Rationality in games and institutions

Against the orthodox view of the Nash equilibrium as “the embodiment of the idea that economic agents are rational” (Aumann, 1985, p 43), some theorists have proposed ‘non-classical’ concepts of rationality in games, arguing that rational agents should be capable of improving upon inefficient equilibrium outcomes. This paper considers some implications of these proposals for economic theory, by focusing on institutional design. I argue that revisionist concepts of rationality conflict with the constraint that institutions should be designed to be incentive-compatible, that is, that they should implement social goals in equilibrium. To resolve this conflict, proponents of revisionist concepts face a choice between three options: (1) reject incentive compatibility as a general constraint, (2) deny that individuals interacting through the designed institutions are rational, or (3) accept that their concepts do not cover institutional design. I critically discuss these options and I argue that a more inclusive concept of rationality, e.g. the one provided by Robert Sugden’s version of team reasoning, holds the most promise for the non-classical project, yielding a novel argument for incentive compatibility as a general constraint.

Transnationality in the XXI century. Concept and indicators

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of major structural changes on the conceptualization of the transnational corporation (TNC) based on foreign direct investment (FDI) and on indicators of transnationality. Design/methodology/approach Analysis of three major structural changes which impact the current conception of transnationality. They are: the rise of digital companies; the increased role of finance in the economy; externalization of activities via non-equity modalities (NEMs) with an impact on FDI and on the labour market. Findings The paper finds that the current concept of transnationality needs widening to take account of companies with a low degree of fixed assets abroad such as the digital and the financial companies and those internationalizing via NEMs, as well as to take account of the evolving relationship between TNCs and labour. Research limitations/implications Future research along the lines proposed should consider: working explicitly with the new, inclusive concept of transnationality and arrive at an empirical estimate of the proposed indices of transnationality which modify and amplify the current United Nations Conference on Trade and Development indices. Social implications Useful for understanding the nature of transnationality in the twenty-first century and for developing policies. Originality/value The paper proposes a new concept of transnationality and of the TNC, one that allows for new ways of organizing direct business activities abroad. It also proposes broadening the list of indicators of transnationality.

Impact of Farmer Producer Companies on Marginal and Small Farmers: A Study of Osmanabad District of Maharashtra, India

The concept of a farmer producer company (FPC) has emerged as an inclusive concept to address the issues of farmers, especially, small, and marginal farmers. The present study is to examine the impact of farmer producer companies on small and marginal farmers. 150 small and marginal farmers were chosen through multi-stage stratified random sampling in the Osmanabad district of Maharashtra state, India to assess the impact. It was found that the farmers organized under FPCs in the study area are not getting adequate support from the FPCs. It was also found that services provided by FPCs like marketing, value addition, technological services and pre-harvest services were satisfactory, while agricultural advisory services, capacity building and credit access services were poor. A model ACITM (Agriculture Advisory, Capacity Building, Technological and Marketing Services) is suggested to be executed by the FPCDN (Farmer Producer Companies Development Network) – a development network consortium for addressing FPCs problems and strengthening the FPCs.

TEACHER WORK ENGAGEMENT IN INCLUSIVE SCHOOL

This research aimed to identify and state the significance of teacher work engagement to improve inclusive school performance, where the inclusive school was a form of education equity and realization without any discriminations which currently have been organized by the government of Indonesia. Further, this research was based on the phenomenon which happened that not all teachers in inclusive school were involved maximally on the inclusive concept. This research was categorized into qualitative research which exerted case study approaches to explore the teacher experience during teaching activity in the inclusive school. It aims to identify teacher engagement at work. This research finding showed that the teacher work engagement was affected by self-efficacy and organizational climate. The teacher who had high self-efficacy referred that the teacher believes their selves were able to fulfill daily challenges in the school and therefore, the teacher tended to be more engaged on work. Besides, this research finding, indicated that the fun organizational climate became attendant which could influence the teacher work engagement.

Prerequisites for the formation of inclusive design in Russia

The subject of this research is the social and conceptual prerequisites for the formation of inclusive approaches towards design in Russia in the late XX century. The goal consists in determination and analysis of inclusive discourse in the USSR as an additional factor for the formation of modern inclusive practice in Russia. The article refers to the analysis of the Soviet theoretical heritage, which has developed similar issues since the 1920s. Brief overview is given to the genesis of available design in Europe, United States and Russia, specificity of popular inclusive concepts. The author explores the inclusive discourse in the USSR, which includes human-oriented ideas, concepts and approaches in the social sphere and design. The novelty consists in consideration of the works of Soviet theoreticians in the area of design in the context of modern inclusive approaches, which allowed characterizing the unique inclusive discourse in the USSR as an additional factor in adaptation of foreign inclusive methodology to the Russian realities; the new ideas for its development are introduced. The following conclusions are made: 1) the Soviet theory of design has developed sufficient grounds for the formation of the original inclusive concept with social process-oriented nature and operation on the level of functional ties; 2) In development of inclusive methodology, it is more effective to refer to any existing inclusive concepts adaptively, rather than mechanically, since the leading factor of adaptation lies in correspondence with the local sociocultural context; 3) for the Russian sociocultural context, most organic is the concept of universal design due to its international character and focus of delicate integration of various social groups.

Diversity, Liberty, and Virtue in Islam

Islamic teachings state that diversity is intended to encourage people to learn and understand each other rather than disharmony. It requires one to look at the mindset and the culture of an organisation and the different perspectives people bring to an organisation on account of their ethnicity, social background, professional values, styles, disabilities, or other differences. Diversity is ‘otherness' or those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong yet are present in other individuals and groups. Age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities, race, and sexual orientation are considered primary dimensions, while education, place of residence, class, marital status, religious beliefs, occupational status, and life experiences are secondary dimensions of diversity. This chapter aims to analyse and discuss diversity management as an inclusive concept, encompassing a broader focus than employment equity.

Organizational Culture Beyond Consensus and Clarity: Narratives From Elite Sport

In sport psychology, organizational culture is usually depicted as shared, consistent, and clear—the glue that holds people together so they can achieve success. There is, however, growing discontent in sport psychology with this idea of culture and extensive critiques in other academic domains that suggest this perspective is limited. Accordingly, the authors draw on narrative interviews with participants (n = 7) from different areas of sport and use Martin and Meyerson’s three perspective (integration, differentiation, and fragmentation) approach to culture alongside thematic analysis to reconstruct three “ideal cases” that exemplify each perspective. The findings emphasize a different pattern of meaning in each actors’ narrative and suggest the need to develop a broader, more inclusive concept of culture, so as not to minimize or dismiss cultural content that is not obviously shared, clear, or created by leadership; a course of action that can enhance both research and practice in the area.

Craft and Artisan Initiatives of the Salvadoran Civil War (1980–1992)

This article describes the testimonies of two arts and crafts collectives during the Salvadoran Civil War in the 1980s. These collectives, open to victims and refugees of the war, emerged as creative spaces during a time of significant social unrest. As participants learned to make and produce arts and crafts, these activities encouraged individual expression and allowed them to heal traumatic experiences. By describing the aspects that motivated and discouraged the involvement of participants over time, we show how the individual and collective aspects of making are important for the sustained participation of the people who engage in maker culture. We draw comparisons between the struggles of these historical movements and of current embodiments of the maker culture, in order to draw conclusions regarding how making can be a personal catalyst in the face of social hardship, the importance of economic sustainability in maker initiatives and how unjust gender dynamics take place in these spaces. The ability to compare and learn from these historical initiatives serves to unpack maker culture as a social asset that can be described beyond the mere use of digital tools and to repurpose it as a more inclusive concept that takes into account narratives from a broader range of expressions of making.