The Cotonou Agreement and its implications for the regional trade agenda in eastern and southern Africa

Subregional trade arrangements (RTAs) in Eastern and Southern Africa have proliferated in the past 10 to 15 years. The small size of most of the countries in the region, some of which are landlocked, and the security needs in the post independence period largely explain the rapid expansion. These arrangements are characterized by multiple and overlapping memberships, complex structures, and eventually, conflicting and confusing commitments. The influence of RTAs has been limited to assisting the region in increasing trade, attracting foreign direct investment, enhancing growth, and achieving convergence among member countries. But despite their limitations, RTAs have the potential, if properly designed and effectively implemented, to be an important instrument in integrating member countries into global markets. In 1998 most of the Southern African countries, as members of the Africa Caribbean Pacific group (ACP), signed the Cotonou Agreement with the European Union, which includes the negotiation of economic partnership agreements (EPAs) between the EU and the ACP. The Cotonou Agreement explicitly leaves to the ACP countries to decide the level and procedures of the EPA trade negotiations, taking into account the regional integration process. This raises the question of how to decide on the groupings in the context of conflicting regional trade agendas. The author argues that the Cotonou Agreement and EPA negotiations could become the external driving force that will push the regional organizations to rationalize and harmonize their regional trade arrangements, thus strengthening the integration process and economies of the region, and assisting the Eastern and Southern Africa region in becoming a more active partner in the global economy.Rules of Origin,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Trade Policy,Transport and Trade Logistics,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Trade and Regional Integration,Trade Policy,Economic Theory&Research,Rules of Origin

Stabilization and association process in the Banlkans : integration options and their assessment

The stabilization and association process launched by the European Union in the aftermath of the Kosovo war in 1999 has created a new policy environment for five South East European countries (SEE-5). In exchange for EU assistance, the prospect of EU accession, and the continuation of preferential access to EU markets, SEE-5 governments have to upgrade their institutions and governance by European standards and engage in mutual regional cooperation, including stability pact member-countries. The authors examine the benefits to SEE-5 of trade liberalization along two dimensions and suggest conditions under which these could be maximized. They argue that the process of regional trade liberalization should be extended to multilateral liberalization, aligning SEE-5 most-favored-nation (MFN) applied tariffs on industrial products with EU MFN tariffs, and that priority be given to structural reforms and regional cooperation aimed at trade facilitation. As inter-industry trade rather than intra-industry trade dominates intra-SEE-5 trade, the potential for expansion in intra-SEE-5 trade is limited at least within the confines of the existing production structures and transportation infrastructure. Therefore SEE-5 free trade agreements are unlikely to contribute to economic growth without concurrent efforts to improve infrastructure, trade facilitation, business, and investment climate, as well as to increase competition from MFN imports to external preferential suppliers through multilateral liberalization.Rules of Origin,Environmental Economics&Policies,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,Economic Theory&Research,Trade Policy,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Environmental Economics&Policies,Trade and Regional Integration,Economic Theory&Research,Rules of Origin

Consequences of economic: Partnership agreements between East and Southern African countries and the EU for inter- and intra-regional integration

The European Union is currently negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with six African, Caribbean and Pacific country groupings, aiming at establishing mutual free trade. This paper empirically assesses the impact of the EPAs on trade flows and government revenues for 22 East and Southern African countries and discusses implications for intra-regional integration. The results indicate that while moderate trade effects can be expected, relatively large budget effects are likely to occur in a number of these countries, exposing them to considerable structural and financial adjustment requirements. Also, EPAs would strengthen the need to consolidate overlapping intra-regional integration schemes. --Economic Partnership Agreement,EU,ACP Countries,East and Southern Africa

Multilateralism and Regionalism: Trade Opportunities for Sub-Saharan Africa

There are several explanations of the decline of sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) share in world markets such as badly managed economic & institutional reforms. This paper focuses on the role that multilateral & regional trade agreements may have had in this decline & how multilateral & regional trade agreements may offer opportunities to reverse this trend. The objective of this article is to review the trade opportunities facing SSA both at the multilateral & regional level. In conclusion, the authors suggest some small steps that could help reverse the decline of SSA's share in world markets

Pobreza y desigualdad social en el mundo

La desigualdad económica se ha convertido en uno de los grandes problemas sociales de nuestro tiempo. Desde principios de los años ochenta, con el auge del neoliberalismo y la aceleración de la globalización, la desigualdad ha aumentado hasta cotas no vistas en décadas

La Contabilidad Financiera y la Contabilidad de Costes en SAP R/3

El lanzamiento en 1992 de la nueva versión de SAP R/3 por la empresa alemana SAP AG encumbró a ésta al éxito y aún hoy, transcurridos ya diez años, sigue líder en el sector de empresas que abastecen de programas informáticos ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning - Sistemas Integrados de Gestión) a las empresas. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar los módulos que dicho programa dedica a la Contabilidad Financiera y a la Contabilidad de Costes, prestando atención a cada uno de las funciones que lo componen. Por último, se ofrece una visión sobre los procesos de implantación en las empresas con relación a tales módulos para de este modo, conocer las principales dificultades con las que se encuentran a la hora de aplicar un programa de tales características, así como las ventajas que aporta a la gestión empresarial

Metrology and Digital Image Processing in Dentistry

Metrological techniques using digital image processing techniques have been extended into different fields of science such as optics, meteorology, mineralogy, agriculture, and medicine, among others. In the field of medicine, particularly in dentistry, it is important to perform different dental measurements to support the biometric work of specialists using panoramic radiographic images. Due to the poor capturing of these radiographic images, several problems, such as poor contrast and quality, are generally present. As the detection of the dental area must be done using these images, this chapter presents an algorithm that will assist in bettering image quality and make the dental measurements needed. This is done by binarizing using the histogram statistics of the image for the determination of threshold in order to establish sections of the teeth and the detection of the intramaxillary section by fitting a nonlinear function. The proposed method is applied to panoramic digital radiographs of subjects with permanent dentition (≥12 years and <30 years). The algorithm achieved an adjustment of 96% of the processed radiographs as a result from patients of the School of Dentistry of the Universidad de la Salle Bajío

Correlación entre estrés, niveles de cortisol y estrategias de afrontamiento en pacientes con cáncer sometidos a tratamiento

Introduction: Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2012 14 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths. (WHO, 2019). Patients in treatment, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been shown to have high levels of cortisol that influence their quality of life. Objective: to identify the relationship between stress, cortisol level and coping strategies in cancer patients undergoing treatment. Material and methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study conducted June to December 2018. In 65 male and female patients under treatment. Results: 68.2% were women 31.8% men, between 17 and 76 years. With diagnoses Ca breast (30.3%), prostate cancer (18.3), colon (15.2), lung (13.6), cervical (12.1% gastric (9.1%) skin cancer (1.5%). Statistics: 35.3% reported cortisol at normal levels and 64.5% high levels; stress averaged 13.9 (DE s 4.64). On the level of cortisol and the type of treatment, significant differences were observed (X2 x 1,546, p .04), i.e. the patient who has a mixed treatment cortisol is higher. Conclusions: It is important to reevaluate the strategies focused on the problem, analyze implications and propose studies in the context in which they operate, in the future develop an intervention including nursing activities in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, supporting effective coping strategies. minimizing threats focused on the problem, it is important to have a deeper comprehensive approach.Introducción: El cáncer es una de las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad en el mundo, según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), en 2012 14 millones de casos nuevos y 8,2 millones de muertes. Se demostró que los pacientes en tratamiento, cirugía, quimioterapia y radioterapia tienen niveles altos de cortisol que influye en su calidad de vida. Objetivo: Identificar la relación entre el estrés, a nivel de cortisol y las estrategias de afrontamiento en pacientes con cáncer sometidos a tratamiento.Material y métodos: Estudio transversal, descriptivo y correlacional realizado junio a diciembre del 2019. Resultados epidemiológicos: 68.2% mujeres 31.8 % hombres, entre 17 y 76 años, con diagnósticos de: Ca mama (30.3%), de próstata (18.3), colon (15.2), pulmón (13.6), cervical (12.1% gástrico (9.1%) cáncer de piel (1.5%). Estadísticos: El 35,3% informaron cortisol a niveles normales y 64.5% niveles altos; el estrés obtuvo un promedio de 13.9 (DE = 4.64). Sobre el nivel de cortisol y el tipo de tratamiento, se observaron diferencias significativas (X2 = 1,546, p = .04), es decir, el paciente que tienen un tratamiento mixto el cortisol es más alto. Conclusiones: Es importante reevaluar las estrategias centradas en el problema, analizar implicaciones y proponer estudios en el contexto en que se desenvuelven, en futuro desarrollar una intervención incluyendo actividades de enfermería en la quimioterapia y radioterapia, apoyando estrategias de afrontamiento efectivas. En este sentido y derivado de la minimización de amenazas centradas en el problema, es importante tener un enfoque integral más profundo

Propuesta de mejora del Sistema Interno de Garantía de Calidad de la Facultad de Medicina

La garantía de calidad en el ámbito universitario puede considerarse como la atención sistemática, estructurada y continua a las titulaciones ofertadas. La garantía de calidad se compromete a poner en marcha los medios que aseguren y demuestren la calidad de los programas formativos que se desarrollan en cada una de las titulaciones ofrecidas por la Universidad y así cumplir con la obligación que tiene con la sociedad. El presente proyecto nace como fruto de la responsabilidad adquirida para el cumplimiento de las funciones encomendadas y, con el objetivo de seguir adoptando una estrategia de mejora continua de la calidad de la docencia y satisfacción de los colectivos implicados en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje (Profesorado, Estudiantes y PAS)

ECO D2.5 Learning analytics requirements and metrics report

In MOOCs, learning analytics have to be addressed to the various types of learners that participate. This deliverable describes indicators that enable both teachers and learner to monitor the progress and performance as well as identify whether there are learners at risk of dropping out. How these indicators should be computed and displayed to end users by means of dashboards is also explained. Furthermore a proposal based on xAPI statements for storing relevant data and events is provided.Part of the work carried out has been funded with support from the European Commission, under the ICT Policy Support Programme, as part of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) in the ECO project under grant agreement n° 21127