Justus Ogembo, Associate Professor of Education, travels to Italy

On March 11, 2015, I travelled to Verona, Italy, to present a paper at a conference held at the University of Verona and participate in a subsequent two-day workshop. This event, sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF), and organized by Professors Giovanni Bennardo of Northern Illinois University and Anna Paini of the University of Verona, brought together scholars from across the world who had conducted fieldwork in diverse communities around the world on `Cultural Models of Nature’ during the summer of 2014 with a grant from the NSF; hence, the theme of the event, “Local Knowledge: Fieldwork Experience.” The event lasted from 12th to 15th March. I returned on March 16th. My air ticket to and from this venue was made possible by generous support from the Center for International Education, Department of Anthropology, and Department of Education. I am eternally grateful

Not guilty? Another look at the nature and nurture of economics students

Economists praise the efficiency of the price mechanism in allocating scarce resources. Others, however, often reject it as unfair. In this study, we investigate the extent to which economists also differ from non-economists in how they value the fairness of the price system, and examine how deeply such differences are rooted in their course of studies. The result: studying economics does in fact influence how they arrive at value judgements, though students' attitudes do not stem solely from this factor - their views already differ from those of non-economics students right at the beginning of their studies. --Economists,fairness,learning,selection,attitudes

The Santaniello theorem of irreversible benefits

Irreversible benefits favor an earlier introduction of GM crops versus a later one. A non-trivial question is if they also weigh more than reversible benefits similar to irreversible costs but in the opposite direction. In this contribution, I will show that indeed irreversible benefits do weigh more than reversible ones and indeed result in an irreversibility effect, albeit a positive one. The problem can be summarized by the following theorem: “Irreversible benefits justify the immediate introduction of transgenic crops, even if future uncertainty about reversible benefits include negative benefits and traditional cost-benefit analysis, and treating all benefits and costs as reversible would reject the introduction.” I call this theorem—in honor of Vittorio Santaniello—the “The Santaniello Theorem of Irreversible Benefits.”GMOs; irreversible benefits; real option; uncertainty

The Option Value of Scientific Uncertainty on Pest - Resistance Development of Transgenic Crops

In this paper the option value of waiting under scientific uncertainty will be derived using the difference between the geometric Brownian motion and the mean reverting process by applying contingent claim analysis. The results will be compared with those generated by either using a geometric Brownian motion or a mean-reverting process only. An example based on the decision problem whether or not to release herbicide tolerant rape seed in the EU will be used to illustrate the differences. The paper contributes to the suggestion made by biologists to further analyze the sensitivity of the results using the real option approach, provides insights about the magnitude of error that can be made by choosing the wrong process, provides a solution to the problem and highlights the implication for the decision of whether or not to release transgenic crops. The results show that scientific uncertainty is less important than one would expect at first hand.biotechnology, cost-benefit analysis, real option, scientific uncertainty

Hinduism and ecology: Its relevance and importance

The sustenance of the environment is one of the cardinal teachings of the Hindus tradition and, in this regard, the Hindus tradition points out clearly that a good environment is indispensable for a healthy life. This work seeks to explore some of the fundamental teachings of Hinduism that point to the implications of the relationship between human beings and their environment. For instance, the dharma ecology explains the mechanism for creating respect for nature and the consequences of not doing so. Essentially, this relationship and its corresponding consequence functions in line with the Karmic law of nature. The essence of this paper is to create awareness on the impending disaster that may result from the abuse of the eco-system such as the extinction of the earth’s plants and animal species that may result from the current destruction of forests and coral reefs, and the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer, which will expose life to excessive ultraviolet radiation that is damaging to genetic materials. This work used the qualitative method of research involving secondary method of data collection such as written literature, internet materials, among others. Interestingly, education and sensitization through networking and advertising can be used in enhancing the knowledge on how to relate favourably with the eco-system

Editor’s introduction. the future of agricultural biotechnology: creative destruction, adoption, or irrelevance?–in honor of Prof. Vittorio Santaniello.

With the death of Prof. Vittorio Santaniello in the summer of 2007, the International Consortium for Agricultural Biotechnology Research (ICABR) lost one of its most enthusiastic founders and most important contributors. This special issue celebrates Prof. Santaniello’s commitment to the establishment of an independent forum of discussion for agricultural biotechnology issues by collecting high-quality, peerreviewed scientific contributions to the ICABR Conference held June 12-14, 2008 in Ravello, Italy. The conference theme, The Future of Agricultural Biotechnology: Creative Destruction, Adoption, or Irrelevance? in Honor of Vittorio Santaniello, was an invitation to look at the current status of scientific knowledge in agricultural biotechnology and to the new challenges ahead. Participants from around the world found their way to the Amalfi Coast to present their contributions and begin to pave the road ahead. Their efforts were framed by seven excellent plenary sessions.biotechnology; research & development; economic growth

Economic principles of state aid control

This paper summarizes the economic principles of European state aid control. We start with a discussion of the economic justification for state aid control, including the definition of state aid in European law and exceptions to the general ban of state aid. We then explore the motives for granting state aid, ranging from the correction of market failures over political motives to political economy considerations. We then discuss how state aid control fits into the framework of European competition policy before we comment extensively on the more economic approach to state aid control, as implemented by the European Commission, and the state aid action plan. --