Lifetime aggregate labor supply with endogenous workweek length

This paper studies lifetime aggregate labor supply with endogenous workweek length. Such a theory is needed to evaluate various government policies. A key feature of our model is a nonlinear mapping from hours worked to labor services. This gives rise to an endogenous workweek that can differ across occupations. The theory determines what fraction of the lifetime an individual works, not when. We find that constraints on workweek length have different consequences for total hours than total labor services. Also, we find that policies designed to increase the length of the working life may not increase aggregate lifetime labor supply.Labor supply

Mining enterprise and partnerships for socio-economic development

Partnerships are emerging as important for the business operations of mining enterprises in many parts of the world, particularly in the global South. During 2010, the London-based International Council on Mining and Minerals launched a global initiative which is geared to strengthen the contribution of mining to development goals and poverty reduction by promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships. The purpose of this article is to furnish a critical review of relevant international experience of partnerships between mining companies and governments. These partnerships are considered to represent innovative cooperation models for economic development (especially diversification) and service delivery. It is argued that whilst partnerships represent an aspect of good business practice for mining enterprises, partnerships are not a panacea and in certain situations may not be an appropriate model for delivering results. In light of the significance of socio-economic development in sub-Saharan Africa, and of the potential for expansion of mining activities, further research is required concerning the operations of mining enterprises and partnerships in this region of the global economy

Secondary cities and tourism: the South African record

Abstract: Urban tourism has been explored extensively in the past 15 years in South Africa. Within the literature on urban tourism there is a large city bias with most research concentrated on the country’s major metropolitan destinations. Minimal attention has been directed to tourism which occurs in the country’s second order or secondary cities. In recent years the importance of secondary cities for national economic development and urban planning has been rediscovered and re-energised. In South Africa a new ‘conversation’ about the potential role of the country’s secondary cities has begun. This article offers an exploratory analysis of the tourism economies of South Africa’s secondary cities. It reveals the uneven and differentiated role of tourism across the country’s secondary cities

Ridding Ships\u27 Ballast Water of Microorganisms

( First paragraph) A complex assemblage of microorganisms exists in nearly every aquatic system on earth. In lakes and oceans, every milliliter of water contains about 102 protists (single-celled eukaryotes), 106 bacteria, and 107–109 viruses. Therefore, billions of microorganisms inevitably enter ships’ ballast tanks during normal operations. It has been argued that microorganisms must certainly be frequent invaders of coastal ecosystems, given the high densities of bacteria and viruses in ballast water—108 and 109 organisms per liter, respectively (1)—their potentially high reproductive rates, broad tolerances to physical conditions, and ability to form resting stages (2). The “propagule pressure” of microorganisms contrasts sharply with the mere tens of thousands of mesozooplankton that might be released during ballast discharge (3). The phylogenetic diversity of microbes in ballast water is reportedly composed of large, easily recognized forms, such as dinoflagellates, diatoms, ciliates, and foraminifera (1, 4). However, the bacterial and viral diversity in ballast water is absolutely unknown. Our understanding of the microbial diversity found in ballast tanks depends on new, sophisticated molecular biological techniques and certainly will increase with more advanced studies (5, 6)

Restructuring manufacturing in South Africa's lagging regions : the case of the Free State

The manufacturing economy of the Free State reflects both historical dependence on locally available raw materials and high-levels of state intervention, in terms of support for import substitution and Homeland development. In the contemporary era, deindustrialization, the uncertain future of the clothing / textile industries and limited growth over the last ten years, suggests that, in terms of manufacturing, the Free State is a 'lagging' region. While there has been significant expansion in the number of small firms, this is not matched by employment growth and does not compensate for the loss of many large firms and economic downscaling in the Goldfields. Key sectors such as petro-chemicals and gold jewellery present certain opportunities for future growth

Broken chocolate:biomarkers as a method for delivering cocoa supply chain visibility

Purpose: This paper examines the potential of “biomarkers” to provide immutable identification for food products (chocolate), providing traceability and visibility in the supply chain from retail product back to farm. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses qualitative data collection, including fieldwork at cocoa farms and chocolate manufacturers in Ecuador and the Netherlands and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals to identify challenges and create a supply chain map from cocoa plant to retailer, validated by area experts. A library of biomarkers is created using DNA collected from fieldwork and the International Cocoa Quarantine Centre, holders of cocoa varieties from known locations around the world. Matching sample biomarkers with those in the library enables identification of origins of cocoa used in a product, even when it comes from multiple different sources and has been processed. Findings: Supply chain mapping and interviews identify areas of the cocoa supply chain that lack the visibility required for management to guarantee sustainability and quality. A decoupling point, where smaller farms/traders’ goods are combined to create larger economic units, obscures product origins and limits visibility. These factors underpin a potential boundary condition to institutional theory in the industry’s fatalism to environmental and human abuses in the face of rising institutional pressures. Biomarkers reliably identify product origin, including specific farms and (fermentation) processing locations, providing visibility and facilitating control and trust when purchasing cocoa. Research limitations/implications: The biomarker “meta-barcoding” of cocoa beans used in chocolate manufacturing accurately identifies the farm, production facility or cooperative, where a cocoa product came from. A controlled data set of biomarkers of registered locations is required for audit to link chocolate products to origin. Practical implications: Where biomarkers can be produced from organic products, they offer a method for closing visibility gaps, enabling responsible sourcing. Labels (QR codes, barcodes, etc.) can be swapped and products tampered with, but biological markers reduce reliance on physical tags, diminishing the potential for fraud. Biomarkers identify product composition, pinpointing specific farm(s) of origin for cocoa in chocolate, allowing targeted audits of suppliers and identifying if cocoa of unknown origin is present. Labour and environmental abuses exist in many supply chains and enabling upstream visibility may help firms address these challenges. Social implications: By describing a method for firms in cocoa supply chains to scientifically track their cocoa back to the farm level, the research shows that organizations can conduct social audits for child labour and environmental abuses at specific farms proven to be in their supply chains. This provides a method for delivering supply chain visibility (SCV) for firms serious about tackling such problems. Originality/value: This paper provides one of the very first examples of biomarkers for agricultural SCV. An in-depth study of stakeholders from the cocoa and chocolate industry elucidates problematic areas in cocoa supply chains. Biomarkers provide a unique biological product identifier. Biomarkers can support efforts to address environmental and social sustainability issues such as child labour, modern slavery and deforestation by providing visibility into previously hidden areas of the supply chain

The Impact of Populating the Freshman Seminar on Retention, Student Perception of Content, Student Satisfaction and Connection to the Institution

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between how the freshman seminar course in extended orientation format is populated at a large research institution and its impact on student perception of content, student satisfaction with the course as a vehicle for successful transition to the institution and building relationships with peers and faculty, as well as, student retention. Race and gender were considered as well. The study, involving survey research, addressed five research questions and fifteen null hypotheses. Analysis of the dependent and independent variables in this study allowed for the retention of twelve and rejection of three of the hypotheses. Findings indicate that populating the freshman seminar intentionally by major and/or advisor allows for greater opportunities for students to make connections with peers and faculty members. This, in turn, can perpetuate higher retention of these students. Population method of the freshman seminar does not appear to have a significant impact on student perception of content, student satisfaction with the course or opportunities for building connections with the university. Race and gender appear to have no significant impact on the outcomes of the study. Seven implications for practitioners and four recommendations for further research were suggested. Both implications and recommendations focused on how the freshman seminar, currently a viable retention tool, might be enhanced to yield greater student benefits resulting in increased retention.Ed.D