The end of the Multi Fiber Arrangement and the pattern of US apparel trade

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-710
Author(s):  
Anusua Datta ◽  
Mikhail Kouliavtsev
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Advantage ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Trade Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Textile And Apparel ◽  
Fiber Arrangement ◽  
Phase Out ◽  
Tariff Reductions ◽  
Product Pair

PurposeThis paper analyzes the effects of the expiration of the Multi Fiber Arrangement (MFA), which ended quota restrictions on US textile and apparel imports in 2005, on the sourcing of US apparel. We test if the realignment in trade following the phase out of quotas can be explained by comparative advantage and market size.Design/methodology/approachWe use a gravity framework to investigate the role of comparative advantage (labor costs) and other factors such as exporter size, PTAs and tariff reductions on the pattern of US apparel imports. Detailed data on quotas by country-product pair are used for the purpose.FindingsOur empirical results show a significant increase in imports from large quota constrained countries once the MFA ended. Moreover, the pattern of trade seems to favor low wage countries that have a comparative advantage in producing apparel, which is highly labor intensive.Originality/valueThe end of quotas removed a major distorting factor in US apparel trade. This study examines the role of trade theory in the changing pattern of apparel imports that followed the end of the MFA. We use a gravity framework to test the theory of comparative advantage and the role of exporter size. Previous studies on the end of the MFA and its effects, do not examine the causal factors behind the realignment of US apparel trade.

From PLM 1.0 to PLM 2.0: the evolving role of product lifecycle management (PLM) in the textile and apparel industries

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-553
Author(s):  
Jo Conlon
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Product Lifecycle Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Development Effort ◽  
Product Lifecycle ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Textile And Apparel ◽  
Lifecycle Management

PurposeProduct lifecycle management (PLM) is an enterprise-wide strategy gaining prominence across manufacturing. The fashion industry is a late adopter of PLM, yet within global fashion and textile organisations PLM is now becoming a mainstream approach to optimize core processes. This literature review analyses the latest academic research to establish a broad basis of understanding of PLM in the sector and identify potential future research directions.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review was conducted to investigate the current state and main perspectives of research on PLM in the textiles and apparel sector. The paper adopts the three features (managerial, technological and collaborative) of the definition of PLM by Corallo et al. (2013) as the analytic framework for the 27 papers to illustrate how PLM is framed and conceptualised in the RFA sector.FindingsPLM is at an interesting phase as it evolves from classical PLM 1.0 to connected PLM 2.0. The evolution of PLM from its PDM origins as an IT tool to a critical component of the strategy for digital transformation is reported. The strategic role of suppliers is noted as a critical success factor. Key inhibitors relating to PLM adoption and optimization in the sector are identified as limited holistic and theoretical perspective of PLM coupled with a deficiency in relevant industry skills. It is argued that the transformational potential of PLM 2.0 may not be fully realised without a more coordinated development effort through industrial and academic collaboration.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of this study are that it is a literature review of academic papers in the RFA sector papers within the timescale 2000–2018. PLM 1.0 has dominated in this time period however the potential trajectory of connected PLM 2.0 is beginning to emerge.Practical implicationsThe results from this paper indicate that there is a lack of research on PLM in the sector and concludes by suggesting promising future research possibilities: further empirical and case studies on organisations implementing a PLM strategy; studies reporting on the contribution of PLM to address the challenges of sustainability, traceability and transparency in the industry and inter-industry collaborations; studies with knowledge management theories specifically applied to the textile and apparel sector; and the opportunity for academic and industry collaboration on the development of PLM to meet these needs.Originality/valueTo the best of the author's knowledge, no systematic literature review on this topic has previously been published in academic journals. Given levels of investment in PLM platforms in the sector, both practitioners in companies and the academic community might find the review and agenda for future research useful.

Do trade reforms affect changes in patterns of comparative advantage?

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-296
Author(s):  
Namsuk Choi
Keyword(s):  
Trade Liberalization ◽  
Comparative Advantage ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Poor Country ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Trade Reform ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trade Reforms

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of foreign trade liberalization and trade reforms on the process of structural upgrading, and explore the extent to which they provide impetus for exports. Design/methodology/approach This paper accounts for trade liberalization dates, cumulative years in open regime, and the density of 1,006 products in the patterns of comparative advantage for 132 countries from 1975 to 2000. The effects of trade liberalizations and trade reforms in open regime on future export performance are estimated by using various empirical strategies. Findings This paper finds that the speed of moving from simple poor-country goods to rich-country goods in export depends not only on having a route to nearby goods of increasingly higher value, but also on the increase in the cumulative years in open regime. In particular, a 1 percent change in the relatedness across products with trade reform in open regime increases the probability of exporting a new product by 2.0 percent more. Originality/value A contribution of this paper is that it measures the extent to which trade reform in open regime affects the evolution of comparative advantage, even after taking account of the role of relatedness of exported products as in the Hausmann and Klinger (2006, 2007). In this paper, empirical findings of a comprehensive product level cross-country time-series data analysis may contribute to generalize the role of trade reform on structural upgrading not only for a pro-competitive export country like Korea but also for a typical developing country.

Competition and exposure of returns to the C-CAPM

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-541
Author(s):  
Hussein Abdoh ◽  
Oscar Varela
Keyword(s):  
Market Competition ◽  
Systematic Risk ◽  
Product Market ◽  
Product Market Competition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Capm Beta ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Consumption Fluctuations ◽  
Tariff Reductions

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effect of product market competition on the exposure of firms’ returns to consumption fluctuations (C-CAPM beta). Design/methodology/approach The C-CAPM beta comes from a regression of a stock’s returns against consumption growth, with controls for the Fama–French three factors and momentum. The Herfindahl–Hirschman index of concentration measures competition, with other measures like deregulation and tariff reductions used for robustness tests. Industries are categorized using different SIC digits, with the NAICS measure used for robustness tests. The C-CAPM beta is regressed to competition, with appropriate control variables, to find its relationship. Findings Higher levels of competition reduces the C-CAPM beta. The results are consistently robust to different measures of product market competition and industry identification. Practical implications Product market competition influences the sensitivity of systematic risk, as measured by the C-CAPM beta, to consumption, such that higher levels of competition reduce systematic risk. Originality/value This research contributes to a literature that admittedly is still murky, as the relationship between competition and systematic risk is still unsettled. No study (to the authors’ knowledge) examines the effect of competition on firms’ exposure to consumption. This research adds to the literature on the role of competition in risk, specifically with respect to consumption.

Comparative advantage of Ethiopian textile and apparel industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-256
Author(s):  
Merertu Wakuma Rundassa ◽  
Daniel Kitaw Azene ◽  
Eshetie Berhan
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Advantage ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Apparel Industry ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Textile And Apparel ◽  
The Government ◽  
Industrialization Policy ◽  
Textile And Apparel Industry

Purpose Ethiopia’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, but starting form 2010, the government has been determined to diversify the exports with a priority set for strategic sectors like light manufacturing in which textile and apparel manufacturing industries are included. The purpose of this paper is to measure the comparative advantages of the Ethiopian textile and apparel industry using the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) in the period from 2007 to 2016. Design/methodology/approach For the purpose of the paper, secondary data were collected from the UN comtrade site, and related data sources were cited in the literature review for the purpose of triangulation (cross-checking of the analysis with theoretical background). From the theoretical background, the two indices of RCA (Balassa index and Lafay index) were used for the evaluation of the industries’ competitive advantage and to identify which industry (textiles or apparel) was of more importance in the country. Findings The findings of the study showed that Ethiopia was more competitive in the textile sector. However, and with reference to the Lafay index, the country has been focusing on apparel sector, because of the opportunities for job creation. Research limitations/implications For the purpose of this study, secondary data were used and the general conclusions are limited to the corresponding sources of data. Practical implications Because of the labor-intensive nature, the textile and apparel sector has been one of the areas promoted by the Ethiopian Government in its industrialization policy. The finding of this paper can be used by policy makers to evaluate the competitiveness of the country. Social implications The findings can be used to assess social upgrading issues in the textile and apparel sector. Originality/value The work is the first of its kind in the sector as well as the country.

Long-term management of patients with multiple brain metastases after shaped beam radiosurgery

2004 ◽  
pp. 406-412
Author(s):  
Paul Okunieff ◽  
Michael C. Schell ◽  
Russell Ruo ◽  
E. Ronald Hale ◽  
Walter G. O'Dell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Multiple Metastases ◽  
Extracranial Disease ◽  
Successful Control ◽  
The Brain

✓ The role of radiosurgery in the treatment of patients with advanced-stage metastatic disease is currently under debate. Previous randomized studies have not consistently supported the use of radiosurgery to treat patients with numbers of brain metastases. In negative-results studies, however, intracranial tumor control was high but extracranial disease progressed; thus, patient survival was not greatly affected, although neurocognitive function was generally maintained until death. Because the future promises improved systemic (extracranial) therapy, the successful control of brain disease is that much more crucial. Thus, for selected patients with multiple metastases to the brain who remain in good neurological condition, aggressive lesion-targeting radiosurgery should be very useful. Although a major limitation to success of this therapy is the lack of control of extracranial disease in most patients, it is clear that well-designed, aggressive treatment substantially decreases the progression of brain metastases and also improves neurocognitive survival. The authors present the management and a methodology for rational treatment of a patient with breast cancer who has harbored 24 brain metastases during a 3-year period.

scholarly journals Vulnerable adults in police custody

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Ian Cummins
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Police Custody ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Vulnerable Adults

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the recent National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) report on the role of the appropriate adult. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on the NAAN report and a review of relevant policy and research literature. Findings There to Help 2 highlights that there are still significant gaps in the provision of appropriate adult schemes across England and Wales. These gaps potentially place vulnerable adults at increased risk. Originality/value This paper is a review of recent research.

Financial access and economic development: the moderating role of financial consumer protection

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 406-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Kriese ◽  
Joshua Yindenaba Abor ◽  
Elikplimi Agbloyor
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Compliance Monitoring ◽  
Financial Access ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating role of financial consumer protection (FCP) in the access–development nexus. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on cross-country data on 102 countries surveyed in the World Bank Global Survey on FCP and Financial Literacy (2013). The White heteroscedasticity adjusted regressions and Two-stage least squares regressions (2SLS) are used for the estimation. Findings Interactions between FCP regulations that foster fair treatment, disclosure, dispute resolution and recourse and financial access have positive net effects on economic development. However, there is no sufficient evidence to suggest that interactions between financial access and enforcement and compliance monitoring regulations have a significant effect on economic development. Practical implications First, policy makers should continue with efforts aimed at instituting FCP regimes as part of strategies aimed at broadening access to financial services for enhanced economic development. Second, instituting FCP regimes per se may not be enough. Policy makers need to consider possible intervening factors such as the provision of adequate resources and supervisory authority, for compliance monitoring and enforcement to achieve the expected positive effect on economic development. Originality/value This study extends evidence in the law–finance–growth literature by providing empirical evidence on the effect of legal institution specific to the protection of retail financial consumers on the access–development nexus using a nouvel data set, the World Bank Global survey on FCP and Financial Literacy (2013).

Categorization flexibility and unconventional choices: is life an adventure?

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 1963-1986
Author(s):  
Tilottama G. Chowdhury ◽  
Feisal Murshed
Keyword(s):  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Purchase Behavior ◽  
Consumer Decision Making ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Domain ◽  
Multiple Domains

Purpose This paper proposes that categorization flexibility, operationalized as the cognitive capacity that cross-categorizes products in multiple situational categories across multiple domains, might favorably influence a consumer’s evaluation of unconventional options. Design/methodology/approach Experimental research design is used to test the theory. An exploratory study first establishes the effect of categorization flexibility in a non-food domain. Study 1 documents the moderating role of decision domain, showing that the effect works only under low- (vs high-) consequence domain. Studies 2A and 2B further refine the notion by showing that individuals can be primed in a relatively higher categorization flexibility frame of mind. Study 3 demonstrates the interactive effect of categorization flexibility and adventure priming in a high-consequence domain. Study 4 integrates the interactive effects of decisions with low- vs high-consequence, adventure priming and categorization flexibility within a single decision domain of high consequence. Findings Consumers with higher- (vs lower-) categorization flexibility tend to opt for unconventional choices when the decision domain entails low consequences, whereas such a result does not hold under decision domain of high consequences. The categorization flexibility effects in case of low-consequence decision domain holds true even when consumers are primed to be categorization flexible. Furthermore, with additional adventure priming, consumers show an increased preference for unconventional options even under a decision domain with high consequence. Research limitations/implications This study could not examine real purchase behavior as results are based on cross-sectional, behavioral intention data. In addition, it did not examine the underlying reason for presence of cross-domain categorization flexibility index. Practical implications The results suggest that stimuli may be tailored to consumers in ways that increase the salience and the perceived attractiveness of unconventional choices. Further, data reinforce the notion of cross-categorical interrelations among different domains, which could be leveraged by marketers. Originality/value This study represents the first documentation of the potential ways by which unconventional product choice might be a function of individuals’ categorization flexibility level across different types of decision domains. The findings yield implications that are novel to both categorization and consumer decision-making literature.

The path of support-to-sales: mediating role of seller collaborative information exchange in social commerce

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Chen ◽  
Fengxia Zhu ◽  
Murali Mantrala
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Trade Volume ◽  
Social Commerce ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Social ◽  
Source Data ◽  
Negative Effect

Purpose This paper aims to systematically investigate the direct and indirect effects of four types of support – peer instrumental support, peer emotional support, platform business support and platform communication support – on seller trade volume in social commerce. It also aims to uncover the path of support-to-sales of the seller from a platform perspective and provides a more complete picture of the social commerce phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses multi-source data including primary survey data and secondary data on trade volume to test the hypotheses. PROCESS mediation model is used to analyze the multi-source data set. Findings This study finds that the positive effects of peer instrumental support, platform business support and platform communication support on seller trade volume are fully mediated by seller collaborative information exchange. Also, peer emotional support has a significant negative effect on seller trade volume and collaborative information exchange can serve as a buffer to mitigate the negative effect. Research limitations/implications The authors provide new insights into what types of support are or are not conducive to improving transaction volume of individual sellers and highlight the mediating role of seller information exchange in this value generation process in social commerce. These findings advance current knowledge of how seller interactions increase value in social commerce. The chosen research setting may limit the generalizability of the findings of this study. Practical implications This paper offers valuable implications for social commerce platforms on how to better serve their sellers to achieve high growth. Specifically, the findings suggest that platforms should encourage instrumental support and information exchange among peer sellers. In addition, platforms should expand seller support from a single-focus on sellers’ business to a dual-focus on both sellers’ business and socialization in social commerce. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to study how sellers can better derive value from the social interactions and how social commerce platforms can effectively influence transactions, support sales and serve as a selling platform.

The effect of psychological empowerment on job burnout and competitive advantage

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Safari ◽  
Arash Adelpanah ◽  
Razieh Soleimani ◽  
Parisa Heidari Aqagoli ◽  
Rosa Eidizadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
Job Burnout ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role

Purpose This study aims at investigating the effect of psychological empowerment on job burnout and competitive advantage with the mediating role of organizational commitment and creativity. Design/methodology/approach The statistical population included all the managers and staffs of Tooka Company in Iran, and for data analysis, 120 completed questionnaires were used. Data analysis was carried out by SPSS 18 and Amos 20 software and structural equation modeling method. To test the mediating relationships, bootstrap method was used. Findings The findings showed that psychological empowerment has a significant direct effect on job burnout and competitive advantage. Also, psychological empowerment has a significant indirect effect on job burnout through the mediating role of organizational commitment. In addition, psychological empowerment has a significant indirect effect on competitive advantage through the mediating role of organizational creativity. Originality/value This study is among the first to investigate the relationship between psychological empowerment, job burnout, competitive advantage, organizational commitment and creativity.

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