5,281 research outputs found
A content and comparative analysis of strategic management research in the Baltic area
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to provide a research agenda for qualitative studies in the field of strategic management (SM) in the Baltic area.
Design/methodology/approach
– A total of 167 SM-related articles in this area between 2000 and 2013 were found. The content within title, abstract and authors’ keywords was analysed by means of a multiple correspondence analysis based on the HOMALS technique.
Findings
– The intellectual structure of SM in the Baltic area is to some extent similar to the global structure of the field. Hence research on this topic in the Baltic area is well integrated in the field. Three topics of interest have been identified while the fourth seems to offer more limited opportunities for qualitative studies. These are: entry and competition; strategic behaviour and the micro-foundations of strategy; the growth-performance relationship; and global strategies.
Research limitations/implications
– Despite the modest number of articles in our sample, the findings are consistent with past research on the structure of the SM field. The classification of articles into qualitative- and quantitative-based methods helped provide a research agenda.
Practical implications
– SM scholars in the Baltic area may find this paper as an interesting input to their quest for finding and justifying their own research path.
Originality/value
– This is an original literature review. The use of a quantitative method in the literature review and the suggested matrix is a second original contribution to evolving methodologies for content analysis. The method allows the inclusion of large samples while limiting the use of scholars’ intuition.
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Coherence effects in disordered geometries with a field-theory dual
We investigate the holographic dual of a probe scalar in an asymptotically
Anti-de-Sitter (AdS) disordered background which is an exact solution of
Einstein's equations in three bulk dimensions. Unlike other approaches to model
disorder in holography, we are able to explore quantum wave-like interference
effects between an oscillating or random source and the geometry. In the
weak-disorder limit, we compute analytically and numerically the one-point
correlation function of the dual field theory for different choices of sources
and backgrounds. The most interesting feature is the suppression of the
one-point function in the presence of an oscillating source and weak random
background. We have also computed analytically and numerically the two-point
function in the weak disorder limit. We have found that, in general, the
perturbative contribution induces an additional power-law decay whose exponent
depends on the distribution of disorder. For certain choices of the gravity
background, this contribution becomes dominant for large separations which
indicates breaking of perturbation theory and the possible existence of a phase
transition induced by disorder.Comment: 36 pages, 19 figs, v3 accepted versio
Beach and cliff retreat induced by storm groups at Forte Novo,Algarve (Portugal)
Littoral cell dynamics may change through time as a reaction to modifications of the coastal system. Along the Vilamoura-Quarteira coastline, the construction of a groin field limited the sediment supply to the already narrow Forte Novo beach, located downdrift, enhanced wave action on the cliff base and lead to long-term persistent cliff retreat. This research uses a set of surveys from November 2009 to March 2010 to determine short-term soft cliff erosion associated to storm groups at this sediment starved area. Following the initial LiDAR survey, three subsequent surveys were performed using a reflectorless total station for monitoring the cliff face, and RTK-DGPS to monitor the position of the cliff top, the cliff foot and the topography of the adjacent beach. Results indicate an important reduction in beach levels during successive storms (without significant beach recovery in between), allowing waves to further attack the cliff base and contributing to further enhance the structural and permanent cliff retreat. This work demonstrates how a combination of magnitude and frequency of extreme events coupled with development of the coastline, has led to increased cliff-beach recession and to the permanent dislocation of the cliff face
The fully kinetic Biermann battery and associated generation of pressure anisotropy
The dynamical evolution of a fully kinetic, collisionless system with imposed
background density and temperature gradients is investigated analytically. The
temperature gradient leads to the generation of temperature anisotropy, with
the temperature along the gradient becoming larger than that in the direction
perpendicular to it. This causes the system to become unstable to pressure
anisotropy driven instabilities, dominantly to electron Weibel. When both
density and temperature gradients are present and non-parallel to each other,
we obtain a Biermann-like linear in time magnetic field growth. Accompanying
particle in cell numerical simulations are shown to confirm our analytical
results.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, + Supplementary materials (4 pages, 2 figures
Obesity Rates in OECD Countries: An International Perspective
Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,
ANALYZING CROSS-COUNTRY DIFFERENCES IN OBESITY RATES: SOME POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Replaced with revised version of paper 07/30/04.Health Economics and Policy,
Obesity Rates in OECD Countries: An International Perspective
Obesity is a growing concern. New World Health Organization (WHO) figures indicate that obesity is spreading around the world as a "global epidemic." According to the WHO, there are more people suffering overweight related problems than malnutrition. Globally there are more than 1 billion adults who are overweight and at least 300 million of them are clinically obese, while 800 million suffer malnutrition (WHO 2004). The body mass index (BMI) is a common and accepted measure to report obesity rates (see WHO 1997). BMI is measured as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Recommended BMI levels are generally between a numerical value of 20 and 25. An individual with a BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight, while an individual with a BMI above 30 is considered obese. Individuals with BMIs below 20 are considered thin.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,
Cape Verde: The Case for Euroization
After 10 years of a fixed exchange rate against the euro and a deepening integration with the European Union (EU), the authorities of Cape Verde maintain a strong commitment to nominal stability and are now considering the official euroization of the country. Compared to the current pegging, euroization could be costly if the economic conditions of Cape Verde were to require control over the interest rates and the exchange rate. Given the strong economic and financial integration between Cape Verde and Europe, and the fact that Cape Verde records inflation rates at levels that are similar to those of the European Monetary Union (EMU), the relevant issue is whether the European Central Bank (ECB) monetary policy fits the needs of Cape Verde. In order to answer this question, we empirically assess the synchronization between the business cycle of Cape Verde and the business cycle of the EMU. For that purpose, we compute output gaps and then use conventional correlation measures as well as other indicators recently suggested in the literature. Replicating the methodology for each of the current 27 EU members, our results show that Cape Verde ranks better than several EU countries and even better than some EMU countries. We thus argue that there is a strong case for the euroization of Cape Verde. Euroization would secure the benefits already attained with the pegging to the euro and would warrant additional benefits, most likely with no relevant costs stemming from inappropriate ECB monetary policies.Africa, Cape Verde, European Monetary Union, Euroization, Business Cycles
Gender Matters! Analyzing Global Cultural Gender Preferences for Venues Using Social Sensing
Gender differences is a phenomenon around the world actively researched by
social scientists. Traditionally, the data used to support such studies is
manually obtained, often through surveys with volunteers. However, due to their
inherent high costs because of manual steps, such traditional methods do not
quickly scale to large-size studies. We here investigate a particular aspect of
gender differences: preferences for venues. To that end we explore the use of
check-in data collected from Foursquare to estimate cultural gender preferences
for venues in the physical world. For that, we first demonstrate that by
analyzing the check-in data in various regions of the world we can find
significant differences in preferences for specific venues between gender
groups. Some of these significant differences reflect well-known cultural
patterns. Moreover, we also gathered evidence that our methodology offers
useful information about gender preference for venues in a given region in the
real world. This suggests that gender and venue preferences observed may not be
independent. Our results suggests that our proposed methodology could be a
promising tool to support studies on gender preferences for venues at different
spatial granularities around the world, being faster and cheaper than
traditional methods, besides quickly capturing changes in the real world
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