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This study aims to analyse how wine attributes affect prices of fine German Riesling wines, provide estimates of the magnitude and heterogeneity of the attributes' implicit prices and draw conclusions on the pricing of fine wine and the research methodology.

Implicit prices of attributes of fine German Rieslings are estimated with fixed-effects regressions and their heterogeneity across quantiles of the conditional price distribution is tested with quantile-regression techniques. The analysis is based on a unique online data set for prices and characteristics of collectible wines.

Quality levels according to the German Prädikat system, additional quality awards for exceptional quality, the wine region, age or vintage as well as ullage and the bottle condition are relevant when explaining the price of cellarable wine. Additionally, the influence of the firm's individual reputation is very strong. Relative price premiums for some major attributes of fine German Riesling change significantly across quantiles of the conditional price distribution. Other attributes are characterised by a rather stable relative (but not absolute) price premium.

This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first hedonic price analysis which concentrates exclusively on fine German Riesling wine. By applying both classical and quantile regressions, the authors are able to derive new insights on quality-price linkages in this growing segment of collectible wine and on the research methodology.

The purpose of this study is to identify various Russian manifestations on expanding its role in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as shed light on the major obstacles it may face.

The research paper uses the “national role theory” to analyze the factors that helped in the growing Russian role in sub-Saharan African countries. It assumes that every state seeks to play a particular role, and that role is reflected in its foreign policy, which is known as “role performance,” and this role originates from several sources. On the other hand, this role faces various obstacles, mostly from the external environment, especially the international system’s structure, global values and international obligations, known as “role prescriptions.”

Despite Russia’s ability to use all its capacities in expanding its role in the African continent, the degree of its influence varied from one field to another. While it was very influential in the military, security, political, diplomatic and technical fields, it is relatively less in the economic and counter-terrorism areas.

This study paves the way for further researches related to international competition over sub-Saharan Africa, whether economically, militarily or politically, in addition to other studies related to potential cooperation opportunities, especially in security and combating terrorism.

This research’s significance stems from using the existing theoretical structure represented in national role theory in analyzing the Russian orientation toward sub-Saharan Africa, giving more attention to the latest developments in Russian strategy, as well as clarifying the major obstacles that may hinder its activities.