Residential Enclosure,Power and Relationality: Rethinking Sociopolitical Relations in Southeast Asian Cities

As in many other areas around the globe, enclosed residential spaces have proliferated in Southeast Asia since the 1990s. Recent publications have presented such gated communities as ‘porous enclaves', implying multiple socio‐spatial dynamics of movements through gates and walls. However, the enclave model does not suffice for analyzing the relational dynamics generated by enclosed residential estates. The concept of ‘ecotonal space' and social geography are used to show, in the case of Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh, that the enclosure and its borders are producers and products of multiple social, spatial, economic and political relations, both symbolic and material. Property developers assert their position as an emerging elite in the city's society and politics, a process based on different types of everyday relations they have with the inhabitants of their residential estates and territorial institutions. The enclosed residential estate can serve as a resource for deploying new power relations. Consubstantial with the neopatrimonial nature of the Cambodian economy and politics, this process is a response to the opacity and uncertainty of real estate markets and urban development.     

The Mexican-Japanese-US Model for Auto Assembly in Northern Mexico

Abstract

The automobile stamping and assembly plant in Hermosillo, Mexico is world class in productivity and quality. We analyze the process of integrating the Mexican workforce with the Japanese-designed lean production system and the U.S. Fordist management to create a unique collaborative, cross-cultural hybrid organization model. In particular, we examine several cultural attributes of work that necessitated mutual adaptation and cooperation among the workers, and the state of labor relations, gender dynamics, and quality of work life. Finally, we pull together these factors to explore the short and long term implications of the plant as a model for developing countries.

Resumen

La planta de estampado y ensamblado de automóviles en Hermosillo, México es una operatión clase mundial en calidad y productividad. En este artículo estudiamos los procesos que lograron integrar una fuerza de trabajo mexicana, con un sistema de productión japonés altamente eficiente (lean production), y una administración estadounidense diseñada de acuerdo a los métodos tradicionales de fabricación de la compañía Ford, que hicieron posible un modelo colaborativo e intercultural de trabajo único en su clase. En particular, examinamos algunos factores culturales que requirieron especial adaptación como la cooperación entre los trabajadores, la adminisración de personal y las relaciones industriales, la interacción entre los trabajadores de ambos sexos y la calidad de vida en el trabajo. Finalmente, se consideran de manera conjunta todos estos factores, con el propósito de explorar las implicaciones de corto y largo plazo de la planta Hermosillo como un modelo potencial para paises en vías de desarrollo.

Resumo

A montadora de automóveis em Hermosillo, México, é mundialmente reconhecida por sua produtividade e qualidale. Nós analisamos o processo de intergração entre a força de trabalho mexicana, os eficientes métodos japoneses de sistema de produçãao e o estilo Fordista de gerência americana ao criar um modelo organizacional hibirdo colaborativo e inter-cultural único. Em particular, nós examinamos diversos atributos culturais do trabalho que necessitou de adaptação mútua e de colaboração entre os trabalhadores, como também o estado das relações de trabalho, a dinâmica entre os sexos e a qualidade da vida no trabalho. Finalmente, nós agregamos esses fatores para explorar as implicações de curto e de longo prazo do processo como um modelo para países em desenvolvimento.     

Emergent directions for human resource management research in Latin America

Research in this special issue converges around important HRM challenges that will shape the direction of academic research in the future. We argue that the nature of these challenges, such as balancing global and local HRM approaches, focusing on people while aiming at performance and, in general, managing in a hybrid cultural and economic system, requires reframing strategic HR in terms of social contract theories. Such theories consider multiple stakeholders and focus research on the employment relationship as unit of analysis, which fits well with the pre-eminence of person-centred management over merely profit-centred goals. We propose theoretically anchored research to guide strategic HRM practices, taking into account Latin America's culture-specific humanistic approach and its labour market institutions.     

Conditional belief types

We study type spaces where a player's type at a state is a conditional probability on the space. We axiomatize these spaces using conditional belief operators, examining three additional axioms of increasing strength. First, introspection, which requires the agent to be unconditionally certain of her beliefs. Second, echo, according to which the unconditional beliefs implied by the condition must be held given the condition. Third, determination, which says that the conditional beliefs are the unconditional beliefs that are conditionally certain. Echo implies that conditioning on an event is the same as conditioning on the event being certain, which formalizes the standard informal interpretation of conditional probability. The game-theoretic application of our model, discussed within an example, sheds light on a number of issues in the analysis of extensive form games. Type spaces are closely related to the sphere models of counterfactual conditionals and to models of hypothetical knowledge.     

INCORPORATING RISK AND AMBIGUITY AVERSION INTO A HYBRID MODEL OF DEFAULT

It is well known that purely structural models of default cannot explain short‐term credit spreads, while purely intensity‐based models lead to completely unpredictable default events. Here we introduce a hybrid model of default, in which a firm enters a “distressed” state once its nontradable credit worthiness index hits a critical level. The distressed firm then defaults upon the next arrival of a Poisson process. To value defaultable bonds and credit default swaps (CDSs), we introduce the concept of robust indifference pricing. This paradigm incorporates both risk aversion and model uncertainty. In robust indifference pricing, the optimization problem is modified to include optimizing over a set of candidate measures, in addition to optimizing over trading strategies, subject to a measure dependent penalty. Using our model and valuation framework, we derive analytical solutions for bond yields and CDS spreads, and find that while ambiguity aversion plays a similar role to risk aversion, it also has distinct effects. In particular, ambiguity aversion allows for significant short‐term spreads.     

Overcoming the Negative Product Quality Image of Manufacturers in Emerging Economies

Abstract

Companies from emerging economies often suffer from perceptions of negative quality for their products. This study investigates, using an experimental design, how manufacturers in emerging countries can make use of warranty strategies to overcome their negative product quality image. Contrary to what is proposed in the warranty literature, our study shows that the use of better warranties for products designed and manufactured by firms in the emerging countries does not improve their product quality image. This is because of the “too good to be true” suspicion by consumers. Strategic alliances with firms in developed countries to produce hybrid products also may not be effective in overcoming the poor quality image for firms in emerging countries. A comprehensive warranty package such as providing full repair and replacement of parts is also effective in altering consumers' trepidation of hybrid products originating from countries of low repute. Implications for strategic alliances between firms in the developed and emerging economies are discussed.     

Taxing land for urban containment: Reflections on a Dutch debate

Excessive land use regulations aimed at containing urban sprawl have been criticised, because they may overcompensate for the external effects of uncontrolled greenfield development and contribute to stagnation in house building. Taxes on building in green spaces may be an instrument for balancing urban growth and the protection of the landscape. This paper discusses development tax and puts it in the context of other planning instruments. It reviews a recent policy debate in the Netherlands relating to the introduction of an open space tax and the research into this tax. It also investigates the policy process, which resulted in the tax not being introduced. Finally, conclusions are drawn as to whether the taxation of development may be a useful instrument to complement other planning measures.     

Dehkans,Diversification and Dependencies: Rural Transformation in Post‐Soviet Uzbekistan

This paper describes how political and economic transition has affected the system of agricultural production in Khorezm, Uzbekistan in terms of economic practices and relationships. Based on recent fieldwork, the paper argues that the local agricultural economy is a hybrid economy, where production for market, quasi‐market and subsistence merge into and co‐constitute one another. In order to keep the system going, and to make up for the uncertainties in the formal context of production, the relation between new private fermer and the peasant (dehkan) households is of particular importance. This relation resembles neo‐patrimonial patron–client relations, which are both personal and informal while also being based on formal, contractual relations. The relations are asymmetric and based on the limited and unevenly distributed resources. The division of power is unequal but not fixed, due to the ongoing transition of the economic system.     

Opportunities and risks of combining shopping experience and artistic elements in the same store: a contribution to the magical functions of the point of sale

ABSTRACT

This article draws on the construct of store atmospherics to address one of the latest developments in that field, i.e. the strategy of incorporating artistic elements into the store. On the one side, incorporating artistic elements in store atmospherics constitutes an innovative way for retailers to differentiate their shopping experience. Such a hybrid retail strategy seeks to offer maximised hedonic gratification to store visitors, while adding symbolic value to the commercial offering. Store traffic and sales are thus stimulated. Incorporating artistic elements is also a magic way to conceal the store’s transactional purpose; through this association with the art world, the store is viewed as less mercantile. However, there is a risk that consumers will view the store as a ‘museum’ and visit without purchasing. Therefore we conduce a conceptual investigation of that experiential strategy in order to assess its effects on retailer’s commercial and marketing performance.