Essays on the Relationship Between Host Market Corruption and Multinational Enterprise Strategy

This dissertation is guided by three research questions. First, how does host market corruption impact the equity-based market entry strategies implemented by multinational enterprises (MNEs) with respect to their foreign subsidiary investments? Second, does host market corruption increase the likelihood of market exit? Third, can MNEs implement strategies which reduce the likelihood of market exit under conditions of more pervasive host market corruption? In the first essay, I synthesize insights from institutional theory and integrative social contracts theory to dis-aggregate the concept of government corruption into two dimensions (grand and petty). My theory pertaining to informal institutional pluralism suggests that discrete institutions (such as government corruption) within a host market can be conceptualized as pluralistic phenomena constituted by distinct dimensions which exert a disparate impact on the foreign entry strategy of MNEs. In the second essay, I build on the concept of informal institutional pluralism, categorizing corruption into two dimensions (public and private) to study its impact on the structure of equity-based foreign subsidiary investments. My theory proposes that the primary mechanism that drives the distinct approaches to foreign entry is the firm’s anticipated reliance on different sources of bargaining power to reduce information asymmetries that it expects to encounter in the host market. In the third essay, I study the relationship between host market corruption pervasiveness, the subsidiary localization strategies implemented by MNEs and the likelihood of host market exit. In this context, the strategic insights proffered by resource dependence theory (RDT) and institutional theory (IT) are characterized by distinct spatial orientations. While RDT predicts that subsidiaries will implement proximal (or, host market-oriented) localization strategies, IT suggests that distal (or, home market-oriented) localization strategies are better-suited to reducing the likelihood of exit from increasingly corrupt host market environments. I find that a proximally-oriented partnering strategy heightens the likelihood of market exit under conditions of more pervasive host market public corruption, but not more pervasive private corruption. Conversely, a distally-oriented expatriate strategy increases the likelihood of market exit under conditions of both more pervasive public corruption and private corruption. Taken as a whole, this dissertation introduces new theory, constructs and insights into the relationship between host market corruption and the equity-based foreign entry strategies of MNEs

Temporalised Normative Positions in Defeasible Logic

We propose a computationally oriented non-monotonic multi-modal logic arising from the combination of temporalised agency and temporalised normative positions. We argue about the defeasible nature of these notions and then we show how to represent and reason with them in the setting of Defeasible Logic

Appearance frequency modulated gene set enrichment testing

Abstract Background Gene set enrichment testing has helped bridge the gap from an individual gene to a systems biology interpretation of microarray data. Although gene sets are defined a priori based on biological knowledge, current methods for gene set enrichment testing treat all genes equal. It is well-known that some genes, such as those responsible for housekeeping functions, appear in many pathways, whereas other genes are more specialized and play a unique role in a single pathway. Drawing inspiration from the field of information retrieval, we have developed and present here an approach to incorporate gene appearance frequency (in KEGG pathways) into two current methods, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and logistic regression-based LRpath framework, to generate more reproducible and biologically meaningful results. Results Two breast cancer microarray datasets were analyzed to identify gene sets differentially expressed between histological grade 1 and 3 breast cancer. The correlation of Normalized Enrichment Scores (NES) between gene sets, generated by the original GSEA and GSEA with the appearance frequency of genes incorporated (GSEA-AF), was compared. GSEA-AF resulted in higher correlation between experiments and more overlapping top gene sets. Several cancer related gene sets achieved higher NES in GSEA-AF as well. The same datasets were also analyzed by LRpath and LRpath with the appearance frequency of genes incorporated (LRpath-AF). Two well-studied lung cancer datasets were also analyzed in the same manner to demonstrate the validity of the method, and similar results were obtained. Conclusions We introduce an alternative way to integrate KEGG PATHWAY information into gene set enrichment testing. The performance of GSEA and LRpath can be enhanced with the integration of appearance frequency of genes. We conclude that, generally, gene set analysis methods with the integration of information from KEGG PATHWAY performs better both statistically and biologically.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112430/1/12859_2010_Article_4457.pd

Algorithmic Price Discrimination and Consumer Protection. A Digital Arms Race?

none4siOnline market players are gradually gaining the capacity to adapt prices dynamically based on knowledge generated through vast amounts of data, so that, theoretically, every individual consumer can be charged the maximum price he or she is willing to pay. This has downsides for markets and society. European Union law insufficiently addresses these issues. Consumer-empowering technologies may help counter algortihmic price discruimination. We advocate for regulation to make the arms race between conumers and sellers more balanced by strengthening the digital tools available to consumer protection actors and to limit the battlefield by clarifying and refining the applica- ble rules and defining clearer categories of impermissible behaviours.openMateusz Grochowski; Agnieszka Jabłonowska; Francesca Lagioia; Giovanni SartorMateusz Grochowski; Agnieszka Jabłonowska; Francesca Lagioia; Giovanni Sarto

Pulso mínimo de agua para la emergencia de plántulas de tres especies de gramíneas perennes nativas del Monte Central (Argentina), influenciado por el efecto de la sombra y la estación del año

In deserts, seedling emergence occurs only after precipitation threshold has been exceeded, however, the presence of trees modifies microenvironmental conditions that might affect the effectiveness of a water pulse. In the Monte desert, Prosopis flexuosa trees generate different micro-environmental conditions that might influence grass seedlings establishment. The objective of this work was: a) to know the effective minimum water input event that triggers the emergence of native perennial grass seedlings; b) to relate this fact with the effect of the shade of P. flexuosa canopy and the seasonal temperatures. Three important forage species of the Monte were studied: Pappophorum caespitosum and Trichloris crinita, with C4, and Jarava ichu, with C3 metabolism. Each season, seeds of these species were sown in pots placed at two light conditions: shade (similar to P. flexuosa cover) and open area, and with seven irrigation treatments (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 2*10 and 3*10 mm). J. ichu did not emerge in any of the treatments. Significant seedling emergence was registered for P. caespitosum and T. crinita in shade conditions with 40 mm irrigation treatment in summer. Since 40 mm precipitation events are infrequent in the Monte, seedling emergence for these species would be restricted to exceptional rainy years. The facilitating effect of P. flexuosa shade would be important during the hot season.En los desiertos, la emergencia de las plántulas se produce cuando un evento de precipitación excede un valor umbral. La presencia de árboles modifica las condiciones micro ambientales y en consecuencia, la efectividad de los eventos de lluvia. En el Monte, las condiciones generadas por Prosopis flexuosa (algarrobo) afectarían el establecimiento de las gramíneas. El objetivo del trabajo fue: a) conocer el evento mínimo de agua necesario para desencadenar la emergencia de gramíneas perennes; b) relacionarlo con la influencia de la sombra del algarrobo y las temperaturas estacionales. Se trabajó con tres especies nativas de gramíneas forrajeras perennes: Pappophorum caespitosum, Trichloris crinita, (C4), y Jarava ichu (C3). En cada estación del año, semillas de las tres especies fueron sembradas en macetas bajo dos condiciones lumínicas: sombra (similar a la sombra de P. flexuosa) y área abierta y con siete niveles de riego (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 2*10 y 3*10 mm). Jarava ichu no emergió en ningún tratamiento. En el verano se obtuvo emergencia significativa de T. crinita y P. caespitosum solo en los tratamientos de 40 mm y a la sombra. Debido a que en el Monte los eventos de precipitación de 40 mm son infrecuentes, la emergencia de estas especies ocurriría en los años excepcionalmente lluviosos. El efecto facilitador de la sombra del algarrobo sería de importancia en la estación cálida.Fil: Greco, Silvina A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Sartor, Carmen E.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Villagra, Pablo E.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agraria

A Preliminary Study of Trunk Kinematics during Walking in Normal Subjects

The purpose of this study was to systematically describe the three-dimensional trunk kinematics in normal subjects, to establish a baseline for comparison to future research in gait analysis and aid in the identification of pathological gait. Seventeen volunteers between the ages of twenty and fifty, who met criteria for normal subjects, participated in this study. Trunk kinematic data were collected using an optoelectronic technique. An ensemble average of trunk kinematic data in each of the cardinal planes was plotted in degrees of motion versus percentage of gait cycle. A distinct pattern of trunk kinematics during gait was found in this study. Trunk motion relative to the pelvis was of greater magnitude than motion relative to the lab in the frontal and transverse planes. Inter-subject variability ranged from 37% to 644%, with the greatest amount of variability occurring in measurements of trunk movement relative to the lab in all three planes. Stride to stride variability within subjects ranged from 28% to 182%, with the greatest amount of intra-subject variability in trunk movements relative to the pelvis

Pulso mínimo de agua para la emergencia de plántulas de tres especies de gramíneas perennes nativas del Monte Central (Argentina), influenciado por el efecto de la sombra y la estación del año

In deserts, seedling emergence occurs only after precipitation threshold has been exceeded, however, the presence of trees modifies microenvironmental conditions that might affect the effectiveness of a water pulse. In the Monte desert, Prosopis flexuosa trees generate different micro-environmental conditions that might influence grass seedlings establishment. The objective of this work was: a) to know the effective minimum water input event that triggers the emergence of native perennial grass seedlings; b) to relate this fact with the effect of the shade of P. flexuosa canopy and the seasonal temperatures. Three important forage species of the Monte were studied: Pappophorum caespitosum and Trichloris crinita, with C4, and Jarava ichu, with C3 metabolism. Each season, seeds of these species were sown in pots placed at two light conditions: shade (similar to P. flexuosa cover) and open area, and with seven irrigation treatments (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 2*10 and 3*10 mm). J. ichu did not emerge in any of the treatments. Significant seedling emergence was registered for P. caespitosum and T. crinita in shade conditions with 40 mm irrigation treatment in summer. Since 40 mm precipitation events are infrequent in the Monte, seedling emergence for these species would be restricted to exceptional rainy years. The facilitating effect of P. flexuosa shade would be important during the hot season.En los desiertos, la emergencia de las plántulas se produce cuando un evento de precipitación excede un valor umbral. La presencia de árboles modifica las condiciones micro ambientales y en consecuencia, la efectividad de los eventos de lluvia. En el Monte, las condiciones generadas por Prosopis flexuosa (algarrobo) afectarían el establecimiento de las gramíneas. El objetivo del trabajo fue: a) conocer el evento mínimo de agua necesario para desencadenar la emergencia de gramíneas perennes; b) relacionarlo con la influencia de la sombra del algarrobo y las temperaturas estacionales. Se trabajó con tres especies nativas de gramíneas forrajeras perennes: Pappophorum caespitosum, Trichloris crinita, (C4), y Jarava ichu (C3). En cada estación del año, semillas de las tres especies fueron sembradas en macetas bajo dos condiciones lumínicas: sombra (similar a la sombra de P. flexuosa) y área abierta y con siete niveles de riego (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 2*10 y 3*10 mm). Jarava ichu no emergió en ningún tratamiento. En el verano se obtuvo emergencia significativa de T. crinita y P. caespitosum solo en los tratamientos de 40 mm y a la sombra. Debido a que en el Monte los eventos de precipitación de 40 mm son infrecuentes, la emergencia de estas especies ocurriría en los años excepcionalmente lluviosos. El efecto facilitador de la sombra del algarrobo sería de importancia en la estación cálida