Eco-Labels as a Signal of Quality

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lester M.K. Kwong

AbstractUsing a canonical model of signaling, we show that if the cost of organic viticulture is strictly increasing in the quality dimension, then the use of eco-labels as a signal for quality cannot possibly occur as an equilibrium outcome. Conditions for the existence of such a signalling equilibrium as well as some general properties regarding its configuration are herein characterized. (JEL Classification: L15, L66, M3)

2020 ◽  
pp. 29-41
Author(s):  
Cheng-Wen Lee ◽  
Hao-Yuan Yu

Information technology and advanced online environments have reduced the cost of these exchange activities and triggered the emergence of the sharing economy. Con-sequently, public attitude toward the sharing economy has gradually shifted from re-luctance to acceptance. Moreover, the sharing economy has revolutionized the busi-ness models and viewpoints of conventional industries, and sharing service providers have gradually shifted from an independent to a collaborative stance, thereby affect-ing conventional economies. This study interprets the phenomenon of cross-industry collaboration in the sharing economy through social exchange and social network the-ories. A multiple-case research framework is used to examine tourism and service in-dustries. Secondary data of service providers and users on sharing platforms are ana-lyzed using content analysis, supplemented with a content analysis of the interview data of three hotel executives. The varying phenomena of the conventional and shar-ing economies on social exchange and social network were compared. Finally, this paper proposes conclusions and practical recommendations according to the analytical results. JEL classification numbers: D85, M31, L14. Keywords: Cross-Industry Collaboration, Sharing Economy, Social Exchange, Social Network.


2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-212
Author(s):  
Christian Kalhoefer ◽  
Guenter Lang

Abstract Governments worldwide reacted swiftly to the global financial crisis by tougher regulations. This paper investigates the impacts of the regulatory environment on operating costs using panel data of 2,200 German banks over the timeframe from 1999 to 2014. We estimate cost functions with and without proxies for regulation and analyze the results with respect to period, bank size, and group affiliation. Our results show that regulatory costs were peaking in 2001, 2008, and lately since 2012. Most interesting, however, is the asymmetry of regulation: Whereas the cost effects were symmetric for all banks until 2003, the last ten years were different. Larger institutions and savings banks could neutralize the impacts of increasing regulation on operating costs. In contrast, smaller banks, especially if they are cooperative banks, were facing significant cost increases. We therefore expect unintended structural shifts like a reduction in the diversity of banks, which are negative for competition, service quality, and for the stability of the financial system. Zusammenfassung Weltweit wurde als Folge der globalen Finanzkrise die Regulierung des Finanzsektors verschärft. Dieser Beitrag geht der Frage nach, welche Konsequenzen diese Regulierungsmaßnahmen für die operativen Kosten im Bankengeschäft haben. Auf der Basis von Paneldaten von 2,200 in Deutschland aktiven Banken über den Zeitraum von 1999 bis 2014 schätzen wir Kostenfunktionen mit und ohne Proxies für Regulierung und werten die Ergebnisse nach Beobachtungsjahr, Bankengröße, und Gruppenzugehörigkeit aus. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen Kostenspitzen in den Jahren 2001, 2008, und zuletzt seit 2012. Am interessantesten sind jedoch die asymmetrischen Effekte der Bankenregulierung: Während unsere Modelle bis einschließlich 2003 nahezu gleichmäßige Kostenbelastungen anzeigen, änderte sich dies deutlich mit dem Jahr 2004. Im Gegensatz zu großen Institute und Sparkassen, die die Regulierungskosten nahezu neutralisieren konnten, sahen sich kleine Institute und Genossenschaftsbanken mit deutlichen Kostensteigerungen konfrontiert. Als Folge dieser asymmetrischen Kostenwirkungen staatlicher Bankenregulierung erwarten wir unbeabsichtigte Strukturveränderungen wie z.B. Konzentrationsprozesse, die sich negativ auf Wettbewerb, Dienstleistungsqualität, und letztendlich auch negativ auf die Stabilität des gesamten Finanzsystems auswirken werden. JEL Classification: G21, G38


2020 ◽  
pp. 234094442091630
Author(s):  
Juan A. Máñez ◽  
Óscar Vicente-Chirivella

We investigate the role of financial constraints on firms’ exporting behavior, including firms’ export decision, export intensity, firms starting to export decision, and exports persistence. Our financial constraints variable is a synthetic variable that summarizes information on different dimensions such as total assets, profitability, liquidity, solvency, repaying ability, and (new in this type of analyses) the cost of external financing. Using data on Spanish manufacturing for the period 1992–2014, we find evidence supporting that financial health is relevant to explain small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) exporting decisions and starting to export decisions but not those of large firms. Financial health does not seem to affect large firms’ export intensity and the results of the impact of financial health on SMEs export intensity are not conclusive. Nevertheless, financial health is a determinant of export persistence of large firms and SMEs. JEL CLASSIFICATION: F14; G32; L60; C35


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110525
Author(s):  
Juan L. Gandía ◽  
David Huguet

Previous literature shows mixed evidence on the effect of discretionary accruals and auditing on the cost of debt. We hypothesize that, in the SMEs setting, auditing can act as a substitute for accruals quality, and thus audits may mitigate the effect of discretionary accruals on the cost of debt. Using a sample of Spanish SMEs, we find that auditing is negatively related with the cost of debt, while higher discretionary accruals are related with a lower cost of debt. Nonetheless, this effect is lower than that one observed for audits. When considering the combined effect of both variables, the effect of discretionary accruals is replaced by that of auditing. These results suggest that, among SMEs, discretionary accruals do not have a relevant effect on the cost of debt when companies are audited, supporting the hypothesis that there exists a substitution effect between discretionary accruals and auditing. JEL Classification: M42; G32


Author(s):  
I. Perevozova ◽  
Iu. Samoilyk ◽  
О. Radchenko ◽  
N. Shportiuk ◽  
M. Demydova

Abstract. The development of the biofuel market in the world has a positive dynamic for growth. The substantiation of the directions of further improvement of the methodology of production management of alternative fuels is taking into account the policy of climate change and the possibility of reducing dependence on external suppliers of traditional fuels. Ukraine has favorable natural and climatic conditions for the development of production of non-traditional fuels. The most common crops that can be grown in Ukraine for biofuels are rapeseed and corn. Based on the material and technical base and production conditions, rapeseed is the best crop for cultivation. Therefore, the object that we have chosen for this study is the production of biodiesel, which does not require significant capital expenditures by agricultural enterprises. For the purposes of the study, the risks were grouped according to various classification criteria (operational and production; marketing; financial; legal and infrastructural; weather; environmental) and the weights of their impact on the performance of agricultural enterprises. The structural scheme of the algorithm of the automated estimation of influence of risk factors for development of bases of the analysis and management of risks of production of biodiesel is constructed. The author's method of calculating the impact of the risk complex takes into account the limit values of the intervals of fuzzy quantities. To preserve soil fertility and reduce the corresponding risks, the proportion of rapeseed in growing areas should be at the limit of 17—18% (when also growing sunflower the upper limit is 12%), then all three analyzed farms can not only use their own land for rapeseed crops, but also, if necessary, rent the necessary plot, or, according to the results of the relevant analysis, its part. In some cases, farms even purchase some of the seeds needed to load the equipment. The results of calculations of the cost of production of biofuels showed that the increase in the cost for small and medium producers is not significant compared to large producers. Keywords: biofuels, biodiesel, risk management, agricultural enterprises, risk management, efficiency. JEL Classification O13, Q42 Formulas: 6; fig.: 1; tabl.: 5; bibl.: 19.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (01) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Erni Br Simanjuntak ◽  
Gede Harja Wasistha

<p><em>New challenges arises for government institutions engaged in research and engineering to continuously innovate and develop technologies that have competitive advantages and provide income for the country through royalty from licensed technology. This research carried out to valuate the aeronautics and space technology. The objective of the study is to develop appropriate intellectual property valuation methods. This research is a case study utilizing sequential mix method which is the combination of quantitative and qualitative research. By using intellectual capital theory, this research-broaden the literatures on the technology valuation in the field of aeronautics and space. This study fills research gap on the existing technology valuation method that is still partially conducted by government research and development. </em></p><p><em>This study discusses the value of intangible assets and licenses from intellectual property that are calculated through three valuation approaches, such as cost-based approach, income-based approach, and market-based approach. The results of the study show that the most appropriate intellectual property valuation method are the cost-based approach and income-based approach.</em></p><p><strong><em>JEL Classification: </em></strong><em>O30, O31, O33</em><strong></strong></p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong>: <em>Cost Based Approach,</em><em> Income Based Approach, Intellectual Property, Market Based Approach, Sequential Mix Method </em>


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Cheng-Wen Lee ◽  
Chi-Hsi Wang

Abstract In this research, the sustainability and global sourcing competitiveness of international cruise ships is studied. The sustainability and competitiveness is just like two sides of a coin. On one hand, reducing the pollution and raw material waste is not only to protect our precious nature resources, but also to bring the cost down. On the other hand, a good global sourcing decision could deliver the cost saving and also keep the cruise ship industry towards the sustainable way. Therefore, in order to reach the goals of sustainability and competitiveness, the cruise ships may apply the current common practice of value analysis and value engineering to identify the possible global sourcing opportunity. This short exploratory paper outlines some of the characteristics of value analysis and value engineering, as illustrated by sustainability of global sourcing competitiveness. Eventually, the discussion of this paper provides some implications for international cruise ship companies. JEL classification numbers: F16, F60, Q23. Keywords: Value Analysis, Value Engineering, Sustainability, Global Sourcing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-91
Author(s):  
Oanh Thi Tu LE ◽  
Phong Thi Thu Tran

This study was conducted based on a survey of 53 public universities in Vietnam to evaluate the applications of management accounting in universities according to the following metrics: (i) Cost classification; (ii) Conducting and evaluating budgets; (iii) Management responsibility; and (iv) Using information to make short-term and long-term decisions. The results showed that public universities have some interest in management accounting information, especially responsibility accounting. However, management accounting information which has not been used much in Vietnamese universities includes controllable and uncontrollable costs and variance analysis between actual results and estimates. Regarding the degree of autonomy, fully or partially autonomous universities tend to apply management accounting more than non-autonomous universities in terms of the cost per student, the fees for repeat classes, and management responsibility. The research results showed the need to use management accounting information when universities increase their autonomy. JEL Classification: M40, M41, M49.


Author(s):  
Nathathai Krebs ◽  
Boonsub Panichakarn

Objective - This study examines the selection of international transportation routes from Thailand to Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi), People's Republic of China. Guangxi has been designated a significant role as the gateway to ASEAN and has several land borders and seaports connecting to countries in ASEAN. Methodology/Technique - In this work, we studied 6 connecting routes, 3 of which are road routes, namely routes R8, R9, and R12 and 3 other multimodal (road-sea) routes operating from/to Laemchabang port and Nanning of Guangxi, route through Haiphong port of Vietnam, route through Qinzhou port of China, and route through Guangzhou port of China. We analysed the data using the Cost/Time Distance Model, in combination with surveys and in-depth interviews, to investigate the limitations and benefits of each route. Findings - Base on costs in 2017, we found that sea routes have much lower costs than the land routes in general; the lowest cost is route through Qinzhou port. On the other hand, the time used in transportation is much shorter for the land routes; the shortest route is the R12 route. Furthermore, in terms of limitations and benefits, we found that the Qinzhou route has many limitations such as long custom processes for fruit and agricultural products and no backhaul cargo. Meanwhile, the limitations for route R8 include crossing Mekong river on truck ferries and the presence of very steep mountain roads in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Route R12 winds down the mountain both in Vietnam and Laos, whereas route R9 is advantageous; most of that route has a flat terrain and is operated under the Cross-Border Transport Agreement (CBTA). The route through Haiphong port is also advantageous with a direct highway from Haiphong to Hanoi of Vietnam. In conclusion, it is suggested that road transportation is more efficient than sea transportation. Novelty - Further consideration among road routes and, with emphasis on costs and time, the best route is then route R12. However, if one is concerned with risk of damage to products, then route R9 is the best. The optimal route from Thailand to Guangxi depends on the conditions and decision criteria of the stakeholders. Type of Paper - Empirical. Keywords: International Transportation; Multimodal Transportation; Cost/time Distance Model; Guangxi (China); Road Transportation; Sea Transportation. JEL Classification: F02, F10, F19.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 65-74
Author(s):  
Mária Böröcz ◽  
Bálint Horváth ◽  
Boglárka Herczeg ◽  
Attila Kovács

Advancing the domestic industrial production towards a sustainable, resource-preserving direction can become an important pillar to support competitiveness in the European Union, as well as in Hungary. Reaching the de-carbonization goals for industrial production via lowering the production volume may result in less desirable macro-economic effects, so decisions which concern the industry require a lot of attention from the climate policy as well. In the case of the cement sector, economic actors have to be motivated to make energy-efficiency investments and technology developments, which also show promise in terms of business efficiency. In the more natural-resource-intensive branches of the industry, both innovations and technological developments will be required to reduce the amount of used non-renewable energy resources, keep it in the industrial cycle, and reduce environmental load. The importance of greener cement will be essential in the near future to reduce the sector’s CO2 emission levels. We need to identify more sector branches which relate to sustainability, which can aid the country in establishing long-term competitiveness that points towards the de-carbonization goals. The cost-efficiency aspects of this development process are the most tedious questions in today’s business planning. JEL classification: Q55


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