Latin America: Trade objectives beyond U.S.—Mexico negotiations

Countries in Latin America are realizing that the best way to promote economic growth is to create regional trading blocs. Since the announcement of the Americas Initiative last June, several nations have been at work developing trade and investment opportunities.     

美国这10年

整整相隔10年,又一次踏上美国土地。旧地重游,已没有了当初的新奇和激动,多的却是几分冷静与思考。一路上有意无意地在想同一个问题,寻觅同一个答案：美国这10年来的变化。直至抵达旧金山,导游小严问我,你10年前来过美国,觉得它现在有什么变化？我脱口而出：好像没有什么变化。他说,对!一点没有变化。他的话一下子给了我所要寻觅的答案。     

HOME MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE COURSES IN THE U.S.

The formats and learning experiences employed in home management experience courses in U.S. colleges and universities have increased greatly in diversity in the past decade. Many resident courses have been terminated and replaced with nonresident courses, while others continue to be taught in non-traditional formats. The overall objective of this study is the assessment of home management experience course formats and learning activities in 1979–80. Other aspects of experience courses such as types of residences used, instructors, and majors for whom the courses are required, are also described. Current questions regarding the choice of experience course format and objectives are discussed.     

LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE AND AFTER — LEGAL HEADACHES FOR THE CATERING INDUSTRY

This study is an examination of the legal implications for the catering industry of diseases contracted by employees and guests from air-conditioning systems, refrigeration units and water stored in hotels. The illnesses themselves are described in outline, together with their possible environmental sources. The legal situation is considered more fully and action which may prevent outbreaks of disease is suggested.     

THE STATE OF LOGISTICS IN CUBA—NOT JUST SUGAR CANE ANYMORE

Cuba does not automatically come to mind when one considers supply chain and logistics thought leadership. There is, nevertheless, a strong and growing body of knowledge resident there. Although geopolitics and the state of the internal economy make practical application problematic, the long‐term potential for Cuba is both intriguing and attractive.     

STRATEGIC ORIENTATION,CAPABILITIES, AND PERFORMANCE IN MANUFACTURER — 3PL RELATIONSHIPS

This study examines how two dimensions of strategic orientation (customer and competitor orientation) influence logistics and market performance. Two capabilities, operational flexibility and collaboration, are studied. Data were collected from manufacturers working with third party logistics providers. The findings suggest that customer and competitor orientations have different influences upon performance when leveraged through the capabilities. Competitor orientation, while having a detrimental direct effect on logistics performance, appears to be the better strategic approach, when supported with operational flexibility since it results in enhanced logistics (efficiency) and market (effectiveness) performance. Customer orientation, on the other hand, greatly improves logistics performance, i.e., internal efficiency.     

SEARCHING FOR ENDOGENOUS BUSINESS CYCLES IN THE U.S. POSTWAR ECONOMY

This paper explores the possibility that booms and busts are endogenous with an econometric examination of the U.S. economy. Although existing empirical results suggest the contrary, a theoretical literature discounts the stability verdict on the grounds that it is based on linear econometric evidence which is unreliable when the underlying phenomenon is non-linear. We study a simple Keynesian cycle model which is theoretically general enough to include convergence to equilibrium or endogenous cycles as special cases. We find one particular nonlinear econometric specification which exhibits a limit cycle when estimated on postwar data, while the estimate of its global linear approximation converges to a fixed equilibrium. Our results are an empirical investigation of the boundary between stability and instability.     

EXPANSION STRATEGIES OF U.S. MNCs IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Significant economic activities in the Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) since the debt crisis of the early to mid-1980s have created opportunities for U.S. firms to expand their business presence in the region. This study provides evidence on the shareholders' wealth effects of expansion by U.S. firms into the LACs. Three hundred twenty-two announcements of expansion to the LACs by U.S. firms during 1980 1996 are analyzed using event study methodology. Statistically significant excess returns of 0.52 percent are observed for the average expansion. Analysis of subsamples by mode of expansion shows that announcements of both FDI and non-FDI forms of expansion produce positive significant excess re turns. Significant positive reactions are observed for expansion to Brazil. Cross-sectional regression results provide additional insights into the determinants of wealth effects for these announcements.     

EXPLORING THE SUCCESS OF EXPATRIATES OF U.S. MULTINATIONAL FIRMS IN MEXICO

To examine U.S. multinational corporations, this research utilizes a multivariate model to differentiate among IHRM practices and their impact on U.S. expatriate performance. Questionnaires sent to 481 corporations combined with an analysis of the six independent variables, including selection criteria, cross-cultural training, and inability of spouses to adjust help us to understand U.S. expatriate rates of success and failure in Mexico. While, to a considerable degree, an IHRM model based on mainstream literature can predict U.S. expatriate success and failure rates, this research demonstrates the significant discrepancies that exist when comparing the results of the relationship of each variable individually.     

THE DOMAIN AND SCOPE OF SCM'S FOUNDATIONAL DISCIPLINES — INSIGHTS AND ISSUES TO ADVANCE RESEARCH

The authors examine and take stock of the changing nature and landscape surrounding supply chain management, and the related disciplines of purchasing, operations management, logistics and marketing channels of distribution. They identify, describe and synthesize the nature of research in those academic disciplines that are identified to be some of the objectives with respect to supply chain management's integration goals. Their examination highlights the considerable evolution and significant advances occurring within and among these disciplines. Additionally, they find this new landscape to provide both insights and issues for scholarship to those attempting to understand the evolving nature of supply chain management and its related fields. Such insights and issues suggest a number of proposals for progress with regard to SCM's future development.     

Management practices in U.S. affiliates of foreign-owned firms: Are “they” just like “Us”?

Despite considerable debate about foreign direct investment in the United States, little research has examined the inner workings of U.S. affiliates of foreign-owned firms. This study examines the management practices in 249 U.S. affiliates of foreign-owned firms. Findings show that practices in marketing, human resource management, and manufacturing tend to more closely resemble the practices of local competitors than those of the foreign parent, whereas for practices in financial control the dominant resemblance is to the parent. Furthermore, findings reveal that affiliates are comprised overwhelmingly of Americans, not only at lower levels of the organization but also in key executive positions, although affiliates of Japanese firms stand apart in their greater reliance on expatriates. Foreign affiliates of multinational firms are revealed as differentiated sets of practices, shaped by the interplay of local responsiveness and internal consistency. The findings also make plain that U.S. affiliates of foreign-owned firms are in many ways very much like American firms. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

美国反倾销法认定价格歧视存在的不公平性

对美国反倾销法法律规定及1995-1998年的反倾销实践的考察表明,美国现行反倾销法往往没有达到其所宣称的惩罚不公平定价行为的目的.首先,商务部认定低于公平价值销售存在的方法不能有效认定价格歧视的存在,其次,即使在它确实存在时,它也未必与外国政府造成的市场扭曲相联系.