The making of modern champagne: how and why the taste for and the taste of champagne changed in nineteenth century Britain

ABSTRACT

Between 1800 and 1900, the taste of and for champagne in Britain changed entirely. From a sweet, and often, still wine it became both universally sparkling and extremely dry. Its usage also changed; drunk on its own or with sweet desserts in 1800, an accompaniment to savoury dishes and roast meats by 1900. How and why did these changes occur? Letters exchanged between the champagne houses and their London agents document changing styles of production whilst the changing nature of British taste can be tracked from the British press, from the many contemporary wine books and the records of the dominant distributive firm of W. & A. Gilbey. Using the Social Practice Theory of Shove and Pantzar and building on Leibenstein’s ground-breaking 1950 article on “snob” and “bandwagon” effects this article suggests a framework for understanding taste changes in British society.     

The making of the modern retail market: economic theory,business interests and economic policy in the passage of the 1964 Resale Prices Act

This article makes a critical examination of the economic case made for the prohibition of individual resale price maintenance (IRPM) in 1964. The Resale Prices Act had major implications for the future structure of British retailing and was lobbied for by multiple grocery retailers. This article demonstrates how a government enquiry which preceded the legislation privileged one side of the debate and marginalised other – arguably more rigorous – analysis. The article endorses a central role for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and is a case study of the role of economic theory in business–government relations and the development of economic policy.     

International Visibility of Balkan Economists in the Post-Socialist Era

During the socialist era, economists in the Balkan countries rarely published their work in the West due to political restrictions, methodological differences with the West, and inadequacy in Western languages. After the collapse of socialism, political barriers were lifted, a Western style of education in economics was adopted, and English began to be taught widely as the common language in the academic realm. The aim of this study is to discuss the impact of these policies on the publication performance of economists in the former socialist countries of the Balkans region. The results reveal that the number of international publications increased gradually over the post-socialist period and fast-reforming countries performed better than the slow movers.     

Entrepreneurial ecosystems in Bulgaria and Romania: A comparative analysis

This comparative analysis examines the neighboring entrepreneurial ecosystems in Bulgaria and Romania. In transitioning from past planned economies, these countries maintain similar approaches to entrepreneurship, yet they also exhibit distinct differences. Secondary data analysis revealed that both countries maintain a highly educated workforce with high start‐up skills and similar levels of global competitiveness in growing economies, while still facing low‐risk acceptance and low opportunity perception. On the other hand, Bulgaria excels in networking, building joint venture deals, attracting investment, maintaining a stronger focus on R&D, and the ability to nurture collaboration between industries and universities, while Romania displays stronger political stability, greater ease in starting a business, a more advanced infrastructure, and easier access to credit. As these countries capture the strengths of their respective economies, both Bulgaria and Romania may one day represent powerful hubs of innovation. Organizational leaders may use this study as a comparative springboard to learn new, yet workable policies that may support entrepreneurship within their respective ecosystems.     

Around Europe: Bulgaria in a Time of Change

In the process of recovering a noble commercial past, Bulgaria has serious problems to deal with. The author is Director General of the Bulgarian State Institute of Marketing and Management in Sofia.     

Bulgaria,Boosting Energy Cooperation with China——Interview with Deputy Minister Yaneva,Ministry of Economy and Energy,the Republic of Bulgaria

Deputy Minister Yaneva of Economy and Energy,the Republic of Bul- garia,a nice lady with outstanding talents,headed a delegation of Bulgaria to visit China in late June,for the participation at the 13th Bulgarian-Chi- nese Intergovernmental Commission for Economic,Trade,Scientific and Technical Cooperation.As an important instrument,the Joint Commission played a significant role in promoting the overall development of the bilat- eral economic relations. China's Foreign Trade interviewed Deputy Minister Yaneva and she gave very constructive suggestions on promoting the bilateral economic and trade cooperation between the two countries,especially in the area of energy cooperation.The following is a written interview with Deputy Min- ister Yaneva.     

The unbearable lightness of advertising: culture,media and the rise of advertising in socialist Bulgaria

This article offers a historical analysis of the conceptualization of advertising both as a propaganda tool and as a means of encouraging consumption in socialist Bulgaria. By exploring the public discourse on the function and importance of advertising in the popular media over the last 50 years, it seeks to explore the approach used to define the need for advertising, offering an insight into the complex ways in which socialist ideologies recognized the “inevitable” logic of the market – on one hand, acknowledging the need for consumption and on the other, recognizing the utility of advertising, which promotes and supports this very consumption as it sustains the operation of a commercially viable social system.     

Up in smoke: demarketing and consumer smoking cessation

The concept of demarketing refers to the use of marketing techniques to reduce or eliminate demand for a product or service. A review of the demarketing literature relating to health and specifically antismoking initiatives indicated that, while research on this topic exists, much of it is not grounded in an acceptable attitudinal or behavioural theory. After determining the importance placed by a sample of 18–24‐year olds on nine demarketing initiatives, two dimensions were identified that best explained this construct. Items within these dimensions were summed and averaged to form single variables, which were then used to form the attitudinal component of the Model of Goal Directed Behaviour. The findings showed that two of these variables – one that captured product packaging aspects and another that consisted of place and price items – significantly influenced the desire to quit and indirectly influenced the intention to quit. Anticipated positive emotions, frequency of quitting attempts and perceived control over quitting also positively influenced the desire and/or intention to quit. The article concludes with a discussion that interprets these findings from a theoretical and practical perspective and suggests directions for future research.     

Challenges and Opportunities of Business Education in Southeast Europe: The Case of a Balkan Business School

In 2004, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) concluded a 4‐year, 10 million dollar contract with the University of Delaware to create the Sarajevo Graduate School of Business, the first Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business [AACSB]‐accredited business school in Southeast Europe. This case study examines inconsistencies in the school's mission and goals, the structure and operation of the joint venture between Delaware and the University of Sarajevo, the fit between Delaware's MBA program and the local environment, pricing in an emerging market, the impact of the school's business model on its sustainability, challenges of market estimation and new product introduction, and the realism of USAID's goal of cultural change. The article concludes with an up‐to‐date epilogue and summary of conclusions that pertain generally to organizational strategies in emerging markets.     

Building the Ethical Infrastructure of the Market in Post–Communist Countries: The Case of Bulgaria

This study considers major problems involved in seeking to build a post–communist ethical infrastructure for business transactions in Bulgaria. After an analysis of the basic economic and political realities of the present transition period, some recent empirical findings are presented concerning the emerging ethics and business culture, concluding with practical recommendations for the future. The author is Senior Research Associate and she also teaches the Social and Business Dimensions of Business in the Institute of Economics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 3, Aksakov Str., 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria; e–mail; ineco@bgearn.acad.bg.     

Panama's ecotourism-plus initiative: the challenge of making history

Panama's master plan for ecotourism plus involves public and private entities in efforts to develop heritage resources and attract tourists without damaging those resources. As the crossroads of two continents and two oceans, Panama's natural environment is complemented by a rich cultural history. The nation has a signal opportunity both to draw attention to itself and to control its own destiny for the first time in nearly a century, as the United States decommissions its military bases and transfers sovereignty over the Panama Canal to Panama. Prototype projects already have shown the potential for cooperation between public and private entities for mutual gain—preservation of resources and expansion of the tourism business from its current focus on the business-travel segment. Inter-Continental Hotels, for instance, has joined an effort to safeguard a mangrove ecosystem as an ecotourism resource. The private Coronado Club Suites Resort, one of the few tourist developments outside Panama City, aims to preserve valuable montane area of biodiversity as it attracts ecotravelers. The master plan for the Gamboa Tropical Rainforest Resort includes development of facilities for research and a rebirth of the cultural legacy of an historic gold-transportation route. Perhaps the most intriguing project is the adaptive reuse of a former U.S. radar tower as an “ecohotel” and observation point for birds and other animals in the rain-forest canopy.     

Ownership and control in the modern corporation: Antitrust implications

As Adam Smith, in The Wealth of Nations, noted over 200 years ago, if a firm's manager is not also its owner, there is a possibility that the manager will not act strictly in the interests of the owners. Following the publication of Berle and Means' influential study, considerable professional attention has been directed toward Adam Smith's observation. What consensus has emerged on the so-called separation of ownership and control issue? What are the antitrust consequences of the separation of ownership and control? Answers to these questions are suggested. Finally, the significance of the recent theoretical contributions of Alchian and Demsetz and Fama are reviewed and policy implications are discussed.     

Audits and COVID-19: A paradigm shift in the making

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the obsolescence and vulnerability of many existing auditing practices. While some progressive practices have been implemented (e.g., remote audits using rudimentary information and communication technologies), a new paradigm is needed not only to account for the risk of repeated lockdowns but also to align practices with the level of digitalization, automation, and use of artificial intelligence in the current business environment. In this article, we argue that the adoption of new technologies requires a fundamental rethinking of how auditing services are delivered. We argue that new technological possibilities have implications for five other auditing elements that enable a shift from the old to the new paradigm of auditing, namely actors, processes, spaces, training and skills development, and services. We explain how nonfinancial audits conducted under the new paradigm are key enablers of a firm’s ability to participate and to thrive in a competitive international marketplace.     

Impact of Corruption on the Development of Information and Communications Infrastructures in Bulgaria and Romania

Abstract

Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union in January of 2007. Joining the EU is expected to promote the candidate country's economic growth, provide access to western technology, increase employment and attract foreign investments, the collective result of which is expected to be social, economic and technological advancement. In a perfect world where all factors contribute favorably those goals can be achieved. However, the detrimental impact of corruption on achieving national goals must also be addressed. This article examines linkages between information infrastructures and social development in Bulgaria and Romania as well as investment needs and financing were addressed with the objective to improve National Information Infrastructures (NII), expected payoffs from NII improvements were identified; the role of corruption in retarding information infrastructure development was also investigated. Using regression analysis the relationship between information infrastructures, social development, corruption, and economic development in Bulgaria and Romania were compared to those of the EU10 countries admitted into the EU in 2004 as well as to those in the original EU15 countries. It is concluded that given present conditions in Romania and Bulgaria development financing will have to come from internal and from World Bank sources rather than from foreign direct investment.     

Ethical decision making: A review of the empirical literature

The authors review the empirical literature in order to assess which variables are postulated as influencing ethical beliefs and decision making. The variables are divided into those unique to the individual decision maker and those considered situational in nature. Variables related to an individual decision maker examined in this review are nationality, religion, sex, age, education, employment, and personality. Situation specific variables examined in this review are referent groups, rewards and sanctions, codes of conduct, type of ethical conflict, organization effects, industry, and business competitiveness. The review identifies the variables that have been empirically tested in an effort to uncover what is known and what we need to know about the variables that are hypothesized as determinants of ethical decision behavior.Robert C. Ford is a professor of management at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has authored or coauthored two texts and a number of published articles in a variety of journals including theAcademy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, Journal of Applied Psychology, California Management Review, andBusiness Horizons. He is the incoming President of the Southern Management Association and has served the Academy of Management as Chairs of the Management History Division, the Management Education and Development Division, and Placement Director.Woodrow D. Richardson is an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has published inHealth Care Management Review, Simulation & Gaming, andSmall Business Controlling. He teaches courses in Business & Society and Business Policy, and he was the recipient of the University Excellence in Teaching Award in 1989.     

Evaluation of the Information and Communications Infrastructures of Bulgaria and Romania Following Their Accession to the EU

ABSTRACT

The European Union (EU) completed a massive expansion in 2004. On January 1, 2007 Bulgaria and Romania were admitted into the union. EU accession requires the fulfillment of a list of requirements relating to judicial, economic, information and social infrastructures. This article examines Bulgaria's and Romania's National Information Infrastructures (NII) analyzing traditional, high technology and competitive structures. Comparisons are made to the original 15 European Union member countries' (EU15) NII structures and to those ten countries which entered in 2004 (EU10). Results of the analysis indicate that Bulgaria and Romania compare favorably on traditional measures, though high technology infrastructures lag considerably in some instances, and will be costly to build well beyond available EU funding sources. The gap will provide opportunities for western high technology firms which should be favorably embraced by the two resource strapped governments.