Products Sector Research Articles

Estimativa do impacto do comércio Brasil-China sobre o trabalho por nível de qualificação

O objetivo da pesquisa foi estimar o efeito do comércio Brasil-China em geração de horas de trabalho por qualificação e identificar os setores com maiores impactos. Os resultados mostraram que no período 1995-2009 as relações entre os países modificaram-se com a tendência de o Brasil exportar produtos primários para a China e adquirir produtos com maior valor agregado e tecnologia. A consequência deste fenômeno foi que a balança comercial positiva do ano de 2009 em 4,7 bilhões de dólares para o Brasil apresentou saldo negativo de geração de trabalho em 520 milhões de horas, principalmente de média qualificação. Os setores do Brasil com maior geração de trabalho em 2009 por exportações para a China foram Agropecuária (1778 milhões de horas) e Extrativismo mineral (644 milhões de horas). Na China, temos os setores Produtos Elétricos e ópticos (1474 milhões de horas de trabalho geradas por exportações para o Brasil), Têxtil (561 milhões de horas) e Máquinas (249 milhões de horas).

BRANDING AS AN EFFECTIVE MARKETING STRATEGY FOR THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

The purpose of the paper is to justify the theoretical concept, to identify the main trends and develop practical recommendations for the use of branding by dairy companies to increase their competitiveness. Methodology. To achieve results, it is necessary to develop the theoretical foundations of branding; to consider the current state and trends of the dairy market in Ukraine; to analyze the experience of other countries using branding; determine the role of branding in the marketing strategy of the dairy industry. Results. The article proves the growing role of branding in ensuring the competitiveness of enterprises. The content of the concept of brand and branding as a component of marketing activities is revealed. The expediency of forming a premium pricing strategy is justfied. Peculiarities of branding on the market of dairy products of Ukraine are highlighted. The main trends in the development of the range of dairy products are studied: healthy nutrition, growth of the “vegetable milk” sector and lactose-free products. The target segment of consumers and its features, the main stages of the advertising campaign in promoting dairy products on the market are determined. Practical implications. Creating new brands of dairy products and distributing them to the market through branding is an effective method of ensuring the competitiveness of dairy products, but Ukrainian producers do not know how to use it successfully. This is due to the fact that competition in the field of dairy products is very high, and therefore the use of various measures to improve product quality and price measures of competition are quite limited. Therefore, non-price factors of dairy product competitiveness and non-price factors of competition come to the fore. Branding helps to reduce the cost of services to promote dairy products on the market and increase the commercial effect. The subject of research is a set of theoretical, methodological aspects of the organization and application of branding dairy companies in order to increase their competitiveness. Branding as an effective tool of communication policy of enterprises will ensure and then increase the competitiveness of poultry products through its personalized positioning and promotion.

EMPRESAS EXITOSAS Y NO EXITOSAS DEL SECTOR DE PRODUCTOS DE CONSUMO FRECUENTE QUE COTIZAN EN LA BOLSA MEXICANA DE VALORES: UNA CLASIFICACIÓN MEDIANTE ANÁLISIS DISCRIMINANTE MÚLTIPLE

The objective of this article is to determine the financial reasons that discriminate the companies, with a high and low financial performance, of the sector of frequent consumption products that are quoted in the Mexican Stock Market. For this, the financial statements of 16 companies were compiled from 2001 to 2017 on a quarterly basis, with which variables were calculated that include financial ratios of liquidity, indebtedness, leverage, RION, INVESTRAT. For the methodological part, an objective classification based on the cluster analysis is first proposed, and then through the discriminant analysis, concluding that there are 10 financial reasons out of 37 considered in this study, which more contribute to discrimination, being: Current money, Acid test, Leverage, Times that the exchange loss is paid, Operating cash interest, Cash operating at foreign exchange loss, Collection days, Rotation of assets, Net profit margin and Return on equity.

An empirical evaluation on the performance of food service industry in Malaysia with TOPSIS model

The food service industry makes impacts on society and plays a key role in expanding economic and business opportunity. Besides that, the economic sector is also contributed by the food and beverage industry. Therefore, performance evaluation is vital for the food service industry in a highly competitive environment in order to improve the decision-making process in an organization. The objective of this study is to propose a conceptual framework in evaluating and ranking the financial performance of the food companies from the consumer products sector in Malaysia with Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model. Current ratio, return on equity, profit margin, debt to equity ratio, earnings per share, dividend yield and price earnings ratio are the financial ratios employed in this study. The results of this study show that HEXZA gives the highest performance, followed by TGUAN, 3A and finally CANONE. This study is significant as it helps to evaluate the financial performance of food service industry in Malaysia with the proposed conceptual framework using TOPSIS model.

COVID‐19 and Food Security in Fiji: The Reinforcement of Subsistence Farming Practices in Rural and Urban Areas

<scp>COVID</scp>‐19 and Food Security in Fiji: The Reinforcement of Subsistence Farming Practices in Rural and Urban Areas

Conversion factors for residential wood energy in the European Union: an introduction to harmonizing units of measurement

Wood energy data are reported in forest products and energy statistics but current use of heterogeneous units can result in major inconsistencies. Harmonization of wood energy statistics can benefit data quality and improve measuring sustainable practices, better informing policy-makers and analyzing feedstock competition. Harmonization of wood energy data and subsequent application in the forest product and energy sectors require appropriate conversion factors. We provide conversion factors for forest energy products relative to weight and volume for the residential sectors of EU28 member states. Selected forest products include wood from primary, secondary and tertiary sources considering differences in properties affecting conversion factors. Proposed conversion factors were derived from information on moisture content, heating value, density and changes in wood volumes due to swelling and shrinkage of wood. Heating values relative to weight denote conversion factors to transform weight to energy units that ranged from 13.88 to 17.14 MJ/kg. Computation of heating values relative to volume ranged from 7316 to 11,053 MJ/m³. The use of extreme conversion factors in a sensitivity assessment showed that the ranges between minimum and maximum values accounted for as much as 27% of total wood energy consumption. Application of conversion factors to EU28 residential wood energy consumption revealed inconsistencies between forest products and energy statistics. Closer collaboration between experts and use of universal conversion factors at national levels will likely improve data quality and direct comparability. Conversion factors used in the residential sector can facilitate harmonization in non-residential sectors, but sector-specific product characteristics require further adjustment.

Leveraging social media for knowledge management healthcare capability

PurposeThis study aims to understand how healthcare social media offer nonmedical psycho-social support for pediatric oncology patients and their care community and how social media can be exploited for healthcare knowledge management.Design/methodology/approachSocial media capabilities were identified and categorized based on psycho-social support services for pediatric oncology patients, caregivers and their community of care. Data were collected from 187 service sites representing more than 100 organizations. These broadly defined capabilities in trusted care organizations were analyzed to understand use of social media in providing psycho-social support.FindingsAnalysis revealed resource guides, stories and in-person support at clinics as the most prevalent forms of technology-guided psycho-social support. Privacy, security and information integrity rose as technical challenges for interactive social media platforms. Medical community trust is inconsistent, leading to immature adoption of critical psycho-social support as a knowledge management source. Findings further indicate the not-for-profit support sector provides robust social media capabilities compared to the healthcare sector.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research may extend to maturing healthcare and not-for-profit sector services and to private sector products such as mobile applications and other technologies.Practical implicationsSurvivor and caregiver quality of life depend on psycho-social support communities and services delivered via social media.Social implicationsChild protection social implications require significant attention due to sensitivity of security, privacy concerns and longevity of digital footprints for pediatric patients.Originality/valueResearch demonstrates opportunity for medical provider, healthcare organization, not-for-profit sector, patient and caregiver cooperation using social media. Data indicate healthcare technology systems leveraging social media can extend knowledge management capability beyond organization boundaries.

Sectorial Output Growth and Commercial Bank Credit Nexus in Nigeria

This study investigates the nexus between sectorial output growth and commercial bank credit in Nigeria. Sectorial output growth was broken down into three different proxies which include production sector, Commercial sector and Service sector contribution to gross domestic product while bank credit to production sector, general commerce and service sector served as the independent variables which are used to proxy commercial bank credit. The study made use of secondary data obtained from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical bulletin for the period 1981 to 2019. It employed Descriptive Statistics, Phillips-Perron (PP) Unit Root Test, Simple Regression Analysis and Granger Causality Test. The Granger Causality result showed that bi-directional causality is identified in the three models while there were positive and significant relationship between bank credit to production sector, general commerce, service sector and production sector contribution to gross domestic product, general commerce sector contribution to gross domestic product and service sector contribution to gross domestic product respectively. The paper therefore recommends that the regulatory authorities should prioritize more on increasing and easing the requirements needed from deficit spenders to secure credit from commercial banks in Nigeria.

Information and communication technologies: foreign experience and national model

The 21st century is characterized by the formation of an “intellectual nation” as a new direction of modernization of modern society; at the same time, the intellectual personality acts as a factor of socio-economic development. The most important task for Kazakhstan is the implementation of the Strategic Objective, where an important area is complete modernization in the socio-economic sphere. This task is also typical for a number of developing countries of the world, where the key aspect in the modernization of society is the creation of new innovative institutions to rethink and recreate the modern socio-economic formation. Modernization extends to areas such as intellectual work associated with the new division of labor; as a scientific and cultural sphere related to the knowledge economy and the new information society. Science is faced with a new task to solve the problem of forming an intellectual society, which implies the need for active interdisciplinary research, the integration of socio-humanitarian and socio-political sciences. Kazakhstan, like other developing countries, is faced with the strategic task of becoming a society of the future, in which the basis of the new economy is intellectual potential, a highly competitive system of higher education and an innovatively advanced socio-cultural infrastructure. At the present stage of development of the socio-economic formation, higher education successfully corresponds with the economic sector, and human resources are the main value that makes an innovative contribution to the creation of new products in industry, science, culture and other sectors of the economy and social sphere. In this regard, an important mission of higher education in Kazakhstan is to train highly competitive, innovatively advanced specialists who are able to think creatively and work as highly professional personnel of Kazakhstani society. Key words: intellectual nation, mass media, informational development, intellectual society, partners.

Structural capital value addition to timber and related industries value chain

Purpose – Structural capital is a component of intellectual capital. Its measurement is essential to obtain the real value of intellectual capital and its influence on profitability. This article aims at understanding the impact of structural capital on timber and related industries value chain of Galicia (Spain).Design/methodology/approach – The wood sector chain was divided into three major sectors: extraction, conversion and finished products. Using a panel data model, we measured the value addition created by structural capital for the period of 2002-2018.Findings – Structural capital brings value addition to extraction and finished products sectors of the value chain. The sector and the territory limit value generation and efficiency of structural capital.Research limitations/implications – We took an extensive data set ranging from 2002 to 2018 of a relatively small region (Galicia). The findings could change if the area is expanded and/or other regions covered.Practical implications – For business managers and consultants, this study suggests the need for benchmarking and cooperation practices between companies to increase efficiency. Entrepreneurs must concentrate more on intellectual capital in order to better performance.Social implications – Local governments and social entities should acknowledge the importance of intellectual capital while implementing regulations and specific actions to improve SMEs profitability. Originality/value – This paper measures the impact of structural capital on the timber value chain. SC is taken as an independent variable, unlike previous measurement models, where it was a remainder value after deducting HC from IC.

An environmental imperative in the development of the national economy: increasing the potential of microalgae

Aim. To study the methodological basis for increasing the potential of applications of microalgae in the national economy, as one of the environmental imperatives in the development of new natural resources for future generations.Materials and Methods. The research was conducted on the basis of content analysis of Russian and foreign scientific publications and materials obtained in the course of expeditions and experimental and sociological research. The clustercognitive approach and economic-mathematical modeling were used for a more complete exposition of the topic.Discussion. According to imperatives of the green economy, environmental technologies will become leading factors in the development of the world economy. The most important incentive for entrepreneurs in the environmental market will be growing the demand of consumers and of governments. Promising areas include the use of microalgae in the production of foods beneficial to human health, feed additives in animal husbandry, poultry farming and fish farming, substances for improving water quality in reservoirs and the clean-up of oil spills. The issue of increasing the potential of microalgae at the regional level on the basis of a cognitive cluster approach is most relevant. The procurement of live microalgae biomass in amounts necessary to thoroughly supply world and national markets remains challenging in both technological and technical terms. Economic and mathematical models and sociological research, as well as the opinions of experts, allow us to justify business decisions in opening microalgae production facilities. Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis present promising prospects for entrepreneurial investment due to the high value of their metabolites.Conclusion. The increase in production and applications of microalgae is of major strategic potential in the development of the national economy, as the manufacture of bio-products and immune-stimulating drugs increases every year in response to climate change, pandemics, environmental pollution, food shortages and difficulties in accessing clean water. It is necessary to adopt legislative and regulatory instruments and organizational measures aimed at stimulating the investment of funding entities and entrepreneurs in the production of microalgae products in various sectors of the economy. International collaborations, industrial enterprises and space agencies (e.g. Roscosmos and NASA) are actively conducting research into the use of microalgae for the processing of organic waste in human living facilities in space as a source of both oxygen and food. The issue of creating clusters and applying mechanisms of public-private partnership aimed at increasing the profitability of bio-product manufacture from microalgae in various industries and sectors of the economy at the macro-and meso-level remains relevant.

The development of the national forestry sector: Trends and prospects

Subject. The article discusses organizational and economic processes of the forestry sector and timber products in Russia and some of its regions. Objectives. We trace the prevailing development lines of the forestry sector and timber industry through scientific approaches o setting cross-regional forestry clusters. Methods. Having analyzed foreign practices and existing trends in Russia's forestry sector and natural and regional distinctions in the development of the timber industry, we generalized the cluster approach to operations of the forestry sector, which pursues the cross-regional cooperation and interaction. The study is based on monographs, economic-statistical, graphic and expert assessment methods. Results. Increasing the timber output, fiscal revenue are strategic goals of the development and enhancement of Russia's forestry sector due to fees for forest resource use, satisfaction of the domestic demand and growing exports of added-value wood processing per unit of forestry area through innovation technologies. Intensifying processes of clustering and cross-sector interaction in forestry, emergence and implementation of the new cluster policy for clustering macroregions' economies will help accomplish the above goals. Cross-regional clusters in the forestry sector should be created with reference to the smart specialization model in the spatial development of the country and its regions. As forestry enterprises establish their cross-regional interaction, their economic activity gets more effective, this allowing for large innovative projects, reasonable use of forest resources, and more intensive business activities. Conclusions and Relevance. If the phased model of cross-regional forestry clusters is used at the meso-regional level, there will be the basis for a further plan of actions to intensify the interaction of forestry enterprises and cluster infrastructure entities, enhance the use of their available resources and lucrativeness for investors.

Secondary school canteens in Australia: analysis of canteen menus from a repeated cross-sectional national survey.

The current study aimed to assess the nutritional quality of Australian secondary school canteen menus. Stratified national samples of schools provided canteen menus in 2012-2013 and 2018, which were systematically assessed against a 'traffic light' classification system according to the National Healthy School Canteen Guidelines. Items were classified as green (healthiest and recommended to dominate canteen menus), amber (select carefully) or red (low nutritional quality, should not appear on canteen menus), and pricing and promotional strategies were recorded. Australia. Canteen menus from 244 secondary schools (2012-2013 n 148, 2018 n 96). A total of 21 501 menu items were classified. Forty-nine percent of canteen menus contained at least 50 % green items; however, nearly all (98·5 %) offered at least one red item and therefore did not comply with national recommendations. Snacks and drinks had the least healthy profile of all product sectors, and a large proportion of schools supplied products typically of poor nutritional quality (meat pies and savoury pastries 91·8 %, sugary drinks 89·5 %, sweet baked goods 71·5 %, ice creams 64·1 % and potato chips 44·0 %). Red items were significantly cheaper than green items on average, and many schools promoted the purchase of red items on canteen menus (52·8 %). There were few differences between survey waves. There is considerable room for improvement in the nutritional quality of canteen menus in Australian secondary schools, including in the availability, pricing and promotion of healthier options. Additional resources and services to support implementation of national guidelines would be beneficial.

Water footprint assessment in expressway infrastructure system

The water footprint is a useful and important method for calculating water consumption in products and systems. Up to date, many studies on water footprints have focused on the high water consumption sectors of agriculture and livestock products, but few have looked at social infrastructure. The aim of this study is to calculate the water footprint using previous water footprint evaluation methodologies for the expressway infrastructure system and compare the results of each different methodology used for expressway infrastructure systems. Boulay’s methodology, the Ministry of Environment’s methodology using Ecoinvent, and Ministry of Environment’s methodology using Korean life cycle inventory were used and compared. As a result, 58,801 m3 H2Oeq of direct and indirect water was used for 1 km expressway with Boulay method, also 42,030 m3 H2Oeq, and 27,485 m3 H2Oeq, of direct and indirect water was consumed using Ministry of Environment’s methodology using Ecoinvent and Ministry of Environment’s methodology using Korean life cycle inventory. The study approach and results can support for more sustainable water management in infrastructure system.

Finansal Performans İle Pay Senedi Getirisi Arasındaki İlişkinin Entropi ve MAUT ÇKKV Teknikleriyle Değerlendirilmesi: BİST Kimya, Petrol, Kauçuk Ve Plastik Ürünler Sektörü Firmalarından Kanıtlar

Bu çalışmanın amacı, 2015-2018 dönemi için BİST Kimya, Petrol, Kauçuk ve Plastik ürünler sektöründe faaliyette bulunan firmaların finansal performansı ile pay senedi getirileri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Bu amaçla, çalışmada iki aşamadan oluşan bir analiz yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın ilk aşamasında Entropi ve MAUT yöntemlerinden oluşan hibrid birçok kriterli karar verme modeli ile firmaların finansal performansı değerlendirilmiştir. Sonrasında ise bütünleşik Entropi-MAUT modeli kapsamında seçilen firmaların hesaplanan performans sıralamaları ile aynı firmalara ait yıllık hisse senedi getirileri sıralamaları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olup olmadığı korelasyon analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Hibrid Entropi-MAUT yönteminden elde edilen bulgulara göre incelenen dönem itibariyle finansal açıdan en başarılı firmanın SODSN firmasının olduğu bununla beraber en başarısız firmanın ise SANFM firması olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca, korelasyon analizi sonucunda finansal performans sıralaması ile getiri sıralaması arasında pozitif ve güçlü bir ilişki olduğu bulunmuştur. Bu bulgu, çalışma kapsamında incelenen sektöre yatırım yapan tasarruf sahiplerinin, yatırımları ile ilgili karar alırken firmaların geçmiş performanslarını dikkate aldıklarını ortaya koymaktadır.

A Cointegration Analysis of the Nordic Roundwood Markets

The integration of the Nordic timber markets has been analysed to provide market information to various decision-makers, e.g., climate and industrial policies and investment decisions. This study addresses the interlinkage between Nordic (Sweden, Norway and Finland) roundwood markets (Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)) and Norway spruce ((Picea abies L.) sawlogs and pulpwood). In total, eleven markets were analysed using quarterly data over the period 2006Q1–2017Q4 where various unit root and stationary tests were performed together with Johansen’s cointegration test. In addition, directional causality analyses between the integrated markets were also performed. The results show that the law-of-one-price (LOP) hypothesis can be rejected for most of the studied markets and that no individual market emerges as the price-leader. Only the Swedish and Norwegian pine sawlog markets are integrated suggesting a single market for both countries. Price affecting national and forest-related policies as well as investments in the forestry sector, forest industries, bioenergy sector and other forest product using sectors, will not disperse into a larger international market structure; instead, the price effect will be national and more likely have a more profound effect.

ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫНЫҢ АГРАРЛЫҚ САЛАСЫНДАҒЫ МЕМЛЕКЕТТІК-ЖЕКЕШЕЛІК ӘРІПТЕСТІК

The study of theoretical approaches and substantiation of recommendations for improving PPP mechanisms in AIC is dictated by their relevance and practical significance, which allow, on terms of mutual benefit for the state and business, to expand the resource base of agricultural production. The problems of using public-private partnership in the field of agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan are analyzed and its need for increasing the competitiveness of the agro-industrial complex is shown. There are presented 4 types of common PPP projects in the development of agribusiness, proposed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The reasons that hinder the active development of public-private partnerships in agricultural sector are identified: lack of cash; often low possibility of obtaining loan from bank; insufficient qualifications of specialists. The main directions have been identified that have significant potential for promising PPP programs: production of organic products in crop and livestock production sectors; an increase in the volume of meat products and milk; development of greenhouse economy, specializing not only in growing vegetables, but also in floriculture. A SWOT analysis of the use of public-private partnerships in agricultural production is presented, its strengths and capabilities, weaknesses and threats are shown, and, based on the results of the study, conceptual directions for the development of the PPP institute in AIC of the republic are highlighted. The following advantages of public-private partnership are reflected: the use of its mechanism will help to attract additional investment in agriculture, modernize production facilities, increase the profitability of production, saturate the domestic market with quality and affordable food, realize the country's export potential, and increase tax revenues.

ISLAMIC FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA: A BOUNDS TESTING APPROACH

Using a bounds testing approach to the cointegration and error correction method developed within the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework, this paper analyses the short- and long-run dynamic relationships between Islamic financial development and economic growth in Nigeria. Quarterly time-series data (2012:1 to 2019:3) are employed for the variables, together with non-interest bank financing to the private sector and real gross domestic product as indicators of Islamic financial development and economic growth respectively. The results indicate a significant short- and long-run relationship between Islamic financial development and economic growth. The relationship, however, is neither Schumpeter’s supply-leading nor Robinson’s demand-following type; rather, it appears to be bi-directional. In addition, empirical evidence is found that underscores the important role of Islamic bank financing in the economic performance of Nigeria. The paper recommends that improvement of the Islamic financial system in Nigeria may foster economic development and enhance welfare and poverty alleviation in the long run.

Can the Japanese agri-food producers survive under freer trade? A general equilibrium analysis with farm heterogeneity and product differentiation

The roles of firm heterogeneity and product differentiation in the manufacturing industries have attracted research attention on the “new new trade theory.” The agricultural sectors also produce new goods using product differentiation through breeding, branding, and other activities. In reaction to globalization, the Japanese Government has sought to revitalize its agri-food sectors by promoting exports of differentiated products. This computable general equilibrium study examines the relevance of this policy, focusing on five agri-food sectors other than grains. We simulate Japan’s three trade deals and a policy intervention that cuts fixed export costs to promote exports. We show that only a few agri-food sectors can increase exports and maintain domestic output under freer trade, and that export promotion would markedly increase entrants into export markets and increase exports of the vegetables and fruit, and processed food product sectors. In these trade deals, tariff and nontariff barriers have different impacts on trade, output, and farm/firm entry.

A study on evolution of frozen meat products in food business

Indian meat sector contributes to a sustainable growth and development of the farmers and thus provides employment opportunities. The production and consumption of meat in the year 2017 has been 6.67 and 4.84 million tonne respectively. The meat industry has evolved into several processing firms consisting of ready-to-eat foods, beverages, frozen fruits, vegetables and frozen meat products. 48.51 per cent of total frozen foods are frozen meat products. The frozen meat sector is expanding tremendously in all regions of India. Several players are emerging locally and nationally in frozen meat product sector, with the introduction of several varieties and types of products. Frozen meat products have turned to be brighter food business opportunity in India since the consumers have started preferring a convenient standard of living.