Close but not committed? The multiple dimensions of relational embeddedness

This research addresses the complexity of embedded inter-firm ties. Based on both qualitative and quantitative data from field research in the computer motherboard manufacturing industry, this paper investigates the origins of close ties and committed relationships, and explores the relationships between these two dimensions of embedded inter-firm relationships. The results show that companies establish close relationships with their partners to resolve coordination uncertainty due to a high level of task interdependence in their exchanges, and that firms become more collaboratively committed when they seek to alter a disadvantaged power asymmetry. At the same time, the fieldwork found an underlying conflict between the embeddedness dimensions of closeness and commitment: too much closeness reduces a partner’s commitment. These findings have significant implications for the formation of embedded corporate ties as well as the effects of embeddedness on organizations.     

How dominance hierarchies emerge from conflict: A game theoretic model and experimental evidence

We develop a game theoretic model of conflict and empirically test its predictions to study the emergence of social hierarchies in small groups. Previous research shows uncertainty about actors' ability may lead to more conflict; conflict demonstrates actors' ability and establishes relationships of dominance and submissiveness. Since we assume uncertainty regarding ability to be a crucial cause of conflict, we focus on the effects of different information conditions. We posit that actors know the distribution of abilities in their group and vary whether or not they know (1) their own ability and (2) their interaction partners' interaction histories. Our results from a laboratory experiment closely match qualitative model predictions. Most importantly, conflict produces information about actors’ ability, which reduces subsequent conflict. In an exploratory analysis we investigate to what extent gender, social value orientation, risk preferences and a competitive personality account for the quantitative discrepancies between model predictions and subject behavior.     

Widening the social context of disablement among married older adults: Considering the role of nonmarital relationships for loneliness

Utilizing the stress process and life course perspectives, we investigated the influence of non-spousal social support on the associations between marital quality, physical disability, and loneliness among married older adults. Using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), we found that the association between physical disability and loneliness was partially accounted for by the fact that physical disability was associated with less supportive nonmarital relationships. While physically-disabled older adults in higher-quality marriages were buffered from loneliness, supportive non-martial relationships did not offset elevated loneliness among those in low-quality marriages. These associations were largely similar for men and women. Thus, although both marital and nonmarital relationships are important for loneliness, when confronted with a stressor such as disablement it is the marital relationship alone that matters.     

Occupy the government: Analyzing presidential and congressional discursive response to movement repression

I examine the role of Occupy Wall Street in shifting presidential and congressional discourse on economic fairness and inequality. Using data from 4646 presidential speeches and 1256 congressional records from 2009 to 2015, I test different mechanisms, including repression, media coverage, public opinion, and presidential agenda-setting by applying a novel combination of web scraping, natural language processing, and time series models. I suggest that movement success can be measured in its ability to shape discursive opportunity structures, and I argue that the role of the president should be at the forefront of social movements research. Ultimately, I demonstrate (1) that the repression of Occupy protesters not only predicts media coverage but also increases discursive opportunities through President Obama and Congress, (2) that media coverage of Occupy predicts presidential discourse, (3) that the president's rhetorical shift increases congressional response, and (4) that this change persists after the movement faltered.     

Does community social embeddedness promote generalized trust? An experimental test of the spillover effect

Despite the theoretical relevance attributed to the spillover effect, little empirical research has focused on testing its causal validity. Addressing this gap in the literature, I propose a novel experimental design to test if the overall density of social links in a community promotes trustworthy and trusting behaviors with absolute strangers. Controlling for social integration (i.e. the individual number of social connections), I found that density fosters higher levels of trust. In particular, results show that people in denser communities are more likely to trust their unknown fellow citizens, encouraging isolated subjects to engage with strangers. However, evidence did not support the idea that community social embeddedness causes an increase of trustworthiness, indicating that the spillover effect works only with respect to trust.     

台湾社区工作:从“福利小区化”迈向“永续小区”

随着世界小区化服务潮流,自20世纪90年代中期以后,台湾各公共领域之以"小区化"为主轴的服务方案如雨后春笋般的出现."福利小区化"与"小区营造"是其中最获重视的两项计划;经过十余年的推动,"台湾健康小区六星计划"的出现,不仅包含了前两项计划的内容,同时也使小区建设扩展至诸如产业、环境、治安、人文等六个方面;永续小区发展策略在反思以前小区建设经验与问题的基础上出现.检视过去十余年来台湾小区工作发展脉络,特别是从"福利小区化"、"小区营造"到"健康小区六星计划"发展路径,可发现台湾小区工作发展具有多方面借鉴意义;应该从理念、政策和实务多角度省思,以有助于迈向"永续小区".     

新中国60年中国共产党执政成本升高的合理性因素分析——基于制度转轨的考量

新中国成立60年以来中国共产党的执政成本尤其是经济成本不断升高,这里面既有合理性因素的增长又有不合理因素的增长。但是学者们往往过多地关注于不合理因素的增长,对于合理性因素的增长的分析很少涉及。分析执政成本升高,不看到其升高的客观性、合理性、必然性,只去分析其不合理构成和不合理因素,不是科学的态度和方法,由此而得出的结论就难免有失偏颇。如果能从制度转轨导致执政成本升高的合理性因素分析入手,则会对执政成本升高的原因得出更为全面客观的诠释。     

湄公河名称的含义及其所反映的民族历史变迁

湄公河这个名称是从英文MekongRiver一名音译过来的,而英文Mekong这个名称又是从傣泰语民族对这条河流的称呼MaeNamKhong这个名称演变过来的。如果按照傣泰语的发音来音译的话,MaeNamKhong应该译为“湄南公”。在傣泰语言中,“湄南”是河的意思,而“公(”Khong)这个词,则是从Krom或Khom这个词演变而来的。Krom或Khom是泰国的泰族和其他一些傣泰语民族对孟高棉语民族的一个泛称。因此,“湄南公”是湄公河的名称的含义,就是“孟高棉语民族的河”。作者认为,傣泰语民族把流经他们土地的这条河流叫做“孟高棉语民族的河”的原因在于:这个名称反映了一段湄公河流域民族变迁的历史,即孟高棉语民族是该流域的土著居民,至少是比傣泰民族要早的当地居民,而傣泰民族则是后来才迁到该河流域的民族。虽然孟高棉语民族和傣泰语民族在该流域的分布空间已发生了根本的置换,但湄公河这条河流的名称却为我们留下了一条反映这种民族历史变迁的重要线索。     

从基于资源到面向需求——地方政府决策的一种利益分析

市场经济条件下,一些地方政府和企业、事业单位仍然基于地方资源而不是生产者和消费者通过市场交换所反映出来的需求进行决策,这已导致低效、封闭以及资源配置不合理,并加剧寻租现象。本文主要分析基于资源决策思路的负面效果、原因、表现,以及向面向需求决策方式转变的重要性。     

戏曲艺术：不断地探寻新形式——戏剧反思录之二

任何一种文化现象都表现为一个历史过程,都具有鲜明的时代性。戏曲艺术形式达到高峰之后,常常会在自己内部孕育着异己的胚胎,导致发生逆向的转折。在戏曲艺术世界中,可以说一直就是处在这种艺术形式变革的探索之中。