Search results

The purpose of this paper is to add understanding to whether the supply chain (SC) of ancient grains, einkorn in particular, may activate the virtuous mechanisms that enable pursuing a new equilibrium based on relationships and joint interests.

This study adopts the single case study as a methodological approach. More precisely, it focusses on the SC of ancient grains in Piedmont (Italy) examining in detail Mulino Marino. Interviews with the management of this single player and to some farmers’ local associations were carried out.

The einkorn SC in Piedmont Region is an interesting case of short, local and direct SC because it aims at delivering a product that is more sustainable in terms of production, nutritional values and properties. In addition, this study confirms previous studies according to which for an effective supply chain management (SCM) it is important to implement the following conditions: the right equilibrium among SC players’ physiologically conflicting interests, players’ integration and transparent information among all the SC stakeholders, including final consumers.

The study offers implications for food managers involved in the (short) SCM.

Elements of originality can be identified in this research to the extension of studies on SCM in the ancient grains industry.

This paper aims to study the effects of innovation on the profitability of large wineries. In particular, organic growth is evaluated versus external growth.

Data from balance sheets over more than a decade are used. The analysis is limited to large Italian wineries to include firms that constantly invest in R&D in the sample. The analysis focuses on 25 Italian wineries observed over eight years. Panel data estimation is used to analyse these data.

The paper shows that investments in R&D increase the profitability of innovative wineries in the long run but decrease it in the short run. Moreover, because of financial constraints, some wineries may invest too few resources in R&D.

The main limitation is that the focus is restricted to large wine producers, while many small producers that do not generally invest in R&D exist in the market. The practical implication is that governments should support R&D investments of wineries.

The main contributions are to show empirically the effects of investing in R&D on the profitability of large wineries and to highlight the possible presence of severe financial constraints, which require policy interventions.

The Obama’s reform of the US healthcare system has been a major topic of debate in the USA. The USA feels the need to provide 48 million residents with health insurance. The Affordable Care Act has this goal, but the several factors have limited its capacity and implementation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss this reform, paying attention to its potential implications for the human and economic development of both the USA and the rest of the world. The authors show that developed countries also need policies for enhancing human development and also the developing world may benefit from policy changes in the “first world.”

The methodology is based on discursive discussion. The argumentation first presents the reform, and highlights its advantages and its flaws for the citizens of both the USA and of developing countries.

The authors claim that the reform presents some flaws that render it still insufficient to cover all the health needs of the poor in the USA. However, the reform is likely to attract more immigrant workers to the USA, since it is likely to improve the living conditions of immigrants as well as those of their families.

The original point of the paper is the link between the reform and the benefits for non-US citizens. The extant literature has widely discussed the impact of the reform on the domestic market and on the US citizens. The authors widen this perspective showing that an important reform in a large country may be beneficial for people living elsewhere as well.