Country-specific Influences Research Articles

International Comparison of Professional Competency Frameworks for Advanced Practice Nurses

Abstract Background Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) have become established professionals in many healthcare systems. APNs combine nursing with medical expertise, bridging the boundaries of traditional professions in nursing and medicine. This study focuses on the content of professional competency frameworks for APNs in different countries to determine (1) how these frameworks define the competencies of APNs and (2) address the division of tasks between APNs and physicians. Methods An inductive content analysis is conducted of the competency frameworks for APNs in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Results In Belgium, the Netherlands and the US, the framework is based on an existing model, while in Canada and UK, frameworks do not refer to a model. The analysis revealed twelve generic competency domains for APNs: 1. Clinical Care in Practice, 2. Independent Practitioner, 3. Professional Attitude, 4. Scientific Research & Evidence-Based Practice Care, 5. Leadership, 6. Health Promotion and Public Healthcare, 7. Communication and Collaboration, 8. Organisation of Care and Policy, 9. Support of Self-Management and Patient Empowerment, 10. Quality and Safety of Care, 11. Teaching and (continuing) Education, 12. Technology and E-Health. There are some differences in explicitly to which high-risk procedures are described per country. The frameworks provide limited descriptions of task division and delegation from physicians to APNs, except for the frameworks from Belgium and the Netherlands. Conclusions Despite variations in the basis of professional competency frameworks per country and country-specific influences, twelve generic competency domains with similar competencies were identified. It is recommended to stimulate the development of a global standardised competency framework for APNs, including clear descriptions of task division and delegation, to optimise their role in delivering high-quality healthcare services. Key messages • Similar APN competency expectations suggest the need for an international competency framework, including roles and tasks for APNs, to function as a basis for individual country frameworks. • Nursing associations can use this study to learn from other countries and enhance their development of country-specific competency frameworks for advanced practice nurses.

Religion and Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence: A Cross-National Study

In a world where violence against women remains pervasive and serious, intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most common and harmful forms of violence against women. Since religion and religiosity have been found to be influential in shaping people’s attitudes toward IPV, this global-scale study investigates the net effects of religion and religiosity on attitudes toward IPV with country-specific influences controlled. Using the data from the World Values Survey conducted between 2017 and 2020 that had 69,578 respondents with Ordinary Least Square regression (OLS) models, this study finds that being religious is related to less accepting attitudes toward IPV, while the frequency of attending religious activities does not have a statistically significant relationship with attitudes toward IPV. Variations in attitudes are found among different religious denominations as well. People belonging to some religious denominations show more acceptance of IPV, so the nuanced differences among specific religions are crucial in creating discrepancies in attitudes across religious people. The results call for more future interdisciplinary and mix-method research to further our understanding of the religious impact on attitudes toward IPV and to promote gender equality globally.

Measuring and managing brand loyalty of banks` clients

The purpose of the study is to measure behavioral, attitudinal and other brand loyalty antecedents, and to develop an operating model for measuring and managing brand loyalty of commercial banks clients. A random sample of 500 members of the South African Commercial Institute, who are also commercial banks’ clients, received a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire to be completed online via Twitter and Facebook. About 196 people completed the questionnaire. The data possess construct validity and reliability (α ≥ 0.70). The results show that seven of the 12 original antecedents are banking related, namely five Attitudinal antecedents (r2 = 0.557) and two Other antecedents (r2 = 0.442). Behavioral antecedents were not important to bank clients. All the antecedents have factor loadings above 0.60, and there is a significant positive correlation between Attitude and the Other antecedents (r = 0.75; p ≤ 0.01). This means that the model is useful for managers in managing brand loyalty at their banks. It is also of value to researchers and academia looking to conduct further research on how to measure and manage brand loyalty. However, a caution is that the data originated from South African banks’ clients. Country-specific influences can cause different brand loyalty preferences among international banks’ clients. AcknowledgmentI wish to acknowledge Mr. Sarel Salim for his contribution to administering the data collection for the original research on brand loyalty in banking (see also Salim and Bisschoff, 2014 in the reference list).

The interaction between mandatory and voluntary risk disclosure: a comparative study

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the interaction between mandatory and voluntary risk disclosure is a complementary or substitutive consequence of different risk regulatory regimes. The paper is a cross analysis comparing Germany, the US, Italy, France and the UK during the period 2007-2010.Design/methodology/approachContent analysis is used to examine mandatory and voluntary risk information in corporate annual reports. A framework for the identification and measurement of risk information is developed by considering national and supranational regulations.FindingsA complementary effect between mandatory and voluntary risk disclosure exists in each risk regulation jurisdiction. This effect does not depend on the presence of national risk rules (Germany and the US) as against national risk guidelines (France and the UK). Some cross-country differences emerge in the extent of the complementary effect, which are based on the national risk regulations. Germany shows the highest degree of complementing mandatory with voluntary risk disclosures.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations relate to the sample size, which is based on the choice of a matched approach and to some country-specific influences on regulatory regimes, which are not analysed. The practical implications refer to the revision or addition of mandated rules by accounting standard setters.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature in two ways. First, it proposes an incremental analysis of corporate risk disclosure by examining the interaction between mandatory and voluntary risk disclosure with a complementary or substitutive consequence in different risk regulatory settings not previously investigated. Second, the paper makes a method-based contribution by developing an original analytical framework based on the analysis of different regulatory regimes.

Top executive compensation in less developed capital markets

Purpose– This paper aims to study the determinants of variable compensation for top Portuguese executives (chief executive officers, chief financial officers and commercial directors).Design/methodology/approach– Data from 101 firms were collected through an email questionnaire sent to the human resource directors of 500 largest and best Portuguese firms of Exame, a business newspaper. A Tobit regression analysis was used to estimate the basic equation of the study.Findings– The conclusions are generally consistent with findings obtained in more developed capital markets. It was found that public and older corporations are more intensive users of variable pay, consistent with the agency theory prediction. A location in the centre of economic activity and a higher executive education increase the propensity to receive higher levels of salary in the form of variable compensation. The relation between compensation and performance was more elusive.Research limitations/implications– There are limitations as to the extrapolation of the obtained results, as the level of potential idiosyncrasy cannot be measured. Ideally, the study should be replicated in different contexts to control for country-specific influences. Nevertheless, the main finding that performance-related pay mechanisms are less used in countries where public corporations and potential agency problems are less pervasive should hold.Originality/value– As the focus is on a small economy with a developing capital market, this paper contributes to executive compensation literature that has mostly analysed firms based in well-developed capital markets, with a higher separation of ownership and control (Anglo-Saxon countries).

The mediating effect of mood on in-store behaviour among Muslim shoppers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of atmospherics on in-store behaviour among Malay Muslim shoppers in Malaysia. The effect of age on shopping behaviour is tested using two age groups: 18-25 years and 50 years or older. Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative methodology was employed, using structural equation modelling for testing the hypotheses developed. Purposive sampling was applied. Findings – Results of the present study show that positive perceptions of atmospherics exerted a positive influence on mood, which, in turn, affected in-store behaviour. Based on stimulus–organism–response theory, Muslim shoppers who were positive about the atmospherics tend to spend more time and money, and they exhibited intention to patronize the store again. Originality/value – Although past studies suggest that Muslim consumers are different due to their Islamic way of life, guided by the Islamic principles, by controlling for country-specific influences such as socio-economic factors, the results of this study provide support that modern marketing concepts are as relevant for the Muslim market as they are relevant for other market segments. Using the Mehrabian–Russell framework, Malay Muslims are found to be influenced by store atmospherics which, in turn, affect their in-store shopping behaviour. When comparing younger and older Muslims, results show no evidence of significant differences between these two age groups.

Distinguishing Universal Truths from Country-specific Influences on Children's Sustainable Travel: A Comparison of Children in the UK and the Osaka Regional Area

The analysis of children’s activity-travel patterns has gained increasing attention in a variety of research fields, including in transportation, health, and urban planning domains. Most of the previous studies suggested that more compact development promotes less car-dependent travel among children, but many questions regarding culture, car ownership, and wealth were left unanswered. A comparison between those studies highlighted interesting behavioural differences between children’s travel patterns in English developed countries and other developed countries such as Japan and Germany. Unfortunately comparisons through existing literature on children’s travel are hindered by different trips and models being examined. The aim of this paper is to help bridge this gap of knowledge. Using the UK National Travel Survey and the Osaka Regional Area person trip datasets, this paper compares children’s travel behaviour in a region of Japan and the UK. This paper discusses both consistencies and discrepancies of travel behaviours between the countries to highlight what factors are consistent despite cultural differences, and what may vary within cultures or different built environments.

The Cross-Section of Country News, Decoupling Expectations, and Global Business Cycles

We define decoupling as an increase in the cross-country heterogeneity in long-term growth expectations. We identify growth expectations from a cointegrating relation between a country's output level and its stock market valuation. Fluctuations in this output-price or yp-ratio reflect changes in perceptions about future real activity (output growth) or changes in the expectation of long-term stock market returns or both. Shocks to the cross-country dispersion of yp-ratios therefore provide information on the heterogeneity of the international cross-section of country-specific news about future real (output growth) and financial (return) opportunities. We show that shocks to the international cross-section of news have particularly high trend growth effects in Emerging Asia including China, particularly in the period since the Asian financial crisis. A factor analysis of the cross-section of stock market and output growth expectations reveals an increasing role for regional factors in both financial markets and for output growth. Whereas the role of regional factors in output growth has increased at the expense of global factors - a possible instance of decoupling - financial factors have become more regional at the expense of purely country-specific influences.

Distinguishing Universal Truths from Country-specific Influences on Children’s Sustainable Travel: A Comparison of Children in the UK and the Osaka Regional Area

Distinguishing Universal Truths from Country-specific Influences on Children’s Sustainable Travel: A Comparison of Children in the UK and the Osaka Regional Area

Socio-economic determinants of suicide: an ecological analysis of 35 countries

A long tradition of research has shown a relationship between suicide rates and socio-economic factors. However, most investigations have neglected to account for country-specific influences. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between socio-economic variables and gender-specific suicide rates in 35 countries, using analytic techniques able to control for effects embedded within different country contexts. Data relating to male and female age-standardised suicide rates (obtained from the WHO Statistical Information System) were analysed using fixed-effect regression. The possible associations between suicide rates and social variables were tested using data for 35 countries over the period 1980-2006. Findings indicated that higher male and female suicide rates were associated with increased female labour force participation, unemployment, and the proportion of persons over 65years. Reductions in male and female suicide rates were associated with increased health spending per capita. The study also revealed that higher fertility was associated with a reduction in male suicide. Female labour force participation had a stronger effect on male suicide rates. The results of this study suggest that variables related to the labour market and the economy were better explanatory factors of suicide rates than population-level indicators of interpersonal relationships. Although results were generally similar for males and females, males appeared to be more sensitive to changes in the social environment than women.

Estimating components of ICT expenditure: a model-based approach with applicability to short time-series

This article develops a microeconomic model-based approach to estimation of national information and communications technology expenditure that is helpful when only very short time-series are available. The model specification incorporates parameters for network effects and national e-readiness. Finally, the model allows for observed nonhomotheticity and ‘noise’ found in sample data, with the latter attributed to country-specific influences.

The Public Salience of Foreign and Security Policy in Britain, Germany and France

The salience of foreign affairs to general publics is an important but often neglected parameter for the role of public opinion in foreign and security policy. This article explores the determinants of foreign affairs' public salience and probes into the respective patterns in Germany, Britain and France. Building on the theory of news values, the article proposes to distinguish between issue-specific and country-specific influences on the public salience of foreign and security policy. The data suggest that broad international crises on the scale of 9/11 or the Iraq war go along with distinct cross-national peaks in the salience of foreign affairs to general publics. At the same time, the effects of constant issue logics are refracted by country-specific factors: most notably, the latter account for the much higher overall salience of foreign affairs to the British public than to the German and French publics since late 2002.

Market Rules: The Incidental Relationship between Democratic Compatibility and International Commerce

Democracies trade more with other democracies than they trade with closed political systems, but why they do so is unclear. We present a “gravity equation” that disentangles foreign policy from country-specific influences on trade by adding explanatory variables to control for traits of both the mass public and the domestic political system. We apply the resulting model to a data set covering 50 years (1948–1997) and 72 countries. The estimated effect of joint democracy, which appears in the absence of the country-specific variables, drops out when these control variables are added to eliminate omitted variable bias. Democracies do not trade together any more than they would incidentally given the usual social, economic, and political influences on commercial activity, calling into question explanations for their mutual trade activity that rely on foreign-policy favoritism or institutional compatibility.

Emerging market bond returns—An investor perspective

The novel features of this study consist in applying a conventional multifactor global market model to emerging market sovereign bond index rates of return that are denominated in US dollars and subsequently relating the unexplained residuals from the market model's estimates of each country's total bond index return to country-specific factors. They include political and financial risks as well as other presumed determinants of bond index rates of return. The results of our study confirm that sovereign countries’ bond index rates of return that include interest payments and capital gains/losses may be explained in terms of conventional bond pricing models by combining global market factors with local risk and other country-specific influences.

Economic Growth, Civil Wars, and Spatial Spillovers

A neoclassical growth model is used to empirically test for the influences of a civil war on steady-state income per capita both at home and in neighboring countries. This model provides the basis for measuring long-run and short-run effects of civil wars on income per capita growth in the host country and its neighbors. Evidence of significant collateral damage on economic growth in neighboring nations is uncovered. In addition, this damage is attributed to country-specific influences rather than to migration, human capital, or investment factors. As the intensity of the measure used to proxy the conflict increases, there are enhanced neighbor spillovers. Moreover, collateral damage from civil wars to growth is more pronounced in the short run.

Valuation effects of patent quality: A comparison for Japanese and U.S. firms

For both Japanese and U.S. firms, measures of patent quality based upon the number of scientific citations have robust market-value influences. These results suggest that investors regard scientific measures of the quality of inventive output as useful indicators of the economic value tied to patenting activity. The possibility of country-specific influences on the effectiveness of patenting activity is also suggested. These findings are of practical relevance because they suggest that scientific measures of patent quality have the potential to offer managers useful guidance concerning the quantity and quality of inventive output and the effectiveness of patent investments.