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Electronics Utilization by Consumers: Antecedents and Impact on Consumer Positivity
Get PDFA sample of consumers, ranging in age from late teens to 65, is used to examine the impact of demographic antecedents on consumer electronic utilization variables (age, household income, undergraduate major, and ethnicity).Then, the impact of these electronic utilization variables on positive consumer characteristics is examined (cultural openness, deal proneness, value judgment, self-esteem, and shopping enjoyment).Strong support indicates the various impacts the antecedents have on consumer electronic utilization. Findings also suggest the influence of these electronic utilization variables on positive consumer characteristics. The non-findings are discussed, and future research is suggested to further examine the relationships included in this study’s research model
Integrating Research-Based Indicators of Emergent Biliteracy Teaching Practices for Emerging Bilingual Learners
Get PDFThis research explored how bilingual teachers of young Dual Language Leaners ages 0-3 integrated Reyes and Azuara’s (2008) Ecological Model of Emergent Biliteracy in their classrooms to foster bilingualism, biliteracy, and academic success. Dual Language Learners are the fastest-growing population of young children in the country that speak a language other than English. As so, the early childhood workforce must integrate the Ecological Model of Emergent Biliteracy for emergent biliteracy development and equitable emergent biliteracy teaching practices to support the natural biliteracy development of young Spanish-English Dual Language Learners. Qualitative data was collected through interviews and observations and were analyzed using the grounded theory stages of coding. The findings recommend immersing Dual Language Learners in equitable learning opportunities that incorporate their cultural knowledge, languages, experiences, and learning to support the precursors for emerging biliteracy development
The US Government Ponzi Scheme & Impending Collapse of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
Get PDFThe financial instability from unfunded liabilities threatens the long-term viability of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, demanding urgent reforms. An alternative to Social Security’s tax-spend-borrow model is proposed: Mutual Funds managed independently of the Social Security Administration. Analysis shows that investing 15% of income in mutual funds over 50 years could yield a significantly higher retirement fund compared to Social Security, offering 1,400. This alternative would foster intergenerational wealth, unlike the current system, which resembles a Ponzi scheme and lacks genuine investment. Despite the Supreme Court’s rulings upholding the constitutionality of Social Security taxes, the broader issue of its constitutionality remains unresolved. The SCOTUS decision in Flemming vs. Nestor (1960) highlights that taxpayers are obligated to contribute to FICA without guaranteed benefits, raising concerns about the program’s fairness and alignment with constitutional principles. Urgent reform is essential to secure financial stability and align with the enumerated functions in the US Constitution: this should be discussed in every business college in our nation
Remarks on Fixed Point Approaches to Insurance and Finance
Get PDFFixed point theory has been applied to various practical problems of insurance and finance during several decades. In our earlier paper (Voutilainen, 2022) we have presented problem classes tackled in the literature by fixed point methods. In Voutilainen (2023) we study fixed point problem solution methods with the help of solutions of equilibrium problems in several classes. For this paper we have gathered and commented on some specific fixed point applications to the insurance and finance areas. Many of them also adopt other interesting theoretical areas. It turns out that fixed point theory really has a number of important applications both to insurance and finance and to theoretical mathematics
Revisiting the Portfolio Diversification Impact of Farmland
Get PDFWe examine the impact of farmland within a mixed asset portfolio consisting of U.S. stocks, bonds, Treasury Bills, real estate, and gold to determine farmland’s diversification benefits. Farmland returns are proxied via a U.S. Farmland Real Estate Investment Trust (F-REIT). Using both constrained and unconstrained asset allocation assumptions, we employ Markowitz Portfolio Optimization resulting in various asset allocation outcomes. We find farmland to be a suboptimal choice within a well-diversified portfolio despite possessing a low correlation with the other assets. By revisiting the portfolio impact of farmland, our results update findings in the literature which have been mixed and inactive in recent years. Additionally, our findings have meaningful implications for the average investor who is considering allocating investment into farmland
The Relationship Between Asset-Liability Management and Governance Quality in the Banking Industry
Get PDFThis study investigates whether governance quality is associated with asset-liability management (ALM) within the US banking industry. Based on stewardship theory, we hypothesize that there ought to be a significant, positive association between bank governance quality and a strong balance sheet due to inherent fiduciary responsibility and internal controls associated with an ALM governance process. Due to endogeneity concerns, we employ two-stage least squares regression and examine the relationship between 10 ALM metrics and governance risk scores (a component of ESG quality scores) for a cross-sectional sample of 251 US publicly traded banks in 2022. The results suggest that corporate governance influences ALM, not vice-versa. However, contrary to our hypothesized direction, favorable governance quality is associated with weaker ALM metrics as the results indicate that there is an inverse relationship between governance quality and ALM. Even so, the results provide evidence that bank governance quality is associated with balance sheet management. The results should be of interest to bank executives, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders in the banking industry
Workplace Diversity: Hidden Treasure for Boosting Organizational Performance
Get PDFToday, many organizations recognize the significant impact of workplace diversity on performance outcomes at all organizational levels. Managers and leaders have embraced differences in organizational workforce members through diversity management initiatives, training and programs that yield competitive advantages. The present study contributes to the extant research by developing a new conceptual model that demonstrates relationships between workplace diversity and organizational performance as mediated by diversity management and moderated by multi-level organizational variables. A strong relationship between workforce diversity and excellence in organizational outcomes has grown constantly during the last decade. Practical implications and recommendations are discussed
Examining Structures and Practices of Affinity Group Development in Teacher Education: A Mixed Methods Sequential Explanatory Approach
Get PDFFor many educators, transitioning from teacher to scholar is a journey wrought with identity-laden challenges, as students must merge an already developed professional identity with an academic researcher identity. Thus, we examined how the structures and practices of cohorts enabled or constrained affinity identity development in teacher education doctoral students from 2008-2012. Through our mixed method design, the four professional, collaborative, institutional and social themes emerged as the most important aspects for our participants (n=16). Our 2011 cohort participants most readily identified as an established cohort, and upon closer examination, they, unlike the others, had structures and practices put forth in the beginning of their doctoral program that emphasized the four emerging themes. Our findings have a meaningful impact on the support that is received and scholarly development that occurs for doctoral students
Greenwashing or Going Green? An Empirical Analysis of the Drivers and the Effects of Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates on Firm Performance
Get PDFCarbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) are widely used instruments that help firms mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). This paper investigates which internal firm characteristics are associated with investments in carbon offsets or RECs and how these purchases impact firms’ performance. Based on data from publicly traded firms in North America and Europe from 2012-2022, this paper uses a propensity score matching approach to analyze the effects of these investments on firms’ environmental scores, GHG emissions, and financial performance. Additionally, this paper employs an instrumental variable approach to examine whether board gender diversity increases carbon offset or REC purchases. The findings reveal that firms that purchase carbon offsets or RECs face higher environmental scores and higher GHG emissions, suggesting corporate greenwashing behavior. This paper also demonstrates that these purchases lead to higher sales, profitability, and assets, but lower Tobin’s Q for REC buyers. Lastly, this paper finds that a greater presence of women on the board does not lead to greater purchases of carbon offsets or RECs
Life Science Case Examples Using the Quick Screen Tool for Opportunity Assessments
Get PDFInnovations are plentiful in the biopharma landscape but often fail to reach commercialization. This paper addresses the research question: How can a tool efficiently assess life science opportunities to go to market successfully? This paper analyzes three case studies using the quick screen tool, culminating in a scorecard that reflects commercial potential and readiness. COASTAR’s score of 1.95 represents strong potential despite lacking clinical validation, while JD Bioscience’s score of 2.87 reflects unique attributes and developmental risks. Reviva’s score of 3.08 highlights strong intellectual property and competitive challenges. The quick screen tool simplifies decision-making, with simple rules enhancing heuristic strategies