bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrated product policy: products and their impact on energy
Authors: Malcolm Rosalind 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the Ecodesign Directive and the extent to which it provides a regulatory framework for life‐cycle assessment approaches which underlie integrated product policy (IPP), thus providing a horizontal approach to product legislation as a new approach to regulating pollution.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on academic commentary as well as official papers, European communications and legislation.FindingsThe development and application of the Ecodesign Directive is highlighted along with the different regulatory approach it poses which is shown to result from the application of life‐cycle assessment and IPP.Practical implicationsThe impact on the development of products will be extensive in that they will be required by mandatory rules to be designed with a view to the reduction of their whole life environmental impacts.Originality/valueThe approach is to highlight a new paradigm for regulating pollution and environmental impacts.
Planning for nuisance?
Authors: Moor Francis 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore and examine the impact of s.158 of the Planning Act 2008 in the UK, which awards the defence of statutory authority to developers of major infrastructure projects in private nuisance actions. The paper will assess the extent to which this provision could broaden the scope of the existing defence and consider the practical implications of the new measures.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses existing case law, and the historic evolution of the UK doctrine of statutory authority, in order to assess the potential judicial approach to the defence in infrastructure planning decisions.FindingsAlthough s.158 of the Planning Act 2008 appears to further broaden the opportunity for the statutory immunity defence to be used, certain historical restrictions will affect its application. In awarding the defence, the judiciary have taken into account a variety of considerations such as the specificity of the location, the inevitability of the nuisance, the effect on statutory provisions, and the bearing that negligence has on the defence. These exceptions prove that there is no such thing as “blanket immunity”, and developers may still be held responsible for their un‐neighbourly conduct.Practical implicationsThe scope of the protection conferred on developers of major infrastructure projects can appear confusing and could potentially create the assumption that statutory authority will act as a total defence to any actions. Developers, and their advisers, will need to be aware of the aforementioned exceptions before seeking to rely on the statutory authority defence.Originality/valueThis paper proposes that the doctrine of statutory authority has gained a newly significant status and uses recent legislation and a comprehensive overview of the existing case law to demonstrate these findings.
A general duty to co‐operate in construction contracts? An international review
Authors: Klimas Evaldas 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the substance of any general duty to co‐operate that might exist in relation to construction contracts. It also explores the potential impact that a duty to co‐operate might have on ensuring the smooth operation and absence of disputes within construction projects.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is based on a number of widely accepted international documents. Reference is also made to an edition of the Fédération Internationale des Ingénieurs‐Conseils Red Book and to several jurisdictions of common law and continental law systems.FindingsThe duty to co‐operate permeates the law of contract and is related to the principles of good faith and fair dealing. In common law countries, the duty can take the form of implied terms within the contract. A greater level of awareness of this duty by the parties to construction contracts would minimise disputes and better ensure that the parties achieved their shared objectives.Originality/valueBecause different jurisdictions take a variety of approaches towards the areas of law discussed, the paper's use of comparative analysis of the selected documents provides particular insights into the existence of a general duty to co‐operate which will assist the future development of the law in this area.
Comparative study of selected greenhouse gas offset protocols
Authors: Stevens Kelly A. , DeAngelo Greg , Brice Shenita 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe paper is an excerpt from a more comprehensive study by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection comparing the technical elements of offset projects in forestry, agriculture, and waste management, as well as some miscellaneous project types. The authors compare and contrast design elements of three specific offset projects: afforestation/reforestation, manure management, and landfill gas capture. The technical review for each offset project is concluded with a look at the potential applicability for that project in Florida in the context of the protocols evaluated.Design/methodology/approachOffset projects that may be employed in Florida are first broken up into comparable design elements specific to the selected offset project type. Focusing on the design elements, a discussion of the similarities and differences among the protocols for each offset project is presented. Each section begins with general findings then moves on to assessments of the detailed design elements. Finally, the project's general applicability to Florida is considered, highlighting specific strengths of particular protocols from the analysis of the design elements.FindingsProtocols tend to vary from highly specific requirements to a more general set of recommendations. Interestingly, no one program's set of protocols is the most opportunistic for Florida, but rather various protocols may have distinctive strengths depending on the project type.Originality/valueMany comparative studies of offset protocols evaluate protocols in the context of program‐level policies. This study uniquely values the technical details in the protocols and does not consider policy or program‐level issues.
Adapting livestock water productivity to climate change
Authors: Haileslassie Amare , Blümmel Michael , Clement Floriane , Ishaq Saba , Khan M.A. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe main purposes of this paper were to assess effects of smallholder farmers access to livelihood capital (e.g. land, livestock and water) on livestock water productivity (LWP) and to evaluate impacts of selected interventions in reducing livestock water demand (per unit of livestock product) and therefore increasing LWP.Design/methodology/approachA total of 203 sample farm households were selected in intensive and semi‐intensive crop‐livestock systems of Indo‐Ganga basin of India. A household survey was undertaken to capture data on land, water and livestock management. For the analysis, sample farms were clustered into poor, medium, better‐off. LWP is estimated as a ratio of livestock beneficial‐outputs (e.g. milk) to depleted‐water (i.e. evapotranspired water to produce livestock feed). Impacts of selected interventions, on LWP, were analyzed using scenarios developed on a spread sheet model.FindingsThe results showed different LWP values among farm‐clusters and levels of intensification. The intensive systems showed higher LWP than the semi‐intensive. In the baseline, dairy water demand to produce a liter of milk was higher than the world average: ranging between 1,000 and 29,000 L. Among the farm‐clusters, variation of LWP was system specific and affected by farmers' access to virtual water trading (i.e. milk and feed). Improving milk productivity, feed quality and feed water productivity reduced livestock water demand per liter of milk substantially and, therefore, the saved water can be used to augment ecosystem services that can mitigate the impacts of climate change.Originality/valueThis paper revealed that in the study systems LWP, in the business as usual scenario, is low. But by improving animal productivity, quality feed supply and water conservation substantial volume of water can be saved.
Australian winter circulation and rainfall changes and projections
Authors: Segerlund Frederiksen Carsten , Segerlund Frederiksen Jorgen , Sisson Janice Maria , Lee Osbrough Stacey 
Published: May 2011

PurposeMajor shifts in the southern hemisphere circulation occurred during the mid‐1970s concurrent with large reductions in southern Australian winter rainfall associated with decreased cyclogenesis. The purpose of this paper is to study changes in cyclogenesis over southern Australia during the last 50 years, examine the ability of coupled climate models to simulate the winter circulation changes, and discuss projected changes in winter circulation and rainfall under different climate change scenarios.Design/methodology/approachThree dimensional instability theory is used to study changes in cyclogenesis. The response of 22 coupled model intercomparison project three (CMIP3) IPCC climate models to observed increases in greenhouse gases, from pre‐industrial to the end of the twentieth century, is examined. The authors focus on two diagnostics closely related to the changes in cyclogenesis: changes in the 300 hPa zonal wind strength; and changes in the baroclinic instability. Projected changes in baroclinic instability and rainfall are investigated in SRESB1, SRESA1B and SRESA2 scenarios.FindingsThere has been a 30 per cent reduction in the growth rate of the leading storm track mode crossing southern Australia in the 1975‐1994 period, and a 37 per cent reduction in the 1997‐2006 period, when compared to 1949‐1968. Most of the CMIP3 models capture the changes in the zonal wind; only about a third the changes in baroclinic instability. Projected changes in baroclinic instability and rainfall suggest further reductions in the growth rate of storm track modes and further large reductions in rainfall over southern Australia.Originality/valueThe paper addresses a major cause of the reduction in Australian winter rainfall, and provides guidance on future‐projected changes.
Home equity insurance
Authors: Einar Sommervoll Dag , Wood Gavin 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to study to what extent an insurance based on a house price index provides equity protection for homeowners.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a novel dataset of all housing market transactions in the metropolitan area of Melbourne 1990‐2006, to construct repeated sales indices of various temporal spatial aggregation. These indices are used to discuss the efficiency of index‐based insurance schemes. The paper also considers efficiency under different specifications of legitimate claims.FindingsIt is found that the payout efficiency is surprisingly stable (around 50 percent) for all temporal spatial aggregations. A neighborhood index outperforms the metropolitan index with respect to target efficiency (the probability of payout given a loss). The introduction of maturity times, say legitimate claim five years after purchase, does improve efficiency somewhat. However, the idiosyncratic component of housing market transactions remains high, and the insurance probably unattractive from a homeowner perspective.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge, this is the first time an index‐based insurance scheme is analyzed using real‐market transactions.
What drives “green housing” construction? Evidence from Switzerland
Authors: Salvi Marco , Syz Juerg 
Published: May 2011

PurposeSwitzerland boasts arguably the highest density of green properties in the world. In 2008, more than 15 percent of total new construction received the Swiss energy building label Minergie. The spatial distribution of these green buildings, however, is highly heterogeneous. In some regions, more than half of the new dwellings are built according to the Swiss green building standard. In others, this share is still negligible. The purpose of this paper is to identify the determinants of the distribution of green housing.Design/methodology/approachFor 2,571 Swiss municipalities, the author computes the green building share of new residential buildings. Data are collected for several variables measuring demographic, geographic, social, cultural, and political aspects that – according to the authors' hypothesis – may influence green building activity. Count regression is used to estimate the impact of these variables on the demand for green buildings.FindingsIt is found that differences in income levels and cultural affiliation between Swiss municipalities account for the largest part of the variation in green building activity. The impact of homeowners' stance on environmentalism is highly significant but less important. Government subsidies do not seem to trigger additional green housing activity.Originality/valueThe paper presents one of the first empirical analyses regarding the determinants of green building activity. Thanks to a comprehensive dataset, the authors are able to investigate the impact of potential drivers of “green housing” construction activity. The regional variation in governmental incentives is analysed and delivers valuable insight for policymakers interested in spurring the development of green buildings.
Homeownership: yesterday, today and tomorrow
Authors: Swidler Steve 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe American Dream and homeownership are sometimes thought of as one and the same. A belief that homeownership is vital to the fabric of a vibrant society has led to government policies that encourage homeownership. This suggests that homeownership and societal well‐being are positively related. However, empirical analysis does not support this positive relationship either within the USA or across countries. This has important policy implications given the research in this special issue that discusses the macro and micro economic consequences of government programs that promote homeownership. Moving forward, we must consider both the private and public benefits of homeownership and also realize that the very concept of what a house is will likely change. This paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis examines the relation between the incidence of homeownership and the well‐being (happiness) of a community. The analysis is first performed across the 50 states and then is done on a cross‐section of 26 countries.FindingsThe correlation coefficient between home ownership rates and well‐being are negative for both the US and international data. The evidence does not support the belief that homeownership is either necessary or sufficient for societal well‐being.Originality/valueThe paper presents some of the first empirical analysis to examine the relationship between homeownership and societal well‐being. Other studies in this special issue document both public and price costs to owning a home. Taken together, the special issue has important implications for government policies that encourage homeownership.
The financial crisis: imperfect markets and imperfect regulation
Authors: Buttimer Richard J. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the role that regulation and regulatory agencies played in the creating of the subprime mortgage market, and the subsequent crash of the mortgage market. The paper has two goals. First, it seeks to document the degree to which the US housing markets, and the US housing finance market, were regulated prior to the crash. Second, it seeks to show that regulatory bodies set policies which created both incentives and explicit requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as depository institutions, to enter the subprime market.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines the regulatory environment of the subprime market. It uses regulatory filings and other documents as primary sources.FindingsThe popular perception that the subprime mortgage market arose because housing finance was largely unregulated is incorrect. In point of fact, the housing finance market was very heavily regulated. Indeed, the paper shows that the creation of the subprime market was a formal goal of the federal government, and that federal regulatory agencies explicitly required participation by the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs).Originality/valueThe paper's primary implication is that incentive conflicts within the US housing finance system significantly contributed to the mortgage crisis. These incentive conflicts were not just within private firms, but also extend to the GSEs and regulatory agencies. Regulatory agencies not only failed to anticipate the crisis; they actively encouraged the policies which created it. As a result, the primary focus of reform efforts should be on identifying and eliminating such conflicts.
Determinants of customers' intention to use Islamic personal financing
Authors: Amin Hanudin , Rahim Abdul Rahman Abdul , Laison Sondoh Stephen , Magdalene Chooi Hwa Ang 
Published: May 2011

PurposeIslamic banking and finance is an emerging global industry founded on Islamic ethical precepts. Just as in the case of conventional banks, Islamic banks are expected to offer products that consider the needs of their customers. The present study investigates the effects of the following factors: attitude; social influence; religious obligation; government support; and pricing, on the intention to use Islamic personal financing.Design/methodology/approachThe sample comprised of 150 customers of two fully fledged Islamic banks in Malaysia: Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad and Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad. Data were obtained through a face‐to‐face survey using semi‐structured questionnaire. Out of a total of 150 responses, only 136 responses were usable for further analysis. The study used factor analysis, correlation and regression to analyse the data.FindingsThe study found three determinants to be significant in influencing the intention to use Islamic personal financing, namely, attitude, social influence and pricing of Islamic personal financing. Religious obligation and government support were found to be insignificant predictors.Research limitations/implicationsThe first limitation of the study is the narrow focus of the survey on the customers of two fully fledged Islamic banks. The second limitation of this work concerns the measurement employed to gauge bank customers' acceptance of Islamic personal financing. Despite these limitations, the findings of this study provide invaluable insights into factors affecting the bank customers' intention to use Islamic personal financing, especially in the case of Malaysian Islamic banks.Originality/valueThis empirical study on the determinants of Islamic financing using the survey method contributes towards a better understanding of the customers' expectations for Islamic financial products. Managers of Islamic banks can now comprehend better the factors that influence bank customers' decision in patronizing Islamic personal financing. Hence, more effective strategies can be recommended to attract bank customers to use Islamic personal financing. Not to mention, the findings of this study should be of value to Islamic banks in terms of expanding their customer base.
Relationships between commitments to the organization, the superior and the colleagues, and the intention to leave among truckers
Authors: Paillé Pascal , Fournier Pierre‐Sébastien , Lamontagne Sophie 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to use three foci of commitment (to the organization, to the colleagues, and to the superior) to improve employee retention in high turnover work environments.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, survey questionnaires measuring affective commitment to the organization, the supervisor‐dispatcher and colleagues were administered to 294 truckers. The two‐step approach was used. While the first step involved a confirmatory factor analysis, the second step used structural equation modeling to test hypotheses.FindingsFindings show that the model that best fits the data is the one in which both affective commitments to the dispatcher and to the colleagues affects the intention to leave the organization through affective commitment to the organization.Originality/valueExisting research on trucker turnover has neglected to examine the role of psychological variables such as employee commitment. Using field theory premises, this research contributes to the literature on trucker turnover by demonstrating the relevance of using several foci of commitment to predict intention to leave the organization.
Practice and intuitive thinking: the situated nature of practical work
Authors: Styhre Alexander 
Published: May 2011

PurposeAny reasonably advanced practice is a blend of rational thinking, thinking structured by concepts and numerical representations rendering the world static and immovable, and intuitive thinking, a mode of knowing operating “in‐between” concepts and representations and, therefore, are apprehending the fluid and fleeting nature of being. When moving from being a novice to an expert practitioner, the actor must both appropriate rational thinking and increasingly, as experience is acquired, draw on intuitive thinking. For the novice, the concern is however that intuitive thinking is complicated to articulate or represent but is primarily acquired through years of experience and practice. The paper seeks to discuss practice as a term that includes both these two elements of thinking.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses empirical examples from nursing work, financial trading, and scientific research to further develop the concept of practice.FindingsThe paper suggests that “skilled coping” of expert practitioners are examined as a gradual appropriation and combining of rational and intuitive thinking. The difficulty of becoming a skilled practitioner is, inter alia, to acquire inarticulate know‐how through collaboration with experienced peers.Originality/valueThe paper seeks to discuss the concept of practice based on process philosophy underlining the distinction between rational and intuitive thinking, yet emphasizing their mutual constitution in the domain of practice. The concept of practice is thus anchored in a solid theoretical framework capable of exploring some of the difficulties involved in acquiring expert skills.