As China's accession to World Trade Organization is certain, China is now at the critical stage of changing from a planned economy to a market economy and the banking system is also undergoing dramatic changes. By focusing on the local and foreign currency loan markets for foreign invested enterprises in China, this thesis can make three major contributions: (1) providing the first empirical research to test the theories of financial intermediation in China; (2) modeling the competition among local and foreign banks by analyzing the borrowing pattern of foreign invested enterprises and their reliance on foreign and local banks; (3) examining the role of relationship banking and other factors in determining the loan pricing of both local and foreign currency loans by foreign and local banks. / From the empirical results, I found empirical support to the financial intermediation theories that the longer the banking relationship, the lower the rate on the foreign currency loans, suggesting that the length of relationship as a proxy for the private information the bank obtains over the course of relationship helps overcome information asymmetry between the banks and the foreign invested enterprises in the sample. I also found empirical support to the rate reducing effects of other key factors such as the majority shareholding by the foreign sponsors and provision of third party guarantee. However, none of these important factors are associated with the renminbi-denominated loan pricing. That points to the primary issue of the prevailing banking system in China that the regulated local currency interest rates prevented the commercial banks from playing a "real" role of financial intermediation. The empirical test also shows that the local currency loan pricing will be reduced as FIEs maintain relationship with more banks. This suggests that banks compete for customers by offering cheaper credits. If competition is the predominant determinant of loan pricing and that such level of competition does not stimulate more innovative and better quality bank services and products as a means of differentiation, the inflexible Renminbi loan pricing will ultimately deteriorate the profitability of the banks and affect the financial health of the banking system. / Whilst China's accession to WTO is now certain, the liberalization of local currency interest rates will take time and be approached cautiously, and ultimately, hinge on the success of the banking reform and the institutional strengthening of Chinese banks. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Poon Kai-leung. / "January 2002." / Adviser: He Jia. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 63-05, Section: A, page: 1936. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-106). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

[by] James W. C. Tomlinson. / Bibliography: p. 209-215.

Thesis (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Income Tax Act, Act 58 of 1962 (‘the Act’) currently defines a permanent establishment in section 1. The definition of a permanent establishment in the Act refers to article 5 of the Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital of the Organisation for Economic Co- Operation and Development. The existence of a permanent establishment in a tax jurisdiction determines the right of the jurisdiction to tax the profits of the permanent establishment. The concept foreign business establishment was inserted into section 9D of the Act by clause 10(1)(a) of the Revenue Laws Amendment Act, Act 59 of 2000. Section 9D is an antiavoidance provision, which determines that certain foreign-sourced income generated by South African controlled foreign companies are subject to tax in South Africa. The concept foreign business establishment is one of the exclusions from the anti-avoidance provisions in section 9D. The Revenue Laws Amendment Act, Act 59 of 2000, replaced all references to the concept permanent establishment with a reference to the newly introduced concept foreign business establishment in section 9D(9)(b) of the Act. The Explanatory Memorandum on the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, 2000 (SARS 2000:1-12) does not provide a reason for the replacement of the concept permanent establishment. The objective of this study was to analyse and compare the concepts permanent establishment and foreign business establishment in order to make recommendations regarding the required additions and amendments to replace the concept foreign business establishment with the internationally recognised and accepted concept permanent establishment. The proposed replacement of the concept foreign business establishment with an internationally recognised and accepted tax concept will enhance the international compatibility of the Act. The use of an internationally recognised and accepted tax concept will provide clarity and certainty regarding the tax implications of section 9D(9)(b) for those affected by it. It was found that the concepts permanent establishment and foreign business establishment are used in different contexts within the Act. The concepts also apply to different types of taxpayers in different situations. The two concepts have, however, the same objective, being the identification of criteria for the existence of legitimate and substantive business activities in the foreign tax jurisdiction. A comparison between the definitions of the two concepts reveals that there are various components in the definitions with the same wording and meaning. After a detailed comparison between the two definitions it was found that, subject to some suggested additions and amendments, the internationally recognised and accepted concept permanent establishment can replace the concept foreign business establishment in section 9D(9)(b) of the Act without having a material impact on the objective of section 9D(9)(b). This replacement is possible due to the mutual objective of and similar components contained in the definitions of the concepts permanent establishment and foreign business establishments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Inkomstebelastingwet, Wet 58 van 1962 (‘die Wet’) definieer ’n permanente saak in artikel 1. Die definisie van ’n permanente saak verwys na artikel 5 van die ‘Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development’. Die bestaan van ’n permanente saak in ’n belastingjurisdiksie bepaal die reg van die belastingjurisdiksie om die winste van die permanente saak te belas. Die begrip buitelandse besigheidsaak is deur artikel 10(1)(a) van die Wysigingswet op Inkomstewette, Wet 59 van 2000 in die Wet ingesluit. Artikel 9D is ’n teenvermydingsbepaling wat bepaal dat sekere inkomste vanaf ’n buitelandse bron gegenereer deur ’n Suid-Afrikaans beheerde buitelandse maatskappy in Suid-Afrika belas word. Die begrip buitelandse besigheidsaak is een van die uitsluitings van die teenvermydingsbepaling in artikel 9D. Alle verwysings in artikel 9D(9)(b) na die begrip permanente saak is deur die Wysigingswet op Inkomstewette, Wet 59 van 2000, vervang met ’n verwysing na die nuwe begrip buitelandse besigheidsaak. Die ‘Explanatory Memorandum on the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, 2000’ (SARS 2000:1-12) verskaf nie ’n rede vir die vervanging van die begrip permanente saak nie. Die doel van die studie was om die begrippe permanente saak en buitelandse besigheidsaak te vergelyk sodat voorstelle gemaak kan word rakende die nodige byvoegings en wysings om die begrip buitelandse besigheidsaak met die internasionaal aanvaarde en erkende begrip, permanente saak, te vervang. Die voorgestelde vervanging van die begrip buitelandse besigheidsaak met ’n internasionaal aanvaarde en erkende begrip sal die internasionale verenigbaarheid van die Suid Afrikaanse wetgewing bevorder. Die gebruik van ’n begrip wat internasionaal aanvaar en erken word, sal sekerheid en duidelikheid bewerkstellig vir diegene wat deur die artikel geaffekteer word. Daar is bevind dat die begrippe permanente saak en buitelandse besigheidsaak in die Wet in verskillende verbande gebruik word. Die begrippe is ook van toepassing op verskillende belastingbetalers in verskillende situasies. Die twee begrippe het egter dieselfde doelwit naamlik die identifisering van kriteria vir die bestaan van wesenlike en volwaardige besigheidsaktiwiteite in die buitelandse belastingjurisdiksie. ’n Vergelyking tussen die definisies van die twee begrippe toon dat verskeie komponente van die definisies dieselfde woorde en betekenis bevat. Na ’n detail vergelyking van die twee begrippe is daar bevind dat, onderhewig aan sommige voorgestelde byvoegings en wysigings, die internasionaal erkende en aanvaarde begrip permanente saak die begrip buitelandse besigheidsaak in artikel 9D(9)(b) van die Wet kan vervang. Die vervanging is moontlik weens die gemeenskaplike doelwit en soortgelyke komponente in die definisies van die begrippe permanente saak en buitelandse besigheidsaak.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Law / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

With China join into the WTO for over 10 years, increasing number of foreign investors, including foreign invested construction companies, show their interests in the Chinese market. Due to the cultural differences between foreign and local companies, the foreign investors will face many challenges when entering into Chinese market. These challenges may lead to difficulties not only in establishing relationships with government, customers, and suppliers but also in managing local employees. Employees’ job satisfaction is proven to be an important predictor to organizational performance. With more and more Chinese people working in foreign invested construction companies, it is not clear whether they feel live up to their expectations. Limited literature is found about people’s job satisfaction in foreign invested construction companies. There is a research gap as the factors affecting Chinese employees’ job satisfaction in foreign invested construction companies are not examined. Based on literature review and exploration, 9 hypotheses are proposed for this research. The first hypothesis is to evaluate people’s overall job satisfaction in foreign invested construction companies. The remaining 8 hypotheses are used to investigate the specific factors affecting job satisfaction. A quantitative approach is adopted and a questionnaire survey is conducted for data collection. Data in both local and foreign invested construction companies are collected for comparison purpose. Afterwards, three experienced managers are interviewed to seek their opinions on the findings. Multiple regression analysis is applied for hypotheses testing. The data analysis results confirm the first hypothesis that employees working in foreign invested construction companies have a lower job satisfaction compared to employees working in local construction companies. The results also show that performance appraisal system, monthly income, feel of responsibility and career prospect are significant factors affecting people’s job satisfaction in foreign invested construction companies. This study portrays a whole picture of employees’ job satisfaction in foreign invested construction companies and several significant predictors are identified. According to the findings, suggestions and implications are provided to managers in foreign construction companies to enhance their employee’s job satisfaction. / published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Santa Barbara, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 399-418).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1991. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-159).

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister of Technologiae: PUBLIC MANAGEMENT in the Faculty of BUSINESS at the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2013 / Investment Promotion Agencies act as economic development conduits which seek not only just to undertake promotion, but also to improve the wider environment for investors by liaising and initiating change. As a result, worldwide governments have set up Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) to advance investment goals and by extension economic development in the context of a dynamic and competitive environment. Yet, little empirical research is done, especially in the developing world with a view to enhance the working practices of IPAs. This study investigated the effectiveness and quality of services provided by Mozambique’s Centre for the Promotion of Investment (CPI) from the perspective of both local and foreign investors. A quantitative approach by way of an online questionnaire was employed in the study. The data generated was analysed with the assistance of a registered statistician. The study found that most of the participants (local and foreign investors in Mozambique) do not make use of the services which the CPI is mandated to offer such as company registration; registration with the Fiscal Department and the publishing of company constitution in the government gazette, to name but a few. Furthermore, investors who have accessed the above services indicated a lack of service quality by the CPI. In the wider environment, the study found areas of concern such as an inadequate accounting system and a lack of proper coordination among the stakeholders involved in the process of setting up a business in Mozambique.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005. / With the largest growing population and "the world's fastest growing economy" (Jacob, 2004:20), China has an enormous pool of potential consumers who want to improve their lifestyles. China's opening of its retail market has encouraged the entrance of foreign retailers and has increased retailing. Many international companies and Chinese retailers are eager for a share of the Chinese market. China has made many reforms to its policies and regulations in order to join the World Trade Organization, and has evolved into a major investment destination for foreign investors. As a member of the World Trade Organization, China will benefit from increased access to the foreign market, but in return, it will have to expose itself to competition from foreign companies. The retail environment in China is evolving as markets mature. These markets are ripe for cultivation by foreign retailers whose advanced systems, operations, management and marketing skills can bring added levels of efficiency and enhanced performance to the Chinese markets. Many multinational retailers have operations in China and may more plan aggressive expansions to roots themselves. The foreign retailers have superior merchandising expertise, advanced management techniques, strong capital, reputable foreign brands, excellent service and flexible strategies. In addition, they have the wisdom to hire capable local managers to help them bridge cultural gaps to attract customers into their stores and build effective customers relationships. Foreign retails have set about changing the shopping behaviour of their Chinese customers. They import well-known foreign brands, create comfortable shopping environments, set prices applicable nationwide and create marketing campaigns that are extremely attractive to Chinese customers. According to a customer research survey, Chinese customers are becoming more discerning and sophisticated. They are moving from finding the best price to seeking the best quality, showing increasing brand awareness and loyalty to foreign brand-name goods. The Chinese retail market environment is becoming more complicated and competition is becoming intense.

Orientador: Ruy de Quadros Carvalho / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociencias / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T17:22:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gavira_MurieldeOliveira_D.pdf: 1970343 bytes, checksum: 3b0d6eac67c27ea32fa232ff37a8b8ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Nas últimas décadas, com o aumento da pressão por inovações, as empresas multinacionais passaram a aumentar a descentralização de suas atividades, a fim de que cada uma de suas afiliadas possa contribuir para a geração de conhecimento e inovações. As subsidiárias, por sua vez, buscam obter mais responsabilidades, principalmente nas atividades de maior conteúdo tecnológico, a fim de garantir sua sobrevivência e competitividade. De forma geral, três conjuntos de determinantes explicam a evolução das responsabilidades de uma subsidiária: relacionados à matriz, à subsidiária e ao ambiente local. Dessa forma, essa pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar a interação entre a amplitude e complexidade das responsabilidades e o grau de inovação tecnológica. Para tanto, propõe-se um estudo de caso exploratório em profundidade de cinco subsidiárias do setor eletroeletrônico dos segmentos de: controle e automação; geração, transmissão e distribuição de energia; informação e comunicação; soluções médicas; e sistemas de transporte ferroviário. Ainda, foram analisados dados de pesquisa documental e pesquisa bibliográfica para contextualizar e entender o estado da arte e as características do ambiente local e para conhecer as subsidiárias e seus processos de gestão da inovação. O referencial teórico escolhido é o que encara a gestão da inovação como um processo e o que adota a perspectiva da subsidiária para explicar sua evolução. Os resultados evidenciam uma relação positiva entre as responsabilidades das subsidiárias e suas práticas de gestão da inovação tecnológica. As subsidiárias com as mais complexas responsabilidades são as que possuem as mais estruturadas, contínuas e complexas práticas e ferramentas de gestão da inovação. Com isso, pretende-se que propostas identificadas neste trabalho sirvam como subsídio para policy markers e administradores melhorarem a posição de subsidiárias brasileiras em termos de inovação / Abstract: With the increasing pressure for innovation in the last decades, multinational companies have started to increase the decentralization of their activities, in order to each affiliate to contribute with the generation of knowledge and innovation. The subsidiaries, on the other hand, seek for more responsibilities, especially in activities with intense technological content, in order to guarantee their survival and competitiveness. In general, three sets of determinants explain the evolution of the responsibilities of a subsidiary: related to the headquarters, to the subsidiary and to the local environment. In this way, this research had as main objective to analyze the relationship between responsibilities of a subsidiary with its innovation management practices. To support that, an exploratory case study of five subsidiaries of the electro-electronic industry is proposed. In addition, documental and bibliographical research data was analyzed in order to contextualize and understand the state-of-the-art and the characteristics of the local environment, and to know the subsidiaries and their innovation management processes. The chosen theoretical referential is that which considers the innovation management as a process, and adopts the subsidiary perspective to explain its evolution. The results make it evident a positive relationship between subsidiaries responsibilities and their practices of technological innovation management. The subsidiaries with the most complex responsibilities are those that have the most structured, continuous and complex practices and tools of innovation management. Hence, it is intended that the proposals identified in this work be useful as subsidies to policy makers and managers to improve the position of Brazilian subsidiaries in terms of innovation / Doutorado / Doutor em Política Científica e Tecnológica