Cultures as Determinants of Innovation - An Evidence from European Context

Cultural studies have played a major role for a better understanding of innovation. In particular, cultural variables have always been integrated in innovation studies at different levels. Referring to Hofstede´s alytical framework, we thereby analyze how different cultural factors may concretely impact innovation at national levels. Data of Hofstede´s cultural dimension and innovation are derived from secondary data sources. 34 European countries with comprehensive scores of cultural dimensions and innovation indexes are finally applied in this study. The data are analysed through correlation test and multiple regression analysis. The correlation testhighlighted the importance of low power distance, individualism and low uncertainty avoidance, and the multiple regression analysis revealed the importance of power distance and long-term orientation that foster innovation in Europe. Finally, limitations of the proposed theoreticalarchitecture are discussed and potential consequences for further research are formulated

Organic and Local Food Consumption: A Matter of Age? Empirical Evidence from the German Market

Given the varied experiences and preferences in the course of different people’s lives, demographic factors could be an important factor in explaining consumer behaviour. In the literature, however, there is no common view concerning its capacity as a predictor of demand for organic products. Therefore, this article analyzes the willingness of consumers to pay for organic and local food depending on their age. Focusing on the product attributes of ‘Region of Origin,’ ‘Production Condition,’ and ‘Price’, it utilizes a choice-based conjoint analysis to assess the responses of 325 respondents from different age groups in Germany. A general preference for local as well as organic food was noted among all age groups. Thereby, slightly more people over or equal to 30 years perceived the (local) region of origin as well as organic production conditions as important. Younger people also seemed more price sensitive. Choice simulations, however, identified only minimal deviations in the WTP - indicating almost no differences among the age groups. Managerial implications for appropriate marketing and subsidy policy are deduced.

Selbstheilungskräfte des Marktes? Ökonomische Theorien des Marktversagens und ihre Relevanz für die Bewältigung der Krise

Jenseits naiver Markteuphorie und antikapitalistischer Fundamentalkritik sucht der Text ökonomische Theorien des Marktversagens für eine Bewältigung der Wirtschaftskrise fruchtbar zu machen. Nach einer Rekapitulation von Götz Briefs Theorie der ‚abnehmenden Grenzmoral‘ und George Akerlofs Konzept der negativen Selektion bei asymmetrischer Informationsverteilung werden vor allem zwei ökonomische Selbstregulierungspotentiale skizziert: einzelwirtschaftlich besteht mit der Markenbildung die Chance, z. B. der normativen Nachhaltigkeitsforderung Geltung zu verschaffen; kollektiv besteht in Branchenvereinbarungen eine zentrale Strategie ökonomischer Selbstregulierung. Angesichts der Finanzmarktkrise wird aber deutlich, dass Selbstregulierung eine sanktionsbewerte Festlegung von Mindeststandards durch eine internationale Ordnungspolitik zwar flankieren und vorbereiten, nicht aber ersetzen kann

Bürgergesellschaft und Familie – Gesellschaftspolitische Konstellationen im 21. Jahrhundert

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Sozialpolitik als Sozialvermögenspolitik. Perspektiven nach dem Ende des Wohlfahrtsstaates

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Gerechtigkeitstheorien: Normative Grundlagen und exemplarische Anwendung am Beispiel des Nord-Süd-Konfliktes. Bericht über die vierte Tagung des »Forum Sozialethik«

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Does Institutional Context Affect CSR Disclosure? A Study on Eurostoxx 50

We propose to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility disclosure and institutional/environmental factors among a sample of European listed companies. We find that, by using several traditional explicative variables, institutional factors affect the level of CSR disclosure, in a context where the EU Commission has been paying growing attention to social and environmental accountability of listed companies (see the EU Dir. 95/2014). Our findings are further supported by multivariate regression, where ESG score (measure of CSR disclosure) is regressed on nine variables which represent the expression of institutional factors. By looking at the institutional determinants of CSR disclosure, we are seeking to pose a challenge for future research agenda, in order to understand whether CSR does actually reflect an effective commitment of firms to accounting practices and rules, as a form of social behavior, or whether it is just a tool to manage stakeholders’ perception and to comply with regulation

Pharmacological interference with dimerization of human neuronal nitric-oxide synthase expressed in adenovirus-infected DLD-1 cells

ABSTRACT A recombinant adenovirus containing the cDNA of human neuronal nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) was constructed to characterize the interaction of nNOS with N- [(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl