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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
11

Poverty Reduction In Brazil : A case study of whether growth has been pro poor

Schönbeck, Mathilda, Henriksson, Karin January 2007 (has links)
This thesis will focus on how growth in GDP has been allocated among the people in Brazil, during the years of 1976 and 2003. Moreover poverty and inequalities are investigated along with poverty reduction, thus if growth has been pro poor will be presented. The study analyse if growth has benefited the poorest part of the population in Brazil. In addition the regional differences – the southeast and the northeast – are analyzed separately in order to see if there is any difference in the two regions in the agricultural and the industrial sector respectively. This is done to see if there is any correlation between growth and poverty reduction. We used a theory by Arthur Lewis who developed a two sector model where only two sectors existed the agricultural and industrial the so called “Lewis organizational dualism”. This model was later to be modified by Gunnar Myrdal and Nicholas Kaldor, who blamed the current situation of every society on “historical accident” where, because of an upward spiral of cumulative causation, urban areas grew and regions in the periphery stagnated. We used data that was collected from Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA; Institute of Applied Economic Research) between the periods 1976 – 2003. We found that the income in the poorest part of the population seemed to grow at a much slower past that of the rich. Moreover, measured as by the headcount index – the share of the population that lives under $2 per day – has been reduced over time in total Brazil, but not in the agricultural sector in either region. Surprisingly industrial growth has only been beneficial for the poor in the northern part of the country. Therefore the conclusion is that poverty has not been pro poor in either relative or absolute terms. / Denna uppsats kommer att fokusera på hur tillväxt i Brasilien har blivit distribuerad mellan åren 1976 och 2003. Fattigdom och sociala skillnader undersöks för att se om fattigdomen har minskat, alltså om tillväxten har varit ”pro poor”. Detta analyseras på landsnivå för att sedan brytas ner på två regioner, den sydöstra och den nordöstra, för att lättare kunna jämföra skillnaderna mellan de olika regionera i de två olika sektorer; jordbrukssektorn och den industriella sektorn. Detta är gjort för att se om det finns något samband mellan tillväxt och fattigdoms reducering. Vi använde oss av ”Lewis organizational dualism” utvecklad av Arthur Lewis, som består av två olika sektorer, den industriella och jordbrukssektorn. Den kom sedan att revideras av Gunnar Myrdal and Nicholas Kaldor, som hävdade att det samhället som vi lever i idag är skapat av historiska tillfälligheter där de liknade städernas utveckling vid en uppåtgående spiral av ackumulerade tillfälligheter som gör att det fortsätter att växa varvid de regioner i periferin stagnerar eller rent av går tillbaka. Vi använde oss av data från Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA; Institutet för tillämpad ekonomisk forskning) mellan åren 1976 – 2003. Våra resultat visade att inkomsten hos de fattigaste väste mycket långsammare än de rikas. Vidare, mätt med måttet ”headcount index” – alltså de som lever under $2 per dag – har reducerats under de åren som vi har undersökt i hela Brasilien. I jordbrukssektorn har fattigdomen inte reducerats alls, verken i den nordöstra eller den sydöstra delen av landet. Det som är förvånansvärt är att fattigomen endast har reducerats i de nordöstra delarna, tack vare industriell utveckling. Därför drar vi slutsatsen att tillväxten i Brasilien inte har varit ”pro poor”, verken i den relativa eller den absoluta bemärkelsen.
12

The price discounts of Chinese cross-listed companies and their variation across sectors

Guo, Tom 01 January 2013 (has links)
This study builds on the paper by Arquette, Brown, and Burdekin (2008) and asks whether the factors which they find to be significant in influencing the differential between the share prices of Chinese securities traded on their home market in Shanghai versus share prices observed offshore in Hong Kong and New York have varying degrees of influence when compared across industries. This paper focuses on Chinese companies listed on both the Shanghai and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges and finds that the proxy variables of expected exchange rate change, relative market sentiment, and relative company sentiment are significant in determining the average discount observed and that their effects do indeed vary significantly from industry to industry.
13

The Impact of Terrorism on Foreign Direct Investment: Which Sectors are More Vulnerable?

Agrawal, Shivani 01 January 2011 (has links)
The impact of conflict and violence on foreign direct investment (FDI) is not a topic that has been done justice by the literature, and what few studies exist have contradictory results. This paper studies the impact that transnational terrorism has on FDI inflows by economic sector, in developed countries. Results indicate a statistically significant negative correlation between terrorist events and total FDI inflows. Amongst a list of 12 broad industrial sectors, FDI inflows for manufacturing, trade and repair, and construction were found to have a statistically significant negative correlation with terrorist events.
14

Poverty Reduction In Brazil : A case study of whether growth has been pro poor

Schönbeck, Mathilda, Henriksson, Karin January 2007 (has links)
<p>This thesis will focus on how growth in GDP has been allocated among the people in Brazil, during the years of 1976 and 2003. Moreover poverty and inequalities are investigated along with poverty reduction, thus if growth has been pro poor will be presented. The study analyse if growth has benefited the poorest part of the population in Brazil. In addition the regional differences – the southeast and the northeast – are analyzed separately in order to see if there is any difference in the two regions in the agricultural and the industrial sector respectively. This is done to see if there is any correlation between growth and poverty reduction.</p><p>We used a theory by Arthur Lewis who developed a two sector model where only two sectors existed the agricultural and industrial the so called “Lewis organizational dualism”. This model was later to be modified by Gunnar Myrdal and Nicholas Kaldor, who blamed the current situation of every society on “historical accident” where, because of an upward spiral of cumulative causation, urban areas grew and regions in the periphery stagnated.</p><p>We used data that was collected from Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA; Institute of Applied Economic Research) between the periods 1976 – 2003. We found that the income in the poorest part of the population seemed to grow at a much slower past that of the rich. Moreover, measured as by the headcount index – the share of the population that lives under $2 per day – has been reduced over time in total Brazil, but not in the agricultural sector in either region. Surprisingly industrial growth has only been beneficial for the poor in the northern part of the country. Therefore the conclusion is that poverty has not been pro poor in either relative or absolute terms.</p> / <p>Denna uppsats kommer att fokusera på hur tillväxt i Brasilien har blivit distribuerad mellan åren 1976 och 2003. Fattigdom och sociala skillnader undersöks för att se om fattigdomen har minskat, alltså om tillväxten har varit ”pro poor”. Detta analyseras på landsnivå för att sedan brytas ner på två regioner, den sydöstra och den nordöstra, för att lättare kunna jämföra skillnaderna mellan de olika regionera i de två olika sektorer; jordbrukssektorn och den industriella sektorn. Detta är gjort för att se om det finns något samband mellan tillväxt och fattigdoms reducering.</p><p>Vi använde oss av ”Lewis organizational dualism” utvecklad av Arthur Lewis, som består av två olika sektorer, den industriella och jordbrukssektorn. Den kom sedan att revideras av Gunnar Myrdal and Nicholas Kaldor, som hävdade att det samhället som vi lever i idag är skapat av historiska tillfälligheter där de liknade städernas utveckling vid en uppåtgående spiral av ackumulerade tillfälligheter som gör att det fortsätter att växa varvid de regioner i periferin stagnerar eller rent av går tillbaka.</p><p>Vi använde oss av data från Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA; Institutet för tillämpad ekonomisk forskning) mellan åren 1976 – 2003. Våra resultat visade att inkomsten hos de fattigaste väste mycket långsammare än de rikas. Vidare, mätt med måttet ”headcount index” – alltså de som lever under $2 per dag – har reducerats under de åren som vi har undersökt i hela Brasilien. I jordbrukssektorn har fattigdomen inte reducerats alls, verken i den nordöstra eller den sydöstra delen av landet. Det som är förvånansvärt är att fattigomen endast har reducerats i de nordöstra delarna, tack vare industriell utveckling. Därför drar vi slutsatsen att tillväxten i Brasilien inte har varit ”pro poor”, verken i den relativa eller den absoluta bemärkelsen.</p>
15

Proposta metodológica para mapeamento de vulnerabilidade à inundação

Ramos, Paola de Assis de Souza January 2017 (has links)
A expansão dos centros urbanos, determinada pela demanda de áreas, está fortemente associada à vulnerabilidade da população. Este avanço, muitas vezes ocorre em direção a ambientes frágeis como margens de rios, encostas e mananciais. Desta maneira, as mudanças no ambiente, deflagradas pelas atividades antrópicas, têm contribuído fortemente para maior exposição da população e consequente impactos relacionados às inundações, em relação às inundações. Os mapeamentos de vulnerabilidade são medidas não estruturais muito importantes para avaliar as características de determinada população, que as tornam mais ou menos propensas aos impactos de uma inundação. Desta forma, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é propor uma metodologia, baseada na utilização de SIG, para mapeamento de vulnerabilidade à inundação a partir da integração de dados censitários e de outras fontes, usando como estudo de caso o município de Igrejinha, RS. Determinou-se- como unidade de estudo a mancha urbana presente em cada setor censitário do IBGE. Foram elaborados 10 indicadores distribuídos em 3 dimensões que buscaram avaliar aspectos demográficos, sociais e de infraestrutura e saneamento. Os dados utilizados são provenientes do IBGE e também de outras pesquisas realizadas no município por outros autores. Compreende-se nesta pesquisa que cada indicador possui uma importância diferente e atribui-se um peso especifico para cada indicador e dimensão pelo método Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Os pesos foram atribuídos por especialistas da área e por agentes de Proteção e Defesa Civil. Os pesos foram atribuídos para duas fases distintas do gerenciamento de um desastre: resposta e recuperação. Através de ferramentas presente em SIG, foi utilizado o método dasimétrico para os dados à mancha urbana de cada setor censitário. Como resultado obteve-se um mapa de cada indicador e dimensão, bem como o mapa final de vulnerabilidade à inundação. Foram gerados mapas com pesos atribuídos para resposta e para recuperação. Em cada mapa gerado pode-se obter as áreas mais vulneráveis da área de estudo, que corresponderam as Zonas de Interesse Social de Igrejinha. Para observar certos aspectos que poderiam acarretar na vulnerabilidade, segundo o indicadores utilizados, foi empregada a ferramenta Google Street View. Devido ao seu baixo custo, bem como a facilidade da obtenção dos dados, a metodologia proposta pode ser replicada em qualquer município brasileiro. / The expansion of urban centers, determined by area demand, is strongly associated with the vulnerability of the population. This breakthrough often occurs toward fragile environments such as riverbanks, slopes and springs. In this way, environmental changes triggered by anthropic activitythe changes in the environment, triggered by the anthropic activities, have contributed strongly to greater exposure of the population and consequent flood impacts. Vulnerability mappings are very important non-structural measures to assess the characteristics of a given population, which make them more or less prone to the impacts of a flood. Along these lines, the main objective of this work is to propose a methodology, based on the use of GIS, to map vulnerability to flood, from the integration of census data and other sources, using as a case study, the municipality of Igrejinha, RS. The urban spot present in each IBGE census tract was used as the unit of study. Ten indicators were elaborated in three dimensions that sought to evaluate demographic, social, and infrastructure and sanitation aspects. The data used come from IBGE and also from other surveys conducted in the municipality by other authors. It is understood in this research that each indicator has a different importance and is assigned a specific weight for each indicator and dimension by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The weights were assigned by specialists in the area and by Civil Protection and Defense agents to two distinct phases of disaster management: response and recovery. By means of tools present in GIS, the dasymetric method was used for the data to the urban spot of each census sector. As a result, a map of each indicator and size was obtained, as well as the final map of vulnerability to flooding. Maps with weights assigned for response and retrieval were generated. In each generated map, it is possible to observe the most vulnerable areas of the study area, which corresponded to the Igrejinha Social Interest Zones. In order to observe certain aspects that could lead to vulnerability, according to the indicators used, the Google Street View tool was used. Due to its low cost, as well as the ease of obtaining the data, the proposed methodology can be replicated in any Brazilian municipality.
16

Proposta metodológica para mapeamento de vulnerabilidade à inundação

Ramos, Paola de Assis de Souza January 2017 (has links)
A expansão dos centros urbanos, determinada pela demanda de áreas, está fortemente associada à vulnerabilidade da população. Este avanço, muitas vezes ocorre em direção a ambientes frágeis como margens de rios, encostas e mananciais. Desta maneira, as mudanças no ambiente, deflagradas pelas atividades antrópicas, têm contribuído fortemente para maior exposição da população e consequente impactos relacionados às inundações, em relação às inundações. Os mapeamentos de vulnerabilidade são medidas não estruturais muito importantes para avaliar as características de determinada população, que as tornam mais ou menos propensas aos impactos de uma inundação. Desta forma, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é propor uma metodologia, baseada na utilização de SIG, para mapeamento de vulnerabilidade à inundação a partir da integração de dados censitários e de outras fontes, usando como estudo de caso o município de Igrejinha, RS. Determinou-se- como unidade de estudo a mancha urbana presente em cada setor censitário do IBGE. Foram elaborados 10 indicadores distribuídos em 3 dimensões que buscaram avaliar aspectos demográficos, sociais e de infraestrutura e saneamento. Os dados utilizados são provenientes do IBGE e também de outras pesquisas realizadas no município por outros autores. Compreende-se nesta pesquisa que cada indicador possui uma importância diferente e atribui-se um peso especifico para cada indicador e dimensão pelo método Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Os pesos foram atribuídos por especialistas da área e por agentes de Proteção e Defesa Civil. Os pesos foram atribuídos para duas fases distintas do gerenciamento de um desastre: resposta e recuperação. Através de ferramentas presente em SIG, foi utilizado o método dasimétrico para os dados à mancha urbana de cada setor censitário. Como resultado obteve-se um mapa de cada indicador e dimensão, bem como o mapa final de vulnerabilidade à inundação. Foram gerados mapas com pesos atribuídos para resposta e para recuperação. Em cada mapa gerado pode-se obter as áreas mais vulneráveis da área de estudo, que corresponderam as Zonas de Interesse Social de Igrejinha. Para observar certos aspectos que poderiam acarretar na vulnerabilidade, segundo o indicadores utilizados, foi empregada a ferramenta Google Street View. Devido ao seu baixo custo, bem como a facilidade da obtenção dos dados, a metodologia proposta pode ser replicada em qualquer município brasileiro. / The expansion of urban centers, determined by area demand, is strongly associated with the vulnerability of the population. This breakthrough often occurs toward fragile environments such as riverbanks, slopes and springs. In this way, environmental changes triggered by anthropic activitythe changes in the environment, triggered by the anthropic activities, have contributed strongly to greater exposure of the population and consequent flood impacts. Vulnerability mappings are very important non-structural measures to assess the characteristics of a given population, which make them more or less prone to the impacts of a flood. Along these lines, the main objective of this work is to propose a methodology, based on the use of GIS, to map vulnerability to flood, from the integration of census data and other sources, using as a case study, the municipality of Igrejinha, RS. The urban spot present in each IBGE census tract was used as the unit of study. Ten indicators were elaborated in three dimensions that sought to evaluate demographic, social, and infrastructure and sanitation aspects. The data used come from IBGE and also from other surveys conducted in the municipality by other authors. It is understood in this research that each indicator has a different importance and is assigned a specific weight for each indicator and dimension by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The weights were assigned by specialists in the area and by Civil Protection and Defense agents to two distinct phases of disaster management: response and recovery. By means of tools present in GIS, the dasymetric method was used for the data to the urban spot of each census sector. As a result, a map of each indicator and size was obtained, as well as the final map of vulnerability to flooding. Maps with weights assigned for response and retrieval were generated. In each generated map, it is possible to observe the most vulnerable areas of the study area, which corresponded to the Igrejinha Social Interest Zones. In order to observe certain aspects that could lead to vulnerability, according to the indicators used, the Google Street View tool was used. Due to its low cost, as well as the ease of obtaining the data, the proposed methodology can be replicated in any Brazilian municipality.
17

The role of multi-level customer relationship management in satisfaction and cross-selling in the South African business-banking sector

Wiese, Petrus Benjamin January 2013 (has links)
The financial meltdown that started in 2008 has had a severe influence on financial institutions worldwide. Financial sectors, and especially banks, were impacted severely due to bad debts that reached record highs. During this period, it became clear that banks will have to review their client-service strategies, as well as the way that income is generated from their clients. One way is to increase the income earned from existing customers by cross-selling more products to these clients. To increase the income earned from clients by improving the amount of products sold to clients, banks need to retain their client base. In most South African business banks, a customer relationship management (CRM) process is followed. CRM has become an important part of relationship banking; and it plays a significant role in customer acquisition and maintaining a profitable business relationship. Despite much research on cross-selling and satisfaction, no study seems to provide a clear indication on the role of CRM in providing customer satisfaction and cross-selling in the South African business-banking sector. This study will attempt to determine the role of CRM in satisfaction and cross-selling in business banking. For this purpose, the client base of a commercial bank in South Africa will be utilised. The study will focus on business clients in the small, medium and large sectors of the bank. The purpose of this research is to determine the role of multi-level CRM in satisfaction and cross-selling in the business-banking segment. The research objectives driving this research are: • To determine whether those segments serviced through different CRM processes experience different levels of satisfaction; • Investigating whether those segments with higher levels of satisfaction show more cross-selling; • Discovering whether those customers exposed to CRM over longer periods of time have higher levels of satisfaction; • Assessing whether those segments serviced through higher levels of CRM result in higher levels of cross-selling; • Determining whether customers exposed to CRM over longer periods of time demonstrate a higher cross-selling propensity; • To investigate whether customers with high levels of cross-selling have a greater likelihood to recommend their bank to others; • To determine whether a higher likelihood to recommend within segments shows higher levels of cross-selling; • Assessing whether segments differ in their likelihood to recommend their bank to others; and • Investigating whether customers with a longer bank relationship have a higher likelihood of recommending their bank to others. To execute the research, relevant secondary databases need to be sourced. The first database was from a research company, which conducts research for the bank in scope; while the second database would be from the bank in scope’s warehouse. After evaluating the databases for the relevance and quality of the data, the databases were combined into a final dataset – for the purpose of data mining – to address the research objectives. The population for this study consists of small, medium and large business clients of one of the banking groups in South Africa. The results indicated the existence of significant differences between these business segments in terms of their satisfaction experienced; and they confirmed an association between the length of a customer’s relationship with the bank and his/her level of satisfaction experienced. When considering cross-selling and the likelihood to recommend, the results also demonstrate that a positive relationship exists between customers as regards their cross-selling ratio and the likelihood to recommend their bank. The findings from the study should guide managers to distinguish between the satisfaction experienced and the cross-sales generated by the CRM structures used in specific segments in business banking. The study should contribute to the body of knowledge in CRM and cross-selling by adding to the literature knowledge base. / Thesis (DCom)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2013 / Marketing Management / unrestricted
18

GIS-based sales support by company knowledge reuse in the telecommunications sector

Minor, Mirjam, Clemens, Peter, Dey, Robert, Helmdach, Rebecca, Kemper, Ingo, Nguyen, Tan Phat, Pfeifer, Michaela, Röttgers, Wilfried, Schwarz, Patrick, Wang, Yida 26 October 2015 (has links) (PDF)
A quick and timely response to a customer request provides an important competitive advantage for a company. Experience reuse as intended by experience management facilitates an acceleration of the process of preparing offers. From a technology-oriented point of view, experience is "valuable, stored, specific knowledge that was acquired by a problem solving agent in a problem solving situation" . In the situation of creating an offer in response to a customer request, such valuable knowledge from a company’s experience might include past prices of products or services for a similar customer request. Especially in the telecommunication market such prices are volatile and depend on many impact factors such as the required technology, bandwidth of available lines, or the time period in which the telecommunication service is required. In the run-up for a large sports event, for instance, purchase prices might be significantly higher than after the event when the investment in new infrastructure has provided additional capacities and when there is less demand.
19

Analyzing the critical success factor of CSR for the Chinese textile industry

Li, Y., Li, Yongbo, Diabat, Ali, Barrueta Pinto, Mark Christhian 01 July 2020 (has links)
Increasing population and urbanization motivates the capability of consuming more fashion goods than ever. This push creates more momentum on global companies to focus on clothing sectors. Recent advancements, including globalization and e-commerce, have made this sector as one of the top businesses worldwide. Top clothing brands made several strategies to satisfy the stakeholders to sustain in this hot, profitable business. This results in practicing more sustainable strategies, including corporate social responsibility in their clothing business throughout their operations, including the supply chain. However, most of the developed nations are consumers of textiles, which are produced and processed by any of the developing and under developing nations. Meanwhile, achieving sustainability in clothing business includes promoting sustainability in the whole chain of suppliers. Pressure from developed nations urges developing nations to promote sustainable practices in their operations. Several studies discussed the CSR related strategies in textile sectors but failed to explore their critical success factors based on their region. With this concern, this study attempts to study the critical success factors of CSR in textile industries situated in one of the developing nations, China. This study collected the critical success factors from literature and validated with the field experts; then the same were evaluated with the assistance of Chinese textile case industrial managers. Decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory tool has been used to evaluate the influential critical success factors of CSR to promote CSR through motivating those most influential success factors. These results could help the Chinese textile industrial managers to further extend strong roots on CSR implementation. Finally, this study sheds some light on future opportunities that exist within Chinese contexts with the implementation of CSR. / Revisión por pares / Revisión por pares
20

Longitudinal vehicle dynamics control for improved vehicle safety

Hamersma, H.A. (Herman Adendorff) January 2013 (has links)
An autonomous vehicle is a vehicle that is capable of navigating and driving with no human intervention whatsoever through the utilization of various sensors and positioning systems. The possible applications of autonomous vehicles are widespread, ranging from the aerospace industry to the mining and military sectors where the exposure of human operators to the operating conditions is hazardous to their health and safety. Automobile accidents have become the leading cause of death in certain segments of the world population. Removing the human driver from the decision-making process through automation may result in significantly safer highways. Although full autonomy may be the ultimate goal, there is huge scope for systems that aid the driver in decision making or systems that take over from the driver under conditions where the human driver fails. The aim of the longitudinal control system to be implemented on the Land Rover test vehicle in this study is to improve the vehicle’s safety by controlling the vehicle’s longitudinal behaviour. A common problem with sports-utility-vehicles is the low rollover threshold, due to a high centre of gravity. Rather than modifying the vehicle to increase the rollover threshold, the aim of the control system presented here is to prevent the vehicle from exceeding speeds that would cause the vehicle to reach its rollover threshold. In order to develop a control system that autonomously controls the longitudinal degree of freedom, a model of the test vehicle (a 1997 Land Rover Defender 110 Wagon) was developed in MSC.ADAMS/View and validated experimentally. The model accurately captures the response of the test vehicle to supply forces as generated by the engine and demand forces applied through drag, braking and engine braking. Furthermore, the model has been validated experimentally to provide reliable simulation results for lateral and vertical dynamics. The control system was developed by generating a reference speed that the vehicle must track. This reference speed was formulated by taking into account the vehicle’s limits due to lateral acceleration, combined lateral and longitudinal acceleration and the vehicle’s performance capabilities. The control system generates the desired throttle pedal position, hydraulic pressure in the brake lines, clutch position and gear selection as output. The MSC.ADAMS\View model of the test vehicle was used to evaluate the performance of the control system on various racetracks of which the GPS coordinates were available. The simulation results indicate that the control system performs as expected. Finally, the control system was implemented on the test vehicle and the performance was evaluated by conducting field tests in the form of a severe double lane change manoeuvre. The results of the field tests indicated that the control system limited the acceleration vector of the vehicle’s centre of gravity to prescribed limits, as predicted by the simulation results. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted

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