Retail Shelf Allocation: A Comparative Analysis of Heuristic and Meta-Heuristic Approaches

This research presents a retail shelf-space decision model that incorporates a nonlinear profit function, vertical and horizontal location effects, and product cross-elasticity. We propose a linear programming formulation of the nonlinear profit function that can solve the shelf-space problem optimally. We describe potential advances in heuristic and meta-heuristic algorithms and compare the approaches through simulations and a field experiment. We discuss the impact of the number of item facings, vertical location, and horizontal location (e.g., we find the vertical location effect is approximately double the size of the horizontal location effect on profit performance).     

Corruption and military spending

Anecdotal evidence relates corruption with high levels of military spending. This paper tests empirically whether such a relationship exists. The empirical analysis is based on data from four different sources for up to 120 countries during 1985–1998. The association between military spending and corruption is investigated by using cross-section and panel regression techniques. The results suggest that corruption is associated with higher military spending as a share of both GDP and total government spending, as well as with arms procurement in relation to GDP and total government spending. The results can be interpreted as evidence that defense spending may be used as a component of an indicator of the quality of governance.     

Scheduling a capacitated single machine with time deteriorating job values

We address the scheduling problem with the following characteristics: (i) there is a single machine available, (ii) the machine has limited capacity, and (iii) job value deteriorates with time. The problem is motivated from several real world situations, such as, downloading process of web pages, and scheduling of multiplexes. Since the problem is NP-hard, we propose new heuristics based on a multiplicative piece-wise metric as an approximation of the slope of job value deterioration. Computational results show that the proposed heuristics perform better than other existing heuristics for similar types of problems.     

Regional Trade Arrangements in Africa: Past Performance and the Way Forward

Abstract: Regional trade arrangements (RTAs) in Africa have been ineffective in promoting trade and foreign direct investment. Relatively high external trade barriers and low resource complementarity between member countries limit both intra‐ and extraregional trade. Small market size, poor transport facilities and high trading costs make it difficult for African countries to reap the potential benefits of RTAs. To increase regional trade and investment, African countries need to undertake more broad‐based liberalization and streamline existing RTAs, supported by improvements in infrastructure and trade facilitation. Early action to strengthen the domestic revenue base would help address concerns over revenue losses from trade liberalization.     

What's My Line? A Comparison of Industry Classification Schemes for Capital Market Research

This study compares four broadly available industry classification schemes in a variety of applications common to capital market research. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes have been available since 1939 but are being replaced by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. The Global Industry Classifications Standard (GICS)^SM system, jointly developed by Standard & Poor's and Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), is popular among financial practitioners, whereas the Fama and French [1997] algorithm is used primarily by academics. Our results show that GICS classifications are significantly better at explaining stock return comovements, as well as cross‐sectional variations in valuation multiples, forecasted and realized growth rates, research and development expenditures, and various key financial ratios. The GICS advantage is consistent from year to year and is most pronounced among large firms. The other three methods differ little from each other in most applications.     

Work alienation of marketing employees: Influence of task,supervisory, and organizational structure factors

This study presents an integrated work alienation model that includes a number of relevant exogenous antecedents from the task, supervisory, and organizational structure domains. The study hypothesizes that these antecedents influence work alienation of marketing employees both directly and indirectly because of the effects they have on employees’ role stress and commitment to the organization. Simultaneous inclusion of relevant antecedents enables the study to establish the relative importance of each antecedent for work alienation of employees. The study also includes a comparative evaluation of the applicability of the proposed model for subgroups of employees stratified by gender. He obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin and has several years of practical experience in sales management. His research interests are in the areas of sales management, marketing strategy, and international marketing. He has previously published in the International Journal of Research in Marketing, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, and a number of other marketing/international journals. He obtained his Ph.D. at Ohio State University. His practical experience includes international trade of merchandise and sales and supply of industrial plants and equipment. His research interests are in the areas of international marketing and sales management. He has previously published in Advances in International Marketing, International Trade Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, and Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, and has contributed to several national and international conference proceedings. He obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin and has several years of practical experience in advertising management. His research interests are in the areas of advertising, marketing strategy, and international marketing. He has previously published in the Journal of Advertising Research and has contributed to several national conference proceedings.     

Natural resource endowments and the domestic revenue effort

We examine whether there is evidence of an offset between government revenues from hydrocarbon (oil and gas) related activities and revenues from other domestic sources in a panel of 30 hydrocarbon producing countries. Our main finding is that there is an offset of about 20%, which is robust to the inclusion of control variables, the exclusion of outliers, and alternate estimation methodologies. While the impact of the offset on long-term development prospects is not clear, there is a risk of significant adjustment costs in moving to a higher level of domestic taxation once natural resources are depleted.     

An application of the monetary approach to black market exchange rates

Zusammenfassung Eine Anwendung des monet?ren Ansatzes zur Erkl?rung von Schwarzmarkt-Wechselkursen. — Dieser Aufsatz entwickelt einen monet?ren Ansatz zur Analyse der Schwarzmarkt-Wechselkurse unter besonderer Berücksichtigung Indiens. Der Gleichgewichtskurs auf solchen M?rkten wird in einem Modell durch die Bedingungen des Bestandsgleichgewichts bestimmt. Berücksichtigt wird dabei das m?gliche Zusammenwirken zwischen dem Schmuggel und dem Schwarzmarkt für Devisen. Die empirischen Sch?tzungen lassen vermuten, daΒ die Ausweitung der Geldmenge im Inland und der internationale Goldpreis neben anderen Faktoren einen bedeutenden EinfluΒ auf den Schwarzmarkt-Wechselkurs in Indien haben.

---

Résumé Une application de l’approche monétaire aux taux de change sur le marché noir. —Cet article développe une approche monétaire pour l’analyse des taux de change sur le marché noir en considération particulière de l’Inde. Dans le modèle, le taux de change d’équilibre sur le marché noir est déterminé par les conditions d’équilibre de stock. Le modèle permet l’interaction possible entre la fraude et le marché noir pour les monnaies étrangères. Les estimations empiriques suggèrent que l’expansion monétaire locale et le prix mondial d’or (complémentairement aux autres facteurs) ont une influence significative sur le taux de change sur le marché noir indien.

---

Resumen Una aplicación del aprocha monetaria a las tasas de cambio del mercado negro. — En este artículo se desarrolla un aprocha ?monetaria? para el análisis de las tasas de cambio del mercado negro con especial referencia a la India. En el modelo, el equilibrio de la tasa de cambio del mercado negro se determina por las condiciones del equilibrio de stock. Se permite una posible interacción entre contrabando y mercado negro de monedas extranjeras. Las estimaciones empíricas sugieren que la expansión monetaria doméstica y el precio mundial del oro (agregados a otros factores) tienen una influencia significativa sobre la tasa de cambio de mercado negro en la India.