REGIONAL AND SECTORAL DISAGGREGATION OF MULTI-REGIONAL INPUT–OUTPUT TABLES – A FLEXIBLE ALGORITHM

A common shortcoming of available multi-regional input–output (MRIO) data sets is their lack of regional and sectoral detail required for many research questions (e.g. in the field of disaster impact analysis). We present a simple algorithm to refine MRIO tables regionally and/or sectorally. By the use of proxy data, each MRIO flow in question is disaggregated into the corresponding sub-flows. This downscaling procedure is complemented by an adjustment rule ensuring that the sub-flows match the superordinate flow in sum. The approximation improves along several iteration steps. The algorithm unfolds its strength through the flexible combination of multiple, possibly incomplete proxy data sources. It is also flexible in a sense that any target sector and region resolution can be chosen. As an exemplary case we apply the algorithm to a regional and sectoral refinement of the Eora MRIO database.     

Labor market entry and earnings dynamics: Bayesian inference using mixtures‐of‐experts Markov chain clustering

This paper analyzes patterns in the earnings development of young labor market entrants over their life cycle. We identify four distinctly different types of transition patterns between discrete earnings states in a large administrative dataset. Further, we investigate the effects of labor market conditions at the time of entry on the probability of belonging to each transition type. To estimate our statistical model we use a model‐based clustering approach. The statistical challenge in our application comes from the difficulty in extending distance‐based clustering approaches to the problem of identifying groups of similar time series in a panel of discrete‐valued time series. We use Markov chain clustering, which is an approach for clustering discrete‐valued time series obtained by observing a categorical variable with several states. This method is based on finite mixtures of first‐order time‐homogeneous Markov chain models. In order to analyze group membership we present an extension to this approach by formulating a probabilistic model for the latent group indicators within the Bayesian classification rule using a multinomial logit model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Supplier relationship-specific investments and the role of safeguards for supplier innovation sharing

The vast majority of the supplier innovation literature has focused on how buying firms can effectively “pull” innovations from their suppliers. Yet, we know remarkably little about the factors that contribute to a supplier voluntarily “pushing” innovations to its customers. The present study addresses this research gap in the context of industrial buyer–supplier relationships and with a specific focus on relationship-specific investments. Drawing on theory from the relationship-marketing literature and on transaction cost theory, we devise and test a proposed theoretical model that links the level of a supplier's relationship-specific investments to its sharing of innovative ideas regarding products and processes with customers. The model also considers the role of contract length, relationship age, and buyer–supplier cooperation as possible safeguards. The empirical results suggest that a supplier's relationship-specific investments encourage a supplier to suggest ideas of process innovations but to refrain from suggestions about product innovations. The latter effect, however, can be attenuated by appropriate formal and informal safeguards.     

Kooperation zwischen absatzmittlern und herstellern als erfolgsfaktor der markenführung

Immer weniger Marken gelingt es, ihre Markenidentit?t in konsistenter Weise an allen Marke-Kunden-Kontaktpunkten umzusetzen. Insbesondere „im pers?nlichen Dialog mit den Kunden”, am PoS, versagen viele Marken. Ein zur Markenidentit?t konsistentes Auftreten der Herstellermarke kann hier nur in Kooperation mit Absatzmittlern erfolgen. Dafür unerl?sslich sind Absatzmittler, die ein hohes Brand Commitment gegenüber der Herstellermarke besitzen. Der Beitrag untersucht die Bedeutung der Absatzmittler für den Erfolg von Herstellermarken. Es werden Kriterien entwickelt, an- hand derer sich prüfen l?sst, für welche Marken die Bedeutung der Absatzmittler besonders gro? ist. Darüber hinaus wird ein Modell für ein absatzmittlergerichtetes Markenmanagement in Auszügen Vorgestellt     

Redistribution, Fiscal Competition, and the Politics of Economic Integration

The paper examines the consequences of the economic integration of factor markets in a model with two countries that redistribute income among their residents. The social benefits in each country are financed by a source based tax on capital which is democratically chosen by its inhabitants. If either capital or labour is internationally mobile, the countries engage in fiscal competition and the partial integration of capital or labour markets is detrimental to the countries' redistributive ability. A move from partial to full integration, however, may alleviate rather than intensify fiscal competition, particularly, if the two countries face sufficiently similar economic and political conditions. In such a situation, for example, tax competition for mobile capital is softened as the labour market becomes more integrated and even vanishes if both factors are fully mobile. As a result, there is more redistribution in equilibrium and a majority of the population in each country is strictly better off.     

An empirical investigation into supply chain vulnerability

A growing number of academicians and practitioners have put supply chain risks on their agendas, particularly triggered by a recent series of catastrophic events that have disrupted economies and supply chains around the globe. Given the increasing awareness of this important topic, the purpose of this research was to study supply chain risks in more detail and to investigate the relationship between supply chain vulnerability and supply chain risk. Responses from 760 executives from firms operating in Germany reveal that supply chain characteristics such as a firm's dependence on certain customers and suppliers, the degree of single sourcing, or reliance on global supply sources are relevant for a firm's exposure to supply chain risk. Overall, this research represents the first large-scale investigation of this important relationship and provides a finer understanding of the antecedents of supply chain vulnerability.     

Supply Chain Pricing in B-to-B Markets – A Case Study Application

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate an effective coordination process in the B-to-B section of a supply chain. In particular the paper focuses on the interactions between a supplier of raw materials and a buyer processing them into end products in the food industry. These interactions are governed by a delivery contract. Under the terms of the current contract a season's entire crop is purchased at time of planting at an unit price per pound regardless of volume and quality delivered. This simplicity of the contract is an attractive feature of the interaction in the B-to-B section. It is shown that the supply chain's optimum cannot be realized with a single price. From several alternatives a pricing scheme is proposed in which prices are related to quality. The goal is to determine prices which facilitate the supply chain's maximum performance assuming rational behaviour of the supplier and the buyer. Conditions for realizing the supply chain's maximum are formulated and an approach is presented which generates a significant improvement in performance. The authors thank an anonymous referee for his/her constructive suggestions.     

Die Absolventenbefragung als Methode der Lehrevaluation in der Kommunikationswissenschaft

Surveys among alumni are a common but hardly reflected method of evaluating teaching in communication departments. In light of the increasing significance of evaluation at the universities and the high competition on the job market, it seems advisable to look at this instrument more closely. An advantage of alumni surveys is that they allow to compare directly people’s studies and the requirements of the jobs people hold. In a meta-analysis,19 alumni surveys conducted in German-speaking countries between 1995 and 2004 were reviewed. Differences between the studies at different universities make ex post facto comparisons more difficult. Results show: Graduates from complete journalism programs find jobs especially quickly. In general, practical experience is the most important factor in finding a job. Most respondents would chose their field of studies again if they were given a chance. Future alumni surveys should be coordinated to allow for better comparison and for collecting data representative of the field.     

Industrial design: Wandel eines berufsbildes

Produktdesign wird im Marketing als integraler Bestandteil des Marketing-Mix gelehrt. Folglich wurde das Design in den letzten 20 Jahren dem Marketing untergeordnet. Mit zunehmender Beschleunigung der Entwicklungsprozesse offenbart diese Vereinnahmung des Design Schw?chen: Das Ergebnis ist eine für Verbraucher oft unübersehbare Flut austauschbarer Produkte, konzipiert nach dem Prinzip der Risikovermeidung. Einige Unternehmen reagieren hierauf und setzen Designer mit dem ganzheitlichen Anspruch des Industrial Design als Moderatoren ihrer Innovations- und Restrukturierungsprozesse ein.