Towards a transdisciplinary blueprint to studying bullying

Events related to bullying are so complex that they require a much broader examination than is usually available from a single disciplinary point of view. The purpose of the present paper is to offer new ways of examining this complex phenomenon. We will argue that transdisciplinarity (henceforth TD) could bring a more comprehensive analysis and a deeper understanding to the current state of bullying research. As a way of emphasizing the benefits of a more pluralistic and integrative approach, we will use TD based examples to describe the general context and process we used to develop a new definition of bullying, one that provides a sharper distinction between bullying and general aggression, thus offering the possibility of more targeted intervention strategies. The present paper is divided into three sections, namely, a selected review of the TD literature, an application of TD inspired ideas and tools that examine bullying from a number of interrelated perspectives, and an outline of a conceptual ‘Disciplinary Continuum’, as an example of how TD can be used to examine complex phenomena. Moreover, we will highlight TD’s expanding role in the funding process, as it is increasingly required by granting agencies and governmental ministries as a criterion for universities’ funding. We conclude by outlining ideas for further inquiries.     

Monopolistic Competition,Expected Inflation and Contract Length

Abstract. This paper shows that the explicit consideration of the “expected inflation effect” makes it more likely that increases in wage and price flexibility reduce employment variability. This result, obtained in a monopolistic competition model with synchronized contracts, casts doubts on some existing consensus in the literature pointing towards the opposite view. Wage and price flexibility, although ceteris paribus desirable, is however shown to be an inferior substitute for optimally designed demand management.     

Determinants of the timing of adult role entry

A growing body of research indicates that the timing of entry into adult roles has long-term consequences for individuals and society. At present, little is known about determinants of the timing of adult role entry. Based on data from a 15-year follow-up study of high school students originally surveyed in 1957–1958 and resurveyed in 1973–1974, this paper examines and compares the processes by which the ages at entry into the labor force, entry into marriage, and entry into parenthood are determined. The timing of adult role entry is hypothesized to be a function of (1) the duration of time spent in transitional roles, (2) the availability of the opportunity to enter an adult role, and (3) an individual's orientation to an adult role. Evidence supporting this conceptualization is presented for both sexes.     

Effects Of The Number And Spacing Of Children On Marital And Parental Satisfaction

Analyzing data from a fifteen-year follow-up study of high school students originally surveyed in 1957–58 and resurveyed in 1973–74, this paper examines the effects of the number and spacing of children on marital and parental satisfaction. The results suggest that the number of children in the family has no direct effect on marital satisfaction but has a direct negative effect on parental satisfaction. Childspacing, as measured by the length of the average birth interval, is found to have no significant effect on either marital or parental satisfaction. Premarital pregnancy has a negative effect on both the marital and parental satisfaction of women.     

Is corporate governance of private equity targets more effective for risk mitigation?

Journal of Management and Governance - Private equity is a source of finance and a governance device characterised by active monitoring through sponsors that intervene in targets’ corporate...     

Initiation of the process of adult role entry

Among the most significant events marking the transition to adulthood are role changes involving the assumption of adult responsibilities. These include entry into the adult roles of worker, spouse, and parent. Because entry into one adult role tends to have implications for entry into other adult roles, the ages at which these role changes occur are related. It is therefore instructive to view the process of adult role entry as a process that is initiated when the first of several role changes occurs. The purpose of this paper is to examine initiation of the process of adult role entry. Data from a fifteen-year followup study of high school students originally surveyed in 1957–58 and resurveyed in 1973–74 are analyzed to determine which of several role changes initiated the process of adult role entry and the age at which the process was initiated for cohorts born during the early 1940s. A model predicting the age at initiation of the process is estimated, and the parameters of that model are compared with the parameters of comparable models predicting educational attainment and the timing of exit from the student role.This research was supported by Grant Nos. R01-HD16164 and R01-HD18596 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. I am indebted to Peter H. Rossi and James S. Coleman for their assistance and support during the collection of data on which the research was based. The assistance of Peter J. Hodsdon and Lillian L. Southwick in processing the data and Pamela Navatta in typing the paper is also gratefully acknowledged.     

Cultural evolution and economic growth: a theoretical hypothesis with some empirical evidence

This paper begins with a review of the literature on culture and development and finds that a “questionable” controversy divides the field: on one side are supporters of the ‘achievement motivation’, while on the other side are supporters of the ‘trust syndrome’, both in search of the ultimate attitude promoting economic development.This controversy is analysed through the lens of a broader conceptual framework, and a solution is proposed to settle the debate. The theoretical hypothesis asserts that economic culture, as any other aspect of culture, passes through stages of development. In the early stages, economic culture dwells on the problem of wealth distribution and, only later, does it focus on the core question of its growth. Using empirical data extracted from the World Values Survey Archives, we verify that during this latter stage both achievement motivation and trust syndrome are needed to promote economic growth.     

Effects of the timing of marriage and first birth of the spacing of subsequent births

Analyzing data from a fifteen-year follow-up survey of high school students originally surveyed in 1957–58 and resurveyed in 1973–74, this paper examines the effects of the timing of marriage and first birth on subsequent child spacing, holding constant the effects of other variables that may be sources of spuriousness. The results suggest that age at first marriage has a causal effect on the occurrence of a short first birth interval and that age at first marriage and premarital pregnancy interact in their effect on the occurrence of a short second birth interval. Age at first marriage has no causal effect on the spacing of the second birth for those whose first child was maritally conceived. The spacing of the first birth, however, appears to have a causal effect on the spacing of the second.     

Social time preference

The observed practice of discounting the future should not be rationalised on the grounds of myopia or selfishness. A positive rate of pure time preference is necessary to ensure that heterogeneous generations are treated in an egalitarian fashion. A zero social discount rate would yield intertemporal allocations which are biased against the current generations. Endogenous productivity growth requires that the social discount rate be set above the subjective rate of pure time preference. Positive social time preference, far from discriminating against future generations, is essential for a fairer intertemporal allocation of resources. Received: 3 July 1999/Accepted: 6 October 1999