This thesis focuses on examining key competitive strategies for multinational corporations(MNCs) operating in emerging markets, and what factors contribute to the success or failureof these strategies. Also, this research will study how MNCs can adapt competitive strategiesto fit emerging market characteristics and local market conditions. It will also examine thefactors of variation for competitive strategies across different emerging markets.The empirical findings in this study were acquired using a qualitative single case study of anMNC operating in international markets. The findings were gathered through semi-structuredinterviews to then be analysed and discussed with the literature review to highlight differencesand similarities.The conclusion of this thesis displays competitive strategies used by MNCs in emergingmarkets and the factors that impact success or failure. The single case study of NIBEgenerated examples of competitive strategies in emerging markets, more specifically howacquisition and subsidiaries were used to adapt to local market characteristics. Factorsaffecting the success or failure of MNCs are institutions, networks, local regulations andnorms, together with local market conditions.

The relationship between national culture and CSR has received increased attention over the past few decades. However, to date, the results of this relationship are inconclusive as they show positive, negative, and non-significant results. Moreover, the results are outdated as only the first four dimensions of the Hofstede framework have been researched thoroughly, while the two newest dimensions have received very little attention with regards to their relationship to CSR. The key objective of this study is to contribute to the debate by testing the influence of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, long-term orientation, and indulgence on CSR. This is done by analyzing 215 companies from 23 different countries, which are on the Forbes 2000 list. Furthermore, the moderating role of state of development is assessed in this context, by using the distinction made in the MSCI ACWI Index. By conducting a moderated multiple regression analysis, mixed results were found on the influence of national culture on CSR, which could be ascribed to a difference in sample. Moreover, the influence of state of development was not significant in the main regression, however, it gave interesting opportunities for future research. The findings of this study thereby add to the body of knowledge on national culture, CSR, and state of development, and provide several theoretical and managerial implications.

En la actualidad, la industria del transporte es la encargada de satisfacer las necesidades logísticas del mundo. Los combustibles fósiles continúan siendo la principal fuente de energía de esta industria, y el motor Diésel, una de las tecnologías principales en la transformación de la energía química de estos combustibles en energía mecánica a través del proceso de combustión. Asociado a este proceso de transformación de la energía, un conjunto de efectos indeseados como las emisiones contaminantes o los gases de efecto invernadero han hecho movilizar a la comunidad científica. Dicha comunidad, ha realizado importantes esfuerzos en la investigación de soluciones limpias y eficientes que ayuden a minimizar los efectos indeseados del uso del motor Diésel. Sumado a los esfuerzos en la investigación, diferentes organizaciones gubernamentales han generado normativas que regulan estas emisiones contaminantes y la industria del motor ha reaccionado integrando soluciones tecnológicas que han hecho evolucionar la configuración original del motor Diésel. Debido a razones principalmente geopolíticas, el desarrollo económico a nivel mundial no se ha dado de manera homogénea, y en la actualidad, existe una disparidad global en cuanto a las exigencias en normativa de emisiones y la implementación de tecnologías para su control, siendo estas afectadas principalmente por sus costos. Es en este contexto donde se enmarca esta tesis doctoral, cuyo objetivo principal es el estudio de diferentes estrategias de inyección y de renovación de la carga como herramienta de control de emisiones en motores de encendido por compresión, teniendo en cuenta el costo de su integración. Se busca poder definir los límites de estas estrategias de bajo costo, determinando así su potencial real en la futura normativa de los mercados emergentes. Para abordar dicho objetivo, la tesis se ha desarrollado en tres etapas. En la primera, se ha realizado una aproximación teórico-experimental a las estrategias de inyección mediante modelado 3D-CFD y ensayos paramétricos en motor que permiten establecer como los parámetros de inyección responden al objetivo planteado. En la segunda etapa, se han estudiado las estrategias de renovación de la carga. Primero desde el modelado 1D para luego su posterior evaluación mediante su ensayo experimental en motor definiendo de esta manera las ventajas e inconvenientes de cada estrategia. En la tercera y última etapa, se han combinado todas las estrategias previamente estudiadas desde una aproximación experimental. De esta manera se puede alcanzar el objetivo de la tesis doctoral donde se ha comprobado la viabilidad de estas estrategias de bajo costo y se ha determinado su verdadero potencial como herramientas de control de las emisiones contaminantes. / En l'actualitat, la indústria del transport és l'encarregada de satisfer les necessitats logístiques del món. Els combustibles fòssils continuen sent la principal font d'energia d'aquesta indústria, i el motor Diésel, una de les tecnologies principals en la transformació de l'energia química d'aquests combustibles en energia mecànica a través del procés de combustió. Associat a aquest procés de transformació de l'energia, un conjunt d'efectes indesitjats com les emissions contaminants o els gasos d'efecte hivernacle han fet mobilitzar a la comunitat científica. Aquesta comunitat, ha realitzat importants esforços en la recerca de solucions netes i eficients que ajuden a minimitzar els efectes indesitjats de l'ús del motor Diésel. Sumat als esforços en la recerca, diferents organitzacions governamentals han generat normatives que regulen aquestes emissions contaminants i la indústria del motor ha reaccionat integrant solucions tecnològiques que han fet evolucionar la configuració original del motor Diésel. A causa de raons principalment geopolítiques, el desenvolupament econòmic a nivell mundial no s'ha donat de manera homogènia, i en l'actualitat, existeix una disparitat global quant a les exigències en normativa d'emissions i la implementació de tecnologies per al seu control, sent aquestes afectades principalment pels seus costos. És en aquest context on s'emmarca aquesta tesi doctoral, que el seu objectiu principal és l'estudi de diferents estratègies d'injecció i de renovació de la càrrega com a eina de control d'emissions en motors d'encès per compressió, tenint en compte el cost de la seua integració. Se cerca poder definir els límits d'aquestes estratègies de baix cost, determinant així el seu potencial real en la futura normativa dels mercats emergents. Per a abordar dita objectiva, la tesi s'ha desenvolupat en tres etapes. En la primera, s'ha realitzat una aproximació teòric-experimental a les estratègies d'injecció mitjançant modelatge 3D-CFD i assajos paramètrics en motor que permeten establir com els paràmetres d'injecció responen a l'objectiu plantejat. En la segona etapa, s'han estudiat les estratègies de renovació de la càrrega. Primer des del modelatge 1D per a després la seua posterior avaluació mitjançant el seu assaig experimental en motor definint d'aquesta manera els avantatges i inconvenients de cada estratègia. En la tercera i última etapa, s'han combinat totes les estratègies prèviament estudiades des d'una aproximació experimental. D'aquesta manera es pot aconseguir l'objectiu de la tesi doctoral on s'ha comprovat la viabilitat d'aquestes estratègies de baix cost i s'ha determinat el seu vertader potencial com a eines de control de les emissions contaminants. / Nowadays, the transport industry is responsible for accomplish the world's logistics requirements. Fossil fuels continue to be the main source of energy for this industry, and the Diesel engine, one of the main technologies in the transformation of the chemical energy of these fuels into mechanical energy through combustion. Associated with this process of energy transformation, a set of undesired effects such as pollutant emissions or greenhouse gases have challenged the scientific community that has made significant research efforts aiming clean and efficient solutions. Added to the scientific community efforts, different governmental organizations have created regulations in order to control these pollutant emissions and the engine industry has reacted by integrating technological solutions that have evolved the original configuration of the Diesel engine. Due mainly to geopolitical reasons, economic development worldwide has not occurred in a homogeneous manner, and currently, there is a global disparity regarding the requirements in emission regulations and the implementation of technologies for their control, mainly driven by their costs. It is in this framework where is set this doctoral thesis, with the main objective to study different injection and air management strategies as a tool for emission control in compression ignition engines, taking into account the cost of their integration. The aim is to be able to define the limits of these low-cost strategies, thus determining their real potential in the future regulations of emerging markets. To address this objective, the thesis has been developed in three stages. In the first one, a theoretical-experimental approach to the injection strategies has been carried out using 3D-CFD modeling and parametric engine tests which allow us to establish how the injection parameters help to reach the depicted thesis objective. In the second stage, the air management strategies have been studied. First, from the 1D modeling point of view in order to select the best option for this platform, and later to proceed with the experimental validation of this selection. Through the described approach is possible defining the advantages and disadvantages of each air management strategy. In the third and final stage, all previously studied strategies have been combined from an experimental approach. In this way, the evaluation of these cost-effective strategies has been defined and the fully potential as a tool for emissions control has been determined thus the objective of the doctoral thesis could be achieved. / Estepa Ruiz, D. (2018). Study of different fuel injection and air management strategies as a tool for emissions control in a compression ignition engine (Diesel engine) [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/113076

Yes / We adopt a resource dependence approach to explain the effect of state participation on the dissolution of international joint ventures (IJVs). While resource dependence theory has been used to explain the formation of IJVs, we propose an extension of the theory to explain their dissolution. We do so by highlighting the match between foreign firms’ resource needs (resource hierarchy) and the resource provision roles of state-controlled versus private local partners (resource profiles). We further argue that the effect of state participation on the dissolution of IJVs is moderated by foreign firms’ host country experience and IJV age. We test our hypotheses by using data on 623 IJVs in China. Our results show that state participation reduces the risk of IJV dissolution and that the strength of this effect differs depending on the type of state-controlled actor that is involved in an IJV. We also find that host country experience and IJV age moderate the effect of state participation on IJV dissolution. These findings enhance our understanding of IJV dissolution and contribute to the development of resource dependence theory.

Yes / The complexities surrounding the supply chain logistics for perishable commodities within Bangladesh are extensive. Poor infrastructure, fragmented transportation and corruption compound the operational complexities within this emerging market. This case study analyses many of the day-to-day operational challenges and tensions inherent within Micro-Small-Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) forming the backbone of the Bangladesh socio-economic structure. The drive for transition toward greater levels of sustainability and corporate responsibility is problematic, affecting many levels within an extended and fragmented supply chain. The selected case study highlights the “lived in” geographical, environmental, economic and cultural factors that impact the ability of emerging market enterprises to remain profitable within emergency scenarios whilst transitioning toward a more sustainable model. This study, whilst detailing many of the tensions and critical issues facing MSMEs, highlights the benefits of direct Government intervention, criticality of a leaner and more efficient supply chain and reassessment of financial incentives to drive the transition to a more efficient and sustainable economy.

Yes / This article examines the mediating mechanism of the relationship between institutional voids (IVs) and inter-firm cooperation and the moderating role of economic adversity in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in emerging markets. The hypotheses are tested using time-lagged survey data from 214 SMEs from Ghana. The findings provide support for the hypotheses by showing that (1) IVs positively influence the use of government research and development (R&D) support, (2) the use of government R&D support mediates the relationship between IVs and inter-firm cooperation, and (3) economic adversity positively moderates the relationship between IVs and the use of government R&D support. The findings contribute to understanding the role of IVs in inter-firm cooperation. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

No / This book examines prominent issues in the Emerging Markets (EM) from a variety of disciplines in order to make useful societal contributions through knowledge exchange. EMs offer enormous opportunities, but realizing them is both challenging and risky due to inherent uncertainties of such markets. EM’s also have unique characteristics that makes them different from developed countries. This causes implications for both theory and practice. These markets necessitate substantial adaptations of developed theories and approaches employed in the Western world. This book investigates problems specific to emerging markets, and identifies new theoretical constructs, hypotheses (re)development, and emphasizes institutional contexts. The chapters in this book establish new conceptual and theoretical paradigms from multidisciplinary perspectives concentrated in the areas of information systems, electronic government, and digital and social media matters. The book focuses on topics in these areas such as digital enterprises, sustainability, telemedicine, and Information Communication Technology (ICT) and surveys the potential challenges and opportunities that may arise. These concepts and topics covered in this book are vital for making the global economy more equitable and sustainable.

We analyze the effect of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) on bilateral foreign portfolio investment in equity and debt securities. We find that expropriation risk and the level of a BIT’s investor protection are complementary. Applying a Poisson Pseudo-Maximum-Likelihood model to a panel of 60 home and 39 host countries from 2002 to 2017, we find that host countries receive 40% more bilateral equity investment when they protect foreign investors with a BIT. This effect almost doubles when investment protection of BITs is strong, and the political risk of the host country is high.

全球化時代的來臨，促進企業的國際化並加速了國際貿易的成長。企業進行海外拓展國際化的第一步便是出口，也因此出口績效儼然成為許多國際商業或經濟學者探討的重要議題。然而，在如此眾多的出口績效研究中，研究目標卻鮮少為新興市場企業。 新興市場如今已於全球市場竄起，許多投資者皆對新興市場趨之若鶩。在與已開發經濟體大相逕庭的環境中，新興市場企業之出口績效決定因素又與已開發經濟體是否相異，本研究將以新興市場為主要目標探討出口績效因素以補齊過去文獻之不足。 本研究於B2B電子商務平台中隨機蒐集了319個樣本，透過後進者觀點切入，加入過去未受詳盡探討之因素並搭配樣本特性，歸納出五項因素：創新能力、產品品質控管、電子商務使用時間、海外地區多樣性、是否天生全球化，並在控制公司規模的情況下以階層式迴歸進行實證分析。 研究結果發現，雖然各變數對出口績效皆呈現正向影響，但創新能力與海外地區多樣性並未達到顯著水準，故無法使假設成立。而產品品質控管愈佳或使用電子商務時間愈久皆可提升出口績效。另外，天生全球化企業之出口績效也會較遵循傳統國際化步驟企業之出口績效為佳。希望本研究結果可提供欲於新興市場中成立之新企業提升出口績效的方向，或已立足於新興市場中之成熟企業欲改善出口績效之方法。 / Globalization makes the amount of international trade growing rapidly than before. Firms do more international activities and seek for superior export performance. Researchers of International Business and Economics see this trend as an important topic to discuss. However, among so many literatures of the determinants of export performance, there seems to be little about the export performance in emerging markets. To make the researches of determinants of export performance become more complete, I will take firms in emerging markets as the study subject. I randomly collected data of 319 firms from a B2B e-commerce marketplace. With the aspect of late mover advantage, I take innovation as one of the determinants of export performance. Also, product quality and international diversity are both considered. Firms in emerging markets think e-commerce as an efficiency tool to expand markets and this is the reason I put e-commerce usage time in the structure. Finally, some firms from the sample are so-called “born-globals,” I also study the relationship between born-global and export performance. In this paper, I found product quality and e-commerce usage time positively affect the export performance; while innovation and international diversity do not provide a significant result. Besides, export performance of born-globals in emerging markets is better than other firms, which were not born-global. Hope this paper can make people who are interested in export performance in emerging market understand the situation more.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Econophysics is a relatively new branch of physics. It entails the use of models in physics applied to economics. The distributions of financial time series are the aspect most intensely studied by physicists. This study is based on a study by Kleinert and Chen who applied the Boltzmann distribution to stock exchange data to define a market temperature that may be used by investors to indicate an impending stock market crash. Most econophysicists’ analysed the tail regions of the distributions as the tails represent risk in financial data. This study’s focus of analysis, on the other hand is the characterisation of the central portion of the probability distribution. The Boltzmann distribution, a cornerstone in statistical physics, yields an exponential distribution. The objective of this study is to investigate the suitability of using a market volatility forecasting method from econophysics, namely the Boltzmann/market temperature method. As econometric benchmark the ARCH/GARCH method is used. Stock market indices are known to be non-normally (non-Gaussian) distributed. The distribution pattern of a stock market index of reasonable high sampling frequency (typically interday or intraday) is leptokurtic with heavy tails. Mesoscopic (interday) distributions of financial time series have been found to be exponential distributions. If the empirical exponential distribution is therefore interpreted as a Boltzmann distribution, then a market temperature can be calculated from the exponential distribution. Empirical data for this study is in the form of daily closing values of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) All Share Index (ALSI) and the Standard & Poor 500 (S & P 500) index for the period 1995 through to 2008. The Kleinert and Chen study made use of intraday data obtained from established markets. This study differs from the Kleinert and Chen study in that interday data obtained from an emerging market, namely the South African stock market is used. Neither of the aforementioned two differences had a significant influence on the results of this study. The JSE ALSI log-return data displays non-Gaussian properties and the Laplace (double exponential) distribution fit the data well. A plot of the market temperature provided a clear indication of when stock market crashes occurred. Results of the econophysical (Boltzmann/market temperature) method compared well to results of the econometric (ARCH/GARCH) method and subject to certain improvements can be utilised successfully. A leptokurtic, non-Gaussian nature was established for daily log-returns of the JSE ALSI and the S & P 500 index. The Laplace (double exponential) distribution fit the annual logreturns of the JSE ALSI and S & P 500 index well. As a result of the good Laplace fit, annual market temperatures could be calculated for the JSE ALSI and the S & P 500 index. The market temperature method was effective in identifying market crashes for both indices, but a limitation of the method is that only annual market temperatures can be determined. The availability of intraday stock index data should improve the interval for which market temperature can be determined. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ekonofisika is ‘n relatiewe nuwe studieveld. Dit behels die toepassing van fisiese modelle op finansiële data. Die waarskynlikheidsversdelings van finansiële tydreekse is die aspek wat meeste deur fisisie bestudeer word. Hierdie studie is gebaseer op ‘n studie deur Kleinert en Chen. Hulle het die Boltzmann-verspreiding op ‘n aandele-indeks toegepas en ‘n mark-temperatuur bepaal. Hierdie mark-temperatuur kan deur ontleders gebruik word as waarskuwingsmeganisme teen moontlike aandelebeurs ineenstortings. Die meeste fisisie het die uiterste areas van die verspreidingskurwes geanaliseer omdat hierdie uiterste area risiko in finansiële data verteenwoordig. Die analitiese fokus van hierdie studie, aan die ander kant, is die karakterisering van die die sentrale areas van die waarskeinlikheidsverdeling. Die Boltzmann verspreiding, die hoeksteen van Statistiese Fisika lewer ‘n eksponensiële waarskynlikheidsverdeling. Die doel van hierdie studie is om ‘n ondersoek te doen na die geskiktheid van die gebruik van ‘n ekonofisiese, vooruitskattingsmetode, naamlik die Boltzmann/mark-temperatuur model. As ekonometriese verwysing is die “ARCH/GARCH” metode toegepas. Aandelemark indekse is bekend vir die nie-Gaussiese verspreiding daarvan. Die verspreidingspatroon van ‘n aandelemark indeks met‘n redelike hoë steekproef frekwensie (in die orde van ‘n dag of minder) is leptokurties met breë stert-dele. Mesoskopiese (interdag) verspreidings van finansiële tydreekse is getipeer as eksponensieël. Indien die empiriese eksponensiële-verspreiding as ‘n Boltzmann-verspreiding geinterpreteer word, kan ‘n mark-temperatuur daarvoor bereken word. Empiriese data vir die gebruik in hierdie studie is in die vorm van daaglikse sluitingswaardes van die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs (JSE) se Alle Aandele Indeks (ALSI) en die Standard en Poor 500 (S & P 500) indeks vir die periode 1995 tot en met 2008. Die Kleinert en Chen studie het van intradag data vanuit ‘n ontwikkelde mark gebruik gemaak. Hierdie studie verskil egter van die Kleinert en Chen studie deurdat van interdag data vanuit ‘n opkomende mark, naamlik die Suid-Afrikaanse aandelemark, gebruik is. Nie een van die twee voorafgaande verskille het ‘n beduidende invloed op die resultate van hierdie studie gehad nie. Die JSE ALSI se logaritmiese opbrengs data vertoon nie-Gaussiese eienskappe en die Laplace (dubbeleksponensiële) verspreiding beskryf die data goed. ‘n Grafiek van die mark-temperatuur vertoon duidelik wanneer aandelemarkineenstortings plaasgevind het. Resultate van die ekonofisiese (Boltzmann/mark-temperatuur) metode vergelyk goed met resultate van die ekonometriese (“ARCH/GARCH”) metode en onderhewig aan sekere verbeteringe kan dit met sukses toegepas word. ‘n Leptokurtiese, nie-Gaussiese aard is vir daaglike opbrengswaardes vir die JSE ALSI en die S & P 500 indeks vasgestel. ‘n Laplace (dubbel-eksponensiële) verspreiding kan goed op die jaarlikse logaritmiese opbrengste van die JSE ALSI en die S & P 500 indeks toegepas word. As gevolg van die goeie aanwending van die Laplace-verspreiding kan ‘n jaarlikse mark-temperatuur vir die JSE ALSI en die S & P 500 indeks bereken word. Die mark-temperatuur metode is effektief in die identifisering van aandelemarkineenstorings vir beide indekse, hoewel daar ‘n beperking is op die aantal mark-temperature wat bereken kan word. Die beskikbaarheid van intradag aandele indekswaardes behoort die interval waarvoor mark-temperature bereken kan word te verbeter.