BRI and railways in Latin America: how important are domestic politics?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Leiva
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Domestic Politics ◽  
High Speed Train ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Chinese Foreign Direct Investment

PurposeChina's experience of investing in Latin America in one of the main sectors included in the BRI architecture, railways, has faced significant challenges: only one of four Chinese potential railway projects in Latin America has materialised. The purpose of this paper is to explore these challenges and to provide an explanation focusing on the importance of the “domestic politics” factor.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a comparative study of four cases, developing a qualitative analysis based on an in-depth review of the literature and primary and secondary sources of information.FindingsThe findings suggest that domestic politics played a significant role in the outcomes of the Brazil–Peru Bi-Oceanic railway (changes in government), in Argentina's Belgrano Cargas modernisation project (multiple “domestic politics” factors, such as a presidential campaign), in Venezuela's failed Tinaco-Anaco high-speed train project (authoritarian turn/country's stability) and in Mexico's Querétaro-Ciudad de México high-speed train project (corruption and popular contestation). The paper suggests that one should not expect an easy or fast projection of the BRI in the region, at least in the short- and mid-term, because becoming familiar with the domestic politics of Latin American is a complex and gradual task.Originality/valueThe particular impact of the political risks related to domestic politics in the Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Latin America has not been extensively explored, especially in the railway sector. This paper intends to contribute to this literature gap by analysing four cases of Chinese investment in railways in Latin America, an area that has received little attention in the studies of the Chinese FDI in the region, and proposing an explanation of their outcomes focusing on the “domestic politics” factor.

Beyond copper: China and Chile relations

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Enrique Serrano Moreno ◽  
Alejandra Pérez Ceballos ◽  
María Gabriela De Abreu Negrón
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Andean Country ◽  
Chinese Foreign Direct Investment

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the Chile–China diplomatic and economic relations in the light of the extension of the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and the Chile's accession to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2019.Design/methodology/approachThis study takes Chile as a case of study to identify the main upcoming challenges and opportunities for relations between China and Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. The study examines news and official data on trade, investment and foreign policy.FindingsThe findings are twofold. First, the increasing and diversification of exports from Chile to China. Second, the participation of Chinese companies in public tendering procedures, which is increasing Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. The growing volume of trade does not make Chile's economy more dependent on copper exports, and Chinese investment may help solve the structural deficit in infrastructures of the Andean country.Originality/valueThis study presents an overview of Chile as a partner for China and evaluates the relationship's impact on the development of the former. Recently collected data on bilateral trade and investments are analyzed to contribute to the emerging literature on Chinese and Chile relations.

Revisiting China’s Investment in Latin America

2016 ◽  
Vol 02 (04) ◽  
pp. 507-527
Author(s):  
Jiang Shixue
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Overseas Investment ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Latin American Countries

It is easy to understand China’s increasing enthusiasm for overseas investment, given that its economy is continuing to grow at a relatively high speed and its foreign exchange reserves are expanding. Promoting overseas investment under the national “go global” strategy not only helps China tap into the external market and embrace a more important role in world economic affairs, but is beneficial to the economy and society of host countries as well. China’s investment in Latin America serves as a good example. Apart from helping to fill in the shortfall of capital, Chinese investment also enhances employment and infrastructure in many Latin American countries. In order to increase the stock of Chinese investment in Latin America to US$250 billion by 2025, as Chinese President Xi Jinping declared in January 2015, Latin American countries need to improve their domestic environment for investment, while Chinese enterprises must learn to take on more corporate social responsibility (CSR). Furthermore, Latin American countries and China should work together to develop broader and more efficient channels to exchange market information about investment opportunities.

Management and sustainability dilemmas in Latin America: introduction

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Olivia Hernandez-Pozas ◽  
Maria Jose Murcia ◽  
Enrique Ogliastri ◽  
Miguel R. Olivas-Lujan
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
Editorial Work ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Sustainability Challenges ◽  
Specific Contribution

PurposeThis article introduces readers to the Special Issue (SI, 34-1) of ARLA, edited (not exclusively) with the best papers of the Academy of Management's Specialized Conference, scheduled for April 2020 in Mexico City. The COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation, but the expert peer review and editorial work continued, to contribute to the emerging literature on Latin American Management and Sustainability.Design/methodology/approachGuest editors contributed their expertise based on required editorial processes and focused literature reviews on Management and Sustainability.FindingsThere are large management and sustainability challenges to Latin American practitioners and researchers, resulting in an increasingly urgent need to systematically document similarities and differences in the fields of Management and Sustainability. It is so because the region has been affected as few others before, during and after the pandemic. Thus, this issue summarizes the literature, presents eight new studies and offers suggestions for future research.Research limitations/implicationsManagement and sustainability in Latin America are wide subjects, with different dimensions and issues. This is a specific contribution that leaves much ground to be covered in the different subfields of the area, in research methodologies and conclusions.Originality/valueAn agenda for advancing the field of management and sustainability in Latin America, highlighted by the COVID-19 disruption; additionally, eight of the most advanced research in the field are presented, chosen from two tracks of a large number of contributions to a recent specialized conference organized by the Academy of Management.

The role of market and product category characteristics in local versus foreign language branding in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Farías ◽  
Luis Torres
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Brand Names ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Language ◽  
Product Categories

PurposeThis paper explores which market and product category characteristics could influence the use of foreign language brand names (i.e. whether a brand uses a foreign language versus local language brand name) in some of the largest Latin American countries.Design/methodology/approachHypotheses are tested using 880 brands from 39 product categories and nine Latin American markets using a hierarchical logistic regression.FindingsResults revealed that foreign language brand names are more likely to be used in product categories related to local infrastructure, high-tech and global community. In contrast, local language brand names are more likely to be used in product categories associated to subscriptions. Findings also suggest that Hofstede's national cultural dimensions are significant factors. Finally, the results revealed that foreign language brand names are more likely to be used in markets with a low level of foreign language proficiency.Originality/valueThis paper shows the importance of considering market and product category characteristics and their potential influence on local versus foreign language branding in Latin America – an ignored issue in previous research.

Effect of unbalanced magnetic pull on the thermal characteristics of traction motor bearing

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Wang ◽  
Dongli Song ◽  
Weihua Zhang ◽  
Shiqi Jiang ◽  
Zhiwei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Analysis ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Thermal Characteristics ◽  
Expansion Method ◽  
Fourier Series Expansion ◽  
High Speed Train ◽  
Traction Motor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unbalanced Magnetic Pull ◽  
Motor Bearing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP) of the rotor of traction motor and the influence of the UMP on thermal characteristics of traction motor bearing. Design/methodology/approach The unbalanced magnetic pull on the rotor with different eccentricity was calculated by Fourier series expansion method. A bearing thermal analysis finite element model considering both the vibration of high-speed train caused by track irregularity and the UMP of traction motor rotor was established. The validity of the model is verified by experimental data obtained from a service high-speed train. Findings The results show that thermal failure of bearing subassemblies most likely occurs at contact area between the inner ring and rollers. The UMP of rotor of traction motor has a significant effect on the temperature of the inner ring and roller of the bearing. When the eccentricity is 10%, the temperature can even be increased by about 12°C. Therefore, the UMP of rotor of traction motor must be considered in thermal analysis of traction motor bearing. Originality/value In the thermal analysis of the bearing of the traction motor of high-speed train, the UMP of the rotor of the traction motor is considered for the first time

scholarly journals The performance of corporate bond issuers in times of financial crisis: empirical evidence from Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Berninger ◽  
Bruno Fiesenig ◽  
Dirk Schiereck
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Corporate Bond ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Corporate Debt ◽  
Market Reactions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financing Decisions ◽  
Theoretical Approaches

PurposeThe fundamental theory of Modigliani and Miller (1958) states that a firm's financing decisions are independent from the firm's value. Nevertheless, several empirical studies as well as theoretical approaches from the past decade impugn this relation for real markets with their immanent inefficiencies. However, these questions are rather than academic in nature: Especially the influence of macroeconomic conditions on the market perception of debt issues is from high economic importance, since the need for new liquidity usually becomes even more urgent when the economic conditions worsen.Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyzes the reaction of shareholders to the issue of debt by Latin American firms under special consideration of the macroeconomic sentiment. To do so, a sample of debt issued by Latin American companies between 2003 and 2010 is empirically examined through an event study.FindingsThe authors empirically demonstrate that specifically in Latin America, debt issuing companies show a significant underperformance during recessionary periods and an overperformance during nonrecessionary periods. These findings differ from previous results for mature capital markets. The authors conclude that not only the overall economic conditions matter to explain stock market reactions on bond issues but also the maturity of the corporate debt market plays an important role.Originality/valueThe authors provide first evidence that the previously described changes in the returns on specific stocks depending on the economic sentiment (Baker and Wurgler, 2006) are under certain conditions also present in the market for corporate debt.

Thinking styles, gender, and decision making in Latin American management

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camelia Ilie ◽  
Guillermo Cardoza
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Thinking Styles ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Purpose Many studies have analyzed how gender diversity and local culture condition the cognitive styles of managers and affect decision-making processes in organizations. Gender diversity has been defended from an equality perspective; it has been argued to improve decision-making processes and to have a positive impact on companies’ return on investment. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the differences between the thinking styles of men and women, in Latin America and the USA that support decision-making processes. An argument is given in favor of gender diversity in management teams, because of its positive implications in decision making. Design/methodology/approach The measurement instrument used was the Neethling Brain Instrument, developed based on recent neuroscience discovery. The sample comprised 1,216 executives from the USA and several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, who have participated in executive training programs. Findings The results show differences in thinking styles by gender, but no differences were found in thinking styles or decision making between men and women at the same managerial level in either of the two regions. Similarly, results suggest that executives in the USA tend to base their management models on strategic thinking styles that focus on interpersonal relations and involve risk taking, while executives in Latin American countries tend to prefer thinking and management styles focusing on data analysis, execution, planning, and process control. Originality/value The results of the present study show that, in all regions, men score higher in rational thinking styles associated with the cortical areas, while women gravitate toward thinking styles where emotional schemes prevail, related to subcortical areas. These results could be useful for organizational leaders in charge of allocating roles and tasks to people, based on their thinking style strengths. The results can also be very valuable for Latin American organizations to design specific training and development programs for men and women accordingly with their individual needs and their managerial roles. They can also support the argument that diverse gender teams will guarantee complete decision-making processes.

Viewpoint: the need to evolve to a service logic mindset in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Reynoso
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Journal Article ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
Service Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Logic

Purpose The purpose of this viewpoint is to discuss the need to evolve from a service marketing approach to a service logic mindset throughout the organization in Latin America. In doing so, it addresses a void in the service literature due to the lack of attention on its uniqueness in this region. Design/methodology/approach To confirm the predominant approach of studying service and the need for a paradigm shift in service organizations, two independent journal article searches during 1989–2020 were conducted. The purpose was to learn where Latin American service researchers are focusing their research efforts and to discuss how the meaning of service applies to this region. Findings Forty-eight journal articles were analyzed and six distinctive groups were identified where service researchers are focusing their work on Latin America. Service has been studied mainly from the marketing perspective; with limited original research published in indexed journals; focused on making product-oriented promises, increasingly enabled by technology. The need for developing a service logic mindset throughout the organization has begun to be emphasized rather recently in the field. The variety of meanings of service and the complex context represent challenges for this enterprise. Research limitations/implications Future research is needed to work on a more comprehensive conceptualization of service at higher levels of analysis. Further context studies are required to enrich knowledge on service in Latin America. Service researchers and organizations should work on these two challenges to continue moving from the marketing perspective of service to a service logic mindset throughout the organization. Originality/value The paper points out the relevance of conducting further service research in Latin America, arguing that service has been studied mainly from the marketing perspective, and claiming the need to move to a service logic mindset. This viewpoint opens a discussion in the service research community toward a paradigm shift that, although inspired in Latin America, may not be necessarily limited to this region.

Latin America food exports to Gulf will expand further

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adoption Of Innovations ◽  
Total Food ◽  
Food Imports

Significance The GCC imports around 85% of the food its member countries consume domestically, and the share of Latin American products as a proportion of the GCC’s total food imports has increased from 10% in 2015 to almost 14% in 2019. Impacts Pandemic-induced adoption of innovations such as e-commerce will provide opportunities to expand food exports. Post-pandemic recovery in tourism may eventually boost the GCC’s need for food imports. Growth in other markets will be crucial to help reduce LAC’s dependence on key markets such as China and the United States.

Latin American recovery will not offset 2020 GDP drop

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Content Type

Headline LATIN AMERICA: Recovery will not offset 2020 GDP drop

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