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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of empirical evidence on the labour market effects of health insurance from the supply side. Design/methodology/approach: The study covers the largest peer-reviewed and working paper databases for labour economics and health studies. These include Web of Science, Google Scholar, Pubmed and the most popular economics working paper sources such as NBER, ECONSTOR, IDEAS, IZA, SSRN, World Bank Working Paper Series. The authors follow the PRISMA 2009 protocol for systematic reviews. Findings: The collection includes 63 studies. The outcomes of interest are the number of hours worked, the probability of employment, self-employment and the level of economic formalisation. The authors find that the current literature is vastly concentrated on the USA. Spousal coverage in the USA is associated with reduced labour supply of secondary earners. The effect of Medicaid in the USA on the labour supply of its recipients is ambiguous. The employment-coverage link is an important determinant of the labour supply of people with health problems and self-employment decisions. Universal coverage may create either an incentive or a disincentive to work depending on the design of the system. Finally, evidence on the relationship between health insurance and the level of economic formalisation in developing countries is fragmented and limited. Practical implications: This study reviews the existing literature on the labour market effects of health insurance from the supply side. The authors find a large knowledge gap in emerging economies where health coverage is expanding. The authors also highlight important literature gaps that need to be filled in different themes of the topic. Originality/value: This is the first systematic review on the topic which is becoming increasingly relevant for policy makers in developing countries where health coverage is expanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how potential exposure to missionary activity impacts both English language proficiency and labor market earnings of male and female immigrants to the USA. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses the pooled files of the American Community Survey (2005–2009). To estimate the relationship between the missionary activity of both Protestants and Catholics on an immigrant's English language proficiency using a linear probability model and their labor market earnings using the human capital earnings function that is estimated with an ordinary least squares model. Among other relevant variables, the analysis controls for the colonial heritage of the immigrant's country of origin. Findings: Overall, and within colonial heritages, the results indicate that male and female immigrants from countries with a higher concentration of Protestant missionaries tend to exhibit higher levels of English language proficiency and earnings, and those from countries with a greater concentration of Catholic missionaries exhibit lower levels of both, compared to countries with lower concentrations of missionaries. Furthermore, a greater proficiency in English enhances earnings. One of the important implications of the findings in this paper is that a "missionary variable" often used in other studies is too aggregate and may mask important findings because of strikingly different effects of Protestant and Catholic activities and characteristics of the missionaries. Originality/value: This study explores for the first time how, through a missionary concentration variable, potential exposure to missionary activity impacts the English language proficiency and earnings of immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Indicators for quality of schooling are not only relatively new in the world but also unavailable for a sizable share of the world’s population. In their absence, some proxy measures have been devised. One simple but powerful idea has been to use the schooling premium for migrant workers in the USA (Bratsberg and Terrell, 2002). The purpose of this paper is to extend this idea and compute measures for the schooling premium of immigrant workers in the USA over a span of five decades.Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the authors focus on the schooling premia for the Latin American and the Caribbean region and compare them to those of migrants from other regions, particularly from East Asia and Pacific, India, Northern Europe and Southern Europe, all relative to immigrants from former Soviet Republics. The available data allow us to measure such premia for workers who graduated from school, either at the secondary or tertiary levels, in their home countries between 1940 and 2010.Findings The results show that the schooling premia in Latin America have been steadily low throughout the whole period of analysis. The results stand after controlling for selective migration in different ways. This contradicts the popular belief in policy circles that the education quality of the region has deteriorated in recent years. In contrast, schooling premium in India shows an impressive improvement in recent decades, especially at the tertiary level.Originality/value In this paper, the authors extend the idea of computing schooling premium for migrant workers in the USA (Bratsberg and Terrell, 2002) and present comparative estimates of the evolution of schooling premia in 17 Latin American countries for both secondary and tertiary schooling levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide quantitative estimates on the impact of active labour market policy (ALMP) on youth unemployment in Europe based on a macroeconomic panel data set of youth unemployment, ALMP and education policy variables and further country-specific characteristics on labour market institutions and the broader demographic and macroeconomic environment for all EU-Member States. Design/methodology/approach: The authors follow the design of an aggregate impact analysis, which aims to explain the impact of policy on macroeconomic variables like youth employment and unemployment (see Bellmann and Jackman, 1996). This follows the assumption that programmes, which are effective in terms of improving individual employment opportunities, are going to make a difference on the equilibrium of youth unemployment. Findings: The findings show that both wage subsidies and job creation are reducing aggregate youth unemployment, which is in contrast to some of the surveys of microeconomic studies indicating that job creation schemes are not effective. This finding points towards the importance to assist young people making valuable work experience, which is a benefit from job creation, even if this experience is made outside regular employment and/or the commercial sector. Research limitations/implications: In terms of the variables to model public policy intervention in the youth labour market, only few indicators exist, which are consistently available for all EU-Member States, despite much more interest and research aiming to provide an exhaustive picture of the youth labour market in Europe. The only consistently available measures are spending on ALMP as a percentage of gross domestic product (in the different programmes) and participation stocks and entries by type of intervention. Practical implications: The different effects found for the 15–19 year olds, who seem to benefit from wage subsidies, compared to the effect of job creations benefitting the 20–24 year olds, might relate to the different barriers for both groups to find employment. Job creation programmes seem to offer this group an alternative mechanism to gain valuable work experience outside the commercial sector, which could help form a narrative of positive labour market experience. In this way, job creation should be looked more positively at when further developing ALMP provision, especially for young people relatively more distant to engagement in regular employment. Social implications: Improving the situation of many millions of young Europeans failing to find gainful employment, and more generally suffering from deprivation and social exclusion, has been identified as a clear priority for policy both at the national level of EU-Member States and for EU-wide initiatives. With this study, the authors attempt to contribute to the debate about the effectiveness of policies which combat youth unemployment by estimating the quantitative relationship of ALMP and other institutional features and youth unemployment. Originality/value: To research the relationship between youth unemployment and ALMP, the authors created a macroeconomic database with repeated observations for all EU-Member States for a time series (1998–2012). The authors include variables on country demographics and the state of the economy as well as variables describing the labour market regimes from Eurostat, i.e. the flexibility of the labour market (part-time work and fixed-term employment as a percentage of total employment) and the wage setting system (level and coordination of bargaining and government intervention in wage bargaining). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to examine the 2009 to 2016 financial performance of the US Hockey Inc., using financial effectiveness indicators and financial efficiency ratios. Design/methodology/approach -- With the assistance of financial trend analysis, archival data were used to examine the financial performance (evaluated by net income), financial effectiveness (indicated by total assets and total revenues) and financial efficiency (examined by programme services ratios and return on assets) of US Hockey Inc. Findings -- On average, the financial performance of the organization was positive ($30,895 net income per year). Financial effectiveness was steady with increases in assets and revenues. Financial efficiency was poor with 79%of revenues spent on programme services and 1.45%average return on asset. Research limitations/implications -- The results can be generalized to similar national non-profit sports federations but not corporate sports entities with dissimilar financial goals. Practical implications -- The results revealed that national non-profit sports federations can boost their financial performance by maintaining a double strategically focus on both financial effectiveness and financial efficiency. Originality/value -- The study used both financial effectiveness and financial efficiency measures to evaluate the financial performances of a national non-profit sports federation -- a neglected approach similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare conditions in informal day-labor markets in South Africa and the USA to better understand the nature of worker vulnerabilities in this market, as well as the economic conditions that have contributed to the growth of day labor. The conclusion considers interventions that are underway in the two countries to improve conditions in day-labor markets. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on national surveys of day laborers in South Africa and the USA. A random sample of day laborers seeking work at informal hiring sites was undertaken in each country. The paper presents key findings, compares conditions in South Africa and the USA, and analyzes the relationship between economic change, labor-market dynamics, and worker vulnerability. Findings – Day-labor work is characterized by low pay, hazardous conditions on the job, and tremendous income insecurity. The day-labor markets in South Africa and the USA perform somewhat different functions within regional economies. Within South Africa, day labor can be regarded as a survival strategy. The growth of day labor in South Africa over the past decade is a manifestation of a formal labor market that is incapable of absorbing the structurally unemployed. Here, day labor is the employment of last resort, allowing workers to subsist on the fringes of the mainstream economy, but offering few pathways into the formal sector. In the USA, the day labor workforce is a largely undocumented-immigrant workforce. Workers seek work at informal hiring sites, maintaining a tenuous hold on jobs in the construction industry. There is evidence of some mobility into more stable and better paying employment. Practical implications – This paper documents the need for policies and programs to increase employment opportunities for day laborers and to better enforce labor standards in the informal economy. Originality/value – This paper summarizes findings from the only two national surveys of day laborers that have been conducted, and it compares for the first time the dynamic within growing day-labor markets in a developed- and emerging-market context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to present the three critical changes needed to reform the US health care system -- these changes will drive cascades of other beneficial changes. These three changes include the use of transparent market prices, alignment of incentives and systematic assessment and ratings of quality. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper used an analysis based on the literature on the comparison between non-market and market systems. The current US health care system is similar to the Soviet economic system, and the paper proposes moving it gradually to where it can respond to market-based signals. Findings -- The US health care system needs to adopt transparent and real pricing, independent quality assessment of health provider organizations and portable electronic patient records. These changes will lead to continuing cascades of innovation and improvement. Research limitations/implications -- The recommended changes will be opposed by vested interest groups, and so will be easier with regulatory guidance and encouragement. It would also be useful to protect against "regulatory capture" by interested parties during the change process. Practical implications -- Health care in the USA will gradually become better and cheaper. Health organizations will become more transparent. Regulators would have to set up and supervise private quality ratings agencies. Social implications -- Social implications of this paper include greater labor mobility and higher productivity, as well as increased competitiveness of the USA. Originality/value -- In spite of numerous writings on the subject, this issue has not been analyzed in this way. This paper is unique in the way in which it layouts the process of movement to a market-based system for the US health care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The mechanism by which leadership influences organizational performance has largely been unexplained. This study intends to fill this gap. This study identified the six specific leadership practices: promoting inter-unit collaboration, managing diversity, providing performance feedback, ensuring goal directedness, developing employees, and resource provision. This study also identified a number of generic functions of leadership, that is, promoting cooperation, clarifying employees’ roles, and improving skills in organization. Then the mediating effects of the three generic functions were tested in order to link the specific leadership practices to organizational performance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling was used for analyzing the data from the 2014 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey to investigate the mediating model.Findings The effects of the six specific leadership practices on organizational performance were mediated by the three generic leadership functions.Originality/value The result of this study delineated the linking paths between leadership practices and organizational performance which has largely remained as a black box. Moreover, since the specific leadership practices are categorized by the generic functions that are instrumental for organizational performance, it provides theoretical and empirical grounds for managerial prescriptions for improving organizational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The conservation of resources (COR) theory provides a theoretical foundation for work-family research. The purpose of this paper is to investigate thoroughly the associations between threat of or actual loss of resources as well as gain of resources and work-family interaction, employing COR assumptions and measures.Design/methodology/approach A sample of 216 working mothers filled out a questionnaire that included conservation of resources evaluation and scales measuring work-family conflict (WFC) and enrichment. Analyses of variance were performed to test the hypothesized associations.Findings WFC and family-work conflict (FWC) were positively correlated with the threat of and actual loss of resources; family-work enrichment (FWE) was positively correlated with the gain of resources. Participants who reported higher threat of loss of resources compared to gain of resources reported high levels of WFC and FWC; those who reported higher loss of resources compared to gain of resources reported high levels of FWC. In addition, participants who reported gains that outweighed losses (whether actual loss or simply threat of loss) reported higher levels of FWE.Originality/value The findings support using the COR theory as a theoretical basis for work-family research and emphasize the detrimental role of threat of loss of resources. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The aim of this study is to investigate and analyze product recalls and product-harm crises in the US toy industry, which is a major area in marketing and firms' competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach -- By using longitudinal data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the paper uses content analysis to compare and contrast toy recalls, product hazards and country of origin issues of 721 toy recalls in the US market between 1974 and 2008, covering 270 million recalled toys. Findings -- Findings of this work reveal that most of the recalled toys were manufactured in China, although a wide variety of toy brands were designed in the USA. Major hazards of toy recalls included choking, lead poisoning, aspiration, fire/burn and other injuries. Research limitations/implications -- The study relied on the CPSC's data that seemed representative of the toy industry in the US market, but missed other markets of Europe and Asia. Also, there was availability of detailed data in sub-categories of the toy industry. Practical implications -- The paper provides useful academic and managerial implications that can help us understand the issues of product recalls and product-harm crises. Social implications -- Toys are one of the most widely available products in the world; the industry is a $50 billion industry and has transformed itself from a small-scale business sector into a well-established industry. Originality/value -- This investigation is particularly important in the areas of firm-specific competitiveness, business ethics and regulatory and societal issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this study is to investigate and analyze product recalls and product-harm crises in the US toy industry, which is a major area in marketing and firms' competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach – By using longitudinal data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the paper uses content analysis to compare and contrast toy recalls, product hazards and country of origin issues of 721 toy recalls in the US market between 1974 and 2008, covering 270 million recalled toys. Findings – Findings of this work reveal that most of the recalled toys were manufactured in China, although a wide variety of toy brands were designed in the USA. Major hazards of toy recalls included choking, lead poisoning, aspiration, fire/burn and other injuries. Research limitations/implications – The study relied on the CPSC's data that seemed representative of the toy industry in the US market, but missed other markets of Europe and Asia. Also, there was availability of detailed data in sub-categories of the toy industry. Practical implications – The paper provides useful academic and managerial implications that can help us understand the issues of product recalls and product-harm crises. Social implications – Toys are one of the most widely available products in the world; the industry is a $50 billion industry and has transformed itself from a small-scale business sector into a well-established industry. Originality/value – This investigation is particularly important in the areas of firm-specific competitiveness, business ethics and regulatory and societal issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to survey the growth of solar energy worldwide, analyze US-China trade dispute in the solar industry, and evaluate the merits of US trade tariffs. Design/methodology/approach – The study surveyed archival data, publications by international organizations, government agencies, industry groups, and some academic research papers. Findings – Global demand for solar energy has been rising steadily and is projected to generate growing source of electric power. There is worldwide consensus that public support for solar industry in the development stages is necessary. The US Government provides generous support programs and subsidies to US solar industry. Accordingly, US punitive tariffs against China's solar industry on grounds of government subsidies are of questionable merit. Originality/value – This paper presents a concise profile of global solar energy and evaluates US trade policy toward China. The findings can be of value to government officials as they consider trade policies and their impact on the future of solar energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess how wages of US native workers with various educational backgrounds are affected by immigration. Design/methodology/approach – This paper estimates the responses of these workers' wages to the concentration of immigrants with various educational backgrounds in their local labour markets, using 1980-2000 US Census data and instrumental variables approach. Findings – Wages of native high school dropouts fall slightly in the presence of immigrant high school dropouts and high school graduates; wages of native high school graduates fall slightly in the presence of immigrant high school graduates, but rise in the presence of immigrants with higher levels of education; wages of native workers with some college education fall slightly with larger concentrations of immigrant high school graduates but rise slightly with larger concentrations of immigrant college graduates; and there is no evidence that wages of native college graduates are affected by immigration. Originality/value – No previous studies have considered these possibilities when assessing the impact of immigration on native workers' wages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and explain competition between buyers and sellers within the same supply chain network. It suggests that supply chain can be best described as an opportunistic coalition between the powerful and ambitious ones. Design/methodology/approach – This paper discusses the arguments and counter-arguments on outsourcing and also supply chain management as presented in the academic literature. Then it analyses some of the prevailing practices in supply chain, and uses concepts of power, team and opportunistic alliance to suggest that supply chain could best be described as an opportunistic alliance. Findings – Buyers and suppliers are always engaged in power struggles, even though they may be cooperating to run the supply chain smoothly. The degree of one party's success in such a struggle is determined by the extent of the others' dependence on it. The dependence is reliant on one's control over the process of defining, designing and producing the goods and services required to fulfil the needs of the end customers. Research limitations/implications – While success in the market is equally important, this paper elaborates on the supply chain issue only. Practical implications – The article is useful for managers, making "make-or buy" decisions and entering into (supply chain) alliances. Similarly, students engaged in analysis and understanding of issues pertaining to supply chain management and strategy can find this article useful. Originality/value – Competition within supply chain has been a missing link in the discussions of the supply chain strategy. The paper has conceptualized and elaborated this very important issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the short-term effect of the Arizona Immigration Law of 2010 (SB 1070) on the noncitizen Hispanic state population. Design/methodology/approach - To get a consistent estimate of this effect, a synthetic control method has been used to calculate a suitable counterfactual. Findings - Results indicate that this bill produced a statistically significant short-term reduction in the proportion of noncitizen Hispanics in Arizona between 10 and 15 per cent. However, the evidence suggests that this effect vanishes after a few months. Originality/value - These findings are consistent with previous evidence of the high mobility of the undocumented population in the US, and contribute to the understanding of the effects of federal and statelevel immigration legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine recent trends in R&D offshoring by US multinational enterprises (MNEs) against a well-established conceptual framework derived from transaction cost and internalization theories, as well as challenges to it. Design/methodology/approach – The paper develops and tests a parsimonious model of cross-country variation in R&D performed by affiliates of MNEs based on a 31-country, 15-year dataset of US non-bank majority-owned foreign affiliates (MOFAs). Findings – Consistent with the implications of transaction cost and internalization frameworks, the findings show that the location of R&D offshoring is significantly determined by ownership of physical assets by MNEs in the host country and host country technological capability. Practical implications – R&D offshoring can enhance the quality and the quantity of knowledge flows between home country and host country R&D centers. The resulting positive knowledge spill-over effects can increase the welfare and productivity of an MNE and its home country in the long run. Originality/value – The paper provides a comprehensive explanation for MNEs' R&D offshoring based on transaction costs, internalization framework and technological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this overview is to provide a brief introduction to the theme of the special issue, the expert commentary, and six papers included in the special issue. The authors conclude by articulating four avenues of future research that are likely to contribute significantly towards building work-environments in which employees and organizations can flourish. Design/methodology/approach – The International Journal of Manpower's usual double blind review process was used to select the six papers from various parts of the world including Estonia, USA, Australia, Brazil, and Israel that focus on important aspects of the changing work environment and its influence on employee wellbeing. The papers represent a wide variety of research designs, methodologies, and analytic strategies used to investigate the influence of changing work environment on employee wellbeing. An expert commentary provides an overview of current scholarship on changes occurring in the work environment and its impact on employee wellbeing. Findings – The findings of the studies included in this special issue provide insights into six specific work-environmental issues influencing employee wellbeing, including workplace bullying; inter-organizational networks; professional contractor well-being; inter-generational differences; commitment and intention to leave; and work-engagement. Practical implications – Each article includes practical implications with regard to promotion of employee wellbeing. Originality/value – Taken as a collective, the six papers in this special issue highlight frontier issues in the relationship between changing work environment and employee wellbeing. The expert commentary provides an easy to access summary of the current scholarship in the area and specifies fruitful areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an instrument to measure the dimensionality of Indian expatriate adjustment. Design/methodology/approach – In an effort to measure the dimensionality of Indian expatriate adjustment in the USA, Black's instrument was used in this paper. Findings – The factor analysis gave a different factor structure from that proposed by Black. Expatriate scores did not merge into three dimensions of expatriates' adjustment; rather they merged into two dimensions. Unlike Black's study, interaction with host nationals was not found to be a separate dimension. A possible explanation is that linguistic skills and the presence of Indian diaspora support Indian expatriates during their interactions with Americans. Research limitations/implications – The exploratory character of this study with its small convenience sample of Indian expatriates makes the findings tentative. Practical implications – The paper is a useful source of information for students planning to make a career in international business and practitioners already engaged in international business activities. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified information need and offers help in expatriate adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine existing learning innovation systems and propose a systematic methodology of delivering educational innovations in the right amount, in the right place and at the right time. Design/methodology/approach – Higher education is not effectively incorporating new discoveries in cognitive science and human learning into effective teaching strategies. In this paper, the authors explore the various impediments to change. To partially overcome these barriers, Drexel University, in collaboration with Untra Academic Management Solutions, LLC, has embarked on the development of a knowledge management system to assist instructors in obtaining, implementing, evaluating and disseminating new educational innovations. The system as envisioned would be capable of adapting to various educational environments and evolving with changes in curricula, faculty expectations, learning outcomes and student characteristics. Findings – The SocraticNet as a learning environment is stimulated, based on Socratic inquiry among teachers and learners. It is an interactive social network system utilising Web 2.0-based emerging technologies fostering communication and sharing among faculty, students and others (e.g. librarians) engaged in a particular course or other educational experience. Students learn by sharing what they know, by asking questions, judging and evaluating the retrieved information, and using this information efficiently in completing their assignments or research papers. This approach results in multidimensional information flow – instructor to instructor, instructor to student, student to instructor, student to student – which adds a new richness to the interactions between faculty and students providing the framework for a true learning community. Research limitations/implications – The present work has been conducted at one institution. This can be extended to include more institutions and tried with different disciplines. There are implications for changes in relation to teaching and learning approached adopted in higher education and also for development of technology tailored to address issues emanating from the scenario. Practical implications – The research work presented has the potential to stimulate debate to further develop and refine thinking on the role and use of technology directed at improving teaching and learning in higher education. Originality/value – This paper examines learning and teaching styles in higher education taking cognizance of conditions and factors impeding new innovations in practice. Details discussions are presented and unique suggestions are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe specific techniques of "inquiry-based learning" employed by three instructors in Engineering schools, one in Europe and two in the USA. Design/methodology/approach – Theorists such as Bransford et al. argue that twenty-first century educators need to teach students to do more than simply remember and repeat information. Engineering educators Prince and Felder critique traditional methods of teaching in which instructors focus on mathematics and theory, but fail to convey practical applications of that knowledge. They advocate moving students to a higher level of learning – past the stage of memorizing and reciting data – to more sophisticated methods of analysis, synthesis, and application of knowledge. To enact such transformations, Prince and Felder recommend "inductive teaching methods," including "inquiry-based learning," in which students learn through engaging with challenges and a series of questions. The paper provides examples of inquiry-based learning activities from each of the authors. The paper then discusses the cross-pollination of ideas and describes how the authors have shared inquiry-based teaching strategies and collaborated to develop new and relevant assignments and approaches to teaching. Findings – The willingness of learners to discuss a range of pedagogical topics, from specific practices to shared experiences and readings, led to an exchange of ideas, and also to deeper reflections on current practices. The cross-pollination of assignments and techniques resulted in well-structured, stimulating, and relevant research projects that engage engineering students from Texas to Portugal, and from communication to technical classes. Research limitations/implications – The use of inquiry-based learning activities and the sharing of resources across continents aimed at improving learning and teaching requires expanding upon and further development. Originality/value – The paper demonstrates the use of cross-pollination of ideas, development of assignments and improved approaches to teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an instrument to measure the dimensionality of Indian expatriate adjustment. Design/methodology/approach – In an effort to measure the dimensionality of Indian expatriate adjustment in the USA, Black's instrument was used in this paper. Findings – The factor analysis gave a different factor structure from that proposed by Black. Expatriate scores did not merge into three dimensions of expatriates' adjustment; rather they merged into two dimensions. Unlike Black's study, interaction with host nationals was not found to be a separate dimension. A possible explanation is that linguistic skills and the presence of Indian diaspora support Indian expatriates during their interactions with Americans. Research limitations/implications – The exploratory character of this study with its small convenience sample of Indian expatriates makes the findings tentative. Practical implications – The paper is a useful source of information for students planning to make a career in international business and practitioners already engaged in international business activities. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified information need and offers help in expatriate adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to introduce the special issue on "Human resource management and corporate entrepreneurship". Design/methodology/approach – The paper discuses the articles in the special issue, which investigate the relationships between human resource management and entrepreneurship from different points of view, approaches and employing different empirical contexts. Findings – The papers highlight different human resource management factors of entrepreneurial behaviour and their influence on corporate entrepreneurship. Results from different empirical contexts as small and medium-size firms, case studies, joint ventures, in the USA, China, and Spain, among others, make important contributions to the previous literature. Originality/value – The paper discusses the intersection and association between human resource management and corporate entrepreneurship. Human resources play an essential role in so far as they can encourage or hinder corporate entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to assess the evolution of labour-market performance in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) over the last decade, considering the robustness of the claims made in an important OECD follow-up study. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper sets up an empirical framework calibrated on an important OECD follow-up study, and suggests some ways in which the impact of unobserved heterogeneity and outliers on policy estimates can be treated in a cross-section framework. The framework applies to the data for 30 OECD countries. Findings -- The paper finds that changes in labour-market performance are inversely linked to lagged unemployment. Changes in the share of construction workers are also significant even in the presence of various kinds of policy change indicators. As far as the latter are concerned, the results highlight the role of unemployment benefits and, especially, active labour-market policies. Research limitations/implications -- The kind of policy change indicators used do not allow the adoption of panel data techniques. Practical implications -- An important policy role seems to emerge for unemployment benefit reforms and, even more so, active labour-market policies. The evidence also supports the contention that the construction sector is important for labour-market performance. Originality/value -- The paper brings to the fore novel evidence about cross-country labour-market performance at a time when this issue is of high interest for citizens and policy-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between the magnitude of job offshoring and organizational contingencies, including total number of employees, multinationality, business diversification, and relevancy of business activities. Design/methodology/approach -- Previous studies on job offshoring were restricted in descriptive and prescriptive understanding of the phenomena. Utilizing secondary data, this paper provides empirical findings on the magnitude of job offshoring from an organizational contingency perspective. Findings -- The results indicate that larger and multinational firms tend to offshore a larger number of jobs, and less diversified firms tend to offshore a higher ratio of jobs. Also, firms that offshore their core business activities are more likely to move a higher ratio of jobs to offshore destinations. Research limitations/implications -- This paper reveals some of the key organizational factors that account for the magnitude of job offshoring within American firms. Practical implications -- The findings offer insights in what the government, the society, the workforce need to prepare for future changes and the globalization of business. Originality/value -- The paper offers empirical explanations of the magnitude of job offshoring. Various governmental, private, and international institutions may rely on the findings in making political, commercial, and social policies and decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The paper seeks to empirically identify the theoretically ambiguous relationship between employer fringe benefit provision and worker job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach -- Using the five most recent waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, both pooled cross-section and fixed effects estimates explain the relationship between fringe benefits and job satisfaction. The potential endogenous relationship is also tested using a recursive bivariate probit procedure. Findings -- Fringe benefits are significant and positive determinants of job satisfaction. The potential endogeneity between fringe benefits and job satisfaction is not shown in this dataset while controlling for fixed effects does not remove the significant impact of fringe benefits. Research limitations/implications -- A limitation is the inability to control for total compensation within the estimations and control for wage changes as a result of fringe benefit provision. Practical implications -- Higher levels of worker job satisfaction, potentially resulting from fringe benefit provisions, have been linked to important productivity measures such as lower quit rates and absenteeism. Originality/value -- The paper is the first to study the relationship between fringe benefits and job satisfaction in detail while additionally testing for the endogeneity of the relationship and controlling for fixed effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Population aging, and changes in labor force participation among older adults, will have tremendous impacts on the aging workforce. Thus it is imperative that the factors that influence whether older workers will continue in their career employment, engage in bridge employment, or fully retire, should be understood better. This paper aims to focus on these issues. Design/methodology/approach -- In the present study longitudinal data for 2,869 older workers from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data set in the USA were used to examine the influence of demographic (e.g. income), nonwork related factors (e.g. marital satisfaction), and work related factors (e.g. job involvement) on late-life employment decisions over a ten year period from 1992 to 2002. Findings -- The results indicate a wide variety of factors impact employment decisions later in life. Specifically, it was found that work related factors of job involvement and schedule flexibility, as well as the nonwork related factors of certainty of retirement plans, attitudes toward retirement, and job seeking self-efficacy all distinguished the various employment statuses (e.g. completely retired, partly retirement, and not retired at all) of older workers over a ten year period. Originality/value -- This study shows that both individuals and organizations need to examine a wide variety of factors when examining bridge employment decisions at the end of workers' careers. While most studies of bridge employment use cross-sectional data, this paper uses longitudinal data to examine actual bridge employment decisions, rather that prospective desires or potentially faulty after-the-fact retrospective accounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to review and categorize the different strategies Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs have adopted towards incorporating environmental sustainability into business administration. Design/methodology/approach -- Through extensive internet research looking at colleges and universities, data are collected from primary source web sites and administrative school contacts. There are 35 institutions whose MBA programs address sustainability in some way. Each of these institutions is then organized by location, tuition cost, enrollment, year founded, accreditation, and curriculum. Findings -- Green educational strategies differentiate themselves by the size and maturity of the program. Larger, established institutions typically opt for the green major, or a dual degree, and tend to leave systematic integration of sustainability to the individual student. Newer and smaller entrants tend to either dabble in green with a few sustainability courses, or completely embrace and systemically integrate sustainability throughout the program. Research limitations/implications -- The sample focuses on US institutions and treats sustainability as an externally validated curricular choice when it may merely be an educational fad. The sample excludes potential green MBA programs that lack a strong internet presence. Practical implications -- Four archetypes are identified: dual degree, all-green, green major, and green coursework. Institutions can analyze their performances and see where they fall on the two major continua -- integration and maturity/size. Originality/value -- Green MBA programs are relatively new on the academic landscape, and this research paper is one of the first to systematically analyze and categorize them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to identify the issues in the US-Canada trade dispute over lumber trade, to analyze the US and Canada's claims and positions in this dispute, and make projections of future possibilities regarding this dispute. Design/methodology/approach -- The research method is to review published studies dealing with this dispute and gather public and private data pertaining to issues involved in this dispute. Findings -- The paper finds that the US lumber industry's claims of unfair trade by Canada's lumber industry are not supported. Canada is in compliance with World Trade Organization policies and North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)'s agreement. US antidumping and countervailing tariffs on imported Canadian lumber violate NAFTA's rules. Past and current resolutions to this dispute are temporary. Originality/value -- This paper explores the real reasons behind the dispute and evaluates the merits of the interim solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Most debates concerning outsourcing offshore in recent years have been politically oriented and based on casual observations. The purpose of this paper is to provide a clear economic understanding of the subject and to present offshoring in the context of globalization and in a more integrated world economy. Design/methodology/approach -- This paper is designed in a coherent way to provide the reader with an overview, scope, benefits, and costs of outsourcing offshore and suggest some appropriate policies to navigate in a globally interdependent and competitive environment. Findings -- Outsourcing offshore is largely irreversible and the USA or other countries must invest heavily in ways to boost domestic workers' productivity and to manage workers' transitions to more competitive employment. This paper also provides evidence that, in the long run, outsourcing offshore is beneficial for the economy as a whole. Originality/value -- This paper delineates that outsourcing offshore is consistent with the theory of comparative advantage and value maximizing objectives of firms. It also provides insights for politicians and casual observers about critical aspects of outsourcing offshore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of day labor worker centers in improving wages and working conditions of migrant casual workers in the USA. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reports the results of a survey of worker center executive directors and senior staff, with particular attention to the ways in which centers maintain wage rates, allocate jobs, and redress grievances. Findings - Day labor worker centers are now an important presence in construction industry casual labor markets, performing HRM functions that benefit employers and workers. Research limitations/implications - The research was undertaken during a time when the US construction industry was enjoying an expansion. It is unclear what a macroeconomic downturn might mean for the effectiveness of worker centers to maintain labor standards. Practical implications - Conditions of instability and the violation of basic labor standards that occur in casual labor markets in the USA exist in other countries as well. Day labor worker centers might be a model intervention that could apply in other contexts. Originality/value - The paper presents results from the first national survey of day labor worker centers. It highlights the key activities of these emerging labor market institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to outline some of the key issues related to migrant workers, work, public policy and HRM while introducing the five articles included in the special issue. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reports on the issue which is made up of articles that present research based on surveys, interviews and longitudinal census data. Findings - It is evident that high-performing economies attract migrants from lower-performing economies. However, with influxes of migrant labour there are a number of challenges that need to be met at the organisational and policy levels. Research limitations/implications - The indications are that some economies are beginning to slow and this means that migrant flows will also slow or reverse. The implications for migrant-dependent sectors and countries are not clear, although all five papers indicate areas for further research. Practical implications - Each article includes practical implications depending on the sector, skill and country being examined. Practical implications include the role of day labour centres as HR mediators between organisations and employees, the need for culturally sensitive and tailored training programs to assist professional migrants and the need for policies geared towards the assimilation of migrants and return migrants in order to assist their integration into the labour market. Originality/value - The five articles presented here represent a wide range of approaches, skill levels and sectors within the five counties examined: the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and Finland. Some, such as the US paper which includes the first national survey of day labour worker centres, present findings from a highly under-represented area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This paper aims to offer a succinct description of the Vioxx recall in 2004 and discuss the fundamental reasons why Merck got into this trouble. Design/methodology/approach -- A review of literature has been conducted 'to provide key facts about the Vioxx disaster and to shed light on the operations of its maker Merck. The Vioxx recall case is analyzed from a perspective including both company profits and public interest. Findings -- Merck aggressively marketed an unsafe drug, under the brand name Vioxx, without properly disclosing its serious side effects to consumers. After the facts were revealed, the company faced costly lawsuits, angry investors and falling profits. This case clearly shows holy a disaster can occur when a company becomes greedy and seeks undeserved profits at the expense of ethics and social responsibility. Practical implications -- Building a successful and competitive business requires managers to make decisions that balance profit and social responsibility. When business managers run their business solely for profit, problems will almost certainly occur. Such problems can cause severe damage not only to the company's customers but also to the company itself. Originality/value -- Vioxx is one of the biggest marketing mistakes in recent business history. This paper provides valuable learning insights and should be useful to corporate executives, government regulators and business scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Using three different measures, the aim of this paper is to investigate the channels through which ethnic linkages/networks affect the location choice of, migrants. Design/methodology/approach -- The authors estimate conditional logit models of the US location choice by Mexican migrants, using individual level data on Mexican-US migration collected by the Mexican Migration Project Findings -- The main finding is that the choice of Mexican immigrants to move to a region has a hump-shaped relation with the amount of fellow-Mexicans living there and with the amount of people coming from the same village. These effects are stronger for illegal immigrants and for first-time immigrants than for legal immigrants and repeat immigrants respectively. Mixed evidence is found for the effect of the total time the Mexicans from the same village have lived in the USA. Originality/value -- The paper formulates the location choice of Mexican migrants in the USA as influenced by: the number of Mexicans living in the US region; the number of Mexicans from the same village as the migrants living in the US region; and the total time the Mexicans from the same village have lived in the US region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the tragic events of 9/11 on the self-employment entry/exit decisions of native-born Hispanics. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper uses the difference-in-differences approach with native Whites as the control group. The dynamics of entry and exit decisions are examined using data from 1999-2003 CPS-ORG. Findings -- The estimates reveal a negative impact of 9/11 on Hispanics' self-employment entry decisions, which is mainly the result of less entry from the wage sector, and it has increased Hispanics' self-employment exit, which is mainly the result of increased exit to the wage sector. Research limitations/implications -- The results suggest that native Hispanics may have experienced increased job opportunities in the wake of 9/11 and hence became less likely to be "pushed" into self-employment and more likely to be "pulled" out of self-employment. The improved labor market opportunities stem from government increased sanctions against undocumented immigrants, which reduced the demand for illegal immigrant workers, many of whom are Hispanic immigrants, and that native-born Hispanics are likely to be relatively close substitutes for immigrants Hispanics. A limitation of the research is that the estimates are statistically insignificant, possibly due to the relatively small sample size. Originality/value -- Existing studies that examine the impact of 9/11 on the Hispanic's labor market outcomes are all focused on immigrants or wage-employment. The paper complements the literature by examining the impact of 9/11 on native-born Hispanics and in particular their self-employment decisions, and thus provides a more complete picture of the impact of 9/11 on Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This paper aims to examine ethnicity among highly skilled immigrants to the USA. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper examines five classic components of ethnicity -- country of birth, race, skin color, language, and religion -- among persons admitted to legal permanent residence in the USA in 2003, as principals in the three main employment categories (EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3), using data collected in the US New Immigrant Survey. Findings -- The visa categories have distinctive ethnic configurations. India dominates EB-2, European countries and Canada EB-1. The ethnicity portfolio contains more languages than religions. Language is shed before religion, and religion may not be shed at all, except among the ultra highly skilled of EB-1. Highly skilled immigrants are mostly male; they are not immune from lapsing into illegality; they have a shorter visa process than their cohortmates; smaller proportions than in the cohort overall intend to remain in the USA. Larger proportions in EB-2 and EB-3 sent remittances than in the cohort overall. A little measure of assimilation -- using dollars to describe earnings in the country of last residence, even when requested to use the country's currency -- suggests that highly skilled immigrants are more likely to "think in dollars" than their cohortmates. Research limitations/implications -- The paper is like an aerial reconnaissance. It is necessary to now go under the ledges and into the caves. Originality/value -- The data used are the first ever collected on a probability sample of new legal immigrants to the USA. It is expected that many researchers will use these data to generate valuable new knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper describes the proactive culture of support that has been effective in the regional development of a semi-rural area. Design/methodology/approach Information used in this paper came predominately from participative case studies accompanied with formal and informal discussions with principals, including members of associated economic development groups. Oral responses and observations were supported by plans, reports, pro-formas and financial statements that were available as the cases developed. Findings - Two streams of businesses contribute to development. One stream is the businesses started by local entrepreneurs. The other stream comes from individuals who relocate their businesses in particular semi-rural areas. A pro-active culture of support contributes to success in both streams. This culture is affected by the county's center for economic operations, which is described in the paper. Examples of firms from these streams are given along with services provided to them by entities in the county. Research limitations/implications Although, the procedure generally is accepted as providing adequate attention to validity, reliability, and triangulation concerns, one is always careful about accepting generality of case studies. Practical implications - The desirability of having firms locate in a specific area is a pervasive consideration in economic development. Results here indicate that location of industrial businesses in semi-rural areas comes from two streams that can be managed strategically by economic development professionals. Originality/value - The idea of a pass along approach to regional development is fundamental to the management of resources. It should be of particular value to professionals involved in these activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper's purpose is to investigate the claim that capital taxes imposed by a subnational government reduce the economic competitiveness of the geographic area in which these taxes are imposed. Design/methodology/approach A two-region, four-good, three-factor computational general equilibrium model of the USA is constructed. Simulations are performed to represent US state governments replacing wage taxes with capital taxes. Findings Household utilities rose when wage taxes were replaced by capital taxes, contradicting the conventional wisdom that capital taxes are harmful to a region's residents. Research limitations/implications--As with all computational economic models, there are simplifications in this paper's model that abstract from reality and may limit the applicability of model results to the real world. Practical implications Subnational governments need not shy away from capital taxes when funding government programs. Originality/value This paper contributes to the investigation of subnational tax incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper seeks to investigate the fast-growing problem of counterfeit prescription drugs and the steps being taken by both the private and public sectors to counteract it. Design/methodology/approach The author documents both the size and scope of the counterfeit pharmaceutical problem in the USA. The paper also looks at the steps being taken by pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers, as well as legal efforts being undertaken by federal and state governments, to counteract the growing concerns over fake medicines being introduced into the pharmaceutical supply chain, Findings The paper builds the business case for radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to be employed to track pharmaceuticals in the supply chain and counter the growing threat of counterfeit drugs. Research limitations/implications The principal limitation of this research is that it is being conducted on both a rapidly evolving problem (counterfeit pharmaceuticals) and the use of a rapidly developing technology (RFID) to counteract it. Thus, in time, the parameters of both the counterfeit drug problem and the technological solutions to it may shift dramatically. Practical implications The paper demonstrates that RFID provides the only effective method of providing "track and trace" electronic pedigrees for prescription drugs. Originality/vaine The paper is a valuable overview of the problems associated with the vulnerability of the pharmaceutical supply chain in the USA and the potential cost-effective, life-saving use of RFID to better secure prescription drugs, both in transit and in inventory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper seeks to examine the use of the cohort component method as a method of deriving replacement demand for manpower forecasting. Design/methodology/approach - The paper explains the principal concepts of replacement demand and how replacement demand has been estimated in two alternative ways: the cohort component method and using longitudinal data on individuals. The paper focuses on one of these ways, the cohort component method, and illustrates how this method can fail to capture all the relevant flows driving replacement demand. It also compares the method to the alternative approach based on individual data and discusses US and Irish results using both methods. Findings - The cohort component method is found to underestimate replacement demand significantly in many occupations. Research limitations/implications - Research estimates of replacement demand should be based on individual longitudinal data rather than the cohort component method. Originality/value - Many countries undertake some form of occupational employment forecasting including, in many cases, making estimates of replacement demand. This paper should help to clarify the appropriate choice of methodology for estimating replacement demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The paper seeks to analyse the impact of different public policies on inequality, unemployment, growth and the tax burden. Design/methodology/approach - A dynamic general equilibrium model is built, in which growth is driven by endogenous technical progress, to analyse the impacts of several policies (minimum wage, redistribution and R&D subsidies financed by an income tax). Findings - All policies except pure redistribution are better than non-intervention in terms of growth. The authors distinguish three major policy patterns. The Anglo-Saxon model is characterised by high growth, high inequality, low unemployment and a low tax burden. The Nordic model combines high growth, low inequality and low unemployment, and a high tax burden. The Continental European model puts together medium inequality and a medium tax burden, and higher long-term growth is paid for by high unemployment. Research limitations/implications - The model could be extended by the introduction of educational policy. Originality/value - The paper distinguishes three configurations that capture the main features of the developments in Anglo-Saxon countries, Scandinavian countries, and Continental European countries in the 1990s. It thereby provides a general framework to analyse and compare these experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper expands upon existing sports sponsorship 'match-up' research by offering an interview-driven, empirically grounded, 'thick' description of the decision-making processes of sports organisations in developing athlete-sponsor-team relationships. By focusing on a particular NASCAR organisation -- BAM Racing, the study offers an in-depth interpretation of the sometimes 'messy' methods employed by executives in grafting an effective, synergistic match-up. The paper concludes with a discussion on the theoretical and practical implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the high rates of economic growth of the US economy and the remarkable acceleration of productivity growth since the mid-1990s which is widely attributed to the modern information and communication technologies (ICTs). Design/methodology/approach After identifying three key factors for Solow's productivity puzzle and examining ICTs as a general purpose technology, three main channels of ICTs' impact in the economy are discussed: the first transmission channel is direct and consists of the effects generated by rapid technical progress within the ICT-capital goods producing sector. The second one is due to the increasing accumulation and application of ICT goods and services in the user sectors. ICTs' positive spillover effects comprise the third transmission channel, i.e. they lead to "disembodied" increases in efficiency in the sense of "learning by doing" in the end-user sector. Findings - The diffusion of ICTs requires investment in all industries, i.e. the improvement of competitiveness on the macro level is strongly linked to investment activities and skill qualifications on the micro level. Research limitations/implications The paper concludes with some comparisons between the US and the German economy where the acute need for infrastructure investment in East Germany in the 1990s limited the possibilities for investment in ICTs exactly at a time of high-technological dynamism at the start of an upswing of a new Kondratieff cycle. Although some comparisons with the EU are made the impact of ICTs in other countries except the USA and Germany is not discussed more intensively. Practical implications A very useful source of information for graduate students and policy makers alike on the theoretical and empirical impact of new technologies on economic development. Originality/value - This paper fulfils an information need for comparing growth in international perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - How many hours per week should workers in the USA and Germany spend at their paying jobs? The present paper aims to address this question by constructing policymakers' reaction functions capable of modelling the optimal length of working time as a function of the relevant labour market variables. Design/methodology/approach - The study is based on a counterfactual policy experiment. Given a policymaker's loss function and a structural model of the labour market alternative specifications of reaction functions are defined where the response coefficients indicate how policymakers should react to any news in the labour market in order to stabilise employment and wages. Findings - The results suggest that simple rules perform quite well and that the advantages obtained from adopting an optimal control-based rule are not so great. Moreover, the analysis emphasises the success of the wage-based rule and of the employment-based rule in the USA and Germany, respectively. Research limitations/implications - The study is based on a counterfactual policy experiment, which perhaps limits its operational value. Practical implications - Labour market authorities might stabilise employment and wages by implementing policy rules. Originality/value - The paper proposes a policy rule to capture the dynamics of the weekly working hours. According to the rule in the paper the length of the workweek is an inverse function of the deviation between the actual and potential employment level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to determine if consumers in two countries (Israel and the USA), which have experienced violence in the retail environment, would perceive risk in shopping on the internet and if so, to what extent. If there were perceptions of risk for shopping online, this paper wanted to report what differences there might be between Israeli and US consumers. Design/methodology/approach -- Surveys were distributed to 641 US consumers and to 50 Israeli consumers with a few modifications for differences in terms. The respondents ranged in age from 14 to 86. These surveys were distributed throughout the New York City tri-state area and in Israel in a convenience sample using a snowball approach. The surveys were collected by the researchers and returned for analysis. Findings -- Women in the USA do consider buying online when concerned with physical safety, while Israeli women were very specific in their consideration of the type of site. For them, international sites like eBay were considered to be a safer alternative when the country was on a high-security alert. Significantly more men are concerned about the possibilities of identity theft and financial fraud online than women while women think positively about buying online when concerned about physical. Research limitations/implications -- In future research, it would be interesting to follow this focus of social norms for a preference for group social interaction and social norms for independent or individualization and the speed with which e-commerce is infused within the culture versus using the internet to gather information or to communicate via e-mail or blogs. Practical implications -- Consumers seem to want to reduce their overall perceived risk and evaluate what actions will lead to a lower total perceived risk. There are good reasons for a store to have both an online presence and a storefront. Stores with a physical presence that are known to the shoppers are more likely to be considered as safe for shopping online. Originality/value -- This is one of the first papers to contrast consumers from a country which has had years of experience with violence in the retail environment with the consumer experiences and perceptions in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to evaluate recent corporate failures and their effect on financial statements, as well as the measures being taken to rebuild trust in corporate America. Design/methodology/approach -- Looks at how corporate governance in the USA is undergoing comprehensive reforms, particularly the significant Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Findings -- Measures to rebuild trust in corporate America are being implemented. Originality/value -- The paper is of value by showing how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is by far is the most important legislative act governing business in the beginning of the twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — This paper aims to determine the characteristics of board certification among US physicians and to test whether accounting for the expected gains to certification alters the pattern of the determinants of board certification. Design/methodology/approach — Splitting the sample into sub-samples by characteristics associated with certification/non-certification identified in a probit, the incremental gain to certification from log-earnings equations is identified. Realizing that these methods are susceptible to sample selection, correction is made for it using the Heckman approach. Using the sample selection corrected equations, the expected gain to certification among those who certify is then predicted and those who do not certify is then predicted and this difference is included as a proxy for the expected gain in the original probit to ascertain whether including the expected gain alters the determinants of certification. Findings — Accounting for the expected gain alters the pattern of the determinants of certification. Although some groups such as blacks appear less likely to certify, after accounting for their expected return to certification, they are not as less likely. This is explained in terms of the expected marginal return to certification, market structure and practice setting. Research limitations/implications — The data used in the analysis apply only to young physicians in the USA. Also, these results may be applicable only to the particular cohort used in this analysis. Practical implications — The findings help to explain the absence of minority board certified physicians within the USA. Originality/value — This paper is the first to simultaneously estimate the returns to physician board certification and the decision to obtain certification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper investigates how a firm's human resource capability can affect the deployment and effectiveness of corporate mergers and acquisitions strategy. Design/methodology/approach - Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is treated as a long-term strategic orientation based on human resource advantage rather than a tactic to pursue short-term goals. Using a sample of 267 US banking firms, the main and interaction effects of M&A intensity, HR capability, and in-state propensity on four firm performance measures were examined. Findings - The findings confirm that banking M&A could be very effective when the firm had high HR capability. Evidence was also found that HR capability had a direct impact on firm performance. Although in-state M&A strategy was in general superior to out-of-state M&A strategy, a firm with excellent HR capability might narrow the performance difference between in-state and out-of-state M&A. Research limitations/implications - An obvious drawback of using this sample of banking firms is that it raises questions about the generalizability of these findings to smaller financial firms and firms in other industries. This study considers firms having at least one M&A over a three-year period, so we should not generalize our findings to those firms preferring to use internal growth strategies or greenfield start-ups. Practical implications - The main message of this paper is that human resource capability is critical for M&A strategy to be effective. Originality/value - By extending previous investigations which showed that M&A strategy and HR capacity should be independently treated, this study highlights the critical role of internal HR capability in performance implications of M&A strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of sheepskin effects in the return to education in Japan. Design/methodology/approach - The paper provides a short description of the Japanese schooling and recruitment system. It then describes the data set and the empirical approach. Estimation results are presented for the various specifications. The baseline specification closely follows existing studies for the USA to facilitate comparability across the two countries. The paper further investigates whether there are significant firm-size differences in the estimated sheepskin effects and whether sheepskin effects disappear with increasing job tenure. Findings - The estimation results indicate that sheepskin effects explain about 50 percent of the total returns to schooling. The paper further finds that education as a signal is only important for workers in small firms with the size of these effects being similar to comparable estimates for the USA. Finally, the estimated degree effects decrease with firm tenure, in particular for small firms. These results could be explained by the particular recruitment system of large firms in Japan, which makes university diploma as a screening device unimportant for large firms and the admission policy of Japanese universities. Originality/value - By investigating the role of sheepskin effects in a labor market that differs substantially from the labor market in the USA, the paper provides additional insights to the human capital theory-screening hypothesis debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boeing Co. has been the world's leading producer of large commercial airplanes for several decades. However, in the late 1990s, Europe-based Airbus Industries competed with Boeing aggressively and captured almost fifty percent of the over-100-seat airplane market. This paper examines the battle between Boeing and Airbus, including a concise report on Air/nix' launch of its A380 superjumbo project. The paper also contains the authors' recommendations to Boeing and the U. S. government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Promotion of entrepreneurial skills is often considered as an adequate policy to enhance job creation and economic growth. However, neither the definition of entrepreneurial skills, nor the costs and benefits of such a policy are clear. The purpose of this paper is to check whether the benefits of entrepreneurial skills extent beyond self-employment. The authors denote entrepreneurial skills as those competencies that enhance the likelihood of self-employment. Then the authors analyze whether they are rewarded in wage employment. Design/methodology/approach – The authors estimate a Heckman selection model with wages in a salaried job as the main dependent variable and working in wage employment vs self-employment as the selection equation. The authors use a sample of higher education graduates from Spain, from the year 2000 interviewed in 2005 within the REFLEX survey. Findings – Results reveal that alertness to new opportunities, ability to mobilize others and knowledge of other fields are the competencies that enhance self-employment in Spain. Yet, these skills are not rewarded in a salaried job. Therefore, benefits of policies fostering entrepreneurial skills do not extend to wage employment in Spain. Research limitations/implications – The exclusion restriction used in the analysis is father’s education. The authors assume that all the effect of parental education on wages goes through education attainment of the individual and her ability (proxied by her grade in secondary education). A better proxy for ability would be desirable. Originality/value – The authors identify which competencies enhance self-employment in Spain. The authors find that these competencies are not rewarded in wage employment, so the benefits of policies promoting entrepreneurial education remain within self-employment activity only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]