Consumer fraud victimization and financial well-being

Using US household panel data, we provide evidence of a strong negative association between consumer fraud victimization and individuals’ perception of their financial well-being. We show that this effect is homogenous among the population and mainly stems from victimization through misrepresentation of information as well as misusage of money by third parties. We disentangle two potential channels through which victimization might reduce perceived financial well-being: psychological consequences (loss of confidence in financial matters) and economic consequences (decrease in net wealth). Our results show that fraud is more negatively associated with a loss in individuals’ confidence in financial matters than with declines in their net worth. Our findings suggest that people tend to doubt their abilities to handle financial matters after having fallen prey to fraud, which in turn carries major implications for subsequent financial decision making.     

An economic analysis of nanofood labeling

The paper examines the economic effects of labeling food nanotechnology products using an analytical framework of heterogeneous consumers and imperfectly competitive suppliers. Labeling results in increased costs for nanofood producers (the cost effect of the labeling policy), reduced consumer uncertainty regarding the nature of the food product (certainty effect), and can affect consumer attitudes towards nanofoods by being perceived as a warning signal (stigma effect). In this context, nanofood labeling can change the perceived quality differences between nanofoods and their conventional and organic counterparts, with such changes being more salient when the stigma effect is large, when consumers have low awareness of food nanotechnology in the absence of labeling, and/or when competition among nanofood suppliers is more intense. Despite its empirical relevance, the impact of a labeling policy on consumer preferences (and the economic ramifications of such impact) has largely been ignored by the theoretical literature on the economics of labels. Our analysis shows that it matters. Specifically, our study shows that the market and welfare effects of labeling are case-specific and dependent on consumer awareness of, and attitudes towards food nanotechnology before and after the introduction of the policy as well as the relative magnitude of the cost, certainty and stigma effects of nanofood labeling. Our analytical findings also suggest that the effects of nanofood labels on consumer welfare are asymmetric with certain groups of consumers benefiting even when labeling has a stigma effect on nanofoods.     

论以外资技术扩散发展湖北高新技术产业路径

面对国内外市场的激烈竞争,在自主技术创新有限的情况下,吸引外资,促进外资技术扩散,对湖北高新技术产业竞争力的提高将起到重要的作用。应从技术扩散行为主体的角度,找出外资技术扩散的主要制约因素;根据武汉光通信产业链的现状,寻求促进外资技术扩散和加快湖北高新技术产业发展的路径。     

Estimation of Nonlinear Models in the Presence of Measurement Error*

Techniques used in decision sciences and business research to estimate interactions between latent variables are limited in controlling for measurement error. This article uses a latent structure modeling approach that substantially controls for measurement error in nonlinear relationships. The results of this technique are compared to the results obtained applying hierarchical regression analysis and the impact of measurement error is assessed. The paper provides a unique assessment of the validity of the multi-attribute attitude model. The validity of the multiplicative rule in the model is supported.     

吉林省科技支撑农村三产融合发展路径与对策研究

农村三产融合对促进农民增收、振兴乡村和促进农村地区可持续发展具有重要的现实意义。从理论研究视角,分析吉林省农村三产融合的内涵及其存在的问题,总结农村三产融合发展对科技的需求,并据此提出科技支撑农村三产融合的对策,能够为农村三产融合实践提供理论支持与发展思路。     

民初都市女性形象及社会地位的确立——以1921年《申报》女性广告为例

1921年《申报》的女性广告塑造了健康、美丽、年轻、时尚的现代都市女性形象,在成为都市消费主体的同时,中国女性开始逐步构建精神层面的现代性。广告对女性形象的运用体现了女性在商业中的工具性价值和消费客体的地位。女性广告同时体现出都市女性构建与现代化相连的家庭生活模式的趋向。但是,女性的社会价值定位单一,仍然延续传统的贤妻良母角色,辛亥革命时期妇女解放运动的成果十分有限。中国女性的最终解放仍然需要社会的整体演进和自身坚持不懈的努力。     

论休闲异化

休闲和劳动一样也存在着异化。它表现为休闲自由的异化、休闲情绪的异化和休闲节奏的异化。它的成因是物质性追求与功利性情感、炫耀性消费与符号化风潮、技术性依赖与政治性行为、感官性沉溺与媒体性刺激。文章认为,其解决之道是减少功利性追逐,推崇无功利审美;减少非理性消费,破除符号化欺骗;简化复杂性程序,提倡简单化生活。     

论消费者在市场经济中的重要作用

消费者在市场经济中作为消费主体发挥作用,决定着社会生产和再生产的目的、方向和前途,并在商品结构调整中、在对代理人经济活动的监督中和对生产经营活动的创新等方面都具有重要作用。消费者需求是市场需求组成的基础,是市场调节的依据,是市场引导的方向。消费者利益原则是市场经济的基本原则,消费者利益引导其他市场主体经济活动的方向,是其他市场主体开展经济活动的动力;消费者利益是市场经济发展的目的,可调动各种市场主体从事经济活动的积极性,从而促进市场经济的正常运行与发展。     

大学生消费伦理失范现象分析及对策

当前,我国大学生消费领域出现了包括炫耀性消费、过度消费等不健康的消费形态。西方消费主义观念的侵蚀是造成这种现象的重要原因。大学生出现消费至上的问题将影响其健康人格的培养并恶化校园风气。应从校园教育、家庭教育着手,大力加强校园主流舆论引导和实施媒介素养教育,为大学生树立正确的消费现培养良好的氛围和条件。     

职业女性健身消费价值取向的社会文化分析

与当下后现代文化相呼应的职业女性健身消费,在价值取向上发生了显著的变化。表现为：美丽消费渐成主流、时尚健身消费日益凸显、舒适享受型的被动健身受到青睐。其结果是女性在塑造身体美的消费上,自身的身体成了美的消费品,其中主要是因为受消费社会多元的身体消费冲击、社会文化借助媒体的全面渗透和主流审美文化的控制等,严重制约和影响了职业女性的健身消费。