Making an exciting brand big: Brand personality,logo size and brand evaluation

This research examines how brand personality (excitement) and logo size used in product design (big versus small) interacts in affecting consumer brand evaluation. We first demonstrate that combining a big logo and a high-excitement brand (versus a small logo combined with a high-excitement brand) leads to high processing fluency, further resulting in more favourable brand evaluation (Study 1). We then determine the consumption situation as a moderator of such an interaction effect: the influence of the big logo and high-excitement-brand combination on brand evaluation is significantly weakened in a private consumption situation (a T-shirt worn at home) compared to a public consumption situation (a T-shirt worn outside, Study 2a), and becomes insignificant for a private product category (slippers, Study 2b).     

Does the Connectivity of the Belt and Road Initiative Contribute to the Economic Growth of the Belt and Road Countries?

ABSTRACT

Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been implemented for five years, it is time to ask whether the BRI contributes to Belt and Road (BR) countries’ economic growth, and how are the five elements of connectivity implemented between China and its partner countries since the BRI was proposed. This study focuses on the development of the five elements of connectivity between China and the BR countries from 2008 to 2017 using a comprehensive connectivity index extracted from principle component analysis, and then investigating if the connectivity has contributed to the economic growth of the BR countries with quantitative analysis of the fixed effect econometrical model. It is found that Russia, South Korea, and Singapore presented the top three levels of connectivity with China with regard to the overall connectivity index, varying from 1.4 to 2.4. Madagascar and Panama have the lowest level of connectivity with China, with values of ?0.8 to ?1.1. The result of the fixed effect model shows that the connectivity of the BR countries with China contributes to their economic growth. This provides quantitative evidence that the connectivity between BR countries and China has a significant influence on the economic growth of those countries.     

基于SD模型的诸城市农业结构仿真优化研究

［目的］预测2017—2035年诸城市农业结构的变化趋势，对农业结构进行多情景优化仿真，提出优化调整建议。［方法］文章以山东省诸城市作为研究对象，将农业结构划分为种植、种养结合和加工休闲3个子系统，选取56个指标，运用多元统计回归分析等方法构建41个方程，建立农业结构系统动力学（System Dynamics，简称SD）模型，运用Vensim—PLE软件进行仿真优化分析。［结果］SD模型预测结果表明，到2035年，粮食作物播种面积1105万hm2，总产量8037万t，经济作物播种面积652万hm2，总产量15203万t； 生猪出栏量达到29615万头，家禽出栏量1105 231亿只，畜禽粪污利用率8792%； 农业总产值达到25132亿元，休闲农业产值6134亿元，食品加工业产值1 25263亿元。假设种植业生产中的农业科技投入增加2个百分点， 2035年粮食作物产量较优化前增加576万t； 经济作物产量较优化前增加2814万t； 假设有机肥施用补贴增加3个百分点， 2035年畜禽粪污利用率较优化前提高762个百分点； 假设农产品加工业的研发力度和科技投入增加1个百分点， 2035年食品加工产值较优化前增加73521亿元； 农产品加工业产值占农业总产值比值由优化前的325：1达到41：1。［结论］为进一步推进诸城市农业结构调整，迫切需要加大农业科技投入，完善有机肥扶持政策，培育种养结合新型经营主体，重点扶持培育加工龙头企业，发展现代化休闲农场，促进农业产业融合发展。     

De Facto Exchange Rate Regime Classifications: An Evaluation

There exist several statistically-based exchange rate regime classifications that disagree with one another to a disappointing degree. To what extent is this a matter of the quality of the design of these schemes, and to what extent does it reflect the need to supplement statistics with other information (as is done in the IMF’s de facto classification)? It is shown that statistical methods are good at the basics (distinguishing some type of peg from some type of float), but less helpful in other respects, such as determining whether a float is managed, particularly for countries that are not very remote from their main trading partners. Different measures of exchange rate volatility have been used but are not primarily responsible for differences between classifications. The theoretical underpinning of particular classification schemes needs to be more explicit.     

基于水权交易和面源污染控制的农户灌溉施肥行为模型

将水权交易和面源污染控制有机结合,以种植面积、农业用水定额、污染物浓度为约束条件,运用边际分析方法建立农户灌溉施肥行为模型,分析水权交易和排污控制对农户行为的影响。结果表明:灌溉用水量与农作物价格成正相关,与交易水价和边际灌溉成本成负相关;一定范围内肥料施用量与农作物价格成正相关,与边际施肥成本或边际环境成本成负相关。模型证明,当农业用水定额内水权可交易时,水市场的存在和水价政策将激励农户减少灌水量,节约用水。     

The Effect of Cross‐Border Mergers and Acquisitions on Earnings Quality: Evidence from China

Despite the fruitful research on the motives and outcomes of cross‐border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) of Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs), there has been scant research on the impact of cross‐border M&As on corporate governance. In this article, we fill the research gap by exploring whether cross‐border M&As may lead to an improvement in corporate governance of Chinese acquirers. In particular, we examine the impact of cross‐border M&As on earnings quality of Chinese MNCs. We find that the acquisition of a target firm from a developed country leads to a significant improvement on the acquirer's earnings quality. In comparison, the acquisition of a target from an emerging market does not have such an impact. Our results are robust to various corporate governance measures, alternative econometric methods, and controls of relevant firm characteristics and macroeconomic variables. Finally, we show that the effect of cross‐border M&As on earnings quality is more pronounced in non‐state‐owned enterprises (non‐SOEs) that have conducted large M&A deals. Our article offers new insight to the international business literature on latecomer perspective and liability of foreignness. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Analysing enterprise architecture maturity models: a learning perspective

In order to aid organisations in the adoption of enterprise architecture (EA) best practices, maturity models have been proposed in the literature. These models offer organisational roadmaps and assessment frameworks for increasing EA maturity. However, key questions concerning the implied meaning of the term maturity in the context of these models have been left unexplored by previous research. This research, aided by the field of organisational learning, offers new insights into the implied assumptions of current EA maturity models and offers initial concepts and constructs to guide the conceptualisation, construction and refinement of enterprise maturity models.     

物流分拣中破损快件的智能识别技术

鉴于传统智能识别方法无法解决分拣过程中货物破损区域不定、破损区域模糊、分拣耗时等问题,提出一种基于计算机视觉技术的破损快件智能识别模型,通过采用分割法,分割出图像变换差值,构建合理的快件特征表、目标破损特征区域表,并明确破损区域阀值,通过主元相似识别算法对不同类型的待识别快件进行破损识别。实验表明该模型具有较高的实时性和可靠性,能够及时准确地识别出不同类型的破损快件,极大地提高了物流分拣去除破损快件的自动化以及智能化。