Question-Order Effects on Presidential Popularity

A methodological experiment is conducted on the same questionthat is used virtually every month in the Gallup Poll to measurepresidential popularity. The point of the experiment is to determinewhether presidential popularity is affected by the placementof the question within the survey, in response to a recent chargethat alternations in the order in which this question has beenasked invalidate time-series analyses of presidential popularity.The primary finding is that the order in which the questionis presented does not significantly affect the direction ofresponse (the balance between approval and disapproval), butit does affect opinionation (the willingness to make a directionalresponse, whether positive or negative). This effect is foundto be particularly pronounced for less educated respondents.The implications of these findings for time series analysisof presidential popularity are spelled out.     

COMMODITY TAXATION IN WELFARE STATES

Unemployment is a central policy issue in countries with a “generous” welfare system that is hard to reform. This paper addresses why these countries tend to adopt high commodity tax rates in the optimal taxation context. We explore the role of commodity taxation in alleviating moral hazard and hence involuntary unemployment and then provide supportive evidence from a quantitative analysis. Unlike the usual full employment models, at the heart of this paper is a new dimension of distortion, the “between‐states” (employment state vs. unemployment state) consumption choice distortion, which can be dealt with by a certain optimal combination of commodity and income taxation. Our results therefore offer an explanation for the widely observed coexistence of direct and indirect taxation. (JEL D61, D81, H21)     

Managing a crisis of confidence in Nigeria's banking and financial industry

An ongoing crisis of confidence in the banking and financial industry in Nigeria's emerging economy calls for using integrated marketing communications (IMC) in optimizing five potentially normative actions as a beachhead in procuring corporate benefits from three variables that predict significantly customers’ favorable impressions of business: satisfaction, trust, relationship commitment. The actions: (a) personalize the stakeholder experience, (b) integrate ethics into the workplace and into corporate communications, (c) participate in training sessions in applied ethics, (d) use brandstanding expansively and integratively, and (e) conduct rigorous outcomes assessment and disseminate its results promptly to stakeholders.     

李玄逸的四端七情论

在朝鲜中期的"四端七情之辩"中,李退溪与李栗谷之间虽未直接交锋,但他们对于"四端七情"的不同看法却分别为后世儒者所继承,而形成所谓"主理派"(岭南学派)与"主气派"(畿湖学派)之对垒。李玄逸是所谓的"主理学者",在"四端七情"的问题上继承退溪的观点。他撰有《栗谷李氏论四端七情辨》。李玄逸的辩驳文字,当中显现三重混淆:首先,他并未意识到,朱子以其理气二分、心性情三分的性理学架构来诠释孟子的"四端"说,其实偏离了孟子的基本观点。其次,他未意识到,在理气论及"四端七情"方面,李退溪的观点已逸出了朱子的性理学架构,反倒是李栗谷更忠于朱子的观点。最后,他也未意识到,当李退溪的观点逸出了朱子的性理学架构时,李退溪反而比李栗谷更接近孟子的基本观点。     

课程与教学研究二十年回溯:香港与内地的视角

新旧世纪交替更迭,世界各国教育改革此起彼伏,各种理论与学说交相辉映,共同形成颇为壮阔的图景.作为教育的核心领域--课程与教学的研究在近些年同样经历着日新月异的变化.本文尝试从香港与内地学者的视角勾勒出近二十年香港课程与教学的研究脉络与发展轮廓.文章首先概述两岸三地在课程与教学研究交流发展方面所做出的不懈努力;其次,文章围绕课程改革、课程实施、教师教育、学科教育、大学教育等     

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欧洲统合是人类历史上前所未有的经验,对会员国而言,来自个别国家、自下而上的整合动力汇聚成一股“欧洲化”的新力量又反过来影响其自身;国家仍保留形式上的国界,但政经高度整合已经是不可逆的趋势。对世界其他国家而言,欧洲典范与欧洲化将引领全球化之下更进一步的区域整合,传统的“国家”概念逐渐发生变化,究竟个别国家与欧盟应如何分工？如何相辅相成以适应全球化下自身的角色？研究目的在于归纳国内学者经常使用的理论框架,主要以新功能主义、政府间主义、历史制度主义及多层次治理为例,作为未来进一步研究的基石。     

宋诗语词拾诂三例

本文以排比文例之法,对出现于《全宋诗》中“鼎鼎”、“堂堂”、“力贫”等语词加以考释,旨在说明阅读宋诗,有必要了解一下宋代语言变化。     

THE ECONOMICS OF CARPOOLS

The paper shows how separate parts of a work trip enter the decision to carpool, and examines how the size of a carpool is related to the gasoline price, the wage rate, speed limits, and other factors. The paper also suggests that policies designed to promote carpooling may produce perverse effects on gasoline consumption.