Book notes

Household Ecology: Economic Change and Domestic Life among the Kekchi Maya in Belize. By Richard R. Wilks. Tucson, AZ; London: The University of Arizona Press, 1991. Pp. xx + 280. $55 (hardback). ISBN 0 8165 1214 0.

Wagering the Land: Ritual, Capital and Environmental Degradation in the Cordillera of Northern Luzon, 1900–1986. By Martin W. Lewis. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1992. Pp. 292. $40 (hardback). ISBN 0 520 07272 3.

Sustainable Development; Papers from the 6th EADI General Conference. Edited by Olav Stokke. London: Frank Cass, 1991. Pp. 132. £24. ISBN 07146 3449 2.

Gender and Development: A Practical Guide. Edited by L. Ostergaard. London: Routledge, 1992. Pp. xiv 220. £10.99 (paperback). ISBN 0415 071321.

Historical Dictionary of Mozambique. By Mario Azevedo. Metuchen, NJ and London: Scarecrow Press, 1991. Pp. xxix + 250. £22.15 (hardback). ISBN 0 8108 2413 2.

Understanding Contemporary Africa. Edited by April A. Gordon and Donald L. Gordon. Boulder, CO and London: Lynne Rienner, 1992. Pp. xvi + 343. $45 and $19.95. ISBN 1 55587 265 5 and 55587 299 9.     

An economic analysis of the voting on Michigan's tax and expenditure limitation amendment

This paper investigates electorate behavior on Proposal C, a proposed amendment to the Michigan constitution, whose passage would have limited taxes and expenditures in the State of Michigan. Voting behavior was analyzed within the framework of the basic hypotheses: that the electorate tended to vote on Proposal C in its economic interests, narrowly conceived. The results were contradictory, with some groups voting against their economic interests and others voting as the hypothesis would predict. Further, a relatively low percentage of the total voting variance was explained, indicating that perhaps other variables than economic ones influenced voting behavior.     

Beyond Offers and Counteroffers: The Impact of Interaction Time and Negotiator Job Satisfaction on Subjective Outcomes in Negotiation

In this study, we examined real‐world sales negotiations by collecting data in collaboration with a large Taiwanese eyeglasses company. We found, as has been established previously, that higher first offers predict higher company profits and that the impact of high opening offers can be muted by greater customer awareness of prices at other stores. When we investigated a more qualitative outcome, customers’ perceptions of service quality, a different set of predictors emerged. Our results indicate that salespeople who spent more time introducing the products and services were perceived by the customers as providing higher service quality, but this effect only occurred for those salespeople who reported high levels of job satisfaction. Also, price reduction by salespeople did not improve customer satisfaction. Our results indicate that customer satisfaction does not require negotiated price concessions, but rather depends on extensive interaction with salespeople who are happy in their work. This is the first study to show that negotiator job satisfaction can affect important negotiation outcomes.     

The Neuropsychologist as Expert Witness: Testimony in Civil and Criminal Settings

The niche of forensic neuropsychology and use of neuropsychologists as expert witnesses has proliferated over the past two decades. Neuropsychologists conduct evaluations or provide consultation to assist triers of fact in both civil and criminal arenas. This article delivers a succinct overview of an array of factors that warrant consideration from the time of referral for a neuropsychological evaluation through the delivery of a verdict or settlement and receipt of payment for services. Readers are offered a primer on relevant legal criteria, distinctions between court settings, and applicable ethical standards and guidelines. Suggestions are made regarding the expert witness retention agreement and strategies for direct and cross examination are reviewed. Logistical and liability considerations are also explored. Real world examples are included to illustrate some of the obstacles that neuropsychologist expert witnesses may encounter.