Fairness and voting

In this paper we present a two-period model in which we examine how concern about fairness might affect voter behavior. We show that in the first period politicians choose the median voter’s position even if this does not correspond to their bliss points and neither they nor the voters can commit to a particular action. Moreover, concern about fairness creates substantial incumbency advantages. Our results hold even if voters care very little about fairness.     

Knowledge Strategies,Firm Types,and Complementarity in Human-Resource Practices

This paper argues that complementary humanresource practices play an important role inthe development of a knowledge based theory offirm. In general, such a theory might beadvanced through investigating complementarycoordination mechanisms as components ofgovernance structures. In particular, humanresource practice combinations contribute ascoordination mechanisms to organise knowledgecreation and exploitation in complex socialrelations. Yet, little is known about why and howinnovation strategies and activity systems ofdifferent firm types relate to combinations ofhuman resource practices. We address this gapby investigating the impact of firm types andknowledge strategies pursued on the applicationof human resource practices in a multisectoralsample of 684 manufacturing and 1,200non-manufacturing firms. We find that theadoption of practices applied differ with thecharacteristics of knowledge strategies andwith firm types. In addition, after controllingfor these differences, we find thatcomplementarity effects among practices arepresent in varying degrees. The implications ofour findings include that there are fewerrestrictions to combinations of coordinationmechanisms than widely assumed.     

Reducing the excess burden of subsidizing the stork: joint taxation, individual taxation, and family tax splitting

Analyzing a homogenous household setting with endogenous fertility and endogenous labor supply, we demonstrate that moving from joint taxation to individual taxation and adapting child benefits so as to keep fertility constant entails a Pareto improvement. The change is associated with an increase in labor supply and consumption and a reduction of the marginal income tax, while the child benefit may move in either direction. Similarly, a move from joint taxation to some scheme of family tax splitting increases labor supply and welfare.     

„Do Institutions Matter?“ Politische Bestimmungsfaktoren des Wirtschaftswachstums in demokratischen Industriegesellschaften

In his discussion of my article “The Effect of Cultural Factors, Networks of Voluntary Associations, and Democratic Institutions on Economic Development — An International Comparison” (KZfSS 52, 2000: 195–225), Herbert Obinger questions the research design and the empirical results. In this rejoinder I shall show that Obinger’s criticism rests on an inadequate theoretical orientation and in various ways does not meet the requirements of a scientific and productive critique. In addition, it is argued that questions about the influence of political-cultural variables on economic development are of significance, especially for the population of modern democratic industrial societies, their empirical analysis presupposes the restriction to timespans and indicators relevant for the respective research problems. Obinger’s own modified research design includes an inappropriate measurement of socio-economic development. Furthermore, it is argued that his discussion rests on the wrong assumption that statistical significance is the leading factor in the interpretation of relevance of empirical effects in a population.     

A Content Analysis of Quantitative Research in Journal of Marital and Family Therapy: A 10‐Year Review

We examined the trends of quantitative research over the past 10 years in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (JMFT). Specifically, within the JMFT, we investigated the types and trends of research design and statistical analysis within the quantitative research that was published in JMFT from 2005 to 2014. We found that while the amount of peer‐reviewed articles have increased over time, the percentage of quantitative research has remained constant. We discussed the types and trends of statistical analysis and the implications for clinical work and training programs in the field of marriage and family therapy.     

REVIEWS

Schwartzberg, N., Berliner, K., & Jacob, D. (1994). Single in a married world. Krasner, B.R., & Joyce, A.J.(1995). Truth, trust relationships: Healing interven-tions in contextual therapy. Glandding, S.T. (1995). Family therapy: History, theory, and Practice. Caplan, S., & Lang. G.(1995). Grief's Courageous joueney: A workbook. Araoz, D. L., & Carrese, M.A. (1996). Solution-oriented brief therapy for adjustment disorder. Murphy, M.J., illustrated by S. H. Kravitz. (1996). Popsicle fish. Atkins, D., & Powell, M. (Eds.). (1994). From the heart:Men and women write their private thoughts about their married lives. Levant, R.F., with Kopecky, G. (1995). Masculinity reconstructed:Changing the rules of manhood-at work, in relationships, and in family life. Lewis, J.M. (1996). The monkey-rope: A Psychotherapist's refections on relationships. Van-si, L., & Powers, L. (1994). Helping children heal from loss-A keepsake book of special memories. Levin, L., & Bellotti, L. (1992). You can't hurry love:An institute look at first marriages after 40. Who's in the Kitchen: Helping Men Move Towards the Center of Family Life. Good Mother? Bad Mother?: A Dissolving Dilemma. (1994).     

Zum Einfluss stimmlicher Merkmale und Überzeugungsstrategien der Interviewer auf die Teilnahme in Telefonumfragen

The interviewers’ voice, manner, personal characteristics and persuasion strategies are related to participation in telephone interviews. A comparison of groups reveals that the interviewer’s manner and personal characteristics lead to higher influence to participate than the interviewers’ voice. Vocal attributes are intercorrelated with personality. In addition, considerable differences were found in multivariate correlations between interviewers’ voices on the one hand and personal characteristics on the other hand. Only three characteristics have significant effects: enthusiastic, personal speech and rate of speaking. Some other results of the persuasion strategies are: repeating of the recipient’s arguments, tailoring and the formulation of different arguments. The findings point to the importance of a training program for interviewers.