Lower Input Costs Research Articles

Farmer groups, collective marketing and smallholder farm performance in rural Ghana

PurposeRapid transformation of agrifood value chains because of population growth, urbanization, rising consumer incomes and increased demand for food quality and safety has resulted in the need for smallholder farmers to coordinate horizontally through group formation and collective marketing to improve farm performance in developing countries. This paper aims to examine the factors that influence farmer group membership and collective marketing decisions and their impacts on smallholder farm performance in rural Ghana.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from a recent survey of 447 rice farmers in rural Ghana, an endogenous switching regression model is employed to account for selection bias arising from both observable and unobservable farmer attributes.FindingsThe data reveal that group members and collective marketing participants obtained higher prices and also incurred lower input costs. The econometric estimates show that age, access to credit, mobile phone ownership, distance to market and road status are the main drivers of group membership and collective marketing decisions. The authors also find positive and significant impacts of farmer group membership and collective marketing on farm net revenues.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings from this study suggest that government and donor support for the formation of farmer groups during implementation of agriculture and value chain interventions should as well incorporate strategies to facilitate collective marketing.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the role farmer groups and collective marketing play in improving smallholder farm performance.

Feed efficiency and maternal productivity of Bos indicus beefcows.

This study evaluated 53 primiparous cows (36.8±1.23 months old and 484±40.9 kg of body weight) performance tested (GrowSafe® System) from 22±5 to 190±13 days of lactation in order to obtain daily dry matter intake (DMI). The animals received a high-forage diet (forage-to-concentrate ratio of 90:10). Milk production of the cows was evaluated three times by mechanical milking and the energy-corrected milk yield (ECMY) was calculated. Energy status (through the indicators glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and β-hydroxybutyrate), protein status (indicators albumin, urea, and creatinine), mineral status (indicators calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium), and hormonal status (indicators insulin and cortisol) were estimated four times throughout lactation. The residual feed intake (RFI) of cows was calculated considering DMI, average daily gain (ADG) and mid-test metabolic weight (BW0.75) obtained in early lactation (from 22±5 to 102±7 days), and the animals were classified as negative (most efficient) or positive RFI (least efficient). The RFI model explained 53% of the variation in DMI. The mean DMI, ADG, ECMY, and calf weight as a percentage of cow weight were 12.47±2.70 kg DM/day, 0.632±0.323 kg/day, 10.47±3.23 kg/day, and 36.6±5.39%, respectively. Negative RFI cows consumed 11.5% less DM than positive RFI cows, with performance and metabolic profile being similar to those of positive RFI cows, except for a lower milk protein content and higher blood cholesterol concentration. In conclusion, negative (most efficient) and positive RFI (least efficient) Nellore cows, fed an ad libitum high-forage diet, produced similar amounts of milk, fat and lactose and had similar subcutaneous fat thickness, weight, calf weight as a percentage of cow weight, and blood metabolite concentrations (except for cholesterol). Therefore, there are economic benefits to utilizing RFI in a cow herd since cattle had decreased DMI with similar overall performance, making them more profitable due to lower input costs.

Optimizing Dryland Crop Management to Regional Climate via Simulation. Part I: U.S. Southern High Plains Cotton Production

Over semi-arid agricultural regions such as the U.S. Southern High Plains (SHP) producers of dryland crops need to know which management practices increase yields and decrease production risk. Here, a modelling approach is used to explore management options (MO) that increase dryland cotton yields and estimate those practice’s yield risk effects under current SHP climate conditions. To simulate current dryland yield variability, dense distributions of lint yield outcomes were generated using the CROPGRO-Cotton crop model driven by weather inputs from 21 SHP weather stations during 2005-2016. Management effects were explored by repeating simulations over 32 MOs defined by 4 planting dates, 4 planting densities, and applying or not applying nitrogen. Both earlier planting date and decreased plant density increased median simulated yields, with earlier planting having the greatest positive yield effects. The MO that produced the highest median lint yields planted on the earliest planting date (May 15), at the lowest density (3 plants m-1), and applied no nitrogen. Recent SHP field studies generally confirm the earlier planting date effect, but suggest insignificant yield effects for different seeding rates. Even so, negligible yield effects and lower input costs favor lower seeding densities from a profit standpoint. These crop simulations demonstrate a modelling-based method for climate-related agricultural risk management, and suggest mid-May planting dates and low plant densities as part of management practices that increase yields and profits in dryland SHP cotton production.

Tobacco contract farming in Zimbabwe: power dynamics, accumulation trajectories, land use patterns and livelihoods

ABSTRACT Zimbabwe's Fast Track Land Reform Programme resulted in a massive growth of the country's tobacco sector. Some authors have labelled this, the ‘tobacco boom’. The effects of this growth are variegated across space and time. This study explores the growth of tobacco contract farming in Goromonzi and Zvimba districts and the resultant effects on land use patterns, accumulation, power dynamics and livelihood outcomes. In illuminating on contract farming, the study also pays attention to non-contract farmers. The rise in the number of contract farmers is attributed to; better extension services, improved and guaranteed access to input and output markets. At the same time, tobacco contract farming is marked by several vicissitudes. Some farmers withdrew from the contracts due to low output prices and high input costs resulting in indebtedness. Similarly, some contracting firms dropped out from the contracting arrangements. Overall, many contracted growers accumulated more than non-contract farmers.

Pasture dry matter intake per cow in intensive dairy production systems: effects of grazing and feeding management

The competitiveness and sustainability of low input cost dairy production systems are generally supported by efficient use of pasture in the diets. Therefore, pasture intake directly affects overall efficiency of these systems. We aimed to assess feeding and grazing management main factors that affect pasture dry matter intake (DMI) in commercial dairy farms during the different seasons of the year. Fortnightly visits to 28 commercial dairies were carried out between June 2016 and May 2017 to record production and price, supplement offered and price, pasture access time (PAT), herbage mass (HM) and allowance (HA). Only farms with the most contrasting estimated pasture DMI per cow (eDMI) were compared as systems with high (HPI; N = 8) or low (LPI; N = 8) pasture DMI. Despite a lower individual milk production in HPI than LPI (19.0 v. 23.3 ± 0.7 l/cow, P < 0.01), daily margin over feeding cost was not different between groups (3.07 v. 2.93 ± 0.15 U$S/cow for HPI and LPI, respectively). During autumn and winter, HPI cows ingested more pasture than LPI cows (8.3 v. 4.6 and 5.9 v. 2.9 ± 0.55 kg DM/cow per day, respectively, P < 0.01) although PAT, HM and HA were similar between groups. Both groups offered high supplementation levels during these seasons, even though greater in LPI than HPI (14.7 v. 9.7 ± 0.7 kg DM supplement/cow per day, respectively, P < 0.01). On the other hand, differences between groups for both pasture and supplement DMI were more contrasting during spring and summer (13.1 v. 7.3 ± 0.5 and 4.0 v. 11.4 ± 0.4 kg DM/cow per day for HPI and LPI, respectively, P < 0.01), with higher PAT in both seasons (P < 0.05) and higher HA during summer in HPI than LPI (P < 0.01). Unlike LPI, during these seasons HPI adjusted offered supplement according to HA, achieving a higher pasture eDMI and making more efficient use of available pastoral resource than LPI. As there was no grazing limiting condition for pasture harvesting in either group, the main factor affecting pasture DMI was a pasture by supplement substitution effect. These results reinforce the importance of an efficient grazing management, and using supplements to nutritionally complement pasture intake rather than as a direct way to increase milk production.

Numerical and CFD Design of Heat Exchanger Used to Biomass Combustion

The article describes the design of a heat exchanger used for biomass combustion. The design takes into account simple maintenance of the exchanger, low input costs of construction and the highest possible efficiency. In the design is used the tubular type of heat exchanger. The construction consists of a tubular part - flue gas part, inter-tube space - heat transfer medium space. The output of the numerical model, CFD model is the heat transfer coefficient, heat exchanger power and final comparison of CFD and numerical model outputs.

Agronomic and economic tradeoffs between alternative cover crop and organic soybean sequences

AbstractOrganic grain producers are interested in reducing tillage to conserve soil and decrease labor and fuel costs. We examined agronomic and economic tradeoffs associated with alternative strategies for reducing tillage frequency and intensity in a cover crop–soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) sequence within a corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean–spelt (Triticum spelta L.) organic cropping system experiment in Pennsylvania. Tillage-based soybean production preceded by a cover crop mixture of annual ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and forage radish (Raphanus sativus L.) interseeded into corn grain (Z. mays L.) was compared with reduced-tillage soybean production preceded by roller-crimped cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) that was sown after corn silage. Total aboveground weed biomass did not differ between soybean production strategies. Each strategy, however, was characterized by high inter-annual variability in weed abundance. Tillage-based soybean production marginally increased grain yield by 0.28 Mg ha−1 compared with reduced-tillage soybean. A path model of soybean yield indicated that soybean stand establishment and weed biomass were primary drivers of yield, but soybean production strategy had a measurable effect on yields due to factors other than within-season weed–crop competition. Cumulative tillage frequency and intensity were quantified for each cover crop—sequence using the Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR) index. The reduced-tillage soybean sequence resulted in 50% less soil disturbance compared to tillage-based soybean sequence across study years. Finally, enterprise budget comparisons showed that the reduced-tillage soybean sequence resulted in lower input costs than the tillage-based soybean sequence but was approximately $114 ha−1 less profitable because of lower average yields.

Underutilized Fruits of Assam for Livelihood and Nutritional Security

India is endowed with a rich genetic diversity of fruits. The Hindustani centre represents 344 species of fruits. Northeast India, meeting ground of Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese bio-geographical areas is one of the 18 mega-biodiversity centers of the World, has contributed the fruit genera like Citrus, Musa, Mangifera, Docynia, Elaeocarpus, Myrica, Morus, Artocarpus, etc. There are a quite large number of indigenous and underutilized fruit crops, which are being used by the local inhabitants in rural areas. These underutilized fruits are fairly rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidant properties and are serving as protective food. Because of their curative properties, different parts of these fruit and plants have been used in ethno-medicines. Apart from their nutritive and medicinal values quite a few of these underutilized fruits have good flavor, colour and juice content and can be used for value additions. Several underutilized fruit species which have potential for commercial exploitation are yet to be utilized to their potential. These fruit crops have not undergone any conscious phase of domestication and selection. Their cultivation is very restricted and they grow in wild and semi wild condition and adapted to local climatic conditions. Hence they can thrive even under most adverse situation. Their adoption on a commercial scale, with crop improvement, standardization of cultural practices and popularization in diverse farming systems and value additions are warranted to achieve stability in farm production and food security. Many underutilized species, well adapted to marginal lands and with low cost inputs, may thus be of great benefit for the survival of poor communities, employment generation and sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.

Study on the Green Management Problems of the Chaidamu Circular Economy Experimental Zone’s Enterprises and Its Countermeasures

Since the reform and opening up, China's secondary industry has accelerated its development. The emergence of high energy consumption will inevitably lead to high pollution and high emissions, which will endanger China's ecological environment. For enterprises in the Chaidamu circular economy pilot zone, industrial development relying on resource enrichment in the experimental area is one of the main paths for rapid expansion, which makes the ecological environment of the experimental area more sensitive and the ecosystem more vulnerable. Nowadays, the ecological environment of the test area has been unable to withstand such rapid environmental degradation. How to solve the contradiction between economic development and environmental protection, achieve rapid and good development is a prominent problem facing the development of enterprises in the experimental area. Green management of enterprises is the best choice to solve this problem. This paper first introduces the general situation of Golmud, Delingha, Wulan and Dachaidan circular economy industrial park enterprises, and analyzes the main problems of green management in the experimental area. The employees have weak green awareness, low input cost of scientific and technological innovation, and follow-up treatment of waste. Incomplete and low ecological risk identification, it proposes to strengthen the talents of circular economy, enhance the management of technological innovation, accelerate the construction of enterprise ring system and enhance employees' ecological risk awareness

Industrial insect production as an alternative source of animal protein

Industrial insect production as an alternative source of animal protein

Banana leaf pruning to facilitate annual legume intercropping as an intensification strategy in the East African highlands

• Increasing banana leaf pruning levels progressively reduced banana performance while increasing legume yields. • Legume intercrops with high biomass (e.g. climbing beans) reduced banana performance. • Land-use efficiency was reduced by severe banana leaf pruning (i.e. retaining 4 leaves) but improved by moderate pruning. • The un-pruned banana monocrops had the highest labor and overall economic efficiency. • The decision to prune or not, to integrate legumes was thus trade-off between agronomic and economic efficiency. Banana leaf pruning is a common practice to facilitate intercropping with legumes on farmers’ fields. It is however not clear if this practice improves farmers land-use and economic efficiency, especially after full canopy formation. To analyze pruning effects, three legumes viz. bush bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L ), climbing bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L ) and soybean ( Glycine max ), were planted under three banana leaf pruning levels in which four, seven and all fully grown leaves were retained. Sole banana or legume plots served as controls. Each treatment combination was replicated three times. Banana growth and yield attributes were measured for the plant and first ratoon crops while legume biomass and yields determined over five consecutive cropping seasons. Significant (P < 0.001) reductions in banana growth and yield were associated with leaf pruning. Banana yield reductions of 31% and 10% for the four- and seven-leaf retention treatments, respectively occurred. The vigorous intercrops (climbing beans and soybeans) more often depressed the growth and yield of banana. Legume grain and biomass yields increased with leaf pruning levels. Weed biomass and associated management costs increased with decline in shade intensity. The land-use efficiency measured using the land equivalence ratio (LER) was far lower in the treatment with four-leaves (1.10) compared to when all leaves were retained (1.4) but higher (1.54) for the seven-leaf treatment. Severe banana leaf pruning could thus be detrimental to banana performance and inefficient. Moderate banana leaf pruning could however be promoted were land is limiting and farmers want to maximize diversity/nutrition. However, the highest values for gross revenue and benefit-cost ratio were realized for sole banana-all-leaf retention treatment due to a higher labor productivity and lower input costs attributed to the perennial nature of banana. The higher economic efficiency in sole banana plots suggests that reliance on LER only may be insufficient for guiding intercropping decisions.

Asymbiotic Nitrogen Fixation is Greater in Soils under Long‐Term No‐Till Versus Conventional Tillage

A series of N‐rate experiments previously conducted in spring wheat, corn, and sunflower in North Dakota indicated that less N was required when fields were in six years or more continuous no‐till compared to conventional till. The objective of this study was to determine whether part of the reason for the decreased requirement for N was the greater activity of asymbiotic N‐fixing organisms. Twelve paired‐samplings were conducted in 2018. A surface 0‐ to 5‐cm deep sample was obtained in a long‐term no‐till field directly across the fence or road from a similar soil in conventional till. Samples were incubated in an acetylene‐reduction procedure to estimate N fixation rate. Ten of twelve paired samplings had greater asymbiotic N fixation compared to the conventional till counterpart. This indicates that long‐term no‐till soils support greater N production from soil microorganisms than conventional till soils, which would result in lower input costs to no‐till farmers.Core Ideas Microbial communities are different between conventional till and no‐till managed soils. Asymbiotic N‐fixation was greater in farmer‐managed no‐till than neighboring conventional till. N recommendations in long‐term continuous no‐till should be separate from conventional till N recommendations.

Impact of neem coated urea on rice yield and nutrient use efficiency (NUE)

Neem coated urea not only increase crop yield but also lower input cost to the farmer. Cost of neem coated urea is only 3-4% higher than ordinary urea. Urea constitutes about 82% of the fertilizer nitrogen (N) used in India. Neem coated urea has been observed to improve nitrogen use efficiency and subsequently crop yield, especially in rice and wheat. Nitrification inhibitors when applied along with urea reduce losses of applied N thereby resulting in an improved yield of crops. In rice and wheat more than 50% of the urea consumed in India is applied, the mean increase in grain yield by replacing urea with NCU or NOCU is 5 to 6%. More than 75 studies have been conducted to compare the performance of urea coated with neem cake (NCU) or neem oil (NOCU) in increasing the yield of rice, wheat, and several other crops via uncoated urea. In 2015, the Government of India directed that all fertilizer urea manufactured in the country or imported will have to be coated with neem oil at the rate of 0.5 kg per tonne. This decision was motivated not only by the better performance of NOCU via uncoated urea but also by an expectation that it will lead to reduced consumption of urea. Increasing nitrogen efficiency means-reducing the nitrogen losses through leaching, immobilization and reducing groundwater pollution by nitrates as well as ammonia gas pollution in the air. It also reduces import of costly fertilizers as well as reduces ground, water, and soil pollution.

Towards bridging wheat gap in Egypt by using cassava, quinoa and guar as supplements for the production of balady bread

As Egypt is the largest wheat importer globally, the government is aiming to find alternatives to reduce wheat imports and to cultivate reclaimed lands. Comparative studies were conducted to investigate the effect of substituting portions of wheat flour with quinoa, cassava and guar flours at levels of 20%, 30%, and 5%, respectively, on chemical, rheological and sensory characteristics of the Egyptian balady bread that is currently produced from wheat only and to enhance its nutritional and baking quality. The study was carried out in the Agricultural Research Center, Egypt. Results proved that guar gave poor sensory characteristics, in addition to its insignificant substitution level (5%). Substituting wheat flour with 20% quinoa resulted in elevating protein, fat and fiber percentages than that of wheat flour (16.4, 2.15 and 1.01%, respectively). Bread made from quinoa–wheat blend gave the lowest fungal count and the highest shelf life (8 days), but resulted in significant changes in stability, volumes, texture, and structure. Substituting wheat with 30% cassava gave the highest carbohydrate content, didn’t change any of the rheological properties and no significant difference was noticed between wheat flour and 30% cassava–wheat bread in all sensory tests. Substituting wheat with quinoa or cassava at the above-mentioned percentages is acceptable and appropriate in terms of their flavor. Although cassava has higher substitution level than that of quinoa, still, we recommend expanding quinoa cultivation in Egypt due to its acceptability, suitability to the Egyptian environment, health benefits, low input cost and more importantly its high protein and fiber contents.

Antitrust Overreach: Undoing Cooperative Standardization in the Digital Economy

Information technology markets in general and wireless communications markets, in particular, rely on standardization mechanisms to develop interoperable devices for data processing, storage, and transmission. From 2G through the emergent 5G standard, wireless communications markets have largely achieved standardization through cooperative multi-firm arrangements that likely outperform the historically dominant alternatives of government monopoly, which is subject to informational deficits and regulatory capture, and private monopoly, which suffers from pricing and other distortions inherent to protected market positions. This cooperative process has successfully relied on three key legal elements: reasonably secure patents, quasi-contractual licensing commitments supplemented by reputation effects, and targeted application of antitrust safeguards against collusion risk. Over approximately the past decade, antitrust agencies and courts in the U.S., Europe and Asia have taken actions that threaten this legal infrastructure by limiting patentees’ ability to seek injunctive relief, adopting rigid understandings of “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” licensing principles, and addressing collusion risk among licensors-innovators while overlooking (and even exacerbating) collusion risk among licensees-implementers. These judicial and regulatory interventions in IP licensing markets shift value from firms and economies that specialize in generating innovations to firms and economies that specialize in integrating innovations into end-user products. These entity-level and country-level redistributive effects are illustrated by lobbying activities in the wireless communications markets and antitrust actions against IP licensors in jurisdictions that have substantial net IP deficits and are principally populated by IP licensees. Current antitrust policy promotes producers’ narrow interests in lower input costs while ignoring the broader public interest in preserving the cooperative standardization structures that have supported innovation and commercialization in the digital economy.

DESIGN AND REALIZATION OF GRIPPERS WITH PERMANENT MAGNETS

Urgency of the research. Modern production requires simple and inexpensive component solutions for gripping large parts. The design of gripping elements using a permanent magnet in this aspect is a promising direction. Target setting. The aim of the project was to realize a gripping component from a commercially available pneumatic drive supplemented with a neodymium permanent magnet and to revive the resulting assembly with a pneumatic portal manipulation device designed for educational activities at the department. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. Implementation of the project required a detailed market research focused on the tentacles of a similar concept and the study of the principles and properties of permanent magnets. By analyzing the information the project objective was optimized - design of cheap and reliable gripping element. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. Available components were used for the resulting solution, with an emphasis on low acquisition costs. This was due to the fact that the output was intended for laboratory use. The research objective. The aim of the research was to build a real functioning and reliably working gripping device usable as an object for educational activities in the education of our students. The statement of basic materials. Design and practical implementation of the grippers with permanent magnets for gripping parts represented in the work. Activation and control of the grips is implemented by compressed air. The implementation of the output confirmed the correctness of considerations as well as the feasibility of the repeatability of this output while meeting the basic requirement for low costs. The project was based on the principles offered by leading companies, but the implementation output gives a higher gripping force at lower input costs. In addition, it provides the possibility of extension to the size range according to customer requirements. Conclusions. The project was successful and its implementation also contributed to the improvement of the educational process at the department, which was one of the monitored benefits. It provides an illustrative demonstration of the possibilities of performing manipulation tasks with non-standard objects.

Malaria and fish farming in the Brazilian Amazon Region: a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis.

The fish farming program in Acre is as an alternative program to generate income and employment and has promising regional, national, and international markets. While the economic importance of fish farming in the Jurua Region is clear, one must address its contribution to increase malaria transmission. This was a qualitative study. The answers of the 16 key informants were organized into the following: (1) the healthcare services structure; (2) conscience, perception, and behaviors; and (3) socioeconomic and political issues. Each answer was classified as weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and threats. Regarding healthcare services, the frequency of household visits was reduced, and subjects presenting with malaria symptoms were required to visit a healthcare unit to be diagnosed and treated. Regarding individual's conscience, perception, and behavior, malaria was considered an insignificant disease, and a large proportion of the population were engaged in health practices that put them at risk in contacting with malaria vectors. Regarding political and economic issues, there were economic and infrastructure barriers for the development of a productive activity, and the insufficient credit or formalization of their properties prevented their access to governmental incentives and the financial market. Support to fish farmers for low-cost inputs was not observed, and appropriate knowledge regarding the impact of the absence of maintenance and abandonment of fish tanks was insufficient. Moreover, insufficient healthcare services prevented not only the treatment of individuals with malaria but also the control of this disease.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification: a rapid detection method for rice actin and nopaline synthase promoters in genetically modified crops

The commonly employed promoters in transgenic constructs such as Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S and Figwort Mosaic Virus promoters are not necessarily present in all the approved/upcoming genetically modified (GM) events. GM events of cotton and maize with rice actin (P-ract) and nopaline synthase (P-nos) promoters have been approved globally. The scope of screening assays is expanded to a diversified range of promoters being employed in GM crops. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a method of choice for screening of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) due to ease-of-use, rapidity and applicability to crude DNA samples. An efficient LAMP-based screening method was developed targeting P-ract and P-nos for better coverage of GM events approved globally. LAMP reactions were isothermally incubated at 63 °C for 30 min for P-ract and 65 °C for 60 min for P-nos. Positive amplification products were visualized by change in colour from orange to green on addition of SYBR® Green 1 dye. Specificity was confirmed using defined sets including both the targets and non-targets. The developed assays showed acceptable specificity and sensitivity with limit of detection of 0.05% for P-ract and 0.01% for P-nos. Practical applicability of assays was confirmed using proficiency test samples of maize for P-ract and spiked samples of cotton for P-nos. These assays could be utilized for efficient GMO testing with less time and low cost inputs.

The impact of within-industry diversification on firm performance

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how within-industry diversification affects the financial performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets (EMs). The authors draw on both the resource-based view and the institutional perspective and argue that within-industry diversification can enhance the financial performance of SMEs in EMs. Due to institutional voids in emerging economies, SMEs can gain additional benefits from scope economies, as well as from market returns, by filling product market voids and gaps in business ecosystems, while also enjoying low input and labor costs that reduce the coordination costs of diversification. This, in turn, enhances benefits of within-industry diversification, thereby resulting in higher financial profitability.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs panel data econometrics to estimate the model. The authors test hypotheses on 195 firms, originating from five countries in Southeast Asia, during the period of 2009–2014.FindingsThe empirical results support the arguments. Within-industry diversification has a positive impact on the performance of SMEs in EMs. These effects become weaker when the institutional contexts are more developed. Nevertheless, such effects become stronger when SMEs in EMs are more efficient.Research limitations/implicationsThe relationship between within-industry diversification and performance is a positive linear pattern, which differs from the pattern in advanced economies. In addition to unrelated diversification, the related diversification is preferable for firms in EMs.Practical implicationsThe paper provides implications for SMEs that aim to enhance their performance by engaging in single product lines and within-industry diversification.Originality/valueThis paper examines the different ways within-industry diversification can enhance SMEs performance in EM contexts.

Antitrust Overreach: Undoing Cooperative Standardization in the Digital Economy

Information technology markets in general, and wireless communications markets in particular, rely on standardization mechanisms to develop interoperable devices for rapid and secure data processing, storage and transmission. From 2G through the emergent 5G standard, wireless communications markets have largely achieved standardization through cooperative multi-firm arrangements that likely outperform the historically dominant alternatives of government monopoly, which is subject to informational deficits and regulatory capture, and private monopoly, which suffers from pricing and other distortions inherent to protected market positions. This cooperative process has successfully relied on a mix of reasonably secure patents, quasi-contractual licensing commitments supplemented by reputational discipline, and targeted application of antitrust safeguards against collusion risk. Over approximately the past decade, antitrust agencies and courts have taken actions that threaten this legal infrastructure by limiting patentees’ ability to seek injunctive relief, adopting rigid understandings of the “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” licensing commitment, and focusing on collusion risk among licensors-innovators while overlooking (and even exacerbating) collusion risk among licensees-implementers. This incremental erosion of IP and contractual security shifts value from firms and economies that specialize in generating technology inputs to firms and economies that specialize in integrating technology inputs into consumption goods. These entity-level and country-level redistributive effects are illustrated by the origins of the “FRAND” requirement at the onset of the European cellular telephone market and antitrust enforcement actions against IP licensors in jurisdictions that have substantial net IP deficits and are principally populated by firms that operate in the downstream stages of the technology supply chain. The current policy trajectory promotes producers’ and assemblers’ narrow interests in lower input costs while ignoring the broader public interest in preserving the cooperative standardization structures that have supported innovation and commercialization in wireless communications markets.