by Ho Ka Pui. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-82). / Abstract --- p.iii / Acknowledgments --- p.v / Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter One --- From Monopoly Telephony to the Rise of Cellular Communication --- p.17 / Chapter Two --- Oligopoly of the Cellular Communication Market in the Digital Era --- p.36 / Chapter Three --- The Irony of a Free Market Place --- p.53 / Chapter Four --- Cellular Communication Market and1997 --- p.67 / Conclusion --- p.72 / Bibliography --- p.78

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTARCT: The Law on the Marketing of Agricultural Produce (no 47 of 1996) introduced a new era in the marketing of deciduous fruit. Previously the producer was obliged by statute to deliver his deciduous fruit to Unifruco, the sole agent of the Deciduous Fruit Board, for exports to the overseas markets. In this era of statutory marketing control the producer could only take decisions about his product up to the point where it left the farm gate. In the deregulated marketing environment, the producer can now, however, control the marketing of his products until it reaches the end consumer abroad. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the factors, processes, opportunities and possible pitfalls with which the individual producer now has to contend, and to describe them qualitatively in order to enable him to decide how he will market his products in the environment of a deregulated market. In order to make a decision, the producer must have a vision and goals to achieve. The different facets in formulating these are discussed. The different decisionmaking phases that are employed interactively, to facilitate the making of a marketing decision, are investigated and clearly stated. These phases include the preparatory phase, the investigation of the distribution channel, as well as that of agents, the different marketing alternatives and eventually the actual taking of interactive marketing decisions. It has become quite clear, through the research done, that in future, the sustainability of every producer of deciduous fruit will be determined by his ability to make informed marketing decisions, and to adapt to the new marketing environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMMING: Die Wet op die Bemarking van Landbouprodukte (No 4 7 van 1996) het 'n nuwe era in die bemarking van sagtevrugte ingelei. In die verlede was die produsent statuter verplig om sy sagtevrugte aan Unifruco, alleenagent van die Sagtevrugteraad, te !ewer vir uitvoer na die buiteland. Die produsent het in die era van statutere bemarkingsbeheer dus slegs besluite ten opsigte van sy produk geneem tot waar dit die plaashek verlaat. In die gedereguleerde bemarkingsomgewing kan die produsent egter nou self besluite neem oor die bemarking van sy produk tot waar dit in die buiteland die hande van die eindverbruiker bereik. Die doel van die tesis is om die faktore, prosesse, geleenthede en moontlike slaggate waarmee die individuele produsent nou te kampe het, te identifiseer en kwalitatief te beskryften einde horn in staat te stel om te besluit hoe hy sy vrugte in die gedereguleerde bemarkingsomgewing kan bemark. Vir di.e neem van besluite is dit noodsaaklik dat 'n produsent 'n missie en doelstellings het. Die verskillende fasette by die opstel daarvan word bespreek. Die verskillende besluitnemingsfases wat interaktief aangewend word om die bemarkingsbesluit te neem, word ondersoek en uitgespel. Dit sluit in die voorbereidingsfase, die ondersoek van die distribusiekanaal, die ondersoek na agente, die verskillende bemarkingsalternatiewe en dan die neem van die interaktiewe bemarkingsbesluite. Uit die ondersoek is dit duidelik dat elke sagtevrugteprodusent se volhoubaarheid in die toekoms bepaal sal word deur sy vermoe om ingeligte bemarkingsbesluite te kan neem en dus by die nuwe sagtevrugtebemarkingsomgewing aan te pas.

La pneumonie est la première cause de mortalité chez l’enfant dans le monde. Elle peut être provoquée par un certain nombre d’agents pathogènes connus mais 15 à 35% des pneumonies de l’enfant restent encore non renseignées d’un point de vue étiologique. L’utilisation d’un test moléculaire de découverte de nouveaux pathogènes nous a permis de découvrir de nouvelles espèces de Torque Teno Mini Virus (TTMV, Anelloviridae), nommées TTMV-LY, dans trois épanchements pleuraux provenant d’enfants hospitalisés avec une pleuro-pneumopathie, dont l’étiologie demeurait inconnue. Les TTMV sont des virus ubiquitaires dont l’implication dans une pathologie reste à déterminer. Les voies respiratoires ayant précédemment été décrites pour être un site d'infection des anellovirus, nous avons entrepris de caractériser ces nouveaux virus, ainsi que d’étudier leur potentiel rôle dans la pathogénèse.Les génomes complets de TTMV-LY ont été isolés, caractérisés puis répliqués in vitro. La réponse des cellules épithéliales alvéolaires, ainsi que des cellules présentatrices d’antigènes (CPA), impliquées dans l’inflammation, a été étudiée après infection par les virions néo-synthétisés.Ces travaux ont démontré que : i) les TTMV-LY peuvent coloniser les poumons en profondeur, ii) les cellules pulmonaires sont permissives aux TTMV-LY et permettent une réplication virale efficace, iii) l’infection virale module les réponses cellulaires et immunitaires des cellules pulmonaires en induisant des dérégulations de l’expression génique et la production de médiateurs inflammatoires, iv) les TTMV-LY seraient capables d’interagir avec les CPA et de réguler ainsi différentiellement le processus inflammatoire.L’ensemble de ces résultats ont permis de mettre en évidence une implication potentielle des TTMV-LY dans la pathogénèse des pneumopathies, et souligné la complexité des mécanismes biologiques mis en jeu lors de l’infection par les virus de cette famille. / Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children worldwide. It can be caused by a number of known pathogens, but 15-35% of childhood pneumonia are still not associated with an etiologic agent. A pathogen discovery assay allowed us to identify new species of Torque Teno Mini Virus (TTMV, Anelloviridae), named TTMV-LY, in three undiagnosed pleural effusions from children hospitalized with parapneumonic empyema. TTMV are ubiquitous orphan viruses, and their involvement in pathogenesis remains unknown. The respiratory tract was previously described to be a site of anellovirus detection. We investigated the role of these new species in the pathogenesis of severe pneumonia.Full-length TTMV-LY genomes were isolated and in vitro replicated. The response of alveolar epithelial cells, and antigen presenting cells (APC), both involved in the inflammation process, was studied after infection with neo-synthesized virions.This study showed for the first time that: i) TTMV-LY can deeply colonize lungs, ii) alveolar epithelial cells are permissive to the TTMV-LY and allow an efficient replication, iii) viral infection modulates cellular and innate immune responses of alveolar epithelial cells, by inducing gene expression deregulations and inflammatory mediators production, iv) TTMV-LY are able to interact with APC and thereby regulate differentially their inflammatory process.All these results allowed to highlight a potential involvement of TTMV-LY in the pathogenesis of severe pneumonia and brought out the complexity of the biological mechanisms taking place during infection by viruses of this family.

L’objectif de ce travail est de déterminer, dans le contexte actuel de dysfonctionnements de la tarification sociale ferroviaire, de remise en cause des interventions publiques, et de déréglementation des réseaux, s’il est possible de réformer ce type de tarification et quelle sont les marges de manœuvre disponibles. La réflexion s’applique au cas de la carte Familles Nombreuses imposée par l’Etat à la SNCF.Dans ce sens, nous appréhendons d’abord le terme de tarification sociale en pratique et en théorie afin d’élaborer une définition générique, puis analysons les modalités alternatives d’organisation et de financement des tarifs sociaux. Nous recherchons ensuite, à travers une analyse historique détaillée du tarif Familles Nombreuses et des relations de gouvernance entre l’entreprise et l’Etat, les leviers et les freins qui permettent d’engager ces évolutions. Nous mettons en évidence les évolutions proposées jusqu’à présent et les éléments déclencheurs de ces évolutions.Forts de ces enseignements et à partir d’une enquête préférences déclarées, nous formulons des propositions d’aménagement du tarif Familles Nombreuses. Elles reposent sur la sensibilité et les choix réels des consommateurs et sont évaluées à partir de calculs de surplus. Les marges de manœuvre apparaissent finalement peu nombreuses. Les évolutions envisagées risquent de provoquer de nombreux mécontentements pour un gain de surplus finalement faible, voire négatif. Une solution pourrait alors consister en l’intégration du tarif Familles Nombreuses dans le système de yield management. Cela permettrait à la SNCF de disposer de marges de manœuvre plus importantes, à l’Etat de sortir de la contrainte de financement et à l’usager de bénéficier de réductions plus importantes. Ainsi, à travers une sorte de policy mix entre les logiques commerciale et sociale, le yield management pourrait constituer un outil de politique sociale, source de justice sociale et de redistribution. / The aim of our study is to determine, in the context of dysfunctions with social tariffs in the French railway industry, challenging of public policy, and deregulation of network industries, if it is possible to reform this type of tariff and which ways we can use. Our work deals with the case study of the card “Familles Nombreuses”, which is a social tariff imposed by the State to the French railway operator, SNCF.First we analyze social tariffs in a practical and theoretical approach to make a generic definition. Then we analyze some alternative ways of organizing and financing social tariffs.Then, we are seeking, through a detailed historical analysis of the social tariff “Familles Nombreuses” and the governance relations between SNCF and government, elements that allow these changes. We highlight the changes proposed until today and the events that cause these changes.With these lessons and a stated preference survey, we make, some proposals to reform the social tariff “Familles Nombreuses”. They are based on the sensitivity and real consumer choice, not on assumptions or deductions and are evaluated with calculations of surplus. In terms of results, if we can’t make a single proposal that would be "the" solution, we make some recommendations depending on the objectives of different actors and the role they wish to give to social tariffs. We can also determine the commitment to social tariffs. Leeways appear in fact limited. The changes based on the current commercial tarifs may cause a stir discontent and the surplus could be finally low or even negative. One solution could consist in inserting the social tariff « Familles Nombreuses » into the global system of yield management. This would allow the SNCF to have greater leeway on this tariff, the State to face no longer the funding constraints and the user to be offered more discount. Thus, through a policy between commercial and social logic, the yield management could be a tool of social policy, source of social justice and redistribution.

Esta dissertação, resultado de uma pesquisa etnográfica realizada em determinada escola municipal da cidade de São Paulo, trata de contextos e situações de formação contínua de professores com o uso de tecnologias de comunicação e informação. Para o levantamento de dados, além de observações focais foram utilizados registros oficiais feitos pelos professores em horário coletivo e entrevistas a oito professoras da referida unidade escolar, a fim de orientar uma discussão para saber como ocorre (e se ocorre) a incorporação de tecnologias pelos professores e a relação disto com a sua formação contínua; analisar se esta incorporação é desencadeada por interesse próprio dos professores; e verificar quais são as possibilidades de formação mediante o uso destas tecnologias. Para orientar a análise dos dados coletados foram utilizados alguns conceitos fundamentais, quais sejam: contextos, situações e formação contínua de professores, inclusive no caso específico do uso de tecnologias de comunicação e informação. A formação contínua é entendida a partir dos conceitos de professor reflexivo e de professor pesquisador, sendo estes fundamentados em metáforas com origens no fenômeno da desregulação da Educação. Percebeu-se, neste trabalho, uma possibilidade metodológica para a proposição de situações didáticas de formação de professores em contextos semelhantes. / This research work is the result of an ethnographic study at a Municipal School in the city of São Paulo. It is about inservice teacher education\'s contexts and situations using Communication and Information Technologies. For the data analyses, added to focal observations , it was examined some official registries done by teachers during the joint hours and interviews with eight teachers from the same school. The idea was to discuss how the technology is incorporated by the teachers, how this happened (if this happened) and also how this is linked to their inservice education; to analyze if the technology integration is developed because of the teachers interest and to verify the possibilities of education by using those technologies. The data analysis was guided by some concepts such as: contexts, situations and inservice teacher education, including inservice teacher education using communication and information technologies. The inservice education is understood according to reflective teacher and research-teacher concepts. Those concepts are based on metaphors that have its origins in the deregulation of education phenomenon. In this research work, it was developed a methodological possibility to didactic situations for inservice teacher education in similar contexts.

The neo-liberal policies of liberalization and deregulation, as utilized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its dealings with countries of the developing world, tend to facilitate the conditions for financial crisis. This can be traced by examining the economic crises of Mexico in 1982 and 1994/95, Asia in 1997 and Russia in 1998 and looking at the main causes and triggers of these crises. It is evident that the financial vulnerability that these countries suffered from existed due to, and not in spite of, these policy prescriptions. The IMF continues to present these policies as proven successes - a view that this dissertation contests. Further to this, the policies that the Fund uses are formulated for use in semi-peripheral economies and have little relationship to the actual economic environments of peripheral countries such as those of sub-Saharan Africa or Papua New Guinea. The ideology of free-markets and globalization is seen as unassailable by the IMF. By encouraging countries to remain part of the global financial system through debt rescheduling and open-markets policies, the IMF holds an increasingly fragile economic environment together. This dissertation formulates and tests four hypotheses in relation to Mexico, Asia, Russia and Papua New Guinea and the periphery. These are - (1) If there are periods of 'irrational exuberance' among investors in Third World debt, these are likely to contribute to debt crises. (2) If IMF policies are implemented in the Third World as dictated, then their primary benefits will accrue to the elites in those countries and in the developed world. (3) If Third World countries open their economies to foreign capital, then they are more likely to experience debt crises. (4) If IMF policies are implemented in peripheral countries, then they are even less likely to be successful than in semi-peripheral countries.

近年來，隨著國內產業結構之轉變，以及金融自由化政策之推動，企業經營環境已隨著大幅改變。本研究的目的，主要在於探討這些轉變對於國內上市公司資本結構是否會造成重大的影響。 　　本研究資料乃取自教育部EPS資料庫與臺灣經濟新報社資料庫，樣本期間為民國78年到82年，共120家上市公司。研究方法主要採用變異成份模型(Variance Component Model)與誤差成份模型(Error Component Model)來研究上市公司資本結構的影響因素。並作共線性檢定、自我相關檢定及異質性檢定，若有異質變異數之現象產生，則以White [1980]之方法加以修正。 　　變異成份模型實證結果發現在分析資本結構的時候，以個別公司為分析單位較以假設個別公司同質的整個產業為分析單位為適當。 　　誤差成份模型實證結果發現（一）在全部產業方面：獲利能力、股利支付率與負債比率呈顯著負相關；資產抵押價值、成長機會、規模大小、稅盾利益、金融開放程度與負債比率呈顯著正相關；而營運風險、研究發展費用率、廣告費用率與負債比率雖不顯著，但是為負值。（二）在製造業方面：獲利能力、股利支付率、研究發展費用率與負債比率呈顯著負相關；成長機會、稅盾利益、金融開放程度與負債比率呈顯著正相關；而營運風險、廣告費用率與負債比率皆不顯著，但為負值，而資產抵押價值、規模大小與負債比率亦不顯著，但為正值。（三）在非製造業方面：獲利能力、廣告費用率、股利支付率與負債比率呈顯著負相關；資產抵押價值、規模大小、研究發展費用率、金融開放程度與負債比率呈顯著正相關；而營運風險與負債比率呈不顯著，但為負值，而成長機會、稅盾利益與負債比率呈不顯著，但為正值。

我國自91年4月1日推動「產險市場費率自由化時程計畫」且分三階段實施， 在第一階段允許產險公司「附加費用」自由化，產險公司若簡化行政流程、降低人事成本，就能調降附加費用率。第二階段費率自由化，產險公司除了「附加費用」自由化外，更允許「危險保費」有限度的偏離；也就是說「危險保費」是有條件自由化。自98年4月1日起正式實施第三階段，也就是意味著各產險公司均應在第一階段及第二階段之緩衝時期做好萬全之調適與配套措施，產險業進入全面競爭之時代。 費率自由化第三階段正式的實施，其相關的監理配套措施及內容，遷動著未來汽車保險市場之發展，而汽車保險業務一直都是產險市場的最大宗業務。但在核保、理賠及行銷等方面處處受到車商保代通路的限制、影響，若能進一步在車險通路行銷制度問題上加以改善，對我國未來汽車保險市場將有很大的發展空間。 本篇論文主要目的係探討我國費率自由化相關議題。透過98年4月1日費率自由化第三階段的正式實施，我國產險市場邁入全面自由化階段，除了對費率自由化第三階段的相關監理配套措施內容作深入瞭解外，並針對費率自由化第一、二階段實施過程中所產生的諸多相關議題作深入研究，且借鏡鄰國日本產險費率自由化之經驗作為參考，並搭配我國汽車保險市場的實際現況，提出費率自由化第三階段實施對未來汽車保險市場的預期影響，並藉由個案公司的研究分析，提出個案公司未來車險通路最適行銷策略，以期盼產險業在面臨全面費率自由化之際，提出個人的幾點因應淺見，能提供給產險業者作為參考，並亟盼未來我國汽車保險市場運作能更佳健全蓬勃發展。 / Taiwan’s Non-life Rate Deregulation Plan has put into practice since April 1, 2002 with three phases. The first phase is to liberalize the restrictions of the loading expense. The non-life insurers can flexibly reduce the loading expenses by way of a more simplified administration process and lower personnel costs. The second phase further allows for a limited deviation rate applicable for the risk premium, namely, a conditioned deregulation for the risk premium. The third and last phase begun from Apr. 1, 2009 is to entirely liberalize all relevant expenses and premium rates. It also means that all non-life insurers should have worked out a set of comprehensive measures in preparation for a completely competitive market. The future development of motor insurance, which ranks largest among all lines of business, is subject to the corresponding supervisory measures to be taken at the third stage. However, the agents of motor companies regularly dominate the non-life insurers’ operations in the aspects of underwriting, claim and market strategy. Hence, if the existing problems related to the marketing channels encountered by the non-life insurers can be resolved, a more prosper development for motor insurance market is anticipated. The thesis mainly studies the relevant topics in relation to the rate deregulation in Taiwan. In line with the rate deregulation implemented in the third stage, the thesis not only has an in-depth study of the corresponding supervisory measures, but also discusses many related subject matters arising from the implementation process between the first and second phases. Meanwhile, the expected effects resulting from the third phase has been submitted based on Japanese same experiences in the past and domestic motor insurance market. Furthermore, by means of a specific case study, the thesis also proposes some optimal marketing strategies, which might be helpful to insurers as well as to develop a sound and stable motor insurance market in the future.

This thesis investigates the deregulation of the audit industry in Sweden, the changing competitive environment and innovativeness, a research gap that has not yet been bridged. This paper raises the question of how the innovativeness of firms within the audit industry have changed after deregulation. The ambition of this research is to have both theoretical and practical knowledge contribution. The theoretical framework constructed for this research is rooted in the literature review of three areas: strategy and competition, deregulation, and organizational innovativeness. These three streams of research are used in order to examine the expectations that the industry has on the changing strategic landscape. Four perspectives and schools of thought in strategy and competition literature are reviewed: the competitive forces, strategic conflict school, resource-based school, and dynamic school. These schools are then put into two categories that are substantial opposites of one another; market power and efficiency. The need to consider these perspectives are addressed as follows: the perspective of competitive forces allows for understanding the industry structure, the strategic conflict school – to analyze the moves and interactions between competitors, the resource-based school – to understand firms resources, and finally, the dynamic school – to understand firms processes and capabilities. Summarizing and integrating these perspectives formed a hypothesized understanding that reflected the effects of deregulation and organizational innovativeness. In order to avoid modest pattern of deregulatory effects that could emerge by observations made in the early stage of deregulation, a methodological point of departure that is socially constructed and the production of knowledge that is based on interpretations and narratives were argued for. The research is furthermore based on a mix of deductive and inductive approach. The discussion with an industry member led to an interesting research context chosen as unit of analysis, which included the emerging tension between auditors and accounting-consultants. While the auditors’ believed in negative effects from the deregulation, the accounting-consultants had the opposite perception. Case-study approach with semi-structured and open-ended interviews were conducted on representatives from six firms, half of which represented the auditors and the rest the accounting-consultants.  The presentation of results followed the structure of market power, efficiency, and organizational innovativeness. The analysis of the results shows how firms within the audit industry had changed during the transition towards post-deregulation era. It shows how the previous construction of the audit-industry, characterized by homogeneity, has been decomposed and transformed to become more heterogeneous, by the new attractions and alternatives that now exist on the market. These attractions and alternatives creates incitement for decreased interaction between competitors that causes firms to engage in conflicts, and to redistribute their resources in order to imitate each others processes, which in turn creates new organizational innovativeness. The findings of this research also shows how the resources that were possessed by the firm before the deregulation tend to determine how the firm utilize the innovativeness in relation to the market after the deregulation.

資訊不對稱的問題在股市中一直是受關注的議題，一個完善的市場，理應不應當存在資訊不對稱的現象。中國大陸股市在政府宣布開放B股前，上海交易所與深圳交易所中的A股與B股市場屬於完全區隔的現象，國內投資人（多為散戶）只能在A股市場投資，國外投資人（多為金融機構）只能在B股市場投資，在此種制度底下，價格發現機能易受扭曲，資訊不對稱的問題是容易產生的。然而大陸宣布B股開放後，國內投資人可到B股市場投資，資訊不對稱的程度應逐漸變小，改善同家公司在A股與B股市場上市的股票同權不同值的現象。 本文研究目的即在於探討A股市場與B股市場之間是否存在資訊不對稱問題。利用Hasbrouck（1995）提出的價格發現模型-資訊持有比例法（Information share method），計算何者在價格發現過程中佔有較多的資訊比例。研究對象為上海交易所及深圳交易所內同時有在A股市場與B股市場上市的公司每日股價收盤價。以B股宣告開放日2001年2月19日為中心，將樣本分為開放前與開放後兩階段。進一步在實證中應用Pascual, Pascual-Fuster, and Climent（2006）的研究發現。 本研究實證結果：第一，B股開放前，不論加入成交量與否，B股市場皆為價格發現支配者。說明A股市場與B股市場間的確存在資訊不對稱現象。第二，B股開放後，A股市場為價格發現支配者，B股與H股市場為衛星市場。推論原因乃來自於2002年後B股市場幾乎停止新股掛牌；B股開放後B股流動性改善，外資以往賺取的溢價減少；人民幣升值議題，加入WTO全面開放資本市場的承諾等。 / Information asymmetry is an important issue in the financial market. A perfect market should not exist this phenomenon. Before 2001, domestic investors could only buy A shares while foreign investors could only hold B shares. Under this regulation, the function of price discovery is easily distorted, and information asymmetry occurs easily. Shares with identical rights offered by one company would have different values while they are located in class A and class B. This problem, however, should be improved after the deregulation that domestic investors could buy B shares. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate whether information asymmetry exists between A-share and B-share markets. We use information shares approach (Hasbrouck, 1995) to calculate and compare which market has more information share in the price discovery process. The samples include all firms having stocks trading in A-shares and B-shares market on Shanghai Securities Exchange (SHSE) and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE). The sample period, October 6, 1997 to October 31, 2005, is divided into two sub-sample periods. Moreover, the model provided by Pascual, Pascual-Fuster, and Climent (2006) is also implied into this paper. This paper concludes that (1) Before deregulating to allow domestic investors to hold B shares, B-share markets is a dominator in the price discovery process no matter considering trading volume or not. It means that A-share and B-share markets indeed exist information asymmetry. (2) After February 19, 2001, A-share markets become a dominator in the price discovery process while B-share and H- share markets become satellite markets. The possible explanations are that there are seldom companies listing in the B shares markets after 2002; the foreign investor gain less premium than before because of enhancing B-share’s liquidity; Renminbi appreciate and capital markets open completely in the end of 2006.