Competitiveness and regional growth in the European Union: unit labour costs disparities

This paper analyses the wage cost and labour productivity differentials in the European Union for period 1995-2000, from a regional and sectorial perspective. To this end we analyse the evolution of the unit labour cost by sector and its decomposition between the unit labour requirement and the unit price of labour. Results show the existence of high regional disparities, that differ with the sector. Also, we find diverse combinations in terms of productivity and unit price of labour, driving to the existence of different competitive strategies. Finally, we try to find the existence of relation between the different patterns of competitiveness and regional economic growth.

Competitiveness and regional growth in the European Union: Disparities in unit labour costs

This paper aims at analysing the relation between competitiveness and economic growth for the period 1995-2000 (2002 for some variables). To this aim we analyse the evolution of the unit labour cost by sector (‘traded’ and ‘non-traded’ sector) and decomposition between the unit labour requirement and the unit price of labour. Results show the existence of high regional disparities, varying with the sector. We also find diverse combinations in productivity and unit price of labour terms, leading to the existence of different competitive strategies. Finally, we can find some evidence of a particular relation between the different patterns of competitiveness and regional economic growth.unit labour cost, productivity, wages, competitiveness, economic growth, European regions

Competitiveness and regional growth in the European Union: Disparities in unit labour costs

This paper aims at analysing the relation between competitiveness and economic growth for the period 1995-2000 (2002 for some variables). To this aim we analyse the evolution of the unit labour cost by sector (‘traded’ and ‘non-traded’ sector) and decomposition between the unit labour requirement and the unit price of labour. Results show the existence of high regional disparities, varying with the sector. We also find diverse combinations in productivity and unit price of labour terms, leading to the existence of different competitive strategies. Finally, we can find some evidence of a particular relation between the different patterns of competitiveness and regional economic growth.unit labour cost, productivity, wages, competitiveness, economic growth, European regions

Husay, Sandugo, and Kapatiran: Peace Process and Education for Development

The current paper is fused from two papers delivered in separate events: “A Mindanao Historian’s Views On the Basic Issues of the GRP-MILF Peace Process,” delivered during the Peace Process Exchange Workshop hosted by the Hiroshima University Partnership for Peacebuilding and Capacity Development (HiPeC) from 30 July to 5 August 2012, and “Peace Process and Peace Education for Development,” delivered during the Teaching Enriched History and Bridging Cultures: In Search of Peace in Mindanao, Philippines” hosted by the Mindanao State University–Marawi at Crystal Inn, Iligan City, last 21 June 2013. In this invited paper, I draw on my many years of experience as an academic, peace advocate, and member of the government peace panel in talks with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) from 1993 to 1996 and with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from 2004 to 2008. I have also added a few reflections given the recent developments in the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the Mamasapano incident. Keywords: Bangsamoro; Lumad; Mindanao; peace education; peace process; Philippine histor

Racial Socialization in Non-Hispanic White American Families: An Exploration of the Role of Parental Racial-Ethnic Socialization

Racial-ethnic socialization is a largely unstudied topic for White Americans. Most of the research on racial-ethnic socialization (RES) focuses on minority populations, but more literature is starting to focus on RES in White individuals. However, the mechanisms by which RES messages are transmitted are understudied. This study examined how prior parental RES strategies (i.e., egalitarianism, history of other groups, group differences, preparation for bias, general discrimination, and discrimination against other groups) impacted White college students’ own attitudes towards ethnic-racial minorities (i.e., racist, colorblind, and multicultural) and how these attitudes influenced inclusive (and non-inclusive) behavior, psychosocial costs of racism (White empathic reactions towards racism, White guilt, and White fear of others), and implicit biases. Findings showed that group differences and preparation for bias strategies were significantly associated with racist and color-blind attitudes. Results for socialization strategies regarding egalitarian messages and discrimination were mixed. Racist and color-blind attitudes resulted in less inclusive behavior and mixed findings for psychosocial costs (less guilt, less empathy, more fear), whereas multicultural attitudes resulted in less psychosocial costs (less fear and guilt). Results suggest that colorblindness is a particularly dangerous racial attitude, as it is complicit in perpetuating racism by failing to address the reality of racial inequality. The results of this study can be used to target mechanisms for intervention and provide guidance on how to prevent the intergenerational transmission of racism and promote antiracism

Development of a dynamic stand growth model and optimization of the management of Pinus pinaster Ait. in Asturias

This dissertation comprises three studies that provide tools for improving the manage- ment of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) stands in Asturias (NW Spain). The studies were based on information derived from two networks of research plots established in stands of this species in the region. In Study I, several age-independent methods were evaluated for site index estimation and height growth prediction, as information about stand age is not always collected in forest inventories. The growth intercept method proved the best for estimating site index, while an age-independent equation that uses climatic variables as predictors behaved the best for height growth prediction. In the absence of age data, these methods can be used to provide the input information re- quired by the dynamic stand growth model developed in Study II. In this model, it was assumed that the state of a stand at any age can be described by dominant height, num- ber of stems per hectare and stand basal area, which can be projected to any other age by using transition functions. Two alternative procedures can be used to estimate total and merchantable volumes from these state variables: a stand volume ratio function or a disaggregation system. The former proved the best method as it is more accurate and computationally more e cient. In addition, comparison of the whole model with those developed for the nearby regions of Galicia and northern Portugal showed that a single model may su ce for the entire NW the Iberian Peninsula. Using the developed model and an optimization algorithm, Study III optimized the stand-level management of the species in Asturias in economic terms, considering the number, timing and intensity of thinning operations, as well as the rotation age as decision variables. The depth- rst search (DFS) method was initially used to compare the stand volume ratio function and the disaggregation system: both provided similar results, although the former was computationally more e cient and was therefore selected for further optimizations. The DFS and ve direct search optimization methods (one based on one solution vector and four on a population of solution vectors) were then compared using a xed discount rate. The di erential evolution method produced the most consistent results and it was used to evaluate the e ect of site quality, stem density and discount rate on optimal management schedules. In general, three heavy thinning operations were considered in the optimal schedule. As site quality and discount rate increased, the optimal timing of cutting occurred earlier, while stem density was not in uent