Exploring the Drivers of Corrupt Practices and Non-Adherence to Ethical Values in Public-Sector Management: Focusing on Public Policy and Programme Implementation

This study explores the drivers of corrupt practices and non-adherence to ethical values in public management operations by focusing on public policy and programmes implementation within the Ghanaian context. Evidence based on an in-depth semi-structured interview (32) and focus-group discussions (2) found several drivers of corrupt practices and non-adherence to ethical values; which suggests an intertwined and cyclical relationships among the drivers. We find institutions, administration systems and political as fundamental drivers whilst socio-culture and economic as secondary drivers. However, political leadership is fundamental whilst management leadership from contracting firms are secondary drivers.

Texts, Drugs, and Rock ’n’ Roll

Of all the New Hollywood films, Easy Rider (1969) perhaps most effectively demonstrates the potential complexity of the rock compilation soundtrack. Drawing on concepts from film studies, film musicology, and literary theory, this article discusses how Easy Rider demonstrates the compilation soundtrack’s potential to generate meanings both inter- and intratextually. The intertextual method of interpreting pop compilation soundtracks looks deeply into the intersection of image, sound, and narrative on a vertical axis, considering the relationship between dialogue/image/plot point and song lyrics/musical style, the ways that the songs on these soundtracks communicate to audiences the thematic or diegetic significance of a given moment, and how these synthetic meanings apply to various characters/situations in the diegesis. Intratextual readings work horizontally to show the cyclical relationships between audiovisual set-pieces and the ways that these relationships clarify or enhance narrative themes. Attention to the intratextual function shows that despite the frequent concern that popular songs can disrupt the integrity of a filmic narrative, popular music soundtracks can in fact feature their own modes of large-scale, structural function. This film’s soundtrack allows viewers to experience Easy Rider in dual registers; narrative threads connect to other narrative threads, musical set-pieces connect to musical set-pieces, and all of the elements together comprise one audiovisual complex.

Investigating relationship dispositions as explanations for on-again/off-again relationships

The current study explored whether individuals with certain relationship dispositions were more likely to be involved in on-again/off-again (on-off) relationships. A sample of 211 currently dating participants in either on-off or non-cyclical relationships completed an online survey about relationship dispositions (e.g., attachment, implicit beliefs) and positive and negative aspects of relational quality (e.g., satisfaction, commitment, disillusionment). Participants in on-off relationships did not differ from those in non-cyclical relationships with regard to relationship dispositions. Relationship type, however, moderated certain associations between relationship dispositions and relationship qualities showing that the dispositions played a weaker role in relational quality for on-off partners (e.g., the association between growth belief and disillusionment was strong and negative for non-cyclical partners but nonsignificant for on-off partners). Although it was theoretically and practically important to investigate individual differences, interaction dynamics within dyads could be a more prominent factor in explaining on-off relationships.

Output Gap, Money Growth and Interest Rate in Japan: Evidence from Wavelet Analysis

This article investigated the relationship between output, money and interest rate, using wavelet tools for the period 1972–2017. Application of such tools is helpful in answering particularly two questions: first, what the strength and direction of the causal relationships between money, output and interest rate is, and second, whether the relationship is cyclical or anti-cyclical in nature. Findings from this article show that output and money are highly coherent in low, middle and high frequencies, and coherence increases while controlling for interest rate, with money growth as the leading variable most of the time across frequencies. Output and interest rate are equally highly coherent, mostly at high frequency and some bits of middle frequency; coherence increases with the control for money, and interest rate often times leads the relationship. Also, money and interest rate are coherent at low, middle and high frequencies with interest rate leading the relationship, and controlling the effect of output increases the coherence at some times and decreases at other times. There are observable evidences of both cyclical and anti-cyclical relationships among the variables. Policy decisions should be cautious of shortrun moves in order not to trigger undesired long-run outcomes since no difference is observed in the direction of causation over time–frequency. JEL: C49, E43, E52

Analysis of Business Cycles in the Breeding of Pigs, Cattle and Poultry and their Relationship to the Causality of Wheat and Rye Cultivation in Poland

The article presents a study on the phenomenon of pig gaps in the perspective of pig, cattle, and poultry farming in Poland. The work attempts to define the phenomenon itself as well as to show the reasons for its occurrence and significance for the Polish economy. The study used a cross-spectral analysis, which indicated cyclical relationships and shifts between the studied time series. The methodology of the work was based on a simplified spectral analysis, i.e. the use of the square of coherence, spectral density and phase spectrum. In addition, the article uses a comparative method for selected production volumes. The results were analyzed in the context of occurrence of pig cycles for breeding and cultivation. The study showed the occurrence of the relationship between pig breeding and wheat and rye cultivation.

Cyclicity of Second-hand-ness: The Language and Translation of Afrizal Malna’s “Toko Bekas Bahasa A dan B”

Penned by the Indonesian poet, Afrizal Malna, “Toko Bekas Bahasa A dan B” is a poem with the prominent theme of second-hand-ness. This paper examines the use of language in Malna’s poem, along with its co-relation with its English translation by Gracia Asri, using translation theory from Marilyn Gaddis Rose and Lacan’s psychoanalytic theory on language and speech. Ultimately, this research found the presence of two cyclical relationships (cyclicities) in the following forms: (1) the cyclicity of language in the form of the co-dependent relationship between “problem” and “language”, made apparent by the non-normative translation of the poem, and (2) the cyclicity of language “birth” performed by characters A and B. These two cyclicities are constantly renewing themselves inside the scope of the poem.

Cyclicity of Second-hand-ness: The Language and Translation of Afrizal Malna’s “Toko Bekas Bahasa A dan B”

Penned by the Indonesian poet, Afrizal Malna, “Toko Bekas Bahasa A dan B” is a poem with the prominent theme of second-hand-ness. This paper examines the use of language in Malna’s poem, along with its co-relation with its English translation by Gracia Asri, using translation theory from Marilyn Gaddis Rose and Lacan’s psychoanalytic theory on language and speech. Ultimately, this research found the presence of two cyclical relationships (cyclicities) in the following forms: (1) the cyclicity of language in the form of the co-dependent relationship between “problem” and “language”, made apparent by the non-normative translation of the poem, and (2) the cyclicity of language “birth” performed by characters A and B. These two cyclicities are constantly renewing themselves inside the scope of the poem.

Love, Sex, and Satisfaction in On-Again/Off-Again Relationships: Exploring What Might Make These Relationships Alluring

The current study explored positive relational qualities — love, need satisfaction, sexual satisfaction— to better understand what might be alluring to on-again/off-again (cyclical) partners given that they typically report lower relational quality and functioning than non-cyclical partners (i.e., those who have not broken up and renewed). A sample of 558 young adults in current romantic relationships (27.6% in cyclical relationships) reported on Sternberg's (1997) three love components (intimacy, passion, and commitment), relationship need satisfaction (e.g., companionship, emotional involvement), and their sexual satisfaction. Results supported the bulk of research showing cyclical partners report lower relational quality — cyclical partners reported less love, need satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. A pattern of findings regarding passion and need satisfaction regarding sexual and physical intimacy, however, suggests that cyclical partners might value the physical component of relationships more, and further, that passion might be more strongly related to global satisfaction as compared to non-cyclical partners. Overall, the value of this study is not in what differences were found but in ruling out certain explanations of what perpetuates cycling in young adult relationships. The current findings suggest the reasons individuals return to less satisfying relationships is complex and might require novel theoretical models.