This study examines the relationship between the real exchange rate and the trade flows of Sweden in the presence of so-called structural breaks. The purpose is rooted in the hypothesis that the real exchange rate has been disconnected from global trade flows in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008. Using both aggregated and bilateral trade data from Sweden’s six major trading partners from the period 2004 to 2018, significant breaks are detected in 10 out of 14 cases by the Bai and Perron (1998) approach, indicating that the effect of the exchange rate has changed. However, the breaks are widespread and the coefficient estimates show no clear pattern and hence unequivocal evidence for the hypothesis of a disconnect. Despite the ambiguous evidence, the cointegration tests suggests that there is a long-run relationship between the real exchange rate and trade flows of Sweden.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects on U.S. textile and apparel imports of the quantitative restrictions imposed under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) (1995-2005), the post-ATC U.S. safeguard quotas on 21 categories of Chinese textile and apparel products (2006-2008), and no quantitative restrictions on U.S. textile and apparel imports (2009-2010). Data were sourced from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce, the GeoDist dataset from the Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales (CEPII), and the United Nations Commodity Trade (U.N. Comtrade) database. In this research, three gravity equations were developed and estimated based on the existing gravity model. The first gravity equation was estimated to assess the effects of the independent variables commonly included in gravity models on the total value of U.S. textile and apparel imports from 187 exporting countries with a scaled dependent variable and from 177 without it. The result of the first gravity equation indicated that distance and the per capita GDPs of the exporting countries, exchange rates, and the total GDPs of the exporting countries are statistically significant and have the expected signs in the model with the scaled dependent variable. The second gravity equation was estimated to access the overall effect of the presence or absence of quotas and VERs on U.S. textile and apparel import quantity from the 187 exporting countries. The results from the second gravity model showed that the presence or absence of quotas or VERs is significant and has an unexpected positive sign because the United States tended to impose quotas and VERs on textile and apparel products that it imported in large amounts. The third gravity equation was estimated to assess trade creation and trade diversion effect of the quota and VER levels of U.S. textile and apparel imports with separate equations by product types considering the endogeneity by applying instrumental variables. The result from the third gravity equation showed that the quota and VER level is significant for fabric, apparel, and made-up products with expected signs but the variable is not significant for yarn products. These findings suggest that U.S. textile and apparel imports from the exporting countries limited by quotas and VERs on U.S. textile and apparel imports increased more than rest of world (ROW) imports from those countries as the quota and VER levels on U.S textile and apparel imports increased. Therefore, trade creation occurred between the United States and the exporting countries as the total SME quota or VER levels on those imports increased during the ATC and safeguard period. However, these findings show the demand of yarn as intermediates does not increase much in the United States; therefore, the increase of the total yarn quota or VER level has less of an effect on the yarn imports than other product types. / Ph. D.

The main objective of this dissertation was to assess whether cultivated area in Iraq, as estimated using satellite remote sensing, changed during and as a result of war and sanctions. The first study used MODIS NDVI data during OIF and the end of UN sanctions to study changes in cultivated area for Iraq as a whole and to identify spatial patterns. The results revealed significant changes in cultivated area for Iraq as a whole, with cultivated area decreasing over 35,000 ha per year. Regionally, there was little change in cultivated area in northern governorates in the Kurdish Autonomous Region, significant decreases in governorates in central Iraq, and initial increases in governorates containing the southern marshlands followed by decreases related to drought. The second study used Landsat images converted to NDVI to study changes in cultivated area in central Iraq for four periods of conflict, and relates those changes to effects on food security. The results indicated that cultivated area changed little between the Iran-Iraq War (1980 to 1988) and the Gulf War (1990 to 1991), increased by 20 percent (from 1.72 to 2.04 Mha) during the period of United Nations sanctions (1990 to 2003), and dropped to below pre-sanction levels (1.40 Mha) during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003 to 2011). Finally, the third study builds on findings from the second study to address patterns of agricultural land abandonment in central Iraq. The largest areas of abandoned land were those cultivated during the Late Sanctions period (2000-2003). Further, the results indicate that proximity to surface water and roads are strong indicators of continuity of agricultural land use, and that abandoned lands are positioned in peripheral regions more distant from surface water and the transportation grid. We also found that surface soil salinity is increasing in the cultivated lands of central Iraq, regardless of whether it was cultivated during every period or during only a single period. The overall findings indicate that the UN sanctions had the greatest impact on cultivated area, which increased during sanctions, when food imports all but ceased, and then decreased after sanctions ended and food imports resumed. / Ph. D.

O objetivo do presente trabalho é analisar questões de elevada indagação jurídica quanto à tributação do uso do software no Brasil, levando-se em consideração os ditames previstos nas leis do software e de direito autoral, bem como o conteúdo decisório do acórdão proferido pelo STF nos autos do RE nº 176.626-3, em especial a classificação tripartite de programas: (i) de prateleira; (ii) sob encomenda; e, (iii) híbrido. Inicialmente, são analisadas questões importantes quanto ao sistema informático e a própria criação e composição de um programa de computador, passando pela sua natureza jurídica e pela proteção conferida pelo direito autoral, pondo em evidência as formas pelas quais são transferidos (parcial ou integralmente) os direitos patrimoniais de autor. Na sequência, com base na Constituição Federal e na lei, analisa-se a incidência do ICMS-operação mercantil, dado que os programas de prateleira são comumente disponibilizados em mídias (disquetes, CDs, etc.) e postos à disposição de interessados em lojas de departamento. Para tanto, discorre-se acerca do regime jurídico-tributário do imposto e sobre os conceitos de operações e mercadoria com base na doutrina e na jurisprudência. Considerando que o software elaborado sob encomenda e o híbrido ensejam questionamentos quanto à configuração de prestação de serviço, o arquétipo constitucional do ISSQN, inclusive na modalidade importação, é esmiuçado. A busca pela definição da expressão serviços de qualquer natureza definidos em lei complementar ganha destaque em razão de a LC nº 116/03 prever a incidência do ISS sobre ao licenciamento ou cessão de direito de uso de programas de computação. Por fim, são feitas breves considerações sobre outras controvérsias quanto à incidência do PIS-Importação, Cofins-Importação, CIDE e IRRF sobre os pagamentos remetidos ao exterior para a obtenção de licenças de uso de software. / This study looks at certain highly relevant legal issues regarding taxation of software usage in Brazil, taking into account both software and copyright legislation as well as the decision in an appeal court ruling handed down by the STF in RE 176.626-3, particularly the three categories used to classify programs: (i) \"off-the-shelf\"; (ii) \"tailor-made\"; and (iii) hybrid. Initially, we will look at some of the main issues presented by IT systems and the creation and composition of computer programs, their standing in law and the copyright protections they enjoy, discussing the ways in which (partial or fully) copyrights can be transferred to third parties. Based on the law and the Federal Constitution, we will then analyze the state tax on merchandise sales, as \"off the shelf\" programs are frequently made available on certain media (diskettes, CDs, etc.) and placed at the consumer\'s disposal in department stores. This will involve an assessment of the tax regime of ICMS as well as the concepts of \"transactions\" and \"merchandise\" in accordance with the doctrine and jurisprudence. Considering that both \"tailor made\" and \"hybrid\" software raises issues about the way in which services are rendered, we will look in detail at the constitutional model of ISSQN and how it is imposed on imports of services. The phrase \"services of any nature defined in supplementary law\" is increasingly relevant and it will be scrutinized as the LC nº 116/03 states that ISS applies to \"licensing or assignment of computer program user rights\". Finally, there will be a few remarks on other controversial issues related to PIS-Import, Cofins-Imports, CIDE and IRRF levied on the remittances of payments to a beneficiary resident or domiciled abroad to acquire software user licenses.

by Cheng Wai-ming, James. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 102).

by Ng Yiu Hong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-80). / Chapter ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter TWO --- HONG KONG'S IMPORT PERFORMANCE --- p.5 / Chapter THREE --- REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE --- p.9 / The Elasticity Approach / Market Structure and Product Characteristics / Long-Run Profit Maximization / Hysteresis Models / Multinational Corporations and Intra-Firm Trade / Non-Tariff Barriers / Other Explanations / Chapter FOUR --- THE ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK --- p.19 / Chapter FIVE --- DATA AND ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS --- p.22 / Data / Econometric Analysis / Chapter SIX --- EMPIRICAL RESULTS --- p.33 / Chapter SEVEN --- CONCLUSION --- p.40 / TABLES --- p.43 / APPENDIX --- p.64 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.77

A volatile real exchange rate and high unemployment rate is a growing concern in South Africa, therefore the right macroeconomic policy is required. The challenge is to find stability in the real exchange rate paired with a low inflation rate, both of which are necessary to promote long term economic growth, which in turn creates more job opportunities. This study analyses the impact of the exchange rate on unemployment in South Africa by considering quarterly data for the period 2003 to 2013. In this study, the macroeconomic transmission channel is divided into two transmission paths, imports and exports. These find their roots in the Phillips curve and the Keynesian theory on unemployment respectively. The vector error correction model (VECM), together with an analysis of the impulse response functions and variance decompositions, are implemented to determine the short and long run impacts of the exchange rate on unemployment. After the completion of a variety of specifications, estimations and tests, both macroeconomic transmission paths revealed in the empirical analysis that the real exchange rate has a significant impact on unemployment. In the imports transmission path, the real exchange rate, imports and the CPI have significant long term relationships with unemployment. Furthermore, the exports transmission path found significant short term relations with unemployment in considering the real exchange rate, exports and economic growth. The impulse responses in both transmission paths indicated that a shock in the exchange rate will have a significant effect on unemployment in the short run. Similar results were found with the variance decomposition. In the import transmission path, movements in the real exchange rate explained an increasing portion of the variance in unemployment. Alternatively, in the export transmission path the real exchange rate and exports explained an increasing portion of the variance. The evidence therefore suggests that South Africa should focus more on stabilising the exchange rate, since fluctuations in unemployment are a result of shocks in the real exchange rate, following the macroeconomic transmission channels discussed. / MCom (Economics)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

A volatile real exchange rate and high unemployment rate is a growing concern in South Africa, therefore the right macroeconomic policy is required. The challenge is to find stability in the real exchange rate paired with a low inflation rate, both of which are necessary to promote long term economic growth, which in turn creates more job opportunities. This study analyses the impact of the exchange rate on unemployment in South Africa by considering quarterly data for the period 2003 to 2013. In this study, the macroeconomic transmission channel is divided into two transmission paths, imports and exports. These find their roots in the Phillips curve and the Keynesian theory on unemployment respectively. The vector error correction model (VECM), together with an analysis of the impulse response functions and variance decompositions, are implemented to determine the short and long run impacts of the exchange rate on unemployment. After the completion of a variety of specifications, estimations and tests, both macroeconomic transmission paths revealed in the empirical analysis that the real exchange rate has a significant impact on unemployment. In the imports transmission path, the real exchange rate, imports and the CPI have significant long term relationships with unemployment. Furthermore, the exports transmission path found significant short term relations with unemployment in considering the real exchange rate, exports and economic growth. The impulse responses in both transmission paths indicated that a shock in the exchange rate will have a significant effect on unemployment in the short run. Similar results were found with the variance decomposition. In the import transmission path, movements in the real exchange rate explained an increasing portion of the variance in unemployment. Alternatively, in the export transmission path the real exchange rate and exports explained an increasing portion of the variance. The evidence therefore suggests that South Africa should focus more on stabilising the exchange rate, since fluctuations in unemployment are a result of shocks in the real exchange rate, following the macroeconomic transmission channels discussed. / MCom (Economics)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

This thesis examines the regulation of parallel imports of trade marked goods in the European Community (EC), demonstrates its deficiencies and advocates its amendment by the Community legislator. The thesis identifies as a primary characteristic of the regulation the bifurcation of intra-EC and extra-EC parallel importation, that is to say, the fundamental divergence of the regimes of parallel imports coming from another EC Member State and imports coming from third countries.  The split as to the rationale, justification and outcome of the two regimes is so substantial that it is viewed as the existence of ‘parallel regulations on parallel trade’ in the Community. The study establishes four different manifestations of this bifurcation, the most evident one concerning the fact that while internal imports are lawful under EC law, external ones could be repelled by the mark owner as trade mark infringement.  It is submitted that this variable legal tolerance to parallel trade has been legitimised through the Community rule of limited, regional exhaustion of trade mark rights and the manner in which the European Court of Justice has interpreted its application. Against this background, the thesis raises three groups of legal arguments for reviewing the current Community exhaustion policy and implementing a rule of international trade mark exhaustion.  They relate to trade mark law, competition law and certain proclamations of the importance of free unrestricted global trade, made by the Community on international level and in the EC context as well. Finally, the study complements the above legal arguments with socio-economic justifications in support of international exhaustion.  The research suggests that the Community should consider the implementation of international trade mark exhaustion and carry out the necessary preparatory steps outlined by the study in this regard.

This thesis deals with the globalization of production, a salient feature of the modern economy. The development of international outsourcing as a widespread business practice and the simultaneous decrease in trade and transport costs have contributed to the growth of a phenomenon known as global value chains. The main aim of the thesis is to understand how global value chains alter the location of economic activity. The thesis also studies the extent of firms' participation in global value chains and its consequences for firm performance.   The thesis consists of four papers studying the behavior of firms in global value chains. Paper 1 analyzes how production fragmentation influences the importing and exporting behavior of Swedish firms in the manufacturing sector. Paper 2 focuses on manufacturing firms in the ICT sector and analyzes the effect of global sourcing on firm performance. In Paper 3, the thesis examines deeper implications of global production by investigating whether exposure to trade raises firms' sensitivity to external shocks. The final paper in the thesis studies the location patterns of multinational firms and analyzes the effect of institutional distance on the number of multinational entries in developing countries.   A number of patterns emerge from these studies. The first is that Swedish manufacturing firms increasingly participate in global value chains by sourcing production inputs from overseas to create products for local and foreign customers. As a result, global value chains help to alter the specialization patterns of manufacturing firms. The second finding is that firms reap benefits from global sourcing in the form of greater efficiency. However, global sourcing may also raise the responsiveness of firms to negative external shocks. The final key result points to a developing trend in the location of activity in which emerging market multinational firms are becoming significant sources of foreign direct investment flows and their investment patterns challenge existing theories of multinational location choice.