Chang-Soo Lee and Inkyo Cheong
The purpose of this paper is to calculate regional contents in the exports of the major regional blocs to the world, Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP), and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to calculate regional contents in the exports of the major regional blocs to the world, Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP), and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), respectively, to find the backward trade linkages between them instead of normal forward linkages.
Design/methodology/approach
To calculate “a region” content in intermediate and value-added exports, this paper uses OECD’s inter-country input-output table (ICIOT), and tries to decompose the contents of trade. Using the information of ICIOT, Koopman et al. (2014) and Wang et al. (2013) decompose gross exports of a country’s exports.
Findings
TPP is a loosely tied bloc featured by openness to the Asia-Pacific region. Trade linkages between members are stronger in RCEP than those in TPP, particularly in the trade of intermediate goods. Trades in RCEP are closely connected to exports to TPP, but the opposite direction is not clear.
Research limitations/implications
First of all, the recent base year of the data on value added in trade is 2011, which can be regarded as a little bit out of date. Therefore, it should be cautious in interpreting the results in that it may not reflect the characteristics of current trade. Second, this paper uses ICOIT instead of world input-output table.
Practical implications
A large portion of trades in RCEP and TPP is triggered by a global production network (fragmentation, vertical specialization), different from traditional trade focusing on inter-industry trade or competition between countries. Thus, the formation of TPP or RCEP is predicted to stimulate trade of the other instead of discriminating nonmember countries.
Social implications
In particular, the authors have special concern in the backward linkages between RCEP and TPP, the distinct characteristics of the two regional blocs and, finally, major countries’ preferences of the one over the other and industrial conflicts toward TPP or RCEP even in an economy.
Originality/value
Although this paper uses the approach by Baldwin and Lopez-Gonzalez, this paper is the first research on the analysis of the export contents in major trading blocs in the Asia-Pacific region.
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The purpose of this paper is to document for the first time the vertical specialization structure of the global pharmaceutical value chain.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to document for the first time the vertical specialization structure of the global pharmaceutical value chain.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts Wang et al.’s (2013) gross exports decomposition method to trace foreign values in bilateral trade between major pharmaceutical producers, using the 2014 WIOT database.
Findings
The paper shows that as in other sectoral value chains, the pharmaceutical value chain is heavily regional. The paper identifies a strong European regional value chain, and a less intensive, Asian regional value chain. Korea is positioned in the middle of the Asian value chain, and is connected to the European regional value chain as a second-tier supplier.
Originality/value
The paper documents the vertical specialization structure of the global pharmaceutical value chain through gross exports decomposition method, making use of the World Input–Output Table Database 2014 which disaggregates pharmaceuticals in its industry classification for the first time.
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Gi-Su Kim, Sung-Woo Lee, Chang-Soo Kim and Young-Joon Seo
The role of logistics service provider (LSP) is essential for efficient logistics service quality (LSQ) and supply chain management, especially in multimodal transport. Multimodal…
Abstract
The role of logistics service provider (LSP) is essential for efficient logistics service quality (LSQ) and supply chain management, especially in multimodal transport. Multimodal transport routes that use the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR) play an important role in the supply chains of Northeast Asia. This paper aims to identify current conditions of TSR LSQ and propose improvements to enhance the competitiveness of traditional routes. Therefore, this study sheds light on and provides recommendations for various managerial strategies to LSPs in the context of the TSR. This study utilizes Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to measure levels of importance and performance of the logistics service of LSPs that provide multimodal transport services via the TSR from South Korea to Europe. This study identifies capabilities on the basis of five criteria (price, timeliness, reliability, equipment systems, and customer service) from a customers’ perspective. The results of the research indicate that operational improvements should be considered to activate TSR multimodal transport for northern logistics routes from the perspective of Korean shippers. Specific findings show that balanced development strategies are needed for logistics routes that have not yet been significantly activated, while implying that logistics costs could be reduced initially to satisfy shippers. This study presents an operational strategy for LSPs using the TSR in northern logistics through IPA methods. Furthermore, this research can help policymakers propose specific policies to revitalize the northern logistics of Korean logistics companies and to provide incentive supports for shippers.
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Chang-Soo Lee and Backhoon Song
The purpose of this paper is to answer for questions regarding vertical specialization in the Korea’s key exporting industries, such as the changing pattern toward VS or VS1 and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to answer for questions regarding vertical specialization in the Korea’s key exporting industries, such as the changing pattern toward VS or VS1 and the changing trend in the location of slicing up the value chain in these industries.
Design/methodology/approach
The framework of Koopman et al. (2014) is adopted to calculate the industry-level vertical specialization indices, VS and VS1.
Findings
VS1 is a dominant type of vertical specialization in the key exporting industries of Korea. The increasing net vertical trades (VS1−VS) verifies the upward trends in the locations of slicing up the value chain in the industries empirically.
Research limitations/implications
The net vertical trade (VS1−VS) of each industry is an important indicator of the location of slicing up the value chain in the environment of the international production network.
Originality/value
The industry-level calculations of VS and VS1 are necessary in order to remedy the aggregation bias from the country-level calculation of VS and VS1 functioning in the opposite direction.
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The government of Korea considers the promotion of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) as necessary to develop its economy into an open trading nation. As for the countries with which the…
Abstract
The government of Korea considers the promotion of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) as necessary to develop its economy into an open trading nation. As for the countries with which the Korean government is actively investigating possible FTAs, there are Japan, Singapore, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN,) and Mexico. For the time-being, the FTA with Japan seems to be a critical one in practicing Korea s FTA policy. Recently, Korean industries show negative positions against a Korea-Japan FTA, with strong opposition from the labor union insisting that it is evident that Korea will sustain damages in the short-run and the dynamic (long-term) benefits are still ambiguous and uncertain. Regardless of whether their argument is correct or not, it will be difficult for Korea to conclude the FTA with Japan unless there is concrete confidence of balanced economic gains through the FTA between the two countries.
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Abraham Mulugetta, Yuko Mulugetta and Fahri Unsal
This study examines the behaviors of eight Asian emerging market Single Country‐Closed End Funds’ (SCCEFs) market prices, net asset values (NAV) and price to net asset value…
Abstract
This study examines the behaviors of eight Asian emerging market Single Country‐Closed End Funds’ (SCCEFs) market prices, net asset values (NAV) and price to net asset value ratios from January 5, 1996 to February 25, 2000, bracketing the period of the Asian currency crisis. The purpose of the study is to discern the degree of change of SCCEFs’ market prices and net asset values (NAV) in conjunction with changes in certain objective economic factors as explanatory variables, particularly changes in exchange rates, that may shed light on the probable reasons for the stickiness of market prices and yet speedy adjustment of NAVs. Results of statistical analysis suggest asymmetric information holding explanation to be the major reason for the observed phenomenon that can be exploited for profitable SCCEF investment decisions.
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Praveen Aggarwal, Chang Soo Kim and Taihoon Cha
This study aims to examine cultural differences between Easterners and Westerners in processing preference‐inconsistent information. The focal question that the study addresses is…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine cultural differences between Easterners and Westerners in processing preference‐inconsistent information. The focal question that the study addresses is as follows: When faced with negative information about their preferred alternative, do Easterners and Westerners respond differently? If yes, how do these differences impact purchase intentions?
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 102 students from a major Korean university and 96 students from a major Canadian university participated in the study. The experiment involved reading fictitious but realistic product reviews about a new car model and responding to survey questions.
Findings
The authors find that, compared to Eastern consumers, Western consumers are affected differently by preference‐inconsistent information. They experience a greater level of cognitive discomfort, exhibit a stronger motivation to reduce that discomfort, and attempt to resolve the conflict between their original preference and inconsistent information. These factors lead to a significant reduction in their purchase intentions.
Research limitations/implications
The use of student subjects may limit the generalizability of the study's findings.
Practical implications
Marketers can benefit by knowing that negative information about a product (as, say, in an online review) does not have a uniform effect across cultures. Consumers in Eastern cultures are more capable of handling negative information without reversing their product preferences. Western consumers, on the other hand, will strive to resolve the conflict between their preference (positive affect) and the negative product review (negative affect) by either changing their preference or discounting the review. Mostly, the damaging effects of a negative review are likely to be greater in Western cultures.
Originality/value
This study is the first attempt at examining the effect of cultural differences on processing preference‐inconsistent information. As organizations become more global, understanding culture‐based differences in information processing can help marketers create a more nuanced marketing strategy.
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Considers how non‐Thais can negotiate successfully withe business and government executives in Thailand. Gives an overview of Thailand’s geography, climate, population, religion…
Abstract
Considers how non‐Thais can negotiate successfully withe business and government executives in Thailand. Gives an overview of Thailand’s geography, climate, population, religion and business practice. Discusses important aspects of the social‐cultural environment that have a significant effect on the way Thai’s negotiate. Includes further tips regarding body language, entertainment protocol, how to dress, and favourite negotiating tactics by buyers and sellers. Provides conclusions and directions for further research.
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The study sought to provide insight into the affective mechanisms that underlie the relationship between HRM practices and employee turnover intentions from the perspective of…
Abstract
Purpose
The study sought to provide insight into the affective mechanisms that underlie the relationship between HRM practices and employee turnover intentions from the perspective of Korean employees. The study drew on social exchange theory and used compensation satisfaction, perceived job security and job autonomy to explain how perceptions of HRM practices affect employee turnover intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were generated from a survey questionnaire administered to both white-collar and knowledge workers in different organizations in the Seoul Capital Area. The final sample consisted of 310 full-time employees.
Findings
The results show that compensation satisfaction and perceived job security have significant indirect negative effects on employees' intentions to leave their organization in the Korean context, which supports previous studies in Western contexts. However, the indirect effects of job autonomy on employee turnover intention were not significant in the current study.
Originality/value
This study continues the conversation about the important role HRM practices play in retaining valuable employees. This study offers a nuanced view of the relationship between HRM practices and employee turnover in a distinctive research setting. This study also provides realistic and practical suggestions on HRM so that organizations in Korea are able to implement HRM practices that help them retain competent employees.
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Gerard Cummins and Marc P.Y. Desmulliez
The purpose of this paper is to present an exhaustive review of research studies and activities in the inkjet printing of conductive materials.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an exhaustive review of research studies and activities in the inkjet printing of conductive materials.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper gives a detailed literature survey of research carried out in inkjet printing of conductive materials.
Findings
This article explains the inkjet printing process and the various types of conductive inks. It then examines the various factors that affect the quality of inkjet printed interconnects such as printing parameters, materials and substrate treatments. Methods of characterising both the inkjet printing process and the electrical properties of printed conductive materials are also presented. Finally relevant applications of this technology are described.
Originality/value
Inkjet printing is currently one of the cheapest direct write techniques for manufacturing. The use of this technique in electronic manufacturing, where interconnects and other conductive features are required is an area of increasing relevance to the fields of electronics manufacturing, packaging and assembly. This review paper would therefore be of great value and interest to this community.