Owing to the significant structural changes that have occurred in the global marketplace over the past 2 decades, a corresponding increase of public-private partnerships have been established among the business sector, local governments, and public community colleges. This qualitative project sought to identify and substantiate key elements that may be common to the formation, implementation, and maintenance stages of public-private partnerships. Who or what minimum conditions are necessary to the successful navigation of each stage? What obstacles typically arise during each stage, and how are they managed or circumvented? What sorts of benefits are generated through these partnerships and what measures may be applied to determine whether a partnership is meeting its mission objectives or not? To investigate these elements, the researcher interviewed 18 key stakeholders directly involved with 1 or more partnerships between 1 or more divisions of a community college located in Tennessee (CCTN) and their respective for-profit private sector concerns. Data collected were entered into the NVivo8 program for qualitative coding, analysis, and interpretation. Data analysis suggested that visionary and innovative leadership was critical to the formation and implementation of partnerships; key themes of "people," "training," "business," and "need" influenced the life cycle of the partnership; persons identified as "champions" formed the "critical mass" necessary to create and sustain partnerships; and both public and private sectors implemented informal and formal assessments, but differences existed in how and what they measured to determine the efficacy of each partnership. By substantiating, uncovering, or affirming common elements relevant to the establishment and maintenance of public-private partnerships as described in existing literature and this study, partnership stakeholders may find additional perspectives that may assist and guide the creation, implementation, and assessment of effective, mutually-beneficial public-private partnerships.

This thesis investigates the transformations associated with the development and diffusion of 4.0 technologies, by combining a firm-level perspective with a territorial-level perspective. The aim is to understand whether and to what extent the engagement of firms, in particular technological knowledge-intensive business services, in 4.0 innovation activities is affected by the characteris-tics of the territory, regions, cities, or local production systems, in which they are located. The thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter 1 comprises a systematic literature review of the studies that address Industry 4.0-related issues in industrialized countries from a regional perspective. The selected articles have been systematically collected and then discussed using a qualitative content-based approach. This review allowed for the identification of the main issues discussed and the gaps that exist in the literature and laid the foundation for the empirical analysis conducted in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, which focus on private technological knowledge-intensive business services (t-KIBS) engaged in the production and/or provision of ICT services. The decision to concentrate on technological knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) specializing in information and communication technology (ICT) is connected to their significant role in 4.0 transformations as they serve as both producers of these technologies and intermediaries and adapters, facilitating their adoption and implementation. Chapter 2 delves into the examination of the firm level and territorial level factors that influence the spatial distribution of the t-KIBS involved in the provision of 4.0 technologies (4.0 t-KIBS). 4.0 t-KIBS were identified using information extracted from t-KIBS websites, collected through web-scraping techniques. Then, a probit model with sample selection was employed to identify the most important territorial and firm-related factors influencing the decision to develop and/or provide 4.0 technologies. The results show that the probability of mentioning 4.0 technology is positively affected by t-KIBS size and profitability. From a territorial perspective, the main determinants are represented by demand coming from co-located manufacturers and to a lesser extent by urbanization economies. Finally, following the literature on KIBS variety, Chapter 3 explores the heterogeneous nature of the t-KIBS involved in the production and provision of 4.0 technologies. The objective is to gain insights into how these organizations differ across several key dimensions frequently examined in the KIBS variety literature. These dimensions encompass the geographical scope, innovation output, cognitive structure, external collaborations, and client focus. The empirical analysis draws on the same database built for Chapter 2 and on data collected through an original survey of a sample of 500 t-KIBS. The survey allowed for the collection of firm-level information that could not be retrieved from other data sources. The empirical analysis is split into two parts. Using a probit approach, the first part of the analysis explores whether and to what extent the peculiarities of 4.0 t-KIBS vary mainly according to their geographical scope and innovation output. The second part of the analysis employs a matching technique to compare certain attributes of 4.0 t-KIBS with those whose activities are not centred around 4.0 technologies. The main results show that the activities of 4.0 t-KIBS have a broader geographical scope that goes beyond local and regional boundaries. In contrast to established literature on KIBS, this is especially true for those t-KIBS that deliver customized innovations tailored to the needs of customers. From a cognitive perspective, it emerges the tendency of 4.0 t-KIBS to also rely on non-technical knowledge, while in terms of collaborations, they are more likely to collaborate with firms belonging to the same business group. Finally, 4.0 t-KIBS that are regionally anchored (i.e., they have not established an inter-regional network) are more likely to develop services and technologies specifically for public administrations.

Yes / The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has opened new avenues of research interest in International Business and International Management. However, scholarly work in this fledgling area of research has been disparate and often lacking in the assessment of core international business implications of the emergence of the AfCFTA on member states as well as non-member states. This is because, as yet, no systematic attempt has been made to explore the AfCFTA in the context of IB research, or project future IB research directions. Hence, in this paper, using the PRISMA method we have systematically identified the current published research and scholarly work on the AfCFTA and provided a robust picture of the current state of knowledge and available literature on the AfCFTA while at the same time outlining potential areas for future international business research

Firm competitiveness is no longer an industry-specific or regional phenomenon, but it has evolved to have global impacts. The increase in intensity of regional and international competition, ineffectiveness of regional development policies and models has led to the focus on regional economic development. In particular, a focus on industrial cluster promotion, both in developed and developing countries has proliferated owing to their increased success as a sustainable source of economic growth and development. Industrial clusters are a geographically proximate group of inter-connected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by commonalities and complementarities. In addition to industrial cluster formation, firms can also maintain competitiveness through internationalisation. Internationalisation ensures that firms are able to serve many markets from existing manufacturing bases without having to establish production plants in other markets. It reduces the over dependence on domestic markets and business risks associated with dependence on one market. This study identified industrial clusters for the North West Province (NWP) of South Africa using the Structural Path Analysis (SPA) method, as a strategy to enhance firm competitiveness. It contributes to the methods to identify industrial clusters by applying the Power of Pull (PoP) method to prioritise the number of clusters for the NWP. The ten identified industrial clusters and their respective PoP rankings were (i) communication; (ii) real estate; (iii) grain mill, bakery and animal feed products; (iv) building and other construction; (v) basic metal products; (vi) other food products; (vii) agriculture; (viii) non-metallic mineral products; (ix) trade; and (x) dairy products. This study identified the most important centres, in terms of the most contributions to output, employment and profit at the local municipal level across all the ten identified clusters. These centres were Madibeng, Rustenburg, City of Matlosana, Mafikeng and Ditsobotla. This indicates that efforts to stimulate cluster formation in this sector should be focused in these regions. This study also determined whether any association exists between the identified industrial clusters‟ products and services and the realistic export opportunities according to the DSM for products and the DSM for services. Four of the six product clusters were found to have REOs according to the DSM for products, namely grain mill, bakery and animal feeds products, agriculture, non-metallic mineral products and the basic metal products clusters. In terms of services, only two service clusters, namely communication and building and other construction services clusters, were found to have with REOs according to the DSM for services. This study further demonstrated the effects of industrial cluster formation on the regional economy, using social accounting matrix (SAM) multipliers. SAM multiplier analysis was used to demonstrate the output, employment, employment income and gross domestic product (GDP) supported by cluster formation for the NWP. The supported activity for the agriculture and trade clusters was less than the actual activity. The following clusters‟ supported activity was greater than the actual activity; communication; real estate; grain mill, bakery and animal feed products; building and other construction; basic metal products; other food products; non-metallic mineral products; and dairy products. The identified industrial clusters‟ REOs were explored further to provide more details on the products or services identified as having REOs. In addition, the countries to which the identified REOs (products and services) can be exported were discussed. In terms of product clusters identified to have REOs, the export potential values, cell classifications and market accessibility index scores were discussed. In terms of the service clusters identified as having REOs, countries, market access, market openness, import demand and cell classifications were discussed. / PhD (International Trade), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Firm competitiveness is no longer an industry-specific or regional phenomenon, but it has evolved to have global impacts. The increase in intensity of regional and international competition, ineffectiveness of regional development policies and models has led to the focus on regional economic development. In particular, a focus on industrial cluster promotion, both in developed and developing countries has proliferated owing to their increased success as a sustainable source of economic growth and development. Industrial clusters are a geographically proximate group of inter-connected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by commonalities and complementarities. In addition to industrial cluster formation, firms can also maintain competitiveness through internationalisation. Internationalisation ensures that firms are able to serve many markets from existing manufacturing bases without having to establish production plants in other markets. It reduces the over dependence on domestic markets and business risks associated with dependence on one market. This study identified industrial clusters for the North West Province (NWP) of South Africa using the Structural Path Analysis (SPA) method, as a strategy to enhance firm competitiveness. It contributes to the methods to identify industrial clusters by applying the Power of Pull (PoP) method to prioritise the number of clusters for the NWP. The ten identified industrial clusters and their respective PoP rankings were (i) communication; (ii) real estate; (iii) grain mill, bakery and animal feed products; (iv) building and other construction; (v) basic metal products; (vi) other food products; (vii) agriculture; (viii) non-metallic mineral products; (ix) trade; and (x) dairy products. This study identified the most important centres, in terms of the most contributions to output, employment and profit at the local municipal level across all the ten identified clusters. These centres were Madibeng, Rustenburg, City of Matlosana, Mafikeng and Ditsobotla. This indicates that efforts to stimulate cluster formation in this sector should be focused in these regions. This study also determined whether any association exists between the identified industrial clusters‟ products and services and the realistic export opportunities according to the DSM for products and the DSM for services. Four of the six product clusters were found to have REOs according to the DSM for products, namely grain mill, bakery and animal feeds products, agriculture, non-metallic mineral products and the basic metal products clusters. In terms of services, only two service clusters, namely communication and building and other construction services clusters, were found to have with REOs according to the DSM for services. This study further demonstrated the effects of industrial cluster formation on the regional economy, using social accounting matrix (SAM) multipliers. SAM multiplier analysis was used to demonstrate the output, employment, employment income and gross domestic product (GDP) supported by cluster formation for the NWP. The supported activity for the agriculture and trade clusters was less than the actual activity. The following clusters‟ supported activity was greater than the actual activity; communication; real estate; grain mill, bakery and animal feed products; building and other construction; basic metal products; other food products; non-metallic mineral products; and dairy products. The identified industrial clusters‟ REOs were explored further to provide more details on the products or services identified as having REOs. In addition, the countries to which the identified REOs (products and services) can be exported were discussed. In terms of product clusters identified to have REOs, the export potential values, cell classifications and market accessibility index scores were discussed. In terms of the service clusters identified as having REOs, countries, market access, market openness, import demand and cell classifications were discussed. / PhD (International Trade), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

How do catch-up East Asian countries cultivate their exchange rate (ER) policies in a different trajectory than advanced economies often cited in current literature? What are the dynamics and results (pros and cons) of choosing a particular ER policy, and what influence does it have on the progress of developmental states? How do domestic and international politics explain the convergences and variances of ER policy decisions in East Asia? The decisions of ER policy are by all means political choices. ERs influence the prices of daily exchanged goods, and thereby determine resource allocation within and across national borders. Therefore, any internal political actor, including a government, interest group, foreign party or constituent exerts discretionary power to manipulate an ER to satisfy its own interests. Externally, the size of foreign trade and the status of international monetary accounts closely depend on the valuation and volatility of ER. Thus for the transitional polities and the trade-driving economies in East Asia, the analysis of ER politics not only helps to clarify the complex mechanisms of ER influences combined with various interests and institutional settings, but also to advance the political study of globalization. My dissertation proposes an integrated framework to contend that the domestic distributional politics and economic determinants, as well as the international monetary relations, and regional market force and adaptive policy diffusion are crucial factors that influence and interact with ER policy in East Asia. This theoretical framework explains how an ER policy decision is compromised between domestically generated preferences and apparently intense international interactions. Likewise, this dissertation provides a vigorous empirical specification toward the spatiotemporal differences of ER policy in East Asia. The application of the structural vector autoregression (SVAR) model properly specifies the theoretical dynamics across variables in the East Asian panel data compiled from 1980 to 2004. Furthermore, by using the alternative Bayesian estimation, SVAR successfully demonstrates the "spinning stories" that distinguish the variances with regard to country-specific development under the asymmetrically international and interdependently regional monetary system. The empirical findings verify that my theoretical variables interact significantly with ER policy decisions in East Asia. The statistics also demonstrate that most East Asian countries tend to strategically withstand influences from the various waves of capital liberalization and keep their currencies at low values. In a general testing, however, domestic pursuits for preferred interests gradually yield to the persistent influences of international and regional forces on ER policy making in East Asia. / text

For the most part, formal economic integration between African states can be characterised as ‘theatre regionalism’: governments sign regional economic agreements with no intention to implement them. Yet amidst widespread theatre there have been a few instances of actual integration. This thesis sets out to explain this variance: under what conditions do African governments implement – and not just sign – formal agreements on regional economic integration? To answer this question the dominant Eurocentric literature on comparative regionalism is amended with insights from the third worldist literature on African states to develop a new approach for comparative analysis, the ‘Regionalism as Policy Space’ (RPS) framework. This framework models African regionalism as a two-stage game. At the first stage, governments’ interests in regionalism are determined by perceptions of the existence of structural cross-issue linkages connecting implementation of regional agreements with the widening of government policy space. Given such linkages, at the second stage, governments of a region engage in a coordination game to establish the distribution of benefits from integration. Variance in the implementation of regional agreements, then, is explained by variance in the existence of perceived cross-issue linkages (the Benefits Existence Condition) and the ability of participating governments to ease distributional tensions (the Benefits Distribution Condition). Four African customs union case studies - the East African customs union of the 1960s and 70s, the customs union of the East African Community in the 2000s, the customs union of the Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Customs Union – lend strong empirical support to the RPS framework. The thesis ends with a discussion of the role of hegemons and proposes a series of policy measures aiming to reduce the likelihood of theatre regionalism in Africa.

This research investigates eco-clusters as driver for greening regional economic policy and examines necessary incentive structures to foster eco-innovation as well as growth and employment in the eco-industry sector. Eco-clusters are seen in context with sustainability and environmental friendly behavior as means for a socio-ecological transition in the long run. The main hypothesis implies that eco-clusters have to be policy driven and established top-down and therefore differ from cluster structures in other industries. Possible reasons are uncertainty on a developing market as well as external effects of eco-innovations; the latter are seen as radical innovations. Based on theoretic findings for the establishment of clusters and general research findings for eco-clusters and eco-innovations, it is differentiated between a spontaneous cluster emergence from private initiatives through self-reinforcing forces of companies in a region (bottom-up), and the formation of a policy-driven network with primarily regional objectives to stimulate the competitive advantage of the regional industrial location (top-down). The hypothesis will be proofed by empirical results gained through personal interviews and complemented by findings in current research literature. Finally, implications for incentive structures to green economic policy are identified. It is shown that eco-clusters are different to other clusters and crucial for a long-term sustainable change and thus need political commitment and public incentives. For empirical observation, eco-clusters in Austria were selected. This research relates to the ongoing debate on green growth and develops policy incentives for establishment of eco-clusters and thus greening of economic policy. / Series: WWWforEurope

Os países da América Latina experimentaram, na década de 1950, um forte estímulo para o regionalismo econômico. O avanço dos processos de industrialização nas principais economias da região, por um lado, e as restrições políticas e econômicas presentes no novo ordenamento internacional do pós-guerra, por outro, tornaram aquela conjuntura histórica receptiva às propostas genuinamente elaboradas no seio da Comissão Econômica para América Latina e Caribe (CEPAL) de uma maior colaboração, cooperação e integração entre os países da região. O Brasil, nesse contexto, se deparou com duas diferentes iniciativas de integração regional que tiveram desfechos contrários. A primeira, assumida como uma tentativa frustrada de reedição do Pacto ABC de 1915, buscava entrelaçar as economias de Argentina, Brasil e Chile sob a rubrica de uma união aduaneira. A assinatura da Ata de Santiago entre Juan D. Perón e Carlos Ibañez Del Campo em fevereiro de 1953 não amainou o cenário para a adesão do Brasil; ao contrário, inflamou a oposição interna ao governo brasileiro, tornando a proposta objeto de denúncia contra Getúlio Vargas. A falta de apoio político interno levaria o governo Vargas a adotar uma atitude realista e instrumental frente à proposta abecista. Já a segunda ocasião referiu-se ao bem-sucedido processo de formação da Associação Latino-Americana de Livre Comércio (ALALC), concretizado após subscrição do Tratado de Montevidéu em fevereiro de 1960. A elaboração do projeto alalquiano por comissões técnicas interestatais contando com amplo e decisivo suporte cepalino contribuiu para despolitizar internamente o tema da integração econômica regional e garantir sua efetivação com o total apoio do governo de Juscelino Kubitschek. Trata-se aqui de analisar a recepção e repercussão no Brasil de tais propostas integracionistas e buscar compreender as motivações e interesses que conduziram o processo de definição da participação brasileira a resultados contrários, em uma conjuntura política e econômica relativamente semelhante. A hipótese que orienta as análises específicas é que a correlação interna de forças políticas, e os interesses econômicos e influências sociais nela implicados, fora determinante para definir a oportunidade e/ou as expectativas de concretização dos blocos econômicos regionais. / The countries of Latin America received, in the 1950s, a strong stimulus for economic regionalism. The advance of industrialization processes in the major economies of the region, on the one hand, and the political and economic constraints present in the new international order of the post-war, on the other, become this historical juncture receptive to proposals genuinely prepared within the Economic Commission Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) for greater collaboration, cooperation and integration among the region countries. The Brazil, in this context, was faced with two different regional integration initiatives that had opposing outcomes. The first, taken as a failed attempt to reissue the ABC Pact of 1915, sought to intertwine the economies of Argentina, Brazil and Chile under the rubric of a customs union. The signing of the Minutes of Santiago between Juan D. Perón and Carlos Ibañez Del Campo in February 1953 not abated the controversies for Brazil\'s adherence; instead inflamed the internal opposition to the Brazilian government, making the proposal a subject of complain against Vargas. The lack of domestic political support would take the Vargas government to adopt a realistic and instrumental attitude towards abecista proposal. The second occasion referred to the successful process of formation of the Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA), achieved after signing of the Treaty of Montevideo in February 1960. The preparation of the project alalquiano by intergovernmental commissions techniques relying on broad and decisive support ECLAC contributed to internally depoliticize the issue of regional economic integration and ensure its implementation with the full support of the government of Juscelino Kubitschek. Seeks to analyze the reception and influence in Brazil of such integrationist proposals and understand the motivations and interests that led the process of defining Brazilian participation to contrary results in political and economic conditions relatively similar. The hypothesis that guides specific analyzes is that the internal correlation of political forces, and the economic interests and social influences involved in it, was determining for defining opportunities and / or expectations of achievement of regional economic blocs.

Há vantagens e desvantagens associadas à constituição de áreas monetárias. De um lado, a formação dessa área reduz custos de transação e incertezas econômicas; de outro, dificulta a adequação de políticas às especificidades regionais e impede o funcionamento do mecanismo cambial, perdendo a flexibilidade e seus benefícios sobre os termos de trocas. Essa é questão tratada neste trabalho aplicado ao Brasil. As diferenças regionais no Brasil são associadas principalmente ao desenvolvimento econômico e à renda per capita (Norte e Nordeste possuem baixa renda per capita) e, ainda, ao tipo de atividade econômica desenvolvida (o Centro Oeste possui a dimensão relativa da agropecuária grande enquanto que o Sudeste é uma região industrializada). A análise empírica realizada neste estudo buscou verificar o comportamento das regiões tanto em relação às diferenças na atividade econômica regional (verificação da Teoria de Área Monetária Ótima) quanto em relação ao comportamento da renda regional (termos de troca regionais). Partindo da observação de que o Brasil é um país de grande dimensão geográfica e que, portanto, possui regiões distintas, por exemplo, em relação ao clima, recursos naturais e cultura, procurou-se verificar se as regiões brasileiras são integradas a ponto de ser considerada uma área monetária ótima através da observação do grau de sincronismo da flutuação da atividade econômica regional com a nacional. Através da utilização de auto-regressão vetorial observou-se a magnitude da flutuação econômica regional explicada por choques comuns e choques idiossincráticos e a resposta regional a esses choques, utilizando-se as variáveis ICMS e consumo de energia elétrica industrial regional e nacional (como medidas do nível de atividade econômica) e a taxa de juros e produtividade. Conclui-se que o Brasil não é uma área monetária ótima. Sendo assim, o comportamento das flutuações econômicas regionais pode distanciar-se da nacional e/ou as políticas implementadas nacionalmente podem ter impactos diferenciados nas regiões. Portanto, avaliaram-se, também, os termos de troca das regiões domesticamente e em relação ao exterior como proxies das taxas de câmbio entre regiões e entre cada uma delas e o resto do mundo - a fim de observar se sua tendência tem favorecido uma convergência no desenvolvimento entre regiões brasileiras. Conclui-se que a região Nordeste apresentou ganhos nos termos de troca inter-regionais e perdas internacionais, enquanto que a região Sul apresentou perdas tanto inter-regionais quanto internacionais. Esta última região coeteris paribus é onde se verificaria maior perda de renda. Porém, o saldo da balança comercial do Sul se manteve positivo e crescente durante todo o período em análise, indicando que, apesar da queda dos preços relativos, a região tem conseguido um aumento de renda provavelmente devido a aumentos de produtividade. Tais aumentos seriam necessários para evitar perda de renda principalmente por aquelas regiões que apresentam concomitantemente deterioração nos termos de troca interregionais e internacionais. / There are advantages and disadvantages associated with the establishment of a currency area. On the one hand, the formation of currency areas reduces transaction costs and economic uncertainties; the other, complicates the adequacy of policies to the specific regional and prevent the functioning of the exchange rate mechanism, losing its benefits and flexibility on the terms of trade. This is addressed in this study applied to Brazil. Regional differences in Brazil are mainly related to economic development and per capita income (North and Northeast have low per capita income) and, in addition, to the type of economic activity developed (the Central West produces mainly agriculture products while Southeast is an industrialized region). The empirical analysis in this study was to verify the behavior of regions for differences in regional economic activity (verification of the Theory of Optimum Monetary Area) and in relation to the conduct of regional income (regional terms of trade). Starting from the observation that Brazil is a country of great geographic dimension and therefore has different regions, for example, in relation to climate, natural resources and culture, tried to ascertain whether the Brazilian regions are integrated to the point of being considered an optimum currency area through the observation of the degree of synchronization of the fluctuation of regional economic activity with the national. Through the use of Vector Auto-regression it was observed if the magnitude of regional economic fluctuation was explained mainly by common shocks or idiosyncratic shocks and also the regional response to such shocks, using the variable ICMS and consumption of electric power in regional and national industry (as measure in the level of economic activity) and interest rate and productivity. The conclusion is that Brazil is not an optimum currency area. Thus, the behavior of regional economic fluctuations can distance itself from the national and/or the policies implemented nationally may have a differential impact in the regions. So were evaluated, too, the domestic terms of trade of domestic and the regions in relation to the outside - as proxies of exchange rates between regions and between each of them and the rest of the world - to see if the trend has favored a convergence of development between regions of Brazil. It was concluded that the Northeast gained inter-regional terms of trade and lost the international, while the South had lost both inter-regional as international. The latter region coeteris paribus is where there is greater loss of income. However, the South trade balance remained positive and growing throughout the period under review, indicating that despite the drop in prices for the region has achieved an increase in income due to increases in productivity. Such increases would be needed to avoid loss of income especially for those regions that have concomitant deterioration in the terms of trade inter-regional and international.