Deterrence or Conflict Spiral Effect? Exercise of Coercive Power in Marketing Channels: Evidence from China

Purpose: The article aims to test the appropriateness of deterrence and conflict spiral models in marketing channels. Both models have been alternatively used as bases to explain firms’ power-related behaviors in marketing channels. However, the issue of the appropriateness of such an application in various contexts has not yet been addressed.

Methodology/approach: The authors develop the hypotheses based on deterrence theory and their alternatives based on conflict spiral theory. They gather data from 204 sales representatives of suppliers in China and use linear regression analysis to test their hypotheses versus alternatives.

Empirical findings: The data analysis offers supportive evidence for the deterrence logic but with unexpected results. By elaborating on the empirical results, the original assumption of deterrence theory, and the nature of interfirm relationship in marketing channels, the authors modify the deterrence model for research on power related-behaviors in the given context. The analysis implies a possible explanation for inconsistent findings in the literature regarding exercises of coercive power.

Originality/value/contribution: This article proposes a revised deterrence model that can interpret the empirical results with a consistent logic and better predict power-related behaviors in marketing channels.

Research limitations/implications: The research results may lack generalizability with respect to channel type and culture. It does not directly test the cognitive mechanisms that mediate the impact of power on its exercise. Researchers are encouraged to directly test the mediating constructs in other channels or countries.

Practical implications: The article includes some insights and implications for managers in understanding power structure and implementing influence strategies in business-to-business marketing.     

A Multicultural Joint Venture Under the Post-Developmental State in Singapore

As a multi-cultural country with a British colonial past hosting many different ethnic groups including Westerners, Singapore juggles with the often conflicting forces of Westernization (holding the promise of economic prosperity) and Asianization (holding the promise of a distinct cultural identity). Although the endorsement of ‘Asian values’ by Singapore political leaders such as Lee Kuan Yew may be seen as a mere rhetoric device to either explain ethnic Chinese business success or the Asian crisis, the question needs to be raised as to the ways in which the Asian Values discourse affects both Western and Asian MNCs operating in Singapore. In order to address this question, this article investigates the participation of a European–Japanese joint venture in a large government-sponsored reclamation project in Singapore. It is a rather unique situation in which the state as paymaster has the upper hand over the partners. The investigation shows that reference to ‘Asian values’ is a significant boundary-marking strategy used by both the Singapore government and the joint venture partners to manipulate the power balances in this triangular relationship. The outcome is more often than not advantageous for the Singapore state.     

Japan's Post‐Fukushima Energy Policy Challenges

The Great East Japan Earthquake and the successive accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station are stark reminders of the importance of energy, which is the basis of economic activity and national governance. Urgent responses have been conducted since March 11, 2011, including controlling the consequences of the nuclear accident, dealing with the short‐term power shortages, and a comprehensive review of Japan's long‐term national energy policy. Nationwide discussions and reviews of these issues are still continuing. Even today, more than 2 years after March 11, many problems remain unsolved and Japanese society has to face uncertainty and challenges about its energy future. In the current difficult situation, Japan needs to achieve “3Es (e nergy security, environmental protection, and economic efficiency)” plus “S” (safety) and “M” (macro economy protection) simultaneously, taking account of the new realities following the Fukushima accident. This paper tries to identify the energy‐related challenges that Japan has to face and tries to recommend the concept of the “energy best mix policy” for Japan, by describing the present status of energy issues in Japan and the national debate on energy policy.     

Host-country policy – commitment or no-commitment: a theoretical analysis

This paper develops a model of foreign entry strategy and examines welfare of the host-country under two situations - (i) where host-country government commits to the tax policy, (ii) where host-country government does not commit to the tax policy. It turns out that under the non-committed government policy the foreign firm does not prefer to hold equity share in the domestic project. The host-country welfare, however, is more under the committed government policy than the non-committed government policy when the foreign firm has sufficiently higher bargaining power. The possibility of technology choice by the foreign firm reduces the range of bargaining power of the foreign firm over which the host-country welfare is more under the committed policy compared to the non-committed policy.     

政府监管行为的制衡机制

政府监管行为是一种集准立法权、准司法权、执行权于一体的行政行为,因此监管机构享有广泛的权力。 如没有建立相应的制衡机制,就会导致政府监管权的滥用,如合谋、收买、寻租乃至监管权的争夺。管制分权可以作 为一种内部制衡;听证制度是一种过程制衡;司法审查则是一种外部制衡。     

区域经济合作背景下的中国电力对外贸易

20世纪90年代以来,区域经济合作成为全球经济发展的趋势。电力对外贸易所固有的特点决定了它与区域经济合作密切相关。以中国周边的珠三角、澜沧江一湄公河次区域、东北亚区域为分析对象,进一步具体揭示了区域经济合作与中国电力对外贸易的联系,说明了中国电力对外贸易的基本格局及发展前景,提出了在区域经济背景下拓展中国电力对外贸易的措施。     

基于虚拟同步机的参数自适应频率控制策略

为了解决传统虚拟同步机无法根据风机运行状态自适应调整控制参数这一问题,提出了一种基于虚拟同步机的参数自适应频率控制策略。首先,建立虚拟同步机控制方式下的双馈风机模型,并利用根轨迹法分析虚拟惯量和阻尼系数对系统稳定性的影响。在此基础上,提出自适应虚拟同步机控制策略与参数整定方法,建立虚拟惯量和阻尼系数与系统频率的函数关系,并根据风机运行状态确定参数初始值,实现虚拟同步机控制参数随频率变化的动态调整。最后,在Matlab/Simulink中进行仿真。结果表明,所提频率控制策略实现了虚拟惯量和阻尼系数的自适应调节,能够充分利用风机旋转动能,有效抑制频率跌落并提升频率恢复速度,提高系统频率稳定性,有助于将新能源有效融入电网,规避电网安全问题,并为新型电力系统建设提供有效参考。     

Agrarian Change and the Initial Development of an Aboriginal Bourgeoisie in Australia

While the commercial ambitions of indigenous capitalists are continuously displayed in Australia, little is known about the origins and initial development of the class. In this essay one area of the country, the north‐west of Western Australia (WA), is chosen to show how changes in the principal agricultural industry opened space for Aboriginal commerce. Despite the opposition of State governments and existing firms that dominated cattle and sheep production, this space was enlarged as pastoralism underwent major changes. The rise of the indigenous bourgeoisie was also facilitated by the growing power of the class's political representatives in electoral and in executive politics. Parallel with changes in Australian federalism, which gave the national government increased financial and other powers, Aboriginal representatives captured this shift for commercial advantage.     

管理层权力对企业绩效的影响研究——基于企业内部治理机制视角

以我国主板上市企业数据为基础,实证检验了上市企业管理层权力对企业绩效的影响,内部治理机制对管理层权力——企业绩效敏感性的影响。实证结果表明,内部治理机制影响管理层权力与企业绩效之间关系的敏感性,当不考虑内部治理机制时,企业绩效与管理层权力综合变量在1%水平上显著正相关,具有较高教育背景和持有企业股权的管理层,能为企业带来更好的业绩。当考虑内部治理机制时,企业绩效与管理层权力综合变量仅在10%水平上正相关。管理层权力综合变量对股权制衡度较低和独立董事比重较高的企业的绩效具有显著正向影响。