bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Camels (Camelus Dromedarius) in the Traditional Lifestyle of Somali Pastoralists in Northern Kenya
Authors: Guliye A.Y. , Noor I.M. , Bebe B.O. , Kosgey I.S.
Published: September 2010

This paper describes the role of the camel in shaping and supporting the pastoral economy and culture of the Somali community in northern Kenya. Over 70% of Kenya's land mass consists of arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of low agricultural potential, and northern Kenya falls within this region. Extensive livestock grazing, in a nomadic pastoral production system, is the most suitable means of utilizing ASALs. Of the many nomadic communities living in northern Kenya, the Somali tribe is perhaps the largest keeping mainly camels, but also cattle and small stock (sheep and goats). Camels are well adapted to the harsh conditions of the ASALs. In the Somali pastoral lifestyle, camels play multiple roles, of which milk production is perhaps the most important. Camel meat is a delicacy not to be missed during festivities. Male camels are also used for transportation of water, and of household items when families move to new grazing sites within the range. In addition, camels have an important role in traditional social relations, such as in payment of a dowry, and in compensation of injured parties in clan feuds. In the Somali culture, camel ownership (in terms of herd size) is an indication of social status. Also, in the Somali traditional economy, camels are the main reserve stock, and therefore act as a store of wealth and security against drought, disease and other natural calamities.
Academic Research and Canadian Manufacturing Productivity since the Formation of NAFTA
Authors: Brox James
Published: September 2010

Does academic research have a positive impact on productivity? To examine this question, the paper focuses on national Canadian manufacturing data, using a variable-cost CES-translog cost system. Changes in the elasticities calculated from the estimation results allow the study of the impact of the free-trade agreements on Canadian production and the effects of academic R&D expenditures. The principal finding is that academic research expenditures have had a positive effect on Canadian manufacturing productivity and that this effect of R&D expenditures has become stronger since the formation of the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA).
Patent Opposition Considerations for the Technology Transfer Professional
Authors: Wilson Mark B. , Alge Daniel
Published: September 2010

Many jurisdictions, including the European Patent Office (EPO), have opposition proceedings in which an interested third party can challenge the validity of the claims of an issued patent. The United States Congress is considering legislation that would introduce opposition proceedings in the USA. This paper reviews the existing EPO and proposed US opposition procedures and provides practical suggestions for dealing with oppositions.
Expert Capital and Perceived Legitimacy
Authors: Murphy Patrick J. , Kickul Jill , Barbosa Saulo D. , Titus Lindsay
Published: September 2010

Research has shown that female entrepreneurs face unique barriers to entrepreneurial success, such as procuring funding and being perceived as credible. Limited past theory has addressed how these challenges can be met effectively by female-run entrepreneurial ventures. As a result, effective strategies for female entrepreneurs to overcome them are unclear. To address the need for research in this area, the authors use signalling theory to guide an empirical study utilizing panel study data based on 711 entrepreneurial ventures (334 female-run; 377 male-run). Signals perceived by outsiders pertaining to the risk preference, legitimacy and social capital of female-run ventures are examined and linked to venture funding, net worth and longevity outcomes. The results, based on non-parametric analyses and statistical modelling, suggest that expert capital (social capital from experts) leads to perceptions of higher legitimacy and funding success for female-run ventures.
Research Report: Evaluating Short-Term Tourism Economic Effects in Confined Economies – Conceptual and Empirical Considerations
Authors: Croes Robertico R. , Severt Denver E.
Published: September 2010

Given the necessary involvement of government with the tourism product, accountability for government's expenditures of tax dollars is of increasing importance. This paper discusses the literature for three types of analyses that governments can use to ascertain the effectiveness of their spending of tax dollars to promote a tourism destination. The shortcomings and benefits for each method are discussed. Conclusions based on the type of method chosen require that the user understand the specific context, time horizon and their need for the study. For the case study presented in this paper, the context of a confined area, the time horizon of short-term and the need of finding out the economic impact of tourism for Kissimmee/ St Cloud, the I–O/SAM method is deemed optimal. A case study of Kissimmee/St Cloud, along with the results of the economic impact, is presented. Results of the study show that taxpayers are receiving a substantial return on their tax investment for the tax dollars spent.
Employment, Pay and Discrimination in the Tourism Industry
Authors: Santos Luís Delfim , Varejão José
Published: September 2010

Using a large administratively matched employer–employee data set, we analyse the gender wage gap in the Portuguese tourism labour market. As background, employment and pay in the tourism industry are thoroughly characterized. Using the Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition of the gender wage gap, we find that 45% of the gap is due to differences in attributes of male and female workers in tourism. Our estimate of the coefficient of discrimination in the tourism industry (8.4%) puts it well below the non-tourism average (15.8%). We argue that this is due to the fact that minimum wage legislation provides an effective protection to low-wage earners, which is especially important in low-wage industries such as tourism.
Farmers' Willingness to Conserve Crop Genetic Resources under Different Policy Incentives
Authors: Prakash Teluve Nagarajarao , Mburu John , Chandrashekar Hanumantharao , Abebaw Degnet
Published: September 2010

Drawing on a random sample of 228 farm households from two regions in the Western Ghats of south India, this study assesses factors influencing farmers' willingness to conserve traditional rice varieties of low survivability, contingent on three policy scenarios or incentives. The empirical results indicate that factors influencing decisions to conserve these varieties on-farm depend mainly on farmers' socioeconomic characteristics and farming systems, and vary between the two regions and among the tested or assumed policy scenarios. There are also synergies and trade-offs between the application of other rural development policy interventions and the demand for the tested policy incentives. The study concludes that on-farm conservation of traditional rice varieties threatened with extinction necessitates appropriate choices of policy incentives and proper targeting in both regions.
Changing Paradigms in Agricultural Research
Authors: Laxmi T. , Krishna P.S. Janaki , Reddy G. Pakki
Published: September 2010

In general, developments at new frontiers of science and technology exert significant impacts on the way the research is thought about and executed. Agricultural R&D is no exception to this. The discovery of the double-helical model of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953 and the later developments in the field of biotechnology made agricultural research more knowledge- and capital-intensive. Furthermore, with the liberalization of economies the world over, the private sector emerged as a key player in agricultural research. While public sector institutions continue to concentrate on meeting ever increasing food demands, the private sector tends to focus on crops that would generate profitable returns, thereby raising concerns about meeting the needs of small and marginal farmers. This paper reviews various paradigms that are evolving in agricultural research and answers the following questions: (a) what are the different paradigms in agricultural research; (b) how are these paradigms affecting the priorities for research; (c) what is the impact of such shifts in priorities in agriculture on the variety of end-users; and (d) are there any institutional arrangements to cater for the needs of the small and resource-poor farmers whose needs are bypassed by these shifts in priorities? Following this, the innovative model of the Andhra Pradesh Netherlands Biotechnology Programme that aims to produce need-based technologies is discussed.
Dynamics of Small Ruminant Production
Authors: Budisatria I.G.S. , Udo H.M.J. , Eilers C.H.A.M. , van der Zijpp A.J.
Published: September 2010

Indonesia is a country where small ruminants play an important role in the livelihoods of rural people and in the population's religious festivities. This paper presents driving forces for small ruminant development in Central Java, from both historical and current perspectives. Agro-ecological conditions and the intensification of land use have had a major impact on the type of small ruminants kept and on the management of animals. Conditions in the household, household members and time available are major factors determining whether or not farmers keep small ruminants. The prospects for small ruminants, in particular goats, are most promising in the uplands.
Livestock, Liberalization and Trade Negotiations in West Africa
Authors: Dieye Papa Nouhine , Duteurtre Guillaume , Cuzon Jean-René , Dia Djiby
Published: September 2010

West Africa is shifting towards an increasing liberalization of agricultural markets. This trend will continue in line with current trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of these negotiations on the livestock sector in the region. Livestock systems, in spite of their technical weakness, are strongly integrated with markets. Liberalization has had an important impact on national livestock sectors, especially dairying and poultry production. Imports of poultry meat increased, for example, from 500 to 17,000 tonnes between 1996 and 2002 in Senegal. Similar changes have been seen in Ghana and Ivory Coast. The dairy sector has had to compete with milk powder imports for years, but this competition seems to be limited by market segmentation, which explains the recent good prospects for local milk production. In addition, powdered milk production has had a significant role in the establishment of a local dairy industry. African countries should invest further in trade negotiations if they are to increase national capacities, eg via improvements in the negotiating power of administration services and the encouragement of national and regional research networks for market analysis.
Industrial Doctoral Students as Brokers between Industry and Academia
Authors: Wallgren Lillemor , Dahlgren Lars Owe
Published: September 2010

The authors look at the learning context for 23 industrial doctoral students and assess the prerequisites for the development of their identity as researchers. The students are located in three different industrial research schools – Management, Medical Bioinformatics and Building and Indoor Climate. The purpose of the study is to describe the students' total learning environment and to ascertain what factors influence, hinder or encourage their development within the doctoral education process. To achieve this, the authors use Lave and Wenger's situated learning theory, conceptual framework and, in particular, trajectory concept (Wenger 1998, 2000). By following the students' histories, participation and ways of belonging to different communities of practice, and their aspirations, huge variations in their learning trajectories can be documented. Six typical cases are elaborated in detail, with a specific focus on the students' participation in and belonging to the environments involved. The procedures for thesis project selection and supervision are two of the five factors scrutinized. However, the trajectory concept, while helpful in the investigation, had to be complemented. Other elements that needed scrutiny were the effects of differences in knowledge formation, unequal power relations and fluctuations in market requirements. Internal business reorganizations that change the company's focus, interests and personnel policies, and which in turn influence the students ‘progress and prospects, were also considered.
The Economic Impact of Universities in Non-Metropolitan Areas of the Great Plains, USA
Authors: Falconer John
Published: September 2010

Public universities cite their economic impact to help justify state financial support, but the literature offers no comprehensive theory that can guide analysis of such claims. This research used qualitative methodology to complement the ubiquitous economic impact studies, and showed that mission, leadership and geography determine how public institutions impact on economic development and entrepreneurship in small towns on the Great Plains.
The Tourism Industry as an Alternative for the GCC Oil-Based Rentier Economies
Authors: Mansfeld Yoel , Winckler Onn
Published: September 2010

During the past four decades, the tourism industry has emerged as one of the leading industries worldwide. This article examines its development in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The article looks at, first, the main factors that led the GCC rulers to select tourism as a major catalyst for enhancing economic development and diversification. Further, it examines the GCC comparative advantages in the global tourism arena and then analyses Dubai's tourism development as an example of both the potential as well as the costs of having a well-established tourism industry in the Arabian Gulf region. Finally, it considers the major barriers to further GCC tourism development. The main conclusion of the article is that, although tourism development may provide a viable economic solution to some of the major socio-economic problems currently facing the GCC oil rental countries, one should not disregard the fundamental barriers and risks to further GCC tourism development, first and foremost in the area of increasing dependence on foreign labour.
Research Note: The Economic Attractiveness of Runners: Are They ‘Healthy’ Tourists?
Authors: Litvin Stephen W.
Published: September 2010

This research note takes a brief empirical look at the expenditure patterns and tourist behaviours of road-race tourists to Charleston, South Carolina during the city's annual Cooper River Bridge Run, which last year attracted more than 45,000 participants. The findings suggest that runners/walkers are less than ideal tourists for the community. The note concludes with suggestions to tourism officials in other communities that may be considering the addition of a road race to their annual events calendar.
Measuring the Impact of Tourism on Economic Growth
Authors: Ivanov Stanislav , Webster Craig
Published: September 2010

This paper presents a methodology for measuring the contribution of tourism to an economy's growth, which is tested with data for Cyprus, Greece and Spain. The authors use the growth of real GDP per capita as a measure of economic growth and disaggregate it into economic growth generated by tourism and economic growth generated by other industries. The methodology is compared with other existing methodologies; namely, Tourism Satellite Account, Computable General Equilibrium models and econometric modelling of economic growth.
Collaboration with HEIs: A Key Capacity Building Block for the Uganda Water and Sanitation Public Sector
Authors: Kayaga Sam
Published: September 2010

The capacity of public service staff in developing countries is crucial for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Literature from developed countries shows that, working with higher education institutions (HEIs), industries have improved their human resource capacity through continuing professional development. This paper reports on research carried out in Uganda to examine the drivers of and barriers to collaboration between the water/sanitation public sector and HEIs. The results show that, whereas stakeholders from both sides consider collaboration to be important for achieving their corporate goals, there is a need to overcome organizational constraints and strengthen existing collaborations, which are largely perceived as weak and/or informal.
Building Lean Supply Chain and Manufacturing Skills through an Interactive Case Study
Authors: Ozelkan Ertunga C. , Teng S. Gary , Johnson Thomas , Benson Tom , Nestvogel Dean
Published: September 2010

With the ongoing global pressure to cut costs and focus on quality, many companies have been implementing ‘lean manufacturing’ concepts to survive in the competitive marketplace. Thus it is imperative that engineering and business graduates are equipped with the lean principles, and are ready to take ownership of lean initiatives as they enter the industry. This paper presents a lean supply chain case study that was initiated and completed through university–industry collaboration in an effort to expose students and professionals to a real-life lean implementation experience. Implementation and feedback indicate that this case study can be an effective means of training engineering management professionals in lean systems/manufacturing concepts.
The University in the Knowledge Economy
Authors: Zheng Peijun , Harris Michael
Published: September 2010

In the context of the global knowledge economy, the three major players – university, industry, and government – are becoming increasingly interdependent. As more intensified interactions and relationships of increasing complexity among the institutions evolve, the Triple Helix model attempts to describe not only interactions among university, industry and government, but also the internal metamorphosis of each sector. This study explores the implications of the Triple Helix framework through a qualitative case study analysis of the University of Alabama, a public flagship university without a long history of external grant support located in the southeastern USA.
Surveying the Need for Technology Management for Global Health Training Programmes
Authors: Balakrishnan Usha R. , Troyer Lisa , Brands Edwin
Published: September 2010

Technology licensing office managers often need to evaluate profitability and commercial potential in their decision making. However, increased consideration of important global public health goals requires forging new collaborative relationships, incorporating creative licensing practices and embracing global public good within the academic and research communities. The authors conducted a survey to identify and document opportunities and barriers in the management of discoveries and inventions arising from global health research outcomes at US and Canadian academic and research institutions.
Dynamic Interactions between Alertness and Systematic Search
Authors: Tang Jintong , Khan Shaji A.
Published: September 2010

Opportunity recognition has been widely viewed as a key step in the entrepreneurial process. Two major perspectives that address opportunity recognition offer diametrically opposed predictions: systematic search versus entrepreneurial alertness employed to identify opportunities. Instead of treating alertness and search as contradictory concepts, the current research uses a traditional Chinese philosophy and folklore, the yin and yang perspective and its competing yet reconciling forces, to suggest that the dynamic interaction between alertness and systematic search will increase the chances and improve the effectiveness of opportunity discovery. An alertness/search typology of innovations is also proposed.
The Intrapreneurial Zone of an Organization
Authors: Khoury Sarkis J. , Feghali Tony
Published: September 2010

This paper develops a rigorous model yielding a closed form solution for measuring the degree of intrapreneurship within a firm (the size of the intrapreneurial zone of an organization [IZO]) and its impact on the firm's value. The paper represents a major departure from established literature that relies on statistical analysis to relate independent variables on intrapreneurship to firm growth and/or profitability, but does not directly tie the size of the IZO to the value of the firm. This model incorporates multiple factors and the metrics necessary for measuring their level of intensity within the firm and their contribution to the IZO.
EU Migrants as Entrepreneurs in Lincolnshire
Authors: Barnes Ian , Cox Val
Published: September 2010

The arrival of unprecedented numbers of migrant workers in the rural counties of the UK, due to EU enlargement, has created a unique opportunity. Many of these migrants wish to become more than just a source of cheap labour; they aspire to become entrepreneurs. Lincolnshire has already seen a burgeoning of migrant businesses, but these have prospered largely by serving their co-ethnic market. This article examines the barriers and drivers for establishing businesses in the wider regional market and observes the first attempts at providing adequate support mechanisms. With improved language skills, there is potential for migrants to break out of the co-ethnic market and develop sustainable businesses.
Venture Capital Financing from an Entrepreneur's Perspective
Authors: Kaiser Dieter G. , Lauterbach Rainer , Verweyen Jan Klaas
Published: September 2010

One option for entrepreneurs to finance and grow their companies is venture capital. After the boom and bust of the new economy, the venture capital industry has regained importance in financing innovative companies. This study contributes by providing a survey of the literature on the structural and behavioural aspects of venture capital financing from the entrepreneur's perspective. The aim of this survey is to organize and summarize existing theoretical and empirical work on venture capital financing with a view to making entrepreneurs aware of best practice for their interactions with venture capital companies. The authors conclude that entrepreneurs, before seeking venture capital finance, should consider this option carefully, as investors could pursue their own aims even if they are contradictory to those of the entrepreneur.
Controlling Risks of Pathogen Transmission by Flies on Organic Pig Farms
Authors: Meerburg B.G. , Vermeer H.M. , Kijlstra A.
Published: September 2010

Fly prevention and control on animal production units is necessary to prevent the transmission of pathogens that could affect animal and human health and the maintenance of good hygiene. Organic farmers are often hesitant to apply insecticides for this purpose because of their farming philosophy. Organic production systems are relatively open as pigs generally have access to the outdoors. Here, we investigate the need for fly control and analyse various possibilities that organic farmers have to reduce the number of flies on their farms. We conclude that although biological control looks promising, more research should be done concerning its side effects. Currently, optimal monitoring and prevention seem to offer the best solution.
Application of Normalized Differential Vegetation Index and Geostatistical Techniques in Cattle Diet Quality Mapping in Ghana
Authors: Awuma K.S. , Stuth J.W. , Kaitho R. , Angerer J.
Published: September 2010

The feasibility of using Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) and geostatistical techniques in the mapping of livestock diet quality was investigated using the northern Ghana savanna zone as a test bed. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), crude protein (CP) and digestible organic matter (DOM) calibration equations developed for Sub-Saharan African cattle were used for the analysis of faecal samples collected between February and August 2000 from selected households located within the northern Ghana savanna. The predicted CP and DOM values (%) were used with Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and cokriging procedures to create maps describing diet quality for March and July 2000, representing the dry and wet seasons respectively. Cross-validation results indicated an above average capability of cokriging to estimate the predicted CP% for March (r2 = 0.687, SEp = 1.736), but average for July (r2 = 0.513, SEp = 1.558). The cokriged-estimated DOM value for July was above average (r2 = 0.584, SEp = 3.611); however, March DOM% estimation was rather poor (r2 = 0.132, SEp = 3.891). The results suggested that a reasonable level of success was achieved in using NDVI and geostatistics techniques in cattle diet quality mapping; however, further research is required in this field.
Promoting Creativity in Local Tourist Businesses
Authors: Perivoliotis-Chryssovergis Margaret-Catherine
Published: September 2010

This paper discusses an e-learning pilot study focusing on local tourist producers and businesses involved in the production of artefacts, mainly textiles. The project included research into the possibilities of incorporating the strengths of local cultural heritage as a vital starting point for design creativity, innovation, production and education. A special educational module was developed, employing new technology, and was applied experimentally to selected participating tourist producers, offering them fundamental design education, computer training and basic management and marketing education. The programme was made available via distance learning, thus providing tourist producers and workshops in remote and rural areas with access to training and an opportunity to develop the skills necessary for them to be competitive. Examples are offered from the research work and the adapted teaching programme.
By Measure: Creativity in Design
Authors: Hokanson Brad
Published: September 2010

Specific training may be required to develop creativity in design students. At the very least, training is valuable in developing creativity in first-year students. Creativity is a skill that can be examined, used and taught - and it is one that is central to designing. This paper presents the results of empirical research from a class in creative problem solving for design students. The nature of creativity and the structure of the class are described, and this is followed by an outline of the research methodology and the use of the verbal Torrance Test of Creative Thinking. Creativity, as measured through the test, significantly increased.
How to Kill Creativity — Ten Easy Steps
Authors: Moore E.M.
Published: September 2010

A cursory review of academic headlines would suggest that educational institutions can be perceived as formalized, regimented and systematic – intellectual factories that reward those staff and students who conform best to rigid systems which ensure the efficient processing of quantity. Is this the reality? Do prevailing economic and bureaucratic pressures in higher education, at best, stifle creativity or, at worst, actively eradicate creative thought? This paper asks whether there is a place for the successful teaching and development of marketing and entrepreneurial creative skills within the UK educational system, and if so how these newly merging pedagogical areas can be nurtured. The paper explores the interplay between creativity and conformity within a modern university system. It takes as a case study a marketing enterprise module taught within a Department of Design to highlight the issues faced and the outputs achieved. The investigation reviews current thought from the social sciences and management literature relating to creativity, creative marketing, entrepreneurship and creative problem solving.
Preliminary Thoughts on Schumpeter and Political Entrepreneurship
Authors: Qvortrup Matt
Published: September 2010

This paper outlines the relevance of Schumpeter's model and conception of entrepreneurship for political science. While students of politics have studied Schumpeter's views of democracy, his views on entrepreneurship have been neglected by political scientists. Following a brief overview of other definitions of entrepreneurship, Schumpeter's model is presented here. Using the examples of contemporary populist politicians, it is argued that these share many of the characteristics of Schumpeter's entrepreneurs and that the application of his model provides a new perspective on political science.
Seeking the Summit: Exploring the Entrepreneur–Mountaineer Analogy
Authors: Valliere Dave , O'Reilly Norm
Published: September 2010

Entrepreneurs and mountaineers face challenges that share many characteristics distinct from mainstream society and managerial activity: lofty goals, individualistic efforts, risky and highly uncertain environments, and severe resource constraints. A qualitative explication of this analogy is extended with a comparative quantitative examination of shared individual traits (risk avoidance, optimism, flexibility and overconfidence) among mountaineers, entrepreneurs and control subjects. The findings provide support for an entrepreneur–mountaineer analogy, suggesting common themes for the roles of both groups. These results are integrated with previous research on the mountaineering personality to suggest ways by which the two groups could learn from each other. The analogy is then extended beyond the individual level by explicit mapping between entrepreneurs and mountaineers in terms of objectives, strategies, resources and risks faced. This mapping is used to suggest areas of entrepreneurship research that may benefit from the adoption of the analogy perspective.
Environmental Quality and Optimal Investment in Tourism Infrastructures: A Small Island Perspective
Authors: Giannoni Sauveur , Maupertuis Marie-Antoinette
Published: September 2010

As tourism is becoming one of the most important sectors of the world economy, the number of small islands trying to develop a competitive tourist activity is increasing and this strategy appears as growth enhancing. In most cases, it relies on the environmental quality of the destination, but also on lodging infrastructures and related services that tourists deserve in order to enjoy a good experience. This paper explores the intertemporal trade-off between investments and environmental quality preservation needed to ensure tourism profitability in the long run. It highlights the possible cyclical evolution of environmental quality, tourist infrastructures, investments and visitor numbers, considering both the central planner and the market solutions.
Tourism Specialization and Environmental Sustainability in a Dynamic Economy
Authors: Cerina Fabio
Published: September 2010

This study focuses on the dynamic behaviour of a small open economy specialized in tourism based on natural resources. The author analyses the steady-state properties in two scenarios, with and without public abatement expenditures, and a unique local saddle-point equilibrium is found for both cases. The analysis of the dynamics provides an alternative explanation for the observed positive growth performance of small open tourism-based economies and for the worldwide increases in tourist inflows, which are seen as transitional phenomena towards the path to the steady state. Moreover, in defining the conditions under which tourism development, improvements in environmental quality and economic growth can simultaneously occur, the model provides theoretical microfoundations for sustainable tourism. Finally, in both scenarios, the author analyses the issue of market failures, taking into account two different kinds of externality and finding the respective optimal tax rates that will induce private agents to replicate the social optimum.
Tourism and Empirical Applications of International Trade Theory: A Multi-Country Analysis
Authors: Webster Allan , Fletcher John , Hardwick Philip , Morakabati Yeganeh
Published: September 2010

This paper examines the application of quantitative techniques to further our understanding of international trade theory with respect to tourism flows. The analyses are based on the construction of Balassa and Grubel–Lloyd Indices, as well as the construction of dynamic indices. The results of the analyses suggest that international trade theory has much to offer the study of international tourism flows. Many countries seem to specialize as both exporters and importers of tourism services. The analyses also explore the theoretical assertion that intra-industry trade is likely to be of importance in understanding international tourism flows.
The Determinants of Cluster Activities in the Australian Wine and Tourism Industries
Authors: Taylor Peter , McRae-Williams Pam , Lowe Julian
Published: September 2010

This paper discusses wine and tourism clusters and the recent innovation of wine tourism in which businesses operate within both industries. The concept of micro-clusters is examined in terms of trust, networking, collaboration and other activities, all of which are argued to depend on the concepts of game theory and sunk costs. The study involved both interviews and a questionnaire. Conceptual variables are created from the questionnaire responses using factor analysis. The determinants of cluster activities are modelled using regression analysis. The effects of industry, place and respondents' entrepreneurial characteristics are used as exogenous variables. The study finds that industry does seem to be more important than place in the determination of networking and cooperative cluster activities, and that members of the wine tourism industry participate more in these activities than members of the tourism or hospitality industries. The addition of three variables that embody the entrepreneurial characteristics of the respondents approximately doubles the explanatory power of the original models. There is evidence to suggest that cluster activities are idiosyncratic for each industry–place cluster. The effects of firm size on cluster activities are also examined. No evidence is found of cooperative activities depending on cluster size. The main results support the contention that sunk costs are important in the determination of cluster activities.
Research Note: Does Transport Infrastructure Matter in Overall Tourism Development? Evidence from a Sample of Island Economies
Authors: Khadaroo A.J. , Seetanah B.
Published: September 2010

This paper focuses on investigating the importance of transportation infrastructure in the overall attractiveness of a destination. It extends a classical demand for international tourism function to include transport infrastructure, as measured by proxies of land and air transport, as additional and separate inputs in a panel data framework for the case of island economies. Due to the possibility of reputation effects in tourism, the study also employs dynamic panel data estimates for a sample of island economies. Results from the analysis show tourists are sensitive to both types of transport infrastructure. Disaggregated studies further show that this is more pronounced for top and renowned island destination cases. The study also confirms the existence of persistence effects and repeat tourism for the latter destinations.
Economic Welfare, the Environment and the Tourist Product Life Cycle
Authors: León Carmelo J. , Hernández Juan M. , González Matías
Published: September 2010

The tourist product life cycle model predicts different stages of the evolution of the industry in a particular region, focusing on the number of tourists visiting over a period of time. In this paper, we consider the role of environmental degradation and the decline in natural capital as determinants of the tourist product life cycle and the implications for economic welfare. It is shown that the optimal trajectory of tourist consumption increases when the stock of natural capital is high and environmental attributes are preserved, and tend to decline when the tourist product has reached a low level of natural capital, which is defined as the stock of natural resources giving value to the tourist product. The main implication is that the evolution of demand as represented by the number of tourists does not need to match economic welfare. In addition, the evolution of the tourist product life cycle converges to a stationary solution characterized by positive levels of tourist consumption and natural capital. The results have implications for the optimal management of the number of tourists and the environmental attributes of tourist destinations. Optimal taxation can play a role in financing the maintenance of the optimal level of natural capital in the stationary state.
Contrasting the Uses of TSAs and CGE Models: Measuring Tourism Yield and Productivity
Authors: Dwyer Larry , Forsyth Peter , Spurr Ray
Published: September 2010

Tourism satellite accounts (TSAs) and computable general equilibrium (CGE) models are used increasingly in tourism analysis, though they have distinctly different functions. These are illustrated by means of two examples. The first of these involves developing measures of profitability and productivity of the Australian tourism industry – the national TSA was used to provide the database for this exercise. The second involves measuring the yield of different types of tourists to the tourism industry and the economy as a whole. TSAs provide an appropriate technique to estimate economic yield at the industry level, while the CGE approach is used to estimate the yield to the economy as a whole.
Achieving Business Focus
Authors: Rae David
Published: September 2010

The development of entrepreneurial management skills by owner-managers of existing small firms has been neglected in comparison with the attention paid to new venture entrepreneurs. However, the survival and growth of small firms is vital in regional economic development. Many small businesses are vulnerable in the period after start-up, or when faced with changes in the market, competition or technology. This article explores an innovative approach to the development of owner-managers of small firms through the ‘Achieving Business Focus’ programme, which is based on entrepreneurial learning rather than training perspectives. The article summarizes the relevant literature to distinguish between training and learning approaches to owner-manager development. The development of an innovative approach to opportunity-centred entrepreneurial learning is described, including its objectives, design, structure, marketing, delivery and use of technology, and the partnership between the university and the private-sector delivery team. The author addresses four key questions. How can an effective intervention be designed and delivered to enable owner-managers to develop their entrepreneurial management capabilities? How can this be delivered effectively by a university to meet the expectations of Regional Economic Development agencies, entrepreneurs, the university and other stakeholders? How can the impact be evaluated? What are the transferable lessons for developing, delivering and sustaining this type of intervention?
Creating Active and High-Impact Learning
Authors: Heriot Kirk C. , Cook Ronald G. , Matthews Charles H. , Simpson Leo
Published: September 2010

Active learning has attracted considerable attention in higher education in response to concerns about how and what students are learning. Many pedagogies may be categorized as active learning, although most are classroom-based. The authors propose an alternative to ‘active learning in the classroom’, which they characterize as ‘active learning outside of the classroom’, and present in the form of field-based student consulting projects. Field-based consulting forces students to engage in active learning. By participating in consulting teams, they are moved into a new realm of learning. In undertaking consultancy, rather than receiving information in a somewhat passive manner, students evaluate a real-world business problem and must themselves decide on a solution. For the student, the benefits of consulting include gaining experience in dealing with business owners and offering a professional opinion on a real business problem. The authors propose a framework for this design, describe how other instructors could arrange for their students to conduct consulting projects, and then identify possible directions for future research.
Academic Enterprise and Regional Economic Growth
Authors: Woollard David , Zhang Michael , Jones Oswald
Published: September 2010

This paper examines the potential and actual contributions to regional development and growth that UK higher education institutions can make through their ‘third mission’ activities. The authors adopt a case study approach and qualitative methods to analyse the details of academic activities, especially those related to business sectors and the welfare of local communities. Their data and analysis show that university-wide academic enterprise activities are not systematically organized or coordinated. The very concept of ‘academic enterprise’ has not been well received by the majority of academic staff. The findings have two major policy and managerial implications. First, there needs to be a reduction in the reliance on income from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in response to the progressive decrease in unit funding. Second, universities need to enhance employer-led curriculum development both through the creation of new businesses and by improving university-business links.
The Role of Universities in Supporting and Delivering Enterprise Education
Authors: Edwards Louise-Jayne , Muir Elizabeth J.
Published: September 2010

While the academic debate has moved beyond the question of whether or not entrepreneurship can be taught and whether or not there is a need or demand for it, there is still considerable debate as to the most appropriate methods of delivering entrepreneurship education. This paper provides an overview of teaching strategies, pedagogies and methods of delivery of entrepreneurship courses and modules at the University of Glamorgan, an institution with a critical role to play in the economic regeneration of a region that has suffered severe deprivation due to the decline of its traditional coal and steel industries. The authors consider the raison d’être of entrepreneurship education. Are students, for example, studying an entrepreneurship course to enable them to become ‘entrepreneurs' or to gain new skills and become ‘enterprising people’ in whatever careers they choose to pursue? The authors suggest that ‘enterprise education’ is a misunderstood and misused term and that, on a practical level, those who deliver entrepreneurship programmes struggle to do so in an enterprising way. They conclude that course designers need to re-examine why and for whom they are developing entrepreneurship courses.
A Note on the Adoption of Precision Agriculture in Eastern China
Authors: Qiu Zhengjun , He Yong , Li Weimin
Published: September 2010

Precision agriculture is seen as a likely future option for agriculture in China. Western developed countries have made remarkable progress in precision agriculture, but in China it is a completely new phenomenon. China is the world's largest agricultural country with the greatest population, and the progress of its agriculture and agricultural technology have significant implications for developments in the rest of the world. This article provides an overview of the current status and likely future development of precision agriculture in eastern China. The topics reviewed include propagation of the concept of precision agriculture; precision agriculture technologies adopted in China; the development of precision agriculture in eastern China; the effects on agricultural policy; and developments in precision agriculture in the country as a whole.
Valuation of Fragile Agroecosystem Services in the Loess Region
Authors: Dong Xiao-bin , Gao Wang-sheng , Chen Yuan-quan , Liang Wei-li
Published: September 2010

Much research has been done since the concept of ecosystem services was put forward. However, activities have concentrated on the larger (global or national) scale, and fragile agroecosystems disturbed by human activity, such as that of the Loess Plateau where decay of the ecological environment occurs through severe soil erosion and harsh natural conditions, have scarcely been considered. Using various parameters such as market value, shadow price and opportunity cost, the authors have calculated the value of agricultural ecosystem services in Ansai county in the Loess region, to include conserving soil (Es) and water (Ew), fixing CO2and releasing O2(Ea), maintaining nutrient cycling (En) and decontaminating the environment (Ee). The results show that the gross value of services from the ecosystem is Yuan31,699 million, which is 170 times the production value (Ep). This implies that even this fragile ecosystem has an important support function, although it has been disregarded for a long time. In Ansai county, the agro-ecosystem provides great ecological support for economic productivity. The value of the various contributions to ecological services is, for En, Yuan (RMB)28,481 million (89.8%), for Ew, RMB1,391 million (4.4%), for Ea, RMB1,325 million (4.2%) for Vp, RMB185 million (0.6%), for Es, RMB258 million (0.8%) and for Ee, RMB57 million (0.2%). Moreover, the results show that there is an imbalance between ecological productivity and economic productivity in this area, which is a general problem across the entire Loess Plateau. The first priority for restoring the ecological environment is to extend the areas of grassland and forest in order to improve conservation of soil and water.
Who Values What in a Tourism Destination? The Case of Madeira Island
Authors: Oliveira Paulo , Pereira Pedro Telhado
Published: September 2010

This research studies the importance placed on different aspects of a tourism destination – Madeira Island – at the time tourists make their decision to visit. The authors use an ordered probit model to see how the socio-demographic characteristics of the tourists and different aspects of the trip affect the valuation given to 30 different aspects of the destination. They conclude that males tend to value 12 of the aspects less, while valuing golf more. Older tourists place a higher value on the scenery of the destination and a lower value on the more active/sport aspects. The more educated tourists value levadas (man-made water channels with pathways used for pedestrian walks) more and organized tours less. British tourists value the climate and Portuguese tourists value extreme sports. These results are very useful when preparing any marketing strategy and extremely important when preparing development plans for the tourism sector.
Dynamic Effects of Subsidizing the Tourism Sector
Authors: Schubert Stefan F. , Brida Juan Gabriel
Published: September 2010

This paper studies the short-run and long-run effects of a production subsidy to the tourism sector of a small open economy, which can also be thought of as a region within a country. The authors introduce a two-sector dynamic general equilibrium model in which the tourism sector is considered to be labour-intensive and produces traded services. The other sector is capital-intensive and produces a non-traded good, which is also used for capital accumulation. Labour and capital can move freely between sectors. Economic decisions are made by forward-looking representative agents which optimize their intertemporal welfare by choosing consumption of both the non-traded good and tourism services, the sectoral allocation of labour and the rate of wealth accumulation. The authors discuss the short-run, dynamic and long-run effects of a production subsidy to the tourism sector. In the short run, the introduction of a subsidy to tourism production leads to a boom in that sector. As time passes, the economy-wide capital stock is decumulated and production of tourism falls. In the long run, compared to the situation before the subsidy was implemented, tourism production remains on a higher level, whereas output of the non-traded good drops.