Review of approaches to establish reference levels to interpret indicators

Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use,

Progress in Implementing Capacity-Building Provisions under the Labor Chapter of the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement

[Excerpt] Section 403(a) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act includes a reporting requirement on labor issues related to the CAFTA-DR. Specifically, that section requires the President to submit a biennial report to Congress on the progress made by the CAFTA-DR countries in implementing (i) Chapter Sixteen (Labor) of the CAFTA-DR, and (ii) the White Paper. The President delegated this reporting function to the Secretary of Labor, to be carried out in consultation with the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This is the first report in fulfillment of Section 403(a) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act. As required, this report includes: A. A description of the progress made by the Labor Cooperation and Capacity Building Mechanism established by Article 16.5 and Annex 16.5 of the CAFTA-DR, and the Labor Affairs Council established by Article 16.4 of the CAFTA-DR, in achieving their stated goals, including a description of the capacity-building projects undertaken, funds received, and results achieved, in each CAFTA-DR country; B. Recommendations on how the United States can facilitate full implementation of the recommendations contained in the White Paper; C. A description of the work done by the CAFTA-DR countries with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to implement the White Paper recommendations and to advance common commitments regarding labor matters; and D. A summary of public comments received on these matters

Progress in Implementing Capacity-Building Provisions under the Labor Chapter of the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement

[Excerpt] Section 403(a) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act includes a reporting requirement on labor issues related to the CAFTA-DR. Specifically, that section requires the President to submit a biennial report to Congress on the progress made by the CAFTA-DR countries in implementing (i) Chapter Sixteen (Labor) of the CAFTA-DR, and (ii) the White Paper. The President delegated this reporting function to the Secretary of Labor, to be carried out in consultation with the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This is the first report in fulfillment of Section 403(a) of the CAFTA-DR Implementation Act. As required, this report includes: A. A description of the progress made by the Labor Cooperation and Capacity Building Mechanism established by Article 16.5 and Annex 16.5 of the CAFTA-DR, and the Labor Affairs Council established by Article 16.4 of the CAFTA-DR, in achieving their stated goals, including a description of the capacity-building projects undertaken, funds received, and results achieved, in each CAFTA-DR country; B. Recommendations on how the United States can facilitate full implementation of the recommendations contained in the White Paper; C. A description of the work done by the CAFTA-DR countries with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to implement the White Paper recommendations and to advance common commitments regarding labor matters; and D. A summary of public comments received on these matters

Benchmarking the Lisbon Strategy

This paper reviews the governance framework of the Lisbon Strategy and discusses the specific option of increasing the role of benchmarking as a means of improving the implementation record of structural reforms in the European Union. Against this background, the paper puts forward a possible avenue for developing a strong form of quantitative benchmarking, namely ranking. The ranking methodology relies on the construction of a synthetic indicator using the “benefit of the doubt” approach, which acknowledges differences in emphasis among Member States with regard to structural reform priorities. The methodology is applied by using the structural indicators that have been commonly agreed by the governments of the Member States, but could also be used for ranking exercises on the basis of other indicators. JEL Classification: D02, P11, P16, C43, C61.Lisbon Strategy, economic governance, benchmarking, benefit of the doubt weighting.

Accessibility of flood risk insurance in the UK: Confusion, competition and complacency

Flood risk insurance can be an effective tool in assisting the restoration of damaged property after a flood event and sustaining communities through difficult times. It can also form part of a wider flood risk management strategy. In the light of recent flood events in the UK and in the context of changing property insurance markets, the universal cover previously enjoyed by floodplain residents has been called into question. Conflicting media and industry views leave the floodplain resident and the wider community in confusion. A survey of floodplain residents in England regarding their experience with flooding and flood insurance in England has been undertaken. The results reveal that some floodplain residents do indeed encounter difficulties when seeking insurance for their homes. However, despite the risk-averse policies of some insurers, availability of insurance is still strong in both at-risk and previously flooded locations. Success in gaining insurance may lead to complacency among residents who see no advantage in pursuing other, more costly, damage mitigation actions. As a tool in risk management, therefore, the market is prevented from realising its potential by competition, which results in a lack of a consistent approach, rewards homeowners' search strategies and reduces information flow

Ethical Considerations in the Advent of 3D Printing Technology in Healthcare

The emergence of 3D printing technology in healthcare has ushered in a new era of personalized medical solutions. However, alongside its promises, this technology also introduces several critical challenges that demand attention. This research investigates the implications of 3D printing on patient safety, intellectual property, equity, data security, informed consent, and the roles of healthcare professionals. 3D printing has opened up remarkable opportunities in the creation of medical devices, implants, and prosthetics. Nevertheless, the potential for errors during the manufacturing process poses a significant concern. Ensuring the safety and reliability of 3D-printed medical products becomes paramount, as any defects or inaccuracies could have severe consequences on patient health and well-being. The accessibility of 3D printing technology raises apprehensions regarding intellectual property rights and regulatory standards. The possibility of replicating medical devices and pharmaceuticals may lead to patent infringements and pose difficulties in enforcing regulatory compliance. Striking a balance between innovation and protection of intellectual property becomes crucial in fostering a thriving 3D printing healthcare ecosystem. While 3D printing holds to democratize healthcare by offering personalized medical solutions, it also has the potential to exacerbate existing disparities in healthcare access. The cost of 3D printing technology and related services might prove prohibitive for certain communities, thereby widening the gap in access to advanced medical treatments. Addressing these disparities and ensuring equitable access to 3D printing healthcare solutions must be a priority for healthcare policymakers and stakeholders. The integration of 3D printing in healthcare necessitates the utilization and storage of sensitive patient data. However, ethical concerns emerge around the security and privacy of this data. Any breaches or misuse of patient information could not only compromise patient confidentiality but also erode trust in healthcare systems. Implementing robust data security measures and respecting patient privacy rights are essential to maintain public trust in 3D printing healthcare applications. As 3D printing enables the production of custom medical devices and implants, obtaining informed consent from patients becomes increasingly complex. Patients must comprehend the risks, benefits, and uncertainties associated with these personalized treatments to make autonomous decisions about their healthcare. Healthcare providers must develop comprehensive strategies to ensure adequate patient education and empowerment during the informed consent process

More effective skills utilisation : shifting the terrain of skills policy in Scotland

This paper examines shifts in skills policy in Scotland towards emphasising the importance of effective skills utilisation. Turning policy into practice, however, requires a better understanding than currently exists of skills utilisation in order to facilitate better measurement, evaluation and intervention. This paper aims to contribute to such an understanding. We suggest that effective skills utilisation comprises two distinct elements: the use of better skills and the better use of skills, with the former crucial to the development of a high skills economy and the latter crucial to realising existing untapped workforce potential. We further argue that skills utilisation is most likely where workers have the ability, motivation and opportunity to deploy their skills effectively. We conclude by advocating greater collaboration in skills utilisation practice and research between relevant stakeholders, drawing on European experiences and an approach – which we call ASPiRRE – that envelops actors, structures, protocols, responsibilities, resources and expertise in order to align distinct stakeholder interests and encourage innovative practice in skills deployment

CHORUS Deliverable 2.2: Second report - identification of multi-disciplinary key issues for gap analysis toward EU multimedia search engines roadmap

After addressing the state-of-the-art during the first year of Chorus and establishing the existing landscape in multimedia search engines, we have identified and analyzed gaps within European research effort during our second year. In this period we focused on three directions, notably technological issues, user-centred issues and use-cases and socio- economic and legal aspects. These were assessed by two central studies: firstly, a concerted vision of functional breakdown of generic multimedia search engine, and secondly, a representative use-cases descriptions with the related discussion on requirement for technological challenges. Both studies have been carried out in cooperation and consultation with the community at large through EC concertation meetings (multimedia search engines cluster), several meetings with our Think-Tank, presentations in international conferences, and surveys addressed to EU projects coordinators as well as National initiatives coordinators. Based on the obtained feedback we identified two types of gaps, namely core technological gaps that involve research challenges, and “enablers”, which are not necessarily technical research challenges, but have impact on innovation progress. New socio-economic trends are presented as well as emerging legal challenges