Ag econ angst crisis revisited

The present paper was inspired by and is a response to the Rola-Rubzen, Hardaker and Dillon paper 'Agricultural economists and world poverty: progress and prospects' (Rola-Rubzen et al. 2001). It is agreed that the position of agricultural economists in foreign aid and poverty programs has declined over recent decades. Such a feeling of guilt and remorse expressed by the above authors does indeed create considerable 'angst'. A major reason for this state of affairs lies in 'the flavour of the month' approach of the development agencies. These include women in development, gender-based farming systems research, household nutrition and food security, people participation, and targeting the poorest of the poor. These fads have driven disciplinary considerations to the wall and the more widely-defined objectives have reduced the drive for economic efficiency. We argue there is still a place for better designed and delivered assistance programs within the wider framework of assistance that has become fashionable. Greater application of institutional principles in both the political processes associated with assistance and the implementation agencies would improve the outcomes of many projects. Particular attention would need to be given to the interface between the development agencies and recipient governments. The present paper picks up on the market failure aspects of agriculture's rather poor contribution to development, and develops a wider perspective in terms of the new institutional economics and a continuing role for the agricultural economist.     

正视现状调整策略发展东盟贸易

中国—东盟贸易自由区将是“全球第三大市场”。随着双边贸易谈判进行，东盟贸易对中国经济影响越来越大。同时，东盟贸易也给中国企业带来无限商机。为此，我们应该积极进行应对，调整我们的策略，尽量在东盟贸易中赢得市场。     

Possibilities for remote participation in trade unions: mobilising women activists

This paper argues that trade union activism within the new era of information and communication technologies (ICTs) offers the potential for unions to become more inclusive of under‐represented groups. Traditional conceptions of activism, participation and democracy within trade unions require physical presence at meetings at times and in spaces incompatible with caring responsibilities and atypical hours of work. This restricts the participation of women and other ‘atypical’ workers in trade unions. The paper explores the complexities of electronic forms of union activism in practice, indicating that while some positive features are experienced, there are also a range of obstacles, barriers and possible negative consequences.     

Network Resources for Internationalization: The Case of Taiwan's Electronics Firms*

ABSTRACT This paper illustrates foreign direct investment (FDI) as the management of important network relations, using Taiwan's electronics firms as an example. Through FDI, seemingly small and weak firms propel the process of internationalization by making maximum use of external resources to which they have access. FDI often starts at a location close to the home base where support from the domestic networks can be drawn, subsequently moving on to more distant locations after investors have accumulated new network resources. The location chosen is usually an area rich in network resources or in close proximity to such rich networks. FDI enables the investors to construct a regional, or even global, sub‐network under their control to supply a set of wide‐ranging, differentiated and low‐cost products in a flexible fashion, and sometimes within close proximity to the markets. With this capacity for versatility, investors become valuable partners for multinational firms that offer global services.     

施工企业对外承接项目的价值评估

本文通过工程实例说明,提供了作者进行施工企业评估过程中对其对外承接项目评估的思路和方法.提出了施工企业对其在外所承接项目的权益是一种债权,同时明确了合理确定项目给企业所能带来的应收工程款以及取得应收工程款可能发生的风险是此类项目评估的核心.     

关于编写期货投资分析实验教材的思考

该文主要介绍了期货投资分析实验教材编写的意义、框架和思路,以及该实验教材在编就后所体现出的特点,和我们在编写过程中的一些思考。     

堵住信用卡套现出路

近来，由于部分城市刷卡套现增多，已经引起监管部门及商业银行的高度警惕。部分银行已经对刷卡交易进行跟踪监控，以防范愈演愈烈的信用卡套现风险。     

他山之石——助学贷款的国际经验借鉴

中国从1999年开始推行国家助学贷款制度，到2004年12月底，已实际发放贷款80多亿元，享受贷款的学生超过数百万人。但是自从助学贷款制度推行以来，商业银行面临了巨大的风险和损失，实施助学贷款效果较差。助学贷款在美国以及日本已开展多年，积累了丰富经验，在贷款品种、担保方式和还贷机制上都已趋于完善。因此，借鉴国外助学贷款成功运作模式，对于完善我国贷学金资助工作将大有裨益。     

Private borrowing during the financial revolution: Hoare's Bank and its customers, 1702–241

The financial revolution improved the British government's ability to borrow, and thus its ability to wage war. North and Weingast argued that it also permitted private parties to borrow more cheaply and widely. We test these inferences with evidence from a London bank. We confirm that private bank credit was cheap in the early eighteenth century, but we argue that it was not available widely. Importantly, the government reduced the usury rate in 1714, sharply reducing the circle of private clients that could be served profitably.