Non-financial Mechanisms Research Articles

Price and financial stability of the Bank of Russia: Non-financial mechanisms for the competition development

The paper considers the problem of price and financial stability of the Bank of Russia, as well as the issue of the influence of inflation and currency exchange rate volatility on economic growth rates. It has been proved that the growth in prices for services has a significant impact on the inflation dynamics. It is the dynamics of the consumer price index for services that generally determine inflation in the service sector. It has been substantiated that in the policy of the Bank of Russia it is expedient to use non-monetary instruments to reduce inflation, namely the development of competition and control over the pricing mechanism on the market. Effective measures that contribute to reducing the variation in prices for services and inflation are: raising competition in the economy and the growth of control over the activities of natural monopolies; measures aimed at developing competition in the housing and communal services market, control over the formation of tariffs in the light of the implementation of programs intended to increase the efficiency of natural monopoly subjects; implementation of the requirements for the growth of transparency and openness of the activities of natural monopolies, especially in terms of tariff calculation, as well as the growth of control over their activities; the participation of the Bank of Russia, together with the territorial offices of the Bank of Russia and the Offices of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in the process of monitoring and approving the tariffs of natural monopolies. Based on the results of the study, the authors of the paper developed proposals for non-monetary instruments as a measure to reduce inflation and improve the policy effectiveness of the Bank of Russia on inflation targeting.

Accounting to promote ethical tolerance: the case of the Italian prostitution model (1860)

PurposeThis paper explores the role that the control system – understood as a set of financial and non-financial mechanisms – introduced by the Ministerial Decree of 15th February 1860 played in promoting the ethical tolerance of prostitution in the Kingdom of Italy.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research method was adopted. Specifically, this study draws on literature on accounting and deviant behaviors and on Suchman's theories of legitimation (1995) to interpret empirical evidence collected from archival primary sources as well as secondary sources.FindingsThe paper highlights how the accounting mechanisms introduced by the law were molded to limit the serious consequences of prostitution from a public health standpoint and to demonstrate that the State neither profited from prostitution nor used public money to fund it. This should have stimulated ethical tolerance of the law itself and, consequently, of the prostitution that was regulated.Originality/valueThis paper opens a new research avenue in the field of accounting history by exploring the connection between accounting and prostitution. Moreover, unlike the extant literature on accounting and deviant behaviors, this study delves into the role played by accounting mechanisms to promote ethical tolerance rather than to activate normalization processes.

Abstract 12678: Marketplace Plan Designs for Cardiometabolic Therapies in Rural and Urban Counties in the US

Introduction: In the US, important variation exists in cardiovascular risk factor burden and rates of death across rural and urban counties. Affordability and non-financial mechanisms can present as barriers to treatment, yet little is known about if there may be systematic variation in plan design by rural and urban settings. We assessed whether rural or urban county type is associated with insurance plan design for sacubitril/valsartan, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. Methods: We evaluated the median premium silver-level plan from 26 selected states with federally-facilitated marketplaces based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regions. We then examined features such as coverage, tier, copay or coinsurance, expected out-of-pocket costs for 30 day supply, and coverage contingent non-financial elements including prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. Logistic regression models, stratified by medication and state, assessed if rural/urban county type was a predictor of cost-sharing mechanism, coverage contingent elements, or out-of-pocket costs. Results: The mean population of urban and rural counties was 1.2M (±1.3M) and 19,364 (± 40,006), respectively. Urban counties had a higher proportion of Black/Hispanic individuals (31% vs. 16%) and higher median household incomes ($65,835 ± $17,452 vs. $47,212 ± $10,549); all P < 0.01. Over 90% of plans covered each of the three medications, irrespective of rural/urban county type. Across each of the three medications and states, plans in urban counties had higher odds of including prior authorization (OR: 10.59; 95% CI: 2.55-43.96; P = 0.001) and use of coinsurance (OR: 9.06; 95% CI: 2.55-32.20; P = 0.001) compared with plans in rural counties. For each drug, predicted out-of-pocket costs differed as much as $250 between rural and urban counties for a given state. Conclusion: Most plans cover these newer cardiometabolic therapies across sampled US counties, but there was substantial variation in plan architecture across counties with greater utilization of prior authorization and coinsurance as a cost-sharing mechanism in urban counties. Given a greater population density, these mechanisms may guard against moral hazard and overutilization in urban settings.

And the Winner Is …? The Desirable and Undesirable Effects of Platform Awards

We study platform firms’ decision to recognize innovative products by complementors ex post through awards. We find that awards—despite being purely symbolic—might set incentives for complementors’ product strategies that can eventually lead to both desirable and undesirable outcomes for the platform firm. First, awards encourage recipients to focus on releasing complement improvements rather than new complements. Second, awards increases recipients’ likelihood of multihoming. Finally, awards increase new complement releases in the recipients’ market niche by attracting other complementors. Firms can directly benefit from the analyses presented in this study. For platform firms, this study’s results suggest that awards have significant effects on complementors’ behavior despite representing only symbolic and nonfinancial mechanisms. Platform managers should consider the flexibility of awards as a particular strength: an award can, for instance, be given to “the best complement” with no need to define the criteria exactly. Nevertheless, platform managers should be aware that employing awards requires a careful evaluation of whether their effects are desirable. Given that awards can encourage multihoming, platform managers are advised to employ additional mechanisms to increase recipients’ loyalty to the platform, for example, through contractual exclusivity arrangements.

Transformation of export support mechanisms in the Russian Federation during pandemic Covid–19

The article provides a systematization of mechanisms of state support for exports in the Russian Federation within the framework of the National Project “International Cooperation and Export”. It is shown that a complex multi-level export support system operates in the Russian Federation, including a wide range of financial and nonfinancial mechanisms. The mechanisms for transforming export support instruments in the context of the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic are revealed. Deepening and expanding integration within the framework of the EAEU is fixed as a key task in the foreign policy Concept of all member States of the Eurasian economic community. It is noted that joint efforts can more effectively deal with the consequences of the global economic crisis and, in fact, the global quarantine caused by the consequences of Covid–19. The Russian market is a significant part of the import supplies of industrial enterprises of the EAEU partners, removing any restrictions related to the size of the market. In modern conditions, it is advisable to develop export support mechanisms aimed primarily at providing targeted support to non-profit companies that are exposed to market risks, including those arising under the influence of the COVID–19 pandemic.

Preferences for Policy Options for Deceased Organ Donation for Transplantation: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Despite broad public support for organ donation, there is a chronic shortage of deceased donor organs. We sought to identify community preferences for features of organ donation policies. A discrete choice study was conducted using an online panel of Australian community respondents older than 18 years. Respondents were presented with scenarios comparing a "new" policy to the current policy. Tradeoffs between 8 policy aspects were quantified using mixed logit and latent class models: registration system, extent of donor family involvement, ease of registration, frequency of confirmation of intent, direct payment, and funeral expense reimbursement, priority for donor's family, and formal recognition of donation. There were 2005 respondents (mean, 44.6 years). We found a strong preference for a new policy. Overall, respondents favored a policy that included: some involvement of the donor's family in the final decision, simple registration processes, less frequent reconfirmation of donation intent, direct payment or funeral expense reimbursement, and formal recognition of donation. However, there was significant preference heterogeneity across respondents, with various respondent groups valuing policy mechanisms differently. Respondents who viewed policy change negatively were also those who would be unlikely to be organ donors anyway, because they tended to hold negative views toward organ donation. Our results suggest that the Australian community are open to alternative organ donation policies including changes to: registration systems, family involvement, and financial and nonfinancial mechanisms. Future policy discussions should not be limited by preconceived notions of what is acceptable to the community, rather informed by actual community values and preferences.

Rewarding peer reviewers: maintaining the integrity of science communication.

This article overviews currently available options for rewarding peer reviewers. Rewards and incentives may help maintain the quality and integrity of scholarly publications. Publishers around the world implemented a variety of financial and nonfinancial mechanisms for incentivizing their best reviewers. None of these is proved effective on its own. A strategy of combined rewards and credits for the reviewers1 creative contributions seems a workable solution. Opening access to reviews and assigning publication credits to the best reviews is one of the latest achievements of digitization. Reviews, posted on academic networking platforms, such as Publons, add to the transparency of the whole system of peer review. Reviewer credits, properly counted and displayed on individual digital profiles, help distinguish the best contributors, invite them to review and offer responsible editorial posts.

Expanding the Scope of LCA to Include ‘Societal Value’: A Framework and Methodology for Assessing Positive Product Impacts

As resources become scarcer, efficiency improvements alone will not bridge the widening gap between supply and demand, resulting in the need for additional non-financial mechanisms to ensure the fairer allocation of resources. This paper asserts that, in the future, companies will need to demonstrate their products’ positive contribution to society as well as minimising their negative environmental/social impacts. A review and analysis of existing tools and assessment methodologies identifies current capabilities and highlights the need for Societal Value’ assessment that considers both quantitative and qualitative factors .This paper concludes by proposing a systematic framework for addressing the Societal Value’ of products as part of an integrate sustainability assessment and allows the evaluation and comparison beyond products’ shared functionality.

Accountable Care Organizations: A Challenging Opportunity for Primary Care to Demonstrate its Value

Accountable Care Organizations: A Challenging Opportunity for Primary Care to Demonstrate its Value

In search of corporate renewal: focus on corporate venturing

Today's changing business environment forces companies to seek continuous corporate renewal and for its part drives the decision to engage in corporate venturing. However, when measured by financial terms, eight out of ten ventures fail. By studying corporate venturing through the management processes, this study defines a framework, which enhances our understanding of the non-financial mechanisms linking corporate venturing and corporate renewal. It defines a framework of strategic corporate venturing, which can help established corporations to use corporate venturing as an engine of corporate renewal.