Gong-Soog Hong

The Intermingling of Business and Family Finances in Family-Owned Businesses

This study uses data from a national survey of 673 business-owning households to assess factors associated with intermingling business and family finances. Logit analysis indicates that the use of family resources in the business is more likely in sole proprietorships; when the business owes money to financial institutions; and when the business owner is older, more experienced, and without children in the household. Family use of business resources is more likely if the business is incorporated, is located in a rural area or small town, and borrows money.

A cross-cultural comparison of travel push and pull factors: United Kingdom vs. Japan.

Abstract Tourism marketers are confronted with the dilemma of whether standardization or the tailoring of services, products and marketing programs for specific markets is more effective and efficient. It remains to be addressed in tourism research whether travelers from varying cultural backgrounds seek different travel benefits and have different preferences for travel products and services, and to what extent they are similar in their travel behaviors. This research study used national household travel surveys conducted by the Canadian Tourism Commission and U.S. Tourism Industries for a cross-cultural comparison of two different countries, the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Japan. Results showed that travelers from these two countries had different travel motives and benefit-seeking patterns. From a marketing perspective, the branding and positioning of a destination for U.K. and Japanese long-haul travel markets will be more effective if the destination marketing organization (DMO) projects different images within its advertising campaigns. These images should reflect the different travel motivations and benefits desired by the two groups of travelers.

The differences in financial structure between women- and men-owned family businesses

Lenders often are faced with the challenge of evaluating the financial success of a business or a proposed business by examining the financial records of the household, reasoning that an assessment of the households financial position should be a plausible indicator of the financial status of the business. Utilizing data from the recently released Family Business Survey, this study uses financial information about both the family and the business to examine the relationship between household financial indicators and business financial indicators for women- and men-owned family businesses. The results suggest that, while household financial statements may be good indicators for men-owned businesses, they appear to be much less reliable for women-owned businesses.

Volunteer Participation and Time Commitment by Older Americans.

Using the 1989 Current Population Survey, this study profiles elderly volunteers ages 55 and older, identifies volunteer organizations served by the elderly, and examinesfactors associated with volunteer participation and time volunteered by the elderly. Results of tobit model with sample selection indicate that thefollowingfactors are positively related to participation in volunteer work: being afemale, being married, living in the Midwest, having a high income, having an advanced education, owning a home, and seeking employment (for retired group). Living in a large city and having a large household size are negatively related to volunteer participation. Factors affecting time volunteered by the retired are college education, home ownership, and presence of children younger than age 18. Implicationsfor volunteer organizations are presented.

Family Home Businesses: Who Buys Health Insurance?

This study uses data from the Cooperative States Regional Research Project NE-167 to examine the factors that influence family home business owners in purchasing health insurance. Results indicate that net business income, full-time work, and a hospital reimbursement rate are positively related to the likelihood of buying health insurance although income from other sources is negatively related to purchasing it. Being male, a contractor, and having more education also indicates a greater probability of buying insurance. Implications for working with self-employed families are discussed.

Health Care of American Indian Elderly: Determinants of the Perceived Difficulty Obtaining Access to Health Care

This study examines the perceived areas of difficulty in obtaining access to health care and the factors influencing that difficulty among elderly American Indians in a rural environment. One hundred thirty-seven elderly Indians in the Ponca and Pawnee tribes of Oklahoma were interviewed. Four major difficulties are reported: a long waiting period at Indian health centers, difficulty in making appointments to see physicians, language and cultural barriers to communication with the health care providers, and lack of available transportation. The long waiting period is the most serious problem, and lack of transportation is the least serious. The results of probit analysis show that physical health, automobile ownership, education, employment, and the presence of an informal caregiver are related to difficulty obtaining access to health care. Ways to minimize this difficulty are discussed.

Health Care Use by Preschool Children: Effects of Maternal Occupation and Household Structure

This study examines the effects of a mothers occupation and the presence or absence of a father figure at home on the use of pediatric services by 5,611 preschool children. The children with the lowest number of physician visits are those whose mothers are employed in traditionally female-specific occupations and who live in a household where afatherfigure is present. Health insurance, Medicaid, age and gender of child, number of siblings, mothers education, and health condition of child also were found to be important factors associated with the use of physician services by preschool children.