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This chapter reviews the econometric approaches typically used to deal with the spike of zeros when modelling non-negative outcomes such as expenditures, income, or consumption. Relying on the assumptions of selection on observables for evaluating a policy or treatment, this chapter discusses other issues that arise with spikes of zeros in the data, including the analyst's choice between full information versus quasi-likelihood methods, considering whether observed zeros are true or masking more complex behavioural decisions, and dealing with zeros that arise due to self-selection. This chapter ends with discussions of empirical strategies to deal with these behavioural assumptions and a brief review of the literature where such strategies were employed.

Economic evaluations often utilise individual-patient data (IPD) to calculate probabilities of events based on observed proportions. However, this approach is limited when interest is in the likelihood of extreme biomarker values that vary by observable characteristics such as blood glucose in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Here, instead of directly calculating probabilities using the IPD, we utilised flexible parametric models that estimate the full conditional distribution, capturing the non-normal characteristics of biomarkers and enabling the derivation of tail probabilities for specific populations. In the case study, we used data from the Born in Bradford study (N = 10,353) to model two non-normally distributed GDM biomarkers (2-hours post-load and fasting glucose). First, we applied fully parametric maximum likelihood to estimate alternative flexible models and information criteria for model selection. We then integrated the chosen distributions in a probabilistic decision model that estimates the cost-effective diagnostic thresholds and the expected costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of the alternative strategies (‘Testing and Treating’, ‘Treat all’, ‘Do Nothing’). The model adopts the ‘payer’ perspective and expresses results in net monetary benefits (NMB). The log-logistic and Singh-Maddala distributions offered the optimal fit for the 2-hours post-load and fasting glucose biomarkers, respectively. At £13,000 per QALY, maximum NMB with ‘Test and Treat’ (−£330) was achieved for a diagnostic threshold of fasting glucose >6.6 mmol/L, 2-hours post-load glucose >9 mmol/L, identifying 2.9% of women as GDM positive. The case study demonstrated that fully parametric approaches can be implemented in healthcare modelling when interest lies in extreme biomarker values.

This chapter reviews the evidence on the role of physicians in shaping inequalities in access to and utilisation of healthcare. The authors examine three types of physician decisions that can influence inequalities in access and utilisation: location decisions, decisions to work in the public and/or private sector, and decisions or behaviours in the doctor–patient encounter. For each, the authors summarise the issues and empirical evidence on possible policies to help reduce inequalities in access. Future research to reduce inequalities should focus on changes to health systems that influence physician decisions, such as health insurance expansions, the public–private mix and financial incentives, as well as physician training and policies for a more diverse physician workforce.

Organizational sociology and organization studies have a long history together, while also sharing a proclivity to self-diagnose crises. Instead of taking these assessments at face value, this paper treats them as an object of study, asking what conditions have fueled them. In the case of organizational sociology, there are indications of a connection between rising levels of discontent and community building: self-identified organizational sociologists have progressively withdrawn from general debates in the discipline and turned their attention to organization studies, which, they suspect, has seen dramatic levels of growth at their expense. Organization studies, on the other hand, are still haunted by “a Faustian bargain”: leaning heavily on the authority of the social sciences, business school faculty were able to facilitate the emergence of a scholarly field of practice dedicated to the study of organizations, which they control. However, in doing so, they also set organization studies on a path of continued dependence on knowledge produced elsewhere: notably, by university disciplines such as sociology.

The purpose of this multi-voiced paper is to propose a prosocial paradigm for the field of performance management and management control systems. This new paradigm suggests cultivating prosocial behaviour and prosocial groups in organizations to simultaneously achieve the objectives of economic performance and sustainability.

The authors share a common concern about the future of humanity and nature. The authors challenge the influential assumption of economic man from neoclassical economic theory and build on evolutionary science and the core design principles of prosocial groups to develop a prosocial paradigm.

Findings are based on the premise of the prosocial paradigm that self-interested behaviour may outperform prosocial behaviour within a group but that prosocial groups outperform groups dominated by self-interest. The authors explore various dimensions of performance management from the prosocial perspective in the private and public sectors.

The authors call for theoretical, conceptual and empirical research that explores the prosocial paradigm. They invite any approach, including positivist, interpretive and critical research, as well as those using qualitative, quantitative and interventionist methods.

This paper offers implications from the prosocial paradigm for practitioners, particularly for executives and managers, policymakers and educators.

Adoption of the prosocial paradigm in research and practice shapes what the authors call the prosocial market economy. This is an aspired cultural evolution that functions with market competition yet systematically strengthens prosociality as a cultural norm in organizations, markets and society at large.

The aim of this study is to examine the patterns of fraud present in Valeant’s 2014 and 2015 financial statements and determine through a risk management analysis whether these frauds could have been prevented. This analysis provides the opportunity to more effectively prevent financial statement fraud.

Data were collected from Valeant pharmaceuticals annual reports, financial statements reports and financial authority documentation. Based on these documents, this paper analyzes the different fraud schemes and investigate whether fraud could have been detected earlier by governance actors. In particular, this paper examines the firm’s financial statements three years before the fraud was detected by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The analysis of financial statements reveals few clues and no alarming red flags three years before detection of the fraud. However, financial statement analyses were complex because of the many acquisitions the firm made in the years before.

This paper aims to contribute to the literature on fraud by investigating a case of financial statement fraud.