The dynamics of expansion and retreat of a network are detailed in the example of the birth and demise of party–state systems. This systemic network is described with the help of the interactive party–state (IPS) model through the interrelationship of individual party–state and economic...

The dynamics of a two-state decision-making model (DMM) with a tunable control parameter K is described. On all-to-all (ATA) networks, the system undergoes a phase transition at a critical value of Kc=1. Scale-free networks were also found to undergo phase transitions, but the value of Kc...

A probability weighting function w(p) for an objective probability p in decision under risk plays a pivotal role in Kahneman–Tversky prospect theory. Although recent studies in econophysics and neuroeconomics widely utilized probability weighting functions, psychophysical foundations of the...

This paper, through the vignette of a three-year old boy's case, examines how child welfare workers in three countries, Norway, England and the United States (California), decide whether to recommend forced adoption. Legislation and policy recommendations for the termination of parental rights...

Involvement with child protective services (CPS) is common among families experiencing inadequate housing conditions. As with other issues of material deprivation, inadequate housing is an area where the distinction between neglect and poverty is difficult to ascertain, and the response of the...

Input from members of the successor generation to the incumbent leader of the business is important to family firms that desire to grow into multi-generational entities. Although researchers have examined upward influence behavior in general, there is a dearth of studies discussing this...

Political institutions, additionally to economic, international and cultural “conditions of democracy”, appear as the necessary prime “framework” (as the set of rules, forms and procedures) for the democracy to emerge and consolidate. Political institutions are especially important in...

Significant factors in the decision to bid process are identified and a pro-forma to elicit a numerical assessment of these factors is developed and validated using the bid/no-bid decision-makers from a UK construction company. Using the pro-forma, data were collected from the collaborating...

Genetic algorithms (GAs) have been introduced into site layout planning as reported in a number of studies. In these studies, the objective functions were defined so as to employ the GAs in searching for the optimal site layout. However, few studies have been carried out to investigate the...

Our original article (Chinyio et al., 1998a) 'A needs based methodology for classifying construction clients and selecting contractors', Construction Management and Economics, 16 (1), 91-98 discussed the empirical classification of construction clients and illustrated a new methodology for...