Effects Of Competition Research Articles

Precipitation of secondary Laves phases and its effect on notch sensitivity

AbstractThe precipitation of secondary Laves phases and its effect on notch sensitivity are systematically studied in Thermo-Span alloy. The results show that the precipitation peak temperature of secondary Laves phases is 925 °C. Below 925 °C, the volume fraction of secondary Laves phases increases with the rise of the temperature, and its morphology changes from granular to thin-film; above 925 °C, the volume fraction of secondary Laves phases shows an opposite trend to temperature, and its morphology changes from thin-film to granular. A detailed explanation through linear density (ρ) is provided that the influence of secondary Laves phases at the grain boundaries (GBs) on notch sensitivity depends on the coupling competition effect of their size, quantity, and morphology. Notably, the granular Laves phases are more beneficial to improving the notch sensitivity of the alloy compared with thin-film Laves phases. Granular secondary Laves phases can promote the formation of γ′ phases depletion zone to improve the ability of GBs to accommodate high strain localization, and effectively inhibit the crack initiation and propagation.

Synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production activity in CN/rBOB composite through double field effect

Herein, a novel rod-like bismuth bromide oxide (rBOB) was prepared by using a Bi3+ delayed-release strategy and H+ capping competition effect. And rBOB was combined with graphite carbon nitride (CN) to construct S-scheme heterojunction material (CN/rBOB). This work focused on the regulation mechanism of the rod-like morphology of rBOB and the photocatalytic H2O2 production (PHP) performance of CN/rBOB under the action of an external magnetic field. The results showed that the magnetic field can significantly increase the photocurrent response and intrinsic carrier concentration of the catalyst. And the magnetic field action improved the PHP of CN/rBOB from 1.81 to 3.31 mmol·g−1·h−1. This "internal electric field-external magnetic field" synergistic tuning obviously improves the efficiency of photogenerated carrier separation and transport to the surface active sites, which is a simple and useful strategy to construct high-quality photocatalytic systems.

Chinese Import Competition and Prices: Evidence from India*

How do output prices respond to trade shocks? Using detailed firm‐product level data on sales and quantity between 1996 and 2007, we study the causal effect of Chinese import competition on prices for Indian manufacturing firms. We find that Chinese import competition induces a significant decline in firm‐product prices. A 1 percentage point increase in the Chinese import penetration ratio reduces firm‐product prices by 3.5%. Further, this decline in prices is driven by a decline in markup, conditional on costs, as opposed to the pass through of cost savings to prices – providing evidence for pro‐competitive effect. This decline in prices and markup is less pronounced for firms owned by Business Groups compared to stand‐alone, privately owned firms. We also document a large decrease in marginal costs and an increase in markup with no significant effect on prices for firms on account of increased access to imported Chinese inputs.

Export Performance Analysis on Indonesian Yellowfin Thunas (HS 030342) in the United States Market

Tuna is a major fish commodity that has high economic value that dominates the export market of Indonesian fishery industry products. This study was carried out to analyze competitiveness, comparative advantage, trading patterns and trends of Indonesian tuna exports in the United States market from 2013-2022 using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA), and Constant Market Share (CMS). The results showed that Indonesia's RCA value is above one (>1) during the 2013-2022 period, meaning that Indonesian tuna has competitiveness, the RSCA value is also above one (>0), meaning that Indonesian tuna has a comparative advantage. According to the CMS analysis, Indonesia’s growth of standard exports to the United States is still lower than the growth of world standard exports to the United States so that Indonesia's export performance is still relatively low. The distribution effect of the Indonesian tuna market shows a positive value which means that Indonesia has succeeded in showing good product distribution performance to the market. The effect of commodity composition and the effect of competitiveness of Indonesian tuna shows a negative value so that Indonesia is considered to have not met the market and is less competitive.

Monoclonal Antibody chP3R99 Reduces Subendothelial Retention of Atherogenic Lipoproteins in Insulin-Resistant Rats: Acute Treatment Versus Long-Term Protection as an Idiotypic Vaccine for Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is triggered by the retention of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins by proteoglycans. In addition to low-density lipoprotein, remnant lipoproteins have emerged as pivotal contributors to this pathology, particularly in the context of insulin resistance and diabetes. We have previously reported antiatherogenic properties of a monoclonal antibody (chP3R99) that recognizes sulfated glycosaminoglycans on arterial proteoglycans. Solid-phase assays demonstrated that chP3R99 effectively blocked >50% lipoprotein binding to chondroitin sulfate and vascular extracellular matrix invitro. The preperfusion of chP3R99 (competitive effect) resulted in specific antibody-arterial accumulation and reduced fluorescent lipoprotein retention by ~60% in insulin resistant JCR:LA-cp rats. This competitive reduction was dose dependent (25-250 μg/mL), effectively decreasing deposition of cholesterol associated with lipoproteins. In a 5-week vaccination study in insulin resistant rats with (200 μg subcutaneously, once a week), chP3R99 reduced arterial lipoprotein retention, and was associated with the production of antichondroitin sulfate antibodies (Ab3) able to accumulate in the arteries (dot-blot). Neither the intravenous inoculation of chP3R99 (4.5 mg/kg), nor the immunization with this antibody displayed adverse effects on lipid or glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, liver function, blood cell indices, or inflammation pathways in JCR:LA-cp rats. Both acute (passive) and long-term administration (idiotypic cascade) of chP3R99 antibody reduced low-density lipoprotein and remnant lipoprotein interaction with proteoglycans in an insulin-resistant setting. These findings support the innovative approach of targeting proatherogenic lipoprotein retention by chP3R99 as a passive therapy or as an idiotypic vaccine for atherosclerosis.

Deposit Insurance and Bank Liquidity Creation: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in China*

AbstractIn this paper, we examine how the implementation of deposit insurance influences the impact of bank capital, excess lending, banking competition and monetary policy on liquidity creation of banks. Our examination uses China’s introduction of deposit insurance in 2015 as a natural experiment. We find that deposit insurance positively reinforces the effect of capital but weakens that of monetary policy on liquidity creation. We do not find that deposit insurance has a significant influence on the effects of excess lending and competition on the liquidity creation of banks. We also show that the implementation of deposit insurance has heterogenous effects on the liquidity creation of large and small banks.

A footloose entrepreneur model with productivity heterogeneity in two regions

AbstractThis article introduces the productivity heterogeneity of Melitz, M. J. (2003). Econometrica, 71(6), 1695–1725 into the footloose entrepreneur model of Forslid, R., and Ottaviano, G. I. (2003). Journal of Economic Geography, 3(3), 229–240 to explore the industrial spatial distribution between two regions. We suggest a negative relationship between the shape parameter of the Pareto distribution and the share of skilled workers in a region. It enhances the escape competition effect to avoid agglomeration when the share of skilled workers in a region increases to generate intensified competition. This effect allows the equal distribution outcome to be sustained for a larger range of transport costs.

Optimizing Production Relocation Timing Decisions

In a globalized economy, companies face a range of challenges and opportunities related to relocating production activities to a new country. Relocation can yield significant cost savings and other benefits, but there are also risks including potential damage to the brand image. Thus, firms need to carefully evaluate when to relocate and when to stop production in a particular location. We formulate an optimal control model and derive analytical as well as numerical results to provide insights into the optimal relocation timing and production stoppage decisions. We show that factors like higher relocation costs, higher production costs in the relocation country but high brand image in the country of origin, can postpone production relocation. Competitive effects alter relocation timing, particularly when the firm faces direct competition and asymmetric negative cross-image spillover effects with the rival brand in the home or relocation country. The paper discusses illustrative examples and derives implications for the timing of relocation and the duration of production in the relocation country.

A statistical approach to assess interspecific consumptive competition and functional redundancy in ephemeral resource uses using camera traps.

Camera traps have been widely used in wildlife research, offering significant potential for monitoring species interactions at ephemeral resources. However, raw data obtained from camera traps often face limitations due to observation censoring, where resource consumption by dominant animals may obscure potential resource use by less dominant animals. We extended time-to-detection occupancy modeling to quantify interspecific consumptive competition and redundancy of ecosystem functions through consumption between two species, while accounting for observation censoring. By treating resource use by rival species as censored data, we estimated the proportion of resources potentially used in the absence of rival species and calculated the loss caused by the rival species, which is defined as "Competition Intensity Index." We also defined the Unique Functional Contribution, which represents the net functional loss when a species is removed, calculated by excluding the contribution potentially substituted by the other species. We also considered resource degradation and computed the quantity of resources acquired by each species. This established framework was applied to predation data on bird nests by alien squirrels and other predators (Case 1) as well as scavenging on mammalian carcasses by two carnivores (Case 2). In Case 1, the introduction of squirrels significantly affected the breeding success of birds. Although nests were being preyed upon by native crows also, our model estimated that Unique Functional Contribution by the squirrels was 0.47. This means that, by eradicating the squirrels, the reproductive success of the birds could potentially increase by as much as 47%. In Case 2, the Competition Intensity Index for foxes was 0.17, whereas that for raccoon dogs was 0.46, suggesting an asymmetric effect of resource competition between the two species. The frequency distribution of wet mass available to the two species differed significantly. This approach will enable a more robust construction of resource-consumer interaction networks.

Ecological Examination of Mortality Rate in an Infant Industry: The Roles of Legitimacy and Illegitimacy

Population ecologists have sidestepped infant industries. Moreover, prior examinations have overlooked the level issue of legitimacy and the role of illegitimacy in firm failure. We suggest that both legitimacy and illegitimacy are potent antecedents of firm failures in an infant industry. We separate industry-level legitimacy from firm-level legitimacy and propose a novel “one-stage model.” This model indicates that incumbents of the infant industry concurrently take actions to advertise their typical and atypical firm features to industry spectators. These actions not only elevate both the industry-level legitimacy of the infant industry and the firm-level legitimacy of the incumbents but also simultaneously incite competition among the incumbents. We used a manually collected database of news articles on Chinese bicycle-sharing companies to examine firm failures in this infant industry from 2014 to 2017. We found that at the industry level, while industry-level legitimacy reduces a firm’s mortality, industry-level illegitimacy elevates the firm’s mortality. At the firm level, we confirm both the detrimental and beneficial effects of interfirm competition. When the rivals of the focal firm tout their atypical firm features, the focal firm’s likelihood of failure increases; when rivals and focal firm try to highlight their typical firm features, the focal firm’s failure rate decreases. When it comes to firm-level illegitimacy, both the focal firm and its rivals’ illegitimacies increase a firm’s mortality. We confirm that legitimacy and illegitimacy are not two poles of a single continuum.

Adsorption of fluoride ion on Al/La modified acidified attapulgite composite materials

This study developed a novel fluoride ion adsorbent material (Al/La-A) for efficient removal of fluoride ions in water. The crystal structure, elemental composition, surface morphology, specific surface area, thermal stability and surface electronegativity before and after modification were explored using FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS, BET, TG-DSC, and zeta potential measurements. Results showed that the fluoride ion adsorption capacity of Al/La-A reached 130.42 mg/g, with the surface area increasing from 65.66 m2/g to 111.68 m2/g, respectively, compared to unmodified attapulgite. Al/La-A maintained excellent fluoride ion removal performance over a wide pH range, with the best adsorption at pH 2. Coexisting ion experiments indicated weak competitive adsorption effects of Cl-, SO42-, and HCO3–, with fluoride ion adsorption remaining above 100 mg/g in the presence of different concentrations of coexisting anions. After 5 adsorption–desorption cycles, Al/La-A exhibited strong adsorption capacity and reusability. The fitting of Langmuir adsorption model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model to the adsorption of fluoride ions on Al/La-A indicated that the adsorption of fluoride ions on Al/La-A was primarily monolayer chemical adsorption. The adsorption mechanism of fluoride ions involved electrostatic interactions, ion exchange, and coordination complexation. This study provides a new research approach for the optimal utilization of attapulgite-based adsorbent materials and the efficient removal of fluoride-containing wastewater.

Aboveground versus soil-mediated effects of an invasive grass on fire-dependent forbs in an oak woodland.

Most work on plant competition intensity in general has focused on how aboveground and belowground competition for resources between plants changes with soil resource availability. In contrast, much work on the competitive effects of non-native invasive species on native species has focused on other mechanisms (e.g., allelopathy and microbial changes) and has largely ignored how these effects interact with mechanisms of resource competition along productivity gradients. We examined aboveground effects of an invasive grass, Microstegium vimineum, along with soil differences between invaded and non-invaded areas on two native perennial herbs at a productive and an unproductive oak woodland site in north Mississippi, USA. We transplanted 32 individuals each of Helianthus silphioides and Potentilla simplex from uninvaded areas into natural patches dominated by M. vimineum at each of the sites. Each transplant was randomly assigned to a pot with either native soil or soil from around M. vimineum roots. Aboveground competition was manipulated by securing M. vimineum shoots in a non-shading position around the transplant. We monitored survival of all transplants weekly in the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. Transplant survival of H. silphioides was lowest in M. vimineum soil at the more productive site when M. vimineum was not pinned back. Transplant survival of P. simplex was lower at the more productive site but was mostly unresponsive to pinning and soil treatments. Synthesis. Our results suggest that soil-mediated legacy effects of an invader may reduce some native species' ability to compete for light at productive sites.

온라인플랫폼 사업자의 자사우대 행위의 위법성에 대한 소고

In December 2023, the Fair Trade Commission announced that it would introduce the tentatively named ‘Platform Fair Competition Promotion Act’ to pre-designate ‘dominant online platforms’ and prohibit abuse of their market dominant position. The fundamental question is whether online platforms’ self-preferencing can be considered subject to regulation under competition law, and what are the standards for judging its illegality. These controversies include what is the basis for recognition of market dominant position in the online market under the current legal system and whether self-preferencing can be included as a regulatory type of abuse of market dominant position. The Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act prohibits abusive practices of market dominant Position in the relevant market, resulting in the effect of restricting competition. But, it is not easy to determine whether a market dominant position exists or whether there is a competition restriction effect in online platform market. Despite this situation, the Fair Trade Commission is establishing legislative policies to preemptively determine dominant online platforms and prohibit their abusive practices. However, the limitations of the use of the SSNIP test in online platforms did not overcome in ‘the Naver shopping case’, and the theory of monopoly leveraging, which is intended to be applied to determine the effect of restricting competition, has virtually lost its value in the United States, and the related discussions in the EU are different from the judgment standards established in ‘the Posco case’ in Korea. Considering the characteristics of the online platform market, which has the possibility of infinite competition in a multi-sided market without regional restrictions due to technological development, and the efficiency enhancing effect that the various services provided by online platforms will bring, regulation of the online platforms must be cautious.

Managers’ Overconfidence and Corporate Cash Holding in China: The Interaction Effect of Product Market Competition

Traditional corporate finance theory holds that people are entirely rational. However, psychological research shows that people are not wholly rational, which means that when people make decisions, their beliefs and preferences usually produce systematic biases manifested by behavioral characteristics such as overconfidence and loss avoidance. Therefore, managers' behaviors can be influenced to some extent by their psychological characteristics, implying that managers are not entirely rational. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between managers' overconfidence and corporate cash holding decisions in Chinese listed companies. This study also investigated the influence of market product competition on the relationship between managers' overconfidence and corporate cash-holding decisions. This study used the data of the A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange from 2010-2022 as the sample and applied FEM and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) for analyzing the data. The empirical results show that managers’ overconfidence have the positive correlation with cash holding. Therefore, managers tend to hold more cash for internal financing. However, this positive relationship can be alleviated by product market competition. This study will assist enterprises in developing a comprehensive and effective enterprise cash-holding plan to assist companies in making scientific cash-holding decisions.

Educational Effects of Carbon-Neutral Education and Carbon-Neutral Idea Competition in University Major Classes

Educational Effects of Carbon-Neutral Education and Carbon-Neutral Idea Competition in University Major Classes

Verseny és előny – A Decanter World Wine Awards magyar vonatkozású eredményei és azok összefüggése a borok árával

This study examines the relationship between Hungarian wine prices and the results of the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). The study analyses the relationship between the DWWA and the prices of medal-winning Hungarian wines and the impact on the Hungarian wine sector. An analysis of the correlation between the Decanter World Wine Awards and Hungarian wines shows the price-shaping effect of wine competitions on the Hungarian and international wine market. By taking advantage of the recognition and credibility provided by the DWWA, Hungarian winemakers have the opportunity to position their wines in higher market segments, serving discerning consumers seeking premium and award-winning wines. Three regions seem to be best suited for this: Tokaj, Eger and South Pannonia (Villany and Szekszard). The winning wines will contribute to the economic viability and sustainability of the Hungarian wine industry, providing access to new sales channels, international recognition and promoting the unique and diverse Hungarian terroir. The medals achieved in this prestigious competition will facilitate market entry in competitive markets and foster cooperation with distributors and importers seeking quality-driven wine portfolios. Continued investment in quality development, sustainability practices and market diversification will be essential for Hungarian winemakers to capitalise on the success of the competition for long-term growth. In the future, the authors aim to conduct a study of the results of several years of competition, incorporating new perspectives.JEL Codes: E2, E3, F1, M2, M3

The dark side of competition in developing economies: Evidence from closely held SMEs

AbstractThis paper investigates how product market competition affects the performance of closely held small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies. In contrast to prior findings that focus on large publicly traded companies in developed economies, we find that market competition has a negative effect on firm performance. Our findings are robust to different measures of competition and firm performance and survive after addressing endogeneity issues. We provide evidence that the adverse effect of competition is channeled through increased corruption. Our findings further suggest that firms respond to competition by attempting to acquire more financial resources and government support, adopt quality improvement and cost reduction policies. The adverse effect of competition is especially strong for smaller firms.

The Remediation Effects of Different Biofertilizers on Bacterial Community in Hg-Contaminated Soil

ABSTRACT Guizhou province is the most abundant region of mercury resources in China. The long history of mining activities has resulted in severe mercury (Hg) pollution and endangering both environment and human health. This study investigated the impact of different fertilizers on Hg-polluted soil bacterial community structure. We assumed that (1) fertilizer application would lead to changes in the bacterial community; and (2) the combined application of two fertilizers did not cause additive effects. The results revealed the application of bio-organic fertilizer could significantly enhance the bacterial community diversity. However, the combination of multiple fertilizers did not yield synergistic effects. There were indications of antagonistic interactions between certain fertilizers via competition or inhibitory effects. Additionally, we conducted an experiment in the greenhouse with Brassica Pekinensis and the Hg contents in roots and leaves were measured. Our findings suggested that different fertilizers would change the release fluxes of soil Hg(0). By immobilization of Hg in the soil, fertilizer could promote a healthier and more diverse soil bacterial community. This study provides valuable insights into the influence of different fertilizers on bacterial community in Hg-polluted soil, offering potential directions for further remediation efforts and policies.

Naturally diverse plant communities do not resist invasion by the strong competitor, Microstegium vimineum.

Theory predicts and empirical studies have shown that ecologically manipulated communities with high species diversity are resistant to invasion, but do these predictions and results hold true when applied to highly competitive invaders in natural communities? Few studies of diversity-mediated invasion resistance have measured both invasion resistance and invader impact in the same study. We used a two-year field experiment to test: (1) diversity-mediated competitive resistance to patch expansion by the grass, Microstegium vimineum; and (2) the competitive effect of M. vimineum on resident plant diversity. We examined responses of M. vimineum to two native plant density-reduction treatments that had opposite effects on species diversity: (1) reducing species richness via the removal of rare species; and (2) reducing dominance by reducing the density of the dominant resident species. We examined the effects of M. vimineum reduction by pre-emergent herbicide on resident diversity in the second year of the study. Neither rare species removal nor dominant species reduction significantly increased M. vimineum density (relative growth rate). The pre-emergent herbicide dramatically reduced M. vimineum in year 2 of the study, but not most resident plants, which were perennials and indirectly benefited from the herbicide at a more productive site, presumably due to reduced competition from M. vimineum. Diversity-mediated resistance did not effectively deter invasion by a highly competitive invader. In the case of M. vimineum and at more productive sites, it would appear that nearly complete removal of this invader is necessary to preserve plant species diversity.

Reindeer grazing reduces climate‐driven vegetation changes and shifts trophic interactions in the Fennoscandian tundra

Herbivores drive shifts in plant species composition by interacting with vegetation through defoliation, trampling and nutrient addition: urine and faeces. As herbivore effects on vegetation accumulate over time, they might spillover to other trophic levels, but how and when this happens is poorly understood. Since it is methodologically demanding to measure biodiversity across spatial gradients, an alternative approach is to assess it through biodiversity indices of vascular plants. We employed the Index of biodiversity relevance developed for Swedish flora which provides an estimated number of organisms associated with a plant species, allowing the quantification of trophic community size. Values from this index were coupled with vegetation data from a network of 96 fenced and paired grazed plots across Fennoscandia. We analysed the role herbivory has on plant richness and diversity, and on the number of organisms that interact with the vegetation according to the index values. We also explored how herbivores influence the competitive effects of tall shrubs on other plants since the dominance of a vegetation type links directly to biodiversity. Plant diversity had no clear response to grazing. Overall vegetation and the vegetation subgroups herbs and non‐fruit shrubs had higher biodiversity index values in fenced plots, indicating a higher number of plant–host interactions. Herb cover was negatively related to shrubs in both treatments but with a faster decline in the absence of herbivores. This study highlights the importance of maintaining herbivore populations in the Arctic to conserve the vegetation structure and biodiversity of the tundra. This method of coupling biodiversity indexes with vegetation data provides complementary information to the plant diversity, especially when methodological or time constraints prevent complete field inventories.