Sensitive Sectors Research Articles

The gradual city-ness and town-ness of public service locations: Towards spatially sensitive sector policies

Location policies of public services such as health care have a great impact on urban and regional structures. Hence, we criticise the general failure of national public sector policies to account for regionally unequal conditions. Conversely, we question the sufficiency of current regional planning concepts for a spatially sensitive location policy of public services. In this theoretical-conceptual contribution, we review the literature on public service provision and the logics of public facility location systems, especially concerning their explanatory value under different regional urbanisation conditions. We reinterpret the conceptual limits of the prime planning concepts of ‘central places’ and ‘polycentricity’ – represented by their underlying spatial logics of hierarchy and complementarity – by employing the ‘central flow theory’ of Taylor, Hoyler, and Verbruggen. With the help of the ‘territory-place-scale-network (TPSN) framework’ of Jessop, Brenner and Jones, we perform a conceptual shift to ultimately outline an integrative ‘central places and flows planning approach’. It accounts for unequal regional conditions for public service locations, and thus manages to integrate economic, political, and spatial components of service provision. We illustrate the feasibility of the central places and flows planning approach using the case of the Finnish social and health care sector. The (failed) Finnish governance reform plans of 2015–2019 for the health care sector are a telling example of spatially un-sensitive sector policies. The reform plans wanted to advance free market elements and enhance the free choice of clients. These aims implicitly re-enforced centre-favouring conditions at the expense of peripheral regions.

A Neural Network Application of Fully Homomorphic Encryption for Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a very convenient way of processing huge databases while sharing resources. Currently there are many cloud services available at comparatively low costs, which encourages researchers in the field of Machine and Deep Learning to use them. The problem with clouds is their inherent insecure nature. Hence sensitive sectors like health care and banking, are hesitant to use these services. In this paper we provide a proof of concept for applying “Fully Homomorphic Encryption” to process images on clouds for Neural Network application. We demonstrate the success of FHE on black-and-white, grayscale and color images, Gaussian filtering and on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for image classification, to some extent.

‘Made in China 2025’ and China’s cross-border strategic M&As in OECD countries

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the highly debated ‘Made in China 2025’ program and its effects on Chinese M&As in OECD countries. Difference-in-differences as well as difference-in-difference-in-differences statistical techniques are employed to calculate to what extent ‘Made in China 2025’ has shaped both sector composition and location choice of Chinese M&As in the OECD, and to estimate effects and limits of national policies on cross-border M&As. Based on statistical results we can argue that ‘Made in China 2025’ has induced a new ‘troika’ model, of which the significance is moderated by firm-specific characteristics, such as ownership structure, and the firm’s home country embeddedness level. However, while we observe location diversification of Chinese M&As in the OECD at the aggregate level, hosting countries’ FDI screening mechanisms have no significant impact on containing China’s M&As that target more sensitive sectors.

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Financial Ratios: Α Pro-Stakeholders’ View of Performance Measurement for Sustainable Value Creation of the Wind Energy

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to explore business performance in a rather sensitive sector that equally combines economic, environmental and social dimensions. The paper investigates the efficiency of wind farm companies, in a framework of pursuing more diverse stakeholders’ interests Design/Methodology/Approach: Ratios and DEA approaches are combined to measure economic efficiency among the DMUs of a sample of wind farms, using data from their financial statements. Findings: Productivity and effectiveness comprise the performance measured by the economic efficiency. We show that by choosing inputs and outputs that are closely related in forming an appropriate financial ratio, it helps to design and explain more fully the impact of a policy intervention aiming at improving economic efficiency. DEA supplements ratios to design, implement and assess a strategy of benchmarking towards bolstering performance, that favors a wider range of stakeholders. Originality/Value: The study provides an in-depth insight into using Data Envelopment Analysis and financial ratios to study economic efficiency. The approach combines economic, social and environmental dimensions (indirectly) of performance, and the composite ratio Return on Total Assets (ROTA). The analysis caters the specific features of the sector renewable energy and their diverse stakeholders.

Exploratory cases on the interplay between green human resource management and advanced green manufacturing in light of the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity theory

PurposeGreen human resource management (HRM) has been considered to be a vitally important mechanism for companies to move towards a sustainable organization. By adopting the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity as the underpinning theory, the purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that facilitate the adoption of Green HRM in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative exploratory approach research was adopted in this study. The required data for this study were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews with human resources directors and managers from four large manufacturing companies in Malaysia. The data collected was then reorganized into four themes.FindingsBased on the interview, four key factors that influence the adoption of Green HRM include stakeholder pressures, relative advantage, which means the perceived benefits from implementing Green HRM, top management commitment and green intellectual capital, which means the intellectual capital incorporating green innovation or environmental management. Surprisingly, among the three dimensions of green intellectual capital, only green human capital and green structural capital were greatly discussed by the human resources directors and managers, while the role of green relational capital on the adoption of Green HRM was hardly observed.Originality/valueResearch studies on Green HRM in Malaysia are scarce. The originality of this paper lies in its exploration of Green HRM in an environmental sensitive sector and the insight it provides to academics and practitioners involved in the manufacturing sector. Although research findings cannot be generalized, they can be used as insights for both academics and end-users in emerging economies.

Did Demonetization Affects Indian Stock Market? A Short-Term Analysis

In this paper, We analyze the shocking episode of “2016 demonetization” in India. The policy declared 86% of cash in circulation in the form of INR 500 ($7.5) & INR 1000 ($15) notes as an illegal tender effective from the midnight of November 8, 2016. However, the government of India gradually introduced new notes of INR 500 and INR 2000($30) over the next several months, this is considered as one of the biggest macro-economic shock happened at a stable economic environment. Following demonetization announcement, there was a rapid decline in the stock prices of cash- sensitive sectors like consumer goods, financial services, signaling lower market expectation of a fall in demand. However, demonetization has affected the purchasing power which sharply declines the demand for various goods and services in the economy. Therefore, this paper focus on the short-term impact of demonetization announcement on stock price of 100 publicly listed firms in India using daily data. To capture short- term announcement effect, We use estimation window ranges from one week after the announcement to 60 days. Ordinary Least Square (OLS), Fixed Effect (FE) and Random Effect (RE) estimation techniques are used in this study. The results found that the announcement effect of demonetization sharply decline the stock prices of the Indian firms. To control heterogeneous effect among the firms, this paper divide the firm into “Economic Financial sectors” and “other sectors” and found that stock prices severely affected by the demonetization announcement in short-term.

Compliance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization on the practice of physical activity in people over 65 years in Spain

Purpose: Identifying whether the recommendations of the WHO regarding the amount of weekly time dedicated to the practice of PA in its different modalities are being met in the population of people over 65 in Spain. Method: This study has used data provided by 1317 interviewees aged 65 to 69 years old included in the Spanish Health Survey. Results: 19.1% of the sample said to not walk any day of the week at least 10 minutes, being the 84.2% those who did, at least, 150 minutes per week. Concerning the accomplishment of intense and moderate physical activity generally, the general or optimal recommendations for the weekly time were not satisfied. The proportion of individuals that comply the recommendations, general and optimal, of physical activity moderate were 17.4% in both cases. Those percentages, regarding intense exercise, the percentage of individuals that comply with the recommendations are reduced to 6.6% and 2.4%, for general and optimal recommendations, respectively. Conclusion: The practice of moderate and intense exercise is not within the frequent habits of people over 65 years of age, and this phenomenon could be one of the causes of the increasing health demand in this country (regardless of whether it is of a sensitive sector to get sick from the ageing process).

Основные тенденции в развитии мировой торговли и структурные особенности российского экспорта

Global trends and structural shifts in the development of international trade, which have a fundamental character, and will continue to develop for more than a decade, are considered. It is noted that significant changes were particularly impressive in the communication sphere, which, in turn, affected the most socially sensitive sector of the economy - services. The article analyzes the causes of crisis phenomena in the multilateral system of trade regulation based on liberalization and harmonization of rules for traditional forms of trade, as well as the growth of protectionism in the conditions of the formation of trade continents - modern forms of regional agreements. The article deals with the influence of regionalism scaling on the narrowing of the free market space and the aggravation of problems of interaction between economic agents. The risks associated with the slowdown in world trade and the application of trade restrictions, as well as problems in the regulation of global trade, are considered. Special attention is paid to the dynamics of changes in the structure of Russian exports; and there is a clear discrepancy between the structures of Russian exports to global demand. It is assumed that this effect can be explained by increased competition in the world market, slowly recovering from the crisis, deepening stagnation of the domestic output, widening technological gap, as well as accumulated internal problems that have reduced the dynamism and capabilities of the Russian economy. Attention is drawn to the fact that among the TOP 10 non-raw material Russian exporters, there are no enterprises which activities are related to digital technologies, in contrast to the results of world rankings that put technology companies in the foreground.

Impact of Climate Change on the Diversity and Distribution of Enset (<i>Ensete ventricosum</i> (<i>Welw</i>) <i>Cheesman</i>) in Ethiopia: A Review

The aim of this review paper is to review the impact of climate change on diversity and distribution of enset in Ethiopia and to suggest the gabs for future research. Climate change impacts will disproportionately affect sub-Saharan African countries such as Ethiopia because their economies are highly dependent on climate-sensitive activities such as rain-fed agriculture. In Ethiopia, climate change and associated extreme events are causing significant damage to life, property, natural resources and the economy by affecting climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture. Of the influence of climate change in Ethiopia crop species diversity and distribution is the current issue to deal with. Big genetic erosion and limitation of production of crops toward the high lands parts of the country in general and enset in particular is under way. Species distributions are determined by a range of different factors, among which climate is one of the most important ones. Climate change based distribution of enset is currently observed in Ethiopia. In some part of the country the enset production is shifting to the high land areas due to the changing climatic conditions. Some of the clones are struggling for tolerance of the changing environment, while others shift toward higher altitude; the others are unable to withstand the changing climatic condition and are enforced to die. Recent climate change has become one of the main drivers of shifts in the geographical distributions and diversity of enset species in Ethiopia. Therefore, urgent and appropriate actions are needed within various scenarios of climate change impacts on biodiversity and species distribution of enset.

The relationship between profitability and financial liquidity among the importers of best-selling brands of new cars in poland

Abstract The automotive industry is a particularly sensitive sector of the economy. Numerous legal changes have been introduced in Poland that may affect the company's liquidity and profitability. Sales of new vehicles in Poland were very high until the end of 2019. I have presented the most recently available financial data, and hence it can be concluded that they are not distorted. The article discusses the issue of cash flow statements and the associated financial ratios, as well as assesses the financial liquidity among the importers of new, ten best-selling car makers in Poland between 2015 and 2019. Moreover, I have analysed the relationship between profitability ratios and liquidity ratios as well as cash adequacy ratios during this period. According to my findings, in most cases, there is a positive and strong relationship between profitability and financial liquidity in the automotive industry.

DIMENSIONS OF CSR IN ONLINE COMMUNICATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

The article focuses on analysis of online communication of pharmaceutical companies in the field of CSR. It is based on the fact that there are specific segments in the economy, which are called sensitive sectors. Even though they are often perceived as irresponsible in their nature, there are effective communication tools, which can used to increase positive corporate image. The present study is a part of a larger research that we conducted in the segment of pharmaceutical industry. We used information about companies available on their websites as a research material. We reviewed their availability on websites, but we also reviewed the content on which companies usually focus in terms of social engagement. Our research was supposed to prove that there are considerable differences among companies in our sample. We analyzed (qualitative content analysis) collected data (basic corporate documents like mission, vision and corporate values) using statistical procedures. These documents are crucial to corporate strategies, and often deal with responsibility issues which are then transformed into business strategies, tactics and programs. According to the nature of the research the generalization of the information provided is relatively limited.

The EU’s FDI Screening Proposal – Can It Really Work?

Nowadays China and EU share close investment relations. However, concerns have been raised over FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) aimed at sensitive sectors, especially those from Chinese state-owned companies. In light of this, the European Commission in late 2017 proposed a FDI Screening Regulation. This proposal contains certain features, including cooperation mechanisms between Member States and the Commission to notify and give comments on FDIs, direct monitoring of FDIs by the Commission on the grounds of Union interests, and the illustration of instances to be considered when screening FDIs. However, the success of this proposal is in doubt. Its fate regarding being adopted as law through the EU’s legislative process is uncertain, due to the Member States’ divided attitude towards FDI screening. Its provision contains a lethal loophole, undermining the cooperation and exchange of information between the Member States and the Commission. The non-binding nature of the opinions and comments addressed to the FDI receiving Member State renders the mechanisms practically unenforceable. To establish an effective FDI screening framework for the EU, this proposal needs to be revised and amended.

The Tax Burden CGE Analysis for Slovakia and Slovenia

Abstract In the paper, the static computable general equilibrium model for Slovakia and Slovenia is used for a tax burden analysis. There was considered simultaneous 1% increase in taxes on primary factors, on firms’ and government domestic and imported purchases, on import taxes, on output (or income) tax, on private domestic and imported consumption taxes and export subsidies. The direct tax burden as well as the allocative efficiency effects of a tax, the welfare effects and welfare decomposition of such change for both countries is analysed. The most sensitive sectors on tax rate changes is heavy manufacturing and processed food and the most distorting effect has the tax increase on private consumption tax. The government’s tax increase should generate return at least 105.75% of its costs in Slovakia and 101.92% in Slovenia, otherwise the welfare will decline.

Dimensions of CSR in Online Communication of Pharmaceutical Companies: A Comparative Study

Abstract The article focuses on analysis of online communication of pharmaceutical companies in the field of CSR. It is based on the fact that there are specific segments in the economy, which are called sensitive sectors. Even though they are often perceived as irresponsible in their nature, there are effective communication tools, which can used to increase positive corporate image. The present study is a part of a larger research that we conducted in the segment of pharmaceutical industry. We used information about companies available on their websites as a research material. We reviewed their availability on websites, but we also reviewed the content on which companies usually focus in terms of social engagement. Our research was supposed to prove that there are considerable differences among companies in our sample. We analyzed (qualitative content analysis) collected data (basic corporate documents like mission, vision and corporate values) using statistical procedures. These documents are crucial to corporate strategies, and often deal with responsibility issues which are then transformed into business strategies, tactics and programs. According to the nature of the research the generalization of the information provided is relatively limited.

Rail transport in the system of Russian national input-output tables

The paper analyzes the interaction of the railway industry with other sectors of the economy using the input-output tables published by Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) in 2017 after a long pause. The added value of transport industries is being compared. The influence of railway tariffs on the price level in other sectors has been determined. The most sensitive sectors to tariff changes have been identified, as well as industrial relations of railway transport with other sectors. Rail transport is the most significant sector of the economy, since it has the functions of sustainable livelihood of vast territories, and socioeconomic relations, and the provision of military security. In this context, the development of rail transport infrastructure directly affects the development of other sectors of the economy and the development of new territories. As a result of the calculations, we received a list of industries whose prices are largely dependent on rail transport tariffs.

Smallholder farmers’ awareness and perceptions of climate change in Adama district, central rift valley of Ethiopia

Rural smallholder farmers, who exercise rain fed agriculture for their livelihoods, make up the largest proportion in Ethiopia. This article examined the awareness and perception of rural smallholder farmers about climate change in Adama district, central rift valley region of Ethiopia. Primary data were collected from 351 sample smallholder farmers through questionnaires. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also employed. The result revealed that though the majority of smallholder farmers reported that they were aware of climate change, it has been found out that they have limited knowledge about climate change impacts and threats posed to various climate sensitive sectors, for example, agriculture, water, energy etc. The result also indicated that majorities of the respondents perceived that climate is changing. Smallholder farmers of rural areas should get relevant and up-to-date climate change information services. It has also been recommended that national meteorological agency and agricultural office of the district should reach the mass and provide training for the rural farming communities.

Inovação em Organizações de Economias Emergentes

Resumo Esta edição temática do Cadernos EBAPE.BR buscou como objetivo provocar uma reflexão voltada à arquitetura de uma agenda de pesquisa crítica sobre o campo das estratégias de inovação e das organizações em economias emergentes e suas implicações originais na academia brasileira. O conjunto de artigos aprovados nesta edição revela o espectro dos interesses nascentes dos pesquisadores brasileiros sobre este tema. Um primeiro grupo tem como foco de análise a dimensão das políticas de inovação destinadas a MPEs, agricultura e mineração, setores sensíveis pelo impacto ambiental e as bases de formação de ecossistemas de start-ups. O segundo conjunto de artigos teve como objeto de interesse o fenômeno da inovação em mercados emergentes, que foi analisado pelas abordagens da frugalidade, dos negócios sociais e da dinâmica de radicalidade organizacional. Por fim, compondo as principais contribuições teóricas e aplicadas desta edição, foram reunidos para este debate artigos que têm conexão com o tema da transformação digital ao considerar a indústria 4.0 e sua relevância para o BRICS, a gestão de cidades inteligentes e dos serviços intensivos em conhecimento.

Lowering the Size Detection Limits of Ag and TiO2 Nanoparticles by Single Particle ICP-MS.

As the production and use of engineered nanomaterials increase, there is an urgent need to develop analytical techniques that are sufficiently sensitive to be able to measure the very small nanoparticles (NP) at very low concentrations. Although single particle ICP-MS (SP-ICP-MS) is emerging as one of the best techniques for detecting NP, it is limited by relatively high size detection limits for several NP, including many of the oxides. The use of a high sensitivity sector field ICP-MS (ICP-SF-MS), microsecond dwell times, and dry aerosol sample introduction systems were examined with the goal of lowering the size detection limits of the technique. For samples injected as a wet aerosol, size detection limits as low as 4.9 nm for Ag NP and 19.2 nm for TiO2 NP were determined. By using a dry aerosol, a significant gain in ion extraction from the plasma was obtained, which resulted in a noticeable decrease of the size detection limits to 3.5 nm for the Ag NP and 12.1 nm for the TiO2 NP. These substantial improvements were applied to the detection of TiO2 NP in sunscreen lotions, rainwaters, and swimming pool waters. Concentrations of Ti-containing NP between 27 and 193 μL-1 were found in rain samples. Similar NP concentrations were detected in public swimming pools, although much higher particle number concentrations (6046 ± 290 μL-1) were measured in a paddling pool, which was attributed to a high concentration of sunscreen lotions in a small recirculated water volume. High losses of TiO2 NP through adsorption or agglomeration resulted in recoveries ranging from 14-34%.

The Black Sea coastline erosion: Index-based sensitivity assessment and management-related issues

The Black Sea basin is a unique and very complex environment in the World Ocean as a result of its evolution, location and history. This is the reason why in the last years there is an increasing scientific interest in deciphering the processes and mechanisms governing this area. Besides the well-known environmental problems of the basin related to pollution, eutrophication, overfishing and loss of biodiversity, erosion (as a result of storminess, sea level rise and human interventions) is affecting many coasts around the Black Sea.This paper deals with an evaluation of the erosion hazards along the Black Sea coasts, (through an in-depth and well-grounded scientific analysis of a comprehensive database of multiple sources), together with the discussion of erosion management issues at basin scale (through literature review and risk perceptions analysis related to planning strategies, protection measures, legislation and administrative implementation). For this endeavour, we have computed a Coastal Sensitivity Index (CSI) at 1-km spatial scale for more than 4000 sectors around the Black Sea, taking into consideration geological–geomorphological and physical characteristics of each sector through the following parameters: type of coast (coastal geomorphology and lithology), coastal slope (from shoreline to 20 m depth), shoreline changes in the last 33 years, wave incidence (the angle between the shoreline and the dominant storm waves), significant wave height during storm conditions and relative sea level rise. The results for each parameter are detailed and statistically presented and are finally aggregated into CSI. Results showed circa 19% (800 km) of the Black Sea coasts are undergoing serious erosion, affecting mostly the coastlines of Romania (37%), Ukraine (29%) and Georgia (26%). The most sensitive sectors to erosion are superposed on the areas with relatively high storm waves and incidence angles: the deltaic coastlines of the main deltas (Danube, Kizilirmak, Yesilirmak, Sakarya, Rioni, Enguri, Kodori, Chorokhi) of the Black Sea, the low-lying areas along the lagoons, limans, coastal barriers and spits from Kalamitsky, Odessa and Karkinitsky Bays (Dniester, Tendrovskaya and Dzharlygachskiy areas), Chornomorske – Yevpatoriya area (in Crimea), Taman – Anapa (in Russia) and Karasu – Karaburun (in Turkey) and the rocky areas Gelendzhik – Tuapse (in Russia), Sevastopol – Cape Meganom (in Crimea) and Inebolu – Eregli (in Turkey). These highly sensitive sectors cover extensive areas along the coastlines of Russia (57%), Georgia (46%), Turkey (44%), Romania (43%) and Ukraine (35%).Implications of coastal erosion management in the Black Sea riverine countries (with different coastal legislation, EU/non-EU regulations and directives etc.) are discussed, emphasizing the main problems and shortcomings. Some guidelines for coastal erosion management in the specific case of the Black Sea are listed at the end of the paper. Despite the complicated regional geo-political context, common framework of coastal erosion management for the entire Black Sea basin is needed at all levels (political, administrative, academics and research) through cross-border cooperation related to legislation, regulations (integrated approaches for Marine Spatial Planning and Coastal Zone Management), research and academic programs, coastal zone monitoring, management/planning (prioritization of protection works and promotion of soft engineering measures) and public participation.

A Bitter Pill to Swallow: India’s sugar sector under siege at the WTO

Indian agriculture is fraught with policies that are presently facing the gavel at the WTO. Sugarcane related policies, in particular, are being alleged to constitute domestic support beyond the permissible limit and for this reason, have been challenged by Australia, Brazil and Guatemala. The ground reality, however, contrasts this narrative. With rising cane arrears and prevailing farm distress, the sugarcane sector faces an uphill battle on domestic and international fronts. The skewed provisions of the Agreement on Agriculture and the commitments under them have added to the grievance of this sensitive sector, along with the application of outdated and biased rules pertaining to external reference prices and aggregate measurement of support entitlements. Through this study, the authors have attempted to address this purported issue of excessive support, by utilizing the alternative provisions under the Agreement on Agriculture to notify domestic support to the sugarcane sector. In contrast to the counter-notification, the results clearly show that domestic support to sugarcane sector is within the permissible limit established by the WTO.