No Easy Gain

Financial crisis-the drive to integration of regional economies Two salient features are illustrated in today's global economy pattern,which is,economic globalization and the integration of regional economies.The integration of regional economies stimulates the globalization,while on the other hand integrating countries that are geographically close aims to fight against the negative impact from globalization,including the financial crisis.     

Practitioners' forum

This article reviews a number of models of the process of technological innovation and identtities the important elements involved. Although no universal model is applicable to all processes of technological innovation, given the importance of technology in the long-tern strategy of research-intensive trns , a knowledge of the elements involved in the process is essential to today's managers. Models of the process of innovation must be developed contingent upon thejirn's needs. The critical factors, which must be conszdered when developing such a model, are identified.     

Understanding Organizational Learning Capability

This paper presents data on how learning takes place in four organizations, what gets learned, and the factors and processes that facilitate or impede learning. Seven orientations for describing organizational learning capability and understanding learning styles are identified. Each of these orientations is conceived as a bi-polar continuum that reflect learning processes. Knowledge source is defined as the extent to which an organization prefers to develop new knowledge internally versus the extent to which it is more likely to seek inspiration in ideas developed externally. Product-process focus refers to a preference for the accumulation of knowledge related to product and service outcomes versus a preference to invest in knowledge about basic processes that support products. Documentation mode refers to attitudes as to what constitutes knowledge and to the repositories of knowledge that are supported. Dissemination mode pertains to the difference between establishing an atmosphere in which learning evolves and one in which a more structured, controlled approach is taken to induce learning. Learning focus has to do with whether learning is concentrated on methods and tools to improve what is already being done versus testing the assumptions underlying what is being done. Value-chain focus indicates which functional, core competencies are valued and supported. Skill development focus involves the orientation toward individual versus collective learning. Organizational learning may be increased by building on existing capabilities or developing new ones. the latter involves a change in culture, the former involves improving current capabilities. Organizations can enhance their learning capability through either approach.     

Utilization of video conferencing

Stressing the importance of accumulating systematic empirical information on the users and uses of video teleconferencing, the authors present the findings of a pilot study of AT&T's Picturephone Meeting Service. They then set out preliminary conclusions that may be drawn from those findings. The authors suggest that video telecommunication is likely to be beneficial to decision making processes in modern organizations.     

The law of one price: intranational evidence for Canada

Abstract This study investigates the behaviour of intranational prices for 45 specific consumer goods across 25 Canadian cities. It finds positive roles for distance and provincial borders in intercity price disparities. While sizable, the provincial border effect is an order of magnitude smaller than the estimates for the Canada‐U.S. border. A majority of the intercity relative price series are stationary around small mean values, indicating that long‐run price differences are close to zero. The intercity prices converge at rates considerably faster than the consensus estimates for international prices. In fact, half-lives for intercity price deviations average well under a year. JEL Classification: F15, F31
La loi d'un seul prix : résultats intra‐nationaux pour le Canada Ce mémoire examine le comportement des prix intra‐nationaux de 45 biens de consommation spécifiques dans 25 villes canadiennes. Il semble que la distance et les frontières inter‐provinciales ont un impact sur les différentiels de prix entre villes.Même si l'impact des frontières inter‐provinciales est important, il est beaucoupplus petit que l'impact de la frontière Canada‐ U.S. Une majorité des séries de prix relatifs entre villes sont stationnaires autour de petites valeurs moyennes, ce qui suggère que les différences de prix à long terme s'approchent de zéro. Il est clair que les prix entre villes convergent à des taux considérablement plus rapides que ce qu'on observe au niveau international. En fait les déviations de prix entre villes ont une espérance de vie qui en moyenne est de moins d'un an.     

Banking crises in monetary economies

Abstract.  This paper analyzes the effect of inflation on banking crises in a model in which money and banks play essential roles. The model's equilibrium replicates some key features of actual banking crises, namely, the partial suspension of payments and the desire to hold cash even in the absence of pressing liquidity needs. When banks have access to a stable foreign currency, inflation has a threshold effect on banking crises: higher inflation reduces the likelihood of crises when inflation is below the threshold; the reverse happens when inflation exceeds the threshold. This result appears to be broadly consistent with available evidence.     

Japan's success: Luck or skill?

Can the success of Japanese automakers be attributed to skill or luck? How has American business answered that question—and how valid is the answer?