Changing rewards in contests: Has the three-point rule brought more offense to soccer?

In the mid-nineties FIFA decided to increase from two to three the number of points assigned to the winning team of a soccer match played under traditional round-robin national leagues. Since a game of soccer can be regarded as a contest, FIFA's measure provides an interesting case-study for analysing how a change in the system of rewards (from a zero to a non-zero sum rule) may affect the contestants' equilibrium behaviour. In this paper we try to assess, both theoretically and empirically, whether FIFA's new point rule has changed soccer towards a more offensive game, in which teams adopt more risky strategies. In particular, we evaluate the “na?ve hypothesis” according to which the measure would induce every team to play always more offensively, and we explore the extent to which the change in teams' behaviour may be affected by quality differentials between teams. Our most important hypothesis is that when the asymmetry between opposing teams is large enough, an increase in the reward for victory induces the weaker team to play more defensively, rather than the opposite. By looking at a subset of matches held in the Portuguese first division league, which approximate the conditions of our model, we find support for this hypothesis. First version received: July 1999/Final version received: May 2001     

论生态经济理论与科教兴农战略

融生态经济理论于科教兴农战略之中,以协调人与自然、经济与生态的关系,指导技术政策的制订和技术措施的选择以及科技兴农成果的评价,是中国式农业现代化的正确选择。     

基于复合战略控制系统的战略执行力研究

从控制理论的角度对战略控制系统与战略执行力的关系、传统战略控制系统进行了分析,在此基础上构建了基于复合战略控制系统的战略执行流程,为提高战略执行力提供了一种新思路。     

基于生态学思考的小城镇新区规划设计新理念

基于生态学的思考,小城镇新区规划设计应树立五个新理念:深化人本思想、突出文化内涵、注重景观设计、树立超前意识、发扬务实精神。新理念在实践过程中体现在:营造人性化的小城镇新区、塑造地方性的小城镇特色、打造园林式的小城镇景观、构造灵活性的小城镇格局、绘就实用性的小城镇蓝图。     

基于生态位理论城市商业银行的发展策略

生态位是生态学中的一个重要概念,本文从生态位基本理论出发,分析了基于生态位理论城市商业银行发展的自然特性、层次性、社会性和时空性,提出了生态位理论下的城市商业银行要明确市场定位,突出特色立行的发展策略。     

市场经济条件下的期刊经营策略浅探

分析了期刊市场的形势，指出了市场经济下经营和发展期刊的5种策略：明确市场定位；提高期刊质量；拓宽发行渠道；开辟与期刊相关的经营业务；实现期刊的管理创新。     

论区域营销系统

区域营销实质上是一个战略市场管理过程,也是一个区域财富的增长过程。文章从区域营销系统的主客体和营销的目的出发,认为区域营销系统主要由四部分构成:主体子系统、目标市场及其决策过程、产品子系统、战略管理子系统。并认为营销实质上是一个社会管理过程,是一个产品和价值交换过程,而区域营销系统网络是实现区域产品和价值交换的平台。同时还认为区域形象是区域营销的产品包装。     

Societal preferences for fertility treatment in Australia: a stated preference discrete choice experiment

Objective: To investigate preferences for fertility treatment from the Australian general population with the aims of calculating the willingness to pay in tax contribution for attributes (characteristics) that make up treatment and for an “ideal” fertility treatment program. We also assessed whether willingness-to-pay varies by the relationship status or sexual orientation of the patient.

Methods: A stated preference discrete choice experiment was administered to a panel of 801 individuals representative of the Australian general population. Seven attributes of fertility treatment under three broad categories were included: outcome, process, and cost. Attributes were identified through published literature, focus group discussions, expert knowledge, and a pilot study. A Bayesian fractional experimental design was used, and data analysis was performed using a generalized multinomial logit model. Further analyses included interaction terms and latent class modeling.

Results: Six of the seven attributes influenced the choice of a treatment program. Under process attributes, individuals preferred: continuity of care of clinic staff, where patients are seen by the same doctor but different nurses at each visit; “alternative” treatments being offered to all patients; and onsite clinic counseling and peer-support groups. Personalization and tailoring of the treatment journey were not important. Among outcome attributes, the improved success rate of having a baby per cycle and significant side-effects were considered important. Cost of treatment also influenced the choice of treatment program. Individual preferences for fertility treatment were not associated with patients’ relationship status or sexual orientation. Latent class modeling revealed sub-groups with distinct fertility treatment preferences.

Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the attributes that influence the preferences of fertility treatment in Australia. It also estimates socially-inclusive willingness-to-pay values in tax contributions for an “ideal” package of treatment. The results can inform economic evaluations of fertility treatment programs.     

技术型跨国企业实施知识产权战略的动因探析

知识产权战略作为技术型跨国企业的重要竞争战略,企业在实施该战略时有其内在和外在的动因。分析知识产权战略与企业战略及其他职能战略的内在联系,揭示技术型跨国企业实施知识产权战略的内在动因;分析国际经济和贸易环境的变化、技术进步带来的影响,揭示技术型跨国企业实施知识产权战略的外在动因。     

保定市经济区域差异及区域协调发展研究

本文运用统计学定量分析方法中的变差系数（CV）、标准差（S）和综合差异指标（TZ），分析从1965－1999年间，保定市所属各县市经济区域差异的现状和变化状况，指出了90年代经济差异不断扩大的变化趋势，在分析了形成原因后，进而对保定市区域经济发展战略提出了下列建议：优先中轴、带动西部战略；环京津外向型战略；发达县产业结构升级，县域特色经济集聚；构筑京津保经济联合体，形成纵向分工体系；加速城市化；区域倾斜与补偿相结合，建立预警机制等。