Autonomous optimization of UWB link access

We present a novel approach for interference management in low data rate IR-UWB networks that enables concurrent transmissions at full power while allows each source to independently adapt its pulse rate (transmitted pulses per second) to mitigate multi-user interference. The work is motivated by the fact that the distributed adaptation of IR-UWB pulse rate has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature before. Existing approaches rely on the presence of a central authority or assume a definite receiver technique. Our approach enables users to share the communication medium in an efficient way compatible with individual QoS requirements and it is independent of any particular modulation scheme or receiver technique

Environmental and Social Accounting As An Alternative Approach To Conflict Resolutions In A Volatile and E-Business Environment

Profits and improvements in world social welfare are the main reasons for industrialization. However, while governments and business owners are striving to solve one social problem or the other, these same solution processes scoop up other problems along the line which inadvertently breed conflicts and confrontations between the host communities and the owners and operators of the organizations attempting the solution. This is the position which most oil producing companies in the Nigerian Niger Delta region as well as some manufacturing concerns have found themselves. In E-Business, market domination and monopolistic trade practices have pitched major world players in the information and communications technology industry against one another, engendering yet another type of social conflict. This paper believes that a lot could be done to douse the resulting conflagration and pacify those directly affected by applying palliative and preventive remedies using the process of environmental and social accounting aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies as a tool

The Political Economy of Bilateralism and Multilateralism: Institutional Choice in Trade and Taxation

Trade relations are governed by the multilateral GATT, whereas the avoidance of international double taxation rests on a network of around 2000 bilateral treaties. Given the two regimes’ similar economic rationales this difference between bilateralism in international double tax avoidance and multilateralism in the trade regime poses an empirical puzzle. In this paper we develop an answer to this puzzle. Differentiating between different stages of international cooperation, we first describe the institutional form in the bargaining and agreement stages of cooperation. This description shows that the regimes are quite similar in the bargaining stage, both exhibiting a mix of bilateral and multilateral bargaining. However, while agreement is multilateral in the trade regime it is bilateral in taxation. Based on stylized institutional histories of both cases we develop simple game theoretic models incorporating domestic level considerations. Building on these models we then go on to explain the institutional choice between bilateral and multilateral cooperation. We show that state concerns for the distribution of benefits can be best achieved under bilateral bargaining in both regimes. However, in order to lower transaction costs there are also elements of multilateral bargaining. Agreement is multilateral in trade in order to overcome a free-rider problem that results from an interaction of concerns for distribution and enforcement. Since such a problem of free-riding does not exist in taxation, there is no need for binding multilateral agreement.Theories of International Cooperation; International Trade; International Double Taxation; Bilateralism; Multilateralism

The political economy of bilateralism and multilateralism: Institutional choice in international trade and taxation

Trade relations are governed by the multilateral GATT, whereas the avoidance of international double taxation rests on a network of around 2000 bilateral treaties. Given the two regimes similar economic rationales this difference between bilateralism in international double tax avoidance and multilateralism in the trade regime poses an empirical puzzle. In this paper we develop an answer to this puzzle. Differentiating between different stages of international cooperation, we first describe the institutional form in the bargaining and agreement stages of cooperation. This description shows that the regimes are quite similar in the bargaining stage, both exhibiting a mix of bilateral and multilateral bargaining. However, while agreement is multilateral in the trade regime it is bilateral in taxation. Based on stylized institutional histories of both cases we develop simple game theoretic models incorporating domestic level considerations. Building on these models we then go on to explain the institutional choice between bilateral and multilateral cooperation. We show that state concerns for the distribution of benefits can be best achieved under bilateral bargaining in both regimes. However, in order to lower transaction costs there are also elements of multilateral bargaining. Agreement is multilateral in trade in order to overcome a free-rider problem that results from an interaction of concerns for distribution and enforcement. Since such a problem of free-riding does not exist in taxation, there is no need for binding multilateral agreement. -- Während Handelsbeziehungen durch das multilaterale GATT geregelt werden, beruht die Vermeidung internationaler Doppelbesteuerung auf einem Netzwerk von etwa 2000 bilateralen Verträgen. Da beide Regime die gleiche ökonomische Zielsetzung der Marktliberalisierung haben, stellt die unterschiedliche institutionelle Form ein empirisches Puzzle dar, das wir in diesem Papier lösen. Wir unterscheiden zwischen verschiedenen Phasen internationaler Kooperation und beschreiben zunächst die institutionelle Form in der Bargaining- und Agreement-Phase. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Systeme in der Bargaining-Phase sehr ähnlich sind: beide weisen einen Mix bilateraler und multilateraler Elemente auf. In der Agreement-Phase hingegen findet man Multilateralismus im Handelsregime und Bilateralismus im Steuerregime. Im zweiten Teil des Papiers leiten wir aus den nationalen Interessenkonstellationen in der Handels- und Steuerpolitik einfache spieltheoretische Modelle ab, mit deren Hilfe wir die institutionelle Wahl zwischen bilateraler und multilateraler Kooperation in beiden Phasen erklären. Wir zeigen, dass Staaten nach Verteilungsgewinnen streben, was am besten in bilateralen Verhandlungen erreicht werden kann. Bilaterales Verhandeln führt jedoch zu hohen Transaktionskosten, die durch multilaterale Elemente in den Verhandlungen reduziert werden können (Bargaining-Phase). Abkommen in Handelsbeziehungen sind multilateral, um ein free-riding zu vermeiden, das wiederum aus dem Streben nach Verteilungsgewinnen resultiert. Da free-riding im Steuerregime aufgrund der Spielstruktur kein gravierendes Problem ist, gibt es hier keine Notwendigkeit eines multilateralen Abkommens, so dass man hier Bilateralismus vorfindet (Agreement-Phase).

Environmental Tariffs: Will They Be Captured by Protectionists?

Environmental tariffs appear to be a politically necessary part of the climate change policies that are emerging in many countries. The appeal of level playing field arguments is seductive and difficult to dispute. Environmental policy makers, however, may be naïve, because they fail to account for the potential of trade policy mechanisms and institutions to be captured by traditional vested interests seeking economic protection. The exact structures and institutional frameworks for environmental tariffs are often left vague by environmental policy makers, making them easy targets for protectionists. Environmental tariffs appear to be particularly vulnerable to capture given the complexity of production and the embryonic stage of the science of measuring carbon intensity. The article outlines the threats to the international trading system posed by environmental tariffs and suggests cooperation between those responsible for developing environmental policy and those responsible for developing trade policy.capture, environmental tariffs, level playing field, protectionism, WTO, Environmental Economics and Policy, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Political Economy, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Innovative Financing at a Global Level

The European Commission services published a staff working document assessing the main sources of innovative financing under discussion. The analysis shows that for some of the instruments a "double dividend" of both raising revenues and improving market efficiency and stability could be reaped, in particular by putting a price on risk-taking in the financial sector and on carbon emissions.European Union, taxation, financial transaction tax, bank levy, bonus tax, carbon tax, financial institutions

Complex risk management in explosive-contaminated areas: Explosive remnants of war

PhD thesis in Risk management and societal safetyThe primary goal of this PhD thesis is to contribute to the improvement of risk assessment and management in explosive-contaminated areas. In particular, the research objectives of the thesis relate to providing new perspectives regarding how to view and understand the complex nature of ERW risk. Additionally, by providing new knowledge and insight, this thesis aims to improve decision-making on a strategic, operational and tactical level. The traditional view of ERW-related risk typically focuses on the explosive threat the munitions represent if they are disturbed. Despite widespread knowledge of the fact that ERW exist in great numbers across the world, there appears to be minimal focus on the fact that the munitions also represent a broader and more diverse risk. ERWs have the potential to impose severe damage to life, health, the environment critical infrastructure and resources that significantly exceeds any initial blast radius damage, thus representing a critical societal threat. As our current risk approaches are generally predicated upon traditional probability-based risk assessments that are not particularly well suited for assessing complex risks, our uncertainty and lack of knowledge related to ERW risk assessments will inevitably result in assessments that are excessively based on assumptions and overgeneralisations. For example, several strategic decisions have been predicated on the assumptions that ERW will become harmless over time and that they are generally not considered to be a major societal threat. There is, however, no evidence to support this idea, and based on recent scientific studies, there is a growing concern that the risks may be increasing. To ensure judicious choices, the relevant decision makers require both correct and timely information. However, it appears that a substantial proportion of the information available regarding ERW-related risks is either erroneous or utterly deceptive. As ERW are constantly deteriorating, there is a time window during which action must be pursued to mitigate the associated risks. Consequently, there is an urgent need to raise awareness regarding both the extent of ERW, the risks associated with them, and how these risks can be effectively mitigated. This thesis contributes to this end by providing knowledge regarding ERW and their inherent risks, the development of a risk mitigation strategy and how ERW-related risks are managed today. Furthermore, it demonstrates how inadequacies in our strategies and risk mitigation techniques can result in unrealistic, inefficient and unsafe ERW risk management and increased societal and environmental risks. The scientific contribution of this thesis consists of five papers that have been either published or submitted for possible publication. The contents and contributions of the papers are briefly summarised below. It has always been recognised that ERW could represent a certain explosive risk if disturbed and that some of the constituents in the ammunition could be harmful to the environment. Recent research has proven that the complex risks related to ERW are composed of numerous factors; whilst the most prominent factor is regarded as the risk of an explosion, there is also a severe risk of environmental contamination, the risk of the explosives being misused for criminal activity and the risk of political, economic and societal consequences. Nonetheless, a tacit assumption amongst decision makers is that ERW are generally not considered to pose a major societal threat and that, if left alone, the ammunition will become harmless over time. Paper I discusses how this strategy has evolved over time and how new knowledge and broader risk perspectives can provide further insights regarding how the strategy could be revised. Furthermore, the paper explains how ERW-related risks could intensify rather than diminishing over time and that our current risk management strategy could prove to exacerbate the risk rather than mitigating it. As time elapses, the munitions will become increasingly less identifiable, and their chemical and technical conditions will become increasingly indeterminate, thus dramatically limiting the number of potential available risk-mitigating actions. The conclusion of this investigation is that on the basis of improved risk assessments highlighting the complex risk picture and the strength of the current knowledge, there is an urgent need to revise the current risk mitigation strategy. There are several challenges related to assessing ERW-related risk; one pertains to the level of uncertainty as a result of not only complexity but also the lack of knowledge and relevant or available data. Events that seldom occur and events for which we have highly limited historical reference material are particularly difficult to assess from the traditional technical perspective regarding risk (e.g. a mathematical calculation of an assigned numerical value of probability (P), multiplied by an assigned numerical value that represents a given consequence (C), leading up to the formulation of Risk (R) = P x C). To make informed decisions, we must therefore map the uncertainty in risk assessments by utilising applicable and relevant methodology. Paper II outlines some of the particularities that differentiate risk assessments regarding unexploded ordnances from other, more familiar, types of risk assessments and discusses whether the current methodology can be considered relevant and appropriate. Furthermore, it discusses and illustrates how the current risk assessment methodologies we use today are principally unsuitable for this use; they are also sometimes ambiguous, inconsistent and incompatible, particularly as they do not include an evaluation of background knowledge and associated uncertainties. The conclusion of the paper is that the studied risk assessment methodology urgently needs to be revised to improve the decision-making framework in non-timecritical situations when assessing risks characterised by a high level of complexity and uncertainty (i.e. ERW). The most prominent risk related to ERW is that of an unplanned explosion. Such an explosion could occur as the result of an intended act of terrorism or crime, utilising the explosive effect of high explosive munitions or harvested explosives from such; it could also occur accidentally as a result of the intentional or unintentional disturbance of the ordnance (e.g., construction work, moving, disposing of or rendering safe ammunition). An increasing number of spontaneous detonations have also been reported in ageing munitions, possibly resulting from deteriorating technical or chemical properties. However, only a very limited number of studies have analysed the properties of high explosives retrieved from ageing ERW. Paper III contributes new knowledge to the field of aging explosives, demonstrating that they are still in working condition and that their impact sensitivity does not appear to have been reduced over the last eight decades. Consequently, it disproves the claim that ammunition will slowly become harmless over time, thus providing ERW risk assessors and decision makers with vitally important information regarding aging munitions. Systems thinking can be characterised as a conceptual framework for viewing interactions and the whole system rather than isolated parts of the system; the basic concept is that an understanding of the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of a phenomenon requires an understanding of the system or context. Paper IV discusses the importance of having a systems approach in ERW risk management, especially when introducing factors that could act as limitations in the system, such as regulations, procedures and instructions. The papers illustrates that without adopting a systems thinking approach, we may end up implementing safety measures and requirements without the effects intended; in the worst cases, the effects can even prove to be negative due to unforeseen negative side effects. Moreover, the lack of a systems approach results in an excessively complicated and bureaucratic intergovernmental process, unclear responsibilities and absent strategic guidance, resulting in a sub-optimal use of both human and economic resources. Paper IV therefore suggests an improved approach to gain better insight into the complexities of managing the risks related to ERW and to better prioritise resources allocated to mitigating this threat; this is expected to result in greater economic efficiency and a more favorable cost-to-benefit ratio. These ERW represent a grave threat in many respects, and the human, societal and environmental impacts can be severe. These potentially lethal explosive objects must therefore be located and disposed of, which in itself involves serious risks. Therefore, various safety measures are continuously implemented to mitigate these risks. Some safety measures, however, could prove to have less than the desired effect, and in the worst cases, some could even increase the risk for both the EOD operator and society at large. Paper V discusses one of these safety measures, namely removing the option to blast-in-place when clearing ERW, and its unintended and potentially risk-increasing consequences