Utility Analysis and the Consumption Function: An Interpretation of Cross-Section Data

Determinants of economic growth: A cross-country empirical study.

Consumers’ perceptions and preferences for local food: A review

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/47/30404/01397912.pdf

In Defense of Globalization

The present study aims at describing the state-of-play of short food supply chains (SFSC) in the EU understood as being the chains in which foods involved are identified by, and traceable to a farmer and for which the number of intermediaries between farmer and consumer should be minimal or ideally nil. Several types of SFSCs can be identified, for example CSAs (Community-Supported Agriculture), on-farm sales, off-farm schemes (farmers markets, delivery schemes), collective sales in particular towards public institutions, being mostly local / proximity sales and in some cases distance sales. Such type of food chain has specific social impacts, economic impacts at regional and farm level as well as environmental impacts translating themselves into a clear interest of consumers. SFSCs are present throughout the EU, although there are some differences in the different MS in terms of dominating types of SFSCs. In general, they are dominantly small or micro-enterprises, composed of small-scale producers, often coupled to organic farming practices. Social values (quality products to consumers and direct contact with the producer) are the values usually highlighted by SFSCs before environmental or economic values. In terms of policy tools, there are pros and cons in developing a specific EU labelling scheme which could bring more recognition, clarity, protection and value added to SFSCs, while potential costs might be an obstacle. Anyhow, a possible labelling scheme should take into account the current different stages and situations of development of SFSCs in the EU and be flexible enough accommodate these differences. Other policy tools, in particular training and knowledge exchange in marketing and communication are considered important and should continue to be funded by Rural Development programmes, as well as possibly other EU funds in view of the positive social and not specifically rural impacts.

Short Food Supply Chains and Local Food Systems in the EU. A State of Play of their Socio-Economic Characteristics.

This paper critically explores consumer perceptions and trends regarding purchasing locally produced food. Until recently, much of the research in this area largely focused on regional consumers where rural consumers had reasonable access to locally produced food and were usually in close proximity to the producers within, or close to, their immediate community. Here, the objectives of the primary research focused instead on urban attitudes and perceptions of local food within the Greater Birmingham conurbation in the West Midlands region of the UK. Birmingham is by far the most highly populated urban area of the region, and with ample opportunities to promote local food. Consumers, based mainly in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, were questioned on their locally produced food-buying habits and attitudes in order to determine any differences in urban perceptions and buying attitudes compared with rural counterparts, and also to identify any new and potential opportunities for local food producers. Originally, 1000 questionnaires were obtained from across Greater Birmingham and Wolverhampton. However, for the purposes of this paper, it was decided to focus on two urban city centres – Birmingham and Wolverhampton, with 148 questionnaires. The results indicate that urban consumers are generally confused about what the term ‘local’ food means. The reasons for purchasing local food, while generally consistent with national patterns, differed in that supporting the local producers was not regarded as important. Barriers to purchase were largely unsurprising for an urban area, as the top choices were ‘too expensive’ followed by ‘not readily available’ and ‘no time to find it’. Understanding, information, availability and access to local food emerge as the biggest challenges to urban consumers in buying local food.

Evaluating the urban consumer with regard to sourcing local food: a Heart of England study

Purpose




The purpose of this paper is to address the confusing use of terminology associated with tourism undertaken by Muslims and to identify key concerns associated with this type of tourism.




Design/methodology/approach




This is an exploratory study and adopts a critical review of literature following the evolutionary concept analysis method. Content analysis of popular UK media, UK-based tour operators’ websites and tourism strategies of destinations popular with Muslim tourists were conducted to examine the use of terminology.




Findings




There is no clear difference between the various terms (halal, Muslim friendly, Islamic, etc.) used. Overall, academia uses the term Islamic tourism, while the industry and media use various terms. Among destinations, however, there is no clear and consistent use of terminology. A key concern of Islamic tourism is the role of certification in assuring travellers and the lack of standardisation of halal certification.




Research limitations/implications




The paper is based on literature review and secondary data analysis. It lacks primary research.




Practical implications




This study highlights the need for consistent use of terminology across industry. Another implication is the issue surrounding halal certification of food and the importance of trust in the seller/service provide. Another trend that industry providers need to consider is the growth of the Muslim millennial traveller and the needs of this market segment.




Originality/value




The paper highlights the importance of studying the Muslim tourist market and provides a starting point for further research. It highlights several issues such as the need to develop a typology of Muslim tourists. Of particular interest is the concern whether halal values in danger of being commodified in the absence of a universal agreed criterion for halal certification.

The “Halalification” of tourism

The article analyses conditional β-convergence among the low income countries using a panel data framework covering the period 1960 to 2008. The estimation of conditional income convergence is based on the augmented Solow model with system GMM technique for the dynamic panel data. More importantly, the article assesses the role of initial human capital stock and the rule of law in the income convergence of poor countries by considering further categorizations of the poor countries based on these two variables. This is the first study on the comparative properties of human capital and the rule of law in the income convergence of poor countries utilizing a dynamic panel framework. The full sample of low income countries does not show any evidence of conditional income convergence. The categorizations on the basis of initial human capital stock do not alter the conclusion of no income convergence. However, the subsample of low income countries with a better rule of law exhibits positive evidence of convergen...

/pdf/initial-human-capital-or-the-rule-of-law-what-matters-for-2njzptvqnl.pdf

Initial human capital or the rule of law: what matters for the income convergence of poor countries?

Taxonomic information provides the base line for most of the studies in biological sciences. Most of taxonomic information based on phenotypic characteristics of plants. As phenotypic markers are under the influence of environment, therefore it may leads toward the taxonomic confusion. Therefore, present study was carried out to determine the effect of environment on types of stomata, number, size, and stomata patterning which is very useful feature in taxonomy. In the present study thirty arboreal species of dicot flora (from tropical and subtropical regions) belonging to eight orders and fifteen families are evaluated by using systematic tool i.e. stomatal pattering. Stomata play a vital role in gas exchange of dicot plants. Within dicot flora, eight shapes of stomata are observed (anomocytic, anomotetracytic, actinocytic, amphianisocytic, brachyparacytic, anisocytic, amphicyclocytic and staurocytic). In leaves, the pattern of stomatal distribution is highly variable between arboreal species of dicot but is regulated by a mechanism of one cell spacing between stomata. Epidermal anatomical marker showed the different mode of Review Article Annual Research & Review in Biology, 4(24): 4034-4053, 2014 4035 stomata patterning. Hence, this differential marker can be utilized to differentiate taxonomically complicated species.

/pdf/stomatal-patterning-an-important-taxonomic-tool-for-2wsenexn4l.pdf

Stomatal Patterning: An Important Taxonomic Tool for Systematical Studies of Tree Species of Angiosperm

The purpose of this study is to investigate what cues or surrogate indicators Muslims use to determine whether restaurants are suitable for dining purposes in the absence of the halal logo and to examine if the cues used are different among Muslims from non-Muslim countries as opposed to Muslims from Muslim countries.,Data were collected via semi-structured interviews in one Muslim majority (Malaysia) and one non-Muslim country (the UK). A total of 16 adults participated in the study with an equal representation from both countries.,In the absence of the halal logo, participants relied on extrinsic cues such as the presence of other Muslim-looking customers and service personnel to determine whether a restaurant was deemed safe for dining in. The location of a restaurant was a strong indicator for Muslims in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries. In the absence of the halal logo, participants read the menus carefully, queried the service personnel for additional information and selected safer options, such as vegetarian and seafood.,The study used a small sample, and therefore, the findings are tentative.,Given the growth of Muslim population in many non-Muslim countries, it is important for restaurants in non-Muslim countries not to marginalize this customer base. Trust is a key issue and service providers without the halal logo should gain the trust of Muslim customers by training service personnel and equipping them with knowledge of what halal means, developing menus with vegetarian and seafood options, providing detailed information on ingredients and communicating this on their websites and social media sites. They could also consider working with Muslim food and travel bloggers to promote themselves to a Muslim audience. They can develop a more Muslim sympathetic marketing approach and consider using separate cooking and serving utensils to gain trust and patronage of Muslim customers as well as to appeal to a larger market (vegans/vegetarians).,The present study is one of the first studies that concentrates on gaining an insight into how Muslims make decision pertaining to the selection and dining at a restaurant in the absence of the halal logo. A major contribution of the study is the identification of cues that assist Muslims when evaluating and selecting alternative food options in the absence of a halal logo.

Faiza Khan

Papers

Evaluating the urban consumer with regard to sourcing local food: a Heart of England study

The “Halalification” of tourism

Initial human capital or the rule of law: what matters for the income convergence of poor countries?

Stomatal Patterning: An Important Taxonomic Tool for Systematical Studies of Tree Species of Angiosperm

“Is this restaurant halal?” Surrogate indicators and Muslim behaviour