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This paper highlights the need for Cyprus, a small peripheral European country, to become a knowledge-based economy, as a way to increase living standards in the long run. Key factors for a successful transition to the knowledge economy are improved education, appropriate funding for research and development (R&D) in basic and applied sciences, and, in particular, appropriate mechanisms of technology transfer, from the laboratories to the companies. The paper reviews the existing R&D infrastructure in Cyprus, with special emphasis on its links with industry. Overall, the evidence indicates that Cyprus is lagging behind in research–industry collaboration and is also suffering from a severe atrophy of its own research infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article provides parallel accounts of the European Union (EU) regional policies towards the Southern Mediterranean and the Western Balkans. The EU has made institutional frameworks for the development of multilateral relations with these regions. The EU has aimed at boosting economic growth and development and act as a security and stability provider. The EU has found it possible to shift the boundaries of the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans with the integration of Cyprus and Malta.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the demand and its composition between home-produced and imported for alcoholic beverages in Cyprus. The methodological approach used is the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS), both in static and dynamic terms. Empirically, the AIDS, both in its static and dynamic version, was estimated using time-series (1970-1992) for three sets of data which include: (1) alcoholic beverages (wine-beer-other brandies) broken down between home-produced and imported (model A); (2) alcoholic beverages only without disaggregation between home-produced and imported (model B), and (3) aggregate alcoholic beverages (wine-beer-other brandies) and food (model C). Zellner's iterative estimation procedure was used for estimating the model. The empirical findings: (1) strongly support the dynamic version of the AIDS over its static alternative; and (2) provide certain guidelines concerning economic policies relating to an increase in government revenues and changing the composition between home-produced and imported consumption of alcoholic beverages. These basic findings could be considered relevant to the policy makers in the light of Cyprus' accession to the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a review of the export marketing literature, and in light of certain important gaps observed in this area, the focus of this study is an investigation of problems faring the ongoing exporting activities of indigenous manufacturers in a small European country. An attempt is made specifically to examine the existence of potentially significant differences in perceptions of exporting problems between two distinct exporter categories in terms of export development. The findings suggest that the most important export problems experienced by those firms were associated with the intensity of competition in export markets and the lack of effective national export policies. The study also reveals several significant differences in perceived export problems between the two exporter classes. Avenues for future research are discussed along with the limitations of the study, and managerial and public policy implications of the findings highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore financial centers (OFCs) are commonly labelled "tax havens," due to the misconception that they are used solely to avoid or evade tax. Two OFCs, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cyprus, have been under particular attack recently. In September 2013 the G20 passed a communique in which the world's leaders committed to cracking down on OFCs like the BVI and Cyprus through the automatic exchange of information on tax matters and by following the U.S. lead in supporting laws to penalize financial institutions in OFCs that do not disclose the identity of foreign individuals in G20 jurisdictions (and elsewhere) who hold accounts with these banks. This article aims to debunk recently pronounced myths about OFCs being simply tax havens, with particular focus on the BVI (which remains the leading center for the incorporation of offshore companies) and Cyprus (which has an unparalleled network of double taxation treaties). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]