Competition for Viewers and Advertisers in a TV Oligopoly

Abstract

This study considers a model of a TV oligopoly where TV channels transmit advertising and viewers dislike such commercials. It is shown that advertisers make a lower profit the larger the number of TV channels. If TV channels are sufficiently close substitutes, there will be underprovision of advertising relative to social optimum. This study also finds that the more viewers dislike ads, the more likely it is that welfare is increasing in the number of advertising-financed TV channels. A publicly owned TV channel can partly correct market distortions, in some cases, by having a larger amount of advertising than private TV channels. It may even have advertising in cases where advertising is wasteful per se.     

It’s not the economy, stupid! External effects on the supply and demand of cinema entertainment

The paper addresses whether the state of the economy impacts the supply of and demand for cinema entertainment. A literature review on the drivers of cinema supply and demand is provided, and two competing hypotheses are extracted. Economic downturns could either lead to a sober mood and drive the interest in serious genres or drive the need for distraction leading to an increased interest in feel-good or action movies. However, characteristics of the movie industry suggest that economic key factors have only limited effects on supply and demand. A time series analysis of supply and demand in three major European markets indicate that demand is unrelated to the state of the economy. In aggregate, the demand does not instruct supply. Fluctuations in individual movie quality superpose potential effects of the economic context on the aggregated demand. Simultaneously, a focus on film as art superposes potential effects of the economic context on the supply.     

Typologies of Greek inactive older adults based on reasons for abstaining from exercise and conditions for change

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine typologies of non-exercisers based on reasons for physical inactivity and conditions reported to be necessary to change exercise behaviour. These typologies were then compared on psychological variables of interest and exercise history. Questionnaires were distributed to Greek older adults aged 60 and above who were recruited from social clubs and city cafés. Only individuals engaging in no regular exercise were recruited (n = 188). The results of hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses revealed two clusters for males (“approachable” and “unconvinced”) and three for females (“unconcerned”, “approachable”, and “unconvinced”). The clusters differed significantly on psychological variables not used in the cluster solution. Exercise history distinguished between clusters only among males. The results reveal that physically inactive older adults are not a homogeneous group of individuals. Implementers of physical activity interventions should probably use a range of strategies that take into consideration that some sedentary older adults are more amenable to consider taking up exercise than others.     

Sympathoadrenal and parasympathetic responses to exercise

Exhaustive exercise is associated with a persistent sensation of weakness and sometimes nausea suggesting abdominal vagal activity. We measured plasma indices of sympathoadrenal (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine) and vagal (pancreatic polypeptide) activity before, during and after submaximal and maximal exercise in healthy young subjects. Plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine increased to 8.5 (range 7.4–40.5), 48.0 (32.3–100.5) and 1.8 (1.2–6.6) nmol l^–1 respectively (n = 5), during maximal exercise and decreased towards control values within 15 min of rest. Pancreatic polypeptide (n = 10) increased only during maximal exercise and reached its highest value, 48 (21–145) pmol l^–1, after exertion. The results conform to an increase in sympathetic activity during exercise and a persistent vagal activity after intense exercise which could contribute to the sensation of weakness.     

Children with motor coordination problems and learning disabilities in reading,spelling, writing and arithmetic

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to investigate the incidence of motor coordination problems (clumsiness) among 10‐year‐old learning disabled children and to examine the characteristics of children with motor coordination problems. It was found that the strongest relationship between motor and learning problems seemed to exist in handwriting and arithmetic and the weakest in reading. With regard to the assignment to different subgroups based on deficient reading and spelling strategies, more clumsy children with dyslexic problems were classified in the ‘phonological’ and ‘mixed’ groups than in the ‘morphemic’ group. Our study also supports the heterogeneity of children labelled ‘clumsy’. The clumsy children varied widely in their characteristics and concomitant disabilities. No significant difference between the children with motor problems and a control group of ‘normal’ children was found when intelligence was accounted for.     

Gender Differences in Computer-related Control Beliefs and Home Computer Use

This study explores gender differences in home computer use and control beliefs relative to being able to use computers. Perceived control of computer usage was measured in 152 Grade 8 Norwegian students. One group of students ( n = 58) had no computer training and did not use computers at school. In this group, males were found to have greater perceived control of the computer as well as greater confidence in own success, compared with females. Another group of students ( n = 94) had computer training in school. No gender differences were found in this group. The results are discussed in terms of sex stereotypes and the impact of computer training.     

VEIEN TIL OG GJENNOM GYMNASET I NORGE

Brusling, C. 1973. Composition Training. Scand. J. educ. Res. 17, 11‐22. From principles of the psychology of learning a method of stimulating practice in composition was derived. The method was tested in a sample of 120 pupils in the third grade of the elementary school. Measures of quantity, counts of words, as well as measures of quality (ratings) were gathered and used in the evaluation of the results. A comparison was made between the usual univariate form of statistical analysis and the multivariate technique of discriminant analysis. The latter was shown not to yield the easily interpreted results often claimed as one of the virtues of the method.

Generally, the results support the hypothesis that the experimental treatment should be more effective than the control treatment.     

Paths of technology upgrading in the BRICS economies

This paper explores technology upgrading of BRICS economies based on a three-pronged approach, which distinguishes between the intensity of technology upgrading, structural change and global interaction. We develop a statistical framework based on patent indicators to measure technological upgrading and apply it to BRICS economies in the period 1980–2015. The paper shows that there is no single path of technology upgrading. Instead, we find several unique paths with different trade-offs between intensity, structural change and the nature of the global interaction. All BRICS economies display increased generation of frontier technological activities, while China and Russia have also increased the intensity of behind frontier technological activities. China has also diversified its technology knowledge base and entered into dynamic frontier areas. With increasing intensity of frontier technology activities of the BRICS, the relative, but not absolute, the importance of foreign actors and international collaboration has declined. However, BRICS economies seem to lack the organisational and complementary capabilities to match the extent of technology sourcing from abroad, observed in high-income countries. Our result represents the application of a new conceptual framework and contributes to assessing the sustainability of innovation-based growth among BRICS.     

The painters behind the profile: the rise and functioning of communication departments in universities

Youth transitioning into university face numerous life challenges, particularly in South Africa with its high levels of poverty and inequality. This article, recognising the vulnerability of many students, sets out to identify the resilience processes that facilitate the resilient outcomes of life satisfaction and academic progress. Using a sample of 232 psychosocially vulnerable undergraduate students, a quantitative survey was conducted and analysed using multivariate procedures. Results indicate that 27% of the variance in life satisfaction was accounted for by 19 resilience variables, with community relationships and family financial security being individually significant, and that 18% of the variance in academic progress was accounted for, with learning orientation being individually significant. Family relationships also emerged as important for both outcomes. The findings suggest that, during times of adversity, South African students draw in particular on relational resources in their home communities, and that academic progress is protected from deterioration by vulnerable students’ love for learning. Practice implications for universities are proposed that go beyond reactive, therapeutic services towards creating a supportive academic community.     

‘So,how does one define a friendship?’: Identifying friendship among students using AAC in inclusive education settings*

The characteristics of friendships among children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are not well understood. Research on friendships among children without disabilities has identified similarity to each other as a key characteristic among friends. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the friendships between students using AAC and fellow students in Norwegian mainstream public schools. Participants were students using AAC in first to fourth class, fellow students, parents, and staff. Data were analysed using a constructive grounded theory approach. The participants provided diverse reports about the friendships, although all students using AAC reported having friendships at school. The friendships were described by parents and staff as superficial and students using AAC were seldom perceived as playmates by fellow students. The results indicated that friendships between students using AAC and fellow students were often unilateral. The results are discussed along with the implications for future research.