Institutions, size and age in transition economies: Implications for export growth

We consider the influence of economic institutions on firm performance by examining how size and age are related to export growth under different levels of free-market institutional development. Using a multi-country sample of Central and Eastern European firms, we test our predictions that size and age will have a positive diminishing relationship with export growth in transitional economies, but a U-shaped relationship in less advanced transitional economies. We find significant relationships largely in line with our predictions, demonstrating the importance of considering both economic institutions and firm characteristics when examining export growth.

Freshwater mollusks from Neogene-Quaternary Dniester and Prut riverine deposits as indicator paleoenvironments: chemical composition of shells and its palaeoecological interpretation

The respective environments in two ancient rivers were studied using geochemical methods with paleogeographic reconstructions of fossil material represented by shells of freshwater bivalve mollusks. The studied outcrops are located in the basins of the Dniester and Prut rivers. Materials were collected from two Pliocene (Brînza, Giurgiuleşti) outcrops and the ages of the second group of localities (Sucleia, Slobozia Mare, Gura Bîcului) are from Middle to Late Pleistocene. The determination of the taxonomic position was carried out using standard malacological methods. Geochemical data were used for the environmental reconstruction and included stable isotope ratio and trace element compositions in subfossil freshwater bivalve shell (Bivalvia: Unionoida). Key indicators of paleoenvironments show changes in water temperature. Changes in the taxonomic composition of bivalve mollusk assemblages also occurred. In the present study, increasing the water temperature caused a change of stenobiont species of bivalve mollusks to eurybiont species. Eutrophication of watercourses, caused by anthropogenic pollution and climate change in the direction of warming, has led to the replacement of pearl mussels of the family Margaritiferidae by more eurybiont species of the family Unionidae in the benthic communities of European oligotrophic rivers. These processes are similar to those deduced for the Neogene-Quaternary watercourses of the Prut and Dniester basins, but they proceed at a much faster pace. They are processes of eutrophication of watercourses – the main factor leading to the catastrophically rapid modern reduction of the ranges of pearl mussel

Spatial distribution of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in the soils of Naryan-Mar

The objective of the research is to identify the main patterns of spatial distribution of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides (RN) in Naryan-Mar. Urban soils are formed by means of natural soil transformation with the participation of technogenic sedimentogenesis, which leads to disturbance of natural RN migration processes and contributes to the complex structure of natural and anthropogenic RNs contamination of tundra soils. The specific activity of anthropogenic (134Cs, 137Cs) and natural (226Ra, 232Th, 40K) RNs in Naryan-Mar soil was determined. The local low-intensity anomalies (LLIA) of anthropogenic RNs result from transboundary transfer; 134Cs and 137Cs are concentrated in soils with a well-shaped vegetable layer. 226Ra and 232Th LLIAs are confined to regions with stone buildings. 40K LLIAs are conditioned by high density of grassland vegetation involving 40K in the biological cycle. The statistical manipulation of the acquired data involved correlation and factor analysis techniques. The statistical analysis demonstrated a moderate and salient correlation between the content of 232Th and 40K in the soils of the areas built up with wooden houses and the soils of the recreation area, respectively. There is a salient correlation between the content of 134Cs and 40K as well as between 134Cs and 232Th in the soils of the recreation area. The area occupied by technological buildings demonstrates salient and high negative correlations between the content of 226Ra and radionuclides of 40K and 234Th. The multidirectional nature of the 226Ra and 232Th accumulation processes can be explained by their different mobility in the environment. A factor analysis of the specific activities of the radionuclides in the soils (based on the varimax method) revealed that the strongest factor (28%) conjointly regulates the 134Cs and 40K content, which testifies to their affiliation to non-mobile cationogenic elements. The second factor (25%) identified through an analysis of the overall data array may signify that organic matter plays a major role in the 137Cs retention