This article discussed the oil industry in Nigeria and its impact on the economy, environment, and the citizens. The black gold (oil) was first discovered in Nigeria after several trials by white explorers in Oloibi...This article discussed the oil industry in Nigeria and its impact on the economy, environment, and the citizens. The black gold (oil) was first discovered in Nigeria after several trials by white explorers in Oloibiri (present day Bayelsa State) in 1956 by Shell D'Arcy later renamed Shell-BP. By 1958, Nigeria joined the rank ofoil producers, when its first oil field came on stream. It was in the same year that the first shipment of oil from Nigeria occurred. Since then oil became Nigeria's primary export with about 95% of its govemment revenue coming from the "black gold", pushing agriculture and other sources of revenue to the background. The study discovered that the high revenue realised from the black gold especially after the Civil War, was not used by the government to transform Nigeria from a third world to a first world country as was predicted rather heavily mismanaged. The study further discovered that the multinational companies (MNC) responsible for drilling oil in Nigeria are guilty of polluting and degrading the environment via oil spills, thereby exposing the citizens to all kinds' health related problems and further poverty. The study concludes with the following: The corruption going on in the region must be tackled head long so that the citizens (the youth especially) will begin to feel the effect of the wealth generated from black gold. The government should also invest more on the education of its citizens to enable development in the country.展开更多
This paper aims to investigate the extent to which Malaysian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopted corporate governance (CG) principles and their effects on firm performance. The principles examined i...This paper aims to investigate the extent to which Malaysian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopted corporate governance (CG) principles and their effects on firm performance. The principles examined included: establishing clear roles and responsibilities; strengthening composition; and reinforcing independence. The paper is based on a questionnaire survey study among 113 SMEs that consisted of 35% (39) of manufacturing and related services and 65% (74) from services including information and communication technology (ICT), primary agriculture, construction, mining, and quarrying. The analysis of the data indicates that 32% of the respondents said that the primary reason why they have their own business is to have control over their own working life. This fmding appears to confirm the f'mancing theory that SMEs owners have other goals than profitability. In addition, 30% of SMEs perceived that the most important role played by the board is risk management; hence, these boards have a greater control over financial risks that may lead to better financial performance. The analysis also shows that 81% of the respondents' board consisted of internal board members only. These enterprises need to see the important role of external board members as a source of advice providers and experts to them. For policies relating to clear roles and responsibilities of board, only 28% of the respondents established clear functions reserved for the board and those delegated to management; substantial respondents did not draw up policies relating to reinforce board independency (between 75% and 79%) and to strengthen board composition (46%). Besides, 68% of the respondents have the position of chairman and CEO held by same individuals and 81% of the chairman is an executive member of the board. These findings suggest that SMEs cannot see the importance of strengthening board and having independent board members. Regression analysis also indicates that board independence has a significant and positive impact on firm performance. Hence, SMEs need to appreciate networking advantages, competency, and strategic knowledge that the right board can offer. The governmental ministries and agencies in Malaysia need to take active measures to encourage SMEs to strengthen their board governance, because SMEs are the important economic powers for stimulating national economic growth. This paper contributes to the empirical literatures on the adoption of CG principles and their effects on SMEs' firm performance in emerging markets.展开更多
Multinational firms such as Apple Inc. have accomplished environmental colonialism in China through the transfer of ecological costs to the local environment. This paper discusses ambiguities in China's environmental...Multinational firms such as Apple Inc. have accomplished environmental colonialism in China through the transfer of ecological costs to the local environment. This paper discusses ambiguities in China's environmental legislation and supervision, Apple's business model, and "green washing. " Further, we have identified countermeasures such as the encouraging Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs), streamlining litigation procedures, increasing fines, and the development of nonprofit media organizations.展开更多
On June 24th, 2018, President Tayyip Erdogan, along with his pro-Islamic party, the Justice and Development Pazty, AKP, won the general election in Turkey, which will enable Mr. Erdogan to be a one-man ruler of the Re...On June 24th, 2018, President Tayyip Erdogan, along with his pro-Islamic party, the Justice and Development Pazty, AKP, won the general election in Turkey, which will enable Mr. Erdogan to be a one-man ruler of the Republic of Turkey in the foreseeable future. Now, invested with infinite executive-presidential power, coupled with having complete control of the military, cabinet, judiciary and legislative branches, enables Mr. Erdogan to pursue his ambition to be a “nuclea3: power leader” in the Sunni Islamic world. The scientific denialism in general and environmental science, in particular, will reach a whole new level of insanity in Turkey where any conceivable environmental democracy will be abolished. The new government will further change the education establishment in every level and implement its anti-science political doctrines in which logic is an enemy and scientific truth is a menace. The last fifteen years of experience show that the AKP's politicians have become anti-science zealots who preach a dangerously new political cultism that is devoid of actual facts, if it does not fit their religious aberration narrative, Thus, virtually every aspect of the nuclear power program in Turkey will be a state secret under the control of one religiously motivated and driven ruler and this, should certainly sound alarm bells across the globe.展开更多
The present study is the result of an investigation of the organization of milk producers in the region of Fartura, SP, relations between the various actors in this chain of milk, the benefits obtained from this relat...The present study is the result of an investigation of the organization of milk producers in the region of Fartura, SP, relations between the various actors in this chain of milk, the benefits obtained from this relationship and classification of these properties in the dairy chain, allowing to measure productivity through the proposed indicators. Research has shown that dairy farmers in the region of Fartura had several benefits to organizing themselves as a Local Productive Arrangement or Social Networks, especially in relation to a better pay the price of a gallon of milk. To achieve these results, farmers had to invest to improve technological standards and production processes and thereby increase milk quality and productivity.展开更多
The increase on the competitiveness, the search on the customer satisfaction, the search by reducing waste in the civil construction were facts which helped entrepreneurs and companies to seek new ways of working, bei...The increase on the competitiveness, the search on the customer satisfaction, the search by reducing waste in the civil construction were facts which helped entrepreneurs and companies to seek new ways of working, being lean construction one of the ways to get that. Studies report that the application of the lean tools in construction was carried out in an isolated way. This type of application was pointed as a major factor limiting the extent of achievement in implementing lean principles. The aim of this studies is to identify opportunities to implement the principles of lean production in the service department of a construction company in Goi^is, proposing routines that try to implement the continuous improvement of its processes, eliminating waste, reducing the lead time, allow it to perform the mapping processes, applying the just-in-time and among others, providing services that add value to the customer satisfaction. It was possible to establish the average time for each step, allowing to identify possible improvements in the department, from the perspective of lean principles. The research paper concludes by pointing out the activities for the Department of Post Construction work from building companies, from lean concepts.展开更多
It is generally believed in academia that there are two theoretical explanations of tunneling and financing advantage for the creation of pyramidal structure. However, there is no definitive conclusion on which explan...It is generally believed in academia that there are two theoretical explanations of tunneling and financing advantage for the creation of pyramidal structure. However, there is no definitive conclusion on which explanation holds sway. Based on non-equilibrium panel data of seven years between 2004 and 2010, this empirical study uses the product market competition variables of "inter-sector competition" and "intra-sector competition" and the hierarchy and complexity of pyramidal structure, examines the correlation between pyramidal structure of Chinese private manufacturing listed firms and product market competition and patterns of change, and reveals the major causes of pyramidal structure. Empirical result indicates that, for Chinese private manufacturing listed companies, there is a significant negative correlation between product market competition and the hierarchy and complexity of pyramidal structure, which indicates that the creation of pyramidal structure has a preference on tunneling by controlling shareholders. On the basis of further considerations on corporate tunneling and financing restraint categorization, high-tunneling firms and firms with low financing restraint demonstrate significant tunneling motivations; low-tunneling firms and firms with high financing restraint demonstrate significant effect of financing advantage, which further testifies both theoretical explanations for the creation of pyramidal structure. Conclusions of these studies have not only enriched and supplemented relevant studies on the root causes for the creation of pyramidal structure by Chinese private business groups, but provide practical support for firms to make correct and effective use of pyramidal structure as well.展开更多
When the relationship between the government and the citizens is taken into consideration, at the times when the government is misusing its power, the citizens may express themselves about the injustice in various way...When the relationship between the government and the citizens is taken into consideration, at the times when the government is misusing its power, the citizens may express themselves about the injustice in various ways and civil disobedience is one of them. If the injustice still exists after all the judicial proceedings are taken, then, this act that has nonviolence as its fundamental philosophy is seen to take place. The most important representatives of civil disobedience in the world are Socrates, Henry David Thoreau, M. Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. These thinkers with their discourses and actions put forth what constitutes as civil disobedience and set an example to other societies. In this study, firstly, the aforementioned notion of civil disobedience is explained. Then, some demonstrations that took place in Turkey are evaluated in the framework of civil disobedience. The aim is to determine whether or not these demonstrations can be considered as examples of "civil disobedience". Also, the reasons why some of these demonstrations are not in the scope of civil disobedience are discussed. In this study, depiction and historical methods are used.展开更多
In coping with the global financial crisis, all levels of the Chinese government and foreign trade firms have not only created new practices but have also changed their goal from transforming the growth pattern of for...In coping with the global financial crisis, all levels of the Chinese government and foreign trade firms have not only created new practices but have also changed their goal from transforming the growth pattern of foreign trade to transforming the development pattern of joreign trade. China's experience shows that economic instruments such as Net Barter Terms of Trade (NBTT) and the smile curve theory have limitations when it comes to interpreting foreign trade. If used improperly, scientific theories often lead to.fallacies. Transjbrming the development pattern of China's .foreign trade requires the following changes: national income distribution, foreign trade competition, market exploration, and resource utilization. We advise that competent authorities create a reasonable and operational system of assessment indicators.展开更多
After the monetary and political crisis of 1997 and 1998, Indonesia has been viewed by some observers as having entered into a transitional phase from authoritarian rule by a strong state toward a new democratic syste...After the monetary and political crisis of 1997 and 1998, Indonesia has been viewed by some observers as having entered into a transitional phase from authoritarian rule by a strong state toward a new democratic system of government in which civil societies will play a more prominent role. Democratization process is also accompanied by the rise of a strong civil society, which would together result in more efficient and transparent governments at local levels. This article aims to show the dynamic of democratization process in Indonesia, in which civil societies such as business actors, NGOs (non-government organizations), journalists, scientists, business associations, consumer organizations, etc., play a more apparent role. Focused on the establishment of Private Sector Ombudsman (Lembaga Ombudsman Swasta--LOS) and also its role and responsibility, the author examines how LOS has become an alternative option for consumers to strengthen access to justice. In the last three years, LOS has succeeded in handling more than 200 cases and some of them have been the hottest issues. On the one hand, the emergence of LOS shows that civil society in Yogyakarta has played a significant role in implementing business ethics and good governance principles, and on the other hand, LOS has been proven to be the answer for consumers' needs in which consumers' complaints settled quickly, informal, and free of charge.展开更多
Village civil cases in the Qing Dynasty mainly dealt with households and marriage,land,and debts,etc.It was not uncommon for village disputes to end up in court,which functioned as a vent to release the sense of griev...Village civil cases in the Qing Dynasty mainly dealt with households and marriage,land,and debts,etc.It was not uncommon for village disputes to end up in court,which functioned as a vent to release the sense of grievance felt by the disputants.Seemingly trivial cases were thus not trivial at all for those concerned.Prefectural or county officials’mishandling of a petty civil case could spark village conflicts.As a consequence,such trials were seen as a sensitive issue in rural governance.After the 1860s,the unequal treaties had allowed Western missionaries to proselytize deep into the North China countryside,offering“political protection”for their converts in an attempt to maximize their number.The missionaries interfered extensively in village judicial actions,taking the side of their converts in civil lawsuits that pitted church members against ordinary people.This led to a general situation of“deceitful converts against honest men,”making the latter feel they were the victims of injustice.The channels that would have allowed the ordinary villagers to vent their grievances via litigation were thus blocked up.Their accumulated resentment burst its barriers and finally exploded in the violence of the Boxer Uprising.展开更多
文摘This article discussed the oil industry in Nigeria and its impact on the economy, environment, and the citizens. The black gold (oil) was first discovered in Nigeria after several trials by white explorers in Oloibiri (present day Bayelsa State) in 1956 by Shell D'Arcy later renamed Shell-BP. By 1958, Nigeria joined the rank ofoil producers, when its first oil field came on stream. It was in the same year that the first shipment of oil from Nigeria occurred. Since then oil became Nigeria's primary export with about 95% of its govemment revenue coming from the "black gold", pushing agriculture and other sources of revenue to the background. The study discovered that the high revenue realised from the black gold especially after the Civil War, was not used by the government to transform Nigeria from a third world to a first world country as was predicted rather heavily mismanaged. The study further discovered that the multinational companies (MNC) responsible for drilling oil in Nigeria are guilty of polluting and degrading the environment via oil spills, thereby exposing the citizens to all kinds' health related problems and further poverty. The study concludes with the following: The corruption going on in the region must be tackled head long so that the citizens (the youth especially) will begin to feel the effect of the wealth generated from black gold. The government should also invest more on the education of its citizens to enable development in the country.
文摘This paper aims to investigate the extent to which Malaysian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopted corporate governance (CG) principles and their effects on firm performance. The principles examined included: establishing clear roles and responsibilities; strengthening composition; and reinforcing independence. The paper is based on a questionnaire survey study among 113 SMEs that consisted of 35% (39) of manufacturing and related services and 65% (74) from services including information and communication technology (ICT), primary agriculture, construction, mining, and quarrying. The analysis of the data indicates that 32% of the respondents said that the primary reason why they have their own business is to have control over their own working life. This fmding appears to confirm the f'mancing theory that SMEs owners have other goals than profitability. In addition, 30% of SMEs perceived that the most important role played by the board is risk management; hence, these boards have a greater control over financial risks that may lead to better financial performance. The analysis also shows that 81% of the respondents' board consisted of internal board members only. These enterprises need to see the important role of external board members as a source of advice providers and experts to them. For policies relating to clear roles and responsibilities of board, only 28% of the respondents established clear functions reserved for the board and those delegated to management; substantial respondents did not draw up policies relating to reinforce board independency (between 75% and 79%) and to strengthen board composition (46%). Besides, 68% of the respondents have the position of chairman and CEO held by same individuals and 81% of the chairman is an executive member of the board. These findings suggest that SMEs cannot see the importance of strengthening board and having independent board members. Regression analysis also indicates that board independence has a significant and positive impact on firm performance. Hence, SMEs need to appreciate networking advantages, competency, and strategic knowledge that the right board can offer. The governmental ministries and agencies in Malaysia need to take active measures to encourage SMEs to strengthen their board governance, because SMEs are the important economic powers for stimulating national economic growth. This paper contributes to the empirical literatures on the adoption of CG principles and their effects on SMEs' firm performance in emerging markets.
文摘Multinational firms such as Apple Inc. have accomplished environmental colonialism in China through the transfer of ecological costs to the local environment. This paper discusses ambiguities in China's environmental legislation and supervision, Apple's business model, and "green washing. " Further, we have identified countermeasures such as the encouraging Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs), streamlining litigation procedures, increasing fines, and the development of nonprofit media organizations.
文摘On June 24th, 2018, President Tayyip Erdogan, along with his pro-Islamic party, the Justice and Development Pazty, AKP, won the general election in Turkey, which will enable Mr. Erdogan to be a one-man ruler of the Republic of Turkey in the foreseeable future. Now, invested with infinite executive-presidential power, coupled with having complete control of the military, cabinet, judiciary and legislative branches, enables Mr. Erdogan to pursue his ambition to be a “nuclea3: power leader” in the Sunni Islamic world. The scientific denialism in general and environmental science, in particular, will reach a whole new level of insanity in Turkey where any conceivable environmental democracy will be abolished. The new government will further change the education establishment in every level and implement its anti-science political doctrines in which logic is an enemy and scientific truth is a menace. The last fifteen years of experience show that the AKP's politicians have become anti-science zealots who preach a dangerously new political cultism that is devoid of actual facts, if it does not fit their religious aberration narrative, Thus, virtually every aspect of the nuclear power program in Turkey will be a state secret under the control of one religiously motivated and driven ruler and this, should certainly sound alarm bells across the globe.
文摘The present study is the result of an investigation of the organization of milk producers in the region of Fartura, SP, relations between the various actors in this chain of milk, the benefits obtained from this relationship and classification of these properties in the dairy chain, allowing to measure productivity through the proposed indicators. Research has shown that dairy farmers in the region of Fartura had several benefits to organizing themselves as a Local Productive Arrangement or Social Networks, especially in relation to a better pay the price of a gallon of milk. To achieve these results, farmers had to invest to improve technological standards and production processes and thereby increase milk quality and productivity.
文摘The increase on the competitiveness, the search on the customer satisfaction, the search by reducing waste in the civil construction were facts which helped entrepreneurs and companies to seek new ways of working, being lean construction one of the ways to get that. Studies report that the application of the lean tools in construction was carried out in an isolated way. This type of application was pointed as a major factor limiting the extent of achievement in implementing lean principles. The aim of this studies is to identify opportunities to implement the principles of lean production in the service department of a construction company in Goi^is, proposing routines that try to implement the continuous improvement of its processes, eliminating waste, reducing the lead time, allow it to perform the mapping processes, applying the just-in-time and among others, providing services that add value to the customer satisfaction. It was possible to establish the average time for each step, allowing to identify possible improvements in the department, from the perspective of lean principles. The research paper concludes by pointing out the activities for the Department of Post Construction work from building companies, from lean concepts.
文摘It is generally believed in academia that there are two theoretical explanations of tunneling and financing advantage for the creation of pyramidal structure. However, there is no definitive conclusion on which explanation holds sway. Based on non-equilibrium panel data of seven years between 2004 and 2010, this empirical study uses the product market competition variables of "inter-sector competition" and "intra-sector competition" and the hierarchy and complexity of pyramidal structure, examines the correlation between pyramidal structure of Chinese private manufacturing listed firms and product market competition and patterns of change, and reveals the major causes of pyramidal structure. Empirical result indicates that, for Chinese private manufacturing listed companies, there is a significant negative correlation between product market competition and the hierarchy and complexity of pyramidal structure, which indicates that the creation of pyramidal structure has a preference on tunneling by controlling shareholders. On the basis of further considerations on corporate tunneling and financing restraint categorization, high-tunneling firms and firms with low financing restraint demonstrate significant tunneling motivations; low-tunneling firms and firms with high financing restraint demonstrate significant effect of financing advantage, which further testifies both theoretical explanations for the creation of pyramidal structure. Conclusions of these studies have not only enriched and supplemented relevant studies on the root causes for the creation of pyramidal structure by Chinese private business groups, but provide practical support for firms to make correct and effective use of pyramidal structure as well.
文摘When the relationship between the government and the citizens is taken into consideration, at the times when the government is misusing its power, the citizens may express themselves about the injustice in various ways and civil disobedience is one of them. If the injustice still exists after all the judicial proceedings are taken, then, this act that has nonviolence as its fundamental philosophy is seen to take place. The most important representatives of civil disobedience in the world are Socrates, Henry David Thoreau, M. Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. These thinkers with their discourses and actions put forth what constitutes as civil disobedience and set an example to other societies. In this study, firstly, the aforementioned notion of civil disobedience is explained. Then, some demonstrations that took place in Turkey are evaluated in the framework of civil disobedience. The aim is to determine whether or not these demonstrations can be considered as examples of "civil disobedience". Also, the reasons why some of these demonstrations are not in the scope of civil disobedience are discussed. In this study, depiction and historical methods are used.
文摘In coping with the global financial crisis, all levels of the Chinese government and foreign trade firms have not only created new practices but have also changed their goal from transforming the growth pattern of foreign trade to transforming the development pattern of joreign trade. China's experience shows that economic instruments such as Net Barter Terms of Trade (NBTT) and the smile curve theory have limitations when it comes to interpreting foreign trade. If used improperly, scientific theories often lead to.fallacies. Transjbrming the development pattern of China's .foreign trade requires the following changes: national income distribution, foreign trade competition, market exploration, and resource utilization. We advise that competent authorities create a reasonable and operational system of assessment indicators.
文摘After the monetary and political crisis of 1997 and 1998, Indonesia has been viewed by some observers as having entered into a transitional phase from authoritarian rule by a strong state toward a new democratic system of government in which civil societies will play a more prominent role. Democratization process is also accompanied by the rise of a strong civil society, which would together result in more efficient and transparent governments at local levels. This article aims to show the dynamic of democratization process in Indonesia, in which civil societies such as business actors, NGOs (non-government organizations), journalists, scientists, business associations, consumer organizations, etc., play a more apparent role. Focused on the establishment of Private Sector Ombudsman (Lembaga Ombudsman Swasta--LOS) and also its role and responsibility, the author examines how LOS has become an alternative option for consumers to strengthen access to justice. In the last three years, LOS has succeeded in handling more than 200 cases and some of them have been the hottest issues. On the one hand, the emergence of LOS shows that civil society in Yogyakarta has played a significant role in implementing business ethics and good governance principles, and on the other hand, LOS has been proven to be the answer for consumers' needs in which consumers' complaints settled quickly, informal, and free of charge.
文摘Village civil cases in the Qing Dynasty mainly dealt with households and marriage,land,and debts,etc.It was not uncommon for village disputes to end up in court,which functioned as a vent to release the sense of grievance felt by the disputants.Seemingly trivial cases were thus not trivial at all for those concerned.Prefectural or county officials’mishandling of a petty civil case could spark village conflicts.As a consequence,such trials were seen as a sensitive issue in rural governance.After the 1860s,the unequal treaties had allowed Western missionaries to proselytize deep into the North China countryside,offering“political protection”for their converts in an attempt to maximize their number.The missionaries interfered extensively in village judicial actions,taking the side of their converts in civil lawsuits that pitted church members against ordinary people.This led to a general situation of“deceitful converts against honest men,”making the latter feel they were the victims of injustice.The channels that would have allowed the ordinary villagers to vent their grievances via litigation were thus blocked up.Their accumulated resentment burst its barriers and finally exploded in the violence of the Boxer Uprising.