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Book part
Publication date: 30 September 2019

Abstract

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Lifelong Learning and the Roma Minority in Central and Eastern Europe
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83867-260-7

Book part
Publication date: 30 September 2019

Maria Diacon

Taking into account the statistical data from 2004, about 12,300 Roma citizens live in Moldova, which represents 0.4% of the total population. Gypsies call themselves Roma in the…

Abstract

Taking into account the statistical data from 2004, about 12,300 Roma citizens live in Moldova, which represents 0.4% of the total population. Gypsies call themselves Roma in the Romani language of Europe. Given the challenge created by the lack of reliable and accurate data on the Roma population available from existing Moldovan statistics, the United Nations Development Program in Moldova initiated, in 2005, the first quantitative study covering 600 Roma households and 600 non-Roma households in 81 localities. Conducting surveys on settlements occupied predominantly by the Roma population has allowed the follow-up of results that eventually led to highlighting the aspects of life conditions, health and education system of Roma population.

Speaking about the factors that condition migration, family reasons are mentioned most often. Although official statistics do not provide disaggregated data on life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality for Roma, statistical data show that life expectancy, infant mortality, morbidity and other major health indicators in the Republic of Moldova (as in other countries in the region) are substantial more precarious for the Roma than for the majority of the population. School education is an important aspect in terms of both school attendance and learning outcomes, as the chance of success in life is generally higher with a higher education level. Qualitative education implies not only inclusion in the educational system, but also family participation in socialisation and support for early integration of children.

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Lifelong Learning and the Roma Minority in Central and Eastern Europe
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83867-260-7

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Article
Publication date: 17 May 2013

Walid Bahloul, Nizar Hachicha and Abdelfettah Bouri

Many factors like CEO (“the chief executive officer”) decision can influence efficiency and productivity in insurance firms. This paper seeks to address this issue.

Abstract

Purpose

Many factors like CEO (“the chief executive officer”) decision can influence efficiency and productivity in insurance firms. This paper seeks to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the effect of CEO power on the efficiency and the productivity of the European insurance industries, the authors use the flexible Fourier cost function and they decompose the total factor productivity growth.

Findings

The result shows that after the integration of the CEO power score, not only efficiency scores in each country have changed, but also the order of non‐life insurance systems. Also, the CEO power influences the growth of productivity and an optimal power of the CEO can allow the insurance firm to be more productive and more efficient.

Originality/value

In this paper the authors model a new cost function in which they include the CEO power score; they also decompose the total factor of productivity in which they include the effect of the growth in the CEO power score.

Details

The Journal of Risk Finance, vol. 14 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1526-5943

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 21 February 2024

María Ángeles García-Haro, Pablo Ruiz-Palomino, Ricardo Martínez-Cañas and María Pilar Martínez-Ruiz

This study seeks to provide a greater understanding of the variables that influence travellers’ intention to participate in social media, paying special attention to (1) the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study seeks to provide a greater understanding of the variables that influence travellers’ intention to participate in social media, paying special attention to (1) the direct impact of perceived usefulness (PU) of social media and (2) the moderating impact of tourists’ altruism and self-interest.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed conceptual model was empirically tested using an online questionnaire distributed to a sample of 394 tourists visiting a World Heritage city.

Findings

The findings show that perceived social media usefulness has a significant effect on users’ intention to share experiences. Additionally, self-interest appears to moderate the relationship between perceived social media usefulness and users’ sharing intention, but the results do not support the moderating effect of altruism.

Originality/value

Despite scholars’ growing interest in social networks as sources of tourist information, little is known about the aspects that encourage users’ participation in these platforms. This paper offers key contributions to the relevant literature in this field and offers compelling recommendations for tour operators' management of social networks.

研究目的

本研究擬讓我們更清楚了解驅使旅行人士參與社交媒體上的交流活動的變數;為求達至這研究目的,研究人員特別對以下兩方面加以注意和研究:(一) 、旅行人士對社交媒體的感知效用所帶來的直接影響;(二) 、旅行人士的利他主義,以及其對個人利益的考慮所帶來的緩和影響。

研究設計/方法/理念

研究人員對其提出之概念模型進行實證測試,方法乃透過收集一個包含394名曾參觀世界遺產城市的旅行人士的樣本所回應的網上問卷數據,並進行數據分析。

研究結果

研究結果顯示,旅行人士若覺得社交媒體是有用的話,則他們會更願意在那裡分享旅行經歷;而且,他們對自己個人利益的考慮,似會緩和他們對社交媒體的感知效用與其分享經歷的願意程度之間的關係;唯研究結果沒有證實利他主義會帶來緩和的影響。

研究的原創性

雖然學者對社交網絡作為提供資訊的來源感到興趣,而且這興趣不斷增加,但我們對促進旅行人士參與社交網絡平台活動之因素的了解仍然淺薄,就此而言,本研究於有關的文獻提供了重要的貢獻;研究亦為旅遊經營者就應如何管理社交網絡提供了具說服力的建議。

Details

European Journal of Management and Business Economics, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2444-8451

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 January 2021

Abdul Latif Alhassan, Kalwani Zyambo and Mary-Ann Afua Boakye

This paper examines the role of corporate governance on the financial performance of life insurers in South Africa. Specifically, the paper tests two competing hypotheses on the…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the role of corporate governance on the financial performance of life insurers in South Africa. Specifically, the paper tests two competing hypotheses on the role of boards as effective monitors of opportunistic behaviour of executives, as prescribed by the agency theory or as an effective resource, as advocated by the resource dependency view.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper estimates both static and dynamic panel data of 68 insurers from 2007 to 2014 using random effects, panel corrected standard error ordinary least squares and generalized method of moment’s estimation techniques. Board size, audit committee size, board independence and audit committee independence are used as the governance indicators while profitability is measured as returns on assets and equity.

Findings

The findings support both the resource dependency and agency theoretic views of boards. Specifically, the results indicate that large board and audit committees improve financial performance which supports the view of boards as effective resources for insurers. In addition, the role of non-executive directors in addressing agency conflict is reflected in the positive effect of board independence on financial performance. However, the long-run causal positive effect is only reported for audit committee size on return on assets. In addition, the paper also finds evidence of profitability persistence in the life insurance market. Finally, reinsurance usage, insurer size and market concentration were found to have a negative effect on financial performance.

Practical implications

The findings re-enforce the important role of boards in their oversight responsibilities and as effective resources in the operations of highly specialized insurance businesses.

Originality/value

As far as the authors are concerned, this empirical analysis documents the first evidence of the linkages between governance mechanisms and financial performance of an insurance market in Africa.

Details

Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, vol. 21 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1472-0701

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 February 2019

Maria Gabriella Ceravolo, Vincenzo Farina, Lucrezia Fattobene, Lucia Leonelli and GianMario Raggetti

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether financial consumers are sensitive to presentational format of financial disclosure documents and whether this influences the…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether financial consumers are sensitive to presentational format of financial disclosure documents and whether this influences the financial attractiveness of products.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to observe and measure consumers’ attention, the authors exploit the unobtrusive methodology of eye tracking on a sample of nonprofessional investors, applying an ecological protocol, through a cross-sectional design.

Findings

The analysis reveals that financial information processing and attention distribution are influenced by the way the information is conveyed. Moreover, some layouts induce individuals to rate the products as less financially attractive, independent of the information content. This suggests the importance of studying the neural mechanisms of investors’ behaviour in the scrutiny of financial product documents.

Practical implications

The results lead to recommend regulators and managers to study how investors respond to financial disclosure documents by exploiting neuroscientific techniques. Moreover, there is a role for the search of any benefit coming from emphasising specific sources of information inside documents.

Originality/value

This research investigates the influence of presentational format on consumers’ information processing measuring the underlying neurophysiological processes; the consequent perception of financial attractiveness is also explored.

Details

International Journal of Bank Marketing, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-2323

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 February 2008

Pia Maria Jonsson and John Øvretveit

The purpose of this paper is to describe patient complaints and claims data from Swedish databases and assess their value for scientific research and practical health care…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe patient complaints and claims data from Swedish databases and assess their value for scientific research and practical health care improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The article first describes previous research into patient claims and similar schemes. It then presents three types of data on patient claims and complaints in Sweden: data generated by the Patient Insurance Fund, the Medical Responsibility Board and the Patients' Advisory Committees and considers methodological issues in using the data.

Findings

The databases' value is problems related to spontaneous reporting, which makes it difficult to know how much the data correspond to general injury rates and health care patterns. Another issue is the balance between the size of study materials and the timeliness, e.g. when diagnosis‐specific analysis requires data pooling over several years in order to reach adequate case numbers. Adjustment for confounders not present in the databases, e.g. data on hospital case‐mix, may add to difficulties using the data in comparative analyses of safety performance

Research limitations/implications

The databases' safety analysis and quality improvement value depends on understanding their function, data collection method and their limitations as a source of data about the true incidence and prevalence of injuries and safety problems.

Originality/value

This is the first thorough review of the possibilities and limitations associated with the use of claims and complaints data in health care research and improvement.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 21 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

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