Government size, institutions, and export performance among OECD economies

We investigate the effect of the size of government, captured by the tax revenue as a share of GDP, and institutional features on countries’ export performance (export shares in international markets). Theoretically, we show in a model of endogenous extent of domestically-produced goods that there exists a well-defined government size that optimally promotes exports. Empirically, we show in a panel of 18countries for 1980-2005 that the tax-GDP ratio is significant and exerts a non-linear effect on export performance, showing that there indeed exists an optimal size of government, which we estimate at around 40%. Product market rigidities are also shown to affect negatively export performance via a negative effect on R&D. Among traditional variables, relative unit labour cost and R&D shares in GDP show up significantly and with the expected signs

Borderlands: the edges of Europe

This portfolio presents key research insights gathered through the development of Borderlands: The Edges of Europe, a collection of analogue photographs depicting people and places along the borders of the European Union. The project focuses on borders perceived as points of both exchange and collision. Through juxtaposing geographical and political Europe, it creates the first comprehensive portrayal of European identity along the entire land border

Passage variations

Passage Variations examines, through film, the spatial qualities of the Eleonas refugee camp in Athens and their narrative potential. This practice-led research draws on spatial observation in order to devise a methodology for filming in refugee camps. The aim of this methodology is to integrate testimony, earlier histories of migration and literary accounts into the present image of the camp as captured on film

Interlocutor

This report documents a solo exhibition of sculptural work at Gasworks, London from 25th January - 18th March 2018, following a fully funded residency (by the Freelands Foundation) from July - September 2017 at Gasworks studios. The exhibition comprises three major architectural scale sculptures. Of these Interlocutor, was attached to the facade of the building and wrapped around it both externally and internally via a network of wires and ioniser units

A Lebanese archive

A Lebanese Archive is a practice based research project about a collection of archival photographs from the Middle East in the form of authored book, photographic series, exhibitions, public engagement programme and project website presented to global audiences from 2010 until present

Advocating industry in London: audit, reveal and promote

This portfolio provides information about action research to reveal to policymakers, built-environment designers and local communities the significance of industry to London’s economy. The project aims to persuade local and national governance and local stakeholders to protect existing industry in London, expand industrial areas through policy protection, and promote densification of industrial activities through design

Change by design: imagining equitable cities

This portfolio illustrates key research insights from the creative work undertaken by ASF-UK as part of the programme: Change by Design. The programme explores participatory design and planning as tools for advancing social justice and deepening democracy in urban decisionmaking. Through knowledge co-production and capacity development, Change by Design supports marginalised groups, so that they can affect change in the cities they live in

Sexualised sexism: popular culture, sexualisation and violence against women and girls

As of July 2014, there have been a slew of campaigns, two Westminster government reviews and countless papers and books which have catapulted the issue of sexualisation into public, policy and academic arenas. The result is a range of perspectives which speak to differing priorities: much current policy concern is about ‘contamination’ of childhood; for some commentators, sexualised popular culture is evidence of progressive liberalisation of social attitudes; critical feminist analysis views the sexualisation of women and girls’ bodies in public space as part of ongoing social inequalities between women and men. Women’s organisations which are experts on violence against women and girls (VAWG) see similar patterns in sexualised popular culture as those that underpin the perpetration of VAWG: masculinity equated with sexual conquest, representations of women and girls as perpetually sexually available. This briefing makes a case for understanding and naming sexualisation as ‘sexualised sexism’ in order to make clear its gendered dynamics and role as a conducive context for violence against women and girls. A final section outlines how international human rights approaches support this analysis

In limbo

In Limbo is a practice-based research project in the form of a participatory performance, presented at Tate Modern through Tate Exchange in association with AAD, in collaboration with A-VR and Anise Gallery. Depicting a metaphorical waiting room, in which to share lived experiences of waiting, its aim is to explore new creative strategies in public engagement within a museum context

Newport Street Gallery

Commissioned by Damien Hirst, this project called for the design of a large, private gallery in South London to exhibit the artist’s personal collection. Ranged alongside a railway viaduct, the design entailed the renovation of listed industrial buildings (formerly used for scenery storage) as well as construction of new buildings