Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Qiang Gong
Author-Name: Xingli Fan
Title:  The Neutrality of Fuel Surcharge
Abstract:  Airline companies usually collect a fuel surcharge rather than increase airfares when fuel prices surge.
This paper initiates a theoretical model to analyze the properties of fuel surcharges. We show that the
role of fuel surcharges is neutral under the present fee collection scheme, which means that the fuel
surcharge policy cannot help the airline industry improve its profits. In addition, the equilibrium results
of air fares with fuel surcharge policies are identical to that of the fuel-cost-driven air fares without it.
Therefore, the effects on social welfare are the same. We also offer an analysis to clear up the common
misunderstanding in which the fuel surcharge policy was in favorable to the airline companies at the
expense of the consumer welfare. The empirical facts from Chinese airlines support our theoretical
findings.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 1-10
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-1.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:1-0

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Arvin Ghosh
Title:  The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the United States IPOS
Abstract: Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of securities are among the most significant phenomena in the United
States stock markets in recent years. In the so-called New Economy of the 1990’s, IPO’s ushered in
the information technology revolution of the world. In this paper, the rise and fall of IPOs in the United
States during 1990-2001 are examined. During 1996-2000, the first-day return of NYSE from 1996-2000
are found to be IPOs was on average 11.97%, while for the NASDAQ IPOs, were 63.33%, and for
Internet IPOs it was a whopping 90.28%, resulting in first-day return for all IPOs of 15.24%. But the
one-year return for all IPOs was a very modest 3.23%, and for the NASDAQ IPOs, it was only 11.49%.
The regression results show consistently positive association between the first-day closing price and the
return statistics. Finally, the paper discusses the ten recent trends that have become evident since the
revival of the IPO market in the United States in 2004.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 11-23
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-2.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:11-23

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Irene Herremans
Author-Name: Robert Isaac 
Title:  Relationships Among Intellectual Capital, Uncertain Knowledge and Culture
Abstract: This exploratory study examined the uncertainty of knowledge within an organization’s environment and
its impact on the retention and development of intellectual capital (IC). It further explored the extent that
certain internal cultural features impact IC. Findings suggest that as knowledge uncertainty increases,
IC opportunities are lost in greater numbers, there are more individual and organizational
disconnections, and there is a greater suppression of IC. These outcomes suggest the need for a greater
emphasis on IC where knowledge uncertainty is high. Cultural characteristics relating to organizational
individualism, high power distance, and short-term orientation can be detrimental to the retention and
creation of IC.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 24-35
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-3.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:24-35

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Alan K. Reichert
Title:  International Economic Growth and Environmental Pollution
Abstract: This paper estimates the relationship between the level of economic growth and the extent of
environmental pollution for a wide range of both industrialized and emerging countries. Using data from
28 countries over the period 1975-1998, the paper finds support for an inverted U- shaped economic
growth-pollution relationship. Using the aggregate level of CO2 as the measure of pollution and real
GDP per capita as the measure of economic growth, the following countries appear to be operating on
the rising portion of the inverted U relationship: India, China, Nigeria, and Thailand. On the other hand,
the following eight countries appear to lie on the declining portion of the inverted U- relationship: Brazil,
South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Canada, France, United States, and Japan. Furthermore, ten of the
remaining fourteen countries, with per capita GDP below $4,000 exhibited a positive regression
coefficient, although none were statistically significant. The turning point appears to occur at a level of
GDP per capita, perhaps as low as $3,000-4,000. The paper explores the energy prospects and
environmental polices of three of the worlds largest and fastest growing economies, China, India, and
Brazil. These three countries are found to play a key role in the empirical findings of this study. The
study demonstrates that growth in knowledge and improvements in environmental technology can
compensate for an inevitable increase in the use of natural resources in production.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 36-46
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-4.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:36-46

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Vicente Safon
Title:  How to Compete and How to Compete Profitably, A Model of Competitive Positions and Business Performance
Abstract: Competitive strategy still lacks a widely accepted analytical framework. Indeed, to this day, there is still
no consensus on its key dimensions and types, and their relationship with performance. This paper
proposes a new framework for the study of competitive strategy, which divides the topic into two questions: 
how to compete and how to compete profitably; related both to market and financial
performance. With this aim in mind, the author develops a dynamic causal model of competitive
strategies, called the performance and competitive positions model, based on three dimensions: perceived
price, perceived differentiation, and costs.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 47-59
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-5.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:47-59

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Rafiu Oyesola Salawu
Title:  The Determinants of the Capital Structure of Firms in Nigeria:  The Financial Managers' Perspectives
Abstract: The paper examined the considerable factors in deciding on the appropriate amount of equity and debt in
the Nigerian banking industry, and the factors influencing banks’ capital structure. Data were gathered
through questionnaires administered to the financial managers of 25 listed banks in Nigeria. Cross
tabulations and Chi-square were used for data analysis. The result suggests that credit-rating, volatility of
earnings and cash flow, bankruptcy or near-bankruptcy, financial distress, transaction costs, fees for
issuing debt, and financial flexibility are the important factors in choosing appropriate amount of debt.
The most important factor that affects banks’ choice between short- and long-term debts is matching the
maturity of debt with life of the asset. The study also reveals that ownership structure and management
control, growth and opportunity, profitability, issuing cost, and tax economics associated with debt are the
major factors influencing bank’s capital structure. It is, therefore, recommended that banks should adopt a
mixed source of financing and choose appropriate ownership structure and management policy.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 60-69
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-6.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:60-69

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Adriana Carolina Silva Arias
Author-Name: Juan Carlos Guataqui Roa
Author-Name: Patricia Gonzalez Roman
Title:  The Effect of Internal Migration on the Columbian Labor Market
Abstract: Internal migration in Colombia has led to demographic transformation. These migratory movements have
been greatly influenced by available employment opportunities in different urban areas and by
increased internal armed conflict. The effect of migratory flows on the probability of finding a job and
income from work in Colombia’s ten main urban areas from 2001-2005 were estimated using Logit
analysis and Heckman’s selection bias correction model. Evidence shows that age had a positive but
decreasing incidence on the probability of being employed. Individuals with a higher level of education,
male, married or cohabiting, and households with more employed members, had a greater probability of
being employed. Elasticity of worked hours to produce income increased up to 2002 then decreased.
Evidence also suggests that return to education is lower for migrants and forcibly-displaced population
people. Moreover, the study shows that forcibly-displaced workers earn the lowest wages and face the
lowest probability of finding a job.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 70-82
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-7.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:70-82

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Marianne Ojo
Title:  The Financial Services Authority:  A Model of Improved Accountability?
Abstract: Prior to the adoption of the FSA (Financial Services Authority) model, supervision of UK banks was
carried out by the Bank of England. Although the Bank of England's informal involvement in bank
supervision dates back to the mid nineteenth century, it was only in 1979 that it acquired formal powers
to grant or refuse authorization to carry out banking business in the UK. Events such as the Secondary
Banking Crisis of 1973-74 and the Banking Coordination Directive of 1977 resulted in legislative
changes in the form of the Banking Act 1979. Bank failures through the following years then resulted in
changes to the legislative framework. This article looks into the claim that the FSA model has improved
in terms of accountability in comparison to its predecessor, the Bank of England. It considers the impact
the FSA has made on the financial services sector and on certain legislation since its introduction.
Through a comparison with the Bank of England, previous and present legislation, reports and other
sources, an assessment is made as to whether the FSA provides more accountability. Evidence provided
here supports the conclusion that the FSA is both equipped with better accountability mechanisms and
executes its functions in a more accountable way than its predecessor.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 83-96
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-8.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:83-96

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay
Author-Name: Elmustapha Najem
Author-Name: Renaud Paquet
Title:  Work-Family Balancing and Working Time:  What Measures are Available to Canadian Workers and What Measures should Employers Develop?
Abstract: This article examines work-family balance. Data from the Workplace and Employee Survey (WES) was used
to assess the overall situation of this phenomenon in Canada. Representative statistical data was used to
determine to what extent employers have taken the work-family challenge into account. Our data indicate that
the progress observed regarding the social debate on work-family balance has not necessarily translated into a
marked improvement in facilitating conditions in workplaces and that there have even been setbacks.
Indeed, the number of workdays per week has slightly increased, reaching almost 5 days on average for
men and 4.6 days for women in 2002. Moreover, a significant percentage of the Canadian workforce is on
flexible work schedules or rotating shifts, which were identified as a source of difficulty for work-family
balance. On the other hand, a great proportion of Canadian workers report that they work a number of
hours at home, which may foster balance but can also be a source of encroachment on private life. The
WES data show that people work at home because of work demands and not for reasons of work-family
balance. In brief, work spills over into their personal lives. Moreover, although the most pressing desire of
Canadian parents with children under the age of 3 is that employers offer help with daycare and on-site
childcare services, barely more than one-quarter of Canadian workers report that their employers offered
childcare services in 2002. Also, employers offer help with eldercare services to only one-tenth of
Canadian workers. As regards the impact of the number of children, its effect on work time, schedules and
preferences related to work time is ambiguous. As regards interest in work time reduction, the effect is
also ambiguous but workers with one child or two children expressed a slightly greater desire to reduce
their work hours. On the other hand, a link was found between the number of children and the desire to
work extra hours since the more children workers have, the less they want to work extra hours.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 97-113
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-9.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:97-113

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Martha G. Ugeuto M.
Author-Name: Neyda T Cardozo S.
Title:  Human Capital:  Productive Benefits and Labor Competences
Abstract: It is widely argued that intangible assets, specifically human capital, are vital to business sustainable
growth and differentiation. Thus, extensive research has been conducted on the relationship between
human capital, strategy and performance. In this paper, a process to identify the human capital critical
competences and to measure their economic benefits/impact is introduced. A total of 40 manufacturers
located in San Cristobal-Venezuela were included in this study. From these businesses, 167 lathe/turning
machine operators were initially observed and a sample group of sixteen workers across four categories
(expert, professional, apprentice and assistant) were analyzed to model their core competences and
economic contribution. Evidence suggests that mapping human capital competences with corporate
strategies allow businesses to make better decisions in terms of human capital investment, and cost
reduction.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 114-126
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-10.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:114-126

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Isaac Oluwajoba Abereijo
Author-Name: Abimbola Oluwagbenga Fayomi
Title:  The Attitude of Small and Medium Industrialists to Venture Capital Financing in Nigeria
Abstract: The principal objective of this paper is to ascertain the extent to which Myers’ Pecking Order Theory
(POT) of business financing explains the financial structure of Small and Medium Manufacturing
Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The goal is to examine their attitude with regard to the venture capital
financing known as Small and Medium Enterprises Equity Investment Scheme (SMEEIS) introduced by
the government in 1999. The data employed were from the database of the survey of manufacturing
SME’s in Nigeria. The findings provide evidence suggesting Pecking Order financing behavior is
prevalent among manufacturing SMEs in Nigeria. A small proportion of SMEs that consider equity
financing for both business start-up and expansion is found. Hence, equity financing through venture
capital has not become as popular as other financing alternative in Nigeria. Debt financing appears to
dominate their preference, apart from their personal saving and retained earning. Consequently, the
paper suggests policy formulation that will address the mindset of the people and encourage greater
commitment of banks to actually undertake promotional activities. Among such activities suggested are
the identification, development and packaging of viable industries with enterprising customers, and
readiness to provide the complementary services to ensure their success.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 127-138
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-11.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:127-138

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: A. S. MacKewn
Author-Name: K. W. VanVuren
Title:  A Study of Moral Decision-Making:  Business Majors Versus Non-Business Majors
Abstract: In the field of psychology there is a theory of ethical grounding that distinguishes between people on the
basis of idealism versus relativism. An idealistic person is one who believes in absolute truths,
values, and rules. A relativistic person, on the other hand, believes that truth is relative to some context;
and for them there are no, nor should there be, any absolute values or rigid ethical rules of conduct. This
study surveyed undergraduate business and non-business students at a mid-sized southern university to
examine whether business majors differed from non-business majors on idealism/relativism and moral
decision-making. This research question has important implications not only for pedagogical purposes
but also practical implications in the hiring of persons by employers. The results of the study produced
evidence that on theoretical terms business students are more relativistic than non-business students but
when presented with practical real-world situations in which to apply relativistic thinking, the two groups
were not significantly different.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 139-146
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-12.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:139-146

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Jorge Hernandez Palomino
Author-Name: Rodolfo Rincones Delgado
Title:  Management Ethical Behavior:  The Automobile Industry in Juarez City
Abstract: This research study investigated the relationships between ethical behavior, ethics codes, gender, age,
work tenure and education of managers working in the automobile industry in Juarez, Mexico. This
industry was chosen because of its importance in the economics fields. The ethical behavior was measure
using the Defining Issues Test (DIT). A demographic questionnaire asked the participants their gender,
age, work tenure and education level. The results indicate that there is not relationship between the
existence of ethics codes and ethical behavior of the managers. Additionally, the results of the analysis
provide significant statistical support to establish that there is no statistical significance between age,
work tenure and education. Furthermore, the study revealed a statistical difference between ethical
behavior and gender. The findings in this study suggest that there is something in this industry that shows
women have a lower level of ethical behavior. The final considerations and suggestions in this study have
theoretical and methodological value for the specialists who have the responsibility of teaching and
research about organizational issues. The industry implications of the results are outlined, along with the
limitations of the study and recommendations for future research.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 147-156
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-13.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:147-156


Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Alex Coram
Title:  A Marketing Competition with a Finite Termination Time:  Some Differential Games
Abstract: This paper attempts to develop some theoretical insights into the dynamics of marketing campaigns. It
studies a model where two firms are competing in an advertising campaign with sales at a specified
termination date and asks how the trajectory of resource expenditures would change over time. Among
its main findings are that the dynamics of competition force the firms to accelerate their expenditure on
advertising throughout the entire time period.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 157-167
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-14.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:157-167

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Johan Martins
Title:  The South African Consumer Market
Abstract: Investors interested in the private consumer market of South Africa have to take note of the size of the
market but also of the diversity of its population as well as the methods of segmentation followed by the
advertising media. South Africa houses 47 million people of different race groups and has 11 official
languages. The country consists of nine provinces and vast differences occur among some of them in their
population composition and economic activities. In the light of the above, this paper concentrates on the
calculation of the size of the South African consumer market segmented by 23 main expenditure groups,
province, Living Standards Measure (LSM)® group and race. The size of the market is estimated at
US$146 billion. Segmentation by province is necessary because population density and personal disposal
income of the inhabitants of the provinces differ considerably. Segmentation by Living Standards
Measure (LSM)® group, enables marketers to do more informed media selection for promotion.
Segmentation by race is necessary since a number of cultural differences prevail.
Journal: Global Journal of Business Research
Pages: 168-183
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v1n1-2007/GJBR-V1N1-2007-15.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:168-183