Prioritizing stakeholder concerns in environmental risk management

The management of environmental programmes often involves several stakeholders with diverse, and often conflicting, concerns. This paper proposes a methodology for the assessment of stakeholder preferences regarding a number of objectives of environmental restoration activities, such as the minimization of costs and of the impact on human health and safety. This methodology is based on an analytic/deliberative process that starts with pairwise comparisons of these objectives using questionnaires that the stakeholders complete. This input is used to produce a first set of relative weights using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (the analytic part). This set, as well as possible inconsistencies of the stakeholder assessments, is discussed with the stakeholders to correct inconsistencies and revise the weights (the deliberative part). The stakeholders always have the final word regarding the relative weights. Insights gained from a case study are also presented. The feedback from the stakeholders participating in this exercise was positive.     

Retirement concerns and planning of cooperative members: a study in the Dutch healthcare sector

Retirement planning is a key component in achieving goals and fulfilling expectations. Although several socioeconomic and psychological factors associated with retirement planning have been reported in the literature, little is known about the influence that specific retirement-related issues have on retirement planning. We examine the influence of five concerns—the individual’s financial situation, living situation, care provision, health condition, and loneliness—on retirement planning. In addition, we investigate the influence of these concerns on individuals’ perceptions of their ideal post-retirement situations in terms of financial standards. Our dataset is derived from a 2010 web-based survey of the care and well-being sector in the Netherlands.     

A translogarithmic cost function approach: Greece, 1953–1977

In this paper we use a two-output three-input specification to model the aggregate Greek economy. We use a translog joint cost function in lieu of its primal dual production function. Output consists of consumption and investment goods produced by the primary inputs and imports classified as a third agent of production. It is found that the cost minimizing input-mix is independent of the composition of output, that traditional functions are inappropriate in modeling Greek technology, and that the three factor inputs are substitutes for each other. Policies concerning the intensity of domestic inputs' use and the BOP are discussed.     

Money balances as factor inputs: An empirical evidence based on translog specification

This is a first attempt to analyze the way money balances (under both definitions) interact with the primary factors in Greek technology. Using a two-output, three-input translog cost specification, we reject the traditional functions as being inappropriate in explaining the production process. It is found that money balances are substitutes for labor and complements to capital services, while value-added is not produced by the primary inputs exclusively. A number of policy implications have emerged and are stated.     

Financial Stability,Monetary Stability and Growth: a PVAR Analysis

Open Economies Review - This paper employs a panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model to investigate the relationship among financial stress, inflation and growth in 19 advanced economies over the...     

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Concessionary export subsidies and the US Export-Import Bank

Certainly, the US Congress walks on a tightrope when it schedules the Export-Import Bank (Exim) financing. Once a tranquil organization, Exim has recently been criticized for its performance in providing concessionary financing to US firms in order to promote exports. The absence of empirical research on the relationship between export financing by Exim and growth in US exports is striking. Numerous specifications, currently, assess that Exim authorizations for loans, guarantees, and insurance, do not affect US exports and are redundant. The use of relevant variables in the regression analysis is proper and consistent. The tests are based on data from the US and 22 OECD countries, 1950–86.     

Stated preferences for two Cretan heritage attractions

The paper utilizes discrete choice modeling methodology to evaluate preferences of tourists for hypothetical managerial initiatives for two heritage attractions in Crete, Greece. The results show that they are willing to contribute a significant amount of money for improvements in the quality of information for both sites. Receiving information will substantially improve their satisfaction and thus their chances of visiting. Tourists also make reference to demand management issues, arguing that deterioration in congestion levels in both attractions will negatively affect satisfaction levels. The paper draws attention to future policies designed to improve the quality of the heritage experience, such as the introduction of audiovisual material to complement the presentation of exhibits.