Natural resource rents, autocracy and the composition of government spending

This paper empirically analyzes the influence of rents from natural resources on the composition of government spending and investigates whether the relationship differs between democracies and autocracies. Both panel data and instrumental variable regressions suggest that there is a negative joint effect of autocracy and natural resource dependency on education spending. Moreover, there is slight evidence in the results of a positive joint effect on spending for social protection, while other components of government spending do not seem to be influenced. In particular, the results do not suggest that autocratic regimes in resource-dependent countries spend relatively more on military

Natural Resource Rents, Autocracy and Economic Freedom

This paper theoretically and empirically investigates the effect of natural resource rents on the process of economic liberalization and a potential moderating effect of the level of democracy. A simple political-economic model is developed in which the government in an autocratic country faces a trade-off between liberalizing the economy to broaden the tax base on the one hand and consolidating its political power by preventing the rise of an economically independent middle class striving for political participation on the other hand. Whilst the theoretical model predicts that rents from natural resources lead to economic liberalization in both autocratic and democratic countries, the empirical analysis finds evidence that increasing resource abundance may lead to deliberalization in autocracies but may promote liberalization in democracies. The empirical evidence is robust to using both static panel data methods that control for unobserved country heterogeneity as well as a dynamic GMM estimator that further controls for potential endogeneity issues

Elektrochemische Reduktion von Niob-Halogeniden in ionischen Flüssigkeiten

Metallische Überzüge aus Niob bieten aufgrund ihrer besonderen chemischen, thermischen und mechanischen Stabilität vor allem auf kostengünstigen Grundwerkstoffen, die extremen korrosiven und abrasiven Belastungen ausgesetzt sind, ein breites Anwendungsspektrum. Bis heute ist jedoch ein hoher verfahrenstechnischer Aufwand erforderlich, um haftfeste und hochreine Niob-Schichten in Niederdruck-Prozessen aus der Gasphase herzustellen. Elektrochemische Prozesse bieten eine kostengünstige Alternative, wobei die Reaktivität von Niob sowie das negative Standardpotential der meisten Niob-Reduktionsreaktionen den Einsatz wässriger Medien ausschließt. Die ionischen Flüssigkeiten (ILs) ermöglichen, durch ihre große elektrochemische und thermische Stabilität diese Lücke zu schließen und wurden daher als Medium für die elektrochemische Reduktion von Niob-Halogeniden intensiv untersucht. Im Rahmen meiner Arbeit wurden die Niob-Halogenide NbF5, NbCl5, NbBr5 und Nb(CH3cp)2Cl2 in vier ILs mit zyklischen Voltammetrie (CV), differentieller Pulsvoltammetrie (DPV), Infrarot- und Raman-Spektroskopie hinsichtlich ihrer Eignung als Elektrolyte untersucht. In Kombination mit potentiostatischen Abscheidungen zeigte sich, dass Niob-basierte Schichten abgeschieden werden konnten, dafür aber eine gute Löslichkeit des Niob-Halogenids, ein geringer Wassergehalt sowie eine erhöhte Temperatur des Elektrolyten essentiell sind. Analysen des Reduktionsmechanismus mit der rotierenden Ring-Scheiben-Elektrode (RRDE) belegen chemische Nebenreaktionen die auf Kom- und Disproportionierung der Niob-Spezies sowie Zersetzung der IL zurückgeführt werden. Mit Hilfe der elektrochemischen Quarzmikrowaage (EQCM) wurde die Einlagerung dieser Zersetzungsprodukte bestätigt. Die abgeschiedenen Schichten wurden mit Rasterelektronenmikroskopie (REM), energie-dispersiver Röntgenspektroskopie (EDX), Röntgenfluoreszenzanalyse (RFA), Photoelektronen-spektroskopie (XPS) sowie Röntgendiffraktometrie (XRD) charakterisiert. Diese Schichten weisen etwa 25 At.-% Niob auf. Die restlichen 75 At.-% sind Fremdelemente wie z. B. C, N, O, F, S, Cl bzw. Br, die auf Rückstände des Elektrolyten und der eingelagerten IL-Zersetzungsprodukte zurückgeführt werden. Die Niob-Spezies wurde nicht vollständig zum Metall reduziert und liegt in röntgenamorphen Verbindungen wie NbC, NbO bzw. gemischte NbC1-xOx (mit x ≤ 0,2) sowie NbO2 und Nb2O5 vor. NbCl5 in 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethansulfonat ([BMP][OTf]) liefert die dicksten und homogensten Schichten und ist damit das aussichtsreichste System für die Niob-Reduktion. Die Schichteigenschaften können durch Substratvorbehandlung, Additiveinsatz, gepulste Potentialführung sowie Tempern weiter verbessert werden.Metallic coatings of niobium lend themselves a wide range of applications due to their special chemical, thermal and mechanical stability, especially on low-cost base materials that are exposed to an extreme corrosive and abrasive environment. However, a high level of process engineering effort is required to produce well adhering and high-purity niobium coatings in low-pressure processes. Electrochemical processes offer a cost-effective alternative, although the reactivity of niobium, as well as the negative standard potential of most niobium reduction reactions excludes the use of aqueous media. Ionic liquids (ILs), due to their good electrochemical and thermal stability, allow to close this gap and have therefore been intensively studied as media for the electrochemical reduction of niobium halides. In this work, the niobium precursors NbF5, NbCl5, NbBr5, and Nb(CH3cp)2Cl2 in four ILs were evaluated for their suitability as electrolytes by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), infrared and Raman spectroscopy. In potentiostatic depositions, it has been shown that Niobium-based layers could be obtained, but good solubility of the niobium halide, low water content, and elevated temperature of the electrolyte were essential for this purpose. Analysis of the reduction mechanism with the rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) proved chemical side reactions attributed to com- and disproportionation of the niobium species as well as decomposition of the IL. In-situ microgravimetry (QCM) could confirm the incorporation of these decomposition products into the layers. The deposited layers have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These layers have about 25 at.-% niobium. The remaining 75 at.-% are foreign elements such as C, N, O, F, S, Cl and Br, which are attributed to residues of the electrolyte and the intercalated IL decomposition products. The niobium species was not completely reduced to the metal and is present as X-ray amorphous compounds such as NbC, NbO or mixed NbC1-xOx (with x ≤ 0.2) as well as NbO2 and Nb2O5. NbCl5 in 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([BMP][OTf]) yields the thickest and most homogeneous layers, making it the most promising system for niobium reduction. The layer properties may be further improved by substrate pretreatment, additive use, pulsed potential as well as annealing process

Ovulation inhibition with four variations of a four-phasic estradiol valerate/dienogest combined oral contraceptive : results of two prospective, randomized, open-label studies

Background: Attempts to improve the tolerability of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have included the substitution of ethinylestradiol (EE) with 17beta-estradiol (E2). However, this has proved unsatisfactory, specifically in terms of cycle control. To improve upon the poor cycle control seen previously, E2 (in the form of estradiol valerate [E2V], 1 mg E2V contains 0.76 mg E2) was combined with dienogest (DNG) in a novel four-phasic regimen. In the current studies the ovulation inhibition potency of four variations of this regimen was assessed. Study design: Two randomized, open-label, phase II studies were performed. The first study compared two regimens (1A, 2A) with similar dosages of DNG but different lengths of application. Having established in Study 1 that the length of application of regimen 2A was most suitable but that the dosages of DNG were too low for effective ovulation inhibition, a second study was undertaken, which compared two regimens (2B, 2C) with similar lengths of application but increased dosages of DNG. The primary efficacy variable in both studies was the proportion of women with a Hoogland score of 5/6 during Cycle 2. Results: The full analysis set comprised 192 and 203 women in Study 1 and 2, respectively. In Study 1, 10 women (10.9%) in regimen 1A and 6 women (6.4%) in regimen 2A had a Hoogland score of 5/6. In Study 2, 3 women (3.1 %) in regimen 2B and 1 woman (1.0%) in regimen 2C had a Hoogland score of 5/6. There were no safety concerns with any of the regimens

Die Abwertung von "Überflüssigen" und "Nutzlosen" als Folge der Ökonomisierung der Lebenswelt: Langzeitarbeitslose, Behinderte und Obdachlose als Störfaktor

'Im Zentrum des Beitrages steht der Zusammenhang von ökonomistischen Einstellungen und der Abwertung von Langzeitarbeitslosen. Hintergrund ist die Annahme, dass angesichts von krisenhaften Entwicklungen ökonomische Kriterien zunehmend auf die soziale Lebenswelt übertragen und als Maßstab für die Beurteilung von Personen und Personengruppen herangezogen werden. Auf der Basis der 6. Erhebungswelle des GMF-Surveys wird zunächst untersucht, wie verbreitet ökonomistische Orientierungen und damit zusammenhängende Verhaltenstendenzen in der Bevölkerung sind, inwiefern diese mit der Soziallage von Personen korrespondieren und inwieweit sie ein Resultat von Desintegrationserfahrungen, den wahrgenommenen Desintegrationsrisiken und -ängsten sind. Anschließend geht es um die Verbreitung von abwertenden Vorurteilen gegenüber Langzeitarbeitslosen. Gezeigt werden kann, dass ökonomistische Orientierungen ein starker Erklärungsfaktor nicht nur für die Abwertung von Langzeitarbeitslosen sind, sondern auch von anderen schwachen Gruppen wie Obdachlose, Behinderte und auch Migranten.' (Autorenreferat)'The contribution focuses on the connection between economist attitudes and the devaluation of the long-term unemployed. The study is based on the hypothesis that in an age of crisis, economic criteria are increasingly applied to the social lifeworld and used as the yardstick for evaluating persons and groups. Data from the sixth wave of the GFE survey are used to investigate the prevalence of economist orientations and the associated behavioral tendencies in the population, the extent to which these correspond with people's social situations, and the extent to which they are an outcome of disintegration experience and perceived disintegration risks and fears. Finally, the study examines the prevalence of prejudices against the long-term unemployed. It can be shown that economist orientations are a strong explanatory factor for devaluation not only of the long-term unemployed but also of other weak groups such as homeless people, the disabled, and also migrants.' (author's abstract)

Die soziale Verantwortung der Unternehmen

Einführung in das Schwerpunktthem

Direct Numerical Simulations of Turbulent Flow Over Various Riblet Shapes in Minimal-Span Channels

Riblets reduce skin-friction drag until their viscous-scaled size becomes large enough for turbulence to approach the wall, leading to the breakdown of drag-reduction. In order to investigate inertial-flow mechanisms that are responsible for the breakdown, we employ the minimal-span channel concept for cost-efficient direct numerical simulation (DNS) of rough-wall flows (MacDonald et al. in J Fluid Mech 816: 5–42, 2017). This allows us to investigate six different riblet shapes and various viscous-scaled sizes for a total of 21 configurations. We verify that the small numerical domains capture all relevant physics by varying the box size and by comparing to reference data from full-span channel flow. Specifically, we find that, close to the wall in the spectral region occupied by drag-increasing Kelvin–Helmholtz rollers (García-Mayoral and Jiménez in J Fluid Mech 678: 317–347, 2011), the energy-difference relative to smooth-wall flow is not affected by the narrow domain, even though these structures have large spanwise extents. This allows us to evaluate the influence of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability by comparing fluctuations of wall-normal and streamwise velocity, pressure and a passive scalar over riblets of different shapes and viscous-scaled sizes to those over a smooth wall. We observe that triangular riblets with a tip angle α= 30 ∘ and blades appear to support the instability, whereas triangular riblets with α= 60 ∘–90 ∘ and trapezoidal riblets with α= 30 ∘ show little to no evidence of Kelvin–Helmholtz rollers.Australian Research Council, Discovery Project DP17010259

Emotional Disposition Between Experience and Xenophobic Attitudes

The study is based on the assumption that emotions represent a dependent, moderating, or independent variable of a person's everyday behavior. They are not just the result of social configurations, but also have an influence on perceptions and interpretations of social factors and thereby affect the external environment. The paper analyzes the ways in which emotional disposition plays a mediating role between interaction with immigrants and the development of xenophobic attitudes on the one hand and active discrimination against minorities on the other. Even though the findings show that such a relationship exists, the connection is weaker than was previously supposed. This may be due to the fact that (mostly rare) actual experiences with immigrants have less impact on the development of permanent emotional dispositions than have crucial biographical events. Hence we come to the conclusion that in order to understand the mediating process of emotions with regard to immigrants, it will be necessary to place more emphasis analyzing the situational causes of the relevant emotional dispositions

Ökonomische und ökologische Bewertung der Auswirkungen des demografischen Wandels auf die Siedlungsentwässerung: Ökonomische und ökologische Bewertung der Auswirkungen des demografischen Wandels auf die Siedlungsentwässerung: Teil 1: Entwicklung von Szenariobausteinen für die Siedlungswasserwirtschaft im Jahr 2050 – Eine Studie auf Basis von Expertenbefragungen

In recent publications it is questioned whether the existing wastewater management system is suitable for future requirements. The today’s wastewater infrastructure is a complex socio-technical system characterized by centralization, very long life-spans and sunk costs. Thus, it appears questionable whether this system is suitable against the background of a context of dynamic conditions as demographic change, climate change and the emerging requirements in terms of sustainability. This paper adds a contribution to the growing body of literature on prospective waste water management systems. Focusing on long term developments this paper aims to build up scenario-modules towards the year 2050. Our approach combines three methodologies which appear to be suitable with each other, namely the method of explorative scenario development, a modified Delphi method and content analysis. As the waste water sector is a very complex system with various impact factors which are characterized by high dynamics and strong uncertainty the scenario technique appears as an appropriate method. Within the scenario building process a modified Delphi method had been applied to generate the input for the scenario-modules. Key drivers and uncertainties in the field of waste water management were identified by interviewing 16 experts who are scientists or practitioners in the waste water sector. The interviews had been transliterated and then evaluated by using the content analysis approach. Afterwards scenario-modules were derived which provide a basis for further procedure towards complete scenarios for future wastewater infrastructure

Arenen, Akteure und Prozesse

Transnationale Unternehmen haben eine besondere Verpflichtung sich für soziale Nachhaltigkeit einzusetzen. Gleichzeitig werden verschiedene Akteursgruppen in Entscheidungsprozesse von Unternehmen eingebunden. Doch wie sieht es bei der Entwicklung von CSR-Aktivitäten mit der Zusammenarbeit mit Stakeholdern aus