Democracy and Human Development in Former Socialist countries

Over the decades, many scholars have tried to study the relationship between democracy and human development, even though the results are not unique. According to this context, and considering the political changes occurred in the early ‘90s in the former socialist countries, the aim of this paper is to evaluate – empirically - whether and to what extent, the level of democracy affected the level of HD in these countries. Using data on Polity II and HDI, we find evidence of a positive relationship between democracy and HD. The results are robust also when we checked for a set of control variables as growth rate, unemployment, the degree of openness trade and log population. Moreover, descriptive statistics shows that the impact of democracy on HD was higher effects on HD in the first fifteen years of democracy, after that, as these countries became consolidated democracies, this effect was less evident

Does democracy improve human development? Evidence from former socialist countries

Between the end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s, the changes in the political regimes in the Eastern European countries have enabled millions of people to have access to new political, economic and civil liberties. According to several economists, political and social sciences, the transition from a dictatorship to a democratic political regime has positive effects on Human Development (HD). However, recent studies do not provide strong empirical evidence in favour of this hypothesis. Therefore, the debate about the relationship between democracy and HD is still open. Considering the case of former Socialist countries, the aim of this paper is to empirically analyse whether and to what extent democracy affected the level of HD in these countries during the transition period. Using data on Polity IV and Human development index for 18 former Socialist countries from 1990 to 2014, we find evidence of a positive relationship between democracy and HD. Also, the results were robust when we checked for a set of control variables as growth rate, the degree of trade openness and log population

AXL is an oncotarget in human colorectal cancer

AXL is a tyrosine kinase receptor activated by GAS6 and regulates cancer cell proliferation migration and angiogenesis. We studied AXL as new therapeutic target in colorectal cancer (CRC). Expression and activation of AXL and GAS6 were evaluated in a panel of human CRC cell lines. AXL gene silencing or pharmacologic inhibition with foretinib suppressed proliferation, migration and survival in CRC cells. In an orthotopic colon model of human HCT116 CRC cells overexpressing AXL, foretinib treatment caused significant inhibition of tumour growth and peritoneal metastatic spreading. AXL and GAS6 overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were found in 76,7% and 73.5%, respectively, of 223 human CRC specimens, correlating with less differentiated histological grading. GAS6 overexpression was associated with nodes involvement and tumour stage. AXL gene was found amplified by Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 8/146 cases (5,4%) of CRC samples. Taken together, AXL inhibition could represent a novel therapeutic approach in CRC

Mast cells and their mediators in thyroid cancer

ABSTRACT Experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies have demonstrated a strong association between inflammation and cancer. Evidence has emerged in the last two decades that at the molecular level most chronic diseases, including cancer, are caused by a dysregulated inflammatory response. Moreover, tumor stroma induces an inflammatory microenviroment that sustains tumor growth. Cytokines and chemokines secreted by stromal and cancer cells can have a two-sided effect as they can influence both leukocyte infiltration in tumor sites and the malignant phenotype of neoplastic cells. Thyroid cancer cells express several cytokines and chemokines that are modulated by the RET/PTC-ras-BRAF-ERK pathway. Among those, we focused on CXCL1 and VEGF. In this thesis, we show that thyroid cancer cell feature on CXCR2/CXCL1 autocrine loop that sustains proliferation, survival and invasiveness. Moreover, we focus on VEGF-A. Using chemoattraction assays, we show that thyroid cancer cells attract mast cells through the release of VEGF-A. Human mast cells, injected in the tail vein of athymic mice, were recruited to xenografts of human thyroid cancer cells. Human thyroid carcinomas feature a remarkable mast cell infiltrate whose intensity correlates with the invasive phenotype. Co-injection of human mast cells and 8505-C cells accelerated the growth of thyroid carcinoma xenograft in athymic mice and this effect could be blocked by sodium cromoglycate (Cromolyn), a specific mast cell inhibitor. We also show that thyroid cancer cells stimulate histamine release and cytokine synthesis in human mast cells. Moreover, mast cell-released mediators enhanced the proliferation, survival and invasive behavior of thyroid cancer cells in vitro

Changes in Labour Market Institutions and Unemployment in European Countries: An Empirical Analysis on the Short- and Long-Run Effects of Flexibility Measures

The fight against unemployment has become one of the most important challenges that advanced European countries have faced in the last forty years. Economic literature suggests that the changes in labour market institutions—through the implementation of a set of flexibility measures—represent a useful tool to reduce unemployment. In this chapter, we estimate the short- and long-run effects of a change in the labour market institution on unemployment—using data about 28 selected European countries in the period between 2000 and 2017—with the aim of verifying the validity of the hypothesis that higher labour market de-regulation contributes to improving labour market performance. The empirical results—using the bias-corrected least square dummy variables (LSDVC) econometric techniques—do not show robust evidence that higher labour market de-regulation is correlated with a reduction of unemployment rate. The policy implication of this chapter is that, face the likely increase in unemployment rate in upcoming years, due to the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, will require policymakers to implement different policies (investment in ALMPs and the adoption of ad hoc economic policies in order to increase the aggregate demand), rather than further reforms aiming to de-regulate the labour market

Does Labour market flexibility reduce youth unemployment in time of crisis? Evidence from Italian case

In Italy, as consequences of the recent economic crisis, the problem of unemployment has become central in the political debate. Scholars and policymakers have suggested the necessity of introducing flexibility measures in the labour market for improving employment performance, especially the youth one. The aim of this paper is to analyse empirically whether higher labour market flexibility was able to reduce youth unemployment in Italy during the period 2004-2014. Empirical results show that labour market flexibility had detrimental effects on youth unemployment. The results are confirmed also when a set of economic control variables were added to the model

LA MOBILITA’ GIOVANILE NELL’IMMOBILITA’ STRUTTURALE

Il lavoro ha una natura eminentemente descrittiva e si occupa degli effetti della crisi sulla disoccupazione giovanile utilizzando la banca dati EU-SILC 2008-2010. Il problema della disoccupazione giovanile rappresenta, soprattutto per il Mezzogiorno, una piaga che comporta molte inefficienze e, soprattutto, il rafforzarsi di circoli viziosi di sottosviluppo che rischiano di rendere il Sud sempre più povero e dipendente. I giovani migliori, ad esempio, sono costretti molto spesso a scegliere tra restare disoccupati o emigrare: in entrambi i casi il territorio ne risulta impoverito. L’articolo mette a fuoco gli effetti della crisi economica sullo stato occupazionale dei giovani e lascia intravedere un dato interessante: più che restare pigramente ad assistere agli eventi, i giovani, anche meridionali, si sono dati da fare per cercare soluzioni. Se non hanno avuto successo in questa loro ricerca è, con ogni probabilità, la conseguenza dell’incapacità delle politiche locali, nazionali ed europee di aumentare la domanda di lavoro

Impact of Spatial Factors on Female Exclusion from the Labor Market: Empirical Evidence from the South of Italy

This paper tests whether, and to what extent, spatial factors increase gender discrimination in access to the labor market. To so, we employ a probit model controlling for individual characteristics and a number of social variables. Results show that the lack of adequate public transport reduces the chances for women to secure a job, contributing to their exclusion from the labor market

Inflammation in thyroid oncogenesis

It is commonly accepted that cancer is linked to inflammation. The possible mechanisms by which inflammation can contribute to carcinogenesis include induction of genomic instability, alterations in epigenetic events and subsequent inappropriate gene expression, enhanced proliferation of initiated cells, resistance to apoptosis, aggressive tumor neovascularization, invasion through tumor-associated basement membrane and metastasis. Inflammation also affects immune surveillance and responses to therapy. In this review, we overview the current understanding of different aspects of thyroid cancer and inflammation. Several studies have strongly suggested an increased risk of PTC in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), the most common autoimmune disease in thyroid cancer. Furthermore, an intense immune infiltrate is often associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and might play a critical role in the regulation of carcinogenesis and in carcinoma progression. The characterization of the most relevant inflammatory pathways of cancer-related inflammation (CRI) is instrumental for the identification of new target molecules that could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment