The equipment hypothesis and US economic growth

In several articles published in the 1990s, de Long and Summers argued that investment in producer durables had a high propensity to generate externalities in using industries, resulting in a systematic and substantial divergence between its social and private return. They maintained, moreover, that this was not the case for structures investment. Together, these claims constitute the equipment hypothesis. This paper explores the degree to which the history of US economic growth in the 20th century supports it.     

Investment evaluation of cloud computing in the European business sector

The importance of cloud computing is acknowledged both at national and entrepreneurial level. Its potential in business has been already described in many studies (Dillon et al., 2010; Bayrak et al., 2011; Nuseibeh, 2011; Repschlaeger et al., 2013). However, many European countries do not exploit it much in spite of many positive responses made by respected consulting companies. The reasons for this are a very low level of changes in companies, ignorance of opportunities of the given technology and, consequently, an inability to count the return of investment. Therefore, the aim of this article is to introduce a tool for the investment evaluation of cloud computing, which corresponds to the needs of the European business environment and to the properties of this technology. Furthermore, the cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) method is explored. This method is adjusted for cloud computing on the basis of companies’ requirements, which were collected from quantitative and qualitative surveys and from the interviews with experts in cloud computing from academic and business environments. In addition, individual stages of the CBA method used in cloud computing are described.     

FDI location choice of Chinese multinationals in East and Southeast Asia: Traditional economic factors and institutional perspective

This paper investigates the factors determining foreign direct investment (FDI) location choices of Chinese multinational firms. We developed a conceptual framework that synthesizes traditional economic factors and institutional perspective. Then several hypotheses were developed in line with the framework and empirically tested using panel data of Chinese outward FDI to eight economies in East and Southeast Asia across a time period of thirteen years. Our findings suggest that institutional factors demonstrate a higher level of significance, complexity and diversity in determining FDI location choice in comparison with economic factors, while both types of factors influence the FDI location choice of Chinese multinational firms. We also found that the FDI location choices of Chinese firms have a dynamic nature, as statistical evidence indicates a heterogeneous response of Chinese FDI towards different economic groups and during different time periods.     

FDI in Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

This article examines aspects of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bulgaria. The article considers propositions relating to the location and own-company motives for engaging in FDI in Bulgaria, the performance of the foreign ventures, and challenges in the management of the ventures. The article also reviews the lessons for potential investors in Bulgaria. The article is based on the analysis of in-depth interviews with senior expatriate managers of nine foreign ventures in Bulgaria. This analysis serves to better understand the nature of FDI in Bulgaria and highlights the issues facing potential investors. Relatively few studies have been conducted on FDI in Bulgaria which is one of the least researched transition economies. This article therefore sheds new light on some important issues concerning FDI in Bulgaria and serves as a case study of a transition economy that is little reported on and little known in the West.     

Endogenous technological progress and the cross-section of stock returns

I study the cross-sectional variation of stock returns and technological progress using a dynamic equilibrium model with production. Technological progress is endogenously driven by research and development (R&D) investment and is composed of two parts. One part is devoted to product innovation; the other, to increasing the productivity of physical investment. The latter is embodied in new tangible capital. The model breaks the symmetry assumed in standard models between tangible and intangible capital, in which the accumulation processes of tangible and intangible capital stock do not affect each other. Qualitatively and, in many cases, quantitatively, the model explains well-documented empirical regularities.     

提高欠发达地区高校资金使用效率的几点建议——以江西省普通高校为例

以江西省属普通高校为例,在分析江西高校资金使用现状及存在问题的基础上,对提高欠发达地区高校资金使用效率提出了几点建议,以期为欠发达地区高校财务管理有所裨益。     

浅析事业单位专项资金的管理

文章从分析目前事业单位专项资金管理存在的问题及其原因入手,提出了四点关于事业单位专项资金管理问题的解决对策,明确提高事业单位专项资金使用效果和效率的重要性,希望能增强资金使用者和管理者的责任意识,并为事业单位及财政部门提供参考。     

A successful British MNE in the backyard of American big business: Explaining the performance of the American and Canadian subsidiaries of Lever Brothers 1888–1914

After 1888, Lever Brothers expanded into the United States and Canada. The surviving archival evidence suggests that the Canadian subsidiary was more successful than the American one. This article considers a number of factors that help to explain why this was the case. Some of the factors considered, such as differences between the Canadian and American tariffs, Canada's more robust system of trademark protection, and the absence of an anti-trust law in Canada before 1908, are related to themes very familiar to business historians. This article also applies concepts that are not part of the normal toolkit of business historians. The article draws on the literature on identity economics and argues that the greater success enjoyed by Lever Brothers in Canada was, in part, rooted in Canada's strongly British identity. The impact of identities on the policymakers, managers, and consumers who collectively shaped the two North American subsidiaries is assessed.     

鄂西圈的公司治理现状对其招商引资的影响——基于鄂西圈上市公司的相关数据

利用国泰安信息服务中心的数据,对鄂西圈上市公司治理情况进行简要统计与描述,期望借助公司治理与企业投融资行为之间的相关理论,暗示其对招商引资可能产生的影响,并由此提出鄂西圈建设中应高度关注企业所有权与控制权安排、合理把握圈内企业保守与开放的度等两个方面问题。