An analysis of export market strategies and barriers perceptions by U.S. agricultural HVP exporters

This study identifies barriers perceived by agricultural exporters and examines how these perceptions influence use of export market strategies. Ordered logit models are used to estimate effects of perceived barriers and firm characteristics on export market strategies. The results from these models show that perceptions about import restrictions influence use of diversification of exports across products, competition influences use of competitive export pricing, and overseas product regulations affect product adaptation for export markets.     

Winning the Export War: British, Japanese and West German Exporters' Strategy Compared

A comparison of pricing policies, price and volume volatility, and investment in distribution, sales and marketing systems across 462 product categories identifies important differences in the strategies of British, Japanese and West German exporters towards the US market. The impact of these strategic choices on the evolution of market share is tested. The results suggest that many British manufacturers' export strategy has been dominated by UK supply and demand considerations. A large proportion of British exports are therefore confined to niches where sensitivity to price fluctuations and ‘stop-start’ supply is low and local distribution support is less important. Products where ‘pull marketing’ dominates are the key exception. Japanese exporters have invested heavily in US distribution and channel support, combined with a policy of stable US prices, aiding long term penetration. West German exporters have built share on technological advantage and direct sales support supplied from Germany to a limited number of customers.     

Effects of the Canada-U.S. Trade Agreement on U.S. agricultural exports

This paper investigates the effects of the Canada-U.S. Trade Agreement (CUSTA) on U.S. exports of agricultural products. Econometric analysis found that CUSTA has had a large impact on many U.S. agricultural export categories. All of the consumer-oriented products (except wine and beer), five of the intermediate products, and four of the bulk products had significant CUSTA effects. It is clear that the CUSTA effects have been larger for consumer-oriented food products. There is also evidence that U.S. affiliate sales in Canada have stimulated U.S. exports of consumer-oriented products and intermediate products.     

All the bottles in one basket? Evaluating the effect of intra-industry diversification on risk

This paper develops a framework using Monte Carlo simulation to examine risk/return properties of intra-industry product portfolio composition and diversification. We use product-level data covering all Swedish sales of alcoholic beverages to describe the risk profiles of wholesalers and how they are affected by actual and hypothetical changes to product portfolios. Using a large number of counterfactual portfolios we quantify the diversification benefits of different product portfolio compositions. In this market the most important reductions in variability come from focusing on domestic products and from focusing on product categories that have low variability. The number of products also has a large effect in the simulations, moving from a portfolio of 10 products to one of 20 products cuts standard deviation of cash flows in relation to mean cash flows by more than half. The concentration of import origins plays a minor quantitative role on risk/return profiles in this market.     

私营企业的企业家背景、多元化战略与企业业绩

本文运用"高阶理论"考察了私营企业的企业家背景、多元化战略选择以及企业业绩之间的关系.研究发现,与低学历的、年长的、创业前没有"企业负责人"经历的企业家相比,高学历的、年轻的以及创业之前曾担任过"企业负责人"的企业家更倾向于选择多元化战略.研究也发现,高学历、低年龄、"企业负责人"经历与高的销售额、资产额、资产增长率和净资产增长率正相关;多元化战略能够带来更大的资产规模、更高的资产增长率和净资产增长率,但对利润率没有显著的影响.同时,企业家的背景与多元化战略的交互作用同样影响着企业的业绩.创业前有过"企业负责人"经历的企业家采用多元化战略可以带来更好的业绩,而没有这种经历的企业家则会收到负面的效果.有意思的是,高学历和低学历的企业家采用多元化战略都提高了企业的销售额、资产额和净资产增长率,而中等学历的企业家采取多元化战略则带来了相反的效果.本文最后对该现象的可能原因进行了探讨.     

出口供应安全及基础设施影响下的天然气进出口博弈

鉴于出口国时常出现天然气出口供应安全问题,进口国因基础设施滞后引发的天然气供需矛盾,考虑出口供应安全、基础设施与需求量三者之间的相互影响,文章构建了进出口两国之间的动态博弈模型。运用最优控制等理论,求得了双方的均衡策略及效用。结果表明,天然气出口价格越高,使得进口国的天然气销售价格越高及其对基础设施投入越少;出口国为保障出口供应安全付出的努力与天然气出口价格之间呈倒“U”型关系;与天然气寡头竞争市场相比,出口垄断市场的天然气出口价格、出口供应安全、基础设施存量以及出口国效用更高,进口国效用更低;在寡头竞争市场,与合作方式相比,两国在议价下的天然气出口价格、出口供应安全、基础设施存量以及出口国效用更高,进口国效用更低。     

Effect of product and geographic diversification on company performance: Evidence during an economic crisis

Based on a novel sample of Spanish listed companies from nonfinancial sectors, we explore the effect of product and geographic diversification on company performance during an economic downturn. The study develops comprehensive models to understand the interaction effect of both strategies on company performance. We find a U-shaped geographic diversification–performance relationship and no evidence of a positive effect from product diversification, unless combined with high levels of geographic diversification. The results show that companies improved their performance by combining these strategies. The results are robust after controlling for the endogeneity of both types of diversification. Our findings highlight that geographic diversification is an effective and valuable strategy in economic downturns. Furthermore, this study confirms the importance of the interaction between product and geographic diversification to determine the total effect of product or geographic diversification on company performance.     

ROUTES OF INFECTION: EXPORTS AND HIV INCIDENCE IN SUB‐SAHARAN AFRICA

This paper estimates whether exports affect the incidence of HIV in Africa. This relationship has implications for HIV prevention policy as well as for the consequences of trade increases in Africa. I estimate this impact using two sources of data on HIV incidence, one generated based on UNAIDS estimates and the other based on observed HIV mortality. These data are combined with data on export value and volume. I find a fairly consistent positive relationship between exports and new HIV infections: doubling exports leads to a 10%–70% increase in new HIV infections. Consistent with theory, this relationship is larger in areas with higher baseline HIV prevalence. I interpret the result as suggesting that increased exports increase the movement of people (trucking), which increases sexual contacts. Consistent with this interpretation, the effect is larger for export growth than for income growth per se and is larger in areas with more extensive road networks.     

The ISO 9000 international quality registration: An empirical analysis of implications for business firms

The purpose of this article is to explore managerial perceptions of ISO 9000 standards. Previous surveys found general agreement that ISO 9000 registration influenced supplier selection, improved customer satisfaction, and enhanced operating efficiency. The present survey of production managers in 212 U.S. locations gathered data related to the perceived impact of registration on their businesses. Data analysis suggests strong agreement with benefits provided by improved documentation, the use of ISO 9000 as a marketing tool and greater export potential as a result of implementing these standards. Respondents did not agree that ISO 9000 provides positive benefits in product development or reduces production time. Annual sales were included to determine if there is a difference in perceived impacts based on firm size. Managers of smaller firms held a stronger belief that ISO 9000 registration results in cost reduction and increases export potential than did large firm managers. Small firms with less well developed export connections may find ISO 9000 registration useful in helping to establish a reputation that will help make the necessary connections in the export markets. The improvements in documentation of products and process may highlight areas of potential production efficiencies and possible cost reductions.     

Market Entry Costs,Producer Heterogeneity,and Export Dynamics

As the exchange rate, foreign demand, and production costs evolve, domestic producers are continually faced with two choices: whether to be an exporter and, if so, how much to export. We develop a dynamic structural model of export supply that characterizes these two decisions. The model embodies plant‐level heterogeneity in export profits, uncertainty about the determinants of future profits, and market entry costs for new exporters. Using a Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov chain estimator, we fit this model to plant‐level panel data on three Colombian manufacturing industries. We obtain profit function and sunk entry cost coefficients, and use them to simulate export responses to shifts in the exchange‐rate process and several types of export subsidies. In each case, the aggregate export response depends on entry costs, expectations about the exchange rate process, prior exporting experience, and producer heterogeneity. Export revenue subsidies are far more effective at stimulating exports than policies that subsidize entry costs.     

区际间出口差异的实证研究——以河南省为例

本文通过构建出口份额、出口额最大最小值比、总体差异分析指标、基尼系数、Theil系数、出口区位熵等指标体系,对河南省区际间的出口差异进行了实证研究。结果表明:河南省区际间出口的不均衡性显著,总体差异大。区际间出口的相对差异虽基本保持稳定,但出口的绝对差异非常显著,并且呈不断扩大的发展态势。河南省四大经济区出口的组内差异大于组间差异,但近年来组内差异与组间差异的贡献率呈现出趋同的发展态势。综合出口规模和出口的比较优势来看,中原城市群经济区的出口在全省处于领先地位,豫北经济区和豫西豫西南经济区次之,黄淮经济区处于绝对落后地位。文章的最后在探讨区际间出口差异形成原因的基础上论述了地区特定要素、人力资本及区域发展政策是影响区际间出口差异的主要因素。     

天然气基础设施及储备影响下的进出口策略

基于天然气进口国实施天然气基础设施建设,出口国进行天然气储备的框架下,本文构建了两国关于天然气进出口的动态模型,并运用最优控制理论,求得了进口国的天然气销售价格、天然气基础设施投入以及出口国的天然气开采量等最优决策路径。结果表明,进口国的各最优决策路径均呈单调性变化收敛至最优稳态;当初始天然气基础设施存量与初始天然气储量均面临不足(过剩)时,出口国的最优决策路径在收敛至最优稳态的过程中可能不再呈单调性变化;进出口两国各决策的最优稳态水平均随天然气需求基础设施弹性的增加而增加;除最优稳态天然气销售价格随天然气出口价格上升而上升以外,其它决策的最优稳态水平均随其上升而下降;出口国最优稳态效用、进出口两国联合最优稳态效用均与天然气最优稳态出口价格呈倒"U"型关系,且前者达到最大值时的天然气出口价格高于后者。     

The Effect of Product Variety and Inventory Levels on Retail Store Sales: A Longitudinal Study

We examine the effects of product variety and inventory levels on store sales. Using 4 years of data from stores of a large retailer, we show that increases in product variety and inventory levels are both associated with higher sales. We also show that increasing product variety and inventory levels has an indirect negative effect on store sales through their impact on phantom products—products that are physically present at the store, but only in storage areas where customers cannot find or purchase them. Our study highlights a consequence of increased product variety and inventory levels that has previously been overlooked in studies of retail product variety and inventory management. It also quantifies the impact of phantom products on store sales. In addition, our study provides empirical evidence to support earlier claims that higher product variety and inventory levels lead to an increase in defect rate. We discuss the implications of our findings for retail inventory and assortment planning and for the design of retail stores.     

International mergers and takeovers: A review of trends and recent developments

“Merger-mania” is an unquestioned piece of jargon in current vogue. In this study of international merger and take-over activity in the 1980's, the authors assess current trends in relation to the last 20 years.They detect several new features: the changing nature of the aggressor, the urge to merge in foreign markets, and the tendency for companies to integrate within existing industry boundaries rather than diversifying into new sectors.The cockpits are the major industrialised countries of Europe as well as the United States, but mergers in Japan although still somewhat rare, are on the increase.There are several conclusions of note. International takeovers appear to lead to industrial domination, the European “invasion” of the US remains as strong as ever, and company acquisition away from product diversification and geographical diversification looks like a winning formula.     

The risk implications of diversification: Integrating the effects of product and geographic diversification

The risk implications of product diversification have received considerable attention from scholars. However, our understanding of the effects of geographic diversification on risk is more limited. Relying on resource-based theory to frame our arguments, we argue that despite some similarities, the two types of diversification have differing effects on firm risk. We first establish the risk reducing effects for product diversification. We then integrate the unique aspects of geographic diversification that serve as a boundary condition to the RBV perspective, arguing for the risk increasing effects of geographic diversification. Finally, since many firms pursue both forms of diversification simultaneously, we explore the joint effects of both product and geographic diversification. We test our hypotheses in a longitudinal model on a sample of S&P 500 firms. Our findings suggest that total product diversification, as well as related diversification reduce risk, while total geographic diversification increases risk. Furthermore, our data provide evidence of a complex combination of joint effects of these two forms of diversification. These findings offer a more complete understanding of the risk effects of corporate diversification.     

International diversification and the market value of new product introduction

Although previous studies on international diversification are plentiful, they mainly focus on the effect of international diversification on overall firm performance, and the results are mixed. This study extends this line of research and explores the impact of international diversification on new product performance. Specifically, we ask if international diversification explains the stock market reactions to new product introduction (NPI) announcements. We find an inverted-U-shaped relationship between international diversification and the announcement returns of NPIs, revealing that the market value of NPIs initially improves and then declines with increasing international diversification. The results also show that intangible assets, such as technological and marketing capabilities, positively moderate the relationship between international diversification and the market value of NPIs. Our study not only highlights the importance of considering both sides of international diversification in affecting investors' assessments of corporate new product strategies, but also shows the possibility of internal capabilities in changing the fixed relationship between international diversification and the market value of new products.     

Intra-regional sales,product diversity,and the performance of merchandising multinationals

This study examines the relationship between intra-regional sales, product diversity, and performance of 45 merchandising firms using data from 1997 to 2003. The interaction effects between product diversity and intra-regional sales on performance are explored, using a curvilinear relationship. The analysis integrates three main theories, namely the resource-based view, transaction costs, and organization learning theory. The models measuring a firm's performance by return on assets (ROA) and return on sales (ROS) show that at high levels of intra-regional sales, small levels of product diversity can generate greater return to a firm but high levels of product diversity may hurt a firm's performance. Higher levels of intra-regional sales tend to improve a firm's performance and enhance the impact of product diversity on performance.     

The effects of international diversification on the link between product diversification and performance in a boom and bust cycle: Evidence from Spanish firms (1994–2014)

This study examines the individual effects of product diversification on performance and the moderating effects of international diversification on the product diversification–performance link in the context of a boom and bust cycle. Most prior research on firm strategies largely neglect the business cycle. We use data on a large sample of Spanish manufacturing firms from 1994 to 2014. In this period, the Spanish economy experienced a boom period (1994–2008) and a bust period involving a severe economic crisis (2009–2014). Our study highlights the important role of each stage of the economic cycle. Specifically, with respect to product diversification, our findings show that in a boom, moderate diversifiers obtain better profitability levels than their highly diverse or limited diversification counterparts do. In contrast, during an economic downturn, moderate and high diversifiers can be equally effective up to some point of optimization. Our findings also reveal a negative and significant effect of internationalization on profitability, independent of the stage of the economic cycle. Product and international diversification are complementary strategies during a period of economic growth when firms opt for moderate levels of product diversification. Meanwhile, when firms choose high levels of product diversification, both types of strategies are complementary during the boom cycle, but substitutive during the bust cycle.     

Computer-aided formulation and optimal control of an integrated production system for competitive products

An integrated production, inventory and advertising system has been formulated based on control engineering principles. In this system, the customer's demand is satisfied from stock, which in turn is replenished from production facilities. But sales reflect the advertising effort, present as well as past. The past effort has been considered as a delay with an assumed delay period. The problem is formulated as a state and observation model. Out of this an augmented model of state and parameters is formed. The parameters describing the model are estimated from MAP discrete filter algorithm. It is shown that sales of product 1 or product 2 at (k + l)th period is effected by sales and advertising of product 1 or product 2 at the kth period, and also by sales and advertising of product 2 or product 1 at (k-θ)th period, where 6 is the delay.     

融合特征情感和产品参数的客户感知偏好模型

在线评论作为一种公开、可获取的信息资源,蕴含了关于产品质量的各种有价值的信息,对这些信息的分析与挖掘有助于企业了解客户的需求和偏好。目前,基于在线评论的客户偏好模型考虑了特征观点和评论数量,忽视了产品参数对消费者购买决策的影响。因此,本文提出了一种融合特征情感和产品参数的客户感知偏好模型。首先,利用在线评论提取客户讨论的产品特征,并识别产品特征的情感极性,从而进一步计算特征正负面情感得分,生成产品的特征情感。然后,结合企业定义的产品参数,构建特征情感和产品参数融合作用对产品销量影响的计量经济模型,分析客户对产品的感知偏好。最后,为验证模型的有效性,获取了汽车之家网站的39款汽车产品(SUV车型)的评论文本,并持续8个月的销量跟踪。研究结果显示本文提出的模型比信息增益和TF-IDF方法能够更加准确地获取客户的感知偏好。此外,研究结果解释了特征情感和产品参数与产品销量的关联关系,为企业的市场营销和产品设计决策提供了理论基础。