Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'French Competitions'

Cette thèse de doctorat porte sur la compréhension des aspects concurrentiels du marché de l’innovation incrémentale en France en s’appuyant sur une approche empirique. A cette fin, l’analyse porte plus particulièrement sur l’innovation incrémentale et les dynamiques concurrentielles des médicaments appelés en France « similaires ». La littérature anglophone retient les expressions « me-too » ou « follow-on » pour définir les produits pharmaceutiques à faible valeur ajoutée et qui ont des caractéristiques anatomiques, thérapeutiques et chimiques proches des molécules précédemment mises sur le marché. Le premier chapitre vise notamment l’étude sur les parts de marché des médicaments « follow-on » et le lien avec la variable stratégique définie par l’ordre d’arrivée sur le marché. Dans ce chapitre de thèse, on vérifie que les premiers follow-on d’une classe thérapeutique ont un avantage concurrentiel en ce qui concerne la capacité des capturer et de maintenir des parts de marché pendant une longue période. En outre, les parts de marché sont positivement corrélés avec l’habilité de la firme de fixer un prix supérieur au premier médicament de la classe. Cet avantage stratégique des premiers entrants est aussi intrinsèquement lié aux caractéristiques qualitatives des produits puisque nous avons pu constater que les parts de marché des médicaments sont directement corrélés avec le niveau d’innovation du produit. Le deuxième chapitre de la thèse apporte des éléments sur la nature concurrentielle en termes de prix du marché de l’innovation pharmaceutique incrémentale. Deux variables dépendantes mesurant le prix ont été considérées : le prix du produit calculé en coût du traitement journalier et le prix du médicament divisé par la moyenne des prix des médicaments similaires dans la classe. Nous vérifions que les derniers entrants ont une tendance à avoir un prix inférieur aux premières molécules « follow-on ». Cela implique une caractérisation des derniers entrants ayant un moindre pouvoir de négociation avec le régulateur autour du prix, notamment en raison d’une qualité innovatrice intrinsèque plus faible. Le troisième chapitre présente une analyse empirique autour de la confrontation des deux marchés émergents et d’importance majeure pour la régulation des systèmes de santé : le marché des génériques et le marché des médicaments « follow-on ». L’analyse se concentre sur les aspects de l’intensité de la compétition dans le marché des médicaments brevetés similaires et son impact sur la pénétration des versions génériques de ces derniers. Le constat est que l’intensité de la compétition de médicaments similaires est positivement et significativement corrélée avec l’introduction des génériques. Plus de produits « follow-on » entrainerait donc une baisse encore plus importante des prix des génériques des derniers « follow-on » dans la classe thérapeutique. L’approche essentiellement empirique de cette thèse doctorale permet ainsi de mieux comprendre les déterminants et la dynamique de ce marché relativement émergent et qui suscite des nombreux débats au sein de la communauté scientifique. Enfin nous terminons par une brève conclusion générale fondé autour des résultats de cette recherche permettent d’affirmer que dans un marché régulé comme celui qui prévaut en France, l’intensité de la compétition, engendré notamment par l’arrivé sur le marché des médicaments « follow-on », peut avoir des conséquences positives sur les aspects concurrentiels du secteur du médicament
The dynamics of pharmaceutical markets have been constantly changing last years. The development of the so called “follow-on” or “me-too” drugs has been in the centre of a major debate concerning the ability of innovation in the health sector. These drugs are characterized by having a minor level of innovation and do not add any therapeutic value in relation to the previous drugs launched in the market. This doctoral dissertation proposes three empirical essays concerning competition aspects in the market of incremental innovation in France. The first chapter focuses on the impact of entry order on “follow-on” drugs competition in the French market between years 2001 and 2007. More precisely, this study examines the effects on market share of first entrants in the follow-on drug market and how this possible competitive advantage changes over time. Our results are coherent with theoretical microeconomic issues concerning the importance of being first. We find evidence that first movers in the follow on drug market have the ability to capture and maintain greater market share for a long period of time. The hierarchical market position of follow on drugs does not seem to be affected by generic drugs emergence. From a dynamic perspective, our analysis shows that market share is positively correlated with the ability of follow on drugs to set prices higher than the average follow-on drug price in a specific therapeutic class (ATC) which means that market power remains considerably important for first movers. Finally we found that the optimum level of innovation to maximize market share is the highest one.The second chapter examines the relationship between entry order of follow-on drugs and their prices on the French pharmaceutical market. We used a representative panel data of 1047 follow-on drug formulations distributed in 118 ATC classes set over 2001-2007. Two measures of prices were used in the econometric specifications: the absolute price and the relative price of the follow-on drugs. The former concerns simply the absolute price of the drug in daily costs and the latter is the price of the drug relative to the average price of the follow-on drugs in the class. Both prices are calculated on the basis of manufacturer prices. These different indicators give us similar results for the impact of entry order on prices but they are differently correlated with market share. Moreover, our study analyses the potential impact of several variables on prices of pharmaceutical incremental innovation such as firm size, innovation and intensity of competition. Our results suggest that big firms have more ability to negotiate higher prices and that the number of follow-on drugs in the class and the emergence of generic competition may help decrease general prices in the ATC class. We have not found any relationship between prices and innovation in the French pharmaceutical market.The third chapter investigates the potential relationship between follow-on drugs dissemination and generic drug market emergence. It explores the structural determinants of off-patented drugs development at the therapeutic class level with a focus on explanatory variables that reflect the intensity of competition amongst similar interchangeable drugs. We found that generic market growth is greater in therapeutic classes where the number of similar drugs is high and the average brand price is low. This could be due to the fact that brand name drugs reduce their prices to keep market share when generic drugs enter the market. We study also the generic to follow-on brand price ratio at the individual drug level and we found that generic prices of later follow-on drugs are closer to the price of the brand name than generics of first follow-on movers. Our results are coherent with the fact that intensity of competition in the follow-on drugs may help reduce prices not only in the patented drug markets but also in the off-patented sector

L'objectif de la thèse était la comparaison entre la représentation sociale de la compétition, de la fraude et celle de la tricherie académique des citoyens hongrois et français. Dans la première étude des hommes d'affaires hongrois ont été soumis à des entretiens sur la compétition : 79% des répondants a mentionné spontanément la malhonnêteté dans ce contexte. Dans l'étude 2, l'objectif était l'exploration de la représentation sociale de la compétition et de la fraude d'étudiants hongrois et français. Les résultats suggèrent une faible superposition entre compétition et fraude dans le cas de deux échantillons éxamines. Concernant le contenu de la représentation sociale de la compétition les hongrois sont plus orientés vers les résultats, alors que les français sont plus orientés vers le dépassement de soi. Dans le cas des hongrois, la tricherie académique est plus fréquemment mentionnée en matière de fraude que chez les français. L'étude 3 utilisant un questionnaire axée sur un analyse concernant la malhonnêteté académique montre que les étudiants hongrois signalent un taux de tricherie plus élevé et trouvent la tricherie plus acceptable que leurs pairs français. Dans la dernière étude, l'objectif était de créer une expérience permettant d'observer les effets des représentations sociales de la compétition et de la fraude au niveau comportemental. Les résultats n'ont pas confirmé que les étudiants hongrois trichaient plus que les étudiants français. Concernant les français, le seul prédicteur était le cercle de connaissances préalables tandis que dans le groupe des hongrois, la compétition ouverte était le prédicteur de la tricherie
The goal of the thesis was a comparison between hungarian and french citizens' social representation Of competition and fraud. In the first study hungarian businessmen were interviewed regarding Competition. The results showed that 79% of them mentioned spontaneously dishonesty during the Interviews. In the next study, the goal was the exploration of hungarian and french students' social Representation of competition and fraud. The results showed weak overlap between the two Representations concerning both examined samples. However, in the case of the content of the Representation of competition hungarians were more result-oriented, whereas french were oriented oward self-improvement. Moreover, hungarians' representations were more diverse and less organized than french' ones. In the case of fraud, hungarians mentioned more frequently academic cheating, than their french peers. Therefore, the following study concentrated more on cultural differences concerning academic cheating. The results suggest that hungarians reported a higher cheating rate, than french students. In the final study, cheating-related behavioral differences were examined in competitive situations. The results did not show that hungarians cheated more than french students. However, cultural differences were revealed: in the case of french students, previous acquaintanceship predicted cheating, whlle among hungarians it was open-competitive situation that predicted cheating behavior. The results were explained by taking into consideration the theory of social representations and previous researches in the field of competition and academic cheating

This thesis entails the examination of the internationalisation during the 1980s of the twelve leading French and German-owned multinational enterprises [MNEs] in chemicals and electronics. They represent a significant part of the phenomenon of Europeanowned MNEs taking their places alongside U.S. and Japaneseowned MNEs as the main commercial actors in international competition. MNEs in the chemical and electronics sectors have been selected for analysis because they are technology-intensive in many of their businesses, which are at the cutting-edge of industry globalisation. This process of recent internationalisation is used to address a problematique that goes to the roots of institutional political economy : how and why has the internationalisation of these MNEs interacted with their "embeddedness" in the domestic structures of the French and German political economies, particularly in terms of their power relationships with external actors such as the home governments and financial institutions ? What are the French-German comparisons involved ? The primary political economy themes are as follows : the MNEs' roles as political actors, especially viewed in terms of their bargaining power relations with the home [central] governments; home government industrial policy vis-â-vis the MNEs; MNE financial relations with banks in France and Germany; MNE political activity at the level of the European Community -- the main geographical focus of internationalisation -- which is especially evident in technology policy. The empirical argument presented is that internationalisation imparts a dynamic that induces convergence effects between the French and German political economies, most importantly in the manner in which the MNEs are embedded in them. Such convergence is however limited and qualified by the enduring differences in the constitution of state-finance-industry linkages in France and Germany. It is argued that the primary theoretical contribution of this study is the inclusion of a business organisation approach, at the level of the firm, to put the spotlight on fundamental questions of political economy. Research in political economy has tended to overlook the role of the firm. The changes wrought by the internationalisation of business urgently require better firm-level conceptualisation and empirical research.

The China-policy of the European Union (EU) continues to be characterized by underdevelopment, even as it becomes more and more important to engage a China developing economic and political world power status. A general consensus has developed that EU Member States are largely responsible for the current state of EU China-policy. How they are specifically to blame is still controversial. The prominent study by John Fox and François Godement, “A Power Audit of EU-China Relations” (2009), suggests Member States, particularly the “Big Three,” Germany, France and the UK, are to blame because they take different political and economic “approaches” to China—approaches which may change from one administration to the next. National interests might naturally be assumed to play an important role in such approaches. National interests are generally regarded to be an important factor in the level of support given to EU common foreign and security policy (CFSP) formation by Member States. Keukeleire and MacNaughtan (2008) explain that Member State interests may contribute to under-supported common foreign policy either by being “divergent and incompatible” or “convergent but competitive” with each other. This paper seeks to understand to what extent Member State interests vis-à-vis China fall into one of these two categories, and to determine the theoretical implications in the sphere of European integration. The paper uses a case study methodology of China policies in the period 1997 to 2008 of two powerful Member States, Germany and France, to determine the focus of interests. It then investigates the extent to which these interests are cooperative or competitive. The paper calls largely on news reports and government documentation of official state visits of German and French executive leadership to China, as well as personal interviews with French and German experts in academia, civil society and government. The analysis suggests that French and German interests toward China focus heavily on benefit to their respective national economies—a focus which is largely competitive in nature, implying for theory that realism may still hold a place in explaining aspects of European integration, in particular failures in CFSP formation.

To date, most of the research on group cohesion has focused on team sports, with little known about how this body of knowledge relates to individual sports. The case of the male French whitewater slalom canoe and kayak team was chosen because of the success of the team at World Championships and Olympic Games. The purpose of the present case study was to investigate how the coaches and athletes of this highly successful team worked together in training and competition within a highly competitive environment. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with six athletes and four coaches. Three themes, each containing numerous sub-themes, emerged from the analysis: (a) the nature of collaboration within the team environment, (b) coach leadership, and (c) the fragility of collaboration. The results of the present study have advanced our understanding of what collaboration within an individual sport team may look like. For a period of time, the leadership skills of the coaches, as well as their technical coaching expertise, and the willingness of the talented and driven athletes to work together, contributed significantly to a collaborative environment for this team. Then a change in the Olympic entry rules, the departure of an influential coach, and the inevitable change in the ages and experiences of the athletes themselves all combined to erode the foundation of that productive and collaborative environment.

Oyster production in Virginia has declined dramatically in the past ten years, causing Virginia oyster processors to rely increasingly on oyster supplies from other regions. In response to the industry problems, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) developed and began implementing an Oyster Fishery Management Plan (OFMP) in 1985. Primarily, the plan seeks to increase Virginia oyster production from both public and leased grounds. A large increase in production could significantly affect the oyster market. There is thus a need to understand the Virginia oyster market, which derives raw material supplies primarily from public and leased-grounds production and from other states. Although the level of competition among the three sources is uncertain, it is thought to be substantial and quite important for the success of the OFMP. This study assesses the level of competition and associated sector interaction. A simultaneous equation system is specified and estimated by Full-Information-Maximum-Likelihood procedure. Estimates and a market simulation model are used to assess the impact of the OFMP on market behavior. Analyses indicate that the market for the public ground fishery consists of an elastic demand and an inelastic supply, but the market for private oyster cultivation consists of an inelastic demand and an elastic supply. The market interaction between the eastern oyster and Pacific oyster is weak. Oysters from leased grounds compete with supplies from other regions and with Pacific oysters. Market simulations indicate that the OFMP will increase total revenue for both public and private producers, suggesting that (1) the seasonal closure on commercial oyster fishery may be extended as stock size recovers, (2) increasing private production may reduce oyster supplies from other states, and (3) from the market interaction point of view, the Pacific oyster may be an alternative for private oyster planters.

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Since the LDB in 1996, the Private Higher Education experienced a sudden expansion, presenting annual rates of growth in the number of Higher Education Institution (HEIs) of 14.8% but now is showing clear signs of deceleration. The recent increase in the number of HEIs, without a commensurable increase in the number of students, has caused a high indication of idle vacancies inside a highly competitive environment. Against this scene, the following question is asked: What are the strategic postures and the extension of the resources most likely to be used by Northeastern private HEIs against the scene prospected for the period which goes from 2009 to 2015? In answer to this question, the purpose of this research is to identify the strategic postures and the extension of the resources most likely to be used by HEIs against the prospected scene. The process of elaborating the scenario was based on the study by Porto and Régnier (2003); for the strategy model it was used the proposition by Forte (2001), with the Strategic Postures Map; and as referential of the competitive resources used by HEIs, it was identified those described in the study by Lynch and Baines (2004) based on HEIs from United Kingdom and in the study by Sousa et al. (2005), focused on Brazilian HEIs. It was used a methodology of exploratory kind and quantitative nature, performed by the application of questionnaires that were adjusted and validated by interviews and pre-tests. The data were collected during 2008/2009. 20 specialists and 19 managers participated during the development of the scene, and 83 managers from Northeastern private HEIs helped to identify the strategies and resources most likely to be used. The data were analyzed through descriptive techniques, the cluster and the factor analysis. The results show that the scene Everything For the Market is the most representative and that HEIs are in the current position of Maintenance (competition), using less radical strategies in each posture, and prioritizing those resources that don t provide much strategic advantage, such as infrastructure and facilities, which suggests an overall weak competitive power in search of growth and a higher position.
O Ensino Superior Privado, após rápida expansão vivida a partir da LDB de 1996, com taxas anuais de crescimento do número de Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) de até 14,8%, dá sinais claros de desaceleração. O recente aumento no número de IES, sem o proporcionalaumento no número de alunos, tem gerado alto índice de vagas ociosas num ambiente que já se configura como hipercompetitivo. Diante deste cenário, questiona-se: quais as posturas estratégicas e dimensões de recursos de utilização mais provável pelas IES particulares do Nordeste, frente ao cenário prospectado para o período de 2009 a 2015? Em resposta ao questionamento da pesquisa, definiu-se como objetivo identificar as posturas estratégicas e as dimensões de recursos de utilização mais provável, pelas IES, frente ao cenário prospectado.Para a elaboração do cenário utilizou-se como base o estudo de Porto e Régnier (2003); como modelo de estratégia a proposição de Forte (2001), com o Mapa de Posturas Estratégicas; e como referencial de recursos competitivos em IES, as dimensões descritas nos estudos de Lynch e Baines (2004), com base nas IES do Reino Unido, e de Sousa et al. (2005), com foco em IES brasileiras. A metodologia empregada foi do tipo exploratória, de natureza quantitativa, viabilizada mediante aplicação de questionários, ajustados e validados por meio de entrevistas e pré-testes. Os dados de campo foram coletados no período de 2008/2009.Participaram da elaboração do cenário 20 especialistas e 19 gestores, e na identificação das estratégias e recursos mais prováveis, 83 gestores de IES particulares da região. Na análise dos dados utilizaram-se de técnicas descritivas, análise de clusters e fatorial. Os resultados demonstram que o Cenário Tudo pelo Mercado é o mais representativo e que as IES estão na postura de Manutenção (competição), utilizando-se de estratégias menos radicais em cada postura, e priorizando recursos que não proporcionam diferencial competitivo sustentável,como infraestrutura física e fatores de conveniência, sugerindo, no geral, frágil poder de fogo em busca de crescimento e posição superior.

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Em um novo contexto de negócios do mundo globalizado, surge um cenário competitivo, marcado pela intensa concorrência, que exige maior integração entre as empresas e rápida adequação a novos desafios, aperfeiçoando o nível do serviço e a otimização do tempo. Nos mais diversos ramos de atividades, os clientes começaram a exigir eficiência e um rigoroso controle em serviços, se tratando do setor portuário, e cada vez mais uma maior diversidade de serviços relacionados à cadeia logística. A modernização de um terminal de contêineres se dá pelo grande empreendimento industrial, onde variadas atividades acontecem ao mesmo tempo, equipamentos movimentando navios - cargas e descargas - grandes máquinas movimentando-se em todas as direções, o mais rápido e eficientemente possível. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo estudar o comportamento de uma empresa de operações portuárias em Santos sua competitividade e ações estratégicas frente às ameaças naturais de um mercado com novos entrantes. A fundamentação teórica principal do trabalho é baseada, nas estratégias genéricas e nas cinco forças competitivas de Porter, principalmente relacionadas aos projetos de novos entrantes no Porto de Santos, e seus impactos. A conclusão do estudo, em resumo, leva ao entendimento de que as estratégias de diversificação de serviços, fortalecimento da marca, exploração de novos nichos, ampliação do escopo geográfico dos novos projetos, dentre outras, conseguiram neutralizar as ameaças mapeadas no diagnóstico inicial.

La presente investigación analiza las variables determinantes y relacionadas en las exportaciones de jengibre fresco (Partida Arancelaria. 0910.11.00.00) de la República del Perú al Reino de los Países Bajos, comprendido en los años 2012 – 2019. En donde la inestabilidad de las exportaciones peruanas de jengibre ha desarrollado un interés para que sean analizadas en base a tres variables: entorno macroeconómico, competencia internacional y gestión de inocuidad alimentaria, desde un enfoque mixto. Este tendrá un alcance explicativo causal bajo un diseño transversal, en donde se aplicó un análisis de una regresión lineal múltiple, con el cual se planteó un modelo matemático predictivo de las variables aceptables, y un diseño fenomenológico aplicado a través de la guía de entrevistas de tipo semiestructuradas. Los resultados apuntan que, dentro del entorno macroeconómico, el precio es el indicador más influyente siendo las certificaciones orgánicas las que permiten que el producto salga con un mejor precio al mercado, ya que la demanda de Países Bajos así lo requiere. Dentro de competencia internacional, el indicador características del producto resalta apoyándose en la condición orgánica y las propiedades naturales del producto. Y finalmente, dentro de la variable gestión de inocuidad alimentaria destaca el indicador certificaciones de gestión de inocuidad, siendo las más importantes GlobalG.A.P. y HACCP. En conclusión, entorno macroeconómico es una variable determinante de las exportaciones de jengibre fresco, mientras que competencia internacional y gestión de inocuidad alimentaria son variables relacionadas a las exportaciones de jengibre fresco, los resultados indican que competencia internacional es la más relacionada, destacando dentro de ella el indicador características del producto.
The research aims to analyze the determinant and relevant variables in exports of fresh ginger (Harmonized system code 0910.11.00.00) from the Republic of Peru to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, between the years 2012 - 2019. The instability of Peruvian ginger exports has been developing, has created an interest in analyzing it based on three variables: macroeconomic environment, international competition, and food safety management, from a mixed methods research. This investigation will have a causal explanatory approach by a cross-sectional design, where is applied a multiple linear regression and is proposed a predictive mathematical model of the acceptable variables, and a phenomenological design through the interview guide of semi-structured type. The results indicate that in the macroeconomic environment, price is the most influenced indicator, where organic certifications are the ones that allow the product to come out with a better market price on the Netherlands market. Regarding international competition, the product features indicator is emphasized, by organic conditions and the natural properties of the product. Finally, in respect of the variable food safety management, it is enhanced through the indicator safety management certifications where GlobalG.A.P. and HACCP are the most important. In conclusion, the macroeconomic environment is a determinant variable of fresh ginger exports, while international competition and food safety management are related variables of fresh ginger exports. However, the results demonstrate, the international competition is the most relevant, highlighting the indicator product features.
Tesis

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The purpose of this research is to develop a theoretical material, dealing with the new directions of the international tax policy, in the post-World War II period and after the establishment of the OECD, specifically about the control of tax competition. Aiming to create common interests between countries and thus avoid new conflicts, the OECD stimulated the free international capital flows, including foreign direct investment – FDI. The OECD, however, in order to avoid abusive practices of international tax competition for FDI funding, has instituted since 1998, policies and recommendations suggesting a policy of greater transparency and exchange of tax information between countries. In this scenario, although Brazil is not an OECD member, but a relevant foreign investment recipient, is gradually adapting its tax legislation, seeking to adapt to the best tax practices recommended by the OECD, however there are still many challenges to be faced, as we shall see in this study. This thesis, the final product of this research, intends to be an essentially informative material, but that brings to its readers an objective view of the need for greater fiscal transparency and the adoption of best tax practices recommended by the OECD, towards a fairer tax competition among countries. It is also analyzed the tax legal changes that have occurred in Brazil as part of this global phenomenon, reflecting the specific nature of our reality. The concepts used in the research were subsidized by surveys on secondary sources, including literature, based on books, journals, dissertations or theses presented at universities, sites about these concepts, in addition to the researcher learning in the Doctorate courses
O objetivo desta pesquisa é elaborar um material teórico versando sobre os novos rumos da política tributária internacional, no período pós-Segunda Guerra Mundial e após a constituição da OCDE, especificamente quanto ao controle da competição tributária. Visando criar interesses comuns entre os países e, assim, evitar novos conflitos, houve o estímulo, pela OCDE, para o livre fluxo internacional de capitais, incluindo os investimentos estrangeiros diretos – IED. A OCDE, no entanto, com o objetivo de evitar práticas abusivas de competição tributária internacional para captação de IED, vem instituindo, desde 1998, recomendações sugerindo uma política de maior transparência e troca de informações tributárias entre os países. O Brasil, neste cenário, ainda que não membro da OCDE, mas receptor de relevantes investimentos estrangeiros, vem adequando paulatinamente sua legislação tributária, procurando adaptar-se às melhores práticas tributárias recomendadas pela OCDE, porém ainda com muitos desafios a serem enfrentados, como veremos neste estudo. Tal tese, produto final desta pesquisa, pretende constituir-se em um material essencialmente informativo, mas que traga a seus leitores uma visão objetiva acerca da necessidade de maior transparência fiscal e da adoção das melhores práticas tributárias recomendadas pela OCDE, em busca de uma competição tributária mais justa entre os países. Procura-se, também, posicionar as mudanças legislativas tributárias que têm ocorrido no Brasil como parte desse fenômeno global, refletindo as especificidades inerentes à nossa realidade. Os conceitos utilizados na pesquisa foram subsidiados por levantamentos em fontes secundárias, incluindo o levantamento bibliográfico baseado em livros, revistas especializadas, dissertações ou teses apresentadas em universidades, sites sobre esses conceitos, além do aprendizado da pesquisadora nas disciplinas do Doutorado

Le juge est un acteur vital dans la mise en œuvre du droit de la concurrence. De ce fait, il faut reconnaitre l’importance de son rôle. Cette reconnaissance passe par la valorisation ou revalorisation du rôle que le juge est amené à jouer en matière de concurrence. Pour valoriser ou revaloriser le rôle du juge dans la mise en œuvre du droit de la concurrence, le législateur et le juge doivent faire preuve de volontarisme par le biais d'une intervention législative et jurisprudentielle. Ayant intégré les raisonnements économiques dans son approche de la matière concurrentielle, il n'existe aucune raison objective qui continue à reléguer le rôle du juge au second plan par rapport à celui des Autorités de la concurrence. Les deux institutions sont des autorités de la concurrence et l'une ne doit pas être qualifiée "d'autorité de régulation" aux dépens de l'autre. Pour ce faire, une juridicisation des Autorités de la concurrence par une intervention législative est souhaitable afin d'attribuer aux Autorités de la concurrence les compétences habituellement réservées au juge. Par exemple, prononcer la nullité d'un contrat anticoncurrentiel et l'attribution des dommages et intérêts. La structure et le fonctionnement des Autorités de la concurrence les rapprochent d'une juridiction. D'ailleurs certains les qualifient de juridictions inavouées. Il n'existe aucun obstacle juridique et d'autres exemples comme c'est dans le cas de la Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) qui s'est vue qualifier de «Tribunal» par le Conseil d’État au sens de l’article 6-1 de la CEDH, eu égard « à sa nature, à sa composition et à ses attributions », démontre qu'il est possible à franchir le pas, non seulement pour redonner au juge toute la place que doit lui revenir dans la mise en œuvre du droit de la concurrence, mais également pour la mise en œuvre efficace et effectif dudit droit
The judge is a vital actor in the implementation of competition laws. Therefore, recognition should be given to the importance of its role. Recognizing the importance of the judge’s role in the implementation of antitrust laws means enhancing the role the judge is required to play to the effective implementation of competition laws. To enhance the role of the judge in the implementation of competition laws, the legislator and the judge must be proactive in taking legislative and judicial actions. Having acquired the mastery of economic reasoning in its approach to the competitive field, there is no objective reason that continues to relegate the role of the judge in second place compared to the competition authorities. Both institutions are competition authorities and one must not be qualified as "regulatory authority" at the expense of the other. To achieve this, attributing judicial caracteristics to the Competition Authorities by legislative and jurisprudential intervention is desirable by assigning them powers usually ascribed to the judge. For example, voiding of anticompetitive contracts, and awarding damages. The structure and functioning of the Competition Authorities are similar to those of a court. Moreover, some authors call them unacknowledged jurisdictions. There are no legal impediments and other examples as it is in the case "Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés" (CNIL) which has been described as "tribunal" by the french Conseil d'Etat within the meaning of Article 6-1 of the ECHR, given its nature, its composition and its powers shows that it is possible to take the step, not only to restore the Judge of all the place it deserves in the implementation of antitrust laws, but also for the effective implementation of the given laws

A análise competitiva é focada na indústria de gás, entendida na dimensão da(s) Distribuidora(s) e Comercializada(s). O principal objetivo da pesquisa é contribuir na identificação de propostas estratégicas para os grandes consumidores (indústrias). Observa-se que esses consumidores deverão enfrentar uma nova estrutura regulatória, que exigirá uma eventual migração de um mercado regulado para outro livre, após a introdução da regulamentação do livre acesso às redes de distribuição de gás natural no Estado de São Paulo. Além disso, caracterizam-se os possíveis ambientes de efetivação da abertura do mercado e do livre acesso, bem como de consolidação da figura da Comercializadora de gás natural. O trabalho demonstra a dificuldade de se estabelecer um ambiente de maior concorrência em indústrias que convivem com um agente econômico dominante e que pode influenciar todas as dimensões do modelo teórico das Seis Forças Competitivas (adaptado a partir de Michael Porter). São identificadas as tendências de oferta e demanda nos mercados de gás do Brasil e do Estado de São Paulo. Além disso, o trabalho dedica-se a extensiva apresentação de modelos estruturais e contratuais que caracterizam as indústrias de gás em diferentes momentos de evolução e maturação. Procura-se mostrar que a indústria gasífera brasileira, apesar de ainda precoce em seu desenvolvimento, já apresenta elementos típicos de mercados mais concorrenciais, tornando qualquer análise um exercício pouco trivial. As mudanças do ambiente regulatório das indústrias do gás no Brasil e no Estado de São Paulo são descritas em detalhe, com principal foco nas relações das atividades de Distribuição e Comercialização com as etapas anteriores da cadeia produtiva. Como resultado, a obra oferece estratégias alternativas para o posicionamento dos grandes consumidores industriais em um mercado ainda restrito em sua base concorrencial.
The competitive analysis is focused on the gas industry, understood as the Local Distribution and Marketing activities. The researchs main objective is to contribute to identify strategic insights for large industrial consumers. Those consumers will face a new regulatory framework, which will require them to an eventual migration from a regulated to a more competitive market after the introduction of the Open Access regulation in the local gas distribution network in the State of Sao Paulo. The text also characterizes the possible environments for an effective competitive market and open access as well as for the consolidation of gas marketers. The work demonstrates the difficulty in establishing a more competitive environment in industries coexisting with dominant economic agents, which can influence all the dimensions underlined by the Six Competitive Forces theoretical model (adapted from Michael Porter). It is identified the supply and demand trends in the gas markets of Brazil and the State of Sao Paulo. Moreover, the work contributes with an extensive presentation of structural models and contractual arrangements that characterize the gas industries in different development stages. The aim is to show that the gas industry in Brazil, although still in its early development, has features which are already typical from more competitive markets, turning any analysis into a nontrivial exercise. The changes in the regulatory environment of the gas industry in Brazil and in the State of Sao Paulo are described in detail, with main focus on the relations between the Distribution and Marketing activities vis-à-vis the previous steps of the supply chain. As a result, the work offers alternative strategies for the positioning of large industrial consumers in a market still restricted in its competitive basis.

Le marché français, caractérisé en particulier par une forte segmentation, d’une faible sophistication des investisseurs et une domination des banques, serait peu compétitif. Sur le plan théorique, nous cherchons à illustrer, à l’aide des deux modèles simples, les effets d’une absence relative de compétition entre les fonds. Le premier met en évidence le rôle de la compétition dans la création des incitations implicites. Le second tente d’illustrer le fait que cette absence de compétition (liée à la domination des banques sur le marché français) conduirait à une performance plus faible pour les fonds. Sur le plan empirique, nous vérifions, d’une part, l’existence de ce manque de compétition du marché français. D’autre part, nous mettons en évidence l’existence d’un conflit d’intérêt direct entre les investisseurs et les fonds, résultant direct du manque de compétition du marché. Au niveau de la rentabilité des fonds, le manque de compétition du marché reflète dans le fait que les investisseurs ne réagissent pas fortement à la rentabilité relative des fonds. Au niveau des frais, l’insensibilité des investisseurs individuels aux frais des fonds pourrait traduire une moindre concurrence du marché. Nous observons également une discrimination par les frais entre les investisseurs institutionnels et les investisseurs individuels. Ces derniers paient plus chers pour une rentabilité plus faible. Toutefois, le marché commence à montrer des signes de compétition, reflétant dans le fait que les investisseurs individuels commencent à faire attention au rapport qualité-prix des fonds. Par ailleurs, un plus grand degré de sophistication des investisseurs institutionnels pourrait expliquer le fait que nous ne constatons aucun lien entre les frais et la rentabilité des fonds dans ce segment. En effet, ces investisseurs, susceptibles d’être plus sophistiqués, pourraient estimer la qualité de la gestion par des mesures plus complexes de la performance. Enfin, nous fournissons une preuve de l’existence d’un conflit d’intérêt entre les investisseurs et les fonds : les déséconomies d’échelle de performance
The French market, characterized especially by a strong segmentation, low sophistication of investors and a domination of banks, would not be competitive. On the theoretical side, we try to illustrate, using two simple models, the effects of a lack of competition. The first one highlights the role of competition in the creation of implicit incentives. The second one shows that the lack of competition leads to weak funds’ performance. Empirically, we verify firstly the existence of this lack of competition in the French market. Secondly, we show the existence of a conflict of interest between investors and funds. The lack of competition reflects by the fact that investors do not react strongly to funds’ performance and individual investors are not sensitive to fund fees. We also observe a price discrimination between institutional and individual investors. The latter pays more for lower return. However, the market begins to show some signs of competition. In fact, individual investors start to pay attention to the “price-quality” rapport. In addition, a greater degree of sophistication of institutional investors may explain the fact that we do not obtain any relation between fees and return in this segment. Indeed, these investors may be more sophisticated and could estimate the quality of a fund by more complex measures of performance. Finally, we provide evidence for the existence of a conflict of interest between investors and funds: diseconomies of scale

La notion d’intérêt général façonne non seulement la concession des droits de propriété industrielle, mais également les limites imposées à leurs titulaires et la manière dont le contrôle de l’exercice de ces droits est réalisée. La prise en compte de la notion d’intérêt général en matière de licence des droits de propriété industrielle n’est pas la même en droit brésilien, français et de l’Union européenne. L’expérience française et européenne en la matière permet d’apporter des critiques et de nouveaux éléments de réflexion permettant une remise en cause du système actuel de contrôle des licences des droits de propriété industrielle brésilien, en vue de l’adoption d’un régime plus respectueux de la liberté des parties. L’étude du droit français et de l’Union Européenne permet d’envisager l’application du droit de la concurrence brésilien à ces contrats, sans préjudice d’une garantie d’adéquation à l’intérêt général
Concerns for the public interest do not only shape the granting of industrial property rights, but also impose limitations on exploitation of such rights by owners and have an impact on how owners exercise their rights. The consideration of the public interest related to licensing of industrial property rights is not the same in Brazilian, French and European Union laws. Comparative study of the French and European practices in this field can be used to aid Brazilian lawyers in criticizing and considering new elements to challenge the current screening system of license agreements inBrazilian law, proposing the adoption of a contractual freedom-oriented system. This thesis undertakes an analysis of French and European Union laws, which allows us to take into consideration Brazilian competition law as a mechanism to control industrial property licenses without prejudice to public interest

Le marché français, caractérisé en particulier par une forte segmentation, d’une faible sophistication des investisseurs et une domination des banques, serait peu compétitif. Sur le plan théorique, nous cherchons à illustrer, à l’aide des deux modèles simples, les effets d’une absence relative de compétition entre les fonds. Le premier met en évidence le rôle de la compétition dans la création des incitations implicites. Le second tente d’illustrer le fait que cette absence de compétition (liée à la domination des banques sur le marché français) conduirait à une performance plus faible pour les fonds. Sur le plan empirique, nous vérifions, d’une part, l’existence de ce manque de compétition du marché français. D’autre part, nous mettons en évidence l’existence d’un conflit d’intérêt direct entre les investisseurs et les fonds, résultant direct du manque de compétition du marché. Au niveau de la rentabilité des fonds, le manque de compétition du marché reflète dans le fait que les investisseurs ne réagissent pas fortement à la rentabilité relative des fonds. Au niveau des frais, l’insensibilité des investisseurs individuels aux frais des fonds pourrait traduire une moindre concurrence du marché. Nous observons également une discrimination par les frais entre les investisseurs institutionnels et les investisseurs individuels. Ces derniers paient plus chers pour une rentabilité plus faible. Toutefois, le marché commence à montrer des signes de compétition, reflétant dans le fait que les investisseurs individuels commencent à faire attention au rapport qualité-prix des fonds. Par ailleurs, un plus grand degré de sophistication des investisseurs institutionnels pourrait expliquer le fait que nous ne constatons aucun lien entre les frais et la rentabilité des fonds dans ce segment. En effet, ces investisseurs, susceptibles d’être plus sophistiqués, pourraient estimer la qualité de la gestion par des mesures plus complexes de la performance. Enfin, nous fournissons une preuve de l’existence d’un conflit d’intérêt entre les investisseurs et les fonds : les déséconomies d’échelle de performance
The French market, characterized especially by a strong segmentation, low sophistication of investors and a domination of banks, would not be competitive. On the theoretical side, we try to illustrate, using two simple models, the effects of a lack of competition. The first one highlights the role of competition in the creation of implicit incentives. The second one shows that the lack of competition leads to weak funds’ performance. Empirically, we verify firstly the existence of this lack of competition in the French market. Secondly, we show the existence of a conflict of interest between investors and funds. The lack of competition reflects by the fact that investors do not react strongly to funds’ performance and individual investors are not sensitive to fund fees. We also observe a price discrimination between institutional and individual investors. The latter pays more for lower return. However, the market begins to show some signs of competition. In fact, individual investors start to pay attention to the “price-quality” rapport. In addition, a greater degree of sophistication of institutional investors may explain the fact that we do not obtain any relation between fees and return in this segment. Indeed, these investors may be more sophisticated and could estimate the quality of a fund by more complex measures of performance. Finally, we provide evidence for the existence of a conflict of interest between investors and funds: diseconomies of scale

La présente contribution s’intéresse à l’étude du déséquilibre significatif au sens de l’article L. 442-1 du Code de commerce (ancien article L. 442-6). Les interrogations qu’il suscite sont nombreuses : connaissance et spécificité de la règle dans les relations commerciales, légitimité du texte, cohérence interne de ses dispositions et mise en perspective dans le système global de lutte contre le déséquilibre significatif. Pour y répondre, il est nécessaire de combiner deux approches, l’une analytique et l’autre synthétique. À travers la première, il s’agit de mettre en lumière, par une méthode scientifique préalablement exposée, la manière dont les juges se saisissent de ce texte, le but étant de parvenir à une connaissance plus précise et effective de la règle en question. Chacun des éléments qui la composent font donc l’objet d’une analyse détaillée, à savoir, la notion en tant que telle ainsi que son régime. Les résultats obtenus permettent, ensuite, d’adopter une approche synthétique afin de mieux aborder la délicate question de l’articulation entre, d’une part, cet article et, d’autre part, les autres textes qui sanctionnent le déséquilibre significatif. Ils permettent également de proposer des pistes d’amélioration de l’actuel article L. 442-1, notamment dans la perspective d’une prochaine réforme
This contribution focuses on the study of the significant imbalance under Article L. 442-1 of the French Commercial Code (formerly Article L. 442-6). The questions it raises are numerous: knowledge and specificity of the regulations in commercial relations, legitimacy of the text, internal coherence of its provisions and putting it into perspective in the global system for fighting the significant imbalance. To answer this question, it is necessary to combine two approaches, one analytical and the other synthetic. The first one is to highlight, by a scientific method previously described, the way in which judges deal with this text. The aim is to achieve a more precise and effective knowledge of the rule in question. Each of its components is therefore the subject of a detailed analysis, namely the concept as such and its system. The results obtained then make it possible to adopt a synthetic approach in order to better address the delicate question of the structure between, on the one hand, this article and, on the other hand, the other texts that sanction the significant imbalance. They also make it possible to propose ways of improving the current Article L. 442-1, particularly with a view to a forthcoming reform

L’actualisation des données sur le contentieux privé des pratiques anticoncurrentielles fait naître laconviction que l’état de sous-développement souvent pointé est aujourd’hui dépassé. Les statistiquessont nettes : des dizaines d’affaires sont plaidées chaque année. Toutefois, ce contentieux s’esquissesous des traits qui ne sont pas exactement ceux du contentieux indemnitaire de masse faisant suite àla commission d’ententes internationales. C’est un fait majeur qui doit être noté car l’essentiel desprojets de réforme furent bâtis sur cet idéal type. Trois des caractères les plus saillants de la réalitéjudiciaire témoignent de cette fracture entre droit positif et droit prospectif. D’abord, le contentieuxprivé est majoritairement un contentieux contractuel entre professionnels aux forces déséquilibrées. Ensuite, c’estun contentieux national – voire local – plus qu’un contentieux international. Enfin, c’est plutôt uncontentieux autonome se déployant devant les juridictions judiciaires sans procédure préalable oupostérieure des autorités de concurrence (stand alone). Paradoxalement, les actions complémentaires(follow-on), pourtant réputées d’une mise en oeuvre aisée, sont plus rares. Ces observations invitentalors à réviser l’ordre des priorités de toute réflexion prospective. Ainsi, la lutte contre l’asymétried’informations et de moyens entre litigants, l’essor de sanctions contractuelles efficaces, larecomposition du rôle des autorités juridictionnelles et administratives dans le procès civil ou encorele développement des procédures de référé s’imposent avec urgence. Mais s’il paraît légitime desoutenir ce contentieux autonome déjà existant, il n’en reste pas moins utile de participer à laréflexion déjà amorcée pour développer le contentieux indemnitaire de masse tant attendu et dont onne peut négliger les atouts. De lege ferenda, le contentieux privé de demain présenterait donc uncaractère bicéphale ; il serait à la fois autonome et complémentaire. Il faut alors tenter de concevoir unrégime efficace pour ces deux moutures du contentieux privé en tenant compte de leurs exigencesrespectives. Or l’analyse positive et prospective de leurs fonctions révèlent que contentieuxautonome et contentieux complémentaire s’illustrent autant par les fonctions qu’ils partagent que parcelles qui les distinguent. Il serait donc excessif de vouloir en tous points leur faire application derègles particulières ou, à l’inverse, de règles identiques. C’est donc vers l’élaboration d’un régime commun complété par un régime particulier à chacun d’eux que s’orientera la présente recherche.PREMIÈRE PARTIE. Le régime commun aux contentieux privés autonome et complémentaireSECONDE PARTIE. Le régime particulier à chacun des contentieux privés autonome et complémentaire
Pas de résumé en anglais

Cette thèse a pour objet de comparer le contrôle des concentrations tel qu'il est exercé en France et au Japon afin de souligner les différences et les points communs des deux systèmes en la matière. Cette comparaison s'effectuera tout d'abord sur le plan de la conception du contrôle, afin d'examiner quels types d'opérations constituent une opération de concentration faisant l'objet du contrôle, ce dans les deux systèmes étudiés. Cette étude sera suivie de la comparaison de l'analyse des opérations de concentrations, afin de déterminer les critères d'appréciation des opérations en France, en Europe et au Japon. Enfin il sera procédé à la comparaison des procédures et des décisions prononcées dans les deux systèmes. Cette thèse tient compte dans sa partie française des nouveautés apportées par la Loi de Modernisation de l'Economie (loi LME), et dans sa partie japonaise de la réforme de la procédure du contrôle des concentrations du 6 juin 2011 afin de rendre compte des dernières avancées en la matière. Elle s'attarde également sur l'état du contrôle européen des concentrations, celui-ci ayant une place fondamentale dans le système français

Quel rôle le Concours international Marguerite Long joue-t-il dans le contexte de la Guerre Froide, en tant que vecteur culturel où s’affrontent deux écoles opposées d’un point de vue esthétique, à savoir les Écoles de piano française et soviétique ? L’objectif de cette thèse est de comprendre les mécanismes du concours Marguerite Long et leur impact sur le jeu pianistique qui, depuis les années cinquante jusqu’à la fin des années soixante-dix, évolue considérablement sous l’impulsion des succès de l’École russo-soviétique. Le lien apparent entre concours et politique internationale est déconstruit pour laisser place aux enjeux esthétiques et culturels qui seuls influencent le palmarès. Le deuxième volet de notre étude nous amène à envisager les particularités de chacune des écoles de piano, puis à les comparer pour établir dans quelle mesure elles s’influencent mutuellement et se distancient. Des facteurs cruciaux des échanges franco-soviétiques sont pris en considération, comme l’essor de la vie culturelle souterraine en U.R.S.S. à partir du milieu des années soixante. Notre étude se fonde sur le dépouillement de six fonds d’archives, notamment le Fonds Long de la Bibliothèque Mahler, les archives de la Fondation Long-Thibaud-Crespin, celles du Centre des archives diplomatiques de la Courneuve ainsi que celles de l’A.L.A.P
What role does the Marguerite Long International Music Competition play in the context of Cold War? In other words, how important is this culture transmission vector, where two piano traditions so contrasted as the French and Soviet piano schools confront each other on the basis of aesthetic matters? The aim of this thesis is to understand the mechanism of the Marguerite Long competition and its impact on piano playing, which significantly evolves from the 1950s until the late 1970s, influenced by the successes achieved by the Soviet-Russian piano school. The apparent link between music competitions and international politics is deconstructed to put an emphasis on cultural issues, which solely determine the list of award winners. The second part of this thesis consists in examining the particularity of both piano schools, comparing them to ascertain to what extent they mutually influence each other or distance themselves. Crucial aspects of Franco-Soviet cultural exchanges are taken into account, such as the full development of underground culture in the USSR from the mid-1960s. This study was conducted on a systematic analysis of six archival holdings, notably those kept by the Fonds Long of the Bibliothèque Mahler, the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Foundation, the Center of diplomatic archives in la Courneuve and archival sources regarding the A.L.A.P. (Parisian Literary and Artistic Agency)

La présente thèse porte sur le développement du port de Shanghai de 1843 à 1912, en se concentrant sur l’histoire des entreprises étrangères installées à Shanghai pendant cette période. À une époque où la Chine promeut son Initiative de la Ceinture et la Route, visant à étendre son influence mondiale en aidant les pays participants à développer leurs infrastructures publiques, notamment portuaires, il est intéressant de réétudier l’histoire du développement du port de Shanghai durant la période concessionnaire. Les concessions étrangères de Shanghai et les entreprises privées établies sur place entre 1843 et 1912 ont joué un rôle essentiel dans la construction du port de cette ville, qui est devenu par la suite un modèle de développement pour les autres villes portuaires chinoises. La ville de Shanghai telle que nous la connaissons aujourd’hui trouve ses fondations durant cette période. Cette thèse essaie de démontrer en quoi les compétitions commerciales des entreprises étrangères présentes à Shanghai ont été le moteur du développement de son port. Elle explore le contexte historique, les étapes clés de la construction du port, l'aménagement et la gestion, ainsi que l'impérialisme occidental et l'émergence d'une conscience nationale chinoise
This thesis focuses on the development of the Shanghai port from 1843 to 1912, with a particular emphasis on the history of foreign enterprises established in Shanghai during this period. At a time when China is promoting its Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at expanding its global influence by assisting participating countries in developing their public infrastructure, including ports, it is interesting to reexamine the history of the development of the Shanghai port during the concession period. The foreign concessions in Shanghai and the private enterprises established there between 1843 and 1912 played a crucial role in the construction of the port, which later became a development model for other Chinese port cities. The city of Shanghai as we know it today has its foundations in this period. This thesis seeks to demonstrate how the commercial competition among foreign enterprises in Shanghai drove the development of its port. It explores the historical context, key stages of port construction, planning and management, as well as Western imperialism and the emergence of Chinese national consciousness

Après des décennies de mise en œuvre d’une politique économique protectionniste et enfermée, l’Égypte a opté en 1991 pour l’économie du marché et l’ouverture de ses frontières aux échanges internationaux. Dès lors, il manquait une pièce importante de lutte contre les cartels et le pouvoir de marché de manière générale. En 2005, l’Égypte a finalement adopté sa première législation de concurrence. Au regard de l’importance de l’Égypte au niveau régional et mondial, sur le plan économique et politique, il est opportun de s’intéresser à l’effectivité du droit égyptien de la concurrence, dans le but d’apprécier ses avancées et ses faiblesses et de proposer des pistes de perfectionnement. Cette étude cible des aspects qu’elle juge prioritaires : les règles substantielles, procédurales et institutionnelles visant la lutte contre les ententes secrètes, les abus de position dominante et les concentrations. Les appréciations et propositions sont faites à partir d’une mise en perspective de systèmes juridiques qui ont été choisis en référence : ceux de deux pays en développement (Brésil et Afrique du sud) et ceux des pays développés (Union européenne, la France et, à titre subsidiaire, les États-Unis). Elles entendent également tirer profit des travaux d’organisations internationales
After decades of adopting a protective and closed economic policy, Egypt has finally opted in 1991 for the market economy and the opening of its borders to international trade. However, an important aspect was missing ; the fight against cartels and market power in general. In 2005, Egypt has finally adopted its first competition law. Given the importance of Egypt at the regional and global levels, from both economic and political perspectives, it is timely to pay attention to the effectiveness of Egyptian competition law in order to evaluate its level of progress and its weaknesses and to propose methods and means of enhancement. This study is targeting issues and matters that are considered to be priorities: substantive, procedural and institutional rules aiming for fighting against cartels, abuse of dominance and mergers. The assessments and proposals set out in this study have been made in perspective of legal systems that have been chosen as reference: those of two developing countries (Brazil and South Africa) and those of developed countries (European Union, France and, alternatively, the United States). They also intend to benefit from the work of international organizations

Des années 1960 jusqu’à la fin de la guerre froide, voire au-delà, l’influence voire la prépondérance de la France sur les territoires francophones d’Afrique noire est presque totale. Cependant, en ce XXIème siècle naissant, la compétition mondiale dans la recherche de nouveaux débouchés et de la sécurisation de l’approvisionnement énergétique amène inexorablement les grandes puissances à entrer en ‘‘conflit d’intérêts’’ par la pénétration réciproque des « arrière-cours ». Ceci est particulièrement vrai pour la France qui voit des pays tels que les Etats-Unis, la Chine, l’Inde, le Brésil, la Turquie, les pays du Golfe, etc., faire une entrée fracassante dans une région géographique qu’elle considère depuis longtemps comme sa « chasse gardée » compte tenu des liens historique, linguistique et politique. Ces nouveaux défis et enjeux pour la politique africaine de la France se mesurent désormais, à l’aune des transformations à l’œuvre sur la scène internationale avec la mondialisation et l’émergence de nouvelles puissances du Sud. Les défis et les enjeux sont importants pour l’action extérieure de la France et sa place dans le monde, compte tenu de la concurrence féroce des nouveaux acteurs et des changements des sociétés africaines en cours. Néanmoins elle possède encore des atouts économiques, diplomatiques et stratégiques susceptibles de lui permettre d’élaborer, grâce à l’espace culturel francophone, un projet original, ambitieux et porteur d’espoir. Pour ce faire, il faudra répondre aux deux interrogations suivantes : Comment réformer cette politique traditionnelle basée sur des relations étroites et privilégiées avec les dirigeants africains sans toutefois compromettre les avantages comparatifs de la France sur place? Quelle stratégie politique mettre en œuvre pour identifier les véritables intérêts communs des Français et des Africains francophones, en tenant compte des opportunités et des menaces, et les développer dans un partenariat mutuellement bénéfique ?
From 1960s to the end of the cold war, even beyond, the influence even the supremacy of France in the French-speaking territories in Sub-Saharan Africa is almost total. However, in this 21st century, the world competition in the research of new markets and the security of the energy supply leads inexorably the great powers to enter in “conflict of interests” by the mutual penetration of the “back-yards”. This is particularly true for France which has countries such as the United States, China, India, Brazil, Turkey, the Gulf Arab States, etc., to make a dramatic entrance in a geographical area where she judged it for a long time as her “exclusive domain” considering the historical, linguistic and political links. These new challenges and issues for the African policy of France are measured from now on, in the light of the transformations at work in the world with the globalization and the emergence of new powers of the South. The challenges and the issues are important for the external action of France and its place in the World, considering the fierce competition between new stakeholders and the ongoing African society changes. Nevertheless it still has economic, diplomatic and strategic assets which enable him to elaborate, thanks to the francophone cultural center, an original project, ambitious and promising. With this aim in mind, it will be necessary to answer to the two following questions: How to reform this traditional policy based on close and privileged relationships with African leaders without compromising, however, the comparative advantages of France on the spot? Which political strategy has to be implemented in order to identify the real common interests of the French and the French-speaking Africans, by taking into account the opportunities and threats, and to develop them in a mutually beneficial partnership?

Defence date: 28 November 2014
Examining Board: Prof. Federico Romero, EUI, Supervisor; Prof. Dirk Moses, EUI, Second Reader; Prof. Idesbald Goddeeris, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, External Supervisor; Prof. Sue Onslow, London School of Economics/Institute of Commonwealth Studies.
The ideological scramble for Africa tells the story of an international competition between the US, France, Ghana and the UK. Against the background of rising Soviet interests, these countries worked to convince leaders and peoples in Sub-Saharan Africa of their pan-African, capitalist and imperial plans. Between 1953 and 1963, Africa’s position in the international system was not primarily determined by the struggle between the USSR and the US. African leaders did not simply play off the Cold war superpowers against each other to extract gains. Kwame Nkrumah, the leader of Ghana, projected his own pan-African ideology to other parts of the continent. What was at stake in this scramble were the so-called ‘minds’ of African peoples. Nkrumah blamed colonialism for instilling non-white populations with an inferiority complex, while policy makers in the West drew on the insights of ethno-psychology to argue that underdevelopment was a psychological problem. To develop men into the modern mindset or, conversely, to create an ‘African Personality’, policymakers relied on education and information media. When other African statesmen were unwilling to support Ghana’s pan-African vision, Nkrumah’s public discourse became more stridently anticolonial, in an attempt to mobilise the African general public. With the atrocities of the Congo crisis in mind, President John F. Kennedy and the Europeans began to see anticolonial nationalism as an emotional response to the tensions that came out of the modernisation process. Western officials therefore decided to modernise the socio-economic structures of ‘emerging’ societies, since psychological modernisation had failed. Those shifting views on African development profoundly influenced the way in which the Bandung Conference, the Suez Crisis, the independence of Ghana, the Sahara atomic bomb tests and the Congo crisis were understood. As a whole, this analysis presents a sharp departure from a narrative in which non-Western actors are depicted as subaltern agents who can only resist or utilise Cold War pressures. It seeks to address the broader question of why pan-Africanism ultimately failed to become a fully developed interventionist ideology, capable of rivalling communist and capitalist proscriptions for African development.

Defence date: 28 November 2003
Examining board: Prof. Adrienne Héritier, The European University of Florence, Florence ; Prof. Gérard Pogorel, Telecom Paris, Paris ; Prof. Martin Rhodes (supervisor), The European University of Florence, Florence ; Prof. Mark Thatcher (external co-supervisor), The London School of Economics, London
PDF of thesis uploaded from the Library digitised archive of EUI PhD theses completed between 2013 and 2017

Saskatchewan has good growing conditions, much land and water resources, minimal pest pressure and the expertise necessary for growing high-quality commercial vegetables. Statistics show, however, that commercial vegetable production occupies a relatively small place in the agricultural economy of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan production accounts for less than 10 per cent of the total provincial market for fresh vegetables, the other supplies of fresh vegetables marketed in Saskatchewan come from sources outside of the province and imports from the southern United States, Mexico, and other warm regions. The majority of Saskatchewan produced vegetables are sold through market gardens, farmers’ markets and consumer contract sales. In light of the increasing importance of fresh vegetable demand, examining the role of a new marketing organization in the province is important as it might bring about major realignment of the Saskatchewan fresh produce market. Recently, a project supported by the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (ACS) encouraged producers to organize themselves into picking zones and to work together to supply larger retail markets. The Grocery People (TGP) (a retailer) has agreed to purchase vegetables grown in Saskatchewan for their distribution centre in Saskatoon. This new organization, Prairie Fresh Food Corporation (PFFC), despite its numerous benefits, will test the farmer participants’ resolve to cooperate rather than proceed alone. This poses a real opportunity for producers to expand and develop the infrastructure required, as produce can be pooled. This study uses Transaction Cost, Agency and Monopolistic Competition theories to analyze the factors that hamper farmers from participating in contracts and taking advantage of these potential opportunities. It considers the advantages and barriers or potential challenges to wholesalers and retailers cooperating with this plan. In particular, an economic model of economies of scale through collective action is developed. The model assumes that small growers can access higher market share through collective action and achieving economies of scale. The results of personal interviews with eleven members of PFFC are presented and analyzed in a case study format. The case study analysis of PFFC reveals that the organization could provide positive benefits to its members in the early period of its establishment. The results show that the market share of the PFFC is still relatively small throughout the province, but its members expect it to expand in the future. The results suggest that high relative prices in the market and trust in the buyer have a positive effect on the probability of farmer participation in the project.

The present case study was developed while finishing the master of International Management. It explores the business reality of a Portuguese Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) – GL Importação e Exportação S.A. - a well-known company in the retail business, entering into an external market, Spain. GL started its business in the retail and Horeca channels as a distributor, with a limited portfolio of products, being 90% dependent on one brand, Benecol, which nearly undermined its business activity. Over the past ten years, GL has been focused on the Portuguese market, with the goal of opening new segments in the retail chain, through added-value and innovative products, such as Benecol, ready-to-eat meals Fleury Michon, fresh fruit juice SoNatural, Snock and SoNatural Sandwiches. In 2007, through acquisitions and investments, GL acquired a sandwich company, Agua Mais, along with its brand Snock, one of the most famous and well known brands in the Portuguese market. Simultaneously, SoNatural was created as a brand launching a fresh fruit juice, a home-made product. Since then, GL‘s ambition to explore international markets started to take place. The investment in marketing activities revealed to be very effective in or order to enter in the retail stores in Portugal. SoNatural opened a new segment in the juices and nectar sector due to its production method for preserving foods, by a High Pressure Processing (HPP), achieving the maximum benefit from the non-thermal technology. Even though it was designed to be an innovative product, GL‘s entering strategy in Spain did not have any immediate success due to the lack of resources and strategy plan for investment. The present case will raise some fundamental questions on how the change of a culture process in a SME is important; the difficulties of entering to an external market and, therefore, the strategy to overcome those issues, which may be seen as a consequence of the internationalization process. Using the data, mostly provided by GL, combined with a large collection of qualitative information, a perspective and knowledge of the Spanish reality was captured, allowing the development of the present case study. The case also provides a reflection of the challenges faced by national companies reaching external markets, in a competitive market. The case study objective would be to consolidate business knowledge, providing with a full insight of a real business practice.