bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regeneration of friction pairs in internal combustion engines by the metal cladding materials
Authors: Padgurskas Juozas
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate the regularities and longevity of the recovering without takedown of the friction pairs in internal combustion engines using the lubricants with metal cladding materials (MCM).

Design/methodology/approach

Recovering of friction pairs of internal combustion engines by MCM was investigated using field experiments. Four automobiles were investigated. The wear of those details was evaluated according to the compression in the cylinders. The influence of MCM on the amount of toxic materials (carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons) in the exhaust gas was evaluated after measurements with a gas analyser.

Findings

Using MCM can recover on average 60 per cent of lost compression ΔPm. MCM decreases compression dispersion among separate cylinders of the engine. Compression of recovered engine cylinders decreases according to logarithmic function. Increment of cylinders' compression ΔPd decreased on average 40‐50 per cent after 10,000 km car run. The recovering of the details of a cylinder‐piston group with MCM decreases the emission of toxic exhaust gas to the environment.

Research limitations/implications

No laboratory investigations of MCM regeneration of friction pairs were performed which could evaluate the influence of different factors on the regeneration quality.

Practical implications

Investigations on the use of MCM for recovering the cylinder‐piston details of engines show the expedience in using such materials during periodic technical service of engines when the lubricants are changed.

Originality/value

Investigations of regenerating engines by MCM using field experiments were performed for the first time.
Performance of hydrodynamic lubrication journal bearing with a slippage surface
Authors: Wu Chengwei
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to propose a design idea for an infinite journal bearing with the optimized slip zone on the bearing sleeve surface.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to use finite element analysis and the quadratic programming algorithm to study the performance of the journal bearing with a slip zone on the sleeve surface. The fluid film pressure and slip velocity can be obtained in one solution step.

Findings

A journal bearing with a slip zone on the sleeve surface produces many different advantages over the traditional journal bearing. Even in a parallel sliding gap there is still a considerable large load support, but a very low friction drag. The effect of the enhancement of such a slip wedge on the journal bearing performance is much greater at a small eccentricity ratio than at a large eccentricity ratio. Numerical analyses indicate that the location and size of the slip zone greatly affect the journal performance. When the eccentricity ratio ϵ=0.8, the maximum load support is increased by ∼19 per cent and surface friction coefficients reduced by ∼35 per cent and ∼42 per cent at shaft and sleeve surfaces, respectively.

Originality/value

The paper shows how the present concept can be used to design not only a journal bearing but also a thrust bearing with a slip wedge.
Analysis of effects of oil additive into friction coefficient variations on journal bearing using artificial neural network
Authors: Durak Ertuğrul , Salman Özlem , Kurbanoğlu Cahit
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of a lubricant with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)‐based additive on the friction behaviour in a steadily loaded journal bearing using an experimental and artificial neural network approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The collected experimental data, such as pressure variations, are employed as training and testing data for artificial neural networks (ANNs). A feed forward back propagation algorithm is used to update the weight of the network during the training.

Findings

An artificial neural network predictor has superior performance for modelling journal bearing systems under different lubricant conditions.

Research limitations/implications

A feed forward back propagation algorithm is used as a training algorithm for the proposed neural networks. Various training algorithms can be used to train the proposed network. Various lubricants and concentration ratio of the different additives can be investigated.

Practical implications

The simulation results suggest that the artificial neural predictor would be used as a predictor for possible experimental applications, especially different lubrication conditions on the modelling journal bearing system.

Originality/value

The paper discusses a new modelling scheme known as ANNs. A neural network predictor has been employed to analyze the effects of a lubricant with a PTFE‐based additive on the friction behaviour in a steadily loaded journal bearing under different operating conditions.
Synergistic lubricating effects of ZDDP with a heterocyclic compound
Authors: Wan Yong
Published: October 2008

Purpose

In response to a plea to eliminate zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) in engine oil, or at least reduce it to 0.05 per cent, unfortunately no new antiwear additives to reduce ZDDP have been found until now. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to resolve these problems by designing a novel benzothiazole compound and using it as a performance‐enhancing agent for ZDDP.

Design/methodology/approach

A benzothiazole derivative containing dialkyldithiocarbamate (BSD) was synthesized. The antiwear and load‐carrying properties of the additive and their synergistic effects with ZDDP were evaluated by a four‐ball tester.

Findings

The additive BSD possessed good load‐carrying capacity, and exhibits good synergistic antiwear and load‐carrying properties with ZDDP. The tribo‐chemical mechanism was also proposed.

Originality/value

The paper provides a good ashless additive which has good antiwear properties, and fulfils an identified resources need, which can offer practical help in industrial applications and also to an individual starting out on an academic career.
Influence of lubricant type in gear scuffing
Authors: Martins R. , Cardoso N. , Seabra J.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the scuffing load‐carrying capacity of three gear oils: a standard mineral lubricant containing extreme pressure and anti‐wear additives (M0) and two biodegradable saturated esters containing low toxicity additives (E1 and E2).

Design/methodology/approach

Four‐ball wear tests were performed, according to standard ASTM D4172. Results from the wear scar diameter and from ferrographic analysis of the test oil samples are presented and related to the lubricant properties. The physical, chemical and biodegradability properties of the lubricants are presented and compared.FZG gear scuffing tests were performed, according to standard DIN 51535, in order to evaluate the scuffing load‐carrying capacity of the two oils. Two reference tests were performed, A20/16.6/90 and A10/16.6/90.

Findings

Test results include scuffing load stage, maximum oil bath temperature, pinion weight loss and surface roughness measurement of the teeth flanks.

Originality/value

The paper provides information on the scuffing load‐carrying capacity of three gear oils.
Droughts and big baths of Australian agricultural firms
Authors: Kent Pamela , Monem Reza , Cuffe Glenn
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether Australian agricultural firms display big bath behaviour during droughts by recognising extraordinary and abnormal losses. It is hypothesised that Australian agricultural firms are more likely to report big bath losses in drought years than in non‐drought years and, in a given drought year, agricultural firms are more likely to report big bath losses than firms in other industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyse 405 firm‐years data for agricultural firms over 1980‐1995. For comparison, they also analyse matched‐pair samples of 17 and 30 non‐agricultural firms for the drought years of 1983 and 1995, and matched‐pair samples of 19 non‐agricultural firms for the non‐drought years of 1986 and 1990, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analyses are used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

It is found that agricultural firms are more likely to take big baths in drought years than in non‐drought years. Further, in a given drought year, agricultural firms are more likely to take big baths than non‐agricultural firms. Further analyses of sales, profitability, and extraordinary and abnormal items support the idea that big baths reflect managerial opportunism rather than the economic consequences of droughts.

Originality/value

Previous studies have not investigated the impact of natural calamities like flood and drought on accounting choices. This paper makes an original contribution to the accounting literature by documenting evidence on the extent to which an act of nature, over which management has little or no control, can influence accounting choices.
Does pre‐deal research reduce IPO underpricing?
Authors: Wang Kun
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in underpricing for initial public offerings (IPOs) brought to market in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States. It intends to determine whether IPO pricing accuracy in Hong Kong is facilitated by the development and dissemination of pre‐deal research.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines a broad sample of initial public offerings made between 2000 and 2004. The author conducts univariate and multivariate tests to assess the relationship between IPO underpricing and the dissemination of pre‐deal research.

Findings

The author finds that Hong Kong issues experience significantly less underpricing than issues listed in Singapore and the United States. The underpricing of Singapore IPOs, on average, is not significantly different from that of US new listings. Furthermore, the author finds underpricing experienced by Hong Kong issues after adoption of the 40‐day post‐IPO quiet period is significantly higher than underpricing in the pre‐regulation period.

Research limitations/implications

The results may not be generalizable to different countries. They do, however, appear to be robust in the three markets throughout the five‐year sample period.

Practical limitations/implications

To the extent that pre‐deal research can enhance IPO pricing accuracy, the overall finding should be useful to regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore as they continue to evaluate the extent to which pre‐deal research should be allowed and other IPO related policy making.

Originality/value

The paper extends the IPO underpricing literature in a new direction and also documents a significant economic benefit to IPOs related to pre‐deal research.
The relative ability of earnings and cash flow data in forecasting future cash flows
Authors: Farshadfar Shadi , Ng Chew , Brimble Mark
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relative predictive ability of earnings, cash flow from operations as reported in the cash flow statement, and two traditional measures of cash flows (i.e. earnings plus depreciation and amortisation expense, and working capital from operations) in forecasting future cash flows for Australian companies. Further, an empirical investigation of the extent to which firm size, as a contextual factor, influences the predictability of earnings and cash flow from operations is presented.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors' sample includes 323 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange between 1992 and 2004 (3,512 firm‐years). They employ the ordinary least squares and fixed‐effects approaches to estimate their regression models. To evaluate the forecasting performance of the regression models, both within‐sample and out‐of‐sample forecasting tests are employed.

Findings

The authors provide evidence that reported cash flow from operations has more power in predicting future cash flows than earnings and traditional cash flow measures. Further, the predictability of both earnings and cash flow from operations significantly increases with firm size. However, the superiority of cash flow from operations to earnings in predicting future cash flows is robust across small, medium and large firms.

Originality/value

The authors' results, in terms of firm size, imply that the users of accounting information should be cautious in assessing the utility of earnings and cash flow measures in forecasting future cash flows as firm size decreases.
Is social Europe dead?
Authors: Gennard John
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this editorial is to examine whether the social dimension of the single European market (SEM) has stalled or come to an end.

Design/methodology/approach

This editorial outlines the existing minimum standards in SEM, the processes whereby they have/are established, and reviews the progress on the revision of the working time and European Works Council (EWC) Directive.

Findings

The absence of proposals from the EU Commission other than on temporary and agency workers since 2002 has the EU wide trade union bodies, especially the ETUC to argue that EU member states' government continue to have a higher priority for the economic Europe (for example, labour market flexibility) than the social Europe (the establishment of workers' rights). This view has been enforced in that the EU Commission has been tardy in its revision of the working time and the EWC Directives. In the summer of 2008, the commission brought forward a series of measures aimed at stressing the social dimension of the SEM. These included a revised EWC Directive but they are unlikely to continue trade unions in Europe that EU member state government give as much priority to the social Europe as well as the economic Europe.

Originality/value

The editorial offers insights into the priority given to the social Europe relative to the economic Europe.
A multidimensional approach to employee participation and the association with social identification in organizations
Authors: Joensson Thomas
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Employee participation is often suggested to improve employees' relations to the organization. A multidimensional perspective on employee participation may heighten its specificity. The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the relationships between multiple dimensions of employee participation and social identification.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applies questionnaire data from 166 hospital employees, i.e. nurses, physicians and medical secretaries, in a cross‐sectional design. Hierarchical regression analyses were applied to investigate the hypothesized associations.

Findings

The results showed that individual influence on proximal (i.e. work‐related) issues predicted organizational identification. The relevance of proximal issues and psychological involvement in relation to direct participation were suggested to explain why this particular dimension of participation is directly associated with organizational identification. The result qualifies the theoretical notion that participation symbolically signals inclusion and status in the organization.

Research limitations/implications

The result emphasizing participation in decisions about work issues may be limited to the highly meaningful patient work in the health care context. Future studies are to establish if the findings may be generalised to other contexts.

Originality/value

The originality of the study lies in the applied combination of participation dimensions, the inclusion of organizational identity at different social foci, and the application of social identity as a theoretically well‐grounded concept of employees' relations to their organization.
Hard law, soft edge? Information, consultation and partnership
Authors: Doherty Michael
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess whether the transposition of the EU directive on informing and consulting employees is likely to enhance voice and participation rights of Irish employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a literature based critique assessing the reasons for the “voice gaps” the evidence suggests exist in Irish workplaces and analysing the implications of the legal changes brought in by the information and consultation legislation.

Findings

The paper argues that the transposition of the EU directive provided a unique opportunity to bolster voice mechanisms in Irish workplaces and “plug” some of the gaps identified in the literature. However, the paper argues this opportunity has been largely squandered, as a result of the Irish Goversment's minimalist approach to “hard” regulation of information and consultation rights in the transposing legislation.

Research limitations/implications

The EU directive is perhaps of most relevance to those interested in the employment relations in the Anglo‐Saxon countries (Ireland and the UK). The findings relate, in particular, to those countries. The paper considers the implications of the transposition, too, in terms of the role of the social partners in promoting voice at work.

Practical implications

Encouraging and developing employee voice arrangements is of great interest to academics and practitioners alike. The paper suggests ways in which legal changes can be used to further these objectives.

Originality/value

The paper assesses the likely public policy outcomes of a specific transposition process.
The challenge of connecting and co‐ordinating the learning agenda
Authors: Perrett Robert , Martínez Lucio Miguel
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate how innovative trade union strategies are emerging around the learning agenda and how these are being used to extend union strategies within the workplace and the community. However, it also shows how such strategies can be confronted with difficulties particularly when they are located in fixed spaces leaving them unable to develop or become sustainable once these spaces are challenged or closed due to inconsistent state and employer support.

Design/methodology/approach

An in depth case study approach was adopted for the research, using predominantly semi‐structured interviews with a wide range of individuals over an 18 month period.

Findings

The paper suggests that although unions are increasingly pushing forward their learning agenda and developing workplace and community learning centres, which undoubtedly generate benefits for all stakeholders, their learning strategies are often fixed into specific, closed locations and spaces, finding it difficult to develop once these spaces are challenged or closed due to restructuring and organisational change.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not suggest that this case is representative of all learning initiatives but it does seem that learning as a part of the inclusion and union renewal agenda is not clearly co‐ordinated in terms of their social, spatial and employment position.

Originality/value

This paper represents new empirical research presented at a time when learning initiatives as well as community initiatives are high on government's agenda particularly as they are encouraging “the third sector” to play an increasing role in providing public services. Similarly, the paper addresses issues of ethnicity, migration and learning, again a topic high on government agendas.
Well paid but undervalued and overworked
Authors: Forstenlechner Ingo , Lettice Fiona
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine what motivates junior lawyers to join a “Top 5” law firm, to understand their job and career expectations and whether or not these are being met during their employment in the firm.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was delivered to 300 lawyers, out of which 144 valid responses were collected. For the analysis, responses were clustered to identify emerging themes. Interviews were also conducted with randomly selected junior lawyers to clarify emerging topics and deepen understanding of the issues raised.

Findings

Key motives for young lawyers to join a law firm were money and improved career options. These expectations were generally met. However, once working, these lawyers were disappointed by a lack of interaction with and appreciation from partners, high pressure to bill more, long working hours and poor work/life balance, a lack of interesting work, and a lack of international secondments.

Research limitations/implications

The research reported in this paper is based on a case study of one of the top five law firms in the world, which is considered to be a leader in many areas of law practice. It cannot be assumed to be representative of the culture, policies and practices of many other firms operating in this sector.

Practical implications

The findings have been used within the case study organisation to improve junior lawyer motivation and could also be used by comparable organisations to improve the retention of junior lawyers.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is the insight gained into the job and career motivations and expectations of junior lawyers. Additional insight is gained by exploring expectations prior to joining the firm and which of these could be fulfilled and which were disappointed during employment with the firm.
The many approaches to organisational misbehaviour
Authors: Richards James
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to re‐map the neglected phenomenon of organisational misbehaviour (misbehaviour) by reflecting the many approaches taken on this emergent field of study, and articulate a revised research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

Both preceding and recent empirical and theoretical research papers are discussed and possible overlap and convergence of findings are examined. The discussions mainly surround studies from industrial sociology and organisational behaviour, yet studies from industrial relations and gender studies are also considered. From the re‐assessment, a revised map and research agenda for misbehaviour is produced.

Findings

More research should be directed towards humour and its uses in contemporary organisations, why managers break the rules, the internet as a tool and framework for defiant activities, informal and hidden employee identities as a framework for self‐organised misbehaviour, functional misbehaviour and informal strategies used by employees to survive work. Further work is required to unify the field and suggestions are made on how this may be achieved.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on a re‐assessment of the extant literature and the findings reflect the broadly problematic matter of reconciling incongruous paradigms.

Practical implications

The paper puts forward a revised and updated map of organisational misbehaviour. It also offers insights which managers can use to deal with a broad range of misbehaviour conducted within and outwith the workplace.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new map that goes beyond previous articulations of misbehaviour. The revised research agenda attempts to guide future research on the subject of misbehaviour in a more balanced direction.
Help wanted? Employers' use of temporary agencies in the UK construction industry
Authors: Forde Chris , MacKenzie Robert , Robinson Andrew
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics between employers' use of temporary agency workers and the aspirations of agencies to expand their role further within organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focuses on the construction sector in the UK. A mixed methods approach is employed comprising a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews with construction employers.

Findings

Construction employers' use of temporary agency workers remains driven by “traditional” reasons, to meet short‐term peaks in demand and for one‐off tasks. Construction employers have widespread reservations about the use of temporary agency workers. There is little evidence of an expansion in the range of tasks or managerial functions being performed by agencies in construction. Together, these findings point to limits to the inexorable expansion of temporary agencies in the sector.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to assess the extent to which these reservations surrounding agencies, and the limits on the expansion of agencies that these reservations imply, are applicable to sectors outside construction.

Practical implications

Employers' lack of appetite for agency workers stem from perceived problems of quality of agency labour and a desire to maintain control over production. These reservations suggest that agency aspirations to increase their role and functions further in the construction sector are likely to be frustrated.

Originality/value

Much research has pointed to the growth of agency working in recent years. The principal value of this research is in highlighting the potential limits to the inexorable expansion of agency working. The paper also reveals employers' reservations towards agencies, which have been neglected in the literature to date.
Coping with discipline
Authors: Sandoff Mette , Widell Gill
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to put forward examples of disciplinary practices, i.e. to interpret Foucault's ideas with data collected from today's working‐life in schools and prisons. Besides describing disciplinary practices the intention is to describe how individuals cope with the dilemmas that follow. On the grounds of the analysis a discussion about the tension between freedom and docility and different individuals’ strategies for coping with this tension is also promoted.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from teachers in schools and warders in prisons. The empirical question relates to how disciplinary practises are expressed and the dilemmas that follow. In the analysis the concepts of Foucault, time, space and visibility, as relations of power, are used.

Findings

The article shows examples of disciplining and the dilemmas following from disciplining, both at individual and organisational level. Encountering new demands in their work, teachers tend to stick harder to their profession while warders tend to freely use their life experiences to develop their work. One conclusion is that freedom may be easier when individual values and organisational values are in coherence with one another, and docility is more often used when they differ.

Originality/value

That there are tensions between individuals’ striving for freedom and organisations’ striving for their disciplining is no news but on the grounds of the empirical data dilemmas and how teachers and warders cope with them in their work are described. The data also encourage further discussion while it brings findings of different ways of coping, for example when it comes to professionals and non‐professionals.
A well‐being model of small‐scale microenterprise development to alleviate poverty
Authors: Alam Choudhury Masudul , Shahadat Hossain Mohammad , Solaiman Mohammad
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The paper's purpose is to present and empirically validate a learning model of participatory grassroots development among the poor and needy in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used is conceptual modeling and its empirical validation for a case study of poor women's sewing project in an interior village of Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Findings

A perpetual charity‐fund with endogenous values and productive transformation of the needy at the grassroots can prove to be an effective approach to socioeconomic development.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical validation can be enhanced with more data being generated with experience in the women's sewing project in the near future.

Practical implications

This is a policy‐oriented paper with practical ways and means‐test for implementation in development planning.

Originality/value

A formal modeling of grassroots development premised on human resource development and perpetual charity‐fund for financing and their empirical validation is presented. Such an approach is not presently found in the hierarchical models of development planning. It should be included for making development meaningful as the grassroots. Particular reference is made here to Bangladesh development planning.
Are you unhappy? Then you are poor! Multi‐dimensional poverty in Belgium
Authors: Dekkers Gijs J.M.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to present a multi‐dimensional measure of poverty. The proposed method has been applied to the Panel Set of Belgian Households dataset for Belgium for the years between 1994 and 2000.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a common model is decided upon by exploratory factor analysis, and applied by confirmatory factor analysis. Cluster analysis (CA) is then used to separate the multi‐dimensional poor. Finally, the possible causes of multi‐dimensional poverty are surfaced by estimating a discrete duration model.

Findings

The proposed method reveals three dimensions of poverty: “material deprivation”, “social deprivation” and “psychological health”. Between 9 and 11 per cent of the representative sample of Belgian individuals are poor. The paper also identifies causes of poverty, including not having a job, not having the Belgian nationality, having a poor health or a disability, being lower educated, experiencing financial poverty, being divorced or widowed, living in the Walloon or Brussels regions, and having a bad psychological health.

Research limitations/implications

Research implications include the use of polychoric and tetrachoric correlations as a starting point of factor analysis, as well as the combination of factor analysis and CA.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an alternative multi‐dimensional measure of poverty. It argues that previous measures may suffer from categorisation errors and suggests a solution to this problem. The advantages of the proposed method are that all information is used to disentangle the poor from the non‐poor and that dimensions of poverty are defined using the correlations between deprivations. Finally, the paper identifies “psychological health” as one of the dimensions of poverty.
Neo‐liberalism, risk and regional development in Western Australia
Authors: Pick David , Dayaram Kandy , Butler Bella
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to present the case of the Pilbara as an illustration of how neo‐liberalism and globalisation affect a natural resource region.

Design/methodology/approach

A primary data set was collected by interviewing 21 people who had an interest in the development of the Pilbara. Secondary data was collected from relevant government policy documents and media reports relating to the region. Qualitative analysis techniques were used to analyse the data.

Findings

It is found that neo‐liberal policy has had a profound and largely negative effect on Pilbara communities. Rather than reaping the benefits of the wealth being generated in the region, participants in this research experience social breakdown and unmet social needs, and the local democratic institutions are weak and ineffective. Research limitations/implications – This paper reports on a single case and is limited in terms of its generalisability. However, it does illustrate the value of the “Resource Curse Thesis” and the concept of “risk” in illuminating the issues associated with neo‐liberalism.

Practical implications

This research has practical implications in that it provides an example of the problems associated with neo‐liberal perspectives when they are used as a framework for developing and implementing regional policy.

Originality/value

The resource curse thesis tends to be used in analysing developing nations and risk has so far been applied in limited areas of researching the effects of neo‐liberal policy trajectories. This paper employs these concepts to provide a critical examination of regional development policy in a way that can be used in other national contexts.
Escaping from the economy: the politics of degrowth
Authors: Fournier Valérie
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Whilst there is a growing recognition of environmental degradation, the policies of sustainable development or ecological modernisation offered by national governments and international institutions seem to do little more than “sustain the unsustainable”. By promising to reconcile growth with the environment, they fail to question the economic principle of endless growth that has caused environmental destruction in the first place. In this context, alternatives based on critiques of growth may offer more promising grounds. The aim of this paper is to explore how the degrowth movement that emerged in France over the last decade resonates with, and can contribute to, green politics.

Design/methodology/approach

After locating the movement within environmental politics and providing a brief account of its development, the paper focuses on its core theme – escaping from the economy.

Findings

Here it is argued that the movement's main emphasis is not merely on calling for less growth, consumption or production, but more fundamentally, in inviting one to shift and re‐politicise the terms in which economic relations and identities are considered. This politicisation of the economy is discussed in terms of the movement's foregrounding of democracy and citizenship, and it is argued that the articulation of these two concepts may offer interesting points of departure for conceptualising and practising alternatives to consumer capitalism.

Originality/value

The final part of the paper explores how the degrowth movement's stance on democracy and citizenship could help address two problematic issues within environmental politics: that of inclusion, and motivation
Islamophobia: examining causal links between the state and “race hate” from “below”
Authors: Frost Diane
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper's aim is to examine whether there is a causal link between “race” hate, particularly Islamophobia (defined as anti‐Muslim feeling and violence based on “race” and/or religion), and government treatment of Muslim communities in Britain in recent years.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at recent legislation and other state controls to deal with terror activities.

Findings

The paper argues that government policy towards Muslim communities, including policies developed to deal with suspected terrorists has some responsibility for cultivating a hostile climate towards such communities. Moreover, this generalised hostile environment allows “race” hate and violence to thrive among sections of Britain's male white working class communities, especially where disaffection, socio‐economic exclusion and challenges to traditional forms of masculinities is evident.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates that “race” hate and routine attacks on Muslim communities appears to be increasing and needs to be addressed by developing strategies that are inclusive of all disadvantaged communities.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the literature on “race” hate by examining these theories in the light of recent and ongoing terror attacks and their impact on Muslim communities in Britain.
Islamophobia: examining causal links between the media and “race hate” from “below”
Authors: Frost Diane
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The paper's aim is to examine whether there is a causal link between “race” hate, particularly Islamophobia (defined as anti‐Muslim feeling and violence based on “race” and/or religion), and media treatment of Muslim communities in Britain in recent years.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at the reporting of terror activities and examines the way the media (tabloid press) constructs racists news.

Findings

The article discusses some of the themes developed in a previous paper that looked at government policy towards Muslim communities by examining the media campaign directed against Muslims within this broader political context. The implications for the cultivation of “race” hate are considered.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates that “race” hate and routine attacks on Muslim communities appear to be increasing and needs to be addressed by developing strategies that are inclusive of all disadvantaged communities, racism, “war on terror”, working class.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the literature on “race” hate by examining these theories in the light of recent and ongoing terror attacks and their impact on Muslim communities in Britain.
The S‐shaped labor supply schedule: evidence from industrialized countries
Authors: Dessing Maryke
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically review the literature to assess the relevance of the S‐shaped model of family labor supply for industrialized countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Studies use a wide variety of methodologies and therefore are not readily comparable, but instead they cover a wide range of relevant factors such as historical trends, fringe benefits and home mortgages, ethnic differences, farm labor, low‐income households, child care, the impact of welfare benefits, and the problem of the measurement of work hours.

Findings

In spite of welfare systems that blur somewhat the predicted income effect at lower wage levels (forward falling segment primarily for women), this model appears to still bear some relevance for these countries, in particular in the face of declining real wages. Families have generally moved up higher along that curve, with less differentiated gender roles, women's stronger labor force attachment, and assortative mating of educated women.

Originality/value

The model is mostly relevant for LDCs and has far‐reaching practical consequences, while the review highlights the complexity of labor supply in industrialized countries.
Foreign direct investment, financial markets, and political corruption
Authors: Kholdy Shady , Sohrabian Ahmad
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether foreign direct investment (FDI) can stimulate financial development in countries with corrupt dominant élites. Financial markets have not been expanded in many developing countries despite their proven positive effect on economic growth. Although three voluminous and parallel lines of research investigate the impact of financial markets, FDI, and political corruption on economic growth, no research up to now has examined the combined effect of foreign investment and corruption on financial development.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the causal links, a multivariate Error Correction Model (ECM) is applied on a sample of 22 developing countries, over the period of 1976‐2003.

Findings

Overall, the study provides some preliminary evidence that FDI may jump‐start financial development in developing countries. Furthermore, the results indicate that most of the causal links are found in developing countries which experience a higher level of corruption in the form of excessive patronage, nepotism, job reservations, “favor‐for‐favors”, secret party funding, and suspiciously close ties between politics and business.

Research limitations/implications

The study, however, does not provide any evidence that FDI can reduce political corruption. Much additional theoretical and empirical research is needed to explore whether FDI can influence political and economic traditions and stimulate financial markets.

Originality/value

The study is the first empirical attempt to examine the causal link between FDI and financial markets in interaction with political corruption.
Inflation and inflation uncertainty: evidence from the Caribbean region
Authors: Payne James E.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the literature on the relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty by examining three Caribbean countries: the Bahamas, Barbados, and Jamaica.

Design/methodology/approach

ARMA‐GARCH models are used to estimate inflation uncertainty along with Granger‐causality tests to infer the relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty.

Findings

The results reveal that both the Bahamas and Jamaica exhibit a high degree of volatility persistence in response to inflationary shocks, while Barbados has a much lower persistence measure. Granger‐causality tests indicate that an increase in inflation has been a positive impact on inflation uncertainty for each country. However, an increase in inflation uncertainty yields a decrease in inflation in the case of Jamaica. In summary, the results for the Bahamas and Barbados support the Friedman‐Ball hypothesis, whereas the results for Jamaica support Holland's stabilization‐motive hypothesis.

Research limitations/implications

Future research on inflation and inflation uncertainty can be extended to incorporate possible regime shifts associated with fiscal and monetary policy.

Originality/value

The study fills a void in the literature with respect to the inflation‐inflation uncertainty nexus for Caribbean countries. The results of the paper may be useful to policymakers in the formulation of fiscal and monetary policy.
The banking sector, economic growth and European integration
Authors: Ferreira Cândida
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to contribute to the study of the link between financial intermediation and economic growth in the context of the European Union and particularly in the context of the integration of new member‐states.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel fixed and dynamic Arellano‐Bond estimates (with balanced panels) were used to explain and compare the influence of financial intermediation with the real per‐capita GDP growth in two sub‐sets of EU countries: the first one takes into account the availability of quarterly data and comprises 11 “old” EU countries, excluding Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden, for the period between Q2 1980 and Q4 1998; the second panel includes 24 EU countries (excluding only Luxembourg) for the period between Q2 1999 and Q4 2002. The existing empirical evidence was enhanced by introducing some financial variables to explain the real per‐capita GDP growth, namely, the real domestic credit growth, the real foreign liabilities growth, the real growth of the sum of the bonds and money market instruments, in addition to two ratios: bank assets/bank liabilities and domestic credit/bank deposits.

Findings

The results obtained confirm the importance of these variables to the real per‐capita GDP growth and allow one to draw conclusions on some differences in the behaviour and the level of integration of the two groups of EU countries. There is a relatively more homogeneous behaviour in the first panel, while the results for the second panel indicate that, in spite of the relative heterogeneity and the differences in their historical evolution, all the countries have had to adapt rapidly to the increasing competition and to the new EU market conditions.

Originality/value

The paper confirms the influence of financial systems on output growth, as well as the efforts of financial institutions to adapt to the new conditions of the European and global markets in spite of all the differences in the historical evolution and initial conditions among EU member‐states.
Efficiency in public infrastructure provision: a theoretical note
Authors: Colombier Carsten
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed new light on the debate about the appropriateness of the Kaizuka rule, a Samuelson type of efficiency rule for public inputs, for the provision of firm‐augmenting public inputs. Firm‐augmenting public inputs are commonly included in public infrastructure modelling.

Design/methodology/approach

In the microeconomic social surplus framework, and assuming perfect competition, the paper analyses how firm‐augmenting public inputs should be provided in order to maximise the welfare of consumers and producers. For this purpose, the paper develops a social surplus efficiency rule, i.e. the Boadway rule. Afterwards the question what the characteristics of firm‐augmenting public inputs mean for its efficient provision is examined.

Findings

The findings show that under perfect competition an omniscient government is unable to efficiently provide firm‐augmenting public inputs due to the characteristics of firm‐augmenting public inputs but not due to inappropriate efficiency rules.

Research limitations/implications

The findings show that future research would be ill advised to model public infrastructure as a firm‐augmenting public input.

Practical implications

Policy conclusions drawn from models that include firm‐augmenting public inputs, such as fiscal competition and endogenous growth models, should be reconsidered.

Originality/value

The paper makes a strong case that firm‐augmenting public input is not a viable concept for modelling public infrastructure. Rather, firm‐augmenting public inputs are similar to free goods.
Competitive analysis of industry history to enhance planning
Authors: Bloodgood James M.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of applying competitive analysis tools to an industry's competitive history. Future strategic planning can benefit from analyzing the competitive past.

Design/methodology/approach

Case summary of industry history with application of competitive analysis tool.

Findings

Competitive success of firms in an industry is influenced by consistency with the awareness, motivation, and capability framework.

Research limitations/implications

Demonstrating that firms can improve their strategic planning and competitive assessment by analyzing their industry's history using competitive analysis tools.

Practical implications

Managers can see how to apply competitive analysis tools to their industry's past, current, and future situations.

Originality/value

This is the first application of the AMC framework to a historical analysis of the US automobile market. This demonstrates that competitive analysis tools can be applied to historical situations to improve future strategic planning.
The origin and constitution of facilities management as an integrated corporate function
Authors: Anker Jensen Per
Published: October 2008

Purpose

To understand how facilities management (FM) has evolved over time in a complex public corporation from internal functions of building operation and building client and the related service functions to become an integrated corporate function.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on results from a research project on space strategies and building values, which included a major longitudinal case study of the development of facilities for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) over time. The research presented here included literature studies, archive studies and an interview survey.

Findings

The analysis shows that the building related and service related functions have developed separately for a long period starting at operational level and with the tactical and strategic levels being introduced at later stages, when the organisation had grown considerable. Only within the last 20 years have integrations occurred starting with a vertical integration of the operational, tactical and strategic levels separately for the building related and service related functions. Later on a horizontal integration of building related and service related functions takes place and a fully integrated corporate Facilities Management function are established.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents empirical evidence of the historical development of FM from one case and provides a deeper understanding of the integration processes that are crucial to FM and which can be an inspirational basis for further research on the organisation of FM.

Practical implications

The results provides an insight in principles for the organisation of FM, which is important for managers within FM.

Originality/value

This is probably the first in depth study of the origin and constitution of FM in a complex public corporation.