Search results for "Cybernetics"
showing 10 items of 331 documents
Competition with targeted product design: Price, variety, and welfare
2018
Abstract We consider the price and welfare effects of competition in targeted product design, in the context of the Salop circle model. Changes in product design lead to demand rotations that set the stage for our analysis. With an exogenous number of firms, we show that the degree of targeted product design tends to increase with the number of firms. Moreover, under reasonable conditions, price-increasing competition takes place, for intermediate levels of the number of firms. This effect is associated with the possibility of lower consumer welfare. With endogenous firm entry, an interesting insight from our analysis is that in some situations an increase in market size or a technological …
Cooperatives and Social Capital : A Theoretically-Grounded Approach
2019
Social capital is widely regarded as a collective resource with positive effects on the economic performance of cooperatives. This conclusion is based on the implicit assumption that social interactions between cooperative members would inexorably lead to the development of networks, norms and trust. This paper challenges the validity of this assumption. Conceptualizing social capital as a resource of the individual, it is argued that the interactions between cooperative members may lead to the establishment of a variety of complex social ties, some of which can negatively affect the economic performance of the organization. To illustrate this argument, the paper presents an exploratory cas…
Multi-product firms and product variety
2008
The goal of this paper is to study the role of multi-product firms in the market provision of product variety. The analysis is conducted using the spokes model of non-localized competition proposed by Chen and Riordan (2007). Firstly, we show that multi-product firms are at a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis single-product firms and can only emerge if economies of scope are sufficiently strong. Secondly, under duopoly product variety may be higher or lower with respect to both the first best and the monopolistically competitive equilibrium. However, within a relevant range of parameter values duopolists drastically restrict their product range in order to relax price competition, and as a…
Conclusion: Setting Up an Agenda for Life-Course Perspective in International Migration
2018
Each chapter in this book documents ways in which migration is intertwined with life pathways, and tells the story on how migration shapes and is shaped by work, family, and educational pathways. Examples come from a variety of migration flows (Poles in Ireland; Romanians and Moroccans in Italy; Spanish, Portuguese, and Italians in Switzerland), destinations (Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany), countries of origin (Romania, Morocco, Poland, Spain, etc.), and sources for return migration and/or remigration (Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland).
Evaluación de programas educativos en instituciones musicales El caso Adoptar un Músico
2017
Orquestas, Auditorios y Espacios Escénicos (las instituciones musicales más representativas de la expresión pública de la música) vienen desarrollando desde hace años una amplia variedad de acciones educativas, con especial atención hacia el público joven, y con incidencia notable en colectivos muy numerosos. En ocasiones, estas acciones se configuran como programas educativos estables que generan espacios de experiencia y aprendizaje, tanto en la educación no formal como en la educación formal de carácter reglado. Este trabajo aborda la evaluación de uno de estos programas: Adoptar un Músico, de la Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España. El objetivo fundamental es identificar y analizar los …
Antecedents and consequences of problematic smartphone use: A systematic literature review of an emerging research area
2021
Abstract This article provides a systematic review of existing research on problematic smartphone use (PSU) to guide other researchers in search of relevant studies, and to propose areas for future research. In total, 293 studies were analyzed leading to the development of an overview model in the field of PSU, presenting findings on demographic factors, explanations for smartphone use and why this use becomes problematic, consequences of PSU, and how such use can be corrected. In addition, we considered in which contexts, with which methods, and with which theoretical lenses this stream of research has been studied to date. Smartphone use is most often explained by the smartphone design, a…
Entrepreneurial leadership and familiness as resources for strategic entrepreneurship
2012
PurposeThis paper seeks to investigate how familiness and entrepreneurial leadership are related to each other in family firms. Familiness and entrepreneurial leadership are viewed as resources for strategic entrepreneurship. The aim of the paper is to shed light on familiness in three family firms and contribute to the field's growing body of work.Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs a case study method. The interviewees were interviewed by theme questions and secondary information was gathered to strengthen the empirical section. Qualitative interpretation of empirical data was used.FindingsThe findings demonstrate the variety of familiness and entrepreneurial leadership within fa…
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN ITALY
2017
European member States implement Inclusive Education policies thus contributing to a sustainable, inclusive society, although each country is at a different stage in this process. Italy, one of the first countries to launch integrative learning, has set an example since the 1970s, although the quality of inclusive education is unpredictable due to many issues. Authors Cantoni and Panetta (2006) emphasize that, although the culture of integration in Italy exists, much needs to be done to improve the quality of inclusive education and at present new, innovative projects are exploring strategies to this effect, the results of which will lead to a national reform on Special Needs Education.�…
Doing Mathematics with Tools: One Task, Four Tools
2016
This chapter illustrates a variety of mathematical and educational issues arising from doing a single task with different tools. One task is considered, bisect an angle. The chapter has four sections, each devoted to issues in using one tool to complete this task: a straight edge and compass; a protractor; a dynamic geometry system; and a book.
Motivation and Job Satisfaction among Information Systems Developers — Perspectives from Finland, Nigeria and Estonia: A Preliminary Study
2006
Information Systems (IS) have become one of the most important assets in organisations over the past decades. Adopting and using IS bestows a variety of advantages to organisations that are adept at it (Senker and Senker, 1992). Developing IS within organisations, unarguably serves the objectives of management. To that end, information systems development (ISD) professionals are pivotal in the implementations of such systems and their motivation and job satisfaction equally paramount. Some researchers have also commented on economic value of IS professionals to organisations (Niederman and Crosetto, 1996) Apparently, there is a growing body of literature on the issue of motivation and job s…