bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Civil society as a contested field of meanings
Authors: Roginsky Sandrine , Shortall Sally 
Published: October 2009

PurposeDuring recent years, the concept of civil society, particularly global civil society, has come to the fore in both academia and policy circles. A key component of recent theoretical and policy research is the attempt to do international comparative research on the meaning of civil society. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the language and the terminology used to describe the agents of civil society are reflective of cultural and historical contexts of societies, have distinct meanings and cannot be used interchangeably.Design/methodology/approachIn different national contexts, the key agents of civil society are referred to differently; nonprofit sector, voluntary and community sector, third sector and social economy. In comparative studies, scholars often list these concepts to indicate that they recognise that the agents of civil society are referred to differently in different societies. The article offers a socio‐historical analysis of each concept. It is concluded that teasing out the differences, as well as the similarities, between the nonprofit sector, voluntary and community sector, third sector and social economy, is crucial to robust comparative research on civil society.FindingsThis paper exposes a number of limitations of each of the terminologies used to describe civil society. They all present a much more limiting notion of civil society than that proposed by the founding fathers. None seem to capture the range of civil associations in any society. Yet, assumptions are made that the terminologies used have similar meanings rather than attempting to clarify and define exactly what is being written or described. This is exacerbated by the interchangeable usage of nonprofit/third sector/community and voluntary sector/social economy. In order to progress beyond culturally specific understandings of civil society, it is necessary to examine the terminology used and how it emanates from a specific cultural and political context. Having a clear understanding of the language used and what it signifies is crucial to robust cross‐national comparative research.Originality/valueThis paper examines context specific understandings of civil society and the terminology used to define it; a question not previously addressed. It is hoped that this article will generate much needed further debate on cross‐national meanings of civil society.
Ethnic minorities, retirement planning and Personal Accounts
Authors: Gough Orla , Hick Rod 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine issues relating to public and private pensions for individuals from some of the major ethnic minority groups in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on data from in‐depth interviews and focus groups with 64 respondents from the six largest ethnic minority groups in the UK, as well as from a white British control group.FindingsThe research found that a belief in the need for retirement planning was held by respondents of all backgrounds, that there was a widespread view that state pension should be increased to a more adequate level, and concern amongst some respondents that they would be unable to receive retirement income from pension schemes if they were to retire in another country.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the research largely concern the limited sample of respondents (n = 64), the use of English in all interviews and significant reliance on the internet in order to contact potential respondents.Practical implicationsIt is suggested that more widespread information about retirement planning is needed in minority ethnic media and that in promoting the forthcoming scheme of Personal Accounts, the government should make clear the extent to which the scheme will allow members to receive retirement income in another country, for those who choose to retire abroad.Originality/valueThe paper contributes new information about attitudes to the forthcoming scheme of Personal Accounts, and explores retirement strategies of ethnic minority individuals in the UK.
Rational volunteering: a benefit‐cost approach
Authors: Lee Young‐joo , Brudney Jeffrey L. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how the perceived benefits and costs of volunteering affect participation. Based on this rational choice approach, the research tests a multivariate model of the determinants of volunteering.Design/methodology/approachThe database for the empirical analysis is the 2005 Americans' Time Use Survey. To estimate the model of participation in volunteer activity, this research uses the complementary log‐log technique.FindingsThe findings support the central hypothesis that participation in volunteering decreases as the opportunity cost of volunteer activity increases. In addition, participation in volunteering increases as people perceive themselves as more embedded in their communities, thus suggesting that rational individuals make strategic assessments in their decisions to volunteer based on the level of trust in the exchange relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings suggest that policies that promote a sense of embeddedness in the community, as well as those that link the workplace and volunteer opportunities, would help motivate rational individuals to volunteer. In‐depth interviews to ascertain people's motivations to volunteer would be useful to supplement the findings.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that policies that promote a sense of embeddedness in the community, as well as those that link the workplace and volunteer opportunities, would help motivate rational individuals to volunteer.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the understanding of volunteer behavior as a rational choice in an exchange relationship. Based on these findings, this research argues that policies that promote a sense of community embeddedness as well as those that link the workplace and volunteer opportunities, help motivate rational individuals to volunteer.
Lean and agile manufacturing: external and internal drivers and performance outcomes
Authors: Hallgren Mattias , Olhager Jan 
Published: October 2009

PurposeLean and agile manufacturing are two initiatives that are used by manufacturing plant managers to improve operations capabilities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate internal and external factors that drive the choice of lean and agile operations capabilities and their respective impact on operational performance.Design/methodology/approachLean and agile manufacturing are each conceptualized as a second‐order factor and measured through a bundle of distinct practices. The competitive intensity of industry and the competitive strategy are modeled as potential external and internal drivers, respectively, and the impact on quality, delivery, cost, and flexibility performance is analyzed using structural equations modeling. The model is tested with data from the high performance manufacturing project comprising a total of 211 plants from three industries and seven countries.FindingsThe results indicate that lean and agile manufacturing differ in terms of drivers and outcomes. The choice of a cost‐leadership strategy fully mediates the impact of the competitive intensity of industry as a driver of lean manufacturing, while agile manufacturing is directly affected by both internal and external drivers, i.e. a differentiation strategy as well as the competitive intensity of industry. Agile manufacturing is found to be negatively associated with a cost‐leadership strategy, emphasizing the difference between lean and agile manufacturing. The major differences in performance outcomes are related to cost and flexibility, such that lean manufacturing has a significant impact on cost performance (whereas agile manufacturing has not), and that agile manufacturing has a stronger relationship with volume as well as product mix flexibility than does lean manufacturing.Research limitations/implicationsCross‐sectional data from three industries and seven countries are used, and it would be interesting to test this model for more industries and countries.Practical implicationsThe results provide insights into the factors that influence the choice of lean or agile manufacturing for improving operations, and the results that can be obtained.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge, this is the first large‐scale empirical survey of leanness and agility simultaneously, using data from manufacturing firms in Europe, Asia, and North America. The model incorporates a wide perspective on factors related to lean and agile manufacturing, to be able to identify similarities and differences.
A quantitative model for the introduction of RFId in the fast moving consumer goods supply chain
Authors: Miragliotta Giovanni , Perego Alessandro , Tumino Angela 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe an analytical model to assess the costs and benefits of radio frequency identification (RFId) applications in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on an in‐depth literature review and a classification of the main contributions regarding the assessment of RFId applications. The impact of RFId technology on supply chain processes has been modelled using an activity‐based approach. An extensive, six‐month discussion and refinement process with the logistics and supply chain managers of 30 FMCG companies is conducted to validate the model and to collect the required inputs.FindingsPallet‐ and case‐level taggings have been explored. The former scenario shows limited benefits, whereas the actual potential of RFId becomes clear in the latter. The profitability of these projects is significantly affected by the costs of RFId tags and by the characteristics of the base‐line supply chain in terms of efficiency, quality requirements and, of course, product features. The model provides a clear assessment of how and when a positive return on investment can be achieved, even with today's technology (in terms of costs and performances).Originality/valueThis is one of the first attempts to provide a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of an RFId application, taking into account all the major factors involved. The model can be a valuable support to manufacturers and retailers in evaluating their investments.
Internationalization of supply networks inside and outside clusters
Authors: Chiarvesio Maria , Di Maria Eleonora 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare supply network strategies of district firms (from now on ID) and non‐district (non‐ID) firms with the aim of outlining emerging strategies as well as identifying similarities and differences between business models.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is based on a quantitative approach: the TeDIS survey focuses on 45 leading Italian districts and SMEs located outside districts (Made in Italy sectors). Results refer to 630 Italian firms.FindingsThere are more similarities than differences between the approach of ID and non‐ID companies to supply networks. ID firms rely more on local systems in terms of supply networks, while non‐ID firms have also invested at national level (subcontracting networks). The global geographical extension of supply networks stresses the ID companies' search for efficiency in addition to value‐added competences. Non‐ID firms have a more hierarchical approach to internationalization than ID firms, but differences decrease as the size of the companies increases.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is still preliminary. Future research should explore the relationships between the strategic approach to supply networks of district firms and non‐ID firms in terms of characteristics of the relationship management and aims of relationships, also with a focus on the size of these firms.Originality/valueWithin the existing literature, the original contribution of the paper lies in its comparison of supply network strategies in ID and non‐ID firms based on a significant quantitative analysis.
Rationales for outsourcing domestic services to off‐the‐books workers
Authors: Williams Colin C. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate critically the assumption that the main reason for acquiring domestic services from the off‐the‐books economy is to save money.Design/methodology/approachData are reported from an internet survey of 5,500 people living in households with one or more members in employment in the city of Sheffield in the UK, which resulted in 418 responses (a 7.6 per cent response rate).FindingsIn just 13 per cent of cases where domestic tasks were outsourced to the off‐the‐books economy the main reason was to save money or cost. Instead, off‐the‐books workers were used principally due to the problems customers confronted regarding the availability and quality of formal service providers.Research limitations/implicationsThis survey covers only households with one or more members in employment, a population group previously shown to be more likely to outsource domestic services and use off‐the‐books workers. It does not cover no‐earner households and is not a nationally representative sample.Practical implicationsThe implication is that using penalties to change the cost/benefit ratio confronting those acquiring domestic services from the off‐the‐books economy is unlikely to be successful since cost is in most cases not their major rationale. Instead, attention needs to be paid to improving the availability and quality of formal service provision so as to negate the need for customers to outsource to off‐the‐books workers.Originality/valueThe paper refutes the assumption that goods and services are acquired from the off‐the‐books economy in order to save money.
Electricity consumption, income, foreign direct investment, and population in Malaysia
Authors: Foon Tang Chor 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis study attempts to re‐investigate the electricity consumption function for Malaysia through the cointegration and causality analyses over the period 1970 to 2005.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed the bounds‐testing procedure for cointegration to examine the potential long‐run relationship, while an autoregressive distributed lag model is used to derive the short‐ and long‐run coefficients. The Granger causality test is applied to determine the causality direction between electricity consumption and its determinants.FindingsNew evidence is found in this study: first, electricity consumption, income, foreign direct investment, and population in Malaysia are cointegrated. Second, the influx of foreign direct investment and population growth are positively related to electricity consumption in Malaysia and the Granger causality evidence indicates that electricity consumption, income, and foreign direct investment are of bilateral causality.Originality/valueThe estimated multivariate electricity consumption function for Malaysia implies that Malaysia is an energy‐dependent country; thus energy‐saving policies may have an inverse effect on current and also future economic development in Malaysia.
Forecasting in inefficient commodity markets
Authors: Gogas Periklis , Serletis Apostolos 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper set out to use an autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH)‐type model to capture the time‐varying conditional variance of Alberta electricity prices. This is of major importance in forecasting, since ARCH‐type models allow the conditional variance to depend on elements of the information set.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the model to perform static and dynamic forecasts over different horizons and to compare its forecasting performance with a random walk and a moving average model.FindingsThe paper provides a study of hourly electricity prices using recent advances in the financial econometrics literature.Originality/valueThe contribution of the paper is its use of models of changing volatility to properly identify the type of heteroscedasticity in the data‐generation processes. This is of major importance in forecasting.
Marginal wage subsidies: a rent‐extracting instrument for employment creation
Authors: Knabe Andreas 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the effects of marginal and general wage subsidies on employment and income distribution.Design/methodology/approachThe paper constructs a theoretical, partial‐equilibrium model of an economy in which a large number of competitive firms produce a homogeneous output good. Involuntary unemployment arises from a too high and rigid wage. By conducting comparative static analyses, the paper evaluates the impact of general and marginal wage subsidies on employment and incomes.FindingsThe paper shows that a marginal wage subsidy is a fiscally more efficient instrument for employment creation than a general wage subsidy because it resembles a combination of a general wage subsidy with a profit tax. These favorable effects persist even if between‐firm displacement effects are taken into account.Research limitations/implicationsIn line with most of the literature on marginal employment subsidies, attention is restricted to a partial‐equilibrium analysis in which the wage is assumed to be fixed. This helps to sharpen the focus on between‐firm competition, but is perhaps implausible when analyzing a general‐equilibrium setting. The inclusion of endogenous wage setting is bound to provide an interesting area for future research.Practical implicationsIf politicians want to implement a wage subsidy scheme that has to be self‐financing, marginal wage subsidies are an effective policy instrument for employment creation. Its downside is an inefficient allocation of labor among firms, because some firms become larger than is necessary.Originality/valueThe paper provides a novel approach to model the between‐firm displacement effects of marginal wage subsidies and derives policy conclusions.
The competition and market structure in the Saudi Arabia banking
Authors: Al‐Muharrami Saeed 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold: to investigate the market structure of Saudi Arabia banking industry; and to evaluate the monopoly power of banks during the years 1993‐2006.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is examining the market structure using the most frequently applied measures of concentration k‐bank concentration ratio (CRk) and Herfindahl‐Hirschman Index (HHI) and it is evaluating the monopoly power of banks using the “H‐statistic” by Panzar and Rosse.FindingsThe results show that Saudi Arabia has a moderately concentrated market and is moving to a less concentrated position. Both the concentration indices indicate that the country is moving toward a better position in terms of the market concentration. The Panzar and Rosse “H‐statistic” suggests that banks in Saudi Arabia operate under monopolistic competition.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings may be a temporary effect, evident during the sampled period only. To draw firmer conclusions a longer sample period is needed.Originality/valueStudies of banking market structure in the developed economies' banking are commonplace, however, very few studies are conducted for Saudi Arabia's banking industry.
Uncertainty and social discounting for the very long term
Authors: Evans David 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine uncertainty in the social discount rate and explore the conditions favouring the application of higher present value welfare weights in the cost‐benefit analysis (CBA) of very long‐term social projects. The plausibility, or otherwise, of these conditions is an important matter generally but especially in relation to major environmental concerns associated with climate change.Design/methodology/approachThe uncertainty conditions for a plausible range of discount rate values are examined in relation to the social time preference rate (STPR). This particular discount rate is favoured theoretically and has, in the latest EC guide to CBA for EU member states, been recommended for application in European social project appraisal. Value ranges for the main parameters are determined on the basis of surveys of empirical work and expert opinion. Then simulations based on alternative plausible probability distributions are used to explore the future time paths for discount factors.FindingsPresent value welfare weights decline to less than 2 per cent within 200 years if discounting is based on the full STPR. However, important appraisal contexts are identified where only the utility discount rate is relevant and this yields non‐trivial discount factors for distant future years.Originality/valueThe main new contribution is a direct empirical focus on the STPR and its component parameters under uncertainty. Alternative sets of long‐term discount factors are suggested for possible application in CBA. The paper will be of interest to academics specialising in applied welfare economics and also to practitioners involved in social project appraisal.
The effects of inflation uncertainty: some international evidence
Authors: Rahman Sajjadur , Serletis Apostolos 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of inflation uncertainty on real economic activity using data from four industrialised countries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the econometric framework developed by Elder in the context of a multivariate framework in which a structural vector autoregression (VAR) is modified to accommodate multivariate GARCH‐in‐mean (MGARCH‐M) errors. It calculates the impulse response functions for the multivariate GARCH(1,1)‐in‐mean VAR in order to see whether the specification captures the fundamental dynamics.FindingsThe results show that inflation uncertainty has differential effects on output growth across these countries.Originality/valueIn the context of multivariate GARCH(1,1)‐in‐mean VAR, this paper uses a non‐recursive identification scheme and separate identification for the large and small economies.
Pneumatic modules for automatic applications
Authors: Connolly Christine 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore pneumatic components and the applications they address.Design/methodology/approachThe extensive range of pneumatic grippers and actuators from various manufacturers is presented. An example of an end‐user pneumatic handling solution is given. Applications are then examined in plastics, mortise lock manufacture and food and pharmaceutical industries.FindingsPneumatic components are long lasting and reliable, giving tens of millions of operational cycles. Gimatic makes modular components that are particularly attractive for direct use by end‐users. Festo is already introducing a range of pneumatic products complying with the European Union safety directive to be introduced in December 2009.Originality/valueThis paper illustrates the versatility and reliability of pneumatic elements in automatic assembly operations.