Greener and sustainable method for alkene epoxidations by polymer-supported Mo(VI) catalysts

A polybenzimidazole supported Mo(VI) (PBI.Mo) catalyst has been prepared and characterised. The catalytic activities of the PBI.Mo catalyst in epoxidation of alkenes with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant have been studied under different reaction conditions in a batch reactor. As alkene representatives we have chosen cyclohexene, limonene, α-pinene and 1-octene (a less reactive terminal alkene). The order of reactivity of the alkenes was found to be: cyclohexene>limonene>α-pinene>1-octene. The stability of each polymer catalyst was assessed by recycling a sample in batch reaction using conditions that will form the basis of the continuous process. The loss of Mo from each support has been investigated by isolating any residue from the reaction supernatant solutions, following removal of the heterogeneous polymer catalyst, and then using the residues as potential catalysts in epoxidation reactions

The CEECs in global value chains: The role of Germany

This paper aims to present the role of Germany in the global value chains (GVCs) of 10 Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) in 1995–2011. GVCs, being a result of the fragmentation of production processes, have changed the nature of economic globalisation. The study covers five Central European countries (CECs) (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia), the three Baltic States (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) as well as Bulgaria and Romania. Germany is chosen because it is the main trading partner of the majority of the CEECs. The illustration of the position of Germany in GVCs of the CEECs is based on trade statistics in value added terms. The research results show that Germany has become an engine of increasing integration of the CECs in the GVCs. The role of Germany as a supplier of inputs to the CECs’ exports (backward linkages) is larger than its role as an exporter of value added originating from the CECs (forward linkages)

Determinants of trade in value added: the case of the Central and Eastern European Countries

The aim of the paper is to investigate determinants of trade in value added of the CEECs (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) in the period 2000–2014. For this purpose, it uses a generalised gravity model based on panel data. The main independent variables (GDP of trading countries and the distance between them) have the same direction of impact on both value added exports/imports and gross exports/imports. Only the values of coefficients differ. The greatest difference concerns the geographical distance. It results from indirect value added trade

State Aid Trends in Poland and Finland - Similarities and Differences

State aid is one of the financial instruments available to EU member states for intervention in domestic markets. On the one hand its use is prohibited by Article 107(1) TFEU, but on the other hand there are many exemptions, including regional and horizontal state aid. Given the centralised system for State aid in the EU, one could expect that the volume and structure in terms of forms and purposes of public aid granted should be similar from one member state to the next. Considering the diversity among what are now 27 member states, both from the perspective of experience in managing the economy and the directions of its development, the objective of this article is to capture and evaluate the similarities and differences in the approach taken to State aid as an instrument of intervention in two relatively different countries – Poland and Finland. To this end the comparative analysis will not only cover Poland and Finland themselves but also their respective groups of countries – the Visegrád Group and Scandinavian members of the EU. The above analysis permits the conclusion that the structure of public aid relative to the main purposes of granting differs significantly between Poland and Finland, in favour of Finland, from the perspective of the achievement of the EU objectives associated with the successive economic strategies

Determinants of trade in value added: the case of the Central and Eastern European Countries

Although the impact of the production fragmentation on trade flows has been examined many times since the 1990s, the research was not comprehensive because of the limitations in traditional trade statistics. Early 2010s the complex databases containing world input-output tables (or indicators calculated on their basis) has made available. It increased the possibilities of examining the production sharing in the world. The trade statistic in value-added terms enables us better to estimate trade changes resulted from the internationalisation and globalisation as well as benefits of the countries from international trade. In the literature there are many research studies to this topic. Unfortunately, trade in value added of the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) has been so far insufficiently studied. Thus, the aim of the paper is to present changes in value added trade of the CEEC (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) in the period of 2000-2014. The concept “trade in value added” or “value added trade” is defined as the value added of a country which is directly and indirectly embodied in final consumption of another country. The typical question would be: “How much value added is created in a country d185ue to final consumption in the other countries?” The data will be download from the World Input-Output Database (WIOD). The structure of this paper is as follows. First, theoretical and methodological aspects related to the application of the input-output tables in the trade analysis will be studied. Second, a brief survey of the empirical literature to this topic will be presented. Third, changes in exports and imports in value added of the CEEC will be analysed. A special attention will be paid to the differences in bilateral trade balances using traditional trade statistics (in gross terms) on one side and value added statistics on the other. Next, in order to identify factors influencing value added exports and value added imports of the CEEC the generalised gravity model, based on panel data, will be used. The initial research results show that the CEEC have joined the fragmentation processes to a different extent. The most involved in this process were the Central European Countries (the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and also Slovenia), and the least – the Baltic States (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) as well as Bulgaria and Romania

Does the European Single Market Exist in the Era of a Coronavirus Pandemic? The Case of Intra and Extra-EU Trade in COVID-19-related Products

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an extraordinary event for the EU Member States and a period wherein EU legislation and the efficiency of EU institutions have been put to the test. The crisis triggered by the decisions made by governments in Europe (which were motivated by their wishes to protect the health and lives of their peoples and to satisfy the rapid demand for drugs, personal protective equipment, and medical devices) disrupted market forces. Although most of these measures were based on both domestic and EU legislation, they seriously hindered the smooth functioning of the EU Single Market, including the free movement of goods. This paper aims to find out whether EU legislation succeeded in coping with the challenges triggered by COVID-19 in the field of international trade and whether measures taken by the European Commission with a view to complying with the rules of the EU Single Market adequately took care of the needs stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak and whether it properly tackled protectionist instruments adopted by the Member States. We have focused on international trade and the free movement of goods within the EU as they both constitute the cornerstone of EU economic integration. We found that although EU legislation was not tailored specifi cally for the times of a COVID-19 pandemic, in the area of international trade (including intra-EU trade), as well as in the field of placing goods on the market, it provided extraordinary solutions. Apparently, the explanations and guidelines provided by the Commission have limited the scope of individual protectionist and interventionist actions of the Member States

Chapter 1 EU’s perspective on the functioning of giant online platforms in the digital economy

In the study, the EU’s digital market in light of the new regulation issued by the European Commission: the Digital Market Act has been examined. It will allow regulation of a significant part of the EU digital market activities of giant tech companies to the extent that they will be much more complex and restrictive in comparison to the creation of the traditional internal market in the early 1990s. In view of recent changes occurring in the digital market, including the increased expansion of the biggest companies and problems related to competition, the aim of this study is to capture the change in approach of the EU competition policy to entities, so-called gatekeepers, who offer core online platform services as compared to the existing solutions functioning in the traditional European Single Market

Yield Model Development (YMD) implementation plan for fiscal years 1981 and 1982

A plan is described for supporting USDA crop production forecasting and estimation by (1) testing, evaluating, and selecting crop yield models for application testing; (2) identifying areas of feasible research for improvement of models; and (3) conducting research to modify existing models and to develop new crop yield assessment methods. Tasks to be performed for each of these efforts are described as well as for project management and support. The responsibilities of USDA, USDC, USDI, and NASA are delineated as well as problem areas to be addressed

The Influence of Selected Socio-Economic Factors on Migration Balance, Including Particular Analysis for Voivodeship of Lodz

The paper presents an analysis of human migration and its main economic and social factors in Polish voivodeships. The main reason of migration is based on differences in the standards of living in different locations. Important factors indicating difference are unemployment rates, average gross wages, housing conditions and access to education. This paper also presents description of econometric model – estimation results confirm correlation between migration balance and socioeconomic factors