Stacking-Dependent Band Gap and Quantum Transport in Trilayer Graphene

In a multi-layer electronic system, stacking order provides a rarely-explored degree of freedom for tuning its electronic properties. Here we demonstrate the dramatically different transport properties in trilayer graphene (TLG) with different stacking orders. At the Dirac point, ABA-stacked TLG remains metallic while the ABC counterpart becomes insulating. The latter exhibits a gap-like dI/dV characteristics at low temperature and thermally activated conduction at higher temperatures, indicating an intrinsic gap ~6 meV. In magnetic fields, in addition to an insulating state at filling factor {\nu}=0, ABC TLG exhibits quantum Hall plateaus at {\nu}=-30, \pm 18, \pm 9, each of which splits into 3 branches at higher fields. Such splittings are signatures of the Lifshitz transition induced by trigonal warping, found only in ABC TLG, and in semi-quantitative agreement with theory. Our results underscore the rich interaction-induced phenomena in trilayer graphene with different stacking orders, and its potential towards electronic applications.Comment: minor revision; published versio

Changing perspectives on the internationalization of R&D and innovation by multinational enterprises: a review of the literature

Internationalization of R&D and innovation by Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) has undergone a gradual and comprehensive change in perspective over the past 50 years. From sporadic works in the late 1950s and in the 1960s, it became a systematically analysed topic in the 1970s, starting with pioneering reports and “foundation texts”. Our review unfolds the theoretical and empirical evolution of the literature from dyadic interpretations of centralization versus decentralization of R&D by MNEs to more comprehensive frameworks, wherein established MNEs from Advanced Economies still play a pivotal role, but new players and places also emerge in the global generation and diffusion of knowledge. Hence views of R&D internationalization increasingly rely on concepts, ideas and methods from IB and other related disciplines such as industrial organization, international economics and economic geography. Two main findings are highlighted. First, scholarly research pays an increasing attention to the network-like characteristics of international R&D activities. Second, different streams of literature have emphasized the role of location- specific factors in R&D internationalization. The increasing emphasis on these aspects has created new research opportunities in some key areas, including inter alia: cross-border knowledge sourcing strategies, changes in the geography of R&D and innovation, and the international fragmentation of production and R&D activities

Outside Versus Inside Bonds

When agents are liquidity constrained, two options exist — borrow or sell assets. We compare the welfare properties of these options in two economies: in one, agents can borrow (issue inside bonds) and in the other they can sell government bonds (outside bonds). All transactions are voluntary, implying no taxation or forced redemption of private debt. We show that any allocation in the economy with inside bonds can be replicated in the economy with outside bonds and that the converse is not true. Moreover, under best policies, the allocation with outside bonds strictly Pareto dominates the allocation with inside bonds

Effective SME import strategy: Its drivers, moderators, and outcomes

The authors propose a conceptual model of the drivers, moderators, and outcomes of a firm's effective import strategy, anchored on the dynamic capabilities and industrial organization theories. Whereas the former theory explains the mechanism through which dynamic capabilities facilitate import strategy effectiveness, which boosts competitive advantage and ultimately enhances financial performance, the latter theory sets the foundation for explaining the contingency role of both competitive intensity and environmental uncertainty on translating effective import strategy into competitive advantage. The model was tested using a sample of 151 small and medium-sized British importers, with results indicating that high levels of certain dynamic capabilities of a generic (i.e., adaptive and entrepreneurial) and import-specific (i.e., source identification and market development) nature are conducive to import strategy effectiveness. Study results also revealed that import strategy effectiveness generates both a product-differentiation advantage and a low-cost advantage, although this is contingent on the degree of competitive intensity and environmental uncertainty prevailing in the importer's home market. Finally, the study confirmed that both productdifferentiation advantage and low-cost advantage have a favorable impact on the importer's financial performance

Hindrances and outcomes of social bonding in exporter-importer relationships: The moderating role of formal contracting and ethical climate

Drawing on Transaction Cost theory, Relational Exchange theory, and Social Information Processing theory, we develop and test a conceptual model that investigates the damaging effect of certain key behavioral factors on social bonding between an exporter and its import buyer, and its subsequent impact on the exporting firm's long-term orientation in their working relationship. We also examine the moderating role of formal contracting and ethical climate governing this relationship. The model was tested with data collected from 262 Greek export manufacturers, using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that opportunism, distance, and conflict negatively affect social bonding in the working relationship between an exporter and its importer customer, which ultimately leads to detrimental effects on the exporting firm's long-term orientation. However, both the existence of formal contracting and the prevalence of a strong ethical climate were found to be responsible for alleviating the negative effect of most of the associations between inhibiting behavioral factors and social bonding

Betrayal intention in exporter-importer working relationships: Drivers, outcomes, and moderating effects

Betrayal is a very common, but relatively under-researched, dark side phenomenon in inter-firm relationships that warrants investigation. We propose a conceptual model of the factors reducing betrayal intention in exporter-importer (E-I) working relationships and its resulting effect on actual betrayal. Using a random sample of 262 indigenous exporters of manufactured goods based in Greece, we confirm that betrayal intention in their relationships with foreign buyers is significantly and negatively affected by four key parameters, namely, trust, communication, long-term orientation, and social bonds. An importer’s betrayal intention is subsequently very likely to develop into actual betrayal in the relationship. However, this likelihood is lower in the case of older relationships, as well as those characterized by contractual obligation between the interacting parties

Unveiling the infidelity problem in exclusive manufacturer-distributor relationships: A dyadic perspective

Infidelity has been a common dark-side phenomenon in manufacturer-distributor (M-D) relationships, which, despite its harmful effects on operating performance and long-term viability, has received scant theoretical and empirical attention in marketing research. Using data collected from 103 manufacturers and 101 distributors located in the USA, we investigate this phenomenon by conceptualizing it as a developmental process, comprising motives, symptoms, manifestations, consequences, and remedies. Our findings show that, with a few exceptions, there are no significant differences between manufacturers and distributors with regard to their perceptions of: (a) the structural, processual, and contextual factors contributing to the emergence of infidelity; (b) the behavioral and attitudinal factors helping to diagnose partner infidelity; (c) the ambiguous, explicit, and deceptive manifestations of infidelity; (d) the possible passive, mild, or aggressive consequences of infidelity; and (e) the pre-emptive or post hoc measures that need to be taken to cure infidelity

Research on Country-of-Origin Perceptions: Review, Critical Assessment, and the Path Forward

Despite the volume of research and significant advancements in the country-of-origin (CO) area, the topic remains contentious in two key areas. One area is the presence of tensions and contradictions associated with origin-related research. The second relates to an overreliance on relatively narrow theories that can neither address disparities nor capture a range of CO ecosystem considerations critical to the effective use of results in addressing firm-level planning and outcomes. Our examination of the business-to-consumer CO literature details the characteristics of published work and highlights the substantive contributions of the 50 most influential publications, with the overarching goal of accommodating meaningful future research. We examine 417 journal articles (551 studies) published from 1962 to 2022 to extract important granular characteristics of the literature and to summarize the findings of the most influential CO contributions. We also report the results of two surveys of academic researchers and U.S. exporters and importers examining CO’s role in research and practice. Finally, we propose a theoretical lens, paradox theory, as a basis for considering and framing competing aspects of the CO ecosystem and recommend the use of multilevel modeling to link future studies to marketing strategy and performance outcomes, thus advancing CO research