Local polls further tighten LDP's grip on Japan

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gay Rights ◽  
The United States ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Female Representation ◽  
Local Initiative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Defence Policy ◽  
Mainstream Party ◽  
The Impact

Subject The impact of recent local elections. Significance Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's state visit to the United States has focused attention on foreign and defence policy, eclipsing discussion of the nationwide local elections held on April 12 and 26 -- but those elections have consequences nevertheless. Impacts So few women were elected that the administration's modest target for female representation in local government is now almost unachievable. The results in Osaka support a local initiative to increase the city's autonomy; if this goes this ahead, other cities may follow. Victories for the Communist Party and a gay rights advocate suggest that frustration with mainstream party politics is rising again.

The impact of counterfeit risk management on healthcare supply chain performance: an empirical analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Falasca ◽  
Scott Dellana ◽  
William J. Rowe ◽  
John F. Kros
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Significant Positive Effect ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect

PurposeThis study develops and tests a model exploring the relationship between supply chain (SC) counterfeit risk management and performance in the healthcare supply chain (HCSC).Design/methodology/approachIn the proposed theoretical model, HCSC counterfeit risk management is characterized by HCSC counterfeit risk orientation (HCRO), HCSC counterfeit risk mitigation (HCRM) and HCSC risk management integration (HRMI), while performance is represented by healthcare logistics performance (HLP) and healthcare organization overall performance (HOP). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and survey data from 55 HCSC managers are used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsHCRO has a significant positive effect on HCRM, while HCRM has a positive impact on HRMI. With respect to HLP, HCRM has a nonsignificant effect, while HRMI has a significant impact, thus confirming the important mediating role of HRMI. Finally, HLP has a significant positive effect on the overall performance of healthcare organizations.Research limitations/implicationsAll study participants were from the United States, limiting the generalizability of the study findings to different countries or regions. The sample size employed in the study did not allow the authors to distinguish among the different types of healthcare organizations.Originality/valueThis study delineates between a healthcare organization's philosophy toward counterfeiting risks vs actions taken to eliminate or reduce the impact of counterfeiting on the HCSC. By offering firm-level guidance for managers, this study informs healthcare organizations about addressing the challenge of counterfeiting in the HCSC.

Does the second wave of COVID-19 undermine corporate immunity? International evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huy Viet Hoang ◽  
Cuong Nguyen ◽  
Khanh Hoang
Keyword(s):  
Stock Returns ◽  
Stock Price ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study compares the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stock returns in the first two waves of infection across selected markets, given built-in corporate immunity before the global outbreak.Design/methodology/approachThe data are collected from listed firms in five markets that have experienced the second wave of COVID-19 contagion, namely the United States (US), Australia, China, Hong Kong and South Korea. The period of investigation in this study ranges from January 24 to August 28, 2020 to cover the first two COVID-19 waves in selected markets. The study estimates the research model by employing the ordinary least square method with fixed effects to control for the heterogeneity that may confound the empirical outcomes.FindingsThe analysis reveals that firms with larger size and more cash reserves before the COVID-19 outbreak have better stock performance under the first wave; however, these advantages impede stock resilience during the second wave. Corporate governance practices significantly influence stock returns only in the first wave as their effects fade when the second wave emerges. The results also suggest that in economies with greater power distance, although stock price depreciation was milder in the first wave, it is more intense when new cases again surge after the first wave was contained.Practical implicationsThis paper provides practical implications for corporate managers, policymakers and governments concerning crisis management strategies for COVID-19 and future pandemics.Originality/valueThis study is the first to evaluate built-in corporate immunity before the COVID-19 shock under successive contagious waves. Besides, this study accentuates the importance of cultural understanding in weathering the ongoing pandemic across different markets.

Bankruptcy filings, flooding, real estate prices and Leading Index

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Billie Ann Brotman
Keyword(s):  
Housing Prices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Flood Insurance ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Personal Bankruptcy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Flooding Event ◽  
Flooding Events ◽  
The Impact

PurposeFlood damage to uninsured single-family homes shifts the entire burden of costly repairs onto the homeowner. Homeowners in the United States and in much of Europe can purchase flood insurance. The Netherlands and Asian countries generally do not offer flood insurance protection to homeowners. Uninsured households incur the entire cost of repairing/replacing properties damaged due to flooding. Homeowners’ policies do not cover damage caused by flooding. The paper examines the link between personal bankruptcy and the severity of flooding events, property prices and financial condition levels.Design/methodology/approachA fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) regression model is developed which uses personal bankruptcy filings as its dependent variable during the years 2000 through 2018. This time-series model considers the association between personal bankruptcy court filings and costly, widespread flooding events. Independent variables were selected that potentially act as mitigating factors reducing bankruptcy filings.FindingsThe FMOLS regression results found a significant, positive association between flooding events and the total number of personal bankruptcy filings. Higher flooding costs were associated with higher bankruptcy filings. The Home Price Index is inversely related to the bankruptcy dependent variable. The R-squared results indicate that 0.65% of the movement in the dependent variable personal bankruptcy filings is explained by the severity of a flooding event and other independent variables.Research limitations/implicationsThe severity of the flooding event is measured using dollar losses incurred by the National Flood Insurance program. A macro-case study was undertaken, but the research results would have been enhanced by examining local areas and demographic factors that may have made bankruptcy filing following a flooding event more or less likely.Practical implicationsThe paper considers the impact of the natural disaster flooding on bankruptcy rates filings. The findings may have implications for multi-family properties as well as single-family housing. Purchasing flood insurance generally mitigates the likelihood of severe financial risk to the property owner.Social implicationsNatural flood insurance is underwritten by the federal government and/or by private insurers. The financial health of private property insurers that underwrite flooding and their ability to meet losses incurred needs to be carefully scrutinized by the insured.Originality/valuePrior studies analyzing the linkages existing between housing prices, natural disasters and bankruptcy used descriptive data, mostly percentages, when considering this association. The study herein posits the same questions as these prior studies but used regression analysis to analyze the linkages. The methodology enables additional independent variables to be added to the analysis.

Income and healthcare financing system in the United States: an asymmetric analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Barati ◽  
Hadiseh Fariditavana
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Set Covering ◽  
Healthcare Financing ◽  
Financing System ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Distributed Lag ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to first assess how the US healthcare financing system is influenced by income variation. Then, it examines whether or not the impact of income variation is asymmetric.Design/methodology/approachFor the analyses of this paper, the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is implemented to a data set covering the period from 1960 to 2018.FindingsThe results provide evidence that major funding sources of aggregate healthcare expenditure (HCE) respond differently to changes in income. The results also imply that the effect of income is not always symmetric.Originality/valueMany studies have attempted to identify the relationship between income and HCE. A common feature of past studies is that they have only focused on aggregate HCE, while one might be interested in knowing how major funders of aggregate HCE would be affected by changes in income. Another common feature of past studies is that they have assumed that the relationship between income and HCE is symmetric.

scholarly journals Factors affecting political participation (Jordanian universities students' voting: field study 2017-2018)

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Soud Alelaimat
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
University Students ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Regional Affiliation

Purpose This study aims to identify the factors affecting the political participation of Jordanian university students, especially their voting in national and local elections. The study examines the impact of gender, age, family income and regional affiliation that represent important social and economic factors affecting political participation on the voting of Jordanian university students. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative research method was used in this study. The study population contained three Jordanian universities representing the various segments of the Jordanian society: Al-Al Bayt University (Northern Region), Jordanian University (Central Region) and Mu'tah University (Southern Region). The study relied on a purposive sample of 900 students, 300 students per university (150 males and 150 females). The survey was conducted in the academic year 2018-2019. A questionnaire reviewed by two jurors (peer reviewers) was used to collect the data. Findings The study concluded that the gender, age, family income and regional affiliation factors affect the voting of Jordanian university students in national and local elections. The more the gender varies, the more the voting shifts in favor of males students. The more the age varies, the more the voting shifts in favor of older students. The more the family income varies, the more the voting shifts in favor of high-income students. The more the regional affiliation varies, the more the voting shifts in favor of Jordanians students. Originality/value This study is an approach to interpret the factors affecting voting of Jordanian university students, such as gender, age, family income and regional affiliation, which led to different voting in the national and local elections.

Hague Securities Convention goes into effect in the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 72-77
Author(s):  
Bryan L. Barreras ◽  
Barbara M. Goodstein ◽  
Kevin C. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Choice Of Law ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Commercial Code ◽  
The Us ◽  
Secured Transactions ◽  
The Hague ◽  
Market Practice ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Impact

Purpose To explain the Hague Securities Convention in the context of secured financing transactions in the US and to discuss the implications of the Convention on new and existing transactions, as well as on market practice going forward. Design/methodology/approach This article provides a broad overview of the Hague Securities Convention and the impact of the Convention’s choice of law rules on secured financing transactions in the US involving intermediated securities, including how this deviates from previously applicable laws (such as the Uniform Commercial Code), and provides practical considerations with respect to secured financing transactions. Findings While in most circumstances the Convention provides for the same choice of law as previously applicable laws, there are certain scenarios where the Convention will produce a different result. Market practice with respect to perfecting security interests will likely change to take account of the Convention and to provide the parties with certainty regarding the law applicable to secured transactions. Practical implications The Convention calls for increased diligence with respect to the law governing the account agreement between the debtor and the securities intermediary and whether the securities intermediary has a qualifying office in that jurisdiction. Originality/value Practical guidance from experienced finance lawyers.

scholarly journals An Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Strain and Galacto-Oligosaccharides Accelerate Clearance of Salmonella Infections in Poultry through Modifications to the Gut Microbiome

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Andrea Azcarate-Peril ◽  
Natasha Butz ◽  
Maria Belen Cadenas ◽  
Matthew Koci ◽  
Anne Ballou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
The United States ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Salmonella Infections ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Salmonella is estimated to cause one million foodborne illnesses in the United States every year. Salmonella -contaminated poultry products are one of the major sources of salmonellosis. Given the critical role of the gut microbiota in Salmonella transmission, a manipulation of the chicken intestinal microenvironment could prevent animal colonization by the pathogen. In Salmonella , the global regulator gene fnr ( f umarate n itrate r eduction) regulates anaerobic metabolism and is essential for adapting to the gut environment. This study tested the hypothesis that an attenuated Fnr mutant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (attST) or prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) could improve resistance to wild-type Salmonella via modifications to the structure of the chicken gut microbiome. Intestinal samples from a total of 273 animals were collected weekly for 9 weeks to evaluate the impact of attST or prebiotic supplementation on microbial species of the cecum, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. We next analyzed changes to the gut microbiome induced by challenging the animals with a wild-type Salmonella serovar 4,[5],12:r:− (Nal r ) strain and determined the clearance rate of the virulent strain in the treated and control groups. Both GOS and the attenuated Salmonella strain modified the gut microbiome but elicited alterations of different taxonomic groups. The attST produced significant increases of Alistipes and undefined Lactobacillus , while GOS increased Christensenellaceae and Lactobacillus reuteri . The microbiome structural changes induced by both treatments resulted in a faster clearance after a Salmonella challenge. IMPORTANCE With an average annual incidence of 13.1 cases/100,000 individuals, salmonellosis has been deemed a nationally notifiable condition in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Earlier studies demonstrated that Salmonella is transmitted by a subset of animals (supershedders). The supershedder phenotype can be induced by antibiotics, ascertaining an essential role for the gut microbiota in Salmonella transmission. Consequently, modulation of the gut microbiota and modification of the intestinal microenvironment could assist in preventing animal colonization by the pathogen. Our study demonstrated that a manipulation of the chicken gut microbiota by the administration of an attenuated Salmonella strain or prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) can promote resistance to Salmonella colonization via increases of beneficial microorganisms that translate into a less hospitable gut microenvironment.

Potential impacts of blockchain technology on business practices of bricks and mortar (B&M) grocery stores

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed T. Nuseir
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
The United States ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Functional Perspective ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper investigates the impact of blockchain technology on the Bricks and Mortar (B&M) grocery sector from a technological and functional perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopted an exploratory research design and the data comprises 17 semi-structured interviews with personnel at the top grocery retail chains in the United States, for example, Wal-Mart, Tesco, Stop and Shop and Meijer. Additionally, two major US-based blockchain service providers are included – SumatoSoft and Accubits.FindingsBlockchain technology affects the business processes of B&M grocery retail by offering payment via tokens, secure payments and contracts between stakeholders, an end-to-end solution in the supply chain and secure management of the stock. However, this process is hampered by a number of challenges such as integrity and security concerns, difficulty in adapting sound logistics, lack of adequate skills and resistance to change by store managers and employees. This can be addressed by imparting education/training and creating awareness about the benefits of blockchain and generating industry-wide collaboration in which regulations can work.Practical implicationsThe research has benefits for B&M grocery stores, governments and the wider society. For example, the findings of this study will help B&M grocery retailers to confront the competition by online retailers such as Amazon, AliExpress or eBay and promote the development of a systematic collaboration to achieve the changes they need.Originality/valueThe study is original and innovative in that no research to date has focused on how blockchain can help the B&M grocery sector and address its challenges.

Lower workforce will impair global GDP trend growth

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Labour Force ◽  
Labour Force Participation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Hysteresis Phenomenon ◽  
Job Seekers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Economy ◽  
Discouraged Workers ◽  
The Impact

Subject Changing demography and socio-economic trends in the labour force. Significance Changes in immigration and societal factors are causing labour supply shifts in the EU and the United States. Alongside the debate over the state of the US economy, there has been discussion over the persistent decline in US labour force participation and the impact on the economy of discouraged workers, who may never go back to the labour force. The United Kingdom has experienced population gains and an acceleration in the birth rate due to net immigration over the last decade. Impacts A rising UK population will pressure an already tight housing market and transport systems. High social benefits paid to younger people while actively job-seeking will encourage registration, boosting the UK labour force. Higher cyclical unemployment might become structural through the 'hysteresis' phenomenon, as job seekers get discouraged.

Finnish-Swedish military ties are set to deepen

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive View ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
The Past ◽  
Defence Policy ◽  
Defence Cooperation ◽  
The Baltic

Subject Swedish and Finnish defence policy. Significance Sweden and Finland have intensified defence cooperation in recent years, most recently by signing a defence pact on July 9. This comes on top of other efforts to promote stronger Nordic defence collaboration with neighbouring Denmark and Norway, the Baltic states, as well as with the United States and NATO around regional security issues. Impacts Russia is likely to use airspace violations to test Swedish and Finnish military readiness. While Sweden and Finland will deepen collaboration with NATO, membership remains off the table for the foreseeable future. Finland supports stronger EU defence initiatives such as PESCO. Sweden has traditionally been sceptical of EU efforts but has adopted a more positive view over the past two years.

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