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A recent trend in the study of poverty is to consider a relative poverty line, one that is responsive to the nature of the income distribution. We develop an axiomatic approach to the determination of an amalgam poverty line. Given a reference income (e.g., the mean or the median), the amalgam poverty line becomes a weighted average of the absolute poverty line and the reference income, where the weights depend on the policy maker’s preferences for aggregating the two components. The paper ends with an empirical illustration comparing urban and rural areas in the People’s Republic of China and India.

Gives introductory remarks about chapter 1 of this group of 31 papers, from ISEF 1999 Proceedings, in the methodologies for field analysis, in the electromagnetic community. Observes that computer package implementation theory contributes to clarification. Discusses the areas covered by some of the papers ‐ such as artificial intelligence using fuzzy logic. Includes applications such as permanent magnets and looks at eddy current problems. States the finite element method is currently the most popular method used for field computation. Closes by pointing out the amalgam of topics.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the linkages between leadership and satisfaction models with neural networks to epistemologically explore both the theoretical and practical basis of these paradigms to analyze the effect employee readiness has on job satisfaction. A review of the literature indicates an absence of a paradigmatic precursor to the satisfaction-performance dyadic. Revisiting theoretical frameworks builds a reconceptualized prism that amalgamates leadership and job satisfaction constituents to form a theoretical scaffold and linkage between employee readiness and job satisfaction.

Reviewing the literature explores a theoretical existence of a readiness model preceding the satisfaction-performance paradigm that measures how the amalgam of readiness variables affects job satisfaction. This conceived theory uses a unidirectional model that extends the linear progression and institutes a backwards propagation linkage to the satisfaction-performance linkage using the following unidirectional correlation: readiness-satisfaction→ satisfaction-performance. Using a neural network approach, a total of 160 companies are integrated into a simulation using leadership, satisfaction and readiness variables, with an emphasize on high relationship, to ascertain the effect of readiness on job satisfaction.

While there are studies that interchangeably link satisfaction and performance, revisiting the literature provides theoretical insight that validates the formation of a preceding construct that converges leadership and satisfaction constituencies to form a dyadic relationship between readiness and satisfaction. Research has tirelessly attempted to discover variable correlation between job performance and job satisfaction. However, these attempts are met with contradictory results. To truly link employee readiness to the job satisfaction/job performance dyad, a neural network is created, which deduces that random probabilities confirm the continuous exactitude of a positive correlation between readiness and job satisfaction. This, in turn, confirms an existent theoretical precursor to the satisfaction-performance paradigm. The implications of not linking job readiness to satisfaction and performance can potentially leave managers amiss when triangulating performance decline. Reclassifying the satisfaction-performance dyadic corroborates Judge et al.’s (2001) theory that reinventions of this impression should be researched, and Graen and Uhl-Bien’s (1991) conclusive remarks that an evaluation beyond “trait-like” individual differences of leaders is necessary to recognize the leadership paradigm loop, which is inclusive of the leader, the follower and the dyadic relationship.

This research paper is useful for practitioners and academics to refer as the comparative and intersecting explanation of leadership and job satisfaction models, as it peripherally conveys a legitimate view of a preceding relational construct that will add value to the relevance of employee readiness as it affects job satisfaction. In addition, the neural network approach is a sound and unique method to algorithmically validate the correlation between job satisfaction models and leadership. Through codifying, the environmental variables comprised Herzberg et al.’s (1959) motivation and hygiene factors that are directly related to a leader-member exchange function, an evidentiary linkage validates the literature works of Hersey and Blanchard (2001) and directly links it to job satisfaction precursors.

Standard economic theory predicts that any increase in public spending is accompanied by a rise in inflation in an economy. This paper presents empirical proof that prices do not always rise with an increase in public expenditure but only up to a certain threshold level. The primary aim of this paper is to unearth the government size-inflation nexus in India for the period from 1971 to 2019.

The logistic STAR (smooth transition autoregression) model is employed to unravel the government size-inflation nexus for the Indian economy from a non-linear perspective.

The finding of our study confirm the non-linear relationship between the size of the government and inflation in India. The estimated threshold level for government size is precisely found to be 9.27%. The size of the government exerts a negative influence on inflation until it reaches the optimal or threshold level. Any further increase in the size of government beyond this threshold level would result in a rise in inflation.

The findings have implications for the conduct of fiscal policy. Policymakers can increase government spending in a regime of small government size without having any inflationary impacts by generating revenues from taxes and other sources instead of relying much on the central bank. In the regime of a large-sized government, adhering strictly to the discipline in the conduct of fiscal and monetary policies would help curb inflation and enhance growth synchronously, hence alleviating any loss of welfare.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is an attempt to revisit the government size-inflation nexus in India from a non-linear perspective using the Smooth Transition Autoregression (STAR) model for the first time.

Although existing research on cohesion provides a robust understanding of the emergent phenomenon in small groups and teams, our comprehension of cohesion at the multisystem (MTS) level is quite limited. The simultaneous within- and between-team functioning inherent in MTSs produces more intricate dynamics than those observed at the team level. This added layer of complexity requires that many familiar team constructs, including cohesion, be systematically re-conceptualized and empirically examined through the lens of MTS theory (DeChurch & Zaccaro, 2010; Hackman, 2003). The present research addresses this gap by extending the conceptualization of team cohesion to the interteam level, and empirically investigating how cohesion functions across levels in a collective network of teams. Results from preliminary research suggest that intrateam and interteam cohesion share a curvilinear relationship with one another, while simultaneously interacting to affect overall system-level outcomes. This research not only illuminates the complexities associated with emergent phenomena in MTSs, but also serves as a starting point for continued, systematic research of the multilevel cohesive bonds that characterize MTS functioning.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to the field of supply chain management and provide a detailed roadmap that supply chain researchers can utilize when applying this methodology.

Data collection focused on the evaluation of product returns management practices as perceived by business customers who operate in a supplier–customer context. In order to analyze the data using the QCA approach, a multi-step analysis was developed.

The results indicate five solutions that lead to high levels of customer satisfaction. The existence of multiple sufficient configurations for customer satisfaction indicates equifinality because multiple alternative solutions can lead to the same outcome.

The authors make a methodological contribution by applying the QCA method to the field of supply chain management and providing a detailed roadmap that supply chain researchers can utilize.

The authors provide managers five different and novel combinations of antecedents that lead to higher levels of customer satisfaction.

This study offers supply chain researchers a better understanding of when it is appropriate to use QCA and how to apply this methodology. From a theoretical perspective, past studies focused exclusively on the “net effects” of these antecedents, thus, did not capture the complexity of the relationships between these various antecedents and customer satisfaction. This is a noteworthy contribution as it highlights the complexity of the amalgam of relationships and factors that impact customer satisfaction within the context of reverse supply chain.

The purpose of this paper is to summarise the initiatives taken by the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation (Lautro) in the field of training and competence. This is a timely opportunity for doing so. Lautro members are currently in the midst of an implementation programme designed to usher in a significant new set of regulatory requirements addressing training and competence issues. As explained below, a central plank of the programme is the requirement for member firms to establish and maintain in‐house training and assessment arrangements which meet standards set by Lautro. Those arrangements must focus upon individual advisers who sell the member's contracts and services to investors. The overall aim is to secure an adequate degree of investor protection by ensuring that individual advisers in the life, pensions and unit trust market are competent.

This paper presents an algorithm that can elicitate all or any combination of parameters for the ELECTRE II, III or IV, methods. The algorithm takes some steps of a machine learning ensemble technique, the random forest, and for that, the authors named the approach as Ranking Trees Algorithm.

First, for a given method, the authors generate a set of ELECTRE models, where each model solves a random sample of criteria and actions (alternatives). Second, for each generated model, all actions are projected in a 1D space; in general, the best actions have higher values in a 1D space than the worst ones; therefore, they can be used to guide the genetic algorithm in the final step, the optimization phase. Finally, in the optimization phase, each model has its parameters optimized.

The results can be used in two different ways; the authors can merge all models, to find the elicitated parameters in this way, or the authors can ensemble the models, and the median of all ranks represents the final rank. The numerical examples achieved a Kendall Tau correlation rank over 0.85, and these results could perform as well as the results obtained by a group of specialists.

For the first time, the elicitation of ELECTRE parameters is made by an ensemble technique composed of a set of uncorrelated multicriteria models that can generate robust solutions.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in adults and children who were exposed to applied behavior analysis (ABA) autism early childhood intervention. Using an online questionnaire to survey autistic adults and caregivers of autistic children, the author collected data from 460 respondents on demographics, intervention types, and current pathological behaviors with symptom severity scales. This study noted PTSS in nearly half of ABA-exposed participants, while non-exposed controls had a 72 percent chance of being asymptomatic. ABA satisfaction ratings for caregivers averaged neutral or mild satisfaction. In contrast, adult satisfaction with ABA was lower on average and also tended to take on either extremely low or extremely high ratings. Exposure to ABA predicted a higher rate and more severe PTSS in participants, but the duration of exposure did not affect satisfaction with the intervention in caregivers.

Participants were recruited for an online survey through social media networks, adult gatherings, social skills groups, and autism support groups nationwide. Adult inclusion criteria consisted of autism – diagnosed or self-diagnosed – and an age of 18 or older. A total of 460 respondents, consisting of autistic adults and caregivers of autistic children, completed an online survey. The caregiver entries (n=217) concerned 79 percent male children, 21 percent female children (male to female 3.80:1), and one MtF transgender child, ages 1-38, with an average age at diagnosis of 4.69 years. The adult entries (n=243) concerned 30 percent males, 55 percent females (male to female 0.55:1), and 14 percent other gender, ages 18-73, with an average age at diagnosis of 25.38 years.

Nearly half (46 percent) of the ABA-exposed respondents met the diagnostic threshold for PTSD, and extreme levels of severity were recorded in 47 percent of the affected subgroup. Respondents of all ages who were exposed to ABA were 86 percent more likely to meet the PTSD criteria than respondents who were not exposed to ABA. Adults and children both had increased chances (41 and 130 percent, respectively) of meeting the PTSD criteria if they were exposed to ABA. Both adults and children without ABA exposure had a 72 percent chance of reporting no PTSS (see Figure 1). At the time of the study, 41 percent of the caregivers reported using ABA-based interventions.

The majority of adult respondents were female, raising questions about the population of online autistic survey respondents. Further, the high numbers of reported gender other than male or female in the adult respondents, as well as at least on MtF child from the caregiver respondents indicates that future studies should consider these intersections. These accompanied significant discrepancies in reporting bias between caregivers and ABA-exposed individuals, which highlight the need for the inclusion of the adult autistic voice in future intervention design. Based on the findings, the author predicts that nearly half of ABA-exposed autistic children will be expected to meet the PTSD criteria four weeks after commencing the intervention; if ABA intervention persists, there will tend to be an increase in parent satisfaction despite no decrease in PTSS severity.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of managerial competencies on the marketing effectiveness of the organization. While many empirical works have centered on marketing effectiveness, the generalizability of its relationship to managerial competencies in the Nigerian context has been under‐researched.

A 27‐item survey questionnaire was developed and 84 corporate organizations in Nigeria were selected from the 2005 edition of the Nigerian stock exchange gazette as a sample of this study. A hand‐delivered survey was conducted from key informants in the organizations. Returned instruments were analyzed using non‐parametric correlation through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10.

The results of the study reported in this paper validated the earlier instruments and find a strong association between managerial competencies and marketing effectiveness of corporate organizations in the Nigerian context. The main finding of this study is that managerial competencies lead to marketing effectiveness in corporate organizations in Nigeria.

The implications of the results of this study are clear for scholars and managers. For managers this paper has implications on the investigation of the link between managerial competencies and marketing effectiveness of corporate organizations in Nigeria. In the first place, this paper provides a direct test of the applicability of a western paradigm to the Nigerian economic system, which is different from the other culture.

This paper significantly refines the body of knowledge concerning the impact of managerial competency on marketing effectiveness in the Nigerian context. This paper will no doubt contribute to the body of existing literature on managerial competency and marketing effectiveness.