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Reports on a survey relating to the ongoing search for understanding of impediments to the more comprehensive and more rapid adoption, by Australian manufacturing industry, of modern quality management practices. Of the 338 valid responses to the survey analysed, it appears that possibly only 10 per cent or less of the companies surveyed are “true” modern quality management practitioners. When extrapolated to manufacturing industry as a whole it is likely that the proportion of companies so qualified is much less than 10 per cent. Concludes that: Australian experience supports international evidence that those companies which implement modern quality management practices, in a comprehensive manner, achieve higher financial performance; the extent to which manufacturing companies in Australia have comprehensively implemented modern quality management practices is extremely limited (an estimated 2.5 per cent of 44.300 manufacturing companies would qualify in this respect); while no major impediments to the more extensive adoption of quality management practices have been identified through this survey, there are nevertheless likely to be some important barriers to progress. These probably include: the limited perceptions Australian manufacturing companies have of the processes required to achieve world best practices: the belief that they have effective quality management practices in place; the mistaken view that accreditation under Australian Standards for Quality Systems guarantees continuous improvement.

Notes increasing consolidation of the banking industry in the USA, Western Europe and Japan; and presents a study of 1980‐1994 acquisitions of US banks by large interstate banking firms. Considers possible motives for cross‐border expansion, reviews relevant research and compares the performance of target banks with their local competitors and their buyers; and buyers’ performance with their competitors. Finds that most buyers are located in rich, densely populated states and most targets in states which have traditionally restricted bank branching activity; that buyers and targets have very different performance profiles (although some differences gradually reduce after acquisition); and that local market influences have a greater effect than common ownership. Concludes that targets are selected for their location and expected future performance, with possible diversification benefits.

This paper gives a review of the finite element techniques (FE) applied in the area of material processing. The latest trends in metal forming, non‐metal forming and powder metallurgy are briefly discussed. The range of applications of finite elements on the subjects is extremely wide and cannot be presented in a single paper; therefore the aim of the paper is to give FE users only an encyclopaedic view of the different possibilities that exist today in the various fields mentioned above. An appendix included at the end of the paper presents a bibliography on finite element applications in material processing for the last five years, and more than 1100 references are listed.

This paper gives a review of the finite element techniques (FE) applied in the area of material processing. The latest trends in metal forming, non‐metal forming, powder metallurgy and composite material processing are briefly discussed. The range of applications of finite elements on these subjects is extremely wide and cannot be presented in a single paper; therefore the aim of the paper is to give FE researchers/users only an encyclopaedic view of the different possibilities that exist today in the various fields mentioned above. An appendix included at the end of the paper presents a bibliography on finite element applications in material processing for 1994‐1996, where 1,370 references are listed. This bibliography is an updating of the paper written by Brannberg and Mackerle which has been published in Engineering Computations, Vol. 11 No. 5, 1994, pp. 413‐55.

Outlines previous research on reasons for the many failures of US thrifts and loans during the 1980s, and suggests that crime played a larger part than is generally supposed. Explains the regulatory system set up to deal with failed thrift institutions and analyses all disposals made by the Resolution Trust Corporation between 1989 and 1995, including its referrals for criminal investigation. Shows for each year and in total the proportions disposed of by insured deposit transfers, pay‐outs and purchase and assumption contracts; the value of assets/liabilities involved; and the cost of resolution to the taxpayer. Goes on to show that the failed thrifts affected by criminal activity (almost half!) accounted for almost 80 per cent of total resolution costs and were more likely to be larger institutions. Contrasts these results with previous research, recognizes the limitations of the study and calls for further investigation.

Das vorliegende Thema geht von einem Abhängigkeitsverhältnis zwischen Fremdenverkehr einerseits und Reiseform bzw. Reisegewohnheit andererseits ans. Begrifflich ist der Fremdenverkehr denn auch zu verstehen als «Inbegriff der Beziehungen und Erscheinungen, die sich aus der Reise und dem Aufenthalt Ortsfremder ergeben, sofern durch den Aufenthalt keine Niederlassung begründet und damit keine Erwerbstätigkeit verbunden wird». Mit andern Worten besteht der Fremdenverkehr aus einer dynamischen Komponente Reise und einer statischen Komponente Aufenthalt, wobei er sich, zunächst rein äusserlich betrachtet und deshalb im engsten Sinne, als Verkehrsvorgang präsentiert:

THE Deutsche Luftfahrtschau, or as it is more generally known, the Hanover Air Show, is held every two years by the Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft‐ und Raumfahrtindustrie e.V. (Federal Association of the German Air and Spacecraft Industries). This year's Show will be held from April 29 to May 8 at the Hanover Langenhagen Airport and will be held at the same time as the Hanover Fair.

Resurgent interest in the life and work of the Italian Cambridge economist Piero Sraffa is leading to New Directions in Sraffa Scholarship. This chapter introduces readers to some of these developments. First and perhaps foremost is the fact that as of September 2016 Sraffa’s archival material has been uploaded onto the website of the Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge University, as digital colour images; this chapter introduces readers to the history of these events. This history provides sharp relief on the extant debates over the role of the archival material in leading to the final publication of Production of Commodities by Means of Commodities, and readers are provided a brief sketch of these matters. The varied nature of Sraffa scholarship is demonstrated by the different aspects of Sraffa’s intellectual legacy which are developed and discussed in the various entries of our Symposium. The conclusion is reached that we are on the cusp of an exciting phase change of tremendous potential in Sraffa scholarship.