Great Minds Think Alike, Fools Seldom Differ: An Empirical Analysis of Opportunity Assessment in Technology Entrepreneurs

This study extends the literature on self-employment and entrepreneurship by offering empirical insights into the factors that influence technology entrepreneurs at the early stages of the new venture creation process. Specifically, this research focuses on how technology entrepreneurs assess opportunities at the start of the process. Using data from technology entrepreneurs in Ireland, we analyze differences between part-time entrepreneurs and full-time entrepreneurs and discover that not all entrepreneurs attach importance to activities that were previously considered fundamental. While we confirm that opportunity cost, market assessment, and financial analysis are critical and ever-present, we argue that aspiring technology entrepreneurs must be cognizant that when employment-related costs are included as a dimension of opportunity costs, the level and importance of opportunity costs rise for both part-time and full-time entrepreneurs. We also find that whether nascent entrepreneurs work full-time or part-time on the new venture has an impact on which activities are completed and at what point of the process they are completed. For example, we show that part-time entrepreneurs identify markets earlier than full-time entrepreneurs whereas the opposite is true when it comes to financial data preparation. We argue that a greater understanding of these issues will help technology entrepreneurs to make informed decisions. As a result, our findings may influence an aspiring entrepreneur’s decision to start a new venture. They also have ramifications for investors and support services. Consequently, we discuss theoretical contributions, practical ramifications, and future research possibilities.

ONION PRODUCTION AND MARKETING SYSTEM IN BALOCHISTAN PROVINCE

In Pakistan, onion is one of the most grown commercial crops in the various parts of the country. The study was carried out through a primary data collection from various stakeholders to examine the status of onion production in Balochistan province. The average per acre cost of production, productivity, profitability, input output ratio were analyzed. Furthermore, find out the issues and constraints faced by onion growers and recommend policy guidelines for sustainable onion production and marketing in the study area. Costs have been broken down in a variable, fixed and opportunity costs (depreciation and opportunity) costs for production factors that are owned by the onion growers. While the variable cost was high from other costs, among them seed rate cost was high in the variable cost and in the lowest costs was recorded in chemical weedicide from other variable costs and fixed cost was nil due to relief from Balochistan government, whereas total cost of production and net income was Rs.82737 and Rs.75665 per acre respectively found in the study area. Majority 67% seed dealers were reported that due to high ratio of population, more consumable, good seed quality, more benefit, short duration of time and more production of onion as the principal reason for increase seed suppliers over the past 5 years. Onion farmers must follow best methods in management and strive to adopt scientific guidance from local and other available sources, for example research stations, progressive producers and extension workers.

Economic dimensions and legal regulation of the recovery of alimony obligations for the support of minor children in Russia

The research aims to substantiate economic factors and legal regulation of alimony obligations for minors’ maintenance in Russia, referring to other countries’ experiences and applying a questionnaire, indicators of the parents’ well-being, the satisfaction of the child’s needs, and parents’ participation in raising a child after a divorce was determined as can be seen in Russia, the USA, Germany, and France. Regression models are built reflecting the influence of the number of alimony payments, the indicator of parent’s participation in raising a child, the opportunity costs associated with the choice made by each spouse in favor of the family and children, on the integral indicator of the effectiveness of alimony obligations and its particular indicators. The results obtained have determined the guidelines for forming legal regulation of alimony obligations in Russia, which will increase the legislative efficiency of the recovery of alimony payments

When more schooling is not worth the effort: another look at the dropout decisions of disadvantaged students

This paper shows that when student heterogeneity is introduced in the analysis, differences in the quality of education and in the probability of repetition, typical in developing countries, mark the contrast between an attractive and an inconvenient investment in education. The methodology associates educational quality and repetition rates with educational returns. In particular, it makes apparent that lower secondary education, in the case of Uruguay, is an inconvenient investment for disadvantaged students, even disregarding the possibility of such students not being able to afford the opportunity costs, this fact probably also explains the heavy dropout rates of this student type in many developing countries.

Growth of Managed Older Douglas-fir Stands: Implications of the Black Rock Thinning Trial in the Coast Range of Western Oregon

The most recent remeasurement of growth (at approximate total stand age 100 years) from the Black Rock Thinning Trial in western Oregon provides useful information for forest owners interested in accelerating restoration of older forest characteristics in Douglas-fir stands of the Pacific Northwest. Thinnings at several intensities at total stand age of roughly 50 years effectively reset stand growth patterns. With quadratic mean diameters in thinned plots up to 40% higher than those of unthinned controls, thinned plot mean annual increments (MAIs) and periodic annual increments continue to rise 55 years after thinning, with the peak in board foot and cubic foot MAI apparently still decades in the future. Assuming repeatable future thinning responses similar to the Black Rock Trial, financial analysis of the opportunity costs of extending rotations to 100 years indicates that some thinning treatments can reduce opportunity costs by up to half at a 6% discount rate. Study Implications Active management through thinning may be a useful tool for public and private landowners interested in rapid development of stands with older forest characteristics to enhance output of some ecosystem services. Heavy thinning regimes, of the type described here, are compatible with growing trees with large diameter stems, large branches, and large crowns. They also reduce fuel accumulation by lowering mortality rates of stems less than 60 years old and slowing the rate of crown recession, branch mortality, and branch litterfall. Midrotation thinning revenues reduce opportunity costs of holding more rapidly growing stems to older ages, which may be a consideration for some owners.

Development of the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool: Item Generation and Content Validity Testing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool (OOCAT), a survey instrument to evaluate the opportunity costs patients experience when seeking medical oncology care. METHODS: Development of the OOCAT involved extensive patient engagement through both focus groups and interviews. First, the study team developed a list of opportunity cost concepts, which included patients' logistical and financial considerations related to seeking care. We conducted focus groups with patients to expand upon this list of concepts, and then developed a set of questions that incorporated all the concepts generated during the focus groups. To refine these questions, we next performed cognitive interviews with another set of patients to ensure content validity and clarity of instrument items, refining the OOCAT iteratively on the basis of feedback. RESULTS: We engaged 23 participants (17 patients and six caregivers) across four focus groups and 17 participants in cognitive interviews. Focus group participants generated 112 concepts, which resulted in an initial OOCAT with 16 questions. Cognitive interviews resulted in modification of 12 questions and addition of two questions (related to coordination of transportation and impact on home responsibilities). The final OOCAT consisted of 18 items examining time requirements for appointments, financial implications of traveling to appointments for the patient and the caregiver, and logistical and quality-of-life challenges associated with traveling for appointments. CONCLUSION: We developed the OOCAT, an instrument designed to evaluate patient-level opportunity costs of seeking medical oncology care. Further studies to validate the OOCAT are underway.

Achieving a ‘Good AI Society’: Comparing the Aims and Progress of the EU and the US

Over the past few years, there has been a proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) strategies, released by governments around the world, that seek to maximise the benefits of AI and minimise potential harms. This article provides a comparative analysis of the European Union (EU) and the United States’ (US) AI strategies and considers (i) the visions of a ‘Good AI Society’ that are forwarded in key policy documents and their opportunity costs, (ii) the extent to which the implementation of each vision is living up to stated aims and (iii) the consequences that these differing visions of a ‘Good AI Society’ have for transatlantic cooperation. The article concludes by comparing the ethical desirability of each vision and identifies areas where the EU, and especially the US, need to improve in order to achieve ethical outcomes and deepen cooperation.