The growth of population and business during the rapid urbanization process in the twentieth century has generated significant demand for transportation. As the demands have grown, road and air transportation are suffering from significant congestion and delays. Continuing expansion of highways and airports has become both expensive and difficult, along with not being able to provide adequate solutions to the growing congestion. One alternative, which is being pursued by many countries, is to invest in efficient high-speed rail networks to meet the pressing demand for mass passenger transportation. This alternative is also one that may have beneficial impacts by reducing energy consumption and alleviating some of the environmental concerns. But to make these infrastructure investments, governments need to make difficult decisions due to the complexity of the industry and technologies involved. This thesis examines decision making by government for such investments. In order to carefully study the industry, we use a two part approach. First, we examine the HSR industry supply-chain. We create a detailed taxonomy of the industry supply-chain and highlight various aspects of the advanced technologies being used, the sophisticated multiproduct nature of the firms, and the diverse international location of the companies. Second, we gather information on all the international HSR contracts between 2001-2011. These contracts enable us to examine business strategies pursued by the major HSR trainset suppliers and component manufacturers, insights into the size of the orders and type of trainsets being delivered, and the formation of partnerships and collaborations to meet the complex demands imposed by Governments when they invite bids for these expensive projects. A detailed examination of the supply-chain shows that the core technologies and competencies are highly concentrated in those countries which historically have had high demand for high-speed rail. Germany, Japan, France, for example, have the highest number of trainset and component suppliers. In more recent years, South Korea and China have emerged as the new frontiers of trainset and components suppliers. This implies that countries who are outside of this group are highly dependent on either importing these technologies and investments or make a concerted effort to develop them via partnerships and technology transfer agreements. Our examination of contracts shows that the size of HSR investment order is important for both business and government strategy. The order size determines the extent of domestic content and production. While many components will inevitably be imported, a larger order size may allow for various components to be manufactured domestically. Order size also appears to influence the nature of partnerships among the firms in the industry. We observe a growing number of HSR investment partnerships among trainset suppliers over time, possibly due to the need to pool risk in these highly complex and uncertain investments, as well as the changing competitive dynamic of HSR markets.

Despite the increased interest among local governments in collecting data on performance measurement, empirical evidence is still limited regarding the extent to which these data are utilized to assess the impact on efficiency of economies of scale and uncontrollable factors. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a linear programming method designed to estimate the relative efficiency of decision-making units. In addition to assessing relative efficiency, DEA can estimate scale efficiency and incorporate the impact of uncontrollable factors. Using data from the International City/County Association (ICMA), this study utilized DEA to evaluate the impact of economies of scale and uncontrollable factors on the relative efficiency of municipal service delivery in the United States. The findings from this doctoral dissertation show that uncontrollable variables such as population density, unemployment, and household income suppress the relative efficiency of local governments. Moreover, the findings imply that the prevalence of economies of scale in city governments depends on the types of services these governments provide.

過去電信事業強調無論任何一端用戶透過電話機、傳輸線路、交換機等網路連接至另一端用戶，進行點對點(end to end)語音或數據之通信時，基於網路不可分割之特性，進行整體固定網路設備投資相當龐大，且因具規模經濟特性而形成自然獨占；加以其多屬民生攸關之公用事業，又須具備一定之服務品質及可負擔之合理價格，始能提供不論居住何處之全國民眾使用，故大多由政府主導經營。 　　然隨著電信自由化來臨，民國八十五年七月一日電信解制，分為監理電信業務之電信總局及國營事業之中華電信公司，確立監管架構及電信業務開放以引進競爭市場。惟為避免新進業者會對更多需求及更可獲利的城市地區首先提供服務，而忽略了鄉村偏遠地區，形成吸脂作用(Cream skimming)。故顯然電信自由化後，儘管商業利益的考量是競爭市場存續的重要因素之一，然而為避免關切公共服務的精神隨之而消失，那麼政府如何適度藉入以求得其間的平衡性，這應屬必要的。 　　基本上，應以國民基本通信之概念考量普及服務之範圍，同時應基於公平及合理的原則下，以負擔得起且日常生活中有必要的電信服務；然由於在公平的、合理的、負擔得起、有必要性等充分條件下，仍須加上一定的「服務品質」為必要條件，才能使普及服務的精神顯露，特別在隨著電信科技發展、社會環境變遷及民眾需求，仍須作階段性不同之定義，才能符合普及服務的真正目的。 　　因此，本論文採用文獻探討、政策德菲法(Delphi method)及實例探討，從管制理論的基礎，說明管制因環境之所需，尤其當電信自由化之初，引入市場競爭之同時，適時的管制對於公平的競爭是有需要的；另再參酌美國、英國、澳洲、香港及法國等先進國家之電信普及服務機制，透過美國、英國、澳洲及香港等國家之電信監理機構之網站，及相關電信自由化之文獻，蒐集到各國對普及服務相關之管理方式與法規規定，歸納出各國對普及服務目標之界定，普及服務之提供者，成本計算方式，分攤普及服務之義務者及分攤方式等，再進行整理、分析與比較，嚐試提出一個適合國情的普及服務制度，並對實務執行所面對的問題提出建議，以供主管機關參考。 　　本論文結論重點為，除建立一套含理論及實務運作的電信普及服務機制外，為發現整理出相關問題如：(1)「電信事業普及服務基金」非為政府基金之管理，是否須要編列年度業務計畫及預算書，值得商榷。(2)就商業利益考量，固網業者收取申裝市內電話之「界外工料費」應無不可，然是否能適用普及服務補助的問題。(3)易將普及服務基金視為另一個社會安全或防災救助的課題，扭曲其設立之精神。(4)提供普及服務所產生之無形利益是否應納入棄置營收之計算。(5)海岸電台船舶遇險及安全通信服務是否納入普及服務之考量。 　　其政策建議重點則為：(1)為消彌外界之疑慮，並兼顧效率運作之原則，除必要之管理費用應撙節使用外，相關之收支帳目宜經由會計師簽證予以公開透明化。(2)為維護消費者之權利，裝置材料費用應有下降趨勢，應重新檢討並提出合理成本，訂定合理之收費方式。(3)社會安全或急難救助所經費，應由社會福利安全政策編列預算支應，以免增加電信業者之成本負擔，並轉價至最終消費者。(4)無形利益應可加以計算納入棄置營收項目內，可利用每一家或前五大業者平均的廣告效果估算；或利用消費者行為之抽樣問卷調查，求出潛在消費者及平均消費之貢獻，做為無形利益的推估。(5)可成立專案小組，針對海岸電台設備及維運費用等訂定效率化之衡量標準；或以公開招標方式，徵求自願投入之電信業者；或協調海巡暑整編至該單位。(6)必須建立一套成本資料管理及稽核制度，以增加核算資料的明確性。(7)考慮修法開放可以行動電話做為普及服務之提供，公開徵詢有興趣之行動電話業者，並於北、中、南區各找一處以行動電話提供普及服務之實驗。(8)第一類電信事業部分，可由普及服務管理委員會就經營效率性、虧損之持續性等相關因素，予以審核後得免予繳交；第二類電信事業部分，以經營語音單純轉售及網路電話兩項從事語音電話服務為主，衡酌經營差異程度，排除一定營業額以下者可免予繳交。 / In the past, in order to provide seamless end-to-end communications services for the end users, telecom enterprises that required cost-sunk expenditure, economies of scale and operated an indivisible network had been regarded as a naturally monopolistic business. Moreover, telecommunications as one of public services relevant to the people’s livelihood has to be provided for all nationals at an affordable price and a reasonable level of service quality. As a result, most telecom enterprises worldwide were operated and conducted by the Government. 　　Nevertheless, along with the global trend of telecom liberalization, on July 1 1996 our government reorganized the DGT into a sole telecom regulator and established the state-own holding company, CHT, to provide telecom services, with a view to build up a regulatory regime and to open the telecom market further. To avoid newcomers in a competitive environment tending to focus on high revenue growth telecommunication markets, such as metropolitan areas, resulting in the phenomenon of ‘cream skimming’ and in the impediment to the spirit of public services, there is a need for government intervention in the provision of telecom services. 　　Basically, the concept of universal telecommunications service shall be confined to the basic telecommunication services which are indispensable to every citizens and should be provided on reasonable request at an affordable price and a reasonable level of quality. However, universal telecommunications service might has different definitions over time so as to fulfill its policy objectives in each phase given the development of technologies and the changes in social environment. 　　Accordingly, by conducting Documentary-type method, Delphi method and Case Studies, this dissertation has illustrated with regulatory theory why regulation shall be based on the requirement of the environment. Particularly, during the early stages of telecom liberalization, regulatory involvement at right moment is required for creating a level-playing field when introducing competition. From the websites of several telecom regulators in advanced countries, e.g. US, UK, Australia, HK, etc., and some literatures on telecom liberalization, this dissertation has collected those countries’ management criteria and legal framework for universal service and summed up their universal service objectives, providers, cost calculation methods and obligation sharing mechanisms. Then through a further analysis and comparison, it has tried to propose a universal service mechanism that might better fit our national conditions and offer the authority concerned some practical recommendations for the implementation issues. 　　In conclusion, this dissertation has built up a universal telecommunications service mechanism based on both theoretical analyses and practical considerations. Besides, it has included some key findings as follows: (1) Given the fact that the universal service fund is not one kind of government funds, shall it still be managed through annual official planning and budgeting? (2) From a viewpoint of profitable undertaking, a fixed network operator might want to charge a remote subscriber outside its service area for some extra facilities fees for service installation. This might be reasonable under commercial terms. But shall we allow such extra fees to be subsidized by the universal service fund? (3) Some people might regard the purpose of the universal service fund as an issue on social security or emergency rescue, and hence distort the spirit of universal service fund. (4) It is questionable whether intangible benefits, resulting form the provision of universal service, could be grouped into revenue forgone. (5) Is it appropriate for an operator to recover its costs of providing coastal radio maritime emergency and safety communication services from the universal service fund? 　　Furthermore, it has given several key policy recommendations as follows: (1) For the sake of dispelling people’s doubts and managing the efficiency in universal service fund, all of the accounts of expenditures shall be open and transparent except that the administrative costs must be kept at minimum. (2) In order to protect consumers’ rights, the equipment installation fee should follow a downward trend and must be cost based. (3) To avoid increasing the burden of telecom operators whose costs are ultimately entailed by consumers, budgets for social security or emergency rescue should be supported by national social welfare policies. (4) Intangible revenue that might be calculable by evaluating average effect of advertisement of each operator or top five operators should be grouped into revenue foregone. Or it may be possible to make a sampling survey of consumers’ behavior, finding the average contribution of each potential customer so as to estimate intangible revenue. (5) Grouping a task force to revise measuring criteria for the facilities and maintenance costs in coastal radio services efficiently. Besides, bids for these services may be opened for volunteers, or be coordinated with and incorporated into the function of Coast Guard Administration, Executive Yuan. (6) It is necessary to build up a mechanism of data management and auditing so as to increase the accountability of re-calculating data. (7) To think over the feasibility that mobile phone can be used for the provision of universal service as well by revising the relevant laws, and then in North, Middle, and South Taiwan, try to conduct a field trial in each area for providing universal service by using mobile phone. (8) For Type I telecommunications businesses, universal service committee can exempt them from universal service obligations with the concerns about their operation efficiency and the duration of losing money, and so on. For Type II telecommunications businesses, only those operating voice communications services, including simple resale and internet phone services, should bear the obligations, but whether they need to make contributions to the universal service fund or not can be decided through the evaluation of their business performance.

在保險市場中，保險商品主要透過保險經紀人、保險代理人以及保險人所掌握的直接通路予以販售，特別是在大型商業財產及責任保險的行銷通路上，保險經紀人扮演了舉足輕重的角色。本論文主要是以商業財產及責任保險市場為研究重心，並由經濟觀點探討保險經紀人的仲介角色、市場競爭態勢、報酬結構以及業務安排方式等，同時以保險監理的角度檢討保險經紀行業存在的誠信自律、利益衝突以及客戶公平對待等問題。 不同於保險代理人，保險經紀人係基於保單持有人之利益為其安排保險。因此，保險經紀人必須透過多家保險人提供報價的方式，從中選擇價格及條件最佳者做為保險業務安排之對象；換言之，誠實的報價程序，方足以保障客戶之利益並維繫保險市場的健全。然而國外近年發生的大型保險經紀人與部分保險人共謀提供不實之報價事件，不僅嚴重影響到保單持有人的權益，更引發了對於保險經紀人不當市場力量運用以及或有佣金（contingent commissions）制度存廢的廣泛討論。2004年10月14日紐約州總檢察官Eliot Spitzer向紐約州最高法院針對全球最大保險經紀商Marsh & McLennan及部分保險人所涉及的投標詐欺、操縱價格、收受保險公司或有佣金等三大罪狀提出了民事訴訟。此案例不僅使得涉案公司付出鉅額賠償，更暴露出大型保險經紀人公司存在已久的市場壟斷、價格操控、利益衝突等問題。 對照於英、美等國在保險經紀人制度方面的成熟與發達，我國在此方面尚屬新興發展階段，所謂他山之石可以攻錯，借重先行者的經驗，不僅可以避免重蹈覆轍，更可加快成長的腳步；在全球化的浪潮衝擊之下，保險經紀市場唯有與國際充分接軌，並健全相關制度，才能為國內保險市場的業務成長，帶來蓬勃生機，並立下永續發展的堅固磐石。 / In the insurance market, policies are sold through direct channels controlled by insurance companies or intermediaries, such as brokers and agents. Brokers play a vital role in the property & casualty insurance market and serving commercial clients with complex and large exposures. This report focusing on the commercial property & casualty insurance market, we look at the economic performance by brokers, the competitive structure of the marketplace, the compensation arrangements for brokers, and the placement with insurers. Furthermore, we also from regulators’ point of view to study and review a variety of issues, such as the ethics and conduct , conflict of interest, treating customers fairly, which are raised from insurance brokers industry. In contrast to captive agents, brokers act on behalf of the insured, for this circumstance, the role of the brokers is to increase price and coverage competitiveness, by providing the customers access to a wider range of possible insurers. Clearly the integrity of the bidding process is very important to protect the interest of customers and to the health of the insurance brokers market. Unfortunately, the integrity of the placement process by brokers has been questioned due to the allegations of bid rigging in which one or more global brokers and a few insurers appear to have conspired to submit non-competitive bids. This anti-competitive practice is not only detrimental to the customers but also cause public concerned that too much market power lead to abuses by brokers and that contingent commissions should be abolished. On October 14, 2004, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed suit against Marsh & McLennan alleging that the insurance brokers engaged in bid rigging and received widespread kickbacks from insurance companies. On January 31, 2005, Marsh agreed to pay $850 million in restitution to buyers as part of an agreement to settle the suit, but lawsuits still in progress. The above-mentioned case has revealed conflict of interest, anti-competitive and market manipulation for meg-brokers, in fact, these problems existed for a long time. Comparing with US and UK insurance brokers market, Taiwan is belong to emerging market, to gain knowledge of pioneer’s developing experience, we could shorten the time to get more progress. When we deal with the globalization challenge, local insurance broker market should be complied with international practices, improve relative rules and regulations is also necessary, once above situations are available, it could help domestic insurance market rapid and healthy growth.

Chapter 1: I analyze economies of scale for fire and police services by considering how per-household costs are affected by a municipality’s size. Using 2005-2008 municipal data for the Province of Ontario, I employ a partial-linear model to non-parametrically estimate per-household cost curves for each service. The results show that cost per household is a U-shaped function of municipal size for each service. For fire services, these costs are minimized at a population of about 20,000 residents, while for police services they are minimized at about 50,000 residents. Based on these results, implications are drawn for municipal amalgamation policy. Chapter 2: I review how the literature has continued to exclude the business property tax (BPT) from the marginal effective tax rate (METR) on capital investment for over 25 years. I recast the METR theory as it relates to the BPT and compute 2013 estimates of the METR for all 10 provinces in Canada with provincial BPTs included. Building on these estimates, I compute the METR inclusive of municipal BPTs for the largest municipality in each province. I find the BPT to be substantially damaging to municipal, provincial and international competitiveness. With the business property tax representing over 60% of the Canadian METR, among the various capital taxes it is by far the largest contributor to Canada’s investment barrier. Chapter 3: I estimate the responsiveness of structure investment and the tax base to commercial property taxes, taking a new step toward resolving the “benefit view” vs. “capital tax view” debate within the literature. Using a first-difference structural model to analyze 2006-2013 municipal data for the Province of Ontario, I improve upon past studies and build onto the literature in a number of ways. I find that commercial structure investment and tax base are highly sensitive to the property tax with Ontario’s assessment-weighted average tax elasticity (and tax-base elasticity) ranging from -0.80 to -0.90 at 2011 taxation levels. The results support the capital tax view of the business property tax, building onto the growing consensus that business property taxes substantially impact investment in structures and the value of the tax base.

Widespread cross-border securities trading have led to the internationalization of securities markets. No one seriously disputes that such securities dealings require regulation, but there is no academic consensus on the best normative approach to such regulation. The academic debate initially focused on whether regulatory competition or cooperation constitutes the better model. However, the debate seems to have evolved to adopt a hybrid model combining the virtues of these two approaches. ‘Harmonization’ constitutes the dominant hybrid model. Nevertheless, the implementation of the harmonization model has barely received any attention in the literature. The aim of this thesis is hence two-fold: first, justify why harmonization should be the preferred model for the regulation of international securities markets; and second, develop, applying an international trade regulation perspective, a regulatory framework to implement the harmonization model using the World Trade Organization and General Agreement on Trade in Services (WTO/GATS) framework.

Widespread cross-border securities trading have led to the internationalization of securities markets. No one seriously disputes that such securities dealings require regulation, but there is no academic consensus on the best normative approach to such regulation. The academic debate initially focused on whether regulatory competition or cooperation constitutes the better model. However, the debate seems to have evolved to adopt a hybrid model combining the virtues of these two approaches. ‘Harmonization’ constitutes the dominant hybrid model. Nevertheless, the implementation of the harmonization model has barely received any attention in the literature. The aim of this thesis is hence two-fold: first, justify why harmonization should be the preferred model for the regulation of international securities markets; and second, develop, applying an international trade regulation perspective, a regulatory framework to implement the harmonization model using the World Trade Organization and General Agreement on Trade in Services (WTO/GATS) framework.

台灣隨著聯電與台積電陸續成立晶圓製造廠以來，帶動了整個半導體高科技產業的蓬勃發展，也因而創造了台灣的經濟奇蹟。以電子資訊業為首的高科技產業，無論在營收成長、獲利力或個人產值等方面均有傑出的表現。雖然過去，台灣高科技產業能持續在市場上生存並佔有一席之地，乃在於擁有完善的製造能力與完整的產業供應鏈。但今日，高科技產業長期的經營與運作模式已面臨嚴重挑戰。企業間過度擠壓所造成的削價競爭、產業外移，供應鏈失調等問題，正是高科技產業停滯不前瀕臨生存威脅的最大因素。因此，台灣企業該如何提升其自身的競爭優勢與經營管理能力，並且妥善運用有限的資源進而轉化成對外的競爭策略，將是企業是否能安然渡過該波擠壓洪流，而得以永續經營的關鍵成功因素。 因此，本研究將探討『台灣電腦晶片組設計業經營問題與競爭優勢分析』，藉由分析探討國內兩大電腦系統晶片組設計廠商－矽統科技與威盛電子公司的實際經營狀況，來了解台灣電腦系統晶片組設計業現今所面臨的經營問題。 針對上述探討研究方向，除了參閱多方理論文獻與次級文獻資料外,吾人亦以十多年來實際參與電腦產業經營運作的經驗，並收集分析矽統科技與威盛電子公司發展推動市場的手法，試圖來解釋分析本論文所發現的問題，同時在總結各方面的研討後，提出可能性的對策與方案，使之能在既有的核心能耐與有限的資源下，對其所擁有的核心能力加以強化及發揮，進而產生另一層的經營優勢並提昇該產業的核心競爭力。 本研究結果發現台灣電腦系統晶片設計業： 一、 台系電腦晶片組廠商目前所面臨經營上的機會與問題 劣勢與威脅部分： 1. 新產品的創新能力、類比技術及系統整合能力較差，加上電腦系統晶片組功能整合開發難度與日俱增，在國際競爭上始終無法超前國際大廠（如Intel與nVIDIA）。 2. 由於新技術能力的不足，造成產品推出時程落後；沒有新穎產品的創新能力，無法提供附加價值，不得不採取低價策略。 3. 同業間惡性競爭、下游廠商代工成本提高、獲利不佳引發財務資源不足。 競爭優勢部分： 1.台灣半導體產業專業分工，群聚效果顯著，產業供給鏈完整，對電腦晶片組產品開發設計幫助大。 2.人力素質佳，上下游產業垂直分工，能力強。 3.專業晶圓代工關係密切，並帶動上下游產業發展。 4.營運彈性大，效率高，以達經濟規模，具成本競爭優勢。 5.下游PC資訊產業為堅強支援。 6.設計技術高、能力強、產品運用靈活、整合力佳。 其機會在於： 1.大陸PC/數位消費性電子市場胃納大，台灣具同文同種優勢。 2.IA產品衍生的零組件商機。 3.業界聯盟、技轉和併購增加實力。 4.台灣矽島計畫（IP Mall）成立。 5.與中國市場提供規格制定的可能，進而能利用中國人才加強研發能力。 6.低價電腦需求持續成長，帶動低價的台灣晶片組產品出貨量。 關鍵性成功因素： 台灣廠商應持續強化其競爭優勢，使此優勢有持續性與不可取代性。因此，台灣廠商應憑藉著自身有限的資產與技術能力為競爭的基礎，採用最佳的競爭手段來對抗後進的ATi與nVIDIA的激烈競爭，如：提供更多的產品組合以發揮其綜效的產品策略、最低價產品的定位策略、利用台灣產業群聚效益的優勢發掘最有效率的製造策略等；採用正確的競爭方式以避開正面與外商優勢產品的直接競爭，如：基於目前擁有成熟的技術，運用其技術延展性的特性，積極開發新產品並鎖定中國、印度、印尼、俄羅斯及巴西等新興電腦市場之選擇。 二、 台灣廠商的整合核心技術能力普遍不及外商，尤其在整合性產品中的繪圖核心邏輯部分與類比技術；不過值得慶幸的是新技術的市場推廣往往必須花費許久時間，台灣廠商可藉此發展較便宜的產品，一旦新技術被市場接受時，迅速推廣至市場達到後發先至，後來居上的成功策略，畢竟類似的產品其價格仍佔優勢。 三、 近年來，電腦晶片組所賴以為生的上下游產業，多數廠商雖被迫遷至中國設廠以降低製造成本來爭取較高獲利，原以為此種現象將會造成台灣電腦產業群聚效益的喪失，但所幸的是新的產業群聚效益逐漸於中國的上海地區形成，就如同台灣的竹科與南科一般；因此，台灣電腦晶片組廠商仍擁有較國際大廠較佳的電腦產業群聚效益的優勢。除了該優勢外，台灣廠商若能在有限的資產與技術能力的基礎下，更持續強化其自身的競爭優勢，使此優勢具有持續與不可取代性。如此方能統合己身的資源優勢，進而得有能力來對抗後進的ATi與nVIDIA等廠商的激烈競爭。 / Following the establishment and operations of TSMC（Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited）and UMC（United Microelectronics Corporation）in Taiwan, the high-tech industry of wafer production flourished and created a reputation nothing short of an economic miracle for Taiwan. In the electronic information field, it became the leading business; outperforming in all aspects showing outstanding profits, income, growth, and personal production value. The high-tech industry of Taiwan then occupied a strong-hold of the market continuously, owing to its manufacturing capability and complete supply chain. Today however, the long time operational model of this industry confronts a serious challenge because of compression among local enterprises. Prices have been cut, factories have been moved abroad, creating a disorder in the supply chain and all can be seen as life or death threatening risks to this systematic industry. The key success factors for sustainable management objectives is going to be how the Taiwanese enterprisers promote their competitive advantage; utilize their business management ability for better efficiency of factories; manipulate the limited resources; and further divert all of the above into a competitive strategy. Through analysis of actual practice and business operations of two PC chipset design house companies（Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation and VIA Technologies, Inc.）, this study will examine and predict『The operational problems related to business management and competitive advantages analysis which are in front of the PC chipset design industry in Taiwan』. Aiming at directions of above stated examinations and analysis by using my experience of participating in management and review of all aspects in PC industry for more than ten years and by reading of papers at sublevels; also by collecting marketing methods of the above two companies; I will explain the problems I have revealed. At the same time, I will provide applicable stratagem and programs for PC chipset industry of Taiwan to upgrade its core competencies and strengthen its competitive force. Results of this study are stated below: A. The operational problems related to business management and competitive advantages in front of the PC chipset design industry of Taiwan A/1: Weaknesses and Threats 1. The PC chipset vendors of Taiwan cannot compete or overtake Intel or nVIDIA in the international market until the following is addressed. In addition to extended difficulties in PC chipset integration, there is an inferior ability in the following aspects: the invention or creation of new products; analogy techniques, and system integration. 2. Due to inadequate new technologies, the new products cannot put into market on schedule. Further, without innovation of products to create added value to a product low price policy has become the only strategy. 3. Vicious competition among similar enterprisers and an increase of labor cost of factories in the production line may induce monetary crises at any point of the chain of the PC industry. A/2 : Competitive Advantages 1. Specialty divisions, clustering of the Taiwan Semiconductor industry and good supply chains all contribute a lot to the development of PC chipset products. 2. Good quality of labor and vertical division of top to bottom production are the factors which enforce the industry. 3. Close ties to the chip production manufacturers promote development of top to bottom enterprisers. 4. Flexibility of management facilitates higher efficiency to reach the economics of scale. A definite cost competitive advantage. 5. The PC information industry constitutes concerted support. 6. Design technology at high level, good capability, splendid flexibility on product applications and fine integration of these elements. A/3: Opportunities 1. Markets for PC and digital consumer appliances for Taiwan and the mainland China is huge because of population and economic growth there in recent years. Consumers share the same culture; belonging to same race also is an advantage. 2. Opportunity deriving from IA products for companies to produce peripheral parts. 3. Through alliance of enterprisers, transit of techniques and business merging is an opportunity. 4. Establishment of Taiwan IP mall. 5. To formulate protocols and define specification together with enterprisers in mainland China for a market there. Further to utilize local professionals to promote research and development. 6. Demand for low cost PCs will increase steadily which will enable Taiwan to export more PC chipset products. A/4: Key Factors for Success The Taiwan companies should continue to strengthen their competitive advantages to maintain their continuity and non replaceable character. Also apply the limited resources and technical know-how as a base of competition. Furthermore by adopting better competitive measures to confront the new more advanced competitors such as ATi and nVIDIA. These measures may include a greater product portfolio synergy; the assembly of more complex and efficient products made in Taiwan; a low cost product positioning strategy in order to avoid face to face competition; a redirection of the current mature technologies into technology extensions for products aimed at the emerging PC markets such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Brazil. B. The ability to integrate core technologies by the Taiwan industry is less efficient than foreign companies especially the graphics core-logic and analog techniques. It is fortunate that it often needs a long time for a new technique to appear in a market. The Taiwan companies can use this time gap between the existing mature technique and another generation of know-how to develop modified low price alternative products. Once the new technique is accepted by the market, it can be spread to the market with a faster speed to achieve a better result. After all, prices of similar products still occupy the good position for profit. C. In recent years many factories, from top to bottom producers were forced to move to the mainland China in order to lower the cost of their production for higher profits. At first it was thought that these phenomena may cause the disappearance of industry clustering in Taiwan adversely affecting the supply chain. Fortunately the outgoing factories were clustered in the Shanghai area very similar to Hsienchu Science Park and Southern Taiwan Science Park in Taiwan. The PC chipset design industry of Taiwan can thus still maintain their clustering advantages to confront the big factories world wide.

This thesis sheds light on the functioning and characteristics of payment systems to serve as a foundation for understanding the drivers for higher payment system efficiency. Its central goal is to develop insights into the determinants of collective payment choice suitable to lower payment costs to society. So far, the institutional environment, as potential important influence on the payment instrument mix, has not been focused on in the literature. Therefore, particular emphasis is laid on the empirical analysis of the impact of institutional factors on the share of card payments on consumer spending at the point of sale (POS). For this, a unique panel data set is constructed covering the eight most important European payment markets ranked by non-cash transaction volumes. The empirical results allow formulating conditions necessary to achieve a more efficient payment mix. They also form a basis for the assessment of related policy measures with a focus on the SEPA project in terms of their efficiency enhancing effect. Future research could possibly build upon the panel data collected.

The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the brokered transport costs of road and rail transport for the independent timber growers of NCT Forestry Co-operative Limited in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Reliability, flexibility, visibility, rates and total transport time were evaluated for each mode of transport. The impact of the carbon emissions was also considered and the option of performance based standard vehicles investigated. During the period 2000 to 2003, rail was the dominant mode of transport. However from 2004 onwards, due to the diminishing service levels and the high tariff structures of rail transport, road became the preferred mode of transport. The results of the survey conducted for the purposes of this study showed that although road transport outperformed rail transport, rail transport scored significantly higher than road transport as a cost-effective mode of transportation. Rail transport was shown to be a far less carbon intensive mode of transport than road transport, while there were substantial cost savings and benefits from performance based standard vehicles. / Transport Economics, Logistics and Tourism / M. Com. (Logistics)