Quality of regional situation

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- This study investigates the role of host-country political risk and law unenforceability on the (in)stability of international joint ventures (IJVs). Adopting a case study method in two international JVs the study is the first of its kind to investigate IJV instability in the East African region.

 

Girmay, Unveiling the impacts of host-country politics and law on joint venture instability.

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- This study aims to contribute to resolving the water hyacinth problem in the Tondano Lake (North Sulawesi province, Indonesia). By taking a design science approach, a small-scale Biomass Supply Chain is designed that utilises water hyacinths to produce energy and organic fertiliser. The products serve to overcome the area’s low electrification rate and dramatic shortage of organic fertiliser. To ensure the diffusion of the technology in the area, the appropriateness of the BSC’s technology is assessed on economical, technical, environmental and social factors. Results show the technology push characteristic of the BSCs technology. 

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Pin, Small-scale Biomass Supply Chain design: a solution for the water hyacinth problem in the Tondano Lake in Indonesia.

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- This paper illuminates that disarray by presenting a framework which envelops five dimensions every Global Value Chain exhibits. Each of these five dimensions are provided with means of qualification founded in theory. Furthermore, a Global Value Chain case study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is analysed based on the extent to which it features all the elements of the framework. Through literature research a qualification for the elements which are not featured in the OECD case study is made. 

 

Wubs, Local economic development: Ball to the Global Value Chain.

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- Several requirements of the projects are met (requirements of material transfer and capacity transfer). Motivation & willingness to change and the bio diesel need are limited in the Biodiesel project in Indonesia. The use of rubber as a source material is open to further investigation.  Overall, it is doubtful that with a transfer of this technology towards this application area, any significant LED can be reached. 

 

Baars, Combining Technology Transfer with Technology Push.

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- This study describes the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) living in these cities. In doing so, it shows what the size of this group is, where they are living, how they are economically active and on what income they live. Moreover, it aims to provide an estimation of the developments of the BoP in the past five years. Secondly, this research focuses on local governments and affiliated organisations, and their role in stimulating LED in their cities.

 

Bekkering, Local economic development at the bottom of the pyramid.

 

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- It should be understood if the local market (people) desire any changes to the current situation. In the case of interest, capital is to be supplied. Management Control (internal), Confidence and Transparency are important factors to focus on. 

 

Boon, Introducing Management Control in Local Economic Development.

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- The quality of the regional situation negatively influences uncertainty, of which governmental uncertainty, transportation & logistics uncertainty and raw material & supply uncertainty have the most (negative) impact on local economic development.

Bot, Uncertainties in the Bidirectional Biodiesel Supply Chain.

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- This thesis therefore employs a case study to assess whether microfinance as a development tool can live up to its promise of alleviating poverty and creating gender equality. Moreover this thesis assesses how and if microfinance can help in the struggle against HIV and AIDS. It is concluded that the intervention aimed at economic and social empowerment of female sex workers can be deemed successful. These findings translate to clients of a microfinance project in Zimbabwe being less involved in commercial sex work and thus reduces the spreading of HIV and AIDS. Accordingly, microfinance can be a powerful tool in the struggle against HIV and AIDS.

 

Kips, Microfinance and the Struggle against HIV and Aids; the Case of GWAPA.

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- The main objective of this thesis is to test the applicability of a quick scan model measuring economic development. The method used in doing so is a case study in which Tanzania’s economy is mapped on three geographical levels using said model. The data for this case study were obtained through interviewing a varied group of 17 respondents on site in Tanzania. Their input provided a detailed, useful and accessible overview of Tanzania’s economy on all levels. It is thus concluded that the model functions well, has a broad applicability and can be used with ease by the target group.

 

Mulder, Measuring an economy's state: a quick scan model on three geographical levels. A Tanzanian case study.

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- In this study, the opportunities and threats for Dutch retail companies in Vietnam are investigated.

It is found that the Vietnamese business system is a combination of a state organized and a fragmented business system. Furthermore, the most important opportunities for Dutch retailers are the favorable demand conditions. The lack of local, skilled staff, the lack of quality retail space in HCMC and Hanoi, and high rental costs are important threats to succeed in Vietnam. Finally, collaborative entry strategy (JV or acquisition) is recommended rather than an independent entry strategy (greenfield investment).

 

Van den Ban, How to analyze business sectors in emerging markets: A new framework applied to the retail sector in Vietnam.

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- This paper investigates which specific factors contributed to the success of mobile payment system M-Pesa in Kenya. Central aspects are the financial and telecommunication industry, cultural and lifestyle characteristics, and the position of the players. The methods to gather data are 40 questionnaires with agents, 91 structured interviews, 3 in-depth interviews and desk research. The combination of these factors results in the success story called M-Pesa.

 

Van den Berg, The Influence of Financial Markets, Telecommunications and Culture on success of M-Pesa.

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- This study investigates how the Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network (ZWRCN) can attract and keep a motivated and committed staff. It is recommended that both organizations have to spend time and energy on Human Resource Management and identify and select the core competencies that they want to sustain. 

 

Van der Wijk, Women's non-governmental organizations. Case studies in Zimbabwe.

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- Local Economic Development is also about imbalance within a region or country, and how to reduce this imbalance. Several things are important for this. First of all, both national and local government should introduce a policy which reduces the imbalance and create coordinated economic and development. This can be done via preferential treatments, tariffs etc. Secondly, infrastructure should be improved in order to improve the quality of the regional and local community. Third, education should be improved in order to increase innovation and thus local economic development. Lastly, sustainable development should be more enhanced which can be done by the national and regional government or by local leaders.

Li Zhang, The Research of Regional and Local Economic Development in Intraprovincial Inequality.

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- Chinese immigrants/ entrepreneurs bring new resources and capabilities, create jobs, stimulates business and development  (through spillover effects). Overall positive influence, however ethnic tension can influence cooperation and well-being. The short term relationship is positive however impact of the long term presence of China is still to be questioned.

 

De Jong, The Influence of Chinese Firms and Immigrants on the Local Economic Development.

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