Towards a ‘new normal’ growth strategy: China in comparative perspective

China’s move towards a new normal has been motivated by domestic factors and accelerated by the decline in export opportunities to developed countries. This decline, combined with the knock-on effects of China’s growth adjustments, is disrupting the favourable external environment that made developing countries’ export-led development strategies viable. This paper concentrates on a rebalancing of developing countries’ growth strategies towards a greater weight of household consumption as a potential alternative and discusses three challenges – market size, domestic purchasing power and balance-of-payments constraints. Concentrating on the latter, it analyses changes in sectoral compositions of consumer demand and patterns of international trade. Results point to the risk that a shift in growth strategy causes an import surge. The paper’s findings indicate the scope and speed of required product innovation that would prevent a rebalancing of growth strategies towards a greater role of consumption from running into balance-of-payments constraints.     

Product design strategies in technological shifts: An explorative study of Italian design-driven companies

This article analyzes the relationship between technological shift and product design strategies in the Italian lighting industry, where design players have experienced a discontinuous technological shift due to the introduction of LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology.     

Infrastructure investment on the margins of the market: The role of niche infrastructure providers in the UK

Across Europe, policymakers and market forces are striving to deploy next generation access (NGA) networks and ensure ubiquitous access to superfast broadband services. Due to scale economies and sunk costs, the roll-out of NGA is expected to be profitable only for large-scale providers and in densely populated areas. Nonetheless, alternative providers, such as utilities and local communities, have significantly contributed to NGA diffusion in many countries. Over the past five years, several small-scale initiatives have emerged in the UK, bringing fibre networks to urban and rural areas previously overlooked by either commercial or subsidised deployments. A multiple case study approach is employed here to explore the nature and the drivers of niche providers in the UK NGA market. All these initiatives are demand-driven and to follow a modular approach. Despite adopting different business models, they all rely on the resources inherited from past broadband initiatives and relationships with local partners. By investigating the strategies of niche providers in NGA market, this analysis sheds light on their contribution to bridging the digital divide in the UK and is presented as a preliminary assessment of their sustainability and potential growth.     

Can Arabic Proverbs Enhance Arabic-Speaking Students’ Comprehension of Financial Concepts?: An Empirical Study in Randomly Selected Business Schools in Dubai

In this study, we investigated the use of Arabic proverbs and quotes for teaching finance courses to Arabic-speaking students who are nonnative speakers of English. The study found that the use of Arabic proverbs and quotes greatly enhances the students’ comprehension of the finance topics covered. Similarly, the study revealed that the use of Arabic proverbs and quotes for Arabic-speaking students in teaching finance courses creates rapport between the student and instructor, thus enhancing learning. Finally, the study confirmed that the use of Arabic proverbs and quotes for Arabic-speaking students in teaching finance courses does not lead to confusion or complicate matters, but enhances comprehension and bolsters retention.     

Abnormal Returns from Takeover Prediction Modelling: Challenges and Suggested Investment Strategies

While takeover targets earn significant abnormal returns, studies tend to find no abnormal returns from investing in predicted takeover targets. In this study, we show that the difficulty of correctly identifying targets ex ante does not fully explain the below‐expected returns to target portfolios. Target prediction models’ inability to optimally time impending takeovers, by taking account of pre‐bid target underperformance and the anticipation of potential targets by other market participants, diminishes but does not eliminate the potential profitability of investing in predicted targets. Importantly, we find that target portfolios are predisposed to underperform, as targets and distressed firms share common firm characteristics, resulting in the misclassification of a disproportionately high number of distressed firms as potential targets. We show that this problem can be mitigated, and significant risk‐adjusted returns can be earned, by screening firms in target portfolios for size, leverage and liquidity.     

富锦市不稳定耕地调查与处理对策

划分不稳定耕地类型,并调查其分布及规模,可以为耕地管理及区域农业发展提供依据.该文根据黑龙江省第二次土地调查的实际情况,将不稳定耕地划分为滩地、速生丰产林熟化地、林区多种经营地、开垦草原地、开垦荒地、开垦沼泽地、盐碱化地、高寒低温地、超坡地、其他耕地等10种类型.经调查,富锦市包含6类不稳定耕地,总面积1.979 1万hm2,全部分布于市属集体土地内,国有农场内没有不稳定耕地.根据富锦市不稳地耕地现状及利用中存在的问题,提出了处理对策.     

基于形象视角的品牌转型策略

当前情境下,本土企业进行品牌转型已成必然趋势。品牌管理的本质在于对存在于消费者心智中的品牌形象进行管理,因而从形象视角进行品牌管理是品牌转型的有效途径。基于形象视角的管理理念,企业品牌转型应该采取转变经营理念、建立专业品牌管理团队、建立形象管理系统、重视消费者沟通等策略。     

城市设计制度创新的策略与途径

探讨了我国城市设计制度创新的必要性和矛盾性,从理论和实践两方面总结了1990年代以来我国城市设计领域涌现出的制度创新探索。立足我国的政治、社会、经济环境特点,剖析了我国城市设计制度创新的策略和进程,指出城市设计制度建设在我国不宜作一刀切的统一规定,而要走政府主导、渐进式、多样化、地方化的道路。     

经济欠发达地区高校发展SWOT分析及策略——以商洛学院为例

本文以商洛学院为例,运用SWOT法对经济欠发达地区高校的发展进行了分析,并提出了相应的策略。     

高校科研项目经费管理中的问题与对策

高校科研项目经费的管理存在着项目负责人管理素质不高、管理制度不完善、财务管理部门对项目经费管理缺乏效率等问题,这些问题对高校科研活动产生的消极影响非常明显,其改进与改善刻不容缓。相应的,改进高校科研项目经费的管理也应该从三个方面展开,即提高项目负责人的管理素质、完善科研项目经费的管制制度和强化财务管理部门对科研项目经费的管理等。