Effective strategies in emerging industries

This paper presents the methodology and the results of an extensive field study achieved in 1982–1983, focusing on industrial firms' strategies in two emerging industries. Fiftynine firms participated in this work. Four generic strategies consistent with survival were identified, one of them being the most effective for building market share. Complementary studies are needed to test the external validity of these results.     

Propensity score matching and stratification using multiparty data without pooling

Matching and stratification based on confounding factors or propensity scores (PS) are powerful approaches for reducing confounding bias in indirect treatment comparisons. However, implementing these approaches requires pooled individual patient data (IPD). The research presented here was motivated by an indirect comparison between a single-armed trial in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and two external AML registries with current treatments for a control. For confidentiality reasons, IPD cannot be pooled. Common approaches to adjusting confounding bias, such as PS matching or stratification, cannot be applied as 1) a model for PS, for example, a logistic model, cannot be fitted without pooling covariate data; 2) pooling response data may be necessary for some statistical inference (e.g., estimating the SE of mean difference of matched pairs) after PS matching. We propose a set of approaches that do not require pooling IPD, using a combination of methods including a linear discriminant for matching and stratification, and secure multiparty computation for estimation of within-pair sample variance and for calculations involving multiple control sources. The approaches only need to share aggregated data offline, rather than real-time secure data transfer, as required by typical secure multiparty computation for model fitting. For survival analysis, we propose an approach using restricted mean survival time. A simulation study was conducted to evaluate this approach in several scenarios, in particular, with a mixture of continuous and binary covariates. The results confirmed the robustness and efficiency of the proposed approach. A real data example is also provided for illustration.     

Tax and Education Policy in a Heterogeneous‐Agent Economy: What Levels of Redistribution Maximize Growth and Efficiency?

This paper studies the effects of progressive income taxes and education finance in a dynamic heterogeneous‐agent economy. Such redistributive policies entail distortions to labor supply and savings, but also serve as partial substitutes for missing credit and insurance markets. The resulting tradeoffs for growth and efficiency are explored, both theoretically and quantitatively, in a model that yields complete analytical solutions. Progressive education finance always leads to higher income growth than taxes and transfers, but at the cost of lower insurance. Overall efficiency is assessed using a new measure that properly reflects aggregate resources and idiosyncratic risks but, unlike a standard social welfare function, does not reward equality per se. Simulations using empirical parameter estimates show that the efficiency costs and benefits of redistribution are generally of the same order of magnitude, resulting in plausible values for the optimal rates. Aggregate income and aggregate welfare provide only crude lower and upper bounds around the true efficiency tradeoff.     

The Zero program

Zero is a schoolwide antibullying program developed by the Centre for Behavioural Research at the University of Stavanger, Norway. It is based on three main principles: a zero vision of bullying, collective commitment among all employees at the school using the program, and continuing work. Based on these principles, the program aims to reduce student bullying by increasing the school's ability to uncover and stop bullying, and eventually to prevent it. The Zero program was launched in 2003, but the work that led to it goes back to the first national steps against bullying in 1983. The program extends over sixteen months as teachers develop their awareness of bullying and their competence in addressing it. Students and parents are involved in the program as well. The role of the school leadership is very important. More than 360 Norwegian schools have carried out the program.     

Frequency of job stressors,difficulty unwinding after work,and sleep problems among urban transit operators

Poor sleep quality is associated with numerous physical and mental health problems. The purpose of this study is to analyze the occupational and demographic factors associated with sleep problems among a sample of urban transit operators. The sample consists of 676 workers (44% female, 67% African American) at a Northern California public transit agency who participated in a cross-sectional worksite tobacco survey. Approximately 27% of the sample reported that they often had trouble going to sleep or staying asleep in the past 12?months. Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that frequency of job stressors (e.g., equipment problems, road or traffic problems, poor access to bathrooms) and amount of time needed to unwind and relax after work were significantly associated with often experiencing insomnia symptoms (odds ratio [OR]?=?1.76 and 2.44, respectively). Younger workers, females, and nicotine-dependent smokers were more likely to report often experiencing sleep problems than older workers, males, and nonsmokers. Employment length and work shift were not associated with the outcome. The findings indicate that transit operators experience elevated prevalence of past-year sleep problems, and occupational factors play a role in their occurrence. Future research should explore if policies that help reduce frequency of job stressors can mitigate poor sleep quality among this occupational group.     

The importance of sector‐stereotypical images in relation to job pursuit intentions

This study broadens the concept of employer image and demonstrates the relevance of applicants’ sector image when looking for employment in either nonprofit or for‐profit organizations. We apply the Stereotype Content Model to conceptualize image through perceived competence and warmth and use multilevel analyses on data from final‐year Master’s students. Results show the importance of the sector‐stereotypical image and are partially in line with our hypotheses. Job pursuit intentions for specific organizations are predicted by both the organizations’ as well as the respective sectors’ perceived warmth and competence. Pursuit intentions for the for‐profit sector are predicted only by the image of that sector. However, the intention to pursue employment in the nonprofit sector is predicted by both its competence and warmth as well as by the perceived warmth of its organizations. These findings are discussed in view of a trickle‐down effect and compared to previous findings on sector image among consumers.     

Migrant Workers and Workplace Bullying in Urban China

Trends of subjective well-being (SWB) in transition countries are peculiar: they show substantial changes that are more strongly correlated with the trends of GDP than in other developed countries. This paper examines the role of the trends of GDP and of social trust in predicting the trends of well-being. We find that the strength of the relationship between social trust and SWB over the medium-term is comparable to that of GDP. We conclude that in the medium-term, even in countries where material concerns strongly affect well-being, social trust is a powerful predictor of the trends of SWB. However, in the short run the relationship between social trust and SWB does not hold and GDP stands out as the only significant correlate of SWB.