Technological change and the U.S. real interest rate

Economic theory predicts that the rate of technological growth exerts a positive influence on the real rate of interest. To test this hypothesis, I examine the relationship between the inflation-adjusted yield of the 90-day Treasury-Bill and two measures of innovation: the rate of growth of the stock of patents per worker and R&D spending relative to GDP. As theory predicts, from 1963 to 2008 the rate of interest responds positively to an increase in either measure. The point-estimates imply an elasticity of intertemporal substitution between one and two. The findings suggest that a change in the stance of monetary policy and a wave of innovation both contributed to the rise of real interest rates in the 1980s.     

Linking high performance organizational culture and talent management: satisfaction/motivation and organizational commitment as mediators

Relying on strategic human resource management and organization development systemic principles, this theory-building study tested the validity of a new talent attraction and retention model which focused on the under-researched effects of organizational culture and employee attitudes. The analysis was based on data gathered from two large organizations representing two different countries and industries. Structural equation modeling results ascertained that talent attraction and retention were predicted by high performance organizational culture. This effect was also found to be mediated by the employee attitudes of satisfaction/motivation and organizational commitment. More specifically, this study found talent attraction and retention to be highly associated with the extent to which the organization is perceived to have a change-, quality-, and technology-driven culture, and characterized by support for creativity, open communications, effective knowledge management, and the core values of respect and integrity. This study concluded that strategically aligned and ethical high performance organizational cultures have strong effects on talent attraction and retention and are also highly conducive to the development of high commitment and motivating work systems.     

Multinational corporations and domestic market structure: The case of Greek manufacturing industries

Conclusions In this paper we examined the potential of MNCs to give rise or to promote concentrated markets in a host country. Foreign presence in the form of MNCs affectsdirectly the market structure of the economy by in-creasing both the relative inequalities in the size distributions of firms (entropy) and the level of absolute concentration (Herfindahl-CR4). MNCs tend to populate capital intensive sectors and may also account for a potentialindirect stimulation on the concentration process through their effects on domestic barriers to entry. Industries characterised by such horizontal FDI are likely to be able to earn and maintain supra-normal profits in the domestic market. However, the effective curb of competition caused by MNCs did not show uneven distribution of gains in profitability to be present in the market for a sample of 100 large MNCs and local firms. We should suggest that concentration and other market imperfections may be the basic factor determining profitability in Greece,not multinationality per se. Moreover, the potential indirect influence of MNCs on domestic barriers may act as an agent for promoting structural changes, especially in the capital intensive sector.     

Supply source selection criteria: The impact of supplier performance on distributor performance

In drawing attention to certain important gaps in the purchasing literature, the study reports on a systematic examination of supplier performance in purchasing decision criteria of U.K. distributor firms of information technology (IT) products. An attempt is made to explore the presence of dimensions underlying supplier performance in buying decision elements and identify potential differences in distributor performance with regard to supplier performance in important purchasing decision criteria. Based on a survey sample of 237 distributors, the results suggest significant differences between highly performing and poorly performing distributors in relation to their suppliers' performance in four buying decision criterion dimensions: reliability, competitive pricing, service support, and technological capability. The implications of the findings for business practitioners are highlighted, and directions for future research are identified.     

Strategy fit and performance consequences of international marketing standardization

This study addresses a long‐standing debate in the literature regarding the appropriateness and performance consequences of marketing strategy standardization vs. adaptation. Much of the relevant literature represents the headquarters' viewpoint and broadly assesses antecedents of standardization or adaptation across widely varying markets. Using strategic fit as the theoretical platform for analysis, the study investigates international marketing strategy for a specific product or line within subsidiaries of U.S., Japanese, and German multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the U.K. The results indicate that degree of strategy standardization is significantly related to similarity between markets with respect to regulatory environments, technological intensity and velocity, customs and traditions, customer characteristics, a product's stage in its life cycle, and competitive intensity. On the critical question of performance consequences, the findings suggest that superior performance results from strategy standardization only to the extent that there is fit or coalignment between the MNC's environmental context and its international marketing strategy choice. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sources of competitive advantage in high performing exporting companies

The requirements for success in export market ventures are likely to differ not merely from the critical success factors in the domestic market, but also from the policies effective in the fully internationalized or global enterprise. Exporting activities are a vitally important area of international business, where the foundations for superior performance are not well understood. A recent study of export market ventures in the U.K. links superior exporting performance to the establishment of key competitive advantages, which may be traced to foundations in specific competencies (competitive skills in exporting) and capabilities (competitive resources in exporting). This simple model of the sources of superior export performance and this study's findings provide important insights for executives.     

A Research Model for Consumers' Intention of Buying Private Label Frozen Vegetables

This article aims at identifying the factors that affect consumers' intentions of buying private label frozen vegetables, developing a related research model, and testing this model using quantitative data from a consumers' sample in Greece.

The field research was carried out in Athens and the sample comprised 282 consumers. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling. The results confirmed that:

• Consumers' intention of buying private-label frozen vegetables is directly affected by consumers' attitudes toward this type of products.

• Consumers' attitudes toward private-label frozen vegetables are directly affected by the perceived benefits and indirectly affected by consumer trust and perceived economic situation.