Transaction Costs of Entrepreneurs as a Deterrent of Housing Construction Development in Russia

Nowadays realization process of investment and construction projects is not always effective because of imperfection of institutions regulating construction, high investment risks and, as a consequence, increase transaction costs. The facts of the objective existence of transaction costs in the economy, including housing construction, are researched in the article. We have determined that the transaction costs significantly affect the cost of construction, reduce profit entrepreneurs, and indirectly increase the shortage of housing in Russia. Such parts of modern economics as neoclassical economics and institutional economics are methodological basis of the paper. Logical, economic and legal （institutional）, socio-economic approaches were used during the research of transaction costs function. The authors used the complex of ideas and different methods of sociological and economic analysis that allowed deepening the importance of institutional state regulation of business activity in housing construction area. The classification of transaction costs creation was worked out; this model unlike well-known models considers the most important parts of transaction costs which really exist in business activity of construction companies nowadays; implementation of the model allows calculating and predicting this kind of costs in business. Recently Russian government returns to the questions about efficiency of production （increase of labor productivity, efficiency and profitability of production）, therefore attention to the reduction of transaction costs is going to increase profits and efficiency.     

Competitive Neutrality of the OECD Consensus Myth or Reality

This research paper gives into context ongoing changes in the balance of forces in the international markets caused not only by the crisis and the need to restore market-neutral internationally agreed system for state participation in the support for exports based on real economic criteria. The aim of this research is to demonstrate the changes of the balance of forces in the international markets. This paper presented the statistical data relating to development of GDP, indebtedness or value of exports or imports that the present changes in international markets and open discussion about the topic problem. This article recalled the basic principles of insurance and export financing with state support and also are presented current problems of implementation rules of the CONSENSUS. Due to the fact that state support for exports is an important internationally respected system it is necessary to overcome some doubts and bring to the system real market neutrality. Therefore, we ask whether are respected in practice the agreed principles of international state aid exports and what problems currently international markets and fundamentally different countries are struggling. It can be said that the rules CONSENSUS OECD has contributed to the creation of fair market conditions in international markets, but it can be also monitored over time to some extent being away from the demands of market neutrality. In view of these facts it can be considered as the basis of the current situation primarily to ensure a truly market and competitive neutrality of state support for exports.     

Evidence of Credit Risk Contagion Between Corporate and Financial Sectors

We propose a copula-GARCH framework to analyze the credit risk dependence structure between the European corporate and financial sectors. Empirical study is conducted on two representative iTraxx indices. In order to better capture the dynamic behavior of dependence we allow copula parameters to be time-varying by specifying them as a function of past values and standardized score of the copula log-likelihood. The results obtained indicate a time-varying dependence structure with statistically significant tail dependence coefficients supporting the existence of credit risk contagion effects. Goodness-of-fit tests are used to indicate which model is closest to the true conditional copula. Our findings provide further evidence supporting the interconnectivity of credit risk between corporates and financial institutions operating on the European market.     

The Relevance of Place-Brand Management in Place-Marketing Strategy

Observers perceive each place through a particular image, not necessarily positive, definable in a distinctive positioning through place-marketing strategies; the relations between the actors of the territory system play an important role, and the place-brand becomes ＂the connector＂ of the relational network in place-marketing management. The aims of this article are to analyze the relations between place identity, place-brand, and place-marketing strategy; to look at case studies of bottom-up strategy as a medium for the long-term empowerment of the place-brand strategy; and to examine the relevance of place-brand positioning and interaction between governance and stakeholders in place-marketing strategy development.     

Innovations in the Application of Insurance-linked Securities in Non-financial Companies

Recently, capital market innovations within transferring insurable risk have grown in diversity. It initiated the development of innovative financial instruments, with the prime role of Insurance Linked Securities （ILS）. Financial institutions （insurers in particular） remain the key players on this market. However, ILS are applicable in non-financial companies as well. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to broadly discuss the application of ILS in non-financial companies. In particular, the purpose of this paper is to provide answers to the crucial questions： （1） What are the potential areas of the use of ILS in non-financial companies？ （2） What are the consequences of the use of ILS in non-financial companies？ The paper is based on the application of document analysis and literature studies as its main research methods. The literature review was directed to enable the provision of systemized characteristics of 1LS. Additionally, case studies were implemented to indicate the areas of ILS applications in non-financial companies. Overall, ILS in the class of financial instruments （including cat bonds, insurance derivatives, and contingent capital structures） may find potential use in non-financial companies. However, significant limitations of such a use are identifiable, mainly within the expert knowledge need and accessibility.     

Impact of Advance Notice Periods on the Performance Persistence of Hedge Funds

This paper examines the impact of the advance notice period on hedge fund performance persistence in investors＇ portfolios. As investors in hedge funds face several trading restrictions related to the funds＇ common investment terms and conditions, it is hypothesized that the advance notice period generates illiquidity for investors and impairs their ability to benefit from performance persistence in hedge funds. Using a sample of 4,788 hedge funds over a period from 1994 to 2008 and contingency table based standard methodology for returns and Sharpe ratios, the results suggest that accounting for individual funds＇ advance notice periods has a negative impact on the performance persistence of hedge funds. The proportion of significantly persistent funds declines when incorporating the advance notice period, especially for short time horizons. Furthermore, a considerable part of hedge fund performance persistence is related to asset class-specific terms and conditions, reducing the amount of short-term performance persistence in practice.     

Possibility of the Implementation of the Principle of Sustainable Development in the Sphere of Coal Processing

High-sulphur coals processing generates a great number of pollutant substances in atmosphere. This study was undertaken to obtain more definite information about the composition of sulphur coal extracts, i.e., on the quality and quantity of dormant Volatile Organic Emissions （VOCs）. Analysis of the liquid products was carried out by different protocols of extraction, adsorption chromatography, and GC/MS identification. It should be pointed out that the basic components of coal extracts are polyaromatic hydrocarbons, sulfur-containing compounds and phenols act as a basic factor of environment pollution with carcinogenic products. The complex treatment of these components will permit not only to obtain some valuable chemical products, but also to improve the ecology in the industrial regions.     

Economic Causes and Cures of Social Instability in China

China＇s leaders have often expressed concerns about social instability, viewed as a threat both to the political order and to continued rapid growth. Slower growth might, in turn, further undermine social stability. Using survey data, the present paper examines the economic determinants of social instability. Four main determinants are identified.＇past and expected growth of income, income inequality, economic insecurity and misgovernance. The paper then considers possible policies to reduce social instability, examining each of the determinants in turn.     

Developmental Constraints Adversely Affecting New Entrants Into the Construction Industry of the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Although political transformation has occurred in South Africa in April 1994, the pace at which economic transformation has occurred has been slow. A review of the literature has shown that economic transformation has been slowed by an acute shortage of technical skills among Black South Africans working in business, government, and industry. A case in point is the construction industry of Limpopo Province of South Africa in which emerging contractors have failed to compete adequately with well-established contractors in the construction industry due to shortage of technical skills, capital, and lack of access to markets. The study is based on a random sample of 104 emerging contractors operating in the Province of Limpopo. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analyses was used in the study in order to identify and quantify key obstacles to growth and development in emerging contractors. Eigen values estimated from factor analysis showed that the viability of emerging contractors in the construction industry of Limpopo Province was significantly influenced by three factors （lack of entrepreneurial skills, lack of capital, and lack of transparency in the award of construction tenders）. Based on results obtained from multilevel analysis, differences among the five districts of Limpopo Province accounted for 13.18% of the total variation in viability. Differences in entrepreneurial skills between viable and non-viable businesses accounted for 33.49% of total variation. Findings of the study show that entrepreneurial skills are no less important than financial capital for ensuring viability in emerging contractors currently operating in Limpopo Province. The study has also found that the fundamental principles of good governance such as transparency and accountability are not adhered to in the administration and award of government tenders, and that this predicament was working to the detriment of emerging contractors in the province.     

Global Cities in Process of World Economy Net-Working and Transnationalization

Cities play a key role in the modem global economy. They became full-fledged （together with states, multinational corporations, and international economic organizations） subjects of international economy relationships; concentrated financial and commodity markets, enormous productive and innovative potential of humanity. The main reasons of transformation of economic importance of cities are their advantages in comparison with State economic systems. Labor and capital in urban economy systems are more mobile and productive; cities are more predisposed to create and commercialize innovations. Moreover, cities are easier to connect with international markets and world trade, which are able to reduce transport costs, to increase own investment attractiveness, and to rapidly form new types of business activities and forms of manufacturing organization. This study analyzes a current system of global cities, an intensity of inter-cities relationships, a potential of global urban system transformations in a future.     

The Attitude of Developed and Developing Countries Towards the Kyoto Protocol and the Case of Turkey

The problem of global climate change is one of the biggest present-day global problems. This problem, which has become a current issue because of the energy crisis that happened in 1970s, as well as growing awareness of environment, have not only changed the notion of development but also led to a transformation of non-renewable energy resources. Due to rapid population growth, the depletion of the non-renewable energy resources and the raising consciousness about global climate change our comprehension of traditional development has yielded to sustainable development, while energy structure and preferences have also changed from non-renewable energy resources to renewable energy resources. As this changed pattern and problem are global, they have removed the borders among governments, required international cooperation and thus, new international actors have stepped in. In this study, the countries are divided into two parts as developed countries and developing countries. As developed countries; USA and EU countries are selected while China and India are selected as developing countries. Also as a developing country, Turkey＇s energy and climate policies, attitude towards the Kyoto Protocol signed within the scope of United Nations and the positive and the negative effects of the Protocol on the country are investigated. In this sense, it has been observed that the question of whether or not the Protocol contributes to the economy of developing countries correlates with whether or not these countries are on the side of the Protocol and it has also been observed that being on the side of the Protocol is not a threat to Turkey＇s development. If applied correctly, the policies that Turkey will pursue within the scope of the Protocol will help the country to reduce foreign energy dependency and cooperate with other countries. A comparative method is used in this paper.     

Antecedents of Customer E-loyalty With the Effect of Trustworthiness in Malaysia Context

The rapid growth of online shopping has led to inspire customer e-loyalty among Malaysians, especially living in this digital environment. Commitment-trust theory is applied as the theoretical base to explain the factors influencing customer e-loyalty. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the direct impact of customer interface quality, service quality （SERVQUAL）, website quality, technology acceptance factors, and technology trust on customer e-loyalty. This study also aims to examine the indirect effect of independence variables on customer e-loyalty through the effects of trustworthiness. SmartPLS 2.0 （M3） is applied as analytical tool to study the impact. A survey is conducted with 395 respondents who had online purchase experience. The findings indicated that customer interface quality, SERVQUAL, website quality, technology acceptance factors, and technology trust have positive impact on customer e-loyalty. Additionally, trustworthiness is used as mediator exclusive of SERVQUAL. Several implications of the findings, limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research are highlighted.     

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     

An Introduction to the Narrative Techniques in the Book of Job

The Book of Job, as one of the most outstanding works of the wisdom literature in the Bible, has also aroused a large number of critics attentson with its dtsunctlve narrative techniques. Through close-reading and criticisim review, the author of this thesis finds that the unique narrative techniques of the Book of Job are manifested in the following three aspects： unique and subde characterization of the characters, ingenious use of focalization and the skillful arrangement of plot stages under the U-shaped narrative pattern.     

Economic Cooperation Organization Member Countries＇ Economic Development： The Importance of Assessing Technoparks

Advanced technologies in the world, especially in the last quarter century of rapid change, radical innovation were required to compete in important decisions, triggered by the national network of cooperation structures which is a very significant changes in participates in the regional country or new technology generation and transfer systems to be released; starting from the most basic research on the effect of knowledge production, commercialization, distribution of the total well-being of society is an important dating ＂shining knowledge value chain＂. This important change has become the main formative element of the economies. Recent advances in the knowledge economy and the resulting new strategic theories, knowledge, technology transfer, and increased mobility at the long distances, the concept of regional development is a brand new technological cooperation aims and information focusing on the transformation processes of growth of the economies of developed nations, which is the most important technological innovation in the vision of the economic development advanced plays an important role, evolving processes trigger in all aspects of the right to read most threats and opportunities that might be the best analysis, by passing the appropriate policies for countries in their visions, and entrusted a vital importance. In this context, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Yajikistan, Yurkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in addition to research, technology development and production partner countries＇ and these countries sharing innovation structures with R＆D Center in technoparks and to serve together in the development of the total synergies ＂of the economic cooperation organization＂.     

Automatic Selection of Classification Algorithms for Non-Experts Using Meta-Features

With the arrival of big-data society, methods for classifying real-world problems have attracted much attention for researchers and developers in various fields. In recent years, much effort has been devoted for improving performances of classification algorithms by adding functions or modifying their weaknesses. However, since a large variety of classification algorithms has been available, it is difficult for non-experts to find classification algorithms that achieve good results on a given data set. Therefore, if there is a system which automatically selects the best classification algorithm for a given data set, non-experts would receive various benefits such as saving time and effort. This paper presents a system of predicting the best possible classification algorithm for a given data set with respect to the accuracy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first approach focused on predicting the best one. The main target users of the proposed system are non-experts who do not have knowledge and experience in data mining. The proposed system utilizes useful meta-features selected from existing recta-features to increase the performance of the prediction. The feature selection is conducted by a wrapper approach with the genetic search algorithm. In the proposed system, K-nearest neighbor algorithm is used to learn the selectedmeta-features and build a classification model for predicting future data. Experiments using 58 real-world data sets show that the proposed system predicted the best classification algorithm with 60.34% accuracy from the top five in 30 classification algorithms.     

Recognition of the Economic Security in the Form of Assurance Fund as a Protection to Landowners and the Economic

The increase of land fraud statistics in Malaysia＇s administration system shows that the legal security, at present, is not able to guarantee landowners in the long run. Furthermore, there are registered landowners who are not able to recover their losses due to the stripping of title done erroneously by the government. This occurs due to the Malaysia＇s administration system only practices two principles out of the three principles in the Torrens systems, which are the mirror principle and the curtain principle. The retention of these two principles for the last 40 years since the National Land Code came into effect on the 1st January, 1966, and this has revealed the failure of the government in guaranteeing the landowners in the form of the economic security. This can indirectly impact the real estate investment in Malaysia due to the complaints pertaining to the loss of trust in the Malaysia administration system. Based on the studies conducted, we can see that the recognition towards economic security in the form of assurance fund can impact the increase of real estate investment in Malaysia. This can bring benefits not only to land owners as a protection but also towards the increased securities legislation in the form of the Malaysia land administration system, which could attract in an increase in the interest of investors to invest in Malaysia. So, the interviews with the directors of the land office in Peninsular Malaysia, legal practitioners, and insurance companies have been conducted to support this study. The results of this study hopefully will assist our land administration system in creating a form of economic security in order to make our system more guarantees, efficient, and good governance in resolving matters related to land, especially to address the issue of fraud and forgery. Furthermore, it is expected to help the landowners and innocent buyer in seeking protection of economic loss is not due to their own mistakes and to increase the investment in Malaysia.     

Analysing Mechanism of an Economic Phase

In this paper, we define the thetical and antithetical phases of macroeconomy on a formal basis. And we formulate a bubble economy and its collapse by using these definitions. The concept of thetical and antithetical phases is introduced into economics by Kinoshita. In the course of discussion, we also make clear the difference between economic growth and bubble economy, while describing a mechanism of collapse of a bubble economy by using a simple macro-economic model instead of a specific model. As a result, we can analyse not only the state of thetical economy phase, and antithetical economy phase, but also bubble economy phase and bubble bursting economy phase. And we can describe mechanism of transitions among four economic phases.