3,743 research outputs found

    Towards a new public goods payment model for remunerating farmers under the CAP Post-2020

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    Background The direct payment system and the Rural Development Programmes, as the pivotal elements of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), have reduced some undesirable environmental and economic side effects of pre-1992 agricultural policy. However, even after 25 years of implementation and several major reforms, fundamental challenges remain (see Annex 1): - Missing link between CAP objectives, spending and instruments (Buckwell, 2015; Stolze et al., 2016; Pe’er et al., 2017); - Ineffective Pillar 1 Greening component (Forstner et al., 2012; Hart, 2015; Lakner and Holst, 2015; Pe’er et al., 2017); - Indifferent effectiveness of Pillar 2 agri-environment and climate measures (Baldock and Mottershead, 2017); - Low acceptance of the CAP by both farmers and citizens (Pacini et al., 2015; ECORYS & European Commission, 2017; Pe’er et al., 2017). The total amount of funds dedicated to the agricultural sector is limited and a further increase of the financial support in the mid- and long-term perspective seems to be unlikely. This means farmers are expected to deliver more tangible results in a costefficient way with respect to the environmental, social and economic dimension of sustainability with taxpayer’s money allocated in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in compliance with international frameworks, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. In this report we present a concept for a more effective and cost-efficient CAP by integrating sustainability assessment in the design, targeting and monitoring of policies and in payment allocation. Basing the future CAP on clear sustainability goals and farmer payments on performance towards these goals should lead to a CAP, which is more broadly accepted by both farmers and citizens

    Governing Migration: Immigrant Groups' Strategies in Three Italian Cities - Rome, Naples and Bari

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    Ethnic networks constitute an important component of immigrants’ integration in their host societies. This has been a particularly important strategy in Italy, where institutional assistance for immigrants is often paltry and problematic. This paper examines three ethnic communities in Italy that have been particularly successful in using their ethnic social capital for integrating into Italian society at the city level: the Mauritians in Bari, Filipinos in Rome and Chinese in Naples. Sending countries’ policies and programs, as well as the socio-historical context of ethnic relations within the countries has also influenced the patterns of these networks. The psychological or motivational element behind these groups’ migration project is also critical to their integration, and is often manifested on a group level. Keywords: Migration, Immigrant, Ethnic group

    OR for entrepreneurial ecosystems : a problem-oriented review and agenda

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    Innovation-driven entrepreneurship has become a focus for economic development and received increasing attention from policy makers and academics over the last decades. While consensus has been reached that context matters for innovation and entrepreneurship, little evidence and decision support exists for policy makers to effectively shape the environment for growth-oriented companies. We present the entrepreneurial ecosystem concept as a complex systems-based approach to the study of innovation-driven entrepreneurial economies. The concept, in combination with novel data sources, offers new opportunities for research and policy, but also comes with new challenges. The aim of this paper is to take stock of the literature and build bridges for more transdisciplinary research. First, we review emergent trends in ecosystem research and provide a typology of four overarching problems based on current limitations. These problems connect operational research scholars to the context and represent focal points for their contributions. Second, we review the operational research literature and provide an overview of how these problems have been addressed and outline opportunities for future research, both for the specific problems as well as cross-cutting themes. Operational research has been invaluable in supporting decision-makers facing complex problems in several fields. This paper provides a conceptual and methodological agenda to increase its contribution to the study and governance of entrepreneurial ecosystems

    A contextual design artefact for the dynamic capabilities of SMEs in Nigeria : a critical realist study

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    Text in EnglishThe tendency of SMEs to focus on their core business activities often results in them overlooking competences to maximise ICT usage which, in turn, leads to the escalation of costs and the diminishing of investment returns. This study, situated within a critical realist philosophy, seeks to explore and design a new ICT artefact for SMEs using the dynamic capabilities framework and mixed method approach. Dynamic capabilities (DCs) refer to an organisation’s ability to continuously renew internal resources towards ensuring business success and market competitiveness. The use of content analysis and retroduction enabled the initial qualitative study to analyse the interview responses gained from 16 SMEs situated in five of the most economically active states in Nigeria. The study then developed and evaluated the ICT artefact amongst 20 SMEs in similar contexts using the elaborated action design research method. The key findings revealed how SMEs in Nigeria use ICTs (in the real domain) to carry out their business processes (in the actual domain) using their DCs (in the empirical domain). The findings suggest that, despite the existence of government support for SMEs across Nigeria, these programmes are generally inaccessible using ICTs. This study identified a critical need for the creation and evaluation of a contextual ICT artefact (i.e. mobile app) suited to Nigeria and in probably other SMEs operating in similar low-income contexts. The evaluation results confirmed the usefulness of the artefact as a suitable tool which would assist SMEs in enhancing their DCs and thus maximise opportunities. This thesis presents a theoretical contribution to IS theory through the identification of absorptive, adaptive and innovative DCs which enhance the competences of SMEs to seize business opportunities. The other theoretical contribution to IS lies in using critical realism to reveal the causal powers of mobile apps and the events generated in SMEs. The findings also contribute to practice by outlining a way in which SME owners can effectively use ICTs to maximise their business capabilities. The thesis recommends that contextually designed ICTs should serve as the bedrock for policy development. Policy makers should continuously sensitise SME owners as to the benefits of ICTs by reinforcing ICT education and creating environments which enable ICT growth.School of ComputingPh.D (Information Systems

    The pre- and post-investment relationship between angel investors and entrepreneurs: the scope and impact of information problems and conflicts

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    Funded by the Fund for Scientific Research – Flanders (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek), Brussels, Belgiu

    Roles of Fiscal Policy in New Zealand

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    Economic growth is one of the objectives of the current government. Fiscal policy, encompassing government expenditure and taxation decisions, can significantly impact on economic growth. This paper proposes a framework which views fiscal policy through three lenses and applies this approach to consider how fiscal policy affects economic growth. The three lenses are: fiscal sustainability, fiscal structure and fiscal stabilisation. The paper reviews international literature pertaining to these three lenses and discusses the extent to which these lenses are incorporated into New Zealand’s current fiscal framework. Contemporary New Zealand fiscal challenges are discussed and, in light of these challenges, the paper concludes with consideration of areas to investigate which may yield improvements to the New Zealand fiscal framework.Fiscal policy, sustainability, stability, structure, taxation, government spending, economic growth

    ResearchNews, Volume 7, 2014

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