Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

In the past two decades, as regional free trade agreements prevailed between states and governments, there is an imperative need for the concerned trade control authorities to minimise non-tariff trade barriers. Trade facilitation policy becomes one of the essential tools to enhance the competitive strength of a state in the global market. As the common yardstick adopted to assess policy effectiveness, the global trade efficiency indicators seem to reflect that state-level trade facilitation policies may not be generating the expected results. Not only the validity of such indicators have been challenged by some scholars, their application in port-level studies are also questionable. This project develops an evaluation framework that consists of a qualitative and a quantitative assessment tool to evaluate port-based trade facilitation policies. The qualitative analytical instrument examines how trade facilitation measures affect port-based supply chain. The quantitative survey tool measures the extent of these policies may impact on the supply chain activities of port-related firm, infrastructure, and institutional stakeholders. The evaluation framework is applied to investigate the effects of trade facilitation policies on hub ports of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Such framework not only provides an instrument to measure policy impact, but also illustrates how a trade facilitation programme may affect the competitiveness of port supply chain. The qualitative tool by adopting multiple supply chain perspectives, contributes a consistent and comprehensive assessment method for trade facilitation studies to extend the research scope to port level. The quantitative instrument provides a mechanism that could facilitate an accurate measurement of the trade facilitation policy impacts not only in a single port but also in a networked ports' environment.

Conventional theories and empirical studies on global production networks (GPNs) and global value chains (GVCs) have dealt with the dynamic organization of production on global, regional, national, and local scales but have given limited attention to market dynamics. In recent years, particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, a paradigmatic shift was observed in GPNs and GVCs that directed interests in market dynamics of developing country suppliers in the changing market dynamics in the Global North and the South. However, this phenomenon has not received adequate attention in the existing literature. This thesis aims to examine the firm-level market strategies of labor-intensive supplier firms in developing countries and the effects on the organization of production networks. Since the opening and reform in the late 1970s, the development of labor-intensive industries in China and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in particular, the well-known "world factory", have been significantly driven by export to advanced Western markets, such as the United States and European Union. However, in recent years, manufacturing suppliers in the PRD have changed their market orientations, leading to the considerable industrial transformation. Taking the furniture and garment industries in the PRD as a case, this thesis attempts to systematically explore the market strategies of manufacturing suppliers in different sectors and regions/sub-regions and the subsequent effects on the transformation of manufacturing industries and reorganization of production networks through three empirical case studies. First, the study examines the market strategies of export-oriented furniture supplier firms in the eastern PRD (Dongguan and Shenzhen City) and its effects on industrial transformation and reorganization of production networks. Second, to compare the market strategies of different kinds of suppliers in different sub-regions, the study explores the domestic market-oriented furniture suppliers in the western PRD (Shunde District, Foshan City). Third, for the understanding of the interaction between spatial cross-border production relocation and market strategies, this study investigates the market strategies of relocated garment supplier firms when they relocated manufacturing operations from China to Southeast Asia and explores the subsequent reorganization of production networks Based on the field investigation and particularly in-depth interviews with furniture and garment manufacturing firms in the PRD, this study identifies three types of market strategies of suppliers in the PRD and different effects on the organization of production networks. First, in the export-oriented furniture industry in the eastern PRD, most of furniture suppliers engaged in market reorientation from exporting to Western markets (e.g., the US and EU) to selling in the domestic markets of China through in-term firm partnerships with domestic chain retailers. Strategic recoupling with domestic markets of China stimulated the emergence of domestic market-oriented production networks in which supplier firms gained functional upgrading and experienced downgrading simultaneously. Second, in the domestic market-oriented furniture industry in the western PRD, domestic market-oriented suppliers who previous served for low-end segment of domestic markets of China have turned to engage in the market diversification to target different market niches. The diversified market strategies including low-end, middle-end, and high-end market strategies made furniture production networks evolve from merely relying on the domestic markets of China to co-dependence on emerging markets of China and other developing economies. In the reorganized production networks, furniture suppliers gained functional upgrading as they integrated into higher-end segments of domestic markets. Third, different from furniture suppliers, garment supplier firms engaged in the cross-border production relocation from China to the lower-cost Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, which is driven by different market strategies. Garment firms relocated from China to Southeast Asia for maintaining their strategic coupling with global brand names from advanced Western markets. Whilst, textile firms conducted production relocation to meet the requirements and strategic needs of buyers from home markets of China and host markets in Southeast Asia. There has witnessed the emergence of Western market-oriented triangular production networks coordinated by the relocated foreign-invested and Chinese garment firms, in which relocated garment firms have gained limited upgrading prospects. This thesis argues that market strategies adopted by local suppliers to change their power relations with other actors, such as global brand names and domestic retailers, have emerged as one of the most remarkable driving forces behind the transformation of manufacturing industries in China and particularly the PRD in the changing global economy. Emerging market-driven production networks have been emerged in manufacturing industries in China, with the rise of emerging markets in developing countries. In particular, China played an important role in reshaping the spatial and structural organization of global production networks and value chains. This research contributes to the literature by exploring the changing market dynamics with focus on the firm-level strategies. It also adds the literature by exploring the implications of emerging markets in the Global South for the reorganization of global production networks and value chains. In contrast to the previous industrial development pattern in developing countries that resulted from integration into Western market-led production networks, market strategies of local suppliers in the PRD has demonstrated a bias toward emerging market-driven industrial development.

No description available.

Spatial and temporal patterns of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were characterized using a combination of spectroluorometric measurements and multivariate analysis techniques. The study was conducted over a four-year (2012-2016) period in multiple watersheds located in the Gulf-Atlantic Coastal Plain Physiographic region of the southeast USA as well as in the Indo-Gangetic Plain of India. Surface water samples were collected from five major lakes in the Mississippi, an estuarine region in the southeastern Louisiana, and from the coastal region in the eastern Mississippi Sound in the USA, and a large river (Ganges River) in India. Absorption and fluorescence measurements were performed to generate absorption spectra and excitation-emission matrices (EEMs). Using parallel factor analyses (PARAFAC), EEM models were developed to characterize the biogeochemistry of DOM in three studies in this project. Principal component analysis and regression analyses of DOM data indicated that the northern Mississippi lakes were majorly influenced by agricultural land use, estuarine region was affected by natural DOM export from forests and wetlands, while the coastal waters were affected by a mix of anthropogenic and natural inputs of DOM. Spatial analyses indicated that DOM derived from watershed with increased wetland coverage was humic and aromatic while the DOM derived from agricultural watersheds was bioavailable. Temporal patterns of DOM in the estuary indicated the influence of hydrologic conditions and summer temperatures, and revealed strong seasonality in DOM evolution in the watershed. During high discharge periods (spring), aromatic and humic DOM was exported from the watershed while strong photochemical degradation during summer resulted bioavailable DOM. Comparison between two river systems, a highly urbanized large river and a small pristine river, indicated the influence of anthropogenic inputs of DOM in the large river system. DOM was bioavailable during summer due to anthropogenic activities in the large river system while it varied with hydrological connectivity in a small river system during summer and winter. In conclusion, this study has improved my understandings of the DOM properties, which are critical for a comprehensive assessment of biogeochemical processes undergoing in important water bodies on which our society is heavily dependent upon.

Zhao, Bo. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-73). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.I / Acknowledgement --- p.III / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background: PRD and YRD --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- "PRD, YRD and China" --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Simple profile of PRD and YRD: a city-level observation --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objectives of the study --- p.13 / Chapter 2. --- Literature Review --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 --- Overview of TFP measurement --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2 --- TFP in China --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3 --- China's inward FDI and its importance --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4 --- The relationship between FDI and TFP --- p.31 / Chapter 3. --- Methodology --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research hypotheses --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2 --- Model --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3 --- Data and measurement --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Data and data sources --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Measurement of variables --- p.41 / Chapter 4. --- Statistical Results --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1 --- Estimation of total factor productivity: regression results from OLS and panel estimation --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Cobb-Douglas production function: panel estimation --- p.45 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- TFP by cross sections --- p.48 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- TFP through time (1978-2004) --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2 --- Relationships of TFP and FDI and other variables: Pearson correlation analysis --- p.53 / Chapter 4.3 --- Effects on TFP: multiple regression results --- p.56 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Effects of FDI on TFP --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Effects of R&D on TFP --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effects of human capital on TFP --- p.60 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.63 / References --- p.68

published_or_final_version / Geography and Geology / Master / Master of Arts

by Leung Kin-chung Jonathan, Yau Cheong-yin Albert. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Bibliography: leaf 81. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.vii / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Problem Identification --- p.1 / Company Background of Mobil --- p.1 / SWOT Analysis of Mobil in the China Market --- p.3 / Chapter II. --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.8 / The Research Scope --- p.8 / Methodology --- p.9 / Secondary Data --- p.10 / Primary Data --- p.10 / Questionnaire --- p.10 / Limitations --- p.13 / Chapter III. --- FINDINGS - THE INDUSTRY --- p.14 / The Local Economy and Market --- p.14 / Shenzhen --- p.14 / Pearl River Delta Area except Shenzhen --- p.17 / Competitive Situations --- p.19 / Product Markets and Mobil's Corresponding Positions --- p.22 / Chapter IV. --- FINDINGS - CUSTOMERS --- p.33 / Mail Questionnaire Findings --- p.33 / Personal In-depth Interview Findings --- p.42 / Chapter V. --- RECOMMENDATIONS - MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR MOBIL --- p.55 / Overall Positions of Mobil's Product Portfolio in the BCG Matrix --- p.55 / Marketing Plans of Individual Product Lines --- p.57 / Action Plan --- p.66 / APPENDICES --- p.67 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.81

by François Soulard. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 225-253). / Abstract --- p.ii / List of maps --- p.vi / List of tables --- p.vii / List of charts --- p.ix / List of appendices --- p.xi / References and acronyms --- p.xii / Acknowledgements --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter 1 ： I --- Introduction --- p.1 / Introduction --- p.1 / Research area --- p.2 / Modernization in China --- p.3 / Zhujiang Delta： a definition --- p.5 / Hong Kong: bonded with Zhujiang --- p.11 / Research issues --- p.15 / Research objectives --- p.20 / Research axioms --- p.20 / Research methodology --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Industrial restructuring --- p.24 / The capitalist production model --- p.24 / The production model --- p.25 / Capital accumulation --- p.29 / Crisis construct --- p.36 / The restructuring of industrial capitalism --- p.41 / Manufacturing development --- p.41 / From rigidity to flexibility --- p.45 / Division of labour --- p.50 / Spatial division of labour --- p.52 / International division of labour --- p.57 / The cost factor of labour --- p.61 / Industrial restructuring --- p.64 / Conclusion： Restructuring modelled --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter 3： --- Restructuring analysis --- p.70 / Introduction --- p.70 / Restructuring tendencies --- p.71 / Scale analysis --- p.71 / Sectoral analysis --- p.86 / Restructuring analysis --- p.105 / Conclusion --- p.135 / Chapter Chapter 4： --- Urbanization in Zhujiang Delta --- p.138 / Introduction --- p.138 / City-based urbanization --- p.138 / Region-based urbanization --- p.141 / Zhujiang Development --- p.145 / Rural agricultural reform --- p.145 / Rural industrial reform --- p.155 / Foreign invested development --- p.162 / Zhujiang Delta region-based urbanization --- p.173 / Designated towns development --- p.175 / Functional capital and industrialization --- p.183 / Zhujiang megapole --- p.191 / Conclusion --- p.197 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusion： industrial restructuring and territorial development --- p.199 / Transplantation and rural reforms --- p.199 / Transplant --- p.201 / Hong Kong industries and rural reforms in China --- p.205 / Economic diversification in Hong Kong --- p.207 / The collapse of the production/exchange divide --- p.208 / The development of the Zhujiang megapole --- p.211 / The significance for development in China --- p.213 / The value of compensation trade --- p.214 / A regional secondary circuit of capital --- p.217 / Concluding remarks and prospects --- p.218 / Research agenda --- p.222 / Bibliography --- p.225 / Cited references: --- p.225 / Other readings: --- p.236