Keywords: psychology of money; financial psychology; financial well-being; attitudes to money
Personal financial matters are often considered a taboo in the western society, which leads to rather negative consequences. The aim of the paper is to support communication about money from a psychological perspective. The text provides information on a recently established field of psychology of money and financial psychology. We present several researches which survey experimental and social psychology of money, behavioural finances, financial psychotherapy focused on cognition, motivation, emotions, relationships, well-being and financial satisfaction. The objective is to enhance individual lives, as well as groups, society, and make both micro- and macroeconomics more human.
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Keywords: family environment; self-care; self-harm behaviour; adolescents
Family is one of the most important social groups influencing one’s personality and behaviour. The aim of this study was to examine the issue of self-harm via characteristics of a family and self-care. We used the following methods: The Self-harm questionnaire (Sansone, Wiederman, Sansone, 1998), The Self-regulation questionnaire of self-care (Hricová, Lovaš, 2013) and The Family Environment Scale (Hargašova, Kollarik, 1992). Participants were 92 primary school pupils in the Kosice region between the ages of 12 and 16. 43 students reported self-harm, which was mainly determined by impaired cohesion in the family. 89 students showed high self-care and they declared more intense care about their mental than their physical health. A significant relationship was observed between self-harm and low health control and also between low emotional control and disturbed cohesion in the family.
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Keywords: stress related growth; religiosity; personal god concept; religious coping
The goal of this paper is to draw attention to stress related growth, to list its determinants and circumstances under which it occurs as well as positive impact it may have after one has gone through a demanding life situation. Closer attention is paid to a growth connected with certain religious variables (such as personal god concept, externalized and internalized religiosity, religious coping). The reason is that religions, opposed to other non-religious variables, are viewed as important sources of an individual growth as they offer coping resources and meaning.
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Keywords: dynamic assessment; standardized testing; mediated learning experience; learning difficulties; gifted children
The paper introduces principles of dynamic assessment. The author emphasizes differences between the dynamic and static assessment, i.e. the assessment using traditional standardized tools. He further describes some of the dynamic assessment procedures. Attention is particularly drawn to the mediated learning experience theory. The second part of the text summarizes a wide range of researches which used the dynamic assessment approach. Results show that the dynamic assessment offers more complex information on an educational process; it reveals children’s and adolescents’ learning potential in details, and it suggests particular forms of efficient intervention. The author also describes his own dynamic assessment tools, which have been repeatedly used in the course of various researches and proved their effectiveness.
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Keywords: risky driving style; Driver Behavior Questionnaire; factor analysis; reliability
The Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) is currently the most widely used self-report instrument to measure a risky driving style. The aim of the study was to examine the factor structure and reliability of the four-factor Manchester Driver Behavior Questionnaire (28 items) among Slovak non-professional drivers. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 1010 respondents. Participants had to be over 18 years of age, drive at least 1000 km per year, “B” category driving license was obligatory. An exploratory factor analysis (Principal Component Analysis with varimax rotation) was carried out to assess the structure and dimensionality of the instrument. Furthermore a confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the fit of the factor model. Internal consistency of the instrument was tested by Cronbach Alpha. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the four-factor structure of the questionnaire: errors, ordinary violations, lapses, aggressive violations. The internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) were acceptable and at a comparable level in relation to the original instrument (0.65–0.87).
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Keywords: recognition; perpetrator’s ethnicity; eye-witness identification; criminal investigation
Recognition is the forensic method used in the identification process. This relies on the ability of the witness, the suspect, or the accused to re-identify a particular object or person to confirm or disprove the presence of the particular object or person among other recognized objects. Recognition may be used as key evidence in the investigation process, especially in cases where eyewitness testimony is the only evidence. By describing the possible influences that affect one’s ability to recognize a previously seen thing or person, we can reduce the risk of wrongly accusing people due to inaccurate identification. The increasing number of foreigners who come to our country corresponds with a higher possibility of such persons in a criminal investigation. These foreigners may have to administer testimony, which may include recognition. Could their ethnicity be a disadvantage when identifying? Previous research abroad describes the so called cross-race effect, which limits us when we recognize a person of an ethnicity other than our own.The research below was designed to determine the extent to which it is difficult for us to identify perpetrators of another ethnicity and what other traits may influence the results in the recognition of others. Stimulus material was produced as a video depicting an artificially orchestrated assault with Czech and Vietnamese offenders and a time interval followed by a photo-lineup. Given the results of international research, we anticipated a negative influence of ethnicity on the offender’s ability to correctly recognize the perpetrator. Participants of Czech nationality in the presented research showed a higher rate of false identification of other-nationality offender, but there was no found relationship between a person who correctly identified one offender and correctly identifying others of either Czech or foreign ethnicity.
More...Keywords: Employment vulnerability; Household income; Compensating differential; Private sector
This paper investigates the determinants of employment vulnerability among private sector workers and assesses it effects on private sector household income in Cameroon. To address these objectives, use is made of multiple correspondence and the IV econometric analyses. Econometric results indicate that the density of formal institutions is negatively and significantly associated with employment vulnerability. Equally, more educated and skilled workers are less likely to be vulnerable in employment. Results show that employment vulnerability generally correlates inversely with private sector income. We found evidence of compensation for managerial and supervisory duties in the private sector. Other correlates like years of schooling, cumulated labour market experience and access to microcredit are important in determining private sector household income, slightly more so in the informal and farming sectors than other sectors.
More...Keywords: SMEs; economic growth; Albania
Small & Medium Sized Enterprises have an important place in the economical development of Albania. They already consist of the majority of private business and they are the main source of employment generation, innovation and productivity growth. In this context an important determinant of the Albanian economy development lies in the development of small and medium enterprises, which is not based only on the number of start-ups but also on the positive change of business environment and entrepreneurial skills. The aim of the research is to examine the contribution of SMEs to the economic growth of the country through employment generation, building of added value, GDP, export activities etc., and the changes in entrepreneurial skills of Albanian SMEs to foresee the ways of improvement and enterprise development. The methods of research are: analysis and synthesis of the scientific literature discussing the problems SMEs are facing and the environmental changes; the systematic statistical data analysis of Albanian entrepreneurial skills of small and medium-sized enterprises. The analysis shows that from the weakest dimensions of SME sector in Albania are entrepreneurship education and training and the promotion of innovation and use of new technologies.
More...Keywords: accounting quality; audit quality; accounting responsibility; audit responsibility; AFCM
Although it is considered a present topic, we can nevertheless notice, after a close analysis of specialized literature, especially of foreign studies, that a lot has been written on the subject of audit and accounting quality, but things are far from being clarified. Even in our country, we could notice papers that dealt with the same issues, but which are not well supported practically. Nevertheless, we can see a diversity of approaches in foreign literature concerning this topic, including the wish to identify or even to suggest indicators, as well as models for quantifying quality in the accounting profession. For the considered studies, the results of statistical analyses reveal the interdependency between the time period when the articles were published, the typology of the examined studies, and their topics. The purpose of this study is to establish correspondences between a series of qualitative factors, which significantly influence both the quality of the financial-accounting information and the quality of the accounting profession. Through this approach, we will attempt to sketch a profile of the scientific level of the materials in the field of audit and accounting quality.
More...Keywords: exchange rate; euro; Albanian lekë; foreign exchange market efficiency; fair game
The main purpose of the study is to test the foreign exchange market efficiency for euro / Albanian lekë during the period 01 January 2002 – 31 December 2012 in Albanian currency market. The results of this study include: 1. The informational efficiency is rejected for daily exchange rate euro / Albanian lekë during the period January 2004 – December 2012 at the 99.99% level of confidence. 2. The Albanian foreign exchange market was inefficient regarding to the relative changes in the daily nominal exchange rate euro / Albanian lekë during the period January 2004 – December 2012 at the 99.99% level of confidence. 3. The Albanian foreign exchange market was inefficient regarding to the monthly exchange rate euro / Albanian lekë during the period January 2002 – December 2012 at the 99.7% level of confidence. 4. The Albanian foreign exchange market was inefficient regarding to the relative changes in the monthly exchange rate euro / Albanian lekë during the period January 2002 – December 2012 at the 99.8 % level of confidence. These findings are noteworthy because it has long been through of that the movements the euro / Albanian lekë nominal exchange rates must be a fair game.
More...Keywords: Emotional Intelligence; Employees’ Performance; Paint industry; Empirical; Pakistan
Emotional intelligence (EI) is an effective tool to increase organizational productivity. This study depicts the impact of EI on employees’ performance who are engaged with customer services by using four elements i.e. self awareness, self management, social awareness and relationship management. A sample of 120 respondents was selected from four paint manufacturing companies in Pakistan. The primary data was collected through the structured questionnaire and simple regression method was used to investigate the relationship between employee’s performance and emotional intelligence. The results illustrate that EI has positive impact on employee’s performance. It is suggested that the implication of EI be ensured as contemporary need of customer services in paint industries so that organization productivity may be enhanced with efficient employees’ performance.
More...Keywords: economic value added; weighted average cost of capital; long term debts; regression analysis
Maximize enterprise value as a fundamental objective of the management of the enterprise acquired new interpretations given the economic climate changes. In this respect firstly shall be identified procedures for creating value for shareholders. Once achieved this aim we will create value for all parts interested. This objective can be reached only by integrating the concept of performance in enterprise valuation and through a properly applied methodology, taking into account all factors that may arise. The present research is oriented towards performance analysis using the indicator economic value added EVA-more precisely by its determinants. For analysis were selected 65 companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange Market.
More...Keywords: endorser's credibility; perceived fit; attitude toward ad; attitude toward brand; purchase intention
Brands ofen use celebrities to get impact. Celebrity endorsement has become a marketing communication strategy used to build a congruence between brand image and consumers. Objectives. Research attempts to analyse celebrity endorser-product congruency and to measure the effectiveness of celebrity endorsement compared with a non-celebrity endorsement (fashion models). Prior Work. Research conducted to date have reached topics as: the effectiveness of celebrity endorsement; celebrity endorsers and purchase intention, added-value of the endorsement; positive or negative effects of celebrity endorsement, congruence between product/brand and endorser, consumer association with the endorser, attractiveness, credibility and trust in celebrities. Approach. A marketing experiment was used in order to mesure the impactul of endorser type and endorser-product match on Aad, Ab, and Pi. Results. Research has confirmed that attractive endorsers fit clothing products, whether they are celebrities or models. Also, the more consumer likes advertising, the more likely it creates a favorable attitude towards the brand. Results suggest ads using celebrities increase the likelihood of consumers to buy an endorsed product. Value. Study shows what celebrities are considered credible and perceived fit to promote classical suit. A fashion brand can select a celebrity for advertising campaign, due to it’s influence on consumers’ purchase intention.
More...Keywords: Growth and development; GDP; FDI; public sector
The purpose of this paper is to make an economic comparison, both theoretical and empirical, for different development aspects of Albania aside Western Balkan countries. The theoretical development of the subject gives an overview of recent macroeconomic and structural developments in the countries of the Western Balkan region by dissecting the various contributors of growth. Another important point, that is developed includes the trends of economic, political and institutional development of the Western Balkan countries with relation to two major factors shaping the region’s context, the international economic and financial crisis and the process of European integration reflected in the fiscal and structural reforms undertaken in the respective countries. The descriptive statistics illustrates the relationship between economic growth and selected macroeconomic indicators by the explaining of the econometric model built and studied.
More...Keywords: EU; climate change; shipping sector; CO2 emissions; marginal abatement cost curve
The European Union (EU) is actively campaigning for the global regulation of carbon emissions generated by maritime bunker fuels because these emissions are presently barely regulated and are projected to increase significantly in the coming decades. However, since a global regulation has not been reached yet, the EU is seeking ways to include the shipping sector in its greenhouse gas reduction commitment for 2020. In this paper, we look at the effect of including the shipping sector’s emissions in the EU reduction commitment that is based on the nationality of a ship. Emissions that are generated by ships owned, operated or flagged by the 27 EU countries are allocated to the EU total GHG emissions. We first analyse the effects on the reduction commitment caused by the three allocations. We then use marginal abatement cost curves (MACCs) in order to determine how much the shipping sector of the 27 EU countries, defined by the three allocations, could contribute efficiently to a total given emission reduction target for all sectors in the EU. Moreover, we use MACCs in order to determine if some country fleets could reduce emissions in the shipping sector relatively more efficiently than other countries under a given emission reduction target for all sectors. Our findings indicate that the shipping sector could contribute efficiently to the EU’s emission reductions by up to 8.5%. Since the composition of the individual country fleets and applied measures are similar across countries, their individual reductions relative to their fleet-specific business-as-usual (BAU) emissions are on average the same.
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Keywords: conceptual metaphor; cognitive linguistics; Conduit Metaphor; one-shot metaphor; conventional metaphor
The article raises important and at the same time very interesting questions about the limits and constraints on metaphors in the light of the conceptions of cognitive linguistics and some well known works like Lakoff – Johnson (1980, 1999), Turner (1990) or Krzeszowski (1997, 2006). It investigates both theoretical and practical aspects of conceptual metaphor, aiming also at identifying the apparently weak points in the reasoning of the quoted authors, especially when it comes to distinguishing between ‘‘oneshot” and ‘‘conventional” or even between ‘‘possible” and ‘‘impossible” metaphors. The author of the article tries to prove that it is very difficult to impose limitations on metaphors and brings into question, among other things, the claim that metaphorization is impossible if synthetic concepts, such as mathematical figures, are involved. In his analysis, the author refers also to the Conduit Metaphor, as seen by Reddy (1979), which seems to be very helpful in understating the processes behind the forming of other metaphorical constructions, although is often criticized by linguists as allegedly being a faulty conception structuring human communication.
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Keywords: Syllable Structure Algorithm; SSA; sC cluster; Branching Onset Model; bisegmental representation
The distribution of sC clusters and their interactions with phonological rules point to a unique status of such consonant sequences, which opens the possibility of ascribing more than one representation to them. The primary goal of this article is to establish the most suitable representation of sC clusters, understood in the narrow sense as /s/ plus a stop cluster: /sk/, /st/ and /sp/ only, from among the theoretically possible variants generated by the autosegmental theory of the syllable. The differing representations display various compliance with phonotactic generalisations and phonological behaviour of the clusters in question in English. The article is organised as follows. Section 1 introduces background information. Section 2 examines the logically possible two-segment structures as ensuing from the application of the Syllable Structure Algorithm. Section 3 presents the Branching Onset model and its variants. Section 4 considers the specific predictions made by the Appendix model. Section 5 offers conclusions and points to the most appropriate bisegmental representation.
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Keywords: palatalization; high-frequency lemmas; Middle English dialects; much; which; such; each
The process of palatalization has exerted much influence on the forms of four highfrequency lemmas, EACH, MUCH, SUCH, WHICH, revealing significant heterogeneity in terms of palatalized and non-palatalized variants being used in the close vicinity of each other both in the Northern and Southern dialects as well as in the texts of unknown origin. Such unpredictability of the process, accounted for by the operation of lexical diffusion, raises questions concerning the manner of how palatalization, being one of the major phonological changes, affected the lexis and phonological system of Middle English, proving to be much less consistent than expected.
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Keywords: Kenya; borrowings; loanwords; ICE-EA; Kiswahili; necessary; luxury; adopted; non-integrated; imported
The sociolinguistic context of prolonged language contact in contemporary Kenya should lead to a certain amount of influence of the languages on one another, e.g. through loanwords. The main aim of the present paper was to examine English in Kenya to show what kind of words are borrowed from African languages and their analysis within the framework of the borrowing theories formulated in Tappolet (1913–16), Haugen (1950), Weinreich (1953), Dardano – Trifone (1995), Hock – Joseph (1996), Krefeld (1999) and McColl-Millar (2007). The data for this study come from the International corpus of English for East Africa (ICE-EA).
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