Redes heterogéneas de discusión y pluralismo cognitivo

El artículo se interesa por las relaciones que permiten ciclos de intercambios cognitivos en que los actores confrontan formas de pensar y de definir el mundo para llegar -a menudo, no siempre- a un acuerdo. Las relaciones de "discusión sobre tal tema" pueden constituir un ámbito empírico privilegiado. Pero las interpretaciones teóricas deben tener en cuenta por una parte el hecho fundamental que representan las redes "cero", esto es, la imposibilidad de hablar sobre un cierto tema y, por otra parte, la complejidad de los principios de regulación que dan cuenta de las conversaciones posibles en tal o tal tipo de relación. El modelo del "triángulo de las regulaciones" sugiere que toda relación está sometida a una combinación de regulaciones. Dichas combinaciones pueden funcionar en un contexto cultural homogéneo, pero un actor perteneciente a contextos heterogéneos puede llegar a tener opiniones o pensamientos contradictorios sobre el mismo objeto. Se propone un modelo teórico del etiquetaje relacional de las cogniciones para explicar cómo pueden ser tolerables las incoherencias cognitivas. Se proponen innovaciones metodológicas para estudiar esos contextos.This article deals with relationships that allow cognitive exchange cycles where actors confront their thinking and ways to define the world in order to -often but not always- achieve consensus. Discussion relations about a specific topic can be a privileged empirical field. But theoretical interpretations must take into account, on the one hand, the fundamental fact that represent "zero" discussion networks, that is, when it is impossible to discuss a certain topic, and on the other hand, the complexity of regulation principles that allow discussion in a specific type of relation. The "regulation triangle" model suggests that all relation is constrained by a combination of regulations. These combinations can function within a homogeneous cultural context, but an actor belonging to heterogeneous contexts could end up having contradictory opinions or thoughts on the same object. A theoretical model of relationship labeling of cognitions is proposed to explain how cognitive inconsistencies remain tolerable. Methodological propositions are exposed to study these contexts

Responding to Central Bank Collapse

This note will focus on the impact of central bank collapse on managing exchange rates and credit lines which are critical for essential imports. It also notes other risks and potential responses when central bank functions are severely limited or not in place. It draws on the literature available following relevant challenges in a range of countries where central bank capacity is either very weak (post-conflict, following major balance of payment crisis) or effectively doesn’t exist2. While this note seeks to give an overview of the challenges of a central bank collapse, it is also written bearing in mind the challenges faced in Yemen in March 2017

Las comunidades locales como estructuras meso

Entre el nivel micro y el nivel macro: meso. Si el nivel macro está definido por la regulación nacional, estatal o del mercado y el nivel micro por la regulación interpersonal, una agencia de regulación intermediaria de mayor importancia ha sido definida como “comunidad local” (Wellman, Fischer). Aparte de las dimensiones organizacionales (organizaciones locales, clubes, tiendas...) e institucionales (poder local, partidos...) locales, es posible definir algunas propiedades estructurales pertinentes de los sistemas de relaciones interpersonales privadas: uno es el grado de “cerrado” (closure) local (Barnes: redes locales vs. transversales), o la “dualidad” de estos sistemas. Apoyándose en la idea de que la eficiencia de los “puentes” reside en el tipo de cliques que conectan (Lin), es posible definir tipos variados de micro-estructuras, cuyas distribuciones en diferentes localidades son indicadores sucedáneos o aproximaciones de las diferentes meso estructuras de sistemas relacionales como combinaciones de redes “locales” y “no locales”

Moving to Private Sector Led Growth: Lessons from Economic Liberalisation

Shifting to private sector led growth leads to winners and losers. Understanding which sectors of the economy and society will be affected is critical to ensure supportive policies can be put in place to reduce the costs, especially on more vulnerable populations and relevant sectors of the economy. This is also important to manage the political support for reform. Although there is relatively limited evidence either way, there is a general assumption that women, on average, benefit from successful economic liberalisation through job creation and economic opportunities. Sequencing and speed of reforms matter; however, there is no one-size fits all approach. This depends on the country context, including whether macro-economic stabilisation is also required, how strong a political mandate is, and what institutional capacity exists to implement reform. Shifting away from general subsidies can be part of economic liberalisation efforts, reducing distortions, freeing fiscal capacity for targeted social protection and productive investments, as well as gradually reducing fiscal liabilities. As with wider economic reform, general subsidies require careful planning and communication of their sequencing and speed and can include remedial policies and well implemented targeted cash transfers. This rapid review examines evidence on the optimal sequencing and timing of reforms for countries seeking to shift from a public to private sector-led growth models. The review includes examples of countries that have successfully done this, e.g. Uruguay, Chile, Turkey, India, Brazil and Iran

Trois formes de régulation des relations

Intervention à l'École thématique du CNRS : " Réseaux sociaux : enjeux, méthodes, perspectives ", Cargèse (Corse), Septembre 2008A first part presents a summary of three well known theories which explain the content of a relation by its interdependence regarding another relation: a) the british structuro-functionalism (A.R.Radcliffe-Brown and S.Nadel being mainly presented), b) symbolic interactionnism (quoting mainly A.Rose, H.S.Becker, R.Turner, E.Goffmann, R.Paine, G.A.Allan), c) social exchange theory such as presented by P.Blau. These various interpretations of interdependencies between relations drive various definitions of "the structure of a relational system". A second part, more personal and inspired by the previous, defines three forms of regulation of social relations and assumes that the evolution of any relational system can be best understood as resulting of tensions between theses three forms of regulations than by a unique model. A more precise presentation of theses ideas can be found in the book: FERRAND A., Confidents. Une analyse structurale de réseaux sociaux. Paris, L'Harmattan, 2007Une première partie présente trois théories classiques qui expliquent le contenu d'une relation par son interdépendance avec d'autres relations : a) le structuralo fonctionnalisme britannique (principalement à partir de A.R. Radcliffe Brown et S. Nadel), b) l'interactionnisme symbolique (en citant notamment A. Rose, H.S. Becker, R. Turner, E. Goffmann, R. Paine, G.A. Allan), c) la théorie de l'échange social formulée par P.Blau. Ces différentes interprétations de l'interdépendance entre des relations impliquent différentes visions de ce qui constitue la " structure d'un système relationnel ". La seconde partie, plus personnelle et inspirée de la première, définit trois formes de régulation des relations et formule l'hypothèse que la dynamique de tout système relationnel est interprétable à partir des tensions et concurrences entre ces trois formes de régulation, plutôt qu'à partir d'un modèle unique. On trouvera dans FERRAND A., Confidents. Une analyse structurale de réseaux sociaux, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2007, une présentation plus complète de ces idées

Donor Agency Macroeconomic Support for Food Imports

A functional financial sector, including foreign currency market is critical to enable effective private sector imports of essentials such as food. Donor funded technical assistance can support this, and is more likely to be effective where political will and security conditions are moving in a positive direction. Where there is an operational parallel market, imports can get constrained by lack of access to foreign exchange. In cases where trading through the official rate is no longer credible for donors, donor flows can help deepen parallel market operations which can benefit domestic traders requiring foreign exchange for imports. Monetised food aid can provide some relief to severe shortages in domestic markets, providing care is taken to not distort local markets or consumption preferences. The domestic funds raised through this process will require a use. It is an aid modality primarily used by the USA. Concessional credit lines from bilateral sources exist where there is the political interest to underwrite the risk. However OECD bilateral donors are generally risk adverse in terms of export credit to fragile states. Most aid-related funding to support balance of payments, which in turn help support food imports in low income countries, is channelled through subsidised International Financial Institution (IFI) credit lines. There are some cases where bilateral donors have worked to facilitate financial flows in crisis affected states to directly or indirectly support imports; in Somalia’s case there was considerable effort to avoid hawala1 remittance flows being constrained, which are critical for financing food imports into Somalia. In Zimbabwe, a donor fund that guarantees foreign exchange payment of maize imports against domestic payments has recently been set up to help ease an acute need for staple food imports