Faculty Publications & Research

Recent Articles, Papers, and Working Papers

Economics Faculty Working Papers

Ginny Fay & Anna Karlsdóttir (2011), Polar Geography, 34:1-2, 63-86

Abstract: The authors of this paper attempted to develop a database that would serve to
track socialchanges brought about by the expansion of arctic tourism resulting
from climate change. In this paper we review and assess the state of data used to
describe and monitor tourism trends in the pan-arctic and their potentialsocial
effects. We selected 12 potential indicators for long-term assessment and
monitoring changes in arctic tourism. We attempted to collect consistent data
from 1980 to 2008 for Alaska, Canada, Norway, Greenland, Lapland and
Iceland. In addition to visitor counts of various types, the database includes
tourism-related employment and earnings at the place and regional levels, though
the data are not consistent or complete for all the countries. The World Tourism
Organization provides relatively standardized tourism data definitions. However,
data collection by national agencies varies across the arctic countries and data
are not available for all selected indicators. A significant problem is that most
jurisdictions use sampling and reporting protocols that result in statistically
unreliable estimates for remote rural areas. These same areas may also be most
vulnerable to potential impacts and changes brought about by expanding
tourism development. We discuss the critical need for an arctic tourism
observation system. Standardization or comparability of time series data sets
will be important for the future monitoring and modeling of changes in the arctic
environment and associated impacts of expanding tourism, especially as
diminishing sea ice cover increases visitor access.

Predicting safety related attitudes in the workplace: The influence of moral maturity and emotional intelligence

Jeffries, Francis L. (2011). Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management, 12(3), 200-216.

Abstract: Safety in the workplace has received an increasing amount of attention for over 50 years. Approaches to improving safety have focused primarily on extrinsic drivers such as engineering safer work environments, training, and policies. These efforts have reduced injuries and reportable incidents. Yet, progress toward industry's stated goal of zero incidents has stalled. This paper explores an approach to creating a safer work environment using intrinsic drivers instead of compliance oriented behaviors. The Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1985) is employed to show that moral maturity and emotional intelligence can act as intrinsic drivers, positively influencing safety attitudes and behavior.