Suchergebnisse

This dissertation consists of an introduction and five self-contained studies analyzing different aspects of roundwood markets. Geographically it is focused on Sweden (paper 1-3) and Russia (paper 4-5). Four of the papers (1-2, 4-5) are explicitly considering international trade and its effects and possibilities in the domestic markets. The other paper (3), only implicitly takes account of the international market (for pulpwood), in that we see a loss of competitiveness in Sweden to foreign competition. In Paper 1 we consider the possibility of market imperfections in the Swedish pulpwood market. Two methods to measure market power are used, but the results reject market imperfections. In Paper 2 we measure the substitution between imported and domestic pulpwood. Using a variable cost function for the wood raw material input, we find that the substitution possibilities between the wood raw materials input in most cases seemed high. Further, the own and cross price elasticities were generally high, strongly supporting the argument that it is the relative price that is the main factor behind the imported volumes. In paper 3, it is found that the responsiveness to economic stimuli such as prices and costs are very low, in both short and long run. There is evidence of a reduced responsiveness, lower in the in the period 1976-1996 than in the period 1958-1975. Paper 4-5 investigates the possibilities for exploiting the vast Russian forest resources. Paper 4 uses the Porter framework to analyze what has happened in the Russian forestry between 1990 and 1998. We describe demand and factor conditions, the conditions in related industries, the role of government and finally the role of ownership conditions for the future prospects of the Russian forest industry. The result is a conception of the Russian competitiveness in the forest sector as relying heavily on factor conditions. Our findings are that this makes the Russian competitive advantage frail and that this advantage may vanish with further changes in the other determinants of Porter's framework. Finally, in paper 5, we investigate the key factors determining Nordic foreign direct investments (FDI) decisions in the Russian forest industry. The responses indicate that the prime motivation for investments made has been to serve local and regional markets, and not to take advantage of low labor and raw material costs. Access to well-developed physical infrastructure and prior contacts with future Russian partners have been important factors determining the location of the investment. The companies emphasize different institutional factors, such as an ambiguous legal system, difficulties in negotiating with local authorities, and general political instability. In paper 5 it is thus concluded that FDI into the Russian forest sector is likely to remain low until there is a fundamental change in the legal and political systems. ; Godkänd; 2000; 20070122 (ysko)

This paper analyzes the long-term prospects of profitably harvesting the forests in northwestern Russia in a sustainable manner, indicating the potential short-to medium-term competitiveness of the Russian forestry in both domestic and international markets. We have chosen a systemic approach (a modification of Porter's Diamond) to investigate the threats to and possibilities of the Russian forestry. This means that we consider not only factor conditions, but also demand conditions, the presence and status of related and supporting industries, firm strategy, structure, and rivalry, and the role of government in creating a competitive Russian forestry. Our analysis of the factor conditions prevailing in the mid to late 1990s indicates that the prospects for the Russian forestry could be very good. However, this potential will be realized only if substantial problems can be solved with regard to revising government policy, clarifying property rights, developing and maintaining the infrastructure, and achieving a stable and not too rapid increase in costs. Furthermore, we think that domestic demand is a weak link and that a revitalization of this demand is necessary. ; Cet article offre une analyse des perspectives à long terme d'une exploitation forestière rentable et durable des forêts du nord-ouest de la Russie, analyse qui souligne la compétitivité potentielle à court et à moyen terme de l'industrie forestière russe sur les marchés domestique comme international. On a choisi une approche systémique (une version du losange de Porter) pour étudier les éléments qui constituent une menace pour l'industrie forestière russe et ceux qui représentent des ouvertures. Ce qui signifie qu'on ne considère pas seulement les conditions des facteurs mais aussi les conditions de la demande, la présence et le statut des industries connexes et dérivées, la stratégie des entreprises de même que leur structure et leur rivalité, ainsi que le rôle du gouvernement dans la création d'une industrie forestière russe concurrentielle. Notre analyse des conditions des facteurs prédominantes du milieu à la fin des années 1990 révèle que les perspectives pour l'industrie forestière russe pourraient être très bonnes. Ce potentiel ne se concrétisera toutefois qu'après la résolution de problèmes majeurs visant la révision de la politique gouvernementale, la clarification des droits de propriété, le développement et le maintien de l'infrastructure, ainsi que la réalisation d'un accroissement stable et assez lent des coûts. On croit de plus que la demande nationale constitue un maillon fragile et qu'une revitalisation de cette demande s'impose.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the creation of institutions concerned with common forests in an economy in transition, Tanzania. The initial experiences of two villages Duru and Ayasanda help to illustrate how the common forests of the villages will work in the future. In evaluating these forests, using Ostrom's framework, we find most of the fundamental requirements fulfilled. (DSE/DÜI)

AbstractThe country‐of‐origin effect is a topic central to the field of international marketing. Country of origin has been found to exert a particularly potent effect on consumer evaluation in situations where there is a strong link between a country and a particular product category. The present study provides further insight into how this particular effect can be understood. Drawing on a novel conceptualization of how country image and product categories interact, this study tested the relative evaluative relevance of product category with respect to estimates of brand equity across a variety of product categories. The findings suggest that facets of a country's image that are more closely related to the evaluation situation exert a greater influence on the evaluation of brands. This result encourages scholars as well as practitioners to re‐evaluate which situations might cause the country of origin effect to hold managerial relevance and paves the way for new paths toward a more comprehensive understanding of the effect. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.