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Revealed Comparative Advantage of Ethiopian Leather Industry with Selected African Economies
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
229-237
Received:
31 July 2015
Accepted:
11 August 2015
Published:
3 September 2015
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyze the growth pattern of trade flow and trade comparative advantages of the leather industry products between some selected African economies-Kenya, Egypt, Tunisia and with particular focus on Ethiopia between 2004 to 2013. In doing so, it has been calculated the Balassa index of revealed comparative advantage using industry data at the HS 2-digit level. The studies mainly focus on the two articles of Ethiopian leather export namely, Product: 41 raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather, and Product: 42 Articles of leather, animal gut, harness, travel goods. An in-depth revealed comparative advantage (RCA) has been conducted for these two categories separately and the analysis shows that Ethiopia has a comparatively high RCA in raw hide and skin exports over the selected economies during the period of study. Even if RCA index for leather and leather products is less than one, a very promising trend has been observed, as index has been increased about 3,395% in the studied time. This indicates that Ethiopia has significant potentiality for specialization in leather export both in raw hides and skins and leather product. The paper also highlights that all stakeholder in the country has to work very closely to boost the performance of the leather industry export in the light of evidence. Therefore, investors, entrepreneurs and policy makers should specialize in both raw hides and skins and leather and leather productions and exports to generate more export revenues for the country.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyze the growth pattern of trade flow and trade comparative advantages of the leather industry products between some selected African economies-Kenya, Egypt, Tunisia and with particular focus on Ethiopia between 2004 to 2013. In doing so, it has been calculated the Balassa index of revealed comparative advantage using...
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The Effect of Social Networks on Performance of Fresh Tomato Supply Chain in Kilolo District, Tanzania
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
238-243
Received:
7 August 2015
Accepted:
19 August 2015
Published:
23 October 2015
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the effect of social networks on performance of fresh tomato supply chain in Kilolo District Tanzania using Social Capital Theory and Transaction Cost Economic Theory. Tomato production and marketing has been identified as being important in poverty reduction mainly because it can offer employment and thus income to smallholder farmers and traders. However, smallholder farmers and traders in Kilolo District face high transaction costs in production and marketing of their produce and thus they rely on social networks to reduce transaction costs. The study employed a cross-sectional research design. A simple random sampling technique was used to select smallholder tomato farmers while snow ball sampling technique was used to select tomato traders. The sample size consisted of 242 respondents. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents. Data were analysed using means, percentages, independent samples T-tests and multiple regression analysis. The study found that membership in socio-economic groups; network size, tie strength, and network density have significant positive influence on performance of the fresh tomato supply chain in the study area. The study also found that level of education had positive influence on the performance. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that social networks have significant positive influence on performance of the fresh tomato supply chain in the study area. It is recommended that the government should recognize the importance of informal social networks and strengthen the existing social networks.
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the effect of social networks on performance of fresh tomato supply chain in Kilolo District Tanzania using Social Capital Theory and Transaction Cost Economic Theory. Tomato production and marketing has been identified as being important in poverty reduction mainly because it can offer employment and thus inco...
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Robust Control Solutions for Electric Vehicle Promotion Including Charging Infrastructure Development
Takahide Niimura,
Noriaki Sakamoto,
Kazuhiro Ozawa
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
244-249
Received:
7 September 2015
Accepted:
23 September 2015
Published:
13 October 2015
Abstract: In this paper the authors propose to determine the amount of public subsidies for the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) by applying a feedback control model. The following three features are assumed on the growth model for the electric vehicle market for a controlled target: (1) The charging station is assumed to be public installation and private management; (2) The break-even point is calculated from the maintenance cost of the charging station; (3) The target numbers of electric vehicle sales are set as growth patterns. To achieve such target numbers and to follow the changes, we propose the application of robust control. In this research, an uncertainty is supposed in the model when the EV market growth is simulated, and fuzzy logic control is applied for better understanding by the decision-makers who exercise the policy measures and for the improvement of the target following capability. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the control based on the fuzzy logic even if some uncertainties are assumed in the growth model.
Abstract: In this paper the authors propose to determine the amount of public subsidies for the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) by applying a feedback control model. The following three features are assumed on the growth model for the electric vehicle market for a controlled target: (1) The charging station is assumed to be public installation and priva...
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Antecedents of Performance Appraisal and Organizational Performance in Water and Sanitation Companies in Kenya: A Case of Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company limited
Elijah Ng’ang’a Njuguna,
Bula Hannah Orwa
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
250-263
Received:
3 September 2015
Accepted:
4 October 2015
Published:
19 October 2015
Abstract: Performance appraisal serves a good number of purposes in organizations. In the context of socialization, performance appraisal provides important feedback about how well the individual is getting along in the organization. This general objective of this study was to assess the impact of performance appraisal on organizational performance in Murang’a water and Sanitation Company. The study also sought to establish the effects of goal setting in performance appraisal, feedback in performance appraisal and performance appraisal on the organizational performance on Murang’a water and Sanitation Company. This study employed a descriptive research survey. The census for this study was 94 employees working in Murang’a water and Sanitation Company. In addition the study used primary data collected using questionnaires; the questionnaires included structured and unstructured questions. Data collected was mainly quantitative in nature and was appropriately analyzed using descriptive statistics. The descriptive statistical tools helped in describing the data and determine the extent to be used. These included frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviations. In addition, multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between dependent and the independent variable. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), was used in analysis. The study established that employees’ knowledge and skills in performance appraisal influences the organizational performance in Murang’a water and Sanitation Company most followed by feedback in performance appraisal and goal setting in performance appraisal. The study therefore recommends that Murang’a water and Sanitation Company should set its goals with employees in mind. In addition, the organization should ensure that all employees understand the organization’s goals.
Abstract: Performance appraisal serves a good number of purposes in organizations. In the context of socialization, performance appraisal provides important feedback about how well the individual is getting along in the organization. This general objective of this study was to assess the impact of performance appraisal on organizational performance in Murang...
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