Ying Xiong, Zhong Chen Lv and Ya Ding
The purpose of this paper is to understand farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming in China and quantify the degree to which farmers’ moral hazard is prevented by incentive or…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming in China and quantify the degree to which farmers’ moral hazard is prevented by incentive or constraint means or their combinations.
Design/methodology/approach
The logit model is used to analyze farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming and the effects of determinants by applying survey data of 560 vegetable and fruit farmers in China.
Findings
The result reveals that farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming is prevented by a combination of incentives and constraints. Among incentive factors, profits from safe agro-products are verified to affect farmers’ moral hazard negatively, whereas the effect of safe certification subsidy is not clear. In constraint factors, production environmental supervision (PESUPV) and agricultural input supervision (AISUPV) have significant effects in reducing farmers’ moral hazard, whereas the effects of production process supervision and market access supervision are not clear. Further, the incentives from higher profits of safe agro-products play a greater role in the prevention of farmers’ moral hazard than the constraints from PESUPV and AISUPV. The results indicate that farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming is more likely to be prevented by incentives compared with constraints.
Research limitations/implications
The study has some limitations that should be taken into account in future research. First, food safety incidents happen frequently in China, which caused widespread social concern. These affairs may spark a rethink for farmers about how to produce safe agro-products. From this prospective, farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming may be prevented by their social responsibility. However, the survey did not show it. This may be related to the beginning stage of safe farming in China. With the development of safe farming, the effect of social responsibility on the prevention of farmers’ moral hazard would constitute an interesting extension of the work. Second, the study focusses on farmers’ production of safe vegetables and fruits in three areas of China. Covering more activities and areas is likely to commit fruitful results.
Originality/value
Based on the theoretical analysis of farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming through using a principal-agent model, the paper proposes hypotheses of incentives and constraints affecting farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming and verifies them through logit model with the survey data from 15 counties (or cities) in Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Sichuan Provinces of China. The result provides some evidences that farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming is simultaneously affected by a combination of incentives and constraints and may be taken as proofs for China's policy-making and focusses implementation in preventing farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming.
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Cuiping Ma, Hefu Liu, Jibao Gu and Junsheng Dou
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the cultural cognition of Chinese Zhong-yong thinking, which is deeply rooted in Chinese Confucius culture, and to examine how…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the cultural cognition of Chinese Zhong-yong thinking, which is deeply rooted in Chinese Confucius culture, and to examine how entrepreneurs’ Zhong-yong thinking is related to new venture performance through guanxi network, and also examine how environmental turbulence affects the influencing mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper follows an empirical design. Data are collected from a survey administered to entrepreneurs in new ventures of China. Regression analysis is used to test the hypothesis.
Findings
Results show that entrepreneurs’ Zhong-yong thinking is positively related to guanxi and new venture performance, and guanxi mediates the relationship between entrepreneurs’ Zhong-yong thinking and new venture performance. In addition, environmental turbulence moderates the relationship between entrepreneurs’ Zhong-yong thinking and guanxi such that the relationship is stronger under higher technological turbulence or lower market turbulence.
Research limitations/implications
This research uses cross-sectional data, so causal conclusions cannot be made. In addition, more moderators should be considered.
Practical implications
The present study enriches the understanding of how entrepreneurs’ Zhong-yong thinking affects new ventures, which helps entrepreneur understand how to strategize according to external environment and develop what kind of cognitive style to deal with complex situation of their own venture.
Originality/value
This study is a pioneer in exploring non-Western cognitive style–Zhong-yong thinking in entrepreneurial context. It not only enriches the understanding of how Chinese wisdom affects organizational strategy and organizational performance but also advances the cognition research in the field of entrepreneurship.
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Xi Zhong, Weihong Chen and Ge Ren
Whether and when the innovation aspiration shortfall (e.g. innovation performance lower than aspirations) will affect emerging economy firms (EEFs)' international expansion…
Abstract
Purpose
Whether and when the innovation aspiration shortfall (e.g. innovation performance lower than aspirations) will affect emerging economy firms (EEFs)' international expansion remains an important unanswered theoretical and practical question.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on performance feedback theory, this study explores the impact of innovation aspiration shortfall on EEFs' international expansion and the moderating role of CEO origin.
Findings
This study finds that innovation aspiration shortfall has a positive impact on EEFs' international expansion. This study also uncovers that EEFs are less likely to implement international expansion in response to innovation aspiration shortfall when the CEO is a founder than when the CEO is a non-founder, and EEFs are more likely to implement international expansion in response to innovation aspiration shortfall when the CEO is an outsider-CEO than when the CEO is an insider-CEO.
Originality/value
This study proposes that the interaction between innovation aspiration shortfall and CEO origin can be a useful predictor of EEFs' international expansion.
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Sha Zhong, Mingzhi Yang, Bosen Qian, Lei Zhang, Dongqing He, Tongtong Lin and Fue-Sang Lien
This study aims to provide new insights into aerodynamic drag reduction for increasingly faster blunt-nosed trains, such as urban and freight trains. Specifically, this work…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide new insights into aerodynamic drag reduction for increasingly faster blunt-nosed trains, such as urban and freight trains. Specifically, this work investigates two distinctly different wake structures and associated aerodynamic drag of blunt-nosed trains.
Design/methodology/approach
Three typical cases of blunt-nosed trains with 1-, 2- and 3-m nose lengths are selected. The time-averaged and unsteady flow structures around the trains are analyzed using the improved delayed detached eddy simulation model and proper orthogonal decomposition method.
Findings
The simulation results indicate that for 2- and 3-m nose lengths, the flow separates at first and then reattaches to the slanted surface of the tail, with a pair of longitudinal vortices dominating the wake. In contrast, for the 1-m nose length case, the wake structure is characterized by complete separation, attributed to the larger curvature of the slanted tail surface. Consequently, the total time-averaged drag coefficient is reduced by 27.2% and 19.2% for the 1-m nose length case compared to the 2- and 3-m cases, respectively. Moreover, the predominant unsteady structures with Strouhal numbers St = 0.30 and St = 0.28 are detected in the near-wake of the 2- and 3-m nose length cases, respectively. These structures result from periodic vortex shedding at the lower slanted tail surface. In contrast, for the 1-m nose length case, the predominant unsteady structure with St = 0.19 is induced by the nearly periodic expansion and contraction of the upper bubbles.
Originality/value
Two distinctly different wake structures in blunt-nosed trains are identified. Unlike high-speed trains with longer, streamlined noses, for blunt-nosed trains, shorter nose lengths result in lower aerodynamic drag. Insights for reducing energy consumption in blunt-nosed trains are provided.
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Noel Scott, Brent Moyle, Ana Cláudia Campos, Liubov Skavronskaya and Biqiang Liu
Jintao Zhan, Yubei Ma, Xinye Lv, Meng Xu and Mingyang Zhang
Some researchers argue that consumers’ lack of knowledge is an important factor increasing risk for a new product derived from emerging agricultural technology. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Some researchers argue that consumers’ lack of knowledge is an important factor increasing risk for a new product derived from emerging agricultural technology. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential impacts and the differential effects of subjective and objective perceptions on Chinese consumers’ preferences for the application of a novel biotechnology.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking transgenic technology as an example and employing data from a survey of 1,000 consumers in Jiangsu Province, the authors develop a mixed-process regression model based on Fishbein’s multiple attributes attitude model.
Findings
The results suggest that there are apparent differences between Chinese consumers’ subjective perceptions and objective perceptions concerning transgenic technology and genetically modified (GM) food, and there exists certain selective perceptions of the emerging biotechnology. Having a subjective perception concerning transgenic technology has a positive effect on consumers’ overall attitudes, whereas subjective and objective perceptions concerning GM foods have a negative effect on consumers’ overall attitudes. Self-identification generated from subjective perception occupies a dominant position in determining consumers’ attitudes.
Originality/value
Consumers’ attitudes regarding an agricultural product depend on their perception of the attributes of the technology used to produce such a product. This study attempts to distinguish and empirically test urban consumers’ subjective perceptions (self-assessed or perceived) and objective perceptions (obtained from a test) about transgenic technology and GM foods and the impact of these four types of perception on the consumers’ attitudes regarding the application of transgenic technology. In this paper, the authors construct a mixed-process regression model to address the possible endogeneity of the perception variables.
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Na Lv, Yanling Xu, Jiyong Zhong, Huabin Chen, Jifeng Wang and Shanben Chen
Penetration state is one of the most important factors for judging the quality of a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) joint. The purpose of this paper is to identify and classify…
Abstract
Purpose
Penetration state is one of the most important factors for judging the quality of a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) joint. The purpose of this paper is to identify and classify the penetration state and welding quality through the features of arc sound signal during robotic GTAW process.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper tried to make a foundation work to achieve on‐line monitoring of penetration state to weld pool through arc sound signal. The statistic features of arc sound under different penetration states like partial penetration, full penetration and excessive penetration were extracted and analysed, and wavelet packet analysis was used to extract frequency energy at different frequency bands. The prediction models were established by artificial neural networks based on different features combination.
Findings
The experiment results demonstrated that each feature in time and frequency domain could react the penetration behaviour, arc sound in different frequency band had different performance at different penetration states and the prediction model established by 23 features in time domain and frequency domain got the best prediction effect to recognize different penetration states and welding quality through arc sound signal.
Originality/value
This paper tried to make a foundation work to achieve identifying penetration state and welding quality through the features of arc sound signal during robotic GTAW process. A total of 23 features in time domain and frequency domain were extracted at different penetration states. And energy at different frequency bands was proved to be an effective factor for identifying different penetration states. Finally, a prediction model built by 23 features was proved to have the best prediction effect of welding quality.
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Jun Huang, Haijie Mo and Tianshu Zhang
This paper takes the Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect as a quasi-natural experiment and investigates the impact of capital market liberalization on the corporate debt…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper takes the Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect as a quasi-natural experiment and investigates the impact of capital market liberalization on the corporate debt maturity structure. It also aims to provide some policy implications for corporate debt financing and further liberalization of the capital market in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Employing the exogenous event of Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and using the data of Chinese A-share firms from 2010 to 2020, this study constructs a difference-in-differences model to examine the relationship between capital market liberalization and corporate debt maturity structure. To validate the results, this study performed several robustness tests, including the parallel test, the placebo test, the Heckman two-stage regression and the propensity score matching.
Findings
This paper finds that capital market liberalization has significantly increased the proportion of long-term debt of target firms. Further analyses suggest that the impact of capital market liberalization on the debt maturity structure is more pronounced for firms with lower management ownership and non-Big 4 audit. Channel tests show that capital market liberalization improves firms’ information environment and curbs self-interested management behavior.
Originality/value
This research provides empirical evidence for the consequences of capital market liberalization and enriches the literature on the determinants of corporate debt maturity structure. Further this study makes a reference for regulators and financial institutions to improve corporate financing through the governance role of capital market liberalization.
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Xinyan Lv, Yisheng Liang, Jiang Zhong and Haifeng He
The silicone modifications of two-component epoxy resin coatings are commonly built on epoxy resins rather than on epoxy curing agents. The silicone-modified epoxy curing agent…
Abstract
Purpose
The silicone modifications of two-component epoxy resin coatings are commonly built on epoxy resins rather than on epoxy curing agents. The silicone-modified epoxy curing agent system is rarely reported yet. This study aims to prepare the polysiloxane (PS)-modified waterborne epoxy coatings based on aqueous curing agents technology.
Design/methodology/approach
Waterborne epoxy curing agents with different contents of terminal epoxy PS were synthesized by reacting with triethylenetetramine, followed by incorporating of epoxy resin (NPEL-128) and polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether. The waterborne epoxy coatings were prepared with the above curing agents, and their performance was investigated through thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical characterization, gloss measurement, chemical resistance test and ultraviolet (UV) aging experiment.
Findings
The results showed that the epoxy coating prepared by silicon-modified curing agent has higher gloss, better chemical resistance and UV resistance than the coating from unmodified curing agent with terminal epoxy PS and commercially available waterborne epoxy curing agent (Aradur 3986), as well as the competitive mechanical properties and heat resistance. Reduced water absorption on fibrous paper was also obtained with the help of silicon-modified curing agent.
Originality/value
These findings will be valuable for resin researchers in addressing the modification issues about waterborne epoxy resin and curing agent.
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Hamed Dabaghi, Saeid Saieda Ardakani and Seyed Mohammad Tabataba’i-Nasab
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the emerging phenomenon of medical tourism in the context of Iran from a customer experience management perspective and benchmark of their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the emerging phenomenon of medical tourism in the context of Iran from a customer experience management perspective and benchmark of their judgment including positive or negative, of the experience they have achieved of the Iranian health (medical) experience (CE) and suggest scenarios for the improvement of the Iranian customer experience management (CEM).
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodologies and research methods that are used in this descriptive-analytical research are based on an inspection of the remarkable literature related to medical tourism and customer experience management. The data gathering instrument is a researcher-made questionnaire based on the variables in the conceptual model extracted from the research literature. The study was conducted from May to August 2019. The population cohort of this study was the foreign patients calling selected Iranian hospitals and the sampling method was a purposive and snowball sample of prospective medical tourists. As the study was conducted throughout Iran, some important hospitals in Iran were selected by stratified sampling Yang et al. (2020b). The sample size and data saturation were 500 participants Lv and Song (2019). The collected data using the questionnaire were analyzed by SPSS software and statistical tests.
Findings
According to the results, the customer experience management statistical significance in the task aspect is (p = 0.0523), in the mechanical aspect is (p = 0.0563), in the human aspect is (p = 0.0544). The study showed positive customer experience among the patients who had been treated in the Iranian hospitals.
Originality/value
There is a lack of study that focuses on medical tourism and customer experience management in Iran. Therefore, based on the results of this study, the experience of medical tourists in Iran proved to be positive and satisfying. As little research has been conducted in the area of customer experience management (CEM) in Iranian medical tourism, future researchers can use these valuable results precisely and in more detail to benchmark more accurately the customer experience in all areas of medical and health tourism and other research areas in different aspects of CEM in Iran.