Maximizing product mix profitability - what's the best analysis tool

This paper takes a look at product mix profitability and compares several alternative methodologies for selecting the optimal product mix. It is argued that the optimal product mix is not determined using traditional accounting methodologies and that dropping marginally profitable products based on the accounting rules will give you less than optimal profitability. This paper looks at two different ways for coming up with the optimal product mix: one using theory of constraints (TOC) and another using linear programming.     

ECONOMIC RESPONSE TO A CRIME DETERRENCE PROGRAM: MANDATORY SENTENCING FOR ROBBERY WITH A FIREARM

This paper reports the results of the application of intervention analysis, an interrupted times series methodology, to test the deterrent response of criminal offenders faced with changes in the penalty structure for the crime of robbery with a firearm. The results are consistent with the hypothesis of general deterrence as set out by Becker and extended theoretically and tested empirically by others. Offenders in Arizona metropolitan areas rapidly reduced the number of robberies with a firearm supplied as penalties for firearm use became more severe. This finding suggests legislation which punishes those who choose to use such weapons in illegal activities may be effective while leaving intact the rights of private citizens to own firearms. One disturbing finding was that a Portion of the deterrent effect of harsher mandatory sentencing for firearm use in robbery may have been offset by substitution of other types of robbery not covered by the new legislation.     

Race, Gender, and Opinion Toward Black and Female Presidential Candidates

Using data from the 1974 and 1978 General Social Surveys, publicopinion toward blacks and women as presidential candidates wasexplored. We tested the hypotheses that white males would beleast likely to support presidential candidates from both groups,while black females would be the most likely to express thissupport. We found that although blacks in general were moresupportive of black candidacies than were whites, women werenot consistently more supportive of female candidates. Whileblack women were more likely than black males to support femalecandidates, among whites few gender differences were found.     

Perceptions of the Work Environment and Implications for Women's Career Choice: A Survey of University Faculty Women

This article reports the results of a survey of female faculty. Overall, respondents indicated positive perceptions of their academic environment and a strong interest in mentoring female students.     

Free trade: why did it happen?*

Tout au long de la campagne qu'il a menée pour devenir chef du Parti Conservateur en 1983, Brian Mulroney a dénoncé le libre-échange. Peu de temps après, il fit volte-face et engagea le processus de négociation qui aboutit à un accord de libre-échange. Une minorité de canadiens était favorable à une telle entente, mais les Conservateurs remportèrent les éledions de 1988 et signèrent l'Accord de libre-échange avec les États-Unis. Comment expliquer cet enchdînement d'événements paradoxaux? L'auteur cherche à répondre à cette question capitale en présentant des données sur le degréélevé de concentration et d'intégration de la propriétééconomique qui, examinéà la lumière de la thérie du capital financier, améme à la conclusion que la classe capitaliste canadienne s'est renforcée au cours de la dernière décennie. La communication présente également des données sur l'affaiblissement des classes subordonnées au Canada. Cette double évolution est ensuite mise en relation avec le modèle dit de l'équilibre dee forces' afin d'expliquer les interventions de lÉtat canadien. Pour appuyer sa thèse, l'auteur compare les politiques canadiennes des annbés 1970 avec celles d'aujourd hui et fait des rapprochements entre l'Accord de libre-éhange canado-américain et l'Union économique européenne. Brian Mulroney denounced Free Trade when he campaigned for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party in 1983. Shortly afterward, he reversed his position and initiated the negotiations that produced a Free Trade agreement. More Canadians opposed this agreement than supported it, but the Progressive Conservatives won the 1988 election and implemented the Canada-United States Trade Agreement. Why did this paradoxical series of events happen? This paper attempts to provide an answer to this question. It documents a significant concentration and integration of economic ownership and goes on to relate these developments to the theory of finance capital to identify the increasing strength of the Canadian capitalist claes over the past decade. It also documents the weakening of Canadian subordinate classes. These twin developments are then related to the ‘Power Balance Model’ to explain the actions of the Canadian state. Comparisons of Canadian state policy between the 1970s and now, and of the Canada-United States Trade Agreement with European Economic Union, are shown to support the proposed explanation.     

“审美性”与“体贴”——论《红楼梦》的女性文化意涵

<红楼梦>是中国最具性别反省向度的一部小说,本文从观察小说大观园女儿国中的群体生命面向的特色,以及此中人们之间的关系这两个层面入手,并参之以西方女性主义关怀伦理学的观点,以呈现女性文化的特色.<红楼梦>所构建的"女性文化",呈现了一个"审美"的生命面向,此中人的存在或者是从事的活动,都带着一种当下的、偶兴的,以及充满意趣的审美性.他们也用这样的美感来观照自己与他人,所以,群聚本身并不明显地通向一个具有如传统儒家价值的目标意义.而也在这样的审美特质上,他们彼此之间也发展了一种超越功利性与实用性的"体贴"关系.在这种关系里,他们有别於父权的上下名位序列的关系,而构作了一个平面网络关系,彼此之间互为主体,当他们以对方为主体而全心挹注在对方身上时,温暖的情谊便在其中流动.<红楼梦>呈现的女性文化对比著男性文化总带有较多的理想色彩,因为那是一个超越了名位阶级的人人为主体的平等关系,以及不带功利与道德价值判定的审美世界.自然,我们也可从中解读出文本中对於传统男性文化的反省,以及对於女性文化的向往.