Journal of Emerging Knowledge on Emerging Markets

The Evolution of Fiscal Decentralization in China and India: A Comparative Study of Design and Performance

Yinghua Jin et al. — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:30 PDT

In this article, we compare and contrast the design and performance of China and India’s intergovernmental fiscal systems. We find that there are remarkable similarities in the design and performance of China and India’s intergovernmental fiscal systems. More specifically, both countries have highly decentralized expenditures assignments and highly centralized revenue assignments. As a result, sub-national governments in both countries must rely on fiscal transfers to finance their assigned functions. Finally, there is considerable off the books and hidden borrowing by sub-national governments in both countries. We also find that there are considerable and growing disparities in the rate of expenditure decentralization among sub-national governments within each country. Lack fiscal discipline and growing fiscal disparities among sub-national governments create risks to future economic growth and to social cohesion, absent policy reforms to address these issues.

U.S. Demographic Diversity and the Achievement Gap: Grappling with Nuances

Robert A. DeVillar et al. — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:30 PDT

In this article, the authors examine various nuances relating to demographics on race, ethnicity, gender and income in the United States, and ways in which they relate to educational access, participation and achievement. These nuances persistently remain below the surface of our national consciousness, schooling experiences at all levels, and everyday discourse. Thus, it is necessary to make them explicit and, depending on their positive or negative influence, integrate them into our policies and practices or challenge and discard them. This obligatory culling of the wheat from the chaff is required if our attempts to move forward progressively and steadily in educational, societal and national reforms—meant to refine and strengthen our democracy, character, unity, capital and global competitive standing—are to have any hope of becoming a reality.

Speech Genres and Identity: The Place of Adda in Bengali Cultural Discourse

Debarati Sen — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:29 PDT

This paper explores the dialectic between speech genres and group identity. It argues that certain ideologies get associated with speech genres, like adda, which inextricably link them to particular groups and situations. Adda is a kind of informal social talk in Bengali, among friends and colleagues, but its content is always of intellectual significance, addressing issues such as local/global politics, art, literature, and music. Casual conversations and gossip are common in many societies, but the creative performance of this genre by Bengali elites made adda a marker of an urban middle-class identity, especially in response to British Imperialism. Currently in Indian public discourse adda has become synonymous with Bengaliness, so much so that tourism brochures selling Calcutta tout that visiting famous cafés or joints where adda is still practiced—even participation—is a must before leaving Calcutta. In this paper I use my ethnography of adda in Calcutta to establish that this speech genre is a discursive site of cultural identity production and a means of coping with globalization. I demonstrate that the combination of malleability of content and purposefulness of style has caused the elite practice adda to be appropriated by non-elites. It also makes adda a tool for invoking the global in the local identity formation.

Death and Dying in the Curriculum of Public Schools: Is there a place?

Ethel King-McKenzie — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:28 PDT

Death and dying is not myth but a reality of life and living. Though some of us view death as a stranger and try to evade its existence as much as we can, death is inevitable. This paper proposes the inclusion of death and dying in the school curriculum and offers several ways of integrating death and dying in the curriculum for different grade levels. It argues that death has visited frequently on our school campuses and in national life over the past decades and there is always a sense of despair, panic and uncertainty about how to react to this visitor. From the moment we enter this world at birth the only other sure event in our lives is our death and our dying. This topic then seems of paramount importance in our lives and should be embraced more than our first day at school, graduation among other events.

An Exploration of Human Resource Management Information Systems Security

Humayun Zafar et al. — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:27 PDT

In this exploratory study we investigate differences in perception between management and staff with regard to overall information security risk management and human resources security risk management at two Fortune 500 companies. This study is part of a much larger study with regard to organizational information security issues. To our knowledge, this is the first time the issue of security risk management has been discussed in the context of human resource systems. We found significant differences between management and staff perceptions regarding overall security risk management and human resources security risk management. Our findings lay the ground work for future research in this area.

Japan’s Model of Mobile Ecosystem Success: The Case of NTT DoCoMo

Donald L. Amoroso et al. — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:26 PDT

This research looks at the adoption of Internet and mobile applications in the United States and Japan. It is the intent ofthis meta-exploratory study to examine factors of success with Japan’s mobile industry over the past decade. Takeshi Natsuno defined the ecosystem as a collection of roles in a collaborative balance. It is here that we began to search for the factors that have had an impact on the success of the mobile industry in Japan over the past two decades. It is the intent of this study to identify and discuss those factors to validate the ecosystem research model and to recommend its use for future research. We found the ecosystem model to be very robust as a model to discuss, categorize, and explain the mobile industry in Japan, leading us to a robust and explanatory push-pull investment model. It is intended that this model will be used for future research. We concluded in this research that risk-taking was the predominant factor influencing the success of the mobile ecosystem in Japan. We found in Japan a clear investment earlier in the process, as the first step in most cases, where mobile carriers, such as NTT DoCoMo, would partner with university labs to develop mobile applications, such as i-Mode and e-payment systems, and then mobile consumers would have new applications and functionality to adopt. The model is very powerful and can be considered for adoption in other countries and maybe for other ecosystems.

Tanzania and the Geo-Politics Of Rural Development: The Return Of Neoliberalism

Lindah Mhando — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:25 PDT

Modernization as development in the Post-War era was a compelling model for even critical scholars, as post-colonial societies sought growth and development as independent nations. This essay explores lessons from the Tanzanian case, in order to determine whether globalization is a similarly seductive, yet insufficient model for development in the current period. Looking at the intensive changes in Tanzania’s largely rural economy, from colonialism, to the ‘self-reliance’ of pre-villagization, and then Ujamaa or villagization, development and demographic trends and migration effects are analyzed. In light of these findings, implications for the contemporary period are considered. Demographic changes, urbanization, weak economic growth, declining real incomes and declining proportion of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture, all indicate the failures of past development plans, highlighting the need for new thinking in this era of globalization, which is just as subject to the vagaries of the world capitalist economic system as previous periods.

A Strategic Framework for Consumer Preferences towards Emerging Retail Formats

Ravi Kiran et al. — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:24 PDT

The present paper is an effort to understand consumers’ attitude towards emerging retail formats and to propose a framework for consumers’ preferences towards emerging retail formats by taking into account demography, product-type and the product and store attributes of retailing. The results of this exploratory study highlight that the food and groceries; health and beauty; apparel; jewellery and consumer durables are the fastest growing categories of organized retailing. The factors contributing to retail growth in India are dynamics of demography, double income, urbanization and internet revolution. Consumers prefer modern retail formats like hypermarkets, malls and supermarkets. Convenience and variety are the attributes for preferring organized retailing. Youth in the age group of 18-30 years has a greater inclination to visit organized retail outlets and prefer to visit hypermarkets and malls for hedonic perspective.

The Big Picture: Decision Making and Globalization

Tim Blumentritt — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:23 PDT

International business is an established but complicated field. The core elements of international business have been with us for decades, even while the challenges of the day seem consistently novel. This article discusses the dynamics, perspectives, and underlying differences that differentiate international from domestic business. It goes on to introduce core frameworks that might help managers make solid decisions in global contexts.

The 2007 Chinese Pet Food Crisis: On U.S. Media’s Coverage and U.S. Pet-owners Reactions

May Hongmei Gao — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:23 PDT

In the midst of U.S. citizens’ growing concern of food quality, few issues have shocked the American conscience as the 2007 pet food crisis. The crisis, caused by the contamination of mainly pet food with ingredients imported from China, resulted in the largest recall in U.S. history. Poisonous chemicals such as “melamine,” “aminopterin,” and “cyanuric acid” were identified in pet food products imported from China. The pet food contamination was eventually extended to the feed for fish, pigs, and chicken, animals destined to be part of human food supply. This research showed that most American families own cats and dogs as pets, and pets are mainly treated as children and companion. Such humanification of pets increases American pet owners concern for their pets’ health and wellness. U.S. Media’s coverage on Chinese government actions on this issue was analyzed.

India US Business Ethics

Rebecca LeFebvre — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:22 PDT

The U.S. and India are on opposite sides of the world, yet in today’s globalized world they might as well be next door neighbors. The commonalities in democratic governments and the use of English in official matters can make doing business transactions across borders easy between India and the U.S. At the same time, the cultural differences should not be ignored. This paper explores the impact of cultural differences between the U.S. and India in the particular area of business ethics. A comparative analysis is performed on the business codes of conduct from fifty major corporations in each country revealing some distinct differences in ethical attitudes. The hierarchical and collectivist nature of the Indian culture versus the all-encompassing and individualistic nature of the U.S. culture are reflected in four main findings. First, U.S. companies apply their codes of conduct to all employees, whereas Indian companies generally apply their codes of conduct only to senior management. Second, U.S. companies require their employees to report on their colleagues if they see them violating the code, whereas Indian companies generally do not. Third, India is more specific about defining what a relative is when discussing items such as conflict of interest. Finally, in both countries, there is a strong expectation to protect the interests of the company and not achieve personal gains at the company’s expense.

Social Entrepreneurship: Promoting Social Growth via Non-Profits

Sudhanva V. Char — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:21 PDT

This paper makes out a case for granting a wider mandate for social enterprises and non-profits (SEN) in China as an institutional remedy to solve China’s social and societal issues: pollution, regimented labor and the “tragedy of the commons” on account ‘smokestack’ industrialization. It first draws attention to a) overlooked aspects of rapid growth with reference to 16% of population at the bottom of the income pyramid that missed the growth boat and b) harm otherwise done to elementary resources such as air and water and c) need for deregulation under the ‘one country, two systems.’

Some Issues that Confront Teachers: A Case of the United States of America and South Africa

Bongani D. Bantwini et al. — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:21 PDT

Teachers have become the major source of discussion, occasionally blamed for students’ poor performance, failure, and poor implementation of new reforms. This paper explores and discusses the recent issues with which teachers from the United States of America and South Africa are confronted, including teacher layoffs, abolishment of teacher tenure, evaluation of teachers by their students’ tests score, teacher lack of support, deteriorating school condition, and mixed messages over what teachers should do. In discussing these issues, the paper raises many questions and concerns and argues that too much of a pressure on teachers will not necessary brings the desired outcomes, but rather be the recipe for disaster for our education system. To conclude, it proposes some of the things to be considered in order to change the current status quo while yielding the desired results.

Copyright Liability and Performing Rights Organizations in the United States and India: A Comparative Analysis

Elyria Kemp et al. — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:20 PDT

Music has become a central element in consumer marketing for its ability to influence consumers’ attitudes and behaviors. Research has shown that music adds value to the retail and service environments. In most instances, however, the cost to use music extends beyond the expenses incurred from purchasing CDs, stereo equipment or engaging musicians to perform. Most industrialized nations have statutes that protect music under copyright. As a result, businesses that use music to enhance the consumer’s service experience are responsible for obtaining clearance to perform copyrighted music. Performing rights organizations exist in countries all over the world and grant clearance and performance rights. The present research presents a review and comparative analysis of the licensing efforts of performing rights organizations in two industrialized nations—the United States and India. The licensing efforts of these organizations have been a source of criticism for their impact on small businesses and retailers. Recommendations for improving the current situation are offered.

BRICS at the Gate: Modern International Monetary System in Conditions of Balanced Uncertainty

Sourabh Gupta et al. — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:19 PDT

The history of the modern international monetary system has been one of balanced uncertainty, with a fundamental trade-off - and tension - persisting between it anchoring mechanism and the mechanism for adjusting imbalances within. Ever since the system’s moorings drifted from its anchoring to gold and the assured automaticity of convertibility, the adjustment mechanism to regulate intra-systemic imbalances - floating exchange rates, capital controls, coordinated international intervention, or a combination thereof - has had to be progressively scaled upwards to account for the contingent nature of the tie to gold. Attempts to weave this balance have typically tended to break down over time as structural shifts associated with modern capitalism have overwhelmed the founding design of each monetary order. Looking ahead, a 21st century international monetary order that is entirely de-anchored from gold and rests merely on the full faith and credit of its fiat money trustees will necessitate that its mechanisms of international coordination and adjustment to restore balance be ratcheted-upwards equivalently. The emergence of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) phenomenon, and the powerful re-rise of China as a global strategic peer competitor to the United States, is likely to heap a layer of complication to this task of international financial coordination. To overcome the fundamental structural tensions that exist within the system – semi-liberalized financial and exchange rate regimes in a universe of fully-liberalized and quicksilver capital flows; basic long-term irreconcilability of the United States’ international debtor status with its principal reserve currency-issuer status; viability of a dollar-dominated monetary system in a progressively China, Asia and BRICS-dominated global economic and trading order, we propose that flexibility and capacity be endowed within the system’s regulatory mechanisms to accommodate – and accelerate - the economic and financial liberalization trajectories, and rise, of its BRICS and emerging markets constituents.

Teaching Asia in the American South: A Case Study of An African American Teacher’s Journey

Guichun Zong — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:18 PDT

Policy makers and researchers in American teacher education have long called for increased numbers of minority teachers to address the cultural gap between teachers and students, particularly in urban schools. However, very little is known about what these teacher candidates bring to and what happens to them as they progress through their professional development programs. The central purpose of this case study is to gain insights on an African American teacher candidate’ perspectives on teaching about Asia in the era of globalization: its primary purpose, curriculum, and effective strategies and resources to engage students. It also explores factors that shape the teacher candidate’s perspectives and how these perspectives influenced her teaching decisions in a diverse middle school in American South.

Understanding the Software Industry in China: Export Performance and Regional Development

Yeijing Huang — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:17 PDT

The software industry is important for developing countries to integrate into the world information and communication market. In China, the software industry experienced a boom due to huge domestic demand and deeper internationalization driven by FDI from developed countries and export to world market. This paper is to review current export performance of software industry of whole China at first, and then further the studies on new features of software industry development from princes (cities) level. The paper finds that the Chinese software industry experienced high speed export growth,meanwhile, driven by government encouragement policy and FDI inflow, software industry in China’s central and western capital cities experienced rapid development in terms of industry income and export value. While the gap of development scale in China’s eastern, central and western regions has become smaller, there is no evident lead for eastern region to demonstrate significant superiority in terms of technological intensity of leading software products and service. One reason to account for this phenomenon is that software industries in different regions show no evident differentiation and share similar development strategies.

Public-Private Partnerships in Atlanta and Houston Metropolitan Areas of the United States

Andrew I.E. Ewoh — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:16 PDT

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are normally created by the legislature as an innovative method of public service delivery, and funds to support their operations come from taxation on business premises or special property assessment fees levied on property owners for different types of improvement activities and services within a geographic boundary. The major goal of PPPs is to encourage employment, commerce, economic development, and public welfare in certain areas. This paper examines the PPPs’ processes, financing, and promotion strategies in various projects as well as their impacts on sustainable economic development in Atlanta and Houston metropolitan areas of the United States. The analysis begins with an overview of PPPs as an economic development tool. This followed by an exploration of their governing structures, intergovernmental relations, and accountability issues as these relate to metropolitan governance. In sum, the paper concludes with recommendations for successful implementation strategies.

Decolonizing Nationalism: Reading Nkrumah and Nyerere’s Pan-African Epistemology

Jesse Benjamin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:16 PDT

Using the perspective of intellectual history, this essay explores the lives and philosophies of Julius K. Nyerere and Kwame Nkrumah, heads of state in Tanzania and Ghana, respectively, as well as philosophers, activists, and Pan-African leaders throughout their lifetimes. The central focus is on their concepts and practices of nationalism, and their attempts to transcend the confines of colonial, Western epistemologies in formulating new African social practices. Their concepts of African socialism, pan-Africanism, and neo-colonialism are examined closely. Their lived experiences with injustice in Africa and the Black Atlantic shaped their perspectives. Their unfinished work bequeathed to us tools for contemporary struggles to find political and philosophical pathways to social justice and full humanity, on and off of the African continent.

Measuring Capacity Utilization and Evaluating the Impact of Liberalization on Capacity Utilization of Indian Drug and Pharmaceutical Industry

Sarba P. Ray — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:46:15 PDT

India has undertaken various reform programs since 1991 in order to make the economy competitive and to meet the global challengers. This paper examines the trends in capacity utilization in the Indian pharmaceutical sector during pre and post-reform period. It is suggested that while making policy decisions on the basis of aggregate, the consideration of intra-sectoral analysis may be attempted in order to have more valuable results because generalization based on aggregative analysis sometimes fails to pave the way for improved decision making.