The Provision of Long-Term Credit and Firm Growth in Developing Countries

This study evaluates the impact of the provision of long-term credit (LTC) on the growth of small and young firms in developing countries. The growth of firms is evaluated on the basis of employment growth and total sales. Credit provisions have also been collected from the short- and LTC extended to the private sector. This study uses data on firm levels from more than 19000 firms in 52 countries between 2006–2016. In order to avoid the endogeneity issues that usually occur in such studies, this study has implemented a cross-country model to evaluate the significance of total bank credit, both long- and short-term, on the growth of sales and employment. The econometric results indicate that the availability of short-term credit (STC) is more beneficial for the growth of the firms, i.e. STC was found to have a significant impact on employment growth and sales in small and young firms. Although positive, LTC seemed to have no significance in the growth of the small and young firms. This study suggests that the prime reason behind these results is the availability of long-term loans for small and young firms

SOCIAL MEDIA USE AMONG HIGHLY MOBILE HIGH-SCHOOL AGED POPULATIONS: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY OF A STUDENT 2 STUDENT PROGRAM FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS

This dissertation presents an examination of social media use among highly mobile, military-connected high school aged populations using a multiple case study of a Student 2 Student Program. On average, students from military families move six to nine times over the course of their K-12 education. Multiple and frequent parent deployments further exacerbate this situation. Both situations independently effect military-connected students’ social, emotional, and academic development. Offered through the Military Coalition Education Council, the Student 2 Student (S2S) Program was created for the precise purpose of providing military students with the social and instrumental support they need to successfully manage school transitions. Customized to meet the needs, climate, and culture of each individual school, S2S programs are student-led and school-managed. The study design is a holistic, multiple case study of military connected students’ use of social media. Seven high schools with S2S programs, each with different individual characteristics, were the research sites, drawn from two school districts located in close proximity to one of the largest military installations in the southeast of the United States. Data from surveys, semi-formal interviews, discussions, direct observations and documents were analyzed in a two stage process: 1) a within-case analysis and 2) a cross-case analysis. Findings indicate that S2S participants purposefully use various social media platforms in order to communicate and connect with and maintain their social networks. The roles that social media play in their lives include blending the past and present, anchoring the past, adapting to the present, sharing worlds and reaching out. The findings from this dissertation suggest adult S2S advisors play an important role in determining the extent to which social media are integrated and often fears about social media are in evidence. Regardless, students’ use of social media persists. Implications include that social media platforms could be used more strategically as part of S2S programs to help these students adjust more easily to new schools and environments. Further research is needed to more fully explore these initial findings and promote student empowerment through social media use and positive networking

Scottish overseas trade, 1597-1645

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Intercultural learning and development among youth participants in the short term educational programmes of an international charity (CISV)

Evaluation of non-formal learning in short-term programmes which offer opportunities for youth participants to develop aspects of intercultural competence has proved problematic, (Ilg, 2013, p. 190). This thesis compares the outcome of youth participant use of a Predictive and Reflective Questionnaire (PaRQ) with records of learning made by their adult group leaders. Simultaneously, it explores the use of this purpose designed, dual format, questionnaire, strategy as a potential tool for evaluation of non-formal learning in other situations. The 36, teenaged participants completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of their three week, international, Summer Camp. Each youth participant noted their predicted rating at the beginning of the programme and reflective rating at the end of the programme, in addition to their current position, on indicators of aspects of intercultural competence. Comparison of beginning and end scores for individual participants showed re-adjustment of perception of starting scores, similar to the score “re-calibration” noted by Thurber, Scanlin, Scheuler, & Henderson (2007). These changes, supported by learning outcomes suggested in participants’ narrative spaces, indicate that they may have reported inflated perceptions of competence on several items at the start of the programme. It is suggested that such re-adjustment supports the reflective strategy employed in this new evaluation tool. Comparison is also made between youth participants’ scores and programme leaders’ assessment of participant achievements, and discussion of discrepancies is provided. Parallel work included informal interviews with the nine group leaders focussed on use of the existing, competence based, Programme Director’s Planning and Evaluation Form (PDPEF) in both the current and any previous programmes in which they were involved. Recommendations are provided for further investigation of the potential of PaRQ as a tool to measure movement towards stated objectives in other programmes of non-formal learning, and for improved use of the CISV PDPEF

The question of ‘alternatives’ within food and drink markets and marketing: introduction to the special issue

The question of 'alternatives' within food and drink markets and marketing: introduction to the special issu