Wheat / Flour Price Transmission and Agricultural Policies in Ukraine: A Markov-Switching Vector Error Correction Approach

The analysis of price transmission between raw and processed agricultural products in transition countries is complicated by the frequently changing conditions on their way from plan to market. We utilise a Markov-switching vector error correction model to allow for multiple regime shifts in the price relationship between wheat and wheat flour in Ukraine from June 2000 to November 2004. The analysis reveals four regimes. The observed temporal pattern of these regimes can be matched with certain political and economic events in Ukraine. In particular, we find a strong link between the 'high uncertainty' regime and discretionary policy interventions in 2003.Markov-switching vector error correction model, vertical price transmission, regime shifts, grain policies, Ukraine, Demand and Price Analysis, Industrial Organization, C22, Q11, Q18,

Changes in gas exchange, tissue respiration and glycolysis in rats during hypokinesia

The results of an experiment which studied changes in oxygen balance under conditions of hypokinesia in rats is presented. The effect of the stress during hypokinesia is expressed most clearly in the changes of general gas exchange, and in the intensity of liver and myocardial tissue respiration

Rapid Budget Analysis of the Agricultural Sector for the General Budget Support Annual Review 2010/11.

The main objective of the budget analysis chapter is to provide an overall assessment of how well the approved budget allocations in 2010-11 align with the strategic objectives and with sector strategic priorities of the Second National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (known by its Kiswahili acronym, MKUKUTA II). It also assesses the consistency of the actual spending and approved budget in 2009-10. In evaluating the alignment of the budget and MKUKUTA's strategic objectives and sector strategic priorities, the analysis gauges the accuracy and reliability of the macro and budget framework, share of the budget allocated to MKUKUTA cluster strategies, share of the budget allocated to capital investment, and strategic prioritization within key sectors. This budget analysis chapter summarizes nine background notes that covered six key sectors and three thematic areas. The six key sectors are education, health, water, roads, energy, and agriculture; the three thematic areas are the wage bill, local government, and aggregate analysis. The six sectors were selected because they consume approximately 60 percent of the overall budget and are keys to achieving the MKUKUTA strategic objectives of growth and reduction of poverty. The three thematic areas were selected because of their crosscutting nature, as they touch each key sector but also are critical for achieving the MKUKUTA strategic objectives.

Measuring the Integration of Staple Food Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa: Heterogeneous Infrastructure and Cross Border Trade in the East African Community

This analysis employs cointegration methods and semiparametric regression in order to assess the integration of maize markets and the factors determining national and cross-national transmission of price signals in Sub-Saharan Africa. We use a rich dataset of 16 series of wholesale maize prices between 2000 and 2008 for Kenya, Tanzanian and Uganda. Distance is shown to have a significant nonlinear impact on the transmission of information - modelled using a semi-parametric partially linear model. Border effects are found to be heterogeneous. The empirical results provide strong evidence that the Tanzanian market is isolated from the rest of East Africa and internally fragmented.border effect, spatial market integration, cointegration, semi-parametric regression, partially linear model, Eastern Africa, maize

Peculiarities of preparation of the HACCP group members of catering units of preschool educational institutions

The object of research: specific differences in the functioning of HACCP groups of catering units of preschool educational institutions, which determine the potential directions of training the personnel of such groups. Investigated problem: training activities for HACCP teams and conformity assessment are guided by the practice of voluntary implementation and certification of food safety management systems. Although the introduction of permanent procedures based on the principles of the HACCP system at the facilities is a mandatory requirement, the current legislation does not provide for the certification of such procedures. Therefore, the adopted schemes for training specialists for food safety management systems require revision in order to harmonize with the national specifics of the implementation of HACCP procedures in the catering units of preschool education institutions. Main scientific results: conclusions are drawn that can help maximize the success of the preparation of the HACCP group members for the catering units of preschool educational institutions: Training of personnel for HACCP groups can be carried out by obtaining formal education with the help of existing educational programs after the implementation of appropriate educational components into them. When developing educational components for training potential participants in HACCP groups, it is advisable to take into account that at least one participant must have more relevant competencies than is customary in the practice of creating HACCP groups at large and medium capacities. The expected learning outcomes of the HACCP team members should provide opportunities for younger HACCP team members to feel confident that they are not “challenging their older colleagues” but providing valid explanations and evidence. The field of practical application of the research results: the results obtained give an idea of the peculiarities of the functioning of the HACCP groups of the catering units of preschool education institutions. The established circumstances made it possible to identify the specific features of personnel training for participation in the HACCP group. Such information is useful for officials who make a decision to create a HACCP group in the catering unit of a preschool education institution, recruit it and develop a training program for its participants. Innovative technological product: approaches to the development of educational components of educational programs for training personnel of HACCP groups for the catering units of preschool education institutions, taking into account the investigated features of the functioning of such groups. Scope of application of the innovative technological product: the established potential directions and restrictions in the training of personnel for participation in the HACCP group are relevant, understandable and aimed at officials who make the decision to create a HACCP group for the catering units of preschool education institutions, its staffing and the development of a training program for participants in this group.The object of research: specific differences in the functioning of HACCP groups of catering units of preschool educational institutions, which determine the potential directions of training the personnel of such groups. Investigated problem: training activities for HACCP teams and conformity assessment are guided by the practice of voluntary implementation and certification of food safety management systems. Although the introduction of permanent procedures based on the principles of the HACCP system at the facilities is a mandatory requirement, the current legislation does not provide for the certification of such procedures. Therefore, the adopted schemes for training specialists for food safety management systems require revision in order to harmonize with the national specifics of the implementation of HACCP procedures in the catering units of preschool education institutions. Main scientific results: conclusions are drawn that can help maximize the success of the preparation of the HACCP group members for the catering units of preschool educational institutions: Training of personnel for HACCP groups can be carried out by obtaining formal education with the help of existing educational programs after the implementation of appropriate educational components into them. When developing educational components for training potential participants in HACCP groups, it is advisable to take into account that at least one participant must have more relevant competencies than is customary in the practice of creating HACCP groups at large and medium capacities. The expected learning outcomes of the HACCP team members should provide opportunities for younger HACCP team members to feel confident that they are not “challenging their older colleagues” but providing valid explanations and evidence. The field of practical application of the research results: the results obtained give an idea of the peculiarities of the functioning of the HACCP groups of the catering units of preschool education institutions. The established circumstances made it possible to identify the specific features of personnel training for participation in the HACCP group. Such information is useful for officials who make a decision to create a HACCP group in the catering unit of a preschool education institution, recruit it and develop a training program for its participants. Innovative technological product: approaches to the development of educational components of educational programs for training personnel of HACCP groups for the catering units of preschool education institutions, taking into account the investigated features of the functioning of such groups. Scope of application of the innovative technological product: the established potential directions and restrictions in the training of personnel for participation in the HACCP group are relevant, understandable and aimed at officials who make the decision to create a HACCP group for the catering units of preschool education institutions, its staffing and the development of a training program for participants in this group

Demographic situation in Ukraine in conditions of deep transformation of the economic crisis

In presented article the author analyzes the impact of demographic situation in Ukraine in conditions of deep transformation of the economic crisis and individual aspects of quality of life of the population of Ukraine. The demographic situation in Ukraine worried politicians, sociologists, economists and ordinary citizens. However, in the wider communities dominated not very informed views regarding the causes of this crisis and, consequently, ways out of it. Improving the demographic situation can be expected only if the improvement in the economic situation in Ukraine, a Central role to play in this is: overcoming poverty, based on revenue growth and standard of living of the whole population; the reformation of labour, because it is here guiding levers reproductive and migration facilities; providing an effective employment, which has become a reliable guarantee an adequate standard of living not only for the workers, but also for his dependents. Socio­economic restructuring of society in Ukraine caused acute problems. Their solution involves the development of science­based comprehensive program of overcoming of demographic crisis, which would include not only the simple reproduction of the population, but also its development in a broad social context

Демографічний стан в Україні в умовах глибокої трансформаційної економічної кризи

In presented article the author analyzes the impact of demographic situation in Ukraine in conditions of deep transformation of the economic crisis and individual aspects of quality of life of the population of Ukraine. The demographic situation in Ukraine worried politicians, sociologists, economists and ordinary citizens. However, in the wider communities dominated not very informed views regarding the causes of this crisis and, consequently, ways out of it. Improving the demographic situation can be expected only if the improvement in the economic situation in Ukraine, a Central role to play in this is: overcoming poverty, based on revenue growth and standard of living of the whole population; the reformation of labour, because it is here guiding levers reproductive and migration facilities; providing an effective employment, which has become a reliable guarantee an adequate standard of living not only for the workers, but also for his dependents. Socio­economic restructuring of society in Ukraine caused acute problems. Their solution involves the development of science­based comprehensive program of overcoming of demographic crisis, which would include not only the simple reproduction of the population, but also its development in a broad social context. Today, the attention of domestic sociologists is increasingly turning to the identification of certain factors, characteristics, characteristics of the demographic situation in Ukraine. The demographic factor is one of the key to ensuring a stable and secure state development, and the problems of optimal demographic development should be considered as the primary interests of the state as a factor and, at the same time, as a result of its functioning.У представленій статті автором аналізується вплив демографічного стану в Україні в умовах глибокої трансформаційної економічної кризи  та окремих аспектів якості життя населення України. Демографічна проблема в Україні занепокоює політиків, соціологів, економістів та пересічних громадян. Однак, у широких колах громадськості переважають не зовсім обґрунтовані погляди щодо причин цієї кризи та, відповідно, способів виходу з неї. Поліпшення демографічної ситуації можна очікувати лише за умови поліпшення економічної ситуації в Україні, центральну роль у цьому мають відіграти: подолання бідності, на основі зростання доходів та рівня життя всього населення; реформування сфери праці, оскільки саме тут формуються провідні важелі репродуктивних і міграційних настанов; забезпечення ефективної зайнятості, яка має стати надійною гарантією належного рівня життя не тільки для самого працюючого, але й для його утриманця. Соціально­економічна перебудова суспільства в Україні спричинила гострі проблеми. Їхнє вирішення передбачає розробку науковообгрунтованої комплексної програми подолання демографічної кризи, яка б охоплювала не тільки питання простого відтворення населення, але й його розвитку у широкому соціальному контексті. У представленій статті автором аналізується вплив демографічного стану в Україні в умовах глибокої трансформаційної економічної кризи  та окремих аспектів якості життя населення України. Демографічна проблема в Україні занепокоює політиків, соціологів, економістів та пересічних громадян. Однак, у широких колах громадськості переважають не зовсім обґрунтовані погляди щодо причин цієї кризи та, відповідно, способів виходу з неї. Поліпшення демографічної ситуації можна очікувати лише за умови поліпшення економічної ситуації в Україні, центральну роль у цьому мають відіграти: подолання бідності, на основі зростання доходів та рівня життя всього населення; реформування сфери праці, оскільки саме тут формуються провідні важелі репродуктивних і міграційних настанов; забезпечення ефективної зайнятості, яка має стати надійною гарантією належного рівня життя не тільки для самого працюючого, але й для його утриманця. Соціально­економічна перебудова суспільства в Україні спричинила гострі проблеми. Їхнє вирішення передбачає розробку науковообгрунтованої комплексної програми подолання демографічної кризи, яка б охоплювала не тільки питання простого відтворення населення, але й його розвитку у широкому соціальному контексті.