scholarly journals Uncovering High-Level Corruption: Cross-National Objective Corruption Risk Indicators Using Public Procurement Data

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihály Fazekas ◽  
Gábor Kocsis
Keyword(s):  
Public Procurement ◽  
Risk Indicators ◽  
Red Flags ◽  
Common Definition ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Government Data ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
High Level ◽  
Cross National

Measuring high-level corruption is subject to extensive scholarly and policy interest, which has achieved moderate progress in the last decade. This article develops two objective proxy measures of high-level corruption in public procurement: single bidding in competitive markets and a composite score of tendering ‘red flags’. Using official government data on 2.8 million contracts in twenty-eight European countries in 2009–14, we directly operationalize a common definition of corruption: unjustified restriction of access to public contracts to favour a selected bidder. Corruption indicators are calculated at the contract level, but produce aggregate indices consistent with well-established country-level indicators, and are also validated by micro-level tests. Data are published at http://digiwhist.eu/resources/data/.

Innovations in Objectively Measuring Corruption in Public Procurement

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihály Fazekas ◽  
Luciana Cingolani ◽  
Bence Tóth
Keyword(s):  
Public Procurement ◽  
Risk Indicators ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Government Purchases ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Supplier Risk ◽  
Expert Surveys ◽  
Do So

While there is continued interest in measuring governance, disagreement on how best to do so has only grown over time. To provide pointers at innovative and rigorous indicator building, this chapter documents innovations in measuring a particularly challenging governance dimension: corruption in public procurement. In hopes of inspiring future research, the chapter critically reviews objective corruption proxies using administrative data on government purchases falling in four broad categories: tendering risk indicators, political connections indicators, supplier risk indicators, and contracting body risk indicators. The findings indicate that the best measurement instruments focus on the transaction level (micro level) while allowing for consistent aggregations for time series and cross-country comparisons. Such actionable indicators capture behaviour as directly as possible rather than remaining at the country level. They also retain the relational or transactional aspects of governance, revealing a much more dynamic picture than widely used population and expert surveys.

scholarly journals Evaluation of International Competitiveness

Ekonomika ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gediminas Ramanauskas
Keyword(s):  
International Competitiveness ◽  
International Level ◽  
Successful Performance ◽  
Common Definition ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Or Organization ◽  
A Company

Competitiveness can be defined in a number of ways. We can think of it as of a successful performance of a company or organization; or we may talk about competitiveness in a macro context such as a favourable exchange rate of a national currency. Can we also talk about competitiveness of a nation? What is it and how can it be evaluated?There does not seem to be a common definition of what the international competitiveness of nations is. Some feel that the very notion of international competitiveness of nations is unfair and unacceptable. They argue that the nations themselves do not compete, their enterprises do. For others the notion of international competitiveness of nations is fair. They believe that creating appropriate measures of international competitiveness is central for tracking and understanding the sources of competitiveness of countries.In this paper I classify and compare the measures developed by various authors. I suggest that the studies on the measurement of competitiveness can be classified into five groups:1. Particular sector studies.2. Competitiveness studies at the regional / country level.3. Particular competitiveness indicator studies.4. Competitiveness studies at an international level.5. Cross-country economic policy studies.Since the competitiveness studies serve a different audience and purpose, we cannot discuss which is best without first asking: best at what?

Development and Implementation of a Multi-Level Roadway Segmentation Methodology

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (12) ◽  
pp. 570-583
Author(s):  
Reza Omrani ◽  
Amer Shalaby ◽  
Goran Nikolic ◽  
Ali Hadayeghi
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Segmentation ◽  
Common Definition ◽  
Road Geometry ◽  
Segmentation Approach ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Traffic Composition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Spatial Referencing ◽  
Traffic Operation

The reliability and applicability of traffic operation analyses depends on their ability to integrate relevant input from disparate databases in a seamless and automated manner. Inputs include information on road geometry, traffic composition, and spatial referencing. These databases are collected by different agencies for different purposes. As a result, a common definition of roadway segments is lacking across various applications. This paper developed a systematic segmentation methodology that considers the needs of various operational and planning studies. A multi-level dynamic segmentation approach has been developed to address different levels of requirements for various studies: at the micro level, referring to the smallest roadway segmentation for traffic simulation studies; at the meso level, representing a combination of several micro segments for traffic operation studies; and, at the macro level, corresponding to planning studies. In this paper, the proposed methodology for the segmentation of freeway and arterial corridors in Ontario (Canada) is demonstrated. At each level, several criteria were selected to identify the locations where the roadway network needs stringent analysis. Next, a pilot study was designed to evaluate the proposed methodology. It was found that the new segmentation methodology can successfully identify areas of congestion and queue growth/dissipation. Finally, the proposed segmentation methodology was implemented for more than 6000 km of Ontario’s roadway network. The results of this study can assist researchers and road agencies with defining a systematic roadway segmentation that can be utilized for different types of projects, ranging from traffic operation to planning studies.

Religion and the Sense of Control in Cross-National Perspective: The Importance of Religious Context

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Hyun Jung
Keyword(s):  
Religious Attendance ◽  
World Values Survey ◽  
Sense Of Control ◽  
Religious Context ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Belief In God ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
National Perspective ◽  
Control Net ◽  
Cross National

Is individual religiosity associated with the sense of control? If so, does a nation’s religious context modify that association? Multilevel analyses with data from the sixth wave of the World Values Survey (2010–2014) demonstrate that religious attendance and prayer are positively associated with the sense of control, net of individual- and country-level controls. However, belief in God is not associated with the sense of control. Furthermore, cross-level interactions suggest that the association between individual religiosity and the sense of control varies across national religious context. Specifically, religious attendance, prayer, and belief in God are more positively associated with the sense of control in countries with higher levels of religiosity than in countries with lower levels of religiosity. I discuss the theoretical implications of these findings for views about religion, sense of control, and the linkage between macro-level contexts and micro-level factors.

Researching the public procurement system: An analysis of winning organizations

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 860-884
Author(s):  
V.G. Kogdenko ◽  
A.A. Sanzharov
Keyword(s):  
Public Procurement ◽  
The Public ◽  
Debt Capital ◽  
Scientific Principles ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
Marketing Information ◽  
High Level ◽  
Return On Sales ◽  
Procurement System ◽  
Social Components

Subject. The article deals with the analysis of suppliers in the public procurement system based on reasonable prequalification parameters. Objectives. The aim is to test the hypothesis about strong reputation characteristics of the winners in the public procurement system and develop a methodology for assessing the reputation of suppliers for prequalification purposes. Methods. We employ general scientific principles and methods of research, like abstraction, generalization of approaches used by domestic and foreign authors for prequalification and assessment of reputation of public procurement participants. Results. To test the hypothesis, we calculated four groups of indicators on corporate, financial, market, and social components of reputation. The methodology was tested on the data obtained from SPARK-Interfax and SPARK-Marketing information resources. Conclusions. The study revealed that not all reputational characteristics of public procurement winners can be regarded as high level. In terms of the corporate component, it is the low level of share capital, indicating the mistrust on the part of owners and their reluctance to invest in the business, and the low percentage of non-current assets. In terms of the market component, it is a low sales growth rate, as well as low return on sales. As to the financial component, it is a low capitalization of winners, low share of long-term debt capital and low credit limit. With respect to the social component, it is a below-average tax burden.

Digital Economy: New Opportunities and Threats for the Development of the World Economy

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Strelkova
Keyword(s):  
World Economy ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
The State ◽  
Market Exchange ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The World ◽  
Business Structures ◽  
Definition Of

The paper examines various approaches to the definition of the term «digital economy» in the scientific and business environment along with factors and forms of its development in different countries taking into account the specifics of the current stage of the Russian economy, which is a matter of particular importance in seeking new sources of the world economy growth. The subject of the research is opportunities and threats inherent in the process of digitalization of economies and their impact on the operation of international and national markets as well as the development of the world economy as a whole. The purpose of the paper was to analyze the practical experience in the formation and development of the digital economy in foreign countries and Russia and identify the changes it brings to the activities of state institutions and business structures, established rules of market exchange, the process of promotion and use of innovations. All the above made it possible to determine the country-level specifics of the digital economy evolution reveal the contradictory nature of its manifestations and justify the necessity for active participation of the state in stimulation and support of potentially promising digital innovations in various sectors of the economy. It is concluded that the level of the digital economy development depends on the real-sector performance, the maturity of markets, the state of the national economy. It is highlighted that the criteria for a comprehensive assessment of the results of the economy digitalization must be developed.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENT FEATURES OF HAND GESTURES IN AMERICAN AND KYRGYZ CULTURES

2019 ◽  
pp. 19-22
Author(s):  
Avtandil kyzy Ya
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Main Part ◽  
Body Language ◽  
Hand Gestures ◽  
Common Definition ◽  
The World ◽  
The Common ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Different Cultures

Abstract: This paper highlights similarities and different features of the category of kinesics “hand gestures”, its frequency usage and acceptance by different individuals in two different cultures. This study shows its similarities, differences and importance of the gestures, for people in both cultures. Consequently, kinesics study was mentioned as a main part of body language. As indicated in the article, the study kinesics was not presented in the Kyrgyz culture well enough, though Kyrgyz people use hand gestures a lot in their everyday life. The research paper begins with the common definition of hand gestures as a part of body language, several handshake categories like: the finger squeeze, the limp fish, the two-handed handshake were explained by several statements in the English and Kyrgyz languages. Furthermore, this article includes definitions and some idioms containing hand, shake, squeeze according to the Oxford and Academic Dictionary to show readers the figurative meanings of these common words. The current study was based on the books of writers Allan and Barbara Pease “The definite book of body language” 2004, Romana Lefevre “Rude hand gestures of the world”2011 etc. Key words: kinesics, body language, gestures, acoustics, applause, paralanguage, non-verbal communication, finger squeeze, perceptions, facial expressions. Аннотация. Бул макалада вербалдык эмес сүйлѳшүүнүн бѳлүгү болуп эсептелген “колдордун жандоо кыймылы”, алардын эки башка маданиятта колдонулушу, айырмачылыгы жана окшош жактары каралган. Макаланын максаты болуп “колдордун жандоо кыймылынын” мааниси, айырмасы жана эки маданиятта колдонулушу эсептелет. Ошону менен бирге, вербалдык эмес сүйлѳшүүнүн бѳлүгү болуп эсептелген “кинесика” илими каралган. Берилген макалада кѳрсѳтүлгѳндѳй, “кинесика” илими кыргыз маданиятында толугу менен изилденген эмес, ошого карабастан “кинесика” илиминин бѳлүгү болуп эсептелген “колдордун жандоо кыймылы” кыргыз элинин маданиятында кѳп колдонулат. Андан тышкары, “колдордун жандоо кыймылынын” бир нече түрү, англис жана кыргыз тилдеринде ма- селен аркылуу берилген.Тѳмѳнкү изилдѳѳ ишин жазууда чет элдик жазуучулардын эмгектери колдонулду. Түйүндүү сѳздѳр: кинесика, жандоо кыймылы, акустика,кол чабуулар, паралингвистика, вербалдык эмес баарлашуу,кол кысуу,кабыл алуу сезими. Аннотация. В данной статье рассматриваются сходства и различия “жестикуляции” и частота ее использования, в американской и кыргызской культурах. Следовательно, здесь было упомянуто понятие “кинесика” как основная часть языка тела. Как указано в статье, “кинесика” не была представлена в кыргызской культуре достаточно хорошо, хотя кыргызский народ часто использует жестикуляцию в повседневной жизни. Исследовательская работа начинается с общего определения “жестикуляции” как части языка тела и несколько категорий жестикуляции, таких как: сжатие пальца, слабое рукопожатие, рукопожатие двумя руками, были объяснены несколькими примерами на английском и кыргызском языках. Кроме того, эта статья включает определения слов “рука”, “рукопожатие”, “сжатие” и некоторые идиомы, содержащие данных слов согласно Оксфордскому и Академическому словарю, чтобы показать читателям их образное значение. Данное исследование было основано на книгах писателей Аллана и Барбары Пиз «Определенная книга языка тела» 2004 года, Романа Лефевра «Грубые жестикуляции мира» 2011 года и т.д. Ключевые слова: кинесика, язык жестов, жесты, акустика, аплодисменты, паралингвистика, невербальная коммуникация, сжатие пальца, чувство восприятия, выражение лиц.

Europe

2020 ◽  
pp. 649-666
Author(s):  
Andrea Renda
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Expert Group ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Strong Focus ◽  
Ethics Guidelines ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
High Level

This chapter assesses Europe’s efforts in developing a full-fledged strategy on the human and ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI). The strong focus on ethics in the European Union’s AI strategy should be seen in the context of an overall strategy that aims at protecting citizens and civil society from abuses of digital technology but also as part of a competitiveness-oriented strategy aimed at raising the standards for access to Europe’s wealthy Single Market. In this context, one of the most peculiar steps in the European Union’s strategy was the creation of an independent High-Level Expert Group on AI (AI HLEG), accompanied by the launch of an AI Alliance, which quickly attracted several hundred participants. The AI HLEG, a multistakeholder group including fifty-two experts, was tasked with the definition of Ethics Guidelines as well as with the formulation of “Policy and Investment Recommendations.” With the advice of the AI HLEG, the European Commission put forward ethical guidelines for Trustworthy AI—which are now paving the way for a comprehensive, risk-based policy framework.

scholarly journals Shape Sensing of a Complex Aeronautical Structure with Inverse Finite Element Method

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1388
Author(s):  
Daniele Oboe ◽  
Luca Colombo ◽  
Claudio Sbarufatti ◽  
Marco Giglio
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Method ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Strain Field ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Inverse Finite Element Method ◽  
Shape Sensing ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
High Level ◽  
Element Method

The inverse Finite Element Method (iFEM) is receiving more attention for shape sensing due to its independence from the material properties and the external load. However, a proper definition of the model geometry with its boundary conditions is required, together with the acquisition of the structure’s strain field with optimized sensor networks. The iFEM model definition is not trivial in the case of complex structures, in particular, if sensors are not applied on the whole structure allowing just a partial definition of the input strain field. To overcome this issue, this research proposes a simplified iFEM model in which the geometrical complexity is reduced and boundary conditions are tuned with the superimposition of the effects to behave as the real structure. The procedure is assessed for a complex aeronautical structure, where the reference displacement field is first computed in a numerical framework with input strains coming from a direct finite element analysis, confirming the effectiveness of the iFEM based on a simplified geometry. Finally, the model is fed with experimentally acquired strain measurements and the performance of the method is assessed in presence of a high level of uncertainty.

scholarly journals A fatal toxic shock-like syndrome post COVID-19 infection in a child

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Houda Ajmi ◽  
Wissem Besghaier ◽  
Wafa Kallala ◽  
Abdelhalim Trabelsi ◽  
Saoussan Abroug
Keyword(s):  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Pediatric Intensive Care ◽  
Fresh Frozen Plasma ◽  
Multiple Organ ◽  
Clinical Feature ◽  
Fresh Frozen ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
High Level

Abstract Background Children affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) showed various manifestations. Some of them were severe cases presenting with multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) causing multiple organ dysfunction. Case presentation We report the case of a 12-year-old girl with recent COVID-19 infection who presented with persistent fever, abdominal pain and other symptoms that meet the definition of MIS-C. She had lymphopenia and a high level of inflammatory markers. She was admitted to pediatric intensive care unit since she rapidly developed refractory catecholamine-resistant shock with multiple organ failure. Echocardiography showed a small pericardial effusion with a normal ejection fraction (Ejection Fraction = 60%) and no valvular or coronary lesions. The child showed no signs of improvement even after receiving intravenous immunoglobulin, fresh frozen plasma, high doses of Vasopressors and corticosteroid. His outcome was fatal. Conclusion Pediatric patients affected by the new COVID-19 related syndrome may show severe life-threatening conditions similar to Kawasaki disease shock syndrome. Hypotension in these patients results from heart failure and the decreased cardiac output. We report a new severe clinical feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in whom hypotension was the result of refractory vasoplegia.

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