Competitiveness and technical efficiency: Determinants in the groundnut oil sector of India

India imports about half of its domestic consumption needs of edible oils. Groundnuts are a major source of edible oils in India. One of the central problems of groundnut production and processing is huge inefficiencies due to an uncertain production environment owing to rainfed cultivation, the low resource base of smallholder farmers and processors, and the low adoption rates of improved technology. This paper addresses critical issues that impair the groundnut sector’s international competitiveness and efficiency. The paper uses primary data collected from Indian farmers and processors of groundnuts to measure efficiency, and it suggests policies for reducing yield gaps and increasing efficiency. Specific policies suggested from the study are (a) the harnessing of improved varieties with attributes like drought tolerance, high oil content, high productivity for large-scale seed multiplication and distribution by public and private agencies; (b) viable village seed banks and seed networks through cycles of post-rainy season seed multiplication to meet the seed requirements in the rainy season and vice versa; (c) adoption of low-cost technologies to increase profitability and reduce risk; (d) oilseed clusters to facilitate scale and scope economies in processing units; and (e) capital subsidies to accelerate technological upgrading to shed inefficiency in the processing sector. The expected gains in efficiency in the production and processing of oilseeds are expected to result in producer and consumer gains which would justify the proposed incentives for seeds and for technological upgrading in the processing sector.     

Interest groups,power relations,and the configuration of value chains: The case of biodiesel in India

Production of biodiesel is technologically simple, and the process of value addition – from the cultivation of oilseeds to oil extraction and transesterification – is straightforward. There is, however, great variation in the socioeconomic configuration of this value chain. In some regions of India, the cultivation of tree-borne oilseeds is organised in a social forestry mode, in which poor landless people are paid to perform reforestation tasks and receive usufruct rights to collect oilseeds; in other regions, peasant cooperatives, subcontracting arrangements between farmers and transnational corporations, or large-scale plantations are promoted. There are also many different end uses and ways of processing biodiesel, from village-level projects for rural off-grid electrification to large scale processing. This article explains how five Indian states have developed biodiesel policies that reflect different political goals and favour different constituencies, reflecting the states’ specific socioeconomic structures, power relations norms.     

弹性体改性技术水平现状及国内发展建议

对世界弹性体改性技术水平现状及发展趋势进行了论述,分析了国内外的差距,提出了我国“十五”期间发展弹性体改性技术的整体规划和建议。     

从欧洲债务危机看欧元区的制度困境

始于2009年的希腊债务危机拉开了欧洲债务危机的序幕,欧盟诸多国家频发债务危机,并引发了世界经济的动荡。文章考察了欧洲债务危机的发展历程,并对爆发危机的几个国家的财政状况进行了对比研究,从制度设计方面探讨了欧元区所面临的困境。认为虽然债务危机给欧元区带来很大的打击,但是欧洲货币联盟的发展将会依照现有路径继续发展。     

美国降低石油对外依存度的战略动向

近期,世界局势动荡不安,国际油价高企,石油安全问题备受关注。美国总统奥巴马再次强调要提高美国能源的独立性。文章从增加国内石油产量、提高能效、发展替代清洁能源和多元化交通四个方面,概括了奥巴马上台以来在降低石油对外依存度方面出台的举措和取得的成效,以期为我国的能源安全问题提供借鉴。     

On the asynchronous approvals of GM crops: Potential market impacts of a trade disruption of EU soy imports

Due to their high protein content, soybeans are important feedstuffs in the European Union (EU). However, the cultivation of soybeans using genetically modified (GM) varieties in non-EU countries is increasing and the EU authorization of GM products takes longer than in other countries, leading to an asynchronous approval between the EU and non-EU countries that might induce soybean trade disruptions. This paper uses an integrated modelling system to simulate Argentina, Brazil and the United States ending soybean exports to the EU. The impact on world trade and on the EU import prices of soy products is analysed with a computable general equilibrium model. EU soy imports are shown to decline, and the import price of soybeans in the EU increases. The effects on EU agricultural markets are analysed based on a partial equilibrium model. Feed costs in the EU are found to increase with poultry and pork the most affected: production and exports decline and imports increase. However, the effects of a trade ban are found to be less profound than in many other studies due to compensating substitution effects at various market levels: increasing imports from third countries, increasing domestic oilseed production and the use of other protein feeds.     

Technological and economic long waves and their implications for employment

The world economy is currently stuck in a 'long wave' downswing, due largely to the mismatch of a new technological 'style' with established institutions. The article sketches the effects on the level and pattern of employment and discusses the reforms which will be needed to escape from the downswing.     

An industrial analysis market information system

The United States maritime industry share of world cargo movement has declined steadily for the last decade. The authors maintain that this situation is partially due to the industry's lack of a marketing orientation. Successful marketing hinges upon an effective market information system. This paper presents such a system for the U.S. maritime industry and discusses various information sources as a foundation for this system.     

自然垄断产业市场结构重组的目标、模式与政策实践

为促进自然垄断产业的有效竞争 ,提高经济效率 ,许多国家都对自然垄断产业实行市场结构重组政策。本文将探讨自然垄断产业市场结构重组的基本目标 ,5种主要市场结构重组模式及其特点 ,并分析一些经济发达国家和中国在自然垄断产业实行市场结构重组的政策实践。     

Mapping themes in the study of new work practices

Both shaping and shaped by technological, economic and social facets, the world of work has witnessed a wide array of changes. This review article sets out to provide a synthesis of some of the main directions and insights of existing research connected to the new world of work. In particular, we approached the topic of new work practices through four key dimensions: (1) Conceptual and methodological dimensions in the study of new work practices; (2) Spatial and temporal manifestations of new work practices in the collaborative economy; (3) Individuals, organizations and new work configurations; (4) Power and control. The review article critically discusses the future of work and argues that the ‘new’ world of work simply repeats asymmetrical power relations and inequalities that characterise work activities, with the potential of exacerbating even further disparities, inequalities and precarity.     

Perspectives of a Trademark Attorney on the Branding of Innovative Products

One of the most important decisions facing new products managers is the selection of a brand name. Far too often, this decision is postponed or treated casually, leading to a myriad of later problems. Thomas Hemnes, a practicing trademark attorney, discusses these problems. He notes the importance of the choice of both the trademark and generic names for the new product and also provides helpful guidance. In addition, he discusses particular needs for documentation and record keeping, linked to both trademark selection and trademark maintenance. Finally, he draws important distinctions between trademark and patent registration, closing with a discussion of differences between practices in the United States and elsewhere in the world.     

物流外包边界问题研究

物流外包（第三方物流）近年来在全球得以快速发展，除第三方物流的产业技术经济优势外，还有着深层次的经济理论根源。本文运用交易成本理论，按照企业边界理论的分析方法，深入研究物流外包的边界问题，并分析第三方物流迅猛发展的理论基础．探讨如何利用物流外包边界思想来解决相关实际问题。     

论环境与经济的协调发展

经济增长一直被用来衡量一国经济是否发展,但是随着经济的不断发展,生态环境日益恶化,论述了经济发展和环境之间的关系,提出了在环境和经济协调发展中首要问题是加强环境管理。     

国际离岸金融市场对世界经济的影响分析

分析了离岸金融市场对国际经济的作用以及对市场所在国或地区的影响,结合我国国情探讨了在我国发展离岸金融市场的特殊战略意义。     

金融危机下贸易保护主义的新趋势与中国的对策

金融危机在全球蔓延,世界经济陷入低迷,新一轮贸易保护主义顺势抬头,各国贸易保护壁垒重新筑起,中国的国际贸易环境面临恶化的危险。文章探讨了此次金融危机下贸易保护主义的新趋势,分析了中国对外贸易面临的挑战,并根据中国的实际情况提出了相应的措施。     

A guide to using event study methods in multi‐country settings

While the event study method has made significant contributions to strategic management research, most event study research published in management journals has analyzed the financial implications of corporate announcements in a single country. This study discusses solutions to methodological challenges that emerge when applying the event study method to multiple countries. Specifically, this study develops the world market model, illustrating how to simultaneously assess the financial impact of strategic actions in multiple countries. These challenges and solutions are illustrated by an example of a multi‐country event study analyzing 241 international alliance announcements of 23 firms in 16 countries. The findings show that the use of the single country market model in a multi‐country event study is likely to overestimate changes in firm value, demonstrating the need for this world market model. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The paradigm of utilizing robots in the teaching process: a comparative study

This paper discusses a comparative study of the effects of using a humanoid robot for introducing students to personal robotics. Even if a humanoid robot is one of the more complicated types of robots, comprehension was not an issue. The study highlighted the importance of using real hardware for teaching such complex subjects as opposed to relatively cheap simulation environments. While the field of robotics is still in its infancy it benefits from a “wow” effect that can be utilized to positively influence the education of new specialists in this field. This comparative study, done at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, highlights the educational benefits of this idea. Two groups of students took part on a completely volunteer basis in an “introduction to personal robotics” workshop. While one group only worked with simulators on computers, the other group was also given access to real robots in addition to the simulators. This allowed them to test their programs on a real platform and tweak them to compensate for differences between the virtual world and the real world. This second group had consistently and considerably better results than the first group.     

次贷危机对我国纺织业的影响警示和对策

美次贷危机对全球金融产生了像海啸样的打击,对像我国纺织这样高度依赖出口的行业产生了很大的影响。本文将论述次贷危机对我国纺织行业五方面的影响。危机虽已开始放缓,更重要的是做一个总结,以便能促进我国纺织业的长期健康发展。     

Impact of increasing liquid biofuel usage on EU and UK agriculture

The biofuels industry in both the UK and the EU as a whole has expanded significantly in recent years in response to various EU biofuel policy initiatives. Further expansion of biofuel demand will increase the impact of the biofuels sector on agricultural markets. This paper examines the impact that increasing levels of first generation biofuel demand to 10% of total transport fuel use in the UK and other EU Member States would have on agricultural markets within the EU and specifically the UK using a partial equilibrium modelling system. Increasing overall biodiesel demand raises demand for vegetable oil and oilseed and in turn their prices. The increased grain demand in response to the increased bioethanol demand is mostly sourced from changes in EU net trade.     

Consequences of a coexistence policy on the adoption of GMHT crops in the European Union

This article examines the adoption of genetically modified herbicide tolerant (GMHT) crops in the European Union (EU) prior to its commercial release. A set of potential drivers including the implementation of coexistence measures by farmers, farmers’ own motivational factors (e.g. economic, environmental and technical factors) and perceived social pressure to accept or reject adoption may influence European Union farmers’ willingness to adopt GMHT oilseed rape and GMHT maize. The analysis includes economic and sociological factors. Results show that coexistence measures may hamper GMHT adoption in the EU.