We build a general Ricardian model of international trade, which extends Eaton and Kortum (2002), in order to analyze the sources of the gains from trade, the effects of trade openness on productivity, and the role of nominal exchange rates. For general distributions of industry efficiencies, welfare gains can always be de- composed into a selection and a reallocation effect. The former is the change in average efficiency due to the selection of industries that survive international competition. The latter is the rise in the weight of exporting industries in domestic production, due the reallocation of workers away from non-exporting industries. This decomposition, which is hard to calculate in the general case, simpli es dramatically with Fréchet- distributed efficiencies, providing easy-to-quantify model-based measures of these two effects. For an average of 46 countries in 2000 and 2005, the selection effect turns out to be somewhat more important than the reallocation effect. By analyzing the relationship between trade openness and total factor productivity (TFP), we propose a novel methodology to measure the latter. The logic of our approach is to use a structural model and measure TFP not from its "primitive" (the aggregate production function), but from its observed implications. We estimate TFP levels of the manufacturing sector of 19 OECD countries, relative to the United States, in 1985-2002, as the average productivity a proxy for aggregate TFP that best ts data on trade, production and wages. Our measures turn out to be easy to compute and are no longer mere residuals. To examine the role exchange rates in a model of real consumption and production decisions with no money, we follow an insight of Keynes (1931) and replicate a currency depreciation with an increase in import barriers and a symmetric decline in export barriers. By mimicking changes in exchange rates with changes in the model parameters, we can demonstrate a series of classical results and conjectures, in a very general framework with many countries, tradeable goods and non-tradeable goods. We show not only that a depreciation has no real effects with flexible wages, but, with sticky wages, we are able to prove that an undervalued currency causes involuntary unemployment abroad, while at home it determines inefficiently high employment in the export sector, raising real GDP but lowering welfare. If the currency is overvalued, we also show that there exists an appropriate depreciation that restores competitive prices, with welfare-enhancing effects, proving Friedman's conjecture (1953).

The theoretical aspects of Architectural Management (AM) have been widely researched from a variety of international perspectives through the published research work of the CIB W096 Working Group. There is much less research, however, covering the transfer of these theoretical aspects into professional practice. There is a lack of a holistic approach towards defining AM, explaining what it constitutes, its deliverables to its users, whether there is a need for architectural managers, and if so, what are their qualifications. Similarly, there is a lack of research concerning the opinions of those outside the CIB W096 community with regard to Architectural Management. This research has contributed to the theory and practice of AM by conducting a combination of inductive/deductive, exploratory/explanatory, and qualitative/quantitative approaches in order to understand the exact meaning of AM; capture and detail its components; and to validate all these issues by examining the professional opinions of two groups: researchers and practitioners. The primary focus of this research was answering the question as to how AM can be transferred successfully from theory into practice. In order to answer this question, the research was divided into five consecutive phases. Firstly, reviewing the literature helped establish a solid theoretical background for the research, and it helped in highlighting the major gaps in knowledge associated with AM. Subsequently, and in response to the shortage of information within the AM literature, a preliminary study was found to be a useful source for gathering information about the meaning, components, benefits, strategies and requirements of AM, and the need for architectural managers. Then, both the data extracted from the literature and the data obtained through the preliminary study were analysed and combined, generating a framework for transferring AM from theory to practice using the grounded theory methodology. Then the AM framework testing process was conducted in three stages through a workshop, interviews, and questionnaire survey examining the professional perspectives of architectural researchers (within and outside the CIB W096) and the leaders of UK architectural firms. The final stage involved discussing and synthesising the data obtained through the entire course of this research and generating conclusions. During its testing and after refinement, the newly proposed AM framework proved its practicality and usefulness for transferring Architectural Management from theory to practice. The findings indicated that the decision to adopt AM should be taken at the firm's strategic management level; and there is a need for a facilitator expert in design, management and construction to lead the successful adoption and application of AM. Similarly, the findings revealed that adopting AM in practice has the capability to increase a firm's competitiveness. However, this requires effective communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing within the firm's internal and external environments. Similarly, the findings indicated the crucial role of basic and vocational architecture education in spreading the concept of AM and assuring its successful application.

The thesis analyzes competitiveness and related business environment in the Czech Republic and Germany, also examines the legislative environment prevailing in both countries. The work is divided into three chapters. The first chapter determines the position of the two states in international competitiveness rankings. In the second chapter selected areas of the business environment are described, evaluated and compared. The final chapter is about starting a business in the Czech Republic, Germany. The thesis analyzes problems of cross-border activities of employees. Common features of both states and their differences are compared in order to be the inspiration for legal changes.

The master thesis examines the development of competitiveness in Germany and Italy in the context of common currency and outlines the implications of this development. The theoretical part focuses on the perception of competitiveness on national level and the impact of the Economic and Monetary Union membership on the economies and their competitiveness in general. Subsequently, the most commonly observed indicators concerning national competitiveness from a narrower and broader point of view are introduced. In the practical part, broader economic and historical context is presented, followed by an assessment of the competitiveness of both economies on the basis of selected indicators: unit labour costs, the labour market situation, productivity, export performance and structure, nominal and real exchange rate developments and current account developments. The final part analyses the development of competitiveness according to the multi-criteria assessments of the World Economic Forum and the International Institute for Management Development.

The theme of this diploma thesis is the tourism of New Zealand and its impact on the economy of the state. The subject matter of the research is New Zealand as a destination of international tourism. The main aim of this diploma thesis is to analyze and evaluate position of destination New Zealand in the international tourism market. The partial aim is, for example, the description of New Zealand's economic situation and impact of tourism industry on the economy of the state, the characteristics of the New Zealand conditions of tourism development, the analysis of incoming tourism and the assessment of the competitiveness of destination New Zealand in international comparison. The findings are summarized in the SWOT analysis, which shows country's great potential for growth in the international tourism market. The end of the work is focused on the New Zealand tourism policy and on the forecasts of future developments in this area.

South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ came at a time when the position as host of a high-profile mega-event has become a sought-after status for countries worldwide. Not only do these events hold the promise of extensive triple-bottom-line legacies, but they also offer an extremely powerful destination marketing platform. However, no destination is guaranteed success and sustainable competitiveness by being offered the once-off opportunity to host a major international event. This study focuses on the ways and measures in which mega-events can contribute to destination competitiveness in its entirety as depicted in a popular model of tourism destination competitiveness. Existing literature on destination competitiveness and mega-events, as well as comparative case studies of recent mega-events were explored to furnish a set of apparent key success factors for the sustainable hosting of mega-events. This set of factors was then tested within a case study context through the collection of primary and secondary qualitative data. Industry experts from both the tourism and events industries in the City of Tshwane were interviewed on the eve of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. In addition, strategic documents and other secondary data were investigated to form an understanding of the role of the event as a potential catalyst for destination development. The City’s competitiveness was evaluated before the event, and compared to an evaluation of its perceived competitiveness as a result of the event. Based on the findings, a set of five critical success factors was developed. It includes the need to address eventsm as a strategic destination priority; effective stakeholder identification and role clarification; resource management for the event; alignment of the event strategy with the overall destination marketing strategy; and pro-actively addressing environmental issues. These factors are presented within a timeframe before, during and after the actual event. Through the proposed framework, it may be possible to manage the hosting of events in such a way as to contribute to sustained, holistic competitiveness of the host destination; ensuring alignment with the overall destination marketing and management strategy. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Tourism Management / unrestricted

The main purpose of this study was to develop a destination branding and positioning framework, with particular reference to the Zimbabwean experience. The theoretical underpinnings and concepts used in this study were destination marketing, destination branding and positioning, image and destination competitiveness. To provide a strategic context to the study, branding as a key element of destination marketing was clarified; the strategic role of branding /re-branding in the positioning/repositioning of a destination was outlined; international trends and best practices in branding and positioning were evaluated; and the destination marketing situation in Zimbabwe, with particular emphasis on the status of branding and positioning, was determined. To determine key stakeholder attitudes, experiences and expectations regarding the branding and positioning of Zimbabwe as a tourism destination, a stakeholder survey was carried out during 2006 and 2007. Stakeholder groups included in the survey were key industry representative bodies, national tourism authorities, publicity associations, tour operators and airlines flying into Zimbabwe. The study concludes that the concept of branding has varied interpretations in destination marketing. While branding can be used as a strategic tool to reposition a destination, the study notes that there are a number of non-tourism factors which can erode brand equity rendering a destination brand obsolete. It observes that unless and until these non-tourism factors are addressed the destination brand may not perform optimally. Any destination that needs to re-brand has to deal with the image issues before any meaningful re-branding activities can take place. The consistent use of well focused promotional and public diplomacy strategies as well as proactive crisis management should be used to pull the destination from its negative equity. A key outcome of the study is a strategic framework for branding and positioning a destination in crisis. It sets out guidelines for the stakeholders on how to implement the branding process. In addition, the framework adds value to destination marketing since it can be applied as a frame of reference in understanding the complexities of destination branding. While the framework has been developed in a Zimbabwean context, it can be applied to other destinations which have a need to brand or re-brand. An integrated marketing and communication strategy is recommended since branding alone may not yield positive results under a crisis situation. At the same time the destination needs to address political and economic issues, design strategies that can bring together all the stakeholders, while encouraging alliances and joint ventures among tourism operators. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge regarding destination marketing, particularly destination branding. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Tourism Management / unrestricted

The South African Government, in the Budget Review of 2008, proposed to impose a 2c/kWh tax on the sale of electricity generated from non-renewable sources, to be collected at source by the producers/generators of electricity. This tax will create distortions in the South African economy. The research study aims to identify measures that can be taken to negate the negative competitiveness impact of the tax. In the first part of the study, we applied the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model, which is coordinated by the Centre for Global Trade Analysis at Purdue University. The GTAP model is the pre-eminent modelling framework for the analysis of trade and environmental issues across countries. GTAP is a multi-region CGE model designed for comparative-static analysis of trade policy issues. Various versions were constructed and the closure was changed to reflect the South African reality more accurately. After the national as well as international economic and environmental impacts were analysed, we considered Border Tax Adjustments (BTAs) as a possible remedy to negate the negative competitiveness impact of the tax. Utilising theoretical Heckscher-Ohlin methodology, as well as the GTAP model, we showed that BTAs will not negate the adverse economic impact of an environmental tax. Instead, reversed BTAs, through gains of trade, could reverse the negative economic impact of an electricity generation tax, while enabling an economy to retain most of the environmental benefits of the tax. We also considered the impact of an integrated approach, consisting of an electricity generation tax and a demand side policy, on the welfare of households. To analyse this, we used the University of Pretoria General Equilibrium Model (UPGEM). The model was extended to reflect Equivalent Variation values and we updated the database to include import tariffs. It was then shown that reversed BTAs could be used to offset the regressiveness of the electricity generation tax. Policy implications from the study will be useful for macroeconomic policies, international trade negotiations and environmental policies to increase the welfare of society. / Thesis (DCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Economics / unrestricted

This thesis explores two related purposes. First, it theoretically investigates how the broad literature on globalization is nested in debates concerning the nature of concepts such as space and territory. When doing so, it suggests that studies of globalization can be advanced by escaping territorialist understandings where the nation state is reproduced as a natural arena appropriate for studying all aspects of ‘the social’. The theoretical part of the thesis is used as a basis for articulating a framework for empirical studies that rest upon a conceptual grammar fashioned through a combination of so called assemblage thinking and governmentality analysis. This framework is then put to work as the second, empirical, purpose of the thesis is pursued. More precisely this means that the governance of Swedish regional development is analyzed as an assemblage of discourses, practices and subjects where (re)production of globalization occurs. The (re)production of globalization is studied in three interrelated case studies, all based on a corpus of 81 documents pertaining to the governance of Swedish regional development. By paying attention to how power operates in terms of political rationalities, governmental technologies and the production of social actors, the thesis shows how notions of a perpetual and omnipresent global competition marks the assemblage with particularly salient modes of rationale. Specifically, entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity are represented as the primary means for becoming competitive in the age of globalization, and it is shown here how this have inclusionary and exclusionary effects in terms of desired social actors throughout Swedish regions. The thesis then ends with a concluding chapter where the current regimes of regional development are identified as complex forms of neoliberal rule with far reaching effects for democratic principles and practices. / In an age often understood as globalized, questions of space and territory are pushed to the forefront of political rule. This thesis explores how contemporary regimes of governing are not only practices of ‘state craft’, but also ‘space craft’ as power operates in relation to perpetual and encompassing notions of global competition among states, regions and subjects. In the thesis a conceptual grammar based on so called assemblage thinking and governmentality studies is put forward in order to investigate how globalization is articulated as a problem for governing regional development in Sweden. It is shown how this is nested in specific political rationalities and governmental technologies that emerge in attempts to produce competitiveness. By approaching the governance of regional development as an assemblage, a vibrant junction of discourses, practices and subjects, the thesis shows how political analysis can rid it self from notions of methodological nationalism, or in other words, a reification of the nation-state as the most appropriate scale for the study of social relations. When doing so it also highlights how complex forms of neoliberal rule lies at the heart of regional development, posing challenges for democratic principles and practices throughout the world.

The goal of this thesis is to understand the innovation policy of Israel and find recommendations for innovation policy of Czech republic. The first chapter aims to define basic theoretical concepts of innovation and measurements of the efficiency of innovation policy and competitiveness of the economy as such. The second chapter analyzes the innovation policy of Israel, its origins, the factors causing innovative thinking, the government tools for the support of innovation and successful innovation projects. The final chapter contains a comparison of the innovative aspects of the two countries, evaluation of cooperation and inspiration for the Czech innovation system based on my research.