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Article
Publication date: 12 March 2018

Johannes Tabi Atemnkeng and Daniel Mbu Tambi

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight to policy-makers into a framework for action, which is needed to effectively reduce poverty in its monetary and non-monetary…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight to policy-makers into a framework for action, which is needed to effectively reduce poverty in its monetary and non-monetary dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

Specifically, an exact decomposition analysis is conducted that is based on the Shapley value method, and investigated the growth and redistribution effects as well as changes due to mobility and sector-specific effects of the variation in both income/expenditure and non-income poverty dimensions.

Findings

Growth in mean consumption and household assets accounted for the bulk of the improvement in poverty reduction and the results complement the evidence obtained from the “sectoral decomposition” of poverty in Cameroon which may indeed have a strong bearing on the sectoral shares of poverty. The temptation is resisted, however, not to deny that redistribution also has an important role to play, yet there must be severe limits to what can be achieved by growth neutral redistribution. The redistribution effect had an ameliorating tendency in household asset deprivation among farming households.

Originality/value

This paper is a well-written piece using quite rigorous and interesting methodological approach. To obtain a measure of non-income dimensions of well-being, the authors constructed composite indices on household assets reflecting household access to a range of physical assets and services including human capital by polychoric principal component analysis method.

Details

African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-0705

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 August 2022

Leonardo Mario Estrada Aguilar, Cristina Edith Yoong Parraga and Karen Stefanie Bustamante Gracia

The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a context-specific scale to assess faculty job satisfaction for Ecuadorian higher education institutions.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a context-specific scale to assess faculty job satisfaction for Ecuadorian higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

A draft questionnaire was developed after reviewing the literature. Then, following a pilot study the questionnaire was administered to a stratified random sample of 261 faculty members of an Ecuadorian University. An exploratory factor analysis based on a pairwise polychoric correlation matrix was carried out to validate the scale.

Findings

A 24-item faculty satisfaction questionnaire was developed. The scale showed high reliability and validity. Following an exploratory factor analysis five dimensions emerged: 1) rewards and benefits, 2) IT and facilities services, 3) administrative and other campus services, 4) teaching support and development and 5) working relationships.

Research limitations/implications

Although our sample size is considered good, the ratio subjects to items of 6:1 was just above the recommended minimum. Due to the split questionnaire design for the research support and community services support sections and the fact that more than a half of the participants did not fill them we had to exclude the items from those sections from the analysis.

Practical implications

The scale can be used by higher education institutions to assess faculty satisfaction periodically.

Originality/value

To our knowledge this is the first study to develop a context-specific instrument to measure job satisfaction in Ecuadorian higher education institutions using exploratory factor analysis.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 15 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 October 2008

Gijs J.M. Dekkers

This paper aims to present a multi‐dimensional measure of poverty. The proposed method has been applied to the Panel Set of Belgian Households dataset for Belgium for the years…

1474

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a multi‐dimensional measure of poverty. The proposed method has been applied to the Panel Set of Belgian Households dataset for Belgium for the years between 1994 and 2000.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a common model is decided upon by exploratory factor analysis, and applied by confirmatory factor analysis. Cluster analysis (CA) is then used to separate the multi‐dimensional poor. Finally, the possible causes of multi‐dimensional poverty are surfaced by estimating a discrete duration model.

Findings

The proposed method reveals three dimensions of poverty: “material deprivation”, “social deprivation” and “psychological health”. Between 9 and 11 per cent of the representative sample of Belgian individuals are poor. The paper also identifies causes of poverty, including not having a job, not having the Belgian nationality, having a poor health or a disability, being lower educated, experiencing financial poverty, being divorced or widowed, living in the Walloon or Brussels regions, and having a bad psychological health.

Research limitations/implications

Research implications include the use of polychoric and tetrachoric correlations as a starting point of factor analysis, as well as the combination of factor analysis and CA.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an alternative multi‐dimensional measure of poverty. It argues that previous measures may suffer from categorisation errors and suggests a solution to this problem. The advantages of the proposed method are that all information is used to disentangle the poor from the non‐poor and that dimensions of poverty are defined using the correlations between deprivations. Finally, the paper identifies “psychological health” as one of the dimensions of poverty.

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 28 no. 11/12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 12 December 2015

Eduardo Villanueva-Mansilla, Teresa Nakano and Inés Evaristo

As the deployment of ICT and the Internet especially increases all around the world, the urgency of providing access to the “have-nots” appears at least diminished, with new…

Abstract

Purpose

As the deployment of ICT and the Internet especially increases all around the world, the urgency of providing access to the “have-nots” appears at least diminished, with new issues and urgencies at the forefront. However, studies show that even when the best conditions for access are established, not everyone uses their digital devices for the same purposes, even when sharing the same goals, or when participating in the same experiences.

Methodology/approach

To explore potential explanations of these phenomena, this study examines survey data from students from a private university in Peru regarding their backgrounds and expertise with ICT. We use the twin concepts of social and cultural capital to establish a connection between their larger lifeworld experiences and their use of digital media. For this purpose, we analyze the data using polychoric correlations to explore patterns resulting from self-perception of access and skills, as well as processes related to social capital such as differentiated media use.

Findings

Findings indicate that there are differentiated processes of capital accrual using ICTs, but, at the same time, the productive and leisure dimensions of ICT use must be considered.

Details

Communication and Information Technologies Annual
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78560-381-5

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 August 2017

Izete Pengo Bagolin

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate if there is any evidence of differentials in the well-being achievements of two groups which will be called the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate if there is any evidence of differentials in the well-being achievements of two groups which will be called the “artificially” and the “truly” not poor; and second, to test the hypothesis that income from work is a better entitlement than income received from social programs.

Design/methodology/approach

The author used data from the 2008 Brazilian Household Budget Survey and selected two groups. Both groups are composed of people living between the absolute and the relative poverty line. The group that is living above the absolute poverty line only due to cash transfer programs will be considered the “artificially” not poor. And people who are out of absolute poverty but not receiving any help from social program are considered the “truly” (and not absolutely) poor. The hypothesis was tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results support the hypothesis that people who are not receiving income from cash transfer programs achieve a higher level of well-being in the dimensions of housing and food. Food and housing capabilities affect each other and such result reinforces the multidimensionality of the Brazilian poverty.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations refers to the restrict number of dimensions and to the necessity to adapt the indicators available to answer the paper objectives.

Practical implications

The paper results can help the policy makers to better understand the cash transfer programs attainment and boundaries.

Social implications

The paper results highlight that the cash transfer programs, even being useful to improve people well-being, are not sufficient to promote human capabilities and are not truly undertaking the multidimensional deprivations of the poor.

Originality/value

The paper compares two groups of people living with identical amount of income acquired from different origins.

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 44 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2019

Amit Kaur and Sumana Gupta

This study aims to assess the satisfaction level of middle-income group (MIG) residents of government group housings of Kolkata, India. Further, a Composite Satisfaction Index…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to assess the satisfaction level of middle-income group (MIG) residents of government group housings of Kolkata, India. Further, a Composite Satisfaction Index (CSI) was also devised for assessing the satisfaction level.

Design/methodology/approach

The satisfaction level was assessed in three domains – “within premises”, “at neighbourhood” and “with cost” – incurred and questionnaires were designed to conduct primary survey. Question on overall level of satisfaction “with location” was also included. All satisfaction responses were recorded on a five-point Likert scale. Subsequently, a CSI – a weighted average of satisfaction for attribute “with location” and “with cost” – was devised. The weights were assigned through expert opinion survey using Delphi technique. Data being ordinal in nature, a two-step approach was adopted – initially through exploratory factor analysis, contributing attributes were identified and later a Generalised Ordered Logit Model was fitted in STATA. “Monetary benefits” were calculated as a difference of actual expenditure incurred from recommended expenditure towards regular transportation and housing. Mean satisfaction scores for attributes “with cost” were validated with “monetary benefits”.

Findings

Attribute “with cost” contributed significantly towards the overall level of satisfaction “with location”. The computed CSI values also comply with the findings, indicating the reliability of the index in similar contexts. The government group housing model was successful in its outreach towards the intended beneficiaries.

Practical implications

The CSI devised will help the MIG in identifying appropriate residential housing locations and enable policymakers in reviewing group housings.

Originality/value

Residential satisfaction studies were not specific to MIG residents considering attribute “with cost”. Hence, this study contributed to the existing knowledge in this specific context.

Details

International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, vol. 12 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8270

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 July 2008

Patricia A. Rowe and Michael J. Christie

The purpose of this study is to expand on previous research conducted by Hornsby et al. that examined the corporate entrepreneurship internal factor of managerial attitude.

1075

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to expand on previous research conducted by Hornsby et al. that examined the corporate entrepreneurship internal factor of managerial attitude.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops and tests a group level factor of knowledge, the explication of tacit knowledge and a factor of managerial attitude, namely leadership support that is inherently multi‐level in nature.

Findings

Leadership support is significant at both the dyad level and at the group level of analysis. Ordinary least squares regression supported the main hypothesis, that leadership support has a direct positive impact on explication of tacit knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

Successfully testing the group level significance of leadership support has implications for future research because it is considered an individual level variable. Developing and testing the explication of tacit knowledge construct contributes to research on knowing in organisations because it provides a metric that is an indicator of the explication of tacit knowledge.

Practical implications

These research findings have management implications for the way local government creates innovative top management teams to facilitate local economic and community development.

Originality/value

This paper represents an early contribution to the literature.

Details

International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 21 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3558

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 February 2021

Jae Min Lee and Yoon G. Lee

The purpose of this study is to construct composite index variables of credit attitude using six attitudinal variables. This study also examines the relationship between consumer…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to construct composite index variables of credit attitude using six attitudinal variables. This study also examines the relationship between consumer credit attitude and credit card debt behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the pooled dataset of the 2010 and 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) released by the Federal Reserve Board. A total of 8,417 households were used as our analytic sample. The credit card indices were constructed using factor analysis with polychoric correlations. Factors of the credit card debt behaviors were estimated using hierarchical logistic regression models.

Findings

The results of factor analysis identified two credit attitude indices (wants and needs). The results of hierarchical logistic regression analyses show that the credit attitude indices have a positive influence on payment behaviors; households with more favorable attitudes about credit use for non-necessities (wants) were more likely to hold an outstanding credit card balance, have irregular payment practice and pay a revolving charge.

Originality/value

Although there is ample documentation in the literature of credit behavior, the current literature is deficient in some areas for not addressing unobserved consumer attitudinal dispositions. Further, the separate treatment of selected survey items or an additive scale of survey items has been widely used; however, this approach cannot capture multidimensional characteristics among attitudinal items if credit attitude is not necessarily unidimensional. In response to the shortfall in the extant literature on credit card behavior, this study examined multidimensional aspects of credit attitude as a determinant of credit card debt behavior through methodological justification. Implications for future research and practitioners are provided.

Details

Review of Behavioral Finance, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1940-5979

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1997

Jean‐Louis Chandon, Pierre‐Yves Leo and Jean Philippe

Selling services supposes that customers and personnel meet. This service encounter is not haphazard. Behind each ordinary exchange, there are rules that everybody is supposed to…

4763

Abstract

Selling services supposes that customers and personnel meet. This service encounter is not haphazard. Behind each ordinary exchange, there are rules that everybody is supposed to follow. This paper looks at the different components of service encounter that are relevant for assessing service quality. A dyadic face‐to‐face survey undertaken in local branches of the ANPE Agency (the French National Agency for Employment) studies the perceptions of both personnel and customers. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, proposes a scale measuring the dimensions of service encounter.

Details

International Journal of Service Industry Management, vol. 8 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0956-4233

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 September 2022

Nicolas Roos, Remmer Sassen and Edeltraud Guenther

Higher education institutions, as influential social institutions, play an important role in promoting social responsibility and sustainable practices. However, approaches to…

Abstract

Purpose

Higher education institutions, as influential social institutions, play an important role in promoting social responsibility and sustainable practices. However, approaches to implementing sustainable development (SD) in higher education institutions (HEIs) themselves remain fuzzy. One way to achieve holistic embedding can lie in organizational culture. This study aims to examine ways by which internal sustainability governance can promote sustainability culture by using empirical data from German HEIs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses factor analysis to identify relevant governance indicators. With a regression analysis, this study assesses the indicators’ effects on organizational sustainability culture in HEIs. A moderator analysis tests potential determinants derived from literature and their influence on sustainability governance and sustainability culture.

Findings

Operationalizing formalized sustainability governance for holistic implementation reveals a gap in sustainability management at HEIs. This study proposes a model for operationalizing sustainability governance and shows an effect on sustainability culture at the formal organizational level.

Originality/value

Based on the operationalization of sustainability governance, this empirical study provides evidence for the development of a holistic approach along a sustainability culture in organizations. This paper proposes a model for operationalization, analyzes multiorganizational data and shows the effects of sustainability governance on formalized organizational sustainability culture. This paper provides a transorganizational perspective for implementing SD following a top-down approach.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

1 – 10 of 162