The Puzzle of China's Township–Village Enterprises The Paradox of Local Corporatism in a Dual-Track Economic Transition

2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (02) ◽  
pp. 197-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Ping Li
Keyword(s):  
Transition Economy ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Positive Function ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Wealth Creation ◽  
Wealth Transfer ◽  
Business Partnership ◽  
Negative Function ◽  
Social Explanations

This paper seeks to reconcile and synthesize the diverse views about the township–village enterprises (TVEs) and local corporatism in the context of ongoing institutional changes in China as a transition economy. Specifically, I attempt to integrate the economic, political, cultural, and social explanations for TVEs, especially the two competing views of market competition and political corruption. I focus on the puzzle of TVE efficiency as well as the paradox of local corporatism as a government–business partnership with both a positive function of public alliance for wealth creation and a negative function of private collusion for wealth transfer. I argue that the key to both the puzzle of TVEs and the paradox of local corporatism lies in China's dual-track reform paradigm (i.e. a market-for-mass track and a state-for-élite track). Lastly, I discuss the critical implications for theory building and policymaking regarding economic transition in general.

Political embeddedness and multi-layered interaction effects on the performance of private enterprises: lessons from China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eli Gimmon ◽  
Ying Teng ◽  
Xiaobin He
Keyword(s):  
Transition Economy ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Interaction Effects ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Private Enterprises ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Level

Purpose This study aims to present multi-layered embeddedness and explore the main and interaction effects of political embeddedness on the performance of private enterprises in China. This study tests multi-layered embeddedness through interaction effects between three layers, namely, political, territorial and inter-firm embeddedness. Political embeddedness is related at the personal and the firm levels. Design/methodology/approach The authors used secondary data of four non-panel waves (2002, 2008, 2010 and 2016) of large samples having identical questions based on the Chinese private enterprises’ survey. The accumulated number of business owners’ responses is a total of 10,686. Findings The main effects of each of the layers of embeddedness showed a positive influence on enterprise performance consistently and unchanged over time which fits the Chinese Guanxi regardless of the immense macro-economic transition. However, unexpectedly some interactions showed negative significant effects on performance. Practical implications First, business owners should be aware of the specific contribution to the performance of political embeddedness at both the firm level and the personal level. Second, the pursuit of exercising simultaneously several layers of embeddedness may be detrimental to company performance. This study provides generalizable lessons regarding different embeddedness layers beyond the context of China’s transition economy. Originality/value First, the authors extend political embeddedness to the firm level whilst in previous research this construct had been mostly related to the personal level. Second, building on the resource-based view and redundant resources the authors present the disadvantage of “over-embeddedness” as related to multi-layered embeddedness which has been understudied.

Water policy differences between a western democracy and a country in economic transition

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 125-128
Author(s):  
H.E. Valdas Adamkus
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Policy ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Transition Economy ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Western Democracy ◽  
Substantial Investment ◽  
The Baltic

Where environmental policy is concerned Western democracies and transition economies share more similarities than differences. Sound environmental policies require substantial investment. Public-private cooperation can play a major role in the search for solutions, but politicians, environmentalists and academics must act vigorously to ensure that big business does not acquire a final say in the implementation of environmental policy. Lithuania as a transition economy faces major environmental challenges, but international collaboration, including working with the European Union and cross-border cooperation with neighbouring states, is bringing good results. A major unifying factor for the Baltic Sea states is the continuing struggle to purify and protect the Baltic Sea.

scholarly journals The socio-economic transition and health professions education in Mongolia: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nomin Amgalan ◽  
Jwa-Seop Shin ◽  
Seung-Hee Lee ◽  
Oyungoo Badamdorj ◽  
Oyungerel Ravjir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Transition Economy ◽  
Core Curriculum ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Medical Schools ◽  
Health Professions Education ◽  
Educational Services

Abstract Background Former socialist countries have undergone a socio-economic transition in recent decades. New challenges for the healthcare system have arisen in the transition economy, leading to demands for better management and development of the health professions. However, few studies have explored the effects of this transition on health professions education. Thus, we investigated the effects of the socio-economic transition on the health professions education system in Mongolia, a transition economy country, and to identify changes in requirements. Methods We used a multi-level perspective to explore the effects of the transition, including the input, process, and output levels of the health professions education system. The input level refers to planning and management, the process level refers to the actual delivery of educational services, and the output level refers to issues related to the health professionals, produced by the system. This study utilized a qualitative research design, including document review and interviews with local representatives. Content analysis and the constant comparative method were used for data analysis. Results We explored tensions in the three levels of the health professions education system. First, medical schools attained academic authority for planning and management without proper regulation and financial support. The government sets tuition fees, which are the only financial resource of medical schools; thus, medical schools attempt to enroll more students in order to adapt to the market environment. Second, the quality of educational services varies across institutions due to the absence of a core curriculum and differences in the learning environment. After the transition, the number of private medical schools rapidly increased without quality control, while hospitals started their own specialized training programs. Third, health professionals are struggling to maintain their professional values and development in the market environment. Fixed salaries lead to a lack of motivation, and quality evaluation measures more likely reflect government control than quality improvement. Conclusions Mongolia continues to face the consequences of the socio-economic transition. Medical schools’ lack of financial authority, the varying quality of educational services, and poor professional development are the major adverse effects. Finding external financial support, developing a core curriculum, and reforming a payment system are recommended.

scholarly journals Effects of the Socio-Economic Transition on Health Professions Education: The Case of Mongolia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nomin Amgalan ◽  
Jwa-Seop Shin ◽  
Seung-Hee Lee ◽  
Oyungoo Badamdorj ◽  
Oyungerel Ravjir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Transition Economy ◽  
Core Curriculum ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Medical Schools ◽  
Health Professions Education ◽  
Educational Services

Abstract Background: Former socialist countries have undergone a socio-economic transition in recent decades. New challenges for the healthcare system have arisen in the transition economy, leading to demands for better management and development of the health professions. However, few studies have explored the effects of this transition on health professions education. Thus, we investigated the effects of the socio-economic transition on the health professions education system in Mongolia, a transition economy country, and to identify changes in requirements. Methods: We used a multi-level perspective to explore the effects of the transition, including the input, process, and output levels of the health professions education system. The input level refers to planning and management, the process level refers to the actual delivery of educational services, and the output level refers to issues related to the health professionals, produced by the system. This study utilized a qualitative research design, including document review and interviews with local representatives. Content analysis and the constant comparative method were used for data analysis. Results: We explored tensions in the three levels of the health professions education system. First, medical schools attained academic authority for planning and management without proper regulation and financial support. The government sets tuition fees, which are the only financial resource of medical schools; thus, medical schools attempt to enroll more students in order to adapt to the market environment. Second, the quality of educational services varies across institutions due to the absence of a core curriculum and differences in the learning environment. After the transition, the number of private medical schools rapidly increased without quality control, while hospitals started their own specialized training programs. Third, health professionals are struggling to maintain their professional values and development in the market environment. Fixed salaries lead to a lack of motivation, and quality evaluation measures more likely reflect government control than quality improvement.Conclusion: Mongolia continues to face the consequences of the socio-economic transition. Medical schools’ lack of financial authority, the varying quality of educational services, and poor professional development are the major adverse effects. Finding external financial support, developing a core curriculum, and introducing performance-based payments are recommended.

scholarly journals On robust weakly $ \varepsilon $-efficient solutions for multi-objective fractional programming problems under data uncertainty

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 2331-2347
Author(s):  
Shima Soleimani Manesh ◽  
◽  
Mansour Saraj ◽  
Mahmood Alizadeh ◽  
Maryam Momeni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Objective Function ◽  
Fractional Programming ◽  
Uncertain Data ◽  
Positive Function ◽  
Efficient Solutions ◽  
Optimization Techniques ◽  
Data Uncertainty ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Negative Function ◽  
Function Vector

<abstract><p>In this study, we use the robust optimization techniques to consider a class of multi-objective fractional programming problems in the presence of uncertain data in both of the objective function and the constraint functions. The components of the objective function vector are reported as ratios involving a convex non-negative function and a concave positive function. In addition, on applying a parametric approach, we establish $ \varepsilon $-optimality conditions for robust weakly $ \varepsilon $-efficient solution. Furthermore, we present some theorems to obtain a robust $ \varepsilon $-saddle point for uncertain multi-objective fractional problem.</p></abstract>

Strategic alliances as a mechanism for wealth creation in the biopharmaceutical industry: An empirical analysis of the Spanish case

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Gutiérrez De Mesa Vázquez ◽  
Juan Angel Jiménez Martín ◽  
Juan Mascareñas
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Strategic Alliances ◽  
Positive Function ◽  
New Product ◽  
Biopharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Wealth Creation ◽  
Biotechnology Firms ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Complementary Assets

The paper studies strategic alliances signed between traditional pharmaceutical companies (TPCs) and new biotechnology firms (NBFs) in Spain, on the initial basis that a firm's rate of new product development is a positive function of the number of strategic alliances that it has entered into. Nevertheless, we believe, as do others, that although strategic alliances may initially have positive effects on that rate, this relationship may exhibit diminishing returns. We suggest that the relationship between the number of alliances and the rate of new product development may be an inverted U-shape in the Spanish biopharmaceutical industry. Our regression model provides evidence to support such a relationship. However, the results suggest that only when the firm enters into too many alliances does diminishing return and ultimately negative return set in. The main strategic conclusion for the biopharmaceutical industry is that alliances represent a viable way for biopharmaceutical companies to gain access to the complementary assets required to increase their rate of new product development. A major contribution to this investigation is the empirical assessment for the Spanish biopharmaceutical industry.

scholarly journals Seed size, number and strategies in annual plants: a comparative functional analysis and synthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 126 (7) ◽  
pp. 1109-1128
Author(s):  
John G Hodgson ◽  
Gabriel Montserrat Marti ◽  
Bozena Šerá ◽  
Glynis Jones ◽  
Amy Bogaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Positive Function ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Negative Function ◽  
Ecological Importance

Abstract Background and Aims Plants depend fundamentally on establishment from seed. However, protocols in trait-based ecology currently estimate seed size but not seed number. This can be rectified. For annuals, seed number should simply be a positive function of vegetative biomass and a negative function of seed size. Methods Using published values of comparative seed number as the ‘gold standard’ and a large functional database, comparative seed yield and number per plant and per m2 were predicted by multiple regression. Subsequently, ecological variation in each was explored for English and Spanish habitats, newly calculated C-S-R strategies and changed abundance in the British flora. Key Results As predicted, comparative seed mass yield per plant was consistently a positive function of plant size and competitive ability, and largely independent of seed size. Regressions estimating comparative seed number included, additionally, seed size as a negative function. Relationships differed numerically between regions, habitats and C-S-R strategies. Moreover, some species differed in life history over their geographical range. Comparative seed yield per m2 was positively correlated with FAO crop yield, and increasing British annuals produced numerous seeds. Nevertheless, predicted values must be viewed as comparative rather than absolute: they varied according to the ‘gold standard’ predictor used. Moreover, regressions estimating comparative seed yield per m2 achieved low precision. Conclusions For the first time, estimates of comparative seed yield and number for &gt;800 annuals and their predictor equations have been produced and the ecological importance of these regenerative traits has been illustrated. ‘Regenerative trait-based ecology’ remains in its infancy, with work needed on determinate vs. indeterminate flowering (‘bet-hedging’), C-S-R methodologies, phylogeny, comparative seed yield per m2 and changing life history. Nevertheless, this has been a positive start and readers are invited to use estimates for &gt;800 annuals, in the Supplementary data, to help advance ‘regenerative trait-based ecology’ to the next level.

The role of the organization in the entrepreneur–opportunity nexus

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1537-1562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Zanella ◽  
Dante B. Castro Solano ◽  
Cory R.A. Hallam ◽  
Teja Guda
Keyword(s):  
Theory Building ◽  
Wealth Creation ◽  
Opportunity Identification ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Identification Process ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Entrepreneurial Alertness ◽  
Strategic Posture ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Entrepreneurial and strategic actions are crucial for wealth creation, and the business opportunity is a critical factor in this process. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of the firm’s strategic posture in the relationship between individual alertness and opportunity identification within an existing firm. This approach contributes to entrepreneurship theory building through a multilevel study. Design/methodology/approach The quantitative research focuses on understanding the mediating role of an organization’s strategic posture in the opportunity identification process. Using a sample of 276 firms, this study tests a two-level model to explain opportunity identification. Findings The findings provide empirical evidence that a firm’s strategic posture mediates the relationship between individual alertness and opportunity identification. Furthermore, this study finds differences in the mediating role of a firm’s strategic posture through which entrepreneurs and managers affect opportunity identification. Years after the creation of startup, the entrepreneurs still exhibit entrepreneurial characteristics that affect opportunity identification. The findings provide evidence that entrepreneurs foster an internal culture and set of values that are more favorable to radical innovation, compared to managers who favor incremental and less risky projects. Practical implications The findings suggest the possibility for new theory building that can improve the fields of entrepreneurship and management research. Moreover, the proposed model constitutes a new approach to analyze the mediating role of an organization’s strategic posture in the opportunity identification process. Originality/value This paper provides an original approach to literature in exploring the relationship between entrepreneurial alertness and firm’s strategic posture in explaining the opportunity identification process. This work will help expand the theory building that explores differences between managers and entrepreneurs in organizations.

scholarly journals Hilangnya Sifat Melawan Hukum Pidana Materil Dalam Tindak Pidana Korupsi Pasca Pengembalian Seluruh Kerugian Keuangan Negara

Media Iuris ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
Yanto Yunus ◽  
Juwita Sarri ◽  
Syahirudin Syahir
Keyword(s):  
Positive Function ◽  
The State ◽  
Normative Study ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Negative Function ◽  
The Law ◽  
Written Law ◽  
Criminal Conduct ◽  
Financial Losses ◽  
Positive Work

Criminal conduct can be held accountable when it meets two elements of such action as unlawful action and can be reproached. The nature of resisting the law itself is devided into two opposing qualities of formal law and the nature of resisting the law of materiel. The nature of the law regarding material itself has two fuction: itsnegative function and its positive work. Of these functions in application only to its negative (or exempted from the written law) function because of its positive function (an act not prohibited by the law but by society of the act is mistaken) and therefore is a violation of the law. This type of research is the normative study with the constitution approach (statue approach) and the conceptual approach. From this research it can be concluded that the repayment of all financial losses in the state can be excused/ fail d;excuse, so that the nature of resisting the laws of materiel’s negative function of the perpetrators of corruption is lost. The provision of article 4 of the constitution is judged as irrelevant because the application of a fixed sanction without seeing thr benefits of its ratification. This is based on the theory presented by Nigel Walker and Jeremmy Bentham, which says the application of criminal santions must be ideal and beneficial to the perpetrator. Keywords: Loss of Unlawful Character; Corruption; Recovery of State Losses.Perbuatan pidana dapat dimintai pertanggungjawaban apabila memenuhi dua unsur yakni perbuatan tersebut merupakan perbuatan melawan hukum dan perbuatan tersebut dapat dicela. Sifat melawan hukum itu sendiri terbagi dalam dua yakni sifat melawan hukum formal dan sifat melawan hukum materiel, Sifat melawan hukum materiel itu sendiri memiliki dua fungsi yaitu fungsinya yang negatif dan fungsinya yang positif. Dari kedua fungsi tersebut dalam penerapannya hanya diperbolehkan fungsinya yang negatif (atau perbuatan yang dapat dikecualikan dari hukum yang tidak tertulis) dikarenakan fungsinya yang positif (perbuatan yang tidak dilarang oleh undang-undang tetapi oleh masyarakat perbuatan tersebut dianggap keliru) sehingga fungsinya ini dianggap bertentangan dengan undang-undang. Jenis Penelitian ini ialah penelitian normatif dengan pendekatan undang-undang (Statute Approach) dan pendekatan konseptual (Conceptual Approach). Dari penelitian ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa dengan dikembalikannya seluruh kerugian keuangan negara maka perbuatan pelaku dapat dimaafkan/fail d;excuse, sehingga sifat melawan hukum materiel fungsinya yang negatif dari perbuatan pelaku tindak pidana korupsi hilang. Sehingga ketentuan dalam Pasal 4 UU dinilai sudah tidak relevan dikarenakan penerapan sanksi yang tetap dijatuhkan tanpa melihat manfaat dari penjatuhan sanksi tersebut. Hal tersebut berdasarkan pada teori yang dikemukakan oleh Nigel Walker dan Jeremmy Bentham, yang mengatakan bahwa penerapan sanksi pidana harus ideal dan bermanfaat bagi pelaku.Kata Kunci: Hilangnya Sifat Melawan Hukum; Korupsi; Pengembalian Kerugian Negara.

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