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on Economics of Strategic Management |
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Issue of 2010‒05‒22
34 papers chosen by Joao Jose de Matos Ferreira University of the Beira Interior |
| By: | Nasir Uddin, Mohammad; Quaddus, Mohammed; Islam, Nazrul |
| Abstract: | Recent study by Meat & Livestock Australia revealed that cost competitiveness and market development issues in supply chain are the major factors for a long term decline of the Australian Beef industry. This study, based on the explanation of transaction cost theory argues that competitive performance of an industry depends on improving cost efficiency across the whole of supply chain, the underlying value chain, and the relationship among the stakeholders in the industry. With a main objective to investigate the underlying factors of developing competent inter-firm relationship that influence the supply chain performance and competitiveness, this study presents details of a survey carried out and tests the hypothesis that inter-organizational relationships in supply chain and its antecedents have impact on the performance of Australian beef industry and thus have impact on the competitiveness of the industry. Data were collected through a telephone survey of 315 firms in the beef industry from the states of Western Australia and Queensland. The sample respondents were categorized as input suppliers, beef-cattle producers, processors, retailers/exporters, and wholesalers. The data were analysed using the partial least square based structural equation modelling. PLS analysis reveals that âTransaction Climateâ is the strongest determinants of developing a competent relationship, while negotiation power, presence of industry competitors, and the degree of vertical coordination significantly influence the relationship strength. Findings also demonstrate that relationship strength is the most prevalent source of performance and competitiveness, while SC performance highly positively influences the Competitiveness of beef industry. Thus this study identifies significant antecedents and consequences of Supply Chain Performance in Australian beef industry, which are strategic and extremely important information for beef producers, processors, retailers, and other stakeholders for appropriate planning and benchmarking. |
| Keywords: | Beef Supply Chain, Agribusiness Management, Supply Chain Management, Agribusiness, |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aare10:59172&r=cse |
| By: | Mahr, Ferdinand |
| Abstract: | It is discussed whether hybrid strategies are beneficial or detrimental to a firm’s performance, because hybrid strategies lead to organizational tensions that arise from the simultaneous pursuit of distinct strategic activities. However, existing studies on the relationship between hybrid strategy and firm performance have largely neglected the role of the organizational architecture. This study tests the hypothesis that an ambidextrous organizational architecture positively moderates the relationship between a hybrid strategy and firm performance. Particularly, the roles of specific organization structures and HRM practices (individual ambidexterity) and information and communication technologies (technological ambidexterity) are assessed. Further, a hybrid strategy’s performance impact is defined in two distinct ways and measured relative to three different comparison groups, that is, the entire sample, no-emphasis strategies, and pure strategies. A novel multi-source dataset on German and Polish manufacturing firms is constructed from three independent sources, including a dataset on objective firm performance indicators. Evidence is found that a hybrid strategy positively impacts firm performance in the presence of organizational ambidexterity, but negatively impacts firm performance in the absence of organizational ambidexterity. These findings are robust across two types of organizational ambidexterity, three different comparison groups, and further robustness tests. |
| Keywords: | exploration; exploitation; ambidexterity; hybrid strategy; organizational architecture; firm performance |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lmu:msmdpa:11504&r=cse |
| By: | Consoli Davide; Patrucco Pier Paolo (University of Turin) |
| Date: | 2010–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uto:labeco:201007&r=cse |
| By: | Fortuin, Frances T.J.M.; Omta, S.W.F. (Onno) |
| Abstract: | This paper aims at comparing the innovative potential of leading food processing companies in emerging and developed economies. We asked ourselves how the clearly differing economic and social conditions of two areas that are only comparable in terms of their number of inhabitants (about 16 to 18 million), namely a fast growing emerging economy (the Shanghai area in China) and a developed economy (The Netherlands) affect competitiveness and innovation of their leading prospector companies. Our study population consisted of 31 respondents (CEOs, CTOs and R&D directors) from 18 leading prospector companies in the food processing industry: nine in the Netherlands and nine in Shanghai. We focus on how the combination of external forces exerted by actors in the network (competitors, suppliers and buyers) and internal forces (especially innovation capabilities) affect competitiveness and innovation performance of these companies. A 52-item research questionnaire, based on industrial organization theory and the Resource-Based-View, was designed for this study, including quantitative questions on innovative input and output and business performance, and qualitative questions about competitive pressure and the quality of the innovation process. Interesting findings are that both innovative as well as business performance are predominantly related to the companiesâ internal (innovation) capabilities. As expected, clear differences between Chinese and Dutch companies were found regarding the external forces as well as in the internal capabilities they deploy to survive The pressure from the external environment, especially the power of buyers and the threat of new entrants is clearly felt more strongly by the Dutch companies than by their Chinese counterparts. The Chinese companies report to significantly use more KPIâs to monitor the R&D process, whereas the Dutch companies are significantly more active in stimulating an innovative culture. Interestingly, however, neither of these differences leads to significant differences in business or innovation performance between the two groups in our study. The answer to the question whether agri-food companies in developed economies still have a competitive edge compared to those in emerging economies, such as China that emerges from the data collected so far points in the direction of the disappearance of the traditional advantage of the companies from developed economies: no significant differences could be found neither in innovation performance, nor in business performance among the companies from the Netherlands and the Shanghai region in China. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59198&r=cse |
| By: | Noble, Chris |
| Abstract: | A capabilities perspective of farm level innovation in the beef cattle industry is presented using information economics. The knowledge capabilities of non-corporate beef cattle enterprises have two interrelated components: the knowledge generated from the activities that takes place during production; and the information channels that producers possess to source external information. Although both are important for analysing innovation, the external information sources relating to producersâ knowledge are emphasised here. Emphasis on the path-dependent nature of knowledge focuses the discussion of innovation on the communication of information and how this affects the organisation of knowledge. The effects of differing knowledge capabilities are central to understanding the variation in innovative processes. Preliminary results from focus groups and in-depth interviews of both producers and their nominated information sources in the New England area of New South Wales in mid-2009 provide evidence for the efficacy of information channels. Case studies of innovations exemplify how differing attributes of innovations combine with network structures and institutional factors to influence the processes of communication between producers and their information sources. Communication of high quality information is shown to be more involved than simple exposure and must be considered from the point of view of the user, allowing it to be reconciled with existing knowledge of the producer. Of importance to producers is the source, delivery and history of the information and these are reflected in the approach taken in this research. The outcomes suggest that producers should be making decisions on the basis of their self organised knowledge capital rather than following innovations fashionable in the industry at large. The role of policy makers is to complement this by providing favourable conditions for knowledge capital formation where high quality information flows are likely outcomes. Policy makers could look at improving the ability of producers to integrate new technologies and practices into their production indirectly rather than looking to directly persuade them to adopt individual innovations. |
| Keywords: | Farm Management, |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aare10:59107&r=cse |
| By: | Mugera, Amin W. |
| Abstract: | Agribusiness firms are often faced with the challenge of strategically managing employees to achieve a favorable position in the market (i.e. sustained competitive advantage). The resource based view (RBV) has been given considerable attention in the strategic management literature as a useful framework to analyze the significance of human resources in achieving sustained competitive advantage. However, there are few labor management studies in agribusiness that have used the RBV to provide evidence of a substantial relationship between any particular personnel management practice and competitive advantage. This paper provides an in-depth review of the RBV as a potential framework to analyze labor management practices in agribusiness. A case study is used to illustrate the application of this framework in the dairy industry and suggestions are made on how the framework can be extended and operationalized to guide future research and management practice in agribusiness |
| Keywords: | Human Resource Management, Resource-based View, Agribusiness, Sustained Competitive Advantage, Agribusiness, |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aare10:59105&r=cse |
| By: | György Kadocsa (Óbuda University) |
| Abstract: | An Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) is able to cope with the global challenge if it realizes reliable, balanced and high-standard operation in its business. There are some management and organizational methods increasing the competitiveness of SME. Controlling as a management tool and management function as well as a factor affecting competitiveness has come more into focus. Outsourcing of activities not belonging to the main profile of the enterprise seems natural for most SME-s. Family as the driving force of the business can bear bigger loads than SME of similar sizes but not organized around a family. |
| Keywords: | competitiveness factors, management methods, family business speciality. |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pkk:wpaper:1004.rdf&r=cse |
| By: | Uwe Cantner (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena); Matthias Bürger (Department of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena and Graduate College "The Economics of Innovative Change" (DFG-GK-1411)) |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to test how geographical and technological proximity relate to a particular industry's innovative output. Two mechanisms are therefore tested, i.e. agglomeration economies and the regional exploitation of technological proximity. A new dataset is applied, which includes German patent applications from within the period 1995 to 2006. Four industries are considered, two of which are science-based, whereas the remaining two are specialised supplier industries. While diversity is associated with high innovative output in the specialised supplier industries, the results for specialisation are mixed. However, all industries seem to benefit, at least to a certain degree, from the regional re-combination of their own technologies with those of specific key industries. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, Proximity, Diversity |
| JEL: | O18 R11 |
| Date: | 2010–05–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2010-032&r=cse |
| By: | Sodano, Valeria; Hingley, Martin |
| Abstract: | The still ongoing processes of consolidation and globalization affect the organizational diversity of the food system in very complex and somehow contradictory ways. The few transnational companies (TNCs) in whose hands the most part of food processing and distribution activities is concentrated, continuously look for organizational innovations to enhance their profits. Inter-firms collaborative arrangements, global sourcing and sector diversification are some of the most widely followed strategies that require (and/or lead to) new organizational forms. The paper identifies some important patterns of organizational structures and innovation in the food (and specifically food retailing) system, in order to evaluate the role and the competitiveness of cooperatives with respect to other organizational forms. |
| Keywords: | cooperatives, local and global competitiveness, retailing, regional sourcing, socially responsible food networks, UK, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59199&r=cse |
| By: | Gagalyuk, Taras; Hanf, Jon; Ziggers, Gerrit W. |
| Abstract: | Current interorganizational literature almost exclusively analyzes the network effects on single firms participating in networks. This study expands this view theoretically by focusing on food supply chain networks. Specifically, we argue that both, network-level and firm-level goals have to be achieved to structure long-term and successful network relationships. By implementing simultaneously partnering and supply chain management strategies, the networkâs management will ensure goal consensus among the network actors and goal compatibility between the network levels. Thereby, preconditions for the achievement of network-level and firm-level goals will be installed. |
| Keywords: | Network goals, network levels, goal consensus, goal compatibility, focal company, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59206&r=cse |
| By: | Enrietti Aldo (University of Turin); Patrucco Pier Paolo (University of Turin) |
| Date: | 2010–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uto:labeco:201008&r=cse |
| By: | Del Giudice, Teresa; Nebbia, Stefano; Pascucci, Stefano |
| Abstract: | In this article we analysed the role of acceptance of a new food within innovation processes in the Italian food sector. Our analysis focused on preferences and the opinions expressed by three distinct groups of young consumers in relation to functional foods (FFs). Such products represent an innovation both in terms of technology and commerce for Italian food companies, and the segment of young consumers would appear especially interested in them. Our results showed that a different cultural education, hence the degree of knowledge cumulated by young consumers, is a key element in the preference for, and perception of FFs. This implies the need to identify highly differentiated marketing strategies for firms seeking to reach this segment of FF demand in Italy. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59112&r=cse |
| By: | Russell Pittman (Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, and New Economic School, Moscow) |
| Abstract: | Freight railway enterprises in both Europe and North America are in the process of significant restructuring, with EC policy changes dictating new ownership, organization, and cooperation arrangements in Europe and a series of major mergers having already led to highly concentrated regional markets in the U.S. and Canada. Mergers, alliances, and organizational changes may raise important and complex issues regarding the level of competition facing goods shippers, with differing implications depending on the differing institutional contexts. This paper examines the competitive consequences of these developments in Europe and North America and suggests some lessons for other network industries. |
| Keywords: | railway, competition, mergers, alliances |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:doj:eagpap:200902&r=cse |
| By: | Weaver, Robert D. |
| Abstract: | The architecture of the firm involves determination of a boundary that encompasses the functions managed by the firm. The past decade has seen substantial reorganization of firms where vertical or horizontal integration has been unbundled into weaker forms of collaborations including value chains and networks. This observation has forced a re-conceptualization of the boundaries of the firm to incorporate such collaborations. These collaborations are virtual and highly dynamic. They emerge and persist when two conditions are met. First, they must enable generation of greater value than might be attained through independent operation and anonymous transactions through markets. Second, the resulting growth must be shared with members in a way that retains their participation. Each of these conditions can be verified only if performance of the collaboration can be established. This paper recognizes the need for such âmetrics of performanceâ. While conceptual approaches have been studied in the management literature, this paper considers from theoretic perspectives these issues and derives measures of the performance of the overall collaboration as well as of the participating enterprises. The paper presents a framework that can be applied to both vertical and horizontal collaborations as found in supply chains and networks. The paper offers suggestions on empirical methods for estimation of measures derived. |
| Keywords: | Networks, Collaboration, metrics, productivity, efficiency, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59183&r=cse |
| By: | Weaver, Robert D.; Chung, Sung Hoon |
| Abstract: | As national economies have integrated through removal of trade barriers, the potential for offshoring production was quickly recognized as a strategy to enhance firm performance. At the same time, labor market reforms opened the door for outsourcing of labor services to specialist firms that supply labor force teams. The implications of these trends for industries that rely on specialized workforces have drawn considerable attention. Both manufacturing and food processing have seen substantial movement toward oursourced labor, yet little research has considered the implications of these trends. In both manufacturing and food processing, specific labor skills are needed that require training and consistency of supply to ensure efficiency in raw material and plant capacity utilization. Hiring from local labor force in the short-run involves search, training, and adjustment costs. In the longer-term, a sustainable labor pool must be developed and nutured. Hiring through outsourced labor services firms involves a distinctly different cost structure and longer-term dynamics play a different role and performance for the employer as well as the local labor force. Individually, firms face a choice between hiring from a local labor force or outsourcing that task to a specialist firm. Within a labor market, firms competing for labor from the same pools have joint interests in maintaining a sustainable labor force while they compete to fill their demands. However, as some firms initiate use of outsourced labor, the local labor force may be impacted. This issue has not been considered and is taken up by this paper. The paper presents a microeconomic model and uses simulation to evaluate the implications of increased labor service contracting on sustainability of the local labor force. In particular, our results show that as contracted external labor increases, the local labor pool decreases and search costs increase rendering local labor at less attractive choice for employers. A threshold is identified in terms of extent of local labor employment at which the viability of local labor employment collapses. We show that even before this threshold is met, the labor force benefits of the location vanish, reducing the locational rationale for the employer to natural resource access, output market proximity, and fixed investments in plant and equipment. The marginal benefits of the location based on these factors may then be outweighed by those available at other locations and the firm may relocate. We conclude with consideration of implications for labor force policy targeted at sustaining particular industries. |
| Keywords: | Labor force, Offshoring, Outsourcing, Food System, Sustainability, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59201&r=cse |
| By: | Monroy, Carlos Rodriguez; Fuentes-Pila, Joaquin; Martinez Soto, Moises E.; Velasco, Julia; Morris, Anne |
| Abstract: | The object of the present article is to discuss Knowledge Management (KM) in the Agrifood Supply Chain (ASC). In the 21st century, the ASC is under strong tensions. This is evident in the drastic changes in the global scene. For example, in the year 2008, food prices were high and unstable. In the last years, the importance of knowledge as a source of competitive advantage for organizations has increased considerably, so it is necessary its management in the ASC in order to surpass the challenges of the 21st century. KM is a direction tool that focuses in determining, organizing, directing, providing and supervising the practices and activities related with the knowledge (intangible active) required to achieve the strategies and objectives of the business or industry, generating a value for the organization at the moment to reach capabilities and competences. In inter-organizational environments, KM is centered on horizontal alliances between two or more partners. However, there are few authors who have analyzed the vertical alliances between suppliers and customers (the supply chain). The existing KM models are applicable for the ASC, as long as a series of conditions are present in the same one. Among these conditions there is one which prevails: The different enterprises that integrate the ASC must coordinate themselves in order to constitute a dynamic network, in which learning barriers are eliminated, so knowledge can flow freely through them. In conclusion, the development of KM models in the ASC, in the framework of untimely, temporary and structural changes in the globalised world, represents a necessary tool to offer safety and quality food to the world-wide population in the 21st century. In this way, food markets will tend to become stabilized in the long term and adequate answers can be provided to the more vulnerable communities and regions. |
| Keywords: | management, knowledge, agrifood supply chain, price stability, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59188&r=cse |
| By: | Zanasi, Cesare; Rota, Cosimo |
| Abstract: | The globalization of markets, increased specialization in customers services, shorter lead times, are among the main factors influencing the change in firms organization. The firms dis-integration1 is growing, leading to an increased demand for collaborative management along the supply chain. The relationship between economic agents represents a central aspect to be analysed in order to understand this new context which is âneither a perfectly planned structure, nor a merely spontaneous oneâ (Benassi M., 1995). These considerations are particularly interesting when applied to firms belonging to the agrofood system. They include very different technical-economic typologies as well as cultural and managerial backgrounds. In this context the role of vertical and horizontal relationships in influencing the system efficiency are particularly relevant. A collaborative management of the input and market access can, in fact, allow for a better exploitation of the external economies and flexible specialisation related economies, characterising well organized small and medium agro-food firms networks. The identification of the factors influencing the relationship between firms becomes consequently a priority. The main studies related to the inter and intra-firm relationship includes different approaches: Supply Chain Management (SCM), local enterprises systems (Clusters, Districts), Knowledge Networks, Organization Theory. |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Risk and Uncertainty, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59180&r=cse |
| By: | Rosa, Rui; Mili, Samir; Briz, Julian |
| Abstract: | This study explores consumer demand for organic milk products (OMP) and prospective developments in OMP supply chain in Portugal. Consumer demand is approached through a survey accomplished with a stratified sample of 625 consumers from the Porto Metropolitan area (north Portugal), whose population provides a broad representation of Portuguese. Likely future developments in the Portuguese OMP supply chain are established for 2015 time horizon through the Delphi technique, using a panel of 27 qualified experts from different professional backgrounds. Results show inter alia that there are among consumers significant lack of knowledge and conceptual distortion about the organic notion. Cluster analysis has led to the detection of three differentiated consumer groups. Besides, over the coming years Portugal presumably will not be capable to produce sufficient organic milk to satisfy its domestic demand which probably will reach 5% of total milk consumption by 2015 (face to 1.25% in 2008); therefore resorting to importation will continue. Moreover, average willingness to pay for OMP is expected to be by that horizon around 22% more than for conventional counterparts. For the Portuguese OMP industry, improving production efficiency and adopting best management practices appear to be prerequisite for achieving business sustainability and competitiveness. |
| Keywords: | Organic milk, consumer behaviour, supply chain, Portugal, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59208&r=cse |
| By: | Nazrul, Islam; Xayavong, Vilaphonh |
| Abstract: | Agri-industry stakeholders need to respond to the challenge of meeting the demands for higher quality products at competitive prices under increased competition in volatile markets. Development and application of an appropriate computer-based agri-industry value chain model can provide strategic options to deal with these challenges. This paper presents an overview of the theoretical foundation and the structure of an agriindustry value chain model and demonstrates its application as a tool for benchmarking and scenario analysis of the Western Australian Sheep-meat industry. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy, |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aare10:60239&r=cse |
| By: | Corsi, Armando Maria; Marinelli, Nicola; Sottini, Veronica Alampi |
| Abstract: | The world wine market is facing a particularly difficult situation. Both the EU and New World (NW) Countries are trying to manage this critical moment by filling reciprocal gaps in order to increase their competitiveness at a global level and to strengthen their position in key strategic markets. On the EU side, one of the fundamental aspects of this changing framework is the evolution of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for the wine sector. The first pivotal change is the fact that a parcel of land cannot host more than one designation of origin (either Geographical Indication â GI â Denominazione di Origine Controllata â DOC â or Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita â DOCG), thus completely changing the approach to vintage choices, which characterised the Italian production in the last 50 years. A second important variation is the introduction of the possibility to show grape varieties and the vintage year on table wines (a strategy often used by NW producers). Conversely, on the NW side, the changes are mainly relative to the increase in the use of European grape varieties and the emphasis on the region-grape combination as an element of excellence. |
| Keywords: | International Relations/Trade, Marketing, |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:aare10:58893&r=cse |
| By: | Carlo Altomonte; Marcella Nicolini; Armando Rungi; Laura Ogliari |
| Abstract: | This Report analyses and compares a number of indicators related to the evolution of the competitive behaviour of firms in the Single Market, from 1999 to 2007, in a selected number of both manufacturing and services industries and eight EU countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden. A novelty of the approach is that the analysis is derived from firm-level observable data, which allow to grasp not only information on the average changes taking place in each industry and across countries, but also the distribution and sources of these changes in terms of individual firms' pricing behaviour and market shares, an information which is impossible to gather in detail from aggregate, traditional sector-level measures. |
| Keywords: | european union,eu,setzer,wolff,van den Noord,euro area,money,heterogeneity,money holdings |
| JEL: | L11 |
| Date: | 2010–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:euf:ecopap:0409&r=cse |
| By: | Almeida, Rita K. |
| Abstract: | This paper examines whether the increased openness and technological innovation in East Asia have contributed to an increased demand for skills in the region. The author explores a unique firm level data set across eight countries in Asia and the Pacific region. The results strongly support the idea that greater openness and technological innovation have increased the demand for skills, especially in middle-income countries. In particular, while the presence in international markets has been skill enhancing for most middle-income countries, this is not the case for manufacturing firms operating in China and in low-income countries. The author interprets this to support the premise that if international integration in the region continues to intensify and technology continues to be skilled biased, policies aimed at mitigating the skills shortages should produce continual and persistent increase in skills. |
| Keywords: | Labor Markets,Labor Policies,E-Business,Emerging Markets,Technology Industry |
| Date: | 2010–04–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5272&r=cse |
| By: | Todo, Yasuyuki (Asian Development Bank Institute); Zhang, Weiying (Asian Development Bank Institute); Zhou, Li-An (Asian Development Bank Institute) |
| Abstract: | This paper employs a firm-level panel data set for a high-tech cluster in the People's Republic of China to examine knowledge spillovers from multinational enterprises (MNEs) to domestic firms, focusing on the role of MNEs' employment of educated workers. We find that knowledge within MNEs spills over to domestic firms in the same industry through MNEs' employment of workers with graduate-level or overseas education. We also find that Japanese MNEs contribute less to knowledge spillovers than United States MNEs. This is most likely due to the fact that Japanese MNEs in the People's Republic of China do not employ as much educated labor. |
| Keywords: | knowledge spillovers; foreign direct investment; educated labor; the peoples republic of china |
| JEL: | F23 O12 O30 |
| Date: | 2009–12–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbiwp:0174&r=cse |
| By: | Daskalopoulou, Irene; Petrou, Anastasia |
| Abstract: | The study analyzes entrepreneur’s expectations regarding future growth by analyzing the relationship between information flows from networks and the perceived risk of decisions associated with the future size of a firm. The main proposition is that growth expectations might be the outcome of superior judgment stemming from privileged information derived from networks. To provide evidence in support of this hypothesis a sample selection model is estimated using a two-step estimation procedure. Cross-section questionnaire data are used in the empirical analysis. Evidence is provided on the role of inter-firm contacts and relationships as a mechanism able to assist entrepreneurs in better assessing and even reduce the risk and uncertainty associated with their present and future decisions regarding firm growth. The study provides evidence on the factors affecting expected growth rates while it explicitly formulates and tests the hypothesis that expectations regarding growth might be the outcome of superior judgment stemming from privileged information derived from networks. Analysis indicates that networks are indeed information mechanisms, however, such information should be specific to problem solving firm processes. Better informed entrepreneurs are those that foresee higher growth in the future, yet they are not blocked in only local networking. |
| Keywords: | small firms; expected growth; networks; information; Greece. |
| JEL: | D21 O18 D83 O12 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:22663&r=cse |
| By: | Bishwanath Goldar |
| Abstract: | The paper examines the factors that influence energy intensity in Indian industries. It has two parts. In the first part, trends in energy intensity are analysis and cross-industry panel data (taken from ASI) are used to estimate an energy demand function. The results show that energy demand responds negatively to a hike in energy prices and positively to a hike in real wages. There are indications from the results of the analysis that the post- 1992 decline in energy intensity of Indian manufacturing is attributable mostly to an improvement in energy use efficiency of energy intensive industries, which in turn may be traced to hikes in the real price of energy paid by manufacturing firms. |
| Keywords: | ASI, prices, technology, industries, demand, energy, real wages, Indian, manufacturing, real price, manufacturing firms, |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2483&r=cse |
| By: | Molnar, Adrienn; Gellynck, Xavier; Vanhonacker, Filiep; Verbeke, Wim |
| Abstract: | Traditional food products (TFPs) represent an important part of each European Member Stateâs cultural heritage and provide critical economic inputs to many regions via their production and sale. Nevertheless, a major challenge for the traditional food sector is to improve its competitiveness by applying innovations while at the same time maintaining traditionalism. Therefore, modernization of all aspects of the traditional food sector is necessary with special emphasis on the integrity of chains (EC, 2007). This illustrates a need for a chain strategy for the traditional food sector in the EU. Despite this recognition, the actual development of such chain strategies lags behind because of some particular issues which still needs to be addressed (e.g. vision, mission, values or action plans). This paper focuses on three key bottlenecks in relation to the development of a chain vision for the European traditional food sector, namely 1) integrating chain membersâ goals, 2) selecting a minimum set of key goals and 3) balancing between rational and intuitive thinking. We refer to a chain as a set of three directly connected organizations (supplier, focal company, customer) being involved in the upstream and downstream flows of products, services, finances, information and/or knowledge adapted from Mentzer et al. (2001). The three directly connected organizations (supplier, focal company, customer) are referred as chain members in the rest of the article. A chain vision can be defined as the a statement of the desired future state of the chains being subject of chain vision development adapted from Raynor (1998). |
| Keywords: | Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59207&r=cse |
| By: | Van den Oord A.; Van Witteloostuijn A.; Duysters G.; Gilsing V. |
| Abstract: | In organizational ecology, the focus is on the evolution of a population of organizations. Adopting a similar logic, we deal with the evolution of a population of related inventions. By employing a population perspective to technology, we aim to determine to what extent the pattern of technological growth can be attributed to the structural or systemic characteristics of the technology itself. Through an empirical investigation of patent data in the biotechnology industry, we show that a technology‘s internal (i.e., density and diversity) and external (i.e., crowding and status) characteristics have a significant effect on its growth rate. |
| Date: | 2010–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ant:wpaper:2010006&r=cse |
| By: | Henn, Sebastian |
| Abstract: | For a few years now, the concept of transnational entrepreneurship (TE) has gained in importance in social sciences. It focuses on individuals having migrated from one country to another, thereby maintaining business-related linkages with their home countries. These transnational entrepre-neurs are said to maximize their resource bases by engaging simultaneously in two or more so-cially embedded environments. Though the concept explicitly refers to cross-border activities of mostly smaller sized enterprises, it has not found its way into the debate on the change of spatial production patterns so far. One reason for the disregard of the approach is that TE-studies up to now clearly have adopted a micro perspective which has not accounted for regional aspects. The paper aims at closing this research gap. Using the example of diamond manufacturing, it will show that transnational entrepreneurs are able to significantly contribute to the change of tradi-tionally grown regional production patterns and therefore asks for a deeper consideration of these actors in future research on globalization issues. |
| Keywords: | Transnational Entrepreneurship; Clusters; Diamond Manufacturing; Palanpuris |
| JEL: | F22 B52 F23 R12 |
| Date: | 2010–05–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:22686&r=cse |
| By: | Bos Iwan; Peeters Ronald; Pot Erik (METEOR) |
| Abstract: | We consider a model of dynamic price competition to analyze the impact of consumer inertia on the ability of firms to sustain high prices. Three main consequences are identified, all of which contrast with predictions of the standard model of collusion: (i) maintaining high prices does not require punishment strategies when firms are sufficiently myopic, (ii) if buyers are sufficiently inert, then high prices can be sustained for all discount factors, and (iii) the ability to maintain high prices may depend non-monotonically on the level of the discount factor when the industry exhibits network externalities and demand is sufficiently viscous. These results provide a number of interesting insights with regard to competitive and collusive pricing behavior. In particular, we illustrate how direct communication between firms may facilitate collusion. |
| Keywords: | microeconomics ; |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:umamet:2010024&r=cse |
| By: | Jullien, Bruno; Pouyet, Jérôme; Sand-Zantman, Wilfried |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tse:wpaper:21953&r=cse |
| By: | Russell Pittman (Director of Economic Research, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, and Visiting Professor, New Economic School, Moscow.) |
| Abstract: | One important issue facing reformers considering the restructuring of the seaports and freight railways sectors of a developing country is the creation of competition or, alternatively, avoiding the creation or preservation of monopoly power. In seaports a crucial distinction is often that between intraport and interport competition; in freight railways, between competition among train operating companies over a monopoly track and competition among vertically integrated railways. In both cases it is useful to frame the issue as one of competition at the component level within an open system versus competition between closed systems. In both cases as well, the market definition paradigm suggested by the Horizontal Merger Guidelines of the U.S. competition agencies provides a useful framework for analysis. |
| Keywords: | competition, ports, railways, market definition, India |
| JEL: | L14 L23 L33 L91 L92 O14 O22 R48 |
| Date: | 2009–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:doj:eagpap:200906&r=cse |
| By: | Briz, Julian; Fernandez, M. Cristina |
| Abstract: | The following paper shows the work in progress in the frame of the specific support action Program âE-Trustâ. A initial qualitative study was carried out in order to find out evidences and opinions about the performance of e-commerce in the agricultural and food sector. The paper shows a brief description of the barriers, advantages and e-business tools related with the adoption of e-commerce. In order to explore this topic, qualitative interviews were conducted. The results of this first stage related with gaps and barriers in the e-business agricultural sector. Some results are the concerns such as the reluctance to adopt e-commerce strategies, the challenge of making perceptible the sensory characteristics of perishable products, the vulnerability to âelectronic mistakesâ and the necessity of laws to allow persons to complain just in case. |
| Keywords: | Ecommerce, barriers-advantages, agrifood, Spain, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iefi09:59205&r=cse |
| By: | Kee, Hiau Looi; Ma, Hong; Mani, Muthukumara |
| Abstract: | Under the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized countries (called Annex I countries) have to reduce their combined emissions to 5 percent below 1990 levels in the first commitment period of 2008-12. Efforts to reduce emissions to meet Kyoto targets and beyond have raised issues of competitiveness in countries that are implementing these policies,as well as fear of leakage of carbon-intensive industries to non-implementing countries. This has also led to proposals for tariff or border tax adjustments to offset any adverse impact of capping carbon dioxide emissions. This paper examines the implications of climate change policies such as carbon tax and energy efficiency standards on competitiveness across industries, as well as issues related to leakage, if any, of carbon-intensive industries to developing countries. Although competitiveness issues have been much debated in the context of carbon taxation policies, the study finds no evidence that the energy intensive industries’ competitiveness is affected by carbon taxes. In fact, the analysis suggests that exports of most energy-intensive industries increase when a carbon tax is imposed by the exporting countries, or by both importing and exporting countries. This finding gives credence to the initial assumption that recycling the taxes back to the energy-intensive industries by means of subsidies and exemptions may be overcompensating for the disadvantage to those industries. There is, however, no conclusive evidence that supports relocation (leakage) of carbon-intensive industries to developing countries due to stringent climate change policies. |
| Keywords: | Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases,Climate Change Economics,Energy and Environment,Environment and Energy Efficiency,Transport Economics Policy&Planning |
| Date: | 2010–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:5309&r=cse |
| By: | teste (Departamento de Gestão e Economia, Universidade da Beira Interior); Nuno Ferraz (Departamento de Gestão e Economia, Universidade da Beira Interior) |
| Abstract: | bla bla. |
| Keywords: | Education, Country-Risk, Economic Growth |
| JEL: | I21 O15 O17 O50 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:csh:wpecon:td01_2010&r=cse |