A two-stage approach to defining an affected community based on the directly affected population and the sense of community

Studies have demonstrated the inadequacy of relying on existing administrative boundaries or simple proximity to define an affected community. The proposal and siting of hazardous facilities can have a range of impacts upon people across wide areas, with some more affected than others as a result of living with the physical impacts of construction or the fear associated with perceived risk. We term those most affected the directly affected population and propose a two-stage model for identifying an affected community which places those most affected at the centre of the definition. The second stage is to identify the relationships those most affected have with the wider elements of the sense of community to discover the existing community or communities which are affected. Illustrated by the siting of a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility at Dounrey in the north of Scotland, we show that elements of the lived community experience may have very different shapes, extents and conflicting interests which pose challenges for their incorporation into a siting process. The two-stage model presented in this paper, by placing those most directly affected at the centre and working from there out into the existing communities, identifies issues early in any siting process to improve their incorporation and amelioration.     

The Financial Performance of a Socially Responsible Investment Over Time and a Possible Link with Corporate Social Responsibility

This paper empirically examines the financial performance of a UK unit trust that was initially “conventional” and later adopted socially responsible investment (SRI) principles (ethical investment principles). Comparison is made with three similar conventional funds whose investment objectives remained unchanged. Analysis techniques employed in previous studies find similar results: mean risk-adjusted performance is unchanged by the switch to SRI, with no evidence of over-or under-performance relative to the benchmark market index by any of the four funds. More interestingly, changes in variability of returns over time are also modelled using generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity models, not previously applied to SRI funds so far as is known. Results show a temporary increase in variability of returns, followed by a return to previous levels after around 4 years. Evidence shows the increased variability to be associated with the adoption of SRI rather than with a change in fund management. Possible explanations for the subsequent reduction in variability include the spread of corporate social responsibility activities by firms and learning by fund managers. In addition to reporting on a previously unobserved phenomenon, this paper raises questions for further research.     

Job guarantees, employability training and partnerships in the retail sector

This paper discusses the potential value of local, partnership-based employability training and job guarantee programmes, focusing on one example—the 'Alloa Initiative'. The Initiative involved an employability training and job guarantee scheme developed in partnership with Tesco, a major retailer, in preparation for the opening of one of the company's new stores. This paper reports on the outputs from this project, which placed 109 disadvantaged job seekers into positions at the store, and proved particularly effective at targeting the long-term unemployed and those with limited experience of the retail sector. The analysis is based on the findings of survey research undertaken with 86 of the 109 training course completers (a 79 per cent response rate) and all the main partners involved in the Initiative. Innovative elements of the training programme that contributed to its positive outcomes are discussed, and a model for 'managing successful partnerships' is applied, in order to identify critical factors explaining the apparent success of the Initiative. In particular, the importance of employers providing job guarantees is noted.     

Are Spatially Focused Initiatives in Current Economic Inclusion Policies Well Founded?

This study examines the appropriateness of the New Deal in targeting specific groups of unemployed job-seekers. This was achieved using a survey of unemployed job-seekers carried out prior to the implementation of the New Deal framework in April 1998. A sample of 169 unemployed job-seekers in two Travel to Work Areas in central Scotland is divided into those who were successful and those who were unsuccessful in finding employment and each group is analysed in terms of a set of labour market related attributes. The study generates a 'typical' profile for those who were successful in job search and a 'typical' profile for those who were less successful. These are compared and contrasted with the New Deal target groups. The findings support most of the target grouping basis of the policy but not all and we conclude that the generic aim of the New Deal, to reduce social exclusion, is unlikely to be achieved as effectively if spatial priorities, focused on the most deprived areas, are allowed to supersede the needs of the individual job-seeker.     

Change agency in occupational context: lessons for HRM

Change agency is seen as a key route to reducing the occupational vulnerability of human resource management (HRM). However, few look outside of the HRM context to consider change agency more broadly in organisations. Drawing on a study of change agency units in British organisations, we argue that challenges to occupational credibility and competing jurisdictional claims have wider implications for the role of HR practitioners. In particular, change agency is better seen as replaying rather than resolving the ambiguity of HRM's role and identity in organisations.     

An Analysis of the Key Factors Influencing Farmer’s Choice of Crop,Kibamba Ward,Tanzania

The need for further research into indigenous knowledge, in the context of agrarian development strategies, led to this investigation of one aspect of local knowedge; that of crop choice. Through the use of point score analysis, research was conducted in the Kibamba Ward located in the peri‐urban zone of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The main aims were to investigate the key factors underlying farmers’ choice of crop as well as to assess the differences in the decision‐making process between commercial and subsistence farmers. Vegetable cultivation was observed as the main practice, influenced particularly by the physical environment, the availability of machinery as well as certain economic factors. A significant difference in decision making among subsistence and commercial farmers was found. Subsistence farmers placed greater emphasis on the taste of the crop, whereas commercial farmers were predictably more influenced by the market. In addition, this study highlights several practical areas of concern regarding water resources, basic machinery and the lack of formal extension provision in the area. Although the complexity of crop choice is portrayed, a need for future research in different geographical contexts is noted.     

Dimitry Anastakis. Auto Pact: Creating a Borderless North American Auto Industry, 1960-1971

For Canadians, the Canada-US Automotive Products Trade Agreement,or Auto Pact, is considered an icon of successful industrialpolicy. How did it evolve? Who were the players? What were theirmotivations? What was its impact? These are the central questionsfor which Dimitry Anastakis seeks answers in Auto Pact: Creatinga Borderless North American Automotive Industry. This book stems from Anastakis's 2001 PhD thesis, Auto Pact:Business and Diplomacy in the Creation of a Borderless NorthAmerican     

An Income Capitalization Model for Land Value with Provisions for Ordinary Income and Long-term Capital Gains Taxation

This paper addresses the problem of growth, taxation, capital gains taxation and capital gains exemption on farmland bid prices. A maximum bid price model is developed that takes into consideration these factors. The results indicate that capital gains taxation decreases the bid price but this reduction is mitigated by the $500,000 capital gains exemption. The results also support the hypothesis that growth, taxation and discount rates do interact to affect the bid price.
Les auteurs examinent l'incidence de la croissance, de la fiscalité, de Fimposition des gains de capital et des exemptions pertinentes sur le prix aux enchères des terres agricoles. Ces facteurs ont servi à élaborer un modèle du prix maximum obtenu aux encheres. Les resultats montrent que I'imposition des gains de capital réduit le prix aux enchères, mais que la baisse est atténuée par l' exemption de 500 000 $. lis confirment également l' hypothèse que la croissance, la fiscalité et le taux d' escompte interagissent pour modifier les prix aux enchères.     

Systematic and Nonsystematic Risks in Agriculture

A Farm Sector Capital Asset Pricing Model (FSCAPM) is developed to examine systematic agricultural risks. Beta coefficients are derived for various agricultural activities and portfolios. The results reveal that for many agricultural commodities and crop mixes the amount of systematic risk is high. Moreover, for the majority of commodities and crop mixes examined, farmers are being undercompensated for the level of systematic risk they are accepting. It is suggested that off-farm investment might be a feasible approach to reducing systematic risk within agriculture.
Un modèle simulant le processus de détermination de la valeur de l'actif dans le secteur agricole est développé pour permettre l'étude des risques systématiques dans ce secteur. Les coefficients mesurant le niveau relatif de risque systématique sont ensuite calculés pour différents produits et plans de productions. Les résultats montrent que pour plusieurs pro-duits agricoles et plans de production, les niveaux de risque systtmatique sont Clevés. De plus, pour la majoritt des produits et plans de production étudiés, les producteurs agricoles ne sont pas rémunérés adéquatement pour prendre ces risques. Finalement, l'investissement de capitaux à l'exttrieur du secteur agricole est présenté comme un moyen pouvant permettre de réduire le niveau de risque systématique dans ce secteur.