No description available.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

No description available.

V diplomové práci jsem se zabýval srovnáváním výrobců automobilů dle zásad mezipodnikového srovnávání.

No description available.

Bibliography: pages 608-625. / This study is a sociological analysis of participatory-democratic organisations in 'third world' contexts. Firstly, it assesses the degree of participatory democracy in each enterprise studied. Secondly, it explores whether cooperative development is a process. Thirdly, it assesses the applicability of existing theory in the field for organisations in 'third world' contexts. The data used is predominantly qualitative, though quantitative information is utilised. Qualitative data is gathered from in-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaires, observation and the examination of primary sources. Empirical information is analysed in the light of theoretical constructs reviewed and practical constraints identified by other researchers in the field. The key construct is an 'ideal-type' participatory-democratic organisation. Significant findings include the following: (a) cooperatives in 'third world' contexts are formed and joined primarily for material reasons; (b) specific constraints include a severe lack of basic education among cooperators, relationships of dependency between co-ops and service organisations, and a 'survival' consciousness among cooperative members; (c) the nature of relationships between cooperatives and service organisations have significant implications for co-op development; (d) there is a relationship between organisational structures and viability as an economic unit and (e) members in different positions in the enterprise have different conceptions of cooperation. The study concludes that cooperative development is a process involving different stages characterised by different degrees of participation in decision-making, viability, organisational development and cooperative consciousness.

Broadband telecommunications infrastructure is considered to be an economic development necessity by a significant number of policymakers and economic development professionals, particularly in rural areas. Across the United States, a considerable amount of money is being invested in the deployment of broadband networks based, at least in part, on the premise that economic development benefits will obtain. However, there is a general lack of academic theory explaining the mechanism(s) by which broadband telecommunications can produce economic development results. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of broadband at the level of the firm. It adopts as its central working hypothesis the "Producer Network" concept originally developed at Virginia Tech, which suggests that economic development benefits may result from Internet users having access to multiple megabits-per-second of symmetrical, affordable bandwidth. It employs a qualitative grounded theory methodology to identify firm-level effects of broadband use. The study's findings revealed that a majority of businesses in the case study communities were using much slower Internet connections than had been hypothesized, were using third-party, off-site web hosting, and did not believe they needed "Big Broadband." Informants to the study believed that the economic development potential of broadband in the short term depended on the ubiquitous deployment of affordable connectivity, and were more concerned with reliability than bandwidth. The study concludes that the "Producer Network" is better understood as a long-term goal than as a model to explain the current firm-level applications of the commodity Internet. It suggests that policymakers should consider broadband not as a panacea for economic development, but as a tool whose potential for impact is influenced by a number of economic, political, social, and cultural forces originating at the community, national, and global levels. Based on the literature review and the field research, it proposes a general model for broadband telecommunications in rural economic development. / Master of Public and International Affairs

The purpose of this report was to find out if grocery stores in Örnsköldsvik and Kramfors municipality recycle their producer responsibility package waste, hazardous waste and their food waste and in what way they get rid of their waste. Are there any differences in how these two municipalities does it? Are there any variance between different stores depending on size, location and finally come up with suggestions for improvements. To find out the answer to this questions phone interviews with 25 grocery stores in these two municipalities were conducted. The results from the survey shows that grocery stores in both municipalities sort out their producer responsibility package waste and hazardous waste to a great extent. Only four stores indicated that they sorted out food waste. Responses were varied regarding in what way the grocery stores get rid of their waste. Some stores get their waste picked-up by the municipality and others by different entrepreneurs. One of the big food chains have a contract with an entrepreneur to pick up their waste at all the stores in this part of the country. Some of the suggested improvements are to minimize the amount of food waste that gets thrown away and clarify the laws on what waste that the municipality have monopoly on. The conclusion of this report is that grocery stores in these two municipalities are good at sorting out their waste except food waste.

The subject of my thesis is The Rights of Producers of Phonograms (Sound Recordings) and Films. I have chosen this topic because of my fondness for music and for media that carry such recordings. The Rights of Producers are denominated as rights related (to Copyright) because of the absence of creativity and individuality. The term neighbouring rights is exactly equivalent. In the first chapter I provide reader with basic terms and a concept of continental copyright law as well as a comparison with common law copyright system. These two law systems are essentially important to comprehend the rights of producers in general and to have basic overview on their role in global society and economy. Both authors' rights and related rights are copyrights in the sense of common law. The second chapter analyses international law on this subject. I describe the relationship between czech national law and international law. Although the majority of international agreements is phrased generally, mentioned agreements have impact on legislations of contracting parties. They form a part of czech law since their ratification and publication in Collection of Laws. The important agreements on the subject are Rome Convention, Geneva Convention, TRIPS Agreement and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. In addition, I...

Thesis advisor: Michael Cermak / Electronic waste (e-waste) is being generated faster than ever, threatening the health of people at home and abroad. This paper advocates for improvements in e-waste management that increase environmental protection in innovative ways that also benefit workers. It reviews what is being done around the world in response to the problem and then introduces suggestions on how public and private actors can cooperate to achieve better results, particularly within the United States. The paper begins by examining the successes and failures of extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations in Europe, the United States, China, and Japan. It then goes on to advocate for a system combining EPR with a refundable deposit to encourage consumer-driven increases in return rates. If people could receive five to ten dollars for recycling their old cell phone or laptop, far fewer would end up in landfills. The paper culminates with an examination of how the idea of “green-collar jobs” can apply to ewaste management. It examines non-college training programs to prepare people to work in this industry and bring them out of poverty. Several reports have discussed the e-waste issue and its policy implications but this will be the first that brings in the labor aspect. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: International Studies Honors Program. / Discipline: International Studies.