Exchange Rate Misalignment and Economic Growth

This paper explores how exchange rate misalignment may impact economic growth and development. Using PDOLS estimation to arrive at a measure of misalignment and employing standard growth regressions, a number of interesting results emerge. This paper finds that exchange rate misalignment has asymmetric effects. Specifically, overvaluation significantly hurts growth while undervaluation has the opposite effect (though statistically insignificant). Misalignment affects developed and developing countries differently in that developing countries are more sensitive to the growth effects of misalignment. Finally, the persistence of misalignment matters. Continuing misalignment of either variety are harmful for growth. This suggests that it is not a viable strategy for a country to intentionally undervalue a currency with the aim of improving the competitiveness of the export sector. In the end, it seems clear that a country needs to limit misalignment and maintain an exchange rate that is closely in line with the equilibrium rate

THE MENACE OF A 'BROWN' RUSSIA. Ethnically motivated xenophobia - symptoms, causes and prospects for the future

This paper focuses on the ethnic dimension of xenophobia, as understood as aversion, fear or hostility vis-a-vis members of other nationalities, as well as the related radical nationalist ideas founded on the concept of the dominant (and often discriminatory) role of the Russians in the Russian Federation, with reference to racism or neo-Nazism. This text primarily presents xenophobia as an enormous social problem in today's Russia, which is not being addressed at the moment, but is instead being exploited by both the authorities and radical nationalist groups. This paper attempts to describe and understand the causes of xenophobia and the reasons for the popularity of extremely nationalist views among ethnic Russians. It also seeks to estimate the scale of the problem and the potential threat it may create in the future. The first part describes the different manifestations of xenophobia in present-day Russia. It identifies the groups most exposed to ethnically motivated violence and persecution, as well as the most xenophobic communities, and discusses the scale of the problem and its specific characteristics in the context of Russian reality. The second part looks into the underlying causes of xenophobic sentiments among Russians, while the last chapters delve into the authorities' attitude towards the problem and seek to answer the question of whether radical nationalist ideas may in future come to dominate Russia's political scene

Mythology Club

Mythology club aims to teach students the importance of learning about the past through the beliefs of ancient civilizations. Students can find an appreciation for history in a way they might not have exposure to during their normal time in school

From the End of Politics to Legitimate Opposition: Political Perceptions of the 37th Congress of the United States in the North 1860-1862

This paper intends to explore the political landscape of the Union during the first two years of the Civil War, specifically how the people in the North perceived what remained of the Congress from 1860-1862. I will be using a combination of primary and secondary sources to cover the 37th Congress of the United States, whose members were elected in 1860 and legislated until the next Congressional election in 1862. My research shows several significant stages in the political landscape during this period and uses these stages of partisan politics as the foundation for understanding how the federal government, specifically Congress, was perceived during this time. I touch on a few important influences on the political landscape including changes in or news about the Civil War, geography, state economic interests, and historical political ideology and partisan politics. Ultimately, I find that effective political opposition led to legislation and elections that legitimized the Northern Government to the people of the Union

Stosunek Korony do unii z Litwą w latach 1562-1574

5-3

Learning from One’s Own Biography as an Exemplification of Biographical Learning

This article presents the results of the biographical research project titled “Learning from One’s Own Biography” conducted in the years 2008–2010. Learning from one’s own biography is an exemplification of biographical learning. The text presents the results of the research project describing learning from one’s own biography in the following perspectives: ontological, epistemological, methodological and methodical. It shows a person as a biographical being and displays the process of studying/exploring one’s own biography and the process of cognition (of reality) through biography. Furthermore, the paper discusses three contexts of understanding and experiencing learning from one’s own biography and methodical implications for adult education.Artykuł odnosi się do wyników projektu dotyczącego badania biografii, realizowanego w latach 2008–2010, pod nazwą „Uczenie się z własnej biografii”. Uczenie się z własnej biografii stanowi egzemplifikację biograficznego uczenia się. Tekst prezentuje wyniki badań projektowych opisujące uczenie się z własnej biografii w perspektywie: ontologicznej, epistemologicznej, metodologicznej i metodycznej; ukazuje człowieka jako istotę biograficzną. Przedstawia proces badania/poznawania własnej biografii oraz proces poznawania (rzeczywistości) poprzez biografię. Prezentuje trzy konteksty rozumienia i doświadczania uczenia się z własnej biografii. Zawiera metodyczne odniesienia dla edukacji dorosłych

Wesele Jana Zamoyskiego z Gryzeldą Batorówną

923725

Program Evaluation of the Kitchener-Waterloo Diversion Programme

The research describes the operation of the Kitchener-Waterloo Diversion Program and by using the Gibbon, Lebowitz and Blake (1976) evaluation model the program was evaluated relative to its six objectives. Diversion is defined as any pre-trial, post-charge intervention model which deals with juvenile charges outside the traditional juvenile justice systems (Solicitor General of Canada, 1978). Data were collected from systematic observations of the diversion meetings, interviews with participants, victims and lawyers regarding their perceptions of diversion, and the examination of police, court and diversion records. Results indicate that the eligibility criteria were being met and that the intended target population was being served. Diversion is recognized and accepted by the court, police and community as an alternative to juvenile court. The diversion meetings were informal and they were focussed on the act for which the charge was laid. The program adopted an intervention approach and “treatment” was often ordered as a term of diversion. Intervention to promote reconciliation, settlement or compromise has been going on for all cases and by allowing the youths to be actively involved in the negotiation of the diversion agreements, offenders view the terms as just and equitable. The provision of diversion has reduced the number of juveniles appearing in court. The community, especially the victims, have played a minimal role and appear to have little knowledge of the diversion program. Two unanticipated consequences were also investigated. Lawyers viewed diversion as more attractive than juvenile court in that there was more flexibility and available time with their clients. The introduction of diversion has not increased the number of charges laid by the police

Leukodystrophies: clinical and therapeutic aspects

This chapter reviews that leukodystrophies is a genetic diseases that occur in early childhood. It is a possibility that leads to screening for leukodystrophy patients with early-onset dementia of unknown origin or atypical psychiatric symptoms. The chapter focuses on genetic cases of white matter involvement presenting with deficits in cognitive functions or dementia. Leukodystrophies are rare causes of dementia in the adult. They may cause a dementia of the frontal type or psychiatric symptoms than can mimic schizophrenia but are rapidly associated with long tract involvement. The presence of other cases in the family is a crucial step in the diagnosis but apparently isolated cases are frequent. Homochrony and homotypy are the rule but with many exceptions they have to be considered for genetic counseling. MRI is also critical, showing abnormal increased signals of the white matter on T2-weighted and FLAIR sequences, with a frontal predominance. Normal MRI imaging, at least at the beginning of the disease, does not rule out the diagnosis. The study of the pathogenetic mechanisms of leukodystrophies has been improved by the development and the analysis of animal models. The chapter states that no curative treatment is yet available. New perspectives have opened with the development of cell and gene therapies, even in adult forms, where the demyelination can at least be stabilized