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Exploring the left-right ideological variance of national independence parties in Canada and Western Europe
Get PDFThe aim of this thesis is to address a single research question: “What factors can explain the significant
ideological variance that exists within Canadian and Western European national independence
parties?” This thesis analyses left-right ideology from two perspectives, the traditional perception of
left-right ideology and mainstream-radical ideology, which compares parties from mainstream
ideological positions with those from the radical-left and radical-right. This thesis is a mixed methods
study. This thesis analyses a newly created database, made up of two datasets of cases of national
independence parties standing in both regional and statewide elections, in order to establish patterns
regarding what might influence their ideology. The thesis then applies these results to pairs of nested
cases, aiming to determine what specific factors might influence the ideological variation found
between two different cases through controlled comparisons. When looking at traditional left-right
ideology, this thesis compared the Faroe Islands and Greenland and then Flanders and Quebec. When
looking at mainstream-radical ideology, this thesis compared the Basque Country and Catalonia and
Scotland and Wales. It was found that monarchy, military spending and unemployment influence the
traditional left-right ideology of national independence parties. Unemployment was found to be
especially influential in both the cases of the Faroe Islands and Greenland and Flanders and Quebec.
This thesis also finds that language, competition from a rival national independence party and
immigration influence the mainstream-radical ideology of national independence parties. Language
was found to be especially relevant when comparing the Basque Country and Catalonia while party
competition was found to be most relevant when comparing Scotland and Wales. This thesis adds to
the current literature by exploring national independence parties in their own right, rather than
looking at regionalist parties more broadly. It also offers a new perspective on a number of different
variables which were found to influence ideology, for example, the effect of monarchy
Unravelling managerial bad news hoarding: evidence from stock price crash risk
No full textWith three empirical essays, this thesis endeavours to contribute further empirical insights into stock price crash risk (managerial bad news hoarding). Specifically, the first essay (Chapter 3) investigates the impact of board gender diversity on mitigating future stock price crash risk. The second essay (Chapter 4) and third essay (Chapter 5)
delve into the effects of managerial bad news hoarding on corporate innovation and financial analysts’ forecasts, respectively. The findings reveal a positive correlation
between board gender diversity and a reduction in stock price crash risk. This effect is attributed to the reinforcement of board monitoring mechanisms and the alleviation of agency conflicts. Notably, firms with three or more female independent directors exhibit a more pronounced decrease in future stock price crash risk, supporting the critical mass theory. Furthermore, this thesis empirically establishes that firms inclined
towards withholding bad news demonstrate higher levels of corporate innovation, both in terms of input and output. This phenomenon stems from managerial overconfidence
spurred by the tail events associated with stock price crash risk, leading to increased innovative activities. Additionally, the practice of bad news hoarding enables managers to alleviate short-term market pressures, allowing a focus on implementing strategic innovation initiatives. In addition, this study identifies a positive correlation between managerial bad news hoarding and the quality of financial analysts’ forecasts, characterised by enhanced accuracy and reduced forecast dispersion. This relationship
is driven by intensified herding behaviour among financial analysts when forecasting firms with higher levels of bad news hoarding. Analysts’ herding behaviour leads to
reduced forecast dispersion and facilitates the aggregation of valuable information, ultimately improving forecast accuracy
Scoring goals: The impact of English Premier League football teams on local university admissions
Get PDFAnecdotal evidence suggests that co-location with an English Premier League (EPL) football team can boost university recruitment. But when a town or city loses its EPL team, it also loses some of the world’s attention. We test whether the EPL limelight does in fact affect university recruitment in England and Wales. We exploit the sharp annual cutoff between survival and relegation from the EPL, comparing the admissions outcomes of universities that have clear name association either side of that discontinuity. On average, losing association with an EPL team, for just one year after its relegation, significantly reduces a university’s undergraduate year-to-year admissions growth by 4-8 percent. These findings suggest not only that the EPL generates local externalities but also that university executives should support their local teams
Stepfathers and adolescent well-being: a systematic literature review
Get PDFStepfathers may influence their children’s development differently from either biological fathers or stepmothers due to differences in biological relatedness, social expectations, and relevant family processes; however, to date, little is known about the impact of stepfathers despite the increasing diversification of families. This systematic review synthesizes existing evidence on the connection between growing up in stepfather families and adolescent well-being. Findings from 29 empirical studies suggested that in between-group comparisons, adolescents with stepfathers demonstrated less optimal socioemotional and behavioral outcomes than those from two-biological-parent families. However, within-group examinations of adolescents in stepfather families indicated that positive stepfather involvement and stepfather-stepchild closeness benefit adolescent well-being. Maternal involvement and mother-stepfather relationships may moderate the influences of stepfathers. These findings have implications for future research and practices involving stepfather families and adolescent development
Thom Gunn's variants
Get PDFThe article reviews the variants between Gunn's mid-period poetry as it appeared in interim pamphlets and his edited final versions
Atmospheric electricity observations at Eskdalemuir Geophysical Observatory
Get PDFAtmospheric electricity measurements, principally of the hourly Potential Gradient (PG) were made continuously at Eskdalemuir Observatory, Scotland, (55.314° N, 356.794° E) between 1911 and 1981. Air ion properties were also determined. The sensing apparatus for PG measurement at Eskdalemuir initially used a Kelvin water dropper potential equaliser (1911-1936), followed by a radioactive probe from 1936 and, from 1965, a horizontal stretched wire sensor at 0.5 m, all attached to recording devices. Monthly mean PG data from these instruments is now available digitally. Originally, the data was classified into undisturbed and disturbed days, using the chart record (electrogram). This approach has deficiencies at Eskdalemuir due to mist, fog and calm conditions, which can influence the mean PG despite the day appearing undisturbed on the electrogram. Nevertheless, a correlation with Pacific Ocean temperature fluctuations is apparent in the Eskdalemuir PG data between 1911 and 1950. As at Lerwick, there was an abrupt decrease in the PG caused by nuclear weapon detonations in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The 1950s PG decrease began at Eskdalemuir before that at Lerwick, for which possible additional local factors are evaluated
The role of previous experience in the analysis of the psychological contract and its outcomes during the socialization process: a signalling theory perspective
Get PDFPsychological contract theory has largely neglected the role of previous experience. In this study, we examine how previous work experience influences outcomes of communication with organizational insiders during organizational socialization among healthcare staff. We develop a model based on signalling theory, within which information acquisition during socialization is associated with psychological contract fulfilment, which is in turn is related to better health, happiness, and social relationships. Moderated mediation analysis based on data collected at entry and three months later confirms indirect effects between three types of information acquisition and three employee outcomes via the mediating role of psychological contract fulfilment. Importantly, these indirect effects are present only for inexperienced newcomers. Our findings build on signalling theory and add to knowledge about how the psychological contract forms during early socialization. They also suggest that organizations should pay particular attention to inducting inexperienced newcomers
Don't get caught out: a summary of gender critical belief discrimination employment tribunal judgements
Get PDFResolving banking disputes in Hong Kong: towards a client-centric approach
No full textClients’ trust and confidence come from their ability to witness how processes are handled. This is important because the perception of otherwise highly credible internal complaint handling systems can be dampened when banks adjudicate their own disputes based on the bank-client contracts predominantly drafted by banks whilst disputes usually arise out of the contractual scope. Providing more information helps banks prevent disputes, establish supervisory triggers, and facilitate communication