Determinants of Competitiveness： Observations in China＇s Textile and Apparel Industries

This paper attempts to explore key determinants of competitiveness in the textile and apparel industries, with special reference to Chinese Mainland. The authors conduct a survey that is designed to use productivity, supply-side and demand-side determinants to measure enterprises＇ competitiveness. The collected survey data is then analyzed using factor analysis to capture the related determining factors indicative of competitiveness at the enterprise level. The findings demonstrate that government policies and related industry infrastructure are the most important determinants of competitiveness in the textile and apparel industries, followed by domestic demand. This suggests that the improvement of industry infrastructure can foster industry performance, and that more resources should be endowed to enhance the domestic business competitiveness of local enterprises. The development of domestic demand will foster the competitiveness of the textile and apparel industries on a more sustainable basis.     

Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on China： Empirical Evidence and Policy Implications

This paper applies a structural vector autoregression analysis to quantify the impact of the global financial crisis on China. It is found that the impact is indeed sizeable： a 1-percent decline in economic growth in the USA, the EU and Japan is likely to lead to a0. 73-percent decline in growth in China. The article discusses whether the current measures of fiscal stimulus are adequate to offset the sharp decline in external demand Although there is little doubt that the massive fiscal stimulus will largely offset the significant shortfalls in external demand, the current growth pattern in China will be increasingly unsustainable in the long term. China ＂s reform cycles suggest that external shocks are often opportunities for structural reforms. Therefore, the crisis could also be a catulyst for rebalancing China ＇s economic structure so as to return the economy to a sustainable path.     

Understanding Failure in International Retailing： An Institutional Framework for Future Investigation

The move from domestic market to one that includes major retailers. Whiles prior research acknowledged differences international firms is not proving an easy task for between country environments and stressed the importance of addressing these differences in order to avoid the dangers and failures inherent in internationalisation, there is still lack of suitable framework that captures the effects of the institutional environment on failure in international retailing. The purpose of this paper is to introduce institutional theory as a complementary framework to explain failure in international retailing and suggest propositions for further research. The paper seeks to answer the research question： What are the factors in the institutional environment of a host country that affect failure in international retailing？ Consequently, the objective of this paper is threefold： （1） to introduce institutional theory as alternative theoretical framework to conceptualise failure in international retailing; （2） to identify institutional factors that exert pressures on the operational activities of international retailers in foreign markets and which leads to failure; （3） to provide some research propositions for further investigation. This paper offers several contributions. First, we extend current theories in international business, particularly, the literature on retail internationalisation and institutional theory by exploring pressures and difficulties that international retailers face in a new host institutional environment. Second, we identify a set of institutional factors that exert pressures on international retailers in foreign markets that lead to failure. Finally, with the institutional approach, this study fills the gap in earlier works by developing a complementary framework along with 11 propositions for future research. One major limitation of this paper is that it is conceptual; hence, further empirical analysis is needed to test the suggested propositions.     

Characteristics of labor market in Serbia - View on the labor demand on Belgrade and Banat labor markets

The labor market in Serbia is characterized by one of the highest unemployment rates of the working population （aged 15 to 64）. Also, it is notified that the unemployed level of the qualification is very low and that there isn＇t enough space in the existing formal educational system for any new introductions （such as prequalification courses, or lifelong educational concepts）. The research on the labor demand was aimed at assessing the state of the labor markets in the selected regions and at analyzing short-term demand for labor force. The analysis establishes： Which sectors of local/regional economy are being developed and are likely to require additional labor force in the next six months; which types of jobs are likely to be in demand in the aforementioned sectors; which additional knowledge and skills are needed for such occupations. The applied methodology also enabled to analyze information on vulnerable groups of unemployed, namely persons with disturbing factors in employment and the young unemployed of up to 24 years of age. In order to gather reliable data at regional level, a research was conducted on a stratified sample covering 1400 enterprises and some of the statistical labor market indicators were established indicating particularities of the labor markets in the surveyed regions -- Belgrade and Banat.     

International payment finality requires a supranational central-bank money： Reforming the international monetary architecture in the spirit of Keynes

Payment finality is a key issue domestically as well as across a country＇s borders. In the current international monetary architecture, the existing protocols for a delivery-versus-payment operation with central-bank money do not and cannot provide for international payment finality through the links that national central banks have established between themselves on a multilateral basis. This problem concerns each country considered as a whole, but not its residents. In this connection, moving from a positive to a normative analysis, this paper points out the lack of an international settlement institution, as well as the ways and means to provide such an institution, as the result of a structural change of the current international monetary architecture. The lack of an international means of final payment implies that, to date, countries use national currencies as objects of trade, which are thereby subjected to supply and demand on the foreign-exchange market, where exchange rates may, and do, vary daily according to a currency＇s excess demand （either positive or negative） with respect to another currency. This paper argues that exchange rates＇ erratic volatility is the result of the current international monetary disorder, which denatures national currencies when they are traded on foreign-exchange markets.     

Solidarity based economy： The success of work integration social firms in Spain

The work insertion social firms have grown in the last decade in Spain. The aim of this work is to help unemployees and workers with several problems （being in prison, drugs...） to start in ＂normalized＂ companies as workers. The aim of the paper is to analyze the success of work insertion social firms defined by social and commercial dimensions. Using a sample of 49 companies in Spain, the authors have developed an explanatory model in which the doubt about the success of these companies is explained. This paper seeks to analyze the main problems of the poor financial situation of companies that are based on social help. The work integration social enterprises could be a new entrepreneurship form that helps improving work skills of workers to be able to obtain a ＂normalized job＂.     

Consumer decision making process in shopping for halal food in Malaysia

This paper reports on the results obtained from quantitative and qualitative data on consumer decision making process in shopping for halal food. A total of 213 questionnaires were returned by respondents, confirming that our respondents who are concerning about the ＂halal＂ logo are also concerning about the ingredients used. The study also confirms that there is a significant relationship between respondents＇religion and their perceptions towards halal logo and ingredients. While the qualitative data from a focus group interview on how Muslim consumers shop for halal food shows that there is a need for assurance that food to be purchased is halal, implying the presence of risk and uncertainty when making purchase considerations. Using the audit risk framework in conventional assurance services, the study finds that assurance is sought in relation to the halalness of business premise, halalness of product, and assurance from environmental elements such as the halal logo displayed.     

Micro Econometric Analysis of Determinants of Occupational Choice in Algeria

A review of the literature on the issue of labor market participation and occupational choice allows to see that researches on this one turned more on developed countries. In underdeveloped countries, including Algeria, the determinants of participation in economic activity and individuals＇ occupational choice remain understood, despite their economic and social importance, since the degree of economic vulnerability and social development is strongly correlated with the occupied job. This work is not concerned with income from the labor market but rather the process that takes place upstream, that is to say, the integration into the labor market. This paper will study the labor market functioning by analyzing the supply and demand of labor. So the first step is to analyze the participation determinants in economic activity and in a second stage to determine the role of individual characteristics, in particular human capital for the tenure choice. The aim of this work is to answer the following questions： （1） What are the factors that influence individual＇s participation in the labor market？ Is there a difference between men and women？ （2） What are the occupational choice determinants of an individual on the labor market？ Is this the same factors for men and women？ （3） What are the causes of failure in the labor market？ To answer all the concerns, authors have exploited the employment surveys conducted by the National Office of Statistics （NOS） from Algerian households （employment surveys 1997 and 2007）. For processing and data analysis, authors applied several econometric techniques： models of discrete choice （binary logistic regression） and segmentation techniques. Four major findings emerged from this study： First, authors note that women＇s participation in economic activity is following logic quite different from that of men. For women, the education and training determine the participation in the labor market. For men, it is rather the age that determines particip     

Issues on Future of Offshoring and Global Sourcing

In recent years, outsourcing strategies have undergone a profound evolution, moving from being a pure make or buy tactical decision to becoming part of strategy. By tradition, firms originally considered outsourcing as a solution to short-term problems, such as a sudden or unexpected increase in demand, an interruption in plant or equipment functioning, or the launch of a new product. Today firms consider outsourcing as a network of stable agreements with specialized suppliers as part of a long-term strategic perspective. The tendency is to attain offshoring and global sourcing. However, researchers are unanimous in recognizing that there are many obstacles to adopting a long-term outsourcing and offshoring strategies. They have also been heavily criticized by governments （the U.S. and Europe in particular） as recognized as a cause of further weakening national economies. Recently, some studies and research found that the large multinational corporations, mainly in the United States, are moving their production back or considering it such a strategic decision in the near future. So what is the future for offshoring and global sourcing？     

RMB Internationalization and Its Implications for Financial and Monetary Cooperation in East Asia

This paper emphasizes the importance of the denomination of financial assets rather than trade invoicing as a long-term determinant of an international currency. China needs to liberalize and open its financial system and make the RMB fully convertible, and to adopt a moreflexible exchange rate system to speed up its currency internationalization, for which China could follow either a global or regional approach. The global approach is a riskier and more unpredictable strategy because it would demand a scope and timeframe of financial liberalization that is likely to be beyond China＇s institutional capacity over the coming decade. There are two options that could be taken in following the regional approach. One is creating an ASEAN＋ New 3 （the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan） RMB bloc and the other is liberalizing China＇s financial industries and internationalizing the RMB by playing a leading role in East Asia＇s economic integration within the framework of ASEAN＋ 3, This paper concludes that the latter is a more realistic and effective approach for China.     

Analysis of China＇s Renewable Energy Development under the Current Economic and Technical Circumstances

At present, the development of renewable energy relies mainly on government support. The government invests in a considerable number of projects to improve public welfare and to assist in poverty relief If China is to replace fossil fuels on a large scale with renewable energy sources, the production costs and prices of renewable energy must be brought down. All countries are facing the challenge of moving to a more secure and low-carbon energy system without weakening economic and social development. In this regard, China is facing an even greater challenge in terms of economic cost, as cheap coal remains the main energy form. Technical innovation and industrialization in the area of renewable energy is an important means of lowering cost. China is in for a period of high-speed development of its economy and the rising demand for energy is irreversible. If the technical progress and development speed of renewable energy lags behind the growth in demand, it will be difficult to realize the improvement of its energy structure.     

Assessing the Influence of Traffic Impact Assessments on Land Use Development and Decision Making

Rapid urbanisation and land use planning in cities and countries worldwide have an impact on traffic related risks to society as a whole. Strategic planning decisions made during land use development approvals can affect the performance of transport infrastructure significantly impacting on community safety. One major contributor to the decision-making process is Traffic Impact Assessment （TIA） undertaken prior to development approval. The content of each TIA process differs according to the type of development and its geographical location. The paper presents a brief overview of the strategic decision-making process adopted in Australia in land use development approvals. Using a selected case study area, the importance of the TIAs to the decision-making process is demonstrated. Further, the paper presents the observed differences between the facts presented in TIAs completed by four different consultants and the influence of the new development in the community safety. Traffic records after the new development indicate that the accidents have almost doubled after the new development. It is noted that the current TIA process requires significant changes to ensure that the influence of the land use development decisions are captured correctly to ensure informed strategic decision-making. A set of recommendations to overcome the shortcomings of existing planning and TIA designing process is presented.     

Brazilian Micro-enterprises＇ An Exploratory Study on Marketing Strategies

This article aims to present the main marketing concepts applied by Brazilian micro-enterprises within a brief contextualization of a marketing plan. The methodology involved qualitative research development applied at the Trianon Fair, traditional event on Sundays on the sidewalks of the AvenidaPaulista in the city of Silo Paulo. Another research was carried out involving non-probabilistic sample with micro-businesses from various segments in the city that were chosen for their accessibility. From the results, product characteristics were elaborated, pricing, and distribution, that compose the application analyses of the marketing tools for micro-businesses and theoretical evolution have stemmed from the bibliographical research as well as field research and observational studies by the authors of the article. The goal is not to exhaust the topic nor to construct a Marketing Plan, but rather to contribute to the discussion, learning, and use of a marketing mix in the segment of micro-enterprises in a more assertive manner. It was concluded that there is no doubt as to the importance of micro-enterprises for any country. His contribution lies mainly in optical innovation and creativity because these companies can test new models of work, management, products, and services. It should be noted that micro-enterprises are greatly responsible for job generation in our country, denoting their prominent social and ecological perspective. More than a transient way of earning money, the reality of micro-enterprises should be considered as a social and economic phenomenon capable of generating regional and, consequently, global growth.     

Policy Options for China＇s Bio-ethanol Development and the Implications for Its Agricultural Economy

The present paper analyzes the potential impacts of bio-ethanol expansion on agricultural production, food prices and farmers＇ incomes in different regions of China. The results show that increase in demand for feedstock to produce bio-ethanol will lead to large increase in the prices of agricultural products. The increase in prices will trigger a significant rise in the production of feedstock at the cost of lower rice and wheat production. The study also reveals that the impacts of bio-ethanol on farmers＂ incomes vary largely among regions and farmer groups. Given the expected expansion of bio-ethanol production in the future, and the limited land resources for feedstock production in China, the viability of different crops as feedstock for bio-ethanol requires careful analysis before a large-scale expansion of China＇s bio-ethanol program. Bio-ethanol production in China should be relying more on the second generation of bio-ethanol technologies （i.e. using celluloses to produce bio-ethanol）, and China＇s government should increase research investment in this field.     

Nature/Culture Dichotomy in China’s Ecological Resettlement Policy——Research based on Wustu Village,IMAR,PRC

Ecological resettlement,as a subsidiary policy of the Central Government’s environmental policy,is now attracting increasing domestic and international attention.The amount of immigrants involved in the policy serves as one reason to raise concerns about the issue,and its side effects (especially the loss of ethnic cultures and the dilemma of some ethnic minority herders and farmers) gave rise to multi-lateral discussions about the policy.The ecological and economic effects of the policy are the primary focus of present research,while the cultural analysis (esp.concerning the social and political forces that fostered and implemented the policy) of the State’s environmental and ecological resettlement policy is lacking.Based on my field research in Wustu village,IMAR,this paper relates the cultural basis of these policies with China’s desire to establish a harmonious society and argues that respect for minority cultures as well as local participation of immigrants are key to solving China’s environment issues.     

The viable measure for hospitals？ --Healthcare expenditure forecasting under the global budget system

After the implementation of the global budget system, hospitals need to negotiate individual＇s healthcare budget in order to face the uncertainty of income and cost control. The major contribution of this study is to predict the increase of the inpatient healthcare expenditure using ARIMA model under the global budgets system to establish a better allocation rule for healthcare expenditure budget during the negotiation with the Bureau of National Health Insurance. The healthcare expenditure prediction model proposed in this paper will serve as a justification for hospitals＇ negotiation. Although Taiwan has abundant experiences implementing national health insurance, there are still a limited number of literatures concerning economic significance of the budget allocation rule. This paper intends to fulfill this gap. We find that as the individual healthcare expenditure increases, the number of physicians does not function as a bargaining chip. However, there are significant differences in the increase rate and quality of healthcare within the scope of insurance coverage and the increase rate of healthcare for healthy insured. The findings in this paper can serve as policy references in hospital management.     

Economic impact studies of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The paper provides an ex-ante analysis of the financial burden and potential economic benefit of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Owing to the lack of uniform financial data, cost and benefits analysis is not possible, so we have adopted a multi-criteria analysis （MCA） as a part of an Olympic Games impact study, to asses the possible economic impact of hosting the Olympics in Beijing. There are many aspects of a country that may change as a result of hosting the Olympic Games. Studies on the impact of previous Olympic Games have indicated that inward investment has been attracted by preparations for the Olympics which has increased the host cities global profile and by the legacy of additional facilities afterward. Beijing is already an establish city and prime destination for inward investment in China and Asia. Hosting the Olympics in 2008 might be expected to give rise to tangible positive effects on the over all level of economic activities.     

A search model for Joint Implementation

The aim of this paper is to present a search model in the field of environmental economics, where so-called clean and dirty producers enter the trading market, both looking for a partner with whom to exchange the goods they are endowed with. The model derived in this paper is rather simple. Nevertheless, it is able to produce a series of interesting results and useful insights, and is conveniently used here as a framework to explain the functioning of Joint Implementation programs for polluting emissions＇ reduction.