ASEAN Rules of Origin: Lessons and Recommendations for Best Practice

Rules of Origin (ROO) set the criteria in determining the nationality of a product and where a product was made. The importance of ROO has increased in the past years as more countries engage in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and begun treating goods differently according to where the product was made, along with trade-specific preferences or restrictions to the imported good once its origin is determined. This study is done to cull the lessons from ASEAN's experience in determining and implementing the Rules of Origin. It draws the important lessons and makes recommendations for best practice that would contribute to the cooperation and integration efforts in the region. The paper examines the various design and implementation practice in ROO regimes, focusing on RTAs where the ASEAN is involved. The paper presents findings from recent studies on the cost of ROO compliance and the FTA utilization rates. It concludes with recommendations on simplification of ROO and some reforms on administrative procedures, bringing in the development country dimension, and some general guidelines to follow to improve ROOs.Rules of Origin, Free Trade Agreements, ASEAN.

A minimal model for acoustic forces on Brownian particles

We present a generalization of the inertial coupling (IC) [Usabiaga et al. J. Comp. Phys. 2013] which permits the resolution of radiation forces on small particles with arbitrary acoustic contrast factor. The IC method is based on a Eulerian-Lagrangian approach: particles move in continuum space while the fluid equations are solved in a regular mesh (here we use the finite volume method). Thermal fluctuations in the fluid stress, important below the micron scale, are also taken into account following the Landau-Lifshitz fluid description. Each particle is described by a minimal cost resolution which consists on a single small kernel (bell-shaped function) concomitant to the particle. The main role of the particle kernel is to interpolate fluid properties and spread particle forces. Here, we extend the kernel functionality to allow for an arbitrary particle compressibility. The particle-fluid force is obtained from an imposed no-slip constraint which enforces similar particle and kernel fluid velocities. This coupling is instantaneous and permits to capture the fast, non-linear effects underlying the radiation forces on particles. Acoustic forces arise either because an excess in particle compressibility (monopolar term) or in mass (dipolar contribution) over the fluid values. Comparison with theoretical expressions show that the present generalization of the IC method correctly reproduces both contributions. Due to its low computational cost, the present method allows for simulations with many particles using a standard Graphical Processor Unit (GPU)

CHARACTERISATION OF THE REPUTATION OF PRIVATE EQUITY MANAGERS: EVIDENCE IN SPAIN

In the light of the Agency and Signalling Theories, the aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between investors and private equity managers in order to identify the factors that affect the latter's reputation. Since there are no individual references about their past returns, the reputation of such players is thought to be linked to their capacity for obtaining new funds in countries such as Spain. Two groups of variables that might affect reputation are identified: variables in the first group are linked to the private equity cycle, and those in the second are related to the external image of the operator. The analysis focuses on the activity of almost all private equity investors operating in Spain during 1991-2001. The results show that the lagged volume of investments acts as an indicator of the ability to manage larger amounts of capital. The exogenous characteristics of highest importance are the size of the funds under management and the belonging to the National Private Equity Association. Because of the wide variety of private equity firms, the analysis is completed for diverse groups, which may behave in a different manner. En este artículo se analiza la relación que se origina entre inversores y operadores decapital riesgo dentro del marco de las Teorías de Agencia y de Señales. La finalidad esidentificar los factores que determinan la reputación de estos operadores. Ante la ausenciade referencias individuales de rentabilidad, la reputación puede representar un elementobásico para señalar la capacidad para captar nuevos fondos en países en los que el mercadode capital riesgo está en proceso de maduración. Dos grupos de variables que puedenafectar a la reputación son identificados: uno relacionado con la actividad desarrolladay otro vinculado a aspectos externos. El análisis se centra en la actividad de la prácticatotalidad de operadores de capital riesgo activos en España durante el periodo 1991-2001.Los resultados muestran que el volumen de inversiones registrado en el pasado indica unacapacidad para gestionar una cifra superior de capitales. Las características exógenasde mayor importancia son el tamaño del operador y la pertenencia a la AsociaciónNacional de Capital Riesgo. Dada la gran variedad de operadores existentes en España,el análisis se completa para diferentes subgrupos que podrían comportarse de distintamanera, encontrándose evidencia en este sentido.Captación de fondos, capital riesgo, reputación; Teoría de Agencia y de Señales. Fundraising, private equity, reputation; agency, signalling theory.

Editorial: Microbial Taxonomy, Phylogeny and Biodiversity

The great diversity of microbial life is the remaining majorreservoir of unknown biologicaldiversity on Earth. To understand this vast, but largely unperceived diversity with its untappedgenetic, enzymatic and industrial potential, microbial systematics is undergoing a revolutionarychange in its approach to describe novel taxa based on genomic/envirogenomic information(Rosselló-Móra and Whitman, 2019)S

The Impact of ASEAN-China FTA Early Harvest Program: the Case of the Philippines with Focus on Short-run Effects on the Agriculture Sector

This paper aims to provide some information on the implications for the Philippine agriculture sector of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. In particular, the paper explores the possible impact of the agreement, with emphasis on the Early Harvest Program (EHP). It also provides a brief background on the state of the Philippine agriculture system, the liberalization initiatives undertaken, as well as some policy gaps and interventions done to address these. The paper also revisits a simulation exercise conducted on the possible short-run impact of an EHP to identify the vulnerable sectors.agriculture sector, China, agricultural liberalization, ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement, Early Harvest Program (EHP)

La gestión de los patrimonios rústicos públicos

The management of public rural heritage is dealt from various point of view. A common line of argument, however, is the progressive administration management of the use and the property of those heritages. An administrative supervision, rarely in accordance to peasant interests, which was carried out in a permanent dynamic of confrontation among the people in the contemporary perio

Cálculo de velocidad de planeamiento y de recorrido libre a partir de cartografía

La determinación de velocidades y de tiempos de recorrido resulta imprescindible en los estudios de planificación del territorio, así como la evaluación de la calidad de servicio de las redes de comunicación. Los procedimientos empleados para la determinación de tiempos de recorrido suelen ser costosos, y por ello en cada estudio se hacen pocas determinaciones. La presente Tesina consiste en la programación, calibración y validación de una herramienta que, a partir de cartografía, caracteriza el trazado en función del radio de curvatura a lo largo del mismo, calcula la velocidad específica para cada radio y, finalmente, calcula la velocidad de planteamineto para cada tramo, así como la velocidad de recorrido libre (para carreteras y ferrocarriles). La aplicación desarrollada se concibe como una utilidad integrada en un sistema de planificación territorial desarrollado en la Secretaria per a la Planificació Territorial (SPT): el SIMCAT (Sistema de Información y Modelización para la Evaluación de Políticas Territoriales en Catalunya). Además del evidente ahorro económico que supone para el cálculo de velocidades de recorrido, cabe señalar el ahorro de tiempo que implica, ya que permite la caracterización simultànea de un gran número de vías

Protesta rural, bandolerismo e independencia nacional (CUBA 1878-1902)

En el presente trabajo se estudian las diferentes formas de reacción de los campesinos y jornaleros en el período comprendido entre 1878, tras el fin de la primera guerra por la independencia, y 1902 con el establecimiento de la república. A partir del examen de los cambios ocurridos desde el punto vista socioeconómico y su impacto espacial y temporal, profundizamos en las formas y motivaciones que adquirieron en cada caso las expresiones de descontento social, desde las formas cotidianas de resistencia, pasando por los enfrentamientos clasistas o de sello político, hasta el bandolerismo como expresión más visible del descontento en los campos.This article examines the different ways of reaction of farmers and laborers in the period from 1878 after the end of the first war of independence, and 1902 when the Republic was established. Starting by an examination of the socioeconomic changes occurred and its spatial and temporal impact, we go deeper in the expressions of social unrest and their methods and motivations acquired in each case, from everyday forms of resistance, passing by classist or political clashes, and even banditry as a more visible expression of discontent in the fields.El presente texto ha sido realizado en el marco de los proyectos HAR2012-36481 de la Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica (MINECO) y UJI (P1-1B2012-57). El Programa Prometeo 2013/023 de la Generalitat Valenciana para Grupos de Excelencia