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Socio-economic inequalities among different racial/ethnic groups have increased in many high-income countries. It is unclear, however, whether increasing socio-economic inequalities are associated with increasing differences in survival in liver transplant (LT) recipients.Adults undergoing first time LT for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between 2002 and 2017 recorded in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) were included and grouped into three cohorts. Patient survival and graft survival stratified by race/ethnicity were compared among the cohorts using unadjusted and adjusted analyses.White/Caucasians comprised the largest group (n=9,006, 64.9%), followed by Hispanic/Latinos (n=2,018, 14.5%), Black/African Americans (n=1,379, 9.9%), Asians (n=1,265, 9.1%) and other ethnic/racial groups (n=188, 1.3%). Compared to Cohort I (2002-2007), the 5-year survival of Cohort III (2012-2017) increased by 18% for Black/African Americans, by 13% for Whites/Caucasians, by 10% for Hispanic/Latinos, by 9% for patients of other racial/ethnic groups and by 8% for Asians (All P values0.05). Despite Black/African Americans experienced the highest survival improvement, their overall outcomes remained significantly lower than other ethnic∕racial groups (adjusted HR for death=1.20; 95%CI 1.05-1.36; P=0.005; adjusted HR for graft loss=1.21; 95%CI 1.08-1.37; P=0.002).The survival gap between Black/African Americans and other ethnic/racial groups undergoing LT for HCC has significantly decreased over time. However, Black/African Americans continue to have the lowest survival among all racial/ethnic groups.

This exploratory study examines the degree of market orientation of Bulgarian food and agribusiness enterprises through a case study strategy. Some propositions were generated from the literature in order to organise and analyse the data, and draw conclusions. The findings suggest that the management philosophy and marketing activities of the enterprises in Bulgaria appear to be characterised by short-term tactical approaches at the expense of long-term strategic approaches. There is little recognition of the marketing concept as a guiding principle of marketing and related functions. The study also highlights the complexity of the current Bulgarian business environment, illuminates the urgency of marketisation for a rapid economic development of Bulgaria, and raises some fundamental questions with regard the prospect of market orientation during the era of transition.

Examines the development of Poland′s fruit industry up to 1990, followed by the situation since that year, in which legislative reforms were introduced, mainly to break up state monopolies and to privatize state assets. Analyses the Polish fruit industry in the light of the resultant shift from a sellers′ to a buyers′ market, discussing the grower, wholesaling, processing and exporting sectors, and finally the role of marketing in exporting. Conducts a SWOT analysis of the industry, as a result of which makes recommendations for: increasing growers′ influence on exports; introducing a new wholesale marketing system; improving processing equipment; rationalizing exportprocedures to the advantage of domestic competition. Sees the current transport and communication set‐ups as significant problems. Concludes that, although the temptation is to follow the capitalist route and opt for the smaller enterprise as an exporting unit, the old Communist‐style large state enterprise is still the ideal vehicle for selling fruit of Poland′s calibre abroad.

This paper reviews the definition and the importance of joint ventures (J.V.'s) as well as the determining factors for their formation with particular reference to agribusiness in sub-Saharan African countries. The study provides evidence to show: · that African countries have increasingly attempted to create an attractive environment to encourage foreign investment in general, and J.V.'s in particular; · and that where J.V.'s have been successfully established the host countries have benefited substantially. The paper concludes that while the various reforms underway in terms of political changes, liberalisation of regulations, privatisation, and other measures taken by African countries should encourage J.V. formation, much remains to be done as regards proper implementation of policies, promotion of entrepreneurship, strengthening regional markets, overcoming the debt crisis, and improvement of the infrastructure, all of which would require substantial support from the international community.

Until the early 1980s, foreign capital was widely regarded as violation of sovereignty in many less developed countries (LDCs) in general and newly independent countries in particular. In many LDCs, including sub-Saharan African countries (SSACs), colonial administration appeared to have left an intense mistrust — a feeling that domestic resources would inevitably be exploited by foreign capital (Oman, 1989; Akinsanya, 1989). More recently, however, the policies and attitudes of governments of LDCs are said to have changed. The last two decades had seen a shift in government policies of LDCs in order to attract foreign direct investment. Generally, restrictive regulations have given way to reducing obstacles and restrictions, and to granting guarantees and incentives. Many governments of LDCs have adopted a policy of encouraging private foreign investment mainly in the form of joint ventures (JVs) to overcome their investment and technological problems, and ultimately to achieve their economic development goals.

When organisations such as manufacturers and national and local institutions make a purchase the various decisions involved are frequently made by a group of people rather than one individual, so that we can say that such industrial type customers have within them 'buying units' or 'buying centres'. The size and composition of the units will vary depending on a host of factors—for a discussion of these see references (10, and (11). Within each unit there is usually a professional element, particularly in the case of medium and large companies, and this is generally referred to as the procurement function in the United States, and as the buying or purchasing function in the United Kingdom.

Map of automobile routes designated by trip numbers in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.