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True Cost (true + cost)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	60%

Selected Abstracts

Comparing the True Cost of Living Indices of Demographically Different Households

BULLETIN OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2004
Panayiota Lyssiotou
D1 Abstract The comparison of true cost of living indices between demographically different households (relative equivalence scale) is argued to be sensitive to the way demographic characteristics enter demand analysis. In particular, parameters reflecting the cost of demographic characteristics at base prices, though themselves do not have welfare (equivalence scale) interpretation, can alter the benchmark from which demographically varying inflation effects are measured. The empirical analysis, based on a rank-3 demand system applied to UK individual household data, shows that the inflation adjustment of child benefits can vary with the way demographic costs at base period prices are specified. [source]

Waste minimization techniques and options for the wet and pretreatment sections of coil coating plants

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 3 2004
Nicola J. Brown
Abstract Waste minimization has proven successful in recent years for many companies in reducing their raw material and utility consumption and costs as well as their waste-treatment and disposal costs. Although waste minimization opportunities can be identified through observation of plant operation practices and through application of generalized heuristic principles, many opportunities are determined only through analysis of plant data. In this study, two preassessment techniques (scoping audit and true cost of waste assessment) and two techniques for a more detailed assessment (mass balances and monitoring and targeting) were evaluated to determine whether they identified similar waste minimization opportunities on two coil coating lines. All techniques identified similar waste minimization opportunities, although the true cost of waste assessment and the monitoring and targeting analysis were found to be the most accurate in prioritizing the waste minimization opportunities. The raw material "scope to save" percentage in the scoping audit requires modification for application to South African industry. General waste minimization options for the wet and pretreatment sections of the coil coating industry are also presented. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 23: 185,193, 2004 [source]

Comparing the True Cost of Living Indices of Demographically Different Households

Social costs of robbery and the cost-effectiveness of substance abuse treatment

HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 8 2008
Anirban Basu
Abstract Reduced crime provides a key benefit associated with substance abuse treatment (SAT). Armed robbery is an especially costly and frequent crime committed by some drug-involved offenders. Many studies employ valuation methods that understate the true costs of robbery, and thus the true social benefits of SAT-related robbery reduction. At the same time, regression to the mean and self-report bias may lead pre,post comparisons to overstate crime reductions associated with SAT. Using 1992,1997 data from the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES), we examined pre,post differences in self-reported robbery among clients in five residential and outpatient SAT modalities. Fixed-effect negative binomial regression was used to examine incidence rate reductions (IRR) in armed robbery. Published data on willingness to pay to avoid robbery were used to determine the social valuation of these effects. Differences in IRR across SAT modalities were explored to bound potential biases. All SAT modalities were associated with large and statistically significant reductions in robbery. The average number of self-reported robberies declined from 0.83/client/year pre-entry to 0.12/client/year following SAT (p<0.001). Under worst-case assumptions, monetized valuations of reductions in armed robbery associated with outpatient methadone and residential SAT exceeded economic costs of these interventions. Conventional wisdom posits the economic benefits of SAT. We find that SAT is even more beneficial than is commonly assumed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Does Relationship Marketing Age Well?

BUSINESS STRATEGY REVIEW, Issue 4 2001
Jonathan D. Hibbard
Most managers agree that close co-operative relationships between business partners yield benefits to all parties. However, some question whether these benefits continue as the relationship ages. This article reports on a study designed to answer this question. The study suggests that, however long the relationship, building trust, commitment and the other components of Relationship Marketing (RM) continue to have a positive effect on the performance of business partners. However, it also shows that, over time, the positive effect diminishes. The authors suggest that managers need to recognize this, and to identify the true costs of building relationships so as to judge whether the diminishing returns justify the effort. Ultimately, managers need to vary their handling of each relationship because standardized RM practices are unlikely to be effective. [source]