EXIT OF MEAT SLAUGHTER PLANTS DURING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PR/HACCP REGULATIONS

Implementation of the Pathogen Reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (PR/HACCP) regulations has occurred across all U.S. meat and poultry plants. A probit model is estimated to determine which factors have affected the probability of red meat slaughter plant exit during implementation of the regulations. While controlling for plant-level, company-level, regional-level, and supply conditions that may affect the probability of plant exit, smaller plants are found to exhibit a much greater probability of exit than larger plants. Other factors affecting plant exit include plant age, market share relative to the degree of market concentration, regional entry rates, and state-level wage rates.Agribusiness,

Corruption and Resource Allocation: Evidence from China

Exploiting a unique data set containing transactions data from a panel of 769 Chinese state-owned enterprises between 1980 and 1989, this paper tests microeconomic implications of a pervasive form of corruption --official diversion of under-priced, in-plan goods to the market. Corruption has the predicted effects on resource allocation. Official under-pricing of in-plan goods, which lowers the marginal cost of diversion, increases the procurement of output into the plan for the purpose of diversion. Market competition introduced by allowing firms to sell directly to the market appears to reduce corruption and therefore lessen its distortions.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39780/3/wp396.pd

Strengthening Construction Management in the Rural Rehab Line of Business

The Five Key ObservationsObservation#1: Rural rehab success emanated from positive thinking and persistent implementationObservation #2: Almost every RHRO would benefit from a substantial increase in the per unit funding available, especially in light of the forthcoming HUD HOME requirement to establish written rehab standards in ten subcategories.Observation #3: A smartphone and tablet with 20 to 40 apps is the rehab specialist's Swiss Army knife. They are our, GPS, calculator, spec writer, office lifeline in case of danger, camera, clock, cost estimator calendar and a hundred other single-purpose but very important uses.Observation #4: NeighborWorks® Rural Initiative could provide a clearinghouse for success techniques targeted to rural rehab. Each month it might focus on a specific aspect of rehab management; inspection checklists in January, green specs in February, feasibility checklist in March, contractor qualification questionnaires in April and so on.Observation #5: Even with most components of in-house contractor success formula in place, per the Statistic Research Institute 53% of construction firms go out of business with in the first 4 years. It remains a very risky model that requires significant; funding, staff experience, administrative support and risk tolerance.Three Rehab Production Models And Their AlternativesThis middle section restates the introduction and methodology and offers a detailed review of the Traditional Rehab Specialist, Construction Management Of Subcontractor and the In-House General Contractor production models .for each model the article provides: definition and staffing pattern, design roles and tasks for each major player, benefits and challenges, alternative models and finally recommendations for successful implementationFocus TopicsDuring our interview process, three ideas surfaced that were best served with a mini discussion of the topic rather than being embedded in the already large middle section.The three topics are; software and technology, management of community relations – marketing and quality control, and budget solution

Corruption and Resource Allocation: Evidence from China

Exploiting a unique data set containing transactions data from a panel of 769 Chinese state-owned enterprises between 1980 and 1989, this paper tests microeconomic implications of a pervasive form of corruption --official diversion of under-priced, in-plan goods to the market. Corruption has the predicted effects on resource allocation. Official under-pricing of in-plan goods, which lowers the marginal cost of diversion, increases the procurement of output into the plan for the purpose of diversion. Market competition introduced by allowing firms to sell directly to the market appears to reduce corruption and therefore lessen its distortions.corruption, resources allocation, China, dual-track system

MEAT-PACKER CONDUCT IN FED CATTLE PRICING: MULTIPLE-MARKET OLIGOPSONY POWER

The exercise of market power across multiple geographic fed cattle markets is measured with an econometric model which links behavior of the margin between boxed beef and regional fed cattle prices to an oligopsony model of multiple-market conduct. The game theoretic economic model suggests that for market power to be exercised in a single market a discontinuous pricing strategy must be followed. Total market power is enhance if meat-packers coordinate this pricing strategy across geographic markets. Tests reject independence of pricing conduct across geographic markets which suggests multiple-market power is present. The extent of the market power also is consistent with the economic model. More market power is exercised across regions with the same meat-packing firms. However, the magnitude of the market power is small and decreased between the early and late 1980s.Demand and Price Analysis,

Implementation of government goods and services procurement using the e-purchasing method in the tegal religious court: Mediating role of supply chain in Indonesia

Abstract-Program Postgraduate Program in Pancasakti University Tegal. 2019. Implementation of Procurement of Government Goods and Services by E- Purchasing Method in the Tegal Religious Court. The implementation of e- procurement in various agencies makes the process of interaction between users and service providers, and the community-run easier and accelerates the process of procurement of goods. Equally important, the implementation of e-procurement has automatically improved the control system for various rules and violations. Procurement of government goods/services electronically can be done by e- tendering and e-purchasing who use electronic catalogs and supply chain plays a vital role in the e-purchasing of the goods and services. The purpose of this study is 1) examine the implementation of e-purchasing in the application of rules regarding the procurement process of goods/services through the Tegal Religious Court, 2) explain the role of supervisory institutions in the implementation of the procurement process of goods in the Tegal Religious Court in anticipation of fraud that can cause losses to the state's finances. This type of research is normative-empirical legal research using a normative approach. The type of material used is primary, secondary and tertiary legal materials. Data collection methods used are library research and field studies.The results of this study include 1) procurement of goods/services with e- purchasing method is the right system in implementing procurement because it is more transparent, effective, efficient, compared to conventional systems, but the implementation is not optimal because a) is still coordinated so that time is not enough efficient, b) in e-catalog there is no information on the number of items available, so the buyer does not know the stock directly, c) the Supreme Court has not precisely targeted domestic production due to high specifications, 2) the role of supervisory institutions is not optimal because there are still many frauds and not yet the maximum application of a whistleblower because the procurement executors and the wider community are not familiar with the procurement of goods/services

Management of quality control in an electrical components plant

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston Universit

Advancing the Decarbonization of the Construction Sector: Lifecycle Quality and Performance Assurance of Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings

Dealing with and maintaining high-quality standards in the design and construction phases is challenging, especially for on-site construction. Issues like improper implementation of building components and poor communication can widen the gap between design specifications and actual conditions. To prevent this, particularly for energy-efficient buildings, it is’s vital to develop resili-ent, sustainable strategies. These should optimize resource use, minimize environmental impact, and enhance livability, contributing to carbon neutrality by 2050 and climate change mitigation. Traditional post-occupancy evaluations, which identify defects after construction, are impractical for addressing energy performance gaps. A new, real-time inspection approach is necessary throughout the construction process. This paper suggests an innovative guideline for prefabricated buildings, emphasizing digital ‘self-instruction’ and ‘self-inspection’. These procedures ensure ac-tivities impacting quality adhere to specific instructions, drawings, and 3D models, incorporating the relevant acceptance criteria to verify completion. This methodology, promoting alignment with planned energy-efficient features, is supported by BIM-based software and Augmented Reality (AR) tools, embodying Industry 4.0 principles. BIM (Building Information Modelling) and AR bridge the gap between virtual design and actual construction, improving stakeholder communication and enabling real-time monitoring and adjustments. This integration fosters accuracy and efficiency, which are key for energy-efficient and nNearly zZero-eEnergy bBuildings, marking a shift towards a more precise, collaborative, and environmentally sensible construction industry

Vertical Coordination in the Pork and Broiler Industries: Implications for Pork and Chicken Products

Recent changes in structure of the U.S. pork industry reflect, in many ways, past changes in the broiler industry. Production contracts and vertical integration in the broiler industry facilitated rapid adoption of new technology, improved quality control, assured market outlets for broilers, and provided a steady flow of broilers for processing. Affordable, high-quality chicken products have contributed to continual increases in U.S. chicken consumption, which has surpassed pork and beef on a per capita basis. Incentives for contracting and vertical integration in the pork industry may yield comparable results. If so, these arrangements might be expected to result in larger supplies of higher quality pork products at economical prices.vertical coordination, vertical integration, contracts, transaction costs, technology, chicken, pork, Livestock Production/Industries,

Feasibility study of the Boeing Small Research Module (BSRM) concept

The design, capabilities, and subsystem options for the Boeing Small Research Module (BSRM) are described. Specific scientific missions are defined based on NASA-Ames Research Center requirements and the BSRM capability to support these missions is discussed. Launch vehicle integration requirements and spacecraft operational features are also presented