The internationalization of Nigerian firms: motivations and location patterns

Despite the increased number of studies of the internationalization of emerging‐market multinationals (EMNCs), Latin American and Asian firms have dominated the focus of such studies, while the study of the internationalization process of sub‐Saharan African firms in the international business literature is quite limited. Therefore, this article examines the motivations and location patterns of the internationalization process of four Nigerian firms through a multiple case study approach. The findings show that the internationalization of the Nigerian firms is a recent phenomenon, but the foreign investment pattern reflects a pan‐African investment strategy. However, the findings also reveal that the firm‐specific advantages that had been accumulated in the domestic market, coupled with home‐country factors and regional‐/host‐market factors, were key determinants of the motivations and location patterns in the internationalization process of Nigerian firms

Transition Economies in the Middle East: the Syrian Experience

There have been no in depth studies of post Socialist transition in the Middle East. Syria’s experience is a useful one to explore given its historically important role in the region and its distinctive characteristics. The Syrian economic transition, from the early 1990s to 2011, was in two phases: an incremental liberalisation phase and a transition to Social Market Economy phase. During both phases, Syrian policy makers showed a preference for a gradualist approach to economic transition, rather than a big-bang approach. This was facilitated by oil revenues and subsidies from the Gulf States. The Syrian experience therefore has its own distinct characteristics, as well as elements in common with the transitions in other post Socialist economies

The determinants of the adoption of a political risk assessment function in czech international firms: a theoretical framework

This theoretical paper seeks to conceptualise a new approach to the identification of the factors influencing the adoption of a political risk assessment (PRA) function. First of all, we identify political risk (PR) as any host government action and/or inaction or an action against a host government that could threaten business activities of firms; and PRA as the process of analysing and evaluating such risks. The research population will comprise a convenience sample of Czech international firms. The information whether or not a firm has set up a PRA function will be obtained via a questionnaire survey. Previous studies aimed at PRA were concerned with firm's size, degree of internationalization, ownership and industry. By making use of firm value maximization and risk aversion and considering the rationale for risk management activities: (i) reducing the expected costs of financial distress; (ii) reducing the risk premiums payable to various partners; (iii) increasing investment possibilities; and (iv) reducing expected tax payments, we develop a number of determinants which can be employed in PRA studies; namely firmscomplexity, location of subsidiaries, leverage, auditor type and investment opportunities. In addition to the above mentioned theories this concept makes use of the enterprise risk management (ERM) theory, and the determinants of the adoption of an ERM function

Variation of white-tailed deer home ranges in fragmented urban habitats around Chicago, Illinois

Behavior of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has been studied extensively in refuges and agricultural regions, although little research has focused on deer in urban environments. Dramatic urbanization and development fragments habitat available for wildlife species and deer densities often exceed ecosystem carrying capacity in remnant natural areas. This may impact deer social behavior and spatial home range patterns. We radio-marked 21 female white-tailed deer in the Des Plaines and Palos Forest Preserves near Chicago, Illinois to study spatial use of deer relative to conditions in urban forest preserves. Telemetry locations were collected once per week and included both day and night fixes (May 1998-March 1999). The effects of differences in urbanization and human demographics surrounding both Des Plaines and Palos Forest Preserves were evaluated using a Geographical Information System. We found that female deer in Des Plaines had smaller, more linear home ranges that stretched into urban areas outside the forest preserve whereas female deer in Palos remained within preserve boundaries and maintained smaller, more centralized home ranges. Understanding spatial patterns and habitat selection of urban deer will increase the knowledge and predictive capabilities of deer managers

Home maintenance insurance schemes The Dutch experience, with two model contracts

Translated by Mrs J. WilliamsAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:0900.31216(1) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Personal finances, elderly people with dementia and the `new' community care

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:0900.31228(8) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Radio-telemetry and geographical information systems to assess urban deer zoonoses

Urban white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations can influence the epidemiology of many zoonotic diseases because they affect the distribution and abundance of pathogens and vectors. The risk of emerging zoonotic pathogens increases with human populations, as people have closer contact with wildlife in urban environments. We used radio-telemetry to study deer behavior and population dynamics in Chicago, IL. We monitored home-range use and habitat patterns for 43 radio-collared deer from 2 study sites, 1995-1999. Deer serology was conducted to test for various zoonotic diseases, such as babesiosis, encephalitis, and toxoplasmosis for 12 study locations. To analyze potential disease exposures for deer, we used Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to compare land cover characteristics for home-ranges and point location patterns for seropositive and seronegative deer. From our preliminary analysis of toxoplasmosis, we conclude that the combined use of epidemiology, radio-telemetry, and GIS tools appears promising for understanding zoonotic patterns and ultimately for predicting and minimizing disease to humans