bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender‐based occupational segregation in Russia: an empirical study
Authors: Klimova Anastasia , Ross Russell 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine trends in gender inequalities in the Russian labour market between 1994 and 2001, the early period of the transition to the market economy from the old Soviet Union.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines gender occupational segregation using the dataset from a nationally representative longitudinal survey of Russian households, the Russian Labour Market Survey. The occupational segregation index measure developed by Karmel and Maclachlan, known as the KM Index, is applied and extended by decomposing the index into several components.FindingsThe KM Index declined over this period, indicating a reduction in the extent of gender inequality, However, the decomposing of the KM index shows that, in contrast to previous research, the decrease in segregation within individual occupations contributed most of the overall fall in gender segregation. Changes in the overall occupational structure and an increase in female employment contributed, albeit marginally, to an increase in segregation.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the changes which have continued in Russia since 2001, these research results may lack applicability to current emerging economic circumstances in Russia. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further using data for the period 2005 to 2015 once the data become available.Practical implicationsThe paper provides rigorous estimates of the trends in gender inequalities at an important period in Russia's economic development and serves as a benchmark for future analysis.Originality/valueThis paper provides new detail on the workings of the Russian labour market during the period of transition and as such provides a base against which changes in gender inequalities since 2001 can be measured.
Restoring pragmatism in American governance
Authors: Wolnicki Miron 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe greatest asset of US capitalism until recently has been a blend of pragmatism with a passion to create the best socio‐economic system in the world. Today the USA is besieged by unprecedented budget deficit, public debt, financial crises, unemployment and rising anti‐governmentalism. The author believes the root cause lies in the elimination of the principles of pragmatism from governance, together with an assumption that the system which triumphed over communism is infallible. The purpose of this paper is not to find proof that an interventionist government would always be better or that higher taxes benefit the economy. Instead, using the examples of various policy mishaps, the paper seeks to prove the superiority of pragmatism over any ideology as a guiding principle of good governance.Design/methodology/approachThe author uses pragmatism as criteria for impartial, non‐partisan, non‐ideological evaluation of the state of the American economy and the causes for the rise of populist movements in the country.FindingsNeoconservatives were right to believe that markets do work. They will be needed to find solutions for skyrocketing costs of medicare, medicaid and job displacement caused by globalization. Neoliberals were correct to allow the development of profitable financial sector and give Americans access to cheap credit. However, what has been dramatically missing is a countervailing government economic policy to address increased riskiness of the financial markets, falling labor income, wealth distribution, education, energy dependence and an aging infrastructure. Liberal democrats did not propose comprehensive plan for government economic interventionism also they well understood its importance.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is believed to be the first interdisciplinary (political economy, history, social economics, social psychology) attempt to identify the causes of the declining economic power of the USA.Practical implicationsThe paper can improve understanding of complex socio‐economic phenomena by the students of US economy and those who would like to sort out true facts from unproven beliefs and do not understand complex econometric models.Social implicationsThe paper can improve understanding of complex socio‐economic phenomena affecting lives of millions of people.Originality/valueThe paper states clearly that the problems of the US economy are not caused by globalization but they originate at home from self‐imposed ideological straitjackets by the decision‐making elites and their departure from traditional US pragmatism.
Comparative welfare state impacts on work quality and job satisfaction
Authors: Westover Jonathan H. 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe vast cross‐disciplinary literature exploring work quality and job satisfaction has linked worker experiences to many individual, organizational, and social outcomes, yet this research has largely failed to shed much light on why cross‐national differences in worker satisfaction and its determinants persist over time. The purpose of this paper to: empirically test (using various bivariate descriptive procedures and comparative OLS regression) significant, cross‐national differences in job satisfaction and its determinants; and explore the reasons for these cross‐national differences, moving beyond the research of social psychologists and organizational behavior researchers, to also include import macro cross‐national factors that directly influence these differences.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, the author applies and extends Handel's Post and Neo‐Fordist framework for understanding job characteristics and job satisfaction, using non‐panel longitudinal data from the International Social Survey Program (Work Orientations I, II, and III:, 1989, 1997, 2005 – survey questions on job characteristics and job quality) and various welfare state country‐contextual variables.FindingsOLS regression results of job satisfaction by country show that for countries with relative higher levels of welfare state safety net provisions, intrinsic work characteristics provide greater overall predictability in overall perceived job satisfaction. Once more, extrinsic work characteristics generally have greater salience and predictability in overall perceived job satisfaction in countries relatively lower levels of welfare state safety net provisions. Furthermore, the results clearly show that regardless of country level of welfare state safety net provisions, intrinsic work characteristics add the most overall predictability to perceived job satisfaction of workers within the study countries. Finally, an often accepted job satisfaction model, commonly considered to be widely generalizable across a wide variety of cross‐cultural and cross‐national contexts, actually appears to have a lack of applicability across countries.Originality/valueWhat are the key country‐level contextual and global‐macro variables driving these country differences in job characteristics and perceived worker satisfaction? Prior research could not answer this question. However, this research is the first and only empirical inquiry to look at the relationship between macro welfare state country‐contextual factors and job satisfaction. Like many work attitudes, job satisfaction is a dynamic construct that changes in response to personal and environmental conditions. Finally, monitoring job satisfaction over time and in different contexts allows one to better examine and understand the salient factors that affect job satisfaction.
L'Chaim: Jewish holidays and stock market returns
Authors: Mehran Jamshid , Meisami Alex , Busenbark John R. 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of Jewish holidays on US stock market returns.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use event study and regression methodology to determine abnormal returns on Jewish holidays and windowed periods surrounding the day. In order to seclude the results to Jewish holidays, the authors control for several other known events that impact stock market returns. To substantiate claims of abnormal returns, the authors also use the Fama‐French four‐factor model to seek alpha and evidence returns on Jewish holidays.FindingsThis study shows, during the 1990‐2009 period, an increase in average daily returns 32 times greater on nine Jewish holidays than on the other trading days of the year. The demeanor of the specific Jewish holidays also influences stock market returns, as the market returns increase (decrease) on the joyous (solemn) Jewish holidays. Also, individual investors, rather than institutional investors, are a greater catalyst for the increased returns.Originality/valuePrevious research details increased stock market returns on US holidays and several other events. However, no definable research exists on stock market returns on Jewish holidays. The findings in this paper are valuable to investors who event‐trade, and are also valuable to investors and behavioral‐finance researchers who seek to understand how demeanor and moods may impact buying/selling decisions.
A further analysis of small firm stock returns
Authors: Patel Jayen B. 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare recent performance of small firms with that of large firms in developed and emerging stock markets.Design/methodology/approachT‐tests as well as Wilcoxon Signed Rank test statistics are utilized to test the differences in returns between stock indices. Additionally, ANOVA and median test statistics were conducted to test differences in size premiums over years. Finally, t‐tests as well as Mann‐Whitney U test statistics were conducted to examine the differences in size premiums by market conditions and January over non‐January months.FindingsIt was found that small firms did not generate significantly different returns than large firms in recent years. More specifically, size premiums were not sensitive to market conditions and were not significantly higher in January over non‐January months. These results indicate stock markets no longer exhibit a size effect or a reverse size effect.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the finance literature by examining the size effect as well as the reverse size effect in developed and emerging stock markets on recent data.
International portfolios and currency hedging: viewpoint of Polish investors
Authors: Stepien Edyta , Su Yuli 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the benefits of international equity portfolios from the viewpoint of Polish investors.Design/methodology/approachEight national stock markets are included in the sample and three different portfolio forming strategies – Equally‐Weighted Portfolio (EWP), Minimum Variance Portfolio (MVP) and Tangency Portfolio (TP) – are adopted to construct the international diversified portfolios. In order to reveal the impact of currency hedging, the performance of a non‐hedged versus a fully‐hedged strategy is estimated. Finally, for comparison purpose, performances of the international portfolios from US investors' perspective are also examined.FindingsUsing monthly data from 1999 to 2008, the results show that from an ex post basis, an equally‐weighted global portfolio offers risk reduction opportunities for Polish investors and performance improvement potentials for US investors. In addition, US investors seem to fare better leaving their foreign investment unhedged, while Polish investors benefit from currency hedging. However, ex ante analysis reveals that when short‐selling is allowed, TP outperforms other portfolios and the risk‐adjusted portfolio performance could be enhanced by currency hedging.Originality/valueIn summary, the ex post analysis suggests that global portfolio either reduces risk or improves return. Compared to the domestic portfolio, the international portfolio reduces the portfolio risk while maintaining certain level of portfolio return for Polish investors who experience unusual high volatility in domestic market. On the other hand, an international portfolio yields higher portfolio return with similar risk level, as compared to the domestic portfolio, for US investors who suffer losses in the domestic market. A full currency hedging strategy benefits Polish but not US investors. Hedging or not, the risk of the local stock market is the major contributor to the risk of the equally‐weighted portfolio for both Polish and US investors.
Andersen implosion over Enron: an analysis of the contagion effect on Fortune 500 firms
Authors: Noe Cross Joann , Kunkel Robert A. 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how the Andersen implosion over Enron impacted Fortune 500 firms that were competitors of Enron and/or audited by Andersen. This event provides an opportunity to study various contagion effects.Design/methodology/approachAn event study methodology is used to analyze the immediate financial impact of the Andersen implosion on competitors of Enron and/or firms audited by Andersen. More specifically, how did the announcement of the implosion impact these firms?FindingsThe results support a strong industry contagion effect where Enron's failure benefited the surviving energy/utility firms who could then increase their market shares. The authors find the energy/utility firms not audited by Andersen, on average, experienced an astounding 2.5 percent increase in market capitalization when the audit scandal was announced. In dollar terms, the mean and median market capitalization increases were $226 million and $101 million, respectively. In the aggregate, the 21 utility/energy firms gained $4.76 billion in market capitalization.Research limitations/implicationsThe results show the importance of the auditing process and the impact of unethical actions on the firm, their auditor, and their competitors. One limitation is the data are limited to large Fortune 500 firms.Originality/valueThis is the first study, to the authors' knowledge, that evaluates the contagion effect of the Andersen/Enron audit scandal on Fortune 500 firms: in the same industry as Enron; audited by Andersen; and operating in the same industry as Enron and audited by Andersen.
The choice between publicly issued and privately placed preferred stocks
Authors: Wang Qian 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically test information asymmetry and agency conflicts hypotheses, as to firm's choices in selling preferred stock in public and private markets.Design/methodology/approachUsing firm‐level preferred stock issue data, the author uses a multivariate logistic model to see a firm's different preferred stock selling decisions among public market, rule 144A market, and non rule 144A market. The paper examines the impact of the firm's idiosyncratic risk and cash flow volatility.FindingsIt is found that private placement (non rule 144A) firms have higher information asymmetry than public offering firms. In addition, private placement (rule 144A) firms have higher operating risk than public offering firms. The non Rule 144A market and rule 144A market for preferred stocks are significantly different.Research limitations/implicationsThis topic can be further studied with more detailed, preferred stock issue data.Originality/valueThe paper extends our understanding of the preferred stock market selling mechanism.
Effects of scenario planning on participant mental models
Authors: Glick Margaret B. , Chermack Thomas J. , Luckel Henry , Gauck Brian Q. 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the effects of scenario planning on participant mental model styles.Design/methodology/approachThe scenario planning literature is consistent with claims that scenario planning can change individual mental models. These claims are supported by anecdotal evidence and stories from the practical application of scenario planning. This research study documents the responses of 129 participants from 10 organizations using the mental model style survey as a pretest and posttest, with scenario planning as the intervention. Paired samples t‐tests were performed between participant pretest and posttest, to test hypotheses on all five factors of the mental model style survey.FindingsResults provide evidence that scenario planning can change individual mental model styles. More specifically, results show that scenario planning promotes efficiency, social, and systems mental model styles, with moderate effect sizes.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this research include contribution to the growing body of quantitative studies attempting to document the impact scenario planning has on participants. Implications for future research include the use of control groups to isolate effects of the scenario planning intervention.Originality/valueThe study documents one of the largest sample sizes to date in scenario planning research and makes a clear contribution in clarifying significant changes in mental model styles from pretest to posttest.
Critical issues in research design in action research in an SME development context
Authors: McGrath Helen , O'Toole Thomas 
Published: June 2012

PurposeThe main aim of this paper is to develop guidelines on the critical issues to consider in research design in an action research (AR) environment for SME network capability development.Design/methodology/approachThe issues in research design for AR studies are developed from the authors' experience in running learning sets but, in particular, by an SME owner‐manager learning set established to develop and test theory about network capability.FindingsThe authors present a comprehensive set of research design issues for AR across seven areas – sampling; the facilitator; learning set interaction; set design; measurement; data collection decisions; and data analysis.Research limitations/implicationsWhile action research is inherently situational in approach, for those researchers wishing to use it to develop or test theory, the authors' framework will provide a benchmark for research design decisions.Practical implicationsThe methodology is ideally suited to knowledge exchange settings and for collecting research data in such contexts and, if used in this way, could be an incentive to encourage more academic engagement with practice. Management and organisational development using AR is often reported on, but rarely in an SME context. The paper provides an example of a study conducted in this setting.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this article is to present an implementation framework for research design using AR. In addition, given policy goals now often require firms to collaborate with each other and in partnership with training organisations and universities, it makes sense to develop a mechanism to enhance the understanding of research methodologies that can be used in these contexts.
Training needs analysis for bus depot managers at GSRTC
Authors: Shah Hardik , Gopal Raj 
Published: June 2012

PurposeWith rapid industrialization and population growth in the urban and rural areas in India, the demand for public transport has risen sharply. In the fast changing scenario in the public transit sector, the role of a bus depot manager (DM) has also undergone substantial transformation. This paper aims to identify and gauge the organizational and individual training needs of DMs, necessary to design and delivery of effective training.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were collected by visiting three bus depots, nine in‐depth interviews with the top management team, 15 in‐depth interviews with DMs, performance data of 15 DMs and a survey of 114 DMs, using open ended questions. After primary analysis a ranking order instrument was designed and administered to 114 DMs.FindingsThe results explored current and future training requirements for the role of bus DMs based on their preference and priority. Seven differentiating competencies and ten priority training areas were identified using “priority index”. Further suggestions have been made for enhancing training effectiveness.Practical implicationsThe paper provides practical insights into how to conduct training needs analysis for bus DMs using differentiating competencies and priority index. Training managers may use such tools to identify training gaps in different roles while designing effective training strategies. It provides insights into the role of bus DMs, current and future role requirements, seven differentiating competencies and training gaps in the role of a DM.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are presented based on one single role in one organization only, i.e. DMs of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC). Replication studies should examine different roles across different functions.Originality/valueThis paper investigates how to identify training needs for depot managers using differentiating competencies and priority index. It provides inferences on how to align business objectives, individual performance and training needs. The tools used are ready‐to‐use and replicable for different roles in medium and large MNCs.
Perceptions of performance: do learners understand as well as they think
Authors: Chow Alan F. , Finney Treena G. , Woodford Kelly C. 
Published: June 2012

PurposeStudent/trainee perception of their performance can sometimes be inaccurate. This study aims to look at the accuracy of perception to actual performance in short‐term intervention style training/instruction.Design/methodology/approachTwo studies conducted using university students in problem solving exercises compared the performance of the students to their actual performance on the designated problems. Following the instructional intervention, the participants were asked to use a presented strategy in solving a target solution problem. Participants were then asked a short series of post‐study questions related to their perception of the learning outcomes. Perception accuracy was measured through analysis of scoring on the target solution problem and the corresponding answers to the post‐study questionnaire.FindingsIn both studies, there was a positive relationship between the score on the target solution problem and the responses to the post‐study questionnaire.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study are limited to university students in a mid‐sized Southeastern US institution. The results suggest that further study with other subject populations may support these findings.Practical implicationsFindings suggest that students have an accurate awareness of their understanding following an instructional intervention. Educators and trainers can use this accuracy in perception to measure the level of learning following lectures or other learning or training activities. This can provide useful information following classroom lectures, reading assignments, and testing to get a measure of learning, and can also be used following training activities as a measure of transfer of training.Originality/valueThe paper compares students' accuracy of perception to actual performance, and finds that students have an accurate awareness of their understanding following an instructional intervention. This can be of practical benefit to educators and trainers.