Marketing strategy in emerging markets: a conceptual framework

Citing difference between emerging and developed markets, scholars highlight need for different approaches to marketing in emerging markets. In this paper, we argue that while there are some unique characteristics of emerging markets, all countries within emerging markets do not have similar levels of product penetration and consumption. As a result, it is wrong to assume that emerging markets are untapped and under-served across the product categories. To a list of characteristics identified as unique to emerging markets, we add large population as an important characteristic and discuss its strategic implications. We develop a conceptual framework that factors in combined effect of varying degrees of product penetration & consumption levels with large population of emerging market countries. The conceptual framework identifies four strategic alternatives for marketing in emerging markets. Instead of recommending any generic marketing strategy, we propose that marketers need to choose an appropriate mix of strategies aimed at primary and selective demand creation in emerging markets.     

Endogenous formation of coops and cooperative leagues

The labor-managed Mondragon cooperatives in the Basque country, and La Lega coops concentrated in North Central Italy, are grouped into leagues that enable them to reap economies of scale in key services such as R&D, marketing and finance. These leagues are relatively rare and there are fewer than a dozen of them globally. We develop a game-theoretic model of league formation to capture some of the strategic incentives behind the formation of labor-managed cooperatives (coops) and their agglomeration into a league. We then compare these incentives with those of conventional profit-maximizing firms to organize into a league. The main result of this paper shows that a divergence in these incentives stemming from their organizational differences may lead to the formation of a league of firms but not one of coops. This turns out to be true even though the coop has lower costs of production and the existence of a coop league would have been socially efficient. Anticipating the non-existence of a coop league then creates a disincentive for individual agents to form coops in the first place. This explains the relative rarity of coops, competing individually or as a part of a league, with conventional firms in imperfect markets.     

A mathematical model for projecting the demand for scientists and technologists in national R & D institutes

This paper presents an analytical framework for man-power planning which is being developed as an aid to projecting the demand for scientists and technologists in India. It is presented in the hope that it might be of interest to people concerned with this issue In other developing countries. In using the model the main problem is that of measuring the output in the R & D institutes. In attempting this it is inevitable that some degree of subjective judgment is involved. The method adopted is described in the paper, and using a very simple input—output type of matrix and data taken from five-year plans, some preliminary results have been obtained which enable an assessment to be made of the demand for various kinds of scientists and technologists in the national R & D institutes in India.     

Determinants of corporate social responsibility disclosures: Evidence from India

Over the last few decades, a number of studies, mostly in the western countries, have investigated the nature and frequency of corporate social responsibility disclosures, their patterns and trends, and their general relationships with corporate size and profitability. This study seeks to extend the knowledge regarding the relationship between a number of financial and non-financial corporate characteristics and the level of social responsibility disclosures based on an extensive sample of top Indian companies. Corporate size and industry category are found to correlate with the corporate social disclosures of the companies and the corporate reputation as recognised through awards and social ratings has also been observed to be a significant factor that influences the social disclosures made by the Indian companies.     

PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTIZED RANGE STATISTIC FOR TWO OUTLIERS IN A LINEAR MODEL

Abstract. In JOSHI and LALITHA (1986) a statistic K is proposed for detecting two outliers present in the opposite directions in a linear model. This statistic reduces to the Studentized range statistic for the case of a simple random sample from a normal population. In this paper, the performance of this statistic is studied. For this an approximate non–null density of the random variables involved in defining the statistic is derived. An exact density is also obtained by using the methods of LALITHA and JOSHI (1986), where the results are proved for Murphy's statistic. A measure of performance is then defined and an example is also given for highlighting the usage of the above said statistic.     

OEM implementation of supplier-developed component innovations: the role of supplier actions

For suppliers to secure a positive return on their investment in the creation of component innovations, they must ensure that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) implement these component innovations. The objectives of this study are to (1) identify the activities that suppliers undertake to foster innovation implementation, (2) articulate the theoretical mechanisms that mediate the impact of these activities on innovation implementation, and (3) establish the inter-related effects of these mediating theoretical mechanisms on innovation implementation. The results from a survey of 173 supplier–OEM dyads reveal that functional advantage is the theoretical mechanism that mediates the impact of two supplier actions—knowledge acquisition and installation support—on innovation implementation. The results also show that reputational advantage mediates the effect of innovative OEM endorsement and that relational advantage mediates the effects of supplier asset specificity and supplier innovativeness on innovation implementation. In terms of the inter-related effects of the mediating mechanisms on innovation implementation, the results indicate that relational advantage complements the positive impact of functional advantage on innovation implementation. In addition, the results reveal that innovation implementation has a positive impact on the financial performance of component innovations.     

Impact of contract farming on yield,costs and profitability in low‐value crop: evidence from a low‐income country

Lentils, a low‐value and highly nutritious crop, are Nepal's largest pulse cash crop. However, the majority of the nation's smallholders produce lentils on very small plots of land. The large gap in lentil yields between Nepal and other lentil‐producing countries underscores the importance of improving yields and income of smallholders. When it comes to the financial viability of small farms, particularly in developing countries, and globalisation, contract farming (CF) may prove useful in achieving efficiency and profitability in smallholder lentil farms in Nepal. This study employs the propensity score matching approach to examine the effects of the adoption of CF on yields, profitability and costs of smallholder lentil farms in Nepal. Findings from this study reveal that contrary to popular belief, CF adoption by lentil producers in Nepal has a positive and significant effect on per‐hectare revenues, profits and yield and a negative impact on variable and transportation costs. The study finds that only very smallholder lentil farms (0.01‐0.05 ha) benefit from CF.     

From the ‘Hindu rate of growth’ to ‘unstoppable India’: has the services sector played a role?

India shifted from an import substitution growth strategy (ISS) to an export-led-growth strategy (ELGS) in July 1991. Consequently, liberalisation was promulgated not only in the industrial sector but in the services sector too in the post-1991 period. ‘services-led-growth strategy’ – a concomitant of ELGS – has led to an improvement in the revealed comparative advantage in the export of commercial services during the period 1990–2005. Furthermore, the openness of services and foreign direct investment in services have emerged as important determinants of gross domestic product growth during the period 1995–2005. The author therefore argues that if ISS led to the ‘Hindu rate of growth’ in the first three decades of planning, it is the services-led growth which has made ‘India unstoppable’ on the economic front.