A recently introduced multi-generation model 1181, developed for high-technology industries and tested on a high-tech product class, is applied to a very different situation. It is tested by fitting and forecasting use of three generations of packaging technology in the fluid milk market, glass,...

The Western Sudan Agricultural Research Project, Washington State University, has been active in Kordofan, Sudan, for the past five years. In addition to technical work, the project has collected a wealth of economic data, especially in the last two years. The Sudan government's development...

The history of Oman is largely a story of competition, and often conflict, between two very different entities. This duality was even symbolized by the name of the country, “Sultanate of Muscat and Oman,” until 1970. The sultanate was formed from the fusion of the Batina coastal plain and...

Environmental degradation in arid and semi-arid regions often results from trade-offs between immediate and long-term needs. Ecological (and ultimately economic) benefits of restrained, sustainable resource use are well-understood by scientists, and are usually apparent to local farmers and...

The Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region faces serious food insecurity, with an increasing gap between food production and consumption. One key problem is ineffective marketing systems connecting production (or productive potential) to consumption on a regional scale. Using resource advantage...

Asian food markets are large and growing very rapidly. Per capita food consumption is increasing as income rises, and food consumption habits are changing. Asian food retailing is also changing rapidly, as distribution and transportation modernizes. Consumers are becoming more sophisticated,...

Thailand and Egypt have seen some striking parallels in the past few years, culminating in military overthrows of elected governments, acts which were widely supported by the middle classes. This paper examines middle class thinking behind opposition to the governments, and subsequent support...

Thailand’s recent coup was not received favorably in the West, but many parts of Thai society support it. In particular, business sentiment has improved greatly in the short time since the coup. The Bank of Thailand’s monthly Business Sentiment Index (BSI) showed sharp decline in 2013, even...

The West usually portrays Thailand’s coup negatively. Middle class Thai generally regard it as last-chance attempt to save Thailand from becoming a failed state. Middle class Bangkok originally supported Thaksin, but turned against him in late 2005. Middle class support originally was...

Environmental degradation in arid and semi-arid regions often results from trade-offs between immediate and long-term needs. Ecological (and ultimately economic) benefits of restrained, sustainable resource use are well-understood by scientists, and are usually apparent to local farmers and...