An economic impact study conducted in 2010 predicted that hosting the 34th America's Cup in 2013 would result in $1.37 billion in total economic benefits to the San Francisco Bay…
Abstract
Purpose
An economic impact study conducted in 2010 predicted that hosting the 34th America's Cup in 2013 would result in $1.37 billion in total economic benefits to the San Francisco Bay Area. The goal of this paper is to examine the ex post effects of this competition on real taxable sales in the Bay Area.
Design/methodology/approach
A panel data set of quarterly observations on taxable sales transactions for all counties in the state of California is employed. These data are explored using two estimation methodologies: difference-in-differences and synthetic control.
Findings
Results from a difference-in-differences analysis and a synthetic control analysis produce similar findings. Namely, the 34th America's Cup competition appears to have had a minimal, short-lived impact on San Francisco and no measurable impact on two nearby counties.
Practical implications
The empirical results in this paper underscore the findings of previous research showing that ex ante economic impact studies tend to overstate the net economic benefits of hosting mega-events.
Social implications
The results of this paper may serve as a warning to policy makers considering using tax dollars to host a mega-event that such events often do not generate the economic gains reported in typical economic impact studies.
Originality/value
This is the first paper to econometrically explore the impact of hosting the America's Cup on taxable sales transactions in a region. This paper also employs the relatively new empirical methodology called synthetic control.
Details
Keywords
Noit Inbar, Israel Doron and Avi Ohry
The purpose of this paper is to uncover attitudes of physical therapists (PTs) who treat vegetative state (VS) patients, and to raise awareness to ethical and professional…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to uncover attitudes of physical therapists (PTs) who treat vegetative state (VS) patients, and to raise awareness to ethical and professional dilemmas: Are PTs influenced by ageist perceptions? Do they consider physiotherapy to be effective or futile?
Design/methodology/approach
Ethical questions and complex dilemmas are by and large subconscious and rarely explicitly voiced, but can be identified by revealing implicit therapists' personal and professional approach to patients. A quantitative six‐point Likert scale questionnaire was developed, which presented two VS cases – young and old, followed by practical‐ethical questions concerning key issues including: treatment choices, quality of life, prolongation of life, futile treatment (n=101, 68 percent return rate).
Findings
The results reveal a complex reality: on the one hand PTs expressed a positive perception of their profession, and consider all treatment components important for VS patients and their families regardless of age; on the other hand, significant preference for treating the younger VS patient was found.
Practical implications
There is a need for raising awareness of physiotherapists to the social phenomenon of ageism and its implications on daily professional and ethical conduct.
Originality/value
While other studies revealed ageism in various health care settings, this study was original both in its methodology (examining implicit ageism via contrasting vignettes), and its unique context (VS patients) which in theory could be viewed as “ageless” in light of the patients' permanent condition.