@misc{Zhang2023,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Zhang, Shenxishuai},
  title     = {Conflicts and Anxieties over Money in Late Ming Vernacular Stories},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-31673},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-316733},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The present study discusses money and conflicts and anxiety over money in late Ming vernacular stories and contextualizes these stories in the contemporary society of economic prosperity and rapid changes. The high monetization and extensive use of silver and copper cash as currency brought both wealth and conflicts in various aspects of society. Eleven vernacular stories from several collections are adopted as source materials for the close examination, including Jingshi tongyan (Stories to Caution the World, 1624) and Xingshi hengyan (Stories to Awaken the World, 1627) by Feng Menglong (1574-1646) and the two Pai'an jingqi (Slapping the Table in Amazement, 1628 and 1632) collections by Ling Mengchu (1580-1644), etc. The analysis then focuses on the relationship between money and four topics, the late Ming context, social relations, gender ideals, and religion. Multiple voices and various viewpoints in these narratives show human beings' struggles in taming and dominating money, the increasingly familiar and essential object in everyday life. Generally, when people cannot control money properly, there is a fear of its detrimental power to humans and social relations within and beyond families. On the contrary, characters, who are able to control money, are praised.},
  subject      = {Geld},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Wu2021,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Wu, Dong},
  title     = {Aspects of Gender in The Unofficial History of the Scholars},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21920},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-219202},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The present study focuses on Rulin waishi 儒林外史 (The Unofficial History of the Scholars), a well-known Qing novel, from the perspective of gender. It attempts to contribute to the discussion about Chinese masculinity by identifying the representation of the scholars' masculinity in Rulin waishi and offer a better understanding of the novel's position regarding femininity and women. This project shows that the novel nevertheless reflects rather than challenges gender ideologies of its time. The ideal manhood showed in the novel comprises real virtues and authentic learning. It goes against the traditional, orthodox Confucian masculinity which advocates that officialdom is the glorious path to fulfill a learned man's masculinity. It is mainly due to Wu Jingzi's own failure in the civil service examinations and official careers. Regarding the relation of masculinity and sexuality, the novel reveals that a masculine man is not tempted by female charm but can enjoy a harmonious and companionate marriage. Besides, scholars show great anxiety about their masculinity since they are in a marginal position in society. Their manliness is challenged by officials, merchants, and even commoners, as well as their colleagues. Through a careful examination of stories of Pinniang, Miss Lu, and Mrs. Wang, it reveals that the novel holds a conventional opinion on women although it criticizes widow suicide and shows an egalitarian husband-wife relationship. It praises Confucian womanly virtues, such as following and serving the husband, managing the household, and keeping chastity. Female sexuality is blamed as an evil temptation to lead men to go astray. Women's learning gains legitimacy when serving to fulfill domestic responsibilities. It carries the Confucian message that men should take the lead and maintain order in the household and reinforces the rightful patriarchy. In a word, rather than go ahead of its time, Rulin waishi holds a conservative attitude towards gender issues.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Shane2017,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Shane, Nadine},
  title     = {The Country-of-Origin Effect and its Potential Impact on How German Consumers Perceive Chinese Luxury Goods},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-153047},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {This thesis investigates the impact of the country-of-origin effect on Chinese luxury brands which intend to enter the German luxury goods market. By means of a questionnaire and a quantitative analysis, possible threats to Chinese newcomers that derive from an unfavorable country image are illustrated. In fact, the Chinese origin of luxury goods has an impact on German consumers' perception.},
  subject      = {China},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Schnermann2024,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Schnermann, Sophia Victoria},
  title     = {The impact of China's e-mobility development on German motor vehicle manufacturers},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-35327},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-353276},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Compared to other countries, China was particularly early in developing a comprehensive set of policies to promote electric mobility (e-mobility). The aim of this study is to examine how China's e-mobility development - through changes in formal institutions as well as market forces - has affected German passenger car manufacturers and their competitive environment and positions. The study is guided by two strands of research: new institutional economics and strategic management literature. A holistic multiple-case design is used to analyze five German case study firms. Qualitative interview data are collected through interviews and analyzed using a thematic analysis. The results show that the electric transformation in China has been shaped by changes in formal institutions at the macro, meso, and micro levels. Interestingly, the case study firms were affected not only by changes in China's formal institutions but also by disparities between institutions in China and Europe. Furthermore, the data suggest that German car manufacturers are facing an increasingly competitive environment in China: at least four forces in Porter's five-forces model seem to have intensified in recent years. The extent to which the case study firms have been affected by these developments may depend on the industry segments in which they are positioned. However, it can be argued that the electric transition has blurred the lines between traditional segments of the car industry to some extent. The interview data do not provide evidence that any of the German car brands have substantially changed their positioning, but they do suggest that some of the case study companies did not have an adequate offering for the Chinese market at the time of the interviews. In addition, the study finds that China's transition to e-mobility has led to changes in various parts of the German automakers' value chains, including production, sales, marketing, services, research and development, and procurement. Whether these changes will ultimately result in competitive advantage, parity, or disadvantage remains to be seen.},
  subject      = {Institutionen{\"o}konomie},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Schaper2018,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Schaper, Anna-Katharina},
  title     = {Conquering China's Second-Tier Cities: An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship between a City's Degree of Internationalization and Foreign Companies' Market Entry Decisions in China's Second-Tier Cities},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-161329},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {China's emerging second-tier cities attract more and more foreign companies that are looking for business opportunities. Although much has been written about companies' internationalization strategies, including companies' market entry decisions and market entry mode strategies, research on the relationship between a city's degree of internationalization and foreign companies' market entry decisions and market entry mode strategies in second-tier cities in China is still relatively scarce. Thus, the central research question of this study is: Why and how does a second-tier city's degree of internationalization influence foreign companies' market entry decisions and market entry mode strategies in second-tier China? This study is based on a qualitative research approach; an embedded multiple-case study is applied and interviews with two different target groups are conducted. The first target group consists of foreign companies having established business operations in China's second-tier cities directly and have had no previous business operations in first-tier cites. The second group is made up of foreign companies that initially operated in first-tier China, and then moved to second-tier cities. The company sample compromises small- and medium-sized foreign companies with various industry backgrounds and market entry modes in Chengdu and Chongqing. Since 2015, Maxxelli has been publishing its China International City Index (CICI) on a yearly basis in which it measures and compares China's cities' degree of internationalization. Because Maxxelli revised this year's CICI methodology comprehensively, this study also aims at feedback to improve the overall CICI. This study concludes that a second-tier city's degree of internationalization is particularly important to foreign companies having first set up in Chinese first-tier cities. Companies having established themselves in second-tier cities directly, do not pay a lot of direct attention to a city's degree of internationalization and tend to base their market entry decisions more on business opportunities they identify in a city. In addition, this study argues that in most cases a city's degree of internationalization does not influence the type of market entry mode companies choose to enter second-tier China.},
  subject      = {China},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Lan2022,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Lan, Kai-Yi},
  title     = {Gender and Medicine in the Ming Dynasty: Tan Yunxian's (1461-1556) Medical Case Book},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-28886},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-288862},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {This project explores Tan Yunxian's journey of becoming a female doctor in the Ming dynasty. Among all the surviving Ming medical books, Tan Yunxian's medical case book is the only one that was written by a woman. It seems natural, considering she had both scholar-official and medical family backgrounds. Yet, social expectations consider it more suitable for a lady to remain in the household, and not treat patients outside. To legitimize Tan Yunxian's pursuit of a medical career, she applied several strategies to resolve potential criticism toward her and her family. These strategies are analyzed through her autobiographical preface in her medical case book. The project also explores Ming male literatis' perspectives toward Tan Yunxian, the factors that contributed to the preservation and publication of her medical case book, and examined her medical cases under the social-historical and micro-history contexts.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Ives2016,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Ives, Jaqueline May},
  title     = {The relevance of tax havens for China},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-145794},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {This paper examines the relevance of tax havens for China by determining which tax havens are important for China and to what extent. Furthermore, the motives for Chinese tax haven activity are analysed and compared to the motives of Western companies that primarily use tax havens for the purpose of tax arbitrage. An analysis of two listed Chinese companies, a private and a state-owned entity (SOE), exemplifies how Chinese businesses incorporate tax havens into their business structure and discusses differences between the motives of private and state-owned companies. The magnitude of tax havens found in the business structures emphasise the importance of tax havens for Chinese companies, irrespective of whether the company is an SOE or private, or conducts its business in China or internationally. While the reasons why the state-influenced company incorporated tax havens into their structure seemed to be related to legitimate business motives, the motives behind the structure of the private company seemed questionable. The assessment furthermore confirms that China's weak institutional framework and restricting business environment is a major push factor and gives companies plenty of incentive to go offshore.},
  subject      = {Steueroase},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Hauser2020,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Hauser, Anna Si-Lu},
  title     = {A comparative approach to local organisation of the energy transition},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20210},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202109},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {In recent years, numerous renewable energy cities were established worldwide, piloting different pathways to transition to clean energy. With the ability to address local needs more precisely in their unique geographic, social and economic contexts, cities play a vital role in implementing overall climate mitigation goals on the local level. In China, many renewable energy cities have emerged as well. However, official documents suggest that Chinese government authorities establish such renewable energy cities strategically, which leads to the assumption that the impulse to become renewable is different from other countries, where bottom-up initiatives are more common. Hence, this thesis explores answer to the question why and how the Chinese government promotes the energy transition of Chinese cities and regions. To explore the dynamics of local energy transition projects, this thesis adopts two frameworks from the field of sustainability transitions, the multi-level perspective and strategic niche management, and applies them to seven European and two Chinese case studies. The European sample includes the cities Graz, G{\"u}ssing, Freiburg, and Helsinki as well as the communities Feldheim, J{\"u}hnde and Murau. The Chinese sample consists of the bottom-up initiative Shaanxi Sunflower Project and the demonstration project Tongli New Energy Town. A comparative analysis evaluates in how far the cases correspond to the multi-level perspective or strategic niche management. The comparison of the case studies reveals that the development of renewable energy cities in China goes beyond a top-down vs. bottom-up logic. In the Chinese context, strategic niche management should be understood as experimentation under hierarchy, which serves at pretesting different approaches before rolling them out nationwide. In addition, the analysis shows that both the multi-level perspective and strategic niche management have their advantages and disadvantages for niche development. Niches following the logic of the multi-level perspective may result in higher stakeholder acceptance, whereas strategic niche management can in turn accelerate niche development. However, since natural niche development cannot be steered intentionally, decision-makers who intend to induce local renewable energy projects have no other option but to resort to strategic niche management. To increase stakeholder acceptance and thus to improve the project outcome, decision-makers are advised to accommodate sufficient room for stakeholder participation in the project design.},
  subject      = {China},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Gohli2020,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Gohli, Hannes},
  title     = {'Protect the Environment, Build the Homeland' - A Study of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City's Measures for Citizens to Act in an Environmentally Sustainable Fashion},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-20660},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-206607},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {In order to achieve objectives of sustainable development, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City has devised a set of Key Performance Indicators, which require the collaboration of regional government and industrial entities, but also residents to be accomplished. Through qualitative interviews with eco citizens, this study offers an insight into life in an eco city and how aware residents are of their new home's targets and incentives. The thesis investigates, how the eco city encourages residents, who have often never received adequate environmental education, to recycle and adapt their purchasing behaviour. The findings reveal the existence of several technical measures, practical incentive schemes and dissemination techniques that encourage residents to act according to environmental considerations. However, residents are often unaware of the numerical targets or do not make the connection between incentive and intended behaviour. The study highlights possibilities for improvement, in order to enhance residents' understanding of the eco city's objectives. After all, without resident participation and understanding, the Key Performance Indicators may be unattainable and the eco city's eventual economic, social and environmental success in jeopardy.},
  language  = {en}
}