2014 - Volume 17 - Issue 1
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/11159
2024-03-29T12:46:33ZADHERENCE TO THE 1999 BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE GUIDELINES AND DIVIDEND PAYOUT POLICY: EVIDENCE FROM KUWAIT
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/3574
ADHERENCE TO THE 1999 BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE GUIDELINES AND DIVIDEND PAYOUT POLICY: EVIDENCE FROM KUWAIT
Al-Rashed, W.
The objective of this research is to eamine the adherence to the Blue Ribbon
Committee BC recommendations and its impact on corporate dividends policy
in Kuwait. These recommendations are deemed guidelines for improving the
effectiveness of audit committees of shareholding firms. Both descriptive as ell as
analytical methods have been used to test for such effectiveness. Ashort questionnaire
as distributed to listed firms in Kuwait as well as examining published financial
data of Kuwait firms with respect to dividend policies during . Results of
the multiple regressions and sensitivity analysis indicated that there is no significant
evidence on compliance with BRC guidelines hen setting dividend policies by Kuwaiti
firms, thus hardly any effect audit committees have on such policies.
2014-03-01T00:00:00ZAccounting for Interaction and Individual Specific Effects in an Analysis of International Air Traveler Preferences
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/3573
Accounting for Interaction and Individual Specific Effects in an Analysis of International Air Traveler Preferences
Saqib, Najam U.; Zhang, Zhou; Bruning, Edward
selection decision based on contingency theory. Previous work has focused on main
effects without eploring the significance of interaction or individual heterogeneity
effects. Contingency theory suggests contextual and individual factors are important
in enhancing model predictions. Using conjoint and ordered probit analyses, we find
that including interaction and individual specific intercepts alters the impacts of main
effect variables. Furthermore, accounting for interaction and individual heterogeneity
increases the predictive ability of the preference model for airline travelers.
2014-03-01T00:00:00ZThe Inverted Yield Curve and the Components of GDP
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/3572
The Inverted Yield Curve and the Components of GDP
Heath, E.
When 3-month Treasury rates are greater than 10 -year Treasury rates an inverted
yield curve occurs. When this state is reached some argue that a recession is on the
horizon, typically 6 months to a year down the road. Here, I reframe the question of
whether inverted yield curves predict recessions in the US and ask what an inverted
yield curve predicts. Using a Probit model I find that when 10-year US Treasury bonds
yield less than 3-month US Treasury bills, a US recession, while probable, is not
certain. Moreover, I find that indeed the strength of this indicator has weakened over
the last 20 years. However, my findings do not suggest that an inverted yield curve
provides no information about the future. In fact, I find that an inverted yield curve
strongly predicts movements in the consumer durables and fixed private investment
series of US GDP.
2014-03-01T00:00:00ZASSESSMENT AND ASSURANCE OF SERVICE QUALITY IN PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE IN QATAR
http://hdl.handle.net/10576/3566
ASSESSMENT AND ASSURANCE OF SERVICE QUALITY IN PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE IN QATAR
Yousef, H.; Faisal, M.
The purpose of this study was quality assessment and quality assurance in pediatric
services of public and private hospitals in Qatar. The purpose of quality assessment
was to identify gaps in the delivered services; while quality assurance process was
carried out to ensure no future gaps in quality occur. The objectives were achieved
using a modified SERVQUAL scale and Fuzzy-Quality Function Deployment (Fuzzy-
QFD) approach. Data from 179 participants who visit public/private hospitals in
Qatar was analyzed to find the gaps between expectations and perceptions. The results
of the SERVQUAL study indicates negative quality gaps for all the service quality
dimensions. The inference that can be drawn from this result is that, in general, the
people are dissatisfied by the pediatric healthcare services offered by the public/
private hospitals in Qatar. Thus, the managers in these hospitals should work towards
improving the quality of their services, in particular, the responsiveness and empathy
dimensions. The output of the SERVQUAL study was then utilized to model those
variables that are important in assuring service quality. This was achieved using
Fuzzy-QFD model which demonstrates that there is a set of variables that should
be accorded prime importance by the hospitals administrators’ to assure quality in
pediatric services.
2014-03-01T00:00:00Z