Estimating the effects of Kyoto on bilateraltrade flows using matching econometrics

Many Kyoto countries fear a loss of competitiveness due to unilateral climate policyefforts; policymakers therefore call for carbon-related border tax adjustments. With thispaper we attempt to estimate the treatment effect of Kyoto commitment on bilateralexport flows using regression-adjusted differences-in-differences matching techniques.The gravity and international environmental agreement formation literatures provideguidelines for the choice of matching variables. We find that Kyoto countries' exportsare reduced by 13–14% due to Kyoto commitment. Trade effects are largest in energyintensive,homogeneous industries such as iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, organicand inorganic chemicals but also in machinery and equipment.Competitiveness, Kyoto Protocol, matching econometrics, treatment effects

Kyoto and carbon leakage: An empirical analysis of the carbon content of bilateral trade

Has the Kyoto Protocol induced carbon leakage? We conduct the first empirical ex-post evaluation of the Protocol. We derive a theoretical gravity equation for the CO2 content of trade, which accounts for intermediate inputs, both domestic and imported. The structure of our new panel database of the carbon content of sectoral bilateral trade flows allows controlling for the endogenous selection of countries into the Kyoto Protocol. Binding commitments under Kyoto have increased committed countries' embodied carbon imports from non-committed countries by around 8% and the emission intensity of their imports by about 3%. Hence, Kyoto has indeed led to leakage

Estimating the effects of Kyoto on bilateraltrade flows using matching econometrics

Many Kyoto countries fear a loss of competitiveness due to unilateral climate policyefforts; policymakers therefore call for carbon-related border tax adjustments. With thispaper we attempt to estimate the treatment effect of Kyoto commitment on bilateralexport flows using regression-adjusted differences-in-differences matching techniques.The gravity and international environmental agreement formation literatures provideguidelines for the choice of matching variables. We find that Kyoto countries' exportsare reduced by 1314% due to Kyoto commitment. Trade effects are largest in energyintensive,homogeneous industries such as iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, organicand inorganic chemicals but also in machinery and equipment

Transatlantic Free Trade: The View Point of Germany

The proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union and the United States of America would be the largest preferential trade agreement in the world. Encompassing almost half of world GDP, it will have strong economic effects on Germany. In this paper, we put this trade policy initiative in its broader perspective. We argue that, despite appearances, the US-German trade potential is not exhausted. We survey existing studies and find that the project could increase per capita income in Germany by between 1 and 3%. We critically question the need for investor-state dispute settlement and argue that the TTIP will have discriminatory effects on at least some third countries. However, regulatory councils are important ingredients of the deal as they guarantee that the TTIP will indeed influence the setting of global standards in the future

Going Deep: The Trade and Welfare Effects of TTIP

Since July 2013, the EU and the US have been negotiating a preferential trade agreement (PTA), the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). We use a multi-country, multi-industry Ricardian trade model with national and international input-output linkages to quantify its potential economic consequences. We structurally estimate the sectoral trade flow elasticities of trade costs and of existing PTAs. We simulate the trade, value added, and welfare effects of the TTIP, assuming that the agreement would eliminate all transatlantic tariffs and reduce non-tariff barriers as other deep PTAs have. The long-run level of real per capita income would change by 2.12% in the EU, by 2.68% in the US, and by -0.03% in the rest of the world relative to the status quo. However, there is substantial heterogeneity across the 134 geographical entities that we investigate. Gross value of EU-US trade could triple, but its value added would grow by substantially less. Moreover, trade diversion effects are more pronounced in value added trade than in gross trade. This signals a deepening of the transatlantic value chain

TINJAUAN HUKUM TENTANG PERLINDUNGAN BAGI TENAGA KERJA SEKTOR UMKM DIHUBUNGKAN DENGAN PRECARIOUS WORK (KONDISI KERJA BERBAHAYA)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana perlindungan bagi tenaga kerja sektor UMKM dan untuk mengetahui kebijakan seperti apa yang diberikan apabila terdapat suatu kondisi precarious work dalam suatu UMKM. Dengan menggunakan metode penelitian yuridis normatif, disimpulkan: 1. Perlindungan hukum bagi tenaga kerja UMKM terdapat pada 3 (tiga) aspek yaitu aspek ekonomis, aspek Kesehatan, dan aspek keselamatan kerja, tanpa memberikan kepentingan yang lebih besar pada salah satu aspek. 2. Kebijakan yang diberikan apabila tenaga kerja sedang berada pada suatu kondisi precarious work atau kondisi kerja berbahaya adalah tenaga kerja dapat mengajukan permintaan kepada atasannya untuk memenuhi syarat-syarat keselamatan kerja, dan apabila dalam hubungan kerjanya dengan pengusaha terjadi perselisihan maka dapat dilakukan penyelesaian melalui tahapan baik secara litigasi maupun non litigasi. Kata kunci: Perlindungan Hukum, Tenaga Kerja, UMKM, Precarious Wor

Suitability of the Carbonate Rocks of the Bekhme Formation Exposed in Shakrook Anticline, Iraqi Kurdistan region, for Cement Industry

The Bekhme Formation forms almost the bulk of the Shakrook anticline, especially the limbs. The current research deals with studying the exposed beds within the Bekhme Formation at the Shakrook anticline to check the suitability of the exposed rocks at the northeastern limb of the anticline for the cement industry. Twenty rock samples from a section which lies along a deeply cut valley that crosses the northeastern limb of the Shakrook anticline within the Bekhme Formation were collected. The channel sampling method was applied; therefore, each sample represents the concerned sampling interval and to be representative for the thickness of the sampled interval. The total thickness of the sampled section is 110 m with a covered interval of 15 m, totaling to 125 m. The collected 20 samples were prepared at the laboratory of the Koya University and were subjected to XRF test at the Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, to indicate the concentration of the main oxides (CaO, MgO, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Na2O, K2O, and SO3), and Cl and L.O.I. The indicated concentrations at each sample, from both universities, were compared and were found to be almost coinciding. The average concentrations at each sample were changed to weighted averages and the results were compared with the Iraqi standards for cement industry. The results revealed that the sampled rocks are excellent for cement production

A new approach to cultural scripts of trauma sequelae assessment: The sample case of Switzerland

Background The novel concept of cultural scripts of trauma sequelae captures culture-specific expressions of posttraumatic distress (e.g., cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, psychosomatic changes) and their temporal associations. Cultural scripts of trauma sequelae complement pan-cultural (etic) diagnoses, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD, as well as the cultural syndromes concept. Objective This study aimed to develop the cultural scripts of trauma inventory (CSTI) for German-speaking Switzerland and to explore temporal associations of script elements. Method Five semi-structured focus groups were conducted with psychotraumatologists (n = 8) and Swiss trauma survivors (n = 7). The interview schedule included open questions about different domains of potential posttraumatic changes (emotions, cognitions, worldviews, interpersonal relationships, body-related experiences, behavior, and growth). Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results The Swiss CSTI includes 57 emic elements that represent salient trauma sequelae (30 conformed with a theoretically derived item pool, 27 were newly phrased). Temporal script associations were visualized in a network, whereby self-deprecation, the urge to function and overcompensate, and the urge to hide and endure suffering had the highest number of connections. Conclusion While many posttraumatic changes identified in the present work seem to mirror pan-cultural phenomena represented in the Complex PTSD concept (e.g., self-deprecation), others (e.g., urge to function and perform, urge to hide and endure suffering) may be prominently related to Swiss culture with its value orientations. Knowledge about cultural scripts of trauma sequelae may provide a culture-specific framework that can help to understand individual experiences of distress and enable mental health practitioners to administer culturally sensitive interventions. Pending further validation, the Swiss CSTI bears the potential to advance culture-sensitive assessment of trauma sequelae

Industrial Assessment of the Carbonate Rocks of the Pila Spi Formation at Haibat Sultan Mountain, Iraqi Kurdistan Region

The Pila Spi Formation is one of the prominent formations forming continuous ridges in Kurdistan Region. The thickness of the formation ranges from 15 to 110 m, consisting of well-bedded limestone, dolomite, dolomitic limestone, and very rare marl beds. The study area is located about 15 km east of Koya town, next to the abandoned tunnel through a deeply cut valley which has exposed 50 m of the formation. However, the uppermost part of the exposed section may belong to one of the Oligocene formations of Kirkuk Group. The study area was selected within the Pila Spi Formation because the rocks of the same formation and along the same ridge, about 45 km west of the study area showed encouraging results for cement industry. The average CaO is about 51%, whereas the average MgO is 1.8%. Therefore, eight samples were collected at constant thickness from the exposed section. The samples were subjected to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) test to indicate the main oxides in the sampled section. The acquired results from the XRF tests showed that the chemical composition of the exposed rocks within the Pila Spi Formation is suitable for cement industry, also for paper and paint but needs some treatment. Accordingly, another eight samples were collected from the same section to increase the density of sampling, totaling to 16 samples