Interweaving threads of credit and debt: Trading (through) textiles in colonial Dar es Salaam

Tracing the modus operandi of textile traders in colonial Dar es Salaam, this article makes a case for viewing the availability and extension of credit in the form of textiles as a central aspect of traders’ lives. The versatility of textiles in the local context of Dar es Salaam not only contributed to their high demand, their use as the main medium of exchange and the basis on which credit was extended; it also shaped the local conceptualisation of entrepreneurship. For textile traders in colonial Dar es Salaam, it was of economic, social and cultural importance to always be both in debt and have others in debt to them.     

Why (not) cooperate? A cognitive model of farmers’ intention to join producer groups in Romania

After the breakdown of the communist regime in Romania, collective farms were replaced by a large number of small-scale private farms. Although cooperation seems to be a favourable choice for these smallholders, it did not develop as perhaps expected. This article explores the factors that determine the formation of the intention of Romanian vegetable farmers to join marketing cooperatives in the form of so called producer groups. Our theoretical framework refers to Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour, which we model with a structural equation model. We identified as main intention drivers the expectation for better prices and easier access to capital. Perceived family support is another significant factor. The level of distrust is high. Although our trust variable is not significant as a predictor of the intention to cooperate in the model, we find qualitative indications that trust plays a role when the intention is translated into actual behaviour.     

An empirical examination of consumer preferences for honey in Croatia

In past years, beekeeping as an agricultural sector has become more organized, but there is still a gap in knowledge in considering consumer preferences for honey. The aim of the research was to determine consumer preferences for honey and their attitudes towards the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label. Also, in the article is presented the current situation regarding the honey market and legislation of the PDO label at the EU and national levels. The result of the empirical research carried out on a sample of 1008 respondents showed that they mostly prefer a mild flavour and brighter colour of honey. According to the type, most of the respondents prefer acacia rather than floral and meadow honeys or other types of honey. The most common method of honey purchase is directly from the producers (75%). The results of the Principle Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the most important attributes are the intrinsic attributes of the honey and that the most common reasons for purchasing and consuming honey are for its health and medical benefits. The obtained results fill the gap in knowledge regarding consumer preferences for honey in the Croatian market and can be useful for the creation of new honey-marketing strategies for local beekeepers.     

THE PRICE OF SILENCE: MARKETS FOR NOISE LICENSES AND AIRPORTS*

This article presents a market design for the management of noise pollution created by aircraft traffic around airports. A local market for noise licenses allows noise generators to compensate noise victims and to meet social acceptability. We show that the market allows the market designer to implement the social planner's optimal allocation of flights as long as the latter does not put too high a weight in his/her objective function on firms' profits compared to the disutility of noise pollution. The fact that local representatives of noise victims may be strategic players does not fundamentally alter this finding. Because of the market auctioneer's information constraints, noise licenses are likely to distribute windfall gains to residents, which alters the urban structure in the long run.     

Anticipating converging industries using publicly available data

Industry convergence, described as the blurring of boundaries between industries, plays an increasingly pivotal role in shaping markets and industries. Traditionally, this phenomenon has been discussed in respect to telecommunications, information technologies and electronics, but more recently also the chemical and its related industries find themselves affected by a larger convergence process. With the primary example of phytosterols in the two converging industries of Cosmeceuticals and of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, we analyze 7455 scientific and patent references in respect to first indicators for signs of convergence. Furthermore, we present and discuss a multiple indicator concept for monitoring convergence in an R&D-intensive field on the basis of publicly available data.     

Research opportunities in supply chain management

Since its introduction as a concept in the 1980s, supply chain management (SCM) has undergone significant modification and expansion. A qualitative analysis of 166 unique definitions of SCM published in the literature identified three major themes associated with the supply chain and SCM: (1) activities; (2) benefits; and (3) constituents/components. Utilizing these themes, key research questions and issues within the supply chain and SCM are identified that could be examined by marketing scholars.     

Determinants of ICT adoption: evidence from firm-level data

We analyse factors driving inter- and intra-firm diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) using data from Irish manufacturing firms over the period 2001 to 2004. We find that the path of ICT diffusion has been uneven across firms, industries and space, which is consistent with the theory of new technology adoption. Our results suggest that firms that are larger, younger, fast growing, skill-intensive, export-intensive and firms located in the capital city region have been relatively more successful in adopting and using ICT. We find positive technology spillovers from firms that have adopted ICT located in the same industry and region.