Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of wasta in repatriates’ perceptions of a breach to the psychological contract: a Saudi Arabian case study

This study examines the influence of a national cultural dimension, specifically a strong orientation towards collectivism/reliance on network relationships, referred to as ‘wasta’, on the way in which psychological contracts form and change in a Saudi organisation. Specifically, it focuses upon how the psychological contract is perceived to have been breached by repatriates because of the role that wasta plays in shaping formal and informal HR practices pre- and post-assignment. The analysis demonstrates that prior to international assignment, wasta was taken for granted and only implicitly acknowledged as influencing selection criteria for assignments and individuals’ expectations and obligations associated with their psychological contract. Once repatriated, wasta was foregrounded and perceived as highly problematic in terms of career advancement. This shaped repatriates’ perceptions that their psychological contract had been breached, influencing their intentions to leave. These findings suggest that the psychological contract can be viewed as highly context-specific, as well as a person-centred phenomenon. We consider the implications of our research in terms of the influence of national cultural characteristics on individual’s perceptions of breaches to the psychological contract and highlight the possible implications generally for Saudi Arabia, which is aiming to be less reliant on foreign labour.
Contribution of coaching, as part of the blended leadership programme, towards a leader's development and leadership development

The aim of this research assignment was to determine the contribution coaching has made, as part of a blended leadership development programme, towards the development of individual leaders and leadership development at Transnet Freight Rail. This was aimed at identifying ways in which the coaching component may be improved. The research was undertaken with a group of highpotential leaders, at an operating division of the parastatal company Transnet, in South Africa. A qualitative research methodology was used and, within that framework, a phenomenological case study design. The research data was gathered, using semi-structured interviews, from 13 participants who received external coaching as part of the blended programme. The findings confirm that coaching, combined with blended leadership development activities, has a synergistic and positive impact on the individual and the organisation, enhancing both the human and social capital at Transnet Freight Rail. The participants expressed a multitude of benefits from receiving coaching: improvements in various aspects of their personal, social and cognitive competence, as well as assisting in their learning, retention and application of the other modules of the blended programme. The coaching intervention has assisted participants in enhancing and applying their own coaching skills within the organisation. This was accomplished by their experience of having been coached, by using the example from the sessions and through the coaching course attended as part of the blended programme. The findings in this research assignment suggest that coaching is making a positive contribution to leadership development at TFR by strengthening the leadership capacity, developing a coaching culture, improving strategic thinking when problem-solving, improving decision-making, improving productivity, increasing employee morale, and improving the individual's performance thereby benefiting the organisation. Coaching has also resulted in greater teamwork, broader understanding of the business, retention of talented employees and has demonstrated to employees that the organisation is committed to developing its staff and helping them to improve their skills.
Is Breaking Up Still Hard to Do? – Policy Retrenchment and Housing Policy Change in a Path Dependent Context

Abstract Current research on Nordic housing policy shows how a path‐dependent approach can explain differences in housing regimes across the Nordic countries. The aim of this article is to present an argument of how housing policy change can be grasped within this path‐dependent approach to housing policy. The claim is that the argument behind “everyday retrenchment” made by Jacob Hacker can be elaborated further and then used as a framework to analyse path‐dependent housing policy change. Three hypotheses on housing policy change are presented in this paper; these should be further tested in future research. The main emphasis is placed on the theoretical level; however empirical examples from the present retrenchment phase in third‐sector housing in Denmark are also included in the article.
Repellent Efficacy of Formic Acid and the Abdominal Secretion of Carpenter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Against Amblyomma Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract Formic acid is a substance produced by some ants for defense, trail marking, and recruitment. Some animals are known to rub ants or other arthropods on parts of their plumage or fur to anoint themselves with released substances. A recent study with a semifree-ranging group of capuchin monkeys, Cebus apella L. , in the Tietê Ecological Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil, an area of occurrence of the tick species Amblyomma cajennense (F.), revealed that “anting” with carpenter ants, Camponotus rufipes F. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), occurs frequently, especially during the A. cajennense subadult season. Based on these observations, we tested the repellent effect of the formic acid and the ants themselves against A. cajennense and Amblyomma incisum Neumann nymphs, and Amblyomma parvum Aragão adult ticks in the laboratory. The results revealed a significant repellent effect of formic acid and ant secretion, and a significant duration of the repellent effect. The results suggest that the anting behavior of capuchin monkeys, and other vertebrates, may be related with repellence of ticks and other ectoparasites.
Lotteries, Group Size, and Public Good Provision

We analyze the effect of group size on public good provision under the Morgan (2000) lottery mechanism. For a pure public good, the lottery performs quite well as public good provision is found to increase in group size, even when the lottery prize is held constant. By contrast, for fully rival public goods, per capita provision is found to decrease in group size, even when the lottery prize is proportional to group size. Further, the per capita level of provision will approach zero when group size is sufficiently large.
The Long-Lasting Effects of Family Background: A European Cross-Country Comparison

This paper investigates how and to what extent the association between family socio-economic status (SES) during childhood and old age health, income and cognition varies across 11 European countries. It uses the Survey on Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and SHARELIFE, which collects retrospective information on respondents’ family backgrounds during their childhood. We also analyze which factors lead to intergenerational persistence of human capital by accounting for childhood health and school performance, education and labor market outcomes. The results show a strong relationship between family SES during childhood and old age outcomes and a large cross-country heterogeneity. Education appears as the main channel for this gradient and explains most of the estimated cross-country heterogeneity. Moreover, we show evidence of a strong correlation between income inequality and our estimates of intergenerational persistence of human capital.
Accountability of NGOs in Bangladesh A critical overview

NGOs in Bangladesh have been recognized as effective change agents in the socio-economic arena throughout the world. Their contributions in micro credit, non-formal education and primary health care are widely known. NGOs play a significant role in society. NGO accountability, as a result, has become a critical issue. NGO accountability in Bangladesh has been examined here in relation to patrons, clients and themselves. Of the three relationships only accountability to patrons is in a near satisfactory state. Accountability to clients is handicapped by lack of opportunities of beneficiaries to participate meaningfully in NGO policy making. Accountability to themselves is adversely affected due to the adherence to a strictly hierarchical system and the influence of founding and charismatic NGO leaders.
Approximate supervisory control of nonlinear systems with outputs

Existing results concerning control design of purely continuous or hybrid systems with complex logic-based specifications assume full information of the state, or of its quantization, which may be not available in concrete applications. In this paper we consider the more realistic scenario where the controller cannot access the state of the plant but can only access a quantized measurement of its output. We focus on a control problem where the plant is described by a possibly unstable continuous-time nonlinear system with outputs, the controller is dynamic, digital and quantized, and takes as input a (quantized) measurement of the output of the plant, and the specification is expressed in terms of regular languages. The solution to the control problem is based on the use of formal methods. A finite states system approximating the plant is first derived which is then used to find the solution to the control problem.
Expertise and organizational boundaries: the varying roles of Australian management consultants

The diversity of management consulting has long been recognized by mainstream commentators, but the more critical literature often overlooks this feature. This article explores different consulting roles by developing a typology based on two dimensions of consulting work: the nature of the knowledge base that consultants purport to use in their work, and the extent to which the boundaries between consultant and client are permeable. Based on interviews with a cross-section of Australian consultants and clients, features of four main consulting roles are outlined. Key developments that are highlighted include the increasingly structured nature of much consulting work and the growth of client-consultant relationships based on social rather than purely market exchange criteria. It is shown that the diversity of consulting roles has developed over time in response to both client demands and consultant initiatives. The analysis raises questions about the nature of expertise and the structure of organizations.
The Impact of Disclosures of Internal Control Weaknesses and Remediations on Investors' Perceptions of Earnings Quality†

We hypothesize and find that firms making SOX-mandated disclosures of material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting (ICOFR) exhibit lower investor-perceived earnings quality (IPEQ) than nondisclosers. We measure IPEQ using e-loading, a market-returns–based representation of earnings quality developed by Ecker, Francis, Kim, Olsson, and Schipper (2006). Firms do not exhibit decreases in IPEQ after initially disclosing material weaknesses. This is consistent with investors having anticipated ICOFR strength based on observable firm characteristics. However, firms exhibit increases in IPEQ after receiving their first clean audit reports that confirm the remediation of previously disclosed weaknesses. This indicates that, although investors do not find initial weakness disclosures to be incrementally informative, SOX motivates firms to remediate weak controls and provides a venue for credible remediation disclosures, thus enhancing investors’ perception of financial reporting reliability. These findings are consistent with the existence of regulatory benefits associated with SOX’s internal control disclosure and audit requirements.
The multinational enterprise

Notes on Contributors. Introduction. Part 1: The Multinational Enterprise: Some General Considerations 1. The Multinational Enterprise: The Background. John H Dunning. 2. The Multinational Enterprise in a Multiple Currency World Robert Z Aliber. Comment John H Dunning. 3. The Multinational Enterprise and the Transfer of Technology Keith Pavitt. Comment Christopher Freeman. Part 2: Labour and the Multinational Enterprise 4. Industrial Relations, Labour Disputes and Labour Utilization in Foreign-Owned Firms in the UK Max Steuer and John Gennard. Comment Richard E Caves. 5. Multinational Companies and Trade Union Interests David Lea. Comment David Barran. Part 3: Trade and the Balance of Payments 6. The Multinational Enterprise: Trade Flows and Trade Policy David Robertson. 7. The Chemical Industry: A Case Study J F Sudworth. Comment Lionel Needleman. Part 4: Direct Foreign Investment and the Less Developed Countries 8. The State and Multinational Enterprises in Less Developed Countries Edith Penrose. 9. Costs and Benefits of Multinational Enterprises in Less Developed Countries Paul Streeten. Comment J P Hayes. Part 5: Governments and the Multinational Enterprise 10. The Internationalization of Capital and the Nation State Robin Murray. 11. Governmental Policy Alternatives and the Problem of International Sharing Jack Behran. Comment Gerard Curzon. Part 6: The Multinational Company in Europe 12. The Multinationally-Owned Company: A Case Study Michael Whitehead. Comment H W Wertheimer. Part 7: Summary and Conclusions. 13. Summary of Discussion David Robertson. 14. Concluding Comments John Heath. Index.
Effects of Investment Incentives on Stock Market Perfomance: Survey of Listed Firms in Kenya

Stock market perfomance has not improved despite investment incentives. Researchers in the field of Finance have not been able to clear the air on the question whether stock market incentives are a gift or a motivator; sometimes stock market perfomance increases when incentives decrease and sometimes even decrease when more incentives are given. The study objectives were to determine the relationship between incentives (tax, liduidity, growth and visibility) and stock market perfomance and to again investigate the moderating effects of investors' perception on the stock market perfomance. This study adopted a descriptive research design with a study population of 61 listed firms in NSE. A sample of 150 respondents was picked through Stratified random sampling technique. The study used both primary and secondary data sources in gathering data for analysis. Data collection involved self-administration of questionnaires. The findings from this study reveal that investors' perceptions affects stock market performance more than the stock market incentives. Furthur, Incentives were viewed as gift and not a motivator for investors' decisions at NSE. An identical study on the effects of incentives on perfomance of stock markets using time series models such the autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) models, with its extension to generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) respectively which accommodate the dynamics of conditional heteroscedasticity (the changing variance nature of the data) should be conducted to determine if the results will be identical. Kenya being a developing nation, the findings of this study will be generalized to the state of incentives in the international context of developing nations.
"The Myth of the North American City" Reconsidered

Urban political economists observe that growth seeking dominates Canadian and U.S. local governance. Others believe Canada's collectivist culture exempts cities from the privatistic policies common in the United States. The authors argue that local constitutional regimes (the legal definition of cities, rules about private property, and federalism) best explain patterns of governance. Inducements shape urban development policy in both countries, but U.S. cities generally compete independently for growth, whereas provinces more often direct Canadian urban growth strategies. Provinces may reduce interlocal competition, but they may also move the locus of urban growth politics upward or stifle progressive initiatives.
Cross-Sectional Variation in Common Stock Returns

An analysis of the variations in annual retumrs of NYSE-listed stocks over the years 1926-1989, emphasizing the interquartile range in these retumrs, appears to convey four messages. The most consequential is that cross-sectional variations in common stock returns over a year are large. The implication is that it matters greatly which issues an investor holds. For investors who choose not to emphasize issue selection in their investment policy, diversification is critical. For those who do attempt to pick stocks, the rewards can be very high, but the risks and negative consequences of poor selections are substantial.
Comparative effectiveness and safety of empagliflozin on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Background Based on a single placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, empagliflozin is licensed to reduce cardiovascular death in diabetes and comorbid cardiovascular disease. Methods We examined the comparative effectiveness of empagliflozin on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in type 2 diabetes. We conducted random-effects direct frequentist meta-analyses of aggregate data and appraised the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Our search in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, and PharmaPendium up to May 2017 identified 11 meta-analyses, multiple publications, and unpublished data from 29 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results Empagliflozin reduces all-cause mortality [relative risk (RR) of death, 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.58-0.82; number needed to treat (NNT) to postpone mortality in one patient, 39; 95% CI: 26-79; 1 RCT of 7,020 patients) in patients with but not without (RR, 0.90; 95% CI: 0.36-2.23; 14 RCTs of 7,707 patients) established cardiovascular disease when compared with placebo. Empagliflozin reduces cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.62; 95% CI: 0.50-0.78; NNT, 45; 95% CI: 30-90; 1 RCT of 7,020 patients) in patients with but not without (RR, 0.98; 95% CI: 0.29-3.33; 10 RCTs of 5,429 patients) established cardiovascular disease when compared with placebo. There are no differences in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and all-cause mortality between empagliflozin and metformin (4 RCTs of 1,344 patients), glimepiride (1 RCT of 1,549 patients), linagliptin (2 RCTs of 1,348 patients), or sitagliptin (3 RCTs of 1,483 patients). Two network meta-analyses concluded that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, mostly due to empagliflozin, decrease all-cause and cardiovascular mortality but increase the risk of nonfatal stroke, genital infection, and volume depletion. Conclusions We conclude that empagliflozin reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with established cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Sparse direct evidence suggests no difference in mortality between empagliflozin and metformin, glimepiride, linagliptin, or sitagliptin. Long-term comparative safety needs to be established.
Public Policies Against Global Warming

Judged by the principle of intertemporal Pareto optimality, insecure property rights and the greenhouse effect both imply overly rapid extraction of fossil carbon resources. A gradual expansion of demand-reducing public policies -- such as increasing ad-valorem taxes on carbon consumption or increasing subsidies for replacement technologies -- may exacerbate the problem as it gives resource owners the incentive to avoid future price reductions by anticipating their sales. Useful policies instead involve sequestration, afforestation, stabilization of property rights and emissions trading. Among the public finance measures, constant unit carbon taxes and source taxes on capital income for resource owners stand out.
Influence, Elections, and the Value of a Vote in the U.S. House of Representatives

This paper investigates the extent to which interest groups use their campaign contributions to affect election outcomes as opposed to influencing candidate policy choices directly. It also reveals how much value interest groups place on gaining one more favorable vote in the House of Representatives. The empirical estimates suggest that gaining influence dominates helping favored candidates win the election as a means to affect defense spending policies. Political action committees differ in interesting ways, however, with the more ideological peace groups placing greater emphasis on changing electoral outcomes than do investor lobbies representing the defense industry.
Female gout: clinical and laboratory features.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare clinical and laboratory features of gout in men and women. METHODS Twenty-seven women and 31 men with gout underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation and review of medical records. RESULTS Disease onset in women was a mean of 7 years later than in men. There were no differences between women and men regarding systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, chronic renal failure, renal stones, ischemic heart disease, or heavy alcohol consumption. Tophaceous gout was similar in both groups, although female gender seemed to be protective against risk of developing tophi (odds ratio: 0.449; 95% confidence interval: 0.151-1.330). Podagra was more common in men, and women showed a higher frequency of upper limb joint involvement. Most patients had low urate excretion rates. Achieving disease control was similar in women and men. Of the 8 women who were premenopausal at disease onset, 7 had secondary causes for gout; 5 of the 8 had high serum urate despite treatment. CONCLUSION Gout in women had a later onset and higher frequency of upper limb joint involvement in comparison to men. Those with premenopausal onset tended to be refractory to standard therapy.
Improving Teaching and Its Evaluation: A Survey of Political Science Departments

The Department of Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University has long viewed undergraduate instruction as a critical element of its mission, and teaching effectiveness has been a key criterion in its hiring decisions over the past several years. However, as with many departments in the United States, VCU's political science department has used few systematic methods of evaluating and improving the quality of instruction. It was fortuitous that a 1994 grant from the University's Committee on Roles and Rewards provided both the incentive and the means to address this problem. While a variety of activities were undertaken under the grant to improve instruction, the principal activity was a mail survey of 140 randomly selected political science departments in U.S. colleges and universities. There were two broad