An Econometric Investigation into the Macroeconomic Relationship between Investment and Saving: Evidence from the EU Region

By and large, it is beyond any question that sound government finances may indeed be an important factor that conditions economic progress. Nonetheless, the notion that saving must be boosted in order to expand investment, is a contention that has to be taken with a 'pinch of salt'. This study by elaborating on the temporal relationship between investment and saving, provides econometric evidence, on the basis of which investment is a variable with the utmost importance.Investment, Saving, EU

Exploiting Frequency and Spatial Dimensions in Small Cell Wireless Networks

This paper examines the efficiency of spatial and frequency dimensions in serving multiple users in the downlink of a small cell wireless network with randomly deployed access points. For this purpose, the stochastic geometry framework is incorporated, taking into account the user distribution within each cell and the effect of sharing the available system resources to multiple users. An analysis of performance in terms of signal-to-interference-ratio and achieved user rate is provided that holds under the class of non-cooperative multiple access schemes. In order to obtain concrete results, two simple instances of multiple access schemes are considered. It is shown that performance depends critically on both the availability of frequency and/or spatial dimensions as well as the way they are employed. In particular, increasing the number of available frequency dimensions alone is beneficial for users experiencing large interference, whereas increasing spatial dimensions without employing frequency dimensions degrades performance. However, best performance is achieved when both dimensions are combined in serving the users.Comment: IEEE WCNC '1

A post-mortem of austerity: the Greek experience

The policies of economic austerity are invoked whenever a country's public deficit is spiralling out of control. Given the intricate channels through which deficits and debt can be financed, i.e. either through borrowing or money creation, manipulation of public deficits may pose significant constraints on economic growth, social cohesion and political stability. In this context, austerity is a policy expedient that, if applied irresponsibly, might have irreversible effects on both economic and social structures. In Greece economic policies of austerity, in conjunction with internal devaluation, have been adopted in an attempt to improve competitiveness, correct external deficits and promote export-led growth. In this paper, by scrutinising a range of key economic indicators, we argue that austerity has depressed significantly the real economy in Greece, threatening further an already crippled economic environment with a danger of further stagnation. We also provide econometric evidence for the period 2000 - 2013 which shows that the positive contribution of net exports to economic growth in Greece has been as a result of relatively low domestic demand, not to relative gains in the international price competitiveness of Greek enterprises. Finally, it is envisaged that the lack of adequate endogenous capacity as a means of galvanising economic growth has the potential to usher in prolonged periods of economic depression

Making sense of assets: Community asset mapping and related approaches for cultivating capacities

This working paper critically reviews some main aspects from asset based approaches highlights key strengths and weaknesses for future research/development. Drawing on a large body of reports and relevant literature we draw on different theoretical traditions and critiques, as well as practices and processes embedded within a broad range of approaches including, widely acknowledged frameworks such Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), Appreciative Inquiry (AI), Sustainable Livelihood Approaches (SLA) and Community Capitals Framework (CCF). Although these are presented as distinct approaches, there is a sense of evolution through them and many of them overlap (in terms of both theories and methodologies). We also include emerging frameworks, including geographical, socio-spatial, visual and creative approaches, stemming from a number of projects within AHRC’s Connected Communities programme and additional collaborations

Proceedings of the ECCS 2005 satellite workshop: embracing complexity in design - Paris 17 November 2005

Embracing complexity in design is one of the critical issues and challenges of the 21st century. As the realization grows that design activities and artefacts display properties associated with complex adaptive systems, so grows the need to use complexity concepts and methods to understand these properties and inform the design of better artifacts. It is a great challenge because complexity science represents an epistemological and methodological swift that promises a holistic approach in the understanding and operational support of design. But design is also a major contributor in complexity research. Design science is concerned with problems that are fundamental in the sciences in general and complexity sciences in particular. For instance, design has been perceived and studied as a ubiquitous activity inherent in every human activity, as the art of generating hypotheses, as a type of experiment, or as a creative co-evolutionary process. Design science and its established approaches and practices can be a great source for advancement and innovation in complexity science. These proceedings are the result of a workshop organized as part of the activities of a UK government AHRB/EPSRC funded research cluster called Embracing Complexity in Design (www.complexityanddesign.net) and the European Conference in Complex Systems (complexsystems.lri.fr). Embracing complexity in design is one of the critical issues and challenges of the 21st century. As the realization grows that design activities and artefacts display properties associated with complex adaptive systems, so grows the need to use complexity concepts and methods to understand these properties and inform the design of better artifacts. It is a great challenge because complexity science represents an epistemological and methodological swift that promises a holistic approach in the understanding and operational support of design. But design is also a major contributor in complexity research. Design science is concerned with problems that are fundamental in the sciences in general and complexity sciences in particular. For instance, design has been perceived and studied as a ubiquitous activity inherent in every human activity, as the art of generating hypotheses, as a type of experiment, or as a creative co-evolutionary process. Design science and its established approaches and practices can be a great source for advancement and innovation in complexity science. These proceedings are the result of a workshop organized as part of the activities of a UK government AHRB/EPSRC funded research cluster called Embracing Complexity in Design (www.complexityanddesign.net) and the European Conference in Complex Systems (complexsystems.lri.fr)