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This licentiate thesis examines the development of Swedish–Lebanese trade relations and the changes of significance for Swedish trade towards Lebanon during the period 1920-1965. The aim of the study is to explore how Sweden as representing a small, open Western economy could develop its economic interests in the emerging Middle East market characterised both by promising economic outlooks, and a high degree of political instability during the age of decolonisation, Cold War logic, and intricate commercial and geo-political factors. The study shows that the Swedish trade with Lebanon was very small during the Interwar period. It was neither possible to find any formal Swedish-Lebanese trade agreements before 1945. In the Post-War period, the promotion of Swedish trade and trade policies towards Lebanon witnessed more interests from the both parties. Two categories of explanations were found for the periods of 1946-53 and 1954-65 respectively. In the first period the Swedish-Lebanese trade developed in a traditional direction with manufactured goods being exported from Sweden and agricultural products being exported from Lebanon. Furthermore, there were no trade agreements between the two countries. In the second period, several Lebanese attempts were made to conclude bilateral trade agreement with Sweden in hope to change the traditional trade direction, and to improve the Lebanese balance of trade. Sweden was, however, convinced that Lebanon could never achieve a balanced foreign trade at least not on a bilateral basis. To maintain a fair access to the Lebanese market, the Swedish authorities avoided to conclude any trade agreement with Lebanon. Despite the Lebanese concern on the big trade deficit between the two countries, Sweden managed in increasing the trade volumes to the region of Middle East through the transit link of Lebanon.

Disertacijoje nagrinėjama elektroninės komercijos technologijų panaudojimo tarptautinėje prekyboje tematika ir problematika. Darbo tikslas – kompleksiškai išnagrinėti elektroninės komercijos technologijų taikymo tarptautinėje prekyboje ypatumus ir parengti modelį, skirtą vertinti elektroninės komercijos technologijų panaudojimo tarptautinėje prekyboje efektyvumą. / In PhD thesis problems associated with the usage of electronic commerce technologies in international trade are analysed. The aim of research – to examine complex application of electronic commerce technologies in international trade and to propose the model, which can be applied to evaluate efficiency when electronic commerce technologies are used in international trade.

This diploma theses executes an internal and external analysis of marketing strategies on Czech and international markets by company Jan Becher - Karlovarská Becherovka a.s. External analysis is assessed with respect to current economic downturn and evaluates alcohol market situation, competition and media markets. Latter internal analysis appraises company's standings on liqueur markets. This particulary includes analysis of market shares, pricing policy, distribution strategy and public perception. Final chapter follows up on the initiation and marketing strategy of a new product - Becherovka Lemond - on local and international markets.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(経済学) / 甲第19163号 / 経博第517号 / 新制||経||274(附属図書館) / 32155 / 京都大学大学院経済学研究科経済学専攻 / (主査)教授 神事 直人, 教授 柴田 章久, 教授 佐々木 啓明 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Economics / Kyoto University / DGAM

Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African table grape industry has evolved significantly in the last two decades. Ever improving supply chain technologies, post-harvest technology innovation, and more efficient production inputs have all stimulated the production of table grapes in all five South African production regions. While the industry in general is well developed, from the late 1990s the competitiveness status of the South African table grape industry has been negative as far as international competitiveness is rated. Prior to this, from 1961 to 1998, the industry had recorded positive trends in competitiveness. The recent decline, from as early as the 2000s, in the competitiveness of the industry can be attributed to rising competition from alternate Southern Hemisphere suppliers, increasing production costs and export costs, as well as inadequate market diversification. As a result of its negative competitiveness status, the table grape industry wants to diversify its export markets in order to improve and protect the industry‟s position in the global table grape markets. The objective of this study is to investigate the viability of specific export market diversification scenarios. The aim is to evaluate the potential impact on the table grape industry if export volumes were to be relocated from traditional to emerging markets, and the potential risk if the industry were to maintain the current market distribution. The study developed a deterministic farm-level model based on accounting principles as a tool for simulating and analysing the impact of changes in markets on the financial viability of farms under different scenarios. A scenario development process is adopted in this study as it offers the possibility of integrating various kinds of data in a consistent manner, and it can represent the views and expectations of several stakeholders simultaneously. Three scenarios were developed: (i) Scenario 1 presents the continuation of current market distributions (i.e. 85% of South African exports are marketed in Europe and another 15% are distributed to other global markets); (ii) Scenario 2A depicts a situation where export volumes are slowly redistributed to emerging markets; and (iii) Scenario 2B presents a situation where export volumes are rapidly redistributed to emerging markets. The targets for both Scenarios 2A and 2B are to market 60% of South African exports to Europe and 40% to other global markets. Scenarios 2A and 2B are driven by similar factors, including improving industry information, globalisation, increasing competition, and table grape prices An analysis of factors shaping the table grape export sector shows that the industry can no longer afford to send large export quantities predominantly to its traditional markets, due to increasing competition and diminishing market prices. Furthermore, the analysis shows that continuing with the current market diversification will have a negative impact on the industry, as farm returns, employment and farm units will decline under this scenario. The results suggest that the industry would be better off if export volumes were redistributed away from Europe to other markets. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende die laaste twee dekades het die Suid Afrikaanse Tafeldruif Industrie met rasse skrede vooruitgegaan. Dit kan grootliks toegeskryf word aan verbeterde tegnologiese ontwikkeling en innovasie in die voorsieningsketting en na-oes tegnologie arenas, asook aan meer doeltreffende produksie insette wat produksie toenames in al vyf die Suid Afrikaanse produksie areas gestimuleer het. Alhoewel die industrie relatief goed ontwikkeld was sedert sy ontstaan, was die kompeterende status daarvan meestal negatief sedert die 1990‟s, gemeet aan internasionale kompetisie. Daar was egter tussen 1961 en 1998 ook positiewe mededinging tendense. Die onlangse verlaagde vlakke van mededingendheid van die industrie (veral sedert die vroeë 2000‟s) kan toegeskryf word aan verhoogde kompetisie vanaf ander Suidelike Halfrond verskaffers, verhoogde produksie- en uitvoerkoste, asook aan onvoldoende mark diversifisering. As gevolg van die negatiewe mededingendheid status, wil die tafeldruif industrie sy uitvoer markte diversifiseer om te verseker dat die industrie sy posisie in die globale tafeldruif mark kan beskerm. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om die lewensvatbaarheid van spesifieke uitvoer mark diversifisering scenario‟s te ondersoek. Daarmee saam is die potensiële impak op die industrie ook bepaal vir (a) „n hoë persentasie uitvoer volumes wat verskuif vanaf tradisionele markte na ontluikende market, of (b) wat die risiko sal wees indien die huidige markverspreiding vlakke behou word. Die studie ontwikkel „n deterministiese plaasvlak model, gebaseer op rekeningkundige beginsels, om as hulpmiddel te dien vir die simulering en analise van die impak van verandering van teikenmarkte op die fnansiële lewensvatbaarheid van plase onder verskillende omstandighede. „n Scenario intwikkelings proses word in hierdie studie aangeneem aangesien dit toelaat vir die integrasie van verskillende tipes data op „n eenvormige wyse, terwyl dit ook die sieninge en verwagtinge van verskeie rolspelers terselfdertyd kan verteenwoordig. Drie scenario‟s word ontwikkel naamlik (i) Scenario 1: Dit verteenwoordig die huidige mark verspreiding (85% van Suid Afrikaanse uitvoere word in Europa bemark terwyl 15% versprei word na ander globale markte); (ii) Scenario 2A: Hier word die situasie uitgebeeld indien uitvoer volumes stadig herverdeel word na ontluikende markte; en (iii) Scenario 2B: Hier word die situasie uitgebeeld indien uitvoer volumes vinnig herverdeel word na ontluikende markte. Die teikens vir beide Scenario 2A en 2B is om 60% van die Suid Afrikaanse uitvoere in Europa te bemark en 40% in ander globale markte. Beide scenario‟s word deur dieselfde faktore gestu wat onder andere verbeterde industrie inligting, globalisering, verhoogde kompetisie en produk pryse insluit. „n Ontleding van die vormende faktore van die tafeldruif uitvoer sektor toon dat die industrie nie langer kan bekostig om hoë uitvoer volumes na die tradisionele markte te stuur nie, as gevolg van sterker kompetisie en krimpende markpryse. Die ontleding toon ook verder dat, indien voortgegaan word met die huidige mark diversifiserings model, die industrie negatief beïnvloed sal word in terme van verlaagde plaas inkomste, werkverskaffing en die aantal boerdery eenhede. Die uitslae dui dus daarop dat die industrie beter daaraan toe sal wees indien die huidige uitvoer volumes herverdeel kan word na ander (nie-Europese) markte.

This doctoral thesis explores the agrarian development in 20th Estonia and the role of family farming during three major agricultural transformations. It consists of four papers and an introductory chapter for which the common departure are the situation appearing in the Estonian farming landscape after the regained independence in 1991. The first three studies analyse comparative aspects on Estonia's interwar experiences with focus on land reform, agricultural co-operation, and agricultural export development. The fourth study focuses on the role of private plots during the Soviet period and the conversion of these into subsistence holdings after 1991. By merging the perspectives in these papers, the introductory chapter explores the impacts and legacies of previous transformations on the post-Soviet agricultural transformation up to 2004. The thesis specifically analyses the long-term effects of perceptions of markets and the role of agricultural production, changes in the agrarian property relations, organisation of agricultural production and co-operation. In analytical terms, this is discussed from the perspectives of continuity and discontinuity. Besides the several societal changes affecting the agrarian property relations in 20th century Estonia, the radical and decisive shifts have also affected markets, trade and economic integration. Since the end of the First World War, Estonia has been quickly thrown between different economic-political systems and legal environments. From the perspective of the small state’s dependence on trade and reliance on a few markets, the upheavals in the early 1920s, after World War II, and not least the fall of the Soviet Union, Estonia’s long-term economic development has been significantly affected. In this context the role of agriculture has changed. Most important, however, this dissertation shows how the idea of small-scale family farming survived throughout the planned economic period and became an indispensable production unit, even though it turned out to be a myth as soon as the Soviet system was dissolved and the exposure to international competition began after 1991.

Dagli anni '80 lo sviluppo del sistema agro-alimentare globale ha subito un processo di progressiva globalizzazione che ha interessato sia il complesso della produzione che i modelli di consumo. Questa tendenza ha innanzitutto portato a una crescente integrazione verticale dei produttori agricoli sui mercati globali. La loro azione è stata reciprocamente vincolata all'azione di altri attori specializzati operanti sui mercati di input e output. Allo stesso modo, le recenti trasformazioni dei comportamenti dei consumatori nei cosiddetti paesi occidentalizzati, hanno avuto un impatto su territoriali diversi da quelli che li hanno innescati, contribuendo così a rimodellare le modalità e le pratiche di produzione in quei complessi che entrano nel mercato al fine di soddisfare una nuova domanda agroalimentare diversificata. L'orientamento verso nuovi prodotti, come prodotti biologici, alimenti funzionali o prodotti "esotici" ricchi di proprietà nutrizionali, che fino a poco tempo fa appartenevano esclusivamente a nicchie di mercato specifiche, segna oggi il profilo dell'offerta sui grandi canali di distribuzione. L'evoluzione delle preferenze di consumo ha avuto, e continua ad avere, un'influenza decisiva nell'incorporare nuovi territori e gruppi di produttori nelle catene globali. Tuttavia questa integrazione non è esente da meccanismi deterritorializzazione del prodotto e rimodellamento del tessuto sociale agrario. La tesi, dopo aver descritto tale scenario in relazione al suo impatto generale sulle economie rurali latinoamericane, si concentra su un caso studio specifico riguardante l'evoluzione dell'economia contadina nell'Altiplano boliviano in seguito al boom internazionale della quinoa. Questa evoluzione viene analizzata alla luce dei cambiamenti nel sistema di accesso alla terra, nell'organizzazione del lavoro agricolo e nella sfera della sicurezza alimentare. Il contributo si basa su una ricerca empirica condotta in tre municiplaità rurali dell’altopiano meridionale boliviano attraverso una metodologia quali-quantitativa comprendente l'uso di interviste semi-strutturate, metodologie standardizzate specifiche per la valutazione del livello di sicurezza alimentare (FCS, ELCSA ) e la somministrazione di un questionario. I dati sono stati interpretati attraverso la lente di un complesso quadro teorico che coinvolge il pensiero marxista, la teoria Chayanoviana sull'economia contadina, l'istituzionalismo polanyiano e i recenti contributi della scuola di sociologia rurale di Wgeningen. Partendo dall'analisi del modo tradizionale in cui le comunità andine si sono organizzate storicamente per fornire alle famiglie contadine l'accesso sufficiente alla terra e al lavoro, la tesi segue presentando l'impatto sociale del quinoa-boom. Il lavoro evidenzia nuovi meccanismi di accaparramento e concentrazione della terra ed erosione dell'azione comunitaria, elementi i quali pongono l'economia contadina locale in un processo di erosione e differenziazione di fronte a emergenti conflitti sociali e vulnerabilità nell'ambito della sicurezza alimentare. / Since the 1980s the development of the global agro-food system has undergone a process of progressive globalization which has affected both complex of production and patterns of consumption. This trend has firstly resulted in a growing vertical integration of the agricultural producers on global markets. Their action has been mutually bound to the action of others specialized actors (e.g. input suppliers, intermediaries, marketers etc.) operating on the input and output markets. In the same way, the recent transformations of consumer behaviors, in the so-called westernized countries, have impacted on spatial and territorial contests different from the ones that have triggered them, thus contributing to reshape modes and practices of production in those complexes that enter the market in order to meet a new diversified agro-food demand. The orientation towards new products, such as organic products, functional foods, or “exotic” products rich in nutritional properties, that until recently belonged exclusively to specific market niches, marks today the profile of the supply on the large distribution channels. The evolution of the consumption preferences has had, and still continues to have, a decisive influence in incorporating new territories and groups of producers into the global value chain from which they had remained excluded during the previous Fordist period. Nonetheless, the integration into the global market has proceeded in connection to a process of commodification of the production cycle that, on the one hand, has detached the product from the territories of origin and (fetishization), on the other hand, has restructured the agrarian ground. This thesis after describing the above scenario in relation to its impact on the Latin American agrarian context, moves to focus on a specific case study regarding the evolution of the peasant economy in the Bolivian Altiplano sur under the international quinoa boom. This evolution is analyzed in the light of the changes in the land access system, agricultural labour organization and food security. The contribution is based on an empirical research carried out in three rural municipalities of the Bolivian Southern Highlands through a quali-quantitative methodology comprising the use of semi-structured interviews, specific standardized methodologies for the assessment of the food security level (FCS, ELCSA), and the administration of a questionnaire to a sample of local quinoa producers. Data have been interpreted through the lenses of a complex theoretical framework entailing the Marxist thought, the Chayanovian theorization on the peasant economy, the Polanyian institutionalism and the recent contributions of the Wgeningen Rural Sociology School. By starting from the analysis of the traditional way through which the Andean communities have historically organized themselves in order to provide the peasant households with the sufficient access to land and labour as to satisfy their reproduction needs, the thesis moves to present the social impact of the export boom. It shows new land-grabbing mechanisms, concentration of access to land and erosion of the community action which are now placing the local peasant economy in a pathway of erosion and differentiation in front of emerging social conflicts and vulnerabilities in the sphere of food security.

The object of this research was to develop an international market screening methodology which selects highly attractive markets, allowing for the ranges in diversity amongst organisations, countries and products. Conventional business thought is that, every two to five years, dynamic organisations which conduct business internationally should decide which additional foreign market or markets to next enter. If they are internationally inexperienced, this will be their first market; if they are experienced, it might be, say, their 100th market. How should each organisation select their next international market? One previous attempt has been made to quantitatively test which decision variables, and what weights, should be used when choosing between the 230 countries of the world. The literature indicate that a well-informed selection decision could consider over 150 variables that measure aspects of each foreign market's economic, political, legal, cultural, technical and physical environments. Additionally, attributes of the organisation have not been considered when selecting the most attractive short-list of markets. The findings presented in the dissertation are that 30 criteria accounted for 95 per cent of variance at cross-classification rates of 95 per cent. The weights of each variable, and the markets selected statistically as being the most attractive, were found to vary with the capabilities, goals and values of the organisation. This frequently means that different countries will be best for different organisations selling the same product. A