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The extent to which alternative measurement units affect consumer behaviour is the subject of a handful of studies, which, however, measure this effect at an aggregate level. This presents a gap in that it is of great importance for marketing practice to understand whether the observed effect applies to all consumers to a similar extent. Investigating the product category bottled beer and applying an importance-focused post hoc segmentation, it is discovered that no measurement-unit effect occurs for brand-oriented customers. The unit of measurement in which a unit price is indicated substantially influences the preference structure for only one in five respondents. Both strategic and operational decisions with regard to unit prices should therefore not be based on an averaged market view, but on a segment-specific perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantity can be described using perceptual units (e.g. bags, pieces) or standardized units (e.g. ounces, grams). Merely making perceptual units more salient in quantity description can increase perceived economic value. Even when the objective information and numerosity are kept constant, merely presenting the perceptual unit first (e.g. Lay's Chips 14 snack bags, 14 oz. of chips in snack bags of 1 oz. each) increases willingness to pay compared to presenting the standardized unit first (e.g. Lay's Chips 14 oz. 14 oz. of chips in snack bags of 1 oz. each). This occurs because perceptual units activate more experiential evaluations whereas standardized units activate more analytical evaluations. An archival study shows that retailers charge higher unit prices for products when perceptual units are salient in quantity description. Six preregistered experiments show that even when both units are available, merely increasing the attentional salience of perceptual units increases willingness to pay. The demonstration that the mere salience of experiential information can alter subjective value offers new insights into the psychology of market prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste charging schemes can be powerful drivers for local policy efforts in reaching the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. This paper aims to provide empirical evidence on an economic lever to meet SDG 11, Target 11.6 and SDG 12, Target 12.5 by applying the polluter-pays principle to waste management that also depends on user engagement through modern incentivizing charging systems. Unit pricing schemes in municipal solid waste management are often associated with a higher percentage of separated waste, less per capita waste production, and reduced service costs. We checked whether unit pricing schemes and the percentage of the sorted waste collection were correlated, assessed whether there is an impact on per capita waste generation, examined the impact on the total cost of management, and explored how specific phases of waste management were affected. The analysis was based on an empirical sample of 1,636 municipalities, of which 506 had unit pricing schemes in place. Our results confirm that unit pricing schemes can be associated with a higher percentage of sorted waste collection and less per capita waste generation. The impact of unit pricing on the total cost of management was not found to be significant, probably due to different impacts on specific services and phases of waste management. The policy implications are as follows: it is suggested that public administrators put data-driven policy targets into government programs that are applied at an operational level by competent municipal civil servants and codified into single programming documents for contracting waste management utilities according to SDG 11 Target 11.6 and SDG 12 Target 12.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a desired and expected situation for businesses to reach profitability by increasing their sales with fair sales prices. Otherwise, unethical pricing with unfair and misleading methods harm consumers. In many countries, there are legal sanctions against sellers if such situations are detected. The aim of this study is to draw attention of the readers and increase their awareness about the unethical pricing methods and the legal regulation in Turkey. In this study, secondary sources about shelf and cash price mismatches, excessive pricing, fractional pricing, unit pricing, black market which are frequently encountered within the scope of unethical price practices, were collected by Document Analysis method and subjected to document and discourse analysis. This study indicates that consumers should be careful about price, quality, weight, label and discount while shopping. In this study, it has been revealed once again how important it is for consumers to be conscious of the products they buy. In this respect it is expected that the research will be beneficial to consumers who shop. It was pointed that the consumers should be careful about the prices of the products, not be in a hurry and should make their own inspections when they suspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scotland was the first country to implement minimum unit pricing for alcohol nationally. Minimum unit pricing aims to reduce alcohol-related harms and to narrow health inequalities. Minimum unit pricing sets a minimum retail price based on alcohol content, targeting products preferentially consumed by high-risk drinkers. This study comprised three components. Objectives: This study comprised three components assessing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related attendances in emergency departments, investigating potential unintended effects of minimum unit pricing on alcohol source and drug use, and exploring changes in public attitudes, experiences and norms towards minimum unit pricing and alcohol use. Design: We conducted a natural experiment study using repeated cross-sectional surveys comparing Scotland (intervention) and North England (control) areas. This involved comparing changes in Scotland following the introduction of minimum unit pricing with changes seen in the north of England over the same period. Difference-in-difference analyses compared intervention and control areas. Focus groups with young people and heavy drinkers, and interviews with professional stakeholders before and after minimum unit pricing implementation in Scotland allowed exploration of attitudes, experiences and behaviours, stakeholder perceptions and potential mechanisms of effect. Setting: Four emergency departments in Scotland and North England (component 1), six sexual health clinics in Scotland and North England (component 2), and focus groups and interviews in Scotland (component 3). Participants: Research nurses interviewed 23,455 adults in emergency departments, and 15,218 participants self-completed questionnaires in sexual health clinics. We interviewed 30 stakeholders and 105 individuals participated in focus groups. Intervention: Minimum unit pricing sets a minimum retail price based on alcohol content, targeting products preferentially consumed by high-risk drinkers. Results: The odds ratio for an alcohol-related emergency department attendance following minimum unit pricing was 1.14 (95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.44; p = 0.272). In absolute terms, we estimated that minimum unit pricing was associated with 258 more alcohol-related emergency department visits (95% confidence interval -191 to 707) across Scotland than would have been the case had minimum unit pricing not been implemented. The odds ratio for illicit drug consumption following minimum unit pricing was 1.04 (95% confidence interval 0.88 to 1.24; p = 0.612). Concerns about harms, including crime and the use of other sources of alcohol, were generally not realised. Stakeholders and the public generally did not perceive price increases or changed consumption. A lack of understanding of the policy may have caused concerns about harms to dependent drinkers among participants from more deprived areas. Limitations: The short interval between policy announcement and implementation left limited time for pre-intervention data collection. Conclusions: Within the emergency departments, there was no evidence of a beneficial impact of minimum unit pricing. Implementation appeared to have been successful and there was no evidence of substitution from alcohol consumption to other drugs. Drinkers and stakeholders largely reported not noticing any change in price or consumption. The lack of effect observed in these settings in the short term, and the problem-free implementation, suggests that the price per unit set (£0.50) was acceptable, but may be too low. Our evaluation, which itself contains multiple components, is part of a wider programme co-ordinated by Public Health Scotland and the results should be understood in this wider context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste charging schemes can be powerful drivers for local policy efforts in reaching the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. This paper aims to provide empirical evidence on an economic lever to meet SDG 11, Target 11.6 and SDG 12, Target 12.5 by applying the polluter-pays principle to waste management that also depends on user engagement through modern incentivizing charging systems. Unit pricing schemes in municipal solid waste management are often associated with a higher percentage of separated waste, less per capita waste production, and reduced service costs. We checked whether unit pricing schemes and the percentage of the sorted waste collection were correlated, assessed whether there is an impact on per capita waste generation, examined the impact on the total cost of management, and explored how specific phases of waste management were affected. The analysis was based on an empirical sample of 1,636 municipalities, of which 506 had unit pricing schemes in place. Our results confirm that unit pricing schemes can be associated with a higher percentage of sorted waste collection and less per capita waste generation. The impact of unit pricing on the total cost of management was not found to be significant, probably due to different impacts on specific services and phases of waste management. The policy implications are as follows: it is suggested that public administrators put data-driven policy targets into government programs that are applied at an operational level by competent municipal civil servants and codified into single programming documents for contracting waste management utilities according to SDG 11 Target 11.6 and SDG 12 Target 12.5.

Background: In 2018, Scotland implemented a 50p-per-unit minimum unit price for alcohol. Previous modelling estimated the impact of minimum unit pricing for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Decision-makers want to know the potential effects of minimum unit pricing for local authorities in England; the premise of this study is that estimated effects of minimum unit pricing would vary by locality. Objective: The objective was to estimate the potential effects on mortality, hospitalisations and crime of the implementation of minimum unit pricing for alcohol at local authority level in England. Design: This was an evidence synthesis, and used computer modelling using the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model (local authority version 4.0). This study gathered evidence on local consumption of alcohol from the Health Survey for England, and gathered data on local prices paid from the Living Costs and Food Survey and from market research companies' actual sales data. These data were linked with local harms in terms of both alcohol-attributable mortality (from the Office for National Statistics) and alcohol-attributable hospitalisations (from Hospital Episode Statistics) for 45 conditions defined by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision. These data were examined for eight age-sex groups split by five Index of Multiple Deprivation quintiles. Alcohol-attributable crime data (Office for National Statistics police-recorded crimes and uplifts for unrecorded offences) were also analysed. Setting: This study was set in 23 upper-tier local authorities in North West England, 12 upper-tier local authorities in the North East region and nine government office regions, and a national summary was conducted. Participants: The participants were the population of England aged = 18 years. Intervention: The intervention was setting a local minimum unit price. The base case is 50p per unit of alcohol. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken using minimum unit prices of 30p, 40p, 60p and 70p per unit of alcohol. Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures were changes in alcohol-attributable deaths, hospitalisations and crime. Savings in NHS costs, changes in alcohol purchasing and consumption, changes in revenue to off-trade and on-trade retailers and changes in the slope index of inequality between most and least deprived areas were also examined. Results: The modelling has proved feasible at the upper-tier local authority level. The resulting estimates suggest that minimum unit pricing for alcohol at local authority level could be effective in reducing alcohol-attributable deaths, hospitalisations, NHS costs and crime. A 50p minimum unit price for alcohol at local authority level is estimated to reduce annual alcohol-related deaths in the North West region by 205, hospitalisations by 5956 (-5.5%) and crimes by 8528 (-2.5%). These estimated reductions are mostly due to the 5% of people drinking at high-risk levels (e.g. men drinking > 25 pints of beer or five bottles of wine per week, women drinking > 17 pints of beer or 3.5 bottles of wine per week, and who spend around £2500 per year currently on alcohol). Model estimates of impact are bigger in the NorthWest and North East regions than nationally because, currently, more cheap alcohol is consumed in these regions and because there are more alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations in these areas. A 30p minimum unit price has estimated effects that are > 90% lower than those of a 50p minimum unit price, and a 40p minimum unit price has estimated effects that are > 50% lower. Health inequalities are estimated to reduce with greater health gains in the deprived areas, where more cheap alcohol is purchased and where there are higher baseline harms. Limitations: The approach requires synthesis of evidence from multiple sources on alcohol consumption; prices paid; and incidence of diseases, mortality and crime. Price elasticities used are from previous UK analysis of price responsiveness rather than specific to local areas. The study has not estimated 'cross-border effects', namely travelling to shops outside the region. Conclusions: The modelling estimates suggest that minimum unit pricing for alcohol at local authority level would be an effective and well-targeted policy, reducing inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food marketing is facing increasing challenges in using portion size (e.g., “supersizing”) as a marketing tool. Marketers have used portion size to attract customers and encourage purchase, but social agencies are expressing concern that larger portion sizes encourage greater consumption, which can cause excessive consumption and obesity. This article addresses two questions that are central to this debate: (1) How much effect does portion size have on consumption? and (2) Are there limits to this effect? A meta-analytic review reveals that, for a doubling of portion size, consumption increases by 35% on average. However, the effect has limits. An extended analysis shows that the effect of portion size is curvilinear: as portions become increasingly larger, the effect diminishes. In addition, although the portion-size effect is widespread and robust across a range of individual and environmental factors, the analysis shows that it is weaker among children, women, and overweight individuals, as well as for nonsnack food items and in contexts in which more attention is given to the food being eaten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Public health policy development is subject to a range of stakeholders presenting their arguments to influence opinion on the best options for policy action. This paper compares stakeholders' positions in the discourse networks of two pricing policy debates in the United Kingdom: minimum unit pricing for alcohol (MUP) and the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL). Design Discourse analysis was combined with network visualization to create representations of stakeholders' positions across the two policy debates as they were represented in 11 national UK newspapers. Setting: United Kingdom. Observations: For the MUP debate 1924 statements by 152 people from 87 organizations were coded from 348 articles. For the SDIL debate 3883 statements by 214 people from 175 organizations were coded from 511 articles. Measurements Network analysis techniques were used to identify robust argumentative similarities and maximize the identification of network structures. Network measures of size, connectedness and cohesion were used to compare discourse networks. Findings The networks for both pricing debates involve a similar range of stakeholder types and form clusters representing policy discourse coalitions. The SDIL network is larger than the MUP network, particularly the proponents' cluster, with more than three times as many stakeholders. Both networks have tight clusters of manufacturers, think‐tanks and commercial analysts in the opponents' coalition. Public health stakeholders appear in both networks, but no health charity or advocacy group is common to both. Conclusion: A comparison of the discourse in the UK press during the policy development processes for minimum unit pricing for alcohol and the soft drinks industry levy suggests greater cross‐sector collaboration among policy opponents than proponents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the unit price of a product, marketers of packaged groceries generally either raise the retail price or reduce the package size. We describe two unit price increase tactics in which the retail price and package size of a product simultaneously increase or decrease. Five studies, including a field study conducted in a grocery store, show that when unit price information is available, consumer decisions are influenced more by changes in both retail price and unit price than by changes in package size. Consumers thus respond more favorably to simultaneous decreases than to simultaneous increases. We further show that when unit price information is unavailable, consumers focus on the observed retail price increase for simultaneous increases, whereas they tend to estimate the unit price increase for simultaneous decreases. Since both forms of processing result in the cognition of an increase in "price," consumers respond similarly to the two tactics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unit prices help consumers identify the cheapest product. Yet, guidelines for their implementation vary considerably. Depending on regional regulations, retailers have substantial leeway in choosing a measure in which the unit price is expressed (e.g., per kilogramme vs. per wash load). Sometimes retailers even apply different measures for one product category at a time, which might be confusing for consumers. This study investigates the impact of consistent unit price measures on processing fluency of price information and product choice. The results of three studies reveal that the effectiveness of unit prices heavily depends on the consistency level. The findings suggest that consistency enhances processing fluency and makes it easier for consumers to compare prices. In addition, it unfolds positive effects for the retailer, as it leads to higher satisfaction and repatronage intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When consumers consider a package (multi-item) price, which presentation order is more appealing, price first ($29 for 70 items) or item quantity first (70 items for $29)? Will this depend on package size (larger [70 items] vs. smaller [7 items]) or unit price calculation difficulty (higher [$29 for 70 items] vs. lower [$20 for 50 items])? Why? Three studies demonstrate how presentation order affects package evaluations and choice under different levels of package size and unit price calculation difficulty. The first piece of information becomes salient and affects evaluations when packages are larger and unit price calculations are difficult (i.e., price item [item-price] makes price [items] salient, negatively [positively] affecting evaluations). These effects do not persist with smaller packages or easier unit price calculations. Our findings contribute to several literatures (e.g., numerosity, computational difficulty) but primarily to the order effects literature and have implications for measurement and practice (e.g., pricing). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a strategy for utilizing higher moments, variance risk premia, and conditioning information efficiently, and hence improve on the variance bounds computed by Hansen and Jagannathan (1991); Gallant, Hansen, and Tauchen (1990); and Bekaert and Liu (2004). Our bounds reach existing bounds when nonlinearities in returns are not priced. We also use higher moments, variance risk premia, and conditioning information to provide distance measures that improve on the Hansen and Jagannathan (1997) distance measure. Empirical results indicate that when accounting for the impact of higher moments and variance risk premia, the existing pricing kernels have difficulty in explaining returns on the assets and derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To internalize pollution externalities into household waste generation, Unit Pricing Systems (UPS) have been adopted worldwide. This paper evaluates the causal effects of a UPS on the disposal of municipal solid waste in Trento, Italy. Using a unique panel dataset of monthly waste generation in Italian municipalities, we employ the synthetic control method, which allows us to account for possible time-varying effects of unobservables. Our results show that the policy was effective, with a significant decrease of the priced waste stream, unsorted waste, by 37.5%. This effect seems to be largely driven by behavioral changes towards waste avoidance (−8.6 %) and possibly by a smaller increase in recycling (+6.1 %). By comparing these results to those obtained by a difference-in-differences approach, we show that failing to account for time-varying effects of unobservables may lead to a mismeasurement of policy effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hotelling Valuation Principle (HVP) implies that the unit value of an exhaustible natural resource can be written as a function of its current price, net of extraction costs; other variables such as interest rates have no additional explanatory power. The results of earlier tests using data from 1979-1981 strongly support the HVP. This paper presents a series of follow-up tests using time-series cross-section data covering the period August 1981 to December 1983. Because the variance of petroleum prices in this period was substantially less than in the earlier period, the follow-up sample proved generally noninformative. The sample also contains some observations on oil and gas royalty trusts. Tests of the HVP using these trust data yielded generally satisfactory results, although—given the limited sample size—the results must be viewed with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses 1970's U.S. research relating to unit price posting. Unit pricing is designed to eliminate confusion over price calculation, particularly for different package sizes. Preliminary studies indicate that an organized list of unit prices significantly alters consumer purchasing patterns. A strong perception of product quality was found to nullify the effects of unit pricing. The research showed that there are several reasons to adopt unit price lists including customer goodwill. Consumers who perceived savings were found to respond favorably to unit pricing.

How do consumers decide how many units to buy? Whereas prior research on individual consumers' purchases has focused primarily on purchase incidence and brand choice, the authors focus on the psychological process behind the purchase quantity decision. The authors propose that a simple anchoring and adjustment model describes how consumers make purchase quantity decisions and suggests how point-of-purchase promotions can increase sales. Two field experiments and two lab studies show that anchor-based promotions presented as multiple-unit prices, purchase quantity limits, and suggestive selling--can increase purchase quantities. The final study shows that consumers who retrieve internal anchors can counter these anchor-based promotions effectively. Firms might receive net benefits from anchor-based promotions depending on whether increases in unit sales reflect increased category consumption, brand switching, variety switching, store switching, or stockpiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Price is one of the most important and least understood factors of marketing. For a significant number of goods and services, price is established by the technique of competitive bidding. In many instances such competitive bidding occurs after the items have been priced under monopolistic conditions. A study of 356 items which had been priced under sole source and then under competitive conditions showed that the introduction of competition is associated with a reduction in unit price of between 10.8 and 17.5%, depending on the size of the order. The number of units purchased also has a significant effect on price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When unit prices were posted on separate shelf tags in a supermarket, consumer expenditures decreased by 1%. When unit prices were displayed also on an organized list, consumer savings were 3%. In addition, the list format caused a 5% increase in the market shares of store brands. The benefits to both consumers and retailers justify the cost of providing unit price information on a widespread basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the replication of a 1970 Safeway supermarket unit pricing study conducted in Washington, D.C. shortly after the introduction of unit pricing into supermarkets. The circumstances and research methodology of the original study and the replication study conducted in 1980 using the same two stores is presented. The overall awareness, comprehension, and usage results of both studies are compared, and the implications of the studies are discussed in terms of the effectiveness of unit pricing and consumer information programs.

The article examines flexible price agreements (FPAs) as a method of reducing financial risk. A survey was conducted of purchasing agents and the results showed they preferred a fixed price. They were asked about price at time of delivery, predetermined prices with the right to renegotiate and cost plus pricing in addition to fixed pricing. The price escalator clause is also discussed. The purchasers agreed that pricing varies on the strength of the supplier. Of all the options, the least favored was cost plus pricing.

This study examines the unit (stock) price and volume behavior of master limited partnerships (MLP) around the ex-dividend day. Since the dividends of MLPs are not taxable to the unitholder, tax based hypotheses predict no abnormal unit movements around the ex-day. Significant positive excess returns and volume are found before the ex-dividend day, and significant negative excess returns are found on the ex-dividend day. The findings which are not significantly impacted by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 suggest ex-day stock movements are not solely a function of investor marginal tax rates or corporate trading behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unit-pricing, as a retail price-reporting policy, is intended to aid the economy-minded shopper. This article presents a field experiment which investigated the potential value of a unit-pricing system to such a consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does unit-price information alter purchase decisions of consumers in supermarkets? Will the change to a unit-pricing system create burdensome costs for retailers? The authors report the results of unit-pricing experiments and assess the benefits of unit pricing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of unit pricing in food stores makes it easier for shoppers to choose cheaper items. Low-income shoppers, however, do not appear to make significant use of unit pricing in contrast to the middle-income and high-income shoppers who do. The explanation could lie in their lower ability to understand the unit price labeling system making it difficult to capture the benefits of its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study examined changes in consumer preference for different package sizes when price-per-unit information was explicitly provided. When given such information, consumers switched more heavily to the larger sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on inventory calculation methods. Inventory calculation can be looked at as a set of linear transformations or functions which act as maps for the appropriate price and quantity vectors into a corresponding set of valuation scalars. Elementary matrix operations are used to examine inventory calculations. Purchase transactions can be represented on a matrix with points suggesting quantity and unit price. The quantities of purchases by years can be represented on a diagonal matrix with the fiscal year represented as its main diagonal.

The study presented in this paper explores and examines the role of grassroots environmental organisations in promoting schemes aimed at reducing the impact of waste production at a local level. Focusing on the Spanish municipality of Esporles, in the Balearic island of Mallorca, the authors investigate how participatory forums can increase involvement and engagement among residents in the implementation of waste management policies. Esporles introduced and implemented the first unit-pricing (UP) scheme in Spain, making the municipality a countrywide icon of environmental-friendly urban transformation. Due to its success, the scheme quickly became a model for other Spanish municipalities with regard to designing and developing local waste management solutions. Findings from this study demonstrate how increasing participation and involvement of local residents in public consultations and debates can effectively support the design and implementation of more sustainable waste management policies. In addition, findings illustrate how local authorities can empower residents in transforming urban environment through changing their behaviours and practices towards waste management. The role of grassroots environmental organisations appears important with regard to developing innovative instruments and delivering effective environmental policies to address waste management at a local level, and to achieve sustainable urban transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental taxes are often underexploited. This paper analyses the effectiveness of a garbage tax, assessing its effects on multiple outcomes as well as its acceptability. We study how a Supreme Court decision, mandating the Swiss Canton of Vaud to implement a tax on garbage, affects garbage production and beliefs about the tax. We adopt a difference-in-differences approach exploiting that parts of Vaud already implemented a garbage tax before the mandate. Pricing garbage by the bag (PGB) is highly effective, reducing unsorted garbage by 40%, increasing recycling of aluminium and organic waste, without causing negative spillovers on adjacent regions. The effects of PGB seem very persistent over time. Our assessment of PGB looks very favourable. It may surprise that PGB is not implemented more often. Hence, we look at people's perceptions. We find that people are very concerned with PGB ex ante . Public opposition seems to be the main obstacle to PGB. However, implementing PGB reduces concerns with effectiveness and fairness substantially. After implementing PGB, people accept 70% higher garbage taxes compared to before PGB. We argue that environmental taxes could be much more diffused, if people had the chance to experience their functioning and correct their beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A municipal solid waste fee has become an important means for the implementation of the waste management rendered by the government all around the world. Based on the ecological environmental compensation theory, this article constructs an analytical framework of waste charging from the perspective of public policy evaluation, to carry on the comprehensive comparison and analysis to the operability, feasibility, validity, rationality, and universality of the two modes of waste charging: Ration charge and unit-pricing modes. The results indicate that in the cities with large amounts of waste production, long time of waste charging, and high disposal rate, pilot projects should be carried out; and the government needs to improve the construction of associated laws and regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a theoretical, and experimental analysis addressing the issue of premium variations on the demand for insurance. Accounting for risk attitudes, our contribution disentangles the decision to buy insurance from the conditional demand (the non-null demand for insurance). Partially validating our theoretical predictions, our experimental results show that, when it has an effect, a non-massive increase in the premium (either in the unit price or the fixed cost) exclusively results in an exit from the insurance market (the risk lovers first, then the risk averters). Moreover, our study highlights a key feature of risk-seeking agents' behavior; they exhibit behavior consistent with gambling and opportunism rather than a lack of interest in insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the long- and short-run relationship between Australian house and unit prices across all capital cities over the period December 1995 to June 2015. We find that house and unit prices are cointegrated and, based on the results of Granger causality and generalised impulse responses, that house prices significantly influence unit prices across all cities. However, bi-directional causality (responses) exists only for major capital cities with the exception of Brisbane. We also, for the first time, apply self-excited threshold models to explore the complex interplay between house and unit prices in Australia. We find that when the market for units is self-excited, or bullish, the positive effects of house prices on unit prices are noticeably larger than otherwise. There is a varying degree of herd mentality in the Australian property market with Sydney and Darwin being the most and least ‘excitable’ capital cities, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effect of delivery performance on customer transactions. We propose that different delivery performance dimensions (on-time delivery rate, early delivery inaccuracy, late delivery inaccuracy, and delivery speed) have varying impacts on future customer transaction quantities and unit prices. We further explore the effect of customer types on the proposed relationships. Trade customers (resellers) and Original Equipment Manufacturer ( OEM) customers generally have different operational needs for deliveries and therefore may value these metrics differently. Using instrumental variable regression, we analyze a proprietary transaction-level dataset. The information was compiled by a Fortune 500 manufacturer from its Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning ( HVAC) control product supply chain, consisting of the manufacturer and its customers. The results indicate that measures of delivery performance affect customer transaction quantity and unit price differently. Furthermore, these impacts can differ significantly between trade customers and OEM customers. These findings provide fine-grained insights about tuning delivery capabilities to increase sales volume or boost price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the use of cartographic and statistical methods in the analysis of local real property market. The analysis covered the area of Rabka-Zdrój city. The database consists of plots of undeveloped land traded between 2010 and 2015. The structure of transactions, spatial distribution of unit prices and the impact on size of land on its price, depending on a category of transactional real estate, have been examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minimum unit pricing (MUP) alcohol policy debate has been informed by the Sheffield model, a study which predicts impacts of different alcohol pricing policies. This paper explores the Sheffield model's influences on the policy debate by drawing on 36 semi-structured interviews with policy actors who were involved in the policy debate. Although commissioned by policy makers, the model's influence has been far broader than suggested by views of 'rational' policy making. While findings from the Sheffield model have been used in instrumental ways, they have arguably been more important in helping debate competing values underpinning policy goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a commentary on the paper "The Pricing of Oil & Gas: Some Further Results." The author notes that the greatest value of this research comes from investigating the time series properties of VALUE and HOTEL. He explains that measurement issues which persist through time will disappear with first differencing, and those which remain will be drowned out by a big movement in prices. The author observed an error in the cross-sections where the correlations between current costs and future costs increased. He believes that this correlation may not be present in oil royalty trusts, because of the manner in which reserves are chosen to be put in trusts.

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