Cycle Theory Research Articles

On the classification of Jacobi curves and their conformal curvatures

This paper describes the theory of Jacobi curves, a far reaching extension of the spaces of Jacobi fields along Riemannian geodesics, developed by Agrachev and Zelenko. Jacobi curves are curves in the Lagrangian Grassmannian of a symplectic space satisfying appropriate regularity conditions. It is shown that they are fully characterized in terms of a family of conformal symplectic invariant curvatures. In addition to a new derivation of the Ricci curvature tensor of a Jacobi curve, a Cartan-like theory of Jacobi curves is presented that allows to associate to any admissible Jacobi curve a reduced normal Cartan matrix. A reconstruction theorem proving that an admissible Jacobi curve is characterized, up to conformal symplectic transformations, by a reduced normal Cartan matrix and a geometric parametrization is obtained. The theory of cycles is studied proving that they correspond to flat Jacobi curves.

Resource Creation Processes in the Fruit Sector That Focus on International Market Insertion

Objective: This study aims to investigate the processes of creation, adaptation, and renewal of strategic resources in the irrigated fruit farming sector, focusing on producers from the Nilo Coelho Irrigation District (DINC) in Petrolina, Brazil, to understand how these processes enable their insertion into international markets. Theoretical Framework: The research is grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV), Dynamic Capabilities, Life Cycle Theory, Teleological Theory, and Institutional Theory, providing a solid basis to analyze the challenges faced and strategies adopted by producers. Method: A qualitative exploratory approach was adopted, analyzing 18 enterprises of varying sizes. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and secondary data, using triangulation to validate the findings. Results and Discussion: The findings revealed three main dimensions structuring competitiveness: the internal dynamics of rural enterprises, the internal production environment, and the external environment. Additionally, seven critical factors were identified, including international certifications, innovation in traceability, and logistical infrastructure. The discussion links these findings to the theoretical framework, highlighting how producers overcome structural barriers through strategic alliances, organizational learning, and sustainable practices. Research Implications: This study contributes to managerial strategies and public policies, providing insights into strengthening competitiveness in the irrigated fruit farming sector. Originality/Value: The research advances the literature by integrating multiple theoretical approaches to analyze strategic processes in agribusiness, standing out for its examination of a strategic yet underexplored hub within the Brazilian context.

Studying strategic behaviour of small industrial enterprises in the context of the organizational and industry life cycle concepts

Unlike large corporations whose business patterns have been extensively studied and categorized, there is a lack of research on small business strategies, leaving them largely unexplored. The article explores the strategic behaviour of small industrial enterprises in Russia within the organizational and industry life cycle concept. The research methodology is based on strategic management theory and the concept of the life cycle. The research methods include panel data analysis, the Beta coef f icient calculation, and the matrix method. The information base is the reporting data of 134 small enterprises from industries at different stages of the life cycle: metal casting (growth) and newspaper printing (maturity). Statistics for analysis were obtained from the SPARK Interfax database for the period of 1999–2021. We identified three types of strategic behaviour (‘aggressive’, ‘de fender’, and ‘counterstrategy’) and assessed their prevalence among small enterprises in the two industries under consideration. The results showed that mature small enterprises with an ‘aggressive’ intuitively strategic behaviour are the predominant type of business in a mature industry, while for small enterprises in a growing industry ‘defender’ and ‘counterstrategy’ are the prevalent strategies at all the life cycle stages. This paradox additionally proves the validity of our idea of the intuitively strategic behaviour of small businesses. Our findings contribute to the development of the SME life cycle theory and strategic management, can be used to adjust industry policy and government support measures, and can also be of interest to managers of small enterprises.

The Impact of Consumption Downgrading on Housing Purchase Decision of Chinese Middle Class: An Analysis Based on the Life Cycle Theory and Marriage Market Theory

In the face of the trend of consumption downgrading, the purchasing decisions of the middle class regarding real estate have undergone new changes. Existing literature on the housing market and purchasing behavior of the middle class under the trend of consumption downgrading suggests that the purchasing power of the middle class has generally decreased, with many unable to bear the costs of mortgage loans and other housing-related financial burdens. As a result, the number of people purchasing real estate in the future may decrease. Based on existing research and practical needs, this paper summarizes the trends of previous studies through a literature review, pointing out their shortcomings. The paper further explores the decision-making process of the middle class in the context of consumption downgrading and analyzes the reasons for this situation using the Life Cycle Theory and Marriage Market Theory. The goal of this research is to provide policy recommendations for policymakers and reasonable suggestions for middle-class housing consumption decisions. The analysis shows that the middle class tends to rent housing or purchase small-sized properties, and that owning property is an important factor in the marriage market, especially from adulthood to the marriage stage.

Public capital investment spike events: the regional dimension in Greece

Deviating from the standard practice of linking public infrastructure and regional output expansion through a linear long-run equilibrium relationship, we consider the case where public investments follow a ‘bumpy’ path instead. According to the political business cycles theory, we argue that public infrastructure investments occur in a lumpy manner at the beginning of the electoral period, with reduced activity between spikes. In this framework, we propose a novel methodology applied in a different context to identify the role of investment spikes on the performance of Greek regions from 1995 to 2015. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research focusing on the relationship between spikes in public investments and their impact on regional development. To address the research question, we utilize a difference-in-differences (Diff in Diff) model. However, it is important to note that this approach is susceptible to endogeneity concerns, particularly it might suffer from omitted variable bias, a form of endogeneity. The analysis shows a strong increase in regional labor productivity, peaking three years after the shock.

Determinants of Dividend Payout Policy: More Evidence From Emerging Markets of G20 Bloc

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to examine the key factors influencing dividend payout policy in emerging markets, using a quantitative approach with a sample of 938 firms and 19,698 firm‐year observations. The study considers dividends, and share repurchases as elements of payout, analysing the effect of earnings, taxes, debt, size and free cash flow on payout decisions through an OLS Panel Data regression model and a GMM‐AB model for robustness. Findings indicate that taxes, size and leverage positively influence payout, while free cash flow and earnings show negative associations. Notably, free cash flow exhibits the largest impact on payout variations, supporting asymmetric information theories like bird‐in‐hand, signalling and dividend life cycle theories, where payout responds to investor risk aversion. The paper's originality lies in its 21‐year analysis of 11 emerging economies, identifying that, unlike developed markets where payout is shaped by agency conflicts, emerging markets emphasise reducing investor risk aversion. The findings also challenge existing financial theories by demonstrating a complementary relationship between investment and debt policies, with a negative correlation between cash flow and dividends and a positive one between leverage and dividends.

Proto-Austrian and Proto-Keynesian Elements of John Mills’s Credit Cycle

John Mills’s (1867) “On Credit Cycles and the Origin of Commercial Panics” explains business cycles with both Austrian and Keynesian elements. The present article argues that a close reading reveals more alignment with Austrian business cycle theory and that Mills’s influence on Keynes’s cycle theory via William Stanley Jevons’s “sunspot theory” is based on a misinterpretation of Mills. While Ludwig von Mises (1953) did not cite Mills in his The Theory of Money and Credit, there is a trail of citations linking Mills, Jevons, and Keynes. Keynes and Jevons latched onto the idea that changes in “commercial moods” generate and exacerbate business cycles, and Mills’s “On Credit Cycles” does indeed heavily feature commercial moods and market psychology. Yet a full and close reading of Mills reveals that he believed that changes in commercial moods are driven by expansions and contractions in artificial credit. John Mills’s “On Credit Cycles” is not well known, so I review it at length, noting points of comparison to the business cycle theories of both Keynes and the Austrian school. I argue that the proto-Austrian elements of Mills’s cycle theory were ignored or misinterpreted by Jevons. Jevons regarded Mills’s cycle theory as an accurate description of the business cycle, even though he was unsatisfied with what he considered unexplained fluctuations in commercial moods. Jevons attempted to connect the fluctuations to sunspots, while Keynes was happy to leave changes in commercial moods unexplained.

Quadratic vector fields in class I

In [Ye et al., Theory of Limit Cycles, 1986], quadratic systems are classified into three different normal forms (I, II and III) with increasing number of parameters. The simplest family is I and even several subfamilies of it have been studied, and some global attempts have been done, up to this paper, the full study was still undone. In this article, we make an interdisciplinary global study of Class I. Since the family has four parameters, we have studied it using the same technique that has already been used in several papers with similar systems which is based on the algebraic invariants of the Sibirskii's school. The bifurcation diagram for this class, done in the adequate parameter space which is the 3-dimensional real projective space, is quite rich in its complexity and yields 261 subsets with 49 different phase portraits for Class I (2 of them corresponding to linear systems), 7 of which have limit cycles. The phase portraits are always represented in the Poincaré disc. The bifurcation set is formed by an algebraic set of bifurcations of singularities, finite or infinite and by an analytic set of curves corresponding to phase portraits which have separatrix connections. Algebraic invariants were needed to construct the algebraic part of the bifurcation set, symbolic computations to deal with some quite complex invariants and numerical calculations to determine the position of the analytic bifurcation set of connections.

The evolution of online public opinion on earthquakes: a system dynamics approach

Earthquakes endanger lives and properties and trigger widespread online public opinion. If the government fails to implement emergency measures quickly, the risks associated with this online public opinion may escalate and present significant challenges in managing it. To solve this issue, this paper investigates the M5.7 earthquake in Yibin, China, as a case study, drawing data from China’s Sina Weibo. It also develops an evolutionary model of earthquake online public opinion using the life cycle theory of public opinion dissemination, public opinion crisis management theory, and system dynamics methods. This study chooses a system dynamic model because it can capture overall trends and feedback cycles. This approach provides a comprehensive view of the evolution of the whole system’s behavior and public opinion during the crisis. This model analyzes the evolution of the online public opinion of the earthquake from the perspective of the earthquake, netizens (social media users), media, and government. This study explores the differences between online public opinion by adjusting the size of different variables in the model. This provides an entry point for better control of the development and communication of earthquake online public opinion. The findings indicate that, following the earthquake, the media exerted the most significant influence on public opinion, mainly through media participation, diffusion, and impact, demonstrating a significantly positive correlation with the magnitude of public opinion. Moreover, the simulation revealed that the government is leading in preventing and controlling online public opinion. This study presents the following innovations: (1) It builds a comprehensive online public opinion model for earthquakes, which provides insights for studying online public opinion regarding other sudden natural disasters. (2) It employs system dynamics to simulate earthquake online public opinion, providing countermeasures and recommendations for the government to manage and regulate this discourse effectively.

Equivalent combined cycle modeling and performance optimization for a three-heat-reservoir thermal Brownian heat transformer with external heat-transfer

Three-heat-reservoir (THR) heat transformers can upgrade temperature gradient of thermal energy, and lots of instructive research has been conducted in the last decades. However, study of THR heat transformer cycle theory in micro systems remains lacking. By employing macro equivalent combined cycle method, this paper builds a finite-time thermodynamic model of THR thermal Brownian heat transformer, which is a combination of a two-reservoir thermal Brownian heat pump driven by a two-reservoir thermal Brownian engine. Expressions of performance parameters are deduced, and operating temperatures and external load ratio are determined by solving heat balance equations. Maximal heating load and corresponding coefficient of performance (COP) are given by modulating external load, heat exchanger inventory allocations and barrier height synchronously, and the optimal thermal conductance allocations and optimal working temperatures are identified. Results indicate that external thermal resistances affect heat flow transmission and the coupling of combined cycle, ultimately shaping the cycle performance. Half of the overall heat exchanger inventory should be arranged in middle heat exchanger under maximal heating load objective. Heating load exhibits an extremum with respect to COP. Equivalent combined cycle modelling is an effective and efficient method for performance optimization of THR thermal Brownian heat transformers with external heat-transfer.

Critical Elements and Theoretical Logic of Horizontal Transfer Payment System for Eco-Compensation: A Study Based on Grounded Theory

In recent years, how to coordinate the sustainable production and life of human society with the protection of ecological environment has become particularly important. This paper reviewed and analyzed the existing Chinese and English literature on Horizontal transfer payment system for eco-compensation (or hereinafter referred to as ECITPS), based on which this paper applied Grounded Theory to study the critical elements and theoretical logic of the System, exploring its formation process and logical procedure, and constructing a theoretical model of this System. It was found that the theoretical model of eco-compensation Horizontal transfer payment system is mainly divided into three stages, namely, the early, middle and late stages. Moreover, the logic of the ECITPS as a whole was the validation of PDCA Deming Cycle Theory, while the previous research on Horizontal transfer payment for eco-compensation was more focused on the specific object, with a lack of the overall macro understand of the theoretical framework for the system. Therefore, this paper assisted to promote the improvement of the ECITPS from the macro theoretical framework, and provided a reference idea for the development of the transfer payment field in the future period.

Pointlessness of average period of production: A critique of Lewin and Cachanosky

AbstractPeter Lewin and Nicolas Cachanosky seek to rehabilitate the concept of the average period of production (APP) introduced into Austrian capital theory by Böhm-Bawerk (1930). In their works, they argue that the financial concepts of Macauley’s Duration and Modified Duration are appropriate measures of the average period of production. For this reason, the most relevant aspects of the Austrian Business Cycle Theory (ABCT), i.e. the lengthening and shortening of the production structure, can be captured by them. In fact, the introduction of this concept into ABCT is pointless, since it only shows the sensitivity of the economy to changes in interest rates. Meanwhile, it does not help us understand a number of other phenomena that can be observed over the business cycle. By focusing on APP as represented by duration and modified duration, we are only referring to how the average value of all investments in the economy changes under the influence of a change in interest rates, ignoring other important phenomena that take place over the course of the business cycle.

THE LIFE CYCLE THEORY AND PERMANENT INCOME THEORY IN HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

This article explains the interplay between the Life Cycle Theory (LCT) and Permanent Income Theory (PIT) in the domain of household financial sustainability. By integrating these two prominent frameworks, it offers a comprehensive approach to understanding how households manage their financial activities across their lifetimes. Considering the criticisms of both consumption theories, the article aims to provide valuable insights into distinct aspects of household personal sustainable finance, particularly in the areas of debt management and repayment, assessing sustainable consumption behavior, household expenditure and investment patterns, as well as the utilization and reduction of debt. Integrating these two theories presents a more holistic understanding of household financial sustainability.

Can Religion Drive Malaysian Muslim Entrepreneurs to Embrace Challenges in Eco-Friendly Document Management and Contribute Financially In Sustainable Business as Part of Sustainable Development Goals?

Objective: The objectives of this study are to explore the practice of paperless document systems and the perception of financial contribution among Muslim entrepreneurs in Malaysia as an effort to achieve SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Theoretical Framework: This research is conducted based on the cyclical theory of civilisation of Ibn Khaldun especially on how civilisation rise and fall based on the resource management and governance, with sustainability playing a critical role in the prosperity and decline. Method: Surveys were distributed to 204 respondents who attended six-series of business management seminars, and interviews were conducted among 10 participants. The data were analysed using SPSS software and thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the interview. Results and Discussion: The results show that businesses use paperless document systems moderately. Many still switch between digital and physical storage. The financial commitment to sustainability is low. Most entrepreneurs were worried about high costs and the unexpected returns. There are a few major hurdles, like disorganized digital storage, limited knowledge and time to explore sustainability. However, some entrepreneurs feel driven to adopt sustainable practices because of their religious beliefs, particularly purpose as the Khalīfah. Research Implications: The findings provide initial data for future research especially in developing modules for Muslim entrepreneurs in Malaysia. It also provide the government and stakeholder on the factors and solutions of the contribution in sustainable business. Originality/Value: Its originality lies in its focus on the role of religion and knowledge in motivating Muslim entrepreneurs to contribute in sustainability vision of the governement, providing a new perspective different from other tangible and intangible motivation.

Promoting economic recovery: the silver lining of digital transformation and corporate innovation

With the unstable international environment, the global economy has experienced a slowcession. Previous research on digital innovation in firms has often neglected the impact of macroeconomic cycles. This paper examines the moderating effect of the economic slowcession in the digital transformation and corporate innovation nexus, by using the China’s A-share listed companies’data during 2001 and 2021. The empirical results find that the positive impact of digitization on innovation is countercyclical. During recession, the positive impact of digital transformation on innovation is even greater compared to economic prosperity. Grouped regression results indicate that State-owned listed companies, Non-high tech companies, Large-scale companies, and Eastern companies are more affected by the positive moderating effect of the recession. This indicates that getting out of recession requires more aggressive support of these companies, which promotes innovation and economic recovery. This study provides a useful reference for countries in recession and provides an important complement to traditional economic cycle theory and innovation cycle theory.

The Moderating Effect of Self-control on the Relationship between Financial Knowledge and Retirement Planning among Commercial Bank Employees in Eldoret Town, Kenya

Retirement planning is a goal-oriented behavior where individuals devote effort to prepare for their retirement life effectively, thus reducing retirement worry, keeping stress under wraps, and enhancing retirement preparedness and confidence. However, there is little literature about retirement planning among employees working in Kenyan commercial banks. To fill this gap, this study aimed to establish the moderating effect of self-control on financial knowledge and retirement planning among commercial bank employees in Kenya. This study was guided by goal setting, social cognitive, and behavioral life cycle theories. The study adopted an explanatory research design, with data being collected from a target population of 1058 employees of 32 commercial banks in Eldoret town using a closed-ended questionnaire. A sample size of 290 respondents was obtained using Yamane’s formula. The study used simple random sampling techniques to sample the commercial banks, and thereafter the researcher used systematic sampling techniques to select employees as respondents. The study hypotheses were tested using a hierarchical regression model. Results reveal that financial knowledge had a significant positive impact on retirement planning (β =.626, P =.000), confirming that employees with better financial knowledge are more likely to plan effectively for retirement. Similarly, self-control not only directly influences retirement planning (β = .258, P =.000) but also moderates the relationship between financial knowledge and retirement planning (β =.137, P =.000). Results further indicate that the moderation model is a superior model than the direct effect model as it accounts for more variance (60.5%) in retirement planning as shown by R² =.605 compared to 44.9% (R² =.449). This moderation process contributes to new knowledge in literature and theory. These study findings will be helpful to organizations and governments in developing policies and strategies related to retirement systems in the workplace. Limitations and recommendations have also been discussed.

Optimal Intermediate Pressure Investigation in a CO₂ Transcritical Distributed Compression Refrigeration Cycle

The CO2 transcritical distributed compression cycle proposal provides a novel approach for refrigerant cooling in traditional transcritical cycles. This paper employed an exhaustive search method to derive the correlation formula for the optimal intermediate pressure. From the perspectives of thermodynamic performance and economics, a comparative analysis was conducted between the cycle established under the optimal intermediate pressure obtained in this study, the cycle based on equal compression ratios in traditional two-stage compression cycles, and the cycle established using the optimal secondary compression ratio method based on low-pressure stage discharge pressure mentioned in previous literature study. The research results indicate that the system's COP calculated using the obtained optimal intermediate pressure correlation method can be improved by up to 7.26% and 5.32%, respectively, compared to the traditional and literature-based methods. The exergy loss with the optimal intermediate pressure method is less than with the other two methods. The entransy dissipation rate of the system obtained using the optimal intermediate pressure correlation method is 24.61% and 50.14% lower than that of the traditional and literature-based methods, respectively. The investment cost of the main components using the optimal intermediate pressure correlation method is about 5% higher than that of the traditional method and about 1% higher than that of the optimal pressure ratio method. However, the total annual cost rate of the system is the lowest. The research enriches and improves the theory of the CO₂ transcritical distributed compression cycle, thereby facilitating the advancement of practical applications based on this cycle theory.

Research on Public Opinion Guidance Strategies of Political Microblogs in the Context of Emergencies

This study takes "Gansu 12-18 Jishishan Earthquake" as an example to explore the strategies of guiding public opinion on government microblogs in the context of emergencies. Using the life cycle theory of public opinion, the study divides the development process of public opinion into four stages: latency, growth, maturity and decline, and systematically analyzes the performance of government microblogs, such as @Gansu Firefighting, @Gansu Public Security, and @Gansu Publishing, in the development of public opinion on emergencies, as well as their guiding effects in the various stages of public opinion development. The study shows that governmental microblogs perform better in terms of timeliness and authority of information release in emergencies, and are able to rapidly convey official information and stabilize public sentiment. However, there are still deficiencies in the interactive mechanism, public opinion monitoring and early warning, and evaluation and feedback. Based on this, it is proposed to optimize the public opinion monitoring and warning mechanism, enhance public interaction, and improve the feedback and evaluation system, so as to improve the public opinion management ability of government microblogs in emergencies, and to ensure the efficient communication of government information and the effective guidance of public opinion.

The Impact of Low-Carbon City Governance on Firm Green Innovation: An Enterprise Life Cycle Perspective

In order to address the climate change crisis, China has actively promoted low-carbon urban development. China has implemented a policy known as the low-carbon city pilot policy (LCCPP). Given the enterprise life cycle theory, a multi-period DID model is employed to investigate the influence of the LCCPP on enterprise’s green technology innovation (GTI). The research reveals that the LCCPP can actually promote enterprise’s GTI. The LCCPP significantly stimulates GTI of enterprises in the growth phase, but not for enterprises in the maturity and recession phases. Path analysis indicates that the LCCPP can enhance enterprise’s GTI by increasing government fiscal subsidies to and research and development (R&D) of firms. Further analysis reveals that although the GTI effects of the LCCPS are not effective for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-manufacturing businesses, it is significant for those enterprises that are in the growth stage. The LCCPP successfully enhances substantial innovation within enterprises, but not for strategic innovation within enterprises. This study enriches the existing scholarly research on the influence of the LCCPP on enterprise’s GTI and holds practical implications for promoting accurate and effective GTI among enterprises, thereby further advancing the transition towards low-carbon urban development.

Consciousness and commodity: towards a critical theory of genre in American popular music

ABSTRACT This paper uses a critical theory approach to analyse the process of genre in American popular music. Synthesizing views from Herbert Marcuse and Theodor Adorno with more optimistic perspectives from Angela Davis and Tia DeNora, the paper proposes a cyclical theory of genre transformation from communal resistance to commodified product. Three case studies are used to show this process. In the 1920s, Appalachian music transformed from indigenous, multi-racial folk to commercialized ‘hillbilly music'. During the 1970s disco originated in queer communities to provide liberation on the dancefloor, became the dominant music of the decade, resulting in its homophobic extinction while inspiring new dance genres like house. Finally, the 1980s saw the rise of rap as a mode of defiance to racial and economic violence, but subsequent generations of artists worked to self-commodify to appeal to suburban white audiences, becoming the world's most popular genre. The paper examines how each genre originated as a form of resistance, gained widespread popularity, and ultimately became commodified. It concludes by exploring how AI-driven algorithms have disrupted traditional consumption patterns based on genre. In its place, machine learning and artificial intelligence is fabricating an ‘algorithmic self’ that individuates while disconnecting from specific communal expressions.