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Article
Publication date: 15 March 2024

Nan Feng, Lei Zhang, Xin Liu and Jing Xie

With the development of digitalization and interconnection, there is a growing need for enterprise customers to ensure the compatibility of the third-party components they are…

Abstract

Purpose

With the development of digitalization and interconnection, there is a growing need for enterprise customers to ensure the compatibility of the third-party components they are using in the manufacturing process, thus raising the integration requirements for the Industrial Internet platform and its third-party developers. Therefore, our study investigates the optimal integration decision of the Industrial Internet platform while considering its access price, the integration cost, and the net utility derived by enterprise customers from the third-party components.

Design/methodology/approach

We model a two-sided Industrial Internet platform that connects customers on the demand side to the developers on the supply side. We then explore the integration decision of the Industrial Internet platform and its important factors by solving the optimal profit function.

Findings

First, despite the high integration cost of third-party developers, the platform still chooses to integrate when enterprise customers derive high utility from the third-party components. Second, due to the compatibility effect, charging the enterprise customers a higher price may reduce the platform profits when these customers derive low utility from the third-party components. Third, the platform profits will increase along with the integration cost of third-party developers when it is low in the case where enterprise customers derive low utility from third-party components.

Originality/value

Our findings offer insightful takeaways for the Industrial Internet platform when making integration decisions.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 23 October 2023

Glenn W. Harrison and J. Todd Swarthout

We take Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) seriously by rigorously estimating structural models using the full set of CPT parameters. Much of the literature only estimates a subset…

Abstract

We take Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) seriously by rigorously estimating structural models using the full set of CPT parameters. Much of the literature only estimates a subset of CPT parameters, or more simply assumes CPT parameter values from prior studies. Our data are from laboratory experiments with undergraduate students and MBA students facing substantial real incentives and losses. We also estimate structural models from Expected Utility Theory (EUT), Dual Theory (DT), Rank-Dependent Utility (RDU), and Disappointment Aversion (DA) for comparison. Our major finding is that a majority of individuals in our sample locally asset integrate. That is, they see a loss frame for what it is, a frame, and behave as if they evaluate the net payment rather than the gross loss when one is presented to them. This finding is devastating to the direct application of CPT to these data for those subjects. Support for CPT is greater when losses are covered out of an earned endowment rather than house money, but RDU is still the best single characterization of individual and pooled choices. Defenders of the CPT model claim, correctly, that the CPT model exists “because the data says it should.” In other words, the CPT model was borne from a wide range of stylized facts culled from parts of the cognitive psychology literature. If one is to take the CPT model seriously and rigorously then it needs to do a much better job of explaining the data than we see here.

Details

Models of Risk Preferences: Descriptive and Normative Challenges
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83797-269-2

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 23 October 2023

Nathaniel T. Wilcox

The author presents new estimates of the probability weighting functions found in rank-dependent theories of choice under risk. These estimates are unusual in two senses. First…

Abstract

The author presents new estimates of the probability weighting functions found in rank-dependent theories of choice under risk. These estimates are unusual in two senses. First, they are free of functional form assumptions about both utility and weighting functions, and they are entirely based on binary discrete choices and not on matching or valuation tasks, though they depend on assumptions concerning the nature of probabilistic choice under risk. Second, estimated weighting functions contradict widely held priors of an inverse-s shape with fixed point well in the interior of the (0,1) interval: Instead the author usually finds populations dominated by “optimists” who uniformly overweight best outcomes in risky options. The choice pairs used here mostly do not provoke similarity-based simplifications. In a third experiment, the author shows that the presence of choice pairs that provoke similarity-based computational shortcuts does indeed flatten estimated probability weighting functions.

Details

Models of Risk Preferences: Descriptive and Normative Challenges
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83797-269-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 October 2023

Cyrine Khiari, Imen Khanchel and Naima Lassoued

This study aims to investigate the impact of pollution control bonds (PCBs) on overinvestment within utility firms.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of pollution control bonds (PCBs) on overinvestment within utility firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study analyzes a data set comprising 215 US energy firms observed from 2011 to 2021, using the ordinary least square regression with standard errors adjusted for firm-level clustering.

Findings

The study reveals a negative relationship between PCBs and overinvestment, indicating that PCBs are an effective tool in curbing excessive investment. Additionally, it demonstrates that chief executive officer (CEO) overconfidence diminishes the influence of PCBs on overinvestment. These findings remain robust across various metrics for measuring overinvestment and CEO overconfidence, as well as when alternative estimation methods are used. These results align with insights derived from agency theory and upper echelon theories.

Research limitations/implications

Regulators are encouraged to actively promote the use of PCBs as a financing tool for environmentally focused initiatives. To achieve this, regulatory bodies should enhance their presence within the utility sector, particularly in regions grappling with higher pollution levels. This requires the implementation of strategic policies and regulatory frameworks aimed at mitigating excessive investments. Simultaneously, policymakers should take proactive measures to introduce financial instruments designed to optimize investment efficiency, thus facilitating eco-friendly projects.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper holds the distinction of being the first to examine the impact of a specific type of green bond, namely, PCBs, on overinvestment. Furthermore, it contributes to the literature on personality traits, particularly within the context of the upper echelon theory, by investigating the moderating influence of CEO overconfidence.

Details

Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, vol. 22 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1985-2517

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 August 2023

Banumathy Sundararaman and Neelakandan Ramalingam

This study was carried out to analyze the importance of consumer preference data in forecasting demand in apparel retailing.

Abstract

Purpose

This study was carried out to analyze the importance of consumer preference data in forecasting demand in apparel retailing.

Methodology

To collect preference data, 729 hypothetical stock keeping units (SKU) were derived using a full factorial design, from a combination of six attributes and three levels each. From the hypothetical SKU's, 63 practical SKU's were selected for further analysis. Two hundred two responses were collected from a store intercept survey. Respondents' utility scores for all 63 SKUs were calculated using conjoint analysis. In estimating aggregate demand, to allow for consumer substitution and to make the SKU available when a consumer wishes to buy more than one item in the same SKU, top three highly preferred SKU's utility scores of each individual were selected and classified using a decision tree and was aggregated. A choice rule was modeled to include substitution; by applying this choice rule, aggregate demand was estimated.

Findings

The respondents' utility scores were calculated. The value of Kendall's tau is 0.88, the value of Pearson's R is 0.98 and internal predictive validity using Kendall's tau is 1.00, and this shows the high quality of data obtained. The proposed model was used to estimate the demand for 63 SKUs. The demand was estimated at 6.04 per cent for the SKU cotton, regular style, half sleeve, medium priced, private label. The proposed model for estimating demand using consumer preference data gave better estimates close to actual sales than expert opinion data. The Spearman's rank correlation between actual sales and consumer preference data is 0.338 and is significant at 5 per cent level. The Spearman's rank correlation between actual sales and expert opinion is −0.059, and there is no significant relation between expert opinion data and actual sales. Thus, consumer preference model proves to be better in estimating demand than expert opinion data.

Research implications

There has been a considerable amount of work done in choice-based models. There is a lot of scope in working in deterministic models.

Practical implication

The proposed consumer preference-based demand estimation model can be beneficial to the apparel retailers in increasing their profit by reducing stock-out and overstocking situations. Though conjoint analysis is used in demand estimation in other industries, it is not used in apparel for demand estimations and can be greater use in its simplest form.

Originality/value

This research is the first one to model consumer preferences-based data to estimate demand in apparel. This research was practically tested in an apparel retail store. It is original.

Details

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, vol. 28 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1361-2026

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 June 2022

Helmut Nechansky

The paper analyzes how the goal-setting of two individuals or social units A and B determines the utilities, which the two parties can gain in a dyadic interaction.

Abstract

Purpose

The paper analyzes how the goal-setting of two individuals or social units A and B determines the utilities, which the two parties can gain in a dyadic interaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on a dyadic utility space representing the utilities of A and B along the x and y axis, respectively. In this space the goal-orientation of an individual action is mapped with a vector, where its angle shows the combination of utilities of A and B aimed at, and the length corresponds to the strength of an action.

Findings

Analyzing actions of A and responses of B in the dyadic utility space allows (a) calculating single and joint utilities, (b) identifying the narrow range of equal utility for both and (c) identifying four vectors for maximizing different combinations of utility. Studying combinations of these four vectors in a 4 × 4 ‘Interaction - Utility Matrix’ shows how the goal-setting of A for a prime action widely predetermines, before a response of B, the realizable dyadic utility for both.

Practical implications

The dyadic utility space allows illustrating any dyadic interaction: It shows all possible dyadic “payoffs” investigated in game theory; it allows studying repeated exchange and resulting accumulation of utility; it allows mapping power relations.

Originality/value

The paper shows the interrelation between cybernetic principles of control, goal-orientated human behavior and the utility concept of social sciences. And it allows rejecting Adam Smith’s 18th myth of an “invisible hand”.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 52 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 February 2024

Yixin Liang, Xuejie Ren and Lindu Zhao

The study aims to address a critical gap in existing healthcare payment schemes and care service pricing by recognizing the influential role of patients' decisions on…

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to address a critical gap in existing healthcare payment schemes and care service pricing by recognizing the influential role of patients' decisions on self-management efforts. These decisions not only impact health outcomes but also shape the demand for care, subsequently influencing care costs. Despite the significance of this interplay, current payment schemes often overlook these dynamics. The research focuses on investigating the implications of a novel behavior-based payment scheme, designed to align incentives and establish a direct connection between patients' decisions and care costs. The primary objective is to comprehensively understand whether and how this innovative payment scheme structure influences key stakeholders, including patients, care providers, insurers and overall social welfare.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we propose a game-theoretical model to incorporate the performance of self-management with the demand for healthcare service, compare the patient's effort decision for self-management and provider's price decision for healthcare service under a behavior-based scheme with that under two implemented widely payment schemes, that is, co-payment scheme and co-insurance scheme.

Findings

Our findings confirm that the behavior-based scheme incentives patient self-management more than current schemes while reducing their possibility of seeking healthcare service, which indirectly induces the provider to lower the price of the service. The stakeholders' utility under various payment schemes is sensitive to the cost of treatment and the perceived health utility of patients. Especially, patient health awareness is not always benefited provider profit, as it motivates patient self-management while diminishing the demand for care.

Originality/value

We provide a novel framework for characterizing behavior-based payment schemes. Our results confirm the need for modification of the current payment scheme to incentivize patient self-management.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 March 2022

Peng Xing, Meixia Wang and Junzhu Yao

The paper aims to investigate the optimal service quality and pricing for a mobile application (App) service supply chain (SSC) and analyze the impact of network externality on…

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the optimal service quality and pricing for a mobile application (App) service supply chain (SSC) and analyze the impact of network externality on App SSC members' utilities. After that, the corresponding management inspirations and suggestions are put forward.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper developed a SSC consisted of an App service supplier and an App service operator. Our models aim to maximize the SSC members' utilities. By utilizing the game theory, equilibrium solutions are obtained. Numerical examples are used to manifest the impact of parameters on decisions by Matlab. Some management enlightenment could be obtained by comparison analysis.

Findings

Cooperating with an App service operator that asks for a lower revenue sharing ratio will enable the App service supplier to have sufficient funds to provide high-quality update service. With the increase of network externality, adopting a high-quality service strategy can bring higher utility to the App service operator and users. Pouring attention into consumer welfare moderately will improve the App service supplier's utility. Scenario CRS can achieve a win–win goal for App SSC members and consumers.

Originality/value

The innovations of this paper are as follows: Firstly, the authors investigate the optimal service quality and pricing for the App SSC, which has been discussed little in previous literature. Secondly, the authors discuss how network externality and enterprises' attention to consumer welfare affect the optimal decisions and utilities of App service supply chain members. Thirdly, this paper considers four different circumstances and determines the optimal operation scenario for App SSC through comparative analysis.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 52 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 January 2024

Scott J. Niblock

This study aims to establish the effect of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices on Australian energy and utility investment performance.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to establish the effect of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices on Australian energy and utility investment performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Conventional and ESG-rated portfolios are constructed using monthly returns and ESG scores of S&P/ASX 300 listed energy and utility firms from 2014 to 2022. Portfolio performance is estimated using a four-factor regression model, controlling for any economic shocks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

The findings show that the lower the ESG score associated with the overall ESG and environmental portfolios, the greater the performance compared to the market (but not the conventional and other ESG portfolios). High ESG scores do not appear to influence the performance of the energy and utility portfolios, which contrasts expectations that the uptake of ESG should deliver superior risk-return outcomes for investors. The findings also indicate that a contrarian investment approach may be a reasonable performance indicator for high-rated ESG portfolios. ESG practices did not impact portfolio performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

This research has contributed to the literature by offering ESG investment insights for policymakers, regulators, fund managers and investors. Consistent with the agency perspective on ESG practices and efficient market hypothesis, the evidence implies that, regardless of ESG scores (either high or low), investors should consider investing passively in diversified energy and utility portfolios or low-cost index fund equivalents.

Details

Studies in Economics and Finance, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1086-7376

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 April 2023

Hong Mao and Krzysztof Ostaszewski

The authors consider the mutual benefits of the ceding company and reinsurance company in the design of reinsurance contracts. Two objective functions to maximize social expected…

Abstract

Purpose

The authors consider the mutual benefits of the ceding company and reinsurance company in the design of reinsurance contracts. Two objective functions to maximize social expected utilities are established, which are to maximize the sum of the expected utilities of both the ceding company and reinsurance company, and to maximize their products. The first objective function, additive, emphasizes the total gains of both parties, while the second, multiplicative, accounts for the degree of substitution of gains of one party through the loss of the other party. The optimal price and retention of reinsurance are found by a grid search method, and numerical analysis is conducted. The results indicate that the optimal solutions for two objective functions are quite different. However, optimal solutions are sensitive to the change of the means and volatilities of the claim loss for both objective functions. The results are potentially valuable to insurance regulators and government entities acting as reinsurers of last resort.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors apply relatively simple, but in the view significant, methods and models to discuss the optimization of excess loss reinsurance strategy. The authors only consider the influence of loss distribution on optimal retention and reinsurance price but neglect the investment factor. The authors also consider the benefits of both ceding company and reinsurance company to determine optimal premium and retention of reinsurance jointly based on maximizing social utility: the sum (or the product) of expected utilities of reinsurance company and ceding company. The authors solve for optimal solutions numerically, applying simulation.

Findings

This paper establishes two optimization models of excess-of-loss reinsurance contract against catastrophic losses to determine optimal premium and retention. One model considers the sum of the expected utilities of a ceding company and a reinsurance company's expected utility; another considers the product of them. With an example, the authors find the optimal solutions of premium and retention of excess loss reinsurance. Finally, the authors carry out the sensitivity analysis. The results show that increasing the means and the volatilities of claim loss will increase the optimal retention and premium. For objective function I, increasing the coefficients of risk aversion of or reducing the coefficients of risk aversion of will make the optimal retention reduced but the optimal premium increased, and vice versa. However, for objective function 2, the change of coefficient of risk aversion has no effect on optimal solutions.

Research limitations/implications

Utility of the two partners: The ceding company and the reinsurance company, may have different weights and different significance. The authors have not studied their relative significance. The simulation approach in numerical methods limits us to the probability distributions and stochastic processes the authors use, based on, generally speaking, lognormal models of rates of return. This may need to be generalized to other returns, including possible models of shocks through jump processes.

Practical implications

In the recent two decades, reinsurance companies have played a great role in hedging mega-catastrophic losses. For example, reinsurance companies (and special loss sharing arrangements) paid as much as two-thirds of the insured losses for the September 11, 2001 tragedy. Furthermore, large catastrophic events have increased the role of governments and regulators as reinsurers of last resort. The authors hope that the authors provide guidance for possible balancing of the needs of two counterparties to reinsurance contracts.

Social implications

Nearly all governments around the world are engaged in regulation of insurance and reinsurance, and some are reinsurers themselves. The authors provide guidance for them in these activities.

Originality/value

The authors believe this paper to be a completely new and original contribution in the area, by providing models for balancing the utility to the ceding insurance company and the reinsurance company.

研究目的

我們探討分出公司和再保險公司在再保險合約的設計上、如何能達至互利互惠。研究確立了兩個目標函數,分別為把分出公司和再保險公司兩者之預期效用的總和最大化,以及把它們的產品最佳化。第一個目標函數是加法的,強調兩個參與方的總增益;而第二個目標函數則是乘法的,這個目標函數,闡釋參與方因另一方虧損而有所收益之取代度。再保險的最佳價格和自留額是利用網格搜索法找出的,數值分析也予以進行。研究結果顯示,兩個目標函數的最佳解決方案甚為不同。唯最佳解決方案會對就這兩個目標函數而言的追討損失的波動、以及其平均值之改變產生敏感反應。研究結果將會見其價值於作為在萬不得已的時候的再保險人的保險業規管機構和政府實體。

研究設計/方法/理念

在這學術論文裡,我們採用了相對簡單、但我們認為是重要的方法和模型,來探討超額賠款再保險策略的優化課題。我們只考慮虧損分佈對最佳自留額和再保險價格的影響,而不去檢視投資因素。我們亦考慮對分出公司和再保險公司兩者的利益,來釐定最佳保費和再保險的自留額,而這兩者則共同建基於把社會效益最大化之上:再保險公司和分出公司的預期效益的總和 (或其積數) 。 我們採用類比模仿方法、來解決尋求在數字上最佳解決方案的問題。

研究結果

本研究建立了就應對嚴重虧損而設的兩個超額賠款再保險合約的優化模型,來釐定最佳的保費和自留額。其中一個模型考慮了分出公司和再保險公司兩者各自的預期效益的總和。另外的一個模型則考慮了兩者的預期效益的積數。透過例子,我們找到了保費和超額虧損再保險自留額的最佳解決方案。最後,我們進行了敏感度分析。研究結果顯示、若增加追討損失的平均值和波動,則最佳自留額和保費也會隨之而增加。就第一個目標函數而言,若增加風險規避係數、或減少這個係數,則最佳自留額會隨之而減少,但最佳保費卻會隨之而增加,反之亦然。唯就第二個目標函數而言,風險規避係數的改變,對最佳解決方案是沒有影響的。

研究的局限/啟示

  • – 有關的兩個夥伴之效用性:分出公司和再保險公司或有不同的份量和重要性。我們沒有探討兩者的相對重要性。

  • – 我們以數值方法為核心的類比模仿研究法、使我們局限於機率分配和一般而言建基於投資報酬率對數常態模型之隨機過程的使用。我們或許需要調節研究法。以能概括其它回報收益,包括透過跳躍過程而可能達至之沖擊模型。

– 有關的兩個夥伴之效用性:分出公司和再保險公司或有不同的份量和重要性。我們沒有探討兩者的相對重要性。

– 我們以數值方法為核心的類比模仿研究法、使我們局限於機率分配和一般而言建基於投資報酬率對數常態模型之隨機過程的使用。我們或許需要調節研究法。以能概括其它回報收益,包括透過跳躍過程而可能達至之沖擊模型。

實務方面的啟示

在過去20年裡,再保險公司在控制極嚴重災難性的損失上曾扮演重要的角色。例如、再保險公司 (以及特殊的損失分擔安排) 為了2001年9月11日的災難事件而支付多至保險損失的三分之二的費用。而且,重大的災難性事件使政府及作為最後出路再保險人的調控者得扮演更重要的角色。我們希望研究結果能為再保險合約兩對手提供指導,以平衡雙方的需要。

社會方面的啟示

全球差不多每個政府都參與保險和再保險的管理工作,有部份更加本身就是再保險人。研究結果為他們的管理工作提供了指導。

研究的原創性/價值

我們相信本學術論文、提供了平衡分出保險公司和再保險公司效用性的模型,就此而言,本論文在相關的領域上作出了全新和獨創性的貢獻。

Details

European Journal of Management and Business Economics, vol. 32 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2444-8451

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 5000