Multilateral trade liberalisation helps promote export product diversification: Trade tensions damage the prospects of the poorest economies

Using a large panel dataset over a 20‐year period, this article explores the effect of multilateral trade liberalisation on export product diversification. Empirical results show that multilateral trade liberalisation is positively associated with export product diversification. However, less‐developed economies experience a greater positive effect than relatively advanced economies. This analysis suggests that if trade tensions reduce cooperation on trade matters among World Trade Organization members, it may hinder export product diversification in developing countries, and the poorest countries might be the most adversely affected.     

Modelo de gestión logística para pequeñas y medianas empresas en México

The market opening and the globalization of supply chains, demand a structural changes in which logistics has a strategic role. Nowadays, clients evaluate product quality, its value added and its availability in time and form, which implies a need to make the process efficient. Several experts have proposed some logistics management models to increase competitiveness in the market, but some of these models are too ambitious for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) due to their informal structure and their lack of technical knowledge; other models make indirect reference to the internal information flows, which include whole system disintegration because of the weak interrelation among the different areas. In Mexico, SMEs represent 4.2%, they generate 31.5% of employment and provide 37% of the gross domestic product; that is why it is important to reinforce their competitive position in the market. This research presents the design of a conceptual model of logistic management for SMEs which could provide comprehensive solution through control of the variables involved in the logistics process; to verify that the variables considered in each identified dimension are correct factor analysis was used.     

Predictors of export performance in developing economies: a longitudinal analysis of Moroccan SMEs

Purpose: To help increase understanding of the export performance, we investigate the influence of firm size, research and development (R&D), advertising expenditures and network relationships, and develop a conceptual model to increase export intensity. Design/methodology/approach: The research involved a four-year longitudinal study of export performance of 168 exporting SMEs in Morocco (672 observations). The two-stage least square estimation (G2SLS) was used to test the hypotheses. Findings: The findings of the two-stage least square estimation (G2SLS) suggest that export sales and domestic sales are interdependent and influence each other. R&D expenditures and network affiliation have positive and significant impact on export sales, while advertising expenditure has a negative and significant influence on export sales. Research limitations/implications: Readers should use caution in generalizing the findings unless verified in other developing contexts. Practical implications: The findings of this study are useful for managers and export policy makers in developing countries. A proper understanding of the predictors of export performance may help them encourage the growth and diversification of exports that is so vital for developing countries. Originality/value: Export performance is a key element in the field of international marketing. Unfortunately, the literature exhibits a lack of empirical studies in developing countries, particularly in Maghreb regions. The empirical testing of the theoretical model in a developing economy is a significant contribution to fill the needed gap in the literature toward generalizing findings.     

Export Performance: Is It Possible through Knowledge and Capabilities? Evidence from Turkish Manufacturing Firms

Purpose: This article measures to what extent export performance is affected by certain resource-based view (RBV) elements and seeks to elucidate relationships between these elements. Design: Among those RBV elements, knowledge and experience as resources, and marketing, production, product development, logistics, and service differentiation as capabilities, are chosen to be the basis of this research. Their effects on export performance are measured with a survey applied to personnel of Turkish manufacturing firms operating in Istanbul district. Findings: The results show us that marketing planning capabilities and service differentiation capabilities have a significant effect on export performance. The overwhelming effect of knowledge and experience of firms on marketing planning capabilities is one of the intriguing findings. Notwithstanding that, we found no trace of a relationship between product development capabilities and service differentiation capabilities. Value: This research provides several managerial and academic implications by contributing to a resource-based view in terms of knowledge and capabilities. Additionally, in this study, it is underlined that collective knowledge is vital for achieving high export performance.     

独立学院经管类专业学生就业竞争力研究——基于陕西省三所独立学院的调查

本文在对陕西三所独立学院进行调查的基础上,试图探索建立适合经管类学生就业竞争力提升的模型,以培养大批素质优良、特长鲜明,能快速切入企业岗位的应用型创新型人才。     

Environmental Innovations and Internationalization: Theory and Practices

Based on original data on Italian firms specializing in medium‐ and low‐tech industries, we study the relationship between firms’ upstream and downstream internationalization and their propensity to introduce products or processes that reduce environmental impact. Preliminary evidence suggests that geography plays an important role in green firms’ activities and supply chains. More precisely, results suggest that firms that outsource to and rely on non‐local suppliers are less likely to engage in environmental innovations. Moreover, we verify that firms engaged in export activities play a similar and negative role, regardless of the export intensity and typology of foreign markets (i.e. developed versus emerging). Tapping global flows of knowledge by being a part of a multinational group positively spurs the development of green innovations, as for FDIs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

京津冀城市大气环境竞争力评价

从大气环境与城市竞争力的关联性入手,将大气环境风险、现状和治理纳入评价指标体系,基于组合权重的大气环境竞争力评价模型,对2013-2017年京津冀13个城市的大气环境竞争力水平进行了测评,并结合空间自相关分析和障碍度模型揭示了其空间效应及障碍因素。结果显示:京津冀城市大气环境竞争力存在明显的空间差异,呈"北部高、南部低、局部跳跃"格局,城市差距逐渐缩小;京津冀城市大气环境竞争力呈显著的空间集聚效应且存在正向相关性,空间分布格局相对稳定。     

Does economic policy uncertainty raise corporate precautionary cash holdings? Evidence from China

Using China as the research setting, this paper investigates the relationship between economic policy uncertainty and corporate precautionary cash holdings. Empirical results show a U-shaped relation between economic policy uncertainty and corporate precautionary cash holdings. Empirical analysis, in terms of ownership structure, firm size, corporate competitiveness and geographical location, further shows that (i) the effects for economic policy uncertainty in both state-owned and non-state-owned enterprises are significant, but the effect is stronger for state-owned enterprises; (ii) such significant effect is also found more strongly in small and medium-sized enterprises and highly competitive enterprises; and (iii) the effects for eastern, central and western China are all statistically significant, but the effect is strongest for eastern China.     

Trade shocks,product mix adjustment and productivity growth in Italian manufacturing

In this paper, we use firm-level data on the universe of Italian manufacturing multi-product exporters to test whether demand shocks in export markets lead multi-product exporters to increase their productivity. The main mechanism behind the documented productivity gains is the reallocation of resources across products within firms (American Economic Review, 104, 2014 and 495; National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series No. 22433, 2016). Intuitively, the increased demand stemming from foreign markets will induce firms to adjust their product mix by moving inputs from low to high productive/profitable uses. We find that these productivity gains are significant and can explain between 1/10 and 1/2 of aggregate productivity growth in the manufacturing sector.     

中国农业竞争力提升视域下的小农户发展

目前我国农业发展面临一个急需破解的重大悖论：如何在发展小农户的基础上提升中国农业竞争力。论文提出中国特色农业竞争力具有三重内涵：以生产竞争力为基本要求，以安全竞争力为战略底线，以市场竞争力为主攻方向。小农户发展对于提升中国农业竞争力有重要作用，这体现于小农户发展有助于提升农业生产竞争力、安全竞争力和市场竞争力并推动提升机制之间联动。因此，提升中国农业竞争力必须促进小农户发展，并且小农户发展有提升农业竞争力的可能性，但当前小农户发展受到内外条件的约束。据此，本文提出以下政策建议：完善政府支持、发挥小农户主体作用、发展和推广农业科技和物质装备以及将小农户融入产业链。