24,046 research outputs found
WTP vs. WTA: Christmas Presents and the Endowment Effect
Using data on the valuation of Christmas gifts received by students in different fields at a German university, we investigate whether the endowment effect differs between students of economics and other respondents and whether it varies with the market price of the object under consideration. Our estimation results suggest that economics students have both, a significant lower WTP and WTA, indicating that existing studies on the efficiency loss of holiday gifts and experimental studies on the endowment effect that rely on data from economics students may be biased. The result further indicates that the endowment effect is independent of the market price of the object.loss aversion, endowment effect, Christmas presents, deadweight loss
WTP vs.WTA: Christmas Presents and the Endowment Effect
Using data on the valuation of Christmas gifts received by students in different fields at a German university, we investigate whether the endowment effect differs between students of economics and other respondents and whether it varies with the market price of the object under consideration.Our estimation results suggest that economics students have both, a significant lower WTP andWTA, indicating that existing studies on the efficiency loss of holiday gifts and experimental studies on the endowment effect that rely on data from economics students may be biased. The result further indicate that the endowment effect is independent of the market price of the object.Loss aversion, endowment effect, Christmas presents, deadweight loss
Preferences of Indian Meal Moth Larvae for Different Dog Foods
Indian meal moths (IMM), Plodiainterpuntella, are persistent pests to our foods (Fasulo et al.1998; Plunkettâs Pest Control 2018). When IMMs infest a a food product the resulting value loss is the result of contamination by larvae that leave droppings and silken webs in grain and grain products (Jacob and Calvin 2001). The IMM is an important pest of high-value dog foods and the grain components of these food may influence their infestation. Experiments were conducted with eggs of the IMM to determine if moth larvae would choose and infest the grain-based dog food in comparison to dog foods with a higher meat content. IMM laboratory rearing diet was included for comparison. No-choice and choice tests confirmed the IMM diet to be the most preferred and best for larval development. Forced infestation of 50 IMM eggs on the four different dog foods found difference among them. In two-choice test that require newly hatched larvae to walk to and infest either lab diet or a dog food, the highest proportion of larvae selecting any of the dog foods was on product C, which was a medium quality, grain-free food. These results suggest that IMM infestations in warehouses or consumerâs homes could be prevalent on some dog foods more than others
Gibt es eine moderne Religion? : JĂŒrgen Habermas und die Idee der "postsĂ€kularen Gesellschaft"
Das VerhĂ€ltnis von Religion und Moderne ist in jĂŒngster Zeit wieder zu einem heiĂen Konfliktherd geworden. So geht es beim Streit um die PiusbrĂŒderschaft im Kern darum, ob eine religiöse Tradition die KontinuitĂ€t und Verbindlichkeit ihrer Ăberlieferung aufrechterhalten und zugleich an wesentliche Einsichten und normative Prinzipien der Moderne anschlieĂen kann. Die traditionalistischen Kritiker des II. Vatikanischen Konzils behaupten, dass religiöse Institutionen wie die katholische Kirche ihre IdentitĂ€t in dem MaĂe verlieren, in dem sie ein bejahendes und konstruktives VerhĂ€ltnis zur modernen Gesellschaft entwickeln. Die Anerkennung der Menschenrechte und der Ideen der Französischen Revolution durch das Konzil, also die Akzeptanz des Prinzips der Freiheit in Gestalt der Religionsfreiheit, der Gleichheit als Gleichberechtigung und Gleichwertigkeit aller Religionen und der BrĂŒderlichkeit im Sinne einer gemeinsamen und solidarischen Weltverantwortung »aller Menschen guten Willens« bildet fĂŒr die reaktionĂ€ren Kritiker den eigentlichen Skandal der Ăffnung der Kirche zur sĂ€kularen Moderne. Die unbeholfenen und viele empörenden Versuche der Resozialisierung der PiusbrĂŒder sind letztlich unvollstĂ€ndige und unvollkommene AnsĂ€tze, auf eine kulturelle und gesellschaftliche Konstellation zu reagieren, fĂŒr die JĂŒrgen Habermas den prĂ€gnanten Ausdruck »postsĂ€kulare Gesellschaft« geprĂ€gt hat. Diese Situation ist nach Habermas nĂ€mlich dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich religiöse Gemeinschaften auch in einer modernen Lebenswelt dauerhaft einrichten und in ihr fortbestehen. Wir haben laut Habermas Abschied zu nehmen von der Vorstellung eines linearen historischen Prozesses, der zwangslĂ€ufig zum Absterben der Religion fĂŒhren wird. Allerdings schreitet die gesellschaftliche SĂ€kularisierung im Sinne einer Ausdifferenzierung gesellschaftlicher Systeme und einer Pluralisierung von Weltanschauungen weiter voran
The maturing of microbial ecology
A.J. Kluyver and C.B. van Niel introduced many scientists to the exceptional metabolic capacity of microbes and their remarkable ability to adapt to changing environments in The Microbeâs Contribution to Biology. Beyond providing an overview of the physiology and adaptability of microbes, the book outlined many of the basic principles for the emerging discipline of microbial ecology. While the study of pure cultures was highlighted, provided a unifying framework for understanding the vast metabolic potential of microbes and their roles in the global cycling of elements, extrapolation from pure cultures to natural environments has often been overshadowed by microbiologistsâ inability to culture many of the microbes seen in natural environments. A combination of genomic approaches is now providing a culture-independent view of the microbial world, revealing a more diverse and dynamic community of microbes than originally anticipated. As methods for determining the diversity of microbial communities become increasingly accessible, a major challenge to microbial ecologists is to link the structure of natural microbial communities with their functions. This article presents several examples from studies of aquatic and terrestrial microbial communities in which culture and culture-independent methods are providing an enhanced appreciation for the microbeâs contribution to the evolution and maintenance of life on Earth, and offers some thoughts about the graduate-level educational programs needed to enhance the maturing field of microbial ecology. [Int Microbiol 2006; 9(3):217-223
International Labor Migration, Economic Growth and Labor Markets â The Current State of Affairs
Even though European labor markets are characterized by high average unemployment, there is a shortage of high-skilled labor, leading many European economists to argue for an immigration policy directed at actively recruiting highly qualified workers from abroad. It has further been argued that an immigration policy that is tailored to attract young and economically successful migrants can alleviate some of the demographic burden associated with an aging population.We embed this discussion into a systematic classification of economic migration research according to its major conceptual and applied questions. The state of theoretical and empirical research on the migration decision, the literature on the economic performance of immigrants and their economic impact is reviewed briefly, proceeding along the lines of a clear conceptual framework. In addition, the paper discusses expectations on future migration flows and the policy options of immigration countries for dealing with these flows.Immigration, European labor markets, Immigration policy
Fiscal Effects of Minimum Wages: An Analysis for Germany
Against the background of the current discussion on the introduction of statutory minimum wages in Germany, this paper analyzes the potential employment and fiscal effects of such a policy. Based on estimated labor demand elasticities obtained from a structural labor demand model, the empirical results imply that the introduction of minimum wages in Germany will be associated with significant employment losses that are concentrated among marginal and low- and semi-skilled full-time workers. Even though minimum wages will lead to increased public revenues from income taxes and social security benefits, they will result in a significant fiscal burden, due to increased expenditures for unemployment benefits and decreased revenues from corporate taxes.minimum wages, employment, public budget, fiscal effects
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