The role of subsidiaries in Global Value Chains (GVCs): an institutional voids perspective on LVC upgrading and integration

We explore the process through which MNE subsidiaries engage and retain a critical mass of small suppliers in Global Value Chains (GVCs) while addressing institutional voids in emerging markets. Using evidence from an interpretive inductive longitudinal case study in agribusiness, we draw on the GVC and institutional voids literatures to: (1) extend the GVC literature by offering a subsidiary-focused view of GVCs; and (2) demonstrate the dynamic process of void engagement through complementary institutional bridging activities. Our temporal sequencing of subsidiary institutional agency in response to different modalities of voids demonstrates a constellation of bridging activities that results from a dynamic interplay between voids and practice

RETIREES FROM PUBLIC SERVICE IN NIGERIA: A SURVEY

The proportion of the Nigeria’s population that is retired is large and growing, and the government face huge fiscal burdens because of promises it has made to provide income security (pension) to this set of people. Improving the adequacy and quality of pension is a priority for Nigerian government, because of the growing disenchantment by retirees over government delays to pay new improved pension schemes. The realization that effective policy and planning must take into account what pensioners want and are prepared to take is the impetus that the government is interested in meaningful life after retirement from public service. The paper aims at enriching our study course on planning for retirement, providing policy makers with reliable basis from the field that are useful for executive decisions, and to enrich would be retirees on what many retirees are experiencing and going through, to plan and save well during work life and to prepare for challenges ahead. Infact, life in retirement is not rosy and cosy for majority as pensioners face difficulties in getting their pays, arrears for months accumulated, government reluctance to implement the 148% increase and several other problems. In protecting the old and promoting economic growth, Nigeria needs to consider comprehensive pension reforms. The research team used direct (contingent valuation) surveys and ML –Censored Normal (Tobit) methods to estimate the number of retirees’ willingness to live meaningful life should the government pay them arrears and implement the increase package and other types of improvement. Clearly, the methodology produced some illuminating in sights into how to decide what level of service is appropriate for this segment of the society and how the improved services should be well implemented

Acute diarrhoea in hospitalized under-five children in Ilorin, Nigeria: Relationship between isolated enteropathogens and clinical outcome

Background: Acute diarrhoea due to different enteropathogens contributes significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality globally, despite the advances made in diarrhoea management via use of fluid therapy and zinc supplementation. Aim: To determine the prevalence of bacterial and viral etiology among children hospitalized with acute diarrhoea and the relationship with clinical outcome. Methods: A total of 135 children aged one to 59 months with acute diarrhoea were recruited in Ilorin, Nigeria. Stool specimens were investigated for three viruses (rotavirus, adenovirus and norovirus) and bacterial pathogens using immunochromatographic and conventional culture techniques respectively. Results: One hundred and twenty-two (90.4%) study participants had stools that yielded enteropathogens, while 13 (9.6%) had no isolates. Sixty-one (45.2%) children had a single pathogen isolated, while 61 (45.2%) had co-infections. The prevalence of viruses was 17.0% with rotavirus, adenovirus and norovirus detected in 10.3%, 3.7% and 3.0% respectively. Bacterial pathogens were isolated in 28.2% with Escherichia coli (14.1%), Klebsiella spp. (8.2%), Proteus spp. (3.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.2%) detected as isolates. The duration of hospital stay, likewise the duration of diarrhoea were prolonged by the presence of an infectious aetiology and co-infections (p <0.001 and p =0.04 respectively). However, these clinical outcomes were not influenced by the type of bacteria/virus isolated nor the enteropathogens constituting co-infection (p >0.05). Conclusions: There was a high burden of infectious aetiology of childhood diarrhoea, with bacteria being the predominant enteropathogens isolated. The clinical outcomes of the children studied were influenced by the isolation of enteropathogens and the presence of multiple infections

ECB policy and Eurozone fragility: Was De Grauwe right?

Paul De Grauwe's Eurozone fragility hypothesis states that sovereign debt markets in a monetary union without a lender-of-last-resort are vulnerable to self-fulfilling dynamics fuelled by pessimistic investor sentiment that can trigger default. We test this contention by applying an eclectic methodology to a two-year window around Mario Draghi's “whatever-it-takes” pledge that can be understood as the implicit announcement of the Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) program. A principal components analysis reveals that the perceived commonality in default risk among peripheral and core Eurozone sovereigns increased after the announcement. An event study reveals significant pre-announcement news transmission from Spain to Italy, France, Belgium and Austria that clearly dissipates post-announcement. Country-specific regressions of CDS spreads on systematic risk factors reveal frequent days of large adverse shocks affecting simultaneously those five Eurozone countries, but only during the pre-announcement period. Altogether these findings support the fragility hypothesis and endorse the OMT program

The possible role of heat shock protein-70 induction in collagen-induced arthritis in rats

Aim This study aimed to evaluate the possible role of heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) induction by 17-allylaminodemethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) in collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Material and methods Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 10/group) and were treated intraperitoneally twice a week for 4 weeks, namely normal control (saline), arthritis control (AR; saline), AR + 17-AAG, AR + methotrexate (MTX), and AR + 17-AAG + MTX. At the end of the treatments, arthritic score was determined and then the animals were sacrificed. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum levels of HSP70, interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), rheumatic factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were determined. Results In the AR group, all parameters increased significantly, except for GPx, which showed a pronounced decrease. The 17-AAG and/or MTX treatments significantly reduced arthritic score, ESR, IL-17, TNF-α, RF, CRP, MDA, and MMP-9 with significant increase in GPx compared to the AR group. The HSP70 level was significantly higher in the AR + 17-AAG and the AR + 17-AAG + MTX groups but significantly lower in the AR + MTX group as compared to the AR group. Also, it was significantly lower in the AR + MTX group as compared to the AR + 17-AAG group. Conclusion We concluded that HSP70 induction by 17-AAG attenuated the inflammatory process in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model induced by collagen, which suggested that HSP70 inducers can be promising agents in the treatment of RA

Assessment of Vulnerability of Farming Households to Climate Change in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Production systems and livelihoods in South Western Nigeria are at risk of climate variability and change. The study examined the vulnerability of farming households in Ekiti State of Nigeria to climate change. A total of 120 respondents were randomly selected, interviewed and used for data analysis. Results of the study indicated that the farming households in Ekiti State witnessed change in weather conditions as reflected in unusual downpour of rain thus affecting their productivity. Most of these household heads were young, males, literate, and experienced but relied mainly on personal savings and money borrowed from friends and relatives for farming. The results also indicated that climate change resulted in low productivity, low income, as well as poor standard of living of the respondents. The most widely adopted coping strategy by the respondents was to switch to other sources of income whenever there was unpredictable variation in climate condition. This study therefore calls for the need for government policy to encourage farming households in Ekiti State to obtain loan from banks and micro-credit institutions by reducing interest rate on loans for crop production as well as removing the stringent conditions attached to loans.Keywords: Climate change, vulnerability, farming household