Evaluating the Effects of External Takeover on the Performance of Regional Companies: The Case of Scotland, 1965 to 1980

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Ashcroft ◽  
J H Love

A framework is suggested for the evaluation of the effects of external takeover on regional economic performance, and an approach is offered to identify the impact of takeover on the performance of the acquired firm. The approach is then applied to estimate the effects of external takeover on the performance of Scottish manufacturing companies between 1965 and 1980. The results show that external takeover improved sales performance but lowered rates of return in acquired firms. Employment was, in general, unaffected. Overall, the effects on acquired firms are judged to have been beneficial, but evidence of harmful effects on the wider regional economy suggests that it cannot be assumed that such takeovers will not be against the public interest.

Author(s):  
Dirk Voorhoof

The normative perspective of this chapter is how to guarantee respect for the fundamental values of freedom of expression and journalistic reporting on matters of public interest in cases where a (public) person claims protection of his or her right to reputation. First it explains why there is an increasing number and expanding potential of conflicts between the right to freedom of expression and media freedom (Article 10 ECHR), on the one hand, and the right of privacy and the right to protection of reputation (Article 8 ECHR), on the other. In addressing and analysing the European Court’s balancing approach in this domain, the characteristics and the impact of the seminal 2012 Grand Chamber judgment in Axel Springer AG v. Germany (no. 1) are identified and explained. On the basis of the analysis of the Court’s subsequent jurisprudence in defamation cases it evaluates whether this case law preserves the public watchdog-function of media, investigative journalism and NGOs reporting on matters of public interest, but tarnishing the reputation of public figures.


Author(s):  
Marta Pietras-Eichberger

The study analyzed selected issues related to the scope of human rights and freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland and Russia. The author wanted to compare the regulations issued by a Member State of the European Union and a country outside the European Union, often using undemocratic methods of exercising power. The work focuses on research problems related to the principles of protection, the confrontation of individual interests with the public interest, and the impact of the regimes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic on human rights law in both countries. The thesis of the study is that in the event of a threat to public health, analogous restrictions on human rights are introduced both in an undemocratic country and in a country belonging to international structures identifying with democratic values. The state of the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed, and in some area even contributed to the creation of mechanisms reserved for crisis situations, posing a direct and real threat to public safety and health.


Author(s):  
Royce Hanson

This book examines the impact of planning politics on the public interest by focusing on the case of Montgomery County and its land use policy. In particular, it considers Montgomery's pioneering approach to inclusionary zoning, the Moderate-Priced Dwelling Unit Ordinance, in terms of its effect on development patterns and the character and cost of housing. Montgomery was among the earliest fast-growing suburbs to stage development concurrently with the provision of public facilities. Its land use policies were efforts by the county's planners and politicians to solve practical problems in the public interest. The book analyzes the chain of strategic decisions that transformed Montgomery County from a rural hinterland of Washington, D.C. into a socially diverse urbanizing county of a million people in Maryland. This introduction provides an overview of the growth of suburbs and its implications for neighborhoods and residents, Montgomery County's suburbanization, and the organization of the book.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 985-1003
Author(s):  
Tracey L Adams

Given their positions of public trust, regulated professions are legally required to uphold ethical standards, and ensure that professional practice protects the public. Nonetheless, there is ample evidence that professionals do not always behave ethically. One proposed solution is greater organizational surveillance; however, research from a neo-Weberian perspective encourages scepticism about such arguments. Organizations may not only fail to stop professionals from violating ethical codes, but rationalizing organizations might actively encourage such violations in the name of efficiency. This article explores the impact of organizations and rationalization on professional misconduct through a mixed-methods study of professional engineers in Ontario, Canada. Findings suggest engineers are impacted by rationalization, and that those with less decision-making authority experience pressures discouraging practice in the public interest.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lize Zhang ◽  
Weiyu Zhang

Operating as a commercial business with public functions, Weibo’s pursuit of profits has to be balanced with the demands of citizen users. This article examines how the dynamics between increasing profits and preserving public interest manifests itself in Weibo’s monetization and how the dynamics impacts Weibo’s public functions. Drawn on evidence collected through participant observation and 19 in-depth interviews, this article first provides a description of the major practices of monetization. Next, it describes how the introduction of commercial elements, the cluttered product development, and the embrace with strong domestic capitals reshape Weibo’s public functions. Finally, it concludes with a discussion on the attitude of Weibo toward the dynamics between profits and public interest, and how Weibo’s pursuit of profits under the market influence has to be included when examining Weibo’s impact on the development of Chinese society.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (11) ◽  
pp. 1309-1335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Yeo

PurposeThis study aims to use university patent and regional economic data to investigate the current and future impact of university innovation, measured using multiple variables, on real economic productivity.Design/methodology/approachUsing university patent and regional economic data, regression models are built to determine the impact of university innovation on current and future regional economic performance.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that university innovation generates sustained impact on economic performance, but by itself, is insufficient in driving economic performance; and different measures of university innovation have different degrees of impact. University innovation makes up a small, albeit significant, proportion of the drivers of economic performance.Research limitations/implicationsThere are four implications. First, developing countries can leverage university–industry collaborations for economic growth. Second, innovation management must encourage continuous university innovation for sustainable economic productivity. Third, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM innovation warrant attention. Fourth, successful innovation policies should be tailored to their unique societal contexts.Originality/valueAlthough innovation is a driver of economic performance, there is a lack of studies that focus specifically on universities, operationalize performance using gross domestic product measures and take into account impact lags by exploring universities’ current and future impacts.


Author(s):  
John Gilligan ◽  
Mike Wright

This book deals with risk capital provided for established firms outside the stock market, private equity. It has grown rapidly over the last three decades, yet it is largely poorly understood. Although private equity has often been criticised in the public mind as being short-termist and having adverse consequence for employment, in reality this is far from the case. Dispelling some of the biggest myths and misconceptions about private equity, the book explains in detail what private equity involves and provides a review of the systematic evidence of what the impact of private equity has been. Written in a highly accessible style, it takes the reader through what private equity means, the different actors involved, and issues concerning sourcing, checking out, valuing, and structuring deals. The book contains summary tables of the academic research carried out over the past three decades across the private equity landscape, including the returns to investors, economic performance, impact on R&D and employees, and the longevity and life-cycle of private equity backed deal.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-63
Author(s):  
Jing Chen

Conventional wisdom indicates that economic specialization can promote growth, whereas economic stability is associated with diversified economies. This conflicting relationship between specialization and diversity has been questioned, as regional scientists have suggested that specialization and diversity can coexist in a regional economy and proposed the concept of diversified specializations. To test this proposition empirically, two Herfindahl–Hirschman Indices were used to examine the relationship between economic diversity and economic performance among 359 metropolitan statistical areas in the contiguous United States. The first index measures industry diversity across 87 three-digit North American Industry Classification Systems sectors, and the second index quantifies cluster diversity among 51 economic specializations. This analysis confirms that cluster diversity contributes to both stability and growth, and regions can simultaneously pursue both high and stable economic growth.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn W. Massey ◽  
Linda Thorne

This study investigates whether task information feedback (TIF) promotes 84 auditors' and accounting students' use of higher ethical reasoning, thereby increasing their tendency to consider the public interest in the resolution of ethical dilemmas. TIF is a type of feedback in which subjects are provided with guidance about the cognitive decision-making process they should use. In our experiment, subjects used higher ethical reasoning to resolve audit dilemmas after receiving TIF than they did before receiving TIF. Accordingly, our findings suggest that TIF is effective in promoting higher ethical reasoning and thus increasing the tendency of practicing and aspiring auditors to consider the public interest when resolving ethical dilemmas.


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