Efficiency of Chinese Enterprises

This paper compares the efficiencies across firm ownership types in China. Empirical results show that the non-state-owned enterprises are more efficient than the state-owned enterprises, which provides evidence to support the continued shifting of industry structure from state-owned enterprises to non-state-owned enterprises. Also, the economic gap between the western and coastal regions are found to be related to the variations of performances of ownership types in these regions. In addition, the issue of crossing frontiers and two interesting features of the Byrnes (1985) technique on the separation of across-group and within-group technical efficiency measures are evaluated.     

Sino-UX Advanced Engineering Cooperation Set Off

Asignificant marketing document produced by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to promote greater bilateral trade and investment co-operation between the UK and China in the area of advanced engineering was launched on 11 March,Beijing,by HM Ambassador,Sir William Erhman,UK Ambassador to China.     

Diplomatic relations and tourism advertising effectiveness: U.S. travel interest to Cuba

This study explores the relationship between nation brand familiarity and increased interest in tourism and tourism advertising effectiveness. Surveys fielded a few months before and a few months after the historic 17 December 2014 announcement of improved diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba showed an increase in familiarity with Cuba as well as increased interest in traveling to Cuba among US adults. Respondents also indicated a more favorable reaction to a 30-s ad agency-produced television commercial for Cuba tourism. Results are discussed in light of literature on destination brand familiarity as it relates to brand interest and advertising evaluation. Implications for destination marketing managers are presented.     

Avoiding household food waste,one step at a time: The role of self-efficacy,convenience orientation,and the good provider identity in distinct situational contexts

A primary cause of food waste in households is a lack of food capabilities. Yet, the antecedents of food capabilities and its relationship with causes of food waste across different situational contexts remain poorly understood. We apply self-efficacy theory in combination with convenience orientation and good provider identity in a mixed-methods study. Findings reveal that the sequential structure of self-efficacy explains how capabilities contribute to food waste avoidance. A good provider identity, however, increases food waste, and also turns out to further convenience orientation. Food capabilities, in turn, reduce convenience orientation. Qualitative insights shed light on consumer's own accounts of their abilities. The findings contribute to a theory-based understanding of how consumers manage the complex issue of food waste. Findings imply that public policy and marketing should aim to strengthen consumers' self-efficacy beliefs and redefine the good provider identity, in particular in social contexts, to reverse its effect on waste.     

The Impact of Time Pressure and Information on Negotiation Process and Decisions

The amount of time available to reach an agreement, information about a negotiator's own position, and information about the opponent's position were manipulated in a simulated contract negotiation. As in decision making research, time pressure in negotiation was expected to decrease response time and change response strategy. Information was expected to be an advantage to negotiators when clarifying their preferences but a disadvantage if information about competing opponent interests was present. Results supported this expectation. Different patterns of concessions and in concessions and inconsistencies were found under high and low time pressure and type of information.     

Using vignettes to study family consumption processes

The use of vignettes for qualitative consumer research is discussed in this article. More specifically, vignettes are proposed as a useful research technique for conducting systematic and rigorous studies of consumer interaction processes, in particular as these relate to family consumption issues. Following an overview of methodological and practical problems of studying consumption interaction processes in families, a discussion of how vignettes may be used to enhance knowledge of family decision‐making processes in real‐life contexts is presented. Design implications are discussed and strategies for applying the vignette method are outlined and illustrated by two recent studies of pro‐environmental consumer behavior in a family context. The paper concludes with a discussion of the benefits and the possible pitfalls of using vignettes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Make a Switch to TCM

Soaring prices of TCM raw materialsThe price of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) raw materials,such as radix pseudostellariae,hiked dramatically since 2010.More and more TCM companies feel more and more pressure in business:costs are up,and profits are down.In July 2011,Jiangzhong Pharmaceutical,a local TCM company,had to declare to raise the retail price for its two most popular TCM OCT,Jiangzhong Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablet (a digestion aid),and Compound Sarcandra Glabra Tablet,even though the sales of digestion tablets had grown by nine times in 10 years.     

Time to Do Sports!—— China International Sports Culture Expo 2012

“Look at the incredible skill of that tail basketball player.It's amazing that he can play three basketballs at the same time! cried Xiao Bei,a young girl attending the China Sports Culture Expo.I enjoy watching it much.” It was her first time to visit such expo,and actua y it was the first session of the Expo.From December 15 to 18,China International Exhibition Center in Beijing embraced the energetic and sportive festival,sponsored by China State General Administration of Sports,and organized by China Sports Culture Development Center of the General Administration of Sport.     

Caribbean,More than Myths

Have you ever watched the movie of Pirates of the Caribbean？This Hollywood movie hit several headlines in its time and pushed a charming and mysterious Caribbean under limelight.The Latin America and the Caribbean area caught the world＇s eyesight,