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AbstractGreater availability of firm‐level surveys in developing countries has enabled researchers to consider the effects of corruption at the firm level. One often overlooked issue with these surveys is nonresponse by firms. We examine the impact of corruption on firm investment and demonstrate that failing to account for nonresponse leads to an overestimation of the impact of corruption.

AbstractWe examine characteristics of firms involved in spin‐offs and test whether these spin‐offs induce changes in investment incentives and economic performance. We find that firms engaging in spin‐offs are larger, more highly leveraged, and have higher asset turnover and lower real asset growth than their industry rivals. We also find that spin‐offs generate significant increases in real asset growth and cash flow margin on sales for combined firm measures (spun‐off firm plus parent firm). The gains result from increases in real asset growth for parent and spun‐off firms, and improvements in cash flow margin on sales for parents. Our evidence is consistent with models in which spin‐offs create value by improving investment incentives and economic performance.

PurposeThe survival and growth of the ready-made garments (RMGs) sectors in Bangladesh depend on sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP). The purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of Internet of Things (IoT), supply chain collaboration and ethical sensitivity on SSCP. Also, supply chain dynamism was tested as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachThe framework of this study has been developed to enrich the understanding of technology usage in the supply chain. In developing the framework, previous studies in the supply chain context were considered. The model was tested by using data collected from 290 executives that were employed by different RMG companies in Bangladesh. This study used a 29-item structured questionnaire measured on a 6-point Likert scale to collect the data. Covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to test the data.FindingsThe results showed that there were statistically significant and positive relationships between IoT and supply chain collaboration, social performance, economic performance and environmental performance. Ethical sensitivity also influenced social and economic performance. Supply chain collaboration was found to be related to social, economic and environmental performance. However, no link was found between ethical sensitivity and environmental performance. The result also showed that supply chain dynamism acted as a moderator.Research limitations/implicationsBy considering theories and interpreting the results, this study provides some theoretical and practical implications which will enhance the SSCP. The results can also facilitate strategic planning by companies.Originality/valueThis research has identified and analysed the effect of IoT on SSCP in the RMGs industry in Bangladesh where this industry serves as the main economic contributor.

A weblog (blog) is a form of online technology that has the potential to be a teaching tool by creating a contact point between the teacher and the learner. In this study we used an Internet questionnaire to investigate teaching-related activities, with 187 blog users. The results of
the statistical analysis provide several conclusions: a positive perception of value positively influences continued intention to use; convenience of use positively influences user perception of value; interaction; personalization; service compatibility; and cognitive effort all positively
influence user perception of value.

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of four types of "soft" information and communication technologies (ICT) capital related to ICT knowledge and skills (ICT personnel, ICT training of ICT personnel and users, ICT unit) on the innovation performance of Greek firms. Furthermore, the paper compares these effects with the ones of the hard ICT capital and also of four important "traditional" innovation determinants identified from previous research in this area (demand expectation, price and non-price competition, market concentration).Design/methodology/approach– A quantitative methodology has been adopted for investigating the above effects, based on the estimation of regression models. Using data collected through a survey based on a structured questionnaire from 271 Greek firms, innovation models have been estimated, having as independent variables measures of hard ICT capital, the examined four types of soft ICT capital and also the above traditional innovation determinants.Findings– The paper has been concluded that in the innovation averse Greek national context the examined traditional innovation determinants have very low impact on firms' innovation performance, however, on the contrary both hard ICT capital, and three out of the four examined types of soft ICT capital (ICT personnel, ICT training of ICT personnel and users) have positive impact on both process and product/services innovation. Furthermore, it has been found that the total effect of these three knowledge and skills related types of soft ICT capital on innovation performance is stronger than the effect of the hard ICT capital.Research limitations/implications– The main limitations of the paper are that it uses simple innovation performance measures (not distinguishing between different types of innovations), and also is based on firm-level data collected from a single country. The paper has interesting implications for future research on the impact of the relation between ICT and innovation, which should not any more neglect the soft ICT capital, but consider various types of both hard and soft ICT capital.Practical implications– The results of the paper can be useful to firms' chief information officers and chief executive officers and also to consultants and practitioners interested in maximizing the exploitation of the innovation potential of ICT, in order to understand the hard and soft aspects of ICT that have to be developed for this purpose and optimize firms' ICT-related investment.Originality/value– The limited previous empirical literature concerning the effect of ICT on innovation focus on the hard ICT capital (mainly on ICT equipment) and neglect the role of the soft ICT capital. The paper contributes to fill this research gap, by examining the effects of three types of ICT capital, and also – for comparison and regression models' completeness purposes – of hard ICT capital and of four traditional innovation determinants, on firms' innovation performance.

We theoretically investigate spin dynamics in spin-orbit-coupled materials. In the ballistic limit, the spin lifetime is dictated by dephasing that arises from energy broadening plus a nonuniform spin precession. For the case of clean graphene, we find a strong anisotropy with spin lifetimes that can be short even for modest energy scales, on the order of a few ns. These results offer deeper insight into the nature of spin dynamics in graphene, and are also applicable to the investigation of other systems where spin-orbit coupling plays an important role. ; This work is supported by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement 604391 Graphene Flagship, the Severo Ochoa Program (MINECO, Grant SEV-2013-0295), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MAT2012-33911), and Secretaría de Universidades e Investigación del Departamento de Economía y Conocimiento de la Generalidad de Cataluña. ; Peer Reviewed

This study investigates the relationship between weather and crime in Barranquilla, Colombia, a city in the Torrid Zone, which in contrast to more commonly studied temperate zones is hot and humid year-round. Our analysis is based on daily variations in four weather variables (temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed) and two indicators of criminal activity, namely, homicides and interpersonal violence. To help identify statistical links, we add controls for temporal variables. Using count data models in the estimations, we do not find any statistically significant relationship between weather patterns and homicides. However, we find that weather can be an important predictor of interpersonal violence in this area. These findings draw attention to the importance of considering weather factors when designing a long-run urban security policy in one of the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change.

Abstract
On a global level, the analysis of the well-being of countries and ethnic groups is receiving increasing attention. As part of a larger study, we used the Global Well-Being scale among Hungarian residents in the Szeklerland region1 of Romania. The scale aims to measure the well-being experienced emotionally, psychologically, socially, and spiritually (Oláh–Kapitány-Fövény 2012). The study was conducted using an online questionnaire filled out by 1,117 persons aged from 16 to 89, from 286 settlements in Harghita, Covasna, and Mureş counties. The results show that the global welfare indicators have average or above average values among the respondents from Szeklerland. The emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being are above the cut-off score. The well-being of the young age group and that of women is higher. In rural regions, the spiritual well-being is also higher.

Abstract
Past major epidemic events showed that when an infectious disease is perceived to cause severe health outcomes, individuals modify health behavior affecting epidemic dynamics. To investigate the effect of this feedback relationship on epidemic dynamics, we developed a compartmental model that couples a disease spread framework with competition of two mutually exclusive health opinions (health-positive and health-neutral) associated with different health behaviors. The model is based on the assumption that individuals switch health opinions as a result of exposure to opinions of others through interpersonal communications. To model opinion switch rates, we considered a family of functions and identified the ones that allow health opinions to coexist. Finally, the model includes assortative mixing by opinions. In the disease-free population, either the opinions cannot coexist and one of them is always dominating (mono-opinion equilibrium) or there is at least one stable coexistence of opinions equilibrium. In the latter case, there is multistability between the coexistence equilibrium and the two mono-opinion equilibria. When two opinions coexist, it depends on their distribution whether the infection can invade. If presence of the infection leads to increased switching to a health-positive opinion, the epidemic burden becomes smaller than indicated by the basic reproduction number. Additionally, a feedback between epidemic dynamics and health opinion dynamics may result in (sustained) oscillatory dynamics and a switch to a different stable opinion distribution. Our model captures feedback between spread of awareness through social interactions and infection dynamics and can serve as a basis for more elaborate individual-based models.

Dünya Bankası Beşeri Sermaye Endeksi'ne göre beşeri sermaye, "eğitim ve sağlık" bileşenlerinden oluşmaktadır. Sağlık statüsü, bir toplumda bireylerin normal gündelik aktivitelerini sürdürebilmesini sağlayabilecek fiziksel ve mental performansıdır. Sağlık statüsünün en önemli belirleyicilerinden biri ise sağlık harcamalarıdır. Bu çalışmada; Grossman Modeli'ne dayanan bir Sağlık Üretim Fonksiyonu aracılığıyla, 32 OECD ekonomisinin 2000-2018 dönemi dengesiz panel veri seti ve 24 OECD ekonomisinin 2000-2015 dönemi dengeli panel veri seti kullanılarak; sağlık harcamalarının beşeri sermayenin bir girdisi ve aynı zamanda proxy'si olan sağlık statüsüne etkisi tahmin edilmiştir. Çalışmada bağımlı değişken olarak kullanılan sağlık statüsü ölçütleri şunlardır: Doğuştan Yaşam Beklentisi (LEBIRTH), Bir Yaş Altı Bebek Ölüm Oranları (IMR), Kaybedilen Potansiyel Yaşam Yılları'dır (PYLL). Bağımsız değişkenler ise Toplam Sağlık Harcamalarının GSYİH'ya Oranı, Kişibaşı Kamusal Sağlık Harcamaları, Kişibaşı Özel Sağlık Harcamaları ve Kişibaşı İlaç Harcamalarıdır. Analizlerde Hausman Testi sonuçlarına göre Sabit Etkiler ve Rassal Etkiler modelleri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular; sağlık harcamalarının sağlık statüsünü, dolayısıyla da beşeri sermaye ve ekonomik büyümeyi anlamlı ve beklenen yönde etkilediğini göstermektedir.

Much research documented the influence of music on various behaviors, including substance use and delinquency. Yet, less is known about its influences on dimensions that are crucial for behavioral outcomes, namely beliefs and attitudes. In this study, we reviewed and meta-analyzed the literature about music effects on beliefs ( n = 82, published 1972–2021) by mapping the theoretical and methodological features of this literature, focusing on the effect size of various characteristics (e.g., age, design) and on open scientific practices. Results indicate a relationship between exposure to music and music-consistent beliefs, with heterogeneity related to the type of beliefs, modality of exposure, designs, and sample characteristics. We conclude by evaluating this literature and reflecting upon future opportunities in this area of research.