The European high-speed train network: Predicted effects on accessibility patterns

The principal aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the future European high-speed train network on accessibility, by reducing time distance between places and modifying their relative location. We compare the current situation with that foreseen for the year 2010, according to the Outline Plan of the European High-Speed Train Network, in order to analyse which areas will most benefit from construction and improvement of the infrastructure. It is hypothesized that the high-speed train will certainly bring the peripheral regions closer to the central ones, but will also increase imbalances between the main cities and their hinterlands. A weighted average distance indicator is applied for this purpose. This measure identifies the spatial distribution of accessibility in the area of study, emphasizing the infrastructure effects, and locates accessibility changes at the European level. A Geographic Information System (GIS) has been used to carry out this study.     

Predicting the geo-temporal variations of crime and disorder

Traditional police boundaries—precincts, patrol districts, etc.—often fail to reflect the true distribution of criminal activity and thus do little to assist in the optimal allocation of police resources. This paper introduces methods for crime incident forecasting by focusing upon geographical areas of concern that transcend traditional policing boundaries. The computerised procedure utilises a geographical crime incidence-scanning algorithm to identify clusters with relatively high levels of crime (hot spots). These clusters provide sufficient data for training artificial neural networks (ANNs) capable of modelling trends within them. The approach to ANN specification and estimation is enhanced by application of a novel and noteworthy approach, the Gamma test (GT).     

法律经济学视野下的地理标志保护

地理标志是一种无形产权意义上的商业标志,保护地理标志能给所标志者带来重大的经济利益。从市场结构、消费者与生产者之间信息不对称以及产品信誉的角度,透过法律的面纱从经济根源上分析了为什么要保护地理标志。最后针对我国地理标志保护意识薄弱的现状提出法律保护建议。     

A capabilities perspective on the joint effects of internationalization time,speed, geographic scope and managers’ competencies on SME survival

This study examines the effect of key internationalization contingencies on SME survival. We argue early internationalization increases the probability of firm failure, while international experience reduces it. However, the survival odds among international new ventures may be improved by their post-entry international expansion scope and speed, and by managers’ competencies. These internationalization facets provide firms with opportunities to develop and exploit their resources and capabilities, and thus enhance their survival chances. Drawing on a sample of 271 manufacturers followed between 2005 and 2014, we find results that provide support to most of our arguments, and hold theoretical and managerial relevance.     

Does distance matter in foreign direct investment sub-national location choice? Evidence from China

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) make investment decisions according to the distance factors at a sub-national level. This paper made estimates using the gravity model with provincial foreign direct investment (FDI) data from 2000 to 2012 and employed three concepts of distance. Our empirical results indicate that geographic distance and cultural distance have significant negative effects on FDI flow, whereas economic distance has a significant positive effect. It suggests that FDI prefers to locate in regions that are geographically and culturally close but economically distant from the home country, which further implies that FDI in China is dominated by vertical FDI. Our findings suggest that Chinese provincial governments should place emphasis on attracting FDI from culturally close countries and provide institutional support to encourage and promote horizontal FDI.     

Corporate Multinationality and Acquirer Returns

This paper provides evidence on how corporate multinationality from the perspective of acquiring firms relates to M&A returns. Using multivariate regressions and a large dataset of over 6,000 M&As (both cross-border and domestic) by UK firms during 1987 to 2014, the paper finds multinationality to be associated with significantly higher short-run announcement returns and long-run operating performance. While the multinationality premium (higher M&A returns for multinationals) persists over time, it seems to be restricted to firms with superior resource/managerial capabilities and minimal agency problems. Finally, the multinationality premium appears to be driven by foreign acquisitions into advanced economies. The results are robust to correcting for sample selection bias and controlling for several firm and deal characteristics, as well as accounting for firm-, industry-, and year-fixed effects. Collectively, the findings imply that multinationality could be a source of value creation for acquiring firms, particularly in foreign acquisitions, which tend to be complex, and, thereby, require superior managerial capabilities to succeed.     

论GIS在社会经济领域中的运用

地理信息系统是一种新兴的技术工具,它不仅被应用在现代测绘、军事国防、野外数据采集等自然科学方面,而且被广泛应用在社会经济领域中,在管理和决策中具有重要的作用.随着人类获取空间数据能力的不断提高和信息技术的发展,地理信息系统的应用将提升到一个新的深度和广度,它将在国民经济信息化中发挥重要的作用.本文介绍地理信息系统的基本概念及其在经济、管理、法律等领域中的应用实例,着重强调在社会经济领域中开展地理信息系统应用研究的意义.     

跨境电商能否突破地理距离的限制

本文基于我国跨境电商蓬勃发展的崭新事实,重新审视地理距离与贸易规模这一国际贸易经典理论命题,并进一步探讨了互联网弱化地理距离负面影响的理论机制。基于跨境电商物流数据和传统贸易出口数据的研究表明:(1)与传统贸易出口相比,跨境电商出口受地理距离的负面影响较小;(2)贸易伙伴国互联网的发展能够在一定程度上弱化地理距离的负面影响,促进跨境电商出口的增长;(3)从个体层面看,地理距离的负面影响以及互联网的弱化作用,同样会作用于跨境电商企业出口的扩展边际和集约边际,而且二者的作用对于大、中型规模的跨境电商企业而言更加明显。这些结论为我国政府促进跨境电商发展的诸多政策措施、“互联网+外贸”战略以及“网上丝绸之路”建设提供了有力的经验证据支撑。     

The evolution of inter-organisational social capital with foreign customers: Its direct and interactive effects on SMEs’ foreign performance

Taking a longitudinal approach, we analyze how the evolution of different dimensions of social capital between an SME (Small and Medium enterprise) and its key foreign customers directly influences the firm’s foreign performance growth. Moreover, we utilize a contingency approach by introducing two dyad-specific characteristics into the analysis: psychic and geographic interorganizational distances. Our findings contribute to the international business literature on social capital and suggest that while an investment in social capital with distant foreign customers always reinforces SMEs’ foreign performance development, relational and cognitive social capital have the same positive effects only for low levels of interorganizational psychic distance.     

基于GIS和CFD的城市街道通风廊道研究——以武汉为例

改善通风的城市形态因素可以分为建筑和道路2个方面。建筑形态的通风评价主要采取综合迎风面积密度方法,将城市建筑环境转化为具有数值属性的栅格,从而提取城市建成区的通风廊道,但是该方法忽略了城市重要的通风路径——城市街道。以街道的朝向为主要评价对象,挖掘线状要素城市道路的通风廊道,作为建筑形态通风廊道划分方法的补充。根据通风潜力随夹角的变化规律,利用地理信息系统(GIS)的空间分析技术进行街道的通风潜力评价,在综合迎风面积密度密集的区域,存在通风潜力较高的城市街道