Massey Documents by Type
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294
Browse
4 results
Search Results
Item Zodiac Year Fate Eased by CSR: Fact or Fiction?(Elsevier Inc, 2025-07) Hu Y; Fang J; Bhuiyan MBUThis study examines the relationship between the Chinese zodiac year of chairpersons and corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance. Drawing on upper echelons and stakeholder theories, we argue that zodiac beliefs may lead chairpersons to prioritise CSR activities during their zodiac year to counteract potential bad luck and mitigate corporate risk. Using 24,418 observations from Chinese listed firms over the period 2010–2020, our empirical analysis reveals a significant and positive effect of chairpersons' zodiac year on CSR performance. We observe that the effect is transient, appearing before and during the zodiac year but diminishing thereafter. Further, our findings show that the zodiac year effect is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises, firms with higher levels of public, environmental and CSR concerns and those with favourable environmental track records. This study extends the application of upper echelons and stakeholder theories by incorporating chairpersons’ zodiac year effect.Item Assessing alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards: the International Alcohol Control Study(BMJ Publishing Group, 2024-11-24) Leung JYY; Casswell S; Randerson S; Athauda L; Banavaram A; Callinan S; Campbell O; Chaiyasong S; Dearak S; Dumbili EW; Romero-García L; Gururaj G; Kalapat R; Karki K; Karlsson T; Kong M; Liu S; Maldonado Vargas ND; Gonzalez-Mejía JF; Naimi T; Nthomang K; Oladunni O; Owino K; Herrera Palacio JC; Phatchana P; Pradhan PMS; Rossow I; Shorter G; Sibounheuang V; Štelemėkas M; Son DT; Vallance K; van Dalen W; Wettlaufer A; Zamora A; Jankhotkaew J; Veitch EBACKGROUND: The alcohol industry uses many of the tobacco industry's strategies to influence policy-making, yet unlike the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, there is no intergovernmental guidance on protecting policies from alcohol industry influence. Systematic assessment of alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards is also lacking. Here, we aimed to identify the nature and extent of industry penetration in a cross-section of jurisdictions. Using these data, we suggested ways to protect alcohol policies and policy-makers from undue industry influence. METHODS: As part of the International Alcohol Control Study, researchers from 24 jurisdictions documented whether 22 indicators of alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards were present or absent in their location. Several sources of publicly available information were used, such as government or alcohol industry reports, websites, media releases, news articles and research articles. We summarised the responses quantitatively by indicator and jurisdiction. We also extracted examples provided of industry penetration and government safeguards. RESULTS: There were high levels of alcohol industry penetration overall. Notably, all jurisdictions reported the presence of transnational alcohol corporations, and most (63%) reported government officials or politicians having held industry roles. There were multiple examples of government partnerships or agreements with the alcohol industry as corporate social responsibility activities, and government incentives for the industry in the early COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, government safeguards against alcohol industry influence were limited, with only the Philippines reporting a policy to restrict government interactions with the alcohol industry. It was challenging to obtain publicly available information on multiple indicators of alcohol industry penetration. CONCLUSION: Governments need to put in place stronger measures to protect policies from alcohol industry influence, including restricting interactions and partnerships with the alcohol industry, limiting political contributions and enhancing transparency. Data collection can be improved by measuring these government safeguards in future studies.Item If soft drink companies can do it, why can't government? Sugary drink sales policies in schools must be tightened(2022-06) Sundborn G; Thornley S; Veatupu L; Lang BItem Characterization and management of human-wildlife conflicts in mid-hills outside protected areas of Gandaki province, Nepal(PLOS, 2021-11-19) Baral K; Sharma HP; Rimal B; Thapa-Magar K; Bhattarai R; Kunwar RM; Aryal A; Ji W; Sharma LKWith the intent to better management human wildlife conflict (HWC) and wildlife conservation in mid-hills outside protected areas of Gandaki province, Nepal, we analyzed the patterns and drivers of HWC. Using data collected from literature, government records and questionnaire survey, we investigated temporal, seasonal and spatial distribution of human casualties caused by wildlife attacks. We also appraised the perception of local people towards wildlife conservation. We have recorded 77 cases (69 human injuries and 8 mortalities) during the period of nine year between 2011 and 2019. The number of wildlife attacks increased over this period. Wildlife attacks were more frequent in winter with 50% (42) of attacks occurred between September and December. Common leopard (Panthera pardus) and Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger) were the major species involved in these conflicts. Common leopard was the most feared species that causes highest number of human mortalities (87%, n = 67); the most severe type of HWC outcome. Forty-eight percent (n = 37) attacks were reported at human settlement areas followed by 27% attacks in agriculture land (n = 21) and 24% (n = 19) in forest. Generalized linear model analysis on spatial variables showed that the probability of human attacks increases with decreasing elevation (β = -0.0021, Z = -1.762, p = 0.078) and distance from the forest (β = -0.608, Z = -0.789, p = 0.429). We recommend to decrease habitat degradation / fragmentation, carry out habitat management program within forest to increase prey availability to decrease the wildlife invasion into human settlement area, and decrease dependency of people on forest resources by providing alternative livelihood opportunities. Simplified relief fund distribution mechanism at local level also helps alleviate the impact of HWC. The knowledge obtained by this study and management measures are important for better human-wildlife co-existence.
