Our intention with this book is to extend the efficiency literature to the case of intertemporal models. We do this in steps. First, we introduce static network models which will serve as building blocks for our intertemporal budgeting models and our dynamic models. Next, we devote two chapters to productivity measurements, which we think of as comparative static models. Intertemporal budgeting models and dynamic models are taken up after that. Each chapter, except Chapter One, contains an empirical applica- tion. These applications are coauthored with colleagues and stu- dents; thanks are due to Runar Brannlund, Yijan He, Julius Hor- vath, Pontus Roos, Jerry Whittaker and S. (Lek) Yaisawarng . . We would also like to thank Dale Boisso and Kathy Hayes for gra- ciously sharing their data on Illinois municipalities with us. Two of the applications are already published, namely: "Environmental Regulation and Profitability: Applications to Swedish Pulp and Pa- per Mills," Environmental and Resource Economics 6: 23-36, 1995, (Section 2. 5) and "Productivity and Quality Changes in Swedish Pharmacies," International Journal of Production Economics 39: 137-144, 1995, (Section 3. 5). We are grateful to Kluwer Academic Publishers and Elsevier Science for kindly allowing us to reproduce these publications here. During the summer 1995 we spent a very enjoyable two months at the Center for Economic Studies (CES) at the University of Munich.

The economic process of financialization is defined by many as the development of the dependence and subordination of the productive sector to the financial sector. Leading to an emphasis on maximizing shareholder value above all else, the financialization of the economy and production has an enormous impact on the everyday life of ordinary people including the erosion of employment right, the rise of precarious work, and rising inequalities. Using multicase study research and an exploratory approach, this book analyzes the financialization process in the ten companies with the highest market capitalization worldwide including tech firms, oil companies and banks. This book analyzes indicators of financialization in large corporations including a comparison between profitability sources; shareholding structure, acquisitions and sales of shares; mergers and acquisitions; the origins of directors; payment of compensation to executives; dividend payments to shareholders and stock repurchases; employee salaries; and employment levels. The data demonstrates that what would once have been considered non-core business activities have become more profitable than core business activities in many of these companies. In some cases, these companies are responsible for large investment funds and financial-type institutions which already surpass the largest banks in terms of assets under management. Meanwhile, the average salaries at some of these companies have been falling in real terms due to the rise of outsourcing and the use of cheap or precarious labour. Adopting an economic sociology approach, this book marks a significant contribution to the literature on financialization in economics, sociology and business.

There are few contemporary studies on the finances of unions. Indeed, little research exists on the internal operations of unions in the U.S. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the financial resources and performance of the largest national unions. It discusses the theoretical and practical relevance of the topic, which goes directly to the formation, maintenance, and potential advancement of labor organizations. Financial capacity and performance create incentives for unions to mobilize at the grassroots level and launch major drives to improve their position in society. Understanding how unions raise and spend money provides insight as to their administrative orientation and organizational capacity. Given its topical breadth and depth, the book stands apart from the extant literature on unions in society. It is unique in the range of financial information presented, how data are analyzed, and its treatment of such important matters as compensation and benefits; operating budgets; political activism as measured by expenditures from treasury-based funds and political mechanisms funded by members through voluntary donations. The authors show not only the scope of union financial wherewithal and how it varies across labor organizations but also how such indicators compare to corporate entities who employ the rank-and-file. The book provides a wealth of information on how to analyze the finances of unions and to use this information to prepare for collective bargaining and other aspects of labor-management relations. It informs employers and other observers about how unions are able to represent members and their ability to withstand strikes.

Utilising a wide array of data and rich empirical evidence drawn from a large sample of industrial districts (IDs), Ivana Paniccia presents a realistic, state-of-the-art analysis of their socio-economic structure and performance. This extensive yet detailed study adopts a wide perspective, integrating historical evidence and different streams of literature - from industrial to regional economics - into testable hypotheses. The multidisciplinary, quantitative approach adopted by the author, enables her to 'de-structure' the 'canonical' idea of the ID and evaluate the normative value. Supported by multivariate and econometric analyses, she identifies four general types of ID each with different development paths, performances, inter-organizational relations, and regulatory rules and institutions. The results demonstrate that IDs on average achieve better static or dynamic economic performance than non-ID areas. The analysis also highlights critical points of rupture in the socio-economic equilibrium of IDs which may impair their future competitiveness and social sustainability. The author offers a critical appraisal of the organizational literature on IDs, claiming for caution in their depiction as 'cooperative systems' and goes on to present the first steps towards a 'microfoundation' of a theory on IDs. Providing the methodology to monitor the performance and evolution of IDs, together with precise policy suggestions, this book will appeal to a broad range of scholars and researchers in a variety of disciplines including regional, industrial and institutional economics, organizational studies and industrial sociology.

This collection of articles by an internationally recognised authority on the multinational enterprise contains advances in theory, examinations of organisational issues and empirical studies of multinationals in the world economy. The theory section includes an innovative paper on the role of multinationals in less developed countries. The organisational issues examined include strategic alliances. The final section includes analyses of joint ventures and Japan's relationship with multinational firms.

Both firms and governments are increasingly taking steps to address sustainability, and at the same time the issue of governance has become more prominent due to the numerous problems in public and business life which have manifest failures in governance. As initiatives for sustainability increase in importance and prominence, so has the need for governance of sustainability plans and actions. This volume of Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility responds to that need and focuses on the relations between governance and sustainability. The book looks at what has been happening in various locations around the world, identifying varying approaches and examining whether and how a best practice could be developed. Gathering contributions that are varied in scope and produced by authors from around the world, it provides a rich picture of the progress (or lack of progress) being made in a wide array of contexts. For its depth and broad scope, Governance and Sustainability is a must-read for researchers, students, and practitioners interested in sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

This book explains the roles of the industrial location in vitalizing regional economies in various economic environments created due to the progress of globalization. Here, this book elucidates the impact of industrial location and locational factors on regional economies. It clarifies the effects on industrial location of regulations and corporate tax. And the book explains the regional economic influence of the employment and agglomeration that are factors influencing the location. It also focuses on some countries and examines the relationships between the industrial location and the vitalization of regional economy in each country. This analysis covers the automotive and high-tech industries in the northeastern region of China, the impact of urban systems on regional development in the Philippines, and firms in revitalization in the northern region of Sweden. And it reveals achievements and challenges in each region. Finally, the book clarifies that the level of achievement in regional development is related to the educational environment. It also suggests that the industrial composition of a region is influenced by the level of regional cooperation with other regions. The analyses in the book show that a region must select the industries that match its newly emerged regional characteristics for vitalization.

The conspicuous success in Italy of a highly dynamic sector of small, rurally based manufacturing businesses has attracted a considerable amount of attention throughout both Europe and the United States in recent years. This book links this development in Italy to the processes of transformation of certain parts of the Italian countryside over the last hundred years and argues that the involvement of peasant families with both agricultural and industrial employment - a constant of the situation before the First World War - produced an entrepreneurial spirit that was subsequently reflected in the development of rural industries.

First Published in 1967, Espionage and Subversion in an Industrial Society presents a comprehensive overview of the true significance of industrial espionage and its relationship with the struggle for economic supremacy of a nation. Industrial espionage is a growth industry and the new battlefield where nations and ideologies struggle for economic supremacy. This and subversive activity may seem relatively harmless in comparison with a 'hot war'. It is however precisely because the temperature of an all-out war would destroy the civilization, we know that industrial espionage and subversion assume importance. In this book Mr Hamilton has combined his own extensive security knowledge with thorough research in his subjects. This is an interesting read for scholars of diplomacy, international economics, and international politics.

The emerging markets have shifted rapidly from being the growth points of the global auto industry in the mid-1990s to being in crisis and recession at the end of the 1992. The essays in this volume analyze current transformations in the auto industry in a broad range of emerging markets. Some of the essays are thematic, addressing such issues as market instability and the environmental impact of vehicle use across a broad range of emerging markets. Other essays are comparative, providing in-depth analysis of particular issues, such as the development of vehicles specifically targeted at emerging markets.

"The Perfect Scent "is the thrilling inside story of the global perfume industry, told through two creators working on two very different scents. The first is commissioned by the French luxury brand Hermes, and developed by a perfumer named Jean-Claude Ellena, who begins his search for the scent on the banks of the Nile. The second is a celebrity fragrance, developed in New York by movie star Sarah Jessica Parker and a team of perfumers from a global conglomerate. Chalder Burr, the "New York Times"'s perfume critic, spent a year behind the scenes watching both creators at work. His thrilling narrative follows each scent from the initial concept to the worldwide launch. "The Perfect Scent" is the story of two daring creators, two very different scents, and a billion-dollar industry that runs on the invisible magic of perfume.

Private regulatory initiatives aim to govern supply chains across the globe according to a set of environmental, food safety and/or social standards. Until now, literature on the topic has been fragmented and divided by research fields. However, this unique and comprehensive book bridges these disciplinary and thematic research lines, bringing together an interdisciplinary group of leading scholars to identify key issues. The expert contributors assess the state-of-the-art with regard to private regulation of food, natural resources and labour conditions. They begin with an introduction to, and discussion of, several leading existing private standards, and go on to assess private food standards and their legitimacy and effectiveness in the context of the global trade regime. This truly multidisciplinary assessment of the scope and importance of private standards as a governance tool in a globalizing world will prove to be an enlightening read for a wide-ranging audience encompassing: academics, students, researchers, policymakers and analysts focusing on private forms of governance in several sectors including economics, law, politics, development, environment and agriculture. Contributors: E. Becault, F. Cafaggi, L. Colen, L. Cuyvers, T. De Meyer, N. Hachez, S. Henson, J. Humphrey, M. Maertens, A. Marx, J. Swinnen, G.H. Stanton, F. van Waarden, J. Wouters

This book examines the diffusion of digitalization and industry 4.0 technologies in Malaysia by focusing on the ecosystem critical for its expansion. The chapters examine the digital proliferation in major sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, e-commerce and services, as well as the intermediary organizations essential for the orderly performance of socioeconomic agents. The book incisively reviews policy instruments critical for the effective and orderly development of the embedding organizations, and the regulatory framework needed to quicken the appropriation of socioeconomic synergies from digitalization and industry 4.0 technologies. It highlights the importance of collaboration between government, academic and industry partners, as well as makes key recommendations on how to encourage adoption of IR4.0 technologies in the short- and long-term. This book bridges the concepts and applications of digitalization and industry 4.0 and will be a must-read for policy makers seeking to quicken the adoption of its technologies.

Post-Capitalist Industrialization presents an economic strategy and planning methodology that tackles the complex problem of industrialization. The book offers an analysis of Tanzania's struggle to establish an independent, democratic economy, and describes how that nation's failure to do so is connected to its refusal to adopt a comprehensive plan for democratic industrial development.

EBES conferences have been intellectual hub for academic discussion in economics, finance, and business fields and provide network opportunities for participants to make long lasting academic cooperation. This is the 24th volume of the Eurasian Studies in Business and Economics (EBES's official proceeding series) which includes selected papers from the 37th EBES Conference - Berlin. The conference was jointly organized with the GLO (Global Labour Organization, a global, independent, non-partisan and non-governmental organization based in Germany) with the support of the Istanbul Economic Research Association and in collaboration with the FOM University of Applied Sciences (Germany). Due to COVID-19, the conference presentation mode was virtual. In the conference, 177 papers by 379 colleagues from 54 countries were presented. Both theoretical and empirical papers in this volume cover diverse areas of business, economics, and finance from many different regions. Therefore, it provides a great opportunity to colleagues, professionals, and students to catch up with the most recent studies in different fields and empirical findings on many countries and regions.

New Work and Industry 4.0 have matured and this book takes a practical, experience-based approach to project management in these areas. It introduces methods and covers the practical aspects. It critically examines existing approaches and practices and shows their limitations. The book covers appropriate methods as well as human and social aspects. It contributes to the ongoing discussion of business practices and methods. It also aims to stimulate dialogue in the professional community. Digital Project Practice for New Work and Industry 4.0 begins by introducing basic concepts in the context of Industry 4.0 and discussing how they might influence organizational communication and impact the work environment. After examining the possibilities and challenges of remote work and collaboration in distributed teams all over the world, the book looks at a company's fundamental changes related to New Work from a practical business perspective as well as legal and ethical perspectives. It reviews the case of the VW emission scandal and recommends ways to improve corporate culture. Legal issues include New Work and hybrid forms of collaboration as well as liability for automated decisions (i.e., the potential need for an 'electronic person'). Other implications for the workplace include how: Industry 4.0 might influence the potential demand for "Digital Unions" Industry 4.0, and lean production, and their applications can change industrial practices Open Banking presents new approaches and new business models Work structures and systems can empower employees' work self-management This book also looks at how New Work effects individual workers. It addresses digital stress, introduces strategies for coping with it, and discusses related topics. It also explores the benefits of meditation and the economics of mind, body, and spirit. In essence, this book cover appropriate methods along with human and social factors. It also covers practice, different perspectives, and various experiences from all around the globe. Contributing to the ongoing discussion on business practices and methods, this book will nourish and stimulate dialogue in the professional community.

This study of the business of football considers its income and cost drivers, its capital structure and its accounting policies through UK examples and international comparison. Also addressed are the conflicts arising out of the incorporation of football and the dichotomy between sport and business, leading to a suggested contemporary framework for accountability and business behaviour.

Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award recipient This workbook explains in simple, step-by-step terms how to introduce and sustain lean flows of material and information in pacemaker cells and lines, a prerequisite for achieving a lean value stream. A sight we frequently encounter when touring plants is the relocation of processing steps from departments (process villages) to product-family work cells, but too often these "cells" produce only intermittent and erratic flow. Output gyrates from hour to hour and small piles of inventory accumulate between each operation so that few of the benefits of cellularization are actually being realized; and, if the cell is located upstream from the pacemaker process, none of the benefits may ever reach the customer. This sequel to Learning to See (which focused on plant level operations) provides simple step-by-step instructions for eliminating waste and creating continuous flow at the process level. This isn't a workbook you will read once then relegate to the bookshelf. It's an action guide for managers, engineers, and production associates that you will use to improve flow each and every day. Creating Continuous Flow takes you to the next level in work cell design where you'll achieve even greater cost and lead time savings. You'll learn: * where to focus your continuous flow efforts * how to create much more efficient work cells and lines * how to operate a pacemaker process so that a lean value stream is possible * how to sustain the gains, and keep improving Creating Continuous Flow is the next logical step after Learning to See. The value-stream mapping process defined the pacemaker process and the overall flow of products and information in the plant. The next step is to shift your focus from the plant to the process level by zeroing in on the pacemaker process, which sets the production rhythm for the plant or value stream, and apply the principles of continuous flow. Every p

Attention to the issue of disabilities has intensified in recent decades, prompting States and organizations to respond with appropriate measures to promote inclusion of persons with disabilities in all social environments. This book's thesis is that the seeds of this inclusivity were planted by the development of tourism for people with disabilities in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The book explores the development of tourism for people with disabilities in Italy during this time period. It adds an important tessera to the mosaic of international literature that has rarely considered the history of tourism and the history of disabilities in a unified manner. While certainly of great interest to an Italian audience, the discussion of the various responses taking form in Italy to the needs of persons with disabilities, and the role these responses have played in the development of mass tourism generally, is also quite pertinent to international contexts. This book is based largely on unpublished sources. The authors' hope is that the presentation of these new materials combined with the innovative approach of a historical study of tourism through the lens of disabilities will open up international scholarly debate and discussion drawing in contributions from all disciplines.

This book investigates cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) conducted by Chinese enterprises seeking to evaluate the pivotal factors that influence the results of this dominant form of China's outbound direct investment. In contrast to previous studies, the author places a particular focus on the provenance of the supply side as a determinant of overseas M&A, comparing acquisitions where target companies originate from developed and developing countries. Other major indices identified include cultural and industrial differences between targets and buyers, enterprise ownership, deal payment forms, types of consolidation and the market environment. Based on investment theories, quantitative analyses and several in-depth case studies, the book elucidates how these factors synergistically determine the success or failure of an acquisition attempt and the short- and long-term performance of Chinese companies' M&A undertakings. This work will be a practical reference for M&A practitioners as well as academics interested in transnational corporations and mergers, capital market and international investment.

This collection of articles examines cartels and looks at issues such as formation, stability and detection in the study of industrial organisation and the design and enforcement of regulatory policy.

Written by two of the field's most respected researchers, Modern Industrial Organization goes beyond the traditional structure-conduct-performance framework by using the latest advances in microeconomic theory, including transaction cost analysis, game theory, contestability, and information economics. Updated to reflect new trends and topics, the 4th Edition focuses on providing students with a clear, unified structure for analysing theories and empirical evidence about the organisation of firms and industries.

This book examines the diffusion of digitalization and industry 4.0 technologies in Malaysia by focusing on the ecosystem critical for its expansion. The chapters examine the digital proliferation in major sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, e-commerce and services, as well as the intermediary organizations essential for the orderly performance of socioeconomic agents. The book incisively reviews policy instruments critical for the effective and orderly development of the embedding organizations, and the regulatory framework needed to quicken the appropriation of socioeconomic synergies from digitalization and industry 4.0 technologies. It highlights the importance of collaboration between government, academic and industry partners, as well as makes key recommendations on how to encourage adoption of IR4.0 technologies in the short- and long-term. This book bridges the concepts and applications of digitalization and industry 4.0 and will be a must-read for policy makers seeking to quicken the adoption of its technologies.