This study aims to analyze the determinants of the current account deficits for a broad samples of industrial and developing countries for the period 1984-2001. Using a dynamic panel data estimation procedure, we try to unfold the impact of several macro economic and institutional variables on current account deficits. In this context, we also examine the validity of Feldstein Horioka puzzle and its relevance to the current account imbalances. Results show that better governance, a more sophisticated financial system, relatively larger country size and deterioration in the terms of trade are associated with higher current account deficits. On the other hand, exchange rate regime flexibility, openness to foreign trade and depreciation of the real exchange rate lead to smaller current account deficits. We also find that the saving investment relationship is still considerably high both in the short run and in the long run.

Zugl.: Chemnitz, Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2008 u.d.T.: Seidler, Markus: Systemorientierte Prozessmodellierungen als Erklärungsansatz des Key-account-Managements in der Automobilindustrie.

<p>The aim of this paper is to investigate if a revaluation of the Chinese renminbi is in China’s interest and whether or not a renminbi revaluation can contribute to correct the US current account deficit. For that purpose, advantages and disadvantages of a revaluation for China are discussed. Furthermore, the fundamental causes of the US current account deficit are analysed to evaluate to what extent a renminbi revaluation can correct this imbalance. The discussion is based on previous research in this area. The main result is that a revaluation of the Chinese renminbi is primarily beneficial for China. Additionally it is found that the fundamental causes of the US current account deficit are domestic macroeconomic conditions and not China’s exchange rate policy. Nevertheless, a renminbi revaluation can help to support to correct the imbalance situation. As evidence is found that a revaluation is beneficial for China, it is further analysed how the revaluation should be practically obtained. The basic result is that the renminbi revaluation should be initiated by more exchange rate flexibility rather than by a one-step appreciation.</p>

Understanding the determinants of sales success and sales failure has organization wide implications, ranging from an improved salesforce to improved corporate performance. However, a paucity of research on sales failure has resulted in an under-conceptualized field largely built on assumptions. This research proposes to overcome salesforce failure attribution biases by collecting data from the industrial buyer’s perspective. Thirty five post-mortem interviews with procurement decision makers from buying organizations were collected following a failed sales proposal. The context of these failed sales proposals was for multi-year industrial service key account contracts (>$5 Million). The result of this naturalistic inquiry is a model which outlines the determinant attributes of sales failure: price, adaptability and relationship-potential. An experimental design was conducted following this exploratory research in order to test the derived drivers of sales failure and success, as well as provide a trade-off analysis of the three emergent sales proposal themes. Results indicate that a lack of adaptability has the strongest impact on the sales failure outcome variable, as well as buyer characteristics have a potentially moderating impact on the relative trade-off weights between price/adaptability and price/relationship-potential.

Understanding the determinants of sales success and sales failure has organization wide implications, ranging from an improved salesforce to improved corporate performance. However, a paucity of research on sales failure has resulted in an under-conceptualized field largely built on assumptions. This research proposes to overcome salesforce failure attribution biases by collecting data from the industrial buyer’s perspective. Thirty five post-mortem interviews with procurement decision makers from buying organizations were collected following a failed sales proposal. The context of these failed sales proposals was for multi-year industrial service key account contracts (>$5 Million). The result of this naturalistic inquiry is a model which outlines the determinant attributes of sales failure: price, adaptability and relationship-potential. An experimental design was conducted following this exploratory research in order to test the derived drivers of sales failure and success, as well as provide a trade-off analysis of the three emergent sales proposal themes. Results indicate that a lack of adaptability has the strongest impact on the sales failure outcome variable, as well as buyer characteristics have a potentially moderating impact on the relative trade-off weights between price/adaptability and price/relationship-potential.

Diploma thesis deals with an account management, a new phenomenon in the area of business strategies. Thesis focuses on description of a relationship among account manager in advertising agency and its costumer as well as on creation of an ideal communication model between them. Primary data were collected by a qualitative research with 13 successful account managers. The research results will be provided to account managers and will also serve to students of commer-cial communication who are interested in account manager position for the future.

The goal of this work was to evaluate the order of student accounts in terms of advantegousness, which are offered by banks on the domestic banking market. Not only theoretically, but also using quantitative methods. Firstly, the current offer of students products on the domestic market was explored, then a survey among some students was made in order to determine which student accounts are the most favourite ones, most commonly used and why. By using methods multiple-criteria evaluation of alternatives clients can make an easier decision when choosing from a large number of specified criteria. Afterwards, an appropriate evaluation criteria were fixed and evaluated in terms of profitability of individual alternatives by using methods of multiple criteria evaluation. For all analysed students, the account called - U konto pro mladé from UniCredit Bank was clearly selected as the best one. On the contrary account FRESH from Česká spořitelna appeared to be the mist disadvantageous one. According to the questionnaire, this account is owned by the majority of young respondents.

This thesis reports a study of parental engagement in children's learning in three Pakistani heritage families in England. The aim of the study was to explore the perspectives and beliefs of Pakistani parents on how and why they engage with their children's school-related learning and beyond, and to investigate the perspectives of children on how their parents' engagement impacted on their behaviour as learners. The study aims to fill gaps in the existing research literature pertaining to examining parental engagement through the eyes of parents and students who face barriers to engagement. Contributions could be made in this area through studies focused on how parents engage with their children in the home. To achieve this, four questions were proposed: What are the forms of parental engagement in terms of children's school-related learning and beyond in a sample of Pakistani homes? Do parents have a clear view why they are engaging in such a way: if so, what is that view? To what extent do these forms of engagement appear to be shaped by distinctive cultural characteristics of Pakistani parents? How do their children view the impact of parental engagement on themselves as learners? These questions were investigated through an overarching ethnographic methodology to understand a small part of the cultural practices of this group. The data was collected through a combination of mixed qualitative methods: solicited diary interviews; photo voice interviews; video footage interviews; documents; field notes; and semi-structured interviews. The findings illuminated the issues of parental engagement and ethnicity, on which there is little literature, and made implications for policies and practices aimed at raising the achievement of this group. The data revealed how the parents engaged with their children in school-related issues; reading, writing and attending school functions. Moreover, the parents were engaged with aspects beyond school; such as, religion, culture, play and computers. The parents had a very broad understanding of education that encompassed not only school, but also activities outside the school environment. This is a very significant aspect, as the parents recognised that school does not teach everything. Data moreover revealed that the parents had different capacities ofengagement according to their own educational background and occupational stance. Those educated in Pakistan relied on the children's to help each other with school work, while some parents could provide more resources to their children consequently of their occupational stance. The parents wanted to preserve their culture and religion. They did this by teaching their children about their religion and culture; Quran, Arabic, Urdu and by sending them to the mosque. All this had a positive influence on their children's spiritual, cultural, personal, social and moral development. The children viewed parental engagement as a positive contributor to their lives. The main purpose of this engagement was to shape the children into good human beings. The children understood the importance of being self-confident, comfortable with who they are and motivated to succeed. Parental engagement made the children confident and wanting to strive for the best, while religious development made them understand the concept of right and wrong. The study moreover contributes to knowledge in several ways;1. the study highlights the diversity in the Pakistani population;2. the study adds to the understanding of how working-class Pakistani parents can have broad understandings of education which extend far beyond school-based learning, and include developing the skills, attitudes and resources to lead a 'good' life;3. the study demonstrates that religiosity is shown to be integral to Pakistani parents' engagement in their children's learning;4. the study highlights that Pakistani parents are shown to take responsibility for their children's 'holistic' education, and are also shown to use siblings as 'educational resources' to support school-based learning when they are unable to do so;5. the study reveals the relevance of Yosso's (2005) Community Cultural Wealth theory to the Pakistani community;6. the study also makes a contribution by presenting an insider account of parenting practices in Pakistani families.

xiii, 160 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Feldstein and Horioka (1980) motivated the international finance literature by claiming a least squares regression of domestic investment rates on domestic savings rates is an informative measure of capital mobility. Their method stirred up controversy when they interpreted a high correlation between savings and investment rates as evidence of capital immobility, creating the famous Feldstein-Horioka puzzle. Current research starts with the Feldstein-Horioka result and shifts focus toward measuring short and long-run adjustments to external imbalances. The literature has implemented dynamic time-series and panel estimators to test the relationship. Following recent literature, each chapter in this dissertation jointly focuses on the adjustment process of current account imbalances and the conditions required for capital mobility. The intent of this study is to show through the use of new estimation techniques previous results have been largely misguided. The starting point for this analysis is a thorough review of three key equations used in saving-investment regressions. The three models in question are an ordinary least squares model, error correction model, and an autoregressive distributive lag estimator. Each model is tested for stability, and it is found that a number of countries have an unstable relationship. One argument for the instability results is the presence of structural breaks. Previous literature has found that both variables follow non-stationary processes, but when using more powerful unit root tests and controlling for level shifts, both variables appear stationary. If each variable is stationary then previous methods assuming non-stationarity will produce incorrect inferences. Each series is optimally estimated for structural breaks, and through a mean differencing process the savings-investment coefficient is significantly reduced. Additionally, removing the exogenous breaks and using the lower frequency components allows for modeling the short-run current account adjustment process. Finally, the results are extended to measure the relationship in a panel framework using dynamic panel estimators and threshold effects. After controlling for structural breaks the coefficient decreases and exhibits a downward trend. The remaining correlation can be explained through trade openness and country size measures. / Committee: Nicolas Magud, Chairperson, Economics; Stephen Haynes, Member, Economics; Jeremy Piger, Member, Economics; Regina Baker, Outside Member, Political Science

This diploma thesis compares the bank accounts offered by banks to students. The diploma thesis also compares the offers overdraft, which are provided on student accounts. The analysis includes student´s accounts of the four largest Czech banks (Česká spořitelna, a. s., Komerční banka, a. s., Československá obchodní banka, a. s.,GE Money Bank, a. s.) two German banks (Deutsche Bank AG, Commerzbank AG) and two Slovak banks (Slovenská spořitelna, a. s., Tatra banka, a. s.).