A Review of the Role and Impact of Export Processing Zones in World Trade : the Case of Mexico

While the number of export processing zones has risen to about 850 in 2000, their success in expanding employment and trade is mixed. The aim of this paper is to make a review of the role and the impact of EPZ in world trade and its likely impact on host countries' economies, especially in terms of foreign exchange earnings potential, FDI, technology transfer, and employment effects on the local and national economies. To this end we will be looking at Mexico where export processing zones are very developed. Mexico seems an appropriate case study to assess to which extent the predictions of economic theory are realised both because of the abundance and quality of available data and because of its proximity to the US, which makes it a very good example of the international division of labour. We will analyse how the parameters mentioned above (employment, foreign exchange earnings potential, FDI and technology) have evolved over the last 10-15 years and how much of the change can be traced back to the maquila industry. The main source of data is INEGI, the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Geografica e Informatica of the Mexican Government.export processing zones; foreign exchange earnings potential; Mexico; technology spillovers

Using Ethanol as a Fuel to Reenergize Free Trade Area of the Americas Negotiations

Currently the United States imposes a 2.5 percent ad valorem tax along with a 14.27 cents per liter tax on imported ethanol from countries with normal trade relations under the harmonized tariff schedule. However, the United States exempts many countries from this tariff or reduces the tariff under various free trade agreements or initiatives. The issues that resulted in Doha’s failure also caused FTAA negotiations to temporarily stall since both Brazil and the United States wanted certain FTAA issues negotiated at the WTO level. The United States could initiate this process with a discussion of reducing or eliminating its ethanol tariff and adjusting some domestic legislation, thus allowing ethanol to satisfy America’s energy thirst. In addition, a successful ethanol agreement may create many positive effects later in the negotiations and for the Americas. First, it would reduce America’s dependence on oil and potentially improve the United States security interests. An agreement on ethanol would bring issues traditionally left out of free trade agreements into the negotiations and ultimately into the agreement for a FTAA

Molecular modification of coumarin dyes for more efficient dye sensitized solar cells

solo para uso personalIn this work, new coumarin based dyes for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have been designed by introducing several substituent groups in different positions of the NKX-2311 structure. Two types of substitutions have been considered: the introduction of three electron-donating groups (–OH, –NH2, and –OCH3) and two different substituents with steric effect: –CH2–CH2–CH2– and –CH2–HC=CH–. The electronic absorption spectra (position and width of the first band and absorption threshold) and the position of the LUMO level related to the conduction band have been used as theoretical criteria to evaluate the efficiency of the new dyes. The introduction of a –NH2 group produces a redshift of the absorption maximum position and the absorption threshold, which could improve the cell efficiency. In contrast, the introduction of –CH2–CH2–CH2– does not modify significantly the electronic structure of NKX-2311, but it might prevent aggregation. Finally, –CH2– HC=CH– produces important changes both in the electronic spectrum and in the electronic structure of the dye, and it would be expected as an improvement of cell efficiency for these dyes.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España-MAT2008-4918 y CSD2008-002

Misleadingly Green: Time to Repeal the Ethanol Tariff and Subsidy for Corn

The United States is recognizing the value and importance of energy diversification, but it may also be creating greater environmental harm in the process. If America decreases its dependence on foreign oil it will create greater economic security for itself, reduce its current account deficit, provide less financing for tyrannical leaders and terrorists with American petrodollars, and improve its environmental credentials. To reduce America’s craving for oil, the government encourages domestic ethanol production; the United States is behind only Brazil, the world’s largest producer of ethanol, and combined the two produce over 70 percent of the world’s ethanol. Currently the U.S. domestic ethanol industry is grow- ing as a result of alternative fuels becoming politically popular, and the addition of a subsidy and tariff applied to ethanol. However, arguably the ethanol tariff and subsidy do not provide any substantial environmental benefits for the United States or the world

Changing Tides: The Need for New Legislation To Prevent Algae Blooms

Under normal conditions, many species of algae form the the same throughout all coastal waters: (1) increased water temaquatic and terrestrial animals. However, algae can grow out of control creating a large mass called a harmful algae bloom (“HAB”) that produces dangerous toxins and threatens both humans and aquatic animals. In 2003, Congress passed legislation promoting more research on HABs in an attempt to prevent the damaging effects of these blooms on our oceans and lakes. Nevertheless, even after Congress recognized that a single HAB can cost millions of dollars in damage, it has not passed any legislation aimed at preventing or controlling this problem

Scorpions of Puerto Rico and its satellite islands (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Diplocentridae): an аnnotated list, key for genera, and bibliography

An annotated list of the scorpions of Puerto Rico and its satellite islands (mainly Vieques, Culebra, Caja de Muertos, Magueyes, Desecheo, and Mona), a key for the seven genera present in those insular territories, a key for the three species of Microtityus, and the basic bibliography on taxonomy and natural history are provided. Of the 16 confirmed species described from these Greater Antillean islands, four are known only from a single sex and only one or two adult specimens. Seven species (six of them from the genus Tityus), are endemic to the Puerto Rico Island; Vieques has two species, whereas Mona Island and Culebrita Island have one species each. At least two species are shared with Hispaniola, whereas one is also found in the Virgin Islands. The only introduced species is Isometrus maculatus (De Geer, 1778). The buthid Tityus dasyurus Pocock, 1897, described from “Porto Rico”, likely is not a Puerto Rican taxon

La mediación en la resolución de conflictos

El artículo presenta el desarrollo del proceso de mediación en la intervención del conflicto. En un primer apartado se define el concepto de mediación y sus características. Los apartados segundo y tercero recogen los aspectos relativos a las modalidades de mediación y su transformación ante el conflicto. Finalmente, se muestran las aportaciones de la mediación en el ámbito familiar, escolar y judicial entre otros.L'article presenta el desenvolupament del procés de mediació en la intervenció del conflicte. En un primer apartat es defineix el concepte de mediació i les seves característiques. Els apartats segon i tercer recullen els aspectes relatius a les modalitats de mediació i la seva transformació davant del conflicte. Finalment, es mostren les aportacions de la mediació en l'àmbit familiar, escolar i judicial, entre d'altres.The article presents the development of the mediation process in the intervention of the conflict. In a first section is defined the mediation concept and their characteristics. The sections second and third pick up the relative aspects to the mediation modalities and their transformation before the conflict. Finally, it is shown the contributions of the mediation in the family, school and judicial environment among others