Stephen J. Conroy

Business Ethics and Religion: Religiosity as a Predictor of Ethical Awareness Among Students

We survey students at two Southern United States universities (one public and one private, religiously affiliated). Using a survey instrument that includes 25 vignettes, we test two important hypotheses: whether ethical attitudes are affected by religiosity (H1) and whether ethical attitudes are affected by courses in ethics, religion or theology (H2). Using a definition of religiosity based on behavior (church attendance), our results indicate that religiosity is a statistically significant predictor of responses in a number of ethical scenarios. In seven of the eight vignettes for which religiosity is significant, the effect is negative, implying that it reduces the “acceptability” of ethically-charged scenarios. Completion of ethics or religion classes, however, was a significant predictor of ethical attitudes in only two of the 25 vignettes (and in the expected direction). We also find that males and younger respondents appear to be more accepting of the ethically-questionable vignettes. We conclude that factors outside of the educational system may be more influential in shaping responses to ethical vignettes than are ethics and religion courses.

Beyond solidarity, reciprocity and altruism: moral capital as a unifying concept in intergenerational support for older people

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to review, contrast and synthesise several major intellectual streams that have guided theoretical development and empirical research in the area of intergenerational family support to older people: (a) normative-integrative approaches that focus on cohesion between family members based on bonds of solidarity and norms of filial obligation, and (b) transactional approaches that are primarily concerned with identifying motives for resource transfers across generational lines. We propose the concept of moral capital – defined as the stock of internalised social norms that obligate children to care for and support their older parents – the transmission of which lies at the intersection of self-interest (for parents) and altruism (for children). Using data from a multigenerational family study, we present an empirical analysis showing that a strong positive correspondence in the filial obligations of adult children and their older mothers – arguably the result of intergenerational transmission – elevated the supportive behaviour of children. We suggest that moral capital may be a useful unifying concept that bridges disciplinary and theoretical divides in the study of intergenerational transfers to elderly people by helping resolve the paradox of how self-interest and selflessness can co-exist within families.

Hidden Hispanic Homelessness in Los Angeles: The “Latino Paradox” Revisited

The authors exploit a unique sample of Mexican-born persons in Los Angeles to investigate whether the apparent dearth of Hispanic homeless (the “Latino paradox”) can be explained as a methodological bias. They test two hypotheses: (Hypothesis 1) there will be no significant difference between the homeless rate (HR) for this sample compared to Los Angeles County and (Hypothesis 2) Mexican-born homeless persons are as likely as others to sleep in nontraditional settings. Rejecting both hypotheses, we find that the HR for this sample is nearly 7 times greater than for the entire county and that Mexican-born homeless are more likely to sleep in nontraditional settings. The authors conclude that Mexican-born homeless may be systematically undercounted in homeless samples because they are more likely to exist outside traditional homeless spaces.

The value of a floor: valuing floor level in high-rise condominiums in San Diego

Purpose - This paper aims to analyze the effect of floor level on condominium prices in San Diego, California. The authors determine whether “higher-floor premiums” exist in the condominium market for a large California city. Further, they investigate how the floor premium varies throughout a building, particularly whether it is quadratic and whether there is a “penthouse premium” for top-floor units. Design/methodology/approach - The paper utilizes a data set of 2,395 condominium sales occurring in San Diego between 2006 and the second quarter of 2011. Using hedonic pricing analysis, the authors model the housing price as a function of condominium, building and neighborhood characteristics. Findings - The results suggest that there is a higher-floor premium for condominiums in San Diego. Specifically, an increase in the floor level is associated with about a 2.2 percent increase in sale price. The higher-floor premium appears to be quadratic in price, suggesting that price increases at a decreasing rate above the mean floor level. The authors also find evidence for a penthouse premium, though this effect disappears once “floor” is controlled for in the model. Originality/value - There has been little direct research on the floor effect in condominium prices. The studies that have used floor level as an explanatory variable have been predominately in Southeast Asia. The results suggest that the floor effect is more complex than previously modeled.

Short Sales and Residential Real Estate Prices

Previous research identifies a negative externality associated with mortgage foreclosures. Houses in the neighborhood surrounding a foreclosed property sell for less, all things being equal. This paper explores the effect of short sales on condominium prices in downtown San Diego, California. The neighborhood in this research is defined as the building in which the condominium is located. The results suggest that not only is there a short sale “discount”, but buildings in which there are a large number of short sales also experience a general decline in market prices of housing units.