bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Point of Diminishing Returns in Nutrition Education through Home Visits by Aides: An Evaluation of EFNEP
Authors: Li Wang Virginia , Ephross Paul H. , Green Lawrence W.
Published: November 2015

This three-year evaluation of field work with poor, rural homemakers by nutrition aides employed by the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) of the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service is based on successive annual interviews with 93 homemakers and a control group of 58 designated friends. The results suggest various points of diminishing returns beyond which behavioral and attitudinal changes brought about by the specific educational strategies are too small to justify continued visits to a homemaker. To sustain cost-effective home visits after the first year, more emphasis must be placed on reinforcement of first-year gains, and on expanding the scope of nutrition education to include more health education of other kinds.
Interregional Fiscal Equity and Benefit Transfers
Authors: Smith Paul E.
Published: November 2015

Over twenty years ago James M. Buchanan showed that serious horizontal inequities could exist in a federated system in the sense that residents of relatively low-income political subdivisions might receive lower benefits (net of taxes) from central and state government expenditures than people with the same income residing in high-income states. One possible solution offered was the imposition of discriminatory federal income tax rates with higher rates being charged in high-income states. This paper suggests an alternative solution in the form of federal transfers of benefits among states, either via conditional grants or revenue-sharing. The relative merits of the two approaches are discussed, and it is shown that the redistribution of benefits can be achieved at minimum cost by an application of the Hitchcock transportation problem.
A Study in Equity: Henry C. Simons' Comments on a Manuscript by Groves
Authors: Da Vis J. Ronnie , Hulett Joe R.
Published: November 2015

Prior to publication of his Production, Jobs and Taxes in 1944, Harold Groves submitted the manuscript to Henry Simons for comments and suggestions. Simons' comments, dated October 26, 1943, reveal a serious dispute between his and Groves' views on equity in tax treatment. The views expressed in those comments are typical of Simons' published ones of about the same period. However, they offer a rare glimpse of Simons' trenchant, irascible style of contending with criticism or opposing views.
The Incidence of the Payroll Tax in the United States
Authors: Leuthold Jane H.
Published: November 2015

This study uses quarterly U.S. time-series data to measure the extent to which the payroll tax is shifted onto labor in the United States. A nonlinear labor demand model relating hours of work to a tax variable and other explanatory variables is estimated using ordinary least squares. The main conclusion of the study is that labor in the United States does not bear the primary burden of the payroll tax.
Optimal Policy When Effects on Distribution are Uncertain
Authors: Ohls James C. , Kwoka John E.
Published: November 2015

The paper addresses the question of whether a government seeking to maximize a social welfare function should undertake a policy when it is known for sure that the efficiency effects of the policy are positive, but when the effects of the policy on the distribution of income are uncertain. The principal conclusion of the paper is that the existence of efficiency gains in such a situation is not, in general, sufficient to guarantee that such a policy is optimal. In particular, the answer to the question posed in the paper is shown to depend, in part, on the degree to which society is risk-loving or risk-averse with regard to uncertain changes in the distribution of income.
The Determination of Equalized Valuation: A Massachusetts Case Study
Authors: Rubinfeld Daniel L.
Published: November 2015

The state-determined measure of the equalized valuation of the taxable property base in local jurisdictions is often crucial in the disbursement of state funds. This note describes the outcome of an equalization study for the state of Massachusetts. The results suggest that the ratio of aggregate equalized valuation to true market valuation is always less than one and varies systematically with the population of the communities involved.
Optimal Taxes with Untaxed Goods and Factors
Authors: Boadway Robin W.
Published: November 2015

This paper derives optimal tax rules for an economy which supplies public goods and has several untaxed goods and/or factors The result is a generalization of the Corlett and Hague theorem for which only one untaxed good existed. When some goods or factors are untaxed, the tax rates of the remaining goods and factors must be increased more for those which are most complementary for the goods or factors one would like to tax most, but cannot. Also, the opportunity cost of supplying public goods is decreased if the public goods are complementary with untaxed goods or factors.
Comment: On “Long-Run Growth of Nondefense Government Expenditures in the United States”
Authors: Wiseman Jack , Diamond Jack
Published: November 2015

The paper by Tussing and Henning (1974), which recently appeared in this journal, falls into two parts. One reviews the “determinants” literature: the other presents the authors' own empirical results. The first part properly emphasises the need for a comprehensive approach to the determinants of public expenditure, although some causal influences (e.g., political considerations) appear to be neglected. This emphasis is a welcome recognition that in this field of research we are still concerned essentially with hypothesis formulation: attention needs to be directed primarily to the identification of the important explanatory variables. Unfortunately, despite the breadth of their perspective, Tussing and Henning appear overly ambitious in interpreting their own results. Causal interpretation requires a preconceived idea of what the significant determining variables are, which is difficult in the absence of an operational theory of the fiscal decisionmaking process. In place of this they have adopted a market analogue, which leads to a demand interpretation of expenditure growth. The growth in public spending is thus a function of income, of relative prices (“Baumol's disease”), and of numerous other specific demands (e.g., urbanization, the collectivization of social security, transportation technology, the cold war).
Note on Two Abuses: Drugs and the Pareto Criterion
Authors: Gunning J. Patrick
Published: November 2015

This paper shows, by example, how easy it is for an imaginative economist to manufacture plausible assumptions about individual cognition, even when the set of assumptions is limited to those which conform to the economic paradigm of individual rational choice. It examines a recent article which employed the Pareto criterion to discard classes of arguments in favor of using social policy to control drug abuse. It attempts to show that assumptions which seem realistic can be used to rescue each of the arguments which were discarded. The point that is made is not that social policy should be used to control drug abuse but that economists can do little in this field but provide a means for logically analyzing the problem.
Budgetary Responses of Individual Governmental Units to Federal Grants
Authors: Hardy H. M.
Published: November 2015

The literature on the effect of federal grants on subordinate governmental units' expenditures has generally focused on broad expenditure categories and on all state or state and local governments considered together rather than as individual units. The present study focuses on the effect of federal grants on the expenditure and revenue decisions of individual governmental units, with the dependent program area expenditures being regressed on the specific individual grants for which they are eligible. The estimated equations indicate that the two individual governmental units considered do not respond to federal grants in similar ways.
The Equalization Equivalence of Flat Grants and Foundation Programs: A Further Comment
Authors: Talley Wayne K.
Published: November 2015

In a paper by Gilmer and Morgan (1973) in this journal, an attempt was made to demonstrate that within a state's school finance system, flat grants, foundation programs, and equalized apportionment formulas create equivalent fiscal equalizations effects. Talley (1974) challenged this conclusion by demonstrating with Gilmer and Morgan's assumption, that the tax base of the ith school district and the state tax base in the ith school district being identical, it follows that either the state or local school districts are financing 100% of the subsidy program—which is contrary to the definition of at least one of the education subsidy programs considered by Gilmer and Morgan. Talley did not prove that the formulas considered by Gilmer and Morgan were not equivalent, but in being equivalent Gilmer and Morgan no longer had at least one of the following formulas—flat grant formula, foundation program formula, and equalized apportionment formula.
The Effect of Inflation on the Income Elasticity of Taxes
Authors: Suyderhoud Jack P. , Veseth Michael
Published: November 2015

This paper defines the relationship between the nominal (or money) income elasticity and the real income elasticity of a tax system. Under most circumstances, the real and the nominal income elasticities differ. This difference has not been recognized by economists who rely strictly on nominal elasticities as an indicator of revenue adequacy or tax burden, a practice which can be misleading, especially under conditions of general price inflation. The income tax, sales tax and property tax are analyzed briefly in terms of their elasticity features.
The Distribution of the Benefits of Public Expenditure in Panama
Authors: Sahota Gians. S.
Published: November 2015

In this study of the regional and sectoral distribution of public expenditure benefits in Panama, current expenditures of the ordinary budget and investment outlays of development plans are analyzed separately. Implicit measures of public expenditure distribution are also included. The study is based on agricultural and demographic census reports, government budgets, and other data sources. The results indicate that Panama's income is rather poorly distributed among both regions and families. The Gini coefficient varies from .51 to .69 between provinces and sectors. Public expenditures tend to reduce income inequalities, investment outlays more so than ordinary expenditures.
Post-Fisc Distributions of Income in 1950, 1961, and 1970
Authors: Reynolds Morgan , Smolensky Eugene
Published: November 2015

Distributions of income after allocating all government taxes and expenditures to households are compared over two decades. Extending prior work back an additional decade and adding extensive sensitivity analyses leave our earlier conclusions unaffected. Specifically, despite efforts towards a more egalitarian distribution and a sizable increase in benefits accruing to the low end of the distribution, aggregate income dispersion in final distributions changed very little between 1950 and 1970.
Discretionary Pricing and Tax Shifting
Authors: Frankel Marvin
Published: November 2015

Utilizing the assumption that the demand function is not objectively known, the paper develops a pricing model of firm. The model, which emphasizes the discretionary nature of the firm's position and provides a formal rationale for it, is then used to examine the reactions of the firm to excise and income taxes. One finding is that the firm's response to a tax may depend in substantial degree on certain factors not ordinarily recognized to be important. A related finding is that these factors may be no less influential for the pricing decision following an income tax as for that following an excise tax. The analysis suggests also that reliance on a pricing formula is an expected byproduct of unknown demand and may serve as effectively as available alternatives to facilitate the price-making process.
Property Tax Assessment Practice and Income Elasticities
Authors: Mikesell John L.
Published: November 2015

The routines of property tax assessment practiced by state and local governments differ dramatically among jurisdictions. Regardless of particular routine applied (annual assessment, staggered cyclical assessment, or cyclical mass assessment), units often experience wholesale reassessments, and these events have significant impacts on the property tax base. These assessment periods complicate estimates of secular income elasticity of the tax and can, unless corrected, produce forecasts that have unnecessary errors. This paper presents a method for separation of assessment effects from the influence of income changes, applies the method to a cyclical mass assessment state (Indiana), and examines the effects of reassessment on both assessed values and tax levies. Evidence suggests that much of the observed assessed value response over time is reassessment-related. Further, the evidence indicates that, with flexible property tax rates, reassessments are not used as opportunities for concealed property tax levy increases. The findings provide strong support for careful consideration of assessment policy, along with other institutional features, in local fiscal analysis.
Wealth Neutral Grants for Public Education
Authors: Gilmer Robert W. , Morgan Daniel C.
Published: November 2015

This article assesses wealth neutral grants within the traditional framework of the fiscal federalism. Discussions of the concept of fiscal equality or District Power Equalization (DPE) have centered largley on local control, and have defined equity as a problem of the comparison of local jurisdictions. The individual resident and the state government lie on either side of the locality in terms of collective decision-making, yet the perspective of neither of these sides has been adequately considered in past studies. These grants can cause substantial redefinitions of revenue responsibilities among various levels of government; they do far less than is commonly assumed to provide horizontal equity; and they do not relieve problems of location bias. We find that none of these problems, either individually or collectively, constitute an indictment of these grants, but their careful consideration offers a more balanced view of DPE than any yet offered
Optimality in Municipal Debt: A Comment and Respecification
Authors: Sullivan Patrick J.
Published: November 2015

The optimal level of debt financing by municipally owned and operated enterprises is examined, with particular emphasis placed on several misconceptions involved in an earlier article by Robert A. Collins. A respecified cost minimization model, taking the cost of risk bearing and the private rate of time preference into account, is proposed. The resulting policy implications for debt financing are very different from those argued by Collins and from those traditionally made for general-purpose municipal financing.
The Distributional Impact of Public Goods
Authors: Raymond Richard D. , Sesnowitz Michael
Published: November 2015

Aspects of the method developed by Aaron and McGuire and Maital (AMM) for estimating the benefit distributions associated with the provision of pure public goods are clarified and the method is extended to cover the case of public projects designed to improve the quality of impure public goods. The extended method is used to estimate the distributional impact of a proposed public project in the Cleveland-Akron metropolitan region, and the results are compared with estimates obtained from three naive models and from the AMM model for pure public goods. It is found that the native models overestimate substantially the net benefits received by low-income families and underestimate the net benefits received by high-income families. Using the AMM method for a pure public good similarly distorts the results, though by a much smaller magnitude.
Public Utility Pricing, Investment, and Reliability under Uncertainty: A Review
Authors: Gellerson Mark W. , Grosskopf Shawna P.
Published: November 2015

During the last decade, considerable work has been done to develop rules for optimal public utility pricing and capacity investment in the presence of uncertainty and/or nonhomogeneous technology; a variety of different results have geen obtained. This article reviews this literature with the purpose of reconciling apparent differences and synthesizing a consistent set of results. One of the principal contributions of this literature is that it emphasizes that the reliability of supply should be jointly optimized with prices and capacities. However, it is suggested here than an adequate framework for accomplishing this objective has not appeared in the literature. The specific weakness is in the measurement of the costs associated with supply interruptions. Finally, suggestions for improvements in the approach to optimizing price, capacity, and reliability are offered; important topics for future research are outlined.
A Simple Model of Political Contributions
Authors: Bental Benjamin , Ben-Zion Uri
Published: November 2015

A microeconomic model of supply and demand for political contributions is developed. The supply is derived from the behavior of firms which want to maximize the expected gain from supporting political candidates in an election campaign. These firms allocate funds to opposing candidates, and equate the expected marginal return of a dollar contributed to each candidate. The maximizing conditions lead to a comparative statistics analysis. The demand for contributions is derived by positing that political candidates derive utility from their prospects of being elected and from some favored political stance. The latter may be traded for contributions, which enhance the candidate's election probability. The implications of this simple theory are tested using the 1972 congressional elections results. Simultaneity problems are solved by using two-stage least-squares techniques. The results of the empirical analysis conform reasonably well with the predictions of the theoretical model.
Price Discrimination and Federal Project Grants
Authors: Chernick Howard A.
Published: November 2015

A discriminating monopoly model of bureaucratic behavior was developed to explain the distribution of project grants to state and local governments. By varying matching rates according to differences in the elasticity of each community's offer curve, the grant administrator attempted to maximize the expenditure inducement effect per dollar of federal aid. The implication is that the allocational effects of intergovernmental aid depend both on local reaction functions and on the degree of bureaucratic discretion in the distribution of aid. The model was tested using the HUD Basic Water and Sewer project grant, and it is shown that matching rates vary systematically with a community's own expenditure level, its per capita income, and its population. Price discrimination was found to increase over time, leading to an increase in expenditures mandated by the grant.
The Elusive Incidence of the Corporate Income Tax: The State Case
Authors: McLure Charles E.
Published: November 2015

A recurring theme in the literature on taxation has been uncertainty about the incidence of the corporate income tax. The answer may be even more elusive for state taxes than for federal taxes. As seen by one state, a corporate income tax levied on the basis oformula apportionment of total income is a composite of taxes levied on whatever factors enter the state's apportionment formula. Such a tax is likely to be borne primarily by residents of the taxing state, as consumers, immobile workers, and owners of land and immobile capital. Substantial shifting to consumers or capitalists throughout the nation is unlikely.
Telecolposcopy—A Feasibility Study in Primary Care
Authors: Etherington Ian J
Published: November 2015

Organized cervical screening has reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer, but this has resulted in large numbers of women requiring investigation. We have investigated the negative predictive value of colposcopy and used telemedicine to develop a secondary screening technique for use in primary care. A video-colposcope was used to record video-clips, which were subsequently transmitted to a specialist for interpretation. The gold standard for the comparison was the opinion of the colposcopist who examined the women in the hospital colposcopy clinic. Eighty-one out of 97 women were studied by both techniques. Using a diagnosis of normal or abnormal, telecolposcopy had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 93.3%. There was very good agreement between the telecolposcopy screener and the colposcopist (Cohen's kappa statistic = 0.70). Furthermore, telecolposcopy screening did not grade any cases of colposcopic high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia as normal. The pilot study has established the validity of diagnosing from transmitted computerized video-clips.
Air Sea Rescue, Telemedicine Style
Authors: Ferguson J , Aujla K , Pedley D , Palombo A
Published: November 2015

Historically, requests from shipping in UK coastal waters for emergency medical advice have been handled on an ad hoc basis by various accident and emergency departments on behalf of the Coastguard. A formal contract to provide this service has recently been established with the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, England. A pre-contract audit showed that the involvement of medical professionals in the evacuation decision improved the quality of triage and intervention. The medical staff at both hospitals received training in giving medical advice and the level of medical knowledge that could reasonably be expected of ships' crews. Providing advice to commercial airlines developed from the maritime service. In association with a private company, staff at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary have developed procedures to support cabin crew and medical professionals on board (initial figures suggest that a medical professional is present on about 45% of flights). At present, although there are insufficient data to draw any firm conclusions, it appears that up to two-thirds of diversions could be avoided using this service.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Telecare
Authors: Mair F , Boland A , Angus R , Haycox A , May C , Hibbert D , Bonner S , Roberts C , Capewell S , Bundred P
Published: November 2015

We have established a randomized controlled trial of home telecare. The intervention aims to address a growing problem in the National Health Service (NHS), that is, high admission rates of patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Equipment procurement for the trial has been difficult, as no single supplier was able to meet the project's full requirements. The fact that the service is provided by existing clinical NHS staff has advantages when considering the generalizability of the results within the NHS. However, there are also disadvantages, since existing staff have little research experience. Considerable time has been required to help staff familiarize themselves with the equipment and become comfortable with its use. This has posed a barrier to the implementation of the service.
The Attitudes, Expectations and Needs of Elderly People in Relation to E-Health Applications: Results from a European Survey
Authors: Stroetmann Veli N , Hüsing Tobias , Kubitschke Lutz , Stroetmann Karl A
Published: November 2015

We have carried out a survey of elderly people in Europe relating to e-health and telemedicine issues. Telephone-based interview techniques were used in 13 countries and face-to-face interviews were used in Ireland and Portugal, where there are significant numbers of houses without telephones. Altogether 9661 interviews were performed. Most respondents (65%) lived in rural areas or small towns; the remainder lived in suburban areas or large towns. Virtually all respondents (98%) had access to a television set. About 30% received cable television and 13% had access to digital television. Almost half (48%) had access to mobile phones (with 42% actually using them), 36% had access to PCs (with 27% being active users) and 22% had access to the Internet (with 17% being active users). The respondents showed interest in various e-health applications, although this declined considerably with age. The survey showed that the older people get, the more they depend on medical and social care, and the more they tend to live alone, without a family member to look after them. Policy measures relating to infrastructure as well as training, education and awareness activities will be required to avoid a ‘medical divide’ between those senior citizens who have access to advanced medical advice and services and those who do not.
Four Years' Experience of Telemedicine Support of a Minor Accident and Treatment Service
Authors: Tachakra Sapal , Uche Chris Uko , Stinson Alistair
Published: November 2015

In 1996 we studied patients attending a minor accident and treatment service in London, some of whom were the subjects of teleconsultations with a main hospital emergency department. In the subsequent four years, 56,139 patients were seen at the minor accident and treatment service unit. Teleconsultations were performed in 2032 cases (3.6%). Most of the teleconsultations (58%) concerned patients with fractures. The main reason for teleconsultation was to review and discuss radiographs (46%). In comparison with the 1996 study, both the emergency nurse practitioners and the consultant had improved the accuracy of their teleradiology diagnosis, although the difference was not significant. Most of the telemedicine patients (90%) did not need a transfer to the main department. Thus telemedicine allowed local decision making in the majority of cases. In the 1996 survey, 75% of patients were sent to their general practitioner or to the main hospital department; in the present survey, this proportion had halved, to 38%. The present study showed that teleconsultations are an effective way of preventing patients being transferred unnecessarily from a minor accident and treatment service to the main hospital accident and emergency department.
Theoretical Efficiency of a Televisiting Service for Home Care Support
Authors: Valero M A , Gil G , Gutiérrez C , Fernández J , Martínez Y , Núñez B , Arredondo M T
Published: November 2015

We have made a theoretical study of the potential for televisiting. All journeys made by the home care support team in an area of Madrid were reviewed to study the possibility of using televisiting. During the year 2000 the team provided an average of seven home visits a day. The home visits took 30 min on average, and the journey time was 30 min for urban areas and 45 min in the suburbs. We estimated that two of each day's visits could be carried out by telemedicine, with a mean duration of 15 min each. A model was used to calculate the resource demands and the potential cost-savings of televisiting compared with traditional home care. Using televisiting, 62% more suburban oncology patients could be managed and a cost reduction of €6 per visit could be achieved after 10 weeks.
The North Lewisham Telepsychiatry Project: Beyond the Pilot Phase
Authors: McLaren Paul , Ahlbom Johanna , Riley Anne , Mohammedali Akber , Denis Michael
Published: November 2015

The integration of a telepsychiatry application into an inner-city community mental health service was evaluated over 10 months. ISDN videoconferencing at 128 kbit/s was employed for psychiatric consultation between a primary care centre and a community mental health centre. A convenience sample of patients and referrals seen by videoconferencing was compared with a sample seen face to face. During the study period 19 patients were managed by videoconferencing and 12 face to face. There were 162 consultations, comprising 81 prearranged teleconsultations and 81 prearranged face-to-face consultations. There was no significant difference in attendance between videoconferencing and face-to-face consultations. Nine of the videoconferencing new referrals had not completed their treatment at the end of the study period, compared with only three in the face-to-face group. This implies that it takes longer to complete treatment for new referrals managed by videoconferencing.
The MPEG-4 Standard and Electronic Reporting for Mobile, Multimedia Patient Records
Authors: Brox Georg A , Huston Janis L
Published: November 2015

Electronic reporting and transfer of confidential patient data to the electronic patient record using Internet-related and wireless technologies can pose threats to the security and integrity of data. The MPEG-4 (Moving Pictures Experts Group —Version 4) standard can enable the seamless integration of text, digitized images and video sequences, and the necessary data security protocols for mobile access to and transfer of patient information. This standard will improve the quality of the electronic patient record as well as the reliability of authentication of reports. Applying the standard for patient reporting will also improve ways for authorized users to interact with patient records. Easier access to mobile multimedia patient records will assist clinicians in documenting patient episodes in a more timely and synchronous manner. This will result in better communication between health-care team members by allowing them to stay linked and interactive even when separated by distances in a telemedicine environment.
Multi-Unit Management in Service Operations: Alternative Approaches in the UK Hospitality Industry
Authors: Goss-Turner Steven , Jones Peter
Published: November 2015

This paper reports on research in eight major UK hospitality companies in relation to the ‘first-line multi-unit management’ level, commonly known as ‘area management’. It is hypothesised that managers in this multi-unit role face a number of issues that arise out of their position within these geographically dispersed organisations. The research design was based on in-depth interviews and analysis of company documentation. The findings demonstrate the concern of multi-unit managers about a range of issues relating to their task and roles, their relationships with superiors and subordinates, and the size and scope of their area. Four key aspects of the role are proposed: job scope; organisational congruence; geographic density; and unit conformity. Despite being drawn from a single industry, these dimensions vary widely. It is speculated that the two key factors influencing this diverse range of approaches are the ‘dynamism’ of the firm and the number of concepts within the firm. Hence four alternative approaches to area management are identified: the archetype; the entrepreneur; the multi-brand manager; and the business manager.
Structural Equation Modelling in Hospitality Research
Authors: Testa Mark R.
Published: November 2015

Structural equation modelling (SEM) is a statistical procedure gaining increased attention in psychology, marketing and business research. As few studies in hospitality research utilise this cutting-edge method of modelling and testing linear relationships, this paper seeks to rationalise the implementation of its use. A conceptual and non-technical overview of the process is discussed, identifying the positive and negative aspects of the procedure. In addition, examples of SEM in practice in hospitality research are examined.
Shared Priorities and the Management Development Process: A Case Study of Bass Taverns
Authors: Brotherton Bob , Watson Sandra
Published: November 2015

This paper explores the extent to which the management development process (MDP) within Bass Taverns is focused on shared priorities. The research focuses on the existence, or otherwise, of a ‘shared managerial understanding’ of those factors, skills/competences and performance measures deemed to be critical for successful licensed house operations and licensed house management. It presents the findings of surveys conducted at senior and licensed house manager levels within the company, which were designed to establish the extent to which inter-hierarchical consistency exists concerning the criticality of the identified success factors, skills/competences and performance measures.
Reaching the Unwanted and Unreachable: An Analysis of the Outbound, Long-Haul German and British Visiting Friends and Relatives Market
Authors: Morrison Alastair M. , Verginis Constantinos S. , O'Leary Joseph T.
Published: November 2015

Several researchers have suggested that practitioners underappreciate the value and significance of the visiting friends and relatives (VFR) market in tourism. In part, this has been attributed to a lack of accurate data and research on this segment of the pleasure travel market. Based upon two large-scale surveys of the German and British outbound, long-haul markets, the overall objectives of this study were to examine the expenditure patterns and levels of German and British long-haul VFR travellers, and to compare VFR traveller characteristics with other pleasure travel trip-purpose segments. The study clearly indicated that VFR travellers from Germany and the UK spent significant amounts at their destinations, and had different demographics, trip characteristics, trip satisfaction levels, value for money perceptions and future intentions for return visits than other types of pleasure travellers.
Entrance into Tourism Entrepreneurship: A UK Case Study
Authors: Szivas Edith
Published: November 2015

The paper reports a study of entrance into tourism entrepreneurship in two areas of the UK. It focuses on the take-up of small businesses in tourism and examines issues of skill accumulation, capital acquisition, motives and impacts. The research supports findings from previous studies in terms of relative ease of entry to the industry and there is clear evidence of ‘way of life’ motives. In the context of human capital, the study shows limited reliance upon past experience. There is evidence of general contentment with the impacts on personal and working life but the findings indicate that a certain trade-off process takes place.
The Future of Tourism Education: An Australian Scenario?
Authors: McKercher Bob
Published: November 2015

There is remarkable consistency in the evolution of university-level tourism programmes around the world, especially when such programmes evolved out of the polytechnic system. After a relatively slow incubation period, tourism education programmes tend to undergo a period of rapid expansion, where both the number of providers and student demand increase dramatically. Most academics feel this growth is unsustainable and predict that a shake-out in programmes is inevitable. Australia was one of the first countries to pursue university-level tourism education programmes aggressively as part of national policy. As such, it is evolving through its life cycle ahead of many other jurisdictions. The Australian experience may, therefore, be a precursor to what could happen in other jurisdictions. This paper reports on a qualitative study of what senior Australian tourism academics feel the future will be for the sector. Most feel that Australia is now in the late maturity or early decline stages of the tourism education life cycle. Consequently, most predict a consolidation of programmes, although there is much debate about which programmes will thrive and which will falter. They also believe that fee-paying postgraduate programmes may be the catalyst to revive the life cycle.
Second Home Ownership and Sustainable Development in Northern Sweden
Authors: Müller Dieter K.
Published: November 2015

Second home tourism can be considered a good option for contributing to sustainable development in rural areas (i) due to its limited negative impact on environment and host community and (ii) due to its important contribution to local service suppliers. This is particularly true when the second home is not rented but owned. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to provide a broad overview of second home ownership in peripheral parts of Sweden and to discuss the interrelationship between sustainable development and second home tourism in these areas. It is argued that a decreasing demand for second homes due to societal changes in the metropolitan areas challenges the role of second home tourism for a sustainable development. The analysis is mainly based on a unique geographical database covering more than 500,000 second homes in Sweden and providing information about their value, location and owners. Recent statistics on second home usage are used to complement the other data.
Crime in London Hotels
Authors: Jones Peter , Groenenboom Karen
Published: November 2015

There is a considerable literature on tourism and crime, with an emphasis on the tourist as victim. This study attempts to identify aspects of criminal behaviour in which the tourist may be the perpetrator of crime and hotels may be the victim. This paper presents findings on the key issues of hotel crime as described by the security managers of eight large, five-star London hotels. Respondents were asked to discuss the types of crime they have experienced during their careers as hotel security managers, along with their modus operandi and their frequency. The security managers also indicated if there were any seasonal trends that they could identify and how the hotel environment influences the nature of crime in hotels. This exploratory study suggests that hotel crime is different from tourist crime, and identifies factors that may influence level and type of crime in hotels.
Tourism Destinations as Clusters: Analytical Experiences from the New World
Authors: Jackson Julie , Murphy Peter
Published: November 2015

This paper responds to the recent paper by Hjalager (2000) which analyses tourism destinations in Europe within the framework of the industrial districts model (Piore and Sabel, 1984). Hjalager finds that despite tourism destinations having many of the identifying characteristics of industrial districts, there are elements of these destinations that defy the theory, which hamper their ability to cooperate in destination development and promotion. This paper suggests the use of Porter's (1998) cluster model as an extension of the industrial district model and as a broader analytical framework for measuring the success of tourism destinations. Two regional tourist destinations outside Europe are analysed within this framework. The authors find that the cluster model is a suitable analytical framework and that tourism destinations in the ‘New World’ are likely to be quite receptive to working cooperatively to develop their product.
Small Tourism Businesses and E-Commerce: Victorian Tourism Online
Authors: Morrison Alison J. , King Brian E.M.
Published: November 2015

The success of many destination marketing initiatives is dependent upon the effective engagement of a significant proportion of small tourism businesses. This represents a significant challenge for public sector agencies charged with the development and implementation of such initiatives, many of which have deliberately integrated e-commerce components in response to the re-engineering of tourism market places and supply chains. Drawing on associated literature and empirical research presented in the form of a case study, this paper makes a contribution towards understanding and knowledge pertaining to small tourism businesses, their engagement in e-commerce practices and consequential interaction with destination marketing organisations.
Public-Private Interactions in Anglo-Greek Tourism: Reflections on Aspects of the Primary Research Process
Authors: Papageorglou Georgios
Published: November 2015

The issues discussed in this paper stem from the author's ongoing work in the field of tourism. The main research areas are the relationships between tour operators, the accommodation sector and National Tourism Offices with an emphasis on marketing and promotion, as well as the influence of external factors on the effectiveness of promotional activities. The connections, along these lines, between the UK and Greece are examined in a case study. The paper will illustrate the thought process underpinning the primary research for the study. Its aim is to highlight and analyse a number of methodological considerations and conscious decisions that had to be made during its course, while emphasis is given to the issues revolving around the preparation and implementation of primary research.
Host Attitudes towards Guests in the Homestay Sector
Authors: Lynch Paul A.
Published: November 2015

This paper reports on an investigation into host attitudes towards guests in one segment of the homestay accommodation sector: host families. In addition to discussion of the main characteristics of hostfamilies, host attitudes to guests are examined through an adapted framework of Argyll et al. (1981); the results of statistical testing to distinguish between hosts on the basis of their commercial orientation are presented. Comparison of similarities and differences across bed and breakfast, farmhouse stays and hostfamilies are made, and suggestions are offered with regard to training and support interventions in the homestay sector concerning host-guest interactions. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the quality treadmill approach to training, and the possible commercialised hospitality it may engender.
Hotel Managerial Ownership and Firm Performance: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Gu Zheng , Qian Yu
Published: November 2015

Abstract

Agency theory suggests that increasing managerial ownership, or the proportion of stocks owned by corporate managers, can better align owner/manager interests and motivate managers for better performance. This study empirically examines the impact of managerial ownership on firm performance in the hotel industry. Using the 1996 financial data of 45 US hotel companies, the study found that managerial holdings had a positive impact on profit margin, operating return and return to owners' equity. The positive impact was more significant in the fast-growing regular hotel sector than in the slow-growing casino hotel sector. The findings show that increasing managerial ownership can be a viable means for improving accounting profitability in the hotel industry.
The Representation of Street Lantern Characteristics
Authors: Maxted R.
Published: November 2015

This paper examines from two points of view the problem of selecting suitable diagrams for representing lantern characteristics.

The subject is first considered in the light of a general investigation of the fundamental factors influencing visibility. In this an analysis of the optical designs of installations must be made in conjunction with a subjective survey of the visibility results achieved. A brief account of this work is given to show some of the considerations which influence the choice of lantern diagrams. Two simple diagrams which are of value in this work are suggested for general use.

The problem is also examined from the point of view of specifying a street-lighting installation, and it is shown that the same diagrams are suitable.
The Calculation of Light Output from Opal Fittings
Authors: Holmes J. G.
Published: November 2015

Methods are given for calculating the light output of an enclosed or reflecting fitting. The formulae are derived from Ryde and Cooper's work, and experimental results give satisfactory confirmation. The light output of any specified fitting is shown by a nomogram and the comparison is made between B.S.S.324 and the German Specification DIN.5036.
Light Scattering by Road Surfaces: A Theoretical Treatment
Authors: Bloch A.
Published: November 2015

Synopsis.—In this paper the hypothesis is put forward that a road surface behaves as a system of an infinite number of polished facets, the orientation of which varies according to certain distribution laws, and the reflection factor of which depends on the angle of reflection. An experiment is described which suggests the existence of such a system of facets. It is shown that experimental results can be conveniently and sufficiently accurately expressed in terms of this hypothesis; and there follows a rapid method for plotting isobrightness contours on the perspective image of a road which is illuminated by a light source of known polar distribution. A qualitative explanation is also given of the changes in light reflecting properties of a surface which can be observed with progressive wear and polish, or with wetting.
The Effect of Flash Frequency on the Apparent Intensity of Flashing Lights Having Constant Flash Duration
Authors: Schuil A. E.
Published: November 2015

Observations were made in the laboratory, on the effect of varying the flash frequency on the apparent intensity of flashing lights having durations of 1/40th second and 1/10th second. The majority of the readings were taken at an illumination level of 0.5 mile-candle on the eye. This is the desirable lower limit of illumination on the eye for adequate conspicuity of marine and aviation lights. Observations had been reported indicating that when distant lights were flashed at frequencies above that at which the flashes were distinct, the intensity appeared greater than Talbot's Law would suggest. It is shown that these observations, which were not made under controlled conditions, were evidently in error. Up to frequencies of about 5 flashes per second the light appears as flashing and its apparent intensity can be obtained from the fixed light intensity by the application of the Blondel-Rey correction. At higher frequencies than about 13 flashes per second (with the shorter flashes) the light appears continuous and the Blondel-Rey correction is no longer applicable; instead Talbot's Law applies. Between about 5 and 13 flashes per second the light appears to flicker and the apparent intensity is greater than either Talbot's Law or the Blondel-Rey correction would indicate. This flickering light is not thought to be of any practical value as its apparent intensity is less than a flashing light consuming the same amount of energy but giving a readable flashing indication.
Note on Window Calculations
Authors: Smith T.
Published: November 2015

Simple equations are obtained for ascertaining the window area necessary to secure a given penetration of daylight into a room and for the determination of daylight contours. Evidence is given to show that the results to which these equations lead are of good accuracy.