Public Sector Organizational Failure: A Study of Collective Denial in the UK National Health Service

Journal of Business Ethics - This paper argues that public sector organizational failure may be best understood from a perspective of collective denial. The rise of this phenomenon is examined...     

Do SPS measures matter for margins of trade? Evidence from firm-level data

According to the World Trade Organization (WTO) standards, countries are allowed to adapt regulations under the Sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) agreements in order to protect human, animal and plant health, as well as environment and human safety. Yet, these measures can become an impediment in international trade, especially for developing countries. Therefore, using an Egyptian firm-level data set and a new database on specific trade concerns raised in the TBT and SPS committees at the WTO, we analyse the effects of product standards on two related aspects: first, the probability to export (firm-product extensive margin), and second, the value exported (firm-product intensive margin). We merge this data set with a new database on specific trade concerns raised in the TBT and SPS committees at the WTO. Our main findings show that SPS measures imposed on Egyptian exporters have a negative impact on the probability of exporting a new product to a new destination. By contrast, the intensive margin of exports is not significantly affected by such measures.     

New Development: Exemplary Provision of Bus Services—Is London a Model for Other Conurbations?

London Buses has been transformed into a national and international leader in public transport. These improvements have been made possible through the support of, and funding from, the Mayor of London. This article examines the measures implemented since the election of the Mayor in May 2000 which led to such a dramatic improvement in the bus service. The author discusses the potential for adoption of the London strategies by other metropolitan areas.