A review of multi-factor capacity expansion models for manufacturing plants:searching for a holistic decision aid

Investment in capacity expansion remains one of the most critical decisions for a manufacturing organisation with global production facilities. Multiple factors need to be considered making the decision process very complex. The purpose of this paper is to establish the state-of-the-art in multi-factor models for capacity expansion of manufacturing plants within a corporation. The research programme consisting of an extensive literature review and a structured assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the current research is presented. The study found that there is a wealth of mathematical multi-factor models for evaluating capacity expansion decisions however no single contribution captures all the different facets of the problem

Money and planning for socialist transition: the Mozambican experience

This study develops an argument about the role of money in the process of planning for socialist transformation in the concrete case of the Mozambican experience in the period 1975-1983. The context was an economy were the peasantry through its production of cash crops as well as through its supply of labour power constituted the cornerstone of the social organization of production. Hence, the nationalisations of the major means of production created a state sector which was only part of a wider economy. This study argues that, within this context, the role of money can only be understood with respect to the dynamic, but not exclusive, role of the state sector in propelling the wider transformation of the economy. The actual experience in Mozambique was characterised by a process of state centered accumulation which implied that planning . boiled down to mobilising resources behind the accelerated development^ of the state sector. The result was the separation as between the official and parallel economies, and the dynamics of peasant agriculture became determined by the latter. Money acquired an active function in this process inasmuch as monetary imbalances originating in the state sector fuelled the development of speculative capital in the parallel economy, and hence enhanced the social differentiation of the peasantry. As a result, the control of the state over the economy was weakened and the process of socialisation of the countryside effectively blocked. Hence, the conclusion is that money matters in the context of socialist transition, because its role is not neutral with respect to the process of transforming production

Labour Shortages in Saskatchewan

The predictions in the media and from think tanks sound altogether alarming: Saskatchewan, with its booming economy, could be facing a worker shortage so severe that it could drastically hobble the province’s ultimate economic potential. While the world craves only more of Saskatchewan’s abundant natural resources, the province won’t possibly be able to keep up, due to a scarcity of workers that could be as significant as one-fifth of the labour supply by 2020. The Saskatchewan government has rushed to analyze the predicament, issuing reports that urgently seek solutions. But it hasn’t really developed any solutions. In fact, it hasn’t done much about the supposedly looming crisis at all. And that, actually, might just be all it can — and should — do. In truth, Saskatchewan can’t be sure it will be facing a serious shortage, or any shortage, at all. And any attempt by the provincial government to substantially intervene in the labour market could cause more problems for employers and the economy, than it addresses. Saskatchewan’s labour market has already shown a remarkable ability to adjust, on its own, to the commodities boom, and what employers today call a shortage, could well just be everyone getting used to a much tighter, but still very functional, labour market. The province’s lack of action did mean it missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redirect a huge cohort of Gen-Y students into training for trades that are in high demand (that cohort is already in its mid-20s and finished, or finishing, its career training). That was a mistake. But one big thing the Saskatchewan government can still do to help employers — and workers — is to stop making the strains on labour worse by launching imminent public infrastructure projects that compete with the private sector for labour. Instead, the province should plan those for when the boom slows down and workers need the jobs. It should also abandon any ideas of ramping up the import of temporary foreign workers to fill short-term job vacancies: those workers have a way of dampening wage signals that would draw more permanent, and therefore desirable, workers to the province. What few things the province could be actively doing, it should do anyway. It should help retrain workers with skills in low-demand for jobs in higher demand. It should recruit migrants from other provinces and overseas to settle in Saskatchewan. It should carefully review its post-secondary education system to minimize drop-out rates from apprenticeship programs and to ensure it is training people to match the economy’s demands. And it should be finding ways to mobilize large portions of the population that could be working, yet aren’t, including underemployed males and Aboriginals, but also the elderly and disabled. If there is, indeed, a shortage somewhere in Saskatchewan’s future, having those people working can only help. But even if there is never a shortage, having large pools of potential labour sitting idle is something that will truly limit Saskatchewan’s economic potential

Modeling Industrial Lot Sizing Problems: A Review

In this paper we give an overview of recent developments in the field of modeling single-level dynamic lot sizing problems. The focus of this paper is on the modeling various industrial extensions and not on the solution approaches. The timeliness of such a review stems from the growing industry need to solve more realistic and comprehensive production planning problems. First, several different basic lot sizing problems are defined. Many extensions of these problems have been proposed and the research basically expands in two opposite directions. The first line of research focuses on modeling the operational aspects in more detail. The discussion is organized around five aspects: the set ups, the characteristics of the production process, the inventory, demand side and rolling horizon. The second direction is towards more tactical and strategic models in which the lot sizing problem is a core substructure, such as integrated production-distribution planning or supplier selection. Recent advances in both directions are discussed. Finally, we give some concluding remarks and point out interesting areas for future research

Análise das políticas de partilha de custos no ensino superior etíope

Mestrado em Ensino Superior - Erasmus MundusOne major problem governments of the world and particularly governments of the developing countries have faced is the issue of how to reform the finance of higher education in response to the interconnected pressures of rising higher education enrollment (massification) and the incompatible public budget. The last three or four decades have witnessed major changes in the way both developed and developing countries‘ higher education is financed. Governments and higher education institutions have grappled with the problem of financing massified higher education system while public expenditure for education has failed to keep pace or in some cases declined. Backed by such objectives and economic arguments as higher education rates of return, equity, and efficiency, higher education massification has caused far-reaching, country and institution specific, turbulent reform processes and one of these is the higher education financial reform. Massification has exerted financial pressure on the public revenue and caused the inescapable higher education financial austerity, which is more pronounced and exhibited in the developing countries. The perception and the subsequent introduction of cost sharing, in the form of tuition fee, other fees and user charges where higher education was previously offered for free and the substantial increase in tuition fees in several countries where they did previously exist, is partly the result of the higher education financial pressure. This has been the product of escalating higher education enrollment, less revenue, and the rising of unit cost. Arguably, cost sharing has been adhered and favored for its role in promoting higher education efficiency and equity as well. Four parties are in the frontline in sharing the cost of higher education. These are students, parents, governments and donors. Private investors also share the burden of the growing higher education demand. The tendency of introducing payments for higher education, significant increases in tuition fees, and the change of student aid systems from grants to loans has been the source of controversy and debates, which have become negative dowries for the implementation of the policy of cost sharing, in many countries. Moreover, the effort of cost sharing policy implementation, in many developing countries has been frustrated by many other national and international factors. This study is trying to analyze, benchmarking developing countries and with specific reference to Ethiopia, the concept of cost sharing, the rationales of cost sharing and highlights the major features of cost sharing policy implementations.Um grande problema dos governos dos governos do mundo e particularmente dos países em desenvolvimento têm enfrentado é a questão de como a reforma do financiamento do ensino superior em resposta às pressões crescentes interligada de inscrição do ensino superior (massificação) e do orçamento incompatível público. Os últimos três ou quatro décadas testemunharam grandes mudanças na maneira como a educação tanto nos países desenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento maior é financiado. Os governos e as instituições de ensino superior têm se confrontado com o problema do financiamento massificada sistema de ensino superior, enquanto a despesa pública para a educação não conseguiu manter o ritmo ou, em alguns casos diminuiu. Apoiado por esses objectivos e argumentos econômicos como as taxas de retorno do ensino superior, equidade e eficiência, a massificação do ensino superior tem provocado profundas, o país ea instituição específica, os processos de reforma turbulento e uma delas é a reforma do ensino superior financeiros. Massificação exerceu pressão financeira sobre a receita pública e causou a austeridade de ensino superior inescapável financeira, que é mais pronunciado e exibido em países em desenvolvimento. A percepção ea subsequente introdução da partilha de custos, na forma de propinas, taxas e outros encargos do usuário onde o ensino superior foi anteriormente oferecido gratuitamente eo aumento substancial das propinas em vários países onde existiam anteriormente, é em parte resultado da maior pressão de educação financeira. Este tem sido o produto de uma escalada de matrícula do ensino superior, menos receitas, bem como a subida do custo unitário. Indiscutivelmente, a partilha dos custos tem sido respeitado e favorecido por seu papel na promoção da eficiência e equidade do ensino superior também. Quatro partidos estão na linha da frente na distribuição dos custos do ensino superior. Estes são os alunos, pais, governos e doadores. Os investidores privados também partilhar os encargos da demanda crescente de educação superior. A tendência de introdução de pagamentos para o ensino superior, um aumento significativo das propinas ea alteração dos regimes de auxílio estudantil de subvenções ao crédito tem sido fonte de controvérsias e debates, que tornaram-se os dotes negativos para a execução da política de partilha dos custos, em muitos países. Além disso, o esforço de implementação da política de partilha de custos, em muitos países em desenvolvimento tem sido frustrados por muitos outros factores nacionais e internacionais. Este estudo é tentar analisar, a análise comparativa dos países em desenvolvimento e com referência específica à Etiópia, o conceito de partilha de custos, as lógicas de partilha de custos e destaca as principais características de implementações de políticas de partilha de custos

Early internationalization patterns and export market persistence: a pseudo-panel data analysis

This study evaluates the international market persistence of early exporting businesses. The relationship between time in the market and export propensity/intensity levels was analyzed to identify the persistence of the internationalization patterns of entrepreneurial ventures. The empirical application employs a pseudo-panel approach at the business age- and industry-based cohort level drawn from a group of independent cross-sectional surveys that include information for 13,961 independently and randomly selected business owners for the period 2007–2012. The results show that the proportion of firms that export significantly diminishes following the initial post start-up years and that low export intensity levels at start-up leads to greatest tenacity and persistence of the exporting efforts for new firms. The results contribute to the recent discussions on whether early internationalization is an effective strategy and should be encouraged.Peer ReviewedPreprin

Energy laboratory data and model directory

Over the past several years M.I.T. faculty, staff, and students have produced a substantial body of research and analysis relating to the production, conversion, and use of energy in domestic and international markets. Much of this research takes the form of models and associated data bases that have enduring value in policy studies (models) and in supporting related research and modeling efforts (data). For such models and data it is important to ensure that the useful life cycle does not end with the conclusion of the research project.In an effort to develop a mechanism for supporting the maintenance and appropriate access to Energy Laboratory associated models and data, the Laboratory's Center for Energy Policy Research (CEPR) has sponsored a project to prepare this Energy Laboratory Data and Model Directory, edited by Dr. Supriya Lahiri and Ms. Jacqueline Carson. The Directory provides a survey of selected models and data bases and includes descriptive information, current status, mode of access, and contact persons. This directory represents the conclusion of this project

Agenda for change: strategic choices for the next government

The next government has a primary requirement to be well briefed on the challenges inherent in Australia’s strategic circumstances and the policy options available to it. ASPI is publishing this report to layout our strategic choices and to provide recommendations. Contributors are Peter Jennings on strategic policy, Mark Thomson and Andrew Davies on defence, Anthony Bergin and Kristy Bryden on homeland security, Russell Trood on foreign policy and Ryan Stokes on economic security. This body of ideas makes a compelling contribution to the discussions which ought always to characterise the Australian strategic and defence debate