Alternative instruments for the CAP?

With parallel negotiations taking place on enlargement of the EU and a new WTO agreement, EU's Common Agricultural Policy is facing further reforms. This report addresses the issue of whether any alternatives can be found for the instruments of this policy, and looks at decoupled payments, a net income stabilisation fund, risk insurance programmes and export credits. It is concluded that the policy instruments in question are directed at widely varying objectives. They could prove to be a useful supplement to the existing instruments. In general, however, they do not (yet) present satisfactory alternatives for the current EU agricultural polic

Navigating into the Spider’s Web. Developing Resilience in the Wake of an Industrial Disaster in the Bangladesh Ready Made Garment Sector

La Tesi titulada "Navegant per la web d'una aranya. Desenvolupament un programa d'ajuda com a conseqüència d'un accident laboral en la Indústria Tèxtil Bengalí "(d'ara endavant la Tesi) resumeix l'experiència desenvolupada per l'autor en la gestió d'una intervenció de naturalesa multistakeholder i relacional per constituir l'anomenat Spectrum Voluntary Relief Scheme, dissenyat per pal•liar els danys personals dels treballadors ferits i de les famílies dels treballadors morts com a conseqüència del col•lapse de la fàbrica Spectrum (Savar, Bangladesh 2005). La primera innovació que ofereix la Tesi és el concepte de spider web: Una idea utilitzada per l'autor per capturar les causes últimes que van originar la crisi derivada del col•lapse de l'esmentada fàbrica. En altres paraules, una spider web que, a diferència de les altres teixides per aranyes, era difusa i teixida de manera opaca per xarxes de desconfiança mútua entre els stakeholders locals i internacionals presents a l’entorn de l'accident. Una desconfiança mútua que va resultar de la combinació dels següents factors: (i) l'inadequat compliment de la legislació bengalí, (ii) escassos recursos públics per a la seva implementació i (iii) un escàs exercici dels compromisos voluntàriament assumits pels International Buyers, després de l'aprovació dels seus respectius Codis de Conducta de Fabricants i Tallers Externs. La segona innovació es troba en el seu marc teòric que, articulat a partir d'un concepte ampli de Capital Social de naturalesa relacional i fruit de l'adaptació de teories del Management, va ser clau per guiar la intervenció del Spectrum Voluntary Relief Scheme en aquest complex escenari. La tercera innovació es troba en el procediment per a la construcció d'eines (per exemple Fact Finding Mission, el barem i el model actuarial per calcular compensacions per a treballadors ferits i familiars dels morts com a resultat de l'accident) que de forma simultània permetessin (i) resoldre la crisi derivada del col•lapse de la fàbrica i (ii) fomentar la Confiança, l'Associacionisme i el Cooperativisme entre els stakeholders involucrats en l'accident. Addicionalment, la Tesi ofereix tres innovacions: (i) una segona spider web, més obscura, difusa i opaca que, present en la realitat quotidiana comunitària, social, religiosa i familiar dels beneficiaris del Spectrum Voluntary Relief Écheme, era directament responsable dels processos d'exclusió d'aquells col•lectius més vulnerables, (ii) la seva conceptualització a través de les següents quatre Ps: (P1) Principis Polítics i Constitucionals, (P2), Patriarcat, (P3) Per i (P4) purdah i, finalment, (iii) un procediment dissenyat per mesurar l'impacte de les mencionades quatre Ps en la vida de les vídues de Spectrum. A més, la Tesi identifica una tercera spider web que, essent concèntrica amb les dues anteriors i present en les realitats de les fàbriques, comunitats i famílies dels beneficiaris de Spectrum va ser teixida per un sistema judicial incapaç de protegir els Drets de la Dona i portà com a conseqüència directa un sistema legal incapaç de protegir el lliure gaudi de les compensacions de les Vídues de Spectrum en un país amb una de les majors taxes de Violència contra la Dona en el món. Finalment, el nou marc relacional proposat per la Tesi i dissenyat per resoldre crisis futures derivades d'accidents laborals en LDC mitjançant processos d'acumulació de confiança i capital social conclou amb un immediat resultat pràctic: la creació de la Bangladesh Welfare Act (2006).La Tesis titulada “Navegando en la web de una araña. Desarrollando un programa de ayuda como consecuencia de un accidente laboral en la Industria Textil Bengalí” (en adelante la Tesis) resume la experiencia desarrollada por el autor en la gestión de una intervención de naturaleza multistakeholder y relacional para constituir el denominado Spectrum Voluntary Relief Scheme, diseñado para paliar los daños personales de los trabajadores heridos y las familias de aquellos otros fallecidos como consecuencia del colapso de la fábrica Spectrum (Savar, Bangladesh 2005). La primera innovación que ofrece la Tesis es el concepto de spider web: Una idea utilizada por el autor para capturar las causas últimas que originaron la crisis derivada del colapso de la mencionada fábrica. En otras palabras, una spider web que, a diferencia de las otras tejidas por arañas, era difusa y tejida de forma opaca por redes de desconfianza mutua entre aquellos stakeholders locales e internacionales presentes en la arena del accidente. Una desconfianza mutua que resultó de la combinación de los siguientes factores: (i) el inadecuado cumplimiento de la legislación bengalí; (ii) escasos recursos públicos para su implementación y (iii) un escaso ejercicio de los compromisos voluntariamente asumidos por los International Buyers, tras la aprobación de sus respectivos Códigos de Conducta de Fabricantes y Talleres Externos. La segunda innovación fue su marco teórico que, articulado a partir de un concepto amplio de Capital Social de naturaleza relacional y fruto de la adaptación de teorías del Management, fue clave para guiar la intervención del Spectrum Voluntary Relief Scheme en este complejo escenario. La tercera innovación fue el procedimiento para la construcción de herramientas (i.e. Fact Finding Mission, el Baremo y el modelo actuarial para calcular compensaciones para trabajadores heridos y familiares de aquellos otros fallecidos como resultado del accidente) que de forma simultánea permitieran (i) resolver la crisis derivada del colapso de la fábrica y (ii) fomentar la Confianza, el Asociacionismo y el Cooperativismo entre los stakeholders involucrados en el accidente. Adicionalmente, la Tesis ofrece tres innovaciones: (i) una segunda spider web, más obscura, difusa y opaca que, presente en la realidad cotidiana comunitaria, social, religiosa y familiar de los beneficiarios del Spectrum Voluntary Relief Écheme, era directamente responsable de los procesos de exclusión de aquellos colectivos mas vulnerables; (ii) su conceptualización a través de las siguientes cuatro Ps: (P1) Principios Políticos y Constitucionales; (P2); Patriarcado; (P3) Para y (P4) Purdah y, finalmente, (iii) un procedimiento diseñado para medir el impacto de las mencionadas cuatro Ps en la vida de las viudas de Spectrum. Además, la Tesis identifica una tercera spider web que, concéntrica a las dos anteriores y presente en las realidades de las fábricas, comunidades y familias de los beneficiarios de Spectrum fue tejida por un sistema judicial incapaz de proteger los Derechos de la Mujer y cuya consecuencia directa es un sistema legal incapaz de proteger el libre disfrute de las compensaciones de las Viudas de Spectrum en un país con una de las mayores tasas de Violencia contra la Mujer en el mundo. Finalmente, el novedoso marco relacional propuesto por la Tesis y diseñado para resolver crisis futuras derivadas de accidentes laborales en LDC mediante procesos de acumulación de confianza y capital social concluye con un inmediato resultado práctico: la creación de la Bangladesh Welfare Act (2006).The Thesis - “Navigating into the Spider´ Web, Developing Resilience in the Wake of an Industrial Disaster in the Bangladesh Ready Made Garment Sector” – (hereinafter the Thesis) summarizes the Author´s experience, based on a multi-stakeholder approach, carried out in Bangladesh, to build the Spectrum Voluntary Relief Scheme to manage the negative consequences derived from the collapse of the Spectrum factory (Savar, Bangladesh 2005). The first innovation offered by the Thesis is the spider web: an illustrative concept used by the Author to capture the ultimate roots of the crisis derived from the mentioned factory collapse. In other words, a spider web unlike nets actually knitted by spiders, was messy, and, as such, it was opaquely woven with distrust threads linking Local and International stakeholders present at the Spectrum accident arena. Thus, the mutual distrust come from the combination of the following factors: (i) a failure to abide by current Bangladesh Laws; (ii) a lack of resources to enforce an effective Legal Framework and (iii) a consistent disregard for commitments voluntarily made by International Buyers after approving their respective Codes of Conduct for External Manufacturers and Suppliers. The second innovation offered by the Thesis was its theoretical framework based on a holistic Relational Social Capital concept derived from the adaptation of several current management theories and to guide the intervention through The Spectrum Voluntary Relief Scheme in this complex scenario. The third innovation was the procedure to build tools (i.e. Fact Finding Mission, Scale and actuarial model to calculate compensations to injured workers and the families of those deceased as a result of the accident) to simultaneously: (i) solve the crisis derived from the factory collapse and (ii) foster Trust, Closeness and Cooperative behaviour among stakeholders involved in the Spectrum accident Additionally, the Thesis offers three innovations: (i) a second spider web which, even more obscure, messy and opaque that permeated Scheme beneficiaries’ community, social, religious and family everyday lives, was directly responsible for the stalwart exclusion of the most vulnerable groups; (ii) its conceptualization on the basis of Four Ps: Political and Constitutional Values (P1); Patrilineal Kinship (P2); Para (P3) and Purdah (P4) and (iii) the procedure to assess the impact of these mentioned four Ps on Spectrum Widows’ lives. The Thesis identifies a third spider web, which concentric the other two and, therefore, present in factories as well as family households and communities where beneficiaries and their relatives live, is knitted by a poor judicial system to safeguard Women’s Rights, being its direct consequence: the insufficient protection of the Spectrum Widows´ Rights to free enjoy the compensations received from the Spectrum Scheme in a country with showed one of the highest VAW rates in the world. Finally, this innovative relational framework designed to solve future complex crisis derived from labour accidents in LDC, accumulating Trust and Social Capital, concludes using its most immediate practical outcome: the Bangladesh Welfare Act (2006)

Evaluating Direct and Indirect Economic Outcomes of the 2008 Iowa Weather-Related Disasters

How did the floods of 2008 and other coincidental natural disasters affect the well being of Iowa’s households, businesses, and the governments they depend on?� State of Iowa officials have diligently compiled descriptions of the damages and counts of the commercial and household victims, the value of the losses, to the degree they were reported, and the broad array of public costs that have been allocated in response to the floods of 2008.� Notwithstanding the detailed quantification of the disaster consequences, there is still no one number that describes the full impact of the events of 2008 for the state’s economy, nor should readers expect one.�This research seeks to fill some of the gaps in understanding the local, regional, and statewide economic consequences of the disasters of 2008.� In this report we evaluate sets of population, unemployment, employment, business firms, and trade patterns over time in an attempt to discern the household consumption and business productivity disruptions caused by the weather disasters of 2008.economic impact; iowa flood; disaster

Work Place Motivation and Employee Productivity in the Nigerian Public Organizations: The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Experience

Motivation has been variously seen overtime as the most vital tool, yet overlooked means of turning on the workers to give their best to attain organizational goals as well as achieve job satisfaction at the workplace. This paper examines the effect of workplace motivation on employee performance in the Nigerian public organizations with special attention on the South Eastern Federal Radio Corporation. To achieve the above objective, content analytical technique was adopted to carefully review works of renowned authors on the subject matter. The result of the study revealed that there exists a positive relationship between motivation and enhanced employee productivity. The study recommends that appropriate motivational techniques that could satisfy peculiar needs of the workforce should be provided. Keywords: Motivation, Incentives, Public Organization, Employee Productivity, Organizational Goals

Benefit Sharing in the Arctic

This book provides a first-of-its-kind review and analysis of benefit sharing frameworks between extractive industries and Indigenous and local communities in different parts of the Arctic. The authors describe a wealth of case studies in order to examine predominant practices, policies, arrangements, mechanisms and impact assessment methodologies. They also discuss possible ways to improve and advance existing benefit sharing regimes, in order to attain fair and equitable benefit sharing and support sustainable development. Among the topics covered in the book are corporate social responsibility and social license to operate, principles and methodologies of determining compensation, legal and informal frameworks of benefit sharing, community response to extractive activities, and global-to-local linkages that shape benefit sharing processes. The book will be of interest to academics, industry experts, legal specialists, policymakers, community members concerned with industrial activities, and anyone interested in sustainable development in the Arctic

CEOs' bank remuneration and the financial crisis

Bank managers’ compensation is a topic that has become of considerable importance due to the economic and financial crisis of 2008; in fact, they were found possible connections between the structure of executive remuneration and the economic depression itsel

Socio-economic assessment of green infrastructure for climate change adaptation in the context of urban drainage planning

Green infrastructure (GI) contributes to improve urban drainage and also has other societal and environmental benefits that grey infrastructure usually does not have. Economic assessment for urban drainage planning and decision making often focuses on flood criteria. This study presents an economic assessment of GI based on a conventional cost-benefit analysis (CBA) that includes several benefits related to urban drainage (floods, combined sewer overflows and waste water treatment), environmental impacts (receiving water bodies) and additional societal and environmental benefits associated with GI (air quality improvements, aesthetic values, etc.). Benefits from flood damage reduction are monetized based on the widely used concept of Expected Annual Damage (EAD) that was calculated using a 1D/2D urban drainage model together with design storms and a damage model based on tailored flood depth–damage curves. Benefits from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) damage reduction were monetized using a 1D urban drainage model with continuous rainfall simulations and prices per cubic meter of spilled combined sewage water estimated from literature; other societal benefits were estimated using unit prices also estimated from literature. This economic assessment was applied to two different case studies: the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Badalona. The results are useful for decision making and also underline the relevancy of including not only flood damages in CBA of GI.This research was funded by the BINGO European H2020 project, Grant Agreement No.641739 and the RESCCUE European H2020 project, Grant Agreement No. 700174. The authors thank AMB, BCASA and the Municipalities of Badalona and Barcelona for their collaboration.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Conservation by local people in the Niassa National Reserve: money or in-kind payments to adopt conservation-friendly practices

The expansion of Protected Areas (PAs) has been considered as the main strategy to contain deforestation and forest degradation in Developing Countries (DCs), and secure most of the vulnerable and endangered species, including the large carnivores and herbivores of African Savannas. Mozambique is one of DC which has also embarked in this expansion of PAs, with a current network of PAs covering 25% of the natural forest. In most of Mozambican PAs, there is also an unprecedented growth of human population, whose livelihoods depends on harvesting natural resources. Illegal or unregulated harvesting of natural resources imposes a huge threat to biodiversity conservation, which needs to be urgently addressed through policies aimed at changing people’s behaviors to conserve biodiversity the country’s PAs. The Niassa National Reserve (NNR) is the largest PA in the country encompasses 5.3% of all-natural forest and 45% of the overall land under PA in the country. Using the NNR as a case study, we aim to explore policy ways to improve the conservation status of PAs in Mozambique and DCs in general, through identifying and analyzing the role of the drivers for local people engagement in activities that threat biodiversity conservation. We explore possible incentive measures that PA residents may be willing to accept to collaborate with park authorities and other relevant stakeholders operating in the reserve. This main objective was addressed by surveying conservation experts spread through the country and local households in the NNR. As regards the expert survey, Cluster Analysis was applied to identify the different experts’ views about to the main practices that threaten biodiversity conservation in the NNR, the underlining drivers for local people involvement with such practices, the main responsible for each practice and the effectiveness of the new proposed compensation measures. A cluster procedure was also used to identify the different Livelihood and Farming Systems (LFS) prevailing in the reserve, based on data from the household survey. A Multinomial Logistic Model (MLM) was also estimated to understand the drivers of household choice of LFS. The results showed that outsider conduct most of the illegal activities that strongly threat biodiversity conservation in the reserve (poaching, illegal logging and mining). At the same time, local people tend to engage in illegal activities that they need to carry out to cope with their daily needs. Most of the new in-kind incentives explored in the surveys, showed a greater acceptance from local people compared to those currently applied in the reserve. Moreover, livelihood systems were mainly driven by socio-economic factors, while FS were mostly driven by biophysical conditions. Finally, households who were employed and had diversified farming and off-farming activities, were better off, more resilient to climate change and crop raiding animals and held more conservation friendly attitudes