Unfavorable Economic Climate Research Articles

Assessment of the impact of a high-rise building on the stress-strain state of the foundation and structures of existing buildings in dense development

One of the most progressive problems of modern urban planning is the gradual decrease in areas suitable for construction, especially within the historical districts of cities. This prompts developers to increasingly develop sites in difficult engineering and geological conditions, which are often located within dense buildings.
 Today, the construction of multifunctional residential complexes combines the construction of high-rise residential sections and commercial real estate buildings with multi-level parking lots, which are often located in close proximity to each other. Often, the sequence of construction of these buildings is stretched over years or even decades, for example, due to an unfavorable economic climate or the instability of the political situation in the country, which leads to the commissioning of only certain stages of construction. The subsequent resumption of construction work requires taking into account the mutual impact of new construction and observations of previously constructed buildings during the construction of new structures.
 The execution of deep pits at the stage of laying the foundations of new buildings, as well as the substantial weight of high-rise buildings, causes a change in the stress-strain state of the adjacent soil massif, so designers face the task of determining the impact of such construction on the adjacent buildings.
 This article presents the results of a study of the change in the stress-strain state of load-bearing structures and foundations an existing building, taking into account the mutual impact of an adjacent high-rise section of a residential complex.
 The calculations were performed in two independent software systems Plaxis 3D and LIRA-FEM, in the spatial formulation of tasks, for a comprehensive assessment of the SSS of the system "soil base-foundation-superstructure".
 The zone of impact of new construction on the adjacent buildings, the values and character of additional displacements of foundations of adjacent structures are determined. The regularities of changes in the calculated forces in piles are shown, which indicate a decrease in axial forces in piles up to two times at the interface with the foundations of the new building and an increase in the load on the piles of the central zone by up to 17%. The obtained results show a tendency to redistribute stresses in the foundation slab from the bearing zones to the span zones, as well as in the bearing vertical structures of the lower floor of the existing building.

The Japa syndrome and the migration of Nigerians to the United Kingdom: an empirical analysis

Since the early years of independence, Africa has witnessed varying degrees of migration-regular and irregular. Scholarships in African regional studies have mainly attributed this phenomenon to factors such as high poverty levels, rising unemployment, and the deplorable economies of most African countries, Nigeria inclusive. However, the post-Covid-19 trend of out-migration of Nigerians to the UK, known as japa to the United Kingdom (UK) and other parts of the world, is concerning with multifaced implications. The study investigates the endogamous and exogamous variables responsible for this Japa syndrome in Nigeria. It contends that beyond the unfavourable economic climate and the lingering security issues among other internal vices in Nigeria, the current trend of out-migration bears a connection with the neo-liberal structure of the UK and the emerging global trend. The study argues further that the mad rush out-migration portends hydra-headed implications for the two countries and Africa at large. The study adopts a qualitative research design, including the utilisation of primary and secondary data. It draws primary data through pre-set standard e-interviews with thirty-six (36) Nigerian University students from seventeen (17) universities in the UK. The thematic analytic framework is applied to this data, with the product being an essay defined by seven sections.

Business Constraints in Nigeria: Implications on Productivity

This study was to identify major constraints and how they effect on productivity in Nigeria using a two stage random sampling of firms from all states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory was used for the study. The descriptive statistics and factor analysis were used in the analysis of the data. Artificial Intelligence, an aspect of big data analysis was also used to gauge the sentiments of the identified constraints across the Nigerian internet space. This study identified major business constraints in Nigeria using factor analysis. Of the fifteen (18) constraints identified in extant literatures and considered in this study, four main constraints predominantly featured in this present study across the three sectors as well as the whole economy: insecurity, high/multiple taxes, extortion/corruption and high bank charges. The major constraints identified in the various sectors of the Nigerian economy are those perceived to be under the purview and control of government. The next most serious set of constraints were predominantly those within the purview and control of businesses: while the variables that predominantly featured as the third set of constraints are those related to labour and policy issues. The study used categorical regression model to fit the relationship between productivity and business constraints. The findings reveal that six of the eighteen constraints have negative and significant effect on productivity across the sectors: unclear economic law, low demand, labour problems, unfavourable economic climate, high bank charges and sector have significant effect on productivity. Lack of knowledge/training was however found to have positive and significant effect on productivity. The findings in this study will guide the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the various level of government in making policies that will aid survival of businesses. Identifying the major business constraints for the whole economy will guide the CBN in making decisions on general business interventions while the constraints identified across the sectors will guide the CBN in making sector specific interventions especially in the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Social Security of Persons with Disabilities: Accessibility for Working-Age Population. Part 1

The article, which consists of two parts, proposes approaches and principles for the analysis of the Russian state social security policy for working-age disabled people, based on the experience of welfare states, where the improvement of the effectiveness of assistance programs is consistent with the poverty and inequality reduction policies. The first part of the article examines trends in the reduction of social security availability. Based on data from the Russian Federation, Germany, the USA, the EU and the OECD for the period from 1995 to 2021, international comparisons were made in the change in the number of working-age persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the article explored the nature of the reduction in access to assistance programs as well as the preparedness for anti-crisis regulation: the expansion of guarantees during periods of unfavorable economic climate and growing demand for benefits. Based on data from the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation and Rosstat for the period from 2014 to 2020, trends in social security for working-age persons with disabilities were analysed: changes in the number by sex, age categories, regions of the Russian Federation, as well as the risks of not being enrolled in the assistance program.

УПРАВЛЕНИЕ ИННОВАЦИЯМИ В ПРЕДПРИНИМАТЕЛЬСКОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ

The innovative activity of entrepreneurial structures in Russia does not meet the requirements of the modern level of scientific and technological progress. One of the reasons for this appearance is an unfavorable economic climate, characterized by the underdevelopment of the institutional and infrastructure environment, market conditions and business conditions, the need for knowledge and technology from the business community, and the creativity of the pre-resiners. At the same time, for modern domestic entrepreneurship, the characters are weak with the main contingent of its stakeholders, which is why the consideration of the requirements and capabilities of the main part of potential partners is difficult. The proposed al-city development of the strategy and tactics of innovation in entrepreneurship will eliminate identified flaws. The subject is the socio-economic processes and relations that arise in the process of managing innovation in entrepreneurial activity. The direction of the study is the definition and methodological justification of the approach to the development of an innovation management policy in entrepreneurial activity in the context of an unfavorable innovative climate based on a stakeholder approach. The purpose of the study is to justify the influence of the innovative climate and accounting for the interests of the main stakeholders on innovative activity and innovative policy of entrepreneurial structures. Development of an algorithm for the formation of an innovative strategy and tactics of the company. In the process of research, general scientific (analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, analogy, generalization) and special (monographic, statistical-economic, abstract-logical) methods of scientific knowledge were used. Based on the analysis of the innovative climate formed in the conditions of the formation of Industry 4.0, the need to take into account its key parameters in the development of strategy and tactics for managing innovation in entrepreneurial activity is substantiated. The influence of relationships with internal and external stakeholders on the activity and success of innovative processes in business structures has been clarified. The algorithm for developing a strategy and tactics for managing innovations in entrepreneurship has been developed and substantiated. Promising mechanisms for the activation of innovative activity in internal development are substantiated. The results of the study can be used by the legislative and executive state authorities, the academic community in the development of areas of improving the innovative climate, as well as business entities for the development and development of internal policy of innovation management.

Information Quality Management in the Malaysian Public Sector: A Preliminary Study on Issues and Challenges

Information plays a significant role in enhancing an organization’s capital, namely as its crucial source of income and a valuable leverage in times of unfavorable economic climate. The strategic management of information, thus, is imperative as it contributes in bringing about success to business by influencing decision-making of the organization for better identification of prospects and to cope with risks. This requires the enhancement of efficiency and effectiveness of information management to expand its readiness and value in decision-making. In spite of its significance, studies in information quality management (IQM), particularly those that investigate issues and challenges, are scarce. This paper, hence, attempts to fill this gap by taking into account both the theoretical and pragmatic approaches in viewing issues and challenges in IQM. In addressing the limited studies in IQM, the paper proposes possible areas of further inquiry for future research. It also seeks to provide a better insight into issues and challenges facing IQM as the study’s practical impact.

Shared decision making in the UK: Moving towards wider uptake

Shared decision making (SDM) is firmly on the policy agenda in the UK and a recent legal ruling has confirmed its importance. Policymakers, ethicists, professional regulators and societies, patient organisations and now the courts are committed to ensuring that SDM becomes the norm throughout the NHS, but an unfavourable economic climate makes this especially challenging. Considerable progress has been made over the last few years, with new learning from demonstration sites, various initiatives in capacity building and training, wider availability of patient decision aids, and important leadership initiatives. Enthusiasm for this way of working is growing among clinicians, patients and managers, but it could be undermined if SDM comes to be seen primarily as a means of cost control.

Significance and Strengthening Private Sector Engagement in the Management of Public Protected Areas: Experiences from Malawi

This paper presents the significance and strategies to strengthen private sector engagement in the management of public protected areas in Malawi. The study emanates from desk reviews of various relevant documents, stakeholder consultations and Malawi national Community Based Natural Resources Management forum discussions. In addition, focus group discussions with selected local communities surrounding conservation areas were conducted. Data analysis was conducted through content analysis and critical discourse analysis. Promotion of environmental education in protected areas, involvement of local communities in managing natural resources, Infrastructure development and conducting research studies on and in protected areas were found to be significant roles of private sector involvement in public protected areas. Unfavorable economic climate, weak regulation enforcement, poor monitoring mechanism of the activities undertaken by concessioners in managing the protected areas and poor dispute settlement mechanisms were seen to be the challenges. Lastly, enabling policy environment, long term tenure security, clear rights and responsibilities and selection of concessionaires by tender were found to be strategies for enhancing private sector participation in managing protected areas. A follow-up study should be conducted quantitatively in order to provide empirical evidence on the role and ways of strengthening private sector participation.

AN INSULATION THICKNESS OPTIMIZATION METHODOLOGY FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS REHABILITATION COMBINING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS AND LIFE CYCLE COST

The energy efficiency of buildings, including public buildings, is a major concern for all European governments,since they are responsible for a large share of the total energy bill of the states. School buildings play an importantrole in these costs. The best strategy for reversing this scenario includes efforts on buildings retrofit, seeking tooptimize their energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. However, in the unfavourable economic climate weare experiencing, which requires great prudence when it comes to public investment, special attention should be givento this multi-objective optimization process. In this research, a methodology to optimize the insulation thickness of theexternal walls and roof on school buildings retrofit is proposed. The procedure includes the optimization of the buildingperformance considering the following objectives: the minimization of the annual heating load; the minimization of thediscomfort in the classrooms due to overheating; and the minimization of the life cycle cost of retrofitting external wallsand roof. This methodology was applied to two Portuguese school buildings.

Migration aspirations of European youth in times of crisis

ABSTRACTIn recent years, the European Union (EU) passed through a significant economic crisis. All across Europe, European young people are among the groups which are hit hardest, with youth unemployment rates rising to over 50% in member states such as Greece and Spain. In the classical migration literature, it is suggested that such unfavourable economic climate would make people more likely to move abroad. Whereas in press releases we are regularly confronted with stories about South European young adults with tertiary education working in bars in Northern European cities, limited empirical evidence exists as such on the relationship between the recent Euro-crisis and migration aspirations. This paper addresses this gap in the academic literature. Using data from Flash Eurobarometer 395, I investigate which micro- and macro-level characteristics influence migration aspirations of young people across the member states of the EU. The results reveal the importance of individual characteristics and feelings of discontent with the current climate in explaining migration aspirations. Furthermore, I detect a negative relationship of relative welfare levels with migration aspirations, and a positive relationship of the youth unemployment ratio. Together, the results suggest that potential young intra-EU movers are positively selected from the population.

“You're All Doomed!” A Socioeconomic Analysis of Slasher Films

This paper posits a socioeconomic explanation for the popularity of the slasher film genre. These films created a unique sub-genre in which teenage protagonists had to contend with unstoppable forces, in the form of manic killers, while every aspect of modernity and the middle-class lifestyle failed them. Cars and telephones die, the suburbs offer no sanctuary, and adults are absent or ineffectual. The slasher genre rose in popularity as the American economy spiraled into recession. By examining the big three franchises of Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street this paper analyzes the slasher films of the 1980s and their remakes in the late 2000s. It argues that slasher films symbolized a cathartic release for their mainly adolescent audiences at a time in their lives when impending adulthood and an unfavorable economic climate seemed to conspire against them.

Book Review: Working with students in community colleges: Contemporary strategies for bridging theory, research, and practice by Kelsay, L. S., & Zamani-Gallaher, E. M. (Eds.).

Kelsay, L. S & Zamani-Gallaher, E. M. (Eds.). (2014). Working with students in community colleges: Contemporary strategies for bridging theory, research, and practice. Sterling, VA: Stylus. 208 pp. US$95.00 (cloth). ISBN 978-1-57922-915-3. US$29.95 (paper), ISBN 978-1-57922916-0. US$23.99 (eBook), ISBN 978-1-57922-918-4.This volume, edited by Lisa S. Kelsay and Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher, centers around concrete approaches and strategies to serve the ever-evolving student body enrolled at community colleges. Engaging insights and perspectives from a wide range of experts, including scholars who write about 2-year colleges as well as practitioners and leaders who have served at these institutions, this book offers a thorough discussion of how to work with diverse students as they transition into and through community colleges.The book consists of three parts: Understanding Today's Community College Campuses, Supporting Today's Community College Learners, and Specialized Populations and Communities on Two-Year Campuses. Part One delineates various historical, policy, and learning contexts within which the contemporary community college is situated. The enduring and historically rooted open-door policy, as complementarily described by Kelsay and Oudenhoven in Chapter 1 and Munsch, Velazquez, and Kowpak in Chapter 3, is inevitably coupled with persistent challenges. Most notable is the lack of college readiness, especially among the disproportionately large number of traditionally underserved students enrolled at community colleges. Adding to the rising number of at-risk students is the unfavorable economic climate and policy landscape for community colleges, described by Jamrogowicz in Chapter 2. In Chapter 4, Procter and Uranis argue the importance of technological literacy-another evolving aspect of the contemporary teaming environment-and how inequitable access to technology can be a potential barrier for disadvantaged students. Together, these chapters paint a realistic snapshot of the environment facing today's community colleges. Despite the potential challenges presented by this increasing complexity, the chapters in Part One all highlight the role and responsibility of student affairs professionals in serving students to stay true to the open access mission.Part Two concerns key elements of supporting students, starting with a rich account (Chapter 5 by Munsch and Kelsay) of some new faces in today's community college student body, including undocumented students, international students, and displaced workers. Munsch and Kelsay articulate both the needs and barriers these students face and offer suggestions for helping them transition and succeed. In the collective pursuit of better serving this increasingly diverse student body, McFadden and Mazeika, in Chapter 6, illuminate the value and ways of bridging academic and student affairs to support learners. This section then engages a more specific focus on student orientation. In Chapter 7, Hale describes both the benefit of orientation for student development and the evolving formats and structures of orientation programs at community colleges. Part Two concludes with yet another emergent aspect of today's community college, residence life. In Chapter 8, Barber and Phelan build upon the narrative provided by the findings reported in The Heart of Student Success, published by the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE, 2010), and further illustrate ways to improve residential programs that foster student learning.Part Three delves further into specific student populations and communities that warrant better understanding among those working with today's community college students. In Chapter 9, Lewis, Zamani-Gallaher, and Bonapace elaborate on the needs and potential barriers facing older adults and discuss exemplary practices that illustrate how to serve these students. Chapter 10 by Fagan and Dunklin addresses the rising veteran student population by illuminating a number of unique and alarming challenges veterans may face, such as mental health problems, substance abuse, and homelessness, along with potential best practices to address these students' needs. …

Promotion of innovation and technology transfer in the New German Federal States

Many small and medium–sized companies in the New Federal German State are facing extremely difficult conditions with the new economic upheaval in East Germany. The situation is characterised by an unfavourable economic climate, inadequate information and management deficiencies as well as financial and real estate problems. Many products and production processes are outdated and cannot withstand the new competition. On the basis of this complicated economic situation, the Federal Economic Ministry created an economic programme for the foundation of 23 agencies for the promotion of innovation and the transfer of technology in 1992. The Leipzig agency AGIL GmbH was founded for the Leipzig region. The promotion of innovation and technology transfer is the main objective of the agency. The central task is therefore to safeguard the productivity and competitiveness of small and medium–sized companies (SME) through extensive consultation and support, and to create a climate favourable to innovation and thereby speed up structural change in the economic region of Leipzig. The agency supports the activities of public and municipal institutions in establishing a demand–oriented technological infrastructure. Closely connected to this, and of high strategic significance, is the European Commission's decision in 1992 to integrate one of four German VALUE Relay Centres into the Leipzig agency.

Development and Side Effects of Remittances in the CIS Countries: The Case of Belarus

The objective of the present paper is to evaluate the potential development impact and any possible side effects of remittances in Belarus. Our main finding, based on VAR modelling, is that we cannot consider remittances as a driver of economic growth in Belarus: their positive influence on GDP growth is not statistically significant. In fact, in the next period GDP responds negatively to remittances growth (p-value is 0.005). To some extent this may be a result of a productivity decrease conditioned by possible brain-drain effects. Remittances appear to be strongly pro-cyclical with respect to Russian GDP and mildly pro-cyclical with respect to the GDP of Belarus. Analysis shows that negative influence of remittances on GDP is not caused by Dutch disease and inflation: neither exchange rate appreciation nor growth in consumer price is induced by remittances. Instead, lagged REER devaluation Granger causes growth in remittances inflow (Wald test p-value is 0.051): when in a crisis devaluation takes place in Belarus more people go abroad to support their families and more transfers come from abroad. There are no reliable micro-data providing information on remittance receivers; nor are there any reliable data about the ways remittances are spent by receiving households in Belarus. Nevertheless, available statistics and surveys suggest that remittances have only a limited impact in terms of poverty reduction. Remittances are only invested in a limited extent, something in line with their relationship with GDP. At the same time we can conclude that due to remittances supporting household spending, employment remained nearly unchanged, despite an unfavourable economic climate. However, the underdeveloped capital market and lack of investments can result in the failure to modernize so that capacities can react, in a timely fashion, to demand fueled by remittances. Thus, there is a need for effective policies to channel remittances for investment purposes so that they support economic growth. Proposed policy recommendations follow.

A Review of Kyoto Protocol Adoption in Russia: Joint Implementation in Focus

Russia’s role in ‘animation’ of the Kyoto Protocol was crucial. Its initial vacillation on ratification was predominantly due to political bargaining with the EU. Domestic economic rationales [i.e. impacts of emission trading and Joint Implementation (JI) projects] were important to a much lesser extent and environmental motives did not seem to play any role in the decision. Since the Protocol entered into force, there have been significant delays in complete establishment of policy implementation frameworks, which are necessary for Russia to start benefiting from JI and emission trading. Only recently, in 2007, have GHG inventories and a national registry been established and the responsibilities for implementation of the Protocol and JI among the government departments have been distributed only to a certain extent. Some constraints hindering JI projects, such as vague legislation, an unfavourable economic climate, lack of commitment to JI projects, corruption, xenophobia, state and agency ‘capture’ still remain.

Active ageing policies in the Czech Republic and Poland

This article deals with active ageing as a policy concept and its meanings in different cultures. We describe the Czech Republic and Poland, formerly communist states that experienced economic and political transitions in the 1990s and joined the European Union in 2004. Both countries are demographically similar, with ageing populations, but their understanding of active ageing as a policy issue are quite different. The methodology used was a meta‐analysis of expert interviews and consultations. The results show that there is no comprehensive policy towards active ageing in Poland and the Czech Republic does not have an overall systemic vision based on the principles of active ageing. The debate on activity in old age focuses on labour market employment activity, neglecting most of the issues of social services, care‐giving or just plain leisure. The lack of institutional mechanisms, fiscal limitations, discriminatory socio‐cultural perceptions and an unfavourable economic climate have all constituted barriers to implementing active ageing strategies in the period analysed. However, it seems that the problem has been noticed and that demographic changes and the attitudes of the elderly in the future could bring forth a more wide‐ranging discussion on active ageing.

Powerlessness of Older People in Hong Kong

Gerontologists agree that old age can be associated with an increase in powerlessness both in the personal domain and in the social and political fields. This paper is an attempt to understand the concept of powerlessness in old age within a political economy theoretical framework. The paper argues that the powerlessness of older people is not biologically determined. Rather, it is socially constructed. It has its roots in the social, economic, and political structure of society. For this reason, the paper argues that (a) the capitalist economic system discriminates against and marginalizes older people in the labor market. The current unfavorable economic climate will make the economic situation of older people worse. (b) The residual welfare system does not counteract the unfavorable impact of the economic system. Rather, it deprives older people of the necessary financial resources and social service supports that would enable them to lead independent and dignified lives. (c) The authoritarian political system creates adverse conditions that make it very difficult for older people to participate in the decision-making process on issues that affect their lives, as well as on broader political issues that affect the whole of society. It is the interplay among these economic, social, and political forces in Hong Kong that creates the political economy of powerlessness in old age and prevents older people from using their powers to master and control their lives.

Italy, caught between old woes and new hopes.

Struggling for years within an unfavorable economic and political climate, the Italian biotechnology community is at last fighting back.

Social protection for the family in the Maghreb

This article is based on a study of the protection afforded to the family under the social insurance schemes of the five Member States of the Arab Maghreb Union, and considers the usefulness of family benefits in economically poor countries gripped by the great problems of population growth and unemployment. This type of social protection is conditional upon the individual being actively employed and covers only a very small part of the working population, leaving out the majority. Should not priority be given to coverage against real occupational risks that threaten employment? This is not an easy question to answer in an increasingly unfavourable economic climate, but it should be possible, in the name of those social and human ethics founded on Maghrebi sentiments of family, local, national and regional solidarity, to mobilize particularly the political will to find better solutions or alternatives. It will, however, be necessary first to reconsider family benefit systems in relation to other, more urgent forms of protection in accordance with a social choice based on the rights and cultural values of Maghrebi citizens. By showing the common features of the Maghrebi schemes at the same time as some of their differences, the article will also present useful elements for their harmonization and even their unification into a regional social security system.

Production de chlore et de soude par le procédé à membrane échangeuse d'ions

In Europe, 50% of the production of the chemical industry depends on chlorine. Elf Atochem, the french leader in chlorine, has chosen to extend its chlorine capacity with the ion exchange membrane (IEM) process. The IEM have to be resistant to the aggressive electrolyte medium, have a very high permselectivity and conductivity. The chlor-alkali membranes are made of perfluorocarbon polymers with cationic exchange groups, sulfonic on the anodic side and carboxylic on the cathodic side. Their properties are well described by the cluster network model. The electrolyser and membrane evolution allow to obtain high caustic soda current efficiency (97%) and a voltage of about 3 V at 3 kA/m 2 , 90 o C and with a caustic soda concentration of about 35 wt %. Since 1990, a 50 wt % caustic soda solution can be produced directly in electrolysers using a new generation of multilayer ion exchange membrane. Despite the unfavorable economic climate in which the chlorine industry finds itself (overcapacity, environment), the IEM process has made a remarquable breakthrough: this technology appears to be the most economic and above all the most respectful of the environment. This process is already recognized as the substitute of the mercury process. Elf Atochem operates two chlor-alkali membrane plants: one of 80 kt Cl 2 /year in USA and a second of 120 kt Cl 2 /year in France