Contemporary outer dress and clothing market source use of Middle Eastern women

Contemporary Qatari women's outer dress and clothing market source use were explored using Hamilton's¹ dress as a cultural subsystem metatheory. Data were gathered by interviewing 50 Qatari female nationals. Dependent variables were traditionalism of outer dress worn in public and private situations and clothing information and acquisition sources. Independent variables were demographic characteristics of age, education, socioeconomic status, work status and travel. Analyses included correlations and t-tests. Outer dress was traditional in most public, but less so in private, situations. As age increased, clothing traditionalism increased. The most used market sources were store displays, TV, video, tailors and the suq. Store display use increased with age, while use of video, TV and salespersons increased as education decreased. Women travelled outside Qatar to acquire clothing and when travelling, most women wore non-traditional outer dress. Findings were compared with a study completed in Saudi Arabia,² Qatari women's contemporary outer dress was less traditional and they used both traditional and non-traditional information sources and traditional acquisition sources more than Saudi women.     

CLOTHING PRACTICES OF KOREAN FEMALE IMMIGRANTS IN CHICAGO

The relationship between the process of cultural assimilation reflected in the clothing practices of Korean female immigrants and their pre-immigration and post-immigration factors were investigated. This was done by examining the relationships between frequency of wearing western dress over Korean traditional dress, the rate of transition from Korean made dress to American dress, and Korean female immigrants’ pre-immigration and post-immigration factors. The data were collected from 219 Korean female immigrants in Chicago during the summer of 1978. The regression analysis revealed that the frequency of usage of western dress over Korean traditional dress was more significantly related to the pre-immigration factors than the post-immigration factors. The transition from Korean made dress to American dress was found to be more significantly related to the post-immigration factors than the pre-immigration factors. This finding suggests that the sudden change of cultural environment has a definite impact on the abandonment of Korean traditional dress and transition from Korean made western dress to American dress. The finding also leads to the conclusion that the usage of traditional dress is more affected by the nature of occasions, special versus non-special, than the difference of social contacts between Korean and American.     

绿色贸易壁垒对中国林产品出口的影响及对策

近年我国林产品出口增长迅速,但是应当看到在增长背后的隐患与不足。由森林认证形成的消费绿色贸易壁垒成为我国林产品出口的一大隐患,若不加以重视,将会逐渐削弱我国的木质产品竞争力;而一旦有关国家强制实施森林认证,将对我国林产品出口造成沉重的打击。本文以木制家具业为例对该影响进行了定量分析。同时由于我国林产品生产和管理方面没有与国际标准接轨,致使各种法律绿色贸易壁垒从多个方面影响我国食用林产品出口。面对隐患与不足,要积极应对寻求突破,保证我国林产品出口持续稳定增长。     

Impacts of tangible and intangible elements of Aid for Trade on the globalisation of developing countries

The Aid for Trade initiative was launched by the WTO in 2005 to help developing countries build their supply-side capacity and trade-related infrastructure to improve their capacity in the global market. This study investigates the impacts of both the tangible and intangible elements of this initiative on the economic, social and political globalisation of recipient countries. Intangible elements of Aid for Trade (aid for trade policy and regulation) may be considered as the software of Aid for Trade, while tangible elements (aid for economic infrastructure and building productive capacity) are the hardware. Countries that receive Aid for Trade can use both types of elements to succeed in globalisation. This research hypothesises that the tangible elements of Aid for Trade have a singular effect on the overall level of globalisation since they are expected to only increase the level of economic globalisation. Moreover, we expect that the intangible elements of Aid for Trade will have multiple effects on the overall level of globalisation as they have an impact on not only economic aspects but also social and political aspects of it. Using the dataset of Aid for Trade from 2002 to 2015, we find that the intangible elements of Aid for Trade have increased the recipients' level of overall globalisation.     

An analysis of the cause and magnitude of foreign trade zone‐induced biases in US import statistics

Comparisons of matched US COMTRADE and World Trade Organization IDB statistics reveal numerous instances where the WTO data on dutiable imports exceed both the corresponding UN general import statistics and the reported exports of partner countries by very large margins over extended periods. In cases, the dutiable import statistics report major trade in products for which the partners do not record any corresponding exports (to anyone). Empirical tests indicate these biases result from special (and very unorthodox) invoicing practices for shipments into US foreign trade zones. The paper concludes these problems have the potential to seriously misdirect analytical trade studies which must utilise import statistics for their empirical base.     

Trade liberalization and strategic outsourcing

This paper develops a model of strategic outsourcing. With trade liberalization in the intermediate-product market, a domestic firm may choose to purchase a key intermediate good from a more efficient foreign producer, who also competes with the domestic firm for a final good. This has a strategic effect on competition. Unlike the outsourcing motivated by cost saving, the strategic outsourcing has a collusive effect that could raise the prices of both intermediate and final goods. Trade liberalization in the intermediate-good market has a very different effect compared with trade liberalization in the final-good market.     

Parallel Brands

Abstract

The competitive environment of national and private brands may be substantively changing because of a confluence of events in the marketing and legal environments for branding. A 1994 trademark case has paved the way for a new private branding opportunity: parallel branding. A parallel brand closely imitates the trade dress and form of a national brand, while avoiding a trade dress infringement suit by simply coupling the imitative trade dress with an invitation to compare the two products. This article examines the current legal environment that surrounds trade dress and analyzes different managerial strategies for members of the distribution system in light of parallel branding.     

UNCTAD III—Outcome still undecided

When the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development meets in Santiago de Chile on April 13, 1972, for its third full session, the representatives of 140 states and multllateral organisations will be faced with a very comprehensive programme including quite a few subjects of dispute. This article by Dr Eppler, the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation, points out some of the problems on the agenda of the third UNCTAD.     

Blueprint for the Foreign Trade Promotion ——2009 National Trade Promotion Conference to Be Hold

The 2009 National Trade Promotion Conference would be held in Beijing at the very beginning of the new year.     

欧盟—韩国造船补贴国际争端对我国船舶出口贸易发展的启示

欧盟诉韩国影响商船贸易措施案是WTO体制内出现的第一个有关船舶出口领域国家补贴的案例,对这一案例的解析对我们更好地理解WTO下相关国际规则,从而做好自己的政策选择有着重要的现实意义。本文在对这一案例详细分析的基础上,提出了我国支持船舶出口贸易发展的建议,希望能对我国的政策选择有所裨益。     

Trade Policy Issues in a Small African Economy: The Trade Policy Review of The Gambia 2004

The Gambia displays many of the classic characteristics of a small open economy, with the vulnerabilities that implies. The sum of its imports and exports are around 100 per cent of GDP, with a limited number of export commodities and a wide variety of imports, including some key staple foods. The Trade Policy Review of The Gambia 2004 provides a very helpful review and assessment of current trade patterns and policies. The latter rely predominantly on import and export taxes. While quite substantial trade reform measures have been implemented recently, these have led to only a very small reduction in the average tariff rate, and trade policy displays a substantial anti‐export bias. Other important issues highlighted by the Trade Policy Review include serious capacity constraints relating to trade policy, and a failure to discuss connections between trade policy and growth and poverty reduction – again common characteristics of many small economies.     

Can Someone Please Settle This Dispute? Canadian Softwood Lumber and the Dispute Settlement Mechanisms of the NAFTA and the WTO

The long‐running Canada‐US softwood lumber dispute provides a useful backdrop for comparison of the dispute settlement mechanisms of the Canada‐US Free Trade Agreement, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the dispute settlement mechanisms of the World Trade Organisation because it is the only dispute to have been litigated in all three venues. By looking at a dispute in which the central arguments of the litigants have remained consistent while the venues for litigation have changed, this article aims to evaluate the utility of these mechanisms for resolving some of the world trading system's most difficult disputes and highlights several weaknesses within each that both hamper their effectiveness and suggest avenues for future change.     

Clothing factors in energy conservation

The disadvantages of hermetically sealed office buildings have become apparent with the rise in energy prices. One solution being proposed is the development of climate-responsive architecture. This paper reports on the need for dress standards which would enhance the effectiveness of climate-responsive architecture. In a multi-method study among office employers and workers, scant awareness of the connection between dress codes and energy conservation was found. Energy policy could be aimed towards increasing awareness on how dress norms can be modified for increased climate-responsiveness, considering social as well as technological factors.     

Improving garment fit for the mature female in the USA

Although women over the age of50 constitute a growing segment of the apparel market, in the U.S.A. the apparel industry has not addressed the specific fitting needs of this group. Many apparel manufacturers produce large sizes, however proportionate changes specific to the mature figure type resulting from the ageing process have not been addressed.^1–6 The purpose of this study was to modify a commercial pattern based on work by Woodson and Horridge (1990, Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 8 (4), 7–13) using grading as a pattern development technique, and to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of the modified pattern by measuring fit and evaluating self-reported perceptions of comfort on live models. Woodson and Horridge measurement data were used as a basis for modifying a commercial pattern to fit a mature woman. Results indicated that there were significant differences between the commercial dress and the modified dress. The modified dress provided a better fit in 14 areas. Subjects' perceptions of comfort were closer to actual fit for the modified dress than for the commercial pattern dress. Computerized grading is a quick, cost-effective method of modifying a pattern to meet the needs of special markets.     

The cost (and the value) of customer attire: linking high- and low-end dress styles to service quality and prices offered by service employees

This study tests the impact of customer dress on the price of goods and services offered and on service quality. Mystery shoppers visited stores in three different business contexts. For each context, 30 mystery shoppers paid three visits each, once in sloppy, once in casual, and once in fashionable attire. Supporting research hypotheses, dress had conflicting effects on employees: customers wearing fashionable/casual clothing received better service than those dressed sloppily, while the latter were offered goods and services at lower prices. The findings imply that organizations should reconsider their customer discrimination policies, and engage customers in developing accepted dress codes.     

中国—东盟自由贸易区“10 1”方案的福利效应分析

中国—东盟自由贸易区的建立是双方加强经济合作的必然要求,同时也顺应了经济全球化和区域经济一体化的趋势,有利于双方更好地分享区域经济一体化所带来的好处。然而,当前我国和东盟各国的比较优势都集中在劳动密集型产品上,各成员国之间存在着较强的竞争性,自由贸易区建成后我国和东盟各国能否从中获得更大的利益?本文从福利经济学的角度出发,分析了建立“10 1”自由贸易区所可能产生的各种福利效应。     

The Urgency and Necessity of a Different Type of Market: The Perspective of Producers Organized Within the Fair Trade Market

The development of the certified Fair Trade market was initiated by a group of indigenous communities in Mexico. Over time, their vision of Fair Trade as a different type of market has become increasingly marginalized by an emphasis on poverty reduction. This article presents their understanding of what Fair Trade should and should not be. It presents the key principles of the Fair Trade market as effectiveness, ecological sustainability, social sustainability, and more direct producer–consumer relationships. The key challenges that confront Fair Trade in living up to these principles are the need to democratize the formal structures of Fair Trade so as to give a greater voice to small producers and to link with other social movements to confront the dominant neo-liberal trade regime.     

New Dimensions of Service Offshoring in World Trade

Intereconomics - This paper discusses the growing dimensions of the offshoring of service activities both in manufacturing and service industries. Trade in Value-Added data implies a great...     

对于建立中国——东盟自由贸易区的几点思考

在经济合作越来越广泛的今天，中国与东盟国家的合作十分引人瞩目。中国一东盟自由贸易区建成后，将成为世界上人口最多、发展中国家成员最多的自由贸易区。那么考虑如何设计好双方的合作内容及模式。将关系到自由贸易区的良好发展。本文将对此展开论述。     

The Handshake Between CCPIT and JCETC

On the afternoon of July 29, Chairman Wan Jifei met with Tanii Akio, Chairman of both Japan-China Economic ＆ Trade Center （JCETC） and Japan-China Friendship Association of Osaka Prefecture, and the delegation.