Guest editorial for the special issue on software-defined radio transceivers and circuits for 5G wireless communications

Yichuang Sun, Baoyong Chi, and Heng Zhang, Guest Editorial for the Special Issue on Software-Defined Radio Transceivers and Circuits for 5G Wireless Communications, published in IEEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, Vol. 63 (1): 1-3, January 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TCSII.2015.2506979.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Working Paper 129 - China’s Engagement and Aid Effectiveness in Africa

Chinese aid, finance, trade and investment flows to Africa are growing fast. We consider the consequences of these trends using a quantified framework. Very often, adequate data are simply non-available, but we find that existing data provide useful insights on what is ongoing. We first discuss the allocation of Chinese aid, using data on turnover of economic cooperation, and we find it is at least partially comparable to other bilateral aid. We also consider the potential issue created by re-indebtedness of African countries borrowing to China. Second, we show, through studying African import patterns, that the growing importation of Chinese products in Africa can be interpreted as trade creation instead of trade diversion. Hence it has positive rather than negative impact on African economies. Third, we study the influence of Chinese engagement on economic diversification. We show that the usual “Dutch disease” argument is debatable. We find that none of the various dimensions of China engagement has had so far a significant impact, positive or negative, on African economic diversification. For the future, the evolving preferential trade regime offered by China, and its policy of creating special economic zones, could help tip the balance on the positive side.

Climate or development: Is ODA diverted from its original purpose?

We analyze the interaction of climate and development policy that has taken place since the early 1990s. Increasing dissatisfaction about the results of traditional development cooperation and the appeal of climate policy as a new policy field led to a rapid reorientation of aid flows. At the turn of the century, over 7% of aid flows were spent on greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. However, the contribution of emissions mitigation projects to the central development objective of poverty reduction as specified in the Millennium Development Goals is limited and other project types are likely to be much more effective. Adaptation to climate change can be expected to have higher synergies with poverty alleviation than mitigation, primarily through its impact on health, the conservation of arable land and the protection against natural disasters. An analysis of the Clean Development Mechanism shows that projects addressing the poor directly are very rare; even small renewable energy projects in rural areas tend to benefit rich farmers and the urban population. Use of development aid for CDM projects and / or their preparation via capacity building is thus clearly not warranted. --ODA,climate policy,poverty reduction,MDGs,CDM,mitigation,adaptation

Working Paper 125 - China and Africa: An Emerging Partnership for Development? - An Overview of Issues

China’s phenomenal growth offers an opportunity to boost development in African countries. Moreover, China’s loans and concessional assistance financed a wide range of development projects. China also is reaping significant benefits from this relationship, through access to raw materials, expanded markets for exports of manufactures, the establishment of investment relationships which could generate significant profits over time and diplomatic influence. But leadership from African governments, particularly to strengthen domestic policies and governance and to harmonize regional policies so as to improve the continent’s bargaining position with China, are required to ensure that the China-Africa relationship contributes to sustainable growth and poverty reduction. The twin goals of this paper are to summarizes the analysis on the economic exchange between China and Africa, and to outline policy recommendations to improve the benefits to both parties.

Development and the United Nations: achievements and challenges for the future

This article explores the role of the United Nations in development in the context of both the current critiques of the UN and the failure of the 2005 New York summit to reach agreement on a program of reform. While the work of its specialist agencies presents the most visible face of the UN’s contribution to global development; the UN through its efforts to influence international debates on development policy, in particular as the convenor of international conferences, also plays a key intellectual leadership role in rethinking approaches to development. It is argued that in spite of the justifiable criticism of many aspects of the UN agencies, on balance the UN has played a positive role in promoting development and has been an alternative voice to the major international powers. Future reform should ensure that the UN can continue to make this contribution

Dealing with Post-Entitlement Issues; A Practical Guide for Advocates

This brief details sources of possible overpayments under the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance Program. Reviewed is the process for beneficiary notification of overpayment along with possible remedies and approaches to resolving overpayment issues