China has become a driving force in the world economy, yet East‐West cultural differences remain a problem area for many managers. This paper examines the importance of…
Abstract
China has become a driving force in the world economy, yet East‐West cultural differences remain a problem area for many managers. This paper examines the importance of Confucianism in shaping societal values in China and how these values have affected the Chinese style of management. Confucian principles are extracted from the extant literature and used to explain the cultural underpinnings of Chinese leadership patterns, interpersonal behaviors and individual values. The longevity of Confucian influences throughout Chinese culture is a major factor in China’s resistance to Western management practices. There is also evidence that mainstream Confucian principles emphasizing teamwork, relationships and strong corporate cultures are gaining traction in the West. Future Western researchers should pay increased attention to East Asian philosophies and Asian‐based religions in their attempts to understand non‐Christian lifestyles and management methods.
Details
Keywords
The paper aims to discover the role of the middle classes in the development of the ethnic minorities of China, given the importance of the middle classes in international…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to discover the role of the middle classes in the development of the ethnic minorities of China, given the importance of the middle classes in international economic development in the modern age.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper offers a definition of the “middle classes”, including both the economic and political aspects. It looks at these classes among the ethnic minorities of China through fieldwork and printed statistics and materials.
Findings
The ethnic minorities were 8.41 per cent of the total population of China, according to the 2000 census. The paper finds that there are emerging middle classes among the ethnic minorities, especially some of them, including the Uygurs and Koreans of China. These middle classes are centres of entrepreneurship among the ethnic minorities, promoting development and modernization, but also intensifying inequalities. Their role is mainly economic, but also political; for example, there is some material on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in general and among the ethnic minorities in particular. There is some discussion on literacy and education among the ethnic minorities, on the grounds that middle classes do not emerge in the modern age without education.
Originality/value
Although there is some research on the role of the middle classes in recent Chinese development, this is the first time that such a concept has been applied to the ethnic minorities.
Details
Keywords
This paper discusses some aspects of the performing arts of the Tibetans and attempts to analyze how they have fared within the context of an extremely large and modernizing…
Abstract
This paper discusses some aspects of the performing arts of the Tibetans and attempts to analyze how they have fared within the context of an extremely large and modernizing state, where since the late 1970s modernization has been accompanied by a contrary revival of traditions. It argues that performing arts traditions remain powerful among the Tibetans and takes issue with the frequently heard notion that Tibetan culture is being destroyed. It contends, however, that the acceleration of modernization in the coming decades could weaken the tradition in Tibetan culture by affecting its link with the society which feeds it. But what is likely to develop is a changed Tibetan culture, with more place given to those features we know as modernity. On the other hand, the traditions are most unlikely to die out in the foreseeable future. The topical focus of the article is on the performing arts, especially the related forms of drama, balladry and dance. The period of focus is that since the early 1980s, and especially the 1990s.
Details
Keywords
Ortrun Zuber‐Skerritt and Mary Farquhar
This paper is an edited version of an interview that presents information and insight into the background of ALARPM (action learning, action research and process management) not…
Abstract
This paper is an edited version of an interview that presents information and insight into the background of ALARPM (action learning, action research and process management) not only as a field but also as a worldwide network association, thus facilitating understanding of the evolution and nature of these three concepts. The interviewee’s responses reflect her personal perspective, informed by both life experience and a theoretical framework that conceives of ALARPM first as a philosophy, a theory of learning and a methodology, and second as a method and technique.
Details
Keywords
Abstract
Margaret Maurer‐Fazio, James W. Hughes and Dandan Zhang
The purpose of the paper is to examine observed differences in China's ethnic majority and minority patterns of labor force participation and to decompose these differences into…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to examine observed differences in China's ethnic majority and minority patterns of labor force participation and to decompose these differences into treatment and endowment effects.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from the three most recent population censuses of China are employed to explore differences in the labor force participation rates of a number of China's important ethnic groups. Gender‐separated urban labor force participation rates are estimated using logit regressions, controlling for educational attainment, marital status, pre‐school and school‐age children, household size, age, and measures of local economic conditions. The focus is on the experience of six minority groups (Hui, Koreans, Manchu, Mongolians, Uygurs, and Zhuang) in comparison to the majority Han. The technique developed by Borooah and Iyer is adopted to decompose the differences in labor force participation rates between pairs of ethnic groups into treatment and endowment effects.
Findings
Sizeable differences are found between the labor force participation rates of prime‐age urban women of particular ethnic groups and the majority Han. Men's participation rates are very high (above 95 percent) and exhibit little difference between Han and ethnic minorities. For almost all pairwise comparisons between Han and ethnic women, it is found that differences in coefficients account for more than 100 percent of the Han‐ethnic difference in labor force participation. Differences in endowments often have substantial effects in reducing this positive Han margin in labor force participation. Roughly speaking, treatment of women's characteristics, whether in the market or socially, tend to increase the Han advantage in labor force participation. The levels of these characteristics on average tend to reduce this Han advantage.
Research limitations/implications
The paper analyses only one aspect of the economic status of China's ethnic minorities – labor force participation. It would be useful also to examine income, educational attainment, occupational attainment, and unemployment.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to and expands the scant literature on ethnicity in China's economic transition.
Details
Keywords
Rashmi Umesh Arora and Shyama Ratnasiri
The four Asian tigers, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan (also called Four Dragons) experienced miraculous high growth rates in the pre-1990s period and rapidly…
Abstract
Purpose
The four Asian tigers, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan (also called Four Dragons) experienced miraculous high growth rates in the pre-1990s period and rapidly transformed their economic status from less developed “basket cases” to developed high-income countries gaining entry to the rich OECD club of countries. These countries even in the post-1990s, barring few years, have continued to grow further and are an inspiring role model for the newly emerging economies. The purpose of this paper is to adduce certain trends in these countries since the 1990s and specifically examine role of human capital and knowledge building, productivity convergence and intra-regional trade in the Asian tigers’. The authors examine these in the context of India.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper in a simple descriptive yet analytical approach explores the relevance of above factors in the Indian context.
Findings
The study observed that India ranks far below the Asian tigers in the knowledge economy index (KEI). The results at the sub-national level showed large disparities across the states in knowledge economy reflecting country’s difficulties in catching up with other countries overall. Regarding labour productivity, the results show that India was moving away from the benchmark country until 1990 (pre-reform period) and started catching up particularly due to physical capital (not necessarily human capital) since 1995 onwards.
Originality/value
The study is unique due to several reasons. First, it contributes to the literature examining contemporaneous Asian tigers and Indian economies performance as not many studies exist in this area. Second, the study also builds a unique first ever KEI at the sub-national level for India and is, therefore, a contribution in this respect. Finally, the study also contributes to the literature on Indian economic development.