Speaking Acquaintances or Helpers in Need: Participation in Civic Associations and Individual Social Capital

It is widely believed that civic associations are capable to produce social capital, here understood as an individual asset resulting from relations of mutual support and assistance. Although hardly anybody denies that socializing is widespread in many civic associations, it still remains to be shown that this socializing provides a genuine commitment to support. This paper explores the relationship between involvement in civic organizations and social support. The data analysed come from a nation-wide survey “Organized Sport and Social Capital—Revisited” (OSSCAR) representing the adult population in Germany. Findings show that participation in civic associations is associated with higher levels of social support. This effect is stronger for active participants and weaker for passive members. Path analyses further indicate that this effect is mediated by a person’s sociability orientations as well as her commitment to prosocial values. These findings help providing a more nuanced understanding of mechanisms of social capital formation in civic associations.Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (3114)Peer Reviewe

In whom do we trust? The level and radius of social trust among sport club members

This paper refers to the widespread notion that voluntary (sport) organizations produce social capital, popularized through the works of Robert D. Putnam, and compares social trust levels of sport club members with members in other voluntary associations and non-members. We differentiate between in-group trust and out-group trust, highlighting that not only the level of trust but also the “trust radius” counts for social cohesion in modern societies. Refining Putnam’s claims, we argue that social trust among members varies with the quality and intensity of participation captured (for instance, through volunteering), diverse social contacts and the level of membership trust experienced in an association. Based on a nation-wide survey, carried out in Germany during 2017/2018, it is demonstrated that members of civic associations indicate higher levels of trust towards in-groups and out-groups compared to non-members and they regard present society as more solidary and trusting. A fine-grained analysis among members of associations further shows that increased trust is typical for volunteers and individuals in socially diverse associations which, at the same time, are characterized by high levels of membership trust. We conclude that sports clubs need to provide beneficial context conditions for producing high levels and a wider radius of trust.Peer Reviewe

"Development box" and special and differential treatment for food security of developing countries: Potentials, limitations and implementation issues

At the Ministerial Conference in Doha, WTO member countries acknowledged the need to further correct the prevailing restrictions and distortions in agricultural world markets. The Ministerial Declaration of Doha reaffirms the commitment of creating a fair agricultural trading system that will recognize the special needs of developing countries and foster their full integration and participation in agricultural world trade. It has been widely discussed who the winners and losers of further trade liberalization may be, considering particular country groups such as the Cairns Group or the group of Net Food Importing Developing Countries. Although many developing countries may gain from both increased access to OECD markets and the elimination of own trade barriers, the most vulnerable economies within the international trading system are likely to be left behind. Therefore, it has been argued that the current WTO negotiations have to be held under the motto of a development round and multiple proposals have been made towards the creation of a Development Box. In this context, our paper emphasizes the heterogeneity of developing countries as a group and the regional diversity within particular economies and puts a special focus on people rather than countries. We suggest a conceptual design of a potential Development and Food Security Box within the WTO Agreement on Agriculture that would address the most pressing issues of hunger and poverty in food-insecure, low-income countries/regions. We also suggest conceptual measures to further integrate the poorest of the poor into the existing trading system and to stimulate their economic development. Finally, we make a first attempt to identify possible actors as well as financing and implementation mechanisms for a viable Development Box that would reach beyond conventional Green Box and Special and Differential Treatment measures. We conclude that direct action for food security remains necessary. The complementary potentials of trade, finance, and political reform, and the multiplicity of instruments needed for sustainable development, including food security, are to be utilized. A rule-based Development Box that is complementary to trade liberalization in the long run is called for

Zukunft der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit

Entwicklungszusammenarbeit (EZ) sollte als die Gesamtheit der zwischen- und innerstaatlichen Allokation (finanzielle, technologische, wissensbezogene) verstanden werden, die auf die Verbesserung der heutigen und zukünftigen Lebensbedingungen der Armen und Benachteiligten abzielt. Diese erweiterte Definition beinhaltet sowohl öffentlich bereitgestellte Ressourcen als auch solche, die - durch die Entwicklungspolitik ausgelöst - innerhalb eines Landes mobilisiert werden. Die Notwendigkeit, Prioritäten in der EZ zu setzen, hat sich verstärkt. Damit EZ nicht einfach modischen Trends folgt, sind Kriterien für die Prioritätensetzung erforderlich. Normative Kriterien für Prioritäten sind komparative Vorteile, Komplementarität und Subsidiarität der EZ gegenüber anderen Aktivitäten. EZ sollte somit vermehrt auf rechtsstaatliche und demokratische Strukturen in Entwicklungsländern hinarbeiten; durch bilaterale oder multilaterale Kooperation auf eine Entschärfung der Konfliktpotentiale zwischen Handel und Umwelt bzw. Handel und Entwicklung abzielen; Forschung und den Transfer von verfügbarem Wissen und Technologien fördern, die der armutsreduzierenden Entwicklung dienen; und die Möglichkeit nutzen und fördern, dass eigenständige Organisationen dort Leistungen anbieten können, wo Staat und Markt nur sub-optimale institutionelle Lösungen anbieten, insbesondere im ländlichen Raum, wo die Masse der Armen lebt

"Development box" and special and differential treatment for food security of developing countries : Potentials, limitations and implementation issues

At the Ministerial Conference in Doha, WTO member countries acknowledged the need to further correct the prevailing restrictions and distortions in agricultural world markets. The Ministerial Declaration of Doha reaffirms the commitment of creating a fair agricultural trading system that will recognize the special needs of developing countries and foster their full integration and participation in agricultural world trade. It has been widely discussed who the winners and losers of further trade liberalization may be, considering particular country groups such as the Cairns Group or the group of Net Food Importing Developing Countries. Although many developing countries may gain from both increased access to OECD markets and the elimination of own trade barriers, the most vulnerable economies within the international trading system are likely to be left behind. Therefore, it has been argued that the current WTO negotiations have to be held under the motto of a “development round” and multiple proposals have been made towards the creation of a Development Box. In this context, our paper emphasizes the heterogeneity of developing countries as a group and the regional diversity within particular economies and puts a special focus on people rather than countries. We suggest a conceptual design of a potential Development and Food Security Box within the WTO Agreement on Agriculture that would address the most pressing issues of hunger and poverty in food-insecure, low-income countries/regions. We also suggest conceptual measures to further integrate the poorest of the poor into the existing trading system and to stimulate their economic development. Finally, we make a first attempt to identify possible actors as well as financing and implementation mechanisms for a viable Development Box that would reach beyond conventional Green Box and Special and Differential Treatment measures. We conclude that direct action for food security remains necessary. The complementary potentials of trade, finance, and political reform, and the multiplicity of instruments needed for sustainable development, including food security, are to be utilized. A rule-based Development Box that is complementary to trade liberalization in the long run is called for.</em

Social Capital Trends in Germany in the Face of the Covid-19 Pandemic

This research note reports social capital trends in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on a comparison of survey data from 2017/18 and 2020/21, i.e., trends reported here inform about changes of social capital levels during the “second lockdown” of the pandemic, when containment policies were in effect throughout the country. Findings point to stable levels of in-group trust, out-group trust and prosocial attitudes. At the same time, sociability orientations are lower and society is generally perceived as less solidary. Members in voluntary organizations have more social capital compared to non-members—this difference is found before as well as during the pandemic. Regarding that changes are generally small, it can be concluded that the pandemic did neither strengthen social capital considerably, nor did it lead to a massive overall decline of social capital.Peer Reviewe

Development of a low-cost method for quantifying microplastics in soils and compost using near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a promising candidate for low-cost, nondestructive, and high-throughput mass quantification of microplastics in environmental samples. Widespread application of the technique is currently hampered mainly by the low sensitivity of NIR spectroscopy compared to thermoanalytical approaches commonly used for this type of analysis. This study shows how the application of NIR spectroscopy for mass quantification of microplastics can be extended to smaller analyte levels by combining it with a simple and rapid microplastic enrichment protocol. For this purpose, the widely used flotation of microplastics in a NaCl solution, accelerated by centrifugation, was chosen which allowed to remove up to 99% of the matrix at recovery rates of 83%–104%. The spectroscopic measurements took place directly on the stainless-steel filters used to collect the extracted particles to reduce sample handling to a minimum. Partial least squares regression models were used to identify and quantify the extracted microplastics in the mass range of 1–10 mg. The simple and fast extraction procedure was systematically optimized to meet the requirements for the quantification of microplastics from common polyethylene-, polypropylene-, and polystyrene-based packaging materials with a particle size 10% determined by loss on ignition). Microplastics could be detected in model samples at a mass fraction of 1 mg g−1. The detectable microplastic mass fraction is about an order of magnitude lower compared to previous studies using NIR spectroscopy without additional enrichment. To emphasize the cost-effectiveness of the method, it was implemented using some of the cheapest and most compact NIR spectrometers available.BMBFPeer Reviewe

Oxidation of Silicon Carbide Composites for Nuclear Applications at Very High Temperatures in Steam

Single-rod oxidation and quench experiments at very high temperatures in steam atmosphere were conducted with advanced, nuclear grade SiCf/SiC CMC cladding tube segments. A transient experiment was performed until severe local degradation of the sample at maximum temperature of approximately 1845 °C. The degradation was caused by complete consumption of the external CVD-SiC sealcoat, resulting in steam access to the fiber–matrix composite with less corrosion resistance. Approaching these very high temperatures was accompanied by accelerated gas release mainly of H2 and CO2, the formation of surface bubbles and white smoke. Three one-hour isothermal tests at 1700 °C in steam with final water flooding and one three-hour experiment with fast cool-down in Ar atmosphere were run under nominally identical conditions. All isothermally tested samples survived the tests without any macroscopic degradation. The mechanical performance of these quenched clad segments was not significantly affected, while maintaining a high capability to tolerate damages. Despite these harsh exposure conditions, load transfer between SiC fibers and matrix remained efficient, allowing the composites to accommodate deformation