Political and Institutional Determinants of the Cyclicality of Fiscal Policy: Evidence from the OECD and Latin America

In this paper, we analyse the role of political and institutional variables on the cyclical patterns of central government expenditure and revenue. Working with a sample of 38 OECD and Latin-American countries in 1960-2003, we find that higher levels of income inequality are associated with stronger expenditure procyclicality, and that better institutions do not seem to mitigate this effect. IMF interventions are, in general, statistically insignificant in explaining the cyclical behaviour of expenditure, as well as the degree of development of financial systems. On the revenue side, income inequality leads to less procyclical policies. In general, political and institutional variables explain the cyclicality of government expenditure better than that of revenue.Fiscal policy; cyclicality; political and institutional determinants; OECD; Latin America

The Political Economy of EDP Fiscal Forecasts: An Empirical Assessment

This paper analyses the track record of fiscal forecasts reported by 15 European countries in the context of the Excessive Deficit Procedure. For the budget balance, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) and interest payments, we study the statistical properties of forecast errors and their politico-institutional determinants. While errors in interest and GFCF expenditure present few systematic patterns, budget balance errors are responsive to fiscal institutions and to opportunistic motivations, especially from 1999 onwards: upcoming elections induce over-optimism, whereas commitment or mixed forms of fiscal governance and numerical expenditure rules (but not deficit and debt rules) are associated to greater prudence.fiscal forecasting; Stability and Growth Pact; Excessive Deficit Procedure; fiscal rules

Political and Institutional Determinants of the Cyclicality of Fiscal Policy: Evidence from the OECD and Latin America

In this paper, we analyse the role of political and institutional variables on the cyclical patterns of central government expenditure and revenue. Working with a sample of 38 OECD and Latin-American countries in 1960-2003, we find that higher levels of income inequality are associated with stronger expenditure procyclicality, and that better institutions do not seem to mitigate this effect. IMF interventions are, in general, statistically insignificant in explaining the cyclical behaviour of expenditure, as well as the degree of development of financial systems. On the revenue side, income inequality leads to less procyclical policies. In general, political and institutional variables explain the cyclicality of government expenditure better than that of revenue

Impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic: Consumer behaviour in the coffee market

In 2020 the world faced the covid-19 pandemic, which feelings such as insecurity and the lack of knowledge about the disease, forced governments from around the world to take measures that limited the social contact in order to preserve the safety and health of the populations of their countries. These measures caused changes in the consumption behaviours of consumers regarding the coffee, which is a culturally consumed product for the Portuguese population, not only for its benefits, but also because of the moments of socialization when coffee usually is consumed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts that the pandemic had in the coffee consumption habits of the Portuguese families before and during the pandemic and understand what the behavioural perspectives are in the post-pandemic situation after this world crisis is over. It was possible to conclude that not only the Portuguese population changed their coffee consumption in the specific establishments for its consumption at home, but also that a lot of uncertainty regarding the future remains. It was also possible to identify that this is an opportunity for companies to invest more in online commerce since the impossibility of social contact emphasized the necessity for other solutions and consumers saw the online commerce as one of the options. Sustainability, on the other hand, even though it is developing a more important role in consumers’ shopping decisions, it still needs to improve in a way that it gets more consumers to adhere to the sustainable cause regardless of each families’ characteristics.No ano de 2020 a população mundial enfrentou a pandemia do covid-19 e, com a insegurança e desconhecimento que se desencadeou, os governos de todo o mundo viram-se obrigados a tomar determinadas decisões que limitavam o contacto social de modo a preservar a segurança e saúde das populações dos seus países. Estas medidas causaram alterações comportamentais face à compra e consumo de cafés, produto típico da cultura portuguesa, utilizado não só pelos seus benefícios, mas também consumido em momentos de socialização. O objetivo deste estudo foi de avaliar os impactos que a pandemia teve nos hábitos de consumo de café das famílias portuguesas antes e durante a pandemia e compreender quais são as perspetivas de comportamento após o término desta crise mundial. Foi possível concluir que não só a população trocou o consumo de café em estabelecimentos pelo consumo de café em casa, como ainda existe bastante incerteza para o futuro. Foi possível verificar, também, que esta situação é uma oportunidade para as empresas apostarem cada vez mais no comércio online visto que a impossibilidade de contacto social enfatizou a necessidade por outras soluções e os consumidores viram o comércio online como uma das opções. A sustentabilidade por outro lado, apesar de aos poucos ganhar cada vez maior papel como um fator de decisão de compra dos consumidores, precisa ainda de ser trabalhada de modo a abranger uma massa maior de aderentes ao movimento sustentável adaptado a todo o tipo de famílias independentemente das características de cada uma

Design Core commonalities: A study of the College of Design at Iowa State University

This comprehensive study asks what a group of rather diverse disciplines have in common. It involves a cross disciplinary examination of an entire College, the College of Design at Iowa State University. This research was intended to provide a sense of direction in developing and assessing possible Core content. The reasoning was that material that is necessary to all of the different Design programs would be likely material for the Core. In this study, a referenced qualitative study and subsequent quantitative process document the learning most valued by six different Design programs: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Community and Regional Planning, Graphic Design, Interior Design, and Integrated Studio Arts. In addition to exploring differences in lens and terminology, this study produced a process that can be used to define a Core program. It also discusses differing approaches to interdisciplinary curriculum development, Design Process, and provides an overview of Core development

The political economy of EDP fiscal forecasts: an empirical assessment

This paper analyses the track record of fiscal forecasts reported by 15 European countries in the context of the Excessive Deficit Procedure. For the budget balance, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) and interest payments, we study the statistical properties of forecast errors and their politico-institutional determinants. While errors in interest and GFCF expenditure present few systematic patterns, budget balance errors are responsive to fiscal institutions and to opportunistic motivations, especially from 1999 onwards: upcoming elections induce over-optimism, whereas commitment or mixed forms of fiscal governance and numerical expenditure rules (but not deficit and debt rules) are associated to greater prudence

A new opportunity for human resources management to create value: Shaping a new business paradigm in the context of the Portuguese hotel industry

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsThis work project addresses the role of Human Resources Management in shaping and fostering Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability practices, within the context of the Portuguese hotel industry. For this purpose, an exploratory analysis was conducted, performing in-depth interviews to 12 HR managers. This study unveils that few HR managers are engaging in structured and valuable initiatives. None of them is measuring impacts of HR initiatives, or shaping CSR and CS concepts. It concludes that HR can exceed CSR and CS current practices, by addressing Shared Value creation

A go-to-market strategy for vertebral metrics

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Biomédica“A Go-to Market Strategy for Vertebral Metrics” is a project for commercialization of a technology capable of measuring the spatial coordinates of previously marked points. The device has been initially development for spine assessment even though it can be applied in different fields. The strategy for market penetration followed outlines some of these applications but will focus on the original purpose for which de device has been created. Market research analysis has resulted in different target segments ranging from small and medium sized healthcare providers to health club and wellness facilities. The project‟s timeline proposed for the next 6 years will be the following: Product development by NGNS, Innovative Solutions (Developer of Vertebral Metrics current prototype) to be finished in 2012. Sales initiation in Portugal (2013) followed by the product‟s entrance in Spain (2014) and Italy (2015). Commercialization will depend upon the creation of a new company called IHS – Innovative Healthcare Solutions which will manage sales, marketing and financial activities. Product assembly and early technical support will be performed by NGNS. Technical assistance will be, with time, incorporated in IHS and production outsourced, with NGNS maintaining its activity as an R&D partner. Marketing objectives will focus on attracting new customers and establishing partnership with both suppliers and distributors. IHS will have its own sales force in Portugal and depend upon partners for local distribution in other countries. The project depends upon an initial investment of 500 000€ with a payback period of 4 years and 3 months. The return is expected to be 6 times higher than the initial investment after 6 years

Pengaruh Metode Demonstrasi terhadap Hasil Belajar Fisika Kelas X MA Almuhajirin Tugumulyo

The purpose of this research is to know the student learning activity on the implementation of Demonstration model. The type of this research is quantitative with experimental research method with pretest description posttest control group design or experimental control group design. The population in this study were all students of class X MA AlMuhajirin Tugumulyo, two classes were taken randomly that is class X1 as experiment class and class X2 as control class. Technique of collecting data using test technique, test score data of student analyzed by using t-test. Based on the analysis of posttest data of experimental class and control class with significant level α = 0,05 obtained tcount: 6.87 and ttable: 2.02 because t count  more than t table then Ha accepted which means the average of experiment class grade is not same with class control. So it can be concluded that there is a significant influence Demonstration Method on Physics Learning Results class X Ma Al-Muhajirin Tugumulyo 2016/2017. Keywords: Demonstration Learning Model, Learning Outcomes

Planificación de flujos de aprovisionamiento de la fábrica de PSA Madrid

Durante un año, estaba involucrado en cada uno de los objetivos del “Plateau Transport” de la fábrica de Madrid. Más precisamente, estaba al cargo de varias tareas cuyos objetivos van a ser desarrollados en este proyecto: · Construir el plan de transporte a partir de las previsiones de fabricación. Como visto en la figura 1, es el elemento clave del proceso de planificación de los flujos. · Fiabilizar y mantener la exactitud del plan de transporte mensual. · Analizar el documento de “Restitution” y sacar los elementos necesarios para restituir una información asequible y sintetizada. · Asegurar el reporting: es decir de desarrollar los indicadores relevantes que reflejan la actividad del “Plateau Transport” de Madrid. · Reducir los gastos de aprovisionamiento proponiendo mejoras de organización. A través de mis tareas de “Planificador” mi papel era diseñar la organización teórica del transporte, controlar su aplicación, asegurar su seguimiento, mantener su funcionamiento, prever el presupuesto asociado, y revisarlo. También, siguiendo las llegadas reales y la facturación, el planificador tenía que controlar el cumplimiento de la organización definida previamente. Al final de cada periodo, el planificador recopila la información para dar una justificación tanto cualitativa como cuantitativa de las desviaciones observadas.Ingeniería Industria