On the direct and indirect effects of the Great East Japan earthquake on self rated health through social connections: Mediation analysis

The Great East Japan Earthquake created health hazards for many people. Using Panel Data gathered in Iwanuma city, Japan, at two points in time (in 2010 before the quake, and in 2013 after the quake), we found that the high degree of housing damage negatively affected victims’ self rated health (SRH) (direct effect), and decreased the levels of their social connections, which in turn also had a harmful effect on their SRH (indirect effect). We also found that although the direct impacts of earthquakes disappear relatively quickly, the harmful indirect effects associated with a decrease in social connections are slower to dissipate. We conducted a first-difference two-step GMM estimation to consider the possible problem of endogeneity. The results support the above conclusion, and show that in the short-term, the indirect impacts of the earthquake accounted for 55 % of all the impacts experienced.     

Application of structural equation modelling for estimating airline performance

Structural equation modelling (SEM) is an estimation method that can handle a large number of exogenous and endogenous factors as well as unobserved (latent) variables that are specified as linear combinations of observed (measurement) factors. This paper presents a SEM procedure with latent variables for estimating the financial and non-financial performance in airline companies. The model includes independent, mediator and dependent latent variables. The sample for this research comprises 214 airline companies. The results indicate that the model is capable of estimating performance with respect to the economic situation and it has also been determined that two types of constructs affect performance. One type is the economic situation acting as an initial construct and the other is the internal operation acting as the mediator in the research model.     

The relationship between satisfaction and loyalty: A mediator analysis

This study proposes a multiple mediation model to analyze the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty. The study's contribution to the literature is to examine, empirically, the main antecedents and determinants of this endogenous variable in greater depth. Thus, the research fills a gap in the literature through its analysis of the mediating role of perceived switching costs and the perceived lack of attractiveness of alternative offerings. This study applies variance-based structural equation modeling via partial least squares to a sample of 785 customers from 74 insurance companies in the service sector. The results show that perceived switching costs – to a greater extent – and the perceived lack of attractiveness of alternative offerings – to a lesser extent – are significant mediators in the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty.     

长江经济带发展战略对区域科学竞争力的提升效应——基于双重差分法的实证研究

在全球科技革命加速演进的背景下,长江经济带发展战略的实施对沿线省市科学竞争力提升具有重大意义。基于2009-2019年我国内地31个省市面板数据,构建科学竞争力评价指标体系,并利用熵权法计算各省市科学竞争力综合得分,通过使用双重差分法和中介效应模型实证检验长江经济带发展战略对区域科学竞争力的提升效应,最后对该战略的区域异质性及作用机制进行深入研究。结果表明：(1)长江经济带发展战略显著提升区域科学竞争力,稳健性检验支持该结论;(2)该战略实施虽然有助于提升长江经济带整体科学竞争力,但存在区域异质性,呈现为下游>中游>上游;(3)该战略通过提高要素集聚度、促进经济发展、加强政府公共服务提升沿线省市科学竞争力。基于实证结果,从提高政府公共服务水平、制定差异化发展计划、加大地方政府财政支出、精准布局科创载体、加快数据要素基础设施建设等方面提出建议。     

思想政治工作在纠纷调解中的策略探析

发挥好思想政治工作在纠纷调解中的作用,要着力提高调解工作队伍的思想政治素质,着眼于发挥好思想政治工作的作用,努力注意贯彻好长期抓、细致抓、反复帮的原则,遵循好循序渐进规律。     

Problems with detecting assumed mediation using the hierarchical multiple regression strategy

In human resource management (HRM) and allied fields (e.g., organizational behavior, management, and industrial and organizational psychology), tests of mediation are frequently conducted using the hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) strategy of Baron and Kenny [Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182]. Although previous research has identified a number of serious problems with this approach, the present study adds to the literature by identifying yet additional problems with its use in inferring the existence of mediation. Using a statistical simulation, we found that certain patterns of correlation coefficients guarantee inferences about mediation, whereas other patterns preclude such inferences. On the basis of various analyses including logistic regression and inspection of three-dimensional plots, we identified patterns of correlation coefficients needed to satisfy Baron and Kenny's [Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182] conditions for inferring mediation. The same patterns have no necessary relation to actual causal connections among variables in mediation models. Moreover, as a consequence of the failure of the HMR strategy to detect mediating effects, many instances of actual mediation in HRM and allied fields may have gone undetected. In view of the foregoing, we conclude that the HMR strategy should no longer be used in testing for mediation.     

Churn analysis for an Iranian mobile operator

To survive in the challenging environment of a global market, organizations must recognize and analyze customer attitudes. To be competitive, organizations must recognize and forecast customer preferences and behaviors to maximize customer retention before their rivals do so. This research identifies factors that affect customer churn, the single most valuable of an organization's assets. One year's data from call log files relating to 3150 customers were selected randomly from an Iranian mobile operator call-center database. Binomial Logistic Regression was the method of analysis used in this research. The results of this research indicate that a customer's dissatisfaction, their amount of service usage and certain demographic characteristics have the most influence on their decision to remain or churn. The results also imply that customer status (active or inactive status) mediates the relationship between churn and the cause of churn. The Iranian government's current plan to privatize the telecommunications industry without deregulation leads to a non-square competition environment. Deregulation in favor of delegating more authorities of customer care is necessary in order to develop a square private competition environment in the Iranian mobile telecommunications industry.     

人民调解制度效力的研究

人民调解制度及其组织对于化解基层的矛盾与纠纷,实现群众自治和基层民主,乃至于构建和谐社会都有着举足轻重的作用。于是我们有必要对于维护社会稳定的"第一道防线"引起足够的关注。     

环境规制对绿色技术创新的影响——“波特效应”的中国证据

在我国环境规制实现区域污染治理的过程中,会遭遇污染产业转移、投资领域变迁等规避问题。为检验有关规制措施的有效性,本文基于省际面板数据考察了环境规制与绿色技术创新的关系,研究发现,与环境行政处罚和颁布地方性法规相比,收缴排污费和增加环境保护财政支出更加有效,这说明依靠环境规制推动绿色技术创新的关键在于规制工具的选择。总体而言,财、税、费等市场调控类环境规制工具更适合我国国情。中介效应检验发现,收缴排污费和环境保护财政支出倒逼企业提高研发强度,进而推动绿色技术创新,且二者对绿色技术创新的促进作用均呈现由弱变强、由不显著到显著的门槛效应。值得注意的是,严厉的行政处罚阻碍绿色技术创新,且不管规制强度如何,地方性法规对绿色技术创新并无显著影响。因此,为加强环境治理,促进绿色技术创新,需要构建市场化环境规制体系、注重环境规制顶层设计的落地,并适当提高环境规制强度。     

经济政策不确定性如何影响企业出口决策？——基于出口频率的视角

出口频率作为出口决策的重要一环,是企业出口扩张的新边际,也是出口变化的“晴雨表”。本文在随机存货模型的基础上,考察了经济政策不确定性对企业出口频率的影响及其传导渠道,并采用2000-2006年工业企业数据库与海关数据库的匹配数据进行实证检验,结果发现:目的国经济政策不确定性增加会显著降低企业出口频率,且这一影响存在部分惯性效应;经济政策不确定性通过贸易成本、存货成本和市场需求波动共同影响企业出口频率的中介效应十分显著,其中贸易成本是最重要的传导渠道,占比达到19%以上;如果进一步考虑目的国、产品和企业异质性,会发现出口目的国经济发展水平较高、出口产品为中间品和消费品的企业,其出口频率受经济政策不确定性的影响较小。因此,政府和企业应高度关注出口频率的变化趋势,合理应对经济政策不确定性对出口决策的外部冲击。