Analyzing the dependences of multi-category purchases on interactions of marketing variables

We extend the usual specification of the multivariate probit model frequently used to analyze multi-category purchase incidence data by introducing interaction effects between marketing variables. Models are estimated by a Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation method using 24,047 shopping visits made by a random sample of 1500 households in one specific grocery store over a one year period. Our data refer to a total of 25 food and non-food product categories and include socio-demographic household attributes in addition to purchases and marketing variables. Information criteria agree on the superiority of the extended specification. Estimation results demonstrate that many interaction effects are erroneously attributed to the main effects of marketing variables if one applies the usual specification instead. We derive managerial implications with respect to sales revenue by stochastic simulation. If managers base decisions on the usual specification in spite of its worse statistical performance, they run the risk to overestimate sales revenue increases due to sales promotion activities.     

Moderation, contentment, work, and alms—A Buddhist household theory

The paper deals with household theory from the angle of Buddhist thought. We build on the Buddhist terms of tanha versus chanda to express Buddhist preferences and Buddhist household theory in terms of textbook microeconomic terms. We find that preferences of Buddhist (enlightened) people may differ from those of non-Buddhist people in a systematic manner. Among other hypotheses, we deduce that Buddhists work harder than non-Buddhists if we control for meditation time. We argue that any full-grown Buddhist economics (if it is to exist) needs to build on Buddhist preference and household theory, either as presented here or in a different form.     

„Gekommen,um zu bleiben“ – eine Analyse des Zusammenhangs zwischen personen- und kontextbezogenen Faktoren und Studienerfolg in Studiengängen der öffentlichen Verwaltung

The present study aims to investigate impact factors on study success and turnover intentions for students from different fields of public administration and management. The empirical analysis focuses on interrelations between individual (e.?g., personality, achievement satisfaction, self-efficacy) and contextual factors (procedural justice, social integration) and general study satisfaction and the intention to leave the university. The sample consisted of N?=?147 students from police and general public administration. The results indicated that there is an empirical evidence for the relevance of realistic academic and job expectations, individal personality facets, as well as for perceived justice and social integration of the students related to the discipline. Regression models showed that the expected person-job-fit predicted aspects of study satisfaction and turnover intention. In addition, individual and contextual factors moderated the interrelation, however, differently for the evaluated disciplines. Implications for students and for the design of different study programs as well as for a target group oriented communication are discussed.     

Rolf Arnold, Sigrid Nolda, Ekkehard Nuissl (Hg.): Wörterbuch der Erwachsenenpädagogik

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Explaining Attitudes towards Self-employment among Immigrants: A Canadian Case Study

Implicit in Canada's immigration policies is that some immigrants are endowed with a particular entrepreneurial spirit, and that this spirit relates to immigrants’ origin. This paper examines whether attitudes towards entrepreneurship indeed relate to origin, or whether they can be explained through labour market circumstances at the place of settlement and/or Canada's immigrant selection procedure. The empirical study focuses on the reported attitudes towards entrepreneurship. A survey of 509 Vancouver residents of a predominantly Chinese immigrant neighbourhood, a predominantly South Asian immigrant neighbourhood, and a neighbourhood of non‐immigrants reveals that ethnic origin is a weak indicator of entrepreneurial attitudes. Instead, urban or rural background emerges as a more powerful predictor. The results also raise doubts about whether the Canadian government's immigration policy, which selects immigrants on the basis of economic potential, indeed selects immigrants with a greater desire to become self‐employed. Furthermore, the amount of time immigrants have spent in Canada does not significantly affect attitudes towards entrepreneurship.     

Nutzenpotenziale und Effekte betrieblicher Gesundheitsförderung

Research regarding workplace health promotion (WHP) frequently neglects the employees’ perspective. Due to that, assumptions regarding the effects of WHP for employees are typically based on experts’ opinions but not statements from the workforce. The present paper therefore exploratively investigates the effects of WHP as perceived by the staff. The results of problem-centred interviews with 19 employees in three organizations, and the four people there responsible for WHP show that potential effects of WHP from the employees’ perspective can be grouped in five areas: (1) prevention is facilitated, (2) cognitive and affective changes are possible, (3) physical effects are observed, (4) emotional effects can arise, and (5) WHP can lead to social effects. As WHP’s potential positive effects can be hindered in case the employees’ perspective is not sufficiently taken into account, the individuals’ expectations and aims should become more central in WHP design and research.     

The Recurrence of Violence

This article examines the recurrence of violence in the contemporary world based on the premise that states can use their monopoly of violence not only for preserving the life of their citizens but also for the sake of terror and annihilation. This ambiguous nature of the use of violence derives from the fact that the legal order of the state is a function of concrete acts of bloodshed and killing. The state bases the law on violence because authorities fear the psychological attraction that bloodshed has on the human imagination. The contagious character of violence, however, is not based on man's innate potential for aggression. Rather, it depends on the nature of the reciprocity of social relations. Violent conflict often feeds on negative social communication such as hatred and desire for vengeance. Yet, faced with the inevitable recurrence of violence humans have the capacity to act on the spiral of vengeance. One possible way to pacify violence is to transform the destructive, negative reciprocity of retaliation into the creative, positive reciprocity of active non-violence.