The Political Economy of Fiscal Reform: The Case of Colombia, 1986-2006

This paper explores the characteristics of the political economy process that conditioned the scope and success of the combination of fiscal reforms before and after Colombia’s 1991 constitutional reforms. Using formal analysis of reforms and interviews with actors, reforms in taxation, decentralization, the budgetary process and pensions are examined in times of political crisis, economic crisis, and economic boom. The results generally confirm the hypothesis that increased political fragmentation and limited unilateral executive power after the 1991 reforms restricted the extent of reforms, particularly in tax law. Nonetheless, the enactment of piecemeal reforms was encouraged by crisis conditions.Policymaking process, Political economy, Structural reform, Colombia

Cross-avenue politics : the case of Colombia and Brazil

My objective with this dissertation was to show that the concept of cross-avenue politics is useful to understand the real balance of power between branches in presidential systems. While most studies look at the statutory avenue in isolation, the three papers in this dissertation are an attempt to show the significant effect of the interrelation of the different avenues available over the policy-making process. I have focused in particular on how weakening executive decree power affects statutory politics; and on how entrenching more policy in the constitution affects statutory (and decree) politics in Brazil and Colombia. My results suggest that these reactive assemblies are more powerful when looking at cross avenue politics, even in presidential systems which have usually been considered to have the most dominant presidents of the region. Further research is required to analyze how these interrelation plays with other mechanisms such as referendums, and how does this influence translate into policy outcome

Cross-avenue politics : the case of Colombia and Brazil

My objective with this dissertation was to show that the concept of cross-avenue politics is useful to understand the real balance of power between branches in presidential systems. While most studies look at the statutory avenue in isolation, the three papers in this dissertation are an attempt to show the significant effect of the interrelation of the different avenues available over the policy-making process. I have focused in particular on how weakening executive decree power affects statutory politics; and on how entrenching more policy in the constitution affects statutory (and decree) politics in Brazil and Colombia. My results suggest that these reactive assemblies are more powerful when looking at cross avenue politics, even in presidential systems which have usually been considered to have the most dominant presidents of the region. Further research is required to analyze how these interrelation plays with other mechanisms such as referendums, and how does this influence translate into policy outcome

Adipose tissue mitochondrial dysfunction in human obesity is linked to a specific DNA methylation signature in adipose-derived stem cells

Background: A functional population of adipocyte precursors, termed adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs), is crucial for proper adipose tissue (AT) expansion, lipid handling, and prevention of lipotoxicity in response to chronic positive energy balance. We previously showed that obese human subjects contain a dysfunctional pool of ASCs. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying abnormal ASC function might lead to therapeutic interventions for prevention of lipotoxicity by improving the adipogenic capacity of ASCs. Methods: Using epigenome-wide association studies, we explored the impact of obesity on the methylation signature of human ASCs and their differentiated counterparts. Mitochondrial phenotyping of lean and obese ASCs was performed. TBX15 loss- and gain-of-function experiments were carried out and western blotting and electron microscopy studies of mitochondria were performed in white AT biopsies from lean and obese individuals. Results: We found that DNA methylation in adipocyte precursors is significantly modified by the obese environment, and adipogenesis, inflammation, and immunosuppression were the most affected pathways. Also, we identified TBX15 as one of the most differentially hypomethylated genes in obese ASCs, and genetic experiments revealed that TBX15 is a regulator of mitochondrial mass in obese adipocytes. Accordingly, morphological analysis of AT from obese subjects showed an alteration of the mitochondrial network, with changes in mitochondrial shape and number. Conclusions: We identified a DNA methylation signature in adipocyte precursors associated with obesity, which has a significant impact on the metabolic phenotype of mature adipocytes