Bacterial diversity in typical abandoned multi-contaminated nonferrous metal(loid) tailings during natural attenuation

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordAbandoned nonferrous metal(loid) tailings sites are anthropogenic, and represent unique and extreme ecological niches for microbial communities. Tailings contain elevated and toxic content of metal(loid)s that had negative effects on local human health and regional ecosystems. Microbial communities in these typical tailings undergoing natural attenuation are often very poorly examined. The diversity and inferred functions of bacterial communities were examined at seven nonferrous metal(loid) tailings sites in Guangxi (China), which were abandoned between 3 and 31 years ago. The acidity of the tailings sites rose over 31 years of site inactivity. Desulfurivibrio, which were always coupled with sulfur/sulfide oxidation to dissimilate the reduction of nitrate/nitrite, were specific in tailings with 3 years abandonment. However, genus beneficial to plant growth (Rhizobium), and iron/sulfur- oxidizing bacteria and metal(loid)-related genera (Acidiferrobacter and Acidithiobacillus) were specific within tailings abandoned for 23 years or more. The increased abundance of acid-generating iron/sulfur-oxidizing and metal(loid)-related bacteria and specific bacterial communities during the natural attenuation could provide new insights for understanding microbial ecosystem functioning in mine tailings. OTUs related to Sulfuriferula, Bacillus, Sulfurifustis, Gaiella, and Thiobacillus genera were the main contributors differentiating the bacterial communities between the different tailing sites. Multiple correlation analyses between bacterial communities and geochemical parameters indicated that pH, TOC, TN, As, Pb, and Cu were the main drivers influencing the bacterial community structures. PICRUSt functional exploration revealed that the main functions were related to DNA repair and recombination, important functions for bacterial adaptation to cope with the multi- contamination of tailings. Such information provides new insights to guide future metagenomic studies for the identification of key functions beyond metal- transformation/resistance. As well, our results offers novel outlooks for the management of bacterial communities during natural attenuation of multi-contaminated nonferrous metal(loid) tailings sites.International Key Project from National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProjects of Natural Science Foundation of ChinaPublic welfare project of Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protectionnternational key project of Ministry of Science and Technology of ChinaS2016G2135Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueRoyal Society Newton Mobility GrantNational Natural Science Foundation International Joint collaboration China-Swede

Currency Invoicing Decision: New Evidence from a Questionnaire Survey of Japanese Export Firms

There have been only a few studies that empirically examine the firm's decision on price setting or currency invoicing in international trade. This paper is the first study that conducts the questionnaire survey with all manufacturing firms listed in Tokyo Stock Exchange concerning the choice of invoicing currency at a firm level. Questionnaires were sent out to 920 Japanese firms in September 2009 and 227 firms responded. We present the new firm-level evidence on the choice of invoicing currency by destination and by type of trading partner, and also the share of invoicing currency of Japanese production subsidiaries in Asia. By conducting cross-section analysis, we found the following evidences: (1) highly differentiated goods and/or strong competitiveness of the products promote Japanese yen invoicing in exports to all countries, (2) larger share of intra-firm trade in exports promotes importer's currency invoicing in exports to advanced countries, and (3) the production-sales networks of Japanese firms whose Asian production subsidiaries export their final products to other countries/region promote US dollar invoicing in exports to Asian countries

Changes in the foreign trade structure of the Russian Far East under the process of transition toward a market economy

Under the process of transition toward a market economy, the economic connections of the Russian Far East (RFE) with external regions changed from a division of labor among the regions of the USSR (Russia) to an international division of labor. This happened due to factors including the liberalization of the trade system away from a state monopoly, the presence of rich natural resources and of developed industries related to these resources, the advantage of geographically proximity to Asia-Pacific countries, and the political and economic division of the once unified national economic space during the process of transition.The economic connections of RFE with external economies changed radically under the transition toward the market economy. First, the value of foreign trade increased dramatically and the importance of foreign trade for the RFE economy increased enormously. Second, however, different territories of RFE traveled along different trajectories, due to factors involving their industrial structure and geographical conditions. Third, in recent years connections with China, in the areas of both exports and imports, have grown. Fourth, the share within exports of "fuel, mineral resources and metal" increased radically from the end of the 1990s, and the share of "machine, facilities and transportation means" increased from 2002 year within imports. Under this situation, especially since 2002, there has been a major change in the structure of foreign trade

Driving forces of CO2 emissions and mitigation strategies of China’s National low carbon pilot industrial parks

In an effort to address climate change, in 2013 China launched the world’s largest government-driven carbon emission reduction programme, the National Low Carbon Industrial Parks Pilot Programme (LCIPPP). This paper analyses this newly developed pilot program. To deepen our understanding of the causes and the impact of industrial park CO2 emissions, we use the STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology) model and data from 20 pilot industrial parks involved in the LCIPPP for the period 2012–2016. This study quantitatively evaluates the effect of CO2 emissions on output, energy structure, energy intensity, industrial structure, R&D intensity, and population change in different regions and nationally through an elasticity coefficient method. The results confirm that an increase in output and energy intensity is a dominant contributor to the growth of CO2 emissions whereas an increase of the share of tertiary industry and R&D intensity has significant effects on reducing CO2 emissions. The elasticity of energy intensity and renewable energy consumption on CO2 emissions in the eastern region of China is the highest, indicating that using renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions for the industrial parks is more effective in the eastern region as compared to the central and western regions of the country. The elasticity of population is significantly negative in both the central and western areas while it is positive in eastern part of China, thereby illustrating that promoting labour intensive industries will be an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions for the industrial parks in China’s central and western regions. Our study reveals that differentiated low carbon development pathways should be adopted. Concrete policy implications for reducing CO2 emissions are also provided

Proposal for the implementation of a carbon pricing instrument in the brazilian industry : assessing competitiveness risks and distributive impacts

After the COP 21 and the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, the outlook for carbon pricing policies has been widened. During the conference, Brazil has announced a target to reduce its GHG emissions by 37%, compared to 2005 levels, by 2025, and the intention to reduce 43% of such emissions by 2030. However, considering the industrial sector, there are neither details nor precise quantifications. This gap can represent a strategic opportunity to implement carbon pricing instruments (CPI), such as emissions trading schemes (ETS) or carbon taxes, in this sector. Therefore, this thesis aims to assess institutional frameworks for CPI in the Brazilian industry seeking to reduce its domestic vulnerability and international trade exposure. For this purpose, a qualitative and quantitative analysis is carried out taking into account the lessons from a review of the international experience, besides the assessment of the CPI impacts on sectorial policies and the exposure to the risk of carbon leakage scrutinized under different methodologies. Results show that different institutional frameworks are better or worse depending on main objectives and the impacts to be minimized. Considering the reduction of effects on sectorial competitiveness and families purchasing power as main drivers, an EIS covering total industry emissions, distributed considering a free allocation method and grandfathered-based seems to be a more politically-palatable way to implement a CPI in the Brazilian industry.Após a COP 21 e da adoção do Acordo de Paris em dezembro de 2015, as perspectivas para as políticas de precilicação de carbono foram ampliadas. Durante a conferência, o Brasil anunciou a meta de reduzir as emissões de GEE em 37% em relação aos níveis de 2005 até 2025 e a intenção de reduzir 43% até 2030. Considerando o setor industrial, não há detalhes nem quantificações precisas. Essa lacuna pode representar uma oportunidade estratégica para implementar um instrumento de precificação de carbono (IPC), como esquemas de comércio de emissões (ETS) ou tributos sobre carbono, neste setor. Dessa forma, esta tese tem como objetivo avaliar desenhos institucionais para o IPC na indústria brasileira, visando reduzir sua vulnerabilidade interna e exposição ao comércio internacional. Para isso, é realizada uma análise qualitativa e quantitativa levando em conta as lições aprendidas a partir da revisão da experiência internacional, além da avaliação dos impactos doa IPCs nas políticas setoriais e a exposição subsetorial ao risco de vazamento de carbono a partir de diferentes metodologias. Os resultados mostram que diferentes desenhos institucionais são melhores ou piores dependendo de seu objetivo principal e do impacto a ser minimizado. Considerando a redução dos efeitos sobre a competitividade setorial e sobre o poder de compra das famílias como variáveis principais, um ETS cobrindo as emissões totais do setor, distribuído por um método de alocação gratuito e baseado em grandfathe ring parece ser uma maneira mais politicamente aceitável de se implementar um ¡PC na indústria brasileira

Industrial Policies and Growth: Lessons from International Experience

The application of industrial policies (IP) to direct resources to industries considered preponderant in achieving growth has been the chosen road by many emerging economies to tackle underdevelopment. Subsidized loans, variable taxes and differentiated tariffs are frequently used. Because of the successful experiences of some South Asian industrial policies, other emerging countries feel tempted of replicating the formula. However, these should be sure first that their governments have the necessary competencies. There are also two questions to ask on the role of IPs in the growth of these countries: first, Were IPs the dominant factor in the countries’ accelerated growth? The neoclassical approach offers an alternative explanation, that the Asian miracle was mainly the result of strong macroeconomic policies implemented. The second question is: Can the problems of some Asian economies in the 1990s be explained by the prolonged application of IPs? This article finds evidence to support that economic growth was due to strong macroeconomic foundations, such as fiscal discipline, controlled inflation and adequate real exchange rate levels. These variables were the driving forces that created high levels of saving and investment. On the other hand, the implementation of IPs is difficult in a globalized world where the regulations of international trade have become very important.

International trade, learning, and firms’ heterogeneous performance: theory and evidence from developing economies

This thesis investigates whether Chinese firms improve their productivity through export and why this is the case; whether export and R&D investment have a complementary effect on improving firm performance; how to identify the dynamics of technological capabilities for a large group of firms and how different channels of foreign technology influence the transitions of firms in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. The evidence in chapter 2 does not support that export leads to higher productivity for manufacturing firms in China. However, in order to penetrate the international market, firms conduct more product innovations when foreign sales are initiated. The failure of exporters to increase their productivity can be explained by their prominent usage of labor and by a lack of R&D investment in absorbing advanced technology. Using Chinese firm-level data, chapter 3 documents a systematic difference in the decision of firms to export across labor- and capital-intensive sectors; a self-selectivity by more productive firms to conduct R&D across all sectors; the lower productivity of R&D starters among exporters than their non-exporting counterparts; the positive effect of export on the odds to invest in R&D and vice versa; a complementary relationship between conducting R&D and exporting in improving firm productivity. These findings can be demonstrated by a theoretical model incorporating factor endowments and the decision of firms to invest R&D into Melitz’s (2003) model. The latent transition model proposed in chapter 4 identifies three sequential stages throughout the development of technological capabilities for firms in Central Asia and Eastern Europe: from the experience-based, to the search-based, and then to the research-based level. The direct sources of foreign technology (licenses, imports, and FDI) play more important roles in the transition of firms in terms of technological capabilities, while the indirect source (export) does not show a significant effect

Testing backward linkages of FDI in China

Inward FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) affects productivity of local industries through three channels- direct effects, horizontal spillovers, and vertical linkages. This study focuses on the backward linkages of FDI in the 28 two-digit manufacturing sectors in China, as well as their horizontal and forward linkage effects. Two related tests, firm level pooled data test 1999-2002 and industrial level panel data test 1994-2003 are conducted to investigate whether backward linkages from multinational buyers brings productivity gain to local suppliers. Firm level tests provide convincing evidence that increase backward linkage of FDI will lead to productivity gains. This includes not only total factor productivity, but also labor productivity. Industry level tests, when conducted with and without time dummy variables, give different results: estimations with time dummy variables give little or sometimes negative results on the coefficients of backward linkage, while those without time dummy variables give positive and significant findings. Our estimation results also suggest positive effects of horizontal spillovers for both tests. Forward linkage is found to be negative in general. In sum, among the three spillover channels, backward linkage and horizontal spillovers are found to be beneficial to local industries, which is consistent with previous studies and the Chinese government’s incentives to attract more foreign direct investment

Sustainability of e-waste Management: Egypt case study

The amount of electronic waste generated globally is alarming especially that it is on the rise. The impact of the generated amounts is not only Environmental. The electronic waste sector is unregulated in most developing countries; this results in the informal sector being heavily involved in managing and handling it. Due to the lack of regulations, informal handlers are exposed to hazardous materials that affect both their health and health of the communities living in their proximity. Moreover, the informal sector involves illegal child and women labour under harsh conditions. In addition to the social impact, the lack of regulations leads to missing major economic opportunities associated with developing a recycling industry for the safe handling and material recovery from the generated e-waste volumes. Electronic waste may contain up to 60 different materials including precious and rare-earth metals with an estimated equivalent economic value of 48 billion Euros (Baldé, Wang, Kuehr, & Huisman, 2015; Tansel, 2017). Egypt is one the countries which lack policies and regulations dedicated to e-waste, hence the Egyptian economy is missing the economic potential and job creation opportunities associated with developing the e-waste sector as well as facing major Environmental and health challenges due to the improper handling of the generated amounts. This thesis investigates the current situation of e-waste in Egypt through interviews with major stakeholders in the sector as well as a questionnaire. The thesis then proposes an adapted guideline for the sustainable management of e-waste in Egypt. The guideline is based on the international regulations and guidelines especially those of countries similar to the Egyptian socioeconomic context. Finally, the possibility of upcycling the rejects produced from the e-waste recycling processes is tested. Nonmetals represent around 70% of the total weight of the generated e-waste; these nonmetals include fiberglass and resins which are used in the manufacturing of PCBs (Kaya, 2016). In the Greater Cairo Area only, it is estimated that around 150 ton/year of PCBs are generated (Fathya Soliman & Mounir Boushra, 2017). Thus, the achieved results from upcycling the PCB powder into a composite material, which can replace marble to be used for tabletops or tiles, were a step ahead to realizing sustainable e-waste rejects handling. The produced material has an average flexural strength of about 1773 MPa compared to 1431 MPa for marble and the weight loss during abrasion test of the produced materials was between 0.13%-1.5% compared to about 8.8% for marble