The Economic Effects of Removing Barriers to Trade in Telecommunications

This paper quantifies the impact on the economies of the world of complete liberalisation of trade in a key services sector, telecommunications, using a global general equilibrium model. Barriers to trade in telecommunications are highest in developing regions and lowest in developed regions. The paper uses new estimates of these barriers for telecommunications. The results indicate that completely liberalising trade in telecommunications would benefit the world as a whole in terms of increased production by 0.1 per cent. Although the distribution of gains among regions is not even, most regions are projected to gain from liberalising trade in telecommunications. In general, the regions with the highest barriers benefit most. The analysis demonstrates that commercial presence of foreign firms via foreign direct investment is an important mode of delivering telecommunications.     

Trade‐led growth hypothesis in Cuban commercial regimes since 19601,2

This study examines the impact of trade on Cuban growth during different commercial policy regimes spanning the period from 1960 up to 2004, encompassing two essential economic structural transformations: the Cuban revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall. For this purpose, the Granger causality is used by means of the modified Wald test for augmented‐level vector autoregressive model with integrated and cointegrated processes introduced by Toda and Yamamoto (1995) and Dolado and Lutekepohl (1996) . We show an import‐led growth hypothesis during the Soviet‐oriented pattern that is rejected after 1990, when exports are not only responsive to growth expansion but also to imports’ behaviour.     

Mediated communication of ‘sustainable consumption’ in the alternative media: a case study exploring a message framing strategy

In view of previous effects of mediated communication on public knowledge, perceptions and concern about sustainability problems, this case study explores a message framing strategy for improving the effectiveness of mediated communication of the somewhat neglected topic of sustainable consumption. It describes how an information campaign on sustainable consumption was strategically framed, employing theories on effective and persuasive communication, and implemented through a community news medium in Christchurch, New Zealand. The resultant impacts of the campaign (significant increases in understanding of sustainable consumption and in the number of parents expressing concern over advertising effects on their children's material desires) were indicative of the potentials of employing strategic message framing for improving mediated communication about sustainability. The study also illustrates the potentials for engaging alternative media in such communication. This paper argues that further steps to develop message framing strategies for mediated communication of sustainable consumption is necessary, as this appears to be a largely neglected area in communication and consumer studies, and concludes with an overview of aspects that may be considered in future communication and other initiatives promoting sustainable consumption as a means for achieving sustainability.     

关于我国如何创建世界一流大学的思索

大学在社会的进步中扮演着重要的角色。在当前知识经济时代背景下,我国建设一批世界一流大学对提高我国综合国力有着重要的战略意义。着眼于中国实情,研究世界一流大学在学科建设、师资队伍建设和学生创新素质培养方面的办学经验,对于指导我国如何建设一批世界一流大学有着重要的作用。     

Equity swaps in a LIBOR market model

This study extends the BGM (A. Brace, D. Gatarek, & M. Musiela, 1997) interest rate model (the London Interbank Offered Rate [LIBOR] market model) by incorporating the stock price dynamics under the martingale measure. As compared with traditional interest rate models, the extended BGM model is both appropriate for pricing equity swaps and easy to calibrate. The general framework for pricing equity swaps is proposed and applied to the pricing of floating‐for‐equity swaps with either constant or variable notional principals. The calibration procedure and the practical implementation are also discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 27:893–920, 2007     

Applied Product Capability Analysis Chart in Measure Step of Six Sigma

This paper will apply product capability analysis chart PCAC in Measure step of Six Sigma. Because the test model is sampling, sampling error must be consider. Thus minimum value will be used to evaluate process capability. Besides the paper used minimum value to evaluate process capability, we also applied the concept of Six Sigma in PCAC and construct PCAC of Six Sigma standard. Finally, PCAC of Six Sigma standard will apply in Six Sigma project of Offset Ratchet Wrenches which manufactured by Y company.     

如何看待“人民币外升内贬”

2007年，国内物价上涨较快而人民币对美元保持升值态势，这种人民币对外购买力上升和对内购买力下降的现象引起社会各方面的普遍关注。该文首先从理论和实践方面分析了货币对外升值对内贬值的现象；其次指出人民币对内贬值的重要原因是流动性过剩；并认为人民币对美元升值的主要原因是美元走软。     

EMULATION,PREVENTION AND SOCIAL INTERACTION IN CONSUMPTION DYNAMICS

In this paper we show that the role of diversity, local interactions and global endogenous change at the level of social standards might be crucial in understanding the evolution of consumption patterns in modern economies. We propose an evolutionary model from which consumption dynamics can be analyzed as global properties emerging from the endogenous transformation of a society inhabited by boundedly rational interactive consumers. This work aspires to take a modest step forward in the direction of an evolutionary theory of demand change.     

The effect of expertise on consumers' satisfaction with the use of interactive recommendation agents

Based on cost‐benefit theory and the value‐percept diversity model, this study investigates the underlying mechanism that makes consumers feel satisfied with the use of interactive recommendation agents (IRAs). The format of IRAs was manipulated experimentally (attribute‐based format/benefit‐based format/no agent) and participants were classified as either expert or novice consumers. The dependent measures were the perceived costs and benefits of the information search process, the perceived costs and benefits of the decision‐making process, and the degree of satisfaction with the outcome. The results explain the mechanisms underlying consumers' satisfaction when using an IRA. The findings also suggest the presence of an interaction between the expertise of consumers and the preferred type of IRA on various dependent variables. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.