Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Swarn Chatterjee Author-Name: Joseph Goetz Author-Name: Lance Palmer Title: AN EXAMINATION OF SHORT-TERM BORROWING IN THE UNITED STATES Abstract: This paper uses data from the Survey of Consumer Finances to determine the characteristics of people who obtained high-interest loans to meet their short-term financing needs. Results indicate that individuals who were denied credit in the past were one and a half times more likely to borrow from alternative lenders (e.g., payday loan lenders and loan financing companies) than were individuals who had not previously been denied credit. Educational attainment, income, and wealth were negatively associated with borrowing from alternative institutions. The likelihood that, given the current economic downturn, more consumers may have to migrate from conventional credit markets such as banks or credit unions to alternative credit markets for their borrowing needs leads to a discussion of the necessity for more information and education to vulnerable populations. Classification-JEL: D14, H31 Keywords: Household Finance, Debt Management, Alternative Lending Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 1-8 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-1.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:1-8 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yung-Heng Lee Author-Name: Yann-Haur Huang Author-Name: Mei-Jane Chan Title: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES AND JOINT VENTURES FOR ENTRY INTO CHINA MARKETS Abstract: The aim of this study is to empirically investigate the effectiveness of The Eclectic Theory in explaining the entry mode choices of Taiwanese Electronic Components firms in China markets during the time period from 2003 to 2005. The annual data includes as many as 267, 324, and 283 firms respectively. This study explores how the ownership, location, and internalization advantages( OLI advantages) influence the entry mode choices between wholly-owned subsidiaries (WOS) and joint ventures (JV) of Taiwanese Electronic Components firms. It also identifies those factors that have an important impact on the choices of entry mode and provides meaningful suggestions for the new firms that wish to invest in the China market. Classification-JEL: M16 Keywords: Eclectic Theory, joint ventures, wholly-owned subsidiaries, china markets Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 9-22 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-2.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:9-22 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Benjamin Khoo Author-Name: Guisseppi Forgionne Author-Name: Peter Harris Title: ENTERPRISE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS INTEGRATION: AN OBJECT REQUEST BROKER APPROACH Abstract: Modern enterprises face a highly dynamic environment that requires management to integrate distributed and disparate knowledge for effective decision-making. The advent of the Internet has resulted in a trend toward network centric computing. As a result, more of the computing work is delegated to the computer and the underlying systems. For many years, researchers have been working towards the development of shareable and re-usable problem-solving components to support decision-making. Internetworking technologies provide a new means of sharing decision support functionalities and delivering decision support capabilities. Corporate decision makers are not willing to cede control of corporate data and models to internet-based DSS, as a result enterprise-wide knowledge portals (corporate intranet-based DSS) has been developed to overcome this shortcoming. The Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) is one such integration approach. This paper describes how this approach can improve the enterprise decision support systems. Classification-JEL: O3; L8; M1 Keywords: Decision Support System, Enterprise System Integration Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 23-38 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-3.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:23-38 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hussein Ali Khasharmeh Title: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF QUALIFICATION AND CRITERIA REQUIRED OF PUBLIC AUDITORS IN JORDAN Abstract: This study examines the qualifications and criteria required of public auditors to facilitate effective and objective auditing results. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to a representative sample of chief control departments in the Jordan Audit Bureau (AB) and financial managers and accountants in governments whose activities are subject to the AB’s audit. The aim was to solicit their opinions regarding these qualifications and criteria. The study concluded that the auditors must possess certain qualifications. Recommendations are provided for improving the audit profession in Jordan, such as amending audit laws, preparing comprehensive control and audit standards, and holding continuous courses and seminars in the field of computer and financial analysis in the audit process. Classification-JEL: M4, M41, M42 Keywords: public auditors, qualifications, Jordan Audit Bureau,audit control standard, audit laws Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 8-39-48 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-4.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:39-48 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Tahereh Alavi Hojjat Author-Name: Bhagyavati Title: PETRODOLLARS, GLOBALIZATION AND U.S. INFLATION Abstract: This paper evaluates the theoretical and empirical evidence that bears on the question of whether globalization and petrodollars recycling contributed to significant changes in inflation performance in the U.S. We assume that the impact of globalization can be direct and indirect. Direct impact is through the cheaper imported goods to the U.S. as a component of Consumer Price Index. Indirect impacts are through the effects on wage, cost of capital, and inflow of funds including the petrodollars and the impacts of price of competing goods. Data for analysis are compiled from the Department of Commerce and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for period of 1990-2005. Our findings suggest that, under current circumstances, globalization could have only a modest disinflationary effect on U.S. inflation. However, if some fundamental factors, such as these countries’ exchange rates, demand and wage change (i.e. increase), then the downward pressure on U.S. inflation will be decreased. The flow of workers from emerging economies to competitive labor markets will slow down. The downward pressure on rich-world wages and prices will lift, and globalization will become an inflationary force instead. Classification-JEL: E24, E29, E31, F14, F16 Keywords: globalization, inflation, Consumer Price Index, petrodollars, International Monetary Fund Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 49-63 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-5.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:49-63 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jui-Kuei Chen Author-Name: I-Shuo Chen Title: CORPORATE REPUTATION MEASUREMENT FOR THE PRIVATELY RUN BANKING INDUSTRY IN TAIWAN Abstract: A corporation’s reputation can impact customer loyalty and behavior (Barich & Kotler, 1991; Nha & Gaston, 2001). It can also increase a firm’s competitive advantage (Hoopes et al., 2003), especially for firms in the service industry (Cretu & Brodie, 2007). More than ever before, people in Taiwan seek to receive high levels of quality service. That is, firms with better corporate reputations have more opportunities to earn a profit from customers. A previous review indicated there is an increasing amount of research in Taiwan that focuses on measuring the effects of corporate reputation (Chen & Chen, 2008). Studies that focus on the banking industry are rare, however, and studies examining the privately run banking industry are even more so. The aim of this study, therefore, is to measure the corporate reputation of the top five privately run banks, ranked according to the latest evaluating factors proposed by Hung (2002). The results indicate that E. Sun Bank has the highest corporate reputation in comparison to the other four banks investigated. The other four banks are: Taipei Fubon Bank, Taiwan Business Bank, Cathay United Bank, and Chang Hwa Commercial Bank. Both a discussion of this study’s key findings as well as suggested directions for future research are provided in this study. Classification-JEL: C02, M10 Keywords: corporate reputation, privately run banks, customer loyalty and behavior Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 65-75 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-6.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:65-75 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B.B. Goyal Author-Name: Meghna Aggarwal Title: ORGANIZED RETAILING IN INDIA- AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF APPROPRIATE FORMATS AND EXPECTED TRENDS Abstract: The retail sector and its environment have experienced radical changes in the last decade. Most of the challenges are due to changing demographic, social, politic, business climate, and changes in the retail sector including the addition of Wall Mart, Carrefour, K-Mart, etc. This paper examines the relative importance of the various products purchased at organized retail outlets and the choice of format, the consumer has when purchasing a product. The paper also discusses the expected development of organized retail in the future, focusing on aspects with potential effects on consumer purchasing behavior. Not all items are equally important for retail outlets and various products need specific retail formats. Classification-JEL: M31 Keywords: retailing, India, purchasing behavior, demographics, business climate Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 77-83 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-7.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:77-83 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Wei-Ning Chen Title: APPLICATION OF QUEUING THEORY TO DYNAMIC VEHICLE ROUTING PROBLEM Abstract: In this paper, we developed and analyzed a dynamic model of the vehicle routing problem. In the stated model, a vehicle with adequate volume travels at a constant velocity in a bounded plane to provide services to independent and uniformly distributed demands. The dynamic demands arrive according to a Poisson process and on-site service times are generally distributed, independent of their location. A median repositioning policy for the dynamic model is proposed to reduce system time of the First Come First Served policy. The improvement of performance is verified by simulation results. Classification-JEL: C61 Keywords: Queuing Theory; Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 85-91 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-8.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:85-91 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: José Antonio Aparisi-Caudeli Author-Name: Arturo Giner-Fillol Author-Name: Eva María Pérez-García Title: EVIDENCE ON IMPLEMENTING A BALANCED SCORECARD SYSTEM AT THE PORT AUTHORITY OF VALENCIA Abstract: This paper examines the implementation of a strategic management system at the Port Authority of Valencia, a government body managing and controlling the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia in Spain. The methodology used is a case study, a method that has grown increasingly popular in this field of research. The analysis of this implementation process has included a study on the design and implementation of the balanced scorecard model, as well as research on how a strategy map was drawn, performance measurement software applied and a strategy management process implemented in the organization. This research provides further knowledge of the changes that an organization undergoes to implement a strategic management system. Classification-JEL: M14, M40 Keywords: balanced scorecard, port authority, Valencia, strategic management system Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 93-116 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-9.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:93-116 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Maury R. Randall Author-Name: David Y. Suk Title: HIGHER LIFE EXPECTANCY AT LOWER COST: COUNTRIES WHICH OUTPERFORM THE UNITED STATES Abstract: In this paper we identify countries that have better outcomes than the United States with respect to life expectancy. Using this sample of countries, relationships between the life expectancy outcomes and health care costs are examined, and we also test whether the extent of public financing has a significant impact on the results. In addition, the study compares the availability of important health care resources, such as doctors, nurses, hospital beds and medical equipment to the amount of funds allocated to health care. We conclude with a brief review of policies and system changes that might increase resource availability and efficiency in the United States. Classification-JEL: I10, I18 Keywords: life expectancy, health care cost, public finances, efficiency Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 117-129 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-10.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:117-129 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Eddy Junarsin Author-Name: Fitri Ismiyanti Title: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN INDONESIAN BANKING INDUSTRY Abstract: The Indonesian banking sector has recently suffered from bad debt and liquidity problems. The Indonesian banking crisis that has occurred since 1997 has impoverished bank’s performance and reduced shareholder wealth. The deterioration of bank performance with respect to bank as an intermediation agent also affects the wealth of stakeholders, especially depositors. Agency problems cause severe effects on bank performance. This research examines agency theory arguments in the banking industry by analyzing the effect on the firm specific variables, managerial stock ownership, leverage, and dividend yield. Agency costs are proxied by earnings volatility, manager’s portfolio diversification losses, bank size, and standard deviation of bank equity returns. This is among the first research to examine the determination of financial policy variables based on agency theory perspectives in the banking industry. This research examines the largest 133 Indonesian banks during the period of 2000-2004. This study suggests that bank size and a measure of the manager’s portfolio diversification opportunity set affect the bank’s level of managerial stock ownership, leverage, and dividends. Classification-JEL: F23, G21 Keywords: bank, agency conflict, ownership, leverage, dividend Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 131-140 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-11.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:131-140 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Kayhan Koleyni Title: USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS FOR INCOME CONVERGENCE Abstract: Economic convergence is an important topic in modern Macroeconomics. Economic convergence refers to the tendency of per capita income of countries (regions) to approach their steady-state value. Two types of convergence are identified in the literature: Conditional and Absolute Convergence. This paper studies income convergence between 177 world countries during the period of 1980-2006 by using the neoclassical growth model of Barro-Sala-i-Martin for both kinds of convergence. Non-linearity of the underlying relationships, the restrictiveness of assumptions of functional forms and econometric problems in the estimation and application of theoretical models, advocate for the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) algorithms. We show that by changing the quantitative tools of analysis and using ANN results become more precise. Results show that absolute convergence does not exist and conditional convergence is insignificant Classification-JEL: C45, E37, O47 Keywords: Economic convergence, non-linearity, econometrics, artificial Neural Networks algorithms Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 141-152 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Year: 2009 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v3n2-2009/GJBR-V3N2-2009-12.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:3:y:2009:i:2:p:141-152