Agricultural disaster payments in the southeastern US: do weather and climate variability matter?

Governments around the world are forced to react to disasters caused by weather. The agricultural sector is particularly susceptible to weather extremes and adverse climate conditions. In the US, agricultural disaster payments account for a significant part of total agricultural subsidies. The payments, and their distribution, are more important in the areas most affected by disastrous weather events, usually coinciding with areas of pronounced impact of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In this article, the impact of weather and climate, as well as some economic variables, on disaster payments is analysed using county level data from four states in the southeastern United States. The results suggest that weather and climate variables explain most of the crop disaster payments at the county level while socioeconomic variables do not, suggesting that advancements in weather and climate forecasts could be helpful in planning for disaster compensation.     

美国公共研发知识产权政策的变迁及启示

公共资金支持的研发项目在整个国家创新体系中占据重要的地位,对这部分项目所产生的知识产权进行有效的管理,有助于提高国家的技术竞争力。重点介绍了美国政府对公共资金支持的研发项目所产生的知识产权管理政策的变化,这种政策的变化反映了政府对大学等公共研究机构在美国技术创新体系中定位的变化,以及政府对公共研发项目知识产权利益分配政策的变革。美国公共研发知识产权政策的得失,对提高我国公共研发知识产权管理效能有一定的借鉴意义。     

Measures of brand attitude: Are cognitive structure approaches really needed?

Recent research on attitude toward the advertisement provides a theoretical base that questions the usefulness of multiattribute attitude measures. Arguments for global measures of brand attitude in affect-referral choice situations are presented. The two types of measures are tested as predictors of purchase intentions for ten supermarket brands. Global brand attitudes demonstrated greater predictive value for nine of the ten test brands.     

E-Consulting in Virtual Negotiations

In the e-world where many of us live and work, virtual work arrangements will become increasingly commonplace. This paper reports on an exploratory study into the way in which consultants can ply their trade virtually with clients whom they never meet. US-located e-consultants provided advice to Hong Kong-located web site developers on the interface and content aspects of a website that was being developed for an international audience. Extensive analyses of the communication between the consultants and developers is undertaken, in parallel with an analysis of survey data obtained from the two sets of stakeholders. Lessons are drawn for future research and practice.     

Nested model comparison with structural equation approaches

Potential problems with the conventional nested model comparison procedure in the structural equation models context are discussed. It is argued that fixing parameter values might lead to creation of different unobservables in the nested model. A number of alternative ways of conducting model comparisons are reviewed and applied in a marketing example.     

Determinants of transport mode choice: a comparison of Germany and the USA

Germany and the USA have among the highest motorization rates in the world. Yet Germans make a four times higher share of trips by foot, bike, and public transport and drive for a 25% lower share of trips as Americans. Using two comparable national travel surveys this paper empirically investigates determinants of transport mode choice in Germany and the USA.In both countries higher population density, a greater mix of land-uses, household proximity to public transport, and fewer cars per household are associated with a lower share of trips by automobile. However, considerable differences remain: all groups of society in America are more car-dependent than Germans. Even controlling for dissimilarities in socio-economic factors and land-use, Germans are more likely to walk, cycle, and use public transport. Moreover, Americans living in dense, mixed-use areas, and close to public transport are more likely to drive than Germans living in lower density areas, with more limited mix of land-uses, and farther from public transport. Differences in transport policy that make car travel slower, more expensive, less convenient, and alternatives to the automobile more attractive in Germany may help account for the remaining differences.     

美国反洗钱机制及对我国的启示

近年来,我国政府加大了反洗钱工作力度，反洗钱和反恐融资工作逐渐走上正轨，但与该领域的国际标准相比,仍然有较大差距.美国作为全球反洗钱领域的带头羊，其反洗钱的运作和手段确有高明之处。夏我们要善于学习和借鉴国际经验，不断发展与完善具有中国特色的反洗钱机制。     

Citizen participation through computer conferencing

As American society grows more diverse and the issues that must be decided grow more complex, the need for new forums and better forms for public debate increases. Is computer conferencing likely to meet this need because of its potential for facilitating public participation in government? To shed light on this question, we constructed, ran, and observed a computer conference on recombinant DNA among four participants with no previous experience in using computers and no scientific training. Results indicate that not only was this topic successfully discussed by lay people in this way, but that the conferencing mode of discussion was preferred by certain types of people. Our experience also gave us insights that may improve management of computer conferences for inexperienced users.     

Comparing the price of sin: Abnormal returns of cross-listed casino gaming stocks in the Hong Kong and US markets

While a number of hospitality researchers have investigated hospitality stock returns, few examine the stock returns of casino gaming companies. In finance, these stocks are often termed as ‘sin’ stocks. The purpose of this study is to compare the stock returns of cross-listed casino gaming stocks in Hong Kong and New York stock exchanges. Four pairs of casino gaming stocks are currently cross-listed in both exchanges, allowing for comparison. The cross-listing sample consists of 3138 firm-day observations from January 2009 to December 2013. Preliminary analyses, using time-series regression, show that the average daily returns and standard deviations of casino gaming stocks are much higher than market indices in both jurisdictions. Most importantly, casino gaming stocks listed in Hong Kong exchange have a significantly higher abnormal return than their cross-listed counterparts in the US. The reason may be due to cultural issues. These findings will have meaningful implications to investors of casino gaming companies.     

Local arts agency participation in cultural tourism management

The tourism literature does not consider the role of the local arts agency in destination management. This paper explores the extent to which local arts agencies engage in programming and partnerships related to the development of tourism. It proposes that participation in cultural tourism management is determined by both organizational and environmental characteristics. Drawing on a national survey of local arts agencies, the analysis compares survey measures of these characteristics to estimate their influence on the likelihood that agencies are involved in cultural tourism programming. Two-thirds of subject local arts agencies report that their organization is currently working or partnering in programming aimed at cultural tourism. Smaller agencies with a range of programs are more likely to have adopted the innovation. Agencies responsible for management of a cultural facility develop audiences through cultivation of tourists.