GMO-free regions in Europe: an analysis of diffusion patterns

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been a controversial issue in the European Union (EU). A growing number of member states and regions within the member states oppose the EU’s agro-biotechnology policy, resulting in a complex multi-level structure of policy-making. This study is interested in the regional opposition to GMOs and scrutinises the determinants of membership in the European Network of GMO-free Regions. In terms of theory, this study builds on the literature of policy diffusion. For the analytical purpose, we distinguish among four diffusion mechanisms: learning from earlier adopters, economic competition among proximate regions, imitation of economically powerful regions and deviation from national law. Our research questions are the following: How has membership developed since the foundation of the network? Which mechanisms explain the diffusion patterns observed? The empirical findings show that membership in the network has grown substantially between 2003 and 2014, which supports the general expectation that there is a diffusion of GMO-free regions. Yet, most new member regions are located in the same member states as the regions that founded the network. In other words, what is observed is intra-country diffusion rather than inter-country diffusion. The empirical findings provide support for the importance of learning from earlier adopters for the growing of the European Network of GMO-free Regions.     

Deane–Draper stores: employee empowerment in a retail environment

This case focuses on the application of employee empowerment principles to a large retail group. It provides the opportunity to analyse the manner of the strategy implementation and the consequent impact on both individuals and the organization. The case establishes significant financial underperformance in one part of a retail group and investigates the use of ‘employee empowerment’ techniques - following Carlzon (1987) - to provide a solution. The case illustrates the dysfunctional activity associated with implementing empowerment without either appropriate management control or staff training, together with the dire financial implications. The Teaching Resource Note discusses alternative approaches that might have been adopted.     

意大利美第奇家族银行的兴衰探析

美第奇家族银行从1397年建立,到1494年被其政治对手充公、结束历史使命为止,前后近百年,经历了比齐(1360-1428年)的创业、科西莫(1389-1464年)的辉煌和高多索(1416-1469年)、劳伦佐(1449-1492年)的衰落三个阶段,为中世纪佛罗伦萨经济谱写了辉煌的篇章。美第奇家族银行作为欧洲15世纪最著名的银行之一,在银行管理上形成了独具特色的控股公司的形式,在世界经济发展史上留下了自己的痕迹。在经济日新月异的今天,研究美第奇家族银行对全面了解美第奇家族对意大利文艺复兴的贡献和现代企业的发展仍具有重要的现实意义。     

Good global citizen? ASEAN’s image building in the United Nations

ABSTRACT

Based on role theory, the article examines the images that ASEAN member governments project of their organization. It rests on a discourse analysis of 198 speeches in the United Nations General Assembly between 1998 and 2017. Findings suggest that ASEAN does not figure as a top priority for delegates and that an overarching ASEAN role conception is missing. However, their addresses reveal parameters on which a collective role conception can be built. Individual ASEAN countries undertake great efforts to project themselves as ‘good global citizens,’ a role conception that could also be applied to ASEAN.     

《能源宪章条约》下可再生能源投资仲裁案及启示——以西班牙投资仲裁案为主线的考察

为了加速可再生能源产业的发展,多数国家都制定了相关激励措施以吸引跨国公司的投资。但是,随着政策的变化,相关的法律争端也随之产生。除了国际贸易争端以外,与可再生能源相关的投资争端也大量出现,其中以西班牙最为典型,所涉投资案件也最多。随着"一带一路"倡议的推进,我国投资者在海外可再生能源领域的投资会大幅增加。与此同时,我国能源领域对外开放的幅度正在加大,可再生能源领域的外资也会越来越多,但我国现有法律制度并不足以规范可再生能源的未来发展。本文分析西班牙相关法律政策变化及仲裁庭的裁决,以期对我国可再生能源法律政策的发展和完善,以及可再生能源领域的海外投资者保护提供启示,也为我国分析评估是否加入《能源宪章条约》提供借鉴。     

论高校“办学自主权”的 双面法治逻辑及统合

国内对高校“办学自主权”的释义颇多,法学视角而言就存在“国家行政权”与“社团自治 权”性质之争,但这类释义过分强调了对立而忽视了统一。本质上两者都是在处理与政府的关系,表 现为“外部分权”与“内部治理”的双面逻辑。外部高校基于法律授权而分享教育管理权,能为高校不 依附于政府行使权力提供法律保障;内部高校基于学术自由而类似于“私主体”,借鉴私法人格技术, 能为高校按照学术逻辑的特色治理架起理论桥梁。而高校章程能成为两者统合的优选通道,但必须 明确它的实施途径与违法后果以促进落实。如此,就为高校“办学自主权”提供了一个符合大学逻辑 的法学释义,从而优化高校的权力环境、形成特色办学、满足人的全面发展。     

Consumer willingness to pay for in-flight service and comfort levels: A choice experiment

In the competitive aviation market as a result of the emergence of low cost carriers, charter airlines have had to reconsider their approach to service provision. Specifically, the reduction in service and comfort levels offered by the low cost airlines provides charter carriers with an opportunity to differentiate their product based on the quality of the offering. To consider this strategic option we employ an on-line choice experiment to examine consumer choices with respect to the bundle of services on offer when deciding to purchase a flight. With these data we use the Bayesian methods to estimate a mixed logit specification. Our results reveal that in principle passengers are willing to pay a relatively large amount for enhanced service quality.     

意大利美第奇家族银行的兴衰探析

关第奇家族银行从1397年建立,到1494年被其政治对手充公、结束历史使命为止．前后近百年,经历了比齐（1360-1428年）的创业、科西莫（1389-1464年）的辉煌和高多索（1416—1469年）、劳伦佐（1449-1492年）的衰落三个阶段,为中世纪佛罗伦萨经济谱写了辉煌的篇章。美第奇家族银行作为欧洲15世纪最著名的银行之一,在银行管理上形成了独具特色的控股公司的形式。在世界经济发展史上留下了自己的痕迹。在经济日新月异的今天,研究美第奇家族银行对全面了解关第奇家族对意大利文艺复兴的贡献和现代企业的发展仍具有重要的现实意义。     

Airline choice and tourism growth in the Azores

This study examines the effect of airline choice on tourism growth in the Azores. The results reveal that tourism numbers increased sharply as more alternative choices emerged to visitors after the entrance of low-cost carriers due to airline liberalization. Moreover, different airline types attract different kinds of visitors, contributing to tourism diversification. In particular, low-cost airline tourists are younger than those who travel in full-service airlines or charter flights. They are also more likely to buy a last-minute ticket and to come from Iberian and French markets. Charter flights, however, are important choices for those traveling to the Azores from more distant markets such as Sweden and Denmark.     

The emergence of Italy as a fashion country: Nation branding and collective meaning creation at Florence’s fashion shows (1951–1965)

Abstract

We analyse the emergence of Italy as a fashion country with a reconstruction of the history and impact of the collective fashion shows that Giovanni Battista Giorgini organised in Florence in 1951–1965. Our cultural analysis highlights the role events play in the mobilisation of local actors and the creation of nation brands, which we conceive as ongoing narrations built on a country’s material and symbolic resources that differentiate its image in valuable ways for export markets. Despite their decline, the Florentine shows created an intangible asset that facilitated the ascent of Milan as Italy’s fashion capital in the 1970s.