Initial Exploration of Cross-Generational Attitudes Towards Piracy of Chinese Online Literature

This chapter seeks to provide initial evidence and provide a baseline for further exploration of Chinese cross-generational audiences' attitude differences towards online literature and digital piracy. Globalization has complicated the many disparate cultural, generational, and national perspectives on intellectual property (IP) protection. IP and IP protection continue to grow in importance in global commerce and international relations. How attitudes towards IP and online content, in particular, evolve generationally is an area of relative under exploration. Data was gathered through an online survey and indicates a trend towards increased awareness and acceptance of IP value and protection. This study provides insight into cross-generational audiences in the important market of China. It may be helpful to those interested in commerce in the areas of online publishing or related industries to help make business decisions in targeting and marketing, to those interested in global commerce and international relations, or those who are researchers in the areas of IP and IP protection.

Challenging the hierarchy

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Mercedes-Benz.io has implemented a form of organizational structure and management known as holacracy, which embraces flat power structures and minimal leadership/oversight roles, in order to better adapt to the digitalization of global commerce. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

India's E-Commerce Industry's Growth and Projected Breakthroughs

Background/Purpose: E-commerce is the online exchange of products and services. In this article, we discuss the elements those are propelling India's digital commerce market forward and the E-commerce industry's expansion and the various sectors of E-commerce in the country. International investors are supporting the E-commerce industry since it is one among the fastest growing industries and offers a large scope for investment due to the Indian market size. Additionally, it discusses the problems and potential associated with E-commerce in India within the context of the global marketplace. E-commerce is among the fastest expanding industries, with India offering tremendous investment opportunities. Since last year, there has been a dramatic increase in investment, but more is predicted in the years ahead. Rapid rise in mobile and internet users has aided the expansion of E-commerce businesses in urban and rural areas alike. Objective: To examine how the E-commerce sector in India has grown through the years, as well as to get an insight of current trends, impediments, and potential improvements. Design/Methodology/Approach: The SWOT analysis is being used to analyse and present data acquired from academic papers, online articles, and other sources. Findings/Results: India's E-commerce sector has the potential to grow further if the government provides legal protection and a platform for it, and if both local and global commerce are enabled to exercise their basic rights to do E-commerce business, therefore enhancing the country's economy. Originality/Value: This paper study provides an outline of India's E-Commerce business and its projected development in the coming years based on the range of data collected. Paper Type: Research Analysis based on a case study.

Cybersecurity, Global Commerce, and International Organizations

As private-sector enterprises became dependent on Internet-enabled technologies, cybersecurity threats developed into serious problems in international political economy. This chapter analyses how states use international organizations to address these threats. The chapter explains why international organizations were not prominent in the Internet’s emergence and impact on transnational trade and investment. It examines the main threats companies face, including cybercrime, economic cyber espionage, government surveillance and hacking, innovation in digital technologies, and poor corporate cyber defences. International organizations have been most involved in fighting cybercrime, but these efforts have not been successful. International organizations do not play significant roles in countering other cybersecurity threats in global commerce. The chapter argues that international organizations are unlikely to become more important in the future because geopolitics and shifts in domestic politics in democracies will make collective action on cybersecurity in global commerce more difficult.

Law, Global Value Chains and Upgrading in the Mining Industry: A Case Study on Zambia

The increasingly interconnected nature of global commerce has caused dramatic structural transformation. Global value chains (GVCs) are crucial to understanding the resulting consequences, including the possibilities available today for a country's economic success. Law plays a central role. In this article, we explore GVC upgrading in Africa, focusing on the mining sector in Zambia. We outline three impediments to Zambia's upgrading capacity within the copper-mining GVC and conclude with three policy suggestions that could improve Zambia's position. By shedding light on the relationship between law, development and global value chains, the article provides beneficial insight to Zambia and across Africa.

Regulating Global Commerce

Over the last half-century, the number of countries in the world has increased from 106 in 1950 to 195 in 2018 and technology has driven increases in the speed of business, global connectivity, and complexity. In this environment, it is no wonder that regulatory systems are challenged. The World Trade Organization, World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund were created to establish a framework for economic cooperation and development with the central theme of creating a stable and prosperous global economy. The goals of these organizations remain the same, but their work is constantly changing. The technologically driven disruption in economic models, the emergence of developing economies, and changing financial systems present an evolutionary environment that requires challenging solutions. The question for consideration is, are the world’s regulators up to the challenge?

Coping with Unrest in the Periphery of China: Comparative Case Studies of Thailand, Myanmar and HKSAR

This paper examines the case studies of three East Asian entities (Thailand, Myanmar and Hong Kong) battling both the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic as well as socio-political unrest simultaneously. While Thailand/Myanmar and Hong Kong are different in geographical/demographic sizes and the former two are sovereign states while the latter is a Special Administrative Region (SAR), they have similar challenges in experiencing cosmopolitan pro-democracy movements (made up of young activists) pitted against the governments determined to maintain control in what political scientists may characterize as illiberal political systems. While Thailand and Myanmar may be much larger in terms of geographical/demographic sizes, much of the recent political activism occurred in the capital city of Bangkok (a city of about 8 million people) and Yangon (also having about 7 million in population and being the former capital of Myanmar before the military elites had moved the capital to Naypyidaw in anticipation of political unrests). In the case of Myanmar, the demonstration and protests have effectively spread nationwide. Both cities are similar in size to Hong Kong that is with approximately 7 million inhabitants. Both Bangkok and Hong Kong are also cosmopolitan cities with high exposure to global commerce, ideas and tourism while Yangon is a fast-developing urban commercial capital city. In terms of ideologies and political systems, both Bangkok and Hong Kong have nominal liberal democratic systems that have limits imposed on political freedoms while Myanmar was liberalizing and democratizing before the military coup on February 1, 2020. These similarities make them suitable candidates for comparative studies, including analyzing their differences in managing the political challenges.

Young’s Social Connection Model and Corporate Responsibility

Recent structural innovations in global commerce present difficult challenges for legacy understandings of responsibility. The rise of outsourcing, sub-contracting, and mobile app-based platforms have dramatically restructured relationships between and among economic actors. Though not entirely new, the remarkable rise in the prevalence of these “not-quite-arm’s-length” relationships present difficulties for conceptions of responsibility based on interrogating the past for specifiable actions by blameworthy actors. Iris Marion Young invites investigation of a “social connection model of responsibility” (SCMR) that is, in many ways, better suited to this new commercial reality. Scholars working to understand corporate responsibility have invoked Young’s model to some good effect, though often superficially and uncritically. In this paper, we look closely at Young’s social connection model and its potential for helping us understand corporate responsibility in a radically networked world.

Recent Advances in Studying Air Quality and Health Effects of Shipping Emissions

The increase of global commerce and tourism makes the shipping sector an important contributor of atmospheric particles and gaseous pollutants. These have impacts on both health and climate, especially in populated coastal areas. Maritime activities could be an important driver for economic and social development, however, they are also an environmental pressure. Several policies were implemented in the last decades, at local/regional or international levels, mainly focused on reducing the content of sulphur in marine fuels. The last international IMO-2020 regulation was enforced on 1 January 2020. This work reviews some recent studies on this topic delineating current knowledge of the impacts of maritime emissions on air quality and health and the future projections relative to the benefits of the implementation of the new IMO-2020 regulation. In addition, future perspectives for further mitigation strategies are discussed.