Business and Public Administration Studies

Editorial Note

Mark M. Michalski — 2024-04-17

Federal Legislation Opens Opportunities for Investments in U.S. based Semiconductor Foundry Companies

Kathleen Harrington — 2024-04-17

The article examines the bipartisan support for U.S. technology manufacturing under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and the earlier U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which opens up a unique opportunity to invest in U.S. semiconductor and integrated device companies. Despite the high upfront costs and innovation risk factors inherent in the development of circuit manufacturing facilities, the recent federal prioritization of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, combined with broader market demand for semiconductors and bipartisan support for over-reliance on Chinese manufacturing, pro-vides a unique offsetting risk for investment in semiconductor manufacturing facilities. To assess this risk, this note will present an analysis of the competitiveness of global and domestic semiconductor foundry companies and outline the likely implications of U.S. policy for the industry over the next five years

Corporate social responsibility in the era of the changing business insurance market

Jarosław Wenancjusz Przybytniowski — 2024-04-17

The development of corporate social responsibility (CSR) mainly results from the changes in perceiving the role and function of enterprises in the environment. In the literature we can encounter the view that operations of enterprises should concentrate not only on the realisation of basic initiatives but also on undertaking a number of ventures to improve social and environmental conditions. It means that enterprises should exert positive impact on the environment (both internal and external/closer and farther one). In this paper the Author attempts at analysing CSR in relation to the insur-ance service sector. Insurance institutions, as the main entities of the insurance service sector, are the institutions of public trust which should operate in accordance with fundamental principles of business ethics. The aim of this paper is to ana-lyse CSR and its impact on internal and external environment of the insurance service sector and to present the tools used to assess the results of actions in terms of CSR in the sector of insurance services. Its methodological aim is to create a model of quality of insurance service sector. Whereas the application aim is to prepare materials and conclusions to im-prove the operations of business environments in the insurance market. The results presented come from Author’s own scientific research conducted within the framework of research projects. The article uses the methods of descriptive and quantitative analysis, as well as comparative analysis. The results of the survey conducted in the years 2019-2022 serve as primary sources.

A literature review on the effects of regional trade agreements (RTAs) on micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)

Sergio Martinez — 2024-04-17

This document presents a literature review of the effects of regional trade agreements (RTAs) on micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). It focuses on the extent to which MSMEs use RTAs to engage in interna-tional trade, and addresses other recurrent themes in the literature, such as the determinants of RTA use, MSME chal-lenges in utilizing RTAs, and potential benefits RTAs can have for MSMEs. Most of the studies available in the literature focus on economies in North America, East Asia and the Pacific, with limited coverage of other regions such as Africa, Europe and Latin America. These studies do not provide definitive conclusions on the direction of RTA effects on MSME trade participation given that their principal focus was RTA utilization rates and not effectiveness of MSME- specific RTA provisions. Rather, the literature describes the potential benefits MSMEs can experience from RTAs such as access to cheaper intermediate goods due to lower tariffs, increased exports, more business opportunities, larger production net-works and further participation in regional and global supply chains. Studies, however, also document challenges MSMEs can face to use RTAs including complex regulatory requirements and high administrative costs or downside effects RTAs can have such as increased competition from foreign firms.

Application of synthetic measure to assess and model the financial condition of a company

Paweł Dziekański — 2024-04-17

Enterprises should regularly analyze the results of their operations, as well as their financial condition. The source material for the analysis of the financial condition are financial statements. They present a picture of the property and financial condition of the enterprise for a certain period of time. The purpose of the article is to examine the usefulness of a synthetic measure for assessing the financial condition of enterprises. The CRITIC-TOPSIS method was used in the analysis. The study of financial condition provides information for evaluating and correcting the activities carried out. The increase or decrease in synthetic measures must be considered as a way to assess the effects of the financial condition to date. The assessment of financial condition using subindices of evaluation, i.e. liquidity, debt, profitability, as well as the synthetic measure can indicate trends in the studied area, positions in the industry, the situation of the unit. The syn-thetic measure of financial condition can complement the traditional ratio analysis.

Bitcoin and farm tokens: a historical link to the decentralization of money

Mauricio Garita Gutiérrez — 2024-04-17

This paper analyzes the relationship between farm tokens, which were used in the 19th and 20th centuries, and their comparison with digital currencies focused on cryptographic technology. The paper stresses on the similarities that have existed since its conception between farm tokens and cryptographic currencies, specifically bitcoin. Farm tokens presented a quest for decentralization of the traditional financial system with the aim of addressing a lack of supply within due to currency limitations. On the one hand, this presented a possibility for haciendas and farms to create a decentralized financial system that would allow exchange based on trust. On the other hand, the growth of crypto-currencies which began in 2009 due to the consequences of a financial crisis that, according to those who promoted bitcoin, was based on the impact of the traditional financial system and its relationship with the printing of currency. due to the change from a gold standard system to a fiat money system [World Gold Council, 2022]. The consequences of the impact of fiat money, that is, money based on various currencies instead of gold, created a demand focused on the decen-tralization of money with the purpose of being able to make sovereign decisions.

Books that are noteworthy

Mark M. Michalski — 2024-04-17