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Editor-In-Chief's Note, Surekha K. Rao

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 29, Issue 1 Full Contents

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Consumer Spontaneous Purchases Under Pressure! Do The Roles Of Time Pressure And Stock Pressure In Flash Sales Differ Between Hedonic And Utilitarian Products?, Anthony E. Hendra, Karto Adiwijaya

ASEAN Marketing Journal

The development of the digital world has driven changes in the live streaming commerce sales method, which is a combination of e-commerce with social media live streaming features. Flash sales are one strategy that is often used in marketing a product in live streaming commerce to increase sales quickly. Time pressure and stock pressure are components of flash sales that effectively force consumers to make impulsive purchases. By causing a scarcity effect on consumers, pressure can make consumers go through a long decision-making process and make unplanned purchases. In this study, researchers used the stimulus-organism-response theory to explain the role …

The Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet: Its History And Legacy In American Saxophone Quartet Performance, James M. Lawhn

Glenn Korff School of Music: Dissertations, Theses, Student Creative Work, and Performances

The saxophone quartet has emerged as a legitimate chamber ensemble in the United States through the sustained efforts of a small number of pioneering professional groups. Despite the central role these ensembles have played in shaping repertoire, performance standards, and public perception, their histories have often gone undocumented. Among the most influential of these groups is the Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet, an ensemble that maintained an unusually active national and international touring career for nearly four decades and helped establish the saxophone quartet as a viable professional model.

This document addresses a significant gap in the scholarly literature by presenting …

Accounting For Non-Monetary Exchange: A Systematic Review Of Barter Literature From Colonial Ledgers To Digital Economies, Christian Timotius Peilouw, Unti Ludigdo, Imam Subekti, Yeney Widya Prihatiningtias

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Non-monetary exchange systems persist throughout human history, challenging assumptions about monetary dominance and revealing fundamental limitations in conventional accounting frameworks. This systematic literature review examines how accounting practices adapt to and shape non-monetary exchange across diverse historical and contemporary contexts, investigating patterns in accounting practices, challenges to conventional theory, and implications for economic resilience. Following PRISMA guidelines, the review analyzed 28 peer-reviewed articles from 1979 to 2025 identified through Scopus database searches combining barter-related and accounting terms. The analysis reveals four major themes: historical foundations showing sophisticated proto-banking systems in colonial America that operated without currency; crisis-driven alternatives demonstrating how …

The Globe Spins Faster; We Keep Providing Clearer Interpretive Snapshots, Nikhilesh Dholakia, Zeynep Ozdamar Ertekin, Delphine Godefroit-Winkel

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

No abstract provided.

Can Art Function As A Financial Asset Class? Conditions, Risks, And Emerging Solutions, Aurelia Labbé

MA Theses

The art market has grown significantly over recent decades, supported by rising global demand, record auction results and increasing interest from collectors pursuing financial returns. This evolution has encouraged the development of investment-oriented practices and strengthened the notion that artworks can function as financial assets. This shift takes place in a market shaped by subjectivity, opacity and limited regulatory oversight, where valuation methods, provenance documentation and professional standards remain highly uneven. These conditions make art investment particularly complex and raise essential questions about the factors that support or weaken the legitimacy of art as an asset class. This thesis examines …

The Notion Of Subordination And The Presumption Of Employment Relationship In The Perspective Of Comparative Labour Law, Adalberto Perulli

Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal

The concept of subordination serves as the key criterion for accessing social protection across civil law systems. Theoretically, subordination corresponds to what common law systems define — through multifactorial tests — as an employment (or service) contract, distinguishing it from self-employment. While this historic dichotomy is widely regarded as unsatisfactory and has long been questioned, the notion of subordination remains central to ensuring that workers receive the protection guaranteed under the labour law systems. Part I will address the problem of subordination as a fundamental legal category of labour law, rooted in contract law. Regardless of the complex legal origins …

The Iron Pyramid: Expanding The Iron Triangle To Integrate Safety As A Fundamental Dimension Of Construction Success, Laura Cooley

All Theses

For more than fifty years, construction project success has been judged by staying on schedule, remaining within budget, and completing the planned scope of work—an approach commonly known as the “Iron Triangle” (Barnes, Ph.D., 2006). While these measures are important, they do not capture the full range of factors that determine whether a project truly succeeds.

This study introduces the “Iron Pyramid” (Cooley, 2025), a model that expands the traditional framework by adding a fourth dimension: safety. Safety is understood not simply as regulatory compliance or the absence of injuries, but as a holistic construct encompassing project culture, leadership practices, …

Human Capital, Immigration, And Growth: A State-Level Dynamic Panel Study, William R. Cooper

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This study examines whether who immigrates, rather than how many, matters for state economic growth in the United States. It integrates a policy-relevant proxy for skill (H-1B approvals) into an augmented Solow framework that separates immigration's quantity channel from its human capital channel and estimates dynamic effects in a balanced quarterly panel of 50 states (2010 to 2023 ). The empirical strategy estimates a two-step difference GMM Arellano-Bond model that reinforces identification using a double/debiased machine learning (DML) variant that orthogonalizes high-dimensional nuisance components via cross-fitting. This design targets the distinct roles of immigrant headcount versus skill in per capita …

Reviving The Lost Art: Historical Foundations And Future Pathways For Bespoke Service In Luxury Retail, Andrew Burnstine

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

The mid-20th century witnessed a zenith of deeply personalized, bespoke service within iconic luxury specialty retailers. This paper critically analyzes the foundational principles of this historical bespoke service model, extending Service-Dominant (S-D) Logic and retail evolution theory, to propose a robust framework for its modern revival. Employing a rigorous qualitative, multiple-case study approach, grounded in extensive historical and media analysis of four archetypal American and British luxury boutiques, and uniquely informed by an insider-ethnographic perspective on the central case exemplar ("Martha's"), the study distills six core principles: Profound Client Knowledge, Visionary Curation & Styling, Anticipatory & Proactive Service, The Exclusive …

Continuum Of Academic Collaboration: Issues Of Inconsistent Terminology In Multilingual Context, Cristo Leon Ph.D., James Lipuma Ph.D., Marcos O. Cabobianco, Maria B. Daizo

STEM for Success Resources

Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
1690-4524 (Online)

Dark Tourism And ‘Partial Religiosity’: Ontological-Aesthetic Pilgrimage In Camiguin Island, Philippines, Jan Gresil Kahambing

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper theorizes the contrast between dark tourism and what is referred to as ‘partial religiosity’ in the context of travel to selected tourist destinations on Camiguin Island, Philippines. Also called ‘thanatourism’, dark tourism is about visiting places that challenge the value derived from the association with death either from tragedies of naturally occurring catastrophes (such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or typhoons) or disasters produced by humans (such as genocides and violations of human rights). Focus is on three spots that sufficiently fit the description of dark tourist sites in Camiguin in the sense of naturally-caused disasters, namely: the Sunken …

A Theoretical Framework For Examination Of Context In Complex System Governance, Meggan M. Schoenberg

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

“A complex system’s identity and viability are directly related and affected by its context. It is important to identify, monitor, and manage (or mitigate risk) system contextual elements” (Keating C. B. et al., 2022, p. 209). Despite this importance, there is very limited research and literature on complex systems context. This research seeks to expand our understanding of complex system context and improve our ability to govern complex technology development programs effectively. The ability to analyze complex systems and their problems is necessary for this improvement.

A “clear understanding of the specific complex system context is fundamental to the process …

A Model To Measure The Brand Equity Of South African Business Schools: A Case Study Of The North-West University Business School, Christo A. Bisschoff

AMTP Proceedings 2025

This study aims to measure the brand equity of a regional business school in the North-West province of South Africa. A tailor-made approach implied identifying relevant brand equity dimensions and their respective measuring criteria from the literature. Professionals and managers in the Gauteng and North-West provinces were targeted in a judgmental sample to complete the questionnaires, and 97 responses from the combined nine student research papers were analyzed. Five brand equity dimensions were identified from the literature and measured. They are: (1) Perceived quality, (2) Brand awareness, (3) Brand associations, (4) brand loyalty, and (5) University reputation. The results show …

A Study Of The Impact Of Brand Management Strategies On Brand Rejuvenation - Evidence Based On Chinese Baijiu Brands, Hao Chen

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

In recent years, China Baijiu industry has faced the challenges of a shrinking consumer market, aging and the rise of young consumers, prompting Baijiu brands to seek new growth points, especially to attract younger groups. As a result, brand rejuvenation has become a key strategic objective for spirits companies. Given that brand extension and brand alliance are effective strategies for traditional brands to expand into new markets, this study develops a model to explore the impact of these two brand management strategies on Baijiu brand rejuvenation and analyses the mediating roles of brand image and brand awareness as well as …

Advancing Defense Software Cost Estimation Through Regression, Probabilistic, And Machine Learning Models, Stephen D. Chatterton

Theses and Dissertations

Accurately estimating software costs is critical for effective project management within the Department of Defense (DoD), where early decisions shape resource allocation and risk management. This work evaluates regression-based Cost Estimating Relationships (CERs), probabilistic models, and machine learning techniques to address limitations of traditional estimation methods. Using records from two DoD repositories, the analysis applied Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR), Random Forest, and neural networks to model and classify software costs, with key predictors including Source Lines of Code (SLOC), Equivalent Source Lines of Code (ESLOC), and programming hours. The findings highlight strengths and trade-offs of …

The History And Manifestations Of The Metaverse In Contemporary Literature, Marlon Semuel Contantin Kansil, Wanting Sun

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

The metaverse, an interactive and immersive virtual world, has emerged as a critical theme in contemporary literature, significantly impacting narratives and character development. This paper explores the history and literary manifestations of the metaverse, investigating its influence on identity, space, and social interactions. We find that the metaverse supports flexible and individualistic identities, reshaping how characters and readers understand themselves. The digital space of the metaverse provides a dynamic setting for moral and emotional conflicts, enriching the literary aesthetics of space. Furthermore, literature plays a crucial role in both shaping and reflecting the concept of the metaverse, employing symbolism and …

Performance Auditing Trends At A Supreme Audit Institution: Uk National Audit Office, 1999 To 2021, Amir Michael, Laurence Ferry, Bruce Mcdonald, Henry Midgley

School of Public Service Faculty Publications

Performance audits have become increasingly important across the world. Scholars know that a variety of practices are incorporated within performance audits and have mapped this diversity. However, few quantitative studies examine performance auditing as a practice. This study fills that gap. By analyzing the published performance audit documentation of the UK National Audit Office (NAO), the study explores the influences of governmental change and crises behind changes in a supreme audit institution's performance audit. It also examines whether performance audits are diverse by examining the language used by the auditors. The study provides evidence that neither crises nor changes of …

Financing White Rule: How Luxembourg Became A Banker For The Belgian Congo And Apartheid South Africa, Samuel Weeks

College of Humanities and Sciences Faculty Papers

In this article, I offer a historical analysis of how bankers in Luxembourg came to be important service providers to borrowers in the Belgian Congo and Apartheid South Africa. I demonstrate how a series of unique political and cultural factors linking Luxembourg and these two (neo)colonial regimes account for the financial activities that developed between the three jurisdictions. As such, I show that officials in the Belgian Congo and Apartheid South Africa were able to count on their Luxembourg-based bankers for a variety of finance-related services, including the provision of Eurocurrency loans and the formation of offshore companies. In doing …

The Foreigner In Our Midst: Jewish Rights Debates In Revolutionary France, William Evans

Best Integrated Writing

The debates surrounding Jewish rights during the French Revolution concerned many of the same subjects that divide the Western world today. The fear of the other, immigration as a political tool, and the disagreements over assimilation are all subjects which feature prominently today. In this essay Evans sets out to explore these debates while fairly assessing the historical informants.

Best Integrated Writing Fall 2024 - Complete Edition, Wright State University School Of Humanities And Cultural Studies, Kristie Mckiernan, Tracy Smith

Best Integrated Writing

Best Integrated Writing includes excellent student writing from Integrated Writing courses taught at Wright State University.

The Cultural, Economic And Political Importance Of The Northern Border Region: A Historical Study, Samira Belsoud

Al Jinan الجنان

The study seeks, through the use of the historical and descriptive approach, to highlight the civilizational, economic and cultural importance of the northern border region, which is considered one of the modern regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the modern period. The region is located in the north of the country; its capital is the city of Arar, and it has many valleys and plains such as Wadi Arar, Wadi Aba Al-Qour, Al-Hilali, Wadi Badna, as well as hills and mountains such as Qarat Maatan, Tulul Al-Shami, Al-Markouz and Al-Khafis. Recently, phosphate and gas were discovered in Turaif …

Towards Understanding The Post-Colonial In The Development Of Irish Economics, Joseph K. Fitzgerald Dr., Brendan K. O'Rourke

Conference Papers

This conference contribution is prompted by recent work where theories used to understand the economists in countries like France, Britain, Germany, and the USA (Fourcade, 2009; Maesse, 2015) were used to study the development of Irish economics profession. Work on Ireland (FitzGerald & O’Rourke, 2023), though using these frameworks, revealed the importance of Ireland’s colonial and post-colonial experiences in the social status of economics in today’s Ireland. Escobar (2011) points to the power of economists in development discourses focussing particularly on the case of Columbia and the interaction between USA economics with its southern neighbours in the period since the …

Connecting The Dots: Sharing Hidden Histories Of Regional Inventors’ Patents, John Schlipp, Kris Kallies

Journal of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) support inventors, entrepreneurs, and researchers with patent and trademark information. Some PTRCs share regional patent history as part of their community outreach. This article focuses on PTRCs that have developed online databases and published works documenting regional patents, thereby providing hidden historical insights for historians, genealogists, and students. It spotlights the development of Georgiavation, a historic patent database developed by the PTRC at Georgia Southern University. Finally, this article offers guidance for libraries, museums, and other institutions interested in documenting their state or regional patent histories. This can result in a more inclusive narrative …

Uncovering The Relationship Between Esg Practices And Firm Value: The Role Of Reputation And Industry Sensitivity, Yanghee Kim, Hojoon Jang, Junhee Seok

Asia Marketing Journal

Considering the rising interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) globally, various studies have shown that ESG practice increases firm value; however, there is still much debate. This study focuses on the relationship between ESG practice and firm value. Further, we identify the mechanisms constituting this relationship to address relevant research gaps. Specifically, this study examines the connection between ESG practice and corporate valuation, emphasizing the mediating role of a company’s reputation. Using panel analysis of data from 145 Korean firms (2014-2021), the study reveals that ESG practices notably enhance firm value, signaling their significance to stakeholders. Corporate reputation acts …

Religious Tourism Attractions At Debre Aron Rock-Hewn Church, Meket District, Northern Ethiopia, Tsegaye Ebabey Demissie

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Ethiopia, which has a diverse sacred cultural heritage, has enormous fortunes as far as religious tourism is concerned. Its ancient Christianity has left numerous religious and historical legacies, ranging from architecturally sophisticated sacred monuments to living religious practices. However, the development of these legacies for religious tourism is hindered mainly due to a lack of research and consideration by tourism developers. This study aims to investigate the potential tourism value of Debre Aron Monastery, which is one of the most overlooked religious sites in northern Ethiopia. To this end, the study’s data, which are analysed qualitatively, were collected through literature …

The Principal–Agent Problem And Its Mitigation: A Critical Historical Analysis, Tony Yan, Michael R. Hyman

Global Business Leadership Faculty Publications

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical historical analysis of the business (mis)behaviors and influencing factors that discourage enduring cooperation between principals and agents, to introduce strategies that embrace the social values, economic motivation and institutional designs historically adopted to curtail dishonest acts in international business and to inform an improved principal–agent theory that reflects principal–agent reciprocity as shaped by social, political, cultural, economic, strategic and ideological forces

Design/methodology/approach

The critical historical research method is used to analyze Chinese compradors and the foreign companies they served in pre-1949 China.

Findings

Business practitioners can extend orthodox principal–agent …

Strategies To Improve Employee Retention In Nonprofit Organizations, Robert A. Thornburg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Talented employee turnover in nonprofit organizations has the potential for excessive costs and unfavorable outcomes. Nonprofit organization managers are concerned with retaining talented employees not only to sustain competitive advantage but also to continue to provide essential services. Grounded in person-organization fit theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies that four nonprofit organization managers in the southern United States use to increase employee retention. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organizational retention documents. Through Yin’s five-step data analysis process and thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) employ competitive benefits …

Contextualizing The “Spanish Dream”: Using Critical Hrm To Understand Immigrant Homeownership In Spain, 2000–2009, Mario V. Gonzalez Fuentes, Jonathan Ross Gilbert, Robert F. Scherer, Carlos Iglesias-Fernandez

School of Business Faculty Research

Purpose A pronounced rise in postpandemic immigration is creating consumption opportunities and challenges for countries worldwide. Past research has shown that immigrant homeownership indicates advanced consumer acculturation. However, critical factors which differentiate immigrant decisions to purchase a home remain underexplored. This study aims to examine the importance of different identity resources in determining homeownership gaps between immigrant groups in Spain during a dynamic decade.

Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods research design with triangulation was used. First, the critical “historical research method” is used to empirically assess 15,465 household-level microdata files from the National Immigrant Survey of Spain. Second, the analysis is …