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Aloha and welcome to the 8^th Cross-Cultural Research Conference and Proceedings!

2001 marks two decades since the first "Cross Cultural Research Symposium" was held at Tulane University in New Orleans under the direction of Professors Charles Keown and Arch Woodside. The group met in Hawaii in 1984, 1987, 1990, and 1993, followed by meetings in Hong Kong in 1995, Honolulu in 1997, Cancun in 1999, and Turtle Bay, Oahu in 2001. The tradition has become one of biennial meetings, alternating between Hawaii and non-U.S. sites.

The 71 presentations on the 2001 Conference Program covered topics in cross-cultural business ethics and education, communications and consumer research, and management, marketing, and methodological issues. Presenters and authors came from 21 different countries. They were terrific participants and the abstracts and papers in this volume are a record of their hard work. Readers will agree that their efforts have advanced the field of cross-cultural business, communication, and consumer research.

The Conference also featured two invited presentations with implications for global societal development and public policy. Brent Wilson from Brigham Young University, Hawaii spoke on "Cultural Issues in Microfinance Loans" and Richard Pollay from the University of British Columbia examined "Cross-Cultural Cigarette Marketing and Advertising: WHO Cares?"

The Cross-Cultural Research Conference exists because of an informal network of dedicated people. Scott Smith of Brigham Young University truly exemplifies the motto -- "industry" -- of his home state of Utah. Scott made the hotel arrangements, updated the Conference website, attended to registration and financial matters, and edited these proceedings.

The Conference also depended upon the dedication of the Area Coordinators who handled paper reviewing and disposition. They were Julie Yu of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (South/Southeast Asia), Kim Chung-Hyun of Sogang University (North/East Asia), Søren Askegaard of the University of Southern Denmark, Odense and Marcus Schmidt of Copenhagen Business School (Europe/Middle East/Africa), Michael J. Polonsky of Victoria University (Australia/New Zealand/Oceania) and Lenard Huff of Brigham Young University, Hawaii (North/South America). All carried out their tasks punctually and meticulously.

The 91 reviewers who assisted the Area Coordinators included conference participants as well as colleagues from universities around the world. They too deserve our thanks.

It has been a great honor and pleasure to be part of this group. This Conference and its Proceedings are the result of their good work.

Thank you all.

Terry Witkowski

2001 Program Chair

California State University, Long Beach