Patterns of Self-Efficacy Within NAFTA: United States,Canada, and Mexico

Self-efficacy has been shown to be a key attribute of successful business leaders and in today's global economy, must be studied in terms of patterns of crossvergence. The paper examines both individual characteristics (gender, age, work experience, and management experience) and culture as they relate to self-efficacy in North America. Women in our sample had slightly lower self-efficacy, which increased with work and management experience. Age and membership in an individualistic culture were not related to self-efficacy; in fact, our Mexican participants demonstrated slightly higher self-efficacy propensities. These results suggest that organizations might consider devoting special attention to development of mentor and other programs particularly to females initiating their career. However, expected cultural patterns relating to self-efficacy might not hold as strongly, particularly with empowered groups such as executives and MBA students. Individual characteristics, particularly experience levels, have a greater impact on self-efficacy and should receive heightened considerations when organizations are making selection and other personnel decisions.     

中日韩3国农产品在美国市场的竞争关系分析

运用产品相似度指数和显示性竞争优势指数,对中日韩3国农产品在美国市场的总体竞争关系、竞争强度和竞争力进行了测算。得出的结论是:中日韩3国农产品在美国市场存在较为明显的竞争关系,某些农产品的竞争强度有上升趋势,但竞争力相差还是较为明显。研究结论可为日后中国农产品贸易的发展提供借鉴。     

Perceived importance of selected product information sources in two time periods by United States and West German consumers

Perceived use of different types of information sources in the purchase of a major durable good is investigated in two countries (West Germany and the U.S.), two age groups (under 35, 35 and over), and two time periods (1970 and 1976). A logit model is constructed to allow probabilistic conclusions about the relationships among time, country, and age as explanatory variables and information source types as response variables. Product testing is found to increase in importance between time periods in both countries and to have the highest probability of use in combination with peer group as a source. Advertising has twice the probability of perceived use in the U.S. as in West Germany, and probability of use has not changed between years. Age is found not to be significant in perceived importance of sources.     

The Ethiopian Immigrant Business Enclave in the United States: Perceptions of Residents,Consumers, and Entrepreneurs

This study investigates the Ethiopian immigrant urban business enclave and its infrastructure, aesthetics, and quality of life. These immigrants are revitalizing urban areas, and examining the perceptual differences among stakeholders in these neighborhoods is salient. Economic development literature suggests that stakeholders share a common vision in order for revitalization efforts to be successful. Surveys were administered in an urban area to statistically test hypotheses that stakeholder groups have different perceptions. The analysis of variance technique (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. Results indicate that stakeholders differ in their perceptions of the business climate and quality of life.     

Household characteristics and the change of financial risk tolerance during the financial crisis in the United States

This study examines how household financial risk tolerance is affected during the period of 2007 and 2009, which covered the eve and trough of the financial crisis in the United States and what types of households are associated with the change of risk tolerance. Risk tolerance is measured by two objective indicators, narrowly and broadly defined stock ownership, and a subjective indicator, risk taking attitude. Using panel data from 2007 to 2009 Survey of Consumer Finances, results show that during the financial crisis, the households in general are more risk averse, indicated by withdrawing from stock markets and holding a less risk taking attitude. In addition, Black and Hispanic households are more likely and households with higher education are less likely to withdraw from stock markets. Older households are less likely to change in risk tolerance during the financial crisis, as are richer households. The findings show panel data could generate novel results and contribute to the literature of financial risk tolerance.     

资源性产品供给紧约束条件下的公共绿色消费、经济增长与消费公平

消费不足和消费不公平是我国当前资源性产品供给紧约束条件下与消费有关的两个亟待解决的问题,事关资源利用方式和经济发展方式的转变,事关经济又好又快的发展和社会主义和谐社会的建设。大力发展公共绿色消费是扩大消费需求,协调经济增长与资源环境保护之间的矛盾,实现全社会消费公平与经济公平的必然选择。通过调整和优化公共财政支出结构,培育多元化的公共绿色产品供给主体,培养公众形成公共消费和集中消费的绿色消费理念和环境意识等措施,构建公共绿色消费政策体系,有利于实现资源性产品供给紧约束条件下的消费扩大、经济增长与消费公平。     

A conceptual framework for analyzing consumers' food label preferences: An exploratory study of sustainability labels in France,Quebec, Spain and the US

In a qualitative study of 375 consumers in France, Quebec, Spain and the US, respondents are asked to choose between pairs of actual food labels and to describe the reason(s) for their choice. The food labels included sustainability labels (eco‐labels, Fair Trade, origin) as well as product attribute (e.g. quality, kosher) and health/nutrition labels. Respondents' reasons were coded in the original language using the same coding system across all four nations to examine their preferences for label message, design and source. We also examined the role of consumers' values, beliefs and experiences on their label choices. The coding system was drawn from a review of theoretical and empirical literature and provides a conceptual framework we call the Label Consumer Interaction model for evaluating consumers' food label preferences. Although this is case study, the results point to substantial differences across nations in terms of preferred labels, as well as the rationale for their choice in terms of attributes of the labels and consumer characteristics.     

绿色贸易壁垒下云南省农产品出口的现状与对策

近年来,云南省对外贸易频频遭受绿色贸易壁垒的困扰,严重影响了云南省对外贸易活动,绿色贸易壁垒日益成为制约云南省农产品出口的主要障碍。本文从绿色贸易壁垒的概念入手,分析云南省农产品遭受绿色壁垒的现状,从企业、政府、行业等方面提出使云南省农产品贸易成功跨越绿色壁垒,拓展海外市场,从而提高云南省的绿色竞争力,使云南省绿色生态农业得到进一步的完善和发展。     

我国高新技术产品贸易和经济增长的长期均衡研究——基于联立方程组模型的分析

我国高新技术产品贸易与经济增长之间存在长期均衡关系。高新技术产品进口对经济增长的贡献大于出口的贡献。高新技术产品出口对高新技术产品进口具有明显的促进作用。我国要大力发展高新技术产业,促进高新技术产品出口。同时要重视高新技术产品进口,促进我国经济的快速发展。     

国际生物质能源发展的评价——动机、支持措施及对世界粮食供求影响视角

发展生物质能源是应对国际能源危机的重要途径。但各国生物质能源战略的出发点却似乎并不在于此。从动机看,美欧等发达国家的真正动机更像是抢占世界可再生能源市场,而巴西等少数发展中国家的核心动机则在于规避农产品贸易保护、改变与发达国家的斗争形式和斗争领域。从支持与保护措施看,它是农产品贸易大国推行农业支持与农产品贸易保护的一种特殊形式。扭曲的动机和支持与保护措施使得生物质能源的发展对世界粮食供求产生了重要的影响,并进一步恶化了广大发展中国家的经济发展环境。