Retail location: the post hierarchical challenge

Location, like every other element of the retailing mix, is in a constant state of change. Yet academic conceptualizations of retailing location have changed little in the last thirty years. Indeed, this conceptual stasis stands in marked contrast to the dramatic methodological developments that have recently taken place. This paper examines the traditional, hierarchical model of urban retail location and presents an alternative, post-hierarchical perspective. A distinction is drawn between the shape or form of retailing locations and the functions found therein. A classification of urban retail locations is also proposed and a synthesis with the hierarchical model recommended.     

Towards a sustainable capacity expansion of the Danish biogas sector

Promotion of bioenergy production is an important contemporary topic around the world. Vast amounts of research are allocated towards analysing and understanding bioenergy systems, which are by nature multi-faceted. Despite a focus on the deployment of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods for planning of bioenergy systems, only little research has addressed the location component of bioenergy facility planning. In this paper the authors develop a model for sustainable capacity expansion of the Danish biogas sector allowing for an identification and prioritization of suitable locations for biogas production. The model builds on a framework for spatial planning and decision making through the application of spatial multi-criteria evaluation (SMCE). The paper is structured around a case study including four Danish municipalities in order to demonstrate the power of the spatial multi-criteria evaluation model. The model allows a two level comparison of suitability, within municipalities as well as between municipalities. Criteria weights for generation of alternatives are obtained through an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) analysis, carried out among a group of Danish central governmental decision makers. We find that resource and production economic criteria are given highest priority followed by environmental and social criteria. In all four case study municipalities, the identified alternatives are compared through incorporating economic, environmental and social criteria. It is found that 4–6% of the municipal area is suitable for biogas facility location and among the best performing sustainable locations the potential of reducing overall production costs is 3% as compared with current biogas plants. The results of this paper can provide support to central governmental decision makers, regarding regional allocation of subsidies in the country. Likewise local decision makers can obtain important information for planning and decision support, allowing for a more inclusive and transparent planning procedure.     

FDI location choice of Chinese multinationals in East and Southeast Asia: Traditional economic factors and institutional perspective

This paper investigates the factors determining foreign direct investment (FDI) location choices of Chinese multinational firms. We developed a conceptual framework that synthesizes traditional economic factors and institutional perspective. Then several hypotheses were developed in line with the framework and empirically tested using panel data of Chinese outward FDI to eight economies in East and Southeast Asia across a time period of thirteen years. Our findings suggest that institutional factors demonstrate a higher level of significance, complexity and diversity in determining FDI location choice in comparison with economic factors, while both types of factors influence the FDI location choice of Chinese multinational firms. We also found that the FDI location choices of Chinese firms have a dynamic nature, as statistical evidence indicates a heterogeneous response of Chinese FDI towards different economic groups and during different time periods.     

川渝联手开拓南亚市场研究

川渝产业结构与南亚国家具有很强的互补性,川渝自身的区位优势明显,有必要联手拓展南亚国家市场。在此过程中,川渝政府应该进一步完善当前的物流市场,加快高层次外贸人才的培养和引进,并做好其他相关的外贸配套工作,充分将潜在的竞争优势转化现实的竞争力。     

基于灰度直方图最小跨度阈值法的瞳孔分割

瞳孔的边缘检测是虹膜提取的一个重要技术内容,本文提出了一种简单有效的虹膜内边缘定位算法,以虹膜图像灰度直方图为基础,通过寻找瞳孔区灰度分布范围的方法确定分离瞳孔的灰度阈值,并利用灰度投影法定位虹膜内边缘。实验结果表明,文中提出的方法能够准确地进行虹膜内边缘定位。     

新兴经济体FDI流入的决定因素及中国的应对策略

吸引FDI流入是新兴经济体促进经济发展的重要手段,但FDI活动深受东道国区位因素的广泛影响。利用1995-2009年的面板数据,对新兴经济体吸引FDI流入的决定因素进行实证分析,结果表明:FDI与东道国聚集效应、市场规模、基础设施、资源禀赋、经济开放度显著正相关,但与东道国人力资本和政治风险负相关。因此,中国应该强化FDI的区域聚集效应、行业聚集效应和特定投资来源地聚集效应,保持经济稳定、持续的增长,加大对落后地区的基础设施建设的投入,构建全方位的对外开放体系和引资战略,实现经济持续快速发展。     

广东省高技术产业集聚实证研究

本文对广东省高技术产业的集聚水平和专业化程度进行了测度,并对计算结果进行了比较分析,指出了广东省高技术产业所面临的问题,并对其未来发展提供了政策性的建议。     

中国企业对外直接投资的区位选择和路径安排

随着中国综合国力增强和国内企业参与国际经济分工的深化,目前中国企业具有对外直接投资的基本条件和现实需要,近年来关于中国企业如何实施“走出去”战略已成为学术界和企业界共同关注的热点问题之一。文章综合发达国家和发展中国家的对外直接投资理论,结合我国企业的具体实际,对我国企业在实施“走出去”战略过程中的东道国区位选择和路径安排进行研究。     

The emergence of multi-sided platform MNEs: Internalization theory and networks

The rise of the digital economy provides firms across the globe with unique business opportunities. Companies such as Facebook, Alibaba, and Uber are competing in a new multi-sided platform world; the primary focus of these firms, from their inception, is to provide digital infrastructure, information and technology—intangible assets that enable direct interaction or value creation across platforms by linking different user group and complementors, often at the international level. Building on data drawn from multinational multisided Platform corporations (MMPCs) operating in China, we combine insights from internalization theory and network effects in understanding the value creation of such firms. We explore the boundaries of these new “breed” of MNEs in exploiting firm-specific advantages (FSAs) and in creating new knowledge between headquarters and subsidiaries. The findings suggest that internalization theory needs to shift its focus from the ‘boundaries of the firm’ to the ‘boundaries of the local network’. By integrating their internal and external networks of knowledge in adapting their business models in host markets, this new breed of MNEs is more likely than the traditional one to gain a sustainable competitive advantage in the new information age.     

Where do manufacturing firms locate their headquarters?

Firms often separate headquarters' (HQ) functions physically from their production facilities and construct stand-alone HQs. By locating its HQ in a large, service oriented metro area away from its production facilities, a firm may be better able to outsource service functions in that local metro market and also to gather information about market conditions for their products. However if the firm locates the HQ away from its production activity, the coordination costs in managing plant activities are increased. In this paper, we empirically analyze the trade-off between these two considerations.