Global strategies of European firms

In this research four internationally operating business units of European multinational corporations are studied from a global strategy content perspective. In opposition to large parts of the existing global strategy literature, the observed pattern of strategic behavior exclusively related to neither prevailing generic strategies nor to any of the different content-oriented approaches to global strategy. Based on the empirical evidence, a taxonomy of four types of global strategies is identified. The taxonomy proposes to distinguish global strategies along two key dimensions: internal source of competitive advantage generation (upstream, downstream) and external focus of competitive advantage exploitation (country centered, country transcending).     

Disparitäten in der Entwicklung der Gemeindesteuern

Generally, taxes are the most relevant source of revenue for German municipalities. In the period from 2004 to 2014, tax revenues were growing at remarkable rates. However, statistical analyses show that not all municipalities were benefitting in the same way, and thus state-wide averages are of limited value, since they tend to whitewash inner-state inequality. Disparities are even significant in states with strong economic fundamentals. According to absolute measures, disparities are growing at the national level. This can be explained by a few tax-strong outliers. In contrast, relative inequality remains static. The alarming finding is that intertemporal mobility among municipalities in the allocation of tax revenues is limited, and thus tax-weak municipalities face a cloudy outlook.     

Bundesbeteiligung an den Kosten der Unterkunft — ein „pragmatischer“ Transfer

Wirtschaftsdienst - Die Beteiligung des Bundes an den Kosten der Unterbringung und Heizung (KdU) erfolgt seit der Einführung des SGB II 2005 mit dem Ziel, die Kommunen finanziell zu entlasten....     

The Reality of the Eastern Business Mind

During World War II American troops sent to Europe were provided with small handbooks which contained a smattering of words and phrases and comments on customs designed to permit those troops to exist with the Dutch, the French, and even the Germans. When dealing with people in the Pacific-Rim area modern American businessmen still use the “handbook approach,” and they are frustrated when they can't understand the attitudes, subtleties, and procedures of Pacific-Rim business practice. They know the details of the “handbook,” but they fail to understand the roots of cultural differences. They fail to understand that they are dealing with thousands of years of philosophy, ethics, and culture, and for this necessary understanding they have to realize both how and why their counterparts think as they do. The modern business person should go back to Taoism and Confucius for an explanation of contemporary business practices.     

Zwei Jahre im Krisenmodus — die kommunalen Finanzen bleiben trotzdem stabil

Wirtschaftsdienst - Die kommunalen Finanzen stehen seit Beginn der Coronakrise unter besonderer Beobachtung. Die deutsche Politik hat zurecht erkannt, dass bei der Bekämpfung der Krise eine...     

Konsolidierungsprogramme der Länder für finanzschwache Kommunen

Many German states set up special financial assistance programmes focusing on municipalities in fiscal distress. As a result, participating authorities show significant improvements in crucial financial indicators. However, there are some adverse effects in the indicators, as well. In particular, tax revenue is below average, welfare spending is continuously increasing and investment figures point toward further decline. Those findings demonstrate an ongoing and lasting fiscal burden on those authorities.     

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