REGIONAL AND BUSINESS STUDIES

Basic income: opportunities or problem?

Bence Végvári — 2022-06-25

There has been an increase in debate over universal basic income in recent years, mostly related to the different welfare measures introduced in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, and because of the increasing relevance of labor market automation. In this study, our objective is to evaluate the attitudes of Hungarian citizens towards basic income, with a focus on its feasibility, as well as positive and negative effects. In order to accomplish this, we analyzed relevant international literature to draw up a questionnaire from studies, while also looking at background variables that potentially influence an individual’s attitude towards basic income. Results show that Hungarian citizens rather disagree about the feasibility of a basic income scheme in Hungary but they are a lot more agreeable with the EU-s capability to provide one (18.4% compared to 52%, respectively. Regarding its possible positive impacts, the most frequently mentioned items include reducing anxiety about financing basic needs, helping people return to education, and offsetting the effects of automation, while concerns about the idea of not being researched and tested enough, its effects on inflation, and its possible work-discouraging nature were listed as the most relevant negative effects.

The influence of marketing communication channels on the motivations, consumption behavior, and satisfaction of domestic tourists in Kenya

Peter Onyonje Osiako — 2022-06-25

As one of the oldest forms of tourism, domestic tourism remains vital for any destination especially in this post Covid-19 era when tourists are extremely sensitive to cross-border travel. Therefore, an understanding of how marketing communication channels affect the motivation, consumption behavior and satisfaction of domestic tourists is crucial in promoting this form of tourism. This study aims to investigate the influence of marketing communication channels on the motivations, consumption behavior and satisfaction of domestic tourists visiting Machakos People’s Park, in Kenya. To achieve this, a survey was conducted on a sample of 258 domestic tourists visiting Machakos People’s Park. Quantitative data was collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software. Explorative factor analysis was performed to distinguish the push and pull motivation factors, and descriptive measures were determined. Thereafter, cross-tabulation and chi-square determination were performed to test the associations between marketing communication channels and the other variables in the study. An alpha level of .05 was used for these statistical tests. The findings revealed that marketing communication channels had a significant influence only on the consumption behavior of domestic tourists but not on their motivations and satisfaction. These findings are instrumental for the marketing communication and management of Machakos People’s Park, and similar domestic tourist destinations.

Defence acquisition: a wicked problem?

Alexandre Verlaine — 2022-06-25

Defence acquisition is a complex undertaking involving multiple actors and processes. However, in recent years, the US and UK defence acquisition frameworks have been criticised for not being able to cope with the complex and uncertain nature of defence. The paper takes this criticism and argues that defence acquisition is best understood as a “wicked problem” in which collective processes tie the system into large and interconnected networks of systems, not as a traditional linear science problem. In particular, the paper demonstrates that the Linear Transformation Model, at the heart of the US and UK defence acquisition framework, is ill-designed to cope with the complex and uncertain nature of both defence outputs and outcomes. The main reasons are technological maturity, information asymmetry and the need for interpretation and judgement. Furthermore, the paper elaborates that defence acquisition is characterised by a “problem of theory” and a “problem of practice” and that further research is necessary in order to transform its institutional culture and tackle the theory-practice divide with a more holistic approach.

K-means cluster analysis of hourly measured power demand in district heating

Uwe Radtke — 2022-06-25

Within this paper the actual cluster analysis is performed in order to identify the clusters within the Kaposvár district heating. The data was measured not directly at the households but at the heat transfer stations. The smart meters were installed at the heat transfer stations for several reasons, not to measure and control the needed supply temperature but also to identify leakages quicker and easier. The method used is k-means which at the end did determine four different clusters: high demand at low operating hours, high demand at long operating hours as well as low demand at high operating hours and low demand for low operating hours. The details and the determined values can be used for further research and already first further steps towards identifying new heat sources.