The Introduction of Anthropometrics into Development and Labor Economics

We trace the introduction of anthropometric indicators into development and labor economics in the late 1970s

How Laws Affect Contracts: Evidence from Yankee Bond Covenants

We examine how country-level legal and institutional differences in creditor and shareholder rights shape the use of bond covenants. Using comprehensive debt covenant information for a sample of Yankee bonds issued by firms from more than 50 countries, we find that bond contracts for firms incorporated in countries with stronger creditor rights use fewer restrictive covenants. This finding suggests that creditor rights laws substitute for debt covenants in reducing the agency cost of debt. On the other hand, bond contracts for firms incorporated in legal regimes with stronger shareholder rights include more covenants, suggesting that greater shareholder rights may actually increase the shareholder-bondholder agency conflict. These results are robust to alternative measures of creditor rights and shareholder rights. We also document that stronger firm-level corporate governance is positively related to the use of restrictive covenants even after controlling for country institutions.Covenants, contracts, creditor rights, shareholder rights, corporate governance

Animal Well-Being in Zoos, Conservation Centers and In-Situ Conservation Programs

Well-being, as defined in reference to one\u27s welfare, is the condition of happiness, prosperity and good health. In dealing with an animal\u27s well-being, there are two frames of reference to consider. First, biological well-being which encompasses the spacial, social, nutritional, behavioral and reproductive needs of a species. Secondly, cultural well-being of animals concentrating on their perception of happiness, cleanliness, safety and the way the animals are treated by the people who care for them. In this paper, we are not addressing freedom as a condition of well-being, only happiness, prosperity and good health. Free-ranging wild animals are not free but are restricted by consideration of space, time and individual relationships (Hediger, 1969). We will look at animal well-being under these restrictions and discuss the effort needed to maintain well-being, as the level of constraint imposed by man on animals increases, and natural surroundings give way to artificial enclosures

The Process Of Ostracism Message Reception And Meaning Making

Ostracism is defined as the exclusion of an individual or group by an individual or group. Research suggests that being ostracized can create severe negative psychological reactions in targets. However, there is much less research explicitly focused on how ostracism is communicated and the process of meaning making that allows a target to interpret communication as an ostracism message. Through grounded theory and qualitative interviews, this study asked: What is the process of interpersonal ostracism message meaning making, and what are the key elements that influence this process? Analysis revealed a seven-phase process that explains the stages of meaning making a target will go through during an ostracism event and eleven important factors that affect this process. After a discussion of each phase and factor, the study incorporates Relational Dialectics Theory, Expectancy Violations Theory, and Uncertainty Reduction Theory to conceptualize ostracism as an event as opposed to a single moment, suggesting that meanings are ever changing. The study concludes that targets of ostracism play a crucial role in the reception and interpretation of ostracism messages. Finally, the study proposes limitations and directions for future research

Investing in the Land of O.Z.: The Promise of Qualified Opportunity Zone Investing in Ameliorating Urban Blight

In 2017, President Trump’s landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act introduced one of the most prolific federal incentives for real estate development in decades. In an effort to stimulate investment in neglected neighborhoods across all 50 states and five territories, the Federal Government authorized the designation of almost 9,000 blighted census tracts across the country as eligible for tax incentives. Investment in these tracts, deemed Qualified Opportunity Zones, allow investors to receive substantial capital gains deferral and possible capital gains exclusion at the end of the designated holding period, assuming they comply with the regulations of the program. While designed to revitalize economically distressed communities and reward risk-taking investment, these programs have come under scrutiny from both community residents and investors alike. In the eyes of many, this program has thus far seemingly failed to yield the intended outcome, with reports that the actual total investment pales in comparison to the expected figures. This paper seeks to examine the financial, social, and bureaucratic factors driving the program’s perceived failure to excite investor capital into Qualified Opportunity Funds, the investment vehicle of QOZs. Moreover, this paper will provide data analysis as to whether early figures show a substantial increase in investment in these communities. Ultimately, this research will provide an assessment of the efficacy of the QOZ program based on the tangible improvement it provides in distressed communities, its correlation with the characteristics of gentrification, the successful translation of QOF investment into completed developments, and investor return

Three neutrons from Lattice QCD

We present a study on ab-initio calculations of three-neutron correlators from Lattice QCD. We extend the method of baryon blocks to systems of three spacially displaced baryons. This allows the measurement of three-neutron $p$-wave correlators with total spin $S=1/2$ and $3/2$. In addition, we use automatic code generation that has high flexibility and allows for easy inclusion of additional channels in the future while optimizing the evaluation of contractions. Our measurements were performed on a newly generated $96\times 48^3$ Clover-Wilson gauge field ensemble with $m_{\pi} \approx 370\,\text{MeV}$. We present preliminary results of our calculations of one pion and nucleon as well as two nucleon ($2N$) and three neutron ($3n$) correlators.Comment: Proceedings from Lattice2018, 7 pages, 4 figure

The proportion of co-authored research articles has risen markedly in recent decades

The proportion of multi-authored papers in the social sciences has risen steadily over recent decades. But what are the reasons behind such a marked increase? Lukas Kuld and John O'Hagan consider a number of explanations, from increased academic specialisation and more affordable communication and travel, to the pressures of publication and an inclination among authors to spread the risks of research assessment across a number of articles. These trends also pose an interesting academic policy question: to what extent should academic hiring and promotional bodies apply a discount for articles with many authors

Strategic Business Partnerships in the Consumer Technology Industry - A Case Study on Partner Selection Criteria and Their Influence on the Outcome of Value Constellations

Thesis purpose: To identify relevant criteria underlying the partner selection process in a leading company in the consumer technology industry, as well as to subsequently analyse the influences which those criteria have on overall outcome. The intention is to draw valid implications for future research as well as for actors in similar market environments. Methodology: The researchers of this paper have chosen to conduct exploratory research within the particular case company. An interpretivist epistemological position has been selected by orienting the emphasis on understanding the social world by specifically analysing participants in that world. A qualitative approach was chosen so that individual’s opinions, thoughts, perspectives and expressions can provide insight into this world so that findings can inductively establish justifiable theory. The focus is to assimilate reliability and validity into the qualitative research with little change of meaning other than playing down the salience of measurement issue. A highly interactive process was used as it would provide the researchers with an idyllic tool with which the necessary data can be accumulated. Theoretical perspectives: The main theories are based on previous literature of collaborative concepts, value constellations and business partnerships. This research study investigates important partner selection criteria in value constellations and discusses how these influence the outcome of such initiatives in the consumer technology industry. The chosen case company is seen as a good setting to examine the phenomena as it is one of the first companies to anticipate different expectations between business and private customers. Conclusions: This study contributed to a framework explaining the competitive advantages of value constellations. Namely ten key partner selection criteria and ten respective influences were empirically discovered in the focal company. Seven of these criteria were found to clearly correspond with the underlying theoretical framework of this thesis, whereas three criteria were not explicitly referred to as key criteria in standard literature, although their importance for the case company was found to be significantly high