Discrete representations of a continuum economy

We consider an atomless economy in which the continuum of agents is represented by a real interval. By dividing the interval and associating to every agent in each subinterval the same initial endowments and preferences, we define sequences of discrete economies as approximations to the initial continuum economy. We obtain convergence results for the core (or, alternatively, for the set of Walrasian allocations) of the continuum economy in terms of the cores of the approximating discrete economies. Finally, we state some counterexamples which provide a boundary for more general results in this framework. Received: 29 December 2000 / Accepted: 28 April 2002 C. Hervés and E. Moreno acknowledge support by Research Grant BEC2000-1388-C04-01 from the Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica (DGICYT), Spanish Ministry of Education.?E. Moreno acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Education through a post-doctoral fellowship in 1997 and from a Training and Mobility of Researchers (E.C.) fellowship in 1998 while visiting Universidade Nova de Lisboa.     

Takeover bids, unconditional offer price and investor protection

In this paper, we develop a contingent claim analysis on shareholders' right to sell unconditionally their shares at the acquisition bid price during a takeover bid procedure. Compared with a situation without any guarantee, this regulation brings about wealth transfer towards outside shareholders. Why, in an apparently irrational way, do outside shareholders, who may benefit from a price guarantee, not systematically sell their shares? That question emphasizes the outside shareholders' behavior. Using a real option valuation model to evaluate the price guarantee opportunity, we show that an equal treatment rule between controlling and outside shareholders may lead outside shareholders to sell their shares.     

The Strategic HRM Configuration for Competitive Advantage: Evidence from Japanese Firms in China and Taiwan

The purpose of the present study was to identify the pattern of HRM practices that would lead to an improvement in business performance in Chinese- and Taiwanese-based Japanese affiliates in the light of a configurational perspective, following the current debate in the field of strategic human resource management (SHRM). In particular, a set of working hypotheses regarding the structural relationship among HRM practices for producing enhanced business results was drawn from the organizational learning theoretical framework that emphasizes a linkage between the process of learning and firm performance. Our conceptual model and specific hypotheses were examined using a sample of 286 Japanese affiliates operating in Mainland China and Taiwan. The results provided basic support for the configurational hypothesis in predicting the financial aspect of an affiliate's performance. It is argued that the findings of the study have several important implications for the untested relationships between high commitment work practices (HCWPs) and high performance work systems (HPWSs) from a Japanese management perspective. In addition, the manner in which each HRM technique can be used by Japanese overseas affiliates to enhance their learning and adaptive capabilities is discussed.     

英语教学与研究性学习的思考

研究性学习是适应E时代社会发展而出现的一种新型的教育理念，是自20世纪80年代末以来国际教育界比较普遍推崇和实施的一种培养“关键能力”的重大教育改革。根据笔者教学实践和研究，本文拟对研究性学习发表几点浅见。     

铁路空车调整蚁群算法的研究

依据数量调配和网络配流两个空车调整的核心问题,建立了空车调整协同优化模型,并设计了相应的蚁群算法。由于共同径路约束与模型是不协调的,且对流约束不会对模型的最优解产生影响,故而模型可以描述为线性整数规划模型。同时,研究表明蚁群算法对求解空车调整问题具有一定优势。     

基于遗传算法的集装箱多式联运联盟合作伙伴的选择

集装箱多式联运是一个复杂的大系统,其多式联盟的组成首先要选择正确的合作伙伴。建立基于遗传算法的集装箱多式联运联盟合作伙伴选择的模型,从联盟的运营成本、运营时间和运营风险的最小化进行择优,同时给出应用算例进行验证,并利用MATLAB7.0求解,得到能以最佳性能完成运输任务的联盟伙伴组合。     

Sustainable rural communities? A legal perspective on the community right to buy

Sustainable development is the underlying policy behind the community right to buy land in rural Scotland enshrined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, Part 2. The Act explicitly requires communities wishing to exercise the right to buy to have sustainable development at the heart of their community body and all their plans for the land. This paper examines the role and interpretation of sustainable development in the CRB. Since the Act was passed three administrations have headed up the Scottish government and sustainable development issues and strategies for Scotland have been aired in four important and distinctive policy documents showing that it is still very much an evolving concept in Scottish politics. The current administration has adopted the most econocentric approach yet seen in the UK, focusing on sustainable economic growth. Meanwhile, the community right to buy has developed its own sustainable development agenda. This review of decisions taken under the legislation illustrates that a diverse range of community ownership plans have been deemed consistent with sustainable development, from creation of sports facilities to preservation of castles, lighthouses and village greens. A range of economic, social and environmental objectives have been approved. On the other hand, communities that fail to adopt the ‘right’ approach to the principle will not be successful in using the legislation.     

浅谈如何克服英语课上的畏难心理

在高校新生中,学生的英语水平层次不一,许多来自山区和经济贫困地区的学生,因学习英语的环境和经济务件所限,其英语听、说能力很差,在高校学习期间,对英语学习在心理上有很大的畏难情绪,面对高校新生在英语课上出现的种种问题,教师应在教学实践中提供有效的学习方法,建立起平等、和谐、良好的语言环境,引导学生一步一步地走进绚丽多姿的语言天地。     

基于组态视角的物流竞争力提升路径研究

基于基础-企业-市场(groudings-enterprises-markets, GEM)模型和复杂系统理论,采用模糊集定性比较分析法,从组态视角出发,对31个省份(因数据缺失,不包括港澳台地区)物流竞争力提升路径进行实证分析。研究发现,主体、资源、环境、需求、技术、创新6个要素对物流竞争力都存在一定的影响,但是单个要素并不是强物流竞争力的必要条件;存在环境-需求-技术-创新驱动型、全面均衡综合驱动型以及资源-环境-技术驱动型3条等效路径;各地应根据资源禀赋情况,选择差异化提升路径。