SELF-INTEREST AND PUBLIC OPINION TOWARD SMOKING RESTRICTIONS AND CIGARETTE TAXES

A burgeoning literature suggests that self-interest has littleinfluence on policy preferences. In sharp contrast are the findingsdiscussed in this paper: we show that self-interest plays adecisive role in shaping attitudes toward smoking restrictionsand cigarette taxes. Data from two random samples of Californiaadults collected by the Field Institute in April 1987 and February1984 indicate that nonsmokers are far more enthusiastic abouttightening smoking restrictions and increasing cigarette taxesthan smokers, particularly heavy smokers. We conclude by discussingseveral explanations for the apparent discrepancy between theseresults and the pattern of null findings characteristic of theself-interest literature.     

Ascription and Position: A Comparative Analysis of “Stacking” in Professional Football*

Le phénomène du rangement sélectif (“stacking”) qui correspond à une presence ou à une absence disproportionnée sur une équipe de joueurs possédant certains traits innés fait l'objet d'une analyse empirique comparée dans le domaine du football canadien et américain. De plus on examine la pratique du rangement sélectif dans la Ligue canadienne de Football par rapport à Porigine raciale. On compare deux modèles théoriques, l'un basé sur la centralité dans l'organisation et l'autre base sur l'orientation des tâches primaires-secondaires, afin de connaître leur utilité dans la compréhension de la pratique du rangement sélectif et de leurs implications particulières. The phenomenon of “stacking,” the disproportionate presence or absence of players defined by a particular ascribed characteristic, is empirically examined in the comparative context of professional football in Canada and the United States. Additionally, the ascribed characteristic of national origin is examined in terms of stacking patterns in the Canadian Football League. Two models, organizational centrality and primary-secondary task-orientation are compared theoretically as to their utility in explaining stacking practices, and the implications are considered.     

The Effects of Branching on Item Nonresponse

The analysis of responses to a large sample survey instrumentindicates that branching instructions significantly increasethe rate of item nonresponse for items immediately followingthe branch. While older respondents did have a higher incidenceof item nonresponse, none of six other factors (education, gender,distance to next question, number of previous branches, futurebehavior, or nature of response) hypothesized to affect itemnonresponse were significantly related to the rate of nonresponse.     

THE INSTITUTIONALIST ECONOMIC THEORIES OF CLARENCE AYRES

This paper creates a synthesis of Ayres's views, drawing them together from his many publications, and displaying his work as an intellectual system. His work is also evaluated, with the conclusion that his basic distinction between institutional and technological behavior is not tenable, but that he made some contributions of lasting value in his elaboration of institutionalist theory. In particular, he demonstrated the necessity for a recognition of the cultural and technological environment within which economic behavior occurs, he argued persuasively in favor of an interdisciplinary approach, and he contributed to the analysis of the process of technological change.     

THORSTEIN VEBLEN'S ECONOMIC SYSTEM

This study provides a foundation for an understanding of Veblen's economics by displaying its various parts as components of a system, and analyzing and evaluating them. An examination is made of Veblen's views on the subject-matter of economics, his general theory of economic change, his theory of economic change under capitalism, and his prediction of the end of capitalism, under the emergence of a new economic order. It is shown that he constructed a highly general theory economic change that was scientific in character, but that in dealing with capitalism he wrote primarily as a social philosopher and ideologist.