The regional and global competitiveness of multinational firms

International competitiveness ultimately depends upon the linkages between a firm’s unique, idiosyncratic capabilities (firm-specific advantages, FSAs) and its home country assets (country-specific advantages, CSAs). In this paper, we present a modified FSA/CSA matrix building upon the FSA/CSA matrix (Rugman 1981). We relate this to the diamond framework for national competitiveness (Porter 1990), and the double diamond model (Rugman and D’Cruz 1993). We provide empirical evidence to demonstrate the merits and usefulness of the modified FSA/CSA matrix using the Fortune Global 500 firms. We examine the FSAs based on the geographic scope of sales and CSAs that can lead to national, home region, and global competitiveness. Our empirical analysis suggests that the world’s largest 500 firms have increased their firm-level international competitiveness. However, much of this is still being achieved within their home region. In other words, international competitiveness is a regional not a global phenomenon. Our findings have significant implications for research and practice. Future research in international marketing should take into account the multi-faceted nature of FSAs and CSAs across different levels. For MNE managers, our study provides useful insights for strategic marketing planning and implementation.

Competitiveness and labour regulations

Includes bibliography

Corporate competitiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

The structure and competitiveness of the Brazilian capital goods industry

Includes bibliography

CEFACT: an international private/public sector partnership

The Centre for the Facilitation of Procedures and Practices in Administration, Commerce and Transport (CEFACT) constitutes a partnership between the public and private sectors for their mutual benefit. For the private sector, working with governments to improve commerce is critical to improving international competitiveness. For governments, working with the private sector to reduce procedural barriers to trade is critical to improving both their own administrative effectiveness and the economic well-being of their countries. This issue of the Bulletin presents an exposition by the Chairman of the CEFACT, Mr. Henri Martre, at the Trade Facilitation Seminar, carried out between 9 and 10 March of 1998, at the Headquarters of the World Trade Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. Its main purpose is to explain the importance of CEFACT's partnership between the public and private sectors; how this partnership works, and the trade facilitation instruments it has created.

World knowledge competitiveness index 2008

The 2008 edition of the WKCI compares 145 regions across 19 knowledge economy benchmarks (full data for all indicators across each of the 19 benchmarks is contained in the accompanying Excel spreadsheets). This represents an increase of twenty regions compared to the last edition in 2005: nine from Europe, eight from North America, and three from Asia Pacific. These new regions were selected on the basis of a survey of a wide range of regions appearing to be become more internationally competitive. This year’s report also contains a special chapter on economic development in the three leading Chinese regions.

A termelési stratégia és termelési gyakorlat kutatás eredményei 2009-2010 (Gyorsjelentés) = Results of an international research on manufacturing strategy and practices 2009-2010 (briefing)

Ez a műhelytanulmány a 2009-ben lezajlott Nemzetközi Termelési Stratégia Kutatás (International Manufacturing Strategy Survey) hazai eredményeit foglalja össze az első elemzések alapján. Az eredményeket összevetettük a kutatás nemzetközi adatbázisával is, ezért a kutatásban részt vevő vállalatok és más érdeklődők a hazai vállalatok nemzetközi versenyképességéről is képet kaphatnak a termelés területén. Sajnos az elemzések nem hoztak túl kedvező eredményeket: a hazai mezőny sem saját magához, sem a nemzetközi mezőnyhöz képest nem tudott érdemben fejlődni az elmúlt 4 évben. = This study summarizes the first Hungarian results of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey that took place in 2009. Hungarian data are compared to the international database of the research, as well. Thus participating companies and other interesting readers can get a picture about the international competitiveness of Hungarian companies at the field of production. Unfortunately the results are not very favourable: the Hungarian companies could not make considerable progress neither in comparison to their own previous results nor to international companies in the last three years.

Versenyképesség-történetek - Nemzetgazdasági versenyképességről szóló vélekedések összehasonlító elemzése = Narratives on Competitiveness – A Comparative Analysis of Perceptions and Concepts about National Competitiveness

The scope of the present study is twofold. First, through in-depth interviews, it aims to explore the perception and concepts of non-political leaders (Deputy State Secretaries and Heads of Department) of the Hungarian economic bureaucracy concerning the competitiveness of the Hungarian economy. Second, it compares the obtained results to the perception and concepts salient in the political and business sphere as well as in the methodology of the international competitiveness rankings. The analysis covers issues of competitiveness such as (1) problems of the competitiveness of Hungarian economy, (2) directions of good policy, (3) agents of competitiveness, (4) future of the Hungarian economy, (5) political obstacles of good policy.

A termelési stratégia és termelési gyakorlat kutatás eredményei 2013-2014 (Gyorsjelentés) = Results of an international research on manufacturing strategy and practices 2013-2014 (Briefing)

Absztakt: Ez a műhelytanulmány a 2013-2014-ben lezajlott Nemzetközi Termelési Stratégia Kutatás (International Manufacturing Strategy Survey) hazai eredményeit foglalja össze az első elemzések alapján. Az eredményeket összevetettük a kutatás nemzetközi adatbázisával is, ezért a kutatásban részt vevő vállalatok és más érdeklődők a hazai vállalatok nemzetközi versenyképességéről is képet kaphatnak a termelés területén ______ This study summarizes the first Hungarian results of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey that took place in 2013-2014. Hungarian data are compared to the international database of the research, as well. Thus participating companies and other interesting readers can get a picture about the international competitiveness of Hungarian companies at the field of production.

Chemical composition of bovine milk from Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Aiming at international competitiveness of the Brazilian dairy sector, new governmental policies were released to improve quality and safety of bovine milk. In this context, it is important to quantify essential and toxic chemical elements. Here, the composition of milk samples taken at 32 dairy farms in Minas Gerais State was assessed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), besides the evaluation of usual quality parameters. Significant differences were found for Ba, K, Na and fat content amongst dairy farms with diverse quality levels established on basis of somatic cell and total bacterial count.

Real exchange rate and elasticity of labour supply in a balance-of-payments-constrained macrodynamics

A macrodynamic model is proposed in which the real exchange rate and the elasticity of labour supply interact defining different trajectories of growth and income distribution in a developing economy. Growth depends on imports of capital goods which are paid with exports (there are no capital flows) and hence is constrained by equilibrium in current account. The role of the elasticity of labour supply is to prevent the real exchange rate from appreciating as the economy grows, thereby sustaining international competitiveness. The model allows for endogenous technological change and considers the impact of migration from the subsistence to the modern sector on the cumulative (Kaldor-Verdoorn) process of learning.

Estudo técnico/económico da instalação de uma central de cogeração numa serração de madeira

O pinheiro tem um papel importante na ecologia e economia nacional. O Pinheiro sofre de uma praga severa, denominada por doença da murchidão dos pinheiros, causada pelo nemátodo da madeira do pinheiro (NMP). Apresenta-se como um verme microscópico, invertebrado, medindo menos de 1,5 mm de comprimento. O contágio entre árvores deve-se a vectores biologicamente conhecidos por longicórneo e capricórnio do pinheiro. Os produtores de madeira de pinho são desta forma obrigados a efectuar tratamentos térmicos (HT), de eliminação do NMP e dos seus vectores para que a exportação da madeira serrada cumpra com a norma NP 4487. De modo a manter a competitividade internacional das empresas nacionais, o impacto dos custos do HT deve ser minimizado. O objectivo desta dissertação é efectuar o estudo técnico-económico da implementação de um sistema de cogeração capaz produzir calor para efectuar o tratamento ao NMP e simultaneamente energia eléctrica para vender à rede pública. As receitas da venda de energia eléctrica poderão contribuir para a minimização dos custos do HT. Tendo em conta que os resíduos das serrações de madeira podem ser usados como combustível consideraram-se para avaliação duas tecnologias de cogeração, um sistema de turbina a vapor clássico (ciclo Rankine) e um sistema Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), permitindo ambas a queima dos resíduos das serrações de madeira. No que diz respeito à avaliação económica, foi desenvolvido um simulador de tecnologia/modalidade de remuneração que efectua cálculos consoante as necessidades térmicas de cada produtor, a potência eléctrica a instalar e indicadores económicos, VAL, TIR e PAYBACK da instalação do sistema de cogeração. O simulador desenvolvido aplica a nova legislação que enquadra o sistema jurídico e remuneratório da cogeração (DL 23/2010), na qual se consideram duas modalidades, geral e especial. A metodologia desenvolvida foi aplicada num caso real de uma serração de madeira e os principais resultados mostram que as soluções apresentadas, turbina a vapor e sistema ORC, não apresentam viabilidade económica. Através da análise de sensibilidade, conclui-se que um dos factores que mais influência a viabilidade económica do projecto é o tempo de funcionamento reduzido. Sendo uma das soluções apresentada a criação de uma central de cogeração para vários produtores de madeira. Uma possível solução para o problema do reduzido tempo de utilização seria o fornecimento do serviço de tratamentos térmicos a outros produtores de paletes de madeira que não possuem estufa própria.

Deslocalização de empresas num contexto de globalização: estudo de caso de uma empresa portuguesa

Dissertação apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto para a obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Empreendedorismo e Internacionalização Orientador: Professor Doutor José de Freitas Santos

Global Prospects for Dairy in Argentina and Chile: Evidence from Field Visits and Model Simulations, August 2006

We assess the international competitiveness of the dairy industries in Argentina and Chile, combining recent market intelligence gathered from field visits with quantitative simulations of global policy reform scenarios. Both countries exhibit strong potential for export growth but face significant internal and external barriers to expanding their dairy industries. Global policy reforms would resolve some of the international obstacles to their expansion. Argentina has great potential, but it is handicapped by its current macroeconomic policies, trade policy distortions, and the uncertainty associated with policy implementation. Chile is more limited in terms of natural capacity for expansion, but it has a positive trade and investment environment.