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This dissertation contributes the literature by developing a new method of measuring political dominance combining the legislative and executive branches in bi-party political system and by investigating the effect of political dominance on economic performance using panel data for forty-six states of United States for the period 1937-1996. Economic performance is measured by the relative level of per-capita personal income and growth of per-capita personal income. This dissertation finds that political dominance has significant negative effects on the level of relative per-capita personal income and on the growth of per-capita personal income. Additionally, this paper modifies the two existing measures of political dominance using exclusively seat share of legislative branches or governor’s vote share and examines the short run effect of political dominance on economic performance using these modified measures. It finds that political dominance using exclusively seat share of legislative branches or governor’s vote share either overestimates or underestimates the effect of political dominance on economic performance.

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This thesis aims to make a significant contribution to the development of the emerging literature on small business strategy. First, it conducts a critical review of the existing literature on strategy in general, and its relation to small firms in particular. Second, it investigates whether or not small firms do make strategic decisions, and discovers how these are incorporated into their long-term plans. Third, it establishes a link between the strategies employed by new small firms and their subsequent performance. And finally, it advises on the strategies and actions a small business should follow if it wishes to achieve high performance. As such, the work should be useful, not only to academics with an interest in new small firms, but also to practitioners and small business advisors. The thesis explains how two fieldwork instruments were designed, for use in face-to-face interviews with the owner-managers of 150 young micro-firms throughout Scotland, over a two-year time period. This work led to the design and development of a new database, and the creation of 17 case studies on small business strategy. Cluster analysis was used to group the firms into high, medium and low performance categories. Then strategies followed by each performance category were analysed to discover why some were more effective than others. The case study evidence was used to support this analysis, further augmented by statistics from the administered questionnaire. Seven propositions were developed, and empirically tested. O f these, the most notable were that: first, higher performers appear to have a better appraisal of their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as being more aware of opportunities and threats, compared to the lower performing firms; second, the implementation and continued use of information-technology has a statistically significant and positive effect upon performance; and third, the gathering of trade intelligence (e.g. marketing, quality) on rivals appears to enhance performance. Further propositions, on awareness, funding and ownership, round off the detailed picture provided of performance in the new small firm.

As trade between nations has progressed, some countries have focussed their economic policies on increasing exports. In many cases, these exports have been the most significant driver behind the economic success of these nations and the resultant improvement in the welfare of their citizens. This research is needed in order to understand the extent that a country is dependent on the economic output of its trading partners to drive its export performance. This is of particular interest in the context of the current economic issues being experienced in some of the major markets of the world. The research evaluates the statistical relationship between world GDP and export performance, adjusting for different time periods and different industries. A Granger causality test was also applied in an effort to avoid the shortfalls of simple longitudinal regression tests. The sample included data from 1948 to 2010, across 11 industries in 20 countries.The research found a strong relationship between world GDP and export performance, although the results of the Granger test show that this is not a causal relationship. The diversity and complexity of a country’s industrial structure emerged as a significant theme in the research and was integrated into a model (Figure 5) that can be used by policy makers to assess their own export position according to these variables. The results of this research can assist policy makers in understanding the vulnerabilities of their export performance to global economic cycles as well as in prioritising and evaluating industrial sector development. The research highlights how, in spite of the challenges that may be experienced with regards to global economic performance, there is still a great deal of scope for policy makers to influence their own futures when it comes to export performance. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Management decisions in complex industrial facilities usually consider both the economic and environmental aspects of the plant's performance. For nuclear power plants (NPPs), safety is also a very substantial issue. The objectives of this dissertation are to develop and demonstrate a novel useful conceptual model that could be used to allocate maintenance funds for a nuclear power plant in such a way as to meet all specified safety requirements and objectives, while achieving a high degree of economic performance. The model is based on the general theory that the reliability of a plant at any time is a function of its initial reliability and the maintenance history of the individual plant components (Smith, 1997). Such a model can assist in evaluating strategic management decisions regarding allocation of funds for nuclear power plant maintenance. It could be used as a simulation tool; various scenarios could be studied to answer "what if" questions. Simulations of this type will allow a better understanding of the relationship between maintenance, economic performance, and safety, and consequently will lead to better decision making. The novelty of this model is tied to the intimate relationship that it develops between maintenance activities at a nuclear plant, and their relationship to prescribed safety requirements and to the economic performance of that plant.

Trust links ordinary citizens to the institutions that are intended to represent them, and thereby enhancing both the legitimacy and the effectiveness of democratic government (Bianco 1994; Gamson 1968; Braithwaite and Levi 1998; Hetherington 1998). It is therefore an essential part of a democratic system. People have confidence in their leaders when the government is working well, and absence of political confidence could threaten the system’s legitimacy. Mistrust by the citizens is often expressed as an unwillingness to follow political outcomes, which prevents progress from happening in the political process (Norris 1999). In this thesis I investigate whether economic performance affects political trust, and if the 2008 financial crisis has decreased confidence levels due to the severity of its consequences. By using multilevel modeling to analyze data from 25 European countries, I find that economic performance is an important component in levels of trust. I am also able to conclude that the financial crisis has reduced citizen’s trust in political institutions in the countries where the crisis has had a severe impact on the economy. As much research emphasizes the importance of individual perception of economic performance, this has also been tested for. The results indicate that individual perception of the economic situation, influence trust just as much, if not more, than the actual economic situation.

Management decisions in complex industrial facilities usually consider both the economic and environmental aspects of the plant's performance. For nuclear power plants (NPPs), safety is also a very substantial issue. The objectives of this dissertation are to develop and demonstrate a novel useful conceptual model that could be used to allocate maintenance funds for a nuclear power plant in such a way as to meet all specified safety requirements and objectives, while achieving a high degree of economic performance. The model is based on the general theory that the reliability of a plant at any time is a function of its initial reliability and the maintenance history of the individual plant components (Smith, 1997). Such a model can assist in evaluating strategic management decisions regarding allocation of funds for nuclear power plant maintenance. It could be used as a simulation tool; various scenarios could be studied to answer "what if" questions. Simulations of this type will allow a better understanding of the relationship between maintenance, economic performance, and safety, and consequently will lead to better decision making. The novelty of this model is tied to the intimate relationship that it develops between maintenance activities at a nuclear plant, and their relationship to prescribed safety requirements and to the economic performance of that plant.

Orientador: Maria Célia Portella / Coorientador: Dalton José Carneiro / Banca: Cláudio Angelo Agostinho / Banca: Maria Inêz Espagnolli Geraldo Martins / Resumo: A piscicultura nacional passa por um momento delicado onde a maior preocupação é o mercado. O desenvolvimento deste setor produtivo depende de adaptações nos diferentes sistemas de produção adotados atualmente, sendo necessário adequar-se às restrições impostas pelo mercado, bem como analisar a viabilidade econômica de produções alternativas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho produtivo e econômico da tilápia do Nilo durante a fase de recria, submetida ou não ao processo de reversão sexual, em três diferentes sistemas de cultivo: semi-intensivo com utilização de fertilização orgânica de viveiros, semi-intensivo com utilização de dieta formulada e sistema intensivo em hapas com oferecimento de dieta formulada. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, referente aos três sistemas de produção e aos dois grupos de animais. Para a realização do experimento, foram utilizados 12.920 juvenis de tilápia do Nilo, com peso médio inicial de 0,3 g, distribuídos em 12 viveiros escavados e 6 hapas, na densidade de 20 e 600 peixes/m3, respectivamente. Não foram observadas diferenças no desempenho de peixes revertidos ou não revertidos. Os peixes dos tratamentos submetidos ao sistema semi-intensivo com dieta formulada apresentaram melhores (p<0,05) ganho em peso, conversão alimentar aparente e taxa de crescimento específico (42,3g; 1,17; 3,71%, respectivamente). Os itens de maior importância na participação dos custos totais foram os relacionados à aquisição de juvenis e alimentação, respectivamente. De maneira geral, o período desfavorável (inverno) e o custo elevado da ração utilizada (R$2,33/kg) proporcionaram prejuízos. Na simulação da produção, verificaram-se maiores lucros operacionais para os tratamentos semi-intensivos em viveiros com dieta formulada, com utilização... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The national aquaculture is currently in a period in which part of the market is changing. To be successful, the aquaculture should be able to adapt its production systems aiming at to adjust and meet the market restrictions. The new trends point to different possibilities of aquaculture production that potentially increase the incomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth, economic performance and microbiological characteristics of Nile tilapia reared in different production systems during the initial growth phase. Specifically, mono and mixed-sex Nile tilapia juvenile were raised in three farming systems: semi-intensive using only organic fertilization (swine manure), semi-intensive using formulated diet, and intensive system in hapas using diet formulated. The experiment was developed in two factorial design (3 x 2); considering as factors, three production systems and two groups of fish submitted or not to the process of sex reversal. In the experiment, 12,920 Nile tilapia juvenile (initial weight 0.3g) were distributed into 12 ponds and 6 hapas at the densities of 20 and 600 fish/m3, respectively. There were no differences of growth performance of the mono or mixed-sex fish. The fish subjected to semiintensive system with formulated diet have shown better (p <0.05) weight gain, feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate (42.3 g, 1.17 and 3.71%, respectively). The items of highest importance in the composition of the total costs were related to the acquisition of juveniles and feed, respectively. In general, the unfavorable period (winter) and the high cost of the feed used (R$ 2.33 / kg) resulted in losses. In the analysis of the production simulation, the treatments with mono-sex tilapia in semi-intensive ponds fed with formulated diet resulted in higher operating profits, due to the higher survival rates and growth observed in this group... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-06-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:56:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 squassoni_gh_me_jabo.pdf: 417643 bytes, checksum: 2b7f2ef0b5e020632b1db1603aa276ca (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A piscicultura nacional passa por um momento delicado onde a maior preocupação é o mercado. O desenvolvimento deste setor produtivo depende de adaptações nos diferentes sistemas de produção adotados atualmente, sendo necessário adequar-se às restrições impostas pelo mercado, bem como analisar a viabilidade econômica de produções alternativas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho produtivo e econômico da tilápia do Nilo durante a fase de recria, submetida ou não ao processo de reversão sexual, em três diferentes sistemas de cultivo: semi-intensivo com utilização de fertilização orgânica de viveiros, semi-intensivo com utilização de dieta formulada e sistema intensivo em hapas com oferecimento de dieta formulada. Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, referente aos três sistemas de produção e aos dois grupos de animais. Para a realização do experimento, foram utilizados 12.920 juvenis de tilápia do Nilo, com peso médio inicial de 0,3 g, distribuídos em 12 viveiros escavados e 6 hapas, na densidade de 20 e 600 peixes/m3, respectivamente. Não foram observadas diferenças no desempenho de peixes revertidos ou não revertidos. Os peixes dos tratamentos submetidos ao sistema semi-intensivo com dieta formulada apresentaram melhores (p<0,05) ganho em peso, conversão alimentar aparente e taxa de crescimento específico (42,3g; 1,17; 3,71%, respectivamente). Os itens de maior importância na participação dos custos totais foram os relacionados à aquisição de juvenis e alimentação, respectivamente. De maneira geral, o período desfavorável (inverno) e o custo elevado da ração utilizada (R$2,33/kg) proporcionaram prejuízos. Na simulação da produção, verificaram-se maiores lucros operacionais para os tratamentos semi-intensivos em viveiros com dieta formulada, com utilização... / The national aquaculture is currently in a period in which part of the market is changing. To be successful, the aquaculture should be able to adapt its production systems aiming at to adjust and meet the market restrictions. The new trends point to different possibilities of aquaculture production that potentially increase the incomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth, economic performance and microbiological characteristics of Nile tilapia reared in different production systems during the initial growth phase. Specifically, mono and mixed-sex Nile tilapia juvenile were raised in three farming systems: semi-intensive using only organic fertilization (swine manure), semi-intensive using formulated diet, and intensive system in hapas using diet formulated. The experiment was developed in two factorial design (3 x 2); considering as factors, three production systems and two groups of fish submitted or not to the process of sex reversal. In the experiment, 12,920 Nile tilapia juvenile (initial weight 0.3g) were distributed into 12 ponds and 6 hapas at the densities of 20 and 600 fish/m3, respectively. There were no differences of growth performance of the mono or mixed-sex fish. The fish subjected to semiintensive system with formulated diet have shown better (p <0.05) weight gain, feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate (42.3 g, 1.17 and 3.71%, respectively). The items of highest importance in the composition of the total costs were related to the acquisition of juveniles and feed, respectively. In general, the unfavorable period (winter) and the high cost of the feed used (R$ 2.33 / kg) resulted in losses. In the analysis of the production simulation, the treatments with mono-sex tilapia in semi-intensive ponds fed with formulated diet resulted in higher operating profits, due to the higher survival rates and growth observed in this group... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)