The potential for technology and knowledge transfers between foreign and local firms: A study of the construction industry in Ghana

Multinational corporations (MNCs) and other foreign firms can be conduits for technology and knowledge (T&K) transfer to host countries in the developing world. Most of the existing research focuses on T&K transfers through FDI and are drawn from Asia not Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), although SSA is increasingly receiving foreign investment. There is a paucity of research that gives insights into project-level T&K transfer issues in SSA countries. Using the Ghanaian construction industry as an empirical focus, this article explores T&K transfer potential. The findings reveal significant weaknesses in T&K transfer across industry subsectors and between foreign and local firms. This arises from the potentially complementary but dissimilar resource and knowledge bases. The weaknesses are compounded by the absence of coherent government T&K development policies.     

Do TFP and the relative price of investment share a common I(1) component?

Results from cointegration tests clearly suggest that TFP and the relative price of investment (RPI) are not cointegrated. Evidence on the alternative possibility that they may nonetheless contain a common I(1) component generating long-horizon co-variation between them crucially depends on the fact that (i) structural breaks are, or are not allowed for, and (ii) the precise nature and timing of such breaks. Not allowing for breaks, evidence points towards the presence of a common component inducing positive long-horizon covariation, which is compatible with the notion that the technology transforming consumption goods into investment goods is non-linear, and the RPI is also impacted upon by neutral shocks. Allowing for breaks, evidence suggests that long-horizon covariation is either nil or negative.Assuming, for illustrative purposes, that the two series contain a common component inducing negative long-horizon covariation, evidence based on structural VARs shows that this common shock (i) plays an important role in macroeconomic fluctuations, explaining sizeable fractions of the forecast error variance of main macro series, and (ii) generates ‘disinflationary booms’, characterized by transitory increases in hours, and decreases in inflation.     

How locus of control shapes intention to reuse mobile apps for making hotel reservations: Evidence from chinese consumers

This study unveils the cognitive mechanism that locus of control (LOC) dimensions (internal control, chance control, and control by powerful others) predict intention to reuse mobile apps for making hotel reservations. The predictions are assumed through the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) anchors and perceived risk. Drawn from an online survey with 457 Chinese participants, results show direct positive predictions of intention to reuse from UTAUT anchors including performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. Perceived risk also negatively predicts intention. Effort expectancy mediates the links between internal/chance control and intention, whereas perceived risk mediates only the latter link. Facilitating conditions mediate the relationship between control by powerful others and intention. This study contributes to existing research by distinguishing the mechanisms that underpin LOC dimensions and technology re-adoption. Practitioners are recommended to improve booking apps by addressing the concerns of users with different LOC.     

What drives technology transitions? An integration of different approaches within transition studies

This paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of transition drivers by reviewing four major strands of inquiry in transition studies: Multi Level Perspective (MLP); Strategic Niche Management (SNM); Transition Management (TM); Technological Innovation Systems (TIS). To the best of our knowledge, none of these contributions have so far provided a clear-cut classification of main drivers of transitions, as evidenced by the difficulty of practitioners in reaching goals as entrepreneurs, or policy makers in supporting economic growth. We believe that these theoretical streams share views relating the origin and drivers of transitions and that the analysis of the multi-level developments and systemic sub-processes by using the Integrative Propositional Analysis (IPA) allows for a more comprehensive identification of transition drivers. By mapping causal relationships within each perspective and by developing an integrative framework that takes in due account of overlaps between theories, we derived a new conceptual structure for the identification of transitions’ drivers.     

To each his own: Matching different entrepreneurial models to the academic scientist's individual needs

This paper presents a comparative case study of academic group leaders, active in three different scientific fields at a leading Swiss technical university. It examines the obstacles that prevent scientists from commercializing their technologies and how they can be reduced. Traditional models of technology transfer assume that scientists prefer either to 'go it alone' and become entrepreneurs (the inventor entrepreneur model) or to let go of their technologies to people interested in their commercialization (the surrogate entrepreneur model). The results of qualitative research suggest that these two models capture the extremes of a continuum populated by a variety of intermediate situations where scientists are unwilling completely to let go of their findings, but also do not want to become full time entrepreneurs. This results in considerable commercial potential that is unexploited. The Founding Angels approach might be a solution to this problem; it is designed for academics in these intermediate situations. The study contributes to the literature on university-industry technology transfer and should be useful for practitioners and scientists interested in maximizing the synergies between academia and industry.     

An integrated approach to the purchase decision making process of food-delivery apps: Focusing on the TAM and AIDA models

The study employed two theories, the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the Attention-Interest-Desire-Action (AIDA) model, to provide an understanding of the process of consumers accepting an on-demand food-delivery app, and to establish the effect of marketing communication on outcomes related to consumer behavior. A conceptual model and hypotheses were developed by combining the key constructs of the two models to predict behavioral intentions. Findings revealed the attention and interest in the AIDA model related strongly to the salient behavioral beliefs of TAM, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Thus, it can be concluded that marketing communication acts as an external element in the process of accepting new innovations. Besides, it was confirmed that attitude towards the adoption of new technology acts as a mediator that promotes desire for the app. From the disciplines of information system and marketing communication, the study suggests an innovative approach to incorporating models.     

金融市场化进程是否改变了中国货币政策不同传导渠道的相对效应？

本文利用SVAR模型脉冲偏导分离技术,从利率市场化和影子银行两个维度测算了金融市场化进程对货币政策不同传导渠道相对地位的影响。实证结果揭示了中国货币政策传导的一些重要特征:第一,以信贷渠道为代表的数量化渠道效应要强于以利率和汇率渠道为代表的价格渠道,并且该结果没有因金融市场化的推进而改变。第二,利率市场化的推进主要强化了利率渠道的作用,但一定程度上弱化了其他渠道尤其是信贷渠道的作用。第三,影子银行的发展,强化了资产价格渠道的效应,而相对弱化了信贷渠道和利率渠道的效应。研究为在金融与实体经济市场仍存在一定程度摩擦的条件下,央行采用价格与数量货币政策调控方式有机结合的必要性与有效性,提供了实证支持。同时研究还表明,要充分发挥利率市场化改革完善货币政策价格传导机制的作用,既需要加强对各种形式金融创新的监管,还需要实体经济体系进一步市场化改革相配合。     

Diversification and sophistication of livestock products: The case of African countries

This study assesses the level of sophistication of livestock products in Africa by evaluating technology intensity and economic complexity of each product. Using trade data from 1995 to 2012, livestock commodity exports are classified based on technology intensity. Employing a method of reflection in computing the economic complexity of export products, we find that one fifth of African livestock commodity exports are manufactured with low technology while the rest is composed of raw materials. The results also show that the ten most complex livestock commodities represent about a third of African livestock total exports while the world level is almost double this figure. Yet African countries spend a huge share of their wealth on importing complex products. The results imply that by exporting non-complex products Africa loses nearly a third of the total value of its livestock exports. To boost the value of livestock products, African countries should exploit their untapped potential while securing the domestic market to achieve import substitution. This can be done by integrating with global value chains or developing niche markets at the regional or international markets and improving productive capabilities.     

成都理工大学教职工体育协会的现状研究

文章对成都理工大学6个教职工体育协会的建制、经费、场地设施、指导人员以及活动开展状况等方面进行了调查访谈,发现协会中仍然存在着协会成员固化、成员覆盖面小以及资金不足、场地匮乏等问题,并提出加大宣传力度,狠抓培训、扩大会员人数;扩展资金来源,寻求学校场地人力支持以及多层次创造活动交流平台等建议措施,以促进成都理工大学教职工体育协会的进一步发展。