Prospects for food demand and supply in Central Asia

Central Asia has experienced massive economic and social shocks during the past decade following the dissolution of the former Soviet Union. Demand for cereals, particularly for staple cereals and meats, has fallen significantly even as production and productivity have plummeted. Although agricultural reforms were launched in 1991, the performance of the agricultural sector has been weak across the region. Prospects for food security in Central Asia appear mixed. Projections indicate that a growing and urbanizing population in Central Asia with rising incomes will increase demand for cereals by 32% between 1995 and 2020 to reach 24 million tons, and for meat by 47% to reach 2.9 million tons. Improvements in crop productivity will be essential to meet the increases in demand projected for the region. Cereal production is forecast to keep pace with demand such that Central Asia will be virtually self-sufficient in cereals. However, national food self-sufficiency or food security does not necessarily translate into household or individual food security. Moreover, self-sufficiency comes with a high price-tag of opportunities foregone and inappropriate use made of resources. Given the growing enthusiasm for food self-sufficiency in Central Asia, it is imperative that research be undertaken to assess the full costs and benefits of such a policy.     

Renaissance of case research as a scientific method

Since the seminal article by Eisenhardt (1989), scholarly interest in case research has mushroomed in operations management and organization sciences. Volumes of methodological texts are matched with a massive amount of empirical research that seeks to apply and further develop case research as a scientific method. What is missing from this literature is a treatment of the methodological diversity of case research. In this paper, we seek to unveil this heterogeneity by describing three distinct methodological accounts of case study: theory generation, theory testing, and theory elaboration. Each approach has its own idiosyncrasies, in particular when it comes to the interplay between theory and empirics. A typical case research incorporates both existing theories and empirical data to varying degrees. In light of this heterogeneity, we re-interpret key aspects of extant contributions and discuss guidelines for future case research. We propose that ultimately, case research rigor is determined by attention to idiosyncrasy and transparency of reasoning. We conclude by arguing that we have witnessed in the past 25 years in organization research what amounts to the Renaissance of case research.     

Food scenarios 2025: Drivers of change between global and regional

This article presents the results of a future study of the food sector. Two scenarios have been developed using a combination of: 1) a summary of the relevant scientific knowledge, 2) systematic scenario writing, 3) an expert-based Delphi technique, and 4) an expert seminar assessment. The two scenarios present possible futures at global, national (Denmark) and regional (Zealand, Denmark) levels. The main scenario is called ‘Food for ordinary days and celebrations’ (a combination of ‘High-technological food production − The functional society’ and ‘High-gastronomic food − The experience society’). A less likely scenario is called ‘The reappearence of the sea − The aquarial society’. The purpose of the scenario writing has been to provide strategic tools for societal actors who to create economic growth and jobs, particularly regional governments and firms. Suggestions concerning regional industrial policy and firm actions are included in the article.     

Price effects of sovereign debt auctions in the euro-zone: The role of the crisis

We show that new public debt issues cause an auction cycle for Italian secondary-market debt, but not for German debt. The cycle is mainly observed for the crisis period since mid-2007 and is larger when the crisis, as measured by yield volatility and CDS spreads of primary dealers, is more intense. Volatility seems to be the main driving factor. The cycle is also present in secondary-market series with maturities close to the auctioned series. Our findings are consistent with the theory of primary dealers’ limited risk-bearing capacity. There is also weak evidence of spill-overs from foreign auctions to domestic markets.     

关联理论话语理解等级与外语语用能力培养

Sperber和Wilson的关联理论的核心是交际与认知。在以示意一推理为核心的言语交际中,说话人的主体认知能动性都得以发挥和运用。交际就是示意过程与推理过程不断交替进行并以获得最大关联为目的言语交流行为,本文拟以关联理论为出发点,通过对具体例子的分析,将话语理解中的各个层次细化,以提高话语理解的效率,一方面有助于英语学习者的语言实践交际,对于培养其语用能力、避免交际过程中的语用误解具有很好的教学指导意义。     

Self- and collective-interests: Using formal network activities for developing firms' business

Many inter-firm network initiatives supported by government funds are based upon the idea that benefits rise incrementally as more actors connect with each other. This paper takes the stand that self-interest and collective-interest are evident in how firms participate in network activities, and how these activities are related to the development of the network. A time-flow model is presented of firms' participation and activities in a network according to specific blends and understandings of self- and/or collective-interest. The way the network is formed also shapes managerial understanding of why firms participate in activities and how self- and collective-interests coincide. A qualitative study in the Danish food industry establishes that every firm views business network activities as important, but each engages differently in these activities. The results of this study reveal interesting patterns between self- and collective-interests for those participating in network activities and the resulting network development. A key finding of this study is the importance of a firm's ability to convert the collective-interest of joint network activities into self-interest gains for the firm. This ability is proposed as an additional network competence to those already present in the literature.     

To buy or not to buy: Impact of labeling on purchasing intentions of genetically modified foods

This study conducted a partial test of the Theory of Planned Behavior [Ajzen , I., 1985. From intentions to action: a theory of planned behavior. In: Kuhl, J., Beckmenn, J. (Eds.), Action Control: From Cognition to Behavior. Springer, New York, pp. 11–39; Ajzen, I., 1989. Attitude structure and behavior. In: Breckler, S.J., Greenwald, A.G. (Eds.), Attitude Structure and Function. Lawrence Erlbaum, Springer, Hillsdale, NJ, New York, pp. 241–274; Ajzen, I., 1991. The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 50, 179–211] by assessing an individual's attitude toward labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods on the individual's purchasing intentions. Data collected from 16,078 participants across 15 European Union member countries from the EUROBAROMETER 53 were examined. Using Univariate ANOVA, the results indicate that: (1) many (roughly 73% of the sample) of the individuals residing in the 15 European countries are less likely to purchase a food product with a label indicating the existence of a GM ingredient; (2) women were less likely to purchase the GM product than men; and (3) those individuals who are more likely to purchase a GM food believed it is unnecessary to include complete information pertaining to the use of GM organisms in the production of food products. Specifically, individuals were significantly more likely to purchase the product if they stated that (a) it is unnecessary to show information on a label pertaining to the use of GM organisms in the production of the food product, even if those GM organisms are present in some of the ingredients; (b) it is unnecessary to include information regarding the use of GM organisms in the product on a label if the GM organisms are present in the end product; and (c) the information regarding the use of a GM organism does not have to be clear. Future directions regarding research on GM foods are presented.     

Constructing useful theory: The case of Six Sigma

Organizational practices related to Six Sigma are believed to have resulted in improved organizational outcomes. The academic community, however, continues to lack understanding of the constructs and causal relationships underlying Six Sigma. Hence, discussion of Six Sigma is buffeted by anecdotal experience reported from practice. We evaluate Six Sigma through the lens of literature on theory development to explain why the Six Sigma constructs, assumptions, and causal relationships are inconsistent with theory development principles. Dr. Anilkumar N. Kharkar has retired from Corning Incorporated.     

Food aid and household food security in a conflict situation: Empirical evidence from Northern Uganda

It is well-established that armed political conflict has a detrimental effect on food security and household welfare: conflict induces food insecurity by reducing own food production, access to food through the market, and various other resources to sustain healthy and productive lives. One way of mitigating these adverse effects is to provide food aid. In this study we evaluate the impact of a World Food Programme intervention on household food security and asset protection among conflict-affected households in Northern Uganda. We employ propensity score matching to estimate the average treatment effect on food expenditure, food consumption and preservation of assets using a sample of 1265 observations from a 2008 survey. Our results reveal that the operation’s system of targeting beneficiaries was effective and in accordance with programme objectives. Food aid considerably reduced food expenditure of households, suggesting that recipients were net buyers of food, and that the food aid received was effectively consumed within the household. A corresponding positive effect on non-food expenditure was not found. Our results also indicate that food aid was effective in increasing meals consumed and in avoiding distress destocking of low value assets, but, surprisingly, only for male headed households.     

The Crisis Management of University and the Construction of Harmonious Campus

The University as the scientific research and the top level personnel training base,has the special position in the social development. Once this special domain groups suffer the crisis, its influence is inestimable. This article has limited the crisis management of university connotation from the crisis and crisis management＇s angle,analyzes the question of crisis management of Universities in our country. So every university should use the crisis manngement theory,with their oven characteristics,to discover a better crisis management strategy of Chinese characteristic university,in order to construct the development of harmonious campus with steady steps.