INSURANCE‐INDUCED MORAL HAZARD: A DYNAMIC MODEL OF WITHIN‐YEAR MEDICAL CARE DECISION MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY

This study quantifies the moral hazard effect of health insurance on medical expenditure by estimating a dynamic model of within‐year medical care consumption that allows for insurance selection, endogenous health transitions, and individual uncertainty about medical care prices in an environment where insurance has nonlinear cost‐sharing features. The results suggest that moral hazard accounts for 53.1%, on average, of total annual medical expenditure when insured. This estimate is significantly different, and generally larger, than that produced by an alternative model that is representative of the annual medical care decision‐making models commonly found in the literature.     

The Diffusion of Heterodox Economics

Heterodox economics is in part defined by exclusion from orthodox circles and there is an understandable tendency for heterodox economists to engage primarily with each other outside these circles. Yet the critique offered by heterodoxy speaks more widely. This study examines the diffusion of heterodox economic ideas beyond the immediate confines via an analysis of the citation of heterodox economic journals by other journals. The diffusion of heterodox economics across wider disciplines is traced utilizing data from Emerald, Wiley, and Sage bibliographic databases. Employing the techniques of social network analysis, key journals in the diffusion process are identified, with implications for heterodox economics publishing strategy and engagement in valuation processes.     

Determinants of retail profit performance: A consideration of retail marketing strategies

The influence of retail marketing strategies on profit performance was investigated for a sample of thirty-five retail firms for the nine year period from 1970–1978 (n=315). Sales growth, market share, the capital-to-labor-ratio, and average inventory were found to be significantly associated with profit performance as hypothesized. Findings suggest that the keys to evaluating and selecting retail marketing strategies are: the impact on sales growth, market share, capital-to-labor ratios, and the average inventory level. Managerial implications are presented.     

Removing the contextual lens: A multinational, multi-setting comparison of service evaluation models

Four service evaluation models are identified from the literature that are commonly offered to depict the relationships amongst the primary service evaluation constructs of sacrifice, service quality, service value, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. We comparatively test the models using samples of service consumers in Australia, Hong Kong, Morocco, the Netherlands, and the United States, as well as across varied temporal and service settings. The results of the comparative analyses reveal that one conceptualization, the “comprehensive” model, best captures the identified relationships. This model is the best fitting across all countries and settings, which indicates it has the greatest external validity. These findings are discussed relative to the limitations associated with the use of less generalizable models.     

Fiscal Fan Charts: A Tool for Assessing Member States' (Likely?) Compliance with EU Fiscal Rules

This paper sets out a methodology for constructing fan charts for the government deficit and debt ratios over the medium term. It relies on information contained in Stability/Convergence Programme Updates, a model of the relevant stochastic process (for example, that of real GDP) or processes, and a parameter estimate of the sensitivity of the primary budget balance to the output gap for the member state under consideration. A model of the dynamic deficit–debt relationship allows the impact of random output growth to work its way through the fiscal arithmetic in a consistent and traceable way to produce fan charts over a five‐year forecast horizon. The initial set of fiscal fan charts included here for Ireland use the indicative public finance projections set out in its 2011 Update. The methodology makes the standard assumption of no fiscal policy response to any change in the budgetary position over the period such as could arise from changes in growth rates. Governments will, however, generally be in a position to adjust fiscal policy towards meeting a specific target, such as the 3 per cent Maastricht Treaty deficit target. A second set of fan charts is included that indicates how the probabilistic range of fiscal outcomes could be affected by a tightening of fiscal policy in 2013–15.     

Marketing “Gamer Foods”: Qualitative Insights into Responsible Strategy Development

The purpose of this article is to explore the video-gaming experience as a novel consumption occasion for snack foods and to provide insights into responsible marketing strategy development. Consumers' desired food product attributes, their motivating conditions to snack while gaming, and the environment in which this takes place are explored qualitatively through 14 in-depth interviews and 10 separate points of field observation. The findings indicate certain unhealthy food products are valued during the occasion for their social hedonic appeal but also for the basic function of fuelling long marathons of concentration and competition. Results are used to inform strategic considerations which are presented using the traditional marketing mix framework of product, promotion, price, and place of distribution. Therein, management is cautioned toward the obesogenic elements of the consumption occasion and this is a critical consideration throughout. Management is strongly advised to develop and promote healthier snacks as part of facilitating an enabling environment for sustainable food choices.