Authors: Richard J. Mills, Denis P. Rudd

Pages: 2-9

Abstract:

The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) has released green guidelines for the hospitality industry. Those guidelines include information on effective energy usage, water conservation and waste management. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the literature to determine if the green movement has impacted the hospitality industry’s bottom line. Determining whether or not it is practical for older hotels to refurbish and adhere to the guidelines proposed by the AH&LA’s recommendations is something that every property must determine on its own. Properties being built now have the option to create sustainable and efficient properties. However, some choose not to due to the perceived cost increases and the fear that there will be little benefit to their own business in the long run. How do we make being green, greener?

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Authors: Antonio E. Morales-Pita, Sydney Evans

Pages: 10-21

Abstract:

The main objective of this paper is to analyze the interdependence between the U.S. and Chinese economies in relation to the world economy. The paper is structured in three main sections. Section I deals with China’s fiscal policy (specifically tax structure influence on the East and West parts of the country), its relationship with the GDP structure, and the latent possibility of inflation. Section II is dedicated to foreign trade issues such as the manipulation of the currency, China’s dependence on exports, as well as being the main creditor of the U.S. foreign debt, and the largest holder of U.S. reserves in the world. Section III focuses on the current and perspective role that both China and the U.S. may play as engines of the world economy. The main conclusions are mainly related to : a) unemployment in China and budget deficits in the U.S. in the context of the Chinese export-led growth; b) the significance of the emerging halt on market reforms on China’s future development; and finally c) the fact that without US FDI and imports it would be difficult for China to get out of the recession given its export-driven GDP structure.

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Author: Romeo Ionescu

Pages: 22-34

Abstract:

The paper deals with the new challenges for the E.U.27 after the latest two enlargements. One of these challenges is the regional sustainable development. As a result, the paper analyses the convergence and the divergence process across the E.U.27 and inside the Member States. For the beginning, we analyse the interregional disparities and the regional policy instruments which are able to decrease them.The next step of the analysis is to quantify the regional disparities in Romania and across the E.U. A distinct part of the paper deals with the Cluster analysis and the SPSS soft, the 14th version, in order to calculate the development distance between the regions and to forecast the regional development, as well. The paper uses statistic data, diagrams, graphics and a dedicate soft in order to conclude that the present regional evolution across the E.U.27 is a contradictory one.

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Author: Marta A. Götz

Pages: 35-44

Abstract:

This paper touches upon the knowledge environment (KE) as a factor attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) to clusters. Clusters - geographic concentrations of interconnected companies and associated institutions - can enhance the regions’ attractiveness and stimulate inflow of FDI mainly thanks to the features such as closer cooperation, tacit knowledge, low communication costs, and other advantages stemming from proximity.

KE has been conceived as one of the sources of clusters’ attractiveness and is defined as an ecosystem conducive for broadly defined knowledge processes. This concept has two dimensions - knowledge base and knowledge mechanisms - assuming that cluster does not only posses certain knowledge attributes such as scientific institutes or pool of highly qualified labor force but it also provides for necessary elements facilitating the dissemination and accumulation of knowledge, such as social networks, spillovers, etc.

Besides literature review, field study qualitative research has been conducted. It encompasses in-depth interviews with the representatives of NorCOM – North Jutland Wireless Communications and Maritime Communications and Navigation Cluster in Denmark and a quasi cluster (cluster in statu nascendi) around Warsaw. The results obtained indisputably indicate clusters offer an environment favorable for foreign investors conducting research and development activities (R&D). However, confronting the Polish and Danish cases revealed the perception of knowledge environment differs between these two cohorts.

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Author: Konrad Raczkowski

Pages: 45-50

Abstract:

A brief analysis of optimal intervention in trading systems seems to indicate that it is an important determinant for entrepreneurial activities in an international economy. Undoubtedly all the turbulent changes on the global scene, as most vividly expressed in such areas as mobility of financial capital or labour force resources, direct both entrepreneurs and their respective governments to take a particular approach towards their management and effective competitiveness in the international market. The new trade economies thus created transform information management into knowledge management, which then becomes indispensable to the existence and evolution of each organization. Therefore it is most important that both national states and single enterprises are aware of the consequences of unconscious or unconsidered interventionism, both now and in the future.

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Author: Jarosław W. Przybytniowski

Pages: 51-57

Abstract:

The purpose of this article is insurance market's changes analysis in second sector with tendencies of changes in Poland after European Union (EU) access. Observation and presentation of insurance market by second sector's prism shows actual conditions and changes directions. Common market of 21 century and unification of EU law allowed creating integrating standards though big difference between internal markets of member countries. At the same time the market must cope with1: globalisation, structural changes, growing meaning of services in economy and getting old societies2 as well as more and more differential EU. Together with improvement of economic situation on world's markets in 2006-2007 economic situation in Poland also improved. Evaluation of economic situation in the scope of financial market (especially insurance market) was much better than in other sectors, we could say that insurances were the motor of economic development.

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Author: R. A. Alani, W. A. Isola

Pages: 58-71

Abstract:

The paper examines the concept of Human Capital and its role in national development with a view to situating the importance given to it in Nigeria. It identifies the avenues through which human capital is developed such as provision of formal education, on-the-job training, adult education, health services, labour market information and support for internal migration, among others. The paper then briefly looks at the administrative structure of the Nigerian state and the constitutional responsibilities given to each level of government (local, state, and federal) and observes that the federal government plays a leading role in human capital formation. It therefore considers the tasks of the federal government in promoting human capital development, bearing in mind the avenues for developing human resources – formal education, and so on. It also highlights the support that the federal government has given to the private sector in its efforts to develop human capacities in the country. Moreover, it considers the responsibility of the federal government in helping international agencies to advance human capital development as one of the latter’s responsibilities toward member nations. Specifically, the paper focuses on the policies, programmes and agencies of the federal government that have helped to promote human capital development. The constraints that have impeded the efforts of this tier of government in meeting stated objectives such as inadequate funding of formal education and brain drain are also discussed. Finally, the paper makes appropriate recommendations to ensure that the nation’s human capital development process serves the expected purposes effectively.

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Author: Barbara Wolny

Pages: 72-77

Abstract:

This article considers the findings of the project called ‘Szkoła Promująca Zdrowie’ by Polish schools. It emphasizes the importance of health promotion: a wholesome and physical education in our schools. As well as raising awareness of the subject, the article also considers the stages of the program as they were introduced.

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Author: Linjie Chou

Pages: 78-83

Abstract:

As an extension of the traditional stage internationalization model of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), born global (BG) theories have become popular with the practitioners and academia of international management. As the post-stage internationalization approach, born global theories still need conceptual contributions from other branches of management studies. In this paper, the perspective of cultural ecology will be adopted to analyse the essential cultural value difference that prevails in BGs’ trust-led social capital, which translates the BGs’ network into the elements of trust and social capital. These elements inherit a significant ecological impact.

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Author: Krzysztof M. Kietlinski

Pages: 84-90

Abstract:

What is a steam turbine retrofit and what are the advantages of such retrofit - hundreds of papers have been written on the subject and thousands of presentation, not to mention multi-million euro retrofit market and businesses devoted to this activity. Upon deeper reflection it may be concluded that the idea of retrofit may be applied not only to steam turbines but to large enterprises too, including those which supply steam turbines. As an old adage says: „medice, cura te ipsum”. The analysis of cost and effectiveness management in a large enterprise indicates the occurrence of phenomena of „no man’s land” and „imaginary cost”. Even thought they significantly influence the economic result, the classic management model does not account for these phenomena at all. This paper presents three propositions of retrofit packages of management system of large enterprises, functioning on the global marked of complex products with strong competition.

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