Why Civil Service Reforms Fail

Tactical choices in the design and implementation of civil service reform can determine whether it succeeds or fails. Yet researchers have paid scant attention to tactical issues in recent years. This article considers three such issues: the scope of reform, the role of aid donors, and the leadership of reform. In each area it considers what sort of approach is likely to maximize the chances of success. However, the article seeks to go beyond prescribing lessons, also looking at institutional and other reasons why reformers may be impelled to make the wrong tactical choices.     

Food value chain transformations in developing countries: Selected hypotheses on nutritional implications

We examine how the transformation of food value chains (FVCs) influence the triple malnutrition burden (undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies and over-nutrition) in developing countries. We propose a FVC typology (modern, traditional, modern-to-traditional, and traditional-to-modern) that takes into account the participants, the target market, and the products offered. Next, we propose selected hypotheses on the relationship between each FVC category and elements of the triple malnutrition burden. The primary finding is that the transformation of FVCs creates challenges and opportunities for nutrition in developing countries. For example, Modern FVCs may increase over-nutrition problems and alleviate micronutrient deficiencies for urban people with relatively high incomes. However, they have little nutritional impacts among rural residents and urban poor people, who primarily depend on traditional FVCs to access adequate quantities of calories and micronutrients. In addition, modern food manufacturers are leveraging traditional distribution networks (modern-to-traditional FVCs), substantially increasing access to low-priced processed/packaged foods in rural areas and low-income urban neighbors with mixed impacts on the triple burden of malnutrition. Further research should focus on the influence of FVC transformation on reduction of micronutrient deficiencies, on modeling demand substitution effects across food categories and the attendant policy implications for malnutrition.     

An exploratory study of the impact of intervening variables on student performance in a Principles of Accounting course

The purpose of this paper is to provide some new empirical evidence on the determinants of student performance in a Principles of Accounting course at Birzeit University situated in the Occupied West Bank. It examines the impact of a number of new attitudinal variables on examination performance. The empirical results suggest that, in addition to a number of standard control variables, student perceptions of factors associated with class size, the attributes of the lecturer, student effort and the complexity of the course are associated with student performance in a first level principles of accounting course.     

基于组织创新的西部欠发达地区农业经营制度分析

通过对延安市农业发展和农业合作经济组织实地调研,揭示西部欠发达地区农业发展现状,提出“组织创新”是现阶段西部欠发达地区农业经营制度创新的合理选择。     

National telecommunications planning in Brazil

During the past 15 years Brazil has undergone a process of rapid modernization in its telecommunications. Starting from a chaotic situation, institutional foundations were established and an ambitious development programme carried out. A fundamental piece of this programme was a planning process that proved to be flexible and adequate to handle the social and economic disparities of the country. The policies that have emerged from the planning process were implemented and provided good economic results and satisfaction to customers.     

旅游商品产业化发展模式选择研究——以云南为例

旅游商品的产业化开发对促进云南旅游购物业的发展,加快云南旅游支柱产业建设具有十分重要的意义。在经过调研的基础上我们发现云南省虽然拥有旅游商品的开发资源和市场优势,但产业化程度较低,不利于旅游商品的健康发展。对此提出了促进云南旅游商品产业化发展的三种主要模式。     

以培育稀缺要素和嵌入价值链实现“代工模式”转型

在特定的开放战略作用下，中国企业与跨国公司之间形成了相对稳定的“国际代工”关系。这种经济成长模式推动了经济繁荣，也带来一系列问题。但现有文献关注的是发达国家生产组织环节的变化，基本上不关注发展中国家的代工行为。这种情况要求我们必须研究因应策略，推动我国“国际代工模式”的转型。本文提出了通过“培育稀缺生产要素”和“深化全球价值链嵌入”等实现“国际代工模式”升级的不同途径。     

发展经济学经济发展思想三种思路的比较分析

发展经济学自诞生以来 ,其经济发展思想基本上有结构主义、新古典主义、新古典政治经济学这三种基本思路。通过其理论特征和实践战略的比较分析 ,结构主义在实践中表现为唯资本论、唯计划论和唯工业化论 ;新古典主义主要强调微观经济基础、市场机制和资源配置效率的重要性 ;而新古典政治经济学却认为制度是内生的 ,制度结构和非经济因素对资源配置和经济发展的影响显著 ,强调技术内生化、边干边学、知识外溢、劳动分工和政府作用的内生性 ,而且提倡可持续发展是一种科学的发展观 ,是发展经济学的新发展。     

Voluntary disclosure practices amongst listed companies in Nigeria

This study examines voluntary disclosure practices amongst listed companies in Nigeria. Results from univariate and multivariate analyses of 52 listed companies suggest an average voluntary disclosure of 44% based on modified Meek, Roberts and Gray (1995) disclosure index comprising 24 disclosure items. The study found significant positive relationship between voluntary disclosure and firm size, measured as the natural logarithm of total asset. The study documents significant positive relationship between market-based definition of firm performance and voluntary disclosure. The study also found significant negative relationship between percentage of block share ownership and percentage of managerial share with firm disclosures. The study has important implication for both individual and institutional investors globally, regulators and policy makers in developing economies.     

Foresighting FLOSS (free/libre/open source software) from a developing country perspective: The case of Turkey

Since free/libre open source software (FLOSS) promotes collaboration and contributions from different parties in software production and innovation processes, it can create a unique opportunity for developing countries, by generating an innovative capability in software technology. To benefit from this opportunity, it is important to understand the strategic factors and future trends that affect the development of an efficient FLOSS economy in developing countries.This paper aims to examine the strategic factors and future trends that are likely to affect the development and deployment of FLOSS in Turkey. Based on the internal and external factors identified through the practice of technological foresight, a SWOT analysis will be carried out to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for Turkey in creating a competitive software industry that can benefit from the advantages of FLOSS. Accordingly, with regard to the required technical infrastructure, an innovative/competitive business climate, skilled human resources and support for institutional structures, policy suggestions are outlined here that could be usefully implemented by government, industry and universities.