Supply response and market imperfections: the implications for welfare analysis

In this thesis we investigate the supply side of farm households in the Tanzanian region of Kagera and incorporate the results into a welfare analysis of price shocks and trade policy options. The first chapter discusses the relevance of agriculture as an engine of growth and poverty reduction and introduces the context and the data used for the empirical analysis. The second chapter tests for separability of the households demand and supply sides and then estimates supply functions for the main crops. We find that separability cannot be rejected for this sample and that farmers are only partially responsive to price incentives. The third chapter analyses the role of market participation decisions and transaction costs for food supply. We find that transaction costs play an important role in households supply decisions. Moreover, we show that there is a positive although small supply response to prices once controlling for the unresponsiveness of self-sufficient households. The fourth chapter extends the standard welfare impact analysis of price shocks to incorporate supply and demand responses as well as the role of market participation and transaction costs. We find that the results are sensitive to the introduction of households’ output, wage and consumption responses

Child soldiers as peace-builders in Colombian peace talks between the government and the FARC–EP

Children, especially girls, are considered victims in armed conflicts. Children who participate in conflicts, as combatants, sexual servants, spies, informants and messengers, may be considered perpetrators of atrocities. These two classifications of children in armed conflicts do not consider their roles as agents who may also participate in peace-building efforts. This paper analyses how children involved in armed conflicts are classified and represented in the current peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia–Ejército del Pueblo). We aim to understand if children are recognised in this peace process as participants and, in some capacity, as peace-builders. Dialoguing with the literature on critical security studies and childhood studies, we conduct a critical discourse analysis of the peace agreement documents. The study of the Colombian case enables an empirical analysis in which child soldiers are categorised as victims with the possibility of participating in peace-building and, at the same time, as potential challengers to the peace process

Biogenic Amines: A Claim for Wines

Many possible factors influence the accumulation of biogenic amines in wines, correlated both to agronomical practices in the vineyard and during the winemaking process. In the literature, it is reported that the quantities of biogenic amines found in many wines are not alarming, especially with regard to those of toxicological interest (histamine and tyramine). For subjects in specific physiological conditions (histamine intolerance, taking class of drugs that inhibit monoamine oxidase enzymes), the risk of creating toxic reactions is related to the composition of the whole meal, not only the consumption of wine. It would be desirable to establish a regulatory system, as already existing for sulphites, allowing to read a label with the claim specifying their absence (e.g., histamine free) in order to enhance the quality of wines that would be a priori forbidden

Brazil as a leader in the Latin American Refugees\u27 Regime

The article presents an exploratory study of Brazil´s role in the consolidation of the Latin American refugees’ regime. Our analytical perspective considers that there is a regional refugees’ regime in Latin America, one gradually constituted since the conference in Cartagena in 1984, when the countries of this region established principles, norms, rules, and decision-making procedures related to the refugees’ issue, including in the existing regime an expanded concept of refugees, more encompassing than the UN Convention’s concept (1951). Moreover, and having examined different sources of evidence, including a set of experts’ judgments and organizational reports, we argue that the country has been broadly acknowledged as a regional leader in the Latin American refugees’ regime, including by the UNHCR. We then propose an explanation for this international recognition of Brazil’s leadership in this issue area, which includes not only the country active role in the development of this regional regime, but also its role model due mainly to its advanced national legislation on refugees (being the first country in the region to incorporate in its national law the expanded refugee definition accorded in the Cartagena Declaration), the exemplary experience of the National Committee for Refugees (CONARE), the initiative of a regional solidary resettlement program, the institution of the humanitarian visa for Syrians refugees and the participative role of civil society in this context. With more countries closing their borders to refugees and difficult negotiations in the multilateral arena, we conclude that positive experiences like the Brazilian one deserves more attention from the international community and International Law (IL) and International Relations (IR) scholars

Psychological ownership in organization: A contribution to the Italian validation of pierce and colleagues scale

We present a contribution to the Italian validation of the scale of Pierce Van Dyne e Cummings (1992) concerning the organizational ownership. This construct even internationally widely adopted is mostly absent in the scientific Italian debate. Using data from a sample of 598 Italian employees, was studied both the internal and external validity of the version with seven items that of the one with four. The results showed better psychometric properties of the shorter version and good evidence with regard to internal and external validity

Approaching to biogenic amines as quality markers in packaged chicken meat

Following the chicken meat quality decay remains a tricky procedure. On one hand, food companies need of fast and affordable methods to keep constant higher sensory and safety standards, on the other hand, food scientists and operators find difficult conjugating these exigencies by means of univocal parameters. Food quality definition itself is, in fact, a multi-layered and composite concept in which many features play a part. Thus, here we propose an index that relies on biogenic amines (BAs) evolution. These compounds may indirectly inform about microbial contamination and wrong management, production, and storage conditions of meat and meat products. In this study, three cuts of chicken meat (breast filets, drumsticks, and legs) packed under modified atmosphere, under vacuum, and in air-packaging, stored at +4°C (until to 15 days), were analyzed. Some BAs were combined in an index (BAI) and their evolution was followed. The Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Species assay (TBARS) was also used as a common reference method. Generally, BAI may better identify the beginning of quality impairment than lipid oxidation spreading. ANOVA statistical analysis has highlighted that the storage time is anyway the most detrimental factor for chicken decay when it is stored in refrigerated rooms (p > 0.01). Despite TBARS still remains a powerful tool for chicken goods, its exclusive use may not be enough to explain quality loss. On the contrary, BAI implementation in fresh meat can give a more complete information combining food safety exigencies with sensory attributes

Biogenic Amines’ Content in Safe and Quality Food

Biogenic amines (BAs) are low-molecular-weight, nitrogenous compounds (mainly polar bases) coming from the decarboxylation of free amino acids or by amination or transamination of aldehydes and ketones. To our knowledge, BAs are essential for cellular development and growth, are important regulators of several processes such as brain activity, regulation of body temperature, stomach pH, gastric acid secretion, the immune response, and the synthesis of hormones and alkaloids, among others [1]. Decarboxylation of free amino acids represents the primary way of BAs’ obtention. Microorganisms involved in this process are positive to the decarboxylase enzyme, with the pathways that seem to be strain dependent rather than species specific [2]. At any rate, the presence of proteins (amino acids), favorable growing and fermenting conditions, and the possibility of external contaminations during food processing are important factors in BAs’ increase. An important contribution is also given by several pro-technological strains, in particular lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus, were recently deeply reviewed as they are high tyramine producers. Del Rio et al. [3] clarified the harmful effect of this amine in boosting histamine toxicity besides being responsible for the so-called “cheese reaction”. Although starters are generally considered secure and good for both food safety and the general health status of the human body, there does not exist any regulation looking at the decarboxylase positivity of bacteria. As a matter of fact, it is challenging to use BAs’ content in food as a unit of measure to establish food safety. Evidence of strict correlations between personal sensitivity and genetical predisposition for BAs’ intoxication was found. In particular, the compromising of the detoxification system was enacted by mono and di-amine oxidase (MAO and DAO) enzymes in the intestinal epithelium that change for every individual. Great attention should be reserved not only to those subjects consuming mono and di-amino oxidase inhibitors (MAOI and DAOI) drugs, as they may become particularly sensitive to BAs’ action, but should also include those experiencing any impairment in the functioning of the small intestine or kidneys and so, even coeliac subjects, people who suffered surgery, or those who are in treatment for cancer and other pathologies [4,5]. The scientific research is giving growing insights into BAs’ presence in all food matrices including fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, baby foods, alcoholic beverage [6,7,8], and halal foods [9]. This scenario forces scientists to turn their attention to the fact that all the population is at risk for experiencing BAs’ accumulation by their choices in meal composition, food sources, and of course specific sensitivity. This editorial has collected papers giving an interesting outlook on the content of BAs’ in food and a possible strategy to reduce their occurrence, BAs’ role in the promotion of aroma, and the specific capacity of selected bacteria in promoting their accumulation and/or degradation. All these papers actively contribute to creating a more complete frame on the theme keeping constant the fact that the presence of BAs’ in food represents an essential part of food quality and food safety

Defying Genocide in Myanmar: Everyday Resistance Narratives of Rohingyas

Rohingyas are the most persecuted minority in the world. They have been facing systematic discrimination and serious human rights violations since the 1970s when they stopped being recognized as citizens by the Burmese government. Acts committed against this predominantly Muslim minority in the Rakhine State can be classified as ethnic cleansing with the intent of genocide. Myanmar is also facing a case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) due to violations of the Convention Against Genocide (1948). This paper employs the framework of everyday resistance to highlight Rohingyas’ acts and practices to resist genocidal acts in Myanmar. We analyzed 62, 56, and 145 micronarratives of forcibly displaced adult Rohingyas currently living in India, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, collected between March 2019 and April 2020. We conclude that the Rohingyas adopted various everyday resistance practices involving non-compliance, such as refusing to follow orders, giving money or going to forced labour; and avoiding staying at home and secrecy, including praying, using mobile phones, moving to other areas, studying, and marrying secretly. In addition, everyday resistance strategies connected to gender-focused protection against sexual violence were linked to staying at home, hiding girls and maintaining women pregnant. Finally, Rohingyas adopted resistance strategies to survive the 2017 attacks, including fleeing to Bangladesh in groups and supporting each other. This discussion dialogues with previous work on genocide studies that highlight the agency and resistance of Holocaust and other genocide survivors. It contributes to understanding the everyday resistance of a stateless minority, recognizing its agency against its genocidal state

Pasárgada as the dreamland in the Portuguese-speaking world

If one contrasts Brazilian Modernism with the Capeverdean Claridade movement, a common thread that defines their identity as nation can be underlined: the counterpart of the identity of their ‘father’, Portugal, which was imposed on them as colonies. If in order to exist as a nation Brazil had to ‘kill its father’ (Portugal), as Eduardo Lourenço brilliantly states, Cape Verdean poets just had to use the imagery of Manuel Bandeira’s poem ‘Pasárgada’ to proclaim their ‘freedom’. The present study focuses on the cross-cultural and literary relationship between the Brazilian Modernist poet, Capeverdean poets of the journal Claridade, and the Portuguese answer to all this present in Távola Redonda