Regulating for e-waste in China: progress and challenges

Electronic waste (e-waste) is an emerging issue in the municipal towns of China. Its significance is driven by the rapidly increasing quantities, the hazards involved and the valuable materials in it. The poor quality e-waste recycling and disposal methods commonly practised in China have serious and hazardous effects on the environment and on the health of workers and residents. Additionally, industrialised countries are exporting increasing quantities of e-waste to China, complicating the situation further. The Chinese government needs to strengthen regulatory systems to ensure that the huge economic benefits from the e-waste recycling industry are not overshadowed by the negative impact on welfare and overall environmental sustainability. In response to the growing concern on e-waste, the government and other policy-making agencies in China are continuously strengthening the legislative and institutional framework for regulating importation and industrial activities in e-waste recycling and disposal. This paper provides a situational analysis and discusses the basic elements of the existing legislative framework for e-waste management in China. The paper concludes with an analysis of opportunities and challenges that exist in improving the enabling/regulatory environment for a hazardous but valuable commodity in a fast-growing economy

A Conceptual Framework for E-Commerce Innovation in Chinese SMES Chun-Sheng Yu

As E-Commerce (EC) is rapidly gaining popularity in China, EC innovation becomes a major growth strategy for many SMEs. Meanwhile, problems and challenges are hindering proliferation of EC innovation. The need exits for a theoretical model to forge EC innovation: a dynamic process with progressive stages of both internal and external e-readiness. Derived from theories and evidenced by the case studies from Hangzhou, China, our conceptual framework reveals top management, organizational learning, government support, market forces, and technology readiness as essential in each development stage, but with different emphasis. Implications of the framework are discussed

Challenges of Cross Border E-Commerce in TANZANIA: A Case Study of TANZANIA in Comparison with CHINA

Cross Border E-Commerce has gained a huge momentum as far as globalization is concern. Countries like China have been benefited a lot out of it but Tanzania has been lagging behind to towards development of this initiative. This study was done through analyzing major issues that constraint Tanzania in Cross Border E-Commerce and found ways to emancipate those key challenges through checking efforts made by The Government of China. In such case finding ways to recommend those techniques to Tanzania since she has developed a dream called VISION 2025. VISION 2025 established with the aim of making Tanzania to become the middle income country by the end of the year of 2025. The study was done through analyzing studies done by different scholars in relation with what Tanzania is going through. Issues of strengthening Diplomatic ties with China, Infrastructure development, Government support, introduction of One Stop Services/Centers and promotion of local SMEs were suggested

Pakistan’s Relations with China and the US: Increasing Misgivings on all Sides

The vision of a Naya (new) Pakistan enunciated by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party, faces seemingly insurmountable challenges. The new government has inherited poor relations with India, continuing conflict along the Af-Pak border, intractable internal security challenges, a failing economy, a huge external debt, and a steady souring of relations with the US. It also faces the possibility of a dent in its relations with China. By accommodating and promoting the geo-strategic interests of China and the United States in Southern Asia over several decades, Pakistan made itself virtually indispensable to both. However, the Trump administration is unwilling to countenance the Pakistan Army's doublespeak and has drastically curtailed military aid. And, in a bearhug which the Pakistanis did not see coming, China has entangled the country in a web of debt through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). China intends to make the CPEC the flagship project of its ambitious ‘Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI) for the geopolitical and economic domination of Asia

Reverse Logistics Of E-waste In Developing Countries: Challenges And Prospects For The Brazilian Model

E-waste reverse logistics initiatives in important industrial economies like India, China and Brazil show that specific models of reverse logistics, adapted to local reality, are required in developing countries. This research objective is to discuss the main challenges and opportunities for the implementation of the reverse logistics Brazilian model for computers and cell phones. Methodological procedures included 21 in-depth interviews with multiple stakeholders including government, manufacturers, retailers, recycling companies, waste picker organizations and academics. Results show the importance of the new regulation to enhance the dialogue among the members of the electro electronic supply chain for the development of the Brazilian model of reverse logistics. However technological gaps in recycling e-waste within the country, its continental dimension, taxation challenges and conflicts between waste picker organizations and the industry are challenges for the Brazilian model success.19211713

On Obstacles to E-Business Development in Mainland China

Although Internet-based e-business has been developing very rapidly in Mainland China in the last 6 years, the following obstacles have hindered its development: 1. computer illiteracy and English illiteracy among elderly business decision makers; 2. incomplete understanding of the real sense of e-business; 3. insufficient technical and legal protection; 4. no sense of security and no trust in e -business; 5. insufficient human resources in information technology; 6. underdeveloped infrastructure and financial unavailability; 7. lack of a system of Certificate Authority, a national payment system and national credit system; 8. lack of a reliable and efficient logistic system; 9. lack of a unified national technology standard to guarantee interoperability; 10. uneven interregional Internet and e-business development. But if great importance is attached to these obstacles and effective measures are taken to overcome them, e-business in Mainland China will make more rapid progress. Otherwise, it will lag farther behind developed countries in this respect and China will be in a disadvantageous position in the era of information and knowledge-based economy. This paper at first reviews the e-business development in Mainland China, reveals the obstacles and challenges it is confronted with and puts forward some countermeasures to overcome them. Finally it concludes that the e-business future of Mainland China is promising in the coming years if the Chinese government on different levels acts as a strong regulator, an effective coordinator, an aggressive infrastructure builder, and an active e-business initiator and consumer

Disability in the Workplace in China: Situation Assessment

A compelling argument can be made that employment of people with disabilities should be gaining recognition as an underutilized weapon in the talent wars of Asia. One has only to look at the proportion of people with disabilities that make up our communities, the continuing employment disparities that people with disabilities continue to face and the resulting high levels of poverty for this population – up against the talent shortages in fast-growth markets across the region. As China’s skewed demographic dynamics become increasingly apparent, resulting in a rapidly aging population and a diminishing supply of workforce entrants, an increasing share of the workforce will include older employees with disabilities, necessitating a fundamental change in workplace practices involving people with disabilities, as well as a greater need to look at persons with disabilities as a potential source of talent. Although China has created a broad legislative framework to protect the right to work for persons with disabilities, it lacks specificity and clear measures of enforcement, as evidenced in continued employment marginalization, poor educational outcomes, and thus higher poverty levels of persons with disabilities. To further understanding of workforce inclusion of persons with disabilities in China, and to identify practical ways forward for employers, The Conference Board China Center and the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability (YTI) at Cornell University’s ILR School partnered to explore how companies can tap the talent pool of people with disabilities and improve their employment outcomes. The scope of the research encompassed a series of interviews with disability rights-focused NGOs in China, a detailed literature review, a comprehensive review of China’s regulatory framework supporting employment for persons with disabilities, and a detailed assessment of the demographics of disability and the status of people with disabilities in China such as prevalence rates, access to education, employment disparities and resulting poverty and household income rates. This report draws from the broader research findings and provides business practitioners with an overview of the current situation, challenges, and root causes of employment barriers for persons with disabilities in China. To complement this work, The China Center and YTI convened a practitioner roundtable in Beijing in September 2018. Participants explored in detail how the official, publicly available data on living and working conditions of persons with disabilities compare to actual experiences of employers in China, whether companies are actively recruiting disabled workers, what the internal and external obstacles are to recruitment, and what the impact of the government quota system is, for good or for bad. A separate report on this roundtable is also availabl

A PPP model for China's public hospitals: an empirical study

Medical resources are closely related to people’s health and daily lives. At present, China’s medical resources are confronted with seriously unbalanced distribution, which results in differences in healthcare services among regions, and is prone to causing the common phenomenon of “overcrowding of patients in large hospitals and lack of patients in small hospitals”. Public hospitals are the main providers in China’s medical service system, and play the main role in embodying public welfare, providing basic medical care, and resolving people’s difficulty in seeking medical treatment. China’s public hospitals are faced with difficulties and challenges, including insufficient government financial investment, rising medical expenses, as well as the overcrowding of patients in large hospitals and the lack of patients in small hospitals. These difficulties and challenges also reflect the context of China’s medical reform. PPP refers to public-private partnerships in which the government and social capital (or social institutions) cooperate to build or operate public service facilities and provide public products or services. The practice of PPP has proved that this model is an effective way for China’s medical reform. Based on the difficulties and challenges faced by China’s public hospitals and the application of PPP in the healthcare sector, the research purpose of this study is to explore the PPP model applicable to China’s public hospitals. Literature suggests that strategic alliance theory, cooperative game theory, and stakeholder theory can affect the effectiveness of PPP projects. The present study adopts empirical research methods to answer the research questions raised herein through case study and analysis. The research results indicate that PPP is an effective way to help public hospitals resolve their development difficulties, but not all models of PPP are applicable to China’s public hospitals; the BOT (build-operate-transfer) model can help public hospitals raise the development funds, but it requires guarantee from institutions with certain strength; the “franchising” model is suitable for public hospitals in large cities; government cooperation willingness, coordination from public hospital management, hospital staff participation, investors’ experience and management capabilities, and the contractual capacity of each cooperation party are the key factors for the success of PPP cooperation; there are huge business opportunities for the supply of mid-to-high-end medical services in China; there is also large room for investment in specialized hospitals, health tourism services and integrated healthcare projects; social capital is more likely to identify investment and cooperation opportunities for public hospital projects in such administrative areas as districts (including counties), villages and townships, as well as streets and communities.Os recursos médicos estão estreitamente relacionados com a saúde e a vida diária da população. Atualmente, os recursos médicos da China confrontam-se com uma distribuição severamente desequilibrada, o que causa diferenças nos serviços de saúde entre diferentes regiões e potencia o fenômeno comum de "superlotação de pacientes em grandes hospitais e falta de pacientes nos pequenos". Os hospitais públicos são os principais fornecedores do sistema de serviços médicos da China e desempenham o papel principal na incorporação do bem-estar público, na prestação de cuidados médicos básicos e na resolução das dificuldades das pessoas em procurar tratamento médico. Os hospitais públicos da China enfrentam dificuldades e desafios, incluindo insuficiente investimento financeiro governamental, aumento das despesas médicas, além da superlotação de pacientes em grandes hospitais e a falta de pacientes em pequenos hospitais. Essas dificuldades e desafios também refletem o contexto da reforma médica da China. PPP refere-se uma parcerias público-privadas na qual o governo e o capital social (ou instituições sociais) cooperam para construir ou operar instalações de serviço público e fornecer produtos ou serviços públicos. A prática da PPP tem demonstrado que esse modelo é uma maneira eficaz para a reforma médica da China. Com base nas dificuldades e desafios enfrentados pelos hospitais públicos da China, assim como na aplicação de PPP no setor de saúde, o objetivo da pesquisa deste estudo é explorar o modelo de PPP aplicável aos hospitais públicos da China. A literatura sugere que a teoria da aliança estratégica, a teoria dos jogos cooperativos e a teoria das partes interessadas podem afetar a eficácia dos projetos de PPP. O presente estudo adota métodos de pesquisa empírica para responder as questões de pesquisa aqui levantadas por meio de estudo de casos. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que a PPP é uma maneira eficaz de ajudar os hospitais públicos a resolver suas dificuldades de desenvolvimento, mas nem todos os modelos de PPP são aplicáveis aos hospitais públicos da China; o modelo BOT (por suas siglas em inglês: construir, operar e transferir) pode ajudar os hospitais públicos a levantar os fundos necessários ao seu desenvolvimento, mas exige garantia das instituições; o modelo de "franquia" é adequado para hospitais públicos nas grandes cidades; vontade de cooperação do governo, coordenação da gerência do hospital público, participação da equipe do hospital, experiência e capacidade de gestão dos investidores e, a capacidade contratual de cada parte da cooperação são os fatores-chave para o êxito da cooperação PPP; existem enormes oportunidades de negócios para o fornecimento de serviços médicos de médio a alto nível na China; há também um amplo espaço para investimentos em hospitais especializados, serviços de turismo de saúde e projetos integrados de assistência à saúde; é mais provável que o capital social identifique oportunidades de investimento e cooperação para projetos de hospitais públicos nessas áreas administrativas, como distritos (incluindo municípios), aldeias e cidades pequenas, além de ruas e comunidades

Cross-border E-commerce Trade between China and Africa: Review of the Literature

This article explores the opportunities, challenges, as well as the activities of the Chinese governmental and commercial stakeholders to promote cross-border e-commerce trade between China and Africa, based on the classification and correlation analysis of the literature from 2011 to 2019. The results show that the biggest driver for the development of China-Africa cross-border e-commerce trade is the gap between the rapid growth of the African population, especially the middle class, and the limited local capability to satisfy their demand. The rapid development of the internet and mobile internet is another driving factor. The biggest challenge is the last mile delivery of logistics, and online payment issues in Africa. At the macro-level the Chinese government has promoted measures such as infrastructure investment, e-commerce test zones and the establishment of pilot projects. At the firm level, Chinese companies have focused on solving practical micro-level local operational problems such as logistics, online payment, and talent training. The results also show that the referred literature is still in its infancy, mostly theoretical and less practical, and requires more in-depth domain specific analysis in the future

IFRS adoption in China and its implication: the case of Chinese listed companies

This thesis investigates how the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) is adopted in China and its implications. The main studied questions are: How had the accounting industry changed in China due to IFRS? What are the reasons for China’s convergence of IFRS? What are the new accounting standards for China? What is the difference between the new Chinese Accounting Standards (CAS) and IFRS? Most representative listed companies in China were selected for analyzing their relationship with CAS in different factors. Such as political environmental factors, motivation of the reform, challenges during the implementation, ect. In light of the development of the global accounting unification. To minimize the impact of difference between the environmental and culture, the Chinese government had to choose to adopt part of IFRS and implement the new CAS to take part in the economic globalization. Thus, minor differences between the new CAS and IFRS still exist. From 2007 onwards, all listed companies in China are required to implement the new CAS. Facing with the new accounting standards and practice, the lack of professional accountants with international vision became a major stumbling block of China's accounting reformation.Este estudo explora a aplicação das IFRs na China e suas implicações. As principais questões de pesquisa são: Como é que mudou o contexto contabilístico na China? Qual é o motivo da convergência da China com as IFRS? Quais são os novos padrões contabilísticos na China? Qual a diferença entre as novas normas contabilísticas da China (CAS) e as IFRS? Para analisar os diferentes fatores na adopção das CAS foram analisadas as empresas listadas chinesas. Dos fatores ambientais, a reforma inclui o processo de implementação, os problemas e os desafios. Este estudo analisa as CAS e compara-as com as IFRS de acordo com o desenvolvimento global da contabilidade. Devido às grandes diferenças na cultura, o governo chinês optou por convergir com as IFRS na definição das novas CAS de modo a permitir uma abertura da economia chinesa à globalização económica. No entanto, a diferença entre CAS e IFRS ainda existe. Desde 2007, todas as empresas listadas chinesas solicitaram a implementação das novas CAS. Em face de novos padrões de contabilidade e novas tecnologias, a falta de auditores profissionais com uma perspectiva internacional tornou-se um obstáculo para a reforma contabilística na China