Sabine Urban Libri

Angesichts globaler Turbulenzen und Unsicherheiten stellt sich die Frage nach den Quellen der Leistungen und der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit von Organisationen sowohl auf mikro- als auch auf makro-ökonomischer Ebene. Einzelne Organisationen sind in Netzwerke und komplexe Systeme von Akteuren und Institutionen eingebunden. Auf diese Weise gewinnen auch die Beziehungen der Akteure untereinander an Bedeutung. Das daraus resultierende Konzept der globalen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit führt jedoch dazu, daß individuelle Interessen zurückgedrängt werden und es demzufolge zu neuen Problemen innerhalb dieser Beziehungen kommt.

The current work is the fourth volume in the series "Europe's Economic Future", edited by Strasbourg's Robert Schuman University, under the direction of Professor Sabine Urban, head of the CESAG-IECS research center. This series intends to analyze the European situation - not through idealized models of operation or abstract schemas - rather based on concrete observations, equally close to the actions and the life of the European citizen as of Europe's corporation and institutions. The studies that are presented here are not, however, simply descriptions; they refer to precise conceptual frameworks and nourish long-term reflection. The authors of this work are professors of universities representing a wide range of horizons: ltaly, Finland, Austria, the United States and Britain, not to mention from the heart of Europe, Germany and the Netherlands. The authors share the common experience of having served as visiting professors at Robert Schuman University (IECS Strasbourg) during the 1995-96 academic year. This volume, like its predecessors, reflects the diversity which characterizes Europe, rich and stimulating but, at the same time, difficult to manage.

This third volume in the "Europe's Economic Future" series, edited by Strasbourg's Robert Schuman University under Professor Sabine Urban, focuses on analyzing the European situation through concrete observations rather than idealized models. The studies presented are not mere descriptions; they are rooted in precise conceptual frameworks that encourage long-term reflection. This volume, like its predecessors, showcases the diversity of Europe, which is both rich and stimulating yet challenging to manage. It highlights that spectacular advances are often followed by moments of hesitation. As European construction progresses, businesses must adopt new competitive strategies and adapt to changing processes. Public authorities are tasked with adhering to the convergence constraints set by the European Union (Maastricht I) while also envisioning a revised institutional framework for the European Intergovernmental Conference of 1996 (Maastricht II). Citizens of the fifteen involved countries need to be informed about the future and understand how to achieve economic and social cohesion between independent markets and coordinated policies. The European area itself is dynamic, evolving through strengthened connections and the exploration of new opportunities.

Inhaltsverzeichnis1. Introduction.2. Europe’s Economic Future: Advantages and Drawbacks for Italy’s Activities.3. Public Accounting and Auditing in the European Union.4. Welfare Enterprises in Europe: The Case of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK.5. American Foreign Investment in Central and Eastern Europe: Short-term Risk vs. Long-term Profits.6. The New German Federal State-A Starting Point for Creating Businesses in Eastern European Countries ?.7. Appraisal of Foreign Direct Investments in the Czech Republic (The Case of French Foreign Investments).8. The Internationalisation of Small and Medium Sized Food and Drink Firms.9. Internationational Financial Markets in ECU: The Impact of a Difficult Consensus.10. Subsidiarity and Ecologically Based Taxation: Aspirations and Options.11. Technology and the Size of the Public Sector.12. Privacy Protection, Statistical Confidentiality, National Statistical Systems.

Inhaltsverzeichnis1. Introduction.2. Italy in the European context: ability, credibility and possibilities.3. Economic Convergence: An Aspiration Unfulfilled.4. The Consequences of Subsidiarity in the Maastricht Treaty for Fiscal Federalism.5. The Evolution in European Trade Statistics Following the Opening of the „Single Market“.6. The Changing Face of Accounting in the European Union.7. The European Insurance Industry -Today and Tomorrow.8. Some Trends in Distribution and Retailing in Europe.9. European Business-to-Business Relationships of Baden-Württemberg’s Firms -Results of an Empirical Study.10. Intracultural Groupthink Demonstrated in the Area of Leadership Behaviour.11. Human Resources in Eastern Germany in the Transformation Process from the Planned Economy to the Free Market.12. The Transformation of Czechoslovakia.13. Steps Towards an Enlarged Europe -And Their Limits.