Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Comparative advantage'

This study investigates the causal relationship among comparative advantage, exports and economic growth by using the time series annual data for the period of 1980-2009 on 13 developing countries. The purpose is to develop an understanding of causal relationship and explore the differences or similarities among different sectors of several developing countries that are in different stages of development and how their comparative advantage influences the exports, which further effect the economic growth of the country. The co-integration and the vector error correction techniques are used to explore the causal relationship among the three variables. The results suggest bi-directional or mutual long run relationship between comparative advantage, exports and economic growth in most of the developing countries. The overall long run results of the study favour the export led growth hypothesis that exports precede the growth in case of all countries except for Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The short run mutual relationship exists mostly among the three variables except for Malaysian exports and growth and its comparative advantage and GDP and for Singapore‟s exports and growth. The short run causality runs from exports to gross domestic product (GDP). So overall, short run results favour export led growth in all cases except for Malaysia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Technology and Policy Program, 1999.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 110-114).
Extended producer responsibility is a business strategy whereby a firm assumes responsibility for the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire lifecycle. By taking such responsibility, a firm realizes an incentive to design environmentally preferable products that are easier to recycle, reuse, or re-manufacture. Many extended producer responsibility strategies involve product take-back, whereby the producer can harvest residual value of the product at the end of its useful lifetime. This strategy is connected to sustainable development in that producers are taking responsibility for the products they are offering. Society is faced with many global environmental problems that threaten ecological stability and social wellbeing. Extended producer responsibility facilitates awareness of these problems and encourages the design of innovative products with minimal environmental impacts. This awareness is an important step toward the possibility of sustainable development. There are three requirements for successful differentiation of a product. First, consumers must be willing to pay for the new product. Second, credible information must be available regarding the product. Third, barriers must be erected to prevent competitors from imitating the product. A producer who attempts to satisfy these requirements is exhibiting rational economic behavior. Hence, this thesis asks whether firms that invest in sustainable product differentiation through extended producer responsibility are exhibiting rational economic behavior. Four products are examined in extensive detail. These include Xerox's Document Center 265, Interface's environmental flooring products including the Evergreen Lease, Kodak's single use camera, and Deep E. Co.' s environmental footwear. Each case study has shown evidence of rational economic behavior. However, Interface and Deep E. Co. have also displayed strong environmental propensities that seem to prohibit successful differentiation. Furthermore, two other requirements are found that are particularly important for extended producer responsibility. First, the producer must invest in an extensive R&D relationship with its suppliers. Second, to harvest residual value of the product, reverse logistics systems must be in place. The thesis concludes that regulation is not necessary for products such as those studied here. However, voluntary programs resembling EPA's Energy Star program may help in communicating the benefits of extended producer responsibility to other businesses.
by Michael J. Augusteijn.
S.M.

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We develop a model of comparative advantage with monopolistic competition, that incorporates heterogeneous firms and endogenous mark-ups. We analyse how these features vary across countries with different factor endowments, and across markets of different size. In this model we can obtain trade gains via two channels. First, when we open the economy, most productive firms start to export their product, then, they demand more producing factors and wages rises, thus, those firms that are less productive will be forced to stop to produce. Second channel is via endogenous mark-ups, when we open the economy, the competition gets ``tougher'', then, mark-ups falls, thus, those firms that are less productive will stop to produce. We also show that comparative advantage works as a ``third channel'' of trade gains, because, all trade gains results are magnified in comparative advantage industry of both countries. We also make a numerical exercise to see how endogenous variables of the model vary when trade costs fall.

This thesis has three objectives. First, the thesis evaluates the alternative indirect methods of measuring or identifying Iran's comparative advantage through revealed trade performance. Secondly, it seeks to identify Iran's export potential by considering similar and comparable economies. Thirdly, it explores the potential volume and direction of fran's trade flows by using a gravity model. The thesis primarily provides a review and an evaluation of the theory and empirical robustness of the law of comparative advantage. The application of indirect methods proves to be useful in identifying Iran's activities of comparative advantage. Alternative indices of revealed trade performance are used to measure Iran's revealed comparative advantage (RCA) for non-oil exports. The results based on these three measurements are found to be consistent, and also show that Iran has export characteristics which reflect the endowments of this natural-resourceabundant developing country. Iran's exports tend to lie in natural-resource-intensive goods, mostly agricultural products, and generally labour-intensive products. Relatively weak export performance is identified in capital-intensive and humancapital- intensive products. Upon determining the commodities in which Iran has a revealed comparative advantage, the thesis investigates how Iran's export composition may be expected to evolve in future. Export similarity indices and the revealed export performance of comparator countries are used to identify the scope for intra- and inter-industry export diversification. Finally, a gravity model is estimated in order to compare the actual and potential volume and direction of Iran's trade. The results show that Iran's current actual trade is larger than that predicted by the model. The current 'over-trade' figures arise from fran's oil exports to a few industrial countries. Actual trade with the developing countries as a whole is by contrast lower than predicted.

Efficient policies to stimulate the competitiveness of firms require knowledge of future firm-strategies and a proper assessment of the location advantages of a country or region. Therefore, industry comparative advantage analysis needs to be complemented by firm competitive advantage analysis. This yields four hypotheses of firm strategies on the basis of the existing advantage combination. Detailed empirical analysis of a representative sample of Austrian manufacturing firms during 1990- 2000 shows that changes in employment, value-added and exports are in line with the suggested development. Three of the 3-digit industries lost their advantages while seven industries gained advantages, yet overall industry distribution has been remarkable stable over the four advantage combinations. In terms of number of firms, however, a large share (30%) of the total population shifts between advantage combinations even during short periods of time. The firm strategies outlined suggest a differentiated policy approach, yet the short-term dynamics revealed empirically imply a high potential for policy failure.
Series: Working Papers Series "Growth and Employment in Europe: Sustainability and Competitiveness"

Phylogenomics can be regarded as evolution and genomics in co-operation. Various kinds of evolutionary studies, gene family analysis among them, demand access to genome-scale datasets. But it is also clear that many genomics studies, such as assignment of gene function, are much improved by evolutionary analysis. The work leading to this thesis is a contribution to the phylogenomics field. We have used phylogenetic relationships between species in genome-scale searches for two intriguing genomic features, namely and A-to-I RNA editing. In the first case we used pairwise species comparisons, specifically human-mouse and human-chimpanzee, to infer existence of functional mammalian pseudogenes. In the second case we profited upon later years' rapid growth of the number of sequenced genomes, and used 17-species multiple sequence alignments. In both these studies we have used non-genomic data, gene expression data and synteny relations among these, to verify predictions. In the A-to-I editing project we used 454 sequencing for experimental verification. We have further contributed a maximum a posteriori (MAP) method for fast and accurate dating analysis of speciations and other evolutionary events. This work follows recent years' trend of leaving the strict molecular clock when performing phylogenetic inference. We discretised the time interval from the leaves to the root in the tree, and used a dynamic programming (DP) algorithm to optimally factorise branch lengths into substitution rates and divergence times. We analysed two biological datasets and compared our results with recent MCMC-based methodologies. The dating point estimates that our method delivers were found to be of high quality while the gain in speed was dramatic. Finally we applied the DP strategy in a new setting. This time we used a grid laid out on a species tree instead of on an interval. The discretisation gives together with speciation times a common timeframe for a gene tree and the corresponding species tree. This is the key to integration of the sequence evolution process and the gene evolution process. Out of several potential application areas we chose gene tree reconstruction. We performed genome-wide analysis of yeast gene families and found that our methodology performs very well.
QC 20100923

The paper presents a formal analysis which incorporates returns to transportation into a Ricardian framework to predict trade patterns. The important point to be gained from this analysis is that increasing returns to transportation, coupled with appropriate distances between trading partners can be shown to reverse Ricardian predictions even when there are no international differences in tastes, technology, or factor endowments. Additional gains from trade may emerge from reductions in aggregate delivery costs owing to scale economies. (authors' abstract)
Series: Discussion Papers of the Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As agriculture remains the economic engine of rural Africa, reducing poverty in Africa will depend largely on stimulating agricultural growth. To realize this growth, the efficient allocation of a country’s scarce natural resources becomes a prerequisite. Rwanda is endowed with extensive wetlands with a high potential for rice production due to its hilly topography, abundant rainfall, and warm temperatures. However, many of these wetlands remain uncultivated despite the prevailing rice deficit in the domestic and regional markets. Over the past decade, Rwanda has increasingly become dependent on regional and global markets for rice, as domestic supply is unable to keep pace with the growing domestic demand. This production deficit has limited the potential gains that farmers and the nation could realize in the form of income and foreign exchange earnings. The main objective of this study is to determine Rwanda’s comparative advantage in rice and to identify constraints limiting efficiency. To achieve this objective, this study utilizes the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) to measure the comparative advantage in rice production and the level of inefficiencies within the rice subsector in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. The key findings of the analysis demonstrate that this province has a comparative advantage in rice. However, within the sample, 68 % of rice farmers’ cooperatives, cultivating rice on 25% of the total area under study, have no comparative advantage. In terms of net welfare gains, due to market distortions, domestic rice prices are artificially high, which creates a deadweight loss in the rice market. In particular, the protectionist policies (i.e. rice import tariffs and farm inputs subsidization) induce the private farm profit to outweigh the social farm profit. This abnormal profit allows rice production to become financially profitable even where there is a comparative disadvantage. On the demand side, although the domestic price of imported rice in Rwanda is slightly higher than the local rice price, the majority of consumers prefer imported rice to local rice, due to its long grain shape, aroma, and good quality. The low domestic demand for bold and short grain rice, which is cultivated by 70 % of Rwandan rice farmers, limits domestic rice producers’ market share. Given the study’s findings, the policy recommendations are threefold. The first involves technology dissemination and adoption. In order to improve the domestic rice production capacity and competitiveness, without compromising efficiency, it is imperative for rice farmers to adopt labour saving technologies. This technology adoption would allow for an increase in the area on which rice can be grown efficiently, due to a reduced social production cost. The second recommendation is that government should encourage research on the identification of aromatic and long grain rice varieties that can adapt to Rwanda’s agroecology, thereby meeting consumers’ demand preferences. Finally, though rice import tariffs protect domestic farmers against foreign competition, these policies decrease consumers’ welfare due to a reduction in the range of rice consumed in the domestic market. This study recommends the government to facilitate exportation of local rice in regional markets, and reduce rice import barriers. This intervention would benefit both farmers and consumers, while stabilizing the trade balance.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aangesien landbou steeds die ekonomiese enjin van landelik Afrika is, sal die vermindering van armoede grootliks afhang van die stimulering van groei binne landbou. Die doeltreffende toedeling van ‘n land se skaars hulpbronne is ‘n voorvereiste om hierdie groei te verwesenlik. Rwanda het ekstensiewe vleilande met ‘n hoë potensiaal vir rysproduksie as gevolg van die heuwelagtige topografie, oorvloedige reënval en warm temperature. Baie van die grond is egter steeds onbewerk desnieteenstaande die heersende rystekort in die plaaslike en streeksmarkte. Oor die afgelope dekade het Rwanda toemend afhanklik geraak van streeks- en globale markte vir rys aangesien plaaslike aanbod nie kan byhou met die toemane in plaaslike vraag nie. Die produksietekort het die potensiële voordele wat boere en die volk kan realiseer in die vorm van inkomste en buitelandse valuta, beperk. Die hoofdoelwit van die studie is om Rwanda se vergelykende voordeel in rys te bepaal en om die beperkings ten opsigte van doeltreffendheid te identifiseer. Om hierdie doelwit te bereik, het die studie die Beleidsanalise Matriks gebruik om die vergelykende voordeel in rysproduksie en die vlak van ondoeltreffendheid in die ryssubsektor van die Oostelike Provinsie van Rwanda, te meet. Die kern bevindinge van die analise dui daarop dat die Oostelike Provinsie van Rwanda ‘n mededingende voordeel in rys het. In die steekproef is daar egter 68% van die rysprodusente koöperasies wat geen mededingende voordeel het nie. In terme van netto welvaartsvoordele, as gevolg van verwringing in die mark, is die plaaslike prys van rys onnatuurlik hoog, wat ‘n dooieverlies skep in die rysmark. Spesifiek, die beskermende beleide (d.i. rys invoertariewe en plaas insetsubsidies) het tot gevolg dat private boerdery wins groter gewig dra as die sosiale boerdery wins. Die abnormale wins laat toe dat rysproduksie finansiëel winsgewend word selfs al is daar ‘n vergelykende nadeel. Aan die vraagkant, al is die plaaslike prys van ingevoerde rys in Rwanda ‘n klein bietjie hoër as die plaaslike rysprys, verkies die meeste verbruikers die ingevoerde rys eerder as die plaaslike rys, as gevolg van die lang korrel vorm, aroma en goeie kwaliteit. Die lae plaaslike verbruik vir vet kort korrel rys, wat verbou word deur 70% van die Rwandese rysboere, beperk die plaaslike rys produsente se markaandeel. Gegewe die studie se bevindings, is die beleidsaanbevelings drieledig. Die eerste behels tegnologie oordrag en aanvaarding. Om plaaslike rysproduksie kapasiteit en mededingendheid te verbeter sonder om doeltreffendheid af te skeep, is dit noodsaaklik vir rysboere om arbeidsbesparende tegnologie te aanvaar. Die tegnologie aanvaarding sal die area wat doeltreffend onder rys verbou word, vergroot as gevolg van verminderde sosiale produksiekoste. Die tweede aanbeveling is dat regering navorsing oor die identifisering van aromaties en lang korrel rys varieteite moet aanmoedig om aan te pas by Rwanda se agro-ekologie; om sodoende verbruikers tegemoet te kom met hulle vraagvoorkeure. Laastens, al beskerm invoertariewe van rys die plaaslike boere teen internasionale mededinging, verlaag hierdie beleide die verbruikerswelvaart as gevolg van ‘n verlaging in die verskeidenheid rys wat in die plaaslike mark verbruik word. Die studie beveel aan dat die regering die uitvoer van plaaslike rys in streeksmarkte fasiliteer en die invoerbeperkings op rys verminder. Die ingryping sal beide boere en verbruikers bevoordeel, terwyl die handelsbalans gestabiliseer word.

This paper provides empirical evidence on the determinants of foreign ownership in manufacturing industries. Foreign ownership, according to the theory of international production, is the result of the combination of comparative and competitive advantage. An adequate examination of the ownership structure of an industry requires the ability to establish empirically the extent to which international competitiveness of firms rests on comparative and competitive advantage. Analysis is based on a sample of the 30 largest manufacturing firms in Austria. The distinction and definition of comparative and competitive advantage as used in this paper and following from it the conclusions about the ownership structure are consistent with the empirical evidence about the share of employees in foreign-owned firms on the industry level. In particular, the classification of firms as foreign- or domestically-owned is in line with the revealed performance differences between foreign and domestic firms.
Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

The goal of this thesis is to determine how Canada's competitiveness is being affected by its commodity-based, US-centric export mix, if it is justified to talk about a ''resource curse'' and if efforts to diversify should be pursued. In the end, the aim is to understand how the chosen trade strategy will impact Canadian efforts to tap into the Asian markets. Chapter 1 will first look into the theory of comparative advantage which was first established by David Ricardo and then extended through several neoclassic theories (namely, the Heckscher-Ohlin model), the various assumptions made will be considered and put into today's context of globalized trade exchanges. As the 'case study', the economy of Canada and more specifically its trade exchanges will be analyzed in Chapter 2. As an oil-centric (and generally, commodity-centric) economy, the question of whether the Dutch Disease and the commodity 'supercycle' pose threats to Canada's trade strategy and competitiveness will be answered. Finally, in Chapter 3, the concepts gathered in Chapter 1 as well as the observations made in Chapter 2 will come together and explain how Canada can, through a diversified export mix, better seize the economic opportunities which Asia will represent in the years to come. The conclusion is that the endowment of resources should be exploited but not relied upon, and that government policies and active investments should be redirected towards innovative, value-adding industries.

The thesis is a combination of three independent papers that discuss various challenges posed on developing countries of Asia and provide suggestions as to how comparative advantage and labor productivity growth is relevant towards their economic growth. We seek to explore why these countries tend to lag behind in terms of productivity growth. Moreover, we also seek to compare China, the U.S., and the EU in terms of their trade competitiveness in various sectors to examine the convergence and divergence pattern of their comparative advantage.

Thesis (MAgricAdmin)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Agriculture is heavily subsidised and protected in most of the major industrial countries. Some of the effects are obvious through the heavy costs imposed on national budgets. Other effects, such as those on consumers or on overall economic efficiency, are less obvious but are nonetheless extremely important. In South Africa there has never been an attempt to calculate total government intervention in agriculture. However, this changed at the time of the negotiations for the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations under the auspices of the GATT, and the greater importance of the consumer in the designing of agricultural policies. The aim of this study is to determine whether the production of wheat in the Western Cape is economically optimal under the current policy environment. The study investigates if there was a comparative advantage in the production of wheat as of April 1999. The technique used to calculate the various indicators of comparative advantage is the Policy Analysis Matrix. This technique is used to identify the effects of policy measures on the social profitability of wheat production. The analysis used data from eight areas, and seventeen varying enterprise budgets were constructed in order to compile a representative picture of the industry's condition. The results of the analysis indicate that Western Cape wheat producers do not have a strong comparative advantage in the production of wheat for the selected areas. The reasoning behind this is complex, but is primarily a result of high levels of input use. Input prices are inflated by policy distortions in input markets, partly because of tariffs on imported inputs. The net effect of the total policy environment also had a negative effect on producers, in the sense that sub-normal profits were achieved. The future of the Western Cape and South African wheat farmer is uncertain. What is certain is that, if the wheat farmer in South Africa does not take immediate and swift action, directed at improving efficiency in current management and production techniques, and implementing some form of crop diversification, farm debt will ultimately be the demise of the farmer. As interest rates rapidly increase, and producer prices remain constant or decrease, the farmer begins to farm more for the bank than for private remuneration.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die meeste groot industriele lande word landbou grootliks gesubsidieer en beskerm. Sommige van die effekte word weerspieël in hoë kostes in die nasionale begroting. Ander effekte soos die op verbruikers is minder vanselfsprekend, maar steeds baie belangrik. Voorheen is daar geen poging aangewend om die totale owerheidsinmenging in landbou in Suid-Afrika te bereken nie. Dit het egter verander met die onderhandelinge rondom die Uruguay Ronde van die AOTH, en die groter belangrikheid van die verbruiker in die ontwerp van landboubeleid. Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bepaal of dit ekonomies optimaal is om koring in die Wes-Kaap te produseer onder die huidige beleidsomgewing. Met ander woorde, die studie poog om te bepaal wat die vergelykende voordeel, indien enige, is by koringproduksie. Die tegniek wat gebruik is om die verskillende indikatore van vergelykende voordeel te bereken, is die Beleidsanalise Matriks of PAM. Die tegniek word gebruik om die effek van die beleid met betrekking tot koringproduksie te identifiseer. Agt produksiestreke in die Wes-Kaap is ontleed vir die doeleindes van hierdie analise. Sewentien verskillende bedryfsvertakkingsbegrotings is hiervan afgelei om sodoende 'n goeie verteenwoordigende beeld van die bedryfstoestande te kry. Die resultate van die analise toon aan dat koringproduksie in die Weskaap nie 'n sterk vergelykende voordeel het nie. Die rede hiervoor is kompleks, maar die hoë vlak van inset gebruik kan beskou word as hoofrede. Hoër insetpryse, na aanleiding van die beleidsversteuringe in insetmarkte, is deels die gevolg van invoerbeskerming in die vorm van tariewe op ingevoerde insette. Die netto effek van die totale beleidsomgewing het ook 'n negatiewe effek op die produsente gehad, veral in die sin dat subnormale winste behaal is. Die toekoms van koringboere in die Wes-Kaap en Suid-Afrika is onseker. Wat wel seker is, is dat as koringboere in Suid-Afrika nie daadwerklike en vinnige hul bestuurs- en produksieeffektiwiteit verbeter me, sal skuld toeneem en sal dit koeringboerdery se einde beteken. Soos rentekoerse vinniger toeneem en die produsenteprys konstant bly of afneem, sal boere meer aan skuld afbetaal as wat hulle uit koringboerdery kan verdien.

The main aim of the sequestration process, in terms of the Insolvency Act, is to provide for a collective debt collecting process that will ensure an orderly and fair distribution of the debtor’s assets in circumstances where these assets are insufficient to satisfy all the creditor’s claims. This is to make sure that the interests of the group of creditors are protected and that one creditor is not favoured before another. The insolvent estate of a debtor may be sequestrated by himself voluntarily or one or more of his creditors may apply for the compulsory sequestration of his estate Under present South African law, the only way in which an insolvent debtor can obtain a discharge of his debts and make a fresh start is by the sequestration of his estate. Providing the debtor with debt relief is not the main aim of the Insolvency Act, but debt relief is an indirect consequence as the debtor receives a discharge of all pre-sequestration debt after rehabilitation. However, in order to obtain this discharge the sequestration of the insolvent debtor’s estate must be to the advantage of his or her creditors. In establishing this advantage for creditors in order to sequestrate one’s estate, the question is whether the balance between all the parties involved is achieved as more and more weight is being placed on this requirement. This benefit for creditors requirement has also led to abuse of the insolvency law through the development of the so called “friendly” sequestration process where the sequestrating creditor and the debtor collude together in order to bypass the stringent requirements of a voluntary surrender application. Many other jurisdictions have witnessed large scale reform of their insolvency law systems in order to address the problem of insolvencies. Notwithstanding the worldwide trend to accommodate overburdened debtors seeking debt relief, the South African insolvency system has remained largely creditor orientated. The research will discuss the current state of affairs with regard to the advantage for creditors requirement in South Africa and its impact on insolvency law.
Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
Mercantile Law
unrestricted

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This paper aims to identify and analyze Brazil's exports to the rest of the Southern Common Market - Mercosur in 2008 by groups of products exported, based on the percentage of dollars traded and on the use of labor-skilled or not, as factor of production. This way, sectors are identified in descending order of percentage of exports, which together concentrate half of Brazilian exports to the rest of the bloc, which, since its original formation, consists of four countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is also identified based on the Heckscher-Ohlin model, which labor force prevails. The analysis of these data lead to the conclusion that this business relationship, only three sectors of the Brazilian economy now constitute more than half of exports, and that they are labor-educated workforce.
Este trabalho objetiva identificar e analisar as exportaÃÃes do Brasil para o Resto do Mercado Comum do Sul â Mercosul, em 2008, por grupos de produtos exportados, baseado no percentual de dÃlares negociados e na utilizaÃÃo da mÃo-de-obra qualificada ou nÃo, como fator de produÃÃo correspondente. Para isso, sÃo identificados os setores por ordem decrescente do percentual das exportaÃÃes, os quais, juntos, concentram a metade das exportaÃÃes brasileiras para o restante do bloco econÃmico, que, desde sua formaÃÃo original, à composto por quatro paÃses: Argentina, Brasil, Paraguai e Uruguai. TambÃm à identificado, com base no modelo de Heckscher-Ohlin, que tipo de mÃo-de-obra prevalece. A anÃlise desses dados leva a conclusÃo que, nessa relaÃÃo comercial, apenas trÃs setores da economia brasileira jà correspondem a mais da metade das exportaÃÃes e que estes produtos sÃo intensivos em mÃo-de-obra qualificada.

The Hungarian agricultural sector has undergone substantial changes between 1992 and 2003, which was a period of transformation from command economy to an EU-conform market economy. The question is whether the Hungarian agricultural sector was able to keep its competitiveness despite the extensive transformation. The aim of this paper is to measure the competitiveness of Hungarian agri-food product groups in relation to the ones of the EU-15 during the transformation period. Results indicate that the competitiveness, measured by revealed comparative advantage (RCA), of the studied agri-food product groups has not changed considerably. The strong position of the Hungarian agricultural sector could be maintained because its competitiveness is based on factor endowments, which are not affected by changes of economic policy. The observed moderate fluctuations of competitiveness can be derived to trade concession changes.

Thesis (MScAgric.)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After sixty years of state control, the agricultural sector in South Africa has been transformed to the so-called free dispensation, with the driving forces being market access and rules of the WTO. On the one hand, this increased the exposure of the sector, particularly at international level where interest for South African produce developed. On the other hand, transformation induced a considerable degree of price squeeze and risk in the production of certain commodities including wheat. Notwithstanding, local wheat producers like any other farmers are generally price takers, and in some cases do not have a comparative advantage in what they produce. This is worsened by policy distortions in product markets, although to a lesser extent than before. These distortions are responsible for farmers to make decisions that are neither economically efficient nor optimal in a social sense. Therefore, the uncertain future of the wheat industry, particularly in the Western Cape, including the changing business environment, urges producers to adapt quickly if they wish to stay in business. Hence, the challenge for a farmer and agricultural support organisations is to find solutions to these problems. One of the factors that can be looked into in finding solutions is to look at the demand side of the equation by taking product differentiation and market identification into account. In other words, products that carries a specific character, and a niche market where these products attain higher prices are the main objectives of this exercise. In looking at these options, it is necessary to first study the end consumer of these products. Looking at the local market first, there is a relatively small but growing market for high priced niche products, but for the most part, local consumers are looking for low cost commoditytype products. In many cases, South Africa is marginally competitive in these products and so must look at alternative markets. On the export market, on the other hand, consumers are generally more sophisticated and specific in the kind of food they demand, where they are looking for quality and tracebility, and are willing to pay a premium which can be exploited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine whether wheat would have a comparative advantage if produced under organic management, as a system that have products with these attributes. The study first evaluates the comparative advantage of the existing industry, the so-called conventional wheat, specifically looking at the policy environment around this commodity, as these are likely to affect the potential of organic wheat. The Policy Analysis Matrix technique is used to calculate various indicators of comparative advantage and to identify the effects of policy measures with regard to wheat. The analysis used the available data for ten selected farming areas. On the other hand, organic wheat farming is not practised in the Western Cape at present. As a result, expert assessment was used to provide information based on the reference method. As the study is the comparison of two systems, the results therefore indicates that some areas of the Western Cape do not have a comparative advantage in wheat production under conventional practices, which would not be the case if produced under organic management. The reasoning underlying this is complex, but mainly traced from high levels of input use that carries a distorting effect, partly because of tariffs on imported inputs, unlike organic production which is less subject to this effect. The net effect of the whole policy environment has a negative impact on producers including those of potential organic wheat, as some policies are likely to affect this potential industry. Consequently, it is recommended that farmers must evaluate their options by looking at systems that utilise less distorted inputs, and hence higher profits like organic farming.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Na sestig jaar van staats-geheer is die landbsektor van Suid-Afrika omvorm na In sogenaamde vrye bedeling met marktoegang en die reels van die WHO as drywers. Hierdie omvorming het enersyds die blootstelling van die landbou sektor verhoog, veral in die buiteland waar belangstelling in Suid-Afrikaanse produkte toegeneem het. Aan die ander kant het die transformasie die realiteite van die prys-koste knyptang en produksierisiko, ook in die geval van koring, na yore gebring. Plaaslike koringprodusente, soos aIle ander boere, is in die algemeen prysnemers en in sommige gevalle het hulle weinig mededingende voordele in wat hulle produseer. Dit word vererger deur beleidsversteurings in produkmarkte al is die versteurings minder as in die verlede. Die versteurings gee egter steeds daartoe aanleiding dat boere soms besluite neem wat nie ekonomies of sosiaal optimaal is nie. Dit volg dus dat die onsekere toekoms van die koringbedryf, veral in die Wes-Kaap, asook die vinnig veranderende besigheidsomgewing produsente noop om vinnig by die veranderende omstandighede aan te pas indien hulle in besigheid wil bly. Die uitdaging is dus vir boere en hul ondersteuningmeganismes om oplossings vir voorgenoemde probleme te vind. Een moontlike oplossing kan gevind word deur die potensiaal van produkdifferensiasie en mark identifikasie aan die vraagkant van die vergelyking te ondersoek. Met ander woorde, die identifikasie van nis-produkte met In spesifieke karakter wat hoer pryse behaal. Ten einde sodanige produkte te identifiseer is dit nodig om die verbruiker daarvan te analiseer. In die plaaslike mark is daar In relatiewe klein maar vinnig groeiende mark vir hoewaarde nis-produkte. Dit moet egter toegegee word dat die grootste gedeelte van plaaslike verbruikers meer ge'interesseerd is in goedkoop kommoditepe produkte. In die meeste gevalle is Suid-Afrika marginaal kompeterend in hierdie produkte en moet altematiewe markte dus ondersoek word. Hierteenoor is verbruikers in sekere gedeeltes van die uitvoermark meer gesofistikeerd en spesifiek in die aard van die produkte wat verlang word. Die fokus is veral op kwaliteit en naspoorbaarheid en sodanige verbruikers is gewoonlik bereid om In premie te betaal vir produkte wat hierdie behoeftes bevredig. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om te bepaal of organiesgeproduseerde koring In mededingende voordeel sou he indien dit aan die eienskappe van kwaliteit en naspoorbaarheid sou voldoen. In hierdie studie word die relatiewe mededingendheid van die bestaande stelsel, sogenaamde konvensionele koringproduksie, geevalueer met spesifieke verwysing na die beleidsomgewing waarbinne produksie plaasvind. Hierdie beleidsomgewing sal natuurlik ook In invloed uitoefen op die organiese produksie van koring',f 'n BeleidS}nalise ¥atriks word gebruik om verskillende indikatore van mededingende voordeel te bereken en om sodoende die invloed van die beleidsmaatreels op die koringbedryf te analiseer. Vir konvensionele produksie is bestaande data uit tien verskillende boerderygebiede gebruik. Alhoewel geen voorbeelde gevind kon word van bestaande gesertifiseerde organiese koringproduksie in die Wes-Kaap nie, is die ekspert-groep tegniek met behulp van die verwysingsmetode gebruik om die nodige data te genereer. Aangesien die studie 'n vergelyking tussen twee stelsels is, is gevind dat waar die konvensionele produksie van koring geen mededingende voordele in sekere gebiede van die Wes-Kaap geniet nie, dit weI mededingende voordele tydens organiese verbouing in hierdie gebiede geniet. Alhoewel die onderliggende redes hiervoor kompleks is, kan dit herlei word na die hoe vlakke van beleidslersteurde insette wat tydens die konvensionele produksie van koring gebruik word. Hierteenoor steun organiese produksie meer op plaasgeproduseerde insette wat die distorsies dus verminder. Die netto effek is egter dat die beleidsomgewing 'n " negatiewe impak op produsente, ingeslote potensiele organiese produsente, inhou. Gevolglik word dit aanbeveel dat produsente hul opsies moet oorweeg deur veral te fokus op stelsels, soos organiese verbouing, wat minder beleidversteurde insette gebruik en waar die winsmoontlikhede dus hoer is.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
This search investigated the trade performance of South Common Market (MERCOSUL) with emphasis as consequence of the modification over the word economy, such as the market integration, technological advances and competition gains inducing the international trade to have deep structural transformations. The search started by performing segmentation of word economy in regional blocks changing the multilateral negotiations among countries, trying combining forces to get up the level of competitiveness and assure their insertion in the international market. The main objective of this search is to make analysis of trading performance of MERCOSUL throughout the structure, comparative reveled advantages both inter sectors and among sectors. The data came from different sources as Analysis Systems External Trade Information (Aliceweb and Alice Web Mercosul) from External Trade Secretary, institution belonging to Development Ministry of Brazil. It was taken by portal FAO/STAT. The data also comes from BIRD, IMF, Word Development Indicators, Advanced Science and Technology Institute, Agricultural Ministry of Brazil from where we studied the agricultural commodities grouped by sectors assuming the common definition of MERCOSUL. The analytical model used in this search was the estimation of Reveled Comparative Advantages both inter and among sectors in order to identify the advantages existing in each studied country members in the trade of these sectors inside the block. The search covers the period from 2007 to 2012. By making in this way it was reached results which are in accordance with the objective of the search. It was permitted to conclude that Brazil and Argentina had six sectors in which Brazil had revealed comparative advantage into the MERCOSUL and trade among sectors with productive specialization in six sectors. Argentina has advantage in five sectors by practicing trade among sectors. Argentina also has productive specialization in four sectors. Anchored in the results we can conclude that Brazil continues being the major economy of the block as waited, having the greatest part of this market specialized over the trade of agricultural commodities. Otherwise the block continues needing to solve many problems such as the trading barriers as well to enforce the regional regulators institutions in order to become international and can monitory trade actions of some countries to benefit other Countries which belong to the MERCOSUL.
O presente trabalho investiga o desempenho comercial do Mercado Comum do Sul, em que, as modificaÃÃes na economia mundial, tais como a integraÃÃo dos mercados, avanÃos tecnolÃgicos e ganhos de competitividade induziram o comercio internacional Ãs profundas transformaÃÃes estruturais. Iniciou-se uma segmentaÃÃo da economia mundial em blocos regionais, substituindo as negociaÃÃes multilaterais entre os paÃses, na tentativa de combinarem esforÃos para aumentar o nÃvel de competitividade e garantir sua sobrevivÃncia e inserÃÃo no mercado internacional. O objetivo principal deste trabalho à analisar o desempenho comercial do Mercosul, atravÃs da estrutura, vantagens comparativas reveladas e comÃrcio inter e intra-setorial. As principais fontes de dados utilizadas foram o sistema de anÃlise das InformaÃÃes de ComÃrcio Exterior (Aliceweb e Alice Web Mercosul) da Secretaria ComÃrcio Exterior, ÃrgÃo vinculado ao MinistÃrio do Desenvolvimento, IndÃstria e ComÃrcio Exterior; atravÃs do portal FAO/STAT; Banco Mundial, Fundo MonetÃrio Internacional, World Development Indicators, Advanced Science and Technology Institute, MinistÃrio da Agricultura, PecuÃria e Abastecimento em que foram estudados os produtos agropecuÃrios em termos de setores com Nomenclatura Comum do Mercosul. O modelo analÃtico utilizado neste trabalho foi o cÃlculo de Ãndices de Vantagens Comparativas Reveladas e Inter setorial e Intra-setorial para identificar vantagem no comÃrcio destes setores dentro do bloco pelos paÃses membros no perÃodo que compreende de 2007 a 2012. Com isso, foram alcanÃados os resultados satisfatÃrios como propostos nos objetivos em que o destaque das anÃlises se concentra nas duas maiores economias do bloco, Brasil e Argentina, em que foram encontrados seis setores no qual Brasil possui vantagem comparativa revelada em relaÃÃo ao Mercosul e comÃrcio de tipo intra-setorial, com especializaÃÃo produtiva nestes seis setores e a Argentina possui vantagem em cinco setores praticando comÃrcio de tipo intra-setorial nestes cinco e possuà especializaÃÃo produtiva em quatro setores. Portanto conclui-se que o Brasil continua sendo a maior economia do bloco possuindo desta maneira a maior fatia deste mercado na comercializaÃÃo dos produtos agropecuÃrios. No entanto, o bloco ainda precisa resolver muitos problemas como no caso de barreiras alfandegÃrias que outrora os paÃses enfrentam nas exportaÃÃes destes setores e como tambÃm procurar fortificar os seus ÃrgÃos reguladores de maneira que torne supranacional fiscalizando aÃÃes comerciais sem favorecimento de algum paÃs membro.

Significant growth rates are in many times associated with countries embracing the ongoing globalization and openness to the international market of exchanging goods and services as well as ideas and technologies. Many researchers believe that participating in an international economy is a primary source of growth. The question is how strong the relationship between openness and growth is and has interested many researchers. This paper aims to investigate the effects of trade openness on economic growth in the long run and begins from Adam smith`s discussion on absolute advantage and specialization to discussions on trade organizations and policies. This study explores the relationship between trade openness and economic growth using a sample of 3 developed countries over the period (1970 – 2006) in a panel data analysis. The fixed effects model analysis indicates that trade openness has a positive and significant effect on economic growth.

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics
This paper assesses the specialization patterns of China and India, studies the goods that are related to the core of capabilities of the countries, and then investigates the products that allow the referred countries to improve the average “income content” of their export basket. Following Hausmann et al. (2007) we compute indicators of “income content” of a country's export basket and measures of “density” which assess the likelihood of a country developing comparative advantage in one good given the current specialization pattern. The results obtained suggest that both countries are making their structural transformation into two main sectors, “Machinery” and “Chemicals, plastics, rubbers”, are becoming specialized in higher “income content” goods, and are abandoning traditional sectors like “Footwear and Clothing” and agricultural products.

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A presente dissertação tem como objetivo analisar o grau de competitividade do setor de biscoitos do Brasil entre 2000 e 2008, a partir de medidas de consumo, importação, exportação e produção dos maiores paises produtores. O estudo utiliza o Índice de Vantagem Comparativa Revelada (IVCR) para mensurar o grau de competitividade deste setor, considerando sete grupos de produtos, a seis dígitos do Sistema harmonizado (SH). Os resultados mostram que entre os sete grupos de biscoitos examinados, em apenas dois o Brasil apresentava um IVCR superior a um, em 2008, com apenas um mostrando um aumento do índice entre 2000 e 2008. Um aspecto preocupante e, até paradoxal, para o Brasil se refere ao país ser mais competitivo em panetone, cujas vendas globais são as menores, de apenas US$ 262,6 milhões, em 2008. Enquanto isso, naquele grupo onde o país apresenta a menor competitividade (outros produtos de padaria), o volume global de comércio é o mais elevado entre todos os grupos de biscoitos, chegando a US$ 12,9 bilhões no mesmo ano. Nesse sentido, concluiu-se que o mercado do setor de biscoitos, apesar de ser grande em produção, é tímido na construção da distribuição internacional, o que pode ser atribuído a fatores como falta de visão e relacionamento com o mercado externo.
The present work aims at analyzing the degree of competitiveness of the sector of cookies of Brazil between 2000 and 2008, based on measures of consumption, imports, exports and production of the largest producers. The study employs the Revealed Comparative Advantage Index (RCA) to measure the degree of competitiveness of this sector, considering seven groups of products at 6-digit level of the Harmonized System (HS). The results show that in only two groups Brazil presented a RCA above unity in 2008, with only one showing an increase in the index between 2000 e 2008. One worrying and paradoxical issue is related to the fact that the country has competitiveness in a product which the global market is rather small. Meanwhile, in that group where the country shows the smaller competitiveness, the global volume of trade is the largest, reaching US$ 12,9 billion in 2008. In this sense, one may conclude that despite having a large production of cookies, Brazil is quite timid in foreign markets, what could be attributed to factors such as lack of vision and weak relationships with the global world.

This thesis has two primary objectives; analysing Turkey's bilateral trade flows to assess the allocation effects of the Customs Union (CU) between Turkey and the EU and analysing Turkey's patterns of export specialisation vis-a.-vis the EU15 a. la revealed comparative advantage (RCA). Chapter 2 investigates the trade creating and trade diverting effects of the CU by employing a gravity model of trade framework that stems from-the New Trade Theory. The main finding of this chapter is, although the CU is estimated to not have created trade with member states at the expense of non-member states, it is estimated to have increased Turkey's imports, on average, more than Turkey's exports, notwithstanding that these results heavily depend on the employed estimator. On the other hand, the general economic factors, such as the economic space, relative-factor endowments and similarity in economic size, are estimated to have a statistically significant and greater impact on Turkey's trade flows, compared to the Customs Union. Furthermore, these effects are greater for Turkey's import flows compared to Turkey's export flows and are robust to the employed estimators. Chapter 3 then investigates stability, specialisation and divergence in manufacturing industries' export patterns for Turkey vis-a.-vis the EU15 at both the industry level and country level analogous to literature on convergence-divergence on growth. The main finding of this chapter is, although Turkey fits to the average EU15 behaviour, it is statistically significantly different. Turkey is revealed to have a sticky export specialisation pattern suggesting ,B-de-specialisation, which broadened for exports to rest of the world indicating a-de-specialisation while nan-owed for exports to EU15 indicating a -specialisation. Building on Chapter 3, Chapter 4 investigates the evolution of export specialisation patterns for Turkey. The main finding of this chapter is , Turkey's exports to EU15 show greater mobility than to its exports to the rest of the world. While Turkey preserved its degree of specialisation in industries with high RCA for its exports to EU15, her degree of specialisation decreased in all industries consideling its exports to rest of the world. These correspond to an increasing (a decreasing) polarisation in Turkey's exports patterns to EU15 (rest of the world) .

This dissertation is an investigation into the constitutionality of the requirement of advantage to creditors in South African consumer insolvency law as well as a comparative investigation into debt relief procedures available to consumer debtors in Australia and England. The dissertation identifies and discusses debt relief procedures available in South African consumer insolvency law namely sequestration, debt review and administration. The author suggests that these procedures do not provide adequate relief as it does not provide a debt discharge for "poor" debtors, that is debtors who do not have any assets or income (the so-called "No Income No Assets" (NINA) group of debtors) available for distribution amongst creditors. The author discusses the possible unconstitutionality of the advantage for creditors requirement in light of the creditor oriented approach of the South African insolvency system. In this regard the test that was applied in the famous constitutional court decision in Harken v Lane 1998 (1) SA 300 CC, will be analysed in order to determine the possible violation of the right of equality enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996. The comparative study entails an investigation of certain key issues namely the availability of alternative debt relief procedures and in particular how both countries deal with debt discharge for poor debtors. Ultimately, two sets of conclusions are drawn from the investigation in this dissertation. Firstly, it is concluded that the requirement of advantage to creditors is unconstitutional and should be removed as a provision under the consumer insolvency law. Secondly it is submitted that the South African Reform Commission should learn from developments in English and Australian consumer insolvency law and should reconsider alternative and appropriate debt discharge procedures for debtors, especially "poor" debtors who cannot reasonably repay their creditors.
Mini Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
Mercantile Law
LLM
Unrestricted

This thesis deals with two theories of international trade: the theory of comparative advantage, which is connected to the name David Ricardo and is dominating current trade theory, and Adam Smith’s theory of absolute advantage. Both theories are compared and their assumptions are scrutinised. The former theory is rejected on theoretical and empirical grounds in favour of the latter. On the basis of the theory of absolute advantage, developments of free international trade are examined, whereby the focus is on trade between industrial and underdeveloped countries. The main conclusions are that trade patterns are determined by absolute production cost advantages and that the gap between developed and poor countries is not reduced but rather increased by free trade.
Die vorliegende Publikation vergleicht die zwei zentralen Theorien des internationalen Freihandels: die Theorie der absoluten Kostenvorteile und die Theorie der komparativen Kostenvorteile. Dieser Vergleich führt zu dem Schluss, dass die Theorie der komparativen Kostenvorteile im Gegensatz zu der Theorie der absoluten Kostenvorteile auf unrealistischen und problematischen Annahmen beruht. Im Anschluss werden auf Grundlage der Theorie der absoluten Kostenvorteile zentrale Tendenzen in der Entwicklung des internationalen Handels herausgearbeitet. Im Mittelpunkt steht hierbei die Auswirkung von Freihandel auf entwickelte und unterentwickelte Länder. Die zentralen Schlussfolgerungen dieser Arbeit sind erstens, dass die Richtung des internationalen Handels nicht durch komparative Kostenvorteile, sondern durch absolute Kostenvorteile bestimmt wird und zweitens, dass Freihandel zwar vorteilhaft für unterentwickelte Länder sein kann, aber dass durch Freihandel die Unterschiede zwischen Industrieländern und Entwicklungsländern nicht verkleinert, sondern vergrößert werden.

Numerous empirical studies have shown the difficulties associated with the transmission of knowledge and the limitations of its diffusion process. What are the implications of these difficulties and limitations to international economics? This dissertation deals with this question by looking at how productive knowledge plays a role in the evolution of the comparative advantage of nations and the international expansion of multinational corporations. The first chapter finds that a country is 65% more likely to start exporting a good that is being exported by any of its geographic neighbors, consistently with evidence on the limited geographic patterns of knowledge diffusion. The second chapter finds that migrants, serving as carriers of productive knowledge, play a role in explaining the appearances of new export industries in both their sending and receiving countries. In particular, in terms of their ability to induce exports in the average country, an increase of only 65,000 people in the stock of migrants is associated with about 15% increase in the likelihood of adding a new product to a country's export basket. The figure becomes 15,000 for skilled migrants. The third chapter looks at how the barriers to knowledge transmission within the firm limit the horizontal expansion of multinational corporations. The findings suggest that multinational corporations are, on average, about 12% less likely to horizontally expand a sector that is one standard deviation above the mean in the knowledge intensity scale.

L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és explorar la realitat poc coneguda de la Intermediació Financera Rural, la seva situació i els acords per poder-hi accedir l’Empresa Rural, les activitats econòmiques rurals i l’explotació agrària, en el context de l'agenda d'inclusió financera multidimensional. També voldríem analitzar la cultura rural d'estalvi i crèdit i determinar bones pràctiques institucionals a nivell rural tant per a la banca com l’Institut de Microfinances (IMF). Compararem els bancs i l'IMF, per veure la disposició espacial avantatjosa d’aquest en el context rural, juntament amb la seva bona pràctica institucional i el model d'inclusió financera, al facilitar l'accés al finançament, de l'empresa rural. A les zones remotes de Bangla Desh, és difícil per a les persones i les seves empreses obtenir préstecs i altres serveis financers perquè els bancs estan geogràficament lluny d'elles i situats en els centres administratius, en zones ben dotades. D'altra banda, els productes bàsics (principalment el crèdit) dels intermediaris financers no són fàcilment accessibles a les empreses rurals a causa dels tràmits necessaris, el disseny imperfecta de productes i l'actitud escèptica dels banquers per facilitar el crédit segons la necessitat. Hi ha una preferència dels bancs a la garantia física, que afecta sobretot propietats i la seguretat de la font de flux dels fons adequats per garantir el pagament del préstec. Que encara decep més l'esperit empresarial. No obstant això, els bancs agrícoles tenen presència en zones rurals remotes però, estan subjectes a les restrictives directrius del govern, juntament amb algunes idees no competitius, i són l'últim recurs del poble. Els agricultors són insolvents per herència i evitant els reptes de convertir-se en empreses rurals. Pocs bancs tenen les seves oficines a les zones rurals i han estat treballant més com a agents a la caça dels dipòsits. La literatura disponible revela que cada any més de 60% dels dipòsits rurals estan sent canalitzats a les àrees urbanes, que mostra una clara discriminació a través de la limitació política de regulació bancària espacial pel món rural. D'altra banda la cultura restrictiva dels bancs està ben assentada en el sistema social. La morositat (NPL) a nivell nacional està augmentant actualment a un ritme alarmant. No obstant això, en primer lloc, l'augment de l'ONG-IMF (Institut de Microfinances - Organització no governamental) durant la dècada de 1970, va crear un nou model en la configuració dels serveis financers a les zones rurals mitjançant la superació de la distància física sobretot a mesura que van afavorir les localitats rurals que són al voltant dels mercats rurals. En segon lloc, es va desenvolupar recentment un model de préstecs a favor de les zones rurals pobres i les seves petites i micro empreses, alleujant les barreres culturals i d'organització, que d'altra banda mai havia estat capaç de superar el sistema bancari convencional, tant física com culturalment. Però s’ha generat una limitació en el sistema. Es fa difícil de seguir donant suport a la creixent demanda de les empreses rurals a mesura que creixen amb el temps i aquestes empreses utilitzen múltiples fonts per satisfer la seva demanda. Fins i tot les poques grans empreses rurals han de contractar alguns fons dels bancs convencionals, suportant molts obstacles i tenint de superar les fronteres geogràfiques, perquè la política de crèdit del MFI no cobreix l'alta demanda comercial. El IMF també te prohibit pels reglaments poder recollir fons públics, encara s’en permetin alguns de forma condicional. Tampoc no poden fer el negoci de servei regular, que es un requeriment per que les empreses rurals puguin mantenir les seves operacions diàries. La nostra investigació es basa en l'enquesta sobre el costat de la demanda de quatre àrees rurals de Bangla Desh. En base a l'anàlisi estadística de les dades recollides, que inclou una àmplia revisió de la literatura, comprovem que hi ha una estructura financera discrimina las entitats rurals, que simplement eviten. La nostra troballa assegura que hi ha una associació significativa entre la distància i l'endeutament i en el cas del IMF, molt recolzat amb la documentació, observem que hi ha costos tolerables i flexibilitat en comparació amb els serveis bancaris convencionals. Aquesta tesi s'estructura en set capítols. El primer capítol ofereix un marc conceptual per identificar els problemes de fons que condueix a les preguntes de recerca, explicant els objectius d'investigació, i presenta la hipòtesi d'investigació i, finalment, fa una justificació d'aquest treball de recerca. El segon capítol, s'informa sobre l'economia rural i el crèdit rural a Bangla Desh. Es fa una revisió de la literatura en el capítol 3, presentant els coneixements i les noves aportacions existents en relació als temes relacionats amb l'objectiu de la tesi. Aquests temes són de difícil comprensió i cal fer ús d’un enfocament multidisciplinari complexa. El quart capítol tracta la "Metodologia de la Recerca". S'explica el procediment de selecció de les àrees de treball de camp, la descripció d’aquestes, la ubicació del mercat rural, on es localitzen les empreses rurals com indicador. Una qüestió rellevant es la recollida de dades, el qüestionari i l'enquesta, l’anàlisi de les dades, la programació temporal i, finalment, explicar la problemàtica en el treball de camp respecte a la recopilació de les dades adequades. El capítol cinc descriu en profunditat alguns dels temes i conceptes relacionats amb els diners i l'entorn del finançament rural. El mercat rural informal de diners i el desenvolupament històric, el IMF, la seva evolució, capacitació emprenedora de les dones, el canvi de la geografia de la distància del finançament rural, etc. El capítol 6 és el nucli de la tesi amb l’anàlisi i interpretació de les dades del treball de camp. Les característiques generals de les dades s'han explicat i discutit en la tesi. Les qüestions quantitatives són la base per a poder avaluar les qüestions científiques de l’anàlisi qualitativa. En el capítol 7 es presenten suggeriments i recomanacions en forma de conclusió. I, finalment, s’inclouen les referències bibliogràfiques i els annexos.
El objetivo de esta tesis es explorar la realidad poco conocida de la Intermediación Financiera Rural, su situación y los acuerdos para que pueda acceder a la misma la Empresa Rural, las actividades económicas rurales y la explotación agraria, en el contexto de la agenda de inclusión financiera multidimensional. También quisiéramos analizar la cultura rural de ahorro y crédito y determinar buenas prácticas institucionales a nivel rural tanto para la banca como el Instituto de Microfinanzas (IMF). Compararemos los bancos con el IMF, para ver la disposición espacial ventajosa de éste en el contexto rural, junto con su buena práctica institucional y el modelo de inclusión financiera, al facilitar el acceso a la financiación, de la empresa rural. En las zonas remotas de Bangladesh, es difícil para las personas y las empresas obtener préstamos y otros servicios financieros porque los bancos están geográficamente lejos de ellas y situados en los centros administrativos, en zonas bien dotadas de oferta financiera. Por otra parte, los productos básicos (principalmente el crédito) de los intermediarios financieros no son accesibles fácilmente por las empresas rurales debido a los trámites necesarios, el diseño imperfecta de productos y la actitud escéptica de los banqueros para facilitar el crédito según las necesidades rurales. Hay una preferencia de los bancos por la garantía física, que afecta sobre todo las propiedades y la seguridad de la fuente de flujo de los fondos adecuados para garantizar el pago del préstamo. Lo cual aún desanima más el espíritu empresarial. Sin embargo, los bancos agrícolas tienen presencia en zonas rurales remotas aunque, están sujetos a las directrices restrictivas del gobierno, junto con algunas ideas no competitivas, y son el último recurso de los pueblos rurales. Los agricultores son insolventes por herencia y evitan la presión para convertirse en empresas rurales. Pocos bancos tienen sus oficinas en las zonas rurales y han estado trabajando más como agentes a la caza de los depósitos. La literatura disponible revela que cada año más de 60% de los depósitos rurales están siendo canalizados hacia las áreas urbanas. Hay una clara discriminación a través de la limitación política de regulación bancaria espacial para el mundo rural. Por otra parte la cultura restrictiva de los bancos está muy aceptada en el sistema social. La morosidad (NPL) a nivel nacional está aumentando actualmente a un ritmo alarmante. No obstante, en primer lugar, el desarrollo de la ONG-IMF (Instituto de Microfinanzas - Organización no gubernamental) durante la década de 1970, creó un nuevo modelo en la configuración de los servicios financieros en las zonas rurales mediante la superación de la distancia física sobre todo a medida que se favorecieron las localidades rurales que están alrededor de los mercados rurales. En segundo lugar, se desarrolló recientemente un modelo de préstamos a favor de las zonas rurales pobres y las pequeñas y las micro empresas, aliviando las barreras culturales y de organización, que por otra parte nunca había sido capaz de superar el sistema bancario convencional, tanto física como culturalmente. Pero se ha generado una limitación en el sistema. Se hace difícil de seguir apoyando la creciente demanda de las empresas rurales a medida que van creciendo y estas empresas utilizan múltiples fuentes para satisfacer su demanda. Incluso las pocas grandes empresas rurales deben contratar algunos fondos de los bancos convencionales, soportando muchos obstáculos y teniendo que superar las fronteras geográficas, cuando la política de crédito del IMF no cubre la alta demanda comercial. El IMF también tiene prohibido por los reglamentos poder recoger fondos públicos, aunque se le permitan algunos de forma condicional. Tampoco pueden hacer el negocio de servicio regular, que es un requerimiento para que las empresas rurales puedan mantener sus operaciones diarias. Nuestra investigación se basa en la encuesta sobre el lado de la demanda de cuatro áreas rurales de Bangladesh. En base al análisis estadístico de los datos recogidos, que incluye una amplia revisión de la literatura, comprobamos que hay una estructura financiera que discrimina las entidades rurales, que simplemente evitan. Nuestro hallazgo asegura que hay una asociación significativa entre la distancia y el endeudamiento y en el caso del IMF, muy apoyado con la documentación recogida, observamos que hay costes tolerables y flexibilidad en comparación con los servicios bancarios convencionales. Esta tesis se estructura en siete capítulos. El primer capítulo ofrece un marco conceptual para identificar los problemas de fondo que conducen a las preguntas de investigación, explicando los objetivos de la misma, y presentando la hipótesis de investigación y, finalmente, se hace una justificación de este trabajo de investigación. El segundo capítulo, se informa sobre la economía rural y el crédito rural en Bangladesh. Se hace una revisión de la literatura en el capítulo tercero, presentando los conocimientos y las nuevas aportaciones existentes en relación a los temas relacionados con el objetivo de la tesis. Estos temas son de difícil comprensión y hay que hacer uso de un complejo enfoque multidisciplinar. El cuarto capítulo trata la "Metodología de la Investigación". Se explica el procedimiento de selección de las áreas de trabajo de campo, la descripción de éstas, la ubicación del mercado rural, y donde se localizan las empresas rurales, como indicador. Una cuestión relevante es la recogida de datos, el cuestionario y la encuesta, el análisis de los datos, la programación temporal y, finalmente, la explicación de la problemática en el trabajo de campo respecto a la recopilación de los datos adecuados. El capítulo cinco describe en profundidad algunos de los temas y conceptos relacionados con el dinero y el entorno de la financiación rural. El mercado rural informal de dinero y el desarrollo histórico, el IMF, su evolución, la capacitación emprendedora de las mujeres, el cambio de la geografía de la distancia de la financiación rural, etc. El capítulo sexto es el núcleo de la tesis con el análisis e interpretación de los datos del trabajo de campo. Las características generales de los datos se han explicado y discutido en la tesis. Las cuestiones cuantitativas son la base para poder evaluar las cuestiones científicas del análisis cualitativo. En el capítulo séptimo se presentan sugerencias y recomendaciones en forma de conclusión. Y, por último, se incluyen las referencias bibliográficas y los anexos.
The objective of this thesis is to explore the little known reality of Rural Financial Intermediation, its’ location arrangement and barrier in reaching Rural Enterprise, rural economic activities and agrarian farm of rural areas and producing indication of multidimensional financial inclusion agenda. We also would like to analyse rural credit and savings culture and determine institutional good practice both for Bank and Microfinance Institute (MFI) at rural level. We need to compare between Bank and Microfinance Institute, whether it has the advantageous spatial arrangement in rural context along with its institutional good practice and the pattern of financial inclusion determinants, creating access to finance, in reaching Rural Enterprise. In remote areas of Bangladesh, it is difficult for people and their enterprises to get loans and other financial services because banks are geographically away from them and located in well-endowed areas following the administrative centres. Moreover, the basic products (mainly credit facilities) of financial intermediaries are not easily reachable to them because of the required formalities, imperfect product design and sceptical attitude of the bankers to expose the facilities as per need. Banks’ preference to physical collateral, mainly landed properties and assurance of source of proper fund flow to ensure loan repayment disappoint further entrepreneurship. Though, agricultural banks have presence in rural remote areas yet they are exposed through government directives along with few non-competitive ideas, and are the last resort of village. These are insolvent by inheritance and avoid challenges of rural enterprises. Few banks have their outlets in rural areas and have been working as deposit hunting agents. Available literature reveals that every year more than 60% of rural deposits are being channelized to urban appetite showing a clear discrimination through policy limitation of spatial banking regulation. On the other hand bank default culture is well patronized in social system. The non-performing loan (NPL) at national level is rising at an alarming rate ultimately. However, the rise of NGO-MFIs (Non-Government Organization- Microfinance Institute) during 1970s, created a new wave in shaping the financial services in rural areas by overcoming primarily physical distance as they favoured rural locations being around rural markets. Secondly, they developed newer lending model to favour rural poor and their micro and small enterprises by easing cultural and organizational barriers, who on the other hand had never been able to reach the conventional banking system both physically and culturally. But the limitation exists within system. It has become tough to continue supporting the growing demand of rural enterprises as they grow over time and these enterprises use multiple sources to meet their demand. Even the few rural big enterprises have to hire fund from conventional banks, enduring much hindrances and going across geographical boundaries, because the MFI-credit policy fails to meet the high commercial demand. MFIs are also barred by regulations to collect public fund, though few are conditionally permitted. They also cannot perform regular baking business, which are required by the rural enterprises to maintain their daily transactions. Our research is based on questionnaire survey on the demand side of four rural fields in Bangladesh. Based on gathered data the statistical analysis including extensive literature survey expresses discriminative financial structure that avoids rural entities. Our finding ensures that there is a significant association between distance and borrowing and in case of MFIs it is highly supported by tolerable costing and flexible documentation compared to conventional banks. This thesis is structured in seven chapters. The First chapter of the thesis deals to make a ground give a conceptual framework identify the background problems that leads to research questions, explain research objectives, tells about research hypothesis and finally explain the justification of this research work. The Second chapter tells about rural economy and rural credit in Bangladesh. Literature Review in Chapter three presents the existing thoughts and findings regarding the issues around the objective of the thesis. Issues are sensitive because we use an approach of multidisciplinary complexity. Chapter four reveals the “Research Methodology”. It explains the field selection procedures, description of fields, location of rural market where the rural enterprises are, indicator, relevant issue and data gathering, questionnaire and the survey, data analysis, time schedule and finally problem in field regarding proper data collection have been explained. Chapter five describes few in depth issues and concepts related to money and rural financing environment. Rural Informal money market and historical development, MFIs, its evolution, women empowerment, changing geography of rural financial landscape distance, etc. Chapter six is the core one named Data Analysis & Interpretation. The overall characteristics of data have been explained and discussed herein. The quantitative issues are the base for the scientific qualitative evaluation matters. Chapter seven stands as suggestion and recommendation like a conclusion. And finally are the references and annexes.

Outstanding Thesis
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The purpose of this study is to compare the cost and time-to-reliably-replenish constraints of commercial and military modes of shipment to the main three annual joint United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) exercises conducted in three distinct allied countries. This study also estimates potential cost savings if commercial shipment becomes the primary means. Using a business case analysis, we compare the estimated costs of current methods for providing logistical support in USPACOM, and provide recommendations to improve the system. The utilization of commercial companies as the primary means of shipment of aircraft parts in USPACOM is a national and military strategic imperative. Specifically, the current costs of operating KC-130J aircraft as primary means of shipment far exceeds costs if the primary mode of shipment became commercial agencies. Equally important is improving upon joint multi-national relationships and joint logistics best business practices that would facilitate optimal asset throughput in the Customs Departments of our allied nations. In considering and analyzing the above dynamics, this study will provide a cost based analysis and qualitative evaluation regarding the use of commercial agencies and/or United States Marine Corps KC-130J heavy-lift aircraft in the shipment of F/A-18 aircraft parts within the USPACOM Area of Responsibility.

The present study aimed to examine how bilinguals and multilinguals performed in executive functioning measures as well as potential differences in performance in terms of number of languages spoken and language proficiency. A sample of 191 participants between the ages 50-75 who spoke 1-5 languages were administered six executive functioning tasks measuring inhibition and switching performance. Three different language variables were examined, namely self-reported number of languages spoken, language proficiency and recategorised number of languages spoken based on proficiency. Analyses showed a positive correlation (i.e., worse performance) between the reported number of languages spoken and the switching task “colour-shape”. This correlation remained significant when analysing the recategorised number of languages and the colour-shape task. The current results indicated no significant performance benefits of multilingualism in executive functioning tasks and showed that they may even have been disadvantaged in certain circumstances. Since correlations were only found in one switching task, no wider generalisations as to the advantages or disadvantages can be made based on the results in this study. However, no multilingual advantage as reported in previous papers was found in the present study.
Denna studie syftade till att undersöka tvåspråkigas och flerspråkigas prestation i exekutiva funktioner samt potentiella prestationsskillnader vad gäller antal språk och språkfärdighet. Ett urval på 191 deltagare i åldrarna 50-75, som talades 1-5 språk, deltog i sex olika tester som mätte prestation i de exekutiv funktionerna inhibering och växlande. Tre språkvariabler undersöktes, nämligen självrapporterat antal språk, språkfärdighet och omkategoriserat antal språk baserat på språkfärdighet. Analyser visade en positiv korrelation (d.v.s. sämre prestation) mellan självrapporterat antal språk och växlandesuppgiften “colour-shape”. Denna korrelation förblev signifikant vid analyser av omkategoriserat antal språk och “colour-shape”-uppgiften. Resultaten indikerade inga signifikanta prestationsfördelar för flerspråkiga personer vad gäller exekutiva funktioner, utan visade att detta skulle kunna vara en nackdel under vissa omständigheter. Då korrelationerna endast hittades i en växlingsuppgift kan inga större generaliseringar göras vad gäller fördelar eller nackdelar baserat på vad som kommit fram i denna studie. Likväl kunde inga fördelar för flerspråkiga som rapporterats i tidigare forskning finnas i denna studie.
Successful Aging - A study of how bilingualism and choice of occupation contribute to preserve attention and memory across the adult life span

This thesis consists of four essays, covering four different topics. The first essay investigates the relationship between inter-firm labor mobility and regional productivity growth. Previous studies have shown that density is positively correlated with growth. I claim that it is not density in itself, but rather the attributes associated with it that drives economic growth. One such attribute is the increased possibility for labor mobility and knowledge diffusion that follows when firms and individuals locate in close proximity to each other. This hypothesis is tested using density as an instrument for labor mobility. The result shows that labor mobility increases regional growth rates. The second essay examines the relationship between agglomeration economies and relative wage costs in influencing location of multinational corporations. An inflow of firms to certain regions and industries is likely to increase demand for labor. If mobility of labor is low increased costs can be expected to deter additional inflows of firms, albeit agglomeration economies may compensate for higher wages. The empirical analysis finds that FDI has become increasingly sensitive to differences in wage costs across industrialized countries, but also that agglomeration economies related to knowledge externalities positively influences higher costs. The third essay looks at the impact of FDI on home country investments. Previous research has been inconclusive as regards the effects on domestic investments. In this article, we show that this inconclusiveness can be explained at a disaggregated level as a function of the way industries are organized. We argue that a complementary relationship can be expected to prevail in vertically integrated industries, whereas a substitutionary relationship can be expected in horizontally organized production. The empirical analysis confirms a significant difference between the two categories of industry as regards the impact of outward FDI on domestic investment. The fourth, and final, essay of this thesis analyses how increased R&D expenditures and market size influence the distribution of comparative advantage. Previous studies report ambiguous results and also refer to periods when markets were much more segmented and production factors less mobile. The empirical analysis comprises 19 OECD-countries and spans the period 1981 to 1999. It is shown how an increase in R&D-expenditures by one percentage point implies a three-percentage point increase in high-technology exports, whereas market size fails to attain significance. In addition, institutional factors influence the dynamics of comparative advantage.

According to Porter (1990), there are certain characteristics of a country that allow its industries to create and sustain competitive advantage, or prevent them from doing so. The objective of this study was to identify and compare the sources of competitive advantage or disadvantage for the Uruguayan and New Zealand beef industries. To accomplish these objectives, Porter’s Diamond Framework was selected as the theoretical framework to assess the competitive advantage of nations. Two case studies “the Beef Industry in Uruguay” and “the Beef Industry in New Zealand” were carried out. The information was obtained from secondary sources and open-ended interviews to key informants in both countries. Uruguay and New Zealand possess observable similarities, such as size, population, similar farmland area, and an economy based on agriculture with low levels of subsidies and trade regulations. In addition, the industries in both countries target the international market. Considering beef production, these countries produce beef based on pastures; hence, they have similar seasonal fluctuations in slaughter and in the product offered into the market. These similarities make these countries interesting to compare. On the other hand, Uruguay and New Zealand have differences. They are in different stages of economic development, and have cultural, sociological and educational differences. The beef industry is the most important economic activity in Uruguay, as can be illustrated by the resources allocated in this sector and in the volume and value of exported beef. In New Zealand, the beef industry is less important; however, it constitutes an excellent complementary activity for sheep and dairy productions. Both beef industries also have differences in their levels of productivity, stock compositions, stock categories, age of slaughtered animals, sanitary status, and locations in relation to markets. This suggests different sources of competitive advantage. The results show that the Uruguayan beef industry has a weaker diamond than its New Zealand counterpart does. However, the industry in Uruguay has been increasing the use of resources in comparison to other pastoral activities such as dairy and sheep. In contrast, the New Zealand beef industry, despite having a stronger diamond than the Uruguayan beef industry, has a secondary role behind the sheep and dairy industry. There are two clear limitations for the Uruguayan beef industry. First, the performance of the primary sector is poor. Second, the Uruguayan exported beef receives a lower price than the New Zealand product, and has difficulties for gaining access to certain markets. These two characteristics were identified as the most dissimilar for both industries. The selected research design and theoretical framework were adequate to accomplish the objectives. Although most of Porter’s findings were not supported in this study, using the framework allowed the development of an exhaustive analysis of the possible factors affecting the sources of competitive advantage in both industries. Comparing diamonds in different countries has not been done before; therefore, this research provides empirical evidence of the advantages and disadvantages of using this framework for international comparisons. Finally, the information presented in this research did not intend to suggest possible strategies or policies to increase the competitiveness of both industries. However, the results are likely to provide useful information for further studies in these industries.

A participação do Brasil no mercado externo de frutas tem aumentado nos últimos anos e, apesar de o Brasil não apresentar participação relevante no mercado internacional, sabe-se que pode crescer ainda mais, visto o potencial do País. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a competitividade das exportações brasileiras de frutas no mercado internacional, possibilitando identificar os fatores que têm sido responsáveis pelos ganhos de competitividade das exportações brasileiras de frutas entre os anos de 1989 a 2006. Para a realização deste estudo foram selecionadas as sete principais frutas frescas exportadas pelo Brasil em 2007: banana, lima/limão, maçã, mamão, manga, melão e uva. A base teórica utilizada foi o conceito de competitividade e os modelos Constant Market Share - CMS e Vantagem Comparativa Revelada - VCR. Quanto aos efeitos que mais contribuíram para o desempenho das exportações de frutas brasileiras, o efeito competitividade foi o mais importante, principalmente no segundo período analisado (1997/98/99 a 2004/05/06). O mamão foi a única fruta para qual os efeitos crescimento de mercado e destino das exportações foram mais representativos do que a competitividade. Apesar de o modelo CMS distinguir os efeitos explicativos da evolução das exportações, esse modelo não permite a identificação dos fatores que explicam o efeito competitividade. Assim, algumas variáveis foram analisadas no estudo na tentativa de explicar os fatores que contribuíram para a competitividade. Dentre elas o câmbio, o preço e a qualidade foram as mais importantes. No geral, o dólar valorizado contribuiu para o aumento da competitividade das frutas. Quanto ao preço de exportação da fruta nacional mais atrativo no mercado externo, ele apresentou maior peso quando o produto enfrenta no mercado destino a concorrência com frutas de outras origens. No estudo, verificou-se que o preço atrativo da fruta brasileira foi importante para explicar o fator competitividade para banana, maçã e manga. Já no caso das frutas exportadas pelo País na entressafra dos principais concorrentes, o principal fator foi o ganho de qualidade da fruta brasileira e a diversificação das variedades exportadas. Esse foi o caso da uva e do melão, que ao longo dos anos 2000 conseguiu melhorar a qualidade da fruta e ofertar um portfólio maior de variedades. No caso do grupo lima/limão, que tem na lima ácida tahiti o seu maior representante, o esforço da cadeia em mostrar uma nova fruta, até então desconhecida pelo consumidor europeu, foi um dos principais fatores que explicam o fator competitividade.
Brazil\'s participation in the international market of fruits has increased in recent years and, although Brazil does not present a relevant participation in the international market, it is known that can grow even more, seen the potential of the country. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the Brazilian exports competitiveness of fruit in the international market, possible to identify factors that have been responsible for gains in competitiveness in Brazilian exports of fruit between the years 1989 to 2006. For this study were selected the seven main fresh fruits exported by Brazil in 2007: banana, lime/lemon, apple, papaya, mango, melon and grapes. The theoretical basis used was the concept of competitiveness, and the models Constant Market Share - CMS and Revealed Comparative Advantage - VCA. The effect that most contributed to the Brazilian exports performance of fruit was the competitiveness, especially in the second period analyzed (1997/98/99 to 2004/05/06). The papaya was the only fruit for which the effect market growth and destination of the exportations had been more representative of the competitiveness. Although the CMS model distinguishes the effects explaining the evolution of exports, this model does not allow the identification of the factors that explain the competitiveness effect. Thus, some variables were analyzed in the study in an attempt to explain the factors that contributed to competitiveness. Among them the exchange rate, price and quality were most important. Overall, the valuated dollar contributed for the increase of the competitiveness of the fruits. As the price of domestic exports of fruit was more attractive in foreign markets, it showed better weight when the product faces competition in the market destination with fruit from other origins. In the study, we found that the attractive price of Brazilian fruit was important to explain the competitiveness factor for banana, apple and mango. In the case of the fruits exported for the Country in the period between harvests of the main competitors, the main factor of the Brazilian fruit was the gain in quality and the diversification of the exported varieties. This was the case of grapes and melons, which over the years 2000 has improved the quality of fruit and offered a bigger portfolio of varieties. In the case of the group lime/lemon, which has in the Tahiti acid lime the better representative, the chains effort was to show a new fruit, until then unknown by European consumers, it was one of the main factors to explain the competitiveness factor.

In this thesis, we explore the relationship between absorptive capacity and alliances, and their influence on firms’ competitive advantage in the US and European biopharmaceutical sectors. The study undertaken in this thesis is based on data from a large-scale international survey of over 2,500 biopharmaceutical firms in the US, the UK, Germany, France and Ireland. The thesis advanced a conceptual framework, which integrated the multi-dimensions of absorptive capacity, exploration-exploitation alliances, and competitive advantage, into a biopharmaceutical firm’s new product development process. The proposed framework is then tested in the empirical analysis, using truncated models to estimate firms’ sales growth, with zero-inflated negative binominal models capturing the number of alliances in which firms engage, and aspects of realised absorptive capacity analysed by ordinal probit models. The empirical results suggest that both skill-based and exploitation-based absorptive capacity play crucial roles in shaping firms’ competitive advantage, while neither exploratory nor exploitation alliances contribute to the improvement in firms’ competitive position. In terms of the interaction between firms’ absorptive capacity and alliance behaviour, the results suggest that engagement with exploratory alliances depends more strongly on firms’ assimilation capability (skills levels and continuity of R&D activities), while participation in exploitation alliances is more conditional on firms’ relevant knowledge monitoring capability. The results highlight the major differences between the determinants of firms’ alliance behaviour, and competitive advantage in the US and Europe – in the US firms’ skill levels prove more significant in determining firms’ engagement with exploratory alliances, whereas in Europe continuity of R&D proves more important. Correspondingly, while US firms’ engagement with exploitation alliances depends on market monitoring capability, that in Europe is more strongly linked to exploitation-based absorptive capacity. In respect of the determinants of firms’ competitive advantage – in Europe, market monitoring capability, engagement with exploitation alliances, and continuous R&D activities, prove more important, while in the US, it is firms’ market characteristics that matter most.

A number of alternative economic and economic geography theories have been developed to account for the divergence of national political economy and industrial dynamics. These include the varieties of capitalism, developmental state, neo-Schumpeterian innovation, and Gerschenkronian catching-up theories. In this thesis I shall argue that in these theories a core and often shared concept of "institutional advantage" plays a central role in explaining different economic performances across nations. This concept is elaborated as a means of examining the causal relationships between institutional advantages and four necessary functions (market creation, capital mobilisation, process innovation and cost reduction) in the development of the photovoltaic (PV) industry of Germany, China, and South Korea. The development of these industries is examined in detail on the basis of empirical evidence in the form of archival and interview based data. Two main conclusions are reached. Firstly, domestic market creation is not a generally necessary condition for the development of a local PV industry at a national level. China's PV industry grew fast without a sufficient domestic market unlike in Germany. However, domestic market creation is important, because the domestic PV industry, national support policy and the domestic market are interrelated. Secondly, capital mobilisation is a core function in establishing the PV industry. In the 2000s, Korea failed to establish its local PV industry despite an institutional advantage in creating domestic markets, mainly due to the fact that it had an institutional disadvantage in mobilising capital. However, Germany and China succeeded in mobilising capital in their PV sectors, governments playing a decisive role in facilitating the raising of funds in both cases. This research contributes to a better understanding of the nature of industrial dynamics in the context of institutional configurations of a national political economy, broadening the usage of "institutional advantage" by applying this concept to comparative analysis on the national PV trajectories. Moreover, from the perspective of the social system, four necessary functions for the PV industry have been proposed and investigated.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are significant to the creation of sustainable economic growth and its subsequent influence on the level of employment in developing and emerging countries. Understanding the ways in which competitive advantage can be gained remains a significant issue for practitioners and academics alike (Powell, 2001). However, a definitive explanation has yet to be found, in consequence many explanations abound. This thesis is concerned with the perception, usage and structure of Competitive Advantage within Iranian automotive parts manufacturing SMEs compared to Chinese manufacturing SMEs. The background to this research is based on the fact that empirical evidence of the application of the competitive advantage concepts within the realm of small and medium sized enterprises in emerging and developing countries has been limited. The detailed data collection tools used in this research, took the form of a questionnaire and after that, face to face interviews with senior managers of Iranian and Chinese SMEs. Using data collected from senior managers of SMEs in Iran and China, this thesis examines the suitability of western theories of competitive advantage by evaluating their use in emerging and developing countries. It concludes by providing the conditions that constrain or enable competitive advantage in developing and emerging countries with a view to advance strategic practices of small and medium-sized automotive components manufacturers. Similarities and differences between the views of Iranian and Chinese managers about the competitive advantage factors are explored leading to the conclusion that they have similar view-points about most factors, except those factors such as scheduled and continuous learning process, flexibility, R&D establishment, low price competition, being active in regular markets, transportation systems, core competency and capability. According to the findings of this research, it is concluded that managers of developing and emerging countries have a high degree of understanding about competitive advantage factors. It can be established that western theories and practices of competitive advantage are applicable to SMEs of developing and emerging countries, especially in the automotive manufacturing sector.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 15, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Vitor Trindade. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Mestrado em Gestão e Estratégia Industrial
Este Trabalho Final de Mestrado tem como principal objetivo efetuar uma análise que permita examinar a competitividade da China e de Portugal relativamente a Angola. O período em estudo foi de 2005 a 2015 e foi analisado o crescimento das exportações dos países em questão. Inicialmente é feita uma reflexão acerca da ambiguidade e dificuldade em que consiste descrever o conceito de "competitividade". É feito também um estudo sobre os métodos referentes a medidas de competitividade. Foram então utilizados dois métodos para a medição: (i) a Vantagem Comparativa Revelada, que procura identificar em que produtos Portugal e China apresentam vantagem comparativa a nível mundial, e (ii) a análise da Quota de Mercado Constante, que consiste em verificar se a competitividade é a explicação para o crescimento das exportações para Angola. A análise empírica sugere que tanto Portugal como a China são competitivos em certos produtos, tendo capacidade para aumentar as suas exportações para o mercado angolano. De constatar, no entanto, que a China tem um elevado nível de produtividade quando comparado com Portugal.
This TFM has as main purpose to do an analysis that enables to examine the competitiveness of China and Portugal in Angola. The study was focused in the years between 2005 e 2015 and the export growth of both countries was taken into consideration. At first that is some discussion about the difficulty and ambiguous concept of "competitiveness". There is also a study about methods that measure competitiveness. Two methods were taken into consideration for this measure: (i) the Revealed Comparative Advantage, which identifies in which products both Portugal and China have comparative advantage at world level, and (ii) the Constant Market Share analysis that verifies if the competitiveness explain the export growth to Angola. The empirical analysis suggests that both Portugal and China are competitive in certain products, having so the capability of raising their exports to the Angolan market. It is also important to refer that China has a high level of productivity when compared to Portugal.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

South Africa and Botswana, as developing countries, continue to face various challenges in relation to a respectable and sustainable corporate governance. The multi-faceted objectives of both countries? competition regimes appear to pose grave challenges for the competition authorities, who ought to balance contending public interest considerations in developing a competition friendly character. The essential foundation of competition law, both in South Africa as well as Botswana, lies in the suggestion that competition produces social benefits which are misplaced in a monopoly, and that an effective form of legal regulation ought to decrease, or abolish, any patent injury thus far and improve the wellbeing of society. This suggestion puts forth an amount of intricate difficulties which ought to be tackled if competition law is to be evaluated and understood. These include: what exactly is meant by the word ?competition?? What are the types of societal harm that occur as a result of competition? What legal mechanisms ought to be adopted to reduce such societal harm and ensure sustainable development within competition? Competition is vital to an efficiently functioning market economy. Companies are essentially economic representatives and, tentatively, their decisions are made with competitive factors in mind, but it is also a fact that companies also play a role in society in that their activities have a bearing on environmental and social circumstances. Based on the assumption that the competitive advantage of CSR has been exploited by various companies, I consider whether competition laws are widespread enough to include the regulation of CSR as a competitive tool, I essentially inquire into whether competition and CSR are compatible enough to be linked together. It is apparent that companies aiming to integrate sustainable development goals in their plans and policies essentially face a Catch-22 between the risks tangled in global competition and their wish to behave in socially responsible ways. The analysis of the connection between competition and CSR shines a light on the restrictions of the dominant theoretic agenda regarding CSR.
Mini Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Mercantile Law
LLM
Unrestricted

With the advent of the internet age, the way in which global society interacts with technology has changed dramatically. The instantaneous availability of information and connectivity, signal the rise of a knowledge economy. This is a system in which the most valuable resource, to nations and private enterprise, is knowledge. This thesis argues that value is created through knowledge flows, which result in innovation and technological advancement. This technological advancement is the primary determinant of a nation’s global competitive advantage in a globalized knowledge economy. This thesis then posits that these innovations are fostered by institutional, social, cultural, economic, and governmental factors within a nation. These factors make up a nations’ National Innovation System (NIS). Using case studies of the US, China, India, and the EU, this paper then attempts to deconstruct, compare, and contrast the innovation strategies of each country and what implications they might have for the future. Lastly, an analysis of potential trends attempts to forecast the global innovative landscape in the near future.