Characterization of the Chilean Public Procurement Ecosystem Using Social Network Analysis

Indexación: Scopus.'Mercado Público' is a Chilean electronic platform used for purchasing processes by Chilean public organizations for the last two decades. The main aim of this study is to characterize the Chilean public procurement ecosystem by using social network analysis to detect the main communities of suppliers based on who awarded the tenders. To do this, we use a methodology that first represents the bidder-supplier relationship as a bipartite graph using purchase order information. Then we project the bipartite graph onto a monopartite graph of suppliers. We end by detecting the main supplier communities using a modularity algorithm. When we applied this methodology to the large tender segment in the Chilean public procurement market over a period of four years, we successfully detected the five largest communities and the micro and small companies which had the greatest rate of participation over time.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/914958

Risk Allocation in Unsolicited and Solicited Road Public-Private Partnerships: Sustainability and Management Implications

Risk allocation plays a crucial role in the successful development of public-private partnership (PPP) projects. However, despite being an important topic for scholars and practitioners, the existing literature does not provide sufficient evidence on how managing risks in solicited (SP) and unsolicited (USP) road PPP projects, and subsequently, on what the sustainability implications are for such managerial processes. This study aims to extend risk allocation studies by analyzing contracts in Chilean highway PPPs over the last decade based on a systematic content analysis framework and case study data. The framework was developed through line-by-line coding of contract provisions associated with risk-related issues, and data were collected from semi-structured interviews with Chilean PPP practitioners. Results show that, although the majority of risks are either shared or transferred to the private party in most contracts, there are important variations in the way allocation procedures are implemented for SPs and USPs. Contracts analyzed revealed that risk arrangement mechanisms have usually focused on the economic dimension of sustainability without fully incorporating social and environmental considerations, increasing protests in the long-term. Conclusions indicate that risk allocation procedures and sustainability considerations are highly dependent on project-specific features and contextual factors. Overall, the analysis uncovers that the level of autonomy given to the private sector in both SPs and USPs has contributed to properly manage technical and economic risks, but has failed to successfully allocate social and environmental concerns

Social enterprise-led local development of the circular economy : socio-spatial networks and value-impact scaling pathways

The circular economy (CE) paradigm has emerged to challenge a predominantly linear economic development model by extracting and retaining the highest possible value from existing resources through their recirculation. While CE-related literature and policy discourse continue to grow, there is limited research on socio-spatial mechanisms shaping alternative circular economic development trajectories in the local development context. This thesis considers how the ecological and extra economic premises of CE thinking can be harnessed through mission-driven social enterprises (SEs) aimed at locally tackling poverty, inequality and/or waste. It investigates the extent to which 50 case study SEs operating in three different socio-spatial and institutional contexts (Hull, UK; Santiago, Chile; and Graz, Austria), and across diverse sectors (food, wood, textiles, housing, among others), stimulate and potentially could stimulate the development of a local and socially inclusive CE. In so doing, firstly, it untangles complex socio-material circuits of value and corresponding feedback loops associated with flows of (in)tangible resources across co-existing mainstream and alternative economic spaces of exchange, production and consumption. Secondly, this research adopts a Social Network Analysis approach to map and examine the broader social circular enterprise ecosystem in the City of Hull. It explores how the broader network constellations not only embody, but also could embody symbiotic relationships between environmentally-/CE-, socially- and/or commercially oriented enterprises to foster inclusive CE development. It then offers a heuristic framework illustrating the interplay of factors shaping collaborative ties in the development of inclusive CE. Finally, it explores diverse social-circular impact scaling strategies and develops an Integrated Social-Circular Value-Impact Scaling(ISCIRVIS) framework for academia and context-adaptable toolkit for entrepreneurs. The toolkit is designed to help entrepreneurs to create, deepen and/or broaden the scale and scope of environmental-circular, social and/or economic value outcomes/impacts associated with existing or implementable (circular) activities, yet in the light of potential costs/risks

Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-Based Products: Version 3

Version 3 of this guide incorporates the most up-to-date developments on the legality of forest products, new technological developments to control wood and paper supply chains and increase their transparency, and an expanded chapter on the social implications of forest products.Decisions regarding the purchase and use of wood and paper-based products can have far-reaching, long-term impacts on the forests where they are harvested and the people and industries that depend on those forests for their livelihoods and raw materials.This joint WRI/WBCSD publication provides information about 10 key issues procurement managers might address as they develop and implement their procurement policies

Public policies and food systems in Latin America

Food problems are the order of the day. Solving the problems of hunger and malnutrition, producing and guaranteeing access to healthy food, preserving the environment, valuing local cultures and ensuring citizen participation are some of the many challenges that permeate the dynamics of food systems. This book addresses the role of Latin American public policies and actions in the configuration of healthy and sustainable food systems. Written by scholars specialized in various disciplines (economy, sociology, policy science, etc.) and hailing from ten Latin American countries, it provides a historical overview of national food policies, examines recent policy changes and explores innovative urban and rural experiences at local level. The authors also discuss the challenges of developing specific policy objectives related to sustainable food systems. This book shows how référentiels for public food policies have become more integrated in Latin America and takes a closer look at several promising local initiatives. However, it also highlights the many constraints in fostering sustainable food systems in the region, such as persistent competition among production models, land tenure inequalities and coordination issues among actors and state bodies. It will be of interest to a scientific audience of teachers and food systems professionals, as well as any readers interested in policy dynamics in Latin America

New decision support tools for forest tactical and operational planning

Doutoramento em Engenharia Florestal e dos Recursos Florestais - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaThe economic importance of the forest resources and the Portuguese forest-based industries motivated several studies over the last 15 years, particularly on strategic forest planning. This thesis focuses on the forest planning processes at tactical and operational level (FTOP). These problems relate to harvesting, transportation, storing, and delivering the forest products to the mills. Innovative Operation Research methods and Decision Support Systems (DSS) were developed to address some of these problems that are prevalent in Portugal. Specifically, Study I integrates harvest scheduling, pulpwood assortment, and assignment decisions at tactical level. The solution method was based in problem decomposition, combining heuristics and mathematical programming algorithms. Study II presents a solution approach based on Revenue Management principles for the reception of Raw Materials. This operational problem avoids truck congestion during the operation of pulpwood delivery. Study III uses Enterprise Architecture to design a DSS for integrating the operations performed over the pulpwood supply chain. Study IV tests this approach on a toolbox that handled the complexity of the interactions among the agents engaged on forest planning at regional level. Study V proposes an innovative technological framework that combines forest planning with forest operations' control

Post-fire ecological restoration in Latin American forest ecosystems: insights and lessons from the last two decades

Wildfires are responsible for a substantial loss of forest ecosystem services globally and represent a major driving force of forest degradation across Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC). The detrimental effect of forest fires is particularly relevant in regions where fire has been historically absent or has rarely occurred. Nowadays, there is an increasing interest to promote and develop ecological restoration (ER) following fire. LAC constitutes a hotspot where work and interest in ER has been steadily increasing over the last decades, mainly due to the drive of a new generation of young and experienced ecologists and foresters. Despite the increasing attention in post-fire restoration in the region, there is a dearth of initiatives compiling and organizing all the available information on this topic. This work aims to address such constraint, providing current information on post-fire ER in LAC forests. After a brief contextualization of environmental and social consequences of wildfires, we collect and discuss recent advances on restoring degraded forests. From the conifer Mexican ecosystems to the Southern Patagonian evergreen forests, we look back over the last two decades (2000–2020) mainly discussing experiences of success and failure, as well as limitations of implementing approaches based on passive/natural restoration or active/assisted restoration. Furthermore, we also explore other aspects of the restoration process, including those related to social participation and community engagement (e.g. education in restored areas), the use of fire regulation and management to reduce fire risks and increase ecosystem resilience, educational aspects and intermediate approaches as agroforestry and silviculture practices. In the last sections, we identify three major categories of specific constraints that condition ER, including environmental limitations (biotic and abiotic factors), technical/management factors and the socio-economic challenge of restoration. Finally, we briefly discuss future perspectives for ER in LACPS was funded by the Regional Council of Education, University and Professional Training (Consellería de Educación, Universidade e Formación Profesional) from the Government of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia) through the Postdoctoral Plan “Axudas de apoio á etapa de formación posdoutoral nas universidades do Sistema universitario de Galicia”, (Ref - ED481B-2019-088). GS was funded by the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (Fondecyt Regular REF-1191905), and the “Fondo Interno para la Adquisición de Equipamiento Científico de la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (FIAEC 2019). RG was funded by Fondecyt (REF - 11170516). RG, AP were funded by Grant ANID PIA/BASAL FB210006. AF was funded by CERNAS, Centro de Estudos de Recursos Naturais, Ambiente e Sociedade (FCT-UID00681-2020-2023)S

Innovation Policy and Chronic Emergencies

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust the potential role of the state as a driver of scientific innovation onto center stage. Vaccines have been developed and brought to market in a timescale that seemed almost impossible when the crisis first struck. The pivotal nature of government intervention in this crisis has added to calls from academics and policy makers to adopt a more proactive, mission-oriented approach to innovation policy to tackle other key global challenges. This Article considers the merits of these calls and argues that an important distinction must be drawn between what this Article terms acute and chronic emergencies. COVID-19 is a paradigmatic example of an acute emergency: its onset was rapid, its impact was dramatic, and it is a problem that demands resolution for life to proceed “as normal.” Chronic emergencies, such as the problem of Anti-Microbial Resistance, can be just as, or more deadly than, acute emergencies but have a “frog in the pot” quality. They emerge over time, and, although they can have profound social and economic effects, they do so in ways that are less immediate and hence less demanding of government attention. Without the urgency, sense of purpose, and spirit of cooperation that accompany acute emergencies, there is a risk that mission-oriented approaches may fail to deliver new technologies the world urgently needs. This Article considers the problem of applying mission-oriented approaches to chronic emergencies. The analysis is grounded in an examination of Britain’s system of innovation rewards in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, drawing on an extensive historical data set that the authors are continuing to develop. The central argument put forward in this Article is that Britain’s historical system offers lessons for crafting state intervention to spur innovation aimed at chronic emergencies today. Britain’s historical system was effective because rewards were largely bestowed post hoc with relatively little prescription as to the problems at which innovators should direct their efforts, and still less as to the methods and means that should be used to tackle them. Perhaps most importantly, these rewards fed into and helped create a culture of innovation. The Article concludes with a proposal for change—namely, that the way innovation prizes are designed should be reconsidered. Prizes must preserve space for scientific and technical freedom and ought not to be built around the sort of rigidly defined criteria that proponents of mission-oriented innovation policies often advocate

Sustainable Construction

Construction is one of the main sectors that generates greenhouse gases. This industry consumes large amounts of raw materials, such as stone, timber, water, etc. Additionally, infrastructure should provide service over many years without safety problems. Therefore, their correct design, construction, maintenance, and dismantling are essential to reducing economic, environmental, and societal consequences. That is why promoting sustainable construction has recently become extremely important. To help address and resolve these types of questions, this book explores new ways of reducing the environmental impacts caused by the construction sector, as well promotes social progress and economic growth. The chapters collect the papers included in the “Sustainable Construction” Special Issue of the Sustainability journal. The papers cover a wide spectrum of issues related to the use of sustainable materials in construction, the optimization of designs based con sustainable indicators, the life-cycle assessment, the decision-making processes that integrate economic, social, and environmental aspects, and the promotion of durable materials that reduce future maintenance

International and Regional Organizations and Networks Involved in Tropical Forestry Research: A Stock Taking

Report prepared by an ad hoc panel on tropical forestry to provide TAC with a survey of the forestry-related work of IARCs, other international research centers, and regional networks of national programs. The panel was particularly concerned with how this work related to the five priority areas identified at the Bellagio II Forestry Meeting held at Wiston House in London in November 1988. The report was intended to inform TAC in its consideration of how the CGIAR should go about incorporating forestry into its mandate.Agenda document, TAC 49