects of our measure when variables other than output are considered are unsurprising given Leeper's specifications.     

Narrative futures and the governance of energy transitions

Today's societies confront an enormous challenge with regard to governing complex energy systems change. We argue that futures approaches based on narrative strategies that encourage individual and collective storytelling and meaning construction offer a valuable tool for enhancing societal capacity to meet this and similar governance challenges. We report on a two-day scenario planning exercise that sought to implement and test these ideas. The exercise involved a diverse group of professionals in both energy and non-energy fields, with a question focused on the narrative construction and deliberation of scenarios about Arizona's energy future in 2050.     

The macroeconomic effects of tax changes: Evidence using real-time data for the European Union

This paper examines the macroeconomic effects of tax changes in the European Union between 2000 and 2016. The novelty of our approach hinges on the use of real-time estimates of discretionary fiscal adjustments. In particular, exploiting a unique database covering anticipated and unanticipated tax changes, we provide the first narrative panel estimates of output and employment multipliers for tax changes. Our results suggest that medium-term revenue-based output multipliers are in the range of −1.1 to −1.9 for unanticipated tax changes. Preannounced changes, on the other hand, temporarily impact economic activity inversely upon announcement, resulting in a less than one-to-one change in ex post tax receipts, but portray up to one percentage point larger employment responses. Finally, we find evidence of asymmetry between the effects of revenue increasing and decreasing measures in the European Union.     

Mixed emotional appeal enhances positive word-of-mouth: The moderating role of narrative person

Underpinned by feelings-as-information theory and construal level theory, this present research examines the effect of mixed emotions in advertising on word of mouth (WOM) and the moderating role of a narrative person. Two experiments were conducted featuring two different products (cake mix in Study 1; watch in Study 2) and different narratives to elicit mixed emotions. The objective of Study 1 was to confirm the moderating effect of the narrative person on the relationship between mixed emotion and positive WOM. Study 2 aimed to provide stronger empirical evidence for the findings of Study 1 and test the mediating effects of inspiration (when it uses a third-person narration) and discomfort (when it uses the first-person narration). In general, the results show that a mixed emotional appeal is more effective than pure happiness in increasing positive WOM when the third-person narration is used. The relationship between mixed emotions and WOM is mediated by inspiration (when using a third-person narration) and discomfort (when using the first-person narration). This extends previous research which provides inconclusive evidence on the consequences of mixed emotional appeal. The current study also broadens the application of linguistics in emotion and consumer behavior literature while providing important implications for marketers in their advertising strategy.     

‘Running Fever’: understanding runner identities in Shanghai through turning point narratives

Distance running has long been a popular leisure activity in many affluent countries, and it has recently become a fashionable sport in China. However, research into leisure running has mostly been confined to participants in the Global North. The present study explores runners’ stories from Shanghai with a focus on psychological turning points – that is, subjectively important events that may change life trajectories and sense of self – within running careers. Thirty runners (14 women) participated in an interview using a life story approach. Turning point events were coded into six categories: relationship, transition in education/work, commitment, achievement, vulnerability and discovery. Stories were analysed for narrative themes and contexts, specifically in relation to running subculture and discourses surrounding gender and class. The findings highlight the relational achievement of a runner identity within the running subculture, emphasising ‘right’ attitude, persistence, and achievement. Simultaneously, the runner identity emerges as a signifier of a ‘modern’, middle class individual, who pursues self-development and credits oneself for accomplishments. Enthusiasm could, however, lead to injuries that challenged running identities. Runners in Shanghai share much of the narrative landscapes of running culture in the Global North, but also draw upon local narrative resources in runner identity construction.     

Ontological uncertainty and innovation

This paper explores the relationship between uncertainty and innovation. It distinguishes three kinds of uncertainty: truth uncertainty, semantic uncertainty, and ontological uncertainty, the latter of which is particularly important for innovation processes. The paper then develops some implications of ontological uncertainty for innovation processes at three levels of organization, by means of three theories: a narrative theory of action at the level of individual economic actors; the theory of generative relationships at the meso-level of agent interaction; and the theory of scaffolding structures at the macro-level of market systems. These theories are illustrated by means of examples drawn from a prospective study on the emergence of a new market system around a technology for distributed control.JEL Classification: D800, O300, L100 Correspondence to : D.A. Lane, Cannaregio 4392, Venezia 30121, ItalyThe authors would like to acknowledge the financial support for the research reported here from the European Commission IST-FET program, the Italian Ministry of Universities, Instruction and Research, and the Santa Fe Institute. We thank our colleagues in the ISCOM research project and the participants in the SFI workshop on scaling and social organization for valuable comments and discussion.     

Corporate Narratives of Information Society: Making Up the Mobile Consumer Subject

The purpose of the article is to study how corporate actors participate in the cultural construction of the Information Society. By means of a case study, the article explores how a multinational corporation is involved in forming consumer identities—making up the subjects of consumption—by shaping the interpretive repertoires and cultural practices that are available for consumers as members of the emerging information society. The article elaborates on the ways in which the corporation invokes a discourse of shareholder value in its visionary strategic narrative entitled Mobile Information Society, and how this discourse operates to mobilize consumer conduct in particular ways, by making up, framing and formatting the consumer as a mobile subject of the global economy. The article’s aim is to contribute to the empirical bases of policy debates about the roles and responsibilities of different market actors in the production of the information society.     

解读福克纳《致艾米丽的玫瑰》中的时间性

威廉＆#183;福克纳是20世纪美国文学史上举足轻重的人物,其创作特点之一为叙事时间性的特殊运用.福克纳的创作采用了非线性的心理时间叙事手法,这一手法颠覆了传统小说线性的自然时间的叙事手法.本文探讨在《致艾米丽的玫瑰》中,福克纳运用叙事时间性即从时序,时差和时距三个角度来解读福克纳作品中的时间性,从而领略福克纳高超的艺术手法及隐含的时间哲学及作品的真谛.     

廊道叙事:关于整合水体资源发展水上休闲游的策略探索

本文通过运用跨学科的理论与方法,对制约整合长三角河道湖泊资源发展水上休闲的主要成因进行了分析诊断,并借鉴英国案例的成功经验,探索区域水上休闲旅游资源整合的有效路径与策略;论文阐述了以"廊道"叙事模式来连接现有水上旅游的文化与自然资源的景点;并以长三角核心区域为例提出相应的措施,为长三角今后一段时期内的水上休闲产业发展建设提供明确的运作策略。这将对长三角区域水上休闲业资源的合理开发利用、地域文化遗产的深度保护性开发、历史场所的文化认同建构具有推动作用。此外,对于当今我国其他区域的水上休闲旅游一体化发展具有示范作用。