The economic and monetary union vs. shifts in competitiveness of member states

The paper deals with changes in the competitiveness of 12 countries forming the euro area in 1999-2000. These changes are analyzed using various macroeconomic indicators (real exchange rate, trade ratios, labor market and economic output performance). Due to the different levels of development of the countries forming the zone, changes in competitiveness do not extend uniformly. The paper ends with conclusions. The aim of this paper is to assess changes in the relative competitiveness of 12 countries forming the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) between 1999-2009. Greece was the only EU country which had not yet been accepted in the Union in 1999 and later joined the Eurozone in 2001. Despite the time difference, it was assumed that by including this economy in the analyzed EMU 12 group it would allow for better comprehension of the influence of monetary solutions and general economic policy within this integration grouping on the relative competitiveness of its particular members. Section 1 is devoted to a brief presentation of assumptions and expectations regarding the EMU. Section 2 examines real effective exchange rates (REERs). Along with the standard literature, it is assumed that REERs are important summary measures of shifts in competitiveness. Section 3 is devoted to trade developments; they are linked to the REERs. We present and analyze gross measures such as exports to the gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, external exports, export/import ratio, the share of EMU country exports in world exports and the role of high-tech trade. Section 4 deals with the shifts in labor force performance and section 5 is devoted to the most comprehensive measures which are GDP and gross national income (GNI) developments. The paper closes with conclusions.Euro zone, competitiveness, convergence, economic policy, exchange rate

Między postprawdą a (pseudo)mądrością tłumu – o epistemicznej pułapce cyfrowych mediów i analogowych kompetencjach jako środkach jej uniknięcia

Adam Pietrzykowski, Między post-prawdą a (pseudo)mądrością tłumu – o epistemicznej pułapce cyfrowych mediów i analogowych kompetencjach jako środkach jej uniknięcia [Between post-truth and (pseudo)wisdom of the crowds – on epistemic trap of digital media and analog competences as means of avoiding it]. Interdyscyplinarne Konteksty Pedagogiki Specjalnej, nr 23, Poznań 2018. Pp. 77-91. Adam Mickiewicz University Press. ISSN 2300-391X. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/ikps.2018.23.04 In the modern world, truth has become an anachronistic value. At the same time, hopes associated with its restitution by the networked crowd have proved futile. The growing dominance of audiovisual media inevitably leads to the formation of a new man, driven more by affection than rationality. Phenomena such as secondary illiteracy, language depletion and the rise of populism are signs of this process. The development of media literacy suggested by theoreticians of education may be an insufficient remedy for the indicated civilization problem. The solution may be returning to basic competences shaped, in particular, by philosophical education, which may become the proper medium for restoring critical reason in society.Adam Pietrzykowski, Między post-prawdą a (pseudo)mądrością tłumu – o epistemicznej pułapce cyfrowych mediów i analogowych kompetencjach jako środkach jej uniknięcia [Between post-truth and (pseudo)wisdom of the crowds – on epistemic trap of digital media and analog competences as means of avoiding it]. Interdyscyplinarne Konteksty Pedagogiki Specjalnej, nr 23, Poznań 2018. Pp. 77-91. Adam Mickiewicz University Press. ISSN 2300-391X. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/ikps.2018.23.04 In the modern world, truth has become an anachronistic value. At the same time, hopes associated with its restitution by the networked crowd have proved futile. The growing dominance of audiovisual media inevitably leads to the formation of a new man, driven more by affection than rationality. Phenomena such as secondary illiteracy, language depletion and the rise of populism are signs of this process. The development of media literacy suggested by theoreticians of education may be an insufficient remedy for the indicated civilization problem. The solution may be returning to basic competences shaped, in particular, by philosophical education, which may become the proper medium for restoring critical reason in society

Winning, Losing, and Changing the Rules: The Rhetoric of Poetry Contests and Competition

This dissertation attempts to trace the shifting relationship between the fields of Rhetoric and Poetry in Western culture by focusing on poetry contests and competitions during several different historical eras. In order to examine how the distinction between the two fields is contingent on a variety of local factors, this study makes use of research in contemporary cognitive neuroscience, particularly work in categorization and cognitive linguistics, to emphasize the provisional nature of conceptual thought; that is, on the type of mental activity that gives rise to conceptualizations such as “Rhetoric” and “Poetry.” The final portions of the research attempt to use some modeling techniques derived from cognitive linguistics as invention strategies for producing stylistically idiosyncratic academic knowledge, and for examining the relationship between the stylistic markers we associate with each of the two aforementioned fields

Animal law: ethics, society and constitutions

The paper discusses and criticizes views on various aspects of the situations of animals within human societies offered by authors presenting at the seminar held at the Research Centre for Public Policy and Regulatory Governance. They include legal, ethical as well as socio-psychological problems about animal welfare and the attempts to improve the conditions in which animals are treated. The author hints at the theoretical background as well as implications of some of the ideas that are advocated in the ongoing legal and ethical debates over animal welfare. The discussion aims to shed some light on how the cross-disciplinary studies and exchanges that include biologists, psychologists, sociologists as well as legal researchers may contribute to numerous controversies in the contemporary animal law scholarship

Rewolucja irańska (1978 – 1979) – przebieg, percepcja, znaczenie

The aim of the article is to characterize the so-called Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1978 – 1979. First part of this paper concerns in ascertaining the chronology of the Revolution (its genesis, decline, watershed moments), the second part in distinguishing three ways of its recognition (the secular, Cold War and religious-cultural narration) in order to emphasize the differences of opinion between various groups or individuals, who took part in the Revolution. Iranian Islamic Revolution was in many ways extraordinary: unlike most revolutions in the twentieth century, which turn progressive, the Iranian one was conservative and resulted in creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran – new particular state with political system based on Shia Islam. However, Iranian Revolution did repeat the fate of its predecessors (violence, dictatorship, social discontent). After over 30 years since the beginning of the Revolution there is an ongoing discussion about its achievements and reasonableness

Ship Domain as a Safety Criterion in a Precautionary Area of Traffic Separation Scheme

The ship domain is one of the criteria for navigational safety assessment. It is particularly important in restricted areas with high intensity traffic, where the criteria of closest point of approach (CPA) and time to CPA are difficult to apply. This research continues to examine ship domains in Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS). We have analyzed precautionary areas established within TSSs in connection with changed arrangements of vessel traffic. Besides, we have defined ship domains in a precautionary area of a specific TSS, and compared them to domains of vessels proceeding along traffic lanes

Klasztory rewindykowane i nowe zakonów męskich okresu staropolskiego w diecezji łódzkiej

Działalność zakonów w Polsce jest ściśle związana z życiem Kościoła katolickiego i dziejami naszej Ojczyzny. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest przedstawienie dziejów starych zakonów na terenie diecezji łódzkiej. Najpierw ukazano te zakony, które po okresie kasat nie tylko wróciły do swoich niektórych klasztorów, ale i organizowały nowe placówki zakonne. Przed upadkiem I Rzeczypospolitej na terenie przyszłej diecezji łódzkiej działało 8 zakonów męskich, posiadających łącznie 13 klasztorów: dominikanie (Łęczyca, Piotrków Trybunalski), Franciszkanie konwentualni (Łagiewniki, Piotrków Trybunalski), franciszkanie bernardyni (Piotrków Trybunalski Łęczyca), franciszkanie reformaci (Brzeziny, Lutomiersk), kanonicy regularni laterańscy (Kłodawa), karmelici trzewiczkowi (Kłodawa), jezuici (Piotrków Trybunalski, Łęczyca), pijarzy (Piotrków Trybunalski). Do odzyskania przez Polskę niepodległości w roku 1918 nie przetrwała żadna męska wspólnota zakonna. W II Rzeczypospolitej nie wrócili do swoich klasztorów: kanonicy regularni laterańscy, karmelici trzewiczkowi, pijarzy i dominikanie