bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reverse logistics programs: gauging their effects on CRM and online behavior
Authors: Smith Alan D.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide practitioners of knowledge management with a sense of the importance of reverse logistics as an important part of today's company policies, especially throughout the product life cycle, with the accompanying technology that supports it and the effects on customer relation management (CRM) and satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the applied literature of reverse logistics and its effects on CRM resulted in a basic model and empirical verification of such effects.

Findings

As shown from the empirical section of the present study (n=102), the ease of locating returns procedures and the rating given by respondents to the overall returns process were found to be statistically very significant regarding whether the ease of returning items had an influence on purchasing decisions for most respondents. As demonstrated in the results of stepwise regression analysis of the two independent variables, the largest share of explained variance was explained by the variable, Returns' Procedures.

Research limitations/implications

The purpose of reverse logistics is to accommodate customers wanting to return items and how to account for such accommodations. The breakdown, process, and analysis of reverse logistics will portray the significance of having reverse logistics implemented within a marketing or strategic plan.

Practical implications

This paper describes reverse logistics and CRM within a knowledge‐based system and its implementation process in an academic manner. Hence, there should be a process in place and managers should work to master reserve logistical processes to promote the principles of CRM properly. To remain competitive, firms must develop reverse logistics systems that rival traditional systems in terms of efficiency, cost‐effectiveness, competitiveness, and customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

Many companies and small businesses do not think about the importance and impact of reverse logistics and therefore do not include reverse logistics in their strategic or marketing plan. There are several important aspects of reverse logistics that need to be utilized in every company that exploit and track return policies.
Librarian salaries in the USA: the impact of revenue redistribution on library recruitment
Authors: Davis Denise M.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to determine the scope of library revenue redistribution to salary expenditures from other operating expenditures.

Design/methodology/approach

Existing US regional and national library data sources (1982‐2003) were reviewed to assess the impact of salary expenditures on other operating expenditures and the impact of retirement on planning.

Findings

The study found that the salaries of the case study library are keeping pace with national averages, but have significantly impacted other operating expenditures due to MLS retention. Retirement rates in the case study are slightly ahead of national estimates and provide some insight into practical needs for LIS graduates.

Originality/value

The article demonstrates the use of existing data sources as planning tools to assess library salaries' overall operating expenditures, and to project professional staff levels.
Metrics for schools' and children's services: a ten year retrospective
Authors: Maynard Sally , Eric Davies J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

One measure of any nation's long‐term commitment to culture, reading and learning is surely its investment in the provision of library and information services to children. The aim of this article is to describe the approach to charting the UK's performance and to identify some issues of global relevance.

Design/methodology/approach

Separate questionnaires were circulated to all public library authorities and schools library services in the UK. The distribution of questionnaires is carried out electronically. Potential respondents are contacted by e‐mail and the questionnaire is included as an attachment. Up to 2000‐2001, questionnaires were distributed on paper by post.

Findings

A ten‐year review of data allows one to draw the conclusion that little is changing dramatically. The last ten years have seen a remarkable change in the nature and magnitude of information media. The computer has transformed the way in which children interact with one another and the wider world and books can be bought with the groceries at the supermarket. In this scenario, the children's library is necessarily evolving. The question is: is it doing it fast enough?

Research limitations/implications

It is difficult to maintain complete comparability in a series of this kind because one is dealing with a range of dynamic factors. For example, in the case of new authorities and rearranged boundaries. As a result, in many cases questionnaires relating to the 1995‐1996 period were sent to the relevant new authorities for retrospective completion. This may have resulted in a higher level of missing and/or incomplete data for that period.

Originality/value

Provides useful information, not only to academic institutions and libraries, but also to parents.
Toward a successful taxonomy for Croatian academic libraries
Authors: Petr Kornelija
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate the degree to which the unfavourable state of the Croatian higher education system (the lack of vision, goals and objectives, insufficient budgeting and no quality control system) reflects on the organization, development and continuous dedication to quality of academic libraries in Croatia.

Design/methodology/approach

The situation is illustrated by a study conducted among academic libraries of the University Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek in 2003. A questionnaire for librarians and one for chief librarians was used and data were processed by software package StatSoft, Statistica 6.0. Next to the descriptive statistics, Mann‐Whitney test, Pearson Chi‐Square, Maximum Likelihood and Fisher exact Chi‐Square test were used. Annual reports were also used.

Findings

This research revealed that the academic libraries of Osijek University are unprepared for performance measurement. It was clear that they are unfamiliar with many elements of evaluation. Librarians are usually excluded from decision making regarding library operations, which results in their low motivation. However, the greatest dissatisfaction of academic librarians of Osijek University comes from their low status. Furthermore, librarians rarely get support from their colleges for their professional education (no travel money, no paid leave, etc.)

Research limitations/implications

Osijek University is a relatively small university. It consists of nine colleges, one institute and one university library. The size of the target sample influenced the choice of research instruments – questionnaire, interviews with chief librarians and analysis of library annual reports.

Originality/value

This was the first such study in Croatia and its main goal was to test theoretical approaches and research methodology, which could be later applied for a study on a nation‐wide level.
Evaluating awareness of information resources at partner colleges of the University of Teesside
Authors: Myer Sue , Porritt Frances
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to evaluate whether students used the library and information services at the University of Teesside and, if not, what were the reasons for them seeking other sources of information.

Design/methodology/approach

The article was based on a literature review and a subsequent questionnaire study.

Findings

It was found that staff placed a higher value on access to the University LRC than did the students. This was due to several reasons such as staff being reluctant to identify students' needs and the induction failing to stress the benefits of using it.

Originality/value

This article has helped to confirm the link between induction and use of a University LRC and demonstrates the importance of improving the induction process, thereby creating a natural path to the library facilities. There is scope for further research into the usage of public libraries by HE students.
New leadership strategies for the enterprise of the future
Authors: Murray Arthur J. , Greenes Kent A.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine new leadership approaches for competing in a flat world. Among the many demands placed on twenty‐first century leaders is the need to develop entirely new business strategies. Decision making must take into account many complex interactions and multiple scenarios. Yet strategic time horizons are becoming more compressed, requiring shorter planning cycles. Even if the right strategy is formulated, execution is often difficult. In addition, in today's dynamic market environment, both strategy and execution need to be quickly adjusted as conditions change.

Design/methodology/approach

The nine‐tiered framework presented has been successfully applied by the authors in a variety of settings. The approach integrates top‐down strategic planning with bottom‐up execution, all within the context of a knowledge‐based organization.

Findings

The paper finds that the ability of an organization to compete in a flat world is enhanced when all elements of the enterprise are in close alignment. A key role of the leader of the enterprise of the future is to create and maintain this alignment.

Originality/value

Through the application of this framework, organizations can improve in several ways that are critical to competing in a flat world. The main benefit is the improved speed and agility that comes from close organizational alignment. Tight coupling of organizational elements allows an enterprise to move closer to the goal of learning, innovating, and executing at the speed of change in the marketplace. In addition, forward‐looking organizations will benefit from: gaining the ability to identify critical knowledge gaps, opportunities, and risks; maximizing efficient and effective use of available resources; overcoming cultural barriers which inhibit execution and resist change; improving organizational performance through better measurement and tracking; and more effective leadership.
Beyond terrorism: data collection and responsibility for privacy
Authors: Gayton Cynthia M.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine privacy rights and the relationship between those rights and business and government interests in data collected from individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper approaches legal issues from the perspective of the consumer or citizen.

Findings

While conducting research for this paper, it was found that the issues facing the citizenry on privacy protection have been addressed extensively in the not too distant past. The distinguishing characteristic is the speed with which data can be collected and disseminated and the infinitely more vast amount of personal data being collected not only by the government and businesses with whom consumers conduct transactions, but also by independent data brokers.

Originality/value

Privacy rights are ephemeral and difficult to measure. Businesses, therefore, appear to have difficulty determining the value of protecting consumers' privacy. Additionally, governments from which citizens derive many social services accumulate substantial personal information given in exchange for those services. Businesses and governments are increasingly negligent in protecting the data collected on individuals, which has been revealed by a series of reported data breaches, disclosures, thefts, and surveillance activities. This paper addresses the inherent value in protecting the privacy interests of individuals and proposes that more robust privacy laws, derived from established tort law, be developed and used by concerned persons.
Applied knowledge management: a set of well‐tried tools
Authors: Van Berten Philippe , Ermine Jean‐Louis
Published: January 2007

Purpose

For almost 20 years, knowledge management projects hit various domains. This paper aims to describe briefly a set of four well‐tried knowledge management tools allowing practitioners to analyse and structure, describe and represent, share and store, teach and transmit knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focuses on selected tools now of general practice and becoming popular among the practitioners.

Findings

The paper finds that, originally out of the information science laboratories, the tools introduced here have been proved tested efficient and reliable after hundreds of real projects, no matter what type of industry and domain use them. This now common practice should open the path to new models for the knowledge economy. Dealing with complexity becomes easier as well as putting the information system at the crossing of the interactive information flows instead of keeping it out of reach of a majority of knowledge workers. Because of the massive retirement of the baby boomers, a large loss of workforce challenges the companies for the first time in history. How to evaluate and pass to the next generation its core business of knowledge is thus of critical importance.

Originality/value

This paper reminds that knowledge management is no longer a solely academic issue since tools of the next generation are now available, beefing up the growing domain of the knowledge economy.
Open trace defects in FR4 printed circuit boards
Authors: Ganesan Sanka , Pecht Michael
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To present and discuss open trace defects uncovered in an FR4 assembly during electrical testing.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents open trace defects observed in FR4 assemblies and analyses the distribution of defects. The paper also discusses possible root causes for their occurrence.

Findings

The open trace defects that occurred during printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication should have been observed by the board manufacturer. It appears that the PCB manufacturer did not perform automatic optical inspection (AOI) and electrical testing during the manufacturing of the boards. The cost due to the rejected PCBAs was approximately 3x times that of the PCB cost.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the costly impact of uncovering a PCB defect after assembly. Based on the results of this study, the implementation of electrical testing and AOI for PCBs is recommended.
High frequency conductor loss impact of oxide and oxide alternative processes
Authors: Brist Gary , Cullen Don
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To examine the impact of oxide and oxide alternative processes on signal loss in commercial RF applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Stripline conductors were formed using traditional oxide, oxide dissolution/reduction, and oxide alternative processes. Conductor geometry was measured and surface topography was characterized. Effective dielectric constants and characteristic impedance for each system was determined. Finally, line loss for each treatment and rework condition was charted to nearly 20 GHz. Electrical measurements were performed by taking S‐parameter measurements through 20 GHz using an agilent vector network analyzer (VNA).

Findings

The methods employed were sufficient to statistically characterize the increased loss associated with thick oxides and high‐microetch oxide alternatives. Lower etch oxide alternatives yielded benefits for signal integrity. Of importance, rework procedures gave unacceptable increases in line loss. Overall, however, the loss due to innerlayer bonding processes was not of sufficient magnitude to elevate oxides as a primary contributor to conductor loss. For the relative simple, high production system employing epoxy substrate, oxide loss was found to be far less than substrate effects, imaging quality, and foil treatment.

Originality/value

Electrical engineers and printed circuit board (PCB) designers strive to focus their efforts on improving the PCB processes leading to maximum conductor loss in the electronic system. This work shows that oxide treatments are not a primary factor in affecting loss. Significant improvements in signal integrity may be achieved, however, with the use of low‐etch oxide alternatives and with restrictions on oxide rework. In addition, this paper allowed for new interpretations of VNA data for better modeling of PCB system data using non‐classical analysis.
Integrated inductors on liquid crystal polymer substrate for RF applications
Authors: Zou Gang , Grönqvist Hans , Liu Johan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To investigate the fabrication of integrated inductors on a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate. To analyze the RF performance of the integrated inductors.

Design/methodology/approach

Fabrication of integrated inductors on a LCP substrate using an MCM‐D/L technique. A lumped element model of the integrated inductors is proposed. An analytical approach is used to extract the parameters in the model.

Findings

Integrated inductors on a LCP substrate have been fabricated using an MCM‐D/L technique. The conductor loss of the thin microstrip lines is the major factor degrading the Q‐value of the integrated inductors. A lumped element model of the integrated inductor is proposed. The parameters of the lumped element model can be extracted from the geometry of the integrated inductor. Further work will focus on increasing the conductor thickness from 500 nm to 5 μm.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies in its description of the integration of inductors on a LCP substrate. It also describes how to extract parameters of the lumped element model of the integrated inductors from the geometry.
Analysis of the potential and problems of new institutional economics for third world development
Authors: Herath Gamini
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to provide a critical evaluation of the potential of new institutional economics (NIE) in third world development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews various theories under NIE from both conceptual and empirical perspectives. It then reviews the various definitions of institutions and show that institutions are essential to overcome problems of information and uncertainty.

Findings

The review finds that weak institutions can undermine development and hence governments in developing countries should strengthen their institutions to provide greater scope for efficient functioning of markets. Where the market does not work owing to high transactions costs, traditional institutions of collective action and group decision making can work and hence need to be recognised.

Research limitations/implications

The major implications of the paper is that in developing countries, a clear understanding of various institutions such as user groups, inter‐linked credit markets, rotational irrigation etc. is needed before they are replaced or modified by other institutions. The main limitations of NIE are that there can be capture by elites of various institutional innovations in rural areas, and that it does not explicitly consider income distribution and uncertainty which are glossed over and hence remain areas for future research.

Originality/value

This paper critically reviews the various institutional environments that developing countries face in addressing development issues.
“Should we sell human organs?” Correction of a faulty analysis
Authors: Kaserman David L.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to correct the flawed analysis contained in a recent paper by Kolnsberg that appeared in this journal.

Design/methodology/approach

In her paper, Kolnsberg raises the extremely important question of whether we should allow the sale of human organs for transplantation. She concludes, mistakenly, that we should not allow such sales. The error that leads her to this incorrect conclusion is the application of a nonsensical criterion for determination of whether sales of a good should be allowed. Specifically, she argues that, if the suppliers of living donor organs will be unable to earn substantial economic profits in the long run, then such sales should be banned. This arbitrary (and erroneous) criterion ignores: the social welfare gains achievable through organ sales; the much greater promise offered by cadaveric donor payments; and the very real and tragic consequences of the current ban on such payments – over 6,000 lives lost unnecessarily each year in the US alone.

Findings

The principal finding of the corrected analysis is that, contrary to the conclusion reached by Kolnsberg, paying cadaveric organ donors would save both money and lives.

Research limitations/implications

Given the compelling case for cadaveric donor payments, trials need to be conducted to reveal both the magnitude of compensation required to resolve the shortage and the most efficient payment mechanisms.

Originality/value

Given the historical failure of the current altruistic organ procurement policy, asserts that a revised system that incorporates organ donor payments is essential to a successful resolution of this shortage.
Did US labor's post‐World War II successes lead to its subsequent woes?
Authors: Wisman Jon D.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Whereas a combination of unique historical conditions and a specific set of public policies in the United States enabled labor to significantly increase its relative power during the quarter century following World War II, this halcyon period for labor was followed by a period of over two decades during which labor's relative status and power declined. This paper explores this reversal of fortunes.

Design/methodology/approach

Although the current plight of labor has been extensively studied within the discipline of economics, these studies have typically focused upon specific aspects of labor's declining status. In this study, labor's plight is examined within the larger context of the institutions and dynamics of capitalism as a socio‐economic system. Within this broadened context, an exploration is made of whether the sustained period of progress for American labor set in motion the creation of forces that eventually led to reversal.

Findings

Labor's relative successes in the quarter century following World War II encouraged behavior that enabled the interests of capital to politically legitimate policies that, combined with trends in international trade and technology, served to decrease the relative power and welfare of labor.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to determine whether there are other instances of a dynamic whereby labor's successes set in motion forces that lead to reversal.

Originality/value

This study emphasizes the importance of a broaden institutional focus for grasping important economic changes in society.
The death ofhomo economicus: is there life after welfare economics?
Authors: Gowdy John M. , Iorgulescu Polimeni Raluca
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper draws upon the work of Georgescu‐Roegen to outline some theoretical alternatives to standard welfare theory, and to examine the policy implications of discarding the Walrasian core of neoclassical economics.

Design/methodology/approach

Current work in behavioral economics and game theory shows that economic behavior depends on social context, a point understood by social economists for a hundred years or more. This work is related to Georgescu's contributions to utility theory and bioeconomics.

Findings

Neoclassical welfare economics continues to dominate economic theory and policy even though its theoretical foundations, economic man and perfect competition, have been discredited by mainstream theorists. Economic processes take place in specific social contexts and also coevolve with the biophysical universe.

Practical implications

Although modern economics is incorporating many of Georgescu's insights about human preferences it has yet to come to grips with the fact that human economic activity is shaped by its biophysical context. It is believed this should be a major focus of future economic research.

Originality/value

Provides further insights into welfare theory and bioeconomics.
Brain drains and brain gains: causes, consequences, policy
Authors: Hall Peter
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Highly‐skilled knowledge workers make location decisions in response to many determinants. This paper seeks to focus on life‐time earnings and the desire to pursue a personal research program – a life‐long pursuit of interesting puzzles.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual discussion and approach are taken.

Findings

The paper argues that access to personally interesting research problems and institutional support structures which allow them to be pursued should be considered alongside pure earnings factors in understanding why researchers and scientists move internationally – and why they may stay put when the economic incentives to move appear high. A nation's innovation policies can be important for influencing such workers' decisions and the impact of these policies shaped by migration flows. This little‐researched connection is explored in the final, policy‐oriented section.

Originality/value

Provides insights on why, in a world of intensifying competition for scarce knowledge workers, countries can ill afford negative net migration of highly‐skilled workers.
Pre‐Soviet, Soviet and post‐Soviet models of economic growth and development
Authors: Raiklin Ernest
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research paper is a theoretical understanding of the most general trends of Russian economic development during the country's pre‐Soviet, Soviet and post‐Soviet time frames.

Design/methodology/approach

The objectives are designed in such a way as to include a historical aspect in the research. An attempt is made to grasp (rather cursorily) a logical internal progression in all stages of the Russian development for the last 150 years. In this, the paper shows no need for so‐called great historical personalities to explain the great historical events.

Findings

In the course of the work, it was found that Russia had experienced alternatively five different socioeconomic systems of: late mixed feudalism which was on its way to democratic mixed capitalism (the 1850s‐October 1917); state feudalism which was pregnant with authoritarian mixed capitalism (1918‐1921); authoritarian mixed capitalism in whose womb there was ripening totalitarian state capitalism (1921‐1928); totalitarian state capitalism which was carrying within itself the seeds of authoritarian state capitalism (1928‐1990); finally, authoritarian state capitalism which was moving toward authoritarian mixed capitalism (1991‐present).

Originality/value

The original value of the paper is in its fresh approach to the great events that have been taking place in Russia since the 1850s. The events have been analyzed not as they should be according or despite some theory but as they were and are. The paper, therefore, will be valuable to those who are interested in the socioeconomic development of Russia and who would like, one way or another, to attempt to predict the country's nearest future.
Liang Qichao, Sun Yat‐sen, and the 1905‐1907 debate on socialism
Authors: Lai Cheng‐chung , Trescott Paul B.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To review one of the earliest Chinese debates on socialism, highlighting the consequent changes in outlook by Sun Yat‐sen and Liang Qichao; and to demonstrate the influence of Western economic writers especially Richard T. Ely, Henry George, and German Bismarckian socialists.

Design/methodology/approach

Textual analysis of original Chinese‐language materials with extensive direct quotations (in translation).

Findings

Sun initially gave primary attention to land policy, using a (somewhat inconsistent) combination of George's “single tax” and a very different idea of land nationalization. As a result of the debate, however, Sun gave more attention to economic growth, capital formation, and import restriction. Liang initially favored Bismarckian socialism, but moved during the debate to increasing skepticism about a major economic role for government, recognizing the need for entrepreneurship and capital formation.

Originality/value

Existing literature fails to perceive the radical shifts in viewpoint which developed for both Sun and Liang. This is particularly important for Sun, whose later ideas had a major influence on Chinese economic policy after 1927.
The formation of conventional expectations under strong uncertainty: a comment
Authors: Dequech David
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper comments on Theodore Koutsobinas's recent contribution to the debate on the formation of expectations in situations of strong uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The set of comments focuses not on doctrinal‐historical issues, but on Koutsobinas's theoretical framework, which is, in turn, a modified version of the analytical scheme of the state of expectations presented in the present author's 1999 article in the Journal of Post Keynesian Economics.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that the original framework developed in the 1999 “Expectations and confidence” article is general enough to accommodate Koutsobinas's concern with conventional expectations. It also shows that some ways of using that framework to discuss conventions have already been explored in subsequent work. The interesting points made by Professor Koutsobinas can thus be investigated with the original framework, without the changes he suggests.

Originality/value

The paper clarifies some elements of the theory of expectations and confidence formation and its use to study conventional and unconventional behaviour.
The evolving roles of the clubs in the management of international debt
Authors: Brown Richard P.C. , Bulman Timothy J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The regularity of default by countries on their sovereign debt has led to the establishment of a number of evolving institutions or “Clubs”. These institutions' objective is to optimise the impact of imminent default or actual default on both international lending and borrowing. The purpose of this article is to discuss the informal institutions concerned with managing debt between national governments – the Paris Club, between governments and commercial banks – the London Club – and the currently ad hoc dealings with sovereign bonds.

Design/methodology/approach

The Clubs' changing approaches through the increasing depth and number of international financial crises from the Latin American debt crises of the 1980s, the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s and the circumstances of the ex‐Soviet economies, plus the ongoing debt sub‐Saharan African debt crisis are discussed.

Findings

The shifts in the principles underlying the debt management system are manifest by the changing content of reschedulings, from simply deferring payments to actual reduction in their present value.

Practical implications

The functioning of principles of comparable treatment of all creditors are discussed with respect to the growing need for a body representing bondholders' interests.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the IMF's multiple and sometimes conflicting roles in the international financial system.
Democratic development: a comprehensive concept of comparative assessment
Authors: Holmes Jennifer S. , Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres Sheila
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Existing attempts to assess national development and processes of democratization suffer from conceptual and measurement challenges. This paper proposes a comprehensive concept of democratic development and develops a more inclusive concept of democracy to provide a common set of categories to evaluate its depth and quality.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to measure the depth and health of democracy, democratic development incorporates four categories of human progress, each measured by multiple variables. The four categories deemed important for human progress are general development, democratic health, democratic inclusiveness, and human capital. Components of democratic development incorporate existing measures of political and economic development to create a comprehensive and accessible measure of democratic development.

Findings

The comparative tables based on multiple goals of development clearly reveal that neither the GDP index nor the HDI are adequate measures of development. Democratic development can be more fully captured by four perspectives: development, democratic inclusiveness, democratic health, and human capital, providing a framework to measure progress in reform, democracy, and development, from public agencies up to the national level. This concept incorporates aspects and orientations of the capabilities approach to create a concept that is amenable to use as a self‐assessment tool and as a basis for comparison of development, broadly conceived.

Practical implications

This inclusive concept is particularly well suited for analyzing citizen satisfaction and democratic stability.

Originality/value

Rather than focusing on singular measures, the approach presented here offers a balanced set of measures aimed at providing a comprehensive view of the gamut of democratic and economic development processes relative to existing models that is more appropriate for self‐assessment/planning purposes than traditional measures, which may be more appropriate for statistical modeling purposes.
Education in pre‐ and post‐conflict contexts: relating capability and life‐skills approaches
Authors: Dubois Jean‐Luc , Trabelsi Milène
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Conflicts, especially when they turn into civil war or genocide, have irreversible consequences for people. The impact is not only economic as shown by several quantitative studies, but also social and ethical since it deeply affects the mind and behaviour of both current and future generations. The main issue is, therefore, to avoid the eruption of such conflicts, in both pre and post‐conflict situations, by implementing preventive approaches. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Even if macro‐analyses bring up a series of objective causal factors to explain the reasons of uprisings and conflicts, we insist on the importance of people's micro‐attitudes when confronted by such events. The freedom of the agent to react appropriately in order to generate peace, and his responsibility towards the other, become nowadays essential and have to be improved by appropriate innovative education programmes.

Findings

Learning to live together and to behave with esteem and confidence, can contribute substantially to the peace‐keeping or peace‐building processes, especially in pre and post‐conflict situations. Such specific capabilities connect to the “life skills” education programme and could bring vital new opportunities.

Practical implications

However, the economic or political causes of societal failure may still remain, at the macro‐level, and jeopardise these opportunities, with the risk of transforming these positive capabilities into negative behaviour. Therefore, implementing in addition a social precautionary principle and appropriate investigation tools such as observatories and sentinel sites may be required to monitor such risks.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights into the following issue: to what extend and under which conditions will micro‐level measures effectively contribute to peace‐keeping, in the case of pre‐conflict situations, and to peace‐restoring in the case of post‐conflict contexts.
A deliberative ethic for development
Authors: Cameron John , Ojha Hemant
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility of a procedural deliberative alternative to an atomistic conception of individuals and an economic logic of markets or a priori universal lists, as ethical foundation for evaluating socio‐economic change.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop this argument, the paper combines a modified Kantian categorical imperative with deliberative ethics drawing on the writings of Habermas and Dewey. The journey through the European Enlightenment thought of Kant to the contemporary thought of Habermas and Bourdieu aims at mapping continuity and change in key themes in development ethics. These ideas are then given practical application in a case‐study of the people‐forestry interface in Nepal.

Findings

The paper shows how Kantian non‐deception links to Habermas' notion of communicative action and Dewey's notion of cooperative inquiry, and how Kantian non‐coercion links to the inclusion of subaltern voices. While the paper proposes that more open deliberative processes can potentially produce ethical gains, it also identifies an idealistic risk in this position. Bourdieu's thinking is utilised to reveal limitations on improving deliberative processes where there are powerful mechanisms reproducing inequalities.

Practical implications

The paper makes the case for greater attention being given to exploring deliberative processes as a prerequisite for ethical developmental actions.

Originality/value

The paper brings together authors who rarely feature in the development studies discourse and applies their ideas to a practical case study.
Sustainable livelihood approaches and soil erosion risks
Authors: Forsyth Tim
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to debates about environmental policy in developing countries by examining how far sustainable livelihoods approaches (SLAs) to development may allow an alternative and less universalistic approach to environmental changes such as soil erosion.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview of debates about environmental narratives and SLAs. There are tensions in both debates, about how far local institutions represent adaptations to predefined environmental risks, or instead enable a redefinition of risks according to the experience of poor people. In addition, there is a tension in how far SLAs should be seen as a fixed institutional design, or as a framework for organizing ideas and concerns about development. The paper presents research on soil erosion in Thailand as a case study of how SLAs can redefine risks from erosion for poor people.

Findings

SLAs provide a more contextual analysis of how environmental changes such as soil erosion represent risk to different land users, and hence SLAs can make environmental interventions more relevant for reducing vulnerability. But this approach can only succeed if intervener agencies are willing to consider challenging pre‐existing environmental narratives in order to empower local livelihoods.

Originality/value

The paper adds to existing research on SLAs by exploring the implications of SLAs for redefining environmental assumptions. The paper forms part of work aiming to make debates about the politics of environmental knowledge and science more practically relevant within development policy.
Allocating responsibilities in multi‐level governance for sustainable development
Authors: Karlsson Sylvia I.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare three different principles – the culpability, capacity and concern principles – for allocating responsibility for governance in a multi‐level context of addressing sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

The principles are first analysed from a theoretical and normative standpoint, linking to earlier literature on for example, the contribution principle, subsidiarity and global citizenship. Then the three principles are analysed in an empirical setting. The selected case is the issue complex around the health and environmental concerns from pesticide use in developing countries. Document analysis and semi‐structured interviews were carried out with relevant stakeholders from local, national and global governance levels on themes which enabled analysis of the workability and justness of the principles and whether they were already applied to some degree.

Findings

Analysis of the case shows the mutual complementarity of the three principles for allocating responsibility for governance, especially when culpability and capacity are dispersed across different agents and levels. However, the concern and capacity principles emerged as more important and promising. The results indicated the need for moving the value basis of agents towards more selfless global concern in order to create an effective multi‐level governance system.

Practical implications

The results may help policymakers at different levels to analyse more systematically who should assume responsibility for sustainable development governance and why.

Originality/value

Extends the analysis of principles for allocating responsibility for global issues.
Real estate investing
Authors: Johnson Don T.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Aims to explain the rationale for producing an issue on the topic of real estate investing and how these articles fit together.

Design/methodology/approach

Essay format.

Findings

Real estate is probably the largest category of assets for investors and the works in this issue will assist in the decision making processes of real estate investors.

Research limitations/implications

Each of these papers covers only a limited topic and more research in the area is needed.

Practical implications

These papers could change how asset allocation studies are conducted; allow investors to make superior returns around the turn of the month on real estate investment trusts (REITs); alter the capital structure of REITs; seek out real estate mutual funds with higher management fees (because they were associated with higher returns); invest directly in real estate properties.

Originality/value

All five of these papers either examine areas that have not been reviewed by researchers previously, or find results that may result in different investment decisions.
The turn‐of‐the‐month effect in real estate investment trusts (REITs)
Authors: Compton William S. , Johnson Don T. , Kunkel Robert A.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This study seeks to examine the market returns of five domestic real estate investment trust (REIT) indices to determine whether they exhibit a turn‐of‐the‐month (TOM) effect.

Design/methodology/approach

A test is carried out for the TOM effect by employing a battery of parametric and non‐parametric statistical tests that address the concerns of distributional assumption violations. An OLS regression model compares the TOM returns with the rest‐of‐the‐month (ROM) returns and an ANOVA model examines the TOM period while controlling for monthly seasonalities. A non‐parametric t‐test examines whether the TOM returns are greater than the ROM returns and a Wilcoxon signed rank test examines the matched‐pairs of TOM and ROM returns.

Findings

A TOM effect in all five domestic REIT indices is found: real estate 50 REIT, all‐REIT, equity REIT, hybrid REIT, and mortgage REIT. More specifically, the six‐day TOM period, on average, accounts for over 100 per cent of the monthly return for the three non‐mortgage REITs, while the ROM period generates a negative return. Additionally, the TOM returns are greater than the ROM returns in 75 per cent of the months.

Research limitations/implications

The data are limited to five‐years of daily returns and five different indices. Thus, the results could be biased on the selected time period.

Practical implications

These results are important to REIT portfolio managers and investors. Domestic REIT markets experience a TOM effect from which investors and portfolio managers can benefit.

Orginality/value

The daily returns of all five major domestic REIT indices are examined. Data are evaluated which include daily returns after the passage of the REIT Modernization Act of 1999 that resulted in numerous changes for REITs. Whether the TOM effect can be detected with both parametric and non‐parametric tests is examined.
Manager characteristics and real estate mutual fund returns, risk and fees
Authors: Philpot James , Peterson Craig A.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of individual manager characteristics on real estate mutual fund (REMF) performance. Human capital theory predicts that factors like education, experience and professional certifications improve skill sets and thus performance. Conversely, capital markets theory suggests that these things may be irrelevant in the management of mutual funds.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 63 REMFs were sampled over the period 2001‐2003 and equations were estimate regressing, alternatively, risk‐adjusted return, market risk and management fees on a series of fund variables and manager characteristics including the manager's tenure, whether the fund manager holds a professional certification, whether the manager has specific real estate experience, and whether the fund is team‐managed.

Findings

Modest evidence is found that team‐managed funds have lower risk‐adjusted returns than solo‐managed funds. Managers with longer tenure tend to pursue higher market risk levels, and there is no relation between manager characteristics and management fees.

Research limitations/implications

This study considers only one cross‐sectional time period. Future research might use longitudinal data.

Practical implications

Despite real estate being a specialized field of finance, there is little if any support for the predictions of human capital theory that experience, education and training result in greater performance among managers of REMFs.

Originality/value

This paper extends prior work in mutual fund management characteristics and fund performance to real estate funds.
The strong building: a case study in direct investment
Authors: Nelson Walt A.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this case study is to examine direct investment in commercial real estate from the perspective of the individual. While most research is dominated by studies concerning direct investment by institutions (REITs, pension funds, etc.), the bulk of direct investment in commercial property is still conducted by individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents accounting and financial data from the original purchase, management and disposal of a small‐scale office building. Cash flows, returns and risks are measured and analyzed.

Findings

The case demonstrates that successful direct investments may be characterized by short‐term time horizons involving older, small‐scale properties.

Practical implications

This case illustrates the non‐academic nature of real world direct investment in commercial property. The case demonstrates that emotion and good timing are just as important to a successful venture as are cash flows and thorough risk estimates. The case also shows that successful direct investment in commercial property may be limited to smaller, older properties held for short‐term time horizons.

Originality/value

This case study is unique because it identifies the property, the investor, the purchase price, the operating revenues and the sale price and net proceeds. Most case studies conceal many of these facts in order to preserve anonymity.
Dividend policy: a review
Authors: Bhattacharyya N.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to briefly review principal theories of dividend policy and to summarize empirical evidences on these theories.

Design/methodology/approach

Major theoretical and empirical papers on dividend policy are identified and reviewed.

Findings

It is found that the famous dividend puzzle is still unsolved. Empirical evidence is equivocal and the search for new explanation for dividends continues. Also a number of stylized empirical facts about dividends discovered by researchers are noted.

Research limitations/implications

As with any review paper, the major limitation is that necessarily some papers will be left out. Also as newer research is published the review paper will become more dated.

Originality/value

This paper will give the reader a comprehensive understanding of the dividend puzzle and the major paradigms of dividend policy. The paper will also give the reader the major stylized facts about dividend policy.