Times Of Recession Research Articles

Promising Directions for the Logistics Service Providers Development on the Russian Market in Times of Recession

Abstract The Russian market of logistics services suffered substantial losses during recent economic recession. Decrease in import from the EU and the USA, reduction of consumer spending within the country, increased borrowing costs led to sharp reduction in the growth rate of the investigated market value. Shortage of the modern infrastructure, fragmentation and imbalance of the Russian logistics market have contributed badly. This article focuses on identification of the promising strategic development directions for logistics service providers operating on the Russian market. On the basis of literature survey, the authors derive attractive client groups for 3PL operators, priority regions for geographical expansion as well as high-demand logistics and related services. The results of this survey could help logistics agents to define or clarify their market positioning and serve as a basis for further study of specific features in logistics outsourcing development in Russia.

Shifts in distribution of herbivorous geese relative to hydrological variation in East Dongting Lake wetland, China

Studies on distribution dynamics of waterbirds and the relation with hydrological changes are essential components of ecological researches. East Dongting Lake is a Ramsar site and especially important wintering ground for herbivorous geese along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. In this paper, based on annual (2008/09–2016/17) waterbird census data, we investigated the spatial-temporal distributions of three herbivorous goose species (Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus, Bean Goose Anser fabalis, and Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons) within East Dongting Lake, and analyzed their distribution dynamics (denoted by percentage similarity index, PSI) relative to variations in hydrological regime. The results demonstrated that the distribution of the globally vulnerable Lesser White-fronted Geese changed obviously between years, whereas that of Bean Geese was more stable. Greater White-fronted Geese suffered drastic distribution variation during the study period. The PSI of Lesser White-fronted Geese was negatively correlated with between-year difference in water recession time and mean water level in October, whereas no obvious trend was found in Bean Geese. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was applied to detect changes in food resources of the geese, and significant correlations were also found between NDVI and hydrological factors. It was inferred that the variations in hydrological regime affected the annual distribution dynamics of Lesser White-fronted Geese by changing food conditions; whereas the effect on Bean Geese were not reflected in this study. Species traits may explain the differences in distribution dynamics among the three goose species. It was speculated that Lesser White-fronted Geese might be more sensitive to habitat change, whereas Bean Geese were more resilient. We suggested that regulating hydrological regime was crucial in management works. Our study could offer scientific information for species conservation in the context of habitat changes in East Dongting Lake wetland and provide potential insights into habitat management in this area.

A stepped-wedge implementation and evaluation of the healthy active peaceful playgrounds for youth (HAPPY) intervention

BackgroundIncreasing physical activity in children is a health priority. The Healthy Active Peaceful Playgrounds for Youth (HAPPY) study aimed to examine a multi-component playground intervention designed to increase the proportion of physical activity during recess and lunch of primary school students.MethodsThe 2016 Australian focused HAPPY Study was a 12-month, metropolitan primary school based intervention, which was evaluated using a stepped wedge design. The intervention combined teacher development, environmental modifications, and peer support, with the outcomes of increasing physical activity, and analysing students’ sources of social support to be physically active.ResultsBetween baseline and follow-up, the proportion of students involved in vigorous activities during recess and lunch times increased significantly from 15 to 25% (p < 0.001). No differences were recorded in sources of social support.ConclusionsThe HAPPY project demonstrated an increase in the proportion of physical activity intensity during recess and lunch times in primary schools, although further investigation is required to determine what components of the study had the greatest effect.Trial registrationThis study was retrospectively registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000575437. Date of registration: 4 May 2016.

A theoretical framework for spending review policies at a time of widespread recession

The aim of this paper is to propose a first theoretical framework for medium term spending reviews that determines the main factors affecting the use of these spending reviews and their impact, at a time of widespread recession. As result, it identifies four dimensions (political, social, organisational and operational) and one dynamic element (time) that influence the performance of spending reviews and should be considered in approaching this tool. Finally this paper introduces some theoretical and policy considerations, concerning both how to effectively address the five elements that influence the spending review and how a government should design this tool. JEL codes: H50, H61, H83 Keywords: Spending reviews, recession, performance budgeting, cutback management

Do sentiments influence market dynamics? A reconstruction of the Brazilian stock market and its mood

Sentiments play an important role in justifying economic actions and are typically presented as being a modern incarnation of expectations that influence financial markets, whether they be of a Keynesian or other type. For the case of the São Paulo Stock Market Index (IBovespa), this paper investigates whether sentiments, as publically expressed in specialised media, represent a covariate variable which influences stock market returns, and also how market dynamics evolve through time, especially in times of major shocks or recessions. In this study we use a network approach to relate the evolution of asset returns to a sentiments index. Daily data from IBovespa and a Thomson Reuters MarketPsych index are used as fair indicators of the evolution of the Brazilian economy from 2007 to 2015. We prove that changes in market prices affect news more than the reverse.

Non-reciprocal Friendships in a School-Age Boy with Autism: The Ties that Build?

This mixed-methods study examined differences in social interaction patterns between a school-age boy with autism and his friends, non-reciprocal friends, and non-friends during recess time at a mainstream school (third grade of elementary school). Through a combination of observational methodology and social network analysis with an idiographic, follow-up and multidimensional design approach, we used lag sequential and polar coordinate analysis to ascertain the associations between various interactive behaviors as a function of type of friendship relation. After 40 sessions, we found that the non-reciprocal friendship relations of the boy with autism could have significantly greater potential than his reciprocal friendships to increase active engagement and reduce the time he spent alone during recess.

Climate change and the global pattern of moraine-dammed glacial lake outburst floods

Abstract. Despite recent research identifying a clear anthropogenic impact on glacier recession, the effect of recent climate change on glacier-related hazards is at present unclear. Here we present the first global spatio-temporal assessment of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) focusing explicitly on lake drainage following moraine dam failure. These floods occur as mountain glaciers recede and downwaste. GLOFs can have an enormous impact on downstream communities and infrastructure. Our assessment of GLOFs associated with the rapid drainage of moraine-dammed lakes provides insights into the historical trends of GLOFs and their distributions under current and future global climate change. We observe a clear global increase in GLOF frequency and their regularity around 1930, which likely represents a lagged response to post-Little Ice Age warming. Notably, we also show that GLOF frequency and regularity – rather unexpectedly – have declined in recent decades even during a time of rapid glacier recession. Although previous studies have suggested that GLOFs will increase in response to climate warming and glacier recession, our global results demonstrate that this has not yet clearly happened. From an assessment of the timing of climate forcing, lag times in glacier recession, lake formation and moraine-dam failure, we predict increased GLOF frequencies during the next decades and into the 22nd century.

Socio-political Responses during Recessionary Times in Greece: An Introduction

In the context of the recent global financial crisis – the most severe crisis since the Great De-pression – Greece has been heavily affected in almost all aspects of the economic, social, political and in-stitutional spheres. The implemented draconian austerity measures under the bailout mechanisms have led to devastating effects on the lives of citizens that have triggered a plethora of collective initiatives. The main rationale of the Special Issue is to capture the various facets of socio-political responses that have emerged from the aftermath of the Greek financial crisis. The Special Issue relies on original data produced in the context of two EU-funded projects, namely LIVEWHAT and TransSOL, and includes six papers apply-ing qualitative and quantitative methods, providing a rich set of fresh and systematic data on understand-ing the collective efforts of Greek citizens during recessionary times.

Relationship of employment status and socio‐economic factors with distress levels and counselling outcomes during a recession

AbstractBackgroundSocial inequalities may be magnified during times of economic growth and recession when unemployment levels increase and income opportunities diminish. During a recession with high regional unemployment levels, can therapists expect the same improvements from therapy as they could in good economic times? The aim of this naturalistic study was to use routinely collected outcome measurement data to explore the relationships between unemployment status and client level of distress at the start and completion of counselling.MethodsThe sample included 20,690 clients from Calgary Counselling Centre (CCC) who received counselling between January 2013 and December 2016, and completed the Outcome Questionnaire‐45.2 (OQ) (Lambert, Gregersen &amp; Burlingame, 2004) at both the first and last sessions. Relationships between employment status and level of distress at first and last counselling sessions for these clients were assessed using cross‐tabulations, chi‐square and one‐way analysis of variance tests of significance.ResultsLess improvement was gained from counselling during the recession period than during the boom, and outcomes were affected by age, gender and income level differentially for employed and unemployed clients.DiscussionRoutine outcome data can be utilised at an agency/community level to illustrate the effect of socio‐economic factors on mental health status and treatment outcomes in the general population as well as on community mental health service utilisation. Employment status affects the sociodemographic profile of clients attending a community mental health centre, which in turn affects counselling outcomes overall.

Non-Linear Effects of Uncertainty

Recent empirical studies suggest that the negative effects of uncertainty shocks are stronger in recessions than during booms. In this study, I provide a theoretical mechanism that can explain this empirical observation. I start from the argument that the effect of uncertainty on investment depends on the degree of irreversibility. I then show that the degree of irreversibility increases during recessionary times. Incorporating this fact in a DSGE model with heterogeneous firms and uncertainty shows that time-varying irreversibility is able to produce state-dependent reactions of macroeconomic aggregates to an uncertainty shock that are similar to those observed in the data.

Performance evaluation of Border irrigation method for cotton field

Performance evaluation of Border irrigation method was carried out for cotton field in village Kirarkot, Sirsa (Haryana). Water application, storage and distribution efficiency were estimated using measurements of soil moisture (%), infiltration rate (cm/hr), water advance and recession time (minute) during different irrigation events. The advance time increased during the growing season due to increased infiltration rate and increased resistance to flow by the growing crops. The water application efficiency of cotton field was 100 per cent as average applied depth (8.26 cm for canal irrigation and 9.06 cm for tubewell irrigation) of irrigation was less than the average required depth (10.30 cm for canal irrigation and 10.98 cm for tubewell irrigation) throughout the field plots. The observed water storage efficiency in different cotton fields varied from 72.92 - 90.08 per cent indicating under irrigation. Water distribution efficiency of cotton fields (97.8 -99.2per cent) indicated a relatively high degree of uniformity of water application. Stratified soil profile (sandy loam: 0-30 cm and sandy clay loam: 30-120 cm) of the selected fields reduced the infiltration rate to relatively very low value after 10-15 minutes creating favourable condition for uniformity of water application under border irrigation.

The consideration of rights in delivery aspiration services of the regional representative members to the community

This study examines the performance of the local representative members in serving and channeling people’s aspiration in Sumedang Regency, Indonesia. How the elected members serve their constituents and how they consider the people’s rights were the questions to be answered in this study. The study used a qualitative approach to get the natural settings in which there are many behaviors and events occurred. This study also uses an institutional theory (institutionalism), because the theory could lead the researchers to find the structure, regulation and institutional procedures which could have a significant impact on a public policy and cannot be ignored in policy analysis. This study found that to carry out their functions as elected representatives, the members of the provincial parliament always make themselves available for the community. In doing so, the members of the provincial parliament, among others, absorb and collect the constituents’ aspiration through regular working visits; accommodate and follow up the aspirations and complaints; morally and politically provide accountability to the constituencies. In addition, to receive complaints coming to the local parliament’s office, public aspiration was also obtained in working visits on a regular basis by the members of local parliament in Sumedang as their own region at recess time. In terms of rights, all the services were conducted to fulfill them. Even so, some people still doubt the veracity of such works.

The EU ETS and Dynamic Allocation in Phase IV—An Ex-Ante Assessment

Fear of lowering firms’ competitiveness and carbon leakage is the reason for large amounts of allowances in the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) still being allocated for free. At the same time, unadjusted free allocation of allowances in times of economic recession is partly responsible for the large surplus of allowances that has cumulated in the EU ETS and that is lowering prices in the market. For Phase IV, the introduction of dynamic allocation has been proposed to react to significant changes in production, to prevent the accumulation of further surplus on the one hand and to protect installations from severe underallocation on the other. A reserve of about 400 million allowances is planned for that purpose. This paper analyses the demand for certificates from this reserve under different assumptions on production development as well as different design options for Phase IV. The analysis builds on freely available allocation data from Phase III along with projections of production trends from different time periods in the past. In most of the scenarios, the 400 million allowances are sufficient to fulfil demand for allowances from dynamic allocation until at least the second half of Phase IV (often even for the whole of Phase IV). Even though certain aspects analysed are now not fully compatible with the agreed-upon Phase IV revision, the analysis indicates that the amount of allowances foreseen for dynamic allocation is sufficient for Phase IV. In particular the threshold value of 10% that was introduced in the legislation will ensure that the demand of allowances is likely well below the demand found in the different scenarios in this analysis that neglects this threshold value.

Re-urbanizing the European City: A Multivariate Analysis of Population Dynamics During Expansion and Recession Times.

After a long phase of suburbanization promoting economic decentralization and uneven expansion of urban rings, re-urbanization has been observed in an increasing number of European cities. However, a comprehensive analysis of demographic dynamics underlying spatial patterns-and factors-of re-urbanization is still lacking for the European continent. This study contributes to fill this knowledge gap by proposing a comparative analysis of population dynamics at two spatial scales ('inner cities' and 'large urban zones') in 129 European metropolitan regions under economic expansion (2000-2007) and recession (2008-2014). Non-parametric correlations, principal component analysis, and stepwise multiple regressions were used to identify different spatial patterns of population growth at continental and regional scale in Europe. The number of cities studied that showed a trend towards re-urbanization increased from 36 in 2000-2007 to 47% in 2008-2014. Positive rates of population growth in inner cities were found to be associated with high levels of disposable per capita income at the metropolitan scale. During recession, spatial differences in population growth rates were suggestive of a moderate rearrangement towards re-urbanization in northern and central Europe and less polarized metropolitan regions, with declining population in inner cities of southern and eastern Europe. Based on peculiar demographic dynamics found in the study area, the analysis performed brings useful insights to the debate about the future development of European cities.

Detroit’s Municipal Bankruptcy: Racialised Geographies of Austerity

ABSTRACTUrban geographer Jamie Peck theorises austerity urbanism as a dominant state practice of financially ‘restructuring’ the fiscal agendas of local governments in order to reduce government budget deficits in times of economic recessions. This project seeks to investigate the role of race in the context of austerity urbanism in Detroit following the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008. What is clear is that subprime lending in Detroit was explicitly a raced event. Analysis of austerity politics in Detroit demonstrates that the city is clearly spatially divided along racialised lines. Black city pensioners, former public sector employees, and ‘deliquent taxpayers’ were blamed for Detroit’s municipal bankruptcy in narratives centering on their bloated and generous benefits during the city’s financial decline. The policy outcomes of austerity programmes during the city’s financial crisis impacted racialised, poor communities, specifically the outcomes of privatising the city’s water services that led to state-sanctioned water shut-offs. This paper explores the ways in which race figures in the causes (race-based credit redlining/subprime super-inclusion lending practices) in the way the crisis was narrated to wrongly apportion blame to the racialised poor and city pensioners, and in the effects of the crisis, where water shut-offs wrought punishment on the racialised poor.

Using income effects to market undergraduate education abroad participation in higher education

ABSTRACTRelying heavily on case or regional studies, higher education institutions market the perceived global skills that students acquire from education abroad as a value-added commodity. As industries increase their global reach, understanding the labor market effects of education abroad from a national perspective is necessary and timely. This study isolates many factors known to influence education abroad using the 2008–2012 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study dataset (B&B: 08/12). Through a 2-level hierarchical linear regression analysis model, earning levels of graduates of undergraduate programs are analyzed, offering a national perspective. The findings revealed that students who participated in education abroad earned more money within the labor market, even during harsh recessionary times. While income differences observed between men and women existed in both samples, initial incomes during the first three years post-graduation demonstrated significantly higher wages for some students who studied abroad when compared to their non-participating peers.

The influence of frequency of play in recess times on the amount of physical activity per recess time , school hours, one day

The influence of frequency of play in recess times on the amount of physical activity per recess time , school hours, one day

Spanish women artists and their economic activity: Precarious work in times of recession. Analysis and comparison from a global study

espanolEste articulo describe la actividad de las artistas espanolas, partiendo de los resultados del estudio realizado por los autores a nivel nacional con datos aportados por mas de 1100 artistas, primer analisis en profundidad sobre el sector de los/las artistas plasticos y visuales en Espana, su actividad profesional y circunstancias economicas y laborales, su relacion con los agentes del mercado del arte y la evolucion historica de las ultimas decadas. Se ha segmentado al colectivo de mujeres artistas, 52% del total, analizando sus circunstancias y comparandolas con los hombres y con los datos globales, y contextualizandolo dentro de la actual coyuntura economica. Asi, junto a aspectos generales de la creacion femenina en Espana y su relacion con el mercado, aportamos datos sobre la precariedad y desigualdad en la que viven y trabajan las artistas espanolas. EnglishThis paper describes the activity of Spanish women artists, based on the results of the research carried out by the authors at a national scale. It includes data provided by more than 1100 artists, first in-depth analysis on the sector of visual artists in Spain, about their professional activity, economic and work circumstances, relationship with the art market, and its historical evolution during the last decades. The authors have segmented the group of women artists, 52% of the total, analyzing their circumstances and comparing them to men and to global data, and contextualizing it within the current economic circumstances. Thus, along with general aspects of female creation in Spain and its relationship with the market, we provide data on the precariousness and inequality in which Spanish women artists live and work.

Performance and Profitability of Islamic Banks in Saudi Arabia: An Empirical Analysis

The Present study examines all the internal and external determinants contributing the profitability of 9 Islamic Banks in the region of Saudi Arabia over a period of 2000-2013, that is a period of 14 years. During this period the region of Saudi Arabia has witnessed structural changes as it enters into WTO membership. Also, the period is sufficient enough to see to effects such major changes happened in the region over the financial intermediaries. Using the unbalanced panel data and robust fixed effect model of regressions, the paper examines the impact of bank specific, industry specific and macro-economic variables on profitability. Results indicate that bank characteristics, industry characteristics, and macroeconomic variables are significant in determining Islamic banks’ profitability. Our empirical findings indicate that the coefficient of the capital adequacy is positive and highly significant, with both the measures of profitability, reflecting the sound financial condition of Saudi banks. On the other hand, the positive and significant leverage ratio implies that the Saudi Islamic banks are relying heavily debt financing, suggesting that Saudi Islamic banks are more risky in nature, though profitable to a certain extent, but these might be badly hit in times of recession in the economy. Thus, diversified portfolio is necessary to maintain stability in the future and to reduce the risk and uncertainty. The findings relating the industry specific variables, we find that banking sector in Saudi Arabia is highly competitive. The study further emphasizes optimal policies to bank management that helps the policy makers, bank managers and executives in improving the overall efficiency and maintaining the sound profitability in the Islamic banks in Saudi Arabia.

Public Consultation: Collaboration of Government and Citizens in The Local Requirements-Based Policy Processing

Public consultation is an appropriate means for engaging the public in policy-making and opening up opportunities for every citizen to have their option in following various governance processes. The collaboration of government and citizens as a form of public consultation is a process of strengthening the capacity to build sustainable cooperation among various interest groups. The benefits of collaboration are reducing conflicts of interest and improving the quality of policies. Deliberative democracy is a democratic concept which is based on a mechanism of discussion and prioritizing dialogic ways as a foundation of public consultation. Deliberative democracy allows citizens to discuss public issues and provide lessons to government to act democratically and get legitimation to important issues. DPRD as a legislative body that has the obligation to accommodate the aspirations of the community as the embodiment of public consultation implemented in the recess time. The qualitative research method used in the Bungo district case study showed that the recess period had not been fully utilized. DPRD had not been able to respond to the needs of the community so it was found that the development done in Bungo Regency is not as needed.