The Fix: A Global Warming Policy Practitioner's Handbook

In the last few years there has been a substantial restating of the global warming 'problem.' According to Bruce Stram, these new conclusions have quite different policy implications than those currently driving the global policy debate. In this paper, Stram outlines a plan that could be turned into concrete, practical, and inexpensive steps, which are intended to put us on a path to resolving the global warming problem. The global warming problem, if it is that, cannot be very usefully addressed with substantial greenhouse gas emissions reduction now. However, other, more strategic, actions to prepare for possible future reductions should be taken now. The initial action suggested here is to develop a formal international program of energy research and development that is 'permanently' funded by a small tax (on carbon) to support energy R&D on a multilateral basis.Environment, Other Topics

A value chain and cluster perspective on competitiveness of European fresh vegetable production – Case studies from Germany, Italy, and Spain

In the present study we combine cluster theory with a value chain approach, with the aim of discovering elements of the European fresh vegetable business that could enable local producers to gain competitive advantages in a global market. European producers of fresh vegetables are under pressure to improve their performance and increase their competitiveness. Competitive advantage can be gained through innovation and by using unique resources stemming from cooperation between producers and complementary actors in local clusters. However, locally clustered producers do not sell to open markets but need access to value chains governed by lead firms, the large European retail chains, which set the rules and conditions of participation. The study presents first results from a multiple case-study analysis involving three different European regions in Germany, Italy and Spain specialized in fresh vegetable production. In-depth interviews with practitioners allowed us to confirm some main trends in business organization in the European fresh vegetable industry, but also to point out some interesting peculiarities of this industry. Local fresh vegetable producers become competitive due to their integration both in local production and wider marketing networks, where unique knowledge is created and interchanged by personal relationships. Further concentration on the local level is claimed to countervail power imbalances that usually favor buyers. The need for leading supermarket chains to build up direct relationships with key suppliers disturbs the functioning of existing relationship patterns in the local cluster. Creation of exclusive relationships with retail chains is pursued by entrepreneurs of innovative producing farms who treat their special knowledge and capacities as competitive advantages in the sharp competition in world markets and do not share it with other cluster actors.Fresh vegetables, value chains, clusters, competitiveness

Developing methods for strategic evaluation in agricultural research and production

We analyze instruments to evaluate investment strategies as new options for co-operatives within the wheat production chain. Using a value-based management the extension of our concept, a “cooperative balanced scorecard” is discussed as we propose the further differentiation of the scorecard’s financial perspective. This is a market development-driven approach as cooperatives may be regarded as commodity-price-intermediators for their members. Proposing this approach we use a simple model of conjoint-hedging in intermediating firms within agribusiness.Agribusiness, Wheat Production, Cooperatives, Intermediation, Value-based Management, Commodity Markets., Agricultural and Food Policy,

Cooperatives: Issues and trends in developing countries Report of a workshop held in Perth, 24-25 March 2003

Agribusiness,

Dialectic tensions in the financial markets: a longitudinal study of pre- and post-crisis regulatory technology

This article presents the findings from a longitudinal research study on regulatory technology in the UK financial services industry. The financial crisis with serious corporate and mutual fund scandals raised the profile of compliance as governmental bodies, institutional and private investors introduced a ‘tsunami’ of financial regulations. Adopting a multi-level analysis, this study examines how regulatory technology was used by financial firms to meet their compliance obligations, pre- and post-crisis. Empirical data collected over 12 years examine the deployment of an investment management system in eight financial firms. Interviews with public regulatory bodies, financial institutions and technology providers reveal a culture of compliance with increased transparency, surveillance and accountability. Findings show that dialectic tensions arise as the pursuit of transparency, surveillance and accountability in compliance mandates is simultaneously rationalized, facilitated and obscured by regulatory technology. Responding to these challenges, regulatory bodies continue to impose revised compliance mandates on financial firms to force them to adapt their financial technologies in an ever-changing multi-jurisdictional regulatory landscape

Reform proposals from developing Asia: finding a win-win strategy

Recipient countries and creditors have different perspectives on proposals for reform of the international financial architecture. The difference arises from varying perceptions of the causes of the East Asian crisis. Creditors emphasize inappropriate policies of borrowing countries, and inadequacies in financial sectors. Recipient countries point to evidence of incorrect monetary policy advice, of contagion and herd behavior. If reforms include items from both sets this would maximize future benefits from financial flows. Statements from Asian policy makers and academics indicate that these countries remain committed to globalization and financial reform and are willing to adopt policies from the first set. If the balance of global power allows creditors to escape policies from the second set, it will harm them in the long run. Greater understanding of these technical aspects, stronger Asian regional groups and coalitions with other reformist groups and academics increase the chances of a more balanced set of reforms.International financial architecture, East Asian crisis, creditor view, debtor view, balanced reform, crisis warning

Relationships' sustainability: the case of German wheat-to-bread chain

In recent years there has been a shift in emphasis from transaction-based to more co-operative relationships, as chain members have recognised the need to invest in their supply chain relationships in order to protect their businesses. These non-arm’s-length relationships are capable of generating relational rents for chain partners. The main aim of this paper is to investigate why, in spite of the advantages of the non-arm’s-length relationships, some relationships do not continue. To enhance the understanding of the termination process, we identify and analyse the factors inducing relationship sustainability (continuation) as well as termination in the case of the German wheat-to-bread chain. The study built on the findings of relationship marketing approach that stresses the importance of building longer-term relationships with customers rather than carrying out individual transactions. In addition, the findings of modern microeconomic theories including transaction costs theory and industrial theory are taken into consideration. The empirical analysis is based on two data sets: First, a quantitative questionnaire survey and second, interviews with stakeholders of the wheat-to-bread chain were conducted, aiming at identifying the role of economic and behavioral dimensions of relationships for their termination. The questionnaire survey provides that businesses assess the relationships in the wheat-to-bread chain, being of high quality and long term duration. The results show that trust, satisfaction and commitment - the behavioural dimensions of relationships quality - are very high in the considered chain. Competitive price, competitive quality and supply continuity were identified as determinants mostly important for buyers’ satisfaction as directly influencing relationships’ performance. In addition, the results demonstrate that lack of trust is the reason why relationships do not develop or are terminated in the early phases of the relationship. In the long lasting relationships on the other hand, the reasons for termination are mostly of economic nature. The paper shows why sustainable relationships may enhance business’ competitiveness and analyses why in spite of it the relationships terminate. As the result of the research we understand the sustainable relationships as those relationships in that the costs for starting the relationship are exceeded by returns gained from the cooperation in time.economic relationships, sustainability, termination, Agribusiness,